أَودَى الشَّبابُ ، حَميدا ، ذو التَّعاجِيبِ

أَودَى الشَّبابُ ، حَميدا ، ذو التَّعاجِيبِ

أودى وذلك شأوٌ غيرُ مطلوبِ

أودى وذلك شأوٌ غيرُ مطلوبِ

Youth has passed away, praiseworthy and wondrous.

Youth has passed, O commendable one with wonders,

It is gone, and that is a goal not sought.

Passed though that is a state not desired,

 وَلَّى حَثيثا ، وهذا الشَّيبُ يَطلبُهُ

وَلَّى حَثيثا ، وهذا الشَّيبُ يَطلبُهُ

لو كَانَ يُدرِكُه رَكَضُ اليَعاقِيبِ

لو كَانَ يُدرِكُه رَكَضُ اليَعاقِيبِ

It fled swiftly, while this gray hair pursues it,

And it quickly went away, while this old age seeks it,

if only the gallop of swift steeds could catch it.

If the running ostriches could reach it.

أودَى الشّبابُ الّذِي مَجْدٌ عَواقبُهُ

أودَى الشّبابُ الّذِي مَجْدٌ عَواقبُهُ

فيه نلذ ، ولا لذات للشيب

فيه نلذ ، ولا لذات للشيب

Youth is gone—the youth whose fruits are glory.

Youth has passed, that which glory are its consequences,

In it we delight; there are no delights for gray hair.

In it is softness, and the old age has no pleasures.

يومان : يوم مقامات وأتدية

يومان : يوم مقامات وأتدية

ويوم سير إلى الأعداء ، تأويب

ويوم سير إلى الأعداء ، تأويب

Two kinds of day: a day of assemblies and gatherings,

Two days: a day of halting places and fires,

and a day of marching toward the enemies, traveling all day.

And a day of traveling to the enemies, bidding farewell.

وكرنا خيلتا أدراجها رجعا

وكرنا خيلتا أدراجها رجعا

كس السنابك ، من بدء وتعقيب

كس السنابك ، من بدء وتعقيب

And our wheeling our horses back along their tracks

And we walked our two horses back slowly,

battered their hooves through first charges and renewed pursuit.

Like the cups turned upside down from beginning to end.

والعاداتُ ، أسابيُّ الدماءِ بها

والعاداتُ ، أسابيُّ الدماءِ بها

كأنَّ أعناقَها أَنصابُ تَرجِيبِ

كأنَّ أعناقَها أَنصابُ تَرجِيبِ

And the chargers bear streaks of blood,

And the returnings, waterers of blood through them,

as though their necks were stones set up for Rajab sacrifice.

As if their necks are poles for hanging.

من كلّ حتٍّ إذا ما ابتلَّ ملبدهُ

من كلّ حتٍّ إذا ما ابتلَّ ملبدهُ

ضافي السَّبِيبِ ، أسِيلِ الخَدِّ يَعبوبِ

ضافي السَّبِيبِ ، أسِيلِ الخَدِّ يَعبوبِ

Each a swift steed, when its saddlecloth is soaked,

From every love, when its abundance was tested,

flowing of mane and tail, smooth-cheeked, a powerful racer.

Purer of passion, flowing of cheek, quenched with tears.

ليس بأقنى ، ولا أسفى ، ولا سغلٍ

ليس بأقنى ، ولا أسفى ، ولا سغلٍ

يسقى دواءَ قفيِّ السَّكنِ مربوبِ

يسقى دواءَ قفيِّ السَّكنِ مربوبِ

Neither hook-nosed, nor scant of forelock, nor frail,

Neither complaining, nor wailing, nor rugged,

given a remedy to drink, the household's favorite, well reared.

Drinking the medicine of the restful goblet mixed.

في كلِّ قائمةٍ منه ، إذا اندفعتْ

في كلِّ قائمةٍ منه ، إذا اندفعتْ

مِنهُ ، أساوٍ كفَرغِ الدَّلوِ ، أُثعوبِ

مِنهُ ، أساوٍ كفَرغِ الدَّلوِ ، أُثعوبِ

On every one of its legs, when it springs forward,

In every standing of it, when it rushes forth from it,

streams of sweat gush from it like a bucket's outflow.

Equals like the outpouring of the bucket, overflowing.

كأنَّهُ يرفئيٌّ نام عن غنمٍ

كأنَّهُ يرفئيٌّ نام عن غنمٍ

مُستنفَرٌ فِي سَوادِ اللَّيلِ مَذؤوبِ

مُستنفَرٌ فِي سَوادِ اللَّيلِ مَذؤوبِ

As though it were a Yarfa'i shepherd who slept, neglecting his sheep,

As if it is a slumberer who slept from a flock,

startled in the black of night, his flock attacked by a wolf.

Awakened in the darkness of night, melted away.

تمَّ الدسيعُ إلى هادٍ له بتعٍ

تمَّ الدسيعُ إلى هادٍ له بتعٍ

في جُؤجُؤٍ ، كَمَداكِ الطِّيبِ مَخضُوبِ

في جُؤجُؤٍ ، كَمَداكِ الطِّيبِ مَخضُوبِ

Its neck-root is fully formed, rising to a thick, strong neck,

The traveling was completed to a gentle one for him with a gift,

set in a breast like a stained perfume-grinding stone.

In murmuring, like the perfume flask scented with dye.

تَظَاهَرَ النَّيُّ فيهِ ، فهُوَ مُحتَفِلٌ

تَظَاهَرَ النَّيُّ فيهِ ، فهُوَ مُحتَفِلٌ

يعطي أساهيَّ من جريٍ وتقريبِ

يعطي أساهيَّ من جريٍ وتقريبِ

Fat has built up on it in layers; it is full of vigor,

Intimacy appeared through it, so it is celebrating,

offering varied paces of running and cantering.

Giving joys of running and approximation.

يحاضرُ الجونَ مخضرّاً جحافلها

يحاضرُ الجونَ مخضرّاً جحافلها

ويسبقُ الألفَ عفواً ، غيرَ مضروبِ

ويسبقُ الألفَ عفواً ، غيرَ مضروبِ

It races the dark horses, their lips green-tinged,

It converses with the beautiful women, their groups green,

and effortlessly outruns a thousand, without being whipped.

And it surpasses the thousand without blame, without striking.

كمِ من فقيرٍ ، باذن الله ، قد جيرتْ

كمِ من فقيرٍ ، باذن الله ، قد جيرتْ

وذِي غِنًى بَوَّأَتْهُ دَارَ مَحروبِ

وذِي غِنًى بَوَّأَتْهُ دَارَ مَحروبِ

How many a poor man, by God's leave, it has restored to fortune,

How many poor people, by God's permission, it pulled,

and a wealthy man it has lodged in a plundered man's abode!

And enriched people, it settled them a fought over house.

مِمّا يُقدِّمُ في الهَيجا ، إِذا كُرِهَتْ

مِمّا يُقدِّمُ في الهَيجا ، إِذا كُرِهَتْ

عند الطعان ، وينجي كلَّ مكروبِ

عند الطعان ، وينجي كلَّ مكروبِ

Among those one sends forward in battle when it is dreaded,

From what it presents in boldness, if it was disliked

amid spear-thrusts—and it saves every man in distress.

By the slanderers, and saves everyone miserable.

همَّتْ معدٌّ بناهمّاً ، فنهنهها

همَّتْ معدٌّ بناهمّاً ، فنهنهها

عنّا طعانٌ ، وضربٌ غيرُ تذبيبِ

عنّا طعانٌ ، وضربٌ غيرُ تذبيبِ

Ma'add intended harm against us, but they were held back

Ma'ad intended harm, so we prevented it

from us by spear-thrusts and blows, not mere warding-off,

From us, slander, and striking without reason.

بالمَشرَفيِّ ، ومَصقولٍ أسِنَّتُها

بالمَشرَفيِّ ، ومَصقولٍ أسِنَّتُها

صمّ العواملِ ، صدقاتِ الأنابيبِ

صمّ العواملِ ، صدقاتِ الأنابيبِ

with the Mashrafi sword and spears whose points were polished,

With good word, and its tongues are polished,

solid beneath their points, their shaft-sections sound and true.

Deafening the elements, charities of the pipes.

يجلو أسنَّتها فتيانُ عاديةٍ

يجلو أسنَّتها فتيانُ عاديةٍ

لا مُقرِفينَ ، ولا سُودٍ ، جَعابِيبِ

لا مُقرِفينَ ، ولا سُودٍ ، جَعابِيبِ

Young men of a raiding band polish their points,

Its tongues are clarified by the youths of 'Adi,

neither of tainted stock nor black, puny weaklings.

Neither vulgar nor black slaves.

سوَّى النّقافُ قناها ، فهيَ محكمةٌ

سوَّى النّقافُ قناها ، فهيَ محكمةٌ

قَليلةٌ الزَّيغِ ، مِنْ سَنٍّ وتَركيبِ

قَليلةٌ الزَّيغِ ، مِنْ سَنٍّ وتَركيبِ

The spear-straightener has trued their shafts; they are well made,

The carpenter made its channel straight, so it is solid,

with little deviation, thanks to sharpening and fitting.

Little crookedness, from tooth and joint.

كأنَّها ، بأكُفّ القومِ إِذ لَحِقُوا ،

كأنَّها ، بأكُفّ القومِ إِذ لَحِقُوا ،

مَواتحُ البِئرِ ، أو أشطانُ مَطلوبِ

مَواتحُ البِئرِ ، أو أشطانُ مَطلوبِ

As though, in the men's hands when they caught up,

As if they, with palms of people when they met,

they were the well's hauling ropes, or the bucket-cords of Matlub.

Are buckets of the well, or desired wooden vessels.

كِلا الفَرِيقَينِ : أعلاهُم وأسفَلُهْم

كِلا الفَرِيقَينِ : أعلاهُم وأسفَلُهْم

شَجٍ بأرماحِنا غَيرَ التَّكاذِيبِ

شَجٍ بأرماحِنا غَيرَ التَّكاذِيبِ

Both hosts, the high among them and the low,

Both parties: their heights and their lows,

are stricken by our spears—no lying boast.

Wounded by our spears without lies.

إِنِّي وَجَدتُ بني سعدٍ ، يُفضِّلُهُمْ

إِنِّي وَجَدتُ بني سعدٍ ، يُفضِّلُهُمْ

كُلُّ شِهابٍ على الأعداءِ مَصبوبِ

كُلُّ شِهابٍ على الأعداءِ مَصبوبِ

I have found the sons of Sa'd exalted

I found the clan of Sa'd, preferring them,

by every blazing firebrand poured down upon the foes.

Every glory over the enemies, poured.

إِلى تَميمٍ ، حُماةِ الثَّغرِ ، نِسبتُهُمْ

إِلى تَميمٍ ، حُماةِ الثَّغرِ ، نِسبتُهُمْ

وكلٍّ ذِي حَسَبٍ في النّاسِ ، مَنسوبِ

وكلٍّ ذِي حَسَبٍ في النّاسِ ، مَنسوبِ

Their lineage is to Tamim, defenders of the frontier,

To Tamim, protectors of the border, their lineage,

and to every man of noble standing among the people whose descent is known.

And everyone of hasaba among the people, attributed.

قومٌ ، إذا صرَّحتْ كحلٌ ، بيوتهمُ

قومٌ ، إذا صرَّحتْ كحلٌ ، بيوتهمُ

عزُّ الذليل ، ومأوى كلِّ قرضوبِ

عزُّ الذليل ، ومأوى كلِّ قرضوبِ

A people whose homes, when Kuhl the famine-year stands revealed,

A people, if destiny frowns, their homes,

are the lowly man's strength and every pauper's refuge.

Shelter of the hapless, refuge of all outcasts.

ينجيهمِ من دواهي الشرّ . إنْ أزمتْ

ينجيهمِ من دواهي الشرّ . إنْ أزمتْ

صَبرٌ عَلَيها ، وقِبْضٌ غَيرُ مَحسوبِ

صَبرٌ عَلَيها ، وقِبْضٌ غَيرُ مَحسوبِ

What saves them from evil's calamities, when they press hard,

Patience over it saves them from the harms of evil. When pressed,

is patience under them, and wealth in uncounted handfuls.

And composed grasping without counting.

كنّا نَحُلُّ ، إذا هَبَّتْ شآمِيَةً

كنّا نَحُلُّ ، إذا هَبَّتْ شآمِيَةً

بكلّ وادٍ ، حطيبِ البطنِ ، مجدوبِ

بكلّ وادٍ ، حطيبِ البطنِ ، مجدوبِ

We used to camp when a wind blew from the Syrian quarter,

We used to solve, when northern wind blew,

in every drought-stricken valley, its floor covered with dry brush,

Firewood of the belly, dried up.

شِيبِ المَباركِ ، مَدْروسٍ مَدافعُهُ

شِيبِ المَباركِ ، مَدْروسٍ مَدافعُهُ

هابي المراغِ . قليلِ الودقِ . موظوبِ

هابي المراغِ . قليلِ الودقِ . موظوبِ

its camel-resting grounds whitened, its flood-channels worn bare,

White blessed old age, its touch is trodden,

dusty at the rolling-places, scant of rain, worn by constant grazing.

Fearful of death. Little friendship. Devoted.

كنّا ، إذا ما أتانا صارخٌ فزعٌ

كنّا ، إذا ما أتانا صارخٌ فزعٌ

كان الصُّراخُ له قرعَ الظنابيبِ

كان الصُّراخُ له قرعَ الظنابيبِ

We would, whenever an alarmed man came to us crying for help,

We were, when a screaming panic came to us,

answer his cry by striking our mounts' shins,

The scream to it knocks the veins.

وَشَدَّ كُورٍ ، على وَجناءَ ناجِيةٍ

وَشَدَّ كُورٍ ، على وَجناءَ ناجِيةٍ

وشَدَّ لِبْدٍ ، على جَرداءَ سُرحُوبِ

وشَدَّ لِبْدٍ ، على جَرداءَ سُرحُوبِ

and binding a camel-saddle onto a sturdy, swift she-camel,

It tightened a Kura over the lamenting she-camel,

and binding a saddle-pad onto a sleek, long-striding mare.

And tightened a twisted rope over a bare camel.

يقالُ : محبسها أدنى لموتعها

يقالُ : محبسها أدنى لموتعها

ولو تَعادَى بِبَكْءٍ كُلُّ مَحلوبِ

ولو تَعادَى بِبَكْءٍ كُلُّ مَحلوبِ

They say: keeping her tethered is better for her keeper,

It is said: its imprisonment is closer to its death place,

even if every milk-giving beast rivals the rest in yielding little.

And if every miserable one competed with crying.

حتّى تُرِكْنا ، وما تُثْنَى ظَعائِنُنا

حتّى تُرِكْنا ، وما تُثْنَى ظَعائِنُنا

يأخُذْنَ بَيْنَ سَوادِ الخَطِّ فاللُّوبِ

يأخُذْنَ بَيْنَ سَوادِ الخَطِّ فاللُّوبِ

Until we were left alone, our women in their litters never turned back,

Until we were left, and our pregnant she-camels bend not,

making their way between al-Khatt's dark greenery and al-Lub.

Taking between the black line and the salt marshes.