هَلْ غَادَرَ الشُّعَرَاءُ مِنْ مُتَـرَدَّمِ = أَمْ هَلْ عَرَفْتَ الدَّارَ بَعْدَ تَوَهُّمِ
Have the poets left anything for me to explore and reconstruct; and have you recognized the (beloved’s) abode after much guessing and uncertainty
أَعْيَاكَ رَسْمُ الدَّارِ لَمْ يَتَكَلَّـمِ = حَتَّى تَكَلَّمَ كَالأَصَـمِّ الأَعْجَـمِ
The unspeaking image of the house has bewildered you, and when it spoke, it gestured as the deaf and mute do
وَلَقَدْ حَبَسْتُ بِهَا طَوِيلاً نَاقَتِي = أَشْكُو إلى سُفْعٍ رَوَاكِدِ جثَّـمِ
Long did I keep my she-camel in it, bemoaning my lot, complaining to quietly perching birds
يَا دَارَ عَبْلَـةَ بِالجَوَاءِ تَكَلَّمِي = وَعِمِّي صَبَاحَاً دَارَ عَبْلَةَ وَاسْلَمِي
O Ablah’s dwelling in Jawa, do speak to me; may your mornings be blessed, and may you be protected from harm
دَارٌ لآنِسَةٍ غَضِيْضٍ طَرْفُـهَا = طَوْعَ العِناقِ لذيـذةِ المُتَبَسَّـمِ
Yea, it is the dwelling of the damsel with downcast looks; who welcomes my embraces, with delightful smiles
فَوَقَفْتُ فِيهَا نَاقَتِي وَكَأنَّـهَا = فَدَنٌ لأَقْضِي حَاجَـةَ المُتَلَـوِّمِ
There I halted my she-camel, felt standing before a magnificent palace, ready to welcome me and address my needs
وَتَحُلُّ عَبْلَـةُ بِالجَـوَاءِ وَأَهْلُنَـا = بِالْحَـزْنِ فَالصَّمَـانِ فَالمُتَثَلَّـمِ
Lo! Ablah now resides in Jawa; while our folks live in Hazan, Samman and Mutathllam
حُيِّيْتَ مِنْ طَلَلٍ تَقادَمَ عَهْدُهُ = أَقْوَى وَأَقْفَـرَ بَعْدَ أُمِّ الهَيْثَـمِ
A heartfelt greeting, O long deserted camp! You now stand empty and desolate, ever since the departure of the beloved one. 1
حَلَّتْ بِأَرْضِ الزَّائِرِينَ فَأَصْبَحَتْ = عَسِرَاً عَلَيَّ طِلاَبُكِ ابْنَـةَ مَخْرَمِ
You have taken up residence in the land of the enemy, making it hard for me to access you. 2
عُلِّقْتُهَا عَرَضَاً وَاقْتُـلُ قَوْمَهَا = زَعْمَاً لَعَمْرُ أَبِيكَ لَيْسَ بِمَزْعَـمِ
I have accidentally fallen in love with you, while killing your people! No mere declaration, it is the truth
وَلَقَدْ نَزَلْتِ فَلا تَظُنِّـي غَيْرَهُ = مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَـةِ المُحِبِّ المُكْـرَمِ
You have occupied the core of my being, so never doubt my love. You are a cherished guest in my heart
كَيْفَ المَزَارُ وَقَدْ تَرَبَّعَ أَهْلُهَـا = بِعُنَيْـزَتَيْـنِ وَأَهْلُنَـا بِالغَيْلَـمِ
How may I visit you in your camp in Unaizatain, a place far from our camp in Ghailam
إِنْ كُنْتِ أزْمَعْتِ الفِرَاقَ فَإِنَّمَا = زُمَّتْ رِكَابُكُم بِلَيْـلٍ مُظْلِـمِ
Your camels made ready for the journey in the depth of night; you shifted camp and departed in haste
مَا رَاعَني إلاَّ حَمُولَـةُ أَهْلِهَـا = وَسْطَ الدِّيَارِ تَسَفُّ حَبَّ الخِمْخِمِ
The camels, leisurely eating parched grains of Khamkham in their habitation, suddenly carried you and sped away; I was sorely alarmed
فِيهَا اثْنَتَانِ وَأَرْبَعُـونَ حَلُوبَـةً = سُودَاً كَخَافِيَـةِ الغُرَابِ الأَسْحَمِ
Forty-two milk-giving she camels in all; black in color as the raven’s feathers
إذْ تَسْتَبِيْكَ بِذِي غُرُوبٍ وَاضِحٍ = عَذْبٍ مُقَبَّلُـهُ لَذِيـذِ المَطْعَـمِ
O how fascinating those well formed teeth; how sweet the kisses from that mouth
وَكَأَنَّمَا نَظَرَتْ بِعَيْنَيْ شَـادِنٍ = رَشَـأٍ مِنَ الْغِزْلانِ لَيْسَ بِتَـوْأَمِ
When looking, she gazes with eyes of a strong fawn; healthily born, not part of a litter
وَكَأَنَّ فَأْرَةَ تَاجِـرٍ بِقَسِيْمَـةٍ = سَبَقَتْ عوَارِضَهَا إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْفَـمِ
Fragrant like precious musk from a genuine dealer; bottle perfuming the mouth before the cheeks
أَوْ رَوْضَةً أُنُفَاً تَضَمَّنَ نَبْتَهَـا = غَيْثٌ قَلِيلُ الدِّمْنِ لَيْسَ بِمُعْلَـمِ
Or like the sweet scent of an isolated flower garden; its sod enlivened by gentle showers
جَادَتْ عَلَيْـهِ كُلُّ عَيْـنٍ ثَـرَّةٍ = فَتَرَكْنَ كُـلَّ حَدِيقَةٍ كَالدِّرْهَـمِ
Early spring clouds generously shower it with rain; giving every patch a dirham-like, well-rounded shape
سَحَّاً وَتَسْكَابَاً فَكُلُّ عَشِيَّـةٍ = يَجْرِي عَلَيْهَا المَاءُ لَمْ يَتَصَـرَّمِ
Every evening, it is copiously watered, by ceaseless sprinkles that keep it afresh
وَخَلاَ الذُّبَابَ بِـهَا فَلَيْسَ بِبَارِحٍ = غَرِدَاً كَفِعْلِ الشَّـارِبِ المُتَرَنِّـمِ
Behold the insects abuzz ‘midst its flowers; never leaving it, intoxicated as a drunkard humming a tune
هَزِجَاً يَحُكُّ ذِرَاعَـهُ بِذِرَاعِـهِ = قَدْحَ المُكِبِّ عَلَى الزِّنَادِ الأَجْـذَمِ
They thrum and drone, rubbing their limbs together; as one trying to generate sparks by striking steel on flint
تُمْسِي وَتُصْبِحُ فَوْقَ ظَهْرِ حَشِيَّةٍ = وَأََبِيتُ فَوْقَ سَرَاةِ أدْهَمَ مُلْجَـمِ
You spend your nights and days on soft beds and comfortable cushions, while I pass my nights on the back of my bridled horse. 3
وَحَشِيَّتِي سَرْجٌ عَلَى عَبْلِ الشَّوَى = نَهْدٍ مَرَاكِلُـهُ نَبِيـلِ المَحْـزِمِ
As for my bed, it is a saddle, securely placed on a well-built, mighty, muscular steed
هَلْ تُبْلِغَنِّي دَارَهَـا شَدَنِيَّـةٌ = لُعِنَتْ بِمَحْرُومِ الشَّرَابِ مُصَـرَّمِ
Would a she camel carry me to her abode; a she camel cursed by inability to generate milk; traveling fast
خَطَّارَةٌ غِبَّ السُّـرَى مَـوَّارَةٌٌ = تَطِسُ الإِكَامَ بِذَاتِ خُـفٍّ مِيْثَـمِ
Sprightly, tossing her tail from side to side when set on a journey in early morning; advancing swiftly, stamping the tracts with her nimble hooves
وَكَأَنَّمَا أَقِصَ الإِكَامَ عَشِيَّـةً = بِقَرِيبِ بَيْنَ المَنْسِمَيْـنِ مُصَلَّـمِ
Making strides as if not a she-camel, rather an earless male ostrich with hooves, covering the distances with unmatched speed
تَأْوِي لَـهُ قُلُصُ النَّعَامِ كَمَا أَوَتْ = حِزَقٌ يَمَانِيَـةٌ لأَعْجَمَ طِمْطِـمِ
The ostrich chicks respond to its call, as a she-camel responds to a rider, albeit his words unintelligible to her
يَتْبَعْنَ قُلَّـةَ رَأْسِـهِ وَكَأَنَّـهُ = حِدْجٌ عَلَى نَعْشٍ لَهُنَّ مُخَيَّـمِ
They look at the crown of its head and follow; standing out as a howdah atop a box
صَعْلٍ يَعُودُ بِذِي العُشَيرَةِ بَيْضَهُ = كَالعَبْدِ ذِي الفَرْوِ الطَّوِيلِ الأَصْلَمِ
Small-headed, slender-necked, ever returning to its eggs, resembling wool attired slave; ears lopped off. 4
شَرِبَتْ بِمَاءِ الدُّحْرُضَيْنِ فَأَصْبَحَتْ = زَوْرَاءَ تَنْفِرُ عَنْ حِيَاضِ الدَّيْلَـمِ
She refreshingly drank from clean water sources, disdaining other wells. 5
وَكَأَنَّمَا تَنْأَى بِجَانِبِ دَفِّهَا الـوَحْشِيِّ مِنْ هَزِجِ العَشِيِّ مُـؤَوَّمِ
She presses on with unabated speed, as if scratched on the side by sharp feline claws
هِرٍّ جَنِيبٍ كُلَّمَا عَطَفَتْ لَـهُ = غَضَبْى اتَّقَاهَا بِاليَدَيْـنِ وَبِالفَـمِ
The claws of a cat by her side; the more she angrily tries to ward it off, the deeper it pierces her skin with sharp teeth and pointed talons
أَبْقَى لَهَا طُولُ السِّفَارِ مُقَرْمَدَاً = سَنَـدَاً وَمِثْلَ دَعَائِـمِ المُتَخَيِّـمِ
Her long and incessant travels left her thick-skinned hump hardened, resembling the apex of a pitched pavilion
بَرَكَتْ عَلَى مَاءِ الرِّدَاعِ كَأَنَّمَا = بَرَكَتْ عَلَى قَصَبٍ أَجَشَّ مُهَضَّمِ
She knelt down to drink at the Ar-Rida’a Well, making snapping sounds as if kneeling on hollow reeds, thickly heaped
وَكَأَنَّ رُبَّـاً أَوْ كُحَيْلاً مُعْقَدَاً = حَشَّ الوَقُـودُ بِـهِ جَوَانِبَ قُمْقُمِ
Her body like bottle, her sweat like tar, made thick and sticky by fuel applied to the sides of the bottle
َنْبَاعُ مِنْ ذِفْرَى غَضُوبٍ جَسْرَةٍ = زَيَّافَـةٍ مِثْلَ الفَنِيـقِ المُكْـدَمِ
Oozing out profusely from the sweat points near the ears, while the angry she-camel makes rapid strides, like a raging, powerful camel, rumbling with wide-open mouth
إِنْ تُغْدِفِي دُونِي القِنَاعَ فإِنَّنِي = طِبٌّ بأخذِ الفَـارسِ الْمُسْتَلْئِـم
If unable to see me due to a mask, know that I am skilled in seizing the armed rider with utmost ease
أَثْنِي عَلَيَّ بِمَا عَلِمْتِ فَإِنَّنِـي = سَمْحٌ مُخَالَقَتِي إِذَا لَمْ أُظْلَـمِ
Do praise and credit me for what you know; I am amiable and docile when not wronged
فَإِذَا ظُلِمْتُ فَإِنَّ ظُلْمِي بَاسِـلٌ = مُـرٌّ مَذَاقَتُـهُ كَطَعْمِ العَلْقَـمِ
But when wronged, I inflict severe punishment on my oppressor, unimaginably bitter and harsh
وَلَقَدْ شَرِبْتُ مِنَ المُدَامَةِ بَعْدَمَـا = رَكَدَ الهَوَاجِرُ بِالمَشُوفِ المُعْلَـمِ
I had my drink after the sun came to a standstill and everything became motionless; keenly observed
بِزُجَاجَةٍ صَفْرَاءَ ذَاتِ أَسِـرَّةٍ = قُرِنَتْ بِأَزْهَرَ في الشِّمَالِ مُفَـدَّمِ
Wine from a nicely-shaped yellow bottle; poured into a pitcher, its mouth wrapped with a piece of cloth
فَإِذَا شَرِبْتُ فإِنَّنِـي مُسْتَهْلِـكٌ = مَالِي وَعِرْضِي وَافِرٌ لَمْ يُكْلَمِ
When I drink I squander my money, but keep my honor unwounded, sound
وَإِذَا صَحَوْتُ فَمَا أُقَصِّرُ عَنْ نَدَىً = وَكَمَا عَلِمْتِ شَمَائِلِي وَتَكَرُّمِـي
When sober, I never fail to offer hospitality; my traits and large-heartedness are familiar to you
وَحَلِيلِ غَانِيَةٍ تَرَكْتُ مُجَدَّلاً = تَمْكُو فَريصَتُهُ كَشِدْقِ الأَعْلَـمِ
When smiting an opponent he falls to the ground, twitching and quivering; wide gash in his body
سَبَقَتْ يَدايَ لَـهُ بِعَاجِلِ طَعْنَـةٍ = وَرَشَاشِ نَافِـذَةٍ كَلَوْنِ العَنْـدَمِ
My hands greeted him with a swift stab, blood sputtered like deep-red dye
هَلاَّ سَأَلْتِ الخَيْلَ يَا ابْنَةَ مَالِكٍ = إِنْ كُنْتِ جَاهِلَـةً بِمَا لَمْ تَعْلَمِي
O Malik’s Daughter, if ignorant of things not known to you (about me), why not ask horses of combat zone, and get answers to your questions
إِذْ لا أَزَالُ عَلَى رِحَالةِ سَابِحٍ = نَهْـدٍ تَعَاوَرُهُ الكُمَاةُ مُكَلَّـمِ
Lo! Securely seated in the saddle, atop my noble, speedy steed; pierced repeatedly by weapons of fully armed horsemen; covered with wounds. 6
طَوْرَاً يُجَـرَّدُ لِلطِّعَانِ وَتَـارَةً = يَأْوِي إلى حَصِدِ القِسِيِّ عَرَمْرِمِ
Alternating between fiercely charging the opponents, and running headlong into the center, where spears thickly fall
يُخْبِرْكِ مَنْ شَهِدَ الوَقِيعَةَ أَنَّنِـي = أَغْشَى الوَغَى وَأَعِفُّ عِنْدَ المَغْنَمِ
Those witnessing the battle will tell you how I fearlessly run into the tumult and fight; how I refrain from sharing the spoils
وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرْتُكِ وَالرِّمَاحُ نَوَاهِلٌ = مِنِّي وَبِيضُ الْهِنْدِ تَقْطُرُ مِنْ دَمِي
I remembered you when spears dipped into my body, drinking deep; sharp, flashing swords dripping with my blood
فَوَدِدْتُ تَقْبِيلَ السُّيُـوفِ لأَنَّهَا = لَمَعَتْ كَبَارِقِ ثَغْرِكِ الْمُتَبَسِّـمِ
How I desired then to kiss the swords, because they sparkled like your smiling mouth
وَمُدَّجِـجٍ كَرِهَ الكُمَاةُ نِزَالَـهُ = لا مُمْعِنٍ هَرَبَاً وَلاَ مُسْتَسْلِـمِ
Behold a stalwart knight armed to the teeth, brave men cautious to cross swords with him! Neither running away from the battle, nor surrendering
جَادَتْ لَـهُ كَفِّي بِعَاجِلِ طَعْنَـةٍ = بِمُثَقَّفٍ صَدْقِ الكُعُوبِ مُقَـوَّم
My hand presented him with a swift pierce from my straight, steady lance; firmly held
فَشَكَكْتُ بِالرُّمْحِ الأَصَمِّ ثِيَابَـهُ = لَيْسَ الكَرِيمُ عَلَى القَنَا بِمُحَـرَّمِ
I pinned his clothes with my solid spear; a noble man is not exempt from javelin thrusts
فَتَرَكْتُـهُ جَزَرَ السِّبَاعِ يَنُشْنَـهُ = يَقْضِمْنَ حُسْنَ بَنَانِـهِ وَالمِعْصَـمِ
I left him for wild beasts of prey to ravage his body; devouring his wrists and fingers, finely shaped
ومِشَكِّ سَابِغَةٍ هَتَكْتُ فُرُوجَهَا = بِالسَّيْفِ عَنْ حَامِي الحَقِيقَةِ مُعْلِمِ
I charged the enemy’s fortified line of defense, and cracked open the guard’s long and heavy armor with my sword
رَبِذٍ يَدَاهُ بِالقِـدَاحِ إِذَا شَتَـا = هَتَّـاكِ غَايَاتِ التِّجَـارِ مُلَـوَّمِ
The hands of such guard may be skillful in games of chance; he, efficient in targeting wine dealers to secure their stock
لَمَّا رَآنِي قَـدْ نَزَلْتُ أُرِيـدُهُ = أَبْدَى نَواجِـذَهُ لِغَيرِ تَبَسُّـمِ
When he saw me coming on the scene, advancing toward him, he snarled, unsmilingly exposing his teeth
عَهْدِي بِـهِ مَـدَّ النَّهَارِ كَأَنَّمَا = خُضِبَ البَنَانُ وَرَأُسُـهُ بِالعِظْلِـمِ
I moved on him in broad daylight, leaving his head and fingers carmine red
بَطَلٍ كَأَنَّ ثِيَابَـهُ في سَرْحَـةٍ = يُحْذَى نِعَالَ السِّبْتِ ليْسَ بِتَوْأَمِ
So tall he was, his clothes as if covering a tree; wearing stout boots, uniquely strong. 7
يَا شَاةَ قَنَصٍ لِمَنْ حَلَّتْ لَـهُ = حَرُمَتْ عَلَيَّ وَلَيْتَهَا لَمْ تَحْـرُمِ
A Ewe(8) (of mine) has been lawfully taken by another! She has been forbidden me, alas
فَبَعَثْتُ جَارِيَتي فَقُلْتُ لَهَا اذْهَبِي = فَتَجَسَّسِي أَخْبَارَهَا لِيَ واعْلَمِي
I instructed my female servant to go to her camp; to spy and bring me word about her
قَالَتْ : رَأَيْتُ مِنَ الأَعَادِي غِرَّةً = وَالشَّاةُ مُمْكِنَـةٌ لِمَنْ هُو مُرْتَمِ
She said: I found the enemies oblivious; the Ewe is possible for a chivalric gallant
وَكَأَنَّمَا التَفَتَتْ بِجِيدِ جَدَايَـةٍ = رَشَأٍٍ مِنَ الغِزْلانِ حُـرٍّ أَرْثَـمِ
She turned her slender neck to look; resembling a fawn with a white spot on the upper lip
نُبِّئْتُ عَمْرَاً غَيْرَ شَاكِرِ نِعْمَتِي = وَالكُفْرُ مَخْبَثَـةٌ لِنَفْسِ المُنْعِـمِ
I have been told that her father(9) is ungrateful toward me; ingratitude is poison to the giver’s soul.
This brings to memory Shakespeare’s words: rich gifts wax poor when
givers prove unkind
وَلَقَدْ حَفِظْتُ وَصَاةَ عَمِّي بِالضُّحَى = إِذْ تَقْلِصُ الشَّفَتَانِ عَنْ وَضَحِ الفَمِ
I respected my uncle’s injunction in the morning; when lips part to reveal the mouth
في حَوْمَةِ الْمَوْتِ التي لا تَشْتَكِي = غَمَرَاتِها الأَبْطَالُ غَيْرَ تَغَمْغُـمِ
In the thick of battle, where death abounds and heroes complain not, nor moan
إِذْ يَتَّقُونَ بِيَ الأَسِنَّةَ لَمْ أَخِـمْ = عَنْهَا وَلَكنِّي تَضَايَـقَ مُقْدَمي
They averted the falling spears, shielding themselves behind me. I valiantly fought on, not avoiding the spears; my advancement slowed, notwithstanding
ولقَدْ هَمَمْتُ بِغَارَةٍ في لَيْلَـةٍ = سَوْدَاءَ حَالِكَـةٍ كَلَوْنِ الأَدْلَـمِ
Once I conducted a raid; on a jetty night, pitch dark
لَمَّا سَمِعْتُ نِدَاءَ مُـرَّةَ قَدْ عَلاَ = وَابْنَيْ رَبِيعَةَ في الغُبَارِ الأَقْتَـمِ
As I heard the loud war cry of Murrah and Rabia’s two sons; ‘midst thick, murky clouds of dust
وَمُحَلِّمٌ يَسْعَـوْنَ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِمْ = وَالْمَوْتُ تَحْتَ لِوَاءِ آلِ مُحَلِّمِ
And saw The Muhallam men gathered under their banner; death lurking beneath the banner of the Muhallams
أَيْقَنْتُ أَنْ سَيَكُون عِنْدَ لِقَائِهِمْ = ضَرْبٌ يُطِيرُ عَنِ الفِرَاخِ الجُثَّـمِ
I realized, when clashing with them, the smiting and striking will scare birds away from their nests; abandoning their young
بِرَحِيبَةِ الفَرْغَيْنِ يَهْدِي جَرْسُهَـا = باللَّيْلِ مُعْتَسَّ الذِّئَـابِ الضُّـرَّمِ
The sound of blood spurting out of deep gashes attracts the roving wolves at night; hunger driven
لَمَّا رَأيْتُ القَوْمَ أقْبَلَ جَمْعُهُـمْ = يَتَذَامَرُونَ كَرَرْتُ غَيْرَ مُذَمَّـمِ
When I saw the advance of the adversaries, and heard them urge one another to fight the good fight; I unhesitatingly charged onward.10
يَدْعُونَ عَنْتَرَ وَالرِّمَاحُ كَأَنَّـهَا = أَشْطَانُ بِئْـرٍ في لَبَانِ الأَدْهَـمِ
Repeatedly they cried “Antarah”; spears alternating on Adham’s(11) bosom like ropes of a deep well
مَا زِلْتُ أَرْمِيهُمْ بِثُغْرَةِ نَحْـرِهِ = وَلَبَانِـهِ حَتَّى تَسَرْبَـلَ بِالـدَّمِ
I pressed on, pounding them with my horse’s neck and chest, until he was completely covered with blood
فَازْوَرَّ مِنْ وَقْـعِ القَنَا بِلَبَانِـهِ = وَشَكَا إِلَيَّ بِعَبْـرَةٍ وَتَحَمْحُـمِ
He turned aside, numerous spears falling on his chest; complaining to me
with a tear and a heart-melting neigh
لَوْ كَانَ يَدْرِي مَا المُحَاوَرَةُ اشْتَكَى = وَلَكانَ لَوْ عَلِمْ الكَلامَ مُكَلِّمِـي
Had he been able to dialogue, he would have verbalized his complaint; had he been able to talk, he would have conversed with me
وَلَقَدْ شَفَى نَفْسِي وَأَبْرَأَ سُقْمَهَا = قِيْلُ الفَوارِسِ وَيْكَ عَنْتَرَ أَقْـدِمِ
My soul was healed of its malady when I heard the knights call my name, pleading: charge, Antarah, charge
وَالخَيْلُ تَقْتَحِمُ الخَبَارَ عَوَابِـسَاً = مِنْ بَيْنِ شَيْظَمَـةٍ وَأَجْرَدَ شَيْظَمِ
Long-bodied trotters angrily charge the battleground; scowling as they proceed, mares and steeds
ذُلَلٌ رِكَابِي حَيْثُ شِئْتُ مُشَايعِي = لُبِّـي وَأَحْفِـزُهُ بِأَمْـرٍ مُبْـرَمِ
My horse, ever close to my heart, is amiable, obeying my wishes, when urging him to make haste; without delay
إِنِّي عَدَاني أَنْ أَزوَركِ فَاعْلَمِي = مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتُ وبَعْضُ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمِي
Visiting you is not an option for me; know that which I know, and some of what you don’t know
حَالَتْ رِماحُ ابْنَي بغيضٍ دُونَكُمْ = وَزَوَتْ جَوَانِي الحَرْبِ مَنْ لم يُجْرِمِ
The spears of the sons of the hateful one have stood between you and me; the perpetrators of war inflicting harm on innocent ones.12
وَلَقَدْ خَشَيْتُ بِأَنْ أَمُوتَ وَلَمْ تَدُرْ = لِلْحَرْبِ دَائِرَةٌ عَلَى ابْنَي ضَمْضَمِ
I was afraid to die before war broke out, before I had a chance to take on the two sons of Dhamdham
الشَّاتِمَيْ عِرْضِي وَلَمْ أَشْتِمْهُمَا = وَالنَّاذِرِيْنَ إِذْا لَقَيْتُهُمَـا دَمـِي
The have disgraced my honor, yet I refrained from likewise taunting them; they have vowed to spill my blood when they happen upon me
إِنْ يَفْعَلا فَلَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ أَبَاهُمَـا = جَزَرَ السِّباعِ وَكُلِّ نَسْرٍ قَشْعَـمِ
No wonder they seek my blood, for I have killed their father; leaving his body for vultures and animals of prey to feed upon.
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(1) In the original : Umul-Haitham, meaning Ablah
(2) In the original: O Makhram’s daughter, meaning Ablah
(3) Adham is the name of Antarah’s horse.
(4) Returning to its eggs in Dul-Ashira.
(5) A mention is given to two sources of water: Dahradhain and Dailam.
(6) The steed, not Antarah, is pierced.
(7) The word “twins” is also mentioned and interpreted by some scholars as “strong because not born as a twin.” The uniquely strong is the opponent, not the boots.
(8) A reference to Ablah.
(9) He actually says “Amr” instead of “her father”, which also means so and so. However, from the context I concluded that by Amr he actually meant Abla’s father.
(10) It may also be interpreted as “I blamelessly charged on.”
(11) He likened the unabatedly falling spears to rapid movement of ropes used in pulling water out of a deep well.
(12) I am not quite certain of the precise meaning of this line, I find the words (Zawat Jawani) to be illusive.
تفضلوا أيضاً بقراءة ترجمة قصيدة أبي القاسم الشابي (إذا الشعب يوماً أراد الحياة) على الرابط التالي
http://www.wata.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=63876 
