سَمَت لَكَ حاجَةٌ مِن حُبِّ سَلمى

سَمَت لَكَ حاجَةٌ مِن حُبِّ سَلمى

وَصَحبُكَ بَينَ عَروى وَالطواحِ

وَصَحبُكَ بَينَ عَروى وَالطواحِ

A longing born of love for Salma has risen in you,

A need of you arose in me from Salma's love

while your companions are between Arwa and al-Tawah.

While your people were between valleys and sands

فَبِتُّ كَذي اللَذاذَةِ خالَسَتهُ

فَبِتُّ كَذي اللَذاذَةِ خالَسَتهُ

فُراتُ المَزجِ عاليَةُ الرِباحِ

فُراتُ المَزجِ عاليَةُ الرِباحِ

So I spent the night like a pleasure-seeker beguiled by

So I remained in this sweetness, having tasted it

a wine sweet when mixed, yielding handsome profits.

Euphrates of commixture, lofty winds

سَباها تاجرٌ مِن أَذرِعاتٍ

سَباها تاجرٌ مِن أَذرِعاتٍ

بِأَغلاءِ العَطِيَّةِ وَالسَماحِ

بِأَغلاءِ العَطِيَّةِ وَالسَماحِ

A merchant from Adhri'at had bought it

A merchant valued it with arms

with lavish payment and generosity.

With expensive gift and generosity

وَلَستَ بِعازِفٍ عَن ذِكرٍ سَلمى

وَلَستَ بِعازِفٍ عَن ذِكرٍ سَلمى

وَقَلبُكَ عَن تُماضِرَ غَيرُ صاحِ

وَقَلبُكَ عَن تُماضِرَ غَيرُ صاحِ

And you do not turn away from remembering Salma,

And you are not one who abstains from mention of Salma

and your heart has not sobered from Tumadir.

And your heart is not deaf to commiseration

تَبَسَّمُ عَن حَصى بَرَدٍ عَذابٍ

تَبَسَّمُ عَن حَصى بَرَدٍ عَذابٍ

أَغَرَّ كَأَنَّهُ نورُ الأَقاحي

أَغَرَّ كَأَنَّهُ نورُ الأَقاحي

She smiles, revealing sweet hailstone pebbles,

You smile about stones of cold torture

radiantly white, like daisy blossoms.

As if it were the light of meadows

إِذا ما ذُقتَهُ عَسَلٌ مُصَفّى

إِذا ما ذُقتَهُ عَسَلٌ مُصَفّى

جَنَتهُ النَحلُ في عَلَمٍ شَناحِ

جَنَتهُ النَحلُ في عَلَمٍ شَناحِ

If ever you taste it, it is purified honey,

When you taste it, filtered honey

gathered by bees on a towering mountain.

Which bees stored in a waving banner

وَقَد قَطَعَت تُماضِرُ بَطنَ قَوٍّ

وَقَد قَطَعَت تُماضِرُ بَطنَ قَوٍّ

يَمانِيَةِ التَهَجُّرِ وَالرَواحِ

يَمانِيَةِ التَهَجُّرِ وَالرَواحِ

Tumadir has crossed the valley of Qaww,

And the commiseration cut through the belly of the troop

Yemen-bound in her midday and evening travel.

Yemeni in estrangement and departure

كَأَنَّ حُمولَها لَمّا اِستَقَلَّت

كَأَنَّ حُمولَها لَمّا اِستَقَلَّت

بِذي الأَحزابِ أَسفَلَ مِن نَساحِ

بِذي الأَحزابِ أَسفَلَ مِن نَساحِ

As though her laden camels, when they moved off

As if when its burdens lightened

at Dhu al-Ahzab, below Nasah,

Below Dhi al-Ahzab, lower than a smooth rock

خَلايا ذَنبَريٍّ عابِراتٍ

خَلايا ذَنبَريٍّ عابِراتٍ

عَدَو لَي عامِداتٍ لِلقِراحِ

عَدَو لَي عامِداتٍ لِلقِراحِ

were a Dhanbari's great ships, crossing

Cells of fleeing gazelles

Adaw Lay, bound for clear waters.

Enemies not ceasing, earnest in journey

كَأَنَّ مِنازِلاً بِالفَأوِ مِنها

كَأَنَّ مِنازِلاً بِالفَأوِ مِنها

مِدادُ مُعَلِّمٍ يَتلوهُ واحي

مِدادُ مُعَلِّمٍ يَتلوهُ واحي

As though her campsites at al-Faw

As if places therein by a burrow

were a teacher's ink, read by a scribe.

Ink of a teacher reciting it by heart

وَما يَومٌ تُحييهِ سُلَيمى

وَما يَومٌ تُحييهِ سُلَيمى

بِخَبراءِ البِجادَةِ أَو صَباحِ

بِخَبراءِ البِجادَةِ أَو صَباحِ

No day that Sulayma brings to life

And not a day Salima revives

at Khabra' al-Bijada or Sabah

With news of swordsmanship or morning

بِمَشؤومٍ زِيارَتُهُ طَويلٍ

بِمَشؤومٍ زِيارَتُهُ طَويلٍ

وَلا نَحسٍ مِنَ الأَيّامِ ضاحي

وَلا نَحسٍ مِنَ الأَيّامِ ضاحي

is a long day of ill-omened visitation,

With ominous visit, lasting

nor an unlucky, sunlit day among days.

Nor misfortune from the days appearing

وَما أَدماءُ مُؤَلِفَةٌ سَلاماً

وَما أَدماءُ مُؤَلِفَةٌ سَلاماً

وَسَدراً بَينَ تَنهِيَةٍ وَراحِ

وَسَدراً بَينَ تَنهِيَةٍ وَراحِ

No white antelope, at home among acacias

And not bloodshed comprising peace

and lote trees between Tanhiya and Rah,

And lotuses between end and respite

تَضَمَّنَها مَسارِبُ ذي قِساءٍ

تَضَمَّنَها مَسارِبُ ذي قِساءٍ

مَكانَ النَصلِ مِن بَدَنِ السِلاحِ

مَكانَ النَصلِ مِن بَدَنِ السِلاحِ

enclosed by the byways of Dhu Qisa',

Containing it passages of harshness

like a blade within the body of a weapon,

Instead of blade from the sword's body

بِأَحسَنَ مِن تُماضِرَ يَومَ قامَت

بِأَحسَنَ مِن تُماضِرَ يَومَ قامَت

تودِعُنا لِبَينٍ فَاِنسِراحِ

تودِعُنا لِبَينٍ فَاِنسِراحِ

is fairer than Tumadir on the day she stood

With better than commiseration the day it stood

bidding us farewell for parting and departure.

To bid us farewell for separation and dispersal

أَلا أَبلِغ بَني قَطَنٍ رَسولاً

أَلا أَبلِغ بَني قَطَنٍ رَسولاً

كَلامَ أَخٍ يُعاتِبُ غَيرَ لاحِ

كَلامَ أَخٍ يُعاتِبُ غَيرَ لاحِ

Listen: convey a message to the sons of Qatan,

Shall I convey to Bani Qatn a messenger

the words of a brother who reproaches without reviling.

Words of a brother reproaching without subtlety?

فَما فارَقتُهُم حَتّى اَظَنّوا

فَما فارَقتُهُم حَتّى اَظَنّوا

وَبَيَّنَ مِن شَواكِلِهِم نَواحي

وَبَيَّنَ مِن شَواكِلِهِم نَواحي

I did not leave them until they became suspect,

So I did not part from them until they thought

and facets of their natures were revealed.

And the keening of them became manifest

وَما تُخلى لَكُم إِبِلي إِذا ما رَعَت

وَما تُخلى لَكُم إِبِلي إِذا ما رَعَت

قُطمانَ أَو كَنَفَي رِكاحِ

قُطمانَ أَو كَنَفَي رِكاحِ

My camels will not be left at your mercy when they graze

And I do not leave my camels for you when they pasture

in Qutman or on the two sides of Rikah.

Qutman or Kanafir meadow

وَلَم تَحموا عَلى نَعَمِ اِبنِ سُؤرٍ

وَلَم تَحموا عَلى نَعَمِ اِبنِ سُؤرٍ

صَوامَ إِلى اِذيَرعَ فَاللَياحِ

صَوامَ إِلى اِذيَرعَ فَاللَياحِ

Nor have you kept Ibn Su'r's herds out of

And they did not forbid the bounty of Ibn Su'ur

Sawam, as far as Idhyara' and then al-Layah.

Fasting to Idhira'a so Al-Layah

فَما لَهُم بِمَرتَعِهِ مُنَدّى

فَما لَهُم بِمَرتَعِهِ مُنَدّى

وَلا بِحِياضِهِ أَدنى نِضاحِ

وَلا بِحِياضِهِ أَدنى نِضاحِ

They have no watering-ground in his pasture,

So for them in its pasture there is no refuge

nor the slightest splash from his pools.

Nor in its enclosure least drink

تَشَمَّسُ دونَها عَوفُ بنِ كَعبٍ

تَشَمَّسُ دونَها عَوفُ بنِ كَعبٍ

بِبَيضِ المَشرَفِيَّةِ وَالرِماحِ

بِبَيضِ المَشرَفِيَّةِ وَالرِماحِ

Awf ibn Ka'b bristles in their defense,

Awf ibn Ka'b suns himself beneath it

with gleaming Mashrafi swords and spears.

With the whiteness of Al-Mashrafiyyah and spears

وَآلُ مُقاعِسٍ لَم يَخذُلوها

وَآلُ مُقاعِسٍ لَم يَخذُلوها

عَلى حَربٍ أُريدَ وَلا صَلاحِ

عَلى حَربٍ أُريدَ وَلا صَلاحِ

The clan of Muqa'is has not abandoned them,

And the family of Muqais did not fail it

whether war was sought or peace.

Regarding a war I desired, and no peace

وَيَنصُرُها مِن الأَبناءِ جَمعٌ

وَيَنصُرُها مِن الأَبناءِ جَمعٌ

حُماةُ الحَربِ مَكَروهو النِطاحِ

حُماةُ الحَربِ مَكَروهو النِطاحِ

A host from the Abna' comes to their aid,

And a group of sons aid it

champions of war, dreaded in head-on combat.

Protectors of war, disliked for butting

وَباني المَجدِ حِمّانُ بنُ كَعبٍ

وَباني المَجدِ حِمّانُ بنُ كَعبٍ

وَباني المَجدِ وُكِّلَ بِالنَجاحِ

وَباني المَجدِ وُكِّلَ بِالنَجاحِ

And Himman ibn Ka'b is a builder of glory,

And the builder of glory, Himman ibn Ka'b

and the builder of glory is charged with success.

And the builder of glory who was granted success

وَإِن أَدعُ الأَجارِبَ يُنجِدوني

وَإِن أَدعُ الأَجارِبَ يُنجِدوني

بِجَمعٍ لا يُهَدُّ مِن الصِياحِ

بِجَمعٍ لا يُهَدُّ مِن الصِياحِ

If I call upon the Ajarib, they aid me

And if I call on allies they will help me

with a host that shouting cannot break.

With a group the shouts do not confuse

أُولَئِكَ وَالدِي وَعَرَفتُ مِنهُم

أُولَئِكَ وَالدِي وَعَرَفتُ مِنهُم

مَكاني غَيرَ مُؤتَشَبِ المُراحِ

مَكاني غَيرَ مُؤتَشَبِ المُراحِ

Those are my forebears, and from them I have learned

They are my father, and I knew from them

my place, in a fold free of admixture.

My position, not doubting rest

تُقادُ وَراءَها بَينَ الشَماني

تُقادُ وَراءَها بَينَ الشَماني

وَبِصوَةَ كُلُّ سَلهَبَةٍ وَقاحِ

وَبِصوَةَ كُلُّ سَلهَبَةٍ وَقاحِ

Behind them are led, between al-Shamani

Lead after them between esparto grass

and Biswa, every tall, hard-hoofed mare,

And every insolent, offensive Salhabah

وَكُلُّ طِمِرَّةٍ شَنحٍ نَساها

وَكُلُّ طِمِرَّةٍ شَنحٍ نَساها

وَعَجلى الشَدِّ صادِقَةِ المِراحِ

وَعَجلى الشَدِّ صادِقَةِ المِراحِ

and every leaping mare with long thigh-tendons,

And every despicable, branching Timirah

and each swift runner of unfailing spirit,

Forgetting the vehemence of the truthful she-camels

إِذا اِضطَرَبَ الحِزامُ عَلى حَشاها

إِذا اِضطَرَبَ الحِزامُ عَلى حَشاها

مِنَ الأَعمالِ مُضطَرَبَ الوِشاحِ

مِنَ الأَعمالِ مُضطَرَبَ الوِشاحِ

when the girth shakes upon her belly

When the girth is disturbed on their saddle pads

from exertion, with the swaying of a sash;

From toil, the face veil is disturbed

وَخِنذيذٍ تَصيدُ الرَبدَ عَفواً

وَخِنذيذٍ تَصيدُ الرَبدَ عَفواً

وَقُبَّ الأَخدَرِيَّةِ في الصَباحِ

وَقُبَّ الأَخدَرِيَّةِ في الصَباحِ

and a noble steed that hunts dusky ostriches with ease,

And young camels hunting prey heedlessly

and lean Akhdari wild asses in the morning.

And Qub of Al-Khadiriyyah in the morning

كَأَنَّ مَجالَهُنَّ بِبَطنِ رَهبى

كَأَنَّ مَجالَهُنَّ بِبَطنِ رَهبى

إِلى قُطمانَ آثارُ السِلاحِ

إِلى قُطمانَ آثارُ السِلاحِ

As though their courses through the valley of Rahba,

As if their range in Bani Rahbah

as far as Qutman, were scars left by weapons.

Were vestiges of weapons to Qutman

كَأّنَّ وَرايِدَ المُهراتِ فيهِم

كَأّنَّ وَرايِدَ المُهراتِ فيهِم

جَواري السِندِ مُرسَلَةُ السِباحِ

جَواري السِندِ مُرسَلَةُ السِباحِ

As though the approaching fillies among them

As if the cultivated she-camels among them

were maidens of Sind with loose-hanging leather robes.

Were loosened Sind slave girls

كَأَنَّ الشاحِجاتِ بِبَطنِ رَهبى

كَأَنَّ الشاحِجاتِ بِبَطنِ رَهبى

لَدى قُنّاصِها بُدنُ الأَضاحي

لَدى قُنّاصِها بُدنُ الأَضاحي

As though the braying she-asses in the valley of Rahba,

As if the milkers in Bani Rahbah

before their hunters, were camels for sacrifice.

Were carcasses of victims near their hunter

فَمَن يَعمَل إَلَينا قَرضَ صِدقٍ

فَمَن يَعمَل إَلَينا قَرضَ صِدقٍ

عَلى حينِ التَكُشُّفِ وَالشِياحِ

عَلى حينِ التَكُشُّفِ وَالشِياحِ

Whoever gives us a loan in good faith

So whoever lends us sincere loan

in a time of exposure and vigilance,

When destitution and winds stripped bare

تَجِدهُ حينَ يَكشِفُ عَن ثَراهُ

تَجِدهُ حينَ يَكشِفُ عَن ثَراهُ

كَذُخرِ السَمنِ في الأَدَمِ الصَحاحِ

كَذُخرِ السَمنِ في الأَدَمِ الصَحاحِ

you will find it, when its covering earth is uncovered,

Will find it when it uncovers its treasure

like a store of ghee in intact leather skins.

Like clarified butter in unadulterated skin

وَمَن يَعمَل بِغُشٍّ لا يَضِرنا

وَمَن يَعمَل بِغُشٍّ لا يَضِرنا

وَتَأخُذُهُ الدَوائِرُ بِالجُناحِ

وَتَأخُذُهُ الدَوائِرُ بِالجُناحِ

And whoever acts deceitfully cannot harm us,

And he who works with deception does not harm us

and misfortunes seize him for his wrongdoing.

And cycles will take him in their grasp