عَفَتbecame deserted غَيقَةٌGhayqah مِنof أَهلِهاits people فَحَريمُهاand its precincts
عَفَت غَيقَةٌ مِن أَهلِها فَحَريمُها
فَبُرقَةُand Burqat (stony tract) حِسمىHisma قاعُهاits lowland فَصَريمُهاand its sandy tract
فَبُرقَةُ حِسمى قاعُها فَصَريمُها
Ghayqah is deserted of its people, and so are its precincts,
A love that departed from her family bitterly distanced itself,
and Burqat Hisma, its lowland and its sandy tract.
So the brilliant morning of our union and its exaltation faded.
وَهاجَتكَand stirred you أَطلالٌruined camps لِعَزَّةَof Azza بِاللَوىat al-Liwa
وَهاجَتكَ أَطلالٌ لِعَزَّةَ بِاللَوى
يَلوحُgleam بِأَطرافِat the edges of البِراقِal-Biraq (stony ridges) رُسومُهاtheir traces
يَلوحُ بِأَطرافِ البِراقِ رُسومُها
Azza's ruined camps at al-Liwa stirred you,
Desolate ruins called me with a longing for Mighty Azah's abode,
their traces gleaming at the edges of al-Biraq,
Where the traces of its glittering domes once shone.
إِلىto المِئبَرِal-Mi'bar الدانيnear مِنَto الرَملِthe sands ذيbearing الغَضاghada trees
إِلى المِئبَرِ الداني مِنَ الرَملِ ذي الغَضا
تَراهاyou see them وَقَدthough already أَقوَتbecame deserted حَديثاًrecently قَديمُهاtheir ancient traces
تَراها وَقَد أَقوَت حَديثاً قَديمُها
as far as al-Mi'bar, near the sands bearing ghada trees.
To the lofty, nearby tower of sand it brought me,
You see their ancient traces, though only lately deserted.
Where I saw it conversing with tales of old.
وَقالَand said خَليليmy companion يَومَthe day رُحناwe departed وَفُتِّحَتand were opened
وَقالَ خَليلي يَومَ رُحنا وَفُتِّحَت
مِنَfrom الصَدرِthe breast أَشراجٌfastenings وَفُضَّتand were broken خُتومُهاtheir seals
مِنَ الصَدرِ أَشراجٌ وَفُضَّت خُتومُها
My companion said, the day we departed, when flung open
And my friend said, on the day we visited when
were the breast's fastenings, and their seals were broken:
The locks on my heart were opened and its seals came undone:
أَصابَتكَstruck you نَبلُarrows الحاجِبِيَّةِthe Hajibiyyah woman إِنَّهاindeed she
أَصابَتكَ نَبلُ الحاجِبِيَّةِ إِنَّها
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رَمَتshe shoots لاnot يَستَبِلُّrecovers كَليمُهاher wounded victim
إِذا ما رَمَت لا يَستَبِلُّ كَليمُها
“The Hajibiyyah's arrows have struck you; indeed, she,
"You have been struck by the arrows of the Perfect Brow,
whenever she shoots, leaves a wounded victim who never recovers.
When she aims her bow, none can evade her shot.
كَأَنَّكَas though you مَردوعٌstricken مِنَby الشَمسِthe sun مَطرَدٌdriven out
كَأَنَّكَ مَردوعٌ مِنَ الشَمسِ مَطرَدٌ
يُفارِقُهُdesert him مِنfrom عُقدَةِthe sandy tract of البُقعِal-Buq‘ هيمُهاits thirst-maddened beasts
يُفارِقُهُ مِن عُقدَةِ البُقعِ هيمُها
You seem stricken by the sun, driven out,
You are like one driven away by the sun, parted
deserted by the thirst-maddened beasts of ‘Uqdat al-Buq‘,
From the constellation at zenith by its burning rays.
أَخوone afflicted by حَيَّةٍa snake عَطشىthirsty بِأَرضٍon land ظَميئَةٍparched
أَخو حَيَّةٍ عَطشى بِأَرضٍ ظَميئَةٍ
تَجَلَّلَbecame shrouded in غَشياًa swoon بَعدَafter غَشيٍa swoon سَليمُهاits bitten victim
تَجَلَّلَ غَشياً بَعدَ غَشيٍ سَليمُها
a thirsty snake's victim on parched ground,
A brother of a hungry snake in a barren land
its bitten victim shrouded in swoon after swoon.
writhing again and again after shedding its skin.
إِذاif شَحَطَتcarried far away يَوماًone day بِعَزَّةَwith Azza دارُهاher dwelling
إِذا شَحَطَت يَوماً بِعَزَّةَ دارُها
عَنِfrom الحَيِّthe clan صَفقاًfar off فَاِستَمَرَّthen held firm مَريرُهاher tightly twisted cord
عَنِ الحَيِّ صَفقاً فَاِستَمَرَّ مَريرُها
If one day her dwelling carries Azza far away
When Mighty Azah's abode once galloped away,
from the clan, her tightly twisted cord holds firm.
it bid farewell to the camp with a resounding strike.
فَإِنso if تُمسِcomes to evening قَدalready شَطَّتcarried far away بِعَزَّةًwith Azza دارُهاher dwelling
فَإِن تُمسِ قَد شَطَّت بِعَزَّةً دارُها
وَلَمand not يَستَقِمheld true وَالعَهدَalong with the pledge مِنهاfrom her زَعيمُهاher guarantor
وَلَم يَستَقِم وَالعَهدَ مِنها زَعيمُها
Even if by evening her dwelling has carried Azza far away,
If you seek to reach her, she has migrated from her home
and her guarantor has failed to stand by her pledge,
and her guide there has not remained steadfast."
فَقَدthen already غادَرَتshe left فيin القَلبِthe heart مِنّيof mine زَمانَةًa chronic affliction
فَقَد غادَرَت في القَلبِ مِنّي زَمانَةً
وَلِلعَينِand for the eye عَبراتٍtears سَريعاًswiftly سُجومُهاtheir streaming
وَلِلعَينِ عَبراتٍ سَريعاً سُجومُها
she has left a chronic affliction in my heart,
In my heart she left behind many days of longing
and tears for my eye, swift in their streaming.
with copious tears flowing quickly from my eyes.
فَذوقيso taste بِماfor what جَشَّمتِyou burdened عَيناًan eye مَشومَةًill-fated
فَذوقي بِما جَشَّمتِ عَيناً مَشومَةً
قَذاهاits grit وَقَدand sometimes يَأتيcomes عَلىupon العَينِthe eye شومُهاits ill fortune
قَذاها وَقَد يَأتي عَلى العَينِ شومُها
So taste the cost of burdening an ill-fated eye
So taste the agony my miserable eyes have suffered,
with its grit; an eye's ill fortune may destroy it.
though worse may yet come upon these eyes of mine.
فَلاso do not تَجزَعيdespair لَمّاwhen نَأَتgrew distant وَتَزَحزَحَتand shifted away
فَلا تَجزَعي لَمّا نَأَت وَتَزَحزَحَت
بِعَزَّةَwith Azza دوراتُturns النَوىof separation وَرُجومُهاand its pelting blows
بِعَزَّةَ دوراتُ النَوى وَرُجومُها
Do not despair when, far away and farther still,
Do not grieve for what is past and changed,
separation's turns and pelting blows have carried Azza.
for the cycles of fate and its decrees revolve inexorably.
وَليand for me مِنكِfrom you أَيّامٌdays إِذاwhen شَحَطَgrows distant النَوىseparation
وَلي مِنكِ أَيّامٌ إِذا شَحَطَ النَوى
طِوالٌlong وَلَيلاتٌand nights تَزولُset نُجومُهاtheir stars
طِوالٌ وَلَيلاتٌ تَزولُ نُجومُها
From you I have days, when separation stretches far,
My days with you remain when the fates turn,
long days, and nights whose stars slip away.
nights whose stars travel on and disappear.
قَضىsettled كُلُّevery ذيpossessor of دينٍa debt فَوفّىthen paid in full غَريمَهُhis creditor
قَضى كُلُّ ذي دينٍ فَوفّى غَريمَهُ
وَعَزَّةُbut Azza مَمطولٌkept waiting مُعنّىًtormented غَريمُهاher creditor
وَعَزَّةُ مَمطولٌ مُعنّىً غَريمُها
Every debtor has settled, paying his creditor in full;
Every debtor fulfills his debts and pays his dues,
but Azza's creditor is kept waiting, tormented.
and Mighty Azah's deferred promise will surely come to pass.
إِذاwhen سُمتُI required نَفسيmy soul هَجَرَهاforsaking her وَاِجتِنابَهاand avoiding her
إِذا سُمتُ نَفسي هَجَرَها وَاِجتِنابَها
رَأَتit saw غَمَراتِthe engulfing agonies of المَوتِdeath فيin ماwhat أَسومُهاI impose upon it
رَأَت غَمَراتِ المَوتِ في ما أَسومُها
Whenever I require my soul to forsake and avoid her,
When I prepare my soul to abandon and avoid her,
it sees death's engulfing agonies in what I require of it.
it sees the darkness of death in what I intend.
إِذاwhen بِنتِyou depart بانَdeparts العُرفُkindness إِلّاexcept أَقَلَّهُits smallest part
إِذا بِنتِ بانَ العُرفُ إِلّا أَقَلَّهُ
مِنَfrom الناسِpeople وَاِستَعلىand dominated الحَياةَlife ذَميمُهاits baseness
مِنَ الناسِ وَاِستَعلى الحَياةَ ذَميمُها
When you depart, kindness departs—save a little—
When the daughter of Banu Unayf rose in prestige,
from humankind, and life's baseness gains the upper hand.
the worthless of mankind rose up and virtues diminished.
وَتُخلِقُand wear out أَثوابُgarments الصِياyouth (probable reading: الصبا) وَتَنَكَّرَتand became unfamiliar
وَتُخلِقُ أَثوابُ الصِيا وَتَنَكَّرَت
نَواحٍaspects مِنَof المَعروفِkindness كانَتshe used to تُقيمُهاsustain them
نَواحٍ مِنَ المَعروفِ كانَت تُقيمُها
The garments of youth wear out, and altered are
The robes of chastity have changed,
forms of kindness she once sustained.
neglecting the noble deeds they once performed.
فَهَلso will تَجزِيَنّيrepay me عَزَّةُAzza القَرضَthe loan بِالهَوىwith love
فَهَل تَجزِيَنّي عَزَّةُ القَرضَ بِالهَوى
ثَواباًas recompense لِنَفسٍfor a soul قَدalready أُصيبَwas stricken صَميمُهاits core
ثَواباً لِنَفسٍ قَد أُصيبَ صَميمُها
Will Azza repay me love's loan
Can Mighty Azah repay with love,
as recompense to a soul whose very core is stricken,
a soul that she has wounded to the core?
بِأَنّيَbecause I لَمnot تَبلُغreached لَهاof hers ذاone with قَرابَةٍkinship
بِأَنّيَ لَم تَبلُغ لَها ذا قَرابَةٍ
أَذاتيharm from me وَلَمand not أُقرِرI permitted لِواسٍfor a slanderer يَذيمُهاhe reviles her
أَذاتي وَلَم أُقرِر لِواسٍ يَذيمُها
because no kinsman of hers has ever been reached
Since she is not of my kin,
by harm from me, nor have I permitted a slanderer to revile her?
and her noble kinsman did not honor me.
مَتىwhenever ماever (emphasis) تَنالاyou two reach (unclear here) بِيَthrough me الأولىthose who يَقصِبونَهاrevile her
مَتى ما تَنالا بِيَ الأولى يَقصِبونَها
إِلَيَّto me وَلاand not يُشتَمis insulted لَدَيَّin my presence حَميمُهاher dear one
إِلَيَّ وَلا يُشتَم لَدَيَّ حَميمُها
Whenever [unclear wording] those who revile her come
Whenever they reproach me,
to me, no dear one of hers is insulted in my presence.
they send me away without listening to my case.
وَقَدand already عَلِمَتshe knew بِالغَيبِin absence أَنthat لَنwill not أُوَدَّهاI love her
وَقَد عَلِمَت بِالغَيبِ أَن لَن أُوَدَّها
إِذاif هِيَshe لَمnot يَكرُمis honored عَلَيَّby me كَريمُهاher cherished one
إِذا هِيَ لَم يَكرُم عَلَيَّ كَريمُها
She knows, even in absence, that I will not love her
She knew in her wisdom that I will never love her
if her cherished one is not cherished by me.
if her generous kinsman does not show me favor.
فَإِنso if وَصَلتَناkeeps ties with us أُمُّUmm (mother of) عَمرٍو‘Amr فَإِنَّناthen indeed we
فَإِن وَصَلتَنا أُمُّ عَمرٍو فَإِنَّنا
سَنَقبَلُwe shall accept مِنهاfrom her الوُدَّaffection أَوor لاnot نَلومُهاwe blame her
سَنَقبَلُ مِنها الوُدَّ أَو لا نَلومُها
If Umm ‘Amr keeps her bond with us, then we
But if the mother of Amr reconciles us,
shall accept her affection, or else refrain from blaming her.
then we will accept her affection or not blame her.
فَلاso do not تَزجِرِrestrain الغاوينَthe wayward عَنfrom تَبَعِfollowing الصِباyouthful passion
فَلا تَزجِرِ الغاوينَ عَن تَبَعِ الصِبا
وَأَنتَwhile you غَوِيُّwayward النَفسِin soul قِدماًlong since سَقيمُهاsick in it
وَأَنتَ غَوِيُّ النَفسِ قِدماً سَقيمُها
Do not restrain the wayward from following youthful passion,
So do not rebuke the passionate youth
when your own soul has long been wayward and sick,
when you yourself were once unsteady and wavering.
بِعَزَّةَby Azza مَتبولٌlove-stricken إِذاwhen هِيَshe فارَقَتhas departed
بِعَزَّةَ مَتبولٌ إِذا هِيَ فارَقَت
مُعَنّىtormented بِأَسبابِby the bonds of الهَوىlove ماnot يَريمُهاleaves her
مُعَنّى بِأَسبابِ الهَوى ما يَريمُها
love-stricken by Azza when she departs,
Mighty Mutaball, when she leaves,
tormented by love's bonds, never forsaking her.”
will not regard the causes of passion or reject them.
وَلَمّاand when رَأَيتُI saw النَفسَthe soul نَفساًa soul مُصابَةًstricken
وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ النَفسَ نَفساً مُصابَةً
تَداعىconverged عَلَيهاupon it بَثُّهاits anguish وَهُمومُهاand its worries
تَداعى عَلَيها بَثُّها وَهُمومُها
When I saw my soul a stricken soul,
And when I saw my soul as an afflicted soul,
with its anguish and worries converging upon it,
overcome by its sorrows and worries,
عَزَمتُI determined عَلَيهاfor it أَمرَهاits course فَصَرَمتُهُthen I settled it
عَزَمتُ عَلَيها أَمرَها فَصَرَمتُهُ
وَخَيرُand the best of بَديعاتِnewly conceived الأُمورِundertakings عَزيمُهاtheir firmly resolved ones
وَخَيرُ بَديعاتِ الأُمورِ عَزيمُها
I determined its course for it, and settled it;
I was determined to command it and it obeyed me,
the best of new undertakings are those firmly resolved.
for the best of matters is to have determination.
وَماand not جابَةُstout المِدرىof horn خَذولٌa doe apart from the herd خَلاwas left free لَهاfor her
وَما جابَةُ المِدرى خَذولٌ خَلا لَها
أَراكٌarak trees بِذيat Dhu الرَيّانِal-Rayyan دانٍnearby صَريمُهاits thicket
أَراكٌ بِذي الرَيّانِ دانٍ صَريمُها
No stout-horned doe, withdrawn alone, with all to herself
The protection of the Noble Refuge is no coward,
an arak grove at Dhu al-Rayyan, its thicket close by,
it has men at the Abode of Reyyan protecting its sanctuary.
بِأَحسَنَany more beautiful مِنهاthan her سُنَّةًin face وَمُقَلَّداًand in necklace-place
بِأَحسَنَ مِنها سُنَّةً وَمُقَلَّداً
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَدَتappeared لَبّاتُهاher throat hollows وَنَظيمُهاand her strung necklace
إِذا ما بَدَت لَبّاتُها وَنَظيمُها
is lovelier than she in face and necklace-bearing neck,
Its methods are more beautiful, and it follows
when her throat hollows and strung necklace show.
the proper ways when its banners unfurl.
وَتَفرُقُand parts بِالمِدرىwith a comb أَثيثاًthick hair نَباتُهُits growth
وَتَفرُقُ بِالمِدرى أَثيثاً نَباتُهُ
كَجَنَّةِlike a garden of غَربيبٍblack grapes تَدَلَّتhung down كُرومُهاits vines
كَجَنَّةِ غَربيبٍ تَدَلَّت كُرومُها
She parts with a comb hair thick in its growth,
The plants of the Noble Refuge spread about,
like a garden of black grapes, its vines hanging low.
like the boughs of a lush garden hanging with fruit.
إِذاwhen ضَحِكَتshe laughs لَمnot تَنتَهِزguffaws وَتَبَسَّمَتand smiles
إِذا ضَحِكَت لَم تَنتَهِز وَتَبَسَّمَت
ثَناياfront teeth لَهاof hers كَالمُزنِlike rainclouds غُرٌّbright ظُلومُهاtheir moist sheen
ثَنايا لَها كَالمُزنِ غُرٌّ ظُلومُها
When she laughs, she does not guffaw, but smiles;
When it smiles, it does not grin or sneer,
her front teeth are like rainclouds, their moist sheen bright.
but rather its dimples are like shining pearls.
كَأَنَّas though عَلىupon أَنيابِهاher canine teeth بَعدَafter رَقدَةٍa sleep
كَأَنَّ عَلى أَنيابِها بَعدَ رَقدَةٍ
إِذاwhen اِنتَبَهَتshe wakes وَهناًlate at night لِمَنfor one who يَستَنيمُهاseeks her intimacy
إِذا اِنتَبَهَت وَهناً لِمَن يَستَنيمُها
As though upon her canine teeth, after sleep,
It is as if, after waking from sleep,
when she wakes late at night for one who seeks her intimacy,
its teeth are weakly ready to bite whoever rouses it.
مُجاجَةَspittle نَحلٍbees فيin أَباريقِflagons صَفقَةٍa purchased batch
مُجاجَةَ نَحلٍ في أَباريقِ صَفقَةٍ
بِصَهباءَwith tawny wine يَجريruns فيthrough العِظامِthe bones هَميمُهاits creeping warmth
بِصَهباءَ يَجري في العِظامِ هَميمُها
lay bees' spittle in flagons of a purchased draught,
The bustling of bees in vessels of honey
with tawny wine whose creeping warmth runs through the bones—
whose fervor flows in the bones, melting them.
رَكودُslow in الحُمَيّاintoxicating heat وَردَةُrose-red in اللَونِcolor شابَهاhe blended it
رَكودُ الحُمَيّا وَردَةُ اللَونِ شابَها
بِماءِwith water of الغَواديmorning rains غَيرَnot رَنقٍcloudy مُديمُهاits habitual drinker
بِماءِ الغَوادي غَيرَ رَنقٍ مُديمُها
slow in its fire, rose-red in color, blended
The redness of its cheeks has been restored
with clear morning-rain water by its habitual drinker.
by the waters of the valley, smooth without cracks.
فَإِنso if تَصدُفيyou turn away ياO عَزَّ‘Azz عَنّيfrom me وَتَصرِميand sever ties
فَإِن تَصدُفي يا عَزَّ عَنّي وَتَصرِمي
وَلاand not تَقبَليyou accept مِنّيfrom me خِلالاًterms of friendship أَسومُهاI offer them
وَلا تَقبَلي مِنّي خِلالاً أَسومُها
If you turn away from me, O ‘Azz, and cut me off,
So Mighty Azah, if you turn from me and refuse me,
and will not accept the terms of friendship I offer,
and do not accept my regretful supplications,
فَقَدfor indeed أَقطَعُI cross المَوماةَthe wilderness يَستَنُّraces آلُهاits mirage
فَقَد أَقطَعُ المَوماةَ يَستَنُّ آلُها
بِهاin it جيفُcarcasses الحَسرىof exhausted mounts يَلوحُshow هَشيمُهاtheir brittle remains
بِها جيفُ الحَسرى يَلوحُ هَشيمُها
I have indeed crossed wilderness where the mirage races,
Then desolation will stretch out its hands towards its ruins,
where lie exhausted mounts' carcasses, their brittle remains showing,
with the carcass of grief appearing devastated.
عَلىon ظَهرِthe back of حُرجوجٍa lean she-camel يُقَطَّعُcuts across بِالفَتىwith the young rider
عَلى ظَهرِ حُرجوجٍ يُقَطَّعُ بِالفَتى
نِعافَthe slopes of الفَيافيwildernesses سَبتُهاher easy gait وَرَسيمُهاand her brisk trot
نِعافَ الفَيافي سَبتُها وَرَسيمُها
on a lean she-camel's back, carrying her young rider across
On the back of a noble and wise horse
desert slopes with her easy gait and brisk trot.
that cuts through the thickets with its rider.
وَقَدand often أَزجُرُI urge on العَوجاءَthe crooked-legged camel أَنقَبَwore holes in خُلُّهاher sandy track
وَقَد أَزجُرُ العَوجاءَ أَنقَبَ خُلُّها
مَناسِمُهاher footpads لاnot يَستَبِلُّheals رَثيمُهاher battered parts
مَناسِمُها لا يَستَبِلُّ رَثيمُها
Often I urge on the crooked-legged camel; her sandy track has worn through
And I will rebuke the fickle one whose deceit appears,
her footpads, whose battered parts never heal.
though its twisted ways will not be set straight.
وَقَدand already غَيَّبَتshe hid سُمراًbrown feet كَأَنَّas though حُروفَهاtheir edges
وَقَد غَيَّبَت سُمراً كَأَنَّ حُروفَها
مَواثِمُstone-crushing hammers وَضّاحٍWaddah يَطيرُfly جَريمُهاtheir fragments
مَواثِمُ وَضّاحٍ يَطيرُ جَريمُها
She has hidden brown feet whose edges seem
It has obscured the name Sumrah, as if its letters
like Waddah's stone-crushing hammers, their fragments flying.
were the shells of a swooping falcon scattered in flight.
وَلَيلَةِand a night of إيجافٍswift riding بِأَرضٍin a land مَخوفَةٍfeared
وَلَيلَةِ إيجافٍ بِأَرضٍ مَخوفَةٍ
تَقَتنيprotected me بِجَوناتِwith black folds of الظَلامِdarkness نُجومُهاits stars
تَقَتني بِجَوناتِ الظَلامِ نُجومُها
And many a night of swift riding through a feared land,
On an ominous night in a fearful land,
its stars shielded me amid darkness's black folds.
the stars of darkness meet with it.
فَبِتُّso I spent the night أُساريjourneying through لَيلَهاits night وَضَريبَهاand its frost
فَبِتُّ أُساري لَيلَها وَضَريبَها
عَلىon ظَهرِthe back of حُرجوجٍa lean she-camel نَبيلٍample حَزيمُهاher girth
عَلى ظَهرِ حُرجوجٍ نَبيلٍ حَزيمُها
I spent the night journeying through its darkness and frost,
I spend its night awake, a captive unable to sleep,
on the back of a lean she-camel, her girth ample,
on the back of a noble and wise horse.
تُواهِقُkeeps pace with أَطلاحاًworn-out mounts كَأَنَّas though عُيونَهاtheir eyes
تُواهِقُ أَطلاحاً كَأَنَّ عُيونَها
وَقيعٌhard rocks تَعادَتgrew distant عَنfrom نِطافٍwater pools هَزومُهاtheir hollows
وَقيعٌ تَعادَت عَن نِطافٍ هَزومُها
keeping pace with worn-out mounts whose eyes seemed
It competes with the highest summits, as if its eyes
hard rocks, their hollows remote from pools of water.
were a torrent from which gaze upon gaze flows.
أَضَرَّharmed بِهاthem الإِدلاجُnight travel حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّهاas though they
أَضَرَّ بِها الإِدلاجُ حَتّى كَأَنَّها
مِنَfrom الأَينِfatigue خِرصانٌspear shafts نَحاهاhe shaped them مُقيمُهاtheir straightener
مِنَ الأَينِ خِرصانٌ نَحاها مُقيمُها
Night travel had so worn them down that they seemed,
The darkness confuses it, as if it were
from fatigue, spear shafts shaped by their straightener.
wrought silver cups burnished smooth.
تُنازِعُwrestles with أَشرافَthe crests of الإِكامِhills مَطِيَّتيmy mount
تُنازِعُ أَشرافَ الإِكامِ مَطِيَّتي
مِنَfrom اللَيلِthe night سيجاناًcloaks شديداintense فُحومُهاtheir coal-blackness
مِنَ اللَيلِ سيجاناً شديدا فُحومُها
My mount wrestles with the crests of the hills
My steed challenges the blanket of the night,
for cloaks of night, intensely coal-black,
mighty, enormously strong.
بِمُشرِفَةِin a land with lofty الأَجداثِgrave-mounds خاشِعَةِlowly in الصُوىits cairns
بِمُشرِفَةِ الأَجداثِ خاشِعَةِ الصُوى
تَداعىcall to one another إِذاwhen أَمسَتcomes to evening صَداهاits male owls وَبومُهاand its owls
تَداعى إِذا أَمسَت صَداها وَبومُها
in a land of lofty grave-mounds and lowly cairns,
With a towering stature, humbly keeping to herself,
where, at dusk, its male owls and its owls call to one another.
her echo fades when night falls, silenced.
إِذاwhen اِستَقبَلَتهاmeets it الريحُthe wind حالَshifts رُغامُهاits dust
إِذا اِستَقبَلَتها الريحُ حالَ رُغامُها
وَحالَفَand joined جَولانَthe swirling of السَرابِthe mirage أَرومُهاits tree stumps
وَحالَفَ جَولانَ السَرابِ أَرومُها
When the wind meets it, its dust shifts,
When the wind meets her neck wrapped with a scarf,
and its tree stumps mingle with the mirage's whirling.
it swears an oath to the mirage not to oppose her pace.
يُمَشّيwalks بِحِزّانِon the rugged slopes of الإِكامِhills وِبِالرُبىand on the heights
يُمَشّي بِحِزّانِ الإِكامِ وِبِالرُبى
كَمُستَكبرٍlike a proud man ذيwith مَوزَجَينِtwo leather boots ظَليمُهاits male ostrich
كَمُستَكبرٍ ذي مَوزَجَينِ ظَليمُها
Over the hills' rugged slopes and the heights strides,
She walks steadily with the saddlebags on her sides
like a proud man in two leather boots, its male ostrich.
like an arrogant one with strong and firm thighs.
رَأَيتُI saw بِهاthere العوجَthe crooked-legged camels اللَهاميمَthe fleet ones تَغتَليsurging
رَأَيتُ بِها العوجَ اللَهاميمَ تَغتَلي
وَقَدand already صُقِلَتwere polished صَقلاًsmoothly وَتَلَّتand wasted away جُسومُهاtheir bodies
وَقَد صُقِلَت صَقلاً وَتَلَّت جُسومُها
I saw there the crooked-legged, fleet camels surging,
I saw the ugly coward slyly roll about,
polished smooth, their bodies wasted away.
smoothed and polished without hair or wool.
تُراكِلُjostle one another بِالأَكوارِwith saddles مِنof كُلِّevery صَيهَبٍtawny camel
تُراكِلُ بِالأَكوارِ مِن كُلِّ صَيهَبٍ
مِنَfrom الحَرِّheat أَثباجاًbacks قَليلاًscant لُحومُهاtheir flesh
مِنَ الحَرِّ أَثباجاً قَليلاً لُحومُها
They jostle with their saddles, each tawny camel
She raced between the barren lands under every starry night
with a back scant of flesh from the heat.
crossing the scorching sands with little flesh on her bones.
وَلَوand if تَسأَلينَyou asked الرَكبَthe riders فيin كُلِّevery سَربَخٍvast wilderness
وَلَو تَسأَلينَ الرَكبَ في كُلِّ سَربَخٍ
إِذاwhen العيسُthe pale camels لَمnot يَنبِسuttered a sound بِلَيلٍat night بَغومُهاtheir lowing
إِذا العيسُ لَم يَنبِس بِلَيلٍ بَغومُها
And if you asked the riders in every vast wilderness,
Had you but asked the traveling company in every desolate place,
when no lowing from the pale camels is heard at night,
when the wolves howl deep in the night:
مِنَfrom الحُجرَةِthe quarter القُصوىfarthest وَراءَbehind رِحالِهاtheir saddles
مِنَ الحُجرَةِ القُصوى وَراءَ رِحالِها
إِذاwhen الأُسدُthe lions بِالأَكوارِaround the saddles طافَcircled رَزومُهاtheir low roaring
إِذا الأُسدُ بِالأَكوارِ طافَ رَزومُها
from the farthest quarter, behind their saddles,
About her trailing luggage beyond their own,
when lions' deep growling circles round the saddles—
when the lion circled about the ruins in darkness.
وَجَرَّبتُand I tested إِخوانَbrothers of الصَفاءِsincere friendship فَمِنهُمُso among them
وَجَرَّبتُ إِخوانَ الصَفاءِ فَمِنهُمُ
حَميدُpraiseworthy in الوِصالِfellowship عِندَناin our view وَذَميمُهاand blameworthy in it
حَميدُ الوِصالِ عِندَنا وَذَميمُها
I have tested brothers of sincere friendship: among them
I have tested the loyal brethren, and found amongst them
are some whose fellowship we praise, and some whose fellowship we blame.
those faithful to brotherhood, and those hostile to it.
وَأَعلَمُand I know أَنّيthat I لاnot أُسَربَلُam clothed in جُنَّةًprotection
وَأَعلَمُ أَنّي لا أُسَربَلُ جُنَّةً
مِنَfrom المَوتِdeath مَعقودًtied عَلَيَّupon me تَميمُهاits amulets
مِنَ المَوتِ مَعقودً عَلَيَّ تَميمُها
I know I shall not be clad in a protective cloak
And I know that I will not escape the robe of death
against death, its amulets knotted upon me.
that is fastened around me, clutching tightly.
وَمَنand whoever يَبتَدِعadopts ماwhat لَيسَis not مِنof سوسِthe nature of نَفسِهِhis soul
وَمَن يَبتَدِع ما لَيسَ مِن سوسِ نَفسِهِ
يَدَعهُabandons it وَيغلِبهُand overmasters him عَلىover النَفسِthe soul خيمَهاits native disposition
يَدَعهُ وَيغلِبهُ عَلى النَفسِ خيمَها
Whoever adopts what is not of his soul's nature
And whoever innovates what is not from his own self-whisperings,
abandons it; his soul's native disposition overmasters him.
will abandon it and defeat it, bringing down its pillars.
Sol 6.1