أَلاO! نادِياyou two, call أَظعانَthe departing caravan of لَيلىLayla تُعَرِّجِmay it halt
أَلا نادِيا أَظعانَ لَيلى تُعَرِّجِ
فَقَدfor indeed هِجنَthey stirred شَوقاًlonging لَيتَهُwould that it لَمnot يُهَيَّجِbe stirred
فَقَد هِجنَ شَوقاً لَيتَهُ لَم يُهَيَّجِ
O, you two, call Layla's departing caravan to halt!
For they have stirred a yearning I wish had never been stirred.
أَقولُI say وَأَهليand my people بِالجِنابِat al-Janab وَأَهلُهاand her people
أَقولُ وَأَهلي بِالجِنابِ وَأَهلُها
بِنَجدَينِat Najdayn لاmay not تَبعَدbe far نَوىthe destination of أُمِّUmm حَشرَجِHashraj
بِنَجدَينِ لا تَبعَد نَوى أُمِّ حَشرَجِ
I say, while my people are at al-Janab and hers
at Najdayn: may Umm Hashraj's destination not be far away!
وَقَدand indeed يَنتَئيmay grow distant مَنone who قَدindeed يَطولُlasts long اِجتِماعُهُhis companionship
وَقَد يَنتَئي مَن قَد يَطولُ اِجتِماعُهُ
وَيَخلِجُand pulls أَشطانَthe ropes of النَوىseparation كُلَّevery مَخلَجِdirection of pulling
وَيَخلِجُ أَشطانَ النَوى كُلَّ مَخلَجِ
Yet those long united may grow distant,
and tug separation's ropes in every direction.
صَباhe yearned صَبوَةَa yearning مِنfrom ذيDhu بِحارٍBihar فَجاوَزَتthen it crossed
صَبا صَبوَةَ مِن ذي بِحارٍ فَجاوَزَت
إِلىtoward آلِthe people of لَيلىLayla بَطنَthe valley of غَولٍGhawl فَمَنعِجِthen Man'ij
إِلى آلِ لَيلى بَطنَ غَولٍ فَمَنعِجِ
He yearned from Dhu Bihar, with a longing that crossed
toward Layla's people, the valley of Ghawl, then Man'ij.
كِنانِيَّةٌa woman of Kinana إِلّاif not أَنَلهاI win her فَإِنَّهاthen indeed she
كِنانِيَّةٌ إِلّا أَنَلها فَإِنَّها
عَلىdespite النَأيthe distance مِنamong أَهلِthose possessing الدَلالِcoy charm المُوَلِّجِdrawing one in
عَلى النَأي مِن أَهلِ الدَلالِ المُوَلِّجِ
A woman of Kinana—if I cannot win her, she is still,
despite the distance, one whose coy charm draws one in.
وَسيطَةُnoble-born among قَومٍa people صالِحينَworthy يَكُنُّهاshelters her
وَسيطَةُ قَومٍ صالِحينَ يَكُنُّها
مِنَfrom الحَرِّthe heat فيin دارِthe abode of النَوىseparation ظِلُّthe shade of هَودَجِa howdah
مِنَ الحَرِّ في دارِ النَوى ظِلُّ هَودَجِ
Noble-born among worthy people, she is sheltered
from the heat in her far-off home by a howdah's shade.
مُنَعَّمَةٌpampered لَمnot تَلقَshe has encountered بُؤسَhardship of مَعيشَةٍlivelihood
مُنَعَّمَةٌ لَم تَلقَ بُؤسَ مَعيشَةٍ
وَلَمand not تَغتَزِلshe has spun يَوماًever عَلىon عودِa stick of عَوسَجِboxthorn
وَلَم تَغتَزِل يَوماً عَلى عودِ عَوسَجِ
Pampered, she has never met the hardship of a poor livelihood,
nor ever spun upon a stick of boxthorn.
هَضيمُslender الحَشاin the belly لاnot يَملَأُfills الكَفَّthe hand خَصرُهاher waist
هَضيمُ الحَشا لا يَملَأُ الكَفَّ خَصرُها
وَيُملَأُand is filled مِنهاby her كُلُّevery حِجلٍanklet وَدُملَجِand armlet
وَيُملَأُ مِنها كُلُّ حِجلٍ وَدُملَجِ
Slender-waisted, her waist does not fill a hand,
yet she fills out every anklet and armlet.
تَميحُdraws up بِمِسواكِwith a tooth-stick of الأَراكِthe arak tree بَنانُهاher fingertips
تَميحُ بِمِسواكِ الأَراكِ بَنانُها
رُضابَsaliva النَدىdew عَنfrom أُقحُوانٍa daisy مُفَلَّجِwith spaced teeth
رُضابَ النَدى عَن أُقحُوانٍ مُفَلَّجِ
With an arak tooth-stick, her fingertips draw
dew-like saliva from her daisy-like, spaced teeth.
وَإِنand if مَرَّpasses مَنsomeone تَخشىshe fears اِتَّقَتهُshe shields herself from him بِمِعصَمٍwith a wrist
وَإِن مَرَّ مَن تَخشى اِتَّقَتهُ بِمِعصَمٍ
وَسِبٍّand a fine cloth بِنَضحِwith sprinklings of الزَعفَرانِsaffron مُضَرَّجِstained
وَسِبٍّ بِنَضحِ الزَعفَرانِ مُضَرَّجِ
If someone she fears passes, she shields herself with a wrist
and a fine cloth stained with sprinkled saffron.
وَتَرفَعُand she raises جِلباباًa mantle بِعَبلٍwith a plump hand مُوَشَّمٍtattooed
وَتَرفَعُ جِلباباً بِعَبلٍ مُوَشَّمٍ
يَكُنُّshelters جَبيناًa brow كانَwas غَيرَnot مُشَجَّجِgashed
يَكُنُّ جَبيناً كانَ غَيرَ مُشَجَّجِ
She raises a mantle with a plump, tattooed hand,
sheltering a brow that has never been gashed.
تَخامَصُshe shrinks away عَنfrom بَردِthe coolness of الوِشاحِthe sash إِذاwhen مَشَتshe walks
تَخامَصُ عَن بَردِ الوِشاحِ إِذا مَشَت
تَخامُصَthe shrinking of حافيan unshod one among الخَيلِhorses فيon الأَمعَزِstony ground الوَجيsore-footed
تَخامُصَ حافي الخَيلِ في الأَمعَزِ الوَجي
She shrinks from the sash's cool touch as she walks,
like an unshod, sore-footed horse shrinking on stony ground.
يُقِرُّgladdens بِعَينيto my eye أَنthat أُنَبَّأَI be told أَنَّهاthat she
يُقِرُّ بِعَيني أَن أُنَبَّأَ أَنَّها
وَإِنand though لَمnot أَنَلهاI have won her أَيِّمٌunmarried لَمnot تَزَوَّجِshe has married
وَإِن لَم أَنَلها أَيِّمٌ لَم تَزَوَّجِ
It gladdens my eye to be told that she,
though I have not won her, remains unmarried and has not wed.
وَلَوand if تَطلُبُshe seeks المَعروفَa kindness عِنديfrom me رَدَدتُهاI would send her back
وَلَو تَطلُبُ المَعروفَ عِندي رَدَدتُها
بِحاجَةِwith her need met لاnot القاليthe disdainful one وَلاand not المُتَلَجلِجِthe hesitant one
بِحاجَةِ لا القالي وَلا المُتَلَجلِجِ
And if she sought a kindness from me, I would send her away
with her need met, neither disdainful nor hesitant.
وَكُنتُand I was إِذاwhen لاقَيتُهاI met her كانَwas سِرُّناour secret
وَكُنتُ إِذا لاقَيتُها كانَ سِرُّنا
لَناours بَينَناbetween us مِثلَlike الشِواءِroast meat المُلَهوَجِhastily cooked
لَنا بَينَنا مِثلَ الشِواءِ المُلَهوَجِ
And whenever I met her, our secret
was ours, between us, like hastily roasted meat.
وَكادَتand almost غَداةَon the morning of البَينِparting يَنطِقُspeaks طَرفُهاher glance
وَكادَت غَداةَ البَينِ يَنطِقُ طَرفُها
بِماof what تَحتَbeneath مَكنونٍa guarded part مِنَof الصَدرِthe breast مُشرَجِtightly fastened
بِما تَحتَ مَكنونٍ مِنَ الصَدرِ مُشرَجِ
On the morning of parting, her glance almost spoke
of what lay beneath her guarded, tightly closed breast.
وَتَشكوand she complains بِعَينٍwith an eye ماof what أَكَلَّتwearied رِكابَهاher riding-camels
وَتَشكو بِعَينٍ ما أَكَلَّت رِكابَها
وَقيلِand the words of المُناديthe crier أَصبَحَhas reached morning القَومُthe company أَدلِجيyou, set out by night
وَقيلِ المُنادي أَصبَحَ القَومُ أَدلِجي
And with her eyes she complained of what had wearied her mounts,
and of the crier's words: 'The people are up; set out in the dark!'
أَلاlook! أَدلَجَتtraveled by night لَيلاكَyour Layla مِنwithout غَيرِa مُدلِجٍnight-traveler
أَلا أَدلَجَت لَيلاكَ مِن غَيرِ مُدلِجٍ
هَوىthe beloved of نَفسَهاher soul إِذwhen أَدلَجَتshe traveled by night لَمnot تُعَرِّجِshe turned aside
هَوى نَفسَها إِذ أَدلَجَت لَم تُعَرِّجِ
Look, your Layla traveled by night, but not
her heart's desire; when she left, she did not turn aside.
بِلَيلٍin a night كَلَونِlike the color of الساجِa dark cloak أَسوَدَblack مُظلِمٍlightless
بِلَيلٍ كَلَونِ الساجِ أَسوَدَ مُظلِمٍ
قَليلِlittle الوَغىclamor داجٍpitch-dark كَلَونِlike the color of اليَرَندَجِblack-dyed leather
قَليلِ الوَغى داجٍ كَلَونِ اليَرَندَجِ
In a night the color of a dark cloak, black and lightless,
with little clamor, pitch-dark as black-dyed leather.
لَكُنتُI would indeed be إِذاًthen كَالمُتَّقيlike one warding off رَأسَthe head of حَيَّةٍa snake
لَكُنتُ إِذاً كَالمُتَّقي رَأسَ حَيَّةٍ
بِحاجَتِهاin seeking her إِنif تُخطِئِit misses النَفسَthe life تُعرِجِit makes lame
بِحاجَتِها إِن تُخطِئِ النَفسَ تُعرِجِ
Then I would be like one warding off a snake's head
in seeking her: if it does not kill, it leaves one lame.
وَكَيفَand how تَلاقيهاcan you meet her وَقَدand indeed حالَhas intervened دونَهاbefore her
وَكَيفَ تَلاقيها وَقَد حالَ دونَها
بَنوBanu الهَونِal-Hawn أَوor جَسرٌJasr وَرَهطُand the clan of اِبنِIbn حُندُجِHunduj
بَنو الهَونِ أَو جَسرٌ وَرَهطُ اِبنِ حُندُجِ
How could you meet her, when between you and her stand
Banu al-Hawn, or Jasr, and Ibn Hunduj's clan?
تَحِلُّshe camps سَجاSaja أَوor تَجعَلُshe puts الغَيلَal-Ghayl دونَهاbefore her
تَحِلُّ سَجا أَو تَجعَلُ الغَيلَ دونَها
وَأَهليand my people بِأَطرافِat the edges of اللِوىal-Liwa فَالمُوَتَّجِthen al-Muwattaj
وَأَهلي بِأَطرافِ اللِوى فَالمُوَتَّجِ
She camps at Saja, or puts al-Ghayl between herself and me,
while my people are at the edges of al-Liwa, then al-Muwattaj.
وَأَشعَثَand a tousled man قَدindeed قَدَّtore السِفارُtravel قَميصَهُhis shirt
وَأَشعَثَ قَد قَدَّ السِفارُ قَميصَهُ
وَجَرُّand the pulling of الشِواءِroast meat بِالعَصاwith a stick غَيرُnot مُنضَجِcooked through
وَجَرُّ الشِواءِ بِالعَصا غَيرُ مُنضَجِ
And a tousled man whose shirt was torn by travel
and by pulling underdone roast meat with a stick—
دَعَوتُI called فَلَبّانيand he answered me عَلىin ماwhat يَنوبُنيbefalls me
دَعَوتُ فَلَبّاني عَلى ما يَنوبُني
كَريمٌnoble مِنَamong الفِتيانِyoung men غَيرَnot مُزَلَّجِof doubtful lineage
كَريمٌ مِنَ الفِتيانِ غَيرَ مُزَلَّجِ
I called him, and he answered me in whatever befell me,
a noble youth, of no doubtful lineage.
فَتىًa youth يَملَأُfills الشيزىwooden serving bowls وَيُرويand slakes سِنانَهُhis spearpoint
فَتىً يَملَأُ الشيزى وَيُروي سِنانَهُ
وَيَضرِبُand strikes فيat رَأسِthe head of الكَمِيِّthe warrior المُدَجَّجِfully armored
وَيَضرِبُ في رَأسِ الكَمِيِّ المُدَجَّجِ
A youth who fills the wooden bowls and slakes his spearpoint,
and strikes at the head of the fully armored warrior.
أَبَلُّtough-minded فَلاso not يَرضىhe is content بِأَدنىwith the lowliest مَعيشَةٍlivelihood
أَبَلُّ فَلا يَرضى بِأَدنى مَعيشَةٍ
وَلاand not فيin بُيوتِthe houses of الحَيِّthe tribe بِالمُتَوَلِّجِas an intruder
وَلا في بُيوتِ الحَيِّ بِالمُتَوَلِّجِ
Tough-minded, he will not settle for the lowliest livelihood,
nor creep into the tribe's houses.
وَشُعثٍand tousled men نَشاوىdrunk مِنfrom كَرىًdrowsiness عِندَbeside ضُمَّرٍlean she-camels
وَشُعثٍ نَشاوى مِن كَرىً عِندَ ضُمَّرٍ
أُنِخنَthey were made to kneel بِجَعجاعٍon hard ground قَليلِlittle المُعَرَّجِlingering
أُنِخنَ بِجَعجاعٍ قَليلِ المُعَرَّجِ
And tousled men, drunk with drowsiness, beside lean she-camels
made to kneel on hard ground, with little time to linger;
وَقَعنَthey settled بِهِthere مِنfrom أَوَّلِthe beginning of اللَيلِthe night وَقعَةًone settling
وَقَعنَ بِهِ مِن أَوَّلِ اللَيلِ وَقعَةً
لَدىbeside مُلقَحٍan impregnated firestick مِنof عودِwood مَرخٍmarkh وَمُنتَجِand one delivered of fire
لَدى مُلقَحٍ مِن عودِ مَرخٍ وَمُنتَجِ
they settled there once, early in the night,
beside a markh firestick, impregnated and delivered of flame.
قَليلاًbriefly كَحَسوِlike the sipping of الطَيرِbirds ثُمَّthen تَقَلَّصَتsped away
قَليلاً كَحَسوِ الطَيرِ ثُمَّ تَقَلَّصَت
بِناwith us كُلُّevery فَتلاءِsinewy الذِراعَينِin the forelegs عَوهَجِlong-necked she-camel
بِنا كُلُّ فَتلاءِ الذِراعَينِ عَوهَجِ
Briefly, like birds sipping; then there sped away
with us each long-necked she-camel with sinewy forelegs.
وَداوِيَّةٍand a wilderness قَفرٍdesolate تَمَشّىwalked نِعاجُهاits wild cows
وَداوِيَّةٍ قَفرٍ تَمَشّى نِعاجُها
كَمَشيِlike the walking of النَصارىChristians فيin خِفافِboots of اليَرَندَجِblack leather
كَمَشيِ النَصارى في خِفافِ اليَرَندَجِ
And a desolate wilderness whose wild cows walked
like Christians walking in boots of black leather—
قَطَعتُI crossed إِلىtoward مَعروفِهاits familiar places مُنكَراتِهاits unfamiliar places
قَطَعتُ إِلى مَعروفِها مُنكَراتِها
إِذاwhen خَبَّtrotted آلُthe mirage of الأَمعَزِstony ground المُتَوَهِّجِblazing
إِذا خَبَّ آلُ الأَمعَزِ المُتَوَهِّجِ
I crossed its unknown tracts toward its familiar ones,
as the mirage raced over the blazing stony ground.
وَأَدماءَand a pale she-camel حُرجوجٍtall and lean تَعالَلتُI kept goading مَوهِناًlate at night
وَأَدماءَ حُرجوجٍ تَعالَلتُ مَوهِناً
بِسَوطِيَwith my whip فَاِرمَدَّتthen she sped فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her عَجِturn aside!
بِسَوطِيَ فَاِرمَدَّت فَقُلتُ لَها عَجِ
And a pale, tall, lean she-camel—I kept urging her late at night
with my whip; she sped on, and I told her, 'Turn!'
إِذاwhen عيجَa turn was sought مِنهاfrom her بِالجَديلِwith the braided rein ثَنَتshe bent لَهُtoward it
إِذا عيجَ مِنها بِالجَديلِ ثَنَت لَهُ
جِراناًthe underside of the neck كَخوطِlike a shoot of الخَيزُرانِbamboo المُعَوَّجِbent
جِراناً كَخوطِ الخَيزُرانِ المُعَوَّجِ
When turned by the braided rein, she bent toward it
the underside of her neck, like a bent bamboo shoot.
وَإِنand if فَتَرَتshe slackened بَعدَafter الهِبابِswift movement ذَعَرتُهاI startled her
وَإِن فَتَرَت بَعدَ الهِبابِ ذَعَرتُها
بِأَسمَرَwith a brown whip شَختٍthin ذابِلِsupple الصَدرِat the forepart مُدرَجِtightly wrapped
بِأَسمَرَ شَختٍ ذابِلِ الصَدرِ مُدرَجِ
And if she slackened after her burst of speed, I startled her
with a brown, slender, supple-tipped, tightly wrapped whip,
إِذاwhen الظَبيُthe gazelle أَغضىclosed its eyes فيin الكِناسِthe covert كَأَنَّهُas though it
إِذا الظَبيُ أَغضى في الكِناسِ كَأَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom الحَرِّthe heat حِرجٌa wooden litter تَحتَbeneath لَوحٍa plank مُفَرَّجِgapped
مِنَ الحَرِّ حِرجٌ تَحتَ لَوحٍ مُفَرَّجِ
when the gazelle closed its eyes in its covert, as though it were,
from the heat, a wooden litter beneath a gapped plank.
كَأَنّيas though I كَسَوتُclothed الرَحلَthe saddle أَحقَبَa white-bellied wild ass ناشِطاًlively
كَأَنّي كَسَوتُ الرَحلَ أَحقَبَ ناشِطاً
مِنَfrom اللاءِthose ماwhat lies بَينَbetween الجِنابِal-Janab وَيَأجَجِand Ya'jaj
مِنَ اللاءِ ما بَينَ الجِنابِ وَيَأجَجِ
As though I had clothed the saddle in a lively, white-bellied wild ass,
one of those between al-Janab and Ya'jaj.
قُوَيرِحَfull-toothed أَعوامٍfor years كَأَنَّas though لِسانَهُhis tongue
قُوَيرِحَ أَعوامٍ كَأَنَّ لِسانَهُ
إِذاwhen صاحَhe brayed حِلوٌa loom-rod زَلَّslipped عَنfrom ظَهرِthe back of مِنسَجِa loom
إِذا صاحَ حِلوٌ زَلَّ عَن ظَهرِ مِنسَجِ
Full-toothed for years, his tongue seemed,
when he brayed, a loom-rod slipping from the back of a loom.
خَفيفَlight المِعىin the gut إِلّاexcept عُصارَةَthe juice of ماwhat اِستَقىhe drew in
خَفيفَ المِعى إِلّا عُصارَةَ ما اِستَقى
مِنَfrom البَقلِgreen herbage يَنضوهُhe sheds it لَدىat كُلِّevery مَشجَجِwatering-place
مِنَ البَقلِ يَنضوهُ لَدى كُلِّ مَشجَجِ
His gut was light save for the juice he had drawn
from green herbage, shedding it at every watering-place.
أَقَبَّthin-flanked تَرىyou see عَهدَthe marks of الفَلاةِthe desert بِجِسمِهِon his body
أَقَبَّ تَرى عَهدَ الفَلاةِ بِجِسمِهِ
كَعَهدِlike the work of الصَناعِa skilled craftswoman بِالجَديلِon the braided cord المُحَملَجِfinely twisted
كَعَهدِ الصَناعِ بِالجَديلِ المُحَملَجِ
Thin-flanked, his body showed the desert's handiwork,
like a skilled woman's work on a finely twisted cord.
إِذاwhen هُوَhe وَلّىturned away خِلتَyou imagined طُرَّةَthe stripe of مَتنِهِhis back
إِذا هُوَ وَلّى خِلتَ طُرَّةَ مَتنِهِ
مَريرَةَa strong rope مَفتولٍtwisted مِنَof القِدِّrawhide مُدمَجِtightly plaited
مَريرَةَ مَفتولٍ مِنَ القِدِّ مُدمَجِ
When he turned away, you would think the stripe along his back
a strong rope of rawhide, twisted and tightly plaited.
تَرَبَّعَhe grazed in spring مِنfrom حَوضٍHawd قَناناًQanan وَثادِقاًand Thadiq
تَرَبَّعَ مِن حَوضٍ قَناناً وَثادِقاً
نِتاجَthe offspring of الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades حَملُهاher pregnancy غَيرُnot مُخدَجِcut short
نِتاجَ الثُرَيّا حَملُها غَيرُ مُخدَجِ
He spring-grazed, from Hawd, at Qanan and Thadiq,
on the Pleiades' offspring—her pregnancy not cut short.
إِذاwhen رَجَّعَhe repeated التَعشيرَthe braying رَدّاًin reply كَأَنَّهُas though he
إِذا رَجَّعَ التَعشيرَ رَدّاً كَأَنَّهُ
بِناجِذِهِon his molar مِنfrom خَلفِbehind قارِحِهِhis canine شَجِchoked
بِناجِذِهِ مِن خَلفِ قارِحِهِ شَجِ
When he echoed his braying in reply, it was as though he
choked on a molar behind his canine.
بَعيدَfar-reaching مَدىthe range of التَطريبِthe modulation أولىthe first of نُهاقِهِhis braying
بَعيدَ مَدى التَطريبِ أولى نُهاقِهِ
سَحيلٌa shrill bray وَأُخراهُand its last part خَفِيُّfaint المُحَشرَجِin the throat-rattle
سَحيلٌ وَأُخراهُ خَفِيُّ المُحَشرَجِ
His modulations ranged far; the beginning of his braying
was a shrill cry, its end a faint throat-rattle.
خَلاhe ranged alone فَاِرتَعىthen he grazed الوَسمِيَّfirst-rain growth حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
خَلا فَاِرتَعى الوَسمِيَّ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
يَرىhe sees بِسَفاin the awns of البُهمىbuhma grass أَخِلَّةَtoothpicks مُلهِجِan avid picker
يَرى بِسَفا البُهمى أَخِلَّةَ مُلهِجِ
He ranged alone and grazed the first-rain growth, until he seemed
to see toothpicks for an avid picker in the awns of buhma grass.
إِذاif خافَhe feared يَوماًone day أَنthat يُفارِقَhe be parted from عانَةًa herd of wild asses
إِذا خافَ يَوماً أَن يُفارِقَ عانَةً
أَضَرَّhe pressed close بِمَلساءِto a smooth one العَجيزَةِin the rump سَمحَجِa long-backed she-ass
أَضَرَّ بِمَلساءِ العَجيزَةِ سَمحَجِ
If one day he feared being parted from a herd,
he pressed close to a long-backed she-ass with smooth haunches.
أَضَرَّhe pressed close بِمِقلاةٍto a she-ass whose foals die كَثيرٍmuch لُغوبُهاher weariness
أَضَرَّ بِمِقلاةٍ كَثيرٍ لُغوبُها
كَقَوسِlike a bow of السَراءِsara wood نَهدَةِfull الجَنبِin the flank ضَمعَجِstout-bodied
كَقَوسِ السَراءِ نَهدَةِ الجَنبِ ضَمعَجِ
He pressed close to a she-ass whose foals did not live, often weary,
like a sara-wood bow, full-flanked and stout.
إِذاwhen كانَhe was مِنهاbehind her مَوضِعَat the place of الرِدفِthe rear rider زَيَّفَتshe strutted
إِذا كانَ مِنها مَوضِعَ الرِدفِ زَيَّفَت
بِأَسمَرَon a brown hoof لامٍwell-formed لاnot أَرَحَّflat وَلاand not وَجيsore-footed
بِأَسمَرَ لامٍ لا أَرَحَّ وَلا وَجي
When he came behind her, she strutted
on a brown, well-formed hoof, neither flat nor sore,
مُفِجُّspreading apart الحَواميthe hoof-walls عَنfrom نُسورٍhoof-frogs كَأَنَّهاas though they
مُفِجُّ الحَوامي عَن نُسورٍ كَأَنَّها
نَوىdate-stones القَسبِof dry dates تَرَّتfell free عَنfrom جَريمٍpicked fruit مُلَجلَجِrolled in the mouth
نَوى القَسبِ تَرَّت عَن جَريمٍ مُلَجلَجِ
spreading its hoof-walls from frogs that seemed
dry-date stones shed by picked fruit rolled in the mouth.
مَتىwhen ماever تَقَعfall أَرساغُهُhis pasterns مُطمَئِنَّةًfirmly set
مَتى ما تَقَع أَرساغُهُ مُطمَئِنَّةً
عَلىon حَجَرٍa stone يَرفَضُّit shatters أَوor يَتَدَحرَجِrolls away
عَلى حَجَرٍ يَرفَضُّ أَو يَتَدَحرَجِ
Whenever his pasterns settled firmly
on a stone, it shattered or rolled away.
كَأَنَّas though مَكانَthe place of الجَحشِthe foal مِنهاon her إِذاwhen جَرَتshe runs
كَأَنَّ مَكانَ الجَحشِ مِنها إِذا جَرَت
مَناطُthe hanging-strap of مِجَنٍّa shield أَوor مُعَلَّقُthe suspension-loop of دُملُجِan armlet
مَناطُ مِجَنٍّ أَو مُعَلَّقُ دُملُجِ
When she ran, her foal's nursing-place seemed
a shield's hanging-strap, or an armlet's suspension-loop.
فَإِنso if لاnot يَروعاهُthe two startle him يُصيباthe two strike فُؤادَهُhis heart
فَإِن لا يَروعاهُ يُصيبا فُؤادَهُ
وَيَحرَجand he escapes بِعَجلىon a swift limb شَطبَةٍslender كُلَّevery مَحرَجِescape-route
وَيَحرَج بِعَجلى شَطبَةٍ كُلَّ مَحرَجِ
If the two do not startle him, they strike his heart,
and he darts through every escape-route on swift, slender limbs,
بِمَفطوحَةِwith a broad hoof الأَطرافِat the edges جَدبٍhard كَأَنَّماas though
بِمَفطوحَةِ الأَطرافِ جَدبٍ كَأَنَّما
تَوَقُّدُهاits flashing فيon الصَخرِthe rock نيرانُfires of عَرفَجِarfaj
تَوَقُّدُها في الصَخرِ نيرانُ عَرفَجِ
with a hard, broad-edged hoof, as though
its flashing on the rock were fires of arfaj.
مَتىwhen ماever يَسُفskims low خَيشومُهُhis muzzle فَوقَabove تَلعَةٍa gully
مَتى ما يَسُف خَيشومُهُ فَوقَ تَلعَةٍ
مَصامَةَa resting-place of أَعيارٍwild asses مِنَfrom الصَيفِsummer يَنشِجِhe gasps
مَصامَةَ أَعيارٍ مِنَ الصَيفِ يَنشِجِ
Whenever his muzzle skims above a gully,
a summer haunt of wild asses, he gasps.
وَإِنand if يُلقِياthe two cover شَأواًa running-distance بِأَرضٍacross ground هَوىswoops down لَهُtoward him
وَإِن يُلقِيا شَأواً بِأَرضٍ هَوى لَهُ
مُفَرَّضُscarred أَطرافِat the ends of الذِراعَينِthe forelegs أَفلَجِwide-set
مُفَرَّضُ أَطرافِ الذِراعَينِ أَفلَجِ
And if the pair runs a stretch across the land, toward him swoops
a wide-set hound with scarred foreleg-ends,
يَظَلَّhe remains بِأَعلاon the heights of ذيDhu العُشَيرَةِal-'Ushayra صائِماًmotionless
يَظَلَّ بِأَعلا ذي العُشَيرَةِ صائِماً
عَلَيهِover him وُقوفَthe stance of الفارِسِيِّthe Persian المُتَوَّجِcrowned
عَلَيهِ وُقوفَ الفارِسِيِّ المُتَوَّجِ
which stands motionless on the heights of Dhu al-'Ushayra,
over him, with the stance of a crowned Persian.
وَإِنand if جاهَدتَهُshe strains him بِالخَبارِon soft ground اِنبَرىhe darts لَهاtoward her
وَإِن جاهَدتَهُ بِالخَبارِ اِنبَرى لَها
بِذاوٍwith a lean body وَإِنand if يَهبِطslopes down بِهِcarrying him السَهلُthe plain يَمعَجِhe bounds
بِذاوٍ وَإِن يَهبِط بِهِ السَهلُ يَمعَجِ
And if she strains him over soft ground, he darts toward her
with his lean body; if the plain slopes down beneath him, he bounds.
تَواصىexchanged instructions بِهاabout her العِكراشُal-'Ikrash فيat كُلِّevery مَشرَبٍwatering-place
تَواصى بِها العِكراشُ في كُلِّ مَشرَبٍ
وَكَعبُand Ka'b بنُson of سَعدٍSa'd بِالجَديلِwith the braided cord المُضَرَّجِred-stained
وَكَعبُ بنُ سَعدٍ بِالجَديلِ المُضَرَّجِ
Instructions about her at every watering-place were shared by al-'Ikrash
and Ka'b ibn Sa'd, with the red-stained braided cord,
بِزُرقِwith blue النَواحيedges مُرهَفاتٍsharpened كَأَنَّماas though
بِزُرقِ النَواحي مُرهَفاتٍ كَأَنَّما
تَوَقُّدُهاtheir flashing فيin الصُبحِthe morning نيرانُfires of عَرفَجِarfaj
تَوَقُّدُها في الصُبحِ نيرانُ عَرفَجِ
with blue-edged, keenly sharpened points, as though
their flashing in the morning were fires of arfaj.
Sol 6.1