أَلهاكِdistracted you عَنّاfrom us رَبَّةَmistress البُرقُعِof the veil
أَلهاكِ عَنّا رَبَّةَ البُرقُعِ
مَرُّthe passing الثَلاثينَof thirty إِلىto الأَربَعِfour more
مَرُّ الثَلاثينَ إِلى الأَربَعِ
You are distracted from us, lady of the veil,
The one who distracted you from us, mistress of the mantle
by thirty years gone by, and four more.
Is crossing from thirty to forty
أَنتِyou أَعَنتِaided الشَيبَthe gray hair فيin مَفرِقيmy hair-parting
أَنتِ أَعَنتِ الشَيبَ في مَفرِقي
مَعَalongside اللَياليthe nights فَصِليso grant union أَوor دَعيleave me be
مَعَ اللَيالي فَصِلي أَو دَعي
You aided the gray hairs in my parting,
You have helped gray hair in my temples
alongside the nights; so join me, or leave me.
Whether the nights pass in devotion or neglect
ياO حاجَةَdesire القَلبِof the heart أَلَمhave you not تَرحَميshown mercy حاجَةَneed
يا حاجَةَ القَلبِ أَلَم تَرحَمي حاجَةَ
جِنايَةَthe injury الدَمعِof tears عَلىupon مَدمَعيmy tear-duct
جِنايَةَ الدَمعِ عَلى مَدمَعي
O heart's desire, have you no pity for my need—
O heart's desire, have you no mercy on the heartache
for the tears' ravages upon my tear-duct?
The crime of tears upon my tear ducts
لَولاwere it not for ضَلالاتُthe delusions الهَوىof love لَمwould not يَكُنbe
لَولا ضَلالاتُ الهَوى لَم يَكُن
عِنانُthe rein قَلبيof my heart لَكِto you بِالأَطوَعِso obedient
عِنانُ قَلبي لَكِ بِالأَطوَعِ
Were it not for love's delusions,
If not for the misguidance of passion, my heart
my heart's rein would not be so yielding to you.
Would not have been so yielding to you
كَيفَhow طَوىpassed by دارَكِyour dwelling ذوone with صَبوَةٍpassion
كَيفَ طَوى دارَكِ ذو صَبوَةٍ
عَهديmy recollection بِهِof him يَطرَبُhe thrills لِلمَربَعِat the spring abode
عَهدي بِهِ يَطرَبُ لِلمَربَعِ
How could a passionate man pass your dwelling by?
How has one with temerity passed by your house
I remember him thrilling at the spring abode.
My pact with him is disturbed by the square
كانَhe used to يَرىconsider ناظِرَهُhis eye سُبَّةًa disgrace
كانَ يَرى ناظِرَهُ سُبَّةً
إِنif مَرَّhe passed بِالدارِby the dwelling وَلَمand did not يَدمَعِweep
إِن مَرَّ بِالدارِ وَلَم يَدمَعِ
He used to deem his eye a disgrace
A viewer would see him as an ignominy
if he passed the dwelling without weeping.
If he passed by the house and did not weep
ياah حَبَّذاhow welcome مِنكِof you خَيالٌa phantom سَرىcame by night
يا حَبَّذا مِنكِ خَيالٌ سَرى
فَدَلَّهُso guided it الشَوقُlonging عَلىto مَضجَعيmy bed
فَدَلَّهُ الشَوقُ عَلى مَضجَعي
How welcome a phantom of you that came by night!
How wonderful an apparition of you came by
Longing guided it to my bed.
And longing guided it to my bed
أَنّىhow تَسَرّىjourneyed by night مِنfrom حَقيقِHaqiq الحِمىal-Hima (the sanctuary)
أَنّى تَسَرّى مِن حَقيقِ الحِمى
مَنازِلَthe dwellings الحَيِّof the clan عَلىon لَعلَعِLa'la'
مَنازِلَ الحَيِّ عَلى لَعلَعِ
How did it journey by night from Haqiq al-Hima,
How could an authentic fever mirage
the clan's encampments on La'la'?
Travel the abodes of the living for a mere phantom
باتَspent the night يُعاطينيoffering me جَنىthe fruit ظَلمِهِof its teeth's moisture
باتَ يُعاطيني جَنى ظَلمِهِ
وَبِتُّand I spent the night ظَمآنَthirsty وَلَمand was not أُنقَعِslaked
وَبِتُّ ظَمآنَ وَلَم أُنقَعِ
All night it offered me the nectar of its gleaming teeth,
He spends the night hurting me
while I stayed thirsty, never slaked.
While I sleep thirsty and unquenched
مُعانِقاًembracing كانَwas عِناقيmy embrace لَهُof it
مُعانِقاً كانَ عِناقي لَهُ
وَراءَbehind أَحشائِيَmy innards وَالأَضلُعِand the ribs
وَراءَ أَحشائِيَ وَالأَضلُعِ
I embraced it, yet my embrace of it was
Embracing me while his embrace
behind my innards and my ribs.
Is behind my intestines and ribs
عاقَرَنيcaroused with me يَشرَبُdrinking مِنfrom مُهجَتيmy lifeblood
عاقَرَني يَشرَبُ مِن مُهجَتي
رَيّاto its fill وَيَسقينِيَand gave me drink مِنfrom أَدمُعيmy tears
رَيّا وَيَسقينِيَ مِن أَدمُعي
It caroused with me, drinking of my lifeblood,
He impregnates me, drinking from my brain
to its fill, while giving me my tears to drink.
Quenched, and gives me my tears to drink
هَلwill تُبلِغَنّيbring me الدارَto the dwelling مِنfrom بَعدِهِمafter them
هَل تُبلِغَنّي الدارَ مِن بَعدِهِم
عَلىdespite الطَوىhunger جائِلَةُwith slipping الأَنسُعِgirth-straps
عَلى الطَوى جائِلَةُ الأَنسُعِ
Will a mount bring me to the dwelling now they are gone,
After them, will the house still reach me
hungry, with girth-straps slipping loose?
Weary, worn out by the females' claws
كَأَنَّas though مَجرىthe course النِسعِof the girth-strap فيin ذَفِّهاher flank
كَأَنَّ مَجرى النِسعِ في ذَفِّها
مُضطَرَبُthe writhing الأَيمِof a snake عَلىon الأَجرَعِthe sandy ground
مُضطَرَبُ الأَيمِ عَلى الأَجرَعِ
As though the girth-strap's course along her flank
As if the course of misfortune in its knolls
were a snake's writhing on sandy ground.
Is the confused rain on barren land
تَحَمِلُنيshe carries me وَالشَوقُand longing فيin كَورِهاher saddle
تَحَمِلُني وَالشَوقُ في كَورِها
أَنّىwherever دَعانيcalls me طَرَبٌyearning أَسمَعِI heed
أَنّى دَعاني طَرَبٌ أَسمَعِ
She carries me, with longing in her saddle;
It carries me while passion in its burrows
wherever yearning calls me, I heed.
Calls me wherever frenzy makes me hear
إِنَّindeed بَهاءَBaha المُلكِal-Mulk إِنif أَدعُهُI call on him
إِنَّ بَهاءَ المُلكِ إِن أَدعُهُ
وَالخَطبُwhile calamity قَدalready نازَلَنيassailed me يَمنَعِhe protects
وَالخَطبُ قَد نازَلَني يَمنَعِ
Indeed Baha al-Mulk, if I call on him
The luster of glory, if I summon it
when calamity assails me, will protect me.
Has come over me, preventing and refusing
رُبَّmany a زِمامٍbond لِيَof mine فيin ضِمنِهِhis keeping
رُبَّ زِمامٍ لِيَ في ضِمنِهِ
لَمdid not أَتَقَوَّلهُfabricate it وَلَمnor أَدَّعِclaim
لَم أَتَقَوَّلهُ وَلَم أَدَّعِ
Many a bond of mine is in his keeping,
How many reins are tied for me
neither fabricated by me nor falsely claimed.
That I have not exaggerated nor claimed
مُصطَنِعيmy patron وَالسَنُّwhile age فيin رَوقِهاits first bloom
مُصطَنِعي وَالسَنُّ في رَوقِها
أَصابَhit مِنّيin me غَرَضَthe target المَصنَعِof benefaction
أَصابَ مِنّي غَرَضَ المَصنَعِ
My patron, while youth was in its first bloom,
My lovers, though gray hair is in its prime
found in me the proper mark for his bounty.
Have gotten what they want from me
لَمdid not أَرضَaccept إِلّاهُanyone but him وَمِنand from قَبلِهِbefore him
لَم أَرضَ إِلّاهُ وَمِن قَبلِهِ
أَقنَعَنيurged me to be content الدَهرُtime وَلَمbut did not أَقنَعِbecome content
أَقنَعَني الدَهرُ وَلَم أَقنَعِ
I accepted none but him; before him,
I have been satisfied by none but him
time urged contentment on me, but I was not content.
And time has sufficed me though I was not satisfied
أَغَرُّa radiant nobleman إِنif رُوِّعَwere frightened جيرانُهhis neighbors
أَغَرُّ إِن رُوِّعَ جيرانُه
لَمdid not يَذُقِtaste الغَمضَsleep وَلَمnor يَهجَعِslumber
لَم يَذُقِ الغَمضَ وَلَم يَهجَعِ
A radiant nobleman: if his neighbors are frightened,
The neighbor was frightened if he was disturbed
he tastes no sleep and takes no rest,
He did not sleep a wink or rest
كَأَنَّماas though الضَيمُthe wrong إِلَيهِto him سَرىhad crept by night
كَأَنَّما الضَيمُ إِلَيهِ سَرى
وَهوَwhile he عَلىon المُطَّلَعِthe height الأَمنَعِmost impregnable
وَهوَ عَلى المُطَّلَعِ الأَمنَعِ
as though the wrong had stolen upon him,
As if injustice went only to him
though he stands on the most impregnable height.
While he is on the most unassailable watch
فيin حَسَبٍnoble lineage أَصبَحَhas become وَضّاحُهُits radiant glory
في حَسَبٍ أَصبَحَ وَضّاحُهُ
قَدalready غَلَبَoutshone الشَمسَthe sun عَلىat المَطلَعِthe rising-place
قَد غَلَبَ الشَمسَ عَلى المَطلَعِ
His is a lineage whose shining glory has now
His bright truth overpowered the sunrise
outshone the sun at its rising.
Over the horizon without having risen
لَئِنeven if نَأىhe grew distant عَنّاfrom us فَإِحسانُهُyet his kindness
لَئِن نَأى عَنّا فَإِحسانُهُ
أَدنىnearer مِنَthan الناظِرِthe eye وَالمَسمَعِand the ear
أَدنى مِنَ الناظِرِ وَالمَسمَعِ
Though he is far from us, yet his kindness
If his benevolence is far from us
is nearer than eye and ear.
It is nearer than the onlooker and hearer
سَومُthe sweep الحَياof life-giving rain أَقلَعَceased عَنfrom أَرضِناour land
سَومُ الحَيا أَقلَعَ عَن أَرضِنا
وَنَحنُwhile we فيin آثارِهِits traces نَرتَعيgraze
وَنَحنُ في آثارِهِ نَرتَعي
The sweep of life-giving rain has ceased over our land,
The black snake has pulled away from our land
yet we graze in the traces it left.
While we graze in its trails
كَمhow many a نَفحَةٍgift مِنهُfrom him عَلىupon فاقَةٍneed
كَم نَفحَةٍ مِنهُ عَلى فاقَةٍ
تُنبِتُmakes sprout عُشبَthe grass البَلَدِof the land البَلقَعِthe barren
تُنبِتُ عُشبَ البَلَدِ البَلقَعِ
How many a gift from him in time of want
How many whiffs from him to destitute poverty
makes grass spring up in a barren land!
Make the plants of the arid country grow
وَنَظرَةٍand a glance تَجبُرُmends وَهنَthe weakness الفَتىof the young man
وَنَظرَةٍ تَجبُرُ وَهنَ الفَتى
وَعَظمُهُthough his bone مُنصَدِعٌis split ماnot وَعِيhealed
وَعَظمُهُ مُنصَدِعٌ ما وَعِي
And how many a glance mends a young man's weakness,
How many glances mend the weakness of a gallant man
though his bone is split and has not healed!
Whose bone had shattered beyond recovery
إِذاwhen قَضىhe judges مَرَّhe proceeds عَلىalong نَهجِهِhis path
إِذا قَضى مَرَّ عَلى نَهجِهِ
وَاِستَوقَفَand makes stand الحَقَّjustice عَلىat المَقطَعِthe point of decision
وَاِستَوقَفَ الحَقَّ عَلى المَقطَعِ
When he judges, he follows his path
When he passes judgment after reviewing a case
and makes justice stand at the point of decision.
And justice stands still at the crossroad
كَمhow many طارَsoared فيin مُلكِكَyour realm ذوone with نَخوَةٍarrogance
كَم طارَ في مُلكِكَ ذو نَخوَةٍ
قالَتsaid لَهُto him ريحُthe wind المَناياof death قِعِfall
قالَت لَهُ ريحُ المَنايا قِعِ
How many a proud man has soared in your realm,
How many honorable souls have flown in your kingdom
only for the wind of death to tell him, 'Fall!'
The wind of death said, “Wait, do not be proud”
إِنif شَمَخَhe raised proudly اليَومَtoday بِعِرنينِهِhis nose
إِن شَمَخَ اليَومَ بِعِرنينِهِ
فَهوَthen he غَداًtomorrow يَعطُسُsneezes عَنthrough أَجدَعِa cropped nose
فَهوَ غَداً يَعطُسُ عَن أَجدَعِ
If today he proudly lifts his nose,
If today he struts with his spears
tomorrow he sneezes through its mutilated stump.
Tomorrow he sneezes out of an uncloven hoof
لَمnever يَلقَكَmeets you المَغرورُthe self-deluded إِلّاexcept غَداhe becomes
لَم يَلقَكَ المَغرورُ إِلّا غَدا
يُقَوِّمُstraightening الجَنبَthe flank عَلىupon المَصرَعِthe killing-ground
يُقَوِّمُ الجَنبَ عَلى المَصرَعِ
No self-deluded man meets you but ends up
The deluded man will not face you except tomorrow
with his flank stretched out upon the killing-ground.
Straightening his side on the death bed
يَنتَظِرُawaits الحَيُّthe living man بِهِمamong them هَتفَةًa cry
يَنتَظِرُ الحَيُّ بِهِم هَتفَةً
مِنَfrom النَواعيthe death-announcers وَكَأَنand as though قَدalready نُعِيhis death were announced
مِنَ النَواعي وَكَأَن قَد نُعِي
Each living man among them awaits a cry
The living await them with a single shout
from the death-announcers, as though already pronounced dead:
As if they had already been eulogized
مِنof جاهِدٍa striver خابَwho failed وَمِنand of طالَبٍa seeker
مِن جاهِدٍ خابَ وَمِن طالَبٍ
أَوفىreached عَلىto الفَجِّthe mountain pass وَلَمbut did not يَطلُعِascend
أَوفى عَلى الفَجِّ وَلَم يَطلُعِ
a striver who failed, or a seeker
Of a warrior who failed and a seeker
who reached the mountain pass but never climbed it;
Who fulfilled at the crevasse without rising
وَمُسرِعٍand a hasty man أَقلَعَwho halted مِنbecause of عَثرَةٍa stumble
وَمُسرِعٍ أَقلَعَ مِن عَثرَةٍ
رَوعاءَterrifying وَالعَثرَةُand stumbling لِلمُسرِعِbefalls the hasty
رَوعاءَ وَالعَثرَةُ لِلمُسرِعِ
or a headlong man halted by a stumble—
One hurrying who desisted from stumbling
a dreadful one, for stumbling is the hasty man's lot;
Terrified, though stumbling befalls the hasty
وَنادِمٍand a remorseful man أَطرَقَwho bowed his head عَنaway from حِزبِهِhis party
وَنادِمٍ أَطرَقَ عَن حِزبِهِ
قَدalready نادَمَkept company with الناجِذَthe molar بِالإِصبَعِwith a finger
قَد نادَمَ الناجِذَ بِالإِصبَعِ
or a rueful man, head bowed away from his party,
A remorseful one who turned away from his party
keeping his molar company with a finger.
Regretting his ally with a gesture
مَعاشِرٌbands of men ماnever اِختَلَطواthey mingled بِالعُلىwith nobility
مَعاشِرٌ ما اِختَلَطوا بِالعُلى
وَلاnor رَبواdid they grow up وَالعِزَّalongside honor فيin مَوضِعِone place
وَلا رَبوا وَالعِزَّ في مَوضِعِ
Bands of men who never mingled with nobility,
A people who never mixed with the lofty
nor grew up alongside honor in one place.
Nor cultivated glory wherever it may lie
شابَهَتِmade alike السَوأَةُdisgrace ماwhat بَينَهُمis among them
شابَهَتِ السَوأَةُ ما بَينَهُم
ماhow أَشبَهُsimilar الحالِقَthe shaven-headed man بِالأَنزَعِto the balding man
ما أَشبَهُ الحالِقَ بِالأَنزَعِ
Disgrace has made them all alike—
Adversity made them equal, just as
how like the shaven-headed man is to the balding!
The barber resembles the bleeder
اِرتَضَعواthey suckled وَالعارَalongside shame مِنfrom فيقَةٍone milking
اِرتَضَعوا وَالعارَ مِن فيقَةٍ
وَنَزَعواand they sprang وَاللُئمُalongside baseness مِنfrom مَنزِعِone source
وَنَزَعوا وَاللُئمُ مِن مَنزِعِ
They and shame suckled from one flow of milk,
They were suckled disgrace from a sip
and they and baseness sprang from one source.
And pulled it while the infamy is from its source
مِنamong them عاقِدٍa pact-maker أَغدَرَmore treacherous مِنthan مومِسٍa harlot
مِن عاقِدٍ أَغدَرَ مِن مومِسٍ
وَواعِدٍand a promise-maker أَكذَبَmore deceitful مِنthan يَلمَعِa mirage
وَواعِدٍ أَكذَبَ مِن يَلمَعِ
Among them, a pact-maker more faithless than a harlot,
Of one who betrayed from a whore
and a promise-maker more deceitful than a mirage.
And another who lied more than a polished sword
راموكَthey reached for you بِالأَيديwith their hands وَكانَbut was السُهىal-Suha
راموكَ بِالأَيدي وَكانَ السُهى
أَعلىhigher مِنthan أَنto يُدرَكَbe reached بِالأَذرُعِby arms
أَعلى مِن أَن يُدرَكَ بِالأَذرُعِ
They reached for you with their hands, but al-Suha
They have targeted you with their hands, but temptation
was too high to be reached with arms.
Is too lofty to be reached by outstretched arms
قَدindeed عَلِمواthey learned عِندَwhen قِراعِstriking الصَفاthe hard rock
قَد عَلِموا عِندَ قِراعِ الصَفا
أَنَّthat الصَفاthe hard rock العاديَّthe primeval لَمwas not يُقرَعِstruck
أَنَّ الصَفا العاديَّ لَم يُقرَعِ
They learned, when they battered the hard rock,
They realized, when the battle drum was struck
that the primeval rock had felt no blow.
That the oft-struck drum was never touched
قُلsay لِبُهامٍto lambs نُشِرَتscattered فيon الرُبىthe hills
قُل لِبُهامٍ نُشِرَت في الرُبى
هَذاthis قِوامُthe mainstay الدينِof the faith فَاِستَجمِعيso muster your strength
هَذا قِوامُ الدينِ فَاِستَجمِعي
Say to the lambs scattered across the hills:
Tell the negligent one adorned with ample flesh
'This is the mainstay of the faith: muster your strength!'
This is the pillar of religion, so pull yourself together
قَدalready أَصحَرَcame into the open الضَيغَمُthe lion مِنfrom غيلِهِhis thicket
قَد أَصحَرَ الضَيغَمُ مِن غيلِهِ
أُظفورُهُhis claw مِنكِfrom you عَلىset on مَطمَعِprey to covet
أُظفورُهُ مِنكِ عَلى مَطمَعِ
The lion has come into the open from his thicket;
The urchins are angry because of their hunger
his claw covets prey from you.
With the crumbs of food scattered about
غَضبانَangry قَدindeed غَرَّكِhas deceived you هَمهامُهُhis growling
غَضبانَ قَد غَرَّكِ هَمهامُهُ
عَلىalong مَجازيthe crossings اللَقَمِof the highway المَهيَعِthe broad and open
عَلى مَجازي اللَقَمِ المَهيَعِ
Angry—his growling has deceived you
How many holes for their claws are in you
along the crossings of the broad, open highway.
That cannot be patched like worn-out chest armor
كَمhow many فيكِin you مِنof خَرقٍa rent لِأَظفارِهِby his claws
كَم فيكِ مِن خَرقٍ لِأَظفارِهِ
كَمَلغَمِlike the gape الأَشدَقِof the wide-mouthed لَمnot يُرقَعِpatched
كَمَلغَمِ الأَشدَقِ لَم يُرقَعِ
How many a rent his claws have made in you,
The wolf pack's raid is unlike the sanctuary guard dogs
like a wide mouth's gape, never patched shut!
If he passes by an acacia tree, he does not return
لَيسَit is not كَغَزوِlike the raid الذِئبِof the wolf بُهمَthe lambs الحِمىof the protected pasture
لَيسَ كَغَزوِ الذِئبِ بُهمَ الحِمى
إِنif مَرَّhe passes بِالسَخلَةِby a lamb لَمdoes not يَرجِعِturn back
إِن مَرَّ بِالسَخلَةِ لَم يَرجِعِ
It is not like a wolf's raid on the pasture's lambs;
If you do not consult his patience, by morning you become
if he comes upon a lamb, he does not turn back.
A meal for wolves and hyenas
إِنif لَمdo not تِشاوِرyou consult حِلمَهُhis wisdom تُصبِحيyou will become
إِن لَم تِشاوِر حِلمَهُ تُصبِحي
وَليمَةَa feast الذُؤبانِfor wolves وَالأَضبُعِand hyenas
وَليمَةَ الذُؤبانِ وَالأَضبُعِ
If you do not consult his wisdom, you will become
He hears advice though he has no need for it
a feast for wolves and hyenas.
A sword may be polished but not forged
يَستَمِعُhe listens to الرَأيَcounsel وَعَنهُwhile of it غِنىًhe has no need
يَستَمِعُ الرَأيَ وَعَنهُ غِنىً
قَدmay يُصقَلُbe polished السَيفُthe sword وَلَمthough not يُطبَعِbe tarnished
قَد يُصقَلُ السَيفُ وَلَم يُطبَعِ
He listens to counsel, though he has no need of it;
His frights are bound to ebb
a sword may be polished though it has not rusted.
Even if today he pardons without causing harm
لاno بُدَّescape أَنthat تُرمِضَsear رَوعاتُهُhis terrors
لا بُدَّ أَن تُرمِضَ رَوعاتُهُ
وَإِنeven if عَفاhe pardons اليَومَtoday وَلَمand does not يوقِعِstrike
وَإِن عَفا اليَومَ وَلَم يوقِعِ
The terrors he inspires must sear,
The sword, if it passes by a head
even if today he pardons and does not strike.
Will terrify it even without cutting
وَالسَيفُand the sword إِنif مَرَّpasses عَلىover هامَةٍa head
وَالسَيفُ إِن مَرَّ عَلى هامَةٍ
رَوَّعَهاterrifies it إِنeven if هُوَit لَمdoes not يَقطَعِcut
رَوَّعَها إِن هُوَ لَم يَقطَعِ
And a sword, if it passes over a head,
Tell the envious wretch in losing it
terrifies it, even if it does not cut.
You have lived with severe intestinal pain
قُلsay لِحَسودِto the envier النَجمِof the star فيfor فَوتِهِits being beyond reach
قُل لِحَسودِ النَجمِ في فَوتِهِ
عِشتَmay you live بِداءِwith the disease الكَمَدِof grief المَوجِعِthe agonizing
عِشتَ بِداءِ الكَمَدِ المَوجِعِ
Say to him who envies the star for being beyond reach:
The glutton is bound to scrape his bowl
'May you live with the disease of agonizing grief!
So vent your anger or eat your fill
لاno بُدَّescape لِلبِطنَةِfor a full belly مِنfrom خَمصَةٍa spell of hunger
لا بُدَّ لِلبِطنَةِ مِن خَمصَةٍ
فَجُعso go hungry عَلىin غَيظِكَyour spite أَوor فَاِشبَعِthen eat your fill
فَجُع عَلى غَيظِكَ أَو فَاِشبَعِ
A full belly cannot escape a spell of hunger;
Have they not forbidden enemies from trying
so go hungry in your spite, or eat your fill!'
To shake the firmly fastened tent pole
أَماhas not نَهىdeterred الأَعداءَthe enemies ماwhat جَرَّبواthey experienced
أَما نَهى الأَعداءَ ما جَرَّبوا
مِنكَfrom you بِزَعزاعِamid the tumult القَناof spears الشُرَّعِleveled
مِنكَ بِزَعزاعِ القَنا الشُرَّعِ
Have your enemies not been deterred by what they experienced
Critical junctures wherein the sublime quiver
of you amid the storm of leveled spears?
Undoes the formidable hero's resolute demeanor
مَواقِفُbattle-stands تَفسَخُundo فيهاin them الظُبىthe blade-edges
مَواقِفُ تَفسَخُ فيها الظُبى
عُقدَةَthe knot رَأيِof resolve البَطَلِof the champion الأَروَعِthe dauntless
عُقدَةَ رَأيِ البَطَلِ الأَروَعِ
Battle-stands where sword-edges undo
Your auspicious days donned like the lengths
the knot of the dauntless champion's resolve.
Of burnished reeds that glittered
أَيّامُكَyour days الغُرُّthe glorious تَسَربَلتَهاyou wore them as a robe
أَيّامُكَ الغُرُّ تَسَربَلتَها
مِثلَlike مُتونِthe flats القُضُبِof keen swords اللُمَّعِthe gleaming
مِثلَ مُتونِ القُضُبِ اللُمَّعِ
Your glorious days you have worn as a robe,
Basra has recovered from its disease
like the flats of gleaming, keen-edged swords.
But alas, it did not heal the people
أَفاقَتِhas recovered البَصرَةُBasra مِنfrom دائِهاher disease
أَفاقَتِ البَصرَةُ مِن دائِها
وَقَدthough already رَقىchanted charms over الناسَthe people وَلَمbut did not يَنجَعِprove effective
وَقَد رَقى الناسَ وَلَم يَنجَعِ
Basra has recovered from her disease,
The habits of your swords are foreign to others
though incantations over the people had proved vain.
A sword points only to one struck down
عاداتُthe habits أَسيافِكَof your swords فيin غَيرِهاplaces other than her
عاداتُ أَسيافِكَ في غَيرِها
وَالسَيفُand the sword مَدلولٌis guided عَلىto المَقطَعِthe cutting-point
وَالسَيفُ مَدلولٌ عَلى المَقطَعِ
Such are your swords' ways in other lands;
Take me to what you have taken me before
and the sword is shown the place to cut.
Which unfamiliar region lies unexplored?
قُدنيlead me إِلىto ماwhat قُدتَنيyou led me to قَبلَهاbefore it
قُدني إِلى ما قُدتَني قَبلَها
أَيُّwhat جَنيبٍled mount لَكَof yours لَمhas not يوضِعِhastened
أَيُّ جَنيبٍ لَكَ لَم يوضِعِ
Lead me to what you led me to before this;
I am no sluggard among veterans
what mount led by you has ever failed to hasten?
Upon the towering mounts of watchmen that rise high
فَلَستُfor I am not بِالخامِلِdrooping مِنin غارِبيmy withers
فَلَستُ بِالخامِلِ مِن غارِبي
عَلىon سَنامِthe hump النَقِبِof the sore-footed camel الأَظلَعِthe limping
عَلى سَنامِ النَقِبِ الأَظلَعِ
For my shoulders are not bowed low
Those who awake tomorrow deprived of you
over the hump of a footsore, limping camel.
Woe is me, though fortune is with me because of you
قَدalready خابَhas failed مَنwhoever أَصبَحَhas become مِنfrom غَيرِكُمother than you
قَد خابَ مَن أَصبَحَ مِن غَيرِكُم
عَلَيَّagainst me وَالإِقبالُwhile favor مِنكُمfrom you مَعيis with me
عَلَيَّ وَالإِقبالُ مِنكُم مَعي
Defeated is whoever, other than you, has turned
O sea, we have great hopes in you
against me, while your favor is with me.
Do you have any meadows for us?
ياO أَيُّهاyou البَحرُsea بِناupon us غُلَّةٌa burning thirst
يا أَيُّها البَحرُ بِنا غُلَّةٌ
فَهَلso is there لَناfor us عِندَكَwith you مِنany مَكرَعِdrinking-place
فَهَل لَنا عِندَكَ مِن مَكرَعِ
O sea, we burn with thirst;
have you a place for us to drink?
Partial English translation: 116 of 118 Arabic lines translated.