أُتيحَتْ لِداءٍ في الفؤادِ عُضالِ

أُتيحَتْ لِداءٍ في الفؤادِ عُضالِ

رُباً بالظِّباءِ العاطِلاتِ حَوالِ

رُباً بالظِّباءِ العاطِلاتِ حَوالِ

For an incurable malady in the heart were destined

An ailment was allowed in my heart, against which

hills adorned with unadorned gazelles.

I was powerless, with gazing at the unemployed women.

تُذيلُ دُموعَ العَيْنِ وهْيَ مَصونَةٌ

تُذيلُ دُموعَ العَيْنِ وهْيَ مَصونَةٌ

وأُرْخِصُها في الحُبِّ وهْيَ غَوالِ

وأُرْخِصُها في الحُبِّ وهْيَ غَوالِ

They squander the eye's tears, though held in safekeeping,

She flows down my tears while she is protected,

and I cheapen them in love, though they are precious.

And I allow her the love while she is unruly.

سواجِمُ تَكْفيها الحَيا وانْهمالَهُ

سواجِمُ تَكْفيها الحَيا وانْهمالَهُ

إذا انْحَلَّ في وُطْفِ الغَمامِ عَزالي

إذا انْحَلَّ في وُطْفِ الغَمامِ عَزالي

Streaming tears that serve them instead of rain and its downpour,

Vast oceans that take away life and its concerns

when rain-spouts are unloosed in thick, dark clouds.

When the clouds unload the isolated rain.

ولوْلاكِ يا ذاتَ الوِشاحَيْنِ لمْ تَكُنْ

ولوْلاكِ يا ذاتَ الوِشاحَيْنِ لمْ تَكُنْ

موَشَّحةً منْ أدْمُعي بِلآلي

موَشَّحةً منْ أدْمُعي بِلآلي

Were it not for you, O wearer of two sashes, they would not be

Were it not for you, O you of the two veils,

girdled with pearls from my tears.

My tears would not have adorned you.

وأغْضَيْتُ عَيْني عنْ مَهاها فلَمْ أُبَلْ

وأغْضَيْتُ عَيْني عنْ مَهاها فلَمْ أُبَلْ

لَدَيْها بعَيْني جُؤذَرٍ وغَزالِ

لَدَيْها بعَيْني جُؤذَرٍ وغَزالِ

I lowered my gaze from their oryxes, and cared nothing

And I lowered my eyes from their desires, so I did not

there for the eyes of an oryx calf or a gazelle.

Appear to them as annoying and frolicking.

ولكنَّني أرضَي الغِوايَةَ في الهَوى

ولكنَّني أرضَي الغِوايَةَ في الهَوى

وأحْمِلُ فيه ما جَناهُ ضَلالي

وأحْمِلُ فيه ما جَناهُ ضَلالي

Yet I accept waywardness in passion,

But I appeased waywardness in love,

and bear in it what my straying has wrought.

And I carry in it what my misguidance reaped.

وَقَتْكِ الرّدى بيضٌ حِسانٌ وُجوهُها

وَقَتْكِ الرّدى بيضٌ حِسانٌ وُجوهُها

ومُثْرِيَةٌ منْ نَضْرَةٍ وجَمالِ

ومُثْرِيَةٌ منْ نَضْرَةٍ وجَمالِ

May fair women shield you from death, their faces lovely

The cheeks of your face are white, beautiful,

and rich in radiance and beauty.

Flourishing with freshness and beauty.

طَلَعْنَ بُدوراً في دُجىً من ذَوائِبٍ

طَلَعْنَ بُدوراً في دُجىً من ذَوائِبٍ

ومِسْنَ غُصوناً في مُتونِ رِمالِ

ومِسْنَ غُصوناً في مُتونِ رِمالِ

They rose as full moons amid the darkness of tresses,

They appeared as full moons in dark tresses,

and swayed as boughs upon the ridges of dunes.

And touched branches in the interior of the sands.

أرى نَظَراتِ الصَّبِّ يَعْثُرْنَ دونَها

أرى نَظَراتِ الصَّبِّ يَعْثُرْنَ دونَها

بأعْرافِ جُرْدٍ أو رؤوسِ عَوالِ

بأعْرافِ جُرْدٍ أو رؤوسِ عَوالِ

I see the lovesick man's glances stumble short of them

I see the gazes of the young men stumbling over them

over the manes of sleek steeds or the tips of lofty spears.

At the edges of the short palm trees or mountain peaks.

عَرَضْنَ عليَّ الوَصْلَ والقَلبُ كلُّهُ

عَرَضْنَ عليَّ الوَصْلَ والقَلبُ كلُّهُ

لدَيْكِ فأنّى يَبتغينَ وِصالي

لدَيْكِ فأنّى يَبتغينَ وِصالي

They offered me union, while my heart, all of it,

They offered me union but my heart as a whole

is with you—how, then, can they seek union with me?

Is yours, so how can I seek my union?

وهُنَّ مِلاحٌ غيرَ أنّ نَواظِراً

وهُنَّ مِلاحٌ غيرَ أنّ نَواظِراً

تُديرينَها زلّتْ بهِنَّ نِعالي

تُديرينَها زلّتْ بهِنَّ نِعالي

They are lovely; yet the eyes

And they are beautiful, except you turn

you turn have made my sandals slip.

Your glances, so my slippers slipped because of them.

ولولاكِ ما بِعْتُ العِراقَ وأهْلَهُ

ولولاكِ ما بِعْتُ العِراقَ وأهْلَهُ

بِوادي الحِمى والمَنْدَليَّ بِضالِ

بِوادي الحِمى والمَنْدَليَّ بِضالِ

Were it not for you, I would not have traded Iraq and its people

Were it not for you, I would not have sold Iraq and its people

for the valley of al-Hima, and Mandali aloeswood for wild lote-trees.

With the valley of protection and al-Mandali in neglect.

فَما لِنِساءِ الحَيِّ يُضْمِرْنَ غَيْرَةً

فَما لِنِساءِ الحَيِّ يُضْمِرْنَ غَيْرَةً

سَبَتْها العَوالي ما لَهُنَّ وما لي

سَبَتْها العَوالي ما لَهُنَّ وما لي

What ails the women of the tribe, concealing jealousy?

So what is with the jealous women of the tribe

May lofty spears take them captive! What are they to me, or I to them?

Whose remoteness blamed me? What is their business and mine?

ولو خالَفَتْني في مُتابعةِ الهَوى

ولو خالَفَتْني في مُتابعةِ الهَوى

يَميني ما واصَلْتُها بِشمالي

يَميني ما واصَلْتُها بِشمالي

And if, in following passion, I were opposed

And if my right hand contradicted me in pursuing love

by my right hand, I would not join it to my left.

I would not join it with my left hand.

وفيكِ صُدودٌ منْ دَلالٍ أظنّهُ

وفيكِ صُدودٌ منْ دَلالٍ أظنّهُ

علي ما حَكى الواشي صُدودَ مَلالِ

علي ما حَكى الواشي صُدودَ مَلالِ

Your aloofness comes from coquetry; I imagine it,

And in you are repellents of coquetry, which I think

from what the talebearer reported, to be aloofness born of weariness.

Are to me as the informant described the repellents of tedium.

قَنِعْتُ بطَيْفٍ منْ خَيالِكِ طارِقٍ

قَنِعْتُ بطَيْفٍ منْ خَيالِكِ طارِقٍ

وأيُّ خَيالٍ يَهْتَدي لخَيالِ

وأيُّ خَيالٍ يَهْتَدي لخَيالِ

I was content with a night-visit from your phantom;

I sufficed with an imagination of you visiting me,

but what phantom can find its way to a phantom?

And which imagination finds its way to another imagination?

فلا تُنْكِري سَيْري إلَيْكِ على الوَجى

فلا تُنْكِري سَيْري إلَيْكِ على الوَجى

رَكائِبَ لا يُنْعَلْنَ غيرَ ظِلالِ

رَكائِبَ لا يُنْعَلْنَ غيرَ ظِلالِ

So do not deny my journey to you despite footsoreness,

So do not deny my walking to you over the sands

on riding camels shod with nothing but shadows;

On she-camels that are not shod except with shadows.

إذا زُجِرَتْ منهُنَّ وَجْناءُ خِلْتَها

إذا زُجِرَتْ منهُنَّ وَجْناءُ خِلْتَها

وقد مسّها الإعياءُ ذاتَ عِقالِ

وقد مسّها الإعياءُ ذاتَ عِقالِ

when a broad-cheeked she-camel among them is urged on, you would think her,

When scolded, the slight sounds of their anklets,

once exhaustion has touched her, to be hobbled.

And fatigue has touched them having reins.

وخَوْضي إلَيْكِ اللّيلَ أرْكَبُ هَوْلَهُ

وخَوْضي إلَيْكِ اللّيلَ أرْكَبُ هَوْلَهُ

وإنْ بَعُدَ المَسْرى فلَسْتُ أبالي

وإنْ بَعُدَ المَسْرى فلَسْتُ أبالي

Nor my plunging through the night toward you, riding its terror;

And my adventuring to you at night, I ride its dangers,

and though the night-journey is long, I do not care.

And even if the journey is far, I do not care.

ولا تَقْبَلي قَولَ العَذولِ فتَنْدَمي

ولا تَقْبَلي قَولَ العَذولِ فتَنْدَمي

إذا قَطَعَتْ عنكِ الوُشاةُ حِبالي

إذا قَطَعَتْ عنكِ الوُشاةُ حِبالي

Nor accept the reproacher's words, lest you regret it

And do not accept the words of the blamer, so you regret

when talebearers sever the cords that bind me to you.

When the slanderers cut you off from my ropes.

سَلي ابْنَيْ نِزارٍ عنْ جُدودي بَعْدَما

سَلي ابْنَيْ نِزارٍ عنْ جُدودي بَعْدَما

سمِعْتِ ببأْسي إذْ هزَزْتُ نِصالي

سمِعْتِ ببأْسي إذْ هزَزْتُ نِصالي

Ask Nizar's two sons about my forefathers, after

Ask the son of Nizar about my ancestors, after

you have heard of my valor when I brandished my blades.

You heard of my heroism when I brandished my swords.

هلِ اشتَمَلتْ فيهِمْ صَحيفةُ ناسِبٍ

هلِ اشتَمَلتْ فيهِمْ صَحيفةُ ناسِبٍ

على مِثْلِ عمّي يا أُمَيْمَ وخالي

على مِثْلِ عمّي يا أُمَيْمَ وخالي

Has any genealogist's record among them contained

Did the book of lineage contain the like of my paternal uncle

the like of my paternal uncle, O Umaym, and my maternal uncle?

O Umaim and my maternal uncle?

فهَلْ مَلْثَمُ اللّبّاتِ رُمْحي إذا دَعا

فهَلْ مَلْثَمُ اللّبّاتِ رُمْحي إذا دَعا

مَصاليتُ يَغْشَوْنَ المِصاعَ نَزالِ

مَصاليتُ يَغْشَوْنَ المِصاعَ نَزالِ

Is my spear, then, the kissing-place of throats, when

So is the warrior with the soft lips my spear when it calls

stalwarts plunging into combat cry, 'Come down and fight!'

My swordsmen overrun the battlefields with descent?

فلا تُلْزِميني ذَنْبَ دَهْرٍ يَسومُني

فلا تُلْزِميني ذَنْبَ دَهْرٍ يَسومُني

على غِلَظِ الأيّامِ رِقّة حالِ

على غِلَظِ الأيّامِ رِقّة حالِ

So do not charge me with the fault of an age that imposes on me,

So do not oblige me with the guilt of a time that accuses me

amid the harshness of days, scant means.

With the coarseness of days, the tenderness of my state.

وتَمْشي الهُوَيْنى بَيْنَ جَنْبَيَّ هِمّةٌ

وتَمْشي الهُوَيْنى بَيْنَ جَنْبَيَّ هِمّةٌ

تَذُمُّ زَماناً ضاقَ فيهِ مَجالي

تَذُمُّ زَماناً ضاقَ فيهِ مَجالي

And ambition walks softly between my ribs,

And the passion walks between my lofty determination

condemning an age in which my scope has narrowed.

That blames a time in which my scope is narrowed.

وعندَ بَنيهِ حينَ تُخْشى بَناتُهُ

وعندَ بَنيهِ حينَ تُخْشى بَناتُهُ

قُلوبُ نِساءٍ في جُسومِ رِجالِ

قُلوبُ نِساءٍ في جُسومِ رِجالِ

And its sons, when its daughters are feared, have

And when his daughters are feared among his sons

the hearts of women in the bodies of men.

The hearts of women in the bodies of men.

ولا تُنْكِري ما أشْتَكي منْ خَصاصَةٍ

ولا تُنْكِري ما أشْتَكي منْ خَصاصَةٍ

عَرَفْتُ بها البأساءَ منذُ لَيالِ

عَرَفْتُ بها البأساءَ منذُ لَيالِ

Nor deny the poverty I complain of,

And do not deny the lack that I complain of

through which I have known hardship these past nights.

Which I knew the calamities from past nights.

فبالتّلَعاتِ الحُوِّ منْ أرْضِ كُوفَنٍ

فبالتّلَعاتِ الحُوِّ منْ أرْضِ كُوفَنٍ

مَبارِكُ لا تُدْمي صُدورَ جِمالي

مَبارِكُ لا تُدْمي صُدورَ جِمالي

For on the dark-green hill-slopes of the land of Kufan

So the fine sand dunes of the Kufan land,

are resting-grounds that do not bloody my camels' breasts.

Blessed, do not destroy the chests of my camels.

يَحوطُ حِماها غِلْمَةٌ أُمويّةٌ

يَحوطُ حِماها غِلْمَةٌ أُمويّةٌ

بخَطّيَّةٍ مُلْسِ المُتونِ طِوالِ

بخَطّيَّةٍ مُلْسِ المُتونِ طِوالِ

Their sanctuary is guarded by Umayyad youths

Its protectors are a young Umayyad tribe

with tall Khatti spears, smooth of shaft,

With broadly spread excellent casts.

وكُلِّ رَميضِ الشّفْرَتَيْنِ مُهَنّدٍ

وكُلِّ رَميضِ الشّفْرَتَيْنِ مُهَنّدٍ

كأنّ بغَرْبَيْهِ مَدَبَّ نِمالِ

كأنّ بغَرْبَيْهِ مَدَبَّ نِمالِ

and with every Indian blade honed on both edges,

And every bending of the two blades is well-groomed

as though along its two cutting edges lay a trail of ants.

As if needles were mounted on its curves.

ضَرَبْنَ بألْحِيهِنَّ والريحُ قَرّةٌ

ضَرَبْنَ بألْحِيهِنَّ والريحُ قَرّةٌ

على قُلَّتَيْ أرْوَنْدَ غِبَّ كَلالِ

على قُلَّتَيْ أرْوَنْدَ غِبَّ كَلالِ

They laid their jaws down, while the wind was bitterly cold,

They hit with their arrows as the wind is still

on Arwand's two peaks, after weariness.

On the humps of the ostrich of abundant thinness.

فما رَعَتِ القُرْبى قُرَيْشٌ ولا اتّقَتْ

فما رَعَتِ القُرْبى قُرَيْشٌ ولا اتّقَتْ

عِتابي ولمْ يَكْسِفْ لذلك بالي

عِتابي ولمْ يَكْسِفْ لذلك بالي

Quraysh did not honor kinship, nor did they fear

So the kinsfolk of Quraysh did not watch over the rights of kinship or fear

my rebuke; yet that did not darken my spirit.

My blame, nor was my mind upset by that.

وأكْرَمَ مَثْواها وأمْجَدَها القِرَى

وأكْرَمَ مَثْواها وأمْجَدَها القِرَى

بَنو خَلَفٍ حتى حَطَطْتُ رِحالي

بَنو خَلَفٍ حتى حَطَطْتُ رِحالي

Their lodging was honored and hospitality lavished on them

And the most generous dwelling place honored it among settlements

by the sons of Khalaf, until I set down my saddles.

Were the clan of Khalaf until I descended my departures.

وفازوا بحَمْدي إذْ ظَفِرْتُ بودِّهمْ

وفازوا بحَمْدي إذْ ظَفِرْتُ بودِّهمْ

فلمْ أتعرَّضْ بعْدَهُ لنَوالِ

فلمْ أتعرَّضْ بعْدَهُ لنَوالِ

They won my praise when I won their affection,

And they succeeded in winning my praise when I attained their love

so after that I sought no bounty.

So I did not after it incline towards anyone's gift.

مَغاويرُ منْ أبناءِ بَهْرامَ ذادَةٌ

مَغاويرُ منْ أبناءِ بَهْرامَ ذادَةٌ

بهِمْ تُلْقَحُ الهَيْجاءُ بعدَ حِيالِ

بهِمْ تُلْقَحُ الهَيْجاءُ بعدَ حِيالِ

Bold warriors among the sons of Bahram, defenders,

They are horsemen from the sons of Bahram Zadah

through whom war conceives after barrenness.

With whom wars are kindled after term.

يهَشّونَ للعافي كأنّ وُوجوهَهُمْ

يهَشّونَ للعافي كأنّ وُوجوهَهُمْ

صُدورُ سُيوفٍ حُودِثَتْ بصِقالِ

صُدورُ سُيوفٍ حُودِثَتْ بصِقالِ

They brighten for the supplicant, and their faces seem

They terrify towards escape as if their faces

like the broad faces of swords polished afresh.

Were the chests of swords forged with polishing.

فصاحَبْتُ منهمْ كلَّ قَرْمٍ حَوى العُلا

فصاحَبْتُ منهمْ كلَّ قَرْمٍ حَوى العُلا

بمَلثومَةٍ في الجودِ ذاتِ سِجالِ

بمَلثومَةٍ في الجودِ ذاتِ سِجالِ

So I befriended among them every noble chief who attained high honor

So I accompanied every brave one who harbored glory

with a kissed hand pouring out generosity by the bucketful,

With a soft-lipped one having disputing generosity.

وبذَّ الحَيا إذْ جادَ والليثَ إذ سَطا

وبذَّ الحَيا إذْ جادَ والليثَ إذ سَطا

على القِرْنِ في أُكْرومَةٍ وصِيالِ

على القِرْنِ في أُكْرومَةٍ وصِيالِ

and outdid the rain when he gave, and the lion when he pounced

He was guided in life when he gave generously and the lion when it pounced

upon his adversary, in generosity and assault.

On the spear in an attack and assault.

يَرى بسِنانِ الزاعبيّةِ كَوْكَباً

يَرى بسِنانِ الزاعبيّةِ كَوْكَباً

فيَطْعَنُ حتى ينثني كهِلالِ

فيَطْعَنُ حتى ينثني كهِلالِ

He sees a star in the point of the Za'ibi lance,

He sees with the swords of Al-Za'abiya like a planet

and thrusts until it bends like a crescent.

So he thrusts until he bends like a crescent.

ولا يتخطّى مَقْتلاً فكأنّه

ولا يتخطّى مَقْتلاً فكأنّه

لدى الطّعنِ يعشو نَحوَهُ بذُبالِ

لدى الطّعنِ يعشو نَحوَهُ بذُبالِ

He never misses a vital spot, as though

And he does not transcend a killing, as if he

when thrusting, he groped toward it by the light of wicks.

When thrusting lives towards it with sacrificing.

رَعى حُرُماتِ المَجْدِ فيَّ تكرُّماً

رَعى حُرُماتِ المَجْدِ فيَّ تكرُّماً

وقد شدّ عَزمي للمَسيرِ قِبالي

وقد شدّ عَزمي للمَسيرِ قِبالي

He nobly honored glory's sacred claims in me,

He watched over the sanctities of glory in honoring me

when my resolve had tightened my sandal-straps for departure.

When my determination to travel became firm.

وأيقَنَ أني لا ألوذُ بباخِلٍ

وأيقَنَ أني لا ألوذُ بباخِلٍ

يُضَيِّعُ عِرْضاً في صِيانَةِ مالِ

يُضَيِّعُ عِرْضاً في صِيانَةِ مالِ

And he knew for certain that I would not seek refuge with a miser

And he was certain that I do not seek refuge in a miser

who squanders honor to safeguard wealth.

Who wastes honor in guarding money.

وكُنتُ خَفيفَ المَنكِبَيْنِ فأُكْرِها

وكُنتُ خَفيفَ المَنكِبَيْنِ فأُكْرِها

على مِنَنِ طُوِّقْتُهُنَّ ثِقالِ

على مِنَنِ طُوِّقْتُهُنَّ ثِقالِ

And my shoulders had been light, but both were compelled

And I was light shoulder so I forced them

to bear heavy favors with which I was collared.

To favors I collared with burdens.

وحُزْتُ ندىً ما شانَهُ بمِطالِهِ

وحُزْتُ ندىً ما شانَهُ بمِطالِهِ

وحازَ ثَناءً لمْ يَشِنْهُ مِطالي

وحازَ ثَناءً لمْ يَشِنْهُ مِطالي

And I gained bounty he did not mar by delaying it,

And I gained freshness that exemplary status was not its concern

and he gained praise my delay did not mar.

And gained praise that my exemplary status did not taint.

فسُقْتُ إليهِ الشُّكْرَ بعدَ سؤالِهِ

فسُقْتُ إليهِ الشُّكْرَ بعدَ سؤالِهِ

وساقَ إليَّ العُرْفَ قَبلَ سؤالي

وساقَ إليَّ العُرْفَ قَبلَ سؤالي

So I brought him thanks after his request,

So I gave thanks to him after his request

and he brought me kindness before my request.

And he gave me the customary gift before my request.