طللٌa ruined campsite عَكفlingered علَيهِupon it بِأنيunclear; probably 'my thoughts' (بالي)
طللٌ عَكف علَيهِ بِأني
قَفرٌdesolate مِنof الأَحبابthe loved ones خاليempty
قَفرٌ مِن الأَحباب خالي
A ruin on which [my thoughts] linger,
barren, empty of loved ones.
فَبَكيتso I wept over رَسماًa trace قَدalready مَحاeffaced
فَبَكيت رَسماً قَد مَحا
هُit جرُّthe trailing of أَذيالskirts of الشَمالthe north wind
هُ جرُّ أَذيال الشَمال
So I wept over a trace effaced
by the north wind's trailing skirts.
ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَبكيweeping over رَسمهُits trace
ما زِلتُ أَبكي رَسمهُ
وَعُهودَهُand its bygone days حَتّىuntil بَكىit wept ليfor me
وَعُهودَهُ حَتّى بَكى لي
I kept weeping over its traces
and its bygone days, until it wept for me.
ياO جيرةًneighbors زالواthey departed وَماand did not
يا جيرةً زالوا وَما
مَنواshow favor عَليَّto me مَعwith الزَوالthe departure
مَنوا عَليَّ مَع الزَوال
O neighbors who departed, and showed
me no kindness as they left!
وَتقسمتand divided up الحَشاءَthe innermost flesh قَلheart (first part)
وَتقسمت الحَشاءَ قَل
بيmy (completing 'my heart') بَعدَهُمafter them أَيديhands of الحبالthe ropes
بي بَعدَهُم أَيدي الحبال
My heart's innermost flesh was torn apart,
after them, by the hands of ropes.
مَنَعواthey denied الرُقادsleep وَلَوand even if بِهِwith it
مَنَعوا الرُقاد وَلَو بِهِ
سَمَحواthey were generous لَضَنواthey would surely be miserly بِالخَيالwith the dream-image
سَمَحوا لَضَنوا بِالخَيال
They denied me sleep; even if
they granted it, they would begrudge their dream-image.
أَفنىexhausted تَحملهمtheir setting out غَداmorning (first part)
أَفنى تَحملهم غَدا
ةcompletes 'morning' البينof separation صَبريmy patience وَاِحتِماليand my endurance
ة البين صَبري وَاِحتِمالي
Their departure on the morning
of separation exhausted my patience and endurance.
كَيفَhow اِحتِياليmy recourse وَالزَماwhile Time (first part)
كَيفَ اِحتِيالي وَالزَما
نcompletes 'Time' مُعانِديmy adversary كَيفَhow إِحتِياليmy recourse
ن مُعانِدي كَيفَ إِحتِيالي
How can I contrive, when Time
is my adversary—how can I contrive?
أَتراهُمُdo you suppose they قَسَمواdivided اللَياthe nights (first part)
أَتراهُمُ قَسَموا اللَيا
ليcompletes 'the nights' بَينَbetween حلsettling وَاِرتِحالِand departing
لي بَينَ حل وَاِرتِحالِ
Do you suppose they divided the nights
between settling and departure?
قالواthey said الرَحيلdeparture فَعانَقَتso it embraced
قالوا الرَحيل فَعانَقَت
نَفسيmy soul الرَدىdeath قَبلbefore الزيالthe parting
نَفسي الرَدى قَبل الزيال
They announced departure, and my soul embraced
death before the parting.
طارَتit flew شُعاعاًin scattered pieces عِندَماwhen
طارَت شُعاعاً عِندَما
طارواthey flew إِلىto شَعبُthe forks of الرِحالthe camel-saddles
طاروا إِلى شَعبُ الرِحال
It scattered in all directions when
they flew to the forks of the camel-saddles.
وَغَدَتand began تَحبtrot (apparently تخبّ) بِهُمwith them نَواswift mounts (first part)
وَغَدَت تَحب بِهُم نَوا
جيcompletes 'swift mounts' العَيشlife; probably 'white camels' (العيس) فيin البيدthe desert wastes الخَواليthe deserted
جي العَيش في البيد الخَوالي
And swift camels trotted away with them
through the deserted wastes.
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though بيضwhite الهَواthe palanquins (first part)
فَكَأَنَّما بيض الهَوا
دجcompletes 'the palanquins' فَوقَabove إِدراجfolds of الرِمالthe sands
دج فَوقَ إِدراج الرِمال
As though the white palanquins,
above the folds of sand,
تَطفوfloat وَتَرسبand sink فيin بِحاseas (first part)
تَطفو وَتَرسب في بِحا
رcompletes 'seas' الآلthe mirage أَصدافshells of اللآليpearls
ر الآل أَصداف اللآلي
floating and sinking in seas
of mirage, were pearl-bearing shells.
وَبَقيتand I remained أَسألasking عَنهُمabout them الthe
وَبَقيت أَسأل عَنهُم ال
ركبانriders لَوif only أَغنىavailed سُواليmy asking
ركبان لَو أَغنى سُوالي
And I remained, seeking news of them
from the riders—if only my questions availed!
وَأَناand I الفِداءthe ransom لِمَنfor one who نَأىwent far away
وَأَنا الفِداء لِمَن نَأى
مُتَسَلياًconsoled; forgetful عَنof غَيرnot ساليforgetful
مُتَسَلياً عَن غَير سالي
I would be a ransom for the one who went far away,
unmindful of one who cannot forget.
قَدindeed غابَvanished عَنfrom نَظَريmy sight معunclear; likely beginning of 'vanishing' (مغيب)
قَد غابَ عَن نَظَري مع
بcompletes the apparent word 'vanishing' البَدرthe full moon عَنfrom سَدفdarkness of اللَياليthe nights
ب البَدر عَن سَدف اللَيالي
He vanished from my sight, as
the full moon vanishes from the darkness of night.
فَالدَمعso the tears منيfrom me فيin إِنهِماstreaming (first part)
فَالدَمع مني في إِنهِما
لٍcompletes 'streaming' وَالجَوانحand the breast فيin اِشتِعالِburning
لٍ وَالجَوانح في اِشتِعالِ
My tears stream down,
while my breast is aflame.
بِأَبيwith my father as ransom حَبيبa beloved لاdoes not يَملtire
بِأَبي حَبيب لا يَمل
مِنof التَجنيunjust faultfinding وَالملالand weariness
مِن التَجني وَالملال
May my father ransom a beloved who never tires
of finding fault and growing weary.
ماnot لِلمُتيمfor the love-enslaved فيin هَواlove of
ما لِلمُتيم في هَوا
هُhim سِوىexcept التَجنُبavoidance وَالمطالand delay
هُ سِوى التَجنُب وَالمطال
The love-stricken has, in loving him,
nothing but avoidance and delay.
يَحكيهِresembles him بَدرmoon of التَمّfullness لاnot
يَحكيهِ بَدر التَمّ لا
فيin الحُسنbeauty بَلbut بُعدremoteness of المَنالattainment
في الحُسن بَل بُعد المَنال
The full moon resembles him—not
in beauty, but in being beyond reach.
يَهَتزُhe sways كَالمُرّانِlike ashwood spear-shafts مِنfrom
يَهَتزُ كَالمُرّانِ مِن
خَمرِthe wine of الشَبيبَةِyouth وَالدَلالand coquetry
خَمرِ الشَبيبَةِ وَالدَلال
He sways like a supple spear-shaft, from
the wine of youth and coquetry.
فَيَشُكُso he pierces حَباتkernels of القُلوthe hearts (first part)
فَيَشُكُ حَبات القُلو
بcompletes 'the hearts' بِمثلِwith the like of أَطرافِtips of العَواليthe lofty spears
ب بِمثلِ أَطرافِ العَوالي
So he pierces the kernels of hearts
as with the points of lofty spears.
ياO بَدرَfull moon of آفاقِhorizons of الجَماbeauty (first part)
يا بَدرَ آفاقِ الجَما
لcompletes 'beauty' وَعَينَand choicest of أَربابmasters of الكَمالperfection
ل وَعَينَ أَرباب الكَمال
O full moon of beauty's horizons,
and choicest of the masters of perfection!
هَلّاwill you not رَثيتَhave pity لِسوءِfor the wretchedness of حاstate (first part)
هَلّا رَثيتَ لِسوءِ حا
ليmy (completing 'my state') فيin الهَوىlove وَكُسوفِand the eclipse of باليmy spirit
لي في الهَوى وَكُسوفِ بالي
Will you not pity my wretched state
in love, and my spirit's eclipse?
وَرَحِمتَand show mercy to مُهجَةَthe soul of ناحِلٍone wasted away
وَرَحِمتَ مُهجَةَ ناحِلٍ
مُتَوَقِدِburning in الأَحشاءِthe inward parts صاليscorched
مُتَوَقِدِ الأَحشاءِ صالي
And show mercy to a wasted man's soul,
his innards ablaze, himself scorched,
صادٍthirsting إِلىfor رُؤياكَseeing you يَكdrinks deeply (first part)
صادٍ إِلى رُؤياكَ يَك
رعَcompletes 'drinks deeply' مِنfrom حِياضpools of المَوتِdeath باليworn away
رعَ مِن حِياض المَوتِ بالي
thirsting to see you, drinking deeply
from death's pools, worn away?
عَفpure in السَرائِرِthe secret thoughts راحَhe came to يَرbe content (first part)
عَف السَرائِرِ راحَ يَر
ضىcompletes 'be content' مِنfrom خَيالَكَyour dream-image بِالمُحالِwith the impossible
ضى مِن خَيالَكَ بِالمُحالِ
Pure in his inmost thoughts, he has come
to accept the unreal from your dream-image.
وَلِعَbecame obsessed السِقامُillness بِجسمِهِwith his body
وَلِعَ السِقامُ بِجسمِهِ
وَلَعَthe obsession of العَواذِلِthe reproaching women بِالجِدالِwith argument
وَلَعَ العَواذِلِ بِالجِدالِ
Sickness clings to his body
as reproaching women cling to argument.
ياO مَنone who بَذَلتُI gave لَهُto him حَياlife (first part)
يا مَن بَذَلتُ لَهُ حَيا
تيmy (completing 'my life') وَهُوَwhile he يَبخَلُis miserly بِالوِصالwith union
تي وَهُوَ يَبخَلُ بِالوِصال
O you for whom I have given my life,
while you begrudge me union!
وَتَسيلُand flows out نَفسيmy soul مِنfrom لَواglances (first part)
وَتَسيلُ نَفسي مِن لَوا
حِظِهِhis (completing 'his glances') عَلىupon حَدِthe edge of النِضالِarchery; probably 'blades' (النصال)
حِظِهِ عَلى حَدِ النِضالِ
And my soul flows out beneath his
glances, on the sharp edge of [blades].
أَارىdo I see حِماميmy death كامِناًlurking
أَارى حِمامي كامِناً
فيin مُقلَتيكَyour two eyes فَلاyet not أُباليI care
في مُقلَتيكَ فَلا أُبالي
Do I see my death lurking
in your eyes, yet feel no concern?
وَتُراعُand you take fright إِنif سَرَحتُI let roam طَرgaze (first part)
وَتُراعُ إِن سَرَحتُ طَر
فيmy (completing 'my gaze') مِنكَof you فيin رَوضthe garden of الجَمالِbeauty
في مِنكَ في رَوض الجَمالِ
And you take fright if I let my gaze
roam through your garden of beauty.
مَولايَmy lord إِنيindeed I حامِدٌpraising
مَولايَ إِني حامِدٌ
لَكَto you شاكِرٌthankful فيin كُلِevery حالِcondition
لَكَ شاكِرٌ في كُلِ حالِ
My lord, I am one who praises
you, thankful in every condition.
وَحيُinspiration of اللَواحظthe glances مِنكَfrom you أَوmade aware (first part)
وَحيُ اللَواحظ مِنكَ أَو
قَفنيcompletes 'made me aware' عَلىof السحرthe magic الحَلالِthe lawful
قَفني عَلى السحر الحَلالِ
The inspiration of your glances
has shown me lawful magic.
فَطَبَعتُهُso I cast it شِعراًas poetry يَروdelights (first part)
فَطَبَعتُهُ شِعراً يَرو
قُcompletes 'delights' عُقولَminds of أَمجادِthe noblest of الرِجالِmen
قُ عُقولَ أَمجادِ الرِجالِ
So I cast it into poetry that delights
the minds of the noblest men.
وَنَظمُتهُand I strung it into verse غَزَلاًas love-poetry يُغِmakes envious (first part; reading uncertain)
وَنَظمُتهُ غَزَلاً يُغِ
رُعُقودَcompletes 'makes envious'; necklaces of رَباتladies of الحِجالِthe curtained chambers
رُعُقودَ رَبات الحِجالِ
And I strung it into love-poetry that makes envious
the necklaces of ladies in their curtained chambers.
وَوَصَفتُand I described مَبسَمَكَyour smiling mouth الشَهيthe delectable
وَوَصَفتُ مَبسَمَكَ الشَهي
بِمِثلِwith the likeness of أَبكارِvirgin ones among اللآليthe pearls
بِمِثلِ أَبكارِ اللآلي
And I described your delectable smiling mouth
by comparing it to virgin pearls.
وَوَصَفتُand I described عارِضَكَyour cheek الصَقيpolished (first part)
وَوَصَفتُ عارِضَكَ الصَقي
لcompletes 'polished' مِنfrom النَعيمِluxurious ease بِلاwithout صِقالِpolishing
ل مِن النَعيمِ بِلا صِقالِ
And I described your cheek, polished
by luxurious ease, without polishing,
بِبَدائِعٍwith marvels مَعسَولَةٍhoneyed
بِبَدائِعٍ مَعسَولَةٍ
أَصفىpurer مِنthan الماءِwater الزُلالِthe limpid
أَصفى مِن الماءِ الزُلالِ
with honeyed marvels of verse,
purer than limpid water.
فَلِذاكَso for that reason أَصبَحَit became مِثلُlike وَجface (first part)
فَلِذاكَ أَصبَحَ مِثلُ وَج
هِكَyour (completing 'your face') فيamong الوُجوهfaces بِلاwithout مِثالِan equal
هِكَ في الوُجوه بِلا مِثالِ
Thus it has become—like your face
among faces—without a peer.
Sol 6.1