بكَرتْthey set out at dawn هِيماthirsting تحِلُّloosening الرُّبُطاthe tethers
بكَرتْ هِيما تحِلُّ الرُّبُطا
تملِكُthey claim الماءَthe water علىahead of سربِa flock of القطاsandgrouse
تملِكُ الماءَ على سربِ القطا
At dawn they set out thirsting, loosening their tethers,
Early dawn unravels the knots,
to claim the water ahead of a flock of sandgrouse.
It reigns over water and flock of wild ducks,
تحسَبyou would think الأخفافَthe camel-hooves فيon أجنحةٍwings
تحسَب الأخفافَ في أجنحةٍ
طرنَthat have flown والجرجارَand the rumbling منهاfrom them اللغَطاthe clamor
طرنَ والجرجارَ منها اللغَطا
You would think their hooves were borne on wings
It counts the hooves in the wings,
in flight, and their rumbling was the birds’ clamor.
While the francolin and creek make noise.
كلّeach هوجاءheadlong she-camel ترىyou see فيin حبلهاher neck
كلّ هوجاء ترى في حبلها
منof أبانٍAban منكباًa shoulder منخرِطاtapering
من أبانٍ منكباً منخرِطا
Each headlong she-camel shows in her neck
Every wild animal you see in its trap,
a tapering shoulder of Aban.
With a humpback from weakness and submission.
تصفyou describe المعقولَthe hobbled one منهاamong them مارداًas a giant
تصف المعقولَ منها مارداً
غُلَّshackled والناشطَand the released one سهماًas an arrow مَرَطاunfeathered
غُلَّ والناشطَ سهماً مَرَطا
You would call their hobbled one a giant,
It describes the untamable one like a savage,
shackled, and their freed one an unfeathered arrow.
And the active one as a swift arrow.
ماscarcely رأتsaw جزْعَthe valley of أشيٍّUshayy خُوصُهاtheir narrow eyes
ما رأت جزْعَ أشيٍّ خُوصُها
فرأتwhen it found كفٌّa hand لعُنْقٍon a neck مَضبَطاa firm grip
فرأت كفٌّ لعُنْقٍ مَضبَطا
Their narrow eyes had scarcely sighted Ushayy’s valley
She did not see any weak gazelle without its neck tied,
when a hand found a hold upon a neck.
And any hand without shackles.
ظمأa thirst لاnot يتبغِّينthey seek لهfor it
ظمأ لا يتبغِّين له
مُشتَكىًan outlet for complaint إلاexcept وسيعاتِfar-reaching الخُطاstrides
مُشتَكىً إلا وسيعاتِ الخُطا
A thirst for which they seek
Thirst that does not seek
no relief but far-reaching strides.
Any blame, but wide pastures.
فانهَso restrain ياO حابَسهاyou who hold them back فضلَthe excess of العصاthe rod
فانهَ يا حابَسها فضلَ العصا
إنماonly تأمرyou command أمراًa command شطَطاbeyond bounds
إنما تأمر أمراً شطَطا
So check the rod’s excess, you who hold them back;
So O you who detains it, exceeding the stick is mistake,
your command is beyond all bounds.
And about the water you came for,
وعلىand at الماءthe water الذيwhich جئتyou came لهfor
وعلى الماء الذي جئت له
كلّeach جمِّabundant in الأخذtaking منزورِmeager in العطاgiving
كلّ جمِّ الأخذ منزورِ العطا
At the water for which you have come
All the taking in abundance is miserable.
is one who takes lavishly and gives sparingly.
It prevents the highland you cannot access,
يمنعhe denies الرشفةَa sip لاnot ترزأهُit diminishes him
يمنع الرشفةَ لا ترزأهُ
ويفرّيand he cuts down باللحاظwith glances النَبطاthe Nabataeans
ويفرّي باللحاظ النَبطا
He denies a sip that would cost him nothing,
And flees the plateau in difficulty.
and cuts down the Nabataeans with his glances.
With cool saliva, if it passed, it irrigated,
باردcool الريقof saliva إذاwhen مرَّhe passes سقىhe quenches thirst
بارد الريق إذا مرَّ سقى
مرهفkeen الجفنof eyelid إذاwhen همّhe intends سطاhe strikes
مرهف الجفن إذا همّ سطا
Cool of saliva, he quenches thirst when he passes;
With delicate eyelid, if it intended, it quenched thirst.
sharp of eyelid, he strikes when he wills.
O branches of acacia from Wadi Al-Ghadaa,
ياO فروعboughs of البانthe ban trees منfrom واديthe valley of الغضاal-Ghada
يا فروع البان من وادي الغضا
زادكنّmay He add to you اللّهGod بيin me مختبطاa branch-beater; bounty-seeker
زادكنّ اللّه بي مختبطا
O ban-tree boughs from Wadi al-Ghada,
May God increase you in my community.
may God add me to those who seek your bounty.
I came to you where the deer approached
أجتنيI gather fruit حيثwhere اجتنَىgathered fruit الظبيُthe gazelle العِراIra— (beginning of ‘Iraqi’)
أجتني حيث اجتنَى الظبيُ العِرا
قيّ—qi (completion of ‘Iraqi’) أوor أعطىI am granted المنىmy desires حيثُwhere عَطاit reached up to browse
قيّ أو أعطى المنى حيثُ عَطا
I gather where the Iraqi gazelle gathered,
Either a terrain it climbed or plateau it descended.
or receive my desires where it reached up to browse.
My tears irrigated otherwise life,
وسقىand may water الدمعُtears وإلاor failing that فالحياthen rain
وسقى الدمعُ وإلا فالحيا
ذلكthat الملعبَplace of play والمختلطاand mingling-place
ذلك الملعبَ والمختلطا
May tears—or, failing them, rain—water
Is that playground and intermingled place.
that place of play and mingling.
Oh! How many glances at you
آهِah كمhow many فيكنّamong you ليfor me منa نظرةٍglance
آهِ كم فيكنّ لي من نظرةٍ
قتلتْit killed عمداًdeliberately وكانتand it was غلطاa mistake
قتلتْ عمداً وكانت غلطا
Ah, how many a glance among you was mine
Killed me intentionally while it was a mistake.
that killed deliberately, though itself a mistake!
And a heart I always cast
وفؤادٍand a heart أبداًforever أرميI cast بهit
وفؤادٍ أبداً أرمي به
لعيونٍbefore eyes تستقلُّthat deem meager اللُّقطاthe pickings
لعيونٍ تستقلُّ اللُّقطا
And a heart I forever cast
At eyes that can endure separation.
before eyes that find the pickings paltry.
And a bed that playfulness furnished,
ومَقيلٍand a noon resting-place فرَشَspread اللهوُpleasure بهthere
ومَقيلٍ فرَشَ اللهوُ به
فوقكنّabove you الأُزْرَthe wraps ليfor me والرَّيَطاand fine cloths
فوقكنّ الأُزْرَ لي والرَّيَطا
And a noon resting-place where pleasure spread
Above you, while the pillow and mattress were mine.
wraps and fine cloths above you for me.
I wish time would bring back
زمنa time ليتwould that المنىwishes تَرجِعُهُcould restore it
زمن ليت المنى تَرجِعُهُ
لوif بِلَيتٍby ‘would that’ رُدَّwere restored عيشٌa life فَرَطاgone by
لو بِلَيتٍ رُدَّ عيشٌ فَرَطا
A time—would that wishes could restore it,
That purpose even with some fatigue.
if ‘would that’ could restore a life gone by!
Everyday I wish for a passion
كلeach يومday أتمنَّىI long for وطراًa pleasure
كل يوم أتمنَّى وطراً
لمnot أكنI was أمسِyesterday بهwith it مغتبطاdelighted
لم أكن أمسِ به مغتبطا
Each day I long for a pleasure
I did not have yesterday and was not content.
that yesterday I did not cherish.
I complain of the future to the past, and neither
أشتكيI complain of الآتيthe coming time إلىto الماضيthe past ولاand not
أشتكي الآتي إلى الماضي ولا
يعدَمlacks الأقربُthe nearer time ليfor me ماwhat شحطاhas receded
يعدَم الأقربُ لي ما شحطا
I complain of the coming time to the past, and
The closest to me misses what it extracted.
the nearer time never lacks, for me, what has receded.
Tell the white lady whose love grew in me
قلsay لبيضاءَto a white lock توسّعتْthat has spread بهاthere
قل لبيضاءَ توسّعتْ بها
قدindeed تلثَّمتُكِI have veiled myself with you صِلّاًa viper أرقطاspeckled
قد تلثَّمتُكِ صِلّاً أرقطا
Say to a white lock that has spread there:
I have kissed your outskirts frequently.
‘I have wrapped myself in you, a speckled viper.
You were but a sword placed in
إنماonly كنتِyou were حساماًa sharp sword حُطّlaid فيupon
إنما كنتِ حساماً حُطّ في
مَفرِقيmy hair’s parting واسمكِand your name شيبٌgray hair وخَطَاthat has streaked the hair
مَفرِقي واسمكِ شيبٌ وخَطَا
You were only a sword laid upon
My head, your name is old age and lines.
my hair’s parting, though named merely streaking gray.’
The gleam disavowed in it a spark
أنكرrejected الطُّراقُthe night visitors منهfrom it قبساًa firebrand
أنكر الطُّراقُ منه قبساً
أعلقkindled النارَthe fire بهin it منthe one who سَلَطاimposed it
أعلق النارَ به من سَلَطا
Night visitors rejected its firebrand,
I suspended the fire with it out of capacity.
where the one who imposed it had kindled flame.
And the messengers of the eyes kept in touch
وتواصتand counseled one another رسلُthe messengers of الألحاظِglances منfrom
وتواصت رسلُ الألحاظِ من
قبلbefore أنthat تبلغَهthey reach it أنto يسقطاfall short
قبل أن تبلغَه أن يسقطا
The messengers of glances warned one another
Before it reached the ground and fell.
to fall short before they could reach it.
I stood in the love club eulogizing it
قمتُI rose فيin ناديthe assembly of الهوىlove أندبُهlamenting it
قمتُ في نادي الهوى أندبُه
شَعَراًhair صارthat became برغميagainst my will شَمَطاmingled gray
شَعَراً صار برغمي شَمَطا
I rose in love’s assembly to lament it—
With poetry that against my will became fragmented.
hair that had turned gray against my will.
If it seemed lowly, wasted,
ولئنand even if هانit became despised ضعيفاًweak ذاوياًwithered
ولئن هان ضعيفاً ذاوياً
فبماyet how often عزّit was prized دهيناًoiled قَطَطَاtightly curled
فبما عزّ دهيناً قَطَطَا
Though now despised, weak and withered,
With what was dear became base and shattered.
it was once so prized, oiled and tightly curled.
While my friend sleeps, in his eyelids
وأخand a companion والنومwith sleep فيin أجفانهhis eyelids
وأخ والنوم في أجفانه
نحلةٌa bee شنّواthey unleashed عليهاagainst it المأقِطاbattle
نحلةٌ شنّوا عليها المأقِطا
And a companion, sleep in his eyelids
A bee stung it with repeated piercing stings
a bee against which they had unleashed battle.
Of the night remains on it
ومنand of الليلthe night عليهupon him فضلةa remnant
ومن الليل عليه فضلة
ميسمُthe branding iron of الصبحmorning بهاupon it ماnot علطاhad marked
ميسمُ الصبح بها ما علطا
A remnant of night still lay upon him,
Dawn that did not dress it with darkness.
unmarked by morning’s branding iron.
The lines of the horizon have crowned it
وسطورُand the lines of الأفقthe horizon قدhad جلَّلهاcovered them
وسطورُ الأفق قد جلَّلها
أزرقُthe blue of الفجرِdawn فعادتso they became نُقَطاdots
أزرقُ الفجرِ فعادت نُقَطا
The lines of the horizon had been covered
With the blue of dawn, so it became dots.
by dawn’s blue, becoming dots.
And Pleiades in the darkness of night
والثرياand the Pleiades فيin مآخيرthe final reaches of الدجىdarkness
والثريا في مآخير الدجى
هامةٌa head شمطاءُgrizzled غَلَّتْthat tucked in مُشُطاcombs
هامةٌ شمطاءُ غَلَّتْ مُشُطا
The Pleiades, in the last reaches of darkness,
Worried, messy-haired, and combed.
were a grizzled head with combs tucked into it.
I said get up, the supremacy despaired of us,
قلتI said قمrise قدalready يئستْhas despaired منّاof us العلاgreatness
قلت قم قد يئستْ منّا العلا
فتمطّىso he stretched يُوسدُpillowing الكفَّhis palm المَطَاupon his back
فتمطّى يُوسدُ الكفَّ المَطَا
I said, ‘Rise! Greatness has despaired of us.’
So he got up, pillowing the palm that strokes.
He stretched, pillowing his palm upon his back,
Shaking laziness from his shoulders,
ينفضshaking off الونيةَlanguor عنfrom أعطافهhis limbs
ينفض الونيةَ عن أعطافه
منفضlike the shaking of المعقولa hobbled camel لاقىthat finds مَنشَطاrelease
منفض المعقول لاقى مَنشَطا
shaking languor from his limbs
Like shaking reason, he met vitality.
like a hobbled camel finding release.
Then he said, seek for it our purpose,
ثمthen قالhe said اطلبseek بناwith us غاياتهاits utmost heights
ثم قال اطلب بنا غاياتها
وتقحَّمهاand plunge into it مَخيضاًchurned; tested مُورِطاbraving peril
وتقحَّمها مَخيضاً مُورِطا
Then he said, ‘Seek with us greatness’s utmost heights,
And breach it strongly with piercing intensity.
and plunge into it through turmoil and peril.
We are bored of people, so ignore them
قدindeed مللناwe have wearied of الناسَpeople فاصفحso turn aside عنهُمُfrom them
قد مللنا الناسَ فاصفح عنهُمُ
عرْضَthe expanse of هذاthis الملإthrong المنبسطاspread wide
عرْضَ هذا الملإ المنبسطا
We have wearied of people; turn away from them,
The expanse of these crowds on the plateau.
from this throng’s sprawling expanse.
Do not fall on them except by heads,
لاnot تقعْalight upon إلاexcept رؤوساًheads; leaders فيهُمُamong them
لا تقعْ إلا رؤوساً فيهُمُ
دعleave ذناباهاits tails لهمto them والوسَطاand the middle
دع ذناباها لهم والوسَطا
Alight only upon their heads;
Leave their tails for them and the waist.
leave them the tails and the middle.’
So we influenced it, my two firm friends
فأثرناهاso we stirred them on رفيقَيْtwo companions عزمةٍin a resolve
فأثرناها رفيقَيْ عزمةٍ
شاكلتْthat made alike بينهماthe two of them فاختلطاso the two united
شاكلتْ بينهما فاختلطا
So we stirred them on, two companions in a resolve
Resembling between traveling and mingling.
that made them alike and bound them together.
We take the highest of the roads of supremacy
نأخذُwe take الأرفعَthe highest منof طُرْقthe roads to العلاgreatness
نأخذُ الأرفعَ من طُرْق العلا
ونعدِّيand we bypass المنحنىthe bend والمهبِطاand the downward slope
ونعدِّي المنحنى والمهبِطا
We take the highest roads to greatness
And avoid the bend and the descending path.
and pass by the bends and downward slopes.
Until we arrived, and the supremacy did not submit
فوصلناso we arrived والعلاwhile greatness لمnot تختضعْwas humbled
فوصلنا والعلا لم تختضعْ
باعتسافby rough force والذّرَىand the summits لمnot تُلتَطاwere pressed low
باعتساف والذّرَى لم تُلتَطا
So we arrived, greatness not brought low
To weakness, and the crops were not intertwined.
by rough force, nor its summits made to crouch.
We repel betrayal moistened and sated,
نرِدُwe come to drink at الغُدرَthe pools زُلالاًlimpid شَبِماًcold
نرِدُ الغُدرَ زُلالاً شَبِماً
ونفيءand we take shelter in المجدَglory ظلّاًas shade سبطاbroadly spread
ونفيء المجدَ ظلّاً سبطا
We come to pools of limpid, chilly water
And restore glory a shaded stream.
and shelter in glory’s broad, unbroken shade.
While the land is green, not wearing
والثرىand the soil أخضرis green لاnot يلبسهclothes it
والثرى أخضر لا يلبسه
جِلدةَin the hide of الشهباءِgray barrenness عامٌa year قُحِطاstricken by drought
جِلدةَ الشهباءِ عامٌ قُحِطا
The soil is green; no year can clothe it
The skin of the gray, in a year of drought.
in the gray hide of barrenness through drought.
When the blind woman covers her face from you,
وإذاand when العوراءshameful conduct غطّتْcovers وجههاits face
وإذا العوراء غطّتْ وجهها
عنكfrom you لمnot تُلقِyou place علىover المالwealth غِطاa covering
عنك لم تُلقِ على المال غِطا
When shameful conduct covers its face
You will not find on the money a substitute.
from you, you lay no covering over your wealth.
It is nothing but an eyelet lashing
ليسthere is nothing إلاexcept جفنةًa serving-bowl فهَّاقةbrimming
ليس إلا جفنةً فهَّاقة
للقِرىfor hospitality أوor بازلاًa mature camel معتَبَطاslain while healthy
للقِرى أو بازلاً معتَبَطا
There is only a brimming serving-bowl
Again the villages or a contemptible palace.
for guests, or a mature camel slain while sound.
Rushes that reveal the darkness, and imaginations
غررٌradiant deeds تجلوthat dispel الدياجيthe darknesses ولُهىand gifts
غررٌ تجلو الدياجي ولُهى
يتفرَّجنَthat relieve الخطوبcalamities الضُّغَّطاcrushing
يتفرَّجنَ الخطوب الضُّغَّطا
Radiant deeds dispel the darkness, and gifts
That beholders enjoy when in hardship.
relieve crushing calamities.
Good acacias bending with youth,
نِعمَhow fine are باناتُban trees صَباًof the east wind مطلولةٌdew-sprinkled
نِعمَ باناتُ صَباً مطلولةٌ
تطردwarding off الريحَthe wind شَمالاًnortherly قِطْقِطاfine-drizzling
تطرد الريحَ شَمالاً قِطْقِطا
How fine these dew-sprinkled ban trees of the east wind,
Repelling the north wind constantly.
warding off the north wind’s fine-spattered rain!
Roaming the sights wherever it occurred,
تسرحroam freely الأبصارthe eyes حيثwherever اقترحتthey choose
تسرح الأبصار حيث اقترحت
والرجاءand hope الرحبboundless كيفhowever اشترطاit stipulates
والرجاء الرحب كيف اشترطا
Eyes roam wherever they choose,
While hoping place however it conditioned.
and boundless hope on whatever terms it sets.
Every just grace has its scale,
كلُّevery فضلٍmerit عادلis just ميزانهits balance
كلُّ فضلٍ عادل ميزانه
فإذاbut when جاءcomes عطاءٌa gift فَرَّطاit exceeds bounds
فإذا جاء عطاءٌ فَرَّطا
The scales are fair for every merit;
So if a gift comes inclined accept it.
but when gifts come, they exceed all measure.
Do not frown at a smiling blessing,
لاnot تعبِّسturns gloomy نعمةٌa blessing ضاحكةٌsmiling
لا تعبِّس نعمةٌ ضاحكةٌ
قاسمthe apportioner of الحظّfortune بهاin it ماnot غلِطاmade an error
قاسم الحظّ بها ما غلِطا
A smiling blessing does not frown;
Dividing fate with it, mixing not cheating.
fortune’s apportioner made no error in it.
Accept the fate and fortune with it,
رضِيَis pleased المقدارdestiny والحظُّand fortune بهاwith it
رضِيَ المقدار والحظُّ بها
إنwhether رَضِيis pleased حاسدُهاits envier أوor سخطاis angry
إن رَضِي حاسدُها أو سخطا
Destiny and fortune are pleased with it,
Whether its envious one accepts or resents.
whether its envier is pleased or angry.
For Banu Abdul Aziz strove
لبنيfor the sons of عبدAbd (‘servant’) العزيزal-Aziz (‘the Mighty’) اجتهدتْthey strove
لبني عبد العزيز اجتهدتْ
بوجيفِwith the swift trot of المنتقيthe well-fleshed camel والمَرَطَىand the racing gait
بوجيفِ المنتقي والمَرَطَى
For the sons of Abd al-Aziz, they strove
With choicest selected and walkways.
with the well-fleshed camel’s swift trot and racing gait.
They split the roof of supremacy into shares
لمساميحَfor generous men حوَوْاwho possessed سقفَthe roof of العلاgreatness
لمساميحَ حوَوْا سقفَ العلا
حِصصاًin shares واقتسموهand divided it خُطَطاinto allotted portions
حِصصاً واقتسموه خُطَطا
For generous men who possessed greatness’s roof
And divided it into mapped portions.
in shares, dividing it into allotted portions.
Every glorious palm the hopes
كلُّeach وضّاحٍradiant lord قُدامَىbefore دستِهِhis throne
كلُّ وضّاحٍ قُدامَى دستِهِ
قُبَلُthe kisses of الآمالِhopes تَحفِيwear bare البُسُطاthe carpets
قُبَلُ الآمالِ تَحفِي البُسُطا
Each radiant lord has before his throne
Kiss, presents wrap the outstretched carpet.
hope’s kisses wearing out the carpets.
You see the guests around its doors
تبصرyou see الغاشينthose coming حولَيْon either side of بابهhis gate
تبصر الغاشين حولَيْ بابه
أبداًalways رَكْباًmounted companies ورَجْلَىand pedestrians سُمُطاstrung in lines
أبداً رَكْباً ورَجْلَى سُمُطا
You see those coming about his gate
Forever a riding and walking group.
always riders and pedestrians, strung in lines.
If he walked a mile on the thorns of dejection
لوif مشىhe walked حولاًa year علىupon شوكthe thorns of القناspears
لو مشى حولاً على شوك القنا
ورأىand saw الضيمhumiliation قَعوداًas a riding camel ماnot امتطىhe would mount it
ورأى الضيم قَعوداً ما امتطى
Were he to walk a year upon the thorns of spears
And saw injustice sitting, he would not ride.
and see humiliation as a riding camel, he would not mount it.
When called upon in an affliction,
فإذاand when استُصرِخhe is called for help فيin نازلةٍa calamity
فإذا استُصرِخ في نازلةٍ
سلَّطhe unleashes الآراءَhis counsels فيماupon whatever سلَّطاhe directs his power
سلَّط الآراءَ فيما سلَّطا
When called for help in a calamity,
He instigated opinions however instigated.
he unleashes his counsels wherever he directs his power.
Supporting disputes with them
قامwas upheld تأويدthe strengthening of الخلافاتthe caliphates بهمthrough them
قام تأويد الخلافات بهم
حادثاتٍnewly arisen وسلافاًand earlier ones فُرُطاlong departed
حادثاتٍ وسلافاً فُرُطا
Through them the caliphates were upheld and strengthened,
Incidents and previous errors neglected.
both newly arisen and their departed predecessors.
And if they did not become their masters
وإذاand when لمnot يصبحواthey became أربابَهاtheir lords
وإذا لم يصبحوا أربابَها
وزَرواthey served as viziers فيهاwithin them وكانواand they were الوسطاthe central figures
وزَروا فيها وكانوا الوسطا
When they were not their lords,
And were loaded with them and were the waist.
they served as viziers within them and stood at the center.
Whenever they were born a full moon
وإذاand whenever ماindeed ولدواthey begot بدراًa full moon جلاdispelling
وإذا ما ولدوا بدراً جلا
ظُلَمَthe darknesses of الأرضearth وبحراًand a sea غَطْمَطاloud-surging
ظُلَمَ الأرض وبحراً غَطْمَطا
Whenever they begot, they begot a full moon dispelling
The land's darkness and a tumultuous sea dissipated.
earth’s darkness, and a loud-surging sea,
Just as the dew revived the supremacy’s pride
مثلماjust as أحياrevived الندىgenerosity فخرُFakhr (‘pride’) العلاal-Ula (‘greatness’)
مثلما أحيا الندى فخرُ العلا
واستراشand restored feathers to الكرمَliberality المنجلطاstripped bare
واستراش الكرمَ المنجلطا
just as Fakhr al-Ula revived generosity
And the generous sprinkled stream.
and restored feathers to liberality stripped bare.
Its heart is smooth, fun touching it
ساكنُcalm الصدرof heart ليانٌgentle مسُّهhis touch
ساكنُ الصدر ليانٌ مسُّه
فرشَhe spread البشرَcheerfulness شِعاراًas an inner garment ووِطاand bedding
فرشَ البشرَ شِعاراً ووِطا
Calm at heart, gentle to the touch,
Spreading good omens and covenant.
he spread cheerfulness as a close-worn garment and bedding.
Blaming in it a perfumed prey,
شائماًsheathing فيهاwithin it ظباًblade-edges مبروَّةًsharpened
شائماً فيها ظباً مبروَّةً
يفتللنthat blunt الصارمthe keen sword المخترطاdrawn from its sheath
يفتللن الصارم المخترطا
Within it he sheathes sharpened blades
That the sharp sword tears up.
that blunt the keen, unsheathed sword.
Like the serpents of Al-Naqaa, if erect
مثلَlike حيّاتthe snakes of النقاsand dunes ماwhatever عرَمتْthey bite
مثلَ حيّات النقا ما عرَمتْ
كانis مأكولاًdevoured بهاby them مستَرَطاswallowed whole
كان مأكولاً بها مستَرَطا
Like dune-snakes, whatever they bite
It was edible and thoroughly relished.
is devoured by them, swallowed whole.
Insightful if the words were scarce when
مبصراتٍdiscerning فِقَرَthe joints of القولspeech إذاwhen
مبصراتٍ فِقَرَ القول إذا
ماindeed ابنُa son of عشواءَa night-blind creature بليلat night خبطاstumbles blindly
ما ابنُ عشواءَ بليل خبطا
Discerning the joints of speech, while
Not the son of a sand grouse at night groped.
a son of night-blindness stumbles through the dark.
It regulates the world, so if a hand reached
تضبِطthey hold fast الدنياthe world فإنbut if سامhe asks يداًa hand
تضبِط الدنيا فإن سام يداً
ضمَّto clasp دينارٍa dinar أبتit refuses أنto تضبِطاgrip
ضمَّ دينارٍ أبت أن تضبِطا
They hold the world fast; but if he asks a hand
And took a coin, it refused to regulate.
to clasp a dinar, it refuses to clasp it.
And if an infant’s hand stretched
وسعىand he strove طفلاًas a child فطالتso outstripped يدُهhis hand
وسعى طفلاً فطالت يدُه
سودَداًin nobility كهلَهمtheir mature man المختلِطاin his prime
سودَداً كهلَهم المختلِطا
He strove as a child, and his hand outstripped
It blackened as their mixed old age.
their man in his prime in nobility.
I came to him while fate had plotted against me
جئتُهI came to him والدهرُwhile Time قدhad already أرصدlaid in wait ليfor me
جئتُه والدهرُ قد أرصد لي
منfrom خفيِّhidden الكيدguile ذئباًa wolf أمعطاhairless
من خفيِّ الكيد ذئباً أمعطا
I came to him while Time had laid in wait for me,
A wicked hidden scheme.
from its hidden guile, a hairless wolf.
And the wounds of despair vainly
وجروحand the wounds of اليأسdespair فيin حاليmy plight سدىuntended
وجروح اليأس في حالي سدى
تقذفcast off القيدbindings وتعييand defeat القُمُطاbandages
تقذف القيد وتعيي القُمُطا
The wounds of despair lay untended in my plight,
Threw shackles and weakened resolves.
casting off bindings and defeating bandages.
So he completely fulfilled until he returned me
فوفَىso he gave in full جذلانَrejoicing حتىuntil ردّنيhe sent me back
فوفَى جذلانَ حتى ردّني
وقصارىand the utmost of غايتيmy desire أنto تُغبَطاbe envied
وقصارى غايتي أن تُغبَطا
So he gave in full, rejoicing, until he sent me back,
To the farthest reaches of my goal to be envied.
with the utmost of my desires simply to be envied.
It seizes the sights from me a sign
تأخذcaptivates الأبصارَeyes منيupon me شارةa splendid appearance
تأخذ الأبصارَ مني شارة
تدعmakes الشيخthe old man فتىًa youth مستشرطاsetting his terms
تدع الشيخ فتىً مستشرطا
A splendid appearance upon me captivates eyes,
Leaving the old man a demanding youth.
turning the old man into a youth who dictates his terms.
A blessing, if thankfulness resided in it
نعمةٌa blessing لوeven if قعدfell short الشكرgratitude بهاtoward it
نعمةٌ لو قعد الشكر بها
بهرتit dazzled واشتهرتand became renowned أنto تُغمطاbe slighted
بهرت واشتهرت أن تُغمطا
A blessing that, even if gratitude failed it,
Dazzled and famously refused to be blemished.
would dazzle and be too renowned to slight.
It exceeded hopes until prevented
فاتتsurpassed الأملاكَkings حتىuntil منعتْit kept
فاتت الأملاكَ حتى منعتْ
كلّevery راجيseeker of غايةٍa goal أنfrom يقنطاdespairing
كلّ راجي غايةٍ أن يقنطا
It surpassed kings’ gifts until it kept
Every hopeful from having an aspiration.
every seeker of a goal from despair.
So listen, it tells you about me a humbled one
فاستمعso listen تخبِرْكwill tell you عنيabout me شرَّدٌfar-roaming verses
فاستمع تخبِرْك عني شرَّدٌ
تقطعcross الأرضَthe earth الربَىthe hills والغُوَطاand the hollows
تقطع الأرضَ الربَى والغُوَطا
So listen: far-roaming verses will tell you of me,
Crossing land, terrain, and dunes.
crossing the earth, its hills and hollows.
Leaving hopes either a garden
تدعmake الآمالhopes إماeither روضةًa garden
تدع الآمال إما روضةً
سُقيتْwell-watered أوor عِترةًa fragrant herb أوor نَمَطاa figured carpet
سُقيتْ أو عِترةً أو نَمَطا
They make hopes either a garden
Watered or a patch or pattern.
well-watered, or a fragrant herb, or a figured carpet.
A source every eloquent tongue
معدِنٌa mine كلُّevery لسانِtongue مفصِحٍeloquent
معدِنٌ كلُّ لسانِ مفصِحٍ
حولهاaround them يسقطfalls short حتىuntil تُلْقطاthey are gleaned
حولها يسقط حتى تُلْقطا
A mine: every eloquent tongue
Around which it falls until picked up.
falls short around them, until they are gleaned.
And when odes rhymed it was attributed
وإذاand when هُجْنُthe mongrels of القوافيrhymes نُسِبَتْare traced by lineage
وإذا هُجْنُ القوافي نُسِبَتْ
كانتit is العُربَthe Arab stock وكُنَّwhile they are النبطاthe Nabataeans
كانت العُربَ وكُنَّ النبطا
When mongrel rhymes have their lineage traced,
To the Arabs though we are Nabateans.
mine is Arab; they are Nabataean.
And if victory embraced its shoulder,
وإذاand when النيروزNowruz ضمَّتfolds inward عطفَهhis flank
وإذا النيروز ضمَّت عطفَه
فترةٌlanguor هزّتهthey rouse him حتىuntil يَبسُطاhe stretches out
فترةٌ هزّته حتى يَبسُطا
When languor folds Nowruz’s flank inward,
A respite shook it until fully stretched.
they rouse him until he stretches out.
So rising before you it stands
فابتداso he appeared بينbefore يديكمyour hands قائماًstanding
فابتدا بين يديكم قائماً
لكُمُfor you يَفتحhe opens منهاfrom them سَفَطاa casket
لكُمُ يَفتح منها سَفَطا
So he appears standing before you,
Opening for you from it a page.
opening a casket of them for you.
Dishevel it a gift and enjoy it
فاهتبلهاso prize them تحفةas a gift وانعمand delight بهاin them
فاهتبلها تحفة وانعم بها
زائراًas a visitor إمّاwhether دناhe draws near أوor شحطاhe is far away
زائراً إمّا دنا أو شحطا
So prize them as a gift, and delight in them—
Visiting, drawing near or keeping distant.
a visitor, whether drawing near or far away.
Partial English translation: 151 of 152 Arabic lines translated.