أَتُرى طَيفُكُم لَمّا سَرى

أَتُرى طَيفُكُم لَمّا سَرى

أَخَذَ النَّومَ وَأَعطى السَّهَرا

أَخَذَ النَّومَ وَأَعطى السَّهَرا

Do you think your phantom, when it traveled by night,

Do you see their specter when they set out

took sleep away and gave wakefulness?

Taking sleep and giving wakefulness?

أَم ذَهَلنا وَتَمادى لَيلُنا

أَم ذَهَلنا وَتَمادى لَيلُنا

فَتَوَهَّمنا العِشاء السَّحَرا

فَتَوَهَّمنا العِشاء السَّحَرا

Or were we distracted, and our night dragged on,

Or did we become confused and our night prolonged

so that we mistook evening for the hour before dawn?

That we imagined the late supper as dawn?

ما نَلومُ اللَّيلَ بَل نَعذُرُهُ

ما نَلومُ اللَّيلَ بَل نَعذُرُهُ

إِنَّما طَوَّلَهُ مَن قَصَّرا

إِنَّما طَوَّلَهُ مَن قَصَّرا

We do not blame the night; rather, we excuse it:

We do not blame the night, but excuse it -

only the one who cut things short made it long.

He who shortened it lengthened it

إِن لَبِسناهُ ظَلاماً داجِياً

إِن لَبِسناهُ ظَلاماً داجِياً

فيما كانَ صَباحاً مُسفِرا

فيما كانَ صَباحاً مُسفِرا

If we wore it as pitch-black darkness,

If we clothed it in dark gloom

in what had been a radiant morning—

While it was a bright morning

يا عيوناً بِالغَضى راقِدَة

يا عيوناً بِالغَضى راقِدَة

حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيكُنَّ الكَرى

حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيكُنَّ الكَرى

O eyes asleep among the ghada trees,

O eyes asleep with resentment

may God forbid you slumber!

God has forbidden you from seeing me

لَو عَدَلتُنَّ تَساهَمنا جَوىً

لَو عَدَلتُنَّ تَساهَمنا جَوىً

مثلَما كُنّا اشتَرَكنا نَظَرا

مثلَما كُنّا اشتَرَكنا نَظَرا

Had you been fair, we would have shared love's anguish,

If you were fair, we would share intimacy

just as we once shared glances.

As we once shared glances

سَل فُروعَ البانِ عَن قَلبي فَقَد

سَل فُروعَ البانِ عَن قَلبي فَقَد

وَهِمَ البارِقُ فيما ذَكَرا

وَهِمَ البارِقُ فيما ذَكَرا

Ask the ban-tree boughs about my heart, for

Ask the boughs of the acacia about my heart, for

the lightning was mistaken in what it said.

The lightning in what it mentioned was mistaken

قالَ في الرَّبع وَما أَحسَبَهُ

قالَ في الرَّبع وَما أَحسَبَهُ

فارَقَ الأَظعانَ حَتّى انفَطَرا

فارَقَ الأَظعانَ حَتّى انفَطَرا

It said my heart was in the campsite; yet I do not think it

It said in the open country and I did not think

parted from the departing camel-litters until it broke.

That it parted from the clouds until it cracked

ما عَلى الغَيرانِ مِن سُقيا الحِمى

ما عَلى الغَيرانِ مِن سُقيا الحِمى

أَحَرامٌ عِندَهُ أَن يُمطَرا

أَحَرامٌ عِندَهُ أَن يُمطَرا

What harm does watering the protected pasture do the jealous one?

The rain clouds have no prohibitions

Does he deem it forbidden that rain should fall upon it?

From watering the blazes when your Lord is angered

وَإِذا أَغضَبَهُ ريُّكُمُ

وَإِذا أَغضَبَهُ ريُّكُمُ

فَسَقى اللَّهُ الفَضا وَالسُّمُرا

فَسَقى اللَّهُ الفَضا وَالسُّمُرا

And if your being watered angers him,

So God watered the expanse and the faded traces

then may God water the open country and the samur trees.

Good words were suited to you

حَبَّذا فيكَ حَديث طاهِرٌ

حَبَّذا فيكَ حَديث طاهِرٌ

فَطِنَ الدَّمعُ بِهِ فانتَشَرا

فَطِنَ الدَّمعُ بِهِ فانتَشَرا

How lovely is a pure tale of you:

So tears flowed with them

the tears sensed it and spread it abroad.

The slanderer told and we had misgivings

خَبَّرَ الواشي وَفينا رَيبَةٌ

خَبَّرَ الواشي وَفينا رَيبَةٌ

توجِبُ التُّهمَةُ فيما خَبَّرا

توجِبُ التُّهمَةُ فيما خَبَّرا

The talebearer reported it, and in us was a cause for doubt

Suspicion necessitates blame in what he told

that warranted suspicion concerning what he reported.

A glance that hid tears that did not cease

نَظَرٌ مَوَّهَ دَمعاً لَم يَزَل

نَظَرٌ مَوَّهَ دَمعاً لَم يَزَل

يُفصِحُ الوَجدُ بِهِ حَتّى جَرى

يُفصِحُ الوَجدُ بِهِ حَتّى جَرى

A glance disguised tears; ceaselessly

Passion expressed through them until they flowed

longing spoke through them until they flowed.

O people of the tent, does your disgrace

يا بَني العَوّام هَل ذُلُّكُمُ

يا بَني العَوّام هَل ذُلُّكُمُ

يَمنَعُ المَوتورَ أَن يَنتَصِرا

يَمنَعُ المَوتورَ أَن يَنتَصِرا

O sons of al-Awwam, does your humiliation

Prevent the distressed from gaining vengeance?

prevent the wronged man from taking vengeance?

No free soul attains its goal

دونَ نَيلِ الضَّيم نَفسٌ حُرَّة

دونَ نَيلِ الضَّيم نَفسٌ حُرَّة

وَالمَطايا وَالفَيافي وَالسُّرى

وَالمَطايا وَالفَيافي وَالسُّرى

Between me and humiliation stand a free soul,

With the mounts and tents being struck

riding camels, desert wastes, and night journeys.

I am not one who crouches in his den

لَستُ مَن يَقبَعُ في حَبوَتِهِ

لَستُ مَن يَقبَعُ في حَبوَتِهِ

يَتَمَنّى في الأَعادي الظَّفَرا

يَتَمَنّى في الأَعادي الظَّفَرا

I am not one who huddles with his knees drawn up,

Wishing for triumph over the enemies

wishing for victory over his enemies.

Do I see the incapacity as a cradle

أَمِنَ العَجزِ مِهاداً أَرى

أَمِنَ العَجزِ مِهاداً أَرى

طَلَبَ العِزِّ يُثيرُ الخَطَرا

طَلَبَ العِزِّ يُثيرُ الخَطَرا

From a bed of weakness, do I see

Seeking glory stirs up danger?

the pursuit of honor stirring peril?

And he is overcome by his opponent

وَهوَ مَغلوب عَلى صارِمِهِ

وَهوَ مَغلوب عَلى صارِمِهِ

يَتبَعُ الدَّهرَ إِذا ما أَمَرا

يَتبَعُ الدَّهرَ إِذا ما أَمَرا

And he is powerless over his keen sword,

Following fate wherever it leads

following Time whenever it commands.

O you who slumber from his vigor

أَيُّها الرّاقِدُ عَن نُهزَتِهِ

أَيُّها الرّاقِدُ عَن نُهزَتِهِ

ما يَروعُ السَّيفُ حَتّى يُشهَرا

ما يَروعُ السَّيفُ حَتّى يُشهَرا

O sleeper, heedless of his opportunity,

The sword does not frighten until it is drawn

the sword strikes no fear until it is drawn.

Your people, if you throw them

إِنَّما قَومُكَ إِن رُمتَهُمُ

إِنَّما قَومُكَ إِن رُمتَهُمُ

فَقعَةٌ تَسكُن وَعثاً قَرقَرا

فَقعَةٌ تَسكُن وَعثاً قَرقَرا

Your people, if you target them, are only

Are a troop that settles and stirs up turmoil

a truffle dwelling in soft, bare, level ground.

Provoke them and they are, due to their defects

شُنَّها فَهيَ عَلى عِلَّاتِها

شُنَّها فَهيَ عَلى عِلَّاتِها

تُلبِسُ الجَوَّ عُجاجاً أَكدَرا

تُلبِسُ الجَوَّ عُجاجاً أَكدَرا

Unleash it; for, despite its flaws,

Cloaking the atmosphere in darker clouds

it clothes the air in murky, swirling dust.

Perhaps they will reveal an event

عَلَّها تُسفِرُ عَن حادِثَةٍ

عَلَّها تُسفِرُ عَن حادِثَةٍ

يَسبِقُ الأَبيَضُ فيها الأَسمَرا

يَسبِقُ الأَبيَضُ فيها الأَسمَرا

Perhaps it will reveal an event

In which the white outpaces the black

in which the white sword outstrips the brown spear.

Our cavalry in which riders mix

فَالهُوَينا مَركَبٌ ما خِلتُهُ

فَالهُوَينا مَركَبٌ ما خِلتُهُ

يُشرِكُ البادونَ فيهِ الحَضَرا

يُشرِكُ البادونَ فيهِ الحَضَرا

For indolence is a mount I never thought

With the Bedouin in settlements and towns

desert-dwellers would share with townsfolk.

A band whose herder roused them

ثُلَّةٌ هَوَّمَ راعيها فَما

ثُلَّةٌ هَوَّمَ راعيها فَما

يَعتَفي سِرحانُها أَن يَعقرا

يَعتَفي سِرحانُها أَن يَعقرا

A flock whose shepherd has dozed off, so

And their departure cannot be prevented

its wolf asks no leave to slaughter.

We hoped in you, so roll up your sleeves

قَد رَجَوناكَ فَشَمِّر جاهِداً

قَد رَجَوناكَ فَشَمِّر جاهِداً

إِنَّما يُدرِكُها مَن شَمَّرا

إِنَّما يُدرِكُها مَن شَمَّرا

We have placed our hopes in you; gird yourself and strive:

For only one who rolls up his sleeves will achieve it

only one who girds himself attains it.

Glory refused except for one

وَأَبي المَجدُ لَقَد فازَ بِهِ

وَأَبي المَجدُ لَقَد فازَ بِهِ

سالِكٌ فيهِ السَّبيلُ الأَوعَرا

سالِكٌ فيهِ السَّبيلُ الأَوعَرا

By my father, glory has indeed been won

Who took its most difficult path

by one who takes its most rugged path.

Were it not for his restraint

مِن بَني الأَحرارِ لَولا كَفُّهُ

مِن بَني الأَحرارِ لَولا كَفُّهُ

سَبَقَت في الجودِ قَيسٌ حِميَرا

سَبَقَت في الجودِ قَيسٌ حِميَرا

Of Banu al-Ahrar—were it not for his hand,

Qais would have outdone Himer in generosity

Qays would have outstripped Himyar in generosity.

Impoverished in wealth but rich in munificence

مُعسِرٌ مالاً وَمُثرٍ كَرَماً

مُعسِرٌ مالاً وَمُثرٍ كَرَماً

إِنَّما أَترَبَ لَمّا أَقتَرا

إِنَّما أَترَبَ لَمّا أَقتَرا

Poor in wealth, but rich in generosity,

He only drew near when he became destitute

he grew rich only when he grew poor.

A gathering in which doubt was planted

مُنتَدى قَد غُرِسَ الظَّنُّ بِهِ

مُنتَدى قَد غُرِسَ الظَّنُّ بِهِ

ثُمَّ ما أَورَقَ حَتّى أَثمَرا

ثُمَّ ما أَورَقَ حَتّى أَثمَرا

A gathering-place where expectation was planted,

Then it did not flourish until it bore fruit

then scarcely put out leaves before it bore fruit.

From generous men whose eggs hatched

مِن كِرام رَتَقَت بَيضُهُمُ

مِن كِرام رَتَقَت بَيضُهُمُ

فُرَجَ المَجدِ وَكانَت ثُغَرا

فُرَجَ المَجدِ وَكانَت ثُغَرا

Of noble men whose white swords mended

Into openings of glory and gates

glory's gaps, which had been breaches.

They grew accustomed to the shade of loftiness and built

أَلِفوا ظِلَّ العَوالي فَبَنوا

أَلِفوا ظِلَّ العَوالي فَبَنوا

بِرِماحِ المَجدِ أَبياتَ القِرى

بِرِماحِ المَجدِ أَبياتَ القِرى

Accustomed to the shade of lofty spears, they built

With the spears of glory, the houses of encampments

with glory's lances the tents of hospitality.

An aid that clothed the land with water

نَجدَة سَربَلَتِ الأَرضَ وَماً

نَجدَة سَربَلَتِ الأَرضَ وَماً

وَحَثَت فَوقَ السَّماءِ العَفَرا

وَحَثَت فَوقَ السَّماءِ العَفَرا

Valor that clothed the earth in [unclear word],

And stirred the dust high in the sky

and cast dust above the sky.

And rain held back, so they constantly gave

وَنَأى الغَيثُ فَجادوا دِيماً

وَنَأى الغَيثُ فَجادوا دِيماً

وَدَجا الخَطبُ فَلاحوا غُرَرا

وَدَجا الخَطبُ فَلاحوا غُرَرا

When rain withdrew, they poured forth steady showers,

And adversity struck, so they shone brightly

and when calamity darkened, they shone as white blazes.

A bestowal from palms that necessitated

وَنَوالٌ مِن أَكُفّ أَوجَبَت

وَنَوالٌ مِن أَكُفّ أَوجَبَت

طاعَةَ الجودِ فَصارَت أَبحُرا

طاعَةَ الجودِ فَصارَت أَبحُرا

And bounty from hands that made

Obedience to munificence, so it became oceans

obedience to generosity a duty, and so became seas.

Ask about it, it almost flows

سَل بِهِ يوشِكُ إِذ أَرسَلَها

سَل بِهِ يوشِكُ إِذ أَرسَلَها

كَقَنا الخِطِّ خِفافاً ضُمَّرا

كَقَنا الخِطِّ خِفافاً ضُمَّرا

Ask Yushik [uncertain reading] about him, when he sent them forth,

Like channels of calligraphy, pure and gushing

like al-Khatt spearshafts, light and lean.

Passion drove it, and when it arrived

قادَها هَميا فَلَمّا وَرَدَت

قادَها هَميا فَلَمّا وَرَدَت

حَظَرَ الطَّعنُ عَلَيها الصَّدَرا

حَظَرَ الطَّعنُ عَلَيها الصَّدَرا

He led them in a torrent; when they came to water,

Blame was prevented from touching it

spear-thrusts barred their departure.

An onslaught, if pride speaks of it

وَقعَةٌ إِن نَطَقَ الفَخرُ بِها

وَقعَةٌ إِن نَطَقَ الفَخرُ بِها

فَضَلَت قَحطانُ فيها مُضَرا

فَضَلَت قَحطانُ فيها مُضَرا

A battle: if pride speaks of it,

Qahtan gained precedence over Mudar

Qahtan there surpassed Mudar.

And on the battlefield, their eggs returned

وَعَلى المَرجِ أَعادَت بَيضُهُم

وَعَلى المَرجِ أَعادَت بَيضُهُم

كُلَّ جَون في مَعَدٍّ أَشقَرا

كُلَّ جَون في مَعَدٍّ أَشقَرا

And at al-Marj their white swords turned

Every light-colored intestine to a dark-colored abdomen

every black steed in Ma'add chestnut-red.

They unfurled in it mighty palms

أَشرَعوا فيها أَكُفّاً سَبطَةٌ

أَشرَعوا فيها أَكُفّاً سَبطَةٌ

عَلَّمَت وَخزَ العَوالي زُفَرا

عَلَّمَت وَخزَ العَوالي زُفَرا

Into it they thrust supple hands

That taught the lofty summits lessons

that taught Zufar the pricking of spearheads,

And steeds that it supposed were attacking

وَجِياداً ظَنَّها واثِبَةً

وَجِياداً ظَنَّها واثِبَةً

مُطرِقُ القَينِ أَثارَ الشَّرَرا

مُطرِقُ القَينِ أَثارَ الشَّرَرا

and steeds that, as they leapt, he took for

With hooves striking sparks

a blacksmith's hammer scattering sparks.

The clan of Sawwar son of Zayd grew accustomed

رَهطُ سَوّارِ بنِ زَيد أَلِفوا

رَهطُ سَوّارِ بنِ زَيد أَلِفوا

كَرَماً دَثراً وَماء ثَرثَرا

كَرَماً دَثراً وَماء ثَرثَرا

The clan of Sawwar ibn Zayd were accustomed to

To abundant generosity and pouring water

abundant generosity and copiously flowing water.

And with Ali they had

وَاِستَطالَت بِعَلِيٍّ لَهُمُ

وَاِستَطالَت بِعَلِيٍّ لَهُمُ

دَوحَةً لَم تَكُ تَشكُ القِصَرا

دَوحَةً لَم تَكُ تَشكُ القِصَرا

And through Ali, theirs grew taller—

A vast basin that the palaces did not equal

a spreading tree that had never complained of shortness.

He saw them while he is the one who informs them

فَشَآهُم وَهوَ مَن يُخبِرُهُم

فَشَآهُم وَهوَ مَن يُخبِرُهُم

يَجمَعُ الأُفقَ السُّها وَالقَمَرا

يَجمَعُ الأُفقَ السُّها وَالقَمَرا

He outstripped them, and he is the one who tells them:

Bringing together the horizon, the star and the moon

'The horizon brings together al-Suha and the moon.'

O Abu Nasr, a prayer from one

يا أَبا نَصرٍ دُعاء أَمِنَ ال

يا أَبا نَصرٍ دُعاء أَمِنَ ال

خَطبِ مَن كانَ بِهِ مُنتَصِرا

خَطبِ مَن كانَ بِهِ مُنتَصِرا

O Abu Nasr! A call that sheltered from

Made victorious by it averts disasters

calamity whoever triumphed through it.

I am, when raiding to protect you

أَنا عِندَ الذَّبِّ عَن أَحسابِكُم

أَنا عِندَ الذَّبِّ عَن أَحسابِكُم

لَجِبٌ عَبٌّ وَقَرمٌ هَدَرا

لَجِبٌ عَبٌّ وَقَرمٌ هَدَرا

When defending your ancestral honor, I am

A fearless lion, a cunning horseman and a charging warrior

a roaring, surging sea and a bellowing camel-stallion.

I have, due to the sincerity of the affection between us

لِي فيكُمُ عَن وِدادٍ أَمِنَت

لِي فيكُمُ عَن وِدادٍ أَمِنَت

صَفوَةُ الإِخلاصِ فيهِ الكَدَرا

صَفوَةُ الإِخلاصِ فيهِ الكَدَرا

For you I have, born of a love whose

A select few whose sincerity the bitterness did not spoil

pure sincerity is safe from taint,

Every cunning deceitful person envied

كُلُّ غَرّاء شَرودٍ حَسَدَت

كُلُّ غَرّاء شَرودٍ حَسَدَت

أَوَّلُ الدَّهرِ عَلَيها الأخَرا

أَوَّلُ الدَّهرِ عَلَيها الأخَرا

every radiant, far-ranging verse for which

The later ones against the earlier ones

time's earliest age envied its latest.

When I recite it to a caravan, they find

يَجِدُ الرَّكبُ إِذا أَنشَدتُها

يَجِدُ الرَّكبُ إِذا أَنشَدتُها

عبقَةَ الرِّيحِ تَنوشُ الزَّهَرا

عبقَةَ الرِّيحِ تَنوشُ الزَّهَرا

The caravan, when I recite it, finds

The scent of the wind, intimate with flowers

the scent of a breeze reaching for the flowers.

The speeding camels halt their pace

يَحبِسُ العَجلانُ عَن حاجَتِهِ

يَحبِسُ العَجلانُ عَن حاجَتِهِ

وَيَصُمُّ السَّمعُ فيهِ البَصَرا

وَيَصُمُّ السَّمعُ فيهِ البَصَرا

The hurried man holds back from his errand,

And hearing in it falls silent before seeing

and hearing, in it, deafens sight.

So make excuses, for we have not swerved

فَابسُطِ العُذرَ فَما زِلنا إِلى

فَابسُطِ العُذرَ فَما زِلنا إِلى

بَحرِكَ الزَّاخِرِ نُهدي الدُّرَرا

بَحرِكَ الزَّاخِرِ نُهدي الدُّرَرا

So grant pardon; we still offer to

From sending to your abundant sea, its pearls

your surging sea gifts of pearls.