هَلis it ماwhat عَلِمتَyou learned وَماand what اِستودِعَتyou were entrusted with مَكتومُkept secret
هَل ما عَلِمتَ وَما اِستودِعَت مَكتومُ
أَمor حِبلُهاher bond إِذwhen نَأَتكَshe drew far from you اليَومَtoday مَصرومُsevered
أَم حِبلُها إِذ نَأَتكَ اليَومَ مَصرومُ
Is what you know, and what was entrusted to you, kept secret?
What you knew and entrusted remains hidden,
Or is her bond, now she has gone far from you, severed today?
Or has its rope when it came to you today, become unraveled?
أَمor هَلis it that كَبيرٌan old man بَكىwept لَمdid not يَقضِexhaust عَبرَتَهُhis tears
أَم هَل كَبيرٌ بَكى لَم يَقضِ عَبرَتَهُ
إِثرَafter الأَحِبَّةِthe loved ones يَومَthe day of البَينِparting مَشكومُrewarded
إِثرَ الأَحِبَّةِ يَومَ البَينِ مَشكومُ
Or is an old man who weeps, his tears not yet exhausted,
Or did a veteran weep without fulfilling his tears
after his loved ones on parting day, to be rewarded?
In yearning for loved ones on the day of separation intertwined?
لَمdid not أَدرِI know بِالبَينِof the parting حَتّىuntil أَزمَعواthey resolved on ظَعناًdeparture
لَم أَدرِ بِالبَينِ حَتّى أَزمَعوا ظَعناً
كُلُّall الجِمالِthe camels قُبَيلَjust before الصُبحِdawn مَزمومُhaltered
كُلُّ الجِمالِ قُبَيلَ الصُبحِ مَزمومُ
I knew nothing of the parting until they resolved to depart;
I did not know about separation until they turned away frowning,
all the camels were haltered just before dawn.
All beauties on the verge of dawn, wilted.
رَدَّbrought back الإِماءُthe slave women جِمالَthe camels of الحَيِّthe tribe فَاِحتَمَلواso they set off laden
رَدَّ الإِماءُ جِمالَ الحَيِّ فَاِحتَمَلوا
فَكُلُّهاso all of them بِالتَزيدِيّاتِwith Tazidi cloths مَعكومُpacked and bound
فَكُلُّها بِالتَزيدِيّاتِ مَعكومُ
The slave women brought back the tribe's camels, and the people set off laden;
The maidens restored the beauty of life, so they endured,
all of them were packed and bound with Tazidi cloths,
As each was adorned with jewelry fastened.
عَقلاًstriped cloth وَرَقماًand figured cloth تَظَلُّkeep الطَيرُthe birds تَتبَعُهُfollowing it
عَقلاً وَرَقماً تَظَلُّ الطَيرُ تَتبَعُهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though it were مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of الأَجوافِthe entrails مَدمومُstained
كَأَنَّهُ مِن دَمِ الأَجوافِ مَدمومُ
striped and figured cloth that birds keep following,
Reason and sign, the birds follow them
as though stained with blood from the entrails.
As if made from the blood of intestines spilled.
يَحمِلَنَّthey carry أُترُجَّةًa citron نَضخُa sprinkling of العَبيرِperfume بِهاupon her
يَحمِلَنَّ أُترُجَّةً نَضخُ العَبيرِ بِها
كَأَنَّas though تَطيابَهاher perfume فيin الأَنفِthe nose مَشمومُinhaled
كَأَنَّ تَطيابَها في الأَنفِ مَشمومُ
They carry a citron, lavishly sprinkled with perfume,
They carry a perfume whose fragrance is diffused
as though her sweet scent were being inhaled.
As if its scent whiffs through the nose inhaled.
كَأَنَّas though فارَةَa pod of مِسكٍmusk فيin مَفارِقِهاthe partings of her hair
كَأَنَّ فارَةَ مِسكٍ في مَفارِقِها
لِلباسِطِto one reaching out المُتَعاطيtrying to take وَهوَand he is مَزكومُnasally congested
لِلباسِطِ المُتَعاطي وَهوَ مَزكومُ
As though a musk-pod lay in the partings of her hair,
Like a musk pouch on their departure
even for one reaching to take it, though his nose is blocked.
For one extending his hand, it was sealed.
فَالعَينُso the eye مِنّيof mine كَأَنas though غَربٌa large well-bucket تَحُطُّpulls بِهِwith it
فَالعَينُ مِنّي كَأَن غَربٌ تَحُطُّ بِهِ
دَهماءُa dark she-camel حارِكُهاher withers بِالقِتبِby the pack-saddle مَخزومُpierced
دَهماءُ حارِكُها بِالقِتبِ مَخزومُ
My eye is like a great well-bucket drawn by
My eyes from me are as if a setting sun descends on them
a dark she-camel, her withers pierced by the pack-saddle.
Whose movement is tied down by firm ropes.
قَدalready عُرِّيَتshe was left unsaddled حِقبَةًfor a time حَتّىuntil اِستَطَفَّrose high لَهاon her
قَد عُرِّيَت حِقبَةً حَتّى اِستَطَفَّ لَها
كِترٌa hump كَحافَةِlike the rim of كيرِthe bellows of القَينِthe smith مَلمومُrounded and compact
كِترٌ كَحافَةِ كيرِ القَينِ مَلمومُ
She had gone unsaddled for a time, until there rose upon her
An era has been stripped bare until a broad sword unsheathed for it,
a compact hump like the rim of a smith's bellows.
Like the edge of an unpolished sword, filed.
كَأَنَّas though غِسلَةَa wash of خِطمِيٍّmarsh mallow بِمِشفَرِهاon her lip
كَأَنَّ غِسلَةَ خِطمِيٍّ بِمِشفَرِها
فيon الخَدِّthe cheek مِنهاof hers وَفيand on اللَحيَينِboth jaws تَلغيمُa coating of foam
في الخَدِّ مِنها وَفي اللَحيَينِ تَلغيمُ
As though marsh-mallow lather were on her lip,
As if the washing of a scolder's mouth with its razor
foam smeared across her cheek and both jaws.
On the cheek and on both chins, scratched.
قَدalready أَدبَرَhas departed العُرُّthe mange عَنهاfrom her وَهيَwhile she is شامِلُهاcovering her
قَد أَدبَرَ العُرُّ عَنها وَهيَ شامِلُها
مِنof ناصِعِclear القَطِرانِthe tar الصِرفِundiluted تَدسيمُa greasy coating
مِن ناصِعِ القَطِرانِ الصِرفِ تَدسيمُ
The mange has left her, while she is covered
The hair covering it has turned away while it embraces it
with a greasy coating of clean, undiluted tar.
With pure dripping tar, greased.
تَسقيshe waters مَذانِبَchannels قَدalready زالَتhas gone عَصيفَتُهاtheir straw
تَسقي مَذانِبَ قَد زالَت عَصيفَتُها
حُدورُهاtheir downhill reaches مِنfrom أَتِيِّthe incoming flow of الماءِwater مَطمومُfilled to the brim
حُدورُها مِن أَتِيِّ الماءِ مَطمومُ
She waters channels whose straw has been cleared,
It waters the sides of a pasture whose grass has withered
their lower reaches brimful with incoming water.
With running water from a cloudburst, flooded.
مِنfrom ذِكرِremembering سَلمىSalma وَماand not ذِكريmy remembrance الأَوانِnow لَهاof her
مِن ذِكرِ سَلمى وَما ذِكري الأَوانِ لَها
إِلّاexcept السَفاهُfolly وَظَنُّand conjecture about الغَيبِthe unseen تَرجيمُstone-casting
إِلّا السَفاهُ وَظَنُّ الغَيبِ تَرجيمُ
All from remembering Salma; yet my remembering her now
With the mention of Salma, my time for her mention is
is only folly, and guessing the unseen is blind stone-casting.
Nothing but foolishness and guessing blindly shot.
صِفرُempty at الوِشاحَينِthe two sashes مِلءُfilling الدِرعِthe shift خَرعَبَةٌa tall, supple woman
صِفرُ الوِشاحَينِ مِلءُ الدِرعِ خَرعَبَةٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though she were رَشأٌa gazelle fawn فيin البَيتِthe tent مَلزومُkept confined
كَأَنَّها رَشأٌ في البَيتِ مَلزومُ
Slim between her two sashes, filling her shift, tall and supple,
The yellow shawls and the breastplate's clanking
she is like a gazelle fawn kept within the tent.
As if fluttering noises inside the house sealed.
هَلwill تُلحِقَنّيshe bring me up بِأولىwith the foremost of القَومِthe people إِذwhen شَحَطواthey went far away
هَل تُلحِقَنّي بِأولى القَومِ إِذ شَحَطوا
جُلذِيَّةٌa tough she-camel كَأَتانِlike a wild she-ass of الضَحلِthe shallow pool عُلكومُmassive
جُلذِيَّةٌ كَأَتانِ الضَحلِ عُلكومُ
Will she bring me up with the foremost of the people, when they have gone far—
Will they meet me with the first of the people when they departed
a tough, massive she-camel, like a wild she-ass at a shallow pool?
Rough and unruly as the she-camels of Dhuhl uprooted?
تُلاحِظُshe eyes السَوطَthe whip شَزَراًaskance وَهيَwhile she is ضامِزَةٌkeeping her mouth shut
تُلاحِظُ السَوطَ شَزَراً وَهيَ ضامِزَةٌ
كَماas تَوَجَّسَlistened warily طاويlean of الكَشحِflank مَوشومُdark-marked
كَما تَوَجَّسَ طاوي الكَشحِ مَوشومُ
She eyes the whip askance, keeping her mouth shut,
It observes the whip slender and firm while bounding ahead
as a lean-flanked, dark-marked beast listens warily.
As the dodger of the whip stroke shied.
كَأَنَّهاas though she were خاضِبٌa red-legged male ostrich زُعرٌbare قَوائِمُهُhis legs
كَأَنَّها خاضِبٌ زُعرٌ قَوائِمُهُ
أَجنىripened لَهُfor him بِاللِوىat al-Liwa شَريٌbitter colocynth وَتَنّومُand tannum plants
أَجنى لَهُ بِاللِوى شَريٌ وَتَنّومُ
As though she were a red-legged male ostrich, his legs bare,
As if it is a dark-colored frightened whose legs
for whom bitter colocynth and tannum have ripened at al-Liwa.
Were bent sideways for it with twisting and bending.
يَظَلُّhe spends the day فيamong الحَنظَلِthe colocynth الخُطبانِstriped يَنقُفُهُpecking at it
يَظَلُّ في الحَنظَلِ الخُطبانِ يَنقُفُهُ
وَماand whatever اِستَطَفَّgrew tall مِنَof التَنّومِthe tannum مَخذومُis cropped off
وَما اِستَطَفَّ مِنَ التَنّومِ مَخذومُ
He spends the day pecking at striped colocynth,
It remains in the meadow, the gnat pestering it
and whatever stands tall of the tannum is cropped away.
While the drowsiness it shook off was severed.
فوهٌhis mouth كَشَقِّlike a split in العَصاa stick لَأياًwith difficulty تُبَيَّنُّهُyou discern it
فوهٌ كَشَقِّ العَصا لَأياً تُبَيَّنُّهُ
أَسَكُّsmall-eared ماnot يَسمَعُhe hears الأَصواتَsounds مَصلومُcrop-eared
أَسَكُّ ما يَسمَعُ الأَصواتَ مَصلومُ
His mouth is like a split in a stick, barely discernible;
A mouth like the split of a staff, nothing makes it clear
small-eared, he hears no sounds, his ears cropped short.
Deaf to the voices, locked up.
حَتّىuntil تَذَكَّرَhe remembered بيضاتٍeggs وَهيَّجَهُand roused him
حَتّى تَذَكَّرَ بيضاتٍ وَهيَّجَهُ
يَومُa day of رَذاذٍdrizzle عَلَيهِupon him الريحُthe wind مَغيومُclouded
يَومُ رَذاذٍ عَلَيهِ الريحُ مَغيومُ
Until he remembered his eggs, and was roused
Until it recalled eggs and was stirred
by a cloudy day of drizzle, with wind upon him.
On a drizzly day, clouds looming.
فَلاso not تَزَيُّدُهُhis quickening فيin مَشيِهِhis walking نَفِقٌexhausted
فَلا تَزَيُّدُهُ في مَشيِهِ نَفِقٌ
وَلاand not الزَفيفُthe swift trot دُوَينَjust short of الشَدِّfull running مَسؤومُtired of
وَلا الزَفيفُ دُوَينَ الشَدِّ مَسؤومُ
His quickening stride does not flag,
So neither a burrow energizes its walk
nor does he tire of the swift trot just short of a full run.
Nor the whistling winds, ill-omened sounds.
يَكادُalmost مَنسِمُهُhis toe يَختَلُّpierces مُقلَتَهُhis eyeball
يَكادُ مَنسِمُهُ يَختَلُّ مُقلَتَهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though he were حاذِرٌwary لِلنَخسِof goading مَشهومُstartled
كَأَنَّهُ حاذِرٌ لِلنَخسِ مَشهومُ
His toe almost pierces his eyeball,
Its blinking nearly disorders its gaze
as though wary of goading and startled.
As if it’s wary of the sly glances, suspected.
يَأويhe returns إِلىto خُرَّقٍclumsy hens زُعرٍsparse قَوادِمُهاtheir leading wing-feathers
يَأوي إِلى خُرَّقٍ زُعرٍ قَوادِمُها
كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were إِذاwhen بَرَّكنَthey crouched جُرثومُan earthen mound
كَأَنَّهُنَّ إِذا بَرَّكنَ جُرثومُ
He returns to clumsy hens, their leading wing-feathers sparse,
It comes to a ragged, frightened shelter whose pillars
as though, when they crouch, they were an earthen mound.
Are as if they buzz when they kneel down.
وَضّاعَةٌswift-moving كَعِصِيِّlike the staves of الشَرعِthe bows جُؤجُؤُهُhis breast
وَضّاعَةٌ كَعِصِيِّ الشَرعِ جُؤجُؤُهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though he were بِتَناهيat the far edge of الرَوضِthe meadow عُلجومُa toad
كَأَنَّهُ بِتَناهي الرَوضِ عُلجومُ
Swift-moving, his breast like bowstaves,
Scattered like twigs of the shrub, its neck
he seems a toad at the meadow's far edge.
Is as if a house surrounded by a dilapidated hyena, attacked.
حَتّىuntil تَلافىhe reached وَقَرنُwhile the horn of الشَمسِthe sun مُرتَفِعٌwas high
حَتّى تَلافى وَقَرنُ الشَمسِ مُرتَفِعٌ
أُدِحَيَّthe nest-scrape of عِرسَينِtwo mates فيهِin it البيضُthe eggs مَركومُheaped
أُدِحَيَّ عِرسَينِ فيهِ البيضُ مَركومُ
Until, with the sun's horn high, he reached
It is shielded by a glowing, submissive hen
the two mates' nest-scrape, where the eggs lay heaped.
That answers it with melodies of cooing.
يوحيhe signals إِلَيهاto her بِإِنقاضٍwith clicking cries وَنَقنَقَةٍand clucking
يوحي إِلَيها بِإِنقاضٍ وَنَقنَقَةٍ
كَماas تَراطَنُconverse in a foreign tongue فيin أَفدانِهاtheir palaces الرومُthe Romans
كَما تَراطَنُ في أَفدانِها الرومُ
He signals to her with clicking cries and clucks,
But every tribe, no matter how powerful and numerous,
as the Romans converse in their foreign tongue within their palaces.
Its leader is hit by the nails of evil, chased away.
صَعلٌsmall-headed كَأَنَّas though جَناحَيهِhis two wings وَجُؤجُؤَهُand his breast
صَعلٌ كَأَنَّ جَناحَيهِ وَجُؤجُؤَهُ
بَيتٌa tent أَطافَتbusied herself around بِهِit خَرقاءُa clumsy woman مَهجومُcollapsed
بَيتٌ أَطافَت بِهِ خَرقاءُ مَهجومُ
Small-headed, his two wings and breast resemble
And generosity negates wealth, destroying it
a collapsed tent around which a clumsy woman has busied herself.
While stinginess keeps it for his family, and is blamed.
تَحُفُّهُattends him هِقلَةٌan ostrich hen سَطعاءُlong-necked خاضِعَةٌbowing low
تَحُفُّهُ هِقلَةٌ سَطعاءُ خاضِعَةٌ
تُجيبُهُshe answers him بِزِمارٍwith a piping cry فيهِin which is تَرنيمُtrilling
تُجيبُهُ بِزِمارٍ فيهِ تَرنيمُ
A long-necked ostrich hen attends him, bowing low;
And wealth is fleeting comfort they play with
she answers him with a piping, trilling cry.
According to its scarcity, lasting and rolled up.
بَلrather كُلُّevery قَومٍpeople وَإِنand even if عَزّواthey grew mighty وَإِنand even if كَثُرواthey grew numerous
بَل كُلُّ قَومٍ وَإِن عَزّوا وَإِن كَثُروا
عَريفُهُمtheir chief بِأَثافيwith the hearthstones of الشَرِّmisfortune مَرجومُpelted
عَريفُهُم بِأَثافي الشَرِّ مَرجومُ
Rather, every people, however mighty and however numerous,
And praise cannot be bought except for its price
has its chief pelted with the hearthstones of misfortune.
From what makes souls stingy, well known.
وَالجودُand generosity نافِيَةٌdriving away لِلمالِwealth مُهلِكَةٌdestroying it
وَالجودُ نافِيَةٌ لِلمالِ مُهلِكَةٌ
وَالبُخلُand stinginess مُبقٍpreserving it لِأَهليهِfor its owners وَمَذمومُand condemned
وَالبُخلُ مُبقٍ لِأَهليهِ وَمَذمومُ
Generosity drives wealth away and destroys it,
And ignorance has a reputation that cannot be bought back
while stinginess keeps it for its owners, yet is condemned.
While forbearance is a safe haven for people, lost.
وَالمالُand wealth صوفُwool of قَرارٍsmall sheep يَلعَبونَthey play بِهِwith it
وَالمالُ صوفُ قَرارٍ يَلعَبونَ بِهِ
عَلىupon نِقادَتِهِits little sheep وافٍintact وَمَجلومُand shorn
عَلى نِقادَتِهِ وافٍ وَمَجلومُ
Wealth is the wool of little sheep, which people play with:
And the food of sheep on the day of sheep is their food
upon those little sheep, left whole or shorn.
However it turns, and the deprived are deprived.
وَالحَمدُand praise لاnot يُشتَرىis bought إِلّاexcept لَهُfor it ثَمَنٌa price
وَالحَمدُ لا يُشتَرى إِلّا لَهُ ثَمَنٌ
مِمّاfrom what تَضِنُّbegrudge بِهِit النُفوسُsouls مَعلومُknown
مِمّا تَضِنُّ بِهِ النُفوسُ مَعلومُ
Praise cannot be bought except at a price,
And whoever confronts crows to scare them away
a known price in what souls are loath to give.
Is destined for misfortune upon his safety.
وَالجَهلُand folly ذوpossessing عَرَضٍbreadth لاnot يُستَرادُis scouted for لَهُfor it
وَالجَهلُ ذو عَرَضٍ لا يُستَرادُ لَهُ
وَالحِلمُand forbearance آوِنَةًat times فيamong الناسِpeople مَعدومُabsent
وَالحِلمُ آوِنَةً في الناسِ مَعدومُ
Folly has a broad expanse; no scouting is needed for it,
And every house, no matter how long it stands
while forbearance is sometimes absent among people.
Upon its pillars, is destined to crumble down.
وَمُطعَمُand one fed with الغُنمِgain يَومَthe day of الغُنمِgain مُطعَمُهُhis sustenance
وَمُطعَمُ الغُنمِ يَومَ الغُنمِ مُطعَمُهُ
أَنّىwherever تَوَجَّهَhe turns وَالمَحرومُand the deprived مَحرومُis deprived
أَنّى تَوَجَّهَ وَالمَحرومُ مَحرومُ
One fed on gain, on the day of gain, finds his sustenance
I bear witness to their intoxicated drinking within them
wherever he turns; the deprived remain deprived.
While sober, and the people laid low by fatigue, worn out.
وَمَنand whoever تَعَرَّضَapproaches لِلغِربانِthe ravens يَزجُرُهاrousing them for omens
وَمَن تَعَرَّضَ لِلغِربانِ يَزجُرُها
عَلىdespite سَلامَتِهِhis safety لابُدَّinevitably مَشؤومُill-omened
عَلى سَلامَتِهِ لابُدَّ مَشؤومُ
Whoever approaches ravens, rousing them for omens,
A cup of a dear one from grapes he liberated
despite his safety, is bound to be ill-omened.
For some of its owners, a picturesque tavern.
وَكُلُّand every بَيتٍhouse وَإِنeven if طالَتhas been long إِقامَتُهُits standing
وَكُلُّ بَيتٍ وَإِن طالَت إِقامَتُهُ
عَلىupon دَعائِمِهِits pillars لابُدَّinevitably مَهدومُdemolished
عَلى دَعائِمِهِ لابُدَّ مَهدومُ
Every house, however long it stands
It alleviates headaches and its harshness does not harm you
upon its pillars, must eventually be demolished.
Nor does accumulation in the head persist.
قَدindeed أَشهَدُI attend الشَربَthe drinking company فيهِمamong them مِزهَرٌa lute رَنِمٌmelodious
قَد أَشهَدُ الشَربَ فيهِم مِزهَرٌ رَنِمٌ
وَالقَومُand the men تَصرَعُهُمlays them low صَهباءُtawny wine خُرطومُchoice first-run wine
وَالقَومُ تَصرَعُهُم صَهباءُ خُرطومُ
I have attended drinking companies, among them a melodious lute,
A tavern, an amphora whose years were not inaugurated
while the men are laid low by choice tawny wine.
By a sealed decanter smeared with clay.
كَأسُa cup of عَزيزٍprecious wine مِنَfrom الأَعنابِthe grapes عَتَّقَهاaged it
كَأسُ عَزيزٍ مِنَ الأَعنابِ عَتَّقَها
لِبَعضِfor some of أَربابِهاits owners حانِيَّةٌtavern-keepers حومُhovering around
لِبَعضِ أَربابِها حانِيَّةٌ حومُ
A cup of precious grape-wine, aged
It remained flickering in the vat, slapped by
for some of its owners by hovering tavern-keepers.
An non-Arabic boy in cotton garb, crumpled.
تَشفيit cures الصُداعَheadaches وَلاand not يُؤذيكَhurts you صالِبُهاits splitting after-ache
تَشفي الصُداعَ وَلا يُؤذيكَ صالِبُها
وَلاand not يُخالِطُهاaccompanies it فيin الرَأسِthe head تَدويمُdizziness
وَلا يُخالِطُها في الرَأسِ تَدويمُ
It cures headaches, and no splitting after-ache from it hurts you,
As if their pitcher is a young mountain goat on a hillside
nor does dizziness mingle with it in the head.
Bloodied by the childhood of cotton garb, feeding on herbs.
عانِيَّةٌwine from Anah قُرقُفٌshiver-inducing لَمnot تُطَّلَعwas opened سَنَةًfor a year
عانِيَّةٌ قُرقُفٌ لَم تُطَّلَع سَنَةً
يُجِنُّهاconceals it مُدمَجٌa tightly closed vessel بِالطينِwith clay مَختومُsealed
يُجِنُّها مُدمَجٌ بِالطينِ مَختومُ
Anah wine, making one shiver, unopened for a year,
Pure white prominent in the sun, its watcher
enclosed in a tight vessel sealed with clay.
Imitating the rods of basil, aromatic.
ظَلَّتit kept تُرَقرِقُshimmering فيin الناجودِthe wine-vessel يَصفِقُهاhe pours it back and forth
ظَلَّت تُرَقرِقُ في الناجودِ يَصفِقُها
وَليدُa serving-boy of أَعجَمَa foreigner بِالكَتّانِwith linen مَفدومُmouth-muffled
وَليدُ أَعجَمَ بِالكَتّانِ مَفدومُ
It kept shimmering in the wine-vessel, poured back and forth
I set out at the lead of the tribe, escorted
by a foreigner's serving-boy, his mouth muffled with linen.
By one trusted for his goodness, marked.
كَأَنَّas though إِبريقَهُمtheir ewer ظَبيٌa gazelle عَلىon شَرَفٍa rise
كَأَنَّ إِبريقَهُم ظَبيٌ عَلى شَرَفٍ
مُفَدَّمٌmuffled بِسَباwith strips of الكَتّانِlinen مَلثومُmouth-veiled
مُفَدَّمٌ بِسَبا الكَتّانِ مَلثومُ
Their ewer seemed a gazelle on a rise,
And I ascended the camel litters that raised me
muffled with strips of linen, its mouth veiled,
On a day the rain comes, poisonous.
أَبيَضُwhite أَبرَزَهُbrought it out لِلضِحِّinto the sunlight راقِبُهُits keeper
أَبيَضُ أَبرَزَهُ لِلضِحِّ راقِبُهُ
مُقَلِّدٌgarlanded with قُضُبَcut sprigs of الريحانِsweet herbs مَفغومُfragrance-filled
مُقَلِّدٌ قُضُبَ الريحانِ مَفغومُ
white, brought into the sunlight by its keeper,
Hot as if the fires’ flames envelop him
garlanded with sweet-herb sprigs, filled with fragrance.
Without clothes, and the man’s head wrapped.
وَقَدand indeed غَدَوتُI went out early عَلىagainst قِرنيmy rival يُشَيِّعُنيsupports me
وَقَد غَدَوتُ عَلى قِرني يُشَيِّعُني
ماضٍresolute أَخوpossessing ثِقَةٍtrustworthiness بِالخَيرِwith goodness مَوسومُmarked
ماضٍ أَخو ثِقَةٍ بِالخَيرِ مَوسومُ
I have gone out early against my rival, supported
And I lead in front of the tribe a blaze
by one resolute and trustworthy, marked by goodness.
By which a lineage in the tribe is known.
وَقَدand indeed عَلَوتُI mounted قُتودَthe wooden frames of الرَحلِthe saddle يَسفَعُنيscorches me
وَقَد عَلَوتُ قُتودَ الرَحلِ يَسفَعُني
يَومَa day تَجيءُbrings بِهِit الجَوزاءُal-Jawza مَسمومُsimoom-blasted
يَومَ تَجيءُ بِهِ الجَوزاءُ مَسمومُ
I have mounted the saddle-frames, scorched
Neither in its flames or embers is there fury
by a day brought by al-Jawza, blasted by the simoom.
Nor have the windows, their carving, eroded it.
حامٍhot كَأَنَّas though أَوارَthe fierce heat of النارِfire شامِلُهُenveloping him
حامٍ كَأَنَّ أَوارَ النارِ شامِلُهُ
دونَbeneath الثِيابِthe clothes وَرَأسُand the head of المَرءِthe man مَعمومُturban-wrapped
دونَ الثِيابِ وَرَأسُ المَرءِ مَعمومُ
Hot, as though the blaze of fire enveloped him
Smooth like the staff of a pleasure seeker, twisted by
beneath his clothes, though the man's head was turban-wrapped.
One with spoils like seeds of carob, heaped up.
وَقَدand indeed أَقودُI lead أَمامَbefore الحَيِّthe tribe سَلهَبَةًa tall, rangy female mount
وَقَد أَقودُ أَمامَ الحَيِّ سَلهَبَةً
يَهديguides بِهاher along نَسبٌa pedigree فيin الحَيِّthe tribe مَعلومُknown
يَهدي بِها نَسبٌ في الحَيِّ مَعلومُ
I have led before the tribe a tall, rangy mount,
It pursues the slave girls when they are aroused by song
her pedigree, well known in the tribe, guiding her.
As if drums beating on camel litters, defeated.
لاnot فيin شَظاهاher shank-bones وَلاand not أَرساغِهاher pasterns عَنَتٌany defect
لا في شَظاها وَلا أَرساغِها عَنَتٌ
وَلاand not السَنابِكُthe hoof-tips أَفناهُنَّhas worn them away تَقليمُtrimming
وَلا السَنابِكُ أَفناهُنَّ تَقليمُ
Neither her shank-bones nor her pasterns have any defect,
Guided by it, the cheekiest of cheeks, an inspector
nor have her hoof-tips been worn away by trimming.
Of beauty, very fleshy, immoral.
سُلّاءَةٌthorn-slender كَعَصاlike the staff of النَهدِيِّthe Nahdi غُلَّwas bound بِهاto it
سُلّاءَةٌ كَعَصا النَهدِيِّ غُلَّ بِها
ذوpossessing فَيئَةٍa bend (uncertain sense) مِنfrom نَوىdate-stones قُرّانَQurran مَعجومُgnawed clean
ذو فَيئَةٍ مِن نَوى قُرّانَ مَعجومُ
Thorn-slender, like the Nahdi's staff, to which was bound
When a corner of its tent ropes sways
a curved date-stone from Qurran, gnawed clean.
The little humps bunch up at its corners, gathered.
تَتبَعُshe follows جوناًa dark male إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle هُيِّجَتshe is roused زَجِلَتshe bellows
تَتبَعُ جوناً إِذا ما هُيِّجَت زَجِلَت
كَأَنَّas though دُفّاًa tambourine عَلىon عَلياءَhigh ground مَهزومُis beaten
كَأَنَّ دُفّاً عَلى عَلياءَ مَهزومُ
She follows a dark male; when roused, she bellows,
And I accompany young men whose food
as though a tambourine were beaten upon high ground.
Is greens of food and meat with it, sliced up.
يَهديleads بِهاher along أَكلَفُdark-mottled الخَدَّينِon both cheeks مُختَبِرٌtried and tested
يَهدي بِها أَكلَفُ الخَدَّينِ مُختَبِرٌ
مِنَamong الجِمالِthe camels كَثيرُabundant in اللَحمِflesh عَيثومُelephantine
مِنَ الجِمالِ كَثيرُ اللَحمِ عَيثومُ
A male mottled on both cheeks, tried and tested, leads her,
And I afford, when hunger befalls it
one of the camels, thick with flesh and elephantine.
Followed by a drink from the spring of wine, fermented.
إِذاwhen تَزَغَّمَgrumbles مِنfrom حافاتِهاits edges رُبَعٌa spring-born calf
إِذا تَزَغَّمَ مِن حافاتِها رُبَعٌ
حَنَّتlow in longing شَغاميمُhuge she-camels فيat حافاتِهاits edges كومُhigh-humped
حَنَّت شَغاميمُ في حافاتِها كومُ
When a spring-born calf grumbles at the herd's edges,
If only they would afford with horses I would afford thereby
huge, high-humped she-camels at its edges low in longing.
And all the people's comforts are finite.
وَقَدand indeed أُصاحِبُI accompany فِتياناًyoung men طَعامُهُمُtheir food
وَقَد أُصاحِبُ فِتياناً طَعامُهُمُ
خُضرُgreenish contents المَزادِof the waterskins وَلَحمٌand meat فيهِin it تَنشيمُincipient spoilage
خُضرُ المَزادِ وَلَحمٌ فيهِ تَنشيمُ
I have accompanied young men whose food was
greenish waterskin-water and meat beginning to spoil.
وَقَدand indeed يَسَرتُI gambled with lots إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الجوعُhunger كُلِّفَهُwas entrusted to it
وَقَد يَسَرتُ إِذا ما الجوعُ كُلِّفَهُ
مُعَقَّبٌrepeatedly used مِنamong قِداحِlot-arrows of النَبعِnaba wood مَقرومُnotched
مُعَقَّبٌ مِن قِداحِ النَبعِ مَقرومُ
I have gambled with lots when hunger was entrusted to
an oft-used, notched lot-arrow of naba wood.
لَوif يَيسِرونَthey gamble بِخَيلٍfor horses قَدindeed يَسَرتُI have gambled بِهاfor them
لَو يَيسِرونَ بِخَيلٍ قَد يَسَرتُ بِها
وَكُلُّand everything ماthat يَسرَhave gambled for الأَقوامُpeoples مَغرومُmust be paid for
وَكُلُّ ما يَسرَ الأَقوامُ مَغرومُ
If they gamble for horses, I have gambled for horses too;
and whatever people gamble for must be paid for.
Partial English translation: 104 of 110 Arabic lines translated.