ما بُكاءُ الكَبيرِ بِالأَطلالِ
وَسُؤالي فَهَل تَرُدُّ سُؤالي
The weeping of elders over ruins,
And my question - will you answer my question?
دِمنَةٌ قَفرَةٌ تَعاوَرَها الصَي
فُ بِريحَينِ مِن صَباً وَشَمالِ
A barren wasteland buffeted by winds
From the east and from the north.
لاتَ هَنّا ذِكرى جُبَيرَةَ أَو مَن
جاءَ مِنها بِطائِفِ الأَهوالِ
No memories here of Jubayrah or those
Who came from it bearing awful burdens.
حَلَّ أَهلي بَطنَ الغَميسِ فَبادَو
لي وَحَلَّت عُلوِيَّةً بِالسِخالِ
My people settled in the belly of darkness and perished
For me, while lofty dwellings fell into ruin.
تَرتَعي السَفحَ فَالكَثيبَ فَذا قا
رٍ فَرَوضَ القَطا فَذاتَ الرِئالِ
It grazes the slopes, then the hills, then wanders
Among the meadows where young gazelles play.
رُبَّ خَرقٍ مِن دونِها يُخرِسُ السَف
رَ وَميلٍ يُفضي إِلى أَميالِ
Many are the mountain passes that make the traveler silent
And the slopes that lead to more slopes.
وَسِقاءٍ يوكى عَلى تَأَقِ المَل
ءِ وَسَيرٍ وَمُستَقى أَوشالِ
A waterskin lamenting the filling of skins,
Travels and wells and twisting paths.
وَاِدِّلاجٍ بَعدَ المَنامِ وَتَهجي
رٍ وَقُفٍّ وَسَبسَبٍ وَرِمالِ
Routes taken after sleep, wandering, stopping,
And moving on, and hills of sand.
وَقَليبٍ أَجنٍ كَأَنَّ مِنَ الري
شِ بِأَرجائِهِ لُقوطَ نِصالِ
A kettle blackened as if spears
Had pierced its edges from all directions.
فَلَئِن شَطَّ بي المَزارُ لَقَد أَغ
دو قَليلَ الهُمومِ ناعِمَ بالِ
So if the shrine has revived me, I was
Little troubled, living softly.
إِذ هِيَ الهَمُّ وَالحَديثُ وَإِذ تَع
صي إِلَيَّ الأَميرَ ذا الأَقوالِ
For it is my preoccupation and my discourse,
And if the prince calls me, a man of words,
ظَبيَةٌ مِن ظِباءِ وَجرَةَ أَدما
ءُ تَسَفُّ الكَباثَ تَحتَ الهَدالِ
A gazelle of gazelles and spotted fawns
Who kick up dust beneath the shrubs,
حُرَّةٌ طَفلَةُ الأَنامِلِ تَرتَب
بُ سُخاماً تَكُفُّهُ بِخِلالِ
A free mare, nimble, barely restrained
By the bridle, a mother of a young gazelle.
وَكَأَنَّ السُموطَ عَكَّفَها السَل
كُ بِعِطفَي جَيداءَ أُمِّ غَزالِ
Her withers, it seems, caressed by a soft palm,
The gentle hand of a doe, mother of a fawn.
وَكَأَنَّ الخَمرَ العَتيقَ مِنَ الإِ
سفَنطِ مَمزوجَةً بِماءٍ زُلالِ
And the old wine seems mixed
With pure water from Isfahan.
باكَرَتها الأَغرابُ في سِنَةِ النَو
مِ فَتَجري خِلالَ شَوكِ السَيالِ
Wild cows bred her in a rainy year
So she flows between sharp thorns.
فَاِذهَبي ما إِلَيكِ أَدرَكَني الحِل
مُ عَداني عَن ذِكرِكُم أَشغالي
So go - dreams have come upon me.
My work has distracted me from remembering you.
وَعَسيرٍ أَدماءَ حادِرَةِ العَي
نِ خَنوفٍ عَيرانَةٍ شِملالِ
A camel loud in breathing, gloomy, wearing a neck shade,
Bellowing, fleet footed, shaggy neck hair.
مِن سَراةِ الهِجانِ صَلَّبَها العُض
ضُ وَرَعيُ الحِمى وَطولُ الحِيالِ
The drought has shriveled her; she was not pitied
By companions or served by slaves.
لَم تَعَطَّف عَلى حُوارٍ وَلَم يَق
طَع عُبَيدٌ عُروقَها مِن خُمالِ
I blamed her for the hardness of the earth,
Though her shining metal parts have worn out.
قَد تَعَلَّلتُها عَلى نَكَظِ المَي
طِ وَقَد خَبَّ لامِعاتُ الآلِ
She wanders the wasteland aimlessly
Except for fate and appointed terms.
فَوقَ دَيمومَةٍ تَغَوَّلُ بِالسَف
رِ قِفارٍ إِلّا مِنَ الآجالِ
And when the darkness recedes and they hope
The rain will come after nights,
وَإِذا ما الضَلالُ خيفَ وَكانَ ال
وِردُ خِمساً يَرجونَهُ عَن لَيالِ
And the changers of camp are roused among the tribe,
While the weavers are secluded in their tents,
وَاِستُحِثَّ المُغَيِّرونَ مِنَ القَو
مِ وَكانَ النُطافُ ما في العَزالي
A mare runs like a fleet ostrich,
Separating the bundle on the saddle.
مَرِحَت حُرَّةٌ كَقَنطَرَةِ الرو
مِيِّ تَفري الهَجيرَ بِالإِرقالِ
She overtakes the wild goats and mountain ridges
With a quickness to plunge into ravines.
تَقطَعُ الأَمعَزَ المُكَوكِبَ وَخداً
بِنَواجٍ سَريعَةِ الإيغالِ
Antar's horse who, when spurred, runs
Like the trotting of a lively, prancing steed,
عَنتَريسٌ تَعدو إِذا مَسَّها السَو
طُ كَعَدوِ المُصَلصِلِ الجَوّالِ
Whose flanks the summer heat and hooves have smoothed
On the mountain path like an archer's bow.
لاحَهُ الصَيفُ وَالصِيالُ وَإِشفا
قٌ عَلى صَعدَةٍ كَقَوسِ الضَاللِ
Dazzling the heart unto madness, distracting it
From her - evil is such a distraction,
مُلمِعٍ لاعَةِ الفُؤادِ إِلى جَح
شٍ فَلاهُ عَنها فَبِئسَ الفالي
Malicious toward the tribe, evil of soul,
Who casts his ropes with throwing sticks.
ذو أَذاةٍ عَلى الخَليطِ خَبيثُ ال
نَفسِ يَرمي مَراغَهُ بِالنُسالِ
He startled the mare in the dust and chased
Her insistently to the drummer's call.
غادَرَ الجَحشَ في الغُبارِ وَعَدّا
ها حَثيثاً لِصُوَّةِ الأَدحالِ
I likened my she-camel as she veered
Right of pasture after weariness and exertion.
ذاكَ شَبَّهتُ ناقَتي عَن يَمينِ ال
رَعنِ بَعدَ الكَلالِ وَالإِعمالِ
And she complains to me, moaning piteously,
Her chest galled like the soles of sandals.
وَتَراها تَشكو إِلَيَّ وَقَد آ
لَت طَليحاً تُحذى صُدورَ النِعالِ
The saddle has dug into her back
So you see the vertebrae of one hour then departure.
نَقَبَ الخُفِّ لِلسُرى فَتَرى الأَن
ساعَ مِن حِلِّ ساعَةٍ وَاِرتِحالِ
She limped in the fetlocks as if
Crippled, swaying above a lame leg.
أَثَّرَت في جَناجِنٍ كَإِرانِ ال
مَيتِ عولينَ فَوقَ عوجٍ رِسالِ
Do not complain to me of the pain of travel,
Nor of the saddle-cloth nor of exhaustion.
لا تَشَكّي إِلَيَّ مِن أَلَمِ النِس
عِ وَلا مِن حَفاً وَلا مِن كَلالِ
Do not complain but seek the black hill,
Home of dew and home of action.
لا تَشَكّي إِلَيَّ وَاِنتَجِعي الأَس
وَدَ أَهلَ النَدى وَأَهلَ الفِعالِ
A fresh branch that quivers on the bough
Of glory, pouring copious dew, firm stepping.
فَرعُ نَبعٍ يَهتَزُّ في غُصُنِ المَج
دِ غَزيرُ النَدى شَديدُ المِحالِ
There lies honor and piety, and the quarrel
Of the guest, and the bearing of heavy loads.
عِندَهُ الخَزمُ وَالتُقى وَأَسا الصَر
عِ وَحَملٌ لِمُضلِعِ الأَثقالِ
And keeping ties of kin - mankind knows -
And freeing prisoners from shackles.
وَصِلاتُ الأَرحامِ قَد عَلِمَ النا
سُ وَفَكُّ الأَسرى مِنَ الأَغلالِ
And humility of the dear soul toward
Remembrance when breasts of people meet.
وَهَوانُ النَفسِ العَزيزَةِ لِلذَك
رِ إِذا ما اِلتَقَت صُدورُ العَوالي
Giving, when asked, though blame be forthcoming,
For he does not care.
وَعَطاءٌ إِذا سَأَلتَ إِذا العِذ
رَةُ كانَت عَطِيَّةَ البُخّالِ
Loyalty, when you promise, your ropes never breaking
As you tie rope to rope.
وَوَفاءٌ إِذا أَجَرتَ فَما غُر
رَت حِبالٌ وَصَلتَها بِحِبالِ
Comfortable, your people rest in your shade
Rising for you as the crescent rises.
أَريَحِيٌّ صَلتٌ يَظَلُّ لَهُ القَو
مُ رُكوداً قِيامَهُم لِلهِلالِ
Whether he punishes, it is affection,
And if he gives copiously, he cares not.
إِن يُعاقِب يَكُن غَراماً وَإِن يُع
طِ جَزيلاً فَإِنَّهُ لا يُبالي
He bestows bounty on the crowd like an orchard
Swaying before children.
يَهَبُ الجِلَّةَ الجَراجِرَ كَالبُس
تانِ تَحنو لِدَردَقٍ أَطفالِ
And girls run beneath the ancient willow,
And the knight in trailing garb.
وَالبَغايا يَركُضنَ أَكسِيَةَ الإِض
ريجِ وَالشَرعَبِيَّ ذا الأَذيالِ
Horses as if they were shafts of lightning,
Galloping with the speed of heroes.
وَجِياداً كَأَنَّها قُضُبُ الشَو
حَطِ تَعدو بِشِكَّةِ الأَبطالِ
Tambourines and silver platters
And girls swaying beneath the men.
وَالمَكاكيكَ وَالصِحافَ مِنَ الفِض
ضَةِ وَالضامِزاتِ تَحتَ الرِجالِ
How many tribes were given to drink
At dusk from his pool and were content?
رُبَّ حَيٍّ أَشقاهُمُ آخِرَ الدَه
رِ وَحَيٍّ سَقاهُمُ بِسِجالِ
Battles blazed but were not extinguished
When he reduced them beneath his rule.
وَلَقَد شُبَّتِ الحُروبُ فَما غُم
مِرتَ فيها إِذ قَلَّصَت عَن حِيالِ
Behold, again and again, each was given
Sandals studded with examples.
هَأُلى ثُمَّ هَأُلى كُلّاً اِعطَي
تَ نِعالاً مَحذُوَّةً بِمِثالِ
Thus I see those who obey your staff
Exalted, while the heels of your obedient rise high.
فَأَرى مَن عَصاكَ أَصبَحَ مَخذو
لاً وَكَعبُ الَّذي يُطيعُكَ عالي
You are better than ten thousand thousand
Of men when faces touch the ground.
أَنتَ خَيرٌ مِن أَلفِ أَلفٍ مِنَ القَو
مِ إِذا ما كَبَت وُجوهُ الرِجالِ
And for one such as you who has gathered
An army, the death blow is refused.
وَلِمِثلِ الَّذي جَمَعتَ مِنَ العُد
دَةِ تَأبى حُكومَةَ المُقتالِ
Your ancient, veteran army of noblemen
Lords of domed tents and feasts.
جُندُكَ التالِدُ العَتيقُ مِنَ ال
ساداتِ أَهلِ القِبابِ وَالآكالِ
No deviation in battle, no discord,
No reserves, no foster sons.
غَيرُ ميلٍ وَلا عَواويرَ في الهَي
جا وَلا عُزَّلٍ وَلا أَكفالِ
Shields woven by David for war
Borne on camel back.
وَدُروعٌ مِن نَسجِ داوُودَ في الحَر
بِ وَسوقٌ يُحمَلنَ فَوقَ الجِمالِ
Raiment like ashes to guard
Against dew and shade.
مُلبَساتٌ مِثلَ الرَمادِ مِنَ الكُر
رَةِ مِن خَشيَةِ النَدى وَالطِلالِ
No ease allowed for the friend
But to fight the enemy in battle.
لَم يُيَسَّرنَ لِلصَديقِ وَلَكِن
لِقِتالِ العَدُوِّ يَومَ القِتالِ
For one who makes destiny
His adversary, without refuge or ally.
لِاِمرِئٍ يَجعَلُ الأَداةَ لِرَيبِ ال
دَهرِ لا مُسنَدٍ وَلا زُمّالِ
Every year leading horses to horses
Openly, the morning after polishing swords.
كُلَّ عامٍ يَقودُ خَيلاً إِلى خَي
لٍ دِفاقاً غَداةَ غِبِّ الصِقالِ
He subdued the giddy when they disliked religion,
With a raid and assault.
هُوَ دانَ الرَبابَ إِذ كَرِهوا الدي
نَ دِراكاً بِغَزوَةٍ وَصِيالِ
Then he quenched them at the watering pace
And sated the sins of the filled valley.
ثُمَّ أَسقاهُمُ عَلى نَفَدِ العَي
شِ فَأَروى ذَنوبَ رِفدٍ مُحالِ
A spacious tent the guest retreats to
And tent ropes linked to ropes.
فَخمَةً يَلجَأُ المُضافُ إِلَيها
وَرِعالاً مَوصولَةً بِرِعالِ
It casts out the elder from his sons
And turns away the white haired recluse.
تُخرِجُ الشَيخَ مِن بَنيهِ وَتُلوي
بِلَبونِ المِعزابَةِ المِعزالِ
Then the giddy complained as if suffering
The punishment of words.
ثُمَّ دانَت بَعدُ الرِبابُ وَكانَت
كَعَذابٍ عُقوبَةُ الأَقوالِ
For yearning, long imprisonment, and gathering
Scattered ones, and travel, and endurance
عَن تَمَنٍّ وَطولِ حَبسٍ وَتَجمي
عِ شَتاتٍ وَرِحلَةٍ وَاِحتِمالِ
From the ostrich chicks when they disliked adversity,
And deer, and writhing snakes.
مِن نَواصي دودانَ إِذ كَرِهوا البَأ
سَ وَذُبيانَ وَالهِجانِ الغَوالي
Then you brought together with a spring
When you directed a condition away from a condition.
ثُمَّ وَصَلتَ صِرَّةً بِرَبيعٍ
حينَ صَرَّفتَ حالَةً عَن حالِ
How many valleys did you drain that day,
And captives from the tribe of killers!
رُبَّ رَفدٍ هَرَقتَهُ ذَلِكَ اليَو
مَ وَأَسرى مِن مَعشَرٍ أَقتالِ
And elderly champions on the cushions of the litter,
And women as if they were the pleasers.
وَشُيوخٍ حَربى بِشَطّي أَريكٍ
وَنِساءٍ كَأَنَّهُنَّ السَعالي
And two partners in much wealth
Who had pledged to reduce it.
وَشَريكَينِ في كَثيرٍ مِنَ الما
لِ وَكانا مُحالِفَي إِقلالِ
They divided the fresh plunder -
Both were men of property.
قَسَما الطارِفَ التَليدَ مِنَ الغُن
مِ فَآبا كِلاهُما ذو مالِ
You will remain thus, then never change,
Remaining for them eternal as mountains.
لَن تَزالوا كَذَلِكُم ثُمَّ لا زِل
تَ لَهُم خالِداً خُلودَ الجِبالِ
