راحَ القَطينُ بِهَجرٍ بَعدَما اِبتَكَروا

راحَ القَطينُ بِهَجرٍ بَعدَما اِبتَكَروا

فَما تُواصِلُهُ سَلمى وَما تَذَرُ

فَما تُواصِلُهُ سَلمى وَما تَذَرُ

The encampment's people departed at midday, after their early start;

The two cats departed after scheming,

Salma neither keeps her ties with him nor leaves him

So neither will Salma continue nor desist.

مَنأى الفَرورِ فَما يَأتي المُريدَ وَما

مَنأى الفَرورِ فَما يَأتي المُريدَ وَما

يَسلو الصُدودَ إِذا ما كانَ يَقتَدِرُ

يَسلو الصُدودَ إِذا ما كانَ يَقتَدِرُ

far off like a fugitive; he neither approaches the willing one nor

Far from duplicity neither lover comes nor

forgets the aloof one when he has the power.

Obstinate make peace when unable.

كَأَنَّ أَظعانَهُم في الصُبحِ غادِيَةً

كَأَنَّ أَظعانَهُم في الصُبحِ غادِيَةً

طَلحُ السَلائِلِ وَسطَ الرَوضِ أَو عُشَرُ

طَلحُ السَلائِلِ وَسطَ الرَوضِ أَو عُشَرُ

Their camel-litters, moving off in the morning, seemed like

As if their bleating at dawn proceeding

the valleys' acacias amid the meadow, or milkweed trees,

Is a wolf among the pasture or associates.

أَو بارِدُ الصَيفِ مَسجورٌ مَزارِعُهُ

أَو بارِدُ الصَيفِ مَسجورٌ مَزارِعُهُ

سودُ الذَوائِبِ مِمّا مَتَّعَت هَجَرُ

سودُ الذَوائِبِ مِمّا مَتَّعَت هَجَرُ

or a summer-cool grove, its plantations filled with water,

Or cool of summer, its fields overcast,

black-crowned, from the palms Hajar has raised:

Black are the slopes from what estrangement cultivated.

جَعلٌ قِصارٌ وَعَيدانٌ يَنوءُ بِهِ

جَعلٌ قِصارٌ وَعَيدانٌ يَنوءُ بِهِ

مِنَ الكَوافِرِ مَكمومٌ وَمُهتَصِرُ

مِنَ الكَوافِرِ مَكمومٌ وَمُهتَصِرُ

low, short palms, and lofty ones bowed beneath

Short spears and staffs it sways with

fruit from the spathes, some enclosed and some bent low.

Withered and shriveled from the infidels.

يَشرَبنَ رَفهاً عِراكاً غَيرَ صادِرَةٍ

يَشرَبنَ رَفهاً عِراكاً غَيرَ صادِرَةٍ

فَكُلُّها كارِعٌ في الماءِ مُغتَمِرُ

فَكُلُّها كارِعٌ في الماءِ مُغتَمِرُ

They drink at will, crowding together, never leaving the water;

They drink fresh undrinkable drafts,

each wades into the water, immersed.

Each submerging in the water immersed.

بَينَ الصَفا وَخَليجِ العَينِ ساكِنَةٌ

بَينَ الصَفا وَخَليجِ العَينِ ساكِنَةٌ

غُلبٌ سَواجِدُ لَم يَدخُل بِها الحَصَرُ

غُلبٌ سَواجِدُ لَم يَدخُل بِها الحَصَرُ

Between al-Safa and al-Ayn's channel, standing still,

Between As-Safa and spring of the eye residing

thick-trunked and bowing, untouched by scarcity.

Overwhelmed, prostrations which enclosure did not enter.

وَفي الحُدوجِ عَروبٌ غَيرُ فاحِشَةٍ

وَفي الحُدوجِ عَروبٌ غَيرُ فاحِشَةٍ

رَيّا الرَوادِفِ يَعشى دونَها البَصَرُ

رَيّا الرَوادِفِ يَعشى دونَها البَصَرُ

And in the howdahs is an affectionate woman, no wanton,

And in the valleys a wantonness not excessive

full-hipped; the gaze is dazzled before her.

Pleasing to beholders, vision falls short of it.

كَأَنَّ فاها إِذا ما اللَيلُ أَلبَسَها

كَأَنَّ فاها إِذا ما اللَيلُ أَلبَسَها

سَيابَةٌ ما بِها عَيبٌ وَلا أَثَرُ

سَيابَةٌ ما بِها عَيبٌ وَلا أَثَرُ

Her mouth, when night has cloaked her, seems

As if its mouth when night clothes it

a green date, without blemish or mark.

Is an unblemished, spotless sword.

قالَت غَداةَ اِنتَجَينا عِندَ جارَتِها

قالَت غَداةَ اِنتَجَينا عِندَ جارَتِها

أَنتَ الَّذي كُنتُ لَولا الشَيبُ وَالكِبَرُ

أَنتَ الَّذي كُنتُ لَولا الشَيبُ وَالكِبَرُ

She said, that morning when we spoke privately at her neighbor's:

It said one morning when we met at her neighbor’s

'You are the one I would love, but for gray hair and age.'

You are the one I would have married, if not for gray hair and old age.

فَقُلتُ لَيسَ بَياضُ الرَأسِ مِن كِبرٍ

فَقُلتُ لَيسَ بَياضُ الرَأسِ مِن كِبرٍ

لَو تَعلَمينَ وَعِندَ العالِمِ الخَبَرُ

لَو تَعلَمينَ وَعِندَ العالِمِ الخَبَرُ

I answered: the whiteness of my head is not from age,

So I said gray hair is not from aging,

if only you knew—and knowledge belongs to the one who knows.

If you knew, and with the scholar is knowledge.

لَو كانَ غَيري سُلَيمى اليَومَ غَيَّرَهُ

لَو كانَ غَيري سُلَيمى اليَومَ غَيَّرَهُ

وَقعُ الحَوادِثِ إِلّا الصارِمُ الذَكَرُ

وَقعُ الحَوادِثِ إِلّا الصارِمُ الذَكَرُ

Were it anyone but me, Sulayma, today he would be changed

If it were other than me, adversity would have changed him,

by the blows of misfortune—except the keen, hard-tempered sword.

Except the resolute male, events do not alter.

ما يَمنَعُ اللَيلُ مِنّي ما هَمَمتُ بِهِ

ما يَمنَعُ اللَيلُ مِنّي ما هَمَمتُ بِهِ

وَلا أَحارُ إِذا ما اِعتادَني السَفَرُ

وَلا أَحارُ إِذا ما اِعتادَني السَفَرُ

Night does not keep me from what I have resolved to do,

Night does not prevent me from what I intend

nor am I at a loss when journeying comes round again.

Nor do I feel alien in travel when accustomed.

إِنّي أُقاسي خُطوباً ما يَقومُ لَها

إِنّي أُقاسي خُطوباً ما يَقومُ لَها

إِلّا الكِرامُ عَلى أَمثالِها الصُبُرُ

إِلّا الكِرامُ عَلى أَمثالِها الصُبُرُ

I endure calamities that none can withstand

I endure tribulations, none can withstand,

except the noble, steadfast under their like:

Except the generous against its like, patience.

مِن فَقدِ مَولىً تَصورُ الحَيَّ جَفنَتُهُ

مِن فَقدِ مَولىً تَصورُ الحَيَّ جَفنَتُهُ

أَو رُزءُ مالٍ وَرُزءُ المالِ يُجتَبَرُ

أَو رُزءُ مالٍ وَرُزءُ المالِ يُجتَبَرُ

the loss of a kinsman whose serving-bowl drew the tribe,

Loss of a master, you imagine the living his eyelids closed,

or loss of wealth—yet loss of wealth can be made good.

Or loss of wealth and loss of wealth is endured.

وَالنيبُ إِن تَعرُ مِنّي رَمَّةً خَلَقاً

وَالنيبُ إِن تَعرُ مِنّي رَمَّةً خَلَقاً

بَعدَ المَماتِ فَإِنّي كُنتُ أَثَّئِرُ

بَعدَ المَماتِ فَإِنّي كُنتُ أَثَّئِرُ

And if the old she-camels come upon my worn-out bones

If you find in me, after death, a deficiency in manners,

after my death, I once used to take revenge on them.

Then I was heedless.

وَلا أَضِنُّ بِمَعروفِ السَنامِ إِذا

وَلا أَضِنُّ بِمَعروفِ السَنامِ إِذا

كانَ القُتارُ كَما يُستَروَحُ القُطُرُ

كانَ القُتارُ كَما يُستَروَحُ القُطُرُ

I do not begrudge the bounty of camel humps when

I do not begrudge the rain of favors when

the scent of roasting meat is savored like aloeswood.

The drizzle is as desired rain is craved.

وَلا أَقولُ إِذا ما أَزمَةٌ أَزَمَت

وَلا أَقولُ إِذا ما أَزمَةٌ أَزَمَت

يا وَيحَ نَفسِيَ مِمّا أَحدَثَ القَدَرُ

يا وَيحَ نَفسِيَ مِمّا أَحدَثَ القَدَرُ

Nor do I say, when a famine bites,

I do not say when crisis befalls,

'Alas for my soul, for what fate has wrought!'

“Woe to me from what destiny has brought.”

وَلا أُضِلُّ بِأَصحابٍ هَدَيتُهُمُ

وَلا أُضِلُّ بِأَصحابٍ هَدَيتُهُمُ

إِذا المُعَبَّدُ في الظَلماءِ يَنتَشِرُ

إِذا المُعَبَّدُ في الظَلماءِ يَنتَشِرُ

Nor do I lose the way with companions I have guided,

I do not misguide companions whom I guided,

when the beaten road fans out in the darkness.

When the paved way in the darkness spreads.

وَأُربِحُ التَجرَ إِن عَزَّت فِضالُهُمُ

وَأُربِحُ التَجرَ إِن عَزَّت فِضالُهُمُ

حَتّى يَعودَ سُلَيمى حَولَهُ نَفَرُ

حَتّى يَعودَ سُلَيمى حَولَهُ نَفَرُ

And I let the traders profit when their surplus is scarce,

I profit from trade though its abundance diminishes

until, Sulayma, a company gathers around him again:

Until around Suleiman gather comrades.

غَربُ المَصَبَّةِ مَحمودٌ مَصارِعُهُ

غَربُ المَصَبَّةِ مَحمودٌ مَصارِعُهُ

لاهي النَهارِ لِسَيرِ اللَيلِ مُحتَقِرُ

لاهي النَهارِ لِسَيرِ اللَيلِ مُحتَقِرُ

keen in his outpouring, praised for his encounters,

West of the canal praiseworthy its buildings

carefree by day, making light of night journeys.

Unmindful of daytime, scorning night journey.

يُروي قَوامِحَ قَبلَ اللَيلِ صادِقَةً

يُروي قَوامِحَ قَبلَ اللَيلِ صادِقَةً

أَشباهَ جِنٍّ عَلَيها الرَيطُ وَالأُزُرُ

أَشباهَ جِنٍّ عَلَيها الرَيطُ وَالأُزُرُ

He gives the head-lifters pure drink before nightfall,

It narrates honest lines before night,

figures like jinn, wearing linen robes and waist-wraps.

Resembling jinn, upon it lace and headbands.

إِن يُتلِفوا يُخلِفوا في كُلِّ مَنقَصَةٍ

إِن يُتلِفوا يُخلِفوا في كُلِّ مَنقَصَةٍ

ما أَتلَفوا لِاِبتِغاءِ الحَمدِ أَو عَقَروا

ما أَتلَفوا لِاِبتِغاءِ الحَمدِ أَو عَقَروا

If they spend, they replace, in every shortfall,

If they destroy, they replace in every loss

what they spent seeking praise, or slaughtered.

What they ruined, seeking praise or they raided.

نُعطي حُقوقاً عَلى الأَحسابِ ضامِنَةً

نُعطي حُقوقاً عَلى الأَحسابِ ضامِنَةً

حَتّى يُنَوِّرَ في قُريانِهِ الزَهَرُ

حَتّى يُنَوِّرَ في قُريانِهِ الزَهَرُ

We discharge dues that safeguard ancestral honor,

We give rights based on accounts guaranteed

until the flowers bloom in its watercourses.

Until among its maidens shines the blossoms.

وَأَقطَعُ الخَرقَ قَد بادَت مَعالِمُهُ

وَأَقطَعُ الخَرقَ قَد بادَت مَعالِمُهُ

فَما يُحَسُّ بِهِ عَينٌ وَلا أَثَرُ

فَما يُحَسُّ بِهِ عَينٌ وَلا أَثَرُ

And I cross the vast waste, its landmarks effaced—

And I mend the tear, its marks have vanished,

no living being or trace can be detected there—

No eye perceives it and no trace.

بِجَسرَةٍ تَنجُلُ الظُرّانَ ناجِيَةَ

بِجَسرَةٍ تَنجُلُ الظُرّانَ ناجِيَةَ

إِذا تَوَقَّدَ في الدَيمومَةِ الظُرَرُ

إِذا تَوَقَّدَ في الدَيمومَةِ الظُرَرُ

on a sturdy, fleet she-camel that scatters flints,

With audacity that shakes the follies confiding,

when the stones blaze in the trackless desert.

When in eternity embers ignite.

كَأَنَّها بَعدَما أَفنَيتُ جُبلَتَها

كَأَنَّها بَعدَما أَفنَيتُ جُبلَتَها

خَنساءُ مَسبوعَةٌ قَد فاتَها بَقَرُ

خَنساءُ مَسبوعَةٌ قَد فاتَها بَقَرُ

As though, after I had worn out her strength,

As if after I exhausted her essence,

she were a snub-nosed wild cow, her calf taken by a beast, her herd gone.

She is Khenasa effaced, cows eluded her.

تَنجو نَجاءَ ظَليمِ الجَوِّ أَفزَعَهُ

تَنجو نَجاءَ ظَليمِ الجَوِّ أَفزَعَهُ

ريحُ الشَمالِ وَشَفّانٌ لَها دِرَرُ

ريحُ الشَمالِ وَشَفّانٌ لَها دِرَرُ

She flees like a male ostrich of the open plain, startled by

She escapes escape of the gloomy atmosphere frightened by

the north wind and gust after gust of its piercing chill.

North wind and gale upon her pearls.

باتَت إِلى دَفِّ أَرطاةٍ تُحَفِّرُهُ

باتَت إِلى دَفِّ أَرطاةٍ تُحَفِّرُهُ

في نَفسِها مِن حَبيبٍ فاقِدٍ ذِكَرُ

في نَفسِها مِن حَبيبٍ فاقِدٍ ذِكَرُ

She spent the night beside an arta bush, hollowing out its flank;

She spent the night to the drums of drumming, digging

within her were memories of a lost loved one.

Into herself for an absent beloved, remembering.

إِذا اِطمَأَنَّت قَليلاً بَعدَما حَفَرَت

إِذا اِطمَأَنَّت قَليلاً بَعدَما حَفَرَت

لا تَطمَئِنُّ إِلى أَرطاتِها الحُفَرُ

لا تَطمَئِنُّ إِلى أَرطاتِها الحُفَرُ

Whenever she settles briefly after digging,

When she calmed a little after digging,

the hollows beside her arta bush will not stay firm.

She does not calm down to her burrows.

تَبني بُيوتاً عَلى قَفرٍ يُهَدِّمُها

تَبني بُيوتاً عَلى قَفرٍ يُهَدِّمُها

جَعدُ الثَرى مُصعَبٌ في دَفِّهِ زَوَرُ

جَعدُ الثَرى مُصعَبٌ في دَفِّهِ زَوَرُ

She builds shelters on bare ground, but they are torn down by

She builds homes on barrenness, demolished by

a soil-ruffling, untamable wind, with a twist in its flank.

The curled soil, difficult in its hollows playing tricks.

لَيلَتَها كُلَّها حَتّى إِذا حَسَرَت

لَيلَتَها كُلَّها حَتّى إِذا حَسَرَت

عَنها النُجومُ وَكادَ الصُبحُ يَنسَفِرُ

عَنها النُجومُ وَكادَ الصُبحُ يَنسَفِرُ

All her night long, until there faded

Her night until the stars withdrew from her

from above her the stars, and dawn was about to break.

And dawn almost set out.

غَدَت عَلى عَجَلٍ وَالنَفسُ خائِفَةٌ

غَدَت عَلى عَجَلٍ وَالنَفسُ خائِفَةٌ

وَآيَةٌ مِن غُدُوِّ الخائِفِ البُكَرُ

وَآيَةٌ مِن غُدُوِّ الخائِفِ البُكَرُ

She hurried out at dawn, her heart afraid;

She went hastily while the soul apprehensive

and earliness is a sign of the fearful one's departure.

And sign of the apprehensive’s going early.

لاقَت أَخا قَنَصٍ يَسعى بِأَكلُبِهِ

لاقَت أَخا قَنَصٍ يَسعى بِأَكلُبِهِ

شَأنَ البَنانِ لَدَيهِ أَكلُبٌ جُسُرُ

شَأنَ البَنانِ لَدَيهِ أَكلُبٌ جُسُرُ

She met a huntsman striding with his dogs,

She met a brother of hunting, his dogs roaming

rough-fingered, with bold dogs at his side.

Habit of hunters, by him courageous dogs.

وَلَّت فَأَدرَكَها أولى سَوابِقِها

وَلَّت فَأَدرَكَها أولى سَوابِقِها

فَأَقبَلَت ما بِها رَوعٌ وَلا بَهَرُ

فَأَقبَلَت ما بِها رَوعٌ وَلا بَهَرُ

She fled; the first of her swift pursuers caught her.

She turned and the first of its racers overtook her

Then she turned to face them, neither frightened nor winded.

So she faced without panic or confusion.

فَقاتَلَت في ظِلالِ الرَوعِ وَاِعتَكَرَت

فَقاتَلَت في ظِلالِ الرَوعِ وَاِعتَكَرَت

إِنَّ المُحامِيَ بَعدَ الرَوعِ يَعتَكِرُ

إِنَّ المُحامِيَ بَعدَ الرَوعِ يَعتَكِرُ

She fought in terror's shadows and wheeled back to attack;

She fought in the shadows of panic and drew herself together

indeed, the defender, after fear, turns back to fight.

As the protector after panic gathers himself.