أَضحَتhas become أُمَيمَةُUmaymah لاnot يُنالُis reached زِمامُهاher rein
أَضحَت أُمَيمَةُ لا يُنالُ زِمامُها
وَاِعتادَand repeatedly visited نَفسَكَyour soul ذِكرُهاremembrance of her وَسَقامُهاand sickness for her
وَاِعتادَ نَفسَكَ ذِكرُها وَسَقامُها
Umaymah's rein is now beyond all reach.
Umaymah has become uncontrollable
Remembrance of her and sickness for her keep returning to your soul.
And your soul has become accustomed to remembering and longing for her
وَرَأَتand she saw سِهامَكَyour arrows لَمdid not تَصِدهاcatch her فَاِلتَوَتso she turned aside
وَرَأَت سِهامَكَ لَم تَصِدها فَاِلتَوَت
وَاِختَلَّand was undone قَلبُكَyour heart إِذwhen رَمَتكَshot you سِهامُهاher arrows
وَاِختَلَّ قَلبُكَ إِذ رَمَتكَ سِهامُها
She saw your arrows had not caught her, so she turned aside.
She saw your arrows but they did not deter her, so she turned away
Your heart was undone when her arrows struck you.
And your heart was disturbed when her arrows struck you
وَغَدَتand she departed كَأَنَّas though حُمولَهاher laden caravan وَزُهاءَهاand its multitude
وَغَدَت كَأَنَّ حُمولَها وَزُهاءَها
سُحُقُtowering trunks النَخيلِof date-palms تَفَيَّأَتswayed أَكمامُهاtheir flower-sheaths
سُحُقُ النَخيلِ تَفَيَّأَت أَكمامُها
She departed, her laden caravan and its multitude like
She has become like her howdah and litter are the crushed flakes of palm trees that her sleeves uncover
towering date-palms, their flower-sheaths swaying.
So I yearned when she was disobedient and my sadness raged
فَاِشتَقتُso I yearned إِذwhen شَطَّتshe went far away وَهاجَand roused كَآبَتيmy grief
فَاِشتَقتُ إِذ شَطَّت وَهاجَ كَآبَتي
ذِكرىremembrance وَنَفسيand my soul شَفَّنيwasted me تَهمامُهاits brooding
ذِكرى وَنَفسي شَفَّني تَهمامُها
I yearned when she went far away, and my grief was roused
The memory of her consoled me when her madness cured me
by remembrance; my soul's brooding wasted me.
Going away with my love for her and weakness to her would heal the sick with her soft talk
وَذَهابُand the removal هَمّيof my sorrow وَصلُunion with منthe one whom عُلِّقتُهُI was made to love
وَذَهابُ هَمّي وَصلُ من عُلِّقتُهُ
وَهنانَةًa languid woman يَشفيheals السَقيمَthe sick كَلامُهاher speech
وَهنانَةً يَشفي السَقيمَ كَلامُها
My sorrow's cure is union with the one I love,
The beauty of pretty-faced maids embellishes her beauty
a languid woman whose speech heals the sick.
And it increases above their completeness
يُربيsurpasses عَلىbeyond حُسنِthe beauty الحَوابيof the women حُسنُهاher beauty
يُربي عَلى حُسنِ الحَوابي حُسنُها
وَيَزيدُand exceeds فَوقَbeyond تَمامِهِنَّtheir perfection تَمامُهاher perfection
وَيَزيدُ فَوقَ تَمامِهِنَّ تَمامُها
Her beauty surpasses the beauty of other women,
She walks on two brown wrappers in the forest
and her perfection exceeds their perfection.
Twisted, their servants never failing
تَخطوshe steps عَلىon بَردِيَّتَينِtwo papyrus stalks بِغابَةٍin a thicket
تَخطو عَلى بَردِيَّتَينِ بِغابَةٍ
مَمكورَتَينِfull and rounded فَماso not يَزولُslip off خِدامُهاher anklets
مَمكورَتَينِ فَما يَزولُ خِدامُها
She steps on two papyrus stalks in a thicket,
When she stands, the sands slide down
full and rounded, so her anklets never slip.
From the top of the dune piling down violently
رُودٌsupple إِذاwhen قامَتshe rises تَداعىcollapses رَملَةٌa sandbank
رُودٌ إِذا قامَت تَداعى رَملَةٌ
يَنهالُcascades مِنfrom أَعلىthe top الكَثيبِof the dune هَيامُهاits loose sand
يَنهالُ مِن أَعلى الكَثيبِ هَيامُها
Supple—when she rises, a sandbank gives way,
Her scarf being restless and the strap of her litter
its loose sand cascading from the dune's crest.
A nape to which its strap and order cling
فَوِشاحُهاso her sash قَلِقٌloose وَشَبَّand brightened سُموطَهاher necklaces
فَوِشاحُها قَلِقٌ وَشَبَّ سُموطَها
نَحرٌa throat عَلَيهِon which سُموطُهاher necklaces وَنِظامُهاand her strung jewels
نَحرٌ عَلَيهِ سُموطُها وَنِظامُها
Her sash hangs loose, and her necklaces are brightened
She has plaits that surmount high abodes
by a throat bearing her necklaces and strings of gems.
Their scent nourished by their splendor
وَلَهاand she has غَدائِرُbraids قَدalready عَلَونَlie over مَآكِماًrounded haunches
وَلَها غَدائِرُ قَد عَلَونَ مَآكِماً
يُغذىis nourished with العَبيرَperfume أَثيثُهاher thick hair وَسُخامُهاand her soft hair
يُغذى العَبيرَ أَثيثُها وَسُخامُها
She has braids lying across her rounded haunches;
She has, to cool you, two black eyes with a tooth
her thick, soft hair is nourished with perfume.
That illuminates their darkness
وَلَهاand she has كَهَمِّكَlike your heart's desire مُقلَتانِtwo eyes وَسُنَّةٌand a face
وَلَها كَهَمِّكَ مُقلَتانِ وَسُنَّةٌ
وَبِهاand by it يُضاءُis lit مِنof الدُجىnight's darkness إِعتامُهاits deep gloom
وَبِها يُضاءُ مِن الدُجى إِعتامُها
She has two eyes to your heart's desire, and a face;
A blond one who at dawn is like a glowing flame
through it, the deep gloom of night is lit.
Increasing in beauty when the daylight awakes
صَفراءُgolden-skinned تُصبِحُshe wakes كَالعَرارَةِlike the arar flower زادَهاadded to her
صَفراءُ تُصبِحُ كَالعَرارَةِ زادَها
حُسناًbeauty إِذاwhen اِرتَفَعَrose الضَحاءُthe morning sun مَنامُهاher sleep
حُسناً إِذا اِرتَفَعَ الضَحاءُ مَنامُها
Golden, she wakes like the arar flower; she is made
She meets you with cheeks that have reddened an enfeebled man
lovelier, as the morning climbs, by her sleep.
Over whom her saliva and smile flow
تَجلوshe polishes بِأَفنانٍwith twigs أَغَرَّgleaming white مُفَلَّجاًwith spaced teeth
تَجلو بِأَفنانٍ أَغَرَّ مُفَلَّجاً
يَجريpasses عَلَيهِover it أَراكُهاher arak twigs وَبَشامُهاand her basham twigs
يَجري عَلَيهِ أَراكُها وَبَشامُها
With twigs she polishes gleaming teeth set slightly apart;
A pasture irrigated as if showered from the direction
her arak and basham twigs pass over them.
Of the passing (cloud) of spring, its arrows piercing it,
رِيفاًfresh and moist يَرِفُّglistens كَالأُقحُوانِlike a daisy أَصابَهُtouched it
رِيفاً يَرِفُّ كَالأُقحُوانِ أَصابَهُ
مِنfrom صَوبِthe rainfall غادِيَّةِof a morning cloud الرَبيعِof spring رِهامُهاits fine showers
مِن صَوبِ غادِيَّةِ الرَبيعِ رِهامُها
Fresh and glistening like a daisy touched
As if it were perfume or cloves hoarded
by fine rain from a spring morning cloud.
That retain their seal over years
وَكَأَنَّand as though مِسكاًmusk أَوor شَمولاًwine قَرقَفاًstrong and chilling
وَكَأَنَّ مِسكاً أَو شَمولاً قَرقَفاً
عَتَقَتhas aged وَأَخلَقَand wore out بِالسِنينwith the years خِتامُهاits seal
عَتَقَت وَأَخلَقَ بِالسِنين خِتامُها
And as though musk, or a strong, chilling wine—
Her breath and the scent of her hair heals
aged, its seal worn out by the years,
The fever in heads when they drink
يُشفىis cured بِنَفحَتِهاby its fragrance وَريحِand the scent سِياعِهاof its sealing clay
يُشفى بِنَفحَتِها وَريحِ سِياعِها
عِندَamong الشُروبِthe drinkers مِنfrom الرُؤوسِthe heads زُكامُهاtheir colds
عِندَ الشُروبِ مِن الرُؤوسِ زُكامُها
whose fragrance and the scent of its sealing clay cure
Gray-haired with camphor and orange-blossom water
the drinkers' heads of their colds—
And excellent water that washes her lint white
شيبَتwas blended بِكافورٍwith camphor وَماءِand water قَرَنفُلٍof cloves
شيبَت بِكافورٍ وَماءِ قَرَنفُلٍ
وَبِماءِand with water مَوهَبَةٍfrom a rock basin يَسِحُّdrips فِدامُهاits filter-cloth
وَبِماءِ مَوهَبَةٍ يَسِحُّ فِدامُها
blended with camphor and clove-water,
Running over her eyeteeth and front teeth
and water from a rock basin, its straining-cloth dripping,
When its darkness fades and lightens
يَجريflows عَلىover أَنيابِهاher canine teeth وَلِثاتِهاand her gums
يَجري عَلى أَنيابِها وَلِثاتِها
لَمّاwhen تَكَرَّرَwas strained again وَاِنجَلىand cleared إِعتامُهاits cloudiness
لَمّا تَكَرَّرَ وَاِنجَلى إِعتامُها
were flowing over her canines and gums,
She shows you gentility, happiness, slaying,
once strained again and cleared of its cloudiness.
And that adorns her form and structure
وَتُريكَand she shows you دَلّاcoquetry آنِساًinviting وَتَقَتُّلاًand languishing charm
وَتُريكَ دَلّا آنِساً وَتَقَتُّلاً
وَيَزينُand adorns ذاكَthat بَهاؤُهاher splendor وَقَوامُهاand her shapely stature
وَيَزينُ ذاكَ بَهاؤُها وَقَوامُها
She shows you inviting coquetry and a languishing air,
She straightens her branch equal to you so do not blame her
adorned by her splendor and shapely stature.
She whose uncles are her paternal uncles
فَرعاًa noble scion مُقابَلَةًwell-born on both sides فَلاso not تَخزيyou are disgraced بِهاby her
فَرعاً مُقابَلَةً فَلا تَخزي بِها
وَهِيَand she الَّتيis the one whose أَخوالُهاher maternal uncles أَعمامُهاher paternal uncles
وَهِيَ الَّتي أَخوالُها أَعمامُها
A noble scion, well-born on both sides: she brings you no shame;
She is the one who reached perfection resembling a doll
she is one whose maternal uncles are her paternal uncles.
Or a pearl, her owner having paid highest prices for her
وَهِيَand she الَّتيis the one who كَمَلَتbecame perfect تُشبَّهُis likened to دُميَةًa carved figurine
وَهِيَ الَّتي كَمَلَت تُشبَّهُ دُميَةً
أَوor دُرَّةًa pearl أَغلىbid dearly بِهاfor it مُستامُهاits would-be buyer
أَو دُرَّةً أَغلى بِها مُستامُها
She is a woman perfected, like a carved figurine,
She returned after going through a difficult time
or a pearl for which a buyer bids dearly.
With the months and days replacing her nights and days
وَعَدَتshe promised عِداتٍpromises حالَintervened دونَbefore نَجازِهاtheir fulfillment
وَعَدَت عِداتٍ حالَ دونَ نَجازِها
صَرفُthe vicissitudes اللَياليof nights بَعدَهاafter them أَيّامُهاtheir days
صَرفُ اللَيالي بَعدَها أَيّامُها
She made promises whose fulfillment was barred
The winds pollinating her pollen
by the turns of nights and the days that followed them.
When the darkness of her elevation was stirred
فَنَأَتكَso she grew distant from you إِذwhen شَطَّتcarried far away بِهاwith her عَنكَfrom you النَوىseparation
فَنَأَتكَ إِذ شَطَّت بِها عَنكَ النَوى
وَعَقاand faded لَهاof hers دِمَنٌcamp-traces وَبادَand vanished مَقامُهاher dwelling
وَعَقا لَها دِمَنٌ وَبادَ مَقامُها
She grew distant when separation carried her far from you;
A land fertilized by the four (cardinal) winds
her camp-traces faded, and her dwelling vanished.
That blew over the hill of Dumunnah and its rubbish
مَرُّthe passing الدُهورِof ages مَعَwith الشُهورِthe months تَنوبُهاvisiting it in turn
مَرُّ الدُهورِ مَعَ الشُهورِ تَنوبُها
وَمِنَand among الرِياحِthe winds لِقاحُهاtheir rain-bearing ones وَعُقامُهاand their barren ones
وَمِنَ الرِياحِ لِقاحُها وَعُقامُها
Passing ages and recurring months assail it,
Five purifying breezes and each impurity
as do winds, rain-bearing and barren.
Square-nosed whose (source of) sorrows piled up clouds
غَربَلنَهاthey sifted it وَنَخَلنَand sieved أَليَنَthe softest تُربِهاof its soil
غَربَلنَها وَنَخَلنَ أَليَنَ تُربِها
وَجَلالَهاand its coarse particles لَمّاwhen اِستُثيرَwas stirred up قَتامُهاits dust
وَجَلالَها لَمّا اِستُثيرَ قَتامُها
They sifted it, sieving its softest soil
It rings as if there were locusts in her chambers
and its coarser particles when its dust was stirred.
And the moaning after it of a 'ud jar neck
تُربٌsoil تَعاوَرُهاvisit it in turn عَواصِفٌstorm-winds أَربَعٌfour
تُربٌ تَعاوَرُها عَواصِفٌ أَربَعٌ
عَفّىerased مَعارِفَrecognizable traces دُمنَةٍof a ruined campsite تَقمامُهاtheir sweeping
عَفّى مَعارِفَ دُمنَةٍ تَقمامُها
Soil visited in turn by four storm-winds:
The equipment drowned in her and slowed its passing
their sweeping erased the recognizable camp-traces.
Burdens overwhelmed until their heap leaned
خَمساًfor five years تُعَفّيهاefface it وَكُلُّand every مُلِثَّةٍlingering rain
خَمساً تُعَفّيها وَكُلُّ مُلِثَّةٍ
رَبَعِيَّةٍspringtime أُنُفٍfresh أَسَفَّhung low غَمامُهاits cloud
رَبَعِيَّةٍ أُنُفٍ أَسَفَّ غَمامُها
For five years they effaced it, with every lingering
Until when it grew dark and its clouds died
fresh spring rain whose cloud hung low.
The admirers in his darkness crammed each other
دَلَفَتit advanced slowly كَأَنَّas though البُلقَpiebald horses فيin حَجَراتِهاits flanks
دَلَفَت كَأَنَّ البُلقَ في حَجَراتِها
وَحَنينَand the moaning عُوذٍof newly calved she-camels بَعدَهُafter it إِرزامُهاits deep rumbling
وَحَنينَ عُوذٍ بَعدَهُ إِرزامُها
It crept forward, as though piebald horses were in its flanks,
She staggered repeating "wa-hay" as her bones were disjointed
and newly calved camels moaned, followed by its deep rumbling.
When the deluge intensified and her downpour intensified
غَرِقَwas submerged الرَبابُthe low clouds بِهاwithin it وَأَبطَأَand slowed مَرَّهاits passage
غَرِقَ الرَبابُ بِها وَأَبطَأَ مَرَّها
أَحمالُburdens مُثقَلَةٍof a laden cloud يَنوءُstrains under weight رُكامُهاits cloud-heaps
أَحمالُ مُثقَلَةٍ يَنوءُ رُكامُها
Low clouds drowned within it, and its passage was slowed
And the water overflowed above every high ground
by heavy burdens, its cloud-heaps straining.
And it increased without decreasing its intensity
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِعتَمَّتit grew dense وَماتَand stood still سَحابُهاits clouds
حَتّى إِذا اِعتَمَّت وَماتَ سَحابُها
حَفَشَswept full التِلاعَthe gullies بِثَجِّهِwith its torrent تَسجامُهاits streaming rain
حَفَشَ التِلاعَ بِثَجِّهِ تَسجامُها
Until, when it grew dense and its clouds stood still,
Until when it subsided and its rain clouds cleared away
its streaming rain swept the gullies with its torrent.
It wore the weeds of plants as its blanket
وَوَهَتand broke open مُبَعِّجَةًrending تَبَعَّجَburst apart عُظمُهاits great mass
وَوَهَت مُبَعِّجَةً تَبَعَّجَ عُظمُها
لَمّاwhen تَزَيَّدَswelled وَاِدلَهُمَّand grew pitch-dark جَهامُهاits rainless cloud-bank
لَمّا تَزَيَّدَ وَاِدلَهُمَّ جَهامُها
It broke open in rending torrents, its great mass bursting,
And fresh moist growth whose plants
when its cloud-bank swelled and grew pitch-dark.
Entwined as she embellished the gardens accompanying them
وَالماءُand the water يَطفَحُoverflows فوقabove كُلِّevery عَلايَةٍheight
وَالماءُ يَطفَحُ فوق كُلِّ عَلايَةٍ
وَيَزيدُand adds more فيهِto it وَماand not يَنيslackens تَسجامُهاits streaming rain
وَيَزيدُ فيهِ وَما يَني تَسجامُها
Water overflowed every height,
The oryxes let down their heavy bodies
and its downpour added more, never slackening.
Dust wrapped around them, their cows moaning over them
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen خَفَّتit lightened وَأَقلَعَand cleared غَيمُهاits clouds
حَتّى إِذا خَفَّت وَأَقلَعَ غَيمُها
لَبِسَتput on تَهاويلَthe dazzling hues النَباتِof vegetation إِكامُهاits hills
لَبِسَت تَهاويلَ النَباتِ إِكامُها
Then, when it lightened and its clouds cleared,
And you see the sheep bleat their new-borns around them
its hills clothed themselves in the plants' dazzling hues.
Joyful with a mark on their cheeks shining
وَالنَقعُand al-Naq‘ وَالرَيّانُand al-Rayyan جُنَّgrew dense نَباتُهُits vegetation
وَالنَقعُ وَالرَيّانُ جُنَّ نَباتُهُ
مُستَأسِداًgrowing vigorously وَزَهاand adorned الرِياضَthe meadows تُؤامُهاtheir twin shoots
مُستَأسِداً وَزَها الرِياضَ تُؤامُها
At al-Naq‘ and al-Rayyan, the vegetation grew dense,
And you see she-camels wandering
rampant, its twin shoots adorning the meadows.
Around it, only a heavy footed ostrich wandering around it
وَضَعَتgave birth بِهاthere أُدمُwhite-coated الظِباءِgazelles سِخالَهاtheir fawns
وَضَعَت بِها أُدمُ الظِباءِ سِخالَها
عُفرٌdust-colored تَعَطَّفُbend tenderly حَولَهاaround them أَرآمُهاtheir white gazelle mothers
عُفرٌ تَعَطَّفُ حَولَها أَرآمُها
There the white gazelles gave birth to their fawns,
Pure in color as though it were
dust-colored, with their white mothers bending tenderly around them.
Plucked shoulder hairs disheveled in their ruins
وَتَرىand you see النِعاجَthe wild cows بِهاthere تُزَجّىurge along سَخلَهاtheir calves
وَتَرى النِعاجَ بِها تُزَجّى سَخلَها
رُجناًlingering there يَلوحُshow clearly عَلىon شَواهاtheir limbs شامُهاtheir dark markings
رُجناً يَلوحُ عَلى شَواها شامُها
You see wild cows there urging their calves along,
And a range of help whose stallions never
lingering, their dark markings showing on their limbs.
Cease, their harassment and combat lasting long
وَتَرىand you see أَداحِيَّthe nests الرِثالِof ostrich chicks خَوالِياًempty
وَتَرى أَداحِيَّ الرِثالِ خَوالِياً
مِنهاof them سِوىexcept قَيضٍbroken eggshells يَجولُroam نَعامُهاits ostriches
مِنها سِوى قَيضٍ يَجولُ نَعامُها
You see the ostrich chicks' nests lying empty
When the cry of warblers rose noisily in the early dawn
of them save for eggshells; their ostriches roam,
The hardy stallions did not settle and their neighing intensified
صُحماًdusky gray عَفاؤُهاtheir plumage وَكَأَنَّهاand as though they
صُحماً عَفاؤُها وَكَأَنَّها
شُوهُugly ones الحَواطِبِamong wood-gathering women رُعبِلَتwere shredded أَهدامُهاtheir rags
شُوهُ الحَواطِبِ رُعبِلَت أَهدامُها
dusky in plumage, as though they were
They scattered in their successive raids and hatreds flared up
ugly wood-gathering women, their rags torn to shreds.
Enmities not even their wombs had borne
وَمَجالُand a roaming-ground عُونٍof wild-ass herds ماnot تَزالُcease to be فُحولُهاtheir stallions
وَمَجالُ عُونٍ ما تَزالُ فُحولُها
غَيريjealous يَطولُgoes on عِذامُهاtheir biting وَكِدامُهاand their nipping
غَيري يَطولُ عِذامُها وَكِدامُها
And a roaming-ground of wild-ass herds, whose stallions remain
They resided in an abode whose marks were not visible
jealous, their biting and nipping going on and on.
Their domes had resided in it
فَإِذاso when أَضَرَّpressed close بِعانَةٍto a wild-ass herd صَخِبُa loud brayer الضُحىof the morning
فَإِذا أَضَرَّ بِعانَةٍ صَخِبُ الضُحى
جَأبُa stout wild ass النُسالَةِof shaggy coat لَمdid not يَقِرَّsettle وِحامُهاtheir mating desire
جَأبُ النُسالَةِ لَم يَقِرَّ وِحامُها
When a loud morning brayer presses close to a herd—
So I left them without asking after new moons in Dumnah
a stout, shaggy ass—their mating desire will not settle.
When greeting them their response to "peace" was not returned
ضَرَحَتthey kicked out تَوالِيهاtheir hind legs وَهاجَand he roused ضَغائِناًgrudges
ضَرَحَت تَوالِيها وَهاجَ ضَغائِناً
وَعَداوَةًand enmity ماas long as حُمِّلَتbore young أَرحامُهاtheir wombs
وَعَداوَةً ما حُمِّلَت أَرحامُها
They lash out with their hind legs, and he rouses grudges
And I chose "drifting" whose echo did not cease
and enmity for as long as their wombs bear young.
The warblers trilling after the silence of nightfall
سَكَنَتshe dwelt بِدارٍat a campsite ماnot تُبَيِّنُreveal آيُهاits traces
سَكَنَت بِدارٍ ما تُبَيِّنُ آيُها
كانَتonce stood بِهِنَّamong them قِبابُهاher domed pavilions وَخِيامُهاand her tents
كانَت بِهِنَّ قِبابُها وَخِيامُها
She lived at a campsite whose traces no longer reveal
An unmarried girl with no humans or jinn around her
where her domed pavilions and tents once stood.
She is the one who makes stray, her flags not seen
فَتَرَكتُهُنَّso I left them وَماand why سُؤاليmy questioning دِمنَةًa ruined campsite
فَتَرَكتُهُنَّ وَما سُؤالي دِمنَةً
عِندَat التَحِيَّةِthe salutation لاnot يُرَدُّis returned سَلامُهاits greeting
عِندَ التَحِيَّةِ لا يُرَدُّ سَلامُها
So I left them; why should I question a ruined campsite
I left her with glorious festivities
when no greeting is returned at the time of salutation?
Spotted, its knots for tying erected
وَاِجتَبتُand I traversed تِيهاًa trackless waste ماnot تَنيcease أَصداؤُهُits owls
وَاِجتَبتُ تِيهاً ما تَني أَصداؤُهُ
تَزقوscreeching وَغَرَّدَand trilled بَعدَafter بومٍowls هامُهاits night-owls
تَزقو وَغَرَّدَ بَعدَ بومٍ هامُها
I crossed a trackless waste whose owls never cease
A brown one who takes unawares the rugged land with a sneaking
screeching, its night-owls trilling after the owls.
She makes the pebbles disappear and her mask smooths them
عَذراءُuntrodden لاno إِنسٌhumans وَلاand no جِنٌّjinn بِهاin it
عَذراءُ لا إِنسٌ وَلا جِنٌّ بِها
وَهِيَand it المَضِلَّةُthe misleading waste لاnot تُرىare seen أَعلامُهاits landmarks
وَهِيَ المَضِلَّةُ لا تُرى أَعلامُها
A virgin waste, with neither humans nor jinn in it,
With unyielding strength like a pole straight of it
a place that leads astray, with no landmarks to be seen.
Elevated its pliant strap and bridle stretching out
خَلَّفتُهاI left it behind بِجُلالَةٍon a massive she-camel عِيديَّةٍ‘Idiyyah-bred
خَلَّفتُها بِجُلالَةٍ عِيديَّةٍ
مَضبورَةٍstoutly knit يَبنيsupports القُتودَthe saddle-bows سَنامُهاher hump
مَضبورَةٍ يَبني القُتودَ سَنامُها
I left it behind on a great ‘Idiyyah she-camel,
So when she walked as if chained she leapt like
stoutly knit, her hump supporting the saddle-bows.
The strongest flood when its swimmers crossed it
عَيساءُpale-colored تَغتالُdevours الفِجاجَthe mountain passes بِوَقَّحٍwith hardened feet
عَيساءُ تَغتالُ الفِجاجَ بِوَقَّحٍ
تَنفيscatters الحَصىthe pebbles وَيَرُضُّهُand crushes them تَلثامُهاher pounding tread
تَنفي الحَصى وَيَرُضُّهُ تَلثامُها
Pale, she devours the mountain passes on hardened feet,
As if the most talkative of the lost were in her armpit
scattering pebbles and crushing them with her pounding tread.
When their brightness dimmed after tireless efforts
بِعَنَطنَطٍwith a long neck كَالجِذعِlike a tree trunk مِنهاfrom her أَسطَعٌlofty and outstretched
بِعَنَطنَطٍ كَالجِذعِ مِنها أَسطَعٌ
سامٍhigh-raised يُمَدُّis stretched جَديلُهاher braided halter وَزِمامُهاand her rein
سامٍ يُمَدُّ جَديلُها وَزِمامُها
With a long neck rising from her like a tree trunk,
And those coming after find her companion
held high, her plaited halter and rein pulled taut.
A pasture soft of growth, its wood intertwining
فَإِذاso when مَشَتshe walks مَقصورَةًon a shortened rein زافَتshe sways كَماas
فَإِذا مَشَت مَقصورَةً زافَت كَما
يَجتازُcrosses أَعظَمَthe greatest غَمرَةٍdepth of water عَوّامُهاits swimmer
يَجتازُ أَعظَمَ غَمرَةٍ عَوّامُها
When she walks on a shortened rein, she sways like
She was thin so I made her plump
a swimmer crossing the deepest flood.
Until her skin was in harmony with her bones
وَكَأَنَّand as though أَخطَبَa pied bird ضالَةٍof a wild lote-tree فيin شِدقِهاher cheek
وَكَأَنَّ أَخطَبَ ضالَةٍ في شِدقِها
لَمّاwhen عَمىstreamed بَعدَafter الدُؤوبِceaseless toil لُغامُهاher mouth-froth
لَمّا عَمى بَعدَ الدُؤوبِ لُغامُها
As though a pied bird from a wild lote-tree were in her cheek,
I left her like the crescent whose complaint is that of the healthy
when, after ceaseless toil, her froth streamed down.
As if it were its ailment moaning
وَيُصيبُand strikes بَعدَbehind القادِمَينِthe two front saddle-bows زَميلَهاher fellow-rider
وَيُصيبُ بَعدَ القادِمَينِ زَميلَها
رَيّانُa luxuriant tail ناعَمَmade soft نَبتَهُits growth إِعقامُهاher being kept unbred
رَيّانُ ناعَمَ نَبتَهُ إِعقامُها
Behind the two front saddle-bows her fellow-rider is struck
She intends and aspires to a successor calf
by a luxuriant tail, its hair softened by her being kept unbred.
For this her effort and endeavor strive
كانَتshe had been ضِناكاًstout فَاِستَحَلتُso I used up سَمينَهاher fat
كانَت ضِناكاً فَاِستَحَلتُ سَمينَها
حَتّىuntil تَلاءَمَfitted closely together جِلدُهاher skin وَعِظامُهاand her bones
حَتّى تَلاءَمَ جِلدُها وَعِظامُها
She had been stout, and I used up her fat,
A generous king who brings prosperity to the palm
until her skin and bones fitted closely together.
Of a king whose palm is the best refuge, its dwellers guided
وَتَرَكتُهاand I left her مِثلَlike الهِلالِthe crescent moon رَذِيَّةًexhausted
وَتَرَكتُها مِثلَ الهِلالِ رَذِيَّةً
وَكَأَنَّماand as though شَكوىthe complaint السَليمِof a snake-bitten man بُغامُهاher lowing
وَكَأَنَّما شَكوى السَليمِ بُغامُها
I left her crescent-thin and spent,
When stingy palms refrain she glows
her lowing like the moans of a snake-bitten man.
And you do not see her eminences at the top of his palms
تَنويshe makes for وَتَنتَجِعُand seeks bounty from الوَليدَal-Walid خَليفَةًthe caliph
تَنوي وَتَنتَجِعُ الوَليدَ خَليفَةً
يُعنىis devoted بِذلِكَto that جُهدُهاher exertion وَجَمامُهاand her rest
يُعنى بِذلِكَ جُهدُها وَجَمامُها
She makes for and seeks bounty from al-Walid, the caliph;
He who night and day does good
both her toil and her rest are devoted to that.
Diverse blessings he gave abundantly to him
مَلِكٌa king أَغَرُّradiant نَمىdescended لِمَلكٍfrom a king كَفُّهُhis hand
مَلِكٌ أَغَرُّ نَمى لِمَلكٍ كَفُّهُ
خَيرُthe finest العَطاءِof gifts بُدورُهاits money-purses وَسَوامُهاand its grazing herds
خَيرُ العَطاءِ بُدورُها وَسَوامُها
A radiant king, descended from a king, whose hand offers
And when Quraysh preceded you, you preceded it
the finest gifts: purses of money and grazing herds.
Through your old pact and you are its pillar
تَندىgives freely إِذاwhen بَخِلَare stingy الأَكُفُّthe hands وَلاand not تُرىis seen
تَندى إِذا بَخِلَ الأَكُفُّ وَلا تُرى
تَعلوcovers بَراجِمَthe knuckles كَفِّهِof his hand إِبهامُهاits thumb
تَعلو بَراجِمَ كَفِّهِ إِبهامُها
It gives freely when other hands are stingy; you never see
And when Glory's path tried to take it
its thumb covering the knuckles of his hand.
Through the breadth of your outstretching they were driven away, their bodies scattered
وَهُوَand he الَّذيis the one who يُمسيpasses the evening وَيُصبِحُand greets the morning مُحسِناًdoing good
وَهُوَ الَّذي يُمسي وَيُصبِحُ مُحسِناً
شَتّىmanifold لَهُhe has نِعَمٌfavors جَداbounty إِنعامُهاtheir bestowal
شَتّى لَهُ نِعَمٌ جَدا إِنعامُها
He does good both evening and morning;
You were the one who after God guided it
his favors are manifold, their bestowal pure bounty.
When its tribes gambled dangerously with you
وَإِذاand if قُرَيشٌQuraysh سابَقَتكَraces you سَبَقتَهاyou outrun it
وَإِذا قُرَيشٌ سابَقَتكَ سَبَقتَها
بِقَديمِby the ancient merit أولاهاof its earliest honors وَأَنتَand you قِوامُهاits mainstay
بِقَديمِ أولاها وَأَنتَ قِوامُها
If Quraysh races you, you outrun it
So inherited its leader and obtained its wager
by its ancient honors, and you are its mainstay.
And litigated firmly one whose litigation was not undone
وَإِذاand when قَناةُthe spear المَجدِof glory حاوَلَhe sought أَخذَهاto take it
وَإِذا قَناةُ المَجدِ حاوَلَ أَخذَها
فَبِطولِthen by the length بَسطَتِهِof his reach يُبَذُّhe outstrips جِسامُهاits mighty men
فَبِطولِ بَسطَتِهِ يُبَذُّ جِسامُها
When he seeks to grasp the spear of glory,
his long reach outstrips its mighty men.
أَنتَyou الَّذيare the one who بَعدَafter الإِلهِGod هَدَيتَهاguided it
أَنتَ الَّذي بَعدَ الإِلهِ هَدَيتَها
إِذwhen خاطَرَتكَwagered against you بِأَقدُحٍwith lot-arrows أَقوامُهاits people
إِذ خاطَرَتكَ بِأَقدُحٍ أَقوامُها
You are the one who, after God, guided it,
when its people wagered against you with lot-arrows.
فَوَرِثتَso you succeeded قائِدَهاits leader وَفُزتَand you won بِقِدحِهاits lot-arrow
فَوَرِثتَ قائِدَها وَفُزتَ بِقِدحِها
وَخَصَمتَand you defeated in dispute لُدّاًstubborn foes لَمdid not يَهُلكَdaunt you خِصامُهاtheir contention
وَخَصَمتَ لُدّاً لَم يَهُلكَ خِصامُها
You succeeded its leader and won its lot-arrow,
and bested stubborn foes whose disputes did not daunt you.
Partial English translation: 116 of 122 Arabic lines translated.