شَفَّها السَيرُ وَاِقتِحامُ البَوادي

شَفَّها السَيرُ وَاِقتِحامُ البَوادي

وَنُزولي في كُلِّ يَومٍ بَوادِ

وَنُزولي في كُلِّ يَومٍ بَوادِ

Travel and braving the deserts have worn her thin,

The journey hardened her, the crossing of deserts,

and my halting in a valley every day.

And my descent each day into the valleys.

وَمَقيلي ظِلَّ المَطِيَّةِ وَالتُر

وَمَقيلي ظِلَّ المَطِيَّةِ وَالتُر

بُ فِراشي وَساعِداها وِسادي

بُ فِراشي وَساعِداها وِسادي

My noonday resting-place is my mount's shade, and the dust

And my camp is in the shadow of the she-camel and the packsaddle,

is my bed, and her forelegs my pillow.

With my bedroll and its armrest my pillow.

وَضَجيعي ماضي المَضارِبِ عَضبٌ

وَضَجيعي ماضي المَضارِبِ عَضبٌ

أَصلَحَتهُ القُيونُ مِن عَهدِ عادِ

أَصلَحَتهُ القُيونُ مِن عَهدِ عادِ

My bedfellow is a sharp, keen-edged sword,

My bed is the pasture of restlessness,

which smiths fashioned back in the age of ʿĀd.

Mended by tents from the era of 'Aad.

أَبيَضٌ أَخضَرُ الحَديدَةِ مِمّا

أَبيَضٌ أَخضَرُ الحَديدَةِ مِمّا

شَقَّ قِدماً مَرائِرَ الآسادِ

شَقَّ قِدماً مَرائِرَ الآسادِ

White, with a green-hued blade, of the kind

White yet green are its iron parts, from

that long ago split lions' gallbladders.

What tore the feet crossing the stony ground.

وَقَميصي دِرعٌ كَأَنَّ عُراها

وَقَميصي دِرعٌ كَأَنَّ عُراها

حُبُكُ النَملِ أَو عُيونُ الجَرادِ

حُبُكُ النَملِ أَو عُيونُ الجَرادِ

My shirt is mail, its links seeming

And my shirt is armor, as though its stitches

like ants' interwoven patterns, or locusts' eyes.

Were the weaving of ants or the eyes of locusts.

وَنَديمي لَفظي وَفِكري أَنيسي

وَنَديمي لَفظي وَفِكري أَنيسي

وَسُروري مائي وَصَبري زادي

وَسُروري مائي وَصَبري زادي

My speech is my boon companion, my thought my intimate,

My companion is my speech and my thoughts that delight me,

and my joy my water, and my patience my provisions.

My joy is my water and my patience my supplies.

وَدَليلي مِنَ التَوَسُّمِ في البي

وَدَليلي مِنَ التَوَسُّمِ في البي

دِ لِبادي الأَعلامِ وَالأَطوادِ

دِ لِبادي الأَعلامِ وَالأَطوادِ

My guide through the deserts is my discernment

My guide is divining from the stars in the open country,

of visible landmarks and mountains.

To the desert's landmarks and watering places.

وَإِذا ما هَدى الظَلامُ فَكَم لي

وَإِذا ما هَدى الظَلامُ فَكَم لي

مِن نُجومِ السَماءِ في السُبلِ هادي

مِن نُجومِ السَماءِ في السُبلِ هادي

And when darkness settles, how many I have

And when darkness descends, how many stars in the sky

of heaven's stars to guide me along the paths!

Does it guide me with on my path?

ذاكَ أَنّي لا تَقبَلُ الضَيمَ نَفسي

ذاكَ أَنّي لا تَقبَلُ الضَيمَ نَفسي

وَلَوَ اَنّي اِفتَرَشتُ شَوكَ القَتادِ

وَلَوَ اَنّي اِفتَرَشتُ شَوكَ القَتادِ

That is because my soul accepts no humiliation,

That is because my soul cannot accept injustice,

even were I to make my bed upon qatād thorns.

Even if I make my bed upon prickly weeds.

هَذِهِ عادَتي وَقَد كُنتُ طِفلاً

هَذِهِ عادَتي وَقَد كُنتُ طِفلاً

وَشَديدٌ عَلَيَّ غَيرُ اِعتِيادي

وَشَديدٌ عَلَيَّ غَيرُ اِعتِيادي

Such has been my habit since I was a child,

This is my habit, and I have been so

and departure from my accustomed ways is hard on me.

Since childhood, though it is hard for me.

فَإِذا سِرتُ أَحسَبُ الأَرضَ مِلكي

فَإِذا سِرتُ أَحسَبُ الأَرضَ مِلكي

وَجَميعَ الأَقطارِ طَوعَ قِيادي

وَجَميعَ الأَقطارِ طَوعَ قِيادي

When I travel, I reckon the earth my possession,

So when I travel I reckon the earth is my kingdom,

and all regions subject to my reins.

And all regions obey my leadership.

وَإِذا ما أَقَمتُ فَالناسُ أَهلي

وَإِذا ما أَقَمتُ فَالناسُ أَهلي

أَينَما كُنتُ وَالبِلادُ بِلادي

أَينَما كُنتُ وَالبِلادُ بِلادي

And when I settle, the people are my kin,

And when I stay somewhere, people are my family,

wherever I am, and the land is my homeland.

Wherever I may be, and the lands my lands.

لا يَفوتُ القُبولُ مَن رُزِقَ العَق

لا يَفوتُ القُبولُ مَن رُزِقَ العَق

لَ وَحُسنَ الإِصدارِ وَالإيرادِ

لَ وَحُسنَ الإِصدارِ وَالإيرادِ

Acceptance never eludes one endowed with reason

Good fortune does not elude one endowed with reason

and skill in sending forth and bringing in.

And eloquence and delivery.

وَإِذا صَبَّرَ القَناعَةَ دِرعاً

وَإِذا صَبَّرَ القَناعَةَ دِرعاً

كانَ أَدعى إِلى بُلوغِ المُرادِ

كانَ أَدعى إِلى بُلوغِ المُرادِ

And if he makes contentment his armor,

And when one arms oneself with contentment

it is likelier to lead him to his desired goal.

One is nearer to attaining one's wants.

لَستُ مِمَّن يَدِلُّ مَع عَدَمِ الجَد

لَستُ مِمَّن يَدِلُّ مَع عَدَمِ الجَد

دِ بِفِعلِ الآباءِ وَالأَجدادِ

دِ بِفِعلِ الآباءِ وَالأَجدادِ

I am not one who, lacking good fortune, boasts

I am not one who boasts, lacking effort,

of the deeds of fathers and forefathers.

Of my fathers and forefathers.

ما بَنَيتُ العَلياءَ إِلّا بِجِدّي

ما بَنَيتُ العَلياءَ إِلّا بِجِدّي

وَرُكوبي أَخطارَها وَاِجتِهادي

وَرُكوبي أَخطارَها وَاِجتِهادي

I built my eminence only through my diligence,

I built my high station only with my own striving

through braving its perils and through my striving,

And braving its dangers and my diligence.

وَبِلَفظي إِذا نَطَقتُ وَفَضلي

وَبِلَفظي إِذا نَطَقتُ وَفَضلي

وَجِدالي عَن مَنصِبي وَجَلادي

وَجِدالي عَن مَنصِبي وَجَلادي

and through my speech when I speak, and my merit,

With my words when I speak and my superiority

and my defense of my standing, and my fighting.

And my arguing for my rank and eminence.

غَيرَ أَنّي وَإِن أَتَيتُ مِنَ النَظ

غَيرَ أَنّي وَإِن أَتَيتُ مِنَ النَظ

مِ بِلَفظٍ يُذيبُ قَلبَ الجَمادِ

مِ بِلَفظٍ يُذيبُ قَلبَ الجَمادِ

Yet, although I bring forth verse

Except that though I come up with words that melt

in words that melt the heart of lifeless matter,

The heart of rocks, I am no boaster

لَستُ كَالبُحتَرِيَّ أَفخَرُ بِالشِع

لَستُ كَالبُحتَرِيَّ أَفخَرُ بِالشِع

رِ وَأَثني عِطفَيَّ في الأَبرادِ

رِ وَأَثني عِطفَيَّ في الأَبرادِ

I am not like al-Buḥturī, boasting of poetry,

Who brags about poetry and sings my praises in verses,

and swaying my sides in striped cloaks,

And when I build a house preens as though I built lofty pillars.

وَإِذا ما بَنَيتُ بَيتاً تَبَختَر

وَإِذا ما بَنَيتُ بَيتاً تَبَختَر

تُ كَأَنّي بَنَيتُ ذاتَ العِمادِ

تُ كَأَنّي بَنَيتُ ذاتَ العِمادِ

and swaggering whenever I build a verse,

Rather I boast of myself, my people, my spear

as though I had built the City of Pillars.

And my sword and my generosity.

إِنَّما مَفخَري بِنَفسي وَقَومي

إِنَّما مَفخَري بِنَفسي وَقَومي

وَقَناتي وَصارِمي وَجَوادي

وَقَناتي وَصارِمي وَجَوادي

My pride is only in myself and my people,

A group that their virtues on earth

and my spear, my sharp sword, and my steed:

Are recited by the tongues of the envious.

مَعشَرٌ أَصبَحَت فَضائِلُهُم في ال

مَعشَرٌ أَصبَحَت فَضائِلُهُم في ال

أَرضِ تُتلى بِأَلسُنِ الحُسّادِ

أَرضِ تُتلى بِأَلسُنِ الحُسّادِ

a people whose virtues have come to be

They clothed the hopeful in robes of honor

recited across the earth by their enviers' tongues.

And humbled the necks of the stubborn.

أَلبَسوا الآمِلينَ أَثوابَ عِزٍّ

أَلبَسوا الآمِلينَ أَثوابَ عِزٍّ

وَأَذَلّوا أَعناقَ أَهلِ العِنادِ

وَأَذَلّوا أَعناقَ أَهلِ العِنادِ

They clothed the hopeful in robes of honor,

How many stubborn foes put on a show of words for us

and humbled the necks of the obstinate.

While hiding malice in their hearts!

كَم عَنيدٍ أَبدى لَنا زُخرُفَ القَو

كَم عَنيدٍ أَبدى لَنا زُخرُفَ القَو

لِ وَأَخفى في القَلبِ قَدحَ الزَنادِ

لِ وَأَخفى في القَلبِ قَدحَ الزَنادِ

How many a stubborn foe has shown us gilded speech,

And attacked us with arrows embedded

and hidden in his heart the striking of fire-sticks,

In hearts and livers.

وَرَمانا مِن غَدرِهِ بِسِهامٍ

وَرَمانا مِن غَدرِهِ بِسِهامٍ

نَشِبَت في القُلوبِ وَالأَكبادِ

نَشِبَت في القُلوبِ وَالأَكبادِ

and treacherously shot at us arrows

So we marched against them in deepest night

that lodged in hearts and livers!

With warriors riding the mounts.

فَسَرَينا إِلَيهِ في أَجَمِ السُم

فَسَرَينا إِلَيهِ في أَجَمِ السُم

رِ بِغابٍ يَسيرُ بِالآسادِ

رِ بِغابٍ يَسيرُ بِالآسادِ

So we marched by night toward him amid thickets of brown spears,

And we came with horses, a flood

with a forest advancing with lions.

That flowed over the plateaus before the valleys.

وَأَتَينا مِنَ الخُيولِ بِسيلٍ

وَأَتَينا مِنَ الخُيولِ بِسيلٍ

سالَ فَوقَ الهِضابِ قَبلَ الوِهادِ

سالَ فَوقَ الهِضابِ قَبلَ الوِهادِ

And we came with a torrent of horses

And we surged from the thicket with warriors

that flowed over the hills before the lowlands.

On tall, striding camels.

وَبَرَزنا مِنَ الكُماةِ بِأَطوا

وَبَرَزنا مِنَ الكُماةِ بِأَطوا

دِ حُلومٍ تَسري عَلى أَطوادِ

دِ حُلومٍ تَسري عَلى أَطوادِ

And we came forth with armored warriors, mountains

Whenever they tried to approach peace with us

of wisdom marching by night upon mountains.

They saw war's artifices looming from the valleys.

كُلَّما حاوَلوا الهَوادَةَ مِنّا

كُلَّما حاوَلوا الهَوادَةَ مِنّا

شاهَدوا الحَيلَ مُشرِفاتِ الهَوادي

شاهَدوا الحَيلَ مُشرِفاتِ الهَوادي

Whenever they sought leniency from us,

And we took our rights with swords

they saw the horses with their necks held high.

That blood rendered free of their scabbards.

وَأَخَذنا حُقوقَنا بِسُيوفٍ

وَأَخَذنا حُقوقَنا بِسُيوفٍ

غَنِيَت بِالدِما عَنِ الأَغمادِ

غَنِيَت بِالدِما عَنِ الأَغمادِ

And we took our rights with swords

It was as though the swords were a raging wind

for which blood sufficed in place of scabbards.

And they before its blowing the people of 'Aad.

فَكَأَنَّ السُيوفَ عاصِفُ ريحٍ

فَكَأَنَّ السُيوفَ عاصِفُ ريحٍ

وَهُمُ في هُبوبِها قَومُ عادِ

وَهُمُ في هُبوبِها قَومُ عادِ

It was as though the swords were a raging wind,

Their heads tried ascending but received

and they, in its blast, were the people of ʿĀd.

Only heads of high places.

حاوَلَت روسُهُم صُعوداً فَنالَت

حاوَلَت روسُهُم صُعوداً فَنالَت

هُ وَلَكِنَّ مِن رُؤوسِ الصِعادِ

هُ وَلَكِنَّ مِن رُؤوسِ الصِعادِ

Their heads sought to rise, and achieved it,

So if events have slipped my grasp, after

but from the tips of spears.

Time's winnowing of my days,

فَلَئِن فَلَّتِ الحَوادِثُ حَدّي

فَلَئِن فَلَّتِ الحَوادِثُ حَدّي

بَعدَما أَخلَصَ الزَمانُ اِنتِقادي

بَعدَما أَخلَصَ الزَمانُ اِنتِقادي

So even if calamities have blunted my edge,

I have won from the soul's wishes enough

after time had thoroughly assayed my worth,

And attained more than my hopes.

فَلَقَد نِلتُ مِن مُنى النَفسِ مارُم

فَلَقَد نِلتُ مِن مُنى النَفسِ مارُم

تُ وَأَدرَكتُ مِنهُ فَوقَ مُرادي

تُ وَأَدرَكتُ مِنهُ فَوقَ مُرادي

I have indeed won from my soul's desires what I sought,

And I know that life is but fleeting,

and gained from it more than I desired.

And each is destined for loss.

وَتَحَقَّقتُ إِنَّما العَيشُ أَطوا

وَتَحَقَّقتُ إِنَّما العَيشُ أَطوا

رٌ وَكُلٌّ مَصيرُهُ لِنَفادِ

رٌ وَكُلٌّ مَصيرُهُ لِنَفادِ

And I came to know that life is only phases,

and everything's fate is to come to an end.