لِمَنِwhose الدِيارُthe dwellings طُلولُهاtheir ruins وُقصُbroken low
لِمَنِ الدِيارُ طُلولُها وُقصُ
ماnot لِلقَطينِfor the dwellers بِعُقرِهاin their midst شَخصُa figure
ما لِلقَطينِ بِعُقرِها شَخصُ
Whose are these dwellings, their ruins broken low?
Whose are the abodes, so tall and lofty,
No dweller's figure stands in their midst.
While by their corner the wild beasts lie?
أَبقىleft behind الخَليطُthe company بِهاthere مَعاهِدَهُits familiar haunts
أَبقى الخَليطُ بِها مَعاهِدَهُ
أَثَرٌa trace لَعَمرُكَby your life ماnot لَهُfor it قَصُّtracking
أَثَرٌ لَعَمرُكَ ما لَهُ قَصُّ
The company left its old haunts there:
A mixed tribe in them has residences,
A trace, by your life, that cannot be followed.
A trace that has no story to relate.
وَلَقَدand indeed تَحِلُّdwells بِهاthere مُرَبَّبَةٌa pampered woman
وَلَقَد تَحِلُّ بِها مُرَبَّبَةٌ
ظَمَأىthirsty الوِشاحِat the girdle وَلِلبُرىand for the bangles غَصَّchoking tightness
ظَمَأى الوِشاحِ وَلِلبُرى غَصَّ
And once a pampered woman dwelt there,
And damsels there are wont to visit them,
Her girdle thirsty, her bangles choking tight.
Thirsting to drink, though to all there is enough.
غَنِيَتshe was rich بِحَليِwith the adornment الحُسنِof beauty عاطِلَةٌunadorned
غَنِيَت بِحَليِ الحُسنِ عاطِلَةٌ
ماno لِلنُضارِfor pure gold بِجيدِهاon her neck وَبَصُgleam
ما لِلنُضارِ بِجيدِها وَبَصُ
Unadorned, she was rich in beauty's jewels;
They won beauty's tenderness through lore and grace,
No pure gold glittered on her neck.
Not through delicate cheeks or fawnlike eyes.
فَرَعاءُlong-haired إِنif نَهَضَتshe rose لِحاجَتِهاfor her need
فَرَعاءُ إِن نَهَضَت لِحاجَتِها
عَجِلَhastened القَضيبُthe branch وَأَبطَأَand was slow الدِعصُthe sand dune
عَجِلَ القَضيبُ وَأَبطَأَ الدِعصُ
Long-haired, if she rose to attend to her needs,
A shepherdess, when she rises to her need,
The branch hastened, and the sand dune lagged.
Makes her staff quick but her milking slow.
وَمُرَجَّلٍand combed hair جَعدٍcurly يَنوءُbends under a burden بِهِbeneath it
وَمُرَجَّلٍ جَعدٍ يَنوءُ بِهِ
جيدُthe neck of الغَزالِthe gazelle وَناعِمٌand soft رَخصُdelicate
جيدُ الغَزالِ وَناعِمٌ رَخصُ
And combed, curling hair, beneath whose weight bends
A curly-haired, smooth-cheeked youth of pedigree
A gazelle's neck, soft and delicate.
Could rob hearts by a glance from his doe eyes.
سَرَقَتshe stole بِطَرفِwith the gaze of الريمِthe white gazelle مُهجَتَهُhis soul
سَرَقَت بِطَرفِ الريمِ مُهجَتَهُ
وَمِنَand among النَواظِرِeyes قاطِعٌa highwayman لُصُّa thief
وَمِنَ النَواظِرِ قاطِعٌ لُصُّ
With a white gazelle's gaze she stole his soul;
They have sworn by the dust the cavalry raised,
And among eyes is a highwayman, a thief.
And by the morning squadrons in close ranks,
قَسماًan oath بِشُعثٍby disheveled pilgrims جَعجَعَتgroaned لَهُمُfor them
قَسماً بِشُعثٍ جَعجَعَت لَهُمُ
بِالمَأزِمَينِat the Two Defiles ظَوالِعٌlimping camels خُصًّgaunt
بِالمَأزِمَينِ ظَوالِعٌ خُصًّ
I swear by the disheveled pilgrims, for whom groaned
Stabbing the dark with every bright sword,
Limping, gaunt camels at al-Maʾzimayn.
And in every gloom a flashing glance.
طَعَنواthey pierced الظَلامَthe darkness بِكُلِّon every ناجِيَةٍswift she-camel
طَعَنوا الظَلامَ بِكُلِّ ناجِيَةٍ
فيin موقِthe eye-corner of كُلِّevery دُجىًnight's darkness لَهاshe has بَحصُhoof-scraping
في موقِ كُلِّ دُجىً لَها بَحصُ
They pierced the darkness on each swift she-camel;
The darkness is pelted with starry lights
She paws at the eye-corner of every night's gloom.
That make it seem like a quilted gown.
تَرميshe strikes الإِكامَthe hillocks بِمَنسِمٍwith a hoof عَمَمٍmassive
تَرمي الإِكامَ بِمَنسِمٍ عَمَمٍ
داميbloodied الأَظَلَّthe sole كَأَنَّهُas though it were قُرصُa round loaf
دامي الأَظَلَّ كَأَنَّهُ قُرصُ
She strikes the hillocks with a massive hoof,
They raced to the stoning without pause for rest,
Its sole bloodied, like a round loaf.
Neither taking belts off nor tightening.
وَالراجِمَينَand those stoning جِمارَهاits pebble-heaps بِمِنىًat Mina
وَالراجِمَينَ جِمارَها بِمِنىً
غَدواًin the morning وَماand not حَلَقواthey shaved وَماand not قَصّواthey clipped their hair
غَدواً وَما حَلَقوا وَما قَصّوا
And by those stoning its pebble-heaps at Mina,
Bare of pilgrim's robes in the bright morn,
In the morning, not yet shaven or shorn;
The girdles were loose and hymns unsung.
مُتَجَرِّدينَstripped bare مِنَfrom الرِياضِthe gardens ضُحىًat forenoon
مُتَجَرِّدينَ مِنَ الرِياضِ ضُحىً
حُلَّwas loosened النِطاقُthe girdle وَأُطلِقَand was released العَقصُthe plaited hair
حُلَّ النِطاقُ وَأُطلِقَ العَقصُ
Bare, coming from the gardens at forenoon,
I will make you drink a draught so sharp
The girdle loosed and the braided hair released.
That neither game nor jest can relieve.
لَأُسَقِّيَنَّكَI shall surely make you drink كَأسَa cup of لاذِعَةٍa searing draught
لَأُسَقِّيَنَّكَ كَأسَ لاذِعَةٍ
لاneither العَبُّgulping يُنفِدُهاdrains it وَلاnor المَصُّsucking
لا العَبُّ يُنفِدُها وَلا المَصُّ
I shall surely make you drink a searing cup,
With deadly, poisoned tips among its feathers,
Which neither gulping nor sipping can drain.
The arrows make even the dancers retire.
بِقَوارِعٍwith crushing blows يُمسيends up الرَمِيُّthe one struck بِهاby them
بِقَوارِعٍ يُمسي الرَمِيُّ بِها
مِنfrom غَيرِother than ماany طَرَبٍjoy لَهُfor him رَقصُa dance
مِن غَيرِ ما طَرَبٍ لَهُ رَقصُ
With crushing blows that leave their victim
Their distant hiss makes wounds forget their hurt,
Dancing, without any joy.
The freed are apt to forget their chains.
تُنسيmake one forget جَرائِحُهاtheir wounds قَوارِصَهاtheir stings
تُنسي جَرائِحُها قَوارِصَها
وَالطَلقُand labor pains يُنسىis forgotten عِندَهُin its presence المَغصُcolic
وَالطَلقُ يُنسى عِندَهُ المَغصُ
Their wounds make one forget their stings;
Have you climbed a lofty dune, O camel,
And beside labor pains, colic is forgotten.
Where did the driver chance to send you?
أَإِلىis it to مَعَدٍّMaʿadd جِئتَyou came مُرتَقِياًclimbing upward
أَإِلى مَعَدٍّ جِئتَ مُرتَقِياً
ياO عَيرُass أَينَwhere رَمىflung بِكَwith you القَمصُbucking
يا عَيرُ أَينَ رَمى بِكَ القَمصُ
Have you come climbing up to Maʿadd?
From the howdah to the soft sands quickly,
O ass, where has your bucking flung you?
Swift moves the piebald camel with clipped hump!
أَمِنَis it from الوِهادِthe lowlands إِلىto الرُبىthe heights عَجِلاًin haste
أَمِنَ الوِهادِ إِلى الرُبى عَجِلاً
سُرعانَhow swift ذاthis الذَملانُtrotting وَالنَصُّand full-speed racing
سُرعانَ ذا الذَملانُ وَالنَصُّ
From the lowlands to the heights, so hastily?
Did you attach your plumes among their vanguard?
How swift this trotting and full-speed racing!
The advance will wear them out threadbare.
أَلحَقتَyou attached ريشَكَyour plumage فيamong قَوادِمِهِمtheir flight-feathers
أَلحَقتَ ريشَكَ في قَوادِمِهِم
عَجلانَin haste تُلصِقُهُyou stick it on وَيَنحَصُّand it falls out
عَجلانَ تُلصِقُهُ وَيَنحَصُّ
You attached your plumage to their flight-feathers,
If you add to them in number, you lessen them;
Hastily sticking it on, while it falls away.
Increase by mixing brings but decrease.
إِنif زِدتَهُمyou added to them فَلَقَدthen surely نَقَصتَهُمُyou diminished them
إِن زِدتَهُم فَلَقَد نَقَصتَهُمُ
إِنَّindeed الزِيادَةَaddition بِالشَغاwith an extra tooth نَقصُa defect
إِنَّ الزِيادَةَ بِالشَغا نَقصُ
If you have added to them, you have surely diminished them;
You left it desolate, an empty ruin,
Indeed, adding an extra tooth is a defect.
That neither life colors, nor plumb makes smooth.
غادَرتَهاyou left it شَنعاءَhideous ضاحِيَةًexposed
غادَرتَها شَنعاءَ ضاحِيَةً
لاneither النَفسُblood يَصبُغُهاcolors it وَلاnor الحُصُّyellow plant dye
لا النَفسُ يَصبُغُها وَلا الحُصُّ
You left it hideous, exposed:
And part of the ruins the wearer conceals
Neither blood nor yellow dye can color it.
Are covered by neither cloak nor shirt.
وَمِنَand among المَخازيdisgraces عِندَupon لابِسِهاtheir wearer
وَمِنَ المَخازي عِندَ لابِسِها
ماwhat لاnot تُواريconceal الأُزرُwaist-wraps وَالقُمصُand shirts
ما لا تُواري الأُزرُ وَالقُمصُ
And among the disgraces their wearer bears
O you who prick me with his needle claw,
Are some that waist-wraps and shirts cannot conceal.
The mosquito's sting is but a nip and bite!
ياO موعِديyou who threaten me بِذِنابِwith the tip of مِخلَبِهِhis claw
يا موعِدي بِذِنابِ مِخلَبِهِ
إِنَّindeed البَعوضَthe mosquito أَذاتُهُits harm القَرصُbiting
إِنَّ البَعوضَ أَذاتُهُ القَرصُ
O you who threaten me with your claw's tip,
Envy no man his wealth,
The mosquito's harm is merely a bite.
For the linings of purses are ever lean.
لاdo not تَحسُدَنَّever envy المَرءَa man ثَروَتَهُhis wealth
لا تَحسُدَنَّ المَرءَ ثَروَتَهُ
إِنَّindeed البِطانَthe full-bellied إِلىby غَدٍtomorrow خُمصُhollow-bellied
إِنَّ البِطانَ إِلى غَدٍ خُمصُ
Do not envy a man his wealth;
And fear overtaking those you've outstripped,
The full-bellied will be hollow-bellied by tomorrow.
To climb high invites but a sudden fall.
وَخَفِand fear السِقاطَfalling عَلىfor الَّذينَthose who عَلَواrose high
وَخَفِ السِقاطَ عَلى الَّذينَ عَلَوا
وَمِنَand from العُلُوِّheight يُحاذِرُone fears الوَقصُneck-breaking
وَمِنَ العُلُوِّ يُحاذِرُ الوَقصُ
And fear a fall for those who stand high;
And knot your hands with the twist of generosity,
From the heights one fears a broken neck.
No shame in stock, or bitter blame.
وَاِعقُدand bind يَدَيكَyour two hands بِمُجتَنيto a harvester of كَرَمٍnobility
وَاِعقُد يَدَيكَ بِمُجتَني كَرَمٍ
لاno قَدحُaspersion فيupon حَسَبٍancestral honor وَلاand no غَمصُdisparagement
لا قَدحُ في حَسَبٍ وَلا غَمصُ
And bind your hands to a harvester of nobility,
When a lion is seen by men,
With no slur upon ancestral honor, no disparagement.
Talk grows hushed, and figures stand still,
أَسَدٍa lion إِذاwhen بَصُرَcatch sight الرِجالُthe men بِهِof him
أَسَدٍ إِذا بَصُرَ الرِجالُ بِهِ
خُفِضَis lowered الكَلامُspeech وَطومَنَand is bowed الشَخصُthe body
خُفِضَ الكَلامُ وَطومَنَ الشَخصُ
A lion: when men catch sight of him,
Of a tribe whose best rode on at the outset,
Speech is hushed and bodies bow.
The noblest on thoroughbred steeds like night,
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people رَكِبَتmounted أَوائِلُهُمtheir forebears
مِن مَعشَرٍ رَكِبَت أَوائِلُهُم
أولىthe first reaches of العُلىglory وَجِيادُهاand its steeds شُمصُunruly
أولى العُلى وَجِيادُها شُمصُ
From a people whose forebears mounted
When they do good they include all their people,
The first heights of glory, while its steeds were unruly.
When they pelt aacterless wretch they aim true.
إِنif أَحسَنواthey do good عَمّواthey include all بِنائِلِهِمwith their bounty
إِن أَحسَنوا عَمّوا بِنائِلِهِم
وَإِذَand when رَمواthey accuse بِجَريرَةٍof an offense خَصّواthey single out
وَإِذَ رَموا بِجَريرَةٍ خَصّوا
If they do good, their bounty embraces all;
The number of generous deeds in their homes
And when they accuse of an offense, they single out the culprit.
Is countless, heaped up and running over.
عَدَدُthe tally of المَكارِمِnoble deeds فيin بُيوتِهِمُtheir houses
عَدَدُ المَكارِمِ في بُيوتِهِمُ
وَالجامِلُand the camel herd القَبقابُvast وَالقَبصُand multitudes
وَالجامِلُ القَبقابُ وَالقَبصُ
The sum of noble deeds is in their houses,
They have raised their strivings from the foundations,
And vast camel herds and multitudes.
High rise the walls built new from the base.
رَفَعواthey raised المَساعيnoble endeavors مِنfrom قَواعِدِهاtheir foundations
رَفَعوا المَساعي مِن قَواعِدِها
يَعلوrises بِهِنَّthrough them الرَضمُstone-piling وَالرَصُّand tight stacking
يَعلو بِهِنَّ الرَضمُ وَالرَصُّ
They raised their noble endeavors from their foundations;
Until they are settled in the highest part,
Through them rise heaped stones and close-set masonry.
And on the hilltops they place their forts,
حَتّىuntil اِنتَمواthey ascended فيto رَأسِthe summit of أَشرَفِهاthe noblest of them
حَتّى اِنتَموا في رَأسِ أَشرَفِها
وَعَلىand upon الكُعوبِthe shaft's joints يُوَقَّعُis set الخُرصُthe spearhead
وَعَلى الكُعوبِ يُوَقَّعُ الخُرصُ
Until they reached the summit of the noblest of them;
They wiped out the enemy host, nor are they
And on the shaft's joints the spearhead is set.
Harmed by the shifting sands of wind-blown dunes.
أَفنىannihilated العَدُوَّthe foe وَليسَand does not يَنقُصُهُمdiminish them
أَفنى العَدُوَّ وَليسَ يَنقُصُهُم
مِنfrom رَملِthe sand of مُنقَطِعِthe far end of اللَوىal-Liwa القَبصُthe handful
مِن رَملِ مُنقَطِعِ اللَوى القَبصُ
He annihilated the foe; they are no more diminished
Than the sands at al-Liwa's far end by a handful.
Partial English translation: 62 of 64 Arabic lines translated.