أَمِنْIs it for دِمَنٍcamp-traces بِشاجِنَةin a ravine of ٍ الحَجُونِal-Ḥajūn
أَمِنْ دِمَنٍ بِشاجِنَة ٍ الحَجُونِ
عفَتْvanished منهَاfrom them المعارفُthe recognizable landmarks منذُsince حينِa while
عفَتْ منهَا المعارفُ منذُ حينِ
Is it for camp-traces in a ravine of al-Ḥajūn,
whose familiar landmarks vanished long ago,
وضَنَّتْand it withheld بِالكَلامِspeech، ولَمْand did not تَكَلَّمْspeak
وضَنَّتْ بِالكَلامِ، ولَمْ تَكَلَّمْ
بَكَيْتَyou wept، وكَيْفَand how تَبْكِيdo you weep لِلضَّنِينِfor one who withholds
بَكَيْتَ، وكَيْفَ تَبْكِي لِلضَّنِينِ
which begrudged speech and did not speak,
that you wept? How can you weep for one who withholds?
ونَدَّىand moistened المَاءُthe water (tears) جَفْنَthe eyelid العَيْنِof the eye حَتَّىuntil
ونَدَّى المَاءُ جَفْنَ العَيْنِ حَتَّى
ترقرقَit shimmered، ثمَّthen فاضَoverflowed منَfrom الجفونِthe eyelids
ترقرقَ، ثمَّ فاضَ منَ الجفونِ
The tears moistened the eyelid until
they shimmered, then overflowed from the lids,
كَماas هَمَلَتْthey poured forth وسَالَand flowed مِنَfrom الأَوَاتيthe watercourses
كَما هَمَلَتْ وسَالَ مِنَ الأَوَاتي
دُمُوعُtears النِّكْسِof the feeble one مِنْfrom وَشَلٍa trickling spring مَعِينِflowing
دُمُوعُ النِّكْسِ مِنْ وَشَلٍ مَعِينِ
as they poured forth and flowed from the watercourses—
the feeble one's tears, from a small, flowing spring.
مَنَازِلُdwellings مَاnot تَرَىyou see الأَنْصَابَthe sacrificial stones فِيهاin them
مَنَازِلُ مَا تَرَى الأَنْصَابَ فِيها
ولاnor حُفَرَpits المُبَليِّof one leaving beasts to perish لِلْمَنُونِfor Death
ولا حُفَرَ المُبَليِّ لِلْمَنُونِ
Dwellings where you see no sacrificial stones,
nor pits dug by one leaving beasts to Death,
ولاَnor أَثَرَa trace الدَّوَارِof al-Duwār ولاَnor المَآلِيmourning-cloths
ولاَ أَثَرَ الدَّوَارِ ولاَ المَآلِي
ولكِنْbut قَدْindeed تَرَىyou may see أُرَبَremnants الحُصُونِof fortifications
ولكِنْ قَدْ تَرَى أُرَبَ الحُصُونِ
nor traces of al-Duwār, nor mourning-cloths;
yet you can see remnants of fortifications.
عفَتْthey vanished إلاَّexcept أياصرَtethering-ropes أوْor نئيَّاًa tent-trench
عفَتْ إلاَّ أياصرَ أوْ نئيَّاً
محافرهُاtheir excavations كأسريةlike woven strips (uncertain reading) ِ الإيضينِof girths (uncertain reading)
محافرهُا كأسرية ِ الإيضينِ
They have vanished, save for tethers or a tent-trench,
their excavations like woven strips of girths [uncertain reading].
وأخرجَand a pied beast، أمُّهُits dam لسواسِfor sawās shrubs سلمىof Salmā
وأخرجَ، أمُّهُ لسواسِ سلمى
لِمَعْفُورِfor a dust-covered one الضَّرَاthe shelter ضَرِمِfiercely stirring الجَنينِthe unborn young
لِمَعْفُورِ الضَّرَا ضَرِمِ الجَنينِ
And a pied beast—its dam, for Salmā's sawās thickets [unclear]—
for one dust-covered in its shelter, its unborn young fiercely stirring [unclear].
تنكَّرَbecame unrecognizable رسمُهاits traces إلاَّexcept بقاياremnants
تنكَّرَ رسمُها إلاَّ بقايا
جلاَlaid bare عنهَاfrom them جدَاthe bounty همعٍof abundant rain هتونِpouring
جلاَ عنهَا جدَا همعٍ هتونِ
Its traces had become unrecognizable, save remnants
laid bare by the bounty of abundant, pouring rain,
كَآثَارِlike marks النَّؤُورِof tattoo-soot لَهُit has دُخَانٌsmoke
كَآثَارِ النَّؤُورِ لَهُ دُخَانٌ
أسفَّswept low over متونَthe surfaces مقترحٍof untouched ground رصينِfirm
أسفَّ متونَ مقترحٍ رصينِ
like marks of tattoo-soot whose smoke
swept low over the surfaces of firm, untouched ground.
كَأَنَّas though حُطَامَthe fragments قَيْضِof eggshells الصَّيْفِof summer فِيهِin it
كَأَنَّ حُطَامَ قَيْضِ الصَّيْفِ فِيهِ
فَرَاشُsplinters صَمِيمِof the solid substance أَقْحافِof skull-bones الشُّؤُونِof the sutures
فَرَاشُ صَمِيمِ أَقْحافِ الشُّؤُونِ
As though the shattered summer eggshells there
were fragments of the solid skull-bones along their sutures.
وقفتُI stood بهاat them فهيضَand was stirred جوىheartache ً أطاعَتْresponded
وقفتُ بها فهيضَ جوى ً أطاعَتْ
لَهُto it زَفرَاتُthe sighs مُغْتَرِبٍof an exile حَزِينِsorrowful
لَهُ زَفرَاتُ مُغْتَرِبٍ حَزِينِ
I stood there, and heartache was stirred, answered
by the sighs of a sorrowful exile.
أشتَّscattered بأهلِهِamong his people صرفُthe vicissitudes اللَّياليof the nights
أشتَّ بأهلِهِ صرفُ اللَّيالي
فأضحَىso he became وهوَwhile he was منجذمُsevered القرينِfrom his companion
فأضحَى وهوَ منجذمُ القرينِ
The changes of night had scattered his people,
leaving him severed from his companion.
ويومِand a day of ظعائنٍwomen in litters علَّلتُI consoled نفسيmyself
ويومِ ظعائنٍ علَّلتُ نفسي
بهنذَwith them (apparently بهنّ) علىon مواشكةswift-striding ٍ ذقونِchin-thrusting
بهنذَ على مواشكة ٍ ذقونِ
And on a day of departing women I consoled myself
with them, on a swift, chin-thrusting she-camel,
مبرزَّةoutstripping ٍ إذاwhen أيديthe forelegs المطاياof the mounts
مبرزَّة ٍ إذا أيدي المطايا
شدتْdrove on بقباضةwith a firm grip ٍ، وثنتْand bent بلينِwith suppleness
شدتْ بقباضة ٍ، وثنتْ بلينِ
outstripping the others when the mounts' forelegs
drove forward with a firm grip and bent with suppleness.
ظَعَائِنُwomen in litters كُنْتُI used to أَعْهَدُهُنَّknow them قِدْماًformerly
ظَعَائِنُ كُنْتُ أَعْهَدُهُنَّ قِدْماً
وهنَّand they لذيtoward one possessing الأمانةtrust ِ غيرُnot خونِbetrayers
وهنَّ لذي الأمانة ِ غيرُ خونِ
Women in litters whom I had known of old,
never betraying one who trusted them,
حسانُlovely مواضعِat the sites النُّقبِof piercings الأعاليupper
حسانُ مواضعِ النُّقبِ الأعالي
غراثُslender الوشحِthe sashes، صامتةsilent ُ البرينِthe anklets
غراثُ الوشحِ، صامتة ُ البرينِ
lovely at the sites of their upper piercings,
slender beneath their sashes, their anklets silent,
طِوَالُlong مَشَكِّat the joining أَعْنَاقِof the necks الهَوَادِيof the foreparts
طِوَالُ مَشَكِّ أَعْنَاقِ الهَوَادِي
نَوَاعِمُtender بَيْنَamong أبْكَارٍmaidens وعُونِand mature women
نَوَاعِمُ بَيْنَ أبْكَارٍ وعُونِ
long in the necks that join their shoulders,
soft and tender, some maidens, some mature.
يُسَارِقْنَthey steal الكَلامَspeech إِليَّto me لَمَّاwhen
يُسَارِقْنَ الكَلامَ إِليَّ لَمَّا
حَسِسْنَthey sensed حِذارَfear of مُرْتَقِبٍa watcher شَفُونِkeen-eyed
حَسِسْنَ حِذارَ مُرْتَقِبٍ شَفُونِ
They stole words to me when
they sensed danger from a keen-eyed watcher.
كأنَّas though الخيمَthe tents هاجَroused إليَّtoward me منهُfrom it
كأنَّ الخيمَ هاجَ إليَّ منهُ
نعاجُwild cows صرائمٍof isolated sands حمِّblack القرونِof horns
نعاجُ صرائمٍ حمِّ القرونِ
As though the tents had roused toward me from within
wild cows of isolated sands, with jet-black horns,
عقائلُchoice beasts رملةof a dune ٍ نازعنَcropped منهاfrom it
عقائلُ رملة ٍ نازعنَ منها
دفوقَabundant أقاحِdaisies معهودٍrain-favored ودينِand moistened
دفوقَ أقاحِ معهودٍ ودينِ
choice beasts of a dune, cropping from it
lush daisies on rain-favored, moistened ground,
خِلاطَamid أَكُفِّpalm-like heads شُقَّارَىof shuqārā flowers احْتَشَتْهاthey grazed on them
خِلاطَ أَكُفِّ شُقَّارَى احْتَشَتْها
ملمَّعةdappled ُ الشَّوَىof limbs بيضُwhite البطونِof bellies
ملمَّعة ُ الشَّوَى بيضُ البطونِ
among the palm-like shuqārā blooms they grazed—
dappled of limb and white of belly.
فلمَّاand when أنْthat رأينَthey perceived القولَthe speech حالتْthey turned aside
فلمَّا أنْ رأينَ القولَ حالتْ
حَوَائِمُcircling water-seekers يَتَّخِذْنَthey consider الغِبَّalternate-day watering رِفْهاًa luxury
حَوَائِمُ يَتَّخِذْنَ الغِبَّ رِفْهاً
When they perceived what was said, they turned aside.
Circling water-seekers, they count drinking every other day a luxury.
نقبنَthey pierced وصاوصاًlittle peepholes حذرَfearing الغيارَىjealous watchers
نقبنَ وصاوصاً حذرَ الغيارَى
إليَّtoward me منَfrom الهوادجِthe litters للعيونِfor the eyes
إليَّ منَ الهوادجِ للعيونِ
Fearing jealous watchers, they made little peepholes
for their eyes toward me from their litters.
نَطَقْنَthey spoke بِحَاجَةof a need ٍ، وَطَوَيْنَand concealed أُخْرَىanother
نَطَقْنَ بِحَاجَة ٍ، وَطَوَيْنَ أُخْرَى
كطيِّlike folding كرائمِprecious pieces البزِّof cloth المصونِwell-guarded
كطيِّ كرائمِ البزِّ المصونِ
They voiced one need and folded away another,
as precious, well-guarded fabrics are folded.
بمقتنصِwith a snare for الهوَىlove وصَّلنَthey conveyed منهُfrom it
بمقتنصِ الهوَى وصَّلنَ منهُ
معاتبَreproaches نقَّبتْthat pierced قصبَthe channel الوتينِof the aorta
معاتبَ نقَّبتْ قصبَ الوتينِ
With a snare for love, they sent from it
reproaches that pierced the channel of the aorta.
بِعَيْنِكَbefore your eyes وَدَّعَتْshe bade farewell فيin القَلْبِthe heart...
بِعَيْنِكَ وَدَّعَتْ في القَلْبِ...
وداعَa farewell صريمةof a resolute woman ٍ لفراقِfor parting حينِa time
وداعَ صريمة ٍ لفراقِ حينِ
Before your eyes she bade farewell, within the heart...
the farewell of one resolved on parting for a time.
بِذِيwith one bearing ذِئْبٍa saddle-bow يَنُوسُsways بِجَانِبَيْهِat its two sides
بِذِي ذِئْبٍ يَنُوسُ بِجَانِبَيْهِ
عَثَاكِلُtassels مِنْof أَكَالِيلِgarlands العُهُونِof dyed wool
عَثَاكِلُ مِنْ أَكَالِيلِ العُهُونِ
On a saddle with a projecting bow, at whose sides sway
tassels of garlands made from dyed wool,
أحمِّdeep-black سوادِblackness أعلىuppermost اللَّونِthe color منهُof it
أحمِّ سوادِ أعلى اللَّونِ منهُ
كَلَوْنِlike the color سَرَاةof the back ِ ثُعبَانِof a snake العَرِينِin its lair
كَلَوْنِ سَرَاة ِ ثُعبَانِ العَرِينِ
deep-black, its upper coloring
like the color of the back of a snake in its lair.
تخيَّرَwas selected منْfrom سرارةthe heartwood ِ أثلِof tamarisks حجرٍof Ḥajr
تخيَّرَ منْ سرارة ِ أثلِ حجرٍ
ولاحكَand fitted together بينَهُbetween its parts نحتُthe carving القيونِof the craftsmen
ولاحكَ بينَهُ نحتُ القيونِ
It was selected from the heartwood of Ḥajr's tamarisks,
its parts fitted together by the craftsmen's carving.
تَقُولُshe says ليَto me المَلِيحَةthe lovely woman ُ أُمُّUmm جَهْمٍJahm
تَقُولُ ليَ المَلِيحَة ُ أُمُّ جَهْمٍ
وقدْand sometimes يرعَىis heeded لذيfor one possessing الشَّفقِtender concern المنينِwearied
وقدْ يرعَى لذي الشَّفقِ المنينِ
The lovely Umm Jahm says to me—
and one wearied by tender concern may sometimes be heeded—
كَأَنَّكَas though you لاdo not تَرَىsee أَهْلاًfamily ومَالاًand wealth
كَأَنَّكَ لا تَرَى أَهْلاً ومَالاً
سوَىexcept وجناءَa stout she-camel جائلةshifting ِ الوضينِthe girth
سوَى وجناءَ جائلة ِ الوضينِ
“As though you saw neither family nor wealth
except a stout she-camel with a shifting girth.”
ولَوْand if أَنِّيI أشَاءُwish كَنَنْتُwould shelter جِسْمِيmy body
ولَوْ أَنِّي أشَاءُ كَنَنْتُ جِسْمِي
إلىbeside بيضاءa fair woman واضحةradiant الجبينِof forehead
إلى بيضاء واضحة الجبينِ
If I wished, I could shelter my body
beside a fair woman with a radiant forehead;
إذwhen قامتْshe rose تأوَّدَswayed مسبكرٌّa tall, straight shoot
إذ قامتْ تأوَّدَ مسبكرٌّ
منَamong القضبانthe boughs فيin فننٍa branch كنينِsheltered
منَ القضبان في فننٍ كنينِ
when she rose, a straight, full-grown shoot would sway
among the boughs of a sheltered branch.
ولكنِّيbut I أسيرُdrive العنسَthe sturdy she-camel يدمَىbleed
ولكنِّي أسيرُ العنسَ يدمَى
أظلاّهاher foot-pads، وتركعُand she kneels فيon الحزونِrugged ground
أظلاّها، وتركعُ في الحزونِ
But I drive the sturdy she-camel until they bleed—
her foot-pads—and she kneels on rugged ground.
يظلُّkeeps يجولُmoving فوقَabove الحاذِher hindquarters منهاof her
يظلُّ يجولُ فوقَ الحاذِ منها
بِآيِلِamid thickening بَوْلِهَاher urine قِطَعُpieces الجَنِينِof fetal tissue
بِآيِلِ بَوْلِهَا قِطَعُ الجَنِينِ
All day there move above her hindquarters,
amid her thickening urine, fragments of fetal tissue.
تسدُّshe closes بمضرحيِّwith an eagle-like tail اللَّونِin color جثلٍshaggy
تسدُّ بمضرحيِّ اللَّونِ جثلٍ
خَوَايَةthe gaping space َ فَرْجِof the vulva مِقْلاَتٍof one losing her young دَهِينِmilkless
خَوَايَة َ فَرْجِ مِقْلاَتٍ دَهِينِ
With a thick, eagle-hued tail she closes
the gaping vulva of a milkless camel that loses her young,
كَعُثْكُولِlike a fruit-cluster الصَّفِيِّof a choice palm، زَهَاهُadorned it هُلْبٌlong hair
كَعُثْكُولِ الصَّفِيِّ، زَهَاهُ هُلْبٌ
بهِon it عبسُdung-clots المصايفِof summer كالقرونِlike horns
بهِ عبسُ المصايفِ كالقرونِ
like a choice palm's fruit-cluster, adorned with long hair,
on which summer's dried dung-clots cling like horns.
تُمِرُّshe draws it عَلىacross الوَرَاكِthe haunches إِذَاwhen المَطَايَاthe mounts
تُمِرُّ عَلى الوَرَاكِ إِذَا المَطَايَا
تقايسنَmatch strides النِّجادَover the uplands منضunclear; perhaps 'from' الوجينِstony ground
تقايسنَ النِّجادَ منض الوجينِ
She draws it across her haunches when the mounts
match strides over uplands rising from stony ground—
خَرِيعَsupple النَّعْوِat the tail-root، مُضْطَرِبَtossing النَّواحيat the edges
خَرِيعَ النَّعْوِ، مُضْطَرِبَ النَّواحي
كأخلاقِlike worn remains الغريفةof a leather bag ِ ذاhaving غضونِfolds
كأخلاقِ الغريفة ِ ذا غضونِ
supple at its root, tossing at its edges,
like a worn leather bag, full of folds.
نَزَتْsprang شُعَبَthe branches النِّسَاof the sciatic sinew مِنْهاof her الأعَاليupper
نَزَتْ شُعَبَ النِّسَا مِنْها الأعَالي
بجانبِalong the side صفحِof the flank مطحرةof a far-ranging camel ٍ زبونِkicking
بجانبِ صفحِ مطحرة ٍ زبونِ
The upper branches of her sciatic sinews spring
along the flank of a far-ranging, kicking she-camel.
تِشُقُّshe splits مُغَمِّضَاتِthe closed veils اللَّيْلِof the night عَنْهَاaway from her
تِشُقُّ مُغَمِّضَاتِ اللَّيْلِ عَنْهَا
إذاwhen طرقتْshe comes by night، بمرداسٍwith a pounding foot رعونِrocky ridges
إذا طرقتْ، بمرداسٍ رعونِ
She splits the night's closed veils before her
when she comes by night, with a foot that pounds the ridges.
يلاطمُstrikes أيسرُthe left الخدَّينِof the two cheeks منهاof her
يلاطمُ أيسرُ الخدَّينِ منها
إذاwhen ذقنتْshe thrusts her chin قوَىthe strands مرسٍof a rope متينِstout
إذا ذقنتْ قوَى مرسٍ متينِ
Her left cheek strikes
the strands of a stout rope when she thrusts out her chin,
كَحُلْقُومِlike the gullet القَطَاةof a sandgrouse ِ، أُمِرَّwas twisted شَزْراًcrosswise
كَحُلْقُومِ القَطَاة ِ، أُمِرَّ شَزْراً
كَإِمْرَارِlike twisting المُحَدْرَجِa rounded cord ذِيhaving الأُسُونِplaited strands
كَإِمْرَارِ المُحَدْرَجِ ذِي الأُسُونِ
like a sandgrouse's gullet, tightly twisted crosswise,
like the twisting of a rounded cord with plaited strands.
كذاso وكلاَand no، إذاwhen حبستْshe was held back قليلاًbriefly،
كذا وكلاَ، إذا حبستْ قليلاً،
تَعَلُّلُهاher nibbling بِمُسْوَدِّat blackened الدَّرِينِwithered grass
تَعَلُّلُها بِمُسْوَدِّ الدَّرِينِ
As quick as “so” and “no,” when held back briefly,
she takes a few bites of blackened, withered grass.
مُضَبَّرَةcompact ُ القَرَىof back ، بُنِيَتْwere built يَدَاهَاher forelegs
مُضَبَّرَة ُ القَرَى ، بُنِيَتْ يَدَاهَا
إلىagainst سندٍa firm support كبرجِlike a tower المنجنونِof a waterwheel
إلى سندٍ كبرجِ المنجنونِ
Compact of back, her forelegs were built
against a firm support like a waterwheel's tower.
قليلُlittle العركِrubbing، يهجرُkeep clear مرفقاهاher elbows
قليلُ العركِ، يهجرُ مرفقاها
خَلِيفَthe hollow beside رَحىa chest-pad ً كَفُرْزُومِlike the anvil القُيُونِof smiths
خَلِيفَ رَحى ً كَفُرْزُومِ القُيُونِ
With little rubbing, her elbows keep clear
of the hollow beside a chest-pad like a smith's anvil.
كأنِّيas though I بعدَafter سيرِthe travel القومِof the company خمساًfor five days
كأنِّي بعدَ سيرِ القومِ خمساً
أَحَذُّlean-hindered النَّعْتِin appearance يَلْمَعُflashes بالمَنِينِthrough dust
أَحَذُّ النَّعْتِ يَلْمَعُ بالمَنِينِ
As though, after the company had traveled five days,
I were a lean-hindered beast flashing through the dust,
عَلىafter بَيْدَانَةa pale wild she-ass ٍ بِبَناتِat Banāt قَيْنٍQayn
عَلى بَيْدَانَة ٍ بِبَناتِ قَيْنٍ
تسوفُshe scents صلالًstagnant water مبتدِّisolated ظنونِof uncertain yield
تسوفُ صلالً مبتدِّ ظنونِ
following a pale wild she-ass at Banāt Qayn,
scenting stagnant water, isolated and of uncertain yield.
تُعَارِضُshe flanks رَعْلَةa band ً، وتَقُودُand leads أُخْرَىanother
تُعَارِضُ رَعْلَة ً، وتَقُودُ أُخْرَى
نِفَافَlight الوَطْءِof tread، غَائِرَةsunken َ العُيُونِof eyes
نِفَافَ الوَطْءِ، غَائِرَة َ العُيُونِ
She flanks one band and leads another,
light of tread, hollow-eyed,
نَواعِجَswift females، يَغْتَلِينrange along مُوَاكِبَاتٍtraveling together
نَواعِجَ، يَغْتَلِين مُوَاكِبَاتٍ
بأعناقٍwith necks كأشرعةlike sails ِ السَّفينِof ships
بأعناقٍ كأشرعة ِ السَّفينِ
swift females ranging along together,
with necks like the sails of ships.
تُرَاكِلُthey kick across عَرْبَسِيسَhard المَتْنِof surface مَرْتاًbarren
تُرَاكِلُ عَرْبَسِيسَ المَتْنِ مَرْتاً
كظهرِlike the back السَّيحِof a striped cloak، مطَّردَstretching evenly المتونِin its surfaces
كظهرِ السَّيحِ، مطَّردَ المتونِ
They kick across a hard-surfaced, barren tract,
like the back of a striped cloak, its surfaces stretching evenly.
ترَىyou see أصواءَهُits cairns متجاوراتٍclustered together
ترَى أصواءَهُ متجاوراتٍ
عَلىon الأشْرَافِthe heights كالرُّفَقِlike bands of travelers العِزِينِseparate
عَلى الأشْرَافِ كالرُّفَقِ العِزِينِ
You see its cairns clustered near each other
on the heights like separate bands of travelers,
بمنخرقٍin an open passage تحنُّmoans الرِّيحُthe wind فيهِin it
بمنخرقٍ تحنُّ الرِّيحُ فيهِ
حَنِينَthe moaning الجُلْبِof a driven herd فيin البَلَدِthe land السَّنينِdrought-stricken
حَنِينَ الجُلْبِ في البَلَدِ السَّنينِ
in an open passage where the wind moans
like a driven herd in a drought-stricken land.
يَظَلُّremains غُرابُهَاits raven ضَرِماًafire شَذَاهُits rancor
يَظَلُّ غُرابُهَا ضَرِماً شَذَاهُ
شَجٍdistressed بِخُصُومَةby contention ِ الذِّئْبِwith the wolf الشَّنُونِlean
شَجٍ بِخُصُومَة ِ الذِّئْبِ الشَّنُونِ
Its raven remains afire with anger,
distressed by contention with a lean wolf,
عَلىover حُوَلاَءَa fetal membrane يَطْفُوfloats السُّخْدُbirth-fluid فِيهاin it
عَلى حُوَلاَءَ يَطْفُو السُّخْدُ فِيها
فراهَاtore it الشَّيذمانُthe wolf عنِaway from الجنينِthe fetus
فراهَا الشَّيذمانُ عنِ الجنينِ
over a fetal membrane in which birth-fluid floats,
torn from the fetus by the wolf.
وركبٍand a band of riders قدْindeed بعثتُI roused إلىto رذاياspent mounts
وركبٍ قدْ بعثتُ إلى رذايا
طَلائِحَexhausted مِثْلِlike أَخْلاقِworn remains الجُفُونِof sword-sheaths
طَلائِحَ مِثْلِ أَخْلاقِ الجُفُونِ
And a band of riders I roused to their spent mounts,
exhausted, like worn-out sword-sheaths,
مَخَافَةfearing َ أَنْthat يَرِينَwould overpower النَّوْمُsleep فِيهِمْamong them
مَخَافَة َ أَنْ يَرِينَ النَّوْمُ فِيهِمْ
بِسُكْرِwith the stupor سِنَاتِهِمْof their dozing كُلَّall الرُّيُونِoverpowering
بِسُكْرِ سِنَاتِهِمْ كُلَّ الرُّيُونِ
fearing sleep would overwhelm them
with the stupor of their dozing, overpowering them utterly.
فَقَامُواso they rose يَنْفُضونَshaking off كَرَىthe slumber لَيَالٍof nights
فَقَامُوا يَنْفُضونَ كَرَى لَيَالٍ
تمكَّنَhad settled بالطُّلَىin the necks بعدَafter العيونِthe eyes
تمكَّنَ بالطُّلَى بعدَ العيونِ
They rose, shaking off the slumber of nights
that had settled into their necks after their eyes.
وشحواءِand a spacious well المقامِat its standing-place بللتُI moistened منهاfrom it
وشحواءِ المقامِ بللتُ منها
بِسَجْلٍwith a bucketful بَطْنَthe belly مُطَّرِقٍof a bowed creature دَفِينِhidden
بِسَجْلٍ بَطْنَ مُطَّرِقٍ دَفِينِ
And a spacious watering-place, from which I moistened
with a bucketful the belly of a bowed, hidden creature.
كَأَنَّas though قَوَادِمَthe primary feathers القُمْرِيِّof the turtle-dove فِيهِin it
كَأَنَّ قَوَادِمَ القُمْرِيِّ فِيهِ
علَىon رجوَيْboth edges مراكضِهاof its watering-runs الأجونِstagnant
علَى رجوَيْ مراكضِها الأجونِ
As though the turtle-dove's primary feathers there,
along both edges of its stagnant watering-runs,
سَلاجِمُlong arrows يَثْرِبَof Yathrib اللاَّتيwhich عَلَتْهاoverlaid them
سَلاجِمُ يَثْرِبَ اللاَّتي عَلَتْها
بِيَثْرِبَat Yathrib كَبْرَةa patina ٌ بَعْدَafter الجُرُونِburnishing
بِيَثْرِبَ كَبْرَة ٌ بَعْدَ الجُرُونِ
were Yathrib's long arrows, overlaid
at Yathrib with a patina after burnishing.
سَبَقْتُI preceded بِوِرْدِهَاin reaching its water فُرَّاطَthe advance birds سِرْبٍof a flock
سَبَقْتُ بِوِرْدِهَا فُرَّاطَ سِرْبٍ
شرائحَbands بينَamong كدريّdusky birds وجونيand black birds
شرائحَ بينَ كدريّ وجوني
I reached its water before the advance birds of a flock,
bands of dusky and black ones.
تَرَىyou see لِحُلُوقِat the throats جِلَّتِهاof their largest birds أَدَاوَىwater-skins
تَرَى لِحُلُوقِ جِلَّتِها أَدَاوَى
ملمَّعةmottled ً كتلميعِlike the patterning الكرينِof balls
ملمَّعة ً كتلميعِ الكرينِ
At the throats of their large birds you see water-skins,
mottled like patterned balls.
لِكُلِّfor each إِدَاوَةwater-skin ٍ مِنْهاof them نِياطٌa hanging strap
لِكُلِّ إِدَاوَة ٍ مِنْها نِياطٌ
وحُلْقُومٌand a gullet أُضِيفَjoined إِلىto وَتِينِan artery
وحُلْقُومٌ أُضِيفَ إِلى وَتِينِ
Each of those water-skins has a hanging strap
and a gullet joined to an artery.
إذَاwhen اقْلَوَلَيْنَthey hurry لِلْقَرَبِtoward the watering journey البَطِينlong
إذَا اقْلَوَلَيْنَ لِلْقَرَبِ البَطِين
بِأَجْنِحةwith wings ٍ يَمُرْنَthey sweep بِهِنَّwith them حُرْدٍcurved
بِأَجْنِحة ٍ يَمُرْنَ بِهِنَّ حُرْدٍ
When they hurry toward the long journey to water,
with curved wings that they sweep along,
وأعناقٍand necks حنينَbent لغيرِwithout أونِweariness
وأعناقٍ حنينَ لغيرِ أونِ
قطَاsandgrouse قربٍwater-seeking تروَّحَwent out toward evening عنْaway from فراخٍchicks
قطَا قربٍ تروَّحَ عنْ فراخٍ
and necks bent without weariness—
water-seeking sandgrouse leaving their chicks toward evening,
نواهضَfledglings بالفلاin the wilderness صفرِempty البطونِof bellies
نواهضَ بالفلا صفرِ البطونِ
كأنَّas though جلودهنَّtheir skins إذاwhen ازلغبَّتْsprouted down
كأنَّ جلودهنَّ إذا ازلغبَّتْ
fledglings in the wilderness with empty bellies—
their skins, when they sprout down, seem
أفانيafānī plants الصَّيفِof summer فيon جردِbare المتونِridges
أفاني الصَّيفِ في جردِ المتونِ
بِمُشْتَبِهِon similar-looking الظَّوَاهِرِheights والصُّحُونِand flats
بِمُشْتَبِهِ الظَّوَاهِرِ والصُّحُونِ
like summer afānī plants on bare ridges,
on ground whose heights and flats look alike.
Sol 6.1