بانَdeparted السَفاءُfolly وَأَودىand perished الجَهلُignorance وَالسَرَفُand excess
بانَ السَفاءُ وَأَودى الجَهلُ وَالسَرَفُ
وَفيand in التُقىpiety بَعدَafter إِفراطِthe excess of الفَتىthe young man خَلَفُrecompense
وَفي التُقى بَعدَ إِفراطِ الفَتى خَلَفُ
Folly has departed; ignorance and excess have perished.
Ignorance and excess have vanished, wisdom now
And in piety lies recompense after a young man's excess.
Shows the straight path, when passion misled the youth,
وَقَدand indeed كَسانِيَclothed me شَيباًin gray hair قَدalready غَنِيتُI have lived بِهِwith it
وَقَد كَسانِيَ شَيباً قَد غَنِيتُ بِهِ
مَرُّthe passing of اللَياليthe nights مَعَwith الأَيّامِthe days تَختَلِفُalternating
مَرُّ اللَيالي مَعَ الأَيّامِ تَختَلِفُ
And I have been clothed in gray hair, with which I have lived,
And hoariness has clothed me, which I wanted before,
by the passing of nights, as the days alternate.
Nights and days go on changing and alternating,
وَزالَand vanished أَيديmy strength وَشَيبيand my gray hair ماdoes not يُزايُلُنيleave me
وَزالَ أَيدي وَشَيبي ما يُزايُلُني
وَآلَand dwindled مِنّيfrom me وَشَيبُand the gray hair of الرَأسِthe head مُختَلِفُmingled
وَآلَ مِنّي وَشَيبُ الرَأسِ مُختَلِفُ
My strength has vanished, but my gray hair does not leave me.
My vigour and my hoary hair are not as they were.
My strength has dwindled, while gray mingles in my hair.
Both have parted from me, my hoary head differed,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen الدَهرُtime بَلّانيwore me down وَغَيَّرَنيand changed me
حَتّى إِذا الدَهرُ بَلّاني وَغَيَّرَني
كَماas يُغَيِّرُchanges جِسمَthe body of المُخصِبِthe well-nourished person العَجَفُleanness
كَما يُغَيِّرُ جِسمَ المُخصِبِ العَجَفُ
Until, when time had worn me down and changed me,
Till time afflicted and changed me completely,
as leanness changes a well-nourished body,
As the fertile soil is changed by the sower.
قالَتsaid لِيَto me النَفسُthe soul سِرّاًsecretly إِذwhen خَلَوتُI was alone بِهاwith it
قالَت لِيَ النَفسُ سِرّاً إِذ خَلَوتُ بِها
وَالنَفسُand the soul صادِقَةٌis truthful لَوif only أَنَّهاit تَقِفُwould stand firm
وَالنَفسُ صادِقَةٌ لَو أَنَّها تَقِفُ
my soul spoke secretly to me when I was alone with it—
My soul whispered to me secretly when alone:
and the soul speaks truth, if only it would stand firm:
The soul is truthful if left to itself.
مَنwhoever يَرَsees فيin وُلدِهِhis children أَيداًstrength يُسَرُّis delighted بِهِby it
مَن يَرَ في وُلدِهِ أَيداً يُسَرُّ بِهِ
تَهِنgrow weak قِوىthe powers of شَيخِهِhis old man وَالشَيخُand the old man مُنحَذِفُdwindling
تَهِن قِوى شَيخِهِ وَالشَيخُ مُنحَذِفُ
Whoever sees strength in his children and delights in it,
He who sees supporting arms in his son
his old man's powers wane, and the old man dwindles.
His own strength as an old man becomes less.
ذَرِleave الشَبابَyouth فَلاso do not تَتبَعpursue لَذاذَتَهُits pleasure
ذَرِ الشَبابَ فَلا تَتبَع لَذاذَتَهُ
إِنَّindeed الَّذيthe one who يَتبَعُpursues اللَذّاتِpleasures مُقتَرِفُcommits wrongdoing
إِنَّ الَّذي يَتبَعُ اللَذّاتِ مُقتَرِفُ
Leave youth behind; do not pursue its pleasure.
Leave youthfulness and do not hanker after its pleasures,
Whoever pursues pleasures commits wrongdoing.
Whoever seeks after lusts becomes stained.
إِنَّindeed الشَبابَyouth جُنونٌis madness شَرخُthe prime of باطِلِهِits vanity
إِنَّ الشَبابَ جُنونٌ شَرخُ باطِلِهِ
يُقيمُremains غَضّاًfresh زِماناًfor a time ثُمَّthen يَنكَشِفُpasses away
يُقيمُ غَضّاً زِماناً ثُمَّ يَنكَشِفُ
Youth is madness; the prime of its vanity
Youth is a kind of madness, empty of truth,
stays fresh awhile, then passes away.
Raising dust for a while, then it disperses.
مَنwhoever يَعلُهُis overtaken by الشَيبُgray hair لَمdoes not يُحدِثproduce لَهُfor him عِظَةًan admonition
مَن يَعلُهُ الشَيبُ لَم يُحدِث لَهُ عِظَةً
فَذاكَthen that man's مِنfrom سوسِهِhis nature الإِفراطُexcess وَالعُنُفُand violence
فَذاكَ مِن سوسِهِ الإِفراطُ وَالعُنُفُ
Whoever is overtaken by gray hair without gaining admonition—
When old age does not teach a man a lesson,
excess and violence belong to his very nature.
Excess destroys him through its mad career.
وَالناسُand people مِنهُمamong them أَفينٌa fool مالَهُwho has no سَبَدٌa scrap of property
وَالناسُ مِنهُم أَفينٌ مالَهُ سَبَدٌ
فَذاكَthen that man's مِنfrom سوسِهِhis nature الإِفراطُexcess وَالعُنُفُand violence
فَذاكَ مِن سوسِهِ الإِفراطُ وَالعُنُفُ
Among people is a fool without a scrap of property;
Men are of two kinds, neither can be equalled;
excess and violence belong to his very nature.
The brave, with self‐respect when affairs are serious,
لَيسواthey are not سَواءًequal جَسورٌa bold man ذوpossessing مُزايَنَةٍrivalry in excellence
لَيسوا سَواءً جَسورٌ ذو مُزايَنَةٍ
عِندَin الأُمورِaffairs وَلاnor الهَيّابَةُthe timorous man القَصِفُthe brittle man
عِندَ الأُمورِ وَلا الهَيّابَةُ القَصِفُ
They are not equal: a bold man who vies in excellence
And the cowardly, when given authority are known
when matters arise, and the fearful, brittle man.
By the meanness of their spirits and actions despicable.
إِنّيindeed I اِمرُؤٌam a man صافَturned aside عَنّيfrom me مَنwhoever يُشاحِنُنيbears me enmity
إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ صافَ عَنّي مَن يُشاحِنُني
وَرَدَّنيand brought me back أَهلُthe people of وُدّيmy affection مَعشَرٌa company أُنُفُproud
وَرَدَّني أَهلُ وُدّي مَعشَرٌ أُنُفُ
I am a man whom those who bear me enmity avoid;
I am one who is free from enmity with me,
my friends, a proud company, have brought me back.
My relations have parted from me and become strangers.
وَمَعشَرٌand a company أَكَلواdevoured لَحميmy flesh بِلاwithout تِرَةٍa grievance
وَمَعشَرٌ أَكَلوا لَحمي بِلا تِرَةٍ
وَلَوand if ضَرَبتُI struck أُنوفاًnoses مِنهُمُamong them رَعَفواthey would bleed
وَلَو ضَرَبتُ أُنوفاً مِنهُمُ رَعَفوا
And a company devoured my flesh without a grievance,
Some have eaten my flesh without any qualm.
though, had I struck some of their noses, they would have bled.
If I strike their noses they bow with humility,
لاnot يَأسَفونَthey grow angry وَقَدand indeed أَعذَبتُI curbed أَلسُنَهُمtheir tongues
لا يَأسَفونَ وَقَد أَعذَبتُ أَلسُنَهُم
وَلَوand if يَظُنّونَthey thought أَنthat أُعنىI cared بِهِمabout them أَسِفواthey would grow angry
وَلَو يَظُنّونَ أَن أُعنى بِهِم أَسِفوا
They feel no anger, though I have curbed their tongues;
They are not grieved though I make their tongues sweet,
if they thought I cared about them, they would grow angry.
If they think I am angry with them they will regret.
أَلَستُam I not أَبيَنَmore eloquent مِنهُمthan them غَيرَexcept أَنَّهُمُthat they
أَلَستُ أَبيَنَ مِنهُم غَيرَ أَنَّهُمُ
هُمُthey اللِئامُare the base men إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle اِستُشرِفواare looked at عُرِفواare recognized
هُمُ اللِئامُ إِذا ما اِستُشرِفوا عُرِفوا
Am I not more eloquent than they? Yet they
Am I not more brilliant than they? Though they are
are the base men: once looked at, they are recognized.
The vile, if honoured they are found to be nobles!
وَقَدand indeed تَكَنَّفَهُمhemmed them in لُؤمٌbaseness أَحاطَsurrounded بِهِمthem
وَقَد تَكَنَّفَهُم لُؤمٌ أَحاطَ بِهِم
كَماas أَحاطَsurrounded بِرَأسِthe crown of النَخلَةِthe palm السَعَفُthe fronds
كَما أَحاطَ بِرَأسِ النَخلَةِ السَعَفُ
Baseness has hemmed them in and surrounded them,
Disgrace encompasses them and surrounds them
as palm fronds surround the crown of a palm.
Like the branches encompass the top of the palm‐tree.
وَمَنand whoever يَكُنhas ذاpossessing عَدُوٍّan enemy لاdoes not يُواقِعُهُengage him
وَمَن يَكُن ذا عَدُوٍّ لا يُواقِعُهُ
إِلّاexcept وَعيداًwith threats فَإِنَّthen indeed الهَيبَةَintimidation الصَلَفُis empty boasting
إِلّا وَعيداً فَإِنَّ الهَيبَةَ الصَلَفُ
Whoever has an enemy whom he never engages
Whoever tries to pick a quarrel with his enemy,
except with threats—such intimidation is mere bluster.
Frightens him with threats, for awe inspires fear.
فَلاso do not تَهابَنَّfear أَسفاراًjourneys وَإِنeven if بَعُدَتthey extend far
فَلا تَهابَنَّ أَسفاراً وَإِن بَعُدَت
إِنif هابَهاfears them عاجِزٌa helpless man فيin عودِهِhis timber قَصَفُbrittleness
إِن هابَها عاجِزٌ في عودِهِ قَصَفُ
Do not fear journeys, however far they reach,
So do not dread journeys, howsoever long,
though a helpless man fears them, his timber brittle.
Who fears long travel is always a coward.
قَدmay يَرجِعُreturn المَرءُa man لاnot تُرجىis hoped for سَلامَتُهُhis safety
قَد يَرجِعُ المَرءُ لا تُرجى سَلامَتُهُ
وَقَدand may يُصيبُbefall طَويلَone prolonged in القِعدَةِsitting at home التَلَفُruin
وَقَد يُصيبُ طَويلَ القِعدَةِ التَلَفُ
A man may return whose safety was not hoped for,
A man may return from a journey, though safety is despaired of,
while ruin may strike one long seated at home.
While he who sits at home may suffer a mishap.
هذاthis لِهذاoffsets that فَماso what بالُis the matter with الَّتيthe woman who وَعَدَتpromised
هذا لِهذا فَما بالُ الَّتي وَعَدَت
وَكانَand was مِنamong وَعدِهاher promise's outcomes اللَيّانُdelay وَالخُلُفُand breach
وَكانَ مِن وَعدِها اللَيّانُ وَالخُلُفُ
This offsets that; what, then, of the woman who promised,
What about her who made promises and broke them?
whose promise brought delay and breach?
Her promise was smooth but her actions were rough.
لاdoes not تَتَّقيfear اللَهَGod فيconcerning صادٍa thirsty man يَهيمُyearns بِهاfor her
لا تَتَّقي اللَهَ في صادٍ يَهيمُ بِها
مُتَيَّمٍlove-enslaved مُقصَدٍstruck down كَأَنَّهُas though he دَنِفُis wasting with sickness
مُتَيَّمٍ مُقصَدٍ كَأَنَّهُ دَنِفُ
She does not fear God concerning a thirsty man yearning for her,
She does not fear Allah in one whose heart is filled with love,
love-enslaved and struck down, as though wasting with sickness.
A sufferer, trusting, as if possessed and mad.
فَإِنthen if تُصِبshe strikes قَلبَهُhis heart يَوماًone day بِأَسهُمِهاwith her arrows
فَإِن تُصِب قَلبَهُ يَوماً بِأَسهُمِها
يَكنُwill be عَلَيهاupon her وَمِنهاand from her الإِثمُthe sin وَالجَنَفُand the wrongdoing
يَكنُ عَلَيها وَمِنها الإِثمُ وَالجَنَفُ
If one day she strikes his heart with her arrows,
If she pierces his heart one day with her arrows,
the sin lies upon her, and the wrong comes from her.
The sin will be hers and the crime will be grave.
وَإِنand if نُنِلهُwe grant him يَعِشwill live مَيثٌa gentle man بِهِin him رَمَقٌa spark of life
وَإِن نُنِلهُ يَعِش مَيثٌ بِهِ رَمَقٌ
أَحياهُrevived him مِنfrom جودِهاher generosity الإِفضالُbounty وَالعُرُفُand kindness
أَحياهُ مِن جودِها الإِفضالُ وَالعُرُفُ
And if we give him something, a gentle man with a spark of life will live,
And if she gives him life for some happy days,
revived by the bounty and kindness of her generosity.
Her nobleness and generosity give him relief.
تَسبيshe captivates القُلوبُhearts بِوَجهٍwith a face لاno كِفاءَequal لَهُto it
تَسبي القُلوبُ بِوَجهٍ لا كِفاءَ لَهُ
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon تَمَّperfected جَمالاًin beauty حينَwhen يَنتَصِفُit reaches midmonth
كَالبَدرِ تَمَّ جَمالاً حينَ يَنتَصِفُ
She captivates hearts with a face without equal,
Hearts are enslaved by a face that has no equal,
like the moon, complete in beauty at midmonth.
Like the full moon at its zenith and prime.
تَحتَbeneath الخِمارِthe veil لَهاshe has جُثلٌthick hair تُعَكِّفُهُshe coils it
تَحتَ الخِمارِ لَها جُثلٌ تُعَكِّفُهُ
مِثلُlike العَثاكيلِdate clusters سوداًblack حينَwhen تُقتَطَفُare plucked
مِثلُ العَثاكيلِ سوداً حينَ تُقتَطَفُ
Beneath her veil she has thick hair, which she coils,
Behind the veil it has cheeks as the berries black,
like black clusters of dates when plucked.
Like bunches of dates when they ripen and drop.
لَهاshe has صَحيفَةُthe surface of وَجهٍa face يُستَضاءُlight is obtained بِهاfrom it
لَها صَحيفَةُ وَجهٍ يُستَضاءُ بِها
لَمdid not يَعلُappear upon ظاهِرَهاits surface بَثرٌpimples وَلاnor كَلَفُdark blemishes
لَم يَعلُ ظاهِرَها بَثرٌ وَلا كَلَفُ
The surface of her face sheds light,
It has a cheek bright like the day to give light by,
with no pimple or dark blemish upon it.
No clear spot or blemish has touched it at all.
عَيناءُlarge-eyed حَوراءُdark-eyed with bright whites فيin أَشفارِهاher eyelids هَدَبٌlashes
عَيناءُ حَوراءُ في أَشفارِها هَدَبٌ
وَلَيسَand there is not فيin أَنفِهاher nose طولٌlength وَلاnor ذَلَفُsnubness
وَلَيسَ في أَنفِها طولٌ وَلا ذَلَفُ
Wide-eyed, dark pupils against bright whites, with lashes on her lids,
She is limpid‐eyed, with arched eyebrows fine,
her nose is neither long nor snub.
Neither tall is her nose nor short is her line.
تَفتَرُّshe smiles عَنrevealing واضِحٍbright teeth غُرٍّwhite مَناصِبُهُtheir settings
تَفتَرُّ عَن واضِحٍ غُرٍّ مَناصِبُهُ
عَذبٌsweet يَهَشُّis delighted لَهُby it ذوa man of النِيقَةِrefined taste الطَرِفُthe discerning man
عَذبٌ يَهَشُّ لَهُ ذو النِيقَةِ الطَرِفُ
She smiles, revealing bright teeth with gleaming settings,
It shows whiteness of even teeth when she smiles,
sweet, delighting the refined man of taste.
At which beauty itself feels surprise.
ماno قَرقَفٌwine خالَطَتmingled with مَسكاًmusk تُشابُis blended بِهِwith it
ما قَرقَفٌ خالَطَت مَسكاً تُشابُ بِهِ
يَوماًever بِأَطيَبَsweeter مِنهاthan her حينَwhen تُرتَشَفُis sipped
يَوماً بِأَطيَبَ مِنها حينَ تُرتَشَفُ
No wine mingled with musk, blended with it,
Not clove mixed with musk has a scent like hers,
is ever sweeter than her when sipped.
When she exposes it, it spreads perfume around.
لهاshe has كَلامٌspeech تَخُلُّpierces القَلبَthe heart بَهجَتُهُits charm
لها كَلامٌ تَخُلُّ القَلبَ بَهجَتُهُ
كَأَنُّهُas though it زَهوُripening dates of نَخلٍpalm trees مِنهُfrom which يُختَرَفُare harvested
كَأَنُّهُ زَهوُ نَخلٍ مِنهُ يُختَرَفُ
She has speech whose charm pierces the heart,
Her talk is heart-ravishing, joyous its spell,
like ripening dates harvested from a palm.
As though it is friendship's sign when plucked and culled.
تَترَجُّsway أَوصالُهاher limbs لَمّاwhen مَشَتshe walks فُضُلاًin a single garment
تَترَجُّ أَوصالُها لَمّا مَشَت فُضُلاً
عَجزاءُfull-hipped عَبهَرَةٌvoluptuous فيin كَشحِهاher waist هَيَفُslenderness
عَجزاءُ عَبهَرَةٌ في كَشحِها هَيَفُ
Her limbs sway when she walks lightly clad,
When she walks her limbs move with a dangling grace,
full-hipped and voluptuous, with slenderness at her waist.
Languid, aromatic, as when breeze stirs a bough.
وَقَدand indeed غَذاهاnourished her صَريفُfreshly drawn المَحضِpure milk تَشرَبُهُshe drinks it
وَقَد غَذاها صَريفُ المَحضِ تَشرَبُهُ
وَقارِصٌand sour milk وَالَّذيand that which مِنin دونِهِfront of it الخَصَفُpalm-leaf matting
وَقارِصٌ وَالَّذي مِن دونِهِ الخَصَفُ
Freshly drawn, pure milk has nourished her as she drinks it,
She was nurtured on unadulterated wine, pure.
and sour milk, and what lies behind woven palm-leaf mats.
With sweet basil and everything choicest and best.
أَضحَتshe became شَطيراًfar away بِدارٍin a dwelling ماdoes not تُلائِمُنيsuit me
أَضحَت شَطيراً بِدارٍ ما تُلائِمُني
وَحالَand intervened مِنin دونِهاthe way to her الصَمّانُal-Samman وَالنَجَفُand al-Najaf
وَحالَ مِن دونِها الصَمّانُ وَالنَجَفُ
She has become far away, in a dwelling that does not suit me,
She came to live in Yathrib, leaving the Springs,
and al-Samman and al-Najaf stand between me and her.
While doors and walls separated me from the Rest.
حَلَّتshe settled بِيَثرِبَin Yathrib داراًin a dwelling دارَthe dwelling of نِعمَتِهاher comfort
حَلَّت بِيَثرِبَ داراً دارَ نِعمَتِها
وَحالَand intervened مِنin دونِهاthe way to her الأَبوابُthe doors وَالغُرَفُand upper rooms
وَحالَ مِن دونِها الأَبوابُ وَالغُرَفُ
She settled in Yathrib, in a home—the home of her comfort—
So I was led to love a house that attracted me,
and doors and upper rooms came between me and her.
My eyes poured with tears copiously and unsuppressed.
فَقَدand indeed غَشِيتُI visited لَهاbelonging to her داراًa dwelling تُشَوِّقُنيstirs my longing
فَقَد غَشِيتُ لَها داراً تُشَوِّقُني
فَالعَينُso the eye ساكِبَةٌpours forth بِمِلئِهاwith its fullness تَكِفُdrips
فَالعَينُ ساكِبَةٌ بِمِلئِها تَكِفُ
I have visited a dwelling of hers that stirs my longing,
A house where the wind winnows, sifts and bolts it,
and my eye pours out its fullness, dripping tears.
Scattering all dust by its breezes caressed.
دارٌa dwelling تُغَربِلُهاsifts it ريحٌa wind وَتَنخُلُهاand winnows it
دارٌ تُغَربِلُها ريحٌ وَتَنخُلُها
فَكُلُّso every تُربٍgrain of dust بِهاin it بِالهَيفِby the hot wind مَنتَسِفُis swept away
فَكُلُّ تُربٍ بِها بِالهَيفِ مَنتَسِفُ
A dwelling that the wind sifts and winnows,
I had there high‐breasted maidens, with necks white like crystal,
whose every grain of dust is swept away by the hot wind.
Draped in beauty, of chastity possessors and guarders.
وَقَدand indeed أَرَبَّlingered بشهاover it (unclear spelling) مُستَأسرٌclosely massed ذَكَرٌmale; vigorous
وَقَد أَرَبَّ بشها مُستَأسرٌ ذَكَرٌ
جَونُdark السَحابِof cloud مُلِثُّpersistent in الهَمرِdownpour مُؤتَلِفُgathered together
جَونُ السَحابِ مُلِثُّ الهَمرِ مُؤتَلِفُ
And over it lingered a tightly massed male cloud,
Borne upon steeds noble, sure‐stepped in their paces,
dark-clouded, unceasing in its downpour, gathered together.
Necks outstretched when excited, long‐striding when roused.
مِنهُfrom it رُكامٌa piled mass عَلىover غَيمٍa cloud تَجَلَّلَهُit wrapped itself in
مِنهُ رُكامٌ عَلى غَيمٍ تَجَلَّلَهُ
مُرَقَّعٌpatched بِرَبابِwith cloud-wisps of المُزنِrain-clouds مُختَصِفُstitched together
مُرَقَّعٌ بِرَبابِ المُزنِ مُختَصِفُ
From it, a piled mass rises over a cloud that shrouds it,
Every smooth‐flanked mother bounds answering her foal,
patched and stitched together with wisps of rain-cloud.
Her forelegs outstretched in her run without pause.
إِذاwhen تَأَلَّقَflashed مِنfrom جَونٍdark cloud بَوارِقُهُits lightning flashes
إِذا تَأَلَّقَ مِن جَونٍ بَوارِقُهُ
تَكادُalmost أَبصارُthe sight of عِينِthe wide-eyed الوَحشِwild beasts مُختَطَفُis snatched away
تَكادُ أَبصارُ عِينِ الوَحشِ مُختَطَفُ
When its lightning flashes from dark cloud,
If the stallion jealousy stirs him, he champs foam,
the sight of the wide-eyed wild beasts is almost snatched away.
His mouth tissues collect it, his anger to slake.
وَإِنand if تَلَهَّفَit roared خِلتَyou thought الأَرضَthe earth قَدhad رَجَفَتtrembled
وَإِن تَلَهَّفَ خِلتَ الأَرضَ قَد رَجَفَت
وَجادَand poured generously مِنهُfrom it رَواياwater-bearing camels كُلُّهاall of them قُطُفُslow-paced
وَجادَ مِنهُ رَوايا كُلُّها قُطُفُ
If it roars, you think the earth has trembled,
Wild creatures' well‐fed herd crops and grazes there,
and from it water-bearing camels pour their bounty, all slow-paced.
Partridges, greens, and all nutritious and fresh.
رَوّىwatered القَراراتِthe hollows مِنهُfrom it فَهِيَso they are مُفعَمَةٌfilled
رَوّى القَراراتِ مِنهُ فَهِيَ مُفعَمَةٌ
كَماas اِرتَوَتwere filled مِنfrom حِياضِthe troughs of المُستَقىthe watering place الزُلَفُbowls
كَما اِرتَوَت مِن حِياضِ المُستَقى الزُلَفُ
It waters the hollows until they are filled,
So the eye browses and sheds tears remembering,
as bowls are filled from the troughs of the watering place.
I weep for the site and sobbing make open confession.
فَالنَبتُso the plants مِنهُfrom it خَضوبٌgreen-dyed بَعدَهاafter it وَرِقٌleafy
فَالنَبتُ مِنهُ خَضوبٌ بَعدَها وَرِقٌ
وَاِخضَرَّand became green مِنfrom صَوبِهِits downpour الصَبغاءُthe sabgha plant وَالغَرَفُand gharaf plants
وَاِخضَرَّ مِن صَوبِهِ الصَبغاءُ وَالغَرَفُ
Its plants afterward are green-dyed and leafy,
Nu'aim, Su'ad and Mushajjar I see there,
and its downpour has greened the sabgha and gharaf plants.
With Multebid, heads bending, nose sniffing the ground.
وَقَدand indeed كَساهاclothed it رِياضاًin meadows زانَهاadorned them صَبَحٌradiance
وَقَد كَساها رِياضاً زانَها صَبَحٌ
بِهاin them كَواكِبُstars زُهرٌbright كُلُّهاall of them سَرِفُlavishly abundant
بِها كَواكِبُ زُهرٌ كُلُّها سَرِفُ
It has clothed the place in meadows adorned with radiance,
My weeping is not for an abode I was master in,
with bright stars in them, all lavishly abundant.
And my loneliness not for a home I forsook.
فَالعِينُso the wide-eyed wild cattle مُطفِلَةٌwith young تَرعىgraze مَسارِبَهُits paths
فَالعِينُ مُطفِلَةٌ تَرعى مَسارِبَهُ
وَهِيَand they لِأَوطانِهاto their home grounds مِنbecause of خِصبِهاtheir fertility أُلُفُare attached
وَهِيَ لِأَوطانِها مِن خِصبِها أُلُفُ
The wide-eyed wild cattle, with young, graze its paths,
An unknown inviolate sanctuary now,
attached to their home grounds because of their lushness.
Where now no camel‐ewe browses or sheep flocks wander.
وَالحُمرُand the wild asses تَطرُدُهاdrive them on رُبعٌlong-striding beasts مُحَنَّبَةٌbowed-legged
وَالحُمرُ تَطرُدُها رُبعٌ مُحَنَّبَةٌ
تَفوتُoutstrip أَرجُلَهاtheir hindlegs أَيدٍforelegs لَهاthey have خُنُفُa sideways sweep
تَفوتُ أَرجُلَها أَيدٍ لَها خُنُفُ
The wild asses are driven on by long-striding, bowed-legged beasts,
As though its echoes at night - when darkness enfolds it -
whose slanting forelegs outstrip their hindlegs.
Are voices of men when darkness o'er takes them, shout,
وَكُلُّand every هَيقٍostrich cock بِهاthere يَسموtowers لِرِعلَتِهِover his flock
وَكُلُّ هَيقٍ بِها يَسمو لِرِعلَتِهِ
تَحذيkeep pace بِهاthere نُقَضٌostrich hens مِنfrom تَحتِهاbeneath them نُسُفُblown dust
تَحذي بِها نُقَضٌ مِن تَحتِها نُسُفُ
Every ostrich cock there towers over his flock;
And he who crosses its desert hears - so forlorn now -
ostrich hens keep pace there, with dust blown from beneath them.
Jinn's voices when gloom reigns chanting their verse.
يَرفَعُhe raises فَودَيهِhis two wings إِنif جَدَّgrows fierce الجِراءُthe running بِهِfor him
يَرفَعُ فَودَيهِ إِن جَدَّ الجِراءُ بِهِ
أَورَقُgray أَخرَجُpied فيin ظُنبوبِهِhis shank سَقَفُa long curve
أَورَقُ أَخرَجُ في ظُنبوبِهِ سَقَفُ
He raises his two wings when his running grows fierce,
There the wild cows with their yearlings have it for home,
gray and pied, with a long curve in his shank.
No run-down enclosure or tent there you find.
كُلُّall الوُحوشِwild creatures مَطافيلٌhave young تَرَبَّعُهاpasture there in spring
كُلُّ الوُحوشِ مَطافيلٌ تَرَبَّعُها
تَرعىgraze بُقيلاًlittle shoots وَبَقلاًand herbage وَهُوَand it is مُؤتَنِفُnewly sprung
تَرعى بُقيلاً وَبَقلاً وَهُوَ مُؤتَنِفُ
All the wild creatures have young and pasture there in spring,
Desolate shrubs shrink from the heat, scattered about,
grazing little shoots and herbage newly sprung.
As though swept off by a flood that passed o'er them and harried.
فَالرَبعُso the campsite عافٍis erased وَدَمعُand the tears of العَينِthe eye مُنسَكِبٌpouring forth
فَالرَبعُ عافٍ وَدَمعُ العَينِ مُنسَكِبٌ
أَبكيI weep for الرُسومَthe traces بِهاthere طوراًat times وَأَعتَرِفُand recognize them
أَبكي الرُسومَ بِها طوراً وَأَعتَرِفُ
The campsite is erased, and my eye's tears pour forth;
I visited it when darkest night spread its cloak,
at times I weep for its traces and recognize them:
None saw me, the sun's rays had left it deserted.
نُؤيٌa tent-trench وَسُفعٌand blackened hearthstones وَمَشجوجٌand a cracked vessel وَمُلتَبِدٌand caked ash
نُؤيٌ وَسُفعٌ وَمَشجوجٌ وَمُلتَبِدٌ
وَمائِلٌand a leaning peg رَأسُهُits head بِالفِهرِby a pounding stone مُنقَصِفُbroken
وَمائِلٌ رَأسُهُ بِالفِهرِ مُنقَصِفُ
a tent-trench, blackened hearthstones, a cracked vessel, caked ash,
The heat of its glowing surface the pebbles burned,
and a leaning peg, its head broken by the pounding stone.
As though it was the sky's blaze set it on fire.
وَماand what avails بُكائِيَmy weeping فيover رَبعٍa campsite شُعِفتُI was enamored بِهِof it
وَما بُكائِيَ في رَبعٍ شُعِفتُ بِهِ
وَخُلَّتيand my beloved غُربَةٌis away مِنfrom دارِهاher home قَذَفُfar distant
وَخُلَّتي غُربَةٌ مِن دارِها قَذَفُ
What avails my weeping over a campsite I adored,
When its lightnings flash out from its heavy cloud,
while my beloved is away, far removed from her home?
Like dots splashed from skins, when tanned and cut up.
وَحُرمَةٍand an inviolate tract بَعدَهاbeyond it مَجهولَةٌunknown حُرَمٌprecincts
وَحُرمَةٍ بَعدَها مَجهولَةٌ حُرَمٌ
ماnot إِنan emphatic particle بِهاin it جَوفَةٌa hollow تُرعىto be grazed وَلاnor لَصَفُcaper shrubs
ما إِن بِها جَوفَةٌ تُرعى وَلا لَصَفُ
And an inviolate tract beyond it, its precincts unknown,
And when in yearning it moans, the land shakes in its thrill,
with no grazeable hollow there, nor caper shrubs.
Its every channel responds, flooding without stint.
كَأَنَّas though أَصداءَهاits owls وَاللَيلُand the night كارِبُهاdraws near it
كَأَنَّ أَصداءَها وَاللَيلُ كارِبُها
أَصواتُthe voices of قَومٍpeople إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle أَظلَمواenter darkness هَتَفواcall out
أَصواتُ قَومٍ إِذا ما أَظلَموا هَتَفوا
Its owls, as night draws near it, sound like
It gives meadows, after rain, canopies gracefully green,
people calling out when darkness falls upon them.
And the pasturage sprouts, where the torrents descend.
يَسمَعُhears فيهاwithin it الَّذيthe one who يَجتابُtraverses قَفرَتَهاits wasteland
يَسمَعُ فيها الَّذي يَجتابُ قَفرَتَها
أَصواتَthe voices of جِنٍّjinn إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle أَعتَمواenter the night عَزَفواmake eerie sounds
أَصواتَ جِنٍّ إِذا ما أَعتَموا عَزَفوا
Whoever crosses its wasteland hears within it
It clothes the country with gardens, morn decks it with flowers,
the voices of jinn making eerie sounds after nightfall.
Clusters of stars without number or limit.
لِلجونِthe dark birds have فيهاthere عِيالٌyoung فيin أَفاحِصِهاtheir nesting scrapes
لِلجونِ فيها عِيالٌ في أَفاحِصِها
بِجَوفَةٍin a hollow ماnot بِهاin it أَثلٌtamarisk وَلاnor نَضَفُnadf shrubs
بِجَوفَةٍ ما بِها أَثلٌ وَلا نَضَفُ
The dark birds have broods there in their nesting scrapes,
So the eye drinks deep of its cached-up treasures,
in a hollow with neither tamarisk nor nadf shrubs.
The home of the heart's joy, where it is used to feed.
خوصٌsunken-eyed مُزَغِّبَةٌdowny تَحتَكُّrub themselves قَدhave بَثِرَتbroken out
خوصٌ مُزَغِّبَةٌ تَحتَكُّ قَد بَثِرَت
كَأَنَّماas though ثارَerupted فيon أَبشارِهاtheir skins الحَصَفُa rash
كَأَنَّما ثارَ في أَبشارِها الحَصَفُ
Sunken-eyed and downy, they rub themselves, their skin broken out,
Scattered herds of wild cows race over the land,
as though a rash had erupted on their skins.
Their new-born calves by their side, grunting as they run.
قَدindeed جُبتُهاI traversed it وَظَلامُand the darkness of اللَيلِthe night أَقطَعُهُI cut through
قَد جُبتُها وَظَلامُ اللَيلِ أَقطَعُهُ
وَقَدand indeed عَرانِيَstruck me مِنof شَمسِthe sun of الضُحىforenoon كَنَفُa flank
وَقَد عَرانِيَ مِن شَمسِ الضُحى كَنَفُ
I have crossed it, cutting through the darkness of night,
Straight-racing smooth-bodied steeds, long-necked and spare,
and a flank of the forenoon sun has struck me.
Striding fast like ostriches, mouths gaping wide.
تَشويroasts جَنادِبَهاits grasshoppers مِنwith حَرِّthe heat of جاحِمِهاits blaze
تَشوي جَنادِبَها مِن حَرِّ جاحِمِها
لَمّاwhen تَوَقَّدَburned مِنهاof it السَهلُthe level ground وَالظَلَفُand rugged ground
لَمّا تَوَقَّدَ مِنها السَهلُ وَالظَلَفُ
It roasts its grasshoppers with the heat of its blaze,
Bred of the noblest strains, their sires selected for race,
when its plains and rugged ground burn.
High-bred colts of the choicest and purest descent.
أَظَلَّshaded بَعضُsome of المَهاthe oryx بَعضاًothers إِذاwhen كَنَسَتthey sought cover
أَظَلَّ بَعضُ المَها بَعضاً إِذا كَنَسَت
كَماas تُظِلُّshade ظَباءَthe gazelles of القَفرَةِthe wasteland القَطَفُsaltbushes
كَما تُظِلُّ ظَباءَ القَفرَةِ القَطَفُ
Some oryx shade others when they seek cover,
They never gave less on any day they covered the mares,
as saltbushes shade the gazelles of the wasteland.
Or got smaller the foals in whatever year bred.
بِجَسرَةٍon a sturdy she-camel كَعَلاةِlike the anvil of القَينِthe smith دَوسَرَةٍmassive
بِجَسرَةٍ كَعَلاةِ القَينِ دَوسَرَةٍ
فيin حَدِّthe tip of مِرفَقهاher elbow عِنaway from زَورِهاher chest جَنَفُa bend
في حَدِّ مِرفَقها عِن زَورِها جَنَفُ
On a sturdy she-camel, massive as a smith's anvil,
As though when hoariness shrouds them, they are
the tip of her elbow curving away from her chest.
With cheeks smeared and reddened, the nostrils exuding mucus.
تَسموshe raises بِأَتلَعَa long neck مِثلِlike الجِذعِa tree trunk يَقدُمُهاprojecting before her
تَسمو بِأَتلَعَ مِثلِ الجِذعِ يَقدُمُها
عَرفاءُhigh-necked غَرباءُmighty فيin حَيزومِهاher breast جَوَفُa deep hollow
عَرفاءُ غَرباءُ في حَيزومِها جَوَفُ
She raises a long neck like a trunk, projecting before her,
They flash on the flat lands like the trunks of palms,
high-necked and mighty, hollow-deep in the breast.
Strangers and outcasts, mouths open and gasping.
قَدindeed قُذِفَتhave been covered بِلَكيكِwith dense النَحضِflesh أَعظُمُهاher bones
قَد قُذِفَت بِلَكيكِ النَحضِ أَعظُمُها
كَأَنَّas though غارِبَهاher withers مِنbecause of طولِهِtheir height هَدَفُa target-mound
كَأَنَّ غارِبَها مِن طولِهِ هَدَفُ
Her bones have been packed with dense flesh,
Some were cast by the violence of the torrent,
her withers, through their height, seeming a target-mound.
Huge, their buttocks like a valley-side stretching wide.
ماno راجِنٌstall-fed beast مِنamong بَناتِthe daughters of الفَحلِthe stallion قَدindeed رَجَنَتhas been kept penned
ما راجِنٌ مِن بَناتِ الفَحلِ قَد رَجَنَت
وَنُوِّقَتand was carefully tended وَبَناهاand built her up الزَردُgulping food وَالعَلَفُand fodder
وَنُوِّقَت وَبَناها الزَردُ وَالعَلَفُ
No stall-fed beast among the stallion's daughters, long kept penned,
Never a mare of good breed but casts her young,
carefully tended and built up by gulping food and fodder,
The very best her progeny, without lameness or defect.
يَوماًever بِأَنجَبَfiner مِنهاthan her حينَwhen تَركَبُهاyou ride her
يَوماً بِأَنجَبَ مِنها حينَ تَركَبُها
وَلاnor بِأَبخَلَmore grudging ذِلّاof submission يَومَon the day تُعتَنَفُshe is roughly handled
وَلا بِأَبخَلَ ذِلّا يَومَ تُعتَنَفُ
is ever finer than she when you ride her,
Never grudged on the day they covered them, or were mean
nor more grudging of submission when roughly handled.
When the time of Impregnation came into season.
كَأَنَّهاas though she بَعدَماafter طالَlasted long الهِبابُspirited running بِهاwith her
كَأَنَّها بَعدَما طالَ الهِبابُ بِها
مُوَلَّعٌa pied wild bull أَسفَعُdark الخَدَّينِin both cheeks مُشتَرِفُstanding alert
مُوَلَّعٌ أَسفَعُ الخَدَّينِ مُشتَرِفُ
After her long course of spirited running, she seems
Many a high-bosomed maternal camel went with them,
a pied wild bull, dark-cheeked, standing alert.
Adorned with trinkets, smeared with henna and indigo.
تَلوحُappears مِنهاfrom her عَلىon الأَصبارِthe flanks دابِرَةٌa backward whorl
تَلوحُ مِنها عَلى الأَصبارِ دابِرَةٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though it بَينَbetween رَوقَيthe two horns of رَأسِهِhis head كَشَفُa cowlick
كَأَنَّها بَينَ رَوقَي رَأسِهِ كَشَفُ
A backward-running whorl of hers shows along the flanks,
Whenever they halted settling down for the night,
like a cowlick between the two horns on his head.
The rain cleared their ground and washed all about.
باتَspent the night بِفيحانَat Fayhan يَجلوreveals البَرقُthe lightning مَتنَتَهُhis back
باتَ بِفيحانَ يَجلو البَرقُ مَتنَتَهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though he مِنin ثِيابِgarments of القِهزِqihz cloth مُلتَحِفُis wrapped
كَأَنَّهُ مِن ثِيابِ القِهزِ مُلتَحِفُ
He spent the night at Fayhan, lightning revealing his back,
Till when dawn drives the darkness away and disperses it,
as though wrapped in garments of qihz cloth.
Bringing the sun that unveils them and shows their number;
مُجتابَclad in أَرطاةِan arta bush حِقفٍa curved dune فَهيَand it تَستُرُهُconceals him
مُجتابَ أَرطاةِ حِقفٍ فَهيَ تَستُرُهُ
مَعwith كُلِّevery وَجهٍdirection يَكُفُّchecks الريحُthe wind مُنصَرِفُturning
مَع كُلِّ وَجهٍ يَكُفُّ الريحُ مُنصَرِفُ
Clad in an arta bush on a curved dune, it conceals him,
The striped breeds rise, marked on the flanks as though branded,
turning toward whichever side keeps the wind off.
Like a tattoo, by stingers of hornets marked on the face.
تَبُلُّهُwets him فَيضَحٌa drenching cloud بِالوَدقِwith rain تَغسِلُهُwashes him
تَبُلُّهُ فَيضَحٌ بِالوَدقِ تَغسِلُهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though it فَوقَupon ضاحيthe exposed surface of مَتنِهِhis back النُطَفُpearls
كَأَنَّهُ فَوقَ ضاحي مَتنِهِ النُطَفُ
A drenching cloud wets him, washing him with rain,
Then they sweep off briskly roused to excitement,
as though it were pearls upon his exposed back.
Necks outstretched, chasing wild game and pursuing.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen الصُبحُdawn ساقَdrove اللَيلَthe night يَطرُدُهُpursuing it
حَتّى إِذا الصُبحُ ساقَ اللَيلَ يَطرُدُهُ
وَزالَand lifted عَنهُfrom him وَعَنand from أَرطاتِهِhis arta bush السُدَفُdarkness
وَزالَ عَنهُ وَعَن أَرطاتِهِ السُدَفُ
Until, when dawn drove the night away, pursuing it,
Swifter than ostriches, feet skimming the ground,
and darkness lifted from him and his arta bush,
As though a cloud gathers them, but shows their figure.
ثارَتsprang بِهِat him ضُمَّرٌlean hounds قُبٌّhollow-bellied مُقَلَّدَةٌcollared
ثارَت بِهِ ضُمَّرٌ قُبٌّ مُقَلَّدَةٌ
كَالقِدحِlike an arrow-shaft يُجذِمُهاsets them running صوحانُSawhan أَوor ثَقَفُThaqaf
كَالقِدحِ يُجذِمُها صوحانُ أَو ثَقَفُ
lean, hollow-bellied, collared hounds sprang at him,
Now treading with force, now easily gliding at will,
like an arrow-shaft, set running by Sawhan or Thaqaf.
Like sailors shooting foam from the bows as they row.
فَجالَand he veered مِنهاaway from them عَلىonto وَحشِيِّهِhis outer flank عَجِلاًhastily
فَجالَ مِنها عَلى وَحشِيِّهِ عَجِلاً
لاnot يَجعَلُmakes الشَدَّrunning دَيناًa debt حينَwhen يَغتَرِفُhe scoops up strides
لا يَجعَلُ الشَدَّ دَيناً حينَ يَغتَرِفُ
He veered hastily away from them onto his outer flank,
Until she has roused him, refusing control now,
not deferring his run as he scooped up great strides.
As though each seeks his fellow when passions run high.
وَهِيَand they سِراعٌare swift تَثيرُraise النَقعَdust شاحِيَةًgaping
وَهِيَ سِراعٌ تَثيرُ النَقعَ شاحِيَةً
كَأَنَّهُas though it فَوقَهُabove him لَمّاwhen عَلاrose الكَسَفُcloud-fragments
كَأَنَّهُ فَوقَهُ لَمّا عَلا الكَسَفُ
They are swift, raising dust, their mouths gaping,
Then tears flowed apace and I sobbed in remembrance,
the dust like cloud-fragments when it rose above him.
At the site of old encampment I made loud lament.
تَخضَعُthey crouch طوراًat times وَتَطفوand rise كُلَّماwhenever طَحَرَتthey surge forward
تَخضَعُ طوراً وَتَطفو كُلَّما طَحَرَت
مِثلَlike اليَعاسيبِdragonflies فيin آذانِهاtheir ears غَضَفُa droop
مِثلَ اليَعاسيبِ في آذانِها غَضَفُ
They crouch at times and rise whenever they surge forward,
An abode unknown now, untrodden its valleys,
like dragonflies, with a droop in their ears.
No camel now browses, no sheep flocks wander there.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen أَرهَتَتهُthey exhausted him كَرَّhe charged back مُمتَنِعاًdefending himself
حَتّى إِذا أَرهَتَتهُ كَرَّ مُمتَنِعاً
كَأَنَّهُas though he طالِبٌseeks بِوِترِهِhis vengeance أَسِفُfurious
كَأَنَّهُ طالِبٌ بِوِترِهِ أَسِفُ
Until, when they exhausted him, he charged back to defend himself,
like an angry man pursuing his vengeance.
Partial English translation: 148 of 150 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1