أَفيis it in أَثَرِthe trail of الأَظعانِthe departing caravans عَينُكَyour eye تَلمَحُpeers
أَفي أَثَرِ الأَظعانِ عَينُكَ تَلمَحُ
نَعَمyes لاmay you not تَهَنّاfind ease إِنَّindeed قَلبَكَyour heart مِتيَحُrestless
نَعَم لا تَهَنّا إِنَّ قَلبَكَ مِتيَحُ
Does your eye peer along the trail of the departing caravans?
Yes—may you find no ease! Your heart is restless.
ظَعائِنُwomen in howdahs مِئنافٍa seeker of fresh pasture إِذاwhen مَلَّhe tires of بَلدَةًa place
ظَعائِنُ مِئنافٍ إِذا مَلَّ بَلدَةً
أَقامَhe rouses الرِكابَthe riding-camels باكِرٌearly-departing مُتَرَوَّحُevening-traveling
أَقامَ الرِكابَ باكِرٌ مُتَرَوَّحُ
Women in howdahs belonging to a seeker of fresh pasture, who, when he tires of a place,
rouses the riding-camels, early abroad and traveling at evening.
مِنَamong المُتبِعينَthose following with الطَرفَthe gaze فيin كُلِّevery شَتوَةٍwinter
مِنَ المُتبِعينَ الطَرفَ في كُلِّ شَتوَةٍ
سَناthe gleam of البَرقِlightning يَدعوهُcalls him الرَبيعُspring المُطَرِّحُdrawing far afield
سَنا البَرقِ يَدعوهُ الرَبيعُ المُطَرِّحُ
One of those who, every winter, follow with their gaze
the lightning's gleam, called by spring that draws them far afield.
يُساميkeeps pace with الغَمامَthe clouds الغُرَّthe white ثُمَّthen مَقيلُهُhis noonday resting-place
يُسامي الغَمامَ الغُرَّ ثُمَّ مَقيلُهُ
مِنَin الشَرَفِSharaf الأَعلىUpper حِساءٌsandy waterholes وَأَبطَحُand a gravel flat
مِنَ الشَرَفِ الأَعلى حِساءٌ وَأَبطَحُ
He keeps pace with the white clouds; then his noonday resting-place
is sandy waterholes and a gravel flat in Upper Sharaf.
رَعَينَthey grazed قَرارَthe settling-place of المُزنِrain-clouds حَيثُwhere تَجاوَبَتanswered one another
رَعَينَ قَرارَ المُزنِ حَيثُ تَجاوَبَت
مَذاكٍmature ones وَأَبكارٌand young ones مِنَof المُزنِrain-clouds دُلَّحُheavily laden
مَذاكٍ وَأَبكارٌ مِنَ المُزنِ دُلَّحُ
They grazed where the rain-clouds settled, where there answered one another
mature clouds and young ones, heavy with rain.
بِلادٌa land يَبُزُّstrips off الفَقعُthe truffle فيهاin it قِناعَهُits veil
بِلادٌ يَبُزُّ الفَقعُ فيها قِناعَهُ
كَماas اِبيَضَّgrew white شَيخٌan elder مِنof رِفاعَةَRifa'ah أَجلَحُbalding
كَما اِبيَضَّ شَيخٌ مِن رِفاعَةَ أَجلَحُ
A land where the truffle strips off its veil,
like a balding elder of Rifa'ah growing white.
أَقامَتthey remained بِهِin it حَدَّthe height of الرَبيعِspring وَجارُهاand their neighbor
أَقامَت بِهِ حَدَّ الرَبيعِ وَجارُها
أَخوa possessor of سَلوَةٍease مَسّىovertook at evening بِهِupon him اللَيلُthe night أَملَحُgray-speckled
أَخو سَلوَةٍ مَسّى بِهِ اللَيلُ أَملَحُ
They stayed there through spring's height, their neighbor
a carefree, gray-speckled one whom night overtook.
فَلَمّاso when اِنتَهىreached fullness نَيُّthe fat of المَرابيعِspring-born calves أَزمَعَتthey resolved
فَلَمّا اِنتَهى نَيُّ المَرابيعِ أَزمَعَت
خُفوفاًdeparture وَأَولادُand the offspring of المَصايِيفِsummer-calving camels رُشَّحُnewly walking
خُفوفاً وَأَولادُ المَصايِيفِ رُشَّحُ
When the spring-born calves had grown fully fat, they resolved
to depart, while the summer-calvers' young were only just walking.
رَماهاpelted them السَفاgrass-awns وَاِعتَزَّهاand overpowered them الصَيفُsummer بَعدَماafter
رَماها السَفا وَاِعتَزَّها الصَيفُ بَعدَما
طَباهُنَّenticed them رَوضٌa meadow مِنat زُبالَةَZubalah أَفيَحُspacious
طَباهُنَّ رَوضٌ مِن زُبالَةَ أَفيَحُ
Grass-awns pelted them, and summer overpowered them, after
a spacious meadow at Zubalah had enticed them.
وَحارَبَتِand battled الهَيفُthe parching wind الشِمالَthe north wind وَآذَنَتand gave warning
وَحارَبَتِ الهَيفُ الشِمالَ وَآذَنَت
مَذانِبُlower watercourses مِنهاamong them اللَدنُthe tender growth وَالمُتَصَوِّحُand the withered
مَذانِبُ مِنها اللَدنُ وَالمُتَصَوِّحُ
The parching wind battled the north wind, and warning came
from the valley-tails, both their tender and their withered growth.
تَحَمَّلنَthey set out مِنfrom ذاتِDhat التَنانيرِal-Tananir بَعدَماafter
تَحَمَّلنَ مِن ذاتِ التَنانيرِ بَعدَما
مَضىpassed بَينَbetween أَيديهاtheir foreparts سَوامٌgrazing livestock مُسَرَّحُturned loose
مَضى بَينَ أَيديها سَوامٌ مُسَرَّحُ
They set out from Dhat al-Tananir after
the grazing herds, turned loose, had gone before them.
وَعالَينَand layered رَقماًpatterned cloth فَوقَabove رَقمٍpatterned cloth كَسَونَهُthey draped it
وَعالَينَ رَقماً فَوقَ رَقمٍ كَسَونَهُ
قَناpoles of عَرعَرٍjuniper فيهِwithin it أَوانِسُcompanionable women وُضَّحُfair-skinned
قَنا عَرعَرٍ فيهِ أَوانِسُ وُضَّحُ
They layered patterned cloth upon patterned cloth, draping it over
juniper poles, within which were fair, companionable women.
عَلىon كُلِّevery عَجعاجٍbellowing camel إِذاwhen عَجَّit bellowed أَقبَلَتappeared
عَلى كُلِّ عَجعاجٍ إِذا عَجَّ أَقبَلَت
لَهاةٌa uvula تُلاقيهاmeet it مَخالِبُclawlike fangs كُلَّحُbared
لَهاةٌ تُلاقيها مَخالِبُ كُلَّحُ
On every bellowing camel, when it bellowed, there appeared
a uvula met by bared, clawlike fangs.
تَبَصَّرتُهُمI watched them closely حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen حالَintervened دونَهُمbetween us and them
تَبَصَّرتُهُم حَتّى إِذا حالَ دونَهُم
رُكامٌa piled-up mass وَحادٍand a camel-driver ذوhaving غَذاميرَharsh scoldings صَيدَحُloud-voiced
رُكامٌ وَحادٍ ذو غَذاميرَ صَيدَحُ
I watched them closely until there stood between us
a piled-up mass and a loud-voiced driver with harsh scoldings.
وَقُلنَand they said لَهُto him حُثَّurge on الجِمالَthe camels وَغَنِّهاand sing to them
وَقُلنَ لَهُ حُثَّ الجِمالَ وَغَنِّها
بِصَوتِكَwith your voice وَالحاديand the singing driver أَحَثُّmore effective at urging وَأَنجَحُand more successful
بِصَوتِكَ وَالحادي أَحَثُّ وَأَنجَحُ
They told him: 'Urge the camels on and sing to them
with your voice; a singing driver spurs them harder and fares better.'
بِإِحدىon one of قَياقِthe rocky flats of الحَزنِal-Hazn فيon يَومِa day of قُتمَةٍdust-darkness
بِإِحدى قَياقِ الحَزنِ في يَومِ قُتمَةٍ
وَضاحيand the sunlit expanse of السَرابِthe mirage بَينَناbetween us يَتَضَحضَحُripples
وَضاحي السَرابِ بَينَنا يَتَضَحضَحُ
On one of al-Hazn's rocky flats, on a dust-dark day,
the sunlit mirage rippled between us.
تَواضَعُsink down أَطرافِthe edges of المَخارِمِmountain passes دونَهُbeneath it
تَواضَعُ أَطرافِ المَخارِمِ دونَهُ
وَتَبدوand appear إِذاwhen ماever غَمرَةُthe flood of الآلِthe mirage تَنزَحُebbs away
وَتَبدو إِذا ما غَمرَةُ الآلِ تَنزَحُ
The edges of the mountain passes sank beneath it,
and appeared whenever the flood of mirage ebbed away.
فَلَمّاso when دَعاcalled داعيthe caller of الصَباحِmorning تَفاضَلَتvied with one another
فَلَمّا دَعا داعي الصَباحِ تَفاضَلَت
بِرُكبانِهاwith their riders صُهبُtawny العَثانينِchin-beards قُرَّحُfully grown
بِرُكبانِها صُهبُ العَثانينِ قُرَّحُ
When morning's caller called, there raced against one another
full-grown camels with tawny beards, bearing their riders.
لَحِقناwe overtook بِحَيٍّa clan أَوَّبواthey traveled all day السَيرَthe journey بَعدَماafter
لَحِقنا بِحَيٍّ أَوَّبوا السَيرَ بَعدَما
دَفَعناwe warded off شُعاعَthe rays of الشَمسِthe sun وَالطَرفُand the gaze مُجنَحُinclined downward
دَفَعنا شُعاعَ الشَمسِ وَالطَرفُ مُجنَحُ
We caught up with a clan that had traveled all day, after
warding off the sun's rays, our gaze cast downward.
تُدافِعُهُdeflect it عَنّاfrom us الأَكُفُّthe palms وَتَحتَهُand beneath it
تُدافِعُهُ عَنّا الأَكُفُّ وَتَحتَهُ
مِنَof الحَيِّthe clan أَشباحٌsilhouettes تَصولُloom وَتَمصَحُand fade
مِنَ الحَيِّ أَشباحٌ تَصولُ وَتَمصَحُ
Our palms deflected it from us, and beneath it
the clan's silhouettes loomed and faded.
فَلَمّاso when لَحِقناwe caught up وَاِزدَهَتناand swept us away بَشاشَةٌcheerfulness
فَلَمّا لَحِقنا وَاِزدَهَتنا بَشاشَةٌ
لِإِتيانِat coming to مَنthose whom كُنّاwe were نَوَدُّloving وَنَمدَحُand praising
لِإِتيانِ مَن كُنّا نَوَدُّ وَنَمدَحُ
When we caught up, and cheerfulness swept us away
at coming to those we loved and praised,
أَتَتناcame to us خُزامىlavender ذاتُpossessed of نَشرٍfragrance وَحَنوَةٌand aromatic hanwah
أَتَتنا خُزامى ذاتُ نَشرٍ وَحَنوَةٌ
وَراحٌand wine وَخَطّامٌand a nose-filling scent مِنَof المِسكِmusk يَنفَحُwafts fragrance
وَراحٌ وَخَطّامٌ مِنَ المِسكِ يَنفَحُ
fragrant lavender came to us, and hanwah,
and wine, and nose-filling musk that wafted its scent.
فَنِلناso we obtained غِراراًa brief snatch مِنof حَديثٍconversation نَقودُهُwe guide it
فَنِلنا غِراراً مِن حَديثٍ نَقودُهُ
كَماas اِغبَرَّraised dust بِالنَصِّunder hard driving القَضيبُthe newly ridden camel المُسَمَّحُyielding
كَما اِغبَرَّ بِالنَصِّ القَضيبُ المُسَمَّحُ
We gained a brief snatch of conversation that we guided,
like a yielding, newly ridden camel raising dust under hard driving.
نُقارِبُwe approach أَفنانَthe branches of الصِبىyouthful passion وَيَرُدُّناand turns us back
نُقارِبُ أَفنانَ الصِبى وَيَرُدُّنا
حَياءٌmodesty إِذاwhen كِدناwe nearly نُلِمُّdraw near فَنَجمَحُthen we shy away
حَياءٌ إِذا كِدنا نُلِمُّ فَنَجمَحُ
We drew near the branches of youthful passion, yet were turned back
by modesty: when we nearly approached, we shied away.
حَرائِرُfreeborn women لاnot يَدرينَthey know ماwhat سوءُbadness of شيمَةٍcharacter
حَرائِرُ لا يَدرينَ ما سوءُ شيمَةٍ
وَيَترُكنَand they shun ماwhatever يُلحىone is rebuked عَلَيهِfor it فَيُفصِحُthen speaks openly
وَيَترُكنَ ما يُلحى عَلَيهِ فَيُفصِحُ
Freeborn women, who do not know what foul character means,
and shun whatever provokes an openly voiced rebuke.
فَأَعجَلَناso hurried us قُربُthe nearness of المَحَلِّthe campsite وَأَعيُنٌand eyes
فَأَعجَلَنا قُربُ المَحَلِّ وَأَعيُنٌ
إِلَيناtoward us فَخِفناهاso we feared them شَواخِصُfixed in staring طُمَّحُupraised
إِلَينا فَخِفناها شَواخِصُ طُمَّحُ
The nearness of the campsite hurried us away, and eyes
turned toward us, which we feared—fixed and upraised.
فَكائِنand how many تَرىyou see فيamong القَومِthe people مِنof مُتَقَنِّعٍone veiling himself
فَكائِن تَرى في القَومِ مِن مُتَقَنِّعٍ
عَلىover عَبرَةٍa tear كادَتnearly بِهاwith it العَينُthe eye تَسفَحُpours forth
عَلى عَبرَةٍ كادَت بِها العَينُ تَسفَحُ
How many among the people you see veiling himself
over a tear his eye nearly spills!
لَهُhe has نَظرَتانِtwo glances نَحوَهُنَّtoward them وَنَظرَةٌand one glance
لَهُ نَظرَتانِ نَحوَهُنَّ وَنَظرَةٌ
إِلَيناtoward us فَلِلَّهِand to God المَشوقُthe lovelorn المُتَرَّحُthe grief-stricken
إِلَينا فَلِلَّهِ المَشوقُ المُتَرَّحُ
He casts two glances toward them, and one glance
toward us—what a lovelorn, grief-stricken man, by God!
كَحَرّانِlike a thirsty one مَنتوفِplucked bare الذِراعَينِthe two forearms صَدَّهُkept him back
كَحَرّانِ مَنتوفِ الذِراعَينِ صَدَّهُ
عَنِfrom الماءِthe water فُرّاطٌadvance waterers وَوِردٌand a watering herd مُصَبَّحُarriving at dawn
عَنِ الماءِ فُرّاطٌ وَوِردٌ مُصَبَّحُ
Like a thirsty one with plucked-bare forearms, kept
from water by advance waterers and the dawn-arriving herd.
فَقامَso he stood قَليلاًbriefly ثُمَّthen باحَrevealed بِحاجَةٍa need
فَقامَ قَليلاً ثُمَّ باحَ بِحاجَةٍ
مُصَرَّدُgiven only scant أَشرابٍdraughts مُرَمّىًpelted مُنَشَّحُdriven away
مُصَرَّدُ أَشرابٍ مُرَمّىً مُنَشَّحُ
He stood briefly, then revealed his need,
given only scant draughts, pelted and driven away.
إِلىto المُصطَفىthe chosen one بِشرِBishr بنِson of مَروانَMarwan ساوَرَتassailed
إِلى المُصطَفى بِشرِ بنِ مَروانَ ساوَرَت
بِناwith us اللَيلَthe night حولٌnonpregnant camels كَالقِداحِlike arrow-shafts وَلُقَّحُand pregnant camels
بِنا اللَيلَ حولٌ كَالقِداحِ وَلُقَّحُ
Toward the chosen one, Bishr ibn Marwan, they assailed
the night with us—nonpregnant camels like arrow-shafts, and pregnant ones.
نَقانِقُostrichlike camels أَشباهٌalike بَرىwore down قَمَعاتِهاtheir hump-tops
نَقانِقُ أَشباهٌ بَرى قَمَعاتِها
بُكورٌearly departures وَإِسآدٌand night marches وَمَيسٌand a swaying gait مُشَيَّحُvigorous
بُكورٌ وَإِسآدٌ وَمَيسٌ مُشَيَّحُ
Ostrichlike and alike, their hump-tops were worn down by
early departures, night marches, and vigorous, swaying strides.
فَلَمso not يَبقَremained إِلّاexcept آلُthe frame of كُلِّevery نَجيبَةٍnoble she-camel
فَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا آلُ كُلِّ نَجيبَةٍ
لَهاshe has كاهِلٌwithers جَأبٌsturdy وَصُلبٌand a back مُكَدَّحُscarred
لَها كاهِلٌ جَأبٌ وَصُلبٌ مُكَدَّحُ
Nothing remained but the frame of each noble she-camel,
with sturdy withers and a scarred back.
ضُبارِمَةٌmassive camels شُدقٌwide-mouthed كَأَنَّas if عُيونَهاtheir eyes
ضُبارِمَةٌ شُدقٌ كَأَنَّ عُيونَها
بَقاياremnants of جِفارٍbroad wells مِنat هَراميتَHaramit نُزَّحُdrained
بَقايا جِفارٍ مِن هَراميتَ نُزَّحُ
Massive, wide-mouthed beasts, their eyes seeming
the remnants of drained wells at Haramit.
فَلَوand if كُنَّthey were طَيراًbirds قَدindeed تَقَطَّعنَthey would have fallen exhausted دونَكُمshort of you
فَلَو كُنَّ طَيراً قَد تَقَطَّعنَ دونَكُم
بِغُبرِamong dust-gray الصُوىwaymarks فيهِنَّamong them لِلعَينِfor the eye مَطرَحُroom to range
بِغُبرِ الصُوى فيهِنَّ لِلعَينِ مَطرَحُ
Had they been birds, they would have fallen exhausted short of you,
among dust-gray waymarks, where the eye has room to range.
وَلَكِنَّهاbut they العيسُcream-colored camels العِتاقُnoble-bred يَقودُهاleads them
وَلَكِنَّها العيسُ العِتاقُ يَقودُها
هُمومٌconcerns بِناwithin us مُنتابَهاtheir destination مُتَزَحزِحُfar removed
هُمومٌ بِنا مُنتابَها مُتَزَحزِحُ
But they are noble-bred, cream-colored camels, led by
concerns within us whose destination lies far away.
بَناتُdaughters of نَحيضِlean الزَورِthe breast يَبرُقُgleams خَدُّهُhis cheek
بَناتُ نَحيضِ الزَورِ يَبرُقُ خَدُّهُ
عِظامُthe bones of مِلاطَيهِhis two flanks مَوائِرُswaying جُنَّحُslanting
عِظامُ مِلاطَيهِ مَوائِرُ جُنَّحُ
Daughters of a sire with a lean breast and a shining cheek,
the bones of his flanks swaying and slanting.
لَهُhe has عُنُقٌa neck عاريbare المَحالِvertebrae وَحارِكٌand withers
لَهُ عُنُقٌ عاري المَحالِ وَحارِكٌ
كَلَوحِlike a plank المَحانيcurved sections ذوhaving سَناسِنَvertebral spines أَفطَحُbroad and flat
كَلَوحِ المَحاني ذو سَناسِنَ أَفطَحُ
He has a neck with vertebrae laid bare, and withers
like curved timber, broad and flat, with vertebral spines.
وَرِجلٌand a leg كَرِجلِlike the leg of الأَخدَرِيِّthe Akhdari wild ass يَشُلُّهاdrives it forward
وَرِجلٌ كَرِجلِ الأَخدَرِيِّ يَشُلُّها
وَظيفٌa cannon-bone عَلىabove خُفِّthe padded foot of النَعامَةِthe ostrich أَروَحُsplayed
وَظيفٌ عَلى خُفِّ النَعامَةِ أَروَحُ
And a leg like an Akhdari wild ass's, driven forward
by a splayed cannon-bone above an ostrich's padded foot.
يُقَلِّبُhe turns عَينَيthe two eyes of فَرقَدٍa wild calf بِخَميلَةٍin a thicket
يُقَلِّبُ عَينَي فَرقَدٍ بِخَميلَةٍ
كَساهاclothed it نَصِيُّnasiyy grass الخِلفَةِfresh regrowth المُتَرَوِّحُstirred by the breeze
كَساها نَصِيُّ الخِلفَةِ المُتَرَوِّحُ
He turns eyes like a wild calf's in a thicket
clothed in wind-stirred nasiyy grass of fresh regrowth.
تَرَوَّحنَthey departed at evening مِنfrom حَزمِthe ridge of الجُفولِal-Juful فَأَصبَحَتso by morning were
تَرَوَّحنَ مِن حَزمِ الجُفولِ فَأَصبَحَت
هِضابُthe hills of شَرَورىSharawra دونَهاbehind them وَالمُضَيَّحُand al-Mudayyah
هِضابُ شَرَورى دونَها وَالمُضَيَّحُ
They left Hazm al-Juful at evening, and by morning lay
Sharawra's hills and al-Mudayyah behind them.
وَماand not كانَتِwas الدَهناal-Dahna لَهاfor them غَيرَmore than ساعَةٍan hour
وَما كانَتِ الدَهنا لَها غَيرَ ساعَةٍ
وَجَوَّand the basin of قَساًQasa جاوَزنَthey crossed وَالبومُand the owls يَضبَحُcry
وَجَوَّ قَساً جاوَزنَ وَالبومُ يَضبَحُ
Al-Dahna was no more than an hour's passage for them,
and they crossed the basin of Qasa while the owls cried.
سَمامٌswifts بِمَوماةٍin a wasteland كَأَنَّas if ظِلالَهاtheir shadows
سَمامٌ بِمَوماةٍ كَأَنَّ ظِلالَها
جَنائِبُled mounts تَدنوdraw near تارَةًat times وَتَزَحزَحُand move away
جَنائِبُ تَدنو تارَةً وَتَزَحزَحُ
Swifts in a wasteland, their shadows seeming
led mounts, now drawing near and now moving away.
وَلَمّاand when رَأَتthey saw بُعدَthe remoteness of المِياهِwatering-places وَضَمَّهاand enclosed them
وَلَمّا رَأَت بُعدَ المِياهِ وَضَمَّها
جَناحانِtwo wings مِنof لَيلٍnight وَبَيداءُand a desert صَردَحُbroad and level
جَناحانِ مِن لَيلٍ وَبَيداءُ صَردَحُ
When they saw how distant the waters were, and were enfolded
by two wings of night and a broad, level desert,
وَأَغسَتand grew dark عَلَيهاover them طِرمِساءُdense darkness وَعُلِّقَتand were hung
وَأَغسَت عَلَيها طِرمِساءُ وَعُلِّقَت
بِهَجرٍat Hajar أَداوىthe waterskins of رَكبِهاtheir riders وَهيَwhile they were نُزَّحُdrained
بِهَجرٍ أَداوى رَكبِها وَهيَ نُزَّحُ
and dense darkness covered them, and there hung
their riders' waterskins, slung on at Hajar, now drained,
حَذاهاdrove them بِناwith us روحٌsplayed hindlegs زَواجِلُpropelling وَاِنتَحَتand bore onward
حَذاها بِنا روحٌ زَواجِلُ وَاِنتَحَت
بِأَجوازِهاwith their middles أَيدٍforelegs تَمُدُّstretch forward وَتَنزَحُand pull back
بِأَجوازِها أَيدٍ تَمُدُّ وَتَنزَحُ
splayed, propelling hindlegs drove them on with us, and strained forward
forelegs carrying their middles, stretching and pulling back.
فَأَضحَتso by day were بِمَجهولِin unknown reaches of الفَلاةِthe wilderness كَأَنَّهاas if they
فَأَضحَت بِمَجهولِ الفَلاةِ كَأَنَّها
قَراقيرُgreat vessels فيin آذِيِّthe waves of دِجلَةَthe Tigris تَسبَحُswim
قَراقيرُ في آذِيِّ دِجلَةَ تَسبَحُ
By day they were in unknown wilderness, as though
great vessels swimming through the Tigris's waves.
لَهاميمُmighty camels فيin الخَرقِthe desert expanse البَعيدِdistant نِياطُهُits farthest reach
لَهاميمُ في الخَرقِ البَعيدِ نِياطُهُ
وَراءَbeyond الَّذيwhat قالَsaid الأَدِلّاءُthe guides تُصبِحُthey reach by morning
وَراءَ الَّذي قالَ الأَدِلّاءُ تُصبِحُ
Mighty camels in a desert expanse whose bounds stretch far,
they reach by morning beyond where the guides had said.
فَماand not أَناI إِنif كانَتthere were أَعاصيرُwhirlwinds of فِتنَةٍstrife
فَما أَنا إِن كانَت أَعاصيرُ فِتنَةٍ
قُلوبُthe hearts of رِجالٍmen بَينَهُنَّamid them تَطَوَّحُare tossed about
قُلوبُ رِجالٍ بَينَهُنَّ تَطَوَّحُ
I am not, should there be whirlwinds of strife,
with men's hearts tossed about amid them,
كَمَنlike one who باعَsold بِالإِثمِfor sin التُقىpiety وَتَفَرَّقَتand diverged
كَمَن باعَ بِالإِثمِ التُقى وَتَفَرَّقَت
بِهِwith him طُرُقُthe paths of الدُنياthe world وَنَيلٌand gain مُتَرَّحُsorrow-laden
بِهِ طُرُقُ الدُنيا وَنَيلٌ مُتَرَّحُ
like one who sells piety for sin and is scattered
by the world's paths and sorrow-laden gain.
رَجَوتُI hoped for بُحوراًseas مِنfrom أُمَيَّةَUmayyah دونَهاbefore them
رَجَوتُ بُحوراً مِن أُمَيَّةَ دونَها
عَدُوٌّan enemy وَأَركانٌand pillars مِنَof الحَربِwar تَرمَحُthrust spears
عَدُوٌّ وَأَركانٌ مِنَ الحَربِ تَرمَحُ
I set my hopes on seas of bounty from Umayyah, though before them stand
an enemy and pillars of war thrusting spears.
وَماand not الفَقرُpoverty مِنfrom أَرضِthe land of العَشيرَةِthe clan ساقَناdrove us
وَما الفَقرُ مِن أَرضِ العَشيرَةِ ساقَنا
إِلَيكَto you وَلَكِنّاbut we بِقُربِكَat nearness to you نَبجَحُrejoice
إِلَيكَ وَلَكِنّا بِقُربِكَ نَبجَحُ
It was not poverty that drove us from the clan's land
to you; rather, we rejoice in being near you.
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَknew الأَقوامُthe peoples أَنَّكَthat you تَشتَريpurchase
وَقَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ أَنَّكَ تَشتَري
جَميلَfine الثَناacclaim وَالحَمدُand praise أَبقىmore lasting وَأَربَحُand more profitable
جَميلَ الثَنا وَالحَمدُ أَبقى وَأَربَحُ
The peoples know full well that you purchase
fine acclaim; praise is more lasting and more profitable.
وَأَنتَand you اِمرُؤٌa man تَرويfill with water السِجالَthe water-buckets وَيَنتَحيand makes its way
وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ تَروي السِجالَ وَيَنتَحي
لِأَبعَدَto those farther away مِنّاthan us سَيبُكَyour bounty المُتَمَنِّحُfreely bestowed
لِأَبعَدَ مِنّا سَيبُكَ المُتَمَنِّحُ
You are a man who fills the water-buckets, and makes its way
to those farther away than us your freely bestowed bounty.
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you وَهّابٌa generous giver أَغَرُّradiant وَتارَةًand at times
وَإِنَّكَ وَهّابٌ أَغَرُّ وَتارَةً
هِزَبرٌa lion عَلَيهِupon him نُقبَةُthe mantle of المَوتِdeath أَصبَحُtawny
هِزَبرٌ عَلَيهِ نُقبَةُ المَوتِ أَصبَحُ
You are a radiant, generous giver, and at times
a tawny lion wearing death's mantle.
أَبوكَyour father الَّذيwho نَجّىsaved بِيَثرِبَat Yathrib قَومَهُhis people
أَبوكَ الَّذي نَجّى بِيَثرِبَ قَومَهُ
وَأَنتَand you المُفَدّىone for whom ransom is offered مِنamong بَنيهِhis sons المَمَدَّحُmuch praised
وَأَنتَ المُفَدّى مِن بَنيهِ المَمَدَّحُ
Your father is the one who saved his people at Yathrib,
and you, among his sons, are the much-praised one for whom ransom is offered.
إِذاwhen ماever قُرَيشُQuraysh of المُلكِkingship يَوماًon some day تَفاضَلواvied for excellence
إِذا ما قُرَيشُ المُلكِ يَوماً تَفاضَلوا
بَداappeared سابِقٌa champion مِنfrom آلِthe house of مَروانَMarwan أَقرَحُwhite-blazed
بَدا سابِقٌ مِن آلِ مَروانَ أَقرَحُ
When royal Quraysh, on some day, vie for excellence,
a white-blazed champion from Marwan's house comes forth.
فَإِنso if تَنءِmakes distant داراًa dwelling ياO اِبنَson of مَروانَMarwan غَربَةٌexile
فَإِن تَنءِ داراً يا اِبنَ مَروانَ غَربَةٌ
بِحاجَةِwith the need of ذيone possessing قُربىkinship بِزَندِكَwith your fire-stick يَقدَحُstrikes sparks
بِحاجَةِ ذي قُربى بِزَندِكَ يَقدَحُ
Should exile make a dwelling distant, son of Marwan,
a needy kinsman still strikes sparks from your fire-stick.
فَياso O رُبَّmany a مَنone who يُدنيbrings himself near وَيَحسِبُand thinks أَنَّهُthat he
فَيا رُبَّ مَن يُدني وَيَحسِبُ أَنَّهُ
يَوَدُّكَloves you وَالنائيand the distant one أَوَدُّmore loving وَأَنصَحُand more sincere
يَوَدُّكَ وَالنائي أَوَدُّ وَأَنصَحُ
How many a man draws near and thinks that he
loves you, while the distant man is more loving and sincere.
هَجَوتُI lampooned زُهَيراًZuhayr ثُمَّthen إِنّيindeed I مَدَحتُهُpraised him
هَجَوتُ زُهَيراً ثُمَّ إِنّي مَدَحتُهُ
وَماand not زالَتِceased الأَشرافُthe nobles تُهجىare lampooned وَتُمدَحُand are praised
وَما زالَتِ الأَشرافُ تُهجى وَتُمدَحُ
I lampooned Zuhayr, then indeed I praised him;
noble men have always been lampooned and praised.
فَلَمso not أَدرِI knew يُمناهُhis right hand إِذاwhen ماever مَدَحتُهُI praised him
فَلَم أَدرِ يُمناهُ إِذا ما مَدَحتُهُ
أَبِالمالِwhether with wealth أَمor بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِwith Mashrafi swords أَنفَحُmore lavish
أَبِالمالِ أَم بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِ أَنفَحُ
When I praised him, I did not know whether his right hand
was freer with wealth or with Mashrafi swords.
وَذيand a man with كُلفَةٍa facial blemish أَغراهُincited him بيagainst me غَيرُnot ناصِحٍa well-wisher
وَذي كُلفَةٍ أَغراهُ بي غَيرُ ناصِحٍ
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him وَجهُthe face of المُحَرِّشِthe instigator أَقبَحُuglier
فَقُلتُ لَهُ وَجهُ المُحَرِّشِ أَقبَحُ
Many a blemished man was set against me by an ill-adviser;
I told him: 'The instigator's face is uglier.'
وَإِنّيand indeed I وَإِنand even if كُنتُI was المُسيءَthe wrongdoer فَإِنَّنيnevertheless I
وَإِنّي وَإِن كُنتُ المُسيءَ فَإِنَّني
عَلىin كُلِّall حالاتيmy circumstances لَهُtoward him مِنهُthan him أَنصَحُmore sincere
عَلى كُلِّ حالاتي لَهُ مِنهُ أَنصَحُ
Indeed, even if I was the wrongdoer, I am nevertheless,
in every circumstance, more sincere toward him than that man.
دَأَبتُI toiled on إِلىuntil أَنthat يَنبُتَgrow الظِلُّthe shadow بَعدَماafter
دَأَبتُ إِلى أَن يَنبُتَ الظِلُّ بَعدَما
تَقاصَرَshrank حَتّىuntil كادَalmost فيin الآلِthe mirage يَمصَحُvanishes
تَقاصَرَ حَتّى كادَ في الآلِ يَمصَحُ
I toiled on until the shadow began to grow, after
shrinking so far it almost vanished into the mirage,
وَجيفَthe swift trotting of المَطاياthe mounts ثُمَّthen قُلتُI said لِصُحبَتيto my companions
وَجيفَ المَطايا ثُمَّ قُلتُ لِصُحبَتي
وَلَمand not يَنزِلواthey dismounted أَبرَدتُمُyou reached the cool hours فَتَرَوَّحواso travel at evening
وَلَم يَنزِلوا أَبرَدتُمُ فَتَرَوَّحوا
keeping the mounts at a swift trot; then I told my companions,
while they were still mounted: 'The cool hours have come; travel on at evening.'
Translation model: Sol 6.1