أَبِالصُرمِwas it of separation مِنfrom أَسماءَAsma حَدَّثَكَtold you الَّذيwhat
أَبِالصُرمِ مِن أَسماءَ حَدَّثَكَ الَّذي
جَرىpassed بَينَناbetween us يَومَthe day اِستَقَلَّتdeparted رِكابُهاher riding camels
جَرى بَينَنا يَومَ اِستَقَلَّت رِكابُها
Did you learn of separation from Asma through what
The one who told you about Asma's meadows
passed between us the day her riding camels departed?
Of what happened between us the day her camel-litter departed
زَجَرتَyou read bird-omens لَهاfor her طَيرَthe bird of السَنيحِauspicious rightward flight فَإِنand if تُصِبyou attain
زَجَرتَ لَها طَيرَ السَنيحِ فَإِن تُصِب
هَواكَyour desire الَّذيwhich تَهوىyou long for يُصِبكَbefalls you اِجتِنابُهاher avoidance
هَواكَ الَّذي تَهوى يُصِبكَ اِجتِنابُها
You read for her the omens of the rightward-flying bird; if you attain
You scolded her for the birds of Saneh though if
the desire you long for, her avoidance will befall you.
Your passion which you love strikes you, avoiding it profits you naught
وَقَدand indeed طُفتُI roamed مِنthrough أَحوالِهاher surroundings وَأَرَدتُهاand I sought her
وَقَد طُفتُ مِن أَحوالِها وَأَرَدتُها
سِنينَyears فَأَخشىso I fear بَعلَهاher husband أَوor أَهابُهاI stand in awe of her
سِنينَ فَأَخشى بَعلَها أَو أَهابُها
And I have roamed her surroundings and sought her
I have considered her circumstances and wanted her
for years, fearing her husband or standing in awe of her—
For years but I fear her husband or her shyness
ثَلاثَةَthree أَعوامٍyears فَلَمّاand when تَجَرَّمَتthey elapsed
ثَلاثَةَ أَعوامٍ فَلَمّا تَجَرَّمَت
عَلَيناover us بِهونٍgently وَاِستَحارَand reached fullness شَبابُهاher youth
عَلَينا بِهونٍ وَاِستَحارَ شَبابُها
three years; and when they had run their course
For three years but when she trespassed against us
gently over us, and her youth had reached its fullness,
With disdain and her youth turned grey
عَصانيdisobeyed me إِلَيهاtoward her القَلبُthe heart إِنّيindeed I لِأَمرِهِto its command
عَصاني إِلَيها القَلبُ إِنّي لِأَمرِهِ
سَميعٌheedful فَماso not أَدريI know أَرُشدٌis it wisdom طِلابُهاpursuing her
سَميعٌ فَما أَدري أَرُشدٌ طِلابُها
my heart disobeyed me, turning toward her; to its command I am
My heart disobeyed me regarding her, truly I am
heedful, yet I do not know whether pursuing her is wise.
Attentive to its command though I know not if its seeking profits it
فَقُلتُso I said لِقَلبيto my heart ياO لَكَto you الخَيرُgood إِنَّماonly
فَقُلتُ لِقَلبي يا لَكَ الخَيرُ إِنَّما
يُدَلّيكَlowers you لِلمَوتِto death الجَديدِnew حِبابُهاlove of her
يُدَلّيكَ لِلمَوتِ الجَديدِ حِبابُها
So I said to my heart, “May good be yours! It is only
So I said to my heart: good for you, it only
love of her that lowers you to a fresh death.”
Leads you to the new death, her love
فَماfor not الراحُwine راحُthe wine of الشامِSyria جاءَتcame سَبِيَّةًas a captive
فَما الراحُ راحُ الشامِ جاءَت سَبِيَّةً
لَهاshe has غايَةٌa standard تَهديguides الكِرامَthe noble عُقابُهاher banner
لَها غايَةٌ تَهدي الكِرامَ عُقابُها
For not even wine—the wine of Syria, brought captive—
So the scent of Damascus did not come as a prisoner
with a standard whose banner guides the noble,
It has a goal that guides the generous to reward
عُقارُstrong wine كَماءِlike the juice of النِىءِraw flesh لَيسَتis not بِخَمطَةٍacrid
عُقارُ كَماءِ النِىءِ لَيسَت بِخَمطَةٍ
وَلاnor خَلَّةٍvinegar-sour يَكويsears الشُروبَthe heavy drinker شِهابُهاher flame
وَلا خَلَّةٍ يَكوي الشُروبَ شِهابُها
strong wine like the juice of raw flesh, neither acrid
The juice of the twigs is no deception
nor vinegar-sour, its flame searing the heavy drinker—
Nor vain talk that scalds the drinkers, its flames
تَوَصَّلُtravels onward بِالرُكبانِwith caravans حيناًfor a time وَتُؤلِفُand secures الthe
تَوَصَّلُ بِالرُكبانِ حيناً وَتُؤلِفُ ال
جِوارَneighborly protection وَيُغشيهاand cloaks her in الأَمانَsafety رِبابُهاher owners
جِوارَ وَيُغشيها الأَمانَ رِبابُها
she travels with caravans for a time and wins the
It befriends travelers at times and brings together
protection of neighbors; her owners cloak her in safety.
Neighbors and covers them with the security of its calm
فَماso not بَرِحَتceased فيamong الناسِpeople حَتّىuntil تَبَيَّنَتbecame visible
فَما بَرِحَت في الناسِ حَتّى تَبَيَّنَت
ثَقيفاًThaqif بِزَيزاءِon the upland of الأَشاةِal-Ashah قِبابُهاher tents
ثَقيفاً بِزَيزاءِ الأَشاةِ قِبابُها
She kept passing among people until there appeared
So it remained among the people until it was distinguished
among Thaqif, on the upland of al-Ashah, her tents.
As Thaqif with the bleating of goats, its tents
فَطافَthen went around بِهاaround her أَبناءُthe sons of آلِthe house of مُعَتِّبٍMu'attib
فَطافَ بِها أَبناءُ آلِ مُعَتِّبٍ
وَعَزَّand proved difficult عَلَيهِمfor them بَيعُهاbuying her وَاِغتِصابُهاand seizing her
وَعَزَّ عَلَيهِم بَيعُها وَاِغتِصابُها
Then the sons of the house of Mu'attib gathered around her,
The sons of the house of Mu'tib circled it
but buying her and seizing her proved hard for them.
And preventing its sale and seizing it was difficult for them
فَلَمّاand when رَأَواthey saw أَنthat أَحكَمَتهُمshe held them fast وَلَمand not يَكُنit was
فَلَمّا رَأَوا أَن أَحكَمَتهُم وَلَم يَكُن
يَحِلُّis lawful لَهُمfor them إِكراهُهاcoercing her وَغِلابُهاand overpowering her
يَحِلُّ لَهُم إِكراهُها وَغِلابُها
When they saw that she held them fast, and that it was not
When they saw that she had outwitted them and it was not
lawful for them to coerce or overpower her,
Permissible for them to coerce her and overpower her
أَتَوهاthey came to her بِرِبحٍwith a profit حاوَلَتهُshe sought it فَأًصبَحَتso she became
أَتَوها بِرِبحٍ حاوَلَتهُ فَأًصبَحَت
تُكَفَّتُpoured out قَدalready حَلَّتbecame lawful وَساغَand went down smoothly شَرابُهاher draught
تُكَفَّتُ قَد حَلَّت وَساغَ شَرابُها
they brought her the profit she sought; then she was
They came to her with a profitable offer which she attempted so she became
poured out, now lawful, her draught going down smoothly,
On sale having been untied and her drink accessible
بِأَريِwith the honey of الَّتيthose that تَهويdart إِلىto كُلِّevery مُغرِبٍdistant spot
بِأَريِ الَّتي تَهوي إِلى كُلِّ مُغرِبٍ
إِذاwhen اِصفَرَّyellowed ليطُthe skin of الشَمسِthe sun حانَbecame due اِنقِلابُهاtheir return
إِذا اِصفَرَّ ليطُ الشَمسِ حانَ اِنقِلابُها
with honey from those that dart to every distant spot;
To the one who inclines to every setting
when the sun's skin yellows, the hour comes for their return.
When the folds of the sun turn yellow, the time of its departure
بِأَريِwith the honey of الِّتيthat which تَأرِيِgather honey اليَعاسيبُthe bee-leaders أَصبَحَتcame to be
بِأَريِ الِّتي تَأرِيِ اليَعاسيبُ أَصبَحَت
إِلىat شاهِقٍa lofty peak دونَbelow السَماءِthe sky ذُؤابُهاtheir crests
إِلى شاهِقٍ دونَ السَماءِ ذُؤابُها
With honey that the bee-leaders gather; there have come to rest
To the one whose hand the buzzards desire, she became
on a lofty peak beneath the sky, their crests.
Lofty, beneath the sky her peak
جَوارِسُهاtheir foragers تَأرِيِgather honey from الشُعوفَthe mountain peaks دَوائِباًtirelessly
جَوارِسُها تَأرِيِ الشُعوفَ دَوائِباً
وَتَنقَضُّand swoop down أَلهاباًinto clefts مَصيفاًa summer refuge شِعابُهاtheir ravines
وَتَنقَضُّ أَلهاباً مَصيفاً شِعابُها
Their foragers gather honey on the mountain peaks, tirelessly,
Its sentries desire the heights persistently
and swoop into clefts whose ravines are summer haunts.
And swoop down as burning flames on its cliffs
إِذاwhen نَهَضَتthey rise فيهِthere تَصَعَّدَascends نَفرَهاtheir swarm
إِذا نَهَضَت فيهِ تَصَعَّدَ نَفرَها
كَقِترِlike the shafts of الغِلاءِdistance-shooting مُستَدِرّاًpouring steadily صِيابُهاtheir swarming bees
كَقِترِ الغِلاءِ مُستَدِرّاً صِيابُها
When they rise there, their swarm ascends,
When she rises in it, the amount of her departure increases
like shafts in a distance contest, their bees pouring steadily forth.
Like the flow of torrents, the sound of its pouring swelling
تَظَلُّspend the day عَلىupon الثَمراءِfruit-bearing growth مِنهاamong them جَوارِسٌforagers
تَظَلُّ عَلى الثَمراءِ مِنها جَوارِسٌ
مَراضيعُsucklings صُهبُtawny الريشِof feather زُغبٌdowny رِقابُهاtheir necks
مَراضيعُ صُهبُ الريشِ زُغبٌ رِقابُها
Among them, foragers spend the day upon fruit-bearing growth,
Some of its sentries shade the fertile land
sucklings, tawny-plumed, their necks downy.
Nursing the plump-feathered young, necks bent, their collars
فَلَمّاand when رَآهاhe saw them الخالِدِيُّal-Khalidi كَأَنَّهاas though they were
فَلَمّا رَآها الخالِدِيُّ كَأَنَّها
حَصىpebbles الخَذفِfinger-flicking تَكبوtumble مُستَقِلّاًtaking wing إِيابُهاtheir homeward return
حَصى الخَذفِ تَكبو مُستَقِلّاً إِيابُها
When al-Khalidi saw them, as though they were
So when Al-Khalidi saw her like
flicked pebbles, tumbling as their return took wing,
Pebbles thrown forcefully, dodging on its own, its return
أَجَدَّhe pursued earnestly بِهاfor them أَمراًa plan وَأَيقَنَand became certain أَنَّهُthat he
أَجَدَّ بِها أَمراً وَأَيقَنَ أَنَّهُ
لَهاfor them أَوor لِأُخرىfor another place كَالطَحينِlike flour تُرابُهاits dust
لَها أَو لِأُخرى كَالطَحينِ تُرابُها
he formed a determined plan for them, certain that he
He was adamant about her and knew that
was bound for them—or for another place whose dust was like flour.
Either she or another, the dust is her soil
فَقيلَthen it was said تَجَنَّبهاavoid them حَرامُHaram وَراقَهُand delighted him
فَقيلَ تَجَنَّبها حَرامُ وَراقَهُ
ذُراهاtheir heights مُبيناًplainly showing عَرضُهاtheir breadth وَاِنتِصابُهاand their upright rise
ذُراها مُبيناً عَرضُها وَاِنتِصابُها
He was told, “Avoid them, Haram!” Yet he admired
So it was said: "Avoid her, unlawful is the sight of her
their heights, their breadth and sheer rise plainly displayed.
Revealing her is manifest, her display and standing tall"
فَأَعلَقَso he fastened أَسبابَthe ropes of المَنِيَّةِdeath وَاِرتَضىand trusted
فَأَعلَقَ أَسبابَ المَنِيَّةِ وَاِرتَضى
ثُقوفَتَهُhis skill إِنif لَمnot يَخُنهُbetray him اِنقِضابُهاtheir snapping
ثُقوفَتَهُ إِن لَم يَخُنهُ اِنقِضابُها
He fastened the ropes of death, trusting
But he hung the causes of death and was content
his skill, if their snapping did not betray him.
With his ruin if the pulling away of her robes did not fail him
تَدَلّىhe lowered himself عَلَيهاover them بَينَbetween سِبٍّa flaxen rope وَخَيطَةٍand a slender cord
تَدَلّى عَلَيها بَينَ سِبٍّ وَخَيطَةٍ
بِجَرداءَon a bare rock-face مِثلِlike الوَكفِa leather sheet يَكبوstumbles غُرابُهاits crow
بِجَرداءَ مِثلِ الوَكفِ يَكبو غُرابُها
He lowered himself over them between a flaxen rope and a slender cord,
He crept up on her between censure and sin
on a bare rock-face like a leather sheet, where its crow stumbles.
In tattered clothes like the falcon swooping down
فَلَمّاand when اِجتَلاهاhe drove them out بِالإِيامِwith smoke تَحَيَّزَتthey drew aside
فَلَمّا اِجتَلاها بِالإِيامِ تَحَيَّزَت
ثُباتٍin groups عَلَيهاupon them ذُلُّهاtheir abasement وَاِكتِئابُهاand their dejection
ثُباتٍ عَلَيها ذُلُّها وَاِكتِئابُها
When he drove them out with smoke, they withdrew
So when he confronted her with solicitation she withdrew
in groups, humbled and dejected.
In stillness, her humiliation and gloom upon her
فَأَطيِبso how sweet بِراحِthe wine of الشَأمِSyria صِرفاًunmixed وَهذِهِand this
فَأَطيِب بِراحِ الشَأمِ صِرفاً وَهذِهِ
مُعَتَّقَةًaged صَهباءَtawny وَهِيَand it is شِيابُهاits admixture
مُعَتَّقَةً صَهباءَ وَهِيَ شِيابُها
How sweet is Syrian wine, unmixed, and this
So perfume the morning breeze with parting, and here is
aged, tawny honey, which is its admixture!
A gray-feathered thing, and it is her gray hair
فَماso not إِنindeed هُماthe two فيin صَحيفَةٍa bowl بارِقِيَّةٍBariqi
فَما إِن هُما في صَحيفَةٍ بارِقِيَّةٍ
جَديدٍnew حَديثٍrecent نَحتُهاits carving وَاِقتِضابُهاand its cutting
جَديدٍ حَديثٍ نَحتُها وَاِقتِضابُها
Yet the two, in a Bariqi bowl,
They were not together in a glistening parchment
new, its carving and cutting freshly done,
New, recent, carved by him and shortened
بِأَطيَبَany sweeter مِنthan فيهاher mouth إِذاwhen جِئتَyou come طارِقاًas a night visitor
بِأَطيَبَ مِن فيها إِذا جِئتَ طارِقاً
مِنَin اللَيلِthe night وَالتَفَّتand wrapped themselves عَلَيكَaround you ثِيابُهاher garments
مِنَ اللَيلِ وَالتَفَّت عَلَيكَ ثِيابُها
are no sweeter than her mouth, when you come calling
With something better than it, if you come by night
in the night, and her garments enfold you.
And her clothes turn to you
رَأَتنيshe saw me صَريعَfelled by الخَمرِwine يَوماًone day فَسُؤتُهاso I displeased her
رَأَتني صَريعَ الخَمرِ يَوماً فَسُؤتُها
بِقُرّانَat Qurran إِنَّindeed الخَمرَwine شُعثٌdishevelled صِحابُهاits companions
بِقُرّانَ إِنَّ الخَمرَ شُعثٌ صِحابُها
She once saw me struck down by wine, and I displeased her
She saw me once prostrate from wine so she reproached me
at Qurran; wine's companions are indeed dishevelled.
With "Wine is disheveled, unpleasant are its companions"
وَلَوeven if عَثَرَتshe stumbled عِنديin my presence إِذاًthen ماnot لَحَيتُهاI would have reproached her
وَلَو عَثَرَت عِندي إِذاً ما لَحَيتُها
بِعَثرَتِهاfor her stumble وَلاnor اُسيءَI would speak harshly جَوابُهاin answering her
بِعَثرَتِها وَلا اُسيءَ جَوابُها
Even if she had stumbled in my presence, I would not have reproached her
And had she stumbled over me then, I would not have greeted her
for her stumbling, nor given her a harsh reply.
With her stumbling nor responded poorly
وَلاnor هَرَّهاsnarled at her كَلبيmy dog لِيُبعِدَto drive away نَفرَهاher company
وَلا هَرَّها كَلبي لِيُبعِدَ نَفرَها
وَلَوeven if نَبَحَتنيbarked at me بِالشَكاةِin complaint كِلابُهاher dogs
وَلَو نَبَحَتني بِالشَكاةِ كِلابُها
Nor would my dog have snarled at her to drive away her company,
Nor would my dog have startled her to distance her alarm
even if her dogs had barked complaints at me.
Even if her dogs had barked me away
Sol 6.1