حَدَرَhe lowered القِناعَthe veil عَنِfrom الصَباحِthe dawn المُسفِرِradiant
حَدَرَ القِناعَ عَنِ الصَباحِ المُسفِرِ
وَلَوىand bent القَضيبَthe bough عَلىover الكَثيبِthe dune الأَعفَرِdust-colored
وَلَوى القَضيبَ عَلى الكَثيبِ الأَعفَرِ
He lowered the veil from the radiant dawn,
The morning cast aside its veil in splendor
and bent the bough above the dust-colored dune.
And brandished its wand over the sandy dune
وَتَمَلَّكَتهُand seized him هِزَّةٌa tremor فيamid عِزَّةٍpride
وَتَمَلَّكَتهُ هِزَّةٌ في عِزَّةٍ
فَاِرتَجَّso he quivered فيamong وَرَقِthe leaves of الشَبابِyouth الأَخضَرِgreen
فَاِرتَجَّ في وَرَقِ الشَبابِ الأَخضَرِ
A tremor seized him amid his pride,
Then a tremor seized it in its vigor
so he quivered among youth's green leaves,
And it swayed amongst the leaves, so fresh and green
مُتَنَفَّساًbreathing out عَنfrom مِثلِthe like of نَفحَةِa waft of مِسكَةٍmusk
مُتَنَفَّساً عَن مِثلِ نَفحَةِ مِسكَةٍ
مُتَبَسِّماًsmiling عَنto reveal مِثلِthe like of سِمطَيtwo strands of جَوهَرِjewels
مُتَبَسِّماً عَن مِثلِ سِمطَي جَوهَرِ
breathing out a fragrance like a waft of musk,
Breathing out a fragrance like pure musk
smiling to reveal the like of two strands of jewels.
Smiling with teeth like glistening pearls
سَلَّتdrew عَلَيَّagainst me سُيوفَهاtheir swords أَجفانُهُhis eyelids
سَلَّت عَلَيَّ سُيوفَها أَجفانُهُ
فَلَقَيتُهُنَّso I met them مِنَof المَشيبِgray hair بِمَغفَرِwith a helmet
فَلَقَيتُهُنَّ مِنَ المَشيبِ بِمَغفَرِ
His eyelids drew their swords against me,
Her glances assailed me like swords
and I met them with a helmet of gray hair,
But I faced them with the wisdom of old age
مُتَجَلِّداًstanding firm أَرباI hold too high بِنَفسيmyself أَنthat يُرىit be seen
مُتَجَلِّداً أَربا بِنَفسي أَن يُرى
هَذاthis الهِزبَرُlion قَتيلَslain by ذاكَthat الجُؤذُرِwild-ox calf
هَذا الهِزبَرُ قَتيلَ ذاكَ الجُؤذُرِ
standing firm, deeming it beneath me that anyone should see
Enduring with my soul lest this old man
this lion slain by that wild-ox calf.
Should seem the victim of that impetuous youth
فَحَشاso he pierced بِطَعنَتِهِwith his thrust حَشىthe vitals of مُتَنَفَّسٍone breathing out
فَحَشا بِطَعنَتِهِ حَشى مُتَنَفَّسٍ
تَحتَbeneath الدُجىthe darkness عَنfrom مارِجٍa tongue of flame مُتَسَعِّرِfiercely blazing
تَحتَ الدُجى عَن مارِجٍ مُتَسَعِّرِ
So with his thrust he pierced the vitals of one breathing
With his daring stab he pierced the breast
out a blazing tongue of flame beneath the darkness,
Of one breathing at dusk beneath the gloom
يَغشىhe encounters رِماحَthe spears of الخَطِّal-Khatt أَوَّلَfirst مُقبِلٍadvancing
يَغشى رِماحَ الخَطِّ أَوَّلَ مُقبِلٍ
وَيَكُرُّand charges again يَومَon the day of الرَوعِterror آخِرَlast مُدبِرِretreating
وَيَكُرُّ يَومَ الرَوعِ آخِرَ مُدبِرِ
who meets al-Khatt's spears first to advance,
He charges at the forefront of battle
and charges again on the day of terror, last to retreat.
And on the day of panic is last to retreat
فَتَراهُso you see him بَينَbetween جِراحَتَينِtwo wounds لِلَحظَةٍfrom a glance
فَتَراهُ بَينَ جِراحَتَينِ لِلَحظَةٍ
مَكسورَةٍlanguid وَلِعامِلٍand from a spear-shaft مُتَكَسِّرِsplintering
مَكسورَةٍ وَلِعامِلٍ مُتَكَسِّرِ
You see him between two wounds: one from a glance
For an instant between two wounds he stands
languid, and one from a splintering spear-shaft.
Broken yet determined he remains
نَزَرَscant الكَرىsleep يَرميhe casts against الظَلامَthe darkness بِمُقلَةٍwith an eye
نَزَرَ الكَرى يَرمي الظَلامَ بِمُقلَةٍ
سَهِرَتthat kept vigil لِأُخرىfor another تَحتَهُbeneath it لَمdid not تَسهَرِkeep vigil
سَهِرَت لِأُخرى تَحتَهُ لَم تَسهَرِ
Scant of sleep, he casts an eye against the darkness,
Fate sowed only a handful in the darkness
which kept vigil for another beneath it that did not.
While another spent the night awake beneath
مِنfrom لَيلَةٍa night أَرخىlet down عَلَيَّover me جَناحَهُits wing
مِن لَيلَةٍ أَرخى عَلَيَّ جَناحَهُ
فيهاin it غُرابُa raven of دُجُنَّةٍthick darkness لَمnot يُزجَرِdriven away
فيها غُرابُ دُجُنَّةٍ لَم يُزجَرِ
On a night when there spread its wing over me
On a night whose wing it laid upon me
a raven of thick darkness that none drove away,
In it the ravens of darkness were undeterred
لاnot يَستَقِلّcan carry away بِهاit السُرىnight travel فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though
لا يَستَقِلّ بِها السُرى فَكَأَنَّما
باتَتit spent the night تُسريdrawing away the veil عَنfrom صَباحِthe dawn of المَحشَرِthe Resurrection gathering
باتَت تُسري عَن صَباحِ المَحشَرِ
night travel cannot carry it away, as though
Dawn cannot make its way through it
it spent the night unveiling the dawn of the Resurrection.
As if it creeps towards resurrection's morn
وَلَقَدand indeed أَقولُI say لِبَرقِto the lightning of لَيلٍa night هاجَنيthat stirred me
وَلَقَد أَقولُ لِبَرقِ لَيلٍ هاجَني
فَمَسَحتُso I wiped عَنfrom طَرفٍan eye بِهِbecause of it مُستَعبِرِmoved to tears
فَمَسَحتُ عَن طَرفٍ بِهِ مُستَعبِرِ
Indeed, I say to the night's lightning, which stirred me,
And I say to the lightning of an arousing night
and I wiped an eye moved by it to tears:
I wiped my eyes though they were overflowing
اِقرَأrecite عَلىto الجِزعِthe valley bend السَلامَgreetings وَقُلand say لَهُto it
اِقرَأ عَلى الجِزعِ السَلامَ وَقُل لَهُ
سُقّيتَmay you be watered مِنby سَبَلِthe downpour of الغَمامِthe clouds المُمطِرِrain-bearing
سُقّيتَ مِن سَبَلِ الغَمامِ المُمطِرِ
Give greetings to the valley bend, and tell it:
Read peace upon the stranger's grave and say
May you be watered by the downpour of rain-bearing clouds.
You were watered from the rains of the cloudburst
بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكَand between you ذِمَّةٌa covenant مَرعِيَّةٌhonored
بَيني وَبَينَكَ ذِمَّةٌ مَرعِيَّةٌ
فَإِذاso if تُنوسِيَتِis forgotten المَوَدَّةُaffection فَاِذكُرِthen remember
فَإِذا تُنوسِيَتِ المَوَدَّةُ فَاِذكُرِ
Between me and you is a covenant still honored;
Between you and I lies an ancient bond
so if affection is forgotten, remember it.
If affection wanes, remember
وَإِذاand when غَشيتَyou visit دِيارَthe dwellings of لَيلىLayla بِاللِوىat al-Liwa
وَإِذا غَشيتَ دِيارَ لَيلى بِاللِوى
فَاِسأَلthen ask رِياحَthe winds of الطيبِfragrance عَنهاabout her تُخبَرِyou will be told
فَاِسأَل رِياحَ الطيبِ عَنها تُخبَرِ
And when you visit Layla's dwellings at al-Liwa,
And when you pass the abode of Layla
ask the fragrant winds about her: you will be told.
Ask the sweet winds for news of her
وَاِلمَحand glance at صَحيفَةَthe page of صَفحَتيmy cheek فَاِقرَأthen read بِهاon it
وَاِلمَح صَحيفَةَ صَفحَتي فَاِقرَأ بِها
سَطرَينِtwo lines مِنof دَمعٍtears بِهاon it مُتَحَدِّرِstreaming down
سَطرَينِ مِن دَمعٍ بِها مُتَحَدِّرِ
Glance at the page of my cheek, and read upon it
And see the page of my legacy and read there
two lines of tears streaming down it.
Two lines of tears running down it
كَتَبَتهُماwrote them both تَحتَbeneath الظَلامِthe darkness يَدُthe hand of الضَنىwasting sickness
كَتَبَتهُما تَحتَ الظَلامِ يَدُ الضَنى
خَوفَfor fear of الوُشاةِthe slanderers بِأَحمَرٍin red فيupon أَصفَرِyellow
خَوفَ الوُشاةِ بِأَحمَرٍ في أَصفَرِ
The hand of wasting sickness wrote them beneath the darkness,
Written by the hand of woe in red and yellow
fearing the slanderers, in red upon yellow.
Beneath the darkness, safe from spying eyes
وَلَقَدand indeed جَريتُI ran مَعَwith الصِباyouth جَرِيَthe running of الصَباthe east wind
وَلَقَد جَريتُ مَعَ الصِبا جَرِيَ الصَبا
وَشَرِبتُهاand I drank it مِنfrom كَفِّthe hand of أَحوىa dusky one أَحوَرِwith contrasting black-and-white eyes
وَشَرِبتُها مِن كَفِّ أَحوى أَحوَرِ
Indeed, I ran with youth as the east wind runs,
Many times I raced with the morning breeze
and drank it from the hand of a dusky one with eyes of white and black.
And drank it from the palm of my beloved
ناجَيتُI spoke intimately with مِنهُin him عُطارِداًMercury وَلَرُبَّماand often
ناجَيتُ مِنهُ عُطارِداً وَلَرُبَّما
قَبَّلَتهُI kissed him فَلَثمتُand so I kissed وَجهَthe face of المُشتَريJupiter
قَبَّلَتهُ فَلَثمتُ وَجهَ المُشتَري
In him I spoke intimately with Mercury; and often
I whispered to it and sometimes it would
I kissed him, and so kissed the face of Jupiter.
Kiss her and I would kiss the face of Venus
تَندىis dewy بِفيهِin his mouth أُقاحَةٌa chamomile blossom نَفّاحَةٌfragrant
تَندى بِفيهِ أُقاحَةٌ نَفّاحَةٌ
شَرِبَتit drank عَلىin ظَمَإٍthirst بِماءِfrom the water of الكَوثَرِal-Kawthar
شَرِبَت عَلى ظَمَإٍ بِماءِ الكَوثَرِ
In his mouth a fragrant chamomile blossom is dewy,
Her mouth is restless, ever blowing
having drunk, in its thirst, from al-Kawthar's waters.
She drank with thirst from the heavenly Kauthar
شَهِدَتbore witness لَهُfor him فَتَكاتُهُhis deadly assaults فيupon مُهجَتيmy heart
شَهِدَت لَهُ فَتَكاتُهُ في مُهجَتي
يَومَon the day of الغَميمِal-Ghamim بِنِسبَةٍto kinship فيwith قَيصَرِCaesar
يَومَ الغَميمِ بِنِسبَةٍ في قَيصَرِ
His deadly assaults upon my heart bore witness for him
Her glances bear witness on the day we met
on the day of al-Ghamim, to his kinship with Caesar.
To her passion in an encounter with Caesar
وَلَقَدand indeed خَلَوتُI was alone بِهِwith him أُقَسِّمُI divide نَظرَتيmy gaze
وَلَقَد خَلَوتُ بِهِ أُقَسِّمُ نَظرَتي
ماemphatic particle بَينَbetween جُؤذِرِa wild-ox calf كِلَّةٍa bed-canopy وَغَضَنفَرِand a lion
ما بَينَ جُؤذِرِ كِلَّةٍ وَغَضَنفَرِ
Indeed, I was alone with him, dividing my gaze
And I confided in her, I swear I saw
between a wild-ox calf beneath a canopy and a lion.
Between a gazelle's ankle and neck, pure beauty
يَثنيhe bends مَعاطِفَهُhis limbs وَأَذرُفُand I shed عَبرَتيmy tears
يَثني مَعاطِفَهُ وَأَذرُفُ عَبرَتي
فَإِخالُهُso I imagine him غُصناًa bough بِشاطِئِon the bank of جَعفَرِa broad river
فَإِخالُهُ غُصناً بِشاطِئِ جَعفَرِ
He bends his limbs, and I shed my tears,
She folds her cloak and I shed tears
so I imagine him a bough on a broad river's bank.
As if she were a branch on the bank of Ja'far
وَأَهابُand called بيto me شَرخُthe prime of الشَبابِyouth لِريبَةٍtoward a dubious deed
وَأَهابُ بي شَرخُ الشَبابِ لِريبَةٍ
فَرَمَيتُso I cast جانِبَهُhis side بِعَطفٍwith a shoulder أَزوَرِturned away
فَرَمَيتُ جانِبَهُ بِعَطفٍ أَزوَرِ
The prime of youth called me toward a dubious deed,
And the fear of youth made me shy
so I presented an averted shoulder to his side.
So I covered her flank with a slanted glance
وَأَخٍand a brother زَأَرتُI roared لَهُat him وَلَولاand were it not for أَنَّنيthe fact that I
وَأَخٍ زَأَرتُ لَهُ وَلَولا أَنَّني
آنَستُperceived ماwhat أَنكَرَتهُI disapproved of it لَمdid not أَزأَرِI roar
آنَستُ ما أَنكَرَتهُ لَم أَزأَرِ
And a brother at whom I roared—had I not
And though I feigned ignorance, had I not
perceived what I disapproved of, I would not have roared.
Perceived what I perceived, I would not have
آنَستُI perceived ماwhat آنَستُهُI perceived it مِنof عَتبِهِhis reproach
آنَستُ ما آنَستُهُ مِن عَتبِهِ
فَأَقامَso he remained تَحتَbeneath غَمامَةٍa cloud لَمdid not تُمطِرِrain
فَأَقامَ تَحتَ غَمامَةٍ لَم تُمطِرِ
I perceived what I perceived of his reproach,
I saw what I saw of her subtle reproach
and he remained beneath a cloud that did not rain.
So she remained under a cloud that would not rain
وَلَوand if اِلتَقَيناwe had met حَيثُwhere يَصغيhe listens ساعَةًfor a while
وَلَو اِلتَقَينا حَيثُ يَصغي ساعَةً
لَسَقتهُI would have led him بَينَbetween مَلامَةٍreproach وَتَشَكُّرِand gratitude
لَسَقتهُ بَينَ مَلامَةٍ وَتَشَكُّرِ
Had we met where he would listen for a while,
And had we met when she was alone for an hour
I would have led him amid reproach and gratitude,
I would have given her both blame and gratitude
تَهميraining بِماءِwith the water of الوَردِroses فيinto أَردانِهِhis sleeves
تَهمي بِماءِ الوَردِ في أَردانِهِ
وَبَلاًa downpour وَتَحصُبُand pelting سَمعَهُhis hearing بِالجَوهَرِwith jewels
وَبَلاً وَتَحصُبُ سَمعَهُ بِالجَوهَرِ
raining rosewater into his sleeves
I would satisfy her with rosewater on her mouth
in torrents, and pelting his hearing with jewels.
And problems, though her ear hears only luxury
وَعُلاهُby his eminence لَولاhad it not been for بَرقُthe lightning of وَعدٍa promise شِمتُهُI watched it
وَعُلاهُ لَولا بَرقُ وَعدٍ شِمتُهُ
فيin عارِضٍa cloud مِنof بِرِّهِhis kindness مُستَمطِرِseeking rain
في عارِضٍ مِن بِرِّهِ مُستَمطِرِ
By his eminence! Had I not watched a promise's lightning
And were it not for the lightning of a promise I saw
in a cloud of his kindness, seeking rain,
In a hair of her innocence, pouring down
لَنَسَختُI would have transcribed أَسطارَthe lines of الكِتابِthe letter كَتائِباًas battalions
لَنَسَختُ أَسطارَ الكِتابِ كَتائِباً
مُصطَفَّةًdrawn up in ranks وَطَرَقتُهُand visited him by night فيwith عَسكَرِan army
مُصطَفَّةً وَطَرَقتُهُ في عَسكَرِ
I would have transcribed the letter's lines as battalions
I would have torn up the pages of the book in despair
drawn up in ranks, and come upon him by night with an army.
Lined up and thrown it into the camp
وَمقامِand a stand of بَأسٍvalor فيin الكَريهَةِbattle قُمتُهُI took it
وَمقامِ بَأسٍ في الكَريهَةِ قُمتُهُ
فَسَبحتُso I swam فيin بَحرِa sea of الحَديدِiron الأَخضَرِgreen
فَسَبحتُ في بَحرِ الحَديدِ الأَخضَرِ
And I took a stand of valor in battle,
And I took a stance of valor in battle
and swam in a sea of green iron.
And swam in a sea of steely green
أَضحَكتُI made laugh ثَغرَthe mouth of النَصرِvictory فيهِin it مِنَat العِدىthe foes
أَضحَكتُ ثَغرَ النَصرِ فيهِ مِنَ العِدى
وَلَرُبَّماand often أَبكَيتُI made weep عَينَthe eye of السَمهَريthe Samhari spear
وَلَرُبَّما أَبكَيتُ عَينَ السَمهَري
There I made victory's mouth laugh at the foes,
Laughing at the mouth of victory over the enemy
and often made the Samhari spear's eye weep.
And maybe crying for the Samhar's eye
وَرَمَيتُand I hurled هَبوَتَهُits dust cloud بِلَبَّةِwith the breast of أَشهَبٍa gray steed
وَرَمَيتُ هَبوَتَهُ بِلَبَّةِ أَشهَبٍ
فَسَفَرتُso I unveiled لَيلاًa night عَنfrom صَباحٍa dawn مُسفِرِradiant
فَسَفَرتُ لَيلاً عَن صَباحٍ مُسفِرِ
I hurled a gray steed's breast into its dust cloud,
And I threw its stabbing glance with a gray spear
and stripped away a night to reveal a radiant dawn.
Traveling at night from a bright morning
يَجريhe runs فَتَحسَبُهُso you think him اِنصِباباًin headlong descent كَوكَباًa star
يَجري فَتَحسَبُهُ اِنصِباباً كَوكَباً
يَنقَضُّswooping down فيthrough غَبشِthe gloom of العَجاجِswirling dust الأَكدَرِmurky
يَنقَضُّ في غَبشِ العَجاجِ الأَكدَرِ
He runs; you would think him, in his plunge, a star
Flowing so you'd think it a star descending
swooping through the murk of dark, swirling dust.
Crashing into the darkness of the gloomy night
أَورَدتُهُI led him to drink نُطَفَthe droplets of الأَسِنَّةِthe spearpoints أَشهَباًa gray steed
أَورَدتُهُ نُطَفَ الأَسِنَّةِ أَشهَباً
وَنَزَلتُand I dismounted مِنهُfrom him ظافِراًvictorious عَنfrom أَشقَرِa chestnut steed
وَنَزَلتُ مِنهُ ظافِراً عَن أَشقَرِ
I brought him, gray, to drink the spearpoints' droplets,
I made it taste the swords of tongues until it turned
and dismounted from him victorious—from a chestnut.
And I returned from it triumphant over the blond one
وَلَقَدand indeed خَبَطتُI beat through الغابَthe thicket أَسأَلُasking لَيلَةًone night
وَلَقَد خَبَطتُ الغابَ أَسأَلُ لَيلَةً
عَنabout سِرِّthe secret of صُبحٍa dawn فيwithin حَشاهُits heart مُضمَرِhidden
عَن سِرِّ صُبحٍ في حَشاهُ مُضمَرِ
Indeed, I beat through the thicket one night, asking
Conversation turned to the memory of Tahir
about the secret of a dawn concealed within its heart.
So I made its kindling with ambergris
وَحَطَطتُand I lowered عَنfrom بِنتِthe daughter of الزِنادِthe fire-sticks قِناعَهاher veil
وَحَطَطتُ عَن بِنتِ الزِنادِ قِناعَها
لَيلاًat night لِسارٍfor a night-traveler تَحتَهُbeneath it مَتَنَوِّرِseeking firelight
لَيلاً لِسارٍ تَحتَهُ مَتَنَوِّرِ
I lowered the veil from the daughter of the fire-sticks
And I began to stir it, reminding myself
at night, for a wayfarer beneath it seeking firelight,
That this and that are of one element
وَمَسَحتُand I wiped away مِنهاfrom her عَنfrom مَعاطِفِthe flanks of مُهرَةٍa filly
وَمَسَحتُ مِنها عَن مَعاطِفِ مُهرَةٍ
شَقراءَchestnut-colored تُذعَرُstartled مِنby شَمالٍa north wind صَرصَرِshrieking
شَقراءَ تُذعَرُ مِن شَمالٍ صَرصَرِ
and wiped the veil from her—from a filly's flanks,
As if she and the wind were flirting with it
chestnut, startled by a shrieking north wind.
Dancing in a red shirt
وَجَرىand flowed الحَديثُthe talk بِبَعضِwith some ذِكرىremembrance of طاهِرٍTahir
وَجَرى الحَديثُ بِبَعضِ ذِكرى طاهِرٍ
فَجَعَلتُso I made جَزلَthe stout part of وَقودِهاher fuel مِنof عَنبَرِambergris
فَجَعَلتُ جَزلَ وَقودِها مِن عَنبَرِ
Talk turned to some remembrance of Tahir,
The mother of leadership bore in him an only one
so I made her stout fuel of ambergris.
Containing the meaning of many more
وَطَفِقتُand I began أُذكيهاstoking her وَأَذكُرُand recalling ذِهنَهُhis mind
وَطَفِقتُ أُذكيها وَأَذكُرُ ذِهنَهُ
فَإِخالُso I think ذاكَthat وَهَذِهِand this مِنof عُنصُرِone element
فَإِخالُ ذاكَ وَهَذِهِ مِن عُنصُرِ
I set about stoking her, while recalling his mind,
His ascendance goes beyond his country so for him
and thought that and this were of one element.
Jupiter's beauty lies with the celestial orbs
فَكَأَنَّهاso it is as though she وَالريحُwhile the wind عابِثَةٌplays بِهاwith her
فَكَأَنَّها وَالريحُ عابِثَةٌ بِها
تُزهىshe preens فَتَرقُصُand so dances فيin قَميصٍa shirt أَحمَرِred
تُزهى فَتَرقُصُ في قَميصٍ أَحمَرِ
It is as though, while the wind plays with her,
And if I stand before him I sanctify him
she preens and dances in a red shirt.
As if I walk with him in the hallowed valley
وَلَدَتbore بِهِin him أُمُّthe mother of السِيادَةِlordship أَوحَداًa peerless one
وَلَدَت بِهِ أُمُّ السِيادَةِ أَوحَداً
مُتَضَمِّناًembodying مَعنىthe meaning of العَديدِthe multitude الأَكثَرِmost numerous
مُتَضَمِّناً مَعنى العَديدِ الأَكثَرِ
In him the mother of lordship bore a peerless one,
The sublime came from him in a unique game
embodying the meaning of the greatest multitude.
Sweet of nature, face of clarity and honesty
تُعديspreads to عُلاهُhis eminence دِيارَهُhis dwellings فَلَهاso they have بِهِthrough him
تُعدي عُلاهُ دِيارَهُ فَلَها بِهِ
فيat مُرتَقىthe height of زُحَلٍSaturn جَمالُthe beauty of المُشتَريJupiter
في مُرتَقى زُحَلٍ جَمالُ المُشتَري
His eminence spreads to his dwellings; through him they have
He amazed the choicest of hearing
Jupiter's beauty at Saturn's lofty height.
Eloquent speech and compelling eyes
وَإِذاand when وَطِئتُI tread جَنابَهُhis precinct قَدَّستُهُI hold it sacred
وَإِذا وَطِئتُ جَنابَهُ قَدَّستُهُ
فَكَأَنَّنيso it is as though I أَمشيwalk بِهِthere فيin مَشعَرِa sacred ritual-site
فَكَأَنَّني أَمشي بِهِ في مَشعَرِ
And when I tread his precinct, I hold it sacred,
His ties held strong from the house of Aamir
as though I walked there in a holy sanctuary.
Where once a new moon rose from Muhjar
أَتَتِbrought forth العُلىhigh honor مِنهُfrom him بِأَوحَدَa peerless man أَصيَدٍproudly erect
أَتَتِ العُلى مِنهُ بِأَوحَدَ أَصيَدٍ
حُلوِsweet of السَجِيَّةِdisposition طَلقِcheerful وَجهِthe face of المَخبَرِinner character
حُلوِ السَجِيَّةِ طَلقِ وَجهِ المَخبَرِ
High honor brought forth from him a peerless, proud man,
Clear of brow as if I am meeting
sweet of disposition, his inner nature cheerful-faced;
The face of youth turned back
وَأَغَرَّand radiant أَروَعَmajestic مِلءِfilling سَمعِthe hearing المُنتَقىchoice
وَأَغَرَّ أَروَعَ مِلءِ سَمعِ المُنتَقى
حُرِّnoble الكَلامِspeech وَمِلءِand filling عَينِthe eye of المُبصِرِthe beholder
حُرِّ الكَلامِ وَمِلءِ عَينِ المُبصِرِ
radiant and majestic, filling the ear with choice
Eloquent words to the ear of his companion
noble speech, and filling the beholder's eye.
As if in his mouth lies the tongue of one who gives good news
حَلَّتsettled أَواصِرُهُhis kinship ties بِهِin him مِنfrom عامِرٍAmir
حَلَّت أَواصِرُهُ بِهِ مِن عامِرٍ
فيin حَيثُthe place where حَلَّتsettles مُقلَةٌan eyeball مِنwithin مِحجَرِan eye socket
في حَيثُ حَلَّت مُقلَةٌ مِن مِحجَرِ
His kinship ties from Amir hold in him
No doubts assail him, rather it is as if
the place an eye holds within its socket.
He walks in the full light of brilliant day
طَلقِopen الجَبينِof brow كَأَنَّنيas though I مُستَقبِلٌam welcoming
طَلقِ الجَبينِ كَأَنَّني مُستَقبِلٌ
بِلِقائِهِin meeting him وَجهَthe face of الشَبابِyouth المُدَبِّرِdeparting
بِلِقائِهِ وَجهَ الشَبابِ المُدَبِّرِ
Open of brow—as though I were welcoming,
Bearing heavy burdens on shoulders and hands
in meeting him, the face of departing youth.
Without wrapping himself in an apron
رَطبِfresh الكَلامِof speech عَلىto سَماعِthe hearing of جَليسِهِhis companion
رَطبِ الكَلامِ عَلى سَماعِ جَليسِهِ
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though فيin فيهِhis mouth لِسانَthe tongue of مُبَشِّرِa bearer of good tidings
فَكَأَنَّ في فيهِ لِسانَ مُبَشِّرِ
His speech is fresh to his companion's hearing,
As if he moves straight ahead on high
as though his mouth held the tongue of a bearer of good tidings.
On twisted roads in the most rugged of terrain
لاnot تَعتَريهِtouches him شُبهَةٌa suspicion فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though
لا تَعتَريهِ شُبهَةٌ فَكَأَنَّما
يَمشيhe walks عَلىupon وَضحِthe brightness of النَهارِday النَيِّرِshining
يَمشي عَلى وَضحِ النَهارِ النَيِّرِ
No suspicion touches him, as though
he walks upon the brightness of shining day.
مُتَحَمِّلِbearing العِبءِthe burden الثَقيلِheavy بِمَنكِبٍupon a shoulder
مُتَحَمِّلِ العِبءِ الثَقيلِ بِمَنكِبٍ
أَيدٍstrong وَلَمand has not يَشدُدtightened لَهُfor it مِنany مِئزَرِwaistcloth
أَيدٍ وَلَم يَشدُد لَهُ مِن مِئزَرِ
Bearing the heavy burden upon a shoulder
strong, though he has tightened no waistcloth for it,
فَكَأَنّهُso it is as though he مُتَصَوِّبٌdescending فيin المُرتَقىthe ascent
فَكَأَنّهُ مُتَصَوِّبٌ في المُرتَقى
دَمِثَsmooth المَسالِكِof paths فيupon الطَريقِthe road الأَوعَرِroughest
دَمِثَ المَسالِكِ في الطَريقِ الأَوعَرِ
it is as though he descends while ascending,
his paths smooth upon the roughest road.
Partial English translation: 98 of 104 Arabic lines translated.