حَىِّgreet المَنَازِلَthe dwellings مِنof حَمَّاءَḤammāʾ قَدalready دَرَسَتhave worn away
حَىِّ المَنَازِلَ مِن حَمَّاءَ قَد دَرَسَت
إِلاّexcept ثَلاثاًthree hearthstones عَلَىupon مُستَوقَدٍa fireplace رُكُبَاset in place
إِلاّ ثَلاثاً عَلَى مُستَوقَدٍ رُكُبَا
Greet Ḥammāʾ’s dwellings, now effaced,
except three hearthstones set upon a fireplace,
وماثِلاًand a standing remnant مِنof مَغَانِىthe dwelling-sites of الدّارِthe home قَدalready لعِبَتhave toyed
وماثِلاً مِن مَغَانِى الدّارِ قَد لعِبَت
هُوجُraging الرِّياحِwinds بباقِىwith what remains of رَسمِهِits trace حِقَبَاfor ages
هُوجُ الرِّياحِ بباقِى رَسمِهِ حِقَبَا
and a standing remnant of the dwelling, where
raging winds have toyed with the surviving traces for ages.
عُجناwe turned aside عَلَىto دَارِهاher home نبكِىwe weep وَنسأَلُهَاand we ask it
عُجنا عَلَى دَارِها نبكِى وَنسأَلُهَا
عَنهاabout her ونُخبِرُهاand we tell it عَنabout بَينِناour separation خُطُباgrievous events
عَنها ونُخبِرُها عَن بَينِنا خُطُبا
We turned aside to her home, weeping and asking it
about her, recounting the sorrows of our separation.
دارٌa dwelling لأَسمَاءَof Asmāʾ إِذwhen جُنَّwas maddened الفُؤادُthe heart بهاby her
دارٌ لأَسمَاءَ إِذ جُنَّ الفُؤادُ بها
وَلاَand not تنَوِّلُshe grants إِلاّexcept الشَّوَheartache (uncertain reading) وَالطَّرَباand restless longing
وَلاَ تنَوِّلُ إِلاّ الشَّوَ وَالطَّرَبا
A dwelling of Asmāʾ, when the heart was maddened by her,
while she granted nothing but [heartache] and restless longing.
مُستَشرِفاًgazing expectantly مَاwhat بهِis within him قَدalready كادَnearly يَخبِلُهُderanges him
مُستَشرِفاً مَا بهِ قَد كادَ يَخبِلُهُ
وَجدٌpassionate longing بِهَاfor her مُستَهَامَlove-crazed القَلبِat heart مُختَلَبَاbewitched
وَجدٌ بِهَا مُستَهَامَ القَلبِ مُختَلَبَا
Gazing expectantly in his torment, all but driven mad
by longing for her, his heart love-crazed and captivated.
لَمnot يُنسِهِmade him forget ذِكرَهَاthe memory of her بَيضاءُa fair woman آنِسَةٌcompanionable
لَم يُنسِهِ ذِكرَهَا بَيضاءُ آنِسَةٌ
وَلاَnor تضناءٍwasting sickness (uncertain reading) نَأَتهُwas far from him دارُهاher dwelling حِقَبَاfor ages
وَلاَ تضناءٍ نَأَتهُ دارُها حِقَبَا
No fair, companionable woman made him forget her memory,
nor [wasting sickness], though her home was far from him for ages.
بَيضَاءُa fair woman تُسفِرُshe unveils عَنrevealing صَلتٍa smooth face مَدامِعُهُits tear-courses
بَيضَاءُ تُسفِرُ عَن صَلتٍ مَدامِعُهُ
لاتَستَبِينُyou cannot discern بِهِon it خَالاًa mole وَلاَnor نَدَبَاa scar
لاتَستَبِينُ بِهِ خَالاً وَلاَ نَدَبَا
Fair, she unveils a smooth face, along whose tear-courses
you discern neither mole nor scar.
ثُمَّthen ابتِسَامَتُهَاher smile كَالبَرقِlike lightning عَنrevealing أُشرٍfinely serrated teeth
ثُمَّ ابتِسَامَتُهَا كَالبَرقِ عَن أُشرٍ
حَمشِdelicate اللِّثاتِof gums تَرَىyou see فِىin ثَغرِهاher mouth شَنَبَاcool sweetness
حَمشِ اللِّثاتِ تَرَى فِى ثَغرِها شَنَبَا
Then her smile, like lightning, reveals finely serrated teeth,
with delicate gums; you see cool sweetness in her mouth.
بَيضاءُa fair woman مِثلُlike مَهَاةِa female oryx الرَّملِof the sands أَخذَلّهاkept her apart
بَيضاءُ مِثلُ مَهَاةِ الرَّملِ أَخذَلّها
عَنِfrom المَهَاthe oryx herd جؤذُرٌa calf قَدalready رادَroamed وَكَربَاand neared maturity
عَنِ المَهَا جؤذُرٌ قَد رادَ وَكَربَا
Fair, like an oryx of the sands, held back
from the herd by a calf that roams and is nearly grown.
تَرعَىshe grazes رُبولاًfresh shoots مِنَfrom الوَسمىِّthe first autumn rains عَازِبةًapart from the herd
تَرعَى رُبولاً مِنَ الوَسمىِّ عَازِبةً
جَرَّتtrailed بِهضاover them (uncertain reading) المُزنُthe rain clouds سَحَّa downpour فَانسَكَبَاand it poured forth
جَرَّت بِهضا المُزنُ سَحَّ فَانسَكَبَا
She grazes apart on shoots of the first autumn rains,
where rain clouds brought a downpour and poured it forth.
فَتِلكَthat, then شِبهٌa likeness لَهاof her إِلاّexcept مُخَدَّمَهَاits anklet-marked parts
فَتِلكَ شِبهٌ لَها إِلاّ مُخَدَّمَهَا
مِنَof الشَّوضىthe limbs (uncertain reading) لاَnot تَرَىyou see فِىin خَلقِهاher form عَتَبَاany defect
مِنَ الشَّوضى لاَ تَرَى فِى خَلقِها عَتَبَا
That is her likeness, save for the anklet-marked parts
of its legs; in her form you see no defect.
كانُواthey were لناto us جِيرَةًneighbors وَالشَّملُand the company يَجمَعُهُholds it together
كانُوا لنا جِيرَةً وَالشَّملُ يَجمَعُهُ
مُستَخلَفٌa remaining water supply مِنfrom ثِمادِthe shallow pools of الصَّيفِsummer قَدalready شُرِبَاwas drunk from
مُستَخلَفٌ مِن ثِمادِ الصَّيفِ قَد شُرِبَا
They were our neighbors, our gathering held together
by water left in summer’s shallow pools, already drawn upon.
حتّىuntil إِذاwhen الهَيفُthe hot drying wind ساقَdrove النّاسَthe people وانسَفَرَتand burst forth
حتّى إِذا الهَيفُ ساقَ النّاسَ وانسَفَرَت
مِنfrom وَغرَةِthe burning heat of القَيظِmidsummer فَيحٌa scorching blast لَمnot تَدَعit left رَطِباanything moist
مِن وَغرَةِ القَيظِ فَيحٌ لَم تَدَع رَطِبا
Until the parching wind drove people forth, and there burst out
a scorching blaze of summer heat that left nothing moist.
فَاستَبدَلَthen exchanged الفَحلُthe camel stallion أَجمَالاًcamel herds فَألَّفَهاand gathered them
فَاستَبدَلَ الفَحلُ أَجمَالاً فَألَّفَها
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماhaving اشتَمَلَhe had gathered الأَشوالَthe dry she-camels وَالسُّلُبَاand those bereft of calves
مِن بَعدِ ما اشتَمَلَ الأَشوالَ وَالسُّلُبَا
Then the camel stallion took other herds and gathered them,
after keeping dry she-camels and those bereft of calves.
بَانُواthey departed فَماand nothing رَاعَناstartled us إِلاّexcept حَمولَتُهمtheir laden camels
بَانُوا فَما رَاعَنا إِلاّ حَمولَتُهم
وهاتفٌand a crier بِفراقِof the departure of الحَىِّthe clan قَدalready نَعَبَاcroaked
وهاتفٌ بِفراقِ الحَىِّ قَد نَعَبَا
They departed; nothing startled us except their laden camels
and a crier croaking news of the clan’s departure.
كأَنَّهُمas though they بالضُّحَىat forenoon والآلُand the mirage يَرفَعُهُمlifted them
كأَنَّهُم بالضُّحَى والآلُ يَرفَعُهُم
لَمّاwhen تَرَفَّعَrose high آلُthe mirage of الشَّمسِthe sun فالتَهبَاand blazed
لَمّا تَرَفَّعَ آلُ الشَّمسِ فالتَهبَا
At forenoon they seemed, as the mirage lifted them,
when the sun’s mirage rose high and blazed,
سِدرٌlote trees نَواعِمُlush مشنfrom (uncertain spelling) هِرجابَHirjāb أَوor دُلُجٌduluj trees
سِدرٌ نَواعِمُ مشن هِرجابَ أَو دُلُجٌ
بالمُستَطِيلِwith the tall growth عَلَىacross أَفيائِهِits shaded places العُشُباgrass
بالمُستَطِيلِ عَلَى أَفيائِهِ العُشُبا
lush lote trees from Hirjāb, or duluj trees,
with grass growing tall across their shaded ground.
خَدَّرنَthey curtained مَكتُوبَةًa stitched litter شُدَّتwere tightened مآسِرُهاits bindings
خَدَّرنَ مَكتُوبَةً شُدَّت مآسِرُها
مُلساًsmooth يُخَيَّلنَthey seem مِنfrom سِدرَاتِهاits lote trees قُضُبَاbranches
مُلساً يُخَيَّلنَ مِن سِدرَاتِها قُضُبَا
They curtained a stitched litter, its bindings drawn tight,
its smooth poles seeming branches of those lote trees.
أَلبَسنَهاthey clothed it الرَّقمَfigured cloth وَالدِّيباجَand brocade عارفَةًaccustomed
أَلبَسنَها الرَّقمَ وَالدِّيباجَ عارفَةً
لهاto it جِمَالٌcamels أخَذنَthey had acquired الذِّلَّdocility والأَدُبَاand training
لها جِمَالٌ أخَذنَ الذِّلَّ والأَدُبَا
They clothed it in figured cloth and brocade; accustomed
to it were camels schooled in docility and obedience:
رَيطاًfine wraps بَهِيًّاsplendid ودِيباجاًand brocade كأنَّas though عَلَىupon
رَيطاً بَهِيًّا ودِيباجاً كأنَّ عَلَى
أَلياطِهاtheir outer surfaces الفِضَّةَsilver البَيضاءَwhite والذَّهَباand gold
أَلياطِها الفِضَّةَ البَيضاءَ والذَّهَبا
splendid wraps and brocade, as though upon
their surfaces lay white silver and gold.
ثُمَّthen اتَّبَعنَthey followed غَيُوراًa jealous man ذاpossessing مُعاسَرَةٍintractability
ثُمَّ اتَّبَعنَ غَيُوراً ذا مُعاسَرَةٍ
غِنif (uncertain spelling) هُنَّthey شاوَرنَهُconsulted him فِىabout نِيَّةٍa destination غَضِبَاhe grew angry
غِن هُنَّ شاوَرنَهُ فِى نِيَّةٍ غَضِبَا
Then they followed a jealous, intractable man;
if they consulted him about a destination, he grew angry.
حتىuntil إِذاwhen غَرَّدَsang out الحادِىthe camel-driver وَأَتبَعَهُمand drove them onward
حتى إِذا غَرَّدَ الحادِى وَأَتبَعَهُم
ذَمّاًa forceful driving بِهِمof them ليسَnot تَقتِيراًstinting ولاnor تَعَبَاweariness
ذَمّاً بِهِم ليسَ تَقتِيراً ولا تَعَبَا
Until, when the camel-driver sang and drove them on,
with a firm drive, neither stinting nor exhausting them,
أَتبَعتُهُمI followed them طَرفَwith the gaze of عَينٍan eye جالُهاits rim غَرِقٌflooded
أَتبَعتُهُم طَرفَ عَينٍ جالُها غَرِقٌ
هَاجَstirred احتمِالُهُمtheir departure منfrom دَمعِهاits tears سَرَباa flowing stream
هَاجَ احتمِالُهُم من دَمعِها سَرَبا
I followed them with my gaze, my eye’s rim flooded;
their departure sent its tears flowing in a stream.
أَتبَعتُهُمI pursued them دَوسَراًon a massive camel رَحبَwide الفُرُوجِin the leg-spaces تَرَىyou see
أَتبَعتُهُم دَوسَراً رَحبَ الفُرُوجِ تَرَى
فىat حَدِّthe point of مِرفَقِهِhis elbow عَنaway from زَورِهِhis chest حَنَبَاan outward curve
فى حَدِّ مِرفَقِهِ عَن زَورِهِ حَنَبَا
I pursued them on a massive, wide-striding camel; you could see
the point of his elbow bowed outward from his chest.
مُؤَيَّدَpowerful الصُّلبِin the back رَحبَbroad الجَوفِin the belly مُطَّرِداًwell-proportioned
مُؤَيَّدَ الصُّلبِ رَحبَ الجَوفِ مُطَّرِداً
كالسِّيدِlike a wolf لاnot جَنَباًshort-bodied كَزّاًstiff وَلاَnor طَنَبَاoverlong
كالسِّيدِ لا جَنَباً كَزّاً وَلاَ طَنَبَا
Strong-backed, broad-bellied, well-proportioned
like a wolf, neither squat and stiff nor overlong.
فَعمَfull المَناكِبِin the shoulders نَهّاضاًquick to rise إِذاwhen حُشِيَتwere filled
فَعمَ المَناكِبِ نَهّاضاً إِذا حُشِيَت
مِنهُby him البَراذِعُthe saddle-pads جَوزاًa middle مارِناًsupple سَلِباَslender
مِنهُ البَراذِعُ جَوزاً مارِناً سَلِباَ
Full-shouldered, quick to rise when fitted
with saddle-pads about his supple, slender middle.
يُصغِىhe inclines لراكِبهِtoward his rider فِىin المَيسِthe swaying gait مُنتَحِياًleaning aside
يُصغِى لراكِبهِ فِى المَيسِ مُنتَحِياً
حتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle انتَحَىhe leans فىinto غَرزِهِhis foot-loop وَثَباhe leaps
حتّى إِذا ما انتَحَى فى غَرزِهِ وَثَبا
He inclines toward his rider as he sways, leaning aside,
until, when the rider leans into his foot-loop, he bounds
شَدَّwith the run of الظَّلِيمِa male ostrich مِراحاًspiritedly ثُمَّthen كَفكَفَهُhe reins him in
شَدَّ الظَّلِيمِ مِراحاً ثُمَّ كَفكَفَهُ
حتَّىuntil استَمَرَّhe proceeds steadily بِهِwith him التَبغِيلَat a mule-like gait وَالخَبَباand a trot
حتَّى استَمَرَّ بِهِ التَبغِيلَ وَالخَبَبا
with a male ostrich’s spirited dash; then the rider checks him,
until he settles into a mule-like gait and a trot.
كأنَّas though رِجلَيهِhis two hind legs رِجلاthe two legs of ناشطٍa lively male مَرِحٍfrolicsome
كأنَّ رِجلَيهِ رِجلا ناشطٍ مَرِحٍ
مِنَamong النَّعامِthe ostriches أَرحِّwide الخَطوِin stride قَدalready خَضَبَاhad reddened legs
مِنَ النَّعامِ أَرحِّ الخَطوِ قَد خَضَبَا
As though his hind legs were those of a lively, frolicsome
ostrich, wide-striding, its legs reddened.
كأَنَّas though أَوبَthe back-and-forth movement of يَدَيهِhis forelegs حِينَwhen تَرعَبُهُyou startle him
كأَنَّ أَوبَ يَدَيهِ حِينَ تَرعَبُهُ
بِالصَّوتِwith a shout وَهوwhile he يُبارِىraces الضُمَّرَthe lean النُّجُبَاnoble camels
بِالصَّوتِ وَهو يُبارِى الضُمَّرَ النُّجُبَا
As though his forelegs’ back-and-forth, when you startle him
with a shout while he races the lean, noble camels
أَمامَهُنَّahead of them يَدَاthe two hands of ساقٍa water-drawer بماتِحَةٍat a well
أَمامَهُنَّ يَدَا ساقٍ بماتِحَةٍ
لَمّاwhen تُبُودِرَwas scrambled for جَمُّthe abundant supply of الماءِwater فَانتُهِبَاand was snatched away
لَمّا تُبُودِرَ جَمُّ الماءِ فَانتُهِبَا
ahead of them, were the hands of a water-drawer at a well,
when the plentiful water is scrambled for and snatched away.
كأنَّas though غارِبَهُhis withers مُستَشرِفاًrising high إِرمٌa stone cairn
كأنَّ غارِبَهُ مُستَشرِفاً إِرمٌ
يُوفِيoverlooks اليَوافِعَthe heights مِنfrom أَعلاهُits summit مُرتقِبَاkeeping watch
يُوفِي اليَوافِعَ مِن أَعلاهُ مُرتقِبَا
As though his lofty withers were a stone cairn,
overlooking the heights, keeping watch from its summit.
كأنَّas though هَاديَهُhis neck والعِيسُwhile the pale camels تَطلبُهُpursue him
كأنَّ هَاديَهُ والعِيسُ تَطلبُهُ
جِذعٌa trunk بِخَيبَرَat Khaybar مِنof جَبّارةٍa tall palm شُذِبَاstripped of branches
جِذعٌ بِخَيبَرَ مِن جَبّارةٍ شُذِبَا
As though his neck, with pale camels pursuing him,
were the trimmed trunk of a tall palm at Khaybar.
كأنَّas though عَينَيهِhis two eyes والأَنضاءُwhile the worn-out camels ساهِمَةٌare gaunt
كأنَّ عَينَيهِ والأَنضاءُ ساهِمَةٌ
وَقبانِtwo hollows فِىin صَخرةٍa rock صَمّاءsolid قدalready نَضَباhave run dry
وَقبانِ فِى صَخرةٍ صَمّاء قد نَضَبا
As though his eyes, while the worn-out camels are gaunt,
were two hollows in solid rock, run dry.
فِىin سَلهَبِlong الخَدِّof cheek تَستَرخِىhang slack مَشافِرُهُhis thick lips
فِى سَلهَبِ الخَدِّ تَستَرخِى مَشافِرُهُ
إِذاwhen اللُّغامthe foam عَلَىupon عِرنِينِهِthe bridge of his nose عَصَبَاhas caked
إِذا اللُّغام عَلَى عِرنِينِهِ عَصَبَا
In his long-cheeked face his thick lips hang loose,
when foam cakes upon the ridge of his nose.
حتّىuntil لَحِقتُI overtook حُمُولَthe laden camels of الحَىِّthe clan أَقرَعُهُstriking him
حتّى لَحِقتُ حُمُولَ الحَىِّ أَقرَعُهُ
لَولاbut for تَراغُبُthe breadth of شِعبَىthe two forks of رَحلِهِhis saddle انشَعَبَاthey would have split
لَولا تَراغُبُ شِعبَى رَحلِهِ انشَعَبَا
Until I overtook the clan’s laden camels, striking him;
but for the breadth of his saddle’s two forks, they would have split.
كانتshe was لِماحاًglances وتَومِيّاًand gestures مُحَافَظَةًcarefully guarding
كانت لِماحاً وتَومِيّاً مُحَافَظَةً
عَلَىover الّذِىwhat بينَناis between us أَنlest يُظهِرَit arouse الرِّيبَاsuspicion
عَلَى الّذِى بينَنا أَن يُظهِرَ الرِّيبَا
She was all glances and gestures, carefully guarding
what lay between us, lest it awaken suspicion,
مِنfrom عِلمِknowing أَنّاthat we مَتَىwhenever يَظهَرcomes to light مُكَتَّمُناour guarded secret
مِن عِلمِ أَنّا مَتَى يَظهَر مُكَتَّمُنا
فَيُخبِرِand then informs القَومَthe people عَنabout أَسرارِناour secrets الغُيُبَاthe hidden ones
فَيُخبِرِ القَومَ عَن أَسرارِنا الغُيُبَا
knowing that, should our guarded secret come to light
and tell the people of our hidden mysteries,
تَعدُwould turn aside العَوادِىhostile forces مُحِباًa lover عَنfrom إِبَانَتِهِrevealing it
تَعدُ العَوادِى مُحِباً عَن إِبَانَتِهِ
وَتَبلُغِand would reach الحَربُwar قَومَيناour two clans فَيَحتَرِبَاand then they would fight
وَتَبلُغِ الحَربُ قَومَينا فَيَحتَرِبَا
hostile forces would turn a lover from avowing it,
and war would reach our two clans, and they would fight.
Sol 6.1