هلwill...? الطِّيبُthe fragrance منfrom ليلىLayla علىdespite النأيthe distance طارقُهْhis night-visitor
هل الطِّيبُ من ليلى على النأي طارقُهْ
فيشفيand thus heal جوىthe burning ache الوجدِof passion الذيthat هوit شائقُهarouses his longing
فيشفي جوى الوجدِ الذي هو شائقُه
Will Layla's fragrance visit him by night despite the distance,
Does the fragrance of Layla's night visitor heal
And heal the burning ache of the passion that enthralls him?
The agony of passion that so consumes me?
لقدindeed هاجstirred ليin me بينُthe parting الخليلof the beloved صبابةًardent longing
لقد هاج لي بينُ الخليل صبابةً
عشيّةَon the evening زُمَّتْwere bridled للفراقfor departure أَيانِقُهhis she-camels
عشيّةَ زُمَّتْ للفراق أَيانِقُه
The beloved's parting stirred ardent longing in me
Between the encampments love provoked tumult—
On the evening his she-camels were bridled for departure.
On the eve when the time of parting was appointed.
ألمdid you not ترsee ماwhat ألقىI endure منof الشوقِlonging كلماwhenever
ألم تر ما ألقى من الشوقِ كلما
رميتُI cast بطرفيwith my gaze حيثwhere كانتhad been حزائقهhis companies
رميتُ بطرفي حيث كانت حزائقه
Did you not see what longing I endure whenever
Have you not seen how, whenever my eyes
I cast my gaze where his companies had been?
Wander her way, longing leaps up inside me?
وقفناwe stood علىat الربعthe dwelling-site الذيwhich بانdeparted أهلُهُits people
وقفنا على الربع الذي بان أهلُهُ
ولاand no دمعَtears إلاexcept وهوwhile it تجريflow سوابقهits leading drops
ولا دمعَ إلا وهو تجري سوابقه
We stood at the dwelling whose people had departed,
We halted in a camp whose folk had struck their tents
And every stream of tears had its foremost drops flowing.
And gone, and there remained no tear but flowed
كأنas though بقاياthe remnants ماwhat عفاfaded منof رسومهits traces
كأن بقايا ما عفا من رسومه
كتابُa book يهوديٍّof a Jewish man أُمِحَّتwere erased مَهارقهits parchment sheets
كتابُ يهوديٍّ أُمِحَّت مَهارقه
As though the remnants of its faded traces
As if what ruins survived of their traces
Were a Jewish man's book, its parchment sheets effaced.
Were pages a Jew had erased of its diacritics.
ولمand did not أنسَI forget إذwhen قالواthey said الرحيلdeparture ويمَّمتْand headed toward
ولم أنسَ إذ قالوا الرحيل ويمَّمتْ
حُدوجُهُمُtheir camel-litters قُفّاًa rocky ridge طوالاًlofty شواهقهits peaks
حُدوجُهُمُ قُفّاً طوالاً شواهقه
I have not forgotten when they cried, 'Departure!' and turned
I'll not forget, when they said "Depart!" and turned
Their camel-litters toward a ridge whose peaks were lofty.
Their camel-litters away, tall and towering.
وقالواand they said غرابُthe raven البينof separation ينعقُcroaks بالنوىof departure
وقالوا غرابُ البين ينعقُ بالنوى
فياso, oh ليتwould that أنَّthat البينseparation يَخرَسُfalls silent ناعقهits croaker
فيا ليت أنَّ البين يَخرَسُ ناعقه
They said, 'The raven of separation croaks of departure.'
They said, "The crow of estrangement caws with the pack-beasts!"
Would that separation's croaker fell mute!
Would that estrangement's crow were struck dumb!
فشبهتُand I likened ظُعنَcamel-borne women الحيِّof the tribe لماwhen تحمَّلواthey set out
فشبهتُ ظُعنَ الحيِّ لما تحمَّلوا
بيانعِto ripening نخلٍdate palms يزدهيcaptivates العينَthe eye باسقهtheir tall growth
بيانعِ نخلٍ يزدهي العينَ باسقه
I likened the tribe's camel-borne women, when they departed,
So I compared the stabbing pain of their leaving
To ripening date palms whose tall growth captivates the eye.
To the swaying of a lissome palm's topmost crown.
يُغازلنيflirts with me منfrom جانبthe side الخدرof the curtained chamber جُؤذَرٌan oryx calf
يُغازلني من جانب الخدر جُؤذَرٌ
يتيهُstruts proudly بماof what تحويهcontain it منهof him قَراطقهhis tunics
يتيهُ بما تحويه منه قَراطقه
A young oryx flirts with me from beside the curtained chamber,
A little fox from the thicket professes his love,
Proud of what his tunics enfold of him.
Lost in the maze his vixen has within her.
أبىrefused الحُسنُbeauty إلاanything but أنthat يكونshould be هلالُهُits crescent
أبى الحُسنُ إلا أن يكون هلالُهُ
مغاربُهits settings فيin وجههhis face ومشارقهْand its risings
مغاربُه في وجهه ومشارقهْ
Beauty insisted that its crescent should find
My friend refused any but a new moon for his crescent,
Both its settings and its risings in his face.
Its settings in his face, its risings too.
كأنّas though علىupon أنيابِهِhis canine teeth بعدafter هجعةٍa sleep
كأنّ على أنيابِهِ بعد هجعةٍ
رحيقَpure nectar مدامٍof wine شجَّهhe diluted it لكfor you غابقُهits evening cupbearer
رحيقَ مدامٍ شجَّه لك غابقُه
As though upon his canine teeth, after a sleep,
As if, when his yawning mouth gapes after slumber,
Lay pure wine, diluted for you by its evening cupbearer.
The spittle in it were old, aged wine.
أُحبُّI love لحبِّيهِfor my love of him الربيعَspring لأنهbecause it
أُحبُّ لحبِّيهِ الربيعَ لأنه
بِخَدَّيْهِon his two cheeks يبدوappears وَرْدُهُits roses وشقائقُهand its anemones
بِخَدَّيْهِ يبدو وَرْدُهُ وشقائقُه
I love spring for my love of him, because
For my love the spring—for his cheeks disclose
Its roses and anemones appear on his cheeks.
A rose blossoming, and there bud violets.
لهhe has بَشَرٌskin أهدىbestowed إلىon المسكmusk مثلماjust as
له بَشَرٌ أهدى إلى المسك مثلما
إلىto الجَيْبِthe neckline والأردانand the sleeves أهدىbestowed ملاعقُهits spoons
إلى الجَيْبِ والأردان أهدى ملاعقُه
His skin has given musk fragrance, just as
His down guides the musk, as his fingers guide
Its spoons have given it to necklines and sleeves.
Coins to his purse, the spoon to the table.
وَخَصْرٌand a waist بهon which أضحىhas come to يليقُfit وشاحهhis sash
وَخَصْرٌ به أضحى يليقُ وشاحه
إذاwhen ماever بداappears ماwhat لاnot تليقُfit مناطِقُهhis girdles
إذا ما بدا ما لا تليقُ مناطِقُه
And a waist his sash has come to fit,
His smooth cheek adorns the wine-haunted revels
Whenever what his girdles cannot fit is revealed.
When all cheeks the vine's inebriation decks.
يزيِّنadorns أثناءَthe coils المخانقِof the necklaces جيدُهhis neck
يزيِّن أثناءَ المخانقِ جيدُه
إذاwhile كلُّevery جيدٍneck زَيَّنَتْهُhave adorned it مخانِقهits necklaces
إذا كلُّ جيدٍ زَيَّنَتْهُ مخانِقه
His neck adorns the coils of necklaces,
Were his bright cheek to meet the gaze of one vigil-keeping,
While every other neck is adorned by its necklaces.
That gaze in his cheek would confound its intent.
فلوand if قابلتْmet خَدَّيْهِhis two cheeks ألحاظُthe glances رامقٍof a watcher
فلو قابلتْ خَدَّيْهِ ألحاظُ رامقٍ
لأتَّرَwould surely mark فيupon خديْهِhis two cheeks باللحظِwith a glance رامقُهhis watcher
لأتَّرَ في خديْهِ باللحظِ رامقُه
If a watcher's glances met his cheeks,
Between us nothing but a stolen glance, I thieving
The watcher would mark his cheeks with his gaze.
At times, and at times he stealing from me.
فماand nothing كانwas إلاbut اللحظُglances بينيbetween me وبينهand him
فما كان إلا اللحظُ بيني وبينه
يسارِقُنِيْهِhe shares it with me stealthily تارةًat times وأُسارقهand I glance at him furtively
يسارِقُنِيْهِ تارةً وأُسارقه
Nothing passed between me and him but glances;
If only a heart not weaned, still at the breast,
At times he steals glances at me, and I at him.
Could know the grief in the heart of one sundered!
ولوand if أنَّthat ماwhat أبقىhe left بقلبيin my heart منof أسىًsorrow
ولو أنَّ ما أبقى بقلبي من أسىً
بقلبin the heart الذيof one who فيin المهدِthe cradle شابتْwould turn gray مفارقهhis hair-partings
بقلب الذي في المهدِ شابتْ مفارقه
If the sorrow he left within my heart
My care is stirred by night's falling starless curtain,
Were in a cradle-child's heart, his hair-partings would turn gray.
My tears flowing free in the morn's bright daybreak.
يهيِّجُstirs همّيmy sorrow الليلُthe night ماwhenever لاحَappeared نَجْمُهُits star
يهيِّجُ همّي الليلُ ما لاحَ نَجْمُهُ
وَيُكثرُand increases بثيmy lament الصبحُthe morning ماwhenever ذَرَّrose شارقهits rising sun
وَيُكثرُ بثي الصبحُ ما ذَرَّ شارقه
Night stirs my sorrow whenever its star appears,
How monks' voices have rasped my hearing with litanies,
And morning swells my lament whenever its rising sun emerges.
Yet he never heard what his comrade complained of!
وكمand how often سَلَقَlashed العُذَّلُthe reproachers سمعيmy hearing بألْسُنٍwith tongues
وكم سَلَقَ العُذَّلُ سمعي بألْسُنٍ
حدادٍsharp فلمyet did not يَسْمَعْheed لماto what قالsaid سالقهits scourger
حدادٍ فلم يَسْمَعْ لما قال سالقه
How often reproachers lashed my hearing with tongues
A rending when the riding camels spread out their bedding—
So sharp—yet it heeded nothing its scourger said.
As if their hobbles and pegs were those of eagles!
وَخَرْقٍand many a vast desert إذاwhen جابَcrossed المطيُّthe riding camels بَسَاطَهُits expanse
وَخَرْقٍ إذا جابَ المطيُّ بَسَاطَهُ
تقسَّمهاdivide them among themselves أصواحُهُits rocky slopes وَسَمالِقُهand its bare plains
تقسَّمها أصواحُهُ وَسَمالِقُه
And many a vast desert, when riding camels cross its expanse,
Their leg joints seem as if seared by sparks from the hearthfires,
Has its rocky slopes and barren plains scatter them apart.
Whenever their towering bodies swerve in the saddle.
كأنَّas though ضرامَthe blaze النارِof fire يلفحُscorches رَكْبَهُits riders
كأنَّ ضرامَ النارِ يلفحُ رَكْبَهُ
إذاwhen احترَّgrew hot منfrom وقدِthe burning الهجيرof midday heat شواهقهits heights
إذا احترَّ من وقدِ الهجير شواهقه
As though a fire's blaze scorched its riders
The firewood's blaze on their backs brings to mind flashes
When its heights grew hot from the burning midday heat.
Of lightning amid ships' timbers floating in darkness.
يُشَبَّهُis likened وَقْدُthe blaze الآلof the mirage فيهwithin it بِلُجَّةٍto a deep sea
يُشَبَّهُ وَقْدُ الآل فيه بِلُجَّةٍ
يعومswim بهاthrough it عَوْمُthe swimming السفينِof ships نَقانقهits male ostriches
يعوم بها عَوْمُ السفينِ نَقانقه
The mirage's blaze within it is likened to a deep sea,
I traversed, while night's darkness spread out its skirts,
Across which its male ostriches swim as ships swim.
A mettlesome steed the mountains cannot turn back.
قَطَعْتُI crossed وقدwhile already جَرّdragged الظلامُdarkness مُتُونَهُits broad backs
قَطَعْتُ وقد جَرّ الظلامُ مُتُونَهُ
علىon متْنِthe back هِرْكَوْلٍof a huge camel تورعُdeter شقاشِقُهits throat-sacs
على متْنِ هِرْكَوْلٍ تورعُ شقاشِقُه
I crossed it while darkness dragged its broad backs along,
Scornful his legs of bit's constraint and whip's coercion—
On the back of a huge camel whose throat-sacs strike fear.
His bridle apt in the hand of a guide who knows horsemanship.
أبىrefused القودَbeing led والسَّوْقَand being driven الشَّديدَharshly مِراحُهُhis high spirits
أبى القودَ والسَّوْقَ الشَّديدَ مِراحُهُ
فقائدُهُso his leader عنهaway from him يجيدُturns aside (sense uncertain) وسائقهand his driver
فقائدُهُ عنه يجيدُ وسائقه
His high spirits refuse leading and harsh driving,
He courses like the wind through every stony waste,
So his leader keeps clear of him, and his driver too.
Far from the land of myrrh's tender, pliant boughs.
يمرُّpasses كمرِّlike the passing الريحof wind فيacross كلevery صَحْصَحٍopen waste
يمرُّ كمرِّ الريح في كل صَحْصَحٍ
بعيدِfar مَرامin the quest الوِرْدِfor water شُهبٍash-white ودائقهits scorching heats
بعيدِ مَرام الوِرْدِ شُهبٍ ودائقه
He passes like the wind across every open waste,
His hooves make the pebbles fly as though they were
Where water is far to seek and its scorching heats are ash-white.
Golden dinars from the striking of the engraver's die.
وتَنفيand scatter الحصىthe pebbles أخفاقُهُhis hoofbeats فكأنهاso they seem
وتَنفي الحصى أخفاقُهُ فكأنها
دنانيرُdinars ضرَّابٍof a minter نَفَتهاflung them مطارقُهhis hammers
دنانيرُ ضرَّابٍ نَفَتها مطارقُه
His hoofbeats scatter pebbles, as though they
You'd think the tangled, dusty mane upon his chest
Were a minter's dinars, flung by his hammers.
Was a cloud of pigeons fluttering up in alarm.
كأنas though اللُّغامَthe mouth-foam الجعدَthickly curled فوقabove خَشاشِهِhis nose-peg
كأن اللُّغامَ الجعدَ فوق خَشاشِهِ
سبائخُtufts منof بُرْسٍcotton تطيرُfly شبارقُهits shreds
سبائخُ من بُرْسٍ تطيرُ شبارقُه
As though the thickly curling foam above his nose-peg
He folded the fifth mile upon the fifth until
Were tufts of cotton, their shreds flying.
I saw him dark red with the straining and the sweat.
طوىhe covered الخِمْسa five-day watering stage بعدafter الخِمْسِa five-day watering stage حتىuntil رأيتُهُI saw him
طوى الخِمْس بعد الخِمْسِ حتى رأيتُهُ
منfrom الشدِّhard running والإيغالِand pressing far onward حُمْراًred حَمالقهhis inner eyelids
من الشدِّ والإيغالِ حُمْراً حَمالقه
He covered five-day watering stages, one after another, until I saw
How many a chestnut in the horse herds grew up fatherless,
His inner eyelids red from hard running and far travel.
Many a bay tawny as resin orphaned of dam!
وكمand how many مُحَّwas worn away منof مَهْريَّةِMahri العيسِpale camels غاربٌwithers
وكم مُحَّ من مَهْريَّةِ العيسِ غاربٌ
وَجُبَّand was cut away سنامٌa hump تامِكُlofty النيِّin fat زاهقهits fat bulging high
وَجُبَّ سنامٌ تامِكُ النيِّ زاهقه
How many a pale Mahri camel's withers wasted away,
Without him to ride I could not have spanned those deserts—
And a lofty hump, bulging with fat, was cut away.
He it was made me dare so long and grueling a trek.
وماand not كنتُI was أَطويcrossing سبسباًa barren plain بعدafter سبسبٍa barren plain
وما كنتُ أَطوي سبسباً بعد سبسبٍ
بعيدvast الفضاin open expanse لولاbut for الذيthe one whom أَناI وامقهhis lover
بعيد الفضا لولا الذي أَنا وامقه
I would not cross one barren plain after another,
There watered the valley of the two meadows a downpour
Across far-reaching emptiness, but for the one I love.
From a raincloud each time its lightning flashed.
سقىmay water جنباتِthe outskirts الرقتينof al-Raqqatayn مزمجرٌa thundering cloud
سقى جنباتِ الرقتين مزمجرٌ
سكوبُpouring abundantly الغَزاليrain-spouts (reading uncertain) كلماwhenever عنَّappeared بارقُهits lightning
سكوبُ الغَزالي كلما عنَّ بارقُه
May a thundering cloud water the outskirts of al-Raqqatayn,
A lodging that when the Pleiades set within it
Pouring from its rain-spouts whenever its lightning flashes.
Is embraced by its ruins and open courts.
محلٌّa place متىwhenever تَحْلُلْalight بهupon it المزنُthe rain-clouds تشتملْclothe themselves
محلٌّ متى تَحْلُلْ به المزنُ تشتملْ
بنوارهin its blossoms أَدماثُهُits soft-soiled tracts وأَبارِقُهand its rocky knolls
بنواره أَدماثُهُ وأَبارِقُه
A place where, whenever rain-clouds alight,
It takes on the lovely features of a garden at dawn,
Its soft grounds and rocky knolls clothe themselves in blossom.
For beauty's detail enhances loveliness.
فيغدوand by morning it is وقدwith already دَقَّتْgrown delicate محاسنُthe beauties رَوْضِهِof its meadow
فيغدو وقد دَقَّتْ محاسنُ رَوْضِهِ
وماand not كانwould be فضْلُthe excellence الحسنِof beauty لولاbut for دقائقهits subtleties
وما كان فضْلُ الحسنِ لولا دقائقه
By morning its meadow's beauties have grown delicate,
You see blossoms like wrought gold when it shows
And beauty would have no excellence but for its subtleties.
Its pearls and thin stamens that nod.
ترىyou see الزهرَthe flowers كالحَلْيِlike jewelry المَصُوغِfashioned إذاwhen بداit appears
ترى الزهرَ كالحَلْيِ المَصُوغِ إذا بدا
يلوحُgleam عليهupon it دُرُّهُits pearls وعقائقهand its agates
يلوحُ عليه دُرُّهُ وعقائقه
You see the flowers like fashioned jewelry when they appear,
The dewdrops mimic what wells up in the eyes
Their pearls and agates gleaming upon them.
When they glance—just like mercury gleaming.
يحاكيresembles العيونَeyes ماwhenever ترقرقglitter دَمْعُهاtheir tears
يحاكي العيونَ ما ترقرق دَمْعُها
إذاwhen هوit جالتwandered فيamong ذُراهُits heights رقارقهits shimmering waters
إذا هو جالت في ذُراهُ رقارقه
It resembles eyes whenever their tears glisten,
Bough over bough bends gently breeze-stirred
When its rippling waters course among its heights.
As friend toward friend leans, embracing him close.
وَغُصْنٍand a branch علىabove غُصْنٍa branch تُمَيِّلُهُbends it الصَّباthe east wind
وَغُصْنٍ على غُصْنٍ تُمَيِّلُهُ الصَّبا
كماas مالleaned إِلفٌa lover نحوtoward إِلفٍa lover يعانقهembracing him
كما مال إِلفٌ نحو إِلفٍ يعانقه
And branch upon branch, bent by the east wind,
Gardens of beauty to steal eyes' sight,
Like a lover leaning toward a lover to embrace him.
For the garden owes its beauty to these gardens.
حدائقُgardens روضٍof meadowland يحسرُwearies العينَthe eye حُسْنُهاtheir beauty
حدائقُ روضٍ يحسرُ العينَ حُسْنُها
وماand not كانwould be حُسْنُthe beauty الروضof the meadow لولاbut for حدائقهits gardens
وما كان حُسْنُ الروض لولا حدائقه
Meadow gardens whose beauty wearies the eye,
How many sealed books whose bindings were undone
And the meadow would have no beauty without its gardens.
For slave girls' hands to unravel and unfold!
وكمand how many مُكْمَحٍa stoppered jar بالقارِwith pitch فُضَّwas broken ختامهits seal
وكم مُكْمَحٍ بالقارِ فُضَّ ختامه
لتجلىso as to be unveiled علىby أيديthe hands الوصائفِof serving girls عاتقهits aged wine
لتجلى على أيدي الوصائفِ عاتقه
How many a pitch-stoppered jar had its seal broken,
At a joyful gathering I shared in its cheer,
So its aged wine could be unveiled by serving girls' hands.
Competing in revels with all its fair maidens.
لدىat مجلسٍa gathering ألقىset down بهthere اللهوُmerriment رَحْلَهُits saddle
لدى مجلسٍ ألقى به اللهوُ رَحْلَهُ
تُنازعنيvie with me over فيهin it الشَّمولَthe wine غَرانِقُهits handsome youths
تُنازعني فيه الشَّمولَ غَرانِقُه
At a gathering where merriment set down its saddle,
I spent the night being openhanded with wine along with
Its handsome youths contend with me for wine.
Some beauty whose manners no fault could be seen in.
فبتُّso I spent the night أعاطَىexchanging الراحَwine معْwith كلِّevery ماجدٍnoble man
فبتُّ أعاطَى الراحَ معْ كلِّ ماجدٍ
جميلِhandsome المحيّاof face لاnot تُذَمُّare censured خلائقهhis character traits
جميلِ المحيّا لا تُذَمُّ خلائقه
I spent the night exchanging wine with every noble man,
When the cupbearer poured it forth it glowed and shone
Fair of face, whose character none censures.
To delight them, his goblets and ewers.
إذاwhen صبَّهاhe poured it الساقيthe cupbearer أضاءتlit up وأشرقتand shone
إذا صبَّها الساقي أضاءت وأشرقت
لبهجتهاfrom its splendor أكوابُهُhis cups ودوارقهand his flagons
لبهجتها أكوابُهُ ودوارقه
When the cupbearer poured it, they lit up and shone—
When the boon companions smelled its fragrance it was as though
His cups and flagons, with its splendor.
Musk's scent from it came wafting through breaches.
إذاwhen ماever النديمُthe drinking companion اشتمَّهاsmelled it فكأنماthen it was as though
إذا ما النديمُ اشتمَّها فكأنما
تنشَّقَinhaled ريَّاthe fragrance المسكof musk منهاfrom it مناشقهhis nostrils
تنشَّقَ ريَّا المسك منها مناشقه
When a drinking companion smelled it, it was as though
No beloved has ever estranged me who loved me,
His nostrils breathed in musk's fragrance from it.
No friend I befriended has ever spoken harshly.
وإنيand I indeed لأنفيsurely banish الهمَّsorrow عنيfrom myself بقهوةٍwith wine
وإني لأنفي الهمَّ عني بقهوةٍ
إذاwhen طَرَقَتْcame by night فيin جُنحthe darkness ليلof night طوارقهits night-visitors
إذا طَرَقَتْ في جُنح ليل طوارقه
I surely banish sorrow from myself with wine,
Yet if the door of misfortune one day should gall me
When sorrow's visitors arrive in the dark of night.
I'd not be distressed by its straitening influence!
وماand not كانever was يجفونيhe shuns me حبيبٌa beloved أُحبُّهُI love him
وما كان يجفوني حبيبٌ أُحبُّهُ
وماand not كانever was يَقلينيhe hates me صديقٌa friend أُصادقُهI befriend him
وما كان يَقليني صديقٌ أُصادقُه
No beloved whom I love has ever shunned me,
In my dealings I've always sought the path
Nor has a friend I befriend ever hated me.
Of doing what's right, for that shows the true heart.
علىalthough أننيthat I لوif أنthat بابَthe doorway ملمَّةٍof a calamity
على أنني لو أن بابَ ملمَّةٍ
تضايقَgrew narrow يوماًone day لمdid not يَهْلنيfrighten me تضايُقُهits narrowing
تضايقَ يوماً لم يَهْلني تضايُقُه
Yet if the doorway of a calamity
Loyal am I if I pledge my word to another,
Grew narrow one day, its narrowing would not frighten me.
No good the one whose documents prove his betrayal.
وإِنيand I indeed إلىtoward قَصدِuprightness الخلائقof character لمnot أزلْI cease
وإِني إلى قَصدِ الخلائق لم أزلْ
إذاwhen ماever الأمرُthe affair نابتbefell حقائقهits realities
إذا ما الأمرُ نابت حقائقه
And I have always kept to upright character,
Only he attains the heights who shows his hand and character
Whenever a matter's realities confront me.
To be worthy of trust, and his promises valid.
وفيٌّfaithful إذاwhen أعطىhe gives الوثائقَpledges لامرئٍto a man
وفيٌّ إذا أعطى الوثائقَ لامرئٍ
ولاand no خيرgood فيمنin one who لاnot تصحُّhold true وثائقهhis pledges
ولا خير فيمن لا تصحُّ وثائقه
Faithful when he gives a man his pledges;
My nature refuses abasement when perils encircle—
There is no good in one whose pledges do not hold.
The bane rending the souls of our armed companies.
ولمand not يبلغreaches العلياءَthe heights إلاexcept الفتىthe young man الذيwho
ولم يبلغ العلياءَ إلا الفتى الذي
تُرجَّىare hoped for أياديهhis favors وتُخشىand are feared بوائقهhis harmful deeds
تُرجَّى أياديه وتُخشى بوائقه
None reaches the heights but the young man whose
O Lord of an army whom morning surprised with a raid
Favors are hoped for and whose harmful deeds are feared.
Rendering useless their javelins and shield rims—
أبتrefused خِندفيmy Khindif tribe إلاanything but سُموّاًexaltation إذاwhen الوغىbattle
أبت خِندفي إلا سُموّاً إذا الوغى
يمزِّقُrends أرواحَthe souls الكتائبof the battalions مازقُهits ravager
يمزِّقُ أرواحَ الكتائب مازقُه
My Khindif tribe accepts only exaltation, when battle
All were a feast for the birds in every quarter,
Has its ravager rend the souls of battalions.
Ravens and kites picking bare their remains.
فياso, oh ربَّmany an جيشٍarmy قدindeed صَبَحناwe attacked at dawn بغارةٍwith a raid
فيا ربَّ جيشٍ قد صَبَحنا بغارةٍ
فلمand did not يُغنِavail عنهfor it زَغفُهُits chain mail ويلامِقُهand its coats
فلم يُغنِ عنه زَغفُهُ ويلامِقُه
How many an army we have struck in a dawn raid,
We are a people staunch in the face of battle-dust
Its mail and coats affording it no protection.
Whenever war's dust rises fog-like in clouds.
بكلِّwith every حسامٍkeen sword لمnot يُسَلَّwas unsheathed لأنهbecause it
بكلِّ حسامٍ لم يُسَلَّ لأنه
يُردُّis returned إليهto it جفنهits scabbard ومعالقهand its hanging-straps
يُردُّ إليه جفنه ومعالقه
With every keen sword, drawn not merely to have
Yet some envy my poetry, though I've never envied
Its scabbard and hanging-straps returned to it.
Another creature—when God Most High is the Provider.
فأضحواand they became قرىًa feast للطيرfor birds فيin كلevery موطنٍplace
فأضحوا قرىً للطير في كل موطنٍ
تنقّرهمpeck at them غربانُهits ravens وعقاعقهand its magpies
تنقّرهم غربانُه وعقاعقه
They became a feast for birds in every place,
So you who aim to surpass me—I have seen
Its ravens and magpies pecking at them.
The hybrid outpaced by the thoroughbred racer.
وإِنّاand we indeed أَناسٌa people ماnot يُقَامُresistance is offered لحربناto our warfare
وإِنّا أَناسٌ ما يُقَامُ لحربنا
إذاwhen ماever غبارthe dust الحربof war مُدَّwas spread سُرادقهits canopy
إذا ما غبار الحرب مُدَّ سُرادقه
We are a people whose warfare none can withstand,
With my words' poison I have made foes taste
When the dust of war spreads its canopy.
The viper's venom—and that venom destroys the taster.
ويحسدنيand envy me فيfor الشعرpoetry قومٌsome people ولمyet never أكنhave I been
ويحسدني في الشعر قومٌ ولم أكن
لأحسُدَto envy مخلوقاًa creature وذوand the Lord العرشof the Throne رازقُهis his provider
لأحسُدَ مخلوقاً وذو العرش رازقُه
Some envy me for my poetry, yet I have never been one
Ask them, when he sucked venom from his mother's teat
To envy a creature: the Lord of the Throne provides for him.
Did it flow sweet, or corrode the sucker's palate?
فياso, O ذاyou الذيwho يسعىstrives ليدركَto reach غايتيmy goal
فيا ذا الذي يسعى ليدركَ غايتي
رأيتI saw هجيناًa half-bred horse معalongside جوادٍa thoroughbred يُسابقهracing him
رأيت هجيناً مع جوادٍ يُسابقه
O you who strive to reach my goal,
Where now can the wretch look for one like me
I have seen a half-bred horse racing beside a thoroughbred.
When my lines hurl down lightning upon him?
أَذَقتُI made taste دعيَّthe lineage-pretender القومof the tribe منof سمِّthe poison منطقيof my speech
أَذَقتُ دعيَّ القوم من سمِّ منطقي
وأَحجِand how likely بأنَّthat السمَّpoison يتلَفdestroys ذائقهits taster
وأَحجِ بأنَّ السمَّ يتلَف ذائقه
I made the tribe's impostor taste the poison of my speech,
I have tasted the calumny of fellow poets—
And how apt poison is to destroy whoever tastes it!
But poison only kills the one who swallows it.
سلوهask him إذاwhen ماever امتصَّhe sucked منfrom بظرِthe clitoris أُمهof his mother
سلوه إذا ما امتصَّ من بظرِ أُمه
صديدَthe pus أيورِof the penises القومof the men هلwill...? هوhe باصقهspit it out
صديدَ أيورِ القوم هل هو باصقه
Ask him: when he sucks from his mother's clitoris
The pus of the men's penises, will he spit it out?
وأينand where لحاهُmay He curse him اللهGod يطلبُdoes he seek موثلاa refuge
وأين لحاهُ الله يطلبُ موثلا
إذاwhen عارضيmy storm-cloud سالتflowed عليهupon him صواعقهits thunderbolts
إذا عارضي سالت عليه صواعقه
And where—may God curse him—does he seek a refuge
When my storm-cloud's thunderbolts stream down upon him?
Partial English translation: 114 of 118 Arabic lines translated.