كَمhow often أُرجِعُI turn back الزَفرَاتِthe sighs فيwithin أَحشائيmy entrails
كَم أُرجِعُ الزَفرَاتِ في أَحشائي
وإلامَand until when فيin دارِthe abode of الهَوانِhumiliation ثوائيmy dwelling
وإلامَ في دارِ الهَوانِ ثوائي
How often must I turn sighs back within my entrails,
How many sighs do I stifle in my core,
and how long must I remain in the abode of humiliation?
And to what end is my stay in the abode of disgrace?
لمnot يَبقَremains مِنّيof me مِنfrom مُساوَرَةِthe assault of الأَذىharm
لم يَبقَ مِنّي مِن مُساوَرَةِ الأَذى
وَالضَّيمِand oppression غَيرُexcept حُشاشَةٍa remnant of life وَذماءِand a last breath
وَالضَّيمِ غَيرُ حُشاشَةٍ وَذماءِ
Nothing remains of me, from the assaults of harm
Naught remains in me after bearing harm
and oppression, but a flicker and a last breath of life.
And injustice save forbearance and tolerance.
فيin دارِthe abode of قَومٍa people لَوif رآهُمhe saw them مالِكٌMālik
في دارِ قَومٍ لَو رآهُم مالِكٌ
وَهُمُand they بِأَحسَنِat the finest مَنظَرٍappearance وَرُواءِand beauty
وَهُمُ بِأَحسَنِ مَنظَرٍ وَرُواءِ
In the abode of men whom, if Mālik saw them,
In the abode of a people, if an angel saw them
even at their finest in appearance and beauty,
In their fairest guise and hydration,
لَرَثىhe would pity لِأَهلِthe people of النارِHell كَيفَhow يَراهُمُhe sees them
لَرَثى لِأَهلِ النارِ كَيفَ يَراهُمُ
وَهُمُand they لَهُمfor them فيهاtherein مِنَamong القُرَناءِthe companions
وَهُمُ لَهُم فيها مِنَ القُرَناءِ
he would pity Hell's people for how he would find them,
He would mourn the inhabitants of hell - how he sees them
with these among their companions there.
While they, for it, have comrades.
ثَكِلتهُمُmay they be bereaved of them الأَعداءُthe enemies إِنَّindeed حَياتَهُمtheir life
ثَكِلتهُمُ الأَعداءُ إِنَّ حَياتَهُم
غَمُّthe grief of الصَّديقِthe friend وَفَرحَةُand the joy of الأَعداءِthe enemies
غَمُّ الصَّديقِ وَفَرحَةُ الأَعداءِ
May their enemies be bereaved of them! Their life
May their enemies lose them! Their life
is grief for a friend and joy for enemies.
Is the grief of a friend and the joy of a foe.
أَموالُهُمtheir wealth لِذَويfor those possessing العَداوَةِenmity نُهبَةٌplunder
أَموالُهُم لِذَوي العَداوَةِ نُهبَةٌ
وَعَنِand away from المَكارِمِnoble deeds فيin يَدِthe hand of الجَوزاءِal-Jawzāʾ
وَعَنِ المَكارِمِ في يَدِ الجَوزاءِ
Their wealth is plunder for those who bear them enmity,
Their wealth is easy pickings for adversaries
yet lies, far from noble deeds, in al-Jawzāʾ's hand.
While generosity is tied in a miser's fist.
لاnot يُعرَفُis known المَعروفُgoodness فيin ساحاتِهمtheir courtyards
لا يُعرَفُ المَعروفُ في ساحاتِهم
إِلّاexcept كَماas يُحكىtales are told عَنِabout العَنقاءِthe mythical ʿAnqāʾ bird
إِلّا كَما يُحكى عَنِ العَنقاءِ
Goodness is unknown in their courtyards,
Kindness is not known in their quarters
except as tales are told of the ʿAnqāʾ.
Except as the legendary virtue of a sphinx.
جَلَدُthe endurance of الجَمالِcamels عَلىunder الهَوانِhumiliation وَفيهمُand within them
جَلَدُ الجَمالِ عَلى الهَوانِ وَفيهمُ
ضَعفُthe weakness of الدَباyoung locusts وَتَلَوُّنand the changing colors of الحِرباءِthe chameleon
ضَعفُ الدَبا وَتَلَوُّن الحِرباءِ
They have the camels' endurance of humiliation, and within them
The skin of a beautiful camel atop disgrace - and in them
the weakness of young locusts and a chameleon's changing colors.
The weakness of a hyena and a chameleon's fickleness.
وَإِذاand when اِبتَدَواthey begin بَحثُواthey dig into البَذاobscenity فَكَأَنَّهُمas though they
وَإِذا اِبتَدَوا بَحثُوا البَذا فَكَأَنَّهُم
دُجَجٌchickens تَباحَثُscratching through عذرَةًexcrement بِفَضاءِin an open space
دُجَجٌ تَباحَثُ عذرَةً بِفَضاءِ
When they begin, they root about in obscenity, as though
When they initiate discourse, it is as if they are
they were chickens scratching through dung in the open.
Hens clucking nonsense in an empty barnyard.
عُميٌblind عَنِto الإِحسانِkindness إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُمthat they
عُميٌ عَنِ الإِحسانِ إِلّا أَنَّهُم
أَهدىbetter guided إلىtoward لُؤمٍbaseness مِنَthan الزَّرقاءِal-Zarqāʾ
أَهدى إلى لُؤمٍ مِنَ الزَّرقاءِ
Blind to kindness—yet they
Blind to benevolence, unless it is
find their way to baseness better than al-Zarqāʾ.
A gift to the villainous and ignorant.
صُمٌّdeaf عَنِto الحُسنىgoodness وَلَكِنbut طالَماhow often
صُمٌّ عَنِ الحُسنى وَلَكِن طالَما
سَمِعواthey heard كَلامَthe speech of الحُكلِthe speechless فيin العَوراءِa shameful matter
سَمِعوا كَلامَ الحُكلِ في العَوراءِ
Deaf to goodness—yet how often
Deaf to virtue, yet they have often
they have heard the speech of the speechless in matters of shame.
Heard the words of the depraved against the innocent.
جَعَلواthey made المِحالَtrickery إِلىtoward المُحالِthe impossible ذَرائِعاًmeans
جَعَلوا المِحالَ إِلى المُحالِ ذَرائِعاً
تُغنيdispensing عَنِwith البَيضاءِsilver وَالصَّفراءِand gold
تُغني عَنِ البَيضاءِ وَالصَّفراءِ
They have made trickery a means to the impossible,
They make the impossible means to the impossible,
dispensing with silver and gold.
Which spares them the white and the yellow.
عَجباًhow strange لَهُمthey are وَذَووand possessors of النُّهىreason ماnot إِنan emphatic particle تَرىyou see
عَجباً لَهُم وَذَوو النُّهى ما إِن تَرى
عَجَباًa wonder سِوىexcept ماwhat هالَappalled قَلبَthe heart of الرَائيthe beholder
عَجَباً سِوى ما هالَ قَلبَ الرَائي
How strange they are! The discerning see
Wondrous they are, and those who forbid vice - you do not see
no wonder but what appalls the beholder's heart.
A wonder other than what shakes the heart of the seer.
أنفٌa nose بِأَعنانِin the heights of السَّماءِthe sky مُظِلَّةٌcasting shade
أنفٌ بِأَعنانِ السَّماءِ مُظِلَّةٌ
وَاِستٌand a backside تُوَبِّعُfarts فيin قَرارِthe depths of الماءِthe water
وَاِستٌ تُوَبِّعُ في قَرارِ الماءِ
A nose casting shade in the heights of heaven,
A nose held high by the reins of the sky, imposing,
and a backside farting in the water's depths.
An ear that follows resolutely the settled water.
وَيُفاخِرونَand they boast بِمَعشَرٍof a people دَرَجواwho passed away وَلَمand not
وَيُفاخِرونَ بِمَعشَرٍ دَرَجوا وَلَم
تَدرُجhave passed away جِبالُthe mountains of الرَملِsand بِالبَيضاءِat al-Bayḍāʾ
تَدرُج جِبالُ الرَملِ بِالبَيضاءِ
They boast of a people who have passed away, though
And they boast of a company that rose while not
the mountains of sand at al-Bayḍāʾ have not.
The mountains of sand rose in the white city.
هَبهُمgrant them أُبُوَّتَهُمtheir ancestry وَلَكِنَّbut الخَراshit
هَبهُم أُبُوَّتَهُم وَلَكِنَّ الخَرا
مَعَdespite خُبثِهِits foulness يُنمىis traced back إِلىto الحَلواءِsweetmeats
مَعَ خُبثِهِ يُنمى إِلى الحَلواءِ
Grant them their ancestry; yet shit,
Their fatherhood has slipped from them, but vice
despite its foulness, is traced back to sweetmeats.
With its malignance grows to ripeness.
لَيسَnot العِظامِيُّthe man relying on ancestral bones الفَخارَboasting بِمُدرِكٍcapable of attaining
لَيسَ العِظامِيُّ الفَخارَ بِمُدرِكٍ
شَرَفَاًhonor بِباقيthrough the remnant of رِمَّةٍa decayed carcass كَهباءِgray-brown
شَرَفَاً بِباقي رِمَّةٍ كَهباءِ
The man who boasts of ancestral bones cannot attain
The noble bones are not reached
honor through the remains of a gray-brown carcass.
By a remainder of scattered dust.
لَكِنbut عِصامِيٌّa self-made man كَفَتهُhas sufficed him نَفسُهُhis own self
لَكِن عِصامِيٌّ كَفَتهُ نَفسُهُ
شَرَفَthe honor of الجُدودِgrandfathers وَمَفخَرَand the glory of الآباءِfathers
شَرَفَ الجُدودِ وَمَفخَرَ الآباءِ
But the self-made man has in himself enough,
Rather, a strong soul sufficed him
needing neither grandsires' honor nor fathers' glory.
The nobility of ancestors and pride of forefathers.
ماwhat لِلعظامِhave bones to do وَلِلفَخارِand with boasting وَكُلُّهُمand all of them
ما لِلعظامِ وَلِلفَخارِ وَكُلُّهُم
فيin سِربِهِhis fold كَبَلِيَّةٍlike a camel tethered to die عَمياءِblind
في سِربِهِ كَبَلِيَّةٍ عَمياءِ
What have bones to do with pride, when each of them
What is it to the bones and pottery? All of them
in his fold is like a blind camel tethered to die?
Are in a flock, blind.
خَلّواleave الفَخارَboasting لِمَعشَرٍto a people أَولوكُمُwho bestowed on you
خَلّوا الفَخارَ لِمَعشَرٍ أَولوكُمُ
ذُلَّthe abasement of الهَوانِhumiliation بِغِلظَةٍwith harshness وَجَفاءِand cruelty
ذُلَّ الهَوانِ بِغِلظَةٍ وَجَفاءِ
Leave boasting to the people who bestowed on you
Leave the pottery to a company whom
the abasement of humiliation, with harshness and cruelty.
Degradation has thickened and dried out.
مَسَحوكُمُthey stroked you كَالضَّبعِlike a hyena حَتّىuntil أُوثِقَتwere bound
مَسَحوكُمُ كَالضَّبعِ حَتّى أُوثِقَت
جُددُridges الجِبالِof the mountains بِرِجلِهاto its leg العَرجاءِthe lame
جُددُ الجِبالِ بِرِجلِها العَرجاءِ
They stroked you like a hyena, till bound were
You wiped them like foxes until
the mountain ridges to its limping leg.
The sides of mountains were bound by their limping legs.
وَتَبادَرُوهاand they rushed upon it بَعدَafter مَسحِهمُtheir stroking لَهاof it
وَتَبادَرُوها بَعدَ مَسحِهمُ لَها
سَحباًdragging عَلىover البَوغاءِthe dust وَالحَصباءِand the pebbles
سَحباً عَلى البَوغاءِ وَالحَصباءِ
And they rushed upon it after stroking it,
And you followed it, after wiping them,
dragging it over dust and pebbles.
Dragging through emptiness and pebbles.
وَالذَّبحُand slaughter غايَتُهاits end وَهَلand would ذوone possessing إِحنَةٍrancor
وَالذَّبحُ غايَتُها وَهَل ذو إِحنَةٍ
يَرضىbe content بِدونِwith less than الخُطَّةِthe course الشَنعاءِthe hideous
يَرضى بِدونِ الخُطَّةِ الشَنعاءِ
Slaughter is its end; would anyone with a grudge
And slaughter is their limit - and does one of malice
accept less than that hideous course?
Accept less than the most heinous villainy?
ماwhat فَخرُpride فَدمٍhas a dolt ماnot لهُfor him فيover مُلكِهِhis possessions
ما فَخرُ فَدمٍ ما لهُ في مُلكِهِ
لَوif شاءَhe wished مِنany أَخذٍtaking وَلاnor إِعطاءِgiving
لَو شاءَ مِن أَخذٍ وَلا إِعطاءِ
What pride has a dolt with no power over his possessions,
What pride is there for one with no control over his possessions,
to take or give, even if he wishes?
No authority to take or give as he wishes?
ماwhatever جَمَّعواthey amassed مِنof سِكَّةٍa palm-row مَأبورَةٍpollinated
ما جَمَّعوا مِن سِكَّةٍ مَأبورَةٍ
أَوor مُهرَةٍa mare مَأمورَةٍprolific غَرّاءِwhite-blazed
أَو مُهرَةٍ مَأمورَةٍ غَرّاءِ
Whatever they have amassed of pollinated palm-rows
They collected no honest gains,
or prolific, white-blazed mares,
No entrusted or blessed treasures.
فَلِكُلِّthen for every شاوِيٍّshepherd وَراعيand keeper of هَجمَةٍa great camel-herd
فَلِكُلِّ شاوِيٍّ وَراعي هَجمَةٍ
جافٍcoarse خَبيثِfoul العَرفِin scent وَالشَحناءِand in rancor
جافٍ خَبيثِ العَرفِ وَالشَحناءِ
belongs to every shepherd and keeper of a great camel-herd,
So for every plunderer and lowlife raider,
coarse, foul-smelling, and full of rancor.
Dry, malignant, and quarrelsome,
وَبَقِيَّةُand the remainder of المالِthe wealth المُحرَّزِsafeguarded قِسمَةٌa portion
وَبَقِيَّةُ المالِ المُحرَّزِ قِسمَةٌ
أَرَّثتَهُyou bequeathed it فيamong أَعبُدٍmale slaves وَإِماءِand female slaves
أَرَّثتَهُ في أَعبُدٍ وَإِماءِ
The rest of the safeguarded wealth is a portion
And the remainder of hoarded wealth is shared out
you have bequeathed among male and female slaves.
And wasted on slaves and slave-girls.
ياO لَلرّجالِmen, to the rescue أَلاis there not فَتىًa youth ذُوpossessing نَجدَةٍcourage
يا لَلرّجالِ أَلا فَتىً ذُو نَجدَةٍ
يَحميdefends بِمُنصلِهِwith his sword عَلىfor العَلياءِhigh honor
يَحمي بِمُنصلِهِ عَلى العَلياءِ
O men, to the rescue! Is there no courageous youth
Oh, if only there were men - where is the gallant one
to defend high honor with his sword?
Who would protect the sublime with his sword?
تااللَّهِby God أُقسِمُI swear لَوif دَعَوتُI summoned بِنُدبَتيwith my appeal
تااللَّهِ أُقسِمُ لَو دَعَوتُ بِنُدبَتي
حَيّاًa living man لَلبّىhe would answer دَعوَتيmy call وَنِدائيand my cry
حَيّاً لَلبّى دَعوَتي وَنِدائي
By God, I swear, had I summoned with my appeal
By God I swear, if I called on my zeal
a living man, he would have answered my call and cry.
Alive, it would answer my call and cry.
لَكِنَّنيbut I نادَيتُcalled مَوتىdead men لَمnot تَزَلَhave ceased
لَكِنَّني نادَيتُ مَوتى لَم تَزَلَ
أَشباحُهُمtheir forms تَمشيwalk مَعَamong الأَحياءِthe living
أَشباحُهُم تَمشي مَعَ الأَحياءِ
But I called to dead men; still
But I called on the dead, whose specters
their forms walk among the living.
Still walk with the living.
أَلِفواthey grew accustomed to الهَوانَhumiliation فَلوso if تَناءىit went far away عَنهُمُfrom them
أَلِفوا الهَوانَ فَلو تَناءى عَنهُمُ
لَسَعواthey would strive لِبُغيَتِهِto seek it إِلىto صَنعاءِṢanʿāʾ
لَسَعوا لِبُغيَتِهِ إِلى صَنعاءِ
They are so used to humiliation that, if it left them,
They have become accustomed to disgrace, so if it drifted
they would strive to seek it as far as Ṣanʿāʾ.
Away from them, they would hasten eagerly to Sanaa for more.
لِلّهِGod be praised for قَومٌa people مِنfrom ذُؤابَةِthe foremost stock of جَعفَرٍJaʿfar
لِلّهِ قَومٌ مِن ذُؤابَةِ جَعفَرٍ
لَمnot يُغمِضواthey closed جَفناًan eyelid عَلىupon الأَقذاءِgrit
لَم يُغمِضوا جَفناً عَلى الأَقذاءِ
God be praised for men of Jaʿfar's foremost stock,
By God! A people from Judhaifa's clan
who never closed an eyelid upon grit.
Did not close their eyes to the disgraces.
لَمّاwhen رأَوهاthey saw it أَنَّهاthat it هِيَwas itself صَمَّمُواthey stood firm
لَمّا رأَوها أَنَّها هِيَ صَمَّمُوا
تَصميمَwith the resolve of تَغلِبَTaghlib وائِلِWāʾil الغَلباءِthe mighty
تَصميمَ تَغلِبَ وائِلِ الغَلباءِ
When they saw it for what it was, they stood firm,
When they saw it was so, they resolved
with the resolve of mighty Taghlib of Wāʾil.
The resolve of conquering Wa'il's heroes.
حَتّىuntil سَقواthey gave drink to عَلَلاًdraught after draught صُدورَthe fronts of سُيوفِهِمtheir swords
حَتّى سَقوا عَلَلاً صُدورَ سُيوفِهِم
عَلَقاًblood يُبَرِّدُcooling غُلَّةَthe burning thirst of الشَحناءِrancor
عَلَقاً يُبَرِّدُ غُلَّةَ الشَحناءِ
until they gave their sword-tips draught after draught
Until they quenched their swords' thirst
of blood to cool the burning thirst of rancor.
On clotted blood that cooled the heat of rage.
تَرَكواthey left لُعيباًLuʿayb فيamong مئينٍhundreds أَربَعٍfour
تَرَكوا لُعيباً في مئينٍ أَربَعٍ
جَزراًslaughtered prey قُبَيلَjust before تَنوّرِthe shining of اِبنِthe son of ذُكاءِDhukāʾ, the sun
جَزراً قُبَيلَ تَنوّرِ اِبنِ ذُكاءِ
They left Luʿayb among four hundred,
They left Lu'ayy in the Hijaz
slaughtered prey, just before dawn—the son of Dhukāʾ—shone.
An island before the oven of Ibn Dhakwan.
فَهُناكَthen there طابَتgrew pleasant خَيبَرٌKhaybar وَاِستَبدَلَتand exchanged
فَهُناكَ طابَت خَيبَرٌ وَاِستَبدَلَت
مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter it السَّرّاءَhappiness بِالضَرّاءِin place of hardship
مِن بَعدِها السَّرّاءَ بِالضَرّاءِ
Then Khaybar flourished and exchanged
There Khaybar's destiny was sealed, and it exchanged
after that, hardship for happiness.
After that, good fortune for misfortune.
ماwhat ضَرَّharm would befall أَشباهَsemblances of الرِّجالِmen لَوَif اِنَّهُمthey
ما ضَرَّ أَشباهَ الرِّجالِ لَوَ اِنَّهُم
فَعَلواthey acted كَفِعلِlike the deeds of أُولَئِكَthose النُجَباءِnoble men
فَعَلوا كَفِعلِ أُولَئِكَ النُجَباءِ
What harm would it have done these semblances of men if they
The likes of men, what harm if they
had acted like those noble men?
Did as those honorable ones did?
فَالمَوتُfor death خَيرٌis better مِنthan حَياتِهِمُtheir life الَّتيwhich
فَالمَوتُ خَيرٌ مِن حَياتِهِمُ الَّتي
كَحَياةِlike the life of نونٍa fish باتَspent the night فيin بَهماءِa trackless desert
كَحَياةِ نونٍ باتَ في بَهماءِ
Death is better than their life, which is
Death is better than their lives
like that of a fish spending the night in a trackless desert.
Like the life of Nun who slept in desolation,
أَوor هاجَرواthey migrated فيthrough الأَرضِthe earth فَهيَfor it is عَريضَةٌwide
أَو هاجَروا في الأَرضِ فَهيَ عَريضَةٌ
فَالتّيهُfor the wilderness خَيرٌis better مِنthan حِمىthe protected domain of الأَحساءِal-Aḥsāʾ
فَالتّيهُ خَيرٌ مِن حِمى الأَحساءِ
Or let them migrate through the earth, for it is wide;
Or they wandered the vast earth - for wandering
the wilderness is better than al-Aḥsāʾ's protected domain.
Is better than the sanctuary of Yamama.
لَكِنَّهُمbut they مِثلُlike القَنافِذِhedgehogs إِذwhen تَرىthey see الthe
لَكِنَّهُم مِثلُ القَنافِذِ إِذ تَرى ال
عُقبانِeagles تَستَلقيlie down عَلىon الأَقفاءِthe backs
عُقبانِ تَستَلقي عَلى الأَقفاءِ
But they are like hedgehogs: when they see the
But they are like hedgehogs who, when they see
eagles, they lie upon their backs.
No eagles, rest on their backs.
ياah حَبَّذاhow excellent بَقَرُthe cattle of العراقِIraq فَإِنَّهاfor they
يا حَبَّذا بَقَرُ العراقِ فَإِنَّها
لَأَشَدُّare indeed fiercer مَحميَةًin defensive zeal وَخَيرُand better وَفاءِin loyalty
لَأَشَدُّ مَحميَةً وَخَيرُ وَفاءِ
Ah, how excellent are the cattle of Iraq! They
Blessed are the cows of Iraq, for they
are far fiercer in defense and better in loyalty.
Are firmer in their defense and truer in loyalty.
كَمhow many جَدَّلَتthey laid low مِنof ضَيغَمٍa lion بِقُرونِهاwith their horns
كَم جَدَّلَت مِن ضَيغَمٍ بِقُرونِها
وافىcame لِيَقهَرَهاto overpower them عَلىover الأَبناءِthe offspring
وافى لِيَقهَرَها عَلى الأَبناءِ
How many lions have they felled with their horns,
How often they gored with their horns
that came to overpower them and take their young!
A wolf, returning, loyal to their young!
بَلrather حَبَّذاhow excellent طَيرٌbirds يَعومُswimming بِمائِهاin its waters
بَل حَبَّذا طَيرٌ يَعومُ بِمائِها
طَوراًat times وَيَرعىand grazing on النَّجمَlow-growing plants بِالصَّحراءِin the desert
طَوراً وَيَرعى النَّجمَ بِالصَّحراءِ
Better still, how excellent are the birds that swim in its waters
Better yet, a bird that floats on its waters,
at times, and graze on low-growing plants in the desert.
Resting awhile, gazing at the stars in the desert.
ماnever رامَهُsought it البازِيُّthe hawk مِنهُfrom it بِسَطوَةٍby force
ما رامَهُ البازِيُّ مِنهُ بِسَطوَةٍ
فَحَمَتهُso protected it شَوكَةُthe point of مِخلَبٍa talon حَجناءِhooked
فَحَمَتهُ شَوكَةُ مِخلَبٍ حَجناءِ
No hawk has assailed one of them by force
The predator cannot seize it forcefully
and found protection in the barb of a hooked talon.
For the thorns of its talons protect it.
بَلrather يَعتَوِرنَthey take turns attacking قذالَهُits nape فَإِذاthen when اِمتَلىit became filled
بَل يَعتَوِرنَ قذالَهُ فَإِذا اِمتَلى
سُكراًwith stupor وَنالَand suffered الضَّيمَabasement بَعدَafter إِباءِdefiance
سُكراً وَنالَ الضَّيمَ بَعدَ إِباءِ
Rather, they take turns striking its nape; then, when it is filled
Rather, it pecks his abdomen, and when sated
with stupor and suffers abasement after defiance,
Dice and divide it until it ends
جَزَّرنَهُthey butchered it فَقَسمنَهُthen they divided it حَتّىuntil قَضىit died
جَزَّرنَهُ فَقَسمنَهُ حَتّى قَضى
فيin لُجَّةٍa watery depth مَسجُورَةِfilled الأَرجاءِthe shores
في لُجَّةٍ مَسجُورَةِ الأَرجاءِ
they butcher it and divide it up, until it dies
In a cooked broth, torn to pieces.
in deep water filled to its shores.
Oh companion, departure draws near - prepare for me
ياO صاحِfriend قَدalready أَزِفَhas drawn near الرَّحيلُdeparture فَقَرِّبَنso bring near
يا صاحِ قَد أَزِفَ الرَّحيلُ فَقَرِّبَن
لِلسَّيرِfor the journey كُلَّevery شِمِلَّةٍfleet she-camel وَجناءِthick-cheeked
لِلسَّيرِ كُلَّ شِمِلَّةٍ وَجناءِ
My friend, departure is at hand: bring near
Every bundle and container for the journey.
for the journey every fleet, thick-cheeked she-camel.
What excuse has a freeman to stay in a land
ماwhat عُذرexcuse حُرٍّhas a free man فيfor المُقامِstaying بِبَلدَةٍin a town
ما عُذر حُرٍّ في المُقامِ بِبَلدَةٍ
آسادُهاwhose lions ضَربٌa kind مِنَof المعزاءِgoats
آسادُها ضَربٌ مِنَ المعزاءِ
What excuse has a free man for staying in a town
Whose pillars are a kind of goat?
whose lions are a breed of goats?
They followed neither the example of men nor donkeys.
لاnot بِالرِّجالِthe example of men وَلاnor الجَواميسِbuffaloes اِقتَدَواthey followed
لا بِالرِّجالِ وَلا الجَواميسِ اِقتَدَوا
عَدِمُواmay they be deprived of الحَياةَlife وَلاnor بِطَيرِthe example of birds of الماءِwater
عَدِمُوا الحَياةَ وَلا بِطَيرِ الماءِ
They followed neither men nor buffaloes—
Reject life itself, not even the ways of aquatic birds!
may they be deprived of life!—nor waterbirds.
The land is vast, springs plentiful,
فَالبَرُّfor the open land أَوسَعُis wider وَالمَناهِلُand watering places جَمَّةٌare plentiful
فَالبَرُّ أَوسَعُ وَالمَناهِلُ جَمَّةٌ
وَالبُعدُand distance مُقتَربٌis within reach عَلىon الأَنضاءِworn-out mounts
وَالبُعدُ مُقتَربٌ عَلى الأَنضاءِ
The open land is wider, and watering places are plentiful,
And distance is made near in meadows.
and distant places are within reach on worn-out mounts.
And I have a dwelling place near Zuraa,
وَبِجانِبِand beside الزَوراءِal-Zawrāʾ ليI have مُستَوطَنٌa place to settle
وَبِجانِبِ الزَوراءِ لي مُستَوطَنٌ
إِنif شِئتُI wish أَوor بِالمَوصِلِin Mosul الحَدباءِal-Ḥadbāʾ, the Humpbacked
إِن شِئتُ أَو بِالمَوصِلِ الحَدباءِ
Beside al-Zawrāʾ I have a place to settle,
If I wish, or in humped Mosul.
if I wish, or in Mosul, the Humpbacked.
Where I will not meet the envious, angry,
فيin حَيثُa place where لاnot أَلقىI meet الحَسودَthe envious man أَخاpossessed of شجاًchoking grief
في حَيثُ لا أَلقى الحَسودَ أَخا شجاً
تَغليboil مَراجِلُهُhis cauldrons عَلىagainst الخُلطاءِthe companions
تَغلي مَراجِلُهُ عَلى الخُلطاءِ
where I meet no envious man choked with grief,
With boiling pots of hatred.
his cauldrons boiling against his companions;
And where the brothers of purity gather,
وَبِحَيثُand where إِخوانُbrothers of الصَّفاءِpure affection يَضُمُّهاunites them
وَبِحَيثُ إِخوانُ الصَّفاءِ يَضُمُّها
حُسنُthe beauty of الوفاءِloyalty وَشِيمَةُand the disposition of الأُدَباءِcultivated men
حُسنُ الوفاءِ وَشِيمَةُ الأُدَباءِ
and where brothers of pure affection are united by
Whose loyalty and manners of scholars are embraced.
beautiful loyalty and the manners of cultivated men.
Partial English translation: 105 of 106 Arabic lines translated.