يُمَنّونَنيthey promise me مِنكِfrom you اللِقاءَthe meeting وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
يُمَنّونَني مِنكِ اللِقاءَ وَإِنَّني
لَأَعلَمُI certainly know لاnot أَلقاكِI meet you مِنfrom دونِbefore قابِلِthe coming year
لَأَعلَمُ لا أَلقاكِ مِن دونِ قابِلِ
They promise me a meeting with you, although I
They wish me to meet you, though I know
know full well I shall not meet you before next year.
I'll never meet you, with no chance for a meeting.
إِلىto ذاكَthat ماan emphatic particle حارَتhave changed أُمورُكَyour affairs وَإِنجَلَتand cleared
إِلى ذاكَ ما حارَت أُمورُكَ وَإِنجَلَت
غَيابَةُthe darkness of حُبِّيكِmy love for you إِنجِلاءَthe clearing of المَخايِلِthe rain-clouds
غَيابَةُ حُبِّيكِ إِنجِلاءَ المَخايِلِ
By then your affairs will have changed, and lifted will be
To that end, your affairs are confused, though yearning's
the darkness of my love for you, as rain-clouds lift.
Absence has made me pine like a lovelorn camel.
إِذاwhen حَلَّsettled أَهليmy people بِالجِنابِat al-Jinab وَأَهلُهاand her people
إِذا حَلَّ أَهلي بِالجِنابِ وَأَهلُها
بِحَيثُat the place where إِلتَقىmet الغُلّانُthe ravines مِنof ذيDhu (possessor of) أَرائِلِAra'il
بِحَيثُ إِلتَقى الغُلّانُ مِن ذي أَرائِلِ
When my people settle at al-Jinab, and hers
When my family camps on one side, and hers on the other,
where the ravines of Dhu Ara'il meet,
Where the young camels of the noble ladies gather,
أَقُلI say خُلَّةٌa beloved بانَتdeparted وَأَدبَرَوَصلُهاand union with her receded
أَقُل خُلَّةٌ بانَت وَأَدبَرَوَصلُها
تَقَطَّعَwere severed مِنهاfrom her باقِياتُthe remaining الحَبائِلِcords
تَقَطَّعَ مِنها باقِياتُ الحَبائِلِ
I say: a beloved has gone, and union with her has receded;
I say, “An affection has passed whose covenants
the last cords that tied me to her have snapped.
Are now severed, the bonds between us undone.”
وَحالَتand intervened شُهورُالصَيفِthe summer months بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهاand between her
وَحالَت شُهورُالصَيفِ بَيني وَبَينَها
وَرَفعُand the spreading of الأَعاديthe enemies كُلَّevery حَقٍّtruth وَباطِلِand falsehood
وَرَفعُ الأَعادي كُلَّ حَقٍّ وَباطِلِ
And the summer months have come between me and her,
The months of summer stood between us,
and enemies' spreading of every truth and falsehood.
And the enemies had their way, right or wrong.
أَقولُI say لِعَذّالَيَّto my two reprovers لَمّاwhen تَقابَلاthey both confronted
أَقولُ لِعَذّالَيَّ لَمّا تَقابَلا
عَلَيَّagainst me بِلَومٍwith reproach مِثلَlike طَعنِthe piercing of المَعابِلِbroad arrowheads
عَلَيَّ بِلَومٍ مِثلَ طَعنِ المَعابِلِ
I tell my two reprovers, when they joined forces
I say to the blamer when we meet,
against me with blame like the piercing of broad arrowheads:
“Do not reproach me with a stab like a polished spear.”
لاdo not تُكثِراyou two multiply عَنهاabout her السُّؤالَthe questioning فَإِنَّهاfor indeed she
لا تُكثِرا عَنها السُّؤالَ فَإِنَّها
مُصَلصِلَةٌjingling مِنfrom بَعضِsome of تِلكَthose الصَلاصِلِjingling women
مُصَلصِلَةٌ مِن بَعضِ تِلكَ الصَلاصِلِ
Do not keep asking about her, for she
Do not question her much, for she’s
is a jingling beauty among those jingling beauties,
A prattling camel bell with cracked clapper.
مِنَamong الصُّفرِthe fair-skinned لاnot وَرهاءُa foolish woman سَمجٌgraceless دَلالُهاher coquetry
مِنَ الصُّفرِ لا وَرهاءُ سَمجٌ دَلالُها
وَلَيسَتand she is not مِنَamong السّودِthe black women القِصارِthe short الحَوائِلِthe barren
وَلَيسَت مِنَ السّودِ القِصارِ الحَوائِلِ
one of the fair-skinned, no fool with graceless coquetry,
She’s neither white, with a fox's telltale tracks,
nor one of the black, short, barren women.
Nor black, short-haired; but a sweet basil,
وَلَكِنَّهاbut she رَيحانَةٌa basil sprig طابَwas sweet نَشرُهاher fragrance
وَلَكِنَّها رَيحانَةٌ طابَ نَشرُها
وَرَدتُI came عَلَيهاto her بِالضُّحىat midmorning وَالأَصَائِلِand the late afternoons
وَرَدتُ عَلَيها بِالضُّحى وَالأَصَائِلِ
Rather, she is a basil sprig whose fragrance is sweet;
Whose fragrance I’ve gathered at dawn and dusk.
I came to her at midmorning and in the late afternoons.
Would that the ties of love would be renewed for us
فَيالَيتَso, oh, if only رَثَّthe frayed part of الوَصلِthe bond مِنfrom أُمِّUmm (mother of) جَحدَرٍJahdar
فَيالَيتَ رَثَّ الوَصلِ مِن أُمِّ جَحدَرٍ
لَناfor us بِجَديدٍwith a fresh one مِنfrom among أولاكَthose البَدائِلِthe replacements
لَنا بِجَديدٍ مِن أولاكَ البَدائِلِ
Oh, if only the frayed bond with Umm Jahdar
With fresh first loves, and nothing left
were replaced for us by a fresh one among those alternatives.
Of affection but hidden messages.
وَلَمand did not يَبقَremain مِمّاof what كانَwas بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهاand between her
وَلَم يَبقَ مِمّا كانَ بَيني وَبَينَها
مِنَof الودِّaffection إِلّاexcept مُخفَياتِsecret الرَسائِلِmessages
مِنَ الودِّ إِلّا مُخفَياتِ الرَسائِلِ
And nothing remains of what was between me and her
When I wake from the sweetness of sleep
of affection, save secret messages.
I'm flung into love for her like a warrior.
وَإِنّيand indeed I إِذاwhen إِستَنبَهتُI awoke مِنfrom حُلوِthe sweetness of رَقدَةٍa sleep
وَإِنّي إِذا إِستَنبَهتُ مِن حُلوِ رَقدَةٍ
رُمِيتُI was struck بِحُبّيهاby my love for her كَرَميِlike the shooting of المُناضِلِthe competing archer
رُمِيتُ بِحُبّيها كَرَميِ المُناضِلِ
And whenever I wake from a sweet sleep,
I forget nothing—not her words,
I am struck by my love for her, as by an archer's shot.
Nor her tears wetting the kohl on her lids.
فَماso whatever أَنسَI forget مِنَof الأَشياءِthings لاnot أَنسَI forget قَولَهاher words
فَما أَنسَ مِنَ الأَشياءِ لا أَنسَ قَولَها
وَأَدمُعُهاand her tears يُذرينَthey scatter حَشوَthe contents of المَكاحِلِthe kohl-pots
وَأَدمُعُها يُذرينَ حَشوَ المَكاحِلِ
So, whatever things I forget, I do not forget her words,
“Savor this brief day, for it will be
as her tears scattered the contents of the kohl-pots:
A hostage to the long months ahead.”
تَمَتَّعِenjoy بِذاin this اليَومِday القَصيرِshort فإِنَّهُfor indeed it
تَمَتَّعِ بِذا اليَومِ القَصيرِ فإِنَّهُ
رَهينٌheld hostage بِأَيامِto the days of الشُهورِthe months الأَطاوِلِthe longest
رَهينٌ بِأَيامِ الشُهورِ الأَطاوِلِ
“Enjoy this short day, for it
Once I was a man who shot arrows amiably,
is hostage to the days of the longest months.”
But now I have bidden shooting arrows farewell.
وَكُنتُand I was إِمرَأًa man أَرميI shot at الزَوائِلَfleeting quarry مَرَّةًonce
وَكُنتُ إِمرَأً أَرمي الزَوائِلَ مَرَّةً
فَأَصبَحتُso I became قَدalready وَدَّعتُI bade farewell to رَميَshooting at الزَّوائِلِthe fleeting quarry
فَأَصبَحتُ قَد وَدَّعتُ رَميَ الزَّوائِلِ
And I was once a man who shot at fleeting quarry;
I have stilled my bow of diversion, which was too swift,
so now I have bid farewell to shooting at fleeting quarry.
And my arrows lie broken between flexed bow and string.
وَعَطَّلتُand I left idle قَوسَthe bow of اللَهوِdiversion مِنof سَرَعانِهاits arrow-shafts
وَعَطَّلتُ قَوسَ اللَهوِ مِن سَرَعانِها
وَعادَتand became سِهاميmy arrows بَينَbetween رَثٍّworn-out وَناصِلِand headless
وَعادَت سِهامي بَينَ رَثٍّ وَناصِلِ
And I have left the bow of pleasure idle, without its shafts;
When my abode was between Badr and Mazin,
and my arrows have become either worn-out or headless.
Once I gained the sun—and it weighed heavy on my shoulder.
إِذاwhen حَلَّsettled بَيتيmy house بَينَamong بَدرٍBadr وَمازِنٍand Mazin
إِذا حَلَّ بَيتي بَينَ بَدرٍ وَمازِنٍ
وَمُرَّةَand Murrah نِلتُI attained الشَمسَthe sun وَإِشتَدَّand grew strong كاهِليmy upper back
وَمُرَّةَ نِلتُ الشَمسَ وَإِشتَدَّ كاهِلي
When my house stands among Badr and Mazin
We are the clan of Thuban, foremost
and Murrah, I reach the sun and my back grows strong.
Of the tribes esteemed, to whom glory returns.
وَنَحنُand we بَنوthe sons of ذُيبانَDhuyban فيon رَأسِthe summit of رَبوَةٍa hill
وَنَحنُ بَنو ذُيبانَ في رَأسِ رَبوَةٍ
إِلَيكِto you تَناهىhas reached عِزُّthe glory of تِلكَthose القَبائِلِthe tribes
إِلَيكِ تَناهى عِزُّ تِلكَ القَبائِلِ
And we, the sons of Dhuyban, are atop a hill;
To us the peak of Qays—who can claim the like?
to you has come the utmost glory of those tribes.
Misleading words mix with truth when they speak.
هُمُthey أَنفُthe nose of قَيسٍQays مَنwhoever يَقُلsays مِثلَهاits equal لَهُمfor them
هُمُ أَنفُ قَيسٍ مَن يَقُل مِثلَها لَهُم
مِنَamong الناسِpeople يَخلِطmixes قَولَwords of حَقٍّtruth وَباطِلِand falsehood
مِنَ الناسِ يَخلِط قَولَ حَقٍّ وَباطِلِ
They are the nose of Qays; whoever claims an equal for them
We have outstripped Quraysh, except for Muhammad's kin
among men mingles words of truth and falsehood.
And the family of Marwan, people of merit.
فَضَلناwe surpassed قُرَيشاًQuraysh غَيرَexcept رَهطِthe kin of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
فَضَلنا قُرَيشاً غَيرَ رَهطِ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَغَيرَand except بَنيthe sons of مَروانَMarwan أَهلِpossessors of الفَضائِلِvirtues
وَغَيرَ بَني مَروانَ أَهلِ الفَضائِلِ
We have surpassed Quraysh, except Muhammad's kin,
To every clan we have proposed to their daughters
and except the sons of Marwan, men of virtue.
With a bridal gift of a roaring, brawling camel stallion.
إِلىto كُلِّevery قَومٍpeople قَدindeed خَطَبناwe sought in marriage بَناتِهمtheir daughters
إِلى كُلِّ قَومٍ قَد خَطَبنا بَناتِهم
بِأَرعَنَwith a towering host جَرّارٍvast كَثيرِabounding in الصَواهِلِneighing horses
بِأَرعَنَ جَرّارٍ كَثيرِ الصَواهِلِ
We have courted the daughters of every people
We raided Tamim and made free with their women,
with a towering, vast host, full of neighing steeds.
While Judham and Bakr the son of Wail submitted.
غَزَوناwe raided تَميماًTamim فإِستَبَحناthen we took as spoils نِسائَهاits women
غَزَونا تَميماً فإِستَبَحنا نِسائَها
وَتَغلِبَand Taghlib جَدَّعناwe mutilated وَبَكرَand Bakr إِبنَson of وائِلِWa'il
وَتَغلِبَ جَدَّعنا وَبَكرَ إِبنَ وائِلِ
We raided Tamim, then took its women as spoils;
In every quarter of Kuda'a and Qahtan we have
and Taghlib we mutilated, and Bakr ibn Wa'il.
A resounding combat that makes widows weep.
وَفيand in كُلِّevery حَيٍّclan مِنof قُضاعَةَQuda'ah وَقعَةٌa battle
وَفي كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِن قُضاعَةَ وَقعَةٌ
لَناof ours ضَخمَةٌmighty تُبكيmakes weep عُيونَthe eyes of الأَرامِلِthe widows
لَنا ضَخمَةٌ تُبكي عُيونَ الأَرامِلِ
And in every clan of Quda'ah there is a battle
They swagger at the noble clans and take pride
of ours, a mighty one that makes widows' eyes weep.
In the worst rogues of the land, branded as camels.
يُشَنظِرُhe reviles بِالقَومِagainst the people الكِرامِthe noble وَيَعتَزيand he claims descent
يُشَنظِرُ بِالقَومِ الكِرامِ وَيَعتَزي
إِلىto شَرِّthe worst حافٍbarefoot man فيin البِلادِthe lands وَناعِلِand shod man
إِلى شَرِّ حافٍ في البِلادِ وَناعِلِ
He reviles the noble folk and claims descent
They break the bridges of the lofty and head
from the worst man in the lands, barefoot or shod.
For a breach in their truce, humiliated.
تَمَصَّخُshe sucks أَسناخَthe roots of الرُّخامىthe rukhama plant وَتَرعَويand she turns back
تَمَصَّخُ أَسناخَ الرُّخامى وَتَرعَوي
إِلىtoward خَرِقٍa clumsy fool فيin عَهدِهاher time مُتَضائِلِinsignificant
إِلى خَرِقٍ في عَهدِها مُتَضائِلِ
She sucks the roots of the rukhama plant and turns back
toward a clumsy fool, insignificant in her time.
Partial English translation: 48 of 50 Arabic lines translated.