سَما لَكَ شَوقٌ مِن نَوارٍ وَدونَها

سَما لَكَ شَوقٌ مِن نَوارٍ وَدونَها

سُوَيقَةُ وَالدَهنا وَعَرضُ جِوائِها

سُوَيقَةُ وَالدَهنا وَعَرضُ جِوائِها

Longing for Nawār has risen in you; between you and her lie

For you yearning from Nawar and below it

Suwayqa, al-Dahnā, and the breadth of its valleys.

The valley and our camp’s breadth and its expanse

وَكُنتُ إِذا تُذكَر نَوارُ فَإِنَّها

وَكُنتُ إِذا تُذكَر نَوارُ فَإِنَّها

لِمُندَمِلاتِ النَفسِ تَهياضُ دائِها

لِمُندَمِلاتِ النَفسِ تَهياضُ دائِها

And whenever Nawār was mentioned, for me she was

And whenever Nawar is mentioned, it is

a reopening of the soul's healed wounds, renewing its pain.

For the despairing soul the remedy for its pain

وَأَرضٍ بِها جَيلانُ ريحٍ مَريضَةٍ

وَأَرضٍ بِها جَيلانُ ريحٍ مَريضَةٍ

يَغُضُّ البَصيرُ طَرفَهُ مِن فَضائِها

يَغُضُّ البَصيرُ طَرفَهُ مِن فَضائِها

And a land where a languid wind stirred drifting dust,

And a land wherein is wind’s hot sigh

whose vastness makes the keen-eyed lower their gaze—

That makes the seer avert his gaze from its wideness

قَطَعتُ عَلى عَيرانَةٍ حِميَرِيَّةٍ

قَطَعتُ عَلى عَيرانَةٍ حِميَرِيَّةٍ

كُمَيتٍ يَئِطُّ النِسعُ مِن صُعَدائِها

كُمَيتٍ يَئِطُّ النِسعُ مِن صُعَدائِها

I crossed upon a sturdy Himyarī she-camel,

I crossed over a mule-like camel caravan

bay-colored, whose heaving breaths make the girth creak.

A heap whose slippery smoothness wounds its climber

وَوَفراءَ لَم تُخرَز بِسَيرٍ وَكيعَةٍ

وَوَفراءَ لَم تُخرَز بِسَيرٍ وَكيعَةٍ

غَدَوتُ بِها طَيّاً يَدي في رِشائِها

غَدَوتُ بِها طَيّاً يَدي في رِشائِها

And a broad, sturdy one, not stitched with a leather thong—

With a dedicated she-camel that had no saddle or travelling bags

I set out early with her, my hand wrapped in her rope.

I rode it freely, my hand in its hair

ذَعَرتُ بِها سِرباً نَقِيّاً كَأَنَّهُ

ذَعَرتُ بِها سِرباً نَقِيّاً كَأَنَّهُ

نُجومُ الثُرَيّا أَسفَرَت مِن عَمائِها

نُجومُ الثُرَيّا أَسفَرَت مِن عَمائِها

With her I startled a white herd, as though it were

I startled with it a flock as if

the stars of the Pleiades emerging from their cloud cover.

The Pleiades stars shone from its darkness

فَعادَيتُ مِنها بَينَ تَيسٍ وَنَعجَةٍ

فَعادَيتُ مِنها بَينَ تَيسٍ وَنَعجَةٍ

وَرَوَّيتُ صَدرَ الرُمحِ قَبلَ عَنائِها

وَرَوَّيتُ صَدرَ الرُمحِ قَبلَ عَنائِها

Then I pursued a buck and a doe from them in swift succession,

So I drove between he-goat and ewe

and drenched the spearhead before she grew weary.

And I wet the spear’s blade before its fatigue

أَلِكني إِلى ذُهلِ بنِ شَيبانَ إِنَّني

أَلِكني إِلى ذُهلِ بنِ شَيبانَ إِنَّني

رَأَيتُ أَخاها رافِعاً لِبِنائِها

رَأَيتُ أَخاها رافِعاً لِبِنائِها

Carry my message to Dhuhl ibn Shaybān: indeed, I

Guide me to Dhul ibn Shayban - I saw

have seen their kinsman raising their edifice.

His brother raising its structure

لَقَد زادَني وُدّاً لِبَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ

لَقَد زادَني وُدّاً لِبَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ

إِلى وُدَّها الماضي وَحُسنِ ثَنائِها

إِلى وُدَّها الماضي وَحُسنِ ثَنائِها

Indeed, what deepened my love for Bakr ibn Wā'il,

Bakr ibn Wa’il’s love for it has increased

beyond my former love and high praise of them,

Alongside its enduring grace and beauty’s praise

بَلاءُ أَخيهِم إِذ أَنيخَت مَطِيَّتي

بَلاءُ أَخيهِم إِذ أَنيخَت مَطِيَّتي

إِلى قُبَّةٍ أَضيافُهُ بِفِنائِها

إِلى قُبَّةٍ أَضيافُهُ بِفِنائِها

was their kinsman's good service, when my mount was made to kneel

The ordeal of their brother when my she-camel knelt

beside a pavilion whose forecourt held his guests.

At a dome whose owner is hospitable in its courtyard

جَزى اللَهُ عَبدَ اللَهِ لَمّا تَلَبَّسَت

جَزى اللَهُ عَبدَ اللَهِ لَمّا تَلَبَّسَت

أُموري وَجاشَت أَنفُسٌ مِن ثَوائِها

أُموري وَجاشَت أَنفُسٌ مِن ثَوائِها

May God reward ʿAbd Allāh! When confusion overtook

May God reward Abdallah when

my affairs, and souls surged from their resting places

My affairs were confused and souls despaired from its calamity

إِلَينا فَباتَت لا تَنامُ كَأَنَّها

إِلَينا فَباتَت لا تَنامُ كَأَنَّها

أُسارى حَديدٍ أُغلِقَت بِدِمائِها

أُسارى حَديدٍ أُغلِقَت بِدِمائِها

toward us, then lay sleepless through the night, as though

To us, so they spent the night not sleeping as if

captives in iron, held fast for their blood,

They were fettered captives locked in blood

بِجابِيَةِ الجَولانِ باتَت عُيونُنا

بِجابِيَةِ الجَولانِ باتَت عُيونُنا

كَأَنَّ عَواويراً بِها مِن بُكائِها

كَأَنَّ عَواويراً بِها مِن بُكائِها

at al-Jābiya in the Golan our eyes spent the night

In Jabiyah of Al-Jawlan they spent the night while our eyes

as though painful motes lodged in them from their weeping.

Were as if tombs wherein tears flow from its weeping

أَرِحني أَبا عَبدِ المَليكِ فَما أَرى

أَرِحني أَبا عَبدِ المَليكِ فَما أَرى

شِفاءً مِنَ الحاجاتِ دونَ قَضائِها

شِفاءً مِنَ الحاجاتِ دونَ قَضائِها

Relieve me, Abū ʿAbd al-Malīk, for I see

Relieve me, Abu Abd al-Malik, for I do not see

no cure for needs short of their fulfillment.

Healing from needs save your fulfilment

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ لِلصُلبِ مِن مُرَّةَ الَّتي

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ لِلصُلبِ مِن مُرَّةَ الَّتي

لَها مِن بَني شَيبانَ رُمحُ لِوائِها

لَها مِن بَني شَيبانَ رُمحُ لِوائِها

And you are a man of Murra's direct line, the tribe

And you are a man of the lions from Murrah whose

that holds its standard's spear among Banū Shaybān.

Spear is glorious for Banu Shayban

هُمُ رَهَنوا عَنهُم أَباكَ فَما أَلوا

هُمُ رَهَنوا عَنهُم أَباكَ فَما أَلوا

عَنِ المُصطَفى مِن رَهنِها لِوَفائِها

عَنِ المُصطَفى مِن رَهنِها لِوَفائِها

They pledged your father for themselves, and did not stint

They pledged your father in place of themselves so they did not

in giving their choicest hostage to guarantee their faithfulness.

Fall short of fulfilling their pledge to the Chosen One

فَفَكَّ مِنَ الأَغلالِ بَكرَ بنَ وائِلٍ

فَفَكَّ مِنَ الأَغلالِ بَكرَ بنَ وائِلٍ

وَأَعطى يَداً عَنهُم لَهُم مِن غَلائِها

وَأَعطى يَداً عَنهُم لَهُم مِن غَلائِها

So he freed Bakr ibn Wā'il from the shackles

So Bakr ibn Wa’il was released from fetters

and offered his precious hand in pledge on their behalf.

And he gave a hand for them - from his plenty - to them

وَأَنقَذَهُم مِن سِجنِ كِسرى بنِ هُرمُزٍ

وَأَنقَذَهُم مِن سِجنِ كِسرى بنِ هُرمُزٍ

وَقَد يَئِسَت أَنفارُها مِن نِسائِها

وَقَد يَئِسَت أَنفارُها مِن نِسائِها

And he rescued them from the prison of Kisrā ibn Hurmuz,

And rescued them from Kisra ibn Hurmuz’s prison

when their men had already lost hope for their women.

While their comrades despaired for their women

وَما عَدَّ مِن نُعمى اِمرُؤٌ مِن عَشيرَةٍ

وَما عَدَّ مِن نُعمى اِمرُؤٌ مِن عَشيرَةٍ

لِوالِدِهِ عَن قَومِهِ كَبَلائِها

لِوالِدِهِ عَن قَومِهِ كَبَلائِها

No man of any clan has ever counted a favor

And how many blessings did the man enumerate

by his father for his people to match that service—

To his father for his people like their afflictions!

أَعَمَّ عَلى ذُهلِ بنِ شَيبانَ نِعمَةً

أَعَمَّ عَلى ذُهلِ بنِ شَيبانَ نِعمَةً

وَأَدفَعَ عَن أَموالِها وَدِمائِها

وَأَدفَعَ عَن أَموالِها وَدِمائِها

more far-reaching in bounty to Dhuhl ibn Shaybān,

He covered Dhul ibn Shayban extensively with bounty

or more protective of their wealth and blood.

And warded off his money and blood

وَما رُهِنَت عَن قَومِها مِن يَدِ اِمرِئٍ

وَما رُهِنَت عَن قَومِها مِن يَدِ اِمرِئٍ

نِزارِيَّةٍ أَغنَت لَها كَغَنائِها

نِزارِيَّةٍ أَغنَت لَها كَغَنائِها

Nor has any man's hand, pledged for its people—

And no hostage among their women was taken

a Nizārī hand—served them as his did.

By an imrir from Nizar that enriched them like their riches

أَبوهُ أَبوهُم في ذَراهُم وَأُمُّهُ

أَبوهُ أَبوهُم في ذَراهُم وَأُمُّهُ

إِذا اِنتَسَبَت مِن ماجِداتِ نِسائِها

إِذا اِنتَسَبَت مِن ماجِداتِ نِسائِها

His father is their father among their highest ranks; and his mother,

His father was their father, in their homes, and his mother -

when she traces her lineage, is among their noble women.

If traced back - was from the glorious women of their women

وَما زِلتُ أَرمي عَن رَبيعَةَ مَن رَمى

وَما زِلتُ أَرمي عَن رَبيعَةَ مَن رَمى

إِلَيها وَتُخشى صَولَتي مِن وَرائِها

إِلَيها وَتُخشى صَولَتي مِن وَرائِها

I have never ceased to shoot, defending Rabīʿa, at whoever shot

And I have not stopped protecting Rabi’ah from he who shoots

at them—and my onslaught from behind them is feared—

Arrows at it, and my intensity is feared from behind it

بِكُلِّ شُرودٍ لا تُرَدُّ كَأَنَّها

بِكُلِّ شُرودٍ لا تُرَدُّ كَأَنَّها

سَنا نارِ لَيلٍ أوقِدَت لِصِلائِها

سَنا نارِ لَيلٍ أوقِدَت لِصِلائِها

with every far-ranging verse that cannot be repelled, as though it were

With every roaming arrow that is not repelled, as if it is

the radiance of a night-fire kindled for warmth.

The spark of a night fire kindled for its prayers

سَتَمنَعُ بَكراً أَن تُرامَ قَصائِدي

سَتَمنَعُ بَكراً أَن تُرامَ قَصائِدي

وَأَخلُفُها مَن ماتَ مِن شُعَرائِها

وَأَخلُفُها مَن ماتَ مِن شُعَرائِها

My poems will protect Bakr from being attacked,

It will prevent Bakr’s eulogies from being shot at

and I shall replace for them the poets who have died.

And I will succeed whomsoever dies from its poets

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مِن آلِ شَيبانَ تَستَقي

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مِن آلِ شَيبانَ تَستَقي

إِلى دَلوِكَ الكُبرى عِظامُ دِلائِها

إِلى دَلوِكَ الكُبرى عِظامُ دِلائِها

And you are a man of the house of Shaybān; water is drawn

And you are a man from Shayban’s family taking

into your greatest bucket by their mighty buckets.

To your large bucket the bones of its drawing rope

لَكُم أَثلَةٌ مِنها خَرَجتُم وَظِلُّها

لَكُم أَثلَةٌ مِنها خَرَجتُم وَظِلُّها

عَلَيكُم وَفيكُم نَبتُها في ثَرائِها

عَلَيكُم وَفيكُم نَبتُها في ثَرائِها

You have a tamarisk from which you sprang, and its shade

For you are examples that emerged from it and its shade

is over you, and among you are its shoots, in its moist soil.

Is upon you and among you, its growth in its fertile land

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مِن ذُهلِ شَيبانَ تَرتَقي

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مِن ذُهلِ شَيبانَ تَرتَقي

إِلى حَيثُ يَنمي مَجدُها مِن سَمائِها

إِلى حَيثُ يَنمي مَجدُها مِن سَمائِها

And you are a man of Dhuhl of Shaybān, ascending

And you are a man from Dhul Shayban climbing

to where their glory rises in their sky.

To where its glory sprouts from its sky

وَقَد عَلِمَت ذُهلُ بنُ شَيبانَ أَنَّكُم

وَقَد عَلِمَت ذُهلُ بنُ شَيبانَ أَنَّكُم

إِلى بَيتِها الأَعلى وَأَهلُ عَلائِها

إِلى بَيتِها الأَعلى وَأَهلُ عَلائِها

And Dhuhl ibn Shaybān well knows that you

And Dhul ibn Shayban knew that you

belong to their highest house and are its exalted family.

Are its superior house and people of its highness