لَيتَ الخَيالَ فَريسَةً لِرُقادي

لَيتَ الخَيالَ فَريسَةً لِرُقادي

يَدنو بِطَيفِكِ عَن نَوى وَبعادِ

يَدنو بِطَيفِكِ عَن نَوى وَبعادِ

Would that the dream-vision were prey for my sleep,

If only fantasy were prey to my sleep,

bringing your phantom near from remoteness and distance.

Drawing near with your specter, intimate or distant.

وَلَقَد أَطَلتُ إِلى سُلوكِ شِقَّتي

وَلَقَد أَطَلتُ إِلى سُلوكِ شِقَّتي

وَجَعَلتُ هَجرَكِ وَالتَجَنُّبَ زادي

وَجَعَلتُ هَجرَكِ وَالتَجَنُّبَ زادي

Long have I persisted in traversing my distant road,

Long have I followed the path of my ardency,

and made your abandonment and avoidance my provisions.

Making your estrangement and avoidance my provision.

أَهوِن بِما حَمَّلتِنيهِ مِنَ الضَنى

أَهوِن بِما حَمَّلتِنيهِ مِنَ الضَنى

لَو أَنَّ طَيفَكِ كانَ مِن عُوّادي

لَو أَنَّ طَيفَكِ كانَ مِن عُوّادي

How light the wasting sickness you laid upon me would be,

Less grievous to me is what it has burdened me with of sorrow,

if your phantom were among my sickbed visitors!

If only your specter were among my visitors.

وَلَقَلَّما نَزَلَ الخَيالُ بِمُقلَةٍ

وَلَقَلَّما نَزَلَ الخَيالُ بِمُقلَةٍ

رَوعاءَ نافِرَةٍ بِغَيرِ رُقادِ

رَوعاءَ نافِرَةٍ بِغَيرِ رُقادِ

Seldom indeed does a dream-vision alight upon an eye

Rarely has slumber descended upon an eyelid,

frightened and restless, without sleep.

Restless, repelled without repose.

ما تَلتَقي الأَجفانُ مِنها ساعَةً

ما تَلتَقي الأَجفانُ مِنها ساعَةً

وَإِذا التَقَت فَلِغَضِّ دَمعٍ بادِ

وَإِذا التَقَت فَلِغَضِّ دَمعٍ بادِ

Its eyelids do not meet for even a moment;

Never do the eyelids meet it for an hour,

and if they meet, it is to restrain a tear that shows.

And if they meet, it is with shedding copious tears.

لا يَبعَدَن قَلبي الَّذي خَلَّفتُهُ

لا يَبعَدَن قَلبي الَّذي خَلَّفتُهُ

وَقفاً عَلى الإِتِهامِ وَالإِنجادِ

وَقفاً عَلى الإِتِهامِ وَالإِنجادِ

May my heart never perish, the heart I left behind

May my heart, which I left

devoted to journeys through Tihamah and Najd.

Standing, blaming and helping, not stray.

إِنَّ الَّذي عَمَرَ الرَقادَ وِسادَةً

إِنَّ الَّذي عَمَرَ الرَقادَ وِسادَةً

لَم يَدرِ كَيفَ نَبا عَليَّ وِسادي

لَم يَدرِ كَيفَ نَبا عَليَّ وِسادي

He who has made his pillow a dwelling for sleep

Indeed, he who inhabited slumber and pillows

has not known how my pillow shunned me.

Does not know how he prophesied against my pillow.

لا زالَ جَيبُ اللَيلِ مُنفَصِمَ العُرى

لا زالَ جَيبُ اللَيلِ مُنفَصِمَ العُرى

عَن كُلِّ أَوطَفَ مُبرِقٍ مِرعادِ

عَن كُلِّ أَوطَفَ مُبرِقٍ مِرعادِ

May night's breast-opening forever have its fastenings broken,

Still the night’s bosom is torn,

revealing every thick-fringed, flashing, thunderous cloud

From every loving family, a place of greeting.

يَسقي مَنازِلَ عاثَ فيهِنَّ البِلى

يَسقي مَنازِلَ عاثَ فيهِنَّ البِلى

بَينَ الغُوَيرِ فَجانِبِ الأَجمادِ

بَينَ الغُوَيرِ فَجانِبِ الأَجمادِ

that waters dwellings where decay has wreaked havoc,

It waters the abodes where decay has dwelt

between al-Ghuwayr and the flank of al-Ajmad.

Between expiration and the side of corpses.

وَإِذا الرِياحُ تَبَوَّعَت فَصُدورُها

وَإِذا الرِياحُ تَبَوَّعَت فَصُدورُها

لِعِناقِ حاضِرِ أَرضِكُم وَالبادي

لِعِناقِ حاضِرِ أَرضِكُم وَالبادي

And when the winds stretch out, their breasts

And when the winds blow their breasts

embrace your land's settled places and open country.

For embracing the present of your land and the absent.

وَلَقَد بَعَثتُ مِنَ الدُموعِ إِلَيكُمُ

وَلَقَد بَعَثتُ مِنَ الدُموعِ إِلَيكُمُ

بِرَكائِبٍ وَمِنَ الزَفيرِ بِحادِ

بِرَكائِبٍ وَمِنَ الزَفيرِ بِحادِ

I have sent to you, out of my tears,

I have sent to you from tears

riding-mounts, and out of my sighing, a camel-driver.

Floods, and from sighs, gusts.

إِنّي مَتى اِستَنجَدتُ سِربَ مَدامِعٍ

إِنّي مَتى اِستَنجَدتُ سِربَ مَدامِعٍ

خَذَلَتهُ أَسرابُ الفِراقِ العادي

خَذَلَتهُ أَسرابُ الفِراقِ العادي

Whenever I summon a flock of tears to my aid,

Whenever I seek the aid of a group of tears,

the flocks of ravaging separation leave it helpless.

The flocks of familiar separation disappoint it.

لَولا هَواكِ لَما ذَلَلتُ وَإِنَّما

لَولا هَواكِ لَما ذَلَلتُ وَإِنَّما

عِزّي يُعَيِّرُني بِذُلِّ فُؤادي

عِزّي يُعَيِّرُني بِذُلِّ فُؤادي

But for love of you, I would not be abased; it is only

If not for your love I would not have been humbled, and yet

my pride that taunts me for my heart's abasement.

My honor mocks me for my heart’s humility

ما لِلزَمانِ يَذودُني عَن مَطلَبي

ما لِلزَمانِ يَذودُني عَن مَطلَبي

وَيُريغُني عَن طارِفي وَتِلادي

وَيُريغُني عَن طارِفي وَتِلادي

Why does time drive me away from what I seek,

What is with time driving me away from my pursuit

and divert me from my new gains and my inheritance?

And dissuading me from my intimate friend and birth?

يَحنو عَلَيَّ إِذا أَقَمتُ كَأَنِّيَ ال

يَحنو عَلَيَّ إِذا أَقَمتُ كَأَنِّيَ ال

أَسرارُ في أَحشاءِ كُلِّ بِلادِ

أَسرارُ في أَحشاءِ كُلِّ بِلادِ

It folds around me when I settle, as though I were the

It grieves over me when I stay as if I am not

secrets in the entrails of every land.

Secrets in the intestines of every land.

عاداتُ هَذا الناسِ ذَمُّ مُفَضَّلٍ

عاداتُ هَذا الناسِ ذَمُّ مُفَضَّلٍ

وَمَلامُ مِقدامٍ وَعَذلُ جَوادِ

وَمَلامُ مِقدامٍ وَعَذلُ جَوادِ

These people's habits are to disparage the distinguished,

The customs of these people are condemnation of the preferable

to blame the bold and reproach the generous.

And blame of the valiant and rebuke of the generous.

وَلَقَد عَجِبتُ وَلا عَجيبٌ أَنَّهُ

وَلَقَد عَجِبتُ وَلا عَجيبٌ أَنَّهُ

كُلُّ الوَرى لِلفاضِلينَ أَعادي

كُلُّ الوَرى لِلفاضِلينَ أَعادي

I have marveled—though it is no marvel—that

I was amazed but no wonder

all mankind are enemies of the excellent.

That all people are enemies of the virtuous

وَأَرى زَماني يَستَلينُ عَريكَتي

وَأَرى زَماني يَستَلينُ عَريكَتي

وَأَرى عَدوّي يَستَحِرُّ عِنادي

وَأَرى عَدوّي يَستَحِرُّ عِنادي

I see my age seeking to soften my mettle,

And I see my time weakening my constitution

and my enemy finding my defiance burning hot.

And I see my enemy growing more stubborn in enmity

أَتَظُنُّني أَلقى إِلَيكَ يَداً وَما

أَتَظُنُّني أَلقى إِلَيكَ يَداً وَما

بَيني وَبَينَكَ غَيرُ ضَربِ الهادي

بَيني وَبَينَكَ غَيرُ ضَربِ الهادي

Do you think I would offer you a hand, when there is

Do you think me to stretch out a hand while naught

nothing between you and me but a blow to the neck?

Between me and you but striking with the guide?

أَسعى لِكُلِّ عَظيمَةٍ فَأَنالُها

أَسعى لِكُلِّ عَظيمَةٍ فَأَنالُها

عَزماً يَفوتُ هَواجِسَ الحُسّادِ

عَزماً يَفوتُ هَواجِسَ الحُسّادِ

I strive for every great deed and attain it

I strive for every glory so I attain it

with resolve that outstrips the envious men's imaginings:

With resolve that misses the whisperings of enviers

عَزماً قَوِيّاً لا يُشاوِرُ رِقبَةً

عَزماً قَوِيّاً لا يُشاوِرُ رِقبَةً

لِلخَطبِ في الإِصدارِ وَالإيرادِ

لِلخَطبِ في الإِصدارِ وَالإيرادِ

strong resolve that takes no counsel from fear

Strong resolve that does not consult a neck

of calamity, in withdrawing or advancing.

For speaking perils and admitting them

ما زالَ يَشهَدُ لي إِذا اِستَنطَقتُهُ

ما زالَ يَشهَدُ لي إِذا اِستَنطَقتُهُ

بِالجودِ في لَيلي لِسانُ زِنادي

بِالجودِ في لَيلي لِسانُ زِنادي

Whenever I bid it speak, it has always testified for me

Still bearing witness for me if I interrogate it

to generosity in my night—the tongue of my fire-striker.

At night with generosity, the tongue of my flint

إِنّي لَتَحقُنُ ماءَ وَجهي هِمَّتي

إِنّي لَتَحقُنُ ماءَ وَجهي هِمَّتي

مِن أَن يُراقَ عَلى يَدي بِأَيادِ

مِن أَن يُراقَ عَلى يَدي بِأَيادِ

My ambition indeed preserves the water of my face

My willpower guards the water of my face

from being spilled at my hand through favors.

Lest it be shed by my hands in supplication

مِمّا يُقَلِّلُ رَغبَتي أَنّي أَرى

مِمّا يُقَلِّلُ رَغبَتي أَنّي أَرى

صَفدي بِبَذلِ المالِ مِثلَ صِفادي

صَفدي بِبَذلِ المالِ مِثلَ صِفادي

What lessens my desire is that I see

Of what diminishes my desire, that I see

a gift of money to me as no different from my fetters.

My freedom fettered by spending money equal to my shackles

وَالمالُ أَهوَنُ مَطلَباً مِن أَن أُرى

وَالمالُ أَهوَنُ مَطلَباً مِن أَن أُرى

ضَرِعاً أُرامي دُونَهُ وَأُرادي

ضَرِعاً أُرامي دُونَهُ وَأُرادي

Money is too paltry a prize for me to be seen

And money is a less worthy pursuit than that I see

abased, competing for it and cajoling for it.

Myself pleading while falling short of it and wanting it

وَمُناضِلٍ عَثَرَت بِهِ أَحسابُهُ

وَمُناضِلٍ عَثَرَت بِهِ أَحسابُهُ

في مَسلَكٍ وَعِرٍ مِنَ الأَجدادِ

في مَسلَكٍ وَعِرٍ مِنَ الأَجدادِ

Many a rival whose ancestral honors tripped him

And a fighter whose calculations failure has tripped

on a rugged path of forefathers—

On a difficult, rugged path of forefathers

خَلَّقتُ عُرفَ جَوادِهِ بِنَجيعِهِ

خَلَّقتُ عُرفَ جَوادِهِ بِنَجيعِهِ

وَالسَبقُ في طَلَقِ الرَدى لِجَوادي

وَالسَبقُ في طَلَقِ الرَدى لِجَوادي

I anointed his steed's mane with his fresh blood,

I mastered the nature of his generous steed in full

and in death's race the lead belonged to my steed.

And the precedence in smooth running is due to my steed

وَلَرُبَّ يَومٍ غَضَّةٍ أَطرافُهُ

وَلَرُبَّ يَومٍ غَضَّةٍ أَطرافُهُ

صُقِلَت بِخَطوِ رَوائِحٍ وَغَوادي

صُقِلَت بِخَطوِ رَوائِحٍ وَغَوادي

Many a day, fresh at its edges,

And many a grim day whose sides

was polished by the tread of evening and morning clouds;

Were burnished by the gait of rides and excursions

يَومٍ أَراقَ دَمَ الغَمامِ عَلى السُرى

يَومٍ أَراقَ دَمَ الغَمامِ عَلى السُرى

بِظُبىً مِنَ الإيماضِ غيرَ حِدادِ

بِظُبىً مِنَ الإيماضِ غيرَ حِدادِ

a day that spilled the clouds' blood over the night journey

A day that spilled the clouds' blood upon the courses

with blades of lightning, though not sharpened.

With gazelles, not wearing mourning clothes

وَلِغُرَّةِ الجَوِّ الرَقيقِ أَسِرَّةٌ

وَلِغُرَّةِ الجَوِّ الرَقيقِ أَسِرَّةٌ

يَلمَعنَ مِن قِطَعِ السَحابِ الغادي

يَلمَعنَ مِن قِطَعِ السَحابِ الغادي

And the delicate sky's bright brow bore lines

And for the charm of delicate atmosphere, secrets

gleaming from fragments of the morning clouds.

That shine from the passing clouds' shreds

جاذَبتُهُ صافي أَديمِ هَجيرِهِ

جاذَبتُهُ صافي أَديمِ هَجيرِهِ

وَاليَعمَلاتُ شَواحِبُ الأَعضادِ

وَاليَعمَلاتُ شَواحِبُ الأَعضادِ

I wrestled with it, its noonday skin clear,

I took its clear complexioned parchment

while the hardy she-camels' forelegs were gaunt,

And the stars, pale slender pillars

في فِتيَةٍ سَلَبوا النَهارَ ضِياءَهُ

في فِتيَةٍ سَلَبوا النَهارَ ضِياءَهُ

وَرَموا بَياضَ جَبينِهِ بِسَوادِ

وَرَموا بَياضَ جَبينِهِ بِسَوادِ

among young men who robbed the day of its light

They obtained according to the extent of hope, and yet

and cast blackness over the whiteness of its brow,

It is watered according to the extent of the bucket that draws near

وَحَشوا حَشا الظَلماءِ مِلءَ جَنانِها

وَحَشوا حَشا الظَلماءِ مِلءَ جَنانِها

حَتّى تَصَدَّعَ بِالصَديعِ البادي

حَتّى تَصَدَّعَ بِالصَديعِ البادي

and filled the belly of darkness to its very heart,

A people, if they knocked on the settlements’ towers

until it split with the first visible dawn.

They concealed the fire’s openings with armor

وَكَأَنَّما بيضُ النُجومِ فَواقِعٌ

وَكَأَنَّما بيضُ النُجومِ فَواقِعٌ

في زاخِرٍ مُتَتابِعِ الإِزبادِ

في زاخِرٍ مُتَتابِعِ الإِزبادِ

And the white stars seemed like bubbles

No hope in a person’s heart strayed

in a swelling sea, endlessly foaming.

Except their existence was its guide and mentor

نالوا عَلى قَدرِ الرَجاءِ وَإِنَّما

نالوا عَلى قَدرِ الرَجاءِ وَإِنَّما

يَروى عَلى قَدرِ الأُوامِ الصادي

يَروى عَلى قَدرِ الأُوامِ الصادي

They attained in measure to their hopes; for only

Logs that trip misfortunes and an open expanse

in measure to his burning thirst does the thirsty man drink his fill.

Forbidden save to visitors

قَومٌ إِذا قَرَعوا زُنوداً لِلقِرى

قَومٌ إِذا قَرَعوا زُنوداً لِلقِرى

سَتَروا فُروجَ النارِ بِالوُرّادِ

سَتَروا فُروجَ النارِ بِالوُرّادِ

A people who, when they strike fire-sticks for hospitality,

They dragged the canals’ pipes as though

screen the gaps in their fire with arriving guests.

They dragged with them the adjacent frontiers

ما ضَلَّ في قَلبِ اِمرِىءٍ أَمَلٌ سَرى

ما ضَلَّ في قَلبِ اِمرِىءٍ أَمَلٌ سَرى

إِلّا وُجودُهُمُ الهُدى وَالهادي

إِلّا وُجودُهُمُ الهُدى وَالهادي

No hope roaming through a man's heart ever goes astray

They deter naked, unresting upon the soil

but their generosity is its guidance and its guide.

Frolicking, as if the soil were the thorns of brambles

طُنُبٌ يُعَثَّرنَ الخُطوبَ وَباحَةٌ

طُنُبٌ يُعَثَّرنَ الخُطوبَ وَباحَةٌ

مَمنوعَةٌ إِلّا مِنَ الرُوّادِ

مَمنوعَةٌ إِلّا مِنَ الرُوّادِ

Tent-ropes that trip calamities, and a courtyard

The nape of every smooth-necked gazelle among them

guarded against all but seekers of provision.

Suffices it on the day of hunting instead of a saddle

سَحَبوا أَنابيبَ القَنا فَكَأَنَّما

سَحَبوا أَنابيبَ القَنا فَكَأَنَّما

سَحَبوا بِهِنَّ حَواشِيَ الأَبرادِ

سَحَبوا بِهِنَّ حَواشِيَ الأَبرادِ

They trailed their jointed spear-shafts, as though

They pitched the tents of the white fortresses over the departures

they trailed with them the hems of cloaks.

Whose margins are the canals’ condition

يَزجُرنَ جُرداً لا تُقِرُّ عَلى الثَرى

يَزجُرنَ جُرداً لا تُقِرُّ عَلى الثَرى

مَرَحاً كَأَنَّ التُربَ شَوكُ قَتادِ

مَرَحاً كَأَنَّ التُربَ شَوكُ قَتادِ

They urge on sleek horses that will not stand still on the soil,

Withered which criticism trains, though it

so spirited, as though the earth were qatad thorns,

Increases in ignorance each day of scourging

مَن كُلِّ تَلعاءِ المَناكِبِ جيدُها

مَن كُلِّ تَلعاءِ المَناكِبِ جيدُها

يُغني عَنِ القَرَبوسِ يَومَ طِرادِ

يُغني عَنِ القَرَبوسِ يَومَ طِرادِ

each a high-shouldered mare, whose neck

They carry the burden of death while fleet

dispenses with the saddle-pommel on a day of pursuit.

In piercing amid most slender and deep

ضَرَبوا قِبابَ البيضِ فَوقَ مَفارِقٍ

ضَرَبوا قِبابَ البيضِ فَوقَ مَفارِقٍ

أَطنابُها شَرعُ القَنا المَيّادِ

أَطنابُها شَرعُ القَنا المَيّادِ

They pitched helmet-domes above their heads,

They embedded canal orientation from the first drops

their tent-ropes the leveled, swaying spears.

Where the fire of hatred is kindling

ذُبُلٌ يُهَذِّبُها الطِعانُ وَإِنَّها

ذُبُلٌ يُهَذِّبُها الطِعانُ وَإِنَّها

تَزدادُ جَهلاً كُلَّ يَومِ جِلادِ

تَزدادُ جَهلاً كُلَّ يَومِ جِلادِ

Slender shafts, disciplined by thrusting, yet they

And they forgot in the impact of hooves in a quandary

grow more savage with every day of sword-fighting.

They filled the hearing faculties of the rigid with it

يَحمِلنَ عِبءَ المَوتِ وَهيَ خَفايِفٌ

يَحمِلنَ عِبءَ المَوتِ وَهيَ خَفايِفٌ

في الطَعنِ بَينَ جَناجِنٍ وَهَوادِ

في الطَعنِ بَينَ جَناجِنٍ وَهَوادِ

They carry death's burden, though light

A master whom the noblest horses birthed breezily

when thrust between breastbones and necks.

Under the burrow, bringing forth the lions

هُم أَنشَبوا قِصَدَ القَنا مِن وائِلٍ

هُم أَنشَبوا قِصَدَ القَنا مِن وائِلٍ

مِن حَيثُ نارُ الحِقدِ في إيقادِ

مِن حَيثُ نارُ الحِقدِ في إيقادِ

They lodged spear-fragments in Wa'il,

War donned unto it an impassioned kiss

right where the fire of rancor is kindled.

And grew accustomed from it to breasts of rugged ascent

وَلَغوا بِوَقعِ حَوافِرٍ في مَأزِقٍ

وَلَغوا بِوَقعِ حَوافِرٍ في مَأزِقٍ

مَلَأوا بِهِنَّ مَسامِعَ الأَصلادِ

مَلَأوا بِهِنَّ مَسامِعَ الأَصلادِ

They plunged with hoofbeats into a narrow fray,

And their faces birthed the violent rising

filling with them the ears of hard rocks.

And the swords’ gazelles weaned the sheaths

نَجبٌ نَفَضنَ لَهُ الفَرائِصَ خَيفَةً

نَجبٌ نَفَضنَ لَهُ الفَرائِصَ خَيفَةً

تَحتَ العَرينِ بِرائِنُ الآسادِ

تَحتَ العَرينِ بِرائِنُ الآسادِ

Noble steeds that made flank-muscles shake with fear for him,

From each blade whose inner depths concealed

lion-claws beneath the lair.

No souls and it was stuffed with other than heart

لَبِسَت لَهُ الحَربُ المَشوبَةُ قِبلَةً

لَبِسَت لَهُ الحَربُ المَشوبَةُ قِبلَةً

وَتعَوَّدَت مِنهُ صُدورَ صِعادِ

وَتعَوَّدَت مِنهُ صُدورَ صِعادِ

The mingled battle clothed itself in a front facing him,

The horses drink up the earth, their eagles

and grew accustomed to spearheads coming from him.

Expelling it upon the shoulder blades

وَلَدَت وُجوهُهُمُ العِجاجَةَ طَلعَةً

وَلَدَت وُجوهُهُمُ العِجاجَةَ طَلعَةً

وَظُبى السُيوفِ ثَواكِلُ الأَغمادِ

وَظُبى السُيوفِ ثَواكِلُ الأَغمادِ

Their faces brought forth the dust-cloud as they appeared,

They came like the torrent whose neck straightened

and the swords' edges bereaved the scabbards.

To the resolve of the eagle toward the valley’s rest

مِن كُلِّ نَصلٍ أَضمَرَت أَحشاؤُهُ ال

مِن كُلِّ نَصلٍ أَضمَرَت أَحشاؤُهُ ال

أَرواحَ وَهوَ حَشىً بِغَيرِ فُؤادِ

أَرواحَ وَهوَ حَشىً بِغَيرِ فُؤادِ

From every blade whose innards concealed the

And its galloping almost wipes

souls, though it was entrails without a heart.

Traces of what it carved into the heights

الخَيلُ تَرتَشِفُ الصَعيدَ نُسورُها

الخَيلُ تَرتَشِفُ الصَعيدَ نُسورُها

طَرداً وَتَلفِظُهُ عَلى الأَكتادِ

طَرداً وَتَلفِظُهُ عَلى الأَكتادِ

The horses' hoof-frogs sip the soil

And it is as if when they bow, kneeling,

in pursuit, and spit it upon the withers.

They prayed towards a direction of the livers

أَقبَلنَ مِثلَ السَيلِ صَوَّبَ عُنقَهُ

أَقبَلنَ مِثلَ السَيلِ صَوَّبَ عُنقَهُ

نَشَزُ العِقابِ إِلى قَرارِ الوادي

نَشَزُ العِقابِ إِلى قَرارِ الوادي

They advanced like a torrent whose neck was bent downward

And they tore the garb of resentments with smoothness

by the heights of mountain passes toward the valley floor.

After it encompassed the hearts of malice

وَتَكادُ تَمسَحُ مِن دِماءِ جِراحِها

وَتَكادُ تَمسَحُ مِن دِماءِ جِراحِها

آثارَ ما نَقَشَت عَلى الأَطوادِ

آثارَ ما نَقَشَت عَلى الأَطوادِ

And they almost wipe away, with the blood of their wounds,

If their coats of mail are stripped, then they

the traces of what they engraved upon the mountains.

Clothe themselves in tanned skins of bodies

تَرجيعُ قَعقَعَةِ الشَكيمِ إِذا سَرَت

تَرجيعُ قَعقَعَةِ الشَكيمِ إِذا سَرَت

لِعُداتِها بَدَلٌ مِنَ الإيعادِ

لِعُداتِها بَدَلٌ مِنَ الإيعادِ

The repeated rattling of their bits as they travel

The strikers returned their men in crimson turbans

serves their enemies in place of threats.

And their women in mourning clothes

يَومٌ كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ فيهِ عانَقَت

يَومٌ كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ فيهِ عانَقَت

صَدرَ السَماءِ بِعارِضٍ مُنقادِ

صَدرَ السَماءِ بِعارِضٍ مُنقادِ

A day on which the earth seemed to embrace

They do not destroy the structures of truces as if

the sky's breast with a driven cloud-bank.

Their ribs were erected upon hatred

وَيَكادُ جامِحُهُ يُثَقِّفُ في الطُلى

وَيَكادُ جامِحُهُ يُثَقِّفُ في الطُلى

بِالطَعنِ أَطرافَ القَنا المُنآدِ

بِالطَعنِ أَطرافَ القَنا المُنآدِ

Its unbridled rush almost straightens, in throats,

Terrifying like the water pipe if it ran swiftly

by thrusting, the tips of bent spears.

And for the covetous, a place of habit

وَكَأَنَّهُنَّ إِذا اِنحَنَينَ رَواكِعٌ

وَكَأَنَّهُنَّ إِذا اِنحَنَينَ رَواكِعٌ

صَلَّت إِلى قِبَلٍ مِنَ الأَكبادِ

صَلَّت إِلى قِبَلٍ مِنَ الأَكبادِ

And when they bend, they seem like bowing worshipers

Almost taking flight from fear if they were not

who have prayed toward livers as their qiblahs.

Among the shields’ banners in sheathes

وَشَقَقنَ أَردِيَةَ الضَغائِنِ بِالرَدى

وَشَقَقنَ أَردِيَةَ الضَغائِنِ بِالرَدى

مِن بَعدِ ما شَمَلَت قُلوبَ إِيادِ

مِن بَعدِ ما شَمَلَت قُلوبَ إِيادِ

They rent the robes of rancor with death

Our spears have reached every greedy one

after those robes had enveloped the hearts of Iyad.

And our swords encompassed every want

إِن يُسلَبوا ضافي الدُروعِ فَإِنَّهُم

إِن يُسلَبوا ضافي الدُروعِ فَإِنَّهُم

كاسونَ مِن عَلَقٍ دُروعَ جِسادِ

كاسونَ مِن عَلَقٍ دُروعَ جِسادِ

If they are stripped of their ample coats of mail, still they

I am the maternal uncle of every young man if I rouse him

are clad in blood-red armor made of clotted blood.

I rouse him like the biter or the accustomed

رَجَعَ الضِرابُ رِجالَهُم بِعمائِمٍ

رَجَعَ الضِرابُ رِجالَهُم بِعمائِمٍ

مُحمَرَّةٍ وَنِساهُمُ بِحِدادِ

مُحمَرَّةٍ وَنِساهُمُ بِحِدادِ

The blows sent their men back wearing turbans

He grew accustomed to the sword, so if it calls him for a raid

reddened, and their women wearing mourning black.

His steed hurries him without saddle

لا يَنقُضونَ بُنى الحُقودِ كَأَنَّما

لا يَنقُضونَ بُنى الحُقودِ كَأَنَّما

شيدَت ضُلوعُهُمُ عَلى الأَحقادِ

شيدَت ضُلوعُهُمُ عَلى الأَحقادِ

They do not dismantle rancor's structures, as though

His lifeblood’s flow from the canal sufficed it

their ribs had been built upon grudges.

For a time, and the dew polishes it in the preserve

مُهَجٌّ كَأُنبوبِ اليَراعِ إِذا عَدا

مُهَجٌّ كَأُنبوبِ اليَراعِ إِذا عَدا

رَوعٌ وَعِندَ المُطمِعاتِ عَوادي

رَوعٌ وَعِندَ المُطمِعاتِ عَوادي

Souls like reed-tubes when

If he is generous he enriches the needy, and if he attacks violently

terror assails, yet marauders when tempting gains appear.

He exhausts the canal with ambushes of horsemen

كادَت تَطيرُ مَخافَةً لَو لَم تَكُن

كادَت تَطيرُ مَخافَةً لَو لَم تَكُن

مِن شُرَّعِ الأَرماحِ في أَسدادِ

مِن شُرَّعِ الأَرماحِ في أَسدادِ

They nearly flew away in fear, had they not been

What will convey to the poets from me that I have

enclosed within barriers of leveled lances.

The words of heroes and aid of the prepared?

بَلَغَت لَنا الأَرماحُ كُلَّ طَماعَةٍ

بَلَغَت لَنا الأَرماحُ كُلَّ طَماعَةٍ

وَحَوَت لَنا الأَسيافُ كُلَّ مُرادِ

وَحَوَت لَنا الأَسيافُ كُلَّ مُرادِ

The lances attained for us every ambition,

Indeed, this poetry used to be stripped from them in the bounty

and the swords won for us every desire.

So its tie became my birth

أَنا خِلُّ كُلِّ فَتىً إِذا أَيقَظتُهُ

أَنا خِلُّ كُلِّ فَتىً إِذا أَيقَظتُهُ

أَيقَظتُ كَالنَضاضِ أَو كَالعادي

أَيقَظتُ كَالنَضاضِ أَو كَالعادي

I am the friend of every youth who, when I rouse him,

I rouse like a darting serpent or a charging lion.

أَلِفَ الحُسامَ فَلَو دَعاهُ لَغارَةٍ

أَلِفَ الحُسامَ فَلَو دَعاهُ لَغارَةٍ

عَجلانُ صاحَبَهُ بِغَيرِ نِجادِ

عَجلانُ صاحَبَهُ بِغَيرِ نِجادِ

He is intimate with the sword; if he were summoned to a raid

by a man in haste, he would join him without a sword-belt.

كَفّاهُ تَصديها الدِماءُ مِنَ القَنا

كَفّاهُ تَصديها الدِماءُ مِنَ القَنا

طَوراً وَيَصقُلُها النَدى في النادي

طَوراً وَيَصقُلُها النَدى في النادي

Blood from the spears rusts his two palms

at times, and generosity polishes them in the assembly.

إِن جادَ أَقنى المُعسِرينَ وَإِن سَطا

إِن جادَ أَقنى المُعسِرينَ وَإِن سَطا

أَفنى القَنا بِمَوايِرِ الفِرصادِ

أَفنى القَنا بِمَوايِرِ الفِرصادِ

If he gives, he enriches the impoverished; if he strikes,

he wears out the spears in surges of mulberry-red blood.

مَن مُبلِغُ الشُعَراءِ عَنّي أَنَّ لي

مَن مُبلِغُ الشُعَراءِ عَنّي أَنَّ لي

قَولَ الفُحولِ وَنَجدَةَ الأَنجادِ

قَولَ الفُحولِ وَنَجدَةَ الأَنجادِ

Who will tell the poets, on my behalf, that I possess

the verse of master poets and the valor of the valiant?

قَد كانَ هَذا الشِعرُ يُنزَعُ في الدُنا

قَد كانَ هَذا الشِعرُ يُنزَعُ في الدُنا

عَنهُم فَكانَ عِقالَهُ ميلادي

عَنهُم فَكانَ عِقالَهُ ميلادي

This poetry used to be wrested away in the world

from them; then my birth became its hobble.