ذادَdrove away وِردَthe throng of الغَيِّwaywardness عَنfrom صَدَرِهْhis breast
ذادَ وِردَ الغَيِّ عَن صَدَرِهْ
وَارعَوىand turned from error وَاللَهوُwhile diversion مِنamong وَطَرِهْhis desires
وَارعَوى وَاللَهوُ مِن وَطَرِهْ
He drove folly's throng away from his breast,
He warded off the thorns of youth from his chest,
And came to his senses, though pleasure was his desire.
And refrained from frivolity,
وَأَبَتand refused إِلّاall but الوَقارَdignity لَهُfor him
وَأَبَت إِلّا الوَقارَ لَهُ
ضَحِكاتُthe laughter of الشّيبِgray hair فيin شَعَرِهْhis hair
ضَحِكاتُ الشّيبِ في شَعَرِهْ
And nothing but dignity did they allow him—
While the gray hairs in his hair insisted on dignity for him.
The laughter of gray hairs amid his hair.
I regret that youth has passed,
نَدمىmy regret أَنَّthat الشَبابَyouth مَضىhas passed
نَدمى أَنَّ الشَبابَ مَضى
لَمnot أُبَلِّغهُI brought it مَدىthe limit of أَشَرِهits wanton joy
لَم أُبَلِّغهُ مَدى أَشَرِه
My regret is that youth has passed,
Without me conveying the extent of its evil,
Without my taking it to the limits of its wanton joy.
And his days passed in peace,
وَاِنقَضَتand passed away أَيّامُهُits days سَلَماًpeacefully
وَاِنقَضَت أَيّامُهُ سَلَماً
لَمnot أَهِجI stirred حَرباًa war عَلىagainst غِيَرِهits reversals
لَم أَهِج حَرباً عَلى غِيَرِه
And its days passed peacefully;
Without me provoking war on others.
I stirred no war against its reversals.
Its liveliness deserted me,
حَسَرَتwithdrew عَنّيfrom me بَشاشَتُهُits freshness
حَسَرَت عَنّي بَشاشَتُهُ
وَذَوىand withered اليانِعُthe ripe yield مِنof ثَمَرِهits fruit
وَذَوى اليانِعُ مِن ثَمَرِه
Its freshness fell away from me,
And the ripening diminished from its fruits.
And the ripe yield of its fruit withered.
My ear inclined to its admonisher,
وَصَغَتand inclined أُذنيmy ear لِزاجِرهاtoward its rebuker
وَصَغَت أُذني لِزاجِرها
وَلَماand not yet تَشجىwas grieved لِمُزدَجِرِهat his rebuke
وَلَما تَشجى لِمُزدَجِرِه
My ear inclined toward its rebuker,
Though it was not roused by one who chides.
Though it had not yet grieved at his rebuke.
When my hands disobey in their strength,
إِذwhen يَديmy hand تَعصيdefied بِقُوَّتِهاwith its strength
إِذ يَدي تَعصي بِقُوَّتِها
لاnot تَرىrecognized ثَاراًblood-vengeance لِمُثَّئِرِهfor its seeker
لا تَرى ثَاراً لِمُثَّئِرِه
When my hand, strong as it was, would defy,
Not seeing a supporter for one who seeks vengeance.
Recognizing no claim of vengeance for its seeker.
And youth is an easy pasture,
وَالصِباand youthful passion سَرحٌa grazing herd أُطيفُI circled بِهِaround it
وَالصِبا سَرحٌ أُطيفُ بِهِ
فَأُصيبُso I found الأُنسَintimacy مِنamong نُفُرِهits shy creatures
فَأُصيبُ الأُنسَ مِن نُفُرِه
And youthful passion was a grazing herd I circled,
Where I get fellowship from its flock.
Finding intimacy among its shy creatures.
They graze saying my name,
تَرعَوىyielded بِاِسمىat my name مَسارِحُهُits pastures
تَرعَوى بِاِسمى مَسارِحُهُ
وَيلىand tended لَيلىmy night بَنوthe sons of سَمَرِهits night-talk
وَيلى لَيلى بَنو سَمَرِه
Its pastures yielded at my name,
The Banoos and Samras spend their nights.
And the sons of its night-talk tended my night.
And from a jealous one in his yard,
وَغَيورٍand many a jealous man دونَguarding حَوزَتِهِhis domain
وَغَيورٍ دونَ حَوزَتِهِ
حُزتُI gained خَلفَbehind الأَمنِsafety مِنfrom حَذَرِهِhis vigilance
حُزتُ خَلفَ الأَمنِ مِن حَذَرِهِ
And many a jealous man guarding his domain—
I take cover behind safety from his harm.
I gained safety's shelter despite his vigilance.
And blood that I spilled carelessly
وَدَمٍand blood أَهدَرتُI spilled مِنfrom رَشاa young gazelle
وَدَمٍ أَهدَرتُ مِن رَشا
لَمnot يُرِدhe sought عَقلاًblood-money عَلىfor هَدَرِهits spilling
لَم يُرِد عَقلاً عَلى هَدَرِه
And blood I spilled from a young gazelle,
Did not intend sanity upon its loss.
Who sought no blood-money for its spilling.
He risks his warriors for me
باتَhe spent the night يُدنيbringing close ليto me مَقاتِلَهُhis vital spots
باتَ يُدني لي مَقاتِلَهُ
وَيُفَدّينيand offered himself for me عَلىdespite نَفَرِهhis shyness
وَيُفَدّيني عَلى نَفَرِه
He spent the night offering me his vital spots,
And ransoms me over his followers.
And offered himself as my ransom despite his shyness.
Then below youth came an infirmity
فَأَتَتthen came دونَin the way of الصِباyouthful passion هَنَةٌa small thing
فَأَتَت دونَ الصِبا هَنَةٌ
قَلَبَتit overturned things فوقيupon me عَلىfor وَتَرِهits grievance
قَلَبَت فوقي عَلى وَتَرِه
Then something came between me and youthful passion;
That turned me over upon my bed.
It turned things against me, avenging its grievance.
Two dear ones - youth does not belong
جارَتاO my neighbor لَيسَnot الشَبابُyouth لِمَنfor one who
جارَتا لَيسَ الشَبابُ لِمَن
راحَgoes about مَحنِيّاًbent عَلىunder كِبَرِهhis old age
راحَ مَحنِيّاً عَلى كِبَرِه
My neighbor, youth is not for one
To one who spends it feeble in old age.
Who goes about bent under the weight of age.
Things I had are gone,
ذَهَبَتvanished أَشياءُthings كُنتُI was لَهاdevoted to them
ذَهَبَت أَشياءُ كُنتُ لَها
صارَهاturned them حِلمىmy sober reason إِلىtoward صَوَرِهits inclination
صارَها حِلمى إِلى صَوَرِه
Things I was once devoted to have vanished;
My dream made them into their images.
My sober reason bent them toward its own inclination.
It came pleading so I said to it,
طَرَقَتshe came by night تَلحىreproaching فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her
طَرَقَت تَلحى فَقُلتُ لَها
اِذهَبيgo away ماnot أَنتِyou مِنamong سُوَرِهits surges of passion
اِذهَبي ما أَنتِ مِن سُوَرِه
She came by night to chide; I told her:
“You are not of its fence, so go!"
Go away; you are no part of its surging passions.
Many a long night oppressed me,
قدكَenough for you مِنof موفِone poised above عَلىupon أَمَلٍa hope
قدكَ مِن موفِ عَلى أَمَلٍ
تَحسِرُwearies الأَبصارَthe eyes عَنfrom نَظَرِهbeholding it
تَحسِرُ الأَبصارَ عَن نَظَرِه
Enough of one poised upon a hope
Dawn emancipates from its shackles.
That wearies the eyes trying to behold it.
It is refracted from its pleasures,
إِنَّindeed مِنfrom دونِbefore الغِنىwealth جَبَلاًa mountain
إِنَّ مِن دونِ الغِنى جَبَلاً
سَتَكوسwill stumble العيسthe pale camels فيin وَعَرِهits rough terrain
سَتَكوس العيس في وَعَرِه
Indeed, before wealth there stands a mountain;
Like the refracting of fire from its sparks.
The pale camels will stumble through its rugged ground.
Leave ancient Qahtan or Mudar,
يَتَناضَلنَthey compete السُرىin night travel قُذُفاًlong-striding
يَتَناضَلنَ السُرى قُذُفاً
قَدalready كَساهاhas clothed them المَيسthe swaying gait مِنwith قَتَرِهits dust
قَد كَساها المَيس مِن قَتَرِه
Long-striding, they vie in journeying by night;
In its Yaman and its Mudar.
Their swaying gait has cloaked them in its dust.
And praise from Wael a man,
كَمhow much دُجىdarkness of لَيلٍa night عَسَفنَthey traversed blindly بِهِthrough it
كَم دُجى لَيلٍ عَسَفنَ بِهِ
يَبتَعِثنَrousing الصُبحَthe morning مِنfrom كِسَرِهits fragments
يَبتَعِثنَ الصُبحَ مِن كِسَرِه
How much night-darkness they have blindly traversed,
The epochs take from his epoch.
Rousing morning from its fragments.
Death is in his grasp,
يَتَفَرّىit bursts apart عَنfrom مَناسِمِهاtheir footpads
يَتَفَرّى عَن مَناسِمِها
كَتَفَرّيlike the bursting of النارِfire عَنwith شَرَرِهits sparks
كَتَفَرّي النارِ عَن شَرَرِه
It bursts forth from their padded feet,
And gifts in the palms of his rocks.
As fire bursts forth in its sparks.
He swallowed the world with his attainments,
دَعleave جَداthe bounty of قَحطانَQahtan أَوor مُضَرٍMudar
دَع جَدا قَحطانَ أَو مُضَرٍ
فيamong يَمانيهِits Yemenites وَفيand among مُضَرِهits Mudar
في يَمانيهِ وَفي مُضَرِه
Leave the bounty of Qahtan or Mudar
And removed religion from its stumbling.
With their Yemenites and their men of Mudar.
A mountain whose shoulders were of might,
وَاِمتَدِحand praise مِنfrom وائِلٍWa'il رَجُلاًa man
وَاِمتَدِح مِن وائِلٍ رَجُلاً
عَصَرُthe refuge of الآفاقِthe horizons مِنfrom عَصَرِهhis refuge
عَصَرُ الآفاقِ مِن عَصَرِه
And praise a man of Wa'il:
Adnan felt safe in its caves.
The refuge of all horizons comes from his refuge.
The world is but Abu Dulaf,
المَناياdeath's fates فيin مَقانِبِهِhis cavalry squadrons
المَنايا في مَقانِبِهِ
وَالعَطاياand gifts فيin ذَراthe heights of حُجَرِهhis chambers
وَالعَطايا في ذَرا حُجَرِه
Death is in his cavalry squadrons,
Between its departure and deathbed.
And gifts crown the heights of his chambers.
So when Abu Dulaf passes on,
هَضَمَhumbled الدُنياthe world بِنائِلِهِwith his bounty
هَضَمَ الدُنيا بِنائِلِهِ
وَأَقالَand raised الدينَreligion مِنfrom عَثَرِهits stumble
وَأَقالَ الدينَ مِن عَثَرِه
He humbled the world with his bounty,
The world will turn after him.
And raised religion from its stumble.
I do not know what to say to him,
مَلِكٌa king تَندىare dewy أَنامِلُهُhis fingertips
مَلِكٌ تَندى أَنامِلُهُ
كَاِنبِلاجِlike the bursting of النَوءِthe rain-bearing star عَنwith مَطَرِهits rain
كَاِنبِلاجِ النَوءِ عَن مَطَرِه
A king whose fingertips drip with bounty,
Except the earth is in his shelter.
Like a rain-bearing star breaking forth in rain.
O remedy of earth, if it becomes corrupt,
مُستَهِلٌّbeaming عَنwith مَواهِبِهِhis gifts
مُستَهِلٌّ عَن مَواهِبِهِ
كَاِبتِسامِlike the smiling of الرَوضِthe meadow عَنwith زَهَرِهits blossoms
كَاِبتِسامِ الرَوضِ عَن زَهَرِه
Beaming forth with his gifts,
And adversity from its ease.
Like a meadow smiling with its blossoms.
All the Arabs in the land,
عَقَدَbound الجِدُّresolve الأُمورَaffairs بِهِto him
عَقَدَ الجِدُّ الأُمورَ بِهِ
حينَwhen لَمnot يَنهَضanyone rose بِمَتَّعَرِهto their rugged difficulty
حينَ لَم يَنهَض بِمَتَّعَرِه
Resolve bound affairs to him,
From nomad to city dweller,
When no one could shoulder their difficulty.
Borrow magnanimity from you,
فَكَفاهاso he met their needs وَاِستَقَلَّand took sole charge بِهاof them
فَكَفاها وَاِستَقَلَّ بِها
لَمnot تَضِفgave lodging to وَهناًweakness قُوىthe strengths of مِرَرِهhis twisted cords
لَم تَضِف وَهناً قُوى مِرَرِه
He met their needs and shouldered them alone;
To adorn themselves on the day of their boasting.
The strength of his twisted cords admitted no weakness.
God formed you Abu Dulaf,
جَبَلٌa mountain عَزَّتwere impregnable مَناكِبُهُhis shoulders
جَبَلٌ عَزَّت مَناكِبُهُ
أمِنَتfound safety عَدنانُAdnan فيwithin ثُغرِهhis frontiers
أمِنَت عَدنانُ في ثُغرِه
A mountain of impregnable shoulders,
With a dye in creation of His goodness.
Adnan found safety within his frontiers.
Which day of yours did you seek pride?
إِنَّماnothing but الدُنياthe world أَبوAbu (father of) دُلَفٍDulaf
إِنَّما الدُنيا أَبو دُلَفٍ
بَينَbetween مَغزاهُhis battlefield وَمُحتَضَرِهand his abode
بَينَ مَغزاهُ وَمُحتَضَرِه
The world is nothing but Abu Dulaf,
Glory illuminated from its darkness.
Between his field of battle and his abode.
If you pelted fate with denial,
فَإِذاso when وَلّىturns away أَبوAbu (father of) دُلَفٍDulaf
فَإِذا وَلّى أَبو دُلَفٍ
وَلَّتِturns away الدُنياthe world عَلىin أَثَرِهhis wake
وَلَّتِ الدُنيا عَلى أَثَرِه
So when Abu Dulaf turns away,
Your palms would be cracked from its rocks.
The world turns away in his wake.
How many guests of security in positions
لَستُI do not أَدرىknow ماwhat أَقولُI say لَهُto him
لَستُ أَدرى ما أَقولُ لَهُ
غَيرَexcept أَنthat الأَرضَthe earth فيunder خَفَرِهhis protection
غَيرَ أَن الأَرضَ في خَفَرِه
I do not know what to say to him,
Have refused fear within their positions.
Except that the earth is under his protection.
Like the son of fear in the settled abode of wine
ياO دَواءَremedy for الأَرضِthe earth إِنif فَسَدَتit is corrupted
يا دَواءَ الأَرضِ إِن فَسَدَت
وَمُديلَand giver of ascendancy to اليُسرِease مِنover عُسُرِهits hardship
وَمُديلَ اليُسرِ مِن عُسُرِه
O cure for the earth when it is corrupted,
Intoxicated by security from its wine.
And giver of ease in place of its hardship.
And Zaħūf in his small ships
كُلُّevery مَنone who فيon الأَرضِthe earth مِنof عَرَبٍArabs
كُلُّ مَن في الأَرضِ مِن عَرَبٍ
بَينَbetween باديهِtheir nomads إِلىto حَضَرِهtheir townspeople
بَينَ باديهِ إِلى حَضَرِه
Every Arab upon the earth,
Like the cries of war in its matter.
From their nomads to their townspeople,
Death was hiding
مُستَعيرٌa borrower مِنكَfrom you مَكرُمَةًa noble deed
مُستَعيرٌ مِنكَ مَكرُمَةً
يَكتَسيهاhe wears it يَومَon the day of مُفتَخَرهhis boasting
يَكتَسيها يَومَ مُفتَخَره
Borrows from you a noble deed,
In his drinking sessions and disputations.
Which he wears on his day of boasting.
So his tribe struck his hand from him,
صاغَكَfashioned you اللَهُGod أَباAbu (father of) دُلَفٍDulaf
صاغَكَ اللَهُ أَبا دُلَفٍ
صِبغَةًa hue فيamong الخَلقِcreation مِنfrom خِيَرِهHis choicest
صِبغَةً في الخَلقِ مِن خِيَرِه
God fashioned you, Abu Dulaf,
Bending the sword from its sharpness.
A hue among creation drawn from His choicest.
You visited him while the horses were frowning,
أَيّwhichever يَومَيكَof your two days اِعتَزَيتَyou claimed affiliation لَهُwith it
أَيّ يَومَيكَ اِعتَزَيتَ لَهُ
اِستَضاءَtakes light المَجدُglory مِنfrom قُتُرِهits quarters
اِستَضاءَ المَجدُ مِن قُتُرِه
Whichever of your two days you proclaim your own,
Bearing misery to its furthest reaches.
Glory takes light from its quarters.
Emerging under his flag
لَوif رَمَيتَyou struck الدهرَTime عَنfrom عُرُضa side
لَو رَمَيتَ الدهرَ عَن عُرُض
ثَلَّمَتwould chip كَفّاكَyour two palms مِنfrom حَجَرِهits stone
ثَلَّمَت كَفّاكَ مِن حَجَرِه
Were you to strike at Time from the side,
Like the emergence of birds from their nests.
Your two palms would chip its stone.
You unleashed the horses’ kicking,
رُبَّmany a ضافيone richly clothed in الأَمنِsafety فيin وَزَرٍa refuge
رُبَّ ضافي الأَمنِ في وَزَرٍ
قَدalready أَبَتَّyou lodged الخَوفَfear فيin وَزَرِهhis refuge
قَد أَبَتَّ الخَوفَ في وَزَرِه
Many a man wrapped in safety in a refuge—
And dwelt the birds from their islands.
You have made fear spend the night in his refuge.
Against al-Nu‘man you were enraged with them,
وَاِبنِand a son of خَوفٍfear فيin حَشاthe heart of خَمَرٍa thicket
وَاِبنِ خَوفٍ في حَشا خَمَرٍ
نُشتَهyou plucked him بِالأَمنِinto safety مِنfrom خَمَرِهhis thicket
نُشتَه بِالأَمنِ مِن خَمَرِه
And a son of fear deep within a thicket—
Straightening the inclination from its deviation.
You plucked him safely from his thicket.
Al-Nu‘man slighted their elite,
وَزَحوفٍand a marching host فيin صَواهِلِهِits neighing steeds
وَزَحوفٍ في صَواهِلِهِ
كَصِياحِlike the cry of الحَشرِthe Resurrection فيamid أَمَرِهits multitude
كَصِياحِ الحَشرِ في أَمَرِه
And many a marching host, whose steeds' neighing
So you returned the elite from its turbidity.
Is like the cry of the Resurrection amid its multitude—
And you sensed the cup of Mughatabiq
قَدتَهُyou led it وَالمَوتُwhile death مَكتَمِنٌlay hidden
قَدتَهُ وَالمَوتُ مَكتَمِنٌ
فيin مذاكيهِits mature chargers ومُشتَجِرِهand its tangled ranks
في مذاكيهِ ومُشتَجِرِه
You led it, with death lying hidden
That sanity cannot be restored from its intoxication.
In its mature chargers and its tangled ranks.
And with Qurqusur you turned away a group,
فَرَمَتthen struck جيلوهُJiluh مِنهُfrom it يَدٌa hand
فَرَمَت جيلوهُ مِنهُ يَدٌ
طَوَتِfolded المَنشورَwhat was outspread مِنof بَطَرِهhis arrogance
طَوَتِ المَنشورَ مِن بَطَرِه
Then a hand from it struck Jiluh,
A battle whose youth’s evil was negated.
Folding away his outspread arrogance.
You were patient for his survival,
زُرتَهُyou visited him وَالخَيلُwhile the horses عابِسَةٌwere grim-faced
زُرتَهُ وَالخَيلُ عابِسَةٌ
تَحمِلُcarrying البُؤسىwoe إِلىto عَقُرِهhis homestead
تَحمِلُ البُؤسى إِلى عَقُرِه
You visited him, the horses grim-faced,
But fate refused from its decree.
Bearing woe into his homestead.
He wandered until you erected for him
خارِجاتٌcoming forth تَحتَbeneath رايَتهاtheir banner
خارِجاتٌ تَحتَ رايَتها
كَخُروجِlike the emergence of الطَيرِbirds مِنfrom وُكُرِهtheir nests
كَخُروجِ الطَيرِ مِن وُكُرِه
Coming forth beneath their banner,
A hideous structure from his masculinity.
Like birds leaving their nests.
So this is the English translation of the Arabic poem you provided while preserving the poem's form. Let me know if you need me to clarify or explain any part of the translation further.
فَأَبَحتَso you opened to الخَيلَthe horses عَقوَتَهhis courtyard
فَأَبَحتَ الخَيلَ عَقوَتَه
وَقَرَيتَand you feasted الطَيرَthe birds مِنon جزَرِهhis slain
وَقَرَيتَ الطَيرَ مِن جزَرِه
So you gave the horses free run of his courtyard,
And feasted the birds on his slain.
وَعَلىand against النُعمانِal-Nu'man عُجتَyou wheeled بِهاwith them
وَعَلى النُعمانِ عُجتَ بِها
فَأَقَمتَso you straightened المَيلَthe crookedness مِنof صَعَرِهhis haughty neck-tilt
فَأَقَمتَ المَيلَ مِن صَعَرِه
And you wheeled them against al-Nu'man,
So you straightened the crooked tilt of his neck.
غَمَطَscorned النُعمانُal-Nu'man صَفوَتهاtheir purity
غَمَطَ النُعمانُ صَفوَتها
فَرَدَدتَso you returned الصَفوَthe clear فيinto كَدَرِهhis murk
فَرَدَدتَ الصَفوَ في كَدَرِه
Al-Nu'man scorned their purity,
So you returned the clear into his murk.
وَتَحَسّىand he sipped كَأسَthe cup of مُغتَبِقٍan evening drinker
وَتَحَسّى كَأسَ مُغتَبِقٍ
لاnot يُدالُis granted in turn الصَحوَsobriety مِنin place of سُكُرِهhis drunkenness
لا يُدالُ الصَحوَ مِن سُكُرِه
And he sipped the cup of an evening drinker,
Never granted sobriety in place of his drunkenness.
وَبِقُرقورٍand against Qurqur أَدَرتyou turned رَحاthe mill of
وَبِقُرقورٍ أَدَرت رَحا
وَقعَةٍa battle فَلَّتthat blunted شَباthe sharp points of أَشَرِهhis insolence
وَقعَةٍ فَلَّت شَبا أَشَرِه
And against Qurqur you turned the mill
Of a battle that blunted the points of his insolence.
وَتَأَنَّيتَand you delayed البَقاءَsurvival لَهُfor him
وَتَأَنَّيتَ البَقاءَ لَهُ
فَأَبىbut refused المَحتومُthe fixed decree مِنof قَدَرِهhis fate
فَأَبى المَحتومُ مِن قَدَرِه
And you delayed to keep him alive,
But the fixed decree of his fate refused.
وَطَفىand he floated حَتّىuntil رَفَعتَyou raised لَهُfor him
وَطَفى حَتّى رَفَعتَ لَهُ
خُطَّةًan affair شَنعاءَhideous مِنin ذَكَرِهhis remembrance
خُطَّةً شَنعاءَ مِن ذَكَرِه
And he floated up, until you raised for him
A hideous affair to mark his memory.
Partial English translation: 92 of 106 Arabic lines translated.