عَفاbecame desolate دَيرُthe monastery of لِبّىLibba مِنof أُمَيمَةَUmayma فَالحَضرُand al-Hadr
عَفا دَيرُ لِبّى مِن أُمَيمَةَ فَالحَضرُ
وَأَقفَرَand became deserted إِلّاexcept أَنthat يُلِمَّstop briefly بِهِat it سَفرُtravelers
وَأَقفَرَ إِلّا أَن يُلِمَّ بِهِ سَفرُ
The monastery of Libba lies deserted of Umayma, and al-Hadr too,
The dwellings of Li’b have been abandoned even by livestock,
And stands empty, save when travelers stop there,
Except when a journey brings travelers close.
قَليلاًbriefly غِرارُa brief slumber العَينِof the eye حَتّىuntil يُقَلِّصواthey hasten away
قَليلاً غِرارُ العَينِ حَتّى يُقَلِّصوا
عَلىon كَالقَطاlike sandgrouse الجونِيِّdark-colored أَفزَعَهُstartled it القَطرُthe rain
عَلى كَالقَطا الجونِيِّ أَفزَعَهُ القَطرُ
Briefly, for an eye's short slumber, before they hasten away
The pools retain just a little water until
On mounts like dark sandgrouse startled by rain,
They shrink to a carpet of ground by the rain distressed.
عَلىon كُلِّevery فَتلاءِsinewy الذِراعَينِthe two forelegs رَسلَةٍeasy-paced
عَلى كُلِّ فَتلاءِ الذِراعَينِ رَسلَةٍ
وَأَعيَسَand a pale male camel نَعّابٍswift, neck-stretching إِذاwhen قَلِقَshifts الضَفرُthe braided girth
وَأَعيَسَ نَعّابٍ إِذا قَلِقَ الضَفرُ
On every easy-paced she-camel with sinewy forelegs,
On every bend of the two hillsides a night camping ground with
And every pale, swift-striding male when the braided girth shifts.
Scraping tent pegs, when the saddlebags were taken down and spread.
قَضَينَthey fulfilled مِنَat الدَيرَينِthe two monasteries هَمّاًa desire طَلَبنَهُthey sought it
قَضَينَ مِنَ الدَيرَينِ هَمّاً طَلَبنَهُ
فَهُنَّso they إِلىtoward لَهوٍLahw وَجاراتِهاand its neighbors شُزرُlooking sidelong
فَهُنَّ إِلى لَهوٍ وَجاراتِها شُزرُ
They fulfilled at the two monasteries the desire they had sought;
Long they were vexed, and now are given up to diversion,
Now they look sidelong toward Lahw and its neighbors.
While their neighbors sink ever deeper into foolishness.
وَيامَنَّand they veered right عَنaway from ساتيدَماSatidama وَتَعَسَّفَتand went cross-country
وَيامَنَّ عَن ساتيدَما وَتَعَسَّفَت
بِناwith us العيسُthe pale camels مَجهولاًan unknown tract مَخارِمُهُits passes غُبرُdust-gray
بِنا العيسُ مَجهولاً مَخارِمُهُ غُبرُ
They veered right from Satidama, and pressed cross-country,
O you who turned away from us wrongfully and aggressed,
The pale camels bearing us through unknown land with dust-gray passes,
Unknown to us your character in early days.
سِواهُمُgaunt مِنfrom طولِthe length of الوَجيفِswift trotting كَأَنَّهاas though they were
سِواهُمُ مِن طولِ الوَجيفِ كَأَنَّها
قَراقيرُgreat ships يُغشيهِنَّcovers them with آذِيَّهُits surging waves البَحرُthe sea
قَراقيرُ يُغشيهِنَّ آذِيَّهُ البَحرُ
Gaunt from long, swift trotting, as though they were
Except for their bones, long exposed to the weather, they seem
Great ships draped by the sea in its surging waves.
Like cranes, their whiteness covered by the dust storm's cloak.
إِذاwhen غَرَّقَsubmerges الآلُthe mirage الإِكامَthe hills عَلَونَهُthey rise above it
إِذا غَرَّقَ الآلُ الإِكامَ عَلَونَهُ
بِمُنتَعِتاتٍon fine, much-praised mounts لاnot بِغالٌmules وَلاnor حُمرُasses
بِمُنتَعِتاتٍ لا بِغالٌ وَلا حُمرُ
When the mirage submerges the hills, they rise above it
When the clan mounts its striped camel stallions, not mares are there,
On fine, much-praised mounts—not mules, nor asses.
Nor gray: their beasts are wethers, not females in foal.
صَوادِقِgenuine in عِتقٍnoble breeding فيunder الرِحالِthe riding saddles كَأَنَّهاas though they were
صَوادِقِ عِتقٍ في الرِحالِ كَأَنَّها
مِنَfrom الجَهدِexhaustion أَسرىcaptives مَسَّهاafflicted them البُؤسُmisery وَالفَقرُand poverty
مِنَ الجَهدِ أَسرى مَسَّها البُؤسُ وَالفَقرُ
Of true noble breeding beneath the saddles, as though they were
True-bred she-camels that seem by exhaustion emaciated
From exhaustion, captives touched by misery and poverty.
As though, by poverty and hunger, captives they had become.
مُحَلِّقَةٍsunken مِنهاin them العُيونُthe eyes كَأَنَّهاas though they were
مُحَلِّقَةٍ مِنها العُيونُ كَأَنَّها
قَلاتٌrock pools ثَوَتsettled فيهاin them مَطائِطُهاtheir stagnant dregs الخُضرُgreen
قَلاتٌ ثَوَت فيها مَطائِطُها الخُضرُ
Their eyes sunken deep, as though they were
From them peer eyes like frightened wild cows, green and wet,
Rock pools where their green, stagnant dregs have settled.
As if the sowing seeds were sprouting in their sockets.
وَقَدand indeed أَكَلَwore away الكيرانُthe camel saddles أَشرافَهاtheir high parts العُلىlofty
وَقَد أَكَلَ الكيرانُ أَشرافَها العُلى
وَأُبقِيَتِand were left الأَلواحُthe broad bones وَالعَصَبُand the sinews السُمرُbrown
وَأُبقِيَتِ الأَلواحُ وَالعَصَبُ السُمرُ
The saddles have worn away their lofty humps,
Locusts have eaten away their high breeding while
Leaving broad bones and brown sinews.
Their struts and rods of acacia wood still survive intact.
وَأَجهَضنَand they miscarried إِلّاexcept أَنَّthat كُلَّevery نَجيبَةٍnoble-bred she-camel
وَأَجهَضنَ إِلّا أَنَّ كُلَّ نَجيبَةٍ
أَتىcame دونَbefore; barring ماءِthe semen الفَحلِof the sire مِنfrom رِحمِهاher womb سِترُa veil
أَتى دونَ ماءِ الفَحلِ مِن رِحمِها سِترُ
They miscarried, except that each noble-bred she-camel
They miscarried, that not a purebred filly from any
Had a veil from her womb barring the sire's seed.
Womb of theirs came, whose pedigree was not obscured.
مِنَamong الهوجِthe headstrong camels خَرقاءُawkward العَنيقِin the neck مُطارَةُfluttering; startled الthe
مِنَ الهوجِ خَرقاءُ العَنيقِ مُطارَةُ ال
فُؤادِheart بَراهاwasted her بَعدَafter إِبدانِهاher growing fat الضُمرُleanness
فُؤادِ بَراها بَعدَ إِبدانِها الضُمرُ
Among the headstrong: awkward-necked, with a fluttering
Rough-haired she-camels with frayed halter ropes, bodies wasted,
Heart—leanness wasted her after she had grown stout.
Nothing left but skin with bones after their prime fat had gone.
إِذاwhen اِتَّزَرَgirded himself الحاديthe camel-driver الكَميشُnimble وَقَوَّمَتand straightened
إِذا اِتَّزَرَ الحادي الكَميشُ وَقَوَّمَت
سَوالِفَهاthe sides of their necks الرُكبانُthe riders وَالحَلَقُand the rings الصُفرُyellow
سَوالِفَها الرُكبانُ وَالحَلَقُ الصُفرُ
When the nimble camel-driver girds himself, and
When the black one girds on the loincloth and straightens
Riders and yellow rings straighten the sides of their necks,
His saddle cloths, and the assembly is ringed around the emaciated.
حَمَينَthey protected العَراقيبَthe hocks العَصاthe stick فَتَرَكنَهُso they left him
حَمَينَ العَراقيبَ العَصا فَتَرَكنَهُ
بِهِin him نَفَسٌbreath عالٍhigh; loud مُخالِطُهُmingling with it بُهرُpanting
بِهِ نَفَسٌ عالٍ مُخالِطُهُ بُهرُ
They keep their hocks beyond the stick, and leave him
He turns from the questioners and fears to utter
With loud breathing mingled with panting.
The words of the caller, "I am fearful and cautious."
يَحِدنَthey veer away عَنِfrom المُستَخبِرينَthose seeking news وَأَتَّقيand I avoid
يَحِدنَ عَنِ المُستَخبِرينَ وَأَتَّقي
كَلامَthe words of المُناديthe caller إِنَّنيindeed I خائِفٌafraid حَذرُwary
كَلامَ المُنادي إِنَّني خائِفٌ حَذرُ
They veer away from those seeking news, and I avoid
"I fight a soul that may choose to betray me, O sons
The caller's words: I am afraid and wary.
Of the mother of the terrified! — and you, O Jabr!
أُقاتِلُI fight نَفساًa life قَدmay يُحِبُّdesire لَهاfor it الرَدىdeath
أُقاتِلُ نَفساً قَد يُحِبُّ لَها الرَدى
بَنوthe sons of أُمِّUmm مَذعورٍMadh'ur وَرَهطُكَand your clan ياO جَبرُJabr
بَنو أُمِّ مَذعورٍ وَرَهطُكَ يا جَبرُ
I fight for a life whose destruction may be desired
If a blow should strike the Ja?dariyya they would invite
By the sons of Umm Madh'ur and your clan, O Jabr.
Khuza'a or Nasr to them, with sweet words.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis أَصابَتit strikes جَحدَرِيّاًa Jahdari بِصَكَّةٍwith a blow
إِذا ما أَصابَت جَحدَرِيّاً بِصَكَّةٍ
دَعَتهُcalls him بِإِقبالٍto come forward خُزاعَةُKhuza'a أَوor نَصرُNasr
دَعَتهُ بِإِقبالٍ خُزاعَةُ أَو نَصرُ
When it strikes a Jahdari with a blow,
The Qays woo me and present to me their fine camels,
Khuza'a or Nasr calls him to come forward.
Yet no victory have the Banu 'Amir gained through me.
وَقَيسٌand Qays تَمَنّانيcovets me وَتُهديand sends عَوارِماًsavage threats
وَقَيسٌ تَمَنّاني وَتُهدي عَوارِماً
وَلَمّاand not yet يُصِبhas reached مِنّيover me بَنيthe sons of عامِرٍ'Amir ظُفرُvictory
وَلَمّا يُصِب مِنّي بَني عامِرٍ ظُفرُ
Qays covets me and sends savage threats,
No Hilal have I accepted a trust from,
Yet victory over me has not reached Banu 'Amir.
Nor a suppliant who brings wealth, nor a Shimr.
وَماand not قَبِلَتaccepted مِنّيfrom me هِلالٌHilal أَمانَةًa pledge of safety
وَما قَبِلَت مِنّي هِلالٌ أَمانَةً
وَلاnor عائِذٌ'A'idh يُغنيcan help الضِبابَal-Dibab وَلاnor شِمرُShimr
وَلا عائِذٌ يُغني الضِبابَ وَلا شِمرُ
Hilal has accepted no pledge of safety from me,
If the Ja'afira keep their trust in me, yet among them
Nor can 'A'idh help al-Dibab, nor can Shimr.
Are rancors in hearts that harbor long-nursed grudges."
فَإِنso if تَكُis عَنّيconcerning me جَعفَرٌJa'far مُطمَئِنَّةًat ease
فَإِن تَكُ عَنّي جَعفَرٌ مُطمَئِنَّةً
فَإِنَّfor indeed قُشَيراًQushayr فيin الصُدورِthe breasts لَهاagainst it غِمرُrancor
فَإِنَّ قُشَيراً في الصُدورِ لَها غِمرُ
If Ja'far feels at ease concerning me,
If I pardon them or pass over their ignorance,
Against Qushayr, however, rancor lies within the breasts.
The Banu Qays have no reproach for me nor complaint.
وَإِنand if أَعفُI pardon عَنهاit أَوor أَدَعهاleave it لِجَهلِهاto its ignorance
وَإِن أَعفُ عَنها أَو أَدَعها لِجَهلِها
فَماthen no لِبَنيfor the sons of قَيسٍQays عِتابٌreproach وَلاnor عُذرُexcuse
فَما لِبَني قَيسٍ عِتابٌ وَلا عُذرُ
And if I pardon it, or leave it to its folly,
I used to refrain from insulting 'Amr
Then Banu Qays have neither grounds for reproach nor excuse.
And Sa'd though their warriors' verses gave insult enough.
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI used to أُعفيspare مِنfrom لِسانِيَmy tongue عامِراً'Amir
وَقَد كُنتُ أُعفي مِن لِسانِيَ عامِراً
وَسَعداًand Sa'd وَيُبديand reveals عَنconcerning مَقاتِلِهاtheir mortal weak points الشِعرُpoetry
وَسَعداً وَيُبدي عَن مَقاتِلِها الشِعرُ
I used to spare 'Amir from my tongue,
But for the Commander of the Faithful we would be exposed
And Sa'd, while poetry exposes their mortal weak points.
To tribes who, or time itself, would work us harm.
وَلَولاand were it not for أَميرُthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful تَكَشَّفَتwould have scattered
وَلَولا أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ تَكَشَّفَت
قَبائِلُtribes عَنّاaway from us أَوor بَلاهاafflicted them بِناthrough us الدَهرُTime
قَبائِلُ عَنّا أَو بَلاها بِنا الدَهرُ
But for the Commander of the Faithful, they would have scattered—
Then we would lift up Tayyi' against them and their allies
Tribes away from us—or Time would have afflicted them through us.
The Banu Asad, to the place where dawn's light breaks.
إِذاًthen لَرَفَعناwe would surely have driven up طَيِّئاًTayy وَحَليفَهاand its ally
إِذاً لَرَفَعنا طَيِّئاً وَحَليفَها
بَنيthe sons of أَسَدٍAsad فيinto حَيثُwhere يَطَّلِعُpeers out الوَبرُthe hyrax
بَني أَسَدٍ في حَيثُ يَطَّلِعُ الوَبرُ
Then we would surely have driven Tayy and its ally up,
And like hounds, when the districts of Syria hem us in,
Banu Asad, to where the hyrax peers out.
To the Nile as fugitives, even if Egypt should be stricken with drought.
وَكَلبٌand Kalb إِذاwhen حالَتinterposed قُرىthe towns of الشامِal-Sham دونَهاin its way
وَكَلبٌ إِذا حالَت قُرى الشامِ دونَها
إِلىto النيلِthe Nile هُرّاباًfleeing وَإِنeven if أَجدَبَتbecame barren مِصرُEgypt
إِلى النيلِ هُرّاباً وَإِن أَجدَبَت مِصرُ
And Kalb, when the towns of al-Sham barred its way,
They seek the refuge of the Sultan from us, damn them!
Would flee to the Nile, even if Egypt lay barren.
Like him with shoulder wounds who cries out when the cautery is applied.
يَعوذونَthey seek refuge بِالسُلطانِwith the ruler مِنّاfrom us وَفَلُّهُمand their routed remnant
يَعوذونَ بِالسُلطانِ مِنّا وَفَلُّهُم
كَذيlike one with الغارِبِthe withers المَنكوبِinjured أَوجَعَهُpained it الوِقرُthe load
كَذي الغارِبِ المَنكوبِ أَوجَعَهُ الوِقرُ
They seek the ruler's shelter from us; their routed remnant
Else the Arabs of Bakr, son of Wa'il would leave behind
Is like a camel with injured withers, pained by its load.
Emigrants none regards, neither clan nor in-law.
وَإِلّاand unless تَصُرrestrain أَعرابَthe Bedouins of بَكرِBakr بنِson of وائِلٍWa'il
وَإِلّا تَصُر أَعرابَ بَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ
مُهاجِرُهاits settled emigrants لاnot يُرعَbe respected إِلٌّa blood-tie وَلاnor صِهرُa marriage-tie
مُهاجِرُها لا يُرعَ إِلٌّ وَلا صِهرُ
Unless the Bedouins of Bakr ibn Wa'il are restrained
Our swords have left no tribe that fought against us
By its settled emigrants, neither blood-tie nor marriage-tie will be honored.
Without the notch that keeps count of them clear.
فَماfor not تَرَكَتleft أَسيافُناour swords مِنany قَبيلَةٍtribe
فَما تَرَكَت أَسيافُنا مِن قَبيلَةٍ
تُحارِبُناwars against us إِلّاexcept لَهاfor it عِندَناagainst us وِترُa blood-debt
تُحارِبُنا إِلّا لَها عِندَنا وِترُ
Our swords have left no tribe
They performed the Pilgrimage, the Banu Nu'man, when their kingdom
That wars against us without a blood-debt to claim against us.
Collapsed, and before the Banu Nu'man, 'Amr made war on us.
حَجَوناwe vanquished بَنيthe sons of النُعمانِal-Nu'man إِذwhen عَضَّbit hard مُلكُهُمtheir rule
حَجَونا بَني النُعمانِ إِذ عَضَّ مُلكُهُم
وَقَبلَand before بَنيthe sons of النُعمانِal-Nu'man حارَبَناfought us عَمروُ'Amr
وَقَبلَ بَني النُعمانِ حارَبَنا عَمروُ
We vanquished Banu al-Nu'man when their rule bit hard;
We wore the iron mail with plates over it and above them
Before Banu al-Nu'man, 'Amr fought us.
The swords of death, pattern-welded of blue steel.
لَبِسناwe donned لَهُagainst him البيضَthe gleaming helmets الثِقالَheavy وَفَوقَهاand above them
لَبِسنا لَهُ البيضَ الثِقالَ وَفَوقَها
سُيوفُswords المَناياof death وَالمُثَقَّفَةُand the straightened spears السُمرُbrown
سُيوفُ المَنايا وَالمُثَقَّفَةُ السُمرُ
We donned heavy, gleaming helmets against him; above them
Our palms held the horses' reins and saddles' skirts, which excite them,
Were death's swords and straightened, tawny spears.
The double head-stalls did not prevent us grasping them.
وَأَمسَكَand held أَرسانَthe halters of الجِيادِthe fine horses أَكُفُّناour hands
وَأَمسَكَ أَرسانَ الجِيادِ أَكُفُّنا
وَلَمand not تُلهِناdistracted us عَنهاfrom them الحِجالُthe curtained chambers بِهاwithin them العُفرُthe pale gazelles
وَلَم تُلهِنا عَنها الحِجالُ بِها العُفرُ
Our hands gripped the halters of the fine horses,
Time and again, memory returns me to the sister
Nor did curtained chambers, with their pale gazelles, distract us from them.
Of the Banu 'Amir, or the trace of her abode.
أَكُلَّat every ...? أَوانٍseason لاnot يَزالُceases يَعودُنيrevisits me
أَكُلَّ أَوانٍ لا يَزالُ يَعودُني
خَيالٌa phantom لِأُختِof the sister of العامِرِيِّينَthe 'Amiris أَوor ذِكرُa memory
خَيالٌ لِأُختِ العامِرِيِّينَ أَو ذِكرُ
Must there always return to me, at every season,
And to a white one — we vie not with the Abyssinian Negus for her —
A phantom of the 'Amiris' sister, or her memory?
When the collars shall be set aflame on her neck in the act of love.
وَبَيضاءَand a fair-skinned woman لاnot نَجرُthe lineage of النَجاشِيِّthe Negus نَجرُهاher lineage
وَبَيضاءَ لا نَجرُ النَجاشِيِّ نَجرُها
إِذاwhen اِلتَهَبَتblazed مِنهاon her القَلائِدُthe necklaces وَالنَحرُand the upper chest
إِذا اِلتَهَبَت مِنها القَلائِدُ وَالنَحرُ
And a fair woman whose lineage is not the Negus's,
One of those sweet girls who incline toward passion in youth,
When her necklaces and upper breast blaze with light,
While the soul yearns after her, and separation works its grief.
مِنَamong الصُوَرِthe tilted-neck beauties اللاتيwho يَرَحنَincline إِلىtoward الصِباyouthful love
مِنَ الصُوَرِ اللاتي يَرَحنَ إِلى الصِبا
تَظَلُّkeeps إِلَيهاtoward her تَنزِعُyearning النَفسُthe soul وَالهَجرُand estrangement
تَظَلُّ إِلَيها تَنزِعُ النَفسُ وَالهَجرُ
One of those tilted-neck beauties who incline to youthful love,
But between her and me stand walls and a palace,
The soul—and even estrangement—keeps yearning toward her.
As hard to traverse as a rugged mountain cliff.
وَلَكِنbut أَتىintervened الأَبوابُthe gates وَالقَصرُand the palace دونَهاbarring access to her
وَلَكِن أَتى الأَبوابُ وَالقَصرُ دونَها
كَماjust as حالَinterposed دونَbefore العاقِلِthe ibex الجَبَلُthe mountain الوَعرُrugged
كَما حالَ دونَ العاقِلِ الجَبَلُ الوَعرُ
But gates and palace have come between me and her,
As a rugged mountain bars the way to the ibex.
Partial English translation: 68 of 70 Arabic lines translated.