زَعَمَclaimed الغُرابُthe crow مُنَبِّئُteller of الأَنباءِthe tidings
زَعَمَ الغُرابُ مُنَبِّئُ الأَنباءِ
أَنَّthat الأَحِبَّةَthe beloved ones آذَنواthey gave notice بِتَناءِof separation
أَنَّ الأَحِبَّةَ آذَنوا بِتَناءِ
The crow, teller of tidings, claimed
The raven, bearer of news, claimed
that the beloved had given notice of separation.
That my loved ones bid farewell.
فَاِثلِجso cool بِبَردِwith the chill of الدَمعِthe tears صَدراًa breast واغِراًseething
فَاِثلِج بِبَردِ الدَمعِ صَدراً واغِراً
وَجَوانِحاًand ribs مَسجورَةَablaze with الرَمضاءِscorching heat
وَجَوانِحاً مَسجورَةَ الرَمضاءِ
So cool, with the chill of tears, a seething breast
So chill my burning chest with the cold of tears
and ribs ablaze with scorching heat.
And my limbs scorched by the summer heat.
لاdo not تَأمُرَنّيbid me بِالعَزاءِto find consolation وَقَدwhile already تَرىyou see
لا تَأمُرَنّي بِالعَزاءِ وَقَد تَرى
أَثَرَthe traces of الخَليطِthe companions وَلاتَand it is not حينَa time for عَزاءِconsolation
أَثَرَ الخَليطِ وَلاتَ حينَ عَزاءِ
Do not bid me find consolation when you see
Do not command me to be consoled when you see
the companions' traces: this is no time for consolation.
The effects of agony at the time of consolation.
قَصَرَcut short الفِراقُseparation عَنِfrom السُلُوِّforgetting عَزيمَتيmy resolve
قَصَرَ الفِراقُ عَنِ السُلُوِّ عَزيمَتي
وَأَطالَand prolonged فيover تِلكَthose الرُسومِdwelling-traces بُكائيmy weeping
وَأَطالَ في تِلكَ الرُسومِ بُكائي
Separation has cut short my resolve to forget
Separation weakened my determination to forget,
and prolonged my weeping over those deserted traces.
And prolonged my weeping over those features.
زِدنيincrease for me اِشتِياقاًlonging بِالمُدامِwith wine وَغَنِّنيand sing to me
زِدني اِشتِياقاً بِالمُدامِ وَغَنِّني
أَعزِزhow grievous عَلَيَّto me بِفُرقَةِis the parting of القُرَناءِthe companions
أَعزِز عَلَيَّ بِفُرقَةِ القُرَناءِ
Increase my longing with wine, and sing to me:
Increase my yearning with wine and sing to me,
'How grievous to me is the parting of companions!'
Make my separation from my companion more painful.
فَلَعَلَّنيso perhaps I أَلقىshall meet الرَدىdeath فَيُريحُنيand it will relieve me
فَلَعَلَّني أَلقى الرَدى فَيُريحُني
عَمّاbefore قَليلٍlong مِنof جَوىthe burning ache of البُرَحاءِsevere anguish
عَمّا قَليلٍ مِن جَوى البُرَحاءِ
Perhaps I shall meet death, and it will relieve me
Perhaps soon I will find solace
before long of the burning ache of anguish.
From a little of the ardour of the expanse.
أَخَذَتtook on ظُهورُthe uplands of الصالِحِيَّةِal-Salihiyya زينَةًan adornment
أَخَذَت ظُهورُ الصالِحِيَّةِ زينَةً
عَجَباًwondrous مِنَof الصَفراءِthe yellow وَالحَمراءِand the red
عَجَباً مِنَ الصَفراءِ وَالحَمراءِ
The uplands of al-Salihiyya have taken on an adornment
The backs of the righteous took on adornment,
wondrous in its yellow and red.
Wondrously yellow and red.
نَسَجَwove الرَبيعُspring لِرَبعِهاfor its grounds ديباجَةًa brocade
نَسَجَ الرَبيعُ لِرَبعِها ديباجَةً
مِنfrom جَوهَرِthe jewels of الأَنوارِthe blossoms بِالأَنواءِthrough seasonal rains
مِن جَوهَرِ الأَنوارِ بِالأَنواءِ
Spring wove a brocade for its grounds
Spring wove for its meadows a silken robe
from the jewels of blossoms, through seasonal rains.
Of the essence of lights with rays.
بَكَتِwept السَماءُthe sky بِهاthere رَذاذَa drizzle of دُموعِهاits tears
بَكَتِ السَماءُ بِها رَذاذَ دُموعِها
فَغَدَتso it became تَبَسَّمُsmiling عَنrevealing نُجومِstars of سَماءِa heaven
فَغَدَت تَبَسَّمُ عَن نُجومِ سَماءِ
The sky wept there a drizzle of its tears,
The sky wept droplets of its tears over it,
and it awoke smiling, revealing stars of a heaven,
And so it began to smile with the stars of the heavens.
فيin حُلَّةٍa robe خَضراءَgreen نَمنَمَfinely patterned وَشيَهاits brocade
في حُلَّةٍ خَضراءَ نَمنَمَ وَشيَها
حَوكُthe weaving of الرَبيعِspring وَحُلَّةٍand a robe صَفراءِyellow
حَوكُ الرَبيعِ وَحُلَّةٍ صَفراءِ
in a green robe whose brocade was finely patterned
In a green garment it breathed gently and was adorned
by spring's weaving, and in a yellow robe.
By the weaving of spring and a yellow robe.
فَاِشرَبso drink عَلىamong زَهرِthe blossoms of الرِياضِthe gardens يَشوبُهُmingles with it
فَاِشرَب عَلى زَهرِ الرِياضِ يَشوبُهُ
زَهرُthe blossoms of الخُدودِthe cheeks وَزَهرَةُand the bloom of الصَهباءِgolden-red wine
زَهرُ الخُدودِ وَزَهرَةُ الصَهباءِ
So drink among garden blossoms, mingled with
So drink coffee in the garden whose blossoms
the blossoms of cheeks and the bloom of golden-red wine,
Include the bloom of cheeks and the blonde’s flower.
مِنof قَهوَةٍa wine تُنسيmakes forgotten الهُمومَthe cares وَتَبعَثُand awakens الthe (continued)
مِن قَهوَةٍ تُنسي الهُمومَ وَتَبعَثُ ال
شَوقَlonging الَّذيwhich قَدhad ضَلَّgone astray فيwithin الأَحشاءِthe innermost breast
شَوقَ الَّذي قَد ضَلَّ في الأَحشاءِ
of a wine that banishes cares and awakens the
It makes worries forgetful and awakens
longing that had gone astray within the breast.
Longing which had gone astray in the viscera.
يُخفيconceals الزُجاجَةَthe glass vessel لَونُهاits color فَكَأَنَّهاso as though it
يُخفي الزُجاجَةَ لَونُها فَكَأَنَّها
فيin الكَفِّthe hand قائِمَةٌstanding بِغَيرِwithout إِناءِa vessel
في الكَفِّ قائِمَةٌ بِغَيرِ إِناءِ
Its color conceals the glass, as though it
Its colour hides the bottle as if
stood in the hand without a vessel.
It stood in the palm without vessel.
وَلَهاand it has نَسيمٌa fragrance كَالرِياضِlike the gardens تَنَفَّسَتbreathed
وَلَها نَسيمٌ كَالرِياضِ تَنَفَّسَت
فيinto the faces of أَوجُهِthe breezes الأَرواحِand the dews وَالأَنداءِand the dews
في أَوجُهِ الأَرواحِ وَالأَنداءِ
And it has a fragrance like gardens breathing
It has a breeze like gardens breathing
into the faces of breezes and dews,
In the faces of souls and intimates.
وَفَواقِعٌand bubbles مِثلُlike الدُموعِthe tears تَرَدَّدَتcoursed
وَفَواقِعٌ مِثلُ الدُموعِ تَرَدَّدَت
فيacross صَحنِthe expanse of خَدِّthe cheek of الكاعِبِthe nubile maiden الحَسناءِthe beautiful
في صَحنِ خَدِّ الكاعِبِ الحَسناءِ
and bubbles like tears that have coursed
Rippling in the bowl of a beautiful cheek
across the cheek of a fair, nubile maiden.
Like falling tears.
يَسقيكَهاpours it for you رَشَأٌa fawn يَكادُalmost يَرُدُّهاsends it back
يَسقيكَها رَشَأٌ يَكادُ يَرُدُّها
سَكرىdrunk بِفَترَةِwith the languor of مُقلَةٍan eye حَوراءِof lustrous black and white
سَكرى بِفَترَةِ مُقلَةٍ حَوراءِ
A fawn pours it for you, almost sending it back
A liquor that almost returns it
drunk with the languor of an eye of lustrous black and white.
To drunkenness after a sober moment.
يَسعىpasses بِهاwith it وَبِمِثلِهاand with its like مِنfrom طَرفِهِhis glance
يَسعى بِها وَبِمِثلِها مِن طَرفِهِ
عَوداًrepeatedly وَإِبداءًand afresh عَلىamong النُدَماءِthe drinking companions
عَوداً وَإِبداءً عَلى النُدَماءِ
He passes with it, and with its like from his glance,
He runs back and forth with it and its like
repeatedly and afresh among the drinking companions.
To the beloved and the confidante.
ماwhat ails لِلجَزيرَةِal-Jazira وَالشَآمِand al-Sham تَبَدَّلاthey exchanged
ما لِلجَزيرَةِ وَالشَآمِ تَبَدَّلا
بِكَbecause of you ياO اِبنَson of يوسُفَYusuf ظُلمَةًdarkness بِضِياءِin place of light
بِكَ يا اِبنَ يوسُفَ ظُلمَةً بِضِياءِ
What ails al-Jazira and al-Sham, that they have exchanged
Why have the island and Syria changed
light for darkness because of you, O son of Yusuf?
Through you, son of Joseph, from darkness to light?
نَضَبَdried up الفُراتُthe Euphrates وَكانَand it had been بَحراًa sea زاخِراًsurging
نَضَبَ الفُراتُ وَكانَ بَحراً زاخِراً
وَاِسوَدَّand turned black وَجهُthe face of الرَقَّةِRaqqa البَيضاءِthe white
وَاِسوَدَّ وَجهُ الرَقَّةِ البَيضاءِ
The Euphrates has dried up, once a surging sea,
Euphrates ran dry though it had been a roaring sea,
and the face of white Raqqa has turned black.
And the face of Raqqa the white went black.
وَلَقَدand indeed تُرىwas seen بِأَبيthrough Abu سَعيدٍSa'id مَرَّةًonce
وَلَقَد تُرى بِأَبي سَعيدٍ مَرَّةً
مُلقىa place to set down الرِحالِthe saddles وَمَوسِمَand a gathering-place for الشُعَراءِthe poets
مُلقى الرِحالِ وَمَوسِمَ الشُعَراءِ
Indeed, once, through Abu Sa'id, it was seen as
You can see Abu Sa’id once
a place to set down saddles and a gathering-place for poets,
Alighting, the place where poets gather.
إِذwhen قَيظُهاits summer heat مِثلُlike الرَبيعِspring وَلَيلُهاand its night
إِذ قَيظُها مِثلُ الرَبيعِ وَلَيلُها
مِثلُlike النَهارِdaytime يُخالُwas imagined رَأدَthe early part of ضَحاءِforenoon
مِثلُ النَهارِ يُخالُ رَأدَ ضَحاءِ
when its summer heat was like spring, and its night
Its summer heat being like spring, its night
like day, seeming the early light of forenoon.
Seeming like day, resembling the glare of sunrise.
رَحَلَdeparted الأَميرُthe prince مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad فَتَرَحَّلَتso departed
رَحَلَ الأَميرُ مُحَمَّدٌ فَتَرَحَّلَت
عَنهاfrom it غَضارَةُthe flourishing abundance of هَذِهِthese النَعماءِblessings
عَنها غَضارَةُ هَذِهِ النَعماءِ
Prince Muhammad departed, and with him departed
Prince Muhammad departed so too went
from it the flourishing abundance of these blessings.
The lushness of these blessings.
وَالدَهرُand time ذوhas دُوَلٍturns of fortune تَنَقَّلُshift فيamong الوَرىmankind
وَالدَهرُ ذو دُوَلٍ تَنَقَّلُ في الوَرى
أَيّامُهُنَّtheir days تَنَقُّلَthe shifting of الأَفياءِthe shadows
أَيّامُهُنَّ تَنَقُّلَ الأَفياءِ
Time has turns of fortune that pass among mankind,
Time has its turns shifting in the land,
their days shifting as shadows shift.
Its days shift the crazed.
إِنَّindeed الأَميرَthe prince مُحَمَّداًMuhammad لَمُهَذَّبُtruly refined in الthe (continued)
إِنَّ الأَميرَ مُحَمَّداً لَمُهَذَّبُ ال
أَفعالِdeeds فيin السَرّاءِprosperity وَالضَرّاءِand adversity
أَفعالِ في السَرّاءِ وَالضَرّاءِ
Prince Muhammad is indeed refined in his
Indeed, Prince Muhammad is refined in his
deeds, in prosperity and adversity.
Deeds in fortune and misfortune!
مَلِكٌa king إِذاwhen غَشِيَconfronts السُيوفَthe swords بِوَجهِهِwith his face
مَلِكٌ إِذا غَشِيَ السُيوفَ بِوَجهِهِ
غَشِيَconfronts الحِمامَdeath بِأَنفُسِwith the souls of الأَعداءِthe enemies
غَشِيَ الحِمامَ بِأَنفُسِ الأَعداءِ
A king who, when he faces swords with his own face,
A king who, when swords cover his face,
faces death with the souls of his foes.
Covers the doves with selves of foes.
قَسَمَتapportioned يَداهُhis two hands بِبَأسِهِthrough his valor وَسَماحِهِand his generosity
قَسَمَت يَداهُ بِبَأسِهِ وَسَماحِهِ
فيamong الناسِthe people قِسمَيthe two shares of شِدَّةٍhardship وَرَخاءِand ease
في الناسِ قِسمَي شِدَّةٍ وَرَخاءِ
His two hands, through valor and generosity, have apportioned
His hands divided severity and ease
among people the two shares of hardship and ease.
Among the people with portions and relief.
مُلِئَتwere filled قُلوبُthe hearts of العالَمينَall people بِفِعلِهِthrough his conduct الthe (continued)
مُلِئَت قُلوبُ العالَمينَ بِفِعلِهِ ال
مَحمودِpraiseworthy مِنwith خَوفٍfear لَهُof him وَرَجاءِand hope
مَحمودِ مِن خَوفٍ لَهُ وَرَجاءِ
The hearts of all people were filled, through his
Hearts of both worlds were filled by his
praiseworthy conduct, with fear of him and hope.
Praiseworthy deed with fear of him and hope.
أَغنىmade independent جَماعَةَthe people of طَيِّئٍTayyi عَمّاof what اِبتَنَتbuilt
أَغنى جَماعَةَ طَيِّئٍ عَمّا اِبتَنَت
آباؤُهاtheir fathers القُدَماءُthe ancient لِلأَبناءِfor the sons
آباؤُها القُدَماءُ لِلأَبناءِ
He made the people of Tayyi independent of what
He enriched the Tayyi’ tribe beyond what
their ancient fathers had built for their sons.
Their ancient fathers built for their sons.
فَإِذاso when هُمُthey اِفتَخَرواboasted بِهِof him لَمdid not يَبجَحواthey vaunt
فَإِذا هُمُ اِفتَخَروا بِهِ لَم يَبجَحوا
بِقَديمِof the antiquity of ماwhat وَرِثواthey inherited مِنَof العَلياءِeminence
بِقَديمِ ما وَرِثوا مِنَ العَلياءِ
When they boast of him, they do not vaunt
So they boast of him, they do not brag
the ancient eminence they inherited.
Of the old nobility they inherited from the lofty.
صَعِدواthey climbed جِبالاًmountains مِنof عُلاكَyour greatness كَأَنَّهاas though they
صَعِدوا جِبالاً مِن عُلاكَ كَأَنَّها
هَضَباتُthe heights of قُدسَQuds وَيَذبُلٍand Yadhbul وَحِراءِand Hira
هَضَباتُ قُدسَ وَيَذبُلٍ وَحِراءِ
They climbed mountains of your greatness, resembling
They climbed mountains of your glory as if they were
the heights of Quds, Yadhbul, and Hira.
Plateaus of Jerusalem, Yathrib, and Hira.
وَاِستَمطَرواand they sought rain فيduring المَحلِthe drought مِنكَfrom you خَلائِقاًvirtues
وَاِستَمطَروا في المَحلِ مِنكَ خَلائِقاً
أَصفىpurer وَأَعذَبَand sweeter مِنthan زُلالِthe limpid purity of الماءِwater
أَصفى وَأَعذَبَ مِن زُلالِ الماءِ
And in drought they sought a rain of virtues from you,
And in your precincts they begged qualities
purer and sweeter than limpid water.
Purer and sweeter than the water of streams.
وَضَمِنتَand you pledged ثَأرَvengeance for مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad لَهُمُfor them عَلىdespite
وَضَمِنتَ ثَأرَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَهُمُ عَلى
كَلَبِthe fury of العِدىthe enemies وَتَخاذُلِand the failure to support of الأَحياءِthe clans
كَلَبِ العِدى وَتَخاذُلِ الأَحياءِ
You pledged to avenge Muhammad for them, despite
You guaranteed vengeance for Muhammad against
the enemies' fury and the clans' failure to give support.
The enemy dog and the betrayal of the vile.
ماnot اِنفَكَّceased سَيفُكَyour sword غادِياًgoing forth in the morning أَوor رائِحاًreturning in the evening
ما اِنفَكَّ سَيفُكَ غادِياً أَو رائِحاً
فيin حَصدِreaping هاماتٍheads وَسَفكِand spilling دِماءِblood
في حَصدِ هاماتٍ وَسَفكِ دِماءِ
Your sword never ceased, morning or evening,
Your sword did not cease marching or returning
reaping heads and spilling blood,
To reap lives and shed blood,
حَتّىuntil كَفَيتَهُمُyou handled for them الَّذيwhat اِستَكفَوكَthey asked you to handle مِنof
حَتّى كَفَيتَهُمُ الَّذي اِستَكفَوكَ مِن
أَمرِthe matter of العِدىthe enemies وَوَفَيتَand you kept faith أَيَّwhat a وَفاءِfulfillment
أَمرِ العِدى وَوَفَيتَ أَيَّ وَفاءِ
until you handled for them what they asked you to handle
Until you sufficed them with that which they asked of you
concerning their foes—and how fully you kept faith!
To resolve the enemy’s affair, fulfilling every duty.
مازِلتَyou kept تَقرَعُknocking at بابَthe gate of بابَكَBabak بِالقَناwith spears
مازِلتَ تَقرَعُ بابَ بابَكَ بِالقَنا
وَتَزورُهُand visiting him فيin غارَةٍa raid شَعواءِsweeping
وَتَزورُهُ في غارَةٍ شَعواءِ
You kept knocking at Babak's gate with spears
You kept attacking his door with spears
and visiting him in a sweeping raid,
And visiting it with a dreadful raid,
حَتّىuntil أَخَذتَyou seized بِنَصلِwith the blade of سَيفِكَyour sword عَنوَةًby force
حَتّى أَخَذتَ بِنَصلِ سَيفِكَ عَنوَةً
مِنهُfrom him الَّذيwhat أَعياproved too difficult عَلىfor الخُلَفاءِthe caliphs
مِنهُ الَّذي أَعيا عَلى الخُلَفاءِ
until, with your sword's blade, you seized by force
Until with the edge of your sword you seized it
from him what had defied the caliphs.
Forcibly from him who wearied the caliphs.
أَخلَيتَyou emptied مِنهُof him البَذَّal-Badhdh وَهيَand it was قَرارُهُhis settled abode
أَخلَيتَ مِنهُ البَذَّ وَهيَ قَرارُهُ
وَنَصَبتَهُand you set him up عَلَماًas a sign بِسامُرّاءِat Samarra
وَنَصَبتَهُ عَلَماً بِسامُرّاءِ
You emptied al-Badhdh of him, his settled abode,
You rid it of vermin when it was his shelter
and set him up as a sign at Samarra.
And made it a banner in Samarra.
لَمdid not يُبقِleave مِنهُof him خَوفُfear of بَأسِكَyour might مَطعَماًa morsel
لَم يُبقِ مِنهُ خَوفُ بَأسِكَ مَطعَماً
لِلطَيرِfor the birds فيon عَودٍa return وَلاnor إِبداءِa first arrival
لِلطَيرِ في عَودٍ وَلا إِبداءِ
Fear of your might left no morsel of him
Your fear did not leave any morsel for the birds
for birds, on a return visit or a first arrival.
On a perch or remains.
فَتَراهُso you see him مُطَّرِداًranged out عَلىalong أَعوادِهِhis wooden poles
فَتَراهُ مُطَّرِداً عَلى أَعوادِهِ
مِثلَlike اِطِّرادِthe arrangement of كَواكِبِthe stars of الجَوزاءِOrion
مِثلَ اِطِّرادِ كَواكِبِ الجَوزاءِ
You see him ranged along his wooden poles
So you see him driven on his poles
as the stars of Orion are ranged,
Like the roaming of Capella stars.
مُستَشرِفاًgazing up لِلشَمسِat the sun مُنتَصِباًstanding erect لَهاbefore it
مُستَشرِفاً لِلشَمسِ مُنتَصِباً لَها
فيat أُخرَياتِthe upper extremity of الجِذعِthe trunk كَالحِرباءِlike a chameleon
في أُخرَياتِ الجِذعِ كَالحِرباءِ
gazing up at the sun, erect before it,
Spying towards the sun, standing erect for it
at the top of the trunk, like a chameleon.
On the top of the trunks like vipers.
وَوَصَلتَand you frequented أَرضَthe land of الرومِthe Byzantines وَصلَas frequented كُثَيِّرٍKuthayyir
وَوَصَلتَ أَرضَ الرومِ وَصلَ كُثَيِّرٍ
أَطلالَthe deserted dwellings of عَزَّةَAzza فيin لِوىthe winding sands of تَيماءِTayma
أَطلالَ عَزَّةَ في لِوى تَيماءِ
You frequented Byzantine lands as Kuthayyir frequented
And you reached the land of Rome and joined Kuthayyir’s
Azza's deserted dwellings in the winding sands of Tayma.
Ruins of glory in the folds of Taima.
فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday قَدindeed نَتَجتَyou brought forth مَنِيَّةًa death
في كُلِّ يَومٍ قَد نَتَجتَ مَنِيَّةً
لِحُماتِهاfor its defenders مِنfrom حَربِكَyour war العُشَراءِa ten-months-pregnant she-camel
لِحُماتِها مِن حَربِكَ العُشَراءِ
Each day you brought forth a death
With your fierce war you attained for its protectors
for its defenders from your war, a she-camel heavy with young.
A death blow every day.
سَهَّلتَyou made easy مِنهاof it وَعرَthe ruggedness of كُلِّevery حُزونَةٍrough tract
سَهَّلتَ مِنها وَعرَ كُلِّ حُزونَةٍ
وَمَلَأتَand you filled مِنهاof it عَرضَthe breadth of كُلِّevery فَضاءِopen space
وَمَلَأتَ مِنها عَرضَ كُلِّ فَضاءِ
You made every rugged stretch of its land easy
You eased its rough parts and filled
and filled the breadth of every open space
Every empty plain.
بِالخَيلِwith horses تَحمِلُcarrying كُلَّevery أَشعَثَdisheveled warrior دارِعٍwearing armor
بِالخَيلِ تَحمِلُ كُلَّ أَشعَثَ دارِعٍ
وَتُواصِلُand linking الإِدلاجَearly-night marches بِالإِسراءِwith night journeys
وَتُواصِلُ الإِدلاجَ بِالإِسراءِ
with horses carrying every disheveled warrior in armor,
With horses bearing every fully armed knight
linking early-night marches with journeys through the night,
And continuous plunging into the dark.
وَعَصائِبٍand bands يَتَهافَتونَthey plunge headlong إِذاwhen اِرتَمىhurls
وَعَصائِبٍ يَتَهافَتونَ إِذا اِرتَمى
بِهِمُthem الوَغىthe battle-din فيinto غَمرَةِthe depths of الهَيجاءِcombat
بِهِمُ الوَغى في غَمرَةِ الهَيجاءِ
and with bands that plunge headlong when
And bands tumbling when embroiled
the battle-din hurls them into the depths of combat,
In the darkness of a pitch-black night.
مِثلَlike اليَراعِthe fireflies بَدَتappeared لَهُto them نارٌa flame وَقَدwhile already
مِثلَ اليَراعِ بَدَت لَهُ نارٌ وَقَد
لَفَّتهُenfolded them ظُلمَةُthe darkness of لَيلَةٍa night لَيلاءِpitch-dark
لَفَّتهُ ظُلمَةُ لَيلَةٍ لَيلاءِ
like fireflies to whom a flame appears, while
They walk in darkness as if its waves
the darkness of a pitch-dark night enfolds them.
In every battle are waves of the deep.
يَمشونَthey walk فيin زَغَفٍmail كَأَنَّas though مُتونَهاits surfaces
يَمشونَ في زَغَفٍ كَأَنَّ مُتونَها
فيin كُلِّevery مَعرَكَةٍbattle مُتونُthe surfaces of نِهاءِpools
في كُلِّ مَعرَكَةٍ مُتونُ نِهاءِ
They walk in mail whose surfaces seem
Whites flowing on the skulls, their excess
in every battle like the surfaces of pools.
Like a mirage’s flow in the waste.
بيضٌwhite تَسيلُflow عَلىover الكُماةِthe armored champions فُضولُهاits trailing folds
بيضٌ تَسيلُ عَلى الكُماةِ فُضولُها
سَيلَthe flowing of السَرابِthe mirage بِقَفرَةٍacross a wasteland بَيداءِbarren
سَيلَ السَرابِ بِقَفرَةٍ بَيداءِ
White, its trailing folds flow over armored champions
So when the swords mixed with them, their blood
as a mirage flows across a barren waste.
Made them fantasy stars in water.
فَإِذاso when الأَسِنَّةُthe spearheads خالَطَتهاmingled with it خِلتَهاyou imagined them
فَإِذا الأَسِنَّةُ خالَطَتها خِلتَها
فيهاwithin it خَيالَthe reflections of كَواكِبٍstars فيin ماءِwater
فيها خَيالَ كَواكِبٍ في ماءِ
When spearheads mingle with it, you would think them
Sons of death who throw their souls
within it the reflections of stars in water.
Under fates every day when meeting.
أَبناءُsons of مَوتٍdeath يَطرَحونَthey cast نُفوسَهُمtheir souls
أَبناءُ مَوتٍ يَطرَحونَ نُفوسَهُم
تَحتَbeneath المَناياdeadly fates كُلَّevery يَومِday of لِقاءِencounter
تَحتَ المَنايا كُلَّ يَومِ لِقاءِ
Sons of death, they cast their souls
In a calamity whose flames you ignited
beneath deadly fates on every day of battle,
With lightning bolts of determination and opinion.
فيin عارِضٍa storm-cloud يَدِقُraining الرَدىdeath أَلهَبتَهُyou set it ablaze
في عارِضٍ يَدِقُ الرَدى أَلهَبتَهُ
بِصَواعِقِwith the thunderbolts of العَزَماتِresolves وَالآراءِand counsels
بِصَواعِقِ العَزَماتِ وَالآراءِ
in a storm-cloud raining death, which you set ablaze
You paralyzed the tips of the spears around Munayyil
with the thunderbolts of resolve and counsel.
So he survived an old worn cloak.
أَشلىit unleashed عَلىagainst مَنويلَManuel أَطرافَthe points of القَناthe spears
أَشلى عَلى مَنويلَ أَطرافَ القَنا
فَنَجاso he escaped عَتيقَthe freedman of عَتيقَةٍa highbred mare جَرداءِsleek
فَنَجا عَتيقَ عَتيقَةٍ جَرداءِ
It unleashed the spearpoints against Manuel,
Had he extended them, they would have
and he escaped, the freedman of a sleek, highbred mare.
Issued from him while still unquenched.
وَلَوَand had انَّهُhe أَبطاlingered لَهُنَّfor them هُنَيهَةًa little while
وَلَوَ انَّهُ أَبطا لَهُنَّ هُنَيهَةً
لَصَدَرنَthey would have come away عَنهُfrom him وَهُنَّwhile they were غَيرُnot ظِماءِthirsty
لَصَدَرنَ عَنهُ وَهُنَّ غَيرُ ظِماءِ
And had he lingered for them a little while,
So if fate leaves him until his time,
they would have come away from him no longer thirsty.
You have distributed his troops unto death.
فَلَئِنso even if تَبَقّاهُspared him القَضاءُfate لِوَقتِهِuntil his appointed time
فَلَئِن تَبَقّاهُ القَضاءُ لِوَقتِهِ
فَلَقَدthen indeed عَمَمتَyou enveloped all جُنودَهُhis troops بِفَناءِin annihilation
فَلَقَد عَمَمتَ جُنودَهُ بِفَناءِ
Though fate has spared him until his appointed time,
You burdened him with his partisans and left him
you have enveloped his troops in annihilation.
To death awaiting the morn of night.
أَثكَلتَهُyou bereaved him of أَشياعَهُhis followers وَتَرَكتَهُand you left him
أَثكَلتَهُ أَشياعَهُ وَتَرَكتَهُ
لِلمَوتِfor death مُرتَقِباًawaiting صَباحَmorning مَساءِevening
لِلمَوتِ مُرتَقِباً صَباحَ مَساءِ
You bereaved him of his followers and left him
Even if he swallowed iron he would melt it
awaiting death morning and evening,
With the sparks of his hot panting breath.
حَتّىso that even لَوِif اِرتَشَفَhe sipped الحَديدَiron أَذابَهُhe would melt it
حَتّى لَوِ اِرتَشَفَ الحَديدَ أَذابَهُ
بِالوَقدِwith the burning heat مِنfrom أَنفاسِهِhis breaths الصُعَداءِdeeply sighing
بِالوَقدِ مِن أَنفاسِهِ الصُعَداءِ
so that even if he sipped iron, he would melt it
with the burning heat of his long, sighing breaths.
Partial English translation: 110 of 112 Arabic lines translated.