تَقولُsays اِبنَةَthe daughter العَبسِيِّof al-ʿAbsi قَدalready شِبتَyou have grown gray بَعدَناsince we left
تَقولُ اِبنَةَ العَبسِيِّ قَد شِبتَ بَعدَنا
وَكُلُّand every اِمرِئٍperson بَعدَafter الشَبابِyouth يَشيبُgrows gray
وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ بَعدَ الشَبابِ يَشيبُ
The daughter of al-ʿAbsi says, “You have grown gray since we left.”
The daughter of al-Absi says you have aged after us
And every man grows gray after youth.
And every man ages after youth
وَماand not الشَيبُgray hair إِلّاexcept غائِبٌan absent one كانَwas جائِياًcoming
وَما الشَيبُ إِلّا غائِبٌ كانَ جائِياً
وَماand not القَولُwhat is said إِلّاexcept مُخطِئٌmistaken وَمُصيبُand right
وَما القَولُ إِلّا مُخطِئٌ وَمُصيبُ
Gray hair is but an absent one who was bound to come;
Aging is but an absent thing that was present
and what is said is either mistaken or right.
And speech is either erring or right
تَقولُsays سُلَيمىSulayma ماwhat لَجِسمِكَwith your body شاحِباًpallid
تَقولُ سُلَيمى ما لَجِسمِكَ شاحِباً
كَأَنَّكَas though you يَحميكَkeeps you from الشَرابَdrink طَبيبُa physician
كَأَنَّكَ يَحميكَ الشَرابَ طَبيبُ
Sulayma says, “Why is your body so pallid,
Sulaima said why has your body become pale
as though a physician were forbidding you drink?”
As if wine protects you, o physician
فَقُلتُso I said وَلَمand did not أَعيَbe at a loss for الجَوابَthe answer وَلَمand did not أَبُحdivulge
فَقُلتُ وَلَم أَعيَ الجَوابَ وَلَم أَبُح
وَلِلدَهرِand for time فيin الصُمِّthe solid rocks الصِلابِthe hard ones نَصيبُa share
وَلِلدَهرِ في الصُمِّ الصِلابِ نَصيبُ
So I replied, not at a loss for an answer, nor revealing all—
So I answered without knowing the answer or confessing
and time has a share even in hard, solid rocks—
While fate laughs in silence at the obstinate soul
تَتابُعُa succession أَحداثٍof calamities يُجَرِّعنَforce to gulp إِخوَتيmy brothers
تَتابُعُ أَحداثٍ يُجَرِّعنَ إِخوَتي
فَشَيَّبنَso they grayed رَأسيmy head وَالخُطوبُand calamities تُشيبُturn hair gray
فَشَيَّبنَ رَأسي وَالخُطوبُ تُشيبُ
a succession of calamities that forced bitter draughts on my brothers
Events follow each other that make my brothers drink
grayed my head; calamities bring gray hair.
And turned my hair white while sorrows whiten
لَعَمريby my life لَئِنif indeed كانَتhad أَصابَتstruck مَنِيَّةٌdeath
لَعَمري لَئِن كانَت أَصابَت مَنِيَّةٌ
أَخيmy brother وَالمَناياand deaths لِلرِجالِfor men شَعوبُa sunderer
أَخي وَالمَنايا لِلرِجالِ شَعوبُ
By my life, if death has indeed struck
By my life if death has struck
my brother—and death is the sunderer of men—
My brother, and deaths are gifts for men
لَقَدindeed كانَhe was أَمّاas for حِلمُهُhis forbearance فَمُرَوِّحٌthen a source of comfort
لَقَد كانَ أَمّا حِلمُهُ فَمُرَوِّحٌ
عَلَيَّto me وَأَمّاand as for جَهلُهُhis rashness فَعَزيبُthen far away
عَلَيَّ وَأَمّا جَهلُهُ فَعَزيبُ
surely, his forbearance brought comfort
His forbearance was refreshing for me
to me, while his rashness kept its distance.
While his ignorance was blazing
أَخيmy brother ماwhat أَخيmy brother لاnot فاحِشٌfoul-mouthed عِندَin the face of ريبَةٍsuspicion
أَخي ما أَخي لا فاحِشٌ عِندَ ريبَةٍ
وَلاnor وَرِعٌshrinking back عِندَat اللِقاءِbattle هَيوبُfearful
وَلا وَرِعٌ عِندَ اللِقاءِ هَيوبُ
My brother—what a brother! Not foul-mouthed when suspicion arose,
My brother, no debaucher in suspicion
nor shrinking and fearful at the clash.
Nor chaste at the meeting of maidens
أَخٌa brother كانَused to يَكفينيmeet my needs وكانَand used to يُعينُنيhelp me
أَخٌ كانَ يَكفيني وكانَ يُعينُني
عَلىagainst النائِباتِcalamities السُودِthe black ones حينَwhen تَنوبُbefall
عَلى النائِباتِ السُودِ حينَ تَنوبُ
A brother who met my needs and helped me
A brother who was enough for me and who helped me
against black calamities when they befell.
Against black misfortunes when they take turns
حَليمٌforbearing إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle سَورَةُthe surge الجَهلِof rashness أَطلَقَتunfastened
حَليمٌ إِذا ما سَورَةُ الجَهلِ أَطلَقَت
حُبىknee-bands الشَيبِof gray-haired men لِلنَفسِover the soul اللَجوجِthe obstinate غَلوبُa master
حُبى الشَيبِ لِلنَفسِ اللَجوجِ غَلوبُ
Forbearing when a surge of rashness unfastened
Forbearing when the surah of ignorance recited
old men's knee-bands; master of the obstinate soul.
The necklaces of old age on the stubborn soul
هُوَhe العَسَلُthe honey الماذِيُّpure white حِلماًin forbearance وَشيمَةًand in character
هُوَ العَسَلُ الماذِيُّ حِلماً وَشيمَةً
وَلَيثٌand a lion إِذاwhen لاقىhe met العُداةَthe enemies قَطوبُscowling
وَلَيثٌ إِذا لاقى العُداةَ قَطوبُ
He was pure white honey in forbearance and character,
He's sweet honey in forbearance and manners
and a scowling lion when he met his enemies.
And a lion when meeting rebels
هَوَتmay she perish أُمُّهُhis mother ماwhat يَبعَثُsends forth الصُبحُthe dawn غادِياًgoing out early
هَوَت أُمُّهُ ما يَبعَثُ الصُبحُ غادِياً
وَماذاand what يَوَدُّdesires اللَيلُthe night حينَwhen يَؤوبُhe returns
وَماذا يَوَدُّ اللَيلُ حينَ يَؤوبُ
May his mother perish! What a man dawn sends forth,
His mother fell when the dawn rises
and what the night desires when he returns!
And what the night wants when it becomes dark
هَوَتmay she perish أُمُّهُhis mother ماذاwhat تَضَمَّنَhas enclosed قَبرُهُhis grave
هَوَت أُمُّهُ ماذا تَضَمَّنَ قَبرُهُ
مِنَof المَجدِglory وَالمَعروفِand kindness حينَwhen يَنوبُneed arises
مِنَ المَجدِ وَالمَعروفِ حينَ يَنوبُ
May his mother perish! What his grave has enclosed
His mother fell, what does his grave contain
of glory and kindness in times of need!
Of glory and kindness when it changes
فَتىًa young man أَريحِيٌّopen-handed كانَused to يَهتَزُّthrill لِلنَدىat giving
فَتىً أَريحِيٌّ كانَ يَهتَزُّ لِلنَدى
كَماjust as اِهتَزَّquivered مِنfrom ماءِthe sheen الحَديدِof iron قَضيبُa blade
كَما اِهتَزَّ مِن ماءِ الحَديدِ قَضيبُ
A generous youth who thrilled to giving,
A youth of 'Urahi whose virility shook for dew
as a blade quivers with the sheen of iron.
As the iron rod shook from water
كَعالِيَةِlike the upper shaft الرُمحِof the spear الرُدَينِيِّthe Rudayni لَمdid not يَكُنbe
كَعالِيَةِ الرُمحِ الرُدَينِيِّ لَم يَكُن
إِذاwhen اِبتَدَرَraced toward القَومُthe men العُلاءَeminence يَخيبُfail
إِذا اِبتَدَرَ القَومُ العُلاءَ يَخيبُ
Like the upper shaft of a Rudayni spear, he never
Like the spear point of the slim spear, he was not
failed when men raced toward eminence.
Disappointed when the people asked for the most high
أَخوa companion of سَنواتٍfamine years يَعلَمُknows الضَيفُthe guest أَنَّهُthat he
أَخو سَنواتٍ يَعلَمُ الضَيفُ أَنَّهُ
سَيُكثِرُwill make plentiful ماءًwater فيin إِناهُhis vessel يَطيبُtastes pleasant
سَيُكثِرُ ماءً في إِناهُ يَطيبُ
A friend in years of famine; the guest knows that he
A brother whose years, the guest knows
will fill his vessel with plentiful, pleasant-tasting water.
That he will pour plenty of water in his springs
حَبيبٌbeloved إِلىto الزُوّارِvisitors غِشيَانُvisiting بَيتِهِhis house
حَبيبٌ إِلى الزُوّارِ غِشيَانُ بَيتِهِ
جَميلُhandsome المُحَيّاof face شَبَّgrew up وَهوَwhile he was أَديبُwell-mannered
جَميلُ المُحَيّا شَبَّ وَهوَ أَديبُ
Visitors delighted in coming to his house;
Beloved to visitors, his home always filled
handsome of face, he grew up well-mannered.
Beautifully greeting while growing into a poet
إِذاwhen قَصَّرَتfell short أَيديthe hands الرِجالof men عَنِof العُلاeminence
إِذا قَصَّرَت أَيدي الرِجال عَنِ العُلا
تَناوَلَhe attained أَقصىthe utmost المَكرُماتِhonors كَسوبُa tireless achiever
تَناوَلَ أَقصى المَكرُماتِ كَسوبُ
When men's hands fell short of high honor,
When the hands of men fall short of high deeds
he attained the utmost honors, a tireless achiever.
Dhaw' takes up the furthest generous deeds
جموعُa gatherer خِلالِqualities الخَيرِof goodness مِنfrom كُلِّevery جانِبٍquarter
جموعُ خِلالِ الخَيرِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ
إِذاwhen حَلَّbefell مَكروهٌmisfortune بِهِنَّwith them ذَهوبُswift to go forth
إِذا حَلَّ مَكروهٌ بِهِنَّ ذَهوبُ
A gatherer of good qualities from every quarter,
He gathered all threads of goodness from every side
swift to go forth with them when misfortune struck.
When misfortune befell them, they were safe
مُفيدٌan acquirer of wealth لِمَلقىat the finding of الفائِداتِgains مُعاوِدٌever returning
مُفيدٌ لِمَلقى الفائِداتِ مُعاوِدٌ
لِفِعلِto doing النَدىgenerosity وَالمَكرُماتِand noble deeds نَدوبُready when called
لِفِعلِ النَدى وَالمَكرُماتِ نَدوبُ
An acquirer of wealth wherever gains were found, ever returning
Beneficial in finding benefits, repeating
to generosity and noble deeds, ready when summoned.
Acts of help and generosity are his scars
وَداعٍand a caller دعاcalled هَلis there مَنanyone who يُجيبُresponds إِلىto النَدىgenerosity
وَداعٍ دعا هَل مَن يُجيبُ إِلى النَدى
فَلَمbut did not يَستَجِبهُanswer him عِندَat ذاكَthat time مُجيبُa respondent
فَلَم يَستَجِبهُ عِندَ ذاكَ مُجيبُ
A caller called, “Will anyone answer the summons to giving?”
A supplicant supplicating, is there anyone responding to help
But no one answered him at that time.
But then there was no respondent
فَقُلتُso I said اِدعُcall أُخرىonce more وَاِرفَعِand raise الصَوتَthe voice جَهرةًaloud
فَقُلتُ اِدعُ أُخرى وَاِرفَعِ الصَوتَ جَهرةً
لَعَلَّperhaps أَباAbu المِغوارِal-Mighwar مِنكَfrom you قَريبُnear
لَعَلَّ أَبا المِغوارِ مِنكَ قَريبُ
So I said, “Call again and raise your voice aloud;
So I said, supplicate again and raise your voice aloud
perhaps Abu al-Mighwar is close to you.
Perhaps Abu Mighwar is near you
يُجِبكَhe will answer you كَماas قَدindeed كانَhe used to يَفعَلُdo إِنَّهُindeed he
يُجِبكَ كَما قَد كانَ يَفعَلُ إِنَّهُ
بِأَمثالِهاin things like it رَحبُample الذِراعِof arm أَريبُdiscerning
بِأَمثالِها رَحبُ الذِراعِ أَريبُ
He will answer you as he used to do; indeed,
He will answer you as he used to do, he
in such matters he is open-handed and discerning.”
Of wide arms was quicker to respond
أَتاكَhe came to you سَريعاًswiftly وَاِستَجابَand responded إِلىto النَدىgenerosity
أَتاكَ سَريعاً وَاِستَجابَ إِلى النَدى
كَذالِكَlikewise قَبلَbefore اليَومِtoday كانَhe used to يُجيبُanswer
كَذالِكَ قَبلَ اليَومِ كانَ يُجيبُ
He came to you swiftly and answered generosity's call;
He came to you swiftly and responded to help
so he used to answer before this day.
That's how he used to respond before today
كَأَنَّهُas though he لَمdid not يَدعُcall for السَوابِحُswift coursers مَرَّةًonce
كَأَنَّهُ لَم يَدعُ السَوابِحُ مَرَّةً
إِذاwhen اِبتَدَرَrushed toward الخَيلَthe horses الرِجالُthe men نَجيبُa noble man
إِذا اِبتَدَرَ الخَيلَ الرِجالُ نَجيبُ
As though he had never once called for swift coursers,
As if the swimming horses never stopped
a noble man, when men rushed toward their mounts.
When the men harnessed the excellent horses
فَتىًa young man لاdoes not يُباليcare أَنthat تَكونَthere be بِجِسمِهِin his body
فَتىً لا يُبالي أَن تَكونَ بِجِسمِهِ
إِذاwhen حالَchanged حالاتُthe circumstances الرِجالِof men شُحوبُpallor
إِذا حالَ حالاتُ الرِجالِ شُحوبُ
A youth who did not mind if his body showed
A man who did not care if his body
pallor when men's circumstances changed.
Became pale when the conditions of men became bleak
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَراءىappeared لِلرِجالِbefore men رَأَيتَهُyou saw him
إِذا ما تَراءى لِلرِجالِ رَأَيتَهُ
فَلَمand did not يَنطِقواthey utter اللَغواءَidle talk وَهوَwhile he قَريبُnear
فَلَم يَنطِقوا اللَغواءَ وَهوَ قَريبُ
When he appeared before men, you saw him,
When he appeared to men, you saw him
and they spoke no idle talk while he was near.
And they did not babble while he was near
عَلىat خَيرِthe best ماthat كانَwere الرِجالُmen رَأَيتُهُI saw him
عَلى خَيرِ ما كانَ الرِجالُ رَأَيتُهُ
وَماand not الخَيرُgoodness إِلّاexcept طُعمَةٌan allotted portion وَنَصيبُand a share
وَما الخَيرُ إِلّا طُعمَةٌ وَنَصيبُ
I saw him at the best that men could be;
I saw him in the best state of men
and goodness is but an allotted portion and share.
And the best is nothing but pleasure and fortune
حَليِفُan ally النَدىof generosity يَدعوcalls النَدىgenerosity فَيُجيبُهُso it answers him
حَليِفُ النَدى يَدعو النَدى فَيُجيبُهُ
سَريعاًswiftly وَيَدعوهُand it calls him النَدىgenerosity فَيُجيبُso he answers
سَريعاً وَيَدعوهُ النَدى فَيُجيبُ
An ally of generosity: he calls it, and it answers him
An ally of help, he calls help, it answers him
swiftly; generosity calls him, and he answers.
Quickly, and help calls him, he answers
غِياثٌa rescuer لِعانٍfor a captive لَمdid not يَجِدfind مَنanyone who يُغيثُهُrescues him
غِياثٌ لِعانٍ لَم يَجِد مَن يُغيثُهُ
وَمُختَبِطٍand a seeker of aid يَغشىapproaches الدُخانَthe smoke غَريبُa stranger
وَمُختَبِطٍ يَغشى الدُخانَ غَريبُ
A rescuer of a captive who finds no one to rescue him,
A savior for someone helpless who found none to save him
and of a stranger seeking aid who approaches the smoke.
And a choked man, smoke surrounds the stranger
عَظيمُgreat رَمادِthe ash النارِof the fire رَحبٌspacious فِناؤُهُhis courtyard
عَظيمُ رَمادِ النارِ رَحبٌ فِناؤُهُ
غِلىunclear; probably 'on' سَنَدٍa slope لَمdid not تَحتَجِبهُconceal him عُيوبُfaults
غِلى سَنَدٍ لَم تَحتَجِبهُ عُيوبُ
Great was the ash of his fire, spacious his courtyard,
Great embers, his abode is wide
[On] a slope, with no faults to conceal him.
Heated sand no defects hid
يَبيتُspends the night النَدىgenerosity ياO أُمَّmother of عَمرٍʿAmr ضَجيعَةُa bedmate
يَبيتُ النَدى يا أُمَّ عَمرٍ ضَجيعَةُ
إِذاwhen لَمnot يَكُنthere is فيamong المُنقِياتِfat, marrow-rich camels حَلوبُa milk-giver
إِذا لَم يَكُن في المُنقِياتِ حَلوبُ
Generosity is his bedmate at night, O Umm ʿAmr,
Help sleeps, o mother of 'Amr, the bedding
when among the well-fattened camels none gives milk.
If the pure were not few
حَليمٌforbearing إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الحِلمُforbearance زَيَّنَadorns أَهلَهُits possessors
حَليمٌ إِذا ما الحِلمُ زَيَّنَ أَهلَهُ
مَعَwith الحِلمِforbearance فيin عَينِthe eye العَدُوِّof the enemy مهيبُawe-inspiring
مَعَ الحِلمِ في عَينِ العَدُوِّ مهيبُ
Forbearing when forbearance adorns those who possess it,
Forbearing when forbearance adorns its people
yet with his forbearance, imposing in his enemy's eye.
With forbearance, fearful in the enemy's eyes
مُعَنّىًafflicted by hardship إِذاwhen عادىmade enemies of الرِجالَmen عَداوَةًin enmity
مُعَنّىً إِذا عادى الرِجالَ عَداوَةً
بَعيداًfar-reaching إِذاwhen عادىmade enemies of الرِجالَmen رَهيبُfearsome
بَعيداً إِذا عادى الرِجالَ رَهيبُ
Tried by hardship when he met men in enmity,
Hurt when he hurts men out of enmity
far-reaching and fearsome when he made men his foes.
Feared when he opposes men out of enmity
غَنيناwe lived بِخَيرٍin prosperity حِقبَةًfor a time ثُمَّthen جَلَّحَتshe attacked fiercely
غَنينا بِخَيرٍ حِقبَةً ثُمَّ جَلَّحَت
عَلَيناagainst us الَّتيshe who كُلَّall الأَنامِcreatures تُصيبُstrikes
عَلَينا الَّتي كُلَّ الأَنامِ تُصيبُ
We lived in prosperity for a time; then she attacked fiercely
He enriched us with goodness for a period then fate
against us—she who strikes all creatures.
Struck us, the fate that strikes all people
فَأَبقَتso she left قَليلاًa few ذاهِباًdeparting وَتَجَهَّزَتand made ready
فَأَبقَت قَليلاً ذاهِباً وَتَجَهَّزَت
لِآخَرَfor another وَالراجيand one hoping for الحَياةَlife كذوبُa liar
لِآخَرَ وَالراجي الحَياةَ كذوبُ
She left but a few, destined to depart, and made ready
It left little, leaving, and prepared
for another; whoever hopes for life tells himself lies.
For another, and hoping for life is false
وَأَعلَمُand I know أَنّthat الباقِيَthe remaining one الحَيَّalive مِنهُمُamong them
وَأَعلَمُ أَنّ الباقِيَ الحَيَّ مِنهُمُ
إِلىuntil أَجَلٍan appointed term أَقصىthe furthest مَداهُits span قَريبُnear
إِلى أَجَلٍ أَقصى مَداهُ قَريبُ
And I know that whoever among them remains alive
And I know whoever survives of them
lasts until a term whose furthest limit is near.
His farthest extent is near
لَقَدindeed أَفسَدَhas spoiled الموتdeath الحَياةَlife وَقَدand already أَتىhas come
لَقَد أَفسَدَ الموت الحَياةَ وَقَد أَتى
عَلىto يَومِهِhis appointed day عِلقٌa precious one عَلَيَّtoward me جَنيبُgentle and compliant
عَلى يَومِهِ عِلقٌ عَلَيَّ جَنيبُ
Death has indeed spoiled life, and there has come
As if Abu Mighwar did not fulfill a covenant
to his appointed day a precious one, gentle toward me.
When the invaders ambushed the people as a watcher
أَتىcame دونَbetween me and حُلوِthe sweetness العَيشِof life حَتّىuntil أَمَرَّهُmade it bitter
أَتى دونَ حُلوِ العَيشِ حَتّى أَمَرَّهُ
نَكوبٌcalamities عَلىupon آثارِهِنَّtheir tracks نُكوبُcalamities
نَكوبٌ عَلى آثارِهِنَّ نُكوبُ
It came between me and life's sweetness until it turned it bitter:
And left no noble youth for an unlucky person
calamities, with calamities following in their tracks.
When the winds of winter blew strong
فَإِنso if تَكُنِwere الأَيّامُthe days أَحسَنَّacted kindly مَرَّةًonce
فَإِن تَكُنِ الأَيّامُ أَحسَنَّ مَرَّةً
إِلَيَّto me فَقَدthen indeed عادَتreturned لَهُنَّbelonging to them ذُنوبُwrongs
إِلَيَّ فَقَد عادَت لَهُنَّ ذُنوبُ
If the days were once kind
If one who was absent turns away or lags
to me, their wrongs have returned.
That is enough from them, and the person at fault prospers
كَأَنَّas though أَباAbu المِغوارِal-Mighwar لَمhad not يوفِclimbed مَرقباًa lookout
كَأَنَّ أَبا المِغوارِ لَم يوفِ مَرقباً
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رَباstood above القَومَthe men الغُزاةَthe raiders رَقيبُa scout
إِذا ما رَبا القَومَ الغُزاةَ رَقيبُ
As though Abu al-Mighwar had never climbed a lookout,
As if Abu Mighwar of glory, the desert did not lure him
when a scout stood above the raiding men.
When the houses were empty due to isolation
وَلَمand did not يَدعُsummon فِتياناًyoung men كِراماًnoble لِمَيسِرٍto a game of lots
وَلَم يَدعُ فِتياناً كِراماً لِمَيسِرٍ
إِذاwhen اِشتَدَّgrew strong مِنfrom ريحِthe wind الشِتاءِof winter هُبوبُa blast
إِذا اِشتَدَّ مِن ريحِ الشِتاءِ هُبوبُ
Nor summoned noble youths to a game of lots,
A deserted encampment where if its sand is removed
when winter's wind blew hard.
Scars appear atop their scars
فَإِنso if غابَwas absent عَنّاfrom us غائِبٌsomeone absent أَوor تَخاذَلوthey failed one another
فَإِن غابَ عَنّا غائِبٌ أَو تَخاذَلو
كَفىhe made up for ذاكَthat مِنهُمfrom among them وَالجَنابُand the homestead خَصيبُfertile
كَفى ذاكَ مِنهُم وَالجَنابُ خَصيبُ
If one of us was absent, or they failed one another,
And I cry for him, and I am truthful
he made up for them, and the homestead was fertile.
About him, and some sayers are liars
كَأَنَّas though أَباAbu المِغوارِal-Mighwar ذاpossessing المَجدِglory لمhad not تجبtraversed
كَأَنَّ أَبا المِغوارِ ذا المَجدِ لم تجب
بِهِwith him البيدَthe deserts عيسٌpale camels بِالفَلاةِin the wilderness جَيوبُever cleaving
بِهِ البيدَ عيسٌ بِالفَلاةِ جَيوبُ
As though glorious Abu al-Mighwar had never been carried
The young man of war, when it came, its sky
across the deserts by pale camels that cleave the wilderness.
And the splitter of firewood on a trip, the generous hands
عَلاةٌa sturdy she-camel تَرىyou see فيهاon her إِذاwhen حُطَّwas removed رَملُهاher sand
عَلاةٌ تَرى فيها إِذا حُطَّ رَملُها
نُدوباًscars عَلىupon آثارِهِنَّtheir traces نُدوبُscars
نُدوباً عَلى آثارِهِنَّ نُدوبُ
A sturdy she-camel: when the sand on her is removed, you see
You comforted me saying death is only in towns
scars, with scars over their traces.
How so when this is a plateau and dunes?
وَإِنّيand I indeed لَباكيهِsurely weep for him وَإِنّيand I indeed لَصادِقٌam surely sincere
وَإِنّي لَباكيهِ وَإِنّي لَصادِقٌ
عَلَيهِabout him وَبَعضُand some القائِلينَof those who speak كَذوبُare liars
عَلَيهِ وَبَعضُ القائِلينَ كَذوبُ
I do indeed weep for him, and I am sincere
The water of a sky that was not stagnant
about him, though some who speak are liars.
In the desert flowing over it are the winds
فَتىa young champion الحَربِof war إِنif جارَتturns cruel كَأَنَّas though سَماءَهاits sky
فَتى الحَربِ إِن جارَت كَأَنَّ سَماءَها
وَفيand on السَفرِjourneys مِفضالُgenerous اليَدَينِwith both hands وَهوبُa lavish giver
وَفي السَفرِ مِفضالُ اليَدَينِ وَهوبُ
A young champion of war when it turns cruel, as though its sky...
His home is in the abode of truth and bliss
and on journeys, generous with both hands, a lavish giver.
No doctor found fault in his sayings
وَحَدَّثتُمانيand you two told me إِنَّماonly المَوتُdeath فيin القِرىvillages
وَحَدَّثتُماني إِنَّما المَوتُ في القِرى
فَكَيفَthen how وَهَذيِwhile here is هَضبَةٌa hill وَكَثيبُand a sand dune
فَكَيفَ وَهَذيِ هَضبَةٌ وَكَثيبُ
You two told me, “Death is only in villages”;
If the world was for sale I would buy him
then how, when here are a hill and a sand dune?
For with him souls became fragrant
وَماءُand water سَماءٍfrom the sky كانwas غَيرَnot مَجَمَّةٍa stagnant pool
وَماءُ سَماءٍ كان غَيرَ مَجَمَّةٍ
بِبادِيَةٍin open desert تَجريblows عَلَيهِover it جَنوبُa south wind
بِبادِيَةٍ تَجري عَلَيهِ جَنوبُ
And water from the sky, no stagnant pool,
With my eyes or right hand, and it was said to me
in the open desert, over which a south wind blows.
He is the winner on the day he returns
وَمَنزِلُهُand his dwelling فيin دارِa home صِدقٍof goodness وَغِبطَةٍand contentment
وَمَنزِلُهُ في دارِ صِدقٍ وَغِبطَةٍ
وَماand did not قالَpronounce منany حُكمٍjudgment عَلَيهِon him طَبيبُa physician
وَما قالَ من حُكمٍ عَلَيهِ طَبيبُ
His dwelling was in a home of goodness and contentment,
By my life just as the remote when gone
and no physician had pronounced any verdict upon him.
What comes tomorrow is near
فَلَوso if كانَتِwere الدُنياthe world تُباعُfor sale اِشتَرَيتُهُI would buy him
فَلَو كانَتِ الدُنيا تُباعُ اِشتَرَيتُهُ
بِهاwith it إِذfor بِهِthrough him كانَwere النُفوسُsouls تَطيبُgladdened
بِها إِذ بِهِ كانَ النُفوسُ تَطيبُ
Had the world been for sale, I would have bought him
And my hopes to meet the hopeful
with it, for through him souls found joy;
Though its tracks branched from meeting me
بِعَينَيَّwith my two eyes أَوor يُمنىthe right one of يَدَيَّmy two hands وَقيلَand it was said ليto me
بِعَينَيَّ أَو يُمنى يَدَيَّ وَقيلَ لي
هُوَhe الغانِمُthe winner الجَذلانُthe joyful يَومَon the day يَؤوبُhe returns
هُوَ الغانِمُ الجَذلانُ يَومَ يَؤوبُ
with my two eyes or my right hand; and I was told,
Like Dahil's supplication forever burdened
“He is the winner, joyful on the day he returns.”
And he has no respondent even til death
لَعَمريby my life كَماjust as أَنّthat البَعيدَthe distant لَماindeed what مَضىhas passed
لَعَمري كَما أَنّ البَعيدَ لَما مَضى
فَإِنَّso indeed الَّذيwhat يَأتيcomes غَداًtomorrow لَقَريبُis surely near
فَإِنَّ الَّذي يَأتي غَداً لَقَريبُ
By my life, just as what is distant is what has passed,
By God I do not forget him since the rising of dawn
so what comes tomorrow is surely near.
And whatever iron spearhead shook
وَإِنّيand I وَتَأميليand my hope of لِقاءَmeeting مُؤَمَّلٍone longed for
وَإِنّي وَتَأميلي لِقاءَ مُؤَمَّلٍ
وَقَدalthough already شَعَبَتهُhas parted him عَنfrom لِقايmeeting me شَعوبُDeath the Sunderer
وَقَد شَعَبَتهُ عَن لِقاي شَعوبُ
And I, with my hope of meeting one I long for,
I long to meet him though crowds
though Death the Sunderer has parted him from meeting me,
Have come between me and that meeting
كَداعيlike the caller of هُذَيلٍHudhayl لاnot يَزالُceases مُكَلَّفاًconsumed with longing
كَداعي هُذَيلٍ لا يَزالُ مُكَلَّفاً
وَلَيسَand there is no لَهُfor him حَتّىuntil المَماتِdeath مُجيبُan answerer
وَلَيسَ لَهُ حَتّى المَماتِ مُجيبُ
am like the caller of Hudhayl, ever consumed by longing,
Like one who supplicates to Hudhayl but has
with none to answer him until death.
No respondent even until death
فَوَاللَهِso by God لاnot أَنساهُI forget him ماas long as ذَرَّrises شارِقٌa rising sun
فَوَاللَهِ لا أَنساهُ ما ذَرَّ شارِقٌ
وَماand as long as اِهتَزَّsways مِنfrom فَرقِthe forks الأَراكِof the arak tree قَضيبُa branch
وَما اِهتَزَّ مِن فَرقِ الأَراكِ قَضيبُ
By God, I shall not forget him as long as a sun rises,
and as long as a branch sways in the arak tree's forks.
Partial English translation: 110 of 112 Arabic lines translated.