لِمَن دِمَنٌ بِذي سَلَمٍ وَضالِ

لِمَن دِمَنٌ بِذي سَلَمٍ وَضالِ

بَلينَ وَكَيفَ بِالدِمَنِ البَوالي

بَلينَ وَكَيفَ بِالدِمَنِ البَوالي

Whose camp-traces lie at Dhu Salam and Dal?

For whom are tears shed at the abode of peace and right guidance?

They have faded—what can be done with faded ruins?

Nay! How can tears avail amidst adversities?

وَقَفتُ بِهِنَّ لا أُصغي لِداعٍ

وَقَفتُ بِهِنَّ لا أُصغي لِداعٍ

وَلا أَرجو جَواباً عَن سُؤالي

وَلا أَرجو جَواباً عَن سُؤالي

I stood beside them, heeding no caller,

I stood by them, heeding not the call of any summoner,

And hoping for no answer to my question.

Nor hoping for an answer to my question.

أَيا دارَ الأُلى دَرَجَت عَلَيها

أَيا دارَ الأُلى دَرَجَت عَلَيها

حَوايا المُزنِ وَالحِجَجُ الخَوالي

حَوايا المُزنِ وَالحِجَجُ الخَوالي

O dwelling of those people, over which have passed

O home of those I love! Over which the tracks of separation

The clouds' rain-laden bellies and the years long gone!

And the caravans of trial and affliction passed!

فَأَيُّ حَياً بِأَرضِكِ لِلغَوادي

فَأَيُّ حَياً بِأَرضِكِ لِلغَوادي

وَأَيُّ بِلىً بِرَبعِكِ لِلَّيالي

وَأَيُّ بِلىً بِرَبعِكِ لِلَّيالي

What rain the morning clouds have brought upon your earth,

Which living creature inhabited your valleys,

And what decay the nights have worked upon your dwelling!

And which worn garment clad your nights?

وَبَينَ ذَوائِبِ العُقَداتِ ظَبيٌ

وَبَينَ ذَوائِبِ العُقَداتِ ظَبيٌ

قَصيرُ الخَطوِ في المِرطِ المُذالِ

قَصيرُ الخَطوِ في المِرطِ المُذالِ

And among the crowns of the thickets is a gazelle,

Amid the twisting plaits a young gazelle,

Short-stepped within a trailing mantle.

Short of step, weak-pawed, and submissive.

رَبيبٌ إِن أُريغَ إِلى حَديثٍ

رَبيبٌ إِن أُريغَ إِلى حَديثٍ

نَوارٌ إِن أُريدَ إِلى وِصالِ

نَوارٌ إِن أُريدَ إِلى وِصالِ

Tame when drawn into conversation,

A fawn, that if urged to talk, complains;

Aloof when sought for union.

If invited to union, is slow to respond.

فَهَل لِيَ وَالمَطامِعُ مُردِياتٌ

فَهَل لِيَ وَالمَطامِعُ مُردِياتٌ

دُنوٌّ مِن لَمى ذاكَ الغَزالِ

دُنوٌّ مِن لَمى ذاكَ الغَزالِ

Can I then—though desires bring ruin—

Can I then hope to draw near that gazelle

Draw near the dusky lips of that gazelle?

With her does and followers?

لَقَد سَلَبَت ظِباءُ الدارِ لُبّي

لَقَد سَلَبَت ظِباءُ الدارِ لُبّي

أَلا ما لِلظِباءِ بِها وَما لي

أَلا ما لِلظِباءِ بِها وَما لي

The gazelles of that dwelling have indeed stolen my mind.

The wild cows of the abode have robbed me of my mind!

Ah, what of the gazelles there—and what of me?

Alas, what have the wild cows to do with it, or I with it?

تُنَغِّصُني بِأَيّامِ التَلاقي

تُنَغِّصُني بِأَيّامِ التَلاقي

مُعاجَلَتي بِأَيّامِ الزِيالِ

مُعاجَلَتي بِأَيّامِ الزِيالِ

In days of meeting my joy is embittered

They torment me with the days of rendezvous,

By the haste with which days of parting overtake me.

And hasten me with the days of departure.

تَحَيَّفَني الصُدودُ وَكُنتُ دَهراً

تَحَيَّفَني الصُدودُ وَكُنتُ دَهراً

أُرَوَّعُ بِالصُدودِ فَلا أُبالي

أُرَوَّعُ بِالصُدودِ فَلا أُبالي

Rejection has worn me down, though once, for long,

Rejections have left me confounded, though once

I was threatened with rejection and paid no heed.

I was untroubled by rejections.

وَكَيفَ أُفيقُ لا جَسَدي بِناءٍ

وَكَيفَ أُفيقُ لا جَسَدي بِناءٍ

عَنِ البَلوى وَلا قَلبي بِسالي

عَنِ البَلوى وَلا قَلبي بِسالي

How can I recover, when my body is not far

How can I be roused from heedlessness when my body is not erect

From suffering, nor has my heart found solace?

From affliction, nor is my heart tranquil?

يُرَنِّحُني إِلَيكَ الشَوقُ حَتّى

يُرَنِّحُني إِلَيكَ الشَوقُ حَتّى

أَميلُ مِنَ اليَمينِ إِلى الشِمالِ

أَميلُ مِنَ اليَمينِ إِلى الشِمالِ

Longing for you makes me sway until

Yearning draws me to you until

I lean from right to left,

I incline from right to left like one drunk with wine,

كَما مالَ المُعاقِرُ عاوَدَتهُ

كَما مالَ المُعاقِرُ عاوَدَتهُ

حُمَيّا الكَأسِ حالاً بَعدَ حالِ

حُمَيّا الكَأسِ حالاً بَعدَ حالِ

As a habitual drinker sways, assailed again

Cup after cup, moment after moment.

By the cup's heady fire, time after time.

Your memory gives me delight

وَيَأخُذُني لِذِكرُكُمُ اِرتِياحٌ

وَيَأخُذُني لِذِكرُكُمُ اِرتِياحٌ

كَما نَشَطَ الأَسيرُ مِنَ العِقالِ

كَما نَشَطَ الأَسيرُ مِنَ العِقالِ

And at the thought of you, gladness seizes me,

As the loosening of fetters delights a prisoner.

Like a captive springing free of his bonds.

The easiest matter I meet with is a care

وَأَيسَرُ ما أُلاقي أَنَّ هَمّاً

وَأَيسَرُ ما أُلاقي أَنَّ هَمّاً

يُغَصِّصُني بِذا الماءِ الزُلالِ

يُغَصِّصُني بِذا الماءِ الزُلالِ

And the least of what I suffer is a sorrow

That disorders me with its pure, limpid water,

That makes me choke upon this crystal-clear water.

Were it not for longing, I would not be so distracted,

فَلَولا الشَوقُ ما كَثُرَ اِلتِفاتي

فَلَولا الشَوقُ ما كَثُرَ اِلتِفاتي

وَلا زُمَّت إِلى طَلَلٍ جِمالي

وَلا زُمَّت إِلى طَلَلٍ جِمالي

But for longing, I would not turn so often,

Nor would my camel direct itself to a deserted encampment.

Nor would my camels be led toward a ruined camp.

Yet I do not openly declare it, and then, were I to declare it,

وَإِنّي لا أُوامِقُ ثُمَّ إِنّي

وَإِنّي لا أُوامِقُ ثُمَّ إِنّي

إِذا وامَقتُ يَوماً لا أُقالي

إِذا وامَقتُ يَوماً لا أُقالي

And I am not quick to love; yet,

I would not refrain from trying again.

Once I have loved, I never turn to hatred.

I am the son of the branch at the top of the lofty Nizâr,

أَنا اِبنُ الفَرعِ مِن أَعلى نِزارٍ

أَنا اِبنُ الفَرعِ مِن أَعلى نِزارٍ

وَمَن يَزِنُ الأَسافِلَ بِالأَعالي

وَمَن يَزِنُ الأَسافِلَ بِالأَعالي

I descend from the highest branch of Nizar,

Who would weigh the lowly against the sublime?

And who would weigh the low against the high?

Curb for me every refractory opponent,

نَماني كُلُّ مُمتَعِضٍ أَبيٍّ

نَماني كُلُّ مُمتَعِضٍ أَبيٍّ

جَرى طَلَقَ الجَموحِ إِلى المَعالي

جَرى طَلَقَ الجَموحِ إِلى المَعالي

Every proud man who resents dishonor is in my lineage,

Who allowed his obstinacy to roam freely to realms of honor.

Who galloped like a headstrong steed toward lofty honors.

They were a people who ruled over the necks of the ignoble,

مِنَ القَومِ الأُلى مَلَكوا رِقابَ ال

مِنَ القَومِ الأُلى مَلَكوا رِقابَ ال

أَواخِرِ وَاِختَلوا قِمَمَ الأَوالي

أَواخِرِ وَاِختَلوا قِمَمَ الأَوالي

Of the people who held dominion over the necks of the

And climbed the summits of glory.

Later men, and reaped the heads of the earlier.

When they unrolled their writs they dragged the train

إِذا بَسَطوا الخُطا سَحَبوا رِقاقَ ال

إِذا بَسَطوا الخُطا سَحَبوا رِقاقَ ال

بُرودِ عَلى الرِقاقِ مِنَ النِعالِ

بُرودِ عَلى الرِقاقِ مِنَ النِعالِ

When they lengthened their strides, they trailed fine

Of their garments over men's necks.

Striped cloaks over their fine sandals.

If the houses of glory are portioned out, theirs is

وَإِن قُسِمَت بُيوتُ المَجدِ حازوا

وَإِن قُسِمَت بُيوتُ المَجدِ حازوا

فِناءَ البَيتِ ذي العَمَدِ الطِوالِ

فِناءَ البَيتِ ذي العَمَدِ الطِوالِ

And if the houses of glory were apportioned, they would possess

The courtyard with pillars reaching to the sky.

The courtyard of the house with tall pillars.

Rougher than lions when contentious in argument,

وَإِنَّهُمُ لَأَعنَفُ بِالمَذاكي

وَإِنَّهُمُ لَأَعنَفُ بِالمَذاكي

مُحاضَرَةً وَأَقرَعُ بِالعَوالي

مُحاضَرَةً وَأَقرَعُ بِالعَوالي

Indeed, they drive their seasoned steeds more fiercely

Yet gentler than the eggs of ostriches if pleased.

In races, and strike harder with their spears.

Spending hands oppress them,

أَفَظُّ مِنَ الأُسودِ فَإِن أَنالوا

أَفَظُّ مِنَ الأُسودِ فَإِن أَنالوا

رَأَيتَ أَرَقَّ مِن بيضِ الحِجالِ

رَأَيتَ أَرَقَّ مِن بيضِ الحِجالِ

More savage than lions; yet when they bestow,

Though they have burdened the necks of men.

You find them gentler than fair maidens in curtained chambers.

O sons of my uncle! Hardship from calamity has befallen my right side,

يَخِفُّ عَلَيهِمُ بَذلُ الأَيادي

يَخِفُّ عَلَيهِمُ بَذلُ الأَيادي

وَقَد أَثقَلنَ أَعناقَ الرِجالِ

وَقَد أَثقَلنَ أَعناقَ الرِجالِ

The giving of favors comes lightly to them,

While none comes to my aid on the left.

Though those favors have weighed heavily upon men's necks.

I will requite your disavowal with forbearance,

بَني عَمّي وَعَزَّ عَلى يَميني

بَني عَمّي وَعَزَّ عَلى يَميني

مِنَ الضَرّاءِ ما لَقِيَت شِمالي

مِنَ الضَرّاءِ ما لَقِيَت شِمالي

My cousins, my right hand is distressed

If thoughts of disavowal creep into your minds.

By the adversity my left hand has endured.

Show me who can take my place amongst you!

أَعودُ عَلى عُقوقِكُمُ بِحِلمي

أَعودُ عَلى عُقوقِكُمُ بِحِلمي

إِذا خَطَرَ العُقوقُ لَكُم بِبالِ

إِذا خَطَرَ العُقوقُ لَكُم بِبالِ

I meet your disloyalty with my forbearance,

Show me who can speak my words!

Whenever disloyalty crosses your minds.

Who will protect the inviolable from enemies?

أَروني مَن يَقومُ لَكُم مَقامي

أَروني مَن يَقومُ لَكُم مَقامي

أَروني مَن يَقولُ لَكُم مَقالي

أَروني مَن يَقولُ لَكُم مَقالي

Show me who can fill my place for you;

Who will cure the incurable sickness?

Show me who can speak for you as I do;

He will defend you on the day of death

وَمَن يَحمي الحَريمَ مِنَ الأَعادي

وَمَن يَحمي الحَريمَ مِنَ الأَعادي

وَمَن يَشفي مِنَ الداءِ العُضالِ

وَمَن يَشفي مِنَ الداءِ العُضالِ

And who guards your household against enemies,

And charge the foe on the day of battle.

And who can cure the incurable disease,

I will attain the same by staying far from you -

يُشايِحُ دونَكُم يَومَ المَنايا

يُشايِحُ دونَكُم يَومَ المَنايا

وَيَرمي عَنكُمُ يَومَ النِضالِ

وَيَرمي عَنكُمُ يَومَ النِضالِ

Who fights fiercely for you on the day of death,

No ropes can achieve what separation achieves.

And shoots in your defense on the day of arrows.

He who cannot live amicably should be straightened

سَأَبلُغُ بِالقِلى وَالبُعدِ عَنكُم

سَأَبلُغُ بِالقِلى وَالبُعدِ عَنكُم

مَبالِغَ لَيسَ تُبلَغُ بِالأَلالِ

مَبالِغَ لَيسَ تُبلَغُ بِالأَلالِ

Through hatred and separation from you, I shall reach

With retaliation and repayment in kind.

Ends that cannot be attained with spears.

And I reckon that my triumph will benefit me

فَمَن لا يَستَقيمُ عَلى التَصافي

فَمَن لا يَستَقيمُ عَلى التَصافي

جَديرٌ أَن يُقَوَّمَ بِالتَقالي

جَديرٌ أَن يُقَوَّمَ بِالتَقالي

For whoever will not act uprightly in friendship

If to be harmed by others entails ignoring them.

Deserves to be set straight through mutual hatred.

I plot after my standards were raised high,

وَأَحسَبُ أَن سَيَنفَعُني اِنتِصاري

وَأَحسَبُ أَن سَيَنفَعُني اِنتِصاري

إِذا ما عادَ بِالضَرَرِ اِحتِمالي

إِذا ما عادَ بِالضَرَرِ اِحتِمالي

And I think that striking back will help me,

And my mountains fixed firmly in their positions,

If ever my forbearance brings harm upon me.

And glory tightened its tent-pegs for me

أَكَيداً بَعدَ أَن رُفِعَت مَناري

أَكَيداً بَعدَ أَن رُفِعَت مَناري

وَأَرسَت في مَقاعِدِها جِبالي

وَأَرسَت في مَقاعِدِها جِبالي

Would you plot against me, after my beacons were raised,

And extended its ropes on all sides,

And my mountains settled firmly in their places,

And your eminence was completed in me, after a deficiency,

وَشَدَّ المَجدُ أَطنابي إِلَيهِ

وَشَدَّ المَجدُ أَطنابي إِلَيهِ

وَمَدَّ عَلى جَوانِبِهِ حِبالي

وَمَدَّ عَلى جَوانِبِهِ حِبالي

And glory tied my tent-ropes to itself,

As the perfection of the full moon after its crescent phase.

And stretched my cords across its flanks,

Nor do I excel my people by any artifice,

وَتَمَّ عَلاؤُكُم بي بَعدَ نَقصٍ

وَتَمَّ عَلاؤُكُم بي بَعدَ نَقصٍ

تَمامَ الحَضرَميَّةِ بِالقِبالِ

تَمامَ الحَضرَميَّةِ بِالقِبالِ

And through me your eminence, once deficient, was made complete,

As a pod excels others with no trickery.

As a Hadrami sandal is completed by its toe-strap?

If I attained the glories of my father it was

وَما فَضلي عَلى قَومي بِخافٍ

وَما فَضلي عَلى قَومي بِخافٍ

كَما فَضلِ القَريعِ عَلى الإِفالِ

كَما فَضلِ القَريعِ عَلى الإِفالِ

My superiority over my people is not hidden,

The spark that came from that kindling.

Like a choice camel sire's superiority over camel calves.

For whom is the rain except for the valleys?

وَإِنّي إِن لَحِقتُ أَبي جَلالاً

وَإِنّي إِن لَحِقتُ أَبي جَلالاً

فَهَذي النارُ مِن ذاكَ الذُبالِ

فَهَذي النارُ مِن ذاكَ الذُبالِ

And if I equal my father in grandeur,

And for whom is the light except for the crescent moon?

Then this flame springs from that wick.

I guard my words from men, and am open-handed with men in my wealth.

وَأَينَ القَطرُ إِلّا لِلغَوادي

وَأَينَ القَطرُ إِلّا لِلغَوادي

وَأَينَ النورُ إِلّا لِلهِلالِ

وَأَينَ النورُ إِلّا لِلهِلالِ

And whence comes rain, if not from morning clouds?

Many biting arrows have wounded my heart more sharply than spears.

And whence comes light, if not from the crescent moon?

I showed patience, and did not counter the speaker with words,

أَصونُ عَنِ الرِجالِ فُضولَ قَولي

أَصونُ عَنِ الرِجالِ فُضولَ قَولي

وَأَبذُلُ لِلرِجالِ فَضولَ مالي

وَأَبذُلُ لِلرِجالِ فَضولَ مالي

I withhold from men the excess of my speech,

So my only answer to him who spoke was action.

And give men the surplus of my wealth.

Some have competed with me for the heights;

وَرُبَّ قَوارِصٍ نَكَتَت جَناني

وَرُبَّ قَوارِصٍ نَكَتَت جَناني

أَشَدُّ عَلَيَّ مِن صَردِ النِبالِ

أَشَدُّ عَلَيَّ مِن صَردِ النِبالِ

Many a biting word has stung my heart,

Little did they know that they are all mine!

More grievous to me than the piercing of arrows.

If I gained the stars in their loftiness,

صَبَرتُ لَها وَلَم أَردُد مَقالاً

صَبَرتُ لَها وَلَم أَردُد مَقالاً

فَكانَ جَزاءَ قائِلِها فِعالي

فَكانَ جَزاءَ قائِلِها فِعالي

I bore them patiently and answered with no words,

I have still preserved some of my possessions.

So my deeds were their speaker's recompense.

I swear by that parcel of fallen walls,

وَجاذَبَني عَلى العَلياءِ قَومٌ

وَجاذَبَني عَلى العَلياءِ قَومٌ

وَما عَلِموا بِأَنَّ جَميعَها لي

وَما عَلِموا بِأَنَّ جَميعَها لي

And some men contended with me for exalted rank,

The crevices of dormice and sand rat,

Not knowing that all of it is mine.

Whose buildings are humbled, whose pillars have crumbled,

لَئِن نِلتُ الكَواكِبَ في عُلاها

لَئِن نِلتُ الكَواكِبَ في عُلاها

لَقَد أَبقَيتُ فَضلاً مِن مَنالي

لَقَد أَبقَيتُ فَضلاً مِن مَنالي

Even if I reach the stars in their heights,

Assaulted by the passage of caravans,

I still have reach to spare.

Facing the Sacred House (in Mecca), exposed

حَلَفتُ بِها كَراكِعَةِ الحَنايا

حَلَفتُ بِها كَراكِعَةِ الحَنايا

خَوابِطَ لِلجَنادِلِ وَالرِمالِ

خَوابِطَ لِلجَنادِلِ وَالرِمالِ

I swore by them, like bows bent low,

To the pouring of lawful bloodshed.

Trampling boulders and sands,

So let this night destine for me one

مُهَدَّمَةَ العَرائِكِ مِن وَجاها

مُهَدَّمَةَ العَرائِكِ مِن وَجاها

تُعاضُ مِنَ الغَوارِبِ بِالرِحالِ

تُعاضُ مِنَ الغَوارِبِ بِالرِحالِ

Their hump-flesh worn down by their footsoreness,

Disheveled, dust laden, enveloped in darkness,

Given saddles in exchange for their hump-crests,

Light of belongings, whom his career preoccupies,

إِلى البَلَدِ الحَرامِ مُعَرَّضاتٍ

إِلى البَلَدِ الحَرامِ مُعَرَّضاتٍ

لِإِجراءِ الطُلى بِدَمٍ حَلالِ

لِإِجراءِ الطُلى بِدَمٍ حَلالِ

Bound for the sacred city, offered up

Keeping him from thoughts of decline and decay,

For blood to flow lawfully from their throats.

And aspiring to the heights, until he surpasses

لِيَعتَسِفَنَّ هَذا اللَيلَ مِنّي

لِيَعتَسِفَنَّ هَذا اللَيلَ مِنّي

أُشَيعِثُ عابُ لِمَّتِهِ الغَوالي

أُشَيعِثُ عابُ لِمَّتِهِ الغَوالي

My own self shall surely plunge through this night:

The reach of any other aspirant.

A tousled little fellow, rich perfume the blemish of his locks,

And if I do not stand in these heights,

خَفيفُ الحاذِ يَشغَلُهُ سُراهُ

خَفيفُ الحاذِ يَشغَلُهُ سُراهُ

زَماناً أَن يُفَكِّرَ في الهُزالِ

زَماناً أَن يُفَكِّرَ في الهُزالِ

Lean-flanked, his night travel distracts him

Then ravens will lament over my grave at evening...

For a time from thinking of his emaciation,

وَمُمتَرِقٍ إِلى العَلياءِ حَتّى

وَمُمتَرِقٍ إِلى العَلياءِ حَتّى

يُجاوِزُ مَدَّ غايَةِ كُلِّ عالِ

يُجاوِزُ مَدَّ غايَةِ كُلِّ عالِ

And racing toward the heights of glory until

He surpasses the farthest reach of every lofty man.

فَإِن أَنا لَم أَقُم فيها فَقامَت

فَإِن أَنا لَم أَقُم فيها فَقامَت

عَلى قَبري النَوادِبُ بِالمَآلِ

عَلى قَبري النَوادِبُ بِالمَآلِ

If I do not take my stand there, may there stand

Upon my grave the wailing women with their mourning cloths.