دِمَنُtraces; ruins الدارِof the dwelling دُثورَeffaced
دِمَنُ الدارِ دُثورَ
لَيسَthere is not فيهِنَّin them مُحيرُone who answers
لَيسَ فيهِنَّ مُحيرُ
The dwelling's traces are effaced;
The abodes are desolate,
no one in them answers.
In them there is no confusion,
بَلِيَتwore away مِنهاamong them المَغانيthe dwelling places
بَلِيَت مِنها المَغاني
مِثلَماjust as تَبلىwear away السُطورُthe written lines
مِثلَما تَبلى السُطورُ
Their dwelling places have worn away,
The songs have worn out in them,
as written lines wear away.
As lines of poetry wear out.
قَسَمَapportioned البَينَseparation عَلَيهنْupon them (continued)
قَسَمَ البَينَ عَلَيهنْ
نَcompletion of 'upon them' رَواحٌevening وَبُكورُand morning
نَ رَواحٌ وَبُكورُ
Parting was apportioned among them
Separation has divided among them,
by evening and morning,
Spirits and early mornings,
وَلَيالٍand nights ساجِياتٍstill; hushed
وَلَيالٍ ساجِياتٍ
نامَslept عَنهُنَّheedless of them السَميرُthe night companion
نامَ عَنهُنَّ السَميرُ
and by still, silent nights
And nights conversing,
through which the night companion slept, heedless.
While the night companion sleeps.
فَطَوَتso they folded أَخبِيَةَthe tents الحَيْthe tribe (continued)
فَطَوَت أَخبِيَةَ الحَيْ
يِcompletion of 'the tribe' كَماas يُطوىis folded الحَبيرُbrocade
يِ كَما يُطوى الحَبيرُ
Then they folded up the tribe's tents,
So they folded the tent of life,
as brocade is folded.
As silk is folded.
فَاِستَجَرَّتهُمthen it dragged them away فَدَوَّتthen it resounded
فَاِستَجَرَّتهُم فَدَوَّت
مِنfrom نَوىthe distance البَينِof separation جَرورُa dragging, sweeping force
مِن نَوى البَينِ جَرورُ
Then it dragged them off, and there thundered
They dragged them and ran away,
a sweeping force from distant parting.
From the intent of separation furious.
وَبِعَينَيكَand before your eyes حُمولُladen camels الْthe (continued)
وَبِعَينَيكَ حُمولُ الْ
حيِّtribe وَالبَينُand separation الشَطيرِfar-reaching
حيِّ وَالبَينُ الشَطيرِ
Before your eyes are the laden camels of the
And in your eyes the burdens of life,
tribe, and far-reaching separation,
And separation is quick.
كَذُراlike the tops النَخلِof palm trees أَشاعَتscattered
كَذُرا النَخلِ أَشاعَت
زَهوَهاtheir ripening fruit الريحُthe wind الدَبورُthe west wind
زَهوَها الريحُ الدَبورُ
like palm-crowns whose
Like palm branches they displayed
ripening fruit the west wind scattered.
Their beauty as the winds blew.
خُلِّفَتwere left behind بِالدارِat the dwelling حورٌfair-eyed wild creatures
خُلِّفَت بِالدارِ حورٌ
وَغَدَتand set out at dawn فيin الظُعنِthe departing caravans حورُfair-eyed women
وَغَدَت في الظُعنِ حورُ
Fair-eyed beasts were left at the dwelling,
Left behind in the abode are maidens,
and fair-eyed women left at dawn with the caravans.
Who in the loops became maidens.
بُدِّلاboth were exchanged ماwhat اِستُبدِلَwas replaced الداthe one who circles (continued)
بُدِّلا ما اِستُبدِلَ الدا
ئِرُcompletion of 'the one who circles' فيهاthere وَالمُديرُand the one who leads around
ئِرُ فيها وَالمُديرُ
Both were exchanged—what a change for the one
Changing what the revolving one changed in it,
who roams there, and the one who leads!
And the resident.
نُفَّرٌskittish creatures مُستَجفِلاتٌeasily startled
نُفَّرٌ مُستَجفِلاتٌ
لَمdid not تُرَبِّبهاrear them الخُدورُthe curtained chambers
لَم تُرَبِّبها الخُدورُ
Skittish creatures, easily startled,
Scattered are disgusted ones,
whom curtained chambers never reared.
Not disciplined by manners.
رُبَّماmany a time أَعتَسِفُI drive off-road العيthe pale camels (continued)
رُبَّما أَعتَسِفُ العي
سَcompletion of 'the pale camels' أُسَدّيI travel all night وَأَسيرُand I journey
سَ أُسَدّي وَأَسيرُ
Often I take the pale camels across trackless ground,
Sometimes I visit the family,
traveling through the night and journeying on,
Arriving unexpectedly and stealthily moving.
وَأَزورُand I visit الكاعِبَthe full-breasted maiden الخَوthe tender young woman (continued)
وَأَزورُ الكاعِبَ الخَو
دَcompletion of 'the tender young woman' تُواريهاconceal her السُتورُthe curtains
دَ تُواريها السُتورُ
and visit the full-breasted young maiden,
And I visit the lonely ruins,
tender, and concealed by curtains,
Hidden by the curtains.
إِذwhen عُيونُthe watching eyes الدارِof the dwelling صورٌaverted
إِذ عُيونُ الدارِ صورٌ
وَإِذاand when الجيرَةُthe neighbors خيرُgood; kindly
وَإِذا الجيرَةُ خيرُ
when the dwelling's watching eyes are averted,
For the eyes of the abode are pictures,
and when the neighbors are kindly.
And the neighbor is good.
إِعذِليreproach me إِنَّindeed سَفاهاًfolly
إِعذِلي إِنَّ سَفاهاً
مِنfrom كَبيرٍan old man لَكَبيرُis indeed grave
مِن كَبيرٍ لَكَبيرُ
Reproach me: folly
Excuse me, for foolishness
in an old man is grave indeed.
From an elder to an elder.
أَلَفَتgrew familiar with عَينُكِyour eye عَينيmy eye
أَلَفَت عَينُكِ عَيني
فَأًَبىbut refused ذاكَthat القَتيرُgray hair
فَأًَبى ذاكَ القَتيرُ
Your eye grew familiar with my eye,
Your eye grew accustomed to my eye,
but gray hair forbade it.
But that tyrant refused.
لَمdid not يَدَعleave ليfor me وَلِأَخداand for companions (continued)
لَم يَدَع لي وَلِأَخدا
نِكِcompletion of 'your companions' ماwhat يَخشىfears الغَيورُthe jealous man
نِكِ ما يَخشى الغَيورُ
It left, between me and your companions,
He left me and your cheeks,
nothing a jealous man would fear.
Nothing to fear the jealous one.
فَاِرقُديso sleep ماwhenever وَسِنَتgrew drowsy عَيeyes (continued)
فَاِرقُدي ما وَسِنَت عَي
ناكِcompletion of 'your two eyes' وَالنَومand sleep غَزيرُabundant; deep
ناكِ وَالنَوم غَزيرُ
So sleep whenever drowsiness overtakes
So sleep while your eye is adorned,
your eyes; sleep is plentiful.
And sleep is abundant.
قَلِقَshook الجَسرَةُthe sturdy she-camel وَالرَحand the saddle (continued)
قَلِقَ الجَسرَةُ وَالرَح
لُcompletion of 'the saddle' عَلَيهاupon her وَالضُفورُand the braided straps
لُ عَلَيها وَالضُفورُ
The sturdy she-camel shakes, and the saddle
The tree branch and the doe are restless upon it,
upon her, and the braided straps;
And the cuckoo bird.
وِقِرانُand the joining البيدِof deserts بِالبيto the deserts (continued)
وِقِرانُ البيدِ بِالبي
دِcompletion of 'the deserts' كَماas يُلوىis twisted المَريرُthe strong, twisted cord
دِ كَما يُلوى المَريرُ
and desert is joined to desert
Like the bitter aloe is twisted,
as a strong cord is twisted.
And the night is ungenerous.
وَقَطاًand sandgrouse نازَعتُهُI vied with it for المَوthe watering-place (continued)
وَقَطاً نازَعتُهُ المَو
رِدَcompletion of 'the watering-place' وَاللّيلُand the night كَفورُconcealing; dark
رِدَ وَاللّيلُ كَفورُ
And sandgrouse I rivaled for the watering-place,
A cat I struggled with,
while the night concealed everything.
And the night is disbelieving.
لَمdid not يَذَرَّفيscatter within نَواحيreaches
لَم يَذَرَّفي نَواحي
هِits مِنfrom الصُبحِdawn ذَرورُa scattered gleam
هِ مِن الصُبحِ ذَرورُ
Through its reaches there had not spread
It did not leave in its regions,
a sprinkling of dawn.
From the dawn remnants.
بِنَواجٍon swift she-camels حَزَّcarved away مِنهُنْfrom them (continued)
بِنَواجٍ حَزَّ مِنهُنْ
نcompletion of 'from them' النَجاءُswift travel المُستَطيرُfar-spreading
ن النَجاءُ المُستَطيرُ
On swift she-camels, carved lean
With gazelles it divided,
by headlong, far-ranging speed,
From them the she-oryx fled.
لِحُمَيدٍfor Humayd وَحمَيدٌand Humayd
لِحُمَيدٍ وَحمَيدٌ
قَمَرُthe moon الأَرضِof the earth المُنيرُshining
قَمَرُ الأَرضِ المُنيرُ
for Humayd—and Humayd
For Humaid and Humaid is
is the earth's shining moon.
The shining moon of the earth.
لَوif حَمىprotected الدُنياthe world حمَيدٌHumayd
لَو حَمى الدُنيا حمَيدٌ
لَمnot يَكُنbe فيهاin it فَقيرُa poor person
لَم يَكُن فيها فَقيرُ
Were Humayd to protect the world,
If Humaid protected the world,
no poor person would remain in it.
There would be in it no poor.
مَلِكٌa king كِلتاboth يَدَيهِhis hands
مَلِكٌ كِلتا يَدَيهِ
بِعَطاياهُwith his gifts دَرورُoverflowing
بِعَطاياهُ دَرورُ
A king, both of whose hands
A king whose both hands
overflow with his gifts;
Are overflowing with gifts.
وَكِلاand both يَومَيهِhis two days فيin الأَرthe earth (continued)
وَكِلا يَومَيهِ في الأَر
ضِcompletion of 'the earth' بَشيرٌa bearer of glad tidings وَنَذيرُand a warner
ضِ بَشيرٌ وَنَذيرُ
and both his days on earth
And both his days in the land
herald glad tidings and warning.
Are bearers of good news and warners.
مُستَبِدُّsole master الشَأوِof the lead لاnot يَبْreaches (continued)
مُستَبِدُّ الشَأوِ لا يَبْ
لُغُcompletion of 'reaches' مَسعاهُhis striving الفَخورُthe boastful man
لُغُ مَسعاهُ الفَخورُ
Sole master of the race: no
Arrogant in command, the proud,
boaster reaches the course he runs.
Do not attain his lofty aims.
إِنَّindeed مَنwhoever حاوَلَattempts فيin الأُفthe horizon (continued)
إِنَّ مَن حاوَلَ في الأُف
قِcompletion of 'the horizon' اِطِّلاعاًan ascent لَحَسيرُsurely exhausted
قِ اِطِّلاعاً لَحَسيرُ
Whoever strives to rise on the horizon
Indeed whoever strives in the horizon,
is surely exhausted.
Seeking to peer, will be wretched.
وَكَفاهُand enough for him أَنَّهُthat he يَمٌّa sea
وَكَفاهُ أَنَّهُ يَمٌّ
تُساميهِstrive to rival him البُحورُthe seas
تُساميهِ البُحورُ
It is enough for him that he is a sea
And suffice him that he is vile,
which other seas strive to rival.
While the seas cannot reach his height.
أَريَحِيٌّgenerous; openhanded مُنهِبُgiving freely الماwealth (continued)
أَريَحِيٌّ مُنهِبُ الما
لِcompletion of 'wealth' وَبِالسَيفِand with the sword شَتورُa fierce cleaver
لِ وَبِالسَيفِ شَتورُ
Openhanded, he gives his wealth for the taking,
Easy going, spending money,
and with the sword he is a fierce cleaver.
And with the sword a butcher.
وَرَكوبٌand a bold rider ثَبَجَthe crest الخُطَّof an ordeal (continued)
وَرَكوبٌ ثَبَجَ الخُطَّ
ةِcompletion of 'the ordeal' يَخشاهاfears it الجَسورُthe bold man
ةِ يَخشاها الجَسورُ
And he rides the crest of an ordeal
And a rider who stirred anxiety,
that the bold man fears.
Feared by the brave.
ضَمِنَtook responsibility for الأَرضَthe earth حُمَيدٌHumayd
ضَمِنَ الأَرضَ حُمَيدٌ
فَهوَso he لِلأَرضِfor the earth خَفيرُa protector
فَهوَ لِلأَرضِ خَفيرُ
Humayd has taken the earth into his keeping;
Humaid guaranteed the land,
he is the earth's guardian,
So he is for the land a guard.
بِيَدٍwith a hand تَنَهلُّgushing forth خِلفَيtwo teats (continued)
بِيَدٍ تَنَهلُّ خِلفَي
نِcompletion of 'two teats' فَتُحيthus gives life وَتُبيرُand destroys
نِ فَتُحي وَتُبيرُ
with a hand pouring through two teats,
With a hand that draws from behind,
giving life and bringing destruction.
So it brings victory and destroys.
يَقلَقُis restless المالُwealth عَلَيهاupon it
يَقلَقُ المالُ عَلَيها
وَبِهاand through it تَشجىare distressed الدّثورُabundant riches
وَبِها تَشجى الدّثورُ
Wealth is restless upon it,
Money is restless in it,
and great fortunes are distressed by it.
And through it sorrows are consoled.
صامِتيٌّof the Samiti lineage فَرَعَscaled المَجglory (continued)
صامِتيٌّ فَرَعَ المَج
دَcompletion of 'glory' وَزَكَّتهُand ennobled him النُجورُancestral roots
دَ وَزَكَّتهُ النُجورُ
A Samiti, he has scaled glory,
Silent, so dignity was kindled,
and his ancestral roots have ennobled him.
And it was purified by honor.
فَلَهُso to him belongs الحَمدُpraise المُبَدّىoffered first
فَلَهُ الحَمدُ المُبَدّى
وَلَهُand to him belongs الحَمدُpraise الأَخيرُthe last
وَلَهُ الحَمدُ الأَخيرُ
To him belongs the first praise,
So for him is never-ending praise,
and to him belongs the last praise.
And for him is the final praise.
كَدِرَbecame turbid الناسُpeople وَصاand clear (continued)
كَدِرَ الناسُ وَصا
فيcompletion of 'clear' النَيلِgiving; bounty ماnot فيهَin him الأَخيرُthe last
في النَيلِ ما فيهَ الأَخيرُ
People have grown turbid; he is clear
People were troubled and proceeded,
in giving; there is no "last" in him [wording unclear].
In the Nile what is in it is the remains.
وَعَجولٌand swift بِعَطاياwith gifts
وَعَجولٌ بِعَطايا
وَعَلىand in the face of الرَوعِterror قَتورُmiserly; sparing
وَعَلى الرَوعِ قَتورُ
And swift with gifts,
And swift with gifts,
yet miserly with fear.
And in frightening firm.
ماnot أَعَزَّgranted honor اللَهُGod جاراًa neighbor
ما أَعَزَّ اللَهُ جاراً
بِسِواهُwith anyone besides him يَستَجيرُseeks refuge
بِسِواهُ يَستَجيرُ
God has not honored a neighbor
How dear is the one God supports,
who seeks shelter with anyone but him.
Other than Him one seeks refuge!
ياO أَباAbu; father of غانِمَGhanim الغُنgain (continued)
يا أَبا غانِمَ الغُن
مُcompletion of 'gain' عَلىupon مَنwhoever يَستَميرُseeks provisions
مُ عَلى مَن يَستَميرُ
O Abu Ghanim, bounty
O Abu Ghanim the protected,
falls to whoever seeks provisions,
Against whom sorrows narrow.
وَأَباand father of الأَمنِsafety إِذاwhen ضاtighten (continued)
وَأَبا الأَمنِ إِذا ضا
قَتcompletion of 'tighten' مِنَfrom الخَوفِfear الصُدورُthe breasts
قَت مِنَ الخَوفِ الصُدورُ
and father of safety, when
O guardian of security when
breasts tighten with fear.
Fears tighten the chests.
بِكَthrough you رُكنُthe pillar الأَرضِof the earth يَرسوstands firm
بِكَ رُكنُ الأَرضِ يَرسو
وَرحىand the millstone المُلكِof kingship يَدورُturns
وَرحى المُلكِ يَدورُ
Through you the earth's pillar stands firm,
Through you the pillar of earth is firm,
and the millstone of kingship turns.
And the mill of kingship turns.
أَنتَyou لِلمُلكِto kingship نَصيرٌa helper
أَنتَ لِلمُلكِ نَصيرٌ
وَلَكَand for you اللَهُGod نَصيرُa helper
وَلَكَ اللَهُ نَصيرُ
You are a helper to kingship,
You are a supporter of the kingdom,
and God is a helper to you.
And for you God is a supporter.
رُبَّmany a مُلتَفِّone surrounded by السَراياwarbands
رُبَّ مُلتَفِّ السَرايا
غَرهُdeceived him مِنكَabout you الغَرورُdelusion
غَرهُ مِنكَ الغَرورُ
Many a man surrounded by warbands
The thoughts of many turn,
was deceived about you by delusion.
Deceived by you arrogance and pomp.
أَبطَرَتهُmade him insolent دَعَةُease النِعprosperity (continued)
أَبطَرَتهُ دَعَةُ النِع
مَةِcompletion of 'prosperity' وَالعِزُّand might النَميرُsweet; wholesome
مَةِ وَالعِزُّ النَميرُ
Ease in prosperity made him insolent,
He is tempted by ease of blessing,
and sweet-flowing might.
And the glittering illusion of power.
أَلِفَgrew accustomed to النُكثbreaking oaths إِلىupon النُكbreaking oaths (continued)
أَلِفَ النُكث إِلى النُك
ثِcompletion of 'breaking oaths' يُغَزّيhe sends troops to war وَيُغيرُand he raids
ثِ يُغَزّي وَيُغيرُ
He grew used to breach of oath upon
He grew accustomed to betrayal upon betrayal,
breach, sending troops to war and raiding.
Inciting and changing.
قُدتَهُyou drove him بِالخَيلِwith cavalry قَوداًa driving
قُدتَهُ بِالخَيلِ قَوداً
يَومَon a day of قَودِdriving الخَيلِthe horses زورُforce; violence
يَومَ قَودِ الخَيلِ زورُ
You drove him with the cavalry,
You led him with the horses, a leading,
on a day when driving horses was sheer force,
The day of the leading of horses in file.
وَخَميسٍand an army تُقبَضُis contracted الأَرthe earth (continued)
وَخَميسٍ تُقبَضُ الأَر
ضُcompletion of 'the earth' لَهُfor it ظَلَّkept يَسيرُmarching
ضُ لَهُ ظَلَّ يَسيرُ
and with an army before which the earth
And a Thursday when the land,
contracted as it kept marching.
Is grasped for him, a brief shadow.
تَصِلُbring together البيضَthe bright swords خُطاهits steps
تَصِلُ البيضَ خُطاه
وَقَناand the spears الخَطِّof al-Khatt شَجيرُinterlaced
وَقَنا الخَطِّ شَجيرُ
Its steps bring bright blades together,
Your steps reach the white,
and al-Khatt's spears are interlaced.
And the leader of the line the tree.
وَيُناجيand whisper secretly فيهِwithin it لِلمَوto death (continued)
وَيُناجي فيهِ لِلمَو
تِcompletion of 'death' أَيامَيserpents وَتَمورُand they writhe
تِ أَيامَي وَتَمورُ
And within it, whispering to death,
And he whispers in it to death,
serpents writhe,
My days and nights.
مِثلَlike ماwhat لَفَّgathered إِلَيهِto itself
مِثلَ ما لَفَّ إِلَيهِ
قَزَعَscattered cloud-patches المُزنِof rain-clouds الصَبيرُthe towering cloud-bank
قَزَعَ المُزنِ الصَبيرُ
as a towering cloud-bank gathers to itself
Like one who turned to him,
scattered patches of rain-cloud.
The patient twisting fate.
قَدindeed تَرَكتyou left الطَيرَthe birds جاءَتcame
قَد تَرَكت الطَيرَ جاءَت
لِمَّةًin a flock وَهوَwhile he عَقيرُslain
لِمَّةً وَهوَ عَقيرُ
You left him; the birds arrived
You have left the birds that came
in a flock, while he lay slain.
Suddenly while he is barren.
يَستَهِلُّgushes forth العَلَقُgore الساflowing (continued)
يَستَهِلُّ العَلَقُ السا
ئِلُcompletion of 'flowing' مِنهُfrom him وَالنَعيرُand groaning cries
ئِلُ مِنهُ وَالنَعيرُ
His flowing blood gushes forth,
The questioning empty mind,
and from him comes a groaning roar.
Seeks from him and the opinion.
أَنتَyou لِلصُّبحِto the dawn ضِياءٌradiance
أَنتَ لِلصُّبحِ ضِياءٌ
لَيسَthere is no لِلَصُّبحِfor the dawn نَكيرُdenial
لَيسَ لِلَصُّبحِ نَكيرُ
You are a radiance to the dawn;
You are for the dawn radiance,
dawn cannot deny it.
The dawn has no rejecter.
وَإِلىand to مَجدِكَyour glory يَنمىis traced back
وَإِلى مَجدِكَ يَنمى
كُلُّevery مَجدٍglory وَيَحورُand returns
كُلُّ مَجدٍ وَيَحورُ
To your glory is traced
And to your glory grows,
every glory, and to it each returns.
Every glory and is humbled.
وَنَدىand the bounty كَفَّيكَof your two palms بَحرٌa sea
وَنَدى كَفَّيكَ بَحرٌ
مِنهُfrom it تَنشَقُّbranch off البُحورُthe seas
مِنهُ تَنشَقُّ البُحورُ
The bounty of your two palms is a sea
And the palm of your hand is an ocean,
from which other seas branch.
From which oceans split.
كُلُّevery ذيpossessor of مَجدٍglory طَوِيلٍlofty
كُلُّ ذي مَجدٍ طَوِيلٍ
عِندَbeside مَسعاكَyour striving قَصيرُshort
عِندَ مَسعاكَ قَصيرُ
Every man of towering glory
Everyone with long glory,
is short beside your striving.
Is short next to your lofty aims.
وَقَليلٌand a little مِنof أَياديfavors
وَقَليلٌ مِن أَيادي
كَyour عَلىto الناسِpeople كَثيرُmuch
كَ عَلى الناسِ كَثيرُ
A little of the favors
And little from your hands,
you bestow on people is much.
Upon the people is great.
فَاِبقَso live on ماas long as عُدَّare counted مِنَof الدَهtime (continued)
فَاِبقَ ما عُدَّ مِنَ الدَه
رِcompletion of 'time' سُنوهُits years وَالشُهورُand the months
رِ سُنوهُ وَالشُهورُ
So live as long as time's
So live beyond what is counted,
years and months are counted.
Of lifetimes, years, and months.
Sol 6.1