لاجَديدُno freshness الصِباof youth وَلاnor رَيعانُهits prime
لاجَديدُ الصِبا وَلا رَيعانُه
راجِعٌreturning بَعدَafter ماthat تَقَضّىhas passed زَمانُهits time
راجِعٌ بَعدَ ما تَقَضّى زَمانُه
Neither youth's freshness nor its prime
Neither the freshness of youth nor its prime
returns once its time has passed.
Will return after their time has passed.
يَأشَرُrevels wantonly الفارِغُthe unburdened man الخَلِيُّthe carefree man وَيَأسىand grieves
يَأشَرُ الفارِغُ الخَلِيُّ وَيَأسى
مُترَعُbrimful الصَدرِin the breast مِنwith جَوىًlove's anguish مَلآنُهfilled with it
مُترَعُ الصَدرِ مِن جَوىً مَلآنُه
The unburdened, carefree man revels; grief consumes
The free and empty soul grieves
the man whose breast is brimful of love's anguish.
As his breast fills with burning passion.
قاتِليkilling me سِرُّthe secret of ذاthis الهَوىlove إِنif تَجَنَّيwronged (verb continues)
قاتِلي سِرُّ ذا الهَوى إِن تَجَنَّي
تُI (verb ending) عَلَيهِagainst it أَمor فاضِحيdisgracing me إِعلانُهits disclosure
تُ عَلَيهِ أَم فاضِحي إِعلانُه
Does this love's secret kill me if I wrong
O you who reproach this love of mine, kill it
it, or does its disclosure disgrace me?
If you can hide it, or expose it if you can.
أَتَخَشّىI fear زِيالَseparation from عَلوَةَAlwa بَلrather هِجestrangement (word continues)
أَتَخَشّى زِيالَ عَلوَةَ بَل هِج
رانَهاher estrangement (completion) وَالمُحِبُّand the lover خاشٍfearful جَنانُهhis heart
رانَها وَالمُحِبُّ خاشٍ جَنانُه
I fear separation from Alwa—rather, estrangement
Do you fear the slander of censors? No, but I fear
from her; a lover's heart is fearful.
My own madness - lovers fear their insanity.
يَذهَبُcarries away البَرقُthe lightning حَيثُwherever شاءَit wishes بِلُبّيwith my mind
يَذهَبُ البَرقُ حَيثُ شاءَ بِلُبّي
إِنif بَداappears البَرقُthe lightning أَوor بَداappears لَمَعانَُهits gleam
إِن بَدا البَرقُ أَو بَدا لَمَعانَُه
Lightning carries my mind wherever it wills,
Lightning goes wherever it wills,
if lightning appears or its gleam appears.
Be it lightning itself or its flashes seen.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَذكَرَتكِbrought you to mind رَوحَةُan evening passage of ريحٍa wind
وَلَقَد أَذكَرَتكِ رَوحَةُ ريحٍ
أَلفَتencountered عارِضاًa cloud-bank يَرِفُّshimmers عَنانُهits upper reaches
أَلفَت عارِضاً يَرِفُّ عَنانُه
An evening breeze indeed brought you to mind,
The breeze of a gentle wind reminded me of you
one that met a cloud-bank whose upper reaches shimmered.
When it shook the branch of a willow it bent.
حَنَّsighed فيهاin it أَثلُthe tamarisks of الغُوَيرِal-Ghuwayr فَأَشجىand so saddened
حَنَّ فيها أَثلُ الغُوَيرِ فَأَشجى
مُغرَماتِlove-stricken القُلوبِhearts وَإِهتَزَّand swayed بانُهits ben trees
مُغرَماتِ القُلوبِ وَإِهتَزَّ بانُه
In it, al-Ghuwayr's tamarisks sighed, bringing grief
In it theorioles sang sadly,
to love-stricken hearts, while its ben trees swayed.
Stirring the hearts of the lovesick.
لَيلَتيmy night فيin هُمَانِياءَHumaniya جَديرٌdeserving
لَيلَتي في هُمَانِياءَ جَديرٌ
صُبحُهاits dawn أَنto يَشوقُنيawaken my longing عِرفانُهremembering it
صُبحُها أَن يَشوقُني عِرفانُه
My night in Humaniya—well may
My night immersed in worries deserves
the memory of its dawn awaken longing in me.
A dawn that awakens my knowledge of you.
وَلَيتَنيtook charge of me الشَمولُthe wine فيهاthere فِراكاًwith aversion
وَلَيتَني الشَمولُ فيها فِراكاً
بِيَديin the two hands of مُرهَفٍa slender man خَصيبٍbountiful بَنانُهhis fingers
بِيَدي مُرهَفٍ خَصيبٍ بَنانُه
The wine took charge of me there, though reluctant,
Would that I could reach out my hand
in the two hands of a slender man with bountiful fingers.
And pick ripe fruits from its heavily laden branches.
باتَspent the night يَثنيdoubles بِلَونِهاwith its color لَونَthe color of خَدٍّa cheek
باتَ يَثني بِلَونِها لَونَ خَدٍّ
مُشبِهٍresembling أُرجُوانَهاits crimson أُرجُوانُهhis crimson
مُشبِهٍ أُرجُوانَها أُرجُوانُه
All night he paired its color with the color of a cheek
It has taken on the color of her cheek,
whose crimson resembled its crimson.
Resembling the hue of her rose-red complexion.
وَلَقَدand indeed خِفتُI feared أَوor تَوَهَّمتُI supposed ظَنّاًa surmise
وَلَقَد خِفتُ أَو تَوَهَّمتُ ظَنّاً
بِأَبيconcerning Abu الفَتحِal-Fath أَنthat يَطولَbe prolonged زَمانُهhis time
بِأَبي الفَتحِ أَن يَطولَ زَمانُه
I feared—or formed a surmise—
I feared, or imagined, that the days
that Abu al-Fath's time would be prolonged.
Of Abul Fath would be prolonged.
وَإِذاand when صَحَّتِproves sound الرَوِيَّةُreflection يَوماًone day
وَإِذا صَحَّتِ الرَوِيَّةُ يَوماً
فَسَواءٌthen equal ظَنُّthe surmise of إِمرِئٍa man وَعِيانُهand his firsthand sight
فَسَواءٌ ظَنُّ إِمرِئٍ وَعِيانُه
When reflection proves sound one day,
But when the news becomes true one day,
a man's surmise and firsthand sight are equal.
To the observer, opinion and evidence are the same.
إِنif تَغَطّىconceal themselves عَنكَfrom you الأَصادِقُfriends تُبديreveal
إِن تَغَطّى عَنكَ الأَصادِقُ تُبدي
شِدَّةُthe severity of الدَهرِtime عَنهُمُabout them وَلِيانُهand its gentleness
شِدَّةُ الدَهرِ عَنهُمُ وَلِيانُه
If friends conceal themselves from you, they are revealed
If the righteous are veiled from you,
by time's severity and its gentleness.
The cruelty of fate reveals their loyalty.
يُعرَفُis known السَيفُthe sword بِالضَريبَةِby the test target يَلقاit meets
يُعرَفُ السَيفُ بِالضَريبَةِ يَلقا
هاit وَيُنبيand reveals عَنِabout الصَديقِthe friend إِمتِحانُهhis testing
ها وَيُنبي عَنِ الصَديقِ إِمتِحانُه
The sword is known by the target it meets,
A sword is known by its strike, just as
and a friend's testing reveals him.
Trials reveal the true friend.
وَإِذاand when ماever أَرابَbrings disquiet دَهرٌtime فَمِنthen among أَعداenemies (word continues)
وَإِذا ما أَرابَ دَهرٌ فَمِن أَعدا
ءِcompletion of 'enemies' شاجٍone grieved بِريبِهِby its treachery إِخوانُهhis brothers
ءِ شاجٍ بِريبِهِ إِخوانُه
When time brings disquiet, among the enemies
And when fate harms, it comes from enemies,
of one grieved by its treachery are his brothers.
Though they be brothers sharing one home.
فَأَلهَso disregard عَنregarding نَبوَةِthe rebuff of الأَخِلّاءِclose friends إِذsince كاwas (word continues)
فَأَلهَ عَن نَبوَةِ الأَخِلّاءِ إِذ كا
نَcompletion of 'was' عَتيداًlying ready فيin كُلِّevery عودٍpiece of wood دُخانُهits smoke
نَ عَتيداً في كُلِّ عودٍ دُخانُه
So disregard friends' rebuffs, since
Ask them about the best of all people, when
every piece of wood has its smoke lying ready.
Their gathering fills with smoke at every return.
حَفِظَmay preserve اللَهُGod حَيثُwherever أَصبَحَhas come to dwell عَبدَAbd (servant of) اللَAllah (word continues)
حَفِظَ اللَهُ حَيثُ أَصبَحَ عَبدَ اللَ
هِcompletion of 'Allah' أَوor حَيثُwherever أَصبَحَتhave come to be أَوطانُهhis homelands
هِ أَو حَيثُ أَصبَحَت أَوطانُه
May God preserve the place where Abdallah dwells,
May God protect wherever Abdullah resides
or wherever his homelands lie.
Or wherever his homeland lies.
وَمَذحِجِيُّand a Madhhijite النِجارِin ancestry وَالبَيتِand house لَمdid not يَقhold back (verb continues)
وَمَذحِجِيُّ النِجارِ وَالبَيتِ لَم يَق
عُدcompletion of 'hold back' بِهِwith him يَومَon a day of سُؤدُدٍeminence نَجرانُهhis Najran
عُد بِهِ يَومَ سُؤدُدٍ نَجرانُه
And a Madhhijite in ancestry and house, never held back
He of Mudhij and Najran will not stay
by his Najran on a day of eminence.
There when the day of parting arrives.
غِبتُI was absent عَنهُfrom him فَغابَso vanished عَنّيfrom me سُروريmy joy
غِبتُ عَنهُ فَغابَ عَنّي سُروري
إِنَّماonly يَجمَعُgathers السُرورَjoy مَعانُهhis dwelling
إِنَّما يَجمَعُ السُرورَ مَعانُه
I was absent from him, and my joy vanished from me;
When I left, joy left me,
his dwelling alone gathers joy together.
For only presence brings joy.
نِيَّةٌa departure عُقِّبَتwas followed بِحِرمانِby deprivation of حَظٍّgood fortune
نِيَّةٌ عُقِّبَت بِحِرمانِ حَظٍّ
رُبَّmany a نايِdistant man يَنأىdrives far بِهِwith him حِرمانُهhis deprivation
رُبَّ نايِ يَنأى بِهِ حِرمانُه
A departure followed by deprivation of good fortune—
An intention followed by deprivation -
many a distant man is driven away by his deprivation.
How often does deprivation follow intention!
سَعِدَwas fortunate الشاهِدُthe one present المُقيمُthe resident وَمِنand among أَسmost fortunate (word continues)
سَعِدَ الشاهِدُ المُقيمُ وَمِن أَس
عَدِcompletion of 'most fortunate' قَومٍpeople بِوابِلٍwith a downpour جيرانُهhis neighbors
عَدِ قَومٍ بِوابِلٍ جيرانُه
Fortunate is the one who stays present; among the happiest
Happy is the resident, blessed are the neighbors
people in a downpour are his neighbors.
Whose neighbor grants them abundant rain.
زَورَةٌa visit قُيِّضَتwas ordained لِإيوانِfor the Iwan of كِسرىKhosrow
زَورَةٌ قُيِّضَت لِإيوانِ كِسرى
لَمdid not يُرِدهاdesire it كِسرىKhosrow وَلاnor إيوانُهhis Iwan
لَم يُرِدها كِسرى وَلا إيوانُه
A visit ordained for Khosrow's Iwan,
A gift was intended for the palace of Chosroes,
though neither Khosrow nor his Iwan had wished for it.
But Chosroes and his palace had no desire for it.
يَطَّبيlures أَبيَضُthe White Palace of المَدائِنِal-Mada'in شَوقيmy longing
يَطَّبي أَبيَضُ المَدائِنِ شَوقي
أَفَلاthen should not المَذحِجِيُّthe Madhhijite أَوor غِمدانُهhis Ghumdan
أَفَلا المَذحِجِيُّ أَو غِمدانُه
The White Palace of al-Mada'in lures my longing—
Greetings to Madain, so white - my longing
should not the Madhhijite, or his Ghumdan?
Is for Mudhij or its sword case.
أَجدَرُmost worthy الناسِamong men بِإِمتِنانٍto grant favors وَأَحرىand most likely الthe
أَجدَرُ الناسِ بِإِمتِنانٍ وَأَحرى ال
ناسِpeople طُرّاًall together أَلّاnot to يُمَنَّbe held over others إِمتِنانُهhis favors
ناسِ طُرّاً أَلّا يُمَنَّ إِمتِنانُه
Most worthy among men to grant favors, and most likely
The most deserving of all people of gratitude,
of all men never to hold his favors over others.
And the least deserving of pride, is he whose gratitude you grant.
غُمَّwould be hidden عَنّاfrom us أَينَwhere السَماحُgenerosity وَأَضلَلand would lose (verb continues)
غُمَّ عَنّا أَينَ السَماحُ وَأَضلَل
ناwe (verb ending) مَكانَthe place of المَعروفِkindness لَولاwere it not for مَكانُهhis place
نا مَكانَ المَعروفِ لَولا مَكانُه
Generosity's whereabouts would be hidden from us, and we would lose
Generosity has vanished from us and misguided us,
the place of kindness, were it not for his own place.
Were it not for its dwelling place.
إِنif يَقُلhe speaks واعِداًpromising تُوافِcome together إِلىtoward النُجfulfillment (word continues)
إِن يَقُل واعِداً تُوافِ إِلى النُج
حِcompletion of 'fulfillment' يَداهُhis two hands فيin صَفقَةٍa pact وَلِسانُهand his tongue
حِ يَداهُ في صَفقَةٍ وَلِسانُه
If he makes a promise, they meet in fulfillment:
If he promises to fulfill a wish,
his two hands and his tongue, in a single pact.
His hands clap in agreement though his mind remains anxious.
ضامِنٌa guarantor لِلَّذيof what يُرادُis sought لَدَيهِfrom him
ضامِنٌ لِلَّذي يُرادُ لَدَيهِ
قَلِقُrestless الفِكرِin thought أَوuntil يَصِحَّcomes true ضَمانُهhis guarantee
قَلِقُ الفِكرِ أَو يَصِحَّ ضَمانُه
A guarantor of whatever is sought from him,
His is an obedient nature - if pleased
restless in thought until his guarantee comes true.
To show generosity, he yields and loosens his reins.
خُلُقٌa disposition طَيِّعٌpliant إِذاwhen ريضَis trained لِلجوfor generosity (word continues)
خُلُقٌ طَيِّعٌ إِذا ريضَ لِلجو
دِcompletion of 'generosity' إِنثَنىbends عِطفُهُits flank وَلانَand grows supple عِنانُهits rein
دِ إِنثَنى عِطفُهُ وَلانَ عِنانُه
A pliant nature: when trained to generosity,
The more the nights bring goodness,
its flank bends, and its rein grows supple.
The more his goodness increases.
كُلَّماwhenever جاءَتِbring اللَياليthe nights بِإِحساwith kindness (word continues)
كُلَّما جاءَتِ اللَيالي بِإِحسا
نٍcompletion of 'kindness' فَباديthen the first of إِحسانَهاtheir kindness إِحسانُهhis kindness
نٍ فَبادي إِحسانَها إِحسانُه
Whenever the nights bring kindness,
A group whose entertainment makes one doubt -
the first of their kindness is his.
Are they the hosts or the treasurers?
جُمَلٌgreat heaps مِنof لُهىًgifts يُشَكِّكنَmake one doubt فيabout القَوthe people (word continues)
جُمَلٌ مِن لُهىً يُشَكِّكنَ في القَو
مِcompletion of 'the people' أَهُمare they مُجتَدوهُhis bounty-seekers أَمor خُزّانُهhis treasurers
مِ أَهُم مُجتَدوهُ أَم خُزّانُه
Heaps of gifts leave one wondering about the people—
No fickleness of opinion is feared from him,
are they his bounty-seekers, or his treasurers?
Nor is his temptation easily dismissed.
لَيسَnot يُخشىis feared مِنهُfrom him التَفَنُّنُfickleness فيin الرَأjudgment (word continues)
لَيسَ يُخشى مِنهُ التَفَنُّنُ في الرَأ
يِcompletion of 'judgment' وَلاnor يُستَقَلُّis deemed slight فيهِin it إِفتِنانُهhis versatility
يِ وَلا يُستَقَلُّ فيهِ إِفتِنانُه
No fickleness in judgment is feared from him,
Al-Harith bin Ka'b bin 'Amr
nor is his versatility in it deemed slight.
Ends with their ruins where his building once stood.
يَنتَهيreaches الحارِثُal-Harith بنُson of كَعبٍKa'b بنِson of عَمرٍوAmr
يَنتَهي الحارِثُ بنُ كَعبٍ بنِ عَمرٍو
بُعُلاهاthrough its glories حَيثُas far as اِنتَهىhas reached بُنيانُهhis edifice
بُعُلاها حَيثُ اِنتَهى بُنيانُه
Al-Harith ibn Ka'b ibn Amr reaches
If you say she surpasses in discourse, she is
through the tribe's glories as far as his edifice has risen.
The outstanding one, like the branches of her willows.
إِنif تَقُلyou speak فيof حَديثِهاits recent generations فَهوَthen he is الفَرthe branch (word continues)
إِن تَقُل في حَديثِها فَهوَ الفَر
عُcompletion of 'the branch' سَماrose high فيamong أُرومِهاits ancestral roots فَينانُهhis leafy crown
عُ سَما في أُرومِها فَينانُه
If you speak of its recent generations, he is the branch
Or if you ask about her ancient past,
whose leafy crown towers among its ancestral roots.
The best answer is her arrow tips.
أَوor تَسَلyou ask عَنabout قَديمِهاits ancient past فَزَعيماthen the two chiefs of
أَو تَسَل عَن قَديمِها فَزَعيما
سَلَفَيهاits two ancestral lines يَزيدُهُhis Yazid قَنانُهhis Qanan
سَلَفَيها يَزيدُهُ قَنانُه
Or ask of its ancient past: the two chiefs
of its two ancestral lines are his Yazid and his Qanan.
Partial English translation: 66 of 68 Arabic lines translated.