ياO قَلبِheart ماhow أَطوَلَlong هَذاthis الغَرامpassion
يا قَلبِ ما أَطوَلَ هَذا الغَرام
يَومَon the day نَوىof departure الحَيِّof the tribe وَيَومَand on the day المُقامof staying
يَومَ نَوى الحَيِّ وَيَومَ المُقام
O heart, how long this passion lasts,
on the day the tribe departs and the day it stays!
فيin القُربِnearness لَيّانُdeferment دُيونِof debts الهَوىof love
في القُربِ لَيّانُ دُيونِ الهَوى
وَفيand in نَوىthe remoteness الدارِof the home رَجيعُone repeatedly worn down السَقامby sickness
وَفي نَوى الدارِ رَجيعُ السَقام
Near them, love's debts are deferred;
far from their home, you are worn by recurring sickness.
مُقيمَةٌdwelling عِندَكَwith you أَشجانُهُمthe sorrows they cause
مُقيمَةٌ عِندَكَ أَشجانُهُم
وَلاand not يُلاقونَكَthey meet you إِلّاexcept لَمامrarely
وَلا يُلاقونَكَ إِلّا لَمام
The sorrows they cause dwell with you,
while they meet you only rarely.
لَمdid not يَنقَعواthey quench الظَمآنَthe thirsty one مِنof غُلَّةٍburning thirst
لَم يَنقَعوا الظَمآنَ مِن غُلَّةٍ
وَلَمand did not يُبالواthey heed طَرَبَthe agitation المُستَهامof the love-crazed one
وَلَم يُبالوا طَرَبَ المُستَهام
They have not quenched the thirsty one's burning thirst,
nor heeded the distracted lover's agitation.
مَتىwhen تُفيقُwill you recover اليَومَtoday مِنfrom لَوعَةٍanguish
مَتى تُفيقُ اليَومَ مِن لَوعَةٍ
وَأَنتَwhile you نَشوانُare intoxicated بِغَيرِwithout المُدامwine
وَأَنتَ نَشوانُ بِغَيرِ المُدام
When will you recover today from anguish,
while you are drunk without wine?
صَبابَةٌlonging وَالحَيُّand the tribe قَدalready قَوَّضواhave dismantled
صَبابَةٌ وَالحَيُّ قَد قَوَّضوا
عَنfrom جانِبِthe side الغَورِof the Ghawr عِمادَthe poles الخِيامof the tents
عَن جانِبِ الغَورِ عِمادَ الخِيام
Longing—though the tribe have already struck
the tent-poles beside the Ghawr.
سَقىmay water المَغانيthe dwellings بِجُنوبِsouth of النَقاal-Naqa
سَقى المَغاني بِجُنوبِ النَقا
ماءُwater المَآقيfrom tear-ducts ثُمَّthen ماءُwater الغَمامfrom clouds
ماءُ المَآقي ثُمَّ ماءُ الغَمام
May the dwellings south of al-Naqa be watered
by water from tear-ducts, then water from clouds.
وَزائِرٍand a visitor زارَvisited عَلىdespite نَأيِهِhis distance
وَزائِرٍ زارَ عَلى نَأيِهِ
بَعدَafter الأَسىsorrow عادَhe visited بَعيدَone far gone الغَرامin passion
بَعدَ الأَسى عادَ بَعيدَ الغَرام
And a visitor came, despite his distance;
after sorrow, he visited one far gone in passion.
أَمَنزِلٌa dwelling? عِندَbeside عَقيقِ'Aqiq الحِمىal-Hima
أَمَنزِلٌ عِندَ عَقيقِ الحِمى
وَمَضجَعٌand a bed عِنديfor me بِأَعلىin upper الشَآمal-Sham
وَمَضجَعٌ عِندي بِأَعلى الشَآم
A dwelling beside 'Aqiq al-Hima—
and my bed in upper al-Sham?
زِيارَةٌa visitation زَوَّرَهاfabricated it خاطِريmy mind
زِيارَةٌ زَوَّرَها خاطِري
ماhow أَقنَعَcontented النَفسَthe soul بِزَورِwith a visitor المَنامin sleep
ما أَقنَعَ النَفسَ بِزَورِ المَنام
A visitation fabricated by my mind:
how content the soul is with a visitor in sleep!
خَدائِعٌdeceptions أُغضيI turn a blind eye عَلىdespite عِلمِهاknowing them
خَدائِعٌ أُغضي عَلى عِلمِها
لَعَلَّهاperhaps they تَنقَعُwill quench هَذاthis الأُوامburning thirst
لَعَلَّها تَنقَعُ هَذا الأُوام
Deceptions I overlook, though I know them,
hoping they may quench this burning thirst.
ياah قاتَلَmay confound اللَهُGod الغَوانيthe beauties لَقَدindeed
يا قاتَلَ اللَهُ الغَواني لَقَد
سَقَينَنيthey made me drink الطَرقَfouled water بُعَيدَshortly after الجِمامabundant water
سَقَينَني الطَرقَ بُعَيدَ الجِمام
Ah, God confound the beauties! Indeed,
they gave me fouled water soon after water in plenty.
أَعرَضنَthey turned away عَنّيfrom me حينَwhen وَلّىdeparted الصِباyouth
أَعرَضنَ عَنّي حينَ وَلّى الصِبا
وَاِختَلَجَand snatched away الهَمُّcare بَقاياthe remnants العُرامof exuberance
وَاِختَلَجَ الهَمُّ بَقايا العُرام
They turned away from me when youth departed,
and care snatched away the remnants of exuberance.
وَشاعَتِand spread البَيضاءُwhite hair فيin مَفرِقيmy hair-parting
وَشاعَتِ البَيضاءُ في مَفرِقي
شَعشَعَةَlike the radiance الصُبحِof dawn وَراءَafter الظَلامdarkness
شَعشَعَةَ الصُبحِ وَراءَ الظَلام
White hair spread through my parted hair,
like dawn's radiance following darkness.
سِيّانِequal عِنديto me أَبَدَتwhether appeared شَيبَةٌa gray hair
سِيّانِ عِندي أَبَدَت شَيبَةٌ
فيat الفَودِthe temple أَوor طَبَّقَcut through a joint عَضبٌa keen sword حُسامsevering
في الفَودِ أَو طَبَّقَ عَضبٌ حُسام
It is all one to me whether a gray hair appears
at my temple, or a keen sword cuts through.
أَلقىI meet بِذُلِّwith the abasement الشَيبِof gray hair مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter it
أَلقى بِذُلِّ الشَيبِ مِن بَعدِها
مَنthose whom كُنتُI used to أَلقاهُmeet بِدَلِّwith the alluring confidence الغُلامof a youth
مَن كُنتُ أَلقاهُ بِدَلِّ الغُلام
After that, with gray hair's abasement, I meet
those I once met with a youth's alluring confidence.
تُرىI wonder جَميمُthe luxuriant growth الشَيبِof gray hair لَمّاonce ذَوىit withered
تُرى جَميمُ الشَيبِ لَمّا ذَوى
يُراجِعُwill return to العِظلِمَthe dark-dye 'izlim plant بَعدَafter الثَغامthe white thagham plant
يُراجِعُ العِظلِمَ بَعدَ الثَغام
Can the crop of gray hair, once withered,
return to dark 'izlim after white thagham?
كَمhow often جُدنَthey bestowed بِالأَجيادِtheir necks ليon me وَالطُلىand throats
كَم جُدنَ بِالأَجيادِ لي وَالطُلى
فَاليَومَbut today يَبخَلنَthey begrudge بِرَدِّreturning السَلامthe greeting
فَاليَومَ يَبخَلنَ بِرَدِّ السَلام
How often they bestowed their necks and throats on me;
today they begrudge even returning my greeting.
وَكُنتُand I used to إِنwhen أَقبَلتُI approached أَسمَعنَنيthey let me hear
وَكُنتُ إِن أَقبَلتُ أَسمَعنَني
قَعاقِعَthe clatter الحَليِof ornaments وَراءَbehind القِرامthe curtain
قَعاقِعَ الحَليِ وَراءَ القِرام
When I approached, they used to let me hear
the clatter of ornaments behind the curtain.
أَيّامَin the days أَغدوI went forth وَالصِباand youth مِقوَديwas my guide
أَيّامَ أَغدو وَالصِبا مِقوَدي
أَسلُسُI yielded لِلقائِدِto the leader طَوعَobedient to الزِمامthe rein
أَسلُسُ لِلقائِدِ طَوعَ الزِمام
In the days I went forth with youth as my guide,
I yielded to the leader, obedient to the rein.
فيamong فِتيَةٍyouths تَحسَبُهُمyou would deem them لُثِّمواthey were veiled
في فِتيَةٍ تَحسَبُهُم لُثِّموا
عَلىacross العَرانينِthe noses بُدورَmoons التَمامat the full
عَلى العَرانينِ بُدورَ التَمام
Among youths you would deem, when veiled
across their noses, to be moons at the full.
تَخالُyou imagine أَثوابَهُمtheir clothes فيon القَناspears
تَخالُ أَثوابَهُم في القَنا
مِنbecause of شَطَطِthe extraordinary height الخَلقِof their build وَمَطِّand the elongation القَوامof their stature
مِن شَطَطِ الخَلقِ وَمَطِّ القَوام
You would think their clothes were draped on spears,
so towering their build, so elongated their stature.
إِذاwhen دَعَواthey called out وَالوِردُwhile the watering-place مُستَوبَلٌwas deadly
إِذا دَعَوا وَالوِردُ مُستَوبَلٌ
دَفّواthey hurried إِلىinto الطَعنِspear-thrusting دَفيفَwith the swift gait النَعامof ostriches
دَفّوا إِلى الطَعنِ دَفيفَ النَعام
When they raise their cry, though the watering-place is deadly,
they rush into spear-thrusts with the swift gait of ostriches.
وَظاهَرواand they layered النَقعَdust عَلىupon زَغفِهِمtheir ample coats of mail
وَظاهَروا النَقعَ عَلى زَغفِهِم
وَرَجَّلواand they combed بِالدَمِwith blood سودَthe black الجِمامlocks
وَرَجَّلوا بِالدَمِ سودَ الجِمام
They layer dust upon their ample coats of mail,
and comb their black locks with blood.
وَصاحِبٍand a companion فيin الحَيِّthe tribe جَثّامَةٍa crouching idler
وَصاحِبٍ في الحَيِّ جَثّامَةٍ
مُعانِقِembracing الخَفضِease بَطيءِslow القِيامto rise
مُعانِقِ الخَفضِ بَطيءِ القِيام
And a companion in the tribe, a crouching idler,
embracing ease, slow to rise,
لَبّاسَةٍhabitually wearing لِلعارِshame لاnot يَأنَفُhe disdains الthe
لَبّاسَةٍ لِلعارِ لا يَأنَفُ ال
ذُلَّhumiliation وَلاand not يَألَمُhe feels pain from حَرَّthe burning اللِطامof slaps
ذُلَّ وَلا يَألَمُ حَرَّ اللِطام
ever wearing shame, never resenting
humiliation, nor feeling the burning sting of slaps.
قَدalready عاقَدَhe made a pact with العَجزَhelplessness عَلىon أَنَّهُthe understanding that he
قَد عاقَدَ العَجزَ عَلى أَنَّهُ
يَهونُsubmits فيunder الضَيمِoppression بِطولِwith prolonged المَلامreproach
يَهونُ في الضَيمِ بِطولِ المَلام
He has made a pact with helplessness:
to submit to oppression, though long reproached.
لاnot يَعقُدُhe fastens المِئزَرَthe waist-wrapper فيin حادِثٍa crisis
لا يَعقُدُ المِئزَرَ في حادِثٍ
وَلاand not يَرىhe considers النَصرَgiving aid وَلَوeven if بِالكَلامwith words
وَلا يَرى النَصرَ وَلَو بِالكَلام
He does not gird his waist for a crisis,
nor consider giving aid, even in words.
نابٍblunt إِذاwhen جَرَّبتَهُyou test him فيagainst العِداthe enemies
نابٍ إِذا جَرَّبتَهُ في العِدا
وَهوَand he عَلىagainst عُنقِيَmy neck ماضٍis keen هَذامcleaving
وَهوَ عَلى عُنقِيَ ماضٍ هَذام
Blunt when you try him against enemies,
yet against my neck he is keen and cleaving.
إِذاwhen رَأىhe sees وَطفاءَa dense cloud عُلوِيَّةًhigh overhead
إِذا رَأى وَطفاءَ عُلوِيَّةً
أَيقَظَنيhe wakes me شائِمَwatching بَرقٍlightning وَنامand sleeps
أَيقَظَني شائِمَ بَرقٍ وَنام
When he sees a dense cloud high above,
he wakes me to watch its lightning, then sleeps.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa folk شَبّواwho grew up عَلىon إِحنَتيrancor against me
مِن مَعشَرٍ شَبّوا عَلى إِحنَتي
وَأوجِرواand were force-fed بُغضِيَhatred of me عِندَat الفِطامweaning
وَأوجِروا بُغضِيَ عِندَ الفِطام
From a folk reared on rancor against me,
and force-fed hatred of me at weaning.
أَقارِبٌkinsmen إِنif وَجَدواthey find غَمزَةًa weakness
أَقارِبٌ إِن وَجَدوا غَمزَةً
راشواthey feather إِلىtoward قَلبِيَmy heart مِرطَthe unfeathered السِهامarrows
راشوا إِلى قَلبِيَ مِرطَ السِهام
Kinsmen who, if they find a weakness,
feather bare arrows to aim at my heart.
وَيَعرُقونيand they gnaw me بِالأَذىwith harm كُلَّماwhenever
وَيَعرُقوني بِالأَذى كُلَّما
لانَbecomes gentle لَهُمto them مَسِّيَmy touch عَرقَstripping bare العِظامthe bones
لانَ لَهُم مَسِّيَ عَرقَ العِظام
They gnaw me with harm whenever
my touch is gentle to them, stripping me like bones.
جِوارُهُمtheir company مِثلُis like نَسيمِthe breeze الصَباof the east wind
جِوارُهُم مِثلُ نَسيمِ الصَبا
وَغَيبُهُمand their unseen conduct مِثلُis like أَجيجِthe roaring الضِرامof flame
وَغَيبُهُم مِثلُ أَجيجِ الضِرام
Their company is like the east wind's breeze;
their conduct out of sight is like the roaring of flame.
سَماؤُهُمtheir sky تَشمُسُgrows sunny بيthrough me كُلَّماwhenever
سَماؤُهُم تَشمُسُ بي كُلَّما
أَظلَمَgrows dark جَوٌّthe air وَبِجوديand through my generosity تُغامis clouded
أَظلَمَ جَوٌّ وَبِجودي تُغام
Their sky grows sunny through me whenever
the air darkens, yet my generosity clouds it.
سَيَذكُرونيthey will remember me إِنif نَباturns hostile جانِبٌa quarter
سَيَذكُروني إِن نَبا جانِبٌ
مِنَamong العِداthe foes وَاِنحَلَّand comes undone عَقدُthe knot الزِمامof the rein
مِنَ العِدا وَاِنحَلَّ عَقدُ الزِمام
They will remember me if a quarter turns hostile
among the foes, and the rein's knot comes undone,
وَأَصحَرَتand lies exposed أَعراضُهُمtheir honor لِلأَذىto injury
وَأَصحَرَت أَعراضُهُم لِلأَذى
تُصرِدُpierce straight through فيهِنَّthrough them نِبالُthe arrows المَرامof the aim
تُصرِدُ فيهِنَّ نِبالُ المَرام
and their honor lies exposed to injury,
with aimed arrows piercing straight through it.
مَنwho لَهُمُfor them مِثليlike me إِذاwhen اِستُزلِقَتare made to slip
مَن لَهُمُ مِثلي إِذا اِستُزلِقَت
أَقدامُهُمtheir feet يَومَon a day ذَليلِof abject المَقامstanding
أَقدامُهُم يَومَ ذَليلِ المَقام
Who have they like me, when made to slip
are their feet, on a day of abject standing?
مَنwho لَهُمُfor them مِثليlike me إِذاwhen أَصبَحواthey find themselves at dawn
مَن لَهُمُ مِثلي إِذا أَصبَحوا
بِعارِضٍbeneath a storm-cloud يَهضِبُpouring down بيضاًhelmets وَلامand armor
بِعارِضٍ يَهضِبُ بيضاً وَلام
Who have they like me when they find themselves
beneath a storm-cloud pouring helmets and armor,
وَشَلَّتِand drove away الأَرماحُthe spears مِنfrom أَرضِهِمtheir land
وَشَلَّتِ الأَرماحُ مِن أَرضِهِم
طَردَdriving out الغَوانيthe beauties بَعدَafter طَردِdriving out السَوامthe grazing herds
طَردَ الغَواني بَعدَ طَردِ السَوام
and spears drive from their land
the beauties, after driving out the grazing herds?
وَالخَيلُand the horses تُستَلدَغُare made to suffer stings شَوكَfrom the thorns القَناof spears
وَالخَيلُ تُستَلدَغُ شَوكَ القَنا
فيon يَومِa day لاno ظِلٌّshade بِغَيرِexcept القَتامdust
في يَومِ لا ظِلٌّ بِغَيرِ القَتام
The horses are stung by the thorns of spears
on a day with no shade except dust.
كَأَنَّهاas though they were سَيلُa torrent مَضيقٍin a narrow gorge لَهُit has
كَأَنَّها سَيلُ مَضيقٍ لَهُ
دونَbefore الثَناياthe mountain passes زَجَلٌroaring وَاِزدِحامand crowding
دونَ الثَنايا زَجَلٌ وَاِزدِحام
They seem a torrent in a narrow gorge,
roaring and crowding before the mountain passes.
لَأُطعِمَنَّI shall surely feed اللَيلَthe night عيدِيَّةًan 'Idiyya she-camel
لَأُطعِمَنَّ اللَيلَ عيدِيَّةً
ضابِعَةًlong-striding تَكسوcoating البَرىthe nose-rings بِاللُغامwith foam
ضابِعَةً تَكسو البَرى بِاللُغام
I shall surely feed the night an 'Idiyya she-camel,
long-striding, coating her nose-rings with foam,
مِثلَlike نَعامِostriches الدُوِّof the wasteland هاهاcalled 'ha, ha!' بِهِto it
مِثلَ نَعامِ الدُوِّ هاها بِهِ
مَعَamid الدُجىthe darkness بارِقُlightning حَيٍّof a raincloud رُكامheaped up
مَعَ الدُجى بارِقُ حَيٍّ رُكام
like the desert's ostriches, urged with 'ha, ha!'
amid the dark by lightning from a heaped raincloud.
آلَيتُI have sworn لاnot أَحفِلُto care فيin نَصِّهاdriving her hard
آلَيتُ لا أَحفِلُ في نَصِّها
إِنif مَرَجَslips loose الغَرضُthe saddle-girth وَرَثَّand grows worn الخِطامthe halter
إِن مَرَجَ الغَرضُ وَرَثَّ الخِطام
I have sworn not to care, in driving her hard,
if the girth slips and the halter frays.
فَوقَabove ذُراهاher heights كَصُدورِlike the points القَناof spears
فَوقَ ذُراها كَصُدورِ القَنا
مُخلَصَةٌpurified مِنof كُلِّevery عابٍblemish وَذامand fault
مُخلَصَةٌ مِن كُلِّ عابٍ وَذام
Above her lofty back, like spearheads,
purified of every blemish and fault.
عَلّيperhaps I أُلاقيshall meet بَعدَafter إِطرادِهِits banishment
عَلّي أُلاقي بَعدَ إِطرادِهِ
حَظِّيَmy fortune أَوor أَبلُغَattain بَعضَsome المَرامof what is sought
حَظِّيَ أَو أَبلُغَ بَعضَ المَرام
Perhaps I shall meet, after its banishment,
my fortune, or attain some of what I seek.
ياO دَهرُTime كَمhow often تَحدوyou drive on بِذيone with نُقبَةٍmange
يا دَهرُ كَم تَحدو بِذي نُقبَةٍ
مُعتَرِقِconsumed النَيِّin fat أَجَبِّshorn of السَنامthe hump
مُعتَرِقِ النَيِّ أَجَبِّ السَنام
O Time, how often you drive on one with mange,
his fat consumed, his hump shorn away!
بِصَفحَتَيهِon his two flanks جُلَبٌscabs قُرِّفَتscraped away
بِصَفحَتَيهِ جُلَبٌ قُرِّفَت
مِنَby اللَياليthe nights وَكُلومٌand wounds دَوامlasting
مِنَ اللَيالي وَكُلومٌ دَوام
On his two flanks are scabs scraped away
by the nights, and wounds that endure.
قَدalready أُغبِطَhas been kept fastened المَيسُthe mays-wood saddle عَلىon عَقرِهِhis saddle-sores
قَد أُغبِطَ المَيسُ عَلى عَقرِهِ
مَعwith نَقَبِthe wearing through المَنسِمِof the footpad عاماًa year فَعامthen a year
مَع نَقَبِ المَنسِمِ عاماً فَعام
The mays-wood saddle has been kept on his sores,
his footpad worn through, year after year.
فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday ناشِدٌa seeker هِمَّةًof high resolve
في كُلِّ يَومٍ ناشِدٌ هِمَّةً
أَضَلَّهاlost it العاجِزُthe helpless man فيamong ذاthis الأَنامhumankind
أَضَلَّها العاجِزُ في ذا الأَنام
Each day he seeks a lofty aspiration
that the helpless man has lost among these people.
يَعَضُّhe bites كَفَّيهِboth his hands عَلىover حَظِّهِhis lot
يَعَضُّ كَفَّيهِ عَلى حَظِّهِ
وَيَسأَلُand asks الدَهرَTime حُظوظَfor the fortunes اللِئامof the base
وَيَسأَلُ الدَهرَ حُظوظَ اللِئام
He bites both hands over his lot,
and asks Time for the fortunes of the base.
يَجُرُّhe trails طِمرَيtwo rags عَدِمٍof a pauper فيهِماwithin them both
يَجُرُّ طِمرَي عَدِمٍ فيهِما
مُعَذَّلٌa reproached man يَفعَلُdoing فِعلَthe deeds الكِرامof the noble
مُعَذَّلٌ يَفعَلُ فِعلَ الكِرام
He trails a pauper's two rags; within them
is a reproached man who does the deeds of the noble,
لاnot ضائِعٌlost فيin الدَهرِTime مِنthrough ذِلَّةٍabasement
لا ضائِعٌ في الدَهرِ مِن ذِلَّةٍ
وَلاand not خَذولُfaltering الرِجلِof foot يَومَon the day الزِحامof the crush
وَلا خَذولُ الرِجلِ يَومَ الزِحام
not one lost in life through abasement,
nor faltering of foot on the day of the crush.
لَوif أَنصَفَwere fair الدَهرُTime لَأَوفىit would have raised بِهِhim
لَو أَنصَفَ الدَهرُ لَأَوفى بِهِ
عَلىabove رِقابٍnecks مِنof رِجالٍmen وَهامand heads
عَلى رِقابٍ مِن رِجالٍ وَهام
Had Time been fair, it would have raised him
above the necks and heads of men.
وَماand what اِنتِفاعُbenefit المَرءِfor a man يُمسيwho finds himself at evening لَهُwith
وَما اِنتِفاعُ المَرءِ يُمسي لَهُ
جَدٌّgood fortune وَراءٌbehind وَطِلابٌand pursuit أَمامahead
جَدٌّ وَراءٌ وَطِلابٌ أَمام
What gain has a man who ends his day with
fortune behind him and pursuit ahead,
وَكانَand he were راعيshepherd of كُلَّevery تَرعِيَّةٍherdsman
وَكانَ راعي كُلَّ تَرعِيَّةٍ
فيamong الناسِpeople أَوor كانَhe were إِمامَleader of الإِمامthe leader
في الناسِ أَو كانَ إِمامَ الإِمام
even were he shepherd to every herdsman
among men, or the leader's leader?
Sol 6.1