وَما مُزنَةٌ جادَت فَأَسبَلَ وَدقُها
عَلى رَوضَةٍ رَيحانُها قَد تَخَضَّدا
The heavy cloud pours forth its bounty,
drenching a garden whose basil is in bloom—
كَأَنَّ تِجارَ الهِندِ حَلّو رِحالَهُم
عَلَيها طُروقاً ثُمَّ أَضحَوا بِها الغَدا
as though the Indian merchants had pitched
their tents awhile, then folded them to resume
بِأَطيَبَ مِن ثَوبَينِ تَأوي إِلَيهِما
سُعادُ إِذا نَجمُ السِماكَينِ عَرَّدا
their journey in the early morning glow.
More fragrant than two garments where happiness
كَأَنَّ العُيونَ المُرسِلاتِ عَشِيَّةً
شَآبيبَ دَمعٍ لَم تَجِد مُتَرَدَّدا
alights when the Evening Star gleams from its place
are the tears’ showers unleashed at dusk
مَزائِدُ خَرقاءَ اليَدَينِ مُسيفَةٍ
أَخَبَّ بِهِنَّ المُخلِفانِ وَأَحفَدا
by eyes that meet no impediment.
The hands of Khirqah—rent and calloused—serve guests
وَما بَيضَةٌ باتَ الظَليمُ يَحُفُّها
بِوَعساءَ أَعلى تُربِها قَد تَلَبَّدا
a feast that puts the niggardly to shame, arousing spite.
Not even an egg kept warm all night
فَلَمّا عَلَتهُ الشَمسُ في يَومِ طَلقَةٍ
وَأَشرَفَ مَكّاءُ الضُحى فَتَغَرَّدا
by the hen crouching over it in the high nest
was more snug than he. But when at break of day
أَرادَ القِيامَ فَاِزبَأَرَّ عِفاءُهُ
وَحَرَّكَ أَعلى رِجلِهِ فَتَأَوَّدا
the sun shines clear and the warblers trill,
wanting to rise, he clears his throat, moves a leg,
وَهَزَّ جَناحَيهِ فَساقَطَ نَفضُهُ
فَراشَ النَدى عَن مَتنِهِ فَتَبَدَّدا
then folds both his wings and sheds
the dew from his breast in a powdery dust.
فَغادَرَ في الأُدحِيِّ صَفراءَ تَركَةً
هِجاناً إِذا ما الشَرقُ فيها تَوَقَّدا
Leaving behind on the sand a trace of saffron,
he takes flight when the east grows bright with flame,
بِأَليَنَ مَسّاً مِن سُعادَ لِلامِسٍ
وَأَحسَنَ مِنها حينَ تَبدو مُجَرَّدا
touching more gently than happiness caressed,
more beautifully when it first shows undressed.
وَإِنّي لَأَحمي الأَنفَ مِن دونِ ذِمَّتي
إِذا الدَنِسُ الواهي الأَمانَةِ أَهمَدا
Yet I do cover my nose safe from blame
if the feeble refuse integrity’s claim.
بَنَينا بِأَعطانِ الوَفاءِ بُيوتَنا
وَكانَ لَنا في أَوَّلِ الدَهرِ مَورِدا
Our houses we built on loyalty’s foundation.
In early days it was our ready store.
إِذا ما ضَمِنّا لِاِبنِ عَمٍّ خِفارَةً
نَجيءُ بِها مِن قَبلِ أَن يَتَشَدَّدا
When we pledged to the son of an uncle protection,
we’d bring it before severity turned sore.
أَناخوا بِأَشوالٍ إِلى أَهلِ خُبَّةٍ
طُروقاً وَقَد أَقعى سُهَيلاً فَعَرَّدا
To a people of renown we’d tether steeds
and camp while Canopus flared and paled.
يَخِبّانِ قَصراً في شَمالٍ عَرِيَّةٍ
أَمامَ رَوايا بادَراهُنَّ قَردَدا
They’d pitch their castle on a barren plain
facing our dwellings, matching fold with fold.
أَمُرُّ وَأَحلَولي وَتَعلَمُ أُسرَتي
عَنائي إِذا جَمرٌ لِجَمرٍ تَوَقَّدا
My cares are known to my family entire
when ember after ember bursts into flame.
إِذا ما فَزِعنا أَو دُعينا لِنَجدَةٍ
لَبِسنا عَلَيهِنَّ الحَديدَ المُسَرَّدا
If alarmed or called to bring victory nigher,
we don our iron coats without shame,
بِرَبِّ اِبنَةِ العَمرِيِّ ما كانَ جارُها
لِيُسلِمُها ما وافَقَ القائِمُ اليَدا
I swear by Him who gave the life breath
no neighbor forced her, try as duty bid.
