وَدِّعbid farewell to لَميسَLamis وَداعَthe farewell of الصارِمِone who severs ties اللاحيthe reproacher
وَدِّع لَميسَ وَداعَ الصارِمِ اللاحي
إِذsince فَنَّكَتshe persisted فيin فَسادٍwrongdoing بَعدَafter إِصلاحِreform
إِذ فَنَّكَت في فَسادٍ بَعدَ إِصلاحِ
Bid Lamis farewell as one who severs ties and reproaches her.
Bid farewell to Lamis with the farewell of the stern warrior
Since she persisted in wrongdoing after reform.
When you failed after reform, decayed.
إِذwhen تَستَبيكَshe captivates you بِمَصقولٍwith a polished mouth عَوارِضُهُits side teeth
إِذ تَستَبيكَ بِمَصقولٍ عَوارِضُهُ
حَمشِthin اللِثاتِthe gums عِذابٍsweet-tasting غَيرِnot مِملاحِsalty
حَمشِ اللِثاتِ عِذابٍ غَيرِ مِملاحِ
When she captivates you with a mouth whose side teeth are polished,
When your polished cheeks were tear-stained
Its gums thin, its taste sweet, never salty.
With the torture of thick-lipped plainness, not beautiful.
وَقَدand indeed لَهَوتُI dallied بِمِثلِwith one like الرِئمِthe white gazelle آنِسَةٍa companionable woman
وَقَد لَهَوتُ بِمِثلِ الرِئمِ آنِسَةٍ
تُصبيshe beguiles الحَليمَthe self-possessed man عَروبٍaffectionate غَيرِnot مِكلاحِscowling
تُصبي الحَليمَ عَروبٍ غَيرِ مِكلاحِ
And I have dallied with a companionable woman like a white gazelle,
And I have sported with the likes of graceful company,
Who beguiles the self-possessed, affectionate and never scowling.
That makes the forbearing drink unmixed wine without fatigue.
كَأَنَّas though ريقَتَهاher saliva بَعدَafter الكَرىsleep اِغتَبَقَتhad drunk at evening
كَأَنَّ ريقَتَها بَعدَ الكَرى اِغتَبَقَت
مِنfrom ماءِthe drink of أَصهَبَa ruddy-haired man فيin الحانوتِthe tavern نَضّاحِa lavish pourer
مِن ماءِ أَصهَبَ في الحانوتِ نَضّاحِ
As though, after sleep, her saliva had drunk an evening draught
As if her spittle after old age had fermented
Of wine from a ruddy-haired, lavish pourer in the tavern,
From the water of a black wineskin at the vintner's.
أَوor مِنfrom مُعَتَّقَةٍaged wine وَرهاءَbewildering نَشوَتُهاits intoxication
أَو مِن مُعَتَّقَةٍ وَرهاءَ نَشوَتُها
أَوor مِنfrom أَنابيبِjuice-channels رُمّانٍpomegranates وَتُفّاحِand apples
أَو مِن أَنابيبِ رُمّانٍ وَتُفّاحِ
Or of aged wine whose intoxication bewilders,
Or from the squeezings of a heated grape, her intoxication arose,
Or from the juice-channels of pomegranates and apples.
Or from the pipes of a pomegranate or an apple.
هَبَّتshe rose تَلومُshe reproaches وَلَيسَتand it is not ساعَةَthe hour of اللاحيthe reproacher
هَبَّت تَلومُ وَلَيسَت ساعَةَ اللاحي
هَلّاwhy did you not اِنتَظَرتِyou waited بِهَذاwith this اللَومِreproach إِصباحيmy reaching morning
هَلّا اِنتَظَرتِ بِهَذا اللَومِ إِصباحي
She rose to reproach me, though it was no hour for a reproacher.
She came blaming but it was not the hour of the warrior,
Could you not have delayed this reproach until my morning came?
Why didn't she wait for my awakening with this blame?
قاتَلَهاmay He confound her اللَهُGod تَلحانيshe reproaches me وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَتshe knew
قاتَلَها اللَهُ تَلحاني وَقَد عَلِمَت
أَنّيthat I لِنَفسِيَfor myself إِفساديmy ruin وَإِصلاحيand my reform
أَنّي لِنَفسِيَ إِفسادي وَإِصلاحي
May God confound her! She reproaches me, though she knows
May God destroy her, she blames me and she knew
That my ruin and my reform are my own affair.
That my corruption and my reform are mine.
إِنif أَشرَبِI drink الخَمرَthe wine أَوor أُرزَأI suffer a loss لَهاfor it ثَمَناًa price
إِن أَشرَبِ الخَمرَ أَو أُرزَأ لَها ثَمَناً
فَلاthen no مَحالَةَescape يَوماًone day أَنَّنيthat I am صاحيsober
فَلا مَحالَةَ يَوماً أَنَّني صاحي
If I drink wine or bear the loss of its price,
If I drink wine or if I pay its price
Then inevitably, one day I shall be sober.
There is no doubt that one day I will be sober.
وَلاand no مَحالَةَescape مِنfrom قَبرٍa grave بِمَحنِيَةٍat a valley bend
وَلا مَحالَةَ مِن قَبرٍ بِمَحنِيَةٍ
وَكَفَنٍand a shroud كَسَراةِlike the back of الثَورِthe wild bull وَضّاحِbright white
وَكَفَنٍ كَسَراةِ الثَورِ وَضّاحِ
And there is no escaping a grave at a valley bend,
And no doubt one day from a grave of affliction,
And a shroud as brightly white as a wild bull's back.
And a shroud of thorn-wood and canes.
دَعِleave العَجوزَينِthe two old women لاdo not تَسمَعlisten لِقيلِهِماto their talk
دَعِ العَجوزَينِ لا تَسمَع لِقيلِهِما
وَاِعمَدand turn إِلىto سَيِّدٍa chief فيin الحَيِّthe tribe جَحجاحِnoble and generous
وَاِعمَد إِلى سَيِّدٍ في الحَيِّ جَحجاحِ
Leave the two old women; do not heed their talk.
Leave the two old women, do not listen to their words,
And turn to a noble, generous chief among the tribe.
And set out to a lord in the tribe, nimble.
كانَused to الشَبابُyouth يُلَهّيناamuse us وَيُعجِبُناand delight us
كانَ الشَبابُ يُلَهّينا وَيُعجِبُنا
فَماso not وَهَبناwe gave away وَلاand not بِعناwe sold بِأَرباحِfor profits
فَما وَهَبنا وَلا بِعنا بِأَرباحِ
Youth used to amuse and delight us,
Youth made us heedless and amazed us,
So we neither gave it away nor sold it for profit.
So we did not give nor sell for profits.
إِنّيindeed I أَرِقتُlay sleepless وَلَمand did not تَأرَقyou lie awake مَعيwith me صاحيmy friend
إِنّي أَرِقتُ وَلَم تَأرَق مَعي صاحي
لِمُستَكِفٍّfor horizon-spanning lightning بُعَيدَa little after النَومِsleep لَوّاحِrepeatedly flashing
لِمُستَكِفٍّ بُعَيدَ النَومِ لَوّاحِ
I have lain sleepless, while you did not keep vigil with me, my friend,
I have stayed awake while you have not kept me company, friend,
Because of lightning spanning the horizon, flashing soon after sleep.
One averse to sleep, tossing and turning.
قَدindeed نُمتَyou slept عَنّيaway from me وَباتَand spent the night البَرقُthe lightning يُسهِرُنيkeeping me awake
قَد نُمتَ عَنّي وَباتَ البَرقُ يُسهِرُني
كَماas اِستَضاءَfound light يَهودِيٌّa Jew بِمِصباحِby a lamp
كَما اِستَضاءَ يَهودِيٌّ بِمِصباحِ
You slept apart from me, while lightning kept me awake all night,
You slept away from me while lightning kept me awake
As a Jew takes light from a lamp.
As a Jew was illuminated by his lamp.
ياO مَنwho لِبَرقٍfor lightning أَبيتُI spend the night اللَيلَthe night أَرقُبُهُwatching it
يا مَن لِبَرقٍ أَبيتُ اللَيلَ أَرقُبُهُ
فيin عارِضٍa cloudbank كَمُضيءِlike the light of الصُبحِdawn لَمّاحِflashing
في عارِضٍ كَمُضيءِ الصُبحِ لَمّاحِ
Ah, who will heed the lightning I watch all night,
O you whom I stayed awake watching for lightning in the night
Flashing in a cloudbank like the light of dawn?
In a cheek as bright as the dawn’s light, glimmering.
دانٍnear مُسِفٍّlow-hanging فُوَيقَjust above الأَرضِthe earth هَيدَبُهُits trailing fringe
دانٍ مُسِفٍّ فُوَيقَ الأَرضِ هَيدَبُهُ
يَكادُalmost يَدفَعُهُpushes it away مَنwhoever قامَstands بِالراحِwith the palms
يَكادُ يَدفَعُهُ مَن قامَ بِالراحِ
Low and close, its trailing fringe just above the earth,
A firebrand dragging its abdomen on the ground
A standing man could almost push it away with his palms.
That one standing by the mill almost pushes away.
كَأَنَّas though رَيِّقَهُits leading edge لَمّاwhen عَلاit rose above شَطِباًShatib
كَأَنَّ رَيِّقَهُ لَمّا عَلا شَطِباً
أَقرابُflanks أَبلَقَa piebald horse يَنفيit drives off الخَيلَthe horses رَمّاحِhard-kicking
أَقرابُ أَبلَقَ يَنفي الخَيلَ رَمّاحِ
As though its leading edge, when it rose above Shatib,
As if its spittle when it climbed up the wick
Were the flanks of a piebald horse that kicks other horses away.
Was the relatives of a piebald driving away the horses, brandishing.
هَبَّتblew جَنوبٌa south wind بِأَعلاهُagainst its top وَمالَand tipped بِهِit
هَبَّت جَنوبٌ بِأَعلاهُ وَمالَ بِهِ
أَعجازُtrailing masses مُزنٍrainclouds يَسُحُّpouring الماءِthe water دَلّاحِheavily laden
أَعجازُ مُزنٍ يَسُحُّ الماءِ دَلّاحِ
A south wind blew against its top, and it was tilted by
A south wind blew violently lifting its crown
The trailing masses of heavy rainclouds pouring water.
The sterns of a water-drawer wiping the water, dripping.
فَاِلتَجَّthen roared أَعلاهُits upper part ثُمَّthen اِرتَجَّshook أَسفَلُهُits lower part
فَاِلتَجَّ أَعلاهُ ثُمَّ اِرتَجَّ أَسفَلُهُ
وَضاقَand was overwhelmed ذَرعاًin capacity بِحَملِby the weight of الماءِthe water مُنصاحِsplitting open
وَضاقَ ذَرعاً بِحَملِ الماءِ مُنصاحِ
Then its upper part roared, and then its lower part shook,
So its top convulsed and then its bottom jerked
And, unable to bear its water's weight, it split open.
And it complained of carrying the water, being constricted.
كَأَنَّماas though بَينَbetween أَعلاهُits upper part وَأَسفَلِهِand its lower part
كَأَنَّما بَينَ أَعلاهُ وَأَسفَلِهِ
رَيطٌfine cloths مُنَشَّرَةٌspread out أَوor ضَوءُthe light of مِصباحِa lamp
رَيطٌ مُنَشَّرَةٌ أَو ضَوءُ مِصباحِ
As though between its upper and lower reaches
As if between its top and bottom
Were fine cloths spread out, or the glow of a lamp.
There was an unfurled curtain or the light of a lamp.
يَنزَعُstrips off جِلدَthe skin of الحَصىthe pebbles أَجَشُّhoarse-roaring مُبتَرِكٌcrouching
يَنزَعُ جِلدَ الحَصى أَجَشُّ مُبتَرِكٌ
كَأَنَّهُas though it were فاحِصٌa ground-scratching creature أَوor لاعِبٌa player داحيrolling stones
كَأَنَّهُ فاحِصٌ أَو لاعِبٌ داحي
A deep-roaring, crouching downpour strips the skin from pebbles,
One with mange insistently scraping the pebbles
As though it were a ground-scratching creature, or a player rolling stones.
As if examining or playing, rubbing.
فَمَنso whoever بِنَجوَتِهِon its high ground كَمَنlike whoever بِمَحفِلِهِin its water-gathering place
فَمَن بِنَجوَتِهِ كَمَن بِمَحفِلِهِ
وَالمُستَكِنُّand the sheltered one كَمَنlike one who يَمشيwalks بِقِرواحِon bare open ground
وَالمُستَكِنُّ كَمَن يَمشي بِقِرواحِ
Thus one on its high ground is like one where its waters gather,
So salvation is not like an assembly
And one under shelter is like one walking on bare, open land.
Nor the self-sufficient like one walking with crutches.
كَأَنَّas though فيهِwithin it عِشاراًten-month-pregnant she-camels جِلَّةًlarge شُرُفاًaged
كَأَنَّ فيهِ عِشاراً جِلَّةً شُرُفاً
شُعثاًshaggy لَهاميمَrich in milk قَدalready هَمَّتthey were intent بِإِرشاحِon nursing calves
شُعثاً لَهاميمَ قَد هَمَّت بِإِرشاحِ
As though within it were great, aged she-camels, ten months pregnant,
As if among them there were select excellent ones
Shaggy, rich in milk, already intent on nursing their calves,
Dishevelled attacking she-wolves that intended to tear apart.
هُدلاًdrooping مَشافِرُهاtheir lips بُحّاًhoarse حَناجِرُهاtheir throats
هُدلاً مَشافِرُها بُحّاً حَناجِرُها
تُزجيurging along مَرابيعَهاtheir springborn calves فيin صَحصَحٍa broad plain ضاحيexposed
تُزجي مَرابيعَها في صَحصَحٍ ضاحي
Their lips drooping, their throats hoarse,
Howling, their jaws open, their throats
Urging their springborn calves across a bare, open plain.
Launching their packs in a clamouring yell.
فَأَصبَحَand by morning became الرَوضُthe meadows وَالقيعانُand the level flats مُمرِعَةًlush
فَأَصبَحَ الرَوضُ وَالقيعانُ مُمرِعَةً
مِنfrom بَينِamong مُرتَفِقٍa sheltered slope مِنهاof them وَمُنطاحِand an exposed stretch
مِن بَينِ مُرتَفِقٍ مِنها وَمُنطاحِ
By morning, the meadows and level flats had grown lush,
So the meadows and valleys became filled
From their sheltered slopes to their exposed stretches.
Among them a frequenter and one goring.
وَقَدand indeed أَرانيI see myself أَمامَahead of الحيِّthe tribe تَحمِلُنيcarrying me
وَقَد أَراني أَمامَ الحيِّ تَحمِلُني
جُلذِيَّةٌa sturdy she-camel وَصَلَتshe joined دَأياًvertebrae بِأَلواحِto broad bones
جُلذِيَّةٌ وَصَلَت دَأياً بِأَلواحِ
And I can see myself ahead of the tribe, carried by
It showed me in front of the tribe, carrying me
A sturdy she-camel, her vertebrae joined to broad bones,
A ramshackle she-camel connected with boards.
عَيرانَةٌa rugged she-camel كَأَتانِlike a rock الضَحلِshallow water صَلَّبَهاhardened her
عَيرانَةٌ كَأَتانِ الضَحلِ صَلَّبَها
جَرمُdate-stones السَوادِيِّSawadi dates رَضّوهُthey crushed it بِمِرضاحِwith a pounding stone
جَرمُ السَوادِيِّ رَضّوهُ بِمِرضاحِ
Strong and rugged, like a rock in shallow water, toughened by
Lame, its saddle ropes swollen, tightened
Sawadi date-stones, which they crushed with a pounding stone.
By the evil of the black one who pierced it with an awl.
سَقىmay it water دِيارَthe dwellings of بَنيthe sons of عَوفٍAwf وَساكِنَهاand their inhabitants
سَقى دِيارَ بَني عَوفٍ وَساكِنَها
وَدارَand the home of عَلقَمَةِAlqama الخَيرِthe Good بنِson of صَبّاحِSabbah
وَدارَ عَلقَمَةِ الخَيرِ بنِ صَبّاحِ
May it water the dwellings of Banu Awf and those dwelling there,
It watered the abodes of Bani Auf and their dwellers
And the home of Alqama the Good, son of Sabbah.
And the house of Alqamah the Bountiful son of Sabbah.
Sol 6.1