إذاwhen فُطمتْwas weaned قَرارهُits bed كلِّof every واديvalley
إذا فُطمتْ قَرارهُ كلِّ وادي
فدَرَّتْthen streamed باللوىat al-Liwa حَلَمُthe nipples الغواديof morning rain-clouds
فدَرَّتْ باللوى حَلَمُ الغوادي
When every valley's bed was weaned,
If the decision of every valley was weaned,
the nipples of morning rain-clouds streamed at al-Liwa.
The dreams of the valleys would flow with agony.
ومرّتand passed تهتديguided بالريحby the wind فيهin it
ومرّت تهتدي بالريح فيه
مطاياthe mounts الغيثِof rain مثقَلةَweighed down الهواديin their necks
مطايا الغيثِ مثقَلةَ الهوادي
And there passed, guided by the wind,
And the rain clouds would pass being guided by the wind in it,
the mounts of rain, their necks weighed down.
The mounts of rain heavily laden with valleys.
ففُتَّحتthen were opened الرُّباthe hills خدّاًin their cheeks وسُدَّتand were sealed
ففُتَّحت الرُّبا خدّاً وسُدَّت
بشكرwith thanks المزنto rain-clouds أفواهُthe mouths الوهادِof the hollows
بشكر المزن أفواهُ الوهادِ
Then the hills' cheeks opened, and sealed
So the pastures smiled with cheeks and were blocked
with thanks to the rain-clouds were the hollows' mouths.
With the sweetness of eglantine the mouths of the lowlands
أناديهI call to it وتَنشُدُهand seek it المغانيthe dwelling places
أناديه وتَنشُدُه المغاني
ولكنbut لاno حياةَlife لمنin one whom تُناديyou call
ولكن لا حياةَ لمن تُنادي
I call to it, and the dwelling places seek it,
I call him, and the melodies chant to him,
but there is no life in the one you call.
But there is no life for the one you call.
وماand what أرَبِيis my need إلىfor سُقياwatering ربوعٍdwellings
وما أرَبِي إلى سُقيا ربوعٍ
لهاfor them منfrom مقلتيmy eye سارٍa night-traveler وغاديand a morning-traveler
لها من مقلتي سارٍ وغادي
What need have I to water dwellings
And I do not want to water meadows
that have from my eye a night shower and a morning one?
That have from my eyelashes going and returning.
حملتُI bore يدَthe favor السحابof the cloud الجَوْنdark فيهاin them
حملتُ يدَ السحاب الجَوْن فيها
ولستand I am not معوَّداًaccustomed حملَto bearing الأياديfavors
ولست معوَّداً حملَ الأيادي
I accepted there the dark cloud's favor,
I carried the hand of clouds pregnant with it
though I am not accustomed to bearing favors.
And I'm not used to carrying hands.
ولوand if بكتwept السماءُthe sky لهاfor them وجفنيand my eyelid
ولو بكت السماءُ لها وجفني
تيقَّنَتِdiscerned with certainty البخيلَthe miser منfrom الجوادِthe generous one
تيقَّنَتِ البخيلَ من الجوادِ
Had the sky and my eyelid both wept for them,
And if the sky cried for it and my eyelids dried up,
they would have distinguished the miser from the generous one.
The stingy would be certain of the generous.
ضَممتُI gathered بمَسْقَطِat the foot العَلَمينْof the two landmarks صحبيmy companions
ضَممتُ بمَسْقَطِ العَلَمينْ صحبي
وقدand already صاحcried الكَلالُweariness بهمto them بَدادِscatter!
وقد صاح الكَلالُ بهم بَدادِ
At the foot of the two landmarks I gathered my companions,
I gathered my friends in the place of the two flags,
when weariness had cried to them, 'Scatter!'
While exhaustion called them in Baghdad.
علىupon أرَجِthe fragrance الثرىof moist earth لماwhen ضَللناwe lost our way
على أرَجِ الثرى لما ضَللنا
تضوَّعَwafted fragrantly منهfrom it فيinto الأنفاسthe breaths هاديa guide
تضوَّعَ منه في الأنفاس هادي
Upon the moist earth's scent, when we lost our way,
When we went astray on the carpet of soil,
a guide wafted from it into our breaths.
A guide breathed from it into the breaths.
وقدand already سقطcast down السُّرىnight travel والنجمwhile the star هاوٍwas falling
وقد سقط السُّرى والنجم هاوٍ
عيونthe eyes الركبof the caravan فيinto حطّthe descent الرقادِof sleep
عيون الركب في حطّ الرقادِ
Night travel had cast, as the star sank,
The Pleiades have fallen and the stars are confused,
the travelers' eyes down into sleep.
The eyes of the caravan at the end of the slumber.
نَدامَىdrinking companions صبوةٍin youthful longing دارتْcirculated عليهمaround them
نَدامَى صبوةٍ دارتْ عليهم
بأيديin the hands العيسof pale camels أكوابُcups السهادِof sleeplessness
بأيدي العيس أكوابُ السهادِ
Drinking companions in youthful longing, around whom circulated
The remorse of youth turned to them
cups of sleeplessness in the pale camels' hands.
With the hands of time the cups of forgetfulness.
إذاwhen شربواthey drank السُّرىnight travel اقترحواthey requested عليهof it
إذا شربوا السُّرى اقترحوا عليه
صفيرَthe whistling حمامةٍof a dove وغِناءَand the song حادِيof a camel-driver
صفيرَ حمامةٍ وغِناءَ حادِي
When they drank night travel, they requested of it
When they drank nectar, they suggested to it
a dove's whistling and a camel-driver's song.
The cooing of a dove and the singing of a guide.
ولماand when عزَّgrew scarce ماءُwater الرَّكبof the caravan فيهمamong them
ولما عزَّ ماءُ الرَّكب فيهم
وقفتُI stopped أَحُلُّI unfasten منfrom عينيmy eyes مَزاديmy waterskins
وقفتُ أَحُلُّ من عيني مَزادي
And when water grew scarce among the caravan,
And when the water of the caravan was scarce among them,
I stopped to unfasten my waterskins from my eyes.
I stood solving from my eyes my provision.
تحومcircle وقدand already تقلّصتِhad shrunk الأداوَيthe water-flasks
تحوم وقد تقلّصتِ الأداوَي
علىaround أجفانِيَmy eyelids الأبلُthe camels الصواديthe thirsty ones
على أجفانِيَ الأبلُ الصوادي
They circle, now that the water-flasks have shrunk:
It hovered while the remedies shrank
the thirsty camels, around my eyelids.
On my eyelids, the injustice of the black nights.
أجدَّكby your earnestness هلdo ...? ترىyou see بذيولat the skirts سلمىof Salma
أجدَّك هل ترى بذيول سلمى
نَضارةَthe freshness حاضرٍof settled folk وخِيامَand the tents بادِيof nomadic folk
نَضارةَ حاضرٍ وخِيامَ بادِي
Tell me truly, do you see by Salma's skirts
Do you see with the tails of Salma
the freshness of settled folk and the tents of nomads?
The bloom of the present and the vanishing tents?
خرقنthey pierced لكلَّfor every عينٍeye فيin سوادthe darkness الthe (continued)
خرقن لكلَّ عينٍ في سواد ال
خدورcurtained chambers خَصاصةًan opening مثلَlike السوادِthe pupil
خدور خَصاصةً مثلَ السوادِ
They pierced for every eye, in the darkness of the
They tore for every black-eyed gazelle
curtained chambers, an opening like an eye's pupil.
Cheeks like the blackness of blackness.
وماand not أتبعتُI made follow ظُعْنَthe traveling women الحيِّof the tribe طرفيmy gaze
وما أتبعتُ ظُعْنَ الحيِّ طرفي
لأغنمَto win نظرةًa glimpse فتكونَso it might become زاديmy provision
لأغنمَ نظرةً فتكونَ زادي
I did not send my gaze after the tribe's departing women
And I did not follow the bends of the living with my eyes
to win a glimpse that might become my provision.
To gain a look so it would be my provision.
ولكنّيbut I بعثتُsent بلحظwith the glance عينيof my eye
ولكنّي بعثتُ بلحظ عيني
واءَbehind (apparently وراء) الركبthe caravan يسألُasking عنabout فؤاديmy heart
واءَ الركب يسألُ عن فؤادي
Rather, I sent the glance of my eye
But I sent with a glance of my eye
behind the caravan, asking after my heart.
The pain of the caravan asking about my heart.
وفيand among نُوامِthe sleepers هذاof this الليلnight شمسٌa sun
وفي نُوامِ هذا الليل شمسٌ
وَفَىkept faith سهريmy sleeplessness لهاwith her وجَفَاand shunned وساديmy pillow
وَفَى سهري لها وجَفَا وسادي
Among this night's sleepers is a sun;
And in the sleep of this night there is a sun
my sleeplessness kept faith with her and shunned my pillow.
That stayed up my vigil and sufficed my pillow and mattress.
إذاwhen ذُكرتْshe is mentioned نزتْleapt كبديmy liver إليهاtoward her
إذا ذُكرتْ نزتْ كبدي إليها
هبوبَthe flaring الداءof disease نُبِّهَawakened بالعِدادِby its recurring onset
هبوبَ الداء نُبِّهَ بالعِدادِ
When she is mentioned, my liver leaps toward her,
When it was mentioned, my liver swooped down to it
like an illness flaring at its appointed return.
Like the onset of disease awakened by counting.
عجبتُI marveled يَضيمنيwrongs me زمنيmy time وأرضَىand I acquiesce
عجبتُ يَضيمني زمني وأرضَى
ويحصُدنيand reaps me ولمand not yet أبلغْI have reached حَصاديmy harvest
ويحصُدني ولم أبلغْ حَصادي
I marvel: my time wrongs me, and I acquiesce,
I wondered, my time oppresses me and I am pleased,
and reaps me before I have reached my harvest.
And it reaps me before I reach harvest.
وتُنفِقُand spend مسرفاتٍwastefully منfrom شبابيmy youth
وتُنفِقُ مسرفاتٍ من شبابي
لياليهِits nights الصعابُthe harsh ones بلاwithout اقتصادِrestraint
لياليهِ الصعابُ بلا اقتصادِ
And wastefully they spend my youth,
And it spends wastefully from my youth
its harsh nights, without restraint.
Its nights without thrift.
وعهديand my experience بالتشابُهِof similarity والتنافيand incompatibility
وعهدي بالتشابُهِ والتنافي
يجرَّانthey both bring التصادقَfriendship والتَّعاديand hostility
يجرَّان التصادقَ والتَّعادي
My experience of likeness and incompatibility
And my pact with resemblance and difference
is that they bring friendship and hostility.
Drags friendship and enmity.
فماso what بالُis the matter اللياليwith the nights وهيwhile they are سُودٌblack
فما بالُ الليالي وهي سُودٌ
يُزالُis separated بهاthrough them البياضُwhiteness منfrom السوادِblackness
يُزالُ بها البياضُ من السوادِ
Why, then, do the nights, though black,
So why are the nights, which are black,
draw whiteness out of blackness?
Removing whiteness from blackness?
توقَّguard against الناسpeople إنindeed الداءَdisease يُعدىis transmitted
توقَّ الناس إن الداءَ يُعدى
وإنand even if قربُواthey draw near فحظُّكthen your good fortune فيlies in البِعادِdistance
وإن قربُوا فحظُّك في البِعادِ
Guard yourself against people: disease is contagious;
People avoid that disease is contagious,
though they draw near, your good lies in keeping far away.
And if they drew near, your share is in remoteness.
ولاand do not يغررْكdeceive you ذوone possessing مَلَقٍflattery يغطِّيconcealing
ولا يغررْك ذو مَلَقٍ يغطِّي
أذاهhis harm وجمرُهُand his embers تحتَbeneath الرَّمادِthe ashes
أذاه وجمرُهُ تحتَ الرَّمادِ
Let no flatterer deceive you, concealing
And do not be fooled by a flatterer who covers
his harm, while his embers lie beneath the ashes.
His harm while his embers are under the ashes.
كِلاeach of the two أخويكyour two brothers ذوpossessing رَحِمٍkinship ولكنbut
كِلا أخويك ذو رَحِمٍ ولكن
أخوكyour brother أخوكyour brother فيin النُّوبِthe calamities الشِّدادِthe severe ones
أخوك أخوك في النُّوبِ الشِّدادِ
Each of your two brothers is kin, but
No, your brother of womb but
your brother is your brother in dire ordeals.
Your brother, your brother in violent adversities.
عذيريَwho will defend me? منagainst صديقِa friend الوجهِin appearance يَحنيcurves
عذيريَ من صديقِ الوجهِ يَحني
أضالعَهhis ribs علىaround قَلبٍa heart مُضادِيhostile to me
أضالعَه على قَلبٍ مُضادِي
Who will defend me from a friend in face alone, who curves
My excuse from a friend whose cheek inclines,
his ribs around a heart hostile to me?
Ribs over a heart opposing me.
لوىwound يدَهhis hand علىaround حَبلٍa rope لعُنْقيfor my neck
لوى يدَه على حَبلٍ لعُنْقي
وقالand said اضمُمْclasp يديكyour two hands علىupon وداديmy affection
وقال اضمُمْ يديك على ودادي
He wound his hand around a rope for my neck,
He bent his hand over a rope for my neck
and said, 'Clasp both your hands upon my affection.'
And said: Clasp your hands in my friendship!
تمنَّىhe wished for وهوwhile he يَنْقُصُنيdiminishes me تماميmy completeness
تمنَّى وهو يَنْقُصُني تمامي
وأينَand where الزِّبْرِقانُthe full moon منbeside الدآديthe last moonless nights
وأينَ الزِّبْرِقانُ من الدآدي
He wished me completeness while diminishing me;
He wished, while decreasing my completeness,
but how far is the full moon from the moonless nights!
And where are the two luminous starts from the black starling?
ومجتمعينand those assembled يرتفدونdraw support from عيبيmy faults
ومجتمعين يرتفدون عيبي
فلاso not يَزِنُbalances اجتماعُهمtheir gathering انفراديmy being alone
فلا يَزِنُ اجتماعُهم انفرادي
And those assembled, drawing support from my faults:
And gathered disparaging my fault,
their gathering cannot balance me alone.
So their gathering does not weigh against my solitude.
إذاif انتسبواthey claim descent لفضلٍfrom merit لمnot يزيدواgo farther
إذا انتسبوا لفضلٍ لم يزيدوا
علىbeyond نسبِthe kinship ابنson of حربHarb منwith زِيادِZiyad
على نسبِ ابن حرب من زِيادِ
If they claim descent from merit, they go no farther
When they attributed themselves to a merit, they did not increase
than Ibn Harb's kinship with Ziyad.
Beyond the attribution of Ibn Harb from Ziyad.
أُلامُI am blamed علىfor عُزوفaloofness النفسِof the soul ظلماًunjustly
أُلامُ على عُزوف النفسِ ظلماً
وماand why لوميblaming me علىfor خُلُقيmy nature وعاديand my habit
وما لومي على خُلُقي وعادي
I am unjustly blamed for my soul's aloofness;
I blame the alienation of the soul unjustly
and why blame me for my nature and my habit?
And I do not blame my manners and habit.
ويخدعنيand deceives me البخيلُthe miser يريدwanting ذمّيto disparage me
ويخدعني البخيلُ يريد ذمّي
وهلand is there عندwith الهشيمةdry brushwood منany مَررادِsomething desired (text uncertain)
وهل عند الهشيمة من مَررادِ
The miser deceives me, seeking to disparage me;
And the stingy deceives me, wanting to blame me,
but what can one hope for from dry brushwood?
And is there any wish with the inflamed ashes?
كفانيsufficed me آلُthe family إسماعيلَof Isma'il إنيindeed I
كفاني آلُ إسماعيلَ إني
بلغتُI attained بهمthrough them منfrom الدنياthe world مُراديmy desire
بلغتُ بهم من الدنيا مُرادي
The house of Isma'il sufficed me: indeed,
Enough for me, the family of Ismail indeed,
through them I attained what I sought from this world;
I have reached with them from the world my purpose.
وأنّand that محمداًMuhammad دارَىhumored نفاريmy aversion
وأنّ محمداً دارَى نفاري
فلانَso it softened لهfor him وأسلسَand made more pliant منof قياديmy reins
فلانَ له وأسلسَ من قيادي
and Muhammad humored my aversion,
And that Muhammad embraced my hatred,
so it softened for him, and my reins grew yielding.
So for him is the softening of my leading.
رقَىcharmed خُلقُيmy disposition بأخلاقٍwith qualities كرامٍnoble
رقَى خُلقُي بأخلاقٍ كرامٍ
ألانتsoftened منsome of عرائكهits dispositions الشِّدادِthe stubborn ones
ألانت من عرائكه الشِّدادِ
He charmed my temperament with noble virtues
My manners have ascended with noble manners
that softened its stubborn dispositions.
That softened from its ruggedness the rugged.
وكنتُand I used to أذمُّcondemn شرَّthe evil الناسin people قِدْماًlong ago
وكنتُ أذمُّ شرَّ الناس قِدْماً
وعيبَهُمُand their faults فصحّand he proved sound علىunder انتقاديmy scrutiny
وعيبَهُمُ فصحّ على انتقادي
Long ago I used to condemn people's wickedness
And I used to blame the evil of the people before,
and their faults; he stood sound under my scrutiny.
And their faults openly exposed to my criticism.
وكمand how often خابطتُI stumbled through عشواءَblind الأمانيhopes
وكم خابطتُ عشواءَ الأماني
وكاذَبنيand deceived me علىbased on الظنّconjecture ارتياديmy searching
وكاذَبني على الظنّ ارتيادي
How often I stumbled through blind hopes,
And how I disputed the folly of wishes
and my quest, founded on conjecture, deceived me.
And it lied to me about assumption my habit.
فلمّاbut when أنthat سللتُI unsheathed علىagainst الدياجيthe dark nights
فلمّا أن سللتُ على الدياجي
ربيبَthe fosterling النعمةof bounty استذكَىblazed fiercely زِناديmy fire-sticks
ربيبَ النعمة استذكَى زِنادي
But when I unsheathed against the dark nights
So when I sneaked upon the night stars,
the fosterling of bounty, my fire-sticks blazed.
The groom of blessing reminded my flints.
وأَنبضَand made gush منfrom يديهhis two hands ليfor me غديراًa pool
وأَنبضَ من يديه لي غديراً
وقدand already أعياwearied فميmy mouth مَصُّsucking الثِّمادِscant pools
وقد أعيا فمي مَصُّ الثِّمادِ
And from his hands he made a pool gush for me,
And a stream gushed from his hands to me,
my mouth already exhausted by sucking scant pools.
And my mouth had weakened from sucking the bandage.
جلاrevealed ليto me غُرّةًa radiant brow رَوِيتْsated جمالاًwith beauty
جلا لي غُرّةً رَوِيتْ جمالاً
أُسرُّI am delighted بهاby it ووجهُwhile the face البدرِof the full moon صاديis thirsty
أُسرُّ بها ووجهُ البدرِ صادي
He revealed to me a radiant brow steeped in beauty,
It revealed to me a cheek I was quenched with beauty
which delights me, while the full moon's face thirsts.
I am secretly pleased with, and the full moon is repelling.
تفاديهاoffers ransom for it السماءُthe sky بنيِّريْهاwith its two luminaries
تفاديها السماءُ بنيِّريْها
فَتعرِفُand so knows حظَّهاits good fortune فيماin what تُفاديit ransoms
فَتعرِفُ حظَّها فيما تُفادي
The sky offers its two lights in ransom for it,
The sky avoids it, brightening it,
and recognizes its good fortune in the exchange.
So it knows its share in what it avoids.
منone of الوافينthose full أحلاماًin sound judgment وصبراand patience
من الوافين أحلاماً وصبرا
إذاwhen الجُلَّىgreat calamity هفتswept away بحلومِthe judgment of عادِ'Ad
إذا الجُلَّى هفت بحلومِ عادِ
One of those full in judgment and patience,
Of the loyal, dreams and patience,
when grave calamity shakes the judgment of 'Ad.
When the cheeks blew with the dreams of the return.
بنيsons of البيضgleaming swords الخفافِlight توارثوهاthey inherited them
بني البيض الخفافِ توارثوها
معalong with الأحسابnoble lineages والخيلand the horses الوِرادِthe bay ones
مع الأحساب والخيل الوِرادِ
Sons of light, gleaming swords, which they inherited
The sons of the kind whites inherited it
along with noble lineages and bay horses.
With pedigrees and smooth-stepping horses.
تَضاحَكُlaugh فيin أكفّهمtheir palms العطاياgifts
تَضاحَكُ في أكفّهم العطايا
وتكلحُand bare their teeth عنهُمُon their behalf يومon the day الجلادِof combat
وتكلحُ عنهُمُ يوم الجلادِ
Gifts laugh in their palms,
The gifts laugh in their palms
and bare their teeth for them on the day of combat.
And grin at them on the day of the scourge.
مطاعيمٌfeeders of many إذاwhen النكباءُthe crosswind قَرَّتgrew cold
مطاعيمٌ إذا النكباءُ قَرَّت
وجَبَّand sheared off القحطُdrought أسنمةَthe humps البلادِof the land
وجَبَّ القحطُ أسنمةَ البلادِ
They feed many when the crosswind turns cold
Grafts, when disasters approach,
and drought shears away the land's humps.
And famine spreads in the provinces.
لهمthey have أيدٍhands إذاwhen سُئلواthey are asked سِباطٌopen-handed
لهم أيدٍ إذا سُئلوا سِباطٌ
مَوصَّلةٌjoined بأسيافٍto swords جِعادِtight-fisted
مَوصَّلةٌ بأسيافٍ جِعادِ
They have open hands when they are asked,
They have hands, if asked, swift
joined to tight-fisted swords.
Connected to swords unsheathed.
إذاwhen كلَّتgrew weary منfrom الضَّربstriking المواضيthe keen blades
إذا كلَّت من الضَّرب المواضي
أعانوهاthey aided them بأفئدةٍwith hearts حِدادِkeen
أعانوها بأفئدةٍ حِدادِ
When the keen blades tire of striking,
If the basins tired of beating,
they aid them with keen hearts.
They aided them with hearts of smiths.
طَوواthey surpassed سلفَthe earlier stock الفخارِof glory فلمso not تُوَصَّمْwere tainted
طَووا سلفَ الفخارِ فلم تُوَصَّمْ
طوارِفُهمtheir new honors بمعروفِby the familiar التلادِancestral stock
طوارِفُهم بمعروفِ التلادِ
They surpassed past glory, so no taint was laid
They bent the ancestry of pottery, so its
on their new honors by the familiar ancestral store.
Edges were not cracked by the knowledge of experiences.
إذاwhen الأحسابُnoble lineages طأطأتِbowed low استشاطواthey blazed up
إذا الأحسابُ طأطأتِ استشاطوا
علىupon متمرّدdefiant الشُرفاتِin its battlements عادي'Ad-like
على متمرّد الشُرفاتِ عادي
When lineages bow their heads, they blaze up
When the pedigrees bowed down, they raged
upon an 'Ad-like stronghold with defiant battlements.
Against the one rebelling on the balconies, transgressing.
يَعُدُّcounts المجدُglory واحدَهمone of them بألفٍas a thousand
يَعُدُّ المجدُ واحدَهم بألفٍ
منof النجباءthe noble فيin قِيَمthe valuations البلادِof the lands
من النجباء في قِيَم البلادِ
Glory reckons one of them worth a thousand
Glory counts one of them as a thousand
of the noble in the lands' scale of worth.
Of the elite in the valuations of the countries.
إذاwhen وَلدواthey beget فتىًa young man سعتhastened المعاليthe high honors
إذا وَلدوا فتىً سعت المعالي
تَباشَرُexchanging glad tidings بينهاamong themselves بالازديادِof increase
تَباشَرُ بينها بالازديادِ
When they beget a young man, high honors hurry,
When they birth a young man, the glories
sharing among themselves the glad news of increase.
Hasten to exchange congratulations and increase.
نموْكthey traced your descent أغرَّradiant منfrom ملكٍa king أغرٍّradiant
نموْك أغرَّ من ملكٍ أغرٍّ
جواداًgenerous بالكرائمwith precious gifts منfrom جوادِa generous man
جواداً بالكرائم من جوادِ
They traced your descent, radiant, from a radiant king,
Your growth more miraculous than a miraculous kingdom,
generous with precious gifts, from a generous man.
Generous with bounties from the generous.
أخاpossessor of طضعمينْtwo flavors (apparently طعمين) حُلْوُكyour sweetness للمُواليfor allies
أخا طضعمينْ حُلْوُك للمُوالي
بلاwithout منٍّreminders of favors ومُرُّكand your bitterness للمعاديfor enemies
بلا منٍّ ومُرُّك للمعادي
Possessing two flavors: your sweetness is for allies,
A affectionate brother, your sweetness to the loyal
without reminders of favors, and your bitterness for enemies.
Without conferring, and your bitterness to the enemy.
إذاif لمnot يختضِبْis dyed لكfor you غربُthe edge سيفٍof a sword
إذا لم يختضِبْ لك غربُ سيفٍ
دماًwith blood خضَّبتَyou dyed سيفاًa sword بالمِدادِwith ink
دماً خضَّبتَ سيفاً بالمِدادِ
If no sword-edge of yours is dyed
If the west of a sword is not dyed
with blood, you dye a sword with ink.
With blood, you dye a sword with ink.
فأنتَso you إذاwhen ركبتَyou ride شهابُa meteor حربٍof war
فأنتَ إذا ركبتَ شهابُ حربٍ
وأنتand you إذاwhen جلستyou sit شهابُa meteor ناديof the assembly
وأنت إذا جلست شهابُ نادي
Mounted, you are a meteor of war;
So you, when you ride the flame of war,
seated, you are a meteor of the assembly.
And you, when you sit, the flame of the assembly.
إذاwhen رجعturns back الحسيبُa man of noble birth إلىto فخارٍglory
إذا رجع الحسيبُ إلى فخارٍ
قديمancient أوor حديثٍnew مستفادِacquired
قديم أو حديثٍ مستفادِ
When a man of noble birth turns to glory,
When the nobleman returns to folklore,
ancient or newly acquired,
Ancient or modern, derived.
فحسبكthen enough for you بالموفَّقin al-Muwaffaq منas فخارٍglory
فحسبك بالموفَّق من فخارٍ
وبيتِand the house الباهليّةِof the Bahili woman منas عَتادِprovision
وبيتِ الباهليّةِ من عَتادِ
al-Muwaffaq suffices you as glory,
It suffices you the successful from folklore,
and the Bahili woman's house as your provision.
And the house of pre-Islamic from equipment.
ومنand whoever يُسنِدْascribes إلىto طرفيكyour two sides مجداًglory
ومن يُسنِدْ إلى طرفيك مجداً
يَبِتْspends the night منfrom جانبيهhis two sides فيin مِهادِa soft bed
يَبِتْ من جانبيه في مِهادِ
Whoever ascribes glory to your two sides
And whoever lends glory to your side,
rests on either side in a soft bed.
Spends the night from its sides in a cradle.
فِداؤكa ransom for you داثرُone with ruined الأبياتhouses يأويtakes shelter
فِداؤك داثرُ الأبيات يأوي
إلىin وقصاءَa short-necked tent لاطئةِcrouching low العمادِin its pole
إلى وقصاءَ لاطئةِ العمادِ
May the man of ruined houses be your ransom, sheltering
Your ransom is the composer of verses who takes refuge
in a short-necked tent whose pole crouches low.
To the desolate places of the pillar of the pillar of the supports.
يتوبُhe repents إذاif هفاhe slipped غَلَطاًby mistake بجودٍinto generosity
يتوبُ إذا هفا غَلَطاً بجودٍ
ولمand not يتُبhas he repented اتقاءًout of fear للمَعادِof the Hereafter
ولم يتُب اتقاءً للمَعادِ
He repents if by mistake he slips into generosity,
He repents when he errs with generosity,
and has not repented out of fear of the Hereafter.
And did not repent in fear of the return.
إذاif جاراكhe competes with you فيon مِضمارِthe racecourse فضلٍof merit
إذا جاراك في مِضمارِ فضلٍ
عَدَتْهturned him away عنfrom اللحاقcatching up بكwith you العواديobstacles
عَدَتْه عن اللحاق بك العوادي
If he races you on merit's course,
When your peers race you in the racetrack of merit,
obstacles keep him from catching up with you.
The plains turn them back from catching up to you.
إليكto you سَرَتْtraveled by night مطامعُناour hopes فعادتthen returned
إليك سَرَتْ مطامعُنا فعادت
مَواقرَheavily laden منwith ندىًbounty لكof yours مستعادِsought again
مَواقرَ من ندىً لك مستعادِ
Our hopes traveled by night to you and returned
Towards you our hopes went and returned
heavily laden with bounty sought from you again.
As requests from dew belonging to you regained.
يَخِدْنَthey stride فصائلاًas young camels فيدعنَthen leave وَسْماًa brand
يَخِدْنَ فصائلاً فيدعنَ وَسْماً
لأرجُلهنّfrom their feet فيin الصُّمِّthe hard rocks الصِّلادِthe solid ones
لأرجُلهنّ في الصُّمِّ الصِّلادِ
They stride as young camels and leave an imprint
It jokes, so it imprints marks on their legs in the silent stillness,
of their feet upon hard, solid stone.
As if we had pulled them, the intimate talks from the flint.
يقادحْنَthey strike sparks from الحَصَىpebbles شَرراًas sparks كأنّاas though we
يقادحْنَ الحَصَى شَرراً كأنّا
حذوناهاwe shod them مَناسمَwith camel footpads منof زِنادِfire-flint
حذوناها مَناسمَ من زِنادِ
They strike sparks from the pebbles, as though we
They carried to you of the wonders of rhymes
had shod them with footpads of fire-flint.
Strange things from intestines or humps.
حَملنthey carried إليكto you منamong تحفtreasures القوافيof rhymes
حَملن إليك من تحف القوافي
غرائبَrarities منin مثانٍpairs أوor وُحادِsingle ones
غرائبَ من مثانٍ أو وُحادِ
They bore to you, among the treasures of rhyme,
Gifts the ears pride in,
rarities in pairs or singly.
Over sights in the days of gift exchanges.
هداياgifts تفخرboast الأسماعُthe ears فيهاthrough them
هدايا تفخر الأسماعُ فيها
علىover الأبصارthe eyes أيّامَon the days التهاديof exchanging gifts
على الأبصار أيّامَ التهادي
Gifts through which ears boast
Refined from the words the meanings
over eyes on days of gift-exchange;
By the length of ability and the repetition of meanings.
مخلَّصةًpurified منof الكلمwords المعنَّىwearied
مخلَّصةً من الكلم المعنَّى
بطولby the length الكرِّof repetition والمعنىand meaning المُعادِrepeated
بطول الكرِّ والمعنى المُعادِ
freed from words worn thin
Pieces tied in the necklaces of magic grown,
by long repetition, and from repeated meaning.
So their eloquence reaches to the sand of stringers.
نوافثَbreathers فيupon عقودthe knots السحرof magic تُنمَىis traced back
نوافثَ في عقود السحر تُنمَى
فصاحتُهاtheir eloquence إلىto رملِthe sand العِقادِof al-'Iqad
فصاحتُها إلى رملِ العِقادِ
Breathers upon magic's knots; traced back
It wished, while it is compiled in you, if only
to the sands of al-'Iqad is their eloquence.
It would be woven straps, the loves of enemies.
تمنَّىthey wish وهيwhile they تُنْظَمُare composed فيكabout you أنthat لوif only
تمنَّى وهي تُنْظَمُ فيك أن لو
تكونُmight become ترائباًupper chests مهجُthe hearts الأعاديof enemies
تكونُ ترائباً مهجُ الأعادي
As they are composed in your praise, they wish that
The Arabs think incapacity from its extent,
the enemies' hearts might become bosoms for them.
The articulacy of the Arabs did not speak with 啊.
تُخالُare imagined العربُthe Arabs عجزاًthrough inability عنto reach مداهاtheir range
تُخالُ العربُ عجزاً عن مداها
نبيطَNabataeans العُربِamong Arabs لمnever تنطِقْuttered بضادِthe letter ḍād
نبيطَ العُربِ لم تنطِقْ بضادِ
The Arabs, unable to match their reach, seem
For the days of good news and congratulations,
Nabataeans among Arabs, never uttering ḍād.
With it the spreading of scents and valleys.
لأيّامfor the days البشائرof glad tidings والتهانيand congratulations
لأيّام البشائر والتهاني
بهاin them نشرُthe fragrance الروائحof evening rain-clouds والغواديand morning rain-clouds
بها نشرُ الروائح والغوادي
For days of glad tidings and congratulations,
A noble day trails its train,
they carry the fragrance of evening and morning showers.
And makes it on a feast, returned.
يجرِّرُdrags ذيلَهاtheir train يومٌa day شريفٌnoble
يجرِّرُ ذيلَها يومٌ شريفٌ
فيجعلهاand so sets them علىupon عيدٍa festival مُعادِrenewed
فيجعلها على عيدٍ مُعادِ
A noble day trails their train,
Witnesses that your grandfather is ascending unwaveringly
and sets them upon a festival renewed.
Glory and that your life is in extension.
شواهدَwitnesses أنthat جدّكyour fortune فيin ارتقاءthe ascent الthe (continued)
شواهدَ أن جدّك في ارتقاء ال
سعودlucky stars وأنّand that عمرَكyour life فيin امتدادِextension
سعود وأنّ عمرَك في امتدادِ
Witnesses that your fortune rises with the
It suffices it from you, your gracious forgiveness in abundant giving,
lucky stars, and that your life keeps lengthening.
And it has exerted itself for you with my efforts.
كفاهاsufficed them منكfrom you عفوُكyour spontaneous bounty فيin العطاءgiving الthe (continued)
كفاها منك عفوُك في العطاء ال
جزيلlavish وقدand indeed وفَتْthey kept faith لكwith you باجتهاديthrough my striving
جزيل وقد وفَتْ لك باجتهادي
Your spontaneous bounty sufficed them in giving so
So how did you mix me with the likes of me in what
lavish; through my efforts they have kept faith with you.
You attained while you testify to my uniqueness?
فكيفso how خَلْطَتنيdid you mix me بسوايwith others than me فيمin what
فكيف خَلْطَتني بسواي فيم
أنلتَyou bestowed وأنتwhile you تَشهدُattest باتحاديto my uniqueness
أنلتَ وأنت تَشهدُ باتحادي
How, then, did you lump me with others in what
Your harshness toward me went too far, then association came
you bestowed, while yourself attesting to my uniqueness?
More rational than extremism.
تمادَىpersisted بيtoward me جفاؤكyour estrangement ثمthen جاءتcame
تمادَى بي جفاؤك ثم جاءت
مواصَلةٌrenewed contact أعقُّmore unkind منthan التماديcontinued estrangement
مواصَلةٌ أعقُّ من التمادي
Your estrangement from me persisted; then came
Were you not like refined gold to me
renewed contact crueler than continued estrangement.
A white hand shining among hands?
ألمwas there not تكbe ليfor me منof الذَّهَبgold المصفَّىrefined
ألم تك لي من الذَّهَب المصفَّى
يدٌa hand; a favor بيضاءُwhite تُشرِقُshining فيamong الأياديhands; favors
يدٌ بيضاءُ تُشرِقُ في الأيادي
Was there not for me, of refined gold,
Flourishing if it spreads with my mention
a white hand shining among hands?
And worthy of your glory and my belief.
منوِّهةٌproclaiming إذاwhen انتشرتْit spread بذكرِيwith mention of me
منوِّهةٌ إذا انتشرتْ بذكرِي
ولائقةٌand fitting بمجدكِfor your glory واعتقاديand my faith
ولائقةٌ بمجدكِ واعتقادي
Proclaiming my name when spread abroad,
My approval is for the breeze of longing to shake you
and befitting your glory and my faith.
To my proximity and your home to miss me.
رضائيmy satisfaction أنthat تهزَّكshould stir you ريحُa breeze شوقٍof longing
رضائي أن تهزَّك ريحُ شوقٍ
إلىtoward قرْبِيnearness to me ويوحشكand makes you lonely افتقاديmy absence
إلى قرْبِي ويوحشك افتقادي
My satisfaction is that a breeze of longing should stir you
If it is not a noble attainment,
to be near me, and that my absence should make you lonely.
It suffices me from your connection in amity.
إذاif ماemphasis لمnot يكنit be نيلاًa gift شريفاًnoble
إذا ما لم يكن نيلاً شريفاً
فحسبيthen enough for me منfrom صِلاتكyour gifts بالودادِwith affection
فحسبي من صِلاتك بالودادِ
If it is not to be a noble gift,
then affection suffices me among your gifts.
Partial English translation: 162 of 164 Arabic lines translated.