بِوُدِّيَ لو مُلِّكْتُ ثَنْيَ قِيادي

بِوُدِّيَ لو مُلِّكْتُ ثَنْيَ قِيادي

فأعتاضَ عن غَيِّ الهَوى برَشادِ

فأعتاضَ عن غَيِّ الهَوى برَشادِ

I wish I were granted the power to turn my reins,

With my love, if I had control of my reins

And exchange passion's waywardness for right guidance.

I would have turned away from the passions of desire and been rightly guided,

تمادَتْ دموعي يومَ جدَّت بك النَّوى

تمادَتْ دموعي يومَ جدَّت بك النَّوى

وللَّومِ في أعقابِهنَّ تَمَادي

وللَّومِ في أعقابِهنَّ تَمَادي

My tears flowed on the day separation carried you away in earnest,

My tears flowed abundantly when sorrows aimed their arrows at you,

And reproach, too, persists in their wake.

And then they continued to flow after them.

أُقيمُ وحظِّي الهجرُ عندَ إقامتي

أُقيمُ وحظِّي الهجرُ عندَ إقامتي

وأرحَلُ والشوقُ المبرِّحُ زادي

وأرحَلُ والشوقُ المبرِّحُ زادي

I stay, and estrangement is my share in staying;

I stay while my lot is to be separated from me,

And I depart, with tormenting longing as my provisions.

And I depart while yearning - that dissuader - is my provision.

فلا زال صوب المزن يرتاح صبوة

فلا زال صوب المزن يرتاح صبوة

إلى رائح من ذي الأراح وغادي

إلى رائح من ذي الأراح وغادي

May the clouds' downpour never cease to thrill with longing

So the predawn shower does not cease blowing

Toward an evening traveler from Dhu al-Arah, and a morning traveler.

Towards the direction of the gentle, fragrant breeze.

إذا ماحداه البَرقُ يرتاحُ صَبوةً

إذا ماحداه البَرقُ يرتاحُ صَبوةً

إلى رائحٍ من ذي الأراكِ وَغَادي

إلى رائحٍ من ذي الأراكِ وَغَادي

When lightning urges it onward, it thrills with yearning

If lightning startles it, it rests for a while

Toward an evening traveler from Dhu al-Arak, and a morning traveler.

Near the scent of a lovely, walking companion.

وإنْ لم يكن عهدُ الشبابِ براجعٍ

وإنْ لم يكن عهدُ الشبابِ براجعٍ

لَدَيْهِ ولا عصرُ الصِّبا بمُعادِ

لَدَيْهِ ولا عصرُ الصِّبا بمُعادِ

Though the days of youth will not return

And if the era of youth does not promise to return

There, nor the age of boyhood be restored.

It remains there without the time of youth promising to come back.

وأخرى تَحامى خُلَّتي عندَ خَلَّتي

وأخرى تَحامى خُلَّتي عندَ خَلَّتي

فسِيّانِ قُربي عندَها وبُعادي

فسِيّانِ قُربي عندَها وبُعادي

And another woman shuns my friendship in my poverty,

And another comes close, keeping me company when I am alone,

So my nearness and my distance are the same to her.

So my nearness to her and distance are equal.

وتَعجَبُ من ضَنِّ القريضِ وخُبْره

وتَعجَبُ من ضَنِّ القريضِ وخُبْره

على وَشَلٍ لا رَيَّ فيه لصادي

على وَشَلٍ لا رَيَّ فيه لصادي

And she marvels at verse's stinginess, though all it has known

And she wonders at the avarice of the rhymed prose and its lack of experience

Is a trickle that cannot quench the thirsty.

Upon a cheek that has no grazer to pierce it.

فما تَعبي إلا لتجديدِ راحةٍ

فما تَعبي إلا لتجديدِ راحةٍ

ولا سَهَري إلا لطولِ رُقادي

ولا سَهَري إلا لطولِ رُقادي

So my toil is only to renew my ease,

And my fatigue is only to renew vigor,

And my wakefulness is only to prolong my sleep.

And my sleeplessness is only to prolong my rest.

كِلِيني إلى المَهرِيَّةِ القُودِ إنها

كِلِيني إلى المَهرِيَّةِ القُودِ إنها

ستأخُذُ من أيدي الخُطوبِ قيادي

ستأخُذُ من أيدي الخُطوبِ قيادي

Leave me to the long-necked Mahri she-camels; they

Divert me to the docile, guided she-camel, she will

Will take my reins from the hands of calamity.

Take the reins from the hands of misfortunes to guide me.

وكلُّ فتىً أجدَى عليَّ فصاحبي

وكلُّ فتىً أجدَى عليَّ فصاحبي

وكلُّ بلادٍ أخصَبَتْ فبِلادي

وكلُّ بلادٍ أخصَبَتْ فبِلادي

And every young man who benefits me is my companion,

And every young man who has helped me is my companion,

And every land that grows fertile is my homeland.

And every land that has thrived is my land.

وأُقسِمُ بالغُمْضِ الذي جادَ مَوْهِناً

وأُقسِمُ بالغُمْضِ الذي جادَ مَوْهِناً

تحيَّةَ مشتاقٍ ورنَّةَ حَادي

تحيَّةَ مشتاقٍ ورنَّةَ حَادي

I swear by the slumber that bestowed, late at night,

And I swear by the exciting darkness that came dispelling fatigue

A yearning lover's greeting and a camel-driver's chant:

Like the greeting of a longing one and the moan of one in pain.

لَفَقْدُ النَّدى الرِّبعيِّ أوجَدَني الأَسى

لَفَقْدُ النَّدى الرِّبعيِّ أوجَدَني الأَسى

وأفقَدَني عَيشي ولينَ مِهادي

وأفقَدَني عَيشي ولينَ مِهادي

The loss of springtime dew has surely brought me grief,

The loss of the pleasure of spring made me sorrowful

And robbed me of my livelihood and my bed's softness.

And took away my livelihood and the softness of my resting place.

ووسَّدَني أيدي الرِّكابِ وطالما

ووسَّدَني أيدي الرِّكابِ وطالما

أقضَّ لديها مَضجَعي ووِسادي

أقضَّ لديها مَضجَعي ووِسادي

And laid my head upon the camels' forelegs; how often

And the hands of traveling loaded me down, and often

It has troubled my bed and pillow beside them!

My bedding and pillow were folded up beside them.

إذا أنا حاولتُ الأميرَ فإنما

إذا أنا حاولتُ الأميرَ فإنما

أحاولُ منه جَنَّتي وعِتادي

أحاولُ منه جَنَّتي وعِتادي

When I seek the prince, it is only

If I try the prince, then surely

My paradise and my provisions that I seek from him.

I try to attain my paradise and supplies from him.

حللْتُ بنادي الشأمِ لَمَّا أعادَه

حللْتُ بنادي الشأمِ لَمَّا أعادَه

عليُّ بنُ عبدِ الله أكرمَ نَادي

عليُّ بنُ عبدِ الله أكرمَ نَادي

I alighted in Syria's assembly when it was restored

I put on my loincloth when Ali bin Abdullah

By Ali ibn Abd Allah as the noblest assembly.

Honored it by returning it to become my loincloth.

أغرُّ إذا امتدَّتْ يدُ الدَّهْر كفَّها

أغرُّ إذا امتدَّتْ يدُ الدَّهْر كفَّها

بِبيضِ صِفاحٍ أو بِبيضِ أيادي

بِبيضِ صِفاحٍ أو بِبيضِ أيادي

Radiant: when Time's hand stretches out, he stays it

I boast when the hand of fate extends its palm

With white sword-blades or white hands of bounty.

With white swords or with white hands.

يروعُ النَّدى أموالَه بنَفادِها

يروعُ النَّدى أموالَه بنَفادِها

وما رِيعَ مَجدٌ عنده بنَفادِ

وما رِيعَ مَجدٌ عنده بنَفادِ

Generosity makes his wealth fear exhaustion,

Spring lavishes its wealth without limit

Yet glory with him has never feared depletion.

And glory with him has no end.

إذا امتزجَ المعروفُ بالبِشْر عندَه

إذا امتزجَ المعروفُ بالبِشْر عندَه

غدا الحمدُ ممزوجاً له بوَدادِ

غدا الحمدُ ممزوجاً له بوَدادِ

When kindness mingles with good cheer in him,

When kindness mingles with good tidings,

Praise for him comes mingled with affection.

Praise mingles with affection towards him.

رمى كلَّ مُنآدِ القناةِ من العِدا

رمى كلَّ مُنآدِ القناةِ من العِدا

بِخَطْبٍ تَحاماهُ الخُطوبُ نآدِ

بِخَطْبٍ تَحاماهُ الخُطوبُ نآدِ

He assailed every foe whose spear was bent

He threw at every caller from the tribe and clan

With a crushing calamity that calamities themselves shun,

With a speech that courting women stir up.

بجُردٍ تُثيرُ النَّقعَ حتى كأنَّما

بجُردٍ تُثيرُ النَّقعَ حتى كأنَّما

تُمزِّقُ منه البِيضُ ثَوبَ حِدادِ

تُمزِّقُ منه البِيضُ ثَوبَ حِدادِ

With sleek steeds that raise dust, until it seems

With a coat of mail that sets clanging the armor

The white blades tear from it a robe of mourning.

As if white swords were tearing the garb of mourning.

وبِيضٍ إذا اهتزَّتْ ترقرَقَ ماؤُّها

وبِيضٍ إذا اهتزَّتْ ترقرَقَ ماؤُّها

وهُنَّ إلى ماءِ النُّفوسِ صَوَادي

وهُنَّ إلى ماءِ النُّفوسِ صَوَادي

And white blades whose watery sheen ripples when they quiver,

And white swords whose water sparkles if they shake,

While they thirst for the water of souls.

While they gently prod the souls of the seekers.

وكلِّ رُدَينيٍّ أصمَّ كأنَّما

وكلِّ رُدَينيٍّ أصمَّ كأنَّما

تُروِّعُ منه الرَّوعَ حيةُ وَادِي

تُروِّعُ منه الرَّوعَ حيةُ وَادِي

And every solid Rudayni spear, as though

And every frightening roaring warrior

A valley-serpent were frightening fear itself from within it.

Who terrifies the timid even in the sole stream of a valley.

تَحُفُّ بجَذلانِ العَشيِّ كأنه

تَحُفُّ بجَذلانِ العَشيِّ كأنه

لَدَى طَرَدٍ ما راحَ نُصبَ طِرادِ

لَدَى طَرَدٍ ما راحَ نُصبَ طِرادِ

They cluster around one merry at evening, as though he

Assisted at nightfall by the squadrons as if

Were hunting, not going forth as the target of charges.

Near an enclosure while the hunting gear was set up for shooting.

وأَغلبَ رَحْبِ الباعِ يُنجِدُه الرَّدَى

وأَغلبَ رَحْبِ الباعِ يُنجِدُه الرَّدَى

إذا ما ارتدى في مأزَقٍ بنِجاد

إذا ما ارتدى في مأزَقٍ بنِجاد

And a thick-necked lion of broad reach, whom Death aids

And the open space of battle aids him if

When he clothes himself in a sword-belt amid battle's press.

The refuge of the daring clothes itself in triumph.

يبيتُ وحَدُّ السيفِ حلُّ مبيتِه

يبيتُ وحَدُّ السيفِ حلُّ مبيتِه

لديه وجَفنُ العَينِ حِلُّ سُهادِ

لديه وجَفنُ العَينِ حِلُّ سُهادِ

He spends the night, the sword's edge permitted to rest

He spends the night while the sharp edge of the sword spends it with him,

Beside him, and his eyelid given over to sleeplessness.

And the eyelid of sleep spends it clutching wakefulness.

يُصَعِّدُ أنفاسَ العدوِّ إذا ثَنى

يُصَعِّدُ أنفاسَ العدوِّ إذا ثَنى

إليه المَنايا في ظُبىً وصِعادِ

إليه المَنايا في ظُبىً وصِعادِ

He makes the enemy's breath heave when he turns

He makes the breaths of the enemy ascend if

Death toward him in sword-edges and spear-shafts,

Destinies fold back to him amidst attacks and charges.

أمامَ خميسٍ يَحجُبُ الأفْقَ بالقَنا

أمامَ خميسٍ يَحجُبُ الأفْقَ بالقَنا

ويملأُ أقطارَ الثَّرى بجِيادِ

ويملأُ أقطارَ الثَّرى بجِيادِ

At the head of an army that veils the horizon with spears

Before a Khamis who veils horizons with the spear

And fills the earth's expanses with steeds.

And fills all corners of earth with steeds.

فمَنْ عادَ بالكَيدِ الخفيِّ فإنَّه

فمَنْ عادَ بالكَيدِ الخفيِّ فإنَّه

يعودُ بيأسٍ في الكريهةِ بَادِي

يعودُ بيأسٍ في الكريهةِ بَادِي

So whoever returns with hidden guile

Whoever returns with hidden cunning,

Returns with despair plain to see in battle.

Returns in desperation, misfortune openly touching him.

سأُعْلِمُ نَفسي بالسَّماحةِ عالماً

سأُعْلِمُ نَفسي بالسَّماحةِ عالماً

بأنَّ بلادَ التَّغلبِيِّ بِلادي

بأنَّ بلادَ التَّغلبِيِّ بِلادي

I shall mark myself with generosity, knowing

I will teach myself benevolence while knowing

That the Taghlibi's lands are my lands.

That the land of Taghlib is my land.

فدونَكها تختالُ في كلِّ مَسمَعٍ

فدونَكها تختالُ في كلِّ مَسمَعٍ

وتخطُرُ في مكنونِ كلِّ فؤادِ

وتخطُرُ في مكنونِ كلِّ فؤادِ

So take it, strutting proudly in every ear,

Through you she swaggers in every hearing

And swaying in the secret depths of every heart.

And crosses the mind of every heart.

حَبَتْكَ برَيحانِ الكلامِ وإنما

حَبَتْكَ برَيحانِ الكلامِ وإنما

تَجودُ بريَّاهُ لكلِّ جَوادِ

تَجودُ بريَّاهُ لكلِّ جَوادِ

It has gifted you the sweet basil of speech, and only

She loved you with the basil of speech, and so

For every generous man does it lavish its fragrance:

She is generous with its fragrance to every gallant one.

بأطيبَ من طِيبِ الرُّقادِ لساهرٍ

بأطيبَ من طِيبِ الرُّقادِ لساهرٍ

وأعذبَ من رِيقِ الحبيبِ لصَادي

وأعذبَ من رِيقِ الحبيبِ لصَادي

More pleasing than the pleasure of sleep to the sleepless,

With something sweeter than the scent of slumber for one who keeps vigil

And sweeter than the beloved's saliva to the thirsty.

And more luscious than the spittle of the beloved for one who meets misfortune.