أَمِنis it from? آلِthe people of وَسنىWasna آخِرَat the end of اللَيلِthe night زائِرُa visitor
أَمِن آلِ وَسنى آخِرَ اللَيلِ زائِرُ
وَواديand the valley of العَويرِal-Uwayr دونَناbetween us وَالسَواجِرُand al-Sawajir
وَوادي العَويرِ دونَنا وَالسَواجِرُ
Is there a visitor from Wasna's people late at night,
From the family of Wail and the end of night a visitor
with the valley of al-Uwayr and al-Sawajir between us?
Below us the valley of Al-Awair, and palm-trees,
تَخَطّىcrossed إِلَيناto us رِكنَthe flank of هَيفٍHayf وَحافِراًand Hafir
تَخَطّى إِلَينا رِكنَ هَيفٍ وَحافِراً
طُروقاًvisiting by night وَأَنّىand how far مِنكَfrom you هَيفٌHayf وَحافِرُand Hafir
طُروقاً وَأَنّى مِنكَ هَيفٌ وَحافِرُ
He crossed to us past the flank of Hayf and Hafir,
He came over the side of Mount Haif, with horseshoes
visiting by night—but how far from you are Hayf and Hafir!
Striking sparks, yet how could Mount Haif have horseshoes striking sparks?
وَأَبوابُand the gates of حُوّارينَHuwwarin يَصرِفنَcreak دونَناbetween us
وَأَبوابُ حُوّارينَ يَصرِفنَ دونَنا
صَريفَthe creaking of المَحالِwater-drawing pulleys أَقلَقَتهُjarred it المَحاوِرُthe axles
صَريفَ المَحالِ أَقلَقَتهُ المَحاوِرُ
And Huwwarin's gates creak between us,
The doors of Howarin turn away from us
like the creaking of water-drawing pulleys jarred by their axles.
The hopeless turning, disturbed by arguments,
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُمto them فيئيreturn فَإِنَّfor indeed صَحابَتيmy companions
فَقُلتُ لَهُم فيئي فَإِنَّ صَحابَتي
سِلاحيmy weapons وَفَتلاءُand a splay-legged she-camel الذِراعَينِin both forelegs ضامِرُlean
سِلاحي وَفَتلاءُ الذِراعَينِ ضامِرُ
So I said to them, 'Return, for my companions are
So I said to them, “My booty!” - for my friends
my weapons and a lean she-camel with splayed forelegs.'
Are my weapons, and the tendons of my arms can still draw the bowstring.
وَهَمٍّand a care وَعاهُharbored it الصَدرُthe breast ثُمَّthen سَماrose aloft بِهِwith it
وَهَمٍّ وَعاهُ الصَدرُ ثُمَّ سَما بِهِ
أَخوa seasoned man of سَفَرٍtravel وَالناعِجاتُand the swift she-camels الضَوامِرُthe lean ones
أَخو سَفَرٍ وَالناعِجاتُ الضَوامِرُ
And a care held in the breast, then borne aloft
With anxiety that saddened my heart, then it left
by a seasoned traveler and swift, lean she-camels.
Like a companion of travel, and the young she-camels stride fast.
وَلَنand will not يُدرِكَattain الحاجاتِthe goals حَتّىuntil يَنالَهاwin them
وَلَن يُدرِكَ الحاجاتِ حَتّى يَنالَها
إِلىto اِبنِthe son of أَبيAbu سُفيانَSufyan إِلّاexcept مُخاطِرُa risk-taker
إِلى اِبنِ أَبي سُفيانَ إِلّا مُخاطِرُ
None will reach his goals and finally secure them
None can achieve their wants save by daring
by going to the son of Abu Sufyan, save a man who takes risks.
Against the son of Abu Sufyan, only the venturesome.
فَإِنَّfor indeed لَناwe have جاراًa protector عَلِقناwe clung to حِبالَهُhis ropes
فَإِنَّ لَنا جاراً عَلِقنا حِبالَهُ
كَغَيثِlike a shower of الحَياreviving rain لاnot يَجتَويهِloathes him المُجاوِرُthe neighbor
كَغَيثِ الحَيا لا يَجتَويهِ المُجاوِرُ
For we have a protector whose ropes we have grasped,
For we have a neighbor whose ropes we have bound
like reviving rain, never loathed by his neighbor.
Like rain refreshing life, which no neighbor can ever wear out,
وَأُمّاًand a mother كَفَتناspared us need of الأُمَّهاتِmothers حَفِيَّةًsolicitous
وَأُمّاً كَفَتنا الأُمَّهاتِ حَفِيَّةً
لَهاhers فيin ثَناءِpraise الصِدقِtruth جَدٌّgood fortune وَطائِرُand an omen
لَها في ثَناءِ الصِدقِ جَدٌّ وَطائِرُ
And a caring mother who spared us need of other mothers;
And a mother who surpassed mothers in her care for us,
in truthful praise, good fortune and an omen are hers.
Truthful in praise, of high and noble descent.
فَماfor ... is not أُمُّUmm (mother of) عَبدِAbd اللَهِAllah إِلّاbut عَطِيَّةٌa gift
فَما أُمُّ عَبدِ اللَهِ إِلّا عَطِيَّةٌ
مِنَfrom اللَهِGod أَعطاهاgave her اِمرَأًto a man فَهوَand he is شاكِرُgrateful
مِنَ اللَهِ أَعطاها اِمرَأً فَهوَ شاكِرُ
For Umm Abd Allah is nothing but a gift
No mother but ‘Atiyyah, whom God gave a son, and he
from God, who gave her to a man, and he is grateful.
Is thankful - she is the sun, and the new moon is like her son.
هِيَshe الشَمسُthe sun وافاهاjoined her الهِلالُthe crescent بَنوهُماtheir sons
هِيَ الشَمسُ وافاها الهِلالُ بَنوهُما
نُجومٌstars بِآفاقِupon the horizons of السَماءِthe sky نَظائِرُpeers
نُجومٌ بِآفاقِ السَماءِ نَظائِرُ
She is the sun; the crescent has joined her; their sons
They are stars in the heavens, shining together,
are stars, peers upon the horizons of the sky.
She reminds him of kindness, being full of life,
تُذَكِّرُهُreminds him المَعروفَgood deeds وَهيَwhile she is حَيِيَّةٌmodest
تُذَكِّرُهُ المَعروفَ وَهيَ حَيِيَّةٌ
وَذوand one possessing اللُبِّunderstanding أَحياناًat times مَعَwith الحِلمِforbearance ذاكِرُmindful
وَذو اللُبِّ أَحياناً مَعَ الحِلمِ ذاكِرُ
She reminds him of good deeds, while she is modest,
And one of mature mind is at times mindful and grateful,
and a man of sense is at times mindful, for all his forbearance.
As the gentle south wind welcomed a soft rain,
كَماjust as اِستَقبَلَتwelcomed غَيثاًrain جَنوبٌa south wind ضَعيفَةٌgentle
كَما اِستَقبَلَت غَيثاً جَنوبٌ ضَعيفَةٌ
فَأَسبَلَthen let fall رَيّانُwater-laden الغَمامَةِof cloud ماطِرُrain-bearing
فَأَسبَلَ رَيّانُ الغَمامَةِ ماطِرُ
As a gentle south wind welcomes rain,
And the showers of the clouds poured down abundant rain,
and a water-laden rain-cloud lets down its showers.
It encountered the bright face of Wadah, as if it were
تَصَدّىapproached لِوَضّاحِto one radiant in الجَبينِthe brow كَأَنَّهُas though he were
تَصَدّى لِوَضّاحِ الجَبينِ كَأَنَّهُ
سِراجُa lamp of الدُجىthe darkness تُجبىare brought إِلَيهِto him السَوائِرُthe travelers
سِراجُ الدُجى تُجبى إِلَيهِ السَوائِرُ
He approached a man with a radiant brow, as though he were
A lamp in the darkness, towards which the lost wanderers throng.
a lamp in the darkness, to whom travelers are drawn.
So excellent was the praise of a sincere brother
فَقَلَّso scant was ثَناءًpraise مِنfrom أَخٍa friend ذيpossessing مَوَدَّةٍaffection
فَقَلَّ ثَناءً مِن أَخٍ ذي مَوَدَّةٍ
غَداwent forth مُنجِحُsuccessful in الحاجاتِhis needs وَالوَجهُand the face وافِرُundiminished
غَدا مُنجِحُ الحاجاتِ وَالوَجهُ وافِرُ
Scant was the praise from a friend full of affection,
Whose requests on the morrow will succeed, and his face is joyous,
who went forth with his needs met and his face unblemished.
Imagination sports in the darkness with him,
تَخوضُplunges through بِهِwith him الظَلماءَthe darkness ذاتُpossessing مُخيلَةٍproud bearing
تَخوضُ بِهِ الظَلماءَ ذاتُ مُخيلَةٍ
جُمالِيَّةٍbull-camel-built قَدalready زالَfell away عَنهاfrom her المُناظِرُthe rival
جُمالِيَّةٍ قَد زالَ عَنها المُناظِرُ
A she-camel of proud bearing plunges with him through darkness,
A thing of beauty from which all veils are lifted,
built like a bull-camel, with all rivals left behind.
Rosebuds on slender stalks whose buds reach as high
وَرودٌkeen to reach water سَبَنتاةٌlong and sturdy تُساميrises high جَديلُهاher braided rein
وَرودٌ سَبَنتاةٌ تُسامي جَديلُها
بِأَسجَحَwith a broad, even head لَمdid not تَخنِسrecede إِلَيهِinto it المَشافِرُthe camel's lips
بِأَسجَحَ لَم تَخنِس إِلَيهِ المَشافِرُ
A water-seeker, long and sturdy; her braided rein rises high
As the ostrich, unafraid of any claw or talon,
with a broad, even head, into which her lips do not draw back.
And eyes like the water of springs, shaded by
وَعَينٍand an eye كَماءِlike the water of الوَقبِa rock-hollow أَشرَفَrose فَوقَهاabove it
وَعَينٍ كَماءِ الوَقبِ أَشرَفَ فَوقَها
حِجاجٌan eye-rim كَأَرجاءِlike the sides of الرَكِيَّةِa well غائِرُdeep-set
حِجاجٌ كَأَرجاءِ الرَكِيَّةِ غائِرُ
And an eye like water in a rock-hollow, above which rises
Eyelashes like the shutter-panels of the litter,
a deep-set eye-rim, like the sides of a well.
From the plumpness of the cheeks, bones like
مِنَamong الغيدِthe supple-necked دَفواءُcurved in العِظامِthe bones كَأَنَّهاas though she were
مِنَ الغيدِ دَفواءُ العِظامِ كَأَنَّها
عُقابٌan eagle بِصَحراءِin the desert of السُمَينَةِal-Sumayna كاسِرُswooping, wings folded
عُقابٌ بِصَحراءِ السُمَينَةِ كاسِرُ
One of the supple-necked, curved of bone, as though she were
Eagles in the desert of As-Sumainah breaking bones,
an eagle folding its wings to swoop over al-Sumayna's desert.
Sighing with languor beneath their shade
يَحِنَّrings مِنَfrom المَعزاءِthe stony ground تَحتَbeneath أَظَلِّهاher footpad
يَحِنَّ مِنَ المَعزاءِ تَحتَ أَظَلِّها
حَصىًpebbles أَوقَدَتهُkindled them بِالحُزومِon the rocky ridges الهَواجِرُthe noonday heats
حَصىً أَوقَدَتهُ بِالحُزومِ الهَواجِرُ
A ringing rises from the stony ground beneath her footpads—
Like stones heated by burning logs in the dark,
pebbles fired on the rocky ridges by the heat of noon—
As a fire-stick blew on the darkness of night
كَماas نَفَخَتblew فيin ظُلمَةِthe darkness of اللَيلِthe night قَينَةٌa bondwoman
كَما نَفَخَت في ظُلمَةِ اللَيلِ قَينَةٌ
عَلىupon فَحَمٍcharcoal شُذّانُهُits fragments مُتَطايِرُflying about
عَلى فَحَمٍ شُذّانُهُ مُتَطايِرُ
as a bondwoman blows in the darkness of night
Its sparks flying upward from glowing embers,
upon charcoal, its fragments flying.
So when she stood, her anklets jingling,
فَلَمّاthen when عَلَتclimbed ذاتَDhat السَلاسِلِal-Salasil وَاِنتَحَتand turned toward
فَلَمّا عَلَت ذاتَ السَلاسِلِ وَاِنتَحَت
لَهاtoward her مُصغِياتٌleaning forward لِلنِجاءِfor swift travel عَواسِرُheadstrong she-camels
لَها مُصغِياتٌ لِلنِجاءِ عَواسِرُ
When she climbed Dhat al-Salasil and was approached
The listening women were captivated by her call,
by headstrong she-camels, leaning into their swift travel,
Slender garments at the edge of her skirts, as though
قَوالِصُdrawn up أَطرافِthe edges of المُسوحِthe haircloths كَأَنَّهاas though they were
قَوالِصُ أَطرافِ المُسوحِ كَأَنَّها
بِرِجلَةِin the watercourse of أَحجاءٍAhja نَعامٌostriches نَوافِرُfleeing
بِرِجلَةِ أَحجاءٍ نَعامٌ نَوافِرُ
their haircloth edges drawn up, as though they were
They were ostriches’ feet, with abundant feathers,
fleeing ostriches in Ahja's watercourse,
Racing camels spent the night at Sahab, and dawn
سِراعُswift in السُرىnight travel أَمسَتspent the evening بِسَهبٍon a plain وَأَصبَحَتand reached morning
سِراعُ السُرى أَمسَت بِسَهبٍ وَأَصبَحَت
بِذيat Dhu القورِal-Qur يُغشيهاdrives them into المَفازَةَthe desert عامِرُAmir
بِذي القورِ يُغشيها المَفازَةَ عامِرُ
swift night-travelers, they spent evening on a plain and reached morning
Found them at Dhi Qur, the desert waste behind them,
at Dhu al-Qur; Amir drives them into the desert.
Tall, long-armed, as though fearing, and on his guard,
أَشَمُّhigh-nosed طَويلُlong in الساعِدَينِboth forearms كَأَنَّهُas though he were
أَشَمُّ طَويلُ الساعِدَينِ كَأَنَّهُ
يُحاذِرُguards against خَوفاًa fear عِندَهُwithin him وَيُحاذِرُand stays wary
يُحاذِرُ خَوفاً عِندَهُ وَيُحاذِرُ
High-nosed, long of forearms, he seems
Hurling the empty wastes with his spear, when the weaklings slept,
to guard against a fear within him, ever watchful.
Look, my friend, can you see any gazelles
قَليلُlittle in الكَرىsleep يَرميsends across الفَلاةَthe wilderness بِأَركُبٍwith bands of riders
قَليلُ الكَرى يَرمي الفَلاةَ بِأَركُبٍ
إِذاwhen سالَمَmade peace with النَومَsleep الضِعافُthe weak العَواوِرُthe faint-hearted
إِذا سالَمَ النَومَ الضِعافُ العَواوِرُ
Sleeping little, he sends bands of riders across the wilderness,
With delicate legs whom the does have left behind?
when the weak, faint-hearted make peace with sleep.
He called them from between two saddles, a pregnant she-camel,
تَبَصَّرlook carefully خَليليmy friend هَلdo ...? تَرىyou see مِنany ظَعائِنٍwomen in litters
تَبَصَّر خَليلي هَل تَرى مِن ظَعائِنٍ
بِذيat Dhu نَبِقٍNabiq زالَتwent away بِهِنَّwith them الأَباعِرُthe camels
بِذي نَبِقٍ زالَت بِهِنَّ الأَباعِرُ
Look carefully, my friend: do you see any women in litters
Tents at Ukkash, with enclosures,
at Dhu Nabiq, whom the camels have carried away?
Bearing their burdens until I said they were not
دَعاهاsummoned them مِنَfrom الحَبلَينِthe two sand-ridges حَبلىthe two sand-ridges of ضَئيدَةٍDa'ida
دَعاها مِنَ الحَبلَينِ حَبلى ضَئيدَةٍ
خِيامٌtents بِعُكّاشٍat Ukkash لَهاbelonging to them وَمَحاضِرُand encampments
خِيامٌ بِعُكّاشٍ لَها وَمَحاضِرُ
They were summoned from the two sand-ridges, the ridges of Da'ida,
Human limbs, where the shameless man slept.
by their tents and encampments at Ukkash.
They climbed the high Najdi saddlecloth, as though it were
تَحَمَّلنَthey broke camp حَتّىuntil قُلتُI said لَسنَthey are not بَوارِحاًdeparting
تَحَمَّلنَ حَتّى قُلتُ لَسنَ بَوارِحاً
بِذاتِat Dhat العَلَندىal-Alanda حَيثُwhere نامَslept المَفاجِرُthe watercourses
بِذاتِ العَلَندى حَيثُ نامَ المَفاجِرُ
They journeyed on until I said, 'They will not depart
Blood flowing from the inside of the slaughtered beast.
from Dhat al-Alanda, where the watercourses slept.'
So when they left the abode I said, she is like
وَعالَينَand they raised رَقماًpatterned fabric فارِسِيّاًPersian كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَعالَينَ رَقماً فارِسِيّاً كَأَنَّهُ
دَمٌblood سائِلٌflowing مِنfrom مُهجَةِthe heart's lifeblood الجَوفِthe body's interior ناحِرُgushing
دَمٌ سائِلٌ مِن مُهجَةِ الجَوفِ ناحِرُ
And they raised Persian-patterned cloth, as though it were
Wild cows with tall humps departing.
blood streaming profusely from the heart deep within the body.
Or does, does on the bend above Wasit,
فَلَمّاthen when تَرَكنَthey left الدارَthe camp قُلتُI said مُنيفَةٌlofty
فَلَمّا تَرَكنَ الدارَ قُلتُ مُنيفَةٌ
بِقُرّانَat Qurran مِنهاamong them الباسِقاتُthe towering palms المَواقِرُladen with fruit
بِقُرّانَ مِنها الباسِقاتُ المَواقِرُ
When they left the camp, I said: 'Lofty trees—
Fat of haunch, or a Danite she-camel, ripe with milk.
at Qurran, among them towering palms, heavy with fruit,
So the driver hastened on the beautiful creatures,
أَوِor الأَثلُthe tamarisks أَثلُthe tamarisks of المُنحَنىthe bend فَوقَabove واسِطٍWasit
أَوِ الأَثلُ أَثلُ المُنحَنى فَوقَ واسِطٍ
مِنَin العِرضِal-Ird أَوor دانٍnearby مِنَof الدَومِdoum-palms ناضِرُfresh and green
مِنَ العِرضِ أَو دانٍ مِنَ الدَومِ ناضِرُ
or tamarisks—the tamarisks of the bend above Wasit,
And sent them into the night, a herd hastening early,
in al-Ird—or a nearby doum-palm, fresh and green.'
They could only say at evening: “Our people have gone on,”
فَحَثَّso he urged بِهاwith them الحاديthe camel-driver الجِمالَthe camels وَمَدَّهاand drew them onward
فَحَثَّ بِها الحادي الجِمالَ وَمَدَّها
إِلىuntil اللَيلِnight سَربٌa herd مِقبِلُfacing الريحِthe wind باكِرُsetting out early
إِلى اللَيلِ سَربٌ مِقبِلُ الريحِ باكِرُ
So the driver urged the camels on with them, and they were drawn onward
“Rise, for we are dependent on you.”
until night by an early-moving herd facing the wind.
Then they turned aside in the Wadi of the Commander,
فَلاso no غَروَwonder إِلّاexcept قَولُهُنَّtheir saying عَشِيَّةًone evening
فَلا غَروَ إِلّا قَولُهُنَّ عَشِيَّةً
مَضىwent ahead أَهلُناour people فَاِرفَعso hasten فِإِنّاfor we قَواصِرُlagging behind
مَضى أَهلُنا فَاِرفَع فِإِنّا قَواصِرُ
Nothing was strange but what they said one evening:
When the glaring heat was still, and the sirocco winds joined forces,
'Our people have gone ahead; hasten, for we are falling behind.'
Gazelles, innocent virgins, hiding their necks
فَأَفرَعنَso they descended فيinto واديthe valley of الأُمَيِّرِal-Umayyir بَعدَماafter
فَأَفرَعنَ في وادي الأُمَيِّرِ بَعدَما
ضَباveiled البيدَthe wastes سافيthe dust-driving wind of القَيظَةِthe summer heat المَتَناصِرُmutually reinforcing
ضَبا البيدَ سافي القَيظَةِ المَتَناصِرُ
So they descended into al-Umayyir's valley, after
Like sheep that slept while only the brave stood guard.
the summer's gathering, dust-driving wind had veiled the wastes.
They bent their heads away after they saw
نَواعِمُdelicate women أَبكارٌmaidens تُواريconceal خُدورَهاtheir curtained chambers
نَواعِمُ أَبكارٌ تُواري خُدورَها
نِعاجُwild cows المَلاal-Mala نامَتslept لَهُنَّfor them الجَآذِرُthe wild-cow calves
نِعاجُ المَلا نامَت لَهُنَّ الجَآذِرُ
Delicate maidens, whose curtained chambers conceal
The does, the does of Ghena, neighbors who have come near,
wild cows of al-Mala, whose calves lie asleep beside them.
And Ziyad said, when their caravan was hidden from sight:
وَنَكَّبنَand they veered aside زوراًobliquely عَنaway from مُحَيّاةَMuhayya بَعدَماafter
وَنَكَّبنَ زوراً عَن مُحَيّاةَ بَعدَما
بَداappeared الأَثلُthe tamarisks أَثلُthe tamarisks of الغينَةِal-Ghayna المُتَجاوِرُgrowing side by side
بَدا الأَثلُ أَثلُ الغينَةِ المُتَجاوِرُ
And they veered aside from Muhayya, after
“I see the living ones have departed; will you too depart?”
the tamarisks appeared—the adjoining tamarisks of al-Ghayna.
“If any tinkle of bells reaches us from the family
وَقالَand said زِيادٌZiyad إِذwhen تَوارَتdisappeared حُمولُهُمtheir laden camels
وَقالَ زِيادٌ إِذ تَوارَت حُمولُهُم
أَرىI see الحَيُّthe tribe قَدalready سارواthey set out فَهَلso are ...? أَنتَyou سائِرُtraveling
أَرى الحَيُّ قَد ساروا فَهَل أَنتَ سائِرُ
And Ziyad said, when their laden camels vanished:
We will lift up our spear-shafts and proceed in order,
'I see the tribe has set out; are you setting out too?'
Galloping on lively Mashoof mounts that race until
إِذاwhen خَبَّran swiftly رَقراقٌa shimmer مِنَof الآلِthe mirage بَينَناbetween us
إِذا خَبَّ رَقراقٌ مِنَ الآلِ بَينَنا
رَفَعناwe urged on قُروناًa close-stepping she-camel خَطوُهاher stride مُتَواتِرُunbroken in succession
رَفَعنا قُروناً خَطوُها مُتَواتِرُ
When shimmering mirage races between us,
The hot wind has withered them and the caves stand empty.”
we urge on a close-stepping she-camel, her stride unbroken:
Then she came with camphor and aloes-wood
مَطِيَّةَthe mount of مَشعوفَينِtwo love-stricken men أَفنىwore away عَريكَهاher flesh
مَطِيَّةَ مَشعوفَينِ أَفنى عَريكَها
رَواحُafternoon travel of الهِبِلِّthe burly man حينَwhen تَحمىgrow hot الظَهائِرُthe noontimes
رَواحُ الهِبِلِّ حينَ تَحمى الظَهائِرُ
the mount of two love-stricken men, her flesh worn away
Of Shami, fanned over embers to kindle its perfume,
by the burly man's afternoon travel when the noondays blaze.
فَجاءَتso she came بِكافورٍwith camphor وَعودِand a stick of أُلُوَّةٍaloeswood
فَجاءَت بِكافورٍ وَعودِ أُلُوَّةٍ
شَآمِيَّةٍSyrian تُذكىare kindled عَلَيهاover it المَجامِرُthe incense-burners
شَآمِيَّةٍ تُذكى عَلَيها المَجامِرُ
So she came with camphor and a stick of aloeswood,
Syrian, over which the incense-burners are kindled.
Partial English translation: 77 of 80 Arabic lines translated.