هَلis there بِالدَيارِin the dwellings الغَداةَthis morning مِنany صَمَمِdeafness
هَل بِالدَيارِ الغَداةَ مِن صَمَمِ
أَمor هَلis there بِرَبعِin the dwelling of الأَنِيسِfamiliar folk مِنany قِدَمِage-wornness
أَم هَل بِرَبعِ الأَنِيسِ مِن قِدَمِ
Is there deafness in the dwellings this morning?
Is there in the abodes at dawn a steadfast one,
Or is the dwelling of familiar folk worn with age?
Or in the quarters of intimacy a frequent visitor?
أَمor ماwhat تُناديyou call to مِنof ماثِلٍa standing remnant دَرَجَswept السَthe torrent (first part)
أَم ما تُنادي مِن ماثِلٍ دَرَجَ السَ
يلُtorrent (completion) عَلَيهِover it كَالحَوضِlike a basin مُنهَدِمِruined
يلُ عَلَيهِ كَالحَوضِ مُنهَدِمِ
Or what standing remnant do you call to, swept by the
Or whom do you call out to from the high-ceilinged houses
torrent, like a ruined basin?
That are ruined like a dilapidated basin?
تَسألُهُyou ask it العَهدَabout old times وَهوَwhile it عَهدُكَyour remembered time واِسand assembled (first part)
تَسألُهُ العَهدَ وَهوَ عَهدُكَ واِس
تَجمَعَassembled (completion) مَنthose who حَلَّهُdwelt in it وَلَمand had not يَرِمِdeparted
تَجمَعَ مَن حَلَّهُ وَلَم يَرِمِ
You ask it of old times, of the days you knew it, when
You ask him to fulfill the pact that was your pact
all who dwelt there were together and had not left.
When you brought together those that did not cast.
إِنَّكَindeed you أَنتَyou yourself المَحزونُthe sorrowful one فيin أَثَرِthe traces of الthe
إِنَّكَ أَنتَ المَحزونُ في أَثَرِ ال
حيِّtribe فَإِنso if تَنوِyou intend نِيَّهُمtheir destination تُقِمِyou will settle
حيِّ فَإِن تَنوِ نِيَّهُم تُقِمِ
It is you who grieve, following the traces of the
You are the sorrowful one seeking the traces
tribe; if you choose their destination, you will settle.
Of the living; if you intend their resting places you will arise.
كانَthere were بِهاin it بَعضُsome مَنof those whom هَوِيتُI loved وَمَنand whoever
كانَ بِها بَعضُ مَن هَوِيتُ وَمَن
يَلقَfinds سُرُوراًjoy فِيin العَيشِlife لَمdoes not يَدُمِlast
يَلقَ سُرُوراً فِي العَيشِ لَم يَدُمِ
Some of those I loved were here; and whoever
There was in it one whom I loved and one
finds joy in life finds it does not endure.
Who found happiness in life that did not last.
يَسأَلُنيasks me صَاحِبيmy companion بِدائيabout my illness وَقَدthough already
يَسأَلُني صَاحِبي بِدائي وَقَد
نامَhe slept عِشاءًat nightfall وَبِتُّand I spent the night لَمdid not أَنَمِI sleep
نامَ عِشاءً وَبِتُّ لَم أَنَمِ
My companion asks me about my illness, though
My companion asks me of my sickness though he
he slept at nightfall, while I spent the night without sleep.
Slept supperless while I did not sleep.
إِنَّindeed شِفائِيmy cure وَأَصلُand the root of دائِيmy illness
إِنَّ شِفائِي وَأَصلُ دائِي
لَشَيءٌsurely a thing واحِدٌsingle وَهوَand it is أَكبَرُthe greatest السَقَمِsickness
لَشَيءٌ واحِدٌ وَهوَ أَكبَرُ السَقَمِ
My cure and the root of my illness
My cure and origin of my sickness
are indeed one thing, and it is the gravest sickness,
Are one thing, and it is the greatest of diseases.
مِنfrom عَهدِthe memory of ماwhat أَورَثَتshe bequeathed حَبِيبهHabibah
مِن عَهدِ ما أَورَثَت حَبِيبه
وَالشَرُّand evil يُوافِيcomes to مَطالِعَthe rises of الأَكَمِthe hills
وَالشَرُّ يُوافِي مَطالِعَ الأَكَمِ
from the memory of what Habibah left me—
From the days she bequeathed her lover
and evil comes upon the hilltops.
And evil meets the horizons of agony.
أَكنيI use a byname بِغيرِother than اِسمِهاher name وَقَدthough already عَلِمَhas known
أَكني بِغيرِ اِسمِها وَقَد عَلِمَ
اللَهُGod خَفِيّاتِthe hidden aspects of كُلِّevery مُكتَتَمِconcealed thing
اللَهُ خَفِيّاتِ كُلِّ مُكتَتَمِ
I call her by another name, though
I use a name other than hers though God knows
God knows the hidden depths of every secret.
The secrets of all who conceal.
مَخافَةَfor fear of الكاشِحِthe spiteful foe المُكَثِّرِthe garrulous one أَنthat
مَخافَةَ الكاشِحِ المُكَثِّرِ أَن
يَطرَحَhe might cast فيهاagainst her عَوائِرَwounding الكَلِمِwords
يَطرَحَ فيها عَوائِرَ الكَلِمِ
For fear the spiteful, garrulous enemy might
Fearing the slanderer repeating too much
cast slanderous words against her.
Casting aspersions into it and integrity of words.
طَيِّبَةُsweet النَشرِin fragrance وَالبُداهَةِand at first encounter
طَيِّبَةُ النَشرِ وَالبُداهَةِ
وَالعِلاّتِand on repeated encounters عِندَat الرُقادِsleep وَالنَسَمِand breathing
وَالعِلاّتِ عِندَ الرُقادِ وَالنَسَمِ
Sweet in fragrance, at first encounter
Goodly is her complexion and candidness
and each return, in sleep and with every breath.
And height when at rest or gently breeze.
كَأَنَas though فَاهَاher mouth إِذاwhen تَبَسَمَّit smiles مِنfrom
كَأَنَ فَاهَا إِذا تَبَسَمَّ مِن
طٍيبِsweetness of مِشِمٍّscent وَحُسنِand beauty of مُبَتسَمِa smile
طٍيبِ مِشِمٍّ وَحُسنِ مُبَتسَمِ
As though her mouth, when it smiles—with its
Her mouth smiles as if from a sweet-
sweet scent and lovely smile—
Smelling perfume and a beautiful smile.
تَستَنُّshe cleans her teeth بِالضَروِwith mastic twigs مِنfrom بَراقِشَBaraqish أَوor
تَستَنُّ بِالضَروِ مِن بَراقِشَ أَو
هَيلانHaylan أَوor ناضِرٍfresh shoots مِنَof العُتُمِwild olive
هَيلان أَو ناضِرٍ مِنَ العُتُمِ
(she cleans her teeth with mastic from Baraqish or
She rubs herself with fresh scent or jasmine
Haylan, or fresh shoots of wild olive,
Or bright flowers of the darkest gloom.
غَرّاءُradiant كالليلَةِlike the night المُبَارَكَةِblessed القَمmoonlit (first part)
غَرّاءُ كالليلَةِ المُبَارَكَةِ القَم
راءٍmoonlit (completion) تَهدِيguides through أَوائِلَthe beginnings of الظُلَمِdarkness
راءٍ تَهدِي أَوائِلَ الظُلَمِ
radiant as a blessed,
She is tawny as the blessed night - the red
moonlit night, guiding through the first darkness)
Dusk that ushers in the darknesses.
رُكَّبَwere blended فِيin السامِbamboo والزَبيبِand raisins أَقاdaisies (first part)
رُكَّبَ فِي السامِ والزَبيبِ أَقا
حِيُّdaisies (completion) كَثِيبٍa sand dune تندىare moistened مِنَby الرَهَمِgentle rains
حِيُّ كَثِيبٍ تندى مِنَ الرَهَمِ
were daisies set amid bamboo and raisins,
There was thrown in it ripened raisins and zabib
daisies from a dune, dewy with gentle rains,
Berries from a hill dripping from pods.
بِماءٍwith water of مُزنٍrain clouds مِنfrom ماءٍwater of دَومَةَDumah قَدalready
بِماءٍ مُزنٍ مِن ماءٍ دَومَةَ قَد
جُرِّدَwas clarified فِيin لَيلِa night of شمأَلٍnorth wind شَبِمِbitter cold
جُرِّدَ فِي لَيلِ شمأَلٍ شَبِمِ
with cloud-water, water from Dumah, that had
With strained water from ageless water
been clarified on a cold night of north wind.
That was filtered on a night of Scorpio.
عُلَّتwas watered again بهِwith it قَرقَفٌchill-inducing wine سُلاَفَةُthe choicest of إِسspiced wine (first part)
عُلَّت بهِ قَرقَفٌ سُلاَفَةُ إِس
فِنطٍspiced wine (completion) عُقارٌstrong wine قَلِيلَةُcausing little النَدَمِregret
فِنطٍ عُقارٌ قَلِيلَةُ النَدَمِ
With it was watered again a wine that makes one shiver, the finest
On it was cooked quince pulp - the leftovers
spiced wine, potent and bringing little regret.
Of transparent Isaac of little regret.
أُلقيَwere cast فِيهاinto it فِلجانِtwo portions مِنof مِسكِmusk of
أُلقيَ فِيها فِلجانِ مِن مِسكِ
دارِينَDarin وفِلجٌand one portion مِنof فُلفُلٍpepper ضَرِمٍfiery
دارِينَ وفِلجٌ مِن فُلفُلٍ ضَرِمٍ
Into it were cast two portions of musk from
Into it was thrown sweet almonds from double-
Darin, and one portion of fiery pepper.
Skinned musk and strips of hot peppers.
رُدَّتit was returned إِلىto أَكلَفِa dark-mottled vessel المَناكِبِat the shoulders
رُدَّت إِلى أَكلَفِ المَناكِبِ
مَرسُومٍmarked مُقِيمٍfixed in place فيin الطّينِthe clay مُحتَدِمِseething
مَرسُومٍ مُقِيمٍ في الطّينِ مُحتَدِمِ
It was returned to a jar with dark-mottled shoulders,
It was returned to the porcelain pot - engraved,
marked, fixed in clay, seething,
Settled in the clay furious and fermenting.
جَونٍblack كَجَوزِlike the cask of الخَمّارِthe wine seller جَرَّدَهُsmoothed it
جَونٍ كَجَوزِ الخَمّارِ جَرَّدَهُ
الخُرّاسُthe jar-makers لاneither ناقِسٍleaking وَلاnor هَزِمِcracked
الخُرّاسُ لا ناقِسٍ وَلا هَزِمِ
black as the vintner's cask, smoothed by
Ripened walnuts that the peach stone remover stripped Without cracking or crushing.
the jar-makers, neither leaking nor cracked.
It bubbles and its bracelets like the
تَهِدُرit roars فِيهِinside it وَساوَرَتهُand surged against it كَماas
تَهِدُر فِيهِ وَساوَرَتهُ كَما
رُجِّعَwas echoed هَدرٌa bellow مِنfrom مُصعَبٍan unbroken camel قَطِمِin rut
رُجِّعَ هَدرٌ مِن مُصعَبٍ قَطِمِ
It roars within, surging against it, like
Echo returned from resounding Misab.
the echoed bellow of an unbroken, rutting camel,
With an obstruction that squares the sword - long handed
وَحائِلٍand a dry she-camel بازِلٍfully mature تَربَّعَتِgrazed through الصَthe summer (first part)
وَحائِلٍ بازِلٍ تَربَّعَتِ الصَ
يفَsummer (completion) طَوِيلَlong in العِفاءِhair كَالأُطُمِlike fortress towers
يفَ طَوِيلَ العِفاءِ كَالأُطُمِ
and of a dry, mature she-camel that grazed through
Like darkness made to fit tightly together.
summer, long-haired, like fortress towers.
Planted by green palm fronds
غَرَّزَهاdried up her milk أَخضَرُgreen in النَواجِذِthe molars
غَرَّزَها أَخضَرُ النَواجِذِ
نَسّافٌviolently sweeping aside نُحورَthe chests of الفِصالِcamel calves بالقَدَمِwith his foot
نَسّافٌ نُحورَ الفِصالِ بالقَدَمِ
A green-molared stallion had dried up her milk,
A carver slicing the necks with his feet.
flinging calves back with kicks to their chests.
And a raid whose bridges burned that
وَغارةٍand many a raid تَسعَرُsets ablaze المَقانِبَthe mounted squadrons قَدindeed
وَغارةٍ تَسعَرُ المَقانِبَ قَد
سارَعتُI hastened فِيهاin it بِصَلدمٍon a powerful steed صَمَمِrock-solid
سارَعتُ فِيها بِصَلدمٍ صَمَمِ
And in many a raid that set the squadrons ablaze,
I hurried in it with quick steadfast steps.
I have raced on a powerful, rock-solid steed,
With wide open mouth - the ankles
فَعمٍfull-bodied أَسِيلٍsmooth-lined عَرِيضِbroad أَوظِفَةِin the shanks of الرِthe hindlegs (first part)
فَعمٍ أَسِيلٍ عَرِيضِ أَوظِفَةِ الرِ
جلَينِhindlegs (completion) خاظِيthick in البَضيعِflesh مُلتَئِمِwell-knit
جلَينِ خاظِي البَضيعِ مُلتَئِمِ
full-bodied, smooth-lined, broad through the shanks of his
Joined, scraping the bowls brought together.
hindlegs, thickly muscled, well-knit.
In its elbows proximity and palm
فيin مِرفَقيهِhis two elbows تَقارُبٌcloseness وَلَهُand he has
في مِرفَقيهِ تَقارُبٌ وَلَهُ
بِركةُa brisket زَورٍof the chest كَجَبأَةِlike the rootstock of الخَزَمِthe khazam palm
بِركةُ زَورٍ كَجَبأَةِ الخَزَمِ
His elbows are close-set, and he has
Print like toadskin grown together.
a brisket like the rootstock of a khazam palm.
It was threaded on the seam and perfected
خِيطَhe was stitched عَلىover زَفرَةٍa capacious chest فَتَمَّand grew complete وَلَمand did not
خِيطَ عَلى زَفرَةٍ فَتَمَّ وَلَم
يَرجعbecome again إِلىtoward دِقَّةٍthinness وَلاnor هَضَمِhollow-sidedness
يَرجع إِلى دِقَّةٍ وَلا هَضَمِ
He was stitched over a great chest, full-grown, never
Without returning to carefulness of chewing.
turning thin or hollow-sided.
It is long necked - extended with its lays
وَهوَand he is طَوِيلُlong in الجِرانِthe underneck مُدَّwas lengthened بِلَحin his jaws (first part)
وَهوَ طَوِيلُ الجِرانِ مُدَّ بِلَح
ييِهhis jaws (completion) وَلَمand did not يأزَماthey both clamp عَلىover كَزَمِa cramped muzzle
ييِه وَلَم يأزَما عَلى كَزَمِ
His underneck is long; long-drawn are his
But did not test on determining ripeness.
jaws, not clenched over a cramped muzzle.
As if after the horses were cut off
كأَنَّهُas though he were بَعَدماafter تَقَطَّعتِwere exhausted الthe
كأَنَّهُ بَعَدما تَقَطَّعتِ ال
خَيلُhorses وَمالَand bore heavily الحَمِيمُhot sweat بِالجُرُمِupon the body
خَيلُ وَمالَ الحَمِيمُ بِالجُرُمِ
He seems, once the
And the battle joined the warring parties.
horses are spent and hot sweat weighs down the body,
A wanton seeking pigeons while the
شُوذانقٌa falcon يَطلُبُpursuing الحَمامَdoves وَتَزand lifts him (first part)
شُوذانقٌ يَطلُبُ الحَمامَ وَتَز
هاهُlifts him (completion) جَنُوبُa south wind لِناهِضٍfor a fledged bird لَحِمٍhungry for flesh
هاهُ جَنُوبُ لِناهِضٍ لَحِمٍ
a falcon pursuing doves, lifted
Southern wind makes it rise to the hill.
by a south wind—a fledged bird hungry for flesh.
It casts down the heavily armed knight
يُطِيحُflies away بالفارِسِwith the rider المُدَجَّجِheavily armored ذيpossessing القَوthe helmet (first part)
يُطِيحُ بالفارِسِ المُدَجَّجِ ذي القَو
نَسِhelmet (completion) حَتّىuntil يَغِيبَhe disappears فيin القَتَمِthe dust
نَسِ حَتّى يَغِيبَ في القَتَمِ
He speeds away with the armored rider in his
Until he disappears into the darkness.
helmet, till he vanishes in the dust.
I hurried it on the morrow and it
أَعجَلَهاhurried them from أَقدَحِيُّa hawk الضَّحاءَthe morning meal ضُحىًat forenoon
أَعجَلَها أَقدَحِيُّ الضَّحاءَ ضُحىً
وَهيَwhile they تُناصِيreach level with ذَوائِبَthe topmost boughs of السَلَمِthe acacias
وَهيَ تُناصِي ذَوائِبَ السَلَمِ
A hawk cut short their morning meal at forenoon,
Rivaled the extremities of peace.
while they were level with the acacias' topmost boughs.
Inform my friend whose frowning distresses me,
أَبلِغtell خَلِيلَيmy friend الَّذيwho تَجَهَّمَنيmet me with a scowl
أَبلِغ خَلِيلَي الَّذي تَجَهَّمَني
ماnot أَناI عَنon account of غِيّهِhis waywardness بِمنُصَرِمِone who breaks away
ما أَنا عَن غِيّهِ بِمنُصَرِمِ
Tell my friend, who greeted me with a scowl:
I cannot restrain his anger.
I will not break with him for his waywardness.
If it should be lost what I carried then
إِنif يَكُit is قَدalready ضاعَhas been lost ماwhat حَمَلتُI bore فَقَدthen indeed
إِن يَكُ قَد ضاعَ ما حَمَلتُ فَقَد
حَمَلتُI have borne إِثماًa sin كَالطَودِlike a mountain مِنof إِضَمِIdam
حَمَلتُ إِثماً كَالطَودِ مِن إِضَمِ
If the charge I bore has been lost, then I have
I carried a sin like a towering burden.
borne a sin like a mountain in Idam.
God's trust and it is greater than
أَمانَةُthe trust of اللَهِGod وَهيَand it is أَعظَمُgreater مِنthan
أَمانَةُ اللَهِ وَهيَ أَعظَمُ مِن
هَضبِthe hills of شَرَورىSharawra وَالرُكنِand the buttress مِنof خِيَمِKhiyam
هَضبِ شَرَورى وَالرُكنِ مِن خِيَمِ
By God's trust—and it is greater than
The plateau of misfortune and the cornerstone of the tent.
the hills of Sharawra and the buttress of Khiyam—
I tell you the secret - I do not tell
أُخبِرُكَI tell you السِرَّthe secret لاnot أُخَبِّرُهُI tell it to
أُخبِرُكَ السِرَّ لا أُخَبِّرُهُ
الناسَthe people وَأُصفيكَand favor you دُونَover ذِيone possessing الرَحِمِblood kinship
الناسَ وَأُصفيكَ دُونَ ذِي الرَحِمِ
I tell you the secret I do not tell
The people - and single you out apart from relatives.
others, and favor you above my blood relations.
I deter the slandering enemy if
وَأَزجُرُand I rebuke الكاشِحَthe spiteful foe العَدُوَّthe enemy إِذاwhen
وَأَزجُرُ الكاشِحَ العَدُوَّ إِذا
اِغتابَكَhe backbites you زَجراًa rebuke مِنّيfrom me عَلىin أَضَمِanger
اِغتابَكَ زَجراً مِنّي عَلى أَضَمِ
And I rebuke the spiteful enemy whenever
He suspects you - deterring from me insistently.
he backbites you, rebuking him in wrath,
My father Urwa deterred the beasts if
زَجرَlike the driving off by أَبِيAbu عُروَةَUrwah السِباعَthe wild beasts إِذاwhen
زَجرَ أَبِي عُروَةَ السِباعَ إِذا
أَشفَقَhe feared أَنthat يلتَبِسنَthey might mingle بِالغَنَمِwith the sheep
أَشفَقَ أَن يلتَبِسنَ بِالغَنَمِ
as Abu Urwah drives off wild beasts when
He feared they would blend with the sheep.
he fears they may get among the sheep.
You betrayed the covenant of brotherhood - initiating
فخُنتَyet you betrayed عَهدَthe pledge of الإِخاءِbrotherhood مُبتَدِئاًmaking the first move
فخُنتَ عَهدَ الإِخاءِ مُبتَدِئاً
وَلَمand did not تَخَفyou fear مِنfrom غَوائِلِthe deadly perils of النِقَمِretribution
وَلَم تَخَف مِن غَوائِلِ النِقَمِ
Yet you were first to betray the pledge of brotherhood,
And did not fear the consequences of vengeance.
and did not fear the deadly blows of retribution.
Partial English translation: 77 of 78 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1