قَدْindeed طَرَقَتْvisited by night لَيْلَىLayla بِلَيْلٍat night هاجِعَاa sleeping man
قَدْ طَرَقَتْ لَيْلَى بِلَيْلٍ هاجِعَا
تَطْوِيshe traverses إِلَيْهِtoward him مُهْوَأَنّاًa low-lying waste واسِعَاbroad
تَطْوِي إِلَيْهِ مُهْوَأَنّاً واسِعَا
Layla came by night to a sleeping man,
With night descending, Layla came by in the dark
crossing toward him a broad, low-lying waste.
With ample blankets to cosily ensconce
فَأَرَّقَتْso she made sleepless بِالحُلْمِthrough a dream وَلْعاًa lovesick man وَالِعَاardently enamored
فَأَرَّقَتْ بِالحُلْمِ وَلْعاً وَالِعَا
أَشْعَثَdisheveled مَضْبُوحاًscorched وَنِضْواًand a worn-out man ضَارِعَاfrail
أَشْعَثَ مَضْبُوحاً وَنِضْواً ضَارِعَا
So, through a dream, she made a lovesick, yearning man sleepless,
She kept me sleepless with dreamt passion and desire
disheveled, scorched, wasted and frail.
Disheveled and burning, beseeching and dire
وَالنَجْمُand the star يَهْدِيguides الأَنْجُمَthe stars التَوابِعَاfollowing
وَالنَجْمُ يَهْدِي الأَنْجُمَ التَوابِعَا
شَآمِيَاتٍnorthern طائراًrising وَواقِعَاand setting
شَآمِيَاتٍ طائراً وَواقِعَا
While the star guided the stars that followed,
The stars lit the way for those lesser lights trailing
the northern ones, rising and setting,
Flitting shadows wavering, failing
وَاسْتَوْرَدَand descended for water الغَوْرَthe lowlands سُهَيْلٌSuhayl ضاجِعَاreclining
وَاسْتَوْرَدَ الغَوْرَ سُهَيْلٌ ضاجِعَا
كَالعَسْجَدِيِّlike an ʿAsjadī camel اسْتَورَدَapproached for water الشَرَائِعَاthe watering places
كَالعَسْجَدِيِّ اسْتَورَدَ الشَرَائِعَا
and Suhayl descended to the lowlands for water, reclining,
Suhayl drank deep the wellspring, resting
like an ʿAsjadī camel approaching the watering places.
As a lion drinks deep of the law, questing
وَبَلْدَةٍand a tract of land تَدَّرِعُdons المَدَارِعَاthe tunics
وَبَلْدَةٍ تَدَّرِعُ المَدَارِعَا
مِنَof السَرابِmirage وَالقَتامَand dust السائِعَاspreading
مِنَ السَرابِ وَالقَتامَ السائِعَا
And many a tract of land that donned tunics
A mirage town looming with spear-tips heavy
of mirage and spreading dust,
From the heat-haze swarming unsteady
إِذَاwhen طَفَتfloated up أَعْلامُهاits landmarks شَوافِعَاpaired
إِذَا طَفَت أَعْلامُها شَوافِعَا
تَرَىyou see مَعَalongside اثْنَيْنِtwo خَسىًan odd one وَرَابِعَاand a fourth
تَرَى مَعَ اثْنَيْنِ خَسىً وَرَابِعَا
when its landmarks floated up in pairs,
When the banners are lifted their shadows stretch long
you saw beside two an odd one and a fourth,
Two by two, wearily walking along
مِنْfrom سَنِّthe gleam رَقْراقِthe shimmering mirage الضُحَىof the forenoon مُمَائِعَاflowing
مِنْ سَنِّ رَقْراقِ الضُحَى مُمَائِعَا
كَلَّفْتُهاI imposed it upon المَهْرِيَّةَthe Mahri camels الضَوابِعَاstretching their forelegs
كَلَّفْتُها المَهْرِيَّةَ الضَوابِعَا
from the flowing gleam of the forenoon's rippling mirage—
In the morning chill, the mist slowly rising
I charged the striding Mahri camels with crossing it.
The camels' necks taut as they came striding
إِذَاwhen مَطَتthey stretched أَعْناقَهاtheir necks الشَعاشِعَاlong and slender
إِذَا مَطَت أَعْناقَها الشَعاشِعَا
رَأَيْتَyou saw مِنْهاamong them ماتِحاًa water-drawer وَنازِعَاand a bucket-hauler
رَأَيْتَ مِنْها ماتِحاً وَنازِعَا
When they stretched their long, slender necks,
You'd see clash and contest, feinting, contending
you saw among them a water-drawer and a bucket-hauler.
As their forelegs struck with dust clouds ascending
إِذَاwhen ابْتَدَلْنthey alternated الأَذْرُعthe forelegs الذَوارِعَاfar-reaching
إِذَا ابْتَدَلْن الأَذْرُع الذَوارِعَا
وَلاَقَتand met الأَعْضادُthe upper forelegs بَوْعاًa reach بائِعَاwide-stretching
وَلاَقَت الأَعْضادُ بَوْعاً بائِعَا
When they alternated their far-reaching forelegs,
Their flanks heaving like waves on a turbulent sea
and their upper forelegs met a sweeping reach,
From the clash of their weapons so bright to see
حَسِبْتyou reckoned أَعْلاَمَthe landmarks الفَلاَof the wilderness رَواجِعَاretreating
حَسِبْت أَعْلاَمَ الفَلاَ رَواجِعَا
مِنْfrom خَلْجthe tugging أَيْدِيهاof their forelegs النِجادthe uplands اللامِعاgleaming
مِنْ خَلْج أَيْدِيها النِجاد اللامِعا
you thought the desert's landmarks were retreating,
Their swords casting rays like the moon when it's full
from their forelegs' tugging at the gleaming uplands.
As their deadly blows rained swift and cruel
وَإِنْand if أَقَلَّlifted الآلُthe mirage نُصْباًa landmark طالِعَاemerging
وَإِنْ أَقَلَّ الآلُ نُصْباً طالِعَا
وَالآلُand the mirage يَزْهَىtosses خافِضاًlowering وَرافِعَاand raising
وَالآلُ يَزْهَى خافِضاً وَرافِعَا
And if the mirage lifted an emerging landmark,
I shrouded them with care and with sadness profound
while the mirage tossed it, lowering and raising it,
Seeking shelter beneath these shadows around
حَسِبْتَهyou reckoned it أَكْلَفَa dusky beast يَرْدِيgalloping ظالِعَاlame
حَسِبْتَه أَكْلَفَ يَرْدِي ظالِعَا
عَلَىon ثَلاثٍthree legs أَوْor قَرِيعاًa stud camel قائِعَاmounting a female
عَلَى ثَلاثٍ أَوْ قَرِيعاً قائِعَا
you took it for a dusky beast galloping lame,
As though lifting a keen-bladed sword for a blow
on three legs, or a stud camel mounting a mate.
With a steed giving rein that wildly would flow
وَالقَيظُand summer heat يُغْشِيهاcovers them لُعاباًspittle مائِعَاflowing
وَالقَيظُ يُغْشِيها لُعاباً مائِعَا
وَاتَّجَّand blazed لَفّافٌa swirling wind بِهَاaround them المَعَامِعَاthe scorching blasts
وَاتَّجَّ لَفّافٌ بِهَا المَعَامِعَا
Summer's heat clothed them in flowing spittle,
Head flung down, eyes weeping, the tears freely flowing
and a swirling wind blazed around them in scorching blasts,
Like a murmuring stream or sandstorm gust blowing
بِوَهَجَانٍwith a blaze يَسْفَعُscorches السَوافِعَاthe scorching winds
بِوَهَجَانٍ يَسْفَعُ السَوافِعَا
إِذَاwhen التَلَظِّيthe flaming heat أَوْقَدset alight اليَرَامِعَاthe pale stones
إِذَا التَلَظِّي أَوْقَد اليَرَامِعَا
with a blaze that scorched even the scorching winds,
Dappled with blood from the wounds gaping wide
when the flaming heat set the pale stones alight.
With she-camels milking grief's swellings inside
أَغْشَيْتُهاI burdened them with هَمّاًcare وَأَمّاًand a purpose صادِعاcleaving
أَغْشَيْتُها هَمّاً وَأَمّاً صادِعا
يَجْتَبْنَthey cut out مِنfrom أَظْلالِهاits shadows مَخادِعاsecluded chambers
يَجْتَبْنَ مِن أَظْلالِها مَخادِعا
I burdened them with care and a cleaving purpose;
As though beneath me an urgent race was transpiring
they carved secluded chambers out of its shadows.
Full of zeal, a choice colt with vigor untiring
كَأَنَّماas though أُنْحِيI bring to bear حُساماًa sword قاطِعَاcutting
كَأَنَّما أُنْحِي حُساماً قاطِعَا
بِناعِجٍon a swift white camel يُعْطِيyields to الزِمامَthe rein الزائِعَاswerving
بِناعِجٍ يُعْطِي الزِمامَ الزائِعَا
It was as though I brought a cutting sword to bear,
Driving on without stop o'er the open terrain
on a swift white camel yielding to the swerving rein,
Through time without end the horizons sustained
أَسْجَحَsmooth and even رَأْساًin head وَمَقَذّاًand in nape دَامِعَاdripping
أَسْجَحَ رَأْساً وَمَقَذّاً دَامِعَا
كَأَنَّas though قاراًtar أَوْor كُحَيْلاًthin pitch نابِعَاwelling up
كَأَنَّ قاراً أَوْ كُحَيْلاً نابِعَا
smooth-headed, with a dripping nape.
As though veiled in shawls that curtain their sight
As though tar, or thin pitch welling up,
From dawn until dusk he raced without respite
ضَرَّجَstained مِنْfrom أَعْطافِهاtheir flanks النَوابِعَاthe oozing streams
ضَرَّجَ مِنْ أَعْطافِها النَوابِعَا
بِهاجِراتٍin midday heats تَحْلُبmilk الأَخَادِعَاthe neck-veins
بِهاجِراتٍ تَحْلُب الأَخَادِعَا
had stained the streams oozing from their flanks,
Feeling the ground shake and tremble with fright
in midday heats that milked the neck-veins.
With a roar that would overwhelm the senses outright
كَأَنَّas though تَحْتِيbeneath me ناشِطاًa ranging wild bull مُسَارِعَاracing
كَأَنَّ تَحْتِي ناشِطاً مُسَارِعَا
ذاhaving جُدَّةٍa stripe يَجْتابُputs on نِصْعاًa white robe ناصِعَاdazzlingly white
ذا جُدَّةٍ يَجْتابُ نِصْعاً ناصِعَا
As though beneath me were a ranging wild bull, racing,
He spent the night startled, afraid, and awaking
striped, wearing a dazzling white robe,
Till day peeled the shadows away in its breaking
مُقَلِّصاًcut short لَاnot يَبْلُغreaches الأَكَارِعَاthe shanks
مُقَلِّصاً لَا يَبْلُغ الأَكَارِعَا
فِيamong أُبَّدٍwild cows تَطَّرِدُrange through المَرَاتِعَاthe pastures
فِي أُبَّدٍ تَطَّرِدُ المَرَاتِعَا
cut short, not reaching his shanks,
At dawn the cave's guest rose famished and hounded
among wild cows ranging through the pastures,
He seeks prey before thinking to rest on the ground
كَأَنَّماas though يَنْظُرْنَthey gaze فِيthrough بَراقِعَاface-veils
كَأَنَّما يَنْظُرْنَ فِي بَراقِعَا
أَصْبحَhe set out at dawn مِنْfrom أَرضٍa land لِأَرضٍto a land جازِعاcrossing
أَصْبحَ مِنْ أَرضٍ لِأَرضٍ جازِعا
as though they gazed through face-veils.
When he spied lumbering game, a feast there for taking
He set out at dawn, crossing from one land to another,
With a pack of wild dogs and lions partaking
يَستَشعِرُhe feels against his skin الحَفّافَةَthe rustling winds الزَعازِعاviolent gusts
يَستَشعِرُ الحَفّافَةَ الزَعازِعا
بِذيamid something with دَوِيٍّa roar يَملَأُfills المَسامِعاthe ears
بِذي دَوِيٍّ يَملَأُ المَسامِعا
feeling the rustling, violent gusts against his skin,
They chased him until he fell tumbling down
amid a roar that filled the ears.
Plunging on, the cackling hyenas abound
فَبَاتَso he spent the night يَقْضِيpassing لَيْلَهhis night أَهازِعَاin watches
فَبَاتَ يَقْضِي لَيْلَه أَهازِعَا
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen كَشَّفَstripped away لَيْلاًa night واضِعَاlaying down
حَتَّى إِذَا كَشَّفَ لَيْلاً واضِعَا
So he passed his night, watch after watch,
Hot in pursuit of an ostrich fleeing restless
until, when a night spreading itself was stripped away,
And longing to set on that long graceful neck
أَكْنافَهُits flanks قَشْعُthe dispersal النَهارِof daylight قاشِعَاsweeping away
أَكْنافَهُ قَشْعُ النَهارِ قاشِعَا
غَدَاhe went forth at dawn وَضَيفُand the guest القَفرof the wilderness يَغدوgoes forth at dawn جَائِعاhungry
غَدَا وَضَيفُ القَفر يَغدو جَائِعا
its flanks dispersed by the clearing light of day,
Until pressed beyond limit, beset by the chase
he went forth; the wilderness's guest goes forth hungry,
He turned and attacked them, their lives to efface
يَعْتادُfrequents رَبْلاًfresh regrowth قَبْلَbefore أَنْthat يُقَارِعَاhe fights
يَعْتادُ رَبْلاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقَارِعَا
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen عايَنَhe beheld رَوْعاًa terror رائِعَاterrifying
حَتَّى إِذَا عايَنَ رَوْعاً رائِعَا
frequenting fresh herbage before he fought.
Raining blows on their necks, their sides, without cease
Until, when he beheld a terrifying threat—
In a frenzy, his talons their living flesh seize
كِلابَhounds كَلاّبٍof a hound-handler وَسِمْطاًand a string هابِعَاneck-outstretched
كِلابَ كَلاّبٍ وَسِمْطاً هابِعَا
أَتْبَعْنَهُthey pursued him فانْصَاعَso he veered away يَهْوِيrushing وادِعَاat ease
أَتْبَعْنَهُ فانْصَاعَ يَهْوِي وادِعَا
a hound-handler's dogs, and a string with necks outstretched—
Leaving carcasses shredded, no longer defiant
they pursued him; he veered away, rushing at ease,
And seeing no savior appear to rely on
يَنْجُوhe flees swiftly وَيَذْرِينَand they scatter عَجاجاًdust ساطِعَاrising
يَنْجُو وَيَذْرِينَ عَجاجاً ساطِعَا
فِيin إِثْرِthe wake ناجٍof a swift fugitive يَقْسِمcuts across الأَجَارِعَاthe sandy flats
فِي إِثْرِ ناجٍ يَقْسِم الأَجَارِعَا
racing away as they scattered rising dust,
To save his own life, as they closed in for the kill
after a swift fugitive cleaving the sandy flats.
He roared his last roar, and succumbed to their will
وَقَدْand already طَوَىconcealed فِيwithin النَفْسِhimself أَنْto يُوَاقِعَاengage in battle
وَقَدْ طَوَى فِي النَفْسِ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَا
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen رَهِقْنَهُthey caught up with him طَوامِعَاeager for prey
حَتَّى إِذَا رَهِقْنَهُ طَوامِعَا
Yet he had concealed within himself the will to fight,
The sixth, seventh, eighth did not finish their feast
until, when they caught up with him, eager for prey,
Nor the ninth, two more, then the gluttons increased
كَرَّhe wheeled back عَلَيْهَاat them يَطْعنُstabbing المَجَامِعَاthe joints
كَرَّ عَلَيْهَا يَطْعنُ المَجَامِعَا
وَيَطْعنُand stabs الأَعْناقَthe necks وَالمَرَاجِعاand the shoulder joints
وَيَطْعنُ الأَعْناقَ وَالمَرَاجِعا
he wheeled against them, stabbing at their joints,
Till his kin lay dead from his frenzied attack
and stabbing their necks and shoulder joints,
And when the cacophony reached its zenith
بَجّاًgashing وَوَخْضاًand piercing يَنْفُذpenetrates الأَضالِعَاthe ribs
بَجّاً وَوَخْضاً يَنْفُذ الأَضالِعَا
يَتْرُكُleaves مِنْthrough تَخْرِيقِهِhis rending اللَوامِعَاthe gleaming hides
يَتْرُكُ مِنْ تَخْرِيقِهِ اللَوامِعَا
gashing and piercing right through their ribs,
As his guttural death-cries rose louder again
leaving, through his rending, their gleaming hides
Where he fell, thrashing deadly but fighting in vain
أَوْهِيَةًgaping rents لاnot يَبْتَغِينَthey seek راقِعَاa patcher
أَوْهِيَةً لا يَبْتَغِينَ راقِعَا
وَلاand not تَرَىyou see ذاone possessing نَجْدَةٍcourage مُقَارِعَاa combatant
وَلا تَرَى ذا نَجْدَةٍ مُقَارِعَا
as gaping rents that sought no patcher.
When he saw his love soaking the death-beds in red
Nor will you see a valiant combatant
Though helpless to fight, refusing to wed
عَنْin defense of نَفْسِهِhimself إِذْwhen هَزَّbrandished رَوْقاًa horn ماتِعَاlofty
عَنْ نَفْسِهِ إِذْ هَزَّ رَوْقاً ماتِعَا
أَرْبَطَmore steadfast جَأْشاًof heart وَأَشَدَّand stronger مانِعَاin defense
أَرْبَطَ جَأْشاً وَأَشَدَّ مانِعَا
defending himself, when he brandishes a lofty horn,
He gave up, retreated, the horizon in sight
more steadfast of heart or stronger in defense.
Alone, like a lost ostrich wandering at night
حَتَّىuntil شَفَىfinished off سادِسَهاtheir sixth وَالسابِعاand the seventh
حَتَّى شَفَى سادِسَها وَالسابِعا
وَثامِناًand an eighth لَمْdid not يُشْوِهِwound it nonfatally وَتاسِعاand a ninth
وَثامِناً لَمْ يُشْوِهِ وَتاسِعا
Until he finished off their sixth and their seventh,
and an eighth—not merely grazed—and a ninth,
وَاثْنَيْنِand two مِنْout of أَرْبَعَةٍfour وَزَارِعاand sowing
وَاثْنَيْنِ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ وَزَارِعا
مِنْthrough وَلْقِهhis rapid stabbing الأَقْرابَthe flanks مَوْتاًdeath ناقِعاdeadly
مِنْ وَلْقِه الأَقْرابَ مَوْتاً ناقِعا
and two out of four, sowing
with his rapid stabs into their flanks, certain death.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen أَكْثَرَتِthey multiplied الوَعَاوِعَاthe howls
حَتَّى إِذَا أَكْثَرَتِ الوَعَاوِعَا
وَعَظْعَظَتْand recoiled مِنْfrom نَفْضِهِhis shaking off الجَنَادِعاthe black beetles
وَعَظْعَظَتْ مِنْ نَفْضِهِ الجَنَادِعا
Until, when they multiplied their howls,
and recoiled as he shook off those beetles,
بِحَيْثwhere أَلْقَىcast down ناشِجاًone gasping وَدَاسِعاand one vomiting
بِحَيْث أَلْقَى ناشِجاً وَدَاسِعا
لَمَّاwhen رَآهاhe saw them تَصْبَغُstaining المَضَاجِعاthe resting places
لَمَّا رَآها تَصْبَغُ المَضَاجِعا
where he left one gasping and another vomiting,
when he saw them staining the places where they lay,
صَرْعَىfelled وَلاand not يُحْسِنُhe knows how أَنْto يُصَارِعاwrestle
صَرْعَى وَلا يُحْسِنُ أَنْ يُصَارِعا
أَقْصَرْنَthey desisted عَنْهُfrom him فَانْتَوَىso he headed for المَرَاتِعاthe pastures
أَقْصَرْنَ عَنْهُ فَانْتَوَى المَرَاتِعا
felled—and he had no skill at wrestling—
they desisted from him, and he headed for the pastures,
فَرْداًalone كَقَيْلٍlike a prince الحِمْيَرِيِّthe Himyarite شاسِعَاfar away
فَرْداً كَقَيْلٍ الحِمْيَرِيِّ شاسِعَا
alone, like a Himyarite prince, far removed.
Partial English translation: 64 of 75 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1