مََفازَةa desert waste ٌهيَit .. نَطويهاwe fold it up وتَطويناand it folds us
مََفازَة ٌهيَ .. نَطويها وتَطوينا
جِدِّيhasten خُطىfootsteps فَلَقَدfor indeed جَدَّhas grown urgent السُّرىnight travel فيناwithin us
جِدِّي خُطى فَلَقَد جَدَّ السُّرى فينا
A desert waste it is: we fold it up, and it folds us.
It is a grueling journey.. We walk it, and it walks us
Hasten, footsteps: night travel has grown urgent within us.
Stride purposely, for destiny has strode purposefully in us
لاnot غابَةthe forest ُالشَّوكِof thorns أثرَتْهاenriched it عَرائِشُناour arbors ؟
لا غابَة ُالشَّوكِ أثرَتْها عَرائِشُنا ؟
وَلاand not الهَجيرَةthe noonday heat ُأغْنَتْهاsated it سَواقيناour watercourses ؟
وَلا الهَجيرَة ُأغْنَتْها سَواقينا ؟
Have our arbors not enriched the forest of thorns?
Did our thickets not get torn by the thorn bushes?
Have our watercourses not sated the noonday heat?
Did our valleys not get enriched by the downpours?
ولاand not السَّوافيthe drifting sands ، وقَدand indeed أدمَتْbloodied مَحاجِرَناour eye sockets
ولا السَّوافي ، وقَد أدمَتْ مَحاجِرَنا
ألوىswept away بَهاthem ماwhat لَوَيْناwe bent مِنof سَوافيناour drifting sands ؟
ألوى بَها ما لَوَيْنا مِن سَوافينا ؟
And the drifting sands, which have bloodied our eye sockets—
Did the whips, after bruising our cheeks
Has what we bent of our own drifting sands not swept them away?
Wound us more than our own whips had wounded us?
كأنَّناas though we لمnot نُطامِنْlowered مِنfrom شَوامِخِناour towering heights
كأنَّنا لم نُطامِنْ مِن شَوامِخِنا
وَلاand not أذbeginning of 'we melted' َبْناending of 'we melted' حَشاناour entrails فيin تَحاشيناour avoidance
وَلا أذ َبْنا حَشانا في تَحاشينا
As though we had not lowered our towering heights,
It is as if we never took comfort in our lofty heights
Nor melted our entrails in our efforts to keep away,
And never slaughtered our rage during our squabbles
وَلاand not الرِّجامَthe stones حَرَثناهاwe plowed them ؟..ولاand not دَمُناour blood
وَلا الرِّجامَ حَرَثناها ؟..ولا دَمُنا
رَوَّىwatered ؟..وَلاand not زَرَعَتْplanted شَيئاanything ًأياديناour hands ؟!
رَوَّى ؟..وَلا زَرَعَتْ شَيئا ًأيادينا ؟!
Nor plowed the stones? Nor had our blood
Never pelted, and our blood
Watered them? Nor had our hands planted anything?
Never irrigated, nor did our hands ever cultivate anything?!
جِدِّيhasten خُطىfootsteps إنَّناindeed we حَرَّىburning جَوانِحُناour ribs
جِدِّي خُطى إنَّنا حَرَّى جَوانِحُنا
حَرَّىburning مَواطِؤناour footholds ، حَرَّىburning مَهاويناour abysses
حَرَّى مَواطِؤنا ، حَرَّى مَهاوينا
Hasten, footsteps: our ribs are burning,
Stride purposely.. for we have kindled our vigor
Our footholds burn, our abysses burn.
Kindled our bedding, kindled our abysses
لَقَدindeed تَحَمَّلْتِناyou have borne us جَرحىwounded نَمُجُّwe spew دَماblood ً
لَقَد تَحَمَّلْتِنا جَرحى نَمُجُّ دَما ً
تَحَمَّليناbear us غِضاباangry ًمَستَفَزِّيناgoaded !
تَحَمَّلينا غِضابا ًمَستَفَزِّينا !
You have borne us wounded, spewing blood;
You have endured us bleeding, spurting blood
Bear us angry, goaded to fury!
Endured our provoked wrath!
تَحَمَّليناbear us وَفَرْطand excess ُالغَيْظِof rage يَهرُسُناgrinds us down
تَحَمَّلينا وَفَرْط ُالغَيْظِ يَهرُسُنا
هََرْسَlike the grinding الرَّحىof the millstone ، وَمَهيضُand the reopened hurt الجُرحof the wound ِيُطغِيناdrives us beyond bounds
هََرْسَ الرَّحى ، وَمَهيضُ الجُرح ِيُطغِينا
Bear us while excess rage grinds us down
Endured the excess of rage that mill us
As a millstone grinds, and the reopened wound drives us wild.
With the grind of a mill, and the gush of a wound overwhelms us
تَحَمَّليناbear us فَإنَّfor indeed الصَّبْرَpatience يَلفُظُناspits us out
تَحَمَّلينا فَإنَّ الصَّبْرَ يَلفُظُنا
وَإنَّand indeed ألْفَa thousand دُجىًdarknesses سُوداblack ً تُناديناcall us
وَإنَّ ألْفَ دُجىً سُودا ً تُنادينا
Bear us, for patience spits us out,
Endure, for patience will spit us out
And a thousand black darknesses call us,
And a thousand dark nights call upon us
وَإنَّand indeed مَجْمَرَةa brazier ً شَعْواraging تَرَصَّدُناlies in wait for us
وَإنَّ مَجْمَرَة ً شَعْوا تَرَصَّدُنا
وَإنَّناand indeed we نَحوَهاtoward it تَسعىstrive سَواعِيناour strivings !
وَإنَّنا نَحوَها تَسعى سَواعِينا !
And a raging brazier lies in wait for us,
And embers watchfully ambush us
And our strivings hurry toward it!
As our water-skins head towards them!
جِدِّيhasten خُطىfootsteps..إنَّindeed هذاthis الدَّرْبَthe road أوعَرُهits roughest part ُ
جِدِّي خُطى..إنَّ هذا الدَّرْبَ أوعَرُه ُ
غُيَيْمَةa little cloud ٌوَعَشَيْبٌand a little grass يُورِثُbequeaths الليناsoftness !
غُيَيْمَة ٌوَعَشَيْبٌ يُورِثُ اللينا !
Hasten, footsteps: this road's roughest stretch
Stride firmly.. for this path is the most difficult
Is a little cloud and a little grass that breed softness!
A wasteland and shrubs that make us soft!
كَمhow many مِنof خَضيلdewy greenery ٍتَوَسَّدناwe made our pillow ، وَمُنبَجِسand a gushing spring ٍ
كَم مِن خَضيل ٍتَوَسَّدنا ، وَمُنبَجِس ٍ
ماءًwater غَشِيناwe visited هُit حتىuntil كادَalmost يُغويناled us astray
ماءً غَشِينا هُ حتى كادَ يُغوينا
How much dewy greenery we have pillowed on, and how many a spring
How many withering plants have we used as pillows
Of gushing water we have visited till it nearly led us astray!
And how many cesspools whose waters nearly tempted us
وَكَمand how many مُظِلٍّa shade-giver تَفَيَّأsheltered in shade ناwe عَرائِشَهits arbors ُ
وَكَم مُظِلٍّ تَفَيَّأ نا عَرائِشَه ُ
لَمnot نَدْرwe knew ِأنَّاthat we تَفَيَّأناsheltered in shade ثَعابيناsnakes
لَم نَدْر ِأنَّا تَفَيَّأنا ثَعابينا
And how many a shade-giver whose arbors we sheltered beneath—
And how many shelters, whose branches shaded us
We did not know we had sheltered beneath snakes,
We did not know we took shade under snakes
حَتَّىuntil تَدَلَّتْhung down عَلَيناupon us كلُّevery مُفْرِعَةbranching bough ٍ
حَتَّى تَدَلَّتْ عَلَينا كلُّ مُفْرِعَة ٍ
بِألفِwith a thousand أرْقَطspeckled snakes َ مِلْءَthe full extent النَّابِof the fang يُصْميناstrikes us dead
بِألفِ أرْقَط َ مِلْءَ النَّابِ يُصْمينا
Until every branching bough hung down upon us
Until every forked tongue dripped over us
With a thousand speckled snakes, striking us dead, fang-deep.
A thousand fangs, blinding us
فَعادَso returned يَمضَغchews ُمِنfrom جَنْبَيهِboth his flanks جائِعُناour hungry one
فَعادَ يَمضَغ ُمِن جَنْبَيهِ جائِعُنا
وَيَكتَسيand clothes himself دَمَهhis blood ُالمُهْراقَspilled عاريناour naked one
وَيَكتَسي دَمَه ُالمُهْراقَ عارينا
So our hungry one returned to chewing his own flanks,
Then our famished one chews on both his sides
And our naked one clothed himself in his spilled blood.
And licks his blood, while we walk naked!
لَقَدindeed زَهِدْناwe renounced desire فَياso O أحشاءَناour entrails انخَسِفيsink inward
لَقَد زَهِدْنا فَيا أحشاءَنا انخَسِفي
حَدَّas far as الظهورِthe backs، وَياand O أشباحَghosts ماضيناof our past
حَدَّ الظهورِ، وَيا أشباحَ ماضينا
We have renounced desire; so, our entrails, sink inward
We became ascetics, so spill our guts
Right to our backs; and you, ghosts of our past,
To the ridges of our backs, and our past shadows
شُدِّيtighten علىupon كلِّevery عِرْقvein ٍمِنof جَوارِحِناour limbs
شُدِّي على كلِّ عِرْق ٍمِن جَوارِحِنا
حَتَّىuntil تَحُزَّcut through الشَّرايينُthe arteries الشَّراييناthe arteries
حَتَّى تَحُزَّ الشَّرايينُ الشَّرايينا
Tighten upon every vein in our limbs
Pull on each muscle of our limbs
Until artery cuts through artery,
Until the veins cut through the veins
حَتَّىuntil نَعودَwe return ولاand no وَهْمٌillusion يؤرِّkeeps awake (first part) قُناending of 'keeps us awake'
حَتَّى نَعودَ ولا وَهْمٌ يؤرِّ قُنا
وَلاand no سَرابٌmirage عَلىamid البَلوَىaffliction يُمَنِّيناfeeds us hopes !
وَلا سَرابٌ عَلى البَلوَى يُمَنِّينا !
Until we return, with no illusion keeping us awake,
Until we return with no illusion disquieting us
And no mirage amid affliction feeding us hopes!
No mirage in affliction coaxing us!
جِدِّيpress on دَؤوبُtireless one فَكََمfor how many مِنof واحَةan oasis ٍحَفَرَتْetched
جِدِّي دَؤوبُ فَكََم مِن واحَة ٍحَفَرَتْ
لَونَthe hue الظِّلالof shadows ِعلىupon أهدابِthe eyelashes ساريناof our night-traveler !
لَونَ الظِّلال ِعلى أهدابِ سارينا !
Press on, tireless one: how many an oasis has etched
Stride firmly.. for how many oases have you dug
The hue of shadows upon our night-traveler's lashes!
Whose shades colored the eyelids of our buckets!
إنَّاindeed we نُذِرْناwere vowed لِهذاto this الرَّملsand ِ، نَمضَغُهُwe chew it
إنَّا نُذِرْنا لِهذا الرَّمل ِ، نَمضَغُهُ
حيناat times ً، وَيَمضَغand it chews ُمِنfrom آماقِناour eye corners حيناat times
حينا ً، وَيَمضَغ ُمِن آماقِنا حينا
We were vowed to this sand: we chew it
We are destined for this sands, chewing it
At times, and at times it chews at our eye corners.
Sometimes, and other times it chews our depths
نُشوَىwe are roasted علَيهِupon it ، فَيَسقيناso it gives us drink علىin ظَمَأٍthirst
نُشوَى علَيهِ ، فَيَسقينا على ظَمَأٍ
جَمراembers ً، وَتَسقيهِand give it drink مِدراراcopiously ًدَواميناour bleeding wounds
جَمرا ً، وَتَسقيهِ مِدرارا ًدَوامينا
We are roasted upon it, and in our thirst it gives us
We get roasted over it, so it quenches our thirst
Embers to drink, while our bleeding wounds water it copiously.
With embers, while our buckets continually spill their tears over it
وَنَلتَقيand we meet والرِّياحwhile the winds الهُوجraging تَصفَعُناslap us
وَنَلتَقي والرِّياح الهُوج تَصفَعُنا
فَماyet not تُُشابِكُentwine أهداباeyelashes ً مَآeye corners (first part) قيناour eye corners (ending) !
فَما تُُشابِكُ أهدابا ً مَآ قينا !
And we meet while the raging winds slap us,
And we meet violent winds that slap us
Yet our eye corners entwine no lashes!
Our eyelashes never interlocking over our blinded eyes!
قَدmay يَقرَبُapproach الظِّلَّthe shade حَدَّto the point of اللَّمْسtouching ِمُجْهَدُناour exhausted one
قَد يَقرَبُ الظِّلَّ حَدَّ اللَّمْس ِمُجْهَدُنا
وَيَجْرَعُand gulps الماءَthe water حَدَّas far as الحَلْقthe throat ِظاميناour thirsty one
وَيَجْرَعُ الماءَ حَدَّ الحَلْق ِظامينا
Our weary one may approach shade almost close enough to touch,
Our exhaustion may near the point of touching
And our thirsty one gulp water as far as the throat,
And our thirst drink to the point of choking
وَقَدand may يَمُرُّpass بِناover us دَهْرٌan age وَلَيسَand not يَرىsees
وَقَد يَمُرُّ بِنا دَهْرٌ وَلَيسَ يَرى
ظِلاshade ً وَلَوeven if لِجَناحof a wing ِالطَّيْرof a bird ِرائيناour watcher
ظِلا ً وَلَو لِجَناح ِالطَّيْر ِرائينا
And an age may pass over us while our watcher sees
And we may live an era without seeing
No shade, not even from a bird's wing,
A shade, not even of a flying bird's wing
وَيَمَّحيand vanishes ظِلُّناour shadow مِنfrom فَرْطِthe excess ماof how التَصَقَتْclung
وَيَمَّحي ظِلُّنا مِن فَرْطِ ما التَصَقَتْ
بِهامِناto our heads الشَّمسُthe sun نُدْنيهاwe draw it near وَتُدنيناand it draws us near !
بِهامِنا الشَّمسُ نُدْنيها وَتُدنينا !
And our shadow vanishes, so closely has
And our shadow is wiped out from the excessive
The sun clung to our heads: we draw it near, and it draws us near!
Sun that clings to us as we cling to it!
جِدِّيpress on حَمُولُburden-bearer ، فَماso how أشقىwretched أخاa man of سَفَرtravel ٍ
جِدِّي حَمُولُ ، فَما أشقى أخا سَفَر ٍ
لِلشَّمسtoward the sun ِيَمشيwalks لَهاtoward it والظِّلَّwith shadow والطِّيناand clay !
لِلشَّمس ِيَمشي لَها والظِّلَّ والطِّينا !
Press on, burden-bearer: how wretched a traveler
Stride, O burdened one, for how wretched is a traveling brother
Toward the sun, walking to it with shadow and clay!
Who walks for the sun, while carrying shade and mud!
لَقَدindeed بَذsowed (first part) َرْناending of 'we sowed' سَناهاits radiance فيin مَحاجِرِناour eye sockets
لَقَد بَذ َرْنا سَناها في مَحاجِرِنا
وَقَدand indeed سَجَرْناwe stoked لَظاهاits blaze فيin مَحانيناour bodily bends
وَقَد سَجَرْنا لَظاها في مَحانينا
We have sown its radiance in our eye sockets,
We planted its years in our cheeks
And stoked its blaze in the bends of our bodies,
And plowed its flames in our resting places
وَقَدand indeed زَحَمْناwe massed لَهاfor it أمضىmost resolute قَوافِلِناour caravans
وَقَد زَحَمْنا لَها أمضى قَوافِلِنا
فَأرقَلَتْso they sped on .. وَحَداand chanted onward بالنَّاسthe people ِحاديناour driver
فَأرقَلَتْ .. وَحَدا بالنَّاس ِحادينا
And massed for it our most resolute caravans,
And pushed its heaviest caravans
So they sped on, and our driver chanted the people onward.
So it limped, the people's guide
وَلَمand not نَزَلْwe ceased ماwhenever استَوىstood upright طِفْلٌa child علىupon قَدَمa foot ٍ
وَلَم نَزَلْ ما استَوى طِفْلٌ على قَدَم ٍ
إلاّexcept لِيَدرِجَto toddle فيin أعقابِthe footsteps تاfollower (first part) ليناour follower (ending) !
إلاّ لِيَدرِجَ في أعقابِ تا لينا !
And still, no child stands upright upon a foot
And we never stopped since a child stood on a foot
Except to toddle in the footsteps of the next of us!
Except to walk in the steps of those before us!
ياO خالَuncle of عَوفٍAwf رَعاmay protect كَyou اللهُGod حَيثُwherever سَرَتْproceeded
يا خالَ عَوفٍ رَعا كَ اللهُ حَيثُ سَرَتْ
بِكَwith you الخُطىthe footsteps ، وَسَقىand may water شَوقُthe longing المُحِبِّيناof the lovers
بِكَ الخُطى ، وَسَقى شَوقُ المُحِبِّينا
O Awf's uncle, may God guard you wherever
O paternal uncle Auf, may God water you wherever you tread
Your footsteps carry you, and may the lovers' longing water you,
And quench the longing of those who love you
وَرَفَّand may flutter حَولَكَaround you أنْدىthe freshest ماwhat بِأضلُعِناwithin our ribs
وَرَفَّ حَولَكَ أنْدى ما بِأضلُعِنا
إنْif كاwas (first part) نَwas (ending) فَضْلُa remnant نَدِيٍّof freshness فيin مَطاويناour inner folds
إنْ كا نَ فَضْلُ نَدِيٍّ في مَطاوينا
And may the freshest thing within our ribs flutter around you,
And bestow upon you the dew that graces our ribs
If any dewy remnant lies in our inner folds,
If it was in our power to bestow bounty in our resting place
وَقَبَّلَتْand may kiss فَمَكَyour mouth المِعطاءَgenerous نازِعَةan impulse ٌ
وَقَبَّلَتْ فَمَكَ المِعطاءَ نازِعَة ٌ
مِنof الحَنينlonging ِبِناwithin us تَطغىswells beyond bounds فَتَشجيناso saddens us
مِن الحَنين ِبِنا تَطغى فَتَشجينا
And may an impulse kiss your generous mouth,
And the rain kissed your mouth yearningly
Of longing, swelling within us and filling us with sorrow.
Overwhelming us with its affection towards you
إنَّاindeed we لَيَحظىsurely gains هُناhere مَنwhoever عََنكَabout you يَسألُناasks us
إنَّا لَيَحظى هُنا مَن عََنكَ يَسألُنا
بِسائِلwith someone asking ٍعَنكَabout you ماas long as غَصَّتْhave thronged نَواديناour gathering places !
بِسائِل ٍعَنكَ ما غَصَّتْ نَوادينا !
Indeed, whoever asks us about you here finds
Indeed, whoever here asks about you
Someone else asking about you, as long as our gathering places teem!
With a question that does not suffice our valleys!
بِمُرتَجwith one hoping for ٍ نَفْثَةa breath ً حَرَّىhot تُسَعِّرُناsets us ablaze
بِمُرتَج ٍ نَفْثَة ً حَرَّى تُسَعِّرُنا
وَمُرتََجand one hoping for ٍ نَثَّةa spray ً رَيَّاrefreshing تُهَدِّيناsoothes us
وَمُرتََج ٍ نَثَّة ً رَيَّا تُهَدِّينا
One hoping for a hot breath that sets us ablaze,
With a quivering that kindled our pyre
And one hoping for a refreshing spray that soothes us.
And dripping that cooled our inflammation
فَلاso may not حُرِمناwe be deprived هَديراa roar ًمِنكَfrom you يُزْبِدُناmakes us foam
فَلا حُرِمنا هَديرا ًمِنكَ يُزْبِدُنا
ولاand may not عَدِمناwe lack نَميراclear water ًمنكَfrom you يَسقيناgives us drink
ولا عَدِمنا نَميرا ًمنكَ يَسقينا
So may we never be denied a roar from you that makes us foam,
So we are not deprived of your murmurs that foam us
Nor lack a clear stream from you that gives us drink,
Nor your roars that irrigate us
وَلاand may not عَدَتْكَpass you by ، وإنْeven if شَحَّتْare scant ، نَسائِمُناour breezes
وَلا عَدَتْكَ ، وإنْ شَحَّتْ ، نَسائِمُنا
وَلاand may not جََفَتْكَforsake you ، وإنْeven if جَفَّتْrun dry ، غَواديناour morning rains
وَلا جََفَتْكَ ، وإنْ جَفَّتْ ، غَوادينا
Nor may our breezes pass you by, however scant,
Nor did the winds that blew poorly visit you
Nor our morning rains forsake you, however dry.
Nor the valleys that dried out abandon you
ياO خالَuncle of عَوفٍAwf وَفيناand within us مِنكَfrom you مَأثَرَةa noble legacy ٌ
يا خالَ عَوفٍ وَفينا مِنكَ مَأثَرَة ٌ
أنَّاthat we تَجاوَبُanswer one another والبَلوىand affliction قَوافيناour rhymes
أنَّا تَجاوَبُ والبَلوى قَوافينا
O Awf's uncle, we bear a noble legacy from you:
O paternal uncle Auf, we were duty-bound by your legacy
Our rhymes and affliction answer one another.
To alternate with affliction in our rhyming couplets
نَرىwe see التِماعthe flash َالمِدىof knives قَبْلَbefore انفِلاتَتِهاtheir release
نَرى التِماع َالمِدى قَبْلَ انفِلاتَتِها
فَيَحْضُنُso embraces الجُرْحَthe wound قَبْلَbefore الطَّعْنthe stabbing ِفاديناour redeemer
فَيَحْضُنُ الجُرْحَ قَبْلَ الطَّعْن ِفادينا
We see the knives' flash before they fly loose,
We see the glint of swords before they are drawn
So our redeemer embraces the wound before the stabbing,
So the wound embraces before the stabbing wounds us
وَنَسمَعُand we hear الآهَةthe sigh َالخَرساءَvoiceless ماnot انفَرَجَتْhave parted
وَنَسمَعُ الآهَة َالخَرساءَ ما انفَرَجَتْ
عَنهاto release it الشِّفاهُthe lips فَتَشجيناso saddens us ، وَتُوريناand kindles us
عَنها الشِّفاهُ فَتَشجينا ، وَتُورينا
And we hear the voiceless sigh, before
And we hear the silent sigh before the lips
The lips part to release it; it saddens us and kindles us.
Crack open, so it excites us and guides us
ياO خاuncle (first part) لَuncle (ending) عَوفٍAwf شَدَدْناwe bound كلَّevery جارِحَةlimb ٍ
يا خا لَ عَوفٍ شَدَدْنا كلَّ جارِحَة ٍ
فيناwithin us بِمُستَقتِلto one fighting to the death ٍ يَدمىbleeds وََيُدميناand makes us bleed
فينا بِمُستَقتِل ٍ يَدمى وََيُدمينا
O Awf's uncle, we have bound every limb
O paternal uncle Auf, we have hardened each limb
In us to one who fights to the death, bleeding and making us bleed,
Among us with a killer aiming at his peak
بِمُثْْخَنto one grievously wounded ٍمُستَميتٍready to die نَحْوَtoward قِمَّتِهhis summit
بِمُثْْخَن ٍمُستَميتٍ نَحْوَ قِمَّتِه
يَسعىstrives فَيَهويthen falls قَرابيناsacrifices ً قَرابيناsacrifices
يَسعى فَيَهوي قَرابينا ً قَرابينا
To one grievously wounded, ready to die, who toward his summit
Bleeding, to bleed our sacrifices
Strives, then falls: sacrifice upon sacrifice.
Melting with his flaming desires each day
يُذيبُmelts away فيin كلِّevery يَومday ٍ مِنsome of حُشاlast life-breath (first part) شَتِهhis last life-breath (ending) ِ
يُذيبُ في كلِّ يَوم ٍ مِن حُشا شَتِه ِ
حتىuntil يَكادَhe almost .. وَيَعلوand rises صَوتُthe voice ناعيناof our death-herald !
حتى يَكادَ .. وَيَعلو صَوتُ ناعينا !
He melts away each day some of his last life-breath,
Until he nearly.. while the voice of our mourner rises!
Until he almost ... and our death-herald's voice rises!
O paternal uncle Auf, shall I not tell you what
ياO خاuncle (first part) لَuncle (ending) عَوفٍAwf ألاshall not أI ُنْبيكََtell you ماwhat خَبَأتْstored away
يا خا لَ عَوفٍ ألا أ ُنْبيكََ ما خَبَأتْ
لَناfor us المَقاديرُthe fates مِمَّاof what كُنتَyou used to تُنْبيناtell us
لَنا المَقاديرُ مِمَّا كُنتَ تُنْبينا
O Awf's uncle, shall I not tell you what
Fate has hidden from us, of what you forewarned us?
Fate has hidden for us of what you once foretold us?
I tell you we sleep with half-shut eyes
أI ُنْبيكَtell you أنَّاthat we بِعَينwith an eye ٍنِصْفِhalf مُغمَضَةclosed ٍ
أ ُنْبيكَ أنَّا بِعَين ٍنِصْفِ مُغمَضَة ٍ
نَغفوwe doze،وبالكَفِّand with the palm فَوقَabove الكَفِّthe palm تَطميناfor reassurance
نَغفو،وبالكَفِّ فَوقَ الكَفِّ تَطمينا
I tell you that, with one eye half closed,
And hand over hand give in
We doze, palm above palm for reassurance.
We are not afraid, but our fledglings
وَماand no بِناwithin us رَهْبَةfear ٌ، لكنَّbut أفْرُخَناour fledglings
وَما بِنا رَهْبَة ٌ، لكنَّ أفْرُخَنا
لاnot يأgrow accustomed (first part) لَفونَthey grow accustomed (ending) الأفاعيthe vipers فيin مآويناour shelters
لا يأ لَفونَ الأفاعي في مآوينا
We have no fear, but our fledglings
Are not familiar with snakes in our dens
Are unused to the vipers in our shelters.
So we surrender them blindly, and blindly surrender
فَنحنُso we نُسْلِمُهُمgive them كَفَّاa palm ً، وَنُسْلِمُand give لِلأto the (start of 'fangs')
فَنحنُ نُسْلِمُهُم كَفَّا ً، وَنُسْلِمُ لِلأ
نيابِfangs (ending) كَفَّاa palm ً.. فَنَلويهاso we twist them ، وَتَلويناand they twist us
نيابِ كَفَّا ً.. فَنَلويها ، وَتَلوينا
So we give them one palm, and offer the
To the fangs, so we curl up, while they curl us
Fangs another: we twist them, and they twist us.
And we conceal the sigh, burying it in the depth
وَنَكتمُand we suppress الآهَthe sigh عُمْقَdeep within الجُرحthe wound ِنَدفُنُهاwe bury it
وَنَكتمُ الآهَ عُمْقَ الجُرح ِنَدفُنُها
لِنَحفَظto keep َ الزُّغُبَthe downy fledglings الغافينَsleeping غافيناasleep !
لِنَحفَظ َ الزُّغُبَ الغافينَ غافينا !
We suppress the sigh, burying it deep in the wound,
Of the wound, to preserve the slumbering fledgling!
To keep the sleeping downy fledglings asleep!
I tell you if our steps are cut short
أI ُنْبيكَtell you أنَّاthat we ، وَإنْalthough قُصَّتْwere clipped قَوادِمُناour primary feathers
أ ُنْبيكَ أنَّا ، وَإنْ قُصَّتْ قَوادِمُنا
لمnot نَألُwe slackened نَشهَقُwe rise sharply ماas far as اسْطاعَتْcould خَوافيناour secondary feathers
لم نَألُ نَشهَقُ ما اسْطاعَتْ خَوافينا
I tell you that, though our primary feathers have been clipped,
We do not stop panting as hard as our caves could pant
We have never slackened, rising as far as our secondary feathers could.
And however violently the shaking winds blow
وأنَّناand that we كَيفَماhowever هَبََّتْblew مُزَعزِعةshaking ً
وأنَّنا كَيفَما هَبََّتْ مُزَعزِعة ً
هُوجُraging الرِّياحwinds ِتَهاfell (first part) وَتْfell (ending) عَنaway from مَراقيناour ascending heights
هُوجُ الرِّياح ِتَها وَتْ عَن مَراقينا
And however they blow, shaking all,
Its terror and ours, it does not weary our wings
The raging winds fall away from our ascending heights,
Nor its valleys our valleys!
فَلَمso not تَمِلْtilted بِجَناحa wing ٍمِنfrom شَواهِقِناour lofty peaks
فَلَم تَمِلْ بِجَناح ٍمِن شَواهِقِنا
وَلاand not التَوَتْswerved وَمَجاريهاand their courses مَجاريناour courses !
وَلا التَوَتْ وَمَجاريها مَجارينا !
They have not tilted one wing from our lofty peaks,
O paternal uncle Auf, we were not shortened as they imagined
Nor swerved, their courses being our courses!
No, our necks were not shortened, nor our forelocks
ياO خالَuncle of عَوفٍAwf وَماand not حُزَّتْwere slit كَماas وَهِمُواthey imagined
يا خالَ عَوفٍ وَما حُزَّتْ كَما وَهِمُوا
أعناقُناour necks .. لاno ولاand not جُزَّتْwere shorn نَواصِيناour forelocks
أعناقُنا .. لا ولا جُزَّتْ نَواصِينا
O Awf's uncle, they have not been slit, as they imagined—
We are still enormous, however we desire, gigantic
Our necks—no, nor have our forelocks been shorn!
As you knew, frightening our valleys
إنَّاindeed we ضِخامٌimmense كماas تَهوىyou desire ، عَمالِقَةgiants ٌ
إنَّا ضِخامٌ كما تَهوى ، عَمالِقَة ٌ
كَماas عَهِدْknew تَyou ، مُخيفاتٌfearsome عَواديناour onrushing forces
كَما عَهِدْ تَ ، مُخيفاتٌ عَوادينا
We are immense, as you desire: giants,
Blackened, alternating misery so it enrages us
As you have known us; our onrushing forces are fearsome,
As the wind alternated the volcanoes!
سُودٌblack تَعاوَرُهاassails them in turn البُؤسَىmisery فَتَسجُرُهاso stokes them
سُودٌ تَعاوَرُها البُؤسَى فَتَسجُرُها
كَماas تَعاوَرَتassailed in turn الرِّيحُthe wind البَراكيناthe volcanoes !
كَما تَعاوَرَت الرِّيحُ البَراكينا !
Black: misery assails them in turn and stokes them,
We were tested with days that tested us
As the wind assailed volcanoes in turn!
They blame us for being complacent!
إنَّاindeed we امتُحِنَّاwere tested بِأيامby days ٍ بِناby us امتُحِنَتْwere tested
إنَّا امتُحِنَّا بِأيام ٍ بِنا امتُحِنَتْ
تَعْدوassail عَلَيناus ، وَتَشكوand complain مِنof تَغاضِيناour disregard !
تَعْدو عَلَينا ، وَتَشكو مِن تَغاضِينا !
We were tested by days that were themselves tested by us,
Their summer did not have crops to feed us
Assailing us, and complaining of our disregard!
Nor their winter cattle to water us
لاnot صَيفُهاtheir summer كانَwas ذاpossessing زَرعcrops ٍ فَيُطعِمُناso feeds us
لا صَيفُها كانَ ذا زَرع ٍ فَيُطعِمُنا
ولاand not شِتاهاtheir winter بِذيpossessing ضَرْعan udder ٍفَيُرْويناso gives us drink
ولا شِتاها بِذي ضَرْع ٍفَيُرْوينا
Their summer bore no crops to feed us,
We did not know in them a rising sun that bids us good morning
Nor their winter an udder to give us drink,
Nor found in them a shade that bids us goodnight
ولاand not عَرَفْناwe knew بِهاin them طَلاdew ً يُباكِرُناgreets us at dawn
ولا عَرَفْنا بِها طَلا ً يُباكِرُنا
وَلاand not وَجَدْfound ناwe بِهاin them ظِلاshade ً يُغاديناgreets us in the morning
وَلا وَجَدْ نا بِها ظِلا ً يُغادينا
Nor did we know in them dew to greet us at dawn,
But yes, we were granted locusts in our pastures
Nor find in them shade to greet us in the morning.
That we gather in a harvest of our tears
بَلَىyes ، رُزِقْناwe were granted جَرادlocusts اaccusative ending ًفيin مَراتِعِناour grazing grounds
بَلَى ، رُزِقْنا جَراد ا ًفي مَراتِعِنا
نَرُبُّهwe nurture it ُ بِحَصادٍwith a harvest مِنof مآtragedies (first part) سيناour tragedies (ending)
نَرُبُّه ُ بِحَصادٍ مِن مآ سينا
Yes, we were granted locusts in our grazing grounds,
And a scorching that blistered the dew of our vigor
We nurture them on a harvest of our tragedies,
With its affliction.. and emptiness filling our hands
وَحُرْقَةand a burning ache ًقَرِحَتْulcerated أنْدىthe freshest جَوانِحِناof our ribs
وَحُرْقَة ًقَرِحَتْ أنْدى جَوانِحِنا
مِنْfrom لَفْحِهاits scorch ..وَفَراغاand emptiness ًمِلْءَfilling أيديناour hands
مِنْ لَفْحِها ..وَفَراغا ًمِلْءَ أيدينا
And a burning ache that ulcerated our freshest ribs
And a craving for the raindrops that gathered
With its scorch, and emptiness filling our hands,
The panting of seventy generations of our sacrifices!
وَلَهْفَةand yearning ًلِقُطَيْراتِfor tiny droplets النَّدىof dew جَمَعَتْgathered
وَلَهْفَة ًلِقُطَيْراتِ النَّدى جَمَعَتْ
لُهاثَthe panting سبْعينَof seventy جيلاgenerations ًمِنof أضاحيناour sacrifices !
لُهاثَ سبْعينَ جيلا ًمِن أضاحينا !
And yearning for tiny drops of dew, which gathered
O paternal uncle Auf, our paths have narrowed
The panting of seventy generations of our sacrifices!
And the earth gaped into endless abysses
ياO خالَuncle of عَوفٍAwf وَقَدand indeed ضاقَتْhave narrowed مَذاهِبُناour paths
يا خالَ عَوفٍ وَقَد ضاقَتْ مَذاهِبُنا
وانداحَتand spread out الأرضُthe earth أغواراinto depths ًأفانيناof various kinds
وانداحَت الأرضُ أغوارا ًأفانينا
O Awf's uncle, our paths have narrowed,
From them sprout tails beyond count
And the earth has spread into depths of every kind,
And the fangs of beasts in the millions
تُطِلُّpeer out منهاfrom them ذtails (first part) ُنابَىtails (ending) ماnot لَهاthey have عَدَnumber (first part) دٌnumber (ending)
تُطِلُّ منها ذ ُنابَى ما لَها عَدَ دٌ
يُحْصَىcan be counted ، وأنيابُand fangs أغوالof ghouls ٍمَلاييناby the million
يُحْصَى ، وأنيابُ أغوال ٍمَلايينا
From which tails peer out, in numbers that cannot
We did not stop observing them for an age as they observed us
Be counted, and ghouls' fangs by the million.
We approached and they approached, counting each other
لَمnot نَألُwe slackened نَرصُدُهاwe watch them دَهْراthrough an age ًوَتَرصُدُناand they watch us
لَم نَألُ نَرصُدُها دَهْرا ًوَتَرصُدُنا
نَدنُوwe draw near وَتَدنُوand they draw near،وَنُحْصيهاand we count them وَتُحْصيناand they count us
نَدنُو وَتَدنُو،وَنُحْصيها وَتُحْصينا
We never ceased watching them through an age, as they watched us,
Until we learned what among us they fear
We draw near and they draw near; we count them and they count us,
And they learned what drives us
حَتَّىuntil تَبَيَّنَbecame plain مِنَّاin us ماwhat تُحاذِرُهthey dread ُ
حَتَّى تَبَيَّنَ مِنَّا ما تُحاذِرُه ُ
فيat حينa time ِأسفَرَemerged مِنهاfrom them ماwhat يُجَرِّيناemboldens us
في حين ِأسفَرَ مِنها ما يُجَرِّينا
Until what they dread became plain in us,
Still we continued to stalk them in fear
While what emboldens us emerged from them,
As they continued stalking us in fear
وَلَمand not نَزَلْwe cease نَتَمَلاwe contemplate َّهاthem مُرَوَّعَةterror-stricken ً
وَلَم نَزَلْ نَتَمَلا َّها مُرَوَّعَة ً
وَلَمand not تَزَلْthey cease تَتَمَلاthey contemplate َّهاthem مُريعيناterrifying
وَلَم تَزَلْ تَتَمَلا َّها مُريعينا
And we still behold them terror-stricken,
If we wanted to grind them down
And they still behold us as terrifying.
We would have poured on them our grinding molars
وَإنَّناand indeed we ، لَوif أرَدْwished ناwe أنto نُطاحِنَهاgrind them down
وَإنَّنا ، لَو أرَدْ نا أن نُطاحِنَها
دُturned (first part) رْturned (continuation) ناwe عََلَيْهاupon them بِأwith (start of 'molars') ضْراسmolars (ending) ٍطَواحيناof our mills
دُ رْ نا عََلَيْها بِأ ضْراس ٍطَواحينا
And if we wished to grind them down,
But graciously we see cause
We would turn upon them with our mills' grinding molars,
For good to have its arrow pause before shooting!
لكِنَّناbut we كَرَماgenerously ًمِنَّاfrom us نَرىsee سَبَبَاa cause ً
لكِنَّنا كَرَما ًمِنَّا نَرى سَبَبَا ً
لِلخَيْرfor good ِأنْthat يَتَرَوَّىpauses to reflect سَهْمُthe arrow راميناof our archer !
لِلخَيْر ِأنْ يَتَرَوَّى سَهْمُ رامينا !
But, out of our generosity, we see a cause
For good in our archer's arrow pausing to reflect!
Partial English translation: 130 of 132 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1