ياO بَرقُlightning طالِعvisit مَنزِلاًa dwelling بِالأَبرَقِat al-Abraq
يا بَرقُ طالِع مَنزِلاً بِالأَبرَقِ
وَاِحدُand chant onward السَحابَthe clouds لَهُtoward it حُداءَthe driving chant of الأَنيُقِshe-camels
وَاِحدُ السَحابَ لَهُ حُداءَ الأَنيُقِ
O lightning, look upon a dwelling at al-Abraq,
O lightning, visit a dwelling at al-Abraq,
And urge the clouds toward it with the camel-song sung to she-camels.
and chant the clouds toward it as you would she-camels.
دِمَنٌcamp ruins لَوَتtwisted عَزمَthe resolve of الفُؤادِthe heart وَمَزَّقَتand scattered
دِمَنٌ لَوَت عَزمَ الفُؤادِ وَمَزَّقَت
فيهاin them دُموعَthe tears of العَينِthe eye كُلَّevery مُمَزَّقِplace of scattering
فيها دُموعَ العَينِ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقِ
Ruined traces that twisted the heart’s resolve and tore apart
Camp ruins have twisted the heart's resolve and scattered
The eye’s tears there—tore them utterly apart.
there the eye's tears in every direction.
لاno شَوقَlonging ماso long as لَمnot تَصلَyou join وَجداًardent passion بِالَّتيto her who
لا شَوقَ ما لَم تَصلَ وَجداً بِالَّتي
تَأبىrefuses وِصالَكَunion with you كَالإِباءِlike the refusal المُحرَقِsearing
تَأبى وِصالَكَ كَالإِباءِ المُحرَقِ
There is no longing unless you join passion to a woman
No true longing unless you bind a passion to her
Who denies you union with a searing refusal.
who denies you union—a passion as searing as her refusal.
يَغليboils إِذاwhen لَمdoes not يَضطَرِمblaze وَيُريand strikes sparks إِذاwhen
يَغلي إِذا لَم يَضطَرِم وَيُري إِذا
لَمdoes not يَحتَدِمrage وَيُغِصُّand makes one choke إِنif لَمdoes not يُشرِقِcause choking on liquid
لَم يَحتَدِم وَيُغِصُّ إِن لَم يُشرِقِ
It boils when it does not blaze, and reveals itself when
It boils though it does not blaze, and strikes sparks when
It does not burn; it chokes when it sheds no light.
it does not rage; it chokes, though not on water.
تَأبىshe refuses مَعَdespite التَصريدِstinting إِلّاexcept نائِلاًa favor
تَأبى مَعَ التَصريدِ إِلّا نائِلاً
إِلّاif not يَكُنit is ماءًwater قَراحاًpure يُمذَقِit is diluted
إِلّا يَكُن ماءً قَراحاً يُمذَقِ
Even in her reluctance, she will accept nothing but a gift—
For all her stinting, she grants only a favor
If it is not pure water, then let it be water mixed.
that, unless it is pure water, is diluted—
نَزراscant كَماjust as اِستَكرَهتَyou extracted by force عائِرَa stray trace of نَفحَةٍa fragrant breath
نَزرا كَما اِستَكرَهتَ عائِرَ نَفحَةٍ
مِنfrom فارَةِa pod المِسكِmusk الَّتيwhich لَمnot تُفتَقِhas been split
مِن فارَةِ المِسكِ الَّتي لَم تُفتَقِ
Scant—as when you reluctantly drew a stray breath
scant, like a stray whiff you extract by force
From a pod of old musk that had never been opened.
from a musk pod that has not been split.
ماwhat a مُقرَبٌprized steed يَختالُprances فيin أَشطانِهِits tethers
ما مُقرَبٌ يَختالُ في أَشطانِهِ
مَلآنُbrimming مِنwith صَلَفٍarrogance بِهِin it وَتَلَهوُقِand swagger
مَلآنُ مِن صَلَفٍ بِهِ وَتَلَهوُقِ
What close-kept Arab stallion prances upon his tether,
What a prized steed, prancing in its tethers,
Brimming with pride, swagger, and self-display—
brimming with arrogance and swagger,
بِحَوافِرٍwith hooves حُفرٍgouging وَصُلبٍand a backbone صُلَّبِrock-hard
بِحَوافِرٍ حُفرٍ وَصُلبٍ صُلَّبِ
وَأَشاعِرٍand fetlocks شُعرٍhairy وَخَلقٍand a frame أَخلَقِsmooth
وَأَشاعِرٍ شُعرٍ وَخَلقٍ أَخلَقِ
With hollowed hooves, a hard and steeply rising back,
with gouging hooves and a rock-hard backbone,
Shaggy fetlocks, a coat of hair, and a most fitting form;
hairy fetlocks and a smooth, sleek frame,
وَبِشُعلَةٍand with white hairs نَبذٍscattered كَأَنَّas though قَليلَهاits few strands
وَبِشُعلَةٍ نَبذٍ كَأَنَّ قَليلَها
فيon صَهوَتَيهِthe two sides of its back بَدءُthe beginning of شَيبِgraying المَفرِقِthe hair-part
في صَهوَتَيهِ بَدءُ شَيبِ المَفرِقِ
And with a tossed-off wisp of blaze, whose scant whiteness
and scattered white hairs, whose few strands
Upon his poll is the first gray at the parting of the hair;
on either side of its back resemble the first gray at a hair-part.
ذوpossessed of أَولَقٍfrenzy تَحتَbeneath العَجاجِthe dust-cloud وَإِنَّماyet only
ذو أَولَقٍ تَحتَ العَجاجِ وَإِنَّما
مِنfrom صِحَّةٍsound health إِفراطُthe excess of ذاكَthat الأَولَقِfrenzy
مِن صِحَّةٍ إِفراطُ ذاكَ الأَولَقِ
Seized by frenzy beneath the battle dust—and indeed
Frenzied beneath the dust-cloud, yet
That very excess of frenzy springs from soundness.
that extreme frenzy springs from sound health alone.
تُغريentices العُيونَthe eyes بِهِto it وَيُفلِقُand composes brilliantly شاعِرٌa poet
تُغري العُيونَ بِهِ وَيُفلِقُ شاعِرٌ
فيin نَعتِهِdescribing it عَفواًeffortlessly وَلَيسَand is not بِمُفلِقِa master poet
في نَعتِهِ عَفواً وَلَيسَ بِمُفلِقِ
He captivates the eyes, and leaves a poet hard-pressed
It lures the eyes, and a poet excels
To describe him freely, though never bereft of art;
effortlessly in describing it, though no master poet,
بِمُصَعَّدٍin the upper reaches مِنof حُسنِهِits beauty وَمُصَوَّبٍand the lower reaches
بِمُصَعَّدٍ مِن حُسنِهِ وَمُصَوَّبٍ
وَمُجَمَّعٍand the joined features فيin خَلقِهِits form وَمُفَرَّقِand the separate features
وَمُجَمَّعٍ في خَلقِهِ وَمُفَرَّقِ
High and low alike in the perfection of his beauty,
in the upper and lower reaches of its beauty,
Concentrated in his form, yet finely distinguished;
and the joined and separate features of its form.
صَلَتانُa swift steed يَبسُطُextends إِنif رَدىit trots أَوor إِنif عَداit gallops
صَلَتانُ يَبسُطُ إِن رَدى أَو إِن عَدا
فيacross الأَرضِthe earth باعاًa long stride مِنهُof its own لَيسَnot بِضَيِّقِnarrow
في الأَرضِ باعاً مِنهُ لَيسَ بِضَيِّقِ
Long and powerful: whether checked or sent racing,
A swift steed, stretching, whether trotting or galloping,
He spans the earth with a stride that is never cramped.
across the earth its stride, anything but narrow.
وَتُطَرِّقُand clears a path الغُلَواءُheadlong ardor مِنهُfrom it إِذاwhen عَداit gallops
وَتُطَرِّقُ الغُلَواءُ مِنهُ إِذا عَدا
وَالكِبرِياءُand pride لَهُfor it بِغَيرِwithout مُطَرَّقِa beaten path
وَالكِبرِياءُ لَهُ بِغَيرِ مُطَرَّقِ
When he runs, fierce pride itself comes pounding through him,
Its headlong ardor opens a way when it runs,
And grandeur advances along its finest path.
and its pride does so, though no path is beaten.
أَهدىgave as a gift كُنازٌKunaz جَدَّهُits grandsire فيماin times that مَضىwent by
أَهدى كُنازٌ جَدَّهُ فيما مَضى
لِلمِثلِto a peer وَاِستَصفىand specially chose أَباهُits sire لِيَلبَقِfor Yalbaq
لِلمِثلِ وَاِستَصفى أَباهُ لِيَلبَقِ
Kunāz bestowed upon him the excellence of his grandsire
Kunaz once gave away its grandsire
And chose his sire for mating, that he might prove worthy.
to a peer, and chose its sire for Yalbaq.
مُسوَدُّblackened شَطرٍone half مِثلَlike ماthe way اِسوَدَّgrew black الدُجىnight's darkness
مُسوَدُّ شَطرٍ مِثلَ ما اِسوَدَّ الدُجى
مُبيَضٌّwhitened شَطرٍone half كَاِبيِضاضِlike the whiteness of المُهرَقِa writing sheet
مُبيَضٌّ شَطرٍ كَاِبيِضاضِ المُهرَقِ
One half dark as night itself when it deepens,
One half black as the darkness of night,
One half white as the gleam of fresh parchment.
one half white as a writing sheet.
قَدindeed سالَتِhave flowed الأَوضاحُthe white markings سَيلَlike the flow of قَرارَةٍa hollow basin
قَد سالَتِ الأَوضاحُ سَيلَ قَرارَةٍ
فيهِover it فَمُفتَرِقٌso some parting عَلَيهِon it وَمُلتَقيand some meeting
فيهِ فَمُفتَرِقٌ عَلَيهِ وَمُلتَقي
His white markings stream across him in shining courses,
Its white markings have flowed like water into a hollow,
Parting upon him here and meeting there;
over it, some parting and some meeting.
وَكَأَنَّand as though فارِسَهُits rider يُصَرِّفُsteers إِذwhen بَداhe appears
وَكَأَنَّ فارِسَهُ يُصَرِّفُ إِذ بَدا
فيon مَتنِهِits back اِبناًa son لِلصَباحِof the dawn الأَبلَقِpiebald
في مَتنِهِ اِبناً لِلصَباحِ الأَبلَقِ
As though his rider directs two contending lights
And when its rider appears, he seems to steer
Along his back—two sons of dappled dawn.
on its back a son of the piebald dawn.
صافيunblemished الأَديمِthe hide كَأَنَّماas though أَلبَستَهُyou clothed it
صافي الأَديمِ كَأَنَّما أَلبَستَهُ
مِنof سُندُسٍfine silk بُرداًa mantle وَمِنand of إِستَبرَقِsilk brocade
مِن سُندُسٍ بُرداً وَمِن إِستَبرَقِ
His skin is pure, as though you had clothed him
Its hide is flawless, as though you had clothed it
In a mantle of fine silk and brocade.
in a mantle of fine silk and brocade.
إِمليسُهُits sleekness إِمليدُهُits suppleness لَوif عُلِّقَتwere fastened
إِمليسُهُ إِمليدُهُ لَو عُلِّقَت
فيto صَهوَتَيهِthe two sides of its back العَينُthe eye لَمwould not تَتَعَلَّقِfind a hold
في صَهوَتَيهِ العَينُ لَم تَتَعَلَّقِ
So smooth and supple that, were an eye cast
Its sleekness, its suppleness—if an eye were fastened
Upon either flank, it could find no hold.
to either side of its back, it would find no hold.
يُرقىis charmed وَماand not هُوَit بِالسَليمِsnake-bitten وَيَغتَديand goes out at dawn
يُرقى وَما هُوَ بِالسَليمِ وَيَغتَدي
دونَin place of السِلاحِarms سِلاحَa weapon أَروَعَa gallant man مُملِقِpenniless
دونَ السِلاحِ سِلاحَ أَروَعَ مُملِقِ
Spells are chanted over him, though no serpent has bitten him; and he charges
It is charmed, though not snake-bitten, and goes forth at dawn
Without arms—the weapon of a splendid, deep-bred knight—
in place of arms, a penniless gallant's weapon,
فيin مَطلَبٍpursuit أَوor مَهرَبٍflight أَوor رَغبَةٍdesire
في مَطلَبٍ أَو مَهرَبٍ أَو رَغبَةٍ
أَوor رَهبَةٍfear أَوor مَوكِبٍa cavalcade أَوor فَيلَقِan army
أَو رَهبَةٍ أَو مَوكِبٍ أَو فَيلَقِ
For pursuit or escape, for desire,
in pursuit or flight or desire,
For fear, for a procession, or for an army.
or fear, or a cavalcade, or an army.
أَمطاكَهُgave it to you as a mount الحَسَنُal-Hasan بنُson of وَهبٍWahb إِنَّهُindeed he
أَمطاكَهُ الحَسَنُ بنُ وَهبٍ إِنَّهُ
دانيnear ثَرىthe moist bounty of اليَدِthe hand مِنto رَجاءِthe hope of المُملِقِthe penniless
داني ثَرى اليَدِ مِن رَجاءِ المُملِقِ
Al-Hasan ibn Wahb has mounted you upon him; truly
Al-Hasan ibn Wahb gave it to you to ride; he is
The soil of his hand lies near the poor man’s hope.
one whose hand's moist bounty lies near a pauper's hope.
يُحصىis reckoned مَعَalongside الأَنواءِseasonal rains فَيضُthe outpouring of يَمينِهِhis right hand
يُحصى مَعَ الأَنواءِ فَيضُ يَمينِهِ
وَيُعَدُّand is counted مِنamong حَسَناتِthe merits of أَهلِthe people of المَشرِقِthe East
وَيُعَدُّ مِن حَسَناتِ أَهلِ المَشرِقِ
The downpour of his right hand is reckoned with rain clouds,
His right hand's flood is reckoned with the seasonal rains,
And he is numbered among the blessings of the people of the East.
and counted among the merits of the people of the East.
يَستَنزِلُdraws down الأَمَلَhope البَعيدَdistant بِبِشرِهِwith his cheer
يَستَنزِلُ الأَمَلَ البَعيدَ بِبِشرِهِ
بِشرَthe cheer of الخَميلَةِthe leafy grove بِالرَبيعِin spring المُغدِقِrain-rich
بِشرَ الخَميلَةِ بِالرَبيعِ المُغدِقِ
With his smiling face he brings distant hope within reach—
He draws down distant hope with his cheer,
The smile of a meadow beneath abundant spring rain.
the cheer of a leafy grove in a rain-rich spring.
وَكَذاand likewise السَحائِبُthe clouds قَلَّماseldom تَدعوinvite إِلىto
وَكَذا السَحائِبُ قَلَّما تَدعو إِلى
مَعروفِهاtheir bounty الرُوّادُthe pasture-seekers إِنif لَمnot تَبرُقِthey flash
مَعروفِها الرُوّادُ إِن لَم تَبرُقِ
So too the clouds seldom summon travelers
So too with clouds: seldom is anyone invited to
To their bounty unless they first flash lightning.
their bounty by pasture-seekers, unless the clouds flash.
مُجليdispelling قَتامِthe dust of الوَجهِthe face يُذهِلُmakes one forget إِنif بَداhe appears
مُجلي قَتامِ الوَجهِ يُذهِلُ إِن بَدا
لَكَto you فيin النَدِيِّthe assembly عَنِabout الشَبابِyouth المونِقِenchanting
لَكَ في النَدِيِّ عَنِ الشَبابِ المونِقِ
He clears the murk from every face and, when he appears,
Clearing the face's dust, he makes you forget, if he appears
Makes radiant youth seem present in the gathering.
to you in the assembly, even enchanting youth.
لَوif كانَhe were سَيفاًa sword ماnot اِستَبَنتَyou would discern لِنَصلِهِin its blade
لَو كانَ سَيفاً ما اِستَبَنتَ لِنَصلِهِ
مَتناًa flat surface لِفَرطِfor the profusion of فِرِندِهِits watered pattern وَالرَونَقِand luster
مَتناً لِفَرطِ فِرِندِهِ وَالرَونَقِ
Had he been a sword, you could not have distinguished its edge,
If he were a sword, you could not discern in its blade
So lustrous were its back, watered pattern, and sheen.
a flat surface, for its profuse watered pattern and luster.
ثَبتُsteadfast البَيانِin expression إِذاwhen تَحَيَّرَis bewildered قائِلٌa speaker
ثَبتُ البَيانِ إِذا تَحَيَّرَ قائِلٌ
أَضحىhe becomes شِكالاًa fetter لِلِّسانِfor the tongue المُطلَقِunbridled
أَضحى شِكالاً لِلِّسانِ المُطلَقِ
Steadfast in expression when another speaker falters,
Steadfast in expression, when a speaker falters,
He becomes the bridle of the unrestrained tongue.
he becomes a fetter for the unbridled tongue.
لَمnot يَتَّبِعhe pursued شَنِعَthe uglinesses of اللُغاتِusages وَلاnor مَشىwalked
لَم يَتَّبِع شَنِعَ اللُغاتِ وَلا مَشى
رَسفَthe shackled gait of المُقَيَّدِa fettered man فيwithin حُدودِthe bounds of المَنطِقِspeech
رَسفَ المُقَيَّدِ في حُدودِ المَنطِقِ
No ugliness of language followed him, nor did he walk
He never pursued ugly usages, nor walked
Within speech with the dragging tread of a fettered man.
with a shackled man's shuffle within speech's bounds.
فيin هَذِهِthis one خِبثُthe dross of الكَلامِspeech وَهَذِهِand this other one
في هَذِهِ خِبثُ الكَلامِ وَهَذِهِ
كَالسورِlike a wall مَضروباًerected لَهُaround it وَالخَندَقِand a moat
كَالسورِ مَضروباً لَهُ وَالخَندَقِ
Here lies the corruption of language, while there his art
In the former lies speech's dross; the latter
Stands like a wall, with palisade and moat.
is like a wall erected around it, and a moat.
يَجنيgathers جَناةَthe harvest of النَحلِbees مِنfrom أَعلىthe highest parts of الرُباthe hills
يَجني جَناةَ النَحلِ مِن أَعلى الرُبا
زَهَراًflowers وَيَشرَعُand drinks فيat الغَديرِthe pool المُتأَقِbrimming
زَهَراً وَيَشرَعُ في الغَديرِ المُتأَقِ
He gathers the bees’ harvest from blossoms on the highest hills,
He gathers the bees' harvest from the highest hills:
And drinks from the brimming pool.
flowers, and drinks from the brimming pool.
أُنُفُvirgin growth البَلاغَةِof eloquence لاnot كَمَنlike one who هُوَhe is حائِرٌbewildered
أُنُفُ البَلاغَةِ لا كَمَن هُوَ حائِرٌ
مُتَلَدِّدٌwavering فيin المَرتَعِthe pasture المُتَعَرَّقِstripped bare
مُتَلَدِّدٌ في المَرتَعِ المُتَعَرَّقِ
His eloquence is virgin, unlike one who wanders bewildered,
Eloquence's virgin growth—not like one bewildered,
Hesitating across a pasture already grazed bare.
wavering in a pasture stripped bare.
عيرٌa camel caravan تَفَرَّقُscatters إِنif حَداهاchants it onward غَيرُهُsomeone other than him
عيرٌ تَفَرَّقُ إِن حَداها غَيرُهُ
وَمَتىand whenever يَسُقهاhe drives it وادِعاًcalmly تَستَوسِقِit gathers together
وَمَتى يَسُقها وادِعاً تَستَوسِقِ
A herd of wild asses scatters when another urges it on,
A caravan that scatters if another chants it onward,
But when he drives it gently, it gathers together.
yet gathers whenever he drives it calmly.
تَنشَقُّbreak through فيthrough ظُلَمِthe darkness of المَعانيmeanings إِنwhen دَجَتthey darken
تَنشَقُّ في ظُلَمِ المَعاني إِن دَجَت
مِنهُfrom him تَباشيرُthe first gleams of الكَلامِspeech المُشرِقِradiant
مِنهُ تَباشيرُ الكَلامِ المُشرِقِ
When the darkness of meanings grows deep, it is cleft
When meanings grow dark, their gloom is cleft
By the first glad signs of his radiant speech.
by the first gleams of his radiant speech.
أَلبِسclothe سُلَيمانَSulayman الغِنىin wealth وَاِفتَحand open لَهُfor him
أَلبِس سُلَيمانَ الغِنى وَاِفتَح لَهُ
باباًa door إِزاءَtoward الخَفضِease لَيسَthat is not بِمُغلَقِclosed
باباً إِزاءَ الخَفضِ لَيسَ بِمُغلَقِ
Clothe Sulayman in wealth, and open for him
Clothe Sulayman in wealth, and open for him
A door to relief that shall never be shut.
a door toward ease that is not shut.
وَاِقرُبand draw near إِلَيهِto him فَإِنَّfor indeed أَحرىthe most likely of المُزنِrain clouds أَنto
وَاِقرُب إِلَيهِ فَإِنَّ أَحرى المُزنِ أَن
يُرويwater الثَرىthe soil ماthat which كانَis غَيرَnot مُحَلِّقِhigh-soaring
يُروي الثَرى ما كانَ غَيرَ مُحَلِّقِ
Draw near to him: the cloud most likely to give rain
And draw near to him, for the cloud most likely to
Waters the earth when it does not remain aloft.
water the soil is one that does not soar high.
عَتُقَتhas grown venerable وَسيلَتُهُhis means of appeal وَأَيَّةُand what قيمَةٍvalue
عَتُقَت وَسيلَتُهُ وَأَيَّةُ قيمَةٍ
لِلتُّبَّعِيِّin a Tubba'i blade العَضبِkeen إِنif لَمdoes not يُعتِقِset free
لِلتُّبَّعِيِّ العَضبِ إِن لَم يُعتِقِ
Noble is his means—and what value would there be
His claim has grown venerable; and what value is there
In a keen Tubbaʿī blade if it were never drawn?
in a keen Tubba'i blade if it does not set free?
وَتَخَطَّand look beyond بَزَّتَهُhis attire فَرُبَّتfor many a خَلَّةٍneed
وَتَخَطَّ بَزَّتَهُ فَرُبَّت خَلَّةٍ
فيwithin دَرجِthe folds of ثَوبِthe garment of اللابِسِthe wearer المُتَنَوِّقِfinely dressed
في دَرجِ ثَوبِ اللابِسِ المُتَنَوِّقِ
Let his dignity descend to need—for many a hidden want
And look beyond his attire: many a need,
Lies within the fold of an elegant wearer’s robe.
within the folds of a finely dressed man's robe,
شَنعاءُgrievous بَينَbetween المَركَبِthe mount الهِملاجِsmooth-gaited قَدhas
شَنعاءُ بَينَ المَركَبِ الهِملاجِ قَد
كَمَنَتlain hidden وَبَينَand between الطَيلَسانِthe mantle المُطبَقِenfolding
كَمَنَت وَبَينَ الطَيلَسانِ المُطبَقِ
A subtle need may hide between the ambling mount
grievous, between a smooth-gaited mount
And the tightly wrapped, all-enfolding ṭaylasān.
and an enfolding mantle, has lain concealed.
