ألِمَّاstop briefly, you two بيwith me عَلَىat الرَّبعِthe encampment القَدِيمِancient
ألِمَّا بي عَلَى الرَّبعِ القَدِيمِ
لإبرِدَso I may cool باللِّمَامِby a brief visit بِهِto it حَزِيمِيmy breast
لإبرِدَ باللِّمَامِ بِهِ حَزِيمِي
Stop briefly with me at the ancient encampment,
When I pass by the old quarter
that a brief visit there may cool my breast.
To cool my inflamed despair,
قِفَاhalt, you two بِرُسُومِهِby its traces بيwith me علَّperhaps مَابيwhat ails me
قِفَا بِرُسُومِهِ بي علَّ مَابي
يُخَفَّفِهُeases it الوُقُوفُstanding عَلَىover الرَّسُومِthe traces
يُخَفَّفِهُ الوُقُوفُ عَلَى الرَّسُومِ
Halt with me by its traces; perhaps my pain
I stand still at its vestiges
will be eased by standing over those traces.
Though standing wearies my feet.
وإِنand though يَكُit is مُقفِرَdeserted العَرَصَانِthe open grounds ماnot إِنemphatic particle
وإِن يَكُ مُقفِرَ العَرَصَانِ ما إِن
تَرَىsee العَينَانِthe two eyes فِيهِin it مِنany أرَيمِliving soul
تَرَى العَينَانِ فِيهِ مِن أرَيمِ
Though its grounds are deserted, with not
Though the plain is desolate, with no
a soul for the eyes to see within,
Visible ruins that meet the eye,
وغَيَّرَهُand changed it البِلَىdecay إِلاَّexcept بَقَايَاremnants
وغَيَّرَهُ البِلَى إِلاَّ بَقَايَا
كَبَاقِىlike remnants of الوَحىِwriting أوor كِفَفِrings الوُشُومِtattoos
كَبَاقِى الوَحىِ أو كِفَفِ الوُشُومِ
and decay has changed it, save remnants
Yet time has changed it, leaving only
like surviving script or the rings of tattoos,
Traces, like scattered revelation, or like the plucked feathers of an ostrich.
وِإلاَّand except هَامِداًextinguished مُتَلَبِّداًcaked together فيin
وِإلاَّ هَامِداً مُتَلَبِّداً في
جَوَانِبِهِits corners كَجُونِlike dark-colored قَطاًsandgrouse جُثُومِcrouching
جَوَانِبِهِ كَجُونِ قَطاً جُثُومِ
and save cold, caked ashes in
Otherwise, it remains dejected, shrouded in
its corners, like dark sandgrouse crouching,
Its corners, like a brooding cat.
وإِلاَّand except مِثلَsomething like جَذمِthe broken base of الحَوضِthe water basin عَفَّتeffaced
وإِلاَّ مِثلَ جَذمِ الحَوضِ عَفَّت
أعَالِيَهُits upper parts يَدُthe hand of الجَونِthe dark cloud السُّجُومِpouring rain
أعَالِيَهُ يَدُ الجَونِ السُّجُومِ
and save what resembles a basin's broken base, effaced
Or like the stump of a pond whose
at its top by the hand of the dark, pouring cloud,
Upper parts the hand of fate has effaced.
وَوُدَّاand a peg كالسِّواكِlike a tooth-stick ورِمَّةًand a worn rope فيin
وَوُدَّا كالسِّواكِ ورِمَّةً في
مُقَلَّدِthe neck of ذَلِكَthat الوَتِدِthe stake الرَّمِيمِdecaying
مُقَلَّدِ ذَلِكَ الوَتِدِ الرَّمِيمِ
and a peg like a tooth-stick, and a worn rope around
Parched as a toothpick, it survives as a relic
the neck of that decaying stake.
On the thread of that feeble tentpole.
ألِمَّاstop briefly, you two بيwith me عَلَيهِat it فَإِنَّfor indeed فِيهِin it
ألِمَّا بي عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ
شِفَاءَhealing for المُغرَمِthe love-struck الدَّنِفِgravely weakened السَّقِيمِsick
شِفَاءَ المُغرَمِ الدَّنِفِ السَّقِيمِ
Stop briefly with me there, for within it lies
When I come upon it, it cures
healing for the love-struck, wasted, sick.
The suffering of the sick and weary lover.
خَلِيلَىَّmy two friends أُندُlament, you two (fragment) بَاهُit (verb ending) فإِنَّfor indeed دَهرِىmy time
خَلِيلَىَّ أُندُ بَاهُ فإِنَّ دَهرِى
بِهin it دَهرَa time of المَسَرَّةِhappiness والنَّعِيمِand bliss
بِه دَهرَ المَسَرَّةِ والنَّعِيمِ
My two friends, lament it, for my time
My friend, I give it longing sighs, for my
there was a time of happiness and bliss.
Days there were days of joy and bliss.
سَحِبتُI trailed مَطَارِفَthe cloaks of الغَفَلاَتِheedlessness تِيهاًin proud abandon
سَحِبتُ مَطَارِفَ الغَفَلاَتِ تِيهاً
عَلَىover جَرعَائِهِits sandy ground وَعَلَىand over الصَّرِيمِthe sandbank
عَلَى جَرعَائِهِ وَعَلَى الصَّرِيمِ
I trailed the cloaks of heedlessness in proud abandon
I pulled away the skirts of heedlessness when they
over its sandy ground and over the sandbank.
Wandered astray over its gravel and flint.
وَفَّدتنيand they offered to ransom me الخَرَائِدُthe maidens فِيهِin it إنيindeed I am
وَفَّدتني الخَرَائِدُ فِيهِ إني
مُفَدًّىcherished as worth ransoming غَيرُnot مَقِلىِّdisliked الهُجُومِin arrival
مُفَدًّى غَيرُ مَقِلىِّ الهُجُومِ
And the maidens offered to ransom me there; indeed I was
The ruins made me their confidant, and I am
cherished, my arrival never unwelcome.
A loyal confidant, undaunted by calamities.
ثَمِلتُI became drunk بِصَرخَدِىِّon Sarkhad wine اللَّهوِof revelry فِيهِin it
ثَمِلتُ بِصَرخَدِىِّ اللَّهوِ فِيهِ
عَلَىin رُغمِspite of المُكَاشِحِthe spiteful foe والنَّمُومِand the talebearer
عَلَى رُغمِ المُكَاشِحِ والنَّمُومِ
I grew drunk on the Sarkhad wine of revelry there,
I have wasted my riotous youth jesting
despite the spiteful foe and the talebearer.
There despite the blame of faultfinders.
وسَالَمنيand made peace with me الزَّمَانُtime بِهِin it وَلَذَّتand became sweet
وسَالَمني الزَّمَانُ بِهِ وَلَذَّت
لَيَالِيهِits nights القَلِيلاَتُhaving few الهُمُومِworries
لَيَالِيهِ القَلِيلاَتُ الهُمُومِ
Time made peace with me there, and sweet were
Time has left me in peace to enjoy
its nights, so scant in worries.
Its few cares and gentle sorrows.
عَهِدتُI knew بِهin it فَتَاةًa maiden ذَاتَpossessing دَلٍّcoquetry
عَهِدتُ بِه فَتَاةً ذَاتَ دَلٍّ
عَرُوباًaffectionate تَستبيshe captivates قَلبَthe heart of الحَلِيمِthe self-possessed man
عَرُوباً تَستبي قَلبَ الحَلِيمِ
There I knew a maiden endowed with coquetry,
I once knew there a provocative gazelle
affectionate, captivating the self-possessed man's heart,
Graceful in the blink of an eye or scent of musk,
مُهَفهَفَةًslender هَضِيمَdelicate in الكَشحِthe waist إنيindeed I am
مُهَفهَفَةً هَضِيمَ الكَشحِ إني
بُلِيتُI was afflicted بِذَلِكَby that الكَشحِthe waist الهضِيمِslender
بُلِيتُ بِذَلِكَ الكَشحِ الهضِيمِ
slender, with a delicate waist; indeed I was
With a smooth cheek I suffered for,
afflicted by that slender waist.
One that steals the heart of the wise.
زَمَانَin the days when تَقُودنيshe leads me سَلمَىSalma بأَلمَىwith a dusky-lipped mouth
زَمَانَ تَقُودني سَلمَى بأَلمَى
أنِيقٍdelightful فيin المَذَاقَةِtaste والشَّمِيمِand fragrance
أنِيقٍ في المَذَاقَةِ والشَّمِيمِ
When Salma led me with a dusky-lipped mouth,
For a time she led me gently by my pain,
delightful in taste and fragrance,
Refined in taste and rich perfume.
وغِربِيبِand jet-black الغَدَائِرِbraided tresses اليَلَىِّnight-dark (uncertain form)
وغِربِيبِ الغَدَائِرِ اليَلَىِّ
وجِيدِand the neck ومُقلَةِand the eye الرَّشَأِof a young gazelle الرَّخِيمِgentle
وجِيدِ ومُقلَةِ الرَّشَأِ الرَّخِيمِ
and with jet-black, night-dark braids,
I was spared all women but Salma,
and the neck and eye of a gentle gazelle.
And Salma left me like a freed slave.
سَلِمتُI escaped unscathed مِنَfrom الأوَانِسِthe maidens غَيرexcept سَلمَىSalma
سَلِمتُ مِنَ الأوَانِسِ غَير سَلمَى
وسَلمَىand Salma غَادَرَتنيleft me كَالسَّلِيمِlike a snakebitten man
وسَلمَى غَادَرَتني كَالسَّلِيمِ
I escaped the maidens unscathed, save Salma;
I imagine her when she begins to bend
and Salma left me like a snakebitten man.
The rod of herbuttermilk in the breath of breeze,
وأحجُوهَأand I deem her إِذاwhen أخَذَتshe begins تَثَنَّىto sway
وأحجُوهَأ إِذا أخَذَت تَثَنَّى
قَضِيبَa bough ألبَانِof the bān tree فيin هَبِّthe blowing of النَّسِيمِthe breeze
قَضِيبَ ألبَانِ في هَبِّ النَّسِيمِ
And I deem her, when she begins to sway,
And comes close to her tent ropes in a way
a bān-tree bough in the blowing breeze.
That kindles the fire of touching.
وتَدنُوand she draws near مِنto محاوِرِهَاher conversation partner دُنُواًclosely
وتَدنُو مِن محاوِرِهَا دُنُواً
وإِنand if رِيمَتshe is sought تَنُورُshe shies away نِوَارَthe shying of رِيمِa gazelle
وإِن رِيمَت تَنُورُ نِوَارَ رِيمِ
And she draws near to the man conversing with her,
Don’t blame me, my critic, if a young man
yet, if sought, she shies away like a gazelle.
Wept over ruins that cannot be blamed.
عَذُولِىmy censurer لاَdo not تَلُمنيblame me إِنَّindeed صَبّاًa love-struck man
عَذُولِى لاَ تَلُمني إِنَّ صَبّاً
بَكَىwept over الأَطلاَلَthe ruins لَمnot يَكُwas بالمَلُومِto blame
بَكَى الأَطلاَلَ لَم يَكُ بالمَلُومِ
My censurer, do not blame me: a love-struck man
The time I spent there was sweet, not stagnant
who weeps over ruins is not to blame.
Like the stillness of stars in their setting.
وَهَذَاand this الرَّبعِthe encampment أزمُنُهُits times لِذَاذٌsweet
وَهَذَا الرَّبعِ أزمُنُهُ لِذَاذٌ
قِصَارٌbrief غيرُnot رَاكِدَةِlingering النُّجُومِin their stars
قِصَارٌ غيرُ رَاكِدَةِ النُّجُومِ
And the times in this encampment were sweet,
By it I distinguished friend from foe
brief, with stars that never lingered.
And close from distant neighbor.
أبِنتُI distinguished بِهِin it العَدُوَّthe enemy مِنَfrom المَوالِىthe allies
أبِنتُ بِهِ العَدُوَّ مِنَ المَوالِى
ومَيَّزتُand I distinguished البَعِيدَthe distant stranger منfrom الحَمِيمِthe intimate friend
ومَيَّزتُ البَعِيدَ من الحَمِيمِ
There I distinguished the enemy from the ally,
The noble stars conversed with me there,
and told the distant stranger from the intimate friend.
As nobles converse with the noble.
ونَادَمنيand kept me boon company الكِرَامُthe noble men الشُّمُّlofty فِيهِin it
ونَادَمني الكِرَامُ الشُّمُّ فِيهِ
مُنَادَمَةَthe companionship of الأكَارِمِthe noblest لِلكَرِيمِwith a noble man
مُنَادَمَةَ الأكَارِمِ لِلكَرِيمِ
And noble, lofty men were my boon companions there,
We called each other with proud names
as noble men keep company with a noble man.
From the essence of pure, unblemished glory.
فَنَادِينَاso our gathering أغَرُّradiant عَلَيهِupon it سيمَاthe stamp of
فَنَادِينَا أغَرُّ عَلَيهِ سيمَا
مَعَادِنِmines لُؤلُؤِpearls المَجدِof glory الصَّمِيمِunalloyed
مَعَادِنِ لُؤلُؤِ المَجدِ الصَّمِيمِ
So our gathering was radiant, bearing the stamp
It was untouched by any shameful, vile thing;
of mines yielding pearls of unalloyed glory.
No shame or vileness was found there.
صَفَاwas free مِنof كُلِّevery مَاemphatic particle بَرِمٍmiser لَئِيمٍbase
صَفَا مِن كُلِّ مَا بَرِمٍ لَئِيمٍ
فَلَمso not يَكُwas فِيهِin it مِنany بَرَمٍmiser لَئِيمِbase
فَلَم يَكُ فِيهِ مِن بَرَمٍ لَئِيمِ
It was free of every base miser,
When goblets are passed we pass them round,
so no base miser was found within it.
Clarifying the obscure, benighted riddle.
نُدِيرُwe pass round مَعَwith الكُئِوسِthe cups إذَاwhen أُدِيرَتthey are passed round
نُدِيرُ مَعَ الكُئِوسِ إذَا أُدِيرَت
جَلاَءَclarification of المُشكِلِthe difficult problem الدَّاجِىdark البَهِيمِpitch-black
جَلاَءَ المُشكِلِ الدَّاجِى البَهِيمِ
We pass round, with the cups as they go round,
And if their hidden meanings run astray, our minds
clarity for problems, obscure and pitch-dark.
Leash them with the reins of knowledge.
وإِنand if شَرَدَتstrayed غَوَامِضُهَاtheir subtleties عَقَلنَاwe tethered
وإِن شَرَدَت غَوَامِضُهَا عَقَلنَا
شَوَارِدَهَاtheir wanderers بِأمرَاسِwith the ropes of العَلُومِlearning
شَوَارِدَهَا بِأمرَاسِ العَلُومِ
And if their subtleties stray, we tether
No absent one was estranged, but each one was
their wanderers with the ropes of learning.
His brother’s protected neighbor.
ومَامَنand no one who غابَwas absent مُغتَاباًslandered وكُلٌّand each
ومَامَن غابَ مُغتَاباً وكُلٌّ
أُخُوهُhis brother لَدَيهِin his keeping مَحمِىُّprotected الحَرِيمِin honor
أُخُوهُ لَدَيهِ مَحمِىُّ الحَرِيمِ
And no absent man is slandered, and each
Each held the other’s respect like a pasture
keeps his brother's honor under his protection.
In a meadow without barriers.
وكُلُّand each مُقتَنٍacquiring مِنfrom أخِيهِhis brother مَرعًىa pasture
وكُلُّ مُقتَنٍ مِن أخِيهِ مَرعًى
بِرَوضِin the meadow of الوَدِّfriendship لَمnot يَكُwas بالوَخِيمِunwholesome
بِرَوضِ الوَدِّ لَم يَكُ بالوَخِيمِ
And each gains from his brother a pasture
They are my family, my custom
in friendship's meadow, never unwholesome.
In time of trial, strong, unyielding.
أولئِكَthose أُسرَتِىmy clan وهُمُand they عَتَادِىmy armament
أولئِكَ أُسرَتِى وهُمُ عَتَادِى
لأُزمِagainst the bite of الدَّاهِمِoverwhelming calamity الأدِّdreadful الأَزُومِravenous
لأُزمِ الدَّاهِمِ الأدِّ الأَزُومِ
Those are my clan, and they are my armament
Through them I overcome terrors, secure
against the bite of overwhelming, dreadful, ravenous calamity.
That they will loose the knot of the ancient pact.
بِهِمwith them ألِجُI enter المَخَاوِفَdangers آمِناًsecure أنthat
بِهِم ألِجُ المَخَاوِفَ آمِناً أن
يَحلُوthey untie عُقدَةَthe knot of العَهدِthe covenant القَدِيمِancient
يَحلُو عُقدَةَ العَهدِ القَدِيمِ
With them I enter dangers, trusting they will never
He who harbored them was safe from calamity,
untie the knot of our age-old covenant.
Even if their origin was hellfire.
فَمَنso whoever آوَوهُthey sheltered him لَمnot يَسلَمis surrendered لِخَطبٍto a calamity
فَمَن آوَوهُ لَم يَسلَم لِخَطبٍ
وإِنand even if أصلاَهُمit makes them burn نَارَin the fire of الجَحِيمِHell
وإِن أصلاَهُم نَارَ الجَحِيمِ
Whoever they shelter is not surrendered to disaster,
Every assailant shrank from them,
even if it burns them in the fire of Hell.
And every taster of bitterness and grief.
فَكلُّso every جُدَّامِرٍpetty miser آنأوهُthey kept him far away عَنهُمfrom themselves
فَكلُّ جُدَّامِرٍ آنأوهُ عَنهُم
وكُلُّand every مُمَاذِقٍinsincere friend لَحِزٍstingy سَئُومِquick to tire
وكُلُّ مُمَاذِقٍ لَحِزٍ سَئُومِ
So every petty miser they kept far from them,
They are purehearted, shining,
and every false friend, stingy and quick to tire.
Men of a time that, without them, is barren.
وهُمand they مَاwhat (exclamatory) هُمthey are غَطَارِفَةٌnoble lords طُهَارَىpure
وهُم مَا هُم غَطَارِفَةٌ طُهَارَى
أُولُوmen of زَمَنٍan age بِمِثلِهٍمُof their like عَقِيمِbarren
أُولُو زَمَنٍ بِمِثلِهٍمُ عَقِيمِ
And what men they are: noble lords, pure,
I have made them sieves for the lies of villains
men of an age barren of their like.
And magnets for the deviations of the wicked.
رَجالَmen of الخَيرِgood والشَّرِّand ill اتَّخِذهُمtake them
رَجالَ الخَيرِ والشَّرِّ اتَّخِذهُم
ثِقَافَa spear-straightener for صَغَاthe crookedness of أنَابِيبِthe spear-shafts الغُشُومِof the oppressor
ثِقَافَ صَغَا أنَابِيبِ الغُشُومِ
Men for weal and woe—take them
A lamp, jewelry in the valleys,
as straighteners of the oppressor's crooked spear-shafts,
Their quality puts moldy hay to shame.
ومَغَنَاطِيسَand a magnet for طِيَّاتٍaims تَنَاءَتgrown far apart
ومَغَنَاطِيسَ طِيَّاتٍ تَنَاءَت
ومِدرَهَand a champion against حَادِثٍa calamity جَلَلٍgrave عَظِيمِgreat
ومِدرَهَ حَادِثٍ جَلَلٍ عَظِيمِ
and as a magnet for aims grown far apart,
I have tested their mettle in perils
and a champion against a grave, mighty calamity,
More impregnable than any fortress.
ومِصبَاحاًand a lamp وَحلياًand an ornament فيin النَّوَادِىassemblies
ومِصبَاحاً وَحلياً في النَّوَادِى
وعَفَّand wipe away بِمَاwith what لِهِمis theirs قَشَبَthe poison of الكُلُومِwounds
وعَفَّ بِمَا لِهِم قَشَبَ الكُلُومِ
and a lamp and ornament in assemblies;
They neither wavered nor were cowardly, but they
and with what they possess wipe away the poison of wounds.
Saw the intricacy and turned away.
وإنيand indeed I قَدindeed بَلَوتُtested قُدمُوهُمtheir courage فيin
وإني قَد بَلَوتُ قُدمُوهُم في
مَآزِقَnarrow straits هِىَّthey are أمنَعُmost resistant لِلقُدُومِto advance
مَآزِقَ هِىَّ أمنَعُ لِلقُدُومِ
And I have indeed tested their courage in
From what I have tested of their help in the
straits that most forbid advance.
Crises of fate and days of ordeal:
فَمَاso not خَامُواdid they flinch ومَاand not جَبُنَواwere they cowardly ولَكِنbut rather
فَمَا خَامُوا ومَا جَبُنَوا ولَكِن
فَرَواthey cut through مَحبُوكَهَاtheir tight weave فَرىَlike cutting الأدِيمِleather
فَرَوا مَحبُوكَهَا فَرىَ الأدِيمِ
They did not flinch, nor were they cowardly; rather,
I have found the sweet life embittered, troubled
they cut through their tight weave as one cuts leather.
By its deceptions and disastrous sorrows.
ومِمَّاand among what قدindeed بَلَوتُI tested نَدَاهُمtheir generosity فيamid
ومِمَّا قد بَلَوتُ نَدَاهُم في
تَلَكّىthe reluctance of الدَّهرِtime والمَحلِand drought العَمِيمِall-pervading
تَلَكّى الدَّهرِ والمَحلِ العَمِيمِ
And I have also tested their generosity amid
People are lost, they have such smooth skins
time's reluctance and all-pervading drought.
When smoothness of skin is adored!
فالغيتُso I found الحَيَاrain الدَّلويpouring as from buckets يَعنُوbowing
فالغيتُ الحَيَا الدَّلوي يَعنُو
لُهُto it وغَوارِبَand the wave-crests of أليَمِّthe sea الطَّمُومِoverflowing
لُهُ وغَوارِبَ أليَمِّ الطَّمُومِ
So I found rain poured as from buckets bowing
And they have manners contrary to high principles,
to it, and so too the crests of the overflowing sea.
By which are consoled those who pick dates.
أُلاَكَthose النَّاسُthe true men إِنَّindeed لَهمthey possess حُلُوماًsound minds
أُلاَكَ النَّاسُ إِنَّ لَهم حُلُوماً
رَوَاسِىَfirm as mountains إِذwhen تُحَلُّare loosened حُبَthe bonds of الحُلُومِreason
رَوَاسِىَ إِذ تُحَلُّ حُبَ الحُلُومِ
Those are true men: they possess sound minds,
Their habit is to pretend to high ideals
firm as mountains when the bonds of reason loosen,
And resurrect the ways of righteousness,
وأخلاَقاًand dispositions عَلَىdespite العِلاَّتِadversities مَيثاًgentle
وأخلاَقاً عَلَى العِلاَّتِ مَيثاً
بهاthrough them تُسلَىyou are made to forget مُعَتَّقَةَthe aged wine of الكُرُومِvineyards
بها تُسلَى مُعَتَّقَةَ الكُرُومِ
and dispositions gentle despite adversity,
To please God and His Chosen One
that make you forget the vineyards' aged wine.
Of mighty nature and manner sublime!
ودَأبُهمand their constant pursuit التَّرقِىascending لِلمَعَالِىto noble heights
ودَأبُهم التَّرقِى لِلمَعَالِى
وإحيَاءِand reviving دَاثِرِwhat has faded of السَّنَنِthe path القَوِيمِupright
وإحيَاءِ دَاثِرِ السَّنَنِ القَوِيمِ
And their constant aim is ascent to noble heights,
Upon him and his Household be the purest prayer,
and reviving what has faded of the upright path,
Full of blessings and peace!
ومَرضَاةand pleasing الإلهِGod ومُصطَفَاهُand His Chosen One
ومَرضَاة الإلهِ ومُصطَفَاهُ
عظيمgreat القَدرِىin rank ذِىpossessing الخُلُقِcharacter العَظِيمِsublime
عظيم القَدرِى ذِى الخُلُقِ العَظِيمِ
and pleasing God and His Chosen One,
great in rank, endowed with sublime character.
عَلَيهِupon him وآلهِand his family أزكِىthe purest صلاةٌblessing
عَلَيهِ وآلهِ أزكِى صلاةٌ
مُحَلاَّةٍadorned بِتَسلِيمٍwith a salutation of peace تَمَيمِperfect
مُحَلاَّةٍ بِتَسلِيمٍ تَمَيمِ
Upon him and his family be the purest blessing,
adorned with a perfect salutation of peace.
Partial English translation: 90 of 94 Arabic lines translated.