لاnot وَجَدتُمyou have felt ياO أَهلَpeople of نَعمانَNu'man وَجديmy anguish
لا وَجَدتُم يا أَهلَ نَعمانَ وَجدي
وَسَلِمتُمand may you remain safe سَلامَةًsafety العَهدِthe pledge عِنديwith me
وَسَلِمتُم سَلامَةً العَهدِ عِندي
May you never feel my anguish, O people of Nu'man,
O people of Nu'man, I found no solace with you, only my own solace.
and may you remain safe, as your pledge remains safe with me.
You greeted me with betrayal after I trusted you,
وَسَقىand may water دارَةَround clearing الحِمىthe protected pasture كُلُّevery مُنهَلpouring (first part)
وَسَقى دارَةَ الحِمى كُلُّ مُنهَل
لِpouring (completion) الغَواديmorning rain-clouds سُقياwatering like دُموعيmy tears لَحديmy grave
لِ الغَوادي سُقيا دُموعي لَحدي
May the sanctuary's clearing be watered by every downpour
Every spring quenched the thirst of wild deer,
of morning clouds, as my tears water my grave.
While my tears quenched the thirst of barren valleys.
وَاِكتَسَتand became clothed مِنfrom خَمائِلِlush thickets النَورِblossom أَفواstriped robes (first part)
وَاِكتَسَت مِن خَمائِلِ النَورِ أَفوا
فاًstriped robes (completion) يُنَيِّرُweaves the weft الرَبعُthe dwelling فيهاin them وَيُسديand lays the warp
فاً يُنَيِّرُ الرَبعُ فيها وَيُسدي
And may it clothe itself, from thickets of blossom, in striped
Dwellings gleamed with dazzling lights,
robes, whose weft and warp the dwelling weaves.
Illuminating the land and making it prosper.
سافِراتٍunveiling رِياضُهاits gardens عَنfrom ثُغورٍmouths
سافِراتٍ رِياضُها عَن ثُغورٍ
وَخُدودٍand cheeks مِنof أُقحُوانٍdaisies وَوَردِand roses
وَخُدودٍ مِن أُقحُوانٍ وَوَردِ
Its gardens unveil mouths
Gardens flourished far from frontiers,
and cheeks of daisies and roses.
With cheeks of myrtle and roses in full bloom.
وَتَمَشَّتand moved gently بِهاacross it سَحائِبُclouds وَطفٍdense and drooping
وَتَمَشَّت بِها سَحائِبُ وَطفٍ
تَتَهادىgliding gently ماwhat lies بَينَbetween بَرقٍlightning وَرَعدِand thunder
تَتَهادى ما بَينَ بَرقٍ وَرَعدِ
And may thick, drooping clouds stroll across it,
Clouds gathered and gently rained,
gliding between lightning and thunder.
With thunder rumbling and lightning striking the meadows.
وَصَباًand an east wind يُلبِسُclothes الغَديرَthe pool إِذاwhen البَرlightning (first part)
وَصَباً يُلبِسُ الغَديرَ إِذا البَر
قُlightning (completion) نَضاunsheathed بيضَهُits white blades مُفاضَةَa flowing coat سَردِlinked mail
قُ نَضا بيضَهُ مُفاضَةَ سَردِ
And an east wind clothes the pool, when lightning
The breeze adorned the ponds when it rained,
unsheathes its white blades, in a flowing coat of mail.
Dotting them with the eggs of the francolin.
حَبَّذاhow lovely وَالنَسيمُand the breeze يَبعَثُsends forth أَنفاbreaths (first part)
حَبَّذا وَالنَسيمُ يَبعَثُ أَنفا
ساًbreaths (completion) ضِعافاًfaint مِنfrom نَفحِfragrance of ضالٍwild lote-trees وَرَندِand bay trees
ساً ضِعافاً مِن نَفحِ ضالٍ وَرَندِ
How lovely, as the breeze sends forth
How wonderful, as the breeze carried gentle wafts
faint breaths of wild lote and bay-tree fragrance,
Of fragrance from the willow's dangling tresses.
ناقِلاًbearing مِنfrom ذَوائِبِtresses of الزَهرِthe blossoms السَبstraight (first part)
ناقِلاً مِن ذَوائِبِ الزَهرِ السَب
طِstraight (completion) حَديثاًa tale إِلىto ثَراهاits soil الجَعدِcrinkled
طِ حَديثاً إِلى ثَراها الجَعدِ
bearing from the blossoms' straight tresses
My life was lost among them, though it was unworthy,
a tale to its crinkled soil.
The days changed but you did not change, O home of my solace.
ضَلَّwas lost عَيشيmy life بِهاin it وَقَوليand my saying لِماof what فاpassed (first part)
ضَلَّ عَيشي بِها وَقَولي لِما فا
تَpassed (completion) مِنَof العَيشِlife حَبَّذاhow lovely غَيرُnot مُجدِavailing
تَ مِنَ العَيشِ حَبَّذا غَيرُ مُجدِ
My life there is lost; my saying of what has passed
Many days I spent with you, in hardship and in ease,
of life, 'How lovely!' is of no avail.
And a time I spent in my youth, never to retrieve or redeem.
غَيَّرَتchanged عَهدَهُits covenant اللَياليthe nights وَماand not حاchanged (first part)
غَيَّرَت عَهدَهُ اللَيالي وَما حا
لَchanged (completion) عَنِtoward الظاعِنينَthe departed يادارُO dwelling عَهديmy loyalty
لَ عَنِ الظاعِنينَ يادارُ عَهدي
The nights have changed its covenant, but my loyalty
Welcome, O phantom of imagination that visited me at night unexpectedly,
to the departed, O dwelling, has not changed.
While the stars watched enviously from above.
رُبَّmany a يَومٍday صَحِبتُهُI accompanied it فيكَwithin you مَشكوcherished (first part)
رُبَّ يَومٍ صَحِبتُهُ فيكَ مَشكو
رٍcherished (completion) وَعَيشٍand a life قَضَيتُهُI spent it فيكَwithin you رَغدِcomfortable
رٍ وَعَيشٍ قَضَيتُهُ فيكَ رَغدِ
How many a cherished day I passed within you,
As if the Pleiades dispersed in the western sky,
and how much easy living I spent within you;
Like pearls unstrung after their thread was severed.
وَزَمانٍand time أَنفَقتُهُI spent it مِنof شَبابٍyouth
وَزَمانٍ أَنفَقتُهُ مِن شَبابٍ
غَيرَnot مُستَرجَعٍreclaimable وَلاnor مُستَرَدِّrecoverable
غَيرَ مُستَرجَعٍ وَلا مُستَرَدِّ
and how much time I spent from my youth,
My companions would have lost their way, had I not sighed,
never to be reclaimed or brought back.
O my friends, would you help a traveller whose days have passed virtuously?
مَرحَباًwelcome بِالخَيالِto the dream-vision خاضَwaded through دُجىdarkness of اللَيthe night (first part)
مَرحَباً بِالخَيالِ خاضَ دُجى اللَي
لِthe night (completion) إِلىto مَضجَعيmy bed عَلىwith غَيرِno وَعدِappointment
لِ إِلى مَضجَعي عَلى غَيرِ وَعدِ
Welcome to the dream-vision that waded through the night's darkness
Aid me with a pause at the taverns of life, if you are guided by the landmarks of al-Najd,
to my bed without an appointed meeting.
And mourn it with my tears, and ask who shall water it with tears after me.
وَنُجومُand the stars of السَماءِheaven يَنظُرنَlook شَزراًaskance
وَنُجومُ السَماءِ يَنظُرنَ شَزراً
كُلَّماwhenever تَنظُرُlook الوُشاةُthe slanderers بِحِقدِwith spite
كُلَّما تَنظُرُ الوُشاةُ بِحِقدِ
While the stars of heaven look askance,
For in its valleys crouch dormant sands,
whenever slanderers look with spite.
And in its gowns hide ferocious lions.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الجَوزاءَal-Jawza, a constellation فيon أُفقِthe horizon of الغَرthe west (first part)
وَكَأَنَّ الجَوزاءَ في أُفقِ الغَر
بِthe west (completion) لَآلٍpearls تَناثَرَتscattered بَعدَafter عَقدِbeing strung
بِ لَآلٍ تَناثَرَت بَعدَ عَقدِ
And as though al-Jawza on the western horizon
Though its sharp swords glitter gently,
were pearls scattered after being strung.
Death lurks in each French blade.
لَمnot يَكَدnearly did يَهتَديfind the way لِرَحلِيَto my lodging لَولاwere it not for
لَم يَكَد يَهتَدي لِرَحلِيَ لَولا
زَفَراتيmy sighs دونَapart from الرِفاقِthe companions وَوَجديand my anguish
زَفَراتي دونَ الرِفاقِ وَوَجدي
It could scarcely have found the way to my lodging, but for
When will those who have left return to reunite?
my sighs, apart from my companions, and my anguish.
Prepare yourself for the imminent separation and prevention.
ياO رَفيقَيَّmy two companions هَلis there لِذاهِبِfor the vanished أَيّاdays (first part)
يا رَفيقَيَّ هَل لِذاهِبِ أَيّا
مٍdays (completion) تَقَضَّتpassed away حَميدَةًhappily مِنany مَرَدِreturn
مٍ تَقَضَّت حَميدَةً مِن مَرَدِ
O my two companions, can the vanished days
I hoped to be cured by kissing the taverns,
that passed so happily ever return?
But it is as if I was cured by my own passion.
أَنجِدانيyou two, help me بِوَقفَةٍwith a halt فيat مَغانيdwellings of الthe
أَنجِداني بِوَقفَةٍ في مَغاني ال
حَيِّtribe إِنif جُزتُماyou two pass بِأَعلامِby landmarks of نَجدِNajd
حَيِّ إِن جُزتُما بِأَعلامِ نَجدِ
Aid me with a halt at the dwellings
Shall I find solace in an antelope or a branch,
of the tribe, if you pass the landmarks of Najd.
Daydreaming of you, marching with a quiver and arrows?
وَاِبكِياهاand you two, weep over them بِمُقلَتيwith my eye وَاِسأَلاهاand you two, ask them
وَاِبكِياها بِمُقلَتي وَاِسأَلاها
مَنwho سَقاهاwatered them ماءَwater of المَدامِعِthe tears بَعديafter me
مَن سَقاها ماءَ المَدامِعِ بَعدي
Weep over them with my eye, and ask them
My eyes have shed so many tears for the departed over the lone sands,
who watered them with tears after me.
As if I extended them from the pillars of faith of al-Jawwad.
فَبِأَكنافِهاfor at their edges جَآذِرُantelope calves رَملٍthe sands
فَبِأَكنافِها جَآذِرُ رَملٍ
بَينَwithin أَثوابِهاtheir garments بَراثِنُclaws of أُسدٍlions
بَينَ أَثوابِها بَراثِنُ أُسدٍ
For around them dwell calves of the sand-antelope,
Neighboring and sanctuary are permitted,
with lions' claws beneath their garments.
And springtide for the destitute, while the year has made me weary.
وَالحُسامُand the sword الطَريرُkeen and polished إِنthough رَقَّseems delicate لِلناto the beholder (first part)
وَالحُسامُ الطَريرُ إِن رَقَّ لِلنا
ظِرِbeholder (completion) فَالمَوتُyet death كامِنٌlurking فيin الفِرِندِthe blade's watered pattern
ظِرِ فَالمَوتُ كامِنٌ في الفِرِندِ
And a keen sword, though it looks delicate to the eye,
Owner of the white mantle and the red palette,
has death lurking in its watered blade.
The austere uniform and the well-woven belt.
مُخلِفاتٌpromise-breakers مَتىwhenever يَعِدنَكَthey promise you وَصلاًunion
مُخلِفاتٌ مَتى يَعِدنَكَ وَصلاً
فَتَأَهَّبthen prepare لِوَشكِfor imminent بَينٍparting وَصَدِّand rejection
فَتَأَهَّب لِوَشكِ بَينٍ وَصَدِّ
They break their promises: whenever they promise you union,
Who combines gentleness and firmness in manner,
prepare for imminent parting and rejection.
Mingling easiness with severity.
عُجتُI turned aside مُستَشفِياًseeking healing بِلَثمِby kissing المَغانيthe dwellings
عُجتُ مُستَشفِياً بِلَثمِ المَغاني
فَكَأَنّيso, as though I اِستَشفَيتُsought healing مِنهاfrom them بِوَجديwith my anguish
فَكَأَنّي اِستَشفَيتُ مِنها بِوَجدي
I turned aside, seeking healing by kissing the dwellings,
He is like rain that fills the land with his generosity,
so it is as though I sought a cure from them through my anguish.
To me, remoteness and nearness are equal from him.
أَتَسَلّىI seek solace عَنكُمfor your absence بِحَقفٍin a sand-dune وَغُصنٍand a bough
أَتَسَلّى عَنكُم بِحَقفٍ وَغُصنٍ
مُستَهاماًmadly in love فيكُمwith you بِرِدفٍwith hips وَقَدِّand stature
مُستَهاماً فيكُم بِرِدفٍ وَقَدِّ
I seek solace for your absence in a dune and a bough,
His good deeds have spread,
madly in love with you—with hips and stature.
So he makes no distinction in generosity between freeman and slave.
كَمhow many لِعَينيfor my eye إِثرَfollowing الظَعائِنِthe women in litters مِنof دَمtears (first part)
كَم لِعَيني إِثرَ الظَعائِنِ مِن دَم
عٍtears (completion) تُؤامٍpaired عَلىupon الكَثيبِthe dune الفَردِsolitary
عٍ تُؤامٍ عَلى الكَثيبِ الفَردِ
How many tears my eye has shed after the women's litters,
Thus also the abundant rain, when it pours down,
tears in pairs upon the solitary dune!
Makes no distinction between highland and valley.
فَكَأَنّيso, as though I أُمدِدتُهاsupplied it مِنfrom يَدِthe hand of القَرthe noble lord (first part)
فَكَأَنّي أُمدِدتُها مِن يَدِ القَر
مِthe noble lord (completion) عِمادِImad الدينِal-Din الجَوادِthe generous بِمَدِّwith a flood
مِ عِمادِ الدينِ الجَوادِ بِمَدِّ
So it is as though I supplied my eye from the hand of the noble lord,
O brother of dedication and determination, the steeds have concluded
the generous Imad al-Din, with a flood.
What lies between easiness and severity.
مانِعُprotector of الجارِthe neighbor وَالحَريمُwhile the sanctuary مُباحٌexposed to violation
مانِعُ الجارِ وَالحَريمُ مُباحٌ
وَرَبيعُand springtime for العُفاةِpetitioners وَالعامُwhile the year مُكديbarren
وَرَبيعُ العُفاةِ وَالعامُ مُكدي
He protects his neighbor when sanctity lies exposed,
Visit ‘Ali and partake of his plain of generosity,
and is springtime for petitioners when the year is barren.
Its soil, if you seek sustenance.
مُقتَنيpossessor of المَشرَفِيَّةِMashrafi swords البيضِthe white وَالخَطand Khatti spears (first part)
مُقتَني المَشرَفِيَّةِ البيضِ وَالخَط
طِيَّةِKhatti spears (completion) السُمرِthe brown وَالرِباطِand tethered warhorses الجُردِthe sleek
طِيَّةِ السُمرِ وَالرِباطِ الجُردِ
Possessor of white Mashrafi swords and brown Khatti
Inhale the air of his valleys and find rest,
spears, and sleek, tethered warhorses.
As the riding camels rest from exhaustion and toil.
يَجمَعُcombines اللينَgentleness وَالشَراسَةَand fierceness مِنfrom أَخcharacter (first part)
يَجمَعُ اللينَ وَالشَراسَةَ مِن أَخ
لاقِهِhis character (completion) الغُرِّthe noble بَينَbetween صابٍbitter sap وَشَدِّand firmness
لاقِهِ الغُرِّ بَينَ صابٍ وَشَدِّ
He combines gentleness and fierceness in his noble character,
Fear not under his protection, the turns of fate,
between bitter sap and stern firmness.
And ask him for safety, without fear of rejection.
هُوَhe كَالغَيثِlike rain يَملَأُfills الأَرضَthe earth جَدواbounty (first part)
هُوَ كَالغَيثِ يَملَأُ الأَرضَ جَدوا
هُhis (word ending) فَسِيّانِso equal مِنهُin relation to him قُربيmy nearness وَبُعديand my distance
هُ فَسِيّانِ مِنهُ قُربي وَبُعدي
He is like rain: his bounty fills the earth,
Buyer of praise through devotion, not through vainglory,
so my nearness to him and my distance are alike.
Seeking to buy God’s praise through devotion.
عَمَّspread to all مَعروفُهُhis kindness فَأَصبَحَso he became لاnot يَفdistinguish (first part)
عَمَّ مَعروفُهُ فَأَصبَحَ لا يَف
رُقُdistinguish (completion) فيin الجودِgenerosity بَينَbetween حُرٍّa freeman وَعَبدِand a slave
رُقُ في الجودِ بَينَ حُرٍّ وَعَبدِ
His kindness embraces all; he makes no
A king from whom I have never gained audience
distinction in giving between freeman and slave.
Except that I left rewarded and gratified.
وَكَذاand likewise العارِضُthe rain-cloud الرُكامُpiled up إِذاwhen أَنclears (first part)
وَكَذا العارِضُ الرُكامُ إِذا أَن
جَمَclears (completion) سَوّىmade equal بَينَbetween الرُبىthe hills وَالوَهدِand hollows
جَمَ سَوّى بَينَ الرُبى وَالوَهدِ
Likewise the piled-up cloud, when it has cleared,
Whenever time unfolds its gifts,
leaves hills and hollows equal.
He endows me from his bliss with new gains.
ياO أَخاcompanion of البيدِdeserts وَالمَهامِهِand vast wastes قَدalready أَنwore out (first part)
يا أَخا البيدِ وَالمَهامِهِ قَد أَن
ضىwore out (completion) المَطاياthe mounts ماwhat lies بَينَbetween حَلٍّhalting وَشَدِّand setting out
ضى المَطايا ما بَينَ حَلٍّ وَشَدِّ
O companion of deserts and wastes, you have worn out
Hardships have weakened my resolve,
your mounts between halting and setting forth.
So he strengthens me against them with a sturdy arm.
زُرvisit عَلِيّاًAli وَاِرتَعand graze بِساحَتِهِin his courtyard الخِصfertile (first part)
زُر عَلِيّاً وَاِرتَع بِساحَتِهِ الخِص
بِfertile (completion) ثَراهاits soil إِنif كُنتَyou are طالِبَseeking رِفدِbounty
بِ ثَراها إِن كُنتَ طالِبَ رِفدِ
Visit Ali, and graze in his courtyard,
Men of repute paved the way for his glory,
whose soil is fertile, if you seek bounty.
They were nurtured on the pearl of exaltation in the cradle.
شِمwatch for غَواديهِhis morning rain-clouds تَستَرِحyou will rest وَتُرِحand give rest to كوhigh-humped (first part)
شِم غَواديهِ تَستَرِح وَتُرِح كو
مَhigh-humped (completion) المَطاياthe mounts مِنَfrom العَناhardship وَالكَدِّand toil
مَ المَطايا مِنَ العَنا وَالكَدِّ
Watch his morning rain-clouds: you will rest, and relieve
On the day of battle, they sacrificed white swords and keen tongues,
your high-humped mounts of hardship and toil.
Vanquishing all who dared transgress and challenge.
لاdo not تَخَفfear فيin جِوارِهِhis protection نُوَبَcalamities of الأَيthe days (first part)
لا تَخَف في جِوارِهِ نُوَبَ الأَي
يامِthe days (completion) وَاِسأَلهُand ask him آمِناًsafe مِنfrom رَدِّrefusal
يامِ وَاِسأَلهُ آمِناً مِن رَدِّ
Fear not, under his protection, the calamities
They fought the enemies with every sharp and unsheathed sword,
of the days; ask him, safe from refusal.
Every single-handed warrior, every solitary champion.
مُشتَريpurchaser of الحَمدِpraise بِاللُهىwith lavish gifts لاnot كَمُغتَرlike one deluded (first part)
مُشتَري الحَمدِ بِاللُهى لا كَمُغتَر
رِone deluded (completion) الثَرىby wealth يَشتَريbuys اللُهىlavish gifts بِالحَمدِwith praise
رِ الثَرى يَشتَري اللُهى بِالحَمدِ
He buys praise with lavish gifts, unlike one beguiled
Virtue belongs to you, O sons of al-Muzaffar,
by wealth, who buys gifts with praise.
Though our time has been darkened.
مَلِكٌa king ماnot اِجتَدَيتُهُI sought his bounty قَطُّever إِلّاexcept that
مَلِكٌ ما اِجتَدَيتُهُ قَطُّ إِلّا
رُحتُI departed مِنfrom بابِهِhis door أُثيبُI reward وَأَجديand give generously
رُحتُ مِن بابِهِ أُثيبُ وَأَجدي
A king: never did I seek his bounty
My soul has wearied counting the favors
without leaving his door rewarding and giving.
I failed to reciprocate, while I exhausted my efforts.
كُلَّماwhenever أَخلَقَgrew threadbare الزَمانُtime حَبانيhe bestowed on me
كُلَّما أَخلَقَ الزَمانُ حَباني
مِنfrom نَداهُhis generosity بِنائِلٍwith a gift مُستَجِدِّfresh
مِن نَداهُ بِنائِلٍ مُستَجِدِّ
Whenever time grows threadbare, he bestows on me
O you who help me as fate destroys my happiness
a fresh gift from his generosity.
Between jest and passion, between easiness and severity,
أَضعَفَتweakened مَتنِيَmy back الخُطوبُadversities فَأَعداso he aided
أَضعَفَت مَتنِيَ الخُطوبُ فَأَعدا
نيme عَلَيهاagainst them بِساعِدٍwith an arm مُشتَدِّpowerful
ني عَلَيها بِساعِدٍ مُشتَدِّ
Adversities weakened my back; he aided
My adversary, since I sought refuge in your abode,
me against them with a powerful arm.
His days have become my soldiers.
مَهَّدَتlaid foundations for مَجدَهُhis glory الأَثيلَdeep-rooted رِجالٌmen
مَهَّدَت مَجدَهُ الأَثيلَ رِجالٌ
رَضِعواthey suckled دَرَّةَthe milk of العُلىeminence فيin المَهدِthe cradle
رَضِعوا دَرَّةَ العُلى في المَهدِ
Men laid the foundations of his deep-rooted glory,
You have enriched me and protected my worth
men who suckled the milk of eminence in the cradle.
From every disgrace and every ignominy.
مورِدواbringing to drink البيضِwhite swords وَالأَسِنَّةِand spearheads فيon يَوthe day (first part)
مورِدوا البيضِ وَالأَسِنَّةِ في يَو
مِthe day (completion) الوَغىbattle نَحرَthe throat of كُلِّevery أَغلَبَthick-necked lion وَردِtawny
مِ الوَغى نَحرَ كُلِّ أَغلَبَ وَردِ
They water white swords and spearheads, on the day
A people who do not favor releasing hands
of battle, at every tawny, thick-necked lion's throat.
With gifts, or tongues with promises.
نَهَدواthey advanced لِلعِدىagainst foes بِكُلِّwith every طَليقِunhindered الthe
نَهَدوا لِلعِدى بِكُلِّ طَليقِ ال
حَدِّedge ماضٍkeen وَكُلِّand every أَجرَدَsleek horse نَهدِpowerful
حَدِّ ماضٍ وَكُلِّ أَجرَدَ نَهدِ
They advanced against foes with every unhindered,
The tidings of celebration have arrived
keen edge, and every sleek, mighty steed.
With the finest pilgrims of high and noble ranks.
شِيَمٌvirtues ياO بَنيsons of المُظَفَّرِal-Muzaffar بيضٌwhite
شِيَمٌ يا بَني المُظَفَّرِ بيضٌ
لَكُمyours فيin زَمانِناour age المُسوَدِّblackened
لَكُم في زَمانِنا المُسوَدِّ
White are your virtues, O sons of al-Muzaffar,
Your share from them is our share from you,
in this blackened age of ours.
So adorn yourself and celebrate it as an omen of fortune.
وَأَيادٍand favors جَهَدتُI strained فيin عَدِّهاcounting them نَفself (first part)
وَأَيادٍ جَهَدتُ في عَدِّها نَف
سيmyself (completion) فَلَمbut did not أُفنِهاI exhaust them وَأَفنَيتُand I exhausted جُهديmy effort
سي فَلَم أُفنِها وَأَفنَيتُ جُهدي
And favors, in counting which I strained
May you fulfill the needs of the people as you fulfill
myself: I could not exhaust them, but exhausted my effort.
The year's tithe-tax and pay off debts!
ياO مُعينيmy helper وَالدَهرُwhile time يَحطِمُbreaks عوديmy branch
يا مُعيني وَالدَهرُ يَحطِمُ عودي
بَينَbetween هزلٍjest مِنَof الخُطوبِcalamities وَجَدِّand earnestness
بَينَ هزلٍ مِنَ الخُطوبِ وَجَدِّ
O my helper, while time breaks my branch
You have lived among us in sincere aid and ample shade,
with calamities both in jest and in earnest,
Unfailing in generosity and unsheathing swords.
كانَit was خَصميmy adversary فَمُذbut since لَجَأتُI sought refuge إِلىat باdoor (first part)
كانَ خَصمي فَمُذ لَجَأتُ إِلى با
بِكَyour door (completion) أَضحَتbecame أَيّامُهُits days وَهيَand they are جُنديmy troops
بِكَ أَضحَت أَيّامُهُ وَهيَ جُندي
it was my enemy; but since I sought refuge at
your door, its days have become my troops.
أَنتَyou أَغنَيتَنيenriched me وَصُنتَand preserved بِمَعروwith kindness (first part)
أَنتَ أَغنَيتَني وَصُنتَ بِمَعرو
فِكَyour kindness (completion) قَدريmy dignity عَنfrom كُلِّevery خِسٍّbase man وَوَغدِand vile man
فِكَ قَدري عَن كُلِّ خِسٍّ وَوَغدِ
You enriched me and preserved, through
your kindness, my dignity from every base and vile man:
مَعشَرٌa people لاnot يَرونَdeem fitting إِطلاقَopening كَفٍّa hand
مَعشَرٌ لا يَرونَ إِطلاقَ كَفٍّ
بِنَوالٍwith a gift وَلاnor لِسانٍa tongue بِوَعدِwith a promise
بِنَوالٍ وَلا لِسانٍ بِوَعدِ
a people who do not countenance opening a hand
with a gift, or a tongue with a promise.
قَدalready أَظَلَّتdrew near بَشائِرُglad tidings of العيدِEid فيin أَكmost honored (first part)
قَد أَظَلَّت بَشائِرُ العيدِ في أَك
رَمِmost honored (completion) زَورٍvisitors مِنهُfrom it وَأَشرَفِand noblest وَفدِdelegation
رَمِ زَورٍ مِنهُ وَأَشرَفِ وَفدِ
Eid's glad tidings have arrived, with its most
honored visitors and its noblest delegation.
حَظُّهُits share مِنكَfrom you حَظُّناour share مِنهُfrom it فَاِلبَسso put on
حَظُّهُ مِنكَ حَظُّنا مِنهُ فَاِلبَس
هُit وَعَيَّدand celebrate Eid فيهِduring it بِطائِرِwith an omen of سَعدِgood fortune
هُ وَعَيَّد فيهِ بِطائِرِ سَعدِ
Its share of you is our share of it; so put it
on, and celebrate it with an omen of good fortune,
سالِماًsafe and sound تُنجِزُyou dispatch الأَعاديthe enemies كَماjust as تُنyou dispatch (first part)
سالِماً تُنجِزُ الأَعادي كَما تُن
جِزُyou dispatch (completion) فيهِduring it الكومَhigh-humped camels العِشارَten-month-pregnant she-camels وَتَفديand ransom
جِزُ فيهِ الكومَ العِشارَ وَتَفدي
safe and sound, dispatching enemies as you dispatch
the high-humped, pregnant she-camels during it, and offer ransom.
عِشتَmay you live فيناamong us صافيpure المَوارِدِwatering places ضافيample الthe
عِشتَ فينا صافي المَوارِدِ ضافي ال
ظِلِّshade فالَّblunting الحُسامِthe sword واريkindling الزَندِthe fire-stick
ظِلِّ فالَّ الحُسامِ واري الزَندِ
May you live among us, your waters pure and your shade ample,
blunting swords, your fire-stick quick to kindle.
Partial English translation: 92 of 106 Arabic lines translated.