كمhow many دونَshort of رايةRaya منof ذيpossessing جَفجفٍrugged ground جلدٍhard
كم دونَ راية من ذي جَفجفٍ جلدٍ
ومنand of سخاويّsoft sandy tracts أقيافsand ridges ومنand of عُقدِclustered dunes
ومن سخاويّ أقياف ومن عُقدِ
How much hard, rugged country lies between us and Raya,
How many under the banner of one with rough skin
And soft sandy ridges, and clustered dunes;
And generous companions and knots
وبلدةٍand a land كمَمرّlike the course of الشمسِthe sun طامسةٍtrackless
وبلدةٍ كمَمرّ الشمسِ طامسةٍ
تَيهاءَbewildering تذعرterrifies قُلبَthe heart of الباسلِthe brave النَّجدِthe valiant
تَيهاءَ تذعر قُلبَ الباسلِ النَّجدِ
And a trackless land as vast as the sun’s course,
And a land where the sun sets, darkened
A bewildering wilderness that terrifies the brave and valiant.
Lost, making the heart of the brave Najd tremble
شطَّتgrew distant برايةَwith Raya عناfrom us طيَّةٌa journey قِدَدٌbroken and uneven
شطَّت برايةَ عنا طيَّةٌ قِدَدٌ
زَوراءcrooked توهيweakens قوىthe strength of المهريةMahri camels الأجُدِstrongly built
زَوراء توهي قوى المهرية الأجُدِ
A far, broken journey has carried Raya away from us,
A blessed banner was raised for us, a strong one
A crooked way that saps the strength of sturdy Mahri camels.
False, bewildering the Amalekite forces, unyielding
بيضاءُfair كالشمسٍlike the sun مِعطارٌrichly perfumed خَدلجّةfull-limbed
بيضاءُ كالشمسٍ مِعطارٌ خَدلجّة
رَيَّاfull الروادفِthe hips لمhas not تحملconceived ولمand has not تلدِgiven birth
رَيَّا الروادفِ لم تحمل ولم تلدِ
Fair as the sun, richly perfumed, full-limbed,
White like the sun, scented, smooth
Full in the hips, she has neither conceived nor given birth.
A flag whose poles did not carry or give birth
رَادُslender-waisted الوشاحينthe two sashes ملءُfilling الدِّرعِthe shift بهكنةٌsoft and shapely
رَادُ الوشاحين ملءُ الدِّرعِ بهكنةٌ
أذكتْshe kindled بقلبيin my heart نارَthe fire of الشوقِlonging والكمدِand grief
أذكتْ بقلبي نارَ الشوقِ والكمدِ
Slender at her two sashes, filling her shift, soft and shapely,
The chests of the armored men filled with valor
She kindled in my heart the fire of longing and grief.
Igniting in my heart the fire of longing and yearning
برَّاقةُgleaming الجيدthe neck خَودٌa young beauty طفلةٌtender جمعتْshe gathered
برَّاقةُ الجيد خَودٌ طفلةٌ جمعتْ
ماwhat فيin الغزالةِthe gazelle منof حسنٍbeauty ومنand of غيَدٍsupple grace
ما في الغزالةِ من حسنٍ ومن غيَدٍ
Gleaming of neck, a tender young beauty, she gathered
The brightness of her cheek, the face of a young girl
All the gazelle’s beauty and supple grace.
Who gathered all the beauty and charm of a gazelle
كأنas though ريقتهاher saliva والفجرُwhile dawn منصدعٌis breaking
كأن ريقتها والفجرُ منصدعٌ
ماءwater of الغَمامِthe clouds جرىflowed رِفقاًgently علىover بَرَدhail
ماء الغَمامِ جرى رِفقاً على بَرَد
At the breaking of dawn, her saliva is like
As if her saliva and the dawn were cracked open
Cloud-water flowing gently over hail,
The rainwater of clouds flowed gently over ice
أوor قَرقَفٌstrong wine منfrom سُلافِthe first-run vintage of الخمرwine قدalready مزجتwas blended
أو قَرقَفٌ من سُلافِ الخمر قد مزجت
بذائبِwith melted الثلجِsnow فيin الكاساتِthe cups والشُّهدand honey
بذائبِ الثلجِ في الكاساتِ والشُّهد
Or strong wine of the purest first-run vintage, blended
Or it was the foam of wine mixed
With melted snow and honey in the cups.
With melted ice in cups and with nectar
كمhow many أقصلتshe cut down بسيوفwith the swords of الغنجcoquetry منof بطلٍa hero
كم أقصلت بسيوف الغنج من بطلٍ
ساطfierce in attack وكمand how many نفثتshe breathed upon بالسحرٍwith magic منof عقدknots
ساط وكم نفثت بالسحرٍ من عقد
How many a hero has she cut down with the swords of coquetry,
How many heroes I killed with swords in battle
Fierce in attack—and how many knots has she breathed upon with magic!
And how many knots I undid with magic
أقوتbecame deserted منازلهاher dwellings عصراًfor an age وغيرهاand altered them
أقوت منازلها عصراً وغيرها
كرthe recurrence of الأشدينthe twin rigors منof محلٍdrought ومنand of أمدlong duration
كر الأشدين من محلٍ ومن أمد
Her dwellings have stood empty for an age, altered
I strengthened her dwellings at times and others
By the recurring twin rigors of drought and long duration.
I frequented the valiant gathering places
لمdid not يبقleave فيهاin them مغيرthe ravager of البينseparation منany إرمٍa marker
لم يبق فيها مغير البين من إرمٍ
غيرexcept القليبthe well وغيرand except النويthe tent-trench والوتدand the tent peg
غير القليب وغير النوي والوتد
Separation’s ravager has left no marker there,
Nothing remained in them of a deceptive foe
Except the well, the tent-trench, and the tent peg,
Except pegs, plowshares, and tent poles
وغيرand except سفعٍblackened hearthstones يحاميمٍcoal-dark جنحنthey leaned علىover
وغير سفعٍ يحاميمٍ جنحن على
مستكهبٍgray-black كإهابlike the hide of الذئبthe wolf ملتبدmatted
مستكهبٍ كإهاب الذئب ملتبد
And soot-black, coal-dark stones leaning over
And except a howling wolf, wings folded
Gray-black ash, matted like a wolf’s hide.
Over a kindler, like the howling of a hyena
ياO دمنةًabandoned campsite أذهبtook away التفريقseparation بهجتهاits splendor
يا دمنةً أذهب التفريق بهجتها
عنهاaway from it وماand what كلall منof لهوٍmerriment بهاin it وددand play
عنها وما كل من لهوٍ بها ودد
O abandoned campsite, whose splendor separation took
O Damna, remove the joy of separation from her
Away, with all the merriment and play it held.
And not everyone who wants her, loves her
سقىmay water عراصكyour open courts بلnay حياكmay greet you منبعقa pouring cloud
سقى عراصك بل حياك منبعق
بماءwith water يسفحpours إسفاحاًin torrents بلاwithout نكدstint
بماء يسفح إسفاحاً بلا نكد
May a pouring cloud water your courts—nay, greet you
Water your camels, yes, your life, from a source
With water flooding freely, without stint,
That flows copiously without fatigue
يكسوclothes رباكyour hills وإنeven though بانتvanished معالمهاtheir landmarks
يكسو رباك وإن بانت معالمها
وشياًbrocade تبيدperish اللياليthe nights وهوwhile it لمdoes not يبدperish
وشياً تبيد الليالي وهو لم يبد
Clothing your hills, though their landmarks have vanished,
That covers your dwellings, even if their features fade
In brocade: the nights perish, but it does not.
A love that nights ruin but it is not ruined
إيهاenough! وعدand move on وسلand dispel الهمsorrow مدرعاًclad in
إيها وعد وسل الهم مدرعاً
ثوبthe robe of الغياهبdarkness وأنفand banish الهمcare بالسهدthrough wakefulness
ثوب الغياهب وأنف الهم بالسهد
Enough! Move on, and cast off sorrow, clad
Come, fulfill the promise, and carry the worry
In the robe of darkness, and banish care through wakefulness,
Wearing the garment of darkness, leading the worry to forgetfulness
بحرةon a noble she-camel منfrom بناتthe daughters of الفحلthe camel sire ذعلبةٍswift and light
بحرة من بنات الفحل ذعلبةٍ
عيرانةٍstrong as a wild ass عنتريسٍmassive and powerful جسرةٍtall and sturdy أجدfirmly built
عيرانةٍ عنتريسٍ جسرةٍ أجد
On a noble daughter of a camel sire, swift and light,
A sea of she-camels from the stallion's progeny
Strong as a wild ass, massive, tall, and firmly built.
Agile, energetic, fleet
غلباءthick-necked تهبcleaves غولthe vast extent of البيدthe desert wastes قادرةpowerful
غلباء تهب غول البيد قادرة
كماjust as تشققare torn apart أسمالtatters of الملابيدfelt cloaks
كما تشقق أسمال الملابيد
Thick-necked and powerful, she cleaves the wastes’ vast stretches,
Victorious, bringing down the calamities of fate
As tattered felt cloaks are torn apart.
As mountain passes crack and split
ترميscans المروتthe bare plains إذاwhen ماever أظهرتentered noon وطفاand floated
ترمي المروت إذا ما أظهرت وطفا
آلthe mirage of الظهورthe uplands بعينيwith the two eyes of ناشطٍa roaming wild bull فردsolitary
آل الظهور بعيني ناشطٍ فرد
She scans the bare plains at noon, when there floats
They cast spears when their flanks appear
The uplands’ mirage, with the eyes of a solitary roaming wild bull,
At the eyes of an active, solo horseman
أقبlean-bellied أزهرbright white مثلlike السيفthe sword منشرحٍbroad-chested
أقب أزهر مثل السيف منشرحٍ
مستوحشٍsolitary لهذمblade-sharp الروقينthe two horns ذوpossessing جددstreaks
مستوحشٍ لهذم الروقين ذو جدد
Lean-bellied, bright as a sword, broad-chested,
Nearer in shape to a sword, open, unsheathed
Solitary, with blade-sharp horns and streaked markings.
Wild, with this firmly-rooted stock
كأنas though رحليmy saddle بذاتat Dhat الإثلal-Ithl (tamarisks) شدwas fastened علىto
كأن رحلي بذات الإثل شد على
أعلىthe uppermost part of طريقةthe back-stripe of فحلthe stallion of العانةthe wild-ass herd الوحدsolitary
أعلى طريقة فحل العانة الوحد
At Dhat al-Ithl, my saddle seemed fastened to
As if my camel litter was tied atop
The upper back-stripe of the wild-ass herd’s lone stallion,
The highest saddle of a superior stallion
جأبٍstout رباعٍmature-toothed أقبlean-bellied لابطنwithout a paunch صهصلقloud-voiced
جأبٍ رباعٍ أقب لابطن صهصلق
مكدمbite-scarred أخدريAkhdari wild ass أحقبٍwhite-bellied عتيدstalwart
مكدم أخدري أحقبٍ عتيد
Stout and mature-toothed, lean, flat-bellied, loud-voiced,
Sturdy, square-built, bulging belly
Bite-scarred, an Akhdari, white-bellied and stalwart.
Hard-hoofed, fast, prepared
يُزجيdrives on أْتاناًa she-ass توَّخاهاhe sought her بآلتهِwith his member
يُزجي أْتاناً توَّخاها بآلتهِ
لحملfor pregnancy فاشتملتso she conceived منهby him علىwith ولدِa foal
لحمل فاشتملت منه على ولدِ
He drives on a she-ass whom he sought with his member
It makes the mares, which he selected with his tool, carry
To make her pregnant, and she conceived a foal by him.
And they conceived his offspring
فظلَّso he kept يكدمُهاbiting her حالاًat one moment وتركلهand she kicks him
فظلَّ يكدمُها حالاً وتركله
حالاًat another moment ويرفعهاand urges her faster بالشلّwith driving on والطَّردِand pursuit
حالاً ويرفعها بالشلّ والطَّردِ
He kept biting her at one moment, while she kicked him
He kept tiring them sometimes and kicking them
At another, and he drove her faster with chasing and pursuit.
Other times, lifting them with prods and blows
حتىuntil إذاwhen وَافياthey both arrived والحرُّwhile the heat متَّقدٌwas blazing
حتى إذا وَافيا والحرُّ متَّقدٌ
فيon شامسٍa sun-scorched day قمطريرٍsevere عابسٍscowling وَقدِfiery
في شامسٍ قمطريرٍ عابسٍ وَقدِ
Until the two arrived, while the heat blazed,
Until when they arrived, and the heat was blazing
On a sun-baked, grim, scowling, fiery day,
In a hot, sweltering, frowning sun, flaming
علىat مُطحلبةٍan algae-covered pool ينشقُparts طحلبُهاits algae
على مُطحلبةٍ ينشقُ طحلبُها
عنto reveal أزرقٍblue water غيرnot ضحضاحٍshallow ولاnor ثمدِscant water
عن أزرقٍ غير ضحضاحٍ ولا ثمدِ
At an algae-covered pool whose algae part
At a salt marsh, whose salt was cracking
To reveal blue water, neither shallow nor scant,
Revealing blue, neither muddy nor still
مَسجورةٍbrimming سُترتwas screened بالغابِby reeds جِمَّتُهاits gathered water
مَسجورةٍ سُترت بالغابِ جِمَّتُها
تفترُّopens smiling عنupon جدولٍa stream كالسيفِlike a sword مُطَّردِsteadily flowing
تفترُّ عن جدولٍ كالسيفِ مُطَّردِ
Brimming, its gathered water screened by reeds,
Cooked, covered by trees, its multitude
Smiling upon a stream running straight as a sword.
Bubbling from a stream, like an unsheathed sword
فخضخضاso they both splashed بُردهُits cool water خوضاًwading فراعهماthen startled them both
فخضخضا بُردهُ خوضاً فراعهما
ركزa faint sound تثوَّرَrose منfrom ذيa bearer of أسهمٍarrows جَردِbare
ركز تثوَّرَ من ذي أسهمٍ جَردِ
They splashed and waded in its cool water, and both were startled
They both snorted heavily, frightened
By a faint sound rising from a bearer of bare arrows.
Tearing the ground in panic, skinning the monster violently
فاخرthen they sped— وّطا—away ينسفانthey both scatter الأرضthe earth منfrom فزعterror
فاخر وّطا ينسفان الأرض من فزع
نسفاًscattering وينتهبانand they both devour الغولَthe vast distance بالجَلدِwith endurance
نسفاً وينتهبان الغولَ بالجَلدِ
Then they sped away, flinging up the earth in terror,
Was that him or a talkative, raven-black hyena
Flinging it up, and devouring the vast distance with their endurance.
With drooping ears, fur matted and tangled?
أذاكَis it that أمor خاضبٌa red-legged male ostrich حُمشٌslender شوَامتهhis legs
أذاكَ أم خاضبٌ حُمشٌ شوَامته
هجنَّعٌtall and long-necked أصلمُearless الأذُنينِthe two ears ذوhaving رَبَدِdusky-gray coloring
هجنَّعٌ أصلمُ الأذُنينِ ذو رَبَدِ
Is it that, or a red-legged ostrich, its legs slender,
He made it neglect its eggs one day as he incubated them
Tall and long-necked, earless, dusky-gray?
While it was busy with drowsiness and hunting
ألهاهَdistracted him عنfrom بيضهِhis eggs يوماًone day وأفُرخهand his chicks
ألهاهَ عن بيضهِ يوماً وأفُرخه
تَقطافهhis plucking ثمرَthe fruit of التَّنومِtannum plants والقَصَدِand qasad plants
تَقطافه ثمرَ التَّنومِ والقَصَدِ
One day he was distracted from his eggs and chicks
Until the white one threw her claws
By his plucking the fruit of tannum and qasad plants.
Into an infidel's chest, devoid of hope and firmness
حتىuntil إذاwhen ألقتcast البيضاءُthe bright sun أنملهُاher fingertips
حتى إذا ألقت البيضاءُ أنملهُا
فيinto كافرٍconcealing night ريعَwas alarmed منby أملhope ومنand by صردِcold
في كافرٍ ريعَ من أمل ومن صردِ
Until the bright sun cast her fingertips
So it hurried back, chasing the eggs
Into concealing night; longing and cold alarmed him.
And the rain of calamities came from the lion
فارفَدَّthen he rushed مطَّرداًstraight on للبيضِtoward the eggs ساهكةًa scouring gale
فارفَدَّ مطَّرداً للبيضِ ساهكةً
جاءتْcame بوابلwith a downpour شؤبوبٍa rainburst منfrom الأسدِLeo
جاءتْ بوابل شؤبوبٍ من الأسدِ
Then he rushed straight toward the eggs; a scouring gale
Like a slave with a grey mane, frightened by
Came with a downpour, a rainburst from Leo.
A sheep bleating between blue and tanned leather
كالعبدِlike the slave ذيwearing الفروةِthe fur cloak الرَّبداءِdust-gray اقلقهtroubled him
كالعبدِ ذي الفروةِ الرَّبداءِ اقلقه
شاءٌsheep ذواهبُstraying بينbetween الزُّرقal-Zurq فالجُردِand al-Jurd
شاءٌ ذواهبُ بين الزُّرق فالجُردِ
Like a slave in a dust-gray fur cloak, troubled
As if it were a shepherd's shelter, propped up
By sheep straying between al-Zurq and al-Jurd.
With ropes and tent poles
كأنهas though he were بيتُthe hut of راعيthe shepherd of سُلَّةٍa flock سَمِقٍlofty
كأنه بيتُ راعي سُلَّةٍ سَمِقٍ
أوor هودجٍa howdah حفَّsurrounded بالأنماطِwith patterned coverings والنَّجَدِand rich furnishings
أو هودجٍ حفَّ بالأنماطِ والنَّجَدِ
As though he were the lofty hut of a flock’s shepherd,
Or a howdah draped in patterned coverings and rich furnishings.
Partial English translation: 68 of 70 Arabic lines translated.