ماwhat هاجَstirred شَوقكَyour longing مِنfrom بِلَىthe decay of الأَطلالِthe ruins
ما هاجَ شَوقكَ مِن بِلَى الأَطلالِ
بِالبَرقِwith lightning مَرَّpassed صَبَاan east wind وَمرَّand passed شَمَالِa north wind
بِالبَرقِ مَرَّ صَبَا وَمرَّ شَمَالِ
What stirred your longing at the worn ruins?
Where lightning flashed and the east and north winds passed?
لَعِبَتplayed بِجِدَّتِهاwith their freshness الشَّمالُthe north wind وَصابَهاand struck them
لَعِبَت بِجِدَّتِها الشَّمالُ وَصابَها
نَوءُthe rising star السماكِal-Simak بِمُسبِلٍwith a downpour هَطَّالِtorrential
نَوءُ السماكِ بِمُسبِلٍ هَطَّالِ
The north wind played over their once-fresh surface, and they were struck
By the rising of al-Simak, with pouring rain.
جَرَّتdragged بِهاover them هُوجُfierce الرِّياحِwinds ذُيُولهاtheir trailing skirts
جَرَّت بِها هُوجُ الرِّياحِ ذُيُولها
جَرَّlike the dragging of النِّساءِwomen فَواضِلَthe excess lengths of الأَذيالِhems
جَرَّ النِّساءِ فَواضِلَ الأَذيالِ
Fierce winds dragged their trailing skirts across them,
As women drag the excess lengths of their hems.
فَصرنَso they became عَنfrom دُهمٍdark traces تقادَمgrew old عَهدُهاtheir age
فَصرنَ عَن دُهمٍ تقادَم عَهدُها
وَبقِينَand they remained فيthrough حِقَبٍperiods مِنof الأَحوالِchanging conditions
وَبقِينَ في حِقَبٍ مِن الأَحوالِ
So they became dark traces, long aged,
And remained through successive ages and changes.
وَذَكرتُand I remembered رَبعاًa dwelling حلَّsettled أَهلوناour people بِهِin it
وَذَكرتُ رَبعاً حلَّ أَهلونا بِهِ
إِذwhen نَحنُwe فِيin حَلَقٍgatherings هُناكَthere حِلالِdwelling
إِذ نَحنُ فِي حَلَقٍ هُناكَ حِلالِ
I remembered a dwelling where our people had stayed,
When we lived there together in gatherings.
نَقِفُwe stop الحَديثَthe conversation إِذاwhen خَشِيناwe fear كاشِحاًan ill-wisher
نَقِفُ الحَديثَ إِذا خَشِينا كاشِحاً
ونَلِطُّand we speak obliquely حينَwhen نَخافُwe fear بالأَمثَالِthrough comparisons
ونَلِطُّ حينَ نَخافُ بالأَمثَالِ
We would stop talking when we feared an ill-wisher,
And, when wary, speak in hints and comparisons.
حتَّىuntil تَفرَّقَscattered أَهلُناour people عَنtoward نِيَّةٍa destination
حتَّى تَفرَّقَ أَهلُنا عَن نِيَّةٍ
قُذُفٍdistant وآذَنَand announced أَهلُناour people بِزَوالِdeparture
قُذُفٍ وآذَنَ أَهلُنا بِزَوالِ
Until our people scattered toward a distant destination,
And announced that they were leaving.
بَانُواthey departed فَبَانَand departed نَواعِمٌgraceful women مثلُlike الدُّمَىdolls
بَانُوا فَبَانَ نَواعِمٌ مثلُ الدُّمَى
بِيضُfair الوُجُوهِof face يَمِسنَthey sway فيamong الأَغيَالِthickets
بِيضُ الوُجُوهِ يَمِسنَ في الأَغيَالِ
They departed, and with them went women graceful as dolls,
Fair-faced, swaying as they walked among the thickets.
حَفدhurried الوَلائِدserving girls حَولَهُنَّaround them وأَسلَمَتand took
حَفد الوَلائِد حَولَهُنَّ وأَسلَمَت
بأَكُفِّهنَّwith their hands أزِمَّةَthe reins of الأَجمالِthe camels
بأَكُفِّهنَّ أزِمَّةَ الأَجمالِ
Serving girls hurried around them, and the women took
The camels’ reins into their hands.
زاحُواthey moved away مِنَfrom البَلقَاءِal-Balqa يَشكُوcomplains عِيرهمtheir caravan
زاحُوا مِنَ البَلقَاءِ يَشكُو عِيرهم
عُنفَthe harshness of السِّياقِthe driving مُرَفَّعَraised الأَذيَالِthe tails
عُنفَ السِّياقِ مُرَفَّعَ الأَذيَالِ
They moved away from al-Balqa; their caravan beasts complained
Of the harsh driving, their tails raised high.
جَعَلُواthey placed أَقَارِحَbare hills كُلَّهاall of them بِيَمينِهِمto their right
جَعَلُوا أَقَارِحَ كُلَّها بِيَمينِهِم
وَهِضَابَand the hills of بُرقَةِBurqat عَسعَسٍAs‘as بِشمَالِto their left
وَهِضَابَ بُرقَةِ عَسعَسٍ بِشمَالِ
They left all the bare hills to their right,
And the hills of Burqat As‘as to their left.
ولَقَدand indeed نَظَرتُI watched فَفَاضَand overflowed دَمعِيmy tears بَعدَماafter
ولَقَد نَظَرتُ فَفَاضَ دَمعِي بَعدَما
مَضَتِpassed الظَّعَائِنُthe women’s litters واحتَجَبنَand disappeared بآلِbehind a mirage
مَضَتِ الظَّعَائِنُ واحتَجَبنَ بآلِ
I watched, and my tears overflowed after
The women’s litters had gone and vanished behind a mirage,
عرضَacross الجَباجِبِthe wide plains مِنnear أُثالUthal كَماas غَدَتwent
عرضَ الجَباجِبِ مِن أُثال كَما غَدَت
رُجحُheavy السَّفينِships دُفِعنَpropelled بِالأَثقالِwith cargo
رُجحُ السَّفينِ دُفِعنَ بِالأَثقالِ
Across the wide plains near Uthal, as though they were
Heavy ships propelled while laden with cargo.
أَفكُلُّdoes every ذِيperson with شَجوٍsorrow عَلِمتَyou knew مكانَهhis place
أَفكُلُّ ذِي شَجوٍ عَلِمتَ مكانَه
تَسلُوyou forget مودَّتَهُhis affection ولَستَwhile you are not بِسَالِforgetful
تَسلُو مودَّتَهُ ولَستَ بِسَالِ
Can you forget the affection of everyone sorrowing
Whose place you knew, when you yourself cannot forget?
مِنwithout غَيرِany إِصقَابٍgreat distance يَكونُarising مِنَfrom النَّوىseparation
مِن غَيرِ إِصقَابٍ يَكونُ مِنَ النَّوى
إِلاexcept اللِّمامَbrief visits وَلاand no كَبيرَgreat وِصَالِunion
إِلا اللِّمامَ وَلا كَبيرَ وِصَالِ
Though no great distance of separation lay between us,
There were only brief visits and little lasting union.
قَالَتsaid بُثَينَةُButhayna لاyou do not تُبَالِيcare about صَرمَناour separation
قَالَت بُثَينَةُ لا تُبَالِي صَرمَنا
جَهَلتwas mistaken بُثَينَةُButhayna إنَّنِيَindeed I لأُبَاليcertainly care
جَهَلت بُثَينَةُ إنَّنِيَ لأُبَالي
Buthayna said, ‘You do not care that we have parted.’
Buthayna was mistaken: I do care.
وَالمُجرِمِينَand the wrongdoers مخافَةًin fear وتَعبُّداًand in devotion
وَالمُجرِمِينَ مخافَةً وتَعبُّداً
يَحدونَthey drive on كلَّevery نَجيبَةٍnoble she-camel شِملالِswift
يَحدونَ كلَّ نَجيبَةٍ شِملالِ
And the wrongdoers, in fear and devotion,
Drive on every noble, swift she-camel.
غَصباًforcibly كأنَّas though عُيونَهُنَّtheir eyes مِنfrom السُّرىnight travel
غَصباً كأنَّ عُيونَهُنَّ مِن السُّرى
وَمِنand from الكَلالِexhaustion مَدَافِعُchannels of الأَوشَالِtrickling water
وَمِن الكَلالِ مَدَافِعُ الأَوشَالِ
Forcibly, until their eyes, from night travel
And exhaustion, are like channels of trickling water.
إِنِّيindeed I لأكتُمُsurely conceal حُبَّهاmy love for her إذwhile بَعضُهمsome of them
إِنِّي لأكتُمُ حُبَّها إذ بَعضُهم
فِيمَنamong those who يُحِبُّlove كناشِدِlike one calling out الأَغفَالِthe hidden things
فِيمَن يُحِبُّ كناشِدِ الأَغفَالِ
I conceal my love for her, while some people
Among those in love are like someone calling out what should stay hidden.
أَبُثَينَO Buthayna هلdo تَدرِينَyou know كَمhow much جَشَّمتِنيyou have made me endure
أَبُثَينَ هل تَدرِينَ كَم جَشَّمتِني
منof عَقرِslaughtering ناجِيَةٍa fleet she-camel وحَربِand fighting مَوالِallies
من عَقرِ ناجِيَةٍ وحَربِ مَوالِ
O Buthayna, do you know how much you have made me endure
Of slaughtering a fleet she-camel and fighting allies?
وتعسُّفand traversing المَومَاةِthe trackless waste تعزِفُcry out جِنُّهاits jinn
وتعسُّف المَومَاةِ تعزِفُ جِنُّها
بعدَafter الهُدوءِnightfall بِعرمسٍon a sturdy camel مِرقَالِswiftly pacing
بعدَ الهُدوءِ بِعرمسٍ مِرقَالِ
And crossing the trackless waste, whose jinn cry out
After nightfall, on a sturdy, swiftly pacing camel?
ولَقَدand indeed أشَرتI advised علىyour ابنِson of عِمِّكyour uncle لاقحاًbrewing
ولَقَد أشَرت على ابنِ عِمِّك لاقحاً
منfrom حَربنَاour war جَرباءَgrievous ذَاتِfull of غِلالِrancor
من حَربنَا جَرباءَ ذَاتِ غِلالِ
I warned your cousin about the conflict brewing
Between us, a grievous war full of rancor:
حَرباًa war يُشَمِّصُscorches بالضَّعيفِthe weak مِرَاسُهاits trials
حَرباً يُشَمِّصُ بالضَّعيفِ مِرَاسُها
لَقِحَتit was conceived عَلىamid عُقرٍbloodshed وطُولِand long حِيَالِestrangement
لَقِحَت عَلى عُقرٍ وطُولِ حِيَالِ
A war whose trials scorch the weak,
Conceived amid bloodshed and long estrangement.
أوَand do لاyou not تَرانيsee me مِنbecause of جَريرةِthe consequence of حُبِّهاloving her
أوَ لا تَراني مِن جَريرةِ حُبِّها
أمسيI spend evenings الدِّلاصَin gleaming armor مُقَلِّصاًdrawing up سِربَاليmy garment
أمسي الدِّلاصَ مُقَلِّصاً سِربَالي
Do you not see that, because of my love for her,
I spend my evenings in gleaming armor, my garment drawn up?
صَدَأُrust of الحَديدِthe iron بِمنكِبَيَّon my shoulders كأنَّنِيas though I
صَدَأُ الحَديدِ بِمنكِبَيَّ كأنَّنِي
جَونٌa dark camel يُغَشِّيهِcoats it العَنِيَّةَwith tar طَالِa keeper
جَونٌ يُغَشِّيهِ العَنِيَّةَ طَالِ
Rust from the iron lies on my shoulders, as though I were
A dark camel smeared with tar by its keeper.
ياoh لَيتَif only لذَّةَthe pleasure of عيشِناour life رَجَعتreturned لَناto us
يا لَيتَ لذَّةَ عيشِنا رَجَعت لَنا
فيin مثلِthe like of عَصرٍan age قَدthat تَجرَّمَhas passed خَالِempty
في مثلِ عَصرٍ قَد تَجرَّمَ خَالِ
If only the pleasure of our life together would return,
In a time like that bygone, empty age.
فَنَبيعُthen we would exchange أَياماًdays خَلَتthat passed فيماin what مَضَىis past
فَنَبيعُ أَياماً خَلَت فيما مَضَى
قَصُرتwere short بأَيَّامٍfor days عقبنَthat followed طوالِlong
قَصُرت بأَيَّامٍ عقبنَ طوالِ
Then we would exchange days that have passed
And seemed short for the long days that followed.
وَإذاand then العَدوُّthe enemy مكَذّبٌdisbelieved أنباؤُهُhis reports
وَإذا العَدوُّ مكَذّبٌ أنباؤُهُ
وَإذاand then النصِيحُthe sincere adviser مصدَّقُbelieved الأَقوالِin his words
وَإذا النصِيحُ مصدَّقُ الأَقوالِ
Then the enemy’s reports would be disbelieved,
And the sincere adviser’s words believed.
مِنof كُلِّevery آنِسَةٍfriendly young woman كأنَّas though نُيوبَهاher teeth
مِن كُلِّ آنِسَةٍ كأنَّ نُيوبَها
بَرَدٌhail مُسَقَّطُscattered روضَةٍover a meadow مِحلالِrain-soaked
بَرَدٌ مُسَقَّطُ روضَةٍ مِحلالِ
Each friendly young woman’s teeth seemed
Like hail scattered over a rain-soaked meadow.
هَطِلٌpouring كغادِيlike morning rain over السَّلمِacacia يجريruns صعدَهُdown its slope
هَطِلٌ كغادِي السَّلمِ يجري صعدَهُ
فَوقَover الزّجَاجَةِthe smooth surface عَنfrom أجبّa rounded cloud ثِقَالِheavy
فَوقَ الزّجَاجَةِ عَن أجبّ ثِقَالِ
Rain poured like a morning shower over acacia, running downward
Across its smooth surface from a heavy, rounded cloud.
مَنwhoever تُؤتِهِshe gives to him أشفَىis consoled عَلىfor ماwhat فاتَهُhe missed
مَن تُؤتِهِ أشفَى عَلى ما فاتَهُ
مِنهَاof her وَإنeven if لَمnot تجزِهِshe rewards him بِنَوالِwith a gift
مِنهَا وَإن لَم تجزِهِ بِنَوالِ
Whoever she gives to is consoled for what he has missed
Of her, even if she grants him no gift.
وَمَناكِبٌand shoulders عرضَتgrew broad وكَشحٌand a waist مُضمَرٌslender
وَمَناكِبٌ عرضَت وكَشحٌ مُضمَرٌ
جَالَmoved freely الوِشَاحُthe sash عَلَيهِaround it كلَّevery مجَالِway
جَالَ الوِشَاحُ عَلَيهِ كلَّ مجَالِ
Her shoulders are broad, her waist slender,
And the sash moves freely around it.
وَعَجِيزَةٌand hips رَيَّاfull وسَاقٌand a calf خَدلَةsoft
وَعَجِيزَةٌ رَيَّا وسَاقٌ خَدلَة
بَيضَاءُpale تُسكِتُsilences مَنطِقَthe sound of الخَلخَالِthe anklet
بَيضَاءُ تُسكِتُ مَنطِقَ الخَلخَالِ
Her hips are full and her calf is soft,
Pale and so shapely it silences the sound of the anklet.
حَتَّىuntil إِذاwhen مَلَثَgrew thick الظلامُthe darkness وفُتنَنِيand captivated me
حَتَّى إِذا مَلَثَ الظلامُ وفُتنَنِي
غَلَبَovercame العَزاءmy resolve وهُنَّwhile they غيرُwere not أوالِapproachable
غَلَبَ العَزاء وهُنَّ غيرُ أوالِ
Until, when darkness grew thick and she captivated me,
Longing overcame my resolve, while they remained unapproachable.
Sol 6