ماwhat هاجَstirred شَوقَكَyour longing مِنfrom مَغانيthe dwelling sites of دمنَةٍan old encampment
ما هاجَ شَوقَكَ مِن مَغاني دمنَةٍ
وَمَنازلand dwellings شَغَفَpierced الفُؤادَthe heart بَلاهاtheir decay
وَمَنازل شَغَفَ الفُؤادَ بَلاها
What stirred your longing among the sites of an old encampment,
Your passion was not stirred by swarthy maidens,
and dwellings whose decay pierced the heart?
Nor by abodes where hearts were enraptured by them.
دارٌa dwelling لِصَفراءَfor Safra الَّتيwhom لاnot تَنتَهيyou cease
دارٌ لِصَفراءَ الَّتي لا تَنتَهي
عَنfrom ذِكرِهاremembering her أَبَداًever وَلاand not تَنساهاyou forget her
عَن ذِكرِها أَبَداً وَلا تَنساها
A home of Safra, whom you never cease
A house for the blonde who never ceases
remembering, and never forget.
Speaking of it, nor forgets it ever.
جَيداءُlong-necked يَطويهاfolds her الضَجيعُthe bedfellow فَتَنطَويso she folds
جَيداءُ يَطويها الضَجيعُ فَتَنطَوي
طَيَّlike the folding of الحَمالَةِthe sword-belt لَيِّنٌsupple مَتناهاboth sides of her back
طَيَّ الحَمالَةِ لَيِّنٌ مَتناها
Long-necked, her bedfellow folds her, and she folds,
The smooth-necked one, embraced and enfolded,
like a sword-belt, her back supple on either side.
Docile as a tamed she-camel in one's arms.
صادَتكَcaught you أُختُthe sister of بَنيthe sons of لُؤَيٍّLu'ayy إِذwhen رَمَتshe shot
صادَتكَ أُختُ بَني لُؤَيٍّ إِذ رَمَت
وَأَصابَand struck سَهمُكُyour arrow إِذاwhen رَمَيتَyou shot سِواهاsomeone other than her
وَأَصابَ سَهمُكُ إِذا رَمَيتَ سِواها
The sister of Banu Lu'ayy caught you when she shot,
Your sister shot at the tribe of Lu'ayy, when she aimed,
yet your arrow struck true when you shot at someone else.
Your arrow struck its mark whenever you shot it.
وَأَعارَهاand lent her الحَدَثانthe changes of Time مِنكَfrom you مَوَدَّةًaffection
وَأَعارَها الحَدَثان مِنكَ مَوَدَّةً
وَأُعيرَand was lent غَيرُكَsomeone other than you وُدُّهاher love وَهَواهاand her passion
وَأُعيرَ غَيرُكَ وُدُّها وَهَواها
Time lent her affection from you,
She reserved her affection for you alone,
while another was lent her love and passion.
While others' love for her was as naught.
تِلكَthat الظَلامَةُthe wrong قَدindeed عَلِمتُI have known فَلَيتَهاso would that she
تِلكَ الظَلامَةُ قَد عَلِمتُ فَلَيتَها
إِذwhen كُنتُI was مَكتَبِلاًfettered تَلِمُّwould draw near نَواهاher remoteness
إِذ كُنتُ مَكتَبِلاً تَلِمُّ نَواها
That is the wrong I have known; would that she,
I knew that darkness when I was heavily in debt,
when I was fettered, had drawn near despite her remoteness.
And she came gently to meet me at night.
بَيضاءُfair-skinned تَستَلِبُsteals الرِجالَmen عُقولَهُمtheir minds
بَيضاءُ تَستَلِبُ الرِجالَ عُقولَهُم
عَظُمَتgrew full رَوادِفُهاher hips وَدَقَّand grew slender حَشاهاher waist
عَظُمَت رَوادِفُها وَدَقَّ حَشاها
Fair-skinned, she steals men's reason;
A fair one who steals the minds of men,
her hips are full and her waist slender.
Huge of buttocks and slight of hips.
وَكَأَنَّand as though طَعمَthe taste of الزَنجَبيلِginger وَلَذَّةًand the pleasure of
وَكَأَنَّ طَعمَ الزَنجَبيلِ وَلَذَّةً
صَهباءَtawny wine ساكَbrushed بِهاwith it المُسَحِّرُthe dawn wine-server فاهاher mouth
صَهباءَ ساكَ بِها المُسَحِّرُ فاها
As though the taste of ginger and the pleasure
She was as pleasing to taste as ginger,
of tawny wine had been brushed upon her mouth by the dawn-server.
Grey-eyed, and enchanting when she smiled.
ياO شَوقُlonging ماwhat بِكَails you يَومَthe day بانَdeparted حُدوجُهُمtheir howdahs
يا شَوقُ ما بِكَ يَومَ بانَ حُدوجُهُم
مِنfrom ذيDhu المُوَيقِعِal-Muwayqi' غُدوَةًin the morning فَرَآهاand he saw her
مِن ذي المُوَيقِعِ غُدوَةً فَرَآها
O longing, what ailed you the day their howdahs departed
Oh passion, what ailed you when at daybreak
from Dhu al-Muwayqi' at dawn, and he saw her?
Their pack-saddles were visible to me?
وَكَأَنَّand as though نَخلاًpalms فيin مُطيَةٍMutiyah ثاوِياًstanding
وَكَأَنَّ نَخلاً في مُطيَةٍ ثاوِياً
بِالكَمعِat al-Kam' بَينَbetween قَرارِهاits low ground وَحَجاهاand its edges
بِالكَمعِ بَينَ قَرارِها وَحَجاها
As though palms stood in Mutiyah,
They were like palm-trees crumpling in the valley,
at al-Kam', between its low ground and its edges.
Amidst their discarded refuse and droppings.
وَعَلىand upon الجِمالِthe camels إِذاwhen وَنَينَthey grew weary لِسائِقٍfor a driver
وَعَلى الجِمالِ إِذا وَنَينَ لِسائِقٍ
أَنزَلنَthey made dismount آخَرَanother رائِحاًgoing at evening فَحَداهاso he sang them onward
أَنزَلنَ آخَرَ رائِحاً فَحَداها
Upon the camels, when they tired under one driver,
When the camels were surly with their driver
they made another dismount at evening, and he sang them onward.
They made the last to start hurry to overtake them.
مِنfrom بَينِamong مُختَضِعٍone with drooping neck وَآخَرَand another مَشيُهُhis gait
مِن بَينِ مُختَضِعٍ وَآخَرَ مَشيُهُ
رَقِلٌa swift trot إِذاwhen رُفِعَتwas raised عَلَيهِover him عَصاهاher goad
رَقِلٌ إِذا رُفِعَت عَلَيهِ عَصاها
Some drooped their necks, while another's gait
Among the trudging and weary ones, another
was a swift trot when her goad was raised over him.
Stumbling when the stick was lifted against him.
مِنfrom بَينِamong بَكرٍa maiden كَالمَهاةِlike an oryx وَكاعِبِand a young full-breasted woman
مِن بَينِ بَكرٍ كَالمَهاةِ وَكاعِبِ
شَفَعَenhanced النَعيمُluxury شَبابَهاher youth فَغَذاهاso it nourished her
شَفَعَ النَعيمُ شَبابَها فَغَذاها
Among them a maiden like an oryx, and a young full-breasted woman
Among the young ones, lively and playful,
whose youth luxury had enhanced and nourished.
Luxuriant pastures had nourished their youth.
لاnot مُكثِرٌa wealthy man غُسٌّbase وَلاnor اِبنُa son of وَليدَةٍa slave-woman
لا مُكثِرٌ غُسٌّ وَلا اِبنُ وَليدَةٍ
باديexposing المروَةِthe glans يَستَبيحُviolates حَماهاher sanctuary
بادي المروَةِ يَستَبيحُ حَماها
No wealthy but base man, nor a slave-woman's son,
Not the crowd of rabble, nor the son of a slave-girl
with his glans exposed, may violate her sanctuary.
Whose shamelessness lays waste his neighbour's honour.
وَلاnor جَعَلنَthey made مَحمَلَthe carrying-place of ذيthe bearer of السِلاحِweapons مَجَنَّهُhis shield
وَلا جَعَلنَ مَحمَلَ ذي السِلاحِ مَجَنَّهُ
رَعنَthe spur of اليَتيمَةِal-Yatimah وَاِفتَرَشنَand bedded upon لِواهاits curved sandbank
رَعنَ اليَتيمَةِ وَاِفتَرَشنَ لِواها
Nor did they make the armed man's shield-rest
They climbed up Uthaydah Valley after
the spur of al-Yatimah, or bed down on its curving sands.
Maltreating the young she-camel and splitting her hooves.
أَصعَدنَthey went upstream فيin واديthe valley of أُثيدَةٍUthaydah بَعدَماafter
أَصعَدنَ في وادي أُثيدَةٍ بَعدَما
عَسَفَhe traversed الخَميلَةَthe thicket وَاِحزَأَلَّand rose high صَواهاits cairns
عَسَفَ الخَميلَةَ وَاِحزَأَلَّ صَواها
They went upstream through the valley of Uthaydah, after
A village where pregnancy swelled the udders
he had traversed the thicket and its cairns had risen high.
And whose roofs could be seen amidst the waste.
قُرَيَّةٌQurayyah حَبَلَsnared المُقيظُthe summer sojourn وَأَهلُهاand her people
قُرَيَّةٌ حَبَلَ المُقيظُ وَأَهلُها
بِحَشاin the heart of مَآبٍMa'ab تُرىare seen قُصورُthe palaces of فَراهاits Fara
بِحَشا مَآبٍ تُرى قُصورُ فَراها
The summer sojourn had snared Qurayyah, while her people
Your people from Dhatu Qatad pitched camp there,
were within Ma'ab, where the palaces of its Fara are seen.
Where are they in relation to your dwellings?
وَاِحتَلَّand settled أَهلُكَyour people ذاDhu القتودِal-Qutud وَغُرَّباًand Ghurrab
وَاِحتَلَّ أَهلُكَ ذا القتودِ وَغُرَّباً
فَالصَحصَحانَthen al-Sahsahan فَأَينَso where مِنكَfrom you نَواهاher distant abode
فَالصَحصَحانَ فَأَينَ مِنكَ نَواها
Your people settled Dhu al-Qutud and Ghurrab,
Whenever her image lingered in the heart,
then al-Sahsahan—how far from you is her abode!
Tears would flow abundantly from the eyes.
فَإِذاso when تَحَيَّرَwandered bewildered فيin الفُؤادِthe heart خَيالُهاher image
فَإِذا تَحَيَّرَ في الفُؤادِ خَيالُها
شَرِقَchoked الشُؤونُthe tear ducts بِعَبرَةٍwith a tear فَبَكاهاso he wept for her
شَرِقَ الشُؤونُ بِعَبرَةٍ فَبَكاها
When her image wanders bewildered in the heart,
Will you not forget her for one with flowing hair,
the tear ducts choke with tears, and he weeps for her.
Proud, when her litter is seen openly?
أَفَلاwill you not تَنساهاforget her بِذاتِwith one possessing بَرايَةٍenduring strength
أَفَلا تَنساها بِذاتِ بَرايَةٍ
عَنسٍa sturdy she-camel تَجُلُّremains imposing إِذاwhen السَفارَjourneys بَراهاwear her thin
عَنسٍ تَجُلُّ إِذا السَفارَ بَراها
Will you not forget her with one of enduring strength,
She crosses the stony ground when the desert is aflame,
a sturdy she-camel, still imposing when journeys wear her thin?
Plaiting the fringes of the litter's canopy.
تَطويfolds away الإِكامَthe hills إِذاwhen الفَلاةُthe desert تَوَقَّدَتblazes
تَطوي الإِكامَ إِذا الفَلاةُ تَوَقَّدَت
طَيَّlike folding الخَنيفِa coarse cloak بِوَشكِwith the swiftness of رَجعِthe return of خُطاهاher steps
طَيَّ الخَنيفِ بِوَشكِ رَجعِ خُطاها
She folds the hills away when the desert blazes,
Wearing slippers for fear of the Jinn,
like folding a coarse cloak, with the quick return of her steps.
When the flies swarm noisily around her tent,
وَتَشولُand raises خَشيَةَfor fear of ذيthe one on اليَمينِthe right بِمُسبَلٍwith a hanging tail
وَتَشولُ خَشيَةَ ذي اليَمينِ بِمُسبَلٍ
وَحفٍthick-haired إِذاwhen ضَخِبَbuzz الذُبابُthe flies حَماهاprotects her
وَحفٍ إِذا ضَخِبَ الذُبابُ حَماها
She raises, fearing the man to her right, a hanging tail,
Her trousers gathered together at the joints, above them
thick-haired, which shields her when the flies buzz.
Strangely deaf, closing off the place for her ritual prayer,
مُتَذَيِّلٍtrailing long لَدنِsupple المَفاصِلِin its joints فَوقَهُabove it
مُتَذَيِّلٍ لَدنِ المَفاصِلِ فَوقَهُ
عَجَبٌa tailbone أَصَمُّsolid يَسُدُّfills خَورَthe hollow of صَلاهاher hipbones
عَجَبٌ أَصَمُّ يَسُدُّ خَورَ صَلاها
Trailing long and supple-jointed; above it
Her back was thumped when mounting, as if her seat
is a solid tailbone, filling the hollow between her hipbones.
Were steps Solomon - Allah's prophet - built.
نُخِسَتwas braced بِهِby it عَجزٌa rump كَأَنَّas though مَحالَهاher vertebrae
نُخِسَت بِهِ عَجزٌ كَأَنَّ مَحالَها
دَرَجٌstairs سُلَيمانُSolomon النَبِيُّthe prophet بَناهاbuilt them
دَرَجٌ سُلَيمانُ النَبِيُّ بَناها
Her rump is braced by it, with vertebrae like
Her legs lead the succession of her limbs
stairs built by Solomon the prophet.
In single file, her hoofs crushing the pebbles beneath them.
بُنيَتwas built عَلىupon كَرشٍa paunch كَأَنَّas though حُرودَهاher intestinal coils
بُنيَت عَلى كَرشٍ كَأَنَّ حُرودَها
مُقَطٌropes مُطَوّاةٌdoubled over أُمِرَّwere tightly twisted قُواهاtheir strands
مُقَطٌ مُطَوّاةٌ أُمِرَّ قُواها
She is built upon a paunch, whose coils are like
She cast her fetus down on the road
doubled ropes, their strands twisted taut,
In an arid, barren plain, stripped bare.
فيin مُجفَرٍa roomy torso حابيswelling outward الضُلوعِin the ribs كَأَنَّهُas though it
في مُجفَرٍ حابي الضُلوعِ كَأَنَّهُ
بِشرٌa human يُجيبُanswering الناطقينَthose who speak رَجاهاher sides
بِشرٌ يُجيبُ الناطقينَ رَجاها
in a roomy, spreading-ribbed body, as though
Thus she spent the night swelling with pregnancy
her sides were a human answering those who speak.
Curled up in the encampment, wrapped in her garment.
وَيَقودُand leads ناهِضُهاher shoulder muscles مَجامِعَthe joints of صُلبِهاher backbone
وَيَقودُ ناهِضُها مَجامِعَ صُلبِها
نَعباًat a swift pace وَتَبتَدِرُand race toward النَجاءَspeed يَداهاher forelegs
نَعباً وَتَبتَدِرُ النَجاءَ يَداها
Her shoulder muscles lead the joined bones of her spine
Her resting place is scarce blessed,
at a swift pace, her forelegs vying for speed.
Along with those born to her there.
وَتَسوقُand drive رِجلاهاher hindlegs تَواليthe rear parts of خَلقِهاher frame
وَتَسوقُ رِجلاها تَوالي خَلقِها
طَرداًdriving onward وَتَلتَطِسُand strike الحَصىthe pebbles بِعجاهاagainst her leg-bones
طَرداً وَتَلتَطِسُ الحَصى بِعجاها
Her hindlegs drive the rear of her frame
Jet black twins, remainder of her brood,
onward, while pebbles strike against her leg-bones.
She flung them vilely down to the ground.
أَلقَتshe dropped عَلىupon مَتنِthe back of الطَريقِthe road جَنينَهاher unborn calf
أَلقَت عَلى مَتنِ الطَريقِ جَنينَها
بَتَنوفَةٍin a wilderness قَفرٍbarren يُعارُis passed to and fro قَطاهاits sandgrouse
بَتَنوفَةٍ قَفرٍ يُعارُ قَطاها
She dropped her unborn calf upon the back of the road,
Until the drowsiness left him,
in a barren wilderness where sandgrouse pass to and fro.
And he had satisfied a need,
فَغَدَتso she went at dawn وَأَصبَحَand it remained at morning فيin المَعرَسِthe night's resting-place ثاوِياًlying
فَغَدَت وَأَصبَحَ في المَعرَسِ ثاوِياً
كَالجِروِlike a puppy مُلتَفِعاًwrapped عَلَيهِover it سَلاهاher afterbirth
كَالجِروِ مُلتَفِعاً عَلَيهِ سَلاها
She went on at dawn, while it lay at the night's resting-place,
He bent his head to wrap a turban,
like a puppy, wrapped in her afterbirth.
Unworn when he slept, around it.
وَلَهاand she has مُناخٌa kneeling-place قَلَّwas infrequent ماthat بَرَكَتshe knelt بِهِin it
وَلَها مُناخٌ قَلَّ ما بَرَكَت بِهِ
وَمُصَمَّعاتٌand tapered pellets مِنfrom بَناتٍthe daughters of مِعاهاher intestines
وَمُصَمَّعاتٌ مِن بَناتٍ مِعاها
She has a kneeling-place where she seldom knelt,
Then he hastened to the tethering rope of his mount,
and tapered pellets, daughters of her intestines,
Like a young camel which strains against its nose-rein.
سودٌblack تَوائِمٌtwins مِنfrom بَقِيَّةِthe remainder of حَشوِهاher belly's contents
سودٌ تَوائِمٌ مِن بَقِيَّةِ حَشوِها
قَذَفَتshe cast بَهِنَّwith them الأَرضَthe earth غِبَّafter سُراهاher night journey
قَذَفَت بَهِنَّ الأَرضَ غِبَّ سُراها
black twins from what remained inside her,
The plump waterskin rivaled him - as if it were
which she cast upon the earth after her night journey.
A goat whose udder the wild beasts had eaten away.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِنقَشَعَتcleared ضَبابَةُthe haze of نَومِهِhis sleep
حَتّى إِذا اِنقَشَعَت ضَبابَةُ نَومِهِ
عَنهُfrom him وَكانَتand it had been حاجَةًa need فَقَضاهاso he satisfied it
عَنهُ وَكانَت حاجَةً فَقَضاها
Until, when the haze of his sleep cleared
Until it despaired, and he squeezed its teat dry,
from him—it had been a need, and he had satisfied it—
And it saw the remains of its milk gone.
أَهوىhe reached down يُعَصِّبُbinding رَأَسَهُhis head بِعَمامَةٍwith a turban
أَهوى يُعَصِّبُ رَأَسَهُ بِعَمامَةٍ
دَسماءَgrimy لَمnot يَكُhe had حينَwhen نامَhe slept طَواهاfolded it
دَسماءَ لَم يَكُ حينَ نامَ طَواها
he reached down to bind his head with a turban,
It wriggled free, and a grey horse of excellent stock met it,
grimy, which he had not folded when he slept.
Neighing loud, and it shied away from it.
ثُمَّthen اِتلَأَبَّhe went straight إِلىto زِمامِthe halter of مُناخَةٍa kneeling camel
ثُمَّ اِتلَأَبَّ إِلى زِمامِ مُناخَةٍ
كَبَداءَbroad-bellied شُدَّwas tightened بِنَسعَتَيهِwith his two girths حَشاهاher belly
كَبَداءَ شُدَّ بِنَسعَتَيهِ حَشاها
Then he went straight to the halter of a kneeling camel,
They raise the dust, covering each other white with it,
broad-bellied, her belly tightened by his two girths.
Weaving it anew as they race onward.
وَغَدَتand she went forth تُنازِعُهُtugging against him الجَديلُthe braided rein كَأَنَّهاas though she
وَغَدَت تُنازِعُهُ الجَديلُ كَأَنَّها
بَيدانَةٌa wild she-ass أَكَلَhad eaten السِباعُthe beasts of prey طَلاهاher foal
بَيدانَةٌ أَكَلَ السِباعُ طَلاها
She went forth, tugging the braided rein against him, as though she were
It billows up when they pass over high ground,
a wild she-ass whose foal the beasts of prey had eaten.
And subsides when they course over low ground.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen يَئِسَتshe despaired وَأَسحَقَand dried up ضَرعُهاher udder
حَتّى إِذا يَئِسَت وَأَسحَقَ ضَرعُها
وَرَأَتand she saw بِقِيَّةَthe remainder of شَلوِهِits torn body فَشَجاهاso it grieved her
وَرَأَت بِقِيَّةَ شَلوِهِ فَشَجاها
Until, when she despaired and her udder dried,
The grey urged and raced up abreast of it,
and saw what remained of its torn body, which grieved her,
Butting its shoulder, then wheeled around and left it.
قَلِقَتshe grew restless وَعارَضَهاand crossed her path حِصانُa stallion of نَحائِصٍwild she-asses
قَلِقَت وَعارَضَها حِصانُ نَحائِصٍ
صَحِلُhoarse الصَهيلِin his neighing وَأَدبَرَتand she turned away وَتَلاهاand he followed her
صَحِلُ الصَهيلِ وَأَدبَرَت وَتَلاها
she grew restless; a stallion of wild she-asses crossed her path,
On a morning where drizzling rain striped the hide of the valley,
hoarse in his neighing; she turned away, and he followed her.
Dotting it with the remnants of its moisture.
يَتَعاوَرانِthey passed between them مِنَfrom الغُبارِthe dust مُلاءَةًa mantle
يَتَعاوَرانِ مِنَ الغُبارِ مُلاءَةً
بَيضاءَwhite مُجدَثَةًfreshly made هُماthe two of them نَسَجاهاwove it
بَيضاءَ مُجدَثَةً هُما نَسَجاها
They passed between them a mantle of dust,
They travelled until the sun was high and hot,
white and freshly made, which the two had woven.
And the time of day for drink was past.
تُطوىis folded إِذاwhen عَلَواthe two climbed مَكاناًa place جاسِياًhard
تُطوى إِذا عَلَوا مَكاناً جاسِياً
وَإِذاand when السَنابِكُthe hooves أَسهَلَتreached soft ground نَشَراهاthe two spread it
وَإِذا السَنابِكُ أَسهَلَت نَشَراها
It folds when they climb hard ground,
Their hearts thought of the valley's pools in the dusk,
and when their hooves reach soft ground, they spread it out.
That would clear away the day's fatigue and anguish.
فَأَلَحَّso he pressed on وَاِعتَزَمَتand she held firm عَلَيهِagainst him بِشَأوِهاwith her pace
فَأَلَحَّ وَاِعتَزَمَت عَلَيهِ بِشَأوِها
شَرَفَينِtwo rises ثُمَّتَthen رَدَّهاhe turned her back فَثَناهاso he redirected her
شَرَفَينِ ثُمَّتَ رَدَّها فَثَناها
He pressed on, and she held firm against him at her pace
So he importuned her, and she resolved to yield to him,
over two rises; then he turned her back and redirected her
Raising her tail's twin pendants, then pressing them close.
لِسَرارَةٍtoward a valley-bottom حَفَشَgathered الرَبيقُal-Rabiq غُثاءَهاits flood-debris
لِسَرارَةٍ حَفَشَ الرَبيقُ غُثاءَها
حَوّاءَdark-green يَزدَرِعُclothes itself in الغُمَيرَfresh grass beneath dry stems ثَراهاits soil
حَوّاءَ يَزدَرِعُ الغُمَيرَ ثَراها
to a valley-bottom where al-Rabiq had gathered its flood-debris,
To a stallion whose spittle was thick with froth
dark-green, its soil clothed in fresh grass beneath dry stems.
To be swallowed by the sands where it fell.
فَتَصَيَّفاهاso they summered there يُصبِحانِthe two awakened كِلاهُماboth of them
فَتَصَيَّفاها يُصبِحانِ كِلاهُما
لِثَقُwet الجَحافِلِin the muzzles مِنfrom وَكيفِthe dripping of نَداهاits dew
لِثَقُ الجَحافِلِ مِن وَكيفِ نَداها
They spent the summer there, both awakening
They mingled by night, and when dawn broke
with muzzles wet from the dripping of its dew,
Were like two armies because of their loud cries.
حَتّىuntil اِصطَلىhe felt the burning of وَهَجَthe blaze of المَقيطِsummer heat وَخانَهُand failed him
حَتّى اِصطَلى وَهَجَ المَقيطِ وَخانَهُ
أَبقىthe most lasting of مَشارِبَهُhis drinking-places وَشابَand turned gray عَثاهاits tangled growth
أَبقى مَشارِبَهُ وَشابَ عَثاها
until he felt summer's blazing heat, and there failed him
Until the sun was bright and the noon heat intense,
even his most lasting drinking-place, while its tangled growth turned gray.
And the time for drinking was gone.
وَثَوىand settled القَتامُthe dust عَلىupon الصُوىthe cairns وَتَذَكَّراand the two remembered
وَثَوى القَتامُ عَلى الصُوى وَتَذَكَّرا
ماءَthe water of المَناظِرِal-Manazir قُلبَهاits wells وَأَضاهاand its pools
ماءَ المَناظِرِ قُلبَها وَأَضاها
Dust settled upon the cairns, and the two remembered
Thirst tortured them, and he remembered
the waters of al-Manazir, its wells and pools.
The waters he had frequented and loved before.
فَأَرَنَّso he called aloud يَأَرِنُهاurging her with his cry عَرَضَتappeared لَهُbefore him
فَأَرَنَّ يَأَرِنُها عَرَضَت لَهُ
بَيداءُa wilderness ذاتُwith مَخارِمٍpasses عَسَفاهاthey traversed it
بَيداءُ ذاتُ مَخارِمٍ عَسَفاها
He cried aloud, urging her on; before him lay
He called to her passionately, and a bay mare appeared,
a wilderness cut with passes, which the two traversed,
With gashes on her flanks where she had been beaten.
حَتّىuntil تَأَوَّبَhe reached at evening ماءَthe water of عَينٍa spring زَعرَبٍcopious
حَتّى تَأَوَّبَ ماءَ عَينٍ زَعرَبٍ
تَنقيcroak الضَفادِعَthe frogs فيin نَقيعِthe pool of صَراهاits stagnant water
تَنقي الضَفادِعَ في نَقيعِ صَراها
until at evening he reached the water of a copious spring,
So they drank their fill at a spring of turbid water
where frogs croak in the pool of its stagnant water.
That frogs made muddy around its overflow.
فَتَزَوَّداso they took provisions نَفَسَينِtwo breaths' worth ثُمَّthen تَوَلَيّاthey turned away
فَتَزَوَّدا نَفَسَينِ ثُمَّ تَوَلَيّا
فَرِحَينِglad غِبَّafter الرَيquenching their thirst أَنto يَذَراهاthey leave it
فَرِحَينِ غِبَّ الرَي أَن يَذَراها
They took two breaths' worth of water, then turned away,
Then fully watered they went on their way,
glad, after drinking their fill, to leave it.
Happy that they had not missed that stop.
Sol 6.1