أَهلاًwelcome بِهِنَّto them عَلىin التَنويلِgiving وَالبَخَلِand withholding
أَهلاً بِهِنَّ عَلى التَنويلِ وَالبَخَلِ
وَقَرَّبَتهُنَّand brought them near أَيديthe forelegs of الخَيلِhorses وَالإِبِلِand camels
وَقَرَّبَتهُنَّ أَيدي الخَيلِ وَالإِبِلِ
Welcome to them, whether giving or withholding,
Welcome, O fair ones, easy game though niggardly,
and the forelegs of horses and camels brought them near.
Brought nigh by horsemen and camel-men bold.
القاتِلاتُthe slayers بِلاwithout عَقلٍblood money وَلاnor قَوَدٍretaliation
القاتِلاتُ بِلا عَقلٍ وَلا قَوَدٍ
وَالماطِلاتُand the deferrers بِلاwithout عُذرٍexcuse وَلاnor عِلَلِreasons
وَالماطِلاتُ بِلا عُذرٍ وَلا عِلَلِ
Slayers without blood money or retaliation,
They killed without reason; they dallied without excuse.
and those who defer without excuse or reason.
When we met, greeting turned to disdain,
كانَwas اللِقاءُthe meeting إِساءاتٍinjuries بِذيat Dhu سَلَمٍSalam
كانَ اللِقاءُ إِساءاتٍ بِذي سَلَمٍ
إِلىto القُلوبِhearts وَإِحساناًand kindness إِلىto المُقَلِeyes
إِلى القُلوبِ وَإِحساناً إِلى المُقَلِ
The meeting at Dhu Salam brought injuries
And kindness turned spiteful in loyal hearts.
to hearts, and kindness to eyes.
As if, after them, the censurers of youth
كَأَنَّماas though عاذِلاتُthe reproaching women of الصَبِّthe lovesick man بَعدَهُمُafter their departure
كَأَنَّما عاذِلاتُ الصَبِّ بَعدَهُمُ
يَفتِلنَthey twist عُقلاًhobbles لَشُرّادٍfor runaways مِنَamong النُزُلِthe lodgers
يَفتِلنَ عُقلاً لَشُرّادٍ مِنَ النُزُلِ
It is as though the lovesick man's reproaching women, after their departure,
Struck reason down, a wanderer lost, bewildered.
twist hobbles for runaways among the lodgers.
The steed champs at his tether in the wide plain, restless,
يَرِمنَthey seek فيfor السارِحِthe grazing beast المَرعيِّthe tended one مَحبَسُهُhis confinement
يَرِمنَ في السارِحِ المَرعيِّ مَحبَسُهُ
وَهَمُّهُand his concern اليَومَtoday أَنto يَغدوset out at dawn مَعَwith الهَمَلِthe untended herd
وَهَمُّهُ اليَومَ أَن يَغدو مَعَ الهَمَلِ
They seek confinement for the roaming, tended beast,
His mind set on grazing at dawn with the camels.
while his concern today is to set out with the untended herd.
They shot him a glance, which urged him to rise,
رَمَينَthey encountered مِنهُin him وَهاديwhile the guide of الشَوقِlonging يَحفِزُهُurges him
رَمَينَ مِنهُ وَهادي الشَوقِ يَحفِزُهُ
بِقاطِعٍwith one who severs رَبَقَthe loops of الأَقيادِfetters وَالعُقُلِand hobbles
بِقاطِعٍ رَبَقَ الأَقيادِ وَالعُقُلِ
They encountered in him, while longing's guide urged him on,
With a smooth unchafed neck, his reins cut free.
one who severs the loops of fetters and hobbles.
They seek my healing, though my pains increase
يَطلُبنَthey seek بُرئيmy cure بِأَمرٍthrough something زادَthat increased فيin سَقَميmy sickness
يَطلُبنَ بُرئي بِأَمرٍ زادَ في سَقَمي
إِنَّindeed الأُساةَthe healers لَأَعوانٌare surely allies مَعَalongside العِلَلِthe ailments
إِنَّ الأُساةَ لَأَعوانٌ مَعَ العِلَلِ
They seek my cure through something that increased my sickness;
For calamities are allies to my ills.
indeed, the healers are allies of the ailments.
They've tried to steal my heart from its love -
حاوَلنَthey tried شَغلَdistracting فُؤاديmy heart مِنfrom عَلاقَتِهِits attachment
حاوَلنَ شَغلَ فُؤادي مِن عَلاقَتِهِ
بِالعَقلِthrough reason وَالقَلبُwhile the heart عِندَwith البيضِfair women فيin شَغَلِoccupation
بِالعَقلِ وَالقَلبُ عِندَ البيضِ في شَغَلِ
They tried to distract my heart from its attachment
But the heart beside the white ones is perplexed.
through reason, while the heart is busy with fair women.
These fair gazelles with shapely limbs
إِنَّindeed الرَبائِبَthe fosterlings مِنamong غِزلانِthe gazelles of أَسنِمَةٍAsnimah
إِنَّ الرَبائِبَ مِن غِزلانِ أَسنِمَةٍ
أَعلَقنَthey attached ذاthe man with الشَيبَgray hair أَعلاقاًprecious treasures مِنَof الغَزَلِlove
أَعلَقنَ ذا الشَيبَ أَعلاقاً مِنَ الغَزَلِ
Indeed, the fosterlings among the gazelles of Asnimah
Have fettered my hoary head with strong bonds.
have hung love's precious treasures upon this gray-haired man.
The glances of these soft-eyed beauties
مِنfrom كُلِّevery ريمِgazelle of هَوىًlove أَلحاظُthe glances of مُقلَتِهِits eye
مِن كُلِّ ريمِ هَوىً أَلحاظُ مُقلَتِهِ
يُمسينَbecome لِلعُذرِfor excuse أَنصاراًchampions عَلىagainst العَذَلِreproach
يُمسينَ لِلعُذرِ أَنصاراً عَلى العَذَلِ
From every gazelle of love whose eye's glances
Win advocates for their coyness and disdain.
become champions of excuse against reproach.
Their beauty is natural, no borrowed ornament;
حُليُّهُits jewelry جيدُهُits neck لاnot ماwhat يُقَلَّدُهُis hung around it
حُليُّهُ جيدُهُ لا ما يُقَلَّدُهُ
وَكُحلُهُand its kohl ماwhat بِعَينَيهِis in its eyes مِنَof الكَحَلِnatural dark rims
وَكُحلُهُ ما بِعَينَيهِ مِنَ الكَحَلِ
Its neck is its jewelry, not what is hung around it,
The kohl around their eyes no powdered kohl.
and its kohl is the natural darkness in its eyes.
One sauntered heedless; I followed, lovesick,
غادٍdeparting at dawn تَلَفَّتَit glanced back وَالمُشتاقُwhile the yearning one يَتبَعُهُfollows it
غادٍ تَلَفَّتَ وَالمُشتاقُ يَتبَعُهُ
صَفحَa sidelong glance of الطَليقِthe unbound one إِلىtoward المَقصورِthe confined one بِالطِوَلِby the tether
صَفحَ الطَليقِ إِلى المَقصورِ بِالطِوَلِ
Leaving at dawn, it glanced back, the yearning lover following it,
From my riding camel up to their litters so tall.
a free one's sidelong glance toward one held by a tether.
Is it not enough that after them my tears
أَماwas not كَفاهُمenough for them لَجاجُthe persistence of الدَمعِtears بَعدَهُمُafter their departure
أَما كَفاهُم لَجاجُ الدَمعِ بَعدَهُمُ
حَتّىthat اِستَعانواthey sought help عَلىagainst عَينَيَّmy eyes بِالطَلَلِfrom the ruins
حَتّى اِستَعانوا عَلى عَينَيَّ بِالطَلَلِ
Was the persistence of tears after their departure not enough for them,
Make streams that gain replenishment from the hills?
that they sought the ruins' help against my eyes?
Accursed! Would that God destroy the game of youth
ياah قاتَلَmay curse اللَهُGod رَيانَthe lush fullness of الشَبابِyouth وَماand what
يا قاتَلَ اللَهُ رَيانَ الشَبابِ وَما
خَلّىit left عَلَيَّupon me مِنَof الأَشجانِsorrows وَالغُلَلِand burning thirsts
خَلّى عَلَيَّ مِنَ الأَشجانِ وَالغُلَلِ
Ah, may God curse the fullness of youth, and what
And rid me of those shackles that have hobbled me.
it left me of sorrows and burning thirsts!
A pampered darling of night with blackest hair
وَرَفضَةٍand a remnant مِنof سَوادِthe blackness of اللَيلِnight مُطمِعَةٍoffering hope
وَرَفضَةٍ مِن سَوادِ اللَيلِ مُطمِعَةٍ
كانَwas المَشيبُgray hair إِلَيهاtoward it رائِدَthe scout of الأَجَلِdeath
كانَ المَشيبُ إِلَيها رائِدَ الأَجَلِ
And a remnant of night's blackness, offering hope—
To whom my white hairs were guideposts to death.
gray hair was death's scout toward it.
"The eyelids," they said, "crave the white roses' love."
قالواthey said الجِفانُserving bowls لِوُدِّfor the love of البيضِfair women مُطمِعَةٌoffer hope
قالوا الجِفانُ لِوُدِّ البيضِ مُطمِعَةٌ
قَدindeed ضَلَّhas gone astray طالِبُthe seeker of وُدِّthe love of البيضِfair women بِالحِيَلِthrough tricks
قَد ضَلَّ طالِبُ وُدِّ البيضِ بِالحِيَلِ
They said, 'Serving bowls offer hope of fair women's love.'
Far astray is the seeker of white roses' love.
The seeker of fair women's love through tricks has indeed gone astray.
I say to a lad who meets me, "Gently, gently, boy;
إِنّيI أَقولُsay لِمَلّاقٍto one speeding along رَكائِبُهُhis mounts
إِنّي أَقولُ لِمَلّاقٍ رَكائِبُهُ
مَهَّلgo slowly عَلَيكَyourself فَلَيسَfor it is not الرِزقُlivelihood بِالعَجَلِthrough haste
مَهَّل عَلَيكَ فَلَيسَ الرِزقُ بِالعَجَلِ
I say to one speeding along on his mounts:
Sustenance cannot be rushed; there is time enough."
Go slowly, for livelihood is not won by haste.
By travelling from encampments bearing rich spoils.
لَيسَis not المُقامُstaying put بِثانٍturning away عَنكَfrom you وارِدَةًan incoming share
لَيسَ المُقامُ بِثانٍ عَنكَ وارِدَةً
مِنَof الحُظوظِgood fortunes وَلاnor الأَرزاقُprovisions بِالرِحَلِthrough journeys
مِنَ الحُظوظِ وَلا الأَرزاقُ بِالرِحَلِ
Staying put will not turn away from you an incoming share
Consider sustenance - it seeks me out at home,
of good fortune; nor does sustenance depend on journeys.
Though I stir not my family nor ready my camels.
أَماdo you not تَرىsee الرِزقَsustenance فيin الأَوطانِthe homelands يَطرُقُنيvisits me
أَما تَرى الرِزقَ في الأَوطانِ يَطرُقُني
وَلَمand did not أُقَلقِلI stir up أُصَيحابيmy dear companions وَلاnor إِبِليmy camels
وَلَم أُقَلقِل أُصَيحابي وَلا إِبِلي
Do you not see sustenance visiting me in the homeland,
Each day religion's order rains upon me
though I have stirred neither my dear companions nor my camels?
Free-flowing graces, unvisited, unlimited.
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday قِوامُthe pillar of الدينِthe faith يَنضَحُنيshowers me
في كُلِّ يَومٍ قِوامُ الدينِ يَنضَحُني
بِماطِرٍwith rain غَيرِnot مَنزورٍscant وَلاnor وَشَلِa trickle
بِماطِرٍ غَيرِ مَنزورٍ وَلا وَشَلِ
Every day Qiwam al-Din showers me
They water me, though the clouds of their munificence
with rain neither scant nor a mere trickle.
Are unsought, their forerunners unfathomable, unseen.
يَرويquenches thirst وَلَمand was not يُتَوَقِّعexpected صَوبُthe downpour of عارِضِهِhis rain-cloud
يَروي وَلَم يُتَوَقِّع صَوبُ عارِضِهِ
وَلَمand did not يُقَدِّمsend ahead بَشيرَa herald of الطارِقِthe night-visitor العَمِلِthe tireless one
وَلَم يُقَدِّم بَشيرَ الطارِقِ العَمِلِ
He quenches thirst, though his rain-cloud's downpour was unexpected,
At home I gained increase beyond all expectation,
nor did he send ahead a herald of the tireless night-visitor.
While raiders return home with meager spoils.
ظَفِرتُI won بِالنَفَلِthe spoils المَطلوبِsought فيin وَطَنيmy homeland
ظَفِرتُ بِالنَفَلِ المَطلوبِ في وَطَني
وَإِنَّماand only يَرجِعُreturn الغازونَthe raiders بِالنَفَلِwith spoils
وَإِنَّما يَرجِعُ الغازونَ بِالنَفَلِ
I won the sought-for spoils in my homeland,
From every radiant palm I never hoped to touch,
though it is raiders who return with spoils.
Nor distant hand I thought to reach,
مِنof كُلِّevery بَيضاءَshining favor لَمnever تَخطُرcrossed عَلىupon خَلَديmy mind
مِن كُلِّ بَيضاءَ لَم تَخطُر عَلى خَلَدي
مِنَamong الأَياديbenefactions وَلَمand did not تَبلُغreach إِلىto أَمَليmy hopes
مِنَ الأَيادي وَلَم تَبلُغ إِلى أَمَلي
Every shining favor that never crossed my mind,
The sun's rays have streamed to me, rising,
among his benefactions, nor ever entered my hopes,
Their dawning forever renewed, without end.
ذَرَّتdawned إِلَيَّupon me ذُرورَthe rising of الشَمسِthe sun طالِعَةًrising
ذَرَّت إِلَيَّ ذُرورَ الشَمسِ طالِعَةً
شُروقُهاits sunrise أَبَداًforever باقٍenduring بِلاwithout أُصُلِevenings
شُروقُها أَبَداً باقٍ بِلا أُصُلِ
dawned upon me like the rising sun,
Each day His bounty renews: no camel of mine there,
its sunrise lasting forever, without evening.
No indeed do I drive them, no camel, no driver.
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday جَديدٌsomething new مِنof صَنائِعِهِhis benefactions
في كُلِّ يَومٍ جَديدٌ مِن صَنائِعِهِ
إِلَيَّto me لاnot ناقَتيmy she-camel فيهاin it وَلاnor جَمَليmy camel
إِلَيَّ لا ناقَتي فيها وَلا جَمَلي
Every day, something new of his benefactions comes
He returns me clothed though I stretched out no hand,
to me, with neither my she-camel nor my camel involved.
Nor set snares of vain hope to entrap prosperity.
يَرُدُّنيhe sends me back بِقَنيصٍwith quarry ماnot نَصَبتُI laid لَهُfor it
يَرُدُّني بِقَنيصٍ ما نَصَبتُ لَهُ
عَلىover المَطامِعِobjects of desire أَشراكاًsnares مِنَof الأَمَلِhope
عَلى المَطامِعِ أَشراكاً مِنَ الأَمَلِ
He sends me back with quarry for which I never laid
You reined in my reason, though tempests blew,
snares of hope over the objects of desire.
And set my course aright when I swerved aside.
وَسَمتَyou branded عَقليmy mind وَأَرغَمتَand humbled المَعاطِسَthe noses فيin
وَسَمتَ عَقلي وَأَرغَمتَ المَعاطِسَ في
مَنِّvaunted favors of العِداthe foes وَأَقَمتَand straightened الصَفوَsincere loyalty مِنfrom مَيَليmy wavering
مَنِّ العِدا وَأَقَمتَ الصَفوَ مِن مَيَلي
You have branded my mind and humbled noses over
You raised my status to sublime heights,
foes' vaunted favors, and straightened my wavering loyalty.
Subjected disasters, and brought triumphs to me.
رَفَعتَyou raised ناريmy fire عَلىupon عَلياءَa height مُشرِفَةٍtowering
رَفَعتَ ناري عَلى عَلياءَ مُشرِفَةٍ
مِنَof المَعاليglory وَأَخضَعتَand subjected النَوائِبَcalamities ليto me
مِنَ المَعالي وَأَخضَعتَ النَوائِبَ لي
You raised my fire upon a towering height
Have you left any wishes to wishers now,
of glory, and made calamities bow to me.
Any hopes for the hopeful, the seeking of goals?
فَهَلthen have تَرَكتَyou left لِذيfor one with الأَوطارِdesires مِنany وَطرٍdesire
فَهَل تَرَكتَ لِذي الأَوطارِ مِن وَطرٍ
يَسعىhe pursues لَهُit وَلِذيand for one with الآمالِhopes مِنany أَمَلِhope
يَسعى لَهُ وَلِذي الآمالِ مِن أَمَلِ
Have you left one who desires any desire
Your benevolence left no room for ornament by my hands;
to pursue, or one who hopes any hope?
Jewels are only donned publicly when prosperity wanes.
لَمdid not يُبقِleave طَولُكَyour bounty فيon جيديmy neck مَكانَroom for حَلىًjewelry
لَم يُبقِ طَولُكَ في جيدي مَكانَ حَلىً
وَإِنَّماand only يُستَعارُis borrowed الحَليُjewelry لِلعَطَلِfor the unadorned
وَإِنَّما يُستَعارُ الحَليُ لِلعَطَلِ
Your bounty has left no room for jewelry on my neck;
The robes of glory you bestow have spared me
jewelry is borrowed only for the unadorned.
Fine raiment or the most splendid adornment.
أَغنَتhave sufficed مَلابِسُrobes of فَخرٍglory أَنتَyou مُسحِبُهاcause them to trail
أَغنَت مَلابِسُ فَخرٍ أَنتَ مُسحِبُها
عَنinstead of رائِعِsplendid الحَليِjewelry أَوor عَنinstead of رائِقِexquisite الحُلَلِgarments
عَن رائِعِ الحَليِ أَو عَن رائِقِ الحُلَلِ
The robes of glory whose trains you let trail suffice
O people, you are the breath to revive us in adversity,
instead of splendid jewelry or exquisite garments.
The shining stars in the darkness of calamities that befall.
أَنتُمyou لَناfor us نَفَسٌa breath of relief مِنfrom كُلِّevery كارِبَةٍaffliction
أَنتُم لَنا نَفَسٌ مِن كُلِّ كارِبَةٍ
وَأَنجُمٌand stars فيin ظَلامِthe darkness of الحادِثِcalamity الجَلَلِgrievous
وَأَنجُمٌ في ظَلامِ الحادِثِ الجَلَلِ
You are for us a breath of relief from every affliction,
You give us success when misfortunes miss their mark,
and stars in the darkness of grievous calamity.
When, in the hands of heroes, the keen sword goes blunt.
تَنبوglance off إِذاif لَمnot تَكُنare عَنكُمfrom you ضَرائِبُناour blows
تَنبو إِذا لَم تَكُن عَنكُم ضَرائِبُنا
وَالسَيفُand the sword أَقطَعُmost cutting شَيءٍthing فيin يَدِthe hand of البَطَلِthe hero
وَالسَيفُ أَقطَعُ شَيءٍ في يَدِ البَطَلِ
Our blows glance off unless they come from you,
When absent, people are like a necklace without pearls,
and the sword is the keenest thing in a hero's hand.
A system without order, eyelids without kohl.
الناسُpeople ماwhile غِبتُمُyou are absent سِلكٌa string بِلاwithout ذُرَرٍpearls
الناسُ ما غِبتُمُ سِلكٌ بِلا ذُرَرٍ
وَلاnor نِظامٍorder وَأَجفانٌand eyelids بِلاwithout مُقَلِeyes
وَلا نِظامٍ وَأَجفانٌ بِلا مُقَلِ
When you are absent, people are a string without pearls
Like day without sun by which to see,
or order, and eyelids without eyes,
Or dark night without moonlight or flame.
مِثلُlike النَهارِdaytime بِلاwithout شَمسٍa sun تُضيءُshining بِهِin it
مِثلُ النَهارِ بِلا شَمسٍ تُضيءُ بِهِ
أَوِor الظَلامِdarkness بِلاwithout بَدرٍa full moon وَلاnor شُعَلِflames
أَوِ الظَلامِ بِلا بَدرٍ وَلا شُعَلِ
like daytime without a sun shining in it,
Of a band who reached eminence, though few,
or darkness without a full moon or flames.
Outstripping in the race the quickest steeds.
مِنof مَعشَرٍa people وَرَدواthey attained العَلياءَthe heights جُمعَتَهاin their entirety
مِن مَعشَرٍ وَرَدوا العَلياءَ جُمعَتَها
وَسابَقواand raced عَجَلَthe haste of الجارينَthe runners بِالمَهَلِunhurriedly
وَسابَقوا عَجَلَ الجارينَ بِالمَهَلِ
You are of a people who attained every height,
They met adversity without fear or frailty,
and raced the hurrying runners unhurriedly.
And terrifying events without shock or recoil.
لَقواthey met الخُطوبَdisasters بِلاwithout خَوفٍfear وَلاnor ضَعَفٍweakness
لَقوا الخُطوبَ بِلا خَوفٍ وَلا ضَعَفٍ
وَالرائِعاتِand terrors بِلاwithout ميلٍwavering وَلاnor عَزَلِlack of arms
وَالرائِعاتِ بِلا ميلٍ وَلا عَزَلِ
They met disasters without fear or weakness,
They soared on the wings of snarling eagles,
and terrors without wavering or defenselessness.
Pasturing freely between white and tawny camels.
طارواthey flew off بِأَلبابِwith the wits of ذُؤَبانٍwolves مُسَوَّمَةٍmarked
طاروا بِأَلبابِ ذُؤَبانٍ مُسَوَّمَةٍ
رَعَينَthey grazed بَينَamid مَجالِthe sweep of البيضِgleaming swords وَالأَسَلِand spears
رَعَينَ بَينَ مَجالِ البيضِ وَالأَسَلِ
They carried off the wits of marked wolves,
In a terrifying swarm, like the arid wastes of the sea,
that grazed amid the sweep of gleaming swords and spears,
Stirred up by rumbling thunder pounding the dunes.
فيin جَحفَلٍa vast army كَشَحاءِlike the expanse of البَحرِthe sea مَدَّswelled بِهِit
في جَحفَلٍ كَشَحاءِ البَحرِ مَدَّ بِهِ
مُزَمجِرٌa roaring wind يَضرِبُstrikes العِرنينَthe nose بِالجَفَلِwith driven spray
مُزَمجِرٌ يَضرِبُ العِرنينَ بِالجَفَلِ
in a vast army like the sea's expanse, swelled by
Its torrents like the torrents of floodwaters,
a roaring wind that lashes the nose with driven spray.
With thick clotted blood shedding freely, streaming.
مَجَرُّهُits track كَمَجَرِّlike the channel of السَيلِa torrent ذوhaving لَثَقٍmud
مَجَرُّهُ كَمَجَرِّ السَيلِ ذو لَثَقٍ
مِنfrom اِنبِعاقِthe gushing of الدَمِblood الجاريflowing وَذوand having خَضَلِwetness
مِن اِنبِعاقِ الدَمِ الجاري وَذو خَضَلِ
Its track, like a torrent's channel, is muddy
The King of Kings casts them, reproaching their neglect
with the gushing of flowing blood, and drenched.
To follow the proper course, misleading paths eschewing.
يَرميhe hurls بِهِit مَلِكُthe king of الأَملاكِkings يُعتِبُهُgratifies him
يَرمي بِهِ مَلِكُ الأَملاكِ يُعتِبُهُ
قَطعُthe giving-up of الدَليلِthe guide بِماat what يُعميblinds مِنَamong السُبُلِpaths
قَطعُ الدَليلِ بِما يُعمي مِنَ السُبُلِ
The king of kings hurls it forth, gratified by
Did not lightning flash warn men against you,
the guide's giving up amid blinding paths.
Still complaining today of its burning in their ribs?
أَماhas not نَهىdeterred الناسَpeople عَنكُمfrom you صَوبُthe downpour of بارِقَةٍa lightning-flash
أَما نَهى الناسَ عَنكُم صَوبُ بارِقَةٍ
يَشكوcomplains إِلىuntil اليَومِtoday ناحيهاone approaching it مِنَof البَلَلِwetness
يَشكو إِلى اليَومِ ناحيها مِنَ البَلَلِ
Has not a lightning-flash's downpour deterred people from you,
With death's swords unleashed and fate preordained,
with one approaching it still complaining of drenching to this day?
Your command pierces necks and strikes at the vertebrae's base.
فيat أَربَقٍArbaq وَسُيوفُand the swords of المَوتِdeath ماضِيَةٌcutting through
في أَربَقٍ وَسُيوفُ المَوتِ ماضِيَةٌ
يُطِعنَthey obey أَمرَكَyour command فيupon الأَعناقِnecks وَالقُلَلِand crowns
يُطِعنَ أَمرَكَ في الأَعناقِ وَالقُلَلِ
At Arbaq, death's swords were cutting through,
Shortened in their breasts is the length of your spear,
obeying your command upon necks and crowns.
While the spears of others shorten not, nor overextend.
قَصَّرتَyou shortened رُمحَكَyour spear طولاًin length فيin صُدورِهِمُtheir chests
قَصَّرتَ رُمحَكَ طولاً في صُدورِهِمُ
وَرُمحُand the spear of غَيرِكَsomeone else لَمdid not يَقصُرshorten وَلَمand did not يَطُلِlengthen
وَرُمحُ غَيرِكَ لَم يَقصُر وَلَم يَطُلِ
You shortened your spear's length within their chests,
Their heads flew off until you appointed them
while another's spear neither shortened nor lengthened.
Positions as the withered branches of canals.
طاشَتflew off رُؤوسُهُمُtheir heads حَتّىuntil جَعَلتَyou made لَهُمfor them
طاشَت رُؤوسُهُمُ حَتّى جَعَلتَ لَهُم
مَناصِباًpedestals مِنfrom أَنابيبَthe shafts of القَناlances الذُبُلِslender
مَناصِباً مِن أَنابيبَ القَنا الذُبُلِ
Their heads flew off until you made for them
In their humiliation, they aimed to abuse your glory,
pedestals from the shafts of slender lances.
Like the sculptor, with his pickaxe carving the mountainside.
رامواthey sought بِذُلِّهِمُthrough their baseness إيهانَthe weakening of عِزَّكُمُyour might
راموا بِذُلِّهِمُ إيهانَ عِزَّكُمُ
كَمِبرَدِlike the file of القَينِthe smith نَحّاتاًscraping مِنَfrom الجَبَلِthe mountain
كَمِبرَدِ القَينِ نَحّاتاً مِنَ الجَبَلِ
They sought through their baseness to weaken your might,
Where are the thick-roped necks that rise haughtily,
like a smith's file scraping at a mountain.
And the docked limbs striking with limp-wristed blows?
فَأَينَwhere then رُخمُvultures الرِقابِthe necks الغُلبِthick رافِعَةًrearing up
فَأَينَ رُخمُ الرِقابِ الغُلبِ رافِعَةً
دونَbefore العُلىthe heights وَقِراعُand the clash of الأَذرُعِarms الفُتُلِsinewy
دونَ العُلى وَقِراعُ الأَذرُعِ الفُتُلِ
Where, then, are the thick-necked vultures rearing up
Never again will they return to raise the long necks of she-camels,
before the heights, and the clash of sinewy arms?
When hands fall short of the miles-long camel litters.
هَيهاتَfar from it رَدَّتwere driven back إِلىto الأَعناقِthe necks كانِعَةٍhumbled
هَيهاتَ رَدَّت إِلى الأَعناقِ كانِعَةٍ
أَيدٍhands قَصُرنَfell short عَنِof الأَطوادِthe mountains وَالقُلَلِand peaks
أَيدٍ قَصُرنَ عَنِ الأَطوادِ وَالقُلَلِ
Far from it! Driven back to the necks in submission were
Just as they were that day at Yamm, swords flashing,
hands that fell short of the mountains and peaks,
When the neck was severed from the nape with each blow.
كَدَأبِهاas was their habit يَومَon the day of يَمٍّYamm وَالقَناand the lances شَرَعٌleveled
كَدَأبِها يَومَ يَمٍّ وَالقَنا شَرَعٌ
وَالضَربُand blows يُبعِدُdrive apart بَينَbetween العُنقِthe neck وَالكَفَلِand the rump
وَالضَربُ يُبعِدُ بَينَ العُنقِ وَالكَفَلِ
as was their way on the day of Yamm, when lances were leveled,
They dyed every murky valley with blood unsheathed
and blows drove neck and rump apart.
From half-closed eyes, like the torrents streaming freely.
أَسَلنَthey made flow بِالدَمِwith blood واديthe valley of كُلِّevery غامِضَةٍdeep-set
أَسَلنَ بِالدَمِ وادي كُلِّ غامِضَةٍ
مِنَof العُيونِeyes كَماءِlike the water of المُزنِrain-clouds لَمnot يَسِلِhad flowed
مِنَ العُيونِ كَماءِ المُزنِ لَم يَسِلِ
They made blood flow through the valley of every deep-set
Until they returned leaving no enemy chanting slogans,
eye, as rain-cloud water had never flowed,
Neither words nor deeds left to answer with.
حَتّىuntil رَجَعنَthey returned وَلَمand did not يَترُكنَleave فاغِرَةًa gaping mouth
حَتّى رَجَعنَ وَلَم يَترُكنَ فاغِرَةً
مِنَamong العَدوِّthe enemy إِلىfor قَولٍspeech وَلاnor عَمَلِaction
مِنَ العَدوِّ إِلى قَولٍ وَلا عَمَلِ
until they returned, leaving no gaping mouth
The piercing swords struck the joints of shoulders
among the foe for speech or deed.
Of grunting camels, whose humps had wasted away.
جَرىpassed الثِقافُthe spear-straightener عَلىover عوذٍnewly calved she-camels مُقَلقَلَةٍagitated
جَرى الثِقافُ عَلى عوذٍ مُقَلقَلَةٍ
ذَودَينِtwo herds مِنof أَودٍcrookedness بادٍmanifest وَمِنand of خَطَلِfolly
ذَودَينِ مِن أَودٍ بادٍ وَمِن خَطَلِ
The spear-straightener passed over agitated, newly calved camels—
Allah has decreed your glory is endless,
two herds of manifest crookedness and folly.
And that you remain in this world forever.
قَضىdecreed لَكَfor you اللَهُGod أَنthat يَجريit continue بِلاwithout أَمدٍlimit
قَضى لَكَ اللَهُ أَن يَجري بِلا أَمدٍ
وَأَنand that يَدومَit endure مَعَwith الدُنياthe world بِلاwithout أَجَلِan end
وَأَن يَدومَ مَعَ الدُنيا بِلا أَجَلِ
God has decreed for you that it continue without limit,
Settled in an edifice that shall never crumble,
and endure with the world, without an end:
A enduring, lofty status that shall never change.
تَوَقُّلاًan ascent فيin بِناءٍan edifice غَيرِnot مُنتَقِضٍcrumbling
تَوَقُّلاً في بِناءٍ غَيرِ مُنتَقِضٍ
مِنَof المَعاليglory وَظِلٍّand a shade غَيرِnot مُنتَقِلِshifting
مِنَ المَعالي وَظِلٍّ غَيرِ مُنتَقِلِ
an ascent in an edifice that never crumbles,
Given free rein to enjoy life’s bounty fully,
of glory, and a shade that never shifts.
You surpassed all eras of days and dynasties.
مُعطىًgiven عِناناًa rein مِنَof النُعمىblessing فَقُدتَso you steered بِهِwith it
مُعطىً عِناناً مِنَ النُعمى فَقُدتَ بِهِ
تَغايُرَthe changing of الدَهرِtime بِالأَيّامِthrough days وَالدُوَلِand turns of fortune
تَغايُرَ الدَهرِ بِالأَيّامِ وَالدُوَلِ
Given a rein of blessing, you have steered with it
And whenever a year passed or an epoch elapsed,
time's changing course through days and turns of fortune.
Time returned you to your early days again.
وَكُلَّماand whenever جُزتَyou pass عاماًa year أَوor بَلَغتَreach مَدىًa limit
وَكُلَّما جُزتَ عاماً أَو بَلَغتَ مَدىً
رُدَّis turned back الزَمانُtime عَلىto أَيّامِكَyour days الأُوَلِthe earliest
رُدَّ الزَمانُ عَلى أَيّامِكَ الأُوَلِ
And whenever you pass a year or reach a limit,
time is turned back to your earliest days.
Partial English translation: 110 of 112 Arabic lines translated.