ياO دارَdwelling of أَسماءَAsma قَدhas أَقوتbecome deserted بِأَنشاجِat Anshaj
يا دارَ أَسماءَ قَد أَقوت بِأَنشاجِ
كَالوَشمِlike the tattoo أَوor كَإِمامِlike the guide line الكاتِبِof the writer الهاجيspelling out letters
كَالوَشمِ أَو كَإِمامِ الكاتِبِ الهاجي
O dwelling of Asma, you have lain deserted at Anshaj.
Like a tattoo, or the guiding line of a writer spelling out letters.
فَكَلُّand every أَمعَزَstony tract مِنهاof it غَيرwithout ذيpossessing وَحَجٍbrightness
فَكَلُّ أَمعَزَ مِنها غَير ذي وَحَجٍ
وَكلّand every دارةcircular hollow هَجلٍopen plain ذاتِhaving أَوحاجِwinding paths
وَكلّ دارة هَجلٍ ذاتِ أَوحاجِ
Every stony tract of it has lost its brightness,
And every open hollow with its winding paths.
أَودىswept away بِهاover it كُلُّevery رَجّافِrumbling cloud الضّحىof noon هَزِمٍpouring rain
أَودى بِها كُلُّ رَجّافِ الضّحى هَزِمٍ
وَعاصِفٍand a gusting wind لِنُخالِthrough the fine particles التُربِof dust نَسّاجِweaving
وَعاصِفٍ لِنُخالِ التُربِ نَسّاجِ
Every rumbling noon cloud has swept over it,
And a wind that weaves through the fine dust.
فَماand nothing يَبينُappears بِهاthere إِلّاexcept مَعارِفُهاits familiar marks
فَما يَبينُ بِها إِلّا مَعارِفُها
كَالحبرِlike ink فيin زُبُرٍbooks لَيسَتnot بِأَمحاجِrubbed away
كَالحبرِ في زُبُرٍ لَيسَت بِأَمحاجِ
Nothing of it can be seen except its familiar marks,
Like ink in books whose writing has not been rubbed away.
وَقَدand once تُلاقيyou might meet بِهاthere أَسماءُAsma مسقَبةًnearby
وَقَد تُلاقي بِها أَسماءُ مسقَبةً
وَالدَهرُand time فيin جِدَّةfreshness مِنهُfrom it وَإبهاجِand delight
وَالدَهرُ في جِدَّة مِنهُ وَإبهاجِ
Once Asma could be met there, close by,
When life was fresh and full of delight.
إِنّيindeed I عَنانيam burdened by وُدادٌaffection بَينَناbetween us نَشِبthat took hold
إِنّي عَناني وُدادٌ بَينَنا نَشِب
بِلاwithout قَضاءِfulfillment of لُباناتِlongings وَلاnor حاجِneeds
بِلا قَضاءِ لُباناتِ وَلا حاجِ
A love that took hold between us has burdened me,
Though neither longing nor need was fulfilled.
أَيّامَin the days when أَسماءُAsma رُعبوبٌwas slender خَدلّجةٌand softly formed
أَيّامَ أَسماءُ رُعبوبٌ خَدلّجةٌ
كَصعدةlike a straight reed الغابِof the thicket فيamid نَجلٍluxuriant growth وَإِدراجِand fullness
كَصعدة الغابِ في نَجلٍ وَإِدراجِ
In the days when Asma was slender and softly formed,
Like a straight reed amid luxuriant growth.
مِنamong السِمانِthe full-figured الخِماصِslim-waisted الغيدِgraceful women مالِئةfilling
مِن السِمانِ الخِماصِ الغيدِ مالِئة
لِلعَينِthe eye فيwith طُرَّةٍa brow كَالشَمسِlike the sun مِنهاجِradiant
لِلعَينِ في طُرَّةٍ كَالشَمسِ مِنهاجِ
She was among the graceful women, full in form and slim at the waist,
A delight to the eye, her radiant brow like the sun.
وَشربةٍand a draught مِنof شَرابٍdrink غَيرِwithout ذيany نَفَسٍbreath
وَشربةٍ مِن شَرابٍ غَيرِ ذي نَفَسٍ
فيamid صرةٍa cluster مِنof نجومِstars القيظِof summer heat وَهّاجِblazing
في صرةٍ مِن نجومِ القيظِ وَهّاجِ
And a draught of drink, untouched by breath,
Beneath a cluster of blazing summer stars.
سَقَيتُهاI gave her drink صادِياًwhile thirsty تَهويstraining toward مَسامِعُهُhis ears
سَقَيتُها صادِياً تَهوي مَسامِعُهُ
قَدhe had ظَنَّthought أَنthat لَيسَthere was no مِنamong أَصحابِهِhis companions ناجِsurvivor
قَد ظَنَّ أَن لَيسَ مِن أَصحابِهِ ناجِ
I gave her drink while thirsty, his ears straining toward the sound;
He thought none of his companions would survive.
إِذwhen الشَبابُyouth بِهاwas with her وَالحُسنُand beauty فيin نَهَرٍa river
إِذ الشَبابُ بِها وَالحُسنُ في نَهَرٍ
مِنَof المَعيشَةِlife حُلوsweet الطَعمof taste ثَجّاجِabundant
مِنَ المَعيشَةِ حُلو الطَعم ثَجّاجِ
For youth was with her, and beauty flowed
Through a life sweet to taste and abundant.
تَقاوَدَتthey hung down غَمَماًlike clouds حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen رَضيَتshe was content
تَقاوَدَت غَمَماً حَتّى إِذا رَضيَت
طالَتthey lengthened عَلَيهِنَّover them طولاًin length غيرَwithout مجماجِdisorder
طالَت عَلَيهِنَّ طولاً غيرَ مجماجِ
Her locks hung in clouds until, when she was content,
They fell long over her, free of disorder.
تَعمىlose their way المَداريthe combs فيin جَونthe darkness غَدائِرهof her tresses
تَعمى المَداري في جَون غَدائِره
وَحفُthick النَباتِof growth لدُهنِwith oil البانِof ben مجّاجِglistening
وَحفُ النَباتِ لدُهنِ البانِ مجّاجِ
The combs lose their way in the darkness of her tresses,
Thick-growing hair, glistening with oil of ben.
وَالعَينُand the eyes وَالجيدُand the neck مِنfrom ظَبيa gazelle أَعارَهُماthat lent them
وَالعَينُ وَالجيدُ مِن ظَبي أَعارَهُما
أَسماءَto Asma رِئمٌa white antelope أَلوفaccustomed to الظلِّthe shade مِخراجِmoving out
أَسماءَ رِئمٌ أَلوف الظلِّ مِخراجِ
Her eyes and neck were borrowed from a gazelle:
A white antelope, at home in shade, lent them to Asma.
تَفتَرُّshe smiles to show عَنdaisies أُقحُوانٍat dawn صُبحَafter a night rain سارِيَةٍthat traveled by night
تَفتَرُّ عَن أُقحُوانٍ صُبحَ سارِيَةٍ
أَضحىthat became بِرابِيَةٍon a hill فَيحاءَbroad مِئراجِgently rising
أَضحى بِرابِيَةٍ فَيحاءَ مِئراجِ
She smiles to show daisies at dawn after a night rain,
Blooming on a broad, gently rising hill.
كَأَنَّas though ريقَتَهاher saliva بَعدafter الكَرىsleep اِغتَبَقَتhad taken an evening drink
كَأَنَّ ريقَتَها بَعد الكَرى اِغتَبَقَت
ماءَjuice العَناقيدِof grapes مَمزوجاًmixed بِأَثلاجِwith snow
ماءَ العَناقيدِ مَمزوجاً بِأَثلاجِ
As though her mouth, after sleep, had taken an evening draught
Of grape juice mixed with snow.
أَسماءُAsma ذلِكَthat ماwhich أَسماءُAsma جانِبُهاher side
أَسماءُ ذلِكَ ما أَسماءُ جانِبُها
عَنfrom الدَنِيِّthe base man بِأَغلاقٍwith locks وَأَشراجِand bolts
عَن الدَنِيِّ بِأَغلاقٍ وَأَشراجِ
That is Asma: her manner keeps
The base man away behind locks and bolts.
تَنفيshe casts off اللِثامَthe veil عَلىdespite ماwhat فيis in اللِثامthe veil كَماjust as
تَنفي اللِثامَ عَلى ما في اللِثام كَما
يَنفيhe rejects الزُيوفَcounterfeit coins عَزيزٌa mighty ruler عاقِدُwearing التاجِthe crown
يَنفي الزُيوفَ عَزيزٌ عاقِدُ التاجِ
She lifts her veil, despite what the veil conceals, just as
A crowned ruler rejects counterfeit coins.
سَقياًmay rain fall لِأَسماءَfor Asma وَاِخضَرَّتand may turn green مَراتِعُهاher pastures
سَقياً لِأَسماءَ وَاِخضَرَّت مَراتِعُها
وَيلwoe to اِمّهاher mother غُنمُa prize ذيfor one with وَفرwealth وَمُحتاجِand the needy
وَيل اِمّها غُنمُ ذي وَفر وَمُحتاجِ
May Asma be given rain, and may her pastures turn green;
She is a prize to the wealthy and the needy alike.
عَلىdespite نَوىa distance مِنfrom نَواهاher departure لاthat does not يُلائِمُناsuit us
عَلى نَوى مِن نَواها لا يُلائِمُنا
وَالنَوءُand the rain-bearing star يُخلفُfails مِنهاfrom her بَعدafter إِبلاجِdaybreak
وَالنَوءُ يُخلفُ مِنها بَعد إِبلاجِ
Though her departure has placed a distance between us,
And the promised rain from her fails after dawn.
ياO صاحِبَيَّmy two companions اِنظُراlook هَلwhether تُؤنِسانyou two can make out لَناfor us
يا صاحِبَيَّ اِنظُرا هَل تُؤنِسان لَنا
بَينbetween العَقيقِal-Aqiq وَأَوطاسٍand Awtas مِنَany اِحداجِcamel litters
بَين العَقيقِ وَأَوطاسٍ مِنَ اِحداجِ
O my two companions, look: can you make out for us
Any camel litters between al-Aqiq and Awtas?
غَدَونَthey departed مِنfrom حُجبِthe shelters الجَونَينof the two dark hills أَوor حُقبٍHuqb
غَدَونَ مِن حُجبِ الجَونَين أَو حُقبٍ
عَلىon عَناجيجpowerful mounts أَمثالٍresembling كَالابراجِlike towers
عَلى عَناجيج أَمثالٍ كَالابراجِ
They set out from the shelter of the two dark hills, or from Huqb,
On powerful mounts looming like towers.
أَسماءُAsma بانَتdeparted وَلَمand did not تُنجِزfulfill مَواعِدَهاher promises
أَسماءُ بانَت وَلَم تُنجِز مَواعِدَها
وَلمand did not تُنِلكَgrant you مَواعيداًpromised meetings مِنَof اِعناجِapproach
وَلم تُنِلكَ مَواعيداً مِنَ اِعناجِ
Asma has gone and has not fulfilled her promises,
Nor granted you the meetings she promised.
فَسَلِّso loosen أَسبابَthe ties شَوقٍof longing مِنfrom مَوَدَّتهاher affection
فَسَلِّ أَسبابَ شَوقٍ مِن مَوَدَّتها
بِباقِلِwith one of long teeth النابِlike a great ship كَالقرقورِstriding swiftly وَسّاجِweaving along
بِباقِلِ النابِ كَالقرقورِ وَسّاجِ
So loosen the ties of longing for her affection
With a long-toothed mount, striding like a great ship.
جَمُّbroad المَقَذِّbehind the ears أَسيلsmooth الخَطمof muzzle متَّسقٌwell proportioned
جَمُّ المَقَذِّ أَسيل الخَطم متَّسقٌ
مُحتَجِبٌheld firm جانِباهُits two flanks غَيرُnot مِدراجِstumbling
مُحتَجِبٌ جانِباهُ غَيرُ مِدراجِ
Broad behind the ears, smooth of muzzle and well proportioned,
Its flanks held firm, its gait never stumbling.
لاعٍeager يَكادُalmost خَفيضُa light النَقرِtap يُفرِطُهُsends it rushing
لاعٍ يَكادُ خَفيضُ النَقرِ يُفرِطُهُ
مُستَربعٍrestless لِسُرىfor night travel الموماةِacross the waste هَيّاجِexcited
مُستَربعٍ لِسُرى الموماةِ هَيّاجِ
So eager that even a light tap nearly sends it racing,
Restless for night travel across the empty waste.
يُرضيكَit pleases you عَفواًeasily فَإِنbut if رَفَّعتَyou urge it up هزَّتهit is stirred
يُرضيكَ عَفواً فَإِن رَفَّعتَ هزَّته
رفَّعتَyou raise مِنfrom رِبَذِswift التَبغيلِambling هِملاجِa smooth-gaited one
رفَّعتَ مِن رِبَذِ التَبغيلِ هِملاجِ
It pleases you at an easy pace; urge it on and it surges,
Swift in its raised, ambling stride.
عَلىon مَراديَlegs سَمحاتٍwilling أَنِفنَthat carried proudly بِهِhim
عَلى مَراديَ سَمحاتٍ أَنِفنَ بِهِ
وَجُؤجُؤٍand a chest مائِرِrippling الضَبعَينِat the shoulders مَوّاجِsurging
وَجُؤجُؤٍ مائِرِ الضَبعَينِ مَوّاجِ
On willing legs that bear it proudly,
With a chest whose shoulders ripple as it moves.
مُقارِبٌdrawing its steps together حينَwhen يَحزَوزيit gathers itself عَلىon جَدَدٍlevel ground
مُقارِبٌ حينَ يَحزَوزي عَلى جَدَدٍ
رسلٍgently بِمُعتَلِجاتِthrough shifting الرَملِsand غَوّاجِwinding
رسلٍ بِمُعتَلِجاتِ الرَملِ غَوّاجِ
It draws its steps together on level ground
And winds smoothly through shifting sand.
يوليit leaves behind الشَليلthe saddle cloth وَماthough not مَسَّتtouched وَليّتهُits hind part
يولي الشَليل وَما مَسَّت وَليّتهُ
مُوثَّقاًfirmly built ذاpossessing كَراديسٍlarge joints وَأَثباجِand strong backs
مُوثَّقاً ذا كَراديسٍ وَأَثباجِ
It leaves its saddle cloth behind, though no hindrance touches it,
Firmly built, with sturdy joints and back.
كَأَنَّماas though الرَحلُthe saddle مِنهُon it فَوقabove مُبتَقِلٍa grazing one
كَأَنَّما الرَحلُ مِنهُ فَوق مُبتَقِلٍ
مُكدِّحٍtoiling علجانَthrough the dark stretches اللَيلِof night مَعّاجِtwisting
مُكدِّحٍ علجانَ اللَيلِ مَعّاجِ
Its saddle seems perched upon a grazing animal
That labors and twists through the dark of night.
يُصَدِّعُmark it العُونَthe seasoned beasts أَندابُscars العُلوجِof handlers بِهِon it
يُصَدِّعُ العُونَ أَندابُ العُلوجِ بِهِ
قَضىit spent الرَبيعthe spring بِتعداءٍin running وَتَشحاجِand calling
قَضى الرَبيع بِتعداءٍ وَتَشحاجِ
Scars from rough handlers mark the seasoned beast;
It has spent the spring running and calling.
شَدَّتstrengthened مُنازَلَةُcontests الأَقرانِwith equals مِرَّتَهُits resolve
شَدَّت مُنازَلَةُ الأَقرانِ مِرَّتَهُ
وَحَوزand winning ماwhat حازَit won منfrom فَذّsingle ones وَأَفواجِand herds
وَحَوز ما حازَ من فَذّ وَأَفواجِ
Contests with its equals have strengthened its resolve,
As have the solitary prizes and the herds it has won.
فَاِقوَرَّso drew in لاحِقُهُits flanks قبّاًhollow أَياطِلُهُits sides
فَاِقوَرَّ لاحِقُهُ قبّاً أَياطِلُهُ
خاظيstrong الخَصائِلِin the limbs نَهدٌhigh-standing غَيرُwithout مجماجِweakness
خاظي الخَصائِلِ نَهدٌ غَيرُ مجماجِ
Its lean flanks draw in beneath a hollow belly;
Strong in its limbs, it stands high and sound.
ظَلَّit spent the day بِدَوٍّin a wilderness مِنَof الرَنقاءِal-Ranqa يَلفَحُهُscorching it
ظَلَّ بِدَوٍّ مِنَ الرَنقاءِ يَلفَحُهُ
نَفحُthe blast السَمومِof hot wind وَإلفَيهِand its two companions بِأَلفاجِin clefts
نَفحُ السَمومِ وَإلفَيهِ بِأَلفاجِ
It spent the day in a stony wilderness, scorched
By gusts of hot wind, with its companions among the clefts.
يَعصِبنَthey gather around أَلمىa dark-lipped one قَضيفاًslender مِنfrom تَناصُبِهاtheir facing one another
يَعصِبنَ أَلمى قَضيفاً مِن تَناصُبِها
فيon يَومِa day نَجمٍof a star مِنَof الجَوزاءِGemini وَهّاجِblazing
في يَومِ نَجمٍ مِنَ الجَوزاءِ وَهّاجِ
They gathered round a dark-lipped, slender one as they stood facing each other
On a day when a star of Gemini blazed.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen حَلَّsettled شَرقِيٌّan east wind عَساكِرَهُits ranks
حَتّى إِذا حَلَّ شَرقِيٌّ عَساكِرَهُ
ماnothing فيin قَوادِمِthe front edges سِقطَيهof his two wings مِنof اِفراجِseparation
ما في قَوادِمِ سِقطَيه مِن اِفراجِ
Until an east wind settled its ranks upon him,
Leaving no space between his forward wings.
وَقَدand he had تَذَكَّرَremembered عِدّاًa watering place مِنfrom أَباطِنِهِits inner hollows
وَقَد تَذَكَّرَ عِدّاً مِن أَباطِنِهِ
مُستَورِداًapproaching water ذاhaving عَلاجيمٍdeep pools وَدَرّاجِand paths
مُستَورِداً ذا عَلاجيمٍ وَدَرّاجِ
He remembered a watering place deep in the hollows,
A place he would approach, with its pools and paths.
مِنَfrom الأَباطنِthe inner hollows أَسراهُhis night journeys ذَويwith هِزَمٍroaring waters
مِنَ الأَباطنِ أَسراهُ ذَوي هِزَمٍ
مَجَلجلٍgurgling قَرِدِmatted الأَسناءِwith surface growth نَشّاحِseeping
مَجَلجلٍ قَرِدِ الأَسناءِ نَشّاحِ
In those hollows his night journeys led him to roaring waters,
Gurgling over matted growth and seeping through.
فَاِحتازَso he drew aside بَيضاءَa white one مِثلَlike السَحلfine cloth مانِعَةًguarding
فَاِحتازَ بَيضاءَ مِثلَ السَحل مانِعَةً
ماwhat تَحتَويهِshe carried قَدِalready اِعتَلَّتhad begun labor بِإِرتاجِwith constriction
ما تَحتَويهِ قَدِ اِعتَلَّت بِإِرتاجِ
He drew aside a white one, pale as fine cloth, guarding
What she carried, though labor had begun.
قَدalready شَفَّهاwore her thin خُلُقٌhardship مِنهٌfrom him وَقَدand already قَفِلتshe turned back
قَد شَفَّها خُلُقٌ مِنهٌ وَقَد قَفِلت
عَلىtoward مِلاحٍfair ones كَلَونِlike the color المِشقof reddish clay أَمشاجِmottled
عَلى مِلاحٍ كَلَونِ المِشق أَمشاجِ
Hardship had worn her thin, and she had turned back
Toward calves of mottled, reddish color.
كَأَنَّas though صَوتَthe sound حُداهاof her driving cry وَالقَرينُand her companion بِهِwith it
كَأَنَّ صَوتَ حُداها وَالقَرينُ بِهِ
تَرجيعُthe repeated song مُغتَرِبٍof an exile نَشوانَdrunk لَجلاجِstammering
تَرجيعُ مُغتَرِبٍ نَشوانَ لَجلاجِ
The sound of her urging call, with her companion beside her,
Was like the wavering song of a homesick, drunken man.
نَعبُthe cries الأَشاهيبِof gray ones فَالأَخبارُand the reports مَجمَعُهاtheir gathering place
نَعبُ الأَشاهيبِ فَالأَخبارُ مَجمَعُها
وَاللَيلُand the night ساقِطَهٌlowering أَرواقُهُits horns داجِdark
وَاللَيلُ ساقِطَهٌ أَرواقُهُ داجِ
The cries of the gray ones joined their calls,
While the dark night lowered its horns.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماindeed إِيالاتٌfemales جَرَتran بُرحاًfar
حَتّى إِذا ما إِيالاتٌ جَرَت بُرحاً
وَقَدand already رَبَعنَthey lifted الشوىtheir feet مِنfrom ماطِرsurging rainwater ماجِswelling
وَقَد رَبَعنَ الشوى مِن ماطِر ماجِ
Until, when the females ran far
And lifted their feet through surging rainwater,
صَلاهُماhe pressed after them both هَزِجٌa lively one هِزٌّstrong خَصائِلُهُhis limbs
صَلاهُما هَزِجٌ هِزٌّ خَصائِلُهُ
سيماthe mark الجَوادِof a fine horse عَلَيهِupon him الخانِفfleet-footed الناجيswift
سيما الجَوادِ عَلَيهِ الخانِف الناجي
A lively, strong-limbed male pressed after the two;
The mark of a swift, fleet-footed courser was on him.
كَأَنَّهُas though he وهُماwhile the two لاdid not يَثنيانِturn لَهُtoward him
كَأَنَّهُ وهُما لا يَثنيانِ لَهُ
أَعطافَtheir sides مُنكَفَتيturned away هيجٍfrom tumult وَإِمجاجِand spitting
أَعطافَ مُنكَفَتي هيجٍ وَإِمجاجِ
He seemed to fly while the two did not turn
Their bodies back toward the clamor behind them.
يامومُa tawny female صَحماءbrownish مُحمرّreddish مخدَّمُهاher lower legs
يامومُ صَحماء مُحمرّ مخدَّمُها
كَأَنَّماas though عُطِفتَyou folded خَزّاًvelvet بِديباجِwith brocade
كَأَنَّما عُطِفتَ خَزّاً بِديباجِ
A tawny female, with reddish lower legs,
Looked as though velvet were folded into brocade.
بانَتshe remained بِمَنزِلَةٍin a place هَولٍof terror عَلىon حَذَرٍguard
بانَت بِمَنزِلَةٍ هَولٍ عَلى حَذَرٍ
حَتّىuntil الصَباحِmorning وَماand did not هَمَّتintend بِإِدلاجِnight travel
حَتّى الصَباحِ وَما هَمَّت بِإِدلاجِ
She stayed at a fearful place, watchful
Until morning, with no thought of setting out by night.
ثُمَّthen اِغتَدَتshe set out at dawn وَغَداand went out نِزُّa persistent one مُلازِمهاfollowing her
ثُمَّ اِغتَدَت وَغَدا نِزُّ مُلازِمها
إِصعادُهُhis climbing كَهَواهُlike his desire راهِبٌfearful راجيhopeful
إِصعادُهُ كَهَواهُ راهِبٌ راجي
Then she set off at dawn, and her persistent companion followed;
He climbed as his desire led him, fearful yet hopeful.
يَرجوhe hopes for مَراتِعَهُhis grazing grounds مِنfrom عازِبٍa distant place أَنِقٍpleasant
يَرجو مَراتِعَهُ مِن عازِبٍ أَنِقٍ
آثارَtracks مُرتَجزٍof a rumbling one حَيرانَbewildered لَجلاجِstammering
آثارَ مُرتَجزٍ حَيرانَ لَجلاجِ
He hoped for distant, pleasant grazing grounds
Along the tracks of a rumbling, bewildered wanderer.
أَوor خائِفٌfearful لَحِماًflesh-hungry شاكاًsharp بَراثِنهُits claws
أَو خائِفٌ لَحِماً شاكاً بَراثِنهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though it قاطِمٌwere clenching وَقفَينِtwo points مِنof عاجِivory
كَأَنَّهُ قاطِمٌ وَقفَينِ مِن عاجِ
Or he feared a flesh-hungry creature with sharp claws,
Like two ivory points clenched together.
ماthey kept زِلنَpressing onward يَنسُبنَin the dim hours وَهناًevery كُلَّfaithful one صادِقَةٍof them
ما زِلنَ يَنسُبنَ وَهناً كُلَّ صادِقَةٍ
باتَتspent the night تُباشِرُtouching عُرماًrugged ground غَيرَapart from أَزواجِmates
باتَت تُباشِرُ عُرماً غَيرَ أَزواجِ
They kept pressing onward through the dim hours, each faithful one
Having spent the night among rugged places apart from her mates.
حَتّىuntil سَلَكنَthey passed الشوىtheir feet مِنهُنَّamong them فيinto مَسكٍa dark thicket
حَتّى سَلَكنَ الشوى مِنهُنَّ في مَسكٍ
مِنfrom نَسلthe offspring جَوّابَةِof a wide-ranging one الآفاقِacross horizons مِهداجِtireless
مِن نَسل جَوّابَةِ الآفاقِ مِهداجِ
Until their feet passed into a dark thicket
Of the offspring of a far-ranging, tireless mother.
يَنحازُdraws aside منهنَّfrom them فيهِthere أُمَّةٌa band خُلِقَتformed
يَنحازُ منهنَّ فيهِ أُمَّةٌ خُلِقَت
حُذّاًswift مُذَبَّحةٌwith exposed throats مِنهاof them بِأَوداجِat the jugulars
حُذّاً مُذَبَّحةٌ مِنها بِأَوداجِ
Some of them drew aside there, a band shaped
For swiftness, their throats exposed.
يَجزمنَهُthey cross it فيamong قَناreeds جوفٍhollow عَلىat أَفَدٍspeed
يَجزمنَهُ في قَنا جوفٍ عَلى أَفَدٍ
ثَنيٍa slope جَميعٍcontinuous نِهاجٍwell-worn غَيرِwithout أَفلاجِbreaks
ثَنيٍ جَميعٍ نِهاجٍ غَيرِ أَفلاجِ
They crossed it among hollow reeds at speed,
Over a continuous, well-worn slope without breaks.
وَهُنَّand they بِالعَينِin sight مِنof ذيone صارِخٍcrying out لَجبٍloudly
وَهُنَّ بِالعَينِ مِن ذي صارِخٍ لَجبٍ
هَولٍterrifying وَنَوّاحةٍand a wailer بِالمَوتِwith death مِرجاجِshaking
هَولٍ وَنَوّاحةٍ بِالمَوتِ مِرجاجِ
They could see a loud, terrifying cryer
And a wailer whose cry shook with death.
شَدَّتtightened مطاthe stride عَرَبِيّof an Arabian غَيرِwithout ذيany عُقَدٍhindrance
شَدَّت مطا عَرَبِيّ غَيرِ ذي عُقَدٍ
مُقارِبٍmoving smoothly كَنَساentering cover اليَعفورِof a young deer حِملاجِambling
مُقارِبٍ كَنَسا اليَعفورِ حِملاجِ
An unencumbered Arabian tightened his mount's stride,
Moving smoothly, like a young deer entering cover.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماindeed قَضَينَthey completed النَحبَthe desperate course وَاِنصَرَفَتand turned
حَتّى إِذا ما قَضَينَ النَحبَ وَاِنصَرَفَت
أَبصارُهُنَّtheir eyes عَلىtoward طَخياءَa dark shape كَالساجِlike ebony
أَبصارُهُنَّ عَلى طَخياءَ كَالساجِ
Until they had fulfilled their desperate course, and their eyes turned
Toward a dark shape like ebony.
شاكَتshe pricked رُغامَىher nostrils قَذُوفِcasting about الطَرفher gaze خائِفَةafraid
شاكَت رُغامَى قَذُوفِ الطَرف خائِفَة
هَولof terror الجِنانof the thicket نَزورٍapproaching غَيرِwithout مِخداجِfaltering
هَول الجِنان نَزورٍ غَيرِ مِخداجِ
She pricked her nostrils and cast her gaze about, afraid
Of the terror in the thicket, approaching cautiously.
حَرّىhot مُوقَّعةٌspotted ماجَsurged البنانُthe limbs بِهاwith her
حَرّى مُوقَّعةٌ ماجَ البنانُ بِها
عَلىover خِضَمٍّa great beast يُسَقّىbrought to drink الماءَwater عَجّاجِdust-raising
عَلى خِضَمٍّ يُسَقّى الماءَ عَجّاجِ
Hot and spotted, her limbs surged
Over a great, dust-raising beast brought to water.
فَاِغتالَهاthen overtook her الأَجَلُthe end الآتيthat came فَأَسلَمَهاand she surrendered her
فَاِغتالَها الأَجَلُ الآتي فَأَسلَمَها
ناويdesiring الحَياةِlife عَلَيهاfor her غَيرwithout منعاجِturning away
ناوي الحَياةِ عَلَيها غَير منعاجِ
Then the approaching end overtook her, and she gave way;
Her wish to live could not turn it aside.
مُقَلَّصٌtaut رَبِذُswift الأَوصالِof limbs شَيَّعَهُfollowed him
مُقَلَّصٌ رَبِذُ الأَوصالِ شَيَّعَهُ
يَعبوبُa powerful beast حائِلِranging جَولٍover rough ground شَركِamid أَعلاجِhardships
يَعبوبُ حائِلِ جَولٍ شَركِ أَعلاجِ
A taut, swift-limbed creature followed her,
A powerful beast ranging over rough ground.
كَأَنَّهُas though he وَشَياطينُand fierce spirits المِراحِof the herd بِهِwith him
كَأَنَّهُ وَشَياطينُ المِراحِ بِهِ
قِدحٌa gaming arrow بِكَفّيin the two hands مُلَقّىof a player الفَوزِin a contest فَلّاجِwinning
قِدحٌ بِكَفّي مُلَقّى الفَوزِ فَلّاجِ
He and the fierce spirits of the herd seemed
Like a gaming arrow in the hands of a player who wins.
Sol 6