ياO صاحِبَىَّmy two companions قِفاyou two, halt علىat الأَطلالِthe ruins
يا صاحِبَىَّ قِفا على الأَطلالِ
تَبدُوappear مَعالِمُهُنَّtheir traces كالأَسمالِlike tattered garments
تَبدُو مَعالِمُهُنَّ كالأَسمالِ
O my two companions, halt at the ruins.
Their traces appear like tattered garments.
تَستَخبِراyou two inquire لِىfor me حاجةًa need وتُبّيناand you two reveal
تَستَخبِرا لِى حاجةً وتُبّينا
لِلنَّاسِto the people بَعضَsome of هَواجِسِinward stirrings of البَلبالِanguish
لِلنَّاسِ بَعضَ هَواجِسِ البَلبالِ
Inquire for me about a need, and reveal
to people some of anguish's inward stirrings.
دِمَنٌold dwelling-traces خَلَونَlay deserted وَغَيَّرَتand altered آياتِهاtheir signs
دِمَنٌ خَلَونَ وَغَيَّرَت آياتِها
دِقُّfine particles of التُّرَابِdust مُسِفَّةُtrailing low الأَذيالِthe skirts
دِقُّ التُّرَابِ مُسِفَّةُ الأَذيالِ
Deserted dwelling-sites, whose signs were changed
by fine dust and a wind whose skirts trail low—
نَكباءُa crosswind مُعصِفضةُtempestuous (unclear spelling) السُّرَىnight travel وَمُظِلَّةٌand an overshadowing cloud
نَكباءُ مُعصِفضةُ السُّرَى وَمُظِلَّةٌ
شَعواءُraging يُعقَبُis followed قُرُّهاits cold بِطِلالِby fine rain
شَعواءُ يُعقَبُ قُرُّها بِطِلالِ
a crosswind, stormy in its night course, and an overshadowing cloud,
raging, its cold followed by fine rain,
حَتّىuntil عَفَونَthey were effaced جَدِيدُهُنَّtheir freshness مَعَwith البِلَىdecay
حَتّى عَفَونَ جَدِيدُهُنَّ مَعَ البِلَى
إِنَّindeed الجَدِيدَthe new إِلىtoward بِلىًdecay وزَوالِand disappearance
إِنَّ الجَدِيدَ إِلى بِلىً وزَوالِ
until they faded, their freshness yielding to decay:
all that is new must pass to decay and disappearance.
وثَنَىand followed in turn لِمَاupon what غادَرنَthey left كُلُّevery مُجَلجِلٍthunderous cloud
وثَنَى لِمَا غادَرنَ كُلُّ مُجَلجِلٍ
زَجِلِclamorous الغَمامةِof cloud واطدٍfirmly massed جَلجَالِloudly rumbling
زَجِلِ الغَمامةِ واطدٍ جَلجَالِ
Then upon what they left came every thunderous cloud,
its cloudbank clamorous, massive and resounding,
مُحرَfragment of 'closely massed' نَجِمٌfragment of 'closely massed' حَرَجٌdensely packed كَأَنَّas though نَشَاصَهُits towering cloud-mass
مُحرَ نَجِمٌ حَرَجٌ كَأَنَّ نَشَاصَهُ
رُملُswift-running النَّعامِostriches يَرُدنَwander حَولَaround رِئالِostrich chicks
رُملُ النَّعامِ يَرُدنَ حَولَ رِئالِ
crowded and dense, as though its towering masses
were swift ostriches wandering around their chicks,
فىat حَومَلٍHawmal قَلَعِgreat masses of الصَّبِيرِcloud مُنَطَّقٍgirdled
فى حَومَلٍ قَلَعِ الصَّبِيرِ مُنَطَّقٍ
بالماءِwith water جَمِّabundant تَتابُعٍsuccession of الأَسبَالِrain-curtains
بالماءِ جَمِّ تَتابُعٍ الأَسبَالِ
at Hawmal, great cloud-masses girdled
with water, rich in successive curtains of rain.
دَرَّتmilked أَوائِلَهُits foremost parts الصَّباthe east wind فتَبَكَّرَتthen came early
دَرَّت أَوائِلَهُ الصَّبا فتَبَكَّرَت
مِنهُfrom it رَواجِحُheavy clouds دُلَّحٌrain-laden وَتَوالِىand following clouds
مِنهُ رَواجِحُ دُلَّحٌ وَتَوالِى
The east wind milked its foremost clouds; then early came
from it heavy, rain-laden clouds, and others following.
جَثلُthick العِفَاءِof long fringes كأَنَّas though تَحتَbeneath نَشَاصِهِits towering cloud-mass
جَثلُ العِفَاءِ كأَنَّ تَحتَ نَشَاصِهِ
دُهمَdark ones العِشَارِshe-camels ten months pregnant فُجِعنَwere bereaved بالأَطفالِof their young
دُهمَ العِشَارِ فُجِعنَ بالأَطفالِ
Shaggy-fringed, as though beneath its towering masses
were dark she-camels ten months pregnant, bereaved of their calves.
أَسقَىwatered منازلdwellings مِنof اُمَيمَةَUmaymah أَعقَبَتreplaced
أَسقَى منازل مِن اُمَيمَةَ أَعقَبَت
رِيَبُvicissitudes of الحَوادِثِevents حالَهنَّtheir condition بِحَالِwith another condition
رِيَبُ الحَوادِثِ حالَهنَّ بِحَالِ
It watered Umaymah's dwellings, whose condition
the vicissitudes of events had changed to something else.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُI saw بهthere القِيانَsinging girls وكالدُّمَىand like figurines
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُ به القِيانَ وكالدُّمَى
خُرسَsilent الخَلاخِلِthe anklets وَعثَةsoft الأَثقالِthe heavy forms
خُرسَ الخَلاخِلِ وَعثَة الأَثقالِ
And there I saw singing girls, like figurines,
their anklets silent, their heavy forms soft.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُI saw بهاthere أَوانِسَlovely maidens كالدُّمَىlike figurines
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُ بها أَوانِسَ كالدُّمَى
قُبَّslender البُطُونِof belly رَوَاجِحَheavy الأَكفَالِof haunch
قُبَّ البُطُونِ رَوَاجِحَ الأَكفَالِ
And there I saw lovely maidens, like figurines,
slim-bellied and full in the haunches,
غِيدَlithe المُتُونِof back خُصُورُهُنَّtheir waists لطائفٌdelicate
غِيدَ المُتُونِ خُصُورُهُنَّ لطائفٌ
حُمَّdark-hued التَّرائبِthe upper chests والنُّحورِand the throats حَوالِىwearing ornaments
حُمَّ التَّرائبِ والنُّحورِ حَوالِى
lithe-backed, their waists delicate,
dark at breast and throat, wearing ornaments,
فِىin جَدلِfirm shaping of أَعنَاقِnecks المَهَاoryxes وعُيونِهاand their eyes
فِى جَدلِ أَعنَاقِ المَهَا وعُيونِها
وَتَبَسُّمٍand smiling كَتَبَسُّمِlike the smiling of الآصَالِlate afternoons
وَتَبَسُّمٍ كَتَبَسُّمِ الآصَالِ
with the shapely necks and eyes of oryx,
and smiles like the smiling of late afternoons,
عَنfrom كُلِّevery أَشنَبَcool, white-toothed mouth كالأَقَاحِىlike daisies وازدَهَتand shone
عَن كُلِّ أَشنَبَ كالأَقَاحِى وازدَهَت
شُرُقاًradiantly صَبِيحَةَthe morning after لَيلَةٍa night مِهطالِpouring with rain
شُرُقاً صَبِيحَةَ لَيلَةٍ مِهطالِ
revealing cool, gleaming teeth like daisies, shining
radiantly the morning after a night of pouring rain.
يَمشِينَthey walk بَينَamong حِجالِهنَّtheir curtained chambers كماas مَشَتwalked
يَمشِينَ بَينَ حِجالِهنَّ كما مَشَت
قُطُفُshort-stepping الهِجَانِwhite camels وَحِلنَbogged down بِالأَثقَالِwith loads
قُطُفُ الهِجَانِ وَحِلنَ بِالأَثقَالِ
They walk among their curtained chambers as walk
short-stepping white camels, bogged down by their loads.
هَلwill? يَرجِعَنَّsurely return لَكَto you الزّمانُtime الخالِىbygone
هَل يَرجِعَنَّ لَكَ الزّمانُ الخالِى
أَمor هَلis? فُؤَادُكَyour heart عَنaway from أُمَميةَUmaymah (unclear spelling) سَالِىfree of longing
أَم هَل فُؤَادُكَ عَن أُمَميةَ سَالِى
Will bygone time ever return to you,
or has your heart forgotten Umaymah?
سَقياًmay rain bless لأَيَّامِىfor my days بِجَهراءِat Jahra' الحِمَىal-Hima
سَقياً لأَيَّامِى بِجَهراءِ الحِمَى
سَقياًmay rain bless لأَيّامٍfor days بِهَاthere وَلَيالِىand nights
سَقياً لأَيّامٍ بِهَا وَلَيالِى
May rain bless my days at Jahra' al-Hima,
may rain bless the days and nights there!
أَيّامَdays when حاذَرَنِىhe feared me الغَيُورُthe jealous man فَلَمyet not أُبَلI cared
أَيّامَ حاذَرَنِى الغَيُورُ فَلَم أُبَل
وَتَشَبَّثَتand clung fast بِحِبالِهنَّto their ropes حِبالِىmy ropes
وَتَشَبَّثَت بِحِبالِهنَّ حِبالِى
Days when the jealous man feared me, yet I did not care,
and my ropes were entwined with theirs.
فإذاand when فَقَدنَthey missed زيارَتِيmy visit فَهىَthen it is المُنَىthe heart's desire
فإذا فَقَدنَ زيارَتِي فَهىَ المُنَى
ويَزِيدُهُنَّand increases their longing بهاfor it هَوَىlove of الأَطلالِthe ruins
ويَزِيدُهُنَّ بها هَوَى الأَطلالِ
When they missed my visit, it was their heart's desire,
and love of the ruins increased their longing for it.
إِنّىindeed I لأَهجُرُهاdo forsake her وإِنَّalthough indeed وِصالَهاunion with her
إِنّى لأَهجُرُها وإِنَّ وِصالَها
عِندِىto me لَنَافِلَةٌsurely an added bounty مِنَamong الأَنفالِbounties
عِندِى لَنَافِلَةٌ مِنَ الأَنفالِ
I do indeed forsake her, though union with her
is to me an added bounty among bounties.
وإِذاand when رَأَينَنِىَthey see me احتَشَدنَthey gather لِجِيئَتِىfor my coming
وإِذا رَأَينَنِىَ احتَشَدنَ لِجِيئَتِى
مُتَطَرِّقاًcoming by night ذاpossessing جُرأَةٍboldness وَدَلالِand confident charm
مُتَطَرِّقاً ذا جُرأَةٍ وَدَلالِ
When they see me, they gather at my coming,
a night visitor, full of boldness and confident charm.
وَيَكُونُand becomes ذِكرِىmention of me بَينَهُنَّamong them تَلاحِياًmutual reproach
وَيَكُونُ ذِكرِى بَينَهُنَّ تَلاحِياً
حَذَرَfor fear of العِدَىthe enemies إِلاّexcept وَهُنَّwhile they are خَوَالِىalone
حَذَرَ العِدَى إِلاّ وَهُنَّ خَوَالِى
Talk of me among them becomes mutual reproach,
for fear of enemies, except when they are alone.
زَعَمَتclaimed أُمَيمةُUmaymah وهىَwhile she تَعلَمُknows غَيرَهُother than that
زَعَمَت أُمَيمةُ وهىَ تَعلَمُ غَيرَهُ
أَبِّىthat I (unclear reading) شَرَيتُexchanged وِصالَهاunion with her بِوِصالِfor another union
أَبِّى شَرَيتُ وِصالَها بِوِصالِ
Umaymah claimed—though she knows otherwise—
that I had exchanged union with her for another union,
وَجَعَلتُand I made أَيّامَthe days of التَّعَاتُبِmutual reproach بَينَناbetween us
وَجَعَلتُ أَيّامَ التَّعَاتُبِ بَينَنا
رَصَداًa vigil لِيَومِfor a day of صَرِيمةٍseverance فَرِّيالِthen parting (unclear reading)
رَصَداً لِيَومِ صَرِيمةٍ فَرِّيالِ
and made the days of mutual reproach between us
a vigil for a day of severance and parting.
وَأَبِيand by the father of أُمَيمَةَUmaymah ماnot تَخَوَّنَdiminished حُبَّهاlove for her
وَأَبِي أُمَيمَةَ ما تَخَوَّنَ حُبَّها
قِدَمٌpassage of time وَلاnor بَدَلٌa replacement مِنَamong الأَبدَالِsubstitutes
قِدَمٌ وَلا بَدَلٌ مِنَ الأَبدَالِ
By Umaymah's father, my love for her has not been eroded
by time, nor by any substitute.
أََأَخُونُwould I betray? مِنfrom بَعدafter الموَدَّةِaffection والهَوىand love
أََأَخُونُ مِن بَعد الموَدَّةِ والهَوى
خُلُقيmy character إِذَنthen كَخَلائِقِlike the characters of الأَنذالِknaves
خُلُقي إِذَن كَخَلائِقِ الأَنذالِ
Would I betray, after affection and love?
My character would then be like the character of knaves.
أََأَخُونُwould I betray? مِنfrom بَعدafter الموَدَّةِaffection والهَوىand love
أََأَخُونُ مِن بَعد الموَدَّةِ والهَوى
كَلاnever وَربِّand by the Lord of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad وand بِلالِBilal
كَلا وَربِّ مُحَمَّدٍ و بِلالِ
Would I, after affection and love, betray—
never, by the Lord of Muhammad and Bilal!—
أَهلَthe people of المَوَدَّةِaffection أَبتَغِىdo I seek شَمَتَgloating العِدَىof enemies
أَهلَ المَوَدَّةِ أَبتَغِى شَمَتَ العِدَى
كَلاّnever وَرَبِّand by the Lord of الطُّورِthe Mount وand الاَنفَالِthe Spoils
كَلاّ وَرَبِّ الطُّورِ و الاَنفَالِ
those I love, seeking my enemies' gloating?
Never, by the Lord of the Mount and the Spoils!
وَلَقَدand indeed أُعَلِّلُI entertain فَوقَupon مَيسٍa mays-wood saddle قاتِرٍclose-fitting
وَلَقَد أُعَلِّلُ فَوقَ مَيسٍ قاتِرٍ
وَأَمِيسُand I sway فَوقَupon جُلالَةٍa large she-camel شِملالِswift
وَأَمِيسُ فَوقَ جُلالَةٍ شِملالِ
Indeed, I would entertain, atop a close-fitting mays-wood saddle—
and sway upon a great, swift she-camel—
صَحبىmy companions بِذِكرِكِwith mention of you والمَطىُّand the mounts كأَنَّهُas though they were
صَحبى بِذِكرِكِ والمَطىُّ كأَنَّهُ
بِالقَومِbearing the people فِىin سَدَفِmurk of الظَّلاَمِdarkness سَعَالِىfemale ghouls
بِالقَومِ فِى سَدَفِ الظَّلاَمِ سَعَالِى
my companions with talk of you; the mounts seemed,
bearing the men through night's murk, like she-ghouls.
أَسرِىI travel by night إِذاwhen أُمسِىI reach evening بِكُلِّwith every سَمَيدَعٍnoble warrior
أَسرِى إِذا أُمسِى بِكُلِّ سَمَيدَعٍ
عَارِىbare of flesh الأَشاجِعِthe knuckles مُنهِجِthreadbare السِّربالِthe tunic
عَارِى الأَشاجِعِ مُنهِجِ السِّربالِ
When evening comes I travel by night with many a noble warrior,
bony-knuckled, his tunic threadbare,
مُتَضَمِّنِينَclasping صُدورَهاtheir chests تَحتَbeneath الدُّجَىthe darkness
مُتَضَمِّنِينَ صُدورَها تَحتَ الدُّجَى
عَسفاًgoing blindly بلاwithout نَجمِa star ولاnor بِقدالِby a guide (uncertain)
عَسفاً بلا نَجمِ ولا بِقدالِ
clasping their chests beneath the darkness,
striking blindly onward, without star or guide.
آباءِmy forefathers (unclear ending) آباءُfathers of المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالعُلَىand high renown
آباءِ آباءُ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلَى
وَالمُتلِفُونَand lavish spenders of مُجَمَّعُamassed الأَموَالِwealth
وَالمُتلِفُونَ مُجَمَّعُ الأَموَالِ
My forefathers are fathers of noble deeds and high renown,
and lavish spenders of amassed wealth,
وَالضَّاربُونَand those who strike بِكُلِّwith every أَخضَرَdark-green blade قاطعٍcutting
وَالضَّاربُونَ بِكُلِّ أَخضَرَ قاطعٍ
لَينِsupple المَهَزِّwhen brandished قَلانِسَthe helmets of الأَبطالِchampions
لَينِ المَهَزِّ قَلانِسَ الأَبطالِ
and those who strike, with every dark-green cutting blade,
supple when brandished, the helmets of champions.
ثمَّthen اكتَهَلتI reached maturity وكادَand almost يَفطُرُbreak through ناجِذِىmy hindmost molar
ثمَّ اكتَهَلت وكادَ يَفطُرُ ناجِذِى
جَعَلَتbegan تَصُدُّto turn aside البُزلُthe mature camels حَولَaround نِزَالىmy combat
جَعَلَت تَصُدُّ البُزلُ حَولَ نِزَالى
Then I reached my prime; my hindmost molar almost broke through.
The mature camels began to turn aside around my place of combat.
وتَرَىand you see المَقاحِمَthe bold assailants شُرَّداًfleeing مِنfrom زَأرَتِىmy roar
وتَرَى المَقاحِمَ شُرَّداً مِن زَأرَتِى
هَربَthe flight of الثَّعَالِبِfoxes مِنfrom أَبِىthe father of الأَشبالِlion cubs
هَربَ الثَّعَالِبِ مِن أَبِى الأَشبالِ
You see the bold assailants fleeing at my roar,
as foxes flee the father of lion cubs.
ذَرنِىleave me وَأَقوَاماًand some people صَلُواwere scorched بِعَداوَتِىby enmity toward me
ذَرنِى وَأَقوَاماً صَلُوا بِعَداوَتِى
إِنَّindeed الشَّقِىَّthe wretch بِحَربِat war with مِثلىَone like me صالِىburns
إِنَّ الشَّقِىَّ بِحَربِ مِثلىَ صالِى
Leave me with men scorched by enmity toward me:
the wretch at war with one like me is bound to burn.
Sol 6.1