وَهَلand is there? داعٍa caller فَيُسمَعَso as to make him hear عَبدَʿAbd (name element: servant of) عَمروٍʿAmr (name)
وَهَل داعٍ فَيُسمَعَ عَبدَ عَمروٍ
لِأَخرىto the rearmost of الخَيلِthe cavalry تَصرَعُهاlay them low الرِماحُthe spears
لِأَخرى الخَيلِ تَصرَعُها الرِماحُ
Is there a caller who might summon ʿAbd ʿAmr
Is there any friend whose prayer is heard for the slave of Amr
to the rear of the cavalry, which the spears are felling?
For another cavalry whose spears make them fall
فَلاso no وَأَبيكَby your father لاnot أَنسىI forget خَليليmy dear friend
فَلا وَأَبيكَ لا أَنسى خَليلي
بِبَدوَةَat Badwah ماas long as تَحَرَّكَتِstir الرِياحُthe winds
بِبَدوَةَ ما تَحَرَّكَتِ الرِياحُ
No—by your father, I shall not forget my dear friend
No, by your father, I do not forget my friend
at Badwah, as long as the winds stir.
In the desert, no matter how much the winds blow
وَكُنتَand you were صَفِيَّthe chosen companion of نَفسيmy soul دونَin preference to قَوميmy people
وَكُنتَ صَفِيَّ نَفسي دونَ قَومي
وَوُدِّيَand my beloved دونَin preference to حامِلَةِthose who bear السِلاحِarms
وَوُدِّيَ دونَ حامِلَةِ السِلاحِ
And you were my soul’s chosen companion above my people,
You were the choice of my soul over my people
and my beloved above those who bear arms.
And my love over the bearer of weapons
Sol 6.1