طَرَقَتهُ أَسماءُ أَم حَلَما

طَرَقَتهُ أَسماءُ أَم حَلَما

أَم لَم تَكُن مِن رِحالِنا أَمَما

أَم لَم تَكُن مِن رِحالِنا أَمَما

Did Asma visit him by night—or was it a dream?

Did Asma visit him by night, or did he dream?

Or was she not near our encampment?

Or was she not near our encampment?

طافَت بِأَفراسِنا وَأَرحُلِنا

طافَت بِأَفراسِنا وَأَرحُلِنا

فَزادَنا طَيفُها بِنا سَقَما

فَزادَنا طَيفُها بِنا سَقَما

Her phantom circled our horses and our saddles,

She passed around our horses and our saddles,

and so her apparition added sickness to our sickness.

so her phantom deepened the sickness within us.

زَيدِيَّةٌ حَلَّتِ الغُرابَةَ أَو

زَيدِيَّةٌ حَلَّتِ الغُرابَةَ أَو

حَلَّت أُسَيساً أَو حَلَّتِ الثَلَما

حَلَّت أُسَيساً أَو حَلَّتِ الثَلَما

A woman of Zayd, dwelling at al-Ghuraba—or

A woman of Zayd, she camped at al-Ghuraba, or

dwelling at Usays, or dwelling at al-Thalam.

camped at Usays, or camped at al-Thalam.

كانَت لَنا جارَةً فَأَزعَجَها

كانَت لَنا جارَةً فَأَزعَجَها

قاذورَةٌ يُسحِقُ النَوى قُدُما

قاذورَةٌ يُسحِقُ النَوى قُدُما

She had been our neighbor, but she was driven away

She was our neighbor, but she was driven away by

by a hateful man, while distance ground onward.

a foul-tempered man who drives separation ever farther.

لا يَصِلُ الحَبلَ بِالصَفاءِ وَلا

لا يَصِلُ الحَبلَ بِالصَفاءِ وَلا

يُكسِبُهُ قُوَّةً إِذا اِنجَذَما

يُكسِبُهُ قُوَّةً إِذا اِنجَذَما

He neither joins the bond in good faith, nor

He does not mend the cord with true affection, nor

gives it strength once it has snapped.

give it strength when it is severed.

يا مَن يَرى البَرقَ بِالحِجازِ كَما

يا مَن يَرى البَرقَ بِالحِجازِ كَما

أَقبَسَ أَيدي الوَلائِدِ الضَرَما

أَقبَسَ أَيدي الوَلائِدِ الضَرَما

O you who see the lightning in the Hijaz, as though

O you who see lightning in the Hijaz, as when

the slave-girls’ hands had kindled flame—

someone puts burning kindling into slave girls' hands!

لاحَ سَناهُ مِن نَخلِ يَثرِبَ فَال

لاحَ سَناهُ مِن نَخلِ يَثرِبَ فَال

حَرَّةِ حَتّى أَضا لَنا إِضَما

حَرَّةِ حَتّى أَضا لَنا إِضَما

its radiance flashed from Yathrib’s palms, then over

Its radiance flashed from Yathrib's palms, then across the

al-Harra, until it lit Idam for us.

Harra lava field, until it lit Idam for us.

أَسقى بِهِ اللَهُ بَطنَ طَيبَةَ فَال

أَسقى بِهِ اللَهُ بَطنَ طَيبَةَ فَال

رَوحاءِ فَالأَخشَبَينِ فَالحَرَما

رَوحاءِ فَالأَخشَبَينِ فَالحَرَما

By it may God water the valley of Tiba, then

May God water with it the valley of Tayba, then

al-Rawha, the Two Akhshabs, and the Sanctuary:

al-Rawha, then al-Akhshabayn, then the Sanctuary.

أَرضٌ بِها تَنبُتُ العَشيرَةُ قَد

أَرضٌ بِها تَنبُتُ العَشيرَةُ قَد

عِشنا وَكُنّا مِن أَهلِها عَلَما

عِشنا وَكُنّا مِن أَهلِها عَلَما

a land where the clan takes root; there

A land where the clan takes root; indeed,

we lived and were a landmark among its people.

we lived there and were renowned among its people.

فُجِعتُ بِالغُرِّ مِن أُمَيَّةَ حا

فُجِعتُ بِالغُرِّ مِن أُمَيَّةَ حا

شا واحِداً نَجتَلي بِهِ الظُلَما

شا واحِداً نَجتَلي بِهِ الظُلَما

I was bereaved of Umayya’s noble men, ex—

I was bereaved of Umayya's illustrious men, save

—cept one by whom we pierce the darkness:

one, through whom we dispel the darkness:

أَعني اِبنَ لَيلى عَبدَ العَزيزِ بِبا

أَعني اِبنَ لَيلى عَبدَ العَزيزِ بِبا

بِليُونَ تَغدو أَجفانُهُ رُذُما

بِليُونَ تَغدو أَجفانُهُ رُذُما

I mean Layla’s son, Abd al-Aziz, in Baby—

I mean Layla's son, Abd al-Aziz, in

—lon, where eyelids wake inflamed.

Babylon: each morning his bowls brim over.

يَلتَفِتُ الناسُ حَولَ مِنبَرِهِ

يَلتَفِتُ الناسُ حَولَ مِنبَرِهِ

إِذا عَمودُ البَرِيَّةِ اِنهَدَما

إِذا عَمودُ البَرِيَّةِ اِنهَدَما

People turn toward his pulpit

People turn toward him around his pulpit,

when the pillar of humankind has fallen.

when the pillar of humankind collapses.

مُجَرَّبُ الحَزمِ في الأُمورِ وَإِن

مُجَرَّبُ الحَزمِ في الأُمورِ وَإِن

خَفَّت حُلومٌ بِأَهلِها حَلُما

خَفَّت حُلومٌ بِأَهلِها حَلُما

Proven in prudent judgment, even when

His resolve is proven in affairs; even when

men’s minds grow flighty; he remains forbearing.

men's minds grow rash, he remains forbearing.

يَنتَهِبُ الحَمدَ بِاليَدَينِ كَما

يَنتَهِبُ الحَمدَ بِاليَدَينِ كَما

ناهَبَ فُرسانُ غارَةٍ نَعما

ناهَبَ فُرسانُ غارَةٍ نَعما

He seizes praise with both hands, as

He snatches praise with both hands, as

horsemen on a raid contend for cattle.

raiding horsemen vie to plunder livestock.

أَغَرُّ أَشياخُهُ العُصاةُ بَنو

أَغَرُّ أَشياخُهُ العُصاةُ بَنو

أُمَيَّةَ المُرغِمونَ مَن رَغَما

أُمَيَّةَ المُرغِمونَ مَن رَغَما

Radiant—his elders are the proud sons

A radiant man, whose elders are the defiant sons of

of Umayya, who humble whoever defies them;

Umayya, who humble whoever resists.

أَشياخُ صِدقٍ نَموا بِمُعتَلِجِ ال

أَشياخُ صِدقٍ نَموا بِمُعتَلِجِ ال

بَطحاءِ كانوا لِقَومِهِم عِصَما

بَطحاءِ كانوا لِقَومِهِم عِصَما

true-hearted elders, raised amid the turmoil of

True elders, who grew in the crowded heart of

al-Batha, bulwarks for their people.

al-Batha, and were bulwarks for their people.

نالوا مَواريثَ مِن جُدودِهِمُ

نالوا مَواريثَ مِن جُدودِهِمُ

فَوَرَّثوها مَروانَ وَالحَكَما

فَوَرَّثوها مَروانَ وَالحَكَما

They gained inheritances from their forefathers

They gained inheritances from their forebears,

and bequeathed them to Marwan and al-Hakam:

and passed them on to Marwan and al-Hakam.

أَهلُ الحَمالاتِ وَالدَسيعَةِ وَال

أَهلُ الحَمالاتِ وَالدَسيعَةِ وَال

مُغنونَ عِندَ الشَدائِدِ البُهَما

مُغنونَ عِندَ الشَدائِدِ البُهَما

bearers of burdens and lavish gifts, and

Men who bear blood-money debts and bestow great gifts, and

enrichers in dark adversity.

bring relief amid dark calamities.

اِختَرتُ عَبدَ العَزيزِ مُرتَغِباً

اِختَرتُ عَبدَ العَزيزِ مُرتَغِباً

وَاللَهُ لِلمَرءِ خَيرُ مَن قَسَما

وَاللَهُ لِلمَرءِ خَيرُ مَن قَسَما

I chose Abd al-Aziz, seeking his favor—

I chose Abd al-Aziz, seeking his bounty;

and God is the best to allot a man’s portion—

and God is the best allotter of a man's share.

مِنَ البَهاليلِ مِن أُمَيَّةَ يَز

مِنَ البَهاليلِ مِن أُمَيَّةَ يَز

دادُ إِذا ما مَدَحتَهُ كَرَما

دادُ إِذا ما مَدَحتَهُ كَرَما

one of Umayya’s lordly men; he increa—

Among Umayya's noble lords, he

—ses in generosity whenever I praise him.

grows more generous whenever you praise him.

لا يَحسَبُ المِدحَةَ الخِداعَ وَلا

لا يَحسَبُ المِدحَةَ الخِداعَ وَلا

يُدرَكُ تَيّارُهُ إِذا اِلتَطَما

يُدرَكُ تَيّارُهُ إِذا اِلتَطَما

He does not mistake praise for deceit, nor

He does not take praise for deceit, nor

can his torrent be overtaken when it surges.

can his torrent be overtaken when it surges.

جاءَت بِهِ حُرَّةٌ مُهَذَّبَةٌ

جاءَت بِهِ حُرَّةٌ مُهَذَّبَةٌ

كَلبِيَّةٌ كانَ بَيتُها دِعَما

كَلبِيَّةٌ كانَ بَيتُها دِعَما

A freeborn, well-bred woman bore him,

A freeborn, refined woman bore him,

a Kalbite woman whose house stood as a pillar,

a woman of Kalb, whose house was a pillar,

مِل أَصبَغِيّاتِ وَالفَوارِعِ لا

مِل أَصبَغِيّاتِ وَالفَوارِعِ لا

يَحمِلنَ فَوقَ الكَواهِلِ الحُزُما

يَحمِلنَ فَوقَ الكَواهِلِ الحُزُما

of the Asbagh women, lofty women who

one of Asbagh's women and the lofty ladies, who do not

carry no bundles upon their shoulders.

carry bundles upon their shoulders.

هُنَّ العَرانينُ مِن قُضاعَةَ أَم

هُنَّ العَرانينُ مِن قُضاعَةَ أَم

ثالُ بَنيهِنَّ يَمنَعُ الذِمَما

ثالُ بَنيهِنَّ يَمنَعُ الذِمَما

They are the foremost of Quda‘a; the li—

They are Quda'a's foremost women; the likes

—kes of their sons safeguard sacred claims.

of their sons uphold pledges of protection.

يَغدو وَفُرسانُهُ مُواكِبَةٌ

يَغدو وَفُرسانُهُ مُواكِبَةٌ

ذا يَلمَقٍ ناشِئاً وَمُستَلِما

ذا يَلمَقٍ ناشِئاً وَمُستَلِما

He goes forth with his horsemen in procession,

He rides forth, his horsemen escorting him,

wearing a yalmaq, youthful and fully armed.

clad in a coat, upright and armored.

تُكِنُّهُ خِرقَةُ الدِرَفسِ مِنَ ال

تُكِنُّهُ خِرقَةُ الدِرَفسِ مِنَ ال

شَمسِ كَلَيثٍ يُفَرِّجُ الأَجَما

شَمسِ كَلَيثٍ يُفَرِّجُ الأَجَما

Al-Darafs’s cloth shelters him from

The banner's cloth shields him from the

the sun, like a lion opening the thickets.

sun, like a lion parting the thickets.

دانَت لَهُ الوَحشُ وَالسِباعُ كَما

دانَت لَهُ الوَحشُ وَالسِباعُ كَما

دانَت مَجوسُ الأُبُلَّةِ الصَنَما

دانَت مَجوسُ الأُبُلَّةِ الصَنَما

Wild beasts and predators submitted to him, just as

Wild beasts and predators submit to him, as

the Magians of al-Ubulla submitted to the idol.

the Magians of al-Ubulla submit to the idol.

يَقوتُ شِبلَينِ عِندَ مُطرِقَةٍ

يَقوتُ شِبلَينِ عِندَ مُطرِقَةٍ

قَد ناهَزا لِلفِطامِ أَو فُطِما

قَد ناهَزا لِلفِطامِ أَو فُطِما

He feeds two cubs beside a crouching lioness;

He feeds two cubs beside a lioness with lowered head,

they are nearing weaning—or have been weaned.

both nearing weaning, or already weaned.

لَم يَأتِ يَومٌ إِلّا وَعِندَهُما

لَم يَأتِ يَومٌ إِلّا وَعِندَهُما

لَحمُ رِجالٍ أَو يولَغانِ دَما

لَحمُ رِجالٍ أَو يولَغانِ دَما

No day comes but they have

No day comes without their having

the flesh of men, or lap up blood.

men's flesh, or being made to lap blood.

مُضَبَّرٌ يَحبِسُ الخَميسَ وَإِن

مُضَبَّرٌ يَحبِسُ الخَميسَ وَإِن

بَلَّت يَداهُ بِقِرنِهِ نَدِما

بَلَّت يَداهُ بِقِرنِهِ نَدِما

A lean lion that holds an army at bay; if

Massively built, he holds an army at bay; and if

its paws grapple its rival, that rival rues it.

his paws seize his rival, the rival regrets it.

كَأَنَّما كُسِّرَت سَواعِدُهُ

كَأَنَّما كُسِّرَت سَواعِدُهُ

فَما اِستَوى جَبرُها وَلا اِلتَأَما

فَما اِستَوى جَبرُها وَلا اِلتَأَما

It is as though its rival’s forearms were shattered,

As though his forelegs had been broken,

their mending never straightened or knit.

and had neither healed straight nor knitted together.

قَد جَرَّبَت وَقعَهُ السِباعُ فَما

قَد جَرَّبَت وَقعَهُ السِباعُ فَما

تَغمِزُ مِنهُ ضَعفاً وَلا هَرَما

تَغمِزُ مِنهُ ضَعفاً وَلا هَرَما

The beasts have tested the force of its blow

The predators have tested his blow, and do not

and find in it neither weakness nor age.

find weakness in him, nor the frailty of age.

فَذاكَ شَبَّهتُهُ اِبنَ لَيلى وَلَ

فَذاكَ شَبَّهتُهُ اِبنَ لَيلى وَلَ

كِنَّ اِبنَ لَيلى يَفوقُهُ شِيَما

كِنَّ اِبنَ لَيلى يَفوقُهُ شِيَما

That is what I likened Layla’s son to; yet

To that lion I likened Layla's son, but

Layla’s son surpasses it in virtues:

Layla's son surpasses him in noble qualities.

مَن يَهَبُ البُختَ وَالوَلائِدَ كَال

مَن يَهَبُ البُختَ وَالوَلائِدَ كَال

غِزلانِ وَالخَيلَ تَعلُكُ اللُجُما

غِزلانِ وَالخَيلَ تَعلُكُ اللُجُما

one who gives Bactrian camels and slave-girls like

He who gives Bactrian camels and slave girls like

gazelles, and horses chewing their bits;

gazelles, and horses chewing their bits,

وَالهَجمَةَ الجِلَّةَ الجَراجِرَ وَال

وَالهَجمَةَ الجِلَّةَ الجَراجِرَ وَال

أَعبُدَ فيها تُشَبَّهُ الأَكَما

أَعبُدَ فيها تُشَبَّهُ الأَكَما

great, massive, rumbling herds, and

and a great herd of full-grown, deep-bellowing camels, and

slaves among whom the hilltops greet the dawn;

slaves within it, the herd resembling hillocks,

وَالوُصَفاءَ الحِسانَ وَالذَهَبَ ال

وَالوُصَفاءَ الحِسانَ وَالذَهَبَ ال

أَحمَرَ مَجداً إِفادَةً قُحَما

أَحمَرَ مَجداً إِفادَةً قُحَما

handsome pages and red

and handsome young servants, and gold,

gold—glory bestowed with fearless bounty;

red, for glory gained through perilous ventures—

مَجداً تَليداً بَناهُ أَوَّلُهُ

مَجداً تَليداً بَناهُ أَوَّلُهُ

أَدرَكَ عاداً وَقَبلَها إِرَما

أَدرَكَ عاداً وَقَبلَها إِرَما

ancient glory first built by his ancestor,

ancestral glory, built by his earliest forebear,

reaching ‘Ad, and Iram before it.

reaching back to Ad, and before them to Iram.

يُنكِرُ لا إِنَّ لا لَمُنكَرَةٌ

يُنكِرُ لا إِنَّ لا لَمُنكَرَةٌ

مِن فيهِ إِلّا مُحالِفاً نَعَما

مِن فيهِ إِلّا مُحالِفاً نَعَما

“No” is unknown—indeed, “no” is a stranger

He rejects 'no'; indeed, 'no' is never heard

to his mouth, unless sworn in fellowship with “yes.”

from his mouth, unless allied with 'yes'.