ياO ساهِرَwakeful البَرْقِthe lightning أيقِظْawaken راقِدَthe sleeping السَّمُرِthe samur acacias
يا ساهِرَ البَرْقِ أيقِظْ راقِدَ السَّمُرِ
لعَلّperhaps بالجِزْعِat the valley bend أعواناًhelpers علىfor السّهَرِwakefulness
لعَلّ بالجِزْعِ أعواناً على السّهَرِ
O wakeful lightning, wake the slumbering samur acacias;
O watcher of lightning, awaken the sleeper of night talk,
perhaps at the valley bend there are companions for the vigil.
Perhaps grief will aid wakefulness,
وإنْand if بخِلْتَyou withhold عنfrom الأحياءthe clans كلّهمِall of them
وإنْ بخِلْتَ عن الأحياء كلّهمِ
فاسْقِthen water المَواطِرَal-Mawatir حَيّاًa clan منof بَنيthe sons of مَطَرِMatar
فاسْقِ المَواطِرَ حَيّاً من بَني مَطَرِ
And if you withhold your bounty from all the clans,
And if you are stingy to all the living,
then water al-Mawatir, a clan of Banu Matar.
Then pour rain on the tribe of Maṭar, alive and awake.
وياand O أسيرةَcaptive حِجْلَيْهاof her two anklets أرىI see سَفَهاًfolly
ويا أسيرةَ حِجْلَيْها أرى سَفَهاً
حَمْلَwearing الحُلِيّthe ornaments لمَنْfor one who أعْياis incapable عنof النّظَرِseeing
حَمْلَ الحُلِيّ لمَنْ أعْيا عن النّظَرِ
And O captive of her two anklets, I deem it folly
O prisoner of anklets, I see folly
to wear ornaments for one unable to see.
In loading jewelry on one wearied of looking.
ماnot سِرْتُI traveled إلاexcept وطَيْفٌand a phantom منكِof you يصْحَبُنيaccompanies me
ما سِرْتُ إلا وطَيْفٌ منكِ يصْحَبُني
سُرىًnight travel أماميbefore me وتأوِيباًand daytime travel علىon أثريmy trail
سُرىً أمامي وتأوِيباً على أثري
I never traveled without a phantom of you accompanying me,
I have never walked except with an image of you
before me on night journeys, and on my trail by day.
Accompanying me, behind and ahead of my tracks.
لوif حَطّset down رَحْليَmy saddle فَوْقَabove النجْمِthe star رافِعُهits raiser
لو حَطّ رَحْليَ فَوْقَ النجْمِ رافِعُه
وجَدتُI would find ثَمّthere خَيالاًa phantom منكِof you مُنتظِريawaiting me
وجَدتُ ثَمّ خَيالاً منكِ مُنتظِري
Were the one raising my saddle to set it above the star,
If my travel lowered its luggage atop a star,
I would find there a phantom of you awaiting me.
I would still find there a mirage of you awaiting me.
يَوَدّit wishes أنّthat ظَلامَthe darkness of اللّيْلِthe night دامَwould last لهfor it
يَوَدّ أنّ ظَلامَ اللّيْلِ دامَ له
وزِيدَand be added فيهِto it سَوَادُthe blackness of القَلْبِthe heart والبَصَرِand the eye
وزِيدَ فيهِ سَوَادُ القَلْبِ والبَصَرِ
It wishes that the darkness of night would last for it,
He wishes the darkness of night would last for him
and that the blackness of heart and eye be added to it.
With the gloom of heart and sight increased therein.
لوif اخْتَصَرْتمyou had reduced منof الإحسانِkindness زُرْتُكمُI would visit you
لو اخْتَصَرْتم من الإحسانِ زُرْتُكمُ
والعَذْبُand sweet water يُهْجَرُis shunned للإفراطِfor excess فيin الخَصَرِcoldness
والعَذْبُ يُهْجَرُ للإفراطِ في الخَصَرِ
Had you lessened your kindness, I would have visited you;
If you shortened your charity, I would still visit you,
sweet water is forsaken when its cold is excessive.
For the sweet is abandoned due to gluttony.
أبَعْدَis it after حَوْلٍa year تُناجيwhispers to الشّوْقlonging نَاجيةٌa swift she-camel
أبَعْدَ حَوْلٍ تُناجي الشّوْق نَاجيةٌ
هَلاّwhy not ونحنُwhile we علىbeside عَشْرٍten منof العُشَرِthe ʿushar shrubs
هَلاّ ونحنُ على عَشْرٍ من العُشَرِ
Is it after a year that a swift she-camel whispers to longing?
After some time you whisper to longing, whispering,
Why not when we were beside ten of the ʿushar shrubs?
Why not, while we are still ten out of ten?
كمhow many باتَspent the night حوْلَكِaround you منof ريمٍa white gazelle وجازِيَةٍand a wild cow
كم باتَ حوْلَكِ من ريمٍ وجازِيَةٍ
يَستَجدِيانِكِboth begging you حُسْنَbeauty الدّلّof coquetry والحَوَرِand dark-white eyes
يَستَجدِيانِكِ حُسْنَ الدّلّ والحَوَرِ
How many a white gazelle and wild cow spent the night around you,
Around you how many singing girls of Rīm and Jāziyah
begging you for the beauty of coyness and eyes of striking black and white!
Beg you for the charm of coddling and passion.
فماso not وَهبْتِyou bestowed الذيwhat يَعرِفنَthey know مِنof خِلَقٍnatural features
فما وَهبْتِ الذي يَعرِفنَ مِن خِلَقٍ
لكنbut سمَحتِyou were generous بماwith what يُنْكِرْنَthey do not recognize منof دُرَرِpearls
لكن سمَحتِ بما يُنْكِرْنَ من دُرَرِ
You did not bestow the natural features they knew,
You never gave what we know to be of noble manners,
but lavished on them unfamiliar pearls.
But allowed what we recognize to be worthless pearls.
وماand not تَركْتِyou left بذاتِat Dhat الضّالِal-Dal عاطِلَةًan unadorned female
وما تَركْتِ بذاتِ الضّالِ عاطِلَةً
منamong الظّباءthe gazelles ولاnor عَارٍa bare male منamong البَقَرِthe wild cattle
من الظّباء ولا عَارٍ من البَقَرِ
At Dhat al-Dal you left none unadorned
You adorned every wanton with a singing girl's necklace,
among the gazelles, nor any wild ox bare.
And won gratitude among the sedentary and nomads.
قَلّدْتِyou gave a necklace to كلّevery مَهاةٍoryx cow عِقْدَa necklace غانيَةٍof a beauty
قَلّدْتِ كلّ مَهاةٍ عِقْدَ غانيَةٍ
وفُزْتِand you won بالشّكْرِgratitude فيamong الآرامِwhite gazelles والعُفُرِand tawny gazelles
وفُزْتِ بالشّكْرِ في الآرامِ والعُفُرِ
You hung a beauty's necklace on every oryx cow,
Many smooth, well-oiled heads of Jaẓir's youths
and won the thanks of white and tawny gazelles.
Once swaggered in clothes of fur.
ورُبّand many a ساحِبِtrailing وَشْيٍbrocade مِنْof جآذِرِهَاher young oryx
ورُبّ ساحِبِ وَشْيٍ مِنْ جآذِرِهَا
وكانand it once was يَرْفُلُstrutting فيin ثَوْبٍa coat منof الوَبَرِfur
وكان يَرْفُلُ في ثَوْبٍ من الوَبَرِ
And many a young oryx of hers trails brocade,
You improved the verse which describes you,
though it once strutted in a coat of fur.
And a house filled by you with defenders.
حسّنْتِyou beautified نَظْمَthe arrangement of كلامٍwords تُوصَفينَyou are described بهby it
حسّنْتِ نَظْمَ كلامٍ تُوصَفينَ به
ومَنْزِلاًand a dwelling بكِwith you مَعْموراًinhabited منwith الخَفَرِmodesty
ومَنْزِلاً بكِ مَعْموراً من الخَفَرِ
You beautified the weaving of words that describe you,
Beauty shows its elegance in two things:
and a dwelling made full of modesty by your presence.
A home of hair or a home of poetry.
فالحُسنُfor beauty يَظهرُappears فيin شيئينtwo things رَوْنقُهits luster
فالحُسنُ يَظهرُ في شيئين رَوْنقُه
بيتٍa verse منof الشِّعْرِpoetry أوor بيْتٍa tent منof الشّعَرِhair
بيتٍ من الشِّعْرِ أو بيْتٍ من الشّعَرِ
Beauty's luster thus appears in two things:
I say, and the wildlife pierces me with its eyes,
a verse of poetry, or a tent of hair.
And the birds marvel how I have not flown away.
أقولُI say والوحْشُwhile the wild beasts تَرْمينيshoot at me بأعْيُنِهاwith their eyes
أقولُ والوحْشُ تَرْميني بأعْيُنِها
والطّيرُand the birds تَعجَبُmarvel منّيat me كيفَhow لمnot أطِرِI flew
والطّيرُ تَعجَبُ منّي كيفَ لم أطِرِ
I say, while the wild beasts shoot at me with their eyes,
Like two unsheathed swords beneath which
and the birds marvel at me—how have I not flown?—
Are two scabbards from where? and from Dumrah?
لمُشْمَعِلّيْنِto two swift companions كالسّيْفَينlike two swords تحتَهماbeneath them both
لمُشْمَعِلّيْنِ كالسّيْفَين تحتَهما
مثلُthe likeness of القَناتَينtwo spear-shafts منfrom أينٍexhaustion ومِنand from ضُمُرِleanness
مثلُ القَناتَين من أينٍ ومِن ضُمُرِ
to two swift companions like two swords, beneath whom
In a land like the back of a gazelle I stay,
are mounts like two spear-shafts, from exhaustion and leanness:
As if atop the back of a watchful gazelle.
فيin بَلدةٍa land مثْلِlike ظَهْرِthe back of الظّبْيِa gazelle بِتُّI spent the night بهاin it
في بَلدةٍ مثْلِ ظَهْرِ الظّبْيِ بِتُّ بها
كأنّنيas though I فوقَwere upon رَوْقِthe horn of الظّبْيa gazelle مِنfrom حَذَرِfear
كأنّني فوقَ رَوْقِ الظّبْي مِن حَذَرِ
in a land like a gazelle's back I passed the night,
Do not conceal the secret from me in misfortune,
as though upon a gazelle's horn, so wary was I.
For that is a sin that will not be forgiven.
لاdo not تَطْوِياyou two conceal السّرّthe secret عنّيfrom me يَومَon a day of نائبةٍcalamity
لا تَطْوِيا السّرّ عنّي يَومَ نائبةٍ
فإنّfor indeed ذلكthat ذَنْبٌis a sin غيرُnot مُغْتَفَرِforgiven
فإنّ ذلك ذَنْبٌ غيرُ مُغْتَفَرِ
Do not hide a secret from me on a day of calamity,
Sincere friendship is like water that shows me its thoughts
for that is an unforgivable sin.
In clarity, but hides them in turbidity.
والخِلُّand a friend كالماءis like water يُبْديreveals ليto me ضمائرَهhis inner secrets
والخِلُّ كالماء يُبْدي لي ضمائرَه
معwith الصّفاءclarity ويُخْفيهاand hides them معwith الكَدَرِmurkiness
مع الصّفاء ويُخْفيها مع الكَدَرِ
A friend is like water: he reveals his inner secrets to me
O startled by God's whip, how I startle with it
when clear, and conceals them when troubled.
The heart and soul of one cautious like a bird.
ياO رَوّعَmay He frighten اللهGod سَوْطيmy whip كمhow often أرُوعُI frighten بهwith it
يا رَوّعَ الله سَوْطي كم أرُوعُ به
فُؤادَthe heart of وجْنَاءَa stout-cheeked she-camel مثلَlike الطائرِthe bird الحَذِرِthe wary
فُؤادَ وجْنَاءَ مثلَ الطائرِ الحَذِرِ
Ah, may God frighten my whip! How often with it I frighten
The shine of `Adnān faded for Mahrah, so I said to her,
a stout-cheeked she-camel's heart, like a wary bird.
Were it not for Fusayy, glory would belong to Muḍar.
باهَتْshe boasted بمَهْرَةَof Mahra عدناناًagainst Adnan فقلتُso I said لهاto her
باهَتْ بمَهْرَةَ عدناناً فقلتُ لها
لولاwere it not for الفُصَيْصِيّal-Fusaysi كانwould be المجدُglory فيin مُضَرِMudar
لولا الفُصَيْصِيّ كان المجدُ في مُضَرِ
She boasted of Mahra against Adnan, and I told her:
My worth was revealed, that knowing me
Were it not for al-Fusaysi, glory would belong to Mudar.
Will please you over fate however it turns.
وقدand indeed تَبَيّنَhas discerned قَدْريmy fate أنthat معرِفَتيmy knowing
وقد تَبَيّنَ قَدْري أن معرِفَتي
مَنthe one whom تَعلَمينَyou know ستُرْضينيwill make me content عنwith القَدَرِfate
مَن تَعلَمينَ ستُرْضيني عن القَدَرِ
My fate has discerned that my knowing
The killer place when the sky appears to us
the man you know will reconcile me to fate:
As if it were the sheepfold of barren ground.
القاتِلُthe slayer of المحْلdrought إذwhen تبْدوappears السماءُthe sky لناto us
القاتِلُ المحْل إذ تبْدو السماءُ لنا
كأنهاas though it منof نَجيعِthe blood of الجَدْبِdrought فيin أُزُرِwaist-wraps
كأنها من نَجيعِ الجَدْبِ في أُزُرِ
the slayer of drought, when the sky appears to us
And the divider of generosity high and low
as though clad in waist-wraps of drought's blood;
Is like the division of rain between star and tree.
وقاسِمُand the distributor of الجُودِbounty فيamong عالٍthe high ومنخفِضٍand the low
وقاسِمُ الجُودِ في عالٍ ومنخفِضٍ
كقِسْمةِlike the distribution of الغيثِrain بينbetween النّجمherbs والشَجَرِand trees
كقِسْمةِ الغيثِ بين النّجم والشَجَرِ
the distributor of bounty among high and low,
If verses describing him came earlier in times passed
as rain is shared between herbs and trees.
Qur’ānic miracles and sūrahs would have spoken of him.
ولوand had تَقَدّمَhe lived earlier فيin عَصرan age مضىgone by نزلَتْwould have descended
ولو تَقَدّمَ في عَصر مضى نزلَتْ
فيin وَصْفِهِhis description مُعْجِزاتُmiracles الآيِof verses والسَوَرِand surahs
في وَصْفِهِ مُعْجِزاتُ الآيِ والسَوَرِ
Had he lived earlier, in an age gone by, there would have descended
The human face reveals through its cheer Īsā's beneficence,
miraculous verses and surahs describing him.
As the sword shows its sharpness through its mark.
يُبينُhe reveals بالبِشْرthrough cheerfulness عنof إحْسانa kindness مصطنعbestowed
يُبينُ بالبِشْر عن إحْسان مصطنع
كالسّيْفِlike a sword دَلّpointed علىto التّأثيرِthe impact بالأثَرِthrough the trace
كالسّيْفِ دَلّ على التّأثيرِ بالأثَرِ
His cheerfulness reveals the kindness he has wrought,
So do not be deceived by the cheer of anyone else,
like a sword that shows its stroke through the mark it leaves.
Even if it illuminates, for how much light is without fruit?
فلاso do not يَغُرّنْكَlet it deceive you بِشْرٌa smile مِنfrom سِواهother than him بَداappeared
فلا يَغُرّنْكَ بِشْرٌ مِن سِواه بَدا
ولوeven if أنارit shines فكمْfor how many نَوْرٍa blossom بلاwithout ثَمَرِfruit
ولو أنار فكمْ نَوْرٍ بلا ثَمَرِ
Let no smile displayed by another deceive you,
O son of the best stock, were it not for restraining horses
however brightly it shines: how many blossoms bear no fruit!
The Arabs would only know how to restrain sheep and `ukar.
ياO ابنson of الأولىthose who غيرَexcept زَجْرِdriving الخيلِhorses ماnot عرَفواthey knew
يا ابن الأولى غيرَ زَجْرِ الخيلِ ما عرَفوا
إذwhen تَعرِفُknow العُرْبُthe Arabs زَجرَdriving الشاءsheep والعَكَرِand camel herds
إذ تَعرِفُ العُرْبُ زَجرَ الشاء والعَكَرِ
O son of those who knew only the driving of horses,
The female guides with the guests follow them,
while other Arabs knew the driving of sheep and camel herds;
Their familiarity and the gatherings of meat and full moons.
والقائِديهَاand those leading them معwith الأضيافِguests تتْبعُهاfollow them
والقائِديهَا مع الأضيافِ تتْبعُها
أُلاّفُهاtheir companions وأُلوفُand thousands اللأمِof mail-coats والبِدَرِand coin-purses
أُلاّفُها وأُلوفُ اللأمِ والبِدَرِ
and who led those horses with their guests, followed by
The beauty of those whose earth they were in life
their fellows, and thousands of mail-coats and bags of coin.
And after death the beauty of books and biographies.
جَمالَthe adornment of ذيthis الأرضearth كانواthey were فيin الحياةlife وهُمand they
جَمالَ ذي الأرض كانوا في الحياة وهُم
بعدَafter المماتِdeath جَمالُthe adornment of الكُتْبِbooks والسِّيَرِand chronicles
بعدَ المماتِ جَمالُ الكُتْبِ والسِّيَرِ
In life they were the adornment of this earth, and they are,
You matched them in the differing of your time,
after death, the adornment of books and chronicles.
As the full moon in its waning is like the moon at dawn.
وافَقْتَهُمْyou matched them فيdespite اختلافٍa difference منin زَمانكمُyour times
وافَقْتَهُمْ في اختلافٍ من زَمانكمُ
والبَدرُand the full moon فيin الوهْنِearly night مثلُis like البدرِthe full moon فيat السّحرِdawn
والبَدرُ في الوهْنِ مثلُ البدرِ في السّحرِ
You match them, though your times differ;
Your gentle dispositions calmed the land
the full moon at early night is like the full moon before dawn.
And embers cannot retain the lightness of sparks.
المُوقِدُونَthe kindlers بنجْدٍin Najd نارَa fire باديَةٍof desert folk
المُوقِدُونَ بنجْدٍ نارَ باديَةٍ
لاnot يَحضُرونَthey settle in towns وفَقْدُand the loss of العِزّhonor فيis in الحَضَرِtown life
لا يَحضُرونَ وفَقْدُ العِزّ في الحَضَرِ
They kindled in Najd a fire of the desert,
You who, were a human to see your image in a dream,
never settling in towns, where honor is lost.
Would not proposition a matter of any danger.
إذاwhen هَمَىpours القَطْرُrain شَبَتْهاkindle it عَبيدُهمُtheir slaves
إذا هَمَى القَطْرُ شَبَتْها عَبيدُهمُ
تحتَbeneath الغَمائمthe clouds للسّارينfor night travelers بالقُطُرِthroughout the regions
تحتَ الغَمائم للسّارين بالقُطُرِ
When rain poured down, their slaves kindled it
And the servant of other than you is harmed by his service,
beneath the clouds, for night travelers throughout the regions.
As a scabbard is worn by protecting the sharp sword.
مِنof كُلّevery أزْهَرَradiant man لمnot تَأشَرْgrew wanton ضَمائِرُهُhis inmost thoughts
مِن كُلّ أزْهَرَ لم تَأشَرْ ضَمائِرُهُ
لِلَثْمِfor kissing خدّa cheek ولاnor تقْبِيلِkissing ذيone with أُشُرِserrated teeth
لِلَثْمِ خدّ ولا تقْبِيلِ ذي أُشُرِ
Each a radiant man whose inmost thoughts never grew wanton
If not for your arrival before the feast day sacrifice,
for kissing a cheek or a mouth with delicately serrated teeth;
The people of benefit and harm would have delayed it for your arrival.
لكنْbut يُقْبّلُkisses فُوهُhis mouth سامعَيْthe two ears of فَرَسٍa horse
لكنْ يُقْبّلُ فُوهُ سامعَيْ فَرَسٍ
مقابلَbalanced in الخَلْقِform بينَbetween الشمْسِthe sun والقَمَرِand the moon
مقابلَ الخَلْقِ بينَ الشمْسِ والقَمَرِ
but his mouth kisses the two ears of a horse,
You traveled from us, so all the people remained
balanced in form, between the sun and the moon.
Watching for the return of the feast from a journey.
كأنّas though أُذْنَيْهits two ears أعطَتْgave قلبَهits heart خبَراًnews
كأنّ أُذْنَيْه أعطَتْ قلبَه خبَراً
عنِfrom السماءِheaven بماof what يلقىit meets منof الغِيَرِadversities
عنِ السماءِ بما يلقى من الغِيَرِ
As though its two ears had given its heart news
If you were absent a month connected to the next,
from heaven of the adversities it must meet.
And refused, the Feast would not move to Ṣafar.
يُحِسّit senses وطءَthe tread of الرّزاياdisasters وهْيَwhile they نازلةٌare descending
يُحِسّ وطءَ الرّزايا وهْيَ نازلةٌ
فيُنْهِبُso it gives as plunder الجرْيَto its gallop نفْسَthe life الحادثِof calamity المَكِرِthe wily
فيُنْهِبُ الجرْيَ نفْسَ الحادثِ المَكِرِ
It senses the tread of disasters as they descend,
So be felicitous with glory and a day when you arrived safely to us,
and gives the wily calamity's life as plunder to its gallop.
For nothing increases upon our other days.
مِنof الجِيادِthe steeds اللّواتيthat كانhad عَوّدَهاaccustomed them
مِن الجِيادِ اللّواتي كان عَوّدَها
بنُوthe sons of الفُصَيصِal-Fusays لقاءto face الطعنspear-thrusts بالثُّغَرِat the frontiers
بنُو الفُصَيصِ لقاء الطعن بالثُّغَرِ
One of the steeds that had been trained
You will ever have enjoyable times
by Banu al-Fusays to meet spear-thrusts on the frontiers.
With family, state, eminence, and age.
تغْنىthey dispense عنwith الوِرْدِwatering إنْif سلّواthey draw صَوارِمَهُمْtheir sharp swords
تغْنى عن الوِرْدِ إنْ سلّوا صَوارِمَهُمْ
أمامَهاbefore them لاشْتِباهِbecause of resemblance البِيضِof bright blades بالغُدُرِto pools
أمامَها لاشْتِباهِ البِيضِ بالغُدُرِ
They need no watering if the men draw their sharp swords
before them, for bright blades resemble pools.
أعاذَmay He shelter مجْدَكَyour glory عبْدَAbd اللهِAllah خالقُهits Creator
أعاذَ مجْدَكَ عبْدَ اللهِ خالقُه
منfrom أعْينِthe eyes of الشّهْبِthe stars لاnot منfrom أعْينِthe eyes of البَشَرِhumankind
من أعْينِ الشّهْبِ لا من أعْينِ البَشَرِ
May its Creator shelter your glory, Abd Allah,
from the eyes of stars, not from the eyes of humankind.
فالعَيْنُfor the eye يَسْلَمُis safe منهاfrom it ماwhatever رأتْit sees فنبَتْthen recoils
فالعَيْنُ يَسْلَمُ منها ما رأتْ فنبَتْ
عنهfrom it وتَلْحَقُand strikes ماwhat تَهْوَىit desires منof الصّورِforms
عنه وتَلْحَقُ ما تَهْوَى من الصّورِ
For the eye spares what it sees and recoils
from, but strikes the forms it desires.
فكمfor how many فريسةِa prey of ضِرْغامٍa lion ظفِرْتَyou won بهاit
فكم فريسةِ ضِرْغامٍ ظفِرْتَ بها
فحُزْتَهاand you seized it وهْيَwhile it بيْنَwas between النّابِthe fang والظُّفُرِand the claw
فحُزْتَها وهْيَ بيْنَ النّابِ والظُّفُرِ
How many a lion's prey you have won,
seizing it from between fang and claw!
ماجَتْsurged نُمَيرٌNumayr فهاجَتْand roused منكَin you ذاone with لِبَدٍa mane
ماجَتْ نُمَيرٌ فهاجَتْ منكَ ذا لِبَدٍ
واللّيْثُand the lion أفْتَكُis deadlier أفعالاًin deeds منthan النّمِرِthe leopard
واللّيْثُ أفْتَكُ أفعالاً من النّمِرِ
Numayr surged, rousing in you a maned lion;
a lion is deadlier in its deeds than a leopard.
همّواthey resolved فأمّواthen headed forth فلمّاbut when شارفواthey drew near وقَفواthey stopped
همّوا فأمّوا فلمّا شارفوا وقَفوا
كوِقْفَةِlike the pause of العَيْرِa wild ass بينbetween الوِرْدِgoing to water والصّدَرِand returning from it
كوِقْفَةِ العَيْرِ بين الوِرْدِ والصّدَرِ
They resolved and headed forth; on drawing near they stopped,
like a wild ass pausing between going to water and returning.
وأضعفَand weakened الرّعْبُterror أيدِيهِمtheir hands فطعْنُهُمُso their thrusts
وأضعفَ الرّعْبُ أيدِيهِم فطعْنُهُمُ
بالسّمهرِيّةِwith Samhari spears دُونَare less than الوَخْزِpricking بالإبَرِwith needles
بالسّمهرِيّةِ دُونَ الوَخْزِ بالإبَرِ
Terror weakened their hands, so their thrusts
with Samhari spears were less than needle-pricks.
تُلقيcast الغوانيthe beauties حفيظَthe holder of الدُّرpearls منfrom جَزَعٍpanic
تُلقي الغواني حفيظَ الدُّر من جَزَعٍ
عنهاoff themselves وتُلْقيand cast الرّجالُthe men السَّرْدَchainmail منfrom خَوَرِfaintheartedness
عنها وتُلْقي الرّجالُ السَّرْدَ من خَوَرِ
In panic the beauties cast the cords that hold their pearls
off themselves; the men cast off their mail from faintheartedness.
فكمand how many دِلاصٍa smooth mail-coat علىon البطحاءthe gravel plain ساقطةٍfallen
فكم دِلاصٍ على البطحاء ساقطةٍ
وكمand how many جُمانٍpearls معamong الحَصْباءِthe pebbles مُنْتَثِرِscattered
وكم جُمانٍ مع الحَصْباءِ مُنْتَثِرِ
How many a gleaming coat of mail lies fallen on the gravel plain,
and how many pearls lie scattered among the pebbles!
دعِleave اليَرَاعَthe reed pen لِقَوْمٍto people يَفخرونَwho boast بهof it
دعِ اليَرَاعَ لِقَوْمٍ يَفخرونَ به
وبالطّوَالِand of the long الرّديْنيّاتRudayni spears فافتَخرِso boast
وبالطّوَالِ الرّديْنيّات فافتَخرِ
Leave the reed pen to people who boast of it;
boast instead of the long Rudayni spears.
فهُنّfor they أقلامُكَare your pens اللاتيwhich إذاwhen كتبَتْthey write
فهُنّ أقلامُكَ اللاتي إذا كتبَتْ
مجْداًglory أتَتْbring بمِدادٍwith ink منof دمٍblood هَدَرِshed without redress
مجْداً أتَتْ بمِدادٍ من دمٍ هَدَرِ
They are your pens, which, when they write
glory, bring ink of blood shed without redress.
وكُلِّand every أبيضَgleaming blade هنديٍّIndian بهon it شُطَبٌgrooves
وكُلِّ أبيضَ هنديٍّ به شُطَبٌ
مثْلُlike التّكسّرِrippling فيin جارٍflowing water بمنْحَدرِdown a slope
مثْلُ التّكسّرِ في جارٍ بمنْحَدرِ
And boast of every gleaming Indian blade with grooves
like the ripples in water flowing down a slope.
تَغَايَرَتْvied jealously فيهfor it أرواحٌsouls تمُوتُthat die بهby it
تَغَايَرَتْ فيه أرواحٌ تمُوتُ به
منof الضَرَاغِمِlions والفُرْسانِand horsemen والجُزُرِand slaughter-camels
من الضَرَاغِمِ والفُرْسانِ والجُزُرِ
Souls that die by it have vied jealously for it—
those of lions, horsemen, and camels for slaughter.
رَوْضُa meadow of المَناياdeaths علىdespite أنّthe fact that الدّماءَthe blood بهupon it
رَوْضُ المَنايا على أنّ الدّماءَ به
وإنْeven if تَخَالَفْنَthey differ أبْدالٌsubstitutes منfor الزّهرِflowers
وإنْ تَخَالَفْنَ أبْدالٌ من الزّهرِ
A meadow of deaths, although the blood upon it,
however varied, takes the place of flowers.
ماnot كنْتُI was أحسَبُthinking جَفْناًa sheath قبلbefore مسْكنِهits dwelling
ما كنْتُ أحسَبُ جَفْناً قبل مسْكنِه
فيin الجفْنِthe sheath يُطْوَىcould close علىover نارٍfire ولاnor نَهَرِa river
في الجفْنِ يُطْوَى على نارٍ ولا نَهَرِ
I never thought a sheath, before this blade made its home
in the sheath, could close over fire or a river.
ولاnor ظَنَنْتُI thought صِغارَtiny النّمْلِants يُمكِنُهاcould manage
ولا ظَنَنْتُ صِغارَ النّمْلِ يُمكِنُها
مَشْيٌwalking علىupon اللُّجّdeep water أوor سَعْيٌrunning علىupon السُّعُرِflames
مَشْيٌ على اللُّجّ أو سَعْيٌ على السُّعُرِ
Nor did I think tiny ants capable
of walking upon deep water or running upon flames.
قالتsaid عُداتُكyour enemies ليسis not المجدُglory مُكتسَباًacquired
قالت عُداتُك ليس المجدُ مُكتسَباً
مقالةَthe saying of الهُجنmongrel steeds ليسis not السّبْقُwinning a race بالحُضُرِby galloping
مقالةَ الهُجن ليس السّبْقُ بالحُضُرِ
Your enemies said, 'Glory cannot be earned,'
like mongrel steeds saying, 'Winning is not by galloping.'
رأوْكthey saw you بالعَينِwith the eye فاسْتَغْوَتْهُمُso led them astray ظِنَنٌsuspicions
رأوْك بالعَينِ فاسْتَغْوَتْهُمُ ظِنَنٌ
ولمand not يَرَوْكَthey saw you بفِكْرٍwith a mind صادِقِtrue in الخَبَرِits report
ولم يَرَوْكَ بفِكْرٍ صادِقِ الخَبَرِ
They saw you with the eye, and suspicions led them astray;
they did not see you with a mind true in its judgment.
والنّجْمُand the star تستصْغِرُdeem small الأبصارُthe eyes صورتَهits form
والنّجْمُ تستصْغِرُ الأبصارُ صورتَه
والذنْبُand the blame للطَّرْفِis on the gaze لاnot للنجمِon the star فيfor الصّغَرِsmallness
والذنْبُ للطَّرْفِ لا للنجمِ في الصّغَرِ
Eyes deem the star's form small;
the blame for its smallness lies with the gaze, not the star.
ياO غيْثَrain for فَهْمِthe understanding of ذَويthose with الأفهامunderstanding إِنif سَدِرَتْgrow dizzy
يا غيْثَ فَهْمِ ذَوي الأفهام إِن سَدِرَتْ
إبْليmy camels فمرْآكthen the sight of you يَشْفِيهاcures them منof السَّدَرِdizziness
إبْلي فمرْآك يَشْفِيها من السَّدَرِ
O rain for the understanding of the discerning! Should dizziness seize
my camels, the sight of you cures their dizziness.
والمَرْءُand a person ماas long as لمnot تُفِدْbrings نَفْعاًbenefit إقامتُهhis stay
والمَرْءُ ما لم تُفِدْ نَفْعاً إقامتُه
غَيْمٌa cloud حَمَىscreened الشمسَthe sun لمdid not يُمْطِرْrain ولمand did not يَسِرِmove away
غَيْمٌ حَمَى الشمسَ لم يُمْطِرْ ولم يَسِرِ
A man whose stay brings no benefit
is a cloud that veils the sun, yet neither rains nor moves away.
فزانَهاso may He adorn them اللهُGod أنfor having لاقتْكَmet you زِينتَهas His adorning of
فزانَها اللهُ أن لاقتْكَ زِينتَه
بَناتِthe daughters of أَعْوَجَAʿwaj بالأحْجالِwith white leg markings والغُرَرِand forehead blazes
بَناتِ أَعْوَجَ بالأحْجالِ والغُرَرِ
May God adorn them for meeting you as He adorns
the daughters of Aʿwaj with white socks and forehead blazes.
أفْنَىexhausted قُواهاtheir strength قليلُa little السّيرِtravel تُدْمِنُهُthey continually undertake
أفْنَى قُواها قليلُ السّيرِ تُدْمِنُهُ
والغَمْرُand deep water يُفنِيهexhausts it طولُprolonged الغَرْفِscooping بالغُمَرِwith a small cup
والغَمْرُ يُفنِيه طولُ الغَرْفِ بالغُمَرِ
A little travel, persistently undertaken, exhausted their strength;
deep water is depleted by prolonged dipping with a small cup.
حتىuntil سطَرْناwe wrote lines بهاwith them البَيْداءَthe desert عنacross عُرُضٍits breadth
حتى سطَرْنا بها البَيْداءَ عن عُرُضٍ
وكلُّand every وَجْناءَstout-cheeked she-camel مثْلُlike النّونِthe letter nun فيin السَّطَرِthe line
وكلُّ وَجْناءَ مثْلُ النّونِ في السَّطَرِ
Until with them we wrote across the breadth of the desert,
each stout-cheeked she-camel like the letter nun in the line.
علُوْتُمُyou rose high فتواضَعْتُمْthen humbled yourselves علىin ثِقَةٍconfidence
علُوْتُمُ فتواضَعْتُمْ على ثِقَةٍ
لمّاwhen تَوَاضَعَhumbled themselves أقْوامٌpeople علىin غَرَرِuncertainty
لمّا تَوَاضَعَ أقْوامٌ على غَرَرِ
You rose high, then humbled yourselves in confidence,
when others humbled themselves on unsure grounds.
والكِبْرُand pride والحمْدُand praise ضِدّانِare opposites اتّفاقُهماtheir agreement
والكِبْرُ والحمْدُ ضِدّانِ اتّفاقُهما
مثْلُlike اتّفاقِthe agreement of فَتَاءِyouthfulness السّنّof age والكِبَرِand old age
مثْلُ اتّفاقِ فَتَاءِ السّنّ والكِبَرِ
Pride and praise are opposites; their agreement
is like the agreement of youth and old age.
يُجْنَىis reaped تَزَايُدُthe increase of هذاthis منfrom تَناقُضِthe decrease of ذاthat
يُجْنَى تَزَايُدُ هذا من تَناقُضِ ذا
والليلُand the night إنْif طالَgrows long غالَrobs اليومَthe day بالقِصَرِby shortening it
والليلُ إنْ طالَ غالَ اليومَ بالقِصَرِ
The increase of one is reaped from the decrease of the other;
when night grows long, it robs the day by shortening it.
خَفّgrew flighty الوَرىpeople وأقرّتْكمْand kept you steady حُلُومُكُمُyour forbearance
خَفّ الوَرى وأقرّتْكمْ حُلُومُكُمُ
والجَمْرُand embers تُعْدَمُis lacking فيهin them خِفّةُthe flightiness of الشّرَرِsparks
والجَمْرُ تُعْدَمُ فيه خِفّةُ الشّرَرِ
People were flighty, but your forbearance kept you steady;
embers lack the flightiness of sparks.
وأنْتَand you مَنْare one who لوif رأىsaw الإنسانُa person طَلْعَتَهhis countenance
وأنْتَ مَنْ لو رأى الإنسانُ طَلْعَتَه
فيin النّوْمsleep لمnot يُمْسِwould reach evening منfrom خَطْبٍcalamity علىin خَطَرِdanger
في النّوْم لم يُمْسِ من خَطْبٍ على خَطَرِ
You are one whose countenance, were a person to see it
in sleep, he would reach evening in no danger from calamity.
وعَبْدُand a servant of غيْرِكَanother than you مضْرُورٌharmed بخِدْمَتِهِby his service
وعَبْدُ غيْرِكَ مضْرُورٌ بخِدْمَتِهِ
كالغِمْدِlike a sheath يُبْليهwears it out صَوْنُguarding الصّارِمِthe keen blade الذّكَرِthe hard-tempered
كالغِمْدِ يُبْليه صَوْنُ الصّارِمِ الذّكَرِ
A servant of anyone but you is harmed by his service,
like a scabbard worn out by guarding a keen, hard-tempered blade.
لولاhad it not been for قُدومُكَyour arrival قبْلَbefore النّحْرِthe Feast of Sacrifice أخّرَهُwould have delayed it
لولا قُدومُكَ قبْلَ النّحْرِ أخّرَهُ
إلىuntil قدومِكyour arrival أهْلُthose with النفْعِbenefit والضّرَرِand harm
إلى قدومِك أهْلُ النفْعِ والضّرَرِ
Had you not arrived before the Feast of Sacrifice, they would have delayed it
until your arrival—those who can benefit and harm.
سافَرْتَyou traveled عنّاaway from us فظَلّso remained النّاسُthe people كلّهُمُall of them
سافَرْتَ عنّا فظَلّ النّاسُ كلّهُمُ
يُراقبونَwatching إيابَthe return of العِيدِthe festival مِنfrom سَفَرِtravel
يُراقبونَ إيابَ العِيدِ مِن سَفَرِ
You traveled away from us, and all the people remained
watching for the festival's return from travel.
لوْif غِبْتَyou were absent شَهْرَكَyour month موْصُولاًjoined بتابِعِهto the one following it
لوْ غِبْتَ شَهْرَكَ موْصُولاً بتابِعِه
وأبْتَand returned لانْتقلَwould have moved الأضْحَىEid al-Adha إلىto صَفَرِSafar
وأبْتَ لانْتقلَ الأضْحَى إلى صَفَرِ
Had you been absent for your month and the one following it,
then returned, Eid al-Adha would have moved to Safar.
فاسْعَدْso rejoice بمَجْدٍin glory ويوْمٍand a day إذwhen سَلِمتَyou were safe لناamong us
فاسْعَدْ بمَجْدٍ ويوْمٍ إذ سَلِمتَ لنا
فماfor not يَزيدُexceeds علىbeyond أيّامِناour days الأُخَرِthe other
فما يَزيدُ على أيّامِنا الأُخَرِ
So rejoice in glory and in a day when you are safe among us;
for it is no greater than our other days.
ولاand may not تَزَلْcease لكَfor you أَزمانٌtimes ممَتِّعَةٌbringing enjoyment
ولا تَزَلْ لكَ أَزمانٌ ممَتِّعَةٌ
بالآلِof family والحالِand well-being والعَلياءِand eminence والعُمُرِand life
بالآلِ والحالِ والعَلياءِ والعُمُرِ
May times rich in enjoyment never cease for you,
with family, well-being, eminence, and life.
Partial English translation: 78 of 148 Arabic lines translated.