ألا بأبي مَنْ حِيلَ دونَ مَزارِهِ

ألا بأبي مَنْ حِيلَ دونَ مَزارِهِ

وقد بِتُّ أسْتَسْقي الغَمامَ لِدارِهِ

وقد بِتُّ أسْتَسْقي الغَمامَ لِدارِهِ

Ah, my father be ransom for the one I am barred from visiting!

By the one who was denied access to his grave

I have spent the night begging the clouds to water his dwelling.

Though I implored the clouds for rain on his abode

عهِدْتُ بِها خِشْفاً أغَنَّ كأنّني

عهِدْتُ بِها خِشْفاً أغَنَّ كأنّني

أرى بمَخَطِّ النُّؤْيِ مُلْقى سِوارِهِ

أرى بمَخَطِّ النُّؤْيِ مُلْقى سِوارِهِ

I once knew there a softly nasal-voiced fawn; it is as though I

I left it as barely habitable ruins, yet it seems

see beside the traced rain-ditch where his bracelet lay.

As if I see his bracelet flung in the sandy hollow

فلا بَرِحَتْ تَسري الرّياحُ مَريضةً

فلا بَرِحَتْ تَسري الرّياحُ مَريضةً

بِها ويُحيّيها الحَيا بانْهمارِهِ

بِها ويُحيّيها الحَيا بانْهمارِهِ

May the winds never cease to drift languidly by night

The winds never ceased blowing upon it sickly

through it, and may the rain greet it with its downpour.

While the torrents gave it life with their downpour

وقَفْتُ بِها نِضْواً طَليحاً وشَجْوُهُ

وقَفْتُ بِها نِضْواً طَليحاً وشَجْوُهُ

يُلوّي عُرا أنْساعِهِ بهِجارِهِ

يُلوّي عُرا أنْساعِهِ بهِجارِهِ

I halted there a wasted, exhausted mount, and its anguish

I stopped at it, a youthful lover, whose passion

twists the loops of its girth-straps with its hobble.

Makes the does twist their slender bodies in anguish

ويَعْذُلُني منْ غِلْمةِ الحيّ باسِلٌ

ويَعْذُلُني منْ غِلْمةِ الحيّ باسِلٌ

على شيمَتَيْهِ مَسْحةٌ منْ نِزارِهِ

على شيمَتَيْهِ مَسْحةٌ منْ نِزارِهِ

A stern fellow among the tribe's young men reproaches me,

And a smooth-cheeked youth blames me, upholding

his two traits bearing a trace of his Nizar stock.

His virtue, while the red streak adorns his cheek

ويزْعُمُ أنّ الحُبَّ عارٌ على الفتى

ويزْعُمُ أنّ الحُبَّ عارٌ على الفتى

أما علِموا أني رَضيتُ بِعارِهِ

أما علِموا أني رَضيتُ بِعارِهِ

He claims that love is a disgrace for a young man.

Claiming that love is shameful for the youth

Do they not know that I am content with its disgrace?

Do they not know that I have accepted its shame?

كأني غَداةَ البَيْنِ من دَهَشِ النّوى

كأني غَداةَ البَيْنِ من دَهَشِ النّوى

صَريعُ يَدِ السّاقي عَقيرُ عَقارِهِ

صَريعُ يَدِ السّاقي عَقيرُ عَقارِهِ

On the morning of parting, bewildered by separation, I seemed

As if, the morning after separation's shock

one felled by the cupbearer's hand, a victim of his wine.

I am laid low by the cupbearer's hand, drunk on wine

فصاحَ غُدافيٌّ شَجاني نَعيبُهُ

فصاحَ غُدافيٌّ شَجاني نَعيبُهُ

يهُزُّ جَناحَيْ فُرْقَةٍ منْ مَطارِهِ

يهُزُّ جَناحَيْ فُرْقَةٍ منْ مَطارِهِ

Then a black raven cried; its croaking grieved me,

A crested francolin then called, its cry distressing me

beating the wings of separation from its perch,

Flapping the wings of a flock taking flight

بجِزْعٍ بِطاحيٍّ يَنوشُ أراكَهُ

بجِزْعٍ بِطاحيٍّ يَنوشُ أراكَهُ

مَهاً في خَليطَيْ أُسْدِهِ ونِمارِهِ

مَهاً في خَليطَيْ أُسْدِهِ ونِمارِهِ

at a broad valley bend, where its arak trees are browsed

With a terrorized sandgrouse that sips the mixture

by oryx amid the two mingled companies of its lions and leopards.

Of the lion and the panther's watering hole

حَبَسْتُ بها العِيسَ المَراسيلَ أجْتَلي

حَبَسْتُ بها العِيسَ المَراسيلَ أجْتَلي

على مُنْحَنى الوادي عُيونَ صِوارِهِ

على مُنْحَنى الوادي عُيونَ صِوارِهِ

There I halted the swift pale camels to behold,

I detained the freely wandering camel herd

at the valley's bend, the eyes of its wild-cattle herd.

By the valley's bend, the pools their evening waters

وأعْذُلُ حَيّاً منْ كِنانَةَ خيّموا

وأعْذُلُ حَيّاً منْ كِنانَةَ خيّموا

بحيْثُ شَكا الصّبُّ الطّوى في وِجارِهِ

بحيْثُ شَكا الصّبُّ الطّوى في وِجارِهِ

I reproach a clan of Kinana who pitched camp

And I blame the people of Kinanah who camped

where the lovesick man complained of hunger in his lair.

Where the crying of children complained of the heat

وقد مَلأَتْ عُرْضَ السّماوةِ أينُقٌ

وقد مَلأَتْ عُرْضَ السّماوةِ أينُقٌ

تلُفُّ خُزامى رَوضِها بِعَرارِهِ

تلُفُّ خُزامى رَوضِها بِعَرارِهِ

She-camels had filled the breadth of al-Samawa,

The plateau fills the horizon with sand dunes

intertwining its meadow's lavender with its oxeye flowers.

That wrap around the gardens with their fresh foliage

أسرَّهمُ أن الربيعَ أظلَّها

أسرَّهمُ أن الربيعَ أظلَّها

وجرَّ بِها الكَلْبيُّ فَضْلَ إزارِهِ

وجرَّ بِها الكَلْبيُّ فَضْلَ إزارِهِ

It delighted them that spring had spread its shade over it,

Delighting them that spring has shaded it

and that the Kalbite dragged his waistcloth's trailing hem there.

And the dog days have dragged their robes

وتحتَ نِجادي باتِرُ الحَدِّ صارِمٌ

وتحتَ نِجادي باتِرُ الحَدِّ صارِمٌ

تَدِبُّ صِغارُ النّملِ فوقَ غِرارهِ

تَدِبُّ صِغارُ النّملِ فوقَ غِرارهِ

Beneath my sword-belt lies a sword with a severing edge;

Beneath my tent peg lies a keen drawn sword

tiny ants crawl along its cutting edge.

With ants crawling over it above the embers

فَلَيّاً بأعرافِ الجِيادِ على الوَجى

فَلَيّاً بأعرافِ الجِيادِ على الوَجى

تَزُرْهُ هَوادي الخَيْلِ في عُقْرِ دارهِ

تَزُرْهُ هَوادي الخَيْلِ في عُقْرِ دارهِ

Then tug at the steeds' manes, despite their sore hooves,

How excellent are the meadows with the stallions

so the cavalry's vanguard may visit him in the heart of his home.

Watered in the valley basin of his abode

ورِمّةِ كَعْبٍ إنّ مالاً أُصيبُهُ

ورِمّةِ كَعْبٍ إنّ مالاً أُصيبُهُ

لِجاري وقد يُعْشَى إِلى ضَوْءِ نارِهِ

لِجاري وقد يُعْشَى إِلى ضَوْءِ نارِهِ

By Ka'b's bones, any wealth I gain

By the Lord of the place, if only my property grows

belongs to my neighbor, to whose firelight people may come by night.

So my slave girl can have firewood for her hearth

ولَسْتُ كمَنْ يُعْلي إِلى الهُونِ طَرْفَهُ

ولَسْتُ كمَنْ يُعْلي إِلى الهُونِ طَرْفَهُ

ولا يَرْكَبُ الخَطّيَّ دونَ ذِمارِهِ

ولا يَرْكَبُ الخَطّيَّ دونَ ذِمارِهِ

I am not like one who raises his gaze toward humiliation

I am not like one who lifts his gaze to villainy

and will not brave the Khatti spear to defend his honor.

Or rides his finely built horse without his quiver

فقدْ سادَ جَسّاسُ بنُ مرَّةَ وائِلاً

فقدْ سادَ جَسّاسُ بنُ مرَّةَ وائِلاً

بقَتْلِ كُلَيْبٍ دونَ لَقْحةِ جارِهِ

بقَتْلِ كُلَيْبٍ دونَ لَقْحةِ جارِهِ

For Jassas ibn Murra became lord of Wa'il

Indeed, Jassas ibn Murrah prevailed over Wail

by killing Kulayb in defense of his neighbor's milch-camel.

By killing Kulayb, not regarding his neighbor

حَلَفْتُ بمَحْبوكِ السّراةِ كأنّني

حَلَفْتُ بمَحْبوكِ السّراةِ كأنّني

أنوطُ بذَيْلِ الرّيحِ ثِنْيَ عِذارِهِ

أنوطُ بذَيْلِ الرّيحِ ثِنْيَ عِذارِهِ

I swore by the firm-backed steed, as though I

I swore by the Braid constellation, it was as if

hung the loop of its bridle from the wind's tail.

I harnessed the train of the wind inside my quiver

وتلْمَعُ في أعْلى مُحيّاهُ غُرّةٌ

وتلْمَعُ في أعْلى مُحيّاهُ غُرّةٌ

هيَ الصُّبْحُ شَقَّ اللّيلَ غِبَّ اعْتِكارِهِ

هيَ الصُّبْحُ شَقَّ اللّيلَ غِبَّ اعْتِكارِهِ

A white blaze gleams upon the upper part of its face:

At the top of his cheek shines a redness

it is dawn, splitting night after its darkness has thickened.

It is the dawn that split the darkness of its gloom

وتَلْطِمُهُ أيْدي العَذارى بخُمْرِها

وتَلْطِمُهُ أيْدي العَذارى بخُمْرِها

إذا انتَظَرَ السّاري مَشَنَّ غِوارِهِ

إذا انتَظَرَ السّاري مَشَنَّ غِوارِهِ

Maidens' hands strike it with their veils

And the virgins' hands strike him with their wine skins

when the night traveler awaits the launching of its raids.

If the guard awaits the thickening of its sediment

ويشتدُّ بي والرّححُ يلْثِمُ نَحْرَهُ

ويشتدُّ بي والرّححُ يلْثِمُ نَحْرَهُ

إِلى كلِّ قِرْنٍ للأسنّةِ كارِهِ

إِلى كلِّ قِرْنٍ للأسنّةِ كارِهِ

It races with me, the spear (uncertain reading) kissing its breast,

With me the ostrich gets rough, biting its throat

toward every opponent averse to spearpoints.

To the horn of each malicious slanderer

وتحتَ القَنا للأعْوَجيّاتِ رنّةٌ

وتحتَ القَنا للأعْوَجيّاتِ رنّةٌ

بضَرْبٍ يُطيرُ الهامَ تحتَ شَرارِهِ

بضَرْبٍ يُطيرُ الهامَ تحتَ شَرارِهِ

Beneath the lances, the A'waji mares give a ringing neigh,

Beneath thebranched acacias, the young oryx females cry out

amid a blow that sends heads flying beneath its sparks.

Under a blow that sends the wild beasts flying off

ويَزْجُرُها مني أُشَيْعِثُ يرْتَدي

ويَزْجُرُها مني أُشَيْعِثُ يرْتَدي

بأبيضَ يُلقي عنهُ أعْباءَ ثارِهِ

بأبيضَ يُلقي عنهُ أعْباءَ ثارِهِ

My tousle-haired self urges them on, clad

And a disheveled man clad in white keeps them off

in a white blade that lifts from him the burdens of his blood vengeance.

Casting off the burdens of his revenge

لأَدَّرِعَنَّ اللّيلَ حتى أُزيرَهُ

لأَدَّرِعَنَّ اللّيلَ حتى أُزيرَهُ

أغَرَّ يُناصي الشُّهْبَ يومَ فَخارِهِ

أغَرَّ يُناصي الشُّهْبَ يومَ فَخارِهِ

I shall surely don the night as armor until I bring it to visit

I will ride the night until I subdue it

a radiant lord who vies with the bright stars on his day of glory.

When the meteors collide on the day of his pride

إذا طاشَتِ الأحْلامُ واسْتَرْخَتِ الحُبا

إذا طاشَتِ الأحْلامُ واسْتَرْخَتِ الحُبا

تفيّأَتِ الآراءُ ظِلَّ وَقارِهِ

تفيّأَتِ الآراءُ ظِلَّ وَقارِهِ

When judgments falter and the knee-bands slacken,

When worries fade and love is relaxed

counsels take shelter in the shade of his composure.

Opinions recover in the shade of his dignity

وألْوى بمَنْ جاراهُ حتى كأنّهُ

وألْوى بمَنْ جاراهُ حتى كأنّهُ

مُعنّىً يُداني خَطْوَهُ في إسارِهِ

مُعنّىً يُداني خَطْوَهُ في إسارِهِ

He outstrips whoever races him, until that rival seems

And I blame whoever contends with him

a tormented man shortening his stride within his fetters.

It is as if he intends to match his pace in shackles

وكيفَ يُبارَى في السّماحَةِ ماجِدٌ

وكيفَ يُبارَى في السّماحَةِ ماجِدٌ

متى يختَلِفْ وَفْدُ الرّياحِ يُبارِهِ

متى يختَلِفْ وَفْدُ الرّياحِ يُبارِهِ

How can a nobleman be matched in generosity,

And how can he be matched in generosity, Magid

when he rivals the winds' delegation whenever it comes and goes?

Whenever the delegation of winds contend with him

تعطّفَ كهْلانُ بنُ زَيدٍ وحِمْيَرٍ

تعطّفَ كهْلانُ بنُ زَيدٍ وحِمْيَرٍ

علَيْهِ فأرْسى مَجْدَها في قَرارِهِ

علَيْهِ فأرْسى مَجْدَها في قَرارِهِ

Kahlan ibn Zayd and Himyar bent affectionately

Kahlan ibn Zayd and Ḥimyar deferred to him

toward him, and he anchored their glory in his own foundation.

So his glory settled in its place

إلَيكَ زَجَرْنا يا عَديَّ بنَ مُهْرِبٍ

إلَيكَ زَجَرْنا يا عَديَّ بنَ مُهْرِبٍ

أَمُوناً وصَلْنا لَيلَهُ بنَهارِهِ

أَمُوناً وصَلْنا لَيلَهُ بنَهارِهِ

Toward you, O 'Adi ibn Muhrib, we urged

To you we forbade, O ‘Adiyy ibn Muharib

a trusty camel, joining its night to its day.

We guaranteed and joined his night with its day

يُلِمُّ بمَغْشيِّ القِبابِ ويَنثَني

يُلِمُّ بمَغْشيِّ القِبابِ ويَنثَني

حَقائِبُهُ مَملوءَةٌ منْ نُضارِهِ

حَقائِبُهُ مَملوءَةٌ منْ نُضارِهِ

It visits the lord whose pavilions are thronged, and returns,

He meets with the towering domes and bends over

its saddlebags filled with his gold.

His bags full of fresh foliage

إذا السّنَةُ الشّهْباءُ ألْقَتْ جِرانَها

إذا السّنَةُ الشّهْباءُ ألْقَتْ جِرانَها

كَفَيْتَ أبا الأطْفالِ عامَ غِيارِهِ

كَفَيْتَ أبا الأطْفالِ عامَ غِيارِهِ

When the ashen drought-year lays down its neck,

When the grey headed year cast its torrents

you sustain a father of children through his year of seeking provisions.

You sufficed, O father of children, his tempestuous year

وزارَكَ منْ عُلْيا أميّةَ مِدْرَهٌ

وزارَكَ منْ عُلْيا أميّةَ مِدْرَهٌ

تهزُّ اللّيالي سَرْحَهُ لِنِفارِهِ

تهزُّ اللّيالي سَرْحَهُ لِنِفارِهِ

An eloquent champion from Umayya's noblest stock has visited you,

And a flash flood from ‘Ulyaa Umayyah visited you

the nights shaking his grazing herd into flight.

Shaking its foliage for its banishment

ولولاكَ لم أخْبِطْ دُجى الليلِ بعدَما

ولولاكَ لم أخْبِطْ دُجى الليلِ بعدَما

أُعيدَ قُمَيْراً بَدْرُهُ في سِرارِهِ

أُعيدَ قُمَيْراً بَدْرُهُ في سِرارِهِ

But for you, I would not have groped through night's darkness after

Were it not for you, I would not grope the night's gloom

its full moon had been reduced to a little moon again in its dark phase.

After Kumayr the full moon returned to its bed

وكم مَهْمَهٍ نائي المُعرَّسِ جُبْتُهُ

وكم مَهْمَهٍ نائي المُعرَّسِ جُبْتُهُ

وذي مَرَحٍ أنْضَبْتُهُ في قِفارِهِ

وذي مَرَحٍ أنْضَبْتُهُ في قِفارِهِ

How many a desert waste, its resting-place far off, have I crossed,

And many a distant bride I seized for him

and how many a spirited mount have I exhausted in its barren stretches!

And one fleeting in the wasteland I captured in her tent

فجاءَكَ منْهوكَ العَريكَةِ ناحِلاً

فجاءَكَ منْهوكَ العَريكَةِ ناحِلاً

وقد فارَقَ الجَرْعاءَ مِلْءَ ضَفارِهِ

وقد فارَقَ الجَرْعاءَ مِلْءَ ضَفارِهِ

So it came to you, its mettle spent, emaciated,

So she came to you exhausted, her knee-joints knocking

though it had left al-Jar'a filling its braided girths.

Having left the liverwort, her mouth bitter