سَمِعْتُI heard نَعِيّهاnews of her death صَمّاdeafness! صَمَامِstrike deaf!
سَمِعْتُ نَعِيّها صَمّا صَمَامِ
وإنْand even if قالَsaid العَوَاذِلُthe reproachers لاno هَمَامِgrief
وإنْ قالَ العَوَاذِلُ لا هَمَامِ
I heard the news of her death—deafness, strike me deaf!
I heard news of her death, deafening deafness,
Even if the reproachers say, “Do not grieve.”
Though the vile say it's no calamity.
وأمَتْنيand went before me إلىtoward الأجْداثِthe graves أُمٌّa mother
وأمَتْني إلى الأجْداثِ أُمٌّ
يَعِزّgrieves عَلَيّme أنْthat سارَتْshe went أماميahead of me
يَعِزّ عَلَيّ أنْ سارَتْ أمامي
A mother went before me toward the graves;
My mother led me to graves young,
it grieves me that she went ahead of me.
It's hard for me that she went ahead of me,
وأُكْبِرُand I deem too great أنْthat يُرَثّيهاelegize her لِسانيmy tongue
وأُكْبِرُ أنْ يُرَثّيها لِساني
بلَفْظٍwith speech سالِكٍtraversing طُرُقَthe pathways of الطّعامِfood
بلَفْظٍ سالِكٍ طُرُقَ الطّعامِ
I deem her too great for my tongue to elegize her
And I feel too old for my tongue to eulogize her
with speech that follows the pathways of food.
With words threading the path of food,
يُقالُis spoken فَيَهْتِمُand shatters الأنْيابَthe fangs قَوْلٌan utterance
يُقالُ فَيَهْتِمُ الأنْيابَ قَوْلٌ
يُباشِرُهاtouches them directly بأنْبَاءٍwith tidings عِظَامِmomentous
يُباشِرُها بأنْبَاءٍ عِظَامِ
An utterance is spoken, and it shatters the fangs,
It's said so fangs are aroused, a saying
touching them with momentous tidings.
That tells her news of bones,
كأنّas though نَواجِذيmy molars رُدِيَتْwere pelted بصَخْرٍwith stones
كأنّ نَواجِذي رُدِيَتْ بصَخْرٍ
ولمand did not يَمْرُرْpass بهِنَّover them سِوَىanything but كلامِspeech
ولم يَمْرُرْ بهِنَّ سِوَى كلامِ
It is as though my molars had been pelted with stones,
As if my molars were returned with a boulder
though nothing but speech passed over them.
And nothing went through them but words,
ومَنْand who ليfor me أنto أصُوغَI fashion الشُّهْبَthe blazing stars شِعْراًinto verse
ومَنْ لي أن أصُوغَ الشُّهْبَ شِعْراً
فأُلْبِسُand then I clothe قَبْرَهَاher grave سِمْطَيْtwo strands of نِظامِstrung jewels
فأُلْبِسُ قَبْرَهَا سِمْطَيْ نِظامِ
Who can let me fashion the blazing stars into verse,
And who am I to shape the meteors into verse
and clothe her grave in two strands of strung jewels?
And dress her grave in an orderly composition,
مَضَتْshe departed وقدand already اكتَهَلتُI had reached middle age فخِلتُyet I thought أنّيthat I
مَضَتْ وقد اكتَهَلتُ فخِلتُ أنّي
رَضِيعٌa suckling ماnot بَلَغْتُI had reached مَدىthe point of الفِطامِweaning
رَضِيعٌ ما بَلَغْتُ مَدى الفِطامِ
She departed when I had reached middle age, yet I thought myself
She passed and I had just been weaned so I feel
a suckling who had not reached the time of weaning.
Like an infant not yet weaned from suckling,
فياso O رَكْبَcaravan of المَنُونِdeath أمَاis there not رَسُولٌa messenger
فيا رَكْبَ المَنُونِ أمَا رَسُولٌ
يُبَلّغُdelivers to رُوحَهاher soul أرَجَthe fragrance of السّلامِsalutation
يُبَلّغُ رُوحَها أرَجَ السّلامِ
O caravan of death, is there no messenger
So O caravan of the deceased, is there no messenger
to bring her soul the fragrance of salutation,
To pass her spirit the fairest greetings,
ذَكِيّاًsweetly fragrant يُصْحَبُis accompanied الكافُورُthe camphor مِنْهُfrom it
ذَكِيّاً يُصْحَبُ الكافُورُ مِنْهُ
بِمِثْلِby the likeness of المِسْكِmusk مَفضُوضَbroken open الخِتامِthe seal
بِمِثْلِ المِسْكِ مَفضُوضَ الخِتامِ
so fragrant that camphor is joined, through it,
A perceptive one, camphor emanates from him
by something like musk with its seal broken open?
Like sealed musk at its finest,
ألاah! نَبِّهْنَنيawaken me قُيْنَاتِsinging maidens of بَثٍّsorrow
ألا نَبِّهْنَني قُيْنَاتِ بَثٍّ
بَشَمْنَthey grew surfeited غَضىًghada trees فمِلْنَand then turned إلىtoward بَشامِbasham trees
بَشَمْنَ غَضىً فمِلْنَ إلى بَشامِ
Awaken me, O singing maidens of sorrow,
Won't the turtle-doves wake me, companions of distance,
surfeited with ghada, then turning to basham;
If they smell blossoms so I incline towards basil,
وَحَمّاءَand a dark-marked one العِلاطِthe neck-band يَضيقُis too narrow فُوهَاher mouth
وَحَمّاءَ العِلاطِ يَضيقُ فُوهَا
بماfor what فيin الصّدرِthe breast منof صِفَةِthe description of الغَرامِpassionate love
بما في الصّدرِ من صِفَةِ الغَرامِ
and you, dark-neckmarked one, whose mouth is too narrow
And ring-necked doves narrow their beaks
for the account of passionate love within her breast.
With what's in the breast of passion's disposition,
تَداعَىsurged مُصْعِداًascending فيin الجيدِthe neck وَجْدٌyearning
تَداعَى مُصْعِداً في الجيدِ وَجْدٌ
فغالَand destroyed الطَوْقَthe neck-ring منهاon her بانْفِصَامِby splitting
فغالَ الطَوْقَ منها بانْفِصَامِ
Yearning surged, ascending in her neck,
Yearning came over her necklace so it came undone
and ruined her neck-ring, splitting it apart.
And its collar came loose with that separation,
أشاعَتْshe spread قِيلَهاher utterance وبكَتْand wept for أخاهَاher brother
أشاعَتْ قِيلَها وبكَتْ أخاهَا
فأضْحتْand she became وهْيَwhile she was خنْساءُKhansa الحَمامِof the doves
فأضْحتْ وهْيَ خنْساءُ الحَمامِ
She spread her lament and wept for her brother,
She spread her tale and wept over her brother
and became the Khansa of the doves.
So she became like the secluded dove,
شَجَتْكَshe grieved you بظَاهِرٍwith an outward sense كقَريضِlike the poetry of ليْلىLayla
شَجَتْكَ بظَاهِرٍ كقَريضِ ليْلى
وباطِنُهُand its inner meaning عَوِيصُthe knotty verse of أبيAbu حِزامِHizam
وباطِنُهُ عَوِيصُ أبي حِزامِ
She grieved you with an outward sense like Layla’s verse,
She enticed you openly like Layla's token
whose inward meaning is Abu Hizam’s knotty verse.
And inside she is unyielding like Abu Hizam,
سألتِyou asked مَتَىwhen اللّقاءthe reunion فقيلand it was said حتىuntil
سألتِ مَتَى اللّقاء فقيل حتى
يَقُومَrise الهامِدُونَthe lifeless مِنَfrom الرِّجامِthe grave-stones
يَقُومَ الهامِدُونَ مِنَ الرِّجامِ
You asked when reunion would come, and were told: not until
You asked when is our meeting, and it was said, until
the lifeless rise from the grave-stones.
The fallen rise from the graves,
ولوand even if حَدّواthey limited الفِراقَseparation بعُمْرِto the lifespan of نَسْرٍan eagle
ولو حَدّوا الفِراقَ بعُمْرِ نَسْرٍ
طَفِقْتُI began أعُدّcounting أعْمَارَthe lifespans of السِّمامِswifts
طَفِقْتُ أعُدّ أعْمَارَ السِّمامِ
Even if they limited separation to an eagle’s lifespan,
And if they limited the separation by the life of an eagle
I would begin counting the lifespans of swifts.
I would start counting the lives of vultures,
فلَيْتَif only أذِينَthe herald of يَوْمthe day of الحَشْرِresurrection نادىhad called
فلَيْتَ أذِينَ يَوْم الحَشْرِ نادى
فأجْهَشَتِand rushed weeping الرِّمامُdecayed remains إلىtoward الرّمامِdecayed remains
فأجْهَشَتِ الرِّمامُ إلى الرّمامِ
Would that Resurrection Day’s herald had called,
If only the caller on the day of judgement would call out
and decayed remains rushed, weeping, to decayed remains.
So the ruins roar back to the ruins,
ونَحْنُand we السَّفْرُthe travelers فيin عُمْرٍa lifetime كمَرْتٍlike a barren waste
ونَحْنُ السَّفْرُ في عُمْرٍ كمَرْتٍ
تَصَافَنَshared out equally أهْلُهits people جُرُعَdraughts of الحِمامِdeath
تَصَافَنَ أهْلُه جُرُعَ الحِمامِ
We are travelers through a lifetime like a barren waste,
While we travel in a lethal life
whose people share out draughts of death.
Where its people have shared the drink of death,
فصَرَّفَنيso it reshaped me فَغَيّرَنيand changed me زَمَانٌtime
فصَرَّفَني فَغَيّرَني زَمَانٌ
سيُعْقِبُنيwill bring me next بِحَذْفٍwith deletion وادّغامِand assimilation
سيُعْقِبُني بِحَذْفٍ وادّغامِ
Time has turned me about and changed me;
So time made me change and substituted me
it will next bring me deletion and assimilation.
With omission and assimilation,
ولاnor يُشْويspares from death حِسابَthe reckoning of الدّهْرِtime وَرْدٌa tawny lion
ولا يُشْوي حِسابَ الدّهْرِ وَرْدٌ
لهfor him وِرْدٌa drinking draught مِنَof الدّمِblood كالمُدامِlike wine
له وِرْدٌ مِنَ الدّمِ كالمُدامِ
Nor does time’s reckoning spare a tawny lion,
No roses diminish the account of time
whose draught is blood, like wine.
It has roses of blood like wine,
يُعَنّيهِtroubles him البَعُوضُmosquitoes بكُلّin every غابٍthicket
يُعَنّيهِ البَعُوضُ بكُلّ غابٍ
فَريشٍcarpeted بالجَماجِمِwith skulls واللِّمامِand locks of hair
فَريشٍ بالجَماجِمِ واللِّمامِ
Mosquitoes trouble him in every thicket
It busies itself with every thicket
carpeted with skulls and locks of hair.
With feathers over skulls and turbans,
بَدَاhe appeared فَدَعاand summoned الفَرَاشَmoths بناظِرَيْهِwith his two eyes
بَدَا فَدَعا الفَرَاشَ بناظِرَيْهِ
كماas تَدْعوهُsummon it مُوقِدَتَاtwo fires kindled in ظَلامِdarkness
كما تَدْعوهُ مُوقِدَتَا ظَلامِ
He appeared and summoned moths with his two eyes,
It appeared calling the butterfly with its eyes
as two fires kindled in darkness summon them,
As she calls them, kindlers of darkness,
بنَارَيّwith the two fires of قادِحَيْنِtwo spark-strikers قدalready اسْتَظَلاّhad sheltered
بنَارَيّ قادِحَيْنِ قد اسْتَظَلاّ
إلىbeside صَرْحَيْنِtwo towers أوْor قَدَحَيْtwo goblets of مُدامِwine
إلى صَرْحَيْنِ أوْ قَدَحَيْ مُدامِ
with the flames of two spark-strikers sheltered
With two fiery ones, having taken shade
beside two towers, or two goblets of wine.
Towards two goblets or two bottles of wine,
كأنّas though اللّحْظَthe glance يَصْدُرُissues عنfrom سُهَيْلٍSuhayl
كأنّ اللّحْظَ يَصْدُرُ عن سُهَيْلٍ
وآخَرَand another مِثْلِهِlike it ذاكيblazing الضّرَامِin flame
وآخَرَ مِثْلِهِ ذاكي الضّرَامِ
It is as though his glance issues from Suhayl
As if the glance comes from Suhayl
and another like it, fiercely blazing.
And another like it, bright in the darkness,
تَطُوفُprowl بأرضِهِthrough his land الأُسْدُthe lions العَواديthe marauding
تَطُوفُ بأرضِهِ الأُسْدُ العَوادي
طَوَافَlike the circling of الجَيْشَthe army بالملكِaround the king الهُمامِthe valiant
طَوَافَ الجَيْشَ بالملكِ الهُمامِ
The marauding lions prowl his land
It circles its land, the lions, the refugees,
as an army circles its valiant king.
Circling around the courageous king,
وقالَand he said لِعِرْسِهِto his mate بِينيdepart from me ثَلاثاًthree times
وقالَ لِعِرْسِهِ بِيني ثَلاثاً
فماfor no لَكِfor you فيin العَرِينَةِthe den مِنْany مُقامِdwelling
فما لَكِ في العَرِينَةِ مِنْ مُقامِ
He told his mate, “Leave me, three times over;
And it said to its wedding party, distance yourself three times,
there is no place for you to stay in the den.”
For you have no staying in the burrow,
وقدand already وطِئَhe trod الحَصىthe pebbles ببَنيwith the offspring of بُدورٍfull moons
وقد وطِئَ الحَصى ببَني بُدورٍ
صِغارٍsmall ماnot قَرُبْنَthey approached منto التّمامِfullness
صِغارٍ ما قَرُبْنَ من التّمامِ
He trod the pebbles with offspring of full moons,
The pebbles have been tread upon by the pups of ostriches,
little ones nowhere near their fullness.
Young ones not yet fully grown,
أمُحْتَذِيَO wearer of الأهِلّةِcrescents غَيْرَwithout زَهْوٍvainglory
أمُحْتَذِيَ الأهِلّةِ غَيْرَ زَهْوٍ
سَلَبْتَyou robbed مِنof الحُلِيّornaments شهورَthe months of عامِa year
سَلَبْتَ مِن الحُلِيّ شهورَ عامِ
O wearer of crescent shoes, without vainglory,
You have taken the ornaments except for beauty,
you have robbed the year’s months of their ornaments.
You have seized the months of the year from the adorned bride,
ولاnor مُبْقٍone leaving behind إذاwhen يسعىit moves صُدُوعاًfissures
ولا مُبْقٍ إذا يسعى صُدُوعاً
غَوَائِرَdeep فيin الدّكادِكِlow mounds والإكامِand hills
غَوَائِرَ في الدّكادِكِ والإكامِ
Nor one that leaves, as it moves, fissures
No trace remains when he runs barefoot
deep in low mounds and hills:
Secretly in the roughness and prickliness,
حُبابٌa serpent تَحْسَبُyou would think النَّفَيَانَthe flying dust منهfrom it
حُبابٌ تَحْسَبُ النَّفَيَانَ منه
حَبَاباًfoam طارَflew عنfrom جنَبَاتthe sides of جامِa goblet
حَبَاباً طارَ عن جنَبَات جامِ
a serpent, whose flying dust you would take
Beloveds you reckon the banishment from them
for foam blown from the sides of a goblet,
Is beloveds that flew off the sides of the cup,
تَطَلَّعَrose above منfrom جِدارِthe wall of الكاسِthe goblet كَيْماso as to
تَطَلَّعَ من جِدارِ الكاسِ كَيْما
يُحَيّيَgreet أوْجُهَthe faces of الشَّرْبِthe drinking companions الكِرامِthe noble
يُحَيّيَ أوْجُهَ الشَّرْبِ الكِرامِ
rising from the goblet’s wall so as
It peeked from the side of the goblet as if
to greet the faces of the noble drinkers.
To greet the faces of the generous drinks,
يَهُمّis on the verge شَمَامُShamam أنْof يُدْعَىbeing called كَثيباًa sandhill
يَهُمّ شَمَامُ أنْ يُدْعَى كَثيباً
إذاwhen نَفَثَit spat السَّمَامَvenom علىupon شَمَامِShamam
إذا نَفَثَ السَّمَامَ على شَمَامِ
Shamam is on the point of being called a sandhill
Thirsty, it almost wishes to be called athirst
when it spits venom upon Shamam.
When it breathes thirst onto Thirsty itself,
مَشَىit moved للوَجْهِstraight ahead مُجْتَاباًputting on قَمِيصاًa shirt
مَشَى للوَجْهِ مُجْتَاباً قَمِيصاً
كلامَةِlike the armor of فارِسٍa horseman يُرْمَىshot at بلامِwith arrows
كلامَةِ فارِسٍ يُرْمَى بلامِ
It moved straight ahead, wearing a shirt
It walked to the horizon wearing a shirt
like the armor of a horseman shot at with arrows,
Like the cheek-piece of a knight pelted with blame,
كدِرْعِlike the mail of أُحَيْحَةUhayha الأوْسيّal-Awsi طالتْhad grown long
كدِرْعِ أُحَيْحَة الأوْسيّ طالتْ
عليهon him فهْيَso it تُسْحَبُis dragged فيin الرَّغامِthe dust
عليه فهْيَ تُسْحَبُ في الرَّغامِ
like Uhayha al-Awsi’s mail, grown too long
Like Uhayha Al-Ausi’s coat of mail that dragged over him
for him, and dragged along in the dust.
So it is pulled through the coarseness,
نَسِيبُa kinsman of مَعاشِرٍpeoples وُلِدَتْwere born عليهِمْupon them
نَسِيبُ مَعاشِرٍ وُلِدَتْ عليهِمْ
دُرُوعُهمُtheir coats of mail فصارتْand became كاللِّزامِlike an inseparable bond
دُرُوعُهمُ فصارتْ كاللِّزامِ
A kinsman of peoples upon whom were born
He is associated with a people whose armours
their coats of mail, becoming an inseparable bond,
Were born on them so they became like a burden,
كدَعْوَىlike the claim of مُسْلِمٍMuslim ليَزيدَfor Yazid حَمْلwearing السْthe (continued next line)
كدَعْوَى مُسْلِمٍ ليَزيدَ حَمْل السْ
سَوابغِfull-length coats of mail فيin التّغاوُرِmutual raiding والسلامِand peace
سَوابغِ في التّغاوُرِ والسلامِ
as Muslim claimed for Yazid: wearing the
Like a Muslim’s claim to increase the load
full-length coats of mail in raiding and in peace.
Of the long shirts in the visits and greetings,
وتُلقىand are cast off عنهُمُfrom them لكَمالِat the completion of حَوْلٍa year
وتُلقى عنهُمُ لكَمالِ حَوْلٍ
كثِيراتِfull of الخُرُوقِholes مِنَfrom السِّمامِarrows
كثِيراتِ الخُرُوقِ مِنَ السِّمامِ
They are cast off them at a full year’s end,
And they are shed from them for maturation
riddled with holes from arrows.
Numerous in breaches from the arrows,
علىon أرْجائِهاtheir edges نُقَطُdots of المَناياdeaths
على أرْجائِها نُقَطُ المَنايا
مُلَمَّعَةًspeckled بهاwith them تَلْيمعَlike the speckling of شامِmoles
مُلَمَّعَةً بها تَلْيمعَ شامِ
Along their edges lie the dots of death,
On its edges are the spots of demise
mottling them like the speckling of moles.
Adorning it, shimmering with thirst,
إلىto مَنwhom جُبْتُI traversed والحِدْثانُwhile fate طاوٍwas hungry
إلى مَن جُبْتُ والحِدْثانُ طاوٍ
قبائلَthe tribes of عامرٍAmir لاmay not كُنْتَyou exist عامِO Amir
قبائلَ عامرٍ لا كُنْتَ عامِ
To whom did I cross, while fate hungered,
To whom shall I come when the calamities are burning
the tribes of Amir—may you be no more, Amir!
The tribes of Aamir - if only you were a year!
وقدand already ألِفواthey grew accustomed to القَناspears فغدَتْso became عليهِمْfor them
وقد ألِفوا القَنا فغدَتْ عليهِمْ
رِماحُهمُtheir lances أخَفّlighter منَthan السّهامِarrows
رِماحُهمُ أخَفّ منَ السّهامِ
They had grown accustomed to spears, so that
And they had become accustomed to the spear so it became
their lances became lighter for them than arrows.
Their spears lighter than arrows on them,
كأنّas though بَنَانَةًa finger فيin الكفّthe palm زِيدَتْhad been added
كأنّ بَنَانَةً في الكفّ زِيدَتْ
قناةٌa spear غيرُnot جاذِيَةِrigid القَوَامِin stature
قناةٌ غيرُ جاذِيَةِ القَوَامِ
It was as though a finger had been added to the palm:
As if a thin spear was increased in the palm
a spear, not rigid in stature.
Other than one with an unstable stature,
وتَبْيَضّand turns white البلادُthe land إذاwhen أراحواthey bring the herds home
وتَبْيَضّ البلادُ إذا أراحوا
بماwith what نَضَحَتْهpoured it forth أخْلافُthe teats of السَّوامِthe grazing herds
بما نَضَحَتْه أخْلافُ السَّوامِ
The land turns white when they bring their herds home,
The lands whiten when they rest
with what the grazing herds’ teats pour forth.
From what the remainder of arrows spilled forth,
ولَيْلاًand a night تُلْحِقُmake resemble الأهْوالُthe terrors فيهwithin it
ولَيْلاً تُلْحِقُ الأهْوالُ فيه
بفَوْدِthe temple-locks of الشّيْخِthe old man ناصِيَةَthe forelock of الغُلامِthe boy
بفَوْدِ الشّيْخِ ناصِيَةَ الغُلامِ
And a night whose terrors make
And at night, terrors catch up to it
a boy’s forelock match an old man’s temple-locks.
To the old man's leadership of the youth.
إذاwhen سَئمُواthey wearied of الرّحالَthe saddles فكُلّthen every غِرّnovice
إذا سَئمُوا الرّحالَ فكُلّ غِرّ
يَرَىsees صَرَعَاتِهhis falls خُلَسَsnatched chances of اغْتِنامِopportunity
يَرَى صَرَعَاتِه خُلَسَ اغْتِنامِ
When they weary of the saddles, every novice
When they grow weary of travelling, every young man
regards his falls as snatched opportunities.
Sees its prey when chance presents itself,
كأنّas though جُفونَهُhis eyelids عُقِدتْwere tied برَضْوَىto Radwa
كأنّ جُفونَهُ عُقِدتْ برَضْوَى
فماso not يُرْفَعْنَare they lifted مِنْbecause of سُكْرِthe drunkenness of المَنامِsleep
فما يُرْفَعْنَ مِنْ سُكْرِ المَنامِ
It is as though his eyelids were tied to Radwa,
As if its eyelids are closed in pleasure
and cannot be lifted for the drunkenness of sleep.
So they are not lifted from the slumber of sleep.
لوif أنّthat حَصَىthe pebbles of المُناخِthe campsite مُدىًknives حِدادٌsharp
لو أنّ حَصَى المُناخِ مُدىً حِدادٌ
أزَارَتْهاwould bring them to visit النّحُورَthe throats مِنَfrom السّآمِweariness
أزَارَتْها النّحُورَ مِنَ السّآمِ
If the campsite’s pebbles were sharp knives,
If only the stones of the resting-place lasted for a period of grief
weariness would bring their throats to meet them.
Their sides would be girded by sorrow,
وجازَand pierced إليَّto me أبراديmy cloaks هَجيرٌnoonday heat
وجازَ إليَّ أبرادي هَجيرٌ
يَجوزُpasses منfrom القِرابِthe sheath إلىto الحُسامِthe sword
يَجوزُ من القِرابِ إلى الحُسامِ
Noonday heat pierced my cloaks and reached me,
And its roaring torrent came to me, Hajir,
heat that passes from the sheath to the sword,
Crossing over from near to far,
يَرُدّturns مَعَاطِسَthe noses of الفِتْيانِthe young men سُفْعاًdarkened
يَرُدّ مَعَاطِسَ الفِتْيانِ سُفْعاً
وإنْand even if ثُنِيَwas doubled اللّثامُthe face-veil علىover اللّثامِthe face-veil
وإنْ ثُنِيَ اللّثامُ على اللّثامِ
turning the young men’s noses dark,
Repelling the sneezes of young men arrogantly
even with face-veil doubled over face-veil.
Even if the turban is folded over the turban,
إذاwhen الحِرْباءُthe chameleon أظْهَرَprofessed دينَthe religion of كِسْرَىKisra
إذا الحِرْباءُ أظْهَرَ دينَ كِسْرَى
فصَلّىand prayed والنّهارُwhile the day أخُوbrother of الصّيامِfasting
فصَلّى والنّهارُ أخُو الصّيامِ
When the chameleon professes Kisra’s faith,
When the partridge showed the religion of Chosroes
and prays while the day is brother to fasting,
And prayed while day is the brother of fasting,
وأذّنَتِand gave the prayer-call الجَنادِبُgrasshoppers فيin ضُحاهاits forenoon
وأذّنَتِ الجَنادِبُ في ضُحاها
أذَاناًa prayer-call غيرَnot مُنْتَظَرِawaiting الإمامِthe imam
أذَاناً غيرَ مُنْتَظَرِ الإمامِ
and grasshoppers give the prayer-call in its forenoon,
And the starlings called the dawn prayer in their morning
a call that waits for no imam.
A call to prayer without an expected imam.
وغاضَand dwindled مِياهُناour waters إلاّexcept فِرِنْداًa blade’s watered pattern
وغاضَ مِياهُنا إلاّ فِرِنْداً
إذاwhen نَكَزَdried up المَوارِدُthe watering places جاشَit surged طاميoverflowing
إذا نَكَزَ المَوارِدُ جاشَ طامي
Our waters dwindled, save a blade’s watered pattern,
Our waters receded except for tumult
which, when the watering places dried, surged overflowing.
When the watering places were gouged, chaos spilled forth,
فأفْلَتَso it escaped سالِماًunharmed إلاّexcept بَقَاياremnants
فأفْلَتَ سالِماً إلاّ بَقَايا
علىon أثْرَيْةِits blade-patterning مِنْof أَثَرِtraces of القَتامِdust
على أثْرَيْةِ مِنْ أَثَرِ القَتامِ
It came through unharmed, save for remnants
So it escaped safely except for remnants
of dust’s traces upon its blade-patterning.
Upon the trace of darkness’ trace.
لهit has ثِقَلُthe weight of الحَدائدِiron فهْوَso it is رَاسٍfirmly rooted
له ثِقَلُ الحَدائدِ فهْوَ رَاسٍ
وإصْعادُand the upward leap of التّلَهّبِflaming فهْوso it is نامِgrowing
وإصْعادُ التّلَهّبِ فهْو نامِ
It has the weight of iron, and so stands firm,
It has the heaviness of iron chains so it is steady
and the upward leap of flame, and so grows high.
And the rising of flames so it is sleeping,
كأنّas though الضّبّthe desert lizard كانwas لهits سُجَيْراًa companion
كأنّ الضّبّ كان له سُجَيْراً
فحالَفَهُand pledged with it علىto فَقْدِfreedom from الأُوَامِthirst
فحالَفَهُ على فَقْدِ الأُوَامِ
It is as though the desert lizard had been its companion,
As if the hyena was a dormitory for it
and pledged with it to be free of thirst.
So it swore to it over the loss of dens,
أقَلَّbore عَمُودُهُits spine شَهْرَيْtwo months of رَبيعٍspring
أقَلَّ عَمُودُهُ شَهْرَيْ رَبيعٍ
وقَيْظاًand a summer للمَنِيةِfor death فيin احْتِدَامِblazing heat
وقَيْظاً للمَنِيةِ في احْتِدَامِ
Its spine bore two months of spring,
Its pillar lasted two months of spring
and a summer blazing hot for death.
And summer’s heat in fervour,
خِضَمٌّa vast sea لُجُّهُits depths سِيفُthe shore of الرّزاياcalamities
خِضَمٌّ لُجُّهُ سِيفُ الرّزايا
وصَفْحَتُهand its flat منَof المَوْتِdeath الزّؤامِdeadly
وصَفْحَتُه منَ المَوْتِ الزّؤامِ
A vast sea, whose depths are the shore of calamities,
A firebrand whose flame is the sword of afflictions
and whose flat is of deadly death.
And its blade from the death of adversities,
وشَفْرَتُهand its edge حَذامِHadham فلاso no ارْتِيابٌdoubt
وشَفْرَتُه حَذامِ فلا ارْتِيابٌ
بأنّthat القَوْلَthe true word ماwhat قالتْsaid حَذامِHadham
بأنّ القَوْلَ ما قالتْ حَذامِ
Its edge is Hadham, so there is no doubt
And its edge is the sword of Hudham so there is no doubt
that the true word is what Hadham has said.
That the saying did not say the sword of Hudham,
تَوَارَثَهُinherited it in succession بَنُوthe sons of سَامِSam بْنِson of نُوحٍNuh
تَوَارَثَهُ بَنُو سَامِ بْنِ نُوحٍ
ثَقِيلَheavy الغِمْدِof sheath مِنْwith دُرٍّpearls وَسَامِand gold
ثَقِيلَ الغِمْدِ مِنْ دُرٍّ وَسَامِ
The sons of Sam, son of Nuh, inherited it in succession,
The descendants of Shem, son of Noah, inherited it
its sheath heavy with pearls and gold.
Heavy in its sheath of pearl and mark,
ولوْand even if أنّthat النّخِيلَpalm trees شَكِيرُtender shoots of جِسميmy body
ولوْ أنّ النّخِيلَ شَكِيرُ جِسمي
ثَنَاهُwould bend it حَمْلُthe burden of أنْعُمِكِyour blessings الجِسامِimmense
ثَنَاهُ حَمْلُ أنْعُمِكِ الجِسامِ
Even if palm trees were my body’s tender shoots,
And if only the lofty palm trees were as pliant as my body
the burden of your immense blessings would bend it.
Its load of your perfect, plump bodies would bend it!
كَفانيsufficed me رِيُّهاtheir quenching مِنْin place of كُلّevery رِيّquenching
كَفاني رِيُّها مِنْ كُلّ رِيّ
إلىuntil أنthat كِدْتُI nearly أُحْسَبُwas counted فيamong النّعامِostriches
إلى أن كِدْتُ أُحْسَبُ في النّعامِ
Their quenching sufficed me in place of every draught,
Its irrigation from any irrigation suffices me
until I was almost counted among the ostriches.
Until I almost consider myself among the ostriches,
وكمْand how many لكِof yours مِنْof أبٍa forefather وَسَمَbranded اللّياليthe nights
وكمْ لكِ مِنْ أبٍ وَسَمَ اللّيالي
علىon جَبَهَاتِهاtheir foreheads سِمَةَthe mark of اللئامِthe base
على جَبَهَاتِها سِمَةَ اللئامِ
How many forefathers of yours branded the nights
And how many fathers you have who the nights
upon their foreheads with the brand of the base!
Marked the foreheads with the brand of the vile!
مَضَىhe passed away وتَعَرُّفُand the definiteness of الأعْلامِproper names فيهِin him
مَضَى وتَعَرُّفُ الأعْلامِ فيهِ
غَنِيَّneeding none الوَسْمِin marking عنof ألِفٍan alif ولامِand a lam
غَنِيَّ الوَسْمِ عن ألِفٍ ولامِ
He passed, known as proper names are known,
One passed and the banners are recognizable in him
with no need for alif and lam to mark him.
Rich in branding without need for any lam-alif,
سقَتْكِmay water you الغادياتُmorning rain-clouds فماand may no جَهَامٌrainless cloud
سقَتْكِ الغادياتُ فما جَهَامٌ
أطَلّloom علىover محَلّكِyour resting place بالجَهامِwith rainlessness
أطَلّ على محَلّكِ بالجَهامِ
May morning rain-clouds water you; let no rainless cloud
The departed quenched your thirst so no rushing warriors
loom over your resting place in rainlessness.
Lengthened towards your abode with warriors,
وقَطْرٌand rainfall كالبِحارِlike seas فلسْتُfor I am not أرْضَىsatisfied
وقَطْرٌ كالبِحارِ فلسْتُ أرْضَى
بقَطْرٍwith rain صابَfell مِنfrom خَلَلِgaps in الغَمامِthe clouds
بقَطْرٍ صابَ مِن خَلَلِ الغَمامِ
And rainfall like the seas—for I am not content
While a drop like the seas, I am not pleased
with drops falling through gaps in the clouds.
With a drop that fell through the clouds,
Sol 6.1