صَرَمتكَshe broke with you رَيطَةُRayta بَعدَafter طولِlong وِصالِunion
صَرَمتكَ رَيطَةُ بَعدَ طولِ وِصالِ
وَنأتكَand withdrew from you بعدَafter تَقَتُّلٍaffected languor وَدَلالِand coquetry
وَنأتكَ بعدَ تَقَتُّلٍ وَدَلالِ
Rayta broke with you after a long union,
and withdrew from you after coy languor and coquetry.
عَلِقَclung الفُؤادُthe heart بِذكرِto remembrance of رَيطَةَRayta إِنَّهُindeed it is
عَلِقَ الفُؤادُ بِذكرِ رَيطَةَ إِنَّهُ
شُغُلٌa preoccupation أُتيحَwas allotted لَناto us مِنamong الأَشغالِpreoccupations
شُغُلٌ أُتيحَ لَنا مِن الأَشغالِ
The heart clings to the memory of Rayta; indeed, it is
one of the cares allotted to us.
أسَديَّةٌa woman of Asad قذفَتcast away بِهاher عَنكَaway from you النَّوىseparation
أسَديَّةٌ قذفَت بِها عَنكَ النَّوى
إِنَّindeed النَّوىseparation ضَرّارةٌruinous لِرجالِto men
إِنَّ النَّوى ضَرّارةٌ لِرجالِ
A woman of Asad: separation flung her away from you;
separation is ruinous to men.
بَلrather حالَstood دونَin the way of وِصالِهاunion with her بَعضُsome الهَوىpassion
بَل حالَ دونَ وِصالِها بَعضُ الهَوى
وَتَبدَّلَتand she took in exchange بدَلاًa substitute مِنamong الأَبدالِsubstitutes
وَتَبدَّلَت بدَلاً مِن الأَبدالِ
Rather, some passion stood in the way of union with her,
and she took another from among the substitutes.
إِنَّindeed الغَوانيbeautiful women لاnot يَدُمنَremain constant وَإِنَّماand only
إِنَّ الغَواني لا يَدُمنَ وَإِنَّما
موعودُهُنَّtheir promises وَهُنَّand they themselves فيءُshifting shade ظِلالِshadows
موعودُهُنَّ وَهُنَّ فيءُ ظِلالِ
Beautiful women are never constant, and indeed
their promises—and they themselves—are shifting shade.
حاشىexcept حَبيبَةَHabiba إِنَّماtruly هيَshe جَنَّةٌa paradise
حاشى حَبيبَةَ إِنَّما هيَ جَنَّةٌ
لَوif أَنَّهاshe جادَتbestowed generously لَناon us بِنوالِfavors
لَو أَنَّها جادَت لَنا بِنوالِ
Except Habiba: she is truly a paradise,
if only she would generously grant us her favors.
خَلطَتshe mingled مَلاحَتَهاher beauty بِحُسنِwith the charm of تَقتُّلaffected languor
خَلطَت مَلاحَتَها بِحُسنِ تَقتُّل
وَفخامَةٍand stateliness لِلمُجتَليto the beholder وَجَلالِand majesty
وَفخامَةٍ لِلمُجتَلي وَجَلالِ
She mingled her beauty with charming, affected languor,
with stateliness in the beholder's eyes, and majesty.
صَفراءُgolden-skinned رادِعَةٌsaffron-scented تُصافيgives sincere affection to ذاone possessing الحِجىwisdom
صَفراءُ رادِعَةٌ تُصافي ذا الحِجى
وَتَعافُand shuns كُلَّevery مُمَزَّحٍbuffoon بَطّالِidler
وَتَعافُ كُلَّ مُمَزَّحٍ بَطّالِ
Golden-skinned and saffron-scented, she gives true affection to the wise,
and shuns every idle buffoon.
زعمَclaimed المُحَدِّثُthe teller أَنَّهاthat she هيَshe صَعدَةٌa spear-shaft
زعمَ المُحَدِّثُ أَنَّها هيَ صَعدَةٌ
عَجزاءُbroad-hipped خَدلَةُfull-fleshed موضعِat the place of الخَلخالِthe anklet
عَجزاءُ خَدلَةُ موضعِ الخَلخالِ
The teller claimed that she was a spear-shaft,
broad-hipped, full-fleshed where the anklet rests.
خَودٌa young beauty إِذاwhen اِغتَسلَتshe bathes رأَيتَyou see وِشاحَهاher sash
خَودٌ إِذا اِغتَسلَت رأَيتَ وِشاحَها
فَوقَabove البَريمِthe braided girdle يَجولُmoves كُلَّevery مَجالِdirection
فَوقَ البَريمِ يَجولُ كُلَّ مَجالِ
A young beauty: when she bathes, you see her sash
moving every which way above her braided girdle.
لاnot تَبتَغيshe seeks مِقَةًaffection إِذاwhen اِستَنطَقتَهاyou draw her into speech
لا تَبتَغي مِقَةً إِذا اِستَنطَقتَها
إِلاexcept بِصِدقِthrough truthfulness of مَقالَةٍspeech وَفَعالِand deeds
إِلا بِصِدقِ مَقالَةٍ وَفَعالِ
When you draw her into speech, she seeks affection
only through truthful words and deeds.
ليستshe is not بآفِكَةٍdeceitful يَظَلُّremains عَشيرُهاher husband
ليست بآفِكَةٍ يَظَلُّ عَشيرُها
مِنهاbecause of her وَجارُand the neighbor of الحَيِّthe tribe فيin بَلبالِturmoil
مِنها وَجارُ الحَيِّ في بَلبالِ
She is no deceiver who keeps her husband
and the neighbor of the tribe in turmoil over her.
أَبلِغtell حَبيبَةَHabiba أَنَّنيthat I مُهدٍoffering لَهاto her
أَبلِغ حَبيبَةَ أَنَّني مُهدٍ لَها
وُدّيmy affection وَإِنeven if صَرَمَتshe severed جَديدَnew حِباليmy cords
وُدّي وَإِن صَرَمَت جَديدَ حِبالي
Tell Habiba that I offer her
my affection, even if she cuts my newly woven bonds.
إِنّيindeed I امرؤٌa man لَيسَis not الخَناobscenity مِنof شِيمَتيmy character
إِنّي امرؤٌ لَيسَ الخَنا مِن شِيمَتي
وَإِذاand when نَطقتُI speak نَطقتُI speak غَيرَnot عيالِtongue-tied
وَإِذا نَطقتُ نَطقتُ غَيرَ عيالِ
I am a man whose character admits no obscenity,
and when I speak, I speak without faltering.
نَزلتsettled حَبيبَةُHabiba مِنwithin فُؤاديmy heart شُعبَةًa recess
نَزلت حَبيبَةُ مِن فُؤادي شُعبَةً
كانَتwas حِمىًa protected preserve وَحشاًdeserted مِنof النُّزَّالِlodgers
كانَت حِمىً وَحشاً مِن النُّزَّالِ
Habiba settled in a recess of my heart
that had been a protected preserve, empty of lodgers.
وَوَفَتand kept faith حَبيبَةُHabiba بالَّذيwith what اِستَودَعتُهاI entrusted to her
وَوَفَت حَبيبَةُ بالَّذي اِستَودَعتُها
وَركائِبيand my riding camels مشدودَةٌfastened برحاليwith my saddles
وَركائِبي مشدودَةٌ برحالي
Habiba kept faith with what I entrusted to her,
while my riding camels were strapped with my saddles.
لاdo not تَطنُزيmock بيme ياO حَبيبُHabib فَإِنَّنيfor indeed I
لا تَطنُزي بي يا حَبيبُ فَإِنَّني
عَجِلٌswift لِمَنfor whoever يَهوىdesires الفِراقَseparation زَواليmy departure
عَجِلٌ لِمَن يَهوى الفِراقَ زَوالي
Do not mock me, Habib, for
my departure is swift from anyone who desires separation.
كَمhow many مِنof خَليلٍa friend قَدindeed رَفَضتُI abandoned فَلَمso did not يَجِدhe find
كَم مِن خَليلٍ قَد رَفَضتُ فَلَم يَجِد
بَعديafter me لموضِعfor the keeping of سِرِّهِhis secret أَمثاليmy equals
بَعدي لموضِع سِرِّهِ أَمثالي
How many a friend have I abandoned, who then found
no equal to me for keeping his secrets!
أَبدىhe displayed القَطيعَةَestrangement ثُمَّthen راجَعregained حِلمَهُhis good sense
أَبدى القَطيعَةَ ثُمَّ راجَع حِلمَهُ
بَعدَafter استِماعِhearing مقالَةِthe speech of الجُهّالِfools
بَعدَ استِماعِ مقالَةِ الجُهّالِ
He declared estrangement, then regained his good sense
after listening to the words of fools.
إِنّيindeed I امرؤٌa man أَصِلُkeep faith with الخَليلَthe friend وَإِنeven if نأىhe grows distant
إِنّي امرؤٌ أَصِلُ الخَليلَ وَإِن نأى
وَأَذُبُّand I defend عَنهُon his behalf بِحيلَةِwith the resourcefulness of المُحتالِthe resourceful
وَأَذُبُّ عَنهُ بِحيلَةِ المُحتالِ
I am a man who keeps faith with his friend, even if he grows distant,
and defends him with a resourceful man's ingenuity.
مَنwhoever يُبلِنيfavors me بالوُدِّwith affection يَوماًone day أجزِهِI repay him
مَن يُبلِني بالوُدِّ يَوماً أجزِهِ
بِالقَرضِin repayment مِثلَthe like of مثالِهhis deed بِمِثاليwith my own
بِالقَرضِ مِثلَ مثالِه بِمِثالي
Whoever favors me with affection one day, I repay
in kind, matching his deed with mine.
فَصِليso keep faith حَبيبَتَناour Habiba وَإِلاand if not فاِصرميthen break off
فَصِلي حَبيبَتَنا وَإِلا فاِصرمي
أَعرِفI shall know وَتَقصُرُand grows shorter خُطوَتيmy step وَسُؤاليand my entreaty
أَعرِف وَتَقصُرُ خُطوَتي وَسُؤالي
So keep faith, our Habiba; otherwise break it off:
I shall know, and my steps and entreaties will grow fewer.
واعصيand disobey الوُشاةَthe slanderers فَقَدfor indeed عَصَيتُI disobeyed أَقارِبيmy kinsmen
واعصي الوُشاةَ فَقَد عَصَيتُ أَقارِبي
وَوَصَلتُand maintained حَبلَكِyour cord واِرعوىand desisted عُذّاليmy reproachers
وَوَصَلتُ حَبلَكِ واِرعوى عُذّالي
Disobey the slanderers, for I have disobeyed my kinsmen,
maintained your bond, and made my reproachers desist.
مَنwhoever تُكرميyou honor أُكرِمI honor ومنand whoever يَكُis كاشِحاًan enemy
مَن تُكرمي أُكرِم ومن يَكُ كاشِحاً
يَعلَمknows وَراءَكِbehind you بالمَغيبِin your absence نِضاليmy defense
يَعلَم وَراءَكِ بالمَغيبِ نِضالي
Whoever you honor, I honor; whoever is an enemy
will know how I defend you, even behind your back and in your absence.
بَلrather كَيفَhow أَهجُركمcould I forsake you وَلَمwhen not تَرَhave seen مِثلَكُمyour like
بَل كَيفَ أَهجُركم وَلَم تَرَ مِثلَكُم
عَينَيَّmy two eyes فيin حَرَمٍsacred territory وَلاnor إِحلالِprofane territory
عَينَيَّ في حَرَمٍ وَلا إِحلالِ
But how could I forsake you, when your like has never been seen
by my two eyes, within the sanctuary or outside it?
أَنتِyou المُنىmy desires وَحَديثُand the talk of نَفسيmy soul خالياًalone
أَنتِ المُنى وَحَديثُ نَفسي خالياً
أَهليmy family فِداؤُكِyour ransom ياO حَبيبُHabib وَماليand my wealth
أَهلي فِداؤُكِ يا حَبيبُ وَمالي
You are my desires, and my inward conversation when alone;
my family and wealth be your ransom, Habib!
هَلare أَنتِyou إِلّاanything but ظَبيَةٌa gazelle بخَميلةٍin a thicket
هَل أَنتِ إِلّا ظَبيَةٌ بخَميلةٍ
أَدماءُwhite-coated تَثنيbends جيدَهاher neck لِغَزالِtoward a fawn
أَدماءُ تَثني جيدَها لِغَزالِ
Are you anything but a gazelle in a thicket,
white-coated, bending her neck toward a fawn?
تُسبيcaptivates الرِّجالَmen بِذيwith one possessing غُروبٍsharp tooth-edges بارِدٍcool
تُسبي الرِّجالَ بِذي غُروبٍ بارِدٍ
عَذبٍsweet إِذاwhen شرعَdrinks الضَّجيعُthe bedfellow زُلالِpure
عَذبٍ إِذا شرعَ الضَّجيعُ زُلالِ
You captivate men with a cool mouth of sharp-edged teeth,
sweet and pure when your bedfellow comes to drink,
كالأُقحُوانِlike daisies يَرِفُّgleams عَنafter غِبِّthe passing of النَّدىdew
كالأُقحُوانِ يَرِفُّ عَن غِبِّ النَّدى
فيon السَّهلِthe plain بَينَamong دَكادِكٍlow mounds وَرِمالِand sands
في السَّهلِ بَينَ دَكادِكٍ وَرِمالِ
like daisies gleaming after a fall of dew
on the plain, among low mounds and sands.
وَإِذاand when خَلوتَyou are alone بِهاwith her خلوتَyou are alone بِحُرَّةٍwith a noblewoman
وَإِذا خَلوتَ بِها خلوتَ بِحُرَّةٍ
رَيّاwell-fleshed العِظامِabout the bones دَميثَةٍsupple مِكسالِlanguid
رَيّا العِظامِ دَميثَةٍ مِكسالِ
When you are alone with her, you are alone with a noblewoman,
well-fleshed about the bones, supple and languid.
نِعمَexcellent is الضَجيعُthe bedfellow إِذاwhen النُّجومُthe stars تغوَّرَتsink
نِعمَ الضَجيعُ إِذا النُّجومُ تغوَّرَت
فيon كُلِّevery لَيلَةِnight of قرَّةٍcold وَشمالِand north wind
في كُلِّ لَيلَةِ قرَّةٍ وَشمالِ
An excellent bedfellow when the stars sink,
on every night of cold and north wind.
تُصبيenthralls الحَليمَthe sober man بعينِwith the eye of أَحوَرdark-eyed شادِنٍa young gazelle
تُصبي الحَليمَ بعينِ أَحوَر شادِنٍ
تَقروroams دوافِعَthe watercourses of رَوضَةٍa meadow مِحلالِfit for settling
تَقرو دوافِعَ رَوضَةٍ مِحلالِ
She enthralls the sober man with a dark-eyed young gazelle's eye,
roaming the watercourses of a welcoming meadow,
وَبواضِحِand with a bright الذِّفرىnape behind the ear أَسيلٍsmooth خَدُّهُhis cheek
وَبواضِحِ الذِّفرى أَسيلٍ خَدُّهُ
صَلتِbroad الجَبينِof forehead وفاحمٍand jet-black hair مَيّالِswaying
صَلتِ الجَبينِ وفاحمٍ مَيّالِ
and with a bright nape and a smoothly tapering cheek,
a broad forehead, and swaying jet-black hair,
وَبِمعصَمٍand with a wrist عَبلٍfull وَكفّand a hand طَفلَةٍtender
وَبِمعصَمٍ عَبلٍ وَكفّ طَفلَةٍ
وَروادفٍand hips تَحتَbeneath النِّطاقِthe girdle ثِقالِheavy
وَروادفٍ تَحتَ النِّطاقِ ثِقالِ
and with a full wrist and a tender hand,
and heavy hips beneath her girdle.
أَسَدِيَّةٌa woman of Asad يَسموexalt بِهاher آباؤُهاher fathers
أَسَدِيَّةٌ يَسمو بِها آباؤُها
فيon كُلِّevery يَومِday of تَفاخُرٍboasting وَنِضالِand contest
في كُلِّ يَومِ تَفاخُرٍ وَنِضالِ
A woman of Asad, exalted by her fathers
on every day of boasting and contest,
بَينَbetween القصيرَةِthe short وَالطويلَةِand the tall بَرزَةٌdignified
بَينَ القصيرَةِ وَالطويلَةِ بَرزَةٌ
لَيسَتshe is not بِفاحشَةٍcoarse وَلاnor مِتفالِunperfumed
لَيسَت بِفاحشَةٍ وَلا مِتفالِ
neither short nor tall, a dignified woman,
neither coarse nor neglectful of perfume.
كالشمسِlike the sun أَوor هِيshe أَسوىfairer إِذwhen بَدَتappeared
كالشمسِ أَو هِي أَسوى إِذ بَدَت
فيin الصَّحوِclear skies غِبّafter دُجُنَّةٍgloom وَحِلالِand rainclouds
في الصَّحوِ غِبّ دُجُنَّةٍ وَحِلالِ
Like the sun—or fairer still—when she appears
in clear skies after gloom and rainclouds.
إِنif تُعرِضِيyou turn away عَنّاfrom us حَبيبُHabib وَتَبتَغيand seek
إِن تُعرِضِي عَنّا حَبيبُ وَتَبتَغي
بَدلاًa replacement فَلَستُthen I am not لَكُمtoward you حَبيبُHabib بقاليhateful
بَدلاً فَلَستُ لَكُم حَبيبُ بقالي
If you turn away from us, Habib, and seek
another, I bear you no hatred, Habib.
هَلquestion marker كانَwas ودُّكِyour love غَيرَother than آلٍa mirage لامِعٍgleaming
هَل كانَ ودُّكِ غَيرَ آلٍ لامِعٍ
يَغشىcovers الصُّوىthe waymarks وَيَزولُand vanishes كُلَّevery مَزالِplace of vanishing
يَغشى الصُّوى وَيَزولُ كُلَّ مَزالِ
Was your love anything but a gleaming mirage
that covers the waymarks and fades wherever it shifts?
قَدindeed كانَwas فيin حِجَجٍyears مضينَpassed لِعاشِقٍfor a lover
قَد كانَ في حِجَجٍ مضينَ لِعاشِقٍ
طَلَبٌpursuit لِغانيَةٍof a beautiful woman وَطولُand long مِطالِdelay
طَلَبٌ لِغانيَةٍ وَطولُ مِطالِ
In years gone by, a lover had
a beauty to pursue, and long delays to endure.
أَسَئِمتِhave you wearied of وَصليmy closeness أَمor نَسيتِforgotten مَودَّتيmy affection
أَسَئِمتِ وَصلي أَم نَسيتِ مَودَّتي
إِيّاكِfor you فيin حِجَجٍyears مضينَpassed خَوالِbygone
إِيّاكِ في حِجَجٍ مضينَ خَوالِ
Have you wearied of my closeness, or forgotten my affection
for you through the vanished years gone by?
إِلاif not يَكُنis وُدّيmy love يُغيِّرهُchanges it البِلىdecay
إِلا يَكُن وُدّي يُغيِّرهُ البِلى
وَالنأيُand distance عَنكِfrom you فَإِنَّthen indeed وُدَّكِyour love باليworn out
وَالنأيُ عَنكِ فَإِنَّ وُدَّكِ بالي
If my love is not changed by time's decay
or distance from you, your love is indeed worn away.
مَنَّيتِنيyou filled me with hope أُمنيَّةًa hope فَتَرَكتُهاthen I abandoned it
مَنَّيتِني أُمنيَّةً فَتَرَكتُها
وَرَكبتِand you took حالاًa course فاِنصرفتُso I turned لِحاليto my own course
وَرَكبتِ حالاً فاِنصرفتُ لِحالي
You filled me with a hope, then I abandoned it;
you took one course, so I turned to my own.
ياO صاحِبَيَّmy two companions قِفاhalt, both of you عَلىat الأَطلالِthe ruins
يا صاحِبَيَّ قِفا عَلى الأَطلالِ
أَسَلِlet me question الديارَthe dwellings وَلاand do not تَرُدُّanswer سُؤاليmy question
أَسَلِ الديارَ وَلا تَرُدُّ سُؤالي
My two companions, halt at the ruins:
let me question the dwellings, though they do not answer my question
عَنabout أَهلِهاtheir people إِنّيindeed I أَراهاsee them بُدِّلَتwere given substitutes
عَن أَهلِها إِنّي أَراها بُدِّلَت
بقَرَwild cattle الصَّريمَةِof the thicket بَعدَafter حَيّa tribe حلالِcamped
بقَرَ الصَّريمَةِ بَعدَ حَيّ حلالِ
about their people; I see them now given over
to the thicket's wild cattle, after a tribe once camped there.
قَدonce كُنتُI was أَحسِبُthinking أَنَّنيthat I فيماin what مَضىpassed
قَد كُنتُ أَحسِبُ أَنَّني فيما مَضى
مَنone who يَسلُforgets أَوor يَصبِرendures فَلَستُbut I am not بِساليone who forgets
مَن يَسلُ أَو يَصبِر فَلَستُ بِسالي
I once thought, in days gone by, that I was
one who could forget or endure; yet I cannot forget.
تَمشيwalk الرئالُostrich chicks بِهاthere خَلاءemptiness حولَهاaround it
تَمشي الرئالُ بِها خَلاء حولَها
وَلَقَدand indeed أراهاI saw it غَيرَnot ذاتِpossessing رِئالِostrich chicks
وَلَقَد أراها غَيرَ ذاتِ رِئالِ
Ostrich chicks walk there, with emptiness all around,
though I once saw it without ostrich chicks.
فَسَقىso may be watered مساكِنَthe homes of أَهلِهاtheir people حَيثُwherever اِنتوَتthey settled
فَسَقى مساكِنَ أَهلِها حَيثُ اِنتوَت
صَوبُthe downpour of الغَمامِclouds بواكِفٍwith dripping rain هَطّالِtorrential
صَوبُ الغَمامِ بواكِفٍ هَطّالِ
May the homes of her people, wherever they settled, be watered
by the clouds' downpour, dripping and torrential.
رَدَّbrought back الخَليطُthe company جِمالَهمtheir camels فَتَحَمَّلواthen they loaded up
رَدَّ الخَليطُ جِمالَهم فَتَحَمَّلوا
لِلبَينِfor departure بَعدَafter الفَجرِdawn والآصالِand late afternoons
لِلبَينِ بَعدَ الفَجرِ والآصالِ
The company brought back their camels, then loaded up
for departure after dawn and late afternoon.
وَحَداand drove with song ظعائِنَهمtheir camel-borne women أَجَشُّa harsh-voiced man مشَمِّرٌenergetic
وَحَدا ظعائِنَهم أَجَشُّ مشَمِّرٌ
ذوpossessing نيقَةٍcareful skill فيin السيرِtravel وَالتَّنزالِand making camp
ذو نيقَةٍ في السيرِ وَالتَّنزالِ
A harsh-voiced, energetic driver sang their camel-borne women onward,
skilled and careful in travel and making camp.
رَفَعواthey raised الخُدورَthe curtained howdahs عَلىonto نَجايبَchoice camels جِلَّةٍmighty
رَفَعوا الخُدورَ عَلى نَجايبَ جِلَّةٍ
مِنamong كُلِّevery أَغلبَthick-necked بازِلٍfull-grown camel ذَيّالِlong-tailed
مِن كُلِّ أَغلبَ بازِلٍ ذَيّالِ
They raised the curtained howdahs onto choice, mighty camels,
each thick-necked, full-grown, and long-tailed,
مُتَدافِعٍpressing forward بالحملِwith its load غَيرَnot مواكِلٍreliant on others
مُتَدافِعٍ بالحملِ غَيرَ مواكِلٍ
شَهمٍspirited إِذاwhen اِستَعجلتهyou urge it on شِملالِfleet
شَهمٍ إِذا اِستَعجلته شِملالِ
pressing onward with its load, not relying on the others,
spirited and fleet when you urge it on,
يَرميcasts بِعَينيهِwith its two eyes الغُيوبَunseen distances مُفَتَّلٍsinewy
يَرمي بِعَينيهِ الغُيوبَ مُفَتَّلٍ
رَحبِbroad الفُروجِbetween the limbs عُذافِرٍmassive مِرقالِswift-trotting
رَحبِ الفُروجِ عُذافِرٍ مِرقالِ
casting its eyes toward unseen distances, sinewy,
wide-striding, massive, swift-trotting.
طَرَقَتvisited at night حَبيبَةُHabiba وَهيَwhile she فيهمwas among them موهنِاًlate at night
طَرَقَت حَبيبَةُ وَهيَ فيهم موهنِاً
إِنَّindeed المُحِبَّthe lover مُخالِطُencounters الأَهوالِterrors
إِنَّ المُحِبَّ مُخالِطُ الأَهوالِ
Habiba visited late at night, though she was among them;
the lover encounters terrors.
فاِشتَقتُso I yearned وَالرجلُand the man المُحِبُّin love مُشَوَّقٌfilled with yearning
فاِشتَقتُ وَالرجلُ المُحِبُّ مُشَوَّقٌ
وَجَرىand flowed دُموعُtears of العَينِthe eye فيinto السِّربالِthe garment
وَجَرى دُموعُ العَينِ في السِّربالِ
I yearned—and a man in love is filled with yearning—
and tears from my eyes flowed into my garment.
لَمnot تَسرِtraveled by night لَيلَتهاher night حَبيبَةُHabiba إِذwhen سَرَتshe traveled by night
لَم تَسرِ لَيلَتها حَبيبَةُ إِذ سَرَت
إِلاexcept لتَشغَفَناto pierce our hearts بطَيفِwith a passing خَيالِapparition
إِلا لتَشغَفَنا بطَيفِ خَيالِ
When Habiba traveled that night, she traveled
only to pierce our hearts with a passing apparition.
أَنّىhow اِهتَديتِdid you find the way لفتيَةٍto young men غِبَّafter السُّرىnight travel
أَنّى اِهتَديتِ لفتيَةٍ غِبَّ السُّرى
قَدindeed خَفَّgrew weak حِلمُهُمtheir composure مَعَwith الإِرمالِlack of provisions
قَد خَفَّ حِلمُهُم مَعَ الإِرمالِ
How did you find your way to young men after their night journey,
whose composure had weakened with dwindling provisions,
متوسِّديpillowing themselves on أَيديthe forelegs of نَواعِجَswift she-camels ضُمَّرٍlean
متوسِّدي أَيدي نَواعِجَ ضُمَّرٍ
مُتَضَمِّناتِbearing سآمةٍweariness وَكَلالِand exhaustion
مُتَضَمِّناتِ سآمةٍ وَكَلالِ
pillowing themselves on the forelegs of lean, swift she-camels,
laden with weariness and exhaustion?
وَضعواlaid down رِحالَهُمtheir saddles بخَرقٍin a wilderness مجهَلٍunknown
وَضعوا رِحالَهُم بخَرقٍ مجهَلٍ
قَمنٍfit مطالِعُهُits approaches مِنfor الإِيغالِventuring deep within
قَمنٍ مطالِعُهُ مِن الإِيغالِ
They laid their saddles in an unknown wilderness,
whose approaches are fit for venturing deep within.
تَرميbuffets خيامَهُمtheir tents شَمالٌa north wind زَعزَعٌraging
تَرمي خيامَهُم شَمالٌ زَعزَعٌ
وَتَطيرُand flies بَينَamong سَوافِلٍlower parts وَعَوالِand upper parts
وَتَطيرُ بَينَ سَوافِلٍ وَعَوالِ
A raging north wind buffets their tents
and swirls among lower parts and upper
مِنof كُلِّevery ممهولِbroad اللبانِin the chest مقَلِّصٍlong-legged
مِن كُلِّ ممهولِ اللبانِ مقَلِّصٍ
ذيhaving رونَقٍsheen يَعلوtowers over القيادَthe lead rope طِوالِtall
ذي رونَقٍ يَعلو القيادَ طِوالِ
of every broad-chested, long-legged horse,
shining and tall, towering above the lead rope,
يَرقىrises وَيَطعَنُand thrusts فيagainst العِنانِthe rein إِذاwhen اِنتَهىceases
يَرقى وَيَطعَنُ في العِنانِ إِذا اِنتَهى
منهfrom it الحَميمُsweat وَهَمَّand intends بالإِسهالِto reach level ground
منه الحَميمُ وَهَمَّ بالإِسهالِ
rearing and thrusting against the rein when
its sweat has ceased and it would reach level ground.
لأياًwith difficulty بلأيٍafter difficulty ماscarcely ينالُreaches غُلامُناour groom
لأياً بلأيٍ ما ينالُ غُلامُنا
مِنهُon it مَكانَthe place of مُعَذَّرٍthe cheekstrap وَقَذالِand the nape
مِنهُ مَكانَ مُعَذَّرٍ وَقَذالِ
Only with difficulty upon difficulty does our groom reach
the place of its cheekstrap and the back of its head.
فيamong ضُمَّرٍlean horses لَمnot يُبقِhas left طولُthe length of قيادِناour leading
في ضُمَّرٍ لَم يُبقِ طولُ قيادِنا
مِنهنّof them غَيرَother than جَناجِنٍbreastbones ومحالِand vertebrae
مِنهنّ غَيرَ جَناجِنٍ ومحالِ
Among lean horses, our long leading has left
nothing of them but breastbones and vertebrae.
يَردينَgallop فيin غَلَسِthe gloom of الظَلامِdarkness عَوابِساًscowling
يَردينَ في غَلَسِ الظَلامِ عَوابِساً
صُعرَturned aside الخُدودِat the cheeks تَكَدُّسَbounding like الأَوعالِibex
صُعرَ الخُدودِ تَكَدُّسَ الأَوعالِ
They gallop in the predawn darkness, grim-faced,
their cheeks turned aside, bounding like ibex.
وَيُرينَand appear مِنthrough خَلَلِgaps in الغُبارِthe dust إِذاwhen دَعاcalls
وَيُرينَ مِن خَلَلِ الغُبارِ إِذا دَعا
داعيthe caller of الصَباحِdawn كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they مَغاليarrows
داعي الصَباحِ كَأَنَّهُنَّ مَغالي
They appear through gaps in the dust when
the caller of dawn calls, as though they were arrows.
وَالمَشرَفيَّةُand the Mashrafi swords كُلُّevery أَبيَضَbright blade باتِرٍcleaving
وَالمَشرَفيَّةُ كُلُّ أَبيَضَ باتِرٍ
مِنهاamong them وآخَرُand another مُخلَصٍpurified بِصِقالِby polishing
مِنها وآخَرُ مُخلَصٍ بِصِقالِ
And the Mashrafi swords—every bright, cleaving blade
among them, and another burnished clean by polishing—
إِذwhen لاnot تَرىyou see إِلاexcept كَميّاًan armored warrior مُسنَداًpropped up
إِذ لا تَرى إِلا كَميّاً مُسنَداً
تَحتَbeneath العجاجِthe dust cloud مُلَحَّبِhacked apart الأَوصالِat the joints
تَحتَ العجاجِ مُلَحَّبِ الأَوصالِ
when you see only an armored warrior propped up
beneath the dust, his limbs hacked apart.
وَالخَيلُand the horses عَقرىhamstrung بَينَamid ذاكَthat كَأَنَّماas though
وَالخَيلُ عَقرى بَينَ ذاكَ كَأَنَّما
بِنُحورِهاon their throats نَضحٌsplashes مِنof الجِريالِcrimson dye
بِنُحورِها نَضحٌ مِن الجِريالِ
The horses lie hamstrung amid all this, as though
their throats were splashed with crimson dye.
لِلطَّيرِfor birds مِنهاfrom them وَالسِّباعِand beasts of prey ذَخيرَةٌa store
لِلطَّيرِ مِنها وَالسِّباعِ ذَخيرَةٌ
فيin كُلِّevery مُعتَركٍbattlefield لَهاof theirs وَمَجالِand arena
في كُلِّ مُعتَركٍ لَها وَمَجالِ
From them, birds and beasts of prey have a store of food
in every battlefield and arena of theirs.
تُدنيbring near رِجالاًmen مِنto مَواطِنَplaces عِندَهاwhere there is
تُدني رِجالاً مِن مَواطِنَ عِندَها
أَجرٌreward وَمُنقَطِعٌand an ending مِنof الآجالِlifespans
أَجرٌ وَمُنقَطِعٌ مِن الآجالِ
They bring men close to places where there is
reward, and where lifespans reach their end.
Sol 6.1