ياO جارَتيmy neighbor ماwhat a كُنتُI was جارَهa neighbor
يا جارَتي ما كُنتُ جارَه
بانَتdeparted لِتَحزُنَناto grieve us عُفارَهUfarah
بانَت لِتَحزُنَنا عُفارَه
O my neighbor—what a neighbor I was!
Ufarah departed, to make us grieve.
تُرضيكَshe pleases you مِنwith دَلٍّcoquetry وَمِنand with
تُرضيكَ مِن دَلٍّ وَمِن
حُسنٍbeauty مُخالِطُهُmingled with it غَرارَهinnocence
حُسنٍ مُخالِطُهُ غَرارَه
She pleases you with coquetry and with
beauty mingled with innocence.
بَيضاءُwhite ضَحوَتُهاher morning وَصَفand yellow (continued)
بَيضاءُ ضَحوَتُها وَصَف
راءُcompletion of 'yellow' العَشِيَّةِthe evening كَالعَرارَهlike the arar blossom
راءُ العَشِيَّةِ كَالعَرارَه
White in the morning, and yellow
at evening, like the arar blossom.
وَسَبَتكَand she captivated you حينَwhen تَبَسَّمَتshe smiled
وَسَبَتكَ حينَ تَبَسَّمَت
بَينَbetween الأَريكَةِthe couch وَالسِتارَهand the curtain
بَينَ الأَريكَةِ وَالسِتارَه
She captivated you when she smiled
between the couch and the curtain.
بِقَوامِهاwith her stature الحَسَنِthe lovely الَّذيwhich
بِقَوامِها الحَسَنِ الَّذي
جَمَعَcombined المَدادَةَtallness وَالجَهارَهand stateliness
جَمَعَ المَدادَةَ وَالجَهارَه
With her lovely stature, which
combined tallness and stateliness.
كَتَمَيُّلِlike the swaying of النَشوانِthe tipsy man يَرhe struts (continued)
كَتَمَيُّلِ النَشوانِ يَر
فُلُcompletion of 'he struts' فيin البَقيرَةِthe sleeveless tunic وَالإِزارَهand the wrap
فُلُ في البَقيرَةِ وَالإِزارَه
Like the swaying of a tipsy man who struts
in a sleeveless tunic and a wrap.
وَبِجيدِand with the neck of مُغزِلَةٍa doe with a fawn إِلىup to
وَبِجيدِ مُغزِلَةٍ إِلى
وَجهٍa face تُزَيِّنُهُadorns it النَضارَهfreshness
وَجهٍ تُزَيِّنُهُ النَضارَه
And with a nursing doe’s neck, rising to
a face adorned with freshness.
وَمَهاًand crystal-white teeth تَرِفُّgleam غُروبُهُtheir sharp edges
وَمَهاً تَرِفُّ غُروبُهُ
يَشفيsoothes المُتَيَّمَthe love-enslaved one ذاpossessing الحَرارَهburning passion
يَشفي المُتَيَّمَ ذا الحَرارَه
And crystal-white teeth, their edges gleaming,
soothing the love-enslaved one’s burning.
كَذُرىlike the heads of مُنَوِّرِflowering أُقحُوَاdaisies (continued)
كَذُرى مُنَوِّرِ أُقحُوَا
نٍcompletion of 'daisies' قَدalready تَسامَقَgrew tall فيin قَرارَهtheir low-lying bed
نٍ قَد تَسامَقَ في قَرارَه
Like the heads of flowering daisies
grown tall in their low-lying bed.
وَغَدائِرٍand tresses سودٍblack عَلىupon
وَغَدائِرٍ سودٍ عَلى
كَفَلٍa rump تُزَيِّنُهُadorns it الوَثارَهsoft fullness
كَفَلٍ تُزَيِّنُهُ الوَثارَه
And black tresses upon
a rump adorned with soft fullness.
وَأَرَتكَand she showed you كَفّاًa palm فيin الخِضاhenna-dye (continued)
وَأَرَتكَ كَفّاً في الخِضا
بِcompletion of 'henna-dye' وَساعِداًand a forearm مِثلَlike الجِبارَهthe bracelet
بِ وَساعِداً مِثلَ الجِبارَه
She showed you a palm stained
with henna, and a forearm like a bracelet.
وَإِذاand when تُنازِعُكَshe exchanges with you الحَديtalk (continued)
وَإِذا تُنازِعُكَ الحَدي
ثَcompletion of 'talk' ثَنَتshe turns aside وَفيand in النَفسِthe soul اِزوِرارَهaversion
ثَ ثَنَت وَفي النَفسِ اِزوِرارَه
When she exchanges talk with you,
she turns aside, with inward aversion
مِنfrom سِرِّكَyour secret المَكتومِthe concealed تَنshe draws away (continued)
مِن سِرِّكَ المَكتومِ تَن
أىcompletion of 'she draws away' عَنfrom هَواكَyour passion فَلاso no ثَمارَهfruit
أى عَن هَواكَ فَلا ثَمارَه
to your concealed secret; she draws
away from your passion, which bears no fruit.
وَتُثيبُand she rewards أَحياناًsometimes فَتُطand so raises hope (continued)
وَتُثيبُ أَحياناً فَتُط
مِعُcompletion of 'raises hope' ثُمَّthen تُدرِكُهاovertakes her الغَرارَهheedlessness
مِعُ ثُمَّ تُدرِكُها الغَرارَه
Sometimes she grants favors, stirring
hope; then heedlessness overtakes her.
تَبَلَتكَshe made you lovesick ثُمَّتَthen لَمdid not تُنِلshe grant
تَبَلَتكَ ثُمَّتَ لَم تُنِل
كَyou عَلىdespite التَجَمُّلِdignified restraint وَالوَقارَهand composure
كَ عَلى التَجَمُّلِ وَالوَقارَه
She has made you lovesick, yet has not granted
you anything, despite your restraint and dignity.
وَماand not بِهاin her أَنthat لاnot تَكوshe be (continued)
وَما بِها أَن لا تَكو
نَcompletion of 'she be' مِنَin الثَوابِrecompense عَلىin يَسارَهgenerosity
نَ مِنَ الثَوابِ عَلى يَسارَه
Nothing keeps her from being
generous with recompense,
إِلّاexcept هَوانَكَyour low standing إِذwhen رَأَتshe saw
إِلّا هَوانَكَ إِذ رَأَت
مِنfrom دونِهاbefore her باباًa door وَدارَهand a dwelling
مِن دونِها باباً وَدارَه
except her low regard for you, since she saw
a door and a dwelling before her.
وَرَأَتand she saw بِأَنَّthat الشَيبَgray hair جاshunned (continued)
وَرَأَت بِأَنَّ الشَيبَ جا
نَبَهُcompletion of 'shunned it' البَشاشَةُcheerfulness وَالبَشارَهand glad tidings
نَبَهُ البَشاشَةُ وَالبَشارَه
She saw that gray hair is shunned
by cheerfulness and glad tidings.
فَاِصبِرso be patient فَإِنَّكَfor you طالَماfor so long
فَاِصبِر فَإِنَّكَ طالَما
أَعمَلتَyou exerted نَفسَكَyourself فيin الخَسارَهloss
أَعمَلتَ نَفسَكَ في الخَسارَه
So be patient: for long you have
exerted yourself to your own loss.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَنىthe time has come لَكَfor you أَنto تُفيyou recover (continued)
وَلَقَد أَنى لَكَ أَن تُفي
قَcompletion of 'you recover' مِنَfrom الصَبابَةِpassionate longing وَالدَعارَهand debauchery
قَ مِنَ الصَبابَةِ وَالدَعارَه
It is surely time for you to recover
from longing and debauchery.
وَلَقَدand indeed لَبِستُI wore العَيشَlife أَجall of it (continued)
وَلَقَد لَبِستُ العَيشَ أَج
مَعَcompletion of 'all of it' وَاِرتَدَيتُand I cloaked myself مِنَin الإِبارَهdestruction
مَعَ وَاِرتَدَيتُ مِنَ الإِبارَه
I have worn the whole of life
and wrapped myself in destruction.
وَأَصَبتُand I enjoyed لَذّاتِthe pleasures of الشَباyouth (continued)
وَأَصَبتُ لَذّاتِ الشَبا
بِcompletion of 'youth' مُرَفَّلاًrichly robed وَنَعِمتُand I relished نارَهits fire
بِ مُرَفَّلاً وَنَعِمتُ نارَه
I have enjoyed the pleasures of youth,
richly robed, and savored its fire.
وَلَقَدand indeed شَرِبتُI drank الراحَwine أُسI was served (continued)
وَلَقَد شَرِبتُ الراحَ أُس
قىcompletion of 'I was served' مِنfrom إِناءِthe vessel of الطَهرَجارَهthe ṭahrajārah goblet
قى مِن إِناءِ الطَهرَجارَه
I have drunk wine, served
from a ṭahrajārah vessel.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen أَخَذَتit took مَآhold (continued)
حَتّى إِذا أَخَذَت مَآ
خِذَهاcompletion of 'its full hold' تَغَشَّتنيenveloped me اِستِدارَهwhirling dizziness
خِذَها تَغَشَّتني اِستِدارَه
Until, when it had taken
full hold, whirling dizziness enveloped me.
فَاِعمِدso turn لِنَعتٍto a description غَيرِother than هَthis (continued)
فَاِعمِد لِنَعتٍ غَيرِ هَ
ذاcompletion of 'this' مِسحَلٌMishal يَنعىproclaims النَكارَهfoul deeds
ذا مِسحَلٌ يَنعى النَكارَه
Then turn to a description other than
this: Mishal proclaims foul deeds.
يَعدوhe charges عَلىupon الأَعداءِthe enemies قَصby force (continued)
يَعدو عَلى الأَعداءِ قَص
راًcompletion of 'by force' وَهوَwhile he لاnot يُعطىis subjected to القَسارَهcompulsion
راً وَهوَ لا يُعطى القَسارَه
He charges against his enemies by force,
but submits to no compulsion.
وَسمَbranding العُلوبِscars فَإِنَّهُfor it
وَسمَ العُلوبِ فَإِنَّهُ
أَبقىmore enduring عَلىupon القَومِthe people اِستِنارَهa visible mark
أَبقى عَلى القَومِ اِستِنارَه
Brand them with scars, for that
leaves a more lasting, visible mark upon a people.
لاnot ناقِصِيdeficient in حَسَبٍlineage وَلاnor
لا ناقِصِي حَسَبٍ وَلا
أَيدٍhands إِذاwhen مُدَّتoutstretched قِصارَهshort
أَيدٍ إِذا مُدَّت قِصارَه
Not men deficient in lineage, nor
with hands that fall short when outstretched.
وَبَنيand the sons of بُدَيدٍBudayd إِنَّهُمindeed they
وَبَني بُدَيدٍ إِنَّهُم
أَهلُpeople of اللَآمَةِbaseness وَالصَغارَهand abasement
أَهلُ اللَآمَةِ وَالصَغارَه
And the sons of Budayd—they
are men of baseness and abasement.
لَيسواthey are not بِعَدلٍequal حينَwhen تَنyou trace lineage (continued)
لَيسوا بِعَدلٍ حينَ تَن
سُبُهُمcompletion of 'you trace their lineage' إِلىto أَخَوَيthe two kinsmen of فَزارَهFazarah
سُبُهُم إِلى أَخَوَي فَزارَه
They are no equals when you trace
their lineage to the two Fazarah kinsmen,
بَدرٍBadr وَحِصنٍand Hisn سَيِّدَيthe two lords of
بَدرٍ وَحِصنٍ سَيِّدَي
قَيسِQays بنِson of عَيلانِAylan الكُثارَهthe teeming multitude
قَيسِ بنِ عَيلانِ الكُثارَه
Badr and Hisn, the two lords
of the teeming people of Qays ibn Aylan;
وَلاnor إِلىto الهَرَمَينِthe two Harims فيin
وَلا إِلى الهَرَمَينِ في
بَيتِthe house of الحُكومَةِarbitration وَالخَيارَهand preeminence
بَيتِ الحُكومَةِ وَالخَيارَه
nor to the two Harims in
the house of arbitration and preeminence;
وَلاnor إِلىto قَيسِQays الجِفاal-Jifaz (continued)
وَلا إِلى قَيسِ الجِفا
ظِcompletion of 'al-Jifaz' وَلاnor الرَبيعِal-Rabi وَلاnor عُمارَهUmarah
ظِ وَلا الرَبيعِ وَلا عُمارَه
nor to Qays al-Jifaz,
nor al-Rabi, nor Umarah;
وَلاnor كَخارِجَةَlike Kharijah الَّذيwho
وَلا كَخارِجَةَ الَّذي
وَلِيَundertook الحَمالَةَblood-money obligations وَالصَبارَهand steadfast endurance
وَلِيَ الحَمالَةَ وَالصَبارَه
nor like Kharijah, who
undertook blood-money burdens and stood firm.
وَحَمَلتَand you carried أَقواماًgroups of men عَلىupon
وَحَمَلتَ أَقواماً عَلى
حَدباءَa hunchbacked mount تَجعَلُهُمbrings them to دَمارَهruin
حَدباءَ تَجعَلُهُم دَمارَه
You have mounted men upon
a hunchbacked beast that brings them to ruin.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمتَyou know لَتَكرَهَنyou will surely loathe (continued)
وَلَقَد عَلِمتَ لَتَكرَهَن
نَcompletion of 'you will surely loathe' الحَربَwar مِنِbecause of اِصرٍburden وَغارَهand raids
نَ الحَربَ مِنِ اِصرٍ وَغارَه
You know full well you will surely loathe
war, with its burdens and its raids.
وَلَسَوفَand surely يَحبِسُكَwill hem you in المَضيthe narrow pass (continued)
وَلَسَوفَ يَحبِسُكَ المَضي
قُcompletion of 'the narrow pass' بِناthrough us فَتُعتَصَرُthen you will be squeezed اِعتِصارَهa thorough squeezing
قُ بِنا فَتُعتَصَرُ اِعتِصارَه
The narrow pass will surely hem you in
through us, and you will be squeezed hard.
وَلَسَوفَand surely تَكلَحُyou will grimace لِلأَسِنَّat the spearheads (continued)
وَلَسَوفَ تَكلَحُ لِلأَسِنَّ
ةِcompletion of 'at the spearheads' كَلحَةًa grimace غَيرَnot اِفتِرارَهa smile
ةِ كَلحَةً غَيرَ اِفتِرارَه
You will surely bare your teeth at the spearheads,
in a grimace, not a smile.
وَتَسيرُand passes نَفسٌa soul فَوقَabove لِحbeard (continued)
وَتَسيرُ نَفسٌ فَوقَ لِح
يَتِهاcompletion of 'its beard' وَلَيسَand there is not لَهاfor it إِحارَهa return
يَتِها وَلَيسَ لَها إِحارَه
A soul will pass above its beard,
and it will have no return.
وَهُناكَand there تَعلَمُyou will learn أَنَّthat ماwhat
وَهُناكَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ ما
قَدَّمتَyou sent ahead كانَwas هُوَit المُطارَهyour undoing
قَدَّمتَ كانَ هُوَ المُطارَه
There you will learn that what
you sent ahead was your undoing.
وَهُناكَand there يَصدُقُproves true ظَنُّكُمyour suspicion
وَهُناكَ يَصدُقُ ظَنُّكُم
أَنthat لاno اِجتِماعَreunion وَلاand no زِيارَهvisiting
أَن لا اِجتِماعَ وَلا زِيارَه
There your suspicion will prove true:
no reunion and no visiting,
وَلاand no بَراءَةَacquittal لِلبَرِيfor the innocent (continued)
وَلا بَراءَةَ لِلبَرِي
ءِcompletion of 'for the innocent' وَلاand no عِطاءَgift وَلاand no خُفارَهprotection
ءِ وَلا عِطاءَ وَلا خُفارَه
no acquittal for the innocent,
no gifts and no protection,
إِلّاexcept عُلالَةَa second burst أَوor بُداa first rush (continued)
إِلّا عُلالَةَ أَو بُدا
هَةَcompletion of 'a first rush' سابِحٍa swimming-gaited steed نَهدِstout الجُزارَهthe limbs
هَةَ سابِحٍ نَهدِ الجُزارَه
save a second burst or the first rush
of a swimming-gaited steed, stout of limb,
أَوor شَطبَةٍa tall slender mare جَرداءَsleek تَضshe bounds (continued)
أَو شَطبَةٍ جَرداءَ تَض
بِرُcompletion of 'she bounds' بِالمُدَجَّجِwith the fully armored rider ذيwearing الغَفارَهa helmet-cap
بِرُ بِالمُدَجَّجِ ذي الغَفارَه
or a tall, sleek mare, bounding
with the armored rider in his helmet-cap.
تَغدوshe goes forth at dawn بِأَكلَفَwith a dusky lion مِنfrom أُسوthe lions (continued)
تَغدو بِأَكلَفَ مِن أُسو
دِcompletion of 'the lions' الرَقمَتَينِal-Raqmatayn حَليفِcompanion of زارَهZarah
دِ الرَقمَتَينِ حَليفِ زارَه
She goes forth bearing a dusky lion from the lions
of al-Raqmatayn, a companion of Zarah.
وَبَنوand the sons of ضُبَيعَةَDubay’ah يَعلَموthey know (continued)
وَبَنو ضُبَيعَةَ يَعلَمو
نَcompletion of 'they know' بِوارِدِof an oncomer الخُلُقِtemperament الشَرارَهwickedness
نَ بِوارِدِ الخُلُقِ الشَرارَه
The sons of Dubay’ah know
the oncomer of vicious temper:
إِنّاindeed we نُوازيmatch مَنwhoever يُواmatches (continued)
إِنّا نُوازي مَن يُوا
زيهِمcompletion of 'matches them' وَنَنكىand we sorely wound ذاthe one possessing الضَرارَهharmfulness
زيهِم وَنَنكى ذا الضَرارَه
we match whoever matches
them, and wound whoever brings harm.
لَسناwe do not نُقاتِلُfight بِالعِصيwith sticks (continued)
لَسنا نُقاتِلُ بِالعِصي
يِcompletion of 'with sticks' وَلاnor نُراميwe trade missiles بِالحِجارَهwith stones
يِ وَلا نُرامي بِالحِجارَه
We do not fight with sticks,
nor trade volleys of stones,
قَضِمِnicked المَضارِبِat the striking edges باتِرٍkeen-cutting
قَضِمِ المَضارِبِ باتِرٍ
يَشفيsoothes النُفوسَsouls مِنَof الحَرارَهburning passion
يَشفي النُفوسَ مِنَ الحَرارَه
but with a keen-cutting sword, notched along its edges,
that cures souls of their burning.
وَتَكونُand you will be فيamong السَلَفِthe earlier host المُوَاthat faced (continued)
وَتَكونُ في السَلَفِ المُوَا
زيcompletion of 'that faced' مِنقَراًMinqar وَبَنيand the sons of زُرارَهZurarah
زي مِنقَراً وَبَني زُرارَه
And you shall join the earlier host that faced
Minqar and the sons of Zurarah—
أَبناءَsons of قَومٍmen قُتِّلواwho were slaughtered
أَبناءَ قَومٍ قُتِّلوا
يَومَon the day of القُصَيبَةِal-Qusaybah مِنof أَوارَهAwarah
يَومَ القُصَيبَةِ مِن أَوارَه
sons of men slaughtered
on al-Qusaybah’s day in Awarah.
فَجَرواso they followed عَلىaccording to ماwhat عُوِّدواthey were accustomed to
فَجَروا عَلى ما عُوِّدوا
وَلِكُلِّand for every عاداتٍhabit أَمارَهa sign
وَلِكُلِّ عاداتٍ أَمارَه
They followed their accustomed ways;
every habit has its sign.
وَالعودُand the stick يُعصَرُis pressed out ماؤُهُits sap
وَالعودُ يُعصَرُ ماؤُهُ
وَلِكُلِّand for every عيدانٍkind of wood عُصارَهits own juice
وَلِكُلِّ عيدانٍ عُصارَه
The stick has its sap pressed out,
and every kind of wood has its own juice.
وَلاnor نُشَبَّهُare we likened بِالكِلاto dogs (continued)
وَلا نُشَبَّهُ بِالكِلا
بِcompletion of 'to dogs' عَلىat المِياهِthe waters مِنَbecause of الحَرارَهthe heat
بِ عَلى المِياهِ مِنَ الحَرارَه
Nor are we likened to dogs
at the waters in the heat.
فَاِقدِرso measure بِذَرعِكَby your reach أَنlest تَحيyou perish (continued)
فَاِقدِر بِذَرعِكَ أَن تَحي
نَcompletion of 'you perish' وَكَيفَand how بَوَّأتَyou stationed القَدارَهpower
نَ وَكَيفَ بَوَّأتَ القَدارَه
So measure your reach, lest you perish,
and reckon how you have deployed your strength.
فَأَناfor I الكَفيلُam the guarantor عَلَيهِمُon their behalf
فَأَنا الكَفيلُ عَلَيهِمُ
أَنthat سَوفَwill تُعتَقَرُyou be hamstrung اِعتِقارَهutterly
أَن سَوفَ تُعتَقَرُ اِعتِقارَه
I stand surety on their behalf
that you will be utterly struck down.
وَلَقَدand indeed حَلَفتُI swore لَتُصبِحَنyou will surely awaken (continued)
وَلَقَد حَلَفتُ لَتُصبِحَن
نَcompletion of 'you will surely awaken' بِبَعضِfor some of ظُلمِكَyour injustice فيin مَحارَهa quandary
نَ بِبَعضِ ظُلمِكَ في مَحارَه
I have sworn that you will awaken
in a quandary, for some of your injustice.
وَلَتَصبَحَنَّكَand will surely greet you at dawn كَأسُa cup of سُمpoison (continued)
وَلَتَصبَحَنَّكَ كَأسُ سُم
مٍcompletion of 'poison' فيin عَواقِبِهاits aftermath مَرارَهbitterness
مٍ في عَواقِبِها مَرارَه
A cup of poison will surely greet your dawn,
with bitterness in its aftermath.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمتُمyou know حينَwhen يُنlineage is traced (continued)
وَلَقَد عَلِمتُم حينَ يُن
سَبُcompletion of 'lineage is traced' كُلُّevery حَيٍّtribe ذيpossessing غَضارَةprosperity
سَبُ كُلُّ حَيٍّ ذي غَضارَة
You know well, when lineage is traced
for every flourishing tribe,
أَنّاthat we وَرِثناinherited العِزَّmight وَالand the
أَنّا وَرِثنا العِزَّ وَال
مَجدَglory المُؤَثَّلَfirmly rooted ذاpossessing السَرارَهnobility of stock
مَجدَ المُؤَثَّلَ ذا السَرارَه
that we inherited might and
deep-rooted glory of the noblest stock.
وَوَرِثتُand I inherited دَهماًblack steeds دونَكُمto your exclusion
وَوَرِثتُ دَهماً دونَكُم
وَأَرىand I see حُلومَكُمُyour judgments مُعارَهborrowed
وَأَرى حُلومَكُمُ مُعارَه
I inherited black steeds, denied to you,
and I see your judgment is borrowed.
إِذsince أَنتُمُyou بِاللَيلِby night سُرthieves (continued)
إِذ أَنتُمُ بِاللَيلِ سُر
راقٌcompletion of 'thieves' وَصُبحَand at the dawn of غَدٍtomorrow صَرارَهtight-fisted misers
راقٌ وَصُبحَ غَدٍ صَرارَه
For by night you are thieves,
and at tomorrow’s dawn, tight-fisted misers.