لَمَعَانُthe flashing of البُرُوقِthe lightning flashes هَاجَstirred الهُمُومَاthe sorrows
لَمَعَانُ البُرُوقِ هَاجَ الهُمُومَا
ومَرَىand drew out مunclear isolated letter العُيُونِthe eyes دَمعاًtears جَمُومَاcopious
ومَرَى م العُيُونِ دَمعاً جَمُومَا
The flashing lightning stirred my sorrows
The lightning flashed and sorrows arose,
and drew copious tears from the eyes.
And tears flowed copiously from the eyes.
وَاستَفَزَّand unsettled الحُلُومَthe minds حتىuntil ازدَهَاهَاoverwhelmed them
وَاستَفَزَّ الحُلُومَ حتى ازدَهَاهَا
وسنَاand the radiance of البَرقِthe lightning يَستَفِرُّputs to flight الحُلُومَاthe minds
وسنَا البَرقِ يَستَفِرُّ الحُلُومَا
It unsettled reason until it overwhelmed it;
It provoked desire until overabundance.
the lightning's radiance puts reason to flight.
The lightning rouses desire with its flashing.
شِمتُهُI watched its lightning بِالطَّوِيلِat al-Tawil لَيلاًa night طَوِيلاًlong
شِمتُهُ بِالطَّوِيلِ لَيلاً طَوِيلاً
فَأثَارَso it stirred الأسَىsorrow وأغَلَىand made seethe الحَزِيمَاthe breast
فَأثَارَ الأسَى وأغَلَى الحَزِيمَا
I watched it at al-Tawil through a long night;
My enemy gloated all night long,
it roused sorrow and made my breast seethe.
Stirring up grief and igniting sorrow's blaze.
لاَحَflashed لِىfor me فيin حَرِيمٌthe precincts of غَانِبَGhanib أوor غُوGhaw- (name fragment)
لاَحَ لِى في حَرِيمٌ غَانِبَ أو غُو
رَ-r (completes Ghawr) أَوor السِّلكِal-Silk فَاستَبَاحَand so breached الحَرِيَماthe sanctuary
رَ أَو السِّلكِ فَاستَبَاحَ الحَرِيَما
It flashed for me in Ghanib's precincts, or Ghaw-
No place was safe from his thieving and raiding,
r, or al-Silk, and breached the sanctuary.
He ransacked and pillaged without shame.
بِتُّI spent the night إِنif لاَحَit flashed شِمتُهُI watched it وجَدِيرٌand fitting
بِتُّ إِن لاَحَ شِمتُهُ وجَدِيرٌ
ذُوone with هَوىًpassion رَاءَsaw بَارِقاًlightning أنto يَشِيمَاwatch lightning
ذُو هَوىً رَاءَ بَارِقاً أن يَشِيمَا
Whenever it flashed, I spent the night watching it; fitting it is
I spent the night in anguish, should it have returned,
for a lover who sees lightning to watch it.
My anguish would have intensified still more.
بَاتَit spent the night يَخبُوdimming ويَستَنِيرُand brightening وَيحدُوand driving onward
بَاتَ يَخبُو ويَستَنِيرُ وَيحدُو
دُلَّحاًrain-heavy clouds مِنfrom دَوَالِحِthe laden clouds of الدَّلوِAquarius شِيمَاdark-streaked
دُلَّحاً مِن دَوَالِحِ الدَّلوِ شِيمَا
All night it dimmed and brightened, driving
He hid and emerged through the night,
dark, rain-heavy clouds from Aquarius's laden hosts.
Laden with overflowing buckets, a disgraceful burden.
فَسَقَىso it watered السَّلكَal-Salk والمَلاَقِىَّand al-Malaqi والرِّفand ar-Rif- (name fragment)
فَسَقَى السَّلكَ والمَلاَقِىَّ والرِّف
قَة-qa (completes ar-Rifqa) حتىuntil غَدَتit became خِضَمًّاa vast sea طَمُومُاbrimming
قَة حتى غَدَت خِضَمًّا طَمُومُا
It watered al-Salk, al-Malaqi, and ar-Rif-
He watered the road and its crossings, even the rivulet,
qa, until it became a vast, brimming sea.
Until they all became a muddy, turbid flow.
وانتَحَىand headed toward سَاحَةَthe open ground of الأُوَيجِنِal-Uwayjin يُهدَىbringing (contextual reading)
وانتَحَى سَاحَةَ الأُوَيجِنِ يُهدَى
أسَدِيّاًLeo-born مِنfrom نَوئِهِits rain-star مَركُومَاpiled up
أسَدِيّاً مِن نَوئِهِ مَركُومَا
It headed toward al-Uwayjin's open ground, bringing
He circled the barren plain, emerging
a piled-up, Leo-born rain-cloud from its rain-star.
Like a lion from its den, submissive and humbled.
وبِذِىand at Dhu الأثلةِal-Athlah (the tamarisk) استَهَلَّتpoured forth رَوَايَاwater-bearing clouds
وبِذِى الأثلةِ استَهَلَّت رَوَايَا
مِنهُfrom it حتىuntil سَقَتهُthey watered it سَقياًa watering عَمِيمَاall-encompassing
مِنهُ حتى سَقَتهُ سَقياً عَمِيمَا
At Dhu al-Athlah, water-laden clouds poured
With his mischief, tales spread about him,
from it, until they drenched the place with all-encompassing rain.
Until he was given to drink his fill of infamy.
وَسَقَىand watered الغَرسَal-Ghars ذَاpossessing النَّخِيلِthe date palms فَعَمَّاthen 'Amma- (name fragment)
وَسَقَى الغَرسَ ذَا النَّخِيلِ فَعَمَّا
رَ-r (completes 'Ammar) فَرَوَّىand so soaked الثَّرَىthe earth ورَوَىand slaked الهِيمَاthe thirsty camels
رَ فَرَوَّى الثَّرَى ورَوَى الهِيمَا
It watered al-Ghars, with its palms, then 'Amma-
He watered the palms till they flourished,
r, soaking the earth and slaking the thirsty camels.
Refreshing the earth and slaking the thirst of the desolate place.
وَسَقىand watered الخَطَّal-Khatt كُلَّهall of it وَتَخَطَّىand passed onward
وَسَقى الخَطَّ كُلَّه وَتَخَطَّى
يَستَحِثُّurging forth الرُّكُومُthe piled-up clouds مِنهُfrom it السَّجوماthe streaming rain
يَستَحِثُّ الرُّكُومُ مِنهُ السَّجوما
It watered all of al-Khatt, then passed onward,
He watered the whole valley, transgressing,
urging streaming rain from its piled-up clouds.
Stirring up torrents and floods in his wake.
تُحسَبُyou would reckon الرَّعدَthe thunder فِيهin it هَزمَthe bellowing of قُرُومٍcamel-stallions
تُحسَبُ الرَّعدَ فِيه هَزمَ قُرُومٍ
لَقيَتthat met فيamid حِيَالَunbred she-camels of ذَودa small camel herd قُرُومَاcamel-stallions
لَقيَت في حِيَالَ ذَود قُرُومَا
You would think its thunder the bellowing of camel-stallions
It sounded like the clash of armies,
meeting rival stallions amid a herd of unbred she-camels.
Battalions meeting opposing battalions.
فَتَوَّخَىso it sought out البِئَارَal-Bi'ar (the wells) حتىuntil سَقَاهَاit watered them
فَتَوَّخَى البِئَارَ حتى سَقَاهَا
غَدَقاًcopious rain صَيِّبَrain-pouring الصِّبِيرthe cloud-mass هزيماthundering
غَدَقاً صَيِّبَ الصِّبِير هزيما
It sought out al-Bi'ar and watered it
Then he turned to the wells until he filled them,
with copious, pouring rain from a thundering cloud-mass.
Pouring down a flood that overwhelmed the cisterns.
فَسَقىso it watered تِلعَةَthe watercourse of المَلاقِيal-Malaqi فَالمَلthen al-Mal- (name fragment)
فَسَقى تِلعَةَ المَلاقِي فَالمَل
قَى-qa (completes al-Malqa) فَذَاthen Dhu المَيسal-Mays فاللِّوىthen al-Liwa المَعلُومَاthe well-known
قَى فَذَا المَيس فاللِّوى المَعلُومَا
It watered the watercourse of al-Malaqi, then al-Mal-
He watered the hill's slopes, then the crossings,
qa, then Dhu al-Mays and the well-known al-Liwa,
Then the meadows, then the well-known rivulet.
فَالسُّلحَفَاةَthen as-Sulhafah فَالقُوَيسِىthen al-Quwaysi فالطّيthen at-Tayyi- (name fragment)
فَالسُّلحَفَاةَ فَالقُوَيسِى فالطّي
بِ-b (completes at-Tayyib) فَالقَصَّthen al-Qass فالحِمَارَthen al-Himar القَدِيمَاthe old
بِ فَالقَصَّ فالحِمَارَ القَدِيمَا
then as-Sulhafah, al-Quwaysi, and at-Tayyi-
Then the turtles, then Al-Quwaysi, then Al-Tayyib,
b, then al-Qass and old al-Himar.
Then Al-Qass, then the old donkey.
واستَهلَّand poured rain الشَّمَالَthe north مِنهُfrom it فَرَوَّىand so drenched
واستَهلَّ الشَّمَالَ مِنهُ فَرَوَّى
وغَدَاand became كُلُّevery مَوضِعplace مِنهُof it مَطمُومَاflooded
وغَدَا كُلُّ مَوضِع مِنهُ مَطمُومَا
Rain poured from it northward, drenching the land,
From him the North was set flowing,
and every spot there became flooded.
Until every place was left soggy and drowned.
فَسَقَىso it watered القَارَةَal-Qarah العَرِيضَةَal-'Aridah (the broad)
فَسَقَى القَارَةَ العَرِيضَةَ
فالبَيضَاءَthen al-Bayda فَالمُستَدِيرَthen al-Mustadir فالمَدرُومَاthen al-Madrum
فالبَيضَاءَ فَالمُستَدِيرَ فالمَدرُومَا
It watered al-Qarah al-'Aridah,
He inundated the wide plain,
then al-Bayda, al-Mustadir, and al-Madrum.
And the White Land, and Al-Mudayyir, and the ruined village.
فغدتso became غِبَّهُin its wake التِّلالُthe hills تِلاعاًwatercourses
فغدت غِبَّهُ التِّلالُ تِلاعاً
واكتَسَتand clothed themselves مِنin حُلُىthe adornments of الرِّيَاضِthe meadows نَعِيمَاluxuriance
واكتَسَت مِن حُلُى الرِّيَاضِ نَعِيمَا
In its wake, hills became watercourses
The hillsides became like flooded marshes,
and donned the lush adornments of the meadows.
Adorned with the necklaces of blooming gardens.
فَأتَىthen it came to العُقلَal-'Uql وهوwhile it was مُنبَجِسُgushing ألمَاthe water (word beginning)
فَأتَى العُقلَ وهو مُنبَجِسُ ألمَا
ءِcompletion of 'water' فَأمسَىand by evening became بِأرضِهِنَّon their lands مُقِيمَاsettled
ءِ فَأمسَى بِأرضِهِنَّ مُقِيمَا
It came to al-'Uql, gushing
Then he came to Al-'Uqul while it overflowed with distress,
water, and by evening settled on their lands.
And spent the night submerging its lands.
فَغَدَاso became الرَّوضُthe meadow بَاسِمَsmiling الثَّغرِat the mouth يَحكِىresembling الthe (article fragment)
فَغَدَا الرَّوضُ بَاسِمَ الثَّغرِ يَحكِى ال
مِسكَmusk إِنif مَسَّهُtouched it النَّسِيمُthe breeze شَمِيمَاin fragrance
مِسكَ إِن مَسَّهُ النَّسِيمُ شَمِيمَا
The meadow's mouth smiled, rivaling
The meadows smelled of perfume, diffusing it
musk in fragrance when the breeze touched it.
Whenever the breeze blew gently through.
إِنَّindeed فيin العُقلِal-'Uql لِىfor me لَحَاجةَsurely a yearning of نَفسٍthe soul
إِنَّ في العُقلِ لِى لَحَاجةَ نَفسٍ
لَمdid not تَرِمdepart حِينَwhen رُمتُهَاI sought it أنto تَرِيمَاdepart
لَم تَرِم حِينَ رُمتُهَا أن تَرِيمَا
In al-'Uql lies a yearning of my soul
In Al-'Uqul I have an unfulfilled desire,
that would not depart when I sought its departure.
That has not ceased since I yearned for it.
كَلَّمَاwhenever رُمتُI sought عَنaway from هَواهَاlove for her إرعِوَاءًdesisting
كَلَّمَا رُمتُ عَن هَواهَا إرعِوَاءً
حَمَّلَتنيshe burdened me with مَاwhat لَمdid not تُحَمِّلshe burden أرِيمَاanyone
حَمَّلَتني مَا لَم تُحَمِّل أرِيمَا
Whenever I sought to desist from loving her,
Whenever I turned away, restraining my passion,
she laid on me what she had laid on no one.
It burdened me with torment beyond any before.
وإِذَاand when خِلتُI thought أَنthat غَدَوتُI had become سَلِيمَاunharmed
وإِذَا خِلتُ أَن غَدَوتُ سَلِيمَا
مِنَfrom أَلِيمِthe agony of الغَرامِlove صِرتُI became سَلِيمَاvenom-stricken
مِنَ أَلِيمِ الغَرامِ صِرتُ سَلِيمَا
Whenever I thought I had become unharmed
And when I thought I'd awakened cured
by love's agony, I became venom-stricken.
Of the pain of love, I found I was not cured.
وِإذَاand when شِئتُI wished أنto أُهَوِّمَdoze فيin الدَّوthe desert (word beginning)
وِإذَا شِئتُ أن أُهَوِّمَ في الدَّو
وِcompletion of 'desert' أبَىdenied لِىto me إدِّكَارُهاremembering her التَّهوِيمَاdozing
وِ أبَى لِى إدِّكَارُها التَّهوِيمَا
And when I wished to doze in the desert,
And when I wished to pine away in passion,
the memory of her denied me slumber.
My soul refused to allow me to pine.
إِنَّindeed مَأwhat بيafflicts me لِمنis surely from فَتَاةٍa girl سَبتنيwho captured me
إِنَّ مَأ بي لِمن فَتَاةٍ سَبتني
وكَستنيand clothed me in هَوىًlove لَذِيذاًsweet أَلِيمَاpainful
وكَستني هَوىً لَذِيذاً أَلِيمَا
My affliction is surely from a girl who captured me
I am afflicted by a maiden who captivated me
and clothed me in a love both sweet and painful.
And clothed me in delightful, painful love.
فَهيَfor she is دَائِىmy malady الصَّمِيمُthe innermost وَهىand she is دَوَائِىmy cure
فَهيَ دَائِى الصَّمِيمُ وَهى دَوَائِى
لَوif حَبَتنيshe granted me مِنهاfrom her الوِدَادَaffection الصَّمِيمَاheartfelt
لَو حَبَتني مِنها الوِدَادَ الصَّمِيمَا
She is my deepest malady, and she would be my cure
She is my life's core, and my remedy -
if she granted me her heartfelt affection.
If she would love me with sincere affection.
قَالِsaid لِىto me صَاحبيmy companion النديمthe boon companion ومَنand who هِىshe
قَالِ لِى صَاحبي النديم ومَن هِى
وجَدِيرٌand fitting بِأنthat أُجِيبَI answer النَّدِيمَاthe boon companion
وجَدِيرٌ بِأن أُجِيبَ النَّدِيمَا
My boon companion said to me, 'And who is she?'
My friend and confidante asked "And who is she,
And it is fitting that I answer my companion.
Worthy for me to answer the confidante?"
قُلتُI said هِىshe البَتُولُal-Batul قَالَhe said أَلَمَّاhave you not yet
قُلتُ هِى البَتُولُ قَالَ أَلَمَّا
تَسلُceased loving عَنهاher فَقُلتُso I said قُلتَyou said عَظِيمَاsomething grave
تَسلُ عَنها فَقُلتُ قُلتَ عَظِيمَا
I said, 'She is al-Batul.' He asked, 'Have you not yet
I said "She is the chaste maiden." He replied "Why
forgotten her?' I said, 'You have said something grave!'
Have you not asked about her?" I said "You have spoken gravely."
لاdo not تَرِمseek لِىfor me عنaway from البَتولُal-Batul سُلُوّاًforgetfulness
لا تَرِم لِى عن البَتولُ سُلُوّاً
إِنَّindeed حِفظَpreserving الوِدَادِaffection أَنmeans that لاتَرُومَاyou do not seek
إِنَّ حِفظَ الوِدَادِ أَن لاتَرُومَا
Do not seek forgetfulness of al-Batul for me;
Do not ask me about the chaste maiden,
keeping faith with love means not seeking that.
Loyalty is not to divulge affection.
كَمhow many فَتًىa young man لامَreproached فيover هَوَاهَاlove for her ولمand did not يُجbring about (verb beginning)
كَم فَتًى لامَ في هَوَاهَا ولم يُج
دِcompletion of 'bring about' سُلُوَّاًforgetfulness فَوَدَّand so wished أنthat لَنhe would not يَلُومَاreproach
دِ سُلُوَّاً فَوَدَّ أن لَن يَلُومَا
Many a young man reproached me for her love, but brought no
How many men have been blamed for their passion, yet found no
forgetfulness, and wished never to reproach me.
Fault in asking, wishing they had not been blamed.
إِنَّindeed عِندَwith البَتُولِal-Batul نَغماًa voice رَخِيماًmelodious
إِنَّ عِندَ البَتُولِ نَغماً رَخِيماً
لمdid not يَدَعleave فيamong القُلُوبِthe hearts قَلباًa heart سَلِيمَاunhurt
لم يَدَع في القُلُوبِ قَلباً سَلِيمَا
Al-Batul has a soft, melodious voice
With the maiden is a gentle musical air,
that has left no heart unhurt,
That leaves no heart untouched within the chests.
وشَتِيتاًspaced teeth مُنصَباًpouring forth قَرقَفِياًwine-like
وشَتِيتاً مُنصَباً قَرقَفِياً
إِثمُدِىَّantimony-dark اللَّمَىin the lips' tint وبَرقاًand lightning مَشِيمَاwatched
إِثمُدِىَّ اللَّمَى وبَرقاً مَشِيمَا
and spaced teeth, with a wine-like flow,
Scattered and outspread, bubbling,
with antimony-dark lips, and lightning to behold;
Kindling the flames of passion and flashing lightning.
وَبنَاناًand fingers رَخصاًdelicate وغيلاَand a full forearm نَقِيًّاfair
وَبنَاناً رَخصاً وغيلاَ نَقِيًّا
وَوِشَاحاًand a sash ومِعصَماًand a wrist مَوسُومَاmarked
وَوِشَاحاً ومِعصَماً مَوسُومَا
and delicate fingers, and a fair, full forearm,
Delicate build, slender waist, rippling curls,
a sash, and a marked wrist;
Bracelets and armbands engraved.
ونَقىًand a sand-dune رَاجِحاًweighty وخُوطاًand a slender branch مَرُوحاًwind-stirred
ونَقىً رَاجِحاً وخُوطاً مَرُوحاً
وطَلاَناعِساًand a drowsy fawn ورِيماًand a white gazelle مَرُومَاsought after
وطَلاَناعِساً ورِيماً مَرُومَا
a weighty sand-dune, a branch stirred by the wind,
A slender form, swaying, undulating gait,
a drowsy fawn, and a sought-after white gazelle.
Swiveling hips, petite feet.
وَموَامٍand desert wastes يَحَارُloses its way فيهاin them القَطَاthe sandgrouse الكُدdusky (word beginning)
وَموَامٍ يَحَارُ فيها القَطَا الكُد
رِىُّcompletion of 'dusky' حتىuntil تُفلَّis blunted مِنهُin it العَزِيمَاthe resolve
رِىُّ حتى تُفلَّ مِنهُ العَزِيمَا
And wastes where dusky sandgrouse lose their way,
Such as confounds the minds of poets,
until their resolve is blunted;
Wandering perplexed, their wills broken.
وتنيand falters الرِّيحُthe wind بِالجَرَاثِيمِat the sandy hillocks فِيهَاin them
وتني الرِّيحُ بِالجَرَاثِيمِ فِيهَا
إِنif أبَانَتit uncovers بِتِيهِهَاin their trackless expanse جَرثُومَاa mound
إِن أبَانَت بِتِيهِهَا جَرثُومَا
even the wind falters at their sandy hillocks
You would hear only the winds' voices within it,
if it uncovers a mound in their trackless expanse.
Except for the cooing ringdove and the whistling gale.
وطَوَىand shriveled ذِيبَهاtheir wolf الطَّوَىhunger فَهوand it يَدعُوcries الthe (article fragment)
وطَوَى ذِيبَها الطَّوَى فَهو يَدعُو ال
وَيلَwoe فيin البيدِthe wastes حَائِراًbewildered مَكظُومَاchoked with grief
وَيلَ في البيدِ حَائِراً مَكظُومَا
Hunger has shriveled their wolf, and it cries
You hear the owl lamenting its desolation,
woe in the wastes, bewildered and choked with grief.
And the echo answering the owl.
لَمnot تَكُنyou would be سَامِعاًhearing مِنَof الصَّوتِsound فِيهَاin them
لَم تَكُن سَامِعاً مِنَ الصَّوتِ فِيهَا
غَيرَother than صَوتشthe sound of الرِّيَاحِthe winds إِلاَّexcept النَّئِيمَاhooting
غَيرَ صَوتش الرِّيَاحِ إِلاَّ النَّئِيمَا
You would hear no sound in them
It is frightening yet perplexingly enchanting,
other than the winds' voice, except hooting.
Leading astray the steps of one who would prove it true.
تَسمَعُyou hear البُومُthe owl وَهوَwhile it يَنأَمُhoots وهناًlate at night
تَسمَعُ البُومُ وَهوَ يَنأَمُ وهناً
ونَئِيمُand the hooting of الصَّدَىthe male owl يُجِيبُanswers البُومَاthe owl
ونَئِيمُ الصَّدَى يُجِيبُ البُومَا
You hear the owl hooting late at night,
Perils unknown hide within it,
and the male owl's hoot answers the owl.
Should the intimate friend be exposed to suspicion.
هوterror (word beginning) لُهاtheir terror (completion) يُختَشَىis feared وفِيهَاand in them إشتِبَاهٌconfusion
هو لُها يُختَشَى وفِيهَا إشتِبَاهٌ
مُعقِبٌbringing فيinto حِجَاthe mind of الدِّليلِthe guide غُمُومَاsorrows
مُعقِبٌ في حِجَا الدِّليلِ غُمُومَا
Their terror is feared, and in them lies confusion,
I left it with lingering sorrow, compressed -
bringing sorrow to the guide's mind.
If I returned its sorrow would disperse.
قدindeed تَبَطَّنَتهاI traversed their depths أَمُوناًa trusty she-camel سَبندَاa hardy she-camel (word beginning)
قد تَبَطَّنَتها أَمُوناً سَبندَا
ةًcompletion of 'hardy she-camel' إِذَاwhen جَرَّتِstreamed العِتَاقَthe thoroughbreds الحَمِيمَاsweat
ةً إِذَا جَرَّتِ العِتَاقَ الحَمِيمَا
I crossed their depths on a trusty, hardy she-camel,
It crosses the waste like a dread specter,
when the thoroughbreds streamed with sweat
Rustling, hissing, and wailing in the night.
واستَزيَدَتand were urged for more فَلَمbut did not تَزِدincrease وتَشَكَّتand complained
واستَزيَدَت فَلَم تَزِد وتَشَكَّت
وَبرَتand wore down جَذبَةُthe tug of الخَشَاشِthe nose-rein الكُومَاthe high-humped camels
وَبرَت جَذبَةُ الخَشَاشِ الكُومَا
and, urged for more, gave no more and complained,
And it circles the plain softly, lightly,
and the nose-rein's tug wore down the high-humped camels.
Pivoting and pacing measured steps.
خِلتُهَاI thought her خَاضِباًa red-legged ostrich أسَكَّsmall-eared ظَلِيماًa male ostrich
خِلتُهَا خَاضِباً أسَكَّ ظَلِيماً
لَوif عَدَتshe ran بَذَّتshe outstripped الأسَكَّthe small-eared الظَّلِيمَاmale ostrich
لَو عَدَت بَذَّت الأسَكَّ الظَّلِيمَا
I took her for a red-legged, small-eared male ostrich;
This is for one experienced with ordeals,
if she ran, she would outstrip the small-eared male ostrich.
Capable of stringing the thread when it breaks.
تَقطَعُshe crosses البِيدَthe wastes كَالجَهَامِlike a rainless cloud إنسِلاَلاًgliding
تَقطَعُ البِيدَ كَالجَهَامِ إنسِلاَلاً
وَزَفِيفاًand skimming swiftly وَغلوَةًand a galloping burst ورَسِيمَاand trotting
وَزَفِيفاً وَغلوَةً ورَسِيمَا
She crosses the wastes like a rainless cloud, gliding,
And if I wished to compose verse
skimming, galloping in bursts, and trotting.
For the disreputable one who befriends the disreputable.
وَتُولِىand she sets against الصَّفَاةَthe flint خفَّاa hoof خَفِيفاًlight
وَتُولِى الصَّفَاةَ خفَّا خَفِيفاً
مُستَدِيراًrounded ومَنسَماًand a toe مَثلُومَاnotched
مُستَدِيراً ومَنسَماً مَثلُومَا
She sets a light hoof against the flint,
She carried it to him, then came to him
rounded, with a notched toe.
And saw some of the perversions of the depraved.
تِلكَthat she-camel لِلصَّرمِfor separation إِنif أَلَمَّit befalls عَتَادِىmy equipment
تِلكَ لِلصَّرمِ إِن أَلَمَّ عَتَادِى
تَصِلَshe joins الحَبلَthe cord الوَاهِنَthe frail المَصرُومَاthe severed
تَصِلَ الحَبلَ الوَاهِنَ المَصرُومَا
She is my resource should separation come,
He is the traitor, the cheat, the villain, the thief,
to mend the frail, severed cord.
The fraud, who mimics the pigs in nature.
وإذَاand when شِئتُI wished أنto أُزَفِّفَspeed onward شِعراًa poem
وإذَا شِئتُ أن أُزَفِّفَ شِعراً
لِلزَّنَيمِto the bastard الذيwho تَقفيfollowed الزَّنِيمَاthe bastard
لِلزَّنَيمِ الذي تَقفي الزَّنِيمَا
And when I wish to speed a poem
The lands are weary of him, east and west,
to the bastard who followed another bastard,
And he has become to its people an ill omen.
حَمَلَتهُshe carried it إِلَيهِto him ثُمَّthen أتَتهُcame to him
حَمَلَتهُ إِلَيهِ ثُمَّ أتَتهُ
ورَأتand saw بَعضَsome of مَاwhat أجَنَّmaddened الأَنِيمَاhumankind
ورَأت بَعضَ مَا أجَنَّ الأَنِيمَا
she carries it to him, then comes to him
All who see him conceal themselves,
and sees some of what has driven humankind mad.
And hide from him, and are wary of his evil.
فهوfor he is الخَائِنُthe betrayer الغَدُورُthe perfidious الخِبِيثُthe vile السthe (article fragment)
فهو الخَائِنُ الغَدُورُ الخِبِيثُ الس
سارِقُthief المُشبِهُresembling الخَنَازِيرَthe pigs شِيمَاin character
سارِقُ المُشبِهُ الخَنَازِيرَ شِيمَا
For he is the treacherous, perfidious, vile
The people have experienced his misfortune, so they shunned him,
thief, resembling pigs in character.
Reviled him, and labeled him disgraced.
سَئَمَتهُwere sick of him البِلاَدُthe lands شَرقاًeastward وغَرباًand westward
سَئَمَتهُ البِلاَدُ شَرقاً وغَرباً
وغَداand became عِندَamong أهلِهَاtheir people مَشئُومَاill-omened
وغَدا عِندَ أهلِهَا مَشئُومَا
The lands, east and west, are sick of him,
And called him the despicable, the base, the ignorant fool,
and their people deem him ill-omened.
The good-for-nothing, the degenerate, the condemned.
كُلُّeveryone مَنwho رَاءَهُsaw him تَسَتًَّرَhid عَنهُfrom him
كُلُّ مَن رَاءَهُ تَسَتًَّرَ عَنهُ
واختفيand concealed himself عَنهُfrom him واَختَشَىand feared مِنهُfrom him شُومَاill luck
واختفي عَنهُ واَختَشَى مِنهُ شُومَا
Everyone who sees him hides from him,
The defective, the foul-mouthed, the corrupt, the coward,
conceals himself and fears ill luck from him.
The brute, the flawed, the sinful wretch.
جَرَّبَexperienced النَّاسُthe people شُؤمَهُhis ill luck فَجَفَوهُand so shunned him
جَرَّبَ النَّاسُ شُؤمَهُ فَجَفَوهُ
وَقَلَوهُand hated him ولَقَّبُوهُand dubbed him الدَّمِيمَاthe ugly one
وَقَلَوهُ ولَقَّبُوهُ الدَّمِيمَا
People tried his ill luck and shunned him,
O ally of adultery, O son of a dog,
hated him, and called him ugly,
You barked at the stars when you howled.
والذَّمِيمَand the blameworthy اللِّئِيمَthe vile والجَاهِلَand the ignorant الجِبthe wretch (word beginning)
والذَّمِيمَ اللِّئِيمَ والجَاهِلَ الجِب
سَcompletion of 'wretch' العُتِلَّthe brute المُمَاذِقَthe insincere المَذمُومَاthe reviled
سَ العُتِلَّ المُمَاذِقَ المَذمُومَا
blameworthy, vile, ignorant, a cowardly
You were not of human form or nature
wretch, brutal, false-hearted, reviled;
Until you were assumed to be of noble origin.
والنَّمُومَand the tale-bearer الشَّتِيمَthe foul-looking والفَاسِقَand the dissolute الخِبthe deceiver (word beginning)
والنَّمُومَ الشَّتِيمَ والفَاسِقَ الخِب
بَcompletion of 'deceiver' الجَبَانَthe coward الجَمَّabounding in العُيُوبَfaults الاَثِيمَاthe sinful
بَ الجَبَانَ الجَمَّ العُيُوبَ الاَثِيمَا
tale-bearing, foul-looking, dissolute, a
You and the state you are in bear witness,
deceiver, cowardly, full of faults and sin.
And the proof of your state convicts you.
يَاO حليفَally of الزِّنَاءَfornication أيَاO إبنَson of
يَا حليفَ الزِّنَاءَ أيَا إبنَ
كَلبُa dog مَاضَرَّno harm was done أَنthat نَبحتَyou barked at النُّجُومَاthe stars
كَلبُ مَاضَرَّ أَن نَبحتَ النُّجُومَا
O ally of fornication, O son of
Evil qualities took form and came in
a dog! Your barking does the stars no harm.
The shape of an ape, then copied its features.
لَمnot تَكُyou were الآدِميَّhuman شَكلاًin form ولاَnor طَبnature (word beginning)
لَم تَكُ الآدِميَّ شَكلاً ولاَ طَب
عَاًcompletion of 'nature' ِإلىto the point أنthat تُظَنَّyou might be thought أصلاًof stock كَرِيمَاnoble
عَاً ِإلى أن تُظَنَّ أصلاً كَرِيمَا
You were not human in form, nor in
Your religion is blasphemy and your nature is greed,
nature, enough to be deemed of noble stock.
You are not of goodness and guidance, not honorable.
أنتَyou والحَالُand circumstance شَاهِدٌis a witness وشُهودُand the testimony of الthe (article fragment)
أنتَ والحَالُ شَاهِدٌ وشُهودُ ال
حالِcircumstance أحرَىmore fitting بِأَنto تَبُتَّdecide between الخُصُومَاthe disputants
حالِ أحرَى بِأَن تَبُتَّ الخُصُومَا
You—circumstance is witness, and its testimony
It is difficult to satirize you, when you yourself
is best fitted to decide between disputants—
Are satire - to satirize satire suits you well.
سَيِّئَاتٌsins تَجَسَّمَتbecame embodied فَأَتَتand appeared فيin
سَيِّئَاتٌ تَجَسَّمَت فَأَتَت في
صُورَةِthe shape of القِردِthe monkey ثمthen حَاكَتهُimitated it سِيمَاin features
صُورَةِ القِردِ ثم حَاكَتهُ سِيمَا
are sins made flesh, appearing in
You said you made a clear mistake
a monkey's shape, then copying its features.
In referring to the crescent as an amulet.
دِينُكَyour religion الكُفرُunbelief والسَّرِيرَةُand the inward nature حِرصٌgreed
دِينُكَ الكُفرُ والسَّرِيرَةُ حِرصٌ
لَستَyou are not بِالخَيرِwith goodness والهُدَىand guidance مَوسُومَاmarked
لَستَ بِالخَيرِ والهُدَى مَوسُومَا
Your creed is unbelief, your inward nature greed;
But the crescent amulet is no mistake
you bear no mark of goodness or guidance.
If you had looked into language and understood.
عَسُرَbecame difficult الهَجوُsatire مِنكَof you إِذsince أنتَyou هَجوٌare satire
عَسُرَ الهَجوُ مِنكَ إِذ أنتَ هَجوٌ
وهِجَاءُand satirizing الهِجَاءِsatire أنif/that (reading unclear) بِكَupon you سِيمَاwas inflicted
وهِجَاءُ الهِجَاءِ أن بِكَ سِيمَا
Satirizing you is hard, since you are satire itself,
It is you, you who have made mistakes again and again,
and satire of satire, if inflicted on you [wording unclear].
And you have always been a leader in mistakes.
قًلتَyou said ِإنيthat I لَحَنتُmade a grammatical error لَحناًan error جَلِيًّاobvious
قًلتَ ِإني لَحَنتُ لَحناً جَلِيًّا
وجَعَلتَand you deemed اللَّحنَthe error الهِلاَلَthe crescent التَّمِيمَاthe full
وجَعَلتَ اللَّحنَ الهِلاَلَ التَّمِيمَا
You said I had made an obvious grammatical error
You were neither a reader nor a scholar,
and called 'the full crescent' a solecism.
Chewing rags and eating dried hides.
والهِلاَلُand the crescent التَّميمُthe full لَيسَis not بِلَحنٍa grammatical error
والهِلاَلُ التَّميمُ لَيسَ بِلَحنٍ
لَوif نَظَرتَyou examined اللُّغَىlinguistic usages وكُنتَand you were فِهِيمَاperceptive
لَو نَظَرتَ اللُّغَى وكُنتَ فِهِيمَا
Yet 'the full crescent' is no solecism,
Rather, you habitually chewed almonds,
if you examined linguistic usage and understood.
Ignorance trained your speech to babble.
أنتَyou أنتَyou الذيare the one who لَحنتَmade grammatical errors مِرَاراًrepeatedly
أنتَ أنتَ الذي لَحنتَ مِرَاراً
ولَقدand indeed كُنتَyou were بِاللُّحُونِin solecisms زَعِيمَاa master
ولَقد كُنتَ بِاللُّحُونِ زَعِيمَا
You—you are the one who erred repeatedly,
I said, when you intended a subtle melody,
and you were indeed a master of solecisms.
You made the lute into an intimate companion -
لَمnot تَكُنyou were قَارِئاًa reader ولَمand not تَكُyou were قُحًّاa pure-bred Arab
لَم تَكُن قَارِئاً ولَم تَكُ قُحًّا
مَضَغَchewed الشِّيحَwormwood واجتنيand gathered القَيصُومَاdesert yarrow
مَضَغَ الشِّيحَ واجتني القَيصُومَا
You were neither a reader nor a pure-bred Arab
We never knew the lute to be a companion before!
who chewed wormwood and gathered desert yarrow.
Your ignorance in the melody sufficed as subversion.
إِنَّمَأonly كُنتَyou were مَاضِغَa chewer of اللَّوزِalmonds دَأباًhabitually
إِنَّمَأ كُنتَ مَاضِغَ اللَّوزِ دَأباً
عَوَّدَaccustomed الجَهلُignorance نُطقَكَyour speech التَّعجِيمَاto garbled pronunciation
عَوَّدَ الجَهلُ نُطقَكَ التَّعجِيمَا
You were only a habitual almond-chewer;
If you are unschooled, you cannot be blamed,
ignorance accustomed your speech to garbled pronunciation.
You are not to be blamed in all you undertake.
قُلتُI said إِذwhen رُمتَyou sought فيin القَرِيضِverse نَسِيباًa love prelude
قُلتُ إِذ رُمتَ في القَرِيضِ نَسِيباً
كُنتَI was (contextual reading) أحجُوI deemed نَعِيمَهits bliss مُستَدِيمَاeverlasting
كُنتَ أحجُو نَعِيمَه مُستَدِيمَا
I said, when you sought a love prelude in verse:
You are misguided, and the origin of your origin misguided,
'I deemed its bliss everlasting.'
Misguided too - is that not enough misguidance!
وجَعَلتَand you made الرَّبَابَal-Rabab فِيهِin it نَدِيماًa male boon companion
وجَعَلتَ الرَّبَابَ فِيهِ نَدِيماً
مَاnot عِهِدنَاwe had known الرَّبَابَal-Rabab قَبلُbefore نَدِيماa male boon companion
مَا عِهِدنَا الرَّبَابَ قَبلُ نَدِيما
And you made al-Rabab a male boon companion in it;
There is in your wretched poem a brief
we had never known al-Rabab as a male companion before.
Provocation that endures for all time.
وَكفيand it sufficed سُبَّةًas a disgrace سَوَامِىَmy grazing herds هِيماًthirsty
وَكفي سُبَّةً سَوَامِىَ هِيماً
وظَهَرَand appeared اللَّحنُthe grammatical error فيin سَوامِىَmy grazing herds هِيَماthirsty
وظَهَرَ اللَّحنُ في سَوامِىَ هِيَما
And 'my thirsty herds' was disgrace enough;
You made the rhyme letter meem - my response
the solecism was clear in 'my thirsty herds.'
Will make your rhyme letter meem as well!
إِنif تَكُنyou are لاَحِناًmaking grammatical errors فَلَستَthen you are not مَلُوماًblamed
إِن تَكُن لاَحِناً فَلَستَ مَلُوماً
لَستَyou are not فيfor كُلِّeverything مَايِشِينُthat disgraces مَلُومَاblamed
لَستَ في كُلِّ مَايِشِينُ مَلُومَا
If you make solecisms, you are not to blame:
And beware of affectation and absurdity,
you are not blamed for anything that disgraces you.
And forced meaning - consider well your meaning.
أنتَyou لُؤمٌare baseness وأصلُand the root of أصلِكَyour root لُؤمٌis baseness
أنتَ لُؤمٌ وأصلُ أصلِكَ لُؤمٌ
وَهوَand it لُؤمٌis baseness أماhas not كفيsufficed اللّومُblame لُومَاas blame
وَهوَ لُؤمٌ أما كفي اللّومُ لُومَا
You are baseness, and the root of your root is baseness,
And beware of inclination, of support, of implied censure,
and it is baseness—has blame not been blame enough?
Of magical charms and amulets.
هَاكَtake this فيconcerning لَحنِكَyour grammatical error السَّقِيمِthe sickly قَرِيضَاa poem
هَاكَ في لَحنِكَ السَّقِيمِ قَرِيضَا
صَحَّwas sound إِذَاwhen أصبَحَbecame القَرِيضُverse سَقِيمَاsick
صَحَّ إِذَا أصبَحَ القَرِيضُ سَقِيمَا
Take this poem concerning your sickly solecisms,
sound when verse has grown sick.
فِيهِin it مِنof هَجوِكَsatire of you اختِصَارُan abridgment مُثِيرٌstirring
فِيهِ مِن هَجوِكَ اختِصَارُ مُثِيرٌ
فيwithin الحَشَاthe breast دَائِمَthroughout الزَّمَانِall time كُلُومَاwounds
في الحَشَا دَائِمَ الزَّمَانِ كُلُومَا
It contains a concise lampoon of you, stirring
wounds within the breast for all time.
وجَعَلتَand you made الرويthe rhyme-letter مِيماًmim فإِنَّso if رُمsought (verb beginning)
وجَعَلتَ الروي مِيماً فإِنَّ رُم
تَyou (completes 'you sought') جَوَابيanswering me إجعَلَنcertainly make رَوِيَّكَyour rhyme-letter مِيمَاmim
تَ جَوَابي إجعَلَن رَوِيَّكَ مِيمَا
You made mim the rhyme-letter; if you seek
to answer me, make your rhyme-letter mim.
وَاحتَرِسand guard yourself منagainst تَكَلًّفٍaffectation واعتِسَافٍand forcing
وَاحتَرِس من تَكَلًّفٍ واعتِسَافٍ
وانعِقَادِand entanglement of مَعنًىmeaning ورَاعِand attend to مَعنًىa meaning جَسِيمَاweighty
وانعِقَادِ مَعنًى ورَاعِ مَعنًى جَسِيمَا
Guard against affectation and forcing,
and tangled meaning; attend to a weighty sense.
وَاحذَرِand beware المَيلَdeviation والسِّنِادَand inconsistent rhyme-vowels وتَشand confusing (word beginning)
وَاحذَرِ المَيلَ والسِّنِادَ وتَش
ويشَcompletion of 'confusing' النُّهىthe intellect والتَّضمِينُand enjambment والتَّمِيمَاand filling-out (technical sense unclear)
ويشَ النُّهى والتَّضمِينُ والتَّمِيمَا
Beware deviation, inconsistent rhyme-vowels, and
confusing the mind, enjambment, and filling-out [technical term unclear].
Partial English translation: 140 of 150 Arabic lines translated.