ياO ناقshe-camel إِنif أَثرىhas grown fertile العُذَيبُal-ʿUdhayb وَرَوَّضاand become meadows
يا ناق إِن أَثرى العُذَيبُ وَرَوَّضا
فَلَناfor we have دُيونdebts بِالأَسِنَّةِwith spearheads تُقتَضىto be exacted
فَلَنا دُيون بِالأَسِنَّةِ تُقتَضى
O she-camel, if al-ʿUdhayb has grown fertile and become meadows,
O she-camel, if the perfumes of Udhayb delight me,
we have debts to be exacted with spearheads.
Then debts are owed through our tongues to be paid,
قَدindeed ماطَلَdelayed fulfillment القَدَرُfate الجَموحُunruly بِوَعدِهِof its promise
قَد ماطَلَ القَدَرُ الجَموحُ بِوَعدِهِ
فيهاconcerning them وَآنَand the time has come لِمُغمَدٍfor a sheathed sword أَنto يُنتَضىbe drawn
فيها وَآنَ لِمُغمَدٍ أَن يُنتَضى
Unruly fate has long delayed fulfilling its promise
Destiny has lingered its extravagant promise therein,
concerning them; now a sheathed blade must be drawn.
And it is time for a sheathed one to be drawn.
بَينيbetween me وَبَينَand between الذُّلِّhumiliation عِزُّthe dignity of قَناعَةٍcontentment
بَيني وَبَينَ الذُّلِّ عِزُّ قَناعَةٍ
نَبَذَrejected الجَمامَabundance إباؤهاits pride وَتَبَرَّضاand sipped scant drops
نَبَذَ الجَمامَ إباؤها وَتَبَرَّضا
Between me and humiliation stands the dignity of contentment,
Between me and disgrace is the honor of contentment,
whose pride rejected abundance and sipped scant drops,
Its repugnance has discarded worries and been gentle.
وَسِنانُand a spearhead مُطَّرِدِregular in الكُعوبِthe joints مُثَقَّفٌwell-straightened
وَسِنانُ مُطَّرِدِ الكُعوبِ مُثَقَّفٌ
كَالصِّلِّlike a viper صَرَّحَopenly declared بِالوَعيدِwith threats وَنَضنَضاand flicked its tongue
كَالصِّلِّ صَرَّحَ بِالوَعيدِ وَنَضنَضا
and the point of a straightened spear with even joints,
And the teeth of the herder of evil forebodings are refined
like a viper, openly threatening and flicking its tongue.
Like sparks that have clarified with threats and chuckled.
حُبُّlove of الغِنىwealth عَقَلَfettered اللِّئامَthe ignoble وَفاتَهُyet escaped it
حُبُّ الغِنى عَقَلَ اللِّئامَ وَفاتَهُ
طَيّانُa hungry man أَترَبَgrew rich بِالثَّناءِin praise وَأَنفَضاand became penniless
طَيّانُ أَترَبَ بِالثَّناءِ وَأَنفَضا
Love of wealth has fettered the ignoble, but was eluded by
Love of wealth has bound the wicked and escaped him,
a hungry man, rich in praise and empty-handed.
The flatterer of sand has praised with applause and shaken off.
غَصَبَforcibly deprived السّراحَthe grazing herd عَلىof بَقِيَّةِthe remainder of زادَهاits sustenance
غَصَبَ السّراحَ عَلى بَقِيَّةِ زادَها
وَقَرىand hosted guests فَأَمحَضَthen served pure milk لِلضُّيوفِto the guests وَأَنحَضاand provided meat
وَقَرى فَأَمحَضَ لِلضُّيوفِ وَأَنحَضا
He robbed the grazing herd of its remaining sustenance,
It has robbed the saddlebags of the remainder of its provisions,
and entertained guests, serving them pure milk and meat.
And dwelled so it welcomes guests and rests.
عَرِّضexpose ثَراءكyour wealth لِلخُطوبِto calamities وَشُلَّهُand drive it off
عَرِّض ثَراءك لِلخُطوبِ وَشُلَّهُ
شَلَّa driving-off like that of الطَّريدَةِhunted quarry قَبلَbefore أَنthat يَتَعَرَّضاit becomes exposed
شَلَّ الطَّريدَةِ قَبلَ أَن يَتَعَرَّضا
Expose your wealth to calamities and drive it off,
Expose your wealth to disasters and paralyze it,
as quarry is driven, before it falls in their path.
Paralyze the flock before it gets exposed.
وَاِنبُذand cast away غِناكَyour wealth فَماfor not رُزيتَhave you suffered loss بِذاهِبٍthrough something gone
وَاِنبُذ غِناكَ فَما رُزيتَ بِذاهِبٍ
لَمnot يَبدُappear عِندَكَwith you نَفعُهُits benefit حَتّىuntil مَضىit passed away
لَم يَبدُ عِندَكَ نَفعُهُ حَتّى مَضى
And cast away your riches: you lose nothing in what leaves you,
And discard your riches for you have not been granted a vanishing
whose benefit you never saw until it passed away.
Whose benefit did not appear to you until it passed.
إِنif راعَنيalarmed me وَضَحُthe whiteness of المَشيبِgray hair فَإِنَّهُthen it is
إِن راعَني وَضَحُ المَشيبِ فَإِنَّهُ
بَرقlightning تَأَلَّقَgleamed بِالخُطوبِamid calamities وَأَومَضاand flashed
بَرق تَأَلَّقَ بِالخُطوبِ وَأَومَضا
If the whiteness of gray hair alarms me, it is
If the radiance of old age preoccupies me, then it
lightning that gleamed and flashed amid calamities.
Is a lightning that sparkled with disasters and briefly flashed.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَضاءَit shone وَأَظلَمَتwhile grew dark أَيّامُهُits days
وَلَقَد أَضاءَ وَأَظلَمَت أَيّامُهُ
حَتّىuntil عَرَفتُI knew بِهِthrough it السَّوادَthe blackness الأَبيَضاthat is white
حَتّى عَرَفتُ بِهِ السَّوادَ الأَبيَضا
It shone indeed, while its days grew dark,
It has illuminated and the days have darkened,
until through it I knew the blackness that is white.
Until I knew the black from the white through it.
وَبِجانِبِand beside العَلَمَينِal-ʿAlamayn شاكٍone lamenting سِرَّهُhis secret
وَبِجانِبِ العَلَمَينِ شاكٍ سِرَّهُ
إِنّيindeed I رَعَيتُkept watch over لَهُfor him النُّجومَthe stars وَغَمَّضاwhile he closed his eyes
إِنّي رَعَيتُ لَهُ النُّجومَ وَغَمَّضا
Beside al-ʿAlamayn is one lamenting his secret grief;
And near the two banners, a secret it hides,
I watched the stars for him while he closed his eyes.
I have watched the stars for it and they have winked.
وَمُرَنَّحٍand a swooning man فَطِنَperceived النَّسيمُthe breeze بِوَجدِهِhis passionate longing
وَمُرَنَّحٍ فَطِنَ النَّسيمُ بِوَجدِهِ
فَرَوىso recounted لَهُto him خَبَرَnews of العُذَيبِal-ʿUdhayb مُعَرِّضاhinting indirectly
فَرَوى لَهُ خَبَرَ العُذَيبِ مُعَرِّضا
And a swooning man whose passion the breeze perceived:
And a passionate one whom the breeze understands his fervor,
it told him news of al-ʿUdhayb through veiled allusion.
It has narrated to him the news of Udhayb exposing.
نَمsleep وَاحمَدِand praise اللَّيلَthe night القَصيرَshort فَلَيلُهُfor his night
نَم وَاحمَدِ اللَّيلَ القَصيرَ فَلَيلُهُ
باديrevealing الهُمومَsorrows فَلاso may not انقَضَينَthey end وَلاnor اِنقَضىit end
بادي الهُمومَ فَلا انقَضَينَ وَلا اِنقَضى
Sleep, and praise the short night; for his night
He has slept and praised the short night, so his night
lays its sorrows bare—may neither they nor it end.
Has manifested worries, it did not end nor finish.
وَسَلِand ask الصَّباحَthe morning وَقَدwhile already أَقامَit lingered بحاجِرٍat Ḥājir
وَسَلِ الصَّباحَ وَقَد أَقامَ بحاجِرٍ
إِنwhether كانَit had أَضمَرَintended أَنto يَمُرَّpass عَلىover الفَضاal-Faḍā
إِن كانَ أَضمَرَ أَن يَمُرَّ عَلى الفَضا
And ask the morning, as it lingers at Ḥājir,
And ask the morning that has resided at stony grounds,
whether it intended to pass over al-Faḍā.
If it has intended to pass unto the horizon.
ذَمَّhe blamed الزَّمانَtime فَماyet not وَجَدتُI found صُروفَهُits vicissitudes
ذَمَّ الزَّمانَ فَما وَجَدتُ صُروفَهُ
إِلّاexcept ذَلولاًdocile فيunder القِيادِthe reins وَرَيّضاand well-tamed
إِلّا ذَلولاً في القِيادِ وَرَيّضا
He blamed time, yet I have found its vicissitudes
It has blamed time, but I have not found its circumstances
only docile under the reins and well-tamed.
Except submissive with leading and content.
صَفَحَتturned aside نَوائِبُهُits calamities عَنِfrom ابنِIbn (son of) مُقَلَّدٍMuqallad
صَفَحَت نَوائِبُهُ عَنِ ابنِ مُقَلَّدٍ
كَرَماًout of generosity فَكَيفَso how أَلومُهُcan I blame it فيماfor what مَضىhas passed
كَرَماً فَكَيفَ أَلومُهُ فيما مَضى
Its calamities have spared Ibn Muqallad
Its torment has pardoned the son of a ruler,
out of generosity—how can I blame it for the past?
So how can I blame it for what has passed?
وَلَقَدand indeed أَلَمَّit descended بِهِupon him فَأَظهَرَand so revealed فَضلَهُhis excellence
وَلَقَد أَلَمَّ بِهِ فَأَظهَرَ فَضلَهُ
وَالنّارُand fire لاnot تَشتَبُّblazes حَتّىuntil تُحتَضىit is kindled
وَالنّارُ لا تَشتَبُّ حَتّى تُحتَضى
It did descend upon him, thereby revealing his excellence;
It has afflicted him, so he has shown his merit,
fire does not blaze until it is kindled.
And fire is not doubted until it is sparked.
راضَhe tamed الزَّمانَtime فَأَصبَحَتso became أَخلاقُهُits ways
راضَ الزَّمانَ فَأَصبَحَت أَخلاقُهُ
وَأَعادَand restored صَبغَthe hue of شَبابِهِits youth لَمّاwhen نَضاit had worn away
وَأَعادَ صَبغَ شَبابِهِ لَمّا نَضا
He tamed time, and its ways were transformed,
It has pleased time, so its ethics have become
and restored its youthful hue when it had worn away.
And restored the dye of its youth when it glistened.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people بَذَلواwho gave النُّفوسَtheir lives سَماحَةًgenerously
مِن مَعشَرٍ بَذَلوا النُّفوسَ سَماحَةً
وَحَمواand protected بُيوتَthe houses of المَجدِglory أَنfrom تَتَقَوَّضاcollapsing
وَحَموا بُيوتَ المَجدِ أَن تَتَقَوَّضا
From a people who gave their lives generously,
Of a group who have given their souls generously
and protected the houses of glory from collapse.
And protected the houses of glory from decaying.
عادَتbecame بِهِمthrough them ظُلَمُthe darknesses of الخُطوبِcalamities مُضيئَةًradiant
عادَت بِهِم ظُلَمُ الخُطوبِ مُضيئَةً
وَالجَدبُand drought موشِيُّembroidered in البُرودِmantles مُرَوَّضاturned to meadows
وَالجَدبُ موشِيُّ البُرودِ مُرَوَّضا
Through them the darkness of calamities turned radiant,
With them, the darkness of disasters has been illuminated
and drought wore embroidered mantles, turned to meadows.
And the barren, freezing cold has been watered.
لَولاwere it not for مُخالَطَةُhandling الصَّوارِمِsharp swords وَالقَناand spears
لَولا مُخالَطَةُ الصَّوارِمِ وَالقَنا
مَنَعَwould have prevented السَّماحُgenerosity أَكُفَّهُمtheir palms أَنfrom تُقبَضاbeing clenched
مَنَعَ السَّماحُ أَكُفَّهُم أَن تُقبَضا
Were it not for their handling sharp swords and spears,
Had it not been for the mixing with swords and spears
generosity would prevent their hands from closing.
Generosity would have prevented their palms from tightening.
قَومٌa people إِذاif استَنجَدتَهُمyou seek their aid لِمُلِمَّةٍin a calamity
قَومٌ إِذا استَنجَدتَهُم لِمُلِمَّةٍ
مَلأَتwould fill عَلَيكَaround you جِيادُهُمtheir steeds رَحبَthe breadth of الفَضاthe open expanse
مَلأَت عَلَيكَ جِيادُهُم رَحبَ الفَضا
A people who, if you seek their aid in a calamity,
A people, if you seek their help in adversity,
have steeds that fill the broad expanse around you.
Their coursers have filled the vast horizon for you.
السُّمرُthe brown spears تَشرَعُare leveled وَالدُّروعُand the coats of mail تَصونُهاprotect them
السُّمرُ تَشرَعُ وَالدُّروعُ تَصونُها
سُحبِclouds of السِّهامِarrows كَأَنَّهاas though they were رُسُلُmessengers of القَضاdoom
سُحبِ السِّهامِ كَأَنَّها رُسُلُ القَضا
Brown spears are leveled, while coats of mail are guarded by
The Sumr-trees set forth and the armors protect them
clouds of arrows, like messengers of doom.
Like the arrows’ clouds as if they are the messengers of fate.
وَالنَّقعُand the battle dust يُسفِرُbrightens بِالظُّباwith sword-edges فَكَأَنَّهُso it is as though
وَالنَّقعُ يُسفِرُ بِالظُّبا فَكَأَنَّهُ
غَضَبٌanger تَبَسَّمsmiled بَينَهُamid it لَمعُa gleam of الرِّضاcontentment
غَضَبٌ تَبَسَّم بَينَهُ لَمعُ الرِّضا
The battle dust brightens with sword-edges, as though it were
And An-Naqe’ displays his amusement with the oryx
anger amid which a gleam of contentment smiled.
As if it is wrath that is smiling amidst the brilliance.
أَسيافُهُمtheir swords فيat راهِطٍRāhiṭ مَعروفَةٌwell known
أَسيافُهُم في راهِطٍ مَعروفَةٌ
مَنَعَتprotected دَعائِمَthe pillars of عِزِّهِمtheir might أَنfrom يُدحَضاbeing overturned
مَنَعَت دَعائِمَ عِزِّهِم أَن يُدحَضا
Their swords at Rāhiṭ are well known;
Their swords are famous for being in Raheet,
they kept the pillars of their might from being overthrown.
Their pillars of honor have prevented them from crumbling.
وَتَقَلَّدَand wore as a necklace العمريal-ʿUmarī مِنfrom إِيمانِهِمtheir faith
وَتَقَلَّدَ العمري مِن إِيمانِهِم
عاراًa disgrace يَطولُthat lasts long عَلَيهِupon him حَتّىuntil يُرحَضاit is washed away
عاراً يَطولُ عَلَيهِ حَتّى يُرحَضا
And al-ʿUmarī wore, through their faith,
And Al-Umari has worn from their faith
a disgrace that will linger on him before it is washed away.
A shame that lasts long upon him until he wipes it.
ياO مَنyou who إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) ذادَdefended عَنon behalf of أَحسابِهِمtheir ancestral honor
يا مَن إِذا ما ذادَ عَن أَحسابِهِم
يَومَon the day of النِّضالِarchery contest أَصابَhit the mark لَمّاwhen أَنبَضاhe twanged his bow
يَومَ النِّضالِ أَصابَ لَمّا أَنبَضا
O you who, whenever defending their ancestral honor
O you, if you counteracted from their accounts
on the day of contest, hit the mark when you twanged the bow:
On the day of strife, you would attain what you desire.
خَفِّضtake it easy عَلَيكَon yourself فَكَمfor how often ظَفِرتَyou attained بِغايَةٍa goal
خَفِّض عَلَيكَ فَكَم ظَفِرتَ بِغايَةٍ
وَكَباwhile stumbled وَراءَكَbehind you جاهِدٌa striving man ماnot خَفَّضاeased his effort
وَكَبا وَراءَكَ جاهِدٌ ما خَفَّضا
Take it easy: how often have you attained a goal,
Overlook me, so how much have you attained of wishes
while a striving man who never eased his effort stumbled behind you.
While a warrior follows behind you who has not lowered himself. Between me and you is an honored covenant,
بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكand between you ذِمَّةٌa covenant مَرعِيَّةٌfaithfully observed
بَيني وَبَينَك ذِمَّةٌ مَرعِيَّةٌ
حاشاfar be it مَرائِرُthe twisted cords of عَهدِهاits pledge أَنthat تُنقَضاthey be undone
حاشا مَرائِرُ عَهدِها أَن تُنقَضا
Between me and you is a faithfully observed covenant;
Far be it for its sanctuaries to be violated.
may the twisted cords of its pledge never be undone.
The eye of events, curses are below it,
عَينُthe eye of الحَوادِثِcalamities دونَهاbefore it مَطروفَةٌstruck in the eye
عَينُ الحَوادِثِ دونَها مَطروفَةٌ
نَظَرَthe gaze of المُحِبّa lover سَلاwho ceased loving وَعاوَدَand returned مُبغِضاhating
نَظَرَ المُحِبّ سَلا وَعاوَدَ مُبغِضا
The eye of calamity is stricken before it,
The lover has seen and the hater has repeated.
with the gaze of a lover who ceased loving and returned in hate.
So moan unto me and let his yearnings speak
فَأَصِخso listen إِليَّto me وَلِلحَديثِand the tale has شُجونُهُits tangled branches
فَأَصِخ إِليَّ وَلِلحَديثِ شُجونُهُ
حَتّىuntil أَبُثَّكَI confide to you ماwhat أَمَضَّstung painfully وَأَرمَضاand scorched
حَتّى أَبُثَّكَ ما أَمَضَّ وَأَرمَضا
So listen to me—the tale has its tangled branches—
Until I relay what has passed and bubbled.
until I confide to you what has stung and scorched me.
No determination has delayed me from your side,
ماnot أَخَّرَتنيkept me back عَنfrom جَنابِكَyour presence هِمَّةٌan ambition
ما أَخَّرَتني عَن جَنابِكَ هِمَّةٌ
وَجَدَتthat found مِنَamong الأَهواءِaffections عَنكَfor you مُعَوَّضاa replacement
وَجَدَت مِنَ الأَهواءِ عَنكَ مُعَوَّضا
No ambition kept me away from your presence
And found compensation for the passions about you.
that found in other loves a substitute for you.
But it is destiny that has picketed my she-camels
لَكِنَّهُbut it was قَدَرٌfate أَناخَmade kneel رَكائِبيmy riding camels
لَكِنَّهُ قَدَرٌ أَناخَ رَكائِبي
قسراًby force وَقَيَّدَand fettered هِمَّتيmy ambition أَنfrom تَنهَضاrising
قسراً وَقَيَّدَ هِمَّتي أَن تَنهَضا
Rather, it was fate that made my mounts kneel,
By force and restricted my determination from rising.
by force, and fettered my ambition so it could not rise.
And I knew that you are like the eternal breeze,
وَعَلِمتand I knew أَنَّكَthat you كَالنَّسيمِlike the breeze مُخَلَّدٌare immortal
وَعَلِمت أَنَّكَ كَالنَّسيمِ مُخَلَّدٌ
أَبَداًforever وَلَيسَand it is not يَصِحُّsound حَتّىuntil يَمرَضاit falls ill
أَبَداً وَلَيسَ يَصِحُّ حَتّى يَمرَضا
And I knew that you, like the breeze, are immortal
It is not right that you even fall ill.
forever; it is not sound until it falls ill.
So forgive a friend, if he sells your love,
فَاغفِرso forgive لِخِلٍّfor a close friend لَوif أبيعَwere offered for sale هَواكُمُlove for you
فَاغفِر لِخِلٍّ لَو أبيعَ هَواكُمُ
بِحَياتِهِfor his life هَجَرَhe would forsake الحَياةَlife وَأَعرَضاand turn away
بِحَياتِهِ هَجَرَ الحَياةَ وَأَعرَضا
So forgive a friend who, were love for you offered
He would abandon life and turn away.
at the price of his life, would forsake life and turn away.
May I be ransomed for a morning whose richness is deprived,
وَفِداكَand your ransom صَبٌّa lovesick man بِالثَّراءِof wealth مُحَرَّمٌdebarred
وَفِداكَ صَبٌّ بِالثَّراءِ مُحَرَّمٌ
بَسَطَhe spread البَنانَhis fingers عَلَيهِover it حَتّىuntil يُقبَضاthey be clenched
بَسَطَ البَنانَ عَلَيهِ حَتّى يُقبَضا
And may a lovesick man, denied wealth, be your ransom;
It has laid out its roads unto him until he shrinks.
he spread his fingers over it until they should close.
It has discarded dignity, so if an accident disowns,
نَبَذhe cast off الإِباءpride فَإِنso if تَنَكَّرَturned hostile حادِثa calamity
نَبَذ الإِباء فَإِن تَنَكَّرَ حادِث
أَلقىhe cast مَقالِدَهُhis reins إِلَيهِto it وَفَوَّضاand surrendered control
أَلقى مَقالِدَهُ إِلَيهِ وَفَوَّضا
He cast pride aside; if a calamity turned hostile,
He hands over its reins to it and delegates.
he cast his reins to it and surrendered control.
And listen to fleeting thoughts that do not bore an alienated one
وَاسمَعand hear شَوارِدَfar-ranging verses لاnot تَمَلُّyou will tire of غَريبَهاtheir rare conceits
وَاسمَع شَوارِدَ لا تَمَلُّ غَريبَها
حَتّىuntil تَمَلَّyou tire مِنَof البَقاءِliving وَتَغرضاand grow weary
حَتّى تَمَلَّ مِنَ البَقاءِ وَتَغرضا
And hear far-ranging verses whose novelties will not weary you
Until you are bored of survival and become senile.
until you tire of living and grow weary.
My ideas used to be easy, as if it
قَدindeed كانَused to يَسهُلُtravel easy ground خاطِريmy imagination فَكَأَنَّهُbut it seems that it
قَد كانَ يَسهُلُ خاطِري فَكَأَنَّهُ
سَئِمَتgrew weary of رَكائِبُهُits mounts الرِّياضَthe meadows فَأَحمَضاso sought salt pasture
سَئِمَت رَكائِبُهُ الرِّياضَ فَأَحمَضا
My imagination used to travel easy ground; now it seems
Has grown weary of meadows so they have become stringent.
its mounts tired of meadows, so it sought salt pasture.
A perception I lead the extravagance with, as if
فِكرٌa mind أَقودُI lead بِهِwith it الجَموحَthe unruly steed كَأَنَّماas though
فِكرٌ أَقودُ بِهِ الجَموحَ كَأَنَّما
طَبعُthe natural gift of الرَّضِيِّal-Raḍī لَهُit possesses وَعِلمُand the learning of المُرتَضىal-Murtaḍā
طَبعُ الرَّضِيِّ لَهُ وَعِلمُ المُرتَضى
A mind with which I lead the unruly steed, as though
The stamp of the content and knowledge of the satisfied is for it.
it possessed al-Raḍī's gift and al-Murtaḍā's learning.
Partial English translation: 79 of 80 Arabic lines translated.