بَرَتappeared لَكَto you حَمّاءُa dusky dove العِلاطِof neck-markings سَجوعُcooing
بَرَت لَكَ حَمّاءُ العِلاطِ سَجوعُ
وَداعٍand a caller دَعاcalled مِنfrom خُلَّتَيكَyour two attachments نَزيعُyearning
وَداعٍ دَعا مِن خُلَّتَيكَ نَزيعُ
A cooing dove, dark-necked, appeared before you.
Your two attachments sent a yearning summons:
وُلوعٌardor وَذَكرىand remembrance أَورَثَتكَbequeathed you صَبابَةًyearning
وُلوعٌ وَذَكرى أَورَثَتكَ صَبابَةً
أَلاindeed إِنَّماnothing but الذِكرىremembrance هَوىًlove وَوُلوعُand ardor
أَلا إِنَّما الذِكرى هَوىً وَوُلوعُ
ardor and remembrance, which have left you aching.
Indeed, remembrance is nothing but love and ardor.
عَلىalthough أَنthat سَلمىSalma لاno منىhopes مِنكَfrom you دارُهاher dwelling
عَلى أَن سَلمى لا منى مِنكَ دارُها
إِذاwhen ماindeed نَواهاseeks her عامِرٌʿAmir وَمَنيعُand Maniʿ
إِذا ما نَواها عامِرٌ وَمَنيعُ
Yet Salma's dwelling offers you no hope,
when ʿAmir and Maniʿ make for her.
وَلَمand not يُرَwas seen مِنّاamong us قاتِلٌa fighter مِثلُlike عامِرٍʿAmir
وَلَم يُرَ مِنّا قاتِلٌ مِثلُ عامِرٍ
وَلاnor مِثلُlike سَلمىSalma مُشتَرىًone bought وَمَبيعُand sold
وَلا مِثلُ سَلمى مُشتَرىً وَمَبيعُ
No fighter like ʿAmir has been seen among us,
nor anyone like Salma, bought or sold.
وَظِلّاًand the two stayed بِدارٍin a dwelling مِنof سُلَيمىSulayma وَطالَand long lasted ماwhat
وَظِلّاً بِدارٍ مِن سُلَيمى وَطالَ ما
مَضىpassed بِاللَوىat al-Liwa صَيفٌa summer لَهاof hers وَرَبيعُand a spring
مَضى بِاللَوى صَيفٌ لَها وَرَبيعُ
The two lingered in Sulayma's dwelling—how long
a summer and a spring of hers passed at al-Liwa!
أَعامِO ʿAmir دِنيgive me my due إِذsince حُلتَyou intervened بَينيbetween me وَبَيَهاand her
أَعامِ دِني إِذ حُلتَ بَيني وَبَيَها
وَإِلّاor else فَهَبهاthen consider her دِمنَةًa ruined campsite سَتَضيعُthat will vanish
وَإِلّا فَهَبها دِمنَةً سَتَضيعُ
O ʿAmir, give me my due, since you came between me and her;
otherwise, regard her as a ruined campsite doomed to vanish.
فَآلَيتُso I swore أَلحيI blame عاشِقاًa lover ماas long as سَرىtraveled by night القَطاthe sandgrouse
فَآلَيتُ أَلحي عاشِقاً ما سَرى القَطا
وَأَجدَرَand emerged مِنfrom واديthe valley of نَطاةَNatat وَليعُpalm-blossom
وَأَجدَرَ مِن وادي نَطاةَ وَليعُ
I have sworn never to blame a lover while sandgrouse travel by night
and palm-blossom emerges from Natat's valley.
أَسَلمىwas it Salma أَلَمَّتwho visited أَمor طَوارِقُnight visitors جِنَّةٍof spirits
أَسَلمى أَلَمَّت أَم طَوارِقُ جِنَّةٍ
هَواكَyour love إِذاwhen تَكرىyou grow drowsy لَهُنَّwith them ضَجيعُa bedfellow
هَواكَ إِذا تَكرى لَهُنَّ ضَجيعُ
Was it Salma who visited, or night-roaming spirits?
Your love lies beside them when you grow drowsy.
وَتَبذُلُand grants ليto me سَلمىSalma إِذاwhen نِمتُI sleep حاجَتيmy desire
وَتَبذُلُ لي سَلمى إِذا نِمتُ حاجَتي
وَتُلفىand is found خِلالَduring النُبهِwakefulness وَهيَwhile she مَنوعُwithholds
وَتُلفى خِلالَ النُبهِ وَهيَ مَنوعُ
Salma grants me what I desire when I sleep,
but in waking hours she is found withholding.
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتis mentioned سَلمىSalma لَهُto him فَكَأَنَّماthen as though
إِذا ذُكِرَت سَلمى لَهُ فَكَأَنَّما
يُغَلغِلُburrows deeply طِفلٌtender فيin الفُؤادِthe heart وَجيعُaching
يُغَلغِلُ طِفلٌ في الفُؤادِ وَجيعُ
When Salma is mentioned to him, it is as though
a tender ache were burrowing through his heart.
كَأَنَّas though الحَشاthe breast مِنfrom ذِكرِremembrance of سَلمىSalma إِذاwhen اِعتَرىit overtakes
كَأَنَّ الحَشا مِن ذِكرِ سَلمى إِذا اِعتَرى
جَناحٌa wing حَدَتهُdrove it الجِربِياءُthe north wind لَموعُflashing
جَناحٌ حَدَتهُ الجِربِياءُ لَموعُ
As though his breast, when remembrance of Salma overtakes him,
were a flashing wing driven by the north wind—
جَناحُthe wing of قُطامِيٍّa falcon رَأىthat saw الصَيدَthe prey باكِراًearly
جَناحُ قُطامِيٍّ رَأى الصَيدَ باكِراً
وَقَدand already باتَspent the night يَعروهُbesetting it طَوىًhunger وَصَقيعُand frost
وَقَد باتَ يَعروهُ طَوىً وَصَقيعُ
the wing of a falcon that saw prey early,
after hunger and frost had beset it all night.
فَماwhatever أَنسَI forget مِلamong (uncertain reading) أَشياءِthings لاnot أَنسَI forget مَيعَةًfreshness
فَما أَنسَ مِل أَشياءِ لا أَنسَ مَيعَةً
مِنَof العَيشِlife إِذwhen أَهلُthe people of الصَفاءِfaithful affection جَميعُwere together
مِنَ العَيشِ إِذ أَهلُ الصَفاءِ جَميعُ
Whatever else I forget, I shall not forget the freshness
of life, when those of faithful affection were together;
وَإِذand when دَهرُناour time فيهِin it اِغتِرارٌcarefree heedlessness وَطَيرُناand our birds
وَإِذ دَهرُنا فيهِ اِغتِرارٌ وَطَيرُنا
سَواكِنُstill فيin أَوكارِهِنَّtheir nests وُقوعُsettled
سَواكِنُ في أَوكارِهِنَّ وُقوعُ
when our days were carefree and our birds
sat still, settled in their nests.
كَأَنas though لَمnot تَقِظsummered سَلمىSalma عَلىat الغَمرِal-Ghamr قَيظَةًa summer
كَأَن لَم تَقِظ سَلمى عَلى الغَمرِ قَيظَةً
وَلَمand not يَنقَطِعcame to an end مِنهاof hers بِفَيدَat Fayd رَبيعُa spring
وَلَم يَنقَطِع مِنها بِفَيدَ رَبيعُ
As though Salma had never spent a summer at al-Ghamr,
nor a spring of hers at Fayd ever come to an end.
بَلىyes indeed قَدcertainly رَأَيناwe saw ذاكَthat إِذwhen نَحنُwe جيرَةٌwere neighbors
بَلى قَد رَأَينا ذاكَ إِذ نَحنُ جيرَةٌ
وَلَكِنَّbut سَلمىSalma لِلوِصالِof union قَطوعُis a severer
وَلَكِنَّ سَلمى لِلوِصالِ قَطوعُ
Yes, we saw that when we were neighbors,
but Salma is quick to sever union.
كَأَنas though لَمnot يَرُعكَalarmed you الظاعِنونَthe departing folk أَلىindeed بَلىyes
كَأَن لَم يَرُعكَ الظاعِنونَ أَلى بَلى
وَمِثلُand the like of فِراقِparting from الظاعِنينَthe departing folk يَروعُalarms
وَمِثلُ فِراقِ الظاعِنينَ يَروعُ
As though the departing folk had not alarmed you—yes, they did!
Such parting from departing folk does alarm.
غَدَواthey departed at dawn وَغَدَتand departed غِزلانُهُمtheir gazelles وَكَأَنَّهاand as though they
غَدَوا وَغَدَت غِزلانُهُم وَكَأَنَّها
ضَوامِنُliable for غُرمٍa debt ماnot لَهُنَّagainst them تَبيعُa claimant
ضَوامِنُ غُرمٍ ما لَهُنَّ تَبيعُ
They went at dawn, and their gazelles went too, as though
liable for a debt with no claimant against them.
خَواشِعُdowncast كَالهَيمىlike thirst-maddened creatures يَمِدنَthey sway مِنَfrom الهَوىlove
خَواشِعُ كَالهَيمى يَمِدنَ مِنَ الهَوى
وَذوand one possessed of البَثِّgrief فيهِin him كِلَّةٌweariness وَخُشوعُand submission
وَذو البَثِّ فيهِ كِلَّةٌ وَخُشوعُ
Downcast like thirst-maddened creatures, they swayed with love;
the grief-stricken know weariness and submission.
يُراقِبنَthey watch أَبصارَthe gazes of الغبارىthe dust-haze بِأَعيُنٍwith eyes
يُراقِبنَ أَبصارَ الغبارى بِأَعيُنٍ
غَوارِزَdry ماnot تَجريflow لَهُنَّfrom them دُموعُtears
غَوارِزَ ما تَجري لَهُنَّ دُموعُ
They watched the gazes through the dust with eyes
dry, with no tears flowing from them.
وَيُحدِثُand renews قَلبيmy heart كُلَّevery يَومٍday شَفاعَةًan intercession
وَيُحدِثُ قَلبي كُلَّ يَومٍ شَفاعَةً
لَهُنَّfor them وَماليand I have no عِندَهُنَّwith them شَفيعُintercessor
لَهُنَّ وَمالي عِندَهُنَّ شَفيعُ
Each day my heart renews its intercession
for them, though I have no intercessor with them.
فَيالَيتَwould that شِعريI knew هَلwhether بِصَحراءِin the desert of دارَةٍDarah
فَيالَيتَ شِعري هَل بِصَحراءِ دارَةٍ
إِلىas far as وارِداتِWaridat الأَريَمَينِal-Aryamayn رُبوعُcamps
إِلى وارِداتِ الأَريَمَينِ رُبوعُ
Would that I knew: are there, in Darah's desert,
as far as Waridat al-Aryamayn, any camps?
وَهَلand whether بِخَليفِin Khalif الخَلِّal-Khall مِمَّنamong those whom عَهِدتُهُI knew
وَهَل بِخَليفِ الخَلِّ مِمَّن عَهِدتُهُ
بِهِthere غَيرُother than أُحدانِsolitary ones النَواشِطِwandering wild beasts روعُskittish
بِهِ غَيرُ أُحدانِ النَواشِطِ روعُ
And in Khalif al-Khall, of those I once knew
there, is there aught but lone, skittish, wandering beasts?
وَهَلand whether لِلَياليناfor our nights بِنَعفَيon the two foothills of مُلَيحَةٍMulayhah
وَهَل لِلَيالينا بِنَعفَي مُلَيحَةٍ
وَأَيّامِهِنَّand their days الصالِحاتِhappy رُجوعُa return
وَأَيّامِهِنَّ الصالِحاتِ رُجوعُ
Will our nights on Mulayhah's two foothills
and their happy days ever return?
وَلَستُand I am not بِراءٍseeing مِنfrom مَرَوراةَMarawrah بُرقَةًa stony tract
وَلَستُ بِراءٍ مِن مَرَوراةَ بُرقَةً
بِهاin it آلُthe folk of سَلمىSalma وَالجَنابُand the country مَريعُlush
بِها آلُ سَلمى وَالجَنابُ مَريعُ
I shall not see, from Marawrah, a stony tract
where Salma's folk dwell and the country is lush.
وَلاnor مُنشِداًseeking ماas long as أَبرَمَbuds الطَلحُthe acacia سامِراًa night gathering
وَلا مُنشِداً ما أَبرَمَ الطَلحُ سامِراً
وَقَدand already مالَhad passed مِنof لَيلِthe night of التِمامِfull length هَزيعُa watch
وَقَد مالَ مِن لَيلِ التِمامِ هَزيعُ
Nor, while acacias bud, shall I seek a night gathering,
when a watch of the long night has slipped away,
كَواعِبَfull-breasted maidens أَتراباًof equal age تَراخىlingered بِهاwith them الهَوىlove
كَواعِبَ أَتراباً تَراخى بِها الهَوى
وَأَخلىand was emptied لَهاfor them مِنin ذيDhu السُدَيرِal-Sudayr بَقيعُa clearing
وَأَخلى لَها مِن ذي السُدَيرِ بَقيعُ
of full-breasted girls, all of an age, with whom love lingers,
with a clearing in Dhu al-Sudayr left free for them.
قَضَتthey satisfied مِنof ʿIyaf عَيافٍand al-Taridah وَالطَريدَةِa desire حاجَةًfully
قَضَت مِن عَيافٍ وَالطَريدَةِ حاجَةً
فَهُنَّso they إِلىto لَهوِthe pleasure of الحَديثِconversation خُضوعُyielding
فَهُنَّ إِلى لَهوِ الحَديثِ خُضوعُ
They had had their fill of ʿIyaf and al-Taridah,
and now yielded to the pleasure of conversation.
فَجِئتُso I came اِنسِلالَslipping like السَيلِthe stream أَقتارُseeking غِرَّةًan unguarded moment
فَجِئتُ اِنسِلالَ السَيلِ أَقتارُ غِرَّةً
لَهُنَّof theirs وَليand I had مِنfor أَنthat أَعِنَّI appear ذَريعُa swift messenger
لَهُنَّ وَلي مِن أَن أَعِنَّ ذَريعُ
I came slipping like a stream, seeking an unguarded moment
of theirs; a swift go-between served my approach.
جَرىhe ran صَبَباًdownhill أَدّىdischarged الأَمانَةَthe trust بَعدَماafter
جَرى صَبَباً أَدّى الأَمانَةَ بَعدَما
أَشاعَspread بِلَوماهُwith his reproaches عَلَيَّagainst me مُشيعُa tale-bearer
أَشاعَ بِلَوماهُ عَلَيَّ مُشيعُ
He ran downhill and discharged his trust, after
a tale-bearer had spread his reproaches against me.
فَباتَتso they spent the night بَناتُthe daughters of اللَيلِnight حَولِيَaround me عُكَّفاًclustered
فَباتَت بَناتُ اللَيلِ حَولِيَ عُكَّفاً
عَكوفَlike the gathering of البَواكيmourning women بَينَهُنَّamong them صَريعُone lying slain
عَكوفَ البَواكي بَينَهُنَّ صَريعُ
The daughters of night stayed clustered around me,
like mourners gathered round one lying slain.
عَفائِفُchaste women إِلّاexcept ذاكَthat أَوor أَنthat يَصورَهاshould sway them
عَفائِفُ إِلّا ذاكَ أَو أَن يَصورَها
هَوىًlove وَالهَوىand love لِلعاشِقينَfor lovers صَروعُis overthrowing
هَوىً وَالهَوى لِلعاشِقينَ صَروعُ
Chaste, save for that—or unless they are swayed
by love; love throws lovers down.
وَماand not جَلسُthick honey of أَبكارٍmaiden bees أَطاعَyielded abundantly لِسَرحِهاfor their foraging
وَما جَلسُ أَبكارٍ أَطاعَ لِسَرحِها
جَنىripe produce of ثَمَرٍfruit بِالوادِيَينِin the two valleys وَشوعُand moringa trees
جَنى ثَمَرٍ بِالوادِيَينِ وَشوعُ
No thick honey of maiden bees, whose foraging was supplied
by ripe fruit in the two valleys and moringa trees—
عِشارٍheavily pregnant وُعوذٍand newly delivered أَشبَعَتsated طَرِفاتِهاtheir foragers
عِشارٍ وُعوذٍ أَشبَعَت طَرِفاتِها
أُصولٌroots لَهاbelonging to them مُستَكَّةٌdensely tangled وَفُروعُand branches
أُصولٌ لَها مُستَكَّةٌ وَفُروعُ
like pregnant and nursing camels, their foragers sated
by densely tangled roots and boughs—
يَرِعنَthey return لِمَسرابِto the grazing-path of الضُحىforenoon مُتَأَنِّفٍfreshly sought
يَرِعنَ لِمَسرابِ الضُحى مُتَأَنِّفٍ
ضَواحيthe exposed parts of رُباًhillocks تَحنوbend لَهُنَّaround them ضُلوعُribs
ضَواحي رُباً تَحنو لَهُنَّ ضُلوعُ
they return to fresh forenoon grazing-grounds,
on exposed hillocks whose ribs curve round them.
إِذاwhen ماindeed تَأَوَّتthey gather بِالخَلِيِّin the hollow بَنَتthey build بِهِthere
إِذا ما تَأَوَّت بِالخَلِيِّ بَنَت بِهِ
شَريجَينِpaired combs مِمّاfrom what تَأتَريthey gather وَتُتيعُand pour out
شَريجَينِ مِمّا تَأتَري وَتُتيعُ
When they gather in a hollow, they build there
paired combs from what they gather and pour out.
إِذاif لَمnot تَجِدthey find بِالسَهلِon the plain رِعياًpasture تَطَرَّقَتthey seek out
إِذا لَم تَجِد بِالسَهلِ رِعياً تَطَرَّقَت
شَماريخَpeaks لَمnot يَنعِقhas called بِهِنَّon them مُشيعُa herdsman
شَماريخَ لَم يَنعِق بِهِنَّ مُشيعُ
If they find no pasture on the plain, they seek out
peaks where no herdsman's cry has sounded.
مَتىwhenever ماindeed تُرِدهاyou seek it لاnot تَنَلهاyou reach it وَدونَهاand before it
مَتى ما تُرِدها لا تَنَلها وَدونَها
دُروءٌjutting crags تَرُدُّturn back العِفرَthe crafty one وَهوَthough he رَجيعُis experienced
دُروءٌ تَرُدُّ العِفرَ وَهوَ رَجيعُ
Whenever you seek it, you cannot reach it; before it
are crags that turn back even a crafty, seasoned climber.
تَرىyou see بِدَنَthe full-grown male of الأَروىthe ibex بِهاthere كُلَّevery شارِقٍsunrise
تَرى بِدَنَ الأَروى بِها كُلَّ شارِقٍ
لَهُit has كُنُنٌshelters مِنfrom دونِهاbelow it وَسُلوعُand rocky clefts
لَهُ كُنُنٌ مِن دونِها وَسُلوعُ
There you see the full-grown ibex at every sunrise,
with shelters below it and rocky clefts.
يَحُكُّit scratches صَلاهُits rump عَقرَباهُits two horn-tips وَيَقتَريand follows
يَحُكُّ صَلاهُ عَقرَباهُ وَيَقتَري
مَسايِلَwatercourses خُضراًgreen بَينَهُنَّamong them وَقيعُrock-pools
مَسايِلَ خُضراً بَينَهُنَّ وَقيعُ
It scratches its rump with its two horn-tips and follows
green watercourses with rock-pools among them.
إِذاwhen مارَhas passed جُلُmost of اليَومِthe day راحَتthey return وَبَعضُهاand some of them
إِذا مارَ جُلُ اليَومِ راحَت وَبَعضُها
إِلىtoward الحَيِّthe settlement بَعضاًothers كَالصِلالِlike snakes يَصوعُdrive
إِلى الحَيِّ بَعضاً كَالصِلالِ يَصوعُ
When most of the day has passed, they return, some
driving others toward the hive like snakes.
تَبيتُthey spend the night بِأَجباحٍin hives لَدىbeside الحَيِّthe tribe شَثنَةًrough-bodied
تَبيتُ بِأَجباحٍ لَدى الحَيِّ شَثنَةً
وَتَحيand live بِجَرِّat the feet of الهَضبِthe rocky hills وَهيَwhile they رُتوعُgraze freely
وَتَحي بِجَرِّ الهَضبِ وَهيَ رُتوعُ
Rough-bodied, they spend the night in hives beside the tribe,
and live, freely grazing, at the feet of rocky hills—
مُخَضَّرَةِgreen الأَوساطِin their middles عارِيَةِbare الشَوىof limbs
مُخَضَّرَةِ الأَوساطِ عارِيَةِ الشَوى
وَبِالهامِand on the heads مِنهاof them نَظرَةٌa forbidding cast وَشُنوعُand ugliness
وَبِالهامِ مِنها نَظرَةٌ وَشُنوعُ
green-waisted, bare of limbs,
their heads showing a forbidding cast and ugliness.
بِماءِwith water of سَماءٍthe sky غادَرَتهُleft it behind سَحابَةٌa cloud
بِماءِ سَماءٍ غادَرَتهُ سَحابَةٌ
كَمَتنِlike the blade of اليَمانيa Yemeni sword سُلَّdrawn وَهوَwhile it صَنيعُis well-wrought
كَمَتنِ اليَماني سُلَّ وَهوَ صَنيعُ
Mixed with rainwater left behind by a cloud,
like the blade of a well-wrought Yemeni sword drawn bare,
بِأَطيَبَany sweeter مِنthan فيهاher mouth إِذاwhen ماindeed تَقَلَّبَتshe turns
بِأَطيَبَ مِن فيها إِذا ما تَقَلَّبَت
مِنَduring اللَيلِthe night وَسنىdrowsy وَالعُيونُwhile the eyes هُجوعُare sleeping
مِنَ اللَيلِ وَسنى وَالعُيونُ هُجوعُ
it is no sweeter than her mouth when she turns
drowsily in the night, while eyes lie sleeping.
وَمُستَأنِسٍand one at home بِالقَفرِin the wilderness راحَwent تَلُفُّهُenveloping him
وَمُستَأنِسٍ بِالقَفرِ راحَ تَلُفُّهُ
طَبائِخُscorching rays of شَمسٍsun وَقعُهُنَّtheir touch سَفوعُsearing
طَبائِخُ شَمسٍ وَقعُهُنَّ سَفوعُ
And a wanderer at home in the wilderness, wrapped as he goes
in scorching shafts of sun whose touch sears—
تُنَشِّفُthey dry up أَوشالَthe scant remnants of النِطافِwater وَدونَهاand guarding it
تُنَشِّفُ أَوشالَ النِطافِ وَدونَها
كُلىkidney-shaped bags of عِجَلٍcalfskin مَكتوبُهُنَّtheir stitching وَكيعُfirm
كُلى عِجَلٍ مَكتوبُهُنَّ وَكيعُ
they dry up the scant remnants of water, though guarding them
are kidney-shaped calfskin bags, their stitching firm.
يَظَلُّhe keeps يُساميهاvying with them إِذاwhen وَقَدَburn الحَصىthe pebbles
يَظَلُّ يُساميها إِذا وَقَدَ الحَصى
وَقادَand led مَليعٌa waste طَرفَهُhis gaze وَمَليعُand another waste
وَقادَ مَليعٌ طَرفَهُ وَمَليعُ
He keeps vying with them when the pebbles burn,
and one waste after another draws his gaze.
يَبُلُّhe wets بِمَعصورٍwith squeezed-out liquid جَناحَيthe two sides of ضَئيلَةٍa little skin
يَبُلُّ بِمَعصورٍ جَناحَي ضَئيلَةٍ
أَفاويقَsmall successive draughts مِنهاof it هَلَّةٌa pouring وَنُقوعُand a soaking
أَفاويقَ مِنها هَلَّةٌ وَنُقوعُ
He wets with squeezed-out liquid the sides of a little skin,
in small draughts, some pouring, some soaking,
كَماas بَلَّwetted مَثنىa folded طُفيَةٍpalm-leaf نَضحُthe seepage of عائِطٍa lofty crag
كَما بَلَّ مَثنى طُفيَةٍ نَضحُ عائِطٍ
يُزَيِّنُهاadorns it كِنُّshelter لَهاbelonging to it وَسُفوعُand dark markings
يُزَيِّنُها كِنُّ لَها وَسُفوعُ
as a lofty crag's seepage wets a folded palm-leaf,
adorned by shelter and dark markings.
وَمَنزِلَةٍand many a stopping-place تَغدوgoes forth بهاin it الشَمسُthe sun حاسِراًuncovered
وَمَنزِلَةٍ تَغدو بها الشَمسُ حاسِراً
إِذاwhen ذَرَّbreaks forth مِنهاfrom it بِالغَداةِin the morning طُلوعُa rising
إِذا ذَرَّ مِنها بِالغَداةِ طُلوعُ
And many a stopping-place where the sun goes bare
when its rising breaks forth in the morning:
كَأَنَّas though الصُوىthe cairns فيهاin it إِذاwhen ماindeed اِستَخَلتَهاyou view its emptiness
كَأَنَّ الصُوى فيها إِذا ما اِستَخَلتَها
عَقيرٌa hamstrung camel بِمُستَنَّin the course of السِرابِthe mirage يَكوعُkneeling awkwardly
عَقيرٌ بِمُستَنَّ السِرابِ يَكوعُ
its cairns, when you look upon its emptiness, seem
a hamstrung camel kneeling in the mirage's course.
تَرىyou see العينَthe wild cattle فيهاin it مِنfrom لَدُنthe time when مَتَعَrose high الضُحىthe forenoon
تَرى العينَ فيها مِن لَدُن مَتَعَ الضُحى
إِلىuntil اللَيلِnight فيin الغَيضاتِthe thickets وَهيَwhile they هُكوعُlie resting
إِلى اللَيلِ في الغَيضاتِ وَهيَ هُكوعُ
You see the wild cattle there, from high forenoon
until night, lying down in thickets,
تَقَمَّعُthey huddle فيin أَظلالِthe shadows of مُحنِطَةِripening الجَنىfruit
تَقَمَّعُ في أَظلالِ مُحنِطَةِ الجَنى
صحاحَsound المَآقيin the eye-corners ماnot بِهِنَّin them قُموعُeye-sickness
صحاحَ المَآقي ما بِهِنَّ قُموعُ
huddled in the shadows of trees with ripening fruit,
sound-eyed, with no sickness in their eye-corners.
تُلاوِذُthey seek refuge مِنfrom حَرِّheat يَكادُalmost أُوَارهُits blaze
تُلاوِذُ مِن حَرِّ يَكادُ أُوَارهُ
يُذيبُmelts دِماغَthe brain of الضَبّthe lizard وَهوَthough it خَدوعُis a wily burrower
يُذيبُ دِماغَ الضَبّ وَهوَ خَدوعُ
They seek refuge from heat whose blaze almost
melts the lizard's brain, wily burrower though it is.
إِذاwhen اِختَلَطَrun together الرِتاكُtrotting strides مالَتsways سَراتُهُits back
إِذا اِختَلَطَ الرِتاكُ مالَت سَراتُهُ
عَلىupon يَسَراتٍnimble legs أَوor بُهُنَّwith them ذَريعُswift-striding
عَلى يَسَراتٍ أَو بُهُنَّ ذَريعُ
When the camel's trotting strides run together, its back sways
on nimble legs, or stretches into a rapid pace.
تَقَلقَلَit was jolted شهراًa month دَائِماًcontinuously كُلَّevery لَيلَةٍnight
تَقَلقَلَ شهراً دَائِماً كُلَّ لَيلَةٍ
تَضُمُّclasp بَوانيهِits frame عُرىًloops وَنُسوعُand girths
تَضُمُّ بَوانيهِ عُرىً وَنُسوعُ
For a whole month it has been jolted, every night
its frame clasped by loops and girths.
وَقَدand already آلَdwindled مِنfrom أَشرافِهِits high parts وَتَجَرَّمَتand wasted away
وَقَد آلَ مِن أَشرافِهِ وَتَجَرَّمَت
مِنَfrom الضَمِّhunger أَنساءٌthigh-sinews لَهُof its وَبَضيعُand flesh
مِنَ الضَمِّ أَنساءٌ لَهُ وَبَضيعُ
Its high parts have dwindled; worn away
by hunger are its thigh-sinews and flesh.
فَعَرَّستُso I halted to sleep لَمّاwhen اِستَسلَمَتsurrendered بَعدَafter شَأوِهِits long course
فَعَرَّستُ لَمّا اِستَسلَمَت بَعدَ شَأوِهِ
تَنَائِفُwastes ماnot نَجاescaped بِهِنَّthrough them هَجوعُa sleeper
تَنَائِفُ ما نَجا بِهِنَّ هَجوعُ
I halted to sleep when, after its long course, there yielded
wastes through which no sleeper could escape.
تَأَوَّبَنيvisited me by night فيهاthere عَلىwithout غَيرِany مَوعِدٍappointment
تَأَوَّبَني فيها عَلى غَيرِ مَوعِدٍ
أَخوa brother of قَفرَةٍthe wilderness يَضحىspends the day بِهاthere وَيَجوعُand goes hungry
أَخو قَفرَةٍ يَضحى بِها وَيَجوعُ
There, without appointment, there came to me by night
a brother of the wilderness, who spends his days there hungry:
مِنَamong الزُلِّthe lean-haunched هِزلاجٌa swift one كَأَنَّas though بِرِجلِهِupon its leg
مِنَ الزُلِّ هِزلاجٌ كَأَنَّ بِرِجلِهِ
شِكالاًa hobble مِنَfrom الإِقعاءِcrouching وَهوَthough it مَلوعُis fleet
شِكالاً مِنَ الإِقعاءِ وَهوَ مَلوعُ
a swift, lean-haunched wolf, as though upon its leg
were a hobble from crouching, though it was fleet.
كَذيlike one possessed of الظَنِّsuspicion لاnot يَنفَكُّceases عَوضُever كَأَنَّهُas though it
كَذي الظَنِّ لا يَنفَكُّ عَوضُ كَأَنَّهُ
أَخوafflicted with جَهرَةٍdazzlement بِالعَينِin the eye وَهوَthough it خُدوعُis sly
أَخو جَهرَةٍ بِالعَينِ وَهوَ خُدوعُ
Like one suspicious, never at ease, forever as though
its eyes were dazzled—yet it was sly.
فَأَلقَيتُso I threw down رَحليmy saddle وَاِحزَأَلَّand it crouched together كَأَنَّهُas though it
فَأَلقَيتُ رَحلي وَاِحزَأَلَّ كَأَنَّهُ
شَفاًa crag مُجنَحٌslanting فيin مُحَناهُits hollow ضُجوعُlying on its side
شَفاً مُجنَحٌ في مُحَناهُ ضُجوعُ
I threw down my saddle, and it crouched together, like
a slanting crag lying on its side in a hollow.
فَقُلتُso I said تَعَلَّمknow ياO ذُؤالَDhuʾal وَلاand do not تَخُنbetray
فَقُلتُ تَعَلَّم يا ذُؤالَ وَلا تَخُن
وَلاand do not تَنخَنِعcower لِلَيلِbefore the night وَهوَthough it خَنوعُis treacherous
وَلا تَنخَنِع لِلَيلِ وَهوَ خَنوعُ
I said, 'Know this, Dhuʾal: do not betray me.
Do not cower before the night, treacherous though it is.
وَلاand do not تَعوِhowl وَاِستَحرِزand guard yourself وَإِنand if تَعوِyou howl عَيَّةًfoolishly
وَلا تَعوِ وَاِستَحرِز وَإِن تَعوِ عَيَّةً
تُصادِفyou will encounter قَرىthe hospitality of الظَلماءِdarkness وَهوَand it شَنيعُis dreadful
تُصادِف قَرى الظَلماءِ وَهوَ شَنيعُ
Do not howl; guard yourself. If you howl in folly,
you will meet the darkness's hospitality—and it is dreadful.'
فَلَمّاso when عَوىit howled لِفتَtoward الشِمالِthe north wind سَبَعتُهُI savaged it
فَلَمّا عَوى لِفتَ الشِمالِ سَبَعتُهُ
كَماas أَناI أَحياناًsometimes لَهُنَّupon them سَبوعُprey
كَما أَنا أَحياناً لَهُنَّ سَبوعُ
When it howled toward the north wind, I turned beast upon it,
as at times I prey upon its kind.
دَفَعتُI drove إِلَيهِtoward it سَلجَمَlong اللَحيِin the jaws نَصلُهُits arrowhead
دَفَعتُ إِلَيهِ سَلجَمَ اللَحيِ نَصلُهُ
كَبادِرَةِlike the darting tongue of الحُوّاءِa black snake وَهوَwhile it وَقيعُis keenly tempered
كَبادِرَةِ الحُوّاءِ وَهوَ وَقيعُ
I drove toward it a long-jawed arrow, its head
like a black snake's darting tongue, keenly tempered.
تَزَلزَلَit sprang quivering عَنfrom فَرعٍa branch-bow كَأَنَّas though مُتونَهاits backs
تَزَلزَلَ عَن فَرعٍ كَأَنَّ مُتونَها
بِهاon them مِنof عَبيطِfresh الزَعفرانِsaffron رُدوعُblotches
بِها مِن عَبيطِ الزَعفرانِ رُدوعُ
It sprang quivering from a branch-bow whose back seemed
blotched with fresh saffron.
مِنَamong المُرزِماتِthe twanging bows المُلسِsmooth لَمnot تُكسَwere given جُلبَةًa hide covering
مِنَ المُرزِماتِ المُلسِ لَم تُكسَ جُلبَةً
وَلَكِنbut لَهاit has إِظنابَةٌa binding وَرَصيعُand fastenings
وَلَكِن لَها إِظنابَةٌ وَرَصيعُ
One of the smooth, twanging bows, given no hide covering,
but fitted with binding and fastenings;
فَراغٌbroad-curved عَواريbare of اللَيطِouter bark تُكسىare clothed ظُباتُهاits arrowheads
فَراغٌ عَواري اللَيطِ تُكسى ظُباتُها
سَبائِبَstreamers مِنهاof it جاسِدٌclotted blood وَنَجيعُand fresh blood
سَبائِبَ مِنها جاسِدٌ وَنَجيعُ
broad-curved, bare of bark, its arrowheads clothed
in streamers of blood, some clotted and some fresh.
هَتوفٌloud-voiced عَوىhowled مِنfrom جانِبَيهاits two sides مُحَدرَجٌa rounded cord
هَتوفٌ عَوى مِن جانِبَيها مُحَدرَجٌ
مُمَرٌّtightly twisted كَحُلقومِlike the throat of القَطاةِthe sandgrouse بَديعُnewly made
مُمَرٌّ كَحُلقومِ القَطاةِ بَديعُ
Loud-voiced: from its two sides howled a rounded,
tightly twisted, new cord, like a sandgrouse's throat.
إِذاwhen اِختَلَجَتهاjerk it مُنجَياتٌdeft fingers كَأَنَّهاas though they
إِذا اِختَلَجَتها مُنجَياتٌ كَأَنَّها
صُدورُthe ends of عَراقٍflesh-stripped bones ماnot بِهِنَّin them قُطوعُbreaks
صُدورُ عَراقٍ ما بِهِنَّ قُطوعُ
When deft fingers jerk it, resembling
the ends of flesh-stripped bones, without a break,
أَرَنَّتit rang رَنيناًa ringing يَدلِقُdrives forth السَهمَthe arrow حَفزُهاits thrust
أَرَنَّت رَنيناً يَدلِقُ السَهمَ حَفزُها
إِذاwhen حانَcame due مِنهُfrom it بِالرَمِيِّin shooting وُقوعُa striking
إِذا حانَ مِنهُ بِالرَمِيِّ وُقوعُ
it rings out, its thrust driving the arrow forth
when the moment has come for the shot to strike.
وَإِنand if عادَis repeated فيهاin it النَزعُthe draw تَأبىit resists بِصُلبِهاwith its stiff middle
وَإِن عادَ فيها النَزعُ تَأبى بِصُلبِها
وَتُقبِلُand bends inward مِنfrom أَقطارِهاits ends فَتُطيعُso it obeys
وَتُقبِلُ مِن أَقطارِها فَتُطيعُ
When the draw is repeated, its stiff middle resists,
but it bends at its ends and so obeys.
يُؤَلِّفُunites بَينَamong القَومِthe people بُغضيhatred of me وَماand they have no لَهُمcommon bond
يُؤَلِّفُ بَينَ القَومِ بُغضي وَما لَهُم
سِوىexcept فَرطِutter إِجماعٍagreement عَلَيَّagainst me جَميعُunity
سِوى فَرطِ إِجماعٍ عَلَيَّ جَميعُ
Hatred of me unites the people; they have
no common bond save utter agreement against me:
عَدُوٌّan enemy عَدُوُّhostile الأَصلِat root وَالأَصلُand the kinsmen بَعضُهُمsome of them
عَدُوٌّ عَدُوُّ الأَصلِ وَالأَصلُ بَعضُهُم
عَلَيَّagainst me لِبَعضٍfor others فيin الأُمورِaffairs ضُلوعُsupporters
عَلَيَّ لِبَعضٍ في الأُمورِ ضُلوعُ
inveterate enemies, and kinsmen, some of whom
support the others against me in their dealings.
وَماand not بيin me مِنany شَكوىًcomplaint لِنَفسيfor myself مِنهُمُagainst them
وَما بي مِن شَكوىً لِنَفسي مِنهُمُ
وَلاnor جَزَعٍpanic إِنّيindeed I إِذاًthen لَجَزوعُwould be faint-hearted
وَلا جَزَعٍ إِنّي إِذاً لَجَزوعُ
I have no complaint against them on my own behalf,
nor panic—then I would indeed be faint-hearted.
وَلَكِنbut أَرىI see مِنهُمamong them أُموراًthings تُرينبُنيthat make me suspicious
وَلَكِن أَرى مِنهُم أُموراً تُرينبُني
بِهِمof them وَلَهُمand they have مَندوحَةٌan alternative وَدَسيعُand ample means
بِهِم وَلَهُم مَندوحَةٌ وَدَسيعُ
But I see among them things that make me suspicious
of them, though they have alternatives and ample means.
وَمَولىًand a kinsman رَمَيناwe ventured نَحوَهُtoward him وَهوَwhile he مُدغِلٌwas deceitful
وَمَولىً رَمَينا نَحوَهُ وَهوَ مُدغِلٌ
بِأَعراضِناwith our honor وَالمُندِياتُwhile blood-drawing spears شُروعُwere levelled
بِأَعراضِنا وَالمُندِياتُ شُروعُ
And a deceitful kinsman, for whom we put at risk
our honor, while blood-drawing spears stood levelled:
إِذاwhen ماindeed رَآناhe sees us شَدَّraises لِلقَومِfor the company صَوتَهُhis voice
إِذا ما رَآنا شَدَّ لِلقَومِ صَوتَهُ
وَإِلّاotherwise فَمَدخولُflawed in الغَناءِusefulness قَدوعُeasily cowed
وَإِلّا فَمَدخولُ الغَناءِ قَدوعُ
when he sees us, he raises his voice for the company;
otherwise his aid is unreliable, and he is easily cowed.
أَخَذناwe secured لَهُfor him مِنfrom أَمنَعِthe strongest of الحَيِّthe clan بَعدَناafter us
أَخَذنا لَهُ مِن أَمنَعِ الحَيِّ بَعدَنا
ظُلامَتَهُredress for his wrong فَاِنساحَthen he roamed free وَهوَwhile he مَنيعُwas protected
ظُلامَتَهُ فَاِنساحَ وَهوَ مَنيعُ
We secured for him, from the strongest clansmen after us,
redress for his wrong; then he roamed free, protected.
أَرىI see حَسَبيmy noble standing لاnot يَستَطيعُhe can كِفاءَهُmatch it
أَرى حَسَبي لا يَستَطيعُ كِفاءَهُ
عَلىalthough أَنّنيI أَهفوlean toward لَهُhim وَأَريعُand return
عَلى أَنّني أَهفو لَهُ وَأَريعُ
I see he cannot match my noble standing,
though I lean toward him and return to him.
أُسايِرُهُI walk beside him لاnot يائِسٌdespairing مِنof جَماعِهِhis reconciliation
أُسايِرُهُ لا يائِسٌ مِن جَماعِهِ
وَلاnor لِمَساعٍof worthy deeds مِنamong بِناهُhis achievements مُضيعُneglectful
وَلا لِمَساعٍ مِن بِناهُ مُضيعُ
I walk beside him, not despairing of reconciliation,
nor neglecting the worthy deeds he has built.
وَشَيَّبَنيand turned me gray أَنthat لاnot أَزالَI cease مُناهِضاًstriving
وَشَيَّبَني أَن لا أَزالَ مُناهِضاً
بِغَيرِwithout ثَراًwealth أَثروI prosper بِهِthrough it وَأَبوعُand extend my reach
بِغَيرِ ثَراً أَثرو بِهِ وَأَبوعُ
What has turned me gray is that I never cease striving,
without wealth by which to prosper and extend my reach;
وَأَنَّand that ذَويpossessors of الأَمولِwealth أَضحَواhave come to be وَماand what لُهُمthey possess
وَأَنَّ ذَوي الأَمولِ أَضحَوا وَما لُهُم
لَهُمfor them عِندَat أَبوابِthe gates of المُلوكِkings شَفيعُan intercessor
لَهُم عِندَ أَبوابِ المُلوكِ شَفيعُ
and that the wealthy now have what they own
as their intercessor at kings' gates,
وَيُترَكُand are left aside أَمثاليmen like me عَلىalthough أَنَّindeed سَعيَناour striving
وَيُترَكُ أَمثالي عَلى أَنَّ سَعيَنا
سَناthe splendor of الأَصلِlineage عِندَamid المُضلِعاتِcrushing trials رَفوعُlifts high
سَنا الأَصلِ عِندَ المُضلِعاتِ رَفوعُ
while men like me are left aside, though our striving
lifts high our lineage's splendor in crushing trials.
أَبٌa father نابِهٌrenowned أَوor عَمُّan uncle of صِدقٍtrue loyalty إِذاwhen غَداhe goes forth
أَبٌ نابِهٌ أَو عَمُّ صِدقٍ إِذا غَدا
دَفوعٌpushing onward لِأَبوابِat the gates of المُلوكِkings قَروعُknocking insistently
دَفوعٌ لِأَبوابِ المُلوكِ قَروعُ
A renowned father, or a true uncle, when he goes forth,
pushes onward, knocking at the gates of kings.
تَكارَهُdread أَعداءُthe enemies of العَشيرَةِthe clan رُؤيَتيseeing me
تَكارَهُ أَعداءُ العَشيرَةِ رُؤيَتي
وَبِالكَفِّand in holding back عَنfrom مَسِّtouching الخِشاشِthe nose-ring كُنوعُabasement
وَبِالكَفِّ عَن مَسِّ الخِشاشِ كُنوعُ
The clan's enemies dread seeing me;
and holding back from grasping the nose-ring is abasement.
أَمُختَرِميwill it cut me off رَيبُthe vicissitudes of المَنونِdeath وَلَمwhile not أَنَلI have attained
أَمُختَرِمي رَيبُ المَنونِ وَلَم أَنَل
مِنَof المالِwealth ماwhat أَعصيI defy بِهِwith it وَأُطيعُand obey
مِنَ المالِ ما أَعصي بِهِ وَأُطيعُ
Will death's vicissitudes cut me off before I gain
enough wealth with which to defy and obey?
وَمَنand whoever يَفتَرِقstands apart فيin الأَمرِan affair يُغضِshuts his eyes عَلىto قَذىًgrit
وَمَن يَفتَرِق في الأَمرِ يُغضِ عَلى قَذىً
وَيُكفَand makes do بِبَعضِwith some الضَيمِinjustice وَهوَwhile he قَنوعُis content
وَيُكفَ بِبَعضِ الضَيمِ وَهوَ قَنوعُ
Whoever stands alone in an affair must shut his eyes to grit
and accept some injustice, content with his lot.
أَناI أَبنُam a son of حُماةِthe defenders of المَجدِglory فيin كُلِّevery مَوطِنٍarena
أَنا أَبنُ حُماةِ المَجدِ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ
إِذاwhen جَعَلَتbegin خورُthe weaklings among الرِجالِmen تَهيعُto panic
إِذا جَعَلَت خورُ الرِجالِ تَهيعُ
I am a son of glory's defenders in every arena,
when cowardly men begin to panic.
بَنوsons of الحَربِwar لاnot يُلفىis found بِنَبعَةِin the nabʿ-wood of عودِهِمtheir stock
بَنو الحَربِ لا يُلفى بِنَبعَةِ عودِهِم
إِذاwhen اِمتَرَسَتgrapple بِهاwith it الأَكُفُّthe hands صُدوعُcracks
إِذا اِمتَرَسَت بِها الأَكُفُّ صُدوعُ
Sons of war: their nabʿ-wood stock reveals,
when hands grapple with it, no cracks.
Sol 6.1