عَفاhas become deserted السَفحُthe hillside (al-Safh) مِنafter the departure of أُمmother of الوَليدِal-Walid فكَبكَبُand Kabkab
عَفا السَفحُ مِن أُم الوَليدِ فكَبكَبُ
فَنُعمانُand Nu'man وَحشٌdesolate فَالرَكيُّand al-Rakiyy (the well) المثقَّبُpierced
فَنُعمانُ وَحشٌ فَالرَكيُّ المثقَّبُ
Al-Safh lies deserted since Umm al-Walid left, and Kabkab too;
The plain of Umm al-Walid sloped gently, so we descended,
Nu'man is desolate, and al-Rakiyy, the pierced well,
A wilderness where al-Rukayy, the perforated well, bubbles up.
خَلاءٌempty إلىas far as الأَحواضِal-Ahwad عافٍeffaced وَقَدand sometimes يُرىis seen
خَلاءٌ إلى الأَحواضِ عافٍ وَقَد يُرى
سَوامٌgrazing livestock يُعَافيهِfrequenting it مُراحٌbrought home at dusk وَمُعزَبُand pastured afar
سَوامٌ يُعَافيهِ مُراحٌ وَمُعزَبُ
Empty and effaced as far as al-Ahwad, though one may see
An open expanse down to the cisterns, wholesome, though sometimes
Grazing herds frequenting it, some brought home, some pastured afar.
Herdsmen and their cattle are seen there, and sheepfolds.
عَلىdespite أَنَّthe fact that بِاِالأَقوازِat al-Aqwaz (the dunes) أَطلالَruins of دِمنَةٍan old campsite
عَلى أَنَّ بِاِالأَقوازِ أَطلالَ دِمنَةٍ
تُجِدُّblow fiercely بِهاthere هُوجُwild الرِياحِthe winds وَتَلعَبُand play
تُجِدُّ بِها هُوجُ الرِياحِ وَتَلعَبُ
Yet at al-Aqwaz lie the ruins of an old encampment,
Ruins of Diymah loom in the distance
Where the wild winds blow fiercely and play,
Where the winds howl and sport.
لِعَزَّةَbelonging to 'Azza إِذwhen حَبلُthe bond of المَوَدَّةِaffection دائِمٌlasting
لِعَزَّةَ إِذ حَبلُ المَوَدَّةِ دائِمٌ
وَإِذand when أَنتَyou مَتبُولٌlove-stricken بِعَزَّةَwith 'Azza مُعجَبُenamored
وَإِذ أَنتَ مَتبُولٌ بِعَزَّةَ مُعجَبُ
'Azza's, from when the bond of affection endured,
For your nobility, while the bond of love endures
And when you were love-stricken, enamored of 'Azza,
And while you take pride in your nobility and are transfixed,
وَاِذاand when لاnot تَرَىyou see فيamong النَاسِpeople شَيئًاanything يَفوقُهاsurpassing her
وَاِذا لا تَرَى في النَاسِ شَيئًا يَفوقُها
وَفِيهِنَّand among them (women) حُسنٌbeauty لَوif تَأَمَّلتَyou looked closely مَجنَبُoverlooked
وَفِيهِنَّ حُسنٌ لَو تَأَمَّلتَ مَجنَبُ
And when you saw nothing among people that surpassed her,
When you see nothing among people to surpass it
Yet among them is overlooked beauty, if you would look closely.
Though there is beauty in them, if you but glanced askance,
هِيَshe الحُرَةُthe freeborn woman الدَلُّsweetly coy الحَصانُthe chaste woman وَرَهطُهاand her kin
هِيَ الحُرَةُ الدَلُّ الحَصانُ وَرَهطُها
إِذاذُكِرَwhen mentioned الحَيُّthe clan الصَريحُpure of lineage المُهَذَبُunblemished
إِذاذُكِرَ الحَيُّ الصَريحُ المُهَذَبُ
She is freeborn, sweetly coy, chaste; and her kin,
She is the free woman, the fine, slender steed and her clan,
When clans are named, are pure of lineage and unblemished.
When the true horseman, cultured and refined, is mentioned.
هَضيمُslender الحَشاof waist رُودُsupple المَطاof back بَختَرِيةproudly swaying
هَضيمُ الحَشا رُودُ المَطا بَختَرِية
جَمِيلٌbeautiful عَلَيهاon her الأتحَميُّthe Athami cloth الممُنَشَّبُpatterned
جَمِيلٌ عَلَيها الأتحَميُّ الممُنَشَّبُ
Slender-waisted, supple-backed, proudly swaying in her gait;
Devourer of herbage, warder-off of rain, excellent
The patterned Athami cloth looks lovely upon her.
Is he who dons the russet cloak with the shoulder-mantle.
رَأيتُI saw وَأَصحابِيand my companions بِأَيلَةَat Ayla موهِنًاlate at night
رَأيتُ وَأَصحابِي بِأَيلَةَ موهِنًا
وَقَدand already لاحَappeared نَجمُthe star الفَرقَدِal-Farqad المُتَصَوِّبُdescending
وَقَد لاحَ نَجمُ الفَرقَدِ المُتَصَوِّبُ
I saw, with my companions at Ayla, late at night,
I saw, together with my friends, irresolute in Ayla,
With the star al-Farqad already shining, sinking low,
When the star of the Pleiades shone out, precisely aimed.
لِعَزَّةَbelonging to 'Azza نارًاa fire ماnot تَبوخُgo out كأَنَّهاas though it were
لِعَزَّةَ نارًا ما تَبوخُ كأَنَّها
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رَمَقناهاwe gazed at it مِنَfrom البُعدِafar كَوكَبُa star
إِذا ما رَمَقناها مِنَ البُعدِ كَوكَبُ
A fire of 'Azza's that never went out, as though it were
O Azra, a fire that does not die out, as though
A star whenever we gazed at it from afar.
When we glimpse it from afar, it were a planet.
تَعَجَّبَmarveled أَصحابِيmy companions لَهاat it حِينَwhen أُوقِدَتit was lit
تَعَجَّبَ أَصحابِي لَها حِينَ أُوقِدَت
وَلَلمُصطَلوهاand indeed those warming themselves at it آخِرَat the end of اللَيلِthe night أَعجَبُmore amazed
وَلَلمُصطَلوها آخِرَ اللَيلِ أَعجَبُ
My companions marveled at it when it was lit;
My friends expressed wonder at it when first lit,
And those warming themselves at it at night's end marveled still more.
And that it should be rekindled late at night was stranger still.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle خَبَتit died down مِنtoward آخِرِthe end of اللَيلِthe night خَبوَةًa brief waning
إِذا ما خَبَت مِن آخِرِ اللَيلِ خَبوَةً
أُعِيدَwas replenished لهاfor it بِالمَندَلِّيwith Mandali aloeswood فَتُثقَبُand so blazes
أُعِيدَ لها بِالمَندَلِّي فَتُثقَبُ
Whenever it waned for a moment toward the end of night,
When it sank low late in the night,
It was replenished with Mandali aloeswood and blazed up.
It would be revived for us with bellows, and pierced through.
وَقَفنَاwe halted فَشُبَّتthen it flared شَبَّةًa blaze فَبَداand then appeared لناto us
وَقَفنَا فَشُبَّت شَبَّةً فَبَدا لنا
بِأَهضامِin the hollows of وَاديهاher valley أَراكٌarak trees وَتَنضُبُand tandub trees
بِأَهضامِ وَاديها أَراكٌ وَتَنضُبُ
We halted; it flared in a blaze, and there appeared to us
We halted, and it blazed up, and there appeared to us
In the hollows of her valley, arak and tandub trees.
In the hollows of its valley, carpets which took form and flowed.
وَمِنand from دونthis side of حَيثُwhere اِستُوقِدَتit was kindled مِنat مُجالِخٍMujalikh
وَمِن دون حَيثُ اِستُوقِدَت مِن مُجالِخٍ
مَراحٌan evening resting-place وَمُغدًىand a morning pasture للمَطِيِّfor the mounts وَسَبسَبُand a broad plain
مَراحٌ وَمُغدًى للمَطِيِّ وَسَبسَبُ
And this side of where it was kindled, at Mujalikh,
And below, where it was lit, were encampments
Were an evening halt, a morning pasture for mounts, and a broad plain.
And resting-places for the rider and copses.
أَتَتناcame to us بِرَيَّاهاwith her fragrance وَلَلعيسِwhile the pale camels had تَحتَناbeneath us
أَتَتنا بِرَيَّاها وَلَلعيسِ تَحتَنا
وَجِيفٌa rapid trot بِصَحرَاءِthrough the desert of الرُسَيسِal-Rusays مُهَذِّبُswift
وَجِيفٌ بِصَحرَاءِ الرُسَيسِ مُهَذِّبُ
There came to us, bearing her fragrance—while the pale camels beneath us
The breath of its wind brought us the grouse in the evening
Kept a swift trot through the desert of al-Rusays—
And meat undercooked in the plain of Rusaifah, seasoned.
جنوبٌa south wind تُساميrising toward أَوجُهَthe faces of الرَكبِthe riders مسُّهاits touch
جنوبٌ تُسامي أَوجُهَ الرَكبِ مسُّها
لَذيذٌdelightful وَمَسراهاand its course مِنَacross الأَرضِthe land طَيِّبُfragrant
لَذيذٌ وَمَسراها مِنَ الأَرضِ طَيِّبُ
A south wind, rising toward the riders' faces; its touch
A south wind which touches gently the faces of the riders,
Was delightful, and its passage over the land was fragrant.
Delicious, and the scent of it from the ground is sweet.
فَياoh, then طولَhow long ماemphatic particle شَوقيmy yearning إِذاwhen حالَintervened دُونَهاbetween me and her
فَيا طولَ ما شَوقي إِذا حالَ دُونَها
بُصاقٌBusaq وَمَنand among أَعلامِthe peaks of صِندِدَSindid مَنكِبُa shoulder
بُصاقٌ وَمَن أَعلامِ صِندِدَ مَنكِبُ
Oh, how long my yearning, when between me and her stand
Oh, how prolonged my yearning when between us is
Busaq and a shoulder of Sindid's peaks.
An obscuring mirage, and the shoulder-belt of a leather waterskin.
كَأَنas though لَمnot يُوافِقُcoincide with حِجَّthe pilgrimage of عزَّةَ'Azza حَجُّناour pilgrimage
كَأَن لَم يُوافِقُ حِجَّ عزَّةَ حَجُّنا
وَلَمand not يَلقَmeet رَكبًاa band of riders بِالمحصَّبِat al-Muhassab أَركَبُbands of riders
وَلَم يَلقَ رَكبًا بِالمحصَّبِ أَركَبُ
As though our pilgrimage had never coincided with 'Azza's,
As though my pilgrimage failed to coincide with Azra's pilgrimage,
And bands of riders had never met a band at al-Muhassab.
And my band did not encounter a band at al-Muhassab encamped.
حَلَفتُI swore لهاto her بالرَاقِصاتِby the dancing camels إلىtoward مِنَىًMina
حَلَفتُ لها بالرَاقِصاتِ إلى مِنَىً
تُغِذُّhasten السُرىthe night journey كَلبٌKalb بِهِنَّupon them وَتَغلِبُand Taghlib
تُغِذُّ السُرى كَلبٌ بِهِنَّ وَتَغلِبُ
I swore to her by the camels dancing onward to Mina,
I swore by the female dancers on the Minâ plain
On which Kalb and Taghlib hasten their night journey,
Whose eyes feed hounds unleashed and enrapture them.
وَرَبِّand by the Lord of الجِيادِthe fine steeds السابِحاتِswimming along عَشِيةًat day's end
وَرَبِّ الجِيادِ السابِحاتِ عَشِيةً
مَعَat العَصرِthe afternoon إِذwhen مَرَّتthey passed عَلىover الحَبلِthe sand ridge تَلحَبُgalloping hard
مَعَ العَصرِ إِذ مَرَّت عَلى الحَبلِ تَلحَبُ
And by the Lord of the steeds swimming along at day's end,
And by the mares on the evening they swam to cross the canal,
In late afternoon, as they passed, galloping over the sand ridge:
Streaming along the rope with the late afternoon.
لَعَزَّةُsurely 'Azza هَمُّthe concern of النَفسِthe soul مِنهُنَّamong them (women) لَوif only تَرىit could see
لَعَزَّةُ هَمُّ النَفسِ مِنهُنَّ لَو تَرى
إليهاto her سَبيلاًa path أَوor تُلِمُّpay a visit فَتُصقِبُand so draw near
إليها سَبيلاً أَو تُلِمُّ فَتُصقِبُ
Of them, surely 'Azza is my soul's concern, could it but see
Azra, they are the soul's concern — if only you could see
A path to her, or pay a visit and draw near.
Some way to reach them, or overcome them and lead them captive!
أُلامُI am blamed عَلىover أُمِّmother of الوَلِيدِal-Walid وَحُبُّهاand love for her
أُلامُ عَلى أُمِّ الوَلِيدِ وَحُبُّها
جَوىًburning anguish داخِلٌdeep within تحتbeneath الشّراسيفِthe lower ribs مُلهَبُinflamed
جَوىً داخِلٌ تحت الشّراسيفِ مُلهَبُ
I am blamed for Umm al-Walid, yet love for her
I am consumed for Umm al-Walid and my love of her
Is burning anguish deep within, beneath the lower ribs.
Is an inner fire beneath the coat of mail burning hot.
وَلوَand if بَذَلَتoffered أُمُّmother of الوَليدِal-Walid حَديثَهاher conversation
وَلوَ بَذَلَت أُمُّ الوَليدِ حَديثَها
لِعُصمٍto white-footed ibex بِرَضوىon Radwa أَصبَحَتthey would become تَتَقَرَّبُdrawing near
لِعُصمٍ بِرَضوى أَصبَحَت تَتَقَرَّبُ
If Umm al-Walid were to offer her conversation
If only Umm al-Walid would speak her tale
To the white-footed ibex on Radwa, they would draw near,
To bring about consent, she would come courting favor in the morning.
تَهَبَّطنَthey would descend مِنfrom أَكنافِthe slopes of ضَأسٍDa's وَأيلَةٍand Ayla
تَهَبَّطنَ مِن أَكنافِ ضَأسٍ وَأيلَةٍ
إِلَيهاto her وَلَوeven if أَغرىset hounds بهِنَّagainst them المُكَلِّبُthe hound-handler
إِلَيها وَلَو أَغرى بهِنَّ المُكَلِّبُ
Descending from the slopes of Da's and Ayla
We would swoop down to her from the environs of Dhû'l-Jass and Ayla
To her, even if the huntsman set his hounds upon them.
Even if the watchman there drove us away with stones.
تَلَعَّبُshe toys بالعِزهاةِwith the love-shunning man لَمnot يَدرِhe knew ماwhat الصِّباyouthful passion
تَلَعَّبُ بالعِزهاةِ لَم يَدرِ ما الصِّبا
وَيَيأَسand despairs مِنof أُمِّmother of الوَليدِal-Walid المُجَرِّبُthe experienced man
وَيَيأَس مِن أُمِّ الوَليدِ المُجَرِّبُ
She toys with the love-shunning man who never knew what passion was;
She plays fast and loose with lovers — the youth doesn't know
And the experienced man despairs of Umm al-Walid.
And despairs of Umm al-Walid after trying his luck.
ألاoh لَيتَناif only we ياO عَزّ'Azz كُنّاwere لِذيbelonging to one with غِنىًwealth
ألا لَيتَنا يا عَزّ كُنّا لِذي غِنىً
بِعَيرينِيtwo camels نَرعىwe graze فيin الخَلاءِthe open wilderness وَنَعزُبُand roam afar
بِعَيرينِي نَرعى في الخَلاءِ وَنَعزُبُ
Oh, 'Azz, if only we were a rich man's
Oh would that we, O Azra, possessed the wealth
Two camels, grazing in the open wilderness and roaming afar.
To pasture our she-camel in the wilderness and live alone!
كِلاناboth of us بهon him عرٌmange فَمَنand whoever يَرَناsees us يَقُلُwould say
كِلانا به عرٌ فَمَن يَرَنا يَقُلُ
عَلىdespite حُسنِهاher beauty جَرباءa mangy female تُعديspreading infection وَأَجرَبُand a mangy male
عَلى حُسنِها جَرباء تُعدي وَأَجرَبُ
We would both have mange; whoever saw us would say:
We would both mount her, a noble camel, so if any saw us,
“For all her beauty, a contagious, mangy female—and a mangy male.”
He would say, gazing on your beauty, "A bereft man with a hired camel!"
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle وَرَدناwe came to water مَنهَلاًa watering-place صَاحshouted أَهلُهُits people
إِذا ما وَرَدنا مَنهَلاً صَاح أَهلُهُ
عَليناat us فماso not نَنفَكُّwe cease نُرمَىwe are pelted وَنُضرَبُand are beaten
عَلينا فما نَنفَكُّ نُرمَى وَنُضرَبُ
Whenever we reached a watering-place, its people would shout
When we arrived at a watering-place, its people would shout at us,
At us, and we would keep being pelted and beaten.
And we would not stop being pelted and beaten.
نَكونُwe would be بَعيريthe two camels of ذِيone possessing غِنىًwealth فَيُضِيعُناand he would neglect us
نَكونُ بَعيري ذِي غِنىً فَيُضِيعُنا
فَلاso not هُوَhe يَرعاناtends us وَلاnor نَحنُwe نُطلَبُare sought
فَلا هُوَ يَرعانا وَلا نَحنُ نُطلَبُ
We would be a rich man's two camels, and he would neglect us,
We would belong to the wealthy man, and he would abandon us,
He would not tend us, nor would we be sought.
Neither tending us himself, nor we seeking him out.
يُطرِدُناdrive us away الرُعيانُthe herdsmen عَنfrom كُلِّevery تِلعَةٍwatercourse
يُطرِدُنا الرُعيانُ عَن كُلِّ تِلعَةٍ
وَيَمنَعُand prevents مِناfrom us أَنthat نَرىwe are seen فِيهِin it نَشرَبُwe drink
وَيَمنَعُ مِنا أَن نَرى فِيهِ نَشرَبُ
Herdsmen would drive us from every watercourse,
The herdsmen would chase us away from every pasturage
And keep us from being seen drinking there.
And prevent us from finding anything there to drink.
وَدَدتُI wish وَبَيتِand by the House of اللهGod أَنَّكِthat you were بَكرَةٌa young she-camel
وَدَدتُ وَبَيتِ الله أَنَّكِ بَكرَةٌ
هِجانٌwhite and purebred وَأَنيand that I were مُصعَبٌan unbroken male camel ثُمَّthen نَهرُبُwe would flee
هِجانٌ وَأَني مُصعَبٌ ثُمَّ نَهرُبُ
By God's House, I wish you were a young she-camel,
I wish, O House of God, that you were an unwedded girl,
White and purebred, and I an unbroken male; then we would flee.
Buxom, and I were Mus'ab, and then we would elope!
Sol 6.1