أَلاLo حَيّياgreet, you two رَسماًa trace بِذيat Dhu العُشِّal-'Ush مُقفِراًdeserted
أَلا حَيّيا رَسماً بِذي العُشِّ مُقفِراً
وَرَبعاًand a dwelling بِذيat Dhu المَمدورِal-Mamdur مُستَعجِماًmute قَفراًdesolate
وَرَبعاً بِذي المَمدورِ مُستَعجِماً قَفراً
Come, you two, greet a deserted trace at Dhu al-'Ush,
Behold, how the abode of Dhi al-`Ush has become desolate
and a dwelling at Dhu al-Mamdur, mute and desolate.
And the quarter of Dhi al-Mamdūr alien and empty.
أَضَرَّdid harm بِهِto it حَتّىuntil تَنَكَّرَbecame unrecognizable عَهدَهُits familiar appearance
أَضَرَّ بِهِ حَتّى تَنَكَّرَ عَهدَهُ
حَراجِفُfierce cold winds يَسفِرنَsweep away الرِغامَfine dust بِهاacross it سَفراa sweeping
حَراجِفُ يَسفِرنَ الرِغامَ بِها سَفرا
It was ravaged until its familiar appearance grew unrecognizable
So it is ruined until its covenant is unrecognizable,
by fierce cold winds sweeping the dust away there.
By the sands drifting relentlessly in wilderness.
فَذاso, Dhu العُشِّal-'Ush أُسقيتَmay you be watered الغَمامَrainclouds وَلاand may not يَزَلcease
فَذا العُشِّ أُسقيتَ الغَمامَ وَلا يَزَل
تَرودُgraze and roam بِكَthrough you الآجالُherds of wild cattle مُغلَولِباًthick-growing نَضراfresh and green
تَرودُ بِكَ الآجالُ مُغلَولِباً نَضرا
Dhu al-'Ush, may rainclouds water you, and may you ever remain
So this abode of Dhi al-`Ush has quenched the clouds, yet still
a place where wild herds graze, lush and green.
The enduring rains come to you gushing and fresh.
فَأَعجَبُso, the most wondrous دارٍdwelling دارُهاher dwelling غَيرَexcept أَنَّنيthat I
فَأَعجَبُ دارٍ دارُها غَيرَ أَنَّني
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle أَتَيتُI come to الدارَthe dwelling تَرجِعُنيit sends me back صِفراًempty-handed
إِذا ما أَتَيتُ الدارَ تَرجِعُني صِفراً
Her dwelling is the most wondrous of dwellings; yet for me,
Strange is a house whose dwellers have left it;
whenever I come to the dwelling, it sends me back empty-handed.
Whenever I come to it, I return depressed.
أَلاOh لاmay not تَعُدrecur لِيَto me لَوعَةٌa burning pang مِثلَlike لَوعَتيmy burning pang
أَلا لا تَعُد لِيَ لَوعَةٌ مِثلَ لَوعَتي
عَلَيكَover you بأَدمىat Adma وَالهَوىand love يَرجِعُbrings back الذِكراthe memory
عَلَيكَ بأَدمى وَالهَوى يَرجِعُ الذِكرا
Oh, may no anguish return to me like my anguish
Do not repeat to me a torment like my torment
over you at Adma, while love brings back the memory,
Over you, while passion makes recollection recur.
عَشيَّةَon the evening when أَثنيI fold بِالرِداءِwith the cloak عَلىover الحَشىthe breast
عَشيَّةَ أَثني بِالرِداءِ عَلى الحَشى
كَأَنَّas though الحَشىthe breast مِنfrom دونِهِbeneath it أُسعِرَتwas set ablaze جَمراًglowing coals
كَأَنَّ الحَشى مِن دونِهِ أُسعِرَت جَمراً
that evening when I folded my cloak about my breast,
One evening I leaned my cheek against the enclosure
as though my breast beneath it had been kindled into coals.
As if, without it being so, the enclosure were aflame.
يَميلُdraws aside بِناwith us شَحطُremoteness النَوىseparation ثُمَّthen نَلتَقيwe meet
يَميلُ بِنا شَحطُ النَوى ثُمَّ نَلتَقي
عِدادَas often as الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades صادَفَتmet لَيلةًone night بَدراa full moon
عِدادَ الثُرَيّا صادَفَت لَيلةً بَدرا
The vast distance of separation draws us apart; then we meet
The bending bough brought us together, then we met
as often as the Pleiades encounter a full moon one night.
After counting the Pleiades, on a night with the full moon bright.
خَليلَيَّmy two dear friends مِنfrom غَيظِGhayz بنِson of مُرَّةَMurra بَلِّغاdeliver, you two
خَليلَيَّ مِن غَيظِ بنِ مُرَّةَ بَلِّغا
رَسائِلَmessages مِنّيfrom me لاتَزيدُكُماdo not add for you two وِقراa burden
رَسائِلَ مِنّي لاتَزيدُكُما وِقرا
My two friends from Ghayz ibn Murra, deliver
O my two friends, convey to the Banū Murra
messages from me that will add no burden to you two.
Messages from me; do not increase them in frequency.
وَمُرّاand pass, you two عَلىthrough تَيماءَTayma نَسأَلُwe may ask يَهودَهاits Jews
وَمُرّا عَلى تَيماءَ نَسأَلُ يَهودَها
فَإِنَّfor indeed لَدىat تَيماءَTayma مِنof رَكبِهاher caravan خُبراnews
فَإِنَّ لَدى تَيماءَ مِن رَكبِها خُبرا
And pass through Tayma, so we may ask its Jews,
And pass by Taimá and question its Jews,
for at Tayma there is news of her caravan.
For in Taimá are tidings of their caravan.
وَبِالغَمرِand through al-Ghamr قَدalready جازَتshe passed وَجازَand passed مَطيُّهاher mounts
وَبِالغَمرِ قَد جازَت وَجازَ مَطيُّها
فَأَسقىso may ... water الغَواديmorning rainclouds بَطنَthe valley of نيّانَNiyyan فَالغَمرthen al-Ghamr
فَأَسقى الغَوادي بَطنَ نيّانَ فَالغَمر
She has passed through al-Ghamr, and so have her mounts;
By al-Ghamr they have crossed, and their beasts have crossed,
may morning rains water the valley of Niyyan, then al-Ghamr.
So the torrents have watered the belly of Niyyān, by al-Ghamr.
فَلَمّاso when رَأَتshe saw أَنthat قَدalready قَرُبنَthey drew near أَباتِراًAbatir
فَلَمّا رَأَت أَن قَد قَرُبنَ أَباتِراً
عَواسِفُroaming trackless land سُهبٌwide-striding تارِكاتٌleaving behind بِناcarrying us ثَجراThajr
عَواسِفُ سُهبٌ تارِكاتٌ بِنا ثَجرا
When she saw that they had drawn near Abatir—
When the mares saw that the camel-borne litters had drawn near,
wide-striding camels roaming trackless land, leaving Thajr behind as they bore us—
Wild she-camels leaving us behind in haste,
أَثارَroused لَهاfor her شَحطُremoteness الدِيارِthe dwellings وَحَمحَمَتand she murmured
أَثارَ لَها شَحطُ الدِيارِ وَحَمحَمَت
أُموراًconcerns وَحاجاتٍand longings نَضيقُwe feel constricted بِهاby them صَدراin the breast
أُموراً وَحاجاتٍ نَضيقُ بِها صَدرا
the remoteness of home roused in her, amid her murmuring,
The bending of the encampments stirred things up,
concerns and longings that constrict our breasts.
Matters and needs that straiten the breast.
إِذاif جاوَزَتshe passes beyond بُصرىBusra تَقَطَّعَis severed وَصلُهاher bond
إِذا جاوَزَت بُصرى تَقَطَّعَ وَصلُها
وَأَغلَقَand shut بَوّابانِtwo gatekeepers مِنfrom دونِهاbefore her قَصراa palace
وَأَغلَقَ بَوّابانِ مِن دونِها قَصرا
If she passes beyond Busra, the bond with her is broken,
When she went beyond al-Buşrà her visitation ceased
and two gatekeepers shut a palace, barring access to her.
And the guards closed the palace's gate behind her.
فَلاso, no وَصلَreunion إِلّاexcept أَنthat تُقارِبَbring closer بَينَناbetween us
فَلا وَصلَ إِلّا أَن تُقارِبَ بَينَنا
قَلائِصُyoung she-camels يَجسُرنَboldly traverse الفَلاةَthe wilderness بِناcarrying us جَسراa bold crossing
قَلائِصُ يَجسُرنَ الفَلاةَ بِنا جَسرا
There is no reunion unless we are brought closer
No visit is possible unless you bring us together,
by young she-camels carrying us boldly across the wilderness,
By mounts that dare cross the dreadful wilderness.
غُرَيريَّةُGhurayri-bred الأَنسابِin lineage أَوor ماMa- (part of Matili) طِليَّةٌtili-bred (rest of Matili)
غُرَيريَّةُ الأَنسابِ أَو ما طِليَّةٌ
تُنازِعُtug against أَيديthe hands of القَومِthe riders مُلويَّةٌtwisted سُمراbrown reins
تُنازِعُ أَيدي القَومِ مُلويَّةٌ سُمرا
Ghurayri in lineage, or Matili-bred,
Is she a short-statured Ghurayr, or a Tall Umm
tugging against the riders' hands on twisted brown reins,
That disputes with her tribe's hands, bending branches?
إِذاwhen رَكَدَتstands still شَمسُthe sun of النَهارِthe day وَوَضَّعَتand lays out
إِذا رَكَدَت شَمسُ النَهارِ وَوَضَّعَت
طَنافِسَهاits carpets وَلَيَنهاthey turn toward it الأَعيُنَthe eyes الخُزراsquinting
طَنافِسَها وَلَيَنها الأَعيُنَ الخُزرا
when the sun of day stands still and lays out
When the sun of day declined, laid down
its carpets, they turn their squinting eyes toward it.
Its chiffon mantle, the gazes of onlookers cast down,
أَلاOh لَيتَif only شِعريmy knowledge هَلwhether إِلىto أُمِّUmm (mother of) جَحدَرٍJahdar
أَلا لَيتَ شِعري هَل إِلى أُمِّ جَحدَرٍ
سَبيلٌa path فأَماbut as for الصَبرُpatience عَنهاapart from her فلاthen no صَبراpatience
سَبيلٌ فأَما الصَبرُ عَنها فلا صَبرا
Oh, would that I knew: toward Umm Jahdar,
Lo, would that I knew! Is there a way to Umm Juḥdar
is there a path? As for patience without her, I have none.
Or else, for me, there is no patience from her?
وَلَوand if كانَwere نَذرٌa vow مُدنِياًbringing near أُمِّUmm (mother of) جَحدَرٍJahdar
وَلَو كانَ نَذرٌ مُدنِياً أُمِّ جَحدَرٍ
إِلَيَّto me لقدsurely أَوذَمتُI would bind فيon عُنُقيmy neck نَذراa vow
إِلَيَّ لقد أَوذَمتُ في عُنُقي نَذرا
And if a vow could bring Umm Jahdar nearer
Had there been a vow made by me, O Umm Juḥdar,
to me, I would surely bind a vow about my neck.
Binding my neck, indeed I would have fulfilled it!
أَلاOh لاdo not تَلِطّيdraw shut السِترَthe curtain ياO أُمَّUmm (mother of) جَحدَرٍJahdar
أَلا لا تَلِطّي السِترَ يا أُمَّ جَحدَرٍ
كَفَىsuffice بِذُراthe summits of الأَعلَمِal-A'lam مِنfrom دونِناbetween us سِتراas a screen
كَفَى بِذُرا الأَعلَمِ مِن دونِنا سِترا
Oh, do not draw the curtain shut, Umm Jahdar;
Do not conceal yourself, O Umm Juḥdar!
the summits of al-A'lam are veil enough between us.
The covering of lofty stature suffices beside us.
لَعَمريby my life لَئِنif indeed أَمسَيتِyou have come to evening ياO أُمَّUmm (mother of) جَحدَرٍJahdar
لَعَمري لَئِن أَمسَيتِ يا أُمَّ جَحدَرٍ
نَأَيتِyou have gone far away فَقَدthen indeed أَبلَيتُI exhausted فيin طَلَبٍpursuit عُذراevery excuse
نَأَيتِ فَقَد أَبلَيتُ في طَلَبٍ عُذرا
By my life, if by evening you have, Umm Jahdar,
By my life! If you are absent, O Umm Juḥdar,
gone far away, I have left no effort untried in seeking you.
In seeking you I surely will have striven and made effort!
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأَستَنشيI do seek out الحَديثَconversation مِنfor أَجلِهاher sake
وَإِنّي لَأَستَنشي الحَديثَ مِن أَجلِها
لِأَسمَعَso I may hear عَنهاof her وَهِيَwhile she نازِحَةٌfar away ذِكراa mention
لِأَسمَعَ عَنها وَهِيَ نازِحَةٌ ذِكرا
And I do seek out conversation for her sake,
I excite conversation about her in order
to hear mention of her while she is far away.
To hear of her, while she departs from mention.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأَستَحيِيI am truly ashamed مِنَbefore اللَهِGod أَنto أُرىbe seen
وَإِنّي لَأَستَحيِي مِنَ اللَهِ أَن أُرى
إِذاwhen غَدَرَbetray الخُلّانُthe intimate friends أَنويI intend لَهاagainst her غَدراbetrayal
إِذا غَدَرَ الخُلّانُ أَنوي لَها غَدرا
And I would be ashamed before God to be seen,
I am too shy before God that I should intend
when friends betray, intending betrayal against her.
Betrayal, if intimate friends have betrayed.
تَفاقَدَmay they lose one another قَوميmy people إِذwhen يَبيعونَthey sell مُهجَتيmy lifeblood
تَفاقَدَ قَومي إِذ يَبيعونَ مُهجَتي
بِجارِيَةٍfor a girl بَهراًwoe لَهُمto them بَعدَهاafter her بَهراwoe
بِجارِيَةٍ بَهراً لَهُم بَعدَها بَهرا
May my people lose one another for selling my lifeblood
My people noticed when they sold my love
for a girl—woe to them, and after her, woe again!
For a slave-girl - a dazzlement for them after her.
أَلاOh لَيتَif only شِعريmy knowledge هَلwhether يَحُلَّنَّthey will surely camp أَهلُناour people
أَلا لَيتَ شِعري هَل يَحُلَّنَّ أَهلُنا
وَأَهلُكِand your people رَوضاتٍmeadows بِبَطنِin the valley of اللِوىal-Liwa خُضراgreen
وَأَهلُكِ رَوضاتٍ بِبَطنِ اللِوى خُضرا
Oh, would that I knew: will our people ever camp,
Would that I knew! Will our people and your people
and yours, in green meadows in the valley of al-Liwa?
Encamp on meadows in the belly of al-Liwá, green?
وَهَلand whether تَطرُقَنَّwill surely visit by night الريحُthe wind تَدرُجُcreeps along مَوهِناًlate at night
وَهَل تَطرُقَنَّ الريحُ تَدرُجُ مَوهِناً
بِرَيّاكِwith your fragrance تَعرَوريrides bareback over بِهاwith it الجَرَعَsandy rises العَفراpale and dust-colored
بِرَيّاكِ تَعرَوري بِها الجَرَعَ العَفرا
And will the wind ever visit by night, creeping through the late hours,
Will the sweet breeze creep in, visiting our tents,
bearing your fragrance, riding bareback over the pale sandy rises with it,
Stirring up your fragrance, making the taste exquisite?
بِريحِwith the fragrance of خُزامىlavender الرَملِthe sand باتَspent the night مُعانِقاًembracing
بِريحِ خُزامى الرَملِ باتَ مُعانِقاً
فُروعَthe stems of الأَقاحيdaisies تَنضُبَdraw off الطَلَّthe dew وَالقَطراand the rain
فُروعَ الأَقاحي تَنضُبَ الطَلَّ وَالقَطرا
with the scent of sand lavender that spent the night embracing
With the wind of Khuzāmah wafting the sands, he spent the night
the stems of daisies, drawing off the dew and rain?
Embracing the branches of Artemisia, dripping honey and rainwater.
Sol 6.1