تَعَيَّفَread omens from الطَيرَthe birds فَأَنبَأنَهُand they informed him
تَعَيَّفَ الطَيرَ فَأَنبَأنَهُ
أَنَّthat اِبنَthe son of لَيلىLayla عَلِقَتهُhad seized him عَلوقDeath
أَنَّ اِبنَ لَيلى عَلِقَتهُ عَلوق
He read the birds' omens, and they told him
The bird met him and told him
that Ibn Layla had been seized by Death,
That the son of Layla had hung his love-token on high
وَإِنَّand that سَجلاًa bucketful مِنof دَمٍblood آمِنٍinviolate
وَإِنَّ سَجلاً مِن دَمٍ آمِنٍ
أَفرَغَهُpoured it out الطَعنُspear-thrusts بِواديin the valley of العَقيقal-Aqiq
أَفرَغَهُ الطَعنُ بِوادي العَقيق
and that a bucketful of once-inviolate blood
And that a stream of safe blood
had been poured out by spear-thrusts in Wadi al-Aqiq.
Had been spilled by the stab in the valley of Al-‘Aqeeq
ياO ناعِيَannouncer of the death of الفارِسِthe horseman قَدalready أَصبَحَتhave become
يا ناعِيَ الفارِسِ قَد أَصبَحَت
ضِباعُthe hyenas ذيDhu العَرعَرِal-Ar'ar مِنهُover him نُغوقclamorous
ضِباعُ ذي العَرعَرِ مِنهُ نُغوق
O announcer of the horseman's death, now
O you who call to mourn the knight—
the hyenas of Dhu al-Ar'ar are crying out over him.
The hyenas of that howler have become yelping from him
تَعلَمُdo you know مَنwhom تَنعىyou announce dead إِلىto قَومِهِhis people
تَعلَمُ مَن تَنعى إِلى قَومِهِ
طارَmay fly off ذِراعاكَyour two arms بِعَضبٍbeneath a cutting sword ذَلوقkeen-edged
طارَ ذِراعاكَ بِعَضبٍ ذَلوق
Do you know whom you announce dead to his people?
You know who you call to his people—
May your two arms fly off beneath a keen-edged sword!
Your arms have flown with a flexible bow
بُعداًaway لِأَرماحِwith the spears of تَميمٍTamim لَقَدindeed already
بُعداً لِأَرماحِ تَميمٍ لَقَد
هَدَدنَthey demolished عاديَّ'Ad-like بِناءٍan edifice عَتيقancient
هَدَدنَ عاديَّ بِناءٍ عَتيق
Away with the spears of Tamim! They have indeed
Away with the spears of Tameem, they have
demolished an ancient, 'Ad-like edifice.
Threatened an ancient enemy’s building
قَرَعنَthey struck فيinto أَصلٍa root كَريمِnoble in الثَرىsoil
قَرَعنَ في أَصلٍ كَريمِ الثَرى
وَجُلنَand ranged فيthrough فَرعٍa branch عَزيزِmighty in العُروقroots
وَجُلنَ في فَرعٍ عَزيزِ العُروق
They struck at a root in noble soil,
They struck at a noble origin in the earth
and ranged through a branch with mighty roots.
And dug into the roots of one with mighty veins
حَدَواthey drove لَهُtoward him مِنfrom حَيثُwhere لاnot يَتَّقيhe could guard himself
حَدَوا لَهُ مِن حَيثُ لا يَتَّقي
عيراًa caravan مِنَof الطَعنِspear-thrusts مِلاءَfull of الوُسوقloads
عيراً مِنَ الطَعنِ مِلاءَ الوُسوق
They drove toward him, from where he could not guard himself,
They plotted against him from where he could not beware
a caravan of spear-thrusts, laden with full loads.
A flood of stabs filling the markets
كَأَنَّas though ذاthis المَطلَعَascent أَمسىhad become by evening الرَدىDeath
كَأَنَّ ذا المَطلَعَ أَمسى الرَدى
رَصيدَهُhis lurking watcher وَاِزوَرَّand turned aside عَنهُfrom him الفَريقthe troop
رَصيدَهُ وَاِزوَرَّ عَنهُ الفَريق
As though, by evening, Death at this ascent had become
As if the one with the rising sun in the morning
his lurking watcher, and the troop had turned away from him.
Became loss for it and the band withdrew from him
قالَتsaid لَهُto him النَفسُhis soul عَلىto عارِهاits shame
قالَت لَهُ النَفسُ عَلى عارِها
ماwhat لَكَails you لاnot تَنقُضُyou retrace هَذاthis الطَريقroad
ما لَكَ لا تَنقُضُ هَذا الطَريق
His soul said to him, to its own shame,
His soul said to him of its shame:
"Why do you not retrace this road?"
“Why do you not take this route?”
ماnot كانَwas he بِالراجِعِone to turn back عَنfrom نَهجِهِhis course
ما كانَ بِالراجِعِ عَن نَهجِهِ
لَوeven if وَقَفَstood السَيفُthe sword لَهُbefore him فيin المَضيقthe narrow pass
لَو وَقَفَ السَيفُ لَهُ في المَضيق
He would never turn back from his course,
He who hopes for an unforeseen chance from him
even if a sword stood before him in the narrow pass.
Will not turn back from his path—
لاnot يَدَعُdoes he leave الذابِلَthe slender spear مَنone whose طَعمُهُhis nourishment
لا يَدَعُ الذابِلَ مَن طَعمُهُ
عَلىat صَبوحٍa morning draught بِدَمٍof blood أَوor غَبوقan evening draught
عَلى صَبوحٍ بِدَمٍ أَو غَبوق
He never leaves the slender spear, he whose nourishment
Even if the sword stood in his way at the narrow passage
is a morning draught of blood, or an evening one.
The fading one does not leave one whose taste
كَأَنَّas though أَعلاهُits tip لِسانٌa tongue فَماyet not
كَأَنَّ أَعلاهُ لِسانٌ فَما
يَغُبُّهُvisits it at intervals الدَهرُthroughout time بَلالٌmoisture بِريقwith saliva
يَغُبُّهُ الدَهرُ بَلالٌ بِريق
As though its tip were a tongue, yet never
Is of blood in the morning or unripe dates
in all time moistened by saliva.
It is as if its upper part is a tongue, so
كَمhow often باتَhe spent the night رَبّاءًa lookout لِسَيّارَةٍfor a caravan
كَم باتَ رَبّاءً لِسَيّارَةٍ
طارِقَةٍarriving by night غَيرَoutside أَوانِthe time of الطُروقnight arrivals
طارِقَةٍ غَيرَ أَوانِ الطُروق
How often he spent the night a lookout for a caravan
Time does not make it disappear with a fleeting moisture
arriving outside the usual hour for night arrivals,
How many nights did he spend sleepless,
فيon قُنَّةٍa summit عَيطاءَtowering مَمطولَةٍelongated
في قُنَّةٍ عَيطاءَ مَمطولَةٍ
كَأَنَّهاas though it were قُلَّةُthe crown of رَأسٍa head حَليقshaven
كَأَنَّها قُلَّةُ رَأسٍ حَليق
on a towering, elongated summit,
Stirred by a night-traversing caravan,
like the crown of a shaven head.
In a spacious howdah, stretched out,
يُزايِلُhe parts from اللَيلَthe night عَلىupon رَحلِهِhis saddle
يُزايِلُ اللَيلَ عَلى رَحلِهِ
وَيُؤثِرُand gives preference to القَومَthe company بِطُعمِwith the taste of الخُفوقlight sleep
وَيُؤثِرُ القَومَ بِطُعمِ الخُفوق
He saw the night out upon his saddle,
As if it were the head of a shaven man
giving his companions the pleasure of light sleep.
He challenges the night with his saddlebags
وَيَغتَديand sets out in the morning بَعدَafter عِراكِthe struggle of السُرىnight travel
وَيَغتَدي بَعدَ عِراكِ السُرى
يُعارِضُhe meets الرَكبَthe riders بِوَجهٍwith a face طَليقcheerful
يُعارِضُ الرَكبَ بِوَجهٍ طَليق
And at morning, after wrestling with the night journey,
And favors the people with the taste of truffles
he met the riders with a cheerful face.
And after the struggle of the pack-saddles
أَوفىhe stood aloft كَماas جَلّىloomed عَلىon رَهوَةٍa rise
أَوفى كَما جَلّى عَلى رَهوَةٍ
أَزرَقُblue-gray والىrepeated نَظَراتٍglances بِنيقon a peak
أَزرَقُ والى نَظَراتٍ بِنيق
He stood aloft, as upon a rise there looms
He competes with the caravan with a cheerful face
a blue-gray predator, glancing again and again from a crag,
Loyal as he seemed with a blue glance
يَسُلُّdraws forth عَينَيهِits eyes عَلىwith مِريَةٍuncertainty
يَسُلُّ عَينَيهِ عَلى مِريَةٍ
عَنat the sound of زَجَلِthe clamour of الطَيرِbirds قُبَيلَjust before الشُروقsunrise
عَن زَجَلِ الطَيرِ قُبَيلَ الشُروق
straining its eyes in uncertainty
And tender gazes, refined
at the clamour of birds just before sunrise,
Dashing his eyes on some object of doubt
يَعتَرِقُstrips from bones اللَحمَthe flesh عَلىat بارِقٍBariq
يَعتَرِقُ اللَحمَ عَلى بارِقٍ
وَيَنتَقيand extracts marrow from العَظمَbones بِرَملِin the sands of الشَقيقal-Shaqiq
وَيَنتَقي العَظمَ بِرَملِ الشَقيق
stripping flesh from bones at Bariq,
Before the warbling of the birds at dawn
and drawing marrow from bones in the sands of al-Shaqiq.
Searing flesh on burning coals
أَوor حَيَّةُthe snake of الرَعنِthe mountain spur ذَوىbent رَأسَهُits head
أَو حَيَّةُ الرَعنِ ذَوى رَأسَهُ
مُشتَرِقَbasking in الشَمسِthe sun بِطَودٍon a mountain زَليقslippery
مُشتَرِقَ الشَمسِ بِطَودٍ زَليق
Or like the mountain-spur serpent, bending its head,
And choosing bone with the pebbles of musk willow
basking in the sun upon a slippery mountain,
Or the snake of the meadow turned away its head
يَعقُدُit knots أولاهُits forepart بِأُخراتِهِto its hindpart
يَعقُدُ أولاهُ بِأُخراتِهِ
لِفافَthe coiling of بِنتِthe daughter of الرَقَمِthe speckled serpent الخَنفَقيقthe fearsome one
لِفافَ بِنتِ الرَقَمِ الخَنفَقيق
knotting its forepart to its hindpart,
As the rising sun shone on a smooth hill
coiling as the fearsome speckled serpent's daughter coils,
It coils its head with its tail
كَعِمَّةِlike the turban-wrap of الأَلوَثِa befuddled man مالَتswayed بِهِhim
كَعِمَّةِ الأَلوَثِ مالَت بِهِ
بَينَamong النَدامىthe drinking companions نَزَواتُthe surges of الرَحيقwine
بَينَ النَدامى نَزَواتُ الرَحيق
like the turban-wrap of a befuddled man, swayed
Wrapped like the daughter of palm branches entwined
among his drinking companions by wine's surges,
It twisted around with its slanting body
جامِعُcombining لينٍgentleness وَصِيالٍand assault مَعاًtogether
جامِعُ لينٍ وَصِيالٍ مَعاً
إِطراقَthe lowered gaze of ذيone possessing حِلمٍforbearance وَصَولِand the assault of الحَنيقthe enraged
إِطراقَ ذي حِلمٍ وَصَولِ الحَنيق
combining gentleness and assault together:
Between the snaky twists of the palm frond
a forbearing man's lowered gaze and an angry one's attack.
Uniting gentleness and zeal together
يُديرُit turns فيwithin فيهِits mouth ذَليقَkeen-edged الشَباpoints
يُديرُ في فيهِ ذَليقَ الشَبا
مِثلَlike لِماظِthe lip-licking of الرَجُلِa man المُستَذيقsavoring a taste
مِثلَ لِماظِ الرَجُلِ المُستَذيق
It turns its keen-pointed tongue within its mouth,
Retiring with forbearance and passionate determination
like the lip-licking of a man savoring a taste.
He turns the saliva of youth in his mouth
تَخالُyou would think ماwhat تَطرَحُcast forth أَشداقُهُits jaws
تَخالُ ما تَطرَحُ أَشداقُهُ
ماwhat لَطَّخَstained المَحضَpure milk بِقَعبِin the bowl of الغَبوقthe evening drink
ما لَطَّخَ المَحضَ بِقَعبِ الغَبوق
You would think what its jaws cast forth
Like the mature man tasting carefully
was what stained pure milk in the evening bowl.
It seems whatever his jaws put forth
مُستَجمِعٌcoiled tight فَرَّقَit parted its coils عَنfor وَثبَةٍa leap
مُستَجمِعٌ فَرَّقَ عَن وَثبَةٍ
نَشطَكَyour untying of حَبلَthe cord of العَرَبيَّthe Arabian الرَبيقtethered
نَشطَكَ حَبلَ العَرَبيَّ الرَبيق
Coiled tight, it parts its coils for a leap,
Did not stain the pure with the mud of dense darkness
like your untying a tethered Arabian's cord.
Prepared, it scattered apart from a leap—
نِعمَexcellent is كِعامُa gag for الثَغرِthe frontier يَشجوhe chokes بِهِwith it
نِعمَ كِعامُ الثَغرِ يَشجو بِهِ
فَمَthe mouth of المَناياDeath وَنِصاحُand a stitching-thread for الفُتوقrents
فَمَ المَنايا وَنِصاحُ الفُتوق
What a fine gag for the frontier, with which he chokes
Your rope, O Arab, was slack
Death's mouth, and a thread for stitching rents!
Good, like the rain of his mouth it waters
تَضُمُّهُembraces him فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror مِنfrom دِرعِهِhis armor
تَضُمُّهُ في الرَوعِ مِن دِرعِهِ
أُمٌّa mother لَهاto her مِنهُfrom him أَذىًharm أَوor عُقوقdisobedience
أُمٌّ لَها مِنهُ أَذىً أَو عُقوق
In battle's terror his armor clasps him close—
The mouths of calamities and the preaching of ascetics
a mother he repays with harm or disobedience.
It embraces him in fear for his coat of mail
زالَhe departed وَأَبقىand left عِندَwith أَعقابِهِhis descendants
زالَ وَأَبقى عِندَ أَعقابِهِ
خَديمَa servant of مالٍwealth عَرَفَتهُhad known him الحُقوقrightful claims
خَديمَ مالٍ عَرَفَتهُ الحُقوق
He departed, leaving with his descendants
A mother who has injury or disobedience from him
a servant of wealth, well known to rightful claims.
He is gone but left behind him
مَضىhe passed away وَوَصّاهُمand enjoined them بِأَنto يَقبَلواaccept
مَضى وَوَصّاهُم بِأَن يَقبَلوا
دَعوىthe claims of العِداenemies فيهِمconcerning them وَحُكمَand the judgment of الصَديقa friend
دَعوى العِدا فيهِم وَحُكمَ الصَديق
He passed away, enjoining them to accept
A servant of wealth whose rights are recognized
enemies' claims concerning them, and a friend's judgment.
He passed away, commanding them to accept
كانَit was هَوىًa desire لِلنَفسِof the soul لَوif only أَنَّنيthat I
كانَ هَوىً لِلنَفسِ لَو أَنَّني
فيin حَلَقِthe loops of القِدِّrawhide وَأَنتَwhile you were الطَليقfree
في حَلَقِ القِدِّ وَأَنتَ الطَليق
My soul's desire would have been that I
The claim of enmity among them and the judgment of a friend
were in rawhide loops while you were free.
It would have been passion for the soul if I were
ماnot كُنتُwould I have been بِالهائِبِone to fear طُرقَthe roads of الرَدىDeath
ما كُنتُ بِالهائِبِ طُرقَ الرَدى
ماas long as سَلِمَremained sound العَضبُthe keen sword وَأَنتَand you were الرَفيقthe companion
ما سَلِمَ العَضبُ وَأَنتَ الرَفيق
I would not have feared the roads of Death,
In the prime of youth and you were the departing one
so long as the keen sword was sound and you my companion.
I would not be the shunner of fate’s roads—
ماnot أَناam I بِاللاقيone to meet بِذاتِat Dhat النَقاal-Naqa
ما أَنا بِاللاقي بِذاتِ النَقا
خَيلَhorses of وَغىًbattle مُشعَلَةًfired up بِالعَنيقwith swift galloping
خَيلَ وَغىً مُشعَلَةً بِالعَنيق
No more shall I meet, at Dhat al-Naqa,
The temper would be safe and you the companion
war-horses aflame with their swift gait—
I am not the one who meets the striking
ماطَلَهاhe delayed giving them الماءَwater فَلَمّاand when سَلَتthey ceased longing
ماطَلَها الماءَ فَلَمّا سَلَت
عَنِfor الرَوىa full drink ماطَلَهاhe delayed giving them بِالعَليقfodder
عَنِ الرَوى ماطَلَها بِالعَليق
he delayed their water and, when they forgot
Of cavalry stirred with passion for battle
the full draught, put their fodder off as well—
It extended to the water but when it asked
وَلِاِبنُand indeed the son of لَيلىLayla عارِضاًholding crosswise رُمحَهُhis lance
وَلِاِبنُ لَيلى عارِضاً رُمحَهُ
يَحدوdrives onward بِخَفّانَat Khaffan جِمالاًmale camels وَنوقand she-camels
يَحدو بِخَفّانَ جِمالاً وَنوق
with Ibn Layla, holding his lance crosswise,
About drinking it extended to the pasture
driving male and female camels at Khaffan.
And the son of Layla, crossing his spear—
يَأبىhe refuses إِذاwhen الضَيمُoppression غَداbecomes مُضغَةًa morsel
يَأبى إِذا الضَيمُ غَدا مُضغَةً
سَلسالَةًsmooth-flowing سائِغَةًeasy to swallow فيin الحُلوقthroats
سَلسالَةً سائِغَةً في الحُلوق
He refuses oppression, though it becomes a morsel
It runs with beautiful, smooth-stepping horses
smooth and easy to swallow in men's throats.
It refuses, when injustice becomes a morsel,
يَروحُreturns مَنwhoever يَرجوhopes for لَهُin him غُرَّةًan unguarded moment
يَروحُ مَن يَرجو لَهُ غُرَّةً
قَدalready خَضخَضَjostled السَجلَthe bucket بِجالٍagainst the side of a well عَميقdeep
قَد خَضخَضَ السَجلَ بِجالٍ عَميق
Whoever hopes to catch him unawares returns
A delicious chain in the throats
having jostled his bucket against a deep well's side,
He in whom a surprise is hoped goes easily—
يُحَدِّثُhe tells النَفسَhis soul بِماof what فاتَهُescaped him
يُحَدِّثُ النَفسَ بِما فاتَهُ
تَطاوُلَlike the reaching of الغَمرِa novice لِمَجنىfor the fruit of السَحوقa towering palm
تَطاوُلَ الغَمرِ لِمَجنى السَحوق
telling his soul of what escaped him,
He gurgled the bloody stream with a deep pool
like a novice reaching for a towering palm's fruit.
It speaks to the soul of what escaped it
اِستَبدَلَtook in exchange الحَيُّthe tribe بِعِقبانِهِfor its eagles
اِستَبدَلَ الحَيُّ بِعِقبانِهِ
أَغرِبَةًcrows بَعدَكَafter you حُمقَwitless in النَغيقcawing
أَغرِبَةً بَعدَكَ حُمقَ النَغيق
The tribe exchanged its eagles
As the rolling cloud of destruction mounted
for crows after you, witless in their cawing.
The living replaced its heels
خاطَرَتِswished الشَولُthe dry she-camels بِأَذنابِهاtheir tails
خاطَرَتِ الشَولُ بِأَذنابِها
لَمّاwhen اِنطَوىfell silent قَرقارُthe bellow of ذاكَthat الفَنيقpampered bull camel
لَمّا اِنطَوى قَرقارُ ذاكَ الفَنيق
The dry she-camels swished their tails
With more foolish than the wailing of the little owl
when that pampered bull-camel's bellow fell silent.
The foxes wagged their tails
قَدalready نَطَقَhas spoken الصامِتُthe silent one مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him
قَد نَطَقَ الصامِتُ مِن بَعدِهِ
وَأَصرَدَand missed النابِلُthe archer بَعدَafter المُروقpiercing clean through
وَأَصرَدَ النابِلُ بَعدَ المُروق
The silent one has spoken after him,
When the clucking of that artful one was silenced
and the archer now misses, after once piercing clean through.
The silent one has spoken since him
مَخيلَةٌa rain-promising cloud لاno مَطَرٌrain خَلفَهاbehind it
مَخيلَةٌ لا مَطَرٌ خَلفَها
تَلمَعُgleam مِنهاfrom it شَوَلانُthe flaring of البُروقlightning flashes
تَلمَعُ مِنها شَوَلانُ البُروق
A rain-promising cloud, with no rain behind it,
And the camel grunted after being milked
from which darting flashes of lightning gleam.
An imagination, with no rain behind it,
ماnot الحَيُّthe tribe بِالضاحِكِwill smile عَنover مِثلِهِone like him
ما الحَيُّ بِالضاحِكِ عَن مِثلِهِ
وَلاnor وُجوهُthe faces of الحَيِّthe tribe مُذsince غابَhe vanished روقcheerful
وَلا وُجوهُ الحَيِّ مُذ غابَ روق
The tribe cannot smile for another like him,
Flashes from which the lightnings of the rain appear
nor have its faces been bright since he vanished.
The living one does not laugh at his like,
وَلاnor أَغَبُّwill I visit intermittently الأَرضَthe ground تُمسىis at evening بِهاupon it
وَلا أَغَبُّ الأَرضَ تُمسى بِها
ظِلٌّshade صَفيقٌdense وَنَسيمٌand a breeze رَقيقgentle
ظِلٌّ صَفيقٌ وَنَسيمٌ رَقيق
Nor will I visit only now and then the ground where evening brings
Nor the faces of the living since the departure of joy
dense shade and a delicate breeze.
I do not neglect your grave out of grief—
لاmay not أَغفَلَتneglect قَبرَكَyour grave حَنّانَةٌa moaning cloud
لا أَغفَلَت قَبرَكَ حَنّانَةٌ
خَرقاءُreckless بِالقَطرِwith rain صَناعِskillful with البُروقlightning
خَرقاءُ بِالقَطرِ صَناعِ البُروق
May no moaning cloud neglect your grave,
A patchwork cloak with rain the work of the maker of lightning
reckless with rain, deft with lightning.
How creation excelled in what it reaped!
ماnot أَبدَعَdid anything novel المِقدارُFate فيماin what جَنىit inflicted
ما أَبدَعَ المِقدارُ فيما جَنى
لَكِنَّهُbut it حَمَّلَlaid the burden upon غَيرَone not المُطيقable to bear it
لَكِنَّهُ حَمَّلَ غَيرَ المُطيق
Fate wrought nothing novel in the harm it did,
But it burdened other than the able one.
but burdened one unable to bear it.
Partial English translation: 91 of 92 Arabic lines translated.