شَثَّscattered شعَبُthe branches of الحَيِّthe tribe التِئامreunion
شَثَّ شعَبُ الحَيِّ التِئام
وَشَجاكَand grieved you الرَبعُthe campsite رَبعُthe campsite of المُقامdwelling
وَشَجاكَ الرَبعُ رَبعُ المُقام
The tribe's scattered branches are past reunion,
The wandering tribe rejoined
and the campsite grieves you—the place of dwelling.
And the place welcomed you, a place of sojourn
حَسَرَتstripped bare عَنهُfrom it الرِياحُthe winds فَأَبدَتand revealed
حَسَرَت عَنهُ الرِياحُ فَأَبدَت
مُنتَأىًa tent-trench كَالقَروِlike a stone trough رَهنَhostage to اِنثِلامcrumbling
مُنتَأىً كَالقَروِ رَهنَ اِنثِلام
The winds stripped it bare, revealing
The winds uncovered it, revealing
a tent-trench like a stone trough, hostage to crumbling,
A secluded refuge, like the dark nuclei of pearls
وَخَصيفَand mottled اللَونِin color جادَتyielded بِهِit مَرخَةٌa markh branch
وَخَصيفَ اللَونِ جادَت بِهِ مَرخَةٌ
مِنfrom مُخدَجٍincomplete kindling أَوor تَمامcomplete kindling
مِن مُخدَجٍ أَو تَمام
and mottled ashes yielded by a markh branch,
Autumn's foliage bestowed upon it a dress
from incomplete or full kindling,
Of fine, soft cloth or completion
بَينَamong أَظآرٍhearthstones بِمَظلومَةٍin a freshly dug patch
بَينَ أَظآرٍ بِمَظلومَةٍ
كَسَراةِlike the upper surface of الساقِthe leg ساقِthe leg of الحَمامa pigeon
كَسَراةِ الساقِ ساقِ الحَمام
among hearthstones in a newly dug patch,
Amid ruins with oppression
like the back of a leg—a pigeon's leg.
Like partridges’ anklets, anklets of doves
مَنزِلاًa dwelling كانَwas لَناours مَرَّةًonce
مَنزِلاً كانَ لَنا مَرَّةً
وَطَناًa homeland نَحتَلُّهُwe occupy it كُلَّevery عامyear
وَطَناً نَحتَلُّهُ كُلَّ عام
A dwelling that once was ours,
It was once a dwelling for us
a homeland we occupied every year.
A home we occupy every year
كَمhow many بِهِthere مِنof مَكءِan egg وَحشِيَّةٍa wild ostrich
كَم بِهِ مِن مَكءِ وَحشِيَّةٍ
قيضَwas broken فيin مُنتَثَلٍa dug-out hollow أَوor شِيامa burrow
قيضَ في مُنتَثَلٍ أَو شِيام
How many a wild ostrich's egg lay there,
How much wildness and desolation in it
broken in a dug-out hollow or burrow!
Were contained in a valley or plateau
إِنَّماonly ذِكرُكَyour remembering ماwhat قَدhas مَضىpassed
إِنَّما ذِكرُكَ ما قَد مَضى
ضَلَّةٌfolly مِثلُlike حَديثِthe telling of المَنامa dream
ضَلَّةٌ مِثلُ حَديثِ المَنام
Your remembering what has passed
Your memory of what is past
is only folly, like the telling of a dream.
Is like a dream’s conversation
حَبَّذاhow dear الزَورُthe visitor لاnot يُرىis seen
حَبَّذا الزَورُ لا يُرى
مِنهُof him إِلّاexcept لَمحَةٌa fleeting glimpse عَنat لِمامrare intervals
مِنهُ إِلّا لَمحَةٌ عَن لِمام
How dear the visitor, of whom nothing is seen
How excellent is visiting where
but a fleeting glimpse, at rare intervals,
Only a hint can be seen from the turban
مِثلَlike ماwhat عايَنتَyou saw قَبلَbefore الشَفاthe last daylight
مِثلَ ما عايَنتَ قَبلَ الشَفا
واضِحَbright العُصمَةِthe foreleg markings أَحوىdark الخِدامthe anklets
واضِحَ العُصمَةِ أَحوى الخِدام
like the one you saw before the last daylight,
As you saw before recovery
white-marked on his forelegs, dark at the anklets.
The protector, most sagacious of servants
بادَرَhastened for السَيءَthe first udder-milk وَلَمand did not يَنتَظِرwait for
بادَرَ السَيءَ وَلَم يَنتَظِر
نُبهَthe awakening of فيقاتِfresh milk-flows العُروقِthe veins النِيامsleeping
نُبهَ فيقاتِ العُروقِ النِيام
He hastened for the first udder-milk, without waiting
Evil hastened and did not wait
for fresh milk-flows to wake the sleeping veins,
For slumbering fate’s veins to awaken
فيon شَناظيjagged crests of أُقَنٍmountain peaks بَينَهاamong them
في شَناظي أُقَنٍ بَينَها
عُرَّةُthe droppings of الطَيرِbirds كَصَومِlike the dung of النَعامostriches
عُرَّةُ الطَيرِ كَصَومِ النَعام
on jagged mountain summits, among which
In ravines of bending necks
the birds' droppings lie like ostrich dung.
Where birds throng, fasting like ostriches
ثُمَّthen وَلّىturned away بَينَamong عيطٍlofty peaks بِهاon them
ثُمَّ وَلّى بَينَ عيطٍ بِها
تَلحَسُlick الأَروىwild goats زِمارَthe few البِهامyoung kids
تَلحَسُ الأَروى زِمارَ البِهام
Then he departed among lofty peaks, where
Then he turned away into a valley
wild goats lick their few young kids.
Where the thickets echo with frogs
مِثلَlike ماjust أَنتِyou are مِنin نَظرَةٍa glance
مِثلَ ما أَنتِ مِن نَظرَةٍ
أَوغَلَتpenetrated deeply مِنfrom بَينِbetween سِجفَيthe two curtain-flaps of قِرامa figured hanging
أَوغَلَت مِن بَينِ سِجفَي قِرام
Just as you are, in a glance
As you glance from between my eyelids
that penetrated between the two folds of a figured curtain,
Penetrating from my dense lashes
مِثلَlike ماwhat كافَحتَyou met face-to-face مَخروفَةًa doe with an autumn-born fawn
مِثلَ ما كافَحتَ مَخروفَةً
نَصَّهاdrove her hard ذاعِرُa frightener رَوعٍterror مُؤامhideous
نَصَّها ذاعِرُ رَوعٍ مُؤام
like the doe with an autumn-born fawn you faced,
As you battled a panic
driven hard by a hideous source of terror,
Started by a timid fox
مُغزِلاًnursing a fawn تَحنوshe bends tenderly لِمُستَوسِنٍtoward a drowsy one
مُغزِلاً تَحنو لِمُستَوسِنٍ
ماثِلٍthere before her لَونَthe color of القَضيمِwhite hide التَهامTihami
ماثِلٍ لَونَ القَضيمِ التَهام
nursing a fawn, bending tenderly toward the drowsy one
Cooing to one who has settled
before her, the color of Tihami white hide,
His color that of an old gown
أَوor كَأَسبادِlike the soft tips of النَصِيَّةِnasi grass لَمnot yet
أَو كَأَسبادِ النَصِيَّةِ لَم
تَجتَذِلgrew thick-stemmed فيin حاجِرٍa sandy hollow مُستَنامsheltered
تَجتَذِل في حاجِرٍ مُستَنام
or like the soft tips of nasi grass, not yet
Or like an ostrich resting
thick-stemmed in a sheltered sandy hollow,
Having satisfied itself on a sandhill
مُطرِقٍhead-bowed تَعتادُهُshe visits it عَوهَجٌa long-necked doe
مُطرِقٍ تَعتادُهُ عَوهَجٌ
بَينَamong أَحجارٍstones كَضِغثِlike a tuft of الثُمامthumam grass
بَينَ أَحجارٍ كَضِغثِ الثُمام
head lowered, visited by a long-necked doe,
Head down between stones
among stones, like a tuft of thumam grass.
Like scattering dry plants
تَجتَنيshe gathers ثامِرَripening fruit جُدّادِهِof its young shoots
تَجتَني ثامِرَ جُدّادِهِ
مِنfrom فُرادىsingle بَرَمٍacacia blossoms أَوor تُؤامpaired ones
مِن فُرادى بَرَمٍ أَو تُؤام
She plucks the ripening fruit of its young shoots,
Gathering fruits of its plains
single clusters of acacia blossom or paired ones,
From scattered seeds or pairs
وَتَنَمّىand she rises كُلَّماwhenever آنَسَتshe sensed
وَتَنَمّى كُلَّما آنَسَت
نَبأَةًa faint sound وَالمُؤنِسُwhile the arouser of الرَوعَfear نامslept
نَبأَةً وَالمُؤنِسُ الرَوعَ نام
and rises whenever she senses
Grown stronger whenever it sensed
a faint sound, though the source of fear sleeps,
Tidings while the familiar one slept
حَذَراًcautiously وَالسِربُwhile the herd أَكنافَهاaround her
حَذَراً وَالسِربُ أَكنافَها
مُستَظِلُّsheltering in shade فيat أُصولِthe roots of السَلامsalam acacias
مُستَظِلُّ في أُصولِ السَلام
watchful, while the herd around her
Cautiously, as its flock
shelters in shade at the roots of salam acacias.
Took shade beneath the roots of peace
تَتَّقيshe shields herself from الشَمسَthe sun بِمَدرِيَّةٍwith a pointed horn
تَتَّقي الشَمسَ بِمَدرِيَّةٍ
كَالحَماليجِlike blowpipes بِأَيديin the hands of التِلامgoldsmiths
كَالحَماليجِ بِأَيدي التِلام
She shields herself from the sun with a pointed horn,
Avoiding the sun with skill
like the blowpipes in goldsmiths' hands.
Like the prudent with hands that plaster
آذَنَannounced الناويthe one planning departure بِبَينونَةٍa separation
آذَنَ الناوي بِبَينونَةٍ
ظَلتُI remained مِنهاbecause of it كَصَريعِlike one felled by المُدامwine
ظَلتُ مِنها كَصَريعِ المُدام
The one planning departure announced a separation;
The caller to prayers proclaimed openly
I remained, because of it, like one felled by wine.
And I was stunned, like one clubbed
إِذwhen أَشالَraised الحَيُّthe tribe أَيلَيَّةًan Aylah-made litter
إِذ أَشالَ الحَيُّ أَيلَيَّةً
ذَأَبَتهاfashioned it نِسوَةٌwomen مِنfrom جُذامJudham
ذَأَبَتها نِسوَةٌ مِن جُذام
When the tribe raised an Aylah-made litter,
When the tribe drove off deer
fashioned by women of Judham,
Frightened by women’s ululations
كُلَّeach مَشكوكٍfastened through عَصافيرُهُits crosspieces
كُلَّ مَشكوكٍ عَصافيرُهُ
قانِئِdeep red اللَونِin color حَديثِfresh الدَمامin its coating
قانِئِ اللَونِ حَديثِ الدَمام
each frame with its crosspieces fastened through,
Every small bird among them
deep red in color, freshly coated,
Grey, recently taking wing
يَمنَحُoffers الجَلسَthe uplands عُطاظِيَّةًa massive litter
يَمنَحُ الجَلسَ عُطاظِيَّةً
رُكَّبَتwas fitted فيinto ظَلِفاتٍsaddle-rails جِسامmassive
رُكَّبَت في ظَلِفاتٍ جِسام
offering the uplands a massive litter,
Gives the company an air
fitted into huge saddle-rails.
As if set on solid mounts
فَرَشَتcovered كُلَّevery مُنيفِhigh-ridged القَرىback
فَرَشَت كُلَّ مُنيفِ القَرى
فَوقَabove مَتنَيthe two back-slopes of كُلِّevery خاظيbulky الفِئامlitter-frame
فَوقَ مَتنَي كُلِّ خاظي الفِئام
They covered every high-backed camel,
Having carpeted each clan’s valley
above both back-slopes of each broad-littered beast,
On ponds, like those of Hijaz
ذاتَhaving أَوضانٍgirths حِجازِيَّةٍHijazi
ذاتَ أَوضانٍ حِجازِيَّةٍ
زانَadorned أَلحِيَهاtheir side-frames اِحمِرارُthe redness of العِظامthe ribs
زانَ أَلحِيَها اِحمِرارُ العِظام
litters with Hijazi girths,
Whose edges are reddened by bones
their side-frames adorned by the redness of their ribs.
The upper halves are covered
قُنِّعَwere covered الأَنصافُthe halves مِنهاof them العُلىupper
قُنِّعَ الأَنصافُ مِنها العُلى
فَهيَso they are غُرٌّwhite-crowned بِالخَنيفِwith coarse linen الشَآمSyrian
فَهيَ غُرٌّ بِالخَنيفِ الشَآم
Their upper halves were covered,
So they seem Syrian waterskins
so they were white-crowned with coarse Syrian cloth.
While lower folds are tucked beneath
وَأُديرَتand were wrapped around حفُفٌbands تَحتَهاbeneath them
وَأُديرَت حفُفٌ تَحتَها
مِثلُlike قُسطانِيِّthe rainbow of دَجنِthe darkness of الغَمامclouds
مِثلُ قُسطانِيِّ دَجنِ الغَمام
Bands were wrapped around beneath them,
Like a Yemeni’s gathered turban
like a rainbow against the darkness of clouds.
On the bumps are spindles
وَعَلىand upon الأَحداجِthe howdahs أَغزِلَةٌgazelles
وَعَلى الأَحداجِ أَغزِلَةٌ
كُنِّسٌhidden in lairs سَدَّتclosed خَصاصَthe openings of الخِيامthe tents
كُنِّسٌ سَدَّت خَصاصَ الخِيام
Upon the howdahs were gazelles,
Like tents that block out sunbeams
hidden in their lairs, closing the tents' openings
With cheeks like pendulums that
بِخُدودٍwith cheeks كَالوَذائِلِlike silver ingots لَمnot
بِخُدودٍ كَالوَذائِلِ لَم
يُختَزَنwas withheld عَنهاfrom them وَرِيُّthe rich fat of السَنامthe camel's hump
يُختَزَن عَنها وَرِيُّ السَنام
with cheeks like silver ingots, from which
Do not conceal the swaying of a dewdrop
the rich fat of camel humps was never withheld.
Every lazy one dozing at noon
كُلُّeach مِكسالٍindolent woman رَقودِsleeping through الضُحىthe forenoon
كُلُّ مِكسالٍ رَقودِ الضُحى
وَعثَةٍsoft-bodied ميسانِlanguid through لَيلِthe night of التِمامfull length
وَعثَةٍ ميسانِ لَيلِ التِمام
Each an indolent woman, sleeping through the forenoon,
And barn owl of a murky night
soft-bodied, languid through the longest night,
A mare I imagined when it whinnied
حُرَّةٍa noble woman شَبَّهتُI likened عِرنينَهاher nose
حُرَّةٍ شَبَّهتُ عِرنينَها
حينَwhen تَرنوshe gazes سافِراًunveiled عِرقَto a vein of سامgold
حينَ تَرنو سافِراً عِرقَ سام
a noble woman whose nose I likened,
Had the flowing mane of a steed
when she gazes unveiled, to a vein of gold.
And wilderness wherein jackals
وَفَلاةٍand a wilderness يَستَفِزُّstartles الحَشاthe heart
وَفَلاةٍ يَستَفِزُّ الحَشا
مِنfrom صُواهاits cairns ضَبحُthe cry of بومٍowls وَهامand night-owls
مِن صُواها ضَبحُ بومٍ وَهام
And many a wilderness where the heart is startled
Were incited by its howls and yelps
by owls and night-owls crying from its cairns,
I took the wolf by surprise there
نَفجَأُwe surprise الذِئبَthe wolf بِهاthere قائِماًstanding
نَفجَأُ الذِئبَ بِها قائِماً
أَبرَقَmottled اللَونِin coat أَحمَّdark اللِثامin the muzzle
أَبرَقَ اللَونِ أَحمَّ اللِثام
we surprise a wolf there, standing,
Quick, wrapped in a face veil
mottled in coat, dark-muzzled,
As if a nervous pony startled
كَغَرِيٍّlike a sacrificial stone أَجسَدَتbloodied رَأَسَهُits head
كَغَرِيٍّ أَجسَدَت رَأَسَهُ
فُرُعٌsacrificed firstlings بَينَamong رِئاسٍhead-tethers وَحامand a protected breeding sire
فُرُعٌ بَينَ رِئاسٍ وَحام
like a sacrificial stone whose head has been bloodied
By chaos between composure and panic
by firstlings, among head-tethers and a protected sire.
I have been cloaked in ignorance
قَدindeed تَبَطَّنتُI traversed its heart بِهِلواعَةٍon a fleet she-camel
قَد تَبَطَّنتُ بِهِلواعَةٍ
عُبرِseasoned in أَسفارٍjourneys كَتومِsuppressing البُغامher lowing
عُبرِ أَسفارٍ كَتومِ البُغام
I have traversed its heart on a fleet she-camel,
Beyond journeys, like encircling clouds
seasoned in journeys, suppressing her lowing,
Leaving behind the Pleiades, unknown
مُخلِفِchanging الطُرّاقِthe courses مَجهولَةٍunknown
مُخلِفِ الطُرّاقِ مَجهولَةٍ
مُحدِثٍmaking new ones بَعدَafter طِراقِsuccessive tracks اللُؤامpaired
مُحدِثٍ بَعدَ طِراقِ اللُؤام
changing her courses, unknown to others,
After the knots of destiny were tied
making fresh ones after paired, matching tracks,
A forgetful one who, when happy
عَنسَلٍfleet تُلويshe waves her tail إِذاwhen أَبشَرَتshe comes into view
عَنسَلٍ تُلوي إِذا أَبشَرَت
بِخَوافيwith the underfeathers of أَخدَرِيٍّan Akhdari سُخامdusky
بِخَوافي أَخدَرِيٍّ سُخام
fleet, waving her tail when she comes into view,
Foretells with the soothsayer’s truth
like an Akhdari's dusky underfeathers,
Or with a sword stripped for people
أَوor بِشِملِwith a cluster شالَraised مِنfrom خَصبَةٍa fruitful palm
أَو بِشِملِ شالَ مِن خَصبَةٍ
جُرِّدَتwas stripped لِلناسِfor people بَعدَafter الكِمامthe sheath
جُرِّدَت لِلناسِ بَعدَ الكِمام
or a cluster lifted from a fruitful palm,
After veils, like drying broth
exposed to people's sight after its sheath was stripped.
What I had toyed with met
أَلحَقَتcaught up ماwhat اِستَلعَبَتit had borne young بِالَّذيwith that which
أَلحَقَت ما اِستَلعَبَت بِالَّذي
قَدhad أَنىripened إِذwhen حانَcame حينُthe time of الصِرامharvest
قَد أَنى إِذ حانَ حينُ الصِرام
Its young fruit caught up with that
What comes when the hour is grave
already ripe when harvest time arrived.
Like the reddish antelope in its hue
كَعَقيلِlike the peer of الحُرِّthe noble one فيin لَونِهِhis coat
كَعَقيلِ الحُرِّ في لَونِهِ
لُمَعٌpatches كَالشامِlike moles مِنfrom غَيرِother than شامmoles
لُمَعٌ كَالشامِ مِن غَيرِ شام
Like the noble one's peer, in whose coat are
Gleaming, like Damascus without Damascus
patches like moles, though no true moles,
Confusion, like the warbling
خِلطُa mixture of وَشيٍmarkings مِثلَlike ماwhat هَلهَلَتthinned
خِلطُ وَشيٍ مِثلَ ما هَلهَلَت
ذاتُa woman wearing أَصدافٍshells نَؤورَsoot-pigment الوِشامfor tattooing
ذاتُ أَصدافٍ نَؤورَ الوِشام
a mixture of markings, like the thinned pigment
Of a rainswept porch at night
of a shell-adorned woman preparing tattooing soot.
It wiped the ground with its briskness
يَمسَحُhe sweeps الأَرضَthe earth بِمُعنَوِنسٍwith a long-haired tail
يَمسَحُ الأَرضَ بِمُعنَوِنسٍ
مِثلِlike مِئلاةِthe mourning-cloth of النِياحِlamentation الفِئامthe multitudes
مِثلِ مِئلاةِ النِياحِ الفِئام
He sweeps the earth with a long-haired tail,
Like the gait of a stomping autocrat
like the mourning-cloth of lamenting multitudes.
I built it a shelter and it went on
بَيَّتَتهُovertook him by night وَهوَwhile he مُستَرسِلٌwas at ease
بَيَّتَتهُ وَهوَ مُستَرسِلٌ
يَبتَنيbuilds مَأوىًa shelter لِأَدنىfor the slightest مُقامstay
يَبتَني مَأوىً لِأَدنى مُقام
He was overtaken by night while at ease,
Seeking the lowest station
building a shelter for the briefest stay,
A night when the north wind raged
لَيلَةٌa night هاجَتrose stormily جُمادِيَّةٌof Jumada
لَيلَةٌ هاجَت جُمادِيَّةٌ
ذاتُpossessing صِرٍّbitter cold جِربِياءُnorth-blowing النِسامwinds
ذاتُ صِرٍّ جِربِياءُ النِسام
by a storm-raised night of Jumada,
With piercing, chilly breezes
bitterly cold, with north-blowing winds,
Like a blossom whose wetness beneath
وَرَدَةٌred-hued إِذاwhen لَجَّpersisted صِنَّبرُهاits piercing cold
وَرَدَةٌ إِذا لَجَّ صِنَّبرُها
تَحتَbeneath شَفّانِa chill شَباًa cutting edge ذيpossessing سِجامpouring rain
تَحتَ شَفّانِ شَباً ذي سِجام
red-hued when its piercing cold persisted,
Youthful lips is preserved
beneath a biting chill, laden with pouring rain.
Dew lingered over it
باتَhe spent the night يَستَنُّcoursing النَدىmoisture فَوقَهُabove him
باتَ يَستَنُّ النَدى فَوقَهُ
ضَيفَguest of أَرطاةٍan arta bush بِحِقفٍon a sand ridge هَيامloose
ضَيفَ أَرطاةٍ بِحِقفٍ هَيام
He spent the night with moisture coursing above him,
A guest of plates in a desolate place
guest of an arta bush on a loose sand ridge,
Shaking off the dust from the curve
يَستَبيثُhe digs out التُرابَthe earth عَنfrom مُنحَنىthe curve of
يَستَبيثُ التُرابَ عَن مُنحَنى
كُلِّevery عُسلوجٍtender shoot كَمَتهِheld it fast الزَمامthe bridle
كُلِّ عُسلوجٍ كَمَتهِ الزَمام
digging the earth away from the curve
Of every prostate form’s leading rein
of every tender shoot held fast by a bridle.
Then it rose picking a seed
ثُمَّthen أَضحىat morning يَقتَريhe searches for حِبَّةًseeds
ثُمَّ أَضحى يَقتَري حِبَّةً
بَينَamong أَكنافِthe flanks of كَثيبٍa dune رُكامheaped up
بَينَ أَكنافِ كَثيبٍ رُكام
Then, in the morning, he searched for seeds
Between the shoulders of crumbled hills
along the flanks of a piled-up dune.
When dogs attacked
بَينَماwhile ذَلِكَthat was happening هاجَتrushed بِهِat him
بَينَما ذَلِكَ هاجَت بِهِ
أَكلُبٌhounds مِثلُlike حِظاءِthe little arrows of الغُلامa boy
أَكلُبٌ مِثلُ حِظاءِ الغُلام
While he was doing this, there rushed at him
Like a boy’s anklets
hounds like a boy's little arrows.
So it fled stumbling
فَتَوَلّىso he fled وَهوَwhile he مُستَوهِلٌwas terrified
فَتَوَلّى وَهوَ مُستَوهِلٌ
تَرتَميdart أَزلامُهُhis slender legs بِالرَغامthrough the dust
تَرتَمي أَزلامُهُ بِالرَغام
He turned to flee, terrified,
Its wrists dragging in the sand
his slender legs darting through the dust.
And a she-wolf struck out at it
فَتَلافَتهُthen she overtook him فَلاثَتand clung بِهِto him
فَتَلافَتهُ فَلاثَت بِهِ
لَعوَةٌa ravenous bitch تَضبَحُpants ضَبحَthe roar of النُهامa lion
لَعوَةٌ تَضبَحُ ضَبحَ النُهام
Then she overtook him and clung to him—
Baying with the cry of a doe
a ravenous bitch, panting like a roaring lion,
Jaws with edges
شَمهَدٌlong-bodied أَطرافُthe tips of أَنيابِهاher fangs
شَمهَدٌ أَطرافُ أَنيابِها
كَمَناشيلِlike flesh-hooks طُهاةِof cooks اللِحامof meat
كَمَناشيلِ طُهاةِ اللِحام
long-bodied, the tips of her fangs
Like the baskets of dough-makers
like the flesh-hooks of meat-cooks,
Greed personified when it grinned
عَولَقُclinging in الحِرصِgreed إِذاwhen أَبشَرَتshe caught sight
عَولَقُ الحِرصِ إِذا أَبشَرَت
ساوَرَتshe sprang فيهِupon him سُؤورَthe attack of المُسامa goaded beast
ساوَرَت فيهِ سُؤورَ المُسام
clinging in her greed when she caught sight.
Baring its canine teeth
She sprang upon him like a goaded beast.
It seized him, and he screamed out
ضَغَمَتهُshe bit him فَتَآياso he stopped to face لَهاher
ضَغَمَتهُ فَتَآيا لَها
بِقَويمِwith a straight المَتنِback عارٍbare حُسامcutting sword
بِقَويمِ المَتنِ عارٍ حُسام
She bit him, and he stopped to face her
With the sword’s straight blade
with a straight-backed, naked, cutting blade.
And it fell to the ground, rejected
فَهَوَتso she fell لِلوَجهِface-first مَخذولَةًabandoned
فَهَوَت لِلوَجهِ مَخذولَةً
لَمdid not يَصِفswerve عَنهاfrom her قَضاءُthe decree of الحَمامdeath
لَم يَصِف عَنها قَضاءُ الحَمام
She fell face-first, abandoned;
With fate against the doves’ decree
death's decree did not turn aside from her.
And it went on, its kin resembling
وَمَضىand he went on تُشبِهُresemble أَقرابُهُhis flanks
وَمَضى تُشبِهُ أَقرابُهُ
ثَوبَa cloth of سَحلٍwhite cotton بَينَamong أَعوادِrods of قامqam wood
ثَوبَ سَحلٍ بَينَ أَعوادِ قام
He went on, his flanks resembling
A ragged coat between tent pegs
a white cotton cloth among rods of qam wood.
Was that a wounded gazelle
ذاكَthat one أَمor جَيداءُa long-necked one بَيدانَةٌa desert she-ass
ذاكَ أَم جَيداءُ بَيدانَةٌ
غَربَةُprominent العَينِof eye جَهادُbroad المَسامin her courses
غَربَةُ العَينِ جَهادُ المَسام
That one—or a long-necked desert she-ass,
Lonely, struggling, in pain?
prominent-eyed, wide in her courses,
The beast ate its young, so it does not
أَكَلَdevoured السَبعُthe predator طَلاهاher foal فَماso she does not
أَكَلَ السَبعُ طَلاها فَما
تَسأَلُask الأَشباحَthe looming shapes غَيرَanything but اِنهِزامflight
تَسأَلُ الأَشباحَ غَيرَ اِنهِزام
whose foal a predator devoured, so she
Ask shadows for anything but flight
asks nothing of looming shapes but flight.
Fear gathered it to a lair
ضَمَّهاdrove her الخَوفُfear إِلىto شُنَّعٍfierce herd-mates
ضَمَّها الخَوفُ إِلى شُنَّعٍ
أَبدَتِrevealed الأَضغانَthe grudges بَعدَafter الكِتامconcealment
أَبدَتِ الأَضغانَ بَعدَ الكِتام
Fear drove her toward fierce herd-mates,
After the darkness spread its cover
who revealed their grudges after concealment.
Closing itself off from its pastures
أَغلَقَتclosed مِنfrom دونِbefore أَغراسِهاtheir placental sacs
أَغلَقَت مِن دونِ أَغراسِها
حَلَقاًrings أُرتِجنَwere locked بَعدَafter اِعتِقامbarrenness
حَلَقاً أُرتِجنَ بَعدَ اِعتِقام
They closed, before their placental sacs,
A circlet broken after being clasped
rings locked after barrenness.
Now it is silent like foreign seeds
فَهيَso they are مُلسٌsmooth كَعَجيمِlike hard kernels of النَوىfruit-stones
فَهيَ مُلسٌ كَعَجيمِ النَوى
تَرَّspilled مِنfrom عُرضِthe midst of نَواحيthe sides of الجِرامthe date-harvest
تَرَّ مِن عُرضِ نَواحي الجِرام
They are smooth as hard date-stones,
Fleeing the domains of villains
spilled from among the heaps of harvested dates.
Those first females left it
أَخلَفَتهُنَّleft them behind اللَواتيthose which الأولىcame before
أَخلَفَتهُنَّ اللَواتي الأولى
بِالمَقانيin shady places بَعدَafter حُسنِfine اِعتِمامdense growth
بِالمَقاني بَعدَ حُسنِ اِعتِمام
The former ones had left them behind
With traits after beauty’s perfection
in shady places, after fine, dense growth.
It descended to water carried
فَاِجتَرَتthen she set out لِلماءِfor water يَأدوdrives بِهاher
فَاِجتَرَت لِلماءِ يَأدو بِها
مِسحَلٌa braying wild ass مِقلاءُhating عونٍmature females قَطامquick to bite
مِسحَلٌ مِقلاءُ عونٍ قَطام
Then she set out for water, driven
By a bare mount, steed without stripe
by a braying wild ass, hating mature females, quick to bite,
With its saddlebags on its sides
ذوhaving مَزاريرَbite-scars بِأَعطافِهِon his flanks
ذو مَزاريرَ بِأَعطافِهِ
جُدَرٌraised welts مِنهاamong them قَديمٌold وَدامand bleeding
جُدَرٌ مِنها قَديمٌ وَدام
with bite-scars on his flanks,
An ancient, lasting wall
raised welts, some old and some bleeding.
It went down a ravine and lingered
هَبَطَتshe descended شِعباًa ravine فَظَلَّتand remained بِهِthere
هَبَطَت شِعباً فَظَلَّت بِهِ
رَكَّداًmotionless تَبحَثُsearching عَهدَthe former site of المَصامstanding water
رَكَّداً تَبحَثُ عَهدَ المَصام
She descended a ravine and remained there,
Searching out the time of resolution
motionless, searching where water had stood,
In ravines it dug, as
فيin مَحانٍhollows حَفَرَتهاshe dug them كَماas
في مَحانٍ حَفَرَتها كَما
حَفَرَdug القَومُpeople رَكِيَّwells of اِعتِقامno yield
حَفَرَ القَومُ رَكِيَّ اِعتِقام
in hollows she dug, as
The tribe dug the pit of doom
people dig wells that yield nothing.
Then it went like the lovesick
ثُمَّthen راحَتshe left كَالمَغاليlike shooting arrows وَلَمand did not
ثُمَّ راحَت كَالمَغالي وَلَم
تَشفِquench سَوّارَthe raging غَليلِheat of الأُوامthirst
تَشفِ سَوّارَ غَليلِ الأُوام
Then she left like a shooting arrow, without
And did not slake the thirst of passion
quenching the raging heat of thirst.
The waste abused it, a lean
يَعسِفُhe forces across البيدَthe deserts بِهاwith her سَمحَجٌa long-bodied stallion
يَعسِفُ البيدَ بِها سَمحَجٌ
مُكرَبُfirmly built الرُسغِin the fetlock مُبِرُّexceeding in الكِدامbiting
مُكرَبُ الرُسغِ مُبِرُّ الكِدام
A long-bodied stallion drives her across the deserts,
Wretched wretch, dresser of hides
firm of fetlock, relentless in biting,
Swallowing white stew
يَستَميseeking بَيضاءَa white pool مَسجورَةًfull of water
يَستَمي بَيضاءَ مَسجورَةً
فيin قِرانٍQiran بَينَbetween صَوحَيthe two cliffs of حَوامHawam
في قِرانٍ بَينَ صَوحَي حَوام
seeking a white, water-filled pool
In a pot between blazing stones
in Qiran, between the two cliffs of Hawam.
It suffered summer with a shelter
عانَتِendured الصَيفَthe summer بِمُستَوكِفٍwith dripping water
عانَتِ الصَيفَ بِمُستَوكِفٍ
أَكَلَeroded الكيحَthe bank إِذwhen الجَمُّthe deep water طامoverflowed
أَكَلَ الكيحَ إِذ الجَمُّ طام
It endured the summer with dripping water
That devoured it when the heat was intense
that eroded its bank when the deep water overflowed.
So sweat was its drink
فَعَلاso rose over الكيحَthe bank نِطافٌsmall pools of water لَهاbelonging to it
فَعَلا الكيحَ نِطافٌ لَها
مِنfrom نَقِيِّa sandhill كَبَريمِlike the twisted thread of الرِهامfine rains
مِن نَقِيِّ كَبَريمِ الرِهام
Patches of its water rose over the bank,
Of pure ostrich sweat
from a sandhill, like twisted threads of fine rain.
Then its fate was to wander
ثُمَّthen آلَتit became وَهيَwhile it مَعيونَةٌwas spring-fed
ثُمَّ آلَت وَهيَ مَعيونَةٌ
مِنfrom بَطيءِslow الضَهلِseeping water نَكزِdepleted المَهامdesert water-sources
مِن بَطيءِ الضَهلِ نَكزِ المَهام
Then it became spring-fed,
Slow, stumbling, led by destiny
by a slow seep from depleted desert sources,
As it crept to the watering hole
مِثلَlike ماwhat دَبَّتcrept إِلىinto ماجِلٍa cistern
مِثلَ ما دَبَّت إِلى ماجِلٍ
مُترَصِclose-set الرَصفِin paving-stones عُيونُthe springs of الكِظامunderground channels
مُترَصِ الرَصفِ عُيونُ الكِظام
as there crept toward a cistern,
Crowded with the gazelles of nightfall
closely stone-paved, the springs of underground channels;
Or water with thickets shaken
أَوor كَماءٍlike water ذيhaving ثُبىًclustered pools أَتأَقَتfilled
أَو كَماءٍ ذي ثُبىً أَتأَقَت
غَرَباًa large bucket أَيديthe hands of سُقاةِwaterers of الهِيامthirst-sick camels
غَرَباً أَيدي سُقاةِ الهِيام
or like water in clustered pools that filled
At night by carriers of burdens
a great bucket, in the hands of those watering thirst-sick camels.
One thing leads it astray, the other cautious
فَهيَso she تَهديهاcarries her onward وَأىًa strong gait خَيفَقٌswift
فَهيَ تَهديها وَأىً خَيفَقٌ
ذاتُhaving شَغبٍrestlessness لَمnot يَثُرwas aroused مِنby وِحامmating heat
ذاتُ شَغبٍ لَم يَثُر مِن وِحام
She is carried toward it by a strong, swift gait,
Avoiding harm before night comes
restless, though not roused by mating heat;
It found him, so it was deluded
وَمُشيحٌand a resolute stallion عَدوُهُhis gallop مُتأَقٌheadlong
وَمُشيحٌ عَدوُهُ مُتأَقٌ
يَرعَمُseeks الإيجابَthe evening draught قَبلَbefore الظَلامdarkness
يَرعَمُ الإيجابَ قَبلَ الظَلام
and a resolute stallion, his run headlong,
Phantoms above it like soaring kites
seeking the evening draught before darkness,
It met a long serpent
قَدhas نَحاهاdriven her toward it فَهيَso she is مَسعورَةٌaflame
قَد نَحاها فَهيَ مَسعورَةٌ
فَوقَهاabove her مِثلُlike شُواظِthe flame of الضِرامburning fuel
فَوقَها مِثلُ شُواظِ الضِرام
has driven her there, and she is aflame,
Vigilant, tireless
above her, something like the flare of burning fuel.
Licking the ground, it has a stalk
صادَفَتshe met طِلواًa gaunt hunter طَويلَlong الطَوىin hunger
صادَفَت طِلواً طَويلَ الطَوى
حافِظَkeen العَينِof eye قَليلَlittle السَآمin weariness
حافِظَ العَينِ قَليلَ السَآم
She met a gaunt hunter, long unfed,
Lean, crazed, wildly threshing
keen of eye and little given to weariness,
Hiding on level ground
يَلحَسُhe licks الرَصفَthe arrow-bindings لَهُhe has قَصبَةٌa bow
يَلحَسُ الرَصفَ لَهُ قَصبَةٌ
سَمحَجُlong and slender المَتنِin its back هَتوفُloudly sounding الخِطامat its string
سَمحَجُ المَتنِ هَتوفُ الخِطام
licking his arrow-bindings; he had a bow,
Like an antelope between the acacias
long-backed, loudly twanging at its string,
If it catches prey, its people
مُنطَوٍcrouched فيin مُستوىthe level space of رُجبَةٍa hunting-hide
مُنطَوٍ في مُستوى رُجبَةٍ
كَاِنطِواءِlike the folding of الحُرِّa falcon بَينَamong السِلامstones
كَاِنطِواءِ الحُرِّ بَينَ السِلام
crouched in a level hunting-hide,
Get the meat, eating leftovers
as a falcon folds itself among stones.
Or if it finds a bird, it lines them up
إِنif يُصِبhe takes صَيداًgame يَكُنis جُلُّهُmost of it
إِن يُصِب صَيداً يَكُن جُلُّهُ
لِعجاياfor stunted little ones قوتُهُمtheir sustenance بِاللِحامis meat
لِعجايا قوتُهُم بِاللِحام
If he takes game, most of it goes
With the old, inedible skin, no food
to stunted little ones whose sustenance is meat;
So it threw it, confident
أَوor يُصادِفhe encounters خَفَقاًfailure يُصفِهِمhe provides them
أَو يُصادِف خَفَقاً يُصفِهِم
بِعَتيقِwith old الخَشلِdry doum-fruit دونَinstead of الطَعامfood
بِعَتيقِ الخَشلِ دونَ الطَعام
or, if he encounters failure, he supplies them
It was a hunter, if given game, bound to throw
with old, dry doum-fruit instead of a meal.
And it knocked the arrow away from it
فَرَماهاso he shot at her واثِقاًconfident أَنَّهُthat he
فَرَماها واثِقاً أَنَّهُ
صائِدٌa hunter إِنif أُطعِمَwas granted الصَيدَgame رامa marksman
صائِدٌ إِن أُطعِمَ الصَيدَ رام
He shot at her, confident that he
As it knocked away the water bearer
was a hunter, if granted game, a marksman.
And it fled trembling, making the pebbles
فَأَزَلَّbut he sent astray السَهمَthe arrow عَنهاaway from her كَماas
فَأَزَلَّ السَهمَ عَنها كَما
زَلَّslipped بِالساقيwith the water-drawer وَشيعُthe frame of المَقامthe pulley-support
زَلَّ بِالساقي وَشيعُ المَقام
But he let the arrow slip past her, as
Fly with the hawk’s swoop, the dove’s vigor
the pulley-frame slips with the water-drawer.
It roused fury, as the bombard
وَمَضَتand she went on رَهواًeasily تُطيرُsending flying الحَصىthe pebbles
وَمَضَت رَهواً تُطيرُ الحَصى
بِصَحيحِwith a sound النَسرِhoof-frog صُلبِhard الحَوامhoof-rims
بِصَحيحِ النَسرِ صُلبِ الحَوام
She went on easily, sending pebbles flying
Does when slung by the catapult
with sound hoof-frogs and hard hoof-rims.
أَخلَقَتwore out مِنهُagainst it الخُزومُthe nose-thongs كَماas
أَخلَقَت مِنهُ الخُزومُ كَما
أَخلَقَwears out القَهقَرَstone قَذفُthe casting of المُرامmissiles
أَخلَقَ القَهقَرَ قَذفُ المُرام
The nose-thongs wore away against it, as
hurled missiles wear down stone.
Partial English translation: 173 of 176 Arabic lines translated.