هاتِcome نقضِlet us render الرياضَthe gardens حقَّthe due of الرياضِthe gardens
هاتِ نقضِ الرياضَ حقَّ الرياضِ
وانْقَبِضْand shrink back أنْfrom being تُرَىseen بِعَيْنِwith an eye of انْقِباضِwithdrawal
وانْقَبِضْ أنْ تُرَى بِعَيْنِ انْقِباضِ
Come, let us pay the gardens the gardens’ due,
Give me clear proofs and evidence
and shrink from being seen with a withdrawn look.
And refrain from being seen with a conjecturing eye
إِنْif تَرُضْyou train فيin الرياضَthe gardens طرفيmy gaze تَرُوضْهُyou train it
إِنْ تَرُضْ في الرياضَ طرفي تَرُوضْهُ
غيرَnot آبٍrefusing رياضةَthe training of الرُوَّاضthe trainers
غيرَ آبٍ رياضةَ الرُوَّاض
If you train my gaze in the gardens, you train it
If you are pleased with the garden, let my eyes enjoy it
without its refusing the training of trainers.
None can properly nurture a garden but the caretaker
كمhow often تَقَاضاكَpressed you أَنْto تقاضانيpress me الشوthe longing (start)
كم تَقَاضاكَ أَنْ تقاضاني الشو
قُlonging (end) فلمand did not تألُfall short فيin تقاضيpursuing التَّقاضيthe demand
قُ فلم تألُ في تقاضي التَّقاضي
How often longing urged you to press me,
How much did longing plead with me to plead longing with you
and you spared no effort in pursuing that demand,
Yet ceaseless pleading wearies the pleading
باخضرارٍwith greenness ملمَّعٍflecked باصفرارٍwith yellowness
باخضرارٍ ملمَّعٍ باصفرارٍ
واحمرارand redness ملمَّعٍflecked بابيضاضwith whiteness
واحمرار ملمَّعٍ بابيضاض
with green flecked with yellow,
With a greenness glossily speckled with yellow
and red flecked with white.
And redness speckled with whiteness
لامعاتٍgleaming لمعlike the gleam of الفسافسِthe mosaics فيon الجدthe walls (start)
لامعاتٍ لمع الفسافسِ في الجد
رانِwalls (end) لمعَlike the gleam of الحصباءِthe pebbles فيamid الرَّضْراضthe fine gravel
رانِ لمعَ الحصباءِ في الرَّضْراض
Gleaming like mosaics on walls,
Shining brightly like polished silver
like pebbles gleaming amid fine gravel;
And like pebbles gleaming in the meadow
كالمصابيحِlike lamps حينwhen تومضُthey flash بلrather كالlike the
كالمصابيحِ حين تومضُ بل كال
شمعِcandles بلrather كالنجومِlike the stars فيin الإيماضflashing
شمعِ بل كالنجومِ في الإيماض
like lamps when they flash—rather, like candles,
Like lamps when they twinkle
rather, like stars in their flashing.
Nay, like candles when they flare
منof خدودcheeks منamong الخدودthe cheeks القوانيcrimson
من خدود من الخدود القواني
وعيونٍand eyes منamong العيونِthe eyes المراضlanguishing
وعيونٍ من العيونِ المراض
Cheeks among crimson cheeks,
Nay, like stars in their twinkling
and eyes among languishing eyes;
Of cheeks and of languid eyes
منof خضابٍdye خضابِthe dye of أَيديhands الغوانيbeautiful women
من خضابٍ خضابِ أَيدي الغواني
منهsome of it ناضٍfading ومنهand some of it غيرُnot النَّاضيfading
منه ناضٍ ومنه غيرُ النَّاضي
dye like the dye on beautiful women’s hands,
Of henna, henna of the hands of lovely ladies
some of it fading, some not fading.
Some untouched, some touched on
فَضَّضتهُsilvered it أيديthe hands of الأقاحيdaisies فَصارَتْand so it became
فَضَّضتهُ أيدي الأقاحي فَصارَتْ
فيin قميصٍa tunic منof فضَّةٍsilver فَضْفاضloose-flowing
في قميصٍ من فضَّةٍ فَضْفاض
Daisies’ hands silvered it, and it came to be
So their hands made it openwork in a silver shift
in a flowing tunic of silver.
Everything beautiful in all beauty of the world
كلُّevery حُسنٍbeauty منfrom كلِّall حُسنِthe beauty of الورىhumankind يقjudges (start)
كلُّ حُسنٍ من كلِّ حُسنِ الورى يق
ضيjudges (end) لكلِّfor all الورىhumankind بهthrough it كلُّevery قاضjudge
ضي لكلِّ الورى به كلُّ قاض
Every beauty drawn from all mankind’s beauty—
Proves for the whole world that the judge judges justly
every judge awards it there to all mankind.
Springtime wove in it divers sorts
صاغَfashioned فيهاin them آذارُMarch هذاthis صنوفاًvarieties
صاغَ فيها آذارُ هذا صنوفاً
لمdid not يَصُغهاfashion them آذارُMarch ذاكthat الماضيprevious
لم يَصُغها آذارُ ذاك الماضي
This March fashioned varieties there
The Springtimes of yore never wove the like
that the previous March never fashioned,
Displaying silks and satins
ناشراًspreading سندساًfine silk واستبرقاًand brocade مُغْintent (start)
ناشراً سندساً واستبرقاً مُغْ
رىًintent (end) بطيِّon folding away الأسقامailments والأمراضand diseases
رىً بطيِّ الأسقام والأمراض
spreading fine silk and brocade, intent
Folded up from motley rags and diseases
on folding away ailments and diseases.
Some folds slipping over some
ينفضshakes off الطلَّthe dew بعضُهاsome of them فوقَover بعضٍothers
ينفض الطلَّ بعضُها فوقَ بعضٍ
فيin انتفاضa shaking منهنَّfrom them بعدafter انتفاضanother shaking
في انتفاض منهنَّ بعد انتفاض
Some shake the dew down upon others,
Rising fold after fold
with one shiver after another.
So that they are like a planet rising
فهيso they are ماwhat lies بينbetween كوكبٍa star ذيwith طلوعٍrising
فهي ما بين كوكبٍ ذي طلوعٍ
مِنfrom نداهاtheir dew وكوكبٍand a star ذيwith انقضاضfalling
مِن نداها وكوكبٍ ذي انقضاض
Thus they lie between a star rising
In its radiance, and a planet setting
from their dew and a star falling.
Stand and look if you wish at the pools on my roof
قمrise تأَمَّلْcontemplate إنif شيتyou wish أحواضthe basins of سطحيmy rooftop
قم تأَمَّلْ إن شيت أحواض سطحي
ترَyou will see تلكthose الجنانَthe gardens فيin الأحواضthe basins
ترَ تلك الجنانَ في الأحواض
Rise and, if you wish, contemplate the basins on my roof;
You will see those gardens in the pools
you will see those gardens in the basins.
You will see those ravines and the white pillars
ترَyou will see تلكthose الغياضَthe groves والعمدَand the pillars البيwhite (start)
ترَ تلك الغياضَ والعمدَ البي
ضَwhite (end) التيwhich تحتbeneath خُضرthe greenery of تلكthose الغياضgroves
ضَ التي تحت خُضر تلك الغياض
You will see those groves and the white pillars
Beneath the green of those ravines
beneath the green of those groves,
And the marble which, if you spread it out
والرخامَand the marble الذيwhich لوif اعتضتَyou took in exchange منهin its place
والرخامَ الذي لو اعتضتَ منه
فَرشَbedding of ريشfeathers ماnot كنتyou would be بالمعتاضcompensated
فَرشَ ريش ما كنت بالمعتاض
and the marble which, if you exchanged it
To furnish couches, you would not find it scant
for feather bedding, you would not be recompensed.
You will not see me pleased with play
لنnever ترانيyou will see me أرضىpleased عنwith اللهوpleasure إِلاexcept
لن تراني أرضى عن اللهو إِلا
بينamid روضٍa garden عنwith السحائبthe clouds راضِpleased
بين روضٍ عن السحائب راضِ
You will never see me pleased with pleasure except
Save in a garden well pleased with the clouds
amid a garden pleased with the rain clouds,
Among bay horses and among greys that the houris there
بينamid حُمرٍred blooms وبينand amid بيضwhite blooms تحارُare bewildered الthe
بين حُمرٍ وبين بيض تحارُ ال
حورُfair-eyed beauties فيهاin them منby حمرةٍredness وبياضand whiteness
حورُ فيها من حمرةٍ وبياض
amid reds and whites that bewilder
Are perplexed between the bay and the grey
fair-eyed beauties with their redness and whiteness.
The souls' fancies swoop down to it
خطراتُthe stirrings of النفوسsouls تهويrush إليهاtoward them
خطراتُ النفوس تهوي إليها
كهويّlike the rushing of العطاشthe thirsty نحوَtoward الحياضwatering pools
كهويّ العطاش نحوَ الحياض
The stirrings of souls rush toward them,
As the thirsty swoop to the drinking-places
as the thirsty rush toward watering pools.
And the eyelids fall down on it
ولحاظُand the glances of العيونeyes يسقطنfall فيهاinto them
ولحاظُ العيون يسقطن فيها
كسقوطlike the falling of السِّهامarrows فيupon الأغراضthe targets
كسقوط السِّهام في الأغراض
And the glances of eyes fall into them
Like the falling of arrows into their butts
like arrows falling upon targets.
It has displayed its expanse, and stretched out long
عَرُضَتْgrew broad بُسطهاtheir carpets وطالتand grew long فكانتand so they were
عَرُضَتْ بُسطها وطالت فكانت
حَسْبَa match for أحسابِناour noble lineages الطوالthe long العراضthe broad
حَسْبَ أحسابِنا الطوال العراض
Their carpets grew broad and long, and so they were
Fulfilling our expectations, ample and abounding
a match for our long and broad pedigrees.
We are a folk whom Murr ibn Udhaynah reared loftily
نحنwe قومٌa people بنىbuilt لناfor us مضرٌMudar عglory (start)
نحن قومٌ بنى لنا مضرٌ ع
زّاًglory (end) مضىpassed away العزُّglory وهوwhile it ليسis not بماضpassing away
زّاً مضى العزُّ وهو ليس بماض
We are a people for whom Mudar built a glory:
The loftiness has departed, but is not lost
glory has passed away, yet this has not passed.
And we attained a height whereat the far end
وارتفعناand we rose حتىuntil رأىsaw المتناهيone at the utmost height
وارتفعنا حتى رأى المتناهي
فيin ارتفاعٍascent كأَنَّهas though he فيin انخفاضdescent
في ارتفاعٍ كأَنَّه في انخفاض
We rose until one at the utmost height saw himself
Seemed as though looking down from on high
in his ascent as though he were descending,
By the Prophet, the Chosen, the Virgin spirit
بالنبيِّthrough the Prophet الصفيِّthe chosen بالطاهرthrough the pure العرhonor (start)
بالنبيِّ الصفيِّ بالطاهر العر
ضhonor (end) لباغيfor the seeker of طهارةpurity of الأعراضhonor
ض لباغي طهارة الأعراض
through the chosen Prophet, pure of honor,
Too pure for any stain to stain
for whoever seeks purity of honor,
By the Prophet's kin, and the immaculate pearl
وبآلand through the family of النبيِّthe Prophet والجوهرand the jewel المحpure (start)
وبآل النبيِّ والجوهر المح
ضpure (end) فقلْso speak فيof الجواهرthe jewels الأمحاضwholly pure
ض فقلْ في الجواهر الأمحاض
and through the Prophet’s family, the pure jewel—
So say, in immaculate pearls that have no blemish!
speak, then, of jewels wholly pure.
Through them the Caliphate gained pillars
بهمُthrough them شَدَّتِtightened الخلافةthe caliphate أطناguy ropes (start)
بهمُ شَدَّتِ الخلافة أطنا
باًguy ropes (end) منof الدينreligion غيرَnot ذاتsubject to انتفاضloosening
باً من الدين غيرَ ذات انتفاض
Through them the caliphate tightened the guy ropes
Of the religion without any shaking
of religion, ropes not subject to loosening.
Because of their munificence and through their valour
وإِلىand to جُودهمْtheir generosity وبأسهمْand their might سsubmitted (start)
وإِلى جُودهمْ وبأسهمْ س
لَّمsubmitted (end) أهلُthe people of الأهواءpassions والأمراضand diseases
لَّم أهلُ الأهواء والأمراض
To their generosity and their might submitted
The people of vain fancies and diseases submitted
the people of passions and diseases.
They annulled loans by gifts so we, rich,
عطَّلواthey made unnecessary القرضَloans بالهباتِwith gifts فمُستَقso a borrower (start)
عطَّلوا القرضَ بالهباتِ فمُستَق
رِضُناour borrower (end) فيin غنىًindependence عنfrom الاقتراضborrowing
رِضُنا في غنىً عن الاقتراض
Their gifts made loans unnecessary, so our borrower
Had no need of borrowing
has no need of borrowing.
If the clouds failed us, we made up for it
وإذاand when أخلفَbroke its promise السحابُthe clouds استعضناwe took in exchange
وإذا أخلفَ السحابُ استعضنا
منfrom نداهمtheir bounty أجلَّthe noblest ماthing مُستَعاضtaken in exchange
من نداهم أجلَّ ما مُستَعاض
When the clouds broke their promise, we took in exchange
From their bounty - a most excellent substitute!
from their bounty the noblest recompense.
For they are our pride, O son of a generous clan, if you desire pride
فهمُso they are الفخرُthe pride لابنof the son of ذيDhu يزنYazan إنif كنyou are (start)
فهمُ الفخرُ لابن ذي يزن إن كن
تَyou are (end) تبغيseeking فخراًpride ولابنand of the son of مُضاضMudad
تَ تبغي فخراً ولابن مُضاض
They are the pride of the son of Dhu Yazan, if you
And, O son of Madhhij, have no doubt thereof!
seek pride, and of the son of Mudad.
Whoso seeks to deny it, if Hashim or their equal threaten him,
منwho يرومseeks الإِغماضَclosing the eyes إِنif وَتَرَتْهُhas wronged him
من يروم الإِغماضَ إِن وَتَرَتْهُ
هاشمٌHashim أوor يهمُّcontemplates بالإغماضclosing his eyes
هاشمٌ أو يهمُّ بالإغماض
Who seeks to close his eyes, if wronged
Will consent to be silent and wink
by Hashim, or even thinks of closing them?
Who, if the sea of Khandaf surged, would not drown
منwho إذاwhen فاضَoverflows بحرُthe sea of خندفَKhindif لاnot يَغْdrowns (start)
من إذا فاضَ بحرُ خندفَ لا يَغْ
رَقُdrowns (end) فيin فيضthe flood of بحرِهاher sea الفيَّاضoverflowing
رَقُ في فيض بحرِها الفيَّاض
Who, when Khindif’s sea overflows, does not drown
In its overflowing, copious sea?
in the flood of her overflowing sea?
Who possesses a massacre the like of which has passed
منwho لهhas فتكةٌa deadly assault مَضَتْpassed مثلاًas a proverb فيin
من له فتكةٌ مَضَتْ مثلاً في
ماwhat مضىhas passed مثلَlike فتكةِthe deadly assault of البرَّاضal-Barrad
ما مضى مثلَ فتكةِ البرَّاض
Who has a deadly assault that became proverbial
Into history - the massacre of the Enclosure?
in bygone days like al-Barrad’s deadly assault?
Who is like Muhalhil and Rabi'at al-Faras
مَنْwho كمحييlike the reviver of الوئيدthe buried-alive infant أوor راهنthe pledger of القوthe bow (start)
مَنْ كمحيي الوئيد أو راهن القو
سِbow (end) اعترضْobject إنif وجدتَyou find وَجهَgrounds for اعتراضobjection
سِ اعترضْ إن وجدتَ وَجهَ اعتراض
Who is like the reviver of the buried infant, or the one who pledged his bow?
Object if you find place for objection!
Raise an objection, if you find grounds for one.
How many of this living tribe of Bani Asad
كمhow many لذاfor this الحيِّclan منof بنيthe sons of أسدٍAsad منof
كم لذا الحيِّ من بني أسدٍ من
أسدٍa lion شائكbristling with المدىblades قَضقاضbone-crushing
أسدٍ شائك المدى قَضقاض
How many, in this clan of Banu Asad, are
Lions, far-stretching in onslaught, tearers!
lions bristling with blades, bone-crushing!
How many heroes Qabbitat . Tu'mat yielded
كمhow many لأحياءِamong the clans of ضَبّةٍDabba ولأحياand among the clans (start)
كم لأحياءِ ضَبّةٍ ولأحيا
ءِclans (end) تميمٍTamim منof حيَّةٍa serpent نضناضdarting-tongued
ءِ تميمٍ من حيَّةٍ نضناض
How many among Dabba’s clans and the clans
Snakes virulently hissing!
of Tamim are darting-tongued serpents!
Qabbitat! My clan - they left the tribe swollen
ضَبَّةٌDabba أُسرتيmy family همُthey are التاركيthose leaving الباthe aggressor (start)
ضَبَّةٌ أُسرتي همُ التاركي البا
غيُaggressor (end) رُضاضاًfragments لاno بلrather رُضاضَfragments of الرضاضthe fragments
غيُ رُضاضاً لا بل رُضاضَ الرضاض
Dabba is my family: they leave the aggressor
Nay, but the swellings of pride's swellings!
in fragments—no, in fragments of fragments.
They tore the proteges of Maziqia'a
مَزَّقواthey tore apart منof; from مُزَيقياءَMuzayqiya وهاضُواand they broke
مَزَّقوا من مُزَيقياءَ وهاضُوا
منهof him عظماًa bone ماnot كانwas بالمنهاضbroken
منه عظماً ما كان بالمنهاض
They tore into Muzayqiya and broke
And made of them a ruin beyond all ruining
a bone of his that had never been broken.
And gained glory in killing Bistam
واستفاضُواand they spread abroad بقتلِthrough killing بسطامٍBistam الذكْrenown (start)
واستفاضُوا بقتلِ بسطامٍ الذكْ
رَrenown (end) فأكْرِمْhow noble بذكرِهِis his remembrance المستفاضspread far and wide
رَ فأكْرِمْ بذكرِهِ المستفاض
Through Bistam’s killing they spread renown far and wide;
So mention him - you who seek glory!
how noble is his widely spread remembrance!
Every living clan of unbelievers or confessors
كلّevery حيٍّclan منof جاحدٍa denier وَمُقْرٍّand an acknowledger
كلّ حيٍّ من جاحدٍ وَمُقْرٍّ
فيin عِلاطٍa neck-brand منfrom وسمناour branding أوor عراضa transverse brand
في عِلاطٍ من وسمنا أو عراض
Every clan, whether denying or acknowledging,
On a raid of ours or in a meadow of ours
bears our brand, on the neck or crosswise.
Be they remote or near, they live in terror
كلُّهُمْall of them حيثُwhere ماever نأواthey go far أوor تدانواthey draw near
كلُّهُمْ حيثُ ما نأوا أو تدانوا
فيin هِجَارٍa tether منfrom خوفناfear of us أوor إِباضa hobble
في هِجَارٍ من خوفنا أو إِباض
All of them, wherever they go far or draw near,
Of our fear or in remoteness from us
are in a tether or hobble of fear of us.
O you who stand aloof from us, were we but to describe them
أيهاO you المعرضونَwho turn away عنَّاfrom us ولوand if نَنْwe deal fairly (start)
أيها المعرضونَ عنَّا ولو نَنْ
صِفُهُمْwe deal fairly with them (end) أعرضواthey would turn away عنfrom الإعراضturning away
صِفُهُمْ أعرضوا عن الإعراض
O you who turn away from us—were we to treat them fairly,
They would stand more aloof from standing aloof!
they would cease to turn away.
Chew on the memory of how we barred you from grazing freely
امضغُواchew ذكرَthe remembrance of مَنْعنَاour defending ثَغْرَكُمyour frontier أمْyesterday (start)
امضغُوا ذكرَ مَنْعنَا ثَغْرَكُم أمْ
سِyesterday (end) تكونواyou will be كماضغيlike chewers of الحمَّاضsorrel
سِ تكونوا كماضغي الحمَّاض
Chew over the memory of our guarding your frontier yesterday;
If you can find a time for chewing
you will be like those chewing sorrel.
And wander freely beside Khandaf or Qays
واسْرَحُواand roam فيin جوارِthe protection of خندفَKhindif أوor قَيْQays (start)
واسْرَحُوا في جوارِ خندفَ أو قَيْ
سٍQays (end) جوارِthe protection of الحصونِfortresses والأرباضand outlying settlements
سٍ جوارِ الحصونِ والأرباض
Range freely in the protection of Khindif or Qays,
A wandering freely by fortresses and caves
the protection of fortresses and their outlying quarters.
For my oscillation between Qays ibn 'Ailan's clans
فارتماضيso my burning anguish فيfor قيسِQays عيلانAylan للقُّرْfor kinship (start)
فارتماضي في قيسِ عيلان للقُّرْ
بىkinship (end) ارتماضٌburning anguish ولاand not ككلِّlike every ارتماضburning anguish
بى ارتماضٌ ولا ككلِّ ارتماض
My burning anguish for Qays Aylan is born of kinship—
Is oscillation indeed, not like all oscillation!
anguish unlike any other.
When we were raging the veins pulsed
نَبَضَpulsed العرقُthe vein بينناbetween us إِذwhen مَتَتْناwe invoked kinship
نَبَضَ العرقُ بيننا إِذ مَتَتْنا
فَعرَفْناso we recognized العُروقَthe veins بالإنباضby their pulsing
فَعرَفْنا العُروقَ بالإنباض
The vein pulsed between us when we invoked our kinship,
So we knew the arteries by their pulsing
so we recognized the veins by their pulsing.
O you who warm yourself by Qays' fires
أيهاO you المصطليwarming yourself بنيرانat the fires of قيسٍQays
أيها المصطلي بنيران قيسٍ
اغتمضْsleep إِنْif أَصبتَyou find وقتَa time for اغتماضsleep
اغتمضْ إِنْ أَصبتَ وقتَ اغتماض
O you who warm yourself at the fires of Qays,
Wink if you find it time for winking!
sleep, if you find a time for sleep.
Those who requite one favour with another; but if
المثيبينthose rewarding مَنْwhomever أَثابواthey rewarded وإِنْand even if لمnot
المثيبين مَنْ أَثابوا وإِنْ لم
يَستَثِبْhe seeks reward بالعِشارِwith ten-month-pregnant she-camels أوor بالمخاضwith pregnant she-camels
يَستَثِبْ بالعِشارِ أو بالمخاض
Those who reward whomever they reward, even if he has not
No camel foal or goat kid accrue from the birth pangs
asked for reward, with near-calving or pregnant she-camels.
Every ally goes to decay but mine
كلُّevery ركنٍpillar إلىtoward انقضاضٍcollapse وركنيand my pillar
كلُّ ركنٍ إلى انقضاضٍ وركني
أبداًforever غيرُnot مُؤذنannouncing بانقضاضa coming collapse
أبداً غيرُ مُؤذن بانقضاض
Every pillar is headed for collapse, but my pillar
Never gives warning of decay
never gives a sign of collapse.
Afrir refuses and Dhatu Anwat refuses
أثبيرٌdoes Thabir يرفَضُّcrumble والطورُand al-Tur أمor قُدQuds (start)
أثبيرٌ يرفَضُّ والطورُ أم قُد
سٌQuds (end) وثهلانُand Thahlan مؤذنٌannouncing ارفضاضdisintegration
سٌ وثهلانُ مؤذنٌ ارفضاض
Does Thabir crumble, or al-Tur, or Quds,
And Tahlân is warning they are about to collapse
and does Thahlan foretell disintegration?
The rancour of every envier wears on long in me
طالlasted long فيَّagainst me ارتكاضُthe thrashing of كلِّevery حسودٍenvier
طال فيَّ ارتكاضُ كلِّ حسودٍ
ليسnot مغنيهavailing him فيَّagainst me طولُthe length of ارتكاضthrashing
ليس مغنيه فيَّ طولُ ارتكاض
Long has every envier thrashed against me;
Nothing improves it but the long continuance of rancour
his long thrashing against me does him no good.
But my sword of vengeance refused
وأبىand refused ليfor me سيفُthe sword of امتعاضيَmy indignation أنto أشْI occupy (start)
وأبى لي سيفُ امتعاضيَ أن أشْ
غَلَI occupy (end) بالحاسدينَwith the envious سيفَthe sword of امتعاضيmy indignation
غَلَ بالحاسدينَ سيفَ امتعاضي
The sword of my indignation refused to let me busy
To be occupied with enviers - my sword of vengeance
the sword of my indignation with the envious.
O my friend from Qabbitat or from Sa'd Tu'mat
ياO خَلِيليmy dear friend منof سعدِSa'd ضَبَّةDabba أوor سَعْSa'd (start)
يا خَلِيلي من سعدِ ضَبَّة أو سَعْ
دِSa'd (end) تميمٍTamim ذاكthat الطُّولthe tall ones العُراضthe broad ones
دِ تميمٍ ذاك الطُّول العُراض
O my dear friend, of Sa'd of Dabba or Sa'd
Tall in stature, long in bones!
of Tamim, those tall, broad men,
Let the souls of the base be aggrieved that as long as
دعْlet نفوسَthe souls of اللئامِthe base تسخطُbe displeased ماas long as داremain (start)
دعْ نفوسَ اللئامِ تسخطُ ما دا
مَتْremain (end) نفوسُthe souls of الكرامِthe noble عنِّيwith me رواضيpleased
مَتْ نفوسُ الكرامِ عنِّي رواضي
let the souls of the base be displeased, so long as
The souls of the noble were pleased with me
the souls of the noble are pleased with me.
What unjust judge judges against me that did not judge
أيُّwhat قاضٍjudge عليagainst me بالجورِunjustly لمdid not تَقْjudge (start)
أيُّ قاضٍ علي بالجورِ لم تَقْ
ضِjudge (end) علىagainst نَفْسِهِhis own life المناياthe Fates القواضيjudging
ضِ على نَفْسِهِ المنايا القواضي
What judge has ruled unjustly against me, without
Upon himself the judgment of death
the judging Fates passing judgment on his own life?
Seldom is any bow tightened but men are hit
قلَّseldom ماever أُنبضَتْwere twanged قسيٌّbows فلمand not يُصْare struck dead (start)
قلَّ ما أُنبضَتْ قسيٌّ فلم يُصْ
مَare struck dead (end) أُناسٌpeople منْby ذلكthat الأنباضtwanging
مَ أُناسٌ منْ ذلك الأنباض
Rarely have bows been twanged without
By that tightening
people being struck dead by that twanging.
And so I have had of the varying colours of fate
وعلىand despite ذاthis فإِنَّindeed بيin me منfrom عِضاضِthe biting of الدTime (start)
وعلى ذا فإِنَّ بي من عِضاضِ الد
هرTime (end) ماwhatever شيتyou wish منof صنوفkinds of العضاضbiting
هر ما شيت من صنوف العضاض
For all that, I suffer from Time’s bites
Whatever sorts of changing colours you wish
whatever kinds of biting you could wish.
The springtide of youth has withdrawn, flowed away, after flowing
غاضَebbed ماءُthe water of الشبابِyouth منfrom بعدafter ماthat فاoverflowed (start)
غاضَ ماءُ الشبابِ من بعد ما فا
ضَoverflowed (end) فودَّعْتُهُso I bade it farewell بدمعٍwith tears مُفَاضpoured forth
ضَ فودَّعْتُهُ بدمعٍ مُفَاض
The water of youth ebbed after it had overflowed,
I bade it farewell with a streaming tear
and I bade it farewell with flowing tears.
And old age has come that mars delight
وأتىand came الشيبُgray hair وهوand it is مقراضُthe shears of لهوٍpleasure
وأتى الشيبُ وهو مقراضُ لهوٍ
يتركleaves اللهوَpleasure مُؤذناًannouncing بانقراضextinction
يترك اللهوَ مُؤذناً بانقراض
Gray hair came, the shears of pleasure,
Leaving delight, it gives warning of passing away
leaving pleasure to announce its own extinction.
So I have avoided being grey haired for delight's sake
فاجتنبتُso I avoided المشيبَgray hair للّهوِfor pleasure لمّاwhen
فاجتنبتُ المشيبَ للّهوِ لمّا
أنthat أقاماthe two settled علىon سبيلِa path of تراضmutual consent
أن أقاما على سبيلِ تراض
So I shunned gray hair for pleasure’s sake, when
As the twain proceeded to agree about accord
the two had settled on a path of mutual accord.
Every day I uproot the beginnings of a life
كلَّeach يومٍday أَفتضُّI deflower أبكارَthe virgins of عيشٍlife
كلَّ يومٍ أَفتضُّ أبكارَ عيشٍ
لمhave not تُرَوَّعْbeen frightened أبكارُهُits virgins بافتضاضby deflowering
لم تُرَوَّعْ أبكارُهُ بافتضاض
Each day I deflower virgin delights of living,
Whose beginnings were not scared by uprooting
whose virgins have never been frightened by deflowering.
And tame songs of verse that defeat and surpass
وأروضُand I tame الأشعارَpoems يعجِزُis unable عنto manage أيْeasiest (start)
وأروضُ الأشعارَ يعجِزُ عن أيْ
سَرِهاtheir easiest (end) كلُّevery شاعرٍpoet روّاضskilled tamer
سَرِها كلُّ شاعرٍ روّاض
And I tame poems, the easiest of which defeats
The utmost of every professional poet
every poet versed in taming.
Shall I dissemble, now that passion has ripened me
أَتصابىI act youthful وقدthough already أمضَّنَيtormented me الشوthe longing (start)
أَتصابى وقد أمضَّنَي الشو
قُlonging (end) ليخفَىso that it may be hidden ماwhat بيis in me منof الامضاضtorment
قُ ليخفَى ما بي من الامضاض
I act youthful, though longing has tormented me,
In order to conceal what is in me of ripening?
so that the torment within me may remain hidden.
My course is set though my goods are packed up
وسبيليand my course وقدnow that نهضتI have risen بستّيwith sixty (start)
وسبيلي وقد نهضت بستّي
نَsixty (end) نهوضَthe rising of المشمِّرthe one girded for action النَّهاضَever vigorous
نَ نهوضَ المشمِّر النَّهاضَ
And my course, now that I have reached sixty,
A setting forth like him who shoulders a load
rising as one girded for action, ever vigorous,
Suing my soul to show forbearance
التقاضيdemanding للنفسِof the soul إنif تبذلَit offers الصَّبْpatience (start)
التقاضي للنفسِ إن تبذلَ الصَّبْ
رَpatience (end) وأنand that تستقيدit submits للمتقاضيto the claimant
رَ وأن تستقيد للمتقاضي
is to demand patience from my soul
And follow the suit of the suitor
and that it yield to the one who demands it;
Overlooking a wrongdoer or a shutting of the eyes
والتغاضيand overlooking عنof المسيءِthe offender أوor الإغclosing the eyes (start)
والتغاضي عن المسيءِ أو الإغ
ضاءُclosing the eyes (end) إِنَّindeed الإغضاءَclosing the eyes فوقabove التغاضيoverlooking
ضاءُ إِنَّ الإغضاءَ فوق التغاضي
and to overlook the offender, or shut one’s eyes—
- shutting of the eyes is better than overlooking
for shutting one’s eyes surpasses overlooking;
Ignoring the ignorant or a closing of the eyes
والغباand being oblivious عنto ذويthose possessing الغَباignorance أوor فإغماthen closing the eyes (start)
والغبا عن ذوي الغَبا أو فإغما
ضٌclosing the eyes (end) علىto الذلِّhumiliation أيَّماutter إِغماضclosing of the eyes
ضٌ على الذلِّ أيَّما إِغماض
and to ignore the ignorant—or else
To abasement - however much closing of the eyes
to close one’s eyes to abasement, utterly.
You will not see me inciting one who sees me
لنnever ترانيyou will see me مستنهضاًasking to be helped up مَنone who يرانيsees me
لن تراني مستنهضاً مَن يراني
ويرىand sees حاجتيmy need إلىfor الإنهاضbeing helped up
ويرى حاجتي إلى الإنهاض
You will never see me seeking help from one who sees me
And sees my need for inciting
and sees my need of help.
To begin inciting has passed, so what think you
ابتداءُinitiating الإنهاضhelping someone up مرَّbitter فماso what ظنُّopinion
ابتداءُ الإنهاض مرَّ فما ظنُّ
كَyour فيهof it إِنif كانit comes باستنهاضby asking for help
كَ فيه إِن كان باستنهاض
Unsolicited help is bitter—what do you think
Of it, if it is by incitement?
of it when it must be solicited?
Partial English translation: 139 of 140 Arabic lines translated.