كانتshe was لهhis حيثwhere لاno ظلshade ولاand no سعفpalm fronds
كانت له حيث لا ظل ولا سعف
منfrom النخيلthe palm trees الخواليbare ،ناهدfull-breasted نصفhalf
من النخيل الخوالي ،ناهد نصف
She was his, where there was neither shade nor palm frond
He had her where there was no shade or palm fronds,
From the bare palms—a full-breasted half.
From the empty palms, a half gazelle.
وكانand was أرغدthe more luxuriant نصفيهاher two halves الذيthe one in which ابتدأتbegan
وكان أرغد نصفيها الذي ابتدأت
أوor انمحىfaded away منfrom صباهاher youth الياءthe yāʾ والألفand the alif
أو انمحى من صباها الياء والألف
And the more luxuriant of her two halves was the one in which began—
The happier half that she started with,
Or faded from her youth—the yāʾ and alif.
Before the yaa and alif were erased from her youth.
أغرىmost alluring ، وأفتنand most enchanting ماwhat فيin بعضsome of فتنتهاher charm
أغرى ، وأفتن ما في بعض فتنتها
طفولةchildhood ،وامتلاءand fullness مثمرهيفfruitful, slender
طفولة ،وامتلاء مثمرهيف
Most alluring and enchanting in a portion of her charm:
More tempting, the most tempting thing about her temptation,
Childhood, and a fruitful, slender fullness.
Was childhood, and the fullness of her ripe bosom.
كانتshe was لهhis بعضpart of عامa year، لاnot يمتlinked إلىto
كانت له بعض عام، لا يمت إلى
ماضa past ولاnor امتدextended منfrom إخصابهits fertility خلفoffspring
ماض ولا امتد من إخصابه خلف
She was his for part of a year, linked to no
He had her for some time, not connected
Past, nor did offspring spring from its fertility.
To a past or a lineage extending from her fertility.
ولىpassed ،ولاand no خبرnews يهدىis conveyed إليهto him وفيand in
ولى ،ولا خبر يهدى إليه وفي
حقائبsuitcases الريحthe wind، منfrom أخبارهits tidings تحفtreasures
حقائب الريح، من أخباره تحف
It passed; no news was brought to him, and in
She’s gone, with no news coming to him, and in
The wind's suitcases lay treasures from its tidings.
The folds of the wind, none of her news as a gift.
وقصةand a story لملمgathered up التاريخhistory أحرفهاits letters
وقصة لملم التاريخ أحرفها
فاستضحكso burst into laughter الحبرthe ink فيin كفيهits two palms والصحفand the pages
فاستضحك الحبر في كفيه والصحف
And a story whose letters history gathered up,
And the story whose letters history collected,
So the ink and pages burst into laughter in its palms.
The ink laughed in his palms and the pages.
وغابand vanished أولthe first يومday عنfrom تذكرهhis recollection
وغاب أول يوم عن تذكره
وفيand in تظنيهhis conjecture منof إيمائهits intimations نتفscraps
وفي تظنيه من إيمائه نتف
The first day vanished from his recollection,
And the first day slipped from his memory,
And in his conjectures were scraps of its intimations.
And in his supposition some of her gestures were picked.
كانit was الخميسThursday أوor الاثنينMonday واحتشدتand crowded together
كان الخميس أو الاثنين واحتشدت
مواقفscenes ، تدفعrepel الذكرىmemory وتلتقفand catch
مواقف ، تدفع الذكرى وتلتقف
It was Thursday or Monday, and there crowded together
It was Thursday or Monday and gatherings accumulated,
Scenes that repelled memory and caught it.
Pushing away the memory and grabbing it.
فيat بدءthe beginning of تشرينTishrin ، نادتهcalled to him نوافذهاher windows
في بدء تشرين ، نادته نوافذها
فحامso he hovered كالطيفlike a phantom ، يستأنيtaking his time وينجرفand drifting
فحام كالطيف ، يستأني وينجرف
At the beginning of Tishrin, her windows called to him,
In early October, her windows called out to him,
And he hovered like a phantom, lingering and drifting.
So he swooped like a ghost, slowing down and swirling.
هلis it? ذاكthat مخدعهاher bedchamber؟ توميbeckon النجومthe stars علىupon
هل ذاك مخدعها؟ تومي النجوم على
جبينهhis brow وعلىand over عينيهhis eyes تعتكفkeep vigil
جبينه وعلى عينيه تعتكف
Was that her bedchamber? The stars beckoned upon
Is that her bedroom? The stars spill onto
His brow and kept vigil over his eyes.
His forehead and camp on his eyes.
بلrather تلكthat غرفتهاher room أوor تلكthat أيهماwhich of the two
بل تلك غرفتها أو تلك أيهما
أوor هذهthis وارتدتand donned ازياءهاher outfits الغرفthe rooms
أو هذه وارتدت ازياءها الغرف
No, that was her room—or that one—which of the two?
Rather that’s her room, or is it, whichever
Or this one? The rooms had donned her outfits.
One, as her rooms dressed up in their outfits.
وبعدand after يومa day وليلand a night جاءhe came يسألهاto ask her
وبعد يوم وليل جاء يسألها
عنabout عمهاher uncle اخبروهthey told him انهthat he دنفwas ailing
عن عمها اخبروه انه دنف
After a day and a night, he came to ask her
And after a day and night he came to ask her
About her uncle; they had told him he was ailing.
About her uncle - they told him he passed away.
منwho ذاthis one تريدyou want؟ وتسترخيand grows languid عبارتهاher phrasing
من ذا تريد؟ وتسترخي عبارتها
فيأكلso he devours الأحرفthe letters الكسلىlanguid ويرتشفand sips
فيأكل الأحرف الكسلى ويرتشف
“Who is it you want?” Her words grew languid,
Who is it you want? And she relaxes her words
And he devoured the languid letters and sipped them.
As the lazy letters eat and sip.
ويدعيand he claims أنهمthat they قالواsaid: أليسis there not? لهاfor her
ويدعي أنهم قالوا: أليس لها
عمٌan uncle ويعتصرand wrings out الدعوىthe claim وينتزفand bleeds himself dry
عمٌ ويعتصر الدعوى وينتزف
He claimed they had said, “Does she not have
And he claims they said: Doesn't she have
An uncle?” He wrung out his claim and bled himself dry.
An uncle? And he twists the claim and bleeds it dry.
ويستزيدand seeks more جواباًan answer هلis there? هناhere سكنٌa dwelling؟
ويستزيد جواباً هل هنا سكنٌ؟
أظنٌI think (بيتthe house of فلانso-and-so) أهلهits people انصرفواhave left
أظنٌ (بيت فلان) أهله انصرفوا
He sought more of an answer: “Is anyone living here?
And he asks for more - is there a house here?
I think—so-and-so's house—its people have left.”
I think (so-and-so's) house, its people left.
وخانهand failed him الريقhis saliva، فاستحلتso she savored تلعثمهhis stammer
وخانه الريق، فاستحلت تلعثمه
وأحضرand he brought forth فيon شفتيهاher lips العذرapology والأسفand regret
وأحضر في شفتيها العذر والأسف
His saliva failed him; she savored his stammer,
And his saliva betrayed him, so her stuttering
And he brought apology and regret to her lips.
Became permitted, and the excuse and regret appeared.
ونصفand midway through (كانونKanun) زارتshe visited بنتthe daughter of جارتهhis female neighbor
ونصف (كانون) زارت بنت جارته
فأفشتso divulged الخبرthe news الأبوابthe doors والشُرفand the balconies
فأفشت الخبر الأبواب والشُرف
In mid-Kanun, she visited his neighbor's daughter,
And halfway through (November) his neighbor’s daughter visited,
And the doors and balconies divulged the news.
Divulging the news, the doors and balconies.
وقالتand said امرأةa woman: منwho تلكthat one؟ والتفتتand turned
وقالت امرأة: من تلك؟ والتفتت
أخرىanother woman، تكذبdisbelieves عينيهاher eyes وتعترفand admits
أخرى، تكذب عينيها وتعترف
A woman said, “Who is that?” And there turned
And a woman said: who is she? And another turned,
Another, disbelieving her eyes yet admitting it.
Her eyes denying and confessing.
وعرفتهاand recognized her عجوزan old woman كلall of حرفتهاher trade
وعرفتها عجوز كل حرفتها
صنعmaking الخطاياsins لوجهfor the sake of اللهGod تحترفshe practices as a trade
صنع الخطايا لوجه الله تحترف
An old woman recognized her, whose entire trade
And an old woman recognized her, her only craft
Was making sins, a craft she plied for God's sake.
Was creating sins for God's sake, a professional.
وقصتand told امرأةa woman عنهاabout her لجدتهاto her grandmother
وقصت امرأة عنها لجدتها
فصلاًa chapter، كماas ذابmelted فوقover الخضرةthe greenery الصدفseashells
فصلاً، كما ذاب فوق الخضرة الصدف
A woman told her grandmother about her,
And a woman told her grandmother about her
A chapter, as seashells melted over the greenery.
A chapter, like coral melting atop the greenery.
فعوذتهاso she invoked protection for her وقالتand said: كنتI used to أشبههاresemble her
فعوذتها وقالت: كنت أشبهها
لكنbut لكلfor every طويلlong thing ياO ابنتيmy daughter طرفan end
لكن لكل طويل يا ابنتي طرف
She invoked protection for her and said, “I used to resemble her,
So she protected her and said: she resembled me,
But every long thing, my daughter, has an end.”
But for each long tale my daughter, there is an end.
وغمغمand murmured الشارعthe street المهجورdeserted: منwho خطرتpassed by swaying
وغمغم الشارع المهجور: من خطرت
كماas تخطرshe sways تلa hill مائجbillowing ترفluxuriant
كما تخطر تل مائج ترف
The deserted street murmured, “Who passed
And the abandoned street murmured: she crossed
Swaying like a luxuriant, billowing hill?”
Like a mountain flood crossing.
وحينand when عادتshe returned وحياهاand he greeted her علىwith خجلshyness
وحين عادت وحياها على خجل
ردتshe replied، وماand not كانhe had يرجوhoped ، ليتهاif only she تقفwould stop
ردت، وما كان يرجو ، ليتها تقف
When she returned and he greeted her shyly,
And when she returned and shyly greeted him,
She replied—he had not hoped for that. If only she would stop!
He responded, not hoping for what he hoped for, if only she would stop.
وخلفهاand behind her اقتادهled him وعدthe promise of السرابthe mirage إلىto
وخلفها اقتاده وعد السراب إلى
بيتa house نضيجripe with الصباyouth جدرانهits walls الشغفpassion
بيت نضيج الصبا جدرانه الشغف
Behind her, the mirage's promise led him to
And behind her he followed, and the mirage’s promise led him
A house ripe with youth, whose walls were passion,
To the house whose walls oozed with adolescence.
حتىuntil احتستهاdrank her in شفاهthe lips of البابthe door لاno أحدone
حتى احتستها شفاه الباب لا أحد
يوميbeckons إليهto him، ولاand no قلبheart لهfor him ، يجفdries up
يومي إليه، ولا قلب له ، يجف
Until the door's lips drank her in. No one
Until the lips of the door felt her - no one
Beckoned to him; without a heart, he dried up.
Visits him, and he has no heart, dried up.
وظنand he conjectured وارتابand doubted حتىuntil اشتمsniffed out قصتهhis story
وظن وارتاب حتى اشتم قصته
كلبa dog هناكthere وثورand a bull كانwas يعتلفeating fodder
كلب هناك وثور كان يعتلف
He conjectured and doubted, until his story was sniffed out by
And he doubted and suspected until his story
A dog there, and a bull that was eating fodder.
Was scorned by a dog there, and a bundled up bull.
وعادand he returned منfrom حيثwhere لاnot يدريhe knew علىalong طرقroads
وعاد من حيث لا يدري على طرق
منof الذهولbewilderment إلىtoward المجهولthe unknown ينقذفhe hurtles
من الذهول إلى المجهول ينقذف
He returned, from where he knew not, along roads
And he returned from where he knows not, on roads
Of bewilderment, hurtling toward the unknown.
Of confusion to the unknown tossed about.
فأعتادso frequented ذكراهhis memory بيتa house مسهtouched it فمهاher mouth
فأعتاد ذكراه بيت مسه فمها
فيon دربهاher path ، وبظلand in the shadow of الدارthe house يلتحفhe wraps himself
في دربها ، وبظل الدار يلتحف
So a house her mouth had touched kept returning to his memory,
So he got used to mentioning a house she touched
Along her path; he wrapped himself in the house's shadow.
With her mouth on its road, and the house’s shade he wrapped himself in.
وقربتand brought near دارهاher house منto ظلthe shadow of ملجئهhis refuge
وقربت دارها من ظل ملجئه
يدa hand تعلمlearned منfrom إغداقهاits lavish giving السرفextravagance
يد تعلم من إغداقها السرف
And her house was brought close to the shadow of his refuge
And her house drew near the shade of his shelter,
By a hand from whose lavish giving excess itself had learned.
A hand learning from her generosity to exceed.
وكانand he would يصغيlisten فتدعوthen calls غيرهاsomeone other than her ابنتهاher daughter
وكان يصغي فتدعو غيرها ابنتها
وجارةand a neighbor غيرهاother than her تخفيconceals وتنكشفand comes into view
وجارة غيرها تخفي وتنكشف
He would listen, while another woman called her daughter,
And he would listen as she called her daughter
And a neighbor other than her hid and came into view.
And a neighbor other than him she hid from and revealed herself to.
متىwhen تبوحwill she speak openly وهلand will? يفضيdisclose بخطرتهاof her passing
متى تبوح وهل يفضي بخطرتها
دربa path ويخبرand tells عنهاabout her الريحthe wind منعطفa bend؟
درب ويخبر عنها الريح منعطف؟
When would she speak openly? Would her passing be disclosed by
When will she confide and will a road spill
A path, and a bend tell the wind about her?
Her thoughts and inform about her at a turn?
وحلand arrived شهرa month رماديgray الخطىof step هرمdecrepit
وحل شهر رمادي الخطى هرم
ضاعتvanished ملامحهits features، واسترختand sagged الكتفthe shoulder
ضاعت ملامحه، واسترخت الكتف
A month arrived, gray of step, decrepit;
And an ashy month of crooked steps decrepit
Its features vanished, and its shoulder sagged.
Arrived, its features were lost, and shoulders slackened.
وفيand at نهايتهits end، جاءتshe came تُسائلهto question him
وفي نهايته، جاءت تُسائله
عنabout هرهاher cat… لمdid not يزرناvisit us، فاتناpassed us by الشرفthe honor
عن هرها... لم يزرنا، فاتنا الشرف
At its end, she came to question him
And at its end, she came to ask him
About her cat... “It hasn't visited us; we missed the honor.”
About her uncle...he hasn't visited us, missing the honor.
فنغمتso set to music ضحكةa laugh كسلىlanguid ، طفولتهاher childhood
فنغمت ضحكة كسلى ، طفولتها
جذلىgleeful، علىupon الرقةtenderness المغناجcoquettish تنقصفshatters
جذلى، على الرقة المغناج تنقصف
A languid laugh set her childhood to music,
So a lazy laugh, her childhood
Gleeful, shattering upon coquettish tenderness.
Stubborn, cracked on the delicate coyness.
فمدso he stretched out كفاًa hand خجولاًshy وانحنىand bent down فرناthen gazed
فمد كفاً خجولاً وانحنى فرنا
منfrom وجههاher face الموعدthe tryst المجهولunknown والصلفand disdain
من وجهها الموعد المجهول والصلف
He held out a shy hand and bent; gazing out
So he extended a shy hand and bowed, and the
From her face were the unknown tryst and disdain.
Unknown appointment and disdain fled from her face.
وكانand he was يرنوgazing، وجوعand the hunger of الأربعينforty علىupon
وكان يرنو، وجوع الأربعين على
ذبولthe withering of خديهhis cheeks يستجديbegs ويرتجفand trembles
ذبول خديه يستجدي ويرتجف
He gazed, and the hunger of forty, on
And he wished, and the hunger of the forty days
His withered cheeks, begged and trembled.
Begged on his withering cheeks, shivering.
وقالand he said ماwhat ليسnot يدريhe knew فأدعتso she feigned غضباًanger:
وقال ما ليس يدري فأدعت غضباً:
منwho خلتنيyou took me for؟ قلsay لغيريto someone other than me: إننيI am كلفinfatuated
من خلتني؟ قل لغيري: إنني كلف
He said what he did not understand, and she feigned anger:
And he spoke what he knew not, so she faked anger:
“Who do you take me for? Tell someone else, ‘I am infatuated.’”
“Who left me? Tell others: I am done.”
وأعرضتand she turned away واستدارتand turned around: كيفhow is شارعناour street؟
وأعرضت واستدارت: كيف شارعنا؟
حلوlovely… أماas for ساكنوهits residents السوءevil والحشفand shriveled dates؟
حلو... أما ساكنوه السوء والحشف؟
She turned away and wheeled round: “How is our street?
And she turned away: “How is our street?”
Lovely... but its residents—evil and shriveled dates?
“Nice...and its evil residents and riffraff?”
(فلانةa certain woman) لمdid not تدعleave untouched عرضاًany honor وand(ذاكthat one) فتىa youth
(فلانة) لم تدع عرضاً و(ذاك) فتى
يغويseduces ويكذبand lies فيin ميعادهhis promised meeting والحلفand oaths
يغوي ويكذب في ميعاده والحلف
So-and-so has spared no one's honor, and that one is a youth
(So-and-so) didn't leave her reputation, and (so-and-so) a
Who seduces and lies in his promises and oaths.”
Boy who seduces and lies in his promises and oaths.
منfrom ذلكthat اليومday يومthe day of(الهرthe cat) كانthere was لهfor him
من ذلك اليوم يوم(الهر) كان له
عمرa life ومتجهand a direction غضfresh ومنصرفand a retreat
عمر ومتجه غض ومنصرف
From that day—the day of the cat—he had
From that day, the day of (her uncle), he had
A life, a fresh direction, and a retreat.
A lifetime with no destination, withdrawn.
واحضرand he conjured قدامهbefore him عشa nest تدللهhis fond indulgence
واحضر قدامه عش تدلله
علىupon رفيقthe companion of الدواليthe grapevines روضةa garden أنفuntouched
على رفيق الدوالي روضة أنف
He conjured before him the nest of his fond indulgence,
And he imagined before him a nest indulging him
On the grapevines' companion—an untouched garden.
On a companion for chats, a garden of bliss.
أجنتbore fruit لهfor him أيهاwhich part of it يدعوcalls to مجاعتهhis hunger
أجنت له أيها يدعو مجاعته
وأيand which أفنانهاof its boughs يحسوhe sips ويقتطفand plucks؟
وأي أفنانها يحسو ويقتطف؟
It bore fruit for him: which part of it called to his hunger,
It bore for him whoever he calls his companions
And which of its boughs would he sip and pluck?
And which of its muses he feels and plucks?
ومرand passed عهدa time كعمرlike the lifetime of الحلمthe dream يرقبهhe watches for it
ومر عهد كعمر الحلم يرقبه
متىwhen يعودwill it return يمنيهfills him with hopes ويختلفand comes and goes؟
متى يعود يمنيه ويختلف؟
A time passed, lasting a dream's lifetime; he watched for it:
And an era passed like the lifetime of a dream watching him,
When would it return, fill him with hopes, and come and go?
When will it return, changing him?
وكانand he was فيهduring it كمولودlike a newborn علىin رغدplenty
وكان فيه كمولود على رغد
أنهىended رضاعتهhis nursing التشريدhomelessness والشطفand hardship
أنهى رضاعته التشريد والشطف
During it he was like a newborn in plenty,
And in it he was like a newborn in prosperity
Whose nursing homelessness and hardship brought to an end.
Who finished his nursing of wandering and rags.
كانتshe was لهhis ويقصand he recounts الذكرياتthe memories علىto
كانت له ويقص الذكريات على
طيفa phantom يقابلfaces عينيهhis eyes وينحرفand turns away
طيف يقابل عينيه وينحرف
She had been his; he recounted the memories to
She was his, and he recounts memories to
A phantom that faced his eyes and turned away.
A ghost meeting his eyes and veering off.
واليومand today فيin القريةthe village الجوعىhungry بضيعةon an estate
واليوم في القرية الجوعى بضيعة
دربa road، ودربand a road منof الأشواكthorns يختطفsnatches away
درب، ودرب من الأشواك يختطف
And today, in the hungry village, on an estate of
And today in the hungry village, a trifling road,
Roadway, while a road of thorns snatches him away.
And a road of thorns seizing him.
يسيحhe roams كالريحlike the wind فيthrough الأحياءthe neighborhoods يلفظهcasts him out
يسيح كالريح في الأحياء يلفظه
تيهa wilderness، ويسخرand mocks منat تصويبهhis aim الهدفthe target
تيه، ويسخر من تصويبه الهدف
He roams like the wind through the quarters, cast out by
He walks like the wind in the neighborhoods ejecting him
A wilderness; the target mocks his aim.
Astray, and mocking his aim.
Sol 6.1