صَرَمَتshe severed زُنيبَةُZunaybah حبلَthe bond of منone who لاnot يَقطَعsevers
صَرَمَت زُنيبَةُ حبلَ من لا يَقطَع
حبلَthe bond of الخليلِthe friend وللأمانةِand for fidelity تفجَعُshe grieves
حبلَ الخليلِ وللأمانةِ تفجَعُ
Zunaybah has severed the bond of one who never severs
Zunaybah's cord was cut by one who does not sever
a friend's bond—and she grieves for fidelity.
The cord of a friend, though fidelity makes her grieve
ولقدand indeed حَرَصتُI sought eagerly علىfor قليلa little of متاعِهاher comfort
ولقد حَرَصتُ على قليل متاعِها
يومon the day of الرحيلdeparture فدمعُهاso her tears المستنفَعُthe benefit gained
يوم الرحيل فدمعُها المستنفَعُ
I eagerly sought the little comfort she could offer
And I was keen to take but little of her belongings
on departure day; her tears were what I could gain.
The day she left, with tears profuse that I retrieve
جُذِّيcut off حبالَكِyour bonds ياO زُنَيبُZunayb فاننيfor I
جُذِّي حبالَكِ يا زُنَيبُ فانني
قدindeed استبدُّI alone secure بوصلِthe affection of منone who هوhe اقطَعُmore aloof
قد استبدُّ بوصلِ من هو اقطَعُ
Cut your bonds, Zunayb, for I
Untie your cords, O Zunayb, for I
can secure the affection of one even more aloof.
Am determined to connect with one more apt to cleave
ولقدand indeed قطعتُI severed الوصلَthe bond يومon the day of خلاجِهِits being wrenched away
ولقد قطعتُ الوصلَ يوم خلاجِهِ
واخوand the man of الصريمةِfirm resolve فيin الأمورِaffairs المزمعُthe decisive one
واخو الصريمةِ في الأمورِ المزمعُ
I severed the bond when it was wrenched away—
And I have severed ties when plans were being hatched
the man of firm resolve is decisive in affairs—
The brother of clamor in matters preconceived
بمُجدَّةٍon a tireless she-camel عنسٍa mature, sturdy she-camel كأنَّas though سراتهاher high back
بمُجدَّةٍ عنسٍ كأنَّ سراتها
فَدَنa palace تطيفُwalk around بهaround it النبيطُthe Nabataeans مرفَّعُlofty
فَدَن تطيفُ به النبيطُ مرفَّعُ
on a tireless, sturdy she-camel whose high back seemed
With a camel, aged, as if her saddlebags
a lofty palace round which the Nabataeans walk.
Were burdened by a weaver’s battens raised aloft,
قاظتshe summered أنالَAnāl الىas far as الملاal-Malā وتربَّعتand grazed in spring
قاظت أنالَ الى الملا وتربَّعت
بالحَزنِin al-Hazn عازبةًapart from the herd تُسَنُّis well tended وتودعُand left undisturbed
بالحَزنِ عازبةً تُسَنُّ وتودعُ
She summered at Anāl as far as al-Malā, and grazed in spring
She rose to the heights and sat herself down haughtily
in al-Hazn, apart from the herd, well tended and left at ease.
Grieving, a spinster, greeting those she’d loved
حتىuntil اذاwhen لَقِحَتshe conceived وعوليَand was heaped فوقَهاupon her
حتى اذا لَقِحَت وعوليَ فوقَها
قَرِدmatted camel-hair يُهمُّtakes an interest بهin it الغرابُthe crow الموقِعُalighting
قَرِد يُهمُّ به الغرابُ الموقِعُ
Until, when she conceived and upon her was heaped
Until, when pregnant, she roared loud above
matted hair that tempted an alighting crow,
A monkey, coveted by crows, aloof
قَرّبتُهاI brought her near للرَحلِfor the saddle لمّاwhen اعتادنيcame upon me
قَرّبتُها للرَحلِ لمّا اعتادني
سفرa journey أهمُI contemplate بهit وأمرٌand an undertaking مزمعُfirmly resolved
سفر أهمُ به وأمرٌ مزمعُ
I brought her to the saddle when there came upon me
I moved her closer when the departure neared
a journey I contemplated, a firmly settled undertaking.
A journey I wished, with purpose undeceived
فكأنّهاso she seemed بعدafter الكلالةexhaustion والسُّرىand night travel
فكأنّها بعد الكلالة والسُّرى
عِلجa strong wild ass تُغاليهraces him قَذورٌa skittish she-ass مُلمِعُwith milk-swollen udders
عِلج تُغاليه قَذورٌ مُلمِعُ
So after weariness and night travel, she seemed
As if, after decline and nightly trek,
a wild ass raced by a skittish, full-uddered she-ass.
A wound that festers foul she had received
يحتازهاhe draws her aside عنaway from جحشهاher foal وتكفُّهand she wards him off
يحتازها عن جحشها وتكفُّه
عنfrom نفسهthe foal himself أنfor اليتيمthe orphan مُدَفّعُthrust aside
عن نفسه أن اليتيم مُدَفّعُ
He draws her away from her foal, and she wards him
Snatching her from her baby, yet herself
off from the foal itself—for an orphan is thrust aside.
From him restraining, though an orphan bereaved,
وَيظَلُand he remains مرتبئاًkeeping lookout عليهاover her جاذلاًglad
وَيظَلُ مرتبئاً عليها جاذلاً
فيon رأسِthe summit of مرقبةٍa lookout height وَلأياًand scarcely يرتَعhe grazes
في رأسِ مرقبةٍ وَلأياً يرتَع
He keeps watch over her, glad,
Still clambering on her back, importunate,
on a lookout's summit, and scarcely grazes,
At the hill’s pinnacle, none to him heaved
حتىuntil يُهيجهاhe drives her on عشيةon the evening of خمسهاher fifth day between drinks
حتى يُهيجها عشية خمسها
للوردِto water جأبa stout wild ass خَلفَهاbehind her متترعُhurrying
للوردِ جأب خَلفَها متترعُ
until, on the evening of her fifth day, he drives her
Until, as evening of her fifth day came,
to water—a stout ass hurrying behind her.
For greenery, behind her, he perceived
يعدوhe runs تبادرهُshe races ahead of him المخارمthe passes سَمحَجa long-bodied she-ass
يعدو تبادرهُ المخارم سَمحَج
كالدَلوِlike a bucket خانَbetrayed رشاؤهاits rope المتقطعُsnapping
كالدَلوِ خانَ رشاؤها المتقطعُ
He runs; a long-bodied she-ass races him through the passes,
He galloped, the twisted valleys outpacing,
like a bucket betrayed by its snapping rope.
Like a bucket whose rope is frayed uneven
حتىuntil اذاwhen ورداthe two reached water عيوناsprings فوقهاabove them
حتى اذا وردا عيونا فوقها
غابreeds طِوالtall نابتstanding ومُصرَّعand fallen
غاب طِوال نابت ومُصرَّع
Until, when they reached springs above which
Until, when his eyes turned on her,
grew tall reeds, some standing and some fallen,
He missed his mark, and fate had intervened
لاقىhe encountered علىon جَنبِthe edge of الشريعةِthe watering path لاطئاsomeone crouching against
لاقى على جَنبِ الشريعةِ لاطئا
صفوانَa smooth rock فيin ناموسِهِhis hunting hide يتطلَعُpeering out
صفوانَ في ناموسِهِ يتطلَعُ
he met, beside the watering path, a man crouching
He found, off the path, prone on his side
against a smooth rock, peering out from his hide.
Saffwan, from his prayer rug having leaned
فرمىthen he shot فاخطأهاand missed her وصادفَand struck سهمُهُhis arrow
فرمى فاخطأها وصادفَ سهمُهُ
حَجَراًa stone فَغُلِّلَso it lodged والنضيُّand the arrow-shaft مُجَزَّعُsplintered
حَجَراً فَغُلِّلَ والنضيُّ مُجَزَّعُ
He shot but missed her; his arrow struck
So he shot and missed her, his arrow instead
a stone and lodged there, its shaft splintered.
Striking a stone, split, its point it seemed
أهوىhe lunged ليحميto protect فَرجَهاher exposed rear اذas أدبرتshe turned away
أهوى ليحمي فَرجَها اذ أدبرت
زَجِلاَcrying loudly كماjust as يحميprotects النَّجيدُthe brave warrior المشرِعُwith leveled spear
زَجِلاَ كما يحمي النَّجيدُ المشرِعُ
He rushed to guard her rear as she turned away,
He swooped to protect her privates as she bolted
braying, as a brave warrior with leveled spear protects.
Like a curtain’s guardian not to be deceived
فتصكُthen she pounds صكَاًforcefully بالسنابكِwith the hooves نحرَهُhis chest
فتصكُ صكَاً بالسنابكِ نحرَهُ
وبجندلٍand with rocks صُمِّsolid ولاand not تتورعُshe holds back
وبجندلٍ صُمِّ ولا تتورعُ
She pounds his chest with her hooves,
She gasped as she struck his throat with her knees
and with solid stones, without holding back.
And a mute, solid kick—she nothing bereaved
لاno شيءthing يأتُوadvances أتوَهas he advances لمّاwhen علاhe rose
لا شيء يأتُو أتوَه لمّا علا
فوقَabove القطاةِthe rump ورأسُهُand his head مستتلعِraised and outstretched
فوقَ القطاةِ ورأسُهُ مستتلعِ
Nothing advances as he did when he rose
When he rose over her back, his head held high
above her rump, his head stretched high.
Not a thing did they do when he reprieved
ولقدand indeed غدوتُI went out at dawn علىfor القنيصِthe hunt وصاحبيand my companion
ولقد غدوتُ على القنيصِ وصاحبي
نَهدٌpowerfully built مراكِلُهُhis flanks مِسحٌswift جُرشُعُbroad-chested
نَهدٌ مراكِلُهُ مِسحٌ جُرشُعُ
I have gone out at dawn to hunt, my companion
And I had come at dawn, my friend and I
a powerful-flanked horse, swift and broad-chested.
Gasping, his camel’s shoulders scraped and peeled
ضافيabundant and long السبيبtail hair كأنّas though غصنَa branch of أباءَةٍa reed-thicket
ضافي السبيب كأنّ غصنَ أباءَةٍ
رَيّانlush with moisture ينفضُهاhe shakes it اذاwhen ماever يُقدَعُhe is reined in
رَيّان ينفضُها اذا ما يُقدَعُ
His tail hair flows, like the branch of a reed,
Pure Arabian steed, when cast he is seen
lush with moisture, which he shakes when he is reined in.
To seethe, provoked, if ever retrieved
تَئِقُeager اذاwhen ارسلتَهُyou let him loose متقاذِفٌbounding onward
تَئِقُ اذا ارسلتَهُ متقاذِفٌ
طمّاحُstraining toward أشرافٍheights اذاwhen ماever يُنزَعُhe is pulled back
طمّاحُ أشرافٍ اذا ما يُنزَعُ
Eager when you let him loose, he bounds onward,
As if a rending lion’s paw he were
straining toward the heights whenever he is pulled back.
Whose swipes fending dogs cower, bowed, believed
وكأنّهُand he seems like فوتَbeyond الجوالبِthe shouting pursuers جانئاًbending low
وكأنّهُ فوتَ الجوالبِ جانئاً
رَئِمa white oryx تَضَايَفُهُcrowd around him كلابٌdogs أخضعُwith lowered neck
رَئِم تَضَايَفُهُ كلابٌ أخضعُ
Beyond the shouting pursuers, bending low, he seems
I treated him with cure upon cure, and gave him
a white oryx, neck bowed, with dogs crowding round him.
A gift, as a darling friend may receive
داويتُهُI cared for him كلَّevery kind of الدواءcare وزدتُهُand I gave him more
داويتُهُ كلَّ الدواء وزدتُهُ
بَذلاًbounty كماas يُعطىis given الحبيبُthe beloved الموسِعُthe well-to-do one
بَذلاً كما يُعطى الحبيبُ الموسِعُ
I cared for him with every care, and gave him still more
His share is the grayness of old age
in bounty, as gifts are given to a cherished friend of means.
And the mud—now tottering, he won’t be relieved
فلهso for him ضريبُmixed milk of الشَولِthe late-milking she-camels الاسُؤرَهُexcept his leavings
فله ضريبُ الشَولِ الاسُؤرَهُ
والجلُّand the horse-blanket فهوso he مَربَبٌpampered لاnot يًخلَعcast off
والجلُّ فهو مَربَبٌ لا يًخلَع
His is the mixed milk of the late-milking camels, save his leavings,
Yet if we race him, he’s the first to burst forth
and the horse-blanket; he is pampered, never cast off.
His rider gloating, spurred on, perceived
فاذاso when نُراهِنُwe race for stakes كانَhe is اولَfirst سابقٍto finish
فاذا نُراهِنُ كانَ اولَ سابقٍ
يختالُexults proudly فارسُهُhis rider اذاwhen ماever يُدفَعُhe is urged on
يختالُ فارسُهُ اذا ما يُدفَعُ
When we race for stakes, he is the first to finish;
Nay, many’s the day we’ve confined his dashing
his rider exults whenever he is urged on.
We give and delight in the friend; he’s reprieved
بلindeed ربَّmany a يومٍday قدindeed حَبسناwe held back سبقَهُhis racing prize
بل ربَّ يومٍ قد حَبسنا سبقَهُ
نُعطيwe give ونُعمِرand make lifelong gifts فيto الصديقِthe friend وننفَعُand benefit
نُعطي ونُعمِر في الصديقِ وننفَعُ
Indeed, many a day we have set aside his racing prize,
And I have outstripped the enamored with a draft
giving, endowing a friend, and benefiting him.
So pure and delicious—deep gulps he’d breathe
ولقدand indeed سبقتُI forestalled العاذلاتِthe reproaching women بَشربَةٍwith a draught
ولقد سبقتُ العاذلاتِ بَشربَةٍ
ريّاthirst-quenching وراووقيand my filtering vessel عظَيمٌlarge مُترعُbrimming
ريّا وراووقي عظَيمٌ مُترعُ
I have forestalled the reproaching women with a draught,
An eye whose pure hue is the red
thirst-quenching, my filtering vessel large and brimming.
Of blood when a sacrifice is cleaved
جَفنٌa large bowl منof الغريبrare wine خالصُpure لونهits color
جَفنٌ من الغريب خالصُ لونه
كدمِlike the blood of الذبيحِthe slaughtered one اذاwhen يُشَنُit is poured مشعشَعُdiluted with water
كدمِ الذبيحِ اذا يُشَنُ مشعشَعُ
A bowl of rare wine, pure in color,
It distracted me one day—made heedless
like a slaughtered beast's blood when poured, diluted with water.
Some lads of their search, though clothed and conceived
الهوI amuse myself بهاwith it يوماًfor a day وألهيand I divert فتيةًyoung men
الهو بها يوماً وألهي فتيةً
عنfrom بَثّهمtheir anguish اذwhen أُلبسواthey were cloaked وتقنّعواand veiled themselves
عن بَثّهم اذ أُلبسوا وتقنّعوا
With it I amuse myself for a day, and divert young men
Oh, the ache from charming friends of scant esteem
from their anguish, when they were cloaked and veiled.
Who came to me, stumbling—just three!
ياoh لَهفَanguish منfrom عرفاءa shaggy-maned hyena ذاتhaving قليلةٍa small litter
يا لَهفَ من عرفاء ذات قليلةٍ
جاءَتshe came اليَّtoward me علىon ثلاثٍthree legs تَخمَعُlimping
جاءَت اليَّ على ثلاثٍ تَخمَعُ
Oh, the anguish from a shaggy-maned hyena with a small litter,
She kept watching me, looking around
that came toward me on three legs, limping!
Dubious, suspicious, while I deceived
ظَلَّتshe kept تراصِدُنيwatching for a chance at me وتنظرand looking حولهاaround her
ظَلَّت تراصِدُني وتنظر حولها
ويريبهاand unsettles her رَمَقٌa remnant of life وانيand I مُطمِعُtempting prey
ويريبها رَمَقٌ واني مُطمِعُ
She kept watching for her chance at me, looking around;
Remaining determined, drawing me in
the life left in me unsettled her, yet I was tempting prey.
To the den, none alive to relieve
وتَظَلُand she keeps تنشطنيtearing at me وتُلحِمُand feeding meat to أجرِياًlittle cubs
وتَظَلُ تنشطني وتُلحِمُ أجرِياً
وسطwithin العرينthe lair وليسand there is no حيٌliving soul يَدفَعُto defend
وسط العرين وليس حيٌ يَدفَعُ
She keeps tearing at me and feeding flesh to her cubs
Had my sword been in hand I’d have struck her
inside the lair, with no living soul to defend me.
From me—but my side was naïve
لوif كانwere سيفيmy sword باليمينin the right hand ضربتُهاI would strike her
لو كان سيفي باليمين ضربتُها
عنّيaway from me ولمand not أُوكلbe abandoned وجنبيand my flank الأَضيَعُthe least protected
عنّي ولم أُوكل وجنبي الأَضيَعُ
Had my sword been in my right hand, I would have struck her
I did swing it, and my blow brought down
away from me, and not been abandoned with my flank undefended.
Her hands, like the falling of leaves
ولقدand indeed ضَرَبتُI struck بهwith it فتُسقطso brings down ضربتيmy blow
ولقد ضَرَبتُ به فتُسقط ضربتي
ايديالكماةِthe warriors' hands كأنهنَّas though they were الخروعcastor plants
ايديالكماةِ كأنهنَّ الخروع
I have struck with it, my blow bringing down
A ruin, that—had I torn with a saber
the warriors' hands as though they were castor-plant stalks.
Enough! My words here should achieve
ذاكَthat الضياعُruin فانso if حززتُI cut through بمديةٍwith a knife
ذاكَ الضياعُ فان حززتُ بمديةٍ
كفىmy hand فقوليthen say محسنٌdoing well ماwhat يَصنَعُhe does
كفى فقولي محسنٌ ما يَصنَعُ
That is ruin! If I were to cut with a knife
And I felt overjoyed at what some days have dealt
my own hand, then say, "He does well at what he does."
Though many a day has been grief
ولقدand indeed غُبطتُI was envied بماfor what ألاقيI experience حقبةًfor a time
ولقد غُبطتُ بما ألاقي حقبةً
ولقدand indeed يمرُّpasses عليَّover me يومa day أشنعmore dreadful
ولقد يمرُّ عليَّ يوم أشنع
For a time, I was envied for what fell to my lot;
After she who bore a kinswoman, shall I complain
yet a more dreadful day may pass over me.
Of Time’s injustice? Disturbed or aggrieved?
أفبَعدso, after...? مَنthe one whom ولدتbore نسيبةُNusaybah أشتكيI complain
أفبَعد مَن ولدت نسيبةُ أشتكي
زوّthe decree of المنيةِdeath أوor أرىI am seen أتوَجَعُI suffer pain
زوّ المنيةِ أو أرى أتوَجَعُ
After the one Nusaybah bore, should I complain
And I know full well, it cannot be helped,
of death's decree, or be seen in pain?
To the fates I am subject, shall I rage or be peeved?
ولقدand indeed علمتُI knew ولاand no محالةescape أننيthat I
ولقد علمتُ ولا محالة أنني
للحادثاتِat the mercy of calamities فهلso do...? ترينيyou see me أجزَعُlose heart
للحادثاتِ فهل تريني أجزَعُ
I know, with no escaping it, that I am
Aaden perished, then the line of Muharraq
at the mercy of calamities—do you see me lose heart?
Left a land and what they amassed was bereaved
أفنينَthey annihilated عاداً'Ad ثمthen آلَthe house of محرّقٍMuharriq
أفنينَ عاداً ثم آلَ محرّقٍ
فتركنهمso they left them بلداًlifeless earth وماand what قدhad جَمعُواthey amassed
فتركنهم بلداً وما قد جَمعُوا
They annihilated 'Ad, then the house of Muharriq,
Theirs were the two Harithas, and theirs
leaving them dust, with all they had amassed.
Was the Kinsman's brother Tubba’, long believed
ولَهُنَّand to them كانbelonged الحارثانthe two Hariths كلاهُماboth of them
ولَهُنَّ كان الحارثان كلاهُما
ولَهُنَّand to them كانbelonged أخوthe lord of المصانعِthe strongholds تُبَّعTubba'
ولَهُنَّ كان أخو المصانعِ تُبَّع
To them belonged the two Hariths, both of them,
I counted my fathers to the clay whence we’re made
and to them belonged Tubba', lord of the strongholds.
And called them, and found they nothing perceived
فعَدَدتthen I counted آبائيmy forefathers الىback to عرقthe root of الثرىthe moist earth
فعَدَدت آبائي الى عرق الثرى
فدعوتُهمand I called them فعلمتُthen I knew أنthat لمdid not يسمعواthey hear
فدعوتُهم فعلمتُ أن لم يسمعوا
I counted my fathers back to the root of the moist earth,
They went before I knew them, taken by
and called them, only to know they did not hear.
A ghoul who came, on a path layered and weaved
ذهبواthey departed فلمso not أدركهُمُI could reach them ودَعَتهُمُand summoned them
ذهبوا فلم أدركهُمُ ودَعَتهُمُ
غولٌa ghoul أتوهاthey came to it والطريقand the road المهيَعُbroad and open
غولٌ أتوها والطريق المهيَعُ
They went; I could not reach them; they were summoned by
Inevitable is loss and sorrow, so wait
a ghoul, and went to it; the road was broad and open.
In your people’s land, or another to grieve
لاno بدescape منfrom تَلَفٍdestruction مُصيبٍthat strikes فانتظرso wait
لا بد من تَلَفٍ مُصيبٍ فانتظر
أبأرضِis it in the land of...? قومكِyour people أمor بأخرىin another المصرَعthe place of death
أبأرضِ قومكِ أم بأخرى المصرَع
Destruction must strike, so wait:
There will come a day, bitter and stark
will your fall be in your people's land, or another?
When you are mourned, shrouded, nothing conceived
وليأتينَand will surely come عليكupon you يومٌa day مرةsometime
وليأتينَ عليك يومٌ مرة
يُبكىthere will be weeping عليكover you مُقنَعاwith head covered لاnot تَسمَعُyou hear
يُبكى عليك مُقنَعا لا تَسمَعُ
At some time, a day will surely come upon you:
you will be wept over, head covered, and hear nothing.
Partial English translation: 88 of 90 Arabic lines translated.