أَبى زَمَني مَذ شِبتُ أَلّا تَعَوُّجا

أَبى زَمَني مَذ شِبتُ أَلّا تَعَوُّجا

وَأَهل وِدادي فيهِ أَلّا تبهرُجا

وَأَهل وِدادي فيهِ أَلّا تبهرُجا

Since I went gray, my time has offered nothing but crookedness,

My youth refused crookedness since I grew up

and those I loved in it have offered nothing but falseness.

And my loved ones in it refused turmoil

كَأَن لَم يَشِب فيهِ سِوايَ وَلَم يَكُن

كَأَن لَم يَشِب فيهِ سِوايَ وَلَم يَكُن

عِذاري وَرَأسي حالك اللَون أَدعَجا

عِذاري وَرَأسي حالك اللَون أَدعَجا

As though none but me had grayed in it, and never had

As if I did not grow old in it but me alone

the down on my cheeks and my head been dark and jet-black;

My excuse and my grizzled head were bent

وَلَم أَكُ كالخَطّي أَو غصن بانَةٍ

وَلَم أَكُ كالخَطّي أَو غصن بانَةٍ

كَساها بِها فَصل الرَبيع وَدَبَّجا

كَساها بِها فَصل الرَبيع وَدَبَّجا

as though I had never been like a Khatt lance or a bān-tree bough,

And I was not like a worn garment or a flexuous branch

which spring's season clothed and embroidered there

Adorned by the spring blossoms and embroidered

بِنوّار نَورٍ يَطَّبي أَعيُن المَها

بِنوّار نَورٍ يَطَّبي أَعيُن المَها

وَيَفتن ذا الأَلباب بِالشَكل وَالشَجا

وَيَفتن ذا الأَلباب بِالشَكل وَالشَجا

with flower-blooms that captivate oryx eyes,

With the light of a light that pleases the eyes of the beholder

and enchant the discerning with beauty and poignancy.

And captivates the perceptive with its shape and delight

سَقى مَعهَداً كُنّا بِهِ زَمَن الصِبا

سَقى مَعهَداً كُنّا بِهِ زَمَن الصِبا

مقربة سَحاً وَهاداً وَأَمرَجا

مقربة سَحاً وَهاداً وَأَمرَجا

May the abode where we dwelt in youth be watered

It watered a pact we had made in our youth

by a rain-laden cloud, pouring over hollows and meadows.

Drawing near, docile, and gentle

وَعَهدي بِهِ قَبلَ افتراق فَريقنا

وَعَهدي بِهِ قَبلَ افتراق فَريقنا

وَأَنداؤُهُ كالبَحرِ لَمّا تَموَّجا

وَأَنداؤُهُ كالبَحرِ لَمّا تَموَّجا

I remember it before our company parted,

And my covenant with it before our troop parted

its gatherings like the sea when it surged,

Its call like the sea when it surged

بِأَقيال قَحطان وَأساد عامِر

بِأَقيال قَحطان وَأساد عامِر

وَفُرسان كَلب كالوَشيج الموشَّجا

وَفُرسان كَلب كالوَشيج الموشَّجا

with the princes of Qaḥṭān and the lions of ʿĀmir,

With the chiefs of Qahtan and chieftains of Adnan

and Kalb's horsemen, like interwoven spear-shafts.

And the horsemen of Kalb like the adorned groom

خَفاف إِذا اِستَصرَختُهُم عَن جِنايَة

خَفاف إِذا اِستَصرَختُهُم عَن جِنايَة

إِلى النَقع لا يَلوون عَنها تعرجا

إِلى النَقع لا يَلوون عَنها تعرجا

Swift, when I called them for help against a wrong,

Valiant when I call upon them against aggression

to battle-dust, never turning aside from it.

Toward the battlefield they do not deviate

يَمدون بِالخُطِّ الذَوابِل أَيدياً

يَمدون بِالخُطِّ الذَوابِل أَيدياً

مَعودة طَعن الكميِّ المدجَّجا

مَعودة طَعن الكميِّ المدجَّجا

They extend hands bearing slender Khatt lances,

They extend with the polished Indian swords their hands

accustomed to piercing the fully armored warrior,

Used to stabbing the thickly armored warrior

عَلى كُلِّ خَنذيذٍ طِمَرِّ نخاله

عَلى كُلِّ خَنذيذٍ طِمَرِّ نخاله

إِذا مزعت يَوم الكَريهة أَعوَجا

إِذا مزعت يَوم الكَريهة أَعوَجا

on every splendid, high-leaping steed we take,

At every scornful, stealthy, cowardly enemy

when they race on battle-day, for Aʿwaj.

Who turns away twisting on the day of hatred

يَعفُّونَ عَن أَسلاب مَن رام حربهم

يَعفُّونَ عَن أَسلاب مَن رام حربهم

وَيَقتَسِموا الأَرواح قَسماً مَلهوجا

وَيَقتَسِموا الأَرواح قَسماً مَلهوجا

They abstain from the spoils of those who sought war against them,

They pardon the belongings of those who sought war with them

and divide up lives in a hasty allotment.

And share the souls equally, scattered about

أَسائلتي عَن مَشهَدٍ جَلَّ ذِكرِهِ

أَسائلتي عَن مَشهَدٍ جَلَّ ذِكرِهِ

قَضى كُلَّ نَيل أَو ذِمامٍ فَأَثلَجا

قَضى كُلَّ نَيل أَو ذِمامٍ فَأَثلَجا

O woman asking me about a battle great in renown,

I asked about a glorious scene, mentioning which

which fulfilled every hope or pledge and brought heart's ease:

Fulfilled every wish or purpose and thrilled

أَتَتنا كِلابٌ في تَميم وَتَغلِب

أَتَتنا كِلابٌ في تَميم وَتَغلِب

وَأَحيا نميراً وَالقشيريَّ عَرفَجاء

وَأَحيا نميراً وَالقشيريَّ عَرفَجاء

Kilāb came against us amid Tamīm and Taghlib,

There came to us dogs from Tameem and Taghlib

and ʿArfajāʾ roused Numayr and al-Qushayrī.

And revived Numayr and Qushayri discerned

يؤمهم عطّاف يَطلُب ثأرُهُ

يؤمهم عطّاف يَطلُب ثأرُهُ

فَأَوردهم وَرداً وَبيّا موهَّجا

فَأَوردهم وَرداً وَبيّا موهَّجا

ʿAṭṭāf led them, seeking his vengeance,

Led by Ataaf seeking his revenge

and brought them to a pestilent, blazing watering-place.

So he brought them to a terrible, confused onslaught

سَقاهُم حياض المَوت بدر عَلى ظَماً

سَقاهُم حياض المَوت بدر عَلى ظَماً

بِهندِيَّة تَفري الحَديد المنسَّجا

بِهندِيَّة تَفري الحَديد المنسَّجا

Badr made them drink from death's pools in their thirst,

He quenched their thirst with the cup of death at Badr

with an Indian blade that rends woven iron.

With an Indian sword that splits polished armor

إِذا أَغمَدَت عَن مَعشَر عاد مِنهُما

إِذا أَغمَدَت عَن مَعشَر عاد مِنهُما

وَإِن جرِّدَت في جَحفَل عاد منفجا

وَإِن جرِّدَت في جَحفَل عاد منفجا

When sheathed after a company, it returned from them both [wording unclear];

When it's sheathed it spares the people of Ad

and when drawn amid a great army, the army was rent apart,

And when unsheathed it returns to Ad, unsheathed

بِأَيدي كِرامٍ مِن ذَؤابة طيىء

بِأَيدي كِرامٍ مِن ذَؤابة طيىء

وَبحتر مَع رَهط الوَليد وَدعلجا

وَبحتر مَع رَهط الوَليد وَدعلجا

in noble hands from the finest stock of Ṭayyiʾ,

By the hands of generous men of Thu'al and the Bahr

and Buḥtur, with the kinsmen of al-Walīd and Daʿlaj.

Along with the band of Al-Walid and Du'alj

يؤمهم البَدر الفَتى ابن رَبيعة

يؤمهم البَدر الفَتى ابن رَبيعة

وَقَد صَمَّمَ الرمح الأَصم وَأَرهَجا

وَقَد صَمَّمَ الرمح الأَصم وَأَرهَجا

The young Badr, son of Rabīʿa, led them,

Led by the young full moon son of Rabee'ah

driving home the solid spear and raising dust,

Who had determined to hurl the deafening spear

عَلى هَيكَلٍ وَردٍ كَأقطم تَلَّةٍ

عَلى هَيكَلٍ وَردٍ كَأقطم تَلَّةٍ

سَليم الشَظا لا ذي نَساءٍ وَلا وَجا

سَليم الشَظا لا ذي نَساءٍ وَلا وَجا

on a massive chestnut steed, like a hawk upon a hill,

Upon the rosy mound like a barren hill

sound of leg-bone, free of sciatica and sore hooves.

Safe from women and free of burden

يُنادي كِلاباً وَالقَبائِل كُلها

يُنادي كِلاباً وَالقَبائِل كُلها

وَهُم سامِعوه مفصحاً ما تلجلجا

وَهُم سامِعوه مفصحاً ما تلجلجا

He called to Kilāb and all the tribes,

Calling out to the dogs and all the tribes

as they listened, speaking clearly, without a stammer:

And they listen to him speaking clearly without stuttering

أَنا ابن الَّذي لا يَخمِد الدَهر ناره

أَنا ابن الَّذي لا يَخمِد الدَهر ناره

ولا أَوقَدت إِلّا لِتَهدي إِلى النَجا

ولا أَوقَدت إِلّا لِتَهدي إِلى النَجا

“I am the son of him whose fire time never quenches,

I am the son of him whose fire time does not extinguish

kindled only to guide toward safety,

And was lit only to guide to salvation

إِلى راسِيات ما تَنام طُهاتُها

إِلى راسِيات ما تَنام طُهاتُها

وَمقراة نُبلٍ ما تَغِب المودَّجا

وَمقراة نُبلٍ ما تَغِب المودَّجا

to great, firmly set cauldrons whose cooks never sleep,

To the lofty principles whose bases do not sleep

and noble hospitality never lacking slaughtered livestock.

And a prepared host of glory that does not disappear

ملكنا جَميع الأَرض مِن بَعدِ جُرهم

ملكنا جَميع الأَرض مِن بَعدِ جُرهم

وَكانَ لَنا مِن غار فيها وَهملجا

وَكانَ لَنا مِن غار فيها وَهملجا

We ruled all the earth after Jurhum,

We ruled all the land after their running away

and all who entered its lowlands and paced upon it were ours.

And we had control over every cave and sanctuary in it

وَجاءُوا إِلَينا يَطلُبون ذِمامَنا

وَجاءُوا إِلَينا يَطلُبون ذِمامَنا

مِنَ الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ المُمَنَّعِ وَالنَجا

مِنَ الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ المُمَنَّعِ وَالنَجا

They came to us seeking our protection,

And they came to us seeking our protection

from the east, the inaccessible west, and the uplands.

From east and west, forbidden and free

فَنَحنُ رؤوسٌ وَالخَلائِقُ كُلَّها

فَنَحنُ رؤوسٌ وَالخَلائِقُ كُلَّها

لَنا تبعٌ إِلّا النَبيَّ المُتَوَّجا

لَنا تبعٌ إِلّا النَبيَّ المُتَوَّجا

We are the leaders, and all created folk

For we are the leaders and all people

are our followers, except the crowned Prophet,

Are our followers, except the crowned Prophet

وَأَبناؤُهُ مِن فاطِم وَعَليّة

وَأَبناؤُهُ مِن فاطِم وَعَليّة

أَئمتنا الهادونَ أَوضَح مَنهَجا

أَئمتنا الهادونَ أَوضَح مَنهَجا

and his descendants through Fāṭim and ʿAliyya,

And his children from Fatima and Aliya

our imams, who guide along the clearest path.”

Our guiding Imams, the clearest method

وَكَرَّ عَلَيهِم كَرَّة حميرية

وَكَرَّ عَلَيهِم كَرَّة حميرية

أَبادهمُ بالسَيفِ طراً فَأَزعَجا

أَبادهمُ بالسَيفِ طراً فَأَزعَجا

Then he charged them with a Ḥimyarite charge,

And the donkey raid befell them

annihilating them all with the sword and routing them.

Destroying them by the sword, scattered about

فَكُنّا كَبازيِّ هَوى نَحوَ دَردَقٍ

فَكُنّا كَبازيِّ هَوى نَحوَ دَردَقٍ

مِنَ الطَير مُنقضٍ فَكُلٌ تَثَبَّجا

مِنَ الطَير مُنقضٍ فَكُلٌ تَثَبَّجا

We were like a falcon plunging toward a brood

So we were like hunting hawks swooping

of birds, diving as each floundered in confusion.

Toward prey, each vying to tear apart

وَخَلَّفهم بِالقاعِ صَرعى تنوشهم

وَخَلَّفهم بِالقاعِ صَرعى تنوشهم

وَحوش الفَيافي ما لَهُم مِنهُ مُلتَجا

وَحوش الفَيافي ما لَهُم مِنهُ مُلتَجا

He left them slain upon the plain, preyed upon

And he left them in the plain as corpses

by desert beasts, with no refuge from him.

For the wolves of the deserts, they had no refuge

وَأَشبَع ذِئباً جائِعاً مِن جُسومِهِم

وَأَشبَع ذِئباً جائِعاً مِن جُسومِهِم

وَضَبعاً وَنِسراً قَشعَمياً وَزَمَّجا

وَضَبعاً وَنِسراً قَشعَمياً وَزَمَّجا

He filled a hungry wolf with their bodies,

And satiated the hungry wolf with their bodies

and a hyena, a huge old vulture, and a zummāj raptor.

And the hyena, lynx, and snarling leopard

حَكَمَت عَلَيهم بَدر أَعدَل حاكِم

حَكَمَت عَلَيهم بَدر أَعدَل حاكِم

بِقَتلِكَ مِن زَمَّ المَطيّ وَأَسرَجا

بِقَتلِكَ مِن زَمَّ المَطيّ وَأَسرَجا

You judged them, Badr, as the most just of judges,

Badr judged them, the most just of rulers

by killing those who haltered mounts and saddled up.

By your killing them, from the saddle firmly seated

جَعلتَ رَحا الحَربِ العَوان عَلَيهِم

جَعلتَ رَحا الحَربِ العَوان عَلَيهِم

تَدور فَما في القَومِ مِن فيهِ مُرتَجى

تَدور فَما في القَومِ مِن فيهِ مُرتَجى

You set the millstone of renewed war over them,

You made the spheres of war align against them

turning, so none among them offered any hope.

Circling, so there was no hope for any among them

مَلأت بروج الحَربِ مِنهُم مع الرُبى

مَلأت بروج الحَربِ مِنهُم مع الرُبى

فَلَستَ تَرى إِلّا قَتيلاً مُضَرَّجا

فَلَستَ تَرى إِلّا قَتيلاً مُضَرَّجا

You filled war's towers and the hills with them,

You filled the celestial towers with them and captives

so you see nothing but slain men drenched in blood.

So you see none but the slain, blood-stained

وَأَلحَقت مِنَ أَلفَيتَ مِنهُم نَزاهَة

وَأَلحَقت مِنَ أَلفَيتَ مِنهُم نَزاهَة

كَتائِب رَوعٍ أَلحَقَتهُم بِمَن نَجا

كَتائِب رَوعٍ أَلحَقَتهُم بِمَن نَجا

After those you found among them keeping aloof, you sent

And you joined two thousand of their elite

terrifying battalions that drove them after those who escaped.

To the terrorized troops whom you drove to flee

فَمَن كانَ حلي السَيف مِنهُم مآبَهُ

فَمَن كانَ حلي السَيف مِنهُم مآبَهُ

كَأنّ حَليَّ السَيفَ قُلباً وَدُملجا

كَأنّ حَليَّ السَيفَ قُلباً وَدُملجا

Whoever among them had the sword's adornment as his recourse,

So whoever's sole resort was the sword among them

as though that adornment were a wrist-bangle and an armlet,

The sword seemed to him like a heart and breast

فَيَلبِس مَصبوغ الغَواني وَيَبتَغي

فَيَلبِس مَصبوغ الغَواني وَيَبتَغي

مِنَ التِبر خَلخال يَروق مدملجا

مِنَ التِبر خَلخال يَروق مدملجا

now wears the dyed garments of lovely women and seeks

So he wears the blood-dyed garments and seeks

an anklet of gold to delight an armlet-wearer.

Ankle bracelets to please, red and black

أَبا النِجمِ يا بَدِر الدُجى ابن رَبيعَة

أَبا النِجمِ يا بَدِر الدُجى ابن رَبيعَة

ليهنك فَتح في الكِلابينَ أَفلَجا

ليهنك فَتح في الكِلابينَ أَفلَجا

Abū al-Najm—O Badr, full moon of the dark, son of Rabīʿa—

O father of the star, O Badr of darkness, son of Rabee'ah

may a decisive victory over the two Kilābs gladden you!

Congratulations on the victory over the two dogs

فَما بَعدَ هَذا الحَرب لِلحَربِ عَودة

فَما بَعدَ هَذا الحَرب لِلحَربِ عَودة

فَمَن عادَ عُدناهُ إِلى الحيِّ أَعرَجا

فَمَن عادَ عُدناهُ إِلى الحيِّ أَعرَجا

After this war, war shall not return;

After this war no war will recur

whoever returns, we meet him again and send him limping back to his clan.

And whoever returns we will return to the war, limping

إِلَيكَ رَماها الصدق مِن قَبل مادِحٍ

إِلَيكَ رَماها الصدق مِن قَبل مادِحٍ

غَدافية يَضحى بِها الشعر مدرجا

غَدافية يَضحى بِها الشعر مدرجا

Truth has cast it toward you through a praising poet:

To you truthfulness has tossed it from a praising poet

a raven-dark ode before which poetry lies folded away.

It is free, with which poetry becomes credentialed

إِذا أَنشَدَت في نادِ قَومٍ تَضَوَّعَت

إِذا أَنشَدَت في نادِ قَومٍ تَضَوَّعَت

بيومهم نَدّاً وَفاحَت بنفسَجا

بيومهم نَدّاً وَفاحَت بنفسَجا

When recited in a people's gathering, it perfumes the air

If you recite it in a people's club it will draw them near

with the incense of their battle-day, and wafts the fragrance of violets.

On their day fresh and diffusing fragrance