هَلِis ...? الدَهرُtime إِلّاanything but لَيلَةٌa night وَنَهارُهاand its day
هَلِ الدَهرُ إِلّا لَيلَةٌ وَنَهارُها
وَإِلّاand nothing but طُلوعُthe rising of الشَمسِthe sun ثُمَّthen غِيارُهاits setting
وَإِلّا طُلوعُ الشَمسِ ثُمَّ غِيارُها
Is time anything but a night and its day,
Is fate but a night and a day
and the sun's rising, then its setting?
And the rising and setting of the sun?
أَبىrefused القَلبُthe heart إِلّاanything but أُمَّUmm (mother of) عَمروٍAmr وَأَصبَحَتand came to be
أَبى القَلبُ إِلّا أُمَّ عَمروٍ وَأَصبَحَت
تُحَرَّقُis set ablaze ناريmy fire بِالشَكاةِby complaint وَنارُهاand her fire
تُحَرَّقُ ناري بِالشَكاةِ وَنارُها
My heart would have none but Umm Amr, and now
My heart is set on Umm 'Amr alone
my fire and hers are set ablaze by complaint.
And my passion for her burns like fire
وَعَيَّرَهاand reproached her الواشونَthe tale-bearers أَنّيthat I أُحِبُّهاlove her
وَعَيَّرَها الواشونَ أَنّي أُحِبُّها
وَتِلكَand that شَكاةُa reproach ظاهِرٌfar removed عَنكَfrom you عارُهاits shame
وَتِلكَ شَكاةُ ظاهِرٌ عَنكَ عارُها
The tale-bearers reproached her because I love her,
The slanderers chide me for loving her
but that is a reproach whose shame does not touch you.
Though her virtues outweigh their calumny
فَلاso let not يَهنَأgive pleasure to الواشينَthe tale-bearers أَنّيthat I هَجَرتُهاleft her
فَلا يَهنَأ الواشينَ أَنّي هَجَرتُها
وَأَظلَمَand grew dark دونيapart from me لَيلُهاher night وَنَهارُهاand her day
وَأَظلَمَ دوني لَيلُها وَنَهارُها
So let the tale-bearers take no pleasure in my leaving her,
Let not the slanderers rejoice that I've shunned her
while her night and day grew dark beyond my reach.
While my night and day are darkened without her
فَإِنso if أَعتَذِرI make excuses مِنهاconcerning her فَإِنّيthen I am مُكَذَّبٌdisbelieved
فَإِن أَعتَذِر مِنها فَإِنّي مُكَذَّبٌ
وَإِنand if تَعتَذِرshe makes excuses يُردَدis thrown back عَلَيهاat her اِعتِذارُهاher excuse
وَإِن تَعتَذِر يُردَد عَلَيها اِعتِذارُها
If I make excuses concerning her, I am disbelieved;
If I offer her excuses, I'll be called a liar
and if she makes excuses, hers are thrown back at her.
And if she offers excuses, they'll be thrown back at her
فَماfor no أُمُّmother of خِشفٍa fawn بِالعَلايَةِat al-Alaya شادِنٍgrown self-sufficient
فَما أُمُّ خِشفٍ بِالعَلايَةِ شادِنٍ
تَنوشُreaches for البَريرَarak fruit حَيثُwherever نالَreached اِهتِصارُهاher bending of branches
تَنوشُ البَريرَ حَيثُ نالَ اِهتِصارُها
No doe, mother of a weaned fawn at al-Alaya,
Mother of Khishf is no 'Alaiya or Shadin
reaching for arak fruit wherever she can bend the branches,
Sipping pure wine where vines flourish
مُوَلَّعَةٌspotted بِالطُرَّتَينِon both flanks دَناcame near لَهاto her
مُوَلَّعَةٌ بِالطُرَّتَينِ دَنا لَها
جَنىfruit أَيكَةٍof a thicket يَضفوspreads عَلَيهاover her قِصارُهاits low branches
جَنى أَيكَةٍ يَضفو عَلَيها قِصارُها
spotted on both flanks, with close at hand
Fond of partridge stew, pigeon roast
the fruit of a thicket whose low branches spread over her,
A fruitful oasis shadows her abode
بِهِon it أَبَلَتwent without water شَهرَيthe two months of رَبيعٍspring كِلَيهِماboth of them
بِهِ أَبَلَت شَهرَي رَبيعٍ كِلَيهِما
فَقَدso indeed مارَspread through فيهاwithin her نَسؤُهاher pregnancy وَاِقتِرارُهاand her grazing
فَقَد مارَ فيها نَسؤُها وَاِقتِرارُها
on which she went without water through both months of spring—
She revels through the blooming months of Rabee'
pregnancy and grazing having filled out her body—
As prosperity and comfort have passed her by
وَسَوَّدَand blackened ماءُthe juice of المَردِarak berries فاهاher mouth فَلَونُهُso its color
وَسَوَّدَ ماءُ المَردِ فاها فَلَونُهُ
كَلَونِlike the color of النَوورِtattooing soot فَهيَwhile she is أَدماءُpale-coated سارُهاthe rest of her
كَلَونِ النَوورِ فَهيَ أَدماءُ سارُها
with arak-berry juice blackening her mouth, whose color
And the berries have darkened her mouth
is like tattooing soot, though the rest of her is pale,
The hue of light, yet her face is rosy
بِأَحسَنَany lovelier مِنهاthan she يَومَon the day قامَتshe rose فَأَعرَضَتand turned aside
بِأَحسَنَ مِنها يَومَ قامَت فَأَعرَضَت
تُواريshe hides الدُموعَthe tears حينَwhen جَدّاin earnest اِنحِدارُهاtheir streaming down
تُواري الدُموعَ حينَ جَدّا اِنحِدارُها
is lovelier than she was when she rose and turned aside,
More beautiful than this was the day she rose and turned away
hiding her tears as they streamed down in earnest.
Hiding her tears when fate turned against her
كَأَنَّas though عَلىupon فيهاher mouth عُقاراًstrong wine مُدامَةًaged
كَأَنَّ عَلى فيها عُقاراً مُدامَةً
سُلافَةَthe first pressing of راحٍwine عَتَّقَتهاaged it تِجارُهاits merchants
سُلافَةَ راحٍ عَتَّقَتها تِجارُها
It is as though upon her mouth there were an aged wine,
As if she bore brow stained with pure wine
the first pressing of wine, aged by its merchants,
A freed aroma her perfumes once traded
مُعَتَّقَةًaged مِنfrom أَذرِعاتٍAdhri'at هَوَتsped down بِهاwith it الرthe (split article)
مُعَتَّقَةً مِن أَذرِعاتٍ هَوَت بِها الر
رِكابُriding camels وَعَنَّتهاand wearied them الزِقاقُthe wineskins وَقارُهاtheir weight
رِكابُ وَعَنَّتها الزِقاقُ وَقارُها
an aged vintage from Adhri'at, borne swiftly down by the
Freed from shackles, how coachmen admired her gait
riding camels, wearied by the wineskins' weight.
And alleys exalted her glory and honor
فَلاso not تُشتَرىis bought إِلّاexcept بِرِنجٍwith hardship سِباؤُهاits purchase-price
فَلا تُشتَرى إِلّا بِرِنجٍ سِباؤُها
بَناتُfemale offspring of المَخاضِpregnant she-camels شومُهاtheir dark ones وَحِضارُهاand their white ones
بَناتُ المَخاضِ شومُها وَحِضارُها
It is bought only at painful cost; its purchase-price
None may have her, not even in dire destitution
is yearling she-camels, dark-coated and white.
Daughters of labor, bleak and meager their lives
تَرىyou see شَربَهاits drinkers حُمرَred الحِداقِthe eyes كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
تَرى شَربَها حُمرَ الحِداقِ كَأَنَّهُم
أَساوىmourners إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) سارَcoursed فيهِمthrough them سُوارُهاits heady force
أَساوى إِذا ما سارَ فيهِم سُوارُها
You see its drinkers red-eyed, as though they were
They sip the wine till their cheeks blush red
mourners, when its heady force courses through them.
As if it were the gleam of her bracelets
فَإِنَّكَfor you مِنهاconcerning her وَالتَعَذُّرَand making excuses بَعدَماafter
فَإِنَّكَ مِنها وَالتَعَذُّرَ بَعدَما
لَجِجَتpersisted stubbornly وَشَطَّتand grew distant مِنfrom فُطَيمَةَFutayma دارُهاher dwelling
لَجِجَت وَشَطَّت مِن فُطَيمَةَ دارُها
For you, with her and your excuses, now that
Rouse them after rest, they shudder and stir
you have persisted and Futayma's dwelling lies far away,
Like startled partridges, shy and timid
كَنَعتِlike the description of الَّتيthe woman who ظَلَّتkept تُسَبِّعُwashing seven times سُؤرَهاher leftover drink
كَنَعتِ الَّتي ظَلَّت تُسَبِّعُ سُؤرَها
وَقالَتand she said حَرامٌforbidden أَنthat يُرَجَّلَbe made to go on foot جارُهاher protected neighbor
وَقالَت حَرامٌ أَن يُرَجَّلَ جارُها
are like the woman who kept washing her drinking-vessel seven times,
When the cooking pots are hot, we fan their flames
and said it was forbidden to dismount her protected neighbor.
Ventilating gently, slowly turning their spits
تَبَرَّأُshe disclaims مِنfrom دَمِّthe blood of القَتيلِthe slain man وَبَزِّهِand his gear
تَبَرَّأُ مِن دَمِّ القَتيلِ وَبَزِّهِ
وَقَدand indeed عَلِقَتwas stained with دَمَّthe blood of القَتيلِthe slain man إِزارُهاher waist-wrap
وَقَد عَلِقَت دَمَّ القَتيلِ إِزارُها
She disclaims the slain man's blood and his gear,
If you sever my rope, or change lovers, among you
though her waist-wrap is stained with his blood.
Are those of poor repute and base character
فَإِنَّكِfor you لَوif ساءَلتِyou asked عَنّاabout us فَتُخبَريand were informed
فَإِنَّكِ لَو ساءَلتِ عَنّا فَتُخبَري
إِذاwhen البُزلُthe mature camels راحَتcame home at evening لاnot تُدِرُّyield milk عِشارُهاtheir ten-month-pregnant ones
إِذا البُزلُ راحَت لا تُدِرُّ عِشارُها
If you asked about us and were informed,
When a she-camel's milk dries up, udder grows slack
when mature camels returned, their ten-month-pregnant ones yielding no milk,
My whip will ready her, though her excuses continue
لَأُنبِئتِyou would surely be told أَنّاthat we نَجتَديseek الفَضلَexcellence إِنَّماonly
لَأُنبِئتِ أَنّا نَجتَدي الفَضلَ إِنَّما
نُكَلَّفُهُwe are charged with it مِنَamong النُفوسِsouls خَيارُهاthe finest of them
نُكَلَّفُهُ مِنَ النُفوسِ خَيارُها
you would be told that we seek excellence: only
Bows strung taut then left loose, neglected
the finest souls are entrusted with it.
Their cords snapped, frames cracked and spine disjointed
لَناwe have صِرَمٌcamel herds يُنحَرنَare slaughtered فيin كُلِّevery شَتوَةٍwinter
لَنا صِرَمٌ يُنحَرنَ في كُلِّ شَتوَةٍ
إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) سَماءُthe sky of الناسِthe people قَلَّgrew scant قِطارُهاits rain
إِذا ما سَماءُ الناسِ قَلَّ قِطارُها
We have camel herds slaughtered every winter,
Then I'm right to end her time with praise
when the people's sky gives little rain.
Without dishonor as we part our ways
وَسودٌand black pots مِنَof الصيدانِpot-making stone فيهاin them مَذانِبٌladles
وَسودٌ مِنَ الصيدانِ فيها مَذانِبٌ
نُضارٌnudar wood إِذاif لَمnot نَستَفِدهاwe acquired them نُعارُهاwe are lent them
نُضارٌ إِذا لَم نَستَفِدها نُعارُها
And black stone cooking-pots, with ladles
With Ibn 'Anbas gone, I've learned patience
of nudar wood—lent to us when we have not acquired them.
While fate stokes the flames of grief and sorrow
لَهُنَّthey have نَشيجٌa sobbing sound بِالنَشيلِwith lifted-out meat كَأَنَّهاas though they were
لَهُنَّ نَشيجٌ بِالنَشيلِ كَأَنَّها
ضَرائِرُco-wives of حِرمِيٍّa sanctuary-dweller تَفاحَشَgrew excessive غارُهاtheir jealousy
ضَرائِرُ حِرمِيٍّ تَفاحَشَ غارُها
They sob around the meat lifted from them, as though they were
A shaggy-armed Khiljam, fierce when wars rage on
co-wives of a sanctuary-dweller, their jealousy grown excessive.
And their bitterness sears, cruelty prolongs
إِذاwhen اِستُعجِلَتthey are hurried بَعدَafter الخُبُوِّthe fire's dying down تَرازَمَتthey rumble together
إِذا اِستُعجِلَت بَعدَ الخُبُوِّ تَرازَمَت
كَهَزمِlike the rumbling of الظُؤارِfoster-mother camels جُرَّwas dragged عَنهاaway from them حُوارُهاtheir calf
كَهَزمِ الظُؤارِ جُرَّ عَنها حُوارُها
When hurried after the fire has died down, they rumble together,
His sword strikes down the bravest heroes
like foster-mother camels whose calf is dragged away.
When the fray embroils, blades shredded and severed
إِذاwhen حُبَّis desired تَرويجُcirculation; probably 'cooling' here القُدورِthe cooking-pots فَإِنَّناthen we
إِذا حُبَّ تَرويجُ القُدورِ فَإِنَّنا
نُرَوِّحُهاwe cool them سُفعاًsoot-blackened حَميداًpraiseworthy قُتارُهاtheir cooking-smoke
نُرَوِّحُها سُفعاً حَميداً قُتارُها
When cooling the cooking-pots is desired, we
With blows that smash bones, such is their power
cool them, soot-blackened, their cooking-smoke praised.
And stabs like stampeding horses, spears straight and centered
فَإِنso if تَصرِميyou sever حَبليmy bond وَإِنand if تَتَبَدَّليyou take in exchange
فَإِن تَصرِمي حَبلي وَإِن تَتَبَدَّلي
خَليلاًa lover وَإِحداكُنَّand one of you women سوءٌevil قُصارُهاher utmost end
خَليلاً وَإِحداكُنَّ سوءٌ قُصارُها
If you sever my bond, and if you take in exchange
The stealthy stab that pierced Murishsha
another lover—and one of you has harm as her utmost end—
Neat as rending a cloak, precise and measured
فَإِنّيfor I إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) خُلَّةٌa beloved رَثَّgrew threadbare وَصلُهاher bond
فَإِنّي إِذا ما خُلَّةٌ رَثَّ وَصلُها
وَجَدَّتand she became determined بِصُرمٍon severance وَاِستَمَرَّand held firm عِذارُهاher bridle
وَجَدَّت بِصُرمٍ وَاِستَمَرَّ عِذارُها
then, whenever a beloved's bond grows threadbare,
Smooth strokes paving their path
and she resolves to sever it, her bridle holding firm,
Entrails of the craven strewed in bloody swathes
وَحالَتand she changed كَحَولِlike the warping of القَوسِthe bow طُلَّتwas left damp وَعُطِّلَتand left unused
وَحالَت كَحَولِ القَوسِ طُلَّت وَعُطِّلَت
ثَلاثاًthree years فَزاغَso warped عَجسُهاits grip وَظُهارُهاand its back
ثَلاثاً فَزاغَ عَجسُها وَظُهارُها
and changes like a bow left damp and unused
With the fine steed Al-'Anid concealed
for three years, till its grip and back have warped,
By the bare plain, landmark blurred and faded
فَإِنّيthen I جَديرٌam worthy أضنunclear; probably 'to' أُوَدِّعَbid farewell to عَهدَهاher bond
فَإِنّي جَديرٌ أضن أُوَدِّعَ عَهدَها
بِحَمدٍwith praise وَلَمand not يُرفَعis broadcast لَدَيناamong us شَنارُهاher disgrace
بِحَمدٍ وَلَم يُرفَع لَدَينا شَنارُها
I am worthy to bid farewell to her bond
Galloping strides casting off garments
with praise, without broadcasting her disgrace among us.
As if a herd of ibex bolting, startled and racing
وَإِنّيand I صَبَرتُrestrained النَفسَmy soul بَعدَafter اِبنِthe son of عَنبَسٍAnbas
وَإِنّي صَبَرتُ النَفسَ بَعدَ اِبنِ عَنبَسٍ
نُشَيبَةٌNushayba وَالهَلكىand the dead يَهيجُstirs grief اِدِّكارُهاremembering them
نُشَيبَةٌ وَالهَلكى يَهيجُ اِدِّكارُها
And I held my soul in patience after Ibn Anbas—
Foremost when the sun rose red as perfume
Nushayba; remembering the dead stirs grief.
And the warriors' surging like camels, marching in train
وَذلِكَand that man مَشبوحُbroadly outstretched الذِراعَينِin both arms خَلجَمٌtall and massive
وَذلِكَ مَشبوحُ الذِراعَينِ خَلجَمٌ
خَشوفٌbold in attack إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) الحَربُwar طالَgrew long مِرارُهاits ordeals
خَشوفٌ إِذا ما الحَربُ طالَ مِرارُها
That man was broad-armed, tall and massive,
When the army recoiled and retreated in haste
bold in attack whenever war's ordeals dragged on,
As their zeal expired and fires raged within
ضَروبٌa mighty striker لِهاماتِof the skulls of الرِجالِmen بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
ضَروبٌ لِهاماتِ الرِجالِ بِسَيفِهِ
إِذاwhen عُجِمَتwere tested وَسطَamid الشُؤونِthe skull's sutures شِفارُهاits cutting edges
إِذا عُجِمَت وَسطَ الشُؤونِ شِفارُها
a mighty striker of men's skulls with his sword,
You are as Nu't the hypocrite, decrying the crime
when its edges were tested amid the skull's sutures,
While the victim's blood stained her robes
بِضَربٍwith striking يَقُضُّshatters البَيضَthe helmets شِدَّةُthe force of وَقعِهِits impact
بِضَربٍ يَقُضُّ البَيضَ شِدَّةُ وَقعِهِ
وَطَعنٍand thrusting كَرَكضِlike the kicking of الخَيلِhorses تُفلىare being weaned مِهارُهاtheir foals
وَطَعنٍ كَرَكضِ الخَيلِ تُفلى مِهارُها
with blows whose fierce impact shattered helmets,
Ask about me, and you'll hear when wanton women drink
and thrusts like the kicks of mares whose foals are being weaned.
The best we can do, though many fall from grace
وَطَعنَةِand a thrust خَلسٍsnatched suddenly قَدindeed طَعَنتَyou delivered مُرِشَّةٍspraying blood
وَطَعنَةِ خَلسٍ قَد طَعَنتَ مُرِشَّةٍ
كَعَطِّlike the ripping of الرِداءِa cloak لاnot يُشَكُّis doubted طَوارُهاits extent
كَعَطِّ الرِداءِ لا يُشَكُّ طَوارُها
And a sudden thrust you delivered, spraying blood,
For feasts we slaughter fat rams
like a cloak ripped open, its extent beyond doubt,
When people's provisions are lean, and cattle thin
مُسَحسِحَةٍgushing profusely تَنفيsweeps away الحَصىpebbles عَنfrom طَريقِهاits path
مُسَحسِحَةٍ تَنفي الحَصى عَن طَريقِها
يُطَيِّرُsends flying أَحشاءَthe entrails of الرَعيبِthe fearful man اِنثِرارُهاits outpouring
يُطَيِّرُ أَحشاءَ الرَعيبِ اِنثِرارُها
gushing, sweeping pebbles from its path—
Stallions dark from the meadows amid us
its outpouring sends the fearful man's entrails flying.
If we cannot ride them, we fatten them up
وَمُدَّعَسٍand a deep spear-wound فيهِwithin it الأَنيضُraw flesh اِختَفَيتَهُyou laid it open
وَمُدَّعَسٍ فيهِ الأَنيضُ اِختَفَيتَهُ
بِجَرداءَwith a smooth spear يَنتابُrepeatedly enters الثَميلَthe pooled residue حِمارُهاits blade's raised rib
بِجَرداءَ يَنتابُ الثَميلَ حِمارُها
And a deep spear-wound, raw flesh within, that you laid open
They have lyres with dangling plectra
with a smooth spear whose raised blade-rib repeatedly enters the pooled blood.
Like the anklets of wayward slave girls disgraced
وَعادِيَةٍand a running band تُلقيcasts off الثِيابَclothes كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَعادِيَةٍ تُلقي الثِيابَ كَأَنَّها
تُيوسُbucks ظِباءٍof gazelles مَحصُهاtheir swift running وَاِنبِتارُهاand their darting away
تُيوسُ ظِباءٍ مَحصُها وَاِنبِتارُها
And a running band, shedding their clothes, as though they were
gazelle bucks in their dashing and darting away,
سَبَقتَyou outstripped إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) الشَمسُthe sun كانَتwas كَأَنَّهاas though it were
سَبَقتَ إِذا ما الشَمسُ كانَت كَأَنَّها
صَلاءَةُa grinding-stone for طيبٍperfume لِيطُهاits surface وَاِصفِرارُهاand its yellowness
صَلاءَةُ طيبٍ لِيطُها وَاِصفِرارُها
you outran when the sun seemed to be
a perfume-grinding stone in its surface and yellow hue,
إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) سِراعُthe swift men of القَومِthe people كانواwere كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
إِذا ما سِراعُ القَومِ كانوا كَأَنَّهُم
قَوافِلُparched, exhausted خَيلٍhorses جَريُهاtheir running وَاِقوِرارُهاand their shriveling
قَوافِلُ خَيلٍ جَريُها وَاِقوِرارُها
when the swiftest men seemed to be
parched horses in their running and shriveling,
إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) الخَلاجيمُthe hulking men العَلاجيمُthe burly men نَكَّلواheld back
إِذا ما الخَلاجيمُ العَلاجيمُ نَكَّلوا
وَطالَand grew prolonged عَلَيهِمfor them حَميُهاits heat وَسُعارُهاand its raging blaze
وَطالَ عَلَيهِم حَميُها وَسُعارُها
when hulking, burly men held back,
and its heat and raging blaze dragged on for them.
Partial English translation: 70 of 78 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1