نأَتshe went far away أُمmother of عَمروٍAmr فالفؤادُso the heart مَشوقُfilled with longing
نأَت أُم عَمروٍ فالفؤادُ مَشوقُ
يَحنّit yearns إِلَيهاfor her والِهاًdistraught with love وَيَتوقُand longs
يَحنّ إِلَيها والِهاً وَيَتوقُ
Umm Amr has gone far away, and the heart is filled with longing.
It yearns for her, distraught with love, and pines.
عَفاfaded الربعthe campsite بَينَbetween الأَبرَقَينِthe two Abraqs وَدَعدَعَتand shook violently
عَفا الربع بَينَ الأَبرَقَينِ وَدَعدَعَت
بِهِthrough it حَرجَفٌa bitter, violent wind تَزفيwhisks البَرىthe dust وَتَسوقُand drives it
بِهِ حَرجَفٌ تَزفي البَرى وَتَسوقُ
The campsite between al-Abraqayn has faded, and there shook
a bitter wind, whisking the dust and driving it onward.
إِذاwhenever يَومُa day نَحسٍof ill omen هَبَّblew ريحاًwind كَسَونَهُthey covered it
إِذا يَومُ نَحسٍ هَبَّ ريحاً كَسَونَهُ
ذُرىthe crests of عَقداتٍclustered dunes تُربهنَّtheir dust دَقيقُfine
ذُرى عَقداتٍ تُربهنَّ دَقيقُ
Whenever a day of ill omen blew with wind, they covered it—
the crests of clustered dunes, their dust fine.
وأَسجحَand a broad cloud يَسموrises فيamid نشاصٍtowering clouds جرتswept along بِهِwith it
وأَسجحَ يَسمو في نشاصٍ جرت بِهِ
رَوائِحُevening clouds فيin أَعناقِهِنَّtheir necks بُسوقloftiness
رَوائِحُ في أَعناقِهِنَّ بُسوق
And a broad cloud rose among towering clouds, borne along by
evening clouds whose necks towered high.
سَبأنthey stripped away نُحوضاًswollen masses والسِّبالَand the trailing rain كأَنَّماas though
سَبأن نُحوضاً والسِّبالَ كأَنَّما
يُنَشَّرُis spread out ريطٌcloth sheets بَينَهُنَّbetween them صَفيقُthick-woven
يُنَشَّرُ ريطٌ بَينَهُنَّ صَفيقُ
They stripped away swollen masses; the trailing rain seemed as though
thick cloth sheets were being unfolded between them.
فَغادَرنَthen they left مسوّدblackened الرمادِashes كأَنَّهُas though it were
فَغادَرنَ مسوّد الرمادِ كأَنَّهُ
حَصىpebbles of إِثمَدٍantimony بَينَamong الصَّلاءِthe hearthstones سَحيقُcrushed fine
حَصى إِثمَدٍ بَينَ الصَّلاءِ سَحيقُ
Then they left blackened ashes that looked like
antimony pebbles, crushed among the hearthstones.
وَسُفعاand soot-darkened stones ثَوينthey stayed العامَthis year والعامَand the year قَبلَهُbefore it
وَسُفعا ثَوين العامَ والعامَ قَبلَهُ
عَلىupon مَوقِدٍa hearth ماwhat lies بَينَهُنَّbetween them دَقيقُfine powder
عَلى مَوقِدٍ ما بَينَهُنَّ دَقيقُ
And soot-darkened stones that had lain this year and the year before
upon a hearth, with fine powder between them.
وَمنand from نَسفِthe scattering of أَقدامِthe feet of الوليدينthe two children فيin الثَّرىthe soil
وَمن نَسفِ أَقدامِ الوليدين في الثَّرى
رُسومٌtraces تَرىyou see عليتهاtheir upper surfaces فسوقcracks
رُسومٌ تَرى عليتها فسوق
And from the two children's feet scattering the soil
remain traces; you see cracks across their surfaces.
أَلاbehold طَرَقَتshe visited by night صَحبيmy companions عَميرةُAmira إِنَّهاindeed she
أَلا طَرَقَت صَحبي عَميرةُ إِنَّها
لَناfor us بِالمروراةِon the barren plain المُطِلِّoverlooking طَروقa night visitor
لَنا بِالمروراةِ المُطِلِّ طَروق
Behold, Amira visited my companions by night; she
is our night visitor on the high, barren plain.
بِمَثوىًat a resting-place حَرامٍsacred والمَطيُّand the riding-camels كأَنَّهُas though it were
بِمَثوىً حَرامٍ والمَطيُّ كأَنَّهُ
قَناًspear-shafts مُسنَدٌpropped up هَبَّتblew لَهُنَّagainst them خَريقُa rending wind
قَناً مُسنَدٌ هَبَّت لَهُنَّ خَريقُ
At a sacred resting-place, the riding-camels were like
propped-up spears, swept by a rending wind.
تَرودthey roam مَدىthe reach of أَرسانِهاtheir halters ثُمthen تَرعويdraw back
تَرود مَدى أَرسانِها ثُم تَرعوي
عَوارِفَdocile beasts فيin أَصلابِهنَّtheir loins عَتيقُnoble breeding
عَوارِفَ في أَصلابِهنَّ عَتيقُ
They wander as far as their halters allow, then draw back,
docile beasts with noble breeding in their loins.
حُرِمنthey were denied القِرىfodder إِلاexcept رَجيعاًcud تَعلَّلتmade do
حُرِمن القِرى إِلا رَجيعاً تَعلَّلت
بِهِwith it عَرِصاتٌrestless she-camels لحمهنَّtheir flesh مَشيقُlean
بِهِ عَرِصاتٌ لحمهنَّ مَشيقُ
They were denied fodder save cud, and made do
with it—restless she-camels, their flesh lean.
بِداويَّةٍin a trackless desert قَفرٍbarren تَرودُroam نِعاجُهاits wild cows
بِداويَّةٍ قَفرٍ تَرودُ نِعاجُها
أَجارِعَsandy flats لَمnot يَسمَعhear لَهُنَّfrom them نَغيقُa cry
أَجارِعَ لَم يَسمَع لَهُنَّ نَغيقُ
In a barren wilderness whose wild cows roam
sandy flats, no cry of theirs heard.
أَقمنَthey stayed ثَلاثاًthree days بِالمُحصَّبِat al-Muhassab مِنof مِنىًMina
أَقمنَ ثَلاثاً بِالمُحصَّبِ مِن مِنىً
وَكلٌّand each إِلىtoward ماءِwater of الحِساءthe sand-wells يَتوقُyearns
وَكلٌّ إِلى ماءِ الحِساء يَتوقُ
They stayed three days at al-Muhassab in Mina,
each yearning for the water of the sand-wells.
فَلمّاso when قَضينَthey completed النُّسكَthe rites مِنfrom كُلevery مَشعَرٍsacred station
فَلمّا قَضينَ النُّسكَ مِن كُل مَشعَرٍ
خَرَجنَthey departed عَجالىhurriedly وَقعهنَّtheir footfalls رَشيقُnimble
خَرَجنَ عَجالى وَقعهنَّ رَشيقُ
Once they had completed the rites at every sacred station,
they hastened out, their footfalls nimble.
فَجِئتُso I came بِحَبلَيهاwith her two reins فَرَدَّتand she sent back مَخافةًfear
فَجِئتُ بِحَبلَيها فَرَدَّت مَخافةً
إِلىinto النَّفسِthe soul رَوعاءُstartled الجَنانِof heart فَروقُtimorous
إِلى النَّفسِ رَوعاءُ الجَنانِ فَروقُ
I took her two reins; she cast fear
into my soul, startled-hearted and skittish.
فَخَفَّضتهاso I soothed her مِنّيfrom me بِقَولٍwith speech فَراجَعَتand she answered
فَخَفَّضتها مِنّي بِقَولٍ فَراجَعَت
هَماهمmurmurs مِنهاfrom her بَينَهُنَّbetween them خُروقُgaps
هَماهم مِنها بَينَهُنَّ خُروقُ
I soothed her with words of my own, and she answered
with murmurs of her own, broken by pauses.
عُلاةٌa massive she-camel كأَنَّas though الثولthe herd يشرفُtowers فَوقَهاabove her
عُلاةٌ كأَنَّ الثول يشرفُ فَوقَها
إِذاwhen ضَمَّهاit enclosed her جَوزُthe middle of الفَلاةِthe wilderness فَنيقُa pampered stallion
إِذا ضَمَّها جَوزُ الفَلاةِ فَنيقُ
A massive she-camel, as though above the herd stood watch
a pampered stallion, when the wilderness's heart enclosed her.
جَهولٌreckless كأَنَّas though الجَهلَrecklessness مِنهاin her سَجيةٌan inborn nature
جَهولٌ كأَنَّ الجَهلَ مِنها سَجيةٌ
غَشمشمةٌfierce and headlong لِلقائِدينَto the drivers رَهوقُoverpowering
غَشمشمةٌ لِلقائِدينَ رَهوقُ
Reckless, as though recklessness were her nature,
fierce and headlong, overwhelming her drivers.
فَراحَتso she set out كماjust as راحَتwent بتَرجِat Tarj موقفٍa brood-tending bird
فَراحَت كما راحَت بتَرجِ موقفٍ
مِنَamong الرُّبدِthe dusky ostriches بَدَّاءُwide-set اليَدينِin the forelimbs مَروقُdarting
مِنَ الرُّبدِ بَدَّاءُ اليَدينِ مَروقُ
She went as at Tarj there went a brood-tending bird,
a dusky ostrich, broad of forelimb, darting onward.
تَعادىrace each other يَداهاher forelegs بالنَّجاءِin speed وَرِجلُهاand her hindleg
تَعادى يَداها بالنَّجاءِ وَرِجلُها
أَبوضُdrawing up النَّساthe hamstring بِالمَنسِمَينِwith the two hoof-pads خَسوقُpiercing
أَبوضُ النَّسا بِالمَنسِمَينِ خَسوقُ
Her forelegs race in speed, and her hindleg
draws up its hamstring, its two hoof-pads piercing the ground.
وأَظمىand a dark, slender rein كقُلبlike the bracelet of السَّوذقانيِّthe Sawdhaqani نازَعَتshe tugged
وأَظمى كقُلب السَّوذقانيِّ نازَعَت
بِكفّيَّin my two palms فتلاءُsinewy الذِّراعِof forearm نَغوقُbellowing
بِكفّيَّ فتلاءُ الذِّراعِ نَغوقُ
And a dark rein like the Sawdhaqani's bracelet was tugged
in my two hands by a sinewy-armed, bellowing she-camel.
تباريshe races جِلالاًa mighty camel ذاwith جَديلَينtwo plaited reins يَنتَحيstrides forward
تباري جِلالاً ذا جَديلَين يَنتَحي
أساهيَّlong strides مِنهاfrom her هِزةٌa jolt وَعَفيقُand rapid footfalls
أساهيَّ مِنها هِزةٌ وَعَفيقُ
She raced a mighty camel with two plaited reins, advancing
in long strides; from her came jolts and rapid footfalls.
فَكانَso he was لِنَجديِّagainst Najd's الرِّياحِwinds كأَنَّهُas though he were
فَكانَ لِنَجديِّ الرِّياحِ كأَنَّهُ
أَخوa man of كُربَةٍdistress دانيclose about الإِسارِthe bonds طَليقُunbound
أَخو كُربَةٍ داني الإِسارِ طَليقُ
Against the winds of Najd, he seemed
a man in distress, his bonds close about him, yet free.
وَراحتand they set out تَعالىrise high بِالرِّحالِwith the saddles كأَنَّهاas though they
وَراحت تَعالى بِالرِّحالِ كأَنَّها
تَعالىrise high بِجَنبيwith the two flanks of نَخلَةٍNakhla وَسَلوقِand Saluq
تَعالى بِجَنبي نَخلَةٍ وَسَلوقِ
They went on, lifting their saddles high, as though
they lifted the flanks of Nakhla and Saluq.
فَماso not تَمَّended ظِمءُthe drinking interval of الرَّكبِthe caravan حَتّىuntil تَضَمَّنَتenclosed
فَما تَمَّ ظِمءُ الرَّكبِ حَتّى تَضَمَّنَت
سَوابِقُهاits leading mounts مِنof شَمطَتينِShamtatayn حُلوقُgorges
سَوابِقُها مِن شَمطَتينِ حُلوقُ
Before the caravan's interval between drinks had ended,
the gorges of Shamtatayn had swallowed its leading mounts.
أَرَتهُshe showed him ظِلالَthe shadows of المَوتِdeath عَجلىa swift she-camel كأَنَّهاas though she were
أَرَتهُ ظِلالَ المَوتِ عَجلى كأَنَّها
مواشِكَةٌbeating rapidly رجعَthe return of الجَناحthe wing خَفوقُfluttering
مواشِكَةٌ رجعَ الجَناح خَفوقُ
The swift one showed him death's shadows, as though she were
a bird fluttering fast, its wingbeats swiftly repeated,
منamong الرقطِthe speckled birds راحَتshe flew away عَنfrom ثَلاثٍthree eggs فَعجّلَتthen she hurried
من الرقطِ راحَت عَن ثَلاثٍ فَعجّلَت
لَهُنَّto them دَرورُrapid-moving المَنكِبينِof the two shoulders ذَليقُnimble
لَهُنَّ دَرورُ المَنكِبينِ ذَليقُ
one of the speckled birds, leaving three eggs and hastening
back to them, its shoulders whirring, nimble.
فَماso not لَحِقَhe caught العيرانَthe sturdy camel حَتّىuntil تَلاحَقَتcaught up with each other
فَما لَحِقَ العيرانَ حَتّى تَلاحَقَت
جِمالٌbull camels تَسامىraise their heads فيin البُرِينَthe nose-rings وَنوقُand she-camels
جِمالٌ تَسامى في البُرِينَ وَنوقُ
He did not catch the sturdy camel until there caught up
bull camels and she-camels, raising their heads in their nose-rings.
إِذاwhen القَومُthe men قالواthey said وِردُهُنَّtheir watering ضُحىforenoon of غَدٍtomorrow
إِذا القَومُ قالوا وِردُهُنَّ ضُحى غَدٍ
تَواهقنَthey raced one another حَتّىuntil وِردهنtheir watering طُروقُa night arrival
تَواهقنَ حَتّى وِردهن طُروقُ
When the men said, 'Their watering is tomorrow forenoon,'
they raced until their arrival at water was by night.
وَقُلتُand I said لِعبدِto Abd اللَّهِAllah يَومَthe day لَقيتُهI met him
وَقُلتُ لِعبدِ اللَّهِ يَومَ لَقيتُه
وَقَدwhen already حانَdrew near مِنof شَمسِthe sun of النَّهارِthe day خُفوقُsetting
وَقَد حانَ مِن شَمسِ النَّهارِ خُفوقُ
And I said to Abd Allah the day I met him,
when the day's sun was nearing its setting:
سَقىmay water السَّرحَةَthe sarh tree المِحلالَwelcoming to campers والأَبطَحَand the gravel-bed الَّذيwhich
سَقى السَّرحَةَ المِحلالَ والأَبطَحَ الَّذي
بِهِin it الشَّريُcolocynth غَيثٌrain مُدجِنٌdark-clouded وَبُروقُand lightning
بِهِ الشَّريُ غَيثٌ مُدجِنٌ وَبُروقُ
May the sarh tree that shelters campers be watered, and the gravel-bed
where colocynth grows, by dark-clouded rain and lightning.
بِأَبطَحَon a gravel-flat رابٍraised كُلَّevery عامٍyear يَمُدّهُreplenishes it
بِأَبطَحَ رابٍ كُلَّ عامٍ يَمُدّهُ
عَلىthroughout الحَولِthe year عَرّاصflashing الغمامِcloud دَفوقُpouring freely
عَلى الحَولِ عَرّاص الغمامِ دَفوقُ
On a raised gravel-flat, replenished every year
throughout the year by flashing, rain-pouring cloud.
فَماand none ذَهبتspread عرضاًin breadth وَلاnor فوقَabove طولِهاher height
فَما ذَهبت عرضاً وَلا فوقَ طولِها
مِنamong السَّرحِthe sarh trees إِلاexcept عَشَّةٌa sparse-branched tree وَسُحوقُand a towering tree
مِن السَّرحِ إِلا عَشَّةٌ وَسُحوقُ
None has spread so wide, nor surpassed her height,
among the sarh trees, save a sparse-branched one and a towering one.
تَنَوَّطَclung فيهاwithin her دُخَّلُlittle birds of الصَّيفِsummer بِالضُّحىin the forenoon
تَنَوَّطَ فيها دُخَّلُ الصَّيفِ بِالضُّحى
ذُرىthe tips of هَدَباتٍdrooping boughs فِرعهُنَّtheir shoots وَريقُleafy
ذُرى هَدَباتٍ فِرعهُنَّ وَريقُ
Summer's little birds cling within her in the forenoon,
to the tips of drooping boughs whose shoots are leafy.
عَلاrose النَّبتُthe growth حَتّىuntil طالَgrew long أَفنانُهاher branches العُلاthe upper ones
عَلا النَّبتُ حَتّى طالَ أَفنانُها العُلا
وَفيand in الماءthe water أَصلٌa rootstock ثابِتٌfirm وَعُروقُand roots
وَفي الماء أَصلٌ ثابِتٌ وَعُروقُ
Growth rose until her upper branches grew long,
with a firm rootstock and roots in the water.
فَياso, oh طيبَthe sweetness of رَيّاهاher fragrance وَياand oh بَردَthe coolness of ظِلِّهاher shade
فَيا طيبَ رَيّاها وَيا بَردَ ظِلِّها
إِذاwhen حانَcame منfrom حاميthe scorching part of النَّهارِthe day ودوقُintense heat
إِذا حانَ من حامي النَّهارِ ودوقُ
Oh, the sweetness of her scent, the coolness of her shade,
when the blazing day's heat bears down!
وَهَلand is أَناI إِنif عَللتُI soothed نَفسيmyself بِسَرحَةٍwith a sarh tree
وَهَل أَنا إِن عَللتُ نَفسي بِسَرحَةٍ
مِنَamong السَّرحِthe sarh trees مَسدودٌbarred عَلىagainst طريقُa road
مِنَ السَّرحِ مَسدودٌ عَلى طريقُ
And if I soothe myself with a sarh tree,
one of the sarh, is a road to be barred against me?
حمىhe guarded ظلَّهاher shade شكسُill-tempered الخَليقَةِin nature خائفٌfearful
حمى ظلَّها شكسُ الخَليقَةِ خائفٌ
عَليهاfor her غرامَthe passion of الطائِفينthe passersby شَفيقُprotectively anxious
عَليها غرامَ الطائِفين شَفيقُ
An ill-tempered guardian keeps her shade, fearful
for her of the passersby's passion, anxious to protect her.
فَلاso not الظِلّthe shade مِنهاfrom her بِالضُّحىin the forenoon تَستَطيعَهُyou can reach it
فَلا الظِلّ مِنها بِالضُّحى تَستَطيعَهُ
وَلاnor الفيءَthe returning shade مِنهاfrom her بِالعشيin the evening تَذوقُyou taste
وَلا الفيءَ مِنها بِالعشي تَذوقُ
You cannot gain her shade in the forenoon,
nor taste her returning shade in the evening.
وَماand not وَجدُthe longing of مشتاقٍa yearning lover أصيبَwas stricken فؤادُهُhis heart
وَما وَجدُ مشتاقٍ أصيبَ فؤادُهُ
أَخيa man of شَهَواتٍdesires بِالعِناقِin embracing نَسيقُconstant
أَخي شَهَواتٍ بِالعِناقِ نَسيقُ
No longing of a yearning man whose heart is stricken,
a man of passions, constant in embracing,
بأَكثرَany greater مِنthan وَجديmy longing عَلىfor ظِلِّthe shade of سَرحَةٍa sarh tree
بأَكثرَ مِن وَجدي عَلى ظِلِّ سَرحَةٍ
مِنَamong السَّرحِthe sarh trees إِذwhen أَضحىbecame عَليَّto me رَفيقُgentle
مِنَ السَّرحِ إِذ أَضحى عَليَّ رَفيقُ
is greater than my longing for a sarh tree's shade,
one of the sarh, when its shade was kind to me.
وَلَولاand but for وِصالٌa bond مِنfrom عُميرةUmayra لَمnot أَكُنI would be
وَلَولا وِصالٌ مِن عُميرة لَم أَكُن
لأَصرِمَهاto cut her off إِنيindeed I إِذنthen لَطَليقُsurely free
لأَصرِمَها إِني إِذن لَطَليقُ
But for a bond with Umayra, I would not
cut her off; then I would indeed be free.
أَبىrefused اللَّهُGod أَلاbehold أَنَّthat سرحةَthe sarh tree of مالِكٍMalik
أَبى اللَّهُ أَلا أَنَّ سرحةَ مالِكٍ
عَلىabove كُلِّall أَفنانِthe boughs of العِضاهِthe thorn trees تَروقُshines in beauty
عَلى كُلِّ أَفنانِ العِضاهِ تَروقُ
God would have it no other way: behold, Malik's sarh tree
outshines all the boughs of thorn trees.
إِذاwhen اضطَمَّclosed in ميتاءُthe well-trodden stretch of الطَّريقِthe road عَليهِماupon them both
إِذا اضطَمَّ ميتاءُ الطَّريقِ عَليهِما
مَضَتshe pressed on قُدماًstraight ahead مَوجَthrough the surge of الجِبالthe mountains زَهوقُdarting swiftly
مَضَت قُدماً مَوجَ الجِبال زَهوقُ
When the well-trodden road closes in upon them both,
she presses straight through the billowing mountains, darting onward.
رَدَدنَthey re-chewed رَجيعَthe regurgitated الفَرثِstomach contents حتّىuntil كأَنَّهُas though it were
رَدَدنَ رَجيعَ الفَرثِ حتّى كأَنَّهُ
حَصىpebbles of إِثمَدٍantimony بَينَamong الصَّلاءِthe hearthstones سَحيقُcrushed fine
حَصى إِثمَدٍ بَينَ الصَّلاءِ سَحيقُ
They re-chewed their cud until it seemed
antimony pebbles, crushed among the hearthstones.
Sol 6.1