حيsalute الخيامthe tents فإنيfor indeed I
حي الخيام فإني
مغرىenamored بأهلof the dwellers of الخيامthe tents
مغرى بأهل الخيام
Salute the tents, for I
The abode of the tents, for I am inclined
am enamored of the tents’ dwellers—
Towards the people of tents
بالرامياتof the women who shoot فؤاديmy heart
بالراميات فؤادي
بصائباتwith unerring السهامarrows
بصائبات السهام
the women who shoot at my heart
My heart craves
with unerring arrows.
The swift arrows of fate
أسقمننيthey made me ill وتأليand swore (continued)
أسقمنني وتألي
نthey (feminine-plural ending) لأشفينthey would surely heal سقاميmy sickness
ن لأشفين سقامي
They made me ill, and swore
They have made me sick and languish
they would surely heal my sickness.
That I may heal my sickness
أيامdays وصليmy union حرامforbidden
أيام وصلي حرام
والهجرand estrangement غيرnot حرامforbidden
والهجر غير حرام
My days of union are forbidden,
The days of union made unlawful
while estrangement is not forbidden.
While separation not unlawful
لاmay … not عذبtorment اللهGod قلبيmy heart
لا عذب الله قلبي
إلاexcept بطولwith the duration of الغرامpassion
إلا بطول الغرام
May God not torment my heart
May God not torment my heart
except with prolonged passion.
Except with excessive passion
سقياًa blessing of rain لدهرfor an age تولىdeparted
سقياً لدهر تولى
بشرتيwith my vigor وغراميand my passion
بشرتي وغرامي
May rain bless an age that departed
As if that life
with my vigor and my passion.
Were but a dream
كأنماas though ذلكthat العيthe life (continued)
كأنما ذلك العي
شending of 'life' كانwas فيin الأحلامdreams
ش كان في الأحلام
As though that life
Of the expected one
had been in dreams.
Naught remains for fate's events
لمdid not يبقremain منone whom نرتجيهwe look to with hope
لم يبق من نرتجيه
لحادثagainst a calamity of الأيامthe days
لحادث الأيام
No one remains in whom we place hope
Except the son of Ahmed, tall of stature and mighty hands
against the calamities of time,
Sufficient is he, most generous
إلاexcept ابنson of أحمدAhmad ذوpossessor of الطوbounty (continued)
إلا ابن أحمد ذو الطو
لending of 'bounty' والأياديand benefactions الجسامmighty
ل والأيادي الجسام
except Ibn Ahmad, possessed of bounty
Than rainclouds' downpour
and mighty benefactions.
He meets the destitute with his face
كفاهhis two hands أغدقmore abundant جوداًin generosity
كفاه أغدق جوداً
منthan واكفاتpouring rain of الغمامthe clouds
من واكفات الغمام
His two hands are more abundant in bounty
Elated with joy
than the clouds’ pouring rain.
Revered is he whom we expect
يلقىhe meets العفاةthe petitioners بوجههwith his face
يلقى العفاة بوجهه
مستبشرcheerful بسامever smiling
مستبشر بسام
He greets petitioners, his face
For the greatest calamities
cheerful and ever smiling.
He casts troubles with wisdom
معظماًrevered ترتجيهyou place hope in him
معظماً ترتجيه
للنائباتfor the calamities العظامgreat
للنائبات العظام
A revered man in whom you place hope
Sharper than an Indian sword
in great calamities.
He has firm resolutions
يرميhe strikes الخطوبcalamities برأيwith judgment
يرمي الخطوب برأي
أمضىkeener منthan الصمصامthe sharp-edged sword
أمضى من الصمصام
He strikes calamities with judgment
Keener than a sword's edge
keener than a sharp-edged sword.
قرمa noble chief لهhe has عزماتfirm resolves
قرم له عزمات
تفلblunt حدthe edge of الحسامthe keen sword
تفل حد الحسام
A noble chief whose firm resolves
blunt the keen sword’s edge.
Partial English translation: 25 of 28 Arabic lines translated.