سَلِAsk الدَّارthe dwelling مِنْfrom جَنَبْيthe two sides of حِبِرٍّHibirr فَوَاهِبِand Wahib
سَلِ الدَّار مِنْ جَنَبْي حِبِرٍّ فَوَاهِبِ
إلىto مَاwhere رَأَىoverlooked هَضْبَrocky hills القَلِيبِal-Qalib المُضَيَّحُal-Mudayyah
إلى مَا رَأَى هَضْبَ القَلِيبِ المُضَيَّحُ
Ask the dwelling by the two sides of Hibirr and Wahib,
Ask the abode, next to ink writing, of those who perished,
to where al-Mudayyah overlooks the rocky hills of al-Qalib.
To where the mirage of the hot sands faded.
أَقَامَremained وخَلَّتْهُand she abandoned it كُبَيْشَةُKubaysha بَعْدَمَاafter
أَقَامَ وخَلَّتْهُ كُبَيْشَةُ بَعْدَمَا
أَطَالَlasted long بِهِin it مِنْهَاfrom her مَرَاحٌevening resting ومَسْرَحٌand morning ranging
أَطَالَ بِهِ مِنْهَا مَرَاحٌ ومَسْرَحٌ
It remained, and Kubaysha abandoned it, after
It stayed, after Kubeisha deserted it,
her evening rests and morning wanderings there had long endured.
After she elongated with it a place of rest and an open area.
وحَلْتand she encamped سُوَاجاًat Suwaj حِلةًa stay فَكَأَنَّمَاso it was as though
وحَلْت سُوَاجاً حِلةً فَكَأَنَّمَا
بِحَزْمِon the rocky ridge of سُوَاجٍSuwaj وَشْمُa tattoo كفٍّa palm مُقَرَّحُpricked
بِحَزْمِ سُوَاجٍ وَشْمُ كفٍّ مُقَرَّحُ
And she settled at Suwaj for a stay, as though
She donned a garment, a fine dress, as if
on Suwaj’s ridge lay a tattoo pricked into a palm.
With the bundle of a bridle and a palm holding the reigns.
تَقُولُshe says تَرَبَّحْseek profit يَغْمُرِmay flood المَالُwealth أَهْلَهُits household
تَقُولُ تَرَبَّحْ يَغْمُرِ المَالُ أَهْلَهُ
كُبَيْشَةُKubaysha والتَّقْوَىand piety إِلىtoward اللهِGod أَرْبَحُmore profitable
كُبَيْشَةُ والتَّقْوَى إِلى اللهِ أَرْبَحُ
She says, “Seek profit, that wealth may flood its household”—
You say, take comfort, money immerses its people,
Kubaysha; yet piety toward God is more profitable.
While piety to God is more profitable.
أَلَمْHave you not تَعْلمِيyou learned أَنْthat لاَnot يَذُمُّcensures فُجَاءَتيmy sudden welcome
أَلَمْ تَعْلمِي أَنْ لاَ يَذُمُّ فُجَاءَتي
دَخِيليmy guest إذَاwhen اغْبَرَّturned dust-gray العِضَاةُthe thorn trees المُجَلَّحُstripped of foliage
دَخِيلي إذَا اغْبَرَّ العِضَاةُ المُجَلَّحُ
Have you not learned that my sudden welcome is never faulted
Don't you know that my impetuous visitors do not blame me
by my guest, when the stripped thorn trees turn dust-gray,
When the twisting sands are set in motion at midday?
وَهبَّتْand it blew شَمَالاًas a north wind تَهْتِكُtears apart السِّتْرَthe curtain قَرَّةًbitterly cold
وَهبَّتْ شَمَالاً تَهْتِكُ السِّتْرَ قَرَّةً
تَكادُalmost قُبَيْلَjust before الصُّبْحِdawn بالمَاءِwith water تَنْضَحُsprinkles
تَكادُ قُبَيْلَ الصُّبْحِ بالمَاءِ تَنْضَحُ
and a bitter north wind blows, tearing the curtain,
The wind blows left, rending the curtains lightly,
almost spraying water shortly before dawn,
Almost sprinkling water at dawn.
يَظَلُّremains الحِصَانُthe stallion الوَرْدُreddish-bay فِيهَاin it مُجَلَّلاًcovered
يَظَلُّ الحِصَانُ الوَرْدُ فِيهَا مُجَلَّلاً
لَدَىbeside السِّتْرِthe curtain يَغْشَاهُassails him المِصَكُّthe hard-striking blast الصَّمَحْمَحُthe mighty one
لَدَى السِّتْرِ يَغْشَاهُ المِصَكُّ الصَّمَحْمَحُ
while the reddish-bay stallion remains covered in that wind,
The horse remains still garlanded with flowers
beside the curtain, assailed by the mighty, hard-striking blast;
Beside the curtain, shrouded by the silent evening.
وأَنْand that لاَnot أَلُومُI blame النَّفْسَmyself فِيمَاfor what أَصَابنِيbefell me
وأَنْ لاَ أَلُومُ النَّفْسَ فِيمَا أَصَابنِي
وأَنْand that لاَnot أَكَادُI almost بِالَّذِيin what نِلْتُI gained أَفْرَحُrejoice
وأَنْ لاَ أَكَادُ بِالَّذِي نِلْتُ أَفْرَحُ
and that I do not blame myself for what befalls me,
That I don't blame the soul for what befell me,
and scarcely rejoice in what I have gained?
And that I hardly rejoice at what I obtained.
ومَاand not الدَّهْرُtime إِلاَّexcept تَارَتَانِtwo turns فَمِنْهُمَاso of them
ومَا الدَّهْرُ إِلاَّ تَارَتَانِ فَمِنْهُمَا
أَمُوتُI die وأُخْرَىand another turn أَبْتَغِيI seek العَيْشَa living أَكْدَحُI toil
أَمُوتُ وأُخْرَى أَبْتَغِي العَيْشَ أَكْدَحُ
Time is only two turns: in one of them
Life is but two calamities, and of them
I die; in the other I seek my living, toiling.
I die, and the other I seek life's hardship.
وكِلْتَاهُمَاand both of them قَدْalready خُطَّwas inscribed ليfor me فيin صَحِيفتيmy scroll
وكِلْتَاهُمَا قَدْ خُطَّ لي في صَحِيفتي
فَلَلعَيشُso life indeed أَشْهَىmore desirable ليto me وللْمَوْتُand death indeed أرْوَحُmore restful
فَلَلعَيشُ أَشْهَى لي وللْمَوْتُ أرْوَحُ
Both have already been inscribed for me in my scroll:
Both were prescribed for me in my script,
life is more desirable to me, but death more restful.
So living is more dear to me, and death more comfortable.
إذَاwhen مِتُّI die فَانْعَيْنِيthen announce my death بِمَاwith what أَنَاI أَهْلُهُworthy of it
إذَا مِتُّ فَانْعَيْنِي بِمَا أَنَا أَهْلُهُ
وذُمِّيand condemn الحَيَاةlife كُلُّevery عَيْشٍlife مُتَرَّحُsorrow-laden
وذُمِّي الحَيَاة كُلُّ عَيْشٍ مُتَرَّحُ
When I die, announce my death with what befits me,
When I die, eulogize me with what suits me,
and condemn life: every life is sorrow-laden.
And say ill of all life that brought ease.
وقُولِيand say فَتىًa youth تَشْقَىsuffers بِهِbecause of him النَّابُthe old she-camel رَدَّهَاdrove her back
وقُولِي فَتىً تَشْقَى بِهِ النَّابُ رَدَّهَا
عَلَىagainst رَغْمِهَاher will أَيْسَارُgamblers صِدْقٍtrue honor وأَقْدُحُand lot-arrows
عَلَى رَغْمِهَا أَيْسَارُ صِدْقٍ وأَقْدُحُ
And say, “A youth through whom the old she-camel suffered; she was driven back
And say a noble man, whom adversity turned away,
against her will by true-hearted gamblers and lot-arrows.”
Repelled it with sincerity, illumination, and flint.
تَخَيَّلَstrutted فِيهَاamong them ذُوone bearing وُسُومٍmarks كأنَّمَاas though
تَخَيَّلَ فِيهَا ذُو وُسُومٍ كأنَّمَا
يُطَلَّىis coated بِحُصٍّwith yellow dye أَوْor يُصَلىis heated by fire فَيُضْبَحُthen is singed
يُطَلَّى بِحُصٍّ أَوْ يُصَلى فَيُضْبَحُ
A marked shaft strutted among them, as though
He imagined in it one marked, as if
coated with yellow dye, or held to the fire and singed.
He is clad in armor or prays so breakfasts.
جَلْتpolished away صَنِفاتُthe hems of الرَّيْطِfine cloth عَنهُfrom it قوَابَهُits surface blemishes
جَلْت صَنِفاتُ الرَّيْطِ عَنهُ قوَابَهُ
وأَخْلصْنهُand they purified it مِمَّاfrom among what يُصَانُis treasured ويُمْسَحُand is polished
وأَخْلصْنهُ مِمَّا يُصَانُ ويُمْسَحُ
The hems of fine cloth polished its blemishes away,
The riffraff avoided him, so we purified him
and left it pure among things treasured and polished.
From what is protected and wiped clean.
صَرِيعٌfallen دَرِيرٌswift-running مَسُّهُits touch مَسُّthe touch of بَيْضَةٍan egg
صَرِيعٌ دَرِيرٌ مَسُّهُ مَسُّ بَيْضَةٍ
إذَاwhen سَنَحَتْswung أَيْدِيthe hands of المُفِيضِينَthe lot-casters يَبْرَحُit goes forth
إذَا سَنَحَتْ أَيْدِي المُفِيضِينَ يَبْرَحُ
A fallen shaft, swift-running, its touch like an egg’s;
A wrestling companion if touched is like touching an egg,
when the lot-casters’ hands swing, it springs forth.
When the hands of the knight extend, it hatches.
بِهِon it قَرَعٌworn-bare patches أَبْدَىexposed الحَصَىthe pebbles عَنْfrom مُتُونِهِits surfaces
بِهِ قَرَعٌ أَبْدَى الحَصَى عَنْ مُتُونِهِ
سَفَاسِقَfine streaks أَعْرَاهَاbared them اللِّحَاءُthe bark المُشَبَّحُspread out
سَفَاسِقَ أَعْرَاهَا اللِّحَاءُ المُشَبَّحُ
It bears worn-bare patches; pebbles have uncovered along its sides
With it he uncovered stones from their bases,
fine streaks left bare by the peeled-back bark.
Boulders whose sides the smooth stones uncover.
غَدَاbegan the morning وَهْوَand it was مَجْدُولٌround-shafted فَرَاحَthen reached evening كَأَنَّهُas though it
غَدَا وَهْوَ مَجْدُولٌ فَرَاحَ كَأَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom الصَّكِّstriking والتّقْلِيبِand turning فيin الكفِّthe palm أَفْطَحُflat and broad
مِنَ الصَّكِّ والتّقْلِيبِ في الكفِّ أَفْطَحُ
It began the morning round-shafted; by evening it seemed,
He rose in the morning bent, as if
from striking and turning in the palm, flat and broad.
From beating and turning in the palm flattened.
خَرُوجٌquick to emerge مِنَfrom الغُمَّىdarkness إذَاwhen صُكَّit was struck صَكَّةًa single blow
خَرُوجٌ مِنَ الغُمَّى إذَا صُكَّ صَكَّةً
بَدَاappeared والعُيُونُand the eyes المُسْتَكِفَّةُgathered around تَلْمَحُglimpse
بَدَا والعُيُونُ المُسْتَكِفَّةُ تَلْمَحُ
Quick to emerge from darkness, when struck a single blow,
An emergence from gloom when beaten
it appears while the eyes gathered around glimpse it.
Eyes appear watching in waiting.
مُفَدّىًransomed مُؤَدّىًhanded over بِالَيدَيْنِwith both hands مُلَعَّنٌcursed
مُفَدّىً مُؤَدّىً بِالَيدَيْنِ مُلَعَّنٌ
خَلِيعُstripping off لِحَامٍflesh فَائِرٌsurging مُتَمَنحُsought on loan
خَلِيعُ لِحَامٍ فَائِرٌ مُتَمَنحُ
Ransomed, handed over with both hands, and cursed,
Ransomed, brought with both hands, accursed,
stripping flesh away, surging forth, sought on loan.
An ignoble carrier, open, granted wishes.
إِذَاwhen امْتَنَحَتْهُborrows it مِنْof مَعَدٍّMaadd عِصَابَةٌa band
إِذَا امْتَنَحَتْهُ مِنْ مَعَدٍّ عِصَابَةٌ
غَدَاgoes forth رَبُّهُits owner قَبْلَbefore المُفيضِينَthe lot-casters يَقْدَحُcasts lots
غَدَا رَبُّهُ قَبْلَ المُفيضِينَ يَقْدَحُ
When a band of Maadd borrows it,
When snatched by the entrails of a band,
its owner goes to cast lots ahead of the lot-casters.
His Lord before the knights strikes flint.
أَرَقْتُI lay sleepless لِبَرْقٍfor lightning آخِرَat the end of الَّليْلِthe night دُونَهُbetween me and it
أَرَقْتُ لِبَرْقٍ آخِرَ الَّليْلِ دُونَهُ
رِضامٌheaped boulders وهَضْبٌand a rocky plateau دُونَthis side of رَمَّانَRamman أَفْيَحُbroad
رِضامٌ وهَضْبٌ دُونَ رَمَّانَ أَفْيَحُ
I lay sleepless for lightning at night’s end; before it lay
I stayed up for lightning late night, below it
heaped boulders and a broad rocky plateau this side of Ramman.
Plain and hill, below a pomegranate grove.
لِجَوْنٍfrom a dark cloud شَآمِnortherly كُلَّمَاwhenever قُلْتُI said قَدْalready مَضَىpassed
لِجَوْنٍ شَآمِ كُلَّمَا قُلْتُ قَدْ مَضَى
سَنَاflashed والقَوَارِيand the qariyah birds الخُضْرُgreen فيin المَاءِthe water جُنَّحُleaning low
سَنَا والقَوَارِي الخُضْرُ في المَاءِ جُنَّحُ
From a northern dark cloud: whenever I said it had passed,
For a moon the color of late afternoon, whenever I said it passed,
it flashed, while green birds leaned low in the water.
A year, and the green ducks in the water flutter wings.
فَأَضْحَىthen by morning لَهُit had جِلْبٌa cloud mass بِأَكْنَافِalong the flanks of شُرْمَةٍShurmah
فَأَضْحَى لَهُ جِلْبٌ بِأَكْنَافِ شُرْمَةٍ
أَجَشُّhoarse-thundering سِمَاكِيُّof Simak مِنَfrom الوَبْلِthe downpour أَفْضَحُpale
أَجَشُّ سِمَاكِيُّ مِنَ الوَبْلِ أَفْضَحُ
By morning it had a cloud mass on Shurmah’s flanks,
So for it there was an early time with the sides of a blazing fire,
hoarse-thundering, of Simak, pale with the downpour.
More scorching than embers, the most burning.
وأَظْهَرَand spent noon فيin غُلاَّنِthe watercourses of رَقْدٍRaqd وسَيْلهُand its flood
وأَظْهَرَ في غُلاَّنِ رَقْدٍ وسَيْلهُ
عَلاَجِيمُgreat deep waters لاَnot ضَحْلٌshallow ولاَnor مُتَضَحْضِحُdwindling into shallows
عَلاَجِيمُ لاَ ضَحْلٌ ولاَ مُتَضَحْضِحُ
And by noon it was in Raqd’s watercourses, its flood
It showed in the slumber of sleep its ways,
great deep waters, neither shallow nor dwindling into shallows.
Jumbled, no clear, articulate speech.
وأَلْقَىand poured down بِشَرْجٍover Sharj والصَّريفِand al-Sarif بَعَاعَهُits load of rain
وأَلْقَى بِشَرْجٍ والصَّريفِ بَعَاعَهُ
ثِقَالٌheavy رَوَايَاهُits water-carriers مِنَof المُزْنِthe rain clouds دُلَّحُsagging under loads
ثِقَالٌ رَوَايَاهُ مِنَ المُزْنِ دُلَّحُ
It poured its full burden over Sharj and al-Sarif,
It let out excrement and its chaff
its rain-cloud water-carriers heavy, bowed beneath their loads.
Loads heavy in transmission, soaked.
تَرَىyou see كُلَّevery وَادٍvalley جَالَswept فِيهِthrough it كَأَنَّماas though
تَرَى كُلَّ وَادٍ جَالَ فِيهِ كَأَنَّما
أَنَاخَmade his camel kneel عَلَيْهِupon it رَاكِبٌa rider مُتَمَلِّحُgathering salt
أَنَاخَ عَلَيْهِ رَاكِبٌ مُتَمَلِّحُ
You see every valley it swept through as though
You see every valley it crossed, as if
a salt-gathering rider had made his camel kneel there.
A rider halted over it, salted.
وقَاظَتْand she summered كِشَافاًat Kishaf مِنْnear ضَرِيَّةِDariyyah مُشْرِفٍoverlooking
وقَاظَتْ كِشَافاً مِنْ ضَرِيَّةِ مُشْرِفٍ
لَهَاfor her مِنْfrom حَبَوْبَاةًHabawbah خَسِيفٌa deep hollow وأَبْطَحُand a gravelly bed
لَهَا مِنْ حَبَوْبَاةً خَسِيفٌ وأَبْطَحُ
And she summered at Kishaf, overlooking Dariyyah,
It kept watch with an observer from the prominence of a overlooker
with a deep hollow and gravelly watercourse toward Habawbah.
For it from Habbuba a bundle and floor mat.
ألاَOh ليْتَif only أَنَّاthat we لَمْdid not نزلْwe cease to be مثْلَlike عَهْدِنَاour former state
ألاَ ليْتَ أَنَّا لَمْ نزلْ مثْلَ عَهْدِنَا
بِعَارِمَةِat Arimah الخَرْجَاءِal-Kharja’ والعَهْدُand the old days يَنْزَحُrecede
بِعَارِمَةِ الخَرْجَاءِ والعَهْدُ يَنْزَحُ
Oh, if only we had never ceased to be as we were
Oh, if only we did not stay, like our pact,
at Arimah al-Kharja’, though those days recede,
In the den of vermin, while the pact melts away.
بِحَيٍّamong a clan إِذَاwhen قِيلَit is said اظْعَنُواdepart قَدْalready أُتِيتُمُyou have been attacked
بِحَيٍّ إِذَا قِيلَ اظْعَنُوا قَدْ أُتِيتُمُ
أَقَامُواthey remained عَلَىbeside أثْقَالِهِمْtheir baggage وتَلَحْلَحُواand stood fast
أَقَامُوا عَلَى أثْقَالِهِمْ وتَلَحْلَحُوا
among a clan who, when told, “Depart! You have been attacked!”
With people, if told attack, they stood
stood beside their baggage and held their ground.
On their burdens and slipped.
مَسَالِحُهُمْtheir defenses مِنْof كُلِّevery أَجْرَدَsleek-coated steed سِابِحٍswimming in its stride
مَسَالِحُهُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَجْرَدَ سِابِحٍ
جَمُومٍfull of renewed vigor إِذَاwhen ابْتَلَّbecame wet الحِزَامُthe girth المُوَشَّحُornamented
جَمُومٍ إِذَا ابْتَلَّ الحِزَامُ المُوَشَّحُ
Their defenses are sleek horses, swimming in their stride,
Their weapons of every smooth swimmer
fresh for another run when the ornamented girth grows wet:
When the tight belt is soaked.
قُوَيْرِحِa young full-toothed steed أعْوَامٍyears رَفِيعٍhigh قَذَالُهُits nape
قُوَيْرِحِ أعْوَامٍ رَفِيعٍ قَذَالُهُ
يَظلُّkeeps on يَبُزُّoutstrips الكَهْلَthe older horse والكَهْلُand the older horse يَطْمَحُstrains forward
يَظلُّ يَبُزُّ الكَهْلَ والكَهْلُ يَطْمَحُ
a young full-toothed steed, seasoned in years, with high-held nape,
Qawair's years, its strap high, it
ever outstripping the older horse, though the older strains forward.
Remains striking old age, and old age aspires.
ثَنَاهُhe turned it back فَلَمَّاthen when رَاجَعَresumed العَدْوَthe gallop لَمْnot يَزَلْit ceased
ثَنَاهُ فَلَمَّا رَاجَعَ العَدْوَ لَمْ يَزَلْ
يُنَازِعُit pulls against فيat فَأْسِthe bit of الِّلجَامِthe bridle ويَمْرَحُand prances
يُنَازِعُ في فَأْسِ الِّلجَامِ ويَمْرَحُ
He turned it back; when it resumed the gallop, it kept
It bent him, so when he engaged the enemy, he did not stop
pulling at the bridle’s bit and prancing.
Contesting the axe handle and swaying.
يُنازعُit struggles with شَقِّيّاًa hard-pressed rider كَأَنَّas though عِنَانَهُits rein
يُنازعُ شَقِّيّاً كَأَنَّ عِنَانَهُ
يَفُوتُeludes بِهِwith it الإِقْدَاعَrestraint جِذْعٌa tree trunk مُنَقَّحُtrimmed smooth
يَفُوتُ بِهِ الإِقْدَاعَ جِذْعٌ مُنَقَّحُ
It fights its hard-pressed rider, as though its rein
He contests a wretch, as if his bridle
were a trimmed tree trunk, defying restraint.
Escapes him, a infected palm tree trunk.
ويُرْعِدُand it shivers إِرْعَادَthe shivering of الهَجِينthe crossbred horse أَضَاعَهُneglected it
ويُرْعِدُ إِرْعَادَ الهَجِين أَضَاعَهُ
غَدَاةَon the morning of الشَّمَالِthe north wind الشُّمْرُجُthe lanky man المُنَتَصَّحُthe trusted one
غَدَاةَ الشَّمَالِ الشُّمْرُجُ المُنَتَصَّحُ
And it shivers like a crossbred horse left neglected
It thunders like the braying of donkeys it misplaced
on a north-wind morning by a lanky, trusted keeper.
One morning in the north, the soaked fleece.
وجَرْدَاءَand a sleek-coated mare مِلْوَاحٍquick to thirst يَجُولُmoves to and fro بَرِيمُهَاher two-colored cord
وجَرْدَاءَ مِلْوَاحٍ يَجُولُ بَرِيمُهَا
تُوَقَّرُis calmed بَعْدَafter الرَّبْوِpanting فَرْطاًexcessively وتُمْسَحُand is rubbed down
تُوَقَّرُ بَعْدَ الرَّبْوِ فَرْطاً وتُمْسَحُ
And a sleek, thirst-prone mare, whose two-colored cord swings,
And bare pieces of armor that wander around, their tips
calmed after excessive panting and rubbed down,
Honored after sobbing, and wiped clean.
كسِيدِlike a wolf of الغَضَاghada trees فيin الطلِّthe dew بَادَرَraced ahead of جِرْوَهُhis cub
كسِيدِ الغَضَا في الطلِّ بَادَرَ جِرْوَهُ
أَهَالِيبَvaried bursts of شَدٍّrunning كُلُّهَاall of them مُتَسَرِّحُunrestrained
أَهَالِيبَ شَدٍّ كُلُّهَا مُتَسَرِّحُ
like a wolf of the ghada thickets racing ahead of its cub through the dew,
Like the master of the spoiled in confrontation, it confronted its ignorance,
in varied bursts of running, each one unrestrained.
Dispositions of pulling, all slipping away.
وفِتْيَانِand young men صِدْقٍtrue honor قَدْindeed رَفَعْتُI raised عَقِيرَتيmy voice
وفِتْيَانِ صِدْقٍ قَدْ رَفَعْتُ عَقِيرَتي
لَهُمْfor them مَوْهِناًlate at night والزِّقُّand the wineskin رَيَّانُbrimming مُجْبَحُbulging
لَهُمْ مَوْهِناً والزِّقُّ رَيَّانُ مُجْبَحُ
And true-hearted youths—I have raised my voice
And young men of sincerity, for them I raised my banner,
for them late at night, the wineskin brimming and bulging.
Subduing, and the cloth dripping blood.
وضَمَّنْتُand I entrusted أَرْسَانَthe halters of الجِيَادِthe steeds مُعَبَّداًa bondman
وضَمَّنْتُ أَرْسَانَ الجِيَادِ مُعَبَّداً
إِذَاwhen مَاever (emphatic) ضَرَبْنَاwe struck رَأْسَهُhis head لاَnot يُرَنِّحُhe sways
إِذَا مَا ضَرَبْنَا رَأْسَهُ لاَ يُرَنِّحُ
I entrusted the steeds’ halters to a bondman,
And I harnessed the gear of steeds, paved,
who, when we struck his head, did not sway.
If we strike its head, it does not neigh.
فَبَاتَthen he spent the night يُقَاسيstruggling with بَعْدَafter مَاthat شُجَّwas gashed رَأْسُهُhis head
فَبَاتَ يُقَاسي بَعْدَ مَا شُجَّ رَأْسُهُ
فُحُولاًstallions جَمَعْنَاهَاwe gathered them تَشِبُّrear up وتَضْرَحُand kick
فُحُولاً جَمَعْنَاهَا تَشِبُّ وتَضْرَحُ
So he spent the night struggling, after his head was gashed,
So it endured after its head was struck
with stallions we had gathered, rearing and kicking.
Stallions we gathered that glisten and ripen.
وبَاتَand it spent the night يُغَنىbeing sung to فيin الخلِيجِthe great bowl كَأَنَّهُas though it
وبَاتَ يُغَنى في الخلِيجِ كَأَنَّهُ
كُمَيْتٌa dark chestnut horse مُدَمّىًblood-red نَاصِعُbright اللَّوْنِin color أَقْرَحُwhite-starred
كُمَيْتٌ مُدَمّىً نَاصِعُ اللَّوْنِ أَقْرَحُ
And through the night it was sung to in the great bowl, as though it were
And it sang in the gulf as if it
a blood-red chestnut horse, bright-hued and white-starred.
A buried corpse, shining in color, most ulcerated.
وقَدْand sometimes أَبْعَثُI urge forward الوَجْنَاءَthe stout-cheeked she-camel يَزْجُلُpropels خُفَّهَاher padded foot
وقَدْ أَبْعَثُ الوَجْنَاءَ يَزْجُلُ خُفَّهَا
وَظِيفٌa shin كَظَنْوُبِlike the shank of النَّعَامَةِthe ostrich أَرْوَحُbowed outward
وَظِيفٌ كَظَنْوُبِ النَّعَامَةِ أَرْوَحُ
And sometimes I urge the stout-cheeked she-camel on, her foot flung forward
I sent the chafe that drums its footsteps
by an outward-bowed shin like an ostrich’s shank.
And a purpose like ostrich tail feathers, more comfortable.
يَصُكُّstrikes الحَصَىthe pebbles عَنْaway from يَعْمَليٍّa sturdy camel كَأَنَّهُas though it إِذَاwhen
يَصُكُّ الحَصَى عَنْ يَعْمَليٍّ كَأَنَّهُ إِذَا
مَاever (emphatic) عَلاَclimbed حَدَّthe edge of الأَمَاعِزِstony ground مِرْضَحُa pounding stone
مَا عَلاَ حَدَّ الأَمَاعِزِ مِرْضَحُ
It strikes pebbles away from a sturdy camel, as though, when
It pounds the pebbles from a strong constitution as if when
it climbs the edge of stony ground, it were a pounding stone,
It climbs past the height of goats, a lookout.
إِذَاwhen الأَبْلقُal-Ablaq المَحْزُوُّthe notched one آَضَbecame كَأَنَّهُas though it
إِذَا الأَبْلقُ المَحْزُوُّ آَضَ كَأَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom الحَرِّthe heat فيin جَهْدِthe intensity of الظَّهِيرَةِmidday مِسْطَحُa flat board
مِنَ الحَرِّ في جَهْدِ الظَّهِيرَةِ مِسْطَحُ
when the notched al-Ablaq comes to seem,
When the pink early dawn lies down, it is as though
in the heat of fiercest noon, like a flat board.
Flattened from the heat at midday.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.