أَفاطِمُO Fatim قَبلَbefore بَينِكِyour departure مَتِّعينيlet me enjoy your company
أَفاطِمُ قَبلَ بَينِكِ مَتِّعيني
وَمَنعُكِand your withholding ماwhat سَأَلتُكِI asked you for أَنto تَبينيdepart
وَمَنعُكِ ما سَأَلتُكِ أَن تَبيني
O Fatim, before your departure, let me enjoy your company.
Afatim before you two have delighted me,
And if you withhold what I asked, then leave me.
And your refusal of what I asked you to show me,
فَلاso do not تَعِديpromise مَواعِدَpromises كاذِباتٍfalse
فَلا تَعِدي مَواعِدَ كاذِباتٍ
تَمُرُّpass بِهاover them رِياحُwinds الصَيفِof summer دونيshort of reaching me
تَمُرُّ بِها رِياحُ الصَيفِ دوني
Do not make me false promises
So do not make false promises
That summer winds sweep away before they reach me.
That summer winds pass by below me.
فَإِنّيfor I لَوif تُخالِفُنيopposes me شِماليmy left hand
فَإِنّي لَو تُخالِفُني شِمالي
خِلافَكِas you oppose me ماnot وَصَلتُI would join بِهاto it يَمينيmy right hand
خِلافَكِ ما وَصَلتُ بِها يَميني
For if my left hand were to oppose me
If my left hand were to oppose me
As you do, I would not join my right hand to it.
I would cut it off and say between me and it -
إِذاًthen لَقَطَعتُهاI would surely cut it off وَلَقُلتُand I would surely say بِينيdepart
إِذاً لَقَطَعتُها وَلَقُلتُ بِيني
كَذَلِكَthus أَجتَويI spurn مَنwhoever يَجتَوينيspurns me
كَذَلِكَ أَجتَوي مَن يَجتَويني
Then I would cut it off and say, 'Depart!'
That's how I deal with whoever opposes me.
Thus I spurn whoever spurns me.
To the one with a grudge who looked from behind the veil -
لِمَنwhose ظُعُنٌwomen in litters تَطَلَّعَcome into view مِنfrom ضُبَيبٍDubayb
لِمَن ظُعُنٌ تَطَلَّعَ مِن ضُبَيبٍ
فَماso not خَرَجَتthey departed مِنَfrom الواديthe valley لِحينِfor doom
فَما خَرَجَت مِنَ الوادي لِحينِ
Whose are the women in litters appearing from Dubayb?
She did not leave the valley for a time.
They have not left the valley to meet doom.
They passed by rugged cliffs and smooth dunes
مَرَرنَthey passed عَلىby شَرافٍSharaf فَذاتِthen Dhat هَجلٍHajl
مَرَرنَ عَلى شَرافٍ فَذاتِ هَجلٍ
وَنَكَّبنَand they skirted الذَرانِحَal-Dharanih بِاليَمينِon the right
وَنَكَّبنَ الذَرانِحَ بِاليَمينِ
They passed Sharaf, then Dhat Hajl,
And bent the branches to the right.
And left al-Dharanih to their right.
And they were likewise when they crossed a valley,
وَهُنَّand they كَذاكَthus حينَwhen قَطَعنَthey crossed فَلجاًFalj
وَهُنَّ كَذاكَ حينَ قَطَعنَ فَلجاً
كَأَنَّas though حُدوجَهُنَّtheir howdahs عَلىupon سَفينِships
كَأَنَّ حُدوجَهُنَّ عَلى سَفينِ
And thus they were when they crossed Falj,
As if their necks were on a boat.
As though their howdahs rode upon ships.
They resembled the boat while they are good fortune -
يُشَبَّهنَare likened to السَفينَships وَهُنَّand they بُختٌBactrian camels
يُشَبَّهنَ السَفينَ وَهُنَّ بُختٌ
عُراضاتُbroad الأَباهِرِthe backs وَالشُؤونِand the skull-sutures
عُراضاتُ الأَباهِرِ وَالشُؤونِ
They are likened to ships, though they are Bactrian camels,
High-chested, large-eyed fillies.
Broad across their backs and the seams of their skulls.
And they on the coaches, settled
وَهُنَّand they عَلىupon الرَجائِزِthe litter furnishings واكِناتٌperched
وَهُنَّ عَلى الرَجائِزِ واكِناتٌ
قَواتِلُslayers of كُلَّevery أَشجَعَvery brave man مُستَكينِsubdued
قَواتِلُ كُلَّ أَشجَعَ مُستَكينِ
And the women sit perched upon their litter furnishings,
Slayers of every valiant weakling.
Slayers of every brave man brought low.
Like gazelles who strayed with no guide
كَغُزلانٍlike gazelles خَذَلنَlagged behind the herd بِذاتِat Dhat ضالٍDal
كَغُزلانٍ خَذَلنَ بِذاتِ ضالٍ
تَنوشُreach for الدانِياتِthe low-hanging ones مِنَamong الغُصونِthe branches
تَنوشُ الدانِياتِ مِنَ الغُصونِ
Like gazelles that lingered at Dhat Dal,
Drinking dew from the branches.
Reaching for the low-hanging branches.
They appeared with anklets and let down braids
ظَهَرنَthey appeared بِكِلَّةٍbeneath a fine canopy وَسَدَلنَand they lowered رَقماًpatterned cloth
ظَهَرنَ بِكِلَّةٍ وَسَدَلنَ رَقماً
وَثَقَّبنَand they pierced الوَصاوِصَthe small openings لِلعُيونِfor the eyes
وَثَقَّبنَ الوَصاوِصَ لِلعُيونِ
They appeared beneath a fine canopy and lowered patterned cloth,
And pierced veils for their eyes.
And pierced small openings for their eyes.
And of gold that shines on a necklace
وَمِنand of ذَهَبٍgold يَلوحُgleams عَلىupon تَريبٍa breast
وَمِن ذَهَبٍ يَلوحُ عَلى تَريبٍ
كَلَونِlike the color of العاجِivory لَيسَnot بِذيhaving غُضونِwrinkles
كَلَونِ العاجِ لَيسَ بِذي غُضونِ
And golden ornaments gleam upon a breast,
The color of ivory, without any greenness.
Ivory-colored, without a wrinkle.
And they in the darkness, wrapped up
وَهُنَّand they عَلىin الظِلامthe darkness مُطَلَّبَاتٌeagerly sought
وَهُنَّ عَلى الظِلام مُطَلَّبَاتٌ
طَويلاتُlong of الذَوائِبِflowing locks وَالقُرونِand braids
طَويلاتُ الذَوائِبِ وَالقُرونِ
And in darkness they are eagerly sought,
Long-tailed, long-horned.
With long flowing locks and braids.
They showed beauty while others concealed it
أَرَينَthey showed مَحاسِناًbeauties وَكَنَنَّand they concealed أُخرىothers
أَرَينَ مَحاسِناً وَكَنَنَّ أُخرى
مِنَof الأَجيادِthe necks وَالبَشَرِand the skin المَصونِcarefully guarded
مِنَ الأَجيادِ وَالبَشَرِ المَصونِ
They showed some beauties and concealed others,
Of excellent lineage and guarded honor.
Of their necks and carefully guarded skin.
If one is tempted by a glance one day
إِذاif ماemphatic particle فُتنَهُthey escape him يَوماًone day بِرَهنٍwith a pledge
إِذا ما فُتنَهُ يَوماً بِرَهنٍ
يَعِزُّis precious عَلَيهِto him لَمnot يَرجِعhe recovers بِحينِat any time
يَعِزُّ عَلَيهِ لَم يَرجِع بِحينِ
If one day they escape him, carrying a pledge
It's hard for him - he won't come back for a time.
He holds dear, he never recovers it.
With a toy I entertain myself, shooting my arrows
بِتَلهِيَةٍwith a delightful diversion أَريشُI feather بِهاwith her سِهاميmy arrows
بِتَلهِيَةٍ أَريشُ بِها سِهامي
تَبُذُّshe surpasses المُرشِقاتِthe slender women مِنَamong القَطينِthe camp-dwellers
تَبُذُّ المُرشِقاتِ مِنَ القَطينِ
With a delightful diversion I feather my arrows,
That pierce brilliant stars from the bow.
One surpassing the slender women of the camp.
They ascended the skies and descended unseen
عَلَونَthey climbed رَباوَةًa rise وَهَبَطنَand they descended غَيباًout of sight
عَلَونَ رَباوَةً وَهَبَطنَ غَيباً
فَلَمso not يَرجِعنَthey returned قائِلَةًresting at noon لِحينِfor a while
فَلَم يَرجِعنَ قائِلَةً لِحينِ
They climbed a rise and descended out of sight,
And did not come back saying anything for a time.
And did not return for a midday rest for a while.
So I said to one of them as I loaded my belongings
فَقُلتُso I said لِبَعضِهِنَّto one of them وَشُدَّand was fastened رَحليmy saddle
فَقُلتُ لِبَعضِهِنَّ وَشُدَّ رَحلي
لِهاجِرَةٍfor a burning noon عَصَبتُI bound لَهاagainst it جَبينيmy brow
لِهاجِرَةٍ عَصَبتُ لَها جَبيني
So I said to one of them, as my saddle was fastened,
For a migrant, binding my forehead for her:
For a burning noon, against which I bound my brow:
Perhaps if you cut the rope from me
لَعَلَّكِperhaps you إِنif صَرَمتِyou sever الحَبلَthe cord مِنّيwith me
لَعَلَّكِ إِن صَرَمتِ الحَبلَ مِنّي
أَكونُI shall be كَذاكَlikewise مُصحِبَتيyielding to me قَرونيmy spirit
أَكونُ كَذاكَ مُصحِبَتي قَروني
Perhaps, if you sever the cord between us,
I would then be your companion for lifetimes.
I too shall find my spirit yielding to me.
So cast off your worries with one filthy
فَسَلِّso banish الهَمَّcare عَنكَfrom you بِذاتِwith one possessing لَوثٍstrength
فَسَلِّ الهَمَّ عَنكَ بِذاتِ لَوثٍ
عُذافِرةٍpowerfully built كَمِطرَقَةِlike the hammer of القُيونِthe smiths
عُذافِرةٍ كَمِطرَقَةِ القُيونِ
So banish care with a powerful she-camel,
With matted hair like the hammer of a blacksmith.
Strong-built, like a smiths' hammer.
With her truthful shank that seemed to compete with
بِصادِقَةِwith one unfailing in الوَجيفِtrotting كَأَنَّas though هِرّاًa cat
بِصادِقَةِ الوَجيفِ كَأَنَّ هِرّاً
يُباريهاraces her وَيَأخُذُand grasps بِالوَضينِthe woven girth
يُباريها وَيَأخُذُ بِالوَضينِ
Unfailing in her trot, as though a cat
And take on the valley washing.
Were racing her and clutching her girth.
As if its hide made a perfect garment,
كَساهاclothed her تامِكاًa high hump قَرِداًshaggy عَلَيهاupon her
كَساها تامِكاً قَرِداً عَلَيها
سَوادِيُّdark fodder الرَضيحِcrushed date-stones مِنَof اللَجينِbeaten leaves
سَوادِيُّ الرَضيحِ مِنَ اللَجينِ
She was clothed in a high, shaggy hump by
The black digger from the mud.
A dark mash of crushed date-stones and beaten leaves.
When it twitches, I hold its tether tighter
إِذاwhen قَلِقَتshe becomes restless أَشُدُّI fasten لَهاfor her سِنافاًa breast-strap
إِذا قَلِقَت أَشُدُّ لَها سِنافاً
أَمامَbefore الزَورِthe chest مِنbecause of قَلَقِthe slipping of الوَضينِthe girth
أَمامَ الزَورِ مِن قَلَقِ الوَضينِ
When she becomes restless, I fasten a breast-strap for her,
In front of visitors than the valley's twitching.
Before her chest, against the slipping of the girth.
As if the places her breath comes out
كَأَنَّas though مَواقِعَthe resting places of الثَفِناتِthe callous pads مِنهاof hers
كَأَنَّ مَواقِعَ الثَفِناتِ مِنها
مُعَرَّسُa resting place for باكِراتِearly arrivals الوِردِat the water جُونِdark-colored
مُعَرَّسُ باكِراتِ الوِردِ جُونِ
As though the places where her callous pads rest
Are perfumed with early wild roses.
Were the roost of dark birds arriving early to water.
The breath of asthma from her strengthens
يَجُدُّcuts through تَنَفُّسُthe breathing of الصُعَداءِdeep sighs مِنهاfrom her
يَجُدُّ تَنَفُّسُ الصُعَداءِ مِنها
قُوىthe strands النِسعِof the girth المُحَرَّمِstiff ذيwith المُتونِthick ridges
قُوى النِسعِ المُحَرَّمِ ذي المُتونِ
Her deep-drawn sighs cut through
The forbidden biting with tusks.
The strands of the stiff, thick-backed girth.
She pounds both flanks with a splitter
تَصُكُّshe strikes الجَانِبَينِboth sides بِمُشفَتِرٍّwith a bristling tail
تَصُكُّ الجَانِبَينِ بِمُشفَتِرٍّ
لَهُit has صَوتٌa sound أَبَحُّhoarse مِنَfrom الرَنينِringing
لَهُ صَوتٌ أَبَحُّ مِنَ الرَنينِ
She strikes both sides with a bristling tail,
Whose sound is louder than the groan.
Which makes a hoarse, ringing sound.
As if her breath's expulsion were both hands
كَأَنَّas though نَفِيَّthe scattering of ماwhat تَنفيfling away يَداهاher two forefeet
كَأَنَّ نَفِيَّ ما تَنفي يَداها
قِذافُsplashed-out water غَريبَةٍa borrowed bucket بِيَدَيin the hands of مُعينِa helper
قِذافُ غَريبَةٍ بِيَدَي مُعينِ
As though the dust her forefeet fling
Throwing a strange ball with helping hands.
Were a borrowed bucket's splash in a helper's hands.
She closes with everlasting peril a chaste
تَسُدُّshe covers بِدائِمِwith continual الخَطَرانِswishing جَثلٍthick-haired
تَسُدُّ بِدائِمِ الخَطَرانِ جَثلٍ
خَوايَةَthe hollow of فَرجِthe vulva of مِقلاتٍone whose calves die دَهينِscant of milk
خَوايَةَ فَرجِ مِقلاتٍ دَهينِ
With a thick tail forever swishing, she covers
Vulva's yearning for the thick rods.
Her hollow vulva, bereft of calves and scant of milk.
And you can hear when a fly sings
وَتَسمَعُand you hear لِلذُبابِfrom the flies إِذاwhen تَغَنّىthey sing
وَتَسمَعُ لِلذُبابِ إِذا تَغَنّى
كَتَغريدِlike the cooing of الحَمامِdoves عَلىupon الوُكونِthe nests
كَتَغريدِ الحَمامِ عَلى الوُكونِ
And you hear the flies, when they sing,
Like the cooing of doves on the roof corners.
Like doves cooing upon their nests.
And I let her tether go and she slept
وَأَلقَيتُand I let fall الزِمامَthe rein لَهاfor her فَنامَتso she slept
وَأَلقَيتُ الزِمامَ لَها فَنامَت
لِعادَتِهاas was her habit مِنَfrom السَدَفِthe twilight المُبينِclear
لِعادَتِها مِنَ السَدَفِ المُبينِ
I let her rein fall, and she lay down to sleep,
As was her habit, openly.
As was her habit, in the clear twilight.
As if her resting place was a bowl
كَأَنَّas though مُناخَهاher kneeling place مُلقىthe dropping-place of لِجامٍa bridle
كَأَنَّ مُناخَها مُلقى لِجامٍ
عَلىupon مَعزائِهاher stony ground وَعَلىand upon الوَجينِthe hard ground
عَلى مَعزائِها وَعَلى الوَجينِ
As though her kneeling place were a bridle cast down
Poured on her goats and on the valley.
On the gravel beneath her and the hard ground.
As if the balls and anklets on her
كَأَنَّas though الكورَthe saddle-frame وَالأَنساعَand the girths مِنهاof hers
كَأَنَّ الكورَ وَالأَنساعَ مِنها
عَلىupon قَرواءَa long-backed vessel ماهِرَةٍskillful at swimming دَهينِgrease-coated
عَلى قَرواءَ ماهِرَةٍ دَهينِ
As though her saddle and girths
Were on skilled, thick-necked horses.
Were upon a long-backed, deftly swimming, greased ship.
Her mass splits the water, rising over
يَشُقُّcuts through الماءَthe water جُؤجُؤُهاits prow وَتَعلوand it rises over
يَشُقُّ الماءَ جُؤجُؤُها وَتَعلو
غَوارِبَthe crests of كُلِّevery ذيone having حَدَبٍa hump بَطينِfull-bellied
غَوارِبَ كُلِّ ذي حَدَبٍ بَطينِ
Its prow cuts the water, and it rises over
The dunes of every hump-backed valley.
The crests of every humped, full-bellied wave.
Her shoulder blades have become cracked, forgetting her -
غَدَتshe set forth قَوداءَlong-necked مُنشَقّاًparted نَساهاher thigh-sinew
غَدَت قَوداءَ مُنشَقّاً نَساها
تَجاسَرُshe strains forward بِالنُخاعِwith her spinal marrow وَبِالوَتينِand with her heart-vein
تَجاسَرُ بِالنُخاعِ وَبِالوَتينِ
She set forth long-necked, her thigh-sinew parted,
Impudent in the marrow and muscles.
Straining with her spinal marrow and heart-vein.
When I get up to make her depart by night,
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle قُمتُI rise أَرحَلُهاI saddle her بِلَيلٍat night
إِذا ما قُمتُ أَرحَلُها بِلَيلٍ
تَأَوَّهُshe moans آهَةَthe moan of الرَجُلِa man الحَزينِsorrowful
تَأَوَّهُ آهَةَ الرَجُلِ الحَزينِ
When I rise to saddle her by night,
She moans the moan of a grieving man.
She moans like a sorrowful man.
She says, when I turn my valley from her:
تَقولُshe says إِذاwhen دَرَأتُI draw up لَهاfor her وَضينيmy girth
تَقولُ إِذا دَرَأتُ لَها وَضيني
أَهَذاis this دِينُهُhis way أَبَداًforever وَدينيand my way
أَهَذا دِينُهُ أَبَداً وَديني
She says, when I draw my girth up for her,
"Is this his religion, ever, and mine?
'Is this forever his way and mine?
Is all of time easy departure and travel,
أَكُلُّis all of الدَهرِtime حَلٌّa halt وَاِرتِحالٌand departure
أَكُلُّ الدَهرِ حَلٌّ وَاِرتِحالٌ
أَماdoes he not يُبقيspare عَلَيَّme وَماand does he not يَقينيprotect me
أَما يُبقي عَلَيَّ وَما يَقيني
Is all of life a halting and departing?
Never leaving me as I am, or securing me?
Does he never spare me, never shield me?'
So I spend my useless time while earnestness from her
فَأَبقىyet left باطِليmy idle riding وَالجِدُّand hard riding مِنهاof her
فَأَبقى باطِلي وَالجِدُّ مِنها
كَدُكّانِlike the platform of الدَرابِنَةِthe gatekeepers المَطينِplastered with clay
كَدُكّانِ الدَرابِنَةِ المَطينِ
Yet my idle riding and hard riding left her frame
Is like the shops of counterfeit sellers."
Like the gatekeepers' clay-plastered platform.
I bent her tether and placed my belongings
ثَنَيتُI turned زِمامَهاher rein وَوَضَعتُand I placed رَحليmy saddle
ثَنَيتُ زِمامَها وَوَضَعتُ رَحلي
وَنُمرُقَةًand a cushion رَفَدتُI propped بِهاwith it يَمينيmy right hand
وَنُمرُقَةً رَفَدتُ بِها يَميني
I turned her rein and laid on my saddle,
And a drinking flask I clasped in my right hand.
And a cushion on which I propped my right hand.
So I was happy with her challenging an intoxicated man
فَرُحتُthen I set out بِهاupon her تُعارِضُshe crosses مُسبَكِرّاًa long expanse
فَرُحتُ بِها تُعارِضُ مُسبَكِرّاً
عَلىover ضَحضاحِهِits shallows وَعَلىand over المُتونِthe high ground
عَلى ضَحضاحِهِ وَعَلى المُتونِ
Then I set out upon her as she crossed a long expanse,
On his camel-litter and on the mounts.
Over its shallows and its high ground,
To and from Amr - she brought me
إِلىtoward عَمرٍوAmr وَمِنand from عَمرٍوAmr أَتَتنيshe came to me
إِلى عَمرٍو وَمِن عَمرٍو أَتَتني
أَخىa man of النَجداتِbrave deeds وَالحِلمِand forbearance الرَصينِsteadfast
أَخى النَجداتِ وَالحِلمِ الرَصينِ
Toward Amr—from Amr she had come to me—
The most judicious and wisest brother.
A man of brave deeds and steadfast forbearance.
"Either be my true brother
فَإِمّاso either أَنthat تَكونَyou be أَخيmy brother بِحَقٍّin truth
فَإِمّا أَن تَكونَ أَخي بِحَقٍّ
فَأَعرِفَso I may distinguish مِنكَthrough you غَثّيmy lean مِنfrom سَمينيmy fat
فَأَعرِفَ مِنكَ غَثّي مِن سَميني
Either be my brother in truth,
And take my impurity and purity from me,
So that through you I know my lean from my fat,
Or cast me off and make me
وَإِلّاand otherwise فَاِطَّرِحنيthen cast me off وَاِتَّخِذنيand take me as
وَإِلّا فَاِطَّرِحني وَاِتَّخِذني
عَدُوّاًan enemy أَتَّقيكَI guard against you وَتَتَّقينيand you guard against me
عَدُوّاً أَتَّقيكَ وَتَتَّقيني
Or else cast me off and make me
An enemy, each avoiding the other.
An enemy: I shall guard against you, and you against me.
And I don't know, when I set out
وَماand not أَدريI know إِذاwhen يَمَّمتُI turn toward وَجهاًa direction
وَما أَدري إِذا يَمَّمتُ وَجهاً
أُريدُI seek الخَيرَgood أَيُّهُماwhich of the two يَلينيcomes near me
أُريدُ الخَيرَ أَيُّهُما يَليني
I do not know, when I turn toward a course,
Which I want - good or ill for me.
Seeking good, which of the two will come near me:
Is the good that I seek
أَأَلخَيرُis it the good الَّذيthat أَناI أَبتَغيهِseek it
أَأَلخَيرُ الَّذي أَنا أَبتَغيهِ
أَمِor الشَرُّthe evil الَّذيthat هُوَit يَبتَغينيseeks me
أَمِ الشَرُّ الَّذي هُوَ يَبتَغيني
Is it the good that I seek,
Or the evil that seeks me?
Or the evil that seeks me?
Leave off - tell me what I have known
دَعىleave aside ماذاwhat عَلِمتُI know سَأَتَّقيهِI shall guard against it
دَعى ماذا عَلِمتُ سَأَتَّقيهِ
وَلَكِنbut بِالمَغيبِof the unseen نَبِّئينيtell me
وَلَكِن بِالمَغيبِ نَبِّئيني
Leave aside what I know; I shall guard against it,
And I will avoid it, but inform me of what is hidden."
But tell me of what lies unseen.
Partial English translation: 91 of 92 Arabic lines translated.