لاnot يَسمَعُlistens to العودَthe lute مِنّاamong us غَيرُother than خاضِبِهِone who stains it (the spear)
لا يَسمَعُ العودَ مِنّا غَيرُ خاضِبِهِ
مِنfrom لَبَّةِthe hollow of the throat الشوسِthe fierce warriors يَومَthe day of الرَوعِterror بِالعَلَقِwith clotted blood
مِن لَبَّةِ الشوسِ يَومَ الرَوعِ بِالعَلَقِ
No one among us listens to the oud save the man who stains it
None among us listens to the lute save he who stains his spear,
with clotted blood drawn from fierce warriors’ throat-hollows on battle’s day;
with clotted blood from fierce warriors’ throats on the day of terror.
وَلاand not يَزُفُّushers in كُمَيتاًdark-red wine غَيرُother than مُصدرِهِone who brings it back (the steed)
وَلا يَزُفُّ كُمَيتاً غَيرُ مُصدرِهِ
يَومَthe day of الطِرادِmounted combat بَليلَdrenched الطَفِّthe flank بِالعَرَقِwith sweat
يَومَ الطِرادِ بَليلَ الطَفِّ بِالعَرَقِ
nor does anyone lead forth a bay steed save the man who turns it back,
Nor does anyone usher in dark-red wine save he who brings his bay steed back,
on the day of the chase, its flank drenched with sweat.
on the day of mounted combat, its flank drenched in sweat.
