هَمَمتَyou resolved الغَداةَthis morning هِمَّةًa resolve أَنto تُراجِعاyou return
هَمَمتَ الغَداةَ هِمَّةً أَن تُراجِعا
صِباكَyour youthful passion وَقَدand already أَمسىhas become بِكَupon you الشَيبُgray hair شائِعاwidespread
صِباكَ وَقَد أَمسى بِكَ الشَيبُ شائِعا
This morning you formed the resolve to return
One morning you were determined to reminisce
To your youthful passion, though gray hair has spread over you.
About your youth, while grey hairs had become commonplace
وَشاقَتكَand stirred your longing بِالعَبسَينِat al-ʿAbsayn دارٌa dwelling تَنَكَّرَتhad grown unrecognizable
وَشاقَتكَ بِالعَبسَينِ دارٌ تَنَكَّرَت
مَعارِفُهاits familiar landmarks إِلّاexcept البِلادَthe lands البَلاقِعاbarren and empty
مَعارِفُها إِلّا البِلادَ البَلاقِعا
And a dwelling at al-ʿAbsayn stirred your longing; unrecognizable were
An abode once familiar now seemed strange
Its familiar landmarks, save for the barren wastes.
With only distant lands still known to you
بِمَيثاءَon soft sandy ground سالَتflowed down مِنfrom عَسيبٍʿAsīb فَخالَطَتthen mingled
بِمَيثاءَ سالَت مِن عَسيبٍ فَخالَطَت
بِبَطنِin the valley bottom of الرِكاءِal-Rikāʾ بُرقَةًa stony patch وَأَجارِعاand sandy flats
بِبَطنِ الرِكاءِ بُرقَةً وَأَجارِعا
On soft sandy ground that ran down from ʿAsīb, then mingled
At Maytha waters flowed from a spring and mingled
In the valley of al-Rikāʾ with a stony patch and sandy flats.
With the abdomen of the hill, pure yet turbulent
كَماjust as لاحَappeared وَشمٌa tattoo فيon يَدَيthe two hands of حارِثِيَّةٍa Hārithite woman
كَما لاحَ وَشمٌ في يَدَي حارِثِيَّةٍ
بِنَجرانَat Najrān أَدمَتshe bloodied لِلنِؤورِfor tattooing soot الأَشاجِعاthe knuckles
بِنَجرانَ أَدمَت لِلنِؤورِ الأَشاجِعا
As a tattoo shows on the hands of a Hārithite woman
Like a tattoo on the hands of a Harithi woman
At Najrān, who bloodied her knuckles for tattooing soot.
In Najran, it left the beasts of prey wailing
تَبَصَّرlook closely خَليليmy friend هَلdo تَرىyou see مِنany ظَعائِنٍwomen in camel-litters
تَبَصَّر خَليلي هَل تَرى مِن ظَعائِنٍ
تَجاوَزنَthey passed مَلحوباًMalḥūb فَقُلنَthen rested at noon مُتالِعاMutāliʿ
تَجاوَزنَ مَلحوباً فَقُلنَ مُتالِعا
Look closely, my friend: do you see any women in litters
Look my friend, do you see any gazelles
Who passed Malḥūb and rested at noon in Mutāliʿ?
That have crossed Malhub calling to each other
جَواعِلُplacing أَرماماًArmām يَميناًto the right وَصارَةًand Ṣārah
جَواعِلُ أَرماماً يَميناً وَصارَةً
شِمالاًto the left وَقَطَّعنَand they crossed الوِهاطَthe hollows الدَوافِعاcarrying floodwater
شِمالاً وَقَطَّعنَ الوِهاطَ الدَوافِعا
They kept Armām on their right and Ṣārah
Wild cows to the right and to the left
On their left, and crossed the flood-bearing hollows.
Severing the twisting valleys ruthlessly
دَعاهُنَّsummoned them داعٍa caller لِلخَريفِto autumn pasture وَلَمand not تَكُنbe
دَعاهُنَّ داعٍ لِلخَريفِ وَلَم تَكُن
لَهُنَّfor them بِلاداًa homeland فِاِنتَجَعنَso they sought pasture رَوافِعاhastening onward
لَهُنَّ بِلاداً فِاِنتَجَعنَ رَوافِعا
A caller summoned them to autumn pasture, though it was not
A caller summoned them for autumn but they had no lands
Their homeland; they sought grazing, hastening onward.
So they gathered as nomads wandering
تَمَهَّدنَthey made bedding ديباجاًbrocade وَعالَينَand overlaid عَقمَةًpatterned cloth
تَمَهَّدنَ ديباجاً وَعالَينَ عَقمَةً
وَأَنزَلنَand they lowered رَقماًembroidered fabric قَدalready أَجَنَّconcealed الأَكارِعاthe feet
وَأَنزَلنَ رَقماً قَد أَجَنَّ الأَكارِعا
They bedded themselves on brocade and laid patterned cloth above,
They paved the ground in brocade and climbed high
And lowered embroidered fabric that hid their feet.
And descended embroidered, with restless legs
خِدالَplump الشَوىthe limbs غيدِgracefully inclined السَوالِفِthe necks بِالضُحىat midmorning
خِدالَ الشَوى غيدِ السَوالِفِ بِالضُحى
عِراضَbroad القَطاthe hips لاnot يَتَّخِذنَthey use الرَفائِعاrump-padding
عِراضَ القَطا لا يَتَّخِذنَ الرَفائِعا
Full-limbed, graceful-necked at midmorning,
Slaughterers of conversation at dawn
Broad across the hips, they wore no rump-padding.
Pasturing cattle never taking comfort
تَضيقُgrow cramped الخُدورُthe curtained litters وَالجِمالُand the camels مُناخَةٌkneeling
تَضيقُ الخُدورُ وَالجِمالُ مُناخَةٌ
بِأَعجازِهاwith their haunches حَتّىuntil يَلُحنَthey appear خَواضِعاbowed down
بِأَعجازِها حَتّى يَلُحنَ خَواضِعا
The curtained litters are cramped, with the camels kneeling,
Narrow are the encampments and the camels rub
By their haunches, until they appear bowed down.
Against each other until they kneel down submissively
فَلَمّاthen when اِستَقَلَّتrose بِالهَوادِجِwith the howdahs أَقبَلَتcame forward
فَلَمّا اِستَقَلَّت بِالهَوادِجِ أَقبَلَت
بِأَعيُنِwith the eyes of آرامٍwhite gazelles كُسينَthey were clad البَراقِعاface-veils
بِأَعيُنِ آرامٍ كُسينَ البَراقِعا
Then, when the camels rose with the howdahs, the women approached
When they were equipped with litters they came
With the eyes of white gazelles clad in face-veils.
With shy eyes concealed by veils
كَأَنَّas though دَوِيَّthe clatter of الحَليِthe jewelry تَحتَbeneath ثِيابِهاtheir clothes
كَأَنَّ دَوِيَّ الحَليِ تَحتَ ثِيابِها
حَصادُa harvest of السَناsenna لاقىmet الرِياحَthe winds الزَعازِعاblustering
حَصادُ السَنا لاقى الرِياحَ الزَعازِعا
As though the clatter of jewelry beneath their clothes
As if the tinkling of anklets beneath their clothes
Were a senna harvest struck by blustering winds.
Was the harvest of blades meeting gusting winds
جُماناًpearls وَياقوتاًand rubies كَأَنَّas though فُصوصَهُits gemstones
جُماناً وَياقوتاً كَأَنَّ فُصوصَهُ
وَقودُburning fuel الغَضاthe ghaḍā tree سَدَّfilled الجُيوبَthe neckline openings الرَوادِعاperfume-stained
وَقودُ الغَضا سَدَّ الجُيوبَ الرَوادِعا
Pearls and rubies, as though their gemstones were
Jewels and rubies as if the sparks of their ornaments
Burning ghaḍā wood, filling the perfume-stained necklines.
Were embers filling up deep pockets
لَهُنَّthey have حَديثٌtalk فاتِنٌenchanting يَترُكُleaves الفَتىthe young man
لَهُنَّ حَديثٌ فاتِنٌ يَترُكُ الفَتى
خَفيفَlight الحَشاthe inward parts مُستَهلِكَexhausting القَلبِthe heart طامِعاyearning
خَفيفَ الحَشا مُستَهلِكَ القَلبِ طامِعا
Their talk is enchanting, leaving a young man
They have a charming conversation that leaves a youth
Restless within, wearing out his heart, yearning.
Light of possessions with a desirous heart
وَلَيسَand are not بِأَدنىany nearer مِنthan غَمامٍa cloud يُضيئُهُilluminates it
وَلَيسَ بِأَدنى مِن غَمامٍ يُضيئُهُ
سَناthe radiance of البَرقِlightning يَجلوreveals المُشرِفاتِthe heights اللَوامِعاgleaming
سَنا البَرقِ يَجلو المُشرِفاتِ اللَوامِعا
Yet they are no nearer than a cloud lit up
Not less than a cloud made bright by the lightning’s radiance
By lightning's radiance, revealing the gleaming heights.
Illuminating the veiled maidens
بَناتُdaughters of نَقاًa sand dune يَنظُرنَthey look مِنfrom كُلِّevery كورَةٍdistrict
بَناتُ نَقاً يَنظُرنَ مِن كُلِّ كورَةٍ
مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth مَحبُوّاًa favored man كَريماًnoble وَتابِعاand a follower
مِنَ الأَرضِ مَحبُوّاً كَريماً وَتابِعا
Daughters of the dunes, looking from every district
Daughters of Naqah looking from every hill
Of the earth for a favored nobleman and a follower.
On earth for a loved one, generous and loyal
وَلَيسَand are not مِنَamong اللائيthose women whom يَبيعُsells مُخارِقٌMukhāriq
وَلَيسَ مِنَ اللائي يَبيعُ مُخارِقٌ
بِحَجرٍat Ḥajr وَلاnor اللائيthose women who خَضَرنَcut المَدارِعاthe gowns
بِحَجرٍ وَلا اللائي خَضَرنَ المَدارِعا
They are not among those whom Mukhāriq sells
And not of those whose tents were sold with stones
At Ḥajr, nor those who cut their gowns.
Or those who cultivated the fields
وَماand not زِلنَthey ceased إِلّاexcept أَنto يَقِلنَthey rest at noon مَقيلَةًa midday rest
وَما زِلنَ إِلّا أَن يَقِلنَ مَقيلَةً
يُسامينَthey challenge أَعداءًenemies وَيَهدينَand they guide تابِعاa follower
يُسامينَ أَعداءً وَيَهدينَ تابِعا
They kept going, stopping only for a midday rest,
Until they migrated to challenge the enemies
Challenging enemies and guiding a follower.
And guided the loyal
فَشَرَّدنَso they scattered يَربوعاًYarbūʿ وَبَكرَand Bakr بنَson of وائِلٍWāʾil
فَشَرَّدنَ يَربوعاً وَبَكرَ بنَ وائِلٍ
وَأَلحَقنَand they drove عَبساًʿAbs بِالمَلاto al-Malā وَمُجاشِعاand Mujāshiʿ
وَأَلحَقنَ عَبساً بِالمَلا وَمُجاشِعا
So they scattered Yarbūʿ and Bakr ibn Wāʾil,
They dispersed Yarbu and the Bekr and Wael
And drove ʿAbs to al-Malā, and Mujāshiʿ as well.
And united Abs with Malik and Mujashi
وَلَوand if أَنَّهاthat it أَرضُthe land of بنُson of كوزٍKūz تَصَيَّفَتit summered
وَلَو أَنَّها أَرضُ بنُ كوزٍ تَصَيَّفَت
بِفَيحانَat Fayḥān ماnot أَحمىhe barred عَلَيهاagainst it المَراتِعاthe grazing grounds
بِفَيحانَ ما أَحمى عَلَيها المَراتِعا
Had the caravan summered in the land of Ibn Kūz,
Had it been the land of Banu Kaws where they wintered
At Fayḥān, he would not have denied it the pastures.
With the south wind, the pastures would not have been protected
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it لاقَتmet رِجالاًmen كَأَنَّهُمas though they
وَلَكِنَّها لاقَت رِجالاً كَأَنَّهُم
عَلىdespite قُربِهِمtheir closeness لاnot يَعلَمينَthey know الجَوامِعاbonds of unity
عَلى قُربِهِم لا يَعلَمينَ الجَوامِعا
But it encountered men who seemed,
But they met men who seemed not to know
Despite their closeness, not to know the bonds that unite.
Places of prayer, even those nearby
وَلاقَينَand they met مِنamong أَولادِthe sons of عُقدَةَʿUqdah عُصبَةًa band
وَلاقَينَ مِن أَولادِ عُقدَةَ عُصبَةً
عَلىat الماءِthe water يَنثونَthey recount الذُحولَblood-feuds المَوانِعاbarring access
عَلى الماءِ يَنثونَ الذُحولَ المَوانِعا
And they met a band of the sons of ʿUqdah
And they faced a band from the lineage of Uqda
At the water, recounting blood-feuds that barred access.
Who hoarded the water and denied access
فَقُلناso we said لَهُمto them إِنif تَمنَعوناyou deny us بِلادَكُمyour lands
فَقُلنا لَهُم إِن تَمنَعونا بِلادَكُم
نَجِدwe find مَذهَباًa place to go فيin سائِرِthe rest of الأَرضِthe earth واسِعاspacious
نَجِد مَذهَباً في سائِرِ الأَرضِ واسِعا
So we said to them: if you deny us your lands,
We said to them, if you deny us your lands
We shall find a spacious place to go elsewhere on earth.
We will find a way in the rest of the vast earth
وَيَمنَعُكُمand denies you مُستَنُّthe course of كُلِّevery سَحابَةٍraincloud
وَيَمنَعُكُم مُستَنُّ كُلِّ سَحابَةٍ
مُصابَthe rainfall of الرَبيعِspring يَترُكُleaves الماءَthe water ناقِعاpooled
مُصابَ الرَبيعِ يَترُكُ الماءَ ناقِعا
And the course of every cloud will deny you
And the rain of every cloud will deny you
Spring's rainfall, which leaves the water pooled,
The spring downpour, leaving the water stagnant
وَبَردَand the coolness of النَدىdew وَالجُزءَand moisture-rich forage حَتّىuntil يُغيرَكُمassails you
وَبَردَ النَدى وَالجُزءَ حَتّى يُغيرَكُم
خَريفٌautumn إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) النَسرُthe Eagle أَصبَحَbecame at dawn واقِعاsetting
خَريفٌ إِذا ما النَسرُ أَصبَحَ واقِعا
And the coolness of dew and moisture-rich forage, until you are assailed
The cool of the dew and the showers until autumn changes you
By autumn, when the Eagle has set at dawn.
When the eagles arrive in the morning to hunt
وَأَمّاand as for مُصابُthe rain-watered ground of الغادِياتِmorning rainclouds فَإِنَّناthen indeed we
وَأَمّا مُصابُ الغادِياتِ فَإِنَّنا
عَلىdespite الهَولِdanger نَرعاهُwe graze it وَلَوeven if أَنto نُقارِعاwe do battle
عَلى الهَولِ نَرعاهُ وَلَو أَن نُقارِعا
And as for ground watered by morning clouds, we
As for the plight of the departure, we will face it
Graze it despite danger, even if we must fight,
However fearsome, even if we must fight
بِحَيٍّwith a clan نُمَيرِيٍّNumayrī عَلَيهِupon it مَهابَةٌawe
بِحَيٍّ نُمَيرِيٍّ عَلَيهِ مَهابَةٌ
جَميعٍunited إِذاwhen كانَwere اللِئامُthe base men جَنادِعاbeetles
جَميعٍ إِذا كانَ اللِئامُ جَنادِعا
Backed by an awe-inspiring Numayrī clan,
With Hayyi Numayri, feared by all
United when the base are mere beetles.
When the vile become unruly
هَمَمتُI intended بِهِمagainst them لَولاbut for الجَلالَةُdignity وَالتُقىand piety
هَمَمتُ بِهِم لَولا الجَلالَةُ وَالتُقى
وَلَمand not تَرَyou see مِثلَthe like of الحِلمِforbearance لِلجَهلِagainst recklessness وازِعاa restraint
وَلَم تَرَ مِثلَ الحِلمِ لِلجَهلِ وازِعا
I would have moved against them, but for dignity and piety;
I thought to attack them were it not for dignity and piety
And you have seen no curb on recklessness like forbearance.
And wisdom restraining ignorance without a deterrent
وَكُنّاand we were أُناساًa people تَعتَريناseizes us حَفيظَةٌzeal for honor
وَكُنّا أُناساً تَعتَرينا حَفيظَةٌ
فَنَحميso we defend إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) أَصبَحَbecame الثَغرُthe frontier ضائِعاunguarded
فَنَحمي إِذا ما أَصبَحَ الثَغرُ ضائِعا
And we were a people stirred by zeal for honor,
We were people quick to anger
So we defended whenever the frontier lay unguarded.
Guarding when the borders were exposed
Sol 6.1