مَبيتي مِن دِمَشقَ عَلى فِراشِ

مَبيتي مِن دِمَشقَ عَلى فِراشِ

حَشاهُ لي بِحَرِّ حَشايَ حاشِ

حَشاهُ لي بِحَرِّ حَشايَ حاشِ

My night's lodging in Damascus is upon a bed

My night in Damascus, on a bed

My night in Damascus was spent upon a bed

Which a stuffer filled for me with the heat of my innards.

Whose ripples were made by an ocean of sorrows,

Stuffed for me by the stuffer with the burning heat of my own vitals,

لَقى لَيلٍ كَعَينِ الظَبيِ لَوناً

لَقى لَيلٍ كَعَينِ الظَبيِ لَوناً

وَهَمٍّ كَالحُمَيّا في المُشاشِ

وَهَمٍّ كَالحُمَيّا في المُشاشِ

Prey to a night the color of a gazelle's eye,

I met a night whose color was like the gazelle’s eye,

Facing a night as dark in hue as a gazelle's eye,

And worry like fever in the soft ends of the bones,

And cares like the owl’s in the shrubs.

With anxiety coursing like strong wine through the marrow,

وَشَوقٍ كَالتَوَقُّدِ في فُؤادِ

وَشَوقٍ كَالتَوَقُّدِ في فُؤادِ

كَجَمرٍ في جَوانِحَ كَالمِحاشِ

كَجَمرٍ في جَوانِحَ كَالمِحاشِ

And longing like a blaze within a heart,

And yearning like embers flaming in the heart,

And a longing like a sudden ignition within the heart,

Like live coals amid ribs like charred remains.

Like coals among ribs, so hot and burning.

Like a glowing coal held within the fire-tongs of my ribs.

سَقى الدَمُ كُلَّ نَصلٍ غَيرِ نابٍ

سَقى الدَمُ كُلَّ نَصلٍ غَيرِ نابٍ

وَرَوّى كُلَّ رُمحٍ غَيرِ راشِ

وَرَوّى كُلَّ رُمحٍ غَيرِ راشِ

Blood watered every blade that did not glance off,

The blood irrigated every sharp sword, unsheathed,

Blood gave drink to every blade that was not blunt,

And drenched every unyielding lance.

And satiated every erect spear, unfailing.

And quenched the thirst of every spear that was not frail.

فَإِنَّ الفارِسَ المَنعوتَ خَفَّت

فَإِنَّ الفارِسَ المَنعوتَ خَفَّت

لِمُنصِلِهِ الفَوارِسُ كَالرِياشِ

لِمُنصِلِهِ الفَوارِسُ كَالرِياشِ

For, against the knight I describe, weightless grew

The renowned knight alighted, so the knights

For the celebrated Knight has made light work

The horsemen before his blade, like feathers.

Became to him like feathers blown in the wind.

Of the horsemen, who became like scattered feathers before his blade.

فَقَد أَضحى أَبا الغَمَراتِ يُكنى

فَقَد أَضحى أَبا الغَمَراتِ يُكنى

كَأَنَّ أَبا العَشائِرِ غَيرُ فاشِ

كَأَنَّ أَبا العَشائِرِ غَيرُ فاشِ

He is now called Abu al-Ghamarat, Father of Perils,

He who is called Father of the Downpours could now be called

He has come to be surnamed the Father of Battle-Floods,

As though Abu al-Asha'ir were not widely known.

As if Father of Tribes were someone else.

As though his title 'Father of Clans' were not widely known enough,

وَقَد نُسِيَ الحُسَينُ بِما يُسَمّى

وَقَد نُسِيَ الحُسَينُ بِما يُسَمّى

رَدى الأَبطالِ أَو غَيثَ العِطاشِ

رَدى الأَبطالِ أَو غَيثَ العِطاشِ

And al-Husayn has been forgotten in the names he bears:

Al-Husayn is forgotten, though he was called

And the name al-Husayn has been forgotten for his titles:

Doom of Heroes, or Rain for the Thirsty.

The flower of heroes or rain for the thirsty.

The 'Destruction of Heroes' or the 'Rain for the Thirsty.'

لَقوهُ حاسِراً في دِرعِ صَربٍ

لَقوهُ حاسِراً في دِرعِ صَربٍ

دَقيقِ النَسجِ مُلتَهِبِ الحَواشي

دَقيقِ النَسجِ مُلتَهِبِ الحَواشي

They met him bareheaded in a coat of pure iron,

They met him wearing a coat of close-knit mail

They met him unhelmeted, clad in the armor of patience,

Fine of weave, its edges blazing.

With hot red borders, delicate workmanship.

Finely woven, with borders that seemed to flame.

كَأَنَّ عَلى الجَماجِمِ مِنهُ ناراً

كَأَنَّ عَلى الجَماجِمِ مِنهُ ناراً

وَأَيدي القَومِ أَجنِحَةُ الفَراشِ

وَأَيدي القَومِ أَجنِحَةُ الفَراشِ

As though fire from him burned upon their skulls,

On their heads were fires from it.

It was as if a fire from him descended upon their skulls,

And the men's hands were the wings of moths.

And their hands were like moths’ wings.

While the hands of the foe were frail as the wings of moths.

كَأَنَّ جَوارِيَ المُهَجاتِ ماءٌ

كَأَنَّ جَوارِيَ المُهَجاتِ ماءٌ

يُعاوِدُها المُهَنَّدُ مِن عُطاشِ

يُعاوِدُها المُهَنَّدُ مِن عُطاشِ

As though the flowing streams of lifeblood were water,

The interior of their skulls were like water

It was as if their flowing souls were merely water

To which the Indian blade returns in unquenchable thirst.

Returned by the blender to quench their thirst.

To which the Indian sword returned again and again in thirst.

فَوَلَّوا بَينَ ذي روحٍ مُفاتٍ

فَوَلَّوا بَينَ ذي روحٍ مُفاتٍ

وَذي رَمَقٍ وَذي عَقلٍ مُطاشِ

وَذي رَمَقٍ وَذي عَقلٍ مُطاشِ

So they departed: some bereft of life,

They turned away stunned, without life or spirit,

So they turned and fled, leaving behind those whose souls were departing,

Some barely breathing, some with minds unhinged.

Bewildered, crazed, minds lost and scattered.

Those gasping their last, and those whose reason had flown,

وَمُنعَفِرٍ لِنَصلِ السَيفِ فيهِ

وَمُنعَفِرٍ لِنَصلِ السَيفِ فيهِ

تَواري الضَبِّ خافَ مِنِ اِحتِراشِ

تَواري الضَبِّ خافَ مِنِ اِحتِراشِ

And some lay in the dust, the sword's blade within them

He whose sword terrified the timid lions

And the one rolled in dust, with the sword-blade deep within,

Hiding like a lizard that feared being caught.

So they shunned its flame, fearing being burned.

Hidden like a lizard burrowing in fear of the hunter.

يُدَمّي بَعضُ أَيدي الخَيلِ بَعضاً

يُدَمّي بَعضُ أَيدي الخَيلِ بَعضاً

وَما بِعُجايَةٍ أَثَرُ اِرتِهاشِ

وَما بِعُجايَةٍ أَثَرُ اِرتِهاشِ

Some of the horses' forelegs bloody others,

Some horses colored others with blood.

The hooves of the horses bloodied one another in the crush,

Yet no leg-tendon bears a mark from brushing.

No weakness to be found in their attack.

Yet not a single hoof showed the mere mark of a stumble.

وَرائِعُها وَحيدٌ لَم يَرُعهُ

وَرائِعُها وَحيدٌ لَم يَرُعهُ

تَباعُدُ جَيشِهِ وَالمُستَجاشِ

تَباعُدُ جَيشِهِ وَالمُستَجاشِ

And their terrifier stood alone, undaunted

His only rein was that no multitude could restrain him

Their terrifier stood alone, unalarmed by

By the distance of his army and the summoned reinforcements.

When his army turned away and withdrew.

The distance of his own army or the lack of reinforcements.

كَأَنَّ تَلَوِّيَ النُشّابِ فيهِ

كَأَنَّ تَلَوِّيَ النُشّابِ فيهِ

تَلَوّي الخوصِ في سَعَفِ العِشاشِ

تَلَوّي الخوصِ في سَعَفِ العِشاشِ

As though the swaying of arrows lodged in him

In him the twisting of the blades was like

As though the twisting flight of arrows around him

Were leaflets swaying in sparse-crowned palms' fronds.

The twisting of dry stalks among the saltwort.

Were but the swaying of palm fronds in a nesting grove.

وَنَهبُ نُفوسِ أَهلِ النَهبِ أَولى

وَنَهبُ نُفوسِ أَهلِ النَهبِ أَولى

بِأَهلِ المَحدِ مِن نَهبِ القُماشِ

بِأَهلِ المَحدِ مِن نَهبِ القُماشِ

And plundering the lives of plunderers is worthier

Better the souls of the robbers be taken

Taking the souls of those who came to plunder is more fitting

Of men of glory than plundering goods.

Than the robbers take the clothes off the people’s backs.

For men of glory, than the mere plundering of goods.

تُشارِكُ في النَدامِ إِذا نَزَلنا

تُشارِكُ في النَدامِ إِذا نَزَلنا

بِطانٌ لا تُشارِكُ في الجِحاشِ

بِطانٌ لا تُشارِكُ في الجِحاشِ

When we halt, there join us at the drinking bouts

My mount shares my regret when we halt

Our lean horses share in our company when we dismount,

Big-bellied men who do not join the fighting.

Though it did not share in the attack.

Empty-bellied, taking no part in playful frolic.

وَمِن قَبلِ النِطاحِ وَقَبلَ ياني

وَمِن قَبلِ النِطاحِ وَقَبلَ ياني

تَبينُ لَكَ النِعاجُ مِنَ الكِباشِ

تَبينُ لَكَ النِعاجُ مِنَ الكِباشِ

And before the head-butting, and before 'yani',

Before the striking of forelegs and behind the striking,

And before the collision of horns, and before the clash,

You can distinguish the ewes from the rams.

The ewes are distinguished from the rams.

The ewes are clearly distinguished from the rams.

فَيا بَحرَ البُحورِ وَلا أُوَرّي

فَيا بَحرَ البُحورِ وَلا أُوَرّي

وَيا مَلِكَ المُلوكِ وَلا أَحاشي

وَيا مَلِكَ المُلوكِ وَلا أَحاشي

So, O sea of seas—and I do not equivocate—

O Ocean of oceans I complain to none but You,

O Sea of Seas—and I speak without concealment—

And O king of kings—and I make no exception—

O King of kings, I dissimulate to none but You.

O King of Kings—and I make no exception;

كَأَنَّكَ ناظِرٌ في كُلِّ قَلبٍ

كَأَنَّكَ ناظِرٌ في كُلِّ قَلبٍ

فَما يَخفى عَلَيكَ مَحَلُّ غاشِ

فَما يَخفى عَلَيكَ مَحَلُّ غاشِ

As though you look within every heart,

It is as though You look into every heart

It is as if you gaze directly into every heart,

So no deceiver's place is hidden from you.

So nothing is concealed from You, wherever it hides.

So that the hiding place of the deceiver is never lost to you.

أَأَصبِرُ عَنكَ لَم تَبخَل بِشَيءٍ

أَأَصبِرُ عَنكَ لَم تَبخَل بِشَيءٍ

وَلَم تَقبَل عَلَيَّ كَلامَ واشِ

وَلَم تَقبَل عَلَيَّ كَلامَ واشِ

Can I endure being without you, who withheld nothing

Shall I be patient when You did not withhold

Can I bear patience away from you, when you withheld nothing,

And never accepted a slanderer's words against me?

Anything, nor did You address me with gentle words?

And accepted no slanderer's word against me?

وَكَيفَ وَأَنتَ في الرُؤَساءِ عِندي

وَكَيفَ وَأَنتَ في الرُؤَساءِ عِندي

عَتيقُ الطَيرِ ما بَينَ الخِشاشِ

عَتيقُ الطَيرِ ما بَينَ الخِشاشِ

And how could I, when among chiefs, in my eyes, you are

To me among all leaders You are like the old eagle

How could I, when among all chiefs I deem you

The noble bird of prey among the small birds?

Among birds, from the time of the sand grouse.

A noble falcon amidst a swarm of crawling insects?

فَما خاشيكَ لِلتَكذيبِ راجٍ

فَما خاشيكَ لِلتَكذيبِ راجٍ

وَلا راجيكَ لِلتَخيّبِ خاشي

وَلا راجيكَ لِلتَخيّبِ خاشي

So none who fear you hope to see your word belied,

I hope You won’t call me a liar out of fear,

He who fears you has no hope that your threat is false,

And none who hope in you fear disappointment.

Nor do I fear that You’ll disappoint me out of hope.

And he who hopes in you has no fear of disappointment.

تُطاعِنُ كُلُّ خَيلٍ كُنتَ فيها

تُطاعِنُ كُلُّ خَيلٍ كُنتَ فيها

وَلَو كانوا النَبيطَ عَلى الجِحاشِ

وَلَو كانوا النَبيطَ عَلى الجِحاشِ

Every cavalry troop you join fights with lances,

You lead every horse that you ride,

Any cavalry that holds you pierces through the foe,

Even if they were Nabataeans on donkey colts.

Even if they were leaping goats on the hillside.

Even if they were mere peasants riding on donkeys.

أَرى الناسَ الظَلامَ وَأَنتَ نورٌ

أَرى الناسَ الظَلامَ وَأَنتَ نورٌ

وَإِنّي مِنهُمُ لَإِلَيكَ عاشِ

وَإِنّي مِنهُمُ لَإِلَيكَ عاشِ

I see mankind as darkness, and you as light,

I see people in darkness but You are the light,

I see mankind as darkness, while you are the light;

And I, among them, surely seek your light.

And I am one of them, drawn to You.

And I, stumbling among them, seek my way to you.

بُليتُ بِهِم بَلاءَ الوَردِ يَلقى

بُليتُ بِهِم بَلاءَ الوَردِ يَلقى

أُنوفاً هُنَّ أَولى بِالخِشاشِ

أُنوفاً هُنَّ أَولى بِالخِشاشِ

I am afflicted with them as roses are, meeting

I suffered with them - the roses suffer

I have been plagued by them, as the rose is plagued

Noses more deserving of a nose-peg.

From thorns - though they’re more fit for saltwort!

By noses that deserve only the camel's wooden nose-ring.

عَلَيكَ إِذا هُزِلتَ مَعَ اللَيالي

عَلَيكَ إِذا هُزِلتَ مَعَ اللَيالي

وَحَولَكَ حينَ تَسمَنُ في هِراشِ

وَحَولَكَ حينَ تَسمَنُ في هِراشِ

Against you when you grow lean with the passing nights,

When you joke on nights of insomnia,

They are a burden upon you when you are lean with time,

And around you in snarling fights when you grow fat.

And fatten on ashes around you,

Yet crowd around you in a frenzy when you prosper.

أَتى خَبَرُ الأَميرِ فَقيلَ كَرّوا

أَتى خَبَرُ الأَميرِ فَقيلَ كَرّوا

فَقُلتُ نَعَم وَلَو لَحِقوا بِشاشِ

فَقُلتُ نَعَم وَلَو لَحِقوا بِشاشِ

News of the emir arrived, and they said, 'Turn back!'

Word came of the Commander, and it was said "Attack!"

When news of the Prince arrived, they said, 'Turn back!'

I said, 'Yes—even if they have reached Shash.'

I said "Yes, even if they flee to Sas!"

I said, 'Yes, even if they have reached the lands of Shash!'

يَقودُهُمُ إِلى الهَيجا لَجوجٌ

يَقودُهُمُ إِلى الهَيجا لَجوجٌ

يُسِنُّ قِتالُهُ وَالكَرُّ ناشي

يُسِنُّ قِتالُهُ وَالكَرُّ ناشي

One unrelenting leads them into battle,

A stubborn lout leads them into pitched battle

Leading them to the fray is a persistent warrior,

His fighting grows old, while his charge stays young.

Whose fighting favors him as does ill-temper.

Whose combat is seasoned, though the attack be fresh.

وَأَسرِجَتِ الكُمَيتُ فَناقَلَت بي

وَأَسرِجَتِ الكُمَيتُ فَناقَلَت بي

عَلى إِعقاقِها وَعَلى غِشاشي

عَلى إِعقاقِها وَعَلى غِشاشي

The dark-bay mare was saddled and sped with me,

I mounted my short-haired camel mare then she flew,

The bay mare was saddled, and she carried me swiftly,

Despite her pregnancy and my haste.

Bearing me on her back though she was not broken.

Despite the burden of her foal and the urgency of my haste;

مِنَ المُتَمَرِّداتِ تُذَبُّ عَنها

مِنَ المُتَمَرِّداتِ تُذَبُّ عَنها

بِرُمحي كُلُّ طائِرَةِ الرَشاشِ

بِرُمحي كُلُّ طائِرَةِ الرَشاشِ

One of the headstrong mares; from her is warded off

My spear removes every bird of prey

One of the rebellious breed, driven to protect her rider

By my lance every blow that scatters blood.

From her, though she clash with them.

By my spear against every flying menace that draws near.

وَلَو عُقِرَت لَبَلَّغَني إِلَيهِ

وَلَو عُقِرَت لَبَلَّغَني إِلَيهِ

حَديثٌ عَنهُ يَحمِلُ كُلَّ ماشِ

حَديثٌ عَنهُ يَحمِلُ كُلَّ ماشِ

Even if she were hamstrung, I would be brought to him

Even if she were mangled, she would carry to me

And were she hamstrung, I would still be conveyed to him

By news of him that carries every man on foot.

A message about it, conveying all she bore.

By the fame of his deeds that carries every walker.

إِذا ذُكِرَت مَواقِفُهُ لِحافٍ

إِذا ذُكِرَت مَواقِفُهُ لِحافٍ

وَشيكَ فَما يُنَكِّسُ لِاِنتِقاشِ

وَشيكَ فَما يُنَكِّسُ لِاِنتِقاشِ

If his stands in battle are recounted to a barefoot man,

When his battle positions were mentioned

If his battles were recounted to one walking barefoot,

And a thorn pierces him, he will not stoop to draw it out.

To one who had met them, he did not cower.

He would speed on, not bending to pull a thorn from his foot.

تُزيلُ مَخافَةَ المَصبورِ عَنهُ

تُزيلُ مَخافَةَ المَصبورِ عَنهُ

وَتُلهي ذا الفِياشِ عَنِ الفِياشِ

وَتُلهي ذا الفِياشِ عَنِ الفِياشِ

They lift fear from the man held for execution,

It removes the fear of the patient one from him

It removes the fear from the heart of the captive,

And distract the boaster from his boasting.

And distracts the shivering one from shivering.

And distracts the boaster from his empty boasts.

وَما وُجِدَ اِشتِياقٌ كَاِشتِياقي

وَما وُجِدَ اِشتِياقٌ كَاِشتِياقي

وَلا عُرِفَ اِنكِماشٌ كَاِنكِماشي

وَلا عُرِفَ اِنكِماشٌ كَاِنكِماشي

And no longing like my longing has been found,

No yearning was found like my yearning,

No longing has ever been found to match my longing,

Nor any eager haste like mine ever known.

No withdrawal like my withdrawal.

Nor has such swift resolve ever been known.

فَسِرتُ إِلَيكَ في طَلَبِ المَعالي

فَسِرتُ إِلَيكَ في طَلَبِ المَعالي

وَسارَ سِوايَ في طَلَبِ المَعاشِ

وَسارَ سِوايَ في طَلَبِ المَعاشِ

So I journeyed to you in pursuit of high honors,

I set out to You in search of glories

So I journeyed to you in pursuit of glory,

While others journeyed in pursuit of a living.

While my peers set out in search of livelihood.

While others journeyed only in search of bread.