تَأَبَّدَhas grown desolate مِنamong أَطلالِthe ruined haunts of جَمرَةَJamra مَأسَلِMa'sal
تَأَبَّدَ مِن أَطلالِ جَمرَةَ مَأسَلِ
وَقَدand already أقفَرَتhave become deserted مِنهاof her شَراءٌShara فَيَذبُلand Yadhbul
وَقَد أقفَرَت مِنها شَراءٌ فَيَذبُل
Among Jamra's ruined haunts, Ma'sal has grown desolate,
and Shara and Yadhbul lie empty of her,
فَبُرقَةand the stony tract of أَرمامArmam فَجَنباand both flanks of مُتالِعٍMutali‘
فَبُرقَة أَرمام فَجَنبا مُتالِعٍ
فَواديand the valley of سليلSalil فَالنَدِيُّand al-Nadi فَأَنجَلand Anjal
فَوادي سليل فَالنَدِيُّ فَأَنجَل
and Burqat Armam, and both flanks of Mutali‘,
and the valley of Salil, and al-Nadi, and Anjal.
وَمِنهاand of her بَأَعراضِon the outskirts of المَحاضِرِal-Mahadir دِمنَةa blackened campsite
وَمِنها بَأَعراضِ المَحاضِرِ دِمنَة
وَمِنهاand of her بِواديin the valley of المُسلهمةal-Muslahimma منزِلُa dwelling
وَمِنها بِوادي المُسلهمة منزِلُ
A blackened campsite of hers remains on the outskirts of al-Mahadir,
and a dwelling of hers in the valley of al-Muslahimma.
أَناةَa stately woman عَلَيهاupon her لُؤلُؤٌpearls وَزَبَرجَدٌand chrysolite
أَناةَ عَلَيها لُؤلُؤٌ وَزَبَرجَدٌ
وَنَظمٌand a necklace كَأَجوازِlike the midsections of الجَرادِlocusts مُفَصَّلِdivided into sections
وَنَظمٌ كَأَجوازِ الجَرادِ مُفَصَّلِ
A stately woman, wearing pearls and chrysolite,
and a necklace of separate beads, like locusts' midsections.
يُرَبِّتُهاnurtures her التَرعيبُsliced camel-hump fat وَالمَحضُand pure milk خِلفَةًin alternation
يُرَبِّتُها التَرعيبُ وَالمَحضُ خِلفَةً
وَمَسكٌand musk وَكافورٌand camphor وَلُبنىand storax تَأكُلُshe consumes
وَمَسكٌ وَكافورٌ وَلُبنى تَأكُلُ
Sliced camel-hump fat and pure milk nurture her by turns,
and she consumes musk, camphor, and storax.
يُشَنُّis sprinkled عَلَيهاover her الزَعفَرانُsaffron كَأَنَّهُas though it were
يُشَنُّ عَلَيها الزَعفَرانُ كَأَنَّهُ
دَمٌblood قارِتٌdried and clotted تُعلىshe is coated بِهِwith it ثُمَّthen تُغسَلُshe is washed
دَمٌ قارِتٌ تُعلى بِهِ ثُمَّ تُغسَلُ
Saffron is sprinkled over her, as though it were
clotted blood with which she is coated, then washed.
سَواءٌequal عَلَيهاto her الشَيخُthe old man لَمdid not تَدرِshe know ماwhat الصَباyouthful passion
سَواءٌ عَلَيها الشَيخُ لَم تَدرِ ما الصَبا
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رَأَتهُshe sees him وَالأُلوفُand the devoted lover المُقَتَّلُseasoned
إِذا ما رَأَتهُ وَالأُلوفُ المُقَتَّلُ
The old man—she knows no youthful passion—is the same to her,
when she sees him, as the devoted, seasoned lover.
وَكَمand how many دونَهاbetween us and her مِنof رُكنِa buttress of طَودٍa mountain وَمَهمَهٍand a trackless waste
وَكَم دونَها مِن رُكنِ طَودٍ وَمَهمَهٍ
وَماءand a waterhole عَلىalong أَطرافِهِits edges الذِئبُthe wolf يَعسِلُlopes
وَماء عَلى أَطرافِهِ الذِئبُ يَعسِلُ
How many a mountain buttress and trackless waste lie between us,
and a waterhole along whose edges the wolf lopes!
وَدَسَّتand she secretly sent رَسولاًa messenger مِنfrom بَعيدٍfar away بِآيَةٍwith a sign
وَدَسَّت رَسولاً مِن بَعيدٍ بِآيَةٍ
بِأَنَّsaying that حَيِّهمgreet them وَاِسأَلهُمand ask them ماwhat تَمولواthey have acquired as wealth
بِأَنَّ حَيِّهم وَاِسأَلهُم ما تَمولوا
She secretly sent a messenger from afar with a sign,
saying, 'Greet them, and ask them what wealth they have acquired.'
فَحُيّيتِso greetings to you مِنfrom شَحطٍa great distance فَخَيرُfor the best حَيثِناis where we are
فَحُيّيتِ مِن شَحطٍ فَخَيرُ حَيثِنا
وَلاand not يَأمَنfeels safe from الأَيامُthe days إِلّاexcept مُضَلَّلُone deluded
وَلا يَأمَن الأَيامُ إِلّا مُضَلَّلُ
Greetings to you from afar! Best is where we are;
and only one deluded feels safe from time.
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed أَنكَرتُI failed to recognize نَفسيmyself وَرابَنيand troubled me
لَعَمري لَقَد أَنكَرتُ نَفسي وَرابَني
مَعَalong with الشَيبgray hair أَبداليmy changes الَّتيwhich أَتَبَدَّلُI undergo
مَعَ الشَيب أَبدالي الَّتي أَتَبَدَّلُ
By my life, I have failed to recognize myself, and am troubled
by the changes I undergo along with gray hair:
فُضولٌloose folds أَراهاI see them فيin أَديميَmy skin بَعدَafter ماthat
فُضولٌ أَراها في أَديميَ بَعدَ ما
يَكونُit used to be كِفافَjust enough for اللَحمِthe flesh أَوor هُوَit أَفضَلُmore abundant
يَكونُ كِفافَ اللَحمِ أَو هُوَ أَفضَلُ
loose folds I see in my skin, after it
once fitted the flesh exactly, or the flesh was fuller.
كَأَنَّas though مَحَطّاًa leather-engraving tool فيin يَدَيthe two hands of حارِثِيَّةٍa Harithite woman
كَأَنَّ مَحَطّاً في يَدَي حارِثِيَّةٍ
صَناعٍa skilled craftswoman عَلَتshe worked over مِنّيof mine بِهِwith it الجِلدthe skin مِنfrom عَلُabove
صَناعٍ عَلَت مِنّي بِهِ الجِلد مِن عَلُ
As though a leather-engraving tool in a Harithite woman's hands—
a skilled craftswoman's—had worked my skin from above.
وَقَوليand my saying إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle غابَstrayed يَوماًone day بَعيرُهُمtheir camel
وَقَولي إِذا ما غابَ يَوماً بَعيرُهُم
تُلاقونَهُyou will find it حَتّىuntil يَؤوبَreturns المُنَخَّلُal-Munakhkhal
تُلاقونَهُ حَتّى يَؤوبَ المُنَخَّلُ
And my saying, when their camel strays one day,
'You will find it when al-Munakhkhal returns!'
فَيُضحيyet it turns up قَريباًnearby غَيرَnot ذاهِبِgone غربَةٍabroad
فَيُضحي قَريباً غَيرَ ذاهِبِ غربَةٍ
وَارسِلand I let loose إيمانيmy oaths وَلاand not أَتَحَلَّلُI seek release
وَارسِل إيماني وَلا أَتَحَلَّلُ
Yet it turns up nearby, not gone abroad,
while I let my oaths fly, without seeking release.
وَظَلعيand my limping وَلَمthough not أَكسِرI have broken a bone وَإِنَّand indeed ظَعينَتيmy wife
وَظَلعي وَلَم أَكسِر وَإِنَّ ظَعينَتي
تَلُفُّshe wraps بَنِيهاher sons فيin البَجادِthe striped woolen cloak وَأُعزَلُand I am set apart
تَلُفُّ بَنِيها في البَجادِ وَأُعزَلُ
And my limping, though I have broken no bone; and my wife
wraps her sons in the woolen cloak, while I am set apart.
وَدَهريand my life فَيَكفينيso suffices me القَليلُa little وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
وَدَهري فَيَكفيني القَليلُ وَإِنَّني
أَؤوبُI return إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle أَبتI return لاnot أَتَعلَّلُI linger for diversion
أَؤوبُ إِذا ما أَبت لا أَتَعلَّلُ
And my life now: a little suffices me, and I
come home, when I do, without lingering for diversion.
وَكُنتُand I was صَفِيِّthe chosen companion of النَفسِthe soul لاno شَيءَthing دونَهُpreferred to him
وَكُنتُ صَفِيِّ النَفسِ لا شَيءَ دونَهُ
فَقَدbut now صِرتُI have become مِنfrom أَقصىthe farthest حُبَيبىmy beloved أَذهَلُI am forgotten
فَقَد صِرتُ مِن أَقصى حُبَيبى أَذهَلُ
I was the soul's chosen companion, with nothing preferred to me;
now I am farthest from my beloved, forgotten.
وَبُطئand my slowness عَنin responding to الداعيthe caller فَلَستُfor I am not بِآخِذٍtaking
وَبُطئ عَن الداعي فَلَستُ بِآخِذٍ
إِلَيهِto him سلاحيmy weapons مِثلَas ماwhat كُنتُI used to أَفعَلُdo
إِلَيهِ سلاحي مِثلَ ما كُنتُ أَفعَلُ
And my slowness to answer the caller: I no longer take
my weapons to him as I used to do.
تَدارَكَcame in succession ماwhat بَعدَafter الشَبابyouth وَقَلبُهُand its reversal
تَدارَكَ ما بَعدَ الشَباب وَقَلبُهُ
حَوادِثُthe happenings of أَيّامٍdays تَمُرُّthat pass وَأَغفَلُwhile I am heedless
حَوادِثُ أَيّامٍ تَمُرُّ وَأَغفَلُ
What follows youth and overturns it comes in succession:
the happenings of days that pass while I am heedless.
يَوَدُّhe longs الفَتىthe young man بَعدَafter اِعتِدالٍbodily vigor وَصِحَّةٍand health
يَوَدُّ الفَتى بَعدَ اِعتِدالٍ وَصِحَّةٍ
يَنوءُhe struggles إِذاwhen رامَhe attempts القِيامَto stand وَيُحمَلُand is carried
يَنوءُ إِذا رامَ القِيامَ وَيُحمَلُ
A man still yearns, after vigor and health have passed,
struggling when he tries to rise, and having to be carried.
يَوَدُّhe longs الفَتىthe young man طولَlength of السَلامَةِwell-being وَالغِنىand wealth
يَوَدُّ الفَتى طولَ السَلامَةِ وَالغِنى
فَكَيفَthen how تَرىdo you see طولَlength of السَلامَةِwell-being يَفعَلُit acts
فَكَيفَ تَرى طولَ السَلامَةِ يَفعَلُ
A man longs for long life and wealth;
yet see what long life does!
دَعانيcalled me العَذارىthe maidens عَمَّهُنَّtheir paternal uncle وَخلتنيthough I thought myself
دَعاني العَذارى عَمَّهُنَّ وَخلتني
ليI have اِسمٌa name فَلاyet not أُدعىI am called بِهِby it وَهوَthough it أَولُcame first
لي اِسمٌ فَلا أُدعى بِهِ وَهوَ أَولُ
The maidens called me their uncle, though I thought
I had a name—yet they do not use it, though it came first.
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI used to لاnot تَسريpass beyond سِهاميmy arrows رَمِيَّةًa quarry
وَقَد كُنتُ لا تَسري سِهامي رَمِيَّةً
فَقَدbut now جَعَلتhave begun تَشويto graze superficially سِهاميmy arrows وَتَنصَلُand lose their heads
فَقَد جَعَلت تَشوي سِهامي وَتَنصَلُ
My arrows once never passed their quarry by;
now my arrows merely graze and lose their heads.
رَأَتshe saw أَمناour mother كيصاًa churl يُلَفِّفُwrapping up وَطبَهُhis milk-skin
رَأَت أَمنا كيصاً يُلَفِّفُ وَطبَهُ
إِلىtoward الأُنسِthe people البادينَliving in the open وَهوَwhile he مُزَمَّلُwas muffled up
إِلى الأُنسِ البادينَ وَهوَ مُزَمَّلُ
Our mother saw a churl wrapping up his milk-skin,
heading toward the people living in the open, himself muffled up.
فَلَمّاthen when رَأَتهُshe saw him أُمُّناour mother هانَbecame lighter وَجَدُّهاher distress
فَلَمّا رَأَتهُ أُمُّنا هانَ وَجَدُّها
وَقالَتand she said أَبوناour father هَكَذاlike this سَوفَwill يَفعَلُdo
وَقالَت أَبونا هَكَذا سَوفَ يَفعَلُ
When our mother saw him, her distress eased,
and she said, 'Our father will do just this.'
أَرىI see أُمُّناour mother أَضحَتhas come to be عَلَيناtoward us كَأَنَّماas though
أَرى أُمُّنا أَضحَت عَلَينا كَأَنَّما
تُحَلِّلُهاunstrings her مِنfrom نافِضِa shivering bout of الوَردِrecurrent fever إِفكَلُa tremor
تُحَلِّلُها مِن نافِضِ الوَردِ إِفكَلُ
I see our mother has come to treat us as though
a tremor from a bout of shaking fever were unstringing her.
فَقالَتand she said فُلانٌso-and-so قَدhas indeed أَعاشَkept alive عِيالَهُhis dependents
فَقالَت فُلانٌ قَد أَعاشَ عِيالَهُ
وَأَودىand came to ruin عِيالٌdependents آخَرونَothers فَهُزِّلواand so grew emaciated
وَأَودى عِيالٌ آخَرونَ فَهُزِّلوا
She said, 'So-and-so has kept his dependents alive,
while other households have come to ruin and grown emaciated.
أَلَمwas there not يَكُbe وَلَدانtwo sons أَعانواthey helped وَمَجلِسand a gathering
أَلَم يَكُ وَلَدان أَعانوا وَمَجلِس
قَريبnearby فَنُخزىyet we are shamed إِذwhen يَكُفhe begs وَيُحمَلُand is laden
قَريب فَنُخزى إِذ يَكُف وَيُحمَلُ
Were there not two sons to help, and a gathering
nearby? Yet we are shamed when he begs and is laden.'
لَناwe have فَرَسٌa mare مِنamong صالَحِthe good الخَيلِhorses نَبتَغيwe seek
لَنا فَرَسٌ مِن صالَحِ الخَيلِ نَبتَغي
عَلَيهاupon her عَطاءَthe bounty of اللَهِGod وَاللَهُand God يَنحَلُbestows gifts
عَلَيها عَطاءَ اللَهِ وَاللَهُ يَنحَلُ
We have a mare among the good horses; we seek
upon her God's bounty—and God bestows gifts.
يَرُدُّhe drives back عَلَيهاtoward her العَيرَthe wild ass مِنfrom بَعدِafter إِلفَهِits companion
يَرُدُّ عَلَيها العَيرَ مِن بَعدِ إِلفَهِ
بِقَرقَرَةٍacross a flat plain وَالنَقعُwhile the dust لاdoes not يَتَزَيَّلُdisperse
بِقَرقَرَةٍ وَالنَقعُ لا يَتَزَيَّلُ
He drives the wild ass back toward her, parted from its companion,
across a level plain, while the dust does not disperse.
وَحُمرٌand reddish camels تَراهاyou see them بالفَناءِin the courtyard كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَحُمرٌ تَراها بالفَناءِ كَأَنَّها
ذُراthe crests of كَثَبٍsand dunes قَدalready مَسَّهاhas touched them الطَلُّdew تَهطلُthey drip
ذُرا كَثَبٍ قَد مَسَّها الطَلُّ تَهطلُ
And reddish camels you see in the courtyard, as though they were
dune-crests touched by dew, dripping freely.
عَلَيهاupon them مِنَfrom الدَهناal-Dahna عَتيقٌold fat وَمورَةٌand a layer of fat
عَلَيها مِنَ الدَهنا عَتيقٌ وَمورَةٌ
مِنَfrom الحُزنِal-Huzn كُلاًherbage بِالمَراتِعِin the pastures يَأكُلُit eats
مِنَ الحُزنِ كُلاً بِالمَراتِعِ يَأكُلُ
They bear old fat from al-Dahna, and a layer of fat
from al-Huzn, eating herbage in the grazing grounds.
فَقَدindeed سَمِنَتthey have grown fat حَتّىuntil تَظاهَرَpiled up in layers نَيُّهاtheir fat
فَقَد سَمِنَت حَتّى تَظاهَرَ نَيُّها
فَلَيسَso there is not عَلَيهاupon them لِلروادِفِfor pillion riders محمَلُroom to ride
فَلَيسَ عَلَيها لِلروادِفِ محمَلُ
They have grown so fat that their fat lies in overlapping layers;
there is no room upon them for pillion riders.
إِذاwhen وَرَدَتthey come to water ماءًa watering place وَإِنeven if كانَit is صافِياًclear
إِذا وَرَدَت ماءً وَإِن كانَ صافِياً
حَدتهُthey drive him عَلىto دَلوٍa bucket يُعَلُّit is watered again وَيُنهَلُand given a first drink
حَدتهُ عَلى دَلوٍ يُعَلُّ وَيُنهَلُ
When they come to water, even if it is clear,
they drive him to the bucket, to water them once and again.
فَفيso in جِسمِthe body of راعيهاtheir herdsman هُزالٌemaciation وَشَحبَةand pallor
فَفي جِسمِ راعيها هُزالٌ وَشَحبَة
وَضُرُّand hardship وماyet not مِنfrom قِلَّةِscarcity of اللَحمِmeat يُهزَلُhe grows thin
وَضُرُّ وما مِن قِلَّةِ اللَحمِ يُهزَلُ
Their herdsman's body is thin and pale,
and afflicted—yet he is not thin for lack of meat.
فَلاso not الجارَةُthe neighboring woman الدُنياthe nearest لَهاto them تَلحِيَنَّهاshall she reproach them
فَلا الجارَةُ الدُنيا لَها تَلحِيَنَّها
وَلاnor الضَيفُthe guest فيهاamong them أَنif أَناخَhe kneels his camel محولُturned away
وَلا الضَيفُ فيها أَن أَناخَ محولُ
No woman living nearest them shall reproach them,
nor shall a guest who kneels his camel there be turned away.
إِذاwhen هَتَكتthey tear through أَطنابthe tent-ropes of بَيتٍa dwelling وَأَهلِهِwhile its people
إِذا هَتَكت أَطناب بَيتٍ وَأَهلِهِ
بِمَعطَنِهاat their kneeling-ground لَمdid not يورِدواgo to water الماءَthe water قَيَّلواthey rested at noon
بِمَعطَنِها لَم يورِدوا الماءَ قَيَّلوا
When they burst through a household's tent-ropes, its people
rest at noon by their kneeling-ground, without going to water.
عَلَيهِنَّupon them يَومَon the day of الوَردِwatering حَقٌّan obligation وَذِمَّةand a pledge
عَلَيهِنَّ يَومَ الوَردِ حَقٌّ وَذِمَّة
وَهُنَّand they غَداةَon the morning of الغِبِّthe interval between waterings عِندَكَwith you حُفَّلُfull-uddered
وَهُنَّ غَداةَ الغِبِّ عِندَكَ حُفَّلُ
On watering-day they bear an obligation and a pledge,
and the morning between waterings finds them beside you, full-uddered.
وَأَقمَعناand we fitted with funnels فيهاamong them الوِطابَthe milk-skins وَحَولَناwhile around us
وَأَقمَعنا فيها الوِطابَ وَحَولَنا
بُيوتٌtents عَلَيهاtoward them كُلُّهاall of them فوهٌa mouth مُقبلِturned toward them
بُيوتٌ عَلَيها كُلُّها فوهٌ مُقبلِ
We fit the milk-skins with funnels among them, while around us
stand tents, each with a mouth turned toward them.
فَإِنthen if تُصدريyou depart يَحلُبنَthey milk دونَكِwithout you حَلبَةًa round of milking
فَإِن تُصدري يَحلُبنَ دونَكِ حَلبَةً
وَإِنand if تَحضُريyou are present يَلبثwaits عَلَيكِfor you المَعجَلِthe hasty one
وَإِن تَحضُري يَلبث عَلَيكِ المَعجَلِ
If you leave, they milk a round in your absence;
and if you are present, the hasty one waits for you.
Sol 6.1