وَقفتُI halted علىat رَبْعٍa dwelling-site لِرايةَbelonging to Raya ناقتيmy she-camel
وَقفتُ على رَبْعٍ لِرايةَ ناقتي
أريقُI pour out سَماthe rain جفنيof my eyelid بهat it وأسائُلهْand question it
أريقُ سَما جفني به وأسائُلهْ
I halted my she-camel at Raya's deserted dwelling,
I stood at the ruins of the abode of my she-camel,
pouring out my eyelid's rain there and questioning it.
Tears raining from my eyelids as I questioned it,
وكيفَand how يُردcan return الرَّجعَan answer ربعٌa dwelling-site مخلَّدٌlong-enduring
وكيفَ يُرد الرَّجعَ ربعٌ مخلَّدٌ
بحيثُwhere الغضاthe ghada shrubs أقوَتbecame deserted سنيناًfor years منازلهْits dwellings
بحيثُ الغضا أقوَت سنيناً منازلهْ
How can an enduring ruin return an answer,
How can a ruined abode return the returning?
where the ghada grows, its dwellings deserted for years?
Where the passing years had strengthened its dwellings.
عفاvanished غيرexcept سُفعdarkened stones كالحمائمlike doves جُثَّمٍcrouching
عفا غير سُفع كالحمائم جُثَّمٍ
وأورَقand gray ash باٍدvisible فيin الخصاصاتthe gaps جائُلهْits drifting particles
وأورَق باٍد في الخصاصات جائُلهْ
All has vanished save dark stones crouching like doves,
It remained roofless like nesting doves,
and gray ash whose drifting particles show through the gaps,
Its poles leafless amidst dense shrubs,
ونؤيٍand a rain-ditch كجذمlike the remnant الحوضof a basin أثلمَbroken خاشعٍsunken
ونؤيٍ كجذم الحوض أثلمَ خاشعٍ
وأشعثًand a rough stone فردٍsolitary شجَّwas chipped بالفهرby a pounding-stone عاطُلهْits bare side
وأشعثً فردٍ شجَّ بالفهر عاطُلهْ
and a broken, sunken rain-ditch like a basin's remnant,
Its basin-like trough lay darkened and humbled,
and a lone, rough stone, its bare side chipped by a pounding-stone.
Its useless ropes left dangling by the abandoned tent pegs.
بِهin it كلُّevery شحَّاجٍbraying wild ass إلىtoward كلَّevery long-backed she-ass سمْحجٍa long-backed she-ass
بِه كلُّ شحَّاجٍ إلى كلَّ سمْحجٍ
تُعالجُهshe struggles with him أنَّىwhenever أنبرىhe advances وتمِاطلهْand puts him off
تُعالجُه أنَّى أنبرى وتمِاطلهْ
There, every braying wild ass turns toward a long-backed mate;
To it, every mendicant inclines to each generous one,
she struggles with him whenever he advances, and holds him off.
Howsoever he cries out to it, it evades and eludes him,
وسيدٍand a wolf وسمعٍand a wolf–hyena cross والخُفارand the khufar beast وفُرعلٍand a hyena cub
وسيدٍ وسمعٍ والخُفار وفُرعلٍ
وأرقطand a spotted beast إنif صالit charges استكانتcower فراعلهْits cubs
وأرقط إن صال استكانت فراعلهْ
And a wolf, a simʿ, the khufar beast, and a hyena cub,
As well as the chief, the famed, the guards and the nobles,
and a spotted beast whose young cower when it charges.
Even the swift-footed if he prayed, its tent pegs obeyed him.
فسلso put aside الهوىlove واستحَملand make carry الهمَّthe sorrow بازلاa mature camel
فسل الهوى واستحَمل الهمَّ بازلا
رعتهُgrazed on it الفيافيthe deserts فاسلهمَّتْso grew gaunt كواِهلهْits withers
رعتهُ الفيافي فاسلهمَّتْ كواِهلهْ
So put love aside and load your sorrow on a mature camel.
So I asked of love and bore the worries patiently,
The deserts have grazed on it, leaving its withers gaunt.
Its food carried off by hyenas, so its shoulders were bared.
كأنيas though I شددتُbound الرَّحلthe saddle فيon متنthe back ناشطof a roaming wild bull
كأني شددتُ الرَّحل في متن ناشط
قذيفheavy-fleshed يوارىis hidden النحضthe muscle والنَّيُّand fat شاملهْenvelops it
قذيف يوارى النحض والنَّيُّ شاملهْ
As though I bound the saddle to a roaming wild bull's back,
As if I had tightened the saddle on an active she-camel,
heavy-fleshed, its muscle hidden beneath enveloping fat.
A projectile, hiding the mound and the intention within.
شَبوبٍfull-grown أجمَّhornless الرَّوقof horn قهدِwhite محدَّدٍsharply built
شَبوبٍ أجمَّ الرَّوق قهدِ محدَّدٍ
سبحّلٍmassive أضاعتهُabandoned it أصيلاًat dusk حلائلهْits mates
سبحّلٍ أضاعتهُ أصيلاً حلائلهْ
A full-grown bull, hornless, white and sharply built,
In the vigor of youth, the provisions limited,
massive, abandoned at dusk by its mates.
An origional lost by the separating calamities.
فأمسىso it passed the evening وَحيداًalone مُفرداًseparated منfrom نعاجِهits cows
فأمسى وَحيداً مُفرداً من نعاجِه
يقابلُit faces أهوالَthe terrors السُّرىof night travel وتُقابلُهْand they face it
يقابلُ أهوالَ السُّرى وتُقابلُهْ
So it passed the evening alone, parted from its cows,
So it remained alone, singular, apart from its ewes,
facing the terrors of night travel, which faced it in return.
Confronting the horrors of travel, and they confronting it.
يَسحُّit runs swiftly انسلالَwith the slipping movement السمعof the wolf–hyena cross فيin ظلthe shadow أغضفِof a dense dark cloud
يَسحُّ انسلالَ السمع في ظل أغضفِ
يُطحطحrumbles and crashes فيهwithin it غَيمُةa cloud وغياِطلهْand its thick cloudbanks
يُطحطح فيه غَيمُة وغياِطلهْ
It runs, slipping like a simʿ beneath a dense, dark cloud,
It sweeps its hearing in the shade of the oleander bushes,
where cloud and thick cloudbanks rumble and crash.
Where a small cloud clucks, and its showers leak through.
يُريعit returns to كناساًa lair ساتراًsheltering يتقيit protects itself بِهِwith it
يُريع كناساً ساتراً يتقي بِهِ
سَماthe rain ُمسبكرٍof a towering cloud بلَّsoaked متنيهboth its flanks وابلهْits downpour
سَما ُمسبكرٍ بلَّ متنيه وابلهْ
It returns to a sheltering lair, protecting itself there
It pastures like an obscuring cloud, taking cover thereby,
from a towering cloud's rain, whose downpour has soaked both its flanks.
From time long buried in clouds, delivering its rain.
فَبَلَso it settled بأرطاةٍby an arta shrub علىafter غبthe aftermath بأسهِof its ordeal
فَبَلَ بأرطاةٍ على غب بأسهِ
بمعتلجin a tangled patch قدْalready لبَّدتهhad matted it flat هَواطلهْits downpours
بمعتلج قدْ لبَّدته هَواطلهْ
It settled by an arta shrub after its ordeal,
So it endured with a resolve, in spite of its weakness,
in a tangled patch the downpours had matted flat.
Driven to desperation, its knees almost buckling.
فهدَّthen it smashed انْصياعاًwith a swerve نابتاًgrowing shoots فيat نِصابهاits base
فهدَّ انْصياعاً نابتاً في نِصابها
بروقيهwith its two horns والدَّيجورُwhile the darkness سفُعٌwas dusky ذلاذلهْits trailing skirts
بروقيه والدَّيجورُ سفُعٌ ذلاذلهْ
Then, swerving, it smashed the growth at the shrub's base
When it said, “The troops have come at us from all sides,”
with its two horns, while darkness trailed its dusky skirts.
The cavalry descended on him, an immense collapse.
إذاwhenever قالit said ياah قدnow صارَhas become كنَّاa shelter ترادفتْfollowed in succession
إذا قال يا قد صارَ كنَّا ترادفتْ
عليهupon it اقاصِيthe farthest ranks الخيلof horses وانقاضand crashes هائلهْof what terrified it
عليه اقاصِي الخيل وانقاض هائلهْ
Whenever it said, ‘Ah, now this is shelter,’ there followed
And it spent a terrible night, while its fears for itself kept it awake,
upon it far-off horses and crashes that frightened it.
And when the corner of dawn cracked, its brother came to it.
وباتand spent the night يُقاسيenduring لَيلةًa night نَابغيةًlike al-Nabigha's
وبات يُقاسي لَيلةً نَابغيةً
سميراهُits two night-companions فيهاin it رَوْعُهُits terror وأفاكلهْand its tremors
سميراهُ فيها رَوْعُهُ وأفاكلهْ
It endured a night like al-Nabigha's,
Lean, worn, his cloak patched, a gritty nomad,
its companions through it being terror and trembling.
Few are his camels, his face emaciated and barren.
فماscarcely افترَّsmiled ثغرُthe mouth الفجرِof dawn حتىwhen انبرىemerged لهُagainst it
فما افترَّ ثغرُ الفجرِ حتى انبرى لهُ
أخوa keeper of أكلبٍdogs لُدٍfierce عَنيدٍstubborn يخاتلهْscheming against it
أخو أكلبٍ لُدٍ عَنيدٍ يخاتلهْ
Dawn's mouth had scarcely smiled when there emerged against it
He circles a barren land like a lost camel,
a man with fierce dogs, stubborn and scheming against it:
Disheveled, covered in grime, his saddlebags equal.
نحيفُthin الشَّوىof limbs باليwearing worn-out السَّرابيلgarments مرملٌpenniless
نحيفُ الشَّوى بالي السَّرابيل مرملٌ
قليلُlittle given to التَّصابيyouthful folly ساهمُhaggard الوجهof face قاحلهits withered features
قليلُ التَّصابي ساهمُ الوجه قاحله
thin-limbed, in worn garments, penniless,
Bleary, like wine skins, and stinking,
seldom given to youthful folly, his face drawn and withered.
Jostled by his young she-camels, their necklaces pulling.
يطوفُhe goes about بغُضفٍwith droop-eared dogs كالحاتٍsnarling شوازبlean
يطوفُ بغُضفٍ كالحاتٍ شوازب
مسوجرةٍcollared شعثٍshaggy ضوارِpredatory تشاكلهْresembling him
مسوجرةٍ شعثٍ ضوارِ تشاكلهْ
He goes about with droop-eared, snarling, lean dogs,
So he released them from their hobbles, returning,
collared, shaggy, predatory, resembling him,
Sure that they were his defenders in the fight.
مُهرَّتةٍwide-mouthed مثلlike السَّراحينِwolves وقحٍfearless
مُهرَّتةٍ مثل السَّراحينِ وقحٍ
تُجاذبهاstrain against them أمْراسُهhis ropes وسَلالهْand his leashes
تُجاذبها أمْراسُه وسَلالهْ
wide-mouthed as wolves and fearless,
And she prompted and called to him from behind,
his ropes and leashes straining against them.
Charging at him again and again, unrelenting.
فحلَّلthen he released منfrom أسيارِهنّtheir thongs مُؤلياًswearing
فحلَّل من أسيارِهنّ مُؤلياً
عَليهagainst it يَقيناًwith certainty أنهُنَّthat they قَواِتلهْwould kill it
عَليه يَقيناً أنهُنَّ قَواِتلهْ
Then he released them from their thongs, swearing
When he realized she was unveiling her face,
with certainty that they would kill the bull.
With a rectangular strip of cloth, her fine muslin veils.
فأوحىso it sped وأوحتand sped خلفهُbehind it مشْمَعلَّةٌa swift pack
فأوحى وأوحت خلفهُ مشْمَعلَّةٌ
تصارمهُlosing contact with it طوراًat times وطوراًand at times تواصلهْdrawing close to it
تصارمهُ طوراً وطوراً تواصلهْ
The bull sped off; a swift pack sped behind it,
He imagined and was too shy because of the honor, and turned away,
now falling away from it, now drawing close again.
Like the glance of a linked arrow, glancing off a solid surface.
فُمذْbut when أدركتْهُthey caught it وهوwhile it يكسوclothed وجوههاtheir faces
فُمذْ أدركتْهُ وهو يكسو وجوهها
براقعَin veils نقعٍof dust مستطيلٍstretching far قساطلهْits dust clouds
براقعَ نقعٍ مستطيلٍ قساطلهْ
But when they caught it, as it clothed their faces
He rammed her with the point of his spear,
in veils of dust whose clouds stretched far,
As the owl rams the drinking doves at a watering hole.
تخيَّلَit grew proud واستحياand felt ashamed منof الفرّfleeing وانَثنىand wheeled around
تخيَّلَ واستحيا من الفرّ وانَثنى
كماas مرَّflew سهمan arrow رابطُsteadfast الجأشin heart باسلهْits courageous spirit
كما مرَّ سهم رابطُ الجأش باسلهْ
it grew proud, ashamed of fleeing, and wheeled around,
And he stabbed her first with a raging blow,
like a flying arrow, its heart steadfast and its courage fierce.
Spilling her insides with his effective blade.
يُسّفدُهاit impales them دعساًwith thrusts بإبرةwith the needlepoint روْقهِof its horn
يُسّفدُها دعساً بإبرة روْقهِ
كماشكَّas one skewers فيon سَفودِa roasting-spit شَرْبِof drinkers خرادلهْits meat morsels
كماشكَّ في سَفودِ شَرْبِ خرادلهْ
It skewers them with thrusts of its horn's needlepoint,
Another came upon him and pierced him with his spear,
like meat morsels threaded on revelers' roasting-spit.
So he fell, and all his joints were immobilized.
وَبادَرand met swiftly أشقاهاthe most luckless of them بِطعنةِwith a thrust ثَاِئْرof an avenger
وَبادَر أشقاها بِطعنةِ ثَاِئْر
فضرَّجَand stained with blood بالمكنونwith blood from within دفيهِits two flanks فاعلهْits striker
فضرَّجَ بالمكنون دفيهِ فاعلهْ
It met the most luckless with an avenger's thrust,
Misfortune then finished him off, as the doomed man perished,
the striker staining its two flanks with blood from within.
Misfortune destroys the man of ill fate in haste.
ووافاهand reached it ثانٍa second dog فأتَّقاهُso it warded it off بِروقهِwith its horn
ووافاه ثانٍ فأتَّقاهُ بِروقهِ
فخرَّso it fell وقَدhaving already مجَّتْspewed بجيعاًthick blood مفاصلهْits joints
فخرَّ وقَد مجَّتْ بجيعاً مفاصلهْ
A second reached it; it warded the dog off with its horn.
Then a fourth one depended, when he attacked him,
The dog fell, its joints already spewing thick blood.
On the expert wielder of spears, his weapon at the ready.
وعاجلهُand rushed it إذat ذاكَthat moment ضروّa savage dog فَساطَهُso it pierced its entrails
وعاجلهُ إذ ذاكَ ضروّ فَساطَهُ
وقدْand sometimes يهلكdestroys المرءَa man المواشكthe hasty one عاجلهْhis sudden assailant
وقدْ يهلك المرءَ المواشك عاجلهْ
A savage dog rushed it then, and it pierced the dog's entrails.
So they fled like flooding wadis, the horses stampeding dispersed,
A hasty man may be slain by his sudden assailant.
As they had fled from the darkness of a fiery, churning sea.
وَناطand hung اعتماداًdeliberately رَابعاًa fourth dog حينwhen ناشَهُit lunged at it
وَناط اعتماداً رَابعاً حين ناشَهُ
علىon لهذميّa keen blade عاملthe point الرُّمحof a spear عاملهْits piercing tip
على لهذميّ عامل الرُّمح عاملهْ
It deliberately hung a fourth when the dog lunged at it,
But he startled them when they scattered in alarm,
upon a keen blade whose point was a spearhead.
Though they had carried the violence of his hands as burdens.
ففرَّتso they fled شلالاًdriven off تنهبُdevouring الجريُthe run شُرَّداًscattered
ففرَّت شلالاً تنهبُ الجريُ شُرَّداً
كماas فرَّfled منamong ظلِمانِmale ostriches ذيDhu قارَQar جافلهْits fleeing flock
كما فرَّ من ظلِمانِ ذي قارَ جافلهْ
The rest fled, scattered and driven off, devouring the course,
So they returned, and the lone singular man returned animated,
like the fleeing flock of male ostriches at Dhu Qar.
Plucking at them with whatever parts of him could manage it.
فَنحنحَهاthen he called them لمَّاwhen ابذعَّرتthey scattered بصلقهٍwith a shout
فَنحنحَها لمَّا ابذعَّرت بصلقهٍ
وقدand already حَملتhad filled بأساwith force يديهhis two hands أياطلهْhis flanks
وقد حَملت بأسا يديه أياطلهْ
The hunter called them back with a shout when they scattered,
When the dogs saw there was no escape
his flanks lending his hands fierce strength.
For their dogs, and the bull was charging fiercely,
فعادتso they returned فعادَand returned الأخنسُthe snub-nosed one الفردُthe solitary one عامرٌAmir
فعادت فعادَ الأخنسُ الفردُ عامرٌ
يُجدَّلُfelling منfrom among أذمارهاtheir bold males ماwhichever يعاجلهْrushes it
يُجدَّلُ من أذمارها ما يعاجلهْ
They returned; lone, snub-nosed Amir returned to the fight,
They called them, and they poured down on him from all sides,
felling whichever of their bold males rushed him.
Eight earnest ones besetting him from every side.
فَلماthen when رأىsaw الكلاَّبُthe huntsman أنthat لاno سلامةٌsafety
فَلما رأى الكلاَّبُ أن لا سلامةٌ
لأكلبهِfor his dogs والثَّورَand the bull قدhad جدَّgrown serious هازلهْits playful side
لأكلبهِ والثَّورَ قد جدَّ هازلهْ
When the huntsman saw that there was no safety
So he turned and fled the circle of troughs, defeated,
for his dogs, and the bull's play had turned earnest,
Bearing a distress that tearing could not diminish for him.
دَعاهنَّhe called them فانصبتْso they streamed عليهtoward him لواقحاًwith ears pricked
دَعاهنَّ فانصبتْ عليه لواقحاً
ثمانيةٌeight مُستوْقَصاتٍwith necks drawn short تُقابلهْfacing him
ثمانيةٌ مُستوْقَصاتٍ تُقابلهْ
he called them, and they streamed toward him with ears pricked:
Is this so? Or did I whip the criticizers, muted,
eight, with necks drawn short, stood facing him.
Confused, his honor shredded, his shoulders burdened?
فوَلىthen it sped away انبتاتَlike the snapping free الدَّلوانِof a great bucket خانَbetrayed ماتحاًa water-drawer
فوَلى انبتاتَ الدَّلوانِ خانَ ماتحاً
لَهاbelonging to it كَربٌan attachment-rope لمdid not يألهneglect it الفتلin twisting فاتلهْits twister
لَها كَربٌ لم يأله الفتل فاتلهْ
The bull sped away like a great bucket snapping free, its drawer betrayed
Beside five locks of the Zanj’s hair that had captured him,
by its attachment-rope, though the twister spared no effort in twisting it.
Ringlets of those like him, none equaling his perfections.
أذلكَwas it that أمor شَخْتُslender الشّوامتِin the legs مفحمٌcoal-black
أذلكَ أم شَخْتُ الشّوامتِ مفحمٌ
هبلٌّhuge أثيثُthick الزفِّwith down شمٌّhigh كواهلهْits shoulders
هبلٌّ أثيثُ الزفِّ شمٌّ كواهلهْ
Was it that bull, or a coal-black, slender-legged ostrich,
I travelled the miles of every desolate expanse,
huge, thick with down, its shoulders towering?
For a matter I undertake despite the kings’ disapproval.
لدىwith فروةٍa pelt خمسٍfive منof الزنجthe Zanj حَفَّهُsurrounded it
لدى فروةٍ خمسٍ من الزنج حَفَّهُ
طماطمُunintelligible speakers منamong أشباههِits likenesses ماnever تزايلهْleave it
طماطمُ من أشباههِ ما تزايلهْ
With a pelt like that of five Zanj, surrounded by
And a blond entertainer whose cup I disputed,
unintelligible-voiced creatures like itself, never leaving it.
More delicious than the finest wine, her beauty apparent.
رَعىit grazed on الآءa' shrubs والتنوُّمand tannum حتىuntil كأنهُit seemed like
رَعى الآء والتنوُّم حتى كأنهُ
بعلياءَon high ground بيتٍa house شيدَwas built للبدوfor desert dwellers مائلهْits sloping side
بعلياءَ بيتٍ شيدَ للبدو مائلهْ
It grazed on a' and tannum until it looked like
And a white woman, pure as a virgin, I courted her,
a house on high ground, its sloping side built for desert dwellers.
And her family, while the night lay green, concealing us.
يزجيَّهِdrive it للأدْحيّto the nesting hollow ليلٌnight وحاصبٌand a gravel-lashing wind
يزجيَّهِ للأدْحيّ ليلٌ وحاصبٌ
وذوand a cloud bearing بردhail مغلنفطdense الودقwith rain هاطلهْits downpour
وذو برد مغلنفط الودق هاطلهْ
Night and a gravel-lashing wind drive it to its nesting hollow,
So she said, “You’ve persisted in this shameful slander against me,
and a hail-bearing cloud, its rain dense and pouring.
While theLiving never sleeps, nor is unaware.”
تُغاليهِshe vies with it فيin الأيغالِranging far سقْفاءُa long-legged hen صعلةٌsmall-headed
تُغاليهِ في الأيغالِ سقْفاءُ صعلةٌ
جَراوّيةٌّswift-running تترىcome in succession لهاupon her فتُعاجلهْso she hastens it on
جَراوّيةٌّ تترى لها فتُعاجلهْ
A long-legged, small-headed hen vies with it in ranging far,
So I kissed her mouth as she pulled away,
swift-running; storms come upon her in succession, and she hastens it on.
Her tears watering the stream, pouring down.
عِراصٌhurrying لبيضto eggs بينَamid قيضٍshell fragments لدمنهٍat a littered nest
عِراصٌ لبيض بينَ قيضٍ لدمنهٍ
تقيّضsplit open عنto reveal مثلِthe likeness العراجينof palm stalks كاملهْits whole eggs
تقيّض عن مثلِ العراجين كاملهْ
Hurrying to eggs amid shells in a littered nest,
Warily and anxiously she said with a moan,
their intact shells splitting to reveal chicks like palm stalks.
Turning away in fear, as tears wet her eyeliner,
جزعتُI crossed بِهon it أميالَmile upon mile كلِّof every مفازةٍdesert
جزعتُ بِه أميالَ كلِّ مفازةٍ
لامرٍfor a purpose علىin رغمdefiance of الملوكthe kings أحاولهْI pursue it
لامرٍ على رغم الملوك أحاولهْ
On it I crossed mile upon mile of every desert,
“You’ve avoided us five times, so we said perhaps
for a purpose I pursue despite the kings.
His heart has turned away from us and shortened his rope.”
وعانيةand wine from Anah صهباءtawny نازعتُI shared كأسهاits cup
وعانية صهباء نازعتُ كأسها
أغرّa radiant man كريمnoble الخلّin disposition حلواًsweet شمائلهْin his qualities
أغرّ كريم الخلّ حلواً شمائلهْ
And tawny wine of Anah, whose cup I shared
I said, “God forbid that I forget you, and passion
with a radiant man, noble in disposition, sweet in character.
Leads the young man willingly to your thresholds.”
وبيضاءَand a fair woman كالبيضَاءِlike a white egg بِكراًa virgin طَرقُتهاI visited her at night
وبيضاءَ كالبيضَاءِ بِكراً طَرقُتها
وأترابهاand her age-mates والليلُwhile the night خُضرٌdark green كلاveils لهْits
وأترابها والليلُ خُضرٌ كلا لهْ
And a fair virgin, white as an egg, whom I visited at night,
So when the Pleiades receded, I returned going back,
and her age-mates, while night's veils were dark green.
My endeavor alternating between speed and delay.
فقالتْthen she said أبيتmay you be spared اللَّعنcursing أنكَyou indeed فَاضحيwill expose me
فقالتْ أبيت اللَّعن أنكَ فَاضحي
بِزَوركَby your visit ليto me والحيُّwhile the tribe لمhas not يغفُdozed غافلهْits heedless member
بِزَوركَ لي والحيُّ لم يغفُ غافلهْ
She said, ‘May you be spared cursing—you are exposing me
Oh, the army I crashed into with my resolve,
by visiting me, when even the heedless of the tribe have not dozed.’
And it burst into tears at our separation!
فقبّلتُthen I kissed فَاهَاher mouth هاصراًdrawing her close بقرونهاby her braids
فقبّلتُ فَاهَا هاصراً بقرونها
ومدمعُهاwhile her tearflow يسقيwaters الموردthe rose-tinted cheek هاطلهْits pouring stream
ومدمعُها يسقي المورد هاطلهْ
I kissed her mouth, pulling her close by her braids,
Oh, the adversary I brought down, though he feared me,
while the stream from her eyes watered her rosy cheek,
And his tribes became dearer after that disgrace!
حذاراًfrom fear واشفاقاًand apprehension وقالتْand she said بِزفرةٍwith a sigh
حذاراً واشفاقاً وقالتْ بِزفرةٍ
علىin وجلٍalarm والدمعُwhile the tears يستنُّstreamed هاملهْtheir falling drops
على وجلٍ والدمعُ يستنُّ هاملهْ
from fear and apprehension; she spoke with a sigh,
Oh, the surging tribe whose evil I held back from the mouth of demise
in alarm, her falling tears streaming:
By my grace, so after being parched, its rivers flowed!
تجنبتناyou shunned us خَمْساًfor five nights فَقُلْناso we said لَعلهُperhaps he
تجنبتنا خَمْساً فَقُلْنا لَعلهُ
صحاhas sobered قَلبُهhis heart عناof us واَقصرَand ceased باطلهْhis folly
صحا قَلبُه عنا واَقصرَ باطلهْ
‘You shunned us for five nights, so we said, “Perhaps
I supported the land during its days,
his heart has sobered of us, and his folly has ceased.”’
And were it not for me, it would have ended while still consuming it.
فقلتُso I said مَعاذَI seek refuge in اللهGod أنساكِthat I forget you والهَوىwhile love
فقلتُ مَعاذَ الله أنساكِ والهَوى
يقودleads الفتىthe young man طوعاًwillingly إليكِto you سلالهْits gentle pull
يقود الفتى طوعاً إليكِ سلالهْ
I said, ‘God forbid that I forget you, while love
And the empowered king who vexes the envious, I embraced him
draws the young man willingly to you with its gentle pull.’
With a whiteness that did not touch me, for which his favors are owed me!
فلماthen when انثنىreceded الديجوُرthe darkness اعقْبَتُI turned back رَاجعاًreturning
فلما انثنى الديجوُر اعقْبَتُ رَاجعاً
ارايثُI slow سَعييmy pace تَارةًat times وأعاجلهْand hasten it
ارايثُ سَعيي تَارةً وأعاجلهْ
When the darkness receded, I turned back,
at times slowing my pace, at times hastening it.
فياso, oh رُبَّmany an جيشٍarmy كالُّلهامlike a devouring multitude صدمتُهI struck it
فيا رُبَّ جيشٍ كالُّلهام صدمتُه
بعزميwith my resolve فَقامتso rose بالبكاءِweeping ثواكلهْits bereaved women
بعزمي فَقامت بالبكاءِ ثواكلهْ
How many an army, a devouring multitude, I have struck
with my resolve, till its bereaved women rose weeping.
وياand, oh رُبَّmany a خصمٍfoe قدindeed أبرتI destroyed وخائفٍand a frightened man
ويا رُبَّ خصمٍ قد أبرت وخائفٍ
أجرتُI sheltered فعزَّتْso gained honor بعدafter ذلٍhumiliation قبائلهْhis tribes
أجرتُ فعزَّتْ بعد ذلٍ قبائلهْ
How many a foe I have destroyed, and a frightened man
I have sheltered, so his tribes found honor after humiliation.
ومدفعand one cast aside قومٍby his people نُشتُهI rescued him منfrom فمِّthe mouth الرَّدَىof death
ومدفع قومٍ نُشتُه من فمِّ الرَّدَى
بفضليthrough my bounty ففَاضتْso overflowed بعدafter غورٍsinking away جداولهْhis streams
بفضلي ففَاضتْ بعد غورٍ جداولهْ
And one cast aside by his people I plucked from death's mouth
through my bounty; his streams overflowed after sinking away.
فآضso he became قوياًstrong آكلاًdevouring بيَthrough me دهْرَهhis age
فآض قوياً آكلاً بيَ دهْرَه
ولولايَand but for me أمسىwould have become دهرُهhis age وهوwhile it آكلهْdevoured him
ولولايَ أمسى دهرُه وهو آكلهْ
He became strong, devouring his age through me;
but for me, his age would have become his devourer.
ومُللكٍand a kingdom يغيظenraging الحاسدينthe envious اْحتَويتُهI made it my own
ومُللكٍ يغيظ الحاسدين اْحتَويتُه
بأبيضَwith a gleaming sword لَمnever تحصلsettled عليّupon me حَمائلهْits baldrics
بأبيضَ لَم تحصل عليّ حَمائلهْ
And a kingdom, enraging the envious, I made my own
with a gleaming sword whose baldrics never settled upon me.
Partial English translation: 98 of 110 Arabic lines translated.