ثَوَّرتُهاI roused them تَنتَعِلُwearing as sandals الظَلاماthe darkness
ثَوَّرتُها تَنتَعِلُ الظَلاما
لاneither نَقوَmarrow أَبقَينَthey have left وَلاnor سُلامىjoint-bones
لا نَقوَ أَبقَينَ وَلا سُلامى
I roused them, shod in darkness.
She roams the darkness wearing it as shoes,
They have left neither marrow nor joint-bone.
No rest or peace for those she does abuse,
قوداًlong-necked إِذاwhen اللَيلُthe night بِهاover them تَرامىspreads
قوداً إِذا اللَيلُ بِها تَرامى
مَرَقنَthey shot forth مِنfrom ظَلمائِهِits darkness سِهاماas arrows
مَرَقنَ مِن ظَلمائِهِ سِهاما
Long-necked, when night spreads over them,
When night envelops her she leads the way,
They shoot from its darkness like arrows.
Her arrows pierce through all its dark arrays.
تُرَجِّعُrepeating الحَنينَyearning cries وَالبُغاماand low moans
تُرَجِّعُ الحَنينَ وَالبُغاما
شَكوىthe plaint المَريضِof the sick man ماطِلِholding off السَقاماillness
شَكوى المَريضِ ماطِلِ السَقاما
They repeat their yearning cries and low moans,
She stirs the yearning and the misery,
The plaint of a sick man holding illness at bay.
Is balm for all who suffer malady,
أَعلَقتُهاI fastened to them مِنَfrom النَدىgenerosity زِماماa rein
أَعلَقتُها مِنَ النَدى زِماما
لاnot واهِنَweak العَقدِthe knot وَلاnor رِماماrotted cord
لا واهِنَ العَقدِ وَلا رِماما
I fastened to them a rein of generosity,
I hold her lightly by a dewy bond,
Neither weakly knotted nor rotted away.
That will not fray or come at all undone.
أَيَّO غِياثَsuccor الخَلقِof mankind وَالقِواماand support
أَيَّ غِياثَ الخَلقِ وَالقِواما
إِنَّindeed بِأَرجانَin Arrajan لَناfor us غَماماa rain-cloud
إِنَّ بِأَرجانَ لَنا غَماما
O mankind's succor and support!
O succor of mankind, their strength and stay!
In Arrajan we have a rain-cloud.
For you Arkānj's rains are but a summer spray,
هاcome أَوشِكيhasten أَنthat تَرِديyou reach الحِماماdeath
ها أَوشِكي أَن تَرِدي الحِماما
غَمراًa deep flood يَزيدُgrows لُجُّهُits deep waters اِلتِطاماin turbulence
غَمراً يَزيدُ لُجُّهُ اِلتِطاما
Come, hasten to reach death,
Soon overflowing showers will come as sure
A deep flood whose depths grow more turbulent
As oceans surging, breaking on the shore.
إِنif ناطَحَhe locks horns with الأَكرادَthe Kurds وَالأَرواماand the Romans
إِن ناطَحَ الأَكرادَ وَالأَرواما
يُرَوِّحُhe brings home at dusk الإِحسانَkindness وَالإِنعاماand bounty
يُرَوِّحُ الإِحسانَ وَالإِنعاما
If he locks horns with the Kurds and Romans.
She comes at Aqarād and Turks like a attack,
He brings kindness and bounty home at dusk,
Bringing her kindness and her bounty back.
إِذاwhen الرِجالُmen رَوَّحواbring home at dusk الأَنعاماthe livestock
إِذا الرِجالُ رَوَّحوا الأَنعاما
قَوَّمَhe straightened دَرءَthe crookedness الدينِof religion فَاِستَقاماso it stood upright
قَوَّمَ دَرءَ الدينِ فَاِستَقاما
When men bring their cattle home.
When men take comfort, rest from honest toil,
He straightened religion's crookedness, and it stood upright.
Correcting flaws that marred religion's soil.
قَدindeed وُلِدَwas born المَجدُglory لَهُfor him تَماماcomplete
قَد وُلِدَ المَجدُ لَهُ تَماما
إِذاwhen رَأَيناwe see المَلِكَthe king الهُماماthe valiant
إِذا رَأَينا المَلِكَ الهُماما
Glory was born full-grown for him.
For her a legacy of glory born,
When we see the valiant king,
Fulfilled in full when we behold the king.
نَرىwe see سَريراًa throne يَحمِلُbearing الأَناماmankind
نَرى سَريراً يَحمِلُ الأَناما
وَالسُؤدَدَand lordship القُدامِسَthe mighty القُداماthe majestic
وَالسُؤدَدَ القُدامِسَ القُداما
We see a throne bearing all mankind,
His throne's a seat where all the world may sit,
And mighty, majestic lordship.
Guarded by columns of unyielding grit.
إِنَّindeed عَلىupon أَعوادِهِits timbers الضِرغاماthe lion
إِنَّ عَلى أَعوادِهِ الضِرغاما
تُخدِجُlay prematurely مِنfrom هَيبَتِهِthe awe he inspires السُلامىthe quails
تُخدِجُ مِن هَيبَتِهِ السُلامى
Upon its timbers is the lion;
Her pillars tremble at his awesome might,
Quails lay prematurely from dread of him.
Silencing those who scorn and incite.
تَعنوbow المُلوكُthe kings حَولَهُaround him إِعظاماin reverence
تَعنو المُلوكُ حَولَهُ إِعظاما
نَستَكثِرُwe find numerous اليَومَtoday لَهُbefore him القِياماthose standing
نَستَكثِرُ اليَومَ لَهُ القِياما
Kings bow around him in reverence.
Around him monarchs bow with reverence,
We count many standing before him today:
We spend this day for him in deference.
أُسداًlions تَراهاyou see them عِندَهُbeside him بِهاماas lambs
أُسداً تَراها عِندَهُ بِهاما
شُلَّتmay it be palsied يَدُthe hand الجاذِبِof the puller ماذاwhat راماdid he seek
شُلَّت يَدُ الجاذِبِ ماذا راما
Lions you behold beside him as lambs.
A lion you see him mauling the oppressor's hand,
May the puller's hand be palsied—what did he seek
Of dubious shooter whose mischief he has banned,
مِنfrom بازِلٍa full-grown camel قَدalready مَنَعَhas refused الخِطاماthe nose-rope
مِن بازِلٍ قَد مَنَعَ الخِطاما
وَأَعجَزَand defeated الوِراكَthe saddle-band وَالزِماماand the rein
وَأَعجَزَ الوِراكَ وَالزِماما
From a full-grown camel that refuses the nose-rope,
Disabling traps and weakening resistance,
And defeats the saddle-band and rein?
To all who ride without his king's license.
لاnot يَعرِفُknows الرَحلَthe saddle لَهُof his سَناماa hump
لا يَعرِفُ الرَحلَ لَهُ سَناما
وَلّىhe presented الأَعاديthe enemies مَنكِباًa shoulder حَطّاماcrushing
وَلّى الأَعادي مَنكِباً حَطّاما
No saddle knows his hump.
On days of peril crowds find safety near,
He presents his enemies with a crushing shoulder;
As standards rally round in martingale gear.
يَومَon the day الضِغاطِof the press يَأمَنُhe is safe from الزِحاماcrowding
يَومَ الضِغاطِ يَأمَنُ الزِحاما
مِنof مَعشَرٍa people تَفَرَّعواthey scaled الأَعلاماthe mountain-peaks
مِن مَعشَرٍ تَفَرَّعوا الأَعلاما
On the day of the press, he fears no crowding.
Time flows on as their glory remains intact,
He is of a people who scaled the mountain-peaks,
They've conquered citadels, enclaves intact.
مُطاوِلاًvying in endurance with مَجدُهُمُtheir glory الأَيّاماthe days
مُطاوِلاً مَجدُهُمُ الأَيّاما
حَلّواthey dwelt in القُصورَthe palaces البيضَwhite وَالآطاماand strongholds
حَلّوا القُصورَ البيضَ وَالآطاما
Their glory vying in endurance with the days.
Carousing together amid drinks and song,
They dwelt in white palaces and strongholds,
Tender gazelles, musicians prolong
يُخالِطونَthey mingle with الشَربَdrinking companions وَالمُداماand wine
يُخالِطونَ الشَربَ وَالمُداما
وَالعازِفاتِand women musicians الغُرَّfair-faced وَالنَدامىand boon companions
وَالعازِفاتِ الغُرَّ وَالنَدامى
Mingling with drinking companions and wine,
The pleasure, till the day they meet their fate -
And fair-faced women musicians and boon companions:
In riding robes and mail impenetrate.
كَرائِماًnoble women لاقَينَهُمwho met them كِراماas noble men
كَرائِماً لاقَينَهُم كِراما
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen يَومُthe day الرَدىof death أَغاماclouded over
حَتّى إِذا يَومُ الرَدى أَغاما
Noble women meeting them as noble men.
You see them postured tall upon their steeds,
Until, when the day of death clouds over,
Restrained but eager chargers chomp their leads.
مُحتَزِماًgirded قَدalready لَبِسَhad donned القَتاماthe dust
مُحتَزِماً قَد لَبِسَ القَتاما
رَأَيتَهُمyou saw them ضَراغِماًas lions تَسامىrising aloft
رَأَيتَهُم ضَراغِماً تَسامى
Girded for battle and clothed in dust,
Out in the waste no shade or tent in sight,
You see them as lions rising aloft
Contesting ostriches in this show of might.
عَلىupon الجِيادِthe steeds تُعلَفُbeing fed الإِلجاماbridles
عَلى الجِيادِ تُعلَفُ الإِلجاما
فيin البيدِthe wastes لاno ظِلٌّshade وَلاnor خِياماtents
في البيدِ لا ظِلٌّ وَلا خِياما
On steeds whose fodder is their bridles.
Pressing the camel rutting in its prime,
In the wastes, with no shade and no tents,
Their mounts all champ and churn to racing time.
غَدواthey set out يُبارونَracing بِهاon them النَعاماthe ostriches
غَدوا يُبارونَ بِها النَعاما
مُرابِعينَkeeping abreast of الحامِلَthe mount bearing الهَمهاماthe valiant chief
مُرابِعينَ الحامِلَ الهَمهاما
They set out racing ostriches on them,
Except the sire and colt, from them all around
Keeping abreast of the mount bearing the valiant chief,
Burst saddle-girths whene'er the drums resound.
مِنof كُلِّevery أَقنىarched-nosed steed يَنفُضُshaking اللِجاماthe bridle
مِن كُلِّ أَقنى يَنفُضُ اللِجاما
كَالنَصلِlike an arrow إِلّاexcept الفوقَthe nock وَاللُؤاماand fletching
كَالنَصلِ إِلّا الفوقَ وَاللُؤاما
Each an arched-nosed steed shaking its bridle,
If war's afoot they instantly prepare,
Like an arrow, but without nock or fletching.
Brandishing till each spearpoint flicks the air.
إِنif قَعَدَsettled الخَطبُadversity إِلَيهِbefore him قاماhe rose
إِن قَعَدَ الخَطبُ إِلَيهِ قاما
حَتّىuntil يُرَوّيhe slakes الرُمحَthe spear وَالحُساماand the sword
حَتّى يُرَوّي الرُمحَ وَالحُساما
If adversity settles before him, he rises,
Since fame was scorned they've never ceased to wage it,
Until he slakes his spear and sword.
Sent it aflame till evil burned within it.
يَقظانُwakeful مُذsince ذُمَّwas condemned الكَرىslumber ماnot ناماhe slept
يَقظانُ مُذ ذُمَّ الكَرى ما ناما
قَدindeed بَعَثوهُthey sent him شائِماًwatching for lightning فَشاماso he espied
قَد بَعَثوهُ شائِماً فَشاما
Wakeful: since slumber was condemned, he has not slept.
Unraveling complications with their toil,
They sent him to watch for lightning, and he espied
You have attained, fulfilled the deepest goal.
مِنfrom مَقبِسِthe fire-source المَجدِof glory لَهُمfor them ضِراماa blaze
مِن مَقبِسِ المَجدِ لَهُم ضِراما
جاءَhe came بِهِwith it يَضطَرِمُblazing اِضطِراماfiercely
جاءَ بِهِ يَضطَرِمُ اِضطِراما
From glory's fire-source, a blaze for them.
What enormous gifts have they bestowed on me,
He brought it back, fiercely blazing.
Raising me up, exalting my decree!
حُلّواuntie الحُبىthe knee-bands بُلِّغتُمُyou have been brought to المَراماthe goal
حُلّوا الحُبى بُلِّغتُمُ المَراما
سَعيٌa striving كَفىthat spared الآباءَthe fathers وَالأَعماماand uncles
سَعيٌ كَفى الآباءَ وَالأَعماما
Untie your knee-bands: you have been brought to your goal.
They fulfilled me west and north without reproach,
A striving that spared fathers and uncles the toil.
Evil mutterers could only chafe and broach
كَمhow often قَلَّدونيthey adorned me with النِعَمَfavors الجِساماmighty
كَم قَلَّدوني النِعَمَ الجِساما
سَوابِغاًlavish تَرفَعُraising ليfor me الأَعلاماbanners
سَوابِغاً تَرفَعُ لي الأَعلاما
How often they adorned me with mighty favors,
New stratagems, intrigues could not deter,
Lavish gifts that raise banners for me.
Renewing vendettas, enmities to spur.
أَمطَونِيَthey mounted me upon الغارِبَthe withers وَالسَناماand the hump
أَمطَونِيَ الغارِبَ وَالسَناما
وَطالَand long ماthat غاظواthey enraged بِيَthrough me الأَقواماthe peoples
وَطالَ ما غاظوا بِيَ الأَقواما
They set me astride the withers and the hump,
Yet they advanced me, curbed all egoistic aims,
And long have they enraged the peoples through me,
Postponed reward until success proclaims.
وَجَدَّدواand renewed الأَحقادَgrudges وَالأَوغاماand rancors
وَجَدَّدوا الأَحقادَ وَالأَوغاما
هُمthey قَدَّمونيadvanced me فيin العُلىexalted rank أَماماto the forefront
هُم قَدَّموني في العُلى أَماما
And renewed grudges and rancors.
What line of glory, what ensign sublime,
They advanced me to the forefront of exalted rank,
You've multiplied, enhancing law and rhyme!
وَأَخَّرواand held back عَنfrom غايَتيmy goal الإِقداماbold advance
وَأَخَّروا عَن غايَتي الإِقداما
فَذّاًa single one مِنَof النَعماءِblessings أَوor تُؤاماa pair
فَذّاً مِنَ النَعماءِ أَو تُؤاما
And left bold advance lagging behind my goal.
How far your sea of bounty surged ahead!
A single blessing, or a pair,
With favor overflowing, unrestrained.
كَالسِلكِlike a thread ضاعَفتَyou doubled بِهِon it النِظاماthe strung beads
كَالسِلكِ ضاعَفتَ بِهِ النِظاما
إِلامَhow far مَدَّhas extended بَحرُكُمyour sea إِلاماhow far
إِلامَ مَدَّ بَحرُكُم إِلاما
Like a thread on which you double the strung beads.
Another year of grace, though troubles irk,
How far has your sea extended—how far?
You hold fate powerless, suspended work.
مُلِئتُمُmay you be filled with النَعماءَblessings وَالدَواماand lasting life
مُلِئتُمُ النَعماءَ وَالدَواما
عاماًa year عَلىin رَغمِdefiance of العِداthe foes فَعاماthen another year
عاماً عَلى رَغمِ العِدا فَعاما
May you be filled with blessings and lasting life,
Authority embraced within your nation,
Year after year, despite the foes,
The crescent's rings cannot come undone.
تُماطِلونَyou defer القَدرَfate وَالحِماماand death
تُماطِلونَ القَدرَ وَالحِماما
شَملُthe cluster الثُرَيّاof the Pleiades ضَمِنَhas secured المَقاماan abiding place
شَملُ الثُرَيّا ضَمِنَ المَقاما
Putting off fate and death.
No fate has terrified you, caused to cower,
The Pleiades' cluster has secured its abiding place;
Or brought down your dominion, broke its power.
طَوقُthe ring الهِلالِof the crescent لاnot يُرىis seen اِنفِصاماa break
طَوقُ الهِلالِ لا يُرى اِنفِصاما
لاnot رَوَّعَfrighten الدَهرُTime لَكُمof yours سَواماgrazing herds
لا رَوَّعَ الدَهرُ لَكُم سَواما
No break is seen in the crescent's ring.
Until a dried up sneering mouth one day
May Time never frighten your grazing herds
Collides against it, shrivels up, decays.
يَوماًon any day وَلاnor فَضَّbreak لَكُمof yours نِظاماa string of beads
يَوماً وَلا فَضَّ لَكُم نِظاما
حَتّىuntil يُلاقيmeets يَذبُلٌYadhbul شَماماShamam
حَتّى يُلاقي يَذبُلٌ شَماما
On any day, nor break your string of beads,
Until Yadhbul meets Shamam.
Partial English translation: 70 of 72 Arabic lines translated.