ياO مَنyou who رَأىsaw البَرقَthe lightning عَلىover الأَنعَمِal-Anʿam
يا مَن رَأى البَرقَ عَلى الأَنعَمِ
يَطويfolds up بِساطَthe carpet الغَسَقِof dusk المُظلِمِthe dark
يَطوي بِساطَ الغَسَقِ المُظلِمِ
O you who saw the lightning over al-Anʿam,
O you who saw the lightning flash on the she-camels,
folding up the carpet of darkening dusk,
Folding up the carpet of the dark gloom,
مُحمَرَّةًreddened مِنهُby it كِفافُthe fringes الدُجىof darkness
مُحمَرَّةً مِنهُ كِفافُ الدُجى
نَضحَthe spatter جِراحِof wounds الفَرَسِof the horse الأَدهَمِthe black
نَضحَ جِراحِ الفَرَسِ الأَدهَمِ
the fringes of darkness reddened by it,
Reddening from it the palms in the darkness,
like the spatter from a black horse's wounds.
Splashing the wounds of the chestnut horse.
قامَrose نِساءُthe women الحَيِّof the camp يَقبَسنَهُthey draw fire from it
قامَ نِساءُ الحَيِّ يَقبَسنَهُ
ناراًa fire مِنَfrom الإيماضِthe flashing لَمnot تُضرَمِwas kindled
ناراً مِنَ الإيماضِ لَم تُضرَمِ
The camp's women rose to draw from it
The women of the tribe set it aflame,
a fire of flashes that had never been kindled.
A fire not sparked from tinder.
تَطاوَلَcraned upward المُنجِدُthe highland dweller ضَنّاًout of jealousy بِهِover it
تَطاوَلَ المُنجِدُ ضَنّاً بِهِ
وَقَدand already عَطاreached out لِلبَلَدِtoward the land المُتهِمِin Tihamah
وَقَد عَطا لِلبَلَدِ المُتهِمِ
The highland dweller craned upward, coveting it,
The watchman lingered over it brooding,
though it had reached toward the land of Tihamah,
Though he had given the alarm to the accused land.
حَتّىuntil رَمىcast الإِصباحَthe dawn فيinto لَيلَةٍa night
حَتّى رَمى الإِصباحَ في لَيلَةٍ
لَفَّتwrapped إِزارَthe waistcloth الرَجُلِof the man المُحرِمِin pilgrimage consecration
لَفَّت إِزارَ الرَجُلِ المُحرِمِ
until it cast morning into a night
Until dawn cast in a night
that wrapped itself in a pilgrim's waistcloth.
That had wrapped the waistcloth on a sacred man.
لاmay not جازَpass beyond مَغناهُمtheir dwelling بِذاتِat Dhat النَقاal-Naqa
لا جازَ مَغناهُم بِذاتِ النَقا
قَطرُrainfall الغَواديof morning clouds وَطِلالُand light showers السُمِيof the clouds
قَطرُ الغَوادي وَطِلالُ السُمِي
May their dwelling at Dhat al-Naqa never be passed over
Their ululation could not be forbidden
by morning showers and the clouds' gentle rain.
The dripping of the valley and the slopes of Sumi.
وَلّواthey set in charge عَلىover قَلبيmy heart عَنيفَcruel الجَوىpassion
وَلّوا عَلى قَلبي عَنيفَ الجَوى
يُعاقِبُpunishes القَلبَthe heart وَلَمand did not يُجرِمِcommit wrongdoing
يُعاقِبُ القَلبَ وَلَم يُجرِمِ
They set cruel passion over my heart,
They turned the fires of passion violently upon my heart
punishing the heart though it had done no wrong.
Punishing the heart though it was not guilty.
اللَهَfor God's sake فيregarding طَرفٍan eye بِكُمfor you دامِعٌweeping
اللَهَ في طَرفٍ بِكُم دامِعٌ
دامٍbleeding وَقَلبٍand a heart بِكُمُwith you مُغرَمِenamored
دامٍ وَقَلبٍ بِكُمُ مُغرَمِ
For God's sake, spare an eye weeping for you,
My Lord, with your glances a weeping
bleeding, and a heart enamored of you.
Everlasting, and a heart enamored with you.
لاlet not يَتعَبُweary himself العاذِلُthe reproacher فيover حُبِّهِمlove for them
لا يَتعَبُ العاذِلُ في حُبِّهِم
قَدalready ذَهَبَwent off السَهمُthe arrow بِقَلبِwith the heart of الرَميthe stricken quarry
قَد ذَهَبَ السَهمُ بِقَلبِ الرَمي
Let the reproacher not weary himself over my love for them:
The critic cannot weary in his love for them
the arrow has already carried off the stricken quarry's heart.
The arrow has gone with the heart of the archer.
عَينيmy eye مَعَwith اليَقظىthe wakeful غَراماًout of love بِهِمfor them
عَيني مَعَ اليَقظى غَراماً بِهِم
وَعَينُand the eye مَنof whoever يَلحىreproaches مَعَwith النُوَّمِthe sleepers
وَعَينُ مَن يَلحى مَعَ النُوَّمِ
My eye keeps company with the wakeful, out of love for them;
My eyes in wakefulness are enamored with them
the eye of my reproacher keeps company with the sleepers.
While the eyes of one who tosses in sleep are closed.
لَولاwere it not for قِوامُQiwam (pillar) الدينِof the Faith ماnot اِستَوسَقَتgathered together
لَولا قِوامُ الدينِ ما اِستَوسَقَت
أَعناقُهاtheir necks فيon السَنَنِthe path الأَقوَمِthe straightest
أَعناقُها في السَنَنِ الأَقوَمِ
Without Qiwam al-Din, there would have been no gathering
Were it not for the order of religion, their necks
of their necks along the straightest path.
Would not have bent to the straightest laws.
وَلاnor رَأَيناwe saw النَجمَthe star ذاhaving خِفيَةٍconcealment
وَلا رَأَينا النَجمَ ذا خِفيَةٍ
مِنfrom قارِعِthe pounding الحافِرِof the hoof وَالمَنسَمِand the camel-pad
مِن قارِعِ الحافِرِ وَالمَنسَمِ
Nor would we have seen the star in hiding
Nor would we have seen the dim star
from the pounding of hoof and camel-pad.
From the striker of hooves and the blinker.
يُغيرُhe raids لِلمَجدِfor glory إِذاwhen غَيرُهُanother besides him
يُغيرُ لِلمَجدِ إِذا غَيرُهُ
أَغارَraided لِلسَلَّةِfor theft وَالمَغنَمِand spoils
أَغارَ لِلسَلَّةِ وَالمَغنَمِ
He raids for glory, while another
He changes for glory when it changes.
raids for theft and spoils.
He was jealous for the dynasty and the booty.
لاnot يَصحَبُkeeps company with الأَغمادَthe scabbards مَنhe whose لَمnot تَزَلhave ceased
لا يَصحَبُ الأَغمادَ مَن لَم تَزَل
سُيوفُهُhis swords فيin حُلَلٍrobes مِنof دَمِblood
سُيوفُهُ في حُلَلٍ مِن دَمِ
He keeps no company with scabbards, he whose
The sheaths are not borne by one whose swords
swords have never ceased to wear robes of blood.
Have not ceased to be in sheaths of blood.
لِلَّهِto God! (admiration) نَعلٌa sandal حُذِيَتwas fashioned فيin العُلىthe heights of glory
لِلَّهِ نَعلٌ حُذِيَت في العُلى
أَخمَصَthe foot's arch ذاكَof that العارِضِraincloud المُرزَمِthe thundering
أَخمَصَ ذاكَ العارِضِ المُرزَمِ
Wondrous is the sandal fashioned in the heights
For God slippers smoothed in the heights
for the arch of that thundering raincloud!
Scuffing the heels of the arrogant tyrant.
يَوَدُّwishes لَوif only أَصبَحَit became شِسعاًa sandal-thong لَهاfor it
يَوَدُّ لَو أَصبَحَ شِسعاً لَها
نِجادُthe sword-baldric عُنقِof the neck المَلِكِof the king الأَعظَمِthe greatest
نِجادُ عُنقِ المَلِكِ الأَعظَمِ
It wishes it could become a thong of that sandal—
He wishes he could be in the morning saddle-girths
the sword-baldric about the greatest king's neck.
For the stallion of the greatest king.
أَغَرُّradiant مِنamong غُرٍّradiant men رَبَواrose high فيin العُلىglory
أَغَرُّ مِن غُرٍّ رَبَوا في العُلى
وَأَفصَحواand spoke eloquently بِالكَرَمِthrough generosity الأَعجَمِthe speechless
وَأَفصَحوا بِالكَرَمِ الأَعجَمِ
Radiant among radiant men who rose in glory,
More impetuous than an impetuous colt raised in the heights
and spoke eloquently through speechless generosity.
And more eloquent in strange generosity.
بَنَواthey built عَلىupon مُضطَرِباتِthe quivering shafts القَناof spears
بَنَوا عَلى مُضطَرِباتِ القَنا
بِناءَan edifice عِزٍّof honor غَيرِnot مُستَهدِمِliable to demolition
بِناءَ عِزٍّ غَيرِ مُستَهدِمِ
Upon quivering spears they built
They built on the turbulence of the spearshaft
an edifice of honor never to be demolished.
A glory's structure that cannot be razed.
تَشُبُّblaze بِالمَندَلِwith aloeswood نيرانُهُمtheir fires
تَشُبُّ بِالمَندَلِ نيرانُهُم
لِطارِقِfor the visitor اللَيلِof the night وَلَمand not yet يُظلِمِgrew dark
لِطارِقِ اللَيلِ وَلَم يُظلِمِ
Their fires blaze with fragrant aloeswood
Their fires are kindled by the flint
for the night visitor, even before darkness falls.
For the night visitor, and it did not wrong.
لاnot يُدفَعُare driven الأَضيافُthe guests مِنهُمfrom them إِلىtoward
لا يُدفَعُ الأَضيافُ مِنهُم إِلى
مَمنونِbegrudged زادٍprovisions وَقِرىًand hospitality مُعتِمِdelayed
مَمنونِ زادٍ وَقِرىً مُعتِمِ
Guests are never driven by them toward
Guests are not turned away among them to
begrudged provisions and belated hospitality.
A host of supplies and darkened settlements.
قَلَّتfell short عُيونُthe eyes الناسِof people عَنof نَيلِهِمreaching them
قَلَّت عُيونُ الناسِ عَن نَيلِهِم
فَعَوَّذواso invoke protection مِنfrom أَعيُنِthe eyes الأَنجُمِof the stars
فَعَوَّذوا مِن أَعيُنِ الأَنجُمِ
The eyes of men fall short of reaching them;
People's eyes turned away from attaining them
so invoke protection for them against the eyes of the stars.
So they took precautions against the eyes of the stars.
أَساوِدٌblack serpents تُنتِجُهاbring them forth فيin العُلىthe heights of glory
أَساوِدٌ تُنتِجُها في العُلى
أُسدٌlions إِلىto أَمثالِهاtheir own kind تَنتَميtrace their descent
أُسدٌ إِلى أَمثالِها تَنتَمي
Black serpents, begotten in the heights
Lionesses whom a lion sires in the heights
by lions descended from others like themselves:
To the likes of them it lays claim.
فَيَخرُجُthus comes forth الأَرقَمُthe spotted serpent مِنfrom ضَيغَمٍa lion
فَيَخرُجُ الأَرقَمُ مِن ضَيغَمٍ
وَيَخرُجُand comes forth الضَيغَمُthe lion مِنfrom أَرقَمِa spotted serpent
وَيَخرُجُ الضَيغَمُ مِن أَرقَمِ
thus the spotted serpent comes from a lion,
Thus the white comes out from Dhaygham
and the lion comes from a spotted serpent.
And Dhaygham comes out from the white.
سُمِّيَتِwas called الغَبراءُthe dust-gray earth فيin عَهدِهِمtheir time
سُمِّيَتِ الغَبراءُ في عَهدِهِم
حَمراءَred مِنfrom طولِthe prolonged قُطارِdripping الدَمِof blood
حَمراءَ مِن طولِ قُطارِ الدَمِ
In their time the dust-gray earth was called
It was named Red Land in their time
'red,' from the long dripping of blood.
From the length of the train of blood.
تَحمَرُّturns red مِنهاof it كُلُّevery مُخضَرَّةٍgreen patch
تَحمَرُّ مِنها كُلُّ مُخضَرَّةٍ
كَأَنَّas though لاno نَبتَvegetation سِوىexcept العَندَمِʿandam (a red-dye plant)
كَأَنَّ لا نَبتَ سِوى العَندَمِ
Every green patch upon it turns red,
Every green thing from it turns red
as though no plant grew save red-dye ʿandam.
As if there were no vegetation but chamomile.
كُلُّevery فَتىًyoung man يَفضَحُputs to shame أَطواقَهُhis necklaces
كُلُّ فَتىً يَفضَحُ أَطواقَهُ
وَجهٌa face مُضيءُradiant الجيدِof neck وَالمَلطَمِand cheek
وَجهٌ مُضيءُ الجيدِ وَالمَلطَمِ
Every youth's necklaces are outshone by
Every young man whose temples are bared
his face, with neck and cheek aglow.
A face radiant, smooth-cheeked and harelipped.
لِلبِشرِfor gladness فيon ديباجِهِits brocade لامِعٌgleaming
لِلبِشرِ في ديباجِهِ لامِعٌ
طِرازُan embroidered border عَصبِof striped cloth اليَمَنِof Yemen المُعلَمِthe patterned
طِرازُ عَصبِ اليَمَنِ المُعلَمِ
On its brocade, gladness has a gleaming
Dazzling to humans in his brocade is a figure
border of patterned Yemeni striped cloth.
Like the embroidery of striped Yemeni cloth.
قَومٌa people رِباطُthe picketing الخَيلِof horses فيin دورِهِمtheir homes
قَومٌ رِباطُ الخَيلِ في دورِهِم
كَالبُهمِlike lambs فيamong غامِدَGhamid أَوor يَقدُمِYaqdum
كَالبُهمِ في غامِدَ أَو يَقدُمِ
A people whose picketed horses in their homes
A people whose tethering of horses in their abodes
are like lambs among Ghamid or Yaqdum.
Is like dogs' in sheaths or charging forth.
مِنof كُلِّevery مَحبوكِwell-knit القَراin the back مِحصَفٌfirm-bodied
مِن كُلِّ مَحبوكِ القَرا مِحصَفٌ
أُمِرَّwas tightened فَتلُthe twisting الرَسَنِof the halter المُبرَمِthe firmly braided
أُمِرَّ فَتلُ الرَسَنِ المُبرَمِ
Each a well-knit-backed, firm-bodied horse,
From every interwoven coat of mail a swordblade
with its braided halter twisted tight.
Well-honed, cutting the joints of mail, as if
كَأَنَّهُas though it يَنظُرُgazes مُستَوجِساًapprehensively
كَأَنَّهُ يَنظُرُ مُستَوجِساً
رُبَيئَةًa lookout قامَstood عَلىupon مَخرِمِa mountain pass
رُبَيئَةً قامَ عَلى مَخرِمِ
As though it gazed apprehensively at
It looks on the watch for a mange-racked camel
a lookout standing upon a mountain pass.
Standing on scarred ground.
مَتىwhen أَراهاshall I see them كَذِئابِlike the wolves الغَضاof the ghada thickets
مَتى أَراها كَذِئابِ الغَضا
تُحَرِّضُspur on الهائِبَthe fearful one بِالمُقدَمِwith the bold one
تُحَرِّضُ الهائِبَ بِالمُقدَمِ
When shall I see them like wolves of the ghada thickets,
When will I see them like predatory wolves
spurring the timid with the bold?
Inciting the terrified with attack?
أَعِنَّةُthe reins الفُرسانِof the horsemen أَعرافُهاtheir manes
أَعِنَّةُ الفُرسانِ أَعرافُها
عَجلىin haste عَنِbeyond المُسرَجِthe saddled mount وَالمُلجَمِand the bridled mount
عَجلى عَنِ المُسرَجِ وَالمُلجَمِ
Their manes are the horsemen's reins,
The she-camels of the horsemen, their hilltops
racing ahead of saddled and bridled steeds.
Fleet, not stabled or hobbled.
مِنwith فارِسٍa horseman يَحمِلُcharges against أُسدَthe lions الشَرىof al-Shara
مِن فارِسٍ يَحمِلُ أُسدَ الشَرى
لِمُلتَقىfor the encounter يَومِof a day رَدىًof death أَيوَمِmost dire
لِمُلتَقى يَومِ رَدىً أَيوَمِ
With many a horseman charging the lions of al-Shara
From a knight bearing the lions of battle
for the clash on a dire day of death.
To the place of encounter, dreadful the days.
تَرميhurl جِبالُthe mountains الثَلجِof snow مِنfrom قَدحِهاtheir spark-striking
تَرمي جِبالُ الثَلجِ مِن قَدحِها
نارَthe fire الوَغىof battle بِالشَرَرِwith sparks المُضرَمِthe blazing
نارَ الوَغى بِالشَرَرِ المُضرَمِ
The snowy mountains, struck by them, shower
Their icy mountains cast from their goblets
the fire of battle with blazing sparks.
The fire of turmoil with flaming sparks.
أَرعَنُa towering host قَدalready كَدَّرَmuddied ماءَthe water الحَياof rain
أَرعَنُ قَد كَدَّرَ ماءَ الحَيا
فيin مُزنِهِits clouds بِالرَهَجِwith dust الأَقتَمِthe dark
في مُزنِهِ بِالرَهَجِ الأَقتَمِ
A towering host has muddied the rainwater
A rooster who has muddied the water of life
within its clouds with dark battle-dust.
In his vessels with the darkest spleen.
يَومٌa day يَوَدُّwishes القِرنُthe adversary لَوif only أَنَّهُthat he
يَومٌ يَوَدُّ القِرنُ لَو أَنَّهُ
يَزيدُcould add length فيto الرُمحِthe spear مِنَfrom المِعصَمِthe wrist
يَزيدُ في الرُمحِ مِنَ المِعصَمِ
A day when the adversary wishes he
A day the spearpoint wishes it were
could add his wrist's length to the spear.
Additional on the spearshaft from the wrist.
كَمmany a قُلَّةٍsummit مُمتَنِعٍinaccessible طَودُهاits mountain
كَم قُلَّةٍ مُمتَنِعٍ طَودُها
إِلّاexcept عَلىto ذيone with الجُدَدِstripes الأَعصَمِthe white-legged ibex
إِلّا عَلى ذي الجُدَدِ الأَعصَمِ
Many a summit whose mountain was inaccessible
How few impregnable fortresses whose height
save to the striped, white-legged ibex:
Can be scaled only with the most tenacious ladder.
قَدalready أَمسَتِhave become الخَيلُthe horses ضُيوفاًguests بِهاthere
قَد أَمسَتِ الخَيلُ ضُيوفاً بِها
لِلوَعِلِof the ibex العاقِلِsheltering on high وَالقَشعَمِand the old eagle
لِلوَعِلِ العاقِلِ وَالقَشعَمِ
there the horses have become guests
The horses have come to them as guests
of the mountain-sheltering ibex and the old eagle.
To the knowing camel-herd and old fox.
ثَلَمَّتَهاyou breached them كَيداًby stratagem وَكَمand how often شابَكَتthey grappled
ثَلَمَّتَها كَيداً وَكَم شابَكَت
أَيديthe hands المَقاديرِof fate وَلَمand were not تُثلَمِbreached
أَيدي المَقاديرِ وَلَم تُثلَمِ
You breached them by stratagem; how often they had grappled
Plots have undermined them, though hands plotted
with the hands of fate, yet remained unbreached!
And were not paralyzed.
يُخالُseems باقيthe remains رَوقِof the horns أَطوادِهاof their mountains
يُخالُ باقي رَوقِ أَطوادِها
باقِيَthe surviving أَنيابِfangs فَمِof the mouth الأَهتَمِof the broken-toothed man
باقِيَ أَنيابِ فَمِ الأَهتَمِ
What remains of their mountains' horns seems
What remains of their camel-herds' vigor
like the fangs left in a broken-toothed mouth.
Remains of the jaws of the devourer.
قَدmay يَنفُذُgive way الحِلمُforbearance عَلىdespite غَرزَةٍa firm root
قَد يَنفُذُ الحِلمُ عَلى غَرزَةٍ
بِمُحفِظاتِunder the provocations الغادِرِof the treacherous one المُجرِمِthe criminal
بِمُحفِظاتِ الغادِرِ المُجرِمِ
Even firmly rooted forbearance may give way
Judgement fails with the drawn-out bleeding
under the provocations of the treacherous offender.
And the abundant flow from the streaming wound.
وَطولُand prolonged نَزفِdraining النَغبِby sips يَفنىis exhausted بِهِthrough it
وَطولُ نَزفِ النَغبِ يَفنى بِهِ
غَمرُthe deep abundance جُمامِof reserves الغَدِقِof plentiful water المُفعَمِthe brimming
غَمرُ جُمامِ الغَدِقِ المُفعَمِ
And prolonged draining, sip by sip, exhausts
He went to the time of decision, and perhaps
the deep reserves of plentiful, brimming water.
He made the turmoil clear and the booty for the one who withdraws.
أَقدَمَhe advanced لِلحَينِto doom وَياand oh رُبَّماhow often
أَقدَمَ لِلحَينِ وَيا رُبَّما
أَجلىcleared الوَغىthe battle وَالغُنمُand the spoils لِلمُحجِمِfor the one holding back
أَجلى الوَغى وَالغُنمُ لِلمُحجِمِ
He advanced to his doom; and ah, how often
The heel of the spear surrenders belated
one clears the battlefield, while the spoils go to the one holding back!
And the feet plant themselves boldly.
يَسلَمُstays safe كَعبُthe butt الرُمحِof the spear مُستَأخِراًremaining behind
يَسلَمُ كَعبُ الرُمحِ مُستَأخِراً
وَيوقِعُand brings ruin الإِقدامُadvancing بِاللَهذَمِupon the keen spearhead
وَيوقِعُ الإِقدامُ بِاللَهذَمِ
The spear's butt stays safe by hanging back,
It was not boldness, but only
while advancing brings ruin upon its keen point.
The haste of the camels upon Dhaygham.
ماnot كانَwas إِقداماًa brave advance وَلَكِنَّهُbut it was
ما كانَ إِقداماً وَلَكِنَّهُ
تَسَرُّعُthe rash rush العَيرِof the wild ass عَلىupon الضَيغَمِthe lion
تَسَرُّعُ العَيرِ عَلى الضَيغَمِ
It was no brave advance, but rather
He turned away and behind him came the prattling
a wild ass's headlong rush upon a lion.
Of one awake to the babbling of tongues in the night.
وَلّىhe turned away وَقَدand already أَردَفَbrought behind him هَدّارَةًa roaring host
وَلّى وَقَد أَردَفَ هَدّارَةً
يَقظىwakeful عَلىthroughout اللَيلِthe night لَغوطَclamorous الفَمِof mouth
يَقظى عَلى اللَيلِ لَغوطَ الفَمِ
He turned away, trailing a roaring host,
Trust no more, after the vigor of youth fades,
wakeful through the night, clamorous of mouth.
How many a hurler with the maimed elbow!
لاlet not يُؤمَنَنever be deemed harmless بَعدَafter كَلالِthe blunting الشَباof keen edges
لا يُؤمَنَن بَعدَ كَلالِ الشَبا
كَمmany an صائِلٍattacker بِالساعِدِwith the forearm الأَجذَمِthe maimed
كَم صائِلٍ بِالساعِدِ الأَجذَمِ
Let him not be deemed harmless once the keen edges are blunted:
The eagle itself may perish, though in its plumage
how many charge with a maimed forearm!
Is the aid of glory running with the arrows.
قَدmay يَهلِكُperish النَسرُthe vulture وَفيand in ريشِهِits feathers
قَد يَهلِكُ النَسرُ وَفي ريشِهِ
عَونُaid to الرَدىdeath الجاريspeeding مَعَwith الأَسهُمِthe arrows
عَونُ الرَدى الجاري مَعَ الأَسهُمِ
The vulture may perish, yet in its feathers lies
Wealth bears fruit, but wealth refuses
an aid to death speeding along with the arrows.
Except from the fading and the palm with few clusters.
يُثَمِّرُmakes fruitful المالَwealth وَيَأبىand refuses الغِنىriches
يُثَمِّرُ المالَ وَيَأبى الغِنى
إِلّاexcept مِنَfrom الذابِلِthe slender spear وَالمِخذَمِand the cleaving sword
إِلّا مِنَ الذابِلِ وَالمِخذَمِ
He makes wealth bear fruit, yet refuses riches
Dhaygham does not hoard from his food
save from the slender spear and the cleaving sword.
What ants hoard from their nourishment.
لاnot يَدخَرُhoards الضَيغَمُthe lion مِنfrom قوتِهِits sustenance
لا يَدخَرُ الضَيغَمُ مِن قوتِهِ
ماwhat يَدخَرُhoard النَملُthe ants مِنَof المَطعَمِfood
ما يَدخَرُ النَملُ مِنَ المَطعَمِ
The lion does not hoard of its sustenance
Do not consult others regarding her diseased state
what ants hoard of food.
The sickness has reached the tendons.
لاdo not تَستَشِرconsult غَيرَكَanyone other than yourself فيabout كَيِّهاcauterizing it
لا تَستَشِر غَيرَكَ في كَيِّها
قَدalready بَلَغَhas reached الداءُthe disease إِلىto المَيسَمِthe branding iron
قَد بَلَغَ الداءُ إِلى المَيسَمِ
Consult no one else about cauterizing it;
Seek the heights with your sword and take
the disease has reached the branding iron.
For you have filled up with pain.
وَاِخطُبand woo عَلىrelying on سَيفِكَyour sword بِكرَthe virgin العُلىof glory
وَاِخطُب عَلى سَيفِكَ بِكرَ العُلى
فَقَدfor already تَمَلَّأتَyou have had your fill مِنَof الأَيِّمِthe widowed woman
فَقَد تَمَلَّأتَ مِنَ الأَيِّمِ
And woo glory's virgin with your sword;
Your sword is victory, so be resolute with it.
you have had your fill of the widowed one.
Your breastplate is fortune, so be reconciled to it.
حُسامُكَyour cutting sword النَصرُvictory فَصَمِّمso strike decisively بِهِwith it
حُسامُكَ النَصرُ فَصَمِّم بِهِ
وَدِرعُكَand your armor الإِقبالُgood fortune فَاِستَلئِمِso put on armor
وَدِرعُكَ الإِقبالُ فَاِستَلئِمِ
Victory is your cutting sword: strike resolutely with it;
Nothing improves people for their lords
good fortune is your armor: armor yourself in it.
Except the whiteness of the sword and the coins.
لاnot يُصلِحُputs in order الناسَthe people لِأَربابِهِمfor their masters
لا يُصلِحُ الناسَ لِأَربابِهِم
غَيرُother than بَياضِthe gleam السَيفِof the sword وَالدِرهَمِand the dirham
غَيرُ بَياضِ السَيفِ وَالدِرهَمِ
Nothing puts people in order for their masters
O you who clothe me in delights that have flowered
except the gleam of sword and dirham.
Again and again, and been greatest,
ياO مُلبِسيyou who clothe me النُعمىbounty الَّتيwhich أَورَقَتmade leafy
يا مُلبِسي النُعمى الَّتي أَورَقَت
عوديmy stem مِراراًrepeatedly وَكَسَتand clothed أَعظُميmy bones
عودي مِراراً وَكَسَت أَعظُمي
O you who clothe me in bounty that made
You who originate me from a lofty ancestry
my stem leaf time and again, and clothed my bones,
That plucks at the trunk of the unbreakable palm tree,
وَمُطلِعيand you who raised me فيto رَأسِthe head عادِيَّةٍof a raiding host
وَمُطلِعي في رَأسِ عادِيَّةٍ
تَخسَأُrepels طَرفَthe gaze الجَذَعِof the youthful one الأَزلَمِthe unaging one (Time)
تَخسَأُ طَرفَ الجَذَعِ الأَزلَمِ
and raised me to the head of a raiding host
Divesting me of the heights is like clothing them,
that drives back the gaze of Time, the ever-young one:
While the booty, for one infatuated, is like the infatuated.
نَزعُtaking off العُلىglory عَنّيfrom me كَإِلباسِهاlike clothing me in it
نَزعُ العُلى عَنّي كَإِلباسِها
وَالغُنمُand gain بِالبَذلَةِat the cost of abasement كَالمَغرَمِlike loss
وَالغُنمُ بِالبَذلَةِ كَالمَغرَمِ
taking glory off me is like clothing me in it;
I disdain it, and by it, once,
gain bought with abasement is like a loss.
Both are the same to me from the favors.
أَكرَمُhonored عَنهاwithout it وَبِهاand through it مَرَّةًat times
أَكرَمُ عَنها وَبِها مَرَّةً
كِلاهُماboth of them عِنديto me مِنَamong الأَنعُمِblessings
كِلاهُما عِندي مِنَ الأَنعُمِ
I am honored without it, and sometimes through it—
How can one sleep underneath it
both, to me, are blessings.
While fate is restless, the palms unquiet?
وَكَيفَand how نَومُsleep المَرءِof a man مِنfrom تَحتِهِbeneath him
وَكَيفَ نَومُ المَرءِ مِن تَحتِهِ
دونَbarring الكَرىslumber مُضطَرَبُthe writhing الأَرقَمِof the spotted serpent
دونَ الكَرى مُضطَرَبُ الأَرقَمِ
How can a man sleep when beneath him,
Between the straps of his slipper, a thorn—
barring slumber, a spotted serpent writhes?
If he presses his step on it, it wounds my blood.
بَينَbetween خِصافَيthe two stitched layers نَعلِهِof his sandal شَوكَةٌa thorn
بَينَ خِصافَي نَعلِهِ شَوكَةٌ
إِنif شَدَّدَhe presses hard الوَطءَthe step عَلَيهاupon it دَميhe bleeds
إِن شَدَّدَ الوَطءَ عَلَيها دَمي
Between the two stitched layers of his sandal lies a thorn;
By it control my honor and free
if he presses his step upon it, he bleeds.
My neck, and the honor of the free is for the benefactor.
فَاِملِكso own بِهاthrough it رِقّيmy bondage وَحَرِّرand free بِهاthrough it
فَاِملِك بِها رِقّي وَحَرِّر بِها
عُنقيmy neck وَرِقُّand the bondage الحُرِّof the free man لِلمُنعِمِto the benefactor
عُنقي وَرِقُّ الحُرِّ لِلمُنعِمِ
So own my bondage through it, and through it free
Impel by it whatever of life remains for me
my neck: a free man's bondage is to his benefactor.
The purity of my heart and the clarity of my mouth.
وَحُزand win بِهاthrough it ماas long as بَقِيَremains العُمرُlife ليto me
وَحُز بِها ما بَقِيَ العُمرُ لي
صَفاءَthe sincerity قَلبيof my heart وَصَفاياand the choicest utterances فَميof my mouth
صَفاءَ قَلبي وَصَفايا فَمي
And win by it, as long as life remains to me,
Your rescuing from it, O rescuer of mankind,
my heart's sincerity and my mouth's choicest words.
For the burden has grown heavy on the old man.
غَوثُكَyour help مِنهاagainst it ياO غِياثَrescuer الوَرىof humankind
غَوثُكَ مِنها يا غِياثَ الوَرى
قَدalready ثَقُلَhas grown heavy العِبءُthe burden عَلىupon المَهرَمِthe age-worn man
قَد ثَقُلَ العِبءُ عَلى المَهرَمِ
Your help against it, O helper of humankind!
Protect by it my honor and my face together
The burden has grown heavy upon the age-worn man.
As you protected them in ages past.
صونواprotect بِهاthrough it عِرضيmy honor وَوَجهيand my face مَعاًtogether
صونوا بِها عِرضي وَوَجهي مَعاً
صونَهُماthe protection of them both فيin الزَمَنِthe time الأَقدَمِthe former
صونَهُما في الزَمَنِ الأَقدَمِ
Protect by it my honor and my face together,
Suppose not that in my daring
as you protected them in earlier times.
I held back until my resolve was too narrow for me.
لاdo not تَحسَبواsuppose أَنّيthat I عَلىdespite جُرأَتيmy boldness
لا تَحسَبوا أَنّي عَلى جُرأَتي
أَحجَمتُI held back حَتّىuntil ضاقَgrew narrow ليfor me مَقدَميmy way forward
أَحجَمتُ حَتّى ضاقَ لي مَقدَمي
Do not suppose that, despite my boldness,
My column has never bent in another's hand a day,
I held back until my way forward grew narrow.
Nor has shame overwhelmed my dictionary.
ماnot لانَsoftened عوديmy stem فيin يَدَيthe two hands of غَيرِهاsomeone other than her
ما لانَ عودي في يَدَي غَيرِها
يَوماًever وَلاnor خارَweakened عَلىunder مَعجَمِa testing bite
يَوماً وَلا خارَ عَلى مَعجَمِ
My stem has never softened in any hands but hers,
Graciously grant that a man may say
on any day, nor weakened under a testing bite.
The aspirations of glory have not been realized.
عَطفاًhave compassion عَلَيناon us أَنlest يَقولَsay اِمرُؤٌsomeone
عَطفاً عَلَينا أَن يَقولَ اِمرُؤٌ
إِنَّthat عَلوقَthe foster-camel المَجدِof glory لَمdid not تَرأَمِshow motherly affection
إِنَّ عَلوقَ المَجدِ لَم تَرأَمِ
Have pity on us, lest someone say
The taste of the gallant is deceived by sweetness
that glory's foster-camel has shown no motherly affection.
And perhaps declines into gumminess.
يُخدَعُis deceived بِالشَهدِby honey مَذاقُthe palate الفَتىof the young man
يُخدَعُ بِالشَهدِ مَذاقُ الفَتى
وَرُبَّماand sometimes آلَends up إِلىin العَلقَمِbitter colocynth
وَرُبَّما آلَ إِلى العَلقَمِ
A young man's palate is deceived by honey,
Mighty matters have I called out from whose heaviness
and sometimes it ends in bitter colocynth.
I summoned the towering, sublimely-aspiring hero.
عَظيمَةٌa grievous burden نادَيتُI called مِنbecause of ثِقلِهاits weight
عَظيمَةٌ نادَيتُ مِن ثِقلِها
بِالبازِلِupon the mature camel الناهِضِthe one bearing بِالمُعظَمِthe mighty burden
بِالبازِلِ الناهِضِ بِالمُعظَمِ
A grievous burden—under its weight I called
Your habits of generosity—the like of them—
upon the mature camel that shoulders great loads.
Time has made slippery thereby, so be generous!
عاداتُthe customary acts إِحسانِكَof your kindness أَمثالُهاthings like it
عاداتُ إِحسانِكَ أَمثالُها
قَدalready لَؤُمَhas been mean الدَهرُTime بِهاover it فَاِكرِمِso be generous
قَد لَؤُمَ الدَهرُ بِها فَاِكرِمِ
Such are the customary acts of your kindness;
Rule by it, join by it, pardon by it, grant by it, avenge by it,
Time has been mean over it, so be generous.
Flee by it, blood-spill by it, rise up by it, spring by it, make safe by it.
وَطُلand excel وَصُلand charge وَاِعفُand pardon وَهَبand give وَاِنتَقِمand take vengeance
وَطُل وَصُل وَاِعفُ وَهَب وَاِنتَقِم
وَاِبقَand live on وَدُمand endure وَاِعلُand rise high وَثِبand leap وَاِسلَمِand remain safe
وَاِبقَ وَدُم وَاِعلُ وَثِب وَاِسلَمِ
And excel, charge, pardon, bestow, and take vengeance;
and live on, endure, rise high, leap, and remain unharmed.
Partial English translation: 140 of 142 Arabic lines translated.