وَخَوان مُستَعمِلٍ أَدجَنتهُ

وَخَوان مُستَعمِلٍ أَدجَنتهُ

كُلَّ يَومٍ شيزي رَجوفٌ دَلوفُ

كُلَّ يَومٍ شيزي رَجوفٌ دَلوفُ

And a much-used banquet-board I kept ever at home,

And a busy host's table, kept occupied

each day—of shīz wood, swaying as it slowly came on;

each day by dark-wood bowls, quivering and slowly borne;

وِدنانِ خُصِيَّةٍ مُسنِداتٍ

وِدنانِ خُصِيَّةٍ مُسنِداتٍ

فَعَبيطٌ بِالطَعنِ أَو مَقلوفُ

فَعَبيطٌ بِالطَعنِ أَو مَقلوفُ

and al-Khuṣṣ-type wine-jars, propped upright,

and handleless wine jars, propped up,

one freshly broached by piercing, another stripped of its seal;

some freshly broached by piercing, others unsealed;

وَأَباريقُ شَبهَ أَعناقِ طَيرِ الما

وَأَباريقُ شَبهَ أَعناقِ طَيرِ الما

ءِ جيبَ فَوقَهُنَّ خَنيفُ

ءِ جيبَ فَوقَهُنَّ خَنيفُ

and ewers like the necks of water-

and pitchers like the necks of water-

fowl; above them coarse linen was slit open,

birds, with coarse linen slit to fit over them,

صادِراتٍ وَوارِداتٍ إِلى أن

صادِراتٍ وَوارِداتٍ إِلى أن

تَحسَب الشَربَ صَرعَتهُم نَزوفُ

تَحسَب الشَربَ صَرعَتهُم نَزوفُ

going forth and returning, until

going out and coming in, until

you would think sense-draining wine had felled the drinkers.

you think Death has felled the drinkers.

أَصبَحَ البَيتُ آلَ أَياسٍ

أَصبَحَ البَيتُ آلَ أَياسٍ

مُقشَعِرّاً وَالحَيُّ حَيُّ خُلوفُ

مُقشَعِرّاً وَالحَيُّ حَيُّ خُلوفُ

The house has become, O family of Iyās,

The house has become, O family of Iyas,

bristling in desolation; the encampment, an encampment abandoned.

shuddering and desolate, and the clan bereft of its men.