يا بارِقاً باتَ يُحيي لَيلَهُ سَهَرا

يا بارِقاً باتَ يُحيي لَيلَهُ سَهَرا

لَم تَروِ لي عَن أُهَيلِ المُنحَنى خَبَرا

لَم تَروِ لي عَن أُهَيلِ المُنحَنى خَبَرا

O lightning that kept its night alive in sleepless vigil,

O lightening that brought life to his sleepless night

O lightning that spent the night awake, reviving the darkness,

you brought me no news of the dear folk at the bend.

Have you no news for me from the bending sand dunes?

You brought me no news of the loved ones in the winding valley.

وَهَل تَأَلَّقتَ في تِلكَ الرُبوعِ وَهَل

وَهَل تَأَلَّقتَ في تِلكَ الرُبوعِ وَهَل

جَرَّت عَلَيها الصَبا أَذيالَها سَحَرا

جَرَّت عَلَيها الصَبا أَذيالَها سَحَرا

And did you gleam in those dwellings, and did

Did you shine on those meadows, did the morning breeze

Did you flash brightly over those encampments, and did

the east wind trail its skirts over them before dawn?

Trail its skirts over them at dawn?

The East Wind trail its skirts across them at dawn?

لا أَستَقيلُ الهَوى مِمّا أُكابِدُهُ

لا أَستَقيلُ الهَوى مِمّا أُكابِدُهُ

وَلا أُبالي بِمَن قَد لامَ أَو عَذَرا

وَلا أُبالي بِمَن قَد لامَ أَو عَذَرا

I seek no release from love for all I endure,

I will not give up passion though it gives me pain

I seek no release from this passion, despite all I endure,

nor heed anyone who blames or excuses me.

Nor care if blamed or excused.

Nor do I care for those who cast blame or offer excuse.

نَفسي الفِداءُ لِأَقوامٍ مى ذُكِروا

نَفسي الفِداءُ لِأَقوامٍ مى ذُكِروا

تَحَدَّرَت عَبَراتي تُشبِهُ المَطَرا

تَحَدَّرَت عَبَراتي تُشبِهُ المَطَرا

My soul be a ransom for those people: whenever they are recalled,

My soul I'd sacrifice for people who were named

My soul is a ransom for a people who, whenever mentioned,

my tears stream down like rain.

And made my tears flow down like rain.

Cause my tears to flow down like falling rain.

مَن لي بِأَحوَرَ مَهزوزِ القَوامِ إِذا

مَن لي بِأَحوَرَ مَهزوزِ القَوامِ إِذا

بَدا تَوَهَّمتُهُ في سَعدِهِ القَمَرا

بَدا تَوَهَّمتُهُ في سَعدِهِ القَمَرا

Who will bring me a dark-eyed one of swaying stature, whom, when

When the slim one sways, I imagine him, blessed,

Who can bring me that doe-eyed one of swaying stature? If

he appears, I imagine to be the moon at its most auspicious?

Picking roses from his cheek, honey dissolving from his mouth,

He appears, I mistake him in his radiance for the moon.

يُجنيكَ مِن خَدِّهِ وَرداً وَمِن فَمهِ

يُجنيكَ مِن خَدِّهِ وَرداً وَمِن فَمهِ

شَهداً مُذاباً وَمن أَلفاظِهِ دُرَرا

شَهداً مُذاباً وَمن أَلفاظِهِ دُرَرا

He lets you pluck roses from his cheek, and from his mouth

Scattering pearls in his words.

He offers you roses to harvest from his cheek, and from his mouth,

melted honey, and pearls from his words.

His beauty delights your eyes in his tresses,

Molten honey, and pearls scattered from his speech.

يَحلو لِعَينَيكَ حُسناً في غَلائِلِهِ

يَحلو لِعَينَيكَ حُسناً في غَلائِلِهِ

وَيَطرُدُ الهَمَّ إِمّا كانَ مُؤتزِرا

وَيَطرُدُ الهَمَّ إِمّا كانَ مُؤتزِرا

He delights your eyes with beauty in his gauzy garments,

Banishes care, be it deep or slight.

He is sweet beauty to your eyes when in his sleeping robes,

and drives away sorrow when wearing his waist-wrap.

I seek God's forgiveness. Since the sun of old age rose

And he dispels all sorrow when girt in his outer cloak.

أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ ما لي بَعدَ بَزَغَت

أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ ما لي بَعدَ بَزَغَت

شَمسُ المَشيبِ بِلَيلِ الفودِ وَاِنحَسَرا

شَمسُ المَشيبِ بِلَيلِ الفودِ وَاِنحَسَرا

I ask God's forgiveness—what ails me, now that

At the fading of youth's night, and sank.

I seek God’s forgiveness! What use have I for love after

the sun of gray hair has risen through my temple's night, and that night has receded?

Leave remembering loves you craved in the days

The sun of gray hair has risen in the night of my locks, driving back the dark?

فَدَع تَذَكُّرَ آرامٍ شُغِفتَ بهِم

فَدَع تَذَكُّرَ آرامٍ شُغِفتَ بهِم

أَيّامِ رَوضُ التَصابي بِالصِبا خَضِرا

أَيّامِ رَوضُ التَصابي بِالصِبا خَضِرا

So abandon recollection of gazelles with whom you were infatuated,

When the garden of youth was green.

So cease recalling the gazelles with whom you were smitten,

in days when the garden of youthful dalliance was green with youth.

Turn your words to one, if you composed

In the days when the garden of passion was verdant with youth.

وَاِصرِف مَقالَكَ فيمَن لَو نَظَمتَ لهُ

وَاِصرِف مَقالَكَ فيمَن لَو نَظَمتَ لهُ

زُهرَ الكَواكِبِ مَدحاً كانَ مُحتَقَرا

زُهرَ الكَواكِبِ مَدحاً كانَ مُحتَقَرا

And turn your speech to one for whom, were you to string

The stars' flowers in praise of him, it would be nothing.

And turn your verse toward one for whom, were you to string

the radiant stars as praise, it would still be deemed paltry.

A king made of valor and nobility

The shining stars as a necklace of praise, it would still seem meager.

مَلكٌ تَكوَّنَ من بَاسٍ وَمن كَرَمٍ

مَلكٌ تَكوَّنَ من بَاسٍ وَمن كَرَمٍ

يُفني الصَفاتِ وَيَسقي ضِدَّه كَدرا

يُفني الصَفاتِ وَيَسقي ضِدَّه كَدرا

A king fashioned from might and generosity,

Who puts titles to shame, turns their bitterness sweet.

A King composed of martial might and boundless generosity,

who wears down hard rock and gives his foe a murky draught.

His ambitions rode the regiments in which

Who exhausts all praise, and forces his opponent to drink from a bitter cup.

طَغَت بِيامٍ أَمانيها فَجرَّ لها

طَغَت بِيامٍ أَمانيها فَجرَّ لها

دُهمَ الكَتائِبِ فيها كلُّ لَيثِ شَرى

دُهمَ الكَتائِبِ فيها كلُّ لَيثِ شَرى

Yam's ambitions drove them to excess, so he brought against them

Every audacious hero had his place.

The tribe of Yam was deluded by arrogant hopes, so he led against them

dark masses of battalions, filled with every lion of Shara.

Naked they came to attack him at home

Dark battalions, filled with every lion of the thicket,

جُرداً مَتى صَبَّحت حيّاً بِمَنزِلهِ

جُرداً مَتى صَبَّحت حيّاً بِمَنزِلهِ

لَم تَلقَ مُعتَصَماً مِها وَلا وَزَرا

لَم تَلقَ مُعتَصَماً مِها وَلا وَزَرا

Sleek steeds: whenever they raided a clan at its dwelling at dawn,

And found no protector or minister there.

On short-haired steeds; when they raid a tribe at dawn in their dwellings,

there was no refuge from them, nor any shelter.

So at dawn God's armies came on them

That tribe finds no fortress against them, nor any place of refuge.

فَصَبَّحَتهُم جُنودُ اللَهِ ضاحِيَةً

فَصَبَّحَتهُم جُنودُ اللَهِ ضاحِيَةً

فَغادَرَتهُم لِحَدِّ المَشرَفي جُزُرا

فَغادَرَتهُم لِحَدِّ المَشرَفي جُزُرا

God's hosts fell upon them in broad daylight,

And left them corpses piled on the hill.

The armies of God struck them in the bright morning,

and left them slaughtered prey for the Mashrafi sword's edge.

Swords wrote with their blood

Leaving them as slaughtered carcasses for the Mashrafi blades.

قَواضِبٌ كَتَبَت أَيدي المنونِ بِها

قَواضِبٌ كَتَبَت أَيدي المنونِ بِها

آجالَ مَن خانَ عهدَ اللَهِ أَو غَدرا

آجالَ مَن خانَ عهدَ اللَهِ أَو غَدرا

Keen blades with which the hands of Death inscribed

The fate of those who break faith or betray.

Sharp swords with which the hands of Fate have written

the appointed ends of those who betrayed God's covenant or broke faith.

You roused a lion whose claws

The deadlines of those who betrayed God’s covenant or played false.

أَهَجتُمُ أَسداً تُدمي أَظافِرهُ

أَهَجتُمُ أَسداً تُدمي أَظافِرهُ

كَم أَصيَدٍ تَرَكَت في التُربِ مُعتَفِرا

كَم أَصيَدٍ تَرَكَت في التُربِ مُعتَفِرا

You roused a lion whose claws draw blood;

Leave many victims buried in the dust.

Did you provoke a lion whose claws drip with blood?

how many a proud lord have they left rolling in the dust!

You never thought that he who provoked you

How many a proud warrior has he left soiled in the dust!

ما حكتمُ فَاِقتَضاكُم ذو مُماحَكَةٍ

ما حكتمُ فَاِقتَضاكُم ذو مُماحَكَةٍ

ما اِعتداَ في طَبعهِ جُبناً وَلا خَورا

ما اِعتداَ في طَبعهِ جُبناً وَلا خَورا

You wrangled, and a master of wrangling exacted payment from you,

Was not destined by nature for fear or flight.

You stirred up trouble, so a relentless avenger came to claim his due,

one whose nature never knew cowardice or weakness.

He came when you had no wings to soar

One whose nature knows neither cowardice nor frailty.

فَجاءَكم حيثُ لا خُفٌ يَسيرُ بكُم

فَجاءَكم حيثُ لا خُفٌ يَسيرُ بكُم

وَلا جَناحٌ إِذا ما طِرتُمُ شُهرا

وَلا جَناحٌ إِذا ما طِرتُمُ شُهرا

He came upon you where no camel's foot could carry you,

Nor any chance when you took alarm.

He came upon you where no camel could carry you to safety,

nor any wing, even if you flew for a month.

You turned between slain and fleeing

And no wing could aid you, even if you took to the sky.

وَلَّيتُمُ بينَ مَقتولٍ وَمُنهَزمٍ

وَلَّيتُمُ بينَ مَقتولٍ وَمُنهَزمٍ

قَدِ اِستَعارَ جناحَ الرَألِ إِذ ذُعِرا

قَدِ اِستَعارَ جناحَ الرَألِ إِذ ذُعِرا

You fled, some slain and some routed,

Borrowing the ostrich's wing in panic.

You turned and fled, some slain, some routed,

the latter borrowing an ostrich chick's wing in terror.

The boy calls his father, knowing him well

Like the ostrich chick borrowing wings in its terror.

يَدعو الوَليدُ أَباهُ بعدَ مَعرِفَةٍ

يَدعو الوَليدُ أَباهُ بعدَ مَعرِفَةٍ

فَما يُردُّ له ليتاً وَإن جَأرا

فَما يُردُّ له ليتاً وَإن جَأرا

The child calls his father after recognizing him,

But gets no answer, however loud his cry.

The child calls out to his father, recognizing him,

yet no neck is turned toward him, though he cries aloud.

When the cloud of your ignorance lifted

But the father turns not his head, though the child screams.

لَمّا اِنجَلَت عَنكمُ غُمّاءُ جَهلِكمُ

لَمّا اِنجَلَت عَنكمُ غُمّاءُ جَهلِكمُ

كُنتُم كنا كِثَةِ الغَزلِ الذي ذُكرا

كُنتُم كنا كِثَةِ الغَزلِ الذي ذُكرا

When the darkness of your ignorance cleared away from you,

You were like the rebuked spinners' wool.

When the dark cloud of your ignorance finally lifted,

you were like the woman who unraveled the yarn, as recounted.

If after this you want an evil end

You were like the woman who unravels her own spun thread.

وَبَعدَها إِن أَرَدتُم سوءَ مُنقَلبٍ

وَبَعدَها إِن أَرَدتُم سوءَ مُنقَلبٍ

فَشاغِبوا أَو فَقولوا لا إِذا أَمرا

فَشاغِبوا أَو فَقولوا لا إِذا أَمرا

And afterward, if you desire an evil outcome,

Make mischief or refuse obedience if ordered.

And hereafter, if you desire a wretched fate,

then stir up trouble, or say "No" when he commands.

Who will be like Abdullah on the day of battle,

Then rebel again, or say 'No' when he commands.

فَمن يَكونُ كَعبدِ اللَهِ يومَ وَغىً

فَمن يَكونُ كَعبدِ اللَهِ يومَ وَغىً

إِذا الكُماةُ تَهابُ الوِردَ وَالصَدَرا

إِذا الكُماةُ تَهابُ الوِردَ وَالصَدَرا

Who, then, is like Abd Allah on a day of battle,

When the champions fear the roses and breasts?

For who can compare to Abdullah on the day of battle,

when armored champions fear both advance and return?

Striking the necks, aiming at the skulls

When armored warriors fear to charge and fear to retreat?

الضارِبِ القِرنَ هَبراً وَالقَنا قَصداً

الضارِبِ القِرنَ هَبراً وَالقَنا قَصداً

وَمُكرِهِ الخَيلِ حَتّى تَركب الوَعر

وَمُكرِهِ الخَيلِ حَتّى تَركب الوَعر

He hacks his matched foe apart and shatters lances,

And forcing the horses over rugged ground.

He who cleaves his opponent apart while spears shatter,

and compels the horses to climb rugged ground.

Cubs of the black lions whose prey

And drives his horses to storm the rugged heights.

شِبلُ الأُسودِ التي كانَت فرائِسهُم

شِبلُ الأُسودِ التي كانَت فرائِسهُم

صيدَ المُلوكِ إِذا ما اِستَشعَرُ صَعرا

صيدَ المُلوكِ إِذا ما اِستَشعَرُ صَعرا

A cub of the lions whose prey was

Were kings' game when they sensed the hunt.

Scion of lions whose prey has always been

the proudest kings, whenever they sensed haughtiness.

Why not ask Oman whose fires he lit

The grandest of kings, whenever they dared to show pride.

هلّا سَأَلتُم عُماناً كيفَ أَشعَلَها

هلّا سَأَلتُم عُماناً كيفَ أَشعَلَها

ناراً إِلى الآنِ فيها تَقذِفُ الشَررا

ناراً إِلى الآنِ فيها تَقذِفُ الشَررا

Why did you not ask Oman how he set it

Till now flinging sparks skyward?

Have you not asked Oman how he set it ablaze,

ablaze with fire that still flings sparks there?

They took refuge in their forts, sure they would save them,

A fire that casts forth sparks to this very day?

لاذوا بِمَعقَلِهِم أَن سَوفَ يَمنَعُهُم

لاذوا بِمَعقَلِهِم أَن سَوفَ يَمنَعُهُم

فَجاءَهُم كَعُقابِ الجَوِّ إذ كَسَرا

فَجاءَهُم كَعُقابِ الجَوِّ إذ كَسَرا

They sought refuge in their stronghold, believing it would protect them,

But he came like a swooping eagle and broke them.

They took shelter in their fortress, thinking it would save them,

but he came upon them like an eagle of the sky swooping down.

You tasted a sample of their might

But he descended upon them like a diving eagle.

وَأَنتُمُ ذُقتُمُ من بَأسِهِم طَرفاً

وَأَنتُمُ ذُقتُمُ من بَأسِهِم طَرفاً

يَومَ العُنَيقا دِماكُم أُلغِيَت هَدرا

يَومَ العُنَيقا دِماكُم أُلغِيَت هَدرا

You too tasted a portion of their might

The day of Unayqah when your blood flowed wasted.

And you, too, have tasted a portion of their might;

on the day of al-Unayqa, when your blood was shed without redress.

And at Batariq, the day of schism, a lesson

On the day of al-Unayqa, your blood was shed with impunity.

وَفي البَطاريقِ يَومَ الشَقبِ مُعتَبَرٌ

وَفي البَطاريقِ يَومَ الشَقبِ مُعتَبَرٌ

لَو كانَ فيكُم رجالٌ تَعقِلُ الخَبَرا

لَو كانَ فيكُم رجالٌ تَعقِلُ الخَبَرا

The commanders on the day of al-Shaqb offer a lesson,

Had you men who understand events.

And in the fate of the chieftains at al-Shaqb there is a lesson,

if there were men among you able to grasp the account.

O fortunate king, good fortune's bird,

If only you had men among you who could understand the warning.

يا أَيُّها المَلكُ المَيمونُ طائِرهُ

يا أَيُّها المَلكُ المَيمونُ طائِرهُ

اِنشُر لِواءَكَ تَلقَ العِزَّ وَالظَفرا

اِنشُر لِواءَكَ تَلقَ العِزَّ وَالظَفرا

O king whose omen-bird is auspicious,

Unfurl your banner and meet glory and triumph.

O King, whose omen is ever auspicious,

unfurl your banner, and you will find glory and victory.

With your grandfather's power this age smiles

Unfurl your banner, and you shall meet glory and victory.

بِسَعدِ جدِّكَ هذا الدَهرُ مُبتَسِماً

بِسَعدِ جدِّكَ هذا الدَهرُ مُبتَسِماً

بَعدَ العَبوسِ وَهذا المَجدُ مُفتَخرا

بَعدَ العَبوسِ وَهذا المَجدُ مُفتَخرا

By your blessed fortune, this age is smiling

After sullenness, and glory exults in this honor.

Through your good fortune, Time itself is smiling

after its scowl, and this glory boasts.

Arise, with God's help you will be victorious,

After its frown, and Glory stands proud.

فَاِنهَض فَأنت بِحَولِ اللَه مُنتَصَرٌ

فَاِنهَض فَأنت بِحَولِ اللَه مُنتَصَرٌ

وَاِملِك إِذا شِئتَ باديها وَمن حَضرا

وَاِملِك إِذا شِئتَ باديها وَمن حَضرا

So rise: by God's power you are granted victory,

Rule their lands if you wish, absent and present.

So rise! For by the power of God you are triumphant,

and rule, if you wish, its desert folk and those settled in towns.

Set the foundations of the glory founded

And rule, if you will, over the nomad and the city-dweller alike.

وَشِد قَواعِدَ مَجدٍ كان وطَّدَهُ

وَشِد قَواعِدَ مَجدٍ كان وطَّدَهُ

قِدماً أَبوك وَبحرُ الموتِ قد زَخرا

قِدماً أَبوك وَبحرُ الموتِ قد زَخرا

And strengthen the foundations of glory that

By your father while death's ocean seethed.

Reinforce the foundations of glory that were established

your father laid long ago, while the sea of death surged.

Brace yourself with a sword that if you strike with it

Long ago by your father, when the sea of death surged high.

وَاِشدُد يَدَيكَ بِسَيفٍ إِن ضَرَبتَ بهِ

وَاِشدُد يَدَيكَ بِسَيفٍ إِن ضَرَبتَ بهِ

أَصبَحتَ تَحمدُ من أَفعالهِ الأَثَرا

أَصبَحتَ تَحمدُ من أَفعالهِ الأَثَرا

And brace your hands with a sword: if you strike with it,

You will thank it for its feats.

Strengthen your grip on a sword which, if you strike with it,

you will praise the mark its deeds have left.

Keener than a serpent, resolute for your order

You will surely praise the impact of its deeds.

أَمضى مِنَ العَضبِ مَصقولاً عَزائِمهُ

أَمضى مِنَ العَضبِ مَصقولاً عَزائِمهُ

طَوعاً لِأَمرِكَ فيما جَلَّ أَو صَغُرا

طَوعاً لِأَمرِكَ فيما جَلَّ أَو صَغُرا

His resolves are keener than a polished sharp sword,

Be it grave or slight.

Sharper than a polished blade is his resolve,

obedient to your command in matters great or small.

Lofty in generosity, giver of bounties, pillar

Obedient to your command in matters great or small.

سامي المَكارمِ وَهّابُ الكَرائِمِ رَكّ

سامي المَكارمِ وَهّابُ الكَرائِمِ رَكّ

ابُ العَظائِمِ لا يَستَعظِمُ الخَطَرا

ابُ العَظائِمِ لا يَستَعظِمُ الخَطَرا

Lofty in virtues, lavish with precious gifts, a bold

Of supreme acts, who does not shun danger.

He is high in virtue, a bestower of precious gifts, who rides

rider into great undertakings, never deeming danger too great.

Your brother, your support, protector of the fallen,

Upon great undertakings, never daunted by the danger.

أَخوكَ صِنوُكَ حامي كُلِّ عاثِرَةٍ

أَخوكَ صِنوُكَ حامي كُلِّ عاثِرَةٍ

عَبدُ الرحيمِ الذي بِالبَأسِ قَد شُهِرا

عَبدُ الرحيمِ الذي بِالبَأسِ قَد شُهِرا

Your brother, your counterpart, protector of every stumbling one:

Abdul Rahim, renowned in war.

Your brother, your twin soul, the protector of the fallen,

Abd al-Rahim, who is renowned for his might.

While you two watch the horizon nothing mars

Abdul-Rahim, he who is renowned for his might.

لا زِلتُما فَرقَدَي أُفقٍ بِلا كَدَرٍ

لا زِلتُما فَرقَدَي أُفقٍ بِلا كَدَرٍ

تُقَضِيّانِ بأسنى الرُتبَةِ العُمُرا

تُقَضِيّانِ بأسنى الرُتبَةِ العُمُرا

May you two remain the twin Farqad stars of an unclouded horizon,

Your commanding the finest rank and life.

May you both remain as the two bright stars of a cloudless horizon,

spending your lives in the loftiest station.

Spending your lives in the highest stations of glory.