أَمِنIs it for دِمَنٍold settlement traces بِشاجِنَةِin a ravine of الحَجونِal-Hajun
أَمِن دِمَنٍ بِشاجِنَةِ الحَجونِ
عَفَتvanished مِنهاfrom them المَعارِفُrecognizable features مُنذُsince حينِsome time
عَفَت مِنها المَعارِفُ مُنذُ حينِ
Is it for old traces in a ravine of al-Hajun,
From the ruins of Demen with lofty walls
Whose familiar features vanished long ago,
Knowledge kept away long ago,
وَضَنَّتand begrudged بِالكَلامِspeech وَلَمand did not تَكَلَّمspeak
وَضَنَّت بِالكَلامِ وَلَم تَكَلَّم
بَكَيتَyou wept وَكَيفَand how تَبكيdo you weep لِلضَنينِfor the grudging one
بَكَيتَ وَكَيفَ تَبكي لِلضَنينِ
That withheld speech and never spoke,
She was silent in speech and did not talk,
That you wept? How can you weep for one so grudging?
You wept - how can you weep for someone stoic?
وَنَدّىand moistened الماءُthe water جَفنَthe eyelid العَينِof the eye حَتّىuntil
وَنَدّى الماءُ جَفنَ العَينِ حَتّى
تَرَقرَقَit shimmered ثُمَّthen فاضَoverflowed مِنَfrom الجُفونِthe eyelids
تَرَقرَقَ ثُمَّ فاضَ مِنَ الجُفونِ
Tears moistened the eyelid until
Tears wet the eye until it trickled,
They shimmered, then overflowed from the lids,
Then overflowed from the eyelids,
كَماas هَمَلتthey streamed وَسالَand flowed مِنَfrom الأَواتيthe watercourses
كَما هَمَلت وَسالَ مِنَ الأَواتي
دُموعُtears النِكسِof the worn bucket مِنfrom وَشَلٍa trickle مَعينِrunning
دُموعُ النِكسِ مِن وَشَلٍ مَعينِ
As tears stream and flow from the watercourses,
As if it weakened and flowed from
A worn bucket's tears from a running trickle.
The tears of affliction from a flowing spring.
مَنازِلُdwellings ماnot تَرىyou see الأَنصابَsacrificial stones فيهاin them
مَنازِلُ ما تَرى الأَنصابَ فيها
وَلاnor حُفَرَpits المُبَلّيof one leaving a beast to die لِلمَنونِto death
وَلا حُفَرَ المُبَلّي لِلمَنونِ
Dwellings where you see no sacrificial stones,
Dwellings where you see no remains
Nor pits of one consigning a beast to death,
Nor graves dug for the departed,
وَلاnor أَثَرَa trace الدَوارِof the idol وَلاnor المَآليmourning-cloths
وَلا أَثَرَ الدَوارِ وَلا المَآلي
وَلَكِنbut قَدperhaps تَرىyou see أُرَبَcord-knots الحَصونِof the chaste woman
وَلَكِن قَد تَرى أُرَبَ الحَصونِ
Nor traces of the idol, nor mourning-cloths;
No traces of homes, or places
But you may see the chaste woman's knotted cords.
But you may see the pens of fortresses.
عَفَتvanished إِلّاexcept أَياصِرَtether-ropes أَوor نُئِيّاًencircling trenches
عَفَت إِلّا أَياصِرَ أَو نُئِيّاً
مَحافِرُهاtheir dug channels كَأَسرِيَةِlike the rivulets الإِضينِof pools
مَحافِرُها كَأَسرِيَةِ الإِضينِ
They have vanished, save for tether-ropes or encircling trenches,
They disappeared except for wall bases
Their dug channels like the rivulets of pools,
Or low areas, their digging like the burrows of jerboas,
وَأَخرَجَand mottled ash أُمُّهُits mother لِسَواسِbelonging to suwwas trees of سَلمىSalma
وَأَخرَجَ أُمُّهُ لِسَواسِ سَلمى
لِمَعفورِfor a dust-covered one الضَراthe shelter ضَرِمِblazing الجَنينِthe hidden core
لِمَعفورِ الضَرا ضَرِمِ الجَنينِ
And mottled ash, its mother the suwwas trees of Salma,
And his mother brought out Salma’s foal
For a dust-shrouded fire, blazing in its hidden heart.
For the curing of the injured, the fetus of the placenta,
تَنَكَّرَgrew unrecognizable رَسمُهاits outlines إِلّاexcept بَقاياremnants
تَنَكَّرَ رَسمُها إِلّا بَقايا
جَلاuncovered عَنهاfrom them جَداthe bounty هَمِعٍof a pouring cloud هَتونِunceasing
جَلا عَنها جَدا هَمِعٍ هَتونِ
Its outlines have grown strange, save for remnants
Its features changed except for remnants
Uncovered by the bounty of a pouring, ceaseless raincloud,
Far from the residue of a negligent, straying youth,
كَآثارِlike traces النَؤورِof tattoo-black لَهُit has دُخانٌsmoke
كَآثارِ النَؤورِ لَهُ دُخانٌ
أُسِفَّwas sprinkled onto مُتونَthe surfaces مُقتَرَحٍof an incision رَصينِfirm
أُسِفَّ مُتونَ مُقتَرَحٍ رَصينِ
Like traces of tattoo-black, its smoke
Sprinkled onto the surfaces of a firm incision.
Like the traces of mouflon, for it there is smoke
كَأَنَّas though حُطامَfragments قَيضِof eggshells الصَيفِof summer فيهِin it
كَأَنَّ حُطامَ قَيضِ الصَيفِ فيهِ
فَراشُsplinters صَميمِof the solid cores أَقحافِof skull-bones الشُؤونِthe cranial sutures
فَراشُ صَميمِ أَقحافِ الشُؤونِ
As though summer's broken eggshells there
That darkened the bases of a steady hill,
Were splinters of solid skull-bones at their seams.
As if the wreckage of the summer hut in it
وَقَفتُI stood بِهاat them فَهيضَand was reopened جَوىًheartache أَطاعَتanswered
وَقَفتُ بِها فَهيضَ جَوىً أَطاعَت
لَهُto it زَفَراتُsighs مُغتَرِبٍof an exile حَزينِsorrowful
لَهُ زَفَراتُ مُغتَرِبٍ حَزينِ
I stood there, and an old heartache broke open, answered
Was the bedding of the essence of misfortunes.
By the sighs of a sorrowing exile.
أَشَتَّscattered بِأَهلِهِhis people صَرفُthe vicissitudes اللَياليof the nights
أَشَتَّ بِأَهلِهِ صَرفُ اللَيالي
فَأَضحىso he became وَهوَwhile he مُنجَذِمُsevered from القَرينِthe companion
فَأَضحى وَهوَ مُنجَذِمُ القَرينِ
The turns of the nights had scattered his people,
I stood in it and it roared obediently
And he was left severed from his companion.
To the sighs of a homesick, sad soul,
وَيَومِand on a day of ظَعائِنٍdeparting women عَلَّلتُI consoled نَفسيmyself
وَيَومِ ظَعائِنٍ عَلَّلتُ نَفسي
بِهِنَّwith them عَلىon مُواشِكَةٍa swift she-camel ذَقونِchin-dipping
بِهِنَّ عَلى مُواشِكَةٍ ذَقونِ
And on a day of departing women, I consoled myself
The nights went by and he longed for his family
With them, riding a swift, chin-dipping she-camel,
And thus he became broken-hearted.
مُبَرِّزَةٍoutstripping إِذاwhen أَيديthe forelegs المَطاياof the mounts
مُبَرِّزَةٍ إِذا أَيدي المَطايا
سَدَتstretched forward بِقَباضَةٍbriskly وَثَنَتand folded back بِلينِsmoothly
سَدَت بِقَباضَةٍ وَثَنَت بِلينِ
Outstripping the others when the mounts' forelegs
And on a day of misfortunes I blamed myself
Thrust forward briskly and folded back smoothly.
For them, almost reaching the peak of misery,
ظَعائِنُdeparting women كُنتُI used to أَعهَدُهُنَّknow them قِدماًlong ago
ظَعائِنُ كُنتُ أَعهَدُهُنَّ قِدماً
وَهُنَّand they لِذيto one possessing الأَمانَةِtrust غَيرُnot خونِbetrayers
وَهُنَّ لِذي الأَمانَةِ غَيرُ خونِ
Women I had known in former days,
Stretching out when the hands of calamities
Who never betrayed a keeper of their trust,
Clasped with a fist and bent with gentleness,
حِسانُbeautiful مَواضِعالنُقَبِthe places of the veils الأَعاليthe upper
حِسانُ مَواضِعالنُقَبِ الأَعالي
غِراثُslender الوُشحِat the sashes صامِتَةُsilent البُرينِthe bangles
غِراثُ الوُشحِ صامِتَةُ البُرينِ
Lovely in the upper features framed by their veils,
Misfortunes that I knew long ago
Slender at their sashes, their bangles silent,
And they to the trustee are not treasonous,
طِوالُlong at مَشَكِّthe fastening-points أَعناقِof the necks الهَواديthe foreparts
طِوالُ مَشَكِّ أَعناقِ الهَوادي
نَواعِمُsoft and lovely بَينَamong أَبكارٍmaidens وَعونِand mature women
نَواعِمُ بَينَ أَبكارٍ وَعونِ
Long where the necklaces clasp their necks,
The best parts of the high passes
Soft and lovely, some maidens, others mature.
Scrubs of the plateau, silent places of open spaces,
يُسارِقنَthey secretly exchange الكَلامَspeech إِلّيَّto me لَمّاwhen
يُسارِقنَ الكَلامَ إِلّيَّ لَمّا
حَسِسنَthey sensed حِذارَfear of مُرتَقِبٍa watcher شَفونِsharp-eyed
حَسِسنَ حِذارَ مُرتَقِبٍ شَفونِ
They stole words to me when
They sensed the danger of a sharp-eyed watcher.
Tall, with prominent necks over valleys
كَأَنَّas though الخَيمَthe tents هاجَstirred إِلَيَّtoward me مِنهُfrom it
كَأَنَّ الخَيمَ هاجَ إِلَيَّ مِنهُ
نِعاجُwild cows صَرائِمٍof sandy tracts حُمَّdark القُرونِof horns
نِعاجُ صَرائِمٍ حُمَّ القُرونِ
As though from the tents there stirred toward me
Tender, between virgins and helpers,
Wild cows of the dunes, their horns dark,
They whisper to me when
عَقائِلُchoice creatures رَملَةٍof a sandy tract نازَعنَplucked مِنهاfrom it
عَقائِلُ رَملَةٍ نازَعنَ مِنها
دُفوقَa profusion أَقاحِof daisies مَعهودrain-favored وَدينِrain-moistened
دُفوقَ أَقاحِ مَعهود وَدينِ
Choice creatures of a sandy tract, plucking from it
They sense the caution of a watchful eyelid,
A profusion of daisies, rain-favored and watered,
خِلاطَmixed with أَكُلِّherbage of شُقّارىshuqara اِحتَشَتهاthey cropped it
خِلاطَ أَكُلِّ شُقّارى اِحتَشَتها
مُلَمَّعَةُdappled الشَوىin the limbs بيضُwhite البُطونِof belly
مُلَمَّعَةُ الشَوى بيضُ البُطونِ
Mixed with shuqara herbage, which they cropped,
As if the tents were aroused towards me
Those dappled of limb and white of belly.
A flock of grazing sheep, blunt-horned,
فَلَمّاthen when أَنthat رَأَينَthey saw القَولَspeech حالَتintervened
فَلَمّا أَن رَأَينَ القَولَ حالَت
حَواجِزُbarriers دونَbefore مُعجِبِهِits pleasing part وَدونيand before me
حَواجِزُ دونَ مُعجِبِهِ وَدوني
When they saw that speech was blocked
Young female onagers took from it
By barriers between its delights and me,
The leading mares of promised and obligated herds,
نَقَبنَthey pierced وَصاوِصاًnarrow peepholes حَذَرَfor fear of الغَيارىthe jealous ones
نَقَبنَ وَصاوِصاً حَذَرَ الغَيارى
إِلَيَّtoward me مِنَfrom الهَوادِجِthe howdahs لِلعُيونِfor the eyes
إِلَيَّ مِنَ الهَوادِجِ لِلعُيونِ
They pierced narrow peepholes, wary of jealous men,
A mixture of partridges gathered together,
For their eyes, toward me from the howdahs.
Their bellies glistening white from being roasted,
نَطَقنَthey spoke بِحاجَةٍof one need وَطَوَينَand folded away أُخرىanother
نَطَقنَ بِحاجَةٍ وَطَوَينَ أُخرى
كَطَيِّlike folding كَرائِمِprecious pieces البَزِّof cloth المَصونِprotected
كَطَيِّ كَرائِمِ البَزِّ المَصونِ
They voiced one need and folded another away,
So when they saw speech was difficult
As precious, carefully guarded cloth is folded.
Barriers lay between the admirer and me,
بِمُقتَنَصِwith the snare of الهَوىdesire وَصَّلنَthey conveyed مِنهُfrom it
بِمُقتَنَصِ الهَوى وَصَّلنَ مِنهُ
مَعاتِبَreproaches نَقَّبَتthat pierced قَصَبَthe channel الوَتينِof the vital vein
مَعاتِبَ نَقَّبَت قَصَبَ الوَتينِ
Through love's snare, they conveyed from it
They crept whispering, cautiously from the passions
Reproaches that pierced the channel of the vital vein.
To me from the pits for the eyes,
بِذيwith one possessing ذِئبٍa pommel يَنوسُsways بِجانِبَيهِat its two sides
بِذي ذِئبٍ يَنوسُ بِجانِبَيهِ
عَثاكِلُtassels مِنfrom أَكاليلِgarlands العُهودِof pledges
عَثاكِلُ مِن أَكاليلِ العُهودِ
With a pommelled saddle, from whose two sides swing
They spoke a need and folded another
Tassels from garlands of pledges,
Like folding precious fine silk,
أَحَمِّjet-black سَوادِin blackness أَعلىthe uppermost اللَونِcolor مِنهُof it
أَحَمِّ سَوادِ أَعلى اللَونِ مِنهُ
كَلَونِlike the color سَراةِof the back ثُعبانِof a snake العَرينِof the thicket
كَلَونِ سَراةِ ثُعبانِ العَرينِ
Deep-black, its upper surface colored
With the snatching of passion they connected from it
Like the back of a thicket-dwelling snake,
Reproaches that probed the joints of the sugarcane,
تُخيِّرَwas chosen مِنfrom سَرارَةِthe finest heartwood أَثلِof tamarisk حَجرٍof Hajr
تُخيِّرَ مِن سَرارَةِ أَثلِ حَجرٍ
وَلاحَكَand fitted closely بَينَهُbetween its parts نَحتُthe carving القُيونِof craftsmen
وَلاحَكَ بَينَهُ نَحتُ القُيونِ
Chosen from the finest heartwood of Hajr's tamarisks,
With one whose wolf creeps at his sides
Its parts fitted closely by the craftsmen's carving.
Relics of pacts,
تَقولُsays لِيَto me المَليحَةُthe fair woman أُمُّUmm جَهمٍJahm
تَقولُ لِيَ المَليحَةُ أُمُّ جَهمٍ
وَقَدand indeed يُرعىconsideration is shown لِذيto one possessing الشَفَقِconcern المَتينِsteadfast
وَقَد يُرعى لِذي الشَفَقِ المَتينِ
Fair Umm Jahm says to me—
Darker in color than it
And steadfast concern deserves to be heeded—
Like the color of the serpent of the lair,
كَأَنَّكَas though you لاdo not تَرىcount أَهلاًfamily وَمالاًand wealth
كَأَنَّكَ لا تَرى أَهلاً وَمالاً
سِوىexcept وَجناءَa sturdy-cheeked she-camel جائِلَةshifting الوَضينِin the girth
سِوى وَجناءَ جائِلَة الوَضينِ
"You seem to count no family or wealth
It was chosen from the essence of a stone
Except a sturdy-cheeked she-camel with a shifting girth."
And engraved between it was sculpture,
وَلَوand if أَنّيI أَشاءُwish كَنَنتُI would shelter جِسميmy body
وَلَو أَنّي أَشاءُ كَنَنتُ جِسمي
إِلىbeside بَيضاءَa white-skinned woman واضِحَةِradiant الجَبينِof brow
إِلى بَيضاءَ واضِحَةِ الجَبينِ
If I wished, I could shelter my body
The beautiful one, mother of Jahm says to me
Beside a white-skinned woman with a radiant brow.
While the one with compassion can be pastured:
إِذاwhen قامَتshe rises تَأَوَّدَbends مُسبَكِرٌّa tall, straight shoot
إِذا قامَت تَأَوَّدَ مُسبَكِرٌّ
مِنَamong القُضبانِthe stems فيin فَنَنٍa bough كَنينِsheltered
مِنَ القُضبانِ في فَنَنٍ كَنينِ
When she rises, a tall, straight shoot bends
Do you not see people and money
Among the stems upon a sheltered bough.
Other than the prize of the owner of the refuge?
وَلَكِنّيbut I أَسيرُdrive العَنسَthe sturdy she-camel يَدمىbleed
وَلَكِنّي أَسيرُ العَنسَ يَدمى
أَظَلّاهاher two soles وَتَركَعُand she bows فيthrough الحُزونِrugged ground
أَظَلّاها وَتَركَعُ في الحُزونِ
But I drive on my sturdy she-camel till they bleed,
If I wanted I could make my body
The soles of her feet, and she bows through rugged ground.
To an open, bright-faced white one,
يَظَلُّkeeps يَجولُmoving فَوقَabove الحاذِthe rump مِنهاof her
يَظَلُّ يَجولُ فَوقَ الحاذِ مِنها
بِآيِلِin the thickened residue of بَولِهاher urine قِطَعُpieces الجَنينِof the fetus
بِآيِلِ بَولِها قِطَعُ الجَنينِ
Above her rump there keep shifting,
If she stands the drunk rises
In her thickened urine, pieces of the fetus.
From the bars in seductions, moaning,
تَسُدُّshe blocks بِمَضرَحِيِّwith an eagle-like اللَونِcolor جَثلٍthick-haired
تَسُدُّ بِمَضرَحِيِّ اللَونِ جَثلٍ
خَوايَةَthe gaping hollow فَرجِof the vulva مِقلاتٍof a calf-losing camel دَهينِscant-milked
خَوايَةَ فَرجِ مِقلاتٍ دَهينِ
She blocks with dense hair of an eagle's hue
But I am a captive of ugliness that pains me
The gaping vulva of a calf-losing, scant-milked camel.
Its shadows cover me and kneel in sorrows,
كَعُثكولِlike a date-cluster الصَفِيِّof a choice palm زَهاهُadorned it هُلبٌcoarse tail-hair
كَعُثكولِ الصَفِيِّ زَهاهُ هُلبٌ
بِهِon it عَبسُdried dung المَصايِفِof summers كَالقُرونِlike horns
بِهِ عَبسُ المَصايِفِ كَالقُرونِ
Like a choice palm's date-cluster, adorned with coarse hair,
It remains circling above the edge of it
With summer's dried dung upon it like horns.
With its urine that cuts the fetus,
تُمِرُّshe passes عَلىover الوِراكِthe haunches إِذاwhen المَطاياthe mounts
تُمِرُّ عَلى الوِراكِ إِذا المَطايا
تَقايَسنَmeasured strides across النِجادَthe ridges مِنَof الوَجينِstony ground
تَقايَسنَ النِجادَ مِنَ الوَجينِ
Across her haunches she passes, when the mounts
My misshapen, discolored thighs cover
Measure their strides over the ridges of stony ground,
The opening of the vulva of a dumpy, stocky woman,
خَريعَpliant النَعوِin its hanging part مُضطَرِبَquivering النَواحيat the edges
خَريعَ النَعوِ مُضطَرِبَ النَواحي
كَأَخلاقِlike worn remnants الغَريفَةِof a leather sandal ذاhaving غُضونِfolds
كَأَخلاقِ الغَريفَةِ ذا غُضونِ
A limp-hanging tail, quivering at its edges,
Like the foreskin of the uncircumcised, its prepuce
Like a worn leather sandal, full of folds.
With which the summers frowned like horns,
نَزَتleaped شُعبُthe branches النَساof the sciatic sinews مِنهاof her الأَعاليthe upper
نَزَت شُعبُ النَسا مِنها الأَعالي
بِجانِبِbeside صَفحِthe flank مِطحرَةٍof a thrusting camel زَبونِkicking
بِجانِبِ صَفحِ مِطحرَةٍ زَبونِ
The upper branches of her sciatic sinews leap
She passes by the couch when the hands
Beside the flank of a thrusting, kicking beast.
Measure the softness of the pillows,
تَشُقُّshe rends مُغمِّضاتِthe shrouding veils اللَيلِof night عَنهاfrom herself
تَشُقُّ مُغمِّضاتِ اللَيلِ عَنها
إِذاwhen طَرَقَتshe travels at night بِمِرداسٍwith a pounding foot رَعونِloose-moving
إِذا طَرَقَت بِمِرداسٍ رَعونِ
She rends the night's shrouding darkness from herself
Her left cheek hits it
When she travels by night with a loose-moving, pounding foot.
When she tastes the power of a solid fist,
يُلاطِمُstrikes against أَيسَرُthe left الخَدَّينِof the two cheeks مِنهاof her
يُلاطِمُ أَيسَرُ الخَدَّينِ مِنها
إِذاwhen ذَقِنَتshe dips her chin قُوىthe strands مَرَسٍof a rope مَتينِsturdy
إِذا ذَقِنَت قُوى مَرَسٍ مَتينِ
Her left cheek strikes against,
Like the gullet of a cat, bitter aloe passes through it
When she lowers her chin, the strands of a sturdy rein—
Like the passing of the easily sliding smooth,
كَحُلقومِlike the throat القَطاةِof a sandgrouse أُمِرَّwas twisted شَزراًin reverse
كَحُلقومِ القَطاةِ أُمِرَّ شَزراً
كَإِمرارِlike the twisting المُحَدرَجِof a rounded cord ذيhaving الأُسونِstreaks
كَإِمرارِ المُحَدرَجِ ذي الأُسونِ
Like a sandgrouse's throat, tightly reverse-twisted,
This and that - if she is confined a little
As a rounded, streaked cord is twisted.
She justifies it with the blackened palms,
كَذاlike 'so' وَكَلاand 'no' إِذاif حُبِسَتshe is held back قَليلاًbriefly
كَذا وَكَلا إِذا حُبِسَت قَليلاً
تَعَلُّلُهاher refreshment بِمُسوَدِّwith blackened الدَرينِwithered grass
تَعَلُّلُها بِمُسوَدِّ الدَرينِ
No longer than 'so' and 'no,' if stopped a moment,
Her hands built up to a support
She refreshes herself with blackened, withered grass.
Like the tower of the insane,
مُضَبَّرَةُcompactly muscled القَرىin the back بُنِيَتwere built يَداهاher forelegs
مُضَبَّرَةُ القَرى بُنِيَت يَداها
إِلىupon سَنَدٍa sloping support كَبُرجِlike a tower المَنجَنونِof a waterwheel
إِلى سَنَدٍ كَبُرجِ المَنجَنونِ
Compact of back, her forelegs are built
Little conflict makes her forearms
Upon a sloping support like a waterwheel's tower.
Avoid her like the whorls of a spindle,
قَليلُlittle العَراكِrubbing يَهجُرُkeep clear of مِرفَقاهاher elbows
قَليلُ العَراكِ يَهجُرُ مِرفَقاها
خَليفَthe flank رَحىًof the chest كَفُرزومِlike an anvil القُيونِof craftsmen
خَليفَ رَحىً كَفُرزومِ القُيونِ
With little rubbing, her elbows keep clear
As if after the people walked five leagues
Of her chest's flank, like the craftsmen's anvil.
I check the description, it shines with minarets,
كَأَنّيas though I بَعدَafter سَيرِthe journey القَومِof the company خَمساًfor five nights
كَأَنّي بَعدَ سَيرِ القَومِ خَمساً
أَحَذُّshort-feathered النَعتِin form يَلمَعُflashes بِالمَنينِthrough the dust
أَحَذُّ النَعتِ يَلمَعُ بِالمَنينِ
As though, after the company had traveled five nights,
On a plain with the daughters of Qayn
I were a short-feathered ostrich flashing through the dust,
Horses race the suspicions of beginnings,
عَلىfollowing بَيدانَةٍa female ostrich بِبَناتِat Banat قَينٍQayn
عَلى بَيدانَةٍ بِبَناتِ قَينٍ
تَسوفُshe sniffs صِلالَdry patches مُبتَدٍّof a lone shower ظَنونِunreliable
تَسوفُ صِلالَ مُبتَدٍّ ظَنونِ
Following a female ostrich at Banat Qayn,
Some lead a mare and others lead
Sniffing dry patches left by a lone, uncertain shower.
Light-stepped with deep eyes,
تُعارِضُshe moves alongside رَعلَةًone flock وَتَقودُand leads أُخرىanother
تُعارِضُ رَعلَةً وَتَقودُ أُخرى
خِفافَlight الوَطءِof tread غائِرَةَdeep-set العُيونِin the eyes
خِفافَ الوَطءِ غائِرَةَ العُيونِ
She moves alongside one flock and leads another,
Tender, accompanying each other
Light of tread and deep of eye,
With necks like the sails of ships,
نَواعِجَwhite birds يَغتَلينَstriding high مُواكِباتٍmoving abreast
نَواعِجَ يَغتَلينَ مُواكِباتٍ
بِأَعناقٍwith necks كَأَشرِعَةِlike sails السَفينِof ships
بِأَعناقٍ كَأَشرِعَةِ السَفينِ
White birds striding high, moving abreast,
One mounts the back of the camel again and again
With necks like the sails of ships.
Like the back of an untiring camel,
تُراكِلُshe kicks across عَربَسيسَhard المَتنِin surface مَرتاًbarren
تُراكِلُ عَربَسيسَ المَتنِ مَرتاً
كَظَهرِlike the back السَيحِof a striped cloak مُطَّرِدَcontinuous المُتونِin its stretches
كَظَهرِ السَيحِ مُطَّرِدَ المُتونِ
She kicks across a hard-surfaced, barren tract,
You see their lights gathered
Like the back of a striped cloak, its stretches unbroken.
On the balconies like dear friends,
تَرىyou see أَصواءَهُits cairns مُتجاوِراتٍnear one another
تَرى أَصواءَهُ مُتجاوِراتٍ
عَلىon الأَشرافِthe heights كَالرُفَقِlike traveling bands العِزينِseparate
عَلى الأَشرافِ كَالرُفَقِ العِزينِ
You see its cairns standing near one another
With prominent nostrils the wind moans in it
On the heights, like separate bands of travelers,
The moan of longing in an old abode,
بِمُنخَرِقٍin an open passage تَحِنُّmoans الريحُthe wind فيهِin it
بِمُنخَرِقٍ تَحِنُّ الريحُ فيهِ
حَنينَthe moaning الجُلبِof driven livestock فيin البَلَدِthe land السَنينِdrought-stricken
حَنينَ الجُلبِ في البَلَدِ السَنينِ
In an open passage where the wind moans
Its raven remains calling, its straying
Like driven livestock in a drought-stricken land.
A rebel against the hostility of the malicious wolf,
يَظَلُّstays غُرابُهاits raven ضَرِماًblazing شَذاهُits rancor
يَظَلُّ غُرابُها ضَرِماً شَذاهُ
شَجٍaggrieved بِخُصومَةِin quarrel with الذِئبِthe wolf الشَنونِlean
شَجٍ بِخُصومَةِ الذِئبِ الشَنونِ
Its raven's rancor stays ablaze,
On Khuwla the mirage floats in it
Aggrieved in quarrel with the lean wolf,
So the thirsty one sees it from afar,
عَلىover حُوَلاءَa birth-sac يَطفوfloats السُخدُthe fetal fluid فيهاin it
عَلى حُوَلاءَ يَطفو السُخدُ فيها
فَراهاsplit it الشَيذُمانُthe bold wolf عَنِaway from الجَنينِthe fetus
فَراها الشَيذُمانُ عَنِ الجَنينِ
Over a birth-sac in which fetal fluid floats,
And a band I sent to the remains
Which the bold wolf split away from the fetus.
Scouts like the nature of eyelids,
وَرَكبٍand a company of riders قَدindeed بَعَثتُI roused إِلىto رَذاياexhausted mounts
وَرَكبٍ قَد بَعَثتُ إِلى رَذايا
طَلائِحَworn-out مِثلِlike أَخلاقِtattered remnants الجُفونِof sword-sheaths
طَلائِحَ مِثلِ أَخلاقِ الجُفونِ
And a company of riders I roused to exhausted mounts,
Fearing that sleep might show them
Worn out like tattered sword-sheaths,
In their intoxication all delusions,
مَخافَةَfor fear أَنthat يَرينَshould overpower النَومُsleep فيهِمover them
مَخافَةَ أَن يَرينَ النَومُ فيهِم
بِسُكرِwith the stupor سِناتِهِمof their dozing كُلَّall الرُيونِoverpowering
بِسُكرِ سِناتِهِم كُلَّ الرُيونِ
For fear that sleep would master them
So they got up tearing apart nights
In the stupor of their dozing, with complete dominion.
That firmly attached with its mists after eyes,
فَقامواthen they rose يَنقُضونَshaking off كَرىthe sleep لَيالٍof nights
فَقاموا يَنقُضونَ كَرى لَيالٍ
تَمَكَّنَhad taken hold بِالطُلىin the necks بَعدَafter العُيونِthe eyes
تَمَكَّنَ بِالطُلى بَعدَ العُيونِ
They rose, shaking off the sleep of nights
And the difficulty of the stay, I extracted from it
That had gripped their necks after their eyes.
With my record a narration of a deep-rooted bowing one,
وَشَحواءِand a wide-mouthed well المَقامِat the standing-place بَلَلتُI wetted مِنهاfrom it
وَشَحواءِ المَقامِ بَلَلتُ مِنها
بِسَجلٍwith a full bucket بَطنَthe belly مُطَّرِقٍof one bowed-headed دَفينِhidden away
بِسَجلٍ بَطنَ مُطَّرِقٍ دَفينِ
And from a wide-mouthed well I watered
As if the steps of the moonlit night in it
With a full bucket the belly of one bowed and hidden.
Were the notes of its racing she-camels,
كَأَنَّas though قَوادِمَthe foremost wing-feathers القُمرِيِّof the doves فيهِin it
كَأَنَّ قَوادِمَ القُمرِيِّ فيهِ
عَلىon رَجَوَيthe two edges مَراكِضِهاof its trampled pools الأُجونِstagnant
عَلى رَجَوَي مَراكِضِها الأُجونِ
As though the doves' foremost wing-feathers there,
Necklaces that Yathrib excelled in
On the two edges of its stagnant, trampled pools,
After Yathrib an excellent one of the valleys,
سَلاجِمُspears يَثرِبَof Yathrib اللاتيwhich عَلَتهاcovered them
سَلاجِمُ يَثرِبَ اللاتي عَلَتها
بِيَثرِبَat Yathrib كَبرَةٌrust بَعدَafter الجُرونِwearing smooth
بِيَثرِبَ كَبرَةٌ بَعدَ الجُرونِ
Were Yathrib spears that had acquired
I surpassed its flock so the heads overflowed
At Yathrib, rust after being worn smooth.
Parts between muddy and clear,
سَبَقتُI preceded بِوِردِهاin reaching its water فَرّاطَthe forerunners سربٍof a flock
سَبَقتُ بِوِردِها فَرّاطَ سربٍ
شَرائِجَmixed groups بَينَbetween كُدرِيَّgray birds وَجونيand dark birds
شَرائِجَ بَينَ كُدرِيَّ وَجوني
I reached its water before the flock's forerunners,
You see the palates of its vanguard
Mixed groups of gray and dark birds.
Glistening like pottery,
تَرىyou see لِحُلوقat the throats of جِلَّتِهاtheir largest birds أَداوىlittle waterskins
تَرى لِحُلوق جِلَّتِها أَداوى
مُلَمَّعَةُdappled كَتَلميعِlike the dappling الكُرينِof balls
مُلَمَّعَةُ كَتَلميعِ الكُرينِ
At the throats of their largest birds you see little waterskins,
For every medicine of it there are pouches
Dappled like the markings on balls.
And a throat joined to a clay flask,
لِكُلِّfor every إِداوَةٍlittle waterskin مِنهاamong them نِياطٌa suspending tie
لِكُلِّ إِداوَةٍ مِنها نِياطٌ
وَحُلقومٌand a throat أُضيفَjoined إِلىto وَتينِa vital vein
وَحُلقومٌ أُضيفَ إِلى وَتينِ
Each little waterskin among them has a suspending tie
Ringdoves take the forest as a courtyard
And a throat joined to a vital vein.
When they call each other to the rain pool,
حَوائِمُcircling birds يَتَّخِذنَthey consider الغِبَّalternate-day watering رِفهاًan ease
حَوائِمُ يَتَّخِذنَ الغِبَّ رِفهاً
إِذاwhen اِقلَولَينَthey rise لِلقَرَبِfor the approach to water البَطينِlong
إِذا اِقلَولَينَ لِلقَرَبِ البَطينِ
Circling birds, they count alternate-day watering a luxury
With wings they pass through like sieves
When they rise for the long approach to water,
And necks calling to other than nests,
بِأَجنِحَةٍwith wings يَمُرنَthey sweep along بِهِنَّwith them حُردٍcurved
بِأَجنِحَةٍ يَمُرنَ بِهِنَّ حُردٍ
وَأَعناقٍand necks حُنينَbent لِغَيرِnot for أَونِweariness
وَأَعناقٍ حُنينَ لِغَيرِ أَونِ
With curved wings they sweep along with,
Wild pigeons approached their chicks
And necks bent for no weariness.
Young ones with yellow bellies,
قَطاsandgrouse قَرَبٍbound for water تَرَوَّحَwent out in the evening عَنaway from فِراخٍchicks
قَطا قَرَبٍ تَرَوَّحَ عَن فِراخٍ
نَواهِضَjust rising بِالفَلاin the wilderness صُفرِyellow البُطونِof belly
نَواهِضَ بِالفَلا صُفرِ البُطونِ
Water-bound sandgrouse, gone out in the evening from chicks
As if their skin when it molts
Just rising in the wilderness, yellow of belly.
Were the comforts of summer in the fleeing of ostriches,
كَأَنَّas though جُلودَهُنَّtheir skins إِذاwhen اِزلَغَبَّتsprouted down
كَأَنَّ جُلودَهُنَّ إِذا اِزلَغَبَّت
أَفانيafani plants الصَيفِof summer فيupon حُردِcurved المُتونِbacks
أَفاني الصَيفِ في حُردِ المُتونِ
As though their skins, when they sprout down,
So they preferred me, their guidance and obedience in confusion
Were summer afani plants upon their curved backs.
With the similarities of appearances and plates.
فَفَضَّلَنيso gave me the advantage هُدايَmy sense of direction وَتِهنَand they strayed حَيرىbewildered
فَفَضَّلَني هُدايَ وَتِهنَ حَيرى
بِمُشتَبِهِamong look-alike الظَواهِرِridges وَالصُحونِand open basins
بِمُشتَبِهِ الظَواهِرِ وَالصُحونِ
My sense of direction gave me the advantage, while they strayed bewildered
Among look-alike ridges and open basins.
Partial English translation: 132 of 138 Arabic lines translated.