لِمَنwhose الطُلولُthe ruined remains تراقصَتْdanced
لِمَن الطُلولُ تراقصَتْ
نَجْوَىsecret converse حشاكyour innermost heart قِفارُهاtheir wastelands
نَجْوَى حشاك قِفارُها
Whose are the ruins? Their wastelands danced
For whom did the hills dance
in the secret converse of your heart.
The whisperings of your deserted abode
قفرٌa wilderness نباshunned بكyou ودُّهاher love
قفرٌ نبا بك ودُّها
وتعلَّقتكand clung to you ديارُهاher dwellings
وتعلَّقتك ديارُها
A wilderness: her love shunned you,
A deserted abode that longs for you
yet her dwellings clung to you.
And its dwellings cling to you
إنif كنتَyou have أعيُنَهاtheir actual forms عدمbegins 'lost'
إن كنتَ أعيُنَها عدم
تَcompletes 'you lost' فهذهthen these آثارُهاtheir traces
تَ فهذه آثارُها
If you have lost their actual forms,
If you are nonexistent in its eyes
these are their traces:
Then these are its ruins
دِمَنٌabandoned dwelling-sites كمسحبةlike a drag-trail الأزمbegins 'the reins'
دِمَنٌ كمسحبة الأزم
مَةِcompletes 'the reins' مُسحَلاًas a rasp إمرارُهاtheir repeated pulling
مَةِ مُسحَلاً إمرارُها
abandoned sites, like the drag-trail of reins
A close lifetime like the crisis of time
whose repeated pulling acts as a rasp.
Whose passage is smooth
ماتتdied حقائقُهاtheir realities وخُلand begins 'lived forever'
ماتت حقائقُها وخُل
لِدَcompletes 'lived forever' زُورهاtheir false semblance ومُعارُهاand their borrowed guise
لِدَ زُورها ومُعارُها
Their realities died, while their false semblance
Its realities died and its imagination and lies lived
and borrowed guise lived on.
And the night of oblivion stretched
وامتدَّand stretched ليلُthe night of السافياbegins 'the sand-scattering winds'
وامتدَّ ليلُ السافيا
تِcompletes 'the sand-scattering winds' بجوِّهاacross their air ونَهارُهاand their day
تِ بجوِّها ونَهارُها
The night of sand-scattering winds stretched
With its daytime and nighttime
across their air, and so did their day.
I have verses for it if it becomes desolate
عنديI have لهاfor them إنif أجدبتْthey grow barren
عندي لها إن أجدبتْ
وَكَّافةٌa copiously weeping eye تمتارُهاthey draw sustenance from it
وَكَّافةٌ تمتارُها
For them, should they grow barren, I have
Its cure is complete
a streaming eye from which they draw sustenance.
It was content with shedding tears as if they were its eyelashes
أَنِستْgrew familiar بإسبالwith the pouring of الدموbegins 'the tears'
أَنِستْ بإسبال الدمو
عِcompletes 'the tears' كأنهاas though they أشفارُهاtheir eyelashes
عِ كأنها أشفارُها
They grew familiar with the pouring of tears,
And it wept well. Did its tears convey
as though they were their own eyelashes.
To you the inquirer its news?
ونعمand yes بكيتyou wept فهلbut can تبلbegins 'moisten you'
ونعم بكيت فهل تبل
لُكَcompletes 'moisten you' سائلاًwhile asking أخبارُهاtheir tidings
لُكَ سائلاً أخبارُها
Yes, you wept; but can their tidings moisten
Woe to it from a need
you as you ask after them?
If only its sides were healed
واهاًah! لهاfor them منwhat a حاجةٍlonging
واهاً لها من حاجةٍ
لوif only قُضِّيَتْwere fulfilled أوطارُهاits desires
لو قُضِّيَتْ أوطارُها
Ah, what a longing for them—
Oh my abode, my ribs, and my family
if only its desires were fulfilled!
I entrust to protect its sands if I meet
ياO دارُdwelling تُرْبُكِyour dust والهجيbegins 'the noonday heat'
يا دارُ تُرْبُكِ والهجي
رُcompletes 'the noonday heat' وأضلعيand my ribs وأُوارُهاand their blaze
رُ وأضلعي وأُوارُها
O dwelling—your dust and the noonday heat,
A treacherous man
and my ribs and their blaze!
The covenant between us did not disappear
حفظاًkeep faith برملةَwith Ramlah إنeven if ألطbegins 'repudiates'
حفظاً برملةَ إن ألط
طَcompletes 'repudiates' بذمّةٍa pledge غدَّارُهاher betrayer
طَ بذمّةٍ غدَّارُها
Keep faith with Ramlah, even if her betrayer
Nor its document
repudiates the obligation of a pledge.
The nights were devoid of your presence
لاmay not ضاعperish ماwhat بينيbetween me وبيand begins 'between you'
لا ضاع ما بيني وبي
نكِcompletes 'between you' عهدُهاits covenant وذِمارُهاand its protected honor
نكِ عهدُها وذِمارُها
May what lies between me and you never perish—
Hiding it and its secrets
its covenant and the honor it protects.
Until it is as if livelihood
خلَتِbecame empty اللياليthe nights منof بدوbegins 'your moons'
خلَتِ الليالي من بدو
رِكِcompletes 'your moons' تمُّهاtheir fullness وسِرارُهاand their moonless darkness
رِكِ تمُّها وسِرارُها
The nights are empty of your moons,
Has not been bitter in it
in their fullness and their darkness,
And no desires were fulfilled in it
حتىuntil كأنّas though معيشةًa life
حتى كأنّ معيشةً
لمnever يحلُgrew sweet فيكِin you مُرارُهاits bitterness
لم يحلُ فيكِ مُرارُها
as though there had never been a life
Nor did its veils relax for us
whose bitterness grew sweet in you,
For everyone with two aims in it
ومآرباًand desires برباكِupon your heights ماnot اسbegins 'slackened'
ومآرباً برباكِ ما اس
ترختْcompletes 'slackened' لناfor us أستارُهاtheir curtains
ترختْ لنا أستارُها
or desires upon your heights
Is like its mouser and barn owl
whose curtains slackened for us,
And the days' wipes are still green and fresh
إذwhen كلُّevery ذيhaving هَدفينtwo raised flanks فيbegins 'within you'
إذ كلُّ ذي هَدفين في
كcompletes 'within you' كِناسُهاher gazelle's covert وصُوارُهاand her gazelle-herd
ك كِناسُها وصُوارُها
when every two-peaked dune within
And a beautiful doe whose love secrets are complete
you held her covert and her gazelle-herd,
Her misfortunes increased but that did not sadden her
ومسائحand the open stretches of الأيامthe days بقbegins 'herbage'
ومسائح الأيام بق
لٌcompletes 'herbage' أخضرٌgreen وعِذارهاand their borders
لٌ أخضرٌ وعِذارها
and the open stretches of days were green
She is infatuated with which men's wrists her necklace binds
pasture, and their borders too.
The gossip of the slanderers corrupted her but her cloak is fine
وجهيرةand a conspicuous woman فيin الحسنbeauty تُكbegins 'are concealed'
وجهيرة في الحسن تُك
تمُcompletes 'are concealed' فيin الهوىlove أسرارُهاher secrets
تمُ في الهوى أسرارُها
And one conspicuous in beauty,
She was created scented but her perfume became rancid
whose secrets in love are concealed:
And her words remembered
كثرتgrew numerous ضرائرهاher rivals وقلand begins 'grew little'
كثرت ضرائرها وقل
لَcompletes 'grew little' بذلكthrough that استضرارُهاher suffering harm
لَ بذلك استضرارُها
her rivals grew many, yet little
So her veil doubled over
harm did she suffer from them.
My friend, do your eyes sleep
بلهاءguileless يَرتبِطُensnares الحليbegins 'the forbearing man'
بلهاء يَرتبِطُ الحلي
مَcompletes 'the forbearing man' منamong الرجالmen إسارُهاher bondage
مَ من الرجال إسارُها
Guileless, whose bonds ensnare the forbearing
Or does their wakefulness remain active?
among men.
The long night confuses the eyelids with its darkness
خبثتgrew foul أحاديثthe talk of الوشاbegins 'the slanderers'
خبثت أحاديث الوشا
ةِcompletes 'the slanderers' بهاabout her وطابand remained pure إِزارُهاher skirt
ةِ بها وطاب إِزارُها
The slanderers' talk about her grew foul,
A friend knocked to illuminate
yet her skirt remained pure.
The darkness of the twisted abode
خُلِقَتْwas created معطَّرةًfragrant فَخُيso begins 'was disappointed'
خُلِقَتْ معطَّرةً فَخُي
يِبَcompletes 'was disappointed' كاسداًwith unsold wares عطَّارُهاher perfumer
يِبَ كاسداً عطَّارُها
She was created fragrant, so disappointed
And their pillows are rumpled
was her perfumer, his wares unsold.
On a night when its conversation did not diminish
وتَذَكَّرَتْand became masculine ألفاظُهاher words
وتَذَكَّرَتْ ألفاظُها
فثَنَىso folded اللثامَthe face-wrap خِمارُهاher head-veil
فثَنَى اللثامَ خِمارُها
Her words assumed a manly tone,
Strange, how its distant lands collapsed on me
and her head-veil folded into a face-wrap.
With its two hills and the interior of its house
ياO صاحبيmy companion والعينُwhile the eye تغbegins 'snatches a gain'
يا صاحبي والعينُ تغ
نَمُcompletes 'snatches a gain' أوor يُظَنَّis supposed عُرارُهاits wakefulness
نَمُ أو يُظَنَّ عُرارُها
O my companion, while the eye snatches
It started treating me with the sting of a bee
rest, or is thought to be waking,
Whose honey of contentment flows
والليلةand the longest night الطولىlongest يُخَوbegins 'are waded through'
والليلة الطولى يُخَو
وَضُcompletes 'are waded through' بالجفونwith eyelids غمارُهاits depths
وَضُ بالجفون غمارُها
and the longest night's depths are waded
Life froze with cold from it
through with eyelids,
And its perfume began to melt
طرقَتْvisited by night زميلةُa female companion تجتليclears away
طرقَتْ زميلةُ تجتلي
ظلمَthe darkness of اللِّوىal-Liwa أنوارُهاher lights
ظلمَ اللِّوى أنوارُها
a companion came by night; her radiance
The composer of its necklace did not tire
cleared the darkness of al-Liwa.
Of advice nor is its bead-stringer satisfied
وعلىand upon الرحالthe saddles مُمَلْمَلوbegins 'restlessly tossing men'
وعلى الرحال مُمَلْمَلو
نَcompletes 'restlessly tossing men' وسادُهمtheir pillows أكوارُهاtheir saddleframes
نَ وسادُهم أكوارُها
Upon the saddles lay restless men,
It knocked on easy terrain while the roads
their pillows the camel saddleframes,
Are difficult and dangerous
فيon ليلةٍa night لمnot يَنْثُrecounted غيbegins 'other than'
في ليلةٍ لم يَنْثُ غي
رَcompletes 'other than' حديثهاher story سُمّارُهاits wakeful talkers
رَ حديثها سُمّارُها
on a night whose wakeful talkers recounted
The tearful one milked then renewed
nothing but her story.
Weeping from the morning departure
عجباًhow wondrous! لهاshe was نُفِضتْwere traversed إليbegins 'toward me'
عجباً لها نُفِضتْ إلي
يَcompletes 'toward me' سحيقةًfar-distant أقطارُهاher regions
يَ سحيقةً أقطارُها
How wondrous she was! Toward me were traversed
So when my hands did not cling
the far-flung reaches of her land.
To anything but wishes and their nails
بالغوطتينin the two Ghutahs جبالُهاher mountains
بالغوطتين جبالُها
وببطنand in the valley of وجرةَWajrah دارُهاher dwelling
وببطن وجرةَ دارُها
Her mountains are in the two Ghutahs,
And I held high the short swords
her dwelling in the valley of Wajrah.
Of the bellies of maidens
باتتspent the night تعاطينيoffering me بنحbegins 'at Nahlah'
باتت تعاطيني بنح
لةَcompletes 'at Nahlah' نحلةٌa bee أشتارُهاher gathered honey
لةَ نحلةٌ أشتارُها
At Nahlah, a bee spent the night offering me
Its blessed place narrowed, and curtains
the honey she had gathered.
Rose above it
وتبسَّمتand smiled عنrevealing بَرقةٍa lightning-flash
وتبسَّمت عن بَرقةٍ
عسلُthe honey of الرُّضابِsaliva قِطارُهاits falling drops
عسلُ الرُّضابِ قِطارُها
She smiled, revealing a flash of lightning
An exile that makes me a stranger to love
whose raindrops were the honey of saliva.
In its stony place adorned
جمدَfroze الحياthe rain بَرَداًas hail بهاwithin her
جمدَ الحيا بَرَداً بها
وجرَتْand flowed يذوبُmelting عُقارهاher wine
وجرَتْ يذوبُ عُقارها
The rain froze into hail within her,
On the flat ground, disheveled
while her wine flowed, melting.
A barrier on it from its dust
لمnot يألُspared ناظمُthe stringer of عِقدِهاher necklace
لم يألُ ناظمُ عِقدِها
نَصحاًcare ولاnor خَمَّارُهاher vintner
نَصحاً ولا خَمَّارُها
The stringer of her necklace spared no
With an old robe, a shawl that
care, nor did her vintner.
His old skin mixes with its fibers
طرقَتْvisited by night بسهلٍby an easy path والمساand begins 'the roads'
طرقَتْ بسهلٍ والمسا
لكُcompletes 'the roads' صعبةٌdifficult أخطارُهاtheir dangers
لكُ صعبةٌ أخطارُها
She came by an easy path, though the roads
The desert of Sarah was good to him
were hard and perilous.
Its slopes, plateaus, and lands
حَلَبَmilked البكيَّةthe scant remaining milk ثمthen جَدbegins 'renewed'
حَلَبَ البكيَّة ثم جَد
دَcompletes 'renewed' منwith الصباحِmorning نِفارُهاher flight
دَ من الصباحِ نِفارُها
The last scant drops were milked, then
He herds sheep that are picked out
morning renewed her flight.
And the pebbles of shiny Abiriq his abode
فإذاand then يديmy hand لمnot تَعتلِقْcaught hold
فإذا يدي لم تَعتلِقْ
بسوىof anything but المنىَwishes أظفارُهاits nails
بسوى المنىَ أظفارُها
And then my hand had caught
If I delay him with my song
nothing in its nails but wishes.
His love will motivate him
ولقدand indeed رفعتُI drove onward طلائحاًexhausted she-camels
ولقد رفعتُ طلائحاً
جُرْدُlean البطونof bellies قِصارُهاtheir shrunken ones
جُرْدُ البطون قِصارُها
I have driven onward exhausted she-camels,
The spring looked with effort
their bellies lean and drawn up.
To ignite its strings
ضاقتgrew narrow مباركهاtheir kneeling places وجاand begins 'swayed'
ضاقت مباركها وجا
لتcompletes 'swayed' فوقَهاabove them أستارُهاtheir coverings
لت فوقَها أستارُها
Their kneeling places grew narrow, and
Oh shepherd of virgins! What is
their coverings swayed above them.
Al-Najd and what are its news?
نجداًthrough Najd تُغَرِّبُjourney westward والهوَىwhile desire
نجداً تُغَرِّبُ والهوَى
بمحجَّرٍat Muhajjar أمّارُهاtheir commander
بمحجَّرٍ أمّارُها
Westward they journeyed through Najd, while desire
Ignite with those who have dark night fires
at Muhajjar was their commander.
For its lighthouse has been saddened
وعلىand at الربيئةِthe lookout أشعثٌa disheveled man
وعلى الربيئةِ أشعثٌ
سَدٌّa sturdy bulk عليهupon him غُبارُهاtheir dust
سَدٌّ عليه غُبارُها
At the lookout, a disheveled man—
If only it had ignited with my crooked
a solid bulk, with their dust upon him—
Ribs its fire
ذوwearing شَمْلةٍa cloak سَمَلٍtattered يُخاbegins 'mingles with'
ذو شَمْلةٍ سَمَلٍ يُخا
لِطُcompletes 'mingles with' جلدَهُhis skin أطمارُهاits rags
لِطُ جلدَهُ أطمارُها
wore a tattered cloak whose rags
When the fetters of footsteps clatter
mingled with his skin.
My strength continues and its duration
طابتْwas pleasing لهto him صحراءُthe desert of صاbegins 'Sarah'
طابتْ له صحراءُ صا
رةَcompletes 'Sarah' أَثلُهاits tamarisks وعَرارُهاand its arar flowers
رةَ أَثلُها وعَرارُها
He relished the desert of Sarah,
And the criticism of the times matches
its tamarisks and its fragrant arar flowers.
My sight to its visions
يرعىtends قلائصَyoung she-camels تُنتقَىcarefully selected
يرعى قلائصَ تُنتقَى
وحصَىand the gravel of الأُبَيرِقِal-Ubayriq دارُهاtheir home
وحصَى الأُبَيرِقِ دارُها
He tended choice young she-camels,
And it stands before me, preventing
whose home was al-Ubayriq's gravel.
My departure with excuses
إنif ماطلتهthey delay him بغُزْرِهاwith their plentiful milk
إن ماطلته بغُزْرِها
نهضتbore onward بهِhim أعيارُهاtheir male camels
نهضت بهِ أعيارُها
If they delayed him with their plentiful milk,
Then perhaps there is a life of bliss for me
their male camels bore him onward.
Whose purity and blossoms are for me
نظرawaited الربيعَspring بجُهَّدٍat Juhhad
نظر الربيعَ بجُهَّدٍ
لبقولهfor its herbage أوتارُهاtheir cravings
لبقوله أوتارُها
He awaited spring at Juhhad,
And a wonderful sensation of pleasure
their cravings set upon its herbs.
Whose tenth lasted for me
ياO راعيَherdsman of البَكَراتَthe young she-camels ماwhat
يا راعيَ البَكَراتَ ما
نجدٌNajd وماand what أخبارهاits news
نجدٌ وما أخبارها
O herdsman of the young she-camels, what
And a love story in which
is Najd now, and what is its news?
I do not tire of its best
أوقِدْlight a fire بذيat Dhu السَّمُراتِal-Samurat ليfor me
أوقِدْ بذي السَّمُراتِ لي
فقدfor indeed استغمَّgrew obscure مُنارُهاits beacon
فقد استغمَّ مُنارُها
Light a fire for me at Dhu al-Samurat,
And the polishing of the fangs that
for its beacon has grown obscure,
Drinks the sweetness of its syrup
ولوَeven if اَنّهاit بضلوعِيَwithin my ribs الthe
ولوَ اَنّها بضلوعِيَ ال
عوجاءِcrooked تُذكيis kindled نارُهاits fire
عوجاءِ تُذكي نارُها
even if within my crooked
Desires fall short of what
ribs its fire were kindled.
Dawn concludes with its spells
إنthough ينتقِضْundoes كرُّthe recurrence of الخطوbegins 'calamities'
إن ينتقِضْ كرُّ الخطو
بِcompletes 'calamities' قُوايmy powers واستمرارُهاand their firmness
بِ قُواي واستمرارُها
Though recurring calamities undo
It stayed overnight and my memory is fragrant
my strength and its firmness,
Below the mattress as its motto
ويردّنيand drives me back نقدُthe scrutiny of العيوbegins 'the eyes'
ويردّني نقدُ العيو
نِcompletes 'the eyes' تصادفَتْmet one another أبصارُهاtheir gazes
نِ تصادفَتْ أبصارُها
and appraising eyes drive me back
I turned away from it indifferent
when their gazes meet,
And its shrine remained straight
وتقومُand arise ليfor me بيدَيْat the hands of مشيbegins 'grayness'
وتقومُ لي بيدَيْ مشي
بِcompletes 'grayness' مَفارِقيmy hair's partings أعذارُهاits excuses
بِ مَفارِقي أعذارُها
and excuses rise for me at the hands
And a previous pleasure like the blood of ghazal
of the grayness of my hair's partings,
That is imagined to be musk when it emanates
فلربَّfor many a نَضرةِfreshness of عيشةٍlife
فلربَّ نَضرةِ عيشةٍ
ليmine صفوُهاits clearness ونُضارُهاand its gold
لي صفوُها ونُضارُها
many a flourishing life has been mine,
What the soap is expensive for
with its clearness and its gold;
And the seed's trader is impoverished
وعَزيبةٍand a distant grazing herd منof لذَّةٍdelight
وعَزيبةٍ من لذَّةٍ
راحتْreturned عليَّto me عِشَارُهاits pregnant she-camels
راحتْ عليَّ عِشَارُها
and many a distant herd of delight
In the home of a Christian woman
has brought me its pregnant she-camels;
By the name of Christ her yardstick
وقضيَّةٍand an affair فيin الحبِّlove لمnot
وقضيَّةٍ في الحبِّ لم
يُملَلْwas dictated عليَّto me خِيارُهاits choice
يُملَلْ عليَّ خِيارُها
and many an affair of love whose choice
It fermented the pots with its stone
was never dictated to me;
And its yeast is its carrots
وصقيلةِand a woman with polished الأنيابِcanine teeth تُشbegins 'are drunk'
وصقيلةِ الأنيابِ تُش
رَبُcompletes 'are drunk' حُلوةًsweet أَسآرُهاher remaining draughts
رَبُ حُلوةً أَسآرُها
and many a woman with polished teeth, whose leavings
I have never covered the hand of its director
were sweet to drink.
And followed its passions
تقعfall الأمانيwishes دونshort of ماwhat
تقع الأماني دون ما
تَثنِيunfold بهِwith it أسحارُهاher predawn hours
تَثنِي بهِ أسحارُها
Wishes fall short of what
When its drunkenness came
her predawn hours unfold.
Its prohibitions did not become permitted for me
باتتspent the night وذِكرِيand my remembrance طيِّباًsweet
باتت وذِكرِي طيِّباً
دونَbeneath الفراشِthe bedclothes شِعارُهاher undergarment
دونَ الفراشِ شِعارُها
She passed the night with my sweet remembrance
Except for me, a lover of pleasure flees
as her undergarment, beneath the bedclothes.
Which disappears but its shame remains
عرَّجتُI turned aside عنهاfrom her مُعرِضاًturning away
عرَّجتُ عنها مُعرِضاً
وقدalthough استقامbecame straightforward مَزارُهاvisiting her
وقد استقام مَزارُها
I turned away from her, declining her,
Why do you want to monitor my steps
though the path to her was open.
While you are too short to reach its full height?
وسلافةٍand choice wine كدمِlike the blood of الغزاbegins 'the gazelle'
وسلافةٍ كدمِ الغزا
لcompletes 'the gazelle' تُخالis imagined as مِسكاًmusk فارُهاits wafting scent
ل تُخال مِسكاً فارُها
And choice wine, like gazelle's blood,
I protected the leg of its horse
whose wafting scent you would take for musk,
And its love exhausts me
ممّاamong what أعانَhelped عليهwith it طِيbegins 'excellence'
ممّا أعانَ عليه طِي
بةَcompletes 'excellence' بابلٍBabylon أنهارُهاits rivers
بةَ بابلٍ أنهارُها
among the wines whose excellence
Ask the seller about my camel with any
Babylon's rivers helped perfect:
Defilement and its separation
غالَىcharged a high price بهاfor it السابونَthe captors وافand begins 'missed'
غالَى بها السابونَ واف
تقدَcompletes 'missed' البُدورَthe full moons تِجارُهاits merchants
تقدَ البُدورَ تِجارُها
its captors set a high price upon it,
And the protection of the tribe of Abdul Rahim surrounds it
and its merchants missed their full moons.
And its neighbors
فيin بيتِthe house of نَصرانِيّةٍa Christian woman
في بيتِ نَصرانِيّةٍ
باسمin the name of المسيحChrist عِيارُهاits measure
باسم المسيح عِيارُها
In a Christian woman's house,
When their affliction dispersed them
its measure was taken in Christ's name.
Their women and children scattered
وَكَتِshe tied القِرافَthe leather vessels بحِجرِهاin her lap
وَكَتِ القِرافَ بحِجرِها
ووِكاؤُهاand their tying-cord زُنَّارهاher girdle
ووِكاؤُها زُنَّارها
She bound the leather vessels in her lap,
More despicable than my enmity is their support
and their tying-cord was her girdle.
One day when they were its supporters
ماكستُI haggled with كفَّthe hand of مديرِهاits pourer
ماكستُ كفَّ مديرِها
وعلىand according to هوايَmy desire مَدارُهاits circulation
وعلى هوايَ مَدارُها
I haggled with the hand of its pourer,
The smooth plateau prevents
and its rounds followed my desire.
Its dried up vegetation from being tread upon
لماwhen حَلتْgrew sweet رشَفاتُهاits sips
لما حَلتْ رشَفاتُها
لمnot تحلُgrew sweet ليto me أوزارُهاits sins
لم تحلُ لي أوزارُها
When its sips grew sweet,
The clear oasis allows
its sins did not grow sweet to me.
The sinners to enjoy its fruits
وسوايَand someone other than me واثِبُone who leaps upon لذّةٍa pleasure
وسوايَ واثِبُ لذّةٍ
تفنَىvanishes ويبقَىand remains عارُهاits shame
تفنَى ويبقَى عارُها
Others leap upon a pleasure
The dew did not make it poor at night
that vanishes, while its shame remains.
Except to complete its ease
ماwhat ails للرجالmen ترومُseek أشbegins 'my courses'
ما للرجال ترومُ أش
واطِيcompletes 'my courses' الطِّوالَthe long قِصارُهاtheir short ones
واطِي الطِّوالَ قِصارُها
What ails men? Their short ones aspire
If not for fear of its questioning
to my long courses.
Its lifespans would be trivialized
أحفيتُI wore bare رُسغَthe pastern of جيادهاtheir steeds
أحفيتُ رُسغَ جيادها
وتنوءُand stagger بيbeneath me أعيارُهاtheir asses
وتنوءُ بي أعيارُها
I have worn their steeds' pasterns bare,
Wise, and the explicit word
and their asses stagger beneath me.
That angers is shameful
سلask ناخساًsomeone goading إبليmy camels بأيbegins 'with what'
سل ناخساً إبلي بأي
يِcompletes 'with what' تدنُّسٍdefilement عَوّارُهاtheir blemish
يِ تدنُّسٍ عَوّارُها
Ask the man who goads my camels: with what
And the brave, when worries
defilement are they blemished?
Rely on their depths
وحِمىand the sanctuary of بنيthe sons of عبدAbd الرحيbegins 'al-Rahim'
وحِمى بني عبد الرحي
مcompletes 'al-Rahim' يحوطُهاencompasses them وجِوارُهاand its protection
م يحوطُها وجِوارُها
And Banu Abd al-Rahim's sanctuary
The Arabs of palms, their sleep
and protection encompass them.
Made them forget a noble horseman
فإذاthen behold ذراهمtheir summits بُزْلُهاher full-grown camels
فإذا ذراهم بُزْلُها
مرحولةsaddled وبِكارُهاand her young camels
مرحولة وبِكارُها
Then their summits are her mature camels,
Their fingers flowed and selves and carpenters faded
saddled, and her young ones too.
You have encompassed the horizons' roads from them and their seas
أَهوِنْhow contemptible بباغيis one seeking ضيمهاto wrong them
أَهوِنْ بباغي ضيمها
يوماًone day وهمwhile they أنصارُهاare their defenders
يوماً وهم أنصارُها
How contemptible is one who seeks to wrong them
They flew with their glory and its airport
one day, while these men defend them!
Narrowed for the stars
والهضبةُand the hill الملساءُsmooth تَمbegins 'prevents'
والهضبةُ الملساءُ تَم
نعُcompletes 'prevents' أنthat يداسَbe trodden خَبارُهاits soft ground
نعُ أن يداسَ خَبارُها
The smooth hill prevents
The carrier of its banners rode its difficulties
its soft ground from being trodden;
The smooth canal protects its truth
والدوحةُand the great tree العيناءُbroad-crowned تحbegins 'grow sweet'
والدوحةُ العيناءُ تح
لوcompletes 'grow sweet' للجُناةِfor the gatherers ثِمارُهاits fruits
لو للجُناةِ ثِمارُها
the broad-crowned tree yields
A protected purity
fruit sweet to those who gather it.
With the Master of glories as its neighbor
ماnot باتspent the night يُفقِرهاimpoverishing it الندَىgenerosity
ما بات يُفقِرها الندَى
إلاexcept وثَمَّwhile there يَسارُهاits wealth
إلا وثَمَّ يَسارُها
It never passes a night impoverished by generosity
Wakeful, he stays up if
without wealth remaining there.
He remembers the faults to be cautious of them
لولاwere it not for تُقَىthe piety of سُؤَّالهاits petitioners
لولا تُقَى سُؤَّالها
لاستُهوِنَتْwould have been deemed cheap أعمارُهاtheir lifetimes
لاستُهوِنَتْ أعمارُها
Were it not for its petitioners' piety,
Restless in determination if he protects
their lifetimes would be held cheap.
The stillness of petty souls
حلماءforbearing men والكلمُand the words القواbegins 'the stinging'
حلماء والكلمُ القوا
ذِعُcompletes 'the stinging' مُغضِبٌprovoking anger عوَّارُهاtheir offensive barbs
ذِعُ مُغضِبٌ عوَّارُها
Forbearing, though stinging words
Bearer of the flags of leadership, his firmness
have offensive barbs that anger;
In patience is its ammunition
ومغامرونand daring men إذاwhen الكماbegins 'the armored warriors'
ومغامرون إذا الكما
ةُcompletes 'the armored warriors' تواكلتْleft things to one another أغمارُهاtheir perilous depths
ةُ تواكلتْ أغمارُها
daring, when armored champions
He surpassed the mature though his age
leave their deep perils to one another.
Did not reach their limits
عُرْبُArab الأكفِّof hands نمتهُمُbred them
عُرْبُ الأكفِّ نمتهُمُ
منfrom فارسٍPersia أحرارُهاits freeborn nobles
من فارسٍ أحرارُها
Arab of hand, yet bred
He went forth, his precedence given over
by Persia's freeborn nobles.
His peers by their admission
سالتflowed أناملهمtheir fingertips وشاand begins 'rose'
سالت أناملهم وشا
لتcompletes 'rose' أنفسٌsouls ونجارُهاand their lineage
لت أنفسٌ ونجارُها
Their fingertips flowed, while
They were amazed as the steed rounded
their souls and lineage rose high.
The race track to the goal
فَجَّاكَyour two broad paths آفاقُthe horizons of المعاbegins 'eminence'
فَجَّاكَ آفاقُ المعا
ليcompletes 'eminence' منهُمُthrough them وبحارُهاand its oceans
لي منهُمُ وبحارُها
Your two broad paths through them are the horizons
That the birds of prey were delayed
of eminence and its oceans.
And the skilled came forward
طارواsoared بمجدِهمُwith their glory وقَصand begins 'fell short'
طاروا بمجدِهمُ وقَص
صَرcompletes 'fell short' بالنجومwith the stars مَطارُهاtheir flight
صَر بالنجوم مَطارُها
They soared with their glory, while
Do not be surprised, for he is
the stars' flight fell short.
More dissolving than their dust
ركبَrode الصعابَthe difficult mounts منfrom ابنهمtheir son
ركبَ الصعابَ من ابنهم
ركَّاضُهاtheir tireless rider مِغوارُهاtheir raiding champion
ركَّاضُها مِغوارُها
Their son rode the difficult mounts—
Highest among the stars in positions
their tireless rider, their raiding champion.
And eyes though small
وحَمَىand guarded حقيقةthe true essence of مجدهمtheir glory
وحَمَى حقيقة مجدهم
سَلِسُsupple القَناةِof spear مُمارُهاits seasoned wielder
سَلِسُ القَناةِ مُمارُها
The true essence of their glory was guarded
It is the oasis of glory in which
by their supple-speared, practiced champion.
Investing does not fail
لاnot تستباحُcan be violated مصونةٌa protected thing
لا تستباحُ مصونةٌ
وأبوand Abu المعاليal-Maali جارُهاits protector
وأبو المعالي جارُها
No guarded thing can be violated
Leadership became a sanctuary
when Abu al-Maali is its protector.
In it, and you are its bracelet
يقظانُwakeful أسهرَهkept him sleepless إذاwhenever
يقظانُ أسهرَه إذا
ذَكَرَhe remembered العيوبَfaults حِذارُهاfear of them
ذَكَرَ العيوبَ حِذارُها
Wakeful: whenever he remembers
It is the best of its time’s family,
faults, fear of them keeps him sleepless.
A home, and you are its finest
قَلِقُrestless العزيمةِof resolve إنif حَمَىsheltered
قَلِقُ العزيمةِ إن حَمَى
صِغَرَthe littleness of النفوسِsouls قرارُهاtheir repose
صِغَرَ النفوسِ قرارُها
Restless in resolve, when repose shelters
If the sky was counted when pleased
the littleness of souls.
Its planets are many, not its moons
حمَّالُbearer of ألويةِthe banners of السياbegins 'sovereignty'
حمَّالُ ألويةِ السيا
دةِcompletes 'sovereignty' ثَبْتُهاits steadfast champion صَبَّارُهاits patient champion
دةِ ثَبْتُها صَبَّارُها
Bearer of the banners of sovereignty,
Through you, its clouds' goodwill spread
its steadfast, enduring champion.
And its pride was complete
سبقَoutstripped الكهولَthe mature men وسِنُّهwhile his age
سبقَ الكهولَ وسِنُّه
ماnot استُذْرِعتْgrew to cubit-length أَشبارُهاits handspans
ما استُذْرِعتْ أَشبارُها
He outstripped the elders, though his age
It clung angrily to the snakes
had handspans not yet grown to cubits.
Of the enemies' lips
وجَرَىand he raced فقدَّمهso placed him ahead علىof
وجَرَى فقدَّمه على
أقرانِهhis peers إقرارُهاtheir acknowledgment
أقرانِه إقرارُها
He raced, and was placed ahead
You provoked it with beauties
of his peers by their acknowledgment.
Its left hand did not stiffen
عجِبواthey marveled وقدwhen already لفَّgathered الجياbegins 'the steeds'
عجِبوا وقد لفَّ الجيا
دَcompletes 'the steeds' إلىtoward المدىthe finish مِضمارُهاtheir racecourse
دَ إلى المدى مِضمارُها
They marveled, when the course gathered
And manners that passion loved you
the steeds toward the finish,
For, its sorcery remaining eternal
أنّthat القوارحَthe mature horses أُخِّرتْwere held back
أنّ القوارحَ أُخِّرتْ
وتقدّمتْand went ahead أمهارُهاtheir colts
وتقدّمتْ أمهارُها
that the mature horses were held back
It split the hearts of enviers but
while their colts went ahead.
Its dust is not easily split
لاdo not تعجبنَّever marvel فإنَّهfor indeed
لا تعجبنَّ فإنَّه
أمضىthe sharpest of النصولِblades طِرارُهاtheir newly forged ones
أمضى النصولِ طِرارُها
Do not marvel, for indeed
How many hands for you are like nujum
the sharpest blades are their newest.
And like pouring rain
أعلىthe loftiest of الكواكبِthe stars فيin المناbegins 'the stations'
أعلى الكواكبِ في المنا
زلِcompletes 'the stations' والعيونِand the eyes صِغارُهاtheir small ones
زلِ والعيونِ صِغارُها
The loftiest stars in their stations,
With it, my state is satiated and the thorns
and the finest eyes, are their small ones.
Of my time are picked from it
هيit دوحةُthe great tree of المجدِglory التيwhich
هي دوحةُ المجدِ التي
لاnever يُخلِفُfails استثمارُهاits harvest
لا يُخلِفُ استثمارُها
It is the great tree of glory
And a fortress from the beauty of your view
whose harvest never fails.
That does not disappoint hearts
غدتbecame الرياسةُleadership مِعصماًa wrist
غدت الرياسةُ مِعصماً
فيهاwithin it وأنتَand you سِوارُهاits bracelet
فيها وأنتَ سِوارُها
Leadership has become a wrist
It wraps its tails around me
within it, and you its bracelet.
And pulls me into its essence
هيit خيرُthe finest of أهلِthe people of زمانِهاits age
هي خيرُ أهلِ زمانِها
بيتاًas a house وأنتَand you خِيارُهاits choicest member
بيتاً وأنتَ خِيارُها
Among the people of its age it is the finest
And a subtle one that the dew lined
house, and you its choicest member.
Its traces when it greeted
إنindeed السماءthe sky إذاwhen سرتْpasses onward
إن السماء إذا سرتْ
معدودةًcounted أنوارُهاits lights
معدودةً أنوارُها
When the sky passes on, its lights
Its targeting wearied though
are counted:
Its repetitive firing did not help me
كثُرَتْgrew numerous كواكبهاits stars وليand begins 'not'
كثُرَتْ كواكبها ولي
سَcompletes 'not' كثيرةًnumerous أقمارُهاits moons
سَ كثيرةً أقمارُها
its stars are many, but
The gifts - their beauty is not
its moons are not many.
Thanked for nor their amounts
بكthrough you عمّspread everywhere وَدْقُthe rain of سحابِهاits clouds
بك عمّ وَدْقُ سحابِها
جوداًin generosity وتمّand became complete فخارُهاits pride
جوداً وتمّ فخارُها
Through you its clouds' rain spread everywhere
So for you my ransom is a giver who
in bounty, and its pride became complete.
Gives blessings without choosing them
وتشبَّثتْand clung غَيظاًin wrath بأعbegins 'to the necks of'
وتشبَّثتْ غَيظاً بأع
ناقِcompletes 'to the necks of' العداةthe enemies شفارُهاits blades
ناقِ العداة شفارُها
In wrath its blades clung
And your time is a possessor of eras whose
to the necks of enemies.
Kindness is denied
قادحتَهاyou struck sparks from it بمحاسنٍwith virtues
قادحتَها بمحاسنٍ
ماnot أصلدتْstruck barren أيسارُهاtheir lot-casters
ما أصلدتْ أيسارُها
You struck sparks from it with virtues
The dinar of your generosity or affection for me
whose lot-casters never failed,
Not its weights
وخلائقٍand qualities مَلَكَwon الهوىlove
وخلائقٍ مَلَكَ الهوى
لكfor you باقياًlasting سَحَّارُهاtheir enchanting power
لك باقياً سَحَّارُها
and qualities whose enchantment secured
And it has renewed its help for you
lasting love for you.
What its virgins first offered
شقَّتْcleft قلوبَthe hearts of الحاسديbegins 'the enviers'
شقَّتْ قلوبَ الحاسدي
نَcompletes 'the enviers' وماand not يُشَقُّcan be cleft غُبارُهاtheir dust
نَ وما يُشَقُّ غُبارُها
They cleft the hearts of enviers,
It folds the lands though its messengers
though none can cleave their dust.
Did not throw
كمhow many منa يدٍfavor لكof yours كالغماbegins 'like a cloud'
كم من يدٍ لك كالغما
مcompletes 'like a cloud' وكالسحابِand like rainclouds غِزارُهاits abundant flows
م وكالسحابِ غِزارُها
How many a favor of yours is like a cloud,
Its dice
its abundant flow like rainclouds,
From every prominent poem
تُرْوَىis watered بهاby it حاليmy condition ويُدand begins 'is won'
تُرْوَى بها حالي ويُد
رَكُcompletes 'is won' منfrom زمانيmy times ثارُهاits vengeance
رَكُ من زماني ثارُها
watering my condition and winning
When the burning of its passion flares up
its vengeance against my times;
It reaches the great and its visitors
وحصينةٍand a strong defense منfrom حسنthe soundness of رأbegins 'your judgment'
وحصينةٍ من حسن رأ
يكcompletes 'your judgment' لاnot يُقَضُّis shattered صِدارُهاits breastplate
يك لا يُقَضُّ صِدارُها
and many a fortress of your sound
Do not fear boredom
judgment, whose breastplate cannot be shattered:
A maiden whose passion is surrendered to you
تضفُوflow amply عليَّover me ذيولُهاits skirts
تضفُو عليَّ ذيولُها
وتضمُّنيand enclose me أزرارُهاits fastenings
وتضمُّني أزرارُها
its skirts flow amply over me,
With chastity as her excuse
and its fastenings enclose me.
In any house you want
ولطيفةٍand a subtle kindness باتتpassed the night وقدwhile already
ولطيفةٍ باتت وقد
حفَّىwore away الندىgenerosity آثارُهاits traces
حفَّى الندى آثارُها
And many a subtle kindness whose traces
You say this is its bride
generosity has worn away:
The rhymes followed it
أعيتْdefeated إصابتُهاhitting upon it وإنْalthough
أعيتْ إصابتُها وإنْ
لمnot يُعينيweary me إِكثارُهاmultiplying it
لم يُعيني إِكثارُها
its exact description defeated me, though
And its unmatched subjugated them
multiplying descriptions did not weary me.
If not for its preceding era
والأعطياتُand gifts جمالُهاtheir beauty الthe
والأعطياتُ جمالُها ال
مشكورُthanked لاnot أقدارُهاtheir amounts
مشكورُ لا أقدارُها
In gifts, it is their beauty
And its cycles repeating
that is thanked, not their amounts.
The stalwarts of the pre-Islamic era would have wished
ففِداكso may be your ransom مُعْطٍa giver يبذُلُdispenses الthe
ففِداك مُعْطٍ يبذُلُ ال
نُعمَىfavors ولاand not يختارُهاchooses them
نُعمَى ولا يختارُها
May the giver be your ransom who dispenses
That it was their poetry
favors without choosing them;
If it was given justice above the Turos
ووقتكand may protect you ريبَthe vicissitudes of الدهرtime أيbegins 'hands'
ووقتك ريبَ الدهر أي
دٍcompletes 'hands' عُرفُهاtheir kindness إنكارُهاtheir unkindness
دٍ عُرفُها إنكارُها
may hands protect you from time's upheavals
Their tenths would be taken
whose apparent kindness is unkindness.
Every day a liked gift
دينارُone dinar جودكِof your generosity أوor وداbegins 'your affection'
دينارُ جودكِ أو ودا
دكcompletes 'your affection' ليfor me ولاand not قِنطارُهاtheir quintal
دك لي ولا قِنطارُها
One dinar of your generosity or affection
Whose recurrence is good
for me, rather than their whole quintal.
It is conveyed to you by the mouth of praiser
واستأنفتand renew لكfor you عُونهاits mature ones
واستأنفت لك عُونها
ماwhat أسلفَتْgave before أبكارُهاits maiden ones
ما أسلفَتْ أبكارُها
Its seasoned verses renew for you
Its purity and choicest
what its maiden verses offered before.
تطويtraverse البلادthe lands ولمand not تَرِمْdepart
تطوي البلاد ولم تَرِمْ
فقطينُهاso its stay-at-homes سُفَّارُهاare its travelers
فقطينُها سُفَّارُها
They traverse lands without moving,
their stay-at-homes their travelers.
منof كلّevery طائرةِone flying with الشُّعاbegins 'radiance'
من كلّ طائرةِ الشُّعا
عِcompletes 'radiance' إذاwhen استطارspread abroad شَرارُهاits sparks
عِ إذا استطار شَرارُها
Each flies with radiance
when its sparks fly abroad.
تصلُreaches الكبيرَthe great man ولاand not يخاbegins 'fear'
تصلُ الكبيرَ ولا يخا
فcompletes 'fear' ملالةًweariness زَوَّارُهاits visitors
ف ملالةً زَوَّارُها
It reaches the great man, and its visitors
need not fear being wearied.
عذراءa virgin يُخلَعis cast off فيin هواbegins 'love of you'
عذراء يُخلَع في هوا
كcompletes 'love of you' معwith العفافchastity عِذارُهاher bridle
ك مع العفاف عِذارُها
A virgin whose bridle is cast off in love
of you, while chastity remains:
فيin أيّwhichever بيتٍverse شئتَyou wish منbegins 'of it'
في أيّ بيتٍ شئتَ من
هاcompletes 'of it' قلتَyou say ذاthis سيَّارُهاits far-traveling one
ها قلتَ ذا سيَّارُها
of whichever verse you wish among
them, you may say: this is its far-traveling one.
سعتِhastened القوافيthe rhymes خلفَهاafter it
سعتِ القوافي خلفَها
وعَنَاand bowed لهاbefore it جبَّارُهاtheir tyrant
وعَنَا لها جبَّارُها
Rhymes hastened after it,
and their tyrant bowed before it.
لوif ماnot تقدّمcame earlier عصرُهاits age
لو ما تقدّم عصرُها
وتردَّدتْand recurred أدوارُهاits cycles
وتردَّدتْ أدوارُها
Had its age not come earlier
and its cycles not passed again and again,
ودَّتْwould have wished فحولُthe master poets of الجاهليbegins 'the pre-Islamic age'
ودَّتْ فحولُ الجاهلي
يةِcompletes 'the pre-Islamic age' أنّهاthat they were أشعارُهاtheir poems
يةِ أنّها أشعارُها
the master poets of the pre-Islamic age would have wished
that these were their own poems.
لوif أُنصِفَتْwas treated justly فوقupon الطُّروbegins 'the pages'
لو أُنصِفَتْ فوق الطُّرو
سِcompletes 'the pages' لأُذهِبتْwould have been gilded أعشارُهاits tenths
سِ لأُذهِبتْ أعشارُها
Were it treated justly upon the pages,
even its tenths would be gilded.
فيon كلّevery يومِday هديّةٍa gift
في كلّ يومِ هديّةٍ
مستحسَنٌdeemed delightful تَكرارُهاits repetition
مستحسَنٌ تَكرارُها
A gift on every day,
its repetition deemed delightful.
يُروَىis recited لكمto you بفمthrough the mouth of التهاbegins 'congratulation'
يُروَى لكم بفم التها
نيcompletes 'congratulation' صفوُهاits purest part وخيارُهاand its choicest part
ني صفوُها وخيارُها
Recited to you by the mouth of congratulation
are its purest and choicest strains.
Partial English translation: 233 of 256 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1