أرقتُ وطال الليلُ واعتادني خَبلي

أرقتُ وطال الليلُ واعتادني خَبلي

وراجعني من داعيات الهوى شغلي

وراجعني من داعيات الهوى شغلي

Sleepless I lay; the night stretched long, and my madness returned to haunt me.

I lay sleepless; the night grew long, and my madness revisited me.

The urgings of passion came back and reclaimed my thoughts.

My preoccupation returned, stirred by the promptings of love.

وبتَ بليل تحسَبنّ نُجومه

وبتَ بليل تحسَبنّ نُجومه

على الأَفق أَنضاءَ رواكدَ في وحلَ

على الأَفق أَنضاءَ رواكدَ في وحلَ

I passed a night whose stars you would imagine

And you passed a night whose stars you would surely deem

were gaunt beasts on the horizon, stalled in mud.

On the horizon, worn-out mounts motionless in mud.

أَظنُّ قديمَ الحبّ يبلى فما بلى

أَظنُّ قديمَ الحبّ يبلى فما بلى

وأَحسب أَن الحبّ يُبْلي وما يُبلى

وأَحسب أَن الحبّ يُبْلي وما يُبلى

I thought an old love would wear away—but it did not.

I think old love wears out, yet it has not worn out.

I thought love would waste me away, while it itself never wastes.

And I reckon love wears one down, but is not itself worn down.

واذكر أيامَ الأحبّة بالحمي

واذكر أيامَ الأحبّة بالحمي

ومرتبَع الحي الجميع بذي الأَتلِ

ومرتبَع الحي الجميع بذي الأَتلِ

I remember the days of the loved ones at al-Ḥamal,

And I recall the days of the beloveds at al-Hima,

and where the whole tribe camped at Dhū al-Athl.

And the whole tribe's spring encampment at Dhu al-Atl.

فابكي لذكري طيبِ عيش عهدته

فابكي لذكري طيبِ عيش عهدته

بأهل هوى قد كان مجتمعِ الشملِ

بأهل هوى قد كان مجتمعِ الشملِ

So I weep at the memory of a gazelle, faithful to her covenant,

So I weep, remembering the sweetness of a life I knew

amid a company of lovers whose union once was whole.

With loved ones whose company was once united.

لياليَ يكسونا الصّبا حُللَ الهوى

لياليَ يكسونا الصّبا حُللَ الهوى

وأَيام نجْنى في الهوى ثمرَ الوصلِ

وأَيام نجْنى في الهوى ثمرَ الوصلِ

Nights when youth clothed us in passion’s robe,

Nights when youth clothed us in the robes of love,

and days when, in love, we enjoyed the fruit of union.

And days when we harvested the fruit of union in love.

ومعشوقة الإدلال بالحسن والصّبا

ومعشوقة الإدلال بالحسن والصّبا

مهفهفة الأَحشاءِ مفعمة الحِجلِ

مهفهفة الأَحشاءِ مفعمة الحِجلِ

A beloved, coquettish in beauty and youth,

And a beloved, coquettish in beauty and youth,

slender-waisted, her anklets clasped about her.

Slender-waisted, full-fleshed within her anklet.

لهوت بها ليلاً إخال سواده

لهوت بها ليلاً إخال سواده

يُلذُ بها أحلى لعينى من الكحلِ

يُلذُ بها أحلى لعينى من الكحلِ

I dallied with her by night; fellowship with its darkness,

I dallied with her at night, imagining its blackness

sheltering her, was sweeter to my eyes than kohl.

Made delightful by her, sweeter to my eyes than kohl.

إِذا شئتُ علّتني رُضاباً كأنّه

إِذا شئتُ علّتني رُضاباً كأنّه

من الثَّغر ماءُ المزن شابَ جنى النّحلِ

من الثَّغر ماءُ المزن شابَ جنى النّحلِ

When I wished, she treated me to nectar as though it were,

If I wished, she gave me repeated draughts of saliva, as though it were

from her mouth, rain-cloud water mingled with gathered honey.

From her mouth, rainwater mingled with the harvest of bees.

وإن شئتَ أحيتني بكأس مدامة

وإن شئتَ أحيتني بكأس مدامة

على أنمل مخضوبةٍ وشَوّى طفلِ

على أنمل مخضوبةٍ وشَوّى طفلِ

And when I wished, she revived me with a cup of wine,

And if you wished, she revived me with a cup of wine,

borne on hennaed fingertips and a delicate wrist.

On dyed fingertips and tender hands.

عرتنا ملمّات الفراق فابعدت

عرتنا ملمّات الفراق فابعدت

ذوات الثنايا الغُر والحدقِ النُّجلِ

ذوات الثنايا الغُر والحدقِ النُّجلِ

The calamities of parting came upon us and drove far away

The calamities of separation befell us and drove far away

those bright teeth and wide, dark eyes.

The women with gleaming front teeth and wide eyes.

وشابَ سوادَ الرأس لونُ مشيبهِ

وشابَ سوادَ الرأس لونُ مشيبهِ

فحرّم لذّاتِ البطالة والهَزْلِ

فحرّم لذّاتِ البطالة والهَزْلِ

Grayness changed the black of my hair,

The hue of graying mingled with the head's blackness,

and so the pleasures of youthful folly and play were forbidden me.

Thus forbidding the pleasures of idleness and frivolity.

ولم يبقَ لي في العيش إلاّ تِعلّة

ولم يبقَ لي في العيش إلاّ تِعلّة

أداري بهاً نفسي مداراةَ مَن مثلي

أداري بهاً نفسي مداراةَ مَن مثلي

Nothing remains for me in life but a small diversion

And nothing remains for me in life but a diversion

with which I coax my soul, as one empty of care.

With which I soothe myself, as one like me would.

واسمح للقلب اللجوج بطاعة

واسمح للقلب اللجوج بطاعة

على فعل ما يهوى أعاصي بها عقلي

على فعل ما يهوى أعاصي بها عقلي

I yield obedience to my stubborn heart,

And I indulge my stubborn heart by obeying it

doing what it desires and thereby disobeying my reason.

In doing what it desires, thereby defying my reason.

ولولا ارتشافي للتصابي حلاوةً

ولولا ارتشافي للتصابي حلاوةً

لزمتُ بعصيان الهَوي طاعةَ العَذْلِ

لزمتُ بعصيان الهَوي طاعةَ العَذْلِ

Had I not sipped the sweetness of acting young,

Were I not sipping the sweetness of acting young,

I would have obeyed reproach and renounced passion.

I would resist desire and submit to reproach.

ولكنَّني أعلقْت بالبيض صَبوة

ولكنَّني أعلقْت بالبيض صَبوة

سلكت بها سبل المحبّين من قبلي

سلكت بها سبل المحبّين من قبلي

Yet I became ardently attached to fair women

But I have bound my yearning to fair-skinned women,

and trod the paths of lovers before me.

Through it following the paths of lovers before me.

وليس يُرَوّي القلبَ من ظمئِ الهوى

وليس يُرَوّي القلبَ من ظمئِ الهوى

سوى الكاعب الحسناء في الدّل والشَكلِ

سوى الكاعب الحسناء في الدّل والشَكلِ

No little draught can quench my thirst for love;

And nothing quenches the heart's thirst for love

only a full-breasted beauty, graceful in manner and form.

Except a budding-breasted beauty, graceful in coquetry and bearing.

ولا يذهب الأحزانَ أو يجلب المنى

ولا يذهب الأحزانَ أو يجلب المنى

بغير ارتشاف الرّاح علاًّ على نهلِ

بغير ارتشاف الرّاح علاًّ على نهلِ

Nor can sorrows be banished or wishes drawn near

Nor can one dispel sorrows or bring wishes within reach

except by drinking wine, draught upon draught.

Without sipping wine, a second draught after the first.

ولا يبلغ الحاجات أو يُدرك المُنى

ولا يبلغ الحاجات أو يُدرك المُنى

بلا صحبةٍ لللّيل والبيد والبُزْلِ

بلا صحبةٍ لللّيل والبيد والبُزْلِ

Nor are needs fulfilled or hopes attained

Nor can one meet one's needs or attain one's wishes

without companionship of night, desert wastes, and strong camels.

Without keeping company with night, deserts, and mature camels,

إلى عرصات الأزْد من آل يعرب

إلى عرصات الأزْد من آل يعرب

محلَّ النّدى والعزّ والنائل الجزلِ

محلَّ النّدى والعزّ والنائل الجزلِ

Bound for the courtyards of the Azd, descendants of Yaʿrub,

To the courtyards of the Azd, of Ya'rub's line,

the dwelling of generosity, might, and lavish gifts;

The abode of generosity, honor, and abundant bounty.

إلى سيديْ قحطانَ ذهلٍ ويعربٍ

إلى سيديْ قحطانَ ذهلٍ ويعربٍ

ربيعيْ ذوي الحاجات في سنة المحلِ

ربيعيْ ذوي الحاجات في سنة المحلِ

bound for the two lords of Qaḥṭān, Dhuhl and Yaʿrub,

To Qahtan's two lords, Dhuhl and Ya'rub,

the springtime of petitioners in a year of drought.

Two springtimes for the needy in a year of drought.

كريمان شادَ اللهُ بيتَ عُلاهماً

كريمان شادَ اللهُ بيتَ عُلاهماً

على شرف فوق الكواكب مستعلي

على شرف فوق الكواكب مستعلي

Two noble men who raised the house of their glory high,

Two generous men whose house of glory God has raised

upon an eminence towering among the stars.

On a height, towering above the stars.

وحَلاّهما الحمدَ الذي سعَيا لهُ

وحَلاّهما الحمدَ الذي سعَيا لهُ

جميلاً وحازاه من المال والبذلِ

جميلاً وحازاه من المال والبذلِ

Praise adorned them—the praise they strove for—

And He adorned them with the praise they strove for,

and beautifully they won it through wealth and giving.

Beautiful praise, which they both won through wealth and giving.

بنى لهما قحطانُ بيتاً يحوطه

بنى لهما قحطانُ بيتاً يحوطه

من الأزْد صِيدٌ لا يُراعون بالقتلِ

من الأزْد صِيدٌ لا يُراعون بالقتلِ

Qaḥṭān built them a house guarded

Qahtan built them a house encircled

by lionhearted men of Azd, unafraid of death.

By proud men of the Azd, undaunted by slaughter.

مصاليتُ أبطال شداد أعزّةٌ

مصاليتُ أبطال شداد أعزّةٌ

حماة كماة غير مِيل ولا عُزلِ

حماة كماة غير مِيل ولا عُزلِ

Formidable champions, fierce and mighty,

Dauntless warriors, heroes, strong and mighty,

defenders and warriors, neither weak nor unarmed.

Protectors, armored champions, neither wavering nor unarmed.

إذا انجدوا طالوا بعزّ ومنعهٍ

إذا انجدوا طالوا بعزّ ومنعهٍ

وإن أسهلوا كانوا الجبالَ على السّهلِ

وإن أسهلوا كانوا الجبالَ على السّهلِ

When they climb the highlands, they rise in might and invulnerability;

When they reach the uplands, they tower in might and defensive strength;

when they descend to level ground, they are mountains upon the plain.

And when they enter the plains, they are mountains upon the plain.

ترى لهم حلماً وفضلاً على الرّضى

ترى لهم حلماً وفضلاً على الرّضى

وإن أسخطوا داوَوا من الجهل بالجهلِ

وإن أسخطوا داوَوا من الجهل بالجهلِ

When content, you see in them forbearance and virtue;

You see in them forbearance and generosity when they are pleased;

when angered, they answer ignorance in its own language.

And if angered, they cure rashness with rashness.

تُنيل العطايا والمنايا أكفُّهم

تُنيل العطايا والمنايا أكفُّهم

فليس لها في بذل هاتين من بخلِ

فليس لها في بذل هاتين من بخلِ

Their hands dispense both gifts and deaths,

Their palms dispense gifts and death,

and in bestowing either they know no stinginess.

Showing no stinginess in bestowing either of the two.

حُماةُ حريمٍ كالعرين تُحلّه

حُماةُ حريمٍ كالعرين تُحلّه

أَسود شرىً في كل ثنى أبو شبلِ

أَسود شرىً في كل ثنى أبو شبلِ

Guardians of a sanctuary, inhabiting it like lions their den,

Protectors of an inviolable domain, like a den inhabited

lions of al-Sharā, with a lion-sire in every mountain pass.

By lions of Shara, a cub's sire in every fold of ground.

إذا هيج أَبدى شدةَ البطشِ وانتحى

إذا هيج أَبدى شدةَ البطشِ وانتحى

على السّاعد المجدول والجؤجؤ العَبلِ

على السّاعد المجدول والجؤجؤ العَبلِ

When battle roars, each reveals the force of his stroke

When roused, he shows the force of his attack and braces himself

and bears down upon braided forearm and massive neck.

On his sinewy foreleg and massive chest.

لهم وَقعات في جموع تحفَّها

لهم وَقعات في جموع تحفَّها

بهولٍ له تبيضّ ناصية الطفلِ

بهولٍ له تبيضّ ناصية الطفلِ

Theirs are assaults upon throngs surrounded

Their battles among hosts envelop them

by a terror that would whiten a child’s forelock.

In terror that turns a child's forelock white.

جموع كأن الأرض ترجف أَوبها

جموع كأن الأرض ترجف أَوبها

حريق إذا أجلين بالخيل والرَّجلِ

حريق إذا أجلين بالخيل والرَّجلِ

Hosts whose onrush makes the earth seem to quake,

Hosts as though the earth were trembling, or within them

a conflagration when it clears the field with horse and foot.

A blaze, when they are driven back by cavalry and infantry.

بدوّخ جباراً ويثبت عِزّة

بدوّخ جباراً ويثبت عِزّة

ويدرك نيل الثأر أَو درك الذَّحلِ

ويدرك نيل الثأر أَو درك الذَّحلِ

They humble tyrants and establish might,

It subdues a tyrant and establishes might,

winning vengeance and exacting blood-debts.

And secures vengeance or settles a blood-feud.

هناك غدَت عين الموالي قَريرةً

هناك غدَت عين الموالي قَريرةً

بِها وثوت أم المعادي على الثُّكلِ

بِها وثوت أم المعادي على الثُّكلِ

Then the eyes of their allies become serene,

There the ally's eye grew cool with joy

while the mothers of their enemies spring up bereaved.

Through them, while the enemy's mother remained bereaved.

واكرمْ بفضل الأوس والخزرج الأولى

واكرمْ بفضل الأوس والخزرج الأولى

حَمَوا حوزَة الإسلام بالحقّ والعدلِ

حَمَوا حوزَة الإسلام بالحقّ والعدلِ

How noble, too, the Aws and Khazraj, the forebears

And how noble the excellence of the Aws and Khazraj, who

who defended the domain of Islam with truth and justice!

Protected Islam's domain with truth and justice.

أعزّوا رسول الله من جهل مشْركي

أعزّوا رسول الله من جهل مشْركي

قريش وقد كانت مراجلهَا تغْلي

قريش وقد كانت مراجلهَا تغْلي

They strengthened God’s Messenger against the ignorant idolaters

They strengthened God's Messenger against the rashness of the polytheists of

of Quraysh, though its cauldrons boiled with rage.

Quraysh, whose cauldrons were boiling.

أَولئك أَنصار النّبيّ بِنصره

أَولئك أَنصار النّبيّ بِنصره

على قومه كانوا الحقيقين بالفضلِ

على قومه كانوا الحقيقين بالفضلِ

Those were the Prophet’s Helpers; by their aid

Those were the Prophet's helpers; through supporting him

against his people, they proved most worthy of honor.

Against his people, they were truly deserving of distinction.

همُوا ورثوا المجدَ القديمَ واثبتوا

همُوا ورثوا المجدَ القديمَ واثبتوا

بفضلهم وحياً على أَلسن الرّسلِ

بفضلهم وحياً على أَلسن الرّسلِ

They inherited ancient glory and confirmed

They inherited ancient glory and confirmed

their excellence—revelation upon the messengers’ tongues.

Through their excellence, revelation on the tongues of messengers.

عَلوا بفروع شامخاتٍ وآثروا

عَلوا بفروع شامخاتٍ وآثروا

فضائلَ يحْصَى دونها عددُ الرّملِ

فضائلَ يحْصَى دونها عددُ الرّملِ

They rose through lofty branches and chose

They rose with towering branches, and chose

virtues beyond the grains of sand to number.

Virtues less easily counted than the grains of sand.

سمت للعُلى أَشياخهم وكُهُولهُم

سمت للعُلى أَشياخهم وكُهُولهُم

وللطّفلِ منهم في العُلى همّةُ الكَهلِ

وللطّفلِ منهم في العُلى همّةُ الكَهلِ

Their elders and mature men aspired to the heights,

Their elders and mature men rose toward glory,

and even their child aspires there with an elder’s resolve.

And a child among them has a mature man's ambition for glory.

غدوا بين فضليْ دفع راج إلى الغنى

غدوا بين فضليْ دفع راج إلى الغنى

كعادتهم أوفكِّ عانٍ من الكَبلِ

كعادتهم أوفكِّ عانٍ من الكَبلِ

They stand between two excellences: bringing a hopeful petitioner to wealth,

They pass their days between two noble deeds: lifting a hopeful petitioner to wealth,

or freeing a captive from his fetters.

As is their custom, or freeing a captive from fetters.

وكل عتيكيّ إِذا ماسألته

وكل عتيكيّ إِذا ماسألته

تبَلّج كالمصباح واهتَزّ كالنصلِ

تبَلّج كالمصباح واهتَزّ كالنصلِ

Every ʿAtīkī man, when you ask of him,

And every 'Atiki, whenever you ask him,

beams like a lamp and stirs like a sword blade.

Beams like a lamp and quivers like a blade.

أولئكمُ أَسلاف ذهل ويعربٍ

أولئكمُ أَسلاف ذهل ويعربٍ

إذا ماذكَرنا قوم يعربَ أَو ذهلِ

إذا ماذكَرنا قوم يعربَ أَو ذهلِ

Those are the forefathers of Dhuhl and Yaʿrub

Those are the ancestors of Dhuhl and Ya'rub,

whenever we recount the people of Yaʿrub or Dhuhl.

Whenever we mention the people of Ya'rub or Dhuhl.

فيالك من مجدٍ قديمٍ وحادثٍ

فيالك من مجدٍ قديمٍ وحادثٍ

لأَشرف آباء وأطيب ما نسلِ

لأَشرف آباء وأطيب ما نسلِ

Theirs is glory both ancient and newly won,

What glory, ancient and new,

from the noblest fathers and the finest progeny.

For the noblest fathers and the finest offspring!

هُما اقتفيا آثارهم فاعلين مَا

هُما اقتفيا آثارهم فاعلين مَا

همُ فعلوه حَذوك النّعلَ بالنّعلِ

همُ فعلوه حَذوك النّعلَ بالنّعلِ

These two followed in their ancestors’ tracks, doing

The two followed their tracks, doing what

exactly what they did, sole to sole.

They did, as you match sandal to sandal.

فكانا أحقّ الوارثين لمجدهم

فكانا أحقّ الوارثين لمجدهم

لفضلهمَا في القَوْل والطْبع والفعْلِ

لفضلهمَا في القَوْل والطْبع والفعْلِ

They were thus the worthiest heirs to their glory,

So they were the worthiest heirs to their glory,

by merit in speech, character, and deed.

For their excellence in speech, disposition, and deed.

قد استوجبا ميراثَ قومهما العُلى

قد استوجبا ميراثَ قومهما العُلى

وقد حَجبا من لا يُمرُّ ولا يُحلي

وقد حَجبا من لا يُمرُّ ولا يُحلي

They rightfully claimed their people’s lofty inheritance

They have earned their people's legacy of glory,

and barred those who can make nothing bitter or sweet.

And have excluded those who neither embitter nor sweeten.

فعاشا مدى الأَيام ذُهل ويعربٌ

فعاشا مدى الأَيام ذُهل ويعربٌ

حميدين مسعودَين بالمال والأَهلِ

حميدين مسعودَين بالمال والأَهلِ

May Dhuhl and Yaʿrub live through all the days,

May Dhuhl and Ya'rub live through all the days,

praised and fortunate in wealth and family.

Both praised and fortunate in wealth and family.

وعودات أَعياد الزّمان عليهما

وعودات أَعياد الزّمان عليهما

بعيش جديد غير منصرم الحبلِ

بعيش جديد غير منصرم الحبلِ

May time’s festivals return to them,

And may time's festivals return to them both,

with life renewed and its cord never severed.

With fresh life whose cord remains unbroken.

وعاش بنو ذهل نُسرّ بعيشهم

وعاش بنو ذهل نُسرّ بعيشهم

ونبلغ فيهم ما نَلذ ونستحلي

ونبلغ فيهم ما نَلذ ونستحلي

May the sons of Dhuhl live, that we may rejoice in their life,

And may Dhuhl's sons live, as we rejoice in their life,

and through them attain all we hope for and savor.

And may we attain through them what we enjoy and find sweet.