سَلِّمgreet عَلىupon الرَبعِthe deserted dwelling مِنof سَلمىSalma بِذيat Dhu سَلَمِSalam
سَلِّم عَلى الرَبعِ مِن سَلمى بِذي سَلَمِ
عَلَيهِupon it وَسمٌa mark مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days وَالقِدَمِand age
عَلَيهِ وَسمٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ وَالقِدَمِ
Greet Salma's deserted dwelling at Dhu Salam.
Greet the quarter of Salma in Thi Salam
It bears the mark of days and age.
On which the days and time have left their mark
ماnot دامَremained عَيشٌa life لَبِسناهُwe wore it بِساكِنِهِwith its dweller
ما دامَ عَيشٌ لَبِسناهُ بِساكِنِهِ
لَدناًtender وَلَوand even if أَنَّthat عَيشاًa life دامَlasted لَمnot يَدُمِendure
لَدناً وَلَو أَنَّ عَيشاً دامَ لَم يَدُمِ
The life we wore with its dweller did not remain
As long as we live, we will dwell in it
tender; even had a life lasted, it would not endure.
Though life may last, it will not last forever
ياO مَنزِلاًdwelling أَعنَقَتsped فيهِthrough it الجَنوبُthe south wind عَلىover
يا مَنزِلاً أَعنَقَت فيهِ الجَنوبُ عَلى
رَسمٍa trace مُحيلٍfaded وَشِعبٍand a rift غَيرِnot مُلتَئِمِjoined
رَسمٍ مُحيلٍ وَشِعبٍ غَيرِ مُلتَئِمِ
O dwelling through which the south wind sped over
O abode where the south winds moaned
a faded trace and an unhealed rift!
Over faint traces and scattered ruins
هَرِمتَyou have aged بَعدِيَafter me وَالرَبعُand the dwelling الَّذيwhich أَفَلَتset
هَرِمتَ بَعدِيَ وَالرَبعُ الَّذي أَفَلَت
مِنهُfrom it بُدورُكَyour full moons مَعذورٌexcused عَلىfor الهَرَمِold age
مِنهُ بُدورُكَ مَعذورٌ عَلى الهَرَمِ
You have aged since I left; a dwelling from which
You decayed after I left
your full moons have set is excused for growing old.
And the quarter I deserted can be excused for decaying
عَهديmy recollection بِمَغناكَof your abode حُسّانَvery beautiful المَعالِمِthe landmarks مِنfrom
عَهدي بِمَغناكَ حُسّانَ المَعالِمِ مِن
حُسّانَةِa beautiful woman الوَردِroses وَالبَردِيِّand papyrus وَالعَنَمِand red-twigged ‘anam
حُسّانَةِ الوَردِ وَالبَردِيِّ وَالعَنَمِ
I remember your abode, its landmarks made lovely by
My pact with your magnificence, splendid landmarks
a beauty of roses, papyrus, and red-twigged ‘anam.
Of luscious flowers, fleece, and grapes
بَيضاءُfair-skinned كانَwas لَهاfor her مِنfrom غَيرِناothers than us حَرَمٌa sanctuary
بَيضاءُ كانَ لَها مِن غَيرِنا حَرَمٌ
فَلَمso not نَكُنwere we نَستَحِلُّdeem lawful الصَيدَhunting فيin الحَرَمِthe sanctuary
فَلَم نَكُن نَستَحِلُّ الصَيدَ في الحَرَمِ
A fair woman whose sanctuary was another's, not ours;
She was a white beauty that others admired
so we did not deem hunting lawful in the sanctuary.
We did not dare hunt in the sacred precinct
كانَتshe was لَناfor us صَنَماًan idol نَحنوwe bend affectionately عَلَيهِover it وَلَمand did not
كانَت لَنا صَنَماً نَحنو عَلَيهِ وَلَم
نَسجُدwe prostrate ourselves كَماas سَجَدَprostrated himself الأَفشينُal-Afshin لِلصَنَمِto the idol
نَسجُد كَما سَجَدَ الأَفشينُ لِلصَنَمِ
She was an idol to us, over which we bent lovingly, but did not
She was an idol to us though we never
prostrate ourselves as al-Afshin prostrated himself to the idol.
Prostrated like those who bow to idols
زارَvisited الخَيالُthe phantom لَهاof hers لاno بَلrather أَزارَكَهُmade it visit you
زارَ الخَيالُ لَها لا بَل أَزارَكَهُ
فِكرٌa mind إِذاwhen نامَslept فِكرُthe mind الخَلقِof humanity لَمnot يَنَمِsleep
فِكرٌ إِذا نامَ فِكرُ الخَلقِ لَم يَنَمِ
Her phantom visited—no, rather, it was brought to you by
Fancy came to visit her, or rather your fancy
a mind that did not sleep when other people's minds slept.
Came when all minds sleep, but thoughts do not sleep
ظَبيٌa gazelle تَقَنَّصتُهُI captured it لَمّاwhen نَصَبتُI set لَهُfor it
ظَبيٌ تَقَنَّصتُهُ لَمّا نَصَبتُ لَهُ
فيat آخِرِthe end اللَيلِof the night أَشراكاًsnares مِنَof الحُلُمِdreaming
في آخِرِ اللَيلِ أَشراكاً مِنَ الحُلُمِ
A gazelle I captured when I laid for it
A gazelle I stalked when I laid my traps
at the night's end, snares of dream.
Of dreams for it late in the night
ثُمَّthen اِغتَدىdeparted at dawn وَبِناand in us مِنfrom ذِكرِهِremembering it سَقَمٌsickness
ثُمَّ اِغتَدى وَبِنا مِن ذِكرِهِ سَقَمٌ
باقٍlasting وَإِنand although كانَit was مَشغولاًpreoccupied عَنِaway from السَقَمِthe sickness
باقٍ وَإِن كانَ مَشغولاً عَنِ السَقَمِ
Then it departed at dawn, leaving us sick with remembrance of it,
Then it grew bold and we grew sick with longing
a sickness that remains, though it was heedless of that sickness.
Though busy, we cannot forget our sickness
اليَومَtoday يُسليكَconsoles you عَنfrom طَيفٍa phantom أَلَمَّvisited وَعَنand from
اليَومَ يُسليكَ عَن طَيفٍ أَلَمَّ وَعَن
بِلىdecay الرُسومِof the traces بَلاءُthe exertion الأَينُقِof the she-camels الرَسُمِswift-trotting
بِلى الرُسومِ بَلاءُ الأَينُقِ الرَسُمِ
Today you are diverted from a phantom's visit and from
Today your mind is distracted from a phantom that pained you
the ruins' decay by the toil of swift-trotting she-camels,
And from the ruins of a lovely phantom
مِنَof القِلاصِthe young she-camels اللَواتيwhich فيin حَقائِبِهاtheir saddlebags
مِنَ القِلاصِ اللَواتي في حَقائِبِها
بِضاعَةٌa cargo غَيرُnot مُزجاةٍpaltry مِنَof الكَلِمِwords
بِضاعَةٌ غَيرُ مُزجاةٍ مِنَ الكَلِمِ
young she-camels whose saddlebags contain
Of wenches whose bags contain no mingled
a cargo of words of no paltry worth.
Merchandise of words when they speak
إِذاwhen بَلغنَthey reach أَباAbu كُلثومٍKulthum اِتَّصَلَتcome to fulfillment
إِذا بَلغنَ أَبا كُلثومٍ اِتَّصَلَت
تِلكَthose المُنىhopes وَأَخَذنَand they obtain الحاجَthe needs مِنfrom أَمَمِclose at hand
تِلكَ المُنى وَأَخَذنَ الحاجَ مِن أَمَمِ
When they reach Abu Kulthum, there come to fulfillment
When they reach Abu Kulthum they take
those hopes, and they obtain their needs close at hand.
Pilgrims' vows from various faiths
بَنىbuilt بِهِthrough him اللَهُGod فيin بَدوٍnomadic country وَفيand in حَضَرٍsettled country
بَنى بِهِ اللَهُ في بَدوٍ وَفي حَضَرٍ
لِوائِلِfor Wa'il سورَa wall عِزٍّof honor غَيرَnot مُنهَدِمِcrumbling
لِوائِلِ سورَ عِزٍّ غَيرَ مُنهَدِمِ
Through him God built, among nomads and settled folk,
God has built him among nomads and city dwellers
for Wa'il a wall of honor that cannot crumble.
As a towering lion, strong and uncrumbling
رَأَتهُshe saw him فيin المَهدِthe cradle عَتّابٌ‘Attab فَقالَthen said لَهاto her
رَأَتهُ في المَهدِ عَتّابٌ فَقالَ لَها
ذَووthose possessing الفِراسَةِdiscernment هَذاthis صَفوَةُthe purest essence الكَرَمِof nobility
ذَوو الفِراسَةِ هَذا صَفوَةُ الكَرَمِ
‘Attab saw him in the cradle, and to her said
A soothsayer saw him in the cradle and told his mother
the discerning: “This is nobility's purest essence.”
"The discerning say: This boy is the cream of nobles"
خُذواtake هَنيئاًwith pleasure مَريئاًwholesomely ياO بَنيsons of جُشَمٍJusham
خُذوا هَنيئاً مَريئاً يا بَني جُشَمٍ
مِنهُfrom him أَمانَينِtwo assurances of safety مِنagainst خَوفٍfear وَمِنand against عَدَمِwant
مِنهُ أَمانَينِ مِن خَوفٍ وَمِن عَدَمِ
Take, with pleasure and ease, O sons of Jusham,
Rejoice secured from fear and want, O Bani Jusham
two assurances from him: against fear and against want.
For the pedigree has come to you clearly
فَجاءَso he came وَالنَسَبُand the lineage الوَضّاحُradiant جاءَcame بِهِwith him
فَجاءَ وَالنَسَبُ الوَضّاحُ جاءَ بِهِ
كَأَنَّهُas though he were بُهمَةٌa dauntless warrior فيهِمamong them مِنَof البُهَمِthe dauntless warriors
كَأَنَّهُ بُهمَةٌ فيهِم مِنَ البُهَمِ
He came forth, brought forth by his radiant lineage,
Though time walks with bent back
as though he were a dauntless champion among their champions.
This boy will force time to walk like that
طِعانُspear-play عَمرِوof ‘Amr كُلثومٍKulthum وَنائِلُهُand his bounty
طِعانُ عَمرِو كُلثومٍ وَنائِلُهُ
حَذوَmatching السُيورِthe straps الَّتيthat قُدَّتwere cut مِنَfrom الأَدَمِleather
حَذوَ السُيورِ الَّتي قُدَّت مِنَ الأَدَمِ
‘Amr Kulthum's spear-play and his bounty
His fingers are brooks flowing with valor
match like straps cut from leather.
And zeal is a cloak from God stretched over the honored
لَوif كانَhe had يَملِكُpossessed عَمرٌو‘Amr مِثلَهُone like him شَبَهاًa likeness
لَو كانَ يَملِكُ عَمرٌو مِثلَهُ شَبَهاً
مِنfrom صُلبِهِhis loins لَمnot يَجِدfeel لِلمَوتِin death مِنany أَلَمِpain
مِن صُلبِهِ لَم يَجِد لِلمَوتِ مِن أَلَمِ
Had ‘Amr possessed one like him, a likeness
He obtained the peninsula though gaining it was impossible
from his own loins, he would have felt no pain in death.
I said to them: Inhale his fragrance when lightning is unseen
بَنانُهُhis fingers خُلُجٌchannels تَجريflow وَغَيرَتُهُand his jealous protectiveness
بَنانُهُ خُلُجٌ تَجري وَغَيرَتُهُ
سِترٌa veil مِنَfrom اللَهِGod مَمدودٌspread عَلىover الحُرَمِthe protected women
سِترٌ مِنَ اللَهِ مَمدودٌ عَلى الحُرَمِ
His fingers are flowing channels, and his jealous protectiveness
The spring is no greener to the towns because of him
a veil from God spread over the women under his care.
Than his fresh twigs are to the arid sands
نالَstruck الجَزيرَةَal-Jazira إِمحالٌdrought فَقُلتُso I said لَهُمto them
نالَ الجَزيرَةَ إِمحالٌ فَقُلتُ لَهُم
شيمواwatch for نَداهُhis bounty إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle البَرقُlightning لَمnot يُشَمِbe sighted
شيموا نَداهُ إِذا ما البَرقُ لَم يُشَمِ
Drought struck al-Jazira, and I told them:
I see no one who has erased the memory of Mayyah
Look for his bounty when no lightning is sighted.
As he did though many sang of Mayyah's wine
فَماso not الرَبيعُspring عَلىdespite أُنسِthe delight البِلادِof the lands بِهِin it
فَما الرَبيعُ عَلى أُنسِ البِلادِ بِهِ
أَشَدَّmore intense خُضرَةَgreenness عودٍof bough مِنهُthan him فيin القُحَمِhardships
أَشَدَّ خُضرَةَ عودٍ مِنهُ في القُحَمِ
Spring, despite the lands' delight in it, is not
A glory that shepherded the vicissitudes of time and he was
greener in bough than he amid hardships.
A youth until time itself walked with faltering steps
وَلاand not أَرىI see ديمَةًa steady rain أَمحىmore effacing لِمَسغَبَةٍof hunger
وَلا أَرى ديمَةً أَمحى لِمَسغَبَةٍ
مِنهُthan him عَلىalthough أَنَّthat ذِكراًrenown طارَspread لِلدِيَمِfor steady rains
مِنهُ عَلى أَنَّ ذِكراً طارَ لِلدِيَمِ
Nor do I see a steady rain more able to erase hunger
Generosity built him and true valor and when
than he, though the fame of steady rains has spread.
The sublime is built by anything but these two, it crumbles
لِتَغلِبٍfor Taghlib سُؤدَدٌlordly honor طابَتflourished مَنابِتُهُits roots
لِتَغلِبٍ سُؤدَدٌ طابَت مَنابِتُهُ
فيin مُنتَهىthe utmost قُلَلٍcrests وَمِنهاand from them وَفيand in قِمَمِsummits
في مُنتَهى قُلَلٍ وَمِنها وَفي قِمَمِ
Taghlib has a lordly honor whose roots flourish
A halt at the family of Sa'd, their hands
at the highest crests, from them, and upon the summits.
Are poison to the arrogant and antidote to the aggressive
مَجدٌglory رَعىgrazed تَلَعاتِthe uplands الدَهرِof time وَهوَwhile it was فَتىًyoung
مَجدٌ رَعى تَلَعاتِ الدَهرِ وَهوَ فَتىً
حَتّىuntil غَداcame to الدَهرُtime يَمشيwalk مِشيَةَthe gait الهَرِمِof the aged
حَتّى غَدا الدَهرُ يَمشي مِشيَةَ الهَرِمِ
A glory that grazed time's uplands while time was young,
No wretched neighbor dwells beside them
until time came to walk with an old man's gait.
And their covenants are free of any blemish
بَناهُbuilt it جودٌgenerosity وَبَأسٌand valor صادِقٌtrue وَمَتىand whenever
بَناهُ جودٌ وَبَأسٌ صادِقٌ وَمَتى
تُبنَis built العُلىgreatness بِسِوىwith other than هَذَينِthese two تَنهَدِمِit collapses
تُبنَ العُلى بِسِوى هَذَينِ تَنهَدِمِ
Generosity built it, and true valor; whenever
They were loyal to all the Abbasid kings
greatness is built with anything but these two, it collapses.
Preserving them from the wrongs of the usurpers
وَقفٌreserved عَلىfor آلِthe house of سَعدٍSa‘d إِنَّindeed أَيدِيَهُمtheir hands
وَقفٌ عَلى آلِ سَعدٍ إِنَّ أَيدِيَهُم
سَمٌّpoison لِمُستَكبِرٍto an arrogant person شُهدٌhoney لِمُؤتَدِمِfor one eating a relish
سَمٌّ لِمُستَكبِرٍ شُهدٌ لِمُؤتَدِمِ
Reserved for the house of Sa‘d; their hands are indeed
Gently, O Bani Malik! Do not bring
poison to the arrogant, honey to one who takes it as relish.
The crane of Raqim to live among eagles
لاnot جارُهُمtheir protected neighbor لِلرَزاياto calamities فيin جِوارِهِمtheir protection
لا جارُهُم لِلرَزايا في جِوارِهِم
وَلاand not عُهودُهُمُtheir covenants مَذمومَةَdishonored الذِمَمِin obligations
وَلا عُهودُهُمُ مَذمومَةَ الذِمَمِ
No neighbor of theirs is left to calamities under their protection,
What bitterness have you harbored and unleashed?
nor are their covenants dishonored in their obligations.
What perversity have you blamed the Bani Jusham for?
أَصفَواbestowed exclusively مُلوكَthe kings بَنيof the sons of العَبّاسِal-‘Abbas كُلَّهُمُall of them
أَصفَوا مُلوكَ بَني العَبّاسِ كُلَّهُمُ
ذَخيرَةًa treasure ذَخَروهاthey reserved it عَنfrom بَنيthe sons of الحَكَمِal-Hakam
ذَخيرَةً ذَخَروها عَن بَني الحَكَمِ
They granted every king of the sons of al-‘Abbas
Malik did not spare you pardon and forgiveness
a treasure they had withheld from the sons of al-Hakam.
Even if the serpent of Hayy blew into tinder
مَهلاًgently بَنيsons of مالِكٍMalik لاdo not تَجلُبُنَّbring إِلىupon
مَهلاً بَني مالِكٍ لا تَجلُبُنَّ إِلى
حَيِّthe clan الأَراقِمِof al-Araqim دُؤلولَthe calamity اِبنَةِof the daughter الرَقِمِof the spotted serpent
حَيِّ الأَراقِمِ دُؤلولَ اِبنَةِ الرَقِمِ
Gently, sons of Malik! Do not bring upon
You do not repeat your raids on their blood
the clan of al-Araqim the calamity of the spotted serpent's daughter.
Nor assault any flesh among them
فَأَيُّso what حِقدٍrancor أَثَرتُمyou stirred مِنfrom مَكامِنِهِits hiding places
فَأَيُّ حِقدٍ أَثَرتُم مِن مَكامِنِهِ
وَأَيُّand what عَوصاءَhardship جَشَّمتُمyou imposed on بَنيthe sons of جُشَمِJusham
وَأَيُّ عَوصاءَ جَشَّمتُم بَني جُشَمِ
What rancor have you stirred from its hiding places,
You dragged him against his will from his bed
and what hardship have you imposed on the sons of Jusham?
Though fire can be lit from the rubbing of branches
لَمnot يَألُكُمstint you مالِكٌMalik صَفحاًforbearance وَمَغفِرَةًand forgiveness
لَم يَألُكُم مالِكٌ صَفحاً وَمَغفِرَةً
لَوif كانَwas يَنفُخُblowing قَينُthe smith الحَيِّof the clan فيinto فَحَمِcharcoal
لَو كانَ يَنفُخُ قَينُ الحَيِّ في فَحَمِ
Malik spared you no forbearance or forgiveness,
You trampled him on the embers of filial impiety
if only the clan's smith had been blowing on charcoal.
Though even lions depart when discomforted
لاnot بِالمُعاوِدِas one who returns وَلغاًlapping فيin دِمائِكُمُyour blood
لا بِالمُعاوِدِ وَلغاً في دِمائِكُمُ
وَلاand not إِلىfor لَحمِthe flesh خَلقٍof any person مِنكُمُamong you قَرِمِravenous
وَلا إِلى لَحمِ خَلقٍ مِنكُمُ قَرِمِ
He is not one to return to lapping at your blood,
You were locked in fetters and walked the walk of slaves
nor does he crave the flesh of any person among you.
Just as horses walk elegantly when bridled
أَخرَجتُموهُyou forced him out بِكُرهٍunwillingly مِنfrom شَجِيَّتِهِhis nature
أَخرَجتُموهُ بِكُرهٍ مِن شَجِيَّتِهِ
وَالنارُand fire قَدindeed تُنتَضىmay be drawn مِنfrom ناضِرِgreen السَلَمِsalam acacia
وَالنارُ قَد تُنتَضى مِن ناضِرِ السَلَمِ
You forced him, unwilling, out of his natural temper,
When none can be relied upon but those who are just
and fire may indeed be drawn from green salam acacia.
The deaf man excuses many deaf ones
أَوطَأتُموهُyou made him tread عَلىon جَمرِthe coals العُقوقِof disloyalty وَلَوand if
أَوطَأتُموهُ عَلى جَمرِ العُقوقِ وَلَو
لَمnot يُحرَجِbe hard pressed اللَيثُthe lion لَمnot يَبرَحdepart مِنَfrom الأَجَمِthe thickets
لَم يُحرَجِ اللَيثُ لَم يَبرَح مِنَ الأَجَمِ
You made him tread the coals of disloyalty; had
Of the licentiousness of girls who when they dress up
the lion not been hard pressed, it would not have left the thickets.
Can be smelled by those with sensitive noses
قُذِعتُمُyou were harshly rebuked فَمَشَيتُمso you walked مَشيَةًa walk أُمَماًmeasured
قُذِعتُمُ فَمَشَيتُم مَشيَةً أُمَماً
كَذاكَthus يَحسُنُis graceful مَشيُthe gait الخَيلِof horses فيin اللُجُمِbridles
كَذاكَ يَحسُنُ مَشيُ الخَيلِ في اللُجُمِ
You were harshly rebuked, and so walked a measured walk;
If they commit crimes, they do not repent
thus do horses walk well when bridled.
And if they wrong people, they are not blamed
إِذfor لاno مُعَوَّلَreliance إِلّاexcept كُلُّeach مُعتَدِلٍstraight
إِذ لا مُعَوَّلَ إِلّا كُلُّ مُعتَدِلٍ
أَصَمَّsolid; deaf يُبرِئُcures أَقواماًpeoples مِنَof الصَمَمِdeafness
أَصَمَّ يُبرِئُ أَقواماً مِنَ الصَمَمِ
For there is no reliance except on each straight,
Time was a dog that abandoned you
solid, “deaf” spear that cures people of deafness,
And fate among you is the most inviolable
مِنَamong الرُدَينِيَّةِthe Rudayni spears اللاتيwhich إِذاwhen عَسَلَتquiver
مِنَ الرُدَينِيَّةِ اللاتي إِذا عَسَلَت
تُشِمُّmake smell بَوَّa stuffed calf-hide صَغارِthe abasement الأَنفِof the nose ذاone possessing الشَمَمِa high nose
تُشِمُّ بَوَّ صَغارِ الأَنفِ ذا الشَمَمِ
among the Rudayni spears, which, when they quiver,
Is it blindness that made people practice usury and be saved
make the high-nosed man sniff humiliation's stuffed calf-hide.
While you unleash floods of tribulations?
إِنif أَجرَمَتthey commit crimes لَمnot تَنَصَّلdisown مِنof جَرائِمِهاtheir crimes
إِن أَجرَمَت لَم تَنَصَّل مِن جَرائِمِها
وَإِنand if أَساءَتthey do wrong إِلىto الأَقوامِpeoples لَمnot تُلَمِbe blamed
وَإِن أَساءَت إِلى الأَقوامِ لَم تُلَمِ
If they commit crimes, they do not disown their crimes,
Is it from grand ambitions that seethed? Many weak ones
and if they wrong peoples, they are not blamed.
Were led by the loftiness of nobles in their pride
كانَwas الزَمانُtime بِكُمtoward you كَلباًa dog فَغادَرَكُمso he left you
كانَ الزَمانُ بِكُم كَلباً فَغادَرَكُم
بِالسَيفِthrough the sword وَالدَهرُand time فيكُمamong you أَشهُرُthe months الحُرُمِsacred
بِالسَيفِ وَالدَهرُ فيكُم أَشهُرُ الحُرُمِ
Time was a dog to you; then he left you
You flee from him and give leadership when
through his sword, with time among you turned to sacred months.
A foreign dog howls among you
أَمِنwas it from عَمىًblindness نَزَلَsettled الناسُpeople الرُباthe heights فَنَجَواso they escaped
أَمِن عَمىً نَزَلَ الناسُ الرُبا فَنَجَوا
وَأَنتُمwhile you نَصبُthe target سَيلِof the torrent الفِتنَةِof rebellion العَرِمِraging
وَأَنتُم نَصبُ سَيلِ الفِتنَةِ العَرِمِ
Was it blindness that led people to settle on the heights and escape,
He is bent with old age and your confusion
while you stood in the path of rebellion's raging flood?
Has made his food your subsistence
أَمor ذاكَthat مِنfrom هِمَمٍambitions جاشَتsurged فَكَمso how much ضَعَةٍabasement
أَم ذاكَ مِن هِمَمٍ جاشَت فَكَم ضَعَةٍ
أَدّىled إِلَيهاto it عُلُوُّthe loftiness القَومِof the people فيin الهِمَمِambitions
أَدّى إِلَيها عُلُوُّ القَومِ في الهِمَمِ
Or was it ambitions that surged? How often abasement
Claws that will scratch hotly when they return
has come from a people's lofty ambitions!
Dyed by your blood without even being sharpened
تَنبونَyou recoil عَنهُfrom him وَتُعطَونَand yield القِيادَthe reins إِذاwhen
تَنبونَ عَنهُ وَتُعطَونَ القِيادَ إِذا
كَلبٌa dog عَوىhowled وَسطَكُمin your midst مِنamong أَكلُبِthe dogs العَجَمِof the non-Arabs
كَلبٌ عَوى وَسطَكُم مِن أَكلُبِ العَجَمِ
You recoil from him, yet yield the reins when
A religion that reduces all remaining lifespans
a dog from among the non-Arabs' dogs howls in your midst.
And a mercy that fluttered over all wombs
قَدِindeed اِنثَنىreturned بِالمَناياwith deaths فيupon أَسِنَّتِهِhis spearheads
قَدِ اِنثَنى بِالمَنايا في أَسِنَّتِهِ
وَقَدand indeed أَقامَset حَياراكُمyour bewildered people عَلىupon اللَقَمِthe main road
وَقَد أَقامَ حَياراكُم عَلى اللَقَمِ
He has returned with deaths upon his spearheads,
If it wasn't for pleading kinship, the harvests of
and has set your bewildered men on the main road.
Swords and pens would have abandoned you
جَذلانَdelighted مِنat ظَفَرٍvictory حَرّانَburning with grief إِنif رَجَعَتreturned
جَذلانَ مِن ظَفَرٍ حَرّانَ إِن رَجَعَت
مَخضوبَةًstained مِنكُمfrom you أَظفارُهُhis nails بِدَمِwith blood
مَخضوبَةً مِنكُم أَظفارُهُ بِدَمِ
Glad of victory, yet burning with grief should there return
Your faces would be blackened with shame
his nails, stained with blood from you.
Not naturally blackened with soot
دينٌfaith يُكَفكِفُrestrains مِنهُfrom him كُلَّevery بائِقَةٍcalamity
دينٌ يُكَفكِفُ مِنهُ كُلَّ بائِقَةٍ
وَرَحمَةٌand mercy رَفرَفَتhovered مِنهُfrom him عَلىover الرَحِمِkinship
وَرَحمَةٌ رَفرَفَت مِنهُ عَلى الرَحِمِ
Faith restrains every calamity that might come from him,
Do not take rebellion as your riding beast, it is a camel
and mercy from him hovers over kinship.
That grazes in the valley of blame
لَولاwere it not for مُناشَدَةُthe appeal القُربىof kinship لَغادَرَكُمhe would have left you
لَولا مُناشَدَةُ القُربى لَغادَرَكُم
حَصائِدَthe harvests المُرهَفَينِof the two keen edges السَيفِthe sword وَالقَلَمِand the pen
حَصائِدَ المُرهَفَينِ السَيفِ وَالقَلَمِ
Were it not for the appeal of kinship, he would have left you
I looked at ancient times and found
the harvest of the two keen edges, the sword and the pen.
His days had devoured the first fruits of nations
لَأَصبَحَتwould have become كَالأَثافيlike hearthstones السُفعِblackened أَوجُهُكُمyour faces
لَأَصبَحَت كَالأَثافي السُفعِ أَوجُهُكُم
سوداًblack مِنَwith العارِshame لاnot سوداًblack مِنَwith الحُمَمِcharcoal
سوداً مِنَ العارِ لا سوداً مِنَ الحُمَمِ
Your faces would have become like the blackened hearthstones,
It destroyed Jurhum and Thamud completely
black with shame, not black with charcoal.
With stars of time, Aad and Iram
لاdo not تَجعَلواmake البَغيَaggression ظَهراًa mount إِنَّهُindeed it is جَمَلٌa camel
لا تَجعَلوا البَغيَ ظَهراً إِنَّهُ جَمَلٌ
مِنَof القَطيعَةِestrangement يَرعىgrazing وادِيَthe valley النِقَمِof vengeance
مِنَ القَطيعَةِ يَرعى وادِيَ النِقَمِ
Do not make aggression your mount; it is a camel
It intoxicated Qilaib and Hammam and roused
of estrangement, grazing in the valley of vengeance.
The day of scattering for turbans and skulls
نَظَرتُI looked فيinto السِيَرِthe histories الأولىearliest خَلَتpassed فَإِذاand behold
نَظَرتُ في السِيَرِ الأولى خَلَت فَإِذا
أَيّامُهُits days أَكَلَتdevoured باكورَةَthe first fruits الأُمَمِof nations
أَيّامُهُ أَكَلَت باكورَةَ الأُمَمِ
I looked into the histories that passed long ago, and behold:
It quenched the thirst of Shurahbil with the poison
its days had devoured the earliest nations.
Of toads by your hands without shedding blood
أَفنىannihilated جَديساًJadis وَطَمساًand Tams كُلَّهاall of it وَسَطاand assailed
أَفنى جَديساً وَطَمساً كُلَّها وَسَطا
بِأَنجُمِupon the stars الدَهرِof time مِنamong عادٍ‘Ad وَمِنand among إِرَمِIram
بِأَنجُمِ الدَهرِ مِن عادٍ وَمِن إِرَمِ
It annihilated Jadis and all of Tams, and assailed
It cut short the greetings of Lakhm, no crowned
the stars of time among ‘Ad and Iram.
King in turbans, nor any turban remains
أَردىfelled كُلَيباًKulaib وَهَمّاماًand Hammam وَهاجَand erupted بِهِthrough it
أَردى كُلَيباً وَهَمّاماً وَهاجَ بِهِ
يَومُthe day الذَنائِبِof al-Dhana'ib وَالتَحلاقِand al-Tahlaq لِلِمَمِof locks
يَومُ الذَنائِبِ وَالتَحلاقِ لِلِمَمِ
It felled Kulaib and Hammam, and through it erupted
O downfall! You were not safe from its evil
the day of al-Dhana'ib and al-Tahlaq, the shaving of locks.
And folly makes one forget the stumbling of feet
سَقىmade drink شُرَحبيلَShurahbil مِنfrom سَمِّthe poison الذُعافِdeadly عَلىat
سَقى شُرَحبيلَ مِن سَمِّ الذُعافِ عَلى
أَيديكُمُyour hands غَيرَnot رِعديدٍa coward وَلاand not بَرِمِfainthearted
أَيديكُمُ غَيرَ رِعديدٍ وَلا بَرِمِ
It made Shurahbil drink deadly poison at
When the kingdom was established and its encampments grew firm
your hands, though he was no coward or faint-heart.
In the dynasty of the lion, not the servants
بَزَّstripped التَحِيَّةَkingship مِنfrom لَخمٍLakhm فَلاso no مَلِكٌking
بَزَّ التَحِيَّةَ مِن لَخمٍ فَلا مَلِكٌ
مُتَوَّجٌcrowned فيamong عَماماتٍturbans وَلاand not عَمَمِtowering statures
مُتَوَّجٌ في عَماماتٍ وَلا عَمَمِ
It stripped Lakhm of kingship; no king remains
A woman wandering alone, her father was not
crowned among turbans or men of towering stature.
One who swallowed flesh forcefully
ياO عَثرَةًstumble ماnot وُقيتُمyou were spared شَرَّthe evil مَصرَعِهاof its downfall
يا عَثرَةً ما وُقيتُم شَرَّ مَصرَعِها
وَذَلَّةُand a lapse الرَأيِof judgment تُنسيmakes one forget ذَلَّةَa lapse القَدَمِof the foot
وَذَلَّةُ الرَأيِ تُنسي ذَلَّةَ القَدَمِ
O stumble! You were not spared the evil of its downfall;
Do not rouse evil from a people, for your lands
a lapse in judgment makes a stumble of the foot forgotten.
Are called the home of blessings
حينَwhen اِستَوىstood firm المُلكُkingship وَاِتَّزَتand were secured مَضارِبُهُits tent poles
حينَ اِستَوى المُلكُ وَاِتَّزَت مَضارِبُهُ
فيin دَولَةِthe reign الأُسدِof lions لاnot فيin دَولَةِthe reign الخَدَمِof servants
في دَولَةِ الأُسدِ لا في دَولَةِ الخَدَمِ
When kingship stood firm and its tent poles were secured
This is the son of your uncle giving sincere advice
in the reign of lions, not in the reign of servants.
One who is suspected yet above suspicion among you
طائِيَّةٌa daughter of Tayyi’ لاnot أَبوهاher father كانَwas مُهتَضِماoppressed
طائِيَّةٌ لا أَبوها كانَ مُهتَضِما
وَلاand not مَضىpassed away بَعلُهاher husband لَحماًas flesh عَلىon وَضَمِa butcher's board
وَلا مَضى بَعلُها لَحماً عَلى وَضَمِ
A daughter of Tayyi’: her father was never oppressed,
nor did her husband end as meat on a butcher's board.
لاdo not توقِظواawaken الشَرَّevil مِنfrom قَومٍa people فَقَدfor indeed غَنِيَتflourished
لا توقِظوا الشَرَّ مِن قَومٍ فَقَد غَنِيَت
دِيارُكُمyour lands وَهيَwhile they تُدعىare called مَوطِنَthe home النِعَمِof blessings
دِيارُكُم وَهيَ تُدعى مَوطِنَ النِعَمِ
Do not rouse evil from a people; your lands have long flourished
while being called the home of blessings.
هَذاthis اِبنُthe son خالِكُمُof your maternal uncle يُهديoffers نَصيحَتَهُhis advice
هَذا اِبنُ خالِكُمُ يُهدي نَصيحَتَهُ
مَنwhoever يُتَّهَمis suspected فَهوَthen he فيكُمamong you غَيرُnot مُتَّهَمِsuspected
مَن يُتَّهَم فَهوَ فيكُم غَيرُ مُتَّهَمِ
This is your maternal cousin, offering his counsel:
whoever may be suspected, he among you is beyond suspicion.
Partial English translation: 112 of 118 Arabic lines translated.