ألا هبي بصحنك فاصبحين — Amr Ibn Kulthum

أَلا هُبّي بِصَحنِكِ فَاَصبَحينا

وَلا تُبقي خُمورَ الأَندَرينا

Come, rise with your bowl and give us our morning draught!

And leave none of the wines of al-Andarin.

مُشَعشَعَةً كَأَنَّ الحُصَّ فيها

إِذا ما الماءُ خالَطَها سَخينا

Blended, as though saffron were within it,

When water mingles with it, we grow generous.

تَجورُ بِذي اللُبانَةِ عَن هَواهُ

إِذا ما ذاقَها حَتّى يَلينا

It turns the man of desire away from his passion,

When he tastes it, until he softens.

تَرى اللَحِزَ الشَحيحَ إِذا أُمِرَّت

عَلَيهِ لِمالِهِ فيها مُهينا

You see the tight-fisted miser, when it is passed

Before him, treating his wealth with contempt for its sake.

صَبَنتِ الكَأسَ عَنّا أُمَّ عَمرٍو

وَكانَ الكَأَسُ مَجراها اليَمينا

You turned the cup away from us, Umm Amr,

Though the cup's course was to the right.

وَما شَرُّ الثَلاثَةِ أُمَّ عَمرٍو

بِصاحِبِكِ الَّذي لا تَصبَحينا

Yet the worst of the three, Umm Amr,

Is not your companion whom you deny a morning draught.

وَكَأسٍ قَد شَرِبتُ بِبَعلَبَكٍّ

وَأُخرى في دِمَشقَ وَقاصِرينا

Many a cup have I drunk at Baalbek,

And another in Damascus and Qasirin.

وَإِنّا سَوفَ تُدرِكُنا المَناياَ

مُقَدَّرَةً لَنا وَمُقَدَّرينا

Surely death will overtake us,

Decreed for us, with us destined for it.

قِفي قَبلَ التَفَرُّقِ يا ظَعيناَ

نُخَبِّركِ اليَقينا وَتُخبِرينا

Stop before we part, O departing woman,

That we may tell you the truth, and you tell us.

قِفي نَسأَلكِ هَل أَحدَثتِ صَرماً

لِوَشكِ البَينِ أَم خُنتِ الأَمينا

Stop; let us ask: have you broken our bond

Because parting is near, or betrayed the faithful one?

بِيَومِ كَريهَةٍ ضَرباً وَطَعناً

أَقَرَّ بِهِ مَواليكِ العُيونا

Of a dreadful battle-day, of blows and spear-thrusts,

That gladdened the eyes of your kinsmen.

وَإنَّ غَداً وَإِنَّ اليَومَ رَهنٌ

وَبَعدَ غَدٍ بِما لا تَعلَمينا

Tomorrow—and today too—is pledged,

And the day after tomorrow, to what you do not know.

تُريكَ إِذا دَخَلتَ عَلى خَلاءٍ

وَقَد أَمِنَت عُيونَ الكاشِحينا

She shows you, when you enter in seclusion,

Secure from the eyes of those who bear her malice,

ذِراعَي عَيطَلٍ أَدماءَ بِكرٍ

هِجانِ اللَونِ لَم تَقرَأ جَنينا

The arms of a tall, white, maiden she-camel,

Pure in color, that has never carried a fetus.

وَثَدياً مِثلَ حُقِّ العاجِ رَخصاً

حَصاناً مِن أَكُفِّ اللامِسينا

And a soft breast like an ivory box,

Kept inviolate from the palms of those who touch.

وَمَتنَي لَدنَةٍ سَمَقَت وَطالَت

رَوادِفُها تَنوءُ بِما وَلينا

And the two sides of a supple back, grown lofty and long;

Her haunches rise heavily with what they bear.

وَمَأكَمَةً يَضيقُ البابُ عَنها

وَكَشحاً قَد جُنِنتُ بِهِ جُنونا

And a rump too broad for the doorway,

And a waist that has driven me utterly mad.

وَساريَتَي بَلَنطٍ أَو رُخامٍ

يَرِنُّ خُشاشُ حَليِهِما رَنينا

And two pillars of ivory or marble,

Their little ornaments ringing clear.

فَما وَجَدَت كَوَجدي أُمُّ سَقبٍ

أَضَلَّتهُ فَرَجَّعَتِ الحَنينا

No mother of a camel-calf has felt grief like mine,

Having lost him and repeated her plaintive cries,

وَلا شَمطاءُ لَم يَترُك شَقاها

لَها مِن تِسعَةٍ إَلّا جَنينا

Nor a gray-haired woman whose misery left

Of nine children, only one in her womb.

تَذَكَّرتُ الصِبا وَاِشتَقتُ لَمّا

رَأَيتُ حُمولَها أُصُلاً حُدينا

I remembered youth and yearned when

I saw her litter-bearing camels driven off at evening.

فَأَعرَضَتِ اليَمامَةُ وَاِشمَخَرَّت

كَأَسيافٍ بِأَيدي مُصلِتينا

Then al-Yamamah loomed broad and towered high,

Like swords in the hands of men who bare them.

أَبا هِندٍ فَلا تَعَجَل عَلَينا

وَأَنظِرنا نُخَبِّركَ اليَقينا

Abu Hind, do not hurry against us,

Give us time, and we shall tell you the truth:

بِأَنّا نورِدُ الراياتِ بيضاً

وَنُصدِرُهُنَّ حُمراً قَد رَوينا

We bring our banners to battle white,

And bring them back red, sated with their draught.

وَأَيّامٍ لَنا غُرٍّ طِوالٍ

عَصَينا المَلكَ فيها أَن نَدينا

And many bright, long days were ours,

On which we defied the king, refusing submission.

وَسَيِّدِ مَعشَرٍ قَد تَوَّجوهُ

بِتاجِ المُلكِ يَحمي المُحجَرينا

And many a lord of a people, whom they crowned

With the crown of kingship, protecting the hard-pressed,

تَرَكنا الخَيلَ عاكِفَةً عَلَيهِ

مُقَلَّدَةً أَعِنَّتَها صُفونا

We left the horses gathered around him,

Their reins hung round their necks, standing with one hoof raised.

وَأَنزَلنا البُيوتَ بِذي طُلوحٍ

إِلى الشاماتِ تَنفي الموعِدينا

And we pitched our tents at Dhu Tuluh,

As far as al-Shamat, driving off those who threatened us.

وَقَد هَرَّت كِلابُ الحَيِّ مِنّا

وَشذَّبنا قَتادَةَ مَن يَلينا

The camp's dogs have growled because of us,

And we have pruned the thorn-tree of those near us.

مَتى نَنقُل إِلى قَومٍ رَحانا

يَكونوا في اللِقاءِ لَها طَحينا

Whenever we move our mill against a people,

They become its grist in the encounter.

يَكونُ ثِفالُها شَرقِيَّ نَجدٍ

وَلُهوَتُها قُضاعَةَ أَجمَعينا

Its leather mat lies east of Najd,

And its hopperful is all of Quda'ah.

نَزَلتُم مَنزِلَ الأَضيافِ مِنّا

فَأَعجَلنا القِرى أَن تَشتُمونا

You took the place of guests among us,

So we hastened hospitality, lest you revile us.

قَرَيناكُم فَعَجَّلنا قِراكُم

قُبَيلَ الصُبحِ مِرداةً طَحونا

We entertained you, hastening your welcome:

Before dawn, a crushing, grinding stone.

نَعُمُّ أُناسَنا وَنَعِفُّ عَنهُم

وَنَحمِلُ عَنهُمُ ما حَمَّلونا

We extend bounty to our people and refrain from harming them,

And bear for them whatever they lay upon us.

نُطاعِنُ ما تَراخى الناسُ عَنّا

وَنَضرِبُ بِالسُيوفِ إِذا غُشينا

We fight with spears while others keep their distance,

And strike with swords when we are beset.

بِسُمرٍ مِن قَنا الخَطِّيِّ لُدنٍ

ذَوابِلَ أَو بِبيضٍ يَختَلينا

With brown, supple shafts of al-Khatt,

Slender spears, or bright blades that mow men down.

كَأَنَّ جَماجِمَ الأَبطالِ فيها

وُسوقٌ بِالأَماعِزِ يَرتَمينا

As though the heroes' skulls amid them

Were loads tumbling across stony ground.

نَشُقُّ بِها رُؤوسَ القَومِ شَقّا

وَنُخليها الرِقابَ فَتَختَلينا

With them we split the people's heads apart,

And leave necks to them, and they reap them.

وَإِنَّ الضِغنَ بَعدَ الضِغنِ يَبدو

عَلَيكَ وَيَخرِجُ الداءَ الدَفينا

Grudge upon grudge will surely show itself

Upon you, bringing out the buried sickness.

وَرِثنا المَجدَ قَد عَلِمَت مَعَدٌّ

نُطاعِنُ دونَهُ حَتّى يَبينا

We inherited glory, as Ma'add well knows,

And defend it with our spears until it stands revealed.

وَنَحنُ إِذا عَمادُ الحَيّ خَرَّت

عَنِ الأَحفاضِ نَمنَعُ مَن يَلينا

And when the tribe's tent-poles fall

From the baggage-camels, we protect our neighbors.

نَجُذُّ رُؤوسَهُم في غَيرِ بِرٍّ

فَما يَدرونَ ماذا يَتَّقونا

We sever their heads without gentleness,

So they do not know what to ward off.

كَأَنَّ سُيوفَنا فينا وَفيهِم

مَخاريقٌ بِأَيدي لاعِبينا

As though our swords, among us and them,

Were twisted-cloth whips in players' hands.

كَأَنَّ ثيابَنا مِنّا وَمِنهُم

خُضِبنَ بِأَرجوانٍ أَو طُلينا

As though our garments, with blood from us and them,

Were dyed with crimson, or painted with it.

إِذا ما عَيَّ بِالإِسنافِ حَيٌّ

مِنَ الهَولِ المُشَبَّهِ أَن يَكونا

When a tribe falters in securing its saddle-girths,

At the dread it imagines may befall,

نَصَبنَا مِثلَ رَهوَةَ ذاتَ حَدٍّ

مُحافَظَةً وَكُنّا السابِقينا

We array a sharp-edged host like Rahwah,

Guarding our honor, and we are first to act.

بِشُبّانٍ يَرَونَ القَتلَ مَجداً

وَشيبٍ في الحُروبِ مُجَرَّبينَا

With young men who deem killing glory,

And graybeards seasoned in warfare.

حُدَيّا الناسِ كُلِّهِمُ جَميعاً

مُقارَعَةً بَنيهِم عَن بَنينا

We challenge all the people, every one,

Clashing with their sons to defend our sons.

فَأَمّا يَومَ خَشيَتِنا عَلَيهِم

فَتُصبِحُ خَيلُنا عُصَباً ثُبينا

On a day when we fear for them,

Our horses form bands, troop upon troop.

وَأَمّا يَومَ لا نَخشى عَلَيهِم

فَنُمعِنُ غارَةً مُتَلَبِّبينا

But on a day when we have no fear for them,

We press far in a raid, girded for battle.

بِرَأسٍ مِن بَني جُشَمِ بنِ بَكرٍ

نَدُقُّ بِهِ السُهولَةُ وَالحُزونا

With a chief from the sons of Jusham son of Bakr,

We pound with him both level and rugged ground.

أَلا لا يَعلَمُ الأَقوامُ أَنّا

تَضَعضَعنا وَأَنّا قَد وَنينا

Let no peoples ever think that we

Have weakened or grown weary.

أَلا لا يَجهَلَن أَحَدٌ عَلَينا

فَنَجهَلَ فَوقَ جَهلِ الجاهِلينا

Let no one act insolently against us,

Or we shall surpass the insolence of the insolent.

بِأَيِّ مَشيئَةٍ عَمرُو بنَ هِندٍ

نَكونُ لِقَيلِكُم فيها قَطينا

By whose will, Amr son of Hind,

Should we become servants to your ruler?

بِأَيِّ مَشيئَةٍ عَمرُو بنَ هِندٍ

تُطيعُ بِنا الوُشاةَ وَتَزدَرينا

By whose will, Amr son of Hind,

Do you heed slanderers against us and despise us?

تَهَدَّدنا وَأَوعِدنا رُوَيداً

مَتى كُنَّا لِأُمِّكَ مَقتَوينا

Threaten us and menace us—but gently!

When were we servants to your mother?

فَإِنَّ قَناتَنا يا عَمرُو أَعيَت

عَلى الأَعداءِ قَبلَكَ أَن تَلينا

For our spear-shaft, Amr, has proved too stubborn

For enemies before you ever to make it bend.

إِذا عَضَّ الثِقافُ بِها اِشمَأَزَّت

وَوَلَّتهُم عَشَوزَنَةَ زَبونا

When the straightening-clamp bites it, it recoils,

And turns on them, rough and fiercely resistant.

عَشَوزَنَةً إِذا اِنقَلَبَت أَرَنَّت

تَشُجُّ قَفا المُثَقَّفِ وَالجَبينا

Rough: when it swings back, it rings,

Splitting the straightener's nape and brow.

فَهَل حُدِّثتَ في جُشَمَ بنِ بَكرٍ

بِنَقصٍ في خُطوبِ الأَوَّلينا

Have you ever heard of Jusham son of Bakr

Being found wanting in the struggles of the ancients?

وَرِثنا مَجدَ عَلقَمَةَ بنِ سَيفٍ

أَبَاحَ لَنا حُصونَ المَجدِ دينا

We inherited the glory of Alqamah son of Sayf,

Who opened glory's strongholds to us by force.

وَرِثتُ مُهَلهِلاً وَالخَيرَ مِنهُ

زُهَيراً نِعمَ ذُخرُ الذاخِرينا

I inherited Muhalhil, and one better than him,

Zuhayr—an excellent treasure for those who store treasures—

وَعَتّاباً وَكُلثوماً جَميعاً

بِهِم نِلنا تُراثَ الأَكرَمينا

And Attab and Kulthum together;

Through them we gained the noblest men's legacy.

وَذا البُرَةِ الَّذي حُدِّثتَ عَنهُ

بِهِ نُحمى وَنَحمي المُحجَرينا

And Dhu al-Burah, of whom you have heard:

Through him we are defended and defend the hard-pressed.

وَمِنّا قَبلَهُ الساعي كُلَيبٌ

فَأَيُّ المَجدِ إِلّا قَد وَلينا

Before him, among us was the tireless Kulayb;

What glory is there that we have not attained?

مَتى نَعقِد قَرينَتَنا بِحَبلٍ

تَجُزُّ الحَبلَ أَو تَقُصُّ القَرينا

Whenever we tie our she-camel to another with a rope,

She severs the rope or breaks the camel tied to her.

وَنوجَدُ نَحنُ أَمنَعُهُم ذِماراً

وَأَوفاهُم إِذا عَقَدوا يَميناً

We are found the staunchest defenders of all we hold sacred,

And the truest when they bind themselves by oath.

ونَحنُ غَداةَ أُوقِدَ في خَزازى

رَفَدنا فَوقَ رِفدِ الرافِدينا

On the morning fire was kindled at Khazaza,

We gave aid beyond the aid of all who aided.

وَنَحنُ الحابِسونَ بِذي أُراطى

تَسُفُّ الجِلَّةُ الخورُ الدَرينا

We are those who kept the herds at Dhu Urata,

The great, abundant-milking camels grazing withered grass.

ونَحنُ الحاكِمونَ إَذا أُطِعنا

وَنَحنُ العازِمونَ إَذا عُصينا

We are the judges when obeyed,

And the resolute when defied.

وَنَحنُ التارِكونَ لِما سَخِطنا

وَنَحنُ الآخِذونَ لِما رَضينا

We forsake whatever displeases us,

And take whatever pleases us.

وَكُنّا الأَيمَنينَ إذا اِلتَقَينَا

وَكانَ الأَيسَرين بَنو أَبينا

We held the right wing when we met in battle,

And our father's sons held the left.

فَصالوا صَولَةً فيمَن يَليهِم

وَصُلنا صَولَةً فيمَن يَلينا

They charged those facing them,

And we charged those facing us.

فَآبوا بِالنِهابِ وَبِالسَبايا

وَأُبنا بِالمُلوكِ مُصَفَّدينا

They returned with plunder and captive women,

And we returned with kings in fetters.

إِلَيكُم يا بَني بَكرٍ إِلَيكُم

أَلَمّا تَعرِفوا مِنّا اليَقينا

Stand back, sons of Bakr, stand back!

Have you not yet learned the truth about us?

أَلَمّا تَعرِفوا مِنّا وَمِنكُم

كَتائِبَ يَطَّعِنَّ وَيَرتَمينا

Have you not yet seen, from us and you,

Battalions thrusting spears and shooting at one another?

عَلَينا البَيضُ واليَلَبُ اليَماني

وَأَسيافٌ يَقُمنَ وَيَنحَنينا

We wear helmets and Yemeni hide armor,

And carry swords that straighten and bend.

عَلَينا كُلُّ سابِغَةٍ دِلاصٍ

تَرى فَوقَ النِطاقِ لَها غُضونا

We wear every full-length, gleaming mail-coat;

You see folds in it above the belt.

إِذا وُضِعَت عَلى الأَبطالِ يَوماً

رَأَيتَ لَها جُلودَ القَومِ جونا

Whenever it is laid upon heroes,

You see the men's skins dark beneath it.

كَأَنَّ غُضونَهُنَّ مُتونُ غُدرٍ

تُصَفِّقُها الرِياحُ إِذا جَرَينا

Their folds are like the surfaces of pools,

Which the winds ripple as they pass.

وَتَحمِلُنا غَداةَ الرَوعِ جُردٌ

عُرِفنَ لَنا نَقائِذَ وَاَفتُلينا

On the morning of terror, sleek horses carry us,

Known as our rescued steeds and those we reared from foals.

وَرَدنَ دَوارِعاً وَخَرَجنَ شُعثاً

كَأَمثالِ الرَصائِعِ قَد بَلينا

They entered clad in armor and came out disheveled,

Like harness-straps, worn thin.

وَرِثناهُنَّ عَن آباءِ صِدقٍ

وَنُورِثُها إِذا مُتنا بَنينا

We inherited them from fathers true,

And bequeath them to our sons when we die.

عَلى آثارِنا بيضٌ حِسانٌ

نُحاذِرُ أَن تُقَسَّمَ أَو تَهونا

Behind us are fair, beautiful women,

Whom we dread to see divided as spoils or dishonored.

أَخَذنَ عَلى بُعولَتِهِنَّ عَهداً

إِذا لاقَوا كَتائِبَ مُعلَمينا

They took a pledge from their husbands:

When they meet battalions marked for battle,

لَيَستَلِبُنَّ أَفراساً وَبيضاً

وَأَسرى في الحَديدِ مُقَرَّنينا

They must seize horses and helmets,

And captives coupled together in iron.

تَرانا بارِزينَ وَكُلُّ حَيٍّ

قَدِ اِتَّخَذوا مَخافَتَنا قَرينا

You see us standing openly, while every tribe

Has made fear of us its companion.

إِذا ما رُحنَ يَمشينَ الهُوَينى

كَما اِضطَرَبَت مُتون الشارِبينا

When the women go out walking slowly,

They sway like the backs of drinkers.

يَقُتنَ جِيادَنا وَيَقُلنَ لَستُم

بُعولَتَنا إِذا لَم تَمنَعونا

They feed our steeds and say, 'You are not

Our husbands if you fail to protect us.'

ظَعائِنَ مِن بَني جُشَمَ بنِ بَكرٍ

خَلَطنَ بِمَيسَمٍ حَسَباً وَديناً

Women in howdahs from the sons of Jusham son of Bakr,

Who join noble lineage and piety with beauty.

وَما مَنَعَ الظَعائِنَ مِثلُ ضَربٍ

تَرى مِنهُ السَواعِدَ كَالقُلينا

Nothing protects the women like a blow

That makes forearms look like tipcat sticks.

كَأَنّا وَالسُيوفُ مُسَلَّلاتٌ

وَلَدنا الناسَ طُرّاً أَجمَعينا

As though, with swords drawn,

We had begotten all mankind, every one.

يُدَهدونَ الرُؤوسَ كَما تُدَهدي

حَزاوِرَةٌ بِأَبطَحِها الكُرينا

They roll heads, just as

Strong youths roll balls on their stony plain.

وَقَد عَلِمَ القَبائِلُ مِن مَعَدٍّ

إِذا قُبَبٌ بِأَبطَحِها بُنينا

The tribes of Ma'add well know,

When domed tents are raised on their stony plain,

بِأَنا المُطعِمونَ إِذا قَدَرنا

وَأَنّا المُهلِكونَ إِذا اِبتُلينا

That we are the feeders when we have the means,

And the destroyers when put to the test,

وَأَنّا المانِعونَ لِما أَرَدنا

وَأَنّا النازِلونَ بِحَيثُ شينا

The defenders of whatever we desire,

And those who camp wherever we wish,

وَأَنّا التارِكونَ إِذا سَخِطنا

وَأَنّا الآخِذونَ إَذا رَضينا

Those who forsake when displeased,

And those who take when satisfied,

وَأَنّا العاصِمونَ إِذا أُطِعنا

وَأَنّا العازِمونَ إِذا عُصينا

Those who protect when obeyed,

And those who resolve on action when defied.

وَنَشرَبُ إِن وَرَدنا الماءَ صَفواً

وَيَشرَبُ غَيرُنا كَدَراً وَطينا

When we reach the water, we drink it clear,

While others drink it muddy, mixed with clay.

أَلا أَبلِغ بَني الطَمّاحِ عَنّا

وَدُعمِيّاً فَكَيفَ وَجَدتُمونا

Come, tell the sons of al-Tammah on our behalf,

And Du'mi: how have you found us?

إِذا ما المَلكُ سامَ الناسَ خَسفاً

أَبَينا أَن نُقِرَّ الذُلَّ فينا

When the king imposed humiliation on the people,

We refused to let abasement settle among us.

مَلَأنا البَرَّ حَتّى ضاقَ عَنّا

وَنَحنُ البَحرُ نَملأُهُ سَفينا

We filled the land till it grew too narrow for us,

And the sea—we fill it with ships.

إَذا بَلَغَ الفِطامَ لَنا وَليدٌ

تَخِرُّ لَهُ الجَبابِرُ ساجِدينا

When one of our children reaches weaning age,

Tyrants fall prostrate before him.

عُقاراً عُتِّقَت مِن عَهدِ نوحٍ

بِبَطنِ الدَنِّ تَبتَذِلُ السِنينا

Wine aged since the time of Noah,

In the belly of the wine-jar, wearing away the years.

كَأَنَّ الشُهبَ في الأَذانِ مِنها

إِذا قَرَعوا بحافَتِها الجَبينا

As though from it shooting stars were in the ears,

When they strike their brows with its rim.

إِذا صَمَدَت حُمَيّاها أَريب

مِنَ الفِتيانِ خِلتَ بِهِ جُنونا

When its intoxicating heat assails a clever man

Among the young, you would think him mad.

فَما بَرِحَت مَجالَ الشِربِ حَتّى

تَغالوها وَقالوا قَد رَوينا

It never left the drinkers' gathering until

They passed it around and said, 'We have drunk our fill.'

أَفي لَيلى يُعاتِبُني أَبوه

وَإِخوَتُها وَهُم لي ظالِمونا

Does his father reproach me over Layla,

And her brothers, while they wrong me?

وَنَحراً مِثلَ ضَوءِ البَدرِ وافي

بِإِتمامٍ أُناساً مُدجِنينا

And a throat like the full moon's light, appearing

In its fullness to people under clouded skies.

بِأَيِّ مَشيئَةٍ عَمرُو بنَ هِندٍ

تَرى أَنّا نَكونُ الأَرذَلينا

By whose will, Amr son of Hind,

Do you think we should be the lowest?

بِأَيِّ مَشيئَةٍ عَمرُو بنَ هِندٍ

تَقَدَّمُنا وَنَحنُ السابِقونا

By whose will, Amr son of Hind,

Do you stand ahead of us, when we are the foremost?

بِنا اِهتَدَتِ القَبائِلُ مَن مَعَدٍّ

بِنارَينا وِكُنّا الموقِدينا

Through us the tribes of Ma'add found their way,

By our two fires, and we were the kindlers.

وَكانَ القَلبُ مِن عَكٍّ وَكانو

كَميناً حينَ أَن جُعِلوا كَمينا

The army's center was formed of Akk, and they were

In ambush, when they were placed in ambush.

وَأَسلَمنا الرِياسَةَ في نِزارٍ

وَكانَت مِنهُمُ في الأَحوَصينا

We entrusted the leadership within Nizar,

And among them it rested with al-Ahwasin.

نَقودُ الخَيلَ دامِيَةً كُلاه

إِلى الأَعداءِ لاحِقَةً بُطونا

We lead the horses, their flanks bleeding,

Toward the enemy, their bellies drawn lean.

وَأَنّا المانِعُون لما يَلين

إَذا ما البيضُ فارَقَتِ الجُفونا

And we defend whatever lies near,

When bright swords leave their scabbards.

وَأَنّا الطالِبونَ إِذا اِنتَقَمنا

وَأَنّا الضارِبون إِذا اُبتُلينا

We pursue when we take revenge,

And strike when put to the test.

وَأَنّا النازِلون بِكُلِّ ثَغرٍ

يَخافُ النازِلونَ بِهِ المَنونا

We camp at every frontier

Where those who camp fear death.

إِذا لَم نَحمِهِنَّ فَلا بَقينا

لِشَيءٍ بَعدَهُنَّ وَلا حَيينا

If we do not protect them, may we not endure

For anything after them, nor remain alive.

لَنا الدُنيا وَمَن أَمسى عَلَيها

وَنَبطِشُ حينَ نَبطِشُ قادِرينا

Ours is the world and everyone upon it,

And when we strike, we strike with might.

نُسَمّى ظالِمينَ وَما ظُلِمنا

وَلكِنا سَنَبدَأُ ظالِمينا

We are called wrongdoers, though we have not been wronged,

But we shall begin as wrongdoers.

سَقَيناهُم بِكَأسِ المَوتِ صِرف

وَلاقوا في الوَقائِعِ أَقوَرينا

We gave them pure death to drink from its cup,

And in battle they met formidable warriors.

وَنَعدو حينَ لا يُعدى عَلَينا

وَنَضرِبُ بِالمَواسي مَن يَلينا

We assail when no one assails us,

And strike those near us with razors.

تَنادى المُصعَبانِ وَآلُ بَكرٍ

وَنادوا يا لَكِندَةَ أَجمَعينا

The two Mus'abs and the house of Bakr called to one another,

And cried, 'Come, all of Kindah!'

فَإِن نَغلِب فَغَلّابونَ قِدماً

وَإِن نُغلَب فَغَيرُ مُغَلَّبينا

If we triumph, we have long been victors,

And if defeated, we are not habitual losers.

مَلأْنا الَبرَّ حتّى ضاقَ عَنَّا

وَنَحْنُ البَحْرُ نَمْلأُه سَفِينا

We filled the land till it grew too narrow for us,

And the sea—we fill it with ships.

إذا بَلَغَ الفطامَ لَنا ولِيْدٌ

تَخِرُّ له الجَبَابِرُ سَاجِدِينا

When one of our children reaches weaning age,

Tyrants fall prostrate before him.