نَظَرتْshe looked إليكَat you بَطَرفwith an eye أَكْحَلَnaturally kohl-dark أَدعْجٍlarge and deep-black
نَظَرتْ إليكَ بَطَرف أَكْحَلَ أَدعْجٍ
فكأنَّماso it was as though نظَرَتshe gazed بِمُقْلةwith the eye of بِحَزَجِa wild-cow calf
فكأنَّما نظَرَت بِمُقْلة بِحَزَجِ
She looked at you with a kohl-dark, deep-black eye,
She looked at you with a kohl-lined eyelid
as though she gazed with the eye of a wild-cow calf.
As if she looked with a twisted eyebrow
وتلفَّعتand she wrapped herself فأرتْكَthen she showed you بينَamid قلائدٍnecklaces
وتلفَّعت فأرتْكَ بينَ قلائدٍ
منof لؤلؤpearls جيدَthe neck الغَزالthe gazelle العوْهَجِlong-necked
من لؤلؤ جيدَ الغَزال العوْهَجِ
She wrapped herself, revealing to you amid necklaces
She was adorned with necklaces
of pearls the neck of a long-necked gazelle.
Of beautiful pearls like the neck of a young gazelle
وكأنَand as though خَوطa slender shoot البانthe ban-tree حشُوthe filling of مُروطهاher robes
وكأنَ خَوط البان حشُو مُروطها
تَهْتَزُّshe sways بينَbetween مُخَلْخَلٍan ankleted ankle ومُدَمْلَجِand an armleted arm
تَهْتَزُّ بينَ مُخَلْخَلٍ ومُدَمْلَجِ
A slender ban-tree shoot seemed to fill her robes,
It's as if the threads of her dress
as she swayed between anklet and armlet.
Sway between sequins and embroidery
وتَعَرّضتand she presented herself بِمُورَدّwith a rosy cheek وتَبَسَّمَتand she smiled
وتَعَرّضت بِمُورَدّ وتَبَسَّمَت
عنrevealing واضحbright teeth كالاقحَوانِlike chamomile مُفَلَّجِspaced
عن واضح كالاقحَوانِ مُفَلَّجِ
She showed a rose-flushed cheek and smiled,
She showed her cheek and smiled
revealing bright, spaced teeth like chamomile.
Revealing teeth like polished pearls
وتَزينُand she adorns أَثناءthe folds of الوشاحthe sash بمُخْطَفٍwith a slender waist
وتَزينُ أَثناء الوشاح بمُخْطَفٍ
قَلقloose المنطَّقthe girdle كالرّداءِlike the cloak المُدرَجِrolled-up
قَلق المنطَّق كالرّداءِ المُدرَجِ
She graces the folds of her sash with a slender waist,
Her veil is adorned with a brooch
loose of girdle, like a rolled-up cloak.
Restless like a flowing robe
تُضْحيshe spends the morning علىon ظَهرthe surface of الحَشيّةthe mattress دابُهاher habit
تُضْحي على ظَهر الحَشيّة دابُها
تكْسيرُlanguid drooping جَفْنٍan eyelid بالنُّعاسِwith drowsiness مُشنَّجِpuckered
تكْسيرُ جَفْنٍ بالنُّعاسِ مُشنَّجِ
She spends the morning atop the mattress, her habit
Her mount sways under the litter
to droop an eyelid puckered with drowsiness.
Like a drowsy eyelid heavy with sleep
حتَّىuntil إذاwhen نَهضّتshe rose بغيْرwithout تَبَذُّلslovenliness
حتَّى إذا نَهضّت بغيْر تَبَذُّل
ظلّتshe continued تنوءُto strain بِرَدْفهاunder her buttocks المَتَرجرجِquivering
ظلّت تنوءُ بِرَدْفها المَتَرجرجِ
Until, when she rises without disarray,
When she got up without reluctance
she strains beneath her quivering hips.
Her trailing dress dragged behind
وَمَشَتْand she walked تثنيswaying فيin المَجَاسدsaffron-dyed robes والحلىand jewelry
وَمَشَتْ تثني في المَجَاسد والحلى
بيْنَamong الولائدِthe maidservants مِشْيَةthe gait of الرَّجلthe man الوَجيsore-footed
بيْنَ الولائدِ مِشْيَة الرَّجل الوَجي
She walked, swaying in saffron-dyed robes and jewels,
She walked swaying her trinkets and jewels
among maidservants, like a man with aching feet.
With the gait of a sturdy man
عزمَresolved الأحبّةthe loved ones للرَحيلto depart وماand not قضواthey fulfilled
عزمَ الأحبّة للرَحيل وما قضوا
لكَfor you منany زمامٍa binding rein فيin الهوىlove بِمعَرَّجِby making a halt
لكَ من زمامٍ في الهوى بِمعَرَّجِ
The loved ones resolved to leave, and did not honor
The loved ones decided to depart
your bond in love by making a halt.
But you held no rein over their love
رَفعواthey lifted الحُدوجُthe howdahs علىonto الرّكابthe riding camels فليتَهمso, if only they
رَفعوا الحُدوجُ على الرّكاب فليتَهم
نَحرواthey had slaughtered الرَّكابthe riding camels وليتهاand if only they لمnot تُحْدَجِwere fitted with howdahs
نَحروا الرَّكاب وليتها لم تُحْدَجِ
They raised the howdahs onto the riding camels—if only they
They raised the litters onto the mounts - if only
had slaughtered the camels, and these had never been fitted with howdahs!
They had slaughtered the mounts and she had not traveled
وغَدَواand they departed at dawn بشَمْسٍwith a sun فيin الحُدوجِthe howdahs طلوعُهاher rising
وغَدَوا بشَمْسٍ في الحُدوجِ طلوعُها
منfrom كِلَّةٍa curtained canopy وغروبُهاand her setting فيin هوْدَجِa howdah
من كِلَّةٍ وغروبُها في هوْدَجِ
At dawn they departed with a sun in the howdahs, whose rising
They left at dawn, its emergence in the litters
was from a curtained canopy, and whose setting was in a howdah.
From darkness, and its setting in gloom
لمnot يفْجؤوكthey surprise you بَينّهمtheir parting ولقدand indeed جرىhad occurred
لم يفْجؤوك بَينّهم ولقد جرى
لكfor you عندat زجرbird-augury الحاجلاتthe hopping birds الشّحجِcroaking
لك عند زجر الحاجلات الشّحجِ
They did not surprise you with their parting; an omen had already come
They did not bid you farewell, though it was customary
to you in the augury of the hopping, croaking birds.
For you at the camel driver’s call
إنّindeed الفؤادthe heart لبِينat the parting of عَمْرةَAmra شفّهwore it away
إنّ الفؤاد لبِين عَمْرةَ شفّه
لذعُthe sting of الغُرامِlove بجَمْرهِwith its embers المتأجِّجِblazing
لذعُ الغُرامِ بجَمْرهِ المتأجِّجِ
Indeed, at Amra's parting, the heart was worn away
Indeed, the heart reveals the pain of love
by love's sting, with its blazing embers.
Stinging ember of burning passion
وأكادand I almost أَسلوfind solace ثمّthen يبْعَثُrevives لوعتيmy anguish
وأكاد أَسلو ثمّ يبْعَثُ لوعتي
طيفٌa vision لَعمرةof Amra شائقيmaking me yearn ومهَيجيِand rousing me
طيفٌ لَعمرة شائقي ومهَيجيِ
I almost find solace; then my anguish is revived
I almost forget, then yearning awakens
by a vision of Amra that makes me yearn and rouses me.
A vision of my life and passion
طيفٌa vision إذاwhen انسدلfell الظَّلامُthe darkness أَلمَّvisited بيme
طيفٌ إذا انسدل الظَّلامُ أَلمَّ بي
بعدَafter الهُدوthe stillness طْروقَthe nocturnal arrival of سارٍa traveler مُدْلجِjourneying at night
بعدَ الهُدو طْروقَ سارٍ مُدْلجِ
A vision that visits me when darkness falls,
A vision that envelops me when darkness falls
after all is still, like the arrival of a night traveler.
After calm, in the stillness of night
ولقَدand indeed أَبْيتُI spend the night محالفاًallied with أَلمthe pain of الجَوىburning longing
ولقَد أَبْيتُ محالفاً أَلم الجَوى
والجوand the sky مشتملwrapped بثوبin a cloak of يرَندَجِblack leather
والجو مشتمل بثوب يرَندَجِ
I spend the night allied with the ache of longing,
I refused to endure the agony of love
while the sky is wrapped in a cloak of black leather.
While the atmosphere was clad in a flowing robe
ليلٌa night يُماطلُنيdelays for me الصّباحَthe dawn وقدand already رأَىit has seen
ليلٌ يُماطلُني الصّباحَ وقد رأَى
أَرَقيmy sleeplessness ممَاطلةَthe stalling of الغَريمthe debtor المنفَجِblustering
أَرَقي ممَاطلةَ الغَريم المنفَجِ
A night that delays the dawn for me, though it has seen
A night that lingers until dawn, having seen
my sleeplessness, as a blustering debtor stalls.
My wakefulness, like a lingering foe
يَهنيكِmay you enjoy عَمْرةُAmra نومthe sleep of ليْلِكَyour night إنّنيindeed I
يَهنيكِ عَمْرةُ نوم ليْلِكَ إنّني
قاسَيتُهُI endured it بصَبابةwith the yearning of الشّرقِone choking الشّجيِgrief-stricken
قاسَيتُهُ بصَبابة الشّرقِ الشّجيِ
May your night's sleep be sweet, Amra; I
Goodnight to your night’s sleep - I endured it
have endured it with the yearning of one choking on grief.
With the torment of an aching east wind
ولَرُبّand many a عيْشٍlife قدindeed رشَفْتI sipped رُضابَهits nectar
ولَرُبّ عيْشٍ قد رشَفْت رُضابَه
عَلَلاًin repeated draughts مزاجthe savor of سُلافةٍchoice wine لمnot تُمزَجِwas diluted
عَلَلاً مزاج سُلافةٍ لم تُمزَجِ
How often I have sipped the nectar of a pleasant life,
And days of joy I have sipped before
draught after draught, with the savor of the finest undiluted wine.
Ailments of an unpleasant mood unblended
فيin روْضةa garden نسَجَwove السّحَابُthe clouds لأرضهاfor its earth
في روْضة نسَجَ السّحَابُ لأرضها
وَشيْيّنِtwo patterned fabrics بيْنَbetween مُفَوفstriped ومُدَّبجِand brocaded
وَشيْيّنِ بيْنَ مُفَوف ومُدَّبجِ
In a garden where the clouds wove for its earth
In a meadow the clouds have woven for it
two patterned fabrics, striped and brocaded,
Pearl necklaces between beads and embroidery
بمُلَوّناتِwith the varied colors of الزّهْرflowers والنُّوّارand blossoms مِنof
بمُلَوّناتِ الزّهْر والنُّوّار مِن
نَيْلوفرwater lilies وشقائقِand anemones وبنفسجِand violets
نَيْلوفر وشقائقِ وبنفسجِ
with the many-colored flowers and blossoms of
With flowers of varied colors
water lilies, anemones, and violets.
Water lilies, poppies, and violets
لَبسَتْit wore حُليّاًjewels منof عقيقٍagate أَحْمَرٍred
لَبسَتْ حُليّاً من عقيقٍ أَحْمَرٍ
وزَبْرَجَدٍand chrysolite خضرِgreen ومنand of فيْرورَجِturquoise
وزَبْرَجَدٍ خضرِ ومن فيْرورَجِ
It wore jewels of red agate
She wore red carnelian jewelry
and green chrysolite, and of turquoise.
And green turquoise and aquamarine
باكرتُهاI visited it early بالمُلْهياتِwith diversions وقدْand already بدُتْappeared
باكرتُها بالمُلْهياتِ وقدْ بدُتْ
راياتُbanners بُشْرىglad tidings صُبْحِهاits dawn المُتَبلِّجِradiant
راياتُ بُشْرى صُبْحِها المُتَبلِّجِ
I came to it early with diversions, when there appeared
I came early with diversions, and there emerged
the banners heralding its radiant dawn.
The flags of its bright dawn
وتَرشَّفَتand it sipped منfrom أُفقهاits horizon بَلَلَthe moisture of النَّدىdew
وتَرشَّفَت من أُفقها بَلَلَ النَّدى
واسْتَنْشَقتْand it inhaled لَفسَthe breath of النَّسيمthe breeze السَّجْسَجِmild and temperate
واسْتَنْشَقتْ لَفسَ النَّسيم السَّجْسَجِ
It sipped the moisture of dew from its horizon
And from its horizon dripped dewdrops
and inhaled the breath of the mild breeze.
And it inhaled the scent of the rustling breeze
وكأنّهاand as though it نشَرتspread لناfor us ريحُthe wind الصّباthe east wind
وكأنّها نشَرت لنا ريحُ الصّبا
رَيَّاthe fragrance of ثناءٍpraise عاطرٍfragrant مُتَأرَجِperfume-laden
رَيَّا ثناءٍ عاطرٍ مُتَأرَجِ
It was as though the east wind spread for us
As if for us the morning breeze had spread
the scent of fragrant praise, richly perfumed,
A fragrant breeze of praise, richly scented
لمُحَمّدfor Muhammad الزَّاكيvirtuous ونبْهانand Nabhan الرِّضىesteemed
لمُحَمّد الزَّاكي ونبْهان الرِّضى
وأَبيand Abu الحُسَيْنal-Husayn اللَّوذَعيّkeen-witted الأَبلَجِradiant-faced
وأَبي الحُسَيْن اللَّوذَعيّ الأَبلَجِ
for the virtuous Muhammad and the esteemed Nabhan,
For Muhammad the devout, and Nabhan the pleased
and Abu al-Husayn, keen-witted and radiant-faced.
And my father Hussein the refined and eloquent
أَعْنيI mean بنيthe sons of عُمرٍUmar ثلاثةthree سادَةٍlords
أَعْني بني عُمرٍ ثلاثة سادَةٍ
مثلَlike البدورِfull moons مَحلُّهمtheir abode فيin الأُبرُجِthe towers
مثلَ البدورِ مَحلُّهم في الأُبرُجِ
I mean the sons of Umar, three lords
I mean the three masters of the Bani Umar
like full moons, their abode in the towers.
Whose abode is in the stars like the full moons
شُمُّlofty المعاطسِnoses ماجدونnoble men لماجدِborn of a noble man
شُمُّ المعاطسِ ماجدون لماجدِ
ومُتَوَّجونand crowned تَناسَبواthey traced their lineage لمُتوّجِto a crowned forebear
ومُتَوَّجون تَناسَبوا لمُتوّجِ
Lofty of nose, noble sons of a noble sire,
Scent of praise, they are glorious for the glorious
crowned, tracing their lineage to a crowned forebear.
And crowned - well-matched with the crowned
عَرَصاتهمtheir courtyards مَغْنىthe dwelling of الفقيرthe poor man المُعتَفيseeking bounty
عَرَصاتهم مَغْنى الفقير المُعتَفي
وحُصونُهمand their fortresses مأوىthe refuge of اللَّهيفthe distressed man المُزْعَجِharried
وحُصونُهم مأوى اللَّهيف المُزْعَجِ
Their courtyards house the poor who seek bounty,
Their threshing floors provide for the needy poor
and their fortresses shelter the distressed and harried.
Their fortresses shelter the displaced refugee
أَيديهُمtheir hands هُطْلٌpouring rain يسُحّْpours نوالُهاtheir bounty
أَيديهُم هُطْلٌ يسُحّْ نوالُها
دَيْماًsteady showers كسّحlike the pouring of العارِضِthe raincloud المثجَّجِgushing torrents
دَيْماً كسّح العارِضِ المثجَّجِ
Their hands are rainclouds, pouring their bounty
Their hands constantly pour bounty
in steady showers, like a cloud gushing torrents.
Like the pouring rain from laden clouds
سِنَّestablished العَتيكُal-Atik لهُمfor them مكارمَnoble virtues فيin العُلىhigh honor
سِنَّ العَتيكُ لهُم مكارمَ في العُلى
فَجَرَواso they proceeded بِهنّwith them علىalong سواءِthe even course of المَنْهَجِthe path
فَجَرَوا بِهنّ على سواءِ المَنْهَجِ
Al-Atik set them noble traditions of high honor,
The sword of valor - they marched with it equally
and they followed them along the straight path.
On the path of high virtue
منamong كلevery أروَعimposing man كالهلالِlike the crescent moon سَميدَعٍa noble chief
من كل أروَع كالهلالِ سَميدَعٍ
بَطَلٍa hero رحيبbroad الباعarm-span غيرnot مُزَلَّجِof doubtful lineage
بَطَلٍ رحيب الباع غير مُزَلَّجِ
Each an imposing noble chief, like the crescent moon,
The most splendid of men, like the full crescent moon
a hero of ample reach, of no doubtful lineage.
A hero of formidable build and unbending
وإذاand when الخُصومُthe adversaries تَدافعواcontended بِجدالهمwith their arguments
وإذا الخُصومُ تَدافعوا بِجدالهم
أَدلىhe put forward بحُجَّتهhis proof ولمand not يتَلَجْلَجِhe faltered
أَدلى بحُجَّته ولم يتَلَجْلَجِ
When adversaries clash in debate,
When opponents clashed with argument
he presents his proof without faltering.
He presented his case without confusion
وإذاand when تَعَرَّضhe came forward للنِزْالfor combat رأَيتَهyou saw him
وإذا تَعَرَّض للنِزْال رأَيتَه
بينamong الكتائبthe battalions كالهَزبرlike a lion المُخْرجِdriven forth
بين الكتائب كالهَزبر المُخْرجِ
When he steps forward for combat, you see him
And if he joined battle you would see him
amid the battalions like a lion driven forth.
Among the regiments like a fiery meteor
يَغشىhe enters الوَغيthe fray بينamong الاسنَّةspearheads والظبيand sword edges
يَغشى الوَغي بين الاسنَّة والظبي
كالشّهْبlike meteors تَلْمَعُthey flash فيin الخميسthe army المُرهِجِraising dust
كالشّهْب تَلْمَعُ في الخميس المُرهِجِ
He enters the fray amid spearheads and sword blades,
He covered the battlefield among the stallions and gazelles
like meteors flashing in the dust-raising army.
Like a shooting star blazing on a moonlit night
والخيلُand the horses شُعْثٌshaggy كالصُّقورlike falcons عوابسٌscowling
والخيلُ شُعْثٌ كالصُّقور عوابسٌ
فيin النَّقعthe dust سابحةٌswimming بكلwith every مُدَجَّجِarmored warrior
في النَّقع سابحةٌ بكل مُدَجَّجِ
The horses are shaggy, scowling like falcons,
While the horses with ruffled manes like hawks
swimming through dust with every armored warrior,
Swim in the meadow with each dust-laden one
فيin جُحْفَلٍa mighty army لَجبِclamorous المُجالthe field of action عَرمَرَمimmense
في جُحْفَلٍ لَجبِ المُجال عَرمَرَم
كالليّلlike the night أَسْحَمjet-black بالقتامwith dust مُخَرَّجِmottled
كالليّل أَسْحَم بالقتام مُخَرَّجِ
in a mighty host, clamorous in the field, immense,
In a squadron riding the battlefield, dusty as night,
black as night, mottled with dust.
Obscured by darkness, immersed in gloom
فتَرىthen you see بنيthe sons of نَبْهانNabhan كلevery مباشرٍdirect participant
فتَرى بني نَبْهان كل مباشرٍ
للحَربin war فيin غَمَرانهاits turmoil مُتوّلجِplunging in
للحَرب في غَمَرانها مُتوّلجِ
You see the sons of Nabhan, each engaging
You see the Bani Nabhan, each a warrior
in war, plunging into its engulfing turmoil.
Tested in its calamities, deftly charging
قوٌمa people إذاwhen سمعواthey heard النّداءِthe call رأَيتَهُمyou saw them
قوٌم إذا سمعوا النّداءِ رأَيتَهُم
فيamong مُلْجِمٍone bridling نَحْوtoward الصّريخthe caller for aid ومُسرجِand one saddling
في مُلْجِمٍ نَحْو الصّريخ ومُسرجِ
A people who, when they hear the call, you see
Men who when they hear the call you see them
some bridling, some saddling, to reach the one crying for aid.
In equipment, towards the battle cry urging their rides
تُعْدوgallop بِهمcarrying them قُبُّtucked-up البُطونbellies ضَوامِرٌlean steeds
تُعْدو بِهم قُبُّ البُطون ضَوامِرٌ
جُردٌsleek-coated سُلالةُdescendants of لاحقٍLahiq والأعوَجِand al-Awaj
جُردٌ سُلالةُ لاحقٍ والأعوَجِ
Lean steeds with tucked-up bellies gallop with them,
With them the stallions race, thoroughbred grays
sleek-coated, descendants of Lahiq and al-Awaj.
Bared blades, descendants of ancestors noble and free
أَلفواthey grew accustomed مُقامَهمtheir stay علىon صَهواتهاtheir backs
أَلفوا مُقامَهم على صَهواتها
فكأنماso it was as though لسواهُمُfor anyone but them لمnot تُنْتَجِthey were foaled
فكأنما لسواهُمُ لم تُنْتَجِ
They have grown used to dwelling on their backs,
They have known their stance on the back of their steeds
as though these steeds had never been foaled for anyone else.
As if none but them have ever mounted
حتَّىuntil إذاwhen حضَرواthey attended النَّديَّthe assembly رأَيتَهُمْyou saw them
حتَّى إذا حضَروا النَّديَّ رأَيتَهُمْ
مثْلlike الاهلَّةِcrescent moons فيin فتوقِrifts الزّبْرجِthe thin clouds
مثْل الاهلَّةِ في فتوقِ الزّبْرجِ
Then, when they attend the assembly, you see them
When they attend the battle you see them
like crescent moons through rifts in thin clouds.
Like celestial bodies in the blackness of night
أبناءٌthe sons of نبْهانNabhan لَهُمtheirs is شَرَفُhonor
أبناءٌ نبْهان لَهُم شَرَفُ
وَلَهُمْand theirs is سَناthe radiance of مصْباحهاits lamp المُتَوَهجِblazing
وَلَهُمْ سَنا مصْباحها المُتَوَهجِ
The sons of Nabhan possess honor,
The Bani Nabhan, noble of lineage
and theirs is the radiance of its blazing lamp.
And brilliance - their beacon burns bright
والنَّاسُand the people كلُّevery one منهمof them بمحَمّدin Muhammad
والنَّاسُ كلُّ منهم بمحَمّد
ونَوالand the bounty of نَبْهانٍNabhan وأَحْمَدَand Ahmad مُرْتَجيِhopeful
ونَوال نَبْهانٍ وأَحْمَدَ مُرْتَجيِ
All the people place their hopes in Muhammad
People all bear love for Muhammad
and in the bounty of Nabhan and Ahmad.
And Nabhan’s bliss, and Ahmad they seek
فبقواso may they endure بَنوthe sons of عُمَرٍUmar وعَاشواand may they live عِصْمةًa safeguard
فبقوا بَنو عُمَرٍ وعَاشوا عِصْمةً
للمُسْتَجيرfor the refuge-seeker ونعْمَةَand a blessing للْمُحْوجِfor the needy
للمُسْتَجير ونعْمَةَ للْمُحْوجِ
May the sons of Umar endure and live as a safeguard
So remain, O Bani Umar, and live as protection
for those seeking refuge, and a blessing for those in need.
For the seeker of refuge and bounty for the needy
Sol 6.1