أَلاOh! لَيتَif only المَنازِلَthe dwellings قَدalready بَلَيناthey wore away
أَلا لَيتَ المَنازِلَ قَد بَلَينا
فَلاso not يَرمينَthey strike عَنfrom شُزُنٍa sidelong direction حَزيناa grieving man
فَلا يَرمينَ عَن شُزُنٍ حَزينا
Oh, if only the dwellings had worn away,
Alas, if only we had reached the dwellings,
so they would not strike a grieving man from the side.
So no sad person casts me away in grief.
كَأَنَّas though عَلىupon الجِمالِthe camels أَوانَat the time خَفَّتthey departed lightly
كَأَنَّ عَلى الجِمالِ أَوانَ خَفَّت
هَجائِنَpure-white females مِنfrom among نِعاجِwild cows أُراقَUraq عيناwide-eyed
هَجائِنَ مِن نِعاجِ أُراقَ عينا
As though upon the camels, when they departed lightly,
As if the beauty of the camels was fading,
were pure-white, wide-eyed wild cows of Uraq.
Yearning does the lambs’ eyes pour.
وَضَعنَthey laid out بِذيat Dhu الجَداةِal-Jadah فُضولَtrailing lengths ريطٍfine cloths
وَضَعنَ بِذي الجَداةِ فُضولَ ريطٍ
لَكِيماso that يَختَدِرنَthey enter curtained seclusion وَيَرتَديناand wear cloaks
لَكِيما يَختَدِرنَ وَيَرتَدينا
At Dhu al-Jadah they laid out trailing lengths of fine cloth,
They placed before the burly man surplus provisions,
to enter curtained seclusion and wear cloaks.
So they can recover and don his garments.
تَكادُalmost الشَمسُthe sun تَخضَعُbows حينَwhen تَبدوit appears
تَكادُ الشَمسُ تَخضَعُ حينَ تَبدو
لَهُنbefore them وَماand not وَبِدنَthey became wretched وَماand not لُحيناthey were reproached
لَهُن وَما وَبِدنَ وَما لُحينا
The sun almost bows when it appears
The sun nearly sets in awe when it rises above them,
before them; they have neither grown wretched nor been reproached.
As fair they are, they have not yet been created, nor born.
أَلاOh! لَيتَif only الرِياحَthe winds رَسولُa messenger قَومٍa people
أَلا لَيتَ الرِياحَ رَسولُ قَومٍ
بِمَرجِat Marj صِراعَSira‘ أَوor بِالأَندَريناat al-Andarin
بِمَرجِ صِراعَ أَو بِالأَندَرينا
Oh, if only the winds were a people's messenger,
Alas, if only the winds were a messenger for some people,
at Marj Sira‘ or at al-Andarin.
In the pasturelands of Sira' or Al-Andarin.
وَماnor بَيضاءُa white cloud فيin نَضَدٍpiled tiers تَداعىcall to one another
وَما بَيضاءُ في نَضَدٍ تَداعى
بِبَرقٍwith lightning فيin عَوارِضَhorizon cloudbanks قَدalready شَريناthey flashed fiercely
بِبَرقٍ في عَوارِضَ قَد شَرينا
Nor is a white cloud, amid tiers calling to one another,
Nor is the white one clad in fine garments
with lightning in cloudbanks already ablaze—
Like lightning in the storm clouds we drove.
يُضيءُilluminates صَبيرُهاits dense cloud-mass فيwithin ذيhaving حَبِيٍّcreeping cloudbanks
يُضيءُ صَبيرُها في ذي حَبِيٍّ
جَواشِنَthe breastplates لَيلِهاof its night بَيناًat one interval فَبَيناthen at another
جَواشِنَ لَيلِها بَيناً فَبَينا
its piled mass, amid creeping clouds, illuminating
Its patience at night in Dhi Haby
the breastplates of its night, interval after interval—
Lights up its dark night intermittently.
بِأَحسَنَmore beautiful مِنthan غَنِيَّةَGhaniyyah يَومَon the day راحَتshe departed
بِأَحسَنَ مِن غَنِيَّةَ يَومَ راحَت
وَجارَتِهاand her neighbor وَمِنand than أُمِّUmm (mother of) البَنيناal-Banin (the sons)
وَجارَتِها وَمِن أُمِّ البَنينا
more beautiful than Ghaniyyah the day she departed,
Better than the singing of a resting day,
and her neighbor, and Umm al-Banin.
And the calling of its neighbor, and mother of boys.
وَماnor بَيضاتُthe eggs ذيof one possessing لِبَدٍmatted plumage هِجَفِّhuge
وَما بَيضاتُ ذي لِبَدٍ هِجَفِّ
سُقينَthey were watered بِزاجِلٍwith the ostrich's seed حَتّىuntil رَويناthey drank their fill
سُقينَ بِزاجِلٍ حَتّى رَوينا
Nor the eggs of a huge ostrich with matted plumage,
The white eggs in Dhi Labad are not
watered with its seed until they drank their fill,
Watered with fresh water until we quench their thirst.
وُضِعنَthey were laid فَكُلُّهُنَّand so all of them عَلىon غِرارِone pattern
وُضِعنَ فَكُلُّهُنَّ عَلى غِرارِ
هِجانُpure-white اللَونِin color قَدalready وَسَقَتeach has carried جَنيناan embryo
هِجانُ اللَونِ قَد وَسَقَت جَنينا
laid down, all of them alike,
They are placed atop stone vessels,
pure-white in color, each bearing an embryo.
Their different colors have grown saplings.
يَبيتُhe spends the night يَحُفُّهُنَّenclosing them بِقَفقَفَيهِwith his two wings
يَبيتُ يَحُفُّهُنَّ بِقَفقَفَيهِ
وَيُلحِفُهُنَّand he blankets them هَفهافاًlight, fluttering plumage ثَخيناthick
وَيُلحِفُهُنَّ هَفهافاً ثَخينا
He spends the night enclosing them with his two wings,
He spends the night protecting them with his wings,
and blankets them with thick, softly fluttering plumage,
And warming them, plump and fat.
بِهَجلٍin a broad hollow مِنof قَساًQasa ذَفرِstrongly scented with الخُزامىlavender
بِهَجلٍ مِن قَساً ذَفرِ الخُزامى
تَداعىcalls out الجِربِياءُthe cold north wind بِهِin it الحَنيناplaintive moaning
تَداعى الجِربِياءُ بِهِ الحَنينا
in a broad hollow of Qasa, strongly scented with lavender,
With a cough from coarse, thick Fur’s,
where the north wind echoes its plaintive moaning.
The scabby came together in yearning.
بِحَيثُwhere هَراقَpoured out فيinto نَعمانNu‘man خَرجٌKharj
بِحَيثُ هَراقَ في نَعمان خَرجٌ
دَوافِعُrushing torrents فيamong بِراقِstony rises الأَديَثيناal-Adyathin
دَوافِعُ في بِراقِ الأَديَثينا
Where Kharj poured into Nu‘man
Where the cavalry set out from Nu’man,
rushing torrents among the stony rises of al-Adyathin,
Riders in the meadows of Ed-Dithin.
تَفَقَّأَburst open فَوقَهُabove it القَلَعُthe mountainous cloud-masses السَواريmoving by night
تَفَقَّأَ فَوقَهُ القَلَعُ السَواري
وَجُنَّand went mad الخازِthe khaz- (in 'khaz-baz': flies) بازِbaz (completing 'khaz-baz': flies) بِهِin it جُنوناin a frenzy
وَجُنَّ الخازِ بازِ بِهِ جُنونا
the night-traveling cloud-masses burst above it,
The fortress, As-Sawari, crumbled over it,
and the flies went mad there, utterly mad.
And protected it, possessed by its madness.
فَماnor then أَلواحُthe gleaming surfaces دُرَّةِa pearl هِبرِقِيٍّa jeweler
فَما أَلواحُ دُرَّةِ هِبرِقِيٍّ
جَلاcleared away عَنهاfrom it مُخَتِّمُهاits ring-setter الكُنوناthe coverings
جَلا عَنها مُخَتِّمُها الكُنونا
Nor, then, the gleaming surfaces of a jeweler's pearl,
The plaques of Durrah of Hibriqiy
whose ring-setter cleared away its coverings.
Did not reveal its hidden treasures.
فَأَشرَطَso he risked نَفسَهُhis own life حِرصاًout of eagerness عَلَيهاfor it
فَأَشرَطَ نَفسَهُ حِرصاً عَلَيها
وَكانَand he was بِنَفسِهِof his own life حَجِئاًprotective ضَنيناsparing
وَكانَ بِنَفسِهِ حَجِئاً ضَنينا
He risked his own life out of eagerness for it,
He staked his soul out of greed for it,
though he was protective and sparing of his own life.
And his soul was miserly and woeful.
تَظَلُّthey remain بَناتُthe daughters أَعنَقَof A‘naq مُسرِجاتٍsaddled
تَظَلُّ بَناتُ أَعنَقَ مُسرِجاتٍ
لِرُؤيَتِهاto see it يَرُحنَthey go in the evening وَيَغتَديناand go in the morning
لِرُؤيَتِها يَرُحنَ وَيَغتَدينا
The daughters of A‘naq remain saddled,
The daughters of the long-necked saddled camels
going at evening and morning to see it.
Delight and frolic to see them.
فَإَمّاso if ever زالَslips off سَرجٌa saddle عَنfrom مَعَدِّa flank
فَإَمّا زالَ سَرجٌ عَن مَعَدِّ
وَأَجدِرand how likely بِالحَوادِثِfor calamities أَنthat تَكوناthey should occur
وَأَجدِر بِالحَوادِثِ أَن تَكونا
So if ever a saddle slips from a flank—
So one saddle slipped from a camel’s back,
and how likely calamities are to occur—
More deserving of events to come.
فَلاthen do not تَصلَيyou become afflicted بِمَطروقٍwith a weakling إِذاwhen ماindeed (emphasis)
فَلا تَصلَي بِمَطروقٍ إِذا ما
سَرىhe journeys by night فيamong القَومِthe people أَصبَحَhe becomes by morning مُستَكيناcowed
سَرى في القَومِ أَصبَحَ مُستَكينا
then do not be burdened with a weakling who, when
So do not pray in a submissive state if
he journeys by night among the people, is cowed by morning.
Morning breaks and you awake wretched.
إِذاwhen شَرِبَhe drinks المُرِضَّةَa scant draught of milk قالَhe says أَوكيtie shut
إِذا شَرِبَ المُرِضَّةَ قالَ أَوكي
عَلىover ماwhat فيis in سِقائِكَyour drinking-skin قَدalready رَويناwe have drunk our fill
عَلى ما في سِقائِكَ قَد رَوينا
When he drinks a little milk, he says, 'Tie it shut
When he drinks deadly poison he says “enough,”
over what is in your milk-skin; we have drunk our fill.'
We quenched our thirst with your drink.
يَلومُhe finds fault وَلاand not يُلامُhe is faulted وَلاand not يُباليhe cares
يَلومُ وَلا يُلامُ وَلا يُبالي
أَغَيّاًwhether wasted كانwas لَحمُكَyour flesh أَوor سَميناfat
أَغَيّاً كان لَحمُكَ أَو سَمينا
He finds fault, but is not faulted, and does not care
He blames and is not blamed and does not care
whether your flesh is wasted or fat.
If your meat was lean or fat.
يَظَلُّhe spends the day أَمامَbefore بَيتِكِyour tent مُجلَخِدّاًsprawled motionless
يَظَلُّ أَمامَ بَيتِكِ مُجلَخِدّاً
كَماas though اِلقَيتِyou flung بِالسَندِonto the slope الَوَضيناthe plaited saddle-girth
كَما اِلقَيتِ بِالسَندِ الَوَضينا
He spends the day before your tent, sprawled motionless,
He remains crouched at your home
like a plaited saddle-girth you have flung upon the slope.
As you threw him on the smooth rock.
إِذاwhen اِشتَدَّgrows harsh الزَمانُthe times أَكَبَّhe sinks down لَغباًexhausted
إِذا اِشتَدَّ الزَمانُ أَكَبَّ لَغباً
فَلاso neither قَرحاًa mature beast يُدِرُّhe makes yield milk وَلاnor لَبوناa milk-giving she-camel
فَلا قَرحاً يُدِرُّ وَلا لَبونا
When times grow harsh, he sinks down, exhausted,
When times get tough he shows extreme greed,
and makes neither a mature beast nor a milch-camel yield milk.
No wounds he dresses, and no garments he sews.
وَبَلّيand try your lot إِنif هَلَكتُI perish بِأَريحيwith a generous-hearted man
وَبَلّي إِن هَلَكتُ بِأَريحي
مِنَfrom among الفِتيانِthe young men لاnot يُضحيhe spends the forenoon بَطيناbelly-full
مِنَ الفِتيانِ لا يُضحي بَطينا
And if I perish, try your lot with a generous-hearted man,
And I am destroyed by my companion among the youth
from among the young men, never belly-full by midmorning.
Who does not sacrifice his abdomen.
كَأَنَّas though الصَقرَthe falcon يَقلِبُturns مُقلَتَيهِits two eyes
كَأَنَّ الصَقرَ يَقلِبُ مُقلَتَيهِ
إِذاwhen نَفَضَhe shakes out العُيوبَthe store-bags وَقَدand already خَفيناwe have grown faint
إِذا نَفَضَ العُيوبَ وَقَد خَفينا
As though a falcon were turning its two eyes,
As if the falcon turns his eyes,
when he shakes out the store-bags, while we have grown faint.
When he shook off drowsiness and we were frightened.
كَأَنَّas though اللَيلَthe night لاnot يَغسىdarkens عَلَيهِover him
كَأَنَّ اللَيلَ لا يَغسى عَلَيهِ
إِذاwhen زَجَرَhe urges on السَبَنتاةَthe strong, long-bodied she-camel الأَموناthe surefooted one
إِذا زَجَرَ السَبَنتاةَ الأَمونا
As though night cast no darkness over him,
As if the night does not sleep with it
when he urges on the strong, surefooted she-camel.
When it scolds the slumbering guards.
يُصيبُhe takes on مَغارِماًfinancial burdens فيamong القَومِthe people قَصداًdeliberately
يُصيبُ مَغارِماً في القَومِ قَصداً
وَهُنَّand they لِغَيرِهِfor someone other than him لاnot يَبتَغيناare sought after
وَهُنَّ لِغَيرِهِ لا يَبتَغينا
He deliberately takes on financial burdens among the people,
He deliberately earns spoils among the people,
which no one other than him seeks out.
While they do not seek to do so.
فَماso not كَلَّفتُكِI burdened you with القَدَرَfate المُغَبّىthe concealed
فَما كَلَّفتُكِ القَدَرَ المُغَبّى
وَلاnor الطَيرَthe birds as omens الَّذيwhich لاnot تَعبُريناyou interpret
وَلا الطَيرَ الَّذي لا تَعبُرينا
So I have not burdened you with hidden fate,
I did not assign you the unknown destiny,
nor with the birds whose omens you do not interpret.
Nor the bird which you cannot interpret.
أَصَمَّwent unheard دُعاءُthe plea عاذِلَتيof my female reprover تَحَجّىshe clings
أَصَمَّ دُعاءُ عاذِلَتي تَحَجّى
بِآخِرِناto the last of us وَتَنسىand she forgets أَوَّليناthe first of us
بِآخِرِنا وَتَنسى أَوَّلينا
My reprover's cry goes unheard; she clings
The prayer of my blamer assailed me,
to the last of us, and forgets the first of us.
Forgetting our first and last.
لَبِسناwe wore حِبرَهُits finery حَتّىuntil اِقتُضيناwe were called upon to pay
لَبِسنا حِبرَهُ حَتّى اِقتُضينا
لِأَعمالٍfor deeds وَآجالِand lifespans قَضيناwe fulfilled
لِأَعمالٍ وَآجالِ قَضينا
We wore its finery until we were called to pay,
We wore its ink until we demanded
for deeds and lifespans we had fulfilled.
For deeds and predetermined terms we fulfilled.
وَإِنَّand indeed المَوتَdeath أَدنىnearer مِنthan خَيالٍa phantom
وَإِنَّ المَوتَ أَدنى مِن خَيالٍ
وَدونَand before العَيشِlife تَهواداًgently; at ease ذَنيناfeeble
وَدونَ العَيشِ تَهواداً ذَنينا
And death is indeed nearer than a phantom,
Death is closer than a mirage,
while frailty stands before a life of gentle ease.
And nearer to life, moaning woefully.
وَقارِقَةٍand many a calamity مِنَamong الأَيّامِthe days لَولاwere it not for
وَقارِقَةٍ مِنَ الأَيّامِ لَولا
سَبيلُهُمُtheir course لَزاحَتit would have withdrawn عَنكَfrom you حيناfor a while
سَبيلُهُمُ لَزاحَت عَنكَ حينا
And many a calamity among the days, were it not
If not for the intervening days,
for their course, would have withdrawn from you awhile.
They would have slipped away from you for a while.
دَبَبتُI crept لَهاtoward it الضَرّاءَunder cover وَقُلتُand I said أَبقىmore life-preserving
دَبَبتُ لَها الضَرّاءَ وَقُلتُ أَبقى
إِذاwhen عَزَّprevails اِبنُthe son of عَمِّكَyour paternal uncle أَنto تَهوَناyou yield
إِذا عَزَّ اِبنُ عَمِّكَ أَن تَهوَنا
I crept toward it under cover and said, 'It is safer,
I followed adversity and said: “Shall I remain
when your cousin prevails, for you to yield.'
When the son of your uncle disdained that you be lowered?”
Sol 6.1