سَرَتْtraveled by night وجِنْحُand the wing اللّيلِof night غِرْبيبُraven-black
سَرَتْ وجِنْحُ اللّيلِ غِرْبيبُ
سِرْبٌa flock منَof البيضِfair women رَعابيبُtender-bodied beauties
سِرْبٌ منَ البيضِ رَعابيبُ
They traveled by night, while night's wing was raven-black,
The wings of night and its darkness crept,
a flock of fair, tender-bodied women.
A flock of whiteness, their raiment pleats swept,
يَعْثُرْنَthey stumble فيin ذَيْلِthe hem الدُّجىof darkness إذْas ضَفاspread amply
يَعْثُرْنَ في ذَيْلِ الدُّجى إذْ ضَفا
لَهاbelonging to it عليْهِنَّover them جَلابيبُcloaks
لَها عليْهِنَّ جَلابيبُ
They stumble in darkness's hem as it spreads,
Stumbling in the train of gloom when it bends low,
its cloaks covering them.
Over them their outer garments flow.
وكلُّand every سِرٍّsecret رُمْنَthey sought كِتْمانَهُits concealment
وكلُّ سِرٍّ رُمْنَ كِتْمانَهُ
نَمَّbetrayed بهِabout it الحَلْيُthe ornaments أوِor الطّيبُthe perfume
نَمَّ بهِ الحَلْيُ أوِ الطّيبُ
And every secret they sought to conceal
And every secret its concealment kept,
their ornaments or perfume betrayed.
Be it scent or bejeweled anklets that leapt,
طَرَقْنَناthey visited us by night والرَّكْبُwhile the riders غِيدُswaying الطُّلىthe necks
طَرَقْنَنا والرَّكْبُ غِيدُ الطُّلى
تَخْديstride briskly بِناwith us العِيسُthe pale camels المَطاريبُspirited
تَخْدي بِنا العِيسُ المَطاريبُ
They visited us by night, the riders' necks swaying,
We walked while the caravan, girt with down,
as the spirited pale camels strode briskly with us.
Were scared by the howl of the whining hound,
ونحنُand we بالجَرْعاءِat al-Jarʿāʾ منْof عالِجٍʿĀlij
ونحنُ بالجَرْعاءِ منْ عالِجٍ
حَيْثُwhere تُطيلُprolong الحَنّةَthe yearning moan النّيبُthe old she-camels
حَيْثُ تُطيلُ الحَنّةَ النّيبُ
And we were at al-Jarʿāʾ in ʿĀlij,
While we in the stony tract stayed our steps,
where old she-camels prolong their yearning moans.
Where the departure of loved ones weeps,
فقُلْنَthen they said إذwhen أبْصَرْنَنيthey saw me باسِماًsmiling
فقُلْنَ إذ أبْصَرْنَني باسِماً
حينَwhen زَوىdrew tight الأوْجُهَthe faces تَقْطيبُfrowning
حينَ زَوى الأوْجُهَ تَقْطيبُ
Then they said, seeing me smile
So they said when discerning me by name
when frowns had drawn faces tight:
As faces were shrouded in sorrow and shame:
أيَّwhat a هُمامٍresolute nobleman منكَin you قَدindeed رَشَّحَتْprepared
أيَّ هُمامٍ منكَ قَد رَشَّحَتْ
للمَجْدِfor glory آباءٌforefathers مَناجيبُbegetting noble offspring
للمَجْدِ آباءٌ مَناجيبُ
What a resolute nobleman you are, groomed
"What aspiration to glory possessed,
for glory by illustrious forefathers!
Fathers, your sires, conversant with glory's bequest?
فدَأبُهُso his habit والصّبرُand patience منْpart of خِيمِهِhis nature
فدَأبُهُ والصّبرُ منْ خِيمِهِ
سُرًىnight travel يُعَنّيهِwearies him وتأويبُand daylong travel
سُرًى يُعَنّيهِ وتأويبُ
So his habit—patience being part of his nature—
His perseverance and patience kept pace
is wearying night travel and daylong journeys.
In his tent, aided by wisdom and grace,
يَجوبُhe traverses بِيداًdeserts غيرَnot مَقروعةٍbeaten
يَجوبُ بِيداً غيرَ مَقروعةٍ
للسّيْرِfor travel فيهِنَّthrough them الظّنابيبُthe shinbones
للسّيْرِ فيهِنَّ الظّنابيبُ
He crosses deserts where none have beaten
He roams with a hand whose might none reproves,
camels' shins to spur travel through them.
To walk among them the jealous proves.
فليتَso if only شِعْريmy knowledge هلwhether أزورُI visit الحِمىthe protected pasture
فليتَ شِعْري هل أزورُ الحِمى
أمْor هَلْwhether يَروعُterrifies الثُّلّةَthe flock الذّيبُthe wolf
أمْ هَلْ يَروعُ الثُّلّةَ الذّيبُ
I wonder, then: shall I visit the protected pasture,
I wonder, shall I visit the preserve,
or will the wolf terrify the flock?
Or will the pack be scared by the swelling curve?"
والشّمسُand the sun أخْبىextinguished الليلُthe night أنوارَهاits lights
والشّمسُ أخْبى الليلُ أنوارَها
والكَوْكبُand the star الأزهَرُradiant مَشْبوبُaflame
والكَوْكبُ الأزهَرُ مَشْبوبُ
And the sun—night has quenched its lights,
The sun has hidden the lights of night,
while the radiant star is aflame.
And the bright planet is clouded from sight,
فيamong غِلْمَةٍyoung men مُرْدٍbeardless تَمطّىstretched in stride بهِمْwith them
في غِلْمَةٍ مُرْدٍ تَمطّى بهِمْ
إِلىto الوَغىbattle جُرْدٌsleek steeds سَراحيبُlong-bodied
إِلى الوَغى جُرْدٌ سَراحيبُ
Among beardless youths, borne with outstretched strides
In a rebel darkness they wind and ride
to battle by sleek, long-bodied steeds.
To the fray, marked girths their courses guide.
خَيْلٌhorses عِرابٌpurebred Arabian فوْقَupon أثْباجِهاtheir broad backs
خَيْلٌ عِرابٌ فوْقَ أثْباجِها
فيin حَومَةِthe thick الحَرْبِof war أعاريبُBedouin Arabs
في حَومَةِ الحَرْبِ أعاريبُ
Purebred Arabian horses, whose broad backs
Of every smooth-polished long-bladed lance
bear Bedouin Arabs in the thick of war.
That bends in the onslaught, but holds its balance,
مِنْof كُلِّevery مَلْبونٍmilk-fed horse سَليمِsound الشّظىthe splint bones
مِنْ كُلِّ مَلْبونٍ سَليمِ الشّظى
حابيarching القُصَيْرىthe short rear rib فيهِin it تَحْنيبُbow-curved legs
حابي القُصَيْرى فيهِ تَحْنيبُ
Each milk-fed and sound in the splint bones,
He wrests the rein of the winds, though slight,
arching at the short rib, with bow-curved limbs.
By slackening them, or hastening their flight.
يُكِلُّwearies وَفْدَthe envoys الريحِof the wind إنif هَزّstirred منْfrom
يُكِلُّ وَفْدَ الريحِ إن هَزّ منْ
عِطْفَيْهِits two flanks إرْخاءٌgalloping وتَقْريبُand cantering
عِطْفَيْهِ إرْخاءٌ وتَقْريبُ
It exhausts the wind's envoys whenever
Each day the foe with clanging arms contrives,
galloping and cantering stir its flanks.
His drinking bowls with blood imbued derives.
وكلَّand every يومٍday منْfrom قِراعِclashing with العِداthe foes
وكلَّ يومٍ منْ قِراعِ العِدا
لَبانُهُits chest بالدّمِwith blood مَخْضوبُdyed
لَبانُهُ بالدّمِ مَخْضوبُ
And every day, from clashing with foes,
He charges wildly, dreaded for rending chain,
its chest is dyed with blood.
Ruin and harm from his onset restrain.
يَعْدوit gallops بمَرْهوبِbearing one feared for الشَّذاthe sting يُتَّقىis warded off
يَعْدو بمَرْهوبِ الشَّذا يُتَّقى
بهِthrough him الرّدىdeath والبأسُand martial might مَرْهوبُfeared
بهِ الرّدى والبأسُ مَرْهوبُ
It gallops with one whose sting is feared, through whom
Among youths who drag the train of their spears,
death is warded off; his martial might is dreaded.
Where the dangling queue of long hair appears,
فيamong فِتيَةٍyoung warriors تَسْحَبُtrail سُمْرَthe brown القَناspear-shafts
في فِتيَةٍ تَسْحَبُ سُمْرَ القَنا
بحَيثُwhere ذَيلُthe hem النّقعِof dust مَسْحوبُtrailed
بحَيثُ ذَيلُ النّقعِ مَسْحوبُ
Among young warriors who trail brown lances,
Religion extends its glory through their worth,
where the dust's hem is drawn along.
Exalted exploits the noblest bring forth.
مَدَّextended قِوامُmainstay الدّينِof the faith أبْواعَهُمْtheir armspans
مَدَّ قِوامُ الدّينِ أبْواعَهُمْ
إِلىtoward العُلاthe heights والعِزُّand honor مَطْلوبُsought
إِلى العُلا والعِزُّ مَطْلوبُ
Qiwām al-Dīn has extended the reach of their arms
A splendid scion by his sire's repute bred,
toward the heights, while honor is sought.
To their lineage sublime the noble deed.
أرْوَعُan imposing man يَنْميهِennobles him أبٌa father ماجِدٌillustrious
أرْوَعُ يَنْميهِ أبٌ ماجِدٌ
إلَيْهِماto both of them السّؤْدَدُhigh nobility مَنسوبُascribed
إلَيْهِما السّؤْدَدُ مَنسوبُ
An imposing man, sprung from an illustrious father,
Though young the boy, yet ripe of age is he,
to both of whom high nobility is ascribed.
Elders round him for wisdom see.
مُقْتَبِلُat the beginning of السِّنِّage عَقيدُa sworn ally of النُّهىreason
مُقْتَبِلُ السِّنِّ عَقيدُ النُّهى
تَقْصُرُfall short عنْof غايَتِهِhis attainment الشّيبِthe gray-haired
تَقْصُرُ عنْ غايَتِهِ الشّيبِ
Young in years, a sworn ally of reason,
Rule no weakling's burden upholds
the gray-haired fall short of his attainment.
Whom trials have not refined and made bold,
والمُلْكُand kingship لاnot يحْمِلُbears أعْباءَهُits burdens
والمُلْكُ لا يحْمِلُ أعْباءَهُ
مَنْwhoever لمْhas not تُهذِّبْهُrefined him التّجاريبُexperiences
مَنْ لمْ تُهذِّبْهُ التّجاريبُ
And the burdens of kingship are not borne
Whose youth fierce afflictions have put to proof,
by one whom experience has not refined.
Corrected, admonished, yet kind aloof.
واحْتَوَشَتْهُand encircled him نُوَبٌvicissitudes للفَتىfor a young man
واحْتَوَشَتْهُ نُوَبٌ للفَتى
فيهِنَّwithin them تَصْعيدٌascent تَصويبُdescent
فيهِنَّ تَصْعيدٌ تَصويبُ
And vicissitudes have beset him; for a young man,
No shower of generosity his ear distains,
within them lie ascent and descent.
In his munificence, no rebuke arraigns.
غَمْرُabundant الندىًin generosity لمhas not يحتَضِنْembraced سَمْعَهُhis hearing
غَمْرُ الندىً لم يحتَضِنْ سَمْعَهُ
فيconcerning جُودِهِhis generosity عَذْلٌrebuke وتأنيبُand reproach
في جُودِهِ عَذْلٌ وتأنيبُ
He is a flood of bounty; his hearing has never harbored
Of gentle airs, his doors are pathways trod,
rebuke or reproach for his generosity.
With greeting he welcomes each visitor's nod.
مُوَطَّأُmade gentle الأكْنافِthe sides أبوابُهُhis doors
مُوَطَّأُ الأكْنافِ أبوابُهُ
لهُنَّtheirs is بالزّائِرِfor the visitor تَرْحيبُwelcome
لهُنَّ بالزّائِرِ تَرْحيبُ
He is gentle and approachable; his doors
Neither slighted suppliant nor stranger finds
offer welcome to the visitor.
Any roughness in him, or ungenerous minds.
فلاso not القِرىthe hospitality نَزْرٌscant ولاnor المُجْتَلىthe visible countenance
فلا القِرى نَزْرٌ ولا المُجْتَلى
جَهْمٌgrim ولاnor النّائِلُthe bounty مَحْسوبُcounted out
جَهْمٌ ولا النّائِلُ مَحْسوبُ
So his hospitality is not scant, nor his countenance
His nature resembles the flower-filled plain.
grim, nor his bounty counted out.
The meadow's adorned and in blossom's reign.
كالزَّهَرِlike blossoms المَطْلولِdew-moistened أخْلاقُهُhis character
كالزَّهَرِ المَطْلولِ أخْلاقُهُ
والرّوْضُand the garden مَشْمولٌfanned by north winds ومَجْنوبُand by south winds
والرّوْضُ مَشْمولٌ ومَجْنوبُ
His character is like dew-moistened blossoms,
He is a rain-bursting cloud, thus springs thrive
and the garden is fanned by north and south winds.
On the downpour of blessings that keep alive.
وهْوَand he غَمامٌa cloud خَضِلٌmoisture-laden فالحياso the rain
وهْوَ غَمامٌ خَضِلٌ فالحيا
مُنْتَظَرٌawaited منهُfrom him ومَرْقوبُand watched for
مُنْتَظَرٌ منهُ ومَرْقوبُ
And he is a rain-laden cloud, so rain
His glory rebuilds what destruction laid low,
is awaited from him and watched for.
Glory inherited and glory won now.
شيّدَbuilt high ماwhat أثّلَfirmly founded منْof مَجْدِهِhis glory
شيّدَ ما أثّلَ منْ مَجْدِهِ
والمَجْدُand glory مَوْروثٌinherited ومَكْسوبُand earned
والمَجْدُ مَوْروثٌ ومَكْسوبُ
He built high the glory he had firmly founded—
Gifts that oblige him men's wants to relieve,
and glory is inherited and earned—
The needy from him seek and solace receive.
بِنائِلٍthrough bounty يُمْتارُis garnered منهُfrom it الغِنىwealth
بِنائِلٍ يُمْتارُ منهُ الغِنى
لهُit has علىupon العافيthe suppliant شَآبيبُrain showers
لهُ على العافي شَآبيبُ
through bounty from which wealth is garnered,
A purpose whereby what he sought he attained,
whose showers fall upon the suppliant,
The sword's edged assistance his triumph ordained.
وعَزمَةٍand resolve نالَhe attained بهاthrough it ماwhat ابْتَغىhe sought
وعَزمَةٍ نالَ بها ما ابْتَغى
منَfrom العِداthe foes والسّيْفُwhile the sword مَقْروبُsheathed
منَ العِدا والسّيْفُ مَقْروبُ
and resolve by which he won what he sought
No censuring censures the revel he gave,
from his foes, while the sword was sheathed.
No carping carps the winepots songs that he crave.
والسُّمْرُand the brown lances لمْhad not تَكْلَفْbecome enamored بلَبّاتِهِمْof their throats
والسُّمْرُ لمْ تَكْلَفْ بلَبّاتِهِمْ
راعِفَةًbleeding منهاfrom them الأنابيبُthe shaft-sections
راعِفَةً منها الأنابيبُ
And brown lances had not wooed their throats,
Yet what adversities fell have I seen!
with their shafts streaming blood.
But the sword, not injustice, my succor has been.
هذاthis وكَمْand how many مِنْof غَمْرَةٍa perilous deep خاضَهاhe waded through it
هذا وكَمْ مِنْ غَمْرَةٍ خاضَها
فيهاin it نَقيعُan infusion السُّمِّof poison مَشْروبُdrunk
فيها نَقيعُ السُّمِّ مَشْروبُ
All this—and he has waded through many a perilous deep,
Estranged me from home did my wanderings wild,
where an infusion of poison is drunk.
The home of my childhood, beloved from a child.
للأسَلِfor the spears اللُّدْنِsupple بأرْجائِهاthroughout its reaches
للأسَلِ اللُّدْنِ بأرْجائِها
والخَيْلُand the horses أُخْدودٌa furrow وأُلْهوبُand a fiery gallop
والخَيْلُ أُخْدودٌ وأُلْهوبُ
Across its reaches, the supple spears
My name over countries and regions now rings,
cut furrows, and the horses gallop like flame.
Unmarred by the exile my wandering brings.
واللهُand God يُعْليraises رايَةًa banner نَصْرُهاits victory
واللهُ يُعْلي رايَةً نَصْرُها
برأيِهِby his judgment الثّاقِبِpenetrating مَعْصوبُbound
برأيِهِ الثّاقِبِ مَعْصوبُ
And God raises a banner whose victory
To live in your shadow is sweetness of life,
is bound to his penetrating judgment.
Like the scent of pure honey drawn fresh from the hive.
فحِلْمُso the composure مَنْof whoever ساوَرَهُassailed him عازِبٌgone
فحِلْمُ مَنْ ساوَرَهُ عازِبٌ
ولُبُّand the intellect مَنْof whoever عاداهُopposed him مَسْلوبُstolen
ولُبُّ مَنْ عاداهُ مَسْلوبُ
So the composure of whoever assails him is gone,
No throbbing of heart is for home that I feel,
and the wits of whoever opposes him are stolen away.
No tear down my cheek sorrow causes to steal.
والجهلُand ignorance يُغريهِincites him علىin غِيّهِhis delusion
والجهلُ يُغريهِ على غِيّهِ
بهِagainst him وقِرْنُwhile the rival الدّهْرِof Time مَغلوبُvanquished
بهِ وقِرْنُ الدّهْرِ مَغلوبُ
And ignorance, amid his delusion, goads him
How can one complain of the turns of the years,
against him, while Time's rival is vanquished.
Whose name on the days and the ages appears?
ألقىyielded مَقاليدَthe keys الوَرىof humankind عَنْوَةًby force
ألقى مَقاليدَ الوَرى عَنْوَةً
إليهِto him تَرْهيبٌintimidation وتَرْغيبُand inducement
إليهِ تَرْهيبٌ وتَرْغيبُ
The keys of humankind were yielded by force
For you would one forfeit his fortune entire,
to him by intimidation and inducement.
And honor, when plundered and prey to the fire.
يَفرُشُهُمْhe beds them عَدْلاًon justice وأمْناًand safety فَلاso no
يَفرُشُهُمْ عَدْلاً وأمْناً فَلا
يُحَسُّis perceived مَظْلومٌan oppressed person ومَرْعوبُand a frightened person
يُحَسُّ مَظْلومٌ ومَرْعوبُ
He spreads justice and safety beneath them, so
The tenth of his property he does not hoard,
no oppressed or frightened person is found.
His liberality's fame is broadcast abroad.
ياO مَنْyou who عَلَيْهِover him أمَليmy hope حائِمٌhovering
يا مَنْ عَلَيْهِ أمَلي حائِمٌ
ومَنْand you who إليهِto him الحَمْدُpraise مَجْلوبُbrought
ومَنْ إليهِ الحَمْدُ مَجْلوبُ
O you over whom my hope hovers,
He vilifies none, apprehensive of sin,
and to whom praise is brought,
His praise scorns the falsehood smug liars toss in.
يَفديكَmay he ransom you مَنْthe one who شَدَّtightened علىover مالِهِhis wealth
يَفديكَ مَنْ شَدَّ على مالِهِ
وِكاءَهُhis purse-string والعِرْضُwhile his honor مَنهوبُplundered
وِكاءَهُ والعِرْضُ مَنهوبُ
may he be your ransom who bound his wealth
Vulgar mouths at the wealthy their ribaldry spit,
with his purse-string, while his honor is plundered.
The miser's malign, the stingy they flit.
لهُhe has عِشارٌpregnant she-camels ليسَnot تُدْمىare bloodied لَهاfor them
لهُ عِشارٌ ليسَ تُدْمى لَها
فيin نَدْوَةِthe assembly الحَيِّof the clan عَواقيبُhocks
في نَدْوَةِ الحَيِّ عَواقيبُ
He has pregnant she-camels; never are their
Why treat me with scorn, O my days, and defile
hocks bloodied at the clan's assembly.
When the sword, not dishonor, is lightning my trial?
يُطْنِبُspeaks at length هاجِيهِhis satirist ولاand not يتّقيfears
يُطْنِبُ هاجِيهِ ولا يتّقي
إثْماًsin وفيwhile in تَقْريظِهِhis praise حُوبُguilt
إثْماً وفي تَقْريظِهِ حُوبُ
His satirist speaks at length and does not fear
Ye sundered me out from my country, my woe,
sin, while praising him is guilt.
The home of my birth that I yearn for, I know.
فهَجْوُهُso satire of him صِدْقٌtruth وفيand in مَدْحِهِpraise of him
فهَجْوُهُ صِدْقٌ وفي مَدْحِهِ
تَكْبوstumble بمُطْريهِwith his eulogist الأكاذيبُthe lies
تَكْبو بمُطْريهِ الأكاذيبُ
For satire of him is truth, whereas in his praise
My name over regions and countries resounds,
lies stumble beneath his eulogist.
Nor roaming estranged me from well-trodden grounds.
والسَّبُّand abuse يَلْتَفُّentwines بِذيaround a possessor of ثَرْوَةٍwealth
والسَّبُّ يَلْتَفُّ بِذي ثَرْوَةٍ
يَشِحُّis stingy والباخِلُand the miser مَسْبوبُreviled
يَشِحُّ والباخِلُ مَسْبوبُ
And abuse entwines a man of wealth
To live in your shadow is sweetness of life,
who is stingy, and the miser is reviled.
Like the scent of pure honey drawn fresh from the hive.
فَماso why لأيّاميwith my days تهَضّمْنَنيthey oppress me
فَما لأيّامي تهَضّمْنَني
والسّيْفُwhile the sword دونَagainst الضّيمِhumiliation مَرْكوبُridden
والسّيْفُ دونَ الضّيمِ مَرْكوبُ
Then why do my days oppress me,
No throbbing of heart is for home that I feel,
when the sword is a mount against humiliation?
No tear down my cheek sorrow causes to steal.
غرَّبْنَنيthey exiled me عنfrom وطَنيmy homeland ضَلّةًwrongfully
غرَّبْنَني عن وطَني ضَلّةً
والوطَنُand the homeland المألوفُfamiliar مَحْبوبُbeloved
والوطَنُ المألوفُ مَحْبوبُ
They wrongly exiled me from my homeland,
How can one complain of the turns of the years,
and the familiar homeland is beloved.
Whose name on the days and the ages appears?
وطبَّقَand filled الآفاقَthe horizons ذِكْريmy renown فلَمْso has not
وطبَّقَ الآفاقَ ذِكْري فلَمْ
يُخْمِلْهُobscure it إجْلاءٌbanishment وتَغْريبُand exile
يُخْمِلْهُ إجْلاءٌ وتَغْريبُ
And my fame has filled the horizons; it has not
been obscured by banishment or exile.
والعيشُand life فيin ظِلِّكَyour shade حُلْوُsweet الجَنىin fruit
والعيشُ في ظِلِّكَ حُلْوُ الجَنى
كأنّهُas though it بالأرْيِwith honey مَقْطوبُmingled
كأنّهُ بالأرْيِ مَقْطوبُ
And life in your shade bears sweet fruit,
as though mingled with honey.
فلاso not فؤاديmy heart للنّوىat separation خافِقٌthrobbing
فلا فؤادي للنّوى خافِقٌ
وَجْداًwith longing ولاnor دَمْعيَmy tears مَسْكوبُpoured out
وَجْداً ولا دَمْعيَ مَسْكوبُ
So my heart does not throb at separation
with longing, nor are my tears poured out.
وكيفَand how يَشْكوcomplains of الدّهْرَTime مَنْthe one whose شِعْرُهُhis poetry
وكيفَ يَشْكو الدّهْرَ مَنْ شِعْرُهُ
علىupon جَبينِthe brow الدّهْرِof Time مَكْتوبُwritten
على جَبينِ الدّهْرِ مَكْتوبُ
And how can one complain of Time, when his verse
is written upon Time's brow?
Partial English translation: 94 of 102 Arabic lines translated.