بِأَثيلاتِat the little tamarisks of النَقاal-Naqa (the sandhill) سِربُa flock of قَطاsandgrouse
بِأَثيلاتِ النَقا سِربُ قَطا
ضَرَبَpitched الحُسنُBeauty عَلَيهاover them طُنُباa tent-rope
ضَرَبَ الحُسنُ عَلَيها طُنُبا
At the little tamarisks of al-Naqa is a flock of sandgrouse;
With the slender-waisted fair maidens a flock of wild cats
Beauty has pitched its tent over them.
Beauty itself made its abode among them
وَبِأَجوازِand in the depths of الفَلاthe wilderness مِنin the region of إِضَمٍIdam
وَبِأَجوازِ الفَلا مِن إِضَمٍ
نَعَمٌlivestock تَرعىgraze عَلَيهاupon them وَظِباand gazelles
نَعَمٌ تَرعى عَلَيها وَظِبا
And in the desert's depths, in Idam,
And with the spacious howdah litters borne by camels
Are herds grazing there, and gazelles.
A blessing that grazes among them like gazelles
ياO خَليلَيَّmy two friends قِفاhalt, you two وَاِستَنطِقاand make speak, you two
يا خَليلَيَّ قِفا وَاِستَنطِقا
رَسمَthe traces of دارٍa dwelling بَعدَهُمafter them قَدalready خَرِباhas fallen into ruin
رَسمَ دارٍ بَعدَهُم قَد خَرِبا
O my two friends, halt and question
O my two friends stop and question
The traces of a dwelling, ruined since they left.
The vestige of an abode after them now lying in ruins
وَاِندُباand lament, you two قَلبَthe heart of فَتىًa young man فارَقَهُforsook him
وَاِندُبا قَلبَ فَتىً فارَقَهُ
يَومَthe day بانواthey departed وَاِبكِياand weep, you two وَاِنتَحِباand sob, you two
يَومَ بانوا وَاِبكِيا وَاِنتَحِبا
And mourn a young man's heart, which forsook him
And mourn the heart of a youth who has left it
The day they departed; weep and sob.
The day they left, weeping and wailing
عَلَّهُperhaps it يُخبِرُwill tell حَيثُwhere يَمَّمواthey headed
عَلَّهُ يُخبِرُ حَيثُ يَمَّموا
أَلِجَرعاءِwhether to the sandy tract of الحِمىal-Hima (the protected pasture) أَولor لِقَباto Quba
أَلِجَرعاءِ الحِمى أَول لِقَبا
Perhaps it will tell where they headed:
Perhaps it will tell where they went
To the sandy tract of al-Hima, or to Quba?
To Al-Jar’a’s fortresses or just nomad camps
رَحَلواthey saddled العيسَthe pale camels وَلَمand not أَشعُرI was aware بِهِمof them
رَحَلوا العيسَ وَلَم أَشعُر بِهِم
أَلِسَهوٍthrough heedlessness? كانَwas it أَمor طَرفٌan eye نَباmissed its mark
أَلِسَهوٍ كانَ أَم طَرفٌ نَبا
They saddled the pale camels, and I was unaware of them.
They departed at night and I did not feel them leave
Was it heedlessness, or did my eye miss them?
Was it forgetfully or just a wink?
لَمnot يَكُنwas ذاكَthat وَلاnor هذاthis وَماand not
لَم يَكُن ذاكَ وَلا هذا وَما
كانَit was إِلّاexcept وَلَهٌlove's bewilderment قَدindeed غَلَباprevailed
كانَ إِلّا وَلَهٌ قَد غَلَبا
It was neither that nor this; it
It was neither this nor that, but
Was nothing but love's bewilderment, which prevailed.
Simply a departure that has won out
ياO هُموماًcares شَرَدَتstrayed وَاِفتَرَقَتand scattered
يا هُموماً شَرَدَت وَاِفتَرَقَت
خَلفَهُمafter them تَطلُبُهُمseeking them أَيديthe hands of سَباSaba
خَلفَهُم تَطلُبُهُم أَيدي سَبا
O cares that strayed and scattered,
O dispersing, scattered worries
Following them, seeking them, scattered like Saba's people!
Behind them, seeking them are outstretched hands
أَيَّwhatever ريحٍwind نَسَمَتbreathed softly ناديتُهاI called to it
أَيَّ ريحٍ نَسَمَت ناديتُها
ياO شَمالٌnorth wind ياO جَنوبٌsouth wind ياO صَباeast wind
يا شَمالٌ يا جَنوبٌ يا صَبا
Whatever wind breathed, I called to it:
I called to every passing breeze
O north wind, O south wind, O east wind!
“O north wind, south wind or gentle zephyr!
هَلis there? لَدَيكُمwith you خَبَرٌany news مِمّاof what نَباhas gone afar
هَل لَدَيكُم خَبَرٌ مِمّا نَبا
قَدindeed لَقيناwe have suffered مِنfrom نَواهُمtheir separation نَصَباhardship
قَد لَقينا مِن نَواهُم نَصَبا
Have you any news of those who have gone afar?
Have you any news of what has come to pass?
We have indeed suffered hardship from their absence.
We have endured from their departure great pain”
أَسنَدَتtransmitted on authority ريحُthe wind الصَباthe east أَخبارَهاits tidings
أَسنَدَت ريحُ الصَبا أَخبارَها
عَنfrom نَباتِthe plants of الشيحِwormwood عَنfrom زَهرِthe blossoms of الرُبىthe hills
عَن نَباتِ الشيحِ عَن زَهرِ الرُبى
The east wind transmitted its tidings,
The gentle breeze relayed her news
From the wormwood plants, from the hilltop flowers:
About the vegetation, about the flowers of the hillside arbutus
إِنَّindeed مَنwhoever أَمرَضَهُhas made him ill داءُthe malady of الهَوىlove
إِنَّ مَن أَمرَضَهُ داءُ الهَوى
فَليُعَلَّلthen let him be comforted بِأَحاديثِwith tales of الصِباyouth
فَليُعَلَّل بِأَحاديثِ الصِبا
Indeed, whoever is sickened by the malady of love,
“He whom the malady of love has sickened
Let him be comforted with tales of youth.
Let him treat it with the tales of the zephyr”
ثُمَّthen قالَتshe said ياO شَمالُnorth wind خَبِّريgive tidings
ثُمَّ قالَت يا شَمالُ خَبِّري
مِثلَthe like of ماwhat خَبَّرتُهُI told him أَوor أَعجَباsomething more wondrous
مِثلَ ما خَبَّرتُهُ أَو أَعجَبا
Then she said, 'O north wind, tell
Then she said “O north wind tell me
The like of what I told him, or something more wondrous.
The like of what I have told him or even better”
ثُمَّthen أَنتِyou ياO جَنوبُsouth wind حَدِّثيrelate
ثُمَّ أَنتِ يا جَنوبُ حَدِّثي
مِثلَthe like of ماwhat حَدَّثتُهُI related to him أَوor أَعذَباsomething sweeter
مِثلَ ما حَدَّثتُهُ أَو أَعذَبا
Then you, O south wind, relate
Then you, O south wind, relate
The like of what I related to him, or something sweeter.'
The like of what I have related or even sweeter
قالَتِsaid الشَمالُthe north wind عِنديwith me فَرَجٌrelief
قالَتِ الشَمالُ عِندي فَرَجٌ
شارَكَتshared فيهِin it الشَمالُthe north wind الأَزيَباthe Azyab (southerly) wind
شارَكَت فيهِ الشَمالُ الأَزيَبا
The north wind said, 'With me is relief,'
The north wind said “I have respite
Which the north wind shared with the Azyab wind.
In which the gentle north wind shared the most wonderful”
كُلُّevery سَوءٍill فيin هَواهُمlove of them حَسُناbecame beautiful
كُلُّ سَوءٍ في هَواهُم حَسُنا
وَعَذابيand my torment بِرِضاهُمthrough their favor عَذُباbecame sweet
وَعَذابي بِرِضاهُم عَذُبا
Every ill in loving them grew beautiful,
“Every evil in their love is goodness
And my torment grew sweet through their favor.
And my torment in their contentment is sweet”
فَإِلىthen to ماwhat وَعَلىand on ماwhat وَلَمّاand why
فَإِلى ما وَعَلى ما وَلَمّا
تَشتَكيyou complain of البَثَّanguish وَتَشكوand you lament الوَصَباsickness
تَشتَكي البَثَّ وَتَشكو الوَصَبا
Then to what end, on what grounds, and why
“To what and for what and when
Do you complain of anguish and lament sickness?
Does one complain of distress or lament isolation?
وَإِذاand when ماever وَعَدوكُمthey promise you ماnot تَرىyou see
وَإِذا ما وَعَدوكُم ما تَرى
بَرقَهُits lightning إِلّاexcept بَريقاًa flash خُلَّباrainless
بَرقَهُ إِلّا بَريقاً خُلَّبا
And whenever they promise you, you see
And if they make a promise to you that you will see
Its lightning as nothing but a rainless flash.
Its lightning be nothing but a flitting glow”
رَقَمَembroidered الغيمُthe clouds عَلىupon رَدنِthe sleeve of الغَماthe cloud-cover
رَقَمَ الغيمُ عَلى رَدنِ الغَما
مِنfrom سَناthe radiance of البَرقِthe lightning طِرازاًan embroidered border مُذهَباgilded
مِن سَنا البَرقِ طِرازاً مُذهَبا
The clouds embroidered upon the sleeve of cloud-cover
The clouds traced on the cheek of gloom
A gilded border from the lightning's radiance.
From the lightning’s illumination a gilded tattoo
فَجَرَتthen flowed أَدمُعُهاher tears مِنهاfrom her عَلىover
فَجَرَت أَدمُعُها مِنها عَلى
صَحنِthe expanse of خَدَّيهاher two cheeks فَأَذكَتand so kindled لَهَباa flame
صَحنِ خَدَّيها فَأَذكَت لَهَبا
Then her tears flowed from her over
Her tears flowed from it onto
The expanse of her cheeks, and kindled a flame.
The platter of her cheek, igniting a blaze
وَرَدةٌa rose نابِتَةٌspringing مِنfrom أَدمُعٍtears
وَرَدةٌ نابِتَةٌ مِن أَدمُعٍ
نَرجِسٌa narcissus تُمطِرُraining غَيثاًa shower عَجَباwondrous
نَرجِسٌ تُمطِرُ غَيثاً عَجَبا
A rose springing from tears;
A budding rose from tears
A narcissus raining a wondrous shower.
A narcissus that rains a wondrous downpour
وَمَتىand whenever رُمتَyou sought جَناهاits fruit أَرسَلَتshe let fall
وَمَتى رُمتَ جَناها أَرسَلَت
عِطفَthe curve of صُدغَيهاher two temple-locks عَلَيهاover it عَقرَباa scorpion
عِطفَ صُدغَيها عَلَيها عَقرَبا
And whenever you seek its fruit, she lets fall
And when you shoot it a glance, it unleashes
Her curved temple-locks upon it, like a scorpion.
The curve of its cheek upon it like a scorpion
تُشرِقُshines الشَمسُthe sun إِذاwhen ماever اِبتَسَمَتshe smiles
تُشرِقُ الشَمسُ إِذا ما اِبتَسَمَت
رَبَّLord ماhow أَنوَرَradiant ذاكَthat الحَبَباthe bubbles of saliva
رَبَّ ما أَنوَرَ ذاكَ الحَبَبا
The sun shines whenever she smiles.
The sun beams when she smiles
Lord, how radiant those bubbles!
My, how it makes that beloved shine!
يَطلُعُrises اللَيلُthe night إِذاwhen ماever أَسدَلَتshe lets fall
يَطلُعُ اللَيلُ إِذا ما أَسدَلَت
فاحِماًcoal-black جَثلاًthick أَثيثاًluxuriant غَيهَباpitch-dark
فاحِماً جَثلاً أَثيثاً غَيهَبا
Night rises whenever she lets fall
Night falls when she lets down her hair
Her coal-black, thick, luxuriant, pitch-dark hair.
Billowing, disheveled, dark tresses
يَتَجارىrace one another النَحلُthe bees مَهماwhenever تَفلَتshe spits
يَتَجارى النَحلُ مَهما تَفلَت
رَبَّLord ماhow أَعذَبَsweet ذاكَthat الشَنَباthe cool freshness of her teeth
رَبَّ ما أَعذَبَ ذاكَ الشَنَبا
The bees race one another whenever she spits.
The bees compete whenever she steps out
Lord, how sweet that cool freshness of her teeth!
My! How sweet that sip is!
وَإِذاand when مالَتshe sways أَرَتناshe shows us فَنَناًa branch
وَإِذا مالَت أَرَتنا فَنَناً
أَوor رَنَتshe gazes سالَتflow مِنfrom اللَحظِthe glance ظُبىsword-points
أَو رَنَت سالَت مِن اللَحظِ ظُبى
And when she sways, she shows us a branch;
And when she sways and glances coyly
Or when she gazes, sword-points stream from her glance.
How many gazelles spring from her glances!
كَمhow often تُناغيyou murmur tenderly بِالنَقاat al-Naqa مِنfrom حاجِرٍHajir
كَم تُناغي بِالنَقا مِن حاجِرٍ
ياO سَليلَscion of العَرَبِيِّthe Arab العُرُباthe pure-blooded Arabs
يا سَليلَ العَرَبِيِّ العُرُبا
How often you murmur tenderly at al-Naqa, from Hajir,
How you flirt with the slender-waisted fair ones
O scion of the pure-blooded Arabs!
O descendant of the purebred Arabs!
أَناI إلّاonly عَرَبِيٌّan Arab وَلِذاand therefore
أَنا إلّا عَرَبِيٌّ وَلِذا
أَعشَقُI passionately love البيضَthe fair-skinned women وَأَهوىand I desire العَرَباthe Arabs
أَعشَقُ البيضَ وَأَهوى العَرَبا
I am only an Arab, and therefore
I am nothing but an Arab and thus
I love the fair ones and am enamored of the Arabs.
I love the fair complexioned and yearn for Arabs
لاnot أُباليI care شَرَّقَtakes eastward الوَجدُlonging بِناwith us
لا أُبالي شَرَّقَ الوَجدُ بِنا
حَيثُwhere ماever كانَتshe may be بِهِin it أَوor غَرَّباtakes westward
حَيثُ ما كانَت بِهِ أَو غَرَّبا
I care not whether longing takes us east,
I care not where fervent love has scorched us
Wherever she may be, or west.
Whether there or made us go abroad
كُلَّماwhenever قُلتُI say أَلاwill you not? قالواthey say أَماis it not?
كُلَّما قُلتُ أَلا قالوا أَما
وَإِذاand when ماever قُلتُI say هَلwill you? قالواthey say أَبىhe refused
وَإِذا ما قُلتُ هَل قالوا أَبى
Whenever I say, 'Will you not?' they say, 'Is it not?';
Whenever I say “can not”, they say “oh but”
And whenever I say, 'Will you?' they say, 'He refused.'
And when I say “why not”, they say “yes!”
وَمَتىand when ماever أَنجَدواthey went to Najd أَوor أَنهَمواthey went to the lowlands
وَمَتى ما أَنجَدوا أَو أَنهَموا
أَقطَعُI cross البيدَthe deserts أَحُثَّI urge on الطَلَباthe pursuit
أَقطَعُ البيدَ أَحُثَّ الطَلَبا
And whenever they go to Najd or to the lowlands,
And whenever they come to my aid or rescue
I cross the deserts, pressing on in pursuit.
I cut across the desert, hastening the quest
سامِرِيُّthe Samiri of الوَقتِthe age قَلبيmy heart كُلَّماwhenever
سامِرِيُّ الوَقتِ قَلبي كُلَّما
أَبصَرَit sees الآثارَthe traces يَبغيit seeks المَذهَباthe path
أَبصَرَ الآثارَ يَبغي المَذهَبا
My heart is the Samiri of the age; whenever
My heart is with every passing moment
It sees the traces, it seeks the path.
A Samaritan, whenever it sees the traces it desires the roads
وَإِذاand when هُمthey شَرَّقواjourney east أَوor غَرَّبواjourney west
وَإِذا هُم شَرَّقوا أَو غَرَّبوا
كانَwould ذوthe possessor of القَرنَينِthe two horns يَقفوfollow السَبَباthe way
كانَ ذو القَرنَينِ يَقفو السَبَبا
And when they journey east or west,
And when they head east or west
Dhu al-Qarnayn would follow the way.
It is as if Thul-Qarnayn follows their footsteps
كَمhow often دَعَوناwe prayed لِوِصالٍfor union رَغَباin longing
كَم دَعَونا لِوِصالٍ رَغَبا
كَمhow often دَعَوناwe prayed مِنagainst فِراقٍseparation رَهَباin fear
كَم دَعَونا مِن فِراقٍ رَهَبا
How often we prayed for union, in longing!
How often we called for union covetously
How often we prayed against separation, in fear!
How often we called to part anxiously!
ياO بَنيsons of الزَوراءِal-Zawra هذاthis قَمَرٌa moon
يا بَني الزَوراءِ هذا قَمَرٌ
عِندَكُمwith you لاحَit shone وَعِنديand with me غَرَباit set
عِندَكُم لاحَ وَعِندي غَرَبا
O sons of al-Zawra, here is a moon:
O clan of Zawra this moon over by you
With you it shone; with me it set.
Has risen, while by me it has set
حَرَبيmy ruin وَاللَهِby God مِنهُfrom him حَرَبيmy ruin
حَرَبي وَاللَهِ مِنهُ حَرَبي
كَمhow often أُناديI cry out خَلفَهُafter him وَاِحرَباalas, my ruin!
كَم أُنادي خَلفَهُ وَاِحرَبا
My ruin, by God—from him, my ruin!
By God, they fight me and I fight them
How often I cry after him, 'Alas, my ruin!'
How often I call behind them and take up arms!
لَهفَthe anguish of نَفسيmy soul لَهفَthe anguish of نَفسيmy soul لِفَتىًfor a youth
لَهفَ نَفسي لَهفَ نَفسي لِفَتىً
كُلَّماwhenever غَنّىsings حَمامٌa dove غَيِّباhe is made absent
كُلَّما غَنّى حَمامٌ غَيِّبا
My soul's anguish, my soul's anguish for a youth
My soul pants, my soul pants for a youth
Who is carried away whenever a dove sings.
Whenever a dove coos longingly!
Sol 6.1