قَدْindeed عَجِبْتْmarveled نَضْرَةُNadra مِنْat تَهْداجِيmy faltering gait
قَدْ عَجِبْتْ نَضْرَةُ مِنْ تَهْداجِي
مُخْتَضِعاbent low أَهُمُّI attempt بِالهِمْلاجِan ambling gait
مُخْتَضِعا أَهُمُّ بِالهِمْلاجِ
Nadra has indeed marveled at my faltering gait,
I am amazed at the radiance of your face, bowing humbly,
Bent low, I try to amble along.
As if you were preoccupied with grief after being joined together.
إِذْwhen رَقَّgrew thin بَعْدَafter مُدْمَجِtightly compacted الإِدْماجِcompacting
إِذْ رَقَّ بَعْدَ مُدْمَجِ الإِدْماجِ
وَدُمْلُجِيٍّand bracelet-rounded حَسَنِhandsome الدِمْلاجِrounded fullness
وَدُمْلُجِيٍّ حَسَنِ الدِمْلاجِ
When it grew thin after being so tightly compacted,
With a soft necklace and prominent breasts,
And bracelet-rounded, handsomely formed—
My neck was bent and my limbs emaciated,
مَجْدُولُcorded flesh عُنْقِيof my neck وَبَدَتand appeared أَوْداجِيmy jugular veins
مَجْدُولُ عُنْقِي وَبَدَت أَوْداجِي
بَعْدَafter مِعَنٍّa headlong rover فيin الصِباyouthful passion مَعَّاجِconstantly wheeling
بَعْدَ مِعَنٍّ في الصِبا مَعَّاجِ
The corded flesh of my neck—and my jugular veins showed.
After being inclined to pleasure and amusement in my youth.
After I had been headlong in youth, constantly wheeling,
I do not find rest from the insistence of the obstinate,
لاnot يَرْعَوِيholds back تَعَمُّجَrestless roaming العَمَّاجِof the rover
لا يَرْعَوِي تَعَمُّجَ العَمَّاجِ
عَنْfrom وَصْلِunion with كُلِّevery آنِسٍcompanionable مِبْهاجِjoy-bringing
عَنْ وَصْلِ كُلِّ آنِسٍ مِبْهاجِ
Never holding back, with a rover's restless roaming,
Or union with every intimate, delightful companion.
From joining every charming, delightful companion,
Leaning on her elbow fluttering coquettishly,
مَيالَةٍswaying بِالكَفَلِwith her rump الرَجْراجِsoftly quivering
مَيالَةٍ بِالكَفَلِ الرَجْراجِ
فِيin خَدَلٍsoft plumpness مِنْهَاof her وَفيand in ارْتِجَاجِquivering
فِي خَدَلٍ مِنْهَا وَفي ارْتِجَاجِ
Swaying with her softly quivering rump,
Swaying with a gait that stirs passion,
In her soft fullness and her trembling motion.
As if she were a leaf shaking on a branch.
كَأَنَّهَاas though she فِيin الرَيْطِlight wraps ذِيpossessing الأَراجِfragrance
كَأَنَّهَا فِي الرَيْطِ ذِي الأَراجِ
بَرْدِيَّةٌa papyrus shoot رَيَّاwell-watered مِنَamong العِذْلاجِtender stems
بَرْدِيَّةٌ رَيَّا مِنَ العِذْلاجِ
As though, in her fragrant wraps,
A coolness radiating from a clear complexion,
She were a well-watered papyrus shoot among tender stems,
White, yellow, with the yellowness of ivory.
بَيْضاءُwhite صَفْراءُyellowish اصْفِرَارَthe yellowing العاجِof ivory
بَيْضاءُ صَفْراءُ اصْفِرَارَ العاجِ
فِيin نَعَجٍradiant whiteness مِنْهاof her وَفِيand in انْبِلاجِbright radiance
فِي نَعَجٍ مِنْها وَفِي انْبِلاجِ
White, yellow with ivory's yellow hue,
Bleating among them and mingling together,
In her radiant whiteness and her shining glow,
Like palm trees afflicted with a disease.
سَدْرَىdazed بِهَاin her داءٌan affliction مِنَfrom الغُناجِcoquetry
سَدْرَى بِهَا داءٌ مِنَ الغُناجِ
فِيamong مُرْشِقاتٍslender women لَسْنَthey are not بِالأَهْماجِof the coarse rabble
فِي مُرْشِقاتٍ لَسْنَ بِالأَهْماجِ
Dazed, afflicted with the sickness of coquetry,
With bright faces but not cheeky,
Among slender women, no coarse rabble,
Nor impudent, joking and laughing,
وَلَسْنَand they are not باِلخَرامِلِof the foolish women الأهْواجreckless
وَلَسْنَ باِلخَرامِلِ الأهْواج
يَضحَكنthey smile عنrevealing مَثلوجَةِsnow-white الأَثلاجِteeth
يَضحَكن عن مَثلوجَةِ الأَثلاجِ
Nor foolish, reckless women.
Exposing their teeth like hailstones.
They smile, revealing snow-white teeth,
As if lightning flashed during a commotion,
لَهاhers is اللَمىdusky lip-color منfrom لُعسَةِa dark tinge الإِدعاجِdeep blackness
لَها اللَمى من لُعسَةِ الإِدعاجِ
كَأَنَّas though بَرْقاًlightning طارَdarted فِيin إِرْعاجِswift flashing
كَأَنَّ بَرْقاً طارَ فِي إِرْعاجِ
Her lips bearing the dusky hue of deep blackness.
Their laughter with its radiance.
As though lightning darted in swift flashes—
They teased me with their swaying hips,
إِبْراقُهُنَّtheir flashing الضَحْكَlaughter ذاpossessing الإِبْلاجِradiance
إِبْراقُهُنَّ الضَحْكَ ذا الإِبْلاجِ
غَيَّقْنَthey led astray بِالمَكْحُولَةِwith kohl-darkened eyes السَواجِيlanguid
غَيَّقْنَ بِالمَكْحُولَةِ السَواجِي
Such is the brilliance of their radiant laughter.
The devil of every arrogant, audacious one,
They led astray with languid, kohl-darkened eyes
With eloquent, lucid speech without stuttering,
شَيْطانَthe demon كُلِّof every مُتْرَفٍpampered man سَدّاجِguileless
شَيْطانَ كُلِّ مُتْرَفٍ سَدّاجِ
بِالمَنْطِقِwith speech المَعْلُومِwell-known بِالإِحْناجِfor coaxing inflections
بِالمَنْطِقِ المَعْلُومِ بِالإِحْناجِ
The demon of every pampered, guileless man,
And correct, understood language, not babbling,
With speech famed for its coaxing inflections,
And eyebrows frowning and scowling.
وَالمُعْرَبِand clearly articulated speech المعَرُوفِfamiliar لاnot اللجْلاجِstammering
وَالمُعْرَبِ المعَرُوفِ لا اللجْلاجِ
وَكَسراتِand little bends الحاجِبِof the eyebrow الخَلّاجِtwitching
وَكَسراتِ الحاجِبِ الخَلّاجِ
And clear, familiar words, not stammering,
O Nadra, you have been inclined to impudence
And the little bends of a twitching eyebrow.
And saying worthless, suspicious things,
ياO نَضْرَNadr قَدindeed أُولِعْتِyou have become obsessed بِاللَجاجِwith wrangling
يا نَضْرَ قَد أُولِعْتِ بِاللَجاجِ
وَالقَوْلِand talk مِنْfrom بَواطِلِfalsehoods السِمْهاجِof ugly babbling
وَالقَوْلِ مِنْ بَواطِلِ السِمْهاجِ
O Nadr, you have become obsessed with wrangling,
That vanquish the soul I confide in
And talk made up of ugly falsehoods,
And forget the advice of the hot-tempered one,
أَنْthat يَغْلِبَit may overcome النَفْسَthe soul الَّتِيwhich أُنَاجِيI commune with
أَنْ يَغْلِبَ النَفْسَ الَّتِي أُنَاجِي
وَالحِفْظَand the keeping مِنْof وَصِيَّةِthe counsel العَجّاجِof al-Ajjaj
وَالحِفْظَ مِنْ وَصِيَّةِ العَجّاجِ
To overcome the soul with which I commune,
Spurning the traits of ardency,
And my keeping of al-Ajjaj's counsel,
And the length of my intimacy with the quarrelsome,
تَكَرُّماًnobly abstaining عَنْfrom سِيمَةِthe ways الهُمّاجِof the rabble
تَكَرُّماً عَنْ سِيمَةِ الهُمّاجِ
وَطُولَand the long duration إِنْسَائِيof my granting respite ذَوِيto those given to الضَجاجِclamor
وَطُولَ إِنْسَائِي ذَوِي الضَجاجِ
Nobly shunning the ways of the rabble,
Who have not mixed any lies or falsehood,
And my long reprieve for the clamorous,
While I desire excuses and argumentation,
ماwhat خَلَطُواthey mixed together مِنْof كَذِبٍlies شِمْراجِflagrant
ما خَلَطُوا مِنْ كَذِبٍ شِمْراجِ
ورَغبَتيand my desire فيfor العُذرِjustification واحتِجاجِand journeying
ورَغبَتي في العُذرِ واحتِجاجِ
For what they have mixed together of flagrant lies,
Fearing the jealousy of wives,
And my desire for justification and my journey through
Which leads to the bed of the spurned,
خَوْقَاءَa wide-open waste مِنْfrom تَرَاغُبthe wide spread الأَضْواجِof the bends
خَوْقَاءَ مِنْ تَرَاغُب الأَضْواجِ
تُفْضِيit leads إِلَىto مُنْضَرِجِgaping openness الأَضْراجِof the clefts
تُفْضِي إِلَى مُنْضَرِجِ الأَضْراجِ
A wide-open waste with far-spreading bends,
Who spend the night lying awake in distress,
Leading to a land of gaping clefts,
And select in intense darkness a gloomy, hidden corner,
تَغْتالُit saps مَرَّthe passage النُجُبِof noble camels النَواجِيthe swift ones
تَغْتالُ مَرَّ النُجُبِ النَواجِي
وَإِنْand even if سَبَرْنَthey probed اللَّيْلَthe night بِالإِدْلاجِby night travel
وَإِنْ سَبَرْنَ اللَّيْلَ بِالإِدْلاجِ
Sapping the onward pace of noble, fleet camels,
Green, becoming green like withered grass,
Though they probe the night by journeying in darkness,
Until it fades away from a bursting pillow,
وَاجْتَبْنَand they cut through فِيin ذِيone possessing لُجَجٍsurging depths دَجدَاجِpitch-dark
وَاجْتَبْنَ فِي ذِي لُجَجٍ دَجدَاجِ
أَخْضَرَdark-green يَخْضَرُّgrows dark-green اخْتِضَارَwith the greenness الساجِof a green cloak
أَخْضَرَ يَخْضَرُّ اخْتِضَارَ الساجِ
And cut through its surging, pitch-black depths,
Wiping tears from the dusty, travel-worn eye,
Dark-green, darkening like a deep-green cloak,
As if, from being held tightly, clutched,
فِيin هَدَبٍfringed darkness مِنْهُof it وَفِيand in التْجِاجِsurging tumult
فِي هَدَبٍ مِنْهُ وَفِي التْجِاجِ
حَتَّىuntil انْجَلَىit cleared عَنْrevealing مِعْسَفٍa trackless waste شَجّاجِfoot-bruising
حَتَّى انْجَلَى عَنْ مِعْسَفٍ شَجّاجِ
In its fringed darkness and its surging tumult,
And the afternoon, after ample bodies, fully matured,
Until it cleared, revealing a trackless, foot-bruising waste
And insistence with sighing and moaning,
يَمْطُوit stretches قِلاصَyoung she-camels السَفَرِof the journey المَجّاجِexhausting
يَمْطُو قِلاصَ السَفَرِ المَجّاجِ
كَأَنَّهَاas though they مِنْfrom شِدَّةِthe intensity الإِدْراجِof rapid going
كَأَنَّهَا مِنْ شِدَّةِ الإِدْراجِ
That stretches the young she-camels through a draining journey.
Hollowed out like a water trough,
As though, from the force of their rapid going,
They cast toward me the echoes' reverberating sound,
إِذْwhen ضَمَّهاpressed them together نَجانِجُthe clamorous urgings النَجْناجِof the loud driver
إِذْ ضَمَّها نَجانِجُ النَجْناجِ
وَالعَصْرُand the squeezing بَعْدَafter البُدُنِplumpness البَجْبَاجِswollen
وَالعَصْرُ بَعْدَ البُدُنِ البَجْبَاجِ
When the loud driver's clamorous urgings pressed them close,
With every burning thirst of firm argument,
And pressure followed their swollen plumpness,
As if they came from the heel of someone turned away.
وَالنَهْمُand the driving cries بِالْيَايَاءِwith 'yaya' وَالهَجْهاجِand 'hajhaj'
وَالنَهْمُ بِالْيَايَاءِ وَالهَجْهاجِ
مُخْرَوَّطاتٌwhittled slender كَقَنَاlike the rods الحَلّاجِof the cotton-carder
مُخْرَوَّطاتٌ كَقَنَا الحَلّاجِ
And the urging cries of 'yaya' and 'hajhaj'—
Remains of sperm still sticky from discharge
They were whittled slender, like a cotton-carder's rods.
The evil of grazing and confiding has not ceased,
يَرْمِينthey fling أَصْوَاتthe cries الصَدَىof the echo البَوَّاجِbooming
يَرْمِين أَصْوَات الصَدَى البَوَّاجِ
بِكُلِّwith each ظَمْأىlean head صُلْبَةِhard-boned الحِجاجِaround the eye sockets
بِكُلِّ ظَمْأى صُلْبَةِ الحِجاجِ
They charge toward the booming echo's cries,
With warning without gentle moderation,
With each lean head, hard-boned around the eyes.
And our constantly moving guide without rest,
كَأَنَّهَاas though they مِنْfrom عُقَبِthe aftermath الإِيسَاجِof urgent trotting
كَأَنَّهَا مِنْ عُقَبِ الإِيسَاجِ
باقِيthe remainder نِطافٍof water drops غُرْنَthat sank فيin الأَلْحاجِdeep crevices
باقِي نِطافٍ غُرْنَ في الأَلْحاجِ
As though, after bouts of urgent trotting,
Until we drove them along by force,
They were the last water drops sunk deep in crevices.
They threw off every hasty one, scared and alarmed,
ماnot زالَceased سُوءُthe poor state الرَعيِof grazing وَالتَناجِيand racing one another
ما زالَ سُوءُ الرَعيِ وَالتَناجِي
بِمُهْوَأَنٍّacross a vast waste غَيْرِnot ذِيpossessing لَمَاحِvisible landmarks
بِمُهْوَأَنٍّ غَيْرِ ذِي لَمَاحِ
Poor grazing and their racing one another went on,
No skin was retained in the blood of the slain.
Across a vast waste with no landmarks in sight,
It overlooked the wailing of the crying women,
وَطُولِand prolonged زَجْرٍurging بِحَلٍwith 'hal' وَعَاجِand 'aj'
وَطُولِ زَجْرٍ بِحَلٍ وَعَاجِ
وَمَرُّand the onward passage هادِينَاof our guide بِلاwithout مُنْعاجِa turn aside
وَمَرُّ هادِينَا بِلا مُنْعاجِ
And long urging with cries of 'hal' and 'aj',
The moaning of those journeying along the dusty road,
And our guide's onward passage without a turn,
Who left him to the one-eyed cheat
حَتَّىuntil مَسَيْنَاهُنَّwe made them deliver بِالإِخْداجِin premature birth
حَتَّى مَسَيْنَاهُنَّ بِالإِخْداجِ
يَقْذِفْنَthey cast out كُلَّevery مُعْجَلٍpremature young one نَشَّاجِgasping
يَقْذِفْنَ كُلَّ مُعْجَلٍ نَشَّاجِ
Until we brought them to premature delivery:
And the wolf and the cunning decorated with stripes,
They cast out every premature, gasping young one,
And an arrogant fool like a grape picker,
لَمْnot يُكْسَwas clothed جِلْداًin skin فيin دَمblood أَمْشاجِmingled
لَمْ يُكْسَ جِلْداً في دَم أَمْشاجِ
فَرَّجَopened عَنْهُfor it حَلَقَthe rings الرَتَاجِof the closed gate
فَرَّجَ عَنْهُ حَلَقَ الرَتَاجِ
Not yet clothed in skin, in mingled blood.
Who comes and goes bending over like an arched reed,
For it the rings of the closed gate were forced open
Frequenting every firm, steady footstep,
تَنْحِيبُstraining نَحْبِthe demands السَفَرِof the journey السَحّاجِflesh-scouring
تَنْحِيبُ نَحْبِ السَفَرِ السَحّاجِ
غَادَرْنَهُthey left it لِلأَعْوَرِto the one-eyed one الشَحّاجِthe croaker
غَادَرْنَهُ لِلأَعْوَرِ الشَحّاجِ
By the relentless exertion of the flesh-scouring journey.
Alone with jumping or with the sheep,
They left it to the one-eyed croaker,
As if they were clothed with loose robes,
وَالذِئْبِand the wolf وَالمُخَطَّطِand the striped one العَرَّاجِthe limper
وَالذِئْبِ وَالمُخَطَّطِ العَرَّاجِ
وَحُجَّلٍand pied ravens كَدَرْدَقlike little children الأَزْناجِof the Zanj
وَحُجَّلٍ كَدَرْدَق الأَزْناجِ
And the wolf, and the striped limper,
And gained more hybrids from the sheep traders,
And pied ravens, like little Zanj children.
Fabric like Indian linen cloth in wrappings,
تَغْدُوthey set out at dawn فَتَطْوِيthen cover ground كَالقَنَاlike spear-shafts الزَلَّاجِsliding swiftly
تَغْدُو فَتَطْوِي كَالقَنَا الزَلَّاجِ
بِالبَشْكat a quick trot أَوْor بِالعَنْقat a long-striding pace النَّآجِbrisk
بِالبَشْك أَوْ بِالعَنْق النَّآجِ
They set out at dawn and cover ground like sliding spear-shafts,
And headdresses in the gowns of young brides,
At a quick trot or a brisk, long-striding pace,
When we drive them with rebuke,
مُرْتَادَthe range كُلِّof every رَاجِلٍlong-legged walker رَجَّاجِlurching
مُرْتَادَ كُلِّ رَاجِلٍ رَجَّاجِ
فَرْدٍalone بِقَفْزwith leaping أَوْor مَعwith النِعاجِthe hens
فَرْدٍ بِقَفْز أَوْ مَع النِعاجِ
Over the haunts of every leggy, lurching walker,
And resolute sand hills, stocked with supplies, stir up
Leaping alone, or among the hens.
A commotion with harshness and force,
كَأَنَّمَاas though سُرْوِلْنthey were put in trousers فيin أَرْداجِdark garments
كَأَنَّمَا سُرْوِلْن في أَرْداجِ
وَازْدَدْنand they added أَخْلاطاًmixed bands مِنof العُسَّاجِswift-striding beasts
وَازْدَدْن أَخْلاطاً مِن العُسَّاجِ
As though they had been put in trousers of dark cloth,
Frightening the inhabitants with eviction.
And added mingled bands of swift-striding beasts—
As if it were the music of jinn causing confusion,
وُرْقاًgray ones كَسَبْيِlike captives السِنْدِof Sind فيin الأَسْباجِtunics
وُرْقاً كَسَبْيِ السِنْدِ في الأَسْباجِ
وَالعُفْرَand dun-colored ones فِيin مَعَاطِفthe bends الأَوْلاجِof the recesses
وَالعُفْرَ فِي مَعَاطِف الأَوْلاجِ
Gray ones, like captives from Sind in their tunics,
Accompanying it the twittering of the carpenter bird,
And dun ones in the winding recesses.
I surpassed it in a flaring, blazing star
إذَاwhen اسْتَزَدْنَاهُنَّwe demanded more of them بالإِهْداجِby urging them to trot
إذَا اسْتَزَدْنَاهُنَّ بالإِهْداجِ
وَاعْتَنَّand there confronted us رَمْلٌsand مُحْبِجُswelling high الإِحْباجِin a great swell
وَاعْتَنَّ رَمْلٌ مُحْبِجُ الإِحْباجِ
When we asked still more of them, urging them to trot,
That preserves the burning coals of last night
And a towering swell of sand confronted us,
To the abode receiving various groups
تَنَشَّطَتْthey crossed eagerly بِالعَسْفِby forcing a way وَالإِمْجاجِand surging forward
تَنَشَّطَتْ بِالعَسْفِ وَالإِمْجاجِ
شَأْسَfar-apart الصُوَىcairns مَحْدَوْدِبhump-backed الأَخْراجِoutcrops
شَأْسَ الصُوَى مَحْدَوْدِب الأَخْراجِ
They eagerly crossed, forcing and surging onward,
Upon it are the feathers of wild ducks and the fur of rabbits
A waste of far-flung cairns and humped outcrops.
From the webs of spiders, the web makers
كَأَنَّas though عَزْفَthe music الجِنِّof the jinn ذِيpossessing الأَهْزاجِrhythmic chants
كَأَنَّ عَزْفَ الجِنِّ ذِي الأَهْزاجِ
بِهِin it حَنِينُthe plaintive ringing الزَجِلِof the noisy الصَنَّاجِcymbal-player
بِهِ حَنِينُ الزَجِلِ الصَنَّاجِ
As though the jinn's rhythmic music
And if they adopt the method of one who sets forth early,
Were a noisy cymbal-player's plaintive ringing there.
Emptying the sorrow that rends with no letup,
جاوَزْتُهُI crossed it فيin كَوْكَبٍa star وَهّاجِfiercely blazing
جاوَزْتُهُ في كَوْكَبٍ وَهّاجِ
يُحْمِيهِheats it سَجْرُthe stoking البارِحof the hot wind الأَجَّاجِscorching
يُحْمِيهِ سَجْرُ البارِح الأَجَّاجِ
I crossed it beneath a fiercely blazing star,
Carrying their containers with imposition,
Heated by the stoking of a scorching wind,
Rather, I said, words certainly have pairs.
إِلَىtoward سُدَىthe open ground مُسْتَوْرِدِa gathering-place العَجَاجِof dust
إِلَى سُدَى مُسْتَوْرِدِ العَجَاجِ
عَلَيْهِon it مِنْfrom مُخْتَلِفthe varied passage الأَفواجِof flocks
عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مُخْتَلِف الأَفواجِ
Toward the open ground where dust-clouds gather.
O Excellence, what will make you cry in distress?
Upon it, from the passing of varied flocks,
Are you turning away from a brother in need,
رِيشُfeathers القَطَاof sandgrouse وَمُرْمَلand sand-covered الأَوْشاجِtangled strands
رِيشُ القَطَا وَمُرْمَل الأَوْشاجِ
مِنْfrom شِبْرَقِthe shreds العَنَاكِبِof spiders النُسّاجِthe weavers
مِنْ شِبْرَقِ العَنَاكِبِ النُسّاجِ
Lay sandgrouse feathers and sand-covered tangles
Owing a pressing, burdensome debt that exhausts resources?
Of the tattered webs of weaving spiders.
He has sought refuge with you from a perilous year
وَإِنand if أَخَذْنَthey took عَافِيَthe effaced course المِنْهاجِof the road
وَإِن أَخَذْنَ عَافِيَ المِنْهاجِ
خَلّاًa narrow passage يَقُدُّthat cuts الحَزْنَthe rugged ground ذاpossessing الشَراجِgullies
خَلّاً يَقُدُّ الحَزْنَ ذا الشَراجِ
And if they took an effaced track,
That casts down the leaves of trees.
A narrow way cutting through rough, gullied ground,
He treated it while life has remedies,
بَلَّغْنَthey brought onward أُولاَهُنَّtheir foremost ones بِالإِلْهاجِwith persistent urging
بَلَّغْنَ أُولاَهُنَّ بِالإِلْهاجِ
بَلْrather قُلْتُI said إِنَّindeed القَوْلَspeech ذُوhas أَزْواجِkinds
بَلْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ القَوْلَ ذُو أَزْواجِ
They brought their foremost onward with persistent urging.
Concerning a girl like chicks of chickens.
But I said: speech has many kinds.
O Excellence, O son of the radiant, shining stars,
ياO فَضْلُFadl ماnot سَيْبُكَyour bounty بِالإِزْعاجِthrough importuning
يا فَضْلُ ما سَيْبُكَ بِالإِزْعاجِ
هَلwill أَنْتَyou مُلْقٍlift off عَنfrom أَخٍa brother مُحْتاجِneedy
هَل أَنْتَ مُلْقٍ عَن أَخٍ مُحْتاجِ
O Fadl, your bounty is not wrung out by pestering.
O Excellence, O son of the eminent nobles,
Will you lift from a needy brother
The Hashimites, pilgrims to the Sacred House,
دَيْناًa debt مِلَحّاًpressing قَتَبa packsaddle الأَحْداجِof loads
دَيْناً مِلَحّاً قَتَب الأَحْداجِ
عاذَhe sought refuge بِكُمْwith you مِنْfrom سَنَةٍa year مِسْحاجِscourging
عاذَ بِكُمْ مِنْ سَنَةٍ مِسْحاجِ
A pressing debt, a loaded packsaddle?
You are the son of every Mustafa, a guiding lamp,
He sought refuge with you from a scourging year,
Easy to praise, of pure silk brocade,
شَهْبَاءَash-gray تُلْقِيcasting off وَرَقَthe leaves الحرَاجِof the thickets
شَهْبَاءَ تُلْقِي وَرَقَ الحرَاجِ
عالَجَهاhe struggled against it والَعَيْشُand life ذُوfull of عِلاجِstruggle
عالَجَها والَعَيْشُ ذُو عِلاجِ
Ash-gray, stripping the thickets of their leaves.
Prayed for at the retreat of pilgrims,
He struggled against it—life is full of struggle—
Who plunges into every deep, tumultuous water,
عَنْon behalf of صِبْيَةٍchildren كَأَفْرُخِlike the chicks الدَجَاجِof hens
عَنْ صِبْيَةٍ كَأَفْرُخِ الدَجَاجِ
ياO فَضْلُFadl ياO ابْنson الأَنْجُمof the stars الأَبْراجِthe lofty ones
يا فَضْلُ يا ابْن الأَنْجُم الأَبْراجِ
For children like the chicks of hens.
For anguish on the day of raging conflict.
O Fadl, son of the lofty stars,
Your accounts are in ease and comfort.
ياO فَضْلُFadl ياO ابْنson السادَةof the lords الأَفْلاجِthe victorious ones
يا فَضْلُ يا ابْن السادَة الأَفْلاجِ
الهاشِمِيِّينَthe Hashimites بِمَحْجَىat the refuge الْحاجِof the pilgrims
الهاشِمِيِّينَ بِمَحْجَى الْحاجِ
O Fadl, son of the victorious lords,
No one who sought the shade of your shelter
The Hashimites, at the pilgrims' refuge.
Failed to escape by your saving rope,
أَنْتَyou ابْنُare the son كَلِّof every مُصْطَفىًchosen one سراجِa shining lamp
أَنْتَ ابْنُ كَلِّ مُصْطَفىً سراجِ
سَهْلِgentle المُحَيَّاof face خالِصِpure الدِيباجِin silken complexion
سَهْلِ المُحَيَّا خالِصِ الدِيباجِ
You are the son of every chosen, shining lamp,
In the joy of a consolation from misfortune.
Gracious-faced, pure in his silken complexion,
Though people of high rank or without high rank
يُدْعَىprayers are offered لَهُfor him بِمُعْكِفِat the gathering-place الحُجّاجِof the pilgrims
يُدْعَى لَهُ بِمُعْكِفِ الحُجّاجِ
خَوّاضِplunging into كُلِّevery غَمْرَةٍdeep peril فَرّاجِa dispeller
خَوّاضِ كُلِّ غَمْرَةٍ فَرّاجِ
For whom prayers are offered where pilgrims gather,
Shared virtue with an allotted portion,
Plunging into every peril, a dispeller
You surpassed them with an overflowing bucket,
لِلْكَرْبِof distress فِيon يَوْمِthe day الوَغَىof battle المَوَّاجِsurging
لِلْكَرْبِ فِي يَوْمِ الوَغَى المَوَّاجِ
أَحْسَابُكُمْyour noble qualities فِيin اليُسْرِease وَالإِلْفاجِand destitution
أَحْسَابُكُمْ فِي اليُسْرِ وَالإِلْفاجِ
Of anguish on the surging day of battle.
Large Iraqi vessel, collar adorned with pearls,
Your noble qualities, in ease and destitution,
Of expansive branches, laden, bending under the weight,
شِيبَتْwere blended بِعَذبٍwith sweetness طَيِّبِpleasant المِزَاجِin mixture
شِيبَتْ بِعَذبٍ طَيِّبِ المِزَاجِ
ماno احْتَلَّhas settled فِيin أَظْلالِكُمْyour shade مِنْany راجِhopeful man
ما احْتَلَّ فِي أَظْلالِكُمْ مِنْ راجِ
Are blended with sweetness, a pleasant mixture.
Extending into the saturated, abundant meadows,
No hopeful man has settled in your shade
When the spate of floods converges,
إِلّاexcept نَجَاhe was saved مِنْكُمْthrough you بِحَبْلِby the rope الناجِيof the rescuer
إِلّا نَجَا مِنْكُمْ بِحَبْلِ الناجِي
فِيon رَهْوَةٍa rise عَزَّاءَfirm and rocky مِنْof سُوَاجِSuwaj
فِي رَهْوَةٍ عَزَّاءَ مِنْ سُوَاجِ
Without being saved through you by a rescuer's rope,
Relieving the blossoms of the running stream
On a firm, rocky height of Suwaj.
In a place abundant, filled with meadows,
وَإِنْand if ذَوُوthose possessing التاجِcrowns وَغَيْرِand those without التَاجِcrowns
وَإِنْ ذَوُو التاجِ وَغَيْرِ التَاجِ
تَنَاهَبُواvied to seize الفَضْلَexcellence بِحَظٍّwith a share زاجِprosperous
تَنَاهَبُوا الفَضْلَ بِحَظٍّ زاجِ
And if men with crowns and men without them
Rearing upon successive commotion,
Vied to seize excellence with a prosperous share,
A sea extending the torrent in gushing forth,
ناهَبْتَهُمْyou would outvie them بِمَغْرِفٍwith a bucket عَجّاجswirling
ناهَبْتَهُمْ بِمَغْرِفٍ عَجّاج
ضَخمِmassive العَراقيin its crossbars مُكرَبِtightly bound العِناجِin its support-rope
ضَخمِ العَراقي مُكرَبِ العِناجِ
You would outvie them with a great, swirling bucket,
Its tributaries repelling in its tributaries.
With massive crossbars and a tightly bound support-rope,
رَحبِwide الفُروعِat the rim مُتأَقٍbrimful مَجّاجِgushing
رَحبِ الفُروعِ مُتأَقٍ مَجّاجِ
يَمُدُّit pours فِيinto مُسْتَوْثِجdensely swelling الأَسْباجِbroad reaches
يَمُدُّ فِي مُسْتَوْثِج الأَسْباجِ
Wide at the rim, brimful and gushing,
Pouring into densely swelling expanses,
إِذَاwhen تَلاقَىmeets رَهَجُthe dust الأَرْهاجِof dust-clouds
إِذَا تَلاقَى رَهَجُ الأَرْهاجِ
فَرَّجَit opens up وِرْدَwatering access اللَّائِبِof the thirsty one الرَوَّاجِthe wanderer
فَرَّجَ وِرْدَ اللَّائِبِ الرَوَّاجِ
When dust-cloud meets dust-cloud,
It opens watering access for the thirsty wanderer,
فِيin ذِيone possessing عُبابٍsurging waters مالِىءِfilling الأَحْضاجِhollows
فِي ذِي عُبابٍ مالِىءِ الأَحْضاجِ
يُرْبِيit grows greater عَلَىbeyond تَعاقُبِthe succession الهَجْهاجِof fierce winds
يُرْبِي عَلَى تَعاقُبِ الهَجْهاجِ
In a surging flood that fills the hollows,
Growing greater despite successive fierce winds:
بَحراًa sea يَمُدُّthat feeds السَيلَthe torrent فيin انبعاجِan outburst
بَحراً يَمُدُّ السَيلَ في انبعاجِ
أَفلاجُهُits channels يَدفعنَpour onward فيinto أَفلاجِchannels
أَفلاجُهُ يَدفعنَ في أَفلاجِ
A sea that feeds the torrent in its bursting flow,
Its channels pouring into other channels.
Partial English translation: 111 of 120 Arabic lines translated.