بانَتdeparted سُعادُSuʿād فَنَومُso the sleep العَينِof the eye مَملولُwearisome
بانَت سُعادُ فَنَومُ العَينِ مَملولُ
وَكانَand became مِنfrom قِصَرٍbrevity مِنsince عَهدِهاseeing her طولُlength
وَكانَ مِن قِصَرٍ مِن عَهدِها طولُ
Suʿād has departed; the eye’s sleep has grown wearisome.
Happiness appeared, so the eyes fell asleep,
And the brief time since our last meeting has grown long.
After a long absence, it was too good to be true,
بَيضاءُfair-skinned لاnot يَجتَويdislike الجيرانُthe neighbors طَلعَتَهاher appearance
بَيضاءُ لا يَجتَوي الجيرانُ طَلعَتَها
وَلاand not يَسُلُّunsheathes بِفيهاin her mouth سَيفَهُits sword القيلُspeech
وَلا يَسُلُّ بِفيها سَيفَهُ القيلُ
Fair-skinned, her appearance is never unwelcome to the neighbors,
A radiant white, whose advent the neighbors cannot disparage,
and speech never draws its sword in her mouth.
Nor can the biting gossip of slanderers sully her purity,
وَحالَand stood as a barrier دونَكِbetween me and you قَومٌpeople فيin صُدورِهِمُtheir breasts
وَحالَ دونَكِ قَومٌ في صُدورِهِمُ
مِنَfrom الضَغينَةِrancor وَالضَبِّand concealed hatred البَلابيلُturmoil
مِنَ الضَغينَةِ وَالضَبِّ البَلابيلُ
And people stand between me and you; within their breasts
Yet between you and I stand a people, in whose hearts
is turmoil born of rancor and hidden hatred.
Are rancor, malice, and endless mischief,
وَقَدand often تُلاقيmeets بِيَwith me الحاجاتِthe needs دَوسَرَةٌa massive she-camel
وَقَد تُلاقي بِيَ الحاجاتِ دَوسَرَةٌ
فيin خَلقِهاher build عَنover بَناتِthe daughters الفَحلِof the camel sire تَفضيلُsuperiority
في خَلقِها عَن بَناتِ الفَحلِ تَفضيلُ
And often a massive she-camel carries me to meet my needs,
And dire needs have befallen me, a burden too great to shoulder,
her build superior to that of the daughters of the camel sire.
For they favor even mares over noble steeds,
غَلباءُthick-necked رَكباءُbig-kneed عُلكومٌmassive مُذَكَّرَةٌmale-like
غَلباءُ رَكباءُ عُلكومٌ مُذَكَّرَةٌ
لِدَفِّهاat her flank صَفصَفٌa level plain قُدّامَهاahead of her ميلُa mile
لِدَفِّها صَفصَفٌ قُدّامَها ميلُ
Thick-necked, big-kneed, massive and built like a male,
Powerful riders on a litter of the finest silk,
at her flank lies a level plain; ahead of her, a mile.
With nobles walking ahead to clear the way,
تَمَّwas fully formed لَهاfor her ناهِضٌa rising neck فيin صَدرِهاher chest تَلِعٌtall
تَمَّ لَها ناهِضٌ في صَدرِها تَلِعٌ
وَحارِكٌand withers فيon قَناةِthe shaft الصُلبِof the spine مَعدولُwell-shaped
وَحارِكٌ في قَناةِ الصُلبِ مَعدولُ
She has a fully grown neck, rising tall from her chest,
It bears a lissome youth with sturdy frame,
and well-shaped withers on the shaft of her spine.
His lineage guaranteed, of esteemed descent,
كَأَنَّماas though فاتَstretched past لَحيَيهاher two jaws وَمَذبَحَهاand her throat
كَأَنَّما فاتَ لَحيَيها وَمَذبَحَها
مُشَرجَعٌa squared bar مِنfrom عَلاةِthe anvil القَينِof the smith مَمطولُhammered out long
مُشَرجَعٌ مِن عَلاةِ القَينِ مَمطولُ
As though past her two jaws and her throat there stretched
As though his cheeks and neck were caressed
a squared bar, hammered long upon the smith’s anvil.
By a dangling sleeve of the softest Yemeni cloth,
تَرميscans الغُيوبَthe hidden distances بِمِرآتَينِwith two mirrors مِنof ذَهَبٍgold
تَرمي الغُيوبَ بِمِرآتَينِ مِن ذَهَبٍ
صَلتَينِtwo smooth, bright ones ضاحيهِماtheir exposed faces بِالشَمسِby the sun مَصقولُpolished
صَلتَينِ ضاحيهِما بِالشَمسِ مَصقولُ
She scans the hidden distances with two mirrors of gold,
Casting amorous glances from golden mirror-like eyes,
smooth and bright, their exposed faces polished by the sun.
Gleaming in the sun like polished swords,
وَحُرَّتَينِand two fine ears هِجانٍpure-white لَيسَthere is not بَينَهُماbetween them
وَحُرَّتَينِ هِجانٍ لَيسَ بَينَهُما
إِذاwhen هُماthey both اِشتَأَتاprick up لِلسَمعِto listen تَمهيلُdelay
إِذا هُما اِشتَأَتا لِلسَمعِ تَمهيلُ
And two fine, pure-white ears, neither lagging behind the other
With two frisky colts that delight in the music of lyres,
when they both prick up to listen.
Whenever their ears crave joyful strains,
فيat جانِبَيboth sides دُرَّةٍof a pearl زَهراءَradiant جاءَcame بِهاwith it
في جانِبَي دُرَّةٍ زَهراءَ جاءَ بِها
مُحَملَجٌwell-built مِنfrom رِجالِthe men الهِندِof India مَجدولُsinewy
مُحَملَجٌ مِن رِجالِ الهِندِ مَجدولُ
On either side of a radiant pearl, brought
Beside a lustrous pearl brought on palanquin
by a well-built, sinewy man from among the men of India.
By honored men of high rank from India,
عَلىupon رِجامَينِtwo stone supports مِنof خُطّافِthe hook ماتِحَةٍof a drawing-well
عَلى رِجامَينِ مِن خُطّافِ ماتِحَةٍ
يَهديguides صُدورَهُماtheir fronts أُرقٌgray camels مَراقيلُswift-striding
يَهدي صُدورَهُما أُرقٌ مَراقيلُ
Upon two stone supports of a drawing-well’s hook,
On two saddles of velvet embroidered with gold,
their fronts guided by gray, swift-striding camels.
That soothe their backs like gently-swaying cradles,
وَجِلدُهاand her hide مِنfrom أَطومٍa thick-skinned sea-beast ماnot يُؤَيِّسُهُmarks it
وَجِلدُها مِن أَطومٍ ما يُؤَيِّسُهُ
طِلحٌa tick كَضاحِيَةِlike the exposed face of الصَيداءِhard rock مَهزولُlean
طِلحٌ كَضاحِيَةِ الصَيداءِ مَهزولُ
Her hide is a sea-beast’s hide, which cannot be marked
Its skin made of supple leather that only the scrape
by a lean tick—like the exposed face of hard rock.
Of a sharp knife can cut through, soft and pliant,
تَذُبُّwards off ضَيفاًa guest مِنَfrom among الشَعراءِhairy biting flies مَنزِلُهُits lodging
تَذُبُّ ضَيفاً مِنَ الشَعراءِ مَنزِلُهُ
مِنهاon her لَبانٌa breast وَأَقرابٌand flanks زَهاليلُsmooth and sleek
مِنها لَبانٌ وَأَقرابٌ زَهاليلُ
She drives off a guest from among the hairy flies, whose lodging
It welcomes poets to take refuge in its shade,
on her is the breast and smooth, sleek flanks.
With fresh milk and bread in abundance to regale guests,
أَوor طَيُّthe lining ماتِحَةٍof a drawing-well فيin جِرمِهاits fabric حَشَفٌrough stones
أَو طَيُّ ماتِحَةٍ في جِرمِها حَشَفٌ
وَمُنثَنىًand a fold مِنof شَوِيِّroasted pieces الجِلدِof hide مَملولُbaked in hot ashes
وَمُنثَنىً مِن شَوِيِّ الجِلدِ مَملولُ
Or like a drawing-well’s lining, with rough stones in its fabric,
Or an ostrich, taut of flesh, though scarred and abraded,
and folds of roasted hide, baked in hot ashes.
Its skin crinkled like much-folded parchment,
تَهويcarry swiftly بِهاcarrying her مُكرَباتٌstrongly knit limbs فيin مَرافِقِهاher elbows
تَهوي بِها مُكرَباتٌ في مَرافِقِها
فُتلٌturned outward صِيابٌstraight مَياسيرٌeasy-moving مَعاجيلُswift
فُتلٌ صِيابٌ مَياسيرٌ مَعاجيلُ
Strongly knit limbs sweep her onward, at their elbows
Borne by excellent camels in their excellent prime,
turned out, straight, easy-moving and swift.
Their cheeks bright as the flash of shooting stars,
يَداthe two forelegs مَهاةٍof an oryx cow وَرِجلاand the two hindlegs خاضِبٍof a red-shanked ostrich سَنِقٍoverfed
يَدا مَهاةٍ وَرِجلا خاضِبٍ سَنِقٍ
كَأَنَّهُas though he مِنfrom جَناهُits gathered fruit الشَريُbitter colocynth مَخلولُpierced through
كَأَنَّهُ مِن جَناهُ الشَريُ مَخلولُ
The forelegs of an oryx cow, the hindlegs of an overfed, red-shanked ostrich,
With legs like spread tent pegs planted in the ground,
as though shot through with the fruit of bitter colocynth.
Their joints covered in fetters and straps,
هَيقٌa tall male ostrich هِزَفٌّfleet وَزَفّانِيَّةٌand a dancing ostrich hen مَرَطىfeather-stripped
هَيقٌ هِزَفٌّ وَزَفّانِيَّةٌ مَرَطى
زَعراءُscant-feathered ريشُthe feathers ذُناباهاof her tail هَراميلُtattered
زَعراءُ ريشُ ذُناباها هَراميلُ
A tall, fleet ostrich, and a dancing, feather-stripped hen,
Neighing, snorting, groaning is their gait,
scant-feathered, with ragged feathers upon her tail.
Ruffling its feathers, with tail bobbing up and down,
كَأَنَّماas though مُنثَنىthe bends أَقماعِof the quill-bases ماof what مَرَطَتshe shed
كَأَنَّما مُنثَنى أَقماعِ ما مَرَطَت
مِنَfrom العِفاءِthe long plumage بِليتَيهاon both sides of her neck ثَآليلُwarts
مِنَ العِفاءِ بِليتَيها ثَآليلُ
As though the bent quill-bases of the feathers she has shed
As though its trailing coverlets were bunched up
from her long plumage were warts on both sides of her neck.
Over packsaddles, with fringes hanging loose,
تَرَوَّحاthey both set out at evening مِنfrom سَنامِthe crest العِرقِof the sand-ridge فَاِلتَبَطاthen they both bounded
تَرَوَّحا مِن سَنامِ العِرقِ فَاِلتَبَطا
إِلىtoward القِنانِthe hilltops الَّتيwhich فيهاin them المَداحيلُthe sheltering hollows
إِلى القِنانِ الَّتي فيها المَداحيلُ
They set out at evening from the sand-ridge’s crest, then bounded
Their necks outstretched from the sweat of exertion
toward the hilltops where the sheltering hollows lay.
Toward the water-skins filled to the brim,
إِذاwhen اِستَهَلّاthey both burst forth بِشُؤبوبٍin a torrent فَقَدthen indeed فُعِلَتwere wrought
إِذا اِستَهَلّا بِشُؤبوبٍ فَقَد فُعِلَت
بِماupon whatever أَصاباthey both struck مِنَof الأَرضِthe ground الأَفاعيلُastonishing deeds
بِما أَصابا مِنَ الأَرضِ الأَفاعيلُ
When they burst forth in a torrent, there are wrought
Once set loose over the land they wreaked havoc,
on whatever ground they strike astonishing deeds.
Such was their headlong galloping over the plains,
فَصادَفاthen they both found البَيضَthe eggs قَدalready أَبدَتhad shown مَناكِبَهاtheir shoulders
فَصادَفا البَيضَ قَد أَبدَت مَناكِبَها
مِنهُout of them الرِئالُthe ostrich chicks لَهاfor them مِنهُfrom them سَرابيلُtunics
مِنهُ الرِئالُ لَها مِنهُ سَرابيلُ
Then they found the eggs, with shoulders already showing,
Till they happened upon eggs lying exposed,
the ostrich chicks emerging from them, with shells for tunics.
Withfledglings cheeping shrilly for their mothers' care,
فَنَكَّباthen they both bent down يَنقُفانِboth pecking البَيضَthe eggs عَنaway from بَشَرٍskin
فَنَكَّبا يَنقُفانِ البَيضَ عَن بَشَرٍ
كَأَنَّهُas though it وَرَقُleaves البَسباسِof fennel مَغسولُwashed
كَأَنَّهُ وَرَقُ البَسباسِ مَغسولُ
They bent down, pecking the eggs away from skin
So they veered away from harming the helpless chicks,
that seemed like washed fennel leaves.
As gently as if lifting leaves of moist cabbage,
ثُمَّthen اِستَمَرّاthey both went on بِحَفّانٍwith a brood of ostrich chicks لَهُit has زَجَلٌloud chirping
ثُمَّ اِستَمَرّا بِحَفّانٍ لَهُ زَجَلٌ
كَالزَهوِlike ripening dates أَرجُلُهاtheir legs فيهاupon them عَقابيلُknobby swellings
كَالزَهوِ أَرجُلُها فيها عَقابيلُ
Then they moved on with a brood whose chirping rang out,
Then continued apace in the tracks of their guide,
like ripening dates, their legs bearing knobby swellings.
His legs striking the ground like flickering flames,
كَأَنَّas though رَحليmy saddle عَلىon حَقباءَa white-bellied wild she-ass قارِبَةٍapproaching water
كَأَنَّ رَحلي عَلى حَقباءَ قارِبَةٍ
أَحمىbarred access عَلَيهاagainst her الأَبانَينِto al-Abānayn الأَراجيلُthe men on foot
أَحمى عَلَيها الأَبانَينِ الأَراجيلُ
As though my saddle were on a white-bellied wild she-ass approaching water,
As though his saddlebags were slung over pack camels
the men on foot having barred her from al-Abānayn.
Weighted down with precious oils and perfumes,
حامَتshe circled ثَلاثَthree لَيالٍnights كُلَّماwhenever وَرَدَتshe approached water
حامَت ثَلاثَ لَيالٍ كُلَّما وَرَدَت
زالَتstirred لَهاbefore her دونَهُbetween her and it مِنهُمof them تَماثيلُfigures
زالَت لَها دونَهُ مِنهُم تَماثيلُ
She circled for three nights; whenever she came to water,
For three nights they persisted through darkness
their figures stirred before her, between her and it.
And with the rising sun effaced their pursuers' tracks,
قَدalready وَكَّلَتshe entrusted بِالهُدىwith guidance إِنسانَthe pupil صادِقَةٍof an unerring eye
قَد وَكَّلَت بِالهُدى إِنسانَ صادِقَةٍ
كَأَنَّهُas though it مِنfrom تَمامِthe full duration الظِمءِof thirst مَسمولُgouged out
كَأَنَّهُ مِن تَمامِ الظِمءِ مَسمولُ
She entrusted her course to the pupil of an unerring eye,
Entrusting the gifts to a man of integrity
as though prolonged thirst had gouged it out.
As refreshing as pure cold water on thirsty lips,
فَأَيقَنَتthen she became certain أَنthat ذاDhū هاشٍHāsh مَنِيَّتَهاher death
فَأَيقَنَت أَن ذا هاشٍ مَنِيَّتَها
وَأَنَّand that شَرقِيَّthe eastern side of إِحلِيّاءَIḥliyyāʾ مَشغولُoccupied
وَأَنَّ شَرقِيَّ إِحلِيّاءَ مَشغولُ
Then she knew for certain that Dhū Hāsh meant her death,
Certain he was true to his word, while others
and that the eastern side of Iḥliyyāʾ was occupied.
Were distracted with merriment and mirth,
فَطَرَّقَتso she came by night مَشرَباًto a drinking-place تَهويrushing وَمَورِدُهاand her watering-place
فَطَرَّقَت مَشرَباً تَهوي وَمَورِدُها
مِنَfrom الأُسَيحِمِal-Usayḥim فَالرَنقاءِthen al-Ranqāʾ مَشمولُswept by the north wind
مِنَ الأُسَيحِمِ فَالرَنقاءِ مَشمولُ
So she rushed by night to a drinking-place; her watering-ground
She turned aside, hurtling through plains and hills
from al-Usayḥim to al-Ranqāʾ was swept by the north wind.
From Al-Usaihim to Ar-Ranqaa and beyond,
حَتّىuntil اِستَغاثَتshe sought relief بِجَونٍat dark water فَوقَهُupon it حُبُكٌripples
حَتّى اِستَغاثَت بِجَونٍ فَوقَهُ حُبُكٌ
تَدعوcall هَديلاًHadīl بِهِthere الوُرقُthe gray doves المَثاكيلُbereaved
تَدعو هَديلاً بِهِ الوُرقُ المَثاكيلُ
Until she found relief at dark water, ripples upon its surface,
Until she called out in her desperation
where the bereaved gray doves call for Hadīl.
To a meadow resounding with the crickets' chorus,
ثُمَّthen اِستَمَرَّتshe went on عَلىtoward وَحشِيِّهاher outer side وَبِهاand upon her
ثُمَّ اِستَمَرَّت عَلى وَحشِيِّها وَبِها
مِنof عَرمَضٍpond algae كَوَخيفِlike the froth of الغِسلِa cleansing wash تَحجيلُstocking-like leg markings
مِن عَرمَضٍ كَوَخيفِ الغِسلِ تَحجيلُ
Then she went on toward her outer side, bearing
Then continued undaunted despite her exhaustion,
stocking-like marks of algae, like the froth of a cleansing wash.
Covered in dust like a shroud for the dead,
Sol 6.1