يا عيدُ ما لَكَ مِن شَوقٍ وَإيراقِ

يا عيدُ ما لَكَ مِن شَوقٍ وَإيراقِ

وَمَرِّ طَيفٍ عَلى الأَهوالِ طَرّاقِ

وَمَرِّ طَيفٍ عَلى الأَهوالِ طَرّاقِ

O returning grief, what longing and sleeplessness you bring!

O Festival! You awaken no longing in me, no shedding of tears,

And a phantom's passing through terrors, visiting by night.

No specter passes over events that make me shudder,

يَسري عَلى الأَينِ وَالحَيّاتِ مُحتَفِياً

يَسري عَلى الأَينِ وَالحَيّاتِ مُحتَفِياً

نَفسي فِداؤُكَ مِن سارٍ عَلى ساقِ

نَفسي فِداؤُكَ مِن سارٍ عَلى ساقِ

It journeys by night, barefoot, despite fatigue and snakes.

It moves through the valleys and mountains proudly,

May my soul ransom you, a traveler on foot!

My soul is your ransom from an upright walker on legs.

طَيفِ اِبنَةِ الحُرِّ إِذ كُنّا نُواصِلُها

طَيفِ اِبنَةِ الحُرِّ إِذ كُنّا نُواصِلُها

ثُمَّ اِجتُنِنتَ بُها بَعدَ التِفِرّاقِ

ثُمَّ اِجتُنِنتَ بُها بَعدَ التِفِرّاقِ

O phantom of al-Hurr's daughter, when we maintained ties with her,

The phantom of the free woman's daughter when we used to visit her,

Then you were maddened by her after separation.

Then, after we parted, you became infatuated with her.

تَاللَهِ آمَنُ أُنثى بَعدَما حَلَفَت

تَاللَهِ آمَنُ أُنثى بَعدَما حَلَفَت

أَسماءُ بِاللَهِ مِن عَهدٍ وَميثاقِ

أَسماءُ بِاللَهِ مِن عَهدٍ وَميثاقِ

By God, shall I trust a woman after the oath sworn

By God, no woman believes after she has sworn

By Asma, in God's name, with pledge and covenant?

By God, from a pact and covenant.

مَمزوجَةُ الوُدِّ بَينا واصَلَت صَرَمَت

مَمزوجَةُ الوُدِّ بَينا واصَلَت صَرَمَت

الأَوَّلُ اللَذ مَضى وَالآخَرُ الباقِ

الأَوَّلُ اللَذ مَضى وَالآخَرُ الباقِ

Mixed in affection: even as she drew close, she broke away.

Our love was mingled while she maintained it,

The first is what has passed; the other is what remains.

The first was sweet but faded, the second remains.

فَالأَوَّلُ اللَذ مَضى قالي مَوَدَّتُها

فَالأَوَّلُ اللَذ مَضى قالي مَوَدَّتُها

وَاللَذُّ مِنها هُذاءٌ غَيرُ إِحقاقِ

وَاللَذُّ مِنها هُذاءٌ غَيرُ إِحقاقِ

So the first, which has passed, spurns her affection;

So the first sweetness passed, her affection for me,

And her sweetness is idle talk, without fulfillment.

And that sweetness from her was delusion without right.

تُعطيكَ وَعدَ أَمانيٍّ تُغِرُّ بِهِ

تُعطيكَ وَعدَ أَمانيٍّ تُغِرُّ بِهِ

كَالقَطرِ مَرَّ عَلى ضَجنانَ بَرّاقِ

كَالقَطرِ مَرَّ عَلى ضَجنانَ بَرّاقِ

She gives you a promise of wishes, deceiving you with it,

She makes promises to you that beguile you

Like lightning-bright rain that passed over Dajnan.

Like drops falling on bright porcelain.

إِنّي إِذا خُلَّةٌ ضَنَّت بِنائِلِها

إِنّي إِذا خُلَّةٌ ضَنَّت بِنائِلِها

وَأَمسَكَت بِضَعيفِ الوَصلِ أَحذاقِ

وَأَمسَكَت بِضَعيفِ الوَصلِ أَحذاقِ

Whenever a beloved grudges her favors,

When she is alone she shows you her claws

And clings to frail strands of attachment,

And seizes the weak bond violently.

نَجَوتُ مِنها نَجائي مِن بَجيلَةَ إِذ

نَجَوتُ مِنها نَجائي مِن بَجيلَةَ إِذ

أَلقَيتُ لَيلَةَ خَبتِ الرَهطِ أَرواقِ

أَلقَيتُ لَيلَةَ خَبتِ الرَهطِ أَرواقِ

I escape her as I escaped Bajila, when

I escaped from her like my escape from Bajila

I laid my body down that night at Khabt al-Raht.

The night I threw myself among the sleeping tribe.

لَيلَةَ صاحوا وَأَغرَوا بي سِراعَهُمُ

لَيلَةَ صاحوا وَأَغرَوا بي سِراعَهُمُ

بِالعَيكَتَينِ لَدى مَعدى اِبنِ بَرّاقِ

بِالعَيكَتَينِ لَدى مَعدى اِبنِ بَرّاقِ

The night they shouted and set their swiftest men upon me,

The night they cried out and drove me away in haste

At al-Aykatayn, near Ibn Barraq's crossing.

With the two she-camels, at Ma’diyy ibn Barrayy’s abode.

كَأَنَّما حَثحَثوا حُصّاً قَوادِمُهُ

كَأَنَّما حَثحَثوا حُصّاً قَوادِمُهُ

أَو أُمَّ خِشفٍ بِذي شَثٍّ وَطُبّاقِ

أَو أُمَّ خِشفٍ بِذي شَثٍّ وَطُبّاقِ

As though they had goaded an ostrich with scant wing-feathers,

As if they were stirring up quick camels,

Or a fawn's mother among shath and tubbaq shrubs.

Or a Khashuf's mother with a Shath and Tubbaq.

لا شَيءَ أَسرَعُ مِنّي لَيسَ ذا عُذَرٍ

لا شَيءَ أَسرَعُ مِنّي لَيسَ ذا عُذَرٍ

وَذا جَناحٍ بِجَنبِ الرَيدِ خَفّاقِ

وَذا جَناحٍ بِجَنبِ الرَيدِ خَفّاقِ

Nothing is swifter than I, except a creature with a mane,

None swifter than I, without excuse,

And a winged creature fluttering beside a mountain spur.

With wings alongside the fleeing sandgrouse,

حَتّى نَجَوتُ وَلَمّا يَنزِعوا سَلَبي

حَتّى نَجَوتُ وَلَمّا يَنزِعوا سَلَبي

بِوالِهٍ مِن قَبيضِ الشَدِّ غَيداقِ

بِوالِهٍ مِن قَبيضِ الشَدِّ غَيداقِ

Until I escaped, before they could strip my gear from me,

Until I escaped when they did not take my spoils

With a frantic, swift, long-striding run.

With a protector's grip, pulling away forcefully.

وَلا أَقولُ إِذا ما خُلَّةٌ صَرَمَت

وَلا أَقولُ إِذا ما خُلَّةٌ صَرَمَت

يا وَيحَ نَفسِيَ مِن شَوقٍ وَإِشفاقِ

يا وَيحَ نَفسِيَ مِن شَوقٍ وَإِشفاقِ

And when a beloved breaks away, I do not say,

I do not say, when she shows her claws,

'O, pity my soul, with its longing and anxious fear!'

“Woe to my soul from longing and compassion!”

لَكِنَّما عِوَلي إِن كُنتُ ذا عِوَلٍ

لَكِنَّما عِوَلي إِن كُنتُ ذا عِوَلٍ

عَلى بَصيرٍ بِكَسبِ الحَمدِ سَبّاقِ

عَلى بَصيرٍ بِكَسبِ الحَمدِ سَبّاقِ

Rather, my reliance, if I rely on anyone,

Rather, my strength, if I have any strength,

Is on one discerning how to earn praise, always foremost.

Is in one with insight who earns praise as a forerunner,

سَبّاقِ غاياتٍ مَجدٍ في عَشيرَتِهِ

سَبّاقِ غاياتٍ مَجدٍ في عَشيرَتِهِ

مُرَجِّعِ الصَوتِ هَدّاً بَينَ أَرفاقِ

مُرَجِّعِ الصَوتِ هَدّاً بَينَ أَرفاقِ

Foremost at glory's goals among his clan,

A forerunner in the realms of glory among his tribe,

Modulating his voice, resounding among traveling companions,

Restoring reason gently among comrades,

عاري الظَنابيبِ مُمتَدٍّ نَواشِرُهُ

عاري الظَنابيبِ مُمتَدٍّ نَواشِرُهُ

مِدلاجِ أَدهَمَ واهي الماءِ غَسّاقِ

مِدلاجِ أَدهَمَ واهي الماءِ غَسّاقِ

Bare-shinned, his forearm sinews stretched taut,

Bare forearms, spreading out his mantle,

Traveling by night through black, rain-streaming, pitch-dark gloom.

A reddish-brown steed with weakly flowing water,

حَمّالِ أَلوِيَةٍ شَهّادِ أَندِيَةٍ

حَمّالِ أَلوِيَةٍ شَهّادِ أَندِيَةٍ

قَوّالِ مُحكَمَةٍ جَوّابِ آفاقِ

قَوّالِ مُحكَمَةٍ جَوّابِ آفاقِ

A bearer of banners, a constant attendant of councils,

Bearer of banners, famed among assemblies,

A speaker of sound judgments, a roamer of far horizons.

Judge of firm speech, answerer to horizons,

فَذاكَ هَمّي وَغَزوي أَستَغيثُ بِهِ

فَذاكَ هَمّي وَغَزوي أَستَغيثُ بِهِ

إِذا اِستَغَثتُ بِضافي الرَأسِ نَغّاقِ

إِذا اِستَغَثتُ بِضافي الرَأسِ نَغّاقِ

He is my concern and my aim; I call on him for aid,

He is my care and my undertaking when I call

When I call for aid on a shaggy-headed, noisy croaker,

for help against one who chops at the head spitefully,

كَالحِقفِ حَدَّءُهُ النامونَ قُلتُ لَهُ

كَالحِقفِ حَدَّءُهُ النامونَ قُلتُ لَهُ

ذو ثَلَّتَينِ وَذو بَهمٍ وَأَرباقِ

ذو ثَلَّتَينِ وَذو بَهمٍ وَأَرباقِ

Like a sand-dune, [apparently surrounded by] sleepers, I said to him:

Like the howdah, its saddle worn by traveling,

'You with two flocks, with lambs and tethering ropes!'

“Two braids and dimness and looseness,” I said to him,

وَقُلَّةٍ كَسِنانِ الرِمحِ بارِزَةٍ

وَقُلَّةٍ كَسِنانِ الرِمحِ بارِزَةٍ

ضَحيانَةٍ في شُهورِ الصَيفِ مِحراقِ

ضَحيانَةٍ في شُهورِ الصَيفِ مِحراقِ

And a peak, jutting like a spearhead,

And sparseness like spear points protruding,

Sun-exposed, scorching in the summer months,

A laughing one in the months of summer's heat,

بادَرتُ قُنَّتَها صَحبي وَما كَسِلوا

بادَرتُ قُنَّتَها صَحبي وَما كَسِلوا

حَتّى نَمَيتُ إِلَيها بَعدَ إِشراقِ

حَتّى نَمَيتُ إِلَيها بَعدَ إِشراقِ

I raced my companions to its summit; they were no laggards,

I gained access to its she-camels, my friends,

Until I climbed to it after sunrise.

and they were not slow until I came to her after sunrise.

لا شَيأَفي ريدِها إِلّا نَعامَتُها

لا شَيأَفي ريدِها إِلّا نَعامَتُها

مِنها هَزيمٌ وَمِنها قائِمٌ باقِ

مِنها هَزيمٌ وَمِنها قائِمٌ باقِ

Nothing upon its ridge except its summit cairn,

There is nothing wrong with it but her ostrich,

Part of it shattered, and part still standing.

Some of them are prey and some remain.

بِشَرثَةٍ خَلَقٍ يوقى البَنانُ بِها

بِشَرثَةٍ خَلَقٍ يوقى البَنانُ بِها

شَدَدتُ فيها سَريحاً بَعدَ إِطراقِ

شَدَدتُ فيها سَريحاً بَعدَ إِطراقِ

With a ragged, worn sandal shielding the toes,

With contemptible nature that the fingers guard against,

I fastened a leather thong in it after adding a sole-layer.

I tightened its saddlecloth after saddling.

يامَن لِعَظّالَةٍ خَذّالَةٍ أَشِبٍ

يامَن لِعَظّالَةٍ خَذّالَةٍ أَشِبٍ

حَرَّقَ بِاللَومِ جِلدي أَيَّ تِحراقِ

حَرَّقَ بِاللَومِ جِلدي أَيَّ تِحراقِ

O, who can help against an obstructive, discouraging troublemaker,

O you who blame harshly and spitefully with a twisted character,

Who scorched my skin with reproach—what a scorching!

Scorching my skin, what a burning!

يَقولُ أَهلَكتَ مالاً لَو قَنِعتَ بِهِ

يَقولُ أَهلَكتَ مالاً لَو قَنِعتَ بِهِ

مِن ثَوبِ صِدقٍ وَمِن بَزٍّ وَأَعلاقِ

مِن ثَوبِ صِدقٍ وَمِن بَزٍّ وَأَعلاقِ

He says, 'You squandered wealth—if only you had been content with it:

He says, "You have destroyed wealth which, had you been content with,

Good clothing, fine fabrics, and prized possessions!'

Would have been enough in true garments and silk."

عاذِلَتي إِنَّ بَعضَ اللَومِ مَعنَفَةٌ

عاذِلَتي إِنَّ بَعضَ اللَومِ مَعنَفَةٌ

وَهَل مَتاعٌ وَإٍ أَبقَيتُهُ باقِ

وَهَل مَتاعٌ وَإٍ أَبقَيتُهُ باقِ

My reproacher, some rebuke is harsh abuse.

My criticizer, some blame is persecution.

And will any possession last, even if you preserve it?

What possessions did I keep to remain?

إِنّي زَعيمٌ لَئِن لَم تَترُكي عِذَلي

إِنّي زَعيمٌ لَئِن لَم تَترُكي عِذَلي

أَن يَسأَلَ الحَيَّ عَنّي أَهلَ آفاقِ

أَن يَسأَلَ الحَيَّ عَنّي أَهلَ آفاقِ

I pledge that, if you do not cease reproaching me,

I assert that if you do not stop blaming me,

The tribe will ask people of distant lands about me,

The living will ask after me among people everywhere,

أَن يَسأَلَ القَومُ عَنّي أَهلَ مَعرِفَةٍ

أَن يَسأَلَ القَومُ عَنّي أَهلَ مَعرِفَةٍ

فَلا يُخَبِّرُهُم عَن ثابِتٍ لاقِ

فَلا يُخَبِّرُهُم عَن ثابِتٍ لاقِ

The people will ask those with knowledge about me,

The people will ask after me, people of knowledge,

And no one they meet will bring them news of Thabit.

And they will not inform them about an absent one.

سَدِّد خِلالَكَ مِن مالٍ تُجَمِّعُهُ

سَدِّد خِلالَكَ مِن مالٍ تُجَمِّعُهُ

حَتّى تُلاقي الَّذي كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ لاقي

حَتّى تُلاقي الَّذي كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ لاقي

Meet your needs with the wealth you amass,

Make your assets righteous from the wealth you gather

Until you meet what every person must meet.

Until you meet the one whom every person meets.

لَتَقرَعَنَّ عَلَيَّ السِنَّ مِن نَدَمٍ

لَتَقرَعَنَّ عَلَيَّ السِنَّ مِن نَدَمٍ

إِذا تَذَكَّرتَ يَوماً بَعضَ أَخلاقِ

إِذا تَذَكَّرتَ يَوماً بَعضَ أَخلاقِ

You will surely tap your tooth in regret over me,

Old age will beat upon me with regret

When one day you remember some of my qualities.

When you remember some of my character.