أَلاAh أَيُّهاO القَلبُheart الطَروبُimpassioned المُكَلَّفُlove-stricken
أَلا أَيُّها القَلبُ الطَروبُ المُكَلَّفُ
أَفِقcome to your senses رُبَّماsometimes يَنأىdraws away هَواكَyour beloved وَيُسعِفُand grants favor
أَفِق رُبَّما يَنأى هَواكَ وَيُسعِفُ
Ah, O impassioned, love-tormented heart!
Come to your senses: your beloved sometimes draws away and sometimes grants favor.
ظَلِلتَyou continued وَقَدthough already خَبَّرتَyou had declared أَنthat لَستَyou were not جازِعاًdistressed
ظَلِلتَ وَقَد خَبَّرتَ أَن لَستَ جازِعاً
لِرَبعٍfor a dwelling site بِسَلمانينَat Salmanayn عَينُكَyour eye تَذرِفُsheds tears
لِرَبعٍ بِسَلمانينَ عَينُكَ تَذرِفُ
You went on, though you had said you felt no grief,
your eye shedding tears for a dwelling at Salmanayn.
وَتَزعُمُand you claim أَنَّthat البَينَparting لاnot يَشعَفُsears الفَتىa young man
وَتَزعُمُ أَنَّ البَينَ لا يَشعَفُ الفَتى
بَلىyes indeed مِثلَlike بَينيmy parting يَومَthe day of لُبنانَLubnan يَشعَفُsears
بَلى مِثلَ بَيني يَومَ لُبنانَ يَشعَفُ
You claim that parting does not sear a young man's heart;
yes, parting like mine on the day of Lubnan does.
وَطالَand long endured حِذاريmy dread of غُربَةَthe estrangement of البَينِparting وَالنَوىand distance
وَطالَ حِذاري غُربَةَ البَينِ وَالنَوى
وَأُحدوثَةٌand a tale مِنfrom كاشِحٍa spiteful foe يَتَقَوَّفُwho hunts for faults
وَأُحدوثَةٌ مِن كاشِحٍ يَتَقَوَّفُ
Long have I dreaded parting's estrangement and distance,
and gossip from a spiteful foe who hunts for faults.
وَلَوand if عَلِمَتshe knew عِلميwhat I know أُمامَةُUmama كَذَّبَتshe would deny
وَلَو عَلِمَت عِلمي أُمامَةُ كَذَّبَت
مَقالَةَthe words of مَنwhoever يَنعىreproaches عَلَيَّme وَيَعنُفُand rebukes harshly
مَقالَةَ مَن يَنعى عَلَيَّ وَيَعنُفُ
If Umama knew what I know, she would deny
the words of whoever reproaches me and rails at me.
بِأَهلِيَwith my family أَهلُthe people of الدارِthe dwelling إِذwhen يَسكُنونَهاthey inhabited it
بِأَهلِيَ أَهلُ الدارِ إِذ يَسكُنونَها
وَجادَكِand may drench you مِنas a دارٍdwelling رَبيعٌspring rain وَصَيِّفُand summer rain
وَجادَكِ مِن دارٍ رَبيعٌ وَصَيِّفُ
My kin be ransom for that dwelling's people when they lived there!
And may spring and summer rains drench you, O dwelling!
سَمِعتُI heard الحَمامَthe doves الوُرقَthe gray ones فيin رَونَقِthe radiance of الضُحىforenoon
سَمِعتُ الحَمامَ الوُرقَ في رَونَقِ الضُحى
بِذيat the place of السِدرِthe lote trees مِنwithin واديthe valley of المَراضَينِal-Maradayn تَهتِفُcalling
بِذي السِدرِ مِن وادي المَراضَينِ تَهتِفُ
I heard the gray doves in the bright forenoon,
calling at Dhu al-Sidr, the lote-tree place in Wadi al-Maradayn.
نَظَرتُI looked وَرائيbehind me نَظرَةًa glance قادَهاled it الهَوىlove
نَظَرتُ وَرائي نَظرَةً قادَها الهَوى
وَأُلحيand the jaws of المَهارىthe Mahri camels يَومَthe day of عُسفانَUsfan تَرجُفُtremble
وَأُلحي المَهارى يَومَ عُسفانَ تَرجُفُ
I cast a glance behind me, guided by love,
while the Mahri camels' jaws shook on the day at Usfan.
تَرىyou see العِرمِسَthe sturdy she-camel الوَجناءَthe broad-cheeked one يَدمىbleeds أَظَلُّهاher foot-sole
تَرى العِرمِسَ الوَجناءَ يَدمى أَظَلُّها
وَتُحذىand she is shod نِعالاًwith sandals وَالمَناسِمُwhile the foot-pads رُعَّفُare bleeding
وَتُحذى نِعالاً وَالمَناسِمُ رُعَّفُ
You see the sturdy, broad-cheeked she-camel, her foot-sole bleeding,
shod with sandals while her foot-pads stream blood.
مَدَدناwe pressed onward لِذاتِtoward the object of البَغيِthe quest حَتّىuntil تَقَطَّعَتwere exhausted
مَدَدنا لِذاتِ البَغيِ حَتّى تَقَطَّعَت
أَزابِيُّهاtheir bursts of speed وَالشَدقَمِيُّand the Shadqami camel المُعَلَّفُstall-fed
أَزابِيُّها وَالشَدقَمِيُّ المُعَلَّفُ
We pressed on toward our goal until spent were
their bursts of speed and the stall-fed Shadqami camel.
ضَرَحنَthey scattered حَصىthe pebbles of المَعزاءِthe stony ground حَتّىuntil عُيونُهاtheir eyes
ضَرَحنَ حَصى المَعزاءِ حَتّى عُيونُها
مُهَجِّجَةٌsunken أَبصارُهُنَّtheir eyes وَذُرَّفُand streaming tears
مُهَجِّجَةٌ أَبصارُهُنَّ وَذُرَّفُ
They scattered the gravel of the stony ground until their eyes
were sunken, their gazes streaming with tears.
كَأَنَّas though دِياراًdwellings بَينَbetween أَسنِمَةِthe crests of النَقاthe sand dunes
كَأَنَّ دِياراً بَينَ أَسنِمَةِ النَقا
وَبَينَand between هَذاليلِthe trailing fringes of النَحيزَةِal-Nahiza مُصحَفُa manuscript
وَبَينَ هَذاليلِ النَحيزَةِ مُصحَفُ
As though the dwellings between the crests of the dunes
and the trailing sands of al-Nahiza were a manuscript.
فَلَستُso I am not بِناسٍforgetting ماas long as تَغَنَّتsings حَمامَةٌa dove
فَلَستُ بِناسٍ ما تَغَنَّت حَمامَةٌ
وَلاnor ماas long as ثَوىremains بَينَbetween الجَناحَينِthe two wings زَفزَفُsoft down
وَلا ما ثَوى بَينَ الجَناحَينِ زَفزَفُ
I shall not forget, as long as a dove sings,
or soft down remains between two wings,
دِياراًdwellings مِنَof الحَيِّthe people الَّذينَwhom نُحِبُّهُمwe love them
دِياراً مِنَ الحَيِّ الَّذينَ نُحِبُّهُم
زَمانَat the time of القِرىhospitality وَالصارِخُand the caller for help المُتَلَهِّفُthe anguished one
زَمانَ القِرى وَالصارِخُ المُتَلَهِّفُ
the dwellings of the people whom we love
at hospitality's hour, as does the anguished caller for aid.
هُمُthey are الحَيُّthe tribe يَربوعٌYarbu' تَعادىrace one another جِيادُهُمtheir noble steeds
هُمُ الحَيُّ يَربوعٌ تَعادى جِيادُهُم
عَلىalong الثَغرِthe frontier وَالكافونَand those who ward off ماwhat يُتَخَوَّفُis feared
عَلى الثَغرِ وَالكافونَ ما يُتَخَوَّفُ
They are Yarbu', the tribe whose noble steeds race
along the frontier; they ward off all that is feared.
عَلَيهِمupon them مِنَof الماذِيِّfine steel كُلُّevery مُفاضَةٍample coat of mail
عَلَيهِم مِنَ الماذِيِّ كُلُّ مُفاضَةٍ
دِلاصٍsmooth-woven لَهاit has ذَيلٌa skirt حَصينٌprotective وَرَفرَفُand trailing flaps
دِلاصٍ لَها ذَيلٌ حَصينٌ وَرَفرَفُ
They wear every kind of ample mail of fine steel,
smooth-woven, with a protective skirt and trailing flaps.
وَلاnor يَستَويis equal عَقرُthe slaughter of الكَزومِa toothless she-camel بِصَوأَرٍat Saw'ar
وَلا يَستَوي عَقرُ الكَزومِ بِصَوأَرٍ
وَذوand the wearer of التاجِthe crown تَحتَbeneath الرايَةِthe banner المُتَسَيِّفُarmed with a sword
وَذو التاجِ تَحتَ الرايَةِ المُتَسَيِّفُ
Nor does slaughtering a toothless she-camel at Saw'ar compare
with facing the crowned swordsman beneath the banner.
وَمَولىand the client of تَميمٍTamim حينَwhen يَأويhe takes refuge إِلَيهِمُwith them
وَمَولى تَميمٍ حينَ يَأوي إِلَيهِمُ
وَإِنeven though كانَthere is فيهِمamong them ثَروَةُan abundance of العِزِّmight مُنصِفُreceiving his due
وَإِن كانَ فيهِم ثَروَةُ العِزِّ مُنصِفُ
Tamim's client, when he takes refuge among them,
though theirs is abundant might, receives his due.
بَنيO sons of مالِكٍMalik جاءَcame القُيونُthe smiths بِمُقرِفٍwith a crossbred
بَني مالِكٍ جاءَ القُيونُ بِمُقرِفٍ
إِلىagainst سابِقٍa champion racer يَجريwho runs وَلاand does not يَتَكَلَّفُstrain himself
إِلى سابِقٍ يَجري وَلا يَتَكَلَّفُ
Sons of Malik, the smiths have brought a crossbred
against a champion who runs without straining.
وَماand not شَهِدَتwitnessed يَومَthe day of الإِيادِal-Iyad مُجاشِعٌMujashi'
وَما شَهِدَت يَومَ الإِيادِ مُجاشِعٌ
وَذاnor Dhu نَجَبٍNajab يَومَthe day الأَسِنَّةِthe spearheads تَرعَفُstreamed blood
وَذا نَجَبٍ يَومَ الأَسِنَّةِ تَرعَفُ
Mujashi' did not witness the day of al-Iyad,
nor Dhu Najab, the day the spearpoints streamed blood.
فَوارِسُناour horsemen الحُوّاطُthe guardians وَالسَرحُand the grazing herds دونَهُمbehind them
فَوارِسُنا الحُوّاطُ وَالسَرحُ دونَهُم
وَأَردافُناand our royal deputies المَحبُوُّthe favored one وَالمُتَنَصَّفُand the one given his due
وَأَردافُنا المَحبُوُّ وَالمُتَنَصَّفُ
Our horsemen are the guardians, with the grazing herds behind them;
our royal deputies are favored with gifts and granted their due.
لَقَدindeed مُدَّwas laid out لِلقَينِfor the smith الرِهانُthe race فَرَدَّهُbut turned him back
لَقَد مُدَّ لِلقَينِ الرِهانُ فَرَدَّهُ
عَنِfrom المَجدِglory عِرقٌa strain مِنfrom قُفَيرَةَQufayra مُقرِفُof base ancestry
عَنِ المَجدِ عِرقٌ مِن قُفَيرَةَ مُقرِفُ
The race was indeed laid out for the smith, but he was turned back
from glory by a base-born strain from Qufayra.
لَحىmay curse اللَهُGod مَنwhoever يَنبوfails الحُسامُthe keen sword بِكَفِّهِin his palm
لَحى اللَهُ مَن يَنبو الحُسامُ بِكَفِّهِ
وَمَنand whoever يَلِجُenters الماخورَthe brothel فيin الحِجلِthe anklet يَرسُفُshuffles along
وَمَن يَلِجُ الماخورَ في الحِجلِ يَرسُفُ
God curse the man in whose palm the keen sword fails,
and him who shuffles into the brothel, wearing an anklet.
تَرَفَّقتَyou were gentle بِالكيرَينَwith the two bellows قَينَO smith of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
تَرَفَّقتَ بِالكيرَينَ قَينَ مُجاشِعٍ
وَأَنتَand you بِهَزِّin brandishing المَشرَفِيَّةِthe Mashrafi swords أَعنَفُare rougher-handed
وَأَنتَ بِهَزِّ المَشرَفِيَّةِ أَعنَفُ
You were gentle with the two bellows, smith of Mujashi',
but rougher-handed in brandishing Mashrafi swords.
وَتُنكِرُand disowns هَزَّthe brandishing of المَشرَفِيِّthe Mashrafi sword يَمينُهُhis right hand
وَتُنكِرُ هَزَّ المَشرَفِيِّ يَمينُهُ
وَيَعرِفُand knows كَفَّيهِhis two palms الإِناءُthe vessel المُكَتَّفُreinforced with clamps
وَيَعرِفُ كَفَّيهِ الإِناءُ المُكَتَّفُ
His right hand disowns the brandishing of a Mashrafi sword,
but the clamped vessel knows both his palms.
وَلَوand if كُنتَyou were مِنّاone of us ياO اِبنَson of شِعرَةَShi'ra ماnot نَباwould fail
وَلَو كُنتَ مِنّا يا اِبنَ شِعرَةَ ما نَبا
بِكَفَّيكَin your two palms مَصقولُpolished الحَديدَةِthe iron blade مُرهَفُkeen-edged
بِكَفَّيكَ مَصقولُ الحَديدَةِ مُرهَفُ
Had you been one of us, son of Shi'ra, it would not have failed
in your two palms—that polished, keen-edged blade.
عَرَفتُمyou acknowledged لَناas ours الغُرَّthe white-blazed ones السَوابِقَthe foremost racers قَبلَكُمahead of you
عَرَفتُم لَنا الغُرَّ السَوابِقَ قَبلَكُم
وَكانَand belonged لِقَينَيكَto your two smiths السُكَيتُthe last-place racer المُخَلَّفُleft behind
وَكانَ لِقَينَيكَ السُكَيتُ المُخَلَّفُ
You acknowledged our white-blazed champions, ahead of you,
while your two smiths had the last-place racer, left behind.
نُعِضُّwe make bite المُلوكَthe kings الدارِعينَclad in armor سُيوفُناour swords
نُعِضُّ المُلوكَ الدارِعينَ سُيوفُنا
وَدَفُّكَand your flank مِنfrom نَفّاخَةِthe blowing of الكيرِthe bellows أَجنَفُis crooked
وَدَفُّكَ مِن نَفّاخَةِ الكيرِ أَجنَفُ
We make our swords bite armored kings,
while your flank is bent from blowing the bellows.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen أَنَّthat اللَهَGod أَخزىdisgraced مُجاشِعاًMujashi'
أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ اللَهَ أَخزى مُجاشِعاً
إِذاwhen ضَمَّgathered أَفواجَthe throngs of الحَجيجِthe pilgrims المُعَرَّفُthe station at Arafat
إِذا ضَمَّ أَفواجَ الحَجيجِ المُعَرَّفُ
Have you not seen that God disgraced Mujashi'
when the station at Arafat gathered the pilgrims' throngs?
وَيَومَand on the day of مِنىًMina نادَتcried out قُرَيشٌQuraysh بِغَدرِهِمabout their treachery
وَيَومَ مِنىً نادَت قُرَيشٌ بِغَدرِهِم
وَيَومَand on the day الهَداياthe sacrificial animals فيat المَشاعِرِthe sacred stations عُكَّفُstood waiting
وَيَومَ الهَدايا في المَشاعِرِ عُكَّفُ
On the day at Mina, Quraysh proclaimed their treachery,
and on the day the sacrificial beasts waited at the sacred stations.
وَيُبغِضُand hates سِترُthe curtain of البَيتِthe House آلَthe clan of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
وَيُبغِضُ سِترُ البَيتِ آلَ مُجاشِعٍ
وَحُجّابُهُand its doorkeepers وَالعابِدُand the worshipper المُتَطَوِّفُwho circumambulates
وَحُجّابُهُ وَالعابِدُ المُتَطَوِّفُ
The House's curtain hates the clan of Mujashi',
as do its doorkeepers and the worshipper circling it.
وَكانَand was حَديثَthe talk of الرَكبِthe riders غَدرُthe treachery of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
وَكانَ حَديثَ الرَكبِ غَدرُ مُجاشِعٍ
إِذاwhen اِنحَدَرواthey descended مِنfrom نَخلَتَينِNakhlatayn وَأَوجَفواand rode swiftly on
إِذا اِنحَدَروا مِن نَخلَتَينِ وَأَوجَفوا
Mujashi's treachery was the riders' talk
as they descended from Nakhlatayn and rode swiftly on.
وَإِنَّand indeed الحَوارِيَّthe Disciple الَّذيwhom غَرَّdeceived حَبلُكُمyour pledge
وَإِنَّ الحَوارِيَّ الَّذي غَرَّ حَبلُكُم
لَهُfor him البَدرُthe full moon كابٍis dimmed وَالكَواكِبُand the stars كُسَّفُare eclipsed
لَهُ البَدرُ كابٍ وَالكَواكِبُ كُسَّفُ
And the Disciple, whom your pledge deceived—
for him the full moon dims and the stars are eclipsed.
وَلَوand if فيamong بَنيthe sons of سَعدٍSa'd نَزَلتَyou had lodged لَماwould not have عَصَتrebelled
وَلَو في بَني سَعدٍ نَزَلتَ لَما عَصَت
عَوانِدُunstaunchable veins فيin جَوفِthe body of الحَوارِيِّthe Disciple نُزَّفُgushing blood
عَوانِدُ في جَوفِ الحَوارِيِّ نُزَّفُ
Had you lodged among the sons of Sa'd, they would not have rebelled—
those stubborn veins within the Disciple, pouring blood.
فَلَستَso you are not بِوافٍkeeping faith بِالزُبَيرِwith al-Zubayr وَرَحلِهِand his household
فَلَستَ بِوافٍ بِالزُبَيرِ وَرَحلِهِ
وَلاnor أَنتَyou بِالسيدانِtoward al-Sidan بِالحَقِّrightfully تُنصِفُdeal justly
وَلا أَنتَ بِالسيدانِ بِالحَقِّ تُنصِفُ
You do not keep faith with al-Zubayr and his household,
nor give al-Sidan their rightful due.
بَنوthe sons of مِنقَرٍMinqar جَرّواdragged away فَتاةَthe girl of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
بَنو مِنقَرٍ جَرّوا فَتاةَ مُجاشِعٍ
وَشَدَّand charged اِبنُthe son of ذَيّالٍDhayyal وَخَيلُكَwhile your horses وُقَّفُstood still
وَشَدَّ اِبنُ ذَيّالٍ وَخَيلُكَ وُقَّفُ
The sons of Minqar dragged away Mujashi's girl,
and Ibn Dhayyal charged while your horses stood still.
فَباتَتso she spent the night تُناديcalling غالِباًGhalib وَكَأَنَّهاand as though she
فَباتَت تُنادي غالِباً وَكَأَنَّها
عَلىon الرَضفِheated stones مِنfrom جَمرِthe embers of الكَوانينِthe braziers تُرضَفُwas being roasted
عَلى الرَضفِ مِن جَمرِ الكَوانينِ تُرضَفُ
She spent the night calling Ghalib, as though she
were roasted on stones heated by the braziers' embers.
وَهُمand they كَلَّفوهاmade her endure الرَملَthe trot رَملَthe trot of مُعَبِّرٍMu'abbir
وَهُم كَلَّفوها الرَملَ رَملَ مُعَبِّرٍ
تَقولُshe says أَهَذاis this مَشيُthe gait of حُردٍstiff-legged camels تَلَقُّفُsnatching steps
تَقولُ أَهَذا مَشيُ حُردٍ تَلَقُّفُ
They made her trot—the trot of Mu'abbir;
she said, 'Is this how stiff-legged camels walk, snatching their steps?'
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَتَبتَزُّsurely strip المُلوكَthe kings فَوارِسيmy horsemen
وَإِنّي لَتَبتَزُّ المُلوكَ فَوارِسي
إِذاwhen غَرَّهُمdeceives them ذوthe owner of المِرجَلِthe cauldron المُتَجَخِّفُthe swaggerer
إِذا غَرَّهُم ذو المِرجَلِ المُتَجَخِّفُ
Indeed, my horsemen strip kings of their possessions
when the swaggering cauldron-owner deceives them.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen تَيمٌTaym كَيفَhow يَرميpelts مُجاشِعاًMujashi'
أَلَم تَرَ تَيمٌ كَيفَ يَرمي مُجاشِعاً
شَديدُstrong حِبالِin the ropes of المِنجَنيقَينِthe two catapults مِقذَفُa mighty hurler
شَديدُ حِبالِ المِنجَنيقَينِ مِقذَفُ
Have you not seen, Taym, how Mujashi' is pelted
by a mighty hurler with two stout-roped catapults?
عَجِبتُI marvel لِصِهرٍat a marriage alliance ساقَكُمthat drove you آلَclan of دِرهَمٍDirham
عَجِبتُ لِصِهرٍ ساقَكُم آلَ دِرهَمٍ
إِلىinto صِهرِkinship with أَقوامٍpeople يُلامُthat is reproached وَيُصلَفُand scorned
إِلى صِهرِ أَقوامٍ يُلامُ وَيُصلَفُ
I marvel at the marriage tie that brought you, clan of Dirham,
into kinship with such people—a bond blamed and scorned.
لَئيمانِtwo base creatures هاذيthis woman يَدَّعيهاhe claims her اِبنُthe son of دِرهَمٍDirham
لَئيمانِ هاذي يَدَّعيها اِبنُ دِرهَمٍ
وَهاذاand this man اِبنُthe son of قَينٍa smith جِلدُهُhis skin يَتَوَسَّفُpeels away
وَهاذا اِبنُ قَينٍ جِلدُهُ يَتَوَسَّفُ
Two base creatures: this woman Ibn Dirham claims,
and this man, a smith's son, his skin peeling away.
وَحالَفتُمُand you made a pact لِلُؤمِwith baseness ياO آلَclan of دِرهَمٍDirham
وَحالَفتُمُ لِلُؤمِ يا آلَ دِرهَمٍ
حِلافَa pact like النَصارىthe Christians' دينَwith the faith of مَنone who يَتَحَنَّفُfollows pure monotheism
حِلافَ النَصارى دينَ مَن يَتَحَنَّفُ
You have sworn a pact with baseness, clan of Dirham,
a pact like the Christians' with a pure monotheist's faith.
أَتَمدَحُdo you praise سَعداًSa'd حينَwhen أَخزَتdisgraced مُجاشِعاًMujashi'
أَتَمدَحُ سَعداً حينَ أَخزَت مُجاشِعاً
عَقيرَةُthe loud cry of سَعدٍSa'd وَالخِباءُwhile the tent مُكَشَّفُwas uncovered
عَقيرَةُ سَعدٍ وَالخِباءُ مُكَشَّفُ
Do you praise Sa'd, when Mujashi' was shamed
by Sa'd's cry, with the tent exposed?
نَفاكَdrove you away حَجيجُthe pilgrims of البَيتِthe House عَنfrom كُلِّevery مَشعَرٍsacred site
نَفاكَ حَجيجُ البَيتِ عَن كُلِّ مَشعَرٍ
كَماjust as رُدَّwas rejected ذوbearing النُمِّيَّتَينِtwo stamped images المُزَيَّفُcounterfeit
كَما رُدَّ ذو النُمِّيَّتَينِ المُزَيَّفُ
The House's pilgrims drove you from every sacred site,
as a counterfeit coin bearing two images is rejected.
وَماand not زِلتَyou ceased مَوقوفاًbeing stationed عَلىat بابِthe gate of سَوءَةٍshame
وَما زِلتَ مَوقوفاً عَلى بابِ سَوءَةٍ
وَأَنتَwhile you بِدارِin the abode of المُخزِياتِdisgraces مُوَقَّفُare kept standing
وَأَنتَ بِدارِ المُخزِياتِ مُوَقَّفُ
You have always been stationed at the gate of shame,
kept standing in the dwelling of disgrace.
أَلُؤماًis it baseness وَإِقراراًand admission عَلىof كُلِّevery سَوءَةٍshameful deed
أَلُؤماً وَإِقراراً عَلى كُلِّ سَوءَةٍ
فَماso not لِلمَخازيfor disgraces عَنfrom قُفَيرَةَQufayra مَصرَفُany turning aside
فَما لِلمَخازي عَن قُفَيرَةَ مَصرَفُ
Baseness, and admission of every shameful deed?
Disgraces have no way to turn aside from Qufayra.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen أَنَّthat النَبعَthe nab' tree يَصلُبُgrows hard عودُهُits wood
أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ النَبعَ يَصلُبُ عودُهُ
وَلاand not يَستَويis equal وَالخِروَعُwith the castor plant المُتَقَصِّفُthe brittle one
وَلا يَستَوي وَالخِروَعُ المُتَقَصِّفُ
Have you not seen how hard the nab' tree's wood grows,
and that it is unlike the brittle castor plant?
وَماand not يَحمَدُpraises الرَضيافُthe guest رِفدَthe hospitality of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
وَما يَحمَدُ الرَضيافُ رِفدَ مُجاشِعٍ
إِذاwhen رَوَّحَتblows at evening حَنانَةُthe moaning الريحِwind حَرجَفُfiercely cold
إِذا رَوَّحَت حَنانَةُ الريحِ حَرجَفُ
No guest praises Mujashi's hospitality
when the moaning, bitter-cold wind blows at evening,
إِذاwhen الشَولُthe dry she-camels راحَتcome home وَالقَريعُand the breeding bull أَمامَهاahead of them
إِذا الشَولُ راحَت وَالقَريعُ أَمامَها
وَهُنَّwhile they are ضَئيلاتُscant in العَرائِكِhump-flesh شُسَّفُgaunt
وَهُنَّ ضَئيلاتُ العَرائِكِ شُسَّفُ
when the dry she-camels come home, their breeding bull ahead,
their hump-flesh scant, their bodies gaunt.
وَقائِلَةٍand many a woman says ماwhat is wrong لِلفَرَزدَقِwith al-Farazdaq لاnot يُرىis seen
وَقائِلَةٍ ما لِلفَرَزدَقِ لا يُرى
عَلىdespite his age السِنِّbecoming self-sufficient يَستَغنيand not وَلاrefraining from begging superfluously would be avoided, simply refraining from begging يَتَعَفَّفُthis string must not remain
عَلى السِنِّ يَستَغني وَلا يَتَعَفَّفُ
Many a woman asks, 'Why is al-Farazdaq never seen
self-sufficient, despite his years, or refraining from begging?'
يَقولونَthey say كَلّاno indeed لَيسَis not لِلقَينِfor the smith غالِبٌGhalib
يَقولونَ كَلّا لَيسَ لِلقَينِ غالِبٌ
بَلىyes indeed إِنَّindeed ضَربَthe stamp of القَينِthe smith بِالقَينِupon a smith يُعرَفُis recognized
بَلى إِنَّ ضَربَ القَينِ بِالقَينِ يُعرَفُ
They say, 'No—Ghalib is no father to the smith!'
Yes—a smith's stamp upon a smith is well known.
أَخوa brother to اللُؤمِbaseness ماas long as دامَremain الغَضاthe ghada trees حَولَaround عَجلَزٍAjlaz
أَخو اللُؤمِ ما دامَ الغَضا حَولَ عَجلَزٍ
وَماand as long as دامَcontinues يُسقىto be watered فيin رَمادانَRamadan أَحقَفُAhqaf
وَما دامَ يُسقى في رَمادانَ أَحقَفُ
He is brother to baseness while ghada grows around Ajlaz,
and while Ahqaf is watered at Ramadan.
إِذاwhen ذُقتَyou taste مِنّيfrom me طَعمَthe flavor of حَربٍa war مَريرَةٍbitter
إِذا ذُقتَ مِنّي طَعمَ حَربٍ مَريرَةٍ
عَطَفتُI turn back عَلَيكَupon you الحَربَwar وَالحَربُand war تُعطَفُcan be turned back
عَطَفتُ عَلَيكَ الحَربَ وَالحَربُ تُعطَفُ
When you taste from me the flavor of bitter war,
I turn war back upon you, and war can be renewed.
تَروغُyou dodge وَقَدthough already أَخزَوكَthey have disgraced you فيin كُلِّevery مَوطِنٍfield
تَروغُ وَقَد أَخزَوكَ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ
كَماjust as راغَdodged قِردُthe monkey of الحَرَّةِthe lava plain المُتَخَذَّفُpelted with pebbles
كَما راغَ قِردُ الحَرَّةِ المُتَخَذَّفُ
You dodge, though they have shamed you in every field,
as the pebble-pelted monkey of the lava plain dodged.
أَتَعدِلُdo you equate كَهفاًa refuge لاnot تُرامُcan be assailed حُصونُهُits fortresses
أَتَعدِلُ كَهفاً لا تُرامُ حُصونُهُ
بِهاريwith one crumbling in المَراقيthe ascents جولُهُits side يَتَقَصَّفُbreaks apart
بِهاري المَراقي جولُهُ يَتَقَصَّفُ
Would you equate a refuge whose strongholds none can assail
with one whose steps crumble, its side breaking apart?
تَحوطُprotects تَميمٌTamim مَنwhoever يَحوطُprotects حِماهُمُtheir sanctuary
تَحوطُ تَميمٌ مَن يَحوطُ حِماهُمُ
وَيَحميand protects تَميماًTamim مَنwhoever لَهُto his credit ذاكَthat يُعرَفُis acknowledged
وَيَحمي تَميماً مَن لَهُ ذاكَ يُعرَفُ
Tamim guards whoever guards their sanctuary,
and whoever is known for that defends Tamim.
أَناI اِبنُa son of أَبيthe father of سَعدٍSa'd وَعَمروٍand Amr وَمالِكٍand Malik
أَنا اِبنُ أَبي سَعدٍ وَعَمروٍ وَمالِكٍ
أَناI اِبنُa son of صَميمٍtrue stock لاnot وَشيظٍoutsiders تَحَلَّفواwho allied by oath
أَنا اِبنُ صَميمٍ لا وَشيظٍ تَحَلَّفوا
I am a son of the father of Sa'd, Amr, and Malik;
I am a son of true stock, not of outsiders bound by oath.
إِذاwhen خَطَرَتstrides proudly عَمروٌAmr وَرائيbehind me وَأَصبَحَتand become
إِذا خَطَرَت عَمروٌ وَرائي وَأَصبَحَت
قُرومُthe bull-like chiefs of بَنيthe sons of بَدرٍBadr تَسامىtower وَتَصرِفُand grind their teeth
قُرومُ بَني بَدرٍ تَسامى وَتَصرِفُ
When Amr strides proudly behind me, and there stand
Banu Badr's bull-like chiefs, towering and grinding their teeth,
وَلَمand not أَنسَhave I forgotten مِنby سَعدٍSa'd بِقُصوانَat Quswan مَشهَداًa stand
وَلَم أَنسَ مِن سَعدٍ بِقُصوانَ مَشهَداً
وَبِالأُدَمىand at al-Udama ماas long as دامَتِcontinues العَينُthe eye تَطرِفُto blink
وَبِالأُدَمى ما دامَتِ العَينُ تَطرِفُ
nor have I forgotten Sa'd's stand at Quswan,
nor the one at al-Udama, while my eye still blinks.
وَسَعدٌand Sa'd إِذاwhen صاحَshouted العَدُوُّthe enemy بِسَرحِهِمagainst their grazing herds
وَسَعدٌ إِذا صاحَ العَدُوُّ بِسَرحِهِم
أَبَواthey refused أَنto يُهَدَّواbe cowed لِلصِياحِby the shouting فَأَزحَفواso they advanced
أَبَوا أَن يُهَدَّوا لِلصِياحِ فَأَزحَفوا
And Sa'd, when the enemy shouted at their grazing herds,
refused to be cowed by the shouting and marched forth.
دِيارُthe dwellings of بَنيthe sons of سَعدٍSa'd وَلاand no سَعدَSa'd بَعدَهُمafter them
دِيارُ بَني سَعدٍ وَلا سَعدَ بَعدَهُم
عَفَتhave faded غَيرَexcept أَنقاءِthe dunes بِيَبرينَat Yabrin تَعزِفُresounding
عَفَت غَيرَ أَنقاءِ بِيَبرينَ تَعزِفُ
The dwellings of Sa'd's sons—there is no Sa'd after them—
have faded, save the singing dunes at Yabrin.
إِذاwhen نَزَلَتsettled أَسلافُthe advance parties of سَعدٍSa'd بِلادَهاin their lands
إِذا نَزَلَت أَسلافُ سَعدٍ بِلادَها
وَأَثقالُand the baggage trains of سَعدٍSa'd ظَلَّتِkept الأَرضُthe earth تَرجُفُtrembling
وَأَثقالُ سَعدٍ ظَلَّتِ الأَرضُ تَرجُفُ
When Sa'd's advance parties settled in their lands,
and Sa'd's baggage trains, the earth kept trembling.
Translation model: Sol 6.1