لِمنto whom الدَّيارُthe dwellings طوامسٌeffaced أعلامُهاtheir landmarks
لِمن الدَّيارُ طوامسٌ أعلامُها
قدalready غُيّرتhave been altered وتُخرَّمتand have been spent أعوامُهاtheir years
قد غُيّرت وتُخرَّمت أعوامُها
To whom belong these dwellings, their landmarks effaced?
The dwellings have guides though their banners are changed,
They have been altered, and their years have been spent.
Their years have passed as their markings are effaced.
دِمَنcamp traces لموذيَbelonging to Mudhi بالعقيقِat al-Aqiq تأبَّدتْbecame desolate
دِمَن لموذيَ بالعقيقِ تأبَّدتْ
وعَفَتْand vanished معالمهاtheir landmarks ومحَّand was effaced مقامُهاtheir dwelling-place
وعَفَتْ معالمها ومحَّ مقامُها
Mudhi's camp traces at al-Aqiq have become desolate,
Who will last at Muwaylih adorned by carnelians,
and their landmarks vanished, their dwelling-place effaced.
When their landmarks are covered and gathering-places erased?
ألوتravaged بهاthem الهوجُthe raging winds السواهكُthe scouring winds برهةًfor a time
ألوت بها الهوجُ السواهكُ برهةً
ومواطرٌand rain clouds متواترٌunceasing تسجامُهاtheir downpour
ومواطرٌ متواترٌ تسجامُها
Raging, scouring winds ravaged them for a time,
There the wild cows with calves remained a while,
and rain clouds with unceasing downpours.
And successive downpours whose runnels interlaced.
مصحتlay deserted وكانand had been بهاthere الجميعُthe whole company فأرحَلواthen they saddled
مصحت وكان بها الجميعُ فأرحَلوا
وُسجاًswift-striding camels تهدُّshatter قوىthe strength الفلاof the desert أزلامُهاtheir arrow-like legs
وُسجاً تهدُّ قوى الفلا أزلامُها
They lay deserted; the whole company had been there, then saddled
All gathered there and then set out on their travels,
swift-striding camels whose arrow-like legs shatter the desert's strength.
Leaving only the fiber shelters of Arfaj folk displaced.
فثوتthen settled بهاthere ظِلمانهاits male ostriches ونعاجهاand its wild cows
فثوت بها ظِلمانها ونعاجها
وتأجَّلتand gathered in herds بعراصهاin its open grounds آرامُهاits white gazelles
وتأجَّلت بعراصها آرامُها
Then its male ostriches and wild cows settled there,
There the shadows remain of its she-goats and lambs,
and its white gazelles gathered in herds in its open grounds.
While the plaster that wrapped its pillars lies frayed.
والعفرُand the dust-colored gazelles عاطفةٌbending tenderly علىover أطْلائهاtheir fawns
والعفرُ عاطفةٌ على أطْلائها
خُرقاًbewildered قضْينَthey spent بأمنِهاin its safety أيامُهاtheir days
خُرقاً قضْينَ بأمنِها أيامُها
And the dust-colored gazelles bent tenderly over their fawns,
Cephalophorus on its high fort gazes down
bewildered creatures, they passed their days in its safety.
At the perforated Yemen huts where the twins were born and raised.
شاقتكَstirred your longing موذيةٌMudhiya غداةَon the morning طويلعٍat Tuwayli'
شاقتكَ موذيةٌ غداةَ طويلعٍ
إذwhen لاحَappeared مبسمهاher smiling mouth وطاحَand fell away لثامُهاher veil
إذ لاحَ مبسمها وطاحَ لثامُها
Mudhiya stirred your longing on the morning at Tuwayli',
You roused Muwaylih one long, shadowed dawn,
when her smiling mouth appeared and her veil fell away.
When the Pleiades smiled and the veil was displaced.
وتجاذبتand she swayed تيهاًin proud coquetry فحينand when تجاذبتshe swayed
وتجاذبت تيهاً فحين تجاذبت
ماجتrippled روادفهاher hips وماسand swayed قوامُهاher figure
ماجت روادفها وماس قوامُها
She swayed in proud coquetry; and when she swayed,
They jostled in confusion till when they jostled,
her hips rippled, and her figure moved gracefully.
Their cushions slid sideways and their necks were abrased.
وبدَتْand she appeared تمايَلُswaying كالقضيبlike a slender bough بدِعصهupon its sand mound
وبدَتْ تمايَلُ كالقضيب بدِعصه
عبثtoyed النسيمthe breeze بهاwith her فسالso flowed هَيامُهاher loose sand
عبث النسيم بها فسال هَيامُها
And she appeared, swaying like a slender bough upon its sand mound;
They swayed their staves, like the swaying of plants
the breeze toyed with her, and her loose sand flowed.
When the winds make their tresses hang down unbraced.
لوif أنَّthat موذيMudhi قابلتfaced بدرthe moon السماof heaven
لو أنَّ موذي قابلت بدر السما
أربىwould excel علىover بدرthe moon التمامِof fullness تمامُهاher perfection
أربى على بدر التمامِ تمامُها
Were Mudhi to face the moon of heaven,
Had Muwaylih faced the full moon- it would vie
her perfection would surpass the full moon's fullness.
With the full moon itself- no perfection erased!
ريَّاfull-fleshed المخَلخلِat the ankle والمسورand wrist غادةٌa tender maiden
ريَّا المخَلخلِ والمسور غادةٌ
جماsmooth and rounded المرافقat the elbows لاnot تَبينُare visible عظامُهاher bones
جما المرافق لا تَبينُ عظامُها
Full-fleshed at ankle and wrist, a tender maiden,
Lightfoot, so delicate, spaced are her steps.
smooth at the elbows, her bones do not show.
Slender, not a bone shows, like metal encased.
غرَّآءُradiant بارعةُsurpassing الجمالِin beauty خريدَةٌa bashful maiden
غرَّآءُ بارعةُ الجمالِ خريدَةٌ
صفراempty الوشاحِat the sash لطيفةdelicate أقداُمهاher feet
صفرا الوشاحِ لطيفة أقداُمها
Radiant, surpassing in beauty, a bashful maiden,
Bright-white, soft, rosy, diaphanous,
slender beneath her sash, with delicate feet.
Fine-textured, enchanting minds through veils delicately laced.
شمسيةُsunlike قمريةٌmoonlike رشئيةٌfawnlike
شمسيةُ قمريةٌ رشئيةٌ
خوطيةٌslender as a shoot شفwasted القلوبَhearts غرامُهاlove of her
خوطيةٌ شف القلوبَ غرامُها
Sunlike, moonlike, fawnlike,
Far apart her eyes, like a mountain-top dwelling
slender as a shoot; love of her has wasted hearts.
With a perforated Yemen robe that is loosely encased.
وبعيدةand far-reaching الطرفينِbetween its two ends طامسةِeffaced الصُّوىthe waymark cairns
وبعيدة الطرفينِ طامسةِ الصُّوى
خَرقٍa vast wilderness تأزَّرwere girdled بالسرابِwith mirage إكامُهاits hillocks
خَرقٍ تأزَّر بالسرابِ إكامُها
And a far-reaching waste, its waymark cairns effaced,
She outstripped Ubayran, her camel surging ahead,
a vast expanse whose hillocks were girdled with mirage,
Her howdah slides sideways, the riding-camel steadfastly paced.
جاوزتهاI crossed it بدِرَفسةٍon a massive she-camel عَيْرانةٍstrong as a wild ass
جاوزتها بدِرَفسةٍ عَيْرانةٍ
عبُلتْwere thickset مناكبهاher shoulders وحفand was sparse لحُامهاher flesh
عبُلتْ مناكبها وحف لحُامها
I crossed it on a massive she-camel, strong as a wild ass,
Curved like the silent ostrich, shawl gathered in,
her shoulders thickset, her flesh lean.
Bending as she brings down the steeds on the valley's broad space.
عوجاءَcrooked-limbed صامتَةِsilent النعامِof footpads شِملةِswift-paced
عوجاءَ صامتَةِ النعامِ شِملةِ
هوجاءheadlong ينتهبُplunders الفلاthe desert إخدامُهاher swift strides
هوجاء ينتهبُ الفلا إخدامُها
Crooked-limbed, silent-footed, swift-paced,
I was as if I rode a weaned she-camel, unbroken,
headlong, her swift strides plundering the desert.
That the noble sir kept for himself from the herd he'd replaced.
وكأنماand as though أناI راكبٌriding دَوِّيةًa desert ostrich
وكأنما أنا راكبٌ دَوِّيةً
سَقفاءlong-legged and stooping أفردهاleft her alone الأصيلَat dusk نعامُهاher fellow ostriches
سَقفاء أفردها الأصيلَ نعامُها
It was as though I rode a desert ostrich,
She flowed, her brightness merging with her shadow,
long-legged and stooping, left alone at dusk by her flock.
Wresting with her hands, striking with her brace.
فسرتso she journeyed by night تخالطُmingling ملعَهاher bounding run بنسيلهاwith her quick trot
فسرت تخالطُ ملعَها بنسيلها
وبهاand with her تقاذفُtoss to and fro بيدهاher desert tracts ورضامهاand her stone-heaps
وبها تقاذفُ بيدها ورضامها
So she journeyed by night, mingling her bounding run with her quick trot,
Was she a terrified creature, bolting away?
and wastes and heaps of rocks tossed her to and fro.
For she suddenly shed her mantle as her restraint gave way.
أفتلكis that one, then أمْor مذعورةٌa frightened one وجريَّةof Wajra
أفتلك أمْ مذعورةٌ وجريَّة
فقدتshe lost لهاof hers ذرعاًa calf فطارthen soared هيامُهاher frenzy
فقدت لها ذرعاً فطار هيامُها
Is it that one, then, or a frightened wild cow of Wajra,
The turtledove spiralled around her in passion,
who had lost her calf, and whose frenzy soared?
Under the umbels where the sands shift and cascade.
ألوىcarried off بفرقدهاher calf الحمامُdeath وراعهاand frightened her
ألوى بفرقدها الحمامُ وراعها
تحتbeneath الدَّجنِةthe darkness بالكثيبby the sand dune حمامُهاher doom
تحت الدَّجنِة بالكثيب حمامُها
Death carried off her calf, and she was frightened
She avoided the slaughtering swords and feared
by her own doom, beneath the darkness at the dune.
The striking hooves as the warriors came charging apace.
فنجتْso she escaped محاذرةَwary of الحتوفِdeadly perils وأوجستْand sensed
فنجتْ محاذرةَ الحتوفِ وأوجستْ
رِكزاًa faint sound فأقبلthen arose بالنّحافat al-Nihaf رغامُهاher lowing
رِكزاً فأقبل بالنّحاف رغامُها
She escaped, wary of deadly perils, and sensed
At dawn, Muwaylih's horsemen departed veiled,
a faint sound; at al-Nihaf her lowing rose.
Zawra's sides scored where the darts found their place.
نزحتcarried far away يموذيةO Mudhiya الفوارسthe horsemen طيةa journey
نزحت يموذية الفوارس طية
زوراءُfar and winding وانشعبand split apart الغداةthis morning لمامُهاtheir gathering
زوراءُ وانشعب الغداة لمامُها
A journey has carried the horsemen far away, O Mudhiya,
Hearts yearn for Muwaylih but still her blamers
a far-winding one; their gathering split apart this morning.
Will ever continue to censure her and debase.
شغفتwere enthralled بموذيةwith Mudhiya القلوبُthe hearts ولمand never تزلceased
شغفت بموذية القلوبُ ولم تزل
أبداًever يكرِّرُrepeats لوَمهاblame of her لوَّامُهاher reproachers
أبداً يكرِّرُ لوَمها لوَّامُها
Hearts are enthralled by Mudhiya, and without cease
Do you not know that I am Muwaylih's sultan,
her reproachers repeat their blame of her.
Scion of great 'Amir's line, glory and fame's fount unerased?
أتراكِcould it be that you لاnot تدرينyou know موذيَO Mudhi أننيthat I
أتراكِ لا تدرين موذيَ أنني
سلطانthe ruler عترةof the clan عامرٍof Amir فهامُهاits keen-minded one
سلطان عترة عامرٍ فهامُها
Do you really not know, Mudhi, that I
Her roaring, her prowling, her snarling, her spying,
am ruler of Amir's clan, its man of keen understanding,
Her smiting, her spiting, her slaying, her waste.
وُمهابهاand its dreaded champion نهَّابهاits plunderer دعّيسهاits fierce spear-thruster
وُمهابها نهَّابها دعّيسها
مرّيسهاits seasoned fighter طعانهاits lancer طعامهاits lavish feeder
مرّيسها طعانها طعامها
its dreaded champion, its plunderer, its fierce spear-thruster,
The clutter her carrion-eaters made when they clustered!
its seasoned fighter, its lancer, its lavish feast-giver,
Turn back her curved neck and the gulls she'll displace.
جحجاحُهاits magnanimous chief كيفhowever انتمتit traces its descent كرّارهاits tireless charger
جحجاحُها كيف انتمت كرّارها
إنif أدبرتit retreats غطريفهاits noble lord قَمقامُهاits mighty chief
إن أدبرت غطريفها قَمقامُها
its great chief, however it traces its descent, its tireless charger
When kings vie in glory, I lead the advance,
if it retreats—its noble lord, its mighty chief?
I marshal their columns in me all excellences encased.
وإذاand when الملوكُthe kings تساجلتvie with one another لفضيلةِfor distinction
وإذا الملوكُ تساجلت لفضيلةِ
فأناthen I مُقدمُam foremost شوسهاamong their fierce warriors وإمامُهاand their leader
فأنا مُقدمُ شوسها وإمامُها
When kings vie for distinction,
I'm the falcon, the hawk of all kings and their vengeance,
then I am foremost among their fierce warriors, and their leader.
Their discipline, fury, their darkening cloud mass that's amassed.
وأناand I غضنفرةthe lion الملوكof kings وصقرهاand their falcon
وأنا غضنفرة الملوك وصقرها
وقريعهاand their champion وخِضمُّهاand their vast sea وغَمامُهاand their rain cloud
وقريعها وخِضمُّها وغَمامُها
I am the lion of kings and their falcon,
I killed kings in valor and generosity,
their champion, their vast sea, their rain cloud.
So the bravest salute me, extolling my graces.
فقتُI surpassed الملوكthe kings شجاعةًin courage وسماحةand generosity
فقتُ الملوك شجاعةً وسماحة
فأقرّso acknowledged ليto me شجعانهاtheir brave men وكرامُهاand their generous men
فأقرّ لي شجعانها وكرامُها
I surpassed kings in courage and generosity,
My might brings the foe to his knees, with my bounty
so their brave and generous men conceded it to me.
The clouds overflow, raining gifts without haste.
بأسيmy might تذلُّare humbled لهby it العِدىthe enemies ومَواهبيand my gifts
بأسي تذلُّ له العِدى ومَواهبي
دَيمsteady rains يفيضُpours علىover الوفودthe delegations غمامُهاtheir clouds
دَيم يفيضُ على الوفود غمامُها
My might humbles enemies, and my gifts
With my pleasure, mankind is abased, while my pride
are steady rains whose clouds pour over the delegations.
Together with their lives and their turtle-doves chaste.
وبراحتيand in my palm ذلُّthe abasement العبادِof the people وعزُّهاand their honor
وبراحتي ذلُّ العبادِ وعزُّها
قُرناthe two are paired معاًtogether وحياتهاand their life وحِمامُهاand their death
قُرنا معاً وحياتها وحِمامُها
In my palm are the people's abasement and their honor,
My virtues are countless as stars, my ambition
joined together, and their life and death.
Is loftier than the pleiades' cluster encased.
ومناقبيand my virtues عددthe number of النجومthe stars وهمَّتيand my ambition
ومناقبي عدد النجوم وهمَّتي
يعلوَrises above مصامَthe station الفرقدينof the two Farqad stars مصامُهاits station
يعلوَ مصامَ الفرقدين مصامُها
My virtues are as numerous as the stars, and my ambition—
I'm the quintessence of all Murr's line,
its station rises above that of the two Farqad stars.
Foremost in the thick where the kings' necks abrade.
وأناand I المصَّفىthe refined one عسجدٌgold منfrom عسجدgold
وأنا المصَّفى عسجدٌ من عسجد
فيin حمأةٍblack mire صيدthe haughty ones الملوكamong kings رغامُهاits dust
في حمأةٍ صيد الملوك رغامُها
I am refined gold, gold sprung from gold,
I'm the son of Nubuhan's son Nabhan, who held
amid black mire whose dust is the proud kings.
The kings' reins while their rule his dominion embraced.
وأناand I ابنُthe son نبهانَof Nabhan بنِson نبهانof Nabhan الذيwho
وأنا ابنُ نبهانَ بنِ نبهان الذي
ملكruled الملوكthe kings وفيand in يديهhis two hands زمامُهاtheir reins
ملك الملوك وفي يديه زمامُها
I am the son of Nabhan son of Nabhan, who
I'm the brother of Hilm, when the confused kings
ruled kings, their reins in his two hands.
Rave wildly, their wits by illusions replaced.
وأخوand a possessor الحلومof sound judgment إذاwhen الملوكthe kings تطايشتgrew reckless
وأخو الحلوم إذا الملوك تطايشت
آراؤهاtheir opinions وتسافهتand turned foolish أحلامُهاtheir minds
آراؤها وتسافهت أحلامُها
I possess sound judgment when kings grow reckless
And if generous deeds are recalled, I'm the foremost -
in their opinions, and their minds lapse into folly.
After my father - vying in glories retraced.
وإذاand when ذكرنَare recalled المكرماتnoble deeds فاننيthen I
وإذا ذكرنَ المكرمات فانني
تاللهِby God بعدafter أبيmy father الهمامthe noble champion همامُهاtheir noble champion
تاللهِ بعد أبي الهمام همامُها
And when noble deeds are recalled, I am—
I'm the one who controlled all the kings combined,
by God, after my noble father—their noble champion.
Their elders and youths bowing down when I faced.
وأناand I الذيthe one who سادَbecame lord over الملوكَthe kings بأسرهاall of them
وأنا الذي سادَ الملوكَ بأسرها
ولهُand to him تواضعَhumbled themselves كهلهاtheir elders وغلامُهاand their youths
ولهُ تواضعَ كهلها وغلامُها
I am the one who became lord over all the kings,
From blessed ancestral line of prophets I'm sprung,
and to whom their elders and youths humbled themselves.
A servant of kings, yet most splendidly graced.
منfrom دوحةٍa great tree هوديَّةٍof Hud's line نبويةٍprophetic
من دوحةٍ هوديَّةٍ نبويةٍ
بذَّاخةٍtowering مولىthe master الملوكof kings غلامُهاits young scion
بذَّاخةٍ مولى الملوك غلامُها
From a prophetic tree of Hud's line,
For we are the noblest kings, the height of glory,
towering, whose young scion is master of kings.
None rivals our name when perfection is traced.
ولنحنand indeed we أعيانُare the foremost الملوكof kings وصيدهاand their proud ones
ولنحن أعيانُ الملوك وصيدها
ولنحنand indeed we إِنif ذكرis mentioned التمامperfection تمامُهاare their perfection
ولنحن إِن ذكر التمام تمامُها
We are indeed the foremost of kings and their proudest,
and if perfection is mentioned, we are indeed their perfection.
Partial English translation: 76 of 78 Arabic lines translated.