صَبابَةُardent longing نَفْسٍa soul ليسَnot يُشْفىis quenched غَليلُهاits burning thirst
صَبابَةُ نَفْسٍ ليسَ يُشْفى غَليلُها
ولوعَةُand burning anguish أشواقٍlongings كَثيرٍgreat قَليلُهاtheir least
ولوعَةُ أشواقٍ كَثيرٍ قَليلُها
A soul's ardent longing, whose burning thirst is never quenched,
The rapture of a soul whose anguish is incurable,
and the anguish of yearnings whose smallest share is great;
And the burning of abundant, unfulfilled yearnings,
وظَمْياءُand a fine, dusky-lipped maiden لمdid not تَحْفِلْcare بسِرٍّfor a secret أصونُهُI guard it
وظَمْياءُ لم تَحْفِلْ بسِرٍّ أصونُهُ
ولاnor بدُموعٍfor tears فيin هَواهاlove for her أُذيلُهاI let them flow
ولا بدُموعٍ في هَواها أُذيلُها
and a maiden with fine, dusky lips, heedless of the secret I guard,
And a darkness that does not heed my guarded secret,
nor of the tears I let flow in my love for her.
Nor the tears that run down her cheeks.
ويَنْزِفُهاand drains it رَبْعٌa dwelling تُرَوّيwaters طُلولَهُits ruins
ويَنْزِفُها رَبْعٌ تُرَوّي طُلولَهُ
بوَجْرَةَat Wajrah عَيْنٌan eye فيamong الدّيارِthe dwellings أُجيلُهاI turn it about
بوَجْرَةَ عَيْنٌ في الدّيارِ أُجيلُها
And a dwelling drains it, while its ruins are watered
A quarter that nurtures its saplings
at Wajrah by an eye I turn among the dwellings.
With an eye's tear-drops in the abodes I frequent.
ولولاand were it not for جَوىًburning grief أطْويI enfold عليْهِaround it جَوانحيmy ribs
ولولا جَوىً أطْوي عليْهِ جَوانحي
لماwould not هاجَstirred عَينيmy eye للبُكاءثto weeping مُحيلُهاtheir desolation
لما هاجَ عَيني للبُكاءث مُحيلُها
Were it not for the burning grief I enfold within my ribs,
Were it not for an ember I keep glowing in my chest,
their desolation would not have stirred my eye to weeping.
My eyes would not have welled for crying.
إذاwhen صافَحَتْهاbrushes against them الرّيحُthe wind طابَتْbecomes fragrant لأنّهاbecause it
إذا صافَحَتْها الرّيحُ طابَتْ لأنّها
بمنزِلةٍat a dwelling ناجَتْwhispered to ثَراهاits soil ذُيولُهاher trailing hems
بمنزِلةٍ ناجَتْ ثَراها ذُيولُها
When the wind brushes them, it grows fragrant, for it is
When the wind blows on it, it exudes fragrance,
at a dwelling whose soil her trailing hems once whispered to.
For it is like conversing intimately with its branches and leaves.
مَريضَةُlanguid أرْجاءِthe edges of الجُفونِthe eyelids وإنماand indeed only
مَريضَةُ أرْجاءِ الجُفونِ وإنما
أصَحُّthe soundest عُيونِeyes of الغانِياتِbeautiful women عَليلُهاtheir languid ones
أصَحُّ عُيونِ الغانِياتِ عَليلُها
Languid at the edges of her eyelids; yet
Sick are the corners of my eyelids, though
the soundest eyes of beautiful women are the languid ones.
The soundest eyes are those of lovesick singers.
رَمَتْنيshe shot me بسَهْمٍwith an arrow راشَهُfeathered it الكُحْلُkohl بالرّدىwith death
رَمَتْني بسَهْمٍ راشَهُ الكُحْلُ بالرّدى
وأقْتَلُand the deadliest ألْحاظِglances of المِلاحِfair women كَحيلُهاtheir kohl-dark ones
وأقْتَلُ ألْحاظِ المِلاحِ كَحيلُها
She shot me to my doom with an arrow feathered by kohl—
She shot me with an arrow whose notch was carved by kohl,
and the deadliest glances of fair women are the kohl-dark ones—
And I am slain by the glances of a charming rogue.
وسالِفَتَيْand the neck's two sides أدْماءَa pale gazelle تحتَbeneath أراكَةٍan arak tree
وسالِفَتَيْ أدْماءَ تحتَ أراكَةٍ
تَمُدُّshe stretches إلَيهاtoward it الجِيدَthe neck وهْيَand she تَطولُهاovertops it
تَمُدُّ إلَيها الجِيدَ وهْيَ تَطولُها
and with the two sides of a pale gazelle's neck beneath an arak tree,
My night conversations were with one whose clothes
stretching her neck toward it and rising above it.
Were stained with blood while she stretched out her hands.
فولّتْso she turned away وقدand already أبْقَتْshe left بقَلبيin my heart عَلاقَةًan attachment
فولّتْ وقد أبْقَتْ بقَلبي عَلاقَةً
تمرُّpass بِهاover it الأيّامُthe days وهْوَand it مَقيلُهاits noonday resting place
تمرُّ بِها الأيّامُ وهْوَ مَقيلُها
She turned away, having left an attachment in my heart;
She turned away after leaving an attachment in my heart
the days pass over it, while my heart is its noonday resting place.
That the days keep passing while it is anchored.
وقُلتُand I said لأدْنىto the nearer of صاحِبَيَّmy two companions وقدand already وَشىbetrayed
وقُلتُ لأدْنى صاحِبَيَّ وقد وَشى
بسرّيof my secret دمْعٌa tear إذاwhen تَراءَتْcame into view حُمولُهاher laden camels
بسرّي دمْعٌ إذا تَراءَتْ حُمولُها
I said to the nearer of my two companions, as I was betrayed
And I said to my confidante when tears betraying my secret
by a tear divulging my secret when her laden camels came into view:
Broke out when her camels appeared over the hill:
ذَرِleave off اللّوْمَblame إنيindeed I لَسْتُI am not أُرْعيكَI lend you مَسمَعيmy ear
ذَرِ اللّوْمَ إني لَسْتُ أُرْعيكَ مَسمَعي
فتلكَfor that woman هَوىthe love of نَفسيmy soul وأنتَand you خَليلُهاits intimate friend
فتلكَ هَوى نَفسي وأنتَ خَليلُها
Leave off blame: I will not lend you my ear.
"Stop blaming me, she is not who my hearing follows,
For she is my soul's beloved, and you are its friend.
For that is my soul's love, and you are its friend."
ولَيْتَand would that لِساناًa tongue أرْهَفَsharpened العَذْلُreproach غَرْبَهُits edge
ولَيْتَ لِساناً أرْهَفَ العَذْلُ غَرْبَهُ
علىagainst الصّبِّthe love-stricken مَفْلولُchipped الشَباةِthe point كَليلُهاblunt at its point
على الصّبِّ مَفْلولُ الشَباةِ كَليلُها
Would that a tongue whose edge reproach has sharpened
Would that a more perceptive tongue than mine
against the lover were chipped at the point and blunt.
Were cleaved by parting from the youth at the acme of puberty.
أرُدُّI rebuff عَذوليmy reprover وهْوَand he يَمْحَضُنيsincerely offers me الهَوىaffection
أرُدُّ عَذولي وهْوَ يَمْحَضُني الهَوى
بغَيْظٍwith anger ويَحْظىand wins بالقُبولِwith acceptance عَذولُهاher reprover
بغَيْظٍ ويَحْظى بالقُبولِ عَذولُها
I rebuff my reprover—though he offers me sincere affection—
I spurn him while passion insists I befriend him,
with anger, while her reprover wins acceptance.
Spitefully granting acceptance to his refusal.
ويَعْتادُنيand revisits me ذِكْرىremembrance of العَقيقِal-Aqiq وأهْلِهِand its people
ويَعْتادُني ذِكْرى العَقيقِ وأهْلِهِ
بحيثُwhere الحَمامُthe doves الوُرْقُgray شاجٍplaintive هَديلُهاtheir cooing
بحيثُ الحَمامُ الوُرْقُ شاجٍ هَديلُها
Memories of al-Aqiq and its people return to me,
And makes me remember the place of my loved ones,
where the cooing of the gray doves is plaintive.
Where pigeons moan amidst the leafy banana trees,
تَنوحُthey lament وتَبْكيand weep فوقَabove آفْنانِbranches of أيْكةٍa thicket
تَنوحُ وتَبْكي فوقَ آفْنانِ أيْكةٍ
فِداهُنَّa ransom for them منْfrom أرضِthe land of العِراقِIraq نَخيلهاits palm trees
فِداهُنَّ منْ أرضِ العِراقِ نَخيلها
They lament and weep above the branches of a thicket;
Weeping and crying atop the branches of an 'ayka' tree,
may the palm trees of Iraq's land be their ransom.
In ransom for it from the land of Iraq's palms.
ولولاand were it not for تَباريحُtorments of الصّبابةِardent longing لمْnot أُبَلْI heed
ولولا تَباريحُ الصّبابةِ لمْ أُبَلْ
بُكاهاtheir weeping ولاnor أذْرىmade flow دُموعيmy tears عَويلُهاtheir wailing
بُكاها ولا أذْرى دُموعي عَويلُها
Were it not for love's torments, I would not heed
Were it not for the tears of rapture, I would not have perceived
their weeping, nor would their wailing draw forth my tears.
Her crying, or let my own tears flow in lament.
بوادٍin a valley حَمَتْهُguarded it عُصْبَةٌa band عَبْشَميّةٌof Abd Shams
بوادٍ حَمَتْهُ عُصْبَةٌ عَبْشَميّةٌ
عِظامُgreat مَقارِيهاtheir guest-bowls كِرامٌnoble أُصولُهاtheir roots
عِظامُ مَقارِيها كِرامٌ أُصولُها
In a valley guarded by an Abshami band,
In a land where a noble people camped,
great are their guest-bowls, noble their roots.
Whose bones are generous heroes.
أَزينُI adorn بهاwith them شِعْريmy poetry كَماas زِنْتُهاI adorned them بهِwith it
أَزينُ بها شِعْري كَما زِنْتُها بهِ
وللهِand to God belongs دَرّيmy excellence فيin قَوافٍrhymes أقولُهاI utter them
وللهِ دَرّي في قَوافٍ أقولُها
I adorn my verse with them, as I have adorned them with it;
I adorn my poetry with them, as I adorned it with her,
and God bless my gift in the rhymes I utter!
By God, I speak of their valor in my verses.
ينُمُّreveals بمَجْديof my glory حينَwhen أفْخَرُI boast مَنْطِقيmy speech
ينُمُّ بمَجْدي حينَ أفْخَرُ مَنْطِقي
ويُعْرِبُand declares عنof عِتْقِnoble breeding المَذاكيmature steeds صَهيلُهاtheir neighing
ويُعْرِبُ عن عِتْقِ المَذاكي صَهيلُها
My speech reveals my glory when I boast,
It sings of my glory when my utterance grows proud,
and the neighing of mature steeds proclaims their noble breeding.
And expresses the emancipation of the wine-skins in its neighing.
فلمْand did not أرَI see قَوْماًa people مثلَlike قَوميmy people لِبائِسٍfor one in distress
فلمْ أرَ قَوْماً مثلَ قَومي لِبائِسٍ
ببَيْداءَin a desert يَسْتافُsniffs التُّرابَthe dust دَليلُهاits guide
ببَيْداءَ يَسْتافُ التُّرابَ دَليلُها
I have seen no people like my people for one in distress
I have not seen a people treat an outcast
in a desert whose guide sniffs the dust.
In the wilderness by letting the earth guide him.
يَبُلُّwets دَريسَيْهِhis two worn garments الندىًdew وتَلُفُّهُand wraps him
يَبُلُّ دَريسَيْهِ الندىً وتَلُفُّهُ
علىon الكُورِthe camel-saddle منْfrom هُوجِraging الرّياحِthe winds بَليلُهاtheir cold, damp gust
على الكُورِ منْ هُوجِ الرّياحِ بَليلُها
Dew wets his two threadbare garments, and he is wrapped
The dew wets his coat, and it wraps him
on the camel-saddle by a cold, damp gust of the raging winds.
Against the biting winds in the darkness of night.
مَطاعينُmighty spear-thrusters والهَيْجاءُand battle تُغْشىare braved غِمارُهاits depths
مَطاعينُ والهَيْجاءُ تُغْشى غِمارُها
مَطاعيمُgenerous food-givers والغَبْراءُand the dusty earth تُخْشىare feared مُحولُهاits droughts
مَطاعيمُ والغَبْراءُ تُخْشى مُحولُها
Mighty spear-thrusters when battle's depths are braved,
Obedient while excitement overwhelms their pride,
lavish food-givers when the dusty earth's droughts are feared.
Tended while the dust stirs up their determination.
وكمْand how many ماجِدٍa noble man فيهِمْamong them يَحُلُّunties جَبينُهُhis brow
وكمْ ماجِدٍ فيهِمْ يَحُلُّ جَبينُهُ
حُباthe bonds of الليْلِnight والظّلْماءُand darkness مُرْخىًlet down سُدولُهاits curtains
حُبا الليْلِ والظّلْماءُ مُرْخىً سُدولُها
How many a noble man among them whose brow unties
How many glories among them rest their foreheads
the bonds of night, while darkness lets down its curtains!
Serenely in the darkness of night and shadow.
وأخمَصُهُand his foot's arch مِنْfrom تَحتِهِbeneath it هامَةُthe crown of السُّهاal-Suha
وأخمَصُهُ مِنْ تَحتِهِ هامَةُ السُّها
وهِمّتُهُand his ambition فيin المَجْدِglory عالٍhigh تَليلُهاits neck
وهِمّتُهُ في المَجْدِ عالٍ تَليلُها
Beneath his foot's arch lies the crown of al-Suha,
The base of his hoof is protected
and his ambition's neck stands high in glory.
While his ambition in glory is lofty.
فهَلْso will تُبْلِغَنّيbring me to دارَهُمْtheir abode أرْحَبيّةٌan Arhabi she-camel
فهَلْ تُبْلِغَنّي دارَهُمْ أرْحَبيّةٌ
علىdespite الأيْنِweariness يُمْرىis coaxed بالحُداءِby the driver's chant ذَميلُهاher brisk trot
على الأيْنِ يُمْرى بالحُداءِ ذَميلُها
Will an Arhabi she-camel bring me to their abode,
Can the wide desert lead me to their dwelling places
her brisk trot coaxed by the driver's chant despite fatigue?
Along the way taken by the mountain goats?
حَبانيgifted me بِهاwith her بَدْرٌBadr فكمْso how many جُبْتُI crossed مَهْمَهاًa trackless waste
حَباني بِها بَدْرٌ فكمْ جُبْتُ مَهْمَهاً
حَليماًgentle بهِin it سَوْطيmy whip سَفيهاًheadstrong جَديلُهاher braided rein
حَليماً بهِ سَوْطي سَفيهاً جَديلُها
Badr gave her to me; how many a trackless waste I have crossed,
A full moon made me infatuated with it - how often have I been
my whip gentle there, but her braided rein headstrong.
Forbearing while it provoked me to hostile folly.
فتًىa youth تُورِقُput forth leaves السُّمْرُthe brown spears اللدانُsupple بكفِّهِin his hand
فتًى تُورِقُ السُّمْرُ اللدانُ بكفِّهِ
وإنْand even if دَبّcreeps فيinto أطرافِهِنَّtheir tips ذُبولُهاtheir withering
وإنْ دَبّ في أطرافِهِنَّ ذُبولُها
A youth in whose hand the supple brown spears put forth leaves,
A stalwart whose palms the thorn-trees flourish under,
even if withering creeps into their tips.
Though their edges begin to wither.
وتَغْشىand enter الوَغىbattle بيضاًwhite حِداداًsharp سُيوفُهُhis swords
وتَغْشى الوَغى بيضاً حِداداً سُيوفُهُ
فتَرْجِعَthen return حُمْراًred بادِياتٍshowing فُلولُهاtheir notches
فتَرْجِعَ حُمْراً بادِياتٍ فُلولُها
His swords enter battle white and sharp,
And the chaos is covered in shining white armor
then return red, their notches showing.
That returns as red trails of retreating remnants.
ويوقِظُand he awakens وَسْنانَthe drowsy التُّرابِdust بضُمَّرٍwith lean horses
ويوقِظُ وَسْنانَ التُّرابِ بضُمَّرٍ
تَوارَىbecame hidden بشُؤبوبِin a downpour of النّجيعُfresh blood حُجولُهاtheir white stockings
تَوارَى بشُؤبوبِ النّجيعُ حُجولُها
He wakes the drowsy dust with lean horses,
And he awakens the sleepers with the fibers of his spear
their white stockings hidden by a downpour of gore.
While they hid away in the murk of night.
عَليهاupon them كُماةُarmored champions التُّرْكِthe Turks منْfrom فَرْعِthe branch of يافِثٍJapheth
عَليها كُماةُ التُّرْكِ منْ فَرْعِ يافِثٍ
كَثيرٌfrequent بمُسْتَنِّin the racecourse of المَناياdeaths نُزولُهاtheir descents
كَثيرٌ بمُسْتَنِّ المَنايا نُزولُها
Upon them ride armored champions of the Turks, of Japheth's branch;
Upon them are the Turks, descendants of Japheth,
frequent are their descents into the racecourse of death.
With many who descend to the place of death.
همُthey الأُسْدُthe lions بأساًin might فيin اللقاءِbattle وأوجُهاًand in countenance
همُ الأُسْدُ بأساً في اللقاءِ وأوجُهاً
إذاwhen غَضِبواthey grow angry والسّمْهَريّةُand straight-shafted spears غِيلُهاtheir thickets
إذا غَضِبوا والسّمْهَريّةُ غِيلُها
They are lions in might in battle, and in countenance
They are lions, fierce in battle, with grim faces
when they rage, and straight-shafted spears are their thickets.
When enraged, and their swords' flashes are violent.
وإنْand if نطَقواthey speak قُلْتَyou would say القَطاthe sandgrouse منْof قَبيلِهِمْtheir tribe
وإنْ نطَقوا قُلْتَ القَطا منْ قَبيلِهِمْ
وهُمْand they غِلْمَةٌyouths منْfrom وُلْدِthe offspring of نوحٍNoah قَبيلُهاtheir kin
وهُمْ غِلْمَةٌ منْ وُلْدِ نوحٍ قَبيلُها
If they speak, you would say the sandgrouse belong to their tribe,
And if they speak, you would say they are wild cats,
though they are youths of Noah's offspring, kin to those birds.
Though they are youths descended from Noah's tribe.
وقدand indeed أشْبَهوهاthey resembled them أعْيُناًin eyes إذْwhen تَلاحَظواthey exchanged glances
وقد أشْبَهوها أعْيُناً إذْ تَلاحَظوا
علىwith شَوَسٍdefiant sidelong looks والبيضُand the white swords تَدْمىare bloodied نُصولُهاtheir blades
على شَوَسٍ والبيضُ تَدْمى نُصولُها
They resemble them also in their eyes when they exchange glances,
They resembled them in eyes when they were face to face
with defiant, sidelong looks, while the white swords' blades are bloodied.
with a fiery horse whose white front was stained with blood.
صَفَتْgrew clear بكَthrough you دُنياa world كدّرَتْهاmuddied it عِصابَةٌa band
صَفَتْ بكَ دُنيا كدّرَتْها عِصابَةٌ
تمرَّدَrebelled غاويهاits wayward man وعَزَّand grew mighty ذَليلُهاits lowly man
تمرَّدَ غاويها وعَزَّ ذَليلُها
Through you a world grew clear that a band had muddied,
A world has turned away from you in which mischief
whose wayward men rebelled and whose lowly men grew mighty.
Rebelled wantonly and the wretched triumphed.
ولولاكَand but for you لمْnot تُقْلَمْwere clipped أظافِيرُthe claws of فِتْنَةٍa rebellion
ولولاكَ لمْ تُقْلَمْ أظافِيرُ فِتْنَةٍ
تَعاوَرَهاhandled it in turn شُبّانهاits young men وكُهولُهاand its elders
تَعاوَرَها شُبّانها وكُهولُها
But for you, the claws of a rebellion would not have been clipped,
Were it not for you, the claws of sedition would not be blunted,
which its young men and elders took turns handling.
Which involved its youths and elders equally.
فماتَتْso it died بجُمْعٍstill pregnant إذwhen أظلَّتْovershadowed رِقابَهُمْtheir necks
فماتَتْ بجُمْعٍ إذ أظلَّتْ رِقابَهُمْ
سُيوفٌswords يُصِمُّdeafens المارِقينَthe renegades صَليلُهاtheir ringing
سُيوفٌ يُصِمُّ المارِقينَ صَليلُها
It died still pregnant, when over their necks loomed
So they died together when the swords casting shadows
swords whose ringing deafens the renegades.
Upon their necks deafened the dissenters with their clanging.
ولوْand if نُتِجَتْit gave birth أضْحَتْwould become قَوابِلَهاits midwives القَناthe spears
ولوْ نُتِجَتْ أضْحَتْ قَوابِلَها القَنا
ولمْand not يُغْذَbe nourished إلاexcept بالدِّماءثon blood سَليلُهاits offspring
ولمْ يُغْذَ إلا بالدِّماءث سَليلُها
Had it given birth, spears would have become its midwives,
And if it broke out, their women's wombs would be graves
and its offspring would have been fed on nothing but blood.
And only their blood would nourish its offspring.
ومَنْand whoever يتغبَّرْdrinks the last milk منْfrom أفاويقِmilk gathered between milkings فِتْنةٍa rebellion
ومَنْ يتغبَّرْ منْ أفاويقِ فِتْنةٍ
يَذُقْshall taste طَعَناتٍspear-thrusts ليسَnot يُودَىis paid blood-money for قَتيلُهاtheir slain
يَذُقْ طَعَناتٍ ليسَ يُودَى قَتيلُها
Whoever drinks the last drops from a rebellion's milkings
And whoever is contaminated by the dust of sedition's turmoil
shall taste spear-thrusts for whose slain no blood-money is paid.
Will taste stabs whose wounds will never heal.
فعِشْso live ليدٍfor a favor تُوليyou bestow ومُلْكand a kingdom تَحوطُهُyou guard it
فعِشْ ليدٍ تُولي ومُلْك تَحوطُهُ
ونائِبةٍand a calamity تَكفيyou avert ونُعْمىand a blessing تُنيلُهاyou grant it
ونائِبةٍ تَكفي ونُعْمى تُنيلُها
Live on for the favors you bestow and the kingdom you guard,
So live by an empowering hand and a kingdom that surrounds you,
for the calamity you avert and the blessings you grant.
A protector that suffices, and blessings it grants you.
ودُمْand endure للمَعاليfor lofty honors فهْيَfor they عِندَكَwith you تُبْتَغىare sought
ودُمْ للمَعالي فهْيَ عِندَكَ تُبْتَغى
ومُشْتَبِهٌand obscure إلاexcept عليكَto you سَبيلُهاtheir path
ومُشْتَبِهٌ إلا عليكَ سَبيلُها
Endure for lofty honors, for with you they are sought,
And aspire to the heights, for they are attainable through you,
and their path is obscure to all but you.
While the path to them is obscured from others.
Sol 6.1