أَهلاًwelcome بِذالِكُمُto that (addressing you all) الخَيالِthe apparition المُقبِلِapproaching
أَهلاً بِذالِكُمُ الخَيالِ المُقبِلِ
فَعَلَdid الَّذيwhat نَهواهُwe desire it أَوor لَمdid not يَفعَلِdo
فَعَلَ الَّذي نَهواهُ أَو لَم يَفعَلِ
Welcome to that approaching apparition,
whether it has done what we desire, or has not.
بَرقٌa lightning flash سَرىtraveled by night فيthrough بَطنِthe valley of وَجرَةَWajra فَاِهتَدَتand so found the way
بَرقٌ سَرى في بَطنِ وَجرَةَ فَاِهتَدَت
بِسَناهُby its gleam أَعناقُthe necks الرِكابِof riding camels الضُلَّلِstraying
بِسَناهُ أَعناقُ الرِكابِ الضُلَّلِ
A lightning flash crossed Wajra's valley by night, guiding
by its gleam the necks of straying camels.
مِنfrom غادَةٍa delicate maiden مُنِعَتwas withheld وَتَمنَعُand she withholds نَيلَهاaccess to her
مِن غادَةٍ مُنِعَت وَتَمنَعُ نَيلَها
فَلَوَand even if انَّحاthat she (apparently intended) بُذِلَتwere given لَناto us لَمwould not نَبذُلِgive away
فَلَوَ انَّحا بُذِلَت لَنا لَم نَبذُلِ
From a delicate maiden, withheld and withholding access to herself;
even if she were given to us, we would not give her away.
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon غَيرَnot مُخَيَّلٍclouded وَالغُصنِand the branch غَيnot (first fragment)
كَالبَدرِ غَيرَ مُخَيَّلٍ وَالغُصنِ غَي
رَnot (final fragment) مُمَيَّلٍbent وَالدَعصِand the sand mound غَيرَnot مُهَيَّلِscattered
رَ مُمَيَّلٍ وَالدَعصِ غَيرَ مُهَيَّلِ
Like an unclouded full moon, and a branch not
bent, and a sand mound not scattered.
ماnot الحُسنُbeauty عِندَكِin you ياO سُعادُSu'ad بِمُحسِنٍacting kindly
ما الحُسنُ عِندَكِ يا سُعادُ بِمُحسِنٍ
فيماin what أَتاهُdid it وَلاnor الجَمالُloveliness بِمُجمِلِacting graciously
فيما أَتاهُ وَلا الجَمالُ بِمُجمِلِ
Beauty in you, O Su'ad, has not acted kindly
in what it has done, nor has loveliness behaved graciously.
عُذِلَwas reproached المَشوقُthe yearning lover وَإِنَّand indeed مِنamong شِيَمِthe traits الهَوىof love
عُذِلَ المَشوقُ وَإِنَّ مِن شِيَمِ الهَوى
فيin حَيثُwhere يَجهَلُهُhe does not understand it لَجاجَobstinacy العُذَّلِof reproachers
في حَيثُ يَجهَلُهُ لَجاجَ العُذَّلِ
The lovelorn man was reproached; and among love's ways
is the obstinacy of reproachers wherever love is not understood.
ماذاwhat عَلَيكَupon you مِنَfrom اِنتِظارِwaiting for مُتَيَّمٍa love-stricken man
ماذا عَلَيكَ مِنَ اِنتِظارِ مُتَيَّمٍ
بَلrather ماwhat يَضُرُّكَharms you وَقفَةٌa pause فيat مَنزِلِa dwelling
بَل ما يَضُرُّكَ وَقفَةٌ في مَنزِلِ
What would it cost you to wait for a love-stricken man?
Rather, what harm would a pause at a dwelling do you?
إِنif سيلَhe is asked عَيَّhe is tongue-tied عَنِfor الجَوابِan answer فَلَمand so did not يُطِقmanage
إِن سيلَ عَيَّ عَنِ الجَوابِ فَلَم يُطِق
رَجعاًa reply فَكَيفَso how يَكونُwould he be إِنif لَمnot يُسأَلِhe is asked
رَجعاً فَكَيفَ يَكونُ إِن لَم يُسأَلِ
If asked, he falters for an answer and cannot
make a reply; how, then, would he be if not asked?
لاdo not تَكلِفَنَّstrain yourself ليfor me الدُموعَtears فَإِنَّfor indeed ليI have
لا تَكلِفَنَّ لي الدُموعَ فَإِنَّ لي
دَمعاًtears يَتِمُّsuffice عَلَيهِfor it إِنif لَمnot يَفضُلِbe in excess
دَمعاً يَتِمُّ عَلَيهِ إِن لَم يَفضُلِ
Do not strain to shed tears for me, for I have
tears enough for it, if not to spare.
وَلَقَدand indeed سَكَنتُI found repose مِنَfrom الصُدودِrejection إِلىto النَوىseparation
وَلَقَد سَكَنتُ مِنَ الصُدودِ إِلى النَوى
وَالشَريُand bitter fruit أَريٌhoney عِندَwhen أَكلِeating الحَنظَلِcolocynth
وَالشَريُ أَريٌ عِندَ أَكلِ الحَنظَلِ
I have found solace from rejection in separation;
and bitter fruit is honey beside eating colocynth.
وَكَذاكَand likewise طَرفَةُTarafa حينَwhen أَوجَسَhe sensed ضَربَةًa blow
وَكَذاكَ طَرفَةُ حينَ أَوجَسَ ضَربَةً
فيto الرَأسِthe head هانَbecame easy عَلَيهِfor him قَطعُsevering الكاحِلِthe wrist
في الرَأسِ هانَ عَلَيهِ قَطعُ الكاحِلِ
So too Tarafa, when he sensed a blow
to the head, found severing his wrist a lesser pain.
وَأَغَرَّand a radiant one فيin الزَمَنِthe age البَهيمِpitch-dark مُحَجَّلٍwhite-marked
وَأَغَرَّ في الزَمَنِ البَهيمِ مُحَجَّلٍ
قَدindeed رُحتَyou departed مِنهُfrom him عَلىon أَغَرَّa white-blazed steed مُحَجَّلِwhite-socked
قَد رُحتَ مِنهُ عَلى أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلِ
And a radiant, white-marked one amid a pitch-dark age—
you have left him on a white-blazed, white-socked steed.
كَالهَيكَلِlike a temple المَبنِيِّbuilt إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat he
كَالهَيكَلِ المَبنِيِّ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
فيin الحُسنِbeauty جاءَappeared كَصورَةٍlike an image فيin هَيكَلِa temple
في الحُسنِ جاءَ كَصورَةٍ في هَيكَلِ
Like a solid-built temple, except that he
in beauty appears like an image in a temple.
وافيfull الضُلوعِin the ribs يُشَدُّis tightened عَقدُthe knot حِزامِهِof his girth
وافي الضُلوعِ يُشَدُّ عَقدُ حِزامِهِ
يَومَon the day اللِقاءِof battle عَلىaround مُعِمٍّwith noble paternal uncles مُخوَلِwith noble maternal uncles
يَومَ اللِقاءِ عَلى مُعِمٍّ مُخوَلِ
Full-ribbed, his girth's knot is tightened
on battle day around one of noble paternal and maternal kin.
أَخوالَهُhis maternal uncles لِلرُستُمينَof the Rustams بِفارِسٍin Persia
أَخوالَهُ لِلرُستُمينَ بِفارِسٍ
وَجُدودُهُand his ancestors لِلتُبَّعينَof the Tubba's بِمَوكَلِat Mawkal
وَجُدودُهُ لِلتُبَّعينَ بِمَوكَلِ
His maternal uncles are of the Rustams in Persia,
and his ancestors are of the Tubba's at Mawkal.
يَهويhe swoops كَماas تَهويswoops العُقابُthe eagle وَقَدand already رَأَتit saw
يَهوي كَما تَهوي العُقابُ وَقَد رَأَت
صَيداًprey وَيَنتَصِبُand he stands erect انتِصابَthe erect stance الأَجدَلِof a falcon
صَيداً وَيَنتَصِبُ انتِصابَ الأَجدَلِ
He swoops as an eagle swoops when it has seen
prey, and stands erect as a falcon does.
مُتَوَجِّسٌalert بِرَقيقَتَينِwith two delicate ears كَأَنَّماas though
مُتَوَجِّسٌ بِرَقيقَتَينِ كَأَنَّما
تُرَيانِthey appear مِنof وَرَقٍleaves عَلَيهِupon him مُوَصَّلِattached
تُرَيانِ مِن وَرَقٍ عَلَيهِ مُوَصَّلِ
Alert with two delicate ears, as though
they were leaves fastened upon him.
ماnot إِنindeed (emphatic) يَعافَhe shuns قَذاًfoulness وَلَوeven if أَورَدتَهُyou led him to water
ما إِن يَعافَ قَذاً وَلَو أَورَدتَهُ
يَوماًone day خَلائِقَthe character traits حَمدَوَيهِof Hamdawayh الأَحوَلِthe cross-eyed one
يَوماً خَلائِقَ حَمدَوَيهِ الأَحوَلِ
He shuns no foulness, even if you brought him to drink
one day from the character of cross-eyed Hamdawayh.
ذَنَبٌa tail كَماas سُحِبَwas dragged الرِداءُthe cloak يَذُبُّfends off عَنfrom
ذَنَبٌ كَما سُحِبَ الرِداءُ يَذُبُّ عَن
عُرفٍa mane وَعُرفٌand a mane كَالقِناعِlike a veil المُسبَلِlet down
عُرفٍ وَعُرفٌ كَالقِناعِ المُسبَلِ
A tail like a trailing cloak, driving flies away from
a mane, and a mane like a veil let fall.
جَذلانَjoyful يَنفُضُhe shakes عُذرَةًa forelock فيover غُرَّةٍa blaze
جَذلانَ يَنفُضُ عُذرَةً في غُرَّةٍ
يَقَقٍpure white تَسيلُflow حُجولُهاits white stockings فيover جَندَلِstone
يَقَقٍ تَسيلُ حُجولُها في جَندَلِ
Joyful, he shakes a forelock over a blaze
pure white, its white stockings streaming onto stone-like hooves.
كَالرَإِحِlike one returning home النَشوانِdrunk أَكثَرُmost of مَشيِهِhis walking
كَالرَإِحِ النَشوانِ أَكثَرُ مَشيِهِ
عَرضاًsideways عَلىalong السَنَنِthe path البَعيدِfar-reaching الأَطوَلِlongest
عَرضاً عَلى السَنَنِ البَعيدِ الأَطوَلِ
Like a tipsy man going home, most of his walking
is sideways along the long, far-stretching track.
ذَهَبُgold الأَعاليin the upper parts حَيثُwherever تَذهَبُwanders مُقلَةٌan eye
ذَهَبُ الأَعالي حَيثُ تَذهَبُ مُقلَةٌ
فيهِover him بِناظِرِهاwith its pupil حَديدُiron الأَسفَلِin the lower part
فيهِ بِناظِرِها حَديدُ الأَسفَلِ
Gold above, wherever an eye wanders
over him with its gaze; iron below.
تُتَوَهَّمُis imagined الجَوزاءُOrion فيin أَرساغِهِhis pasterns
تُتَوَهَّمُ الجَوزاءُ في أَرساغِهِ
وَالبَدرُand the full moon غُرَّةُthe blaze وَجهِهِof his face المُتَهَلِّلِbeaming
وَالبَدرُ غُرَّةُ وَجهِهِ المُتَهَلِّلِ
One imagines Orion in his pasterns,
and the full moon is the blaze of his beaming face.
صافيclear الأَديمِof hide كَأَنَّماas though عُنِيَتwere applied لَهُfor him
صافي الأَديمِ كَأَنَّما عُنِيَت لَهُ
بِصَفاءِto the purity نُقبَتِهِof his coat مَداوِسُfiles صَيقَلِof a burnisher
بِصَفاءِ نُقبَتِهِ مَداوِسُ صَيقَلِ
Sleek of hide, as though they had labored for him—
a burnisher's files—to give his coat its sheen.
وَكَأَنَّماand as though نَفَضَتshook عَلَيهِupon him صِبغَهاits dye
وَكَأَنَّما نَفَضَت عَلَيهِ صِبغَها
سَهباءُtawny wine (apparently intended) لِلبَردانِfrom al-Bardan أَوor قُطرُبُّلِQutrubbul
سَهباءُ لِلبَردانِ أَو قُطرُبُّلِ
And as though its dye had been shaken over him
by tawny wine from al-Bardan or Qutrubbul.
لَبِسَhe donned القُنُوَّchestnut redness مُزَعفَراًsaffron-dyed وَمُعَصفَراًand safflower-dyed
لَبِسَ القُنُوَّ مُزَعفَراً وَمُعَصفَراً
يَدمىblood-red فَراحَso he went كَأَنَّهُas though he فيin خَيعَلِa loose sleeveless gown
يَدمى فَراحَ كَأَنَّهُ في خَيعَلِ
He has donned chestnut red, saffron- and safflower-dyed,
blood-red, so he goes as though in a loose gown.
وَتَخالُهُand you imagine him كُسِيَclothed الخُدودَin cheeks نَواعِماًsoft
وَتَخالُهُ كُسِيَ الخُدودَ نَواعِماً
مَهماwhenever تُواصِلُهاyou linger over them بِلَحظٍwith a glance تَخجَلِthey blush
مَهما تُواصِلُها بِلَحظٍ تَخجَلِ
And you imagine him clothed in tender cheeks,
which blush whenever your gaze lingers on them.
وَتَراهُand you see him يَسطَعُblazes فيamid الغُبارِthe dust لَهيبُهُhis flame
وَتَراهُ يَسطَعُ في الغُبارِ لَهيبُهُ
لَوناًin color وَشَدّاًand in galloping كَالهَريقِlike a fire المُشعَلِkindled
لَوناً وَشَدّاً كَالهَريقِ المُشعَلِ
You see his flame blazing through the dust,
in hue and gallop, like a fire set alight.
وَتَظُنُّand you think رَيعانَthe first vigor الشَبابِof youth يَروعُهُstartles him
وَتَظُنُّ رَيعانَ الشَبابِ يَروعُهُ
مِنfrom جَنَّةٍmadness أَوor نَشوَةٍintoxication أَوor أَفكَلِtrembling
مِن جَنَّةٍ أَو نَشوَةٍ أَو أَفكَلِ
You think youth's first vigor startles him
with madness, intoxication, or trembling.
هَزِجُtuneful الصَهيلِin neighing كَأَنَّas though فيin نَغَماتِهِhis notes
هَزِجُ الصَهيلِ كَأَنَّ في نَغَماتِهِ
نَبَراتِthe vocal inflections مَعبَدَof Ma'bad فيin الثَقيلِthe Heavy rhythm الأَوَّلِFirst
نَبَراتِ مَعبَدَ في الثَقيلِ الأَوَّلِ
His neigh is tuneful, as if within his notes
were Ma'bad's inflections in the First Heavy rhythm.
مَلَكَcaptivated العُيونَthe eyes فَإِنso if بَداhe appears أَعطَينَهُthey grant him
مَلَكَ العُيونَ فَإِن بَدا أَعطَينَهُ
نَظَرَthe gaze المُحِبِّof the lover إِلىtoward الحَبيبِthe beloved المُقبِلِapproaching
نَظَرَ المُحِبِّ إِلى الحَبيبِ المُقبِلِ
He has captured the eyes; if he appears, they give him
the lover's gaze toward the beloved drawing near.
لِمُحَمَّدِto Muhammad بنِson of عَلِيٍِّAli الشَرَفُnobility الَّذيwhich
لِمُحَمَّدِ بنِ عَلِيٍِّ الشَرَفُ الَّذي
لاnot يَرمُقُlooks upon الجَوزاءَOrion إِلّاexcept مِنfrom عَلِabove
لا يَرمُقُ الجَوزاءَ إِلّا مِن عَلِ
Muhammad ibn Ali possesses the nobility that
looks upon Orion only from above.
وَسَماحَةٌand generosity لَولاwere it not for تَتابُعُthe succession مُزنِهاof its rain-clouds
وَسَماحَةٌ لَولا تَتابُعُ مُزنِها
فيناamong us لَراحَwould go المُزنُthe rain-clouds غَيرَnot مُبَخَّلِdeemed miserly
فينا لَراحَ المُزنُ غَيرَ مُبَخَّلِ
And generosity: but for its clouds' succession
among us, the rain-clouds would pass unaccused of stinginess.
وَالجودُand generosity يَعذِلُهُreproaches him عَلَيهِfor it حاتِمٌHatim
وَالجودُ يَعذِلُهُ عَلَيهِ حاتِمٌ
سَرفاًfor extravagance وَلاand no جُدٌgenerosity (apparently intended) لِمَنfor whoever لَمhas not يَعذِلِbeen reproached (apparently intended)
سَرفاً وَلا جُدٌ لِمَن لَم يَعذِلِ
And bounty for which Hatim reproaches him
for extravagance; none is generous who goes unreproached.
فَضلٌexcellence وَإِفدالٌand beneficence (apparently intended) وَماand none أَخَذَattained المَدىthe goal
فَضلٌ وَإِفدالٌ وَما أَخَذَ المَدى
بَعدَafter المَدىthe goal كَالفاضِلِlike the excellent man المُتَفَضِّلِthe benefactor
بَعدَ المَدى كَالفاضِلِ المُتَفَضِّلِ
Excellence and beneficence; none has reached one goal
after another like the excellent benefactor.
سارٍa night-traveler إِذاwhen اِدَّلجَtravel by night العُفاةُthe petitioners إِلىtoward النَدىbounty
سارٍ إِذا اِدَّلجَ العُفاةُ إِلى النَدى
لاnot يَصنَعُhe does المَعروفَkindness غَيرَnot مُعَجَّلِhastened
لا يَصنَعُ المَعروفَ غَيرَ مُعَجَّلِ
A night-traveler when petitioners journey by night toward bounty,
he never performs a kindness unless it is prompt.
عالٍhigh عَلىabove نَظَرِthe gaze الحَسودِof the envious man كَأَنَّماas though
عالٍ عَلى نَظَرِ الحَسودِ كَأَنَّما
جَذَبَتهُdrew him up أَفرادُthe peerless ones النُجومِof the stars بِأَحبُلِwith ropes
جَذَبَتهُ أَفرادُ النُجومِ بِأَحبُلِ
High above the envious man's gaze, as though
the peerless stars had drawn him up with ropes.
أَوor ماnot رَأَيتَyou saw المَجدَglory أَلقىset down رَحلَهُits saddle
أَو ما رَأَيتَ المَجدَ أَلقى رَحلَهُ
فيin آلِthe family of طَلحَةَTalha ثُمَّthen لَمnot يَتَحَوَّلِmove away
في آلِ طَلحَةَ ثُمَّ لَم يَتَحَوَّلِ
Or have you not seen glory set down its saddle
in the house of Talha, then never move away?
ضَيفٌa guest لَهُمof theirs يَقريentertains الضُيوفَthe guests وَنازِلٌand a lodger
ضَيفٌ لَهُم يَقري الضُيوفَ وَنازِلٌ
مُتَكَفِّلٌtaking responsibility عَنهُمon their behalf بِبِرِّfor kindness to النُزَّلِthe lodgers
مُتَكَفِّلٌ عَنهُم بِبِرِّ النُزَّلِ
A guest of theirs who entertains guests, and a lodger
who undertakes for them the kind reception of lodgers.
نَفسيmy life فِداؤُكَyour ransom ياO مُحَمَّدُMuhammad مِنsuch a فَتىًyoung man
نَفسي فِداؤُكَ يا مُحَمَّدُ مِن فَتىً
عوفيwas kept safe عَلىamid ظُلَمِthe darknesses الخُطوبِof calamities فَتَنجَليand so they clear away
عوفي عَلى ظُلَمِ الخُطوبِ فَتَنجَلي
My life be your ransom, O Muhammad—such a youth,
kept safe amid the darkness of calamities, which then clears.
إِنّيindeed I أُريدُseek أَباAbu سَعيدٍSa'id وَالعِدىand the enemies
إِنّي أُريدُ أَبا سَعيدٍ وَالعِدى
بَينيbetween me وَبَينَand between سَحابِهِhis cloud المُتَهَلِّلِbeaming
بَيني وَبَينَ سَحابِهِ المُتَهَلِّلِ
I seek Abu Sa'id, while enemies stand
between me and his beaming cloud.
مُضَرُMudar الجَزيرَةِof al-Jazira كُلُّهاall of them وَرَبيعَةُand Rabi'a الthe (prefix)
مُضَرُ الجَزيرَةِ كُلُّها وَرَبيعَةُ ال
خابورِKhabur توعِدُنيthreaten me وَأَزدُand Azd الموصِلِof Mosul
خابورِ توعِدُني وَأَزدُ الموصِلِ
All Mudar of al-Jazira, and Rabi'a of the
Khabur threaten me, as do Azd of Mosul.
قَدindeed جُدتَyou gave generously بِالطَرفِwith the fine steed الجَوادِswift فَثَنِّهِso supplement it
قَد جُدتَ بِالطَرفِ الجَوادِ فَثَنِّهِ
لِأَخيكَfor your brother مِنdescended from أُدَدٍUdad أَبيكَyour father بِمُنصِلِwith a sword
لِأَخيكَ مِن أُدَدٍ أَبيكَ بِمُنصِلِ
You have given the swift steed; now supplement it
for your brother through Udad, your forefather, with a sword.
يَتَناوَلُit reaches الروحَthe soul البَعيدَdistant مَنالُهُaccess to it
يَتَناوَلُ الروحَ البَعيدَ مَنالُهُ
عَفَواًwith ease وَيَفتَحُand opens فيin القَضاءِdestiny المُقفَلِsealed
عَفَواً وَيَفتَحُ في القَضاءِ المُقفَلِ
It reaches the soul, though far beyond reach,
with ease, and makes an opening in sealed destiny,
بِإِنارَةٍwith illumination فيin كُلِّevery حَتفٍdeath مُظلِمٍdark
بِإِنارَةٍ في كُلِّ حَتفٍ مُظلِمٍ
وَهِدايَةٍand guidance فيin كُلِّevery نَفسٍsoul مَجهَلِuncharted
وَهِدايَةٍ في كُلِّ نَفسٍ مَجهَلِ
with illumination in every dark death,
and guidance in every uncharted soul.
ماضٍkeen وَإِنeven if لَمnot تُمضِهِdrives it يَدُthe hand فارِسٍof a horseman
ماضٍ وَإِن لَم تُمضِهِ يَدُ فارِسٍ
بَتَلٍvaliant وَمَصقولٌand polished وَإِنeven if لَمnot يُصقَلِis polished
بَتَلٍ وَمَصقولٌ وَإِن لَم يُصقَلِ
Keen, though no horseman's hand has driven it—
a valiant one's—and polished, though never polished.
يَغشىenters الوَغىbattle فَالتُرسُso the shield لَيسَis not بِجَنَّةٍa protection
يَغشى الوَغى فَالتُرسُ لَيسَ بِجَنَّةٍ
مِنfrom حَدِّهِits edge وَالدُرعُand armor لَيسَis not بِمَعقِلِa stronghold
مِن حَدِّهِ وَالدُرعُ لَيسَ بِمَعقِلِ
It enters battle: the shield offers no protection
from its edge, and armor is no stronghold.
مُصغٍlistening إِلىto حُكمِthe decree الرَدىof death فَإِذاand when مَضىit advances
مُصغٍ إِلى حُكمِ الرَدى فَإِذا مَضى
لَمnot يَلتَفِتlooks back وَإِذاand when قَضىit judges لَمnot يَعدِلِswerves
لَم يَلتَفِت وَإِذا قَضى لَم يَعدِلِ
Attentive to death's decree, when it advances
it never looks back; when it judges, it never swerves.
مُتَوَقِّدٌblazing يَبريshears off بِأَوَّلِwith the first ضَربَةٍstroke
مُتَوَقِّدٌ يَبري بِأَوَّلِ ضَربَةٍ
ماwhatever أَدرَكَتit reaches وَلَوَeven if اَنَّهاthat it فيin يَذبُلِYadhbul
ما أَدرَكَت وَلَوَ اَنَّها في يَذبُلِ
Blazing, it shears away with the very first stroke
whatever the stroke reaches, even if it falls on Yadhbul.
وَإِذاand when أَصابَit strikes فَكُلُّthen every شَيءٍthing مَقتَلٌa fatal spot
وَإِذا أَصابَ فَكُلُّ شَيءٍ مَقتَلٌ
وَإِذاand when أُصيبَit is struck فَماthen not لَهُit has مِنany مَقتَلِfatal spot
وَإِذا أُصيبَ فَما لَهُ مِن مَقتَلِ
When it strikes, every spot is vulnerable;
when it is struck, it has no vulnerable spot.
وَكَأَنَّماand as though سودُthe black ones النِمالِof the ants وَحُمرُهاand their red ones
وَكَأَنَّما سودُ النِمالِ وَحُمرُها
دَبَّتcrawled بِأَيدٍwith hands فيalong قَراهُits ridges وَأَرجُلِand feet
دَبَّت بِأَيدٍ في قَراهُ وَأَرجُلِ
And it is as though black ants and red ants
had crawled with hands and feet along its ridges.
وَكَأَنَّand as though شاهِرُهُthe one unsheathing it إِذاwhen اِستَعصىtakes a staff بِهِwith it
وَكَأَنَّ شاهِرُهُ إِذا اِستَعصى بِهِ
فيin الرَوعِterror يَعصىuses a staff بِالسِماكِwith al-Simak الأَعزَلِthe Unarmed
في الرَوعِ يَعصى بِالسِماكِ الأَعزَلِ
And it is as though its wielder, when using it as a staff
in terror, uses al-Simak the Unarmed as his staff.
حَمَلَتcarried حَمائِلُهُits baldrics القَديمَةُancient بَقلَةًa green shoot
حَمَلَت حَمائِلُهُ القَديمَةُ بَقلَةً
مِنfrom عَهدِthe age عادٍ'Ad غَضَّةًfresh لَمnot تَذبُلِwither
مِن عَهدِ عادٍ غَضَّةً لَم تَذبُلِ
Its ancient baldrics have carried a green shoot
from the age of 'Ad, still fresh and never withered.
Sol 6.1