خليليmy two friends عوجاturn aside, you two مِنكُمof you اليَومَtoday أودعاor leave off, you two
خليلي عوجا مِنكُم اليَومَ أودعا
نحيِّيlet us greet رسوماtraces بالقُبَيبَةِat al-Qubayba بلقعاdesolate
نحيِّي رسوما بالقُبَيبَةِ بلقعا
My two friends, turn aside today—or leave me be—
let us greet the desolate traces at al-Qubayba.
أَرَبَّتlingered بِهاin it الأَرواحُthe winds حَتّىuntil تَنَسَّفَتwere swept away
أَرَبَّت بِها الأَرواحُ حَتّى تَنَسَّفَت
مَعارِفُهاits recognizable marks إِلّاexcept الصَفيحَthe flat slabs المُوَضَّعاlaid in place
مَعارِفُها إِلّا الصَفيحَ المُوَضَّعا
Winds lingered there until there were swept away
its familiar marks, except the slabs laid in place,
وَغَيرَand other than ثَلاثٍthree فيin الدِيارِthe dwellings كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَغَيرَ ثَلاثٍ في الدِيارِ كَأَنَّها
ثَلاثُthree حَماماةٍdoves تَقابَلنَfaced one another وُقَّعاperched
ثَلاثُ حَماماةٍ تَقابَلنَ وُقَّعا
and three hearthstones in the dwellings, looking like
three perched doves facing one another.
أَمِنis it because of أَجلِthe sake of دارِa dwelling بِالرَقاشَينِat al-Raqashayn أَعصَفَتblew fiercely
أَمِن أَجلِ دارِ بِالرَقاشَينِ أَعصَفَت
عَلَيهاover it رِياحُwinds of الصَيفِsummer بُدءًat first وَرُجَّعاand repeatedly
عَلَيها رِياحُ الصَيفِ بُدءً وَرُجَّعا
Is it for a dwelling at al-Raqashayn, over which
the summer winds blew fiercely, time and again,
بَكَتwept عَينُكyour eye اليُسرىthe left one فَلَمّاand when زَجَرتَهاyou rebuked it
بَكَت عَينُك اليُسرى فَلَمّا زَجَرتَها
عَنِaway from الجَهلِfolly بَعدَafter الحِلمِself-restraint أَسبَلَتاboth streamed tears مَعاtogether
عَنِ الجَهلِ بَعدَ الحِلمِ أَسبَلَتا مَعا
that your left eye wept, and when you rebuked it
for folly after self-restraint, both eyes streamed together?
وَلَمand not أَرَI saw مِثلَthe like of العامِريَّةِthe Amiriyya woman قَبلَهاbefore her
وَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ العامِريَّةِ قَبلَها
وَلاnor بَعدَهاafter her يَومَthe day when إِرتَحَلناwe departed مُوَدِّعاone bidding farewell
وَلا بَعدَها يَومَ إِرتَحَلنا مُوَدِّعا
I never saw anyone like the Amiriyya before her,
nor after her, bidding farewell on the day we departed.
تُريكَshe shows you غَداةَthe morning of البَينِparting مُقلَةَthe eye of شادِنa fawn
تُريكَ غَداةَ البَينِ مُقلَةَ شادِن
وَجيدand the neck of غَزالٍa gazelle فيin القَلائِدِthe necklaces أَتلَعاlong-necked
وَجيد غَزالٍ في القَلائِدِ أَتلَعا
She shows you, on the morning of parting, a fawn's eye
and a long-necked gazelle's neck amid necklaces.
وَماnor is أمُّthe mother of أَحوىa dark-colored fawn الجُدَّتَينِthe two flank-stripes خَلالَهاaround her
وَما أمُّ أَحوى الجُدَّتَينِ خَلالَها
أراكٌarak trees مِنَfrom الأعرافِthe heights أَجنىfruit-laden وَأَينَعاand ripened
أراكٌ مِنَ الأعرافِ أَجنى وَأَينَعا
Nor is the mother of a fawn with two dusky stripes, surrounded
by fruit-laden, ripened arak trees on the heights,
غَدَتshe went out at morning مِنfrom عَلَيهِabove it تَنغُضshaking off الطَلَّthe dew بَعدَماafter
غَدَت مِن عَلَيهِ تَنغُض الطَلَّ بَعدَما
رَأتshe saw حاجِبthe rim of الشَمسِthe sun إِستَوىrose وَتَرَفَّعاand climbed higher
رَأت حاجِب الشَمسِ إِستَوى وَتَرَفَّعا
who came away from them, shaking off the dew, after
seeing the sun's rim rise and climb,
بِأحسَنmore beautiful مِنthan أمِّUmm المُحَيّاal-Muhayya فُجاءَةَsuddenly
بِأحسَن مِن أمِّ المُحَيّا فُجاءَةَ
إذاwhen جيدَهاher neck مِنfrom كِفَّةِthe edge of السِترِthe curtain أَطلَعاemerged
إذا جيدَها مِن كِفَّةِ السِترِ أَطلَعا
more beautiful than Umm al-Muhayya at a sudden glimpse,
when her neck emerges from the curtain's edge.
ولمّاand when تَناهَبناwe snatched from one another سِقاطَfragments of حَديثِهاher talk
ولمّا تَناهَبنا سِقاطَ حَديثِها
غِشاشاfurtively ولانand softened الطرفُthe gaze مِنهاfrom her فَأَطمعاand awakened hope
غِشاشا ولان الطرفُ مِنها فَأَطمعا
When we snatched fragments of her talk
furtively, and her gaze softened, awakening hope,
فَرَشَّتthen she sprinkled بِقَولٍwith words كادَnearly يُشفىhealed مِنَfrom الجَوىlove's anguish
فَرَشَّت بِقَولٍ كادَ يُشفى مِنَ الجَوى
تَلُمُّshe mends بِهِwith it أَكبادَناour livers أنlest تَصَدَّعاthey split apart
تَلُمُّ بِهِ أَكبادَنا أن تَصَدَّعا
she sprinkled us with words that almost cured love's anguish,
mending our livers with them, lest they split apart,
كَماjust as رَشَفَsipped الصاديthe thirsty one وَقائِعَfalling drops of مُزنَةَa raincloud
كَما رَشَفَ الصادي وَقائِعَ مُزنَةَ
رَشاشٍa light shower تَوَلّىwithdrew صَوبُهاits downpour حينَwhen أَقلَعاit ceased
رَشاشٍ تَوَلّى صَوبُها حينَ أَقلَعا
as the thirsty one sips the falling drops of a raincloud,
a light shower whose downpour withdrew as it ceased.
شَكَوتُI complained إِلَيهاto her ضَبثَةَthe grip of الحَيِّthe tribe بِالحَشاupon the entrails
شَكَوتُ إِلَيها ضَبثَةَ الحَيِّ بِالحَشا
وَخَشيَةَand fear of شَعبthe unity of الحَيِّthe tribe أَنthat يَتَوَزَّعاit would scatter
وَخَشيَةَ شَعب الحَيِّ أَن يَتَوَزَّعا
I complained to her of the tribe's grip upon my inward parts,
and my fear that the tribe's unity would be scattered.
فَماso not كَلَّمَتنيshe spoke to me غَيرَbeyond رَجعٍa reply وَإِنَّماand only
فَما كَلَّمَتني غَيرَ رَجعٍ وَإِنَّما
تَرَقرَقَتwelled up العَينانِthe two eyes مِنهاَof hers لِتَدمَعاso both might weep
تَرَقرَقَت العَينانِ مِنهاَ لِتَدمَعا
She said no more to me than a brief reply; only
her two eyes welled up to shed tears.
كَأَنَّكَas though you بِدَعa novice لَمnot تَرَyou had seen البَينَparting قَلبَهاher heart (likely 'before it' intended)
كَأَنَّكَ بِدَع لَم تَرَ البَينَ قَلبَها
وَلَمand not تَكُyou had been بِالآلافِover dear companions قَبلُpreviously مُفَجَّعاbereaved
وَلَم تَكُ بِالآلافِ قَبلُ مُفَجَّعا
As though you were a novice who had never seen parting before,
nor ever been bereaved of dear companions.
فَلَيتَif only جِمالَcamels of الحَيِّthe tribe يَومَthe day تَرحَلواthey departed
فَلَيتَ جِمالَ الحَيِّ يَومَ تَرحَلوا
بِذيat Dhu سَلَمِSalam أَمسَتended the day مَزاحيفَdragging their feet ظُلّعاlame
بِذي سَلَمِ أَمسَت مَزاحيفَ ظُلّعا
If only the tribe's camels, on the day they departed
at Dhu Salam, had ended the day dragging their feet, lame,
فَيُصبِحنَso by morning they would لايُحسِنَّthey could not manage مَشياwalking بِراكِبwith a rider
فَيُصبِحنَ لايُحسِنَّ مَشيا بِراكِب
وَلاnor السَيرَtraveling فيin نَجدِNajd وَإِنeven if كانَit was مَهيَعاan open road
وَلا السَيرَ في نَجدِ وَإِن كانَ مَهيَعا
so that by morning they could not walk with a rider,
nor travel through Najd, even along an open road.
أَتَجزَعdo you despair وَالحَيانwhile the two tribes لَمnot يَتَفَرَّقاparted
أَتَجزَع وَالحَيان لَم يَتَفَرَّقا
فَكَيفَhow then إِذاwhen داعىthe crier of التَفَرُّقseparation أَسمَعاmade himself heard
فَكَيفَ إِذا داعى التَفَرُّق أَسمَعا
Do you despair while the two tribes have not yet parted?
How then, when the crier of separation makes himself heard?
فَرحتso I went away ولوand if أَسمَعتُI had made heard مابيwhat is within me مِنof الجَوىanguish
فَرحت ولو أَسمَعتُ مابي مِن الجَوى
رَذِيَّa worn-out camel of قِطارٍa camel train حَنَّwould moan شَوقاًwith longing وَرَجَّعاand repeat its cry
رَذِيَّ قِطارٍ حَنَّ شَوقاً وَرَجَّعا
I went away; had I let the anguish within me be heard
by a worn-out camel in a caravan, it would have moaned with longing and repeated its cry.
أَلاah ياO غُرابيtwo crows of بَيتِهاher dwelling لاتَرَفَّعاdo not soar, you two
أَلا يا غُرابي بَيتِها لاتَرَفَّعا
وَطيراand fly, you two جَميعاًtogether بِالهَوىin love وَقَعاand alight, you two مَعاtogether
وَطيرا جَميعاً بِالهَوى وَقَعا مَعا
Ah, two crows of her dwelling, do not soar;
fly together in love, and alight together.
أَتَبكيdo you weep عَلىfor رَيّاRayya وَنَفسُكَwhile you yourself باعَدَتput far away
أَتَبكي عَلى رَيّا وَنَفسُكَ باعَدَت
مَزارَكَyour visiting-place مِنfrom رَيّاRayya وَشَعباكَماwhile your two clans مَعاtogether
مَزارَكَ مِن رَيّا وَشَعباكَما مَعا
Do you weep for Rayya, when you yourself put
your visiting-place far from Rayya, while your two clans were together?
فَماso not حَسنٌright أَنto تَأتيyou undertake الأَمرَthe matter طائِعاًwillingly
فَما حَسنٌ أَن تَأتي الأَمرَ طائِعاً
وَتَجزَعand despair أِنif دَعىcalled out الصَبابَةyearning أَسمَعاmade itself heard
وَتَجزَع أِن دَعى الصَبابَة أَسمَعا
It is not right to undertake a thing willingly
and despair when the call of yearning makes itself heard.
كَأَنَّكَas though you لَمnot تَشهَدَyou witnessed وَداعَthe farewell of مُفارِقٍa departing one
كَأَنَّكَ لَم تَشهَدَ وَداعَ مُفارِقٍ
وَلَمand not تَرَyou saw شَعبَيthe two bonds of صاحِبَينِtwo companions تَقَطَّعاwere severed
وَلَم تَرَ شَعبَي صاحِبَينِ تَقَطَّعا
As though you had never witnessed a departing one's farewell,
nor seen two companions' bonds severed.
تَحَمَّلَdeparted أَهليmy people مِنfrom قَنينَQanin وَغادَرواand left behind
تَحَمَّلَ أَهلي مِن قَنينَ وَغادَروا
بِهِthere أَهلَthe people of لَيلىLayla حينَwhen جيدَwas rained on وَأَمرَعاand became lush
بِهِ أَهلَ لَيلى حينَ جيدَ وَأَمرَعا
My people departed from Qanin, leaving
Layla's people there, when it was rain-blessed and lush.
أَلاah خَليلَيَّmy two friends اللَذَينِwho, both تَواصَياurged one another
أَلا خَليلَيَّ اللَذَينِ تَواصَيا
بِلَوميto reproach me إِلّاunless أَنthat أُطيعI obey وَأَضرَعاand humble myself
بِلَومي إِلّا أَن أُطيع وَأَضرَعا
Ah, my two friends, who urged each other
to reproach me unless I obeyed and humbled myself:
فَإنّيfor I وَجَدتُI found اللَومَreproach لايُذهِبُdoes not dispel الهَوىlove
فَإنّي وَجَدتُ اللَومَ لايُذهِبُ الهَوى
وَلَكِنbut وَجَدتُI found اليَأسdespair أَجدىmore effective وَأَنفَعاand more useful
وَلَكِن وَجَدتُ اليَأس أَجدى وَأَنفَعا
I have found that reproach does not dispel love,
but I have found despair more effective and useful.
قِفاstop, you two إنَّهُindeed it لابُدَّis inevitable مِنof رَجعِthe return of نَظرَةٍa glance
قِفا إنَّهُ لابُدَّ مِن رَجعِ نَظرَةٍ
مُصَعَّدَةٍraised high شَتىscattered بِهاthere القَومُthe people أَوor مَعاtogether
مُصَعَّدَةٍ شَتى بِها القَومُ أَو مَعا
Stop, you two: one must cast a backward glance,
raised high, toward the people, scattered there or together,
لِمُغتَصِبٍfor one dispossessed قَدalready عَزَّهُoverpowered him القَومُthe people أَمرَهُhis will
لِمُغتَصِبٍ قَد عَزَّهُ القَومُ أَمرَهُ
يُسِرُّhe conceals حَياءًout of shame عَبرَةًa tear أَنlest تَطَلَّعاit show
يُسِرُّ حَياءً عَبرَةً أَن تَطَلَّعا
for one dispossessed, whose people have overpowered his will,
who conceals a tear in shame, lest it show.
تَهيجُit stirs لَهُfor him الأَحزانَsorrows وَالذِكرَand memories كُلَّماwhenever
تَهيجُ لَهُ الأَحزانَ وَالذِكرَ كُلَّما
تَرَنَّمَhe sang أَوor أَوفىhe mounted مِنَfrom الأَرضِthe ground مَيفَعاa high place
تَرَنَّمَ أَو أَوفى مِنَ الأَرضِ مَيفَعا
It stirs grief and memories within him whenever
he sings or reaches a high place in the land.
قِفاstop, you two وَدِّعاbid farewell, you two نَجداNajd وَمَنand whoever هَلَّcame بِالحِمىto al-Hima
قِفا وَدِّعا نَجدا وَمَن هَلَّ بِالحِمى
وَقَلَّand little is لِنَجدِfor Najd عِندَناin our eyes أَنto يُوَدَّعاbe bid farewell
وَقَلَّ لِنَجدِ عِندَنا أَن يُوَدَّعا
Stop, you two; bid farewell to Najd and whoever came to al-Hima;
yet a mere farewell is little for Najd, in our eyes.
بِنَفسيَwith my life تِلكَthat الأَرضُland ماhow أَطيَبَsweet الرُباthe hills
بِنَفسيَ تِلكَ الأَرضُ ما أَطيَبَ الرُبا
وَماand how أَحسَنَbeautiful المُصطافَthe summer campsite وَالمُتَرَبَّعاand the spring campsite
وَما أَحسَنَ المُصطافَ وَالمُتَرَبَّعا
My life for that land! How sweet its hills,
and how lovely its summer and spring grounds!
وَأَذكُرُand I remember أَيّامَthe days of الحِمىal-Hima ثُمَّthen أَنثَنيI bend
وَأَذكُرُ أَيّامَ الحِمى ثُمَّ أَنثَني
عَلىover كَبديmy liver مِنout of خَشيَةٍfear أَنlest تَصَدَّعاit split apart
عَلى كَبدي مِن خَشيَةٍ أَن تَصَدَّعا
I remember the days of al-Hima, then bend
over my liver, fearing it will split apart.
فَلَيسَتfor not عَشيّاتِthe evenings of الحِمىal-Hima بِرَواجِعٍreturning
فَلَيسَت عَشيّاتِ الحِمى بِرَواجِعٍ
عَلَيكَto you وَلَكِنbut خَلِّlet عَينَيكَyour two eyes تَدمَعاshed tears
عَلَيكَ وَلَكِن خَلِّ عَينَيكَ تَدمَعا
Those evenings in al-Hima will not return
to you; but let your two eyes shed tears.
مَعيwith me كُلّevery غِرَّقَدguileless youth who has عَصىdisobeyed عاذِلاتِهِhis female reprovers
مَعي كُلّ غِرَّقَد عَصى عاذِلاتِهِ
بِوَصلِby union with الغَوانيbeautiful women مُذsince لَدُنthe time when أَنthat تَرَعرَعاhe grew to youth
بِوَصلِ الغَواني مُذ لَدُن أَن تَرَعرَعا
With me is every guileless youth who defied his reproving women
by courting beauties ever since he grew to youth.
إِذاwhen راحَhe went يَمشيwalking فيin الرِداءَينِthe two cloaks أَسرَعَتhastened
إِذا راحَ يَمشي في الرِداءَينِ أَسرَعَت
إِلَيهِtoward him العُيونُthe eyes الناظِراتwatching التَطَلُّعاto gaze
إِلَيهِ العُيونُ الناظِرات التَطَلُّعا
When he goes walking in his two cloaks,
watching eyes hasten to gaze at him.
وَسِربُand a bevy بَدَتappeared ليto me فيهِin it بيضٌfair-skinned women نَواهِدbudding-breasted
وَسِربُ بَدَت لي فيهِ بيضٌ نَواهِد
إِذاwhen سُمتُهُنَّI asked them for الوَصلَunion أَمسَينَthey became قُطَّعاsevering ties
إِذا سُمتُهُنَّ الوَصلَ أَمسَينَ قُطَّعا
And a bevy where fair, budding-breasted women appeared to me:
when I asked them for union, they cut me off.
مَشَينَthey walked أَطَّرادَthe flow of السَيلِthe stream هَوناًgently كَأَنَّماas though
مَشَينَ أَطَّرادَ السَيلِ هَوناً كَأَنَّما
تَراهَنَّyou see them بِالأَقدامِin their steps إِذاwhen مِسنَthey swayed ظُلَّماmale ostriches
تَراهَنَّ بِالأَقدامِ إِذا مِسنَ ظُلَّما
They walked gently, flowing like a stream, as though
you saw them as male ostriches in their swaying steps.
فَقُلتُso I said سَقىmay water اللَهُGod الحِمىal-Hima دِيَمَsteady rains of الحَياlife-giving rain
فَقُلتُ سَقى اللَهُ الحِمى دِيَمَ الحَيا
فَقُلنَso they said سَقاكَmay give you to drink اللَهُGod بِالسُمّwith poison مُنقَعاsteeped
فَقُلنَ سَقاكَ اللَهُ بِالسُمّ مُنقَعا
I said, 'May God water al-Hima with steady, life-giving rains.'
They said, 'May God give you steeped poison to drink.'
وَقُلتُand I said عَلَيكُنَّupon you women السَلامَpeace فَلاfor not أَرىI see
وَقُلتُ عَلَيكُنَّ السَلامَ فَلا أَرى
لِنَفسِيَfor myself مِنfrom دونِoutside الحِمىal-Hima اليَومَtoday مقنَعاsatisfaction
لِنَفسِيَ مِن دونِ الحِمى اليَومَ مقنَعا
I said, 'Peace be upon you; I see
no satisfaction for myself today outside al-Hima.'
فَقُلنَso they said أَراكَmay show you اللَهGod إِنif كُنتَyou are كاذِباًlying
فَقُلنَ أَراكَ اللَه إِن كُنتَ كاذِباً
بَنانَكَyour fingers مِنfrom يُمنىthe right one of ذِراعَيكَyour two arms أَقطَعاsevered
بَنانَكَ مِن يُمنى ذِراعَيكَ أَقطَعا
They said, 'If you are lying, may God show you
your fingers cut off from your right arm.'
وَلَمّاand when رَأَيتَyou saw البِشرَcheerfulness أَعرَضَturned away دونَناaway from us
وَلَمّا رَأَيتَ البِشرَ أَعرَضَ دونَنا
وَجالَتand roamed بَناتُdaughters of الشَوقِlonging يَحنِنَّthey moan نُزَّعاyearning
وَجالَت بَناتُ الشَوقِ يَحنِنَّ نُزَّعا
And when you saw cheerfulness turn away from us,
and the daughters of longing roam, moaning with yearning,
تَلَفَّتُI turned back نَحوَtoward الحَيِّthe tribe حَتّىuntil وَجَدتُنيI found myself
تَلَفَّتُ نَحوَ الحَيِّ حَتّى وَجَدتُني
وَجِعتُI ached مِنَfrom الإِصغاءِtilting the head لَيتاًin the side of the neck وَأَخدَعاand in the neck-vein
وَجِعتُ مِنَ الإِصغاءِ لَيتاً وَأَخدَعا
I turned back toward the tribe until I found myself
aching from craning my head, in neck and neck-vein.
فَإِنand if كُنتُمyou are تَرجَونَyou hope أَنthat يَذهَبwill depart الهَوىlove
فَإِن كُنتُم تَرجَونَ أَن يَذهَب الهَوى
يَقيناfor certain وَنَروىand we drink our fill بِالشَرابِwith drink فَنَنقَعاand quench our thirst
يَقينا وَنَروى بِالشَرابِ فَنَنقَعا
If you hope that love will depart
for certain, and we shall drink our fill and quench our thirst,
فَرُدّواthen turn back هُبوبَthe blowing of الريحِthe wind أَوor غَيِّرواalter الجَوىanguish
فَرُدّوا هُبوبَ الريحِ أَو غَيِّروا الجَوى
إِذاwhen حَلَّit settled أَلواذthe recesses of الحَشاthe entrails فَتَمَنَّعاand grew unyielding
إِذا حَلَّ أَلواذ الحَشا فَتَمَنَّعا
then turn back the blowing wind, or alter love's anguish,
when it settles in the recesses of the entrails and becomes unyielding.
أَمّاindeed وَجَلالِand by the majesty of اللَهGod لَوif تَذكُرينَنيyou remember me
أَمّا وَجَلالِ اللَه لَو تَذكُرينَني
كَذكريكِas I remember you ماكَفَفتُyou would not hold back لِلعَينِfrom the eye أَدمُعاtears
كَذكريكِ ماكَفَفتُ لِلعَينِ أَدمُعا
By God's majesty, if you remembered me
as I remember you, you would not hold back tears from your eye.
فَقالَتthen she said بَلىyes وَاللَهِby God ذِكراa remembrance لَوif أَنَّهُit
فَقالَت بَلى وَاللَهِ ذِكرا لَو أَنَّهُ
يُصَبُّwere poured عَلىover الصَخرِthe rock الأَصَمِّsolid تَصَدَّعاwould split apart
يُصَبُّ عَلى الصَخرِ الأَصَمِّ تَصَدَّعا
She said, 'Yes, by God, with a remembrance that, if it
were poured on solid rock, would split the rock apart.'
فَماso no وَجدُthe longing of عُلوىupland-loving الهَوىin desire حَنَّmoaned وَإِجتَوىand loathed
فَما وَجدُ عُلوى الهَوى حَنَّ وَإِجتَوى
بِواديin the valley of الشَرىal-Shara وَالغَورِand al-Ghawr ماءًwater وَمَرتَعاand pasture
بِوادي الشَرى وَالغَورِ ماءً وَمَرتَعا
No longing of a creature that loves the heights, moaning and shunning
the water and pasture in Wadi al-Shara and al-Ghawr,
تَشَوَّقَit yearned لِماwhen عَضَّهُbit it القَيدُthe fetter وَإِجتَوىand loathed
تَشَوَّقَ لِما عَضَّهُ القَيدُ وَإِجتَوى
مَراتعَهits grazing-grounds مِنfrom بَينِamong قُفِّrocky ridges وَأَجرَعاand sandy tracts
مَراتعَه مِن بَينِ قُفِّ وَأَجرَعا
yearning when the fetter bit it, and loathing
its grazing-grounds among rocky ridges and sandy tracts,
وَرامَand sought بِعَينَيهِwith its two eyes جِبالاًmountains مُنيفَةًlofty
وَرامَ بِعَينَيهِ جِبالاً مُنيفَةً
وَماand what لايَرىdoes not see فيهِin it أَخوone bearing القَيدfetters مَطمَعاhope
وَما لايَرى فيهِ أَخو القَيد مَطمَعا
seeking with its eyes lofty mountains,
and places where a fettered creature sees no hope—
إِذاwhen رامَit sought مِنهاamong them مَطلِعاan ascent رَدَّchecked شَأوَهits course
إِذا رامَ مِنها مَطلِعا رَدَّ شَأوَه
أَمينُfirm القِوىin twisted strands عَضَّbit اليَدَينِthe two forelegs فَأَوجَعاand hurt them
أَمينُ القِوى عَضَّ اليَدَينِ فَأَوجَعا
whenever it sought a way up them, its course was checked
by a stoutly twisted bond that bit both forelegs and hurt them—
بِأَكبَرَgreater مَنthan وَجَدlonging بِرَيّاfor Rayya وَجَدتُهُI felt it
بِأَكبَرَ مَن وَجَد بِرَيّا وَجَدتُهُ
غَداةَthe morning when دَعاcried داعيthe herald of الفِراقِseparation فَأَسمَعاand made himself heard
غَداةَ دَعا داعي الفِراقِ فَأَسمَعا
is greater than the longing for Rayya that I felt
on the morning the herald of parting cried and made himself heard.
وَلاnor بَكرَةa young she-camel بِكرfirst-calving رَأَتshe saw مِنof حُوارِهاher calf
وَلا بَكرَة بِكر رَأَت مِن حُوارِها
مَجَرّاًa dragging-trail حَديثاًfresh مُستَبيناًclear وَمَصرَعاand a place of death
مَجَرّاً حَديثاً مُستَبيناً وَمَصرَعا
Nor is a young she-camel's, at her first calf, who saw her calf's
fresh, unmistakable drag-mark and the place where it fell,
إِذاwhen رَجَّعتshe repeated فيin آخِرِthe last part of اللَيلِthe night حَنَّةًa moan
إِذا رَجَّعت في آخِرِ اللَيلِ حَنَّةً
لِذِكرat remembrance of حَديثٍa recent event أَبكَتmade weep البُزلَthe mature camels أجمعاall
لِذِكر حَديثٍ أَبكَت البُزلَ أجمعا
when she repeated a moan in the last part of the night,
at a fresh memory, making all the mature camels weep.
لَقَدindeed خفتُI feared أَنthat لاتَقنَعَwould not be content النَفسُthe soul بَعدَهُafter it
لَقَد خفتُ أَن لاتَقنَعَ النَفسُ بَعدَهُ
بِشَيءٍwith anything مِنَof الدُنياthe world وَإِنeven if كُنwere مَقنَعاsatisfying
بِشَيءٍ مِنَ الدُنيا وَإِن كُن مَقنَعا
Indeed, I feared my soul would find no contentment afterward
in anything of this world, however satisfying it might be.
أَعذُلُI reproach فيهِover it النَفسَthe soul إِذاwhen حيلَwas barred دونَهُaccess to it
أَعذُلُ فيهِ النَفسَ إِذا حيلَ دونَهُ
وَتَأبىand refuses إِلَيهِtoward it النَفسُthe soul إِلّاexcept تَطَلَّعاgazing
وَتَأبى إِلَيهِ النَفسُ إِلّا تَطَلَّعا
I reproach my soul over it when I am kept from it,
but the soul insists on gazing toward it.
سَلامٌfarewell عَلىto الدُنياthe world فَماfor not هِيَit راحَةًrest
سَلامٌ عَلى الدُنيا فَما هِيَ راحَةً
إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنis شَمليmy company وَشَملُكُمand your company مَعاtogether
إِذا لَم يَكُن شَملي وَشَملُكُم مَعا
Farewell to the world: it offers no rest
if my company and yours are not together.
وَلاand no مَرحَباًwelcome بِالرَبعِto the dwelling لَستُمyou are not حُلولَهits residents
وَلا مَرحَباً بِالرَبعِ لَستُم حُلولَه
ولَوeven if كانَit were مُخضَلَّmoist الجَوانِبthe sides مُمرِعاrich in pasture
ولَو كانَ مُخضَلَّ الجَوانِب مُمرِعا
And no welcome to a dwelling where you do not reside,
even if its sides are moist and rich in pasture.
فَماءٌso water بِلاwithout مَرعىpasture وَمَرعىand pasture بِغَيرِwithout ماwater
فَماءٌ بِلا مَرعى وَمَرعى بِغَيرِ ما
وَحَيثُand wherever أَرىI see ماءَwater وَمَرعىًand pasture فَمَسبَعاthen a haunt of wild beasts
وَحَيثُ أَرى ماءَ وَمَرعىً فَمَسبَعا
Water without pasture, and pasture without water;
and wherever I see water and pasture, a haunt of wild beasts.
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed نادىcried out مُنادىthe herald of فراقناour parting
لَعَمري لَقَد نادى مُنادى فراقنا
بِتَشتيتِناfor our scattering فيin كُلِّevery وادٍvalley فَأَسمَعاand made himself heard
بِتَشتيتِنا في كُلِّ وادٍ فَأَسمَعا
By my life, the herald of our parting has cried
that we be scattered in every valley, and made himself heard.
كَأَنّاas though we خُلِقناwere created لِلنَوىfor separation وَكَأَنَّماand as though
كَأَنّا خُلِقنا لِلنَوى وَكَأَنَّما
حَرامٌforbidden عَلىto الأَيامِthe days أَنthat نَتَجَمَّعاwe gather together
حَرامٌ عَلى الأَيامِ أَن نَتَجَمَّعا
As though we were created for separation, and as though
the days were forbidden to let us gather together.