أَلَمhave you not تَسأَلquestion بِعارِمَةَat Arimah الدِياراthe dwellings
أَلَم تَسأَل بِعارِمَةَ الدِيارا
عَنِabout الحَيِّthe tribe المُفارِقِdeparted أَينَwhere ساراit went
عَنِ الحَيِّ المُفارِقِ أَينَ سارا
Have you not questioned the dwellings at Arimah
about the departed tribe—where did it go?
بِجانِبِbeside رامَةٍRamah فَوَقَفتُso I stood يَوماًone day
بِجانِبِ رامَةٍ فَوَقَفتُ يَوماً
أُسائِلُI question رَبعَهُنَّtheir campsite فَماbut not أَحاراit replied
أُسائِلُ رَبعَهُنَّ فَما أَحارا
Beside Ramah I stood one day,
questioning their campsite, but it gave no answer.
مَنازِلُdwellings حَولَهاaround them بَلَدٌcountry رِقاقٌflat and open
مَنازِلُ حَولَها بَلَدٌ رِقاقٌ
تَجِرُّdrag الرامِساتُthe effacing winds بِهاthrough them الغُباراthe dust
تَجِرُّ الرامِساتُ بِها الغُبارا
Dwellings surrounded by level, open country,
where effacing winds drag the dust.
أَقَمنَthey remained بِهاthere رَهينَةَhostage to كُلِّevery نَحسٍill fortune
أَقَمنَ بِها رَهينَةَ كُلِّ نَحسٍ
فَماso not يَعدَمنَthey lack ريحاًwind أَوor قِطاراpouring rain
فَما يَعدَمنَ ريحاً أَو قِطارا
They remained there, hostage to every ill fortune,
never lacking wind or pouring rain,
وَرَجّافاًand a rumbling cloud تَحِنُّmoan المُزنُthe rain-clouds فيهِwithin it
وَرَجّافاً تَحِنُّ المُزنُ فيهِ
تَرَجَّزَit rumbled مِنfrom تِهامَةَTihamah فَاِستَطاراthen it spread abroad
تَرَجَّزَ مِن تِهامَةَ فَاِستَطارا
or a rumbling cloud in which rain-clouds moan;
it rumbled out of Tihamah and spread abroad.
فَمَرَّthen it passed عَلىover مَنازِلِهاtheir dwellings فَأَلقىand laid down
فَمَرَّ عَلى مَنازِلِها فَأَلقى
بِهاthere الأَثقالَthe burdens وَاِنتَحَرَand slaughtered itself اِنتِحاراutterly
بِها الأَثقالَ وَاِنتَحَرَ اِنتِحارا
It passed over their dwellings and laid down
its burdens there, and slaughtered itself outright.
إِذاwhenever ماever (emphasis) قُلتُI said جاوَزَهاit passed beyond them لِأَرضٍtoward a land
إِذا ما قُلتُ جاوَزَها لِأَرضٍ
تَذاءَبَتِveered alternately الرِياحُthe winds لَهُaround it فَحاراso it returned
تَذاءَبَتِ الرِياحُ لَهُ فَحارا
Whenever I said it had passed them for another land,
the winds veered about it, and it turned back.
وَأَبقىand left السَيلُthe flood وَالأَرواحُand the winds مِنهاof them
وَأَبقى السَيلُ وَالأَرواحُ مِنها
ثَلاثاًthree فيin مَنازِلِهاtheir dwelling places ظُؤاراfoster-mothers (hearthstones)
ثَلاثاً في مَنازِلِها ظُؤارا
The flood and the winds left of them
three foster-mothers—the hearthstones—in their dwelling places.
أُنِخنَwere set down وَهُنَّwhile they were أَغفالٌunmarked عَلَيهاupon it
أُنِخنَ وَهُنَّ أَغفالٌ عَلَيها
فَقَدyet already تَرَكَleft الصِلاءُthe cooking fire بِهِنَّon them ناراburn marks
فَقَد تَرَكَ الصِلاءُ بِهِنَّ نارا
They were set down there while still unmarked;
yet the cooking fire left its burns on them.
وَذاتِand one possessing أَثارَةٍremaining fat أَكَلَتshe ate عَلَيهاadding to it
وَذاتِ أَثارَةٍ أَكَلَت عَلَيها
نَباتاًvegetation فيin أَكِمَّتِهِits sheaths قِفاراunmixed
نَباتاً في أَكِمَّتِهِ قِفارا
And a she-camel with reserves of fat ate, adding to them,
unmixed vegetation still in its sheaths,
جُمادِيّاًJumada-grown تَحِنُّmoan المُزنُthe rain-clouds فيهِover it
جُمادِيّاً تَحِنُّ المُزنُ فيهِ
كَماas فَجَّرتَyou opened فيin الحَرثِthe cultivated field الدِباراthe watercourses
كَما فَجَّرتَ في الحَرثِ الدِبارا
Jumada-grown, with rain-clouds moaning over it,
as you open watercourses through a cultivated field.
رَعَتهُshe grazed it أَشهُراًfor months وَخَلاand was left freely عَلَيهاto her
رَعَتهُ أَشهُراً وَخَلا عَلَيها
فَطارَso spread النَيُّthe fat فيهاthrough her وَاِستَغاراand sank deep
فَطارَ النَيُّ فيها وَاِستَغارا
She grazed it for months, with it left to her alone;
fat spread through her and sank deep.
طَلَبتُI pursued عَلىupon مَحالِthe joints of الصُلبِthe backbone مِنهاof her
طَلَبتُ عَلى مَحالِ الصُلبِ مِنها
غَريبَa far-off الهَمِّpurpose قَدalready مَنَعَdenied القَراراrest
غَريبَ الهَمِّ قَد مَنَعَ القَرارا
On the joints of her backbone I pursued
a far-off purpose that had denied me rest.
فَأُبتُso I returned بِنَفسِهاwith her life وَالآلُand the frame مِنهاof her
فَأُبتُ بِنَفسِها وَالآلُ مِنها
وَقَدand already أَطعَمتَyou fed ذِروَتَهاher hump السِفاراjourneys
وَقَد أَطعَمتَ ذِروَتَها السِفارا
I returned with her life and her bare frame,
after you had fed her hump to journeys.
وَأَخضَرَand green آجِنٍstagnant water فيin ظِلِّthe shadow of لَيلٍnight
وَأَخضَرَ آجِنٍ في ظِلِّ لَيلٍ
سَقَيتُI watered بِجَمِّهِwith its abundant water رَسَلاًa herd حِراراthirst-parched
سَقَيتُ بِجَمِّهِ رَسَلاً حِرارا
And a green, stagnant pool in the shadow of night—
I watered a thirsty herd from its abundant water,
بِدَلوٍwith a bucket غَيرِnot مُكرَبَةٍreinforced with rope أَصابَتit struck
بِدَلوٍ غَيرِ مُكرَبَةٍ أَصابَت
حَماماًpigeons فيin مَساكِنِهِtheir roosts فَطاراso they flew
حَماماً في مَساكِنِهِ فَطارا
with a bucket not reinforced with rope; it struck
pigeons in their roosts, and they flew.
سَقَيناهاwe watered them غِشاشاًhurriedly وَاِستَقَيناand drew water
سَقَيناها غِشاشاً وَاِستَقَينا
نُبادِرُwe raced مِنout of مَخافَتِهاfear for them النَهاراthe daylight
نُبادِرُ مِن مَخافَتِها النَهارا
We watered them hurriedly, and drew water,
racing the daylight out of fear for them.
فَأَقبَلَهاthen turned them toward الحُداةُthe camel-drivers بَياضَthe pale expanse of نَقبٍa mountain pass
فَأَقبَلَها الحُداةُ بَياضَ نَقبٍ
وَفَجّاand a ravine قَدalready رَأَينَthey had seen لَهُfor it إِطاراan enclosing rim
وَفَجّا قَد رَأَينَ لَهُ إِطارا
The drivers turned them toward a pale mountain pass
and a ravine whose enclosing rim they had seen,
بِحاجاتٍon errands تَحَضَّرَهاhe hurried toward them عَدُوٌّan enemy
بِحاجاتٍ تَحَضَّرَها عَدُوٌّ
فَماso not يَسطيعُهاhe can attain them إِلّاexcept خِطاراby taking risks
فَما يَسطيعُها إِلّا خِطارا
on errands to which an enemy hurried,
which he could attain only by taking risks.
تُرَجّيshe hopes for مِنfrom سَعيدِSaid بَنيBanu (sons of) لُؤَيٍّLuayy
تُرَجّي مِن سَعيدِ بَني لُؤَيٍّ
أَخيkinsman of الأَعياصِthe A'yas أَنواءًshowers غِزاراabundant
أَخي الأَعياصِ أَنواءً غِزارا
She hopes, from Said of Banu Luayy,
kinsman of the A'yas, for abundant showers.
تَلَقّىmet نَوءُهُنَّtheir rain-season سِرارَthe moonless end of شَهرٍa month
تَلَقّى نَوءُهُنَّ سِرارَ شَهرٍ
وَخَيرُand the best النَوءِrain ماthat which لَقِيَmet السِراراthe moonless nights
وَخَيرُ النَوءِ ما لَقِيَ السِرارا
Their rain-season met a month's moonless end,
and the best rain is that which meets the dark nights.
كَريمٌgenerous تَعزُبُvanish العِلّاتُthe excuses عَنهُfrom him
كَريمٌ تَعزُبُ العِلّاتُ عَنهُ
إِذاwhenever ماever (emphasis) حانَthe time came يَوماًone day أَنto يُزاراbe visited
إِذا ما حانَ يَوماً أَن يُزارا
A generous man, from whom excuses vanish
whenever a day comes for visiting him.
مَتىwhenever ماever (emphasis) يُجدِhe bestows نائِلَهُhis bounty عَلَيناupon us
مَتى ما يُجدِ نائِلَهُ عَلَينا
فَلاthen no بُخلاًstinginess تَخافُyou fear وَلاnor اِعتَذاراexcuses
فَلا بُخلاً تَخافُ وَلا اِعتَذارا
Whenever he bestows his bounty upon us,
you fear neither stinginess nor excuses.
هُوَhe الرَجُلُthe man الَّذيwhom نَسَبَتclaimed as kin قُرَيشٌQuraysh
هُوَ الرَجُلُ الَّذي نَسَبَت قُرَيشٌ
فَصارَso came to be المَجدُthe glory مِنهاfrom it حَيثُwhere ضاراhe settled
فَصارَ المَجدُ مِنها حَيثُ ضارا
He is the man whom Quraysh claims as kin,
and its glory goes wherever he settles.
وَأَنضاءٍand worn-out she-camels أُنِخنَwere made to kneel إِلىat سَعيدٍSaid
وَأَنضاءٍ أُنِخنَ إِلى سَعيدٍ
طُروقاًarriving by night ثُمَّthen عَجَّلنَthey hastened اِبتِكاراat dawn
طُروقاً ثُمَّ عَجَّلنَ اِبتِكارا
And worn-out she-camels were made to kneel at Said's,
arriving by night, then hastening away at dawn.
عَلىupon أَكوارِهِنَّtheir camel-saddles بَنوsons of سَبيلٍthe road
عَلى أَكوارِهِنَّ بَنو سَبيلٍ
قَليلٌlittle نَومُهُمtheir sleep إِلّاexcept غِراراbrief snatches
قَليلٌ نَومُهُم إِلّا غِرارا
On their saddles were wayfarers,
sleeping little, only in brief snatches.
حَمِدنَthey praised مَزارَهُthe visit to him فَأَصَبنَso they obtained مِنهُfrom him
حَمِدنَ مَزارَهُ فَأَصَبنَ مِنهُ
عَطاءًa gift لَمnot يَكُنit was عِدَةًa promise ضِماراunlikely to be fulfilled
عَطاءً لَم يَكُن عِدَةً ضِمارا
They praised the visit to him and gained from him
a gift, not a promise beyond reach.
فَصَبَّحنَso they reached at dawn المِقَرَّal-Miqarr وَهُنَّwhile they were خوصٌnarrow-eyed
فَصَبَّحنَ المِقَرَّ وَهُنَّ خوصٌ
عَلىin روحٍrefreshing ease يُقَلِّبنَthey turn المَحاراthe eye-sockets
عَلى روحٍ يُقَلِّبنَ المَحارا
At dawn they reached al-Miqarr, narrow-eyed,
refreshed, rolling their eyes in their sockets.
وَغادَرنَand they left behind الدَجاجَthe fowl يُثيرُstirring up طَوراًat times
وَغادَرنَ الدَجاجَ يُثيرُ طَوراً
مَبارِكَهاtheir kneeling-places وَيَستَوفيand ranging all of الجِداراthe wall
مَبارِكَها وَيَستَوفي الجِدارا
They left the fowl, at times scratching up
their kneeling-places and ranging the whole wall.
كَأَنَّas though العِرمِسَthe sturdy she-camel الوَجناءَbroad-cheeked مِنهاamong them
كَأَنَّ العِرمِسَ الوَجناءَ مِنها
عَجولٌa bereaved mother خَرَّقَتshe tore عَنهاoff herself الصِداراthe bodice
عَجولٌ خَرَّقَت عَنها الصِدارا
As though the sturdy, broad-cheeked she-camel among them
were a bereaved mother who had torn off her bodice.
تَراهاyou see her عَنat صَبيحَةِthe morning of كُلِّevery خَمسٍfive-day watering turn
تَراها عَن صَبيحَةِ كُلِّ خَمسٍ
مُقَدَّمَةًat the fore كَأَنَّas though بِهاin her نِفاراpanic
مُقَدَّمَةً كَأَنَّ بِها نِفارا
You see her on the morning of each five-day watering turn,
at the fore, as though possessed by panic.
مِنَamong العيسِthe pale camels العِتاقِthe nobly bred تَرىyou see عَلَيهاupon her
مِنَ العيسِ العِتاقِ تَرى عَلَيها
يَبيسَdried residue of الماءِwater قَدalready خَضِبَstained التِجاراthe merchants
يَبيسَ الماءِ قَد خَضِبَ التِجارا
Among the noble pale camels, you see upon her
dried moisture that has stained the merchants.
إِذاwhenever سَدِرَتgrew dazed مَدامِعُهُنَّtheir tear-ducts يَوماًone day
إِذا سَدِرَت مَدامِعُهُنَّ يَوماً
رَأَتshe saw إِجلاًa wild-cattle herd تَعَرَّضَcrossing her view أَوor صِواراa band of wild cattle
رَأَت إِجلاً تَعَرَّضَ أَو صِوارا
If ever their eyes grew dazed,
she saw a passing herd of wild cattle, or a band of them,
بِغائِرَةٍwith a deep-set eye نَضاdrew back الخُرطومُthe muzzle عَنهاfrom it
بِغائِرَةٍ نَضا الخُرطومُ عَنها
وَسَدَّتand it filled مِنin خِشاشِfine-boned الرَأسِthe head غاراa hollow
وَسَدَّت مِن خِشاشِ الرَأسِ غارا
with a deep-set eye, her muzzle drawn back from it,
filling a hollow in her fine-boned head.
يَضَعنَthey give birth to سِخالَهُنَّtheir young بِكُلِّin every فَجٍّravine
يَضَعنَ سِخالَهُنَّ بِكُلِّ فَجٍّ
خَلاءٍdesolate وَهيَwhile she لازِمَةٌstays close to حُواراa camel-calf
خَلاءٍ وَهيَ لازِمَةٌ حُوارا
They bear their young in every ravine,
desolate, while she stays close to a camel-calf.
كَأَحقَبَlike a white-bellied wild ass قارِحٍfully grown بِذَواتِat Dhawat خَيمٍKhaym
كَأَحقَبَ قارِحٍ بِذَواتِ خَيمٍ
رَأىhe saw ذُعراًdanger بِرابِيَةٍon a rise فَغاراso he raced away
رَأى ذُعراً بِرابِيَةٍ فَغارا
Like a full-grown, white-bellied wild ass at Dhawat Khaym,
who saw danger on a rise and raced away,
يُقَلِّبُhe drives سَمحَجاًa long-backed she-ass قَوداءَlong-necked كانَتshe was
يُقَلِّبُ سَمحَجاً قَوداءَ كانَت
حَليلَتَهُhis mate فَشَدَّthen he dashed بِهاwith her غِياراat speed
حَليلَتَهُ فَشَدَّ بِها غِيارا
driving a long-backed, long-necked she-ass who was
his mate, then racing swiftly with her.
نَفىhe drove away بِأَذاتِهِwith his harassment الحَولِيَّthe yearling عَنهاfrom her
نَفى بِأَذاتِهِ الحَولِيَّ عَنها
فَغادَرَهاso it left her وَإِنalthough كَرِهَit disliked الغِداراparting
فَغادَرَها وَإِن كَرِهَ الغِدارا
He drove the yearling from her with his harassment,
so it left her, though it hated parting.
وَقَرَّبَand he approached جانِبَthe side of الغَربِيِّal-Gharbi يَأدوmaking for
وَقَرَّبَ جانِبَ الغَربِيِّ يَأدو
مَدَبَّthe course of السَيلِthe flood وَاِجتَنَبَand he avoided الشِعاراthe thickets
مَدَبَّ السَيلِ وَاِجتَنَبَ الشِعارا
He drew near the side of al-Gharbi, making for
the flood's course and avoiding the thickets.
أَطارَcast off نَسيلَهُhis coat الشَتَوِيَّwinter عَنهُfrom him
أَطارَ نَسيلَهُ الشَتَوِيَّ عَنهُ
تَتَبُّعُهُhis following المَذانِبَvalley channels وَالقِراراand low hollows
تَتَبُّعُهُ المَذانِبَ وَالقِرارا
His winter coat was shaken off
by his ranging through valley channels and low hollows.
فَلَمّاthen when نَشَّتِdried up الغُدرانُthe pools عَنهُaway from him
فَلَمّا نَشَّتِ الغُدرانُ عَنهُ
وَهاجَand withered البَقلُthe herbage وَاِقطَرَّand dried up اِقطِراراutterly
وَهاجَ البَقلُ وَاِقطَرَّ اِقطِرارا
When the pools around him dried up,
and the herbage withered and dried utterly,
غَداhe set out قَلِقاًrestless تَخَلّىdeparted الجُزءُsustenance without drinking مِنهُfrom him
غَدا قَلِقاً تَخَلّى الجُزءُ مِنهُ
فَيَمَّمَهاso he led her toward شَريعَةَa watering-place أَوor سَراراa valley bottom
فَيَمَّمَها شَريعَةَ أَو سَرارا
he set out restless, no longer sustained without drinking,
and led her toward a watering-place or a valley bottom.
يُغَنّيهاhe brays to her رَبَحُّhoarse الصَوتِof voice جَأبٌa sturdy wild ass
يُغَنّيها رَبَحُّ الصَوتِ جَأبٌ
خَميصُlean البَطنِof belly قَدalready أَجِمَhe tired of الحَساراhassar grass
خَميصُ البَطنِ قَد أَجِمَ الحَسارا
A sturdy, hoarse-voiced ass brayed to her,
lean-bellied, already weary of hassar grass.
إِذاwhen اِحتَجَبَتwere hidden بَناتُthe daughters of الأَرضِthe earth عَنهُfrom him
إِذا اِحتَجَبَت بَناتُ الأَرضِ عَنهُ
تَبَسَّرَhe sought prematurely يَبتَغيseeking فيهاthere البِساراan early yield
تَبَسَّرَ يَبتَغي فيها البِسارا
When the daughters of the earth were hidden from him,
he sought them early, searching there for the first yield.
كَأَنَّas though الصُلبَthe backbone وَالمَتنَينِand both back-muscles مِمهُof him (unclear spelling)
كَأَنَّ الصُلبَ وَالمَتنَينِ مِمهُ
وَإِيّاهاand she herself إِذاwhen اِجتَهَداthe two strained حِضاراin a sprint
وَإِيّاها إِذا اِجتَهَدا حِضارا
As though his backbone and both sides of his back,
and she herself, when both strained in a sprint,
رِشاءُa bucket-rope مَحالَةٍof a large pulley فيon يَومِa day of وِردٍwatering
رِشاءُ مَحالَةٍ في يَومِ وِردٍ
يَمُدُّstretches حِطاطُهاits downward pull المَسَدَthe rope المُغاراtightly twisted
يَمُدُّ حِطاطُها المَسَدَ المُغارا
were a pulley's bucket-rope on a watering day,
its downward pull stretching the tightly twisted line.
تَعَرَّضَhe came across حينَwhen قَلَّصَتِrose high الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades
تَعَرَّضَ حينَ قَلَّصَتِ الثُرَيّا
وَقَدand already عَرَفَhe recognized المَعاطِنَthe watering-grounds وَالمَناراand the landmarks
وَقَد عَرَفَ المَعاطِنَ وَالمَنارا
He came across when the Pleiades rose high,
having recognized the watering grounds and the landmarks.
وَهابَand he feared جَنانَthe concealing cover of مَسجورٍa filled pool تَرَدّىcloaked itself
وَهابَ جَنانَ مَسجورٍ تَرَدّى
مِنَin الحَلفاءِhalfa grass وَاِتَّزَرَand girdled itself اِتِّزاراfirmly
مِنَ الحَلفاءِ وَاِتَّزَرَ اِتِّزارا
He feared the cover of a brimming pool, cloaked
in halfa grass and firmly girdled.
فَصادَفَthen he found مَورِدَthe watering-place of العاناتِwild-ass herds مِنهُin it
فَصادَفَ مَورِدَ العاناتِ مِنهُ
بِأَبطَحَon a gravel flat يَحتَفِرنَthey dig بِهِthere الغِماراdeep water
بِأَبطَحَ يَحتَفِرنَ بِهِ الغِمارا
There he found the watering-place of wild-ass herds,
on a gravel flat, where they dug down to deep water.
فَسَوّىthen he set evenly فيat الشَريعَةِthe watering-bank حافِرَيهِhis two hooves
فَسَوّى في الشَريعَةِ حافِرَيهِ
وَدارَتand she turned إِلفُهُhis mate مِنfrom حَيثُwhere داراhe turned
وَدارَت إِلفُهُ مِن حَيثُ دارا
He set both hooves at the watering-bank,
and his mate turned wherever he turned.
وَقَدand already صَفّاthe two aligned خُدودَهُماtheir cheeks وَبَلّاand both moistened
وَقَد صَفّا خُدودَهُما وَبَلّا
بِبَردِwith the coolness of الماءِthe water أَجوافاًbellies حِراراburning hot
بِبَردِ الماءِ أَجوافاً حِرارا
They aligned their cheeks and moistened
their burning bellies with the coolness of the water.
وَفيand in بَيتِa shelter of الصَفيحِflat stones أَبوa father of عِيالٍdependants
وَفي بَيتِ الصَفيحِ أَبو عِيالٍ
قَليلُscant الوَفرِin wealth يَغتَبِقُhe drinks at dusk السَماراwatered milk
قَليلُ الوَفرِ يَغتَبِقُ السَمارا
In a shelter of flat stones was a father with dependants,
scant of means, drinking watered milk at dusk.
يُقَلِّبُhe handles بِالأَنامِلِwith his fingertips مُرهَفاتٍslender, sharp arrows
يُقَلِّبُ بِالأَنامِلِ مُرهَفاتٍ
كَساهُنَّhe clothed them with المَناكِبَshoulder-feathers وَالظُهاراand back-feathers
كَساهُنَّ المَناكِبَ وَالظُهارا
He fingered slender, sharp-pointed arrows,
clothing them in shoulder-feathers and back-feathers.
يَبيتُspends the night الحَيَّةُthe snake النَضناضُtongue-flicking مِنهُbeside him
يَبيتُ الحَيَّةُ النَضناضُ مِنهُ
مَكانَin the place of الحِبِّthe beloved يَستَمِعُlistening to السِراراwhispered secrets
مَكانَ الحِبِّ يَستَمِعُ السِرارا
The tongue-flicking snake lay beside him overnight
in a lover's place, listening to whispered secrets.
فَيَمَّمَso he aimed حَيثُwhere قالَlay at rest القَلبُthe heart مِنهُwithin him
فَيَمَّمَ حَيثُ قالَ القَلبُ مِنهُ
بِحَجرِيٍّwith a Hajri arrow تَرىyou see فيهِin it اِضطِماراslenderness
بِحَجرِيٍّ تَرى فيهِ اِضطِمارا
So he aimed where the heart lay within the ass,
with a Hajri arrow whose slenderness you could see.
فَصادَفَthen struck سَهمُهُhis arrow أَحجارَthe stones of قُفٍّa rocky ridge
فَصادَفَ سَهمُهُ أَحجارَ قُفٍّ
كَسَرنَthey shattered العَيرَthe arrowhead's ridge مِنهُof it وَالغِراراand the cutting edge
كَسَرنَ العَيرَ مِنهُ وَالغِرارا
His arrow struck the stones of a rocky ridge,
which shattered its central ridge and cutting edge.
فَريعاso both were terrified رَوعَةًwith fright لَوif لَمnot يَكوناthe two were
فَريعا رَوعَةً لَو لَم يَكونا
ذَوىpossessors of أَيدٍstrength تَمَسُّtouching الأَرضَthe earth طاراthe two would have flown
ذَوى أَيدٍ تَمَسُّ الأَرضَ طارا
The pair were so terrified that, had they not possessed
strength to hold them to the earth, they would have flown.
بَلىyes indeed ساءَلتُهاI questioned them فَأَبَتbut they refused جَواباًan answer
بَلى ساءَلتُها فَأَبَت جَواباً
وَكَيفَand how تُسائِلُcan you question الدِمَنَthe campsite traces القِفاراdeserted
وَكَيفَ تُسائِلُ الدِمَنَ القِفارا
Yes, I questioned them, but they refused an answer;
how can you question deserted traces?
إِذاwhen كانَit was الجِراءُracing عَفَتshe surpassed عَلَيهِhim
إِذا كانَ الجِراءُ عَفَت عَلَيهِ
وَيَسبِقُهاand he outstrips her إِذاwhen خَبَطَتshe pounded خِباراloose ground
وَيَسبِقُها إِذا خَبَطَت خِبارا
When it came to racing, she surpassed him,
but he outstripped her when she struck loose ground.
Translation model: Sol 6.1