Unscarred Downtime
Anguish Unsaid Lyrics

أَمِنْ أُمِّ أَوْفَى دِمْنَـةٌ لَمْ تَكَلَّـمِ
Is there a more loyal mother than silence?

بِحَـوْمَانَةِ الـدُّرَّاجِ فَالمُتَثَلَّـمِ
In the corners of the staircase, where secrets reside

وَدَارٌ لَهَـا بِالرَّقْمَتَيْـنِ كَأَنَّهَـا
A home adorned with tattoos on the wrists

مَرَاجِيْعُ وَشْمٍ فِي نَوَاشِرِ مِعْصَـمِ
Patterns of ink etched on the surface

بِهَا العِيْنُ وَالأَرْآمُ يَمْشِينَ خِلْفَـةً
With eyes and scars trailing behind

وَأَطْلاؤُهَا يَنْهَضْنَ مِنْ كُلِّ مَجْثَمِ
And its echoes emerge from every corner

وَقَفْتُ بِهَا مِنْ بَعْدِ عِشْرِينَ حِجَّةً
And I stood there after twenty arguments

فَـلأيَاً عَرَفْتُ الدَّارَ بَعْدَ تَوَهُّـمِ
Oh how I recognized the truth of the place after being deceived

أَثَـافِيَ سُفْعاً فِي مُعَرَّسِ مِرْجَـلِ
Like sparks flying from a polished blade

وَنُـؤْياً كَجِذْمِ الحَوْضِ لَمْ يَتَثَلَّـمِ
And visions like ripples in a calm pool

فَلَـمَّا عَرَفْتُ الدَّارَ قُلْتُ لِرَبْعِهَـا
When I finally understood the truth of the place, I said to its inhabitants

أَلاَ أَنْعِمْ صَبَاحاً أَيُّهَا الرَّبْعُ وَاسْلَـمِ
May you have a pleasant morning, O my friends, and peace be upon you

تَبَصَّرْ خَلِيْلِي هَلْ تَرَى مِنْ ظَعَائِـنٍ
Look closely, my friend, do you see any flaws?

تَحَمَّلْـنَ بِالْعَلْيَاءِ مِنْ فَوْقِ جُرْثُـمِ
They carry burdens of glory above their shoulders

جَعَلْـنَ القَنَانَ عَنْ يَمِينٍ وَحَزْنَـهُ
They made their sorrow and pain a companion on their right

وَكَـمْ بِالقَنَانِ مِنْ مُحِلٍّ وَمُحْـرِمِ
How many forbidden and sacred things happened due to that sorrow

عَلَـوْنَ بِأَنْمَـاطٍ عِتَاقٍ وكِلَّـةٍ
They danced with patterns of scars and complete freedom

وِرَادٍ حَوَاشِيْهَـا مُشَاكِهَةُ الـدَّمِ
Their wounds on the edges were a challenge to blood

وَوَرَّكْنَ فِي السُّوبَانِ يَعْلُوْنَ مَتْنَـهُ
They found refuge in the shadows, rising above their surroundings

عَلَيْهِـنَّ دَلُّ النَّـاعِمِ المُتَنَعِّــمِ
On them lies the mark of the refined and the content

بَكَرْنَ بُكُورًا وَاسْتَحْرَنَ بِسُحْـرَةٍ
They woke up in the morning and celebrated with magic

فَهُـنَّ وَوَادِي الرَّسِّ كَالْيَدِ لِلْفَـمِ
And in them, the valley of poetry like a hand to the mouth

وَفِيْهـِنَّ مَلْهَـىً لِلَّطِيْفِ وَمَنْظَـرٌ
And in them, a haven for spirits and a beautiful sight

أَنِيْـقٌ لِعَيْـنِ النَّـاظِرِ المُتَوَسِّـمِ
Elegant for the eye of the discerning beholder

كَأَنَّ فُتَاتَ العِهْنِ فِي كُلِّ مَنْـزِلٍ
As if fragments of amber in every dwelling

نَـزَلْنَ بِهِ حَبُّ الفَنَا لَمْ يُحَطَّـمِ
The essence of art has descended upon these places, unbreakable

فَـلَمَّا وَرَدْنَ المَاءَ زُرْقاً جِمَامُـهُ
When we reached the blue waters, its expanse was enticing

وَضَعْـنَ عِصِيَّ الحَاضِرِ المُتَخَيِّـمِ
We placed our burdens at the feet of the present moment

ظَهَرْنَ مِنْ السُّوْبَانِ ثُمَّ جَزَعْنَـهُ
We emerged from the shadows and then we were troubled

عَلَى كُلِّ قَيْنِـيٍّ قَشِيْبٍ وَمُفْـأَمِ
On every follower, a cloak of grief and despair

فَأَقْسَمْتُ بِالْبَيْتِ الذِّي طَافَ حَوْلَهُ
So I swore by the house that they circled

رِجَـالٌ بَنَوْهُ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَجُرْهُـمِ
Men from the Quraysh tribe built it, both noble and common alike

يَمِينـاً لَنِعْمَ السَّـيِّدَانِ وُجِدْتُمَـا
To the right, two lords of goodness, I found both of you

عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ مِنْ سَحِيْلٍ وَمُبْـرَمِ
In every situation, whether easy or difficult

تَدَارَكْتُـمَا عَبْسًا وَذُبْيَانَ بَعْدَمَـا
You both faced obstacles and difficulties after

تَفَـانَوْا وَدَقُّوا بَيْنَهُمْ عِطْرَ مَنْشَـمِ
You strived and forged a bond between you scented with success

وَقَدْ قُلْتُمَا إِنْ نُدْرِكِ السِّلْمَ وَاسِعـاً
And you both said: If we achieve peace, it will be vast

بِمَالٍ وَمَعْرُوفٍ مِنَ القَوْلِ نَسْلَـمِ
With wealth and good words, we will succeed

فَأَصْبَحْتُمَا مِنْهَا عَلَى خَيْرِ مَوْطِـنٍ
So you both became from it inhabitants of a good dwelling

بَعِيـدَيْنِ فِيْهَا مِنْ عُقُوقٍ وَمَأْثَـمِ
Far from disobedience and sin

عَظِيمَيْـنِ فِي عُلْيَا مَعَدٍّ هُدِيْتُمَـا
Two great beings guided on the path of excellence

وَمَنْ يَسْتَبِحْ كَنْزاً مِنَ المَجْدِ يَعْظُـمِ
Whoever treasures greatness will be exalted

تُعَفِّـى الكُلُومُ بِالمِئينَ فَأَصْبَحَـتْ
Forgiveness erases transgressions, so they became

يُنَجِّمُهَـا مَنْ لَيْسَ فِيْهَا بِمُجْـرِمِ
They give birth to goodness, even for those who are not righteous

يُنَجِّمُهَـا قَـوْمٌ لِقَـوْمٍ غَرَامَـةً
They give birth to love between people, a pure affection

وَلَـمْ يَهَرِيقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ مِلْءَ مِحْجَـمِ
And they didn't spill even a drop of hatred among themselves

فَأَصْبَحَ يَجْرِي فِيْهِمُ مِنْ تِلاَدِكُـمْ
Thus flows in them the legacy of your upbringing

مَغَـانِمُ شَتَّـى مِنْ إِفَـالٍ مُزَنَّـمِ
Various blessings from the rewards of your efforts

أَلاَ أَبْلِـغِ الأَحْلاَفَ عَنِّى رِسَالَـةً
Should I convey a message to the familiar faces?

وَذُبْيَـانَ هَلْ أَقْسَمْتُمُ كُلَّ مُقْسَـمِ
And should I swear by the bonds that you have made?

فَـلاَ تَكْتُمُنَّ اللهَ مَا فِي نُفُوسِكُـمْ
So do not hide from Allah what is in your hearts

لِيَخْفَـى وَمَهْمَـا يُكْتَمِ اللهُ يَعْلَـمِ
For it will be revealed, and whatever is hidden Allah knows

يُؤَخَّـرْ فَيُوضَعْ فِي كِتَابٍ فَيُدَّخَـرْ
It is delayed and recorded in a preserved book

لِيَـوْمِ الحِسَـابِ أَوْ يُعَجَّلْ فَيُنْقَـمِ
For the Day of Judgment, or it may come sooner and be avenged

وَمَا الحَـرْبُ إِلاَّ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ وَذُقْتُـمُ
And war is only what you have known and experienced

وَمَا هُـوَ عَنْهَا بِالحَـدِيثِ المُرَجَّـمِ
And it cannot be described fully in words

مَتَـى تَبْعَـثُوهَا تَبْعَـثُوهَا ذَمِيْمَـةً
When you send it, you send it with determination

وَتَضْـرَ إِذَا ضَرَّيْتُمُـوهَا فَتَضْـرَمِ
And it harms back when you harm it

فَتَعْـرُكُكُمْ عَرْكَ الرَّحَى بِثِفَالِهَـا
So the battle of destiny wages with all its might

وَتَلْقَـحْ كِشَـافاً ثُمَّ تُنْتَجْ فَتُتْئِـمِ
And it pollinates like a lantern then brings forth fruit

فَتُنْتِـجْ لَكُمْ غِلْمَانَ أَشْأَمَ كُلُّهُـمْ
And it produces for you boys of the highest worth

كَأَحْمَـرِ عَادٍ ثُمَّ تُرْضِـعْ فَتَفْطِـمِ
Red like red camels, then they are weaned

فَتُغْـلِلْ لَكُمْ مَا لاَ تُغِـلُّ لأَهْلِهَـا
They bring you what cannot be sought from their own kin

قُـرَىً بِالْعِـرَاقِ مِنْ قَفِيْزٍ وَدِرْهَـمِ
Villages in Iraq, abundant and rich

لَعَمْـرِي لَنِعْمَ الحَـيِّ جَرَّ عَلَيْهِـمُ
By my life, what a blessed life has passed them by

بِمَا لاَ يُؤَاتِيْهِم حُصَيْنُ بْنُ ضَمْضَـمِ
With blessings that even Huthayn ibn Dimdam cannot match

وَكَانَ طَوَى كَشْحاً عَلَى مُسْتَكِنَّـةٍ
And it covered with abundance a settled abode

فَـلاَ هُـوَ أَبْـدَاهَا وَلَمْ يَتَقَـدَّمِ
It is not the beginning nor the end

وَقَـالَ سَأَقْضِي حَاجَتِي ثُمَّ أَتَّقِـي
And he said: I will fulfill my needs, then I will be cautious

عَـدُوِّي بِأَلْفٍ مِنْ وَرَائِيَ مُلْجَـمِ
My enemy is behind me with a thousand weapons

فَشَـدَّ فَلَمْ يُفْـزِعْ بُيُـوتاً كَثِيـرَةً
So he persevered, and he didn't startle many homes

لَدَى حَيْثُ أَلْقَتْ رَحْلَهَا أُمُّ قَشْعَـمِ
Near where his journey ends, the mother of Qasham resides

لَدَى أَسَدٍ شَاكِي السِلاحِ مُقَـذَّفٍ
Near a lion who throws his weapon in complaint

لَـهُ لِبَـدٌ أَظْفَـارُهُ لَـمْ يُقَلَّــمِ
With claws that have not been trimmed

جَـريءٍ مَتَى يُظْلَمْ يُعَاقَبْ بِظُلْمِـهِ
With bravery, when he is wronged, he retaliates with injustice

سَرِيْعـاً وَإِلاَّ يُبْدِ بِالظُّلْـمِ يَظْلِـمِ
Swiftly, or else he will respond with oppression

دَعَـوْا ظِمْئهُمْ حَتَى إِذَا تَمَّ أَوْرَدُوا
They left their thirst until they were quenched

غِمَـاراً تَفَرَّى بِالسَّـلاحِ وَبِالـدَّمِ
Their sorrows scattered with weapons and blood

فَقَضَّـوْا مَنَايَا بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَصْـدَرُوا
So they fulfilled their goals and then they took action

إِلَـى كَلَـأٍ مُسْتَـوْبَلٍ مُتَوَخِّـمِ
Leaving things ruffled and disordered

لَعَمْـرُكَ مَا جَرَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ رِمَاحُهُـمْ
By your life, their swords were never unleashed upon them

دَمَ ابْـنِ نَهِيْـكٍ أَوْ قَتِيْـلِ المُثَلَّـمِ
Nor did the blood of Ibn Nihik or the slain Muthallam flow

وَلاَ شَارَكَتْ فِي المَوْتِ فِي دَمِ نَوْفَلٍ
Nor did they participate in the death of Nuwfal

وَلاَ وَهَـبٍ مِنْهَـا وَلا ابْنِ المُخَـزَّمِ
Nor did they give any of it away, nor the son of Mukhazzam

فَكُـلاً أَرَاهُمْ أَصْبَحُـوا يَعْقِلُونَـهُ
So I see that they have all come to understand it

صَحِيْحَـاتِ مَالٍ طَالِعَاتٍ بِمَخْـرِمِ
True to their word, wealth overflowing from every direction

لِحَـيِّ حَلالٍ يَعْصِمُ النَّاسَ أَمْرَهُـمْ
Seeking lawful livelihood, protecting their own affairs

إِذَا طَـرَقَتْ إِحْدَى اللَّيَالِي بِمُعْظَـمِ
When one of the nights arrives in great abundance

كِـرَامٍ فَلاَ ذُو الضِّغْنِ يُدْرِكُ تَبْلَـهُ
Noble people, so the envious cannot reach their purity

وَلا الجَـارِمُ الجَانِي عَلَيْهِم بِمُسْلَـمِ
Nor can the wrongdoer harm them with impunity

سَئِمْـتُ تَكَالِيْفَ الحَيَاةِ وَمَنْ يَعِـشُ
I have grown weary of the burdens of life and those who live it

ثَمَانِيـنَ حَـوْلاً لا أَبَا لَكَ يَسْـأَمِ
Eighty cycles, and there is no one who is not tired

وأَعْلـَمُ مَا فِي الْيَوْمِ وَالأَمْسِ قَبْلَـهُ
And I know what happened today and yesterday before it

وَلكِنَّنِـي عَنْ عِلْمِ مَا فِي غَدٍ عَـمِ
But I am ignorant of what will happen tomorrow

رَأَيْتُ المَنَايَا خَبْطَ عَشْوَاءَ مَنْ تُصِبْ
I witnessed destinies collide, haphazardly striking

تُمِـتْهُ وَمَنْ تُخْطِىء يُعَمَّـرْ فَيَهْـرَمِ
Some it claimed, and those it missed grew old and withered

وَمَنْ لَمْ يُصَـانِعْ فِي أُمُـورٍ كَثِيـرَةٍ
But those who didn't dabble in numerous matters

يُضَـرَّسْ بِأَنْيَـابٍ وَيُوْطَأ بِمَنْسِـمِ
Were destroyed by jaws and crushed by hooves

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَذُدْ عَنْ حَوْضِهِ بِسِلاحِـهِ
And those who didn't defend their rights with their weapons

يُهَـدَّمْ وَمَنْ لا يَظْلِمْ النَّاسَ يُظْلَـمِ
Were destroyed, and those who don't oppress others are oppressed

وَمَنْ يَغْتَرِبْ يَحْسَبْ عَدُواً صَدِيقَـهُ
And those who leave their enemy thinking they are a friend

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكَـرِّمْ نَفْسَـهُ لَم يُكَـرَّمِ
And those who do not honor themselves, are not honored

وَمَهْمَا تَكُنْ عِنْدَ امْرِئٍ مَنْ خَلِيقَـةٍ
And no matter what a person possesses

وَإِنْ خَالَهَا تَخْفَى عَلَى النَّاسِ تُعْلَـمِ
And even if it is hidden from people it is still known

وَكَاءٍ تَرَى مِنْ صَامِتٍ لَكَ مُعْجِـبٍ
And how many secrets a silent person can admire

زِيَـادَتُهُ أَو نَقْصُـهُ فِـي التَّكَلُّـمِ
His increase or decrease is in his silence

لِسَانُ الفَتَى نِصْفٌ وَنِصْفٌ فُـؤَادُهُ
The tongue of a young man is half his speech and half his heart

فَلَمْ يَبْـقَ إَلا صُورَةُ اللَّحْمِ وَالـدَّمِ
So only the image of flesh and blood remains

وَإَنَّ سَفَاهَ الشَّـيْخِ لا حِلْمَ بَعْـدَهُ
And the foolishness of a sheikh has no patience after it

وَإِنَّ الفَتَـى بَعْدَ السَّفَاهَةِ يَحْلُـمِ
And the young man, after his foolishness, dreams

سَأْلْنَـا فَأَعْطَيْتُـمْ وَعُداً فَعُدْتُـمُ
We asked and you gave, and you fulfilled your promise

وَمَنْ أَكْـثَرَ التّسْآلَ يَوْماً سَيُحْـرَمِ
And whoever asks too much will eventually be deprived