Sol 6.1

  1. رَمَيتُ بِها أَهلَ المَضيقِ فَلَم تَكَد

    تَخَلَّصُ مِن حَمّارَةٍ وَأَباعِرِ

    I drove her among the people of the narrow pass; she could scarcely

    get clear of donkey drivers and camels.

  2. وَمَرَّت عَلى الأَنصارِ وَسطَ رِحالِهِم

    فَقُلتُ لَهُم مَن صادِرٌ مَعَ صادِرِ

    And she passed the Ansar amid their encampments.

    So I said to them, “Who will leave with one who is leaving?”

  3. وَطَوَّفتُ بِالبَيتِ العَتيقِ وَسامَحَت

    طَريقُ كَداءٍ في لُحوبٍ سَوائِرِ

    And I circled the Ancient House, and the going eased

    on the road of Kadāʾ, along broad tracks leading onward.

  4. ذَكَرتُ بِها التَعريسَ لَمّا بَدا لَنا

    خِيَمٌ بِها مِن بَينِ بادٍ وَحاضِرِ

    There I thought of a night’s halt, when we saw

    tents there, of nomads and settled folk alike.

  5. وَأَعرَضَ ذو دَورانَ تَحسِبُ سَرحَهُ

    مِنَ الجَدبِ أَعناقَ النِساءِ الحَواسِرِ

    And Dhu Dawran came into view; you would think its sarh trees

    were, from drought, the necks of bareheaded women.

  6. فَعَجَّت وَأَلقَت لِلجِرانِ رَجيلَةً

    لَأَنظُرَ ما زادُ الكَريمِ المُسافِرِ

    Then she bellowed and, strong of stride, laid her neck down,

    so I might see what provisions the noble traveler had.

  7. إِذا فَضلَةٌ مِن بَطنِ زِقٍّ وَنُطفَةٌ

    وَقَعبٌ صَغيرٌ فَوقَ عَوجاءَ ضامِرِ

    There was a remnant from a wineskin’s belly, and a little water,

    and a small wooden bowl atop a lean, crooked-legged she-camel.

  8. فَقُمتُ بِكَأسٍ قَهوَةٍ فَشَنَنتُها

    بِذي رَونَقٍ مِن ماءِ زَمزَمَ فاتِرِ

    Then I rose with a cup of wine and diluted it

    with gleaming, lukewarm water from Zamzam.