أَلاAh ياO اِسلَميbe well ياO أُمَّmother of بِشرٍBishr عَلىdespite الهَجرِestrangement
أَلا يا اِسلَمي يا أُمَّ بِشرٍ عَلى الهَجرِ
وَعَنand concerning عَهدِكِyour bond الماضيbygone لَهُit has قِدَمُantiquity الدَهرِtime
وَعَن عَهدِكِ الماضي لَهُ قِدَمُ الدَهرِ
Ah, be well, Umm Bishr, despite estrangement;
O my dear Islam, O mother of good tidings, farewell
And as for your bygone bond, it is as ancient as time.
And your past era has steps of time
لَيالِيَnights تَلهوyou dally فيin الشَبابِyouth الَّذيthat خَلاhas passed
لَيالِيَ تَلهو في الشَبابِ الَّذي خَلا
بِمُرتَجَّةِwith quivering الأَردافِhips طَيِّبَةِsweet النَشرِfragrance
بِمُرتَجَّةِ الأَردافِ طَيِّبَةِ النَشرِ
Nights when you dallied in youth now gone,
Nights frolicked in youth that passed
With a woman of swaying hips and sweet fragrance,
With swaying buttocks, sweet smelling aroma
أَسيلَةُsmooth مَجرىthe course of الدَمعِtears خَفّاقَةُquivering الحَشاthe flanks
أَسيلَةُ مَجرى الدَمعِ خَفّاقَةُ الحَشا
مِنَfrom الهيفِslenderness مِبراقُgleaming التَرائِبِthe upper breast وَالنَحرِand the throat
مِنَ الهيفِ مِبراقُ التَرائِبِ وَالنَحرِ
Smooth along the tears' path, her flanks quivering
Tearful eyes shedding tears, passionate,
From slenderness, her upper breast and throat agleam.
From the beloved's love, lightning of necks and chest
وَتَبسِمُand she smiles عَنrevealing أَلمىa dark-lipped mouth شَتيتٍwidely spaced نَباتُهُits tooth-growth
وَتَبسِمُ عَن أَلمى شَتيتٍ نَباتُهُ
لَذيذٍsweet إِذاwhen جادَتshe grants freely بِهِwith it واضِحِbright الثَغرِthe mouth
لَذيذٍ إِذا جادَت بِهِ واضِحِ الثَغرِ
And she smiles to reveal a dark-lipped mouth with spaced teeth,
Smiling despite scattered pain, its plants
Sweet when she yields it, bright-toothed.
Sweet when the clear lips are generous
مِنَone of الجازِئاتِgrazers needing no water الحورِthe dark-eyed مَطلَبُthe quest for سِرِّهاher intimacy
مِنَ الجازِئاتِ الحورِ مَطلَبُ سِرِّها
كَبَيضِlike the eggs of الأَنوقِthe vulture المُستَكِنَّةِhidden فيin الوَكرِthe nest
كَبَيضِ الأَنوقِ المُستَكِنَّةِ في الوَكرِ
One of the dark-eyed grazers; the quest for her intimacy
Of beautiful maidens the goal of their secret
Is like seeking the eggs of a vulture hidden in its nest.
Like eggs of ostrich hidden in burrow
وَإِنّيand indeed I وَإِيّاهاand her إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle لَقيتُهاI meet her
وَإِنّي وَإِيّاها إِذا ما لَقيتُها
لَكَالماءِindeed like water مِنfrom صَوبِthe downpour of السَحابَةِthe cloud وَالخَمرِand wine
لَكَالماءِ مِن صَوبِ السَحابَةِ وَالخَمرِ
And she and I, whenever I meet her,
And I and her when we meet
Are like water poured from a cloud and wine.
Are like water from rain clouds and wine
تَذَكَّرتُهاI remembered her لاnot حينَa time for ذِكرىremembrance وَصُحبَتيand my companions
تَذَكَّرتُها لا حينَ ذِكرى وَصُحبَتي
عَلىon كُلِّevery مَقلاقِa jolting mount الجِنابَينِthe two sides وَالضَفرِand the braided girth
عَلى كُلِّ مَقلاقِ الجِنابَينِ وَالضَفرِ
I recalled her—no time for memories!—while my companions
I remember her not when remembering and my company
Were each on a mount that shook both flanks and braided girth.
On every carpet of the two camps and the pillows
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle جَرىflowed آلُthe mirage of الضُحىforenoon وَتَغَوَّلَتand it changed shape
إِذا ما جَرى آلُ الضُحى وَتَغَوَّلَت
كَأَنَّas though مُلاءًsheets of cloth بَينَbetween أَعلامِهاits landmark hills الغُبرِdust-gray
كَأَنَّ مُلاءً بَينَ أَعلامِها الغُبرِ
When the forenoon mirage streamed and the desert changed its shape,
When the forenoon changed and receded
As though sheets lay between its dust-gray landmark hills,
As if banners between them gray
وَلَمand did not يَبقَremain إِلّاexcept كُلُّevery أَدماءَwhite she-camel عِرمِسٍsturdy
وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا كُلُّ أَدماءَ عِرمِسٍ
تُشَبَّهُshe is likened بِالقَرمِto the breeding male camel المُخايِلِstrutting proudly فيin الخَطرِtail-swinging
تُشَبَّهُ بِالقَرمِ المُخايِلِ في الخَطرِ
And none remained but white, sturdy she-camels,
And there remained only bloodstained knights
Resembling a proud breeding male in its tail-swinging gait.
Resembling the daring saviors from danger
تَفُلُّshe chips جَلاذِيَّthe hard rocks of الإِكامِthe hills إِذاwhen طَفَتfloated
تَفُلُّ جَلاذِيَّ الإِكامِ إِذا طَفَت
صُواهاtheir cairns وَلَمand did not تَغرَقsink بِمُجمَرَةٍwith compact feet سُمرِbrown
صُواها وَلَم تَغرَق بِمُجمَرَةٍ سُمرِ
She chips the hills' hard rocks when they float up,
Emptying leather wineskins when they toured
Their cairns still unsubmerged, with compact brown feet.
Without drowning in stirred up red wine
وَتَلمَحُand she glances بَعدَafter الجَهدِexhaustion عَنfrom لَيلَةِa night of السُرىnight travel
وَتَلمَحُ بَعدَ الجَهدِ عَن لَيلَةِ السُرى
بِغائِرَةٍwith a sunken eye تَأويsheltering إِلىto حاجِبٍa brow ضَمرِlean
بِغائِرَةٍ تَأوي إِلى حاجِبٍ ضَمرِ
And after the toil of a night's journey, she glances
Glancing after effort for the night of the holy journey
With a sunken eye sheltered beneath a lean brow.
With a submissive one seeking refuge in frowning eyebrows
تُدافِعُshe presses through أَجوازَthe middle expanses of الفَلاةِthe wilderness وَتَنبَريand appear
تُدافِعُ أَجوازَ الفَلاةِ وَتَنبَري
لَهاto her مِثلُlike أَنضاءِbare shafts of القِداحِarrows مِنَfrom السِدرِlote wood
لَها مِثلُ أَنضاءِ القِداحِ مِنَ السِدرِ
She presses through the wilderness's midst, and there appear
Repelling the terrains of the desert and rising
Before her forms like bare arrow-shafts of lote wood.
For it similar to the fires of palm tree from sidr
تُقَوِّمُhold straight مِنof أَعناقِهاtheir necks وَصُدورِهاand their chests
تُقَوِّمُ مِن أَعناقِها وَصُدورِها
قُوىplaited strands of الأَدَمِleather المَكِّيِّMeccan فيin حَلَقِrings of الصُفرِbrass
قُوى الأَدَمِ المَكِّيِّ في حَلَقِ الصُفرِ
Holding their necks and chests straight
Straightening from their necks and chests
Are plaited strands of Meccan leather within brass rings.
The strength of Meccan blood in the yellow throats
وَكَمand how far قَطَعَتshe traveled وَالرَكبُand the riders غيدٌdrooping مِنَfrom السَرىnight travel
وَكَم قَطَعَت وَالرَكبُ غيدٌ مِنَ السَرى
إِلَيكَtoward you اِبنَson of رِبعِيٍّRib‘i مِنَfrom البَلَدِthe country القَفرِbarren
إِلَيكَ اِبنَ رِبعِيٍّ مِنَ البَلَدِ القَفرِ
How far she has traveled, the riders drooping from night journeys,
And how many times she cut across while the traveling group slept
Toward you, son of Rib‘i, across barren country!
To you son of Rabee from the barren town
وَهَلand is there مِنany فَتىًa young man مِنof وائِلٍWa'il قَدindeed عَلِمتُمُyou have known
وَهَل مِن فَتىً مِن وائِلٍ قَد عَلِمتُمُ
كَعِكرِمَةَlike Ikrimah الفَيّاضِthe Bountiful عِندَat عُرىthe bonds of الأَمرِaffairs
كَعِكرِمَةَ الفَيّاضِ عِندَ عُرى الأَمرِ
Is there any man of Wa'il whom you have known
And is there a young man from Wael you knew
Like Ikrimah the Bountiful at the crucial junctures of affairs?
Like Ikrimah the generous at the reins of affairs
إِذاwhen نَحنُwe هايَجناcontended بِهِwith him يَومَon a day of مَحفِلٍassembly
إِذا نَحنُ هايَجنا بِهِ يَومَ مَحفِلٍ
رَمىcast الناسُthe people بِاَلأَبصارِwith their eyes أَبيَضَa radiant man كَالبَدرِlike the full moon
رَمى الناسُ بِاَلأَبصارِ أَبيَضَ كَالبَدرِ
When we challenge rivals with him on a day of assembly,
When we roused him on a day of festival
People cast their eyes upon one bright as the full moon.
People looked towards a face white like the full moon
أَصيلٌof noble stock إِذاwhen اِصطَكَّclash الجُباهُforeheads كَأَنَّماas though
أَصيلٌ إِذا اِصطَكَّ الجُباهُ كَأَنَّما
يُمِرُّhe twists firmly الثِقالَthe heavy masses الراسِياتِfirmly rooted مِنَof الصَخرِrock
يُمِرُّ الثِقالَ الراسِياتِ مِنَ الصَخرِ
Of noble stock, when foreheads clash, as though
One of pure lineage whose foreheads collide as if
He twists together the heavy, firmly rooted rocks.
Moving the heavy rocks from mountain
وَإِنand if نَحنُwe قُلناsay مَنwho فَتىًa champion عِندَfor خُطَّةٍa grave undertaking
وَإِن نَحنُ قُلنا مَن فَتىً عِندَ خُطَّةٍ
نُراميwe exchange shots بِهِwith him أَوor دَفعِrepelling داهِيَةٍa calamity نُكرِterrible
نُرامي بِهِ أَو دَفعِ داهِيَةٍ نُكرِ
And if we ask: Who is the champion for a grave undertaking,
And if we said who is the young man at time of evil plan
Through whom to trade shots, or fend off a dreadful calamity?
We pelt him or ward off a repulsive stranger
كُفيناwe are protected بِحَبّاسٍby one who stands fast عَلىat كُلِّevery مَوقِفٍposition
كُفينا بِحَبّاسٍ عَلى كُلِّ مَوقِفٍ
مَخوفٍdangerous إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle لَمdoes not يُجِزpass صاحِبُthe guardian of الثَغرِthe frontier
مَخوفٍ إِذا ما لَم يُجِز صاحِبُ الثَغرِ
We are protected by one who stands fast at every position
Sufficient for us is Habas in every
Of danger, when the frontier's guardian will not pass.
Frightening stand if the man of mustache does not suffice
بِصُلبِwith firmness in قَناةِthe spear-shaft of الأَمرِaffairs ماnot إِنemphatic particle يَصورُهاbends it الthe (continued)
بِصُلبِ قَناةِ الأَمرِ ما إِن يَصورُها ال
ثِقافُstraightening clamp إِذاwhen بَعضُsome of القَناthe spear-shafts صيرَwere bent بِالأَطرِby bending pressure
ثِقافُ إِذا بَعضُ القَنا صيرَ بِالأَطرِ
With a firm spear-shaft of resolve, never bent by the
By the firmness of the way of affairs which none pictures unless
Straightening clamp, when some spear-shafts are forced into bends.
A culture if some of the way turns by oppression
وَلَيسواand they are not إِلىto أَسواقِهِمtheir markets إِذwhen تَأَلَّفواthey gather
وَلَيسوا إِلى أَسواقِهِم إِذ تَأَلَّفوا
وَلاnor يَومَon a day of عَرضٍmuster عُوَّداًfrequent visitors to سُدَّةَthe gateway of القَصرِthe palace
وَلا يَومَ عَرضٍ عُوَّداً سُدَّةَ القَصرِ
Neither their going to their markets when they gather,
And they are not to their markets when they reconcile
Nor their frequent visits to the palace gate on muster day,
Nor a day of presentation adorned closing the palace
بِأَسرَعَany quicker وِرداًin arrival مِنهُمُthan they are نَحوَtoward دارِهِhis house
بِأَسرَعَ وِرداً مِنهُمُ نَحوَ دارِهِ
وَلاnor ناهِلٌa thirsty camel وافىarrived at الجَوابِيَthe watering basins عَنafter عَشرِa ten-day interval
وَلا ناهِلٌ وافى الجَوابِيَ عَن عَشرِ
Are quicker than their coming toward his house,
Returning to his abode faster than
Nor is a thirsty camel reaching the pools after ten days.
Them not a water-drawer fulfilling from ten
تَرىyou see مُترَعَbrimming الشيزىdark-wood bowls الثِقالِheavy كَأَنَّماas though
تَرى مُترَعَ الشيزى الثِقالِ كَأَنَّما
تَحَضَّرَhad settled in مِنهاthrough them أَهلُهاtheir owners فُرَضَthe harbors of البَحرِthe sea
تَحَضَّرَ مِنها أَهلُها فُرَضَ البَحرِ
You see the heavy dark-wood bowls brimming, as though
You see the pasture of she-camel calves burdened as if
Their owners, through them, had settled at the sea's harbors.
Its people crowded so the sea was obligated
تُكَلَّلُare crowned بِالتَرعيبِwith diced hump-fat مِنfrom قَمَعِthe tips of الذُرىthe humps
تُكَلَّلُ بِالتَرعيبِ مِن قَمَعِ الذُرى
إِذاwhen لَمis not يُنَلobtained عَبطُfresh-slaughtered flesh of الغَواليthe costly ones مِنَamong الجُزرِslaughter-camels
إِذا لَم يُنَل عَبطُ الغَوالي مِنَ الجُزرِ
They are crowned with diced fat from the tips of humps,
Crowned with terror from the top of millet
When freshly slaughtered flesh from costly camels cannot be had,
When violence of Ebthal cannot be attained from the islands
مِنَof الشُهبِthe gray-white ones أَكتافاًin the shoulders تُناخُmade to kneel إِذاwhen شَتاwinter comes
مِنَ الشُهبِ أَكتافاً تُناخُ إِذا شَتا
وَحُبَّand is relished القُتارُroasting smoke بِالمُهَنَّدَةِwith Indian-forged swords البُترِkeen-cutting
وَحُبَّ القُتارُ بِالمُهَنَّدَةِ البُترِ
Of gray-shouldered camels, brought to their knees when winter comes,
With shoulders that rest when it tours
And roasting smoke is prized—slaughtered with keen Indian blades.
And love of Guidance with docked tail
وَماand no مُزبِدُa river foaming with الأَطوادِmountain-high swells مِنon دونِthis side of عانَةٍAnah
وَما مُزبِدُ الأَطوادِ مِن دونِ عانَةٍ
يَشُقُّcleaves جِبالَthe mountains of الغَورِthe lowlands ذوhaving حَدَبٍa swelling surge غَمرِdeep
يَشُقُّ جِبالَ الغَورِ ذو حَدَبٍ غَمرِ
And no river with foaming mountain-high waves this side of Anah,
And froth of seas not without help
Cleaving the lowland mountains with a deep, heaving surge,
Cleaving mountains of the depths with curved hump
تَظَلُّkeep بَناتُthe daughters of الماءِthe water تَبدوshowing مُتونُهاtheir backs
تَظَلُّ بَناتُ الماءِ تَبدو مُتونُها
وَطَوراًand at times تَوارىdisappear فيin غَوارِبِهِits wave-crests الكُدرِturbid
وَطَوراً تَوارى في غَوارِبِهِ الكُدرِ
Where the daughters of the water keep showing their backs,
Daughters of water stay shaded their bellies appear
And sometimes vanish in its turbid wave-crests,
And awhile they disappear in its turbid darkness
مَتىwhenever يَطَّرِدit flows onward تَسقِirrigate السَوادَthe Sawad فُضولُهُits surplus waters
مَتى يَطَّرِد تَسقِ السَوادَ فُضولُهُ
وَفيand in كُلِّevery مُستَنٍّwatercourse غَوارِبُهُits wave-crests تَجريflow
وَفي كُلِّ مُستَنٍّ غَوارِبُهُ تَجري
Whose surplus waters, whenever it flows, irrigate the Sawad,
When will the excess of blackness finish being driven
And whose wave-crests run in every channel,
And in every resting place its darknesses flow
بِأَجوَدَmore generous مِنthan مَأوىthe shelter of اليَتامىorphans وَملَجَأِand the refuge of الthe (continued)
بِأَجوَدَ مِن مَأوى اليَتامى وَملَجَأِ ال
مُضافِdistressed person وَوَهّابِand lavish giver of القِيانِsinging slave-girls أَبيAbu (father of) عَمروِAmr
مُضافِ وَوَهّابِ القِيانِ أَبي عَمروِ
Is more generous than the shelter of orphans and refuge of the
Most generous than asylum of orphans and refuge of
Distressed, and lavish giver of singing slave-girls, Abu Amr.
Host who bestows and generous Abu Amro
أَعِكرِمَO Ikrimah أَنتَyou الأَصلُthe root وَالفَرعُand the branch وَالذُرىand the summits
أَعِكرِمَ أَنتَ الأَصلُ وَالفَرعُ وَالذُرى
أَتاكَcame to you اِبنُa son of عَمٍّa paternal uncle زائِراًvisiting لَكَto you عَنafter عُفرِa long interval
أَتاكَ اِبنُ عَمٍّ زائِراً لَكَ عَن عُفرِ
O Ikrimah, you are the root, the branch, and the summits;
Ikrima you are origin, branch, and progeny
A cousin has come to visit you after a long absence,
A cousin came visiting you from Ufayr
مِنَone of المُصطَلينَthose scorched by الحَربَwar أَيّامَin days when قَلَّصَتshe raised her skirts
مِنَ المُصطَلينَ الحَربَ أَيّامَ قَلَّصَت
بِناwith us وَبِقَيسٍand with Qays عَنafter حِيالٍbarrenness وَعَنand after نَزرِscant yield
بِنا وَبِقَيسٍ عَن حِيالٍ وَعَن نَزرِ
One of those who faced war's fire in days when she raised her skirts
Of those the war diminished days between us
With us and Qays, after barrenness and scant yield.
And Qais from lineage and from few
وَإِنّيand indeed I صَبورٌpatient مِنfrom سُلَيمٍSulaym وَعامِرٍand Amir
وَإِنّي صَبورٌ مِن سُلَيمٍ وَعامِرٍ
وَنَصرٍand Nasr عَلىin enduring البَغضاءِhatred وَالنَظَرِand the glances الشَزرِhostile and sidelong
وَنَصرٍ عَلى البَغضاءِ وَالنَظَرِ الشَزرِ
And I patiently endure what comes from Sulaym and Amir,
And I am forbearing from Sulaym, Amer
And Nasr—their hatred and hostile, sidelong looks.
And Nasr against hatred, glance of small eyes
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِلتَقَيناwe meet عِندَin the presence of بِشرٍBishr رَأَيتَهُمyou see them
إِذا ما اِلتَقَينا عِندَ بِشرٍ رَأَيتَهُم
يَغُضّونَlowering دونيbefore me الطَرفَtheir gaze بِالحَدَقِwith pupils الخُضرِgreen
يَغُضّونَ دوني الطَرفَ بِالحَدَقِ الخُضرِ
Whenever we meet in Bishr's presence, you see them
When we meet at good tidings you see them
Lowering their gaze before me, with green pupils,
Lowering their gaze shyly with green eyes
وَأَوجُهِand faces of مَوتورينَbereaved, unavenged men فيهاin them كَآبَةٌgloom
وَأَوجُهِ مَوتورينَ فيها كَآبَةٌ
فَرَغماًso humiliation عَلىupon رَغمٍhumiliation وَوَقراًand burden عَلىupon وَقرِburden
فَرَغماً عَلى رَغمٍ وَوَقراً عَلى وَقرِ
And faces of bereaved, unavenged men, filled with gloom:
And faces sullen on them gloom
So humiliation upon humiliation, and burden upon burden!
So pride against pride and dignity against dignity
فَنَحنُfor we تَلَفَّعناwe enveloped عَلىover عَسكَريهِمِtheir two armies
فَنَحنُ تَلَفَّعنا عَلى عَسكَريهِمِ
جِهاراًopenly وَماand not طِبّيmy way بِبَغيٍwith oppression وَلاnor فَخرِboasting
جِهاراً وَما طِبّي بِبَغيٍ وَلا فَخرِ
For we enveloped their two armies
But we spurned their army
Openly; oppression and boasting are not my way.
Publicly and I do not have immorality nor pride
وَلَكِنَّand yet حَدَّthe edge of المَشرَفِيَّةِMashrafi swords ساقَهُمdrove them
وَلَكِنَّ حَدَّ المَشرَفِيَّةِ ساقَهُم
إِلىto أَنthat حَشَرناwe herded together فَلَّهُمtheir routed remnant أَسوَأَthe worst of الحَشرِherding
إِلى أَن حَشَرنا فَلَّهُم أَسوَأَ الحَشرِ
But the edge of the Mashrafi swords drove them
But the extent of nobility led them
Till we herded their routed remnants in the worst of roundups.
To where we scattered them the worst scattering
وَأَمّاand as for عُمَيرُUmayr بنُson of الحُبابِal-Hubab فَلَمso did not يَكُنhave
وَأَمّا عُمَيرُ بنُ الحُبابِ فَلَم يَكُن
لَهُfor him النِصفُhalf فيon يَومِthe day of الهِياجِbattle وَلاnor العُشرِa tenth
لَهُ النِصفُ في يَومِ الهِياجِ وَلا العُشرِ
And as for Umayr ibn al-Hubab, he did not have
And as for Umair ibn Hubab he did not have
A half-share on the day of battle, nor a tenth.
Half on day of zeal nor tenth
فَإِنso if تَذكُروهاyou recount it فيamong مَعَدٍّMa‘add فَإِنَّماthen only
فَإِن تَذكُروها في مَعَدٍّ فَإِنَّما
أَصابَكَstruck you بِالثَرثارِat al-Tharthar راغِيَةُthe bellow of البَكرِthe young camel
أَصابَكَ بِالثَرثارِ راغِيَةُ البَكرِ
If you recount it among Ma‘add, it was only
So if they mention her in enumeration so only
The young camel's bellow that struck you at al-Tharthar.
Reaching you with blabbering virgin girl
وَكانَand it was يُرىbelieved أَنَّthat الجَزيرَةَal-Jazirah أَصبَحَتhad become
وَكانَ يُرى أَنَّ الجَزيرَةَ أَصبَحَت
مَواريثَinherited estates لِاِبنَيfor the two sons of حاتِمٍHatim وَأَبيand Abu (father of) صَخرِSakhr
مَواريثَ لِاِبنَي حاتِمٍ وَأَبي صَخرِ
And it was thought that al-Jazirah had become
And it was seen Al-Jazeera became
Inherited estates for the two sons of Hatim and Abu Sakhr.
Inheritances for the two sons of Hatim and Abu Sakhr
Sol 6.1