سَرَىtraveled by night وَالدُّجَىand the darkness قَدْalready آنَwas due مِنْهُfor it رَحِيلُdeparture
سَرَى وَالدُّجَى قَدْ آنَ مِنْهُ رَحِيلُ
نَسِيمٌa breeze يُتِيحُbrings about الْبُرْءَrecovery وَهْوَthough it عَلِيلُis ailing
نَسِيمٌ يُتِيحُ الْبُرْءَ وَهْوَ عَلِيلُ
A breeze traveled by as the darkness was ready to depart.
Though ailing, it brings healing.
أَدَارَpoured عَلَىover الأَغْصَانِthe branches رَاحَwine ارْتِيَاحِهِof its delight
أَدَارَ عَلَى الأَغْصَانِ رَاحَ ارْتِيَاحِهِ
فَغَادَرَand left أَعْطَافَthe curved limbs الْغُصُونِof the boughs تَمِيلُswaying
فَغَادَرَ أَعْطَافَ الْغُصُونِ تَمِيلُ
It poured the wine of its delight over the branches,
Leaving the boughs swaying.
وَمَاand not كُنْتُI was أَعْتَادُaccustomed to الصِّبَاthe morning breeze قَبْلَbefore خَمْرَةٍwine
وَمَا كُنْتُ أَعْتَادُ الصِّبَا قَبْلَ خَمْرَةٍ
وَلاَnor قُلْتُdid I say فِيof الرِّيحِthe wind الشَّمَالِthe north شَمُولُwine
وَلاَ قُلْتُ فِي الرِّيحِ الشَّمَالِ شَمُولُ
I had never known the morning breeze before knowing wine,
Nor had I called the north wind a wine.
وَأَهْدَىand offered إِلَىto الآنَافِthe noses مِنْfrom نَفَحَاتِهِits fragrant breaths
وَأَهْدَى إِلَى الآنَافِ مِنْ نَفَحَاتِهِ
لَطَائِمَperfumed bundles فِيهَاin them إِذْخِرٌidhkhir grass وَجَلِيلُand jalil grass
لَطَائِمَ فِيهَا إِذْخِرٌ وَجَلِيلُ
It offered the noses, from its fragrant breaths,
Perfumed bundles containing idhkhir and jalil grasses.
رَسَائِلَletters شكْوَىof complaint خَطَّtraced أَحْرُفُهَاtheir characters الْجَوَىheartache
رَسَائِلَ شكْوَى خَطَّ أَحْرُفُهَا الْجَوَى
وَحَيَّىand greeted عَلَىon شَطِّthe bank الْفُرَاتِof the Euphrates نَزِيلُa dweller
وَحَيَّى عَلَى شَطِّ الْفُرَاتِ نَزِيلُ
Letters of complaint whose characters were traced by heartache,
And it greeted a dweller on the bank of the Euphrates.
أَجَدَّrenewed ادِّكَارَthe recollection الْعَهْدِof the past bond وَالْعَهْدُwhile the bond شَاسِعٌis distant
أَجَدَّ ادِّكَارَ الْعَهْدِ وَالْعَهْدُ شَاسِعٌ
وَحَلَّand loosened عُرَىthe bonds الأَجْفَانِof the eyelids فَهْيَso they مُحُولُare worn thin
وَحَلَّ عُرَى الأَجْفَانِ فَهْيَ مُحُولُ
It renewed remembrance of a time now far away,
And loosened the eyelids' bonds, leaving them worn thin.
وَهَاجَand kindled ضِرَاماًa blaze لِلتَّشَوُّقِof longing مَاnever خَبَاwent out
وَهَاجَ ضِرَاماً لِلتَّشَوُّقِ مَا خَبَا
فَيَاoh, what لَبَلِيلٍwetness ثَارَrose عَنْهُfrom it غَلِيلُburning thirst
فَيَا لَبَلِيلٍ ثَارَ عَنْهُ غَلِيلُ
It kindled a fire of longing that had never gone out.
Oh, what wetness rose from that burning thirst!
وَقَفْنَاwe stopped بِرَبْعِat the dwelling الْمَالِكِيَّةِof al-Malikiyya بَعْدَمَاafter
وَقَفْنَا بِرَبْعِ الْمَالِكِيَّةِ بَعْدَمَا
تَقَسَّمَwas divided بَيْنَamong قَوْمِهits people وَرَحِيلُand departure
تَقَسَّمَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِه وَرَحِيلُ
We stopped at the dwelling place of al-Malikiyya after
Its people had parted between those who stayed and those who left.
رُسُومُtraces جُسُومٍof bodies فِيamong رُسُومٍtraces تَشَابَهَاresembled one another
رُسُومُ جُسُومٍ فِي رُسُومٍ تَشَابَهَا
كِلاَنَاboth of us عَلَىunder حُكْمِthe decree الْبِعَادِof distance نَحِيلُare wasted
كِلاَنَا عَلَى حُكْمِ الْبِعَادِ نَحِيلُ
Traces of bodies among traces of dwellings looked alike;
Both of us are wasted by the decree of distance.
نُكَلِّفُwe demand of رَسْمَthe trace الدَّارِof the house رَجْعَa return جَوَابِنَاof our answer
نُكَلِّفُ رَسْمَ الدَّارِ رَجْعَ جَوَابِنَا
وَذَلِكَand that شَيْءٌis a thing مَاno إِلَيْهِto it سَبِيلُway exists
وَذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ مَا إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلُ
We ask the outline of the house to answer us,
Though no way exists for that to happen.
فَيَاso, O مَنْwhoever رَآنَاsaw us وَالرِّكَابُwhile the mounts مُنَاخَةٌwere kneeling
فَيَا مَنْ رَآنَا وَالرِّكَابُ مُنَاخَةٌ
طُلُولاًruins تُبَكِّيmake weep عَهْدَهُنَّtheir former days طُلُولُruins
طُلُولاً تُبَكِّي عَهْدَهُنَّ طُلُولُ
O you who saw us with our mounts kneeling,
Ruins made to weep for their past by other ruins.
رَعَىmay preserve اللَّهُGod قَلْبِيmy heart مَاhow أَتَمَّcomplete وَفَاءَهُits fidelity is
رَعَى اللَّهُ قَلْبِي مَا أَتَمَّ وَفَاءَهُ
إِذَاwhen نَزَحَتْhas moved far away دَارٌa dwelling وَبَانَand has departed خَلِيلُa beloved
إِذَا نَزَحَتْ دَارٌ وَبَانَ خَلِيلُ
May God preserve my heart: how complete its loyalty is
When a dwelling lies far away and a beloved departs.
مُقِيمُremaining عَلَىupon رَعْيkeeping الْعُهُودِthe pledges عَلَىdespite النَّوَىdistance
مُقِيمُ عَلَى رَعْي الْعُهُودِ عَلَى النَّوَى
كَفَىenough for الْقَلْبَthe heart ذَمّاًas reproach أَنْthat يُقَالَit be called مَلُولُfickle
كَفَى الْقَلْبَ ذَمّاً أَنْ يُقَالَ مَلُولُ
It keeps the old pledges despite separation;
Enough reproach for a heart is to be called fickle.
خَلِيلَيَّmy two companions مِنْof سَلْمَانَSalman بِاللَّهِby God سَاعِدَاhelp me, you two
خَلِيلَيَّ مِنْ سَلْمَانَ بِاللَّهِ سَاعِدَا
فَمَاfor not الْخِلُّa friend إِلاَّexcept مُسْعِدٌa comforter وَمُقِيلُand a reliever
فَمَا الْخِلُّ إِلاَّ مُسْعِدٌ وَمُقِيلُ
My two companions of Salman, by God, help me;
A friend is one who gives comfort and relief.
وَلاَand do not تُجْرِيَاyou two bring up ذِكْرَthe mention الْفِرَاقِof parting فإِنَّهُfor it
وَلاَ تُجْرِيَا ذِكْرَ الْفِرَاقِ فإِنَّهُ
حَدِيثٌa subject عَلَىupon سَمْعِthe hearing الْغَدَاةِof this morning ثَقِيلُheavy
حَدِيثٌ عَلَى سَمْعِ الْغَدَاةِ ثَقِيلُ
And do not bring up parting, for it is
A subject too heavy to hear this morning.
وَلاَand do not تَسْأَلاَyou two ask أَنْthat يهميpour down الْغَيْثُthe rain بِالْحِمَىover the protected land
وَلاَ تَسْأَلاَ أَنْ يهمي الْغَيْثُ بِالْحِمَى
فِمِنْfor from مُقْلَتِيmy eye غَيْثٌrain أَجَشُّhoarse هَمُولُpouring steadily
فِمِنْ مُقْلَتِي غَيْثٌ أَجَشُّ هَمُولُ
And do not ask for rain to pour over the protected land;
From my eyes comes a hoarse, unceasing downpour.
أَلاَcome now فَافْلِيَاand you two comb فَوْدَthe hair الْفَلاَof the desert بِنَجَائِبٍwith fine mounts
أَلاَ فَافْلِيَا فَوْدَ الْفَلاَ بِنَجَائِبٍ
لَهَاfor them خَبَبٌa quick trot لاَnever يَنْقَضِيends وَذَمِيلُand a steady pace
لَهَا خَبَبٌ لاَ يَنْقَضِي وَذَمِيلُ
Come, comb the hair of the open desert with fine mounts
Whose quick trot and steady pace never end.
قِلاَصٌyoung she-camels بَرَاهَاhas worn them lean السَّيْرُtravel حَتَّىuntil كَأَنَّهَاas if they
قِلاَصٌ بَرَاهَا السَّيْرُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهَا
خَوَاطِرُthoughts فِيwithin فِكْرِthe mind الْفَلاَةِof the desert تَجُولُwander
خَوَاطِرُ فِي فِكْرِ الْفَلاَةِ تَجُولُ
Young she-camels worn lean by travel, until they seem
Thoughts roaming through the desert's mind.
وَرَاضَand trained اعْتِسَافَthe rough crossing الْبِيدِof the wastes حَتَّىeven شِمَاسِهَاtheir stubbornness
وَرَاضَ اعْتِسَافَ الْبِيدِ حَتَّى شِمَاسِهَا
فَأَصْبَحَand became مِنْهَاamong them الصَّعْبُthe difficult one وَهْوَthough it ذَلُولُdocile
فَأَصْبَحَ مِنْهَا الصَّعْبُ وَهْوَ ذَلُولُ
Crossing the wastes has trained even their stubbornness,
So that the difficult one among them has become docile.
يَلُومُونَنِيthey blame me فِيfor الْحُبُّlove قَوْمِيmy people جَهَالَةًignorantly
يَلُومُونَنِي فِي الْحُبُّ قَوْمِي جَهَالَةً
وَمَاand what كَانَis طَبْعَاًa natural trait فَهْوَthen it لَيْسَdoes not يَزُولُvanish
وَمَا كَانَ طَبْعَاً فَهْوَ لَيْسَ يَزُولُ
My people ignorantly blame me for love,
But what belongs to one's nature does not disappear.
وَمَازِلْتُand I have continued مُذْsince عَقَّcast off الشَّبَابُyouth تَمَائِمِيmy amulets
وَمَازِلْتُ مُذْ عَقَّ الشَّبَابُ تَمَائِمِي
أَدِيرُI turn قِدَاحِيmy lots فِيin الْهَوَىlove وَأُجِيلُand cast them
أَدِيرُ قِدَاحِي فِي الْهَوَى وَأُجِيلُ
Ever since youth cast off my amulets,
I have turned and cast my lots in love.
إِذَاwhenever بَارِقٌa gleam لِلثَّغْرِfrom the frontier يَوْمَاًone day أَهَابَcalled بِيto me
إِذَا بَارِقٌ لِلثَّغْرِ يَوْمَاً أَهَابَ بِي
رَكِبْتُI rode إِلَيْهِtoward it الْخَطْبَthe danger وَهْوَthough it جَلِيلُwas grave
رَكِبْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْخَطْبَ وَهْوَ جَلِيلُ
Whenever a gleam from the frontier called to me,
I rode toward it through danger, however grave.
وَلَجْتُand entered عَلَىdespite الْغِيرَانِthe jealous guards بَيْتَthe house فَتَاتِهِof his girl
وَلَجْتُ عَلَى الْغِيرَانِ بَيْتَ فَتَاتِهِ
وَجُبْتُand crossed عَرِينَthe den اللَّيْثِof the lion وَهْوَthough it يَهُولُis frightening
وَجُبْتُ عَرِينَ اللَّيْثِ وَهْوَ يَهُولُ
I entered his girl's house despite the jealous guards,
And crossed the lion's den, frightening though it was.
وَلِيand mine is وَطْأَةٌa tread فَوْقَupon الزَّمَانِtime ثَقِيلَةٌheavy
وَلِي وَطْأَةٌ فَوْقَ الزَّمَانِ ثَقِيلَةٌ
يُطَأَطِىءُit lowers خَدَّيْهِits two cheeks لَهَاfor it وَيُمِيلُand bends
يُطَأَطِىءُ خَدَّيْهِ لَهَا وَيُمِيلُ
My tread upon time is heavy;
Time lowers and turns its cheeks beneath it.
أُجَرِّرُI trail ذَيْلَthe hem الْعَيْشِof life وَالْعَيْشُwhile life أَخْضَرٌis green
أُجَرِّرُ ذَيْلَ الْعَيْشِ وَالْعَيْشُ أَخْضَرٌ
وَأَغْشَىand I face رِمَاحَthe spears اللَّحْظِof a glance وَهْوَwhile it كَحِيلُis kohl-dark
وَأَغْشَى رِمَاحَ اللَّحْظِ وَهْوَ كَحِيلُ
I trail the hem of life while life is green,
And face the spears of a kohl-dark glance.
وَكَمْand how many سَاعَةٍan hour شَافَهْتُI spoke face to face فِيat مَوْقِفِthe moment النَّوَىof parting
وَكَمْ سَاعَةٍ شَافَهْتُ فِي مَوْقِفِ النَّوَى
تُقَبِّحُmakes ugly وَجْهَthe face الصَّبْرِof patience وَهْوَthough it جَمِيلُis beautiful
تُقَبِّحُ وَجْهَ الصَّبْرِ وَهْوَ جَمِيلُ
How many hours I spent speaking face to face at the moment of parting,
Which made patience look ugly, though it is beautiful.
غَضَضْتُI lowered عَلَىat التَّوْدِيعِthe farewell جَفْنِيَmy eyelid عِنْدَهَاthen
غَضَضْتُ عَلَى التَّوْدِيعِ جَفْنِيَ عِنْدَهَا
وَفِيwhile in الْقَلْبِthe heart دَاءٌa sickness لِلْفِرَاقِof separation دَخِيلُdeep within
وَفِي الْقَلْبِ دَاءٌ لِلْفِرَاقِ دَخِيلُ
At farewell I lowered my eyelids,
While a deep sickness of separation lay in my heart.
وَكَمْand how many لَيْلَةٍa night مزَّقْتُI tore جَيْبَthe collar ظَلاَمِهَاof its darkness
وَكَمْ لَيْلَةٍ مزَّقْتُ جَيْبَ ظَلاَمِهَا
وَقَدْwhile already سُحِبَتْwere drawn مِنْهَاfrom it عَلَيَّover me ذُيُولُlong hems
وَقَدْ سُحِبَتْ مِنْهَا عَلَيَّ ذُيُولُ
How many nights I tore open the collar of darkness
As its long hems were drawn over me,
إِلَىuntil أَنْthat تَبَدَّىappeared الشَّيْبُgray hair فِيin مَفْرِقِthe parting الدُّجَىof the darkness
إِلَى أَنْ تَبَدَّى الشَّيْبُ فِي مَفْرِقِ الدُّجَى
وَفُجِّرَand was made to burst forth نَهْرُthe river الْفَجْرِof dawn فَهْوَand it يَسِيلُflows
وَفُجِّرَ نَهْرُ الْفَجْرِ فَهْوَ يَسِيلُ
Until gray hair appeared in the parting of the dark
And the river of dawn burst forth and flowed.
وَيَوْمَand on a day دَعَوْتُI called الْوَحْشَthe wild beasts تَحْتَbeneath هَجيِرِهِits midday heat
وَيَوْمَ دَعَوْتُ الْوَحْشَ تَحْتَ هَجيِرِهِ
وَلِلأَسْدِwhile for the lions فِيin ظِلِّthe shade الْقَتَادِof the thorn trees مَقِيلُa resting place
وَلِلأَسْدِ فِي ظِلِّ الْقَتَادِ مَقِيلُ
And on a day when I called to the wild beasts beneath its midday heat,
While lions rested in the shade of thorn trees,
إِذَاwhenever زَأَرَتْthey roared عَنْon جَانِبَيَّmy two sides أَجَابَهَاanswered them
إِذَا زَأَرَتْ عَنْ جَانِبَيَّ أَجَابَهَا
رُغَاءٌcamel bellowing يُبَارِيrivals زَأَرَهَاtheir roaring وَصَهِيلُand neighing
رُغَاءٌ يُبَارِي زَأَرَهَا وَصَهِيلُ
Whenever they roared on either side of me, they were answered
By camel cries and neighs that rivaled their roars,
إِلَىuntil أَنْthat تَلقَّىreceived مَغْرِبُthe west الشَّمْسِof the sun قُرْصَهَاits disk
إِلَى أَنْ تَلقَّى مَغْرِبُ الشَّمْسِ قُرْصَهَا
كَمَاas الْتَقَمَswallowed القُرْصَthe round loaf الرَّهِيفَthe thin one أَكُولُa glutton
كَمَا الْتَقَمَ القُرْصَ الرَّهِيفَ أَكُولُ
Until the western horizon received the sun's disk
As a glutton swallows a thin round loaf.
وَلاَand no صَاحِبٌcompanion إِلاَّexcept سِنَانٌa spearhead وَصَارِمٌand a sharp sword
وَلاَ صَاحِبٌ إِلاَّ سِنَانٌ وَصَارِمٌ
وَعَزْمٌand resolve بِتَيْسِيرِfor making easy الْعَسِيرِthe difficult كَفِيلُsufficient
وَعَزْمٌ بِتَيْسِيرِ الْعَسِيرِ كَفِيلُ
I had no companions but a spearhead and a sharp sword,
And resolve that could make hard things easy.
وَوَجْنَاءَand a broad-faced she-camel تَجْنِيplucks الْقُربَnearness مِنْfrom شَجَرِthe tree السُّرَىof night travel
وَوَجْنَاءَ تَجْنِي الْقُربَ مِنْ شَجَرِ السُّرَى
قَلُوصٍa young she-camel نَمَاهَاbred her شَدْقَمٌShadqam وَجَدِيلُand Jadil
قَلُوصٍ نَمَاهَا شَدْقَمٌ وَجَدِيلُ
And a broad-faced she-camel that plucks nearness from the tree of night travel,
A young camel descended from Shadqam and Jadil.
وَعَاذِلِةٌand a reproaching woman فِيabout الْجُودِgenerosity قُلْتَyou said لَهَاto her اقْصِرِيstop
وَعَاذِلِةٌ فِي الْجُودِ قُلْتَ لَهَا اقْصِرِي
رُوَيْدَكِgently, you هَلْhas نَالattained الْعَلاَءَhigh honor بَخِيلُa miser
رُوَيْدَكِ هَلْ نَال الْعَلاَءَ بَخِيلُ
To a woman who reproached generosity I said, 'Stop;
Be patient: has a miser ever won high honor?'
إِذَاif الْمَرْءُa person لَمْdoes not يَشْرِbuy الثَّنَاءَpraise بِمَاwith what اقْتَنَىhe acquired
إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَشْرِ الثَّنَاءَ بِمَا اقْتَنَى
فَكُلُّthen every كَثِيرٍabundance يَقْتَنِيهِhe acquires قَلِيلُis little
فَكُلُّ كَثِيرٍ يَقْتَنِيهِ قَلِيلُ
If a person does not buy praise with what he has acquired,
Then all the wealth he gathers is little.
وَلِيand I have هِمَّةٌan ambition مِنْbeneath it دُونِهَاevery كُلّsunrise point of the horizon is lower than it شَارِقٍit
وَلِي هِمَّةٌ مِنْ دُونِهَا كُلّ شَارِقٍ
يُرَجَّعُis turned back عَنْهَاfrom it الطَّرْفُthe gaze وَهْوَwhile it كَلِيلُis weary
يُرَجَّعُ عَنْهَا الطَّرْفُ وَهْوَ كَلِيلُ
I have an ambition beyond every sunrise;
The eye turns back from it, weary.
تَقَلَّدَنِيhas worn me دَهْرِيmy age حُسَامَاًas a sword مُهَنَّداًof Indian steel
تَقَلَّدَنِي دَهْرِي حُسَامَاً مُهَنَّداً
لَهُfor it فِيagainst رِقَابِthe necks الدَّارِعِينَof armored men صَلِيلُa ringing sound
لَهُ فِي رِقَابِ الدَّارِعِينَ صَلِيلُ
My age has worn me like a tempered Indian sword
Whose ring sounds against the necks of armored men.
وَمَازَالَand it continues يُلْفَىto be found فِيamid الْحَوَادِثِcalamities ضَارِبَاًstriking
وَمَازَالَ يُلْفَى فِي الْحَوَادِثِ ضَارِبَاً
فَعِنْدِيso I bear لأِحْدَاثِfrom the blows الزَّمَانِof time فُلُولُnicks
فَعِنْدِي لأِحْدَاثِ الزَّمَانِ فُلُولُ
It is still found striking amid calamities;
I bear the nicks made by the blows of time.
تَغَنَّىsing بِأَشْعَارِيmy poems الْحُدَاةُthe camel drivers إِذَاwhen سَرَتْthey travel by night
تَغَنَّى بِأَشْعَارِي الْحُدَاةُ إِذَا سَرَتْ
وَشَدَّتْand sing لَهَاthem فِيacross الْخَافِقِيْنِeast and west حُمُولُladen caravans
وَشَدَّتْ لَهَا فِي الْخَافِقِيْنِ حُمُولُ
Camel drivers sing my verses when they journey by night,
And laden caravans sing them across east and west.
أَبَتْrefused غَيْرَanything but مَحْضِpure الْعِزِّhonor نَفْسِيmy soul فَلَيْسَso I have no لِيfor me
أَبَتْ غَيْرَ مَحْضِ الْعِزِّ نَفْسِي فَلَيْسَ لِي
بِسَاحَةِin the realm ضَيْمٍof humiliation مَاas long as حيِيتُI live نُزُولُa place to settle
بِسَاحَةِ ضَيْمٍ مَا حيِيتُ نُزُولُ
My soul accepts only pure honor, so I have
No place in the realm of humiliation for as long as I live.
وَكَيْفَand how بِإِلْمَامِcould come near الْمَذَلَّةِhumiliation لاِمْرِىٍءa man
وَكَيْفَ بِإِلْمَامِ الْمَذَلَّةِ لاِمْرِىٍء
وَمِنْwhile from يَمَنٍYemen رَهْطٌkin لَهُhe has وَقَبِيلُand a tribe
وَمِنْ يَمَنٍ رَهْطٌ لَهُ وَقَبِيلُ
How could humiliation come near a man
Who has kin and a tribe from Yemen?
إِذَاwhen الْعَرَبُthe Arabs الْعَرْبَاءُof pure Arab stock نَصَّتْrecounted قَدِيمَهَاtheir ancient lineage
إِذَا الْعَرَبُ الْعَرْبَاءُ نَصَّتْ قَدِيمَهَا
وَرُجِّعَand was repeated قَالٌspeech عِنْدَat ذَاكَthat time وَقِيلُand more speech
وَرُجِّعَ قَالٌ عِنْدَ ذَاكَ وَقِيلُ
When the Arab people recite their ancient lineage
And speech about it is repeated back and forth,
كَفَانَاenough for us افْتِخَاراًas pride وَانْتِصَاراًand vindication وَنِسْبَةًand ancestry
كَفَانَا افْتِخَاراً وَانْتِصَاراً وَنِسْبَةً
تَبَابِعَةٌthe Tubbaʿ kings مِنْfrom يَعْرُبٍYaʿrub وَقُيُولُand qayls
تَبَابِعَةٌ مِنْ يَعْرُبٍ وَقُيُولُ
The Tubbaʿ kings descended from Yaʿrub, and the qayls,
Are enough for our pride, vindication, and ancestry.
ذُؤَابَةُthe foremost part سَلْمَانٍof Salman وَسَلْمَانُand Salman كِنْدَةٍof Kinda
ذُؤَابَةُ سَلْمَانٍ وَسَلْمَانُ كِنْدَةٍ
وَكِنْدَةُand Kinda ظِلٌّshade مَاwhatever أَرَدْتَyou wish ظَلِيلُsheltering
وَكِنْدَةُ ظِلٌّ مَا أَرَدْتَ ظَلِيلُ
The foremost of Salman—and Salman belongs to Kinda;
Kinda is shade, as sheltering as one could wish.
سَتَدْرِيwill learn عِدَاتِيmy enemies أَيُّwhat kind of لَيْثِlion حَفِيظَةٍof fierce pride
سَتَدْرِي عِدَاتِي أَيُّ لَيْثِ حَفِيظَةٍ
أَثَرْنَthey stirred وَأَيَّامُwhile the fortunes الزَّمْانِof time تَدُولُturn
أَثَرْنَ وَأَيَّامُ الزَّمْانِ تَدُولُ
My enemies will learn what fierce lion
They have stirred, while the fortunes of time turn.
إذَاwhen أَصْبَحَتْbecome خَيْلِيmy horsemen الْبُيوتَthe homes مُغِيرةًraiding
إذَا أَصْبَحَتْ خَيْلِي الْبُيوتَ مُغِيرةً
وَفِيand in كُلِّevery شِعْبٍmountain pass مِقْنَبٌa troop وَرَعِيلُand a band
وَفِي كُلِّ شِعْبٍ مِقْنَبٌ وَرَعِيلُ
When my horsemen raid their homes in the morning,
With a troop in every mountain pass and another band behind,
عَذِيِرِيَwho will excuse me مِنْbefore قَوْمٍa people تَجِيشُseethe صُدُورُهُمْtheir hearts
عَذِيِرِيَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ تَجِيشُ صُدُورُهُمْ
لَهُمْfor them عَنْfrom طَرِيقِthe path الْعَدْلِof justice مِنِّيaway from me عُدُولُturning aside
لَهُمْ عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْعَدْلِ مِنِّي عُدُولُ
Who will excuse me before a people whose hearts seethe?
They turn away from my path of justice.
إِذَاwhen قُلْتُI said غَضُّواlower your gaze أَوْor إِذَاwhen لُحْتَyou appeared أَطْرَقُواthey looked down
إِذَا قُلْتُ غَضُّوا أَوْ إِذَا لُحْتَ أَطْرَقُوا
وَإِنْbut if غِبْتُI was absent مِنْهُمْfrom them قَائِلٌone speaking وَفَعُولُand one acting
وَإِنْ غِبْتُ مِنْهُمْ قَائِلٌ وَفَعُولُ
When I say, 'Lower your gaze,' or when I appear, they look down;
Yet in my absence they speak and act against me.
عَمَواthey were blind عَنْto سَنَاthe brightness فَضْلِيof my merit فَضَلُّواso they strayed عَنْfrom الْهُدَىguidance
عَمَوا عَنْ سَنَا فَضْلِي فَضَلُّوا عَنْ الْهُدَى
هَوَىdesire النَّفْسِof the soul قِدْماًlong ago لِلرِّجَالِto men قَتُولُdeadly
هَوَى النَّفْسِ قِدْماً لِلرِّجَالِ قَتُولُ
They are blind to the brightness of my merit and stray from guidance;
The soul's desire has long been deadly to men.
وَمَنْand whoever حَسَدَenvies الشَّمْسَthe sun الْمُنِيرَةَradiant نُورَهَاits light
وَمَنْ حَسَدَ الشَّمْسَ الْمُنِيرَةَ نُورَهَا
وَرِفْعَتَهاand its height فِيin الْجَوِّthe sky فَهْوَthen he جَهُولُis ignorant
وَرِفْعَتَها فِي الْجَوِّ فَهْوَ جَهُولُ
Whoever envies the radiant sun its light
And its height in the sky is ignorant.
أَبَاO Abu قَاسِمٍQasim خُذْهَاtake it إِلَيْكَto yourself كَأَنَّهَاas if it
أَبَا قَاسِمٍ خُذْهَا إِلَيْكَ كَأَنَّهَا
حُسَامٌa sword يُروعُawes النَّاقِدِينَthe critics صَقِيلُpolished
حُسَامٌ يُروعُ النَّاقِدِينَ صَقِيلُ
Abu Qasim, take this poem: it is like
A polished sword that awes its critics.
أَتَتْit came كَأَنَابِيبِlike sections الْقَنَاةِof a spear shaft بُيُوتُهَاits verses
أَتَتْ كَأَنَابِيبِ الْقَنَاةِ بُيُوتُهَا
لَهَاfor it مِنْfrom قَوَافِيهَاits rhymes الْحِسَانِbeautiful نُصُولspearheads
لَهَا مِنْ قَوَافِيهَا الْحِسَانِ نُصُول
Its verses come like the sections of a spear shaft,
With its lovely rhymes serving as spearheads.
إِذَاwhen شَردَتْstrayed عَنَّيfrom me الْقَوَافِيthe rhymes نَوازِعَاdrawn elsewhere
إِذَا شَردَتْ عَنَّي الْقَوَافِي نَوازِعَا
فَلَيْسَthen not لَهَاfor them إِلاَّexcept لَدَيْكَwith you حُلُولُa resting place
فَلَيْسَ لَهَا إِلاَّ لَدَيْكَ حُلُولُ
When my rhymes stray from me, drawn elsewhere,
They find no resting place except with you.
وَإِنْand if هَطَلَتْpoured سُحْبُclouds الْبَيَانِof eloquence حَوَافِلاًfull to bursting
وَإِنْ هَطَلَتْ سُحْبُ الْبَيَانِ حَوَافِلاً
فَلَيْسَthen not لَهَاfor them إَلاَّexcept عَلَيْكَupon you هُمُولُa downpour
فَلَيْسَ لَهَا إَلاَّ عَلَيْكَ هُمُولُ
And when clouds of eloquence pour down, full to bursting,
Their rain falls on none but you.
وَأَنْتَand you عِمَادِيmy support وَاعْتِدَادِيand my strength وَمَفْزَعِيand my refuge
وَأَنْتَ عِمَادِي وَاعْتِدَادِي وَمَفْزَعِي
وَذُخْرُand the treasure زَمَانِيof my time وَالْحَدِيثُand the speech يَطُولُruns long
وَذُخْرُ زَمَانِي وَالْحَدِيثُ يَطُولُ
You are my support, my strength, and my refuge,
The treasure of my days—and there is much more to say.
وَأَنْتَand you حُسَامِيmy sword كُلَّمَاwhenever جَلَّgrew grave حَادِثٌan event
وَأَنْتَ حُسَامِي كُلَّمَا جَلَّ حَادِثٌ
أَذُودُI defend بِهِwith it عَنْfrom حَوْزَتِيmy domain وَأَصُولُand I strike
أَذُودُ بِهِ عَنْ حَوْزَتِي وَأَصُولُ
You are my sword whenever a grave event arises;
With it I defend my domain and strike.
تَحَامَتْhave avoided حِمَاكَyour protected domain النَّائِبَاتُcalamities وَأَصْبَحَتْand have become
تَحَامَتْ حِمَاكَ النَّائِبَاتُ وَأَصْبَحَتْ
سُعُودُكَyour good fortunes زُهْرَاًstars مَاnever لَهَنَّfor them أُفُولُa setting
سُعُودُكَ زُهْرَاً مَا لَهَنَّ أُفُولُ
Calamities have kept clear of your protection,
And your good fortunes have become stars that never set.
Translation model: Sol 6