شَبَّهتُI likened وَالقَومُwhile the company دُوَينَjust short of العِرقِal-ʿIrq (the sand ridge)
شَبَّهتُ وَالقَومُ دُوَينَ العِرقِ
ناراًa fire لِسَلمىbelonging to Salmā لَمَعانَflashing البَرقِlightning
ناراً لِسَلمى لَمَعانَ البَرقِ
I likened—while the company was just short of al-ʿIrq—
I likened them, while the people buzzed with sweat,
a fire of Salmā’s to the flash of lightning.
To a fire for Salma, flashing with lightning’s glow.
وَالقَومُand the company فَوقَatop يَعمَلاتٍhardy she-camels شُدقِbroad-mouthed
وَالقَومُ فَوقَ يَعمَلاتٍ شُدقِ
إِذاwhen تَبارَينَthey race one another بِسَيرٍat a pace دَفقِsurging
إِذا تَبارَينَ بِسَيرٍ دَفقِ
And the company was atop hardy, broad-mouthed she-camels;
While above the people, rising camels humped,
when they race one another at a surging pace,
When they challenge with a flowing pace,
تَأخُذُtakes مِنهُنَّfrom them الفَلاthe desert وَتُبقيand leaves
تَأخُذُ مِنهُنَّ الفَلا وَتُبقي
سَجِيَّةًan innate disposition مِنof كَرَمٍnobility وَعِتقِand pure breeding
سَجِيَّةً مِن كَرَمٍ وَعِتقِ
the desert takes from them, yet leaves
She takes from them the chaff and leaves
an innate disposition of nobility and pure breeding.
A kernel of bounty and freedom.
Sol 6.1