أَلا أَيُّها اللَيلُ الطويلُ أَلا أَصبِحي

أَلا أَيُّها اللَيلُ الطويلُ أَلا أَصبِحي

بِبَمِّ وَما إِلّا صباحُ فيكَ بِأَروَحِ

بِبَمِّ وَما إِلّا صباحُ فيكَ بِأَروَحِ

Ah, long night, will you not turn to morning

O long night, hasten your passing, for nothing lasts but the dawn

in Bam? Yet dawn within you brings no greater ease.

The eyes find rest at dawn by closing their lids from all burdens

عَلى أَنَّ لِلعَينَينِ في الصُبحِ راحَةً

عَلى أَنَّ لِلعَينَينِ في الصُبحِ راحَةً

بِطَرحِهِما طَرفَيهِما كُلَّ مَطرَحِ

بِطَرحِهِما طَرفَيهِما كُلَّ مَطرَحِ

Still, the eyes find rest in the morning

As if darkness was assigned to watch beside every highland and meadow

by casting their gaze wherever they will.

So dawn, sweep away the night's dust rising

كَأَنَّ الدُجى دونَ البِلادِ مُوَكَّلٌ

كَأَنَّ الدُجى دونَ البِلادِ مُوَكَّلٌ

بِبَمِّ بِجَنبَي كُلِّ عُلوٍ وَمِرزَحِ

بِبَمِّ بِجَنبَي كُلِّ عُلوٍ وَمِرزَحِ

As though darkness, out of all the lands, were appointed

And awaken the one wrapped in robes

to Bam, along every height and hollow.

When the wild beasts call out, he responds, aroused from his lair

فَياصُبحُ كَمِّش غُبَّرَ اللَيلِ مُصعِداً

فَياصُبحُ كَمِّش غُبَّرَ اللَيلِ مُصعِداً

بِبَمّ وَنَبِّه ذا العِفاءِ المُوَّشَّحِ

بِبَمّ وَنَبِّه ذا العِفاءِ المُوَّشَّحِ

O dawn, gather night's remnants as you rise

Not the constant flames of campfires

in Bam, and awaken the richly feathered, banded one.

Nor the howls of hyena packs

إِذا صاحَ لَم يُخذَل وَجاوَبَ صَوتَهُ

إِذا صاحَ لَم يُخذَل وَجاوَبَ صَوتَهُ

حَماشُ الشَوى يَصدَحنَ مِن كُلِّ مَصدَحِ

حَماشُ الشَوى يَصدَحنَ مِن كُلِّ مَصدَحِ

When he cries, he is not left unanswered: his voice is answered

If Layla passed through the vineyards, she may have halted

by slender-legged birds calling from every perch.

Between the slopes of Babylon upon the smooth sands

وَلَيسَ بِأُدمانِ الثَنِيَّةِ موقِدٌ

وَلَيسَ بِأُدمانِ الثَنِيَّةِ موقِدٌ

وَلا نابِحُ مِن آلِ ظَبيَةَ يَنبَحُ

وَلا نابِحُ مِن آلِ ظَبيَةَ يَنبَحُ

Yet at Adman al-Thaniyya no one kindles a fire,

O Salma, fear not that I encroach on the vineyards

nor does a barking dog of Zabya's people bark.

Probing the hillsides with my thoroughbred steed

لَئِن مَرَّ في كَرمانَ لَيلى فَرُبَّما

لَئِن مَرَّ في كَرمانَ لَيلى فَرُبَّما

حَلا بَينَ تَلَّي بابِلٍ فَالمُضَيَّحِ

حَلا بَينَ تَلَّي بابِلٍ فَالمُضَيَّحِ

Though my night has been bitter in Karman, often

Enough sorrow, O Salma, that one gone to the vineyards

it was sweet between Babylon's two hills and al-Mudayyah.

While I remain, unable to venture there

فَياسَلمَ لا تَخشَي بِكَرمانَ أَن أُرى

فَياسَلمَ لا تَخشَي بِكَرمانَ أَن أُرى

أُقَسِّسُ أَعراجَ السَوامِ المُرَوَّحِ

أُقَسِّسُ أَعراجَ السَوامِ المُرَوَّحِ

Salm, do not fear that in Karman I shall be seen

I sleep but to meet Salma's mother, though perhaps

herding the lame among the livestock driven home.

Dreams cheat me with a fleeting illusion

كَفى حَزَناً يا سَلمَ أَن كانَ ذاهِباً

كَفى حَزَناً يا سَلمَ أَن كانَ ذاهِباً

بِكَرمانَ بي حَولٌ وَلَم أَتَسَرَّحِ

بِكَرمانَ بي حَولٌ وَلَم أَتَسَرَّحِ

Enough sorrow, Salm, that there should have passed

O Salma, I gain nothing if I sell you

a year of my life in Karman, without my ranging free.

For this world, and what trader profits not?

أَنامُ لِأَلقى أُمَّ سَلمٍ وَرُبَّما

أَنامُ لِأَلقى أُمَّ سَلمٍ وَرُبَّما

رَماني الكَرى بِالزائِرِ المُتَزَحزِحِ

رَماني الكَرى بِالزائِرِ المُتَزَحزِحِ

I sleep to meet Umm Salm, and sometimes

Samsam, if you intercede for your mother, you'll find

slumber brings me the visitor who slips away.

An advocate in her heart who never refused aid

وَيا سَلمَ ما أَربَحتُ إِن أَنا بِعتُكُم

وَيا سَلمَ ما أَربَحتُ إِن أَنا بِعتُكُم

بِدُنيا وَكَم مِن تاجِرٍ غَيرُ مُربِحِ

بِدُنيا وَكَم مِن تاجِرٍ غَيرُ مُربِحِ

Salm, I gain nothing if I sell you

When you are away, none but you is absent

for worldly gain; many a merchant makes no profit.

As you care for us each evening and at dawn

أَصَمصامَ إِن تَشفَع لِأُمِّكَ تَلقَها

أَصَمصامَ إِن تَشفَع لِأُمِّكَ تَلقَها

لَها شافِعٌ في الصَدرِ لَم يَتَبَرَّحِ

لَها شافِعٌ في الصَدرِ لَم يَتَبَرَّحِ

Samsam, if you plead for your mother, you will find

Is love anything but - had she stripped herself

she has an advocate in my breast who has never left.

For your slaughter, Samsam, I'd say "Go on, slay!"

إِذا غِبتَ عَنّا لَم يَغِب غَيرَ أَنَّهُ

إِذا غِبتَ عَنّا لَم يَغِب غَيرَ أَنَّهُ

يَعِنُّ لَنا في كُلِّ مُمسىً وَمَصبَحِ

يَعِنُّ لَنا في كُلِّ مُمسىً وَمَصبَحِ

When you are absent from us, he is not absent; rather,

To me, you are sweeter than paradise

he appears to us at every evening and morning.

A paradise whose vines have bloomed between dunes

هَل الحُبُّ إِلّا أَنَّها لَو تَجَرَّدَت

هَل الحُبُّ إِلّا أَنَّها لَو تَجَرَّدَت

لِذَبحِكَ يا صَمصامَ قُلتُ لَها اِذبَحي

لِذَبحِكَ يا صَمصامَ قُلتُ لَها اِذبَحي

Is love anything but this: were she to ready herself

Like one thirsty for water that misfortune made distant

to slaughter you, Samsam, I would tell her, 'Slaughter him,'

Amidst far sands between barren hills

وَإِن كُنتَ عِندي أَنتَ أَحلى مِنَ الجَنى

وَإِن كُنتَ عِندي أَنتَ أَحلى مِنَ الجَنى

جَنى النَحلِ أَمسى واتِناً بَينَ أَجبُحِ

جَنى النَحلِ أَمسى واتِناً بَينَ أَجبُحِ

though you yourself are sweeter to me than the harvest—

I imagine, if I embrace your cousin Salma

the bees' harvest, settled within their hives—

Upon a sandy plain, a place for one to sprawl

لِظَمآنَ في ماءٍ أَحالَتهُ مُزنَةُ

لِظَمآنَ في ماءٍ أَحالَتهُ مُزنَةُ

بُعَيدَ الكَرى في مُدهُنٍ بَينَ أَطلُحِ

بُعَيدَ الكَرى في مُدهُنٍ بَينَ أَطلُحِ

to a thirsty man, in water poured down by a raincloud

Turning away, she moves on; approaching,

just after sleep, into a rock-basin among acacias.

The gazelle's haunches sway beneath her robes

كَأَنّي إِذا باشَرتُ سَلمَةَ خالِياً

كَأَنّي إِذا باشَرتُ سَلمَةَ خالِياً

عَلى رَملَةٍ مَيثاءَ لِلمُتَبَطِّحِ

عَلى رَملَةٍ مَيثاءَ لِلمُتَبَطِّحِ

It is as though, when I embrace Salmah alone,

As if my heart is in the claws of a bird

I lie upon sand soft to one stretched upon it.

That tears whenever memories of you reemerge

إِذا أَدبَرَت أَثَّت وَإِن هِيَ أَقبَلَت

إِذا أَدبَرَت أَثَّت وَإِن هِيَ أَقبَلَت

فَرُؤدُ الأَعالي شَختَةُ المُتَوَشَّحِ

فَرُؤدُ الأَعالي شَختَةُ المُتَوَشَّحِ

When she turns away, she is full-fleshed; when she approaches,

Memories of you - since fate has not allowed us to meet

her upper body is tender, her girdled waist slender.

Distract me from the joy of this burdensome life

كَأَنَّ فُؤادي بَينَ أَظفارِ طائِرٍ

كَأَنَّ فُؤادي بَينَ أَظفارِ طائِرٍ

إِذا سنَحَت ذِكراكَ مِن كُلِّ مَسنَحِ

إِذا سنَحَت ذِكراكَ مِن كُلِّ مَسنَحِ

My heart seems caught between a bird's talons

I envy myself for Salma, my cousin

whenever your memory darts upon me from every direction.

Though every fair maid were to offer herself to me

وَذِكراكَ ما لَم تُسعِفِ الدارُ بَينَنا

وَذِكراكَ ما لَم تُسعِفِ الدارُ بَينَنا

تَباريحُ مِن عَيشِ الَياةِ المُبَرِّحِ

تَباريحُ مِن عَيشِ الَياةِ المُبَرِّحِ

Your memory, while our dwellings fail to bring us together,

She evades but desire for you defeats all restraint

is torment from the grievous business of living.

Erasing the bitterness of one who bears so much woe

أَغارُ عَلى نَفسي لِسَلمَةَ خالِياً

أَغارُ عَلى نَفسي لِسَلمَةَ خالِياً

وَلَو عَرَضَت لي كُلُّ بَيضاءَ بَيدَحِ

وَلَو عَرَضَت لي كُلُّ بَيضاءَ بَيدَحِ

I guard myself jealously for Salmah when alone,

You are not linked to weakness, O Salma, so delight

even if every fair, full-bodied woman should offer herself to me,

In the morn, not in borrowed splendor on loan

تَمَلَّحُ ما اِسطاعَت وَيَغلِبُ دونَها

تَمَلَّحُ ما اِسطاعَت وَيَغلِبُ دونَها

هَوىً لكِ يُنسي مُلحَتَ المُتَمَلِّحِ

هَوىً لكِ يُنسي مُلحَتَ المُتَمَلِّحِ

displaying all the charm she can; but over her prevails

O Salma, if to you I should return, perhaps

my love for you, making me forget the charmer's charms.

I'll come back my affairs ungladdened by foes

وَما وَصلُكُم بِالرَثِّ يا سَلمَ فَاِنعِمي

وَما وَصلُكُم بِالرَثِّ يا سَلمَ فَاِنعِمي

صَباحاً وَلا بِالمُستَعارِ المُمَنَّحِ

صَباحاً وَلا بِالمُستَعارِ المُمَنَّحِ

Your bond is not worn thin, Salm—may you enjoy

Powerless, without cunning stratagems

a happy morning—nor is it something borrowed and lent.

Save for the grace of the oft-praised and glorified hands

وَيا سَلمَ إِن أَرجِع إِلَيكِ فَرُبَّما

وَيا سَلمَ إِن أَرجِع إِلَيكِ فَرُبَّما

رَجَعتُ وَأَمري لِلعِدا غَيرُ مُفرِحِ

رَجَعتُ وَأَمري لِلعِدا غَيرُ مُفرِحِ

Salm, if I return to you, often

Otherwise I am but a stray camel

I have returned with my affairs bringing enemies no joy,

Tomorrow amidst stones in the barren plains

بِلا قُوَّةٍ مِنّي وَلا كَيسِ حيلَةٍ

بِلا قُوَّةٍ مِنّي وَلا كَيسِ حيلَةٍ

سِوى فَضلِ أَيدي المُستَغاثِ المُسَبِّحِ

سِوى فَضلِ أَيدي المُستَغاثِ المُسَبِّحِ

through no strength of mine, nor clever contrivance,

When I die, lament me to your people, and weep

only the abundant favors of the One invoked and praised.

For one like me, an ignoble braggart

وَإِلّا فَإِنّي إِنَّما أَنا هامَةٌ

وَإِلّا فَإِنّي إِنَّما أَنا هامَةٌ

غَدا بَينَ أَحجارٍ بِبَيداءَ صَردَحِ

غَدا بَينَ أَحجارٍ بِبَيداءَ صَردَحِ

Otherwise, I am only a skull

Of the unfailing horseman, your husband, sing his virtues

tomorrow among stones in a broad, bare waste.

Though remote, his lofty merits remain undimmed

إِذا مِتُّ فَانعَيني لِقَومِكِ وَاِبجِحي

إِذا مِتُّ فَانعَيني لِقَومِكِ وَاِبجِحي

بِذِكري وَمِثلي نُهيَةُ المُتَبَجِّحِ

بِذِكري وَمِثلي نُهيَةُ المُتَبَجِّحِ

If I die, announce my death to your people, and boast

He strove and his efforts led to great triumphs

of my memory: one like me is the utmost boast.

Those who excel in glory will prosper

بِفارِسِ ذي الأَدراعِ بَعلِكِ فَاِندُبي

بِفارِسِ ذي الأَدراعِ بَعلِكِ فَاِندُبي

مَناقِبَ خِرقٍ بِالثَأى غَيرِ مُفدَحِ

مَناقِبَ خِرقٍ بِالثَأى غَيرِ مُفدَحِ

Of your husband, the armored horseman, lament

Thus he attained what no righteous effort misses

the virtues of a noble man whom injury could not weigh down.

Matching the success of those misfortune evades

سَعى ثُمَّ أَغلَت بِالمَعالي سُعاتُهُ

سَعى ثُمَّ أَغلَت بِالمَعالي سُعاتُهُ

وَمَن يُغلِ في رِبعِيَّةِ المَجدِ يُربِحِ

وَمَن يُغلِ في رِبعِيَّةِ المَجدِ يُربِحِ

He strove, and his striving bid high for lofty honors;

I fear, Samsam, if I die, rule over

whoever bids high for glory's spring-born camel profits.

My inheritance and yours will go to one unfit

فَأَضحى وَما يَألو بِصالِحِ سَعيِهِم

فَأَضحى وَما يَألو بِصالِحِ سَعيِهِم

لَحاقاً وَمَن لا يُحرَمِ النُجحَ يُنجِحِ

لَحاقاً وَمَن لا يُحرَمِ النُجحَ يُنجِحِ

So he spared no effort to match their worthy striving,

If he knocks your head with his staff in council, and says

catching up; whoever is not denied success succeeds.

"You have erred!" reply "I concede, forgive me!"

أُحاذِرُ يا صَمصامَ إِن مِتُّ أَن يَلي

أُحاذِرُ يا صَمصامَ إِن مِتُّ أَن يَلي

تُراثي وَإِيّاكَ اِمرُؤٌ غَيرُ مُصلِحِ

تُراثي وَإِيّاكَ اِمرُؤٌ غَيرُ مُصلِحِ

I fear, Samsam, that if I die, there may take charge

Your nearest ally is a helpless old woman

of my inheritance and you a man who does not set things right.

Who sighs heavily when you complain of injustice

إِذا صَكَّ وَسطَ القَومِ رَأسَكَ صَكَّةً

إِذا صَكَّ وَسطَ القَومِ رَأسَكَ صَكَّةً

يَقولُ لَهُ النادي مَلَكتَ فَأَسجِحِ

يَقولُ لَهُ النادي مَلَكتَ فَأَسجِحِ

When he strikes your head amid the people,

Bereft of any defense but the outpouring of tears

the assembly tells him, 'You have power; be gentle.'

From every duct, without cease or relief

وَناصِرُكَ الأَدنى عَلَيهِ ظَعينَةٌ

وَناصِرُكَ الأَدنى عَلَيهِ ظَعينَةٌ

تَميدُ إِذا اِستَعبَرتَ مَيدَ المُرنَّحِ

تَميدُ إِذا اِستَعبَرتَ مَيدَ المُرنَّحِ

Your nearest champion against him will be a woman

When you visit she weeps, and remembers amidst sorrow

who sways, when you weep, like someone sent reeling,

One whose virtues surpassed all other men's

مُفَجَّعَةٌ لا دَفعَ لِلضَيمِ عِندَها

مُفَجَّعَةٌ لا دَفعَ لِلضَيمِ عِندَها

سِوى سَفَحانِ الدَمعِ مِن كُلّ مَسفَحِ

سِوى سَفَحانِ الدَمعِ مِن كُلّ مَسفَحِ

bereaved, with no means to ward off oppression

Whom the earth has concealed, sparing you

except tears pouring from every channel.

Your gracious father, protector of the adorned sanctuary

إِذا جِئتَها تَبكي بَكَت وَتَذكَّرَت

إِذا جِئتَها تَبكي بَكَت وَتَذكَّرَت

مَعَ الحُزنِ صَولاتِ اِمرِئٍ غَيرَ زُمَّحِ

مَعَ الحُزنِ صَولاتِ اِمرِئٍ غَيرَ زُمَّحِ

When you come to her crying, she cries and remembers,

Whether slain by spears or dead, the winds blow dust

with sorrow, the charges of a man who was no weakling.

Over him from all sides on every sand hill

وَقَد أَضمَرَتهُ الأَرضُ عَنكَ وَأَسلَمَت

وَقَد أَضمَرَتهُ الأَرضُ عَنكَ وَأَسلَمَت

أَباكَ المَوالي لِلحِمامِ المُجَلَّحِ

أَباكَ المَوالي لِلحِمامِ المُجَلَّحِ

The earth has hidden him from you, and the kinsmen surrendered

The breeze alternately perfumes him with sweet basil

your father to relentless death,

As hands competing to pour from their vessels

صَريعَ قَناً أَو مَيِّتاً تَطرُدُ الصَبا

صَريعَ قَناً أَو مَيِّتاً تَطرُدُ الصَبا

عَلَيهِ السَفا مِن جانِبَي كُلِّ أَبطَحِ

عَلَيهِ السَفا مِن جانِبَي كُلِّ أَبطَحِ

fallen to spears, or dead while the east wind drives

Though such fate was granted him, his mother does not chide

dust over him from both sides of every stony hollow.

The mourned, rising at dawn without joy or rest

تُراوِجُهُ ريحانِ إِذ تَنسُجانِهِ

تُراوِجُهُ ريحانِ إِذ تَنسُجانِهِ

كَما اِختَلَفَت كَفّا مُفيضٍ بِأَقدُحِ

كَما اِختَلَفَت كَفّا مُفيضٍ بِأَقدُحِ

Two winds take turns over him, weaving across him,

O Salma, I shrouded my stray camel in its robe

like the alternating hands of a lot-caster handling arrows.

And wrapped my mouth with perfumed cloth

أُتيحَت لَهُ أُمُّ اللُهيمِ وَما تَني

أُتيحَت لَهُ أُمُّ اللُهيمِ وَما تَني

عَلى فاجِعٍ تَغدو إِذا لَم تَرَوَّحِ

عَلى فاجِعٍ تَغدو إِذا لَم تَرَوَّحِ

Umm al-Luhaym was allotted to him, never slackening

Barely stretched between the staves of the bier

in calamity, coming at dawn if she does not come at evening.

Borne by the deeply grieving undertaker's helpers

وَهاجِرَةٍ يا سَلمَ كَفَّنتُ هامَتي

وَهاجِرَةٍ يا سَلمَ كَفَّنتُ هامَتي

لَها وَفَمي بِالأَتحَمِيِّ المُسَيَّحِ

لَها وَفَمي بِالأَتحَمِيِّ المُسَيَّحِ

Many a midday heat, Salm, I shrouded my head

I placed my reddened brow before it, like Hurrah's son

and mouth against it in striped Athami cloth,

My cheeks thirsty with tears flowing from each duct

قَليلَ التَواني بَينَ شَرخَي مُرَكَّنٍ

قَليلَ التَواني بَينَ شَرخَي مُرَكَّنٍ

وَأَغبَرَ مَكرورِ المَآسِرِ مُجنَحِ

وَأَغبَرَ مَكرورِ المَآسِرِ مُجنَحِ

with little delay, between the two uprights of a sturdy saddle

The wind's moaning echoes in my ears

and a dust-gray, wing-sided load with doubled bindings.

Like lamenters in an afflicted, grieving throng

نَصَبتُ لَها مِنّي جَبِينَ اِبنِ حُرَّةٍ

نَصَبتُ لَها مِنّي جَبِينَ اِبنِ حُرَّةٍ

وَظَمأى الكَرى لَمّاحَةً كُلَّ مَلمَحِ

وَظَمأى الكَرى لَمّاحَةً كُلَّ مَلمَحِ

I exposed to it the forehead of a freeborn woman's son,

The warbling birds are silenced, and the barking stilled

and an eye thirsty for sleep, scanning every sight.

As mourning doves coo from every niche

يَظَلُّ هَزيزُ الريحِ بَينَ مَسامِعي

يَظَلُّ هَزيزُ الريحِ بَينَ مَسامِعي

بِها كَالتِجاجِ المَأتَمِ المُتَنَوِّحِ

بِها كَالتِجاجِ المَأتَمِ المُتَنَوِّحِ

The wind's whistling remains within my hearing,

When they call loudly, igniting the stones beneath them

there like the clamor of a wailing mourning company.

Their clamor is like the shouts of quarreling drunks

وَقَد عَقَل الحِراءُ وَاِصطَهَرَ اللَظى

وَقَد عَقَل الحِراءُ وَاِصطَهَرَ اللَظى

جَنادِبَ يَرمَحنَ الحَصى كُلَّ مَرمَحِ

جَنادِبَ يَرمَحنَ الحَصى كُلَّ مَرمَحِ

The burning heat had fettered, and the blaze had scorched,

With unsettled crying, as if his rooster's crowing

grasshoppers kicking pebbles in every direction.

Were quarreling throngs returning from a feast

يَشُلنَ إِذا اِعرَورَينَ مُستَوقِدَ الحَصى

يَشُلنَ إِذا اِعرَورَينَ مُستَوقِدَ الحَصى

وَلَسنَ عَلى تَشوالِهِنَّ بِلُقَّحِ

وَلَسنَ عَلى تَشوالِهِنَّ بِلُقَّحِ

They lift their tails when straddling the blazing pebbles,

The wolf takes its prey, the fox its spoils

yet, for all their tail-lifting, they are not pregnant.

Beasts of the wilds, from burrows and thickets

بِمُستَرجَفِ الأَرطى كَأَنَّ جُروسَهُ

بِمُستَرجَفِ الأَرطى كَأَنَّ جُروسَهُ

تَداعي حَجيجٍ رَجعُهُ غَيرُ مُفصِحِ

تَداعي حَجيجٍ رَجعُهُ غَيرُ مُفصِحِ

Among quivering arta bushes, whose sounds seem

When they take cover in every crevice in the rocks

like pilgrims calling to one another, their echo indistinct,

He meets them at every den and lookout

يُحيلُ بِهِ الذِئبُ الأَحَلُّ وَقوتُهُ

يُحيلُ بِهِ الذِئبُ الأَحَلُّ وَقوتُهُ

ذَواتُ المَرادي مِن مَناقٍ وَرُزَّحِ

ذَواتُ المَرادي مِن مَناقٍ وَرُزَّحِ

a loose-limbed wolf ranges, whose food is

Accustomed to raids, he moves as if his stride

horned beasts, marrow-fat or exhausted.

Spanned the breadth of the abandoned settlements

إِذا اِستَتَرَت مِنهُ بِكُلِّ كُدايَةٍ

إِذا اِستَتَرَت مِنهُ بِكُلِّ كُدايَةٍ

مِنَ الصَخرِ وافاها لَدى كُلِّ مَسرَحِ

مِنَ الصَخرِ وافاها لَدى كُلِّ مَسرَحِ

Whenever they hide from him behind a rocky rise,

The color of the lone leopard, his head marked

he meets them at every open grazing ground.

With the smears of sacrificed offerings

عَمَلَّسُ غاراتٍ كَأَنَّ مَسافَهُ

عَمَلَّسُ غاراتٍ كَأَنَّ مَسافَهُ

قَرى حُنظَبٍ أَخلى لَهُ الجَوُّ مُقمِحِ

قَرى حُنظَبٍ أَخلى لَهُ الجَوُّ مُقمِحِ

A strong, swift raider, whose muzzle resembles

When filled, he plunges down as if the shadow

a beetle's back, its head raised into the air open before it.

Of a departed raincloud on a cleared day

كَلَونِ الغَرِيِّ الفَردِ أَجسَدَ رَأسَهُ

كَلَونِ الغَرِيِّ الفَردِ أَجسَدَ رَأسَهُ

عَتائِرُ مَظلومِ الهَدِيِّ المُذَبِّحِ

عَتائِرُ مَظلومِ الهَدِيِّ المُذَبِّحِ

His color is like a solitary blood-daubed altar-stone, its top reddened

If he settles down far from his lair

by the offerings of a slaughterer of wronged sacrificial beasts.

Motionless in a place he'd never before lain

إِذا اِمتَلَّ يَهوي قُلتَ ظَلُّ طَخاءَةٍ

إِذا اِمتَلَّ يَهوي قُلتَ ظَلُّ طَخاءَةٍ

ذَرا الريحُ في أَعقابِ يَومٍ مُصَرَّحِ

ذَرا الريحُ في أَعقابِ يَومٍ مُصَرَّحِ

When he races down at full stretch, you would call him a thin cloud's shadow

His goal marked between two breastbones, his path rises

scattered by the wind at the close of a clear day.

Above the ground, climbing over rocks

وَإِن هُوَ أَقعى خِلتَهُ مِن مَكانِهِ

وَإِن هُوَ أَقعى خِلتَهُ مِن مَكانِهِ

عَلى حالَةٍ ما لَم يَزُل جِذمَ مِسطَحِ

عَلى حالَةٍ ما لَم يَزُل جِذمَ مِسطَحِ

If he sits on his haunches, you would think him, from where he sits,

Knocking the heads of the men from the heels of the horses

so long as he does not move, the stump of a tent-pole.

In valleys amidst the games of the swinging plunge

بِمُنتاطِ ما بَينَ النِياطَينِ مَورُهُ

بِمُنتاطِ ما بَينَ النِياطَينِ مَورُهُ

مِنَ الأَرضِ يَعلو صَحصَحاً بَعدَ صَحصَحِ

مِنَ الأَرضِ يَعلو صَحصَحاً بَعدَ صَحصَحِ

In a far-flung tract, his course between its distant edges

I severed forbidden ties and dispatched dutiful acts

rises over bare plain after bare plain.

Through the strength of my wrist, forceful and thick

كضأَنَّ رؤوسَ القَومِ عَن عُقَبِ السُرى

كضأَنَّ رؤوسَ القَومِ عَن عُقَبِ السُرى

بِها في دَوادي لَعبَةِ المُتَرَجِّحِ

بِها في دَوادي لَعبَةِ المُتَرَجِّحِ

There, the men's heads, after successive stages of night travel,

Scorned but strong, whose sides quiver when still

sway like the plaything of someone on a swing.

Her limbs rigid, her hump firm and hard

قَطَعتُ إِلى مَعروفِها مُنكَراتِها

قَطَعتُ إِلى مَعروفِها مُنكَراتِها

بِفَتلاءَ مِمرانِ الذَراعَينِ شَودَحِ

بِفَتلاءَ مِمرانِ الذَراعَينِ شَودَحِ

I crossed its unfamiliar reaches toward its familiar ones

You see her, her hands clenched into fists

on a stout-forearmed she-camel, tireless and long-bodied,

Like the paws of a hyena, hungry and drooling

مُقَذَّفَةٍ بِالنَحضِ ذاتِ سَلائِقٍ

مُقَذَّفَةٍ بِالنَحضِ ذاتِ سَلائِقٍ

تَضِبُّ نَواحيها وَصُلبٍ مُكَدَّحِ

تَضِبُّ نَواحيها وَصُلبٍ مُكَدَّحِ

heaped with flesh, with muscular ridges

An ugly, scarred vessel that constantly carries a rider

oozing sweat along her flanks, and a scarred backbone.

Drifting in the stagnant pool, rippling and defiled

تَراها وَقَد دارَت يَداها قَباضَةً

تَراها وَقَد دارَت يَداها قَباضَةً

كَأَوبِ يَدَي ذي الرُفصَةِ المُتَمَتِّحِ

كَأَوبِ يَدَي ذي الرُفصَةِ المُتَمَتِّحِ

You see her forelegs wheeling, gathering briskly,

When one side passes, the other appears

like the arm-strokes of a water-drawer taking his allotted turn.

Like the well-knit form of a devoted monk

كَتَومَ التَشَكّي ما تَزالُ بِراكِبٍ

كَتَومَ التَشَكّي ما تَزالُ بِراكِبٍ

تَعومُ بِريعِ القيعَةِ المُتَضَحضِحِ

تَعومُ بِريعِ القيعَةِ المُتَضَحضِحِ

Suppressing complaint, she keeps bearing a rider,

A beauty that outshines the excellence of any mount

swimming through the wavering shimmer of the level plain.

A chest like the breastplate of a armored knight

إِذا اِنقَدَّ مِنهُ جانِبٌ مِن أَمامِها

إِذا اِنقَدَّ مِنهُ جانِبٌ مِن أَمامِها

بَدا جانِبٌ كَالرازِقِيِّ المُنَصَّحِ

بَدا جانِبٌ كَالرازِقِيِّ المُنَصَّحِ

Whenever a stretch of it breaks apart before her,

If she moves slowly, she leaves a mark

another appears, like closely stitched white linen.

Like a bracelet on the terrain she ruled

جُمالِيَةُ يَغتالُ فَضلَ زَمامِها

جُمالِيَةُ يَغتالُ فَضلَ زَمامِها

شَناحٍ كضصَقبِ الطائِفِيِّ المُكَسَّحِ

شَناحٍ كضصَقبِ الطائِفِيِّ المُكَسَّحِ

A male-camel-like she-camel, whose slack rein is swallowed up

With unshod hooves and no rings on fetlocks

by a long neck like a trimmed Ta'ifi post.

Her legs chained, with neither straps nor rings

إِذا ما اِنتَحَت أُمَّ الطَريقِ تَرَسَّمَت

إِذا ما اِنتَحَت أُمَّ الطَريقِ تَرَسَّمَت

رَثيمَ الحَصى مِن مَلكِها المُتَوَضِّحِ

رَثيمَ الحَصى مِن مَلكِها المُتَوَضِّحِ

Whenever she heads for the main road, she traces

She slept deeply between two hollows in the ground

the crushed gravel of her clearly marked course

On yellowed grass that was never plucked

بِخَوصاءَ مَلحودٍ بِغَيرِ حَديدَةٍ

بِخَوصاءَ مَلحودٍ بِغَيرِ حَديدَةٍ

لَها في حِجاجٍ كَالنَصيلِ المُصَفَّحِ

لَها في حِجاجٍ كَالنَصيلِ المُصَفَّحِ

with a narrow eye, hollowed without an iron tool,

She settled there, then tossed and turned

set in her socket like a broad-faced blade.

Falling sideways in a heap, wings folded

كَأَنَّ المَطايا لَيلَةَ الخِمسِ عُلِّقَت

كَأَنَّ المَطايا لَيلَةَ الخِمسِ عُلِّقَت

بِوَثّابَةٍ حُردِ القَوائِمِ شَحشَحِ

بِوَثّابَةٍ حُردِ القَوائِمِ شَحشَحِ

As though, on the night before their fifth-day watering, the mounts were tied

She traveled far from the barren plateau

to a leaping, swift creature with bent legs.

Taking the smooth route then swerving aside

لَها كَضَواةِ النابِ شُدَّت بِلا عُرىً

لَها كَضَواةِ النابِ شُدَّت بِلا عُرىً

وَلا خَرزِ كَفِّ بَينَ نَحرٍ وَمَذبَحِ

وَلا خَرزِ كَفِّ بَينَ نَحرٍ وَمَذبَحِ

She has a swelling like an old she-camel's, fastened without loops

Favoring the left side, learned like the script

or hand-sewn stitches, between breast and throat.

Of a transcriber, clear and refined

أَنامَت غَريراً بَينَ كِسرَي تَنوفَةٍ

أَنامَت غَريراً بَينَ كِسرَي تَنوفَةٍ

مِنَ الأَرضِ مُصفَرَّ الصَلا لَم يُرَشَّحِ

مِنَ الأَرضِ مُصفَرَّ الصَلا لَم يُرَشَّحِ

She put an innocent chick to sleep between the two sides of a wilderness,

She walked in a herd with remedies secured

upon the ground, yellow-rumped and not yet fledged.

By straps, well-tanned and never softened

أَنامَته في أُفحوصِها ثُمَّ قَلَّصَت

أَنامَته في أُفحوصِها ثُمَّ قَلَّصَت

تَقَلَّبُ تهوي في قَرائِنَ جُنَّحِ

تَقَلَّبُ تهوي في قَرائِنَ جُنَّحِ

She laid it in her scraped nest, then rose swiftly,

With blindness, so the wild cats while mating

wheeling and darting among companions with tilted wings.

Cling to them two or three nights, mewling piteously

غِدَت مِن مَساري طُلَّقِ الكُدرِ قَبلَها

غِدَت مِن مَساري طُلَّقِ الكُدرِ قَبلَها

رَوافِعَ طَوراً تَستَقيمُ وَتَنتَحي

رَوافِعَ طَوراً تَستَقيمُ وَتَنتَحي

She set out along the night-routes of free-flying dusky birds ahead of her,

In the morning, deprived of water five days

soaring, now flying straight, now veering

Saddles of sorrow, dust, and patches

عَلى الأَجنُبِ اليُسرى دُموكاً كَأَنَّها

عَلى الأَجنُبِ اليُسرى دُموكاً كَأَنَّها

كُعوبُ رُدَينِيِّ مِنَ الخَطِّ مُصلَحِ

كُعوبُ رُدَينِيِّ مِنَ الخَطِّ مُصلَحِ

onto their left sides, rolling as though they were

Calling each other to descend, as if remnants

the joints of a straightened Rudayni spear from al-Khatt.

Of dwellings left in the abandoned settlement

سَرَت في رَعيلٍ ذي أَداوى مَنوطَةٍ

سَرَت في رَعيلٍ ذي أَداوى مَنوطَةٍ

بِلَبّاتِها مَدبوغَةٍ لَم تُمَرَّحِ

بِلَبّاتِها مَدبوغَةٍ لَم تُمَرَّحِ

She traveled in a flock bearing little waterskins hung

Chicks wandering, pecking with their beaks

at their throats, tanned but never greased.

The shrieking hop of the terrified chick

بِمَعمِيَّةٍ يُمسي القَطا وَهوَ نُسَّسٌ

بِمَعمِيَّةٍ يُمسي القَطا وَهوَ نُسَّسٌ

بِها بِعدَ وَلقِ للَيلَتَينِ المُسَمِّحِ

بِها بِعدَ وَلقِ للَيلَتَينِ المُسَمِّحِ

In a trackless waste, the sandgrouse pass the evening parched,

Born dead, then impregnated after dying

after two nights of easy, rapid travel.

Without being bred by a rooster's penetration

وَتُصبِحُ دونَ الماءِ مِن يَومِ خِمسِها

وَتُصبِحُ دونَ الماءِ مِن يَومِ خِمسِها

عَصائِبُ حَسرى مِن رَذايا وَطُلَّحِ

عَصائِبُ حَسرى مِن رَذايا وَطُلَّحِ

On the morning of their fifth watering-day, short of the water,

Celestial, swollen, as if their udders

there are exhausted bands of failing and worn-out mounts,

Were the utters of a marked, scarred ewe

رِفاقاً تَنادى بِالنُزولِ كَأَنَّها

رِفاقاً تَنادى بِالنُزولِ كَأَنَّها

بِقايا الثُوى وَسط الدِيارِ المَطَرَّحِ

بِقايا الثُوى وَسط الدِيارِ المَطَرَّحِ

in companies calling to one another to halt, as though they were

They toured the valleys, teats bared

remnants of discarded belongings amid the dwellings.

Inflaming the heart with burning thirst

رَوايا فِراخٍ تَنتَحي بِأُنوفِها

رَوايا فِراخٍ تَنتَحي بِأُنوفِها

خَراشِيَّ قَيضِ القَفزَةِ المُتَصَيِّحِ

خَراشِيَّ قَيضِ القَفزَةِ المُتَصَيِّحِ

Water-carriers for chicks that thrust their beaks toward

Pregnant bellies like the armor of warriors

the inner membranes of the leaping bird's split eggshells.

But their insides the color of dyed wool

تُنَتَّجُ أَمواتاً وَتُلقَحُ بَعدَما

تُنَتَّجُ أَمواتاً وَتُلقَحُ بَعدَما

تَموتُ بِلا بُضعٍ مِنَ الفَحلِ مُلقِحِ

تَموتُ بِلا بُضعٍ مِنَ الفَحلِ مُلقِحِ

They are brought forth dead, and impregnated after

When she sped up, trotting as if on the edge

they die, without intercourse with a fertilizing male.

Of an unsheathed sword, its sharpened edge exposed

سَماوِيَّةٌ زُغبٌ كَأَنَّ شَكيرَها

سَماوِيَّةٌ زُغبٌ كَأَنَّ شَكيرَها

صَماليخُ مَعهودِ النَصِيِّ المُجَلَّحِ

صَماليخُ مَعهودِ النَصِيِّ المُجَلَّحِ

Sky-bred and downy, their new feathers seem

She came upon traces amidst the footprints

like the tufts of rain-watered nasi grass, closely cropped.

Of wolves in the soft sands of the flat valley

تَجوبُ بِهِنَّ التهَ صَغواءُ شَفَّها

تَجوبُ بِهِنَّ التهَ صَغواءُ شَفَّها

تَباعُدُ أَظماءَ الفُؤادِ المُلَوَّحِ

تَباعُدُ أَظماءَ الفُؤادِ المُلَوَّحِ

A droop-headed bird crosses the wilderness with them, wasted by

She hurriedly crossed it, then raced on with dawn

the long spacing of drinks for her scorched heart.

And the dawn raiders lighting up the terrain

مِنَ الهوذِ كَدراءُ السَراةِ وَبَطنُها

مِنَ الهوذِ كَدراءُ السَراةِ وَبَطنُها

خَصيفٌ كَلَونِ الحَيقُطانِ المُسَيَّحِ

خَصيفٌ كَلَونِ الحَيقُطانِ المُسَيَّحِ

One of the hudh birds, dusky-backed, her belly

Turning altogether, as the lizard plunging

is pied like the color of a striped male francolin.

Headfirst from the wall of Basra turns about

فَلَمّا تَناهَت وَهيَ عَجلى كَأَنَّها

فَلَمّا تَناهَت وَهيَ عَجلى كَأَنَّها

عَلى حرفِ سَيفٍ حَدُّهُ غَيرُ مُصفَحِ

عَلى حرفِ سَيفٍ حَدُّهُ غَيرُ مُصفَحِ

When she arrived, in haste, it was as though she stood

She came upon a water-spring amid the traces

on a sword's edge, its sharpness not blunted.

Of foxes in the midst of plains and flatlands

أَصابَت نِطافاً وَسطَ آثارِ أَذؤُبٍ

أَصابَت نِطافاً وَسطَ آثارِ أَذؤُبٍ

مِنَ اللَيلِ في جَنبَي مِدِيٍّ وَمِسطَحِ

مِنَ اللَيلِ في جَنبَي مِدِيٍّ وَمِسطَحِ

She found small pools amid the tracks of wolves

Circling stealthily before racing forth together

left in the night beside a stone trough and a flat rock.

With the dawn that illuminates the battleground

فَعَبَّت غِشاشاً ثُمَّ جالَت فَبادَرَت

فَعَبَّت غِشاشاً ثُمَّ جالَت فَبادَرَت

مَعَ الفَجرِ وُرّادَ العِراكِ المُصَبِّحِ

مَعَ الفَجرِ وُرّادَ العِراكِ المُصَبِّحِ

She gulped hastily, then wheeled and hurried ahead of

the drinkers crowding in at dawn for morning water.

مُوَلِّيَةً تَهوي جَميعاً كَما هَوى

مُوَلِّيَةً تَهوي جَميعاً كَما هَوى

مِنَ النيقِ فِهرُ البَصرَةِ المُتَطَحطِحِ

مِنَ النيقِ فِهرُ البَصرَةِ المُتَطَحطِحِ

Turning away, they plunge together, as plunges

from a peak a pale stone, tumbling and shattering.