مَتىwhen كانَwere الخِيامُthe tents بِذيat Dhu طُلوحٍTuluh
مَتى كانَ الخِيامُ بِذي طُلوحٍ
سُقيتِmay you be watered الغَيثَrain أَيَّتُهاO الخِيامُtents
سُقيتِ الغَيثَ أَيَّتُها الخِيامُ
When were the tents at Dhu Tuluh?
When were the tents in Thu-al-Huj
May rain water you, O tents!
Watered, O tents, by the rain?
تَنَكَّرَbecame unrecognizable مِنsome of مَعارِفِهاtheir familiar features وَمالَتand tilted
تَنَكَّرَ مِن مَعارِفِها وَمالَت
دَعائِمُهاtheir supports وَقَدand already بَليَdecayed الثُمامُthe thumam grass
دَعائِمُها وَقَد بَليَ الثُمامُ
Some of their familiar features have grown strange, and tilted
Their poles have changed and leaned over,
are their supports; the thumam grass has decayed.
And their ropes have worn out.
تَغالىrose high فَوقَabove أَجرَعِكِyour sandy plain الخُزامىthe lavender
تَغالى فَوقَ أَجرَعِكِ الخُزامى
بِنَورٍwith blossoms وَاِستَهَلَّand poured rain بِكِupon you الغَمامُthe clouds
بِنَورٍ وَاِستَهَلَّ بِكِ الغَمامُ
Lavender rises high above your sandy plain,
The black desert-lark warbled
in blossom, and clouds have poured rain upon you.
In the light, and the clouds gathered.
مَقامُencampment of الحَيِّthe tribe مَرَّpassed لَهُover it ثَمانٍeight years
مَقامُ الحَيِّ مَرَّ لَهُ ثَمانٍ
إِلىadded to عِشرينَtwenty قَدalready بَلِيَworn away المُقامُthe encampment
إِلى عِشرينَ قَد بَلِيَ المُقامُ
Eight years have passed over the tribe's encampment,
A halt of eight days has passed -
added to twenty; the encampment is worn away.
Twenty - the halt is prolonged.
أَقولُI say لِصُحبَتيto my companions لَمّاwhen اِرتَحَلناwe departed
أَقولُ لِصُحبَتي لَمّا اِرتَحَلنا
وَدَمعُand the tears of العَينُthe eye مُنهَمِرٌpouring سِجامُstreaming
وَدَمعُ العَينُ مُنهَمِرٌ سِجامُ
I say to my companions when we depart,
I say to my companions when we departed
while the eye's tears pour in streams:
While tears pour profusely from my eyes:
أَتَمضونَdo you pass الرُسومَthe traces وَلاand not تُحَيّاare greeted
أَتَمضونَ الرُسومَ وَلا تُحَيّا
كَلامُكُمُyour speech عَلَيَّto me إِذاًthen حَرامُforbidden
كَلامُكُمُ عَلَيَّ إِذاً حَرامُ
Will you pass the traces without greeting them?
"Will you forget the encampments, and not bid them
Then your words are forbidden to me.
Farewell? Then your words to me are forbidden.
أَقيمواstay إِنَّماonly يَومٌa day كَيَومٍlike a day
أَقيموا إِنَّما يَومٌ كَيَومٍ
وَلَكِنَّbut الرَفيقَthe companion لَهُhe has ذِمامُa claim to loyalty
وَلَكِنَّ الرَفيقَ لَهُ ذِمامُ
Stay: one day is only like another,
Stay but a day - one day like any other -
but a companion has a claim to loyalty.
But the companion, alas, is departing.
بِنَفسِيَwith my life مَنthe one whose تَجَنُّبُهُhis avoidance عَزيزٌhard
بِنَفسِيَ مَن تَجَنُّبُهُ عَزيزٌ
عَلَيَّfor me وَمَنand the one whose زِيارَتُهُhis visits لِمامُrare
عَلَيَّ وَمَن زِيارَتُهُ لِمامُ
My life be ransom for the one whose avoidance is hard
My soul to ransom yours from a bedfellow
for me, and whose visits are rare,
Who turns over when slumber descends.
وَمَنand the one whom أُمسيI reach evening وَأُصبِحُand reach morning لاnot أَراهُI see him
وَمَن أُمسي وَأُصبِحُ لا أَراهُ
وَيَطرُقُنيand he visits me at night إِذاwhen هَجَعَfell asleep النِيامُthe sleepers
وَيَطرُقُني إِذا هَجَعَ النِيامُ
whom I do not see at evening or morning,
Do you forget, Sulayma, when you bade us farewell
yet who visits me when the sleepers sleep.
At the branch of Bisham where showers were poured?
أَلَيسَis there not لِماfor what طَلَبتُI sought فَدَتكَmay it ransom you نَفسيmy life
أَلَيسَ لِما طَلَبتُ فَدَتكَ نَفسي
قَضاءٌfulfillment أَوor لِحاجَتِيَfor my need اِنصِرامُan end
قَضاءٌ أَو لِحاجَتِيَ اِنصِرامُ
Is there not, for what I sought—may my life ransom you—
You left behind two hearts that saw their cure
fulfillment, or an end to my need?
In you, then went away uncured back and forth.
فِدىًa ransom نَفسيmy life لِنَفسِكَfor your life مِنas a ضَجيعٍbedfellow
فِدىً نَفسي لِنَفسِكَ مِن ضَجيعٍ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِلتَجَّsurged بِالسِنَةِwith drowsiness المَنامُsleep
إِذا ما اِلتَجَّ بِالسِنَةِ المَنامُ
My life be ransom for yours, O bedfellow,
Had the dove known our love as we knew it
when sleep surges amid drowsiness.
Among the Sullamis, even doves would grieve.
أَتَنسىdo you forget إِذwhen تُوَدِّعُناshe bids us farewell سُلَيمىSulayma
أَتَنسى إِذ تُوَدِّعُنا سُلَيمى
بِفَرعِby a branch of بَشامَةٍa balsam tree سُقِيَmay it be watered البَشامُthe balsam
بِفَرعِ بَشامَةٍ سُقِيَ البَشامُ
Do you forget when Sulayma bade us farewell
Never did we find love like yours the day we said,
by a balsam branch? May the balsam be watered!
At Rabiat ul-Salam, "Peace be upon you!"
تَرَكتِyou left مُحَلَّئينَmen driven from water رَأواthey saw شِفاءًrelief
تَرَكتِ مُحَلَّئينَ رَأوا شِفاءً
فَحامواso they circled ثُمَّthen لَمdid not يَرِدواreach the water وَحامواand circled
فَحاموا ثُمَّ لَم يَرِدوا وَحاموا
You left men driven from water, who saw relief,
Will you not repay me and save my soul
so they circled, then never reached the water, and circled again.
With talk of you and total absorption?
فَلَوand if وَجَدَfelt longing الحَمامُthe doves كَماas وَجَدناwe felt longing
فَلَو وَجَدَ الحَمامُ كَما وَجَدنا
بِسُلمانينَat Sulmanayn لَاِكتَأَبَwould surely grieve الحَمامُthe doves
بِسُلمانينَ لَاِكتَأَبَ الحَمامُ
If the doves felt the longing that we felt
Will you task me to follow the course of a star
at Sulmanayn, the doves would grieve.
In the fifth night? By it I will steer.
فَماfor no وَجدٌlonging كَوَجدِكَlike your longing يَومَon the day قُلناwe said
فَما وَجدٌ كَوَجدِكَ يَومَ قُلنا
عَلىupon رَبعٍan old dwelling بِناظِرَةَat Nazira السَلامُpeace
عَلى رَبعٍ بِناظِرَةَ السَلامُ
For no longing is like yours on the day we said,
The pebbles of Ma'azza chafed us
Peace upon an old dwelling at Nazira.
Until the litters and the servants were torn.
أَماwill you not تَجزِينَنيyou requite me وَنَجِيُّand the confidant of نَفسيmy soul
أَما تَجزِينَني وَنَجِيُّ نَفسي
أَحاديثٌconversations بِذِكرِكِwith mention of you وَاِحتِمامُand fevered concern
أَحاديثٌ بِذِكرِكِ وَاِحتِمامُ
Will you not requite me, when my soul's confidant is
As if the baggage were atop a lofty dune
talk of you and fevered longing,
With the belongings of the noble chief.
وَتَكليفيand my forcing المَطِيَّthe riding camels أُوارَthe searing heat of نَجمٍa star
وَتَكليفي المَطِيَّ أُوارَ نَجمٍ
لِلَيلِfor the night of الخامِساتِcamels due fifth-day watering بِهِin it أُوامُburning thirst
لِلَيلِ الخامِساتِ بِهِ أُوامُ
and I drive the riding camels through a star's searing heat
Some poets blamed others regarding me
on a night of thirst for camels due fifth-day watering?
And were struck down by vengeance.
ضَرَحنَthey flung aside بِناcarrying us حَصىthe pebbles of المَعزاءِthe stony ground حَتّىuntil
ضَرَحنَ بِنا حَصى المَعزاءِ حَتّى
تَقَطَّعَتِtore apart السَرائِحُthe sandal-thongs وَالخِدامُand ankle-straps
تَقَطَّعَتِ السَرائِحُ وَالخِدامُ
They flung the stony ground's pebbles aside as they bore us, until
They are like foxes, when in their lair
the sandal-thongs and ankle-straps tore apart.
They find a jealous rival, and are enraged.
كَأَنَّas though الرَحلَthe saddle فَوقَupon أَقَبَّlean-bellied جَأبٍa sturdy wild ass
كَأَنَّ الرَحلَ فَوقَ أَقَبَّ جَأبٍ
بِأَجمادِon the hard ground of الشُرَيفِal-Shurayf لَهُit has مَصامُa standing-place
بِأَجمادِ الشُرَيفِ لَهُ مَصامُ
As though the saddle rested on a lean-bellied, sturdy wild ass
When I unleash a thunderbolt upon them,
with a haunt on the hard ground of al-Shurayf.
They see another blazing still, and persist.
عَوىhowled الشُعَراءُthe poets بَعضُهُمُsome of them لِبَعضٍto others
عَوى الشُعَراءُ بَعضُهُمُ لِبَعضٍ
عَلَيَّagainst me فَقَدand indeed أَصابَهُمُstruck them اِنتِقامُvengeance
عَلَيَّ فَقَد أَصابَهُمُ اِنتِقامُ
The poets howled to one another
One is deafened, the other a eunuch,
against me; vengeance has struck them.
Another a ruined hulk of bone.
كَأَنُّهُمُas though they were الثَعالِبُthe foxes حينَwhen تَلقىthey encounter
كَأَنُّهُمُ الثَعالِبُ حينَ تَلقى
هِزَبراًa mighty lion فيin العَرينِthe den لَهُhe has اِنتِحامُa growling roar
هِزَبراً في العَرينِ لَهُ اِنتِحامُ
They are like foxes when they meet
When they wish, I draw swords near them
a mighty lion growling in his den.
And make the blades clash right next to them.
إِذاwhen أَوقَعتُI unleash صاعِقَةًa thunderbolt عَلَيهِمupon them
إِذا أَوقَعتُ صاعِقَةً عَلَيهِم
رَأواthey see أُخرىanother تَحَرَّقُblazing فَاِستَدامواso they seek respite
رَأوا أُخرى تَحَرَّقُ فَاِستَداموا
When I unleash a thunderbolt upon them,
The Akhthal has lied about me - a strange lie -
they see another blazing and seek respite.
When warriors mount for the attack.
فَمُصطَلَمُso one shorn of المَسامِعِears أَوor خَصِيٌّa eunuch
فَمُصطَلَمُ المَسامِعِ أَو خَصِيٌّ
وَآخَرُand another عَظمُthe bone of هامَتِهِhis skull حُطامُshattered fragments
وَآخَرُ عَظمُ هامَتِهِ حُطامُ
Thus one is shorn of ears, or castrated,
Rulers do not enforce justice,
and another's skull-bone lies in fragments.
And none condemn being wronged.
إِذاif شاءَواthey wish مَدَدتُI extend لَهُمto them حِضاراًa swift gallop
إِذا شاءَوا مَدَدتُ لَهُم حِضاراً
وَتَقريباًand a canter مُخالِطُهُmingling with it عِزامُfierce resolve
وَتَقريباً مُخالِطُهُ عِزامُ
If they wish, I offer them a swift gallop
If the Banu Jusham, descendants of Bakr,
and a canter mingled with fierce resolve.
Are blamed for the incident at Rahab, they are pained.
لَقَدindeed كَذَبَlied الأَخَيطِلُal-Akhaytil فِيَّin me غَربٌsharpness
لَقَد كَذَبَ الأَخَيطِلُ فِيَّ غَربٌ
إِذاwhen صاحَcried out الجَوالِبُthe shouting crowds وَاِعتِزامُand determination
إِذا صاحَ الجَوالِبُ وَاِعتِزامُ
Al-Akhaytil has lied: I have sharpness
The wounds of war hold no aftermath for the victor,
when the crowds cry out, and firm resolve.
No bitter dispute or contention.
وَتَغلِبُand Taghlib لاnot وُلاةُguardians of قَضاءَjudgment عَدلٍjustice
وَتَغلِبُ لا وُلاةُ قَضاءَ عَدلٍ
وَلاnor مُستَنكِرونَthose who resent لِأَنthat يُضامواthey be wronged
وَلا مُستَنكِرونَ لِأَن يُضاموا
Taghlib are no guardians of just judgment,
I am destined to pray towards Khindif,
nor do they resent being wronged.
And Asab whose thorns pierce at the end.
لَئِنif indeed ليمَتare blamed بَنوthe sons of جُشَمَJusham بنِson of بَكرٍBakr
لَئِن ليمَت بَنو جُشَمَ بنِ بَكرٍ
بِعاجِنَةِfor the kneading-woman of الرَحوبِal-Rahub فَقَدthen indeed أَلامواthey earned blame
بِعاجِنَةِ الرَحوبِ فَقَد أَلاموا
If the sons of Jusham ibn Bakr are blamed
When Khindif and Qays thrive,
for al-Rahub's kneading-woman, they have earned the blame.
Then my mountains of glory cannot be desired.
شَفىbrought healing الوَقَعاتِthe battles لَيسَthere is not لِتَغلِبِيٍّfor a Taghlibi
شَفى الوَقَعاتِ لَيسَ لِتَغلِبِيٍّ
مَحارٌa reply بَعدَهُنَّafter them وَلاnor خِصامُargument
مَحارٌ بَعدَهُنَّ وَلا خِصامُ
The battles have brought healing; no Taghlibi has
They rallied around me and empowered me
any answer after them, nor any argument.
With everlasting authority never transferred.
قَضىdecided لِيَin my favor أَنَّthat أَصلِيَmy lineage خِندِفِيٌّKhindifi
قَضى لِيَ أَنَّ أَصلِيَ خِندِفِيٌّ
وَعَضبٌand a sharp sword فيin عَواقِبِهِits consequences السِمامُvenoms
وَعَضبٌ في عَواقِبِهِ السِمامُ
My Khindifi lineage has secured the verdict for me,
I did not blame the allies or did they condemn me
and a sharp sword whose consequences are venom.
When the throng pressed upon us.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle خِندِفٌKhindif زَخَرَتsurged forth وَقَيسٌand Qays
إِذا ما خِندِفٌ زَخَرَت وَقَيسٌ
فَإِنَّthen indeed جِبالَthe mountains of عِزِّيَmy might لاnot تُرامُcan be assailed
فَإِنَّ جِبالَ عِزِّيَ لا تُرامُ
When Khindif and Qays surge forth,
When they extended their rope, we extended
the mountains of my might cannot be assailed.
A rope whose strands do not unravel.
هُمُthey حَدَبواcared protectively عَلَيَّfor me وَمَكَّنونيand established me securely
هُمُ حَدَبوا عَلَيَّ وَمَكَّنوني
بِأَفيَحَon broad ground لاnot يَزِلُّslips بِهِon it المَقامُthe footing
بِأَفيَحَ لا يَزِلُّ بِهِ المَقامُ
They cared for me and established me securely
The horsemen of Musad, always prepared,
on broad ground where my footing cannot slip.
Whose bones are solid pillars.
فَماso not لُمتُI blamed البُناةَthe builders وَلَمnor did يَلومواthey blame
فَما لُمتُ البُناةَ وَلَم يَلوموا
ذِيادِيَmy defense حينَwhen جَدَّgrew fierce بِناupon us الزُحامُthe press
ذِيادِيَ حينَ جَدَّ بِنا الزُحامُ
I did not blame the builders, nor did they blame
They are seasoned in every frontier,
my defense when the press upon us grew fierce.
And if roused to alarm, they stand firm.
إِذاif مَدّواthey stretch بِحَبلِهِمُwith their rope مَدَدناwe stretch
إِذا مَدّوا بِحَبلِهِمُ مَدَدنا
بِحَبلٍwith a rope ماnot لِعُروَتِهِfor its loop اِنفِصامُany breaking
بِحَبلٍ ما لِعُروَتِهِ اِنفِصامُ
If they stretch out their rope, we stretch out
The women ransom us when we meet in battle,
a rope whose loop cannot be broken.
And the noble king awards us judgment.
لِيَربوعٍfor Yarbu إِذاwhen اِفتَخَرواthey boast وَعَدّواand count
لِيَربوعٍ إِذا اِفتَخَروا وَعَدّوا
فَوارِسُhorsemen مَصدَقٍproven valor وَلُهىًand gifts عِظامُgreat
فَوارِسُ مَصدَقٍ وَلُهىً عِظامُ
Yarbu, when they boast and count their honors, have
No noble man allies with Taghlib,
horsemen of proven valor and great gifts.
Nor kinfolk of those born noble.
هُمُthey المُتَمَرِّسونَthe battle-hardened بِكُلِّat every ثَغرٍfrontier
هُمُ المُتَمَرِّسونَ بِكُلِّ ثَغرٍ
وَإِنand if رَكِبواthey ride إِلىtoward فَزَعٍan alarm أَسامواthey raid
وَإِن رَكِبوا إِلى فَزَعٍ أَساموا
They are battle-hardened at every frontier,
When they gather over wine in an empty cup,
and if they ride in answer to an alarm, they raid.
It is shared, and passed hand to hand.
تُفَدّيناoffer themselves as ransom for us النِساءُthe women إِذاwhen اِلتَقَيناwe meet
تُفَدّينا النِساءُ إِذا اِلتَقَينا
وَيُعطيand grants حُكمَناour terms المَلِكُthe king الهُمامُthe valiant
وَيُعطي حُكمَنا المَلِكُ الهُمامُ
Women offer themselves as ransom for us when we clash,
They name the pauper, while neither servant
and the valiant king grants us our terms.
Of Abdulmalik nor Hisham are named.
وَتَغلِبُand Taghlib لاnot يُصاهِرُهُمmarries into them كَريمٌa noble man
وَتَغلِبُ لا يُصاهِرُهُم كَريمٌ
وَلاnor أَخوالُthe maternal uncles of مَنthose whom وَلَدواthey begot كِرامُnoble
وَلا أَخوالُ مَن وَلَدوا كِرامُ
No noble man marries into Taghlib,
You did not act wisely the day you provoked Qays
nor are the maternal uncles of those they beget noble.
And troops poured out helter-skelter.
إِذاwhen اِجتَمَعواthey gather عَلىover سَكَرٍwine بِفَلسٍfor a copper coin
إِذا اِجتَمَعوا عَلى سَكَرٍ بِفَلسٍ
فَنَصوٌthen hair-pulling عِندَat ذَلِكَthat time وَاِلتِطامُand mutual slapping
فَنَصوٌ عِندَ ذَلِكَ وَاِلتِطامُ
When they gather over wine bought for a copper coin,
I have protected you - do not wager property
there is hair-pulling then, and mutual slapping.
Which breaks in squabbles and strife.
يُسَمّونَthey name الفُلَيسَal-Fulays وَلاbut not يُسَمّىis named
يُسَمّونَ الفُلَيسَ وَلا يُسَمّى
لَهُمamong them عَبدُAbd (servant of) المَليكِal-Malik (the Sovereign) وَلاnor هِشامُHisham
لَهُم عَبدُ المَليكِ وَلا هِشامُ
They name al-Fulays, yet neither
Abd al-Malik nor Hisham is named among them.
فَماso not عوفيتَwere you spared يَومَthe day تَحُضُّyou urge on قَيساًQays
فَما عوفيتَ يَومَ تَحُضُّ قَيساً
فَفُضَّthen was scattered الحَيُّthe tribe وَاِقتُنِصَand were captured السَوامُthe grazing herds
فَفُضَّ الحَيُّ وَاِقتُنِصَ السَوامُ
You were not spared the day you urged Qays on:
the tribe was scattered and the grazing herds seized.
كُفيتُكَI was rid of you لاnot تُقَلَّدُare you garlanded فيin رِهانٍa race
كُفيتُكَ لا تُقَلَّدُ في رِهانٍ
وَفيand in الأَرساغِthe fetlocks وَالقَصَبِand shank-bones اِنحِطامُshattering
وَفي الأَرساغِ وَالقَصَبِ اِنحِطامُ
I am rid of you; you are not garlanded for a race,
with your fetlocks and shank-bones shattered.
Partial English translation: 76 of 82 Arabic lines translated.