هوit is الدمعُthe tears أضحىhas become بالغرامِof passion يُترجِمُspeaks
هو الدمعُ أضحى بالغرامِ يُترجِمُ
وقدand indeed كانَwas فيكَabout you الظنُّthe suspicion قبلُbefore يُرَجَّمُconjectured
وقد كانَ فيكَ الظنُّ قبلُ يُرَجَّمُ
It is the tears that have begun to speak of passion,
The teardrop translates passion now,
while before, suspicions about you were only conjecture.
Though suspicion in you it did allow.
فلاso no ماءَwater إلاexcept ماthat which جفونُكَyour eyelids سحبُهits clouds
فلا ماءَ إلا ما جفونُكَ سحبُه
ولاand no نارَfire إلاexcept فيwithin ضلوعِكَyour ribs تُضْرَمُis kindled
ولا نارَ إلا في ضلوعِكَ تُضْرَمُ
So there is no water but that whose clouds are your eyelids,
None but tears your eyelids draw
and no fire but that kindled within your ribs.
No fire but in your ribs aflame
توهَّمتَyou imagined أنthat البعدَdistance يَشْفيcures مِنَof الجوَىlovesickness
توهَّمتَ أن البعدَ يَشْفي مِنَ الجوَى
وأدْوائهِand its ailments ياoh بئسَhow wretched ماwhat تتوهَّمُyou imagine
وأدْوائهِ يا بئسَ ما تتوهَّمُ
You imagined distance would cure lovesickness
You fancied distance cures love's woe
and its ailments—oh, how wretched your imagining!
What wretched hope is this you know
ستقلَقُyou will be distraught أنif جدَّbecame serious الفراقُparting وأصبحتْand became
ستقلَقُ أن جدَّ الفراقُ وأصبحتْ
أيانِقُshe-camels ليلىLayla للرحيلِfor departure تُقَدَّمُare brought forward
أيانِقُ ليلى للرحيلِ تُقَدَّمُ
You will be distraught if parting becomes real and
Restlessness will strike, the eve of departure nears
Layla's she-camels are brought forward for departure.
Lovesick camels for the road appear
حرامٌforbidden علىto عينيكَyour two eyes نومُهماtheir sleep اِذاwhen
حرامٌ على عينيكَ نومُهما اِذا
أقمتَyou stayed بنجدٍin Najd والركائبُwhile the riding camels تُتهمُhead for Tihama
أقمتَ بنجدٍ والركائبُ تُتهمُ
Sleep is forbidden to your eyes when
Your eyes shouldn't sleep when in Nejd you remain
you remain in Najd while the riding camels head for Tihama.
While the riders accused, their tracks apparent remain
فلاso may not جفَّdry up غَرْبُthe flood of العينِthe eye أنif بانَdeparted حيُّهاher tribe
فلا جفَّ غَرْبُ العينِ أن بانَ حيُّها
وسارتْand traveled بهاwith her اِبْلٌcamels نواحلُlean سُهَّمُemaciated
وسارتْ بها اِبْلٌ نواحلُ سُهَّمُ
May the eye's flood never dry if her tribe departs,
Let not the west of the eye dry, that its lively one went
and lean, emaciated camels bear her away.
With her the camel herd of Suhaym bent
تجوبُtraverse بهاwith her الهَجْلَthe open plain البعيدَdistant كأنَّهاas though they
تجوبُ بها الهَجْلَ البعيدَ كأنَّها
اِذاwhen ماemphatic particle سجاgrew still الليلُthe night الدجوجيُّpitch-dark أَنْجُمُstars
اِذا ما سجا الليلُ الدجوجيُّ أَنْجُمُ
They carry her across the distant open plain, as though
Roaming the distant barren plain as though
when the pitch-dark night grows still, they were stars.
When night falls, the bright stars shine
فياso, O صاحِبَيْtwo companions of شكوايَmy lament أنif تنأَgoes far away عَلْوَةٌʿAlwa
فيا صاحِبَيْ شكوايَ أن تنأَ عَلْوَةٌ
فلاthen do not تحسباyou two think أنّيthat I مِنَfrom الوجدِlonging أسلمُam safe
فلا تحسبا أنّي مِنَ الوجدِ أسلمُ
O you two companions in my lament, if ʿAlwa goes far away,
My friends, of my plight do not be fooled
do not think I shall be safe from longing.
Think not that I from ardour have cooled
وماand not كنتُI was أدريknow قبلَbefore فتكِthe ravaging of لحاظِهاher glances
وما كنتُ أدري قبلَ فتكِ لحاظِها
بأنَّthat الجفونَthe eyelids البابليَّةَBabylonian أَسْهُمُarrows
بأنَّ الجفونَ البابليَّةَ أَسْهُمُ
Before the havoc wrought by her glances, I never knew
Never did I know before her glances' charm
that those Babylonian eyelids were arrows.
That the Babylonian eyelids arrows arm
جَزِعتُI was distraught وماthough not بانَdeparted الخليطُthe company ولاnor غدتْhad begun
جَزِعتُ وما بانَ الخليطُ ولا غدتْ
نجائبُهits noble camels تشكوcomplain of الكلالَweariness وتُرْزِمُand low
نجائبُه تشكو الكلالَ وتُرْزِمُ
I was distraught, though the company had not left, nor had
I panicked before the beloved drink was mixed
its noble camels begun complaining of weariness and lowing.
Her writhing from ardour and pain depicted
ولاnor ناحَwailed مشتاقٌa yearning lover تذكَّرَremembered اِلْفَهُhis beloved
ولا ناحَ مشتاقٌ تذكَّرَ اِلْفَهُ
ولاnor أنgroaned مهجورan abandoned lover ولاnor حَنَّyearned aloud مُغْرَمُan enamored lover
ولا أن مهجور ولا حَنَّ مُغْرَمُ
Nor had a yearning lover wailed, remembering his beloved,
No longing lover remembered his cherished days
nor a forsaken one groaned, nor a lover cried with longing.
No one abandoned, no one in love did craze
فكيفthen how إذاwhen شطَّتْshe went far away وشطَّand became distant مزارُهاher place of visitation
فكيف إذا شطَّتْ وشطَّ مزارُها
وأصبحَand became مِرْطُthe mantle of الوصلِunion وهوwhile it is مُرَدَّمُpatched
وأصبحَ مِرْطُ الوصلِ وهو مُرَدَّمُ
What, then, when she is far away and far the place to visit her,
How when her abode and his are demolished and decayed
and the mantle of union has become a patched-up thing?
The rope of union knotted, frayed
وصدَّتْand she turned away إلىto the point أنthat عادَbecame طيفُthe phantom of خيالِهاher image
وصدَّتْ إلى أن عادَ طيفُ خيالِها
علىdespite قربِthe nearness of مسراهits nocturnal journey يَصُدُّturns away ويَسْأَمُand grows weary
على قربِ مسراه يَصُدُّ ويَسْأَمُ
She shunned me until even her phantom image,
When longing grew intense, the bowstring tore
though its night-journey is short, shuns me and grows weary.
My mount from skinniness, the saddle slip deplore
ورفَّعَand raised حادُوهاher camel-drivers القِبابَthe canopies وأرقلتْand trotted swiftly
ورفَّعَ حادُوها القِبابَ وأرقلتْ
نِياقٌshe-camels نماهنَّsired them الجَدِيلُal-Jadil وشَدْقَمُand Shadqam
نِياقٌ نماهنَّ الجَدِيلُ وشَدْقَمُ
Her camel-drivers raised the canopies, and off trotted
I took news of Udhayb and its people in breath
she-camels descended from al-Jadil and Shadqam.
But breathing its air no use gives
وكُدَّand was troubled رَوِرْدُthe wellspring (unclear form) القربِcloseness بعدَafter صفائهِits clarity
وكُدَّ رَوِرْدُ القربِ بعدَ صفائهِ
وعهديand my recollection بهِof it عذبُsweet المواردِthe watering places مُفعَمُbrimming
وعهدي بهِ عذبُ المواردِ مُفعَمُ
And the wellspring of closeness grew troubled after its clarity,
With a teardrop down the cheek in disgrace
yet I remember it sweet at its sources, brimming full.
And another on the floor of the camp its trace
وحالتْand changed عهودٌcovenants كانَwas عِقدُthe knot of وفائهاtheir fidelity
وحالتْ عهودٌ كانَ عِقدُ وفائها
علىthrough قِدَمِthe long passage of الأيامِthe days والدهرِand time يُبْرَمُis firmly bound
على قِدَمِ الأيامِ والدهرِ يُبْرَمُ
And covenants changed, whose knot of fidelity
Oh, my long woeful night I kept awake
had been bound firm through the long passage of days and time.
Grief, darker than my night, my talks did make
فلمّاso when تمادَىdragged on الشوقُlonging وانشقَّتِand split العَصاthe staff
فلمّا تمادَى الشوقُ وانشقَّتِ العَصا
وأعرقتُand I went to Iraq كرهاًunwillingly والأكلَّةُwhile the curtained litters تُشئمُhead for Syria
وأعرقتُ كرهاً والأكلَّةُ تُشئمُ
So when longing dragged on and the staff of unity split,
My burning liver, the darts of love did puncture
and I went unwillingly toward Iraq while the curtained litters headed for Syria,
From injustice, anguished, they did me lure
تنسَّمتُI sought a breath of أخبارُnews of العُذَيْبِal-ʿUdhayb وأهلِهِand its people
تنسَّمتُ أخبارُ العُذَيْبِ وأهلِهِ
شِفاهاًorally فماbut not أجدَىbenefited عليَّme التنسُّمُthe news-seeking
شِفاهاً فما أجدَى عليَّ التنسُّمُ
I sought news of al-ʿUdhayb and its people
I endure her estrangement and distance so far
by word of mouth; but seeking it did me no good.
What strength in two broken ones found ever are?
فمِنْso of دمعةٍa tear فوقَover الخدودِthe cheeks مُذالةٍlet fall
فمِنْ دمعةٍ فوقَ الخدودِ مُذالةٍ
وأخرىand another علىupon تُرْبِthe dust of المنازلِthe dwellings تُسْجَمُis poured
وأخرى على تُرْبِ المنازلِ تُسْجَمُ
One tear was let fall over the cheeks,
To her I complain of what I bear from these two
and another poured upon the dust of the dwellings.
But she said: the youth in love, crazed and untrue
فياoh ليَfor me منwhat a ليلٍnight طويلٍlong سَهِرتُهI spent it awake
فيا ليَ من ليلٍ طويلٍ سَهِرتُه
يُسامِرُنيkeeps me company at night همٌّsorrow كليليَlike my night مُظلمُdark
يُسامِرُني همٌّ كليليَ مُظلمُ
Ah me, the long night I spent awake,
If what I bear from the madness of love
with a sorrow as dark as my night keeping me company!
To a rock I said, it would melt from the shove
ومِنand of كَبِدٍa liver حرَّىburning وقدand indeed طوَّحتْtossed far بهاwith it
ومِن كَبِدٍ حرَّى وقد طوَّحتْ بها
مراميthe far reaches of النوىseparation منof جورِهاits cruelty تتظلَّمُit complains
مرامي النوى من جورِها تتظلَّمُ
And a burning liver, tossed about
My lowly state, if I see but oppressor and gloom
by separation's far-flung courses, protesting its cruelty!
Should I learn but from the like of me, whom?
أكابدُI endure منهاfrom her هجرَهاher abandonment وبعادَهاand her remoteness
أكابدُ منها هجرَها وبعادَها
وأيُّand what قوًىstrength مِنfrom ذينِthese two لاnot تتهدَّمُcrumbles
وأيُّ قوًى مِن ذينِ لا تتهدَّمُ
I endure from her her desertion and her distance;
Each day farewells bring wonders
what strength would not crumble under those two?
That alarm a heart separation encumbers
وأشكوand I complain اليهاto her ماwhat أُعانيهِI suffer it منهماfrom them both
وأشكو اليها ما أُعانيهِ منهما
فلمbut not تُشكِنيshe relieved my complaint أنfor الصبابةَardent love مَغْرَمُa costly burden
فلم تُشكِني أن الصبابةَ مَغْرَمُ
I complain to her of what I suffer from them,
Before me none endured the woe of separation
but she gives me no relief: passion exacts its toll.
Or good faith, as I have shown veneration
فلوso if كانَwere ماwhat أشكوهI complain of it مِنof لاعجِthe searing heat of الهوىlove
فلو كانَ ما أشكوه مِن لاعجِ الهوى
الىto صخرةٍa rock كانتْit would be تَرِقُّsoftens وتَرْحَمُand shows mercy
الى صخرةٍ كانتْ تَرِقُّ وتَرْحَمُ
If my complaint of love's searing flame
In ardour and plaints of love none has conceded
were made to a rock, it would soften and show mercy.
Or surrendered like me, so conceded
فياoh ذِلَّةَthe abasement of الشاكيthe complainant إذاwhen كانَhe is لاnot يرىsees
فيا ذِلَّةَ الشاكي إذا كانَ لا يرى
سِوىexcept ظالمٍa wrongdoer مِنfrom مثلِهِhis like يتعلَّمُlearns
سِوى ظالمٍ مِن مثلِهِ يتعلَّمُ
How abject the complainant who can see
Who will bring the home closer, so I can see
only a wrongdoer learning from another of his kind!
Days of reunion with loved ones, glee
أفيis it in كلَّevery يومٍday للوداعِfor farewell روائعterrors
أفي كلَّ يومٍ للوداعِ روائع
تروعُterrify فؤاداًa heart بالتفرُّقِby separation يُكْلَمُis wounded
تروعُ فؤاداً بالتفرُّقِ يُكْلَمُ
Must every day bring terrors of farewell
A time the meadows revive in beauty
that frighten a heart wounded by separation?
And I am blessed with union, at last duty
فلمso not يلقَhas met قبليbefore me مِنfrom أذىthe harm of البينِparting مثلُthe like of ماwhat
فلم يلقَ قبلي مِن أذى البينِ مثلُ ما
لقيتُI have met علىdespite حسنِthe goodness of الوفاءِfidelity متيَّمُa love-enslaved man
لقيتُ على حسنِ الوفاءِ متيَّمُ
No lover before me has suffered such pain from parting
I will praise it with most eloquent words
as I have suffered, despite my steadfast fidelity.
That adorn poetry with prose as graceful birds
وماand not أحدٌanyone فيin الوجدِlonging مِنْfrom وِقْفَةِthe halt of الهوىlove
وما أحدٌ في الوجدِ مِنْ وِقْفَةِ الهوى
وشكوىand lamenting تباريحِthe agonies of الغرامِpassion مُسَلَّمُspared
وشكوى تباريحِ الغرامِ مُسَلَّمُ
No one in longing is spared being stopped by love
I will dot it with stars as pages of a book
or lamenting passion's torments.
Embroidered so fine, a keen eye it took
فمَنْso who ليfor me بأنْthat تدنوdraw near الديارُthe dwellings وأنْand that أرىI see
فمَنْ لي بأنْ تدنو الديارُ وأنْ أرى
زمانَthe time of التدانيcloseness بالأحبَّةِwith the beloveds يَبْسِمُsmiles
زمانَ التداني بالأحبَّةِ يَبْسِمُ
Who can secure for me that the dwellings draw near, and that I see
Poems the narrators never did acclaim
the days of nearness to the beloveds smile,
Nor for the like of them, a mouth did name
زماناًa time يعيرُlends الروضَthe meadow بهجةَthe radiance of حسنِهِits beauty
زماناً يعيرُ الروضَ بهجةَ حسنِهِ
فأُسعَدَso I may be happy فيهin it بالوصالِin union وأنعَمَand live in bliss
فأُسعَدَ فيه بالوصالِ وأنعَمَ
a time that lends the meadow the radiance of its beauty,
If recited in gatherings, it's like musk scent flows
so I may be happy in union then, and live in bliss,
Among the throng, its aroma sweetly goes
وأمنحهُand I grant it حُسْنَfine الثناءِpraise بمقولٍwith a tongue
وأمنحهُ حُسْنَ الثناءِ بمقولٍ
يحوكُweaves بديعَwondrous الشعرِpoetry جزلاًvigorous وينظِمُand strings it together
يحوكُ بديعَ الشعرِ جزلاً وينظِمُ
and grant it fine praise with a tongue
It spreads fragrance among people, its ample perfume
that weaves exquisite, vigorous poetry and strings it together?
Like the scattering of friends' dust with ambergris consumed
أرقَّشُهI adorn it بالنَّقْسِwith ink حتىuntil كأنَّهas though it
أرقَّشُه بالنَّقْسِ حتى كأنَّه
علىupon صفحاتِthe pages of الطَّرسِthe parchment وشيٌbrocade مُنَمْنَمُfinely patterned
على صفحاتِ الطَّرسِ وشيٌ مُنَمْنَمُ
I adorn it with ink until it seems
My friend, when a lightning spark flashed in the dark
finely patterned brocade across the pages of the parchment;
I trembled and to it my friends did hark
قصائدُpoems ماnot فاهَuttered الرواةُthe reciters بشبههاtheir like
قصائدُ ما فاهَ الرواةُ بشبهها
قديماًin former times ولمand not يُفتحْwas opened بمثلٍwith an equal لهاto them فَمُa mouth
قديماً ولم يُفتحْ بمثلٍ لها فَمُ
poems whose like the reciters never uttered
As if it warned me against visiting that I adore
of old, nor was any mouth opened with their equal.
And my doing so it did deplore
اِذاwhen أنشدُوهاthey recite them فيin النديَّthe assembly كأنَّماas though
اِذا أنشدُوها في النديَّ كأنَّما
تضوَّعَwafted مسكٌmusk فيin المحافلِthe gatherings منهمُfrom them
تضوَّعَ مسكٌ في المحافلِ منهمُ
When they recite them in the assembly, it is as though
How Ne'aman's rise shone when the morning gale did wake
musk wafts from them through the gatherings,
To salute it, and the withered trees to raise
تأرَّجَspread fragrance ماthe space بينَamong الأنامِhumankind فنشرُهso its fragrance
تأرَّجَ ما بينَ الأنامِ فنشرُه
كنشرِlike the fragrance of ثرىthe earth of الأحبابِthe beloveds بالطيبِwith perfume مُفْغَمُintensely scented
كنشرِ ثرى الأحبابِ بالطيبِ مُفْغَمُ
spreading fragrance among humankind, its scent
Did turtle doves return to the branches high?
like that of the beloveds' earth, heavy with perfume.
Cooing melodies, on the treetops nigh
خليليَّmy two friends ماليwhat is wrong with me كلّماwhenever لاحَappeared بارقٌa flash of lightning
خليليَّ مالي كلّما لاحَ بارقٌ
طرِبتُI was stirred اليهtoward it والخليّونَwhile the carefree نُوَّمُasleep
طرِبتُ اليه والخليّونَ نُوَّمُ
My two friends, why is it that whenever lightning flashes,
Wakening the soul's passions, as though they know
I am stirred by it while the carefree lie asleep?
The secret love in my heart that did grow
يُنَفَّرُis driven away عنfrom عينيmy eye كراهاits slumber كأنَّهُas though it
يُنَفَّرُ عن عيني كراها كأنَّهُ
وقَدْand indeed عَنَّappeared عُلْوِيّاًhigh above عليهاto it مُحَرَّمُforbidden
وقَدْ عَنَّ عُلْوِيّاً عليها مُحَرَّمُ
Slumber is driven from my eye, as though
How the dove exposes her woes to me
at the flash's appearance high above, sleep were forbidden there.
On the branch of love, yet I conceal my plea
سلاask, you two البانَthe ban tree مِنof نَعْمانَNuʿman هلwhether لَعِبَتْplayed بهwith it
سلا البانَ مِن نَعْمانَ هل لَعِبَتْ به
رياحُwinds صَباًthe east wind يُحياit is revived بهاby them ويقوَّمُand is straightened
رياحُ صَباً يُحيا بها ويقوَّمُ
Ask the ban tree of Nuʿman whether it has been played upon
She sees my desire and the love in me swell
by east winds that revive and straighten it;
When my tears from my eyelids well
وهلand whether رجَّعَتْwarbled فوقَabove الفروعِthe boughs حمائمٌdoves
وهل رجَّعَتْ فوقَ الفروعِ حمائمٌ
لهنَّthey have علىupon أعلىthe highest parts of الغصونِthe branches ترنُّمُsong
لهنَّ على أعلى الغصونِ ترنُّمُ
and whether doves have warbled above the boughs,
Not out of knowledge of my hidden, inner cyst
singing on the highest branches,
But yearning gives her this intrinsic gist
تُهيَّجُstir أشجانَthe sorrows of الفؤادِthe heart كأنَّهاas though they
تُهيَّجُ أشجانَ الفؤادِ كأنَّها
بماof what فيin ضميريmy inner self مِنof هوىlove of الغيدِgraceful women تعلمُknow
بما في ضميري مِن هوى الغيدِ تعلمُ
stirring the heart's sorrows, as though
Her cooing reminds me of bygone days
they knew the love of graceful women hidden in my breast.
And old love that kindles the heart's blaze
فللّهِby God كمhow often تُبديreveals الحمامةُthe dove شجوَهاher sorrow
فللّهِ كم تُبدي الحمامةُ شجوَها
لديَّbefore me علىon غصنِthe bough of الغرامِpassion وأكتمُwhile I conceal
لديَّ على غصنِ الغرامِ وأكتمُ
By God, how often the dove reveals her sorrow
I weep for them, tears pour down in a stream
before me on the bough of passion, while I hide mine!
Most blood, some water, it would seem
تراهاdo you think she لِماconcerning what عنديis within me مِنَof الوجدِlonging والهوىand love
تراها لِما عندي مِنَ الوجدِ والهوى
اِذاwhen ذرفتْflowed منّيfrom me المدامعُthe tears تفهمُunderstands
اِذا ذرفتْ منّي المدامعُ تفهمُ
Do you think she understands my longing and love
I inhale their souls in ardent crave
when tears stream from me?
And the vestiges of vows I gave
وماand not ذاكَthat عنfrom علمٍknowledge بماof what أناI منطوٍconcealing
وما ذاكَ عن علمٍ بما أنا منطوٍ
عليهِupon it ولكنَّbut الحنينَyearning يُهَيَّمُdrives love-mad
عليهِ ولكنَّ الحنينَ يُهَيَّمُ
That is not from knowing what I conceal
But after they went and their dwellings declined
within, but yearning drives one mad with love.
Will news of loved ones lost reach my mind?
يُذَكّرنيreminds me الأُلافَthe intimate companions سجعُthe cadence of هديلِهاher cooing
يُذَكّرني الأُلافَ سجعُ هديلِها
وذِكرُand remembrance of قديمِold الحبَّlove للقلبِto the heart مُؤْلِمُpainful
وذِكرُ قديمِ الحبَّ للقلبِ مُؤْلِمُ
The cadence of her cooing reminds me of my intimate companions,
She persists in pursuing the ruins though far
and remembering old love is painful to the heart.
Not minding the toil, nor the wounds that mar
فأبكيهمُso I weep for them دمعاًtears إذاwhen فاضَoverflowed ماؤهits water
فأبكيهمُ دمعاً إذا فاضَ ماؤه
تحدَّرَflows down عنfrom جفنيmy eyelid وأكثرُهand most of it دمُblood
تحدَّرَ عن جفني وأكثرُه دمُ
I weep tears for them; when their water overflows,
Roaming the darkness and waste till you'd think
it runs down from my eyelid, and most of it is blood.
She is robbed by the ostrich fierce, clawed and pink
وأستنشقُand I breathe in الأرواحَthe breezes شوقاًin yearning اليهمُfor them
وأستنشقُ الأرواحَ شوقاً اليهمُ
وأسألُand I ask آثارَthe traces of المعاهدِthe familiar haunts عنهمُabout them
وأسألُ آثارَ المعاهدِ عنهمُ
I breathe in the breezes, yearning for them,
I visit sites no mounted rider would see
and ask the traces of the familiar haunts about them.
Fearing the echo in it, he would flee
فهلso will بعدَماafter بانواthey departed وأقوتْand lay deserted ربوعُهُمْtheir dwellings
فهل بعدَما بانوا وأقوتْ ربوعُهُمْ
تبلَّغُنيbring me to الأحبابَthe beloveds وجناءُa stout-cheeked she-camel عَيْهَمُstrong and swift
تبلَّغُني الأحبابَ وجناءُ عَيْهَمُ
Will, after they have departed and their dwellings lie deserted,
He whose heart youth enslaves
a stout-cheeked, mighty she-camel bring me to the beloveds,
Will weep for the abode and its signs he craves
تواصلُcontinues اِدمانَunceasing practice of الذميلِa swift trot فلاso not شكاcomplained
تواصلُ اِدمانَ الذميلِ فلا شكا
أليمَthe pain of الوَجاfoot-soreness منهاof hers ولاnor الوخدَrapid striding مَنْسِمُa footpad
أليمَ الوَجا منها ولا الوخدَ مَنْسِمُ
keeping up an unceasing trot, with no
And wrongly enjoy the taste of love to the brim
footpad of hers complaining of painful soreness or rapid striding?
But if reason returned, he would block it on a whim
تخوضُplunges through الدجىdarkness والقفرَand the desert حتىuntil كأنّماas though
تخوضُ الدجى والقفرَ حتى كأنّما
يناهِبُهاvie with her across البيدَthe wastes النعامُthe ostriches المصلَّمُshort-eared
يناهِبُها البيدَ النعامُ المصلَّمُ
She plunges through darkness and desert, as though
Though I have patience for every incident
short-eared ostriches were racing her across the wastes.
That would shake a solid rock violent
أزورُI visit بهاon her الخرقَthe vast wilderness الذيwhich لاnot يزورُهvisit it
أزورُ بها الخرقَ الذي لا يزورُه
لخوفِfor fear of الصدىthirst فيهwithin it المطيُّthe riding camels المزمَّمُhaltered
لخوفِ الصدى فيه المطيُّ المزمَّمُ
On her I visit the vast waste unvisited
And war reveals its fangs, I have nerve to brace
by haltered mounts, for fear of thirst there.
Where the spears shatter in my face
ومَنْand whoever كانَis فيin أسرِthe captivity of الصبابةِardent love قلبُهhis heart
ومَنْ كانَ في أسرِ الصبابةِ قلبُه
سيبكيهِwill make him weep نُؤْىٌa campsite trench للدَّيارِof the dwellings ومَعْلَمُand a landmark
سيبكيهِ نُؤْىٌ للدَّيارِ ومَعْلَمُ
Whoever has a heart held captive by passion
When horses meet in a fright, whenever
will be made to weep by a camp's trench and a landmark.
At the target, the slim lance doesn't deter
ويلتذُّand relishes طعمَthe taste of الحبَّlove جهلاًignorantly واِنَّهthough it
ويلتذُّ طعمَ الحبَّ جهلاً واِنَّه
اِذاwhen راجعَreturns to العقلَreason الصحيحَsound لعلقمُis surely bitter colocynth
اِذا راجعَ العقلَ الصحيحَ لعلقمُ
He blindly relishes the taste of love, although
And where valiant heroes in assaults vie as
if he returns to sound reason, it is bitter colocynth.
Motes in a sand cloud, in number and in size
علىdespite أَنَّنيthat I جلدٌsteadfast علىagainst كلَّevery حادثٍcalamity
على أَنَّني جلدٌ على كلَّ حادثٍ
يُزَعْزَعُwould be shaken منهby it لوif ألمَّit descended يَلَمْلَمُYalamlam
يُزَعْزَعُ منه لو ألمَّ يَلَمْلَمُ
Yet I am steadfast against every calamity
A throat, an orange sun and a white sword inspire them
at which Yalamlam would quake, should it descend.
In the stand of death, their souls to fire them
صبورٌpatient إذاwhen ماemphatic particle الحربُwar أبدتْbared نيوبَهاits fangs
صبورٌ إذا ما الحربُ أبدتْ نيوبَها
بحيثُwhere الرَّماحُthe spears السَّمهريَّةُSamhari تُحْطَمُare shattered
بحيثُ الرَّماحُ السَّمهريَّةُ تُحْطَمُ
Patient when war bares its fangs,
Bare horses outsprinting the wind and their trace
where the Samhari spears are shattered,
To the farthest goal, and most bare the noble race
وعندَand at لقاءِthe clash of الخيلِthe horses فيin الرَّوعِbattle-terror كلَّماwhenever
وعندَ لقاءِ الخيلِ في الرَّوعِ كلَّما
تَقَصَّدَsplintered فيagainst القِرْنِthe adversary الوشيجُthe spearwood المقوَّمُstraightened
تَقَصَّدَ في القِرْنِ الوشيجُ المقوَّمُ
and when the horses meet in battle's terror, whenever
On each warrior's temple, a strike shows clear
the straightened spear-shafts splinter against the foe;
On each charger's chest, for the polished lance, no fear
وحيثand where الكماةُthe armored warriors الحمسُfierce فيin غَمَراتِهاits surging depths
وحيث الكماةُ الحمسُ في غَمَراتِها
كأنَّهمُas though they فيin مُحكمِthe tightly linked السَّردِmail عُوَّمُswimmers
كأنَّهمُ في مُحكمِ السَّردِ عُوَّمُ
and where the fierce armored warriors, amid its surging depths,
In each land, their colts, when provoked, scratch the plain
seem swimmers in tightly linked mail.
The stallions with staunch reins, riders holding tight rein
يشوقُهمُdraws their longing فيin موقفِthe station of الموتِdeath نَثْرَةٌa coat of mail
يشوقُهمُ في موقفِ الموتِ نَثْرَةٌ
وأسمرُand a brown spear عسَالٌquivering وأبيضُand a white sword مِخْذَمُkeen-cutting
وأسمرُ عسَالٌ وأبيضُ مِخْذَمُ
At death's station they yearn for a coat of mail,
The land wears a coat with spears riddled and torn
a quivering brown spear, and a white, keen-cutting sword,
The sun, a face with skulls veiled and worn
وجرداءُand a sleek mare مِثلُlike الريحthe wind تَسبِقُoutruns ظِلَّهاher shadow
وجرداءُ مِثلُ الريح تَسبِقُ ظِلَّها
الىto الغايةِthe goal القصوىfurthest وأجردُand a sleek stallion شيظَمُlong-limbed
الى الغايةِ القصوى وأجردُ شيظَمُ
a sleek mare like the wind, outrunning her shadow
If I say I silence the eloquent wit
to the furthest goal, and a sleek, long-limbed stallion.
Or enter a fierce fray, undaunted and fit
وفيand on كلَّevery وجهٍface للمهندِfor the Indian-forged sword مَضْرِبٌa striking-place
وفي كلَّ وجهٍ للمهندِ مَضْرِبٌ
وفيand in كلَّevery نحرٍthroat للمثقَّفِfor the straightened spear لهْذَمُa keen spearhead
وفي كلَّ نحرٍ للمثقَّفِ لهْذَمُ
On every face the Indian-forged sword finds a striking place,
The nature of souls has its own ways and means
and in every throat the straightened spear plants its keen point.
Practiced before us since past days and regimes
وفيand over كلَّevery أرضٍland مِنfrom سنابِكِthe hooves of خيلهمْtheir horses
وفي كلَّ أرضٍ مِن سنابِكِ خيلهمْ
عجاجٌa dust-cloud مثارٌstirred up فيin العُنانِthe sky مُخَيَّمُencamped
عجاجٌ مثارٌ في العُنانِ مُخَيَّمُ
Across every stretch of earth, from their horses' hooves,
If reason tries to deter me from loving
a stirred-up cloud of dust encamps in the sky.
I put up a fight not easing or gloving
وللأرضِand the earth has ثوبٌa garment بالنجيعِwith blood مُخَضَّبٌdyed
وللأرضِ ثوبٌ بالنجيعِ مُخَضَّبٌ
وللشمسِand the sun has وجهٌa face بالقَتامُwith battle-dust مُلَثَّمُveiled
وللشمسِ وجهٌ بالقَتامُ مُلَثَّمُ
The earth wears a garment dyed with blood,
Should I heed its censure, even if it scolds?
and the sun's face is veiled with battle-dust.
When I have defied its prohibitive holds
اِذاwhen قلتُI speak أخرستُI silence الفصيحَthe eloquent واِنْand if أصُلْI charge
اِذا قلتُ أخرستُ الفصيحَ واِنْ أصُلْ
لحربٍinto war تحامانيkeeps clear of me الخميسُthe army العرمرمُvast
لحربٍ تحاماني الخميسُ العرمرمُ
When I speak, I silence the eloquent; when I charge
Never will I listen, for it knows full well
into war, the vast army keeps out of my way.
My belief in loyalty will never dispel
ولكنَّbut أهواءَthe passions of النفوسِsouls بدائهاwith their disease
ولكنَّ أهواءَ النفوسِ بدائها
مضتْpassed away قبلَناbefore us عادٌʿAd عليهاunder their sway وجُرْهُمُand Jurhum
مضتْ قبلَنا عادٌ عليها وجُرْهُمُ
But the passions of souls, with their sickness—
I swear by a wild cow grieving the loss
ʿAd and Jurhum passed away before us still under their sway.
Of her heard when their tracks were crossed
اِذاwhen رامَsought ينهانيto forbid me العذولُthe reproacher عنِالهوىfrom love
اِذا رامَ ينهاني العذولُ عنِالهوى
يمارسُwrestles with منّيin me مُصْعَباًan untamed camel ليسَnot يُحْطَمُis broken
يمارسُ منّي مُصْعَباً ليسَ يُحْطَمُ
When the reproacher seeks to turn me from love,
Vanished among sand dunes, she is bent
he wrestles with an untamed camel in me that cannot be broken.
Languishing with yearning and pain unspent
أأسمعُshould I heed فيهconcerning it العذلَthe reproach منهfrom him ولوeven if غداhe began
أأسمعُ فيه العذلَ منه ولو غدا
عليَّagainst me وقدthough indeed عاصيتُهI defied him القولَthe words يَنْقُمُhe resents
عليَّ وقد عاصيتُه القولَ يَنْقُمُ
Should I heed his reproaches concerning it, even if he comes
She suffers the bitter separation it seems
against me, finding fault with my words since I have defied him?
Like one who drinks venom, most violent of teams
وهيهاتَfar from it لاnot أُصغيI listen اليهِto him واِنَّهand indeed he
وهيهاتَ لا أُصغي اليهِ واِنَّه
ليعلمُsurely knows رأييmy view فيon الوفاءِfidelity فيَحجِمُso he refrains
ليعلمُ رأيي في الوفاءِ فيَحجِمُ
Far from it! I will not listen to him, and indeed
With greater agony than a heart torn asunder
he knows my view of fidelity, so he holds back.
Keeping company with a thought to ponder
فأقسمُso I swear ماno حوراءُa dark-eyed doe مِنfrom سربِthe herd of حاجرٍHajir
فأقسمُ ما حوراءُ مِن سربِ حاجرٍ
تَحِنُّyearns aloud وقدwhen indeed ضلَّstrayed الطَّلاthe fawn فَتُبَغَّمُso she lows
تَحِنُّ وقد ضلَّ الطَّلا فَتُبَغَّمُ
I swear, no dark-eyed doe from the herd of Hajir,
On a neighbour departed whom ne'er more to see
yearning and lowing because her fawn has strayed—
Its pieces shared in bereavement, grief and misery
تغيَّبَvanished ماthe space بينَbetween الأرجاعِthe hollows فانثنتْand she turned back
تغيَّبَ ما بينَ الأرجاعِ فانثنتْ
أسيرةَa captive of شوقٍyearning للنوىfrom separation تتألَّمُsuffers pain
أسيرةَ شوقٍ للنوى تتألَّمُ
it vanished among the hollows, and she turned back,
a captive of yearning, aching at separation,
تَمَلْمَلُwrithes restlessly مِنfrom حَرَّthe heat of الفراقِparting كأنَّهاas though she
تَمَلْمَلُ مِن حَرَّ الفراقِ كأنَّها
سليمٌa snakebite victim سقاهmade him drink السمَّthe venom أربدُa dusky serpent أرقمُspeckled
سليمٌ سقاه السمَّ أربدُ أرقمُ
restless with the heat of parting, as though
snakebitten, given venom by a dusky, speckled serpent—
بأوجعَmore anguished مِنthan قلبٍa heart يُوَزَّعُis torn apart حسرةًwith grief
بأوجعَ مِن قلبٍ يُوَزَّعُ حسرةً
علىfor جيرةٍneighbors بانواdeparted وفكرٍand a mind يُقَسَّمُis divided
على جيرةٍ بانوا وفكرٍ يُقَسَّمُ
is more anguished than a heart torn apart with grief
for departed neighbors, and a mind divided.
Partial English translation: 134 of 140 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1