أَأَحزَنَكَ الأُلى ظَعَنوا فَساروا

أَأَحزَنَكَ الأُلى ظَعَنوا فَساروا

أَجَل فَالنَومُ بَعدَهُمُ غِرارُ

أَجَل فَالنَومُ بَعدَهُمُ غِرارُ

Have those who decamped and departed saddened you?

Did the departure of friends make you sad as they traveled away?

Yes; since they left, sleep comes only in snatches.

Yes, for sleep after them is but deception.

إِذا لاحَ الصِوارُ ذَكَرتُ نُعمى

إِذا لاحَ الصِوارُ ذَكَرتُ نُعمى

وَأَذكُرُها إِذا نَفَحَ الصِوارُ

وَأَذكُرُها إِذا نَفَحَ الصِوارُ

When the herd of wild cattle appears, I remember Nu‘ma,

When the winds blow, I remember my blessings,

and I remember her when musk wafts its scent.

And I recall them when the winds waft their fragrance.

كَأَنَّكَ لَم تَزُر غُرَّ الثَنايا

كَأَنَّكَ لَم تَزُر غُرَّ الثَنايا

وَلَم تَجمَع هَواكَ بِهِنَّ دارُ

وَلَم تَجمَع هَواكَ بِهِنَّ دارُ

As though you had never visited women with gleaming teeth,

It is as if you had never visited the winding valleys

nor had a dwelling brought you together with those you love,

Or gathered your love in their homes.

عَلى أَزمانَ أَنتَ بِهِنَّ بَلٌّ

عَلى أَزمانَ أَنتَ بِهِنَّ بَلٌّ

وَإِذ أَسماءُ آنِسَةٌ نُوارُ

وَإِذ أَسماءُ آنِسَةٌ نُوارُ

in days when you were at ease among them,

For some time, you have been calamitous to them

and when Asma’ was companionable and chaste.

While their names are shining lights.

يُنَفِّسُ غَمَّهُ نَظَرٌ إِلَيها

يُنَفِّسُ غَمَّهُ نَظَرٌ إِلَيها

وَيَقتُلُ داخِلَ الشَوقِ الجِوارُ

وَيَقتُلُ داخِلَ الشَوقِ الجِوارُ

A glance at her relieves his sorrow,

A glance at them relieves his sorrow

and nearness kills the inward pang of longing.

While yearning in his heart kills him.

ليالِيَ إِذ فِراقُ بَني سَلولٍ

ليالِيَ إِذ فِراقُ بَني سَلولٍ

لَدَيهِ وَعِندَهُ حَدَثٌ كِبارُ

لَدَيهِ وَعِندَهُ حَدَثٌ كِبارُ

Those nights, when parting from Banu Salul

During the nights when the people of Salul departed,

was before him, and in his eyes a momentous calamity.

He has near him grave news that frighten him,

يُرَوِّعُهُ السَرارُ بِكُلِّ أَمرٍ

يُرَوِّعُهُ السَرارُ بِكُلِّ أَمرٍ

مَخافَةَ أَن يَكونَ بِهِ السِرارُ

مَخافَةَ أَن يَكونَ بِهِ السِرارُ

Whispering alarms him over every matter,

Fears alarm him about every matter,

for fear that the secret talk concerns him.

Lest there be betrayal in the secret.

كَأَنَّ فُؤادَهُ يَنزى حِذاراً

كَأَنَّ فُؤادَهُ يَنزى حِذاراً

حِذارَ البَينِ لَو نَفَعَ الحِذارُ

حِذارَ البَينِ لَو نَفَعَ الحِذارُ

As though his heart leaps in fear,

It is as if his heart moves cautiously away

fear of separation—if only caution could help.

From the separation, even if caution avails not.

تَنادَوا في الغَزالَةِ حينَ راحوا

تَنادَوا في الغَزالَةِ حينَ راحوا

بِجَدِّ البَينِ حينَ دَنا الغِيارُ

بِجَدِّ البَينِ حينَ دَنا الغِيارُ

They called to one another in the sunlight as they departed,

They bid farewell during departure when the jealous drew near

for earnest parting, when the change of camp drew near.

With real separation as they came closer.

كَأَنَّ حُمولَهُم لَقَحاتُ وادٍ

كَأَنَّ حُمولَهُم لَقَحاتُ وادٍ

مِنَ الجَبّارِ طابَ بِها الثِمارُ

مِنَ الجَبّارِ طابَ بِها الثِمارُ

Their laden camels seemed like a valley’s fertilized palms,

It is as if their belongings were fruits of a valley

towering palms upon which the fruit had ripened sweetly.

From the Almighty, which the fruits have perfumed.

أَقولُ وَلَيلَتي تَزدادُ طولاً

أَقولُ وَلَيلَتي تَزدادُ طولاً

أَما لِلَّيلِ بَعدَهُمُ نَهارُ

أَما لِلَّيلِ بَعدَهُمُ نَهارُ

I say, while my night grows longer:

I say while my night grows longer:

Has the night no daybreak since they left?

Does not the night have a day after them?

جَفَت عَيني عَنِ التَغميضِ حَتّى

جَفَت عَيني عَنِ التَغميضِ حَتّى

كَأَنَّ جُفونَها عَنها قِصارُ

كَأَنَّ جُفونَها عَنها قِصارُ

My eye has shunned closing, until

My eyes are tearless from blinking as if

its lids seem too short to cover it.

Their lids, from them, are too short.

وَذي شُرَفٍ تَحِنُّ الريحُ فيهِ

وَذي شُرَفٍ تَحِنُّ الريحُ فيهِ

حَنينَ النابِ ضَلَّ لَها حُوارُ

حَنينَ النابِ ضَلَّ لَها حُوارُ

And a battlemented dwelling, where the wind moans

The wind moans in the eminent man

like an aged she-camel whose calf has strayed—

With the moaning of she-camels missing their young.

دَخَلتُ مُسارِقاً رَصدَ الأَعادي

دَخَلتُ مُسارِقاً رَصدَ الأَعادي

عَلى سِتٍّ وَمَدخَلُنا خِطارُ

عَلى سِتٍّ وَمَدخَلُنا خِطارُ

I entered it, slipping past the enemies’ watch,

I entered, spying on the enemy,

to visit six women, though our entrance was perilous.

While our access is hazardous.

فَلَمّا جِئتُ قُلنَ نَعِمتَ بالاً

فَلَمّا جِئتُ قُلنَ نَعِمتَ بالاً

خَلا شَجَنٌ وَغُيِّبَ مَن يَغارُ

خَلا شَجَنٌ وَغُيِّبَ مَن يَغارُ

When I arrived, they said, ‘Be at ease:

When I came, they said, “You have met with affliction,”

trouble has passed, and the jealous one is kept away.’

While there remains sorrow, and the envious are absent.

فَحَدَّثتُ الظِباءَ مُؤَزَّراتٍ

فَحَدَّثتُ الظِباءَ مُؤَزَّراتٍ

أَلا لِلَّهِ ما مَنَعَ الإِزارُ

أَلا لِلَّهِ ما مَنَعَ الإِزارُ

Then I conversed with the gazelles, wearing waist-wraps;

So I addressed the gazelles, clothed,

ah, praise to God for what the waist-wrap conceals!

By Allah! What prevents the clothing?

وَمُحتَرِقِ الوَديقَةِ يَومَ نَحسٍ

وَمُحتَرِقِ الوَديقَةِ يَومَ نَحسٍ

مِنَ الجَرزاءِ ظَلَّ لَهُ أَوارُ

مِنَ الجَرزاءِ ظَلَّ لَهُ أَوارُ

And a scorching tract, on an ill-starred day,

And the burner on an inauspicious day

of barren land, whose fierce blaze persisted—

While the armor cast a shadow and protected him.

نَحَرتُ هَجيرَهُ بِمُقَيَّلاتٍ

نَحَرتُ هَجيرَهُ بِمُقَيَّلاتٍ

كَأَنَّ حَميمَ قُصَّتِهِنَّ قارُ

كَأَنَّ حَميمَ قُصَّتِهِنَّ قارُ

I confronted its noonday heat with noon-rested she-camels,

I slaughtered his sheep with knives

as though the hot sweat of their forelocks were pitch.

As if the zeal of their slaughter was热.

كَأَنَّ قُلوبَهُنَّ بِكُلِّ شَخصٍ

كَأَنَّ قُلوبَهُنَّ بِكُلِّ شَخصٍ

مُنَفَّرَةٌ وَلَيسَ بِها نِفارُ

مُنَفَّرَةٌ وَلَيسَ بِها نِفارُ

As though their hearts, at every shape,

It is as if their hearts are averse to every person;

were startled, though they did not shy.

Antipathetic, while having no aversion.

خَواضِعُ في البُرى أَفنى ذُراها

خَواضِعُ في البُرى أَفنى ذُراها

رَواحُ عَشِيَّةٍ ثُمَّ اِبتِكارُ

رَواحُ عَشِيَّةٍ ثُمَّ اِبتِكارُ

Submissive beneath their nose-rings, their humps worn down

Submissive in the lands, I wasted their plenty,

by evening departures followed by early starts.

The spirits of an evening, then invention the next morning.

صَبَرنَ عَلى السَمومِ وَكُلِّ خَرقٍ

صَبَرنَ عَلى السَمومِ وَكُلِّ خَرقٍ

بِهِ جَبَلٌ وَلَيسَ بِهِ أَمارُ

بِهِ جَبَلٌ وَلَيسَ بِهِ أَمارُ

They endured the scorching wind and every vast waste

They were patient with poisons and every ragged thing

with a mountain in it, but no waymark.

With a mountain, while having no sign.

كَأَنَّ عُيونَهُنَّ قُلاتُ قُفٍّ

كَأَنَّ عُيونَهُنَّ قُلاتُ قُفٍّ

مُخَلَّفَةُ الأَطايِطِ أَو نِقارُ

مُخَلَّفَةُ الأَطايِطِ أَو نِقارُ

Their eyes seemed like rock-pools on a stony ridge,

It is as if their eyes are little sheepskins,

left behind by groaning camels, or hollows in rock.

Left over, or perhaps hedgehogs.

وَأَحمَقَ فاحِشٍ يَجري حَثيثاً

وَأَحمَقَ فاحِشٍ يَجري حَثيثاً

وَقَد زَخَرَت غَوارِبُهُ الغِزارُ

وَقَد زَخَرَت غَوارِبُهُ الغِزارُ

And a foul fool, racing headlong,

And a vulgar fool travels hurriedly

his copious billows already surging—

While his many sins overflow.

أَمِنتُ مَضَرَّةَ الفَحشاءِ إِنّي

أَمِنتُ مَضَرَّةَ الفَحشاءِ إِنّي

أَرى قَبَساً تُشَبُّ وَلا تُضارُ

أَرى قَبَساً تُشَبُّ وَلا تُضارُ

I was safe from the harm of obscenity; indeed, I

I am secure from the harm of vulgarity; I see

see a firebrand being kindled, yet one suffers no harm.

An ember growing without being extinguished.

لَقَد عَلِمَ القَبائِلُ غَيرَ فَخرٍ

لَقَد عَلِمَ القَبائِلُ غَيرَ فَخرٍ

عَلى أَحَدٍ وَإِن كانَ اِفتِخارُ

عَلى أَحَدٍ وَإِن كانَ اِفتِخارُ

The tribes have learned—without boasting

The tribes have known, apart from boasting,

over anyone, though boasting there may be—

About anyone, even if it is a boast.

بِأَنّا العاصِمونَ إِذا اِشتَجَرنا

بِأَنّا العاصِمونَ إِذا اِشتَجَرنا

وَأَنّا الحازِمونَ إِذا اِستَشاروا

وَأَنّا الحازِمونَ إِذا اِستَشاروا

that we are the protectors when we clash,

That we are protectors when we quarrel

and the resolute when they seek counsel.

And we are decisive when they consult.

ضَمِنّا بَيعَةَ الخُلَفاءِ فينا

ضَمِنّا بَيعَةَ الخُلَفاءِ فينا

فَنَحنُ لَها مِنَ الخُلَفاءِ جارُ

فَنَحنُ لَها مِنَ الخُلَفاءِ جارُ

We guaranteed the caliphs’ pledge of allegiance among us,

We guaranteed the oath of allegiance of the caliphs among us

so we are its protectors on the caliphs’ behalf,

So we are, for them, from the caliphs, neighbors.

بِحَيٍّ مِن بَني عَجلانَ شوسٍ

بِحَيٍّ مِن بَني عَجلانَ شوسٍ

يَسيرُ المَوتُ حَيثُ يُقالُ ساروا

يَسيرُ المَوتُ حَيثُ يُقالُ ساروا

with a fierce clan of Banu ‘Ajlan:

With the life of the people of Banu ‘Aylan Shaws,

death marches wherever they are said to march.

Death travels wherever it is said they traveled.

إِذا زَخَرَت لَنا مُضَرٌ وَسارَت

إِذا زَخَرَت لَنا مُضَرٌ وَسارَت

رَبيعَةُ ثُمَّتَ اِجتَمَعَت نِزارُ

رَبيعَةُ ثُمَّتَ اِجتَمَعَت نِزارُ

When Mudar surges forth for us, and

When Mudar was populous and Rabi’a traveled

Rabi‘a marches, and then Nizar gathers,

Then Nizari gathered together.

أَقامَ الغابِرونَ عَلى هَوانا

أَقامَ الغابِرونَ عَلى هَوانا

وَإِن رَغِمَت أُنوفُهُمُ وَساروا

وَإِن رَغِمَت أُنوفُهُمُ وَساروا

those remaining stay at our bidding,

Those who returned scorned our disgrace

even with their noses humbled—and march likewise.

Even if their noses were crammed in it forcefully as they traveled.

تَبَغَّ جِوارَنا إِن خِفتَ أَزّاً

تَبَغَّ جِوارَنا إِن خِفتَ أَزّاً

نُجيرُ الخائِفينَ وَلا نُجارُ

نُجيرُ الخائِفينَ وَلا نُجارُ

Seek our protection if you fear harassment;

Seek our neighborliness if you fear harm,

we shelter the fearful and need no shelter ourselves.

We protect those in fear and do not fail them.

لَنا بَطحاءُ مَكَّةَ وَالمُصَلّى

لَنا بَطحاءُ مَكَّةَ وَالمُصَلّى

وَما حازَ المُحَصَّبُ وَالجِمارُ

وَما حازَ المُحَصَّبُ وَالجِمارُ

Ours are Mecca’s broad valley and the prayer-ground,

Ours are the plains of Mecca and its mosque,

and all that al-Muhassab and al-Jimar encompass;

And whatever the gathering-place and the garbage dumps attained.

وَساقِيَةُ الحَجيجِ إِذا تَوافَوا

وَساقِيَةُ الحَجيجِ إِذا تَوافَوا

وَمُبتَدَرُ المواقِفِ وَالنِفارُ

وَمُبتَدَرُ المواقِفِ وَالنِفارُ

and the watering of pilgrims when they gather,

And the drinking place of the pilgrims when they gather

and the first rush to the stations, and the departure;

And the head start places of departure.

وَميراثُ النَبِيِّ وَصاحِبَيهِ

وَميراثُ النَبِيِّ وَصاحِبَيهِ

تِلاداً لا يُباعُ وَلا يُعارُ

تِلاداً لا يُباعُ وَلا يُعارُ

and the legacy of the Prophet and his two companions,

And the inheritance of the Prophet and his two companions

an ancestral possession, neither sold nor lent;

A birthright that is not sold or borrowed.

وَأَلواحُ السَريرِ وَمَن تَنَمّى

وَأَلواحُ السَريرِ وَمَن تَنَمّى

عَلى أَلواحِهِ تِلكَ الخِيارُ

عَلى أَلواحِهِ تِلكَ الخِيارُ

and the planks of the throne, and those who ascend

And the tablets of the throne and those

its planks—those chosen ones.

Upon whose tablets are the virtuous.

كَأَنَّ الناسَ حينَ نَغيبُ عَنهُم

كَأَنَّ الناسَ حينَ نَغيبُ عَنهُم

نَباتُ الأَرضِ أَخلَفَها القِطارُ

نَباتُ الأَرضِ أَخلَفَها القِطارُ

When we are absent, people seem like

It is as if when we are absent from the people,

the earth’s growth when the rains have failed it.

The vegetation of the earth was succeeded by ruin.

أَلَم يَبلُغ أَبا العَبّاسِ أَنّا

أَلَم يَبلُغ أَبا العَبّاسِ أَنّا

وَتَرناهُ وَلَيسَ بِهِ اِتّئارُ

وَتَرناهُ وَلَيسَ بِهِ اِتّئارُ

Has Abu al-‘Abbas not heard that we

Did it not reach Abu Al ‘Abbas that we

have bereaved him, with no vengeance from him,

Abandoned him while being unperturbed?

غَداةَ تَصَبَّرَت كَلبٌ عَلَينا

غَداةَ تَصَبَّرَت كَلبٌ عَلَينا

وَلَيسَ لَها عَلى المَوتِ اِصطِبارُ

وَلَيسَ لَها عَلى المَوتِ اِصطِبارُ

on the morning when Kalb tried to stand firm against us,

The morning a dog barked at us

though it had no endurance in the face of death?

While it has no patience for death.

لَنا يَومُ البِقاعُ عَلى دِمَشقٍ

لَنا يَومُ البِقاعُ عَلى دِمَشقٍ

وَعَينِ الجَرِّ صَولَتُنا نِجارُ

وَعَينِ الجَرِّ صَولَتُنا نِجارُ

Ours was the day of al-Biqa‘ against Damascus,

For us is the day of Biqa against Damascus

and ‘Ayn al-Jarr; our onslaught shows our native mettle.

And our brewing cauldrons of war bubbled.

عَلى اليَومَينِ ظَلَّ عَلى يَمانٍ

عَلى اليَومَينِ ظَلَّ عَلى يَمانٍ

وَكَلبٍ مِن أَسِنَّتِنا الحِجارُ

وَكَلبٍ مِن أَسِنَّتِنا الحِجارُ

On those two days there hung over Yaman

For two days a shadow remained over Yemen

and Kalb the stones from our spearheads.

And a dog, from our tongues, the rocks.

وَقَد راحَت تُرَوِّحُنا المَنايا

وَقَد راحَت تُرَوِّحُنا المَنايا

لِمَخذولٍ وَأَحرَزَهُ الفِرارُ

لِمَخذولٍ وَأَحرَزَهُ الفِرارُ

The fates of death came at evening, bringing us relief,

And the deaths have come relieving us

for a forsaken man whom flight had sheltered.

Of one defeated who has opted for flight.

وَأَهوَينا العَصا بِحِمارِ قَيسٍ

وَأَهوَينا العَصا بِحِمارِ قَيسٍ

لِإِسماعيلَ فَاِتَّسَمَ الحِمارُ

لِإِسماعيلَ فَاِتَّسَمَ الحِمارُ

We brought the staff down upon Qays’s donkey,

And we rendered useless the armor of Yazid

belonging to Isma‘il; so the donkey was branded.

While their jewelry could not be borrowed.

وَقَد طافَت بِأَضبَعِ آلِ كَلبٍ

وَقَد طافَت بِأَضبَعِ آلِ كَلبٍ

كَتائِبُنا فَصارَ بِحَيثُ صاروا

كَتائِبُنا فَصارَ بِحَيثُ صاروا

And around the hyenas of Kalb’s house swept

And we destroyed the church of the son of Bukayya, the Christians,

our battalions; so he ended where they ended.

So it was neither visited nor inhabited.

وَأَيُّ عَدُوِّنا نَأتيهِ إِلّا

وَأَيُّ عَدُوِّنا نَأتيهِ إِلّا

تَهِمُّ بِحَربِهِ لا نُستَطارُ

تَهِمُّ بِحَربِهِ لا نُستَطارُ

There is no enemy of ours whom we approach but

And after them, the two sons of Mus'ad

you contemplate war with him; we are never unnerved.

While the steeds of their religion were cave hermits.

وَعَطَّلنا بَجيلَةَ مِن يَزيدٍ

وَعَطَّلنا بَجيلَةَ مِن يَزيدٍ

وَكانَ حُلِيُّهُم لا يُستَعارُ

وَكانَ حُلِيُّهُم لا يُستَعارُ

We stripped Bajila of Yazid,

And Hims when the people of Hims changed

who was their ornament, never to be borrowed.

And were treacherous, treachery befell them.

وَدَمَّرنا اِبنَ باكِيَةِ النَصارى

وَدَمَّرنا اِبنَ باكِيَةِ النَصارى

فَأَصبَحَ لا يَزورُ وَلا يُزارُ

فَأَصبَحَ لا يَزورُ وَلا يُزارُ

We destroyed the son of the Christians’ weeping woman,

We killed Al-Saksaki without a victim

so he neither visits nor is visited.

And is there any excuse for killing a dog?

وَأَودى بَعدَهُم بِاِبنَي مَصادٍ

وَأَودى بَعدَهُم بِاِبنَي مَصادٍ

فَوارِسُ دينُ قُومِهُمُ المُغارُ

فَوارِسُ دينُ قُومِهُمُ المُغارُ

And after them, the two sons of Masad were destroyed by

And the steeds of Qais tangled in Tadmur

horsemen whose people’s custom is raiding.

So Tadmur had devastation among them.

وَحِمصاً حينَ بَدَّلَ أَهلُ حِمصٍ

وَحِمصاً حينَ بَدَّلَ أَهلُ حِمصٍ

وَنالوا الغَدرَ نالَهُمُ البَوارُ

وَنالوا الغَدرَ نالَهُمُ البَوارُ

And Hims—when the people of Hims changed course

And the captives of Thabit and the groups of Kalb

and took to treachery, ruin overtook them.

Set out with their doves while we sought reprisal.

قَتَلنا السَكسَكِيَّ بِلا قَتيلٍ

قَتَلنا السَكسَكِيَّ بِلا قَتيلٍ

وَهَل مِن مَقتَلِ الكَلبِ اِعتِذارُ

وَهَل مِن مَقتَلِ الكَلبِ اِعتِذارُ

We killed al-Saksaki without a death to avenge;

So a group of them departed while a group remained

and does killing a dog call for an apology?

Upon testicles that have no virility.

وَقَد عَرِكَت بِتَدمُرَ خَيلُ قَيسٍ

وَقَد عَرِكَت بِتَدمُرَ خَيلُ قَيسٍ

فَكانَ لِتَدمُرٍ فيها دَمارُ

فَكانَ لِتَدمُرٍ فيها دَمارُ

The cavalry of Qays fought fiercely at Tadmur,

They saw us and the doves together so they fled

and in that lay Tadmur’s destruction.

As predators flee from the terrifying lions.

وَأُسرَةُ ثابِتٍ وَجُموعُ كَلبٍ

وَأُسرَةُ ثابِتٍ وَجُموعُ كَلبٍ

سَرى بِحِمامِهِم مِنّا اِعتِكارُ

سَرى بِحِمامِهِم مِنّا اِعتِكارُ

And Thabit’s family and the hosts of Kalb—

We roamed the praiseworthy and glorious deeds

a swirling assault from us came by night with their doom.

While we also in celebrations are merchants.

فَراحَ فَريقُهُم وَغدا فَريقٌ

فَراحَ فَريقُهُم وَغدا فَريقٌ

عَلى خَصّاءَ لَيسَ لَها عِدارُ

عَلى خَصّاءَ لَيسَ لَها عِدارُ

One band departed at evening, another at dawn,

When our leadership turns against a people,

upon a crushing calamity that has no bridle.

They call out for departure or turn away.

رَأونا وَالحِمامَ مَعاً فَأجلَوا

رَأونا وَالحِمامَ مَعاً فَأجلَوا

كَما أَجلَت عَنِ الأُسدِ الوِبارُ

كَما أَجلَت عَنِ الأُسدِ الوِبارُ

They saw us and death together, and fled,

With Kalb, dog-herders away from the border of Qais

as hyraxes flee from lions.

And with the Yemeni, where did decline run its course?

تَجَرنا في المَحامِدِ وَالمَعالي

تَجَرنا في المَحامِدِ وَالمَعالي

وَنَحنُ كَذاكَ في الهَيجا تِجارُ

وَنَحنُ كَذاكَ في الهَيجا تِجارُ

We have traded in praises and high honors,

And we did not meet them except our chests

and likewise we are merchants in battle.

Repelling them while they were hot in war.

إِذا دارَت عَلى قَومٍ رَحانا

إِذا دارَت عَلى قَومٍ رَحانا

تَنادَوا بِالجَلاءِ أَوِ اِستَداروا

تَنادَوا بِالجَلاءِ أَوِ اِستَداروا

When our millstone turns upon a people,

And the days of Al-Kufah we have verily left

they call to one another to flee, or turn about.

Their supporter while he has no victory.

بِكَلبٍ كَلَّةٌ عَن حَدِّ قَيسٍ

بِكَلبٍ كَلَّةٌ عَن حَدِّ قَيسٍ

وَباليَمَنيِّ أَينَ جَرى عِثارُ

وَباليَمَنيِّ أَينَ جَرى عِثارُ

Kalb is blunted against the edge of Qays,

When they advanced with a large army

and the Yemeni stumbles wherever he runs.

We blew into their large army so they flew away.

وَما نَلقاهُمُ إِلّا صَدَرنا

وَما نَلقاهُمُ إِلّا صَدَرنا

بِرِيٍّ مِنهُمُ وَهُمُ حِرارُ

بِرِيٍّ مِنهُمُ وَهُمُ حِرارُ

We never meet them without returning

Spoils of our steeds until we reined them in

with our thirst quenched by them, while they are parched.

While they have no saddle-girths.

وَأَيّامَ الكُوَيفَةِ قَد تَرَكنا

وَأَيّامَ الكُوَيفَةِ قَد تَرَكنا

نَصيرَهُمُ وَلَيسَ بِهِ اِنتِصارُ

نَصيرَهُمُ وَلَيسَ بِهِ اِنتِصارُ

And in the days of al-Kuwayfa, we left

It finished off Muqabbir and ground Zayd

their champion with no power to prevail.

And the one wrapped attained the cloak.

إِذا ما أَقبَلوا بِسَوادِ جَمعٍ

إِذا ما أَقبَلوا بِسَوادِ جَمعٍ

نَفَخنا في سَوادِهِمُ فَطاروا

نَفَخنا في سَوادِهِمُ فَطاروا

Whenever they advance with a dark mass of troops,

And we advanced upon Al-Musabbih in Sharid

we blow upon their dark mass, and they fly,

With gutted fish, snarling.

طَرائِدَ خَيلِنا حَتّى كَفَفنا

طَرائِدَ خَيلِنا حَتّى كَفَفنا

هَوادِيَها وَليَسَ بِها اِزوِرارُ

هَوادِيَها وَليَسَ بِها اِزوِرارُ

quarry for our cavalry, until we restrain

So when they pledged allegiance and made peace with us

its leading ranks, though they do not swerve.

And authority returned among us and the leadership,

أَصَبنَ مُكَبَّراً وَطَحَنَّ زَيداً

أَصَبنَ مُكَبَّراً وَطَحَنَّ زَيداً

وَأَحرَزَ مَن تَحاطانَ الإِزارُ

وَأَحرَزَ مَن تَحاطانَ الإِزارُ

They struck Mukabbar and ground Zayd down,

We lifted the sword from Kalb the son of Kalb

and the waist-wrap afforded shelter from Tahatan.

And from Qahtan, they are insignificant.

وَأَقبَلنا المُسبِّحَ في شَريدٍ

وَأَقبَلنا المُسبِّحَ في شَريدٍ

بِخايِفَةٍ حَذائِنُها اِبتِدارُ

بِخايِفَةٍ حَذائِنُها اِبتِدارُ

We drove al-Musabbih onward among fugitives,

So we relieved the bright-faced from us

with a frightened band whose groups raced ahead.

And from Marwan, so the dust settled.

فَلَمّا بايَعوا وَتَنَصَّفونا

فَلَمّا بايَعوا وَتَنَصَّفونا

وَعادَ الأَمرُ فينا وَالإِمارُ

وَعادَ الأَمرُ فينا وَالإِمارُ

When they pledged allegiance and dealt fairly with us,

With a piercing strike wherein the sword is ruined

and authority and command returned to us,

And an assault wherein the sparks fly.

رَفَعنا السَيفَ عَن كَلبِ بِنِ كَلبٍ

رَفَعنا السَيفَ عَن كَلبِ بِنِ كَلبٍ

وَعَن قَحطانَ إِنَّهُمُ صَغارُ

وَعَن قَحطانَ إِنَّهُمُ صَغارُ

we lifted the sword from Kalb son of Kalb,

With every sharpened and angry blade

and from Qahtan; they are abased.

Of hardened steel mixed with greenness.

فَرَجنا ساطِعَ الغَمَراتِ عَنّا

فَرَجنا ساطِعَ الغَمَراتِ عَنّا

وَعَن مَروانَ فَاِنفَرَجَ الغُبارُ

وَعَن مَروانَ فَاِنفَرَجَ الغُبارُ

We dispelled the rising glare of battle’s turmoil from ourselves

It is as if when offerings of goat meat were distributed among them the next day,

and from Marwan, and the dust dispersed,

The cooking-pots bubbled with it.

بِطَعنٍ يَهلِكُ المِسبارُ فيهِ

بِطَعنٍ يَهلِكُ المِسبارُ فيهِ

وَتَضرابٍ يَطيرُ لَهُ الشَرارُ

وَتَضرابٍ يَطيرُ لَهُ الشَرارُ

with thrusts in which the wound-probe is lost,

What does the enemy think the next day of the war of Qais

and repeated blows that send sparks flying,

If its afflictions upon the people were borrowed?

بِكُلِّ مُثَقَّفٍ وَبِكُلِّ عَضبٍ

بِكُلِّ مُثَقَّفٍ وَبِكُلِّ عَضبٍ

مِنَ القَلعِيِّ خالَطَهُ اِخضِرارُ

مِنَ القَلعِيِّ خالَطَهُ اِخضِرارُ

with every straightened spear and every keen blade

For us is a fire in the east of glorious deeds

of Qal‘i steel, tinged with green.

Blazing, and in the west, a fire.

كَأَنَّهُمُ غَداةَ شَرَعنَ فيهِم

كَأَنَّهُمُ غَداةَ شَرَعنَ فيهِم

هَدايا العَنزِ هاجَ بِها القُدارُ

هَدايا العَنزِ هاجَ بِها القُدارُ

As though, that morning, when the spears plunged into them,

We ambush Kalb’s flock in the night

they were goat offerings startled by the butcher.

And harvest them when dispersal occurs.

فَما ظَنَّ الغَداةَ بِحَربِ قَيسٍ

فَما ظَنَّ الغَداةَ بِحَربِ قَيسٍ

لَوَعرَتِها عَلى الناسِ اِستَعاروا

لَوَعرَتِها عَلى الناسِ اِستَعاروا

What did they think that morning of war with Qays,

It is as if you have seen the women of Kalb

which, for its harshness upon men, they had borrowed?

Being sold while not a one has a breastplate.

لَنا نارٌ بِشَرقِيِّ المَعالي

لَنا نارٌ بِشَرقِيِّ المَعالي

مُضَرَّمَةٌ وَبالغَربِيِّ نارُ

مُضَرَّمَةٌ وَبالغَربِيِّ نارُ

We have a fire on the eastern heights of glory,

We have a scorching fire in the east of glorious deeds

blazing, and on the western heights a fire.

And a blazing one in the west.

نُبَيِّتُ في الجَماعَةِ سَرحَ كَلبٍ

نُبَيِّتُ في الجَماعَةِ سَرحَ كَلبٍ

وَنَحصُدُهُم إِذا حَدَثَ اِنتِشارُ

وَنَحصُدُهُم إِذا حَدَثَ اِنتِشارُ

We attack Kalb’s grazing herd by night when gathered,

We ambush the flock of Kalb in the night

and reap them when they scatter.

And reap them when scattering occurs.

كَأَنَّكَ قَد رَأَيتَ نِساءَ كَلبٍ

كَأَنَّكَ قَد رَأَيتَ نِساءَ كَلبٍ

تُباعُ وَما لِواحِدَةٍ صِدارُ

تُباعُ وَما لِواحِدَةٍ صِدارُ

It is as though you have already seen the women of Kalb

It is as if you've seen the women of Kalb

being sold, not one of them with a bodice.

Being sold, while not one has a chest-piece.