وَدِّعbid farewell أُمامَةَUmama حانَhas come مِنكَfrom you رَحيلُdeparture
وَدِّع أُمامَةَ حانَ مِنكَ رَحيلُ
إِنَّindeed الوَداعَfarewell إِلىto الحَبيبِthe beloved قَليلُbrief
إِنَّ الوَداعَ إِلى الحَبيبِ قَليلُ
Bid Umama farewell; the time has come for you to leave.
Bid farewell to Ummama, for it is time for you to depart
A farewell to the beloved is all too brief.
Indeed, parting with a beloved is but brief
تِلكَthose القُلوبُthe hearts صَوادِياًthirsting تَيَّمنَهاthey enthralled them
تِلكَ القُلوبُ صَوادِياً تَيَّمنَها
وَأَرىand I see الشِفاءَthe cure وَماand no إِلَيهِto it سَبيلُway
وَأَرى الشِفاءَ وَما إِلَيهِ سَبيلُ
They have enthralled those thirsting hearts,
Those hearts became prey, they have been afflicted
and I see the cure, but there is no path to it.
And I see healing, yet there is no path to it
أَعذَرتُI spared no effort فيin طَلَبِseeking النَوالِfavor إِلَيكُمُto you
أَعذَرتُ في طَلَبِ النَوالِ إِلَيكُمُ
لَوif only كانَwere مَنwhoever مَلَكَpossessed النَوالَfavor يُنيلُbestows
لَو كانَ مَن مَلَكَ النَوالَ يُنيلُ
I have spared no effort in seeking your favor,
I apologize for seeking intimacy with you all
if only whoever possesses favor would bestow it.
If only the one who could grant it would allow
إِنif كانَis طَبَّكُمُyour way الدَلالُcoyness فَإِنَّهُthen indeed it is
إِن كانَ طَبَّكُمُ الدَلالُ فَإِنَّهُ
حَسَنٌlovely دَلالُكِyour coyness ياO أُمَيمَUmaym جَميلُbeautiful
حَسَنٌ دَلالُكِ يا أُمَيمَ جَميلُ
If coyness is your way, then
If being guided to you pleases you, then it is good
your coyness, Umaym, is lovely and fair.
Guiding you, O beautiful, graceful Ummama
قالَsaid العَواذِلُthe reproaching women قَدindeed جَهِلتَyou became foolish بِحُبِّهاthrough loving her
قالَ العَواذِلُ قَد جَهِلتَ بِحُبِّها
بَلrather مَنwhoever يَلومُblames عَلىfor هَواكَloving you جَهولُfoolish
بَل مَن يَلومُ عَلى هَواكَ جَهولُ
The reproaching women said, "Your love for her has made you foolish."
The horsemen said you were ignorant of her love
No; whoever blames me for loving you is foolish.
Nay, who would blame your passion but an ignoramus
كَنَقاlike a sand ridge الكَثيبِthe dune تَهَيَّلَتcrumbled أَعطافُهُits flanks
كَنَقا الكَثيبِ تَهَيَّلَت أَعطافُهُ
وَالريحُand the wind تَجبُرُrepairs مَتنَهُits back وَتُهيلُand scatters sand
وَالريحُ تَجبُرُ مَتنَهُ وَتُهيلُ
Like a dune's ridge of sand whose flanks have crumbled,
Like a palm tree of the sand dune with its branches spread
while the wind mends its back and scatters it.
As the wind violently shakes its trunk and strips it bare
أَمّاas for الفُؤادُthe heart فَلَيسَthen it does not يَنسىforget ذِكرَكُمremembering you
أَمّا الفُؤادُ فَلَيسَ يَنسى ذِكرَكُم
ماas long as دامَcontinues يَهتِفُcalls فيin الأَراكِthe arak trees هَديلُa cooing dove
ما دامَ يَهتِفُ في الأَراكِ هَديلُ
As for the heart, it never forgets your remembrance
As for my heart, it does not forget the memory of you all
as long as a dove calls among the arak trees.
As long as the echo calls out in the meadows
بَقِيَتremained طُلولُكِyour campsite's traces ياO أُمَيمُUmaym عَلىdespite البِلىdecay
بَقِيَت طُلولُكِ يا أُمَيمُ عَلى البِلى
لاnot مِثلَlike ماwhat بَقِيَتremained عَلَيهِupon it طُلولُcampsite traces
لا مِثلَ ما بَقِيَت عَلَيهِ طُلولُ
Your campsite's traces remain, Umaym, despite decay,
Your ruins, O Ummama, still remain over time
as no other traces have ever remained.
Not like what has remained for them to endure
نَسَجَwove الجَنوبُthe south wind مَعَwith الشَمالِthe north wind رُسومَهاtheir traces
نَسَجَ الجَنوبُ مَعَ الشَمالِ رُسومَها
وَصَباًand an east wind مُزَمزِمَةُrumbling الرَبابِthe low clouds عَجولُrushing
وَصَباً مُزَمزِمَةُ الرَبابِ عَجولُ
The south and north winds have woven their outlines,
The south winds have woven patterns with the north
and a rushing east wind with rumbling clouds.
Playfully, like gazelles hopping to the tune of the rebab
أَيُقيمُdo they remain? أَهلُكَyour people بِالسِتارِat al-Sitar وَأَصعَدَتand went upland
أَيُقيمُ أَهلُكَ بِالسِتارِ وَأَصعَدَت
بَينَbetween الوَريقَةِal-Wariqa وَالمَقادِand al-Maqad حُمولُladen camels
بَينَ الوَريقَةِ وَالمَقادِ حُمولُ
Do your people stay at al-Sitar, while upward have gone
Does your family live in tents while you have embarked
laden camels between al-Wariqa and al-Maqad?
Between the leaves and the cooking pots are burdens
ماnot كانَwas مِثلُكَone like you يُستَخَفُّis carried away لِنَظرَةٍby a glance
ما كانَ مِثلُكَ يُستَخَفُّ لِنَظرَةٍ
يَومَthe day of المَطِيِّthe mounts بِغُربَةٍfor distant travel مَرحولُsaddled
يَومَ المَطِيِّ بِغُربَةٍ مَرحولُ
One like you was not to be carried away by a glance
Never has one like you been underestimated for a glance
the day the mounts were saddled for a distant journey.
The day you rode away into distant lands alone
لاmay not يَبعُدَنperish أَنَسٌcompanionship تَغَيَّرَchanged بَعدَهُمafter them
لا يَبعُدَن أَنَسٌ تَغَيَّرَ بَعدَهُم
طَلَلٌa campsite trace بِبُرقَةِat the stony ground of رامَتَينِRamatayn مُحيلُdesolate
طَلَلٌ بِبُرقَةِ رامَتَينِ مُحيلُ
May that companionship never perish! Since they left, changed is
No familiarity after them should be estranged
a desolate campsite on the stony ground of Ramatayn.
A trace of two effaced pillars still remaining
وَلَقَدand indeed تَكونُyou would be إِذاwhen تَحُلُّyou settle بِغِبطَةٍin happiness
وَلَقَد تَكونُ إِذا تَحُلُّ بِغِبطَةٍ
أَيّامَin the days when أَهلُكَyour people بِالدِيارِin the abodes حُلولُdwelling
أَيّامَ أَهلُكَ بِالدِيارِ حُلولُ
Indeed, you would be happy whenever you settled there,
It is as if the reed stalks were void of their sheaths
in the days when your people dwelt in those abodes.
Then drooped, amongst them withering and decay
وَلَقَدand indeed تُساعِفُناfavor us الدِيارُthe abodes وَعَيشُناand our life
وَلَقَد تُساعِفُنا الدِيارُ وَعَيشُنا
لَوif only دامَlasted ذاكَthat بِماwith what نُحِبُّwe love ظَليلُshaded
لَو دامَ ذاكَ بِما نُحِبُّ ظَليلُ
Indeed, the dwellings favored us, and our life—
High shoulders that ornaments had once graced
if only that had lasted—was shaded by all we loved.
But then neglect came, and they had no adornments
فَسَقىso may it water دِيارَكِyour abodes حَيثُwherever كُنتِyou are مُجَلجِلٌa thunderous cloud
فَسَقى دِيارَكِ حَيثُ كُنتِ مُجَلجِلٌ
هَزِجٌrumbling وَمِنand from غُرِّthe brightest of الغَمامِthe clouds هَطولُa downpour
هَزِجٌ وَمِن غُرِّ الغَمامِ هَطولُ
May a thunderous cloud water your abodes, wherever you are,
Like the lote tree, its interior was stripped bare
rumbling, with a downpour from the brightest clouds.
So its soft inner fibers and leaves did wither and spoil
وَكَأَنَّand as though لَيليmy night مِنfrom تَذَكَّرِيَmy remembering الهَوىlove
وَكَأَنَّ لَيلي مِن تَذَكَّرِيَ الهَوى
لَيلٌa night بِأَطوَلِto the longest لَيلَةٍnight مَوصولُjoined
لَيلٌ بِأَطوَلِ لَيلَةٍ مَوصولُ
It is as though my night, from remembering love,
You would be saved if when you saw the expanse of wilderness
were a night joined to the longest of nights.
Lengthening once and shortening another time
أَيَنامُdoes it sleep? لَيلُكَyour night ياO أُمَيمَUmaym وَلَمand did not يَنَمsleep
أَيَنامُ لَيلُكَ يا أُمَيمَ وَلَم يَنَم
لَيلُthe night of المَطِيِّthe mounts وَسَيرُهُنَّand their gait ذَميلُa steady trot
لَيلُ المَطِيِّ وَسَيرُهُنَّ ذَميلُ
Does your night sleep, Umaym, while sleepless is
When the shadows overlap, greed manifests
the night of the mounts, whose gait is a steady trot?
On the ostrich's cheek, and in the gums excess persists
يَكفيكَsuffices for you إِذwhen سَرَتِcame by night الهُمومُcares فَلَمso did not تُنِمlet you sleep
يَكفيكَ إِذ سَرَتِ الهُمومُ فَلَم تُنِم
قُلُصٌyoung she-camels لَواقِحُpregnant كَالقِسِيِّlike bows وَحولُand barren ones
قُلُصٌ لَواقِحُ كَالقِسِيِّ وَحولُ
Sufficient for you, when cares come by night and deny you sleep, are
Each she-camel, sincere in pace, is as though
young she-camels, pregnant and barren, lean as bows.
A heavily loaded ship with sails fully unfurled
نُجُبٌnoble camels مِنَof السِرِّthe purest stock العَتيقِancient نَمىelevated بِهاthem
نُجُبٌ مِنَ السِرِّ العَتيقِ نَمى بِها
فَوقَabove النَجائِبِthe thoroughbreds شَدقَمٌShadqam وَجَديلُand Jadil
فَوقَ النَجائِبِ شَدقَمٌ وَجَديلُ
Noble camels of the purest ancient stock, their lineage raised
How many from far off places have come to you
above other thoroughbreds by Shadqam and Jadil.
Over rugged, twisting paths with no clear direction
عَزَّتwithstood كَواهِلُهاtheir withers العَرائِكَthe rubbing بَعدَماafter
عَزَّت كَواهِلُها العَرائِكَ بَعدَما
لَحِقَvanished الثَميلُthe stored moisture فَماso no لَهُنَّthey have ثَميلُstored moisture
لَحِقَ الثَميلُ فَما لَهُنَّ ثَميلُ
Their withers withstood the rubbing, after
Remote from springs, their banners collapsed
the last stored moisture had gone, leaving none within them.
Amongst lifeless hills, almost to crumble and fall
مِثلُlike القَناspear shafts سَحَجَscraped الثِقافُthe straightening-tool مُتونَهُits surfaces
مِثلُ القَنا سَحَجَ الثِقافُ مُتونَهُ
فَاِهتَزَّso it quivered فيهِin it لُدونَةٌsuppleness وَذُبولُand dryness
فَاِهتَزَّ فيهِ لُدونَةٌ وَذُبولُ
Like spear shafts whose backs the straightening-tool has scraped,
Allah adorned you with the caliphate and guidance
then they quiver, supple and dry.
And Allah's decree is not subject to change
تَنجوrace onward إِذاwhen عَلَمُa landmark of الفَلاةِthe desert رَأَيتَهُyou see it
تَنجو إِذا عَلَمُ الفَلاةِ رَأَيتَهُ
فيin الآلِthe mirage يَقصُرُshortens مَرَّةًat times وَيَطولُand lengthens
في الآلِ يَقصُرُ مَرَّةً وَيَطولُ
They race onward when you see a desert landmark
The caliphate is rightfully with the one whom you chose
in the mirage, now shortening, now lengthening.
For there is no diverting its rule to another
وَإِذاand when تَقاصَرَتِshortened الظِلالُthe shadows تَشَنَّعَتthey sped along
وَإِذا تَقاصَرَتِ الظِلالُ تَشَنَّعَت
وَخدَthe swift stride of النَعامِostriches وَفيand in النُسوعِthe girth-straps فُضولُslack lengths
وَخدَ النَعامِ وَفي النُسوعِ فُضولُ
And when the shadows shorten, they speed along
The eminent rise when a grave matter enrages them all
with the stride of ostriches, their girth-straps hanging slack.
An affair so heavy it cuts deep in the hearts
مِنof كُلِّevery صادِقَةِtrue in النِجادِstature كَأَنَّهاas though it were
مِن كُلِّ صادِقَةِ النِجادِ كَأَنَّها
قَرواءُa long-hulled ship رافِعَةُraising الشِراعِthe sail جَفولُsweeping swiftly
قَرواءُ رافِعَةُ الشِراعِ جَفولُ
Each tall, true-framed beast, as though it were
The guardians of the caliphate and honor are its fit people
a long-hulled ship, sail aloft, sweeping onward.
Thus kingdom is glory and giving is plentiful
كَمhow many قَدindeed قَطَعنَthey crossed إِلَيكَto you مِنof مُتَماحِلٍa vast expanse
كَم قَد قَطَعنَ إِلَيكَ مِن مُتَماحِلٍ
جَدبِbarren المُعَرَّجِof resting places ماnot بِهِin it تَعليلُsustenance
جَدبِ المُعَرَّجِ ما بِهِ تَعليلُ
How many a vast expanse they have crossed to reach you,
And so upon you is due payment from a people who did not witness
barren of resting places, with nothing to sustain them,
That indeed, Muhammad is the Messenger of God
نائيdistant المَناهِلِwatering places طامِسٍeffaced أَعلامُهُits landmarks
نائي المَناهِلِ طامِسٍ أَعلامُهُ
مَيتِlifeless الشُخوصِfigures بِهِthere يَكادُalmost يَحولُspends a year
مَيتِ الشُخوصِ بِهِ يَكادُ يَحولُ
its watering places distant, its landmarks effaced,
They followed misguidance, turning away from the right way
empty of living figures, where one could almost spend a year.
While the Taghlibi is blind of heart and lost
اللَهُGod طَوَّقَكَinvested you with الخِلافَةَthe caliphate وَالهُدىand guidance
اللَهُ طَوَّقَكَ الخِلافَةَ وَالهُدى
وَاللَهُand God لَيسَthere is no لِماfor what قَضىHe decreed تَبديلُalteration
وَاللَهُ لَيسَ لِما قَضى تَبديلُ
God has invested you with the caliphate and guidance,
The Qur'an rules over the crucifix and Taghlib
and what God has decreed cannot be changed.
And for every position is a fitting interpretation
إِنَّindeed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate بِالَّذيby virtue of what أَبلَيتُمُyou accomplished
إِنَّ الخِلافَةَ بِالَّذي أَبلَيتُمُ
فيكُمamong you فَلَيسَso there is no لِمَلكِهاfor its sovereignty تَحويلُtransfer
فيكُم فَلَيسَ لِمَلكِها تَحويلُ
The caliphate, by virtue of the service you have rendered,
Indeed the caliphate, prophethood, and guidance
is among you; its sovereignty cannot be transferred.
Are, despite Taghlib's long life, abhorrent to them
يَعلوrises above النَجِيَّthe council إِذاwhen النَجِيُّthe council أَضَجَّهُمdistressed them
يَعلو النَجِيَّ إِذا النَجِيُّ أَضَجَّهُم
أَمرٌan affair تَضيقُare constricted بِهِby it الصُدورُthe hearts جَليلُgrave
أَمرٌ تَضيقُ بِهِ الصُدورُ جَليلُ
He towers above the council when its members are distressed
You turned away from the path of prophethood, so yield
by a grave affair that constricts men's hearts.
To the caliph's judgement, for the disgraced are disgraced
وَلِيَassumed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate وَالكَرامَةَand honor أَهلُهاthose worthy of it
وَلِيَ الخِلافَةَ وَالكَرامَةَ أَهلُها
فَالمُلكُso sovereignty أَفيَحُis spacious وَالعَطاءُand bounty جَزيلُabundant
فَالمُلكُ أَفيَحُ وَالعَطاءُ جَزيلُ
Those worthy of it hold the caliphate and honor;
The Ukhaydir prevented your valor from equaling ours
so sovereignty is spacious and bounty abundant.
More noble and grand is our origin handed down
فَعَلَيكَso upon you is جِزيَةُthe poll tax of مَعشَرٍa people لَمnot يَشهَدواbear witness
فَعَلَيكَ جِزيَةُ مَعشَرٍ لَم يَشهَدوا
لِلَّهِto God إِنَّindeed مُحَمَّداًMuhammad لَرَسولُtruly a messenger
لِلَّهِ إِنَّ مُحَمَّداً لَرَسولُ
So you must exact the poll tax from a people who never bore witness
Our line from Zayd Manat flourished with Mus'ab
to God that Muhammad is indeed a messenger.
When Zayd Manat rages, he is most fierce
تَبِعواthey followed الضَلالَةَerror ناكِبينَturning aside عَنِfrom الهُدىguidance
تَبِعوا الضَلالَةَ ناكِبينَ عَنِ الهُدى
وَالتَغلِبِيُّand the Taghlibi عَميblind الفُؤادِof heart ضَلولُfar astray
وَالتَغلِبِيُّ عَمي الفُؤادِ ضَلولُ
They followed error, turning away from guidance,
Among us are horsemen, none will come close to them
and the Taghlibi is blind of heart, far astray.
And we have a dignified lineage, most tall
يَقضيpasses judgment الكِتابُthe Book عَلىagainst الصَليبِthe cross وَتَغلِبٍand Taghlib
يَقضي الكِتابُ عَلى الصَليبِ وَتَغلِبٍ
وَلِكُلِّand for every مُنزَلِrevealed آيَةٍverse تَأويلُan interpretation
وَلِكُلِّ مُنزَلِ آيَةٍ تَأويلُ
The Book passes judgment on the cross and Taghlib,
Whenever the Hudhayl have raided us
and every revealed verse has its interpretation.
The Hudhayl fail, and in their raids stumble
إِنَّindeed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate وَالنُبُوَّةَand prophethood وَالهُدىand guidance
إِنَّ الخِلافَةَ وَالنُبُوَّةَ وَالهُدى
رَغمٌhumiliation لِتَغلِبَfor Taghlib فيin الحَياةِlife طَويلُlasting
رَغمٌ لِتَغلِبَ في الحَياةِ طَويلُ
The caliphate, prophethood, and guidance
The caliph has dragged the armies while you were
are a lasting humiliation for Taghlib throughout life.
Between Suluw and the Euphrates as remnants
فارَقتُمُyou abandoned سُبُلَthe paths of النُبُوَّةِprophethood فَاِخضَعواso submit
فارَقتُمُ سُبُلَ النُبُوَّةِ فَاِخضَعوا
بِجِزاto the tribute of الخَليفَةِthe caliph وَالذَليلُand the abased ذَليلُabased
بِجِزا الخَليفَةِ وَالذَليلُ ذَليلُ
You have abandoned the paths of prophethood, so submit
Indeed, the horses of Qays have quenched my thirst for you
to the caliph's tribute; the abased remain abased.
Among them are the Hudhayl, Malik, and 'Uqayl
مَنَعَbarred الأُخَيطِلُal-Ukhaytil أَنto يُسامِيَrival قَرمَناour chief
مَنَعَ الأُخَيطِلُ أَن يُسامِيَ قَرمَنا
شَرَفٌnobility أَجَبُّclipped وَغارِبٌand withers مَجزولُshorn
شَرَفٌ أَجَبُّ وَغارِبٌ مَجزولُ
Al-Ukhaytil is barred from rivaling our chief
So if you are afflicted by the war of Qays, they will not cease
by clipped nobility and shorn withers.
To eternally be guides against you in battle
قَرماًa chief لِزَيدِof Zayd مَناةَManat أَزهَرَradiant مُصعِباًuntamed
قَرماً لِزَيدِ مَناةَ أَزهَرَ مُصعِباً
فَتَصولُso charges زَيدُZayd مَناةَManat حينَwhen يَصولُhe charges
فَتَصولُ زَيدُ مَناةَ حينَ يَصولُ
A radiant, untamed chief of Zayd Manat,
What fine defenders they are when the swords are bared
so Zayd Manat charges when he charges.
Beneath their robes for the white blades is clanging
مِنّاamong us فَوارِسُhorsemen لَنnever تَجيءَyou will bring بِمِثلِهِمtheir equals
مِنّا فَوارِسُ لَن تَجيءَ بِمِثلِهِم
وَبِناءُand an edifice of مَكرُمَةٍhonor أَشَمُّlofty طَويلُtall
وَبِناءُ مَكرُمَةٍ أَشَمُّ طَويلُ
We have horsemen whose equals you will never bring,
If all of them gathered the morning after Khushayn
and a lofty, towering edifice of honor.
Were cast at a single enclosure, it would nearly crumble
فَإِذاso when ذَكَرتَyou mention مِنَof الهُذَيلِal-Hudhayl وَقَدand already شَتاwintered
فَإِذا ذَكَرتَ مِنَ الهُذَيلِ وَقَد شَتا
فيناamong us الهُذَيلُal-Hudhayl وَفيand on شَواهُhis limbs كُبولُfetters
فينا الهُذَيلُ وَفي شَواهُ كُبولُ
When you speak of al-Hudhayl, who once wintered
If not for the caliph, O Ukhaydir, none would have survived
among us—al-Hudhayl, with fetters on his limbs—
The days of Dijlah, despicable plunderer
جَرَّadvanced الخَليفَةُthe caliph بِالجُنودِwith the armies وَأَنتُمُand you
جَرَّ الخَليفَةُ بِالجُنودِ وَأَنتُمُ
بَينَbetween السَلَوطَحِal-Salawtah وَالفُراتِand the Euphrates فُلولُrouted remnants
بَينَ السَلَوطَحِ وَالفُراتِ فُلولُ
the caliph advanced with his armies, while you were
Qays exceeds Rabee'ah in number
routed remnants between al-Salawtah and the Euphrates.
And the mountains of Khindif after are just extra
وَلَقَدand indeed شَفَتنيhealed me خَيلُthe cavalry of قَيسٍQays مِنكُمُfrom you
وَلَقَد شَفَتني خَيلُ قَيسٍ مِنكُمُ
فيهاamong them الهُذَيلُal-Hudhayl وَمالِكٌand Malik وَعَقيلُand Aqil
فيها الهُذَيلُ وَمالِكٌ وَعَقيلُ
The cavalry of Qays has indeed soothed my anger against you;
The Ukhaydir lied, the women of Taghlib have no
among them are al-Hudhayl, Malik, and Aqil.
Protector of cauldrons, nor do they have a tent-mate
فَإِذاso when رُميتَyou are assailed بِحَربِby the warfare of قَيسٍQays لَمnot يَزَلcease
فَإِذا رُميتَ بِحَربِ قَيسٍ لَم يَزَل
أَبَداًever لِخَيلِهِمُfor their cavalry عَلَيكَagainst you دَليلُa guide
أَبَداً لِخَيلِهِمُ عَلَيكَ دَليلُ
If you are assailed by Qays in war, there will remain
The horsemen left behind women of Sulym
forever a guide to lead their cavalry against you.
Camels for them weeping loudly in the meadow
نِعمَexcellent are الحُماةُthe defenders إِذاwhen الصَفائِحُthe sword-blades جُرِّدَتare unsheathed
نِعمَ الحُماةُ إِذا الصَفائِحُ جُرِّدَت
لِلبَيضِfor the helmets تَحتَbeneath ظُباتِهِنَّtheir cutting edges صَليلُa clang
لِلبَيضِ تَحتَ ظُباتِهِنَّ صَليلُ
Excellent defenders, when the sword-blades are unsheathed:
While he counted each shadow a horseman
the helmets clang beneath their cutting edges.
And mistook his ostrich shadow and was confused
لَوif أَنَّthat جَمعَهُمُtheir host غَداةَon the morning of مُخاشِنٍMukhashin
لَو أَنَّ جَمعَهُمُ غَداةَ مُخاشِنٍ
يُرمىwere hurled بِهِwith it حَضَنٌHadan لَكادَit would almost يَزولُmove
يُرمى بِهِ حَضَنٌ لَكادَ يَزولُ
If their host, on the morning of Mukhashin,
The women of Taghlib danced the camel dance in the meadow
were hurled against Hadan, it would almost move.
Prancing like doves, with no lower garments
لَولاbut for الخَليفَةُthe caliph ياO أُخَيطِلُUkhaytil ماnot نَجاescaped
لَولا الخَليفَةُ يا أُخَيطِلُ ما نَجا
أَيّامَin the days of دِجلَةَthe Tigris شِلوُكَyour carcass المَأكولُdevoured
أَيّامَ دِجلَةَ شِلوُكَ المَأكولُ
But for the caliph, Ukhaytil, there would have been no escape
Where are the virgins when their women are dragged
for your devoured carcass in the days by the Tigris.
Fighter and brigand on the day of the meadow
قَيسٌQays تَزيدُexceeds عَلىbeyond رَبيعَةَRabi'a فيin الحَصىnumbers
قَيسٌ تَزيدُ عَلى رَبيعَةَ في الحَصى
وَجِبالُand the mountains of خِندِفَKhindif بَعدَbeyond ذاكَthat فُضولُextra strength
وَجِبالُ خِندِفَ بَعدَ ذاكَ فُضولُ
Qays surpasses Rabi'a in numbers,
The gown was torn, and the winds of the women of Taghlib
and Khindif's mountains add still more besides.
Lentils popping in the stomachs and fava beans
كَذَبَlied الأُخَيطِلُal-Ukhaytil ماno لِنِسوَةِfor the women of تَغلِبٍTaghlib
كَذَبَ الأُخَيطِلُ ما لِنِسوَةِ تَغلِبٍ
حاميa defender of الذِمارِhonor وَماand not يَغارُfeels jealousy حَليلُa husband
حامي الذِمارِ وَما يَغارُ حَليلُ
Al-Ukhaytil has lied: the women of Taghlib have no
And if the head of an aged Ashhabi appears
defender of their honor, and no husband feels jealousy.
Among the cooking pots, a soaked crumpet
تَرَكَleft الفَوارِسُthe horsemen مِنof سُلَيمٍSulaym نِسوَةًwomen
تَرَكَ الفَوارِسُ مِن سُلَيمٍ نِسوَةً
عُجُلاًfrantic لَهُنَّthey have عَلىat الرَحوبِal-Rahub عَويلُwailing
عُجُلاً لَهُنَّ عَلى الرَحوبِ عَويلُ
The horsemen of Sulaym left women
She calls out for the protection of Muharib, but modesty prevents her
frantic, with cries of grief at al-Rahub.
As if its belt has come undone
إِذwhen ظَلَّkept يَحسَبُimagining كُلَّevery شَخصٍfigure فارِساًa horseman
إِذ ظَلَّ يَحسَبُ كُلَّ شَخصٍ فارِساً
وَيَرىand sees نَعامَةَan ostrich ظِلِّهِhis shadow فَيَحولُso he veers away
وَيَرى نَعامَةَ ظِلِّهِ فَيَحولُ
When he kept imagining every figure a horseman,
Their sons are the least respectable people
and saw an ostrich in his shadow and veered away.
When drinking, completely mindless
رَقَصَتdanced بِعاجِنَةِat Ajinat الرَحوبِal-Rahub نِساؤُكُمyour women
رَقَصَت بِعاجِنَةِ الرَحوبِ نِساؤُكُم
رَقصَthe dance of الرِئالِostrich chicks وَماand no لَهُنَّthey have ذُيولُtrailing hems
رَقصَ الرِئالِ وَما لَهُنَّ ذُيولُ
Your women danced at Ajinat al-Rahub,
The Ukhaydir acted foolishly shielding his old woman
the dance of ostrich chicks, with no trailing hems.
Like the roundness of an oil jug, as if a handkerchief
أَينَwhere الأَراقِمُthe Araqim إِذwhen تَجُرُّare dragged نِساؤُهُمtheir women
أَينَ الأَراقِمُ إِذ تَجُرُّ نِساؤُهُم
يَومَon the day of الرَحوبِal-Rahub مُحارِبٌMuharib وَسَلولُand Salul
يَومَ الرَحوبِ مُحارِبٌ وَسَلولُ
Where were the Araqim when their women were dragged away
She would have been burned in Jif by the Dijlah
on the day of al-Rahub by Muharib and Salul?
Or been busy in the meadow fray
فُسِخَwas stripped away العَباءُthe cloaks وَريحُand the smell of نِسوَةِthe women of تَغلِبٍTaghlib
فُسِخَ العَباءُ وَريحُ نِسوَةِ تَغلِبٍ
عَدَسٌlentils يُقَرقِرُrumble فيin البُطونِthe bellies وَفولُand broad beans
عَدَسٌ يُقَرقِرُ في البُطونِ وَفولُ
The cloaks were stripped away, and the smell of Taghlib's women
As if the eagles swooped down upon them
was lentils rumbling in their bellies, and broad beans.
Making hajj to the lower part of Dhi Majaz
وَإِذاand when تَدارَكَfollowed رَأسُthe head of أَشهَبَgray شارِفٍan aged camel
وَإِذا تَدارَكَ رَأسُ أَشهَبَ شارِفٍ
فيin الحاوِياتِthe bowels وَحِمُّصٌand chickpeas مَبلولُsoaked
في الحاوِياتِ وَحِمُّصٌ مَبلولُ
And when the head of an old gray camel arrives
You destroyed your people when you provoked them
in the bowels, along with soaked chickpeas,
Then you recoiled while the enemy gained hegemony
نادَتshe cried بِيالِwith "O men of" مُحارِبٍMuharib وَيَكُفُّهاand restrains her
نادَت بِيالِ مُحارِبٍ وَيَكُفُّها
عِرضٌa body كَأَنَّas though نِطاقَهُits girdle مَحلولُunfastened
عِرضٌ كَأَنَّ نِطاقَهُ مَحلولُ
she cries, "O men of Muharib!" while she is restrained
You have been shamed, seeking compensation while disabled
by a body whose girdle seems undone.
One day in the city drinking, the next urinating
أَبناؤُهُنَّtheir sons أَقَلُّthe least قَومٍpeople حُرمَةًrespected
أَبناؤُهُنَّ أَقَلُّ قَومٍ حُرمَةً
عِندَat الشَرابِdrinking وَماand no لَهُنَّthey have عُقولُsense
عِندَ الشَرابِ وَما لَهُنَّ عُقولُ
Their sons are the least respected of any people
Say to the Ukhaydir, neither did your old woman birth
at drinking bouts, and the women have no sense.
In labor, nor was your father of great ingenuity
سَفِهَacted foolishly الأُخَيطِلُal-Ukhaytil إِذwhen يَقيhe shields بِعَجوزِهِwith his old mother
سَفِهَ الأُخَيطِلُ إِذ يَقي بِعَجوزِهِ
كيرَthe bellows of القُيونِthe smiths كَأَنَّهُas though it were مِنديلُa handkerchief
كيرَ القُيونِ كَأَنَّهُ مِنديلُ
Al-Ukhaytil was foolish, shielding with his old mother
Your hands fell short of valor, and many times
the smiths' bellows, as though it were a handkerchief.
Your father was distanced from all that is noble
قَدindeed كانَthere was فيin جِيَفٍcorpses بِدِجلَةَby the Tigris حُرِّقَتwere burned
قَد كانَ في جِيَفٍ بِدِجلَةَ حُرِّقَت
أَوor فيin الَّذينَthose who عَلىat الرَحوبِal-Rahub شُغولُthings to occupy you
أَو في الَّذينَ عَلى الرَحوبِ شُغولُ
There was, in the corpses burned beside the Tigris,
Delegations come constantly while Taghlib is exiled
or in those at al-Rahub, enough to keep you occupied.
Behind the scorching hot sands, and the old women too
وَكَأَنَّand as though عافِيَةَforaging النُسورِvultures عَلَيهِمُupon them
وَكَأَنَّ عافِيَةَ النُسورِ عَلَيهِمُ
حُجٌّpilgrims بِأَسفَلِat the lower end of ذيDhu المَجازِal-Majaz نُزولُencamped
حُجٌّ بِأَسفَلِ ذي المَجازِ نُزولُ
And the vultures foraging upon them seemed
He is called only to collect his provisions
like pilgrims encamped at the lower end of Dhu al-Majaz.
And told you are most welcome to wander
أَهلَكتَyou destroyed قَومَكَyour people إِذwhen حَضَضتَyou incited عَلَيهِمُagainst them
أَهلَكتَ قَومَكَ إِذ حَضَضتَ عَلَيهِمُ
ثُمَّthen اِنتَهَيتَyou stopped وَفيand in العَدُوِّthe enemy ذُحولُblood-feuds
ثُمَّ اِنتَهَيتَ وَفي العَدُوِّ ذُحولُ
You destroyed your people by stirring hostility against them,
So gather its remnants to its ruins
then held back, though the enemy still nursed blood-feuds.
And leave, for you have no place among travelers' camps
قُبِّحتَmay you be disgraced مَوتوراًunavenged وَطالِبَand a seeker of دِمنَةٍa dung-stained campsite
قُبِّحتَ مَوتوراً وَطالِبَ دِمنَةٍ
بِالحَضرِat al-Hadr تَشرَبُyou drink تارَةًat one time وَتَبولُand urinate
بِالحَضرِ تَشرَبُ تارَةً وَتَبولُ
May you be disgraced, unavenged, a seeker of a dung-stained campsite,
All who are base would not purchase even
at al-Hadr, now drinking, now urinating.
The stench of murky swamp water for a pittance
قُلsay لِلأُخَيطِلِto al-Ukhaytil لاnot عَجوزُكَyour old mother أَنجَبَتbore noble offspring
قُل لِلأُخَيطِلِ لا عَجوزُكَ أَنجَبَت
فيamong الوالِداتِmothers وَلاnor أَبوكَyour father فَحيلُa virile sire
في الوالِداتِ وَلا أَبوكَ فَحيلُ
Tell al-Ukhaytil: your old mother bore no noble offspring
The share of the Ukhaydir from his touching Devil's Ivy
among mothers, nor is your father a virile sire.
Is a shiny scalp with spreading baldness
قَصُرَتfell short يَداكَyour two hands عَنِof الفَعالِnoble deeds وَطالَماand often
قَصُرَت يَداكَ عَنِ الفَعالِ وَطالَما
غالَتsnatched away أَباكَyour father عَنِfrom المَكارِمِhonorable acts غولُa ghoul
غالَت أَباكَ عَنِ المَكارِمِ غولُ
Your hands fell short of noble deeds, and often
Let the caliph's judgment upon you be carried out
a ghoul carried your father away from honorable acts.
For you have no place among the saddled camels' packs
تَفِدُarrive as delegations الوُفودُthe delegations وَتَغلِبٌand Taghlib مَنفِيَّةٌbanished
تَفِدُ الوُفودُ وَتَغلِبٌ مَنفِيَّةٌ
خَلفَbehind الزَوامِلِthe pack camels وَالعَواتِقُand the shoulders ميلُdrooping
خَلفَ الزَوامِلِ وَالعَواتِقُ ميلُ
Delegations arrive, while Taghlib is banished
Each despicable weakling who would not hire himself out
behind the pack camels, with shoulders drooping.
Has never gotten a whiff of the barn's odorous boy
يُدعىhe is called إِذاwhen نَزَلواthey dismount لِيَأخُذَto take زادَهُhis provisions
يُدعى إِذا نَزَلوا لِيَأخُذَ زادَهُ
وَيُقالُand it is said إِنَّكَindeed you لِلضَياعِfor ruin مَخيلُseem destined
وَيُقالُ إِنَّكَ لِلضَياعِ مَخيلُ
He is called, when they dismount, to take his provisions,
and told, "You seem bound for ruin."
فَاِجمَعso gather أَشِظَّتَهاtheir fastening pegs إِلىbeside أَقتابِهاtheir pack saddles
فَاِجمَع أَشِظَّتَها إِلى أَقتابِها
وَاِخرُجand depart فَماfor no لَكَfor you فيamong الرِحالِthe baggage مَقيلُnoonday resting place
وَاِخرُج فَما لَكَ في الرِحالِ مَقيلُ
So gather their fastening pegs beside their pack saddles,
and leave; you have no noonday resting place among the baggage.
مِنamong كُلِّevery أَشمَطَgray-haired man لاnot يَنيgrows slack مُستَأجَراًworking for hire
مِن كُلِّ أَشمَطَ لا يَني مُستَأجَراً
ماas long as شَمَّsniffs تودِيَةَthe wooden peg الصِرارِof the teat-tie فَصيلُa weaned camel calf
ما شَمَّ تودِيَةَ الصِرارِ فَصيلُ
One of those gray-haired men who never cease serving for hire,
as long as a camel calf sniffs the teat-binding peg.
حَظُّthe share of الأُخَيطِلِal-Ukhaytil مِنfrom تَلَمُّسِهِhis seeking الرِشاbribes
حَظُّ الأُخَيطِلِ مِن تَلَمُّسِهِ الرِشا
فيin الرَأسِthe head لامِعَةُgleaming الفَراشِskull-bones دَحولُdeep-penetrating
في الرَأسِ لامِعَةُ الفَراشِ دَحولُ
Al-Ukhaytil's share from seeking bribes
is a deep head-wound, its skull-bones gleaming.
Partial English translation: 126 of 134 Arabic lines translated.