أَنِاظِرُare you awaiting الوَصْلُreunion أَمْor غادٍdeparting فَمَصْرُومُand thus cut off
أَنِاظِرُ الوَصْلُ أَمْ غادٍ فَمَصْرُومُ
أَمْor كُلُّall دَيْنِكَyour claim مِنْfrom دَهْمَاءَDahma مَغْرُومُpaid
أَمْ كُلُّ دَيْنِكَ مِنْ دَهْمَاءَ مَغْرُومُ
Are you awaiting reunion, or departing, cut off?
I watch for union - has it come or gone unnoticed,
Or has all that Dahma owes you been paid?
Or does all your debt stem from unrequited passion?
أَمْor مَاwhat تَذَكَّرُyou recall مِنْof دَهْمَاءَDahma إِذْwhen طَلَعَتْshe climbed
أَمْ مَا تَذَكَّرُ مِنْ دَهْمَاءَ إِذْ طَلَعَتْ
نَجْدَيْthe two heights of مَرِيعٍMariʿ وقَدْand already شَابَturned gray المَقَادِيمُthe forelocks
نَجْدَيْ مَرِيعٍ وقَدْ شَابَ المَقَادِيمُ
Or what do you recall of Dahma, when she climbed
Do you not recall that ardour when it first arose
the two heights of Mariʿ, while the forelocks had already turned gray?
In the upland pastures while the riders were still youths?
هَلْis عَاشِقٌa lover نَالَgained مِنْfrom دَهْمَاءَDahma حَاجَتَهُhis desire
هَلْ عَاشِقٌ نَالَ مِنْ دَهْمَاءَ حَاجَتَهُ
فيin الجَاهِليَّةِthe pre-Islamic age قَبْلَbefore الدِّينِthe faith مَرْحُومُshown mercy
في الجَاهِليَّةِ قَبْلَ الدِّينِ مَرْحُومُ
Is a lover who gained his desire from Dahma
Did ever a lover gain his heart's desire from ardour
in the pre-Islamic age, before the faith, shown mercy?
In pagan days before the Faith of old was spurned?
بَيْضُeggs الأَنُوقِthe vulture بِرَعْمٍat Raʿm دُونَthis side of مَسْكَنِهَاher dwelling
بَيْضُ الأَنُوقِ بِرَعْمٍ دُونَ مَسْكَنِهَا
وبِالأَبَارِقِand on the stony ridges مِنْof طِلْحَامضTilḥāmiḍ مَرْكُومُheaped
وبِالأَبَارِقِ مِنْ طِلْحَامض مَرْكُومُ
The vulture's eggs at Raʿm lie this side of her dwelling,
The whiteness of the sand-grouse with their tufted crests
and lie heaped on the stony ridges of Tilḥāmiḍ.
Among their dwellings, their plumage dappled and barred,
وطَفْلَةٍand a tender young woman غَبيْرnot (apparent typo) جُبَّاءٍflat-breasted ولاَnor نَصَفٍmiddle-aged
وطَفْلَةٍ غَبيْر جُبَّاءٍ ولاَ نَصَفٍ
مِنْamong سِرِّthe choicest أَمْثَالِهَاher peers بَادٍvisible ومَكْتُومُand concealed
مِنْ سِرِّ أَمْثَالِهَا بَادٍ ومَكْتُومُ
And a tender young woman, neither flat-breasted nor middle-aged,
And a land-turtle, dun and mottled, nothing of
of the choicest of her peers, whether seen or concealed,
Such rarities, now lost and hid, was then forsworn.
خَوْدٌa soft young beauty تَلَبَّسُbecome entangled إِلْبَابُminds (apparent typo) الرِّجَالِof men بِهَاin her
خَوْدٌ تَلَبَّسُ إِلْبَابُ الرِّجَالِ بِهَا
مُعْطىًone granted قَلِيلاًa little عَلىwith بُخْلٍstinginess ومَحْرُومُand one deprived
مُعْطىً قَلِيلاً عَلى بُخْلٍ ومَحْرُومُ
a soft young beauty in whom men's minds become entangled:
A wench the men's cloaks were content to wrap themselves in,
one granted a little, grudgingly, and another denied.
Though little given, how miserly and how debarred!
عَانَقْتُهَاI embraced her فَانْثَنَتْthen she bent طَوْعَwillingly to العِنَاقِthe embrace كَمَاas
عَانَقْتُهَا فَانْثَنَتْ طَوْعَ العِنَاقِ كَمَا
مَالتْswayed بِشَارِبِهَاits drinker صَهْبَاءُtawny wine خُرْطُومُchoice
مَالتْ بِشَارِبِهَا صَهْبَاءُ خُرْطُومُ
I embraced her, and she bent willingly to the embrace, as
I clasped her, she was pliant to my clasp, bending as bends
choice tawny wine sways its drinker.
The hissing adder to the charm the charmers ply.
صِرْفٌunmixed تَرَقْرَقُshimmers فيin النَّاجُودِthe wine-jar نَاِطلُهَاits measure
صِرْفٌ تَرَقْرَقُ في النَّاجُودِ نَاِطلُهَا
بالْفُلْفُلِwith pepper الجَوْنِblack والرُّمَّانِand pomegranate مَخْتُومُsealed
بالْفُلْفُلِ الجَوْنِ والرُّمَّانِ مَخْتُومُ
Pure wine, its measure shimmering within the wine-jar,
A creature full of quality, whose glances run
sealed with black pepper and pomegranate.
With pepper-bland and pomegranate – guarded ever!
يَمُجُّهَاdisgorges it أَكْلَفُdark-stained الإِسْكَابِby pouring وَافَقَهُmet it
يَمُجُّهَا أَكْلَفُ الإِسْكَابِ وَافَقَهُ
أَيْدِيhands of الهَبَانِيقِthe servants بِالمَثْنَاةِwith a doubled cord مَعْكُومُbound
أَيْدِي الهَبَانِيقِ بِالمَثْنَاةِ مَعْكُومُ
A wineskin darkened by pouring disgorges it, handled
Her twisting sides the pleats of her gown constrain
by servants' hands, bound with a doubled cord.
When her soft fingers plait it in double thickness.
كأَنَّهَاas though she were مَارِنُsoft العِرْنِينَof snout مُفْتَصَلٌseparated
كأَنَّهَا مَارِنُ العِرْنِينَ مُفْتَصَلٌ
مِنَfrom الظِّبَاءِthe gazelles عَلَيْهِupon it الوَدْعُcowries مَنْظُومُstrung
مِنَ الظِّبَاءِ عَلَيْهِ الوَدْعُ مَنْظُومُ
She is like a soft-nosed fawn, taken away
She is like one of the wild cows with coat dappled,
from the gazelles, with cowries strung upon it,
Parted from the wild cows, and now to milking brought.
مُقَلَّدٌgarlanded with قُضُبَsprigs of الرَّيْحَانِsweet basil ذُوhaving جُدَدٍstripes
مُقَلَّدٌ قُضُبَ الرَّيْحَانِ ذُو جُدَدٍ
فيon جَوْزِهِits middle مِنْfrom نِجَارِthe stock of الأَدْمِpale gazelles تَوْسِيمُmarkings
في جَوْزِهِ مِنْ نِجَارِ الأَدْمِ تَوْسِيمُ
garlanded with sprigs of sweet basil, streaked,
Adorned with sprigs of basil, patterned with the marks
its middle marked with the coloring of pale-gazelle stock,
Of tattoo in indigo upon his flexing boughs.
مِمَّاof those that تَبَنَّىadopt عَذَارَىmaidens of الحَيِّthe tribe آنَسَهُtamed it
مِمَّا تَبَنَّى عَذَارَى الحَيِّ آنَسَهُ
مَسْحُstroking by الأَكُفِّhands وإِلْبَاسٌand clothing وتَنْوِيمُand lulling to sleep
مَسْحُ الأَكُفِّ وإِلْبَاسٌ وتَنْوِيمُ
one of those the tribe's maidens adopt, made tame
What girls not born to him yet relish in him -
by stroking hands, clothing, and lulling to sleep,
The smoothing of the hands, the robes, the lullabies;
مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter مَاthe time that نَزَّit leapt تُزْجِيهِurges it on مُرَشَّحَةٌa nursing doe
مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا نَزَّ تُزْجِيهِ مُرَشَّحَةٌ
أَخْلَىlay deserted تِيَاسٌTiyas عَلَيْهَاaround her فَالبَرَاعِيمُthen al-Baraʿim
أَخْلَى تِيَاسٌ عَلَيْهَا فَالبَرَاعِيمُ
after it first leapt about, urged on by a nursing doe,
Then, after she has bared her leg to suckle him,
for whom Tiyas, then al-Baraʿim, lay deserted.
His little shirt leaves nothing of it covered up.
لاnot سَافِرُbare of اللَّحْمِflesh مَدْخُولٌsickly ولاَnor هَبِجٌbloated
لا سَافِرُ اللَّحْمِ مَدْخُولٌ ولاَ هَبِجٌ
كَاسيclothing العِظَامِthe bones لَطِيفُdelicate in الكَشْحِthe waist مَهْضُومُslender
كَاسي العِظَامِ لَطِيفُ الكَشْحِ مَهْضُومُ
Neither lean and sickly nor bloated,
Her flesh not coarse, no glutton she, delicate boned, hollow flicked;
its bones well clothed, its waist delicate and slender.
A night the hue of elephants, the pleiades remaking it;
وليْلَةٍand a night مِثْلِlike لَوْنِthe color of الفِيلِthe elephant غَيَّرهَاaltered it
وليْلَةٍ مِثْلِ لَوْنِ الفِيلِ غَيَّرهَا
طُمْسُblotted-out الكَوَاكِبِstars والبِيدُand deserts الدَّيَامِيمُvast and trackless
طُمْسُ الكَوَاكِبِ والبِيدُ الدَّيَامِيمُ
And a night like an elephant's color, altered
I taxed her, on her walk, to sway, as swaying goes
by blotted-out stars and vast, trackless deserts,
A litter-camel, when the housings are star-embroidered.
كَلَّفْتُهَاI charged it with عَنْدَلاًa sturdy she-camel فيin مَشْيِهَاher gait دَفَقٌa surge
كَلَّفْتُهَا عَنْدَلاً في مَشْيِهَا دَفَقٌ
تَفْرِيperforms الفَرِيَّprodigies إذِاwhen امْتَدَّstretch out البَلاَعيِمُthe throats
تَفْرِي الفَرِيَّ إذِا امْتَدَّ البَلاَعيِمُ
I entrusted to a sturdy she-camel with a surging gait,
At fault therein, though dimly sensed, her guidance was
working wonders when throats stretch out.
The Bear, that sets in motion still the Pointers' dance.
فِيهَاin her إذَاwhen الشَّرَكُthe track المَجْهُولُunknown أَخْطَأَهُmissed it
فِيهَا إذَا الشَّرَكُ المَجْهُولُ أَخْطَأَهُ
أُمُّmother of الأَدِلاَّءِthe guides واغْبَرَّand grew dusty الأَيَادِيمُthe earth's surfaces
أُمُّ الأَدِلاَّءِ واغْبَرَّ الأَيَادِيمُ
In her—when the unknown track eludes
She spurned my tenderness; I turned it back on her;
the mother of guides and the earth's faces grow dusty—
My swordblade intimate with all her alleys is.
مُعَوَّلٌa reliance حِينَwhen يَسْتَوْلِيoverwhelms بِرَاكِبِهِits rider
مُعَوَّلٌ حِينَ يَسْتَوْلِي بِرَاكِبِهِ
خَرْقٌa vast waste كَأَنَّas though مَطَايَاmounts of سَفْرِهِits traveling party هِيمُthirst-maddened
خَرْقٌ كَأَنَّ مَطَايَا سَفْرِهِ هِيمُ
is sure reliance when her rider is engulfed
Such is my wont with her, to pen her in, and keep
by a waste whose travelers' mounts seem thirst-maddened.
Her limbs from rest, her person perched and watching.
بَاتَتْshe spent the night عَلَىupon ثَفِنٍcalloused pads لأُمٍclose-knit مَرَاكِزُهُtheir supports
بَاتَتْ عَلَى ثَفِنٍ لأُمٍ مَرَاكِزُهُ
جَافَىheld raised بِهِupon it مُسْتَعِدَّاتٌready limbs أَطَامِيمُmassive
جَافَى بِهِ مُسْتَعِدَّاتٌ أَطَامِيمُ
She spent the night on calloused pads, their supports close-knit;
The mounts from 'Anbar, never have their girths been loosed,
great, ready limbs held her raised upon them.
Their sturdy leather polished and their cinches clasped.
غَيْرَىjealously rivaling عَلَىwith الشَّجِعَاتِthe strong limbs العُوجِcurved أَرْجُلُهَاher hindlegs
غَيْرَى عَلَى الشَّجِعَاتِ العُوجِ أَرْجُلُهَا
إِذَاwhen تَفَاضَلَتِvie for precedence البُزْلُthe mature camels العَلاَكِيمُmassive
إِذَا تَفَاضَلَتِ البُزْلُ العَلاَكِيمُ
Her hindlegs jealously rival the strong, curved limbs,
Amid a living tribe's domain they scorn the butcher; yet
when massive, full-grown camels vie for precedence.
To neighbour and to guest they are a flock of Demons.
يَهْوِيtumble لَهَاfor her بَيْنَbetween أَيْدِيهَاher forelegs وأَرْجُلِهَاand her hindlegs
يَهْوِي لَهَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهَا وأَرْجُلِهَا
إِذَاwhen اشْفَتَرَّscatters الحَصَىthe gravel حُمْرٌred ones مَلاَئِيمُhard and compact
إِذَا اشْفَتَرَّ الحَصَى حُمْرٌ مَلاَئِيمُ
Between her forelegs and hindlegs tumble
True men, when by the matter they were put to proof,
hard red stones, when the gravel scatters;
Their defenders' hands shed blood that was forbidden.
رَضْخَcrushing like الإِمَاءِslavewomen النَّوَىdate-stones رَدَّتْshe drives back نَوَازِيَهُits bouncing chips
رَضْخَ الإِمَاءِ النَّوَى رَدَّتْ نَوَازِيَهُ
إِذَاwhen اسْتَدَرَّتْcome thick and fast بِأَيْدِيهَاwith her forefeet المَلاَدِيمُthe pounding stones
إِذَا اسْتَدَرَّتْ بِأَيْدِيهَا المَلاَدِيمُ
she crushes them like slavewomen crushing date-stones, driving their bouncing chips back,
Firm in the knowledge that man's wealth will follow him,
when the pounding stones come thick and fast beneath her forefeet.
A duty on the righteous few forever binding.
إِنْif يَنْقُصِdiminishes الدَّهْرِtime مِنِّيfrom me فَالْفَتَىthen a man غَرَضٌa target
إِنْ يَنْقُصِ الدَّهْرِ مِنِّي فَالْفَتَى غَرَضٌ
لِلدَّهْرِfor time مِنْof عُودِهِhis timber وَافٍwhole ومَثْلُومُand chipped
لِلدَّهْرِ مِنْ عُودِهِ وَافٍ ومَثْلُومُ
If time diminishes me, a man is a target
A frame like sapling trees of Qar, smooth-skinned, with pliant
for time, his timber whole or chipped.
Waist; amongst the girls a very shoot of green.
وإِنْand if يَكُنْis ذَاكَthat مِقْدَاراًa destined measure أُصِبْتُI have been struck بِهِwith it
وإِنْ يَكُنْ ذَاكَ مِقْدَاراً أُصِبْتُ بِهِ
فَسِيرَةُthen the way of الدَّهْرِtime تَعْوِيجُbending وتَقْوِيمُand straightening
فَسِيرَةُ الدَّهْرِ تَعْوِيجُ وتَقْوِيمُ
And if that is a destiny with which I have been struck,
As if what lies between his flanks and breast were wrought
time's way is to bend and straighten.
Of intertwisted Rod and Cord well trodden down.
مَاhow أَطْيَبَsweet العَيْشَlife لَوْif only أَنَّthat الفَتَىa man حَجَرٌa stone
مَا أَطْيَبَ العَيْشَ لَوْ أَنَّ الفَتَى حَجَرٌ
تَنْبُوrebound الحَوادِثُcalamities عَنْهُoff him وَهْوَwhile he is مَلْمُومُsolid and compact
تَنْبُو الحَوادِثُ عَنْهُ وَهْوَ مَلْمُومُ
How sweet life would be, were a man a stone,
With a Khorasan-forged shield no swordblade's edge has pierced,
solid and whole, off which calamities rebound.
The choice of heroes for their uprights and their bosses.
لاَnot يُحْرِزُprotect المَرْءَa man أَنْصَارٌhelpers ورَابِيَةٌand a lofty hill
لاَ يُحْرِزُ المَرْءَ أَنْصَارٌ ورَابِيَةٌ
تَأْبَىspurns الهَوَانَhumiliation إِذَاwhen عُدَّare counted الجَرَاثِيمُancestral roots
تَأْبَى الهَوَانَ إِذَا عُدَّ الجَرَاثِيمُ
Neither helpers nor a lofty hill can shelter a man,
I made him to the fore on many a hill and flat
one that spurns abasement when ancestral roots are counted.
Where the wild asses bray and the sandgrouse in numbers.
لاَnot تَمْنَعُprotect المَرْءَa man أَحْجَاءُrefuges of البِلاَدِthe land ولاَnor
لاَ تَمْنَعُ المَرْءَ أَحْجَاءُ البِلاَدِ ولاَ
تُبْنَىare built لَهُfor him فيin السَّمَواتِthe heavens السَّلاَلِيمُladders
تُبْنَى لَهُ في السَّمَواتِ السَّلاَلِيمُ
The land's refuges cannot protect a man, nor
With hooves like sieves, the legs of all the donkeys there
are ladders built for him into the heavens.
Shed their old shoes whene'er the smooth rocks split their nails.
فَقَدْso sometimes أُكَثِّرُI give abundantly لِلْمَوْلَىto the ally بِحَاجَتِهِfor his need
فَقَدْ أُكَثِّرُ لِلْمَوْلَى بِحَاجَتِهِ
وقَدْand sometimes أَرُدُّI restore عَلَيْهِto him وَهْوَwhile he is مَظْلُومُwronged
وقَدْ أَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ وَهْوَ مَظْلُومُ
At times I give my ally abundantly toward his need,
Between her hands and feet it comes to rest, what time
and at times I restore his due when he is wronged,
The worn stones crumble under russet stains of blood.
حَتَّىuntil يَنُوءَhe staggers بِمَاbeneath what قَدَّمْتُI have offered مِنْof حَسَنٍgood
حَتَّى يَنُوءَ بِمَا قَدَّمْتُ مِنْ حَسَنٍ
إِنَّindeed المَوَالِيallies مَحْمُودٌpraiseworthy ومَذْمُومُand blameworthy
إِنَّ المَوَالِي مَحْمُودٌ ومَذْمُومُ
until he staggers beneath the good I have bestowed;
I roughed him up, a guide across a barren plain,
for allies are both praiseworthy and blameworthy.
Where the birds haunt in flocks, to a deserted ruin,
وأُنْبِهُand I rouse الخِرْقَthe bold man لَمْhas not يَلْمِسْfelt بِمَضْجَعِهِin his resting-place
وأُنْبِهُ الخِرْقَ لَمْ يَلْمِسْ بِمَضْجَعِهِ
كَأَنَّهُas though he were مِنْfrom قِتَالِthe battering of السَّيْرِtravel مَأْمُومُwounded in the skull
كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ قِتَالِ السَّيْرِ مَأْمُومُ
And I rouse the bold man, insensible in his resting-place,
Like sieves the donkeys' hooves, their toenails shed
as though the journey's battering had wounded his skull.
There to the smooth stones, when the eroded descend.
ويُنْفِرُand scatters النِّيبَthe old she-camels سَيْفِيmy sword بَيْنَbetween أَسْوُقِهَاtheir shanks
ويُنْفِرُ النِّيبَ سَيْفِي بَيْنَ أَسْوُقِهَا
لَمْhas not يَبْقَremained مِنْof سِرِّهَاtheir choicest إِلاَّexcept شَرَاذِيمُscattered remnants
لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْ سِرِّهَا إِلاَّ شَرَاذِيمُ
And my sword scatters the old she-camels between their shanks;
Of diverse colours, from such company cut off,
of their finest, nothing remains but scattered remnants.
A piebald black-and-white, spineless and humpbacked,
فَذَاكَso that دأْبِيis my practice بِهَاwith them حَالاًat times وأَحْبِسُهَاand I hold them back
فَذَاكَ دأْبِي بِهَا حَالاً وأَحْبِسُهَا
يَسْعَىhurry بِأوْصَالِهَاwith their joints الشُّعْثُthe shaggy men المَقَارِيمُmeat-hungry
يَسْعَى بِأوْصَالِهَا الشُّعْثُ المَقَارِيمُ
That is my way with them at times; at others I hold them back,
Until in haste I sped to serve my Lord with gifts
while shaggy, meat-hungry men hurry off with their joints,
Of Rod and Cord well twisted into his cheekpiece.
مِنْfrom عاتِقِmature wood of النَّبْعthe nabʿ-tree لَمْnot تُغْمَزْwere faulted مَواصِمُهُits weak spots
مِنْ عاتِقِ النَّبْع لَمْ تُغْمَزْ مَواصِمُهُ
حُذَّcut short المَتَاقَةِthe tapered ends (uncertain) أَغْفَالٌunmarked ones وَمَوْسومُand a marked one
حُذَّ المَتَاقَةِ أَغْفَالٌ وَمَوْسومُ
with shafts of mature nabʿ-wood, their weak spots unflawed,
As though a wanderer begging for the appointed time
their tapered ends cut short, unmarked ones and a marked one,
Of 'Abd Manaf, when the battle was enjoined.
فيin دَارِthe home of حَيٍّa tribe يُهِينُونَhold cheap الِّلحَامَmeat وهُمْand they are
في دَارِ حَيٍّ يُهِينُونَ الِّلحَامَ وهُمْ
لِلجَارِto the neighbor والضَّيْفِand the guest يَغْشَاهُمْwho visits them مَكَارِيمُgenerous
لِلجَارِ والضَّيْفِ يَغْشَاهُمْ مَكَارِيمُ
in the home of a tribe who hold meat cheap, and are
He folds around his guardians in the shadow of his mount
generous to the neighbor and the guest who visits them.
A day God-times at al-Gawsa green and blessed.
فِتْيَانُyoung men صِدْقٍtrue إِذَاwhen مَاever الأَمْرُthe matter جَدَّpresses hard بِهِمْupon them
فِتْيَانُ صِدْقٍ إِذَا مَا الأَمْرُ جَدَّ بِهِمْ
أَيْدِيhands of حَوَاطِبِهِمْtheir woodgatherers دَامٍbleeding ومَكْلُومُand wounded
أَيْدِي حَوَاطِبِهِمْ دَامٍ ومَكْلُومُ
True young men, when affairs press them hard,
So Safra's thorns were mute, their points concerted in
their woodgatherers' hands bleeding and wounded.
Assault, ringstraked with the knots his reins had twisted.
قَدْcertainly أَيْقَنُواthey know for certain أَنَّthat مَالَwealth of المَرْءِa man يَتْبَعُهُfollows it
قَدْ أَيْقَنُوا أَنَّ مَالَ المَرْءِ يَتْبَعُهُ
حَقٌّan obligation عَلَىupon صَالِحِthe worthy of الأَقْوَامِthe peoples مَعْلُومُrecognized
حَقٌّ عَلَى صَالِحِ الأَقْوَامِ مَعْلُومُ
They know for certain that a man's wealth carries with it
A strainer for the wine that had been dregs he is;
a recognized obligation upon worthy people.
None call on him when the howdahs are uproaded.
وهَيْكَلٍand a towering horse كشِجَارِlike the framework of القَرِّthe camel-litter مُطَّرِدٍstraight and even
وهَيْكَلٍ كشِجَارِ القَرِّ مُطَّرِدٍ
فيat مِرْفَقَيْهِhis two elbows وفيand at الأَنْسَاءِthe thigh-sinews تَجْرِيمُsharply cut contours
في مِرْفَقَيْهِ وفي الأَنْسَاءِ تَجْرِيمُ
And a towering horse, straight as a camel-litter's framework,
with sharply cut contours at his elbows and thigh-sinews:
كَأَنَّas though مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween جَنْبَيهِhis two flanks ومَنْقَبِهَand his shoulder
كَأَنَّ مَا بَيْنَ جَنْبَيهِ ومَنْقَبِهَ
مِنْof جَوْزِهِhis barrel وَمَقطّand the edge of القُنْبِthe penile sheath مَلْطُومُstruck
مِنْ جَوْزِهِ وَمَقطّ القُنْبِ مَلْطُومُ
as though the space between his flanks and his shoulder,
at his barrel and the edge of his sheath, had been struck
بِتُرْسِwith a shield of أَعْجَمَa foreigner لَمْnot تَنْخَرْhave rotted مَثَاقِبُهُits holes
بِتُرْسِ أَعْجَمَ لَمْ تَنْخَرْ مَثَاقِبُهُ
مِمَّاof those that تَخَيَّرُchoose فيin آطَامِهَاtheir strongholds الرُّومُthe Romans
مِمَّا تَخَيَّرُ في آطَامِهَا الرُّومُ
with a foreign shield whose holes have not rotted,
one of those the Romans choose in their strongholds.
عَرَّجْتُهُI turned him aside رَائداًas a scout فيin عَازِبٍa remote tract عَرِدٍforbidding
عَرَّجْتُهُ رَائداً في عَازِبٍ عَرِدٍ
جُنَّwere concealed النَّوَاصِفُthe valley hollows فِيهِwithin it واليَحَامِيمُand black hills
جُنَّ النَّوَاصِفُ فِيهِ واليَحَامِيمُ
I turned him aside to scout a remote, forbidding tract,
where valley hollows and black hills lay concealed.
مِثْلُlike الطَراِبيلِthe watchtowers أُحْدَانُsolitary ones of الحَمِيرِthe wild asses بِهِin it
مِثْلُ الطَراِبيلِ أُحْدَانُ الحَمِيرِ بِهِ
تَفْلِيcomb مَعَارِفَهَاtheir manes الجُونُthe black ones العَلاَجِيمُthe huge ones
تَفْلِي مَعَارِفَهَا الجُونُ العَلاَجِيمُ
Solitary wild asses stand there like watchtowers;
the huge black ones comb their manes.
شَذَّdrove off الحَوَاليَّthe nearby ones عَنْهَاaway from them شَوْذَبٌa lanky stallion حَدِبٌhumped
شَذَّ الحَوَاليَّ عَنْهَا شَوْذَبٌ حَدِبٌ
عِارِيbare at النَّوَاهِقِthe cheekbones بِالتَّنْهَاقِinto braying مَنْهُومُurged
عِارِي النَّوَاهِقِ بِالتَّنْهَاقِ مَنْهُومُ
A lanky, humped stallion drove the nearby ones away from them,
bare at the cheekbones, urged into braying,
حَتَّىuntil دُفِعْتُI was driven لِمَسْتُورِيtoward my hidden goal عَلَىwith عَجَلٍhaste
حَتَّى دُفِعْتُ لِمَسْتُورِي عَلَى عَجَلٍ
فيin جَوْزِهِhis barrel ونَصِيلِand the bare part of الرَّأْسِthe head تَقْدِيمُforward thrust
في جَوْزِهِ ونَصِيلِ الرَّأْسِ تَقْدِيمُ
until I was driven swiftly toward my hidden goal,
with his barrel and bare head thrust forward.
كَأَنَّهُas though he were نَاشِدٌa seeker نَادَىcalling لِمَوْعِدِهِfor his rendezvous
كَأَنَّهُ نَاشِدٌ نَادَى لِمَوْعِدِهِ
عَبْدَʿAbd مَنَافٍManaf إِذَاwhen اشْتَدَّtightened الحَيَازِيمُthe breast-girths
عَبْدَ مَنَافٍ إِذَا اشْتَدَّ الحَيَازِيمُ
As though he were a seeker, calling for his rendezvous
upon ʿAbd Manaf when the breast-girths tightened.
يَثْنِيfolds عَلَىover حَامِيَيْهِhis two hoof-edges ظِلَّthe shadow of حَارِكِهِhis withers
يَثْنِي عَلَى حَامِيَيْهِ ظِلَّ حَارِكِهِ
يَوْمٌa day قُدَيْدِيمَةَjust before الجَوْزَاءِal-Jawzaʾ (constellation) مَسْمُومُscorched by hot wind
يَوْمٌ قُدَيْدِيمَةَ الجَوْزَاءِ مَسْمُومُ
A day folds the shadow of his withers over his two hoof-edges,
just before al-Jawzaʾ, scorched by hot wind.
فَصَامَthen stood fast شَوْكُthe thorns of السَّفَىthe awns يَرْمِيstriking أَشَاعِرَهُhis fetlock-hairs
فَصَامَ شَوْكُ السَّفَى يَرْمِي أَشَاعِرَهُ
نِيطَتْwere hung بِأَرْسَاغِهِfrom his pasterns مِنْهُof it أَضَامِيمُbundles
نِيطَتْ بِأَرْسَاغِهِ مِنْهُ أَضَامِيمُ
The thorny awns stood fast as they struck his fetlock-hairs;
bundles of them hung from his pasterns.
وَرَّادُfrequent at watering نَقْعٍpooled water عَلَىdespite مَاwhatever كَانَthere was مِنْof وَحَلٍmud
وَرَّادُ نَقْعٍ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ وَحَلٍ
لاَnot يُسْتَهَدُّis cowed إِذَاwhen مَاever صَوَّتَcries البُومُthe owl
لاَ يُسْتَهَدُّ إِذَا مَا صَوَّتَ البُومُ
A frequent visitor to pooled water, however muddy it may be,
he is not cowed when the owl cries.
Partial English translation: 72 of 94 Arabic lines translated.