خَليلَيَّmy two friends مُرّاpass by بيwith me عَلىby أُمِّmother of جُندَبِJundab
خَليلَيَّ مُرّا بي عَلى أُمِّ جُندَبِ
نُقَضِّlet us satisfy لُباناتِlongings الفُؤادِof the heart المُعَذَّبِtormented
نُقَضِّ لُباناتِ الفُؤادِ المُعَذَّبِ
My two friends, pass with me by Umm Jundab.
Let us satisfy the longings of my tormented heart.
فَإِنَّكُماfor you two إِنif تُنظِرانِيَgrant me respite ساعَةًan hour
فَإِنَّكُما إِن تُنظِرانِيَ ساعَةً
مِنَof الدَهرِtime تَنفَعنيyou benefit me لَدىwith أُمِّmother of جُندَبِJundab
مِنَ الدَهرِ تَنفَعني لَدى أُمِّ جُندَبِ
For if you grant me an hour
of time, you will help me with Umm Jundab.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَيانيseen me كُلَّماwhenever جِئتُI came طارِقاًby night
أَلَم تَرَياني كُلَّما جِئتُ طارِقاً
وَجَدتُI found بِهاin her طيباًfragrance وَإِنeven if لَمnot تُطَيَّبِshe wore perfume
وَجَدتُ بِها طيباً وَإِن لَم تُطَيَّبِ
Have you not seen me whenever I came at night
find her fragrant, though she had worn no perfume?
عَقيلَةُchoicest woman أَترابٍof her peers لَهاin her لاno ذَميمَةٌfault
عَقيلَةُ أَترابٍ لَها لا ذَميمَةٌ
وَلاnor ذاتُpossessing خَلقٍa figure إِنif تَأَمَّلتَyou examine جَأنَبِungainly
وَلا ذاتُ خَلقٍ إِن تَأَمَّلتَ جَأنَبِ
She is the choicest among her peers, without a fault,
nor, if you look closely, is her figure ungainly.
أَلاah لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge كَيفَhow حادِثُthe state of وَصلِهاher bond
أَلا لَيتَ شِعري كَيفَ حادِثُ وَصلِها
وَكَيفَand how تُراعيshe tends وَصلَةَthe bond المُتَغَيِّبِof the absent one
وَكَيفَ تُراعي وَصلَةَ المُتَغَيِّبِ
Would that I knew what has become of my bond with her,
and how she tends the bond of one who is away.
أقامَتhas she remained عَلىupon ماwhat بَينَناbetween us مِنof مَوَدَّةٍaffection
أقامَت عَلى ما بَينَنا مِن مَوَدَّةٍ
أُمَيمَةُUmaymah أَمor صارَتhas she turned لِقَولِto the words of المُخَبِّبِthe mischief-maker
أُمَيمَةُ أَم صارَت لِقَولِ المُخَبِّبِ
Does Umaymah still keep the affection between us,
or has she yielded to the words of a mischief-maker?
فَإِنfor if تَنأَyou stay away عَنهاfrom her حِقبَةًa while لاnot تُلاقِهاyou meet her
فَإِن تَنأَ عَنها حِقبَةً لا تُلاقِها
فَإِنَّكَthen you مِمّاthrough what أَحدَثَتshe has done بِالمُجَرِّبِto the experienced man
فَإِنَّكَ مِمّا أَحدَثَت بِالمُجَرِّبِ
If you stay away from her for a while and do not meet her,
you will learn what her actions have done to an experienced man.
وَقالَتand she said مَتىwhen يُبخَلone is stingy عَلَيكَtoward you وَيُعتَلَلand offers excuses
وَقالَت مَتى يُبخَل عَلَيكَ وَيُعتَلَل
يَسُؤكَit pains you وَإِنbut if يُكشَفis revealed غَرامُكَyour passion تَدرُبِyou grow practiced
يَسُؤكَ وَإِن يُكشَف غَرامُكَ تَدرُبِ
She said, 'When you are denied and met with excuses,
it pains you; but if your passion is revealed, you grow practiced.'
تَبَصَّرlook carefully خَليليmy friend هَلdo تَرىyou see مِنany ظَعائِنٍwomen in litters
تَبَصَّر خَليلي هَل تَرى مِن ظَعائِنٍ
سَوالِكَtaking نَقباًa pass بَينَbetween حَزمَيthe two ridges of شَعَبعَبِSha'bab
سَوالِكَ نَقباً بَينَ حَزمَي شَعَبعَبِ
Look carefully, my friend: do you see the women in their litters
taking a pass between the two ridges of Sha'bab?
عَلَونَthey rose بِأَنطاكِيَّةٍin Antioch-made cloth فَوقَabove عَقمَةٍa saddle frame
عَلَونَ بِأَنطاكِيَّةٍ فَوقَ عَقمَةٍ
كَجِرمَةِlike a cluster of نَخلٍpalms أَوor كَجَنَّةِlike a garden of يَثرِبِYathrib
كَجِرمَةِ نَخلٍ أَو كَجَنَّةِ يَثرِبِ
They rose beneath an Antioch-made covering over a saddle frame,
like a cluster of palms or a garden in Yathrib.
وَلِلَّهِand by God عَيناthe two eyes of مَنone who رَأىsaw مِنof تَفَرُّقٍseparation
وَلِلَّهِ عَينا مَن رَأى مِن تَفَرُّقٍ
أَشَتَّmore scattered وَأَنأىand farther مِنthan فُراقِthe parting at المُحَصَّبِal-Muhassab
أَشَتَّ وَأَنأى مِن فُراقِ المُحَصَّبِ
God bless the eyes of one who saw a parting
more scattered and distant than the departure at al-Muhassab.
فَريقانِtwo groups مِنهُمof them جازِعٌcrossing بَطنَthe valley floor of نَخلَةٍNakhlah
فَريقانِ مِنهُم جازِعٌ بَطنَ نَخلَةٍ
وَآخَرُand another مِنهُمof them قاطِعٌcrossing نَجدَthe high ground of كَبكَبِKabkab
وَآخَرُ مِنهُم قاطِعٌ نَجدَ كَبكَبِ
One group of them crossed the valley floor of Nakhlah,
and another crossed the high ground of Kabkab.
فَعَيناكَso your two eyes غَرباtwo water buckets جَدوَلٍof a stream فيin مَفاضَةٍa broad channel
فَعَيناكَ غَربا جَدوَلٍ في مَفاضَةٍ
كَمَرِّlike the flow of الخَليجِthe stream فيin صَفيحٍan open course مُصَوَّبِsloping
كَمَرِّ الخَليجِ في صَفيحٍ مُصَوَّبِ
Your eyes are like two buckets pouring into a channel
as water flows through a sloping, open course.
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you لَمnever يَفخَرcould boast عَلَيكَover you كَفاخِرٍlike a boaster
وَإِنَّكَ لَم يَفخَر عَلَيكَ كَفاخِرٍ
ضَعيفٍweak وَلَمnor يَغلِبكَdefeat you مِثلُthe like of مُغَلِّبِa challenger
ضَعيفٍ وَلَم يَغلِبكَ مِثلُ مُغَلِّبِ
No boastful man could boast over you,
weak though he was; nor could such a challenger overcome you.
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you لَمnever تَقطَعfulfilled لُبانَةَthe longing of عاشِقٍa lover
وَإِنَّكَ لَم تَقطَع لُبانَةَ عاشِقٍ
بِمِثلِwith the like of غُدُوٍّan early departure أَوor رَواحٍan evening return مُؤَوَّبِrepeated
بِمِثلِ غُدُوٍّ أَو رَواحٍ مُؤَوَّبِ
And you have never fulfilled a lover's longing
by a journey out and back like this one.
بِأَدماءَon a reddish one حُرجوجٍlong-striding and lean كَأَنَّas though قُتودَهاher saddle frame
بِأَدماءَ حُرجوجٍ كَأَنَّ قُتودَها
عَلىupon أَبلَقِa piebald one الكَشحَينِwith two flanks لَيسَnot بِمُغرِبِa stranger
عَلى أَبلَقِ الكَشحَينِ لَيسَ بِمُغرِبِ
On a lean, long-striding reddish she-camel whose saddle frame
seems set upon a piebald creature with pale flanks, no stranger to travel.
يُغَرِّدُit sings out بِالأَسحارِbefore dawn فيin كُلِّevery سَدفَةٍdarkness
يُغَرِّدُ بِالأَسحارِ في كُلِّ سَدفَةٍ
تَغَرُّدَlike the singing of مَيّاحِa merry one النَدامىamong drinking companions المُطَرَّبِexcited
تَغَرُّدَ مَيّاحِ النَدامى المُطَرَّبِ
It cries out in the hours before dawn, through every darkness,
like the singing of a merry, excited drinking companion.
أَقَبَّnarrow-bellied رَباعٍfour-year-old مِنamong حَميرِthe asses of عَمايَةٍAmayah
أَقَبَّ رَباعٍ مِن حَميرِ عَمايَةٍ
يَمُجُّit spits out لِعاعَtender shoots of البَقلِherbage فيat كُلِّevery مَشرَبِwatering place
يَمُجُّ لِعاعَ البَقلِ في كُلِّ مَشرَبِ
A narrow-bellied four-year-old from the wild asses of Amayah,
spitting out the tender tips of plants at every watering place.
بِمَحنِيَّةٍin a bend قَدindeed آزَرَhas grown beside الضالُthe desert tree نَبتَهاits growth
بِمَحنِيَّةٍ قَد آزَرَ الضالُ نَبتَها
مَجِرَّa passage for جُيوشٍarmies غانِمينَreturning with spoils وَخُيَّبِand disappointed
مَجِرَّ جُيوشٍ غانِمينَ وَخُيَّبِ
In a bend where desert trees stand among its growth,
a passage for armies returning with spoils or disappointed.
وَقَدand indeed أَغتَديI set out early وَالطَيرُwhile the birds فيin وُكُناتِهاtheir nests
وَقَد أَغتَدي وَالطَيرُ في وُكُناتِها
وَماءُand the water of النَدىdew يَجريruns عَلىalong كُلِّevery مِذنَبِsmall channel
وَماءُ النَدى يَجري عَلى كُلِّ مِذنَبِ
I have also set out early, while the birds were still in their nests
and dew ran along every little watercourse,
بِمُنجَرِدٍon a sleek horse قَيدِholding fast الأَوابِدِthe wild beasts لاحَهُhas worn him sleek
بِمُنجَرِدٍ قَيدِ الأَوابِدِ لاحَهُ
طِرادُpursuit of الهَواديthe leaders كُلَّevery شَأوٍstretch مُغَرِّبِfar-reaching
طِرادُ الهَوادي كُلَّ شَأوٍ مُغَرِّبِ
on a sleek horse that holds fast the wild game, its coat worn sleek
by chasing their leaders across every distant stretch.
عَلىdespite الأَينِfatigue جَيّاشٌsurging كَأَنَّas though سُراتَهُhis back
عَلى الأَينِ جَيّاشٌ كَأَنَّ سُراتَهُ
عَلىdespite الضَمرِleanness وَالتَعداءِand running سَرحَةُa tall tree of مَرقَبِa lookout height
عَلى الضَمرِ وَالتَعداءِ سَرحَةُ مَرقَبِ
Despite fatigue he surges on; his back seems,
for all his leanness and running, like a hilltop tree.
يُباريhe races الخَنوفَthe swift-moving beast المُستَقِلَّgathered زِماعُهُits limbs
يُباري الخَنوفَ المُستَقِلَّ زِماعُهُ
تَرىyou see شَخصَهُhis figure كَأَنَّهُas though it عودُthe pole of مَشجَبِa clothes rack
تَرى شَخصَهُ كَأَنَّهُ عودُ مَشجَبِ
He races the swift-moving beast whose limbs gather under it;
from afar his shape looks like the pole of a clothes rack.
لَهُhe has أَيطَلاthe two flanks of ظَبيٍa gazelle وَساقاand the two legs of نَعامَةٍan ostrich
لَهُ أَيطَلا ظَبيٍ وَساقا نَعامَةٍ
وَصَهوَةُand the broad back of عيرٍa wild ass قائِمٍstanding فَوقَupon مَرقَبِa lookout height
وَصَهوَةُ عيرٍ قائِمٍ فَوقَ مَرقَبِ
He has the flanks of a gazelle and the legs of an ostrich,
and the broad back of a wild ass standing on a lookout height.
وَيَخطوand he steps عَلىupon صُمٍّhard ones صِلابٍsolid ones كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَيَخطو عَلى صُمٍّ صِلابٍ كَأَنَّها
حِجارَةُstones of غيلٍa thicket وارِساتٌcoated بِطُحلُبِwith moss
حِجارَةُ غيلٍ وارِساتٌ بِطُحلُبِ
He steps on hard, solid hooves that seem
like stones in a thicket, coated with moss.
لَهُhe has كَفَلٌa rump كَالدِعصِlike a sandhill لَبَّدَهُpacked it down النَدىthe dew
لَهُ كَفَلٌ كَالدِعصِ لَبَّدَهُ النَدى
إِلىup to حارِكٍwithers مِثلِlike الغَبيطِa camel saddle المُذَأَّبِfirmly built
إِلى حارِكٍ مِثلِ الغَبيطِ المُذَأَّبِ
His rump is like a sandhill packed down by dew,
rising to a withers like a firmly built camel saddle.
وَعَينٌand an eye كَمِرآةِlike the mirror of الصَناعِa craftswoman تُديرُهاhe turns it
وَعَينٌ كَمِرآةِ الصَناعِ تُديرُها
لِمِحجَرِهاin its socket مِنَfrom النَصيفِthe face veil المُنقَّبِveiled
لِمِحجَرِها مِنَ النَصيفِ المُنقَّبِ
And an eye like a craftswoman's mirror, which he turns
within its socket like an eye behind a veiled face covering.
لَهُhe has أُذُنانِtwo ears تَعرِفُyou recognize العِتقَfine breeding فيهِماin them
لَهُ أُذُنانِ تَعرِفُ العِتقَ فيهِما
كَسامِعَتَيlike the two ears of مَذعورَةٍa startled doe وَسطَamid رَبرَبِa herd
كَسامِعَتَي مَذعورَةٍ وَسطَ رَبرَبِ
He has two ears in which his fine breeding is plain,
like the listening ears of a startled doe amid the herd.
وَمُستَفلِكُand round-jawed الذِفرىat the jaw hinge كَأَنَّas though عِنانَهُhis rein
وَمُستَفلِكُ الذِفرى كَأَنَّ عِنانَهُ
وَمِثناتَهُand its doubled length فيon رَأسِthe head of جِذعٍa trunk مُشَذَّبِtrimmed
وَمِثناتَهُ في رَأسِ جِذعٍ مُشَذَّبِ
His jaw is full and rounded, as though his rein
and its doubled length were on the head of a trimmed trunk.
وَأَسحَمُand dark-colored رَيّانُfull العَسيبِin its tail shaft كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَأَسحَمُ رَيّانُ العَسيبِ كَأَنَّهُ
عَثاكيلُdate clusters of قِنوٍa fruit bunch مِنfrom سَميحَةَSamihah مُرطِبِripening
عَثاكيلُ قِنوٍ مِن سَميحَةَ مُرطِبِ
And a dark, full tail whose central shaft
is like the hanging clusters of a ripening date bunch.
إِذاwhen ماindeed جَرىhe ran شَأوَينِtwo lengths وَاِبتَلَّand grew wet عِطفُهُhis side
إِذا ما جَرى شَأوَينِ وَاِبتَلَّ عِطفُهُ
تَقولُyou would say هَزيرُthe roaring of الريحِthe wind مَرَّتpassed بِأَثأَبِthrough a great tree
تَقولُ هَزيرُ الريحِ مَرَّت بِأَثأَبِ
When he has run two lengths and his side grows wet,
you would say the roaring wind had passed through a great tree.
يُديرُhe swings قُطاةًa rounded haunch كَالمُحالَةِlike a pulley أَشرَفَتrising
يُديرُ قُطاةً كَالمُحالَةِ أَشرَفَت
إِلىtoward سَنَدٍa slope مِثلُlike الغَبيطِa camel saddle المُذَأَّبِfirmly built
إِلى سَنَدٍ مِثلُ الغَبيطِ المُذَأَّبِ
He swings a rounded haunch like a pulley, rising
toward a slope like a firmly built camel saddle.
وَيَخضِدُand he strains فيagainst الآرِيِّthe tether حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّمas though
وَيَخضِدُ في الآرِيِّ حَتّى كَأَنَّم
بِهِin him عُرَّةٌan irritation مِنfrom طائِفٍa passing one غَيرِnot مُعقِبِleaving
بِهِ عُرَّةٌ مِن طائِفٍ غَيرِ مُعقِبِ
He strains against his tether until it seems
some passing irritation has seized him and will not leave.
فَيَوماًso one day عَلىafter سِربٍa herd نَقِيِّclean جُلودُهُits hides
فَيَوماً عَلى سِربٍ نَقِيِّ جُلودُهُ
وَيَوماًand one day عَلىafter بَيدانَةٍa large-bodied female أُمِّmother of تَولَبِa young antelope
وَيَوماً عَلى بَيدانَةٍ أُمِّ تَولَبِ
One day he pursues a herd with clean hides,
and another a large-bodied mother of a young antelope.
فَبَيناand while نِعاجٌwild cows يَرتَعينَare grazing خَميلَةًa lush grove
فَبَينا نِعاجٌ يَرتَعينَ خَميلَةً
كَمَشيِlike the walk of العَذارىmaidens فيin المِلاءِcloaks المُهَدَّبِfringed
كَمَشيِ العَذارى في المِلاءِ المُهَدَّبِ
While wild cows graze in a lush grove,
moving like maidens in fringed cloaks,
فَكانَthen there was تَناديناour calling out وَعَقدَand fastening of عِذارِهِhis bridle
فَكانَ تَنادينا وَعَقدَ عِذارِهِ
وَقالَand said صِحابيmy companions قَدindeed شَأَونَكَthey have outpaced you فَاِطلُبِso pursue
وَقالَ صِحابي قَد شَأَونَكَ فَاِطلُبِ
our shouts rise as his bridle is fastened,
and my companions say, 'They have gone ahead of you; pursue them!'
فَلَأياًso with difficulty بِلَأيٍupon difficulty ماindeed حَمَلناwe mounted غُلامَناour young man
فَلَأياً بِلَأيٍ ما حَمَلنا غُلامَنا
عَلىupon ظَهرِthe back of مَحبوكِa tightly made one السَراةِin the back مُحنَّبِfine-limbed
عَلى ظَهرِ مَحبوكِ السَراةِ مُحنَّبِ
Only with great difficulty do we mount our young man
on the back of the tightly made, fine-backed horse.
وَوَلّىand he sped away كَشُؤبوبِlike an evening squall العشِيِّof the evening بِوابِلٍwith heavy rain
وَوَلّى كَشُؤبوبِ العشِيِّ بِوابِلٍ
وَيَخرُجنَand they emerge مِنfrom جَعدٍrough ground ثَراهُits earth مُنَصَّبِsloping
وَيَخرُجنَ مِن جَعدٍ ثَراهُ مُنَصَّبِ
He rushes away like an evening rain squall
as the animals emerge from rough ground with sloping earth.
فَلِلساقِso for the legs أُلهوبٌa flash وَلِلسَوطِand for the whip دُرَّةٌa stroke
فَلِلساقِ أُلهوبٌ وَلِلسَوطِ دُرَّةٌ
وَلِلزَجرِand for the urging مِنهُfrom him وَقعُthe force of أَهوَجَan impetuous one مُتعَبِweary
وَلِلزَجرِ مِنهُ وَقعُ أَهوَجَ مُتعَبِ
His legs flash, the whip gives a sharp stroke,
and his urging has the force of a weary, impetuous creature.
فَأَدرَكَso he caught up لَمnot يَجهَدhe tired وَلَمnor يَثنِhe slackened شَأوَهُhis pace
فَأَدرَكَ لَم يَجهَد وَلَم يَثنِ شَأوَهُ
يَمُرُّhe passes كَخُذروفِlike the spinning top of الوَليدِa child المُثَقَّبِpierced
يَمُرُّ كَخُذروفِ الوَليدِ المُثَقَّبِ
He catches up without tiring or slackening his pace,
passing like a child's pierced spinning top.
تَرىyou see الفارَthe mice فيin مُستَنقَعِthe pool of القاعِthe plain لاحِباًopen
تَرى الفارَ في مُستَنقَعِ القاعِ لاحِباً
عَلىupon جَدَدِthe open track of الصَحراءِthe desert مِنfrom شَدِّthe speed of مُلهَبِa blazing one
عَلى جَدَدِ الصَحراءِ مِن شَدِّ مُلهَبِ
You can see mice in the shallow pools of the wide plain
along the open desert track from his blazing speed.
خَفاهُنَّhe drove them out مِنfrom أَنفاقِهِنَّtheir burrows كَأَنَّماas though
خَفاهُنَّ مِن أَنفاقِهِنَّ كَأَنَّما
خَفاهُنَّhe drove them out وَدقٌa downpour مِنfrom عَشِيٍّan evening مُجَلَّبِcloud-laden
خَفاهُنَّ وَدقٌ مِن عَشِيٍّ مُجَلَّبِ
He drives the animals from their burrows as though
an evening cloudburst had driven them out.
فَعادىso he ran back and forth عِداءًa running بَينَbetween ثَورٍa bull وَنَعجَةٍand a cow
فَعادى عِداءً بَينَ ثَورٍ وَنَعجَةٍ
وَبَينَand between شَبوبٍa vigorous young one كَالقَضيمَةِlike a cut log قَرهَبِstout
وَبَينَ شَبوبٍ كَالقَضيمَةِ قَرهَبِ
He runs back and forth between a bull and a cow,
and among vigorous young animals, one stout as a cut log.
وَظَلَّand there continued لِثيرانِfrom the bulls of الصَريمِthe scattered herd غَماغِمٌlow bellows
وَظَلَّ لِثيرانِ الصَريمِ غَماغِمٌ
يُداعِسُهاhe thrusts at them بِالسَمهَرِيِّwith the Samhari spear المُعَلَّبِhardened
يُداعِسُها بِالسَمهَرِيِّ المُعَلَّبِ
The bulls of the scattered herd keep bellowing
as he presses them with the hardened spear.
فَكابٍso one falling عَلىupon حُرِّthe bare part of الجَبينِthe forehead وَمُتَّقٍand one guarding itself
فَكابٍ عَلى حُرِّ الجَبينِ وَمُتَّقٍ
بِمَدرِيَّةٍwith a horn كَأَنَّهاas though it ذَلقُthe tip of مِشعَبِa forked implement
بِمَدرِيَّةٍ كَأَنَّها ذَلقُ مِشعَبِ
One falls upon its bare forehead, while another guards itself
with a horn as sharp as the tip of a forked implement.
وَقُلناand we said لِفِتيانٍto young men كِرامٍnoble أَلاcome اِنزِلواdismount
وَقُلنا لِفِتيانٍ كِرامٍ أَلا اِنزِلوا
فَعالواso they raised عَلَيناover us فَضلَthe surplus of ثَوبٍa tent cloth مُطَنَّبِstretched
فَعالوا عَلَينا فَضلَ ثَوبٍ مُطَنَّبِ
We said to the noble young men, 'Come, dismount,'
and they raised a spacious tent over us.
وَأَوتادَهُand its pegs ماذَيَّةٌMa'di-made وَعِمادُهُand its poles
وَأَوتادَهُ ماذَيَّةٌ وَعِمادُهُ
رُدَينِيَّةٌRudayni spears بِهاwith them أَسِنَّةُpoints of قُعضُبِsharp blades
رُدَينِيَّةٌ بِها أَسِنَّةُ قُعضُبِ
Its pegs were Ma'di-made blades, and its poles
were Rudayni spears bearing sharp points.
وَأَطنابَهُand its ropes أَشطانُtethers of خوصٍlight-footed نَجائِبٍchoice camels
وَأَطنابَهُ أَشطانُ خوصٍ نَجائِبٍ
وَصَهوَتُهُand its roof مِنof أَتحَمِيٍّAt-hami cloth مُشَرعَبِlong and spreading
وَصَهوَتُهُ مِن أَتحَمِيٍّ مُشَرعَبِ
Its ropes were the tethers of choice, light-footed camels,
and its roof was made from long, spreading At-hami cloth.
فَلَمّاand when دَخَلناهُwe entered it أَضَفناwe leaned ظُهورَناour backs
فَلَمّا دَخَلناهُ أَضَفنا ظُهورَنا
إِلىagainst كُلِّevery حارِيٍّHiri-made cushion جَديدٍnew مُشَطَّبِstriped
إِلى كُلِّ حارِيٍّ جَديدٍ مُشَطَّبِ
When we entered it, we rested our backs
against every new, striped Hiri cushion.
كَأَنَّas though عُيونَthe eyes of الوَحشِthe wild animals حَولَaround خِبائِناour tent
كَأَنَّ عُيونَ الوَحشِ حَولَ خِبائِنا
وَأَرجُلِناand our feet الجَزعَagate الَّذيwhich لَمnot يُثَقَّبِwas pierced
وَأَرجُلِنا الجَزعَ الَّذي لَم يُثَقَّبِ
The eyes of the wild animals around our tent
and our feet looked like agate that had not been pierced.
نَمُشُّwe wipe بِأَعرافِon the manes of الجِيادِthe horses أَكُفَّناour hands
نَمُشُّ بِأَعرافِ الجِيادِ أَكُفَّنا
إِذاwhen نَحنُwe قُمناrose عَنfrom شِواءٍroasted meat مُضَهَّبِgolden-brown
إِذا نَحنُ قُمنا عَن شِواءٍ مُضَهَّبِ
We wipe our hands on the manes of our horses
when we rise from golden-brown roasted meat.
وَرُحناand we returned كَأَنّاas though we مِنfrom جُؤاثىJu'atha عَشِيَّةٍat evening
وَرُحنا كَأَنّا مِن جُؤاثى عَشِيَّةٍ
نُعاليwe carry high النِعاجَthe wild cows بَينَbetween عَدلٍa balanced load وَمُحقَبِand a saddle pack
نُعالي النِعاجَ بَينَ عَدلٍ وَمُحقَبِ
And we return at evening as though from Ju'atha,
carrying the wild cows high between balanced loads and saddle packs.
وَراحَand he returned كَتَيسِlike a buck of الرَبلِfresh pasture يَنفُضُshaking رَأسَهُhis head
وَراحَ كَتَيسِ الرَبلِ يَنفُضُ رَأسَهُ
أَذاةٌan irritation بِهِin him مِنfrom صائِكٍan itch مُتَحَلِّبِdripping
أَذاةٌ بِهِ مِن صائِكٍ مُتَحَلِّبِ
He returns like a buck among fresh pasture, shaking his head,
troubled by an itch from dripping sweat.
كَأَنَّas though دِماءَthe blood of الهادِياتِthe leading animals بِنَحرِهِon his chest
كَأَنَّ دِماءَ الهادِياتِ بِنَحرِهِ
عُصارَةُthe juice of حَنّاءٍhenna بِشَيبٍon gray hair مُخَضَّبِdyed
عُصارَةُ حَنّاءٍ بِشَيبٍ مُخَضَّبِ
The blood of the leading animals upon his chest
looks like henna juice staining gray hair.
وَأَنتَand you إِذاwhen اِستَدبَرتَهُyou view him from behind سَدَّit covers فَرجَهُthe gap between his legs
وَأَنتَ إِذا اِستَدبَرتَهُ سَدَّ فَرجَهُ
بِضافٍwith something thick and hanging فُوَيقَjust above الأَرضِthe ground لَيسَnot بِأَصهَبِreddish
بِضافٍ فُوَيقَ الأَرضِ لَيسَ بِأَصهَبِ
And when you see him from behind, his tail covers the gap between his legs,
hanging thick just above the ground, with no reddish tinge.
Sol 6