نَأَتgrew distant دارُthe abode سَلمىSalma فَشَطَّso became remote المَزارُthe place of visiting
نَأَت دارُ سَلمى فَشَطَّ المَزارُ
فَعَينايَso my two eyes ماnot تَطعَمانِtaste الكَرىsleep
فَعَينايَ ما تَطعَمانِ الكَرى
Salma's house has grown distant, and the way to visit is far.
We came to Salma's house, so it cheered up the place,
So my two eyes taste no sleep.
Yet my eyes don't enjoy pleasures anymore,
وَمَرَّand passed بِفُرقَتِهاwith separation from her بارِحٌan ill-omened leftward passer
وَمَرَّ بِفُرقَتِها بارِحٌ
فَصَدَّقَso confirmed ذاكَthat غُرابُthe raven النَوىof separation
فَصَدَّقَ ذاكَ غُرابُ النَوى
An ill-omened beast passed, portending her departure;
And her separation passed by like a night visitor,
so the raven of separation confirmed it.
So the raven confirmed that suspicion.
فَأَضحَتso she came to be بِبَغدانَin Baghdan فيin مَنزِلٍa dwelling
فَأَضحَت بِبَغدانَ في مَنزِلٍ
لَهُit has شُرُفاتٌbattlements دُوَينَjust below السَماthe sky
لَهُ شُرُفاتٌ دُوَينَ السَما
She came to dwell in Baghdan, in a house
It became morning in Baghdan in a house,
with battlements just below the sky.
With lofty ceilings reaching the sky.
وَجَيشٌand an army وَرابِطَةٌand a garrison عِندَهُbeside it
وَجَيشٌ وَرابِطَةٌ عِندَهُ
غِلاظُthick الرِقابِof neck كَأُسدِlike the lions الشَرىof Shara
غِلاظُ الرِقابِ كَأُسدِ الشَرى
An army and a garrison stand beside it,
An army and guards are next to it,
thick-necked as the lions of Shara.
With thick necks like lions hunting prey,
بِأَيديهِمُin their hands مُحدَثاتُfreshly renewed الصِقالِpolish
بِأَيديهِمُ مُحدَثاتُ الصِقالِ
سُرَيجِيَّةٌSurayji swords يَختَلِبنَsever الطُلىthroats
سُرَيجِيَّةٌ يَختَلِبنَ الطُلى
In their hands are freshly polished blades,
In their hands are polished swords,
Surayji swords that sever throats.
Smooth like the slipping twilight.
وَمِنand from دونِهاshort of her بَلَدٌa land نازِحٌfar-off
وَمِن دونِها بَلَدٌ نازِحٌ
يُجيبُanswers بِهِthere البومُthe owls رَجعَthe return الصَداof the echo
يُجيبُ بِهِ البومُ رَجعَ الصَدا
Between her and me lies a distant land
And beyond it is an evacuated town
where owls answer the returning echo.
Where owls respond to the echoes.
وَمِنand many a مَنهَلٍwatering place آجِنٍstagnant ماؤُهُits water
وَمِن مَنهَلٍ آجِنٍ ماؤُهُ
سُدىًunused لاnot يُعاذُis sought for refuge بِهِin it قَدalready طَمىhas overflowed
سُدىً لا يُعاذُ بِهِ قَد طَمى
And many a watering place has stagnant water,
And a watering place with stagnant water,
abandoned, sought for no refuge, brimming over.
Not fit to take cover next to after being blocked.
يَبيتُspend the night الذِئابُthe wolves تَعاوىhowling to one another بِهِthere
يَبيتُ الذِئابُ تَعاوى بِهِ
وَيُصبِحنَand they reach morning فيin مَهَواتِthe hollows المَلاof the wilderness
وَيُصبِحنَ في مَهَواتِ المَلا
Wolves spend the night there howling to one another,
Wolves howl next to it at night,
and meet dawn in the wilderness's hollows.
And morning finds them in the ravines.
وَكَمand how many دونَbefore بَيتِكَyour house مِنof مَهمَهٍa trackless waste
وَكَم دونَ بَيتِكَ مِن مَهمَهٍ
وَمِنand many a أَسَدٍlion جاحِرٍden-dwelling فيin مَكىlairs
وَمِن أَسَدٍ جاحِرٍ في مَكى
How many a trackless waste lies before your house,
How many perils are near your house,
and many a lion lurking in a lair,
And how many cunning lions in the den!
وَمِنand many a حَنَشٍsnake لاnot يُجيبُanswers الرُقاcharmers (continued)
وَمِن حَنَشٍ لا يُجيبُ الرُقا
ةَcompletes 'charmers' أَسمَرَbrown ذيpossessing حُمَةٍvenom كَالرَشاlike a well-rope
ةَ أَسمَرَ ذي حُمَةٍ كَالرَشا
and many a snake that will not answer charmers,
And how many Abyssinians not responding when called,
brown, venomous, like a well-rope,
Dark-skinned with bodily strength like a young, virile man!
أَصَمَّdeaf صَموتٍsilent طَويلِlong in السُباsleep (continued)
أَصَمَّ صَموتٍ طَويلِ السُبا
تِcompletes 'sleep' مُنهَرِتِgaping الشِدِقِin the mouth عاريbare القَراof back
تِ مُنهَرِتِ الشِدِقِ عاري القَرا
deaf, silent, long-sleeping,
Deaf mutes, with long weapons,
wide-gaped, bare-backed!
Baring their teeth, with wide nostrils.
لَهُit has فيin اليَبيسِdry brush نُفاثٌspittle يَطيرُthat flies
لَهُ في اليَبيسِ نُفاثٌ يَطيرُ
عَلىto جانِبَيهِits two sides كَجَمرِlike embers الغَضاof ghada wood
عَلى جانِبَيهِ كَجَمرِ الغَضا
Its spittle flies among the dry brush
He has, when the air is still, a puffing breath
to either side, like embers of ghada wood.
Flying on both his sides like burning coals.
وَعَينانِand two eyes حُمرٌred مَآقيهِاtheir eye-corners
وَعَينانِ حُمرٌ مَآقيهِا
نَبِصّانِboth glittering فيin هامَةٍa head كَالرَحاlike a millstone
نَبِصّانِ في هامَةٍ كَالرَحا
Two eyes, red at their corners,
And two red eyes, their sockets
glitter in a head like a millstone.
Peering out from a forehead like a meadow.
إِذاwhen ماever تَثاءَبَit yawns أَبدىit reveals لَهُits own
إِذا ما تَثاءَبَ أَبدى لَهُ
مُذَرَّبَةًsharpened عُصُلاًcrooked fangs كَالمُدىlike knives
مُذَرَّبَةً عُصُلاً كَالمُدى
Whenever it yawns, it reveals its
When he yawns, he reveals to him
sharpened, crooked fangs, like knives.
Jagged teeth, as the handmill's creaking sounds
كَأَنَّas though حَفيفَthe whir الرَحىof the millstone جَرسُهُits sound
كَأَنَّ حَفيفَ الرَحى جَرسُهُ
إِذاwhen اِصطَكَّclash together أَثناؤُهُits coils وَاِنطَوىand it curls up
إِذا اِصطَكَّ أَثناؤُهُ وَاِنطَوى
Its sound is like the whir of a millstone
When its parts come together and fold over each other.
when its coils clash and it curls up.
If he were to bite polished swords, his fangs would stick in the steel.
وَلَوand if عَضَّit bit حَفَيthe two edges صَفاةٍof a stone slab إِذاًthen
وَلَو عَضَّ حَفَي صَفاةٍ إِذاً
لَأَنشَبَit would surely embed أَنيابَهُits fangs فيin الصَفاthe rock
لَأَنشَبَ أَنيابَهُ في الصَفا
If it bit the edges of a stone slab, then
It's as if his claws are detached and scattered,
it would surely sink its fangs into the rock.
Single ones and pairs.
كَأَنَّas though مَزاحِفَهُits crawling tracks أَنسُعٌwere girth-straps
كَأَنَّ مَزاحِفَهُ أَنسُعٌ
خُرِزنَstitched فُرادىsingly وَمِنهاand some of them ثُناdoubled
خُرِزنَ فُرادى وَمِنها ثُنا
Its crawling tracks are like girth-straps
And the moaning of my crescent darling Qumriyya has hurt me,
stitched singly, with some doubled.
At dusk, missing the morn.
وَقَدand indeed شاقَنيstirred my longing نَوحُthe lament قُمرِيَّةٍof a ringdove
وَقَد شاقَني نَوحُ قُمرِيَّةٍ
طَروبِmelodious العَشِيِّin the evening هَتوفِloud-voiced الضُحىin the forenoon
طَروبِ العَشِيِّ هَتوفِ الضُحى
And a ringdove's lament has stirred my longing,
She's a palm frond who began lamenting at dawn
melodious at dusk, loud-voiced in the forenoon,
Over a loved one gone in the thickets.
مِنَamong الوُرقِthe gray doves نَوّاحَةٍa mourner باكَرَتshe sought at dawn
مِنَ الوُرقِ نَوّاحَةٍ باكَرَت
عَسيبَa palm-frond أَشاءٍof young palms بِذاتِat Dhat الغَصاal-Ghasa
عَسيبَ أَشاءٍ بِذاتِ الغَصا
a mourner among the gray doves that sought at dawn
She sang a special melody for him
a young palm's frond at Dhat al-Ghasa.
That provokes dormant passion.
فَغَنَّتso she sang عَلَيهِupon it بِلَحنٍin a melody لَهاof hers
فَغَنَّت عَلَيهِ بِلَحنٍ لَها
يُهيِّجُrouses لِلصَبِّfor the lovesick one ماwhat قَدalready مَضىhas passed
يُهيِّجُ لِلصَبِّ ما قَد مَضى
She sang upon it in a melody of her own
She's adorned as if dressed up
that stirs in the lovesick what has passed.
With the dress of a mourner when she calls the deceased.
مُطَوَّقَةٌa collared dove كَسِيَتwas clothed زينَةًin ornament
مُطَوَّقَةٌ كَسِيَت زينَةً
بِدَعوَةِthrough a prayer نوحٍof Noah لَهاfor her إِذwhen دَعاhe prayed
بِدَعوَةِ نوحٍ لَها إِذ دَعا
A collared dove, clothed in ornament
I've never seen a mourner cry like her.
by Noah's prayer for her when he prayed.
She weeps but her tears can't be seen.
فَلَمso not أَرَhave I seen باكِيَةًa weeper مِثلَهاlike her
فَلَم أَرَ باكِيَةً مِثلَها
تُبكيmakes others weep وَدَمعَتُهاand her tear لاnot تُرىis seen
تُبكي وَدَمعَتُها لا تُرى
I have never seen a weeper like her,
She led a baby camel astray, wandering with him
making others weep, though no tear of hers is seen.
While the ropes of loss clung to him.
أَضَلَّتshe lost فُرَيخاًa little chick فَطافَتso she circled لَهُin search of it
أَضَلَّت فُرَيخاً فَطافَت لَهُ
وَقَدand already عَلِقَتهُhad caught it حِبالُthe cords الرَدىof death
وَقَد عَلِقَتهُ حِبالُ الرَدى
She lost a little chick and circled in search of it,
When despair of him was evident, she cried over him,
while the cords of death had already caught it.
Though what will crying bring back?
فَلَماthen when بَداbecame evident اليَأسُdespair مِنهُof it بَكَتshe wept
فَلَما بَدا اليَأسُ مِنهُ بَكَت
عَلَيهِover it وَماذاand what يَرُدُّbrings back البُكاweeping
عَلَيهِ وَماذا يَرُدُّ البُكا
When despair of it became clear, she wept
A fierce, relentless eagle had hunted him,
over it—but what can weeping restore?
With fluttering wings, swiftly seeking prey.
وَقَدand already صادَهُhad caught it ضَرِمٌa ravenous hunter مُلحَمٌflesh-fed
وَقَد صادَهُ ضَرِمٌ مُلحَمٌ
خَفوقُbeating swiftly الجَناحِin wing حَثيثُswift النَجاin flight
خَفوقُ الجَناحِ حَثيثُ النَجا
A ravenous, flesh-fed hunter had caught it,
With claws of iron, feathers bare,
beating its wings, swift in flight,
A harmful breed, bluish in color.
حَديدُsharp المَخالِبِin talons عاريbare الوَظيthe shank (continued)
حَديدُ المَخالِبِ عاري الوَظي
فِcompletes 'shank' ضارٍa fierce hunter مِنَamong الزُرقِthe blue-gray birds فيهِin it قَناa hooked profile
فِ ضارٍ مِنَ الزُرقِ فيهِ قَنا
sharp-taloned, bare along the shank,
You'd see predators and birds frightened of him
a fierce hunter of the blue-gray kind, with a hooked beak.
When he shows aggression.
تَرىyou see الوَحشَwild beasts وَالطَيرَand birds مِنfrom خَوفِهِfear of it
تَرى الوَحشَ وَالطَيرَ مِن خَوفِهِ
جَواحِرَhiding in holes مِنهُfrom it إِذاwhen ماever اِغتَدىit sets out at dawn
جَواحِرَ مِنهُ إِذا ما اِغتَدى
You see wild beasts and birds, for fear of it,
He spent the night sweetly on an observation post
hiding in holes when it sets out at dawn.
On a towering, steep cliff.
فَباتَso it spent the night عَذوباًfasting عَلىon مَرقَبٍa lookout
فَباتَ عَذوباً عَلى مَرقَبٍ
بِشاهِقَةٍon a lofty peak صَعبَةِdifficult المُرتَقىto climb
بِشاهِقَةٍ صَعبَةِ المُرتَقى
It spent the night fasting on a lookout
When dawn broke for him
on a lofty peak, difficult to climb.
And dew rolled off his shoulders,
فَلَمّاthen when أَضاءَshone لَهُfor it صُبحَهُits morning
فَلَمّا أَضاءَ لَهُ صُبحَهُ
وَنَكَّبَand shook off عَنfrom مَنكِبَيهِits two shoulders النَدىthe dew
وَنَكَّبَ عَن مَنكِبَيهِ النَدى
When its morning brightened before it,
He scratched dry blood on his beak
and it shook the dew from its shoulders,
From the meat of the wildcats.
وَحَتَّand scraped away بِمِخَلَبِهِwith its talon قارِناًclinging matter
وَحَتَّ بِمِخَلَبِهِ قارِناً
عَلىon خَطمِهِits beak مِنof دِماءِthe blood القَطاof sandgrouse
عَلى خَطمِهِ مِن دِماءِ القَطا
and scraped with its talon what clung
Then he ascended into the air and turned around,
to its beak of sandgrouse blood,
Flying rapidly when he swooped down.
فَصَعَدَthen it rose فيinto الجَوِّthe air ثُمَّthen اِستَدارَwheeled
فَصَعَدَ في الجَوِّ ثُمَّ اِستَدارَ
فَطارَthen it flew حَشيشاًswiftly إِذاwhen ماever اِنصَمىit plunged straight down
فَطارَ حَشيشاً إِذا ما اِنصَمى
it rose into the air, then wheeled,
He saw a flock of wildcats approaching
flying swiftly whenever it plunged straight down.
A watering place the floods didn't erase.
فَأَبصَرَthen it spotted سِربَa flock قَطاًof sandgrouse قارِبٍapproaching
فَأَبصَرَ سِربَ قَطاً قارِبٍ
جَبىthe basin مَنهَلٍof a watering place لَمnot تَمِحهhad emptied it الدِلاthe buckets
جَبى مَنهَلٍ لَم تَمِحه الدِلا
It spotted a flock of sandgrouse approaching
They had come early to drink
the basin of a watering place the buckets had not drained.
From leftover rainwater in the lowlands.
غَدَونَthey went out at dawn بِأَسقِيَةٍwith water-skins يَرتَوينَthey drink their fill
غَدَونَ بِأَسقِيَةٍ يَرتَوينَ
لِزُغبٍfor downy chicks مُطَرَّحَةٍleft lying بِالفَلاin the wilderness
لِزُغبٍ مُطَرَّحَةٍ بِالفَلا
They went out at dawn with water-skins to fill,
They took turns going first and didn't watch out
for downy chicks left lying in the wilderness.
For what was behind or what was delayed.
يُبادِرنَthey hasten وِرداًto water فَلَمso not يَرعَوينَdid they hold back
يُبادِرنَ وِرداً فَلَم يَرعَوينَ
عَلىfor ماthose that تَخَلَّفَlagged behind أَوor ماthose that وَنىgrew weary
عَلى ما تَخَلَّفَ أَو ما وَنى
They hurried to water and did not hold back
They were reminded of a sweeping flood
for any that lagged behind or grew weary.
Encircling its banks with thickets.
تَذَكَّرنَthey remembered ذاone with عَرمَضٍalgae طامِياًbrimming
تَذَكَّرنَ ذا عَرمَضٍ طامِياً
يَجولُswirls عَلىon حافَتَيهِits two banks الغُثاthe flotsam
يَجولُ عَلى حافَتَيهِ الغُثا
They remembered an overflowing, algae-covered pool
With it was a group of wildcats coming
with flotsam swirling along its two banks.
And another leaving after being sated.
بِهِthere رُفقَةٌa company مِنof قَطاsandgrouse وارِدٍarriving to drink
بِهِ رُفقَةٌ مِن قَطا وارِدٍ
وَأُخرىand another صَوادِرُdeparting after drinking عَنهُfrom it رِواquenched
وَأُخرى صَوادِرُ عَنهُ رِوا
A company of sandgrouse was arriving there to drink,
They filled a waterskin that wasn't tied up
and another departing from it, quenched.
With strings though its straps were attached.
فَمَلَّأنَso they filled أَسقِيَةًwater-skins لَمnot تُشَدَّfastened
فَمَلَّأنَ أَسقِيَةً لَم تُشَدَّ
بِخَرزٍwith stitching وَقَدand already شُدَّwere fastened مِنهاof them العُرىthe loops
بِخَرزٍ وَقَد شُدَّ مِنها العُرى
They filled water-skins not fastened
So he snatched away one of the plump ones
with stitching, though their loops were bound.
And tore its snout and tendons.
فَأَقعَصَthen it killed outright مِنهُنَّfrom among them كُدرِيَّةًa dusky sandgrouse
فَأَقعَصَ مِنهُنَّ كُدرِيَّةً
وَمَزَّقَand tore apart حَيزومَهاher breast وَالحَشاand the entrails
وَمَزَّقَ حَيزومَها وَالحَشا
It killed one dusky sandgrouse outright,
He flew away and left its pieces behind
and tore apart her breast and entrails.
For the east and west winds to scatter.
فَطارَthen it flew وَغادَرَand left أَشلاءَهاher remains
فَطارَ وَغادَرَ أَشلاءَها
تَطيرُblows aloft الجَنوبُthe south wind بِهاwith them وَالصَباand the east wind
تَطيرُ الجَنوبُ بِها وَالصَبا
It flew away, leaving her remains
You'd hear the flutter of his wings when
for the south wind and east wind to scatter.
He swooped down from the sky like sudden lightning.
يَخَلنَthey suppose حَفيفَthe rustle جَناحَيهِof its two wings إِذwhen
يَخَلنَ حَفيفَ جَناحَيهِ إِذ
تَدَلّىit swooped down مِنَfrom الجَوِّthe air بِرقاًlightning بَداappearing
تَدَلّى مِنَ الجَوِّ بِرقاً بَدا
They thought the rustle of its wings, as
So they fled, exerting great effort to escape,
it swooped from the air, was lightning appearing.
Groups plunged into the depths of the burrows.
فَوَلَّينَso they fled مُجتَهِداتِstriving النَجاto escape
فَوَلَّينَ مُجتَهِداتِ النَجا
جَوافِلَstartled and fleeing فيthrough طامِساتِlands that erase الصُوىthe landmarks
جَوافِلَ في طامِساتِ الصُوى
They fled, straining to escape,
He trapped them and quenched his thirst with them,
startled, through wastes whose landmarks vanish.
Slaughtering them like cascading water.
فَاِبنَso they returned عِطاشاًthirsty فَسَقَّينَهُنَّthen they gave them drink
فَاِبنَ عِطاشاً فَسَقَّينَهُنَّ
مُجاجاتِهِنَّtheir regurgitated drops كَماءِlike the water السَلاof the fetal sac
مُجاجاتِهِنَّ كَماءِ السَلا
They returned thirsty, then gave them to drink
They spent the night mewing,
their regurgitated drops, like the fluid of the birth-sac.
Red-groined, yellow-sided.
فَبِتنَso they spent the night يُراطِنَّchattering to رُقشَspeckled الظُهوin the backs (continued)
فَبِتنَ يُراطِنَّ رُقشَ الظُهو
رِcompletes 'backs' حُمرَred الحَواصِلِin crops صُفرَyellow اللُهىin palates
رِ حُمرَ الحَواصِلِ صُفرَ اللُهى
They spent the night chattering to speckle-backed chicks,
That's how he was aggressive in the morning:
red of crop and yellow of palate.
With a jerboa, like an owner gratified with hospitality.
فَذاكَsuch was that وَقَدand sometimes إِغتَديI set out at dawn فيin الصَباحِthe morning
فَذاكَ وَقَد إِغتَدي في الصَباحِ
بِأَجرَدَon a sleek horse كَالسَيِّدِlike a wolf عَبلِstout الشَوىin limbs
بِأَجرَدَ كَالسَيِّدِ عَبلِ الشَوى
Such was that; and I set out in the morning
It had long forelegs, hunched back,
on a sleek horse like a wolf, stout of limb,
With curved incisors, bare upper teeth.
طَويلِlong الذِراعَينِin both forelegs ضاميlean الكُعوin joints (continued)
طَويلِ الذِراعَينِ ضامي الكُعو
بِcompletes 'joints' نابيprominent الحَماتَينِin both calf-muscles عاريbare النَساin the leg-sinew
بِ نابي الحَماتَينِ عاري النَسا
long in both forelegs, lean at the joints,
It has a broad temple and firm pillars
with prominent calf-muscles and a bare leg-sinew.
That don't complain of bending.
لَهُhe has كَفَلٌa rump أَيِّدٌstrong مُشرِفٌlofty
لَهُ كَفَلٌ أَيِّدٌ مُشرِفٌ
وَأَعمِدَةٌand pillar-legs لاnot تَشَكّىcomplain of الوَجىhoof-soreness
وَأَعمِدَةٌ لا تَشَكّى الوَجى
He has a strong, lofty rump,
And a dangling ear, burrowed,
and pillar-legs that never complain of hoof-soreness,
With a wide cheek and hollow interior.
وَأُذنٌand an ear مُوَلَّلَةٌtapered to a point حَشرَةٌslender
وَأُذنٌ مُوَلَّلَةٌ حَشرَةٌ
وَشِدقٌand a mouth رُحابٌroomy وَجَوفٌand a belly هَواspacious
وَشِدقٌ رُحابٌ وَجَوفٌ هَوا
a pointed, slender ear,
And extended whiskers leading to a wide nose,
a roomy mouth and a spacious belly,
A capacious crotch, and long steps.
وَلَحيانِand two jawbones مُدّاextended إِلىto مَنخَرٍa nostril
وَلَحيانِ مُدّا إِلى مَنخَرٍ
رَحيبٍwide وَفَرجٌand a wide stance طُوالُlong الخُطىin stride
رَحيبٍ وَفَرجٌ طُوالُ الخُطى
and two jawbones reaching to a nostril
It has nineteen burrows near each other
broad, and a wide stance with long strides.
After its dwelling widened through burrowing.
لَهُhe has تِسعَةٌnine طُلنَgrew long مِنfrom بَعدِafter أَنhaving
لَهُ تِسعَةٌ طُلنَ مِن بَعدِ أَن
قَصُرنَthey were short لَهُfor him بِسعَةٌwith breadth فيin الشَوىthe limbs
قَصُرنَ لَهُ بِسعَةٌ في الشَوى
He has nine parts that grew long after
And seven dens, seven nests,
being short; his limbs have breadth.
Five reservoirs, five watering places.
وَسَبعٌand seven عَرينَare bare وَسَبعٌand seven كُسينَare clothed
وَسَبعٌ عَرينَ وَسَبعٌ كُسينَ
وَخَمسٌand five ظِماءٌlean وَخَمسٌand five رِواfull-fleshed
وَخَمسٌ ظِماءٌ وَخَمسٌ رِوا
Seven are bare, and seven clothed;
Nine thickets, seven orchards,
five are lean, and five full-fleshed;
A herd's drinking place, and a resting place.
وَتِسعٌand nine غِلاظٌthick وَسَبعٌand seven رِقاقٌslender
وَتِسعٌ غِلاظٌ وَسَبعٌ رِقاقٌ
وَصَهوَةُand the back عَيرٍof a wild ass وَمَتنٌand a loin خَظاwell-muscled
وَصَهوَةُ عَيرٍ وَمَتنٌ خَظا
nine are thick, and seven slender;
Seven are near, seven are far from it,
a wild ass's back, and a well-muscled loin.
No defect in it can be seen.
وَسَبعٌand seven قَرُبنَare close-set وَسَبعٌand seven بَعُدare distant (continued)
وَسَبعٌ قَرُبنَ وَسَبعٌ بَعُد
نَcompletes 'are distant' مِنهُfrom him فَماso no فيهِin him عَيبٌfault يُرىis seen
نَ مِنهُ فَما فيهِ عَيبٌ يُرى
Seven lie close, and seven extend far
Wide in its eight, solid in its eight,
from him; no fault is visible in him.
Tight hoof, tight torso.
عَريضُbroad الثَمانيin eight parts حَديدُsharp الثَمانيin eight parts
عَريضُ الثَماني حَديدُ الثَماني
شَديدُstrong الصِفاقِin the abdominal sheath شَديدُstrong المَطاin the back
شَديدُ الصِفاقِ شَديدُ المَطا
Broad in eight parts, sharp in eight,
And it has five birds: two ravens
strong in the belly-wall, strong in the back.
Above the wildcats belonging to it.
وَفيهِand in him مِنَof الطَيرِbirds خَمسٌfive فَمَنso who
وَفيهِ مِنَ الطَيرِ خَمسٌ فَمَن
رَأىhas seen فَرَساًa horse مِثلَهُlike him يُقتَنىto be owned
رَأى فَرَساً مِثلَهُ يُقتَنى
Five birds are in him—so who
A griffin eagle and its chick appeared.
has seen a horse like him to own?
When it runs, it's as if its shoulder
غُرابانِtwo crows فَوقَabove قَطاةٍa sandgrouse لَهُof his
غُرابانِ فَوقَ قَطاةٍ لَهُ
وَنَسرٌand a vulture وَيَعسوبُهُand his dragonfly قَدalready بَداhas appeared
وَنَسرٌ وَيَعسوبُهُ قَد بَدا
Two "crows" above his "sandgrouse,"
Has a wing flipping it in the air.
and a "vulture," his "dragonfly" showing.
We picked for it from the best of finds
كَأَنَّas though بِمَنكِبِهِat his shoulder إِنif جَرىhe runs
كَأَنَّ بِمَنكِبِهِ إِن جَرى
جَناحاًa wing يُقَلِّبُهُhe turns it فيin الهَواthe air
جَناحاً يُقَلِّبُهُ في الهَوا
As though at his shoulder, when he runs,
Five slaves - bodies like piled mounds.
were a wing he turns through the air.
One accompanies it continuously,
مَصَرناwe milked لَهُfor him مِنfrom خَيارِthe choicest اللِقاmilch camels (continued)
مَصَرنا لَهُ مِن خَيارِ اللِقا
حِcompletes 'milch camels' خَمساًfive مَجاليجَconstant milk-yielders كَومَhigh الذُرىin hump-crests
حِ خَمساً مَجاليجَ كَومَ الذُرى
For him we milked, from the choicest milch camels,
We water it from milk whenever it desires,
five constant yielders, with lofty humps.
And we prefer to provide it provisions, not family,
يُغاديhe is given each morning بِعُضٍّwith dry fodder لَهُfor him دائِباًcontinually
يُغادي بِعُضٍّ لَهُ دائِباً
وَنَسقيهِand we give him drink مِنof حَلَبٍmilk ماwhatever اِشتَهىhe desires
وَنَسقيهِ مِن حَلَبٍ ما اِشتَهى
Every morning he has dry fodder, without fail,
And he follows it during every journey.
and we give him all the milk he desires.
So it lived comfortably until it wanted
وَيُؤثَرُand he is favored بِالزادِwith provisions دونَabove العِيالِthe household
وَيُؤثَرُ بِالزادِ دونَ العِيالِ
وَفيand in كُلِّevery سَيرٍjourney بِهِwith him يُقتَفىtracks are followed
وَفي كُلِّ سَيرٍ بِهِ يُقتَفى
He is favored with provisions above the household,
For us to take it in closer.
and on every journey his lead is followed.
We drove it insistently into the thickets -
فَقاظَso he summered صَنيعاًwell-fed فَلَمّاthen when شَتاhe wintered
فَقاظَ صَنيعاً فَلَمّا شَتا
أَخَذناهُwe worked him بِالقُربِwith short training runs حَتّىuntil اِنطوىhe grew lean
أَخَذناهُ بِالقُربِ حَتّى اِنطوى
He spent the summer well-fed; when winter came,
Large bellied, flawless constitution.
we put him through short runs until he grew lean.
They kick up the dust with whips
فَهِجناthen we roused بِهِwith him عانَةًa herd of wild asses فيin الغُطاطِthe dawn gloom
فَهِجنا بِهِ عانَةً في الغُطاطِ
خِماصَlean البُطونِin bellies صِحاحَsound العُجىin leg-sinews
خِماصَ البُطونِ صِحاحَ العُجى
With him we startled a herd of wild asses in the dawn gloom,
And ignite the shrubs with canes.
lean-bellied, with sound leg-sinews.
They fled like lightning in their escape,
يُثِرنَthey stir up الغُبارَthe dust بِمَلثومَةٍwith blunt-edged hooves
يُثِرنَ الغُبارَ بِمَلثومَةٍ
وَيوقِدنَand they kindle بِالمَروِwith flint نارَfire الحَباof Haba (spark-fire)
وَيوقِدنَ بِالمَروِ نارَ الحَبا
They stir up dust with blunt-edged hooves,
Groups breaking through the impenetrable mountains.
and kindle Haba's fire from the flint.
The slave kept after it
فَوَلَّينَso they fled كَالبَرقِlike lightning فيin نَفرِهِنَّtheir alarmed flight
فَوَلَّينَ كَالبَرقِ في نَفرِهِنَّ
جَوافِلَstampeding يَكسِرنَthey shatter صُمَّsolid الصَفاrock
جَوافِلَ يَكسِرنَ صُمَّ الصَفا
They fled like lightning in their alarm,
Appearing and disappearing.
stampeding, shattering the solid rock.
It felled five - some crushed,
فَصَوَّبَهُso directed him العَبدُthe slave فيin إِثرِهاtheir wake
فَصَوَّبَهُ العَبدُ في إِثرِها
فَطَوراًthen at times يَغيبُhe disappears وَطَوراًand at times يُرىhe is seen
فَطَوراً يَغيبُ وَطَوراً يُرى
The slave directed him after them,
Others with bleeding kidneys.
now he vanished, now he was seen.
Two had their forearms shattered
فَجَدَّلَso he brought down خَمساًfive فَمِنincluding one مُقعَصٍkilled outright
فَجَدَّلَ خَمساً فَمِن مُقعَصٍ
وَشاصٍand one with upraised كُراعاهُboth his shanks داميbleeding الكُلىat the kidneys
وَشاصٍ كُراعاهُ دامي الكُلى
He brought five down: one killed outright,
And a third was covered in blood.
another with its shanks upraised, its flanks bleeding;
We were happy with the game for our families
وَثِنتانِand two خُضخِضَwere churned قُصبُهُماboth their entrails
وَثِنتانِ خُضخِضَ قُصبُهُما
وَثالِثَةٌand a third شُحِّطَتwas drenched بِالدِماin blood
وَثالِثَةٌ شُحِّطَت بِالدِما
two whose entrails were churned,
After darkness had blanketed the land.
and a third drenched in blood.
We stayed dividing its parts -
فَرُحناso we returned بِصَيدٍwith game إِلىto أَهلِناour people
فَرُحنا بِصَيدٍ إِلى أَهلِنا
وَقَدand already جَلَّلَhad covered الأَرضَthe earth ثَوبُthe robe الدُجىof darkness
وَقَد جَلَّلَ الأَرضَ ثَوبُ الدُجى
We returned to our people with game,
Each neighbor eats what he is content with.
when darkness's robe had covered the earth.
And we walked with it like erect spear shafts,
وَبِتناand we spent the night نُقَسِّمُdividing أَعضاءَهُits limbs
وَبِتنا نُقَسِّمُ أَعضاءَهُ
لِجارٍfor a neighbor وَيَأكُلُهُand eats it مَنwhoever عَفاcame seeking food
لِجارٍ وَيَأكُلُهُ مَن عَفا
We spent the night dividing its limbs
Not bending from any weight.
for a neighbor, while whoever sought food ate of it.
The women spent the night feeding on it
وَرُحناand we returned بِهِwith him مِثلَlike وَقفِthe bracelet العَروof the bride (continued)
وَرُحنا بِهِ مِثلَ وَقفِ العَرو
سِcompletes 'bride' أَهيَفَslender-waisted لاnot يَتَشَكّىdoes he complain of الوَجىhoof-soreness
سِ أَهيَفَ لا يَتَشَكّى الوَجى
We came home with him, like a bride's bracelet,
And eating the roasted game.
slender-waisted, never complaining of hoof-soreness.
They had tied it up and cast spells on it,
وَباتَand spent the night النِساءُthe women يَغَدّينَهُgiving him his morning feed
وَباتَ النِساءُ يَغَدّينَهُ
وَيَأكُلنَand they eat مِنof صَيدِهِhis catch المُشتَوىthe roasted meat
وَيَأكُلنَ مِن صَيدِهِ المُشتَوى
The women spent the night feeding him
Blowing incantations into amulets.
and eating the roasted meat of his catch.
وَقَدand indeed قَيَّدوهُthey tethered him وَغَلّواand fastened لَهُfor him
وَقَد قَيَّدوهُ وَغَلّوا لَهُ
تَمايِمَamulets يُنفَثُare breathed فيهاinto them الرُقىincantations
تَمايِمَ يُنفَثُ فيها الرُقى
They had tethered him and fastened on him
amulets into which charms were breathed.
Partial English translation: 139 of 142 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1