أَتَهِيمُDo you pine بِساكِنَةِfor the woman dwelling البُرقِat al-Burq
أَتَهِيمُ بِساكِنَةِ البُرقِ
فَيَعُودَso it returns فُؤادُكَyour heart ذاpossessing عَلَقِattachment
فَيَعُودَ فُؤادُكَ ذا عَلَقِ
Do you pine for the woman dwelling at al-Burq,
so that your heart becomes attached again?
ماwhat أَنتَyou وَذِكرُand remembrance of خَدَلَّجَةٍa graceful woman
ما أَنتَ وَذِكرُ خَدَلَّجَةٍ
تَرَكَتكَshe left you تَذُوبُmelting مِنَfrom الحُرَقِburning anguish
تَرَكَتكَ تَذُوبُ مِنَ الحُرَقِ
What have you to do with remembering a graceful woman
who left you melting with burning anguish?
نَزَلَتshe settled بِأَجارِعِon the open slopes of أَسنِمَةٍAsnima
نَزَلَت بِأَجارِعِ أَسنِمَةٍ
وَشَتَتand she dispersed بجَزِيزِnear the cut ground of لِوىLiwa النَفقِal-Nafaq
وَشَتَت بجَزِيزِ لِوى النَفقِ
She settled on the open slopes of Asnima
and dispersed near the cut ground of Liwa al-Nafaq.
وَتَقُولُand she says أُمانَةُUmama إِذwhen نَظَرَتshe saw
وَتَقُولُ أُمانَةُ إِذ نَظَرَت
شَبَحاًa figure ماnothing فيهِin it سِوىexcept الرَمَقِa trace of life
شَبَحاً ما فيهِ سِوى الرَمَقِ
Umama said, when she saw
a figure with scarcely a breath of life left:
أَتُطِيقُcan you bear هَوىًlove وَتَرُوحُwhile it brings نَوىًseparation
أَتُطِيقُ هَوىً وَتَرُوحُ نَوىً
فَأَجَبتُso I answered طَلَبتُI tried فَلَمbut did not أُطِقِbear it
فَأَجَبتُ طَلَبتُ فَلَم أُطِقِ
“Can you bear love when separation comes?”
I answered, “I tried, but could not bear it.”
أَأُمامَO Umama بِعَيشِكِby your life هَلhave ذَرَفَتshed tears
أَأُمامَ بِعَيشِكِ هَل ذَرَفَت
عَيناكِyour eyes وَهَلand have أَرِقتyou lain awake أَرَقيas I lay awake
عَيناكِ وَهَل أَرِقت أَرَقي
O Umama, by your life, have
your eyes shed tears, and have you lain awake as I have?
لاmay I never ذُقتُtaste فِراقَكِparting from you ثانِيَةًa second time
لا ذُقتُ فِراقَكِ ثانِيَةً
فَفِراقُكِfor parting from you عَلَّمَنِيtaught me فَرَقيmy fear
فَفِراقُكِ عَلَّمَنِي فَرَقي
May I never taste your parting a second time,
for your parting taught me fear.
وَأَظُنُّand I imagine عُقُودَكِyour necklaces مُشبِهَةًresembling
وَأَظُنُّ عُقُودَكِ مُشبِهَةً
فيat the throat النَحرِwhen إِذاthey stir قَلِقَتmy restlessness visually compared with theirs? my restlessness: my anxiety. Qalaqat = they move restlessly, qalaqi = my restlessness. قَلَقِيmy restlessness
في النَحرِ إِذا قَلِقَت قَلَقِي
I imagine the necklaces at your throat,
when they stir, resembling my own restless heart.
مُنّيpromise me بِوُقُوفِكِwith your stopping آمِرَةًcommanding
مُنّي بِوُقُوفِكِ آمِرَةً
بِطَلاقِthe release of أَسِيرِكِyour captive وَانطَلِقيand depart
بِطَلاقِ أَسِيرِكِ وَانطَلِقي
Promise me you will pause and command
your captive’s release; then go.
وَبِرامَةَand at Rama سِربُa herd of مَهاoryx بَقَرٍwild cattle
وَبِرامَةَ سِربُ مَها بَقَرٍ
تَيَّمنَthey drew toward the right فُؤادَكَyour heart بالحَدَقِwith their eyes
تَيَّمنَ فُؤادَكَ بالحَدَقِ
At Rama was a herd of wild oryx
whose eyes drew your heart toward them.
وَسَقَينَكَand they gave you to drink كَأسَa cup of هَوىًlove وَنَوىًand separation
وَسَقَينَكَ كَأسَ هَوىً وَنَوىً
وَجَوىand heartache فَسَكِرتَso you became drunk وَلَمand did not تُفِقِsober up
وَجَوى فَسَكِرتَ وَلَم تُفِقِ
They gave you a cup of love and separation
and heartache; you grew drunk and never sobered.
قَدindeed كُنتَyou were وَثِقتَtrusting بِودِّهِمِin their affection
قَد كُنتَ وَثِقتَ بِودِّهِمِ
وَقَلَوكَand they spurned you فَلَيتَكَso would that you لَمhad not تَثِقِtrusted
وَقَلَوكَ فَلَيتَكَ لَم تَثِقِ
You once trusted in their affection,
but they spurned you; would that you had never trusted.
وَرَفائِقِand to companions of لَيلٍa night قُلتُI said لَهُمto them
وَرَفائِقِ لَيلٍ قُلتُ لَهُم
وَالبِيدُwhile the desert مُحَرَّمَةُclosed off الطُرُقِthe paths
وَالبِيدُ مُحَرَّمَةُ الطُرُقِ
To companions of a night journey I said,
while the desert’s paths were impassable
وَالعِيسُand the pale camels تَكادُalmost تَذُوبُmelt إِذاwhen
وَالعِيسُ تَكادُ تَذُوبُ إِذا
ذابَتthey melt فَتَسِيلُand then flow مَعَwith العَرَقِthe sweat
ذابَت فَتَسِيلُ مَعَ العَرَقِ
and the pale camels seemed ready to melt,
dissolving and running with sweat:
قَطَعُوthey crossed سَلمىSalma فَذُرىthen the heights of أَجاءٍAja
قَطَعُو سَلمى فَذُرى أَجاءٍ
فَحَزيزَيthen the two ridges of رامَةَRama فَالبُرقِthen al-Burq
فَحَزيزَي رامَةَ فَالبُرقِ
“Cross Salma, then the heights of Aja,
then the two ridges of Rama, then al-Burq.
فَامَرُّواso drive onward العِيسِthe camels عَلىpast إِضَمٍIdam
فَامَرُّوا العِيسِ عَلى إِضَمٍ
فَسَحِيقِthen the far reaches of الرُدهَةِal-Rudha مُنخَرِقِcut through
فَسَحِيقِ الرُدهَةِ مُنخَرِقِ
Drive the camels past Idam,
then through the far reaches of al-Rudha.”
فَأَتَواso they reached حَلَباًAleppo فَسَفَواand took ذَهَباًgold
فَأَتَوا حَلَباً فَسَفَوا ذَهَباً
وَعَفَواand they wiped away فَنَفَواthen cast off بِدَرِwith coins of الوَرِقِsilver
وَعَفَوا فَنَفَوا بِدَرِ الوَرِقِ
They came to Aleppo and took gold;
they wiped away their need and cast off silver coins.
ياO my friend صاحِis it the light of أَضوءُradiance of سَناa moon? no, 'a moon' here قَمَرٍa moon
يا صاحِ أَضوءُ سَنا قَمَرٍ
أَمor سَاطِعُthe shining ضَوءِlight of سَناradiance of فَلَقِdawn
أَم سَاطِعُ ضَوءِ سَنا فَلَقِ
My friend, is that the gleam of moonlight,
or the bright radiance of dawn?
أَمor وَجهُthe face of أَبِيAbu العُلوانِal-Ulwan بَداappeared
أَم وَجهُ أَبِي العُلوانِ بَدا
لِهِدايَةِfor the guidance of مُدَّرِعِone cloaked in الغَسَقِdarkness
لِهِدايَةِ مُدَّرِعِ الغَسَقِ
Or has the face of Abu al-Ulwan appeared
to guide one cloaked in darkness?
مَلِكٌa king ماnever شافَlooked out بِناظِرِهِwith his gaze
مَلِكٌ ما شافَ بِناظِرِهِ
إِلّاexcept وَأَنافَthat he rose above عَلىover الأُفُقِthe horizon
إِلّا وَأَنافَ عَلى الأُفُقِ
A king whose gaze has never looked out
without rising above the horizon.
شَرِسٌfierce مَرِسٌseasoned فَطِنٌkeen نَدِسٌperceptive
شَرِسٌ مَرِسٌ فَطِنٌ نَدِسٌ
ماno one لاذَsought refuge بِهِwith him أَحَدٌanyone فَشَقيand suffered
ما لاذَ بِهِ أَحَدٌ فَشَقي
Fierce, seasoned, keen, and perceptive:
no one sought his shelter and came to grief.
يَسرِيhe travels by night فَيَدُلُّand thus guides رَكائِبَناour mounts
يَسرِي فَيَدُلُّ رَكائِبَنا
بِنَسِيمِwith the breeze of تَأَرُّجِهِhis spreading fragrance العَبِقِsweet scented
بِنَسِيمِ تَأَرُّجِهِ العَبِقِ
He travels by night and guides our mounts
with the breeze of his fragrant scent.
أَمحَلتُI suffered drought فَشِمتُthen I glimpsed نَدىthe bounty of يَدِهِhis hand
أَمحَلتُ فَشِمتُ نَدى يَدِهِ
فَغَرِقتُso I was drenched بِوابِلِهِby his downpour الغَدِقِabundant
فَغَرِقتُ بِوابِلِهِ الغَدِقِ
I suffered want, then glimpsed his hand’s generosity
and was drenched in its abundant downpour.
وَمَحاand he erased عَدَمِيmy want فَمَزَجتُso I mingled دَمِيmy blood
وَمَحا عَدَمِي فَمَزَجتُ دَمِي
بِهَواهُwith love for him فَدامَso he endured لَناfor us وَبَقيand remained
بِهَواهُ فَدامَ لَنا وَبَقي
He erased my poverty, so I mingled my blood
with love for him; may he endure and remain with us.
رُوحِيmy life وَتَقِلُّand it is too little فِداas ransom for نَفَرٍa company
رُوحِي وَتَقِلُّ فِدا نَفَرٍ
مَسَكُواthey held بِجَمِيلِهِمُthrough their kindness رَمَقِيmy last breath
مَسَكُوا بِجَمِيلِهِمُ رَمَقِي
My life itself is too small a ransom for people
whose kindness has kept me alive.
طَرَدُواthey drove away عَدَمِيmy poverty وَشَرواand they bought حِكَمِيmy verses
طَرَدُوا عَدَمِي وَشَروا حِكَمِي
فَغَلاso it rose in value كَلِمِيmy speech وَزَهاand flourished وَرَقِيmy page
فَغَلا كَلِمِي وَزَها وَرَقِي
They drove away my want and valued my verses;
my words rose in worth and my pages flourished.
وَصَحِبتُهُمُand I accompanied them يَفَعاًin early youth وَإِلىand until
وَصَحِبتُهُمُ يَفَعاً وَإِلى
أَنthat صارَbecame عِذارِيmy cheek hair كَاليَقَقِlike whiteness
أَن صارَ عِذارِي كَاليَقَقِ
I accompanied them from early youth until
the hair along my cheeks turned white.
فَصَحِبتُso I accompanied مَعاشِرَa people ماwhom no أَحَدٌone
فَصَحِبتُ مَعاشِرَ ما أَحَدٌ
طَلَبَsought الشَروىan equal لَهُمُto them فَلَقِيand found
طَلَبَ الشَروى لَهُمُ فَلَقِي
Thus I have kept company with a people whose equals
no one has sought and found.
لِلّهِby God هُمُthey فَهُمُfor they are نَفَرٌa company
لِلّهِ هُمُ فَهُمُ نَفَرٌ
راقُواthey excelled بِمَساعٍthrough deeds لَمthat did not تَرُقِhave equals
راقُوا بِمَساعٍ لَم تَرُقِ
How splendid they are: a company
distinguished by deeds beyond compare.
وَلَنحنُand we are القَومُthe people بِناthrough us مُنِعَتwere barred
وَلَنحنُ القَومُ بِنا مُنِعَت
جَنَباتُthe sides of الوِردِthe watering place فَلَمand were not تُذَقِtasted
جَنَباتُ الوِردِ فَلَم تُذَقِ
We are the people through whom
the approaches to the watering place were barred and left untasted.
وَلَناand ours are الأَبطالُthe warriors إِذاwhen نَزَلُواthey descend
وَلَنا الأَبطالُ إِذا نَزَلُوا
اِشتَمَلُواthey wrap themselves in الماذِيَّchain mail إِلىdown to النُطُقِthe belts
اِشتَمَلُوا الماذِيَّ إِلى النُطُقِ
We have warriors who, when they descend to battle,
wrap themselves in chain mail down to their belts;
وَطِوالُand long ones الصُمِّthe hard ones مُقَقَّفَةٌcurved
وَطِوالُ الصُمِّ مُقَقَّفَةٌ
وَخِفافُand light ones القاطِعَةِthe cutting ones الذُلُقِsharp tipped
وَخِفافُ القاطِعَةِ الذُلُقِ
long, hard spears with curved shafts,
and light weapons with sharp cutting tips;
وَجِيادُand fine horses الخَيلِof the horses مُعاوِدَةٌaccustomed to battle
وَجِيادُ الخَيلِ مُعاوِدَةٌ
وَبَناتُand daughters of الدَوِّthe desert مَعَwith العَنقِswift pace
وَبَناتُ الدَوِّ مَعَ العَنقِ
fine horses accustomed to the charge,
and desert-bred mounts racing at full speed.
تَذَرُthey leave الأَوعالَthe mountain goats لَدىbeside الأَجباthe hills
تَذَرُ الأَوعالَ لَدى الأَجبا
لِfragment completing 'hills' مِنَfrom الزَلزالِthe shaking عَلىin فَرَقِfear
لِ مِنَ الزَلزالِ عَلى فَرَقِ
They leave the mountain goats beside the hills
trembling in fear at the upheaval.
ياO فارِسَناour horseman المِقدامَthe bold وَقَلwhile the heart
يا فارِسَنا المِقدامَ وَقَل
بُfragment completing 'heart' الذِمرِof the fierce one يَطِيرُflies مِنَfrom الشَفَقِdread
بُ الذِمرِ يَطِيرُ مِنَ الشَفَقِ
O our bold horseman, while the heart
of the stalwart warrior flies with dread,
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَعضُّbite شَكائِمَهاtheir bits
وَالخَيلُ تَعضُّ شَكائِمَها
فَتَكادُso they nearly تَلِينُsoften مِنَfrom الخَفَقِthe pounding
فَتَكادُ تَلِينُ مِنَ الخَفَقِ
the horses bite their bits
until they nearly soften from the pounding.
وَالنَقعُand the dust يُبَرقِعُveils أَوجُهَهاtheir faces
وَالنَقعُ يُبَرقِعُ أَوجُهَها
فَتَعُودُso they return مُبَدَّلَةَchanged in الخُلُقِappearance
فَتَعُودُ مُبَدَّلَةَ الخُلُقِ
Dust veils their faces
and makes their very appearance seem changed.
حَسَدُوكَthey envied you لِأَنَّكَbecause you رُقتَهُمُpleased them
حَسَدُوكَ لِأَنَّكَ رُقتَهُمُ
وَلِأَيِّand what kind of أُناسٍpeople لَمhave you not تَرُقِpleased
وَلِأَيِّ أُناسٍ لَم تَرُقِ
They envied you because you delighted them;
but what people have you failed to delight?
وَبَأَيِّand in what عُلىًhigh rank وَبِأَيِّand in what نُهىًwisdom
وَبَأَيِّ عُلىً وَبِأَيِّ نُهىً
وَبِأَيِّand in what سَخاءٍgenerosity لَمhave you not تَفُقِexcelled
وَبِأَيِّ سَخاءٍ لَم تَفُقِ
In what high rank, in what wisdom,
and in what generosity have you failed to excel?
كَرَماًin generosity كَالبَحرِlike the sea لِمُغتَرِفٍfor one who draws
كَرَماً كَالبَحرِ لِمُغتَرِفٍ
وَثَناًand in praise كَالمِسكِlike musk لِمُنتَشِقِfor one who inhales
وَثَناً كَالمِسكِ لِمُنتَشِقِ
In generosity, you are like the sea to one who draws from it;
in praise, like musk to one who breathes it in.
فَسَلِمتَso may you be safe فَكَمfor how many لَكَyou have مِنof favors? the sequence is 'how many favors you have' مِنَنٍfavors
فَسَلِمتَ فَكَم لَكَ مِن مِنَنٍ
طَوَّقتَyou encircled بِهاwith them أَبَداًforever عُنُقِيmy neck
طَوَّقتَ بِها أَبَداً عُنُقِي
May you remain safe! How many favors of yours
have forever bound my neck in gratitude.
وَإِلَيكَand to you مُحَبَّرَةًan embellished poem نُسِقَتwas arranged
وَإِلَيكَ مُحَبَّرَةً نُسِقَت
فَأَتَتكَso it came to you مُهَذَبَةَrefined in النَسَقِits order
فَأَتَتكَ مُهَذَبَةَ النَسَقِ
To you comes a carefully composed poem,
arriving with its lines finely ordered.
غَرّاءَradiant تَتِيهُtakes pride بِبَهجَتِهاin its beauty
غَرّاءَ تَتِيهُ بِبَهجَتِها
وَبِرائِعِand in the splendor of مَنظَرِهاits appearance الأَنِقِelegant
وَبِرائِعِ مَنظَرِها الأَنِقِ
Radiant, it takes pride in its beauty
and its striking, graceful appearance.
طَيَّبتُI perfumed بِذِكرِكَwith mention of you مُهرَقَهاits written sheet
طَيَّبتُ بِذِكرِكَ مُهرَقَها
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though العَنبَرَambergris فيis in اللِيَقِthe ink
فَكَأَنَّ العَنبَرَ في اللِيَقِ
I perfumed its written page with mention of you,
as though ambergris were in the ink.
لاقَتit suited بِعُلاكَyour high station وَقِيلَand it was said لَهاto it
لاقَت بِعُلاكَ وَقِيلَ لَها
لِيقيsuit بِسِواهُsomeone besides him فَلَمbut it did not تَلِقsuit
لِيقي بِسِواهُ فَلَم تَلِق
It suited your exalted station; when told
to suit another, it could not.
خُلِقَتit was created لِمَسَرَّةِfor the delight of مُصطَبِحٍa morning drinker
خُلِقَت لِمَسَرَّةِ مُصطَبِحٍ
غَرِقٍimmersed بِنَداكَin your bounty وَمُغتَبِقِand an evening drinker
غَرِقٍ بِنَداكَ وَمُغتَبِقِ
It was made to delight one who drinks in the morning,
soaked in your bounty, and one who drinks at evening.
تَبِعَfollowed الشُعَراءُthe poets بِهاwith it أَثَريmy trace
تَبِعَ الشُعَراءُ بِها أَثَري
فَخَفِيتُso I eluded them وَماand they did not عَرَفُواknow طُرُقيmy paths
فَخَفِيتُ وَما عَرَفُوا طُرُقي
The poets followed my trail with it,
but I eluded them, and they did not know my paths.
Sol 6