رَأَيتُI saw المُنىaspirations نَهزَةَa prize to seize الثَائِرِthe avenger
رَأَيتُ المُنى نَهزَةَ الثَائِرِ
وَسَهمَand the arrow of العُلىeminence فيin يَدِthe hand of القامِرِthe gambler
وَسَهمَ العُلى في يَدِ القامِرِ
I saw aspirations as the avenger's prize,
I saw ambitions shaken by the rebel,
and glory's arrow in the gambler's hand.
And the arrow of glory in the gambler's hand.
وَماand not عَدِمَlacked المَجدَglory مُستَأسِدٌa lion-hearted man
وَما عَدِمَ المَجدَ مُستَأسِدٌ
يَبُلُّwets القَناthe spears بِالدَمِwith blood المائِرِsurging
يَبُلُّ القَنا بِالدَمِ المائِرِ
And no lion-hearted man lacked glory,
The glorious never lacked an attacker,
who wets the spears with surging blood.
Who sheds his blood till it flows.
وَلَوand even if ضَمِنَheld; sheltered العِزُّhonor بَعضَsome of الوُكورِthe nests
وَلَو ضَمِنَ العِزُّ بَعضَ الوُكورِ
أَغارَتattacked يَداهُhis two hands عَلىupon الطَائِرِthe bird
أَغارَت يَداهُ عَلى الطَائِرِ
Even were honor sheltered in some nest,
Had glory ensured virility to some men,
his two hands would attack the bird.
Their hands would have clung to the bird of prey.
وَإِنand if وَلَجَentered الضِغنُrancor أَثوابَهُhis robes
وَإِن وَلَجَ الضِغنُ أَثوابَهُ
نَضاstripped off لِبدَةَthe mane of الأَسَدِthe lion الحادِرِmassive
نَضا لِبدَةَ الأَسَدِ الحادِرِ
And if rancor entered his robes,
If the wolf wears its garments,
he would strip the massive lion of its mane.
It rends the lion's skin.
يُسَفِّهُdeems foolish فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror فِعلَthe work of القَناthe spears
يُسَفِّهُ في الرَوعِ فِعلَ القَنا
وَيَرضىand is pleased عَنِwith المِقضَبِthe cutting sword الباتِرِsevering
وَيَرضى عَنِ المِقضَبِ الباتِرِ
In battle's terror he deems the spears' work foolish,
It makes light of frights in attending the battle,
and favors the cutting, severing sword.
And rests content with a broken sword.
فَشَمَّرso gird yourself لِمُظلِمَةٍfor a dark ordeal ماnot تَزاceases (first part)
فَشَمَّر لِمُظلِمَةٍ ما تَزا
لُcompletion of 'ceases' تَقبِضُcurbs مِنof; from بَطشَةِthe might of الناظِرِthe beholder
لُ تَقبِضُ مِن بَطشَةِ الناظِرِ
So gird yourself for a dark ordeal that never
So gird for a darkness that remains opaque,
ceases to curb the beholder's might.
Though the sharp-sighted continues to stare.
وَرِدand enter غَمرَةَthe deep waters of العِزِّhonor بَينَamid الرِماحِthe spears
وَرِد غَمرَةَ العِزِّ بَينَ الرِماحِ
وَاِحجُرand bar access عَلىto الماءِthe water فيin الحاجِرِal-Hajir
وَاِحجُر عَلى الماءِ في الحاجِرِ
And enter honor's deep waters amid the spears,
Thrust glory amid the lances,
and bar access to the water in al-Hajir.
And forbid water to the stone dam.
رَأَيتُكَI saw you تَصلىbeing scorched بِحَرَّby the heat of الطِعاspear-thrusts (first part)
رَأَيتُكَ تَصلى بِحَرَّ الطِعا
نِcompletion of 'spear-thrusts' كَماjust as صَلِيَتwas scorched شَحمَةُthe lump of fat of الصاهِرِthe fat-renderer
نِ كَما صَلِيَت شَحمَةُ الصاهِرِ
I saw you scorched by the heat of spear-thrusts,
I saw you praying by the cooking pots,
as the renderer's lump of fat was scorched.
As if you prayed by the roasting spits.
أَبُثُّكَI confide to you أَنّيthat I قَطَعتُspent الزَماtime (first part)
أَبُثُّكَ أَنّي قَطَعتُ الزَما
نَcompletion of 'time' أَطلُبُI seek عِزِّيَmy honor أَوor ناصِريmy helper
نَ أَطلُبُ عِزِّيَ أَو ناصِري
I confide to you that I have spent my time
I give you news that I have cut across time,
seeking my honor or my helper.
To seek glory or a helper.
فَماso not اِرتاحَfound comfort هَمّيmy ambition إِلىin; toward صاحِبٍa companion
فَما اِرتاحَ هَمّي إِلى صاحِبٍ
وَلاand not نامَslept عَزميmy resolve عَلىbeside; upon سامِرِa night companion
وَلا نامَ عَزمي عَلى سامِرِ
My ambition found no comfort in a companion,
So my care found no friend to rest by,
nor did my resolve sleep beside a night companion.
Nor did my resolve sleep to a keeper.
إِذاwhen قَيَّدَfettered اللَيلُthe night خَطوَthe steps of المُنىaspirations
إِذا قَيَّدَ اللَيلُ خَطوَ المُنى
مَشىwalked; crept النَومُsleep فيinto مُقلَةِthe eye of الساهِرِthe wakeful one
مَشى النَومُ في مُقلَةِ الساهِرِ
When night fettered the steps of hope,
When night ties the steps of ambitions,
sleep crept into the wakeful man's eye.
Slumber walks into the eyes of the sleepless.
وَإِنّيand indeed I أَخِفُّhasten إِلىtoward المُسمِعاthe female singers (first part)
وَإِنّي أَخِفُّ إِلى المُسمِعا
تِcompletion of 'female singers' عَنprompted by خَطرَةِan impulse of الشَغَفِpassion الخاطِرِpassing through the mind
تِ عَن خَطرَةِ الشَغَفِ الخاطِرِ
And I indeed hasten toward the singing women,
And I fear revealing to the ears
moved by a fleeting impulse of passion.
The delusions of my racing thoughts.
وَماand not ذاكَthat جَهلاًignorance وَلَكِنَّهُbut it is
وَما ذاكَ جَهلاً وَلَكِنَّهُ
نِزاعُthe yearning of الجَوادِthe noble steed إِلىtoward الصافِرِthe whistler
نِزاعُ الجَوادِ إِلى الصافِرِ
That is not ignorance; rather, it is
Not out of ignorance I do this,
the noble steed's yearning for the whistler.
But from the pulling of the steed to the whistler.
وَلَولاand were it not for القَريضُverse وَأَشغالُهُand its occupations
وَلَولا القَريضُ وَأَشغالُهُ
شَغَلتُI would occupy بِغَيرِwith something other than المُنىaspirations خاطِريmy mind
شَغَلتُ بِغَيرِ المُنى خاطِري
Were it not for verse and its occupations,
Were it not for poetry and its concerns,
I would occupy my mind with something other than aspirations.
I would have busied my thoughts away from wishes.
وَماand not الشِعرُpoetry فَخريmy pride وَلَكِنَّهُbut it
وَما الشِعرُ فَخري وَلَكِنَّهُ
أَطولُI surpass بِهِthrough it هِمَّةَthe ambition of الفاخِرِthe boaster
أَطولُ بِهِ هِمَّةَ الفاخِرِ
And poetry is not my pride; rather,
Poetry is no boast of mine,
through it I surpass the boaster's ambition.
But by it I raise the aims of the excellent.
أُنَزِّهُهُI hold it aloof عَنfrom لِقاءِmeeting الرِجالِmen
أُنَزِّهُهُ عَن لِقاءِ الرِجالِ
وَأَجعَلُهُand I make it تُحفَةَa gift for الزائِرِthe visitor
وَأَجعَلُهُ تُحفَةَ الزائِرِ
I hold it above encounters with men,
I keep it away from meeting with people,
and make it a gift for the visitor.
And make it a delight for the visitor.
فَماso not يَتَهَدّىfind their way إِلَيهِto it المُلوthe kings (first part)
فَما يَتَهَدّى إِلَيهِ المُلو
كُcompletion of 'kings' إِلّاexcept مِنَthrough المَثَلِthe saying السائِرِwidely circulating
كُ إِلّا مِنَ المَثَلِ السائِرِ
So kings do not find their way to it
So kings approach it only
except through a widely circulating saying.
Through the current parable.
وَإِنّيand indeed I وَإِنand although كُنتُI am مِنamong أَهلِهِits people
وَإِنّي وَإِن كُنتُ مِن أَهلِهِ
لَتُنكِرُنيsurely disowns me حِرفَةُthe trade of الشاعِرِthe poet
لَتُنكِرُني حِرفَةُ الشاعِرِ
And I, though I am one of its people,
Though I am one of its people,
am surely disowned by the poet's trade.
The craft of the poet disowns me.
وَطَوَّقَنيand collared me الدَهرُtime ثِنيَa loop of الزِماthe rein (first part)
وَطَوَّقَني الدَهرُ ثِنيَ الزِما
مِcompletion of 'rein' فَالآنَso now أَهزَأُI scoff بِالزاجِرِat the restrainer
مِ فَالآنَ أَهزَأُ بِالزاجِرِ
Time has collared me with a loop of the rein;
Fate has yoked me in the fetters of verse,
so now I scoff at the one who would check me.
So now I ridicule the deterrer.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأَلقىsurely endure مِنَfrom النائِباcalamities (first part)
وَإِنّي لَأَلقى مِنَ النائِبا
تِcompletion of 'calamities' مَلقىthe experience of الأَشاءِthe young palms مِنَfrom الآبِرِthe palm-pollinator
تِ مَلقى الأَشاءِ مِنَ الآبِرِ
And from calamities I surely endure
And I meet with adversities
what young palms endure from the pollinator.
Like the noble meets the righteous.
أُؤانِسُI befriend وَحشيَّthe untamed part of هَذاthis البَروthe lightning flashes (first part)
أُؤانِسُ وَحشيَّ هَذا البَرو
قِcompletion of 'lightning flashes' فيin مَوطِنِthe haunt of النَعَمِthe livestock النافِرِfleeing
قِ في مَوطِنِ النَعَمِ النافِرِ
I befriend the wild flashes of this lightning,
I befriend desolation in this wide, open land,
in the haunt of the fleeing herds.
The place of blessings that fled.
وَأَصحَبُand I accompany فيهاin them رِفاقَcompanies of السَحاthe clouds (first part)
وَأَصحَبُ فيها رِفاقَ السَحا
بِcompletion of 'clouds' تَنبوturn away عَنِfrom البَلَدِthe country العامِرِinhabited
بِ تَنبو عَنِ البَلَدِ العامِرِ
And there I travel with companies of clouds
And seek the company of the cups' companions,
that shun inhabited country.
Who fled the land of settlements.
لَعَلِّيَperhaps I أَلقىlay down عِصِيَّthe staffs of النَوىseparation
لَعَلِّيَ أَلقى عِصِيَّ النَوى
تَأَوَّبَa return by night ذيof the possessor of اللِبَدِthe mane الصادِرِreturning from water
تَأَوَّبَ ذي اللِبَدِ الصادِرِ
Perhaps I shall lay down the staffs of separation,
Maybe I will meet the friendly one,
returning by night like the maned lion on his way back.
Who rinsed his mouth and spoke out.
وَكُنتُand I used to إِذاwhen مَنَحَتنيbestowed on me المُلوكُthe kings
وَكُنتُ إِذا مَنَحَتني المُلوكُ
نَزازاًa trickle مِنَof النائِلِbounty الغامِرِoverflowing
نَزازاً مِنَ النائِلِ الغامِرِ
And whenever kings bestowed on me
When kings gifted me sprinkles from their bounty,
a trickle of overflowing bounty,
The little I refused but sent the drops back to the rain.
أَبيتُI refused القَليلَthe little وَلَكِنَّنيbut I
أَبيتُ القَليلَ وَلَكِنَّني
رَدَدتُI sent back الرَذاذَthe drizzle عَلىto الماطِرِthe rain-giver
رَدَدتُ الرَذاذَ عَلى الماطِرِ
I refused the little; but I
No glory in fruits of effortless culture,
sent the drizzle back to its rain-giver.
That's attributed to a barren goal!
وَماand not الفَخرُpride فيin أَدَبٍlearning ناتِجٍfruitful
وَما الفَخرُ في أَدَبٍ ناتِجٍ
يُضافُis joined إِلىto مَطلَبٍa quest عاقِرِbarren
يُضافُ إِلى مَطلَبٍ عاقِرِ
And no pride lies in fruitful learning
How I often loudly stood up at events,
joined to a barren quest.
Hatefully to the attendees.
وَكَمand how often قُمتُI stood فيin مَشهَدٍa gathering لِلخُطوبِfor calamities
وَكَم قُمتُ في مَشهَدٍ لِلخُطوبِ
قِياماًa stand بَغيضاًhateful إِلىto الحاضِرِthose present
قِياماً بَغيضاً إِلى الحاضِرِ
How often I stood in a gathering of calamities,
I parry misfortunes with the Psalms,
taking a stand hateful to those present.
And grant wishes by al-Nasseri.
أَرُدُّI ward off النَوائِبَcalamities بِالموسَوِيِّwith al-Musawi
أَرُدُّ النَوائِبَ بِالموسَوِيِّ
وَأُعطيand I bestow الرَغائِبَcoveted gifts بِالناصِرِيwith al-Nasiri
وَأُعطي الرَغائِبَ بِالناصِرِي
I ward off calamities with al-Musawi,
Were it not for Husayn I would give up hope,
and bestow coveted gifts with al-Nasiri.
And overlook his burning lightning.
وَلَولاand were it not for الحُسَينُal-Husayn عَصَبتُI would have bound up الرَجاءَhope
وَلَولا الحُسَينُ عَصَبتُ الرَجاءَ
وَأَغضَيتُand I would have shut my eyes عَنto; away from بَرقِهِits lightning النائِرِradiant
وَأَغضَيتُ عَن بَرقِهِ النائِرِ
Were it not for al-Husayn, I would have bound up hope
I gloat over the hands of Time being near,
and shut my eyes to its radiant lightning,
While I chance the stumbling of hope.
وَأَشمَتُّand I would have made gloat بِالقُربِover nearness أَيديthe hands of النَوىseparation
وَأَشمَتُّ بِالقُربِ أَيدي النَوى
وَخاطَرتُand I would have gambled بِالطَمَعِwith desire العاثِرِfaltering
وَخاطَرتُ بِالطَمَعِ العاثِرِ
and made the hands of separation gloat over nearness,
When it threatens to exchange endurance for strength,
and gambled with faltering desire.
And stop the struggle with the rebel.
إِذاwhen هَمَّhe resolved باعَhe bartered الطُلىthe necks بِالظُبىfor sword-edges
إِذا هَمَّ باعَ الطُلى بِالظُبى
وَكَفَّand he checked المُعاقِرَthe slaughterer بِالثائِرِwith the avenger
وَكَفَّ المُعاقِرَ بِالثائِرِ
When he resolves, he barters necks for sword-edges,
As if the darkness, once contestant,
and checks the slaughterer with the avenger.
Is clad in departing moonlight.
كَأَنَّas though الظَلامَthe darkness إِذاwhen خاضَهُhe plunged into it
كَأَنَّ الظَلامَ إِذا خاضَهُ
تَلَثَّمَveiled its face بِالقَمَرِwith the moon السافِرِunveiled
تَلَثَّمَ بِالقَمَرِ السافِرِ
It is as though the darkness, when he plunges into it,
It sees glory as the greatest possession,
veils its face with the unveiled moon.
When the sword's edge cuts the drawing hand.
رَأىhe deemed المَجدَglory أَعظَمَthe greatest ماthat which يُقتَنىis acquired
رَأى المَجدَ أَعظَمَ ما يُقتَنى
إِذاwhen السَيفُthe sword عَقَّrebelled against يَدَthe hand of الشاهِرِthe wielder
إِذا السَيفُ عَقَّ يَدَ الشاهِرِ
He deemed glory the greatest thing to acquire,
So it charges until it gains the spears,
when the sword rebelled against its wielder's hand.
Surely the spoils are for the victor.
فَطاعَنَso he fought with spears حَتّىuntil اِستَباحَseized as booty الرَماthe spears (first part)
فَطاعَنَ حَتّى اِستَباحَ الرَما
حَcompletion of 'spears' إِنَّindeed الغَنيمَةَthe spoils لِلظافِرِbelong to the victor
حَ إِنَّ الغَنيمَةَ لِلظافِرِ
So he fought with spears until he seized the lances;
It flings at the panting steeds,
indeed, the spoils belong to the victor.
Above the power of the hopeful aspirant.
رَمىhe sent بِالجِيادِwith fine steeds صُدورَthe breasts of الرَكاthe riding camels (first part)
رَمى بِالجِيادِ صُدورَ الرَكا
بِcompletion of 'riding camels' عَنfrom; through قُدرَةِthe power of الآمِلِthe aspirant القادِرِthe capable one
بِ عَن قُدرَةِ الآمِلِ القادِرِ
He sent fine steeds before the breasts of the riding camels,
It leads the short home,
with the power of one who hopes and can achieve.
And gifts the bright a retreat.
فَقادَso he led الجَديلَal-Jadil إِلىto لاحِقٍLahiq
فَقادَ الجَديلَ إِلى لاحِقٍ
وَأَهدىand he presented الوَجيهَal-Wajih إِلىto داعِرِDa'ir
وَأَهدى الوَجيهَ إِلى داعِرِ
So he led al-Jadil to Lahiq,
It wakes while behind the horses,
and presented al-Wajih to Da'ir.
Playing with the fettered prey.
وَأَصبَحَand at dawn he was وَهوَwhile he was وَراءَbehind المَطِيthe riding camels (first part)
وَأَصبَحَ وَهوَ وَراءَ المَطِي
يِcompletion of 'riding camels' يَلعَبُhe sports بِالأَجرَدِwith the sleek steed الضامِرِthe lean one
يِ يَلعَبُ بِالأَجرَدِ الضامِرِ
And at dawn, behind the riding camels,
When it walks atop the sandal,
he sports with a sleek, lean steed.
Stamping them with hooves.
إِذاwhen مَشَقَscrawled الخِفَّthe camel's pad فَوقَacross البِطاthe flats (first part)
إِذا مَشَقَ الخِفَّ فَوقَ البِطا
حِcompletion of 'flats' وَقَّعَhe inscribed فيهِنَّupon them بِالحافِرِwith the hoof
حِ وَقَّعَ فيهِنَّ بِالحافِرِ
When the camel's pad scrawls across the flats,
Stamping with glances, while determination
he writes upon them with the hoof.
Glances with listless eyes.
يُوَقِّعُhe casts أَلحاظَهُhis glances وَالشَجاand the brave man (first part)
يُوَقِّعُ أَلحاظَهُ وَالشَجا
عُcompletion of 'brave man' يَلحَظُlooks عَنfrom ناظِرٍan eye فاتِرِlanguid
عُ يَلحَظُ عَن ناظِرٍ فاتِرِ
He casts his glances, while the brave man
If the first exceeds its patience,
looks out from a languid eye.
Surely zeal is in the last.
إِذاif عَزَّwas beyond reach عَنof حِلمِهِhis forbearance أَوَّلٌa first one
إِذا عَزَّ عَن حِلمِهِ أَوَّلٌ
فَإِنَّthen indeed الحَمِيَّةَindignation فيin الآخِرِthe latter
فَإِنَّ الحَمِيَّةَ في الآخِرِ
If the first is beyond his forbearance,
Never has time been relieved of his like;
then indignation answers the next.
When awe rages against the patient one.
فَماso not اِنفَرَجَopened up الدَهرُtime عَنto reveal مِثلِهِhis equal
فَما اِنفَرَجَ الدَهرُ عَن مِثلِهِ
إِذاwhen عَصَفَraged الرَوعُterror بِالصابِرِupon the steadfast man
إِذا عَصَفَ الرَوعُ بِالصابِرِ
Time has never revealed his equal
It hastened plunging into the thrusting swords,
when terror storms upon the steadfast man:
And forgave the fault of the stumbler.
أَحَدَّsharper عَلىat الطَعنِthrusting مِنthan صارِمِa keen sword
أَحَدَّ عَلى الطَعنِ مِن صارِمِ
وَأَصفَحَand more forgiving عَنof زَلَّةِthe lapse of العاثِرِthe stumbler
وَأَصفَحَ عَن زَلَّةِ العاثِرِ
sharper at thrusting than a keen sword,
And it was worthiest if overwhelmed by an ambush,
and more forgiving of the stumbler's lapse,
To return affairs to the commander.
وَأَجدَرَand more fit إِنif نابَهُbefell him نائِبٌa calamity
وَأَجدَرَ إِن نابَهُ نائِبٌ
بِرَدِّto return الأُمورِaffairs إِلىto الآمِرِthe one who commands
بِرَدِّ الأُمورِ إِلى الآمِرِ
and more fit, should calamity befall him,
O Abu Ahmad, fruits of praise
to return affairs to the one who commands.
Are protected through your flourishing branch.
أَباO father of أَحمَدٍAhmad ثَمَراتُthe fruits of المَديpraise (first part)
أَبا أَحمَدٍ ثَمَراتُ المَدي
حِcompletion of 'praise' تُحرَزُare gathered عَنfrom فَرعِكَyour branch الناضِرُverdant
حِ تُحرَزُ عَن فَرعِكَ الناضِرُ
O Abu Ahmad, the fruits of praise
When frustration lowers the high glories,
are gathered from your verdant branch.
They attack the halo of the shining moon.
إِذاwhen العَجزُweakness حَطَّbrought low المَعاليhigh aspirations هَجَمcharged (verb stem)
إِذا العَجزُ حَطَّ المَعالي هَجَم
تَyou (verb ending) عَلىupon هالَةِthe halo of القَمَرِthe moon الباهِرِdazzling
تَ عَلى هالَةِ القَمَرِ الباهِرِ
When weakness brought high aspirations low, you charged
You continue justice with the betrayers,
upon the halo of the dazzling moon.
Until you gain your right from the unjust.
وَماand not زِلتَyou ceased تَعدِلُyou deal justly فيwith; among الغادِرِيthe treacherous (first part)
وَما زِلتَ تَعدِلُ في الغادِرِي
نَcompletion of 'the treacherous' حَتّىuntil اِنتَصَفتَyou exacted justice مِنَfrom الجائِرِthe oppressor
نَ حَتّى اِنتَصَفتَ مِنَ الجائِرِ
And you never ceased dealing justly with the treacherous,
The heart of the youth came to you,
until you exacted justice from the oppressor.
As the sorcerer's breath tore apart the fox.
أَتَتكَit came to you تُشَبَّبُkindles لُبَّthe mind of الفَتىthe young man
أَتَتكَ تُشَبَّبُ لُبَّ الفَتى
كَماjust as مَزَّقَتit tore apart نَفثَةَthe breathed spell of الساحِرِthe sorcerer
كَما مَزَّقَت نَفثَةَ الساحِرِ
It came to you, kindling the young man's mind,
just as it rent the sorcerer's breathed spell.
Partial English translation: 92 of 94 Arabic lines translated.