سَلِask الأطلالَthe ruins بينَbetween براقِstony tracts of سَلِّيSalli
سَلِ الأطلالَ بينَ براقِ سَلِّي
وبينَand between العُفْرِthe pale sands منamong جرَعِsandy mounds of الرَّغامِal-Ragham
وبينَ العُفْرِ من جرَعِ الرَّغامِ
Ask the ruins between Salli's stony tracts
Ask the ruins between the shining sands
and the pale sands among al-Ragham's sandy mounds.
And between the sand dunes, from the cup of turmoil,
وماand not أبقىhave left الراومِسُthe burying winds كلَّevery قَيظٍsummer
وما أبقى الراومِسُ كلَّ قَيظٍ
ولاnor المُتَهَدِّجاتِthe rumbling clouds منَamong الغَمامِthe clouds
ولا المُتَهَدِّجاتِ منَ الغَمامِ
The burying winds of every summer have left nothing,
What remains of dwellings after every summer heat
nor have the rumbling clouds,
And those who swagger among the clouds,
ولاnor مُعْرَوْرِفٌa towering cloud نشطَتْdrove onward جَنوبٌa south wind
ولا مُعْرَوْرِفٌ نشطَتْ جَنوبٌ
بهِwith it هوجاءُraging منfrom بلدٍa land تَهامِTihami
بهِ هوجاءُ من بلدٍ تَهامِ
nor a towering cloud driven by a south wind
And the howling winds roused by the south wind
raging from a Tihami land,
With violent gusts from a northbound land,
منَof العرَصاتِthe dwelling-sites غيرَexcept مَخَدِّthe furrow of نُؤْيٍan encircling trench
منَ العرَصاتِ غيرَ مَخَدِّ نُؤْيٍ
كباقيlike the remnant of الوحيwriting خُطَّinscribed علىon إمامِa book
كباقي الوحي خُطَّ على إمامِ
of those dwelling-sites except an encircling trench's furrow,
Other than the ruins not warmed by fires at night
like surviving writing inscribed upon a book,
Like remnants of revelation lines on an imam.
وغيرِand other than خوالدٍenduring hearthstones لُوِّحْنَblackened حتىuntil
وغيرِ خوالدٍ لُوِّحْنَ حتى
بهنَّon them علامةٌa mark ليستْis not بشامِa birthmark
بهنَّ علامةٌ ليستْ بشامِ
and enduring hearthstones, blackened until
And other than immortal Khawla, famed until
they bear a mark that is no birthmark.
By them a mark not pointing to Syria.
كأنَّas though بهاthere حماماتٍdoves ثلاثاًthree
كأنَّ بها حماماتٍ ثلاثاً
مثَلْنَstood ولمand did not يطِرْنَfly معَwith الحمامِthe doves
مثَلْنَ ولم يطِرْنَ معَ الحمامِ
As though three doves were there,
As if three pigeons circles above them
standing still, not flying with the other doves.
And flew not with the other pigeons.
بهاat them ارْفَضَّتْburst forth مَساربُthe tear-channels of مُقلتَيْهِhis two eyes
بها ارْفَضَّتْ مَساربُ مُقلتَيْهِ
كماas ارفضَّscattered الفريدُloose pearls منَfrom النظامِthe string
كما ارفضَّ الفريدُ منَ النظامِ
At them, the tear-channels of his eyes burst forth,
Beside them his tears flowed
as loose pearls scatter from their string.
Like the unique one among systems flowed.
جزىmay recompense اللهُGod الغوانيَthe lovely women يومَon the day of قَوٍّQaww
جزى اللهُ الغوانيَ يومَ قَوٍّ
ويومَand on the day لقِيتُهنَّI met them بذيat Dhu سَلامِSalam
ويومَ لقِيتُهنَّ بذي سَلامِ
May God repay the lovely women on the day at Qaww
May God reward the singing girls the day they were firm
and the day I met them at Dhu Salam,
And the day I met them in peaceful Salam,
بماfor how أخلَفْنَنيthey broke their promises to me وطَلَلْنَand nullified دَينيmy due
بما أخلَفْنَني وطَلَلْنَ دَيني
جزاءَwith the recompense of المجرمينَwrongdoers منَamong الأنامِhumankind
جزاءَ المجرمينَ منَ الأنامِ
for breaking their promises to me and denying my due,
With what they disappointed me and ruined my faith,
with the recompense of wrongdoers among humankind.
The reward of the sinful among mankind,
إذاwhenever رَيَّشْنَthey fletched أعيُنُهنَّtheir eyes يوماًone day
إذا رَيَّشْنَ أعيُنُهنَّ يوماً
فلمْthen not يوجدْwas found كإحداهُنَّlike one of them رامِan archer
فلمْ يوجدْ كإحداهُنَّ رامِ
Whenever they fletch their eyes as arrows,
If their eyes shine one day
no archer is found to match any one of them.
And none could be found like any of them erect.
أردْنَthey wanted عشيّةَon the evening of الشَّرْوَيْنِal-Sharwayn قتليto kill me
أردْنَ عشيّةَ الشَّرْوَيْنِ قتلي
ولمْand did not يَرْجَبْنَshrink from سفكَthe shedding of دمٍblood حرامِsacred
ولمْ يَرْجَبْنَ سفكَ دمٍ حرامِ
They wished to kill me on the evening at al-Sharwayn,
They wanted on an evening of drinking to kill me
and did not shrink from shedding sacred blood.
And did not object shedding inviolable blood.
وقُلنَand they said لطفلةٍto a tender young woman منهنَّamong them ليستْwho was not
وقُلنَ لطفلةٍ منهنَّ ليستْ
بمِتفالٍmalodorous ولاnor هَمَشىgarrulous in الكلامِspeech
بمِتفالٍ ولا هَمَشى الكلامِ
They told a tender young woman among them, who was not
And they said to a little girl among them who is
malodorous or garrulous in speech—
Neither endowed with glory nor refined in speech,
يجُولُsways وِشاحُهاher sash قلقاًloosely عليهاupon her
يجُولُ وِشاحُها قلقاً عليها
تَلُوثُshe wraps المِرْطَthe woolen mantle فوقَover نَقاًa sand dune رُكامِheaped up
تَلُوثُ المِرْطَ فوقَ نَقاً رُكامِ
her sash sways loosely upon her;
Her scarf anxiously wandering upon her
she wraps her woolen mantle over a heaped-up dune;
Soiling the carpet above scattered sandalwood.
تَهادىshe sways gracefully ثمَّthen يبهَرُهاleaves her breathless رديفٌan ample rear
تَهادى ثمَّ يبهَرُها رديفٌ
رَباgrown large بتثاقُلِwith the heaviness of القصبِthe limb-bones الفِخامِmassive
رَبا بتثاقُلِ القصبِ الفِخامِ
she sways gracefully, then her ample rear leaves her breathless,
She sways then is awakened by the rhythm
grown heavy with her massive limb-bones;
As if the heavy stalks of sugar cane awakened her.
كأنَّas though الشمسَthe sun سُنَّتُهاher face إذاwhen ماemphasis
كأنَّ الشمسَ سُنَّتُها إذا ما
حلَفْنَthey swore لتُسفِرَنَّshe would surely unveil منَfrom اللِّثامِthe face-veil
حلَفْنَ لتُسفِرَنَّ منَ اللِّثامِ
her face is like the sun whenever
As if their custom when the sun rose
they swear she must lift the face-veil—
Was to unveil from behind the kohl make-up.
أزيديincrease قتلَهُhis killing فرمَتْso she shot فؤاديmy heart
أزيدي قتلَهُ فرمَتْ فؤادي
بنَبلٍwith arrows غيرِnot شاهدةِshowing الكِلامِwounds
بنَبلٍ غيرِ شاهدةِ الكِلامِ
'Slay him still more!' So she shot my heart
Zayidi ‘kill him,’ so she threw my heart
with arrows whose wounds left no visible sign.
With an arrow not witnessing any word.
وماand not اللائيthe women whose عَقيلَتُهنَّtheir choicest woman ريّاRayya
وما اللائي عَقيلَتُهنَّ ريّا
بعَشّاتِfrail in العِظامِbone ولاnor دِمامِugly
بعَشّاتِ العِظامِ ولا دِمامِ
The women whose choicest is Rayya
And she who wiped their skulls neither had
are neither frail of bone nor ugly.
A cot nor blood nor tent ropes.
نُظورةُthe admired one of نِسوةٍwomen مُتعالِماتٍwell-known
نُظورةُ نِسوةٍ مُتعالِماتٍ
يزِدْنَthey surpass علىbeyond المَلاحةِloveliness والوَسامِand comeliness
يزِدْنَ على المَلاحةِ والوَسامِ
She is the admired one among women of renown,
Nuzhah and her women companions competing
who surpass loveliness and comeliness.
In charm and flirt more than all women.
أُلاكَthose القاتلاتُthe slayers بغيرِwithout جُرمٍan offense
أُلاكَ القاتلاتُ بغيرِ جُرمٍ
وماand not يقتلْنَdo they kill غيرَexcept فتىًa youth حُسامِsword-sharp
وما يقتلْنَ غيرَ فتىً حُسامِ
Those are the slayers of the guiltless,
Unjustly killed without crime
and they kill none but a youth keen as a sword.
And they kill none but a young hero.
وقالَand said ببطنِin the hollow of عاجنةٍAjinah رفيقيmy companion
وقالَ ببطنِ عاجنةٍ رفيقي
وعيناهُand his two eyes بأربعةٍwith spring rains سِجامِpouring
وعيناهُ بأربعةٍ سِجامِ
My companion spoke in Ajinah's hollow,
And my companion said in the belly of a slim girl
his two eyes streaming with spring rains.
As his eyes poured on her anklets.
رأىhe saw المَوماةَthe desert waste تَذرَعُهاcrossing it المَهارىthe Mahri camels
رأى المَوماةَ تَذرَعُها المَهارى
بهِwith him والسِّفْرَand the caravan منقطعَsevered الخِطامِthe halter
بهِ والسِّفْرَ منقطعَ الخِطامِ
He saw the waste being measured out by the Mahri camels,
He saw the slave-girls keeping her standing
bearing him, and the caravan with its halter broken loose.
As the caravan cut its leading rope.
وقدand already قلقتْshifted سَفائفُwoven packs مُدْرَجاتٌrolled up
وقد قلقتْ سَفائفُ مُدْرَجاتٌ
كأنَّas though جُرومَهاtheir bulk أرْماثُrafts of قامِreeds
كأنَّ جُرومَها أرْماثُ قامِ
The rolled-up woven packs had shifted,
Disturbed beds as if their legs
their bulk like rafts of reeds.
Were tent poles propping up an enclosure.
أجِدَّكَin earnest ماnot تذكّرُdo you recall بردَthe coolness of خيمٍKhaym
أجِدَّكَ ما تذكّرُ بردَ خيمٍ
بأبطحَin a gravel-bed مُسْهِلٍlevel كِفَفَat the edges of الشُّمامِal-Shumam
بأبطحَ مُسْهِلٍ كِفَفَ الشُّمامِ
'Truly, do you not recall the coolness of Khaym,
I find you don’t recall the cold of tents
in a level gravel-bed along al-Shumam's edges,
In the terrace of a smooth plain fisting winds.
ولاnor البقرُthe wild cows الذيwhich قُصرتْwere reserved عليهِfor it
ولا البقرُ الذي قُصرتْ عليهِ
حِجالُcurtained chambers الأرمنيّةِof Armenian cloth فيin الخيامِthe tents
حِجالُ الأرمنيّةِ في الخيامِ
nor the wild cows for whom were reserved
Nor the cows whose saddles of the Armenian lady
curtained chambers of Armenian cloth within the tents?
Were shortened among the tents.
لهنَّthey have منَof الأراكِarak مُضرّجاتٌreddened toothsticks
لهنَّ منَ الأراكِ مُضرّجاتٌ
ومماand from what اختزْنَthey stored منof قُضُبِtwigs of البَشامِbalsam
ومما اختزْنَ من قُضُبِ البَشامِ
They have reddened toothsticks of arak,
For them are platforms dripping blood
and others stored away from balsam twigs;
And what was hoarded from the paste of perfume.
يمْحِنَthey rub بهِwith it ذُرىtips of برَدٍhail تداعىtumbled down
يمْحِنَ بهِ ذُرى برَدٍ تداعى
بهِwith it المتَهلِّلاتthe gleaming ones منَamong الغمامِthe clouds
بهِ المتَهلِّلات منَ الغمامِ
with them they rub the tips of hailstones showered
They wipe with it the motes of hail collapsing
by the gleaming clouds,
Upon the giggling ones from the clouds.
عشيّةَon the evening of صيِّفٍsummer rain وتَضمَّنتْهُand held it
عشيّةَ صيِّفٍ وتَضمَّنتْهُ
رِهاءٌa broad cloud منfrom عَمايةَAmayah أوor حواميHawami
رِهاءٌ من عَمايةَ أو حوامي
on an evening of summer rain, held
On an evening of summer contained
in a broad cloud from Amayah or Hawami.'
An expanse from a platter or rings.
فذكَرَنيthen he reminded me of لياليَnights صالحاتٍhappy
فذكَرَني لياليَ صالحاتٍ
فأعْدانيand infected me بنُصْبٍwith distress واحتِمامِand worry
فأعْداني بنُصْبٍ واحتِمامِ
He reminded me of happy nights,
Reminding me of righteous nights
and infected me with distress and care.
So they spoke madness and raving.
فقلتُso I said لهُto him تعزَّtake comfort فليسَfor is not هذاthis
فقلتُ لهُ تعزَّ فليسَ هذا
بحينِa time for صبابةٍyearning للمُستهامِfor the love-stricken man
بحينِ صبابةٍ للمُستهامِ
I told him, 'Take comfort; this is not
I said: Be chaste, this isn’t
the time for a love-stricken man's yearning.
The time of youth for the flirtatious.
فلاso do not تجزعْdespair لعلّكَperhaps you بعدَafter شَحطٍseparation
فلا تجزعْ لعلّكَ بعدَ شَحطٍ
تُلِمُّwill visit ولوْeven if يئستَyou have despaired منof اللِّمامِreunion
تُلِمُّ ولوْ يئستَ من اللِّمامِ
Do not despair: perhaps after separation
So do not fret, maybe after rapture
you will meet again, though you despair of reunion.
You will meet me even if you despair of the hopes.
فلستَfor you are not وإنْeven if بكيتَyou weep أشدَّstronger in وجْداًlonging
فلستَ وإنْ بكيتَ أشدَّ وجْداً
ولكنّيbut I امرؤٌam a man ثقتيmy hope أماميahead of me
ولكنّي امرؤٌ ثقتي أمامي
Though you weep, your longing is no stronger than mine,
You will not, even if weeping intensely
but I am a man whose hope lies ahead.'
Be more fervent, but I am a man whose confidence leads me.
فقالَthen he said عصيتَنيyou disobeyed me ولرُبَّand many an ناهٍadmonisher
فقالَ عصيتَني ولرُبَّ ناهٍ
عصيتُI disobeyed ومَهْمهٍand a desert حرَجِdense with القَتامِdust
عصيتُ ومَهْمهٍ حرَجِ القَتامِ
He said, 'You have defied me.' Many an admonisher
He said: you disobeyed me and by the cave of the grower
have I defied, and many a desert thick with dust—
I disobeyed, confused, barely crossing the rugged valley.
كأنَّas though جبالَهُits mountains والآلُand the mirage يطفوfloats
كأنَّ جبالَهُ والآلُ يطفو
علىover أطرافِهاtheir edges قزَعُwisps of الجَهامِrainless cloud
على أطرافِها قزَعُ الجَهامِ
its mountains, while the mirage floats
As if his mountains and family were floating
over their edges, like wisps of rainless cloud.
Upon their edges like cure of ringworm.
كأنَّas though الآبداتِthe wild creatures الرُّبْدِdun-colored فيهِwithin it
كأنَّ الآبداتِ الرُّبْدِ فيهِ
أُلاتُthe ones with الوحفِthick plumage منamong حِزَقِflocks of النِّعامِostriches
أُلاتُ الوحفِ من حِزَقِ النِّعامِ
As though the dun wild creatures within it,
As if the ruins in it
thick-feathered birds from flocks of ostriches,
Were causes of whiteness from ostrich rubbings.
سرحْنَthey went grazing لبلدةٍtoward a land فرفضْنَthen dispersed منهاfrom it
سرحْنَ لبلدةٍ فرفضْنَ منها
مَرابعُهنَّtheir grazing grounds منْamong زمَعِknolls of الكِلامِrugged ground
مَرابعُهنَّ منْ زمَعِ الكِلامِ
had grazed toward a land, then spread out from it,
They travelled to a country but their platforms rejected them
their grazing grounds among rugged knolls;
Severed from the bundle of words.
قوالسُtall stalks of عُنصُلٍsquill أوor طلْعُshoots of شَرْيٍcolocynth
قوالسُ عُنصُلٍ أو طلْعُ شَرْيٍ
بمأتىat the outlet of كلِّevery مندفِعٍflood-channel of نُعامِNu'am
بمأتى كلِّ مندفِعٍ نُعامِ
tall squill stalks or colocynth shoots
Qawwas of gum trees or an ascension of ephemerals
at the outlet of every flood-channel of Nu'am—
To the pasture of every hasty ostrich.
عُناةٌbondmen يبتغونَseeking جنىًa harvest عليهمْupon them
عُناةٌ يبتغونَ جنىً عليهمْ
بِرادٌstriped cloaks منfrom قبائلِthe tribes of آلِthe descendants of حامِHam
بِرادٌ من قبائلِ آلِ حامِ
were bondmen seeking a harvest, wearing
Subjugators seeking spoils from them
striped cloaks, from the tribes descended from Ham.
Refugees from the tribes of the folk of Ham.
يلوحُflashes بهاthere المذَلَّقُthe slender ostrich مِذْرَياهُits two wing-tips
يلوحُ بها المذَلَّقُ مِذْرَياهُ
خروجَlike the emergence of النجمِa star منfrom صلَعِgaps in الغِيامِthe clouds
خروجَ النجمِ من صلَعِ الغِيامِ
The slender ostrich flashes its two wing-tips there,
Its star sparkles as the pleiades withdrawal
like a star emerging through gaps in the clouds.
From the dark clouds.
كأنَّas though شويthe extremities of يدَيهِits two wings جرىflowed عليهاover them
كأنَّ شوي يدَيهِ جرى عليها
نَؤورُtattoo-soot مُشِيطةٍa tattooist إحدىone of جُذامِJudham
نَؤورُ مُشِيطةٍ إحدى جُذامِ
As though over the tips of its two wings had run
As if the wounds upon his hands passed over them
the tattoo-soot of a woman, one of Judham.
The branding by one of the deadly sins.
قطعتُI crossed بذاتِon one possessing ألواحٍbroad bones تَرامىsurges forward
قطعتُ بذاتِ ألواحٍ تَرامى
بَزَوْلٍwith nimble movement لاnot ألفَّclose-thighed ولاnor كَهامِsluggish
بَزَوْلٍ لا ألفَّ ولا كَهامِ
I crossed it on a broad-boned she-camel surging forward,
I crossed amidst boards going far
with nimble movement, neither close-thighed nor sluggish,
Without connection or collectedness.
وشُعثٍand disheveled men أدلجواtraveled by night وغدَواand at dawn وراحواand in the evening
وشُعثٍ أدلجوا وغدَوا وراحوا
علىon عيسٍpale camels مَناسمُهاtheir footpads دَواميbleeding
على عيسٍ مَناسمُها دَوامي
with disheveled men who rode by night, morning, and evening
Dishevelled they rode at night and at daybreak departed
on pale camels whose footpads bled,
Upon a staff whose functions are diverse.
نَجائبَnoble mounts منof نِجارِthe stock of بناتِthe daughters of رُهْمٍRuhm
نَجائبَ من نِجارِ بناتِ رُهْمٍ
كأنَّas though رجالُهنَّtheir riders علىon نَعامِostriches
كأنَّ رجالُهنَّ على نَعامِ
noble mounts of the stock of Ruhm's daughters,
Carpets from the daughters of the soft sand dunes
their riders seeming to ride on ostriches.
As if their men were on ostrich back .
ترىyou see الوهمَthe mighty camel الجُلالَhuge كأنَّas though قاراًpitch
ترى الوهمَ الجُلالَ كأنَّ قاراً
تحدَّرَflowed down منfrom نوابعِهِits sweat-pores الهواميstreaming
تحدَّرَ من نوابعِهِ الهوامي
You see the huge, mighty camel as though pitch
You can see the delusions of awe as if
were streaming from its flowing sweat-pores.
The stars descended from their water springs.
إذاwhen ماemphasis شدَّhe tightened أحبُلَهُits ropes عليهِupon it
إذا ما شدَّ أحبُلَهُ عليهِ
تجافىstood clear حالباهُits two flanks عنِfrom الحِزامِthe girth
تجافى حالباهُ عنِ الحِزامِ
When his ropes are tightened upon him,
If he tightens its reigns upon it
his two flanks stand clear of the girth.
His milkers retreat from the girth strap.
كأنَّas though الرحْلَthe saddle أشرفَrose high منabove قَراهُits back
كأنَّ الرحْلَ أشرفَ من قَراهُ
قراthe ridge of ذاتِone with الوعولِibex منamong الرِّجامِthe boulders
قرا ذاتِ الوعولِ من الرِّجامِ
As though the saddle rising above his back
As if the saddlebags raised from their saddlebags
were the ridge of an ibex-haunted rocky height.
Dens possessing howls from hedgehogs.
وليسَand it is not إذاwhen تُعُرِّمتِare driven hard المطاياthe mounts
وليسَ إذا تُعُرِّمتِ المطايا
بمنكودٍhampered ولاnor مَلِقِweak in العَرامِmettle
بمنكودٍ ولا مَلِقِ العَرامِ
And when the mounts are driven hard, he is not
And when the saddled camels kneel
hampered, nor slack in mettle.
Not humble or muddied by soil.
كأنَّas though هديرَthe bellowing of أعْيَسَa pale bull camel فيamong مخاضٍpregnant she-camels
كأنَّ هديرَ أعْيَسَ في مخاضٍ
وحُولٍand barren she-camels بالمرافضِin the flood-plains منof رؤامِRu'am
وحُولٍ بالمرافضِ من رؤامِ
As though the roar of a pale bull among pregnant camels
As if the neigh of the zebras in labour
and barren ones, in Ru'am's spreading hollows—
And change near the slopes from ostriches.
تَجرَّمَended قيظُهُhis summer وجرَتْand blew عليهِover him
تَجرَّمَ قيظُهُ وجرَتْ عليهِ
رياحُwinds of البردِcold طيّبةَpleasant in النِّسامِtheir breaths
رياحُ البردِ طيّبةَ النِّسامِ
his summer spent, and over him blowing
The summer heat pulled him and the winter winds blew
cold winds with pleasant breaths—
The good smelling breeze.
تَغمغُمُهُhis muffled rumbling إذاwhen المُبْراةُthe nose-ring منهُof his
تَغمغُمُهُ إذا المُبْراةُ منهُ
لوَتْهاtwisted it العُروتانِthe two loops منَof الزِّمامِthe rein
لوَتْها العُروتانِ منَ الزِّمامِ
were his muffled rumbling, when his nose-ring
It murmured when the devoted she camel from him
was twisted by the rein's two loops.
Was tightened by both straps from the bridle.
وتحملُنيand carries me مُوثّقةٌa stoutly built she-camel أمُونٌtrustworthy
وتحملُني مُوثّقةٌ أمُونٌ
تُكلِّفُنيcompel me الهمومَcares إلىtoward الهُمامِthe magnanimous lord
تُكلِّفُني الهمومَ إلى الهُمامِ
A stoutly built, trustworthy she-camel bears me;
And she carries me, secured, trusted
my cares drive me toward the magnanimous lord.
Burdening me with worries leading to glory.
تَزِيفُshe struts إذاwhen المطاياthe mounts واهفَتْهاvie with her
تَزِيفُ إذا المطايا واهفَتْها
كماas زافَstrode proudly المُسَدَّمَthe muzzled bull ذوthe one with الحِجامِthe mouth-band
كما زافَ المُسَدَّمَ ذو الحِجامِ
She struts when the other mounts vie with her,
She limps when the saddle camel became frightened of her
like the proud stride of a muzzled, mouth-banded bull.
Like the branded one limping with the girth sore.
إذاwhen ارفضَّتْstreamed out صوائلُsurges of أخدعَيْهاher two neck-veins
إذا ارفضَّتْ صوائلُ أخدعَيْها
وساقَطَand scattered سَعمُهاher mouth خبَطَclots of اللُّغامِfoam
وساقَطَ سَعمُها خبَطَ اللُّغامِ
When sweat streams from her surging neck-veins,
When the brackets of its cheekbones detached
and her mouth scatters clots of foam,
And its mantle fell tearing the smooth skin.
وسافَهَتِand she defied الزِّمامَthe rein ولاعبَتْهُand played with it
وسافَهَتِ الزِّمامَ ولاعبَتْهُ
بأتلعَwith a long neck مثلlike آسيَةِa pillar الرخامِof marble
بأتلعَ مثل آسيَةِ الرخامِ
and she defies the rein and toys with it,
It lengthened the bridle and played with it
with a lofty neck like a marble pillar,
With most mischievous like the marble.
رأيتَyou saw تدوَّؤاًa swaying gait منfrom ذاتِone possessing لَوثٍstrength
رأيتَ تدوَّؤاً من ذاتِ لَوثٍ
لَحيبِbroad in الصُّلبِthe backbone واريَةَfleshy in السنامِthe hump
لَحيبِ الصُّلبِ واريَةَ السنامِ
you see a swaying gait in a powerful beast,
You would see emergence from the essence of filth
broad of back and fleshy in the hump.
Sticking to the firm saddle and baring the hump.
كأنَّas though قرونَhorns of أوعالٍibex مَذاكٍmature
كأنَّ قرونَ أوعالٍ مَذاكٍ
منَamong الفُدْرِlarge bucks العواقلِclinging to heights فيin شَمامِShamam
منَ الفُدْرِ العواقلِ في شَمامِ
As though the horns of mature ibex,
As if the antlers of the black oryx
great bucks clinging to the heights of Shamam,
From the hemispheres upon turbans.
نَطحْنَbutted مَحالَهاher vertebrae منfrom جانبَيْهِboth its sides
نَطحْنَ مَحالَها من جانبَيْهِ
شِدادَtight in الأسرِbinding فيin طبقٍa layer لُؤامِclosely fitted
شِدادَ الأسرِ في طبقٍ لُؤامِ
had butted her vertebrae on either side,
They gored its sides from both its flanks
firmly bound in a closely fitted layer.
The tightened saddles in a cooking pot.
تراهاyou see her بعدَماafter قلقتْwas shaken قُواهاher strength
تراها بعدَما قلقتْ قُواها
كُلوءَwatchful in العينِthe eye ريِّحةَeasy in البُغامِlowing
كُلوءَ العينِ ريِّحةَ البُغامِ
You see her, after her strength has been shaken,
You see it after tiring its strength
watchful-eyed, easy in her lowing.
Swollen eyes the stench of the mosquito net.
تزورُshe visits المُصطفىthe chosen one عمروَAmr بنson of كعبٍKa'b
تزورُ المُصطفى عمروَ بن كعبٍ
تزورُshe visits أغرَّa radiant man مرتفعَexalted in المقامِstation
تزورُ أغرَّ مرتفعَ المقامِ
She visits the chosen one, Amr son of Ka'b;
Visiting the elect Amr bin Ka’b
she visits a radiant man, exalted in station.
Visiting the most enterprising elevated in glory.
إليهِtoward him دؤوبُهاher toil وإذاand when أتتْهُshe reaches him
إليهِ دؤوبُها وإذا أتتْهُ
أتتْshe reaches بالشامِin al-Sham خيرَthe finest فتىًyouth شآمِof al-Sham
أتتْ بالشامِ خيرَ فتىً شآمِ
Toward him is her toil, and when she reaches him,
To him her persistence and when she came to him
she reaches, in al-Sham, its finest youth.
She came with Syria the best young man from Sham .
أتتْshe reaches مُتطَلِّقاًa welcoming man كِلتاboth يدَيهِhis hands
أتتْ مُتطَلِّقاً كِلتا يدَيهِ
ربيعٌa spring مُمْرِعٌfertile غَدِقُabundant in الرِّهامِgentle rains
ربيعٌ مُمْرِعٌ غَدِقُ الرِّهامِ
She reaches a welcoming man, whose two hands
Came freely both her hands
are a fertile spring, abundant in gentle rains.
A plentiful spring pouring rainwater.
معاويّاًa Mu'awiyan منَthrough الأثرَيْنِboth ancestral lines تنميyou trace your descent
معاويّاً منَ الأثرَيْنِ تنمي
إلىto عاديّةِancient الحِسَبِancestral honor التِّمامِcomplete
إلى عاديّةِ الحِسَبِ التِّمامِ
A Mu'awiyan through both ancestral lines, you rise
Mu’awiya from the noble of lineages
to ancient and consummate nobility of ancestry.
Reached the peak of glorious lineage.
فتىًa youth لاnot يمنعُwithholds المعروفَkindness منهُfrom him
فتىً لا يمنعُ المعروفَ منهُ
تَبسُّلُthe harshness of شَتوَةٍa winter ومحِلُّand the drought of عامِa year
تَبسُّلُ شَتوَةٍ ومحِلُّ عامِ
A youth whose kindness is not held back
A young man who does not prevent kindness from him
by winter's harshness or a year's drought.
Smiling winter and filled years.
وماand not مَدُّthe flood of الفراتِthe Euphrates إذاwhen تسامىrises high
وما مَدُّ الفراتِ إذا تسامى
بموجٍwith waves ذيhaving قَصيفٍa crashing roar والتِطامِand collision
بموجٍ ذي قَصيفٍ والتِطامِ
Nor is the Euphrates in flood, when it rises
The flooding Euphrates when it rose high
with crashing, colliding waves,
Is not more abundant than you greetings if
بأغزرَmore abundant منكَthan you نافلةًin bounty إذاwhen ماemphasis
بأغزرَ منكَ نافلةً إذا ما
تحادبَhump up ظهْرَthe back of جارفةٍa sweeping flood أُزامِsurges
تحادبَ ظهْرَ جارفةٍ أُزامِ
more abundant in bounty than you, when
It skimmed the surface of a deep pool
surges hump the back of a sweeping flood.
Or rose at the brink of a dam.
ولاnor وردٌa tawny lion بلحظةَat Lahzah أوor بتَرْجٍat Tarj
ولا وردٌ بلحظةَ أو بتَرْجٍ
منَamong المُتوهِّساتِthose prowling دُجىthe dark of الظلامِdarkness
منَ المُتوهِّساتِ دُجى الظلامِ
Nor is a tawny lion at Lahzah or Tarj,
Nor roses in a glimpse or on a meadow
one of those that prowl the darkness of night—
Of the giggling ones the darkness of night.
حمىhe guarded أجَماتِهِhis thickets فتُركْنَso they were left قفراًdeserted
حمى أجَماتِهِ فتُركْنَ قفراً
وأحمىand made inviolate ماwhat أحالَhe occupied علىupon الإجامِthe thickets
وأحمى ما أحالَ على الإجامِ
guarding his thickets till they are left deserted,
It left his tribal lands empty and protected
making inviolate whatever thicket he occupies;
What diverted to migration.
تطايرَscattered منwhoever يليهِwas near him ومنand whoever يليهاwas near them
تطايرَ من يليهِ ومن يليها
تَطايُرَهمْas they scattered منfrom اللَّجبِthe clamorous اللُّهامِdevouring host
تَطايُرَهمْ من اللَّجبِ اللُّهامِ
those near him and near them scatter
Those in front and behind fled from it
as they scatter before a clamorous, devouring host;
Their flight from before the powerful onslaught.
وماand not ينفكُّdoes he cease يسحبُdragging كلَّevery يومٍday
وما ينفكُّ يسحبُ كلَّ يومٍ
قتيلاًone slain منof رجالٍmen أوor سَوامِgrazing livestock
قتيلاً من رجالٍ أو سَوامِ
and he never ceases dragging off each day
And it does not cease to drag every day
a slain man or grazing beast.
A slain man from men or venomous snakes.
كأنَّas though أسنّةًspearheads ذُلقتْwere sharpened فلمّاthen when
كأنَّ أسنّةً ذُلقتْ فلمّا
تلمَّظlicked its lips كلُّevery مُلتهبٍfiery beast هُذامِrending
تلمَّظ كلُّ مُلتهبٍ هُذامِ
As though spearheads had been sharpened, and when
As if tongues were sharpened then when
each fiery, rending beast licked its lips,
It blazed each enflamed became embers.
عطفْنَthey curved خوارجاًprotruding منfrom أهرَتَيْهِhis two wide mouth-corners
عطفْنَ خوارجاً من أهرَتَيْهِ
محيطاتٍencircling بمَنخرِهِhis nostril الضُّخامِenormous
محيطاتٍ بمَنخرِهِ الضُّخامِ
they curved out from his two wide mouth-corners,
Diverting Kharijites from its two springs
encircling his enormous nostril—
Surrounding its wide nostrils.
بأنجدَmore valiant سَورةًin attack منthan كلِّevery يومٍday
بأنجدَ سَورةً من كلِّ يومٍ
كأنَّas though أجيجَهُhis roar سَنَنُthe onrush of الضِّرامِblazing fire
كأنَّ أجيجَهُ سَنَنُ الضِّرامِ
more valiant in his charge than you on any day,
With more cutting in every day
his roar like the headlong rush of flames.
As if its rumbling was the clanking of shields.
Sol 6.1