صَباhe fell into passion صَبوَةًa spell of passion بَلrather لَجَّhe persisted وَهُوَand he is لَجوجُstubborn
صَبا صَبوَةً بَل لَجَّ وَهُوَ لَجوجُ
وَزالَتand moved away لَهاher بِالأَنعَمَينِat al-Anʿamayn حُدوجُcovered litters
وَزالَت لَها بِالأَنعَمَينِ حُدوجُ
He fell into passion—indeed, he persisted, stubborn as ever.
And her covered litters moved away at al-Anʿamayn.
كَماas زالَswayed نَخلٌdate palms بِالعِراقِin Iraq مُكَمَّمٌsheathed
كَما زالَ نَخلٌ بِالعِراقِ مُكَمَّمٌ
أُمِرَّwas directed لَهُto it مِنfrom ذيthe one of الفُراتِthe Euphrates خَليجُa channel
أُمِرَّ لَهُ مِن ذي الفُراتِ خَليجُ
Like sheathed date palms in Iraq swaying,
When a channel from the Euphrates was sent to them.
فَإِنَّكَfor you indeed عَمريby my life أَيَّwhat a نَظرَةِglance عاشِقٍof a lover
فَإِنَّكَ عَمري أَيَّ نَظرَةِ عاشِقٍ
نَظَرتَyou looked وَقُدسٌwhile Quds دونَناbetween us وَدَجوجُand Dajuj
نَظَرتَ وَقُدسٌ دونَنا وَدَجوجُ
By my life, what a lover’s glance you cast
At the traveling women, though Quds and Dajuj lay between us:
إِلىtoward ظُعُنٍtraveling women in litters كَالدَومِlike palms فيهاamong them تَزايُلٌseparation
إِلى ظُعُنٍ كَالدَومِ فيها تَزايُلٌ
وَهِزَّةُand rocking أَجمالٍof camels لَهُنَّfor them وَسيجُa quick pace
وَهِزَّةُ أَجمالٍ لَهُنَّ وَسيجُ
At litters like tall palms, moving apart,
And the rocking of camels as they quickened their pace.
غَدَونَthey set out عَجالىin haste وَاِنتَحَتهُنَّand drove them on خَزرَجٌKhazraj
غَدَونَ عَجالى وَاِنتَحَتهُنَّ خَزرَجٌ
مُعَفِّيَةٌerasing آثارَهُنَّtheir tracks هَدوجُwalking steadily
مُعَفِّيَةٌ آثارَهُنَّ هَدوجُ
They set out in haste, and Khazraj drove them onward,
Walking steadily and erasing their tracks.
سَقىmay he water أُمَّUmm عَمروٍʿAmr كُلَّevery آخِرِend of لَيلَةٍa night
سَقى أُمَّ عَمروٍ كُلَّ آخِرِ لَيلَةٍ
حَناتِمُfull clouds سودٌdark ماؤُهُنَّtheir water ثَجيجُpouring
حَناتِمُ سودٌ ماؤُهُنَّ ثَجيجُ
May dark, full clouds water Umm ʿAmr each night’s end,
Their rain pouring down in torrents.
تَرَوَّتthey drank their fill بِماءِof the water البَحرِof the sea ثُمَّthen تَنَصَّبَتrose up
تَرَوَّت بِماءِ البَحرِ ثُمَّ تَنَصَّبَت
عَلىabove حَبَشِيّاتٍdark clouds لَهُنَّfor them نَئيجُa rumble
عَلى حَبَشِيّاتٍ لَهُنَّ نَئيجُ
They drank their fill of sea water, then rose
Above dark clouds that rumbled.
إِذاwhen هَمَّit was about بِالإِقلاعِto clear هَبَّتblew لَهُupon it الصَباthe east wind
إِذا هَمَّ بِالإِقلاعِ هَبَّت لَهُ الصَبا
فَأَعقَبَand was followed by نَشءٌnew cloud growth بَعدَهاafter it وَخُروجُand emergence
فَأَعقَبَ نَشءٌ بَعدَها وَخُروجُ
Whenever it was about to clear, the east wind blew upon it,
And fresh cloud growth and rain followed.
يُضىءُit shines سَناهُits radiance راتِقاًclosing up مُتَكَشِّفاًopening out
يُضىءُ سَناهُ راتِقاً مُتَكَشِّفاً
أَغَرَّbright كَمِصباحِlike a lamp اليَهودِof the Jews دَلوجُmoving by night
أَغَرَّ كَمِصباحِ اليَهودِ دَلوجُ
Its radiance shines as it closes and opens again,
Bright and moving through the night like a Jewish lamp.
كَماas نَوَّرَlit up المِصباحُthe lamp لِلعُجمِfor the non-Arabs أَمرَهُمtheir task
كَما نَوَّرَ المِصباحُ لِلعُجمِ أَمرَهُم
بُعَيدَa little after رُقادِthe sleep النائِمينَof the sleepers عَريجُrising
بُعَيدَ رُقادِ النائِمينَ عَريجُ
As a lamp lit up their task for the non-Arabs,
A little after the sleepers had gone to rest.
أَرِقتُI lay awake لَهُfor it ذاتَone العِشاءِevening كَأَنَّهُas though it
أَرِقتُ لَهُ ذاتَ العِشاءِ كَأَنَّهُ
مَخاريقُflashing whips يُدعىa call is made وَسطَهُنَّamid them خَريجُa caller
مَخاريقُ يُدعى وَسطَهُنَّ خَريجُ
One evening I lay awake watching it, as though it were
Flashing whips, with a voice calling amid them.
تُكَركِرُهُa wind churns it نَجدِيَّةٌa Najdi wind وَتَمُدُّهُand stretches it
تُكَركِرُهُ نَجدِيَّةٌ وَتَمُدُّهُ
يَمانِيَةٌa Yamani wind فَوقَabove البِحارِthe seas مَعوجُcrooked
يَمانِيَةٌ فَوقَ البِحارِ مَعوجُ
A Najdi wind churns it, and a Yamani wind stretches it
Crookedly above the seas.
لَهُit has هَيدَبٌa trailing fringe يَعلوrising over الشِراجَthe watercourses وَهَيدَبٌand a fringe
لَهُ هَيدَبٌ يَعلو الشِراجَ وَهَيدَبٌ
مُسِفٌّhanging low بِأَذنابِalong the ends of التِلاعِthe gullies خَلوجُhanging apart
مُسِفٌّ بِأَذنابِ التِلاعِ خَلوجُ
One fringe of it rises over the watercourses, while another
Hangs low along the ends of the gullies.
ضَفادِعُهُits frogs غَرقىdrowned رِواءٌsoaked كَأَنَّهاas though they
ضَفادِعُهُ غَرقى رِواءٌ كَأَنَّها
قِيانُsinging women شُروبٍof drinkers رَجعُهُنَّtheir answering cries نَشيجُsobbing
قِيانُ شُروبٍ رَجعُهُنَّ نَشيجُ
Its frogs, soaked and nearly drowned, seem
Like singing women at a drinking gathering, their answering cries like sobs.
لِكُلِّfor every مَسيلٍwatercourse مِنfrom تِهامَةَTihama بَعدَماafter
لِكُلِّ مَسيلٍ مِن تِهامَةَ بَعدَما
تَقَطَّعَbroke apart أَقرانُthe masses of السَحابِthe clouds عَجيجُa roar
تَقَطَّعَ أَقرانُ السَحابِ عَجيجُ
A roar came from every watercourse in Tihama
After the masses of cloud broke apart.
كَأَنَّas though ثِقالَthe heavy ones المُزنِof the rain clouds بَينَbetween تُضارِعٍTudarʿ
كَأَنَّ ثِقالَ المُزنِ بَينَ تُضارِعٍ
وَشامَةَand Shama بَركٌa herd of camels مِنfrom جُذامَJudham لَبيجُclosely packed
وَشامَةَ بَركٌ مِن جُذامَ لَبيجُ
The heavy rain clouds between Tudarʿ and
Shama seemed a dense herd of camels from Judham.
فَذلِكَand that سُقياa watering أُمُّUmm عَمرٍʿAmr وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
فَذلِكَ سُقيا أُمُّ عَمرٍ وَإِنَّني
لِماfor what بَذَلَتshe bestowed مِنof سَيبِهاher gifts لَبَهيجُam truly delighted
لِما بَذَلَت مِن سَيبِها لَبَهيجُ
Such is my wish for rain for Umm ʿAmr; and I
Delight in the gifts she has bestowed.
كَأَنَّas though اِبنَةَthe daughter of السَهمِيِّthe Sahmi دُرَّةُa pearl قامِسٍof a diver
كَأَنَّ اِبنَةَ السَهمِيِّ دُرَّةُ قامِسٍ
لَهاfor it بَعدَafter تَقطيعُrepeated blows النُبوحِof the sea وَهيجُa gleam
لَها بَعدَ تَقطيعُ النُبوحِ وَهيجُ
The daughter of the Sahmi is like a pearl brought up by a diver,
Gleaming after the sea’s repeated blows.
بِكَفَّيin the two hands of رَقاحِيٍّa pearl merchant يُحِبُّwho loves نَماءَهاits increase
بِكَفَّي رَقاحِيٍّ يُحِبُّ نَماءَها
فَيُبرِزُهاso he displays it لِلبَيعِfor sale فَهِيَand it is فَريجُuncovered
فَيُبرِزُها لِلبَيعِ فَهِيَ فَريجُ
In the hands of a pearl merchant who hopes to increase its value,
He brings it out for sale, uncovered.
أَجازَhe crossed إِلَيهاtoward it لُجَّةًa surge بَعدَafter لُجَّةٍa surge
أَجازَ إِلَيها لُجَّةً بَعدَ لُجَّةٍ
أَزَلُّlean and smooth كَغُرنوقِlike a water bird الضُحولِof the shallows عَموجُbending
أَزَلُّ كَغُرنوقِ الضُحولِ عَموجُ
A lean one crossed surge after surge to reach it,
Bending like a water bird in the shallows.
فَجاءَso he brought بِهاit ماas much as شِئتَyou please مِنof لَطَمِيَّةٍa fine sea pearl
فَجاءَ بِها ما شِئتَ مِن لَطَمِيَّةٍ
يَدومُflows الفُراتُthe Euphrates فَوقَهاabove it وَيَموجُand surges
يَدومُ الفُراتُ فَوقَها وَيَموجُ
He brought back a fine sea pearl,
With the Euphrates’ water flowing and surging above it.
فَجاءَso he brought بِهاit بَعدَafter الكَلالِexhaustion كَأَنَّهُas though he
فَجاءَ بِها بَعدَ الكَلالِ كَأَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom الأَينِweariness مِحراسُa pestle أَقَذُّblunted سَحيجُworn
مِنَ الأَينِ مِحراسُ أَقَذُّ سَحيجُ
He brought it back after exhaustion, looking
From weariness like a worn, blunted pestle.
عَشِيِّةَone evening قامَتshe stood بِالفَناءِin the courtyard كَأَنَّهاas though she
عَشِيِّةَ قامَت بِالفَناءِ كَأَنَّها
عَقيلَةُa prized woman نَهبٍof spoils تُصطَفىchosen وَتَغوجُand swaying
عَقيلَةُ نَهبٍ تُصطَفى وَتَغوجُ
That evening she stood in the courtyard as though
A prized captive chosen from the spoils, swaying.
وَصُبَّand was poured عَلَيهاover her الطيبُperfume حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّهاas though she
وَصُبَّ عَلَيها الطيبُ حَتّى كَأَنَّها
أَسِيٌّa remedy عَلىupon أُمِّthe crown of الدِماغِthe head حَجيجُfragrant
أَسِيٌّ عَلى أُمِّ الدِماغِ حَجيجُ
Perfume was poured over her until she seemed
Like a fragrant remedy laid on the crown of the head.
كَأَنَّas though عَلَيهاupon her بالَةًa wrapped garment لَطَمِيَّةًfine and imported
كَأَنَّ عَلَيها بالَةً لَطَمِيَّةً
لَهاit has مِنfrom خِلالِbetween الدَأيَتَينِthe two shoulder blades أَريجُa fragrance
لَها مِن خِلالِ الدَأيَتَينِ أَريجُ
It was as though she wore a fine imported wrap,
Its fragrance rising between her shoulder blades.
كَأَنَّas though اِبنَةَthe daughter of السَهمِيِّthe Sahmi يَومَthe day لَقيتُهاI met her
كَأَنَّ اِبنَةَ السَهمِيِّ يَومَ لَقيتُها
مُوَشَّحَةٌmarked across the brow بِالطُرَّتَينِon both sides of the forelock هَميجُrestless
مُوَشَّحَةٌ بِالطُرَّتَينِ هَميجُ
The day I met the daughter of the Sahmi, she seemed
Like a doe marked across both sides of her brow, restless.
بِأَسفَلِbelow ذاتِDhat الدَبرِal-Dabr أُفرِدَwas separated خَشفُهاher fawn
بِأَسفَلِ ذاتِ الدَبرِ أُفرِدَ خَشفُها
فَقَدand so وَلِهَتshe wandered distraught يَومَينِfor two days فَهيَand she is خَلوجُbereft of her young
فَقَد وَلِهَت يَومَينِ فَهيَ خَلوجُ
Below Dhat al-Dabr, her fawn had been separated from her,
And for two days she had wandered distraught, bereft.
فَإِنso if تَصرِميyou sever حَبليmy bond وَإِنand if تَتَبَدَّليyou choose instead
فَإِن تَصرِمي حَبلي وَإِن تَتَبَدَّلي
خَليلاًa companion وَمِنهُمand among them صالِحٌone is worthy وَسَميجُand one repellent
خَليلاً وَمِنهُم صالِحٌ وَسَميجُ
If you sever our bond and choose
Another companion—some are worthy, some repellent—
فَإِنّيfor indeed I صَبَرتُmade endure النَفسَmy soul بَعدَafter اِبنِthe son of عَنبَسٍʿAnbas
فَإِنّي صَبَرتُ النَفسَ بَعدَ اِبنِ عَنبَسٍ
وَقَدand indeed لَجَّflowed persistently مِنfrom ماءِthe water of الشُؤونِthe tear ducts لَجوجُa persistent stream
وَقَد لَجَّ مِن ماءِ الشُؤونِ لَجوجُ
I have already made myself endure the loss of Ibn ʿAnbas,
Though tears streamed from the corners of my eyes.
لِأُحسَبَso that I might be thought جَلداًsteadfast أَوor لِيُنبَأَlest one be told شامِتٌa gloating enemy
لِأُحسَبَ جَلداً أَو لِيُنبَأَ شامِتٌ
وَلِلشَّرِّand for hardship بَعدَafter القارِعاتِcrushing blows فُروجُopenings
وَلِلشَّرِّ بَعدَ القارِعاتِ فُروجُ
I did so to be thought steadfast, or lest a gloating enemy be told;
Even after crushing blows, hardship has openings.
فَذلِكَand that أَعلىgreater مِنكِthan you فَقداًas a loss لِأَنَّهُbecause he
فَذلِكَ أَعلى مِنكِ فَقداً لِأَنَّهُ
كَريمٌnoble وَبَطنيand my heart بِالكِرامِby noble people بَعيجُwounded
كَريمٌ وَبَطني بِالكِرامِ بَعيجُ
His loss weighs more heavily than yours, for he
Was noble, and my heart is wounded by the loss of noble people.
وَذلِكَand that one مَشبوحُbroad الذِراعَينِin both arms خَلجَمٌpowerfully built
وَذلِكَ مَشبوحُ الذِراعَينِ خَلجَمٌ
خَشوفٌventuresome بِأَعراضِthrough the reaches of الدِيارِthe lands دَلوجُtraveling by night
خَشوفٌ بِأَعراضِ الدِيارِ دَلوجُ
He was broad-armed and powerfully built,
Venturing through the reaches of the land by night.
ضَروبٌstriking repeatedly لِهاماتِthe heads of الرِجالِmen بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
ضَروبٌ لِهاماتِ الرِجالِ بِسَيفِهِ
إِذاwhen حَنَّtwanged نَبعٌa bow of nabʿ wood بَينَهُمamong them وَشَريجُand a fellow bow
إِذا حَنَّ نَبعٌ بَينَهُم وَشَريجُ
He struck men’s heads with his sword
When bows and their fellows twanged among them.
يُقَرِّبُهُhe brings it forward لِلمُستِضيفِfor the guest إِذاwhen أَتىhe comes
يُقَرِّبُهُ لِلمُستِضيفِ إِذا أَتى
جِراءٌspeed وَشَدٌّand force كَالحَريقِlike a fire ضَريحُrushing
جِراءٌ وَشَدٌّ كَالحَريقِ ضَريحُ
He brought it forward for a guest who came,
Swift and forceful, rushing like a fire.
Translation model: Sol 6