إِلىto أَينَwhere مَرمىthe goal قَصدِهاof their journey وَسُراهاand their night-travel
إِلى أَينَ مَرمى قَصدِها وَسُراها
رَمىmay He cast away اللَهُGod مِنfrom أَخفافِهاtheir padded feet بِوَجاهاtheir foot-soreness
رَمى اللَهُ مِن أَخفافِها بِوَجاها
Where is the goal of their journey and their night-march?
To where is the goal of her path and night journey,
May God cast soreness from their padded feet!
May God protect her from the lightness of her tread,
هُوَit is اليَأسُdespair فَليُحبَسso let be restrained هِبابُthe restless tossing رِقابِهاof their necks
هُوَ اليَأسُ فَليُحبَس هِبابُ رِقابِها
كَماas كانَhad مَغرورُone beguiled by الرَجاءِhope حَداهاdriven them with song
كَما كانَ مَغرورُ الرَجاءِ حَداها
This is despair: let their necks' restless tossing be restrained,
It is despair, so let the outpouring of tears be detained,
as one beguiled by hope once drove them on with song.
As the delusion of hope previously set its limit.
رَأَتthey saw لاgleam- (part of لامعًا) مِعاً-ing (completing لامعًا) فَاِستَشرَقَتso they strained eagerly لَمَضائِهِtoward its flash
رَأَت لا مِعاً فَاِستَشرَقَت لَمَضائِهِ
وَلَوand had كانَit been مِنfrom مُزنِthe rain clouds of النَدىbounty لَشَفاهاit would have quenched them
وَلَو كانَ مِن مُزنِ النَدى لَشَفاها
They saw a gleam and strained toward its flash;
She saw no water, so she wandered searching for water,
had it come from bounty's rain clouds, it would have slaked their thirst.
Had it been from the dripping of dew, it would have quenched her thirst.
تَدافَعَهاpushed them to and fro الحَيُّthe clan اللَئيمُbase عَمايَةًin blindness
تَدافَعَها الحَيُّ اللَئيمُ عَمايَةً
وَأَعرَضَand turned away طَوعَin obedience to اللُؤمِmeanness وَهوَthough it يَراهاsaw them
وَأَعرَضَ طَوعَ اللُؤمِ وَهوَ يَراها
The base clan pushed them from one to another, as though blind,
The vile live person wrongfully diverted her,
and turned away, obeying meanness, though it could see them.
And he turned away willfully while he could see her.
فَماطَلَso postponed أَصحابُthe owners of الحِياضِthe pools وُرودَهاtheir coming to drink
فَماطَلَ أَصحابُ الحِياضِ وُرودَها
وَأَعتَمَand delayed till dark أَربابُthe masters of المَبيتِlodging قِراهاtheir welcome meal
وَأَعتَمَ أَربابُ المَبيتِ قِراها
The owners of the pools kept postponing their coming to drink,
So the owners of meadows denied her their roses,
and the masters of lodgings delayed their welcome meal till dark.
And the lords of the stops made their abode gloomy to her.
تُلَطِّمُهاbuffet them الأَيديthe hands القِصارُshort عَنِaway from الرُقىthe heights
تُلَطِّمُها الأَيدي القِصارُ عَنِ الرُقى
وَخَيرٌand better مِنَthan الرَيِّa drink الذَليلِhumiliating صَداهاtheir thirst
وَخَيرٌ مِنَ الرَيِّ الذَليلِ صَداها
Short hands beat them back from the heights,
The short hands push her away from comfort,
yet their thirst is better than a humiliating drink.
And better than the despised company is its echo to her.
تَرىyou see كُلَّevery مَيلاءِleaning in السَنامِthe hump كَأَنَّماas though
تَرى كُلَّ مَيلاءِ السَنامِ كَأَنَّما
مِنَof الطَودِthe mountain إِلّاexcept زَجوَهاher motion under urging وَخُطاهاand her steps
مِنَ الطَودِ إِلّا زَجوَها وَخُطاها
You see each she-camel, with her leaning hump, as though
She sees every long-necked one as if
she were made of a mountain, save for her motion and her steps.
He were a mountain range, except for his withers and step.
مُناقِلَةًshifting her feet تَنجوshe speeds away بِزَجرَةِat a shout for غَيرِهاanother
مُناقِلَةً تَنجو بِزَجرَةِ غَيرِها
وَتَرهَبُand she fears سَوطَthe whip of المَرءِa man راعَthat frightened سِواهاanother
وَتَرهَبُ سَوطَ المَرءِ راعَ سِواها
Nimbly shifting her feet, she speeds away at a shout meant for another,
Transporting, she escapes by the scolding of others,
and fears a man's whip that frightened some other camel.
And fears the whip of the man except his.
تَكادُshe almost مِنَfrom الإِسراعِspeed تَسبُقُoutstrips أُمَّهاher mother
تَكادُ مِنَ الإِسراعِ تَسبُقُ أُمَّها
بِمَنتَجِهاat her birth قَبلَbefore اللِقاحِthe mating أَباهاher father
بِمَنتَجِها قَبلَ اللِقاحِ أَباها
In her speed she almost outstrips her mother,
She nearly outstrips her mother in her haste
at her birth—and her father before the mating.
With her newborn before it was sired by its father.
تَعودُthey return وَلَمwithout having تَشرَعentered to drink بِحَوضِat the pool of اِبنِa son of حُرَّةٍa freeborn woman
تَعودُ وَلَم تَشرَع بِحَوضِ اِبنِ حُرَّةٍ
وَلاnor عَرِيَتwere bared عِندَamong الكِرامِthe generous ذُراهاtheir humps
وَلا عَرِيَت عِندَ الكِرامِ ذُراها
They return without drinking at a freeborn man's pool,
She returns although she did not set out to the drinking basin of Ibn Huraadh,
nor were their humps unladen among the generous.
Nor did she pasture among the nobility their young she-camels.
رَأَينَthey saw دِياراًdwellings بَينَbetween بُصرىBusra وَجاسِمٍand Jasim
رَأَينَ دِياراً بَينَ بُصرى وَجاسِمٍ
مَراعيpastures لِيَومٍfor a day لاnot تَلُسُّthey graze خَلاهاtheir fresh grass
مَراعي لِيَومٍ لا تَلُسُّ خَلاها
They saw dwellings between Busra and Jasim,
She saw settlements between Busr and Jasim,
a day's pastures whose fresh grass they do not graze.
Pasture lands for a day whose bare solitude she does not settle in.
نُفوسُsouls of لِئامٍmean people لاnot تُحَلُّare loosened عُقودُهاtheir knots
نُفوسُ لِئامٍ لا تُحَلُّ عُقودُها
وَأَيديand hands of جُمودٍfrozen hardness لاnot يَنُضُّoozes صَفاهاtheir rock
وَأَيدي جُمودٍ لا يَنُضُّ صَفاها
Mean souls whose knots cannot be loosened,
Souls of the vile whose knots cannot be untied,
and frozen hands whose rock yields not a drop.
And hands of stagnation which neither coin nor wares can move.
أَلاcome لاnot تَلومواblame ظاعِناًa departing traveler قَذَفَتflung بِهِhim away
أَلا لا تَلوموا ظاعِناً قَذَفَت بِهِ
بَناتُthe daughters of السُرىnight-travel عَنaway from أَرضِكُمyour land وَنَواهاand its reaches
بَناتُ السُرى عَن أَرضِكُم وَنَواها
Come, do not blame a departing traveler whom
Blame not the one madness has cast among you,
the daughters of night-travel flung far from your land and its reaches.
Whom the daughters of the litter ejected from your land and dwelling places.
رَعَتgrazed ذُروَةًa height فيكُمamong you ضُحىًat midmorning جاشِرِيَّةٌa ranging herd
رَعَت ذُروَةً فيكُم ضُحىً جاشِرِيَّةٌ
فَأَجشَرتُso I sent out to graze فيin أَوطانِكُمyour homelands وَأَعاهاand ... them (unclear verb)
فَأَجشَرتُ في أَوطانِكُم وَأَعاها
A ranging herd grazed a height among you at midmorning;
She pastured on a hillock among you one morning,
so I sent them to pasture in your homelands, and [unclear verb] them.
So in your settlements I remained like one suffering from burns.
تَحَمَّلَhe departed عَنهاfrom it شَرُّthe worst دارِabode of إِقامَةٍresidence
تَحَمَّلَ عَنها شَرُّ دارِ إِقامَةٍ
إِذاwhen قيلَit was asked أَيَّwhich الأَرضِland قالَhe said خَلاهاits empty wastes
إِذا قيلَ أَيَّ الأَرضِ قالَ خَلاها
He departed from it, that worst abode for staying;
The worst of settlements to stay in shifted from her
asked 'Which land?' he said, 'Its empty wastes.'
When asked, which land, she said its bare solitude.
فَكَمand how many موحَشاتٍlonely stretches بِالرِفاقِwith traveling companions أَزاحَهاhe cleared
فَكَم موحَشاتٍ بِالرِفاقِ أَزاحَها
وَلِمَّةِand a tress of لَيلٍnight بِالمَطِيِّwith riding-camels فَلاهاhe combed it
وَلِمَّةِ لَيلٍ بِالمَطِيِّ فَلاها
How many lonely stretches he cleared with companions,
So many desolate places the company of friends has removed
and how many a night's dark tress he combed with riding-camels!
And the black encampment night has done away with.
كَأَنَّas though حِماكُمyour domain خِطَّةُa condition of الخَسفِabasement لِلفَتىfor a man
كَأَنَّ حِماكُم خِطَّةُ الخَسفِ لِلفَتى
إِذاwhen سيمَهاit is imposed upon him الحُرُّthe freeborn man الكَريمُnoble أَباهاhe refuses it
إِذا سيمَها الحُرُّ الكَريمُ أَباها
Your domain seems a condition of abasement for a man:
Your guard is like the gaping of a chasm for the youth,
when imposed upon a noble freeborn man, he refuses it.
When the noble free man casts his bridle rein over it.
وَلَوand had بِاِبنِat the son of لَيلىLayla كانَbeen مَلقىthe resting place of رِحالِهاtheir saddles
وَلَو بِاِبنِ لَيلى كانَ مَلقى رِحالِها
لَطَرَّقَhe would have plated مِنwith حُرِّpure النُضارِgold ثَراهاtheir soil
لَطَرَّقَ مِن حُرِّ النُضارِ ثَراها
Had Ibn Layla been where their saddles were set down,
Had her stopping place been the abode of Layla's son,
he would have plated their soil with pure gold.
He would have watered the mounts of the noble, free men from its rainwater cisterns.
تَبايَنتَهاyou differed from them فِعلاًin deed فَكَمand how many مِنof عَظيمَةٍa grave event
تَبايَنتَها فِعلاً فَكَم مِن عَظيمَةٍ
أَتيتَyou brought about بِهاit مَرحولَةًsaddled and ready وَكَفاهاand he was equal to it
أَتيتَ بِها مَرحولَةً وَكَفاها
Your deeds set you apart from them: how many a grave event
You have differed from her in deeds, so how many a mighty deed,
you brought about, ready saddled—and he was equal to it!
Have you subtracted, made helpless, and stopped?
حَماكَhe shielded you مُلِمّاًfrom an assault مُنتَضىًunsheathed لَكَagainst you حَدُّهُits blade
حَماكَ مُلِمّاً مُنتَضىً لَكَ حَدُّهُ
وَداهِيَةًand a calamity تَشحوgaping لِضِغنِكَin hatred of you فاهاits mouth
وَداهِيَةً تَشحو لِضِغنِكَ فاها
He shielded you from an assault, its blade drawn against you,
The best part of your meadow suffices you, so its extent,
and from a calamity gaping its jaws in hatred of you,
And fatness are enough for the greed of your mouth.
غَداةَon the day أَغامَتbecame clouded بِالعَجاجِwith dust سَماؤُهاits sky
غَداةَ أَغامَت بِالعَجاجِ سَماؤُها
وَدارَتand revolved عَلىon قُطبِthe pivot of الطِعانِspear-thrusts رَحاهاits mill
وَدارَت عَلى قُطبِ الطِعانِ رَحاها
the day its sky was clouded over with dust
One cloudy morning, the clouds in the sky gathered around her,
and its mill turned on the pivot of spear-thrusts.
And lightning revolved about the pole of the one full of censure.
إِذاwhen السَيلُthe torrent والىsent successively فيinto الرِكاءِthe lowlands سِجالَهُits bucketfuls
إِذا السَيلُ والى في الرِكاءِ سِجالَهُ
وَأَنبَطَand brought water forth أَنقَوتَyou ... (unclear verb) النَدىbounty; dew وَأَماهاand ... it (unclear verb)
وَأَنبَطَ أَنقَوتَ النَدى وَأَماها
When the torrent poured successive bucketfuls into the lowlands
When the torrent argues false arguments in the creek beds,
and brought water forth, you [unclear verb] bounty and [unclear verb] it.
And the howdahs of the rain splash foam.
أَرىI see شَجَراًtrees طالَتgrown tall وَقَصَّرَwhile fell short ظِلُّهاtheir shade
أَرى شَجَراً طالَت وَقَصَّرَ ظِلُّها
فَلاso may they never أَورَقَتput forth leaves يَوماًfor a day وَطالَand may last long ذَواهاtheir withering
فَلا أَورَقَت يَوماً وَطالَ ذَواها
I see trees grown tall, whose shade falls short:
I see many a tree whose shade is tall, while it did not
may they never put forth leaves, and long may they wither!
Ever yield leaves or fruits and its branches lengthened.
وَلَوand even if جَمَعَتcombined لَونَينِtwo hues بُذلُthe gifts of شِباكِهاtheir nets
وَلَو جَمَعَت لَونَينِ بُذلُ شِباكِها
لَطالَبَهاhe would ask them الراجيthe hopeful one بِمَنعِto withhold جَناهاtheir fruit
لَطالَبَها الراجي بِمَنعِ جَناها
Even if the gifts of their nets combined two hues,
If it gathered the hues of two types in its netting,
the hopeful would ask them to withhold their fruit.
The one seeking its fruit would demand it withheld them.
أَضَرّاًharm, then? وَلُؤماًand meanness? لاmay there be no أَباًfather لِأَبيكُمُto your father
أَضَرّاً وَلُؤماً لا أَباً لِأَبيكُمُ
سَفاهاًfolly لِرَأيِupon the judgment of العاجِزينَthe incapable سَفاهاfolly
سَفاهاً لِرَأيِ العاجِزينَ سَفاها
Both harm and meanness? May your father have no father!
Injury, to your father, and blindness to the opinion of the helpless blind,
Folly upon the judgment of the incapable—folly!
We blame the palms of the beneficent when they yield harvest,
نَلومُwe blame أَكُفُّthe hands of المُحسِنينَbenefactors إِذاwhen جَنَتthey do wrong
نَلومُ أَكُفُّ المُحسِنينَ إِذا جَنَت
فَكيفَwhat then بِأَيدٍof hands لاnot يُنالُis attained جَداهاtheir bounty
فَكيفَ بِأَيدٍ لا يُنالُ جَداها
We blame benefactors' hands when they do wrong;
So what about hands that cannot be attained or equaled?
what, then, of hands whose bounty cannot be obtained?
Misguidance, to the hopes of one hoping for your spring,
ضَلالاًperdition لِراجيto one hoping for نَشطَةٍfresh vigor مِنfrom رَبيعِكُمyour springtime
ضَلالاً لِراجي نَشطَةٍ مِن رَبيعِكُم
رَمىcast الداءَdisease فيinto أَكلائِكُمyour pastures فَحَماهاand so barred them
رَمى الداءَ في أَكلائِكُم فَحَماها
Lost is he who hopes for fresh vigor from your spring!
Who casts the sickness into your food vessels so it protects them.
Disease was cast into your pastures, making them forbidden.
An eye that hoped you would be its pupils
وَعَينٍand an eye رَجَتكُمlooked to you in hope أَنthat تَكونواyou would be جَلاءَهاits cleansing
وَعَينٍ رَجَتكُم أَن تَكونوا جَلاءَها
فَكُنتُمbut you became عَلىin عَكسِcontradiction to الرَجاءِhope قَذاهاits mote
فَكُنتُم عَلى عَكسِ الرَجاءِ قَذاها
And an eye that hoped you would clear its sight—
So you were the opposite of that hope's quarry.
contrary to hope, you became its mote.
You sought my praise then vetoed hearing it
طَلَبتُمyou sought ثَنائيmy praise ثُمَّthen عِفتُمyou loathed سَماعَهُhearing it
طَلَبتُم ثَنائي ثُمَّ عِفتُم سَماعَهُ
كَمَنlike one who خَطَبَcourted العَذراءَthe virgin ثُمَّthen قَلاهاhated her
كَمَن خَطَبَ العَذراءَ ثُمَّ قَلاها
You sought my praise, then loathed hearing it,
Like one who proposes to a maiden then divorces her.
like one who courted a virgin, then hated her.
Not every good place is a receptacle for my amulets
وَماand not كُلُّevery جيدٍneck مَوضِعٌa place لِقَلائِديfor my necklaces
وَما كُلُّ جيدٍ مَوضِعٌ لِقَلائِدي
وَلاnor قَمِنٌworthy مِنof صَوغِهاtheir workmanship وَحُلاهاand their ornaments
وَلا قَمِنٌ مِن صَوغِها وَحُلاها
Not every neck is a place for my necklaces,
Nor a wrist for threading them and their beads on it.
nor worthy of their workmanship and ornaments.
So let not your eyes be deluded, O builder of enclosures,
فَلاso let not تَغرُرَنdeceive عَينَيكَyour eyes ياO خابِطَone stumbling through الدُجىthe darkness
فَلا تَغرُرَن عَينَيكَ يا خابِطَ الدُجى
قِبابٌdomes بَناهاbuilt them اللُؤمُmeanness حَيثُwherever بَناهاit built them
قِبابٌ بَناها اللُؤمُ حَيثُ بَناها
Let not your eyes be deceived, O wanderer through the dark,
By enclosures the base built where they built them!
by domes that meanness built, wherever it built them.
The home of the vile, if a riding party sees its direction,
وَدارُand a home of لِئامٍmisers إِنif رَأىsees الرَكبُthe caravan سَمتَهاits direction
وَدارُ لِئامٍ إِن رَأى الرَكبُ سَمتَها
تَحايَدَit turns aside عَنهاfrom it عامِداًdeliberately وَطَواهاand passes it by
تَحايَدَ عَنها عامِداً وَطَواها
A home of misers: when the caravan sees its direction,
It turns away from it, intentionally, and ignores it.
it deliberately turns aside and passes it by.
Flaming like the fires of a hermitage,
مَساوٍvices كَنيرانِlike the fires of البِقاعِthe plains مُضيئَةًshining
مَساوٍ كَنيرانِ البِقاعِ مُضيئَةً
وَنارُand a fire of ظَلامٍdarkness لاnot يُضيءُgives light سَناهاits blaze
وَنارُ ظَلامٍ لا يُضيءُ سَناها
Vices shining like fires across the plains,
A fire of darkness that does not illuminate its flint stone.
yet a fire of darkness whose blaze gives no light.
Will no one chant to me of the land? For I
أَلاcome غَنِّيانيsing to me, you two بِالدِيارِof the abodes فَإِنَّنيfor I
أَلا غَنِّياني بِالدِيارِ فَإِنَّني
أُحِبُّI love زَروداًZarud ماas long as أَقامَremains ثَراهاits soil
أُحِبُّ زَروداً ما أَقامَ ثَراها
Come, you two, sing to me of the abodes, for I
Love the echo of a lute when it stayed at the remains of the abodes.
love Zarud as long as its soil remains.
And between al-Naqa and al-An'umayn is an area,
وَبَينَand between النَقاal-Naqa وَالأَنعُمَينِand al-An'umayn مَحَلَّةٌa dwelling
وَبَينَ النَقا وَالأَنعُمَينِ مَحَلَّةٌ
حَبيبٌdear لِقَلبيto my heart قاعُهاits level ground وَرُباهاand its hills
حَبيبٌ لِقَلبي قاعُها وَرُباها
Between al-Naqa and al-An'umayn is a dwelling
Beloved to my heart are its plains and open spaces.
whose level ground and hills are dear to my heart.
So, O Na'mans, give to drink to Na'man what
وَنَعمانُand Nu'man ياسُقياO may rain fall لِنَعمانَupon Nu'man ماas long as جَرَتblows
وَنَعمانُ ياسُقيا لِنَعمانَ ما جَرَت
عَليهِover it النَعامىthe south wind بَعدَناafter us وَصَباهاand its east wind
عَليهِ النَعامى بَعدَنا وَصَباها
And Nu'man—may Nu'man be watered as long as
The ostriches will alight upon after we left and our youth.
the south wind and its east wind pass over it after us!
And for the heart between al-Mazmain and their environs
وَلِلقَلبِand the heart has عِندَat المَأزَمَينِal-Ma'zamayn وَجَمعِهاand its Jam'
وَلِلقَلبِ عِندَ المَأزَمَينِ وَجَمعِها
دُيونٌdebts وَمَقضىand a place of repayment خَيفِهاits Khayf وَمِناهاand its Mina
دُيونٌ وَمَقضى خَيفِها وَمِناها
At al-Ma'zamayn and its Jam', my heart has
Are obligations, and the fulfilling of its promises and vows.
debts to discharge at its Khayf and Mina.
A wild cow with the rounds of pushing
وَظَبيٍand a gazelle بِأَطوارِabout the environs of الجِمارِal-Jimar إِذاwhen غَداhe goes out at dawn
وَظَبيٍ بِأَطوارِ الجِمارِ إِذا غَدا
رَمىhe shot at كَبِداًa liver مَقروحَةًwounded وَرَماهاand shot at it again
رَمى كَبِداً مَقروحَةً وَرَماها
And a gazelle about al-Jimar, who, setting out at dawn,
Casts aside a wounded liver and throws it away.
shot at a wounded liver and shot at it again;
A wild doe that did not accompany any but her sister the sun,
وَغَيداءَand a swaying beauty لَمdid not تَصحَبkeep company with سِوىexcept الشَمسِthe sun أُختِهاher sister
وَغَيداءَ لَم تَصحَب سِوى الشَمسِ أُختِها
وَلاnor جاوَرَتlived beside إِلّاexcept الغَزالَthe gazelle أَخاهاher brother
وَلا جاوَرَت إِلّا الغَزالَ أَخاها
and a swaying beauty who kept company only with the sun, her sister,
Nor take up company except with the gazelle her brother.
and lived beside none but the gazelle, her brother;
The khillah of horsemen, the eyes of its prey
وَخُلَّةِand a fellowship of فُرسانٍhorsemen عُيونُthe eyes of ظِبائِهاits gazelles
وَخُلَّةِ فُرسانٍ عُيونُ ظِبائِها
أَمَضُّmore painful جِراحاًin wounds مِنthan طِعانِthe thrusts of قَناهاits spears
أَمَضُّ جِراحاً مِن طِعانِ قَناها
and a fellowship of horsemen, whose gazelles' eyes
Are more effective in delivering blows than the piercing blades of its spears.
wound more painfully than the thrusts of their spears.
This is the house, not houses on the outskirts of Babylon,
هِيَthat is الدارُthe abode لاnot دارٌa house بِأَكنافِon the outskirts of بابِلٍBabylon
هِيَ الدارُ لا دارٌ بِأَكنافِ بابِلٍ
جَديرٌfit بِضَيمِto oppress النازِلينَthose who lodge حِماهاits precincts
جَديرٌ بِضَيمِ النازِلينَ حِماها
That is the abode—not a house on Babylon's outskirts,
Meet for the injustice of those who alight at its sanctuary.
whose precincts are fit to oppress those who lodge there:
Way stations Munammin provides its traveling party,
مَنازِلُdwellings مَمنونٌheld as a favor عَلىover الرَكبِthe caravan زادُهاtheir provisions
مَنازِلُ مَمنونٌ عَلى الرَكبِ زادُها
نَزورٌscant عَلىdespite كَدِّthe weariness of المِطالِdelays جَداهاtheir bounty
نَزورٌ عَلى كَدِّ المِطالِ جَداها
dwellings whose provisions are held over the caravan as a favor,
Its hospitality surplus to the burden of one asking its favors.
whose bounty is scant after wearying delays.
So it did not give drink but to swords and spears,
فَلاso may they not سُقِيَتbe watered إِلّاexcept with الصَوارِمَkeen swords وَالقَناand spears
فَلا سُقِيَت إِلّا الصَوارِمَ وَالقَنا
وَلاnor may صابَfall إِلّاexcept بِالدِماءِwith blood حَياهاtheir rain
وَلا صابَ إِلّا بِالدِماءِ حَياها
May they be watered only with swords and spears,
Nor sustained life except with blood.
and may their rain fall only in blood!
Partial English translation: 85 of 86 Arabic lines translated.