تبَدَّتappeared لَناto us حُزوىHuzwa فَهاجَand stirred جَواهاher heartache
تبَدَّت لَنا حُزوى فَهاجَ جَواها
نَسيمُa breeze شَمالٍfrom the north ضَوَّعَتهُperfumed it رُباهاits hills
نَسيمُ شَمالٍ ضَوَّعَتهُ رُباها
Huzwa appeared to us, and her heartache was stirred
Her abode appeared to us, so its passionate one blew up,
By a north wind that its hills had perfumed.
The north wind clothed it, its expanse overflowed,
وَلاحَتand appeared لَهاto her كُثبانُthe dunes of رامَةَRamah فَاِنبَنَتand she turned (uncertain reading)
وَلاحَت لَها كُثبانُ رامَةَ فَاِنبَنَت
تَبَلَّshe wets بِطوفانِwith a flood of الدُموعِtears خُطاهاher tracks
تَبَلَّ بِطوفانِ الدُموعِ خُطاها
And Ramah's dunes appeared to her, and she turned,
The sand dunes of Rāmah appeared to it, so it towered,
Wetting her tracks with a flood of tears.
Its steps were wet with the flood of tears.
حِجازِيَّةٌa Hijazi she-camel أَضحىhas become بِنَجدٍin Najd جِوارُهاher dwelling
حِجازِيَّةٌ أَضحى بِنَجدٍ جِوارُها
تَحِنُّshe yearns إِلَيهاfor it صُبحُهاher morning وَمَساهاand her evening
تَحِنُّ إِلَيها صُبحُها وَمَساها
A Hijazi she-camel, now dwelling in Najd,
A Hijazi, its neighbor in Najd has become,
She yearns for it in her mornings and evenings.
Its morning and evening yearn for it.
يُكَلِّفُهاburden her with الحادونَthe camel-drivers شَوقاًlonging إِلىfor الحِمىthe protected pasture
يُكَلِّفُها الحادونَ شَوقاً إِلى الحِمى
وَأَينَand where النَقاal-Naqa مِنcompared with حاجِرٍHajir وَحِماهاand its protected pasture
وَأَينَ النَقا مِن حاجِرٍ وَحِماها
The camel-drivers burden her with longing for the protected pasture,
The lovers burden it with yearning for the sanctuary,
But where is al-Naqa compared with Hajir and its protected pasture?
And where is salvation from a rock and its protection?
بِحَقِّكَby your honor ذَكِّرهاremind her of العَقيقَal-Aqiq لَعَلَّهاperhaps she
بِحَقِّكَ ذَكِّرها العَقيقَ لَعَلَّها
تَجِدfinds راحَةًrelief فيin سَيرِهاher journey وَعَساهاand may she
تَجِد راحَةً في سَيرِها وَعَساها
By your honor, remind her of al-Aqiq; perhaps she
For your right, remind it of ‘Aqīq, perhaps
Will find relief as she journeys—and may she do so.
It will find comfort in its travel and settlement.
وَلاand do not تَحرِموهاdeny her بِالأُجَيرِعِat al-Ujayri' وَقفَةًa halt
وَلا تَحرِموها بِالأُجَيرِعِ وَقفَةً
فَفيfor in ذَلِكَthat الواديvalley بُلوغِattaining مُناهاher wishes
فَفي ذَلِكَ الوادي بُلوغِ مُناها
And do not deny her a halt at al-Ujayri';
And do not deprive it of stopping at Al-Ujayr,
For in that valley lies the fulfillment of her wishes.
For in that valley lies the attainment of its purpose.
هُوَit is السَفجُthe foothill (uncertain reading) وَضّاحُbrightly white الثَنِيّاتِthe front teeth زَهرُهُits blossoms
هُوَ السَفجُ وَضّاحُ الثَنِيّاتِ زَهرُهُ
وَرامَةand Ramah فَيّاحُperfuming النَسيمِthe breeze شَذاهاits fragrance
وَرامَة فَيّاحُ النَسيمِ شَذاها
It is the foothill, its blossoms flashing white teeth,
It is As-Sufaj, the bright one of the hills, its blossom,
And Ramah, whose fragrance perfumes the breeze.
And Rāmah, the fragrance of the blowing breeze, its aroma.
أَرِحهاgive her rest تُمَتِّعshe may delight مِنwith sights of تِهامَةَTihamah طَرفِهاher gaze
أَرِحها تُمَتِّع مِن تِهامَةَ طَرفِها
فَقَدfor indeed حَلَفَتshe has sworn أَلاthat she will not تَعودَreturn تَراهاsee it
فَقَد حَلَفَت أَلا تَعودَ تَراها
Give her rest, that her gaze may delight in Tihamah,
Comfort it, let it enjoy from Tihāmah a glance,
For she has sworn never to see it again.
For it has sworn not to return to see it.
لَهاfor her اللَهُGod مِنwhat a مَوجوعَةِpained creature القَلبِthe heart فارَقَتshe has left
لَها اللَهُ مِن مَوجوعَةِ القَلبِ فارَقَت
مَرابِعَهاher spring pastures الأولىthe former وَقاعُand the plain of قِلاهاher wilderness (uncertain reading)
مَرابِعَها الأولى وَقاعُ قِلاها
God help her, heart-sore, for she has left
May Allah release it from the sorrow of a heart that left
Her first spring pastures and her desert plain.
Its first halting-places and the land of its fort.
إِذاwhen ماever حَدىsang a camel-song الحاديthe camel-driver بِنَجدٍin Najd تَمايَلَتshe swayed
إِذا ما حَدى الحادي بِنَجدٍ تَمايَلَت
كَأَنَّas though سُلافَthe finest wine of السَلسَبيلSalsabil سَقاهاhe gave her to drink
كَأَنَّ سُلافَ السَلسَبيل سَقاها
Whenever the driver sings his camel-song in Najd, she sways,
When the lover travels to Najd, it sways
As though he had made her drink the finest wine of Salsabil.
As if the irrigation from As-Salasil has quenched it.
يَرومُhe seeks بِهاwith her مَرمىًa destination بَعيداًdistant عَنِfrom الحِمىthe protected pasture
يَرومُ بِها مَرمىً بَعيداً عَنِ الحِمى
وَأَينَand where النَقاal-Naqa مِنcompared with حاجِرٍHajir وَحِماهاand its protected pasture
وَأَينَ النَقا مِن حاجِرٍ وَحِماها
He seeks to take her to a destination far from the protected pasture,
He aims at it from afar, away from the sanctuary,
But where is al-Naqa compared with Hajir and its protected pasture?
And where is salvation from a rock and its protection?
وَكَيفَand how تُسارىshe is led by night فيon الزمامِthe rein أَمامَهاbefore her
وَكَيفَ تُسارى في الزمامِ أَمامَها
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَتshe knew أَنَّthat العُذَيبَal-Udhayb وَراهاbehind her
وَقَد عَلِمَت أَنَّ العُذَيبَ وَراها
And how can she be led by night, with the rein before her,
And how can it race ahead with the halter before it
When she knows that al-Udhayb lies behind her?
When it knows that ad-‘Udhayb lies behind it?
يُشَوِّقُهاstirs her longing وَقعُthe thudding of الهَوادِجِthe howdahs فيin الضُحىlate morning
يُشَوِّقُها وَقعُ الهَوادِجِ في الضُحى
إِلىfor لَمَحاتٍglimpses مِنof قِبابِthe domes of قِباهاher Quba
إِلى لَمَحاتٍ مِن قِبابِ قِباها
The thudding of the howdahs in late morning stirs her longing
The sound of camels at dawn arouses its longing
For glimpses of the domes of her Quba.
For glimpses of the domes of its domes.
غَدَتshe set off تَقطَعُcrossing البيدَthe deserts القِفارَthe barren wastes لَعَلَّهاperhaps she
غَدَت تَقطَعُ البيدَ القِفارَ لَعَلَّها
تبرّدshe cools مِنwith ماءِthe water of العُذَيبِal-Udhayb حَشاهاher breast
تبرّد مِن ماءِ العُذَيبِ حَشاها
She sets off across the barren deserts, hoping
It has come to cut across the desolate desert, perhaps
To cool her breast with the water of al-Udhayb.
It will cool its burning thirst from the water of al-'Udhayb.
فَلَوfor even if شَرِبَتshe drank ماءَthe water of البِحارthe seas لَماit would not رَوىquench
فَلَو شَرِبَت ماءَ البِحار لَما رَوى
لَهاfor her ذَلِكَthat الماءُwater القُراحُclear and pure ظَماهاher thirst
لَها ذَلِكَ الماءُ القُراحُ ظَماها
For even if she drank the seas' water, it would not quench
If it were to drink the water of seas, that brackish water
Her thirst—that clear, pure water.
Would not quench the thirst it suffers.
جُعِلتُmay I be made فِداهاher ransom وَالنِياقُand the she-camels بِأَسرِهاall of them
جُعِلتُ فِداها وَالنِياقُ بِأَسرِها
وَلَوand if أَنصَفَacted fairly الحاديthe camel-driver لكانhe would surely be فداهاher ransom
وَلَو أَنصَفَ الحادي لكان فداها
May I be her ransom, and all the she-camels too;
I am sacrificed for it and for its she-camels,
And if the driver were fair, he would be her ransom.
And if the lover were fair, he would ransom it.
أَحِنُّI yearn إِذاwhen حَنَّتshe yearns وَاِصبوand I pine إِذاwhen صَبَتshe pines
أَحِنُّ إِذا حَنَّت وَاِصبو إِذا صَبَت
وَكَيفَand how عَنائيmy suffering أَنto يَكونَbe عَناهاher suffering
وَكَيفَ عَنائي أَن يَكونَ عَناها
I yearn when she yearns, and pine when she pines.
I yearn when it yearns, and pour when it pours out,
But how could my suffering match hers?
And how can my concern not be its concern?
كَأَنَّas though جَفارَthe waterholes of السَفحِthe foothill رَوضُa meadow of شَقائِقٍanemones
كَأَنَّ جَفارَ السَفحِ رَوضُ شَقائِقٍ
مُرَوَّضَّةٍmade lush مِنby دَمعِهاher tears وَبُكاهاand her weeping
مُرَوَّضَّةٍ مِن دَمعِها وَبُكاها
As though the waterholes of the foothill were a meadow of anemones,
As if the lower slopes of the hillside were a meadow of anemones
Made lush by her tears and her weeping.
Well-watered by its tears and weeping.
خَلاis devoid الرَكبthe caravan مِنof صَبٍّa lovelorn one سِويَexcept me كماjust as خَلاis devoid
خَلا الرَكب مِن صَبٍّ سِويَ كما خَلا
مِنَof العَيسِthe pale camels صَبّاًa lovelorn one بِالحِجازِfor the Hijaz سِواهاexcept her
مِنَ العَيسِ صَبّاً بِالحِجازِ سِواها
The caravan has no lovelorn one but me, just as
The riders traveled without stopping just as they traveled
Among its pale camels, none loves the Hijaz but her.
Without a morning drink in the Hijaz other than it.
خَليلَيَّmy two dear friends قَدindeed زارَhas visited الأُجَيرِعal-Ujayri' نِسمَةًa breeze
خَليلَيَّ قَد زارَ الأُجَيرِع نِسمَةً
مِنَfrom الخَيفِal-Khayf يحيىrevives الناشِقينَthose who inhale هَواهاits air
مِنَ الخَيفِ يحيى الناشِقينَ هَواها
My two friends, a breeze has visited al-Ujayri',
My friend has visited Al-Ujayr, a breeze
From al-Khayf, its air reviving those who breathe it.
From Al-Khayf that revives the sleepless with its air.
دَعابيleave me (uncertain reading) وَلُقياهاand meeting it فَقَدfor indeed ضَمِنَتit has promised لَناus
دَعابي وَلُقياها فَقَد ضَمِنَت لَنا
سُكونthe stilling of خَفوقِthe fluttering of القَلبِthe heart عِندَupon لِقاهاmeeting it
سُكون خَفوقِ القَلبِ عِندَ لِقاها
Leave me to meet it, for it has promised us
Its coquetry and the places where I met it have guaranteed
The stilling of the heart's flutter when we meet it.
The stillness of my pounding heart whenever I meet it.
سَلامُa greeting of مُشَوِّقٍone who stirs longing كُلَّماwhenever هَبَّتِblew الصِباthe east wind
سَلامُ مُشَوِّقٍ كُلَّما هَبَّتِ الصِبا
جَنوباًsouthward تَلَقّىhe welcomes نَشرَهاits wafted scent وَشَذاهاand its fragrance
جَنوباً تَلَقّى نَشرَها وَشَذاها
A greeting from one who stirs longing—whenever the east wind blows
Greetings of an arouser whenever the north wind blows south,
Southward, he welcomes its waft and fragrance—
It meets its diffusion and its fragrance.
عَلىupon الحَيِّthe clan بِالجَرعاءِat al-Jar'a حينَwhen تَيَمَّمَتheaded forth
عَلى الحَيِّ بِالجَرعاءِ حينَ تَيَمَّمَت
بِهِنَّwith them المَطاياthe mounts وَاِستَقَلَّand rose حِداهاtheir camel-song
بِهِنَّ المَطايا وَاِستَقَلَّ حِداها
Upon the clan at al-Jar'a, when there set forth
It lived well in Jar‘ā’ when it performed tayammum
The mounts bearing them, and their camel-song rose.
With them the camels knelt and its provisions were few.
وَماand neither أُمُّa mother of فَرخa nestling بانَdeparted عَنهاfrom her قَرينهاher mate
وَما أُمُّ فَرخ بانَ عَنها قَرينها
تَقَلقَلَtrembled مِنfrom وَجدٍyearning عَلَيهِfor him حَشاهاher breast
تَقَلقَلَ مِن وَجدٍ عَلَيهِ حَشاها
Neither a nestling's mother whose mate has left her,
And a mother grouse did not abandon her companion
Her breast trembling with longing for him,
Disturbed by passion for it.
وَوَرقاءَnor a gray dove بانٍa ban tree فارَقَتهاleft her فِراخهاher chicks
وَوَرقاءَ بانٍ فارَقَتها فِراخها
فَعَزَّso became hard عَلَيهاfor her بَعدَهُنَّafter them بَقاهاher remaining alive
فَعَزَّ عَلَيها بَعدَهُنَّ بَقاها
Nor a gray dove in a ban tree whose chicks have left her,
And the female oryx of Ban separated from their young,
For whom life after them is hard to bear,
So after them its remaining was difficult for it.
بِأَوجَعَany more anguished مِنthan قَلبيmy heart غَداةَthe morning تَرَحَّلَتdeparted
بِأَوجَعَ مِن قَلبي غَداةَ تَرَحَّلَت
رَكائِبُriding-camels مِنfrom سَلمىSalma وَشَطَّand grew distant نَواهاher separation
رَكائِبُ مِن سَلمى وَشَطَّ نَواها
Is more anguished than my heart the morning there departed
My heart ached more intensely the morning they departed -
The mounts from Salma, and her distance grew vast.
The traveling party from Salmā that stirred its determination.
أَأَحبابَناO our beloveds بِنتُمyou departed عَنِfrom الخيفِal-Khayf فَاِشتَكَتso complained
أَأَحبابَنا بِنتُم عَنِ الخيفِ فَاِشتَكَت
لِبُعدِكُمbecause of your distance آصالَهاits evenings وَضُحاهاand its late mornings
لِبُعدِكُم آصالَها وَضُحاها
O our beloveds, you left al-Khayf, and there lamented
Our loved ones, did you avoid Al-Khayf? So its evenings and its forenoons complained
At your absence its evenings and late mornings.
Because of your absence of losing sight of you.
وَفارَقتُمُand you left الدارَthe dwelling الأَنيسَةَthe friendly فَاِستَوتso became alike
وَفارَقتُمُ الدارَ الأَنيسَةَ فَاِستَوت
رُبوعُthe quarters of مَغانيهاits dwelling-sites وَقاعُand the plain of قِلاهاits wilderness (uncertain reading)
رُبوعُ مَغانيها وَقاعُ قِلاها
And you left the friendly dwelling, and alike became
And you left the friendly house, so its open spaces
Its inhabited quarters and its desert plain.
And the land of its fort became desolate.
كَأَنَّكُمُas though you يَومَon the day of الرَحيلdeparture رَحَلتُمُyou departed
كَأَنَّكُمُ يَومَ الرَحيل رَحَلتُمُ
بِنَوميwith my sleep فَعَينيso my eye لاdoes not تُصيبُfind كَراهاits slumber
بِنَومي فَعَيني لا تُصيبُ كَراها
As though, on the day of departure, you departed
It is as if on the day of departure you departed
With my sleep: my eye can find no slumber.
With my sleep, so my eye fails to see what it dislikes.
وَكُنتُand I was شَحيحاًstingy مِنof دُموعيmy tears بِقَطرَةٍwith a drop
وَكُنتُ شَحيحاً مِن دُموعي بِقَطرَةٍ
فَقَدso indeed صِرتُI have become سَمحاًgenerous بَعدَكُمafter your departure بِدِماهاwith their blood
فَقَد صِرتُ سَمحاً بَعدَكُم بِدِماها
I once grudged even a drop of my tears;
And I was stingy with my tears, with a single drop,
Now, since you left, I am generous with their blood.
So after you I have become generous with its blood.
رَعىmay preserve اللَهُGod لَيلاتٍnights بِطيبِwith the sweetness of حَديثِكُمyour conversation
رَعى اللَهُ لَيلاتٍ بِطيبِ حَديثِكُم
تَقَضَّتpassed away وَحَيّاهاand may greet them الحياthe rain وَسَقاهاand water them
تَقَضَّت وَحَيّاها الحيا وَسَقاها
May God preserve the nights that, with your sweet conversation,
May Allah preserve nights with your sweet talk
Passed away; may the rain greet them and water them.
That have passed, enlivened by the living, and may He water it.
فَماand never قُلتُI said إيهٍgo on! بَعدَهاafter them لِمُسامِرٍto a nighttime companion
فَما قُلتُ إيهٍ بَعدَها لِمُسامِرٍ
مِنَamong الناسِpeople إِلّاwithout قَالَsaid قَلبِيَmy heart آهاah!
مِنَ الناسِ إِلّا قَالَ قَلبِيَ آها
Never since those nights have I said 'Go on!' to a nighttime companion
So I have not said “Alas!” after it to a conversation partner
Among people without my heart saying 'Ah!'
Among the people except my heart said “Oh!”
يَرانيsees me خَليليmy friend باسِماًsmiling فَيَظُنُّand so supposes بيin me
يَراني خَليلي باسِماً فَيَظُنُّ بي
سُروراًjoy وَأَحشايَand my inmost parts الهُمومُcares مَلاهاhave filled them
سُروراً وَأَحشايَ الهُمومُ مَلاها
My friend sees me smiling and imagines in me
My friend sees me smiling, so he thinks
Joy, while cares have filled my breast.
Happiness of me while my innermost being is filled with worries.
فَكَمand how many ضِحكَةٍa laugh فيin القَلبِthe heart مِنهاfrom it حَرارَةٌheat
فَكَم ضِحكَةٍ في القَلبِ مِنها حَرارَةٌ
يَسُبُّflares up (uncertain reading) لَظاهاits blaze لَوif كَشَفتَyou uncovered غِطاهاits covering
يَسُبُّ لَظاها لَو كَشَفتَ غِطاها
How many a laugh leaves a burning heat within the heart,
So how much laughter in the heart has heat from it
Its blaze would flare up if you lifted its covering.
That vilifies its intensity if you unveiled its covering.
مَتىwhen تَنقَضيwill end أَيّامُthe days of ذُلّيmy humiliation وَاِجتَنىand I gather
مَتى تَنقَضي أَيّامُ ذُلّي وَاِجتَنى
ثِمارَthe fruits of وِصالٍreunion قَدindeed حُرِمتُI was denied جَناهاtheir harvest
ثِمارَ وِصالٍ قَد حُرِمتُ جَناها
When will the days of my humiliation end, and when shall I gather
When will the days of my humiliation pass and the fruits
The fruits of reunion, whose harvest I have been denied,
Of union that I am deprived of their harvest be picked?
وَأَستَصحِبand take as companions القَومَthe people الَّذينَthose who بِمُهجَتيwithin my heart
وَأَستَصحِب القَومَ الَّذينَ بِمُهجَتي
لِفَقدِهِمُbecause of their absence نارٌa fire يَشُبُّflares لَظاهاits blaze
لِفَقدِهِمُ نارٌ يَشُبُّ لَظاها
And keep company with those for whom, within my heart,
And I consider the people the loss of whom
A fire burns in their absence, its blaze flaring up?
Is a fire in my entrails that makes its flames rise high.
رَمىmay strike اللَهُGod أَحداثَthe calamities of الزَمانِtime بِصَرفَةٍwith a reversal
رَمى اللَهُ أَحداثَ الزَمانِ بِصَرفَةٍ
وَقَيَّضَand ordain لِلأَيّامِfor the days مِثلَthe like of قَضاهاtheir decrees
وَقَيَّضَ لِلأَيّامِ مِثلَ قَضاها
May God strike time's calamities with a reversal of fortune,
Allah has cast the events of time with twists and turns
And ordain for the days a doom like that which they decree.
And has ordained for the days the like of His decree.
فَكَمand how many لِلياليthe nights have مِنof صُروفٍreversals تَرَكنَنيthat have left me
فَكَم لِليالي مِن صُروفٍ تَرَكنَني
أَروحُI go at evening وَليand I have حَظُّa fortune شَبيهُlike دُجاهاtheir darkness
أَروحُ وَلي حَظُّ شَبيهُ دُجاها
How many reversals have the nights dealt me, leaving me
So how often have nights turned away leaving me
Going at evening with a fortune as dark as their gloom.
To wander while my fortune resembles its darkness.
Sol 6.1