رَأَتنيshe saw me اِبنَةُdaughter of الكَلبِيِّal-Kalbī أَقصَرَceased باطِليmy frivolity
رَأَتني اِبنَةُ الكَلبِيِّ أَقصَرَ باطِلي
وَكادَتand nearly نَدامىboon companions of رائِدِthe scout of الخَيلِthe horses تُنزَفُbe depleted
وَكادَت نَدامى رائِدِ الخَيلِ تُنزَفُ
Al-Kalbī's daughter saw that my frivolity had ceased,
and the horse-scout's boon companions were nearly all gone.
وَأَصبَحَand became أَخدانيmy companions كَأَنَّas though رُؤوسَهُمtheir heads
وَأَصبَحَ أَخداني كَأَنَّ رُؤوسَهُم
حَماطُḥamāṭ shrubs شِتاءٍwinter بَعدَafter نَبتٍgrowth مُنَصَّفُhalf-withered
حَماطُ شِتاءٍ بَعدَ نَبتٍ مُنَصَّفُ
My companions had come to look as though their heads
were winter ḥamāṭ shrubs, half withered after growing.
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI used to be بِالبيدِin the deserts القَليلِscant أَنيسَهاtheir company
وَقَد كُنتُ بِالبيدِ القَليلِ أَنيسَها
أَقوفُI follow tracks وَأَمضيand proceed قَبلَbefore مَنwhoever يَتَقَوَّفُfollows tracks
أَقوفُ وَأَمضي قَبلَ مَن يَتَقَوَّفُ
Once, in deserts where company was scarce,
I read tracks and pressed on ahead of other trackers.
فَأَصبَحتُso I became مِمّاthrough what يُحدِثُbrings about الدَهرُtime لِلفَتىfor a man
فَأَصبَحتُ مِمّا يُحدِثُ الدَهرُ لِلفَتى
أَقُصُّI trace العَلاماتِthe signs الَّتيwhich كُنتُI used to أَعرِفُrecognize
أَقُصُّ العَلاماتِ الَّتي كُنتُ أَعرِفُ
But through what time brings upon a man, I have come
to trace the signs I once recognized.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رَأَتshe saw يَوماًone day مَطِيَّةَthe mount of راكِبٍa rider
إِذا ما رَأَت يَوماً مَطِيَّةَ راكِبٍ
تُبَصِّرُheads for Basra مِنfrom among جيرانِهاher neighbors أَوor تُكَوِّفُheads for Kufa
تُبَصِّرُ مِن جيرانِها أَو تُكَوِّفُ
Whenever she sees a rider's mount
from among her neighbors, bound for Basra or Kufa,
تَقولُshe says اِرتَحِلset out إِنَّindeed المَكاسِبَearnings جَمَّةٌabundant
تَقولُ اِرتَحِل إِنَّ المَكاسِبَ جَمَّةٌ
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her إِنّيindeed I اِمرُؤٌa man أَتَعَفَّفُrefrain from begging
فَقُلتُ لَها إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ أَتَعَفَّفُ
she says, 'Set out! Earnings are plentiful!'
I told her, 'I am a man who shuns begging.
وَأَرجوand I hope for عَطاءَthe bounty of اللَهِGod مِنfrom كُلِّevery جانِبٍside
وَأَرجو عَطاءَ اللَهِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ
وَيَنفَعُنيand benefits me المالُthe wealth الذَيwhich أَتَسَخَّفُI deem paltry
وَيَنفَعُني المالُ الذَي أَتَسَخَّفُ
I hope for God's bounty from every side,
and the wealth I deem paltry still benefits me.'
وَأُبغِضُand I loathe إِرقاصاًurging a camel to trot إِلىtoward رَبِّthe master of دارِهِhis house
وَأُبغِضُ إِرقاصاً إِلى رَبِّ دارِهِ
لَئيمٌa base man لَهُhe has كِتَّانَتانِtwo linen garments وَمِطرَفُand a fringed cloak
لَئيمٌ لَهُ كِتَّانَتانِ وَمِطرَفُ
I loathe urging a camel toward a householder—
a base man with two linen garments and a fringed cloak.
تَجَبَّرُgrew mighty مالاًthrough wealth بَعدَafter لُؤمٍbaseness وَدِقَّةٍand insignificance
تَجَبَّرُ مالاً بَعدَ لُؤمٍ وَدِقَّةٍ
كَماas شُدَّwas bound tight بِالشَعبِby mending الإِناءُthe vessel المُكَتَّفُstrapped together
كَما شُدَّ بِالشَعبِ الإِناءُ المُكَتَّفُ
He grew mighty through wealth after baseness and insignificance,
as a strapped vessel is held together by mending.
كَمُستَمسِكٍlike one clinging بِالحَبلِto a rope لَولاwere it not for اِعتِصامُهُhis holding fast
كَمُستَمسِكٍ بِالحَبلِ لَولا اِعتِصامُهُ
إِذنٌthen لَتَراماهُwould surely hurl him مِنَfrom الجَولِthe brink نَفنَفُa deep chasm
إِذنٌ لَتَراماهُ مِنَ الجَولِ نَفنَفُ
Like someone clinging to a rope: without his firm grip,
a deep chasm would surely have hurled him from the brink.
ينامُhe sleeps الضُحىlate morning حَتّىuntil يَطولَlengthens رُقادُهُhis slumber
ينامُ الضُحى حَتّى يَطولَ رُقادُهُ
وَيَقصُرُand keeps drawn سِتراًa curtain دونَagainst مَنwhoever يَتَضَيَّفُseeks hospitality
وَيَقصُرُ سِتراً دونَ مَن يَتَضَيَّفُ
He sleeps through the late morning, prolonging his slumber,
and keeps a curtain drawn against anyone seeking hospitality.
يَكونُhe is عَلىon الديوانِthe public register عِبأًa burden وَباعُهُand his reach
يَكونُ عَلى الديوانِ عِبأً وَباعُهُ
قَصيرٌshort كَإِبهامِlike the thumb of النُغاشِيِّa dwarf أَجدَفُstunted
قَصيرٌ كَإِبهامِ النُغاشِيِّ أَجدَفُ
He burdens the public register, and his reach
is short and stunted, like a dwarf's thumb.
وَإِنand if أُنزِلَare sent down الخُدَّامُthe servants يَوماًone day لِضَيعَةٍto an estate
وَإِن أُنزِلَ الخُدَّامُ يَوماً لِضَيعَةٍ
يُقالُit is said لَهُto him اِنزِلdismount عَنfrom حِمارِكَyour donkey أَقلَفُuncircumcised fellow
يُقالُ لَهُ اِنزِل عَن حِمارِكَ أَقلَفُ
If the servants are ever sent down to an estate,
he is told, 'Get off your donkey, uncircumcised fellow!'
وَإِنand if أَيَّهَcall out القَومُthe people الكِرامُnoble أَجابَهُanswered him
وَإِن أَيَّهَ القَومُ الكِرامُ أَجابَهُ
بِجُرجَيهِwith its two panniers مَوشِيُّmottled الأَكارِعِin the legs مُوكَفُpack-saddled
بِجُرجَيهِ مَوشِيُّ الأَكارِعِ مُوكَفُ
If noble folk call out, their caller is answered
by a pack-saddled, mottled-legged beast with two panniers.
عَلىupon تُكُآتٍleaning supports مِنof وَسائِدَcushions تَحتَهاunderneath them
عَلى تُكُآتٍ مِن وَسائِدَ تَحتَها
سَريرٌa couch كَأَنقاءِlike the sand-ridges of النَعامَةِal-Naʿāmah يَرجُفُtrembles
سَريرٌ كَأَنقاءِ النَعامَةِ يَرجُفُ
Upon supports of cushions, underneath which
a couch like the dunes of al-Naʿāmah trembles,
فَلَأياًso only with difficulty بِلَأيٍwith difficulty ماemphatic particle يُكَلِّمُhe speaks to ضَيفَهُhis guest
فَلَأياً بِلَأيٍ ما يُكَلِّمُ ضَيفَهُ
لِحينٍafter a while وَلاand not تِلكَthat المَطِيَّةُriding camel تُعلَفُis fed
لِحينٍ وَلا تِلكَ المَطِيَّةُ تُعلَفُ
only reluctantly and with great difficulty does he speak to his guest,
after a while; nor is that riding camel fed.
فَيُعطيso he gives قَليلاًa little أَوor يَكونُis عَطاؤُهُhis gift
فَيُعطي قَليلاً أَو يَكونُ عَطاؤُهُ
مَواعِدَpromises of بُخلٍstinginess دونَهاbefore them البابُthe door يَصرِفُturns people away
مَواعِدَ بُخلٍ دونَها البابُ يَصرِفُ
He gives a little, or his gift consists of
a miser's promises, with the door barring access to them:
رِصادَwaiting for سحوقِtowering النَخلِdate-palms يُرصَدُis watched for حِجَّةًa year
رِصادَ سحوقِ النَخلِ يُرصَدُ حِجَّةً
وَدونَand barring ثَراهاits bounty ليفُهاits palm-fiber المُتَلَيِّفُtangled
وَدونَ ثَراها ليفُها المُتَلَيِّفُ
like waiting for a towering date palm, watched for a year,
while its tangled fibers bar the way to its bounty.
وَإِنَّand indeed لَناwe have مِنamong نِعمَةِthe blessings of اللَهِGod هَجمَةًa large camel herd
وَإِنَّ لَنا مِن نِعمَةِ اللَهِ هَجمَةً
يُهَدهِدُbellows softly فيهاamong it ذوone with مَناكِبَshoulders أَكلَفُdusky-colored
يُهَدهِدُ فيها ذو مَناكِبَ أَكلَفُ
Yet among God's blessings we possess a great camel herd,
among which a dusky, heavy-shouldered bull gives low calls.
طَويلُlong القَرىof back خاظيthick البَضيعِof flesh كَأَنَّماas though
طَويلُ القَرى خاظي البَضيعِ كَأَنَّما
غَذَتهُnourished him دِيافٌDiyāf وَالقَصيلُand green fodder المُقَطَّفُfreshly cut
غَذَتهُ دِيافٌ وَالقَصيلُ المُقَطَّفُ
Long-backed and thick-fleshed, as though
Diyāf and freshly cut green fodder had nourished him.
إِذاwhen بَيَّتَتهُvisits him by night الريحُthe wind يُنبيrepels سَقيطُهاits dew
إِذا بَيَّتَتهُ الريحُ يُنبي سَقيطُها
خَبائِرُهُhis shaggy coat كَأَنَّماas though هِيَit قَرطَفُa fleecy blanket
خَبائِرُهُ كَأَنَّما هِيَ قَرطَفُ
When the wind visits him by night, its dew is repelled
by his shaggy coat, as though it were a fleecy blanket.
يُمَشّيwalks about عَلَيهاamong them يَرفَأَيٌّa Yarfaʾī herdsman كَأَنَّهُas though he
يُمَشّي عَلَيها يَرفَأَيٌّ كَأَنَّهُ
ظَليمٌa male ostrich بِصَحراءِin the desert of الأَباتِمِal-Abātim أَصدَفُsplay-legged
ظَليمٌ بِصَحراءِ الأَباتِمِ أَصدَفُ
A Yarfaʾī herdsman tends them, looking like
a splay-legged ostrich in the desert of al-Abātim.
وَنَجدِيَّةٌand Najd-born she-camels حُوٌّdark-colored كَأَنَّas though ضُروعَهاtheir udders
وَنَجدِيَّةٌ حُوٌّ كَأَنَّ ضُروعَها
أَداوىsmall water-skins سَقاهاfilled them with water مِنfrom جَلاميدَlarge rocks مُخلِفُa water-fetcher
أَداوى سَقاها مِن جَلاميدَ مُخلِفُ
And dark Najd-born she-camels, whose udders resemble
water-skins a water-fetcher has filled from rocky pools.
وَجَرداءُand a sleek mare مِنfrom آلِthe stock of الصَريحِal-Ṣarīḥ كَأَنَّهاas though she
وَجَرداءُ مِن آلِ الصَريحِ كَأَنَّها
قَناةٌa spear-shaft بَراهاpared it مُستَجيدٌseeking fine quality مُثَقِّفُa shaft-straightener
قَناةٌ بَراها مُستَجيدٌ مُثَقِّفُ
And a sleek mare of al-Ṣarīḥ's stock, resembling
a lance-shaft pared by a craftsman intent on perfection.
وَفِتيانُand young men of صِدقٍloyalty مِنamong عَطِيَّةِthe gifts of رَبِّناour Lord
وَفِتيانُ صِدقٍ مِن عَطِيَّةِ رَبِّنا
بِمِثلِهِمُwith their like نَأبىwe reject الظَلامَinjustice وَنَأنَفُand disdain it
بِمِثلِهِمُ نَأبى الظَلامَ وَنَأنَفُ
And true young men, among our Lord's gifts:
with their like we reject injustice and disdain it.
وَجُرثومَةٌand a rooted stock مِنfrom عِزِّthe honor of غَرفٍGharf وَمالِكٍand Mālik
وَجُرثومَةٌ مِن عِزِّ غَرفٍ وَمالِكٍ
يَفاعٌlofty إِلَيهاto it نَستَفيدُwe acquire wealth وَنُثلِفُand expend it
يَفاعٌ إِلَيها نَستَفيدُ وَنُثلِفُ
And a rooted stock in the honor of Gharf and Mālik,
lofty: to it we turn, acquiring wealth and spending it.
وَلَكِنbut لَياليناour nights بِبُرقَةِat the stony tract of بَرمَلٍBarmal
وَلَكِن لَيالينا بِبُرقَةِ بَرمَلٍ
وَهَضبِand the hills of شَرَورىSharawrā دونَناbeyond us لاnot تَصَدَّفُturn back
وَهَضبِ شَرَورى دونَنا لا تَصَدَّفُ
But our nights at the stony tract of Barmal
and Sharawrā's hills lie beyond us, never returning—
لَيالِيَnights when ماليmy wealth غامِرٌoverflowing لِعِيالِهاfor her dependents
لَيالِيَ مالي غامِرٌ لِعِيالِها
وَإِذand when أَناI بَرّاقُradiant العَشِيّاتِin the evenings أَهيَفُthirsting
وَإِذ أَنا بَرّاقُ العَشِيّاتِ أَهيَفُ
nights when my wealth overflowed for her household,
when I was radiant in the evenings, thirsting
إِلَيهاfor her وَلَكِنbut لاnot تَدومُendures خَليقَةٌa disposition
إِلَيها وَلَكِن لا تَدومُ خَليقَةٌ
لِمَنfor whoever فيin ذِراعَيهِhis two arms وُشومٌtattoos وَأَوقُفُand bracelets
لِمَن في ذِراعَيهِ وُشومٌ وَأَوقُفُ
for her; but no disposition endures
in one whose arms bear tattoos and bracelets.
وَداوِيَّةٍand a trackless desert بَينَbetween المياهِthe waters وَبَينَهاand between it
وَداوِيَّةٍ بَينَ المياهِ وَبَينَها
مَجالٌan expanse عَريضٌbroad لِلرِياحِfor the winds وَمَوقِفُand a halting place
مَجالٌ عَريضٌ لِلرِياحِ وَمَوقِفُ
And many a trackless desert, between which and the waters
lay a broad expanse for winds to roam and halt,
قَطَعتُI crossed إِلىtoward مَعروفِهاits known places مُنكَراتِهاits unfamiliar places
قَطَعتُ إِلى مَعروفِها مُنكَراتِها
بِعَيرانَةٍon a sturdy she-camel فيهاin her هِبابٌvigor وَعَجرَفُand impetuosity
بِعَيرانَةٍ فيها هِبابٌ وَعَجرَفُ
I crossed its unfamiliar reaches toward its known ones
on a sturdy she-camel full of vigor and impetuous speed.
هِجانٌwhite and purebred تَبُزُّrobs العُفرَpale gazelles فَيءَshade ظِلالِهاof their shadows
هِجانٌ تَبُزُّ العُفرَ فَيءَ ظِلالِها
وَتَذعَرُand startles أَسرابَflocks of القَطاsandgrouse يَتَصَيَّفُpassing the summer
وَتَذعَرُ أَسرابَ القَطا يَتَصَيَّفُ
A white camel, robbing pale gazelles of their sheltering shade,
and startling sandgrouse flocks as they pass the summer.
كَأَنّيas though I عَلىupon طاويlean الحَشاof belly باتَspent the night بَينَهُbetween it
كَأَنّي عَلى طاوي الحَشا باتَ بَينَهُ
وَبينَand between الصِباthe east wind مِنof رَملِthe sands of خَيفَقَKhayfaq أَحقُفُcurved dunes
وَبينَ الصِبا مِن رَملِ خَيفَقَ أَحقُفُ
As though I rode a lean-bellied beast that spent the night with
curved dunes of Khayfaq's sand between it and the east wind.
يَشيمُwatches البُروقَthe lightning الَلامِعاتِgleaming وَفَوقَهُand above it
يَشيمُ البُروقَ الَلامِعاتِ وَفَوقَهُ
مِنof الحاذِḥādh shrubs وَالأَرطىand arṭā shrubs كِناسٌa lair مُجَوَّفُhollowed out
مِن الحاذِ وَالأَرطى كِناسٌ مُجَوَّفُ
It watches the gleaming lightning, and above it
is a hollow shelter of ḥādh and arṭā shrubs.
يَكُفُّholds back بِرَوقَيهِwith its two horns الغُصونَthe branches وَيَنتَحيand strikes aside
يَكُفُّ بِرَوقَيهِ الغُصونَ وَيَنتَحي
بِظِلفَيهِwith its two hooves فيin هارِcrumbling النَقاthe sand-dune يَتَقَصَّفُbreaking apart
بِظِلفَيهِ في هارِ النَقا يَتَقَصَّفُ
It holds back branches with its two horns and strikes
with its two hooves into crumbling dune-sand, breaking it apart,
كَماas بَحثَdug into الحِسيَthe sand-well الكِلابِيَّKilābī مُنهِلٌa waterer
كَما بَحثَ الحِسيَ الكِلابِيَّ مُنهِلٌ
رِضابُsweet droplets of النَدىmoisture فيin روعِهِhis mind يَتَزَلَّفُdraw near
رِضابُ النَدى في روعِهِ يَتَزَلَّفُ
as a waterer digs a Kilābī sand-well,
the sweetness of moisture drawing near in his thoughts.
إِذاwhen ناطِفُdripping moisture of الأَرطاءِarṭā shrubs فَوقَabove جَبينِهِits brow
إِذا ناطِفُ الأَرطاءِ فَوقَ جَبينِهِ
تَحَدَّرَtrickled down جَلّىlooked out أَنجَلُwide العَينِof eye أَذلَفُsnub-nosed
تَحَدَّرَ جَلّى أَنجَلُ العَينِ أَذلَفُ
When drops from the arṭā branches above its brow
trickle down, the wide-eyed, snub-nosed beast peers out.
وَأَصبَحَand became مَولِيُّwetted by النَدىdew فيin مُرادِهِits grazing ground
وَأَصبَحَ مَولِيُّ النَدى في مُرادِهِ
عَلىupon ثَمرِthe fruit of البُركانِburkān shrubs وَالحادِand ḥād shrubs يَنطُفdrips
عَلى ثَمرِ البُركانِ وَالحادِ يَنطُف
Dew-drenched, it stands in its grazing ground,
dripping upon the fruit of burkān and ḥād shrubs.
فَلَمّاand when بَدَتappeared فيupon مَتنِهِits back الشَمسُthe sun غُدوَةًin the morning
فَلَمّا بَدَت في مَتنِهِ الشَمسُ غُدوَةً
وَأَقلَعَand lifted دَجنٌovercast ذوwith هَمائِمَrain-clouds أَوطَفُthick
وَأَقلَعَ دَجنٌ ذو هَمائِمَ أَوطَفُ
When the morning sun appeared upon its back,
and thick overcast, heavy with rain, lifted,
أَظَلَّتloomed لَهُover it مَسعورَةًa frenzied pack يَبتَغيseeks بِهاwith it
أَظَلَّت لَهُ مَسعورَةً يَبتَغي بِها
لُحومَthe flesh of الهَواديherd-leaders اِبناthe two sons of بُرَيدٍBurayd وَأَعرَفُand Aʿraf
لُحومَ الهَوادي اِبنا بُرَيدٍ وَأَعرَفُ
a frenzied pack came upon it, with which they sought
herd-leaders' flesh—Burayd's two sons and Aʿraf.
سَلوقِيِّةٌSaluki hounds حُصٌّshort-haired كَأَنَّas though عُيونَهاtheir eyes
سَلوقِيِّةٌ حُصٌّ كَأَنَّ عُيونَها
إِذاwhen حُرِّبَتincited جَمرٌembers بِظَلماءًin darkness مُسدِفُdark-shrouded
إِذا حُرِّبَت جَمرٌ بِظَلماءً مُسدِفُ
Short-haired Saluki hounds, whose eyes seem,
when incited, like coals amid enveloping darkness.
تُضَرَّىare set on بِآذانِat the ears of الوحوشِwild animals فَكُلُّهاso each of them
تُضَرَّى بِآذانِ الوحوشِ فَكُلُّها
حَفيفٌswift كَمِرّيخِlike the long arrow of المَناضِلِa target archer أَعجَفُlean
حَفيفٌ كَمِرّيخِ المَناضِلِ أَعجَفُ
They are set upon wild beasts' ears; each one
is swift and lean as a target archer's long arrow.
فَكَرَّso it wheeled بِرَوقَيهِwith its two horns كَمِيٌّa warrior مُناجِدٌvaliant
فَكَرَّ بِرَوقَيهِ كَمِيٌّ مُناجِدٌ
يَخُلُّpierces صُدورَthe chests of الهادِياتِthe foremost hounds وَيَخصِفُand pins together
يَخُلُّ صُدورَ الهادِياتِ وَيَخصِفُ
Then a valiant warrior wheeled with its two horns,
piercing the foremost hounds' chests and pinning them together.
فَلَمّاand when رَأَىit saw أَربابَهاtheir masters قَدalready دَنَواdrew near لَهُto it
فَلَمّا رَأَى أَربابَها قَد دَنَوا لَهُ
وَأَزهَفَهاand brought them down بَعضُsome الَّذيof what كانَit had been يُزهِفُdealing death
وَأَزهَفَها بَعضُ الَّذي كانَ يُزهِفُ
When it saw their masters drawing near,
and some of its deadly blows had brought the hounds down,
أَجَدَّpressed on وَلَمand did not يُعقِبturn back كَماas اِنقَضَّplunged كَوكَبٌa star
أَجَدَّ وَلَم يُعقِب كَما اِنقَضَّ كَوكَبٌ
وَذوand one with الكَربِdistress يَنجوescapes بَعدَماafter يُتَكَنَّفُis surrounded
وَذو الكَربِ يَنجو بَعدَما يُتَكَنَّفُ
it pressed on without turning back, like a plunging star;
one in distress escapes after being hemmed in.
وَأَصبَحَand became كَالبَرقِlike lightning اليَمانيYemeni وَدونَهُand between it and them
وَأَصبَحَ كَالبَرقِ اليَماني وَدونَهُ
حُقوفٌcurved dunes وَأَنقاءٌand sand-ridges مِنof الرَملِsand تَعزِفُsing
حُقوفٌ وَأَنقاءٌ مِن الرَملِ تَعزِفُ
It became like Yemeni lightning, separated from them by
curving dunes and sand-ridges that sang.
وَلَيلَةِand a night of نَجوىsecret counsel مُرجَحِنٌّheavy ظَلامُهاits darkness
وَلَيلَةِ نَجوى مُرجَحِنٌّ ظَلامُها
حَوامِلُهاits burden-bearers مِنfrom خَشيَةِfear of الشَرِّevil دُلَّفُmoving slowly
حَوامِلُها مِن خَشيَةِ الشَرِّ دُلَّفُ
And many a night of secret counsel, its darkness heavy,
its burden-bearers creeping for fear of evil—
مَخوفٍdreaded دواهيهاits calamities يَبيتُspends the night نَجِيُّهاits confidant
مَخوفٍ دواهيها يَبيتُ نَجِيُّها
كَأَنَّas though عَميداًone stricken بَينَbetween ظَهرَيهِthe two sides of his body مُدنَفُgravely ill
كَأَنَّ عَميداً بَينَ ظَهرَيهِ مُدنَفُ
its calamities dreaded, its confidant spends the night
as though a stricken, gravely ill heart lay within his breast.
إِذاwhen القَومُthe people قالواsaid مَنwho سَعيدٌfortunate بِهَذِهِthrough this
إِذا القَومُ قالوا مَن سَعيدٌ بِهَذِهِ
غَداةَthe morning of غَدٍtomorrow أَوor مَنwho يُلامُis blamed وَيُصلَفُand scorned
غَداةَ غَدٍ أَو مَن يُلامُ وَيُصلَفُ
When the people asked, 'Who will fare well through this
by tomorrow morning, or who be blamed and scorned?'
هُديتُI was guided لِمُنجىto the safety of القَومِthe people مِنfrom غَمَراتِهاits engulfing perils
هُديتُ لِمُنجى القَومِ مِن غَمَراتِها
نَجاءَthe swift escape of المُعَلّىal-Muʿallā يَستَبينُsees clearly وَيَعطِفُand turns back
نَجاءَ المُعَلّى يَستَبينُ وَيَعطِفُ
I found the way to save the people from its engulfing perils,
with al-Muʿallā's swiftness, discerning the way and turning back.
وَقومٍand a people تَمَنَّواwished for باطِلاًfalsehood فَرَدَدتُهُمso I turned them back
وَقومٍ تَمَنَّوا باطِلاً فَرَدَدتُهُم
وَإِنand although حَرَّفواtwisted أَنيابَهمtheir fangs وَتَلَهَّفواand lamented
وَإِن حَرَّفوا أَنيابَهم وَتَلَهَّفوا
And people who wished for falsehood—I turned them back,
though they twisted their fangs and lamented.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَمَنَّواthey wished for مُنيَةًa wish كُنتُI was بَينَهمbetween them
إِذا ما تَمَنَّوا مُنيَةً كُنتُ بَينَهم
وَبَينَand between المُنىthe wishes مِثلَlike الشَجاa throat-lodged bone يُتَحَرَّفُturns crosswise
وَبَينَ المُنى مِثلَ الشَجا يُتَحَرَّفُ
Whenever they wished for something, I stood between them
and their wishes, like a choking bone turning crosswise.
Translation model: Sol 6.1