بَلاءُaffliction القَلبِthe heart ناظِرُهُits eye
بَلاءُ القَلبِ ناظِرُهُ
وَأَنجىand safest الناسَpeople كاسِرُهone who lowers it
وَأَنجى الناسَ كاسِرُه
The heart's affliction is its eye;
The affliction of the heart is in its watcher,
safest among people is he who lowers it.
And the one who breaks people is their savior.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis عَنَّappeared حُسنٌbeauty لَمnot
إِذا ما عَنَّ حُسنٌ لَم
تُشَبِّثهُensnare him نَواظِرُهhis eyes
تُشَبِّثهُ نَواظِرُه
When beauty appears, he is not
When a beauty turns away, its watchers do not cling to it,
ensnared by his own eyes.
And the purest of hidden thoughts cleanse it.
وَأَذكىand brightest المُضمَراتِhidden things حَشاًa heart
وَأَذكى المُضمَراتِ حَشاً
تُطَهِّرُهُpurify it ضَمائِرُهits innermost thoughts
تُطَهِّرُهُ ضَمائِرُه
And brightest among hidden things is a heart
Its outward appearances bear witness to its chastity,
purified by its innermost thoughts.
Though its innermost thoughts may be corrupt.
وَتَشهَدُand testify بِالعَفافِto chastity عَلىregarding
وَتَشهَدُ بِالعَفافِ عَلى
بَواطِنِهِits inward depths ظَواهِرُهits outward signs
بَواطِنِهِ ظَواهِرُه
And its outward signs bear witness
A man of dignity is not honored for his virtuous flesh,
to the chastity of its inward depths.
If his secrets are debauched.
وَماand what فَخرُpride العَفيفِthe chaste one الجِسthe body (first part)
وَما فَخرُ العَفيفِ الجِس
مِ(completes 'body') إِنif فَسَقَتare sinful سَرائِرُهhis hidden thoughts
مِ إِن فَسَقَت سَرائِرُه
And what pride is there in a chaste body
I have a glance that rules over my judgment,
if its hidden thoughts are sinful?
And a barren mouth that sickness dwells inside.
وَليand I have طَرفٌan eye تُصَرُّفُهُits movement
وَلي طَرفٌ تُصَرُّفُهُ
عَلىaccording to حُكميmy command مَحاجِرُهits eye sockets
عَلى حُكمي مَحاجِرُه
I have an eye whose movement
The utterance of a mouth, when it is unleashed,
its sockets direct at my command.
Its pours are not feared.
وَقَبٌand a hollow heart عاقِرٌbarren فيthrough الدَهtime (first part)
وَقَبٌ عاقِرٌ في الدَه
رِ(completes 'time') مِنof داءٍan illness يُخامِرُهafflicts it
رِ مِن داءٍ يُخامِرُه
And a hollow heart, forever barren
I have passed many years being deceived
of any illness that might afflict it.
By its intimate greeting.
وَلَفظُand an utterance فَمٍa mouth إِذاwhen ماemphasis جاranges (first part)
وَلَفظُ فَمٍ إِذا ما جا
لَ(completes 'ranges') لاnot تُخشىare feared هَواجِرُهits scorching heats
لَ لا تُخشى هَواجِرُه
And a mouth's speech that, when it ranges,
It lives protected, its lightning flashes,
has no scorching heat to be feared.
Like the flashing of its rain.
وَرُبَّand many a سَناًgleam أَرِقتُI lay sleepless لَهُfor it
وَرُبَّ سَناً أَرِقتُ لَهُ
يُخادِعُنيdeceive me تَباشِرُهits first signs
يُخادِعُني تَباشِرُه
Many a gleam has kept me sleepless,
Its thunder roars within it,
its first signs deceiving me:
Like the rumbling of its clouds.
حَياًrain يَستَنُّgallops بارِقُهُits lightning
حَياً يَستَنُّ بارِقُهُ
كَماjust as يَستَنُّgallops ماطِرُهits raincloud
كَما يَستَنُّ ماطِرُه
rain whose lightning gallops
Submissive over young shoots,
as its raincloud gallops.
Its whirlwinds bow down before it.
وَيَشدوand sings فيهِwithin it راعِدُهُits thunder
وَيَشدو فيهِ راعِدُهُ
كَماjust as تَشدوsing زَواخِرُهits swelling torrents
كَما تَشدو زَواخِرُه
And its thunder sings within it,
The swords unsheathe themselves before it,
as its swelling torrents sing.
Prostrating themselves before it and scraping the ground.
وَمَسجورٍand a burning waste عَلىon جَدَدٍfirm, level ground
وَمَسجورٍ عَلى جَدَدٍ
تَمَطّىstretched out بيwith me هَواجِرُهits midday heats
تَمَطّى بي هَواجِرُه
And many a burning waste of firm, level ground,
Its outpourings give me to drink,
whose midday heats stretched about me.
And its sources pour me out.
تَخُرُّfalls لِنَهضِهِbefore its rising الحِرباthe chameleon (first part)
تَخُرُّ لِنَهضِهِ الحِربا
ءُ(completes 'chameleon') ساجِدَةًprostrate يَعافِرُهgrapples with it in the dust
ءُ ساجِدَةً يَعافِرُه
The chameleon falls before its rising,
The breadth of its two encampments,
prostrate, grappling with it in the dust.
Its cooperation brings near.
تُرَشِّفُنيsip me up مَوارِدُهُits watering-places
تُرَشِّفُني مَوارِدُهُ
وَتَلفِظُنيand spit me out مَصادِرُهits exits
وَتَلفِظُني مَصادِرُه
Its watering-places sip me up,
The tips of its spears,
and its exits spit me out.
From their length, forgive.
وَنائيand far apart الحَجرَتَينِthe two flanks يَكاalmost (first part)
وَنائي الحَجرَتَينِ يَكا
دُ(completes 'almost') يُدنيهِdraws it close تَضافُرُهits cohesion
دُ يُدنيهِ تَضافُرُه
And a host with far-flung flanks, almost
As if the sun glimpses it,
drawn close together by its cohesion.
So its brilliance shames the sun.
تَمَسُّtouch أَسِنَّةَthe points الأَرماthe spears (first part)
تَمَسُّ أَسِنَّةَ الأَرما
حِ(completes 'spears') مِنfrom طولٍheight مَغافِرُهits mail caps
حِ مِن طولٍ مَغافِرُه
The spearheads are touched
Its light drives the sun’s light from it
by its mail caps, so high they rise.
In defeated scattering.
كَأَنَّas though الشَمسَthe sun تَرمُقُهُgazes at it
كَأَنَّ الشَمسَ تَرمُقُهُ
فَتُخجِلُهاand shame her بِواتِرُهits cutting blades
فَتُخجِلُها بِواتِرُه
As though the sun were gazing at it,
Neither does the sun’s glance flow gently,
and its keen blades put her to shame.
Nor does its bird glide smoothly.
وَتَطرُدُand drive away ضَوءَهاher light مِنهُfrom it
وَتَطرُدُ ضَوءَها مِنهُ
عَلىin ذُعرٍterror كَواسِرُهits birds of prey
عَلى ذُعرٍ كَواسِرُه
And her light is driven from it
Its rays rush forth as flakes of snow,
in terror by its birds of prey.
Its newcomers, like hailstones.
فَماso not يَنسابُslips through لَحظُglance الشَمthe sun (first part)
فَما يَنسابُ لَحظُ الشَم
سِ(completes 'sun') أَوor يَنسابُslips through طائِرُهits bird
سِ أَو يَنسابُ طائِرُه
No glance of the sun slips through,
Its brocades, like gold dinars, shine
nor does its bird slip through.
From their placements as anklets.
يَمُجُّspews شُعاعُهاher beam تِبراًgold dust
يَمُجُّ شُعاعُها تِبراً
قَوادِمُهاher flight feathers نَواثِرُهits scatterers
قَوادِمُها نَواثِرُه
Her beam spews gold dust;
They move about its forgiveness
her flight-feathers scatter it.
As its stirrups moved about.
دَنانيرُdinars تَلَمَّعُgleam مِنfrom
دَنانيرُ تَلَمَّعُ مِن
مَواقِعِهاtheir landing places دَباجِرُهits leather shields
مَواقِعِها دَباجِرُه
Dinars, from whose falling places
And every face veiled by virtue’s mask
its leather shields gleam.
Has its wraps humbled.
تَنَقَّلُmove about فيon مَغافِرِهits mail caps
تَنَقَّلُ في مَغافِرِه
كَماjust as اِنتَقَلَتmoved حَوافِرُهits hoofs
كَما اِنتَقَلَت حَوافِرُه
They move across its mail caps,
It goes about softly, made great
as its hoofs advance.
By its shining sword’s crimes.
وَكُلُّand every مُلَثَّمٍveiled man بِالنَقin the dust (first part)
وَكُلُّ مُلَثَّمٍ بِالنَق
عِ(completes 'dust') هافِيَةٍfluttering غَدائِرُهhis braids
عِ هافِيَةٍ غَدائِرُه
And every warrior, dust-veiled,
And it scatters its thrusts as sparks
his braids fluttering,
When its glories are joined together.
يَخِفُّhastens مُشَيَّعاًstout-hearted كَبُرَتhave grown great
يَخِفُّ مُشَيَّعاً كَبُرَت
بِصارِمِهِthrough his keen sword جَرائِرُهhis harmful deeds
بِصارِمِهِ جَرائِرُه
hastens, stout-hearted; great have grown
It is not like a coward who encounters
the harms done by his keen sword.
Refusal, though its sword is warning.
وَيَنثُرُand scatters طَعنَهُhis thrusts شَزراًslantwise
وَيَنثُرُ طَعنَهُ شَزراً
إِذاwhen اِنتَظَمَتare strung together مَفاخِرُهhis glorious deeds
إِذا اِنتَظَمَت مَفاخِرُه
And he scatters his thrusts slantwise
Never does it shy from battle,
when his glories are strung together.
Though its commands are foolish.
وَلَيسَand is not كَهائِبٍlike a fearful man يَلقىmeets
وَلَيسَ كَهائِبٍ يَلقى
الرَدىdeath وَالسَيفُand the sword زاجِرُهhis goad
الرَدى وَالسَيفُ زاجِرُه
He is not like a coward who meets
Its provisions are not destroyed,
death, the sword his goad.
Nor are its encampments battered.
يَروحُreturns عَنِfrom الوَغىbattle أَبَداًalways
يَروحُ عَنِ الوَغى أَبَداً
مُرَفَّهَةًkept at ease ضَوامِرُهhis lean steeds
مُرَفَّهَةً ضَوامِرُه
He always returns from battle
Its fingers do not grasp
with his lean steeds kept at ease.
At wealth, though its troops are preventing.
وَماand not حُطِمَتwere shattered ذَوابِلُهُhis slender spears
وَما حُطِمَت ذَوابِلُهُ
وَلاnor قُرِعَتwere beaten مَحاضِرُهhis racing mounts
وَلا قُرِعَت مَحاضِرُه
His slender lances are never shattered,
It is not bent over except
nor his racing mounts beaten.
To glory, its belt binding.
وَلاnor قَّبَضَتmade close أَنامِلهُhis fingers
وَلا قَّبَضَت أَنامِلهُ
عَلىupon مالٍwealth زَواجِرُهhis restrainers
عَلى مالٍ زَواجِرُه
His restrainers have never made his fingers
When its name is mentioned,
close upon wealth.
Its platforms shake and tremble.
وَلاnor ثُنِيَتwere bent لَهُfor him إِلّاexcept
وَلا ثُنِيَت لَهُ إِلّا
عَلىupon مَجدٍglory خَناصِرَهhis little fingers
عَلى مَجدٍ خَناصِرَه
Nor have his little fingers been bent
It is unique among those who seek glory,
save in reckoning glory.
Rejected by its clans.
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَis mentioned اِسمُهُhis name اِرتَجَّتshake
إِذا ذُكِرَ اِسمُهُ اِرتَجَّت
أَوor اِرتَعَدَتtremble مَنابِرُهhis pulpits
أَو اِرتَعَدَت مَنابِرُه
When his name is mentioned, his pulpits shake
The wound of its blade knows
or tremble.
That the spear is its remedy.
وَحيدٌalone فيin طِلابِthe quest المَجglory (first part)
وَحيدٌ في طِلابِ المَج
دِ(completes 'glory') تَرفُضُهُabandon him عَشائِرُهhis clans
دِ تَرفُضُهُ عَشائِرُه
Alone in the quest for glory,
O lion, replaced by a tribe
his clans abandon him.
That will not confront it.
وَيَعلَمُand knows جُرحُthe wound صارِمِهِhis keen sword
وَيَعلَمُ جُرحُ صارِمِهِ
بِأَنَّthat الرُمحَthe spear سابِرُهits prober
بِأَنَّ الرُمحَ سابِرُه
The wound of his keen sword knows
It knows whoever contends with it
that the spear will probe it.
That death fractures him.
فَياthen O لَيثاًlion يُراوِحُهُvisits him in the evening
فَيا لَيثاً يُراوِحُهُ
قَبيلٌa band لاnot يَباكِرُهvisits him at dawn
قَبيلٌ لا يَباكِرُه
Then O lion, visited in the evening
And which lion leads death
by a band that never comes at dawn!
To protect it with its roaring?
وَيَعلَمُand knows مَنwhoever يُنازِلُهُfaces him in combat
وَيَعلَمُ مَن يُنازِلُهُ
بِأَنَّthat المَوتَdeath آسِرُهhis captor
بِأَنَّ المَوتَ آسِرُه
And whoever faces him in combat knows
You lead the reins of an army,
that death will take him captive.
You are its first and its last.
وَأَيُّand which الأُسدِthe lions قادَled المَوdeath (first part)
وَأَيُّ الأُسدِ قادَ المَو
تَ(completes 'death') تَحميهِprotect it زَماجِرُهits roars
تَ تَحميهِ زَماجِرُه
And what lion has led death,
Your speech splits open the skulls,
protected by its own roars?
Inspiring its risers and fallers.
تَقودُyou guide زِمامَthe reins جَيشٍan army أَنyou (first part)
تَقودُ زِمامَ جَيشٍ أَن
تَ(completes 'you') أَوَّلُهُits first وَآخِرُهand its last
تَ أَوَّلُهُ وَآخِرُه
You guide an army's reins; you
It tears away the lion’s skin
are its first and its last.
When its cutting edges make it sink.
تَنَطَّقَgirded itself بِالقَناwith spears يَحمَturns red (first part)
تَنَطَّقَ بِالقَنا يَحمَ
رُّ(completes 'turns red') ناهِضُهُits rising warrior وَعاثِرُهand its stumbling warrior
رُّ ناهِضُهُ وَعاثِرُه
Girt with spears, red grow
Its legions do not plunder
its rising men and its stumbling men.
When they are victorious.
يَبُزُّstrips اللَيثَthe lion جِلدَتَهُits hide
يَبُزُّ اللَيثَ جِلدَتَهُ
إِذاwhen أَرداهُlaid it low باتِرُهits severing sword
إِذا أَرداهُ باتِرُه
It strips the lion of its hide
O rain that rains harder
when its severing blade lays it low.
When its pouring pours down!
وَلاand not تَلوِيyou turn aside عَلىfor سَلَبٍplunder
وَلا تَلوِي عَلى سَلَبٍ
إِذاwhen ظَفِرَتare victorious عَساكِرُهits forces
إِذا ظَفِرَت عَساكِرُه
And you do not turn aside for booty
O man, the lions fear
when its forces triumph.
When his whirlwinds spin!
فَياthen O غَيثاًrain يَغيضُsubsides الغَيrain (first part)
فَيا غَيثاً يَغيضُ الغَي
ثُ(completes 'rain') إِنif هَجَمَتrush in هَوامِرُهits pouring torrents
ثُ إِن هَجَمَت هَوامِرُه
Then O rain—rain itself subsides
O necklace that its strongmen
when its torrents rush in!
Barter over its sides!
وَياand O رَجُلاًman تَخافُfear الأُسthe lions (first part)
وَيا رَجُلاً تَخافُ الأُس
دُ(completes 'lions') إِنif خَفَقَتblow أَعاصِرُهhis whirlwinds
دُ إِن خَفَقَت أَعاصِرُه
And O man whom lions fear
O moon, whose light the dawn does not stir
when his whirlwinds sweep!
When its woven baskets rise!
وَياand O طَوقاًcollar تَخاوَصُsquint عَنaway from
وَيا طَوقاً تَخاوَصُ عَن
جَوانِبِهِits sides جَبايِرُهits bracelets
جَوانِبِهِ جَبايِرُه
And O collar, from whose sides
O sword flash glimpsed
its bracelets turn away, squinting!
From its sheaths by its caution!
وَياand O قَمراًmoon دُجاهُits darkness ماwhat
وَيا قَمراً دُجاهُ ما
تُثيرُstir up لَهُfor it مَناسِرُهits raiding bands
تُثيرُ لَهُ مَناسِرُه
And O moon, whose darkness is what
O meadow that enlivens however much
its raiding squadrons stir up around it!
The lofty problematic waters it!
وَياand O نَصلاًblade تَطَلَّعُpeer out مِنfrom
وَيا نَصلاً تَطَلَّعُ مِن
غِرارَيهِits two cutting edges مَحاذِرُهits dangers
غِرارَيهِ مَحاذِرُه
And O blade, whose dangers peer
O sapling that grows its tender branches
from both its cutting edges!
Upon its heights!
وَياand O رَوضاًmeadow يُحَيّيgreets ماnose-tip (first part)
وَيا رَوضاً يُحَيّي ما
رِنَ(completes 'nose-tip') العَلياءِhigh glory ناضِرُهits verdure
رِنَ العَلياءِ ناضِرُه
And O meadow, whose verdure greets
How often has it mocked a foreign woman
the tender nose-tip of high glory!
Coveting its breakers!
وَياand O عوداًstem تَنُمُّbear witness عَلىto
وَيا عوداً تَنُمُّ عَلى
أَعاليهِits upper branches عَناصِرُهits roots
أَعاليهِ عَناصِرُه
And O stem, whose roots proclaim
It rips the pocket of virtue smoothly
its lofty branches!
Accompanying it.
وَكَمand how often هَزَأَتmocked بِعاجِمَةٍat a biting tester
وَكَم هَزَأَت بِعاجِمَةٍ
عَلىwith طَمَعٍhope مَكاسِرُهits grain at a break
عَلى طَمَعٍ مَكاسِرُه
How often its grain has mocked
A night it stayed up late
a hopeful tester biting it!
As if glory caroused with it,
يُمَزِّقُtears عَنكَaway from you جَيبَthe collar opening النَقthe dust (first part)
يُمَزِّقُ عَنكَ جَيبَ النَق
عِ(completes 'dust') مَصقولٌa polished blade تُسايُرُهyou travel beside it
عِ مَصقولٌ تُسايُرُه
The collar of dust is torn from you
Scattering the beams of its gaze
by a polished blade that keeps you company.
And its blossoming stars.
وَلَيلٍand a night باتَhe spent the night يَسهَرُهُkeeping vigil through it
وَلَيلٍ باتَ يَسهَرُهُ
كَأَنَّas though المَجدَglory سامِرُهhis night-time companion
كَأَنَّ المَجدَ سامِرُه
And many a night he has watched through,
When the birthmark thought falsely
as though glory were his nightly companion.
That dawn had appeared.
يَبُثَّsends out سَوامَgrazing herds لَحظَتِهِhis glance
يَبُثَّ سَوامَ لَحظَتِهِ
وَأَنجُمُهُand its stars أَزاهِرُهits blossoms
وَأَنجُمُهُ أَزاهِرُه
He lets the herds of his gaze roam,
And it traveled about wishing
and the night's stars are its blossoms.
That the full moon was veiled.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis اِفتَرَّhe smiled خالَimagined اللَيthe night (first part)
إِذا ما اِفتَرَّ خالَ اللَي
لُ(completes 'night') أَنَّthat الفَجرَdawn باهِرُهdazzling it
لُ أَنَّ الفَجرَ باهِرُه
When he smiles, the night imagines
In the darkness, it covers with the light
that dawn is dazzling it.
Of its intense red glow.
وَإِنand if أَسرىhe traveled by night يَوَدُّwishes الأُفthe horizon (first part)
وَإِن أَسرى يَوَدُّ الأُف
قُ(completes 'horizon') أَنَّthat البَدرَthe full moon ضامِرُهhis lean steed
قُ أَنَّ البَدرَ ضامِرُه
When he travels by night, the horizon wishes
So it is no wonder for it in the night,
the full moon were his lean steed.
If its landmarks go astray.
وَتَغشىand press onward فيthrough الظَلامِdarkness بِضَوby the light (first part)
وَتَغشى في الظَلامِ بِضَو
ءِ(completes 'light') غُرَّتِهِhis forehead عَذافِرُهhis mighty camels
ءِ غُرَّتِهِ عَذافِرُه
Through the darkness, by the light
Indeed, it possessed nobility and remained
of his brow, his mighty camels press on.
Forbidding it and commanding it.
فَلاso no عَجَبٌwonder لَهُfor him فيat اللَيthe night (first part)
فَلا عَجَبٌ لَهُ في اللَي
لِ(completes 'night') إِنif ضَلَّتlose their way أَباعِرُهhis camels
لِ إِن ضَلَّت أَباعِرُه
No wonder for him at night,
Generosity, you are its rider,
if his camels lose their way.
And sword, you are its brandisher!
لَقَدindeed مَلَكَmastered الفَخارَglory وَباand spent the night (first part)
لَقَد مَلَكَ الفَخارَ وَبا
تَ(completes 'spent the night') يَنهاهُforbids it وَيَأمُرُهand commands it
تَ يَنهاهُ وَيَأمُرُه
He has mastered glory, and spends the night
I have not seen, in this age, a youth
forbidding it and commanding it.
Whose early mornings avoid it.
جَوَدٌa noble steed أَنتَyou راكِبُهُits rider
جَوَدٌ أَنتَ راكِبُهُ
وَسَيفٌand a sword أَنتَyou شاهِرُهُits unsheather
وَسَيفٌ أَنتَ شاهِرُهُ
A noble steed whose rider you are,
Fate surrounds its onslaught
and a sword you draw.
And its destinies complete it.
وَلَمand not أَرَI have seen فيin الزَمانِall time فَتىًa youth
وَلَم أَرَ في الزَمانِ فَتىً
تَجَنَّبُهُavoid him بَوادِرُهits sudden calamities
تَجَنَّبُهُ بَوادِرُه
I have never seen a youth in all time
And in its stead sins are accepted
whom time's sudden calamities avoid.
Whenever its excuses flee.
يَحوطُguards الدَهرُtime مُهجَتَهُhis life's blood
يَحوطُ الدَهرُ مُهجَتَهُ
وَتَكلؤُهاand watch over it مَقادِرُهits decrees
وَتَكلؤُها مَقادِرُه
Time guards his life's blood,
And when my praise goes astray in it
and its decrees watch over it.
Its great deeds guide it.
وَتُقبَلُand are accepted فيfor سِواهُsomeone other than him مَتىwhenever
وَتُقبَلُ في سِواهُ مَتى
جَنىcommits جُرماًan offense مَعاذِرُهhis excuses
جَنى جُرماً مَعاذِرُه
His pleas for another are accepted
When the lion’s fangs go missing,
whenever that man commits an offense.
Its claws make it cautious.
وَلَمّاand when تاهَwent astray مَدحيmy praise فيin
وَلَمّا تاهَ مَدحي في
هِhim دَلَّتهُguided it مَآثِرُهhis noble deeds
هِ دَلَّتهُ مَآثِرُه
When my praise wandered in
Of whom was I the poet?
him, his great deeds showed it the way.
For glory is its poet!
إِذاwhen ماemphasis ضَلَّlost its way نابُthe fang اللَيthe lion (first part)
إِذا ما ضَلَّ نابُ اللَي
ثِ(completes 'lion') هَرَّتهُsnarled at it أَظافِرُهits claws
ثِ هَرَّتهُ أَظافِرُه
When the lion's fang loses its way,
Speech lies strewn
its claws snarl at it.
Across my mind, its jewels.
أَلاbehold مَنwhoever كُنتُI was شاعِرَهُhis poet
أَلا مَن كُنتُ شاعِرَهُ
فَإِنَّfor indeed المَجدَglory شاعِرُهhis poet
فَإِنَّ المَجدَ شاعِرُه
Behold, whoever has had me for his poet—
As for prosody, it is its composer,
glory itself is his poet.
And as for prose, it is its scatterer.
وَإِنَّand indeed اللَفظَspeech مَطروحٌstrewn
وَإِنَّ اللَفظَ مَطروحٌ
عَلىacross فِكريmy thoughts جَواهِرُهits jewels
عَلى فِكري جَواهِرُه
The jewels of speech lie strewn
If you are my pride,
across my thoughts.
Then who is this I pride myself over?
فَأَمّاthen as for النَظمُverse ناظِمُهُits stringer
فَأَمّا النَظمُ ناظِمُهُ
وَأَمّاand as for النَثرُprose ناثِرُهits scatterer
وَأَمّا النَثرُ ناثِرُه
As for verse, I am the one who strings it;
and for prose, the one who scatters it.
إِذاif ماemphasis كُنتَyou are ليfor me فَخراًa source of pride
إِذا ما كُنتَ لي فَخراً
فَمَنthen who هَذاthis one أُفاخِرُهI vie with him in glory
فَمَن هَذا أُفاخِرُه
If you are my source of pride,
then who is there with whom I should vie?
Partial English translation: 128 of 132 Arabic lines translated.