حَتّامَuntil when مَطلُكَyour delaying payment ياO ظَلومُcruel one
حَتّامَ مَطلُكَ يا ظَلومُ
ماآنَis it not yet time أَنthat يُقضىbe paid الغَريمُthe creditor
ماآنَ أَن يُقضى الغَريمُ
How long will you defer payment, O cruel one?
For how long, O unjust one, will you avoid me?
Is it not time the creditor was paid?
When will my grievance be redressed?
إِنif كانَis وَصلُكَunion with you ماnot يُراbe attained (word fragment)
إِن كانَ وَصلُكَ ما يُرا
مُcompletion of 'be attained' فَإِنَّthen indeed وَجديmy longing ماnot يَريمُdeparts
مُ فَإِنَّ وَجدي ما يَريمُ
If union with you cannot be
If your affection is unattainable,
won, my longing never departs.
Then my love is unending torment.
مَنwhoever باتَpasses the night ذاpossessing قَلبٍa heart سَليsound (word fragment)
مَن باتَ ذا قَلبٍ سَلي
مٍcompletion of 'sound' مِنfrom جَوىًlove's anguish فَأَناthen I am السَليمُthe snake-bitten one
مٍ مِن جَوىً فَأَنا السَليمُ
Whoever passes the night with a heart
Whoever's heart is free of passion's agony,
sound and free of love's anguish—I am the snake-bitten one.
I'm not that stoic one.
ماليwhat is wrong with me إِذاwhen رُمتُI sought السُلُوforgetting love (word fragment)
مالي إِذا رُمتُ السُلُو
وَcompletion of 'forgetting love' تَلَوَّمَhesitated القَلبُthe heart المُليمُthe blameworthy
وَ تَلَوَّمَ القَلبُ المُليمُ
Why, whenever I try to
Why do I conceal my love
forget, does my blameworthy heart hesitate?
As my aching heart grows more forlorn?
وَإِذاand when كَتَمتُI concealed السِرَّthe secret باdivulged (word fragment)
وَإِذا كَتَمتُ السِرَّ با
حَcompletion of 'divulged' بِسِرِّهِits secret دَمعٌa tear نَمومُtelltale
حَ بِسِرِّهِ دَمعٌ نَمومُ
And whenever I conceal the secret,
With my sorrows unspoken
a telltale tear reveals it.
My teary eyes already tell.
عَينيmy eye وَقَلبيand my heart فيin الهَوىlove
عَيني وَقَلبي في الهَوى
عَونٌa help عَلَيَّagainst me فَمَنso whom أَلومُshall I blame
عَونٌ عَلَيَّ فَمَن أَلومُ
My eye and my heart, in love,
My eyes and heart in passion enslaved,
join forces against me—whom, then, shall I blame?
Who else but me is to blame?
ياO مَنyou who لَهُhe has قَدٌّa figure يَقوupholds (word fragment)
يا مَن لَهُ قَدٌّ يَقو
مُcompletion of 'upholds' بِعُذرِthe excuse of عاشِقِهِhis lover قَويمُupright; well-proportioned
مُ بِعُذرِ عاشِقِهِ قَويمُ
O you, whose figure
O you whose nature is steeped in grace,
stands, well-proportioned, as your lover's excuse:
Be generous in excusing your lover's state.
إِنif غِبتَyou were absent عَنfrom عَينيmy eye الغَداthe morning (word fragment)
إِن غِبتَ عَن عَيني الغَدا
ةَcompletion of 'the morning' فَأَنتَthen you فيin قَلبيmy heart مُقيمُdwelling
ةَ فَأَنتَ في قَلبي مُقيمُ
if you are absent from my eyes this
Though you're absent at dawn,
morning, you still dwell within my heart.
Within my heart you'll remain.
وَسَأَلتَand you asked عَنabout حاليmy condition وَأَنand you (word fragment)
وَسَأَلتَ عَن حالي وَأَن
تَcompletion of 'you' بِماof what بُليتُI was afflicted بِهِwith it عَليمُwell aware
تَ بِما بُليتُ بِهِ عَليمُ
And you asked about my state, though
You know well the ordeals I've endured,
you know well what has afflicted me.
Yet you ask about me as though oblivious.
ياO عاذِلاًreproacher فيon ظَهرِthe back of ناa swift she-camel (word fragment)
يا عاذِلاً في ظَهرِ نا
جِيَةٍcompletion of 'a swift she-camel' كَماlike ذُعِرَwas startled الظَليمُthe male ostrich
جِيَةٍ كَما ذُعِرَ الظَليمُ
O reproacher, upon the back of a swift
O you who reproached me at noon
she-camel, like a startled male ostrich:
As if I were a startled beast.
أَلبانُAl-Ban مِنin; from نَجدٍNajd فَليand I have
أَلبانُ مِن نَجدٍ فَلي
وَجدٌlonging بِساكِنِهِfor its inhabitant قَديمُlong-standing
وَجدٌ بِساكِنِهِ قَديمُ
Al-Ban is in Najd; I have
Camels of Nejd, though far, yearn
a long-standing longing for its inhabitant.
For their ancient abode.
وَاِسأَلand ask مَغانيthe dwelling places of الحَيِّthe tribe بَعafter (word fragment)
وَاِسأَل مَغاني الحَيِّ بَع
دِيَcompletion of 'after me' هَلhave تَغَيَّرَتِchanged الرُسومُthe traces
دِيَ هَل تَغَيَّرَتِ الرُسومُ
And ask the tribe's dwelling places, after
Ask the tavern's songs if the old traditions
my departure: have their traces changed?
Have since changed.
سَقياًmay rain bless لِأَيّامِthe days of الغَميal-Ghamim (name fragment)
سَقياً لِأَيّامِ الغَمي
مِcompletion of 'al-Ghamim' وَمَنand the one who بَهِthrough him طابَbecame pleasant الغَميمُal-Ghamim
مِ وَمَن بَهِ طابَ الغَميمُ
May rain bless the days of
A drink for days of sorrow,
al-Ghamim, and the one who made al-Ghamim sweet.
When clouds bring sweet rain.
وَعَلىand upon النَقاthe sand dune إِمّاif ever مَرَرyou pass (word fragment)
وَعَلى النَقا إِمّا مَرَر
تَcompletion of 'you pass' بِذيthrough Dhu النَقاal-Naqa ظَبِيٌa gazelle رَخيمُsoft-voiced
تَ بِذي النَقا ظَبِيٌ رَخيمُ
And on the dune—if ever you pass
By the gazelles' meadow I pass,
through Dhu al-Naqa—there is a soft-voiced gazelle.
A graceful and shy herd.
قَلبيmy heart لَهُfor him مَرعىًa pasture وَلِلand for the
قَلبي لَهُ مَرعىً وَلِل
ظَبيِgazelle الكُناسَةُthe woodland lair وَالصَريمُand the sandy tract
ظَبيِ الكُناسَةُ وَالصَريمُ
My heart is his pasture; and for the
My heart's their pasture, while
gazelle there are the woodland lair and the sandy tract.
For them are the bushes and brush.
عَجَباًhow strange لَهُfor him يَشتاقُهُlongs for him
عَجَباً لَهُ يَشتاقُهُ
قَلبيmy heart وَمَسكَنُهُand his dwelling الصَميمُthe innermost core
قَلبي وَمَسكَنُهُ الصَميمُ
How strange: it is for him that
Wondrous that my heart longs for them
my heart longs, though he dwells in its very core.
Though its depths are unreached.
لِلَّهِto God; how wondrous رَونَقُهُhis radiance وَقَدand already
لِلَّهِ رَونَقُهُ وَقَد
مالَتinclined إِلىtoward الغَربِthe west النُجومُthe stars
مالَت إِلى الغَربِ النُجومُ
How wondrous his radiance, when
Glorious is their charm as
the stars have inclined toward the west.
The stars tilt westward in the dusk.
وَقِلادَةُand the necklace of الجَوزاءُOrion عِقa chain (word fragment)
وَقِلادَةُ الجَوزاءُ عِق
دٌcompletion of 'a chain' فيon تَرائِبِهِhis upper chest نَظيمُwell-strung
دٌ في تَرائِبِهِ نَظيمُ
And Orion's necklace is a
The Gemini's necklace is a precise line
well-strung chain across his breast.
In its arrangement and thread.
وَالرَوضُand the garden يَصقُلُهُpolishes it النَدىthe dew
وَالرَوضُ يَصقُلُهُ النَدى
وَهناًa while into the night وَيَرقُطُهُand dapples it النَسيمُthe breeze
وَهناً وَيَرقُطُهُ النَسيمُ
Dew polishes the garden
The meadow is burnished by dewdrops
after nightfall, and the breeze dapples it.
As the gentle breeze makes it sway.
وَقَدِand already اِنتَشىgrew tipsy خوطُthe slender shoot of الأَراthe arak tree (word fragment)
وَقَدِ اِنتَشى خوطُ الأَرا
كَةِcompletion of 'the arak tree' وَالحَمامُand the doves لَهُfor it نَديمُa boon companion
كَةِ وَالحَمامُ لَهُ نَديمُ
And the slender shoot of the arak
The vines have now flourished
tree has grown tipsy, with doves as its boon companions.
And doves are its friends.
وَالزَهرُand the flowers يَضحَكُlaugh فيin خَماleafy groves (word fragment)
وَالزَهرُ يَضحَكُ في خَما
ئِلِهِcompletion of 'its leafy groves' إِذاwhen بَكَتِwept الغُيومُthe clouds
ئِلِهِ إِذا بَكَتِ الغُيومُ
The flowers laugh amid its
Flowers smile amidst their cover
leafy groves whenever the clouds weep.
When clouds weep rains.
هُوَit مَنزِلُthe home of الإِحسانِbeneficence لاmay not
هُوَ مَنزِلُ الإِحسانِ لا
نَزَلَتdescend بِساحَتِهِupon its courtyard الهُمومُcares
نَزَلَت بِساحَتِهِ الهُمومُ
It is the home of beneficence; may no
It's the abode of kindness -
cares ever descend upon its courtyard.
Cares never descend in its yard.
خَضِلُmoist الثَرىthe soil فَالوِردُso the water supply جَمabundant (word fragment)
خَضِلُ الثَرى فَالوِردُ جَم
مٌcompletion of 'abundant' وَالمُرادُand what is sought بِهِthere; in it جَميمُluxuriant; plentiful
مٌ وَالمُرادُ بِهِ جَميمُ
Its soil is moist; its water supply is
The ground is fertile, roses ever bounteous,
abundant, and all one seeks there is plentiful.
And the desired one sublime.
إِنزِلalight بِهِthere; at it تَظَفَرyou will gain بِقاwith the farthest (word fragment)
إِنزِل بِهِ تَظَفَر بِقا
صِيَةِcompletion of 'the farthest' المُنىwishes وَأَناand I الزَعيمُthe guarantor
صِيَةِ المُنى وَأَنا الزَعيمُ
Alight there, and you will win the
Descend unto it and you'll gain
farthest reaches of your wishes; I stand surety.
The wish and I your guide.
ياO مَنyou who أَضاءَilluminated لَناfor us بِثاthrough penetrating (word fragment)
يا مَن أَضاءَ لَنا بِثا
قِبِcompletion of 'penetrating' رَأيِهِhis judgment اللَيلُthe night البَهيمُpitch-black
قِبِ رَأيِهِ اللَيلُ البَهيمُ
O you, whose penetrating
O you who brightened for us the gloomed night
judgment has lit the pitch-black night for us:
With the illumination of your wisdom.
وَلَناand for us مَقيلٌa midday resting-place بارِدٌcool
وَلَنا مَقيلٌ بارِدٌ
فيin ظِلِّهِhis shade وَنَدىًand bounty عَميمُall-embracing
في ظِلِّهِ وَنَدىً عَميمُ
we have a cool midday resting-place
For us is a shaded refuge,
in his shade, and bounty that reaches all.
A general blessing and fresh rains.
شَرَعَestablished السَخاءَgenerosity فَمِنand from مَواgifts (word fragment)
شَرَعَ السَخاءَ فَمِن مَوا
هِبِهِcompletion of 'his gifts' تَعَلَّمَتِlearned الغُيومُthe clouds
هِبِهِ تَعَلَّمَتِ الغُيومُ
He established generosity; from his
You have set munificence as exemplar -
gifts the clouds have learned.
Even clouds learned from your charity.
المُستَجِدُّthe one ever achieving anew مَآثِراًnoble deeds
المُستَجِدُّ مَآثِراً
يَزهوtakes pride بِهاin them الشَرَفُhonor القَديمُancient
يَزهو بِها الشَرَفُ القَديمُ
Ever achieving new noble deeds,
O recent glorious one,
in which ancient honor takes pride;
Noble deeds make ancient honor shine.
سَمحٌgenerous إِذاwhen بَخِلَwithheld الحَياthe rain
سَمحٌ إِذا بَخِلَ الحَيا
ثَبتٌsteadfast إِذاwhen طاشَlost composure الحَليمُthe forbearing man
ثَبتٌ إِذا طاشَ الحَليمُ
generous when the rain withholds,
Lenient when fate is miserly,
steadfast when the forbearing lose their composure;
Steadfast when tempers flare.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people طابَتwere noble فُروbranches (word fragment)
مِن مَعشَرٍ طابَت فُرو
عُهُمُcompletion of 'their branches' كَماjust as طابَwas noble الأَرومُthe roots; stock
عُهُمُ كَما طابَ الأَرومُ
from a people with noble
Of a folk whose nobility like perfume
branches, as noble as their roots;
Spreads as fresh aroma.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen غَضِبَgrew angry الغَماthe clouds (word fragment)
قَومٌ إِذا غَضِبَ الغَما
مُcompletion of 'the clouds' فَعِندَهُمthen among them رَضِيَwas content المُسيمُthe grazier
مُ فَعِندَهُم رَضِيَ المُسيمُ
a people: when the clouds are
A people, within whom the prodded angry one Finds appeasing and deterring.
angry, the grazier finds contentment with them.
Nobility upon you, house of forgiveness -
شَرَفٌhonor لَكُمfor you آلَO house of المُظَفal-Muzaffar (name fragment)
شَرَفٌ لَكُم آلَ المُظَف
فَرِcompletion of 'al-Muzaffar' لاnot تُساميهِrival its height النُجومُthe stars
فَرِ لا تُساميهِ النُجومُ
Yours is an honor, O house of
Even stars cannot rival your stature.
al-Muzaffar, which the stars cannot rival.
By the best of caravans whose winding path
قَسَماًI swear بِأَمثالِby the likenesses of الحَناbows (word fragment)
قَسَماً بِأَمثالِ الحَنا
ياcompletion of 'bows' العوجِthe bent أَنضاهاwore them thin الرَسيمُthe brisk camel-trot
يا العوجِ أَنضاها الرَسيمُ
I swear by those resembling
Was set straight by the winds.
bent bows, worn thin by their brisk trot:
None remain of them in crises and lands
لَمnot يَبقَremains مِنهاof them فيin الأَزِمthe reins (word fragment)
لَم يَبقَ مِنها في الأَزِم
مَةِcompletion of 'the reins' وَالبُرىand the nose-rings إِلّاexcept الأَديمُthe skin
مَةِ وَالبُرى إِلّا الأَديمُ
nothing of them remains within their reins
Except the ancient and timeless.
and nose-rings but skin.
They ply the sands, the winds their guide
تَطويthey fold up; traverse الفَلاthe wastelands وَالشَوقُand longing ساdriver (word fragment)
تَطوي الفَلا وَالشَوقُ سا
ئِقُهاcompletion of 'their driver' وَقائِدُهاand their guide النَسيمُthe breeze
ئِقُها وَقائِدُها النَسيمُ
They fold up the wastelands, with longing as their
And passion their driving force.
driver, and the breeze as their guide.
Sheltered she-camels who sense no
مُتَمَطِّراتٍracing swiftly تَلتَويbend
مُتَمَطِّراتٍ تَلتَوي
تَحتَbeneath الرِحالِthe saddles وَتَستَقيمُand straighten
تَحتَ الرِحالِ وَتَستَقيمُ
Racing swiftly, they bend
Heat or cold from the conditions.
beneath the saddles, then straighten.
Mecca's days escorted them, and the Revered,
وَعَلىand on غَوارِبِهاtheir withers نُفوsouls (word fragment)
وَعَلى غَوارِبِها نُفو
سٌcompletion of 'souls' لاnot تُحَسُّare felt لَهاfor them جُسومُbodies
سٌ لا تُحَسُّ لَها جُسومُ
And upon their withers are
As well as resolve and determination.
souls with no bodies to be felt.
Without you, son of Muhammad,
ساقَتهُمُdrove them أَيّامُthe days of مَكMecca (name fragment)
ساقَتهُمُ أَيّامُ مَك
كَةَcompletion of 'Mecca' وَالمَحارِمُand the sacred places وَالحَطيمُand al-Hatim
كَةَ وَالمَحارِمُ وَالحَطيمُ
They were driven onward by the days of
No dignified one would grace this life.
Mecca, the sacred places, and al-Hatim.
Etiquette itself would be but
لَولاكَwere it not for you ياO اِبنَson of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
لَولاكَ يا اِبنَ مُحَمَّدٍ
لَمnot يُلفَwould be found فيin الدُنياthe world كَريمُa generous man
لَم يُلفَ في الدُنيا كَريمُ
Were it not for you, O son of Muhammad,
A market of no esteem.
no generous man would be found in the world;
You enriched me when no friend or confidant
وَلَأَضحَتِand would have become الآدابُthe literary arts فيin
وَلَأَضحَتِ الآدابُ في
هاit وَهيَand it is سوقٌa market لاnot تَقومُthrives
ها وَهيَ سوقٌ لا تَقومُ
and the literary arts would have become in
Could provide warmth or solace.
it a market unable to thrive.
I gained the triumph of my argument
أَغنَيتَyou gave help عَنّيon my behalf حَيثُwhere لاnot
أَغنَيتَ عَنّي حَيثُ لا
يُغنيavails الشَقيقُthe full brother أَوِor الحَميمُthe intimate friend
يُغني الشَقيقُ أَوِ الحَميمُ
You aided me where neither
Though all humankind protested.
a brother nor an intimate friend could help,
May one of stern features but heart most kind
حَتّىuntil عَلَوتُI prevailed بِحُجَّتيthrough my argument
حَتّى عَلَوتُ بِحُجَّتي
وَالناسُand the people كُلُّهُمُall of them خُصومُopponents
وَالناسُ كُلُّهُمُ خُصومُ
until I prevailed through my argument,
Sacrifice himself for you.
though all men were my opponents.
The rain of his gifts is abundant,
يَفديكَmay he ransom you فَظٌa harsh man لاnot يُجاinhabits (word fragment)
يَفديكَ فَظٌ لا يُجا
وِرُcompletion of 'inhabits' صَدرَهُhis breast قَلبٌa heart رَحيمُmerciful
وِرُ صَدرَهُ قَلبٌ رَحيمُ
May a boor be your ransom, one whose
Wide and free his shelter.
breast no compassionate heart inhabits.
His sky is never devoid of benevolence,
نَزرُscant العَطاياin gifts ماؤُهُhis water
نَزرُ العَطايا ماؤُهُ
وَشلٌa trickle وَمَربَعُهُand his pasture وَخيمُunwholesome
وَشلٌ وَمَربَعُهُ وَخيمُ
Scant of gifts, his water
Nor does it bode ill.
is a trickle, and his pasture is unwholesome.
The birds of hope circle his banquets,
لاnot يَستَهِلُّpours rain سَماؤُهُhis sky
لا يَستَهِلُّ سَماؤُهُ
بِالمَكرُماتِwith noble deeds وَلاand not تَغيمُgrows cloudy
بِالمَكرُماتِ وَلا تَغيمُ
His sky does not pour down
Welcomed and soaring overhead.
noble deeds, nor does it grow cloudy.
His coins are flawless, though
طَيرُthe birds of الرَجاءِhope عَلىabove مَواtables (word fragment)
طَيرُ الرَجاءِ عَلى مَوا
ئِدِهِcompletion of 'his tables' مُحَلَّأَةًdriven off تَحومُcircle; hover
ئِدِهِ مُحَلَّأَةً تَحومُ
The birds of hope above his
His honor is truly sublime.
tables circle, kept at bay.
This is my brother's praise, sincere and plain,
سَلِمَتremained safe دَراهِمُهُhis dirhams وَلَbut (word fragment)
سَلِمَت دَراهِمُهُ وَلَ
كِنcompletion of 'but' عِرضُهُhis honor عِرضٌan honor سَقيمُsick
كِن عِرضُهُ عِرضٌ سَقيمُ
His dirhams have remained safe, but
His affection is sheer and untainted.
his honor is an ailing honor.
For the sky of your glory there are stars,
هَذاthis ثَناءُthe praise of أَخيone possessed of وَلاloyalty (word fragment)
هَذا ثَناءُ أَخي وَلا
ءٍcompletion of 'loyalty' وَدُّهُhis affection مَحضٌpure سَليمُsound
ءٍ وَدُّهُ مَحضٌ سَليمُ
This is the praise of a man of
And for those who oppose you, meteorites.
loyalty, whose affection is pure and sound.
لِسَماءِfor the heaven of مَجدِكَyour glory أَنجُمٌstars
لِسَماءِ مَجدِكَ أَنجُمٌ
وَلِمَنand for whoever يُعاديهاopposes it رُجومُpelting missiles
وَلِمَن يُعاديها رُجومُ
Your glory's heaven has stars,
and missiles for those who oppose it.
Partial English translation: 95 of 98 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1