كِلينيleave me لِهَمٍّto a sorrow ياO أُمَيمَةَUmayma ناصِبِwearisome
كِليني لِهَمٍّ يا أُمَيمَةَ ناصِبِ
وَلَيلٍand a night أُقاسيهِI endure it بَطيءِslow-moving الكَواكِبِthe stars
وَلَيلٍ أُقاسيهِ بَطيءِ الكَواكِبِ
Leave me, O Umayma, to a wearying sorrow,
My worries burden me, O Umayma, as I endure
and a night I endure, whose stars move slowly.
A night whose stars creep slowly by.
تَطاوَلَgrew long حَتّىuntil قُلتُI said لَيسَit is not بِمُنقَضٍcoming to an end
تَطاوَلَ حَتّى قُلتُ لَيسَ بِمُنقَضٍ
وَلَيسَand is not الَّذيthe one who يَرعىtends النُجومَthe stars بِآئِبِreturning
وَلَيسَ الَّذي يَرعى النُجومَ بِآئِبِ
It stretched on until I said, "It will never end,"
It went on so long, I said “It will not end!
nor will the one who tends the stars return.
Nor will the one who shepherds the stars tire!”
وَصَدرٍand a breast أَراحَbrought home اللَيلُthe night عازِبَstraying هَمِّهِits sorrow
وَصَدرٍ أَراحَ اللَيلُ عازِبَ هَمِّهِ
تَضاعَفَdoubled فيهِwithin it الحُزنُgrief مِنfrom كُلِّevery جانِبِside
تَضاعَفَ فيهِ الحُزنُ مِن كُلِّ جانِبِ
And a breast whose straying sorrow night brought home:
In my heart the night has relieved its absent grief,
grief within it doubled from every side.
And sorrow redoubles in me from every side.
عَلَيَّupon me لِعَمروٍfor 'Amr نِعمَةٌa kindness بَعدَafter نِعمَةٍa kindness
عَلَيَّ لِعَمروٍ نِعمَةٌ بَعدَ نِعمَةٍ
لِوالِدِهِfrom his father لَيسَتit is not بِذاتِpossessed of عَقارِبِscorpions
لِوالِدِهِ لَيسَت بِذاتِ عَقارِبِ
I owe 'Amr a kindness after a kindness
I owe, by the life of ‘Amr, kindness after kindness
from his father, with no scorpions in it.
To his father—no mere gestures.
حَلَفتُI swore يَميناًan oath غَيرَnot ذيhaving مَثنَوِيَّةٍan exception
حَلَفتُ يَميناً غَيرَ ذي مَثنَوِيَّةٍ
وَلاand no عِلمَknowledge إِلّاexcept حُسنُa good ظَنٍّopinion بِصاحِبِof a companion
وَلا عِلمَ إِلّا حُسنُ ظَنٍّ بِصاحِبِ
I swore an oath admitting no exception,
I swore an oath not lightly broken
and had no knowledge beyond a good opinion of a companion:
And knew only good thoughts toward my companion.
لَئِنif indeed كانَthere is لِلقَبرَينِfor the two graves قَبرٍa grave بِجِلَّقٍat Jilliq
لَئِن كانَ لِلقَبرَينِ قَبرٍ بِجِلَّقٍ
وَقَبرٍand a grave بِصَيداءَat Sayda الَّذيthe one عِندَnear حارِبِHarib
وَقَبرٍ بِصَيداءَ الَّذي عِندَ حارِبِ
if indeed the two graves have a claim on him—a grave at Jilliq,
If the two tombs in Jiljaq
and a grave at Sayda, the one near Harib—
And the tomb in Sidon by the warrior’s graves—
وَلِلحارِثِand for al-Harith الجَفنِيَّal-Jafni سَيِّدِlord قَومِهِof his people
وَلِلحارِثِ الجَفنِيَّ سَيِّدِ قَومِهِ
لَيَلتَمِسَنhe shall surely seek بِالجَيشِwith the army دارَthe abode المُحارِبِof the enemy
لَيَلتَمِسَن بِالجَيشِ دارَ المُحارِبِ
and al-Harith al-Jafni, lord of his people,
If al-Harith ibn Jafnah, lord of his people,
he shall surely seek the enemy's abode with the army.
Seeks them with an army at the warriors’ abodes
وَثِقتُI trusted لَهُfor him بِالنَصرِin victory إِذwhen قيلَit was said قَدalready غَزَتhad gone raiding
وَثِقتُ لَهُ بِالنَصرِ إِذ قيلَ قَد غَزَت
كَتائِبُbattalions مِنof غَسّانَGhassan غَيرُnot أَشائِبِmixed bands
كَتائِبُ مِن غَسّانَ غَيرُ أَشائِبِ
I trusted in victory for him when they said, "To war have gone
I trust him victory when it was said armies had marched
battalions of Ghassan, no motley bands."
From Ghassan, graying elders yet unstooped—
بَنوsons عَمِّهِof his paternal uncle دُنياclosely related وَعَمروُand 'Amr بنُson of عامِرٍ'Amir
بَنو عَمِّهِ دُنيا وَعَمروُ بنُ عامِرٍ
أولَئِكَthose قَومٌa people بَأسُهُمtheir valor غَيرُnot كاذِبِfalse
أولَئِكَ قَومٌ بَأسُهُم غَيرُ كاذِبِ
His close paternal cousins, and the sons of 'Amr ibn 'Amir—
His uncle’s sons: Dunya, and ‘Amr ibn ‘Amir—
those are a people whose valor never proves false.
Intrepid men whose might is no pretense!
إِذاwhen ماغَزواthey go raiding بِالجَيشِwith the army حَلَّقَcircle aloft فَوقَهُمabove them
إِذا ماغَزوا بِالجَيشِ حَلَّقَ فَوقَهُم
عَصائِبُflocks طَيرٍof birds تَهتَديfind their way بِعَصائِبِby bands of warriors
عَصائِبُ طَيرٍ تَهتَدي بِعَصائِبِ
When they go raiding with the army, above them circle
When they march out the birds circle high above them,
flocks of birds guided by bands of warriors.
Guided, like they, by plumed tips above their brows.
يُصاحِبنَهُمthey accompany them حَتّىuntil يُغِرنَthey raid مُغارَهُمtheir raiding-ground
يُصاحِبنَهُم حَتّى يُغِرنَ مُغارَهُم
مِنَamong الضارِياتِthose habituated بِالدِماءِto blood الدَوارِبِwell practiced
مِنَ الضارِياتِ بِالدِماءِ الدَوارِبِ
They accompany them until they too raid where the men raid—
The kites accompany them until their dens
birds habituated to blood, well practiced.
Are rich with gore of swooping, wheeling kites.
تَراهُنَّyou see them خَلفَbehind القَومِthe men خُزراًlooking askance عُيونُهاtheir eyes
تَراهُنَّ خَلفَ القَومِ خُزراً عُيونُها
جُلوسَsitting like الشُيوخِold men فيin ثِيابِgarments المَرانِبِof rabbit fur
جُلوسَ الشُيوخِ في ثِيابِ المَرانِبِ
You see them behind the men, their eyes narrowed,
Behind the troop their eyes are watchful—
sitting like old men in rabbit-fur robes.
Elders wrapped in striped robes.
جَوانِحَinclining قَدalready أَيقَنَّthey are certain أَنَّthat قَبيلَهُhis tribe
جَوانِحَ قَد أَيقَنَّ أَنَّ قَبيلَهُ
إِذاwhen ماever اِلتَقىmeet الجَمعانِthe two hosts أَوَّلُthe first غالِبِvictor
إِذا ما اِلتَقى الجَمعانِ أَوَّلُ غالِبِ
Leaning toward them, they are certain that his tribe,
Cunning birds, they know his tribe
when the two hosts meet, is the first to prevail.
Will conquer if the two hosts clash.
لَهُنَّfor them عَلَيهِمupon them عادَةٌa custom قَدalready عَرَفنَهاthey have learned it
لَهُنَّ عَلَيهِم عادَةٌ قَد عَرَفنَها
إِذاwhen عُرِّضَis leveled الخَطِّيُّthe Khatti spear فَوقَabove الكَواثِبِthe withers
إِذا عُرِّضَ الخَطِّيُّ فَوقَ الكَواثِبِ
With these men they have a custom they know well,
They have a custom known to them—
when the Khatti spear is leveled above the withers,
Plunder for them if the coward takes to flight!
عَلىupon عارِفاتٍexperienced mares لِلطِعانِin spear combat عَوابِسٍgrim-faced
عَلى عارِفاتٍ لِلطِعانِ عَوابِسٍ
بِهِنَّon them كُلومٌwounds بَينَbetween دامٍbleeding وَجالِبِand scabbed
بِهِنَّ كُلومٌ بَينَ دامٍ وَجالِبِ
on grim-faced mares well versed in spear-fighting,
Keen-eyed they scan the thrusting lances
bearing wounds, some bleeding and some scabbed.
Tearing amid the fray with crooked beaks.
إِذاwhen اِستُنزِلواthey are called to dismount عَنهُنَّfrom them لِلطَعنِfor spear combat أَرقَلواthey trot swiftly
إِذا اِستُنزِلوا عَنهُنَّ لِلطَعنِ أَرقَلوا
إِلىtoward المَوتِdeath إِرقالَat the swift trot of الجِمالِthe camels المَصاعِبِunbroken
إِلى المَوتِ إِرقالَ الجِمالِ المَصاعِبِ
When called to dismount from them for spear combat, they rush
If checked from striking down too soon
toward death with the swift trot of unbroken camels.
They glide, on tottering camel, toward death.
فَهُمso they يَتَساقَونَgive one another to drink المَنيَّةَdeath بَينَهُمamong themselves
فَهُم يَتَساقَونَ المَنيَّةَ بَينَهُم
بِأَيديهِمُin their hands بيضٌwhite swords رِقاقُslender المَضارِبِthe striking edges
بِأَيديهِمُ بيضٌ رِقاقُ المَضارِبِ
So they exchange draughts of death among themselves,
So they take turns inflicting death
white swords in their hands, slender at the striking edges.
Their white spears slender as the поло sticks.
يَطيرُflies فُضاضاًin fragments بَينَهاbetween them كُلُّevery قَونَسٍhelmet-crest
يَطيرُ فُضاضاً بَينَها كُلُّ قَونَسٍ
وَيَتبَعَهاand follow them مِنهُمfrom them فَراشُthin bone fragments الحَواجِبِof the brows
وَيَتبَعَها مِنهُم فَراشُ الحَواجِبِ
Every helmet-crest flies in fragments between them,
Scraps fly between them and each crow
and after them fly splinters of the men's brow bones.
Is followed by crickets from the crannies.
وَلاand no عَيبَfault فيهِمin them غَيرَexcept أَنَّthat سُيوفَهُمtheir swords
وَلا عَيبَ فيهِم غَيرَ أَنَّ سُيوفَهُم
بِهِنَّin them فُلولٌnotches مِنfrom قِراعِclashing with الكَتائِبِthe battalions
بِهِنَّ فُلولٌ مِن قِراعِ الكَتائِبِ
And there is no fault in them, except that their swords
No fault in them but that their swords
bear notches from clashing with battalions.
Bear remnants of blades shattered on armor
تُوُرَّثنَhave been handed down مِنfrom أَزمانِthe times of يَومِthe Day of حَليمَةٍHalima
تُوُرَّثنَ مِن أَزمانِ يَومِ حَليمَةٍ
إِلىto اليَومِtoday قَدalready جُرِّبنَhave been tested كُلَّall التَجارِبِtrials
إِلى اليَومِ قَد جُرِّبنَ كُلَّ التَجارِبِ
Handed down since the time of the Day of Halima,
Hand-me-downs from the days of Halima
to this day they have been tested in every trial.
Tested through trials until this very day!
تَقُدَّcut through السَلوقِيَّSaluqi mail المُضاعَفَdoubled نَسجُهُits weave
تَقُدَّ السَلوقِيَّ المُضاعَفَ نَسجُهُ
وَتوقِدُand kindle بِالصُفّاحِon flat stones نارَthe fire of الحُباحِبِal-Hubahib
وَتوقِدُ بِالصُفّاحِ نارَ الحُباحِبِ
They cleave Saluqi mail with its doubled weave,
The gleaming Sulūqī mail and flashing mirrors
and kindle al-Hubahib's fire on flat stones,
Kindle love’s fires with their brilliant sparks.
بِضَربٍwith blows يُزيلُdislodging الهامَheads عَنfrom سَكِناتِهِtheir resting places
بِضَربٍ يُزيلُ الهامَ عَن سَكِناتِهِ
وَطَعنٍand thrusts كَإيزاغِlike the urine-spray of المَخاضِpregnant she-camels الضَوارِبِtail-raising
وَطَعنٍ كَإيزاغِ المَخاضِ الضَوارِبِ
with blows that dislodge heads from their resting places,
Blows to lift self-delusion from its haven
and thrusts like urine spurting from tail-raising pregnant camels.
And stabs to pierce the laboring camel’s kidneys.
لَهُمthey have شيمَةٌa trait لَمdid not يُعطِهاgive it اللَهُGod غَيرَهُمto anyone but them
لَهُم شيمَةٌ لَم يُعطِها اللَهُ غَيرَهُم
مِنَof الجودِgenerosity وَالأَحلامُand sound judgment غَيرُnot عَوازِبِabsent
مِنَ الجودِ وَالأَحلامُ غَيرُ عَوازِبِ
They have a trait God has granted to none but them,
They have a virtue God grants no other tribe:
of generosity; and their sound judgment never deserts them.
Openness of hand, and dreams unsullied.
مَحَلَّتُهُمtheir dwelling ذاتُbelonging to الإِلَهِGod وَدينُهُمand their religion
مَحَلَّتُهُم ذاتُ الإِلَهِ وَدينُهُم
قَويمٌupright فَماso not يَرجونَthey hope for غَيرَanything but العَواقِبِthe final rewards
قَويمٌ فَما يَرجونَ غَيرَ العَواقِبِ
Their dwelling is God's own, and their religion
God’s will awards them victory, their faith is true—
is upright; they hope only for the final rewards.
They hope for nothing but the best.
رِقاقُthin النِعالِsandals طَيِّبٌpure حُجُزاتُهُمtheir waistbands
رِقاقُ النِعالِ طَيِّبٌ حُجُزاتُهُم
يُحَيّونَthey are greeted بِالريحانِwith fragrant herbs يَومَon the day of السَباسِبِSabasib (Palm Sunday)
يُحَيّونَ بِالريحانِ يَومَ السَباسِبِ
Their sandals are thin, their waistbands pure;
The heels of their sandals smell sweet
they are greeted with fragrant herbs on Sabasib Day.
And spice-bags scent them on the day they don their armor.
تُحَيّهِمُgreet them بَيضُfair-skinned الوَلائِدِslave girls بَينَهُمamong them
تُحَيّهِمُ بَيضُ الوَلائِدِ بَينَهُم
وَأَكسِيَةُand cloaks الإِضريجِof red silk فَوقَupon المَشاجِبِthe clothes-racks
وَأَكسِيَةُ الإِضريجِ فَوقَ المَشاجِبِ
Fair-skinned slave girls greet them in their midst,
Camphor perfumes them, white as the newborn;
and red-silk cloaks hang upon the clothes-racks.
Fine linen lies across their shoulders.
يَصونونَthey protect أَجساداًbodies قَديماًlong-established نَعيمُهاtheir comfort
يَصونونَ أَجساداً قَديماً نَعيمُها
بِخالِصَةِwith spotless الأَردانِsleeves خُضرِgreen المَناكِبِshoulders
بِخالِصَةِ الأَردانِ خُضرِ المَناكِبِ
They protect bodies long accustomed to luxury,
They protect bodies whose old comforts
in spotless-sleeved robes, green at the shoulders.
Were pure Persian herbs and green plants.
وَلاand not يَحسَبونَthey suppose الخَيرَgood fortune لاno شَرَّevil بَعدَهُafter it
وَلا يَحسَبونَ الخَيرَ لا شَرَّ بَعدَهُ
وَلاand not يَحسِبونَthey reckon الشَرَّmisfortune ضَربَةَa blow لازِبِinescapable
وَلا يَحسِبونَ الشَرَّ ضَربَةَ لازِبِ
They do not think good fortune has no evil after it,
They consider no deed as evil once done
nor deem misfortune an inescapable blow.
Or evil deed as blow that misses.
حَبَوتُI bestowed بِهاwith it غَسّانَGhassan إِذwhen كُنتُI was لاحِقاًjoining
حَبَوتُ بِها غَسّانَ إِذ كُنتُ لاحِقاً
بِقَوميwith my people وَإِذand when أَعيَتproved too difficult عَلَيَّfor me مَذاهِبيmy paths
بِقَومي وَإِذ أَعيَت عَلَيَّ مَذاهِبي
I gave this as a gift to Ghassan when I was joining
In Ghassān I took pride when I pursued
my people, and when my paths had failed me.
My tribe, though to pursue them wearied me.
Sol 6.1