ماhow much فيَّin me منof خَلْعِcasting off العذارِthe bridle
ما فيَّ من خَلْعِ العذارِ
ومنand of التَّجنُّبِavoidance للوقارof dignity
ومن التَّجنُّبِ للوقار
How I have cast off the bridle,
I do not shun passion or abandon dignity,
and turned away from dignity!
Nor drink deeply as though sobriety were shameful.
كاسٍclothed منin الصًّبَواتyouthful passions لyet (start)
كاسٍ من الصًّبَوات ل
كنْyet (end) منof سوىother than الصَّبَواتyouthful passions عاريbare
كنْ من سوى الصَّبَوات عاري
Clothed in youthful passions, yet
I strut about, my belt loose, on the roads of love,
bare of all but youthful passions.
Tipsy, happy, my gown hitched up.
أختالُI strut فيalong طُرُقِthe paths of الهوىlove
أختالُ في طُرُقِ الهوى
نَشْوانَintoxicated مَسْحوبَtrailing الإزارthe waistcloth
نَشْوانَ مَسْحوبَ الإزار
I strut along the paths of love,
From Urj to Balikh, to gardens of mint,
intoxicated, my waistcloth trailing.
With slender willowy green boughs weighed down by dark fruit.
بينbetween الهنيِّal-Hani إلىto البليخal-Balikh
بين الهنيِّ إلى البليخ
إلىto بساتينthe orchards of النقارal-Naqqar
إلى بساتين النقار
From al-Hani to al-Balikh,
To Dayr, its hill girt with marjoram and flowers,
to the orchards of al-Naqqar;
To the wilderness, haunt of wild beasts and hunting ground.
فالرقَّةِthen al-Raqqa السوداءِthe black ذاتِpossessing الthe
فالرقَّةِ السوداءِ ذاتِ ال
مُجْتَنَىharvest الغضِّtender الثمارfruits
مُجْتَنَى الغضِّ الثمار
then black al-Raqqa, with its
To Jawshan ringed around by lofty ridges,
harvest of tender fruits;
To Qirqisiya with its fair minarets and causeways.
فالديرthen the monastery ذيwith التلthe hill المؤgirdled (start)
فالدير ذي التل المؤ
زرgirdled (end) بالشقائقwith anemones والبهارand oxeye blossoms
زر بالشقائق والبهار
then the monastery whose hill is girdled
To Marj or to those meadows and pastures,
with anemones and oxeye blossoms;
To Salihiyya, my home, and to Butnan, my rest.
فالحَيْرِthen al-Hayr حَيْرِenclosure of الوحشِwild beasts والand the
فالحَيْرِ حَيْرِ الوحشِ وال
ميدانِarena ميدانِarena of الجواريmaidens
ميدانِ ميدانِ الجواري
then al-Hayr, the wild beasts' enclosure, and
I wander to waste or woodland, none to chide me,
the arena, the arena of maidens;
None to dissuade me, should I go or stay.
فالجوشنِthen al-Jawshan المحفوفِsurrounded بالشwith terraces (start)
فالجوشنِ المحفوفِ بالش
رفاتِterraces (end) منfrom أعلىhighest انحدارslope
رفاتِ من أعلى انحدار
then al-Jawshan, fringed with terraces
The abodes of Saif ad-Dawla now far removed,
along its highest slope;
Undone by the hands of fate and time's caprice.
فهرقلةٍthen Hiraqla ذاتwith المزاthe lutes (start)
فهرقلةٍ ذات المزا
هرlutes (end) والقناطرِand bridges والسَّواريand columns
هر والقناطرِ والسَّواري
then Hiraqla, with its lutes,
Amidst whites and greens, reds and yellows,
its bridges and columns;
green boughs sway gracefully, supple as pliant limbs.
فالمرجِthen the meadow فيin تلكِthose الوهاthe hollows (start)
فالمرجِ في تلكِ الوها
دِhollows (end) أوor الثمادِthe shallow pools أوor الغمارthe deep waters
دِ أو الثمادِ أو الغمار
then the meadow among those hollows,
Above streams gushing, above rivers flowing,
or shallow pools, or deep waters.
The birds took fright at the bleeding prey.
الصالحيةُal-Salihiyya موطنيmy home أبداًforever
الصالحيةُ موطني أبداً
وَبِطْياسٌand Bityas قراريmy resting place
وَبِطْياسٌ قراري
Al-Salihiyya is forever my home,
The warbling does not alarm me,
and Bityas my resting place.
Nor the whistling Francolin, the bustard's call.
دهريall my life أَهيمُI wander إلىtoward البراthe wilds (start)
دهري أَهيمُ إلى البرا
ريwilds (end) أوor أهيمI wander إلىtoward الصحاريthe deserts
ري أو أهيم إلى الصحاري
All my days I wander toward the wilds,
The singing of the skylark or the trilling Turtledove,
or wander toward the deserts.
Or a fair one disrobed, her wrists' bracelets jingling.
ماnothing مثلequal to رافقنيaccompanied me فكفّso cease
ما مثل رافقني فكفّ
مِرَاكَyour disputing عنيfrom me أَوor فَمَارِthen dispute
مِرَاكَ عني أَو فَمَارِ
Nothing equals what kept me company; so cease
Brief were my days with her, alas my fleeting days!
disputing with me—or dispute!
Censurers, no shame to me, let shame pass bare of raiment!
فإِذاso when نأتhave gone far away عنيfrom me القصوthe palaces (start)
فإِذا نأت عني القصو
رُpalaces (end) فقدthen indeed نأَىhas gone far away عنّيfrom me اصطباريmy patience
رُ فقد نأَى عنّي اصطباري
When the palaces are far from me,
my patience, too, has gone far away.
Leave me be, though I chose the love of maidens over matrons.
دمِنٌold camp-sites كستهاclothed them منwith طراchoice pieces (start)
دمِنٌ كستها من طرا
ئفِchoice pieces (end) وشيهاits embroidered brocade أيديthe hands of القطارrain
ئفِ وشيها أيدي القطار
Old camp-sites, clothed in choice pieces
Not by your choice did I fall in love – and what love is by choice?
of rain's brocade by the hands of rain,
I pine for soft cheeks and dangling tresses,
بينbetween ابيضاضٍwhiteness واخضراand greenness (start)
بين ابيضاضٍ واخضرا
رٍgreenness (end) واحمرارٍand redness واصفرارand yellowness
رٍ واحمرارٍ واصفرار
in white and green,
Dark down above languid eyes, cheeks flushed red.
in red and yellow.
Jasmine and fire both took part in creation,
خُضْرُgreen الغصونِbranches تميلُbend فيalong
خُضْرُ الغصونِ تميلُ في
حافاتِهاtheir edges مثلَlike العِذارcheek-down
حافاتِها مثلَ العِذار
Green branches bend along
Sun and cold together gave form and grace.
their edges like down upon a cheek,
They showed no coyness with kisses, nor disgust at union,
منfrom فوقِabove غُدْرانٍpools تفيoverflow (start)
من فوقِ غُدْرانٍ تفي
ضُoverflow (end) وفوقَand above أنهارٍrivers جواريflowing
ضُ وفوقَ أنهارٍ جواري
above overflowing pools
How often I lurked in the pastures, how often took to the wilds,
and above running rivers.
Gambling with them, then losing myself in their witcheries,
طَرِبَتْrejoiced لهاin them أطيارُهَاtheir birds
طَرِبَتْ لها أطيارُهَا
طَرَبَthe rapture of النزيفِthe drunkard منfrom العُقَارwine
طَرَبَ النزيفِ من العُقَار
Their birds rejoice in them,
Roaming Rassifa, most elegant of haunts.
with a drunkard's joy in wine.
The minaret of Wasit like a star, gleaming from atop the watch tower.
ماwhat للهزارwith the nightingale يَرُوعنيstartles me
ما للهزار يَرُوعني
بغنائِهِwith its singing ماwhat للهزارwith the nightingale
بغنائِهِ ما للهزار
What ails the nightingale, startling me
A life of pleasure in the company of beauties and minstrels,
with its song? What ails the nightingale?
The Nile flowing over well-watered banks, plains of Dhufar,
حسبيenough for me بتغريدwith the cooing of الدَّباdusky doves (start)
حسبي بتغريد الدَّبا
سيdusky doves (end) أوor بترجيعwith the trilling of القَماريturtledoves
سي أو بترجيع القَماري
The cooing of dusky doves suffices me,
Judham in the garb of friars and lay brothers;
or the trilling of turtledoves.
A mirage from Mount Sinai like surging white clouds;
وَمُدامةٍand aged wine بُزِلَتْwas tapped فأشso resembled (start)
وَمُدامةٍ بُزِلَتْ فأش
بهresembled (end) فَتْلُهاits twisting pour فَتْلَthe twisting of السَّواريcolumns
به فَتْلُها فَتْلَ السَّواري
And aged wine, tapped, so that
Game before the hunters, unprotected and prey to all;
its twisting pour resembled twisted columns.
قَصَّرْتُI shortened أياميmy days بهاwith it
قَصَّرْتُ أيامي بها
واهاًah! لأياميfor my days القصارthe short ones
واهاً لأيامي القصار
With it I shortened my days—
Gazelles to ibexes, to oryxes and wild asses;
ah, for those brief days of mine!
Talons and dogs concealed amid the dust they raise;
ياO لائميmy reproacher ماnot العارُthe shame عاyour shame (start)
يا لائمي ما العارُ عا
رُكَyour shame (end) فامضِso go away منِّيfrom me العارُthe shame عاريmy shame
رُكَ فامضِ منِّي العارُ عاري
O you who blame me, the shame is not
Sparrow hawks, cranes, and other quarrelsome waterfowl;
yours; leave me—the shame is mine.
Sea cows in the estuary's deep curves;
دَعْنيleave me وماand what آثرتُI preferred منof
دَعْني وما آثرتُ من
حُبِّlove of الصِّغارِthe young علىover الكبارthe old
حُبِّ الصِّغارِ على الكبار
Leave me with what I have preferred:
Pearls upon the lovely Qusantina set and fixed
love of the young over the old.
As ornaments by the engraving hand of the diver;
ماnot باختياركَat your choosing إِنْif عشقloved (start)
ما باختياركَ إِنْ عشق
تُI (verb ending) وأيُّand what عشقٍlove باختيارby choice
تُ وأيُّ عشقٍ باختيار
If I love, it is not at your choosing;
A sea of delights overwhelming all oceans,
and what love is a matter of choice?
Sycamores of Hauran whose boughs mimicked the rain,
لهفيmy longing علىfor مَلْوِيَّةِwith curled الthe
لهفي على مَلْوِيَّةِ ال
أصداغِtemple-locks مُسْبَلَةِwith flowing الطِّرارthe forelocks
أصداغِ مُسْبَلَةِ الطِّرار
My longing for her, with curled
O my life! How oft will my nights bring me
temple-locks and flowing fringes!
To the land of the Jarrah and the Sulaymi black tents,
غَدْفَىdark-lashed العيونِeyes منwith احوراblack-and-white eye contrast (start)
غَدْفَى العيونِ من احورا
رblack-and-white eye contrast (end) والخدودand cheeks منwith احمرارredness
ر والخدود من احمرار
Dark-lashed, with eyes of vivid black and white,
Amidst a gathering of youths like field flowers, lions stout!
and cheeks of glowing red.
Raiding returns, taking the passes at dusk,
قدindeed فُضِّضَتْhas been silvered بالياسميwith jasmine (start)
قد فُضِّضَتْ بالياسمي
نِjasmine (end) وأُذْهِبَتْand has been gilded بالجلَّنارwith pomegranate blossoms
نِ وأُذْهِبَتْ بالجلَّنار
She has been silvered with jasmine,
Drunk, knowing not sober from drunken hours,
and gilded with pomegranate blossoms.
For our justice was darkness, and daylight our excess.
ماnot إنindeed (emphasis) عَرَضْنَthey turned aside منfrom الشِّماrestiveness (start)
ما إن عَرَضْنَ من الشِّما
شِrestiveness (end) ولاnor مَلَلْنَthey grew weary منof النَّفارfleeing
شِ ولا مَلَلْنَ من النَّفار
They never abandoned their skittishness,
O best Abu Fadl, winner even when the odds fell short,
nor wearied of fleeing.
Finest counted among the noblest stock!
كمhow many سربherds of وحشٍwild beasts رُعْتُI startled فيat
كم سرب وحشٍ رُعْتُ في
بابِGate of الرُّهاءِal-Ruha وكمand how many ضواريfierce beasts
بابِ الرُّهاءِ وكم ضواري
How many herds of wild beasts I startled at
Like a bright unflawed pearl encircled by mean pebbles,
the Gate of al-Ruha, and how many fierce beasts!
You quenched the burning thirst in hearts aflame,
قامَرْنَنِيthey gambled with me فَقَمَرْنَنيand won from me
قامَرْنَنِي فَقَمَرْنَني
لُبِّيmy wits بأَصنافِthrough kinds of القمارgambling
لُبِّي بأَصنافِ القمار
They gambled with me and won
Joining your palm to the rope of glory, not price,
my wits through every kind of gambling,
When Mudar's sons excel, the sons of ignoble stock take note!
أيامَin the days أنwhen زُرْتُI visited الرصيal-Rasif (start)
أيامَ أن زُرْتُ الرصي
فَal-Rasif (end) وجدتُهُI found it أنِقَdelightful المزارthe visiting-place
فَ وجدتُهُ أنِقَ المزار
in the days when I visited al-Rasif,
Who rivals the elite of Saad's clan? Who contends with their like?
and found it a delightful place to visit.
You make excuses for the pitfalls of the loyal,
ومنارand the towers of واسطَWasit كالنجوlike stars (start)
ومنار واسطَ كالنجو
مِstars (end) منيفةًlofty فوقabove المنارthe beacons
مِ منيفةً فوق المنار
And Wasit's towers, like stars,
And magnify the means of neighbors, thereby ennobling.
stood lofty above the beacons.
He who unsheathes the sword of enmity against you
والعُمْرُand al-'Umr باللذاتِwith pleasures معfilled (start)
والعُمْرُ باللذاتِ مع
مورُfilled (end) الدساكرِthe country estates والدِّيارand dwellings
مورُ الدساكرِ والدِّيار
And al-'Umr, with pleasures filling
Has unsheathed it only against a piercing blade.
its country estates and dwellings.
والنيلُand the Nile يجريflows فوقَover رضpebbles (start)
والنيلُ يجري فوقَ رض
راضٍpebbles (end) منof الجَزْعِonyx الظُّفاريDhofari
راضٍ من الجَزْعِ الظُّفاري
And the Nile flows over pebbles
of Dhofari onyx.
وحمىand the precinct of المصلَّىthe prayer-ground مكتسٍclothed
وحمى المصلَّى مكتسٍ
حُلَلَrobes of الخزامىlavender والعَرارand oxeye blossoms
حُلَلَ الخزامى والعَرار
And the prayer-ground's precinct is dressed
in robes of lavender and oxeye blossoms.
وشمارخٌand pinnacles منof طُورِMount سَيSinai (start)
وشمارخٌ من طُورِ سَي
ناSinai (end) كالغمامِlike clouds المُسْتثَارstirred up
نا كالغمامِ المُسْتثَار
And pinnacles of Mount Sinai,
like clouds stirred aloft.
فالصيدُthen the game منfrom تلقاthe direction of الرصاal-Rusafa (start)
فالصيدُ من تلقا الرصا
فةِal-Rusafa (end) غيرُnot محميِّprotected الذمارthe sanctuary
فةِ غيرُ محميِّ الذمار
Then the game toward al-Rusafa,
with no protected refuge,
بينbetween الغزالِgazelles إلىto الطّليthe weary beast (start)
بين الغزالِ إلى الطّلي
حweary beast (end) إلىto اللياحِwhite wild cattle إلىto الحمارwild asses
ح إلى اللياحِ إلى الحمار
from gazelles to weary beasts,
to white wild cattle, to wild asses.
تخفىdisappear الجوارحُhunting birds والكلاand the hounds (start)
تخفى الجوارحُ والكلا
بُhounds (end) بماby what يثرْنَthey raise منof الغبارdust
بُ بما يثرْنَ من الغبار
The hunting birds and hounds disappear
in the dust they raise.
والطيرُand birds ماwhat lies بينbetween الغراcranes (start)
والطيرُ ما بين الغرا
نقcranes (end) والسَّواذقِand falcons والقواريand green long-billed birds
نق والسَّواذقِ والقواري
And birds ranging from cranes
to falcons and green qawari birds,
وحبارياتٍand bustards فيin دواcloaks (start)
وحبارياتٍ في دوا
ويجِcloaks (end) المحبرfigured cloth والصِّدارand breast-coverings
ويجِ المحبر والصِّدار
and bustards in cloaks
of figured cloth and breast-coverings.
وأرىand I see الفراتthe Euphrates كأنهas though it منfrom
وأرى الفرات كأنه من
فيضthe flood of أدمعيَmy tears الغزارabundant
فيض أدمعيَ الغزار
And I see the Euphrates as though from
the flood of my abundant tears,
متلوناًtaking on colors لونينtwo colors ماwhat lies
متلوناً لونين ما
بينbetween اللُّجَيْنِsilver إلىto النُّضَارgold
بين اللُّجَيْنِ إلى النُّضَار
taking on two colors, ranging
from silver to gold.
يَهفوit flutters بأجنحةٍwith wings كأناas though we
يَهفو بأجنحةٍ كأنا
منfrom نداهاtheir spray فيamid نِثَارa scattering
من نداها في نِثَار
It flutters with wings, as though we were
amid a scattering of their spray.
وسفائنٍand ships لمnot تَعْدُwere more than طيbirds (start)
وسفائنٍ لم تَعْدُ طي
راًbirds (end) صِيْغَfashioned منfrom خَشَبٍwood وقارand pitch
راً صِيْغَ من خَشَبٍ وقار
And ships, no more than birds
fashioned from wood and pitch,
محفوفةٍsurrounded بقوادمٍwith primary feathers
محفوفةٍ بقوادمٍ
كقودامِlike the primary feathers of النَّسْرِthe eagle المطارin flight
كقودامِ النَّسْرِ المطار
ringed with primary feathers,
like the wing-feathers of a soaring eagle.
دَرَّتْflowed with milk علىupon القسطينةِal-Qastina الthe
دَرَّتْ على القسطينةِ ال
حسناءِbeautiful أَخلافُthe udders of العِشَارpregnant she-camels
حسناءِ أَخلافُ العِشَار
Milk poured upon al-Qastina,
the beautiful, from the udders of pregnant she-camels.
فيهاwithin it بِحارُseas of اللهوِpleasure قدhave indeed
فيها بِحارُ اللهوِ قد
أربتْsurpassed علىbeyond كلِّall البحارthe seas
أربتْ على كلِّ البحار
Within it, seas of pleasure have
surpassed all other seas.
ياO سَرْوَتَيْtwo cypresses of حمْرَانَHamran جاmay drench (start)
يا سَرْوَتَيْ حمْرَانَ جا
دكماdrench you both (end) الغواديmorning rains والسَّواريand night-time rains
دكما الغوادي والسَّواري
O two cypresses of Hamran, may you be drenched
by the morning and the night-time rains.
كمhow many ليfor me إلىtoward الجرارتيal-Jarraratayn (start)
كم لي إلى الجرارتي
نal-Jarraratayn (end) منof ادّلاجٍnight journeys وادّكارand recollection
ن من ادّلاجٍ وادّكار
How many times toward al-Jarraratayn
have I journeyed by night, and called it to mind,
فيamong فتيةٍyoung men مثلlike البدوfull moons (start)
في فتيةٍ مثل البدو
رِfull moons (end) الزُّهْرِradiant والأسْدِand lions الضواريfierce
رِ الزُّهْرِ والأسْدِ الضواري
among young men like full moons,
radiant, and like fierce lions!
يُجْرُونthey make gallop مُشْرِفةًlofty هواtheir necks (start)
يُجْرُون مُشْرِفةً هوا
ديهاtheir necks (end) معاودةَreturning repeatedly المَغَارto the charge
ديها معاودةَ المَغَار
They race steeds with necks held high,
returning again and again to the charge.
همthey ْمنof نزارٍNizar فيamong الذواthe crowning locks (start)
هم ْمن نزارٍ في الذوا
ئبِcrowning locks (end) والذوائبُand the crowning locks منof نزارNizar
ئبِ والذوائبُ من نزار
They are of Nizar, among its crowning locks,
and the crowning locks are of Nizar.
لمnot نَصْحُwe sobered منfrom سُكْرٍdrunkenness فنعso we would know (start)
لم نَصْحُ من سُكْرٍ فنع
لَمwe would know (end) حينwhen نصحوwe sober بالخمارof the hangover
لَم حين نصحو بالخمار
We never sobered from drunkenness to learn
what a hangover feels like when we sober,
إذwhen قيظناour summer عِدْلُequal to الربيspring (start)
إذ قيظنا عِدْلُ الربي
عspring (end) وليلُناand our night عِدْلُequal to النهارthe day
ع وليلُنا عِدْلُ النهار
when our summer equaled spring,
and our night equaled the day.
هلquestion marker ياO أباAbu الفضلِal-Fadl الذيwho
هل يا أبا الفضلِ الذي
حازَwon الرهانthe prize معtogether with الخِطارthe stakes
حازَ الرهان مع الخِطار
Have you, O Abu al-Fadl, who
won the prize along with the stakes,
ياO خيرَbest معدودٍone reckoned يُعَدُّis counted
يا خيرَ معدودٍ يُعَدُّ
منamong الخيارِthe chosen بنيsons of الخيارthe chosen
من الخيارِ بني الخيار
O best of those counted
among the chosen, sons of the chosen,
كالكَوكبِlike the star الدُرِيِّradiant حَفَّencircled (start)
كالكَوكبِ الدُرِيِّ حَفَّ
تْهُencircled it (end) كواكبُهُits stars الدَّراريgleaming
تْهُ كواكبُهُ الدَّراري
like a radiant star encircled
by its gleaming stars,
أَرْوَيْتَyou quenched منfrom ماءِwater of المديpraise (start)
أَرْوَيْتَ من ماءِ المدي
حpraise (end) عليلَthe ailing أفئدةٍhearts حِرارburning
ح عليلَ أفئدةٍ حِرار
quenched with the water of praise
the ailing, burning hearts,
ووصلتَand you joined كفَّكَyour hand منamong حباthe ropes (start)
ووصلتَ كفَّكَ من حبا
لِropes (end) المجدِglory بالحبلto the rope المُغَارِtightly twisted
لِ المجدِ بالحبل المُغَارِ
and joined your hand, among the ropes
of glory, to the tightly twisted rope?
أبناءُsons of يعربَYa'rub حينwhen تتyou recount (start)
أبناءُ يعربَ حين تت
لوyou recount (end) الفخرَglory أبناءُsons of الفخارrenown
لو الفخرَ أبناءُ الفخار
The sons of Ya'rub, when you recount
their glory, are sons of renown.
مَنْwho ذاis it that يُساميrivals in rank الغرَّthe radiant nobles مِنْof
مَنْ ذا يُسامي الغرَّ مِنْ
سَعْدِSa'd العشيرةal-'Ashira أَوor يُجاريkeeps pace
سَعْدِ العشيرة أَو يُجاري
Who can rival the radiant men of
Sa'd al-'Ashira, or keep pace with them?
المستقيليthose seeking pardon for عَثْرَةَthe stumble of الthe
المستقيلي عَثْرَةَ ال
موفيone nearing علىupon سنَنِthe path of العثارstumbling
موفي على سنَنِ العثار
Those who seek pardon for the stumble of
one nearing the road of stumbling,
والمعظميand those honoring أَسبابَthe ties of جاtheir neighbor (start)
والمعظمي أَسبابَ جا
رِهِمُtheir neighbor (end) لإعظامِin reverence for الجوارneighborliness
رِهِمُ لإعظامِ الجوار
and those who honor the ties of
their neighbor, in reverence for neighborly bonds.
مَنْwhoever سلّdrew سيفَa sword of عداوةٍenmity
مَنْ سلّ سيفَ عداوةٍ
سَلوُّاthey drew لهagainst him سيفَthe sword of البوارruin
سَلوُّا له سيفَ البوار
Whoever draws a sword of enmity,
they draw against him the sword of ruin.
Partial English translation: 67 of 134 Arabic lines translated.