ذَكَرتَyou remembered الصِباyouthful love فَاِنهَلَّتِso streamed العَينُthe eye تَذرِفُshedding tears
ذَكَرتَ الصِبا فَاِنهَلَّتِ العَينُ تَذرِفُ
وَراجَعَكَand returned to you الشَوقُlonging الَّذيwhich كَنتَyou used to تَعرِفُknow
وَراجَعَكَ الشَوقُ الَّذي كَنتَ تَعرِفُ
You remembered youthful love, and your eye streamed with tears.
When you recalled the past, my eyes overflowed
The longing you once knew returned to you.
And longing for you returned, as you knew
وَكانَand was فُؤاديmy heart قَدalready صَحاrecovered ثُمَّthen هاجَنيstirred me
وَكانَ فُؤادي قَد صَحا ثُمَّ هاجَني
حَمائِمُdoves وُرقٌgray بِالمَدينَةِin al-Madinah هُتَّفُcalling loudly
حَمائِمُ وُرقٌ بِالمَدينَةِ هُتَّفُ
My heart had recovered, but then I was stirred
My heart had awakened, then was stirred within me
by gray doves calling loudly in al-Madinah.
Doves cooing in the city fluttered
كَأَنَّas though الهَديلَthe cock dove الظالِعَlame الرِجلِin the leg وَسطَهاamong them
كَأَنَّ الهَديلَ الظالِعَ الرِجلِ وَسطَها
مِنَfrom البَغىwantonness شِرّيبٌa habitual drinker يُغَرِّدُwarbling مُتَرَفُpampered
مِنَ البَغى شِرّيبٌ يُغَرِّدُ مُتَرَفُ
As though the limping cock dove among them
As if the voice arising in its midst
were a pampered tippler, warbling in wantonness.
Was a warbling lark indulged in luxury
يُذَكِّرنَناthey remind us أَيّامَناof our days بِعُوَيقَةٍat Uwayqah
يُذَكِّرنَنا أَيّامَنا بِعُوَيقَةٍ
وَهَضبِand the heights of قُساسٍQusas وَالتَذَكُّرُand remembrance يَشعَفُinflames the heart
وَهَضبِ قُساسٍ وَالتَذَكُّرُ يَشعَفُ
They remind us of our days at Uwayqah
Reminding us of our days in Uwaika
and the heights of Qusas—and remembrance inflames the heart—
And the slopes of Qusas, as remembrance kindles ardour
وَبيضاًand fair women يَصَلصِلنَthey jingle الحُجولَthe anklets كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَبيضاً يَصَلصِلنَ الحُجولَ كَأَنَّها
رَبائِبُyoung offspring أَبكارِof maiden المَهاoryx المُتَأَلِّفُgathered together
رَبائِبُ أَبكارِ المَها المُتَأَلِّفُ
and of fair women whose anklets jingled, as though they were
And white camels that trill as if they were
the young of maiden oryx gathered together.
Maidens of the tribe, intimate and gentle
فَبِتُّso I spent the night كَأَنَّas though العَينَthe eye أَفنانُbranches سِدرَةٍof a lote-tree
فَبِتُّ كَأَنَّ العَينَ أَفنانُ سِدرَةٍ
عَلَيهاupon them سَقيطٌfallen droplets مِنof نَدىdew اللَيلِof the night يَنطُفُdripping
عَلَيها سَقيطٌ مِن نَدى اللَيلِ يَنطُفُ
I spent the night as though my eye were branches of a lote-tree
I spend the night as if my eyes were two lotus trees
with fallen night-dew dripping from them.
Drenched with a pouring of night dew
أُراقِبُI watch لَوحاًa glimmer مِنof سُهَيلٍSuhayl كَأَنَّهُas though it
أُراقِبُ لَوحاً مِن سُهَيلٍ كَأَنَّهُ
إِذاwhen ماindeed بَداit appears مِنin آخِرِthe latter part of اللَيلِthe night يَطرِفُblinks
إِذا ما بَدا مِن آخِرِ اللَيلِ يَطرِفُ
I watch a glimmer of Suhayl, as though it
I observe a Suhayl star that when it appears
blinks when it appears late in the night,
At the end of night begins to blink
يُعارِضُcrosses عَنaway from مَجرىthe course النُجومَthe stars وَيَنتَحيand turns aside
يُعارِضُ عَن مَجرى النُجومَ وَيَنتَحي
كَماjust as عارَضَturned toward الشَوكَthe thorns البَعيرَthe camel المُؤَلَّفُaccustomed to fodder
كَما عارَضَ الشَوكَ البَعيرَ المُؤَلَّفُ
crossing the stars' course and turning aside,
It shies from the path of stars and turns aside
as a fodder-fed camel turns toward the thorns.
As the camel turned from the thorns in its saddle
بَداit appeared لِجرّانِto Jiran العَودِal-Awd وَالبَحرُand the sea دونَهُbetween him and it
بَدا لِجرّانِ العَودِ وَالبَحرُ دونَهُ
وَذوand one with حَدَبٍa hump مِنof سَروِthe Sarw highlands of حِميَرَHimyar مُشرِفُlooming
وَذو حَدَبٍ مِن سَروِ حِميَرَ مُشرِفُ
It appeared to Jiran al-Awd, with the sea between him and it,
Dawn broke on Jarran’s lute, and the sea stretched below
and a humped height of Himyar's Sarw looming.
With its rolling dunes like waving spearshafts
فَلاso no وَجدَlonging إِلّاexcept مِثلَlike يَومِthe day when تَلاحَقَتcaught up together
فَلا وَجدَ إِلّا مِثلَ يَومِ تَلاحَقَت
بِناbearing us العيسُthe pale camels وَالحاديand the camel-driver يِشُلُّurges onward وَيَعنُفُand drives harshly
بِنا العيسُ وَالحادي يِشُلُّ وَيَعنُفُ
No longing compares with that of the day when
And he found nothing like the day when cavalry
the pale camels caught up bearing us, the driver urging them harshly.
Pursued us ceaselessly with noonday heat
لَحِقناwe caught up وَقَدand already كانَwas اللُغامُthe foam كَأَنَّهُas though it
لَحِقنا وَقَد كانَ اللُغامُ كَأَنَّهُ
بِأَلحيon the jaws of المَهارىthe Mahri camels وَالخَراطيمِand the muzzles كُرسُفُcotton
بِأَلحي المَهارى وَالخَراطيمِ كُرسُفُ
We caught up, and the foam seemed
They overtook us when the war-steeds were like
cotton on the Mahri camels' jaws and muzzles.
Stallions with braided manes and tossing heads
فَماso not لِحِقَتناcaught up with us العيسُthe pale camels حَتّىuntil تَناضَلَتthey competed
فَما لِحِقَتنا العيسُ حَتّى تَناضَلَت
بِناbearing us وَقَلاناand shunned us الآخِرُthe last المَتَخَلِّفُlagging behind
بِنا وَقَلانا الآخِرُ المَتَخَلِّفُ
The pale camels did not catch us until they had raced
No sooner had the cavalry reached us than the stragglers
with us aboard, and the last straggler shunned us.
Joined battle with us, the last left behind
وَكانَand was الهِجانُthe purebred white camel الأَرحَبِيُّof Arhab كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَكانَ الهِجانُ الأَرحَبِيُّ كَأَنَّهُ
بِراكِبِهِwith its rider جَونٌa dark patch مِنَof اللَيلِthe night أَكلُفُmottled
بِراكِبِهِ جَونٌ مِنَ اللَيلِ أَكلُفُ
The purebred Arhabi camel seemed,
The wide-stepping steed of Hijan was as though
with its rider, a dark, mottled patch of night.
A demon of night bore its rider through the gloom
وَفيand among الحَيِّthe tribe مَيلاءُa woman tilting الخِمارَthe veil كَأَنَّهاas though she
وَفي الحَيِّ مَيلاءُ الخِمارَ كَأَنَّها
مَهاةٌan oryx بِهَجلٍin a hollow مِنof أَدَيمٍAdim تَعَطَّفُturning gently
مَهاةٌ بِهَجلٍ مِن أَدَيمٍ تَعَطَّفُ
Among the tribe is a woman with her veil tilted, as though she were
In the camp, the forms of veiled women were like
an oryx turning gently in a hollow of Adim.
Wild cows with plaited camel-leather nose ropes
شَموسُshy of الصِباyouthful dalliance وَالأَنسِand intimacy مَخطوفَةُdrawn-in الحَشاat the waist
شَموسُ الصِبا وَالأَنسِ مَخطوفَةُ الحَشا
قَتولُdeadly through الهَوىlove لَوif only كانَتِwere الدارُthe dwelling تُسعِفُfavorable
قَتولُ الهَوى لَو كانَتِ الدارُ تُسعِفُ
Shy of youthful dalliance and intimacy, drawn-in at the waist,
Suns of youth and intimacy, their features veiled,
deadly in love—if only her dwelling favored us.
Slain by passion - if only the abode could save them!
كَأَنَّas though ثَناياهاher front teeth العِذابَsweet وَريقَهاand her saliva
كَأَنَّ ثَناياها العِذابَ وَريقَها
وَنشوَةَand the fragrance of فيهاher mouth خالَطَتهُنَّmingled with them قَرقَفُwine
وَنشوَةَ فيها خالَطَتهُنَّ قَرقَفُ
As though her sweet front teeth and saliva
Their languor seems mingled with torment, and in them
and the fragrance of her mouth were mingled with wine.
Is a delight that stirs the frozen spirits of the tribe,
تُهينُshe humbles جَليدَthe hardiest of القَومِthe people حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّهُas though he
تُهينُ جَليدَ القَومِ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ
دَوٍan invalid يَئِسَتgave up hope مِنهُof him العَوائِدُthe visiting women مُدنَفُgravely ill
دَوٍ يَئِسَت مِنهُ العَوائِدُ مُدنَفُ
She humbles the hardiest man until he seems
Abasing the mighty until they seem to be
a wasting invalid whom his visitors have given up for lost.
An oven the baker has despaired of lighting
وَلَيسَتand she is not بِأَدنىat all nearer مِنthan صَبيرِa bank of غَمامَةٍcloud
وَلَيسَت بِأَدنى مِن صَبيرِ غَمامَةٍ
بِنَجدٍin Najd عَلَيهاabove it لامِحٌa lightning flash يَتَكَشَّفُshows itself
بِنَجدٍ عَلَيها لامِحٌ يَتَكَشَّفُ
She is no nearer than a bank of cloud
They are no less than the rain-cloud Saabir
over Najd, with lightning flashing into view above it.
Hovering over Najd, its first rain imminent,
يُشَبِّهُهاlikens her to الرائيthe beholder المُشَبِّهُmaking the comparison بَيضَةًan egg
يُشَبِّهُها الرائي المُشَبِّهُ بَيضَةً
غَداdeparted at dawn فيthrough النَدىthe dew عَنهاaway from it الظَليمُthe cock ostrich الهَجَنَّفُmassive
غَدا في النَدى عَنها الظَليمُ الهَجَنَّفُ
The beholder seeking a likeness compares her to an egg
The onlooker compares them to an egg
from which the huge cock ostrich departed at dawn through the dew,
Revealed by dawn’s departure on branches of a sidr
بِوَعساءَon soft sand مِنin ذاتِDhat السَلاسِلِal-Salasil يَلتَقيmeets
بِوَعساءَ مِن ذاتِ السَلاسِلِ يَلتَقي
عَلَيهاabove it مِنَof العَلقىʿalqā plants نَباتٌgrowth مُؤَنَّفُfresh and ungrazed
عَلَيها مِنَ العَلقى نَباتٌ مُؤَنَّفُ
on soft sand in Dhat al-Salasil, where
By a bramble of entwining chainlike stems
fresh growth of ʿalqā plants meets above it.
Where creepers climb in jointed fronds
وَقالَتand she said لَناto us وَالعيسُwhile the pale camels صُعرٌtwisted-necked مِنَfrom البُرىthe nose-rings
وَقالَت لَنا وَالعيسُ صُعرٌ مِنَ البُرى
وَأَخفافُهاand their padded feet بِالجَندَلِagainst the stones الصُمِّsolid تَقذِفُkick
وَأَخفافُها بِالجَندَلِ الصُمِّ تَقذِفُ
She spoke to us while the pale camels twisted their necks beneath their nose-rings,
When they said to us, and the cavalry was still disarrayed,
and their padded feet struck the solid stones.
Their unshod hooves striking sparks from the blackened valley floor,
وَهُنَّand they جُنوحٌleaning مُصغِياتٌinclining their heads كَأَنَّماas though
وَهُنَّ جُنوحٌ مُصغِياتٌ كَأَنَّما
بُراهُنَّtheir nose-rings مِنfrom جَذبِthe pulling of الأَزِمَّةِthe reins عَلَّفُacacia pods
بُراهُنَّ مِن جَذبِ الأَزِمَّةِ عَلَّفُ
They leaned forward, inclining their heads, as though
“They are fleeing mares inclined to bolt, as though
their nose-rings, tugged by the reins, were acacia pods.
Their chests were gripped by the pulling of the halter.”
حُمِدتَyou were praised لَناto us حَتّىuntil تَمَنّاكَdesired you بَعضُناsome of us
حُمِدتَ لَنا حَتّى تَمَنّاكَ بَعضُنا
وَأَنتَand you اِمرُؤٌa man يَعروكَattends you حَمدٌpraise فَتُعرَفُso you become known
وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ يَعروكَ حَمدٌ فَتُعرَفُ
You were praised to us until some of us desired you.
You were praised by some among us and desired,
You are a man whom praise attends, making you known,
Though you are a man whom praise elates and thus betrays.
رَفيعُlofty العُلاin distinction فيin كُلِّevery شَرقٍeast وَمَغرِبٍand west
رَفيعُ العُلا في كُلِّ شَرقٍ وَمَغرِبٍ
وَقَولُكَand your verse ذاكَthat الآبِدُenduring المُتَلَقَّفُtaken up and repeated
وَقَولُكَ ذاكَ الآبِدُ المُتَلَقَّفُ
lofty in distinction in every east and west,
Exalted in East and West, your speech
with that enduring verse of yours, taken up and repeated.
Is lasting eloquence and carefully pronounced.
وَفيكَand in you إِذاwhen لاmeet (opening fragment) قَيتَناyou meet us (remaining fragment) عَجرَarrogance (opening fragment) فِيَّةٌarrogance (remaining fragment)
وَفيكَ إِذا لا قَيتَنا عَجرَ فِيَّةٌ
مِراراًrepeatedly وَماand not نَستيعُwe can bear مَنone who يَتَعَجرَفُacts arrogantly
مِراراً وَما نَستيعُ مَن يَتَعَجرَفُ
Yet when you meet us, there is arrogance in you,
When you do not visit us, resentment often seizes me
time after time, and we cannot bear an arrogant man.
And we cannot find one who resents as bitterly.
تَميلُsways بِكَyou الدُنياthe world وَيَغلِبُكَand overcomes you الهَوىdesire
تَميلُ بِكَ الدُنيا وَيَغلِبُكَ الهَوى
كَماjust as مالَtilted خَوّارُthe loose sand of النَقاthe dune المُتَقَصِّفُcrumbling
كَما مالَ خَوّارُ النَقا المُتَقَصِّفُ
The world sways you, and desire overcomes you,
You are inclined by passion and desire astray
as the loose, crumbling sand of a dune tilts.
Like the roving she-camel seeking a new mate.
وَنُلقىand we are met كَأَنّاas though we مَغنَمٌspoils قَدalready حَوَيتَهُyou captured
وَنُلقى كَأَنّا مَغنَمٌ قَد حَوَيتَهُ
وَتَرغَبُand you turn away عَنfrom جَزلِabundant العَطاءِgiving وَتُسرِفُand go to excess
وَتَرغَبُ عَن جَزلِ العَطاءِ وَتُسرِفُ
We are met as though we were spoils you had captured.
We meet as if we were booty you had gained
You shrink from generous giving, yet go to excess.
And you disdain a bounty that is pressed on you.
فَمَوعِدُكَso your tryst الشَطُّthe bank الَّذيwhich بَينَbetween أَهلِناour people
فَمَوعِدُكَ الشَطُّ الَّذي بَينَ أَهلِنا
وَأَهلِكَand your people حَتّىuntil تَسمَعُyou hear الديكَthe cock يَهتِفُcrow
وَأَهلِكَ حَتّى تَسمَعُ الديكَ يَهتِفُ
Your tryst is at the bank between our people
So let our trysting-place be the shore between our lands
and yours, until you hear the cock crow.
Where you can hear the cock’s crow at dawn.
وَتَكفيكَand suffice for you آثاراًas tracks لَناof ours حَيثُwhere نَلتَقيwe meet
وَتَكفيكَ آثاراً لَنا حَيثُ نَلتَقي
ذُيولٌtrailing hems نُعَفّيهاwe erase them بِهِنَّwith them وَمُطرَفُand an edged cloak
ذُيولٌ نُعَفّيها بِهِنَّ وَمُطرَفُ
To cover our tracks where we meet, enough for you are
To find traces of us it will suffice you
trailing hems with which we erase them, and an edged cloak,
Discarded garments and a ruined encampment.
وَمَسحَبُand the trailing of رَيطٍfine robes فَوقَbesides ذاكَthat وَيَمنَةٍand a Yemeni mantle
وَمَسحَبُ رَيطٍ فَوقَ ذاكَ وَيَمنَةٍ
يَسوقُsweeps along الحَصىthe pebbles مِنهاfrom them حَواشٍborders وَرَفرَفُand hanging hems
يَسوقُ الحَصى مِنها حَواشٍ وَرَفرَفُ
and the trailing of fine robes and a Yemeni mantle besides,
The tracks of guided camels above it and to the right
their borders and hanging hems sweeping the pebbles.
Where pebbles pour down the slope in landslides.
فَنُصبِحُso we reach morning لَمnot يُشعَرnotice is taken بِناof us غَيرَexcept أَنَّهُمthat they
فَنُصبِحُ لَم يُشعَر بِنا غَيرَ أَنَّهُم
عَلىon كُلِّevery ظَنٍّsuspicion يَحلِفونَthey swear وَنَحلِفُand we swear
عَلى كُلِّ ظَنٍّ يَحلِفونَ وَنَحلِفُ
We reach morning without being noticed, except that they
Then we vanish, with none aware save those
swear to every suspicion, while we swear otherwise.
Who swear and make us swear on every surmise.
وَقالَتand said لَهُمto them أُمُّthe mother of الَّتيthe woman who أَدلَجَتtraveled by night بِناwith us
وَقالَت لَهُم أُمُّ الَّتي أَدلَجَت بِنا
لَهُنَّthey indeed عَلىat الإِدلاجِnight travel آنىslower وَأَضعَفُand weaker
لَهُنَّ عَلى الإِدلاجِ آنى وَأَضعَفُ
The mother of the woman who traveled with us by night told them:
She who guided us in stealth said, chiding them:
They are slower and weaker at traveling by night.
“Blame yourselves for this night journey.”
فَقَدfor indeed جَعَلَتbegan آمالُthe hopes of بَعضِsome of بَناتِناour daughters
فَقَد جَعَلَت آمالُ بَعضِ بَناتِنا
مِنَthrough الظُلمِwrongdoing إِلّاexcept ماwhat وَقىprotected اللَهُGod تُكشَفُare laid bare
مِنَ الظُلمِ إِلّا ما وَقى اللَهُ تُكشَفُ
The hopes of some of our daughters have begun
Some of our daughters’ hopes were shattered
to be laid bare through wrongdoing, except what God protects.
By the darkness - if only God will lift the veil!
وَماand no لِجِرانِfor Jiran العودِal-Awd ذَنبٌguilt وَماand none لَناfor us
وَما لِجِرانِ العودِ ذَنبٌ وَما لَنا
وَلَكِنbut جِرانُJiran العودِal-Awd مِمّاone of those whom نُكَلَّفُwe adore
وَلَكِن جِرانُ العودِ مِمّا نُكَلَّفُ
Jiran al-Awd bears no guilt, nor do we,
Jarran’s lute is not at fault, nor are we,
but Jiran al-Awd is one whom we adore.
But the lute of Jarran we are charged to shun.
وَلَوand if شَهِدَتناhad witnessed us أُمُّهاher mother لَيلَةَon the night of النَقاal-Naqa
وَلَو شَهِدَتنا أُمُّها لَيلَةَ النَقا
وَلَيلَةَand the night of رُمحٍRumh أَزحَفَتshe would have crawled حينَwhen نُزحِفُwe crawl
وَلَيلَةَ رُمحٍ أَزحَفَت حينَ نُزحِفُ
Had her mother witnessed us on the night at al-Naqa
Had their mother seen us the night of drinking
and the night at Rumh, she would have crawled when we crawled.
And the night of the raid as we crept ahead,
ذَهَبنَthey carried off بِمِسواكيmy toothstick وَقَدand already قُلتُI said قَولَةًa remark
ذَهَبنَ بِمِسواكي وَقَد قُلتُ قَولَةً
سَيوجَدُwill be found هَذاthis عِندَكُنَّamong you women وَيُعرَفُand recognized
سَيوجَدُ هَذا عِندَكُنَّ وَيُعرَفُ
They carried off my toothstick, though I had said:
She would have confiscated my water-skin and said
This will be found among you and recognized.
“This will be found with you and thus reveal the truth.”
فَلَمّاthen when عَلاناcovered us اللَيلُthe night أَقبَلتُI came خُفيَةًsecretly
فَلَمّا عَلانا اللَيلُ أَقبَلتُ خُفيَةً
لِمَوعِدِهاto her tryst أَعلوI climb الإِكامَthe hillocks وَأَظلِفُand tread hard ground
لِمَوعِدِها أَعلو الإِكامَ وَأَظلِفُ
When night covered us, I came secretly
When night concealed us I stole to her furtively
to her tryst, climbing hillocks and treading hard ground.
To climb the hill where the jinn were piping shrill.
إِذاwhen الجانِبُthe side الوَحشِيُّfarther خِفناwe feared مِنَfrom الرَدىdeath
إِذا الجانِبُ الوَحشِيُّ خِفنا مِنَ الرَدى
وَجانِبِيَand my side الأَدنىnearer مِنَfrom الخَوفِfear أَجنَفُbent further aside
وَجانِبِيَ الأَدنى مِنَ الخَوفِ أَجنَفُ
On the farther side we feared death,
The lonely hill-side made me slip in fear
while my nearer side bent aside with fear.
And the safer side made me lean down in turn
فَأَقبَلنَso they approached يَمشينَwalking الهُوَيناgently تَهادِياًswaying
فَأَقبَلنَ يَمشينَ الهُوَينا تَهادِياً
قِصارَshort الخُطاin steps مِنهُنَّamong them رابٍpanting وَمُزحِفُand dragging with fatigue
قِصارَ الخُطا مِنهُنَّ رابٍ وَمُزحِفُ
They approached, walking gently and swaying,
Then they came walking gracefully, pacing themselves,
with short steps, some panting, some dragging their feet.
Taking short steps- some creeping and some crawling.
كَأَنَّas though النُمَيرِيَّthe Numayri الَّذيwhom يَتَّبِعنَهُthey follow
كَأَنَّ النُمَيرِيَّ الَّذي يَتَّبِعنَهُ
بِدارَةِat Darat رُمحِRumh ظالِعُlame الرِجلِin the leg أَحنَفُinward-footed
بِدارَةِ رُمحِ ظالِعُ الرِجلِ أَحنَفُ
As though the Numayri whom they followed
As if the hunter I was following
at Darat Rumh were lame and inward-footed.
Bore a spear aloft, striding with upright posture.
فَلَمّاthen when هَبَطنَthey descended السَهلَthe plain وَاِحتَلنَand devised حيلَةًa trick
فَلَمّا هَبَطنَ السَهلَ وَاِحتَلنَ حيلَةً
وَمِنand among حيلَةِthe tricks of الإِنسانِa human ماwhat يَتَخَوَّفُis feared
وَمِن حيلَةِ الإِنسانِ ما يَتَخَوَّفُ
When they descended to the plain and devised a trick—
When they descended to the plain and adopted a strategy -
and some human tricks are to be feared—
Such are the wiles of woman, arousing dread -
حَمَلنَthey carried جِرانَJiran العَودِal-Awd حَتّىuntil وَضَعنَهُthey set him down
حَمَلنَ جِرانَ العَودِ حَتّى وَضَعنَهُ
بِعَلياءَon a height فيin أَرجائِهاits surroundings الجِنُّthe jinn تَعزِفُplay music
بِعَلياءَ في أَرجائِها الجِنُّ تَعزِفُ
they carried Jiran al-Awd until they set him down
They carried off Jarran’s lute and left it
on a height where jinn played music all around.
In the ruins, where jinn began to fiddle.
فَلاso no كِفلَhaunches إِلّاexcept مِثلُlike كِفلٍhaunches رَأيتُهُI saw
فَلا كِفلَ إِلّا مِثلُ كِفلٍ رَأيتُهُ
لِخَولَةَof Khawlah لَوif only كانَتshe were مِراراًrepeatedly تَخَلَّفُto linger behind
لِخَولَةَ لَو كانَت مِراراً تَخَلَّفُ
No haunches compare with the haunches I saw
I saw there nothing like the shoulder I saw
on Khawlah—if only she would sometimes linger behind.
Of Khawla, unless a promise made then broken.
فَلَمand not أُرِI saw كِفلاًhaunches مِثلَlike كِفلٍhaunches رَأِيتُهُI saw
فَلَم أُرِ كِفلاً مِثلَ كِفلٍ رَأِيتُهُ
لَخَولَةَof Khawlah لَولاwere it not for وَعدُهاher promise ثُمَّthen تُخلِفُshe breaks her word
لَخَولَةَ لَولا وَعدُها ثُمَّ تُخلِفُ
I have never seen haunches like those I saw
When we met they said “Tonight he takes liberties -
on Khawlah, were it not for her promising, then breaking her word.
Let not the intruding guest overstep his bounds!”
فَلَمّاthen when اِلتَقَيناwe met قُلنَthey said أَمسىhe became مُسَلَّطاًempowered
فَلَمّا اِلتَقَينا قُلنَ أَمسى مُسَلَّطاً
فَلاso let not يُسرِفَنَّgo to excess الزائِرُthe visitor المُتَلَطِّفُcourteous
فَلا يُسرِفَنَّ الزائِرُ المُتَلَطِّفُ
When we met, they said: He has gained the upper hand,
And said “Enjoy this night of despair,
so let the courteous visitor not go too far.
For tomorrow you will be banished or find the sword.”
وَقُلنَand they said تَمَتَّعenjoy yourself لَيلَةَthe night of اليَأسِdespair هَذِهِthis
وَقُلنَ تَمَتَّع لَيلَةَ اليَأسِ هَذِهِ
فَإِنَّكَfor you مَرجومٌwill be stoned غَداًtomorrow أَوor مُسَيَّفُslain by the sword
فَإِنَّكَ مَرجومٌ غَداً أَو مُسَيَّفُ
They said: Enjoy this night of despair,
And took from me each gathered yard of loincloth,
for tomorrow you will be stoned or slain by the sword.
Leaving me the patterned cloak from Nufal.
وَأَحرَزنَand they guarded مِنّيfrom me كُلَّevery حُجزَةِwaistband of مِئزَرٍa lower garment
وَأَحرَزنَ مِنّي كُلَّ حُجزَةِ مِئزَرٍ
لَهُنَّof theirs وَطاحَand failed النَوفَلِيُّthe Nawfali المُزخَرَفُbedecked
لَهُنَّ وَطاحَ النَوفَلِيُّ المُزخَرَفُ
They guarded from me every waistband
So we remained seated while our hearts were like
of their lower garments, and the bedecked Nawfali came to nothing.
A leather tent whose pegs the wind had plucked up.
فَبِتناso we spent the night قُعوداًsitting وَالقُلوبُand the hearts كَأَنَّهاas though they
فَبِتنا قُعوداً وَالقُلوبُ كَأَنَّها
قَطاًsandgrouse شُرَّعُwide-open الأَشراكِsnares مِمّاbecause of what تَخَوَّفُthey fear
قَطاً شُرَّعُ الأَشراكِ مِمّا تَخَوَّفُ
We spent the night sitting, our hearts like
The dew sprinkled down on us for a time
sandgrouse before wide-open snares, so fearful were they.
A gentle drizzle coming after midnight ceased.
عَلَيناupon us النَدىdew طَوراًat times وَطَوارًand at times يَرُشُّناsprinkles us
عَلَينا النَدى طَوراً وَطَوارً يَرُشُّنا
رَذاذٌdrizzle سَرىpassed by night مِنfrom آخِرِthe latter part of اللَيلِthe night أَوطَفُthick
رَذاذٌ سَرى مِن آخِرِ اللَيلِ أَوطَفُ
Dew lay upon us sometimes, and sometimes we were sprinkled
We spent the night as if a perfumed breeze
by a thick drizzle passing late in the night.
Had scented us, the wind’s swinging censer,
وَبِتناand we spent the night كَأَنّاas though we بَيَّتَتناhad visited us by night لَطيمَةٌa perfume caravan
وَبِتنا كَأَنّا بَيَّتَتنا لَطيمَةٌ
مِنَof المِسكِmusk أَوor خَوارَةُsoft الريحِin fragrance قَرقَفُwine
مِنَ المِسكِ أَو خَوارَةُ الريحِ قَرقَفُ
We spent the night as though visited by a perfume caravan
Vying in delight, as if it were
of musk, or softly scented wine.
The robes of maidens rain had soaked on a hot day,
يُنازِعنَناthey exchange with us لَذّاًsweet speech رَخيماًsoft-voiced كَأَنَّهُas though it
يُنازِعنَنا لَذّاً رَخيماً كَأَنَّهُ
عَوائِرُpassing showers مِنof قَطرٍrain حَداهُنَّdrove them صَيِّفُa summer rain-cloud
عَوائِرُ مِن قَطرٍ حَداهُنَّ صَيِّفُ
They exchanged sweet, soft speech with us, as though it were
Delicate, its hems - were an ascetic to hear
passing showers of rain driven by a summer cloud.
Such words as these within, he would tremble in fear.
رَقيقُdelicate الحَواشيat its edges لَوif تَسَمَّعَoverheard راهِبٌa monk
رَقيقُ الحَواشي لَو تَسَمَّعَ راهِبٌ
بِبُطنانَat Butnan قَولاًspeech مِثلَهُlike it ظَلَّwould remain يَرجُفُtrembling
بِبُطنانَ قَولاً مِثلَهُ ظَلَّ يَرجُفُ
Delicate at its edges—if a monk overheard
Talk that, were herbs to hear the slightest part,
such speech at Butnan, he would remain trembling.
Would wilt the plants and bring the leaves to grief!
حَديثٌspeech لَوif اِنَّindeed البَقلَthe herbage يوليwere favored بِنَفضِهِwith its sprinkling
حَديثٌ لَو اِنَّ البَقلَ يولي بِنَفضِهِ
نَماwould grow البُقلُthe herbage وَاِخضَرَّand turn green المُصَنِّفُthe partly leafed plant
نَما البُقلُ وَاِخضَرَّ المُصَنِّفُ
Speech that, were the herbage blessed with its sprinkling,
It is eternity in life, for those able to attain it,
the herbage would grow and the partly leafed plant turn green.
And death for the owners of gray temples.
هُوَالخُلدُit is everlasting bliss فيin الدُنياthis world لِمَنfor whoever يَستَطيعُهُcan attain it
هُوَالخُلدُ في الدُنيا لِمَن يَستَطيعُهُ
وَقَتلٌand a killing لِأَصحابِfor those possessed by الصَبابَةِardent longing مُذعِفُswiftly fatal
وَقَتلٌ لِأَصحابِ الصَبابَةِ مُذعِفُ
It is everlasting bliss in this world for whoever can attain it,
When they saw dawn usher in its light,
and a swiftly fatal killing for those possessed by longing.
Out crept the jerboas of the valley or they hastened away.
وَلَمّاand when رَأَينَthey saw الصُبحَdawn بادَرَhurried ahead of ضَوءَهُits light
وَلَمّا رَأَينَ الصُبحَ بادَرَ ضَوءَهُ
دَبيبُthe slow tread of قَطاsandgrouse البَطحاءِthe stony flats أَوor هُنَّthey أَقطَفُshorter-stepped
دَبيبُ قَطا البَطحاءِ أَو هُنَّ أَقطَفُ
When they saw dawn, they hastened ahead of its light,
They reached the rear of night after the devout man
at the creeping pace of sandgrouse on the flats—or more slowly still.
Had performed the dawn prayer kneeling steadfast.
وَأَدرَكنَand they caught أَعجازاًlast remnants مِنَof اللَيلِthe night بَعدَafter ماthat
وَأَدرَكنَ أَعجازاً مِنَ اللَيلِ بَعدَ ما
أَقامَperformed الصَلاةَthe prayer العابِدُthe worshipper المُتَحَنِّفُdevoted to the true faith
أَقامَ الصَلاةَ العابِدُ المُتَحَنِّفُ
They caught the last remnants of night after
I did not explain before they spoke:
the worshipper devoted to the true faith had performed his prayer.
“Would that we were dust, and earth might gape and swallow humankind!”
وَماand not أُبنَthey returned حَتّىuntil قُلنَthey said ياoh لَيتَif only أَنَّناwe were
وَما أُبنَ حَتّى قُلنَ يا لَيتَ أَنَّنا
تُرابٌdust وَلَيتَand would that الأَرضَthe earth بِالناسِwith its people تُخسَفُwould sink
تُرابٌ وَلَيتَ الأَرضَ بِالناسِ تُخسَفُ
They did not return until they had said: Oh, would that we were
“If we escape from this without their knowledge,
dust, and would that the earth sank with its people!
Some good approaches that will then be turned aside.”
فَإِنso if نَنجُwe escape مِنfrom هَذيthis وَلَمand not يَشعُرواthey noticed بِناus
فَإِن نَنجُ مِن هَذي وَلَم يَشعُروا بِنا
فَقَدfor indeed كانَhad been بَعضُsome الخَيرِgood fortune يَدنوdrawing near فَيُصرَفُonly to be turned away
فَقَد كانَ بَعضُ الخَيرِ يَدنو فَيُصرَفُ
If we escape this and they have not noticed us,
So in the morning they were like slaughtered beasts
some good fortune has drawn near before, only to be turned away.
While lances of the foe stood planted by our sides,
فَأَصبَحنَso they reached morning صَرعىlaid low فيin الحِجالِthe curtained chambers وَبَينَناand between us
فَأَصبَحنَ صَرعى في الحِجالِ وَبَينَنا
رِماحُspears العِداof enemies وَالجانِبُand the flank المُتَخَوِّفُfeared
رِماحُ العِدا وَالجانِبُ المُتَخَوِّفُ
At morning they lay stricken in their curtained chambers; between us
Bringing their messages - each letter-writer,
were the enemies' spears and the feared flank.
Tall staff in hand, or a creeping cripple,
يُبَلِّغُهُنَّbrings them الحاجَwhat they need كُلُّevery مُكاتَبٍslave under a freedom contract
يُبَلِّغُهُنَّ الحاجَ كُلُّ مُكاتَبٍ
طَويلِlong العَصاof staff أَوor مُقعَدٌa cripple مُتَزَحِّفُcrawling
طَويلِ العَصا أَو مُقعَدٌ مُتَزَحِّفُ
Every slave under a freedom contract brings them what they need,
A squint-eyed crone they could not subdue,
long-staffed, or a cripple who crawls.
Her scribbled letter throws clubs and stones.
وَمَكمونَةٌand a concealed woman رمداءُash-gray لاnot يَجذَرونَهاthey suspect her
وَمَكمونَةٌ رمداءُ لا يَجذَرونَها
مُكاتَبَةٌa woman under a freedom contract تَرميshe pelts الكِلابَthe dogs وَتَحذِفُand flings stones
مُكاتَبَةٌ تَرمي الكِلابَ وَتَحذِفُ
And a hidden, ash-gray woman whom they do not suspect,
She saw a white page and gathered her skirts
a slave under a freedom contract, who pelts dogs and flings stones.
More keen than an Indian blade and smoother.
رَأَتshe saw وَرَقاًsilver coins بيضاًwhite فَشَدَّتso she tightened حَزيمَهاher girdle
رَأَت وَرَقاً بيضاً فَشَدَّت حَزيمَها
لَهاfor them فَهيَso she is أَمضىswifter مِنthan سُلَيكٍSulayk وَأَلطَفُand subtler
لَها فَهيَ أَمضى مِن سُلَيكٍ وَأَلطَفُ
She saw white silver coins and tightened her girdle
Neither white nor tawny falcon stoops like her,
for them, swifter than Sulayk and subtler.
Her intellectual gifts profound yet childlike.
وَلَنand never will يَستَهيمَcaptivate with love الخُرَّدَthe shy maidens البيضَfair-skinned كَالدُمىlike figurines
وَلَن يَستَهيمَ الخُرَّدَ البيضَ كَالدُمى
هِدانٌa sluggard وَلاnor هِلباجَةُa hulking oaf اللَيلِof the night مُقرِفُbaseborn
هِدانٌ وَلا هِلباجَةُ اللَيلِ مُقرِفُ
The shy, fair beauties, like figurines, will never be captivated
But a friend of youth, talkative, alert,
by a sluggard or a baseborn oaf of the night,
Lithe, slender, long of tail and sharp of scent,
وَلاnor جَبِلٌa coarse man تِرعِيَّةٌa herdsman أَحبَنُswollen النَساin the thigh-sinew
وَلا جَبِلٌ تِرعِيَّةٌ أَحبَنُ النَسا
أَغَمُّhairy القَفاat the nape ضَخمُmassive الهِراوَةِof cudgel أَغضَفُdroop-eared
أَغَمُّ القَفا ضَخمُ الهِراوَةِ أَغضَفُ
nor by a coarse herdsman with swollen thigh-sinews,
Both far and near, stumbling and collapsing,
hairy-naped, with a huge cudgel and drooping ears,
So every jealous husband of a girl feels due alarm.
حَليفٌa close companion لِوَطبىto two milk-skins عُلبَةٍa milking pail بَقَرِيَّةٍof cowhide
حَليفٌ لِوَطبى عُلبَةٍ بَقَرِيَّةٍ
عَظيمُhuge سَوادِin the silhouette الشَخصِof his figure وَالعودُyet the wood أَجوَفُis hollow
عَظيمُ سَوادِ الشَخصِ وَالعودُ أَجوَفُ
a companion to two milk-skins and a cowhide pail,
The lad of family and guests, should they alight at his abode,
huge in silhouette, though the wood is hollow.
Vigilant men who steal the shadows at noon.
وَلَكِنbut رَفيقٌan adept companion بِالصِباin youthful love مُتَبَطرِقٌswaggering nobly
وَلَكِن رَفيقٌ بِالصِبا مُتَبَطرِقٌ
خَفيفٌlight ذَفيفٌnimble سابِغُlong-flowing الذَيلِof hem أَهيَفُslim-waisted
خَفيفٌ ذَفيفٌ سابِغُ الذَيلِ أَهيَفُ
Rather, by one adept in youthful love, with a lordly swagger,
He sees in their needs plunder by night,
light, nimble, long of hem, and slim-waisted,
While the deceitful old man sleeps.
قَريبٌnear بَعيدٌfar ساقِطٌswooping down مُتَهافِتٌrushing headlong
قَريبٌ بَعيدٌ ساقِطٌ مُتَهافِتٌ
فَكُلُّso every غَيورٍjealous man ذيwith فَتاةٍa girl مُكَلَّفُis burdened
فَكُلُّ غَيورٍ ذي فَتاةٍ مُكَلَّفُ
near yet far, swooping down and rushing headlong—
He gathers them in like a collector of wildcats
so every jealous man with a girl is burdened.
And quicker to snatch them when they escape.
فَتىa champion of الحَيِّthe tribe وَالأَضيافِand guests إِنif نَزَلواthey lodge بِهِwith him
فَتى الحَيِّ وَالأَضيافِ إِن نَزَلوا بِهِ
حَذورُwary الضُحىof daylight تِلعابَةٌvery playful مُتَغَطرِفُswaggering
حَذورُ الضُحى تِلعابَةٌ مُتَغَطرِفُ
A champion of the tribe and of guests who lodge with him,
By dawn he found where we had met:
wary by day, playful, and swaggering,
Bracelets, anklets and a broidered gown,
يَرىhe sees اللَيلَthe night فيin حاجاتِهِنَّtheir needs غَنيمَةًa prize
يَرى اللَيلَ في حاجاتِهِنَّ غَنيمَةً
إِذاwhen قامَgets up عَنهُنَّaway from them الهِدانُthe sluggard المُزَيَّفُcounterfeit
إِذا قامَ عَنهُنَّ الهِدانُ المُزَيَّفُ
he sees the night as a prize for attending to their needs,
And broken necklaces discarded
when the sluggish, counterfeit man rises and leaves them.
Among the embers of the dying fire’s last glow.
يُلِمُّhe swoops in كَإِلمامِlike the swoop of القُطامىthe falcon بِالقَطىupon sandgrouse
يُلِمُّ كَإِلمامِ القُطامى بِالقَطى
وَأَسرَعُand faster مِنهُthan it لَمَّةًin a swoop حينَwhen يَخطَفُhe snatches
وَأَسرَعُ مِنهُ لَمَّةً حينَ يَخطَفُ
He swoops in as a falcon swoops upon sandgrouse,
At daybreak the birds with their morning song reproached me
and faster still in his swoop when he snatches.
With a yearning and the twisting pangs of lovers burnt.
وَأَصبَحَand at dawn there was فيin حَيثُthe place where اِلتَقَيناwe met غُدَيَّةًearly in the morning
وَأَصبَحَ في حَيثُ اِلتَقَينا غُدَيَّةً
سِوارٌa bracelet وَخَلخالٌand an anklet وَبُردٌand a cloak مُفَوَّفُstriped
سِوارٌ وَخَلخالٌ وَبُردٌ مُفَوَّفُ
Early in the morning, where we had met, there lay
We obtained choice extracts like the nectar
a bracelet, an anklet, and a striped cloak,
Of virgin honey from the fresh-cut radical.
وَمُنقَطِعاتٌand broken pieces مِنof عُقودٍnecklaces تَرَكنَهاthey left behind
وَمُنقَطِعاتٌ مِن عُقودٍ تَرَكنَها
كَجَمرِlike embers of الغَضاghada wood فيamong بَعضِsome ماwhat يُتَخَطرَفُis hastily snatched
كَجَمرِ الغَضا في بَعضِ ما يُتَخَطرَفُ
and broken pieces of necklaces they had left,
When the dark of night falls he travels beneath it,
like ghada-wood embers among things hastily snatched up.
And the man of understanding journeys on.
وَأَصبَحتُand I reached morning غِرّيدَsinging merrily الضُحىat daybreak قَدalready وَمِقنَنيthey had loved me
وَأَصبَحتُ غِرّيدَ الضُحى قَد وَمِقنَني
بِشَوقٍwith longing وَلَمّاتُand meetings المُحِبّينَof lovers تَشعَفُinflame the heart
بِشَوقٍ وَلَمّاتُ المُحِبّينَ تَشعَفُ
I reached morning singing merrily; they had loved me
We penetrated every high chief of the tribe
with longing, and lovers' meetings inflame the heart.
In the valley, so grieve not save for the waverer.
ونلنand they obtained سقاطاًsnatches منof حديثspeech كأنّهas though it
ونلن سقاطاً من حديث كأنّه
جنىthe harvest of النحلthe bees فيin أبكارfirst growth عودٍwood نقطّفُwe pluck
جنى النحل في أبكار عودٍ نقطّفُ
They obtained snatches of speech that seemed
Oh who has a heart that remains as if
the bees' harvest in fresh boughs, which we pluck.
It were a shining hand or a bird in flight!
وإنand indeed ظلامdarkness الليلُof night ينكَبُstumbles تحتَهُbeneath it
وإن ظلام الليلُ ينكَبُ تحتَهُ
رجالٌmen ويمضيwhile goes on الأحوذيُّthe nimble man المثقَّفُwell-trained
رجالٌ ويمضي الأحوذيُّ المثقَّفُ
Indeed, beneath the darkness of night stumble
They circle with swooping flight as if their love
men, while the nimble, practiced man goes on.
Were a spear-shaft brandished deep in the night.
وإناand we ذحمناjostled كلّevery نجدةٍvalor سيّدٍof a lord
وإنا ذحمنا كلّ نجدةٍ سيّدٍ
بطينٍbig-bellied ولاand not يحزنكmakes you grieve إلاexcept المهَفهَفُthe slim-waisted man
بطينٍ ولا يحزنك إلا المهَفهَفُ
We have jostled every valorous lord,
big-bellied; yet only the slim-waisted man makes you grieve.
ألاah منwho لقلبwill aid a heart لاnot يزالُceases كأنّهُas though it
ألا من لقلب لا يزالُ كأنّهُ
يداthe two hands of لامعٍa person signaling أوor طائرٍa bird يتصرّفُwheels about
يدا لامعٍ أو طائرٍ يتصرّفُ
Ah, who can tend a heart that is forever like
a signaler's hands or a wheeling bird?
طفنthey circled بغطريفaround a noble youth كأنّas though حبّيهُhis two beloveds (reading uncertain)
طفن بغطريف كأنّ حبّيهُ
بدارةٍat Darat رمحٍRumh آخرat the end of الليلthe night مصحفُa manuscript
بدارةٍ رمحٍ آخر الليل مصحفُ
They circled a noble youth, as though his two beloveds [reading uncertain]
at Darat Rumh, late in the night, were a manuscript.
Partial English translation: 150 of 156 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1