بَانَdeparted الخَليطُthe companions فَمَاso no لِلْقَلْبfor the heart مَعْقُولُrestraint
بَانَ الخَليطُ فَمَا لِلْقَلْب مَعْقُولُ
ولاَand no عَلَىupon الجيرَةِthe neighbors الغَادِينَdeparting at dawn تَعْوِيلُreliance
ولاَ عَلَى الجيرَةِ الغَادِينَ تَعْوِيلُ
The companions have departed; the heart has no restraint,
The confusion appeared, so the heart has no comprehension,
nor can one rely on the departing neighbors.
Nor on the departing neighbors is there any reliance.
أَمَّاas for هُمُthem فَعُدَاةٌthen enemies مَاnot نُكَلِّمُهُمْwe speak to them
أَمَّا هُمُ فَعُدَاةٌ مَا نُكَلِّمُهُمْ
وهْيَand she الصَّدِيقُthe beloved بِهَاthrough her وَجْدٌpassionate longing وتَخْبِيلُand derangement
وهْيَ الصَّدِيقُ بِهَا وَجْدٌ وتَخْبِيلُ
As for them, they are enemies; we do not speak to them,
As for them, they are enemies - we do not speak to them,
while she is the beloved, bringing longing and derangement.
While it is the friend in whom is pleasure and playfulness.
كَأَنَّنيas though I يَوْمَthe day حَثَّurged on الحَادِيانِthe two camel-drivers بِهَاher onward
كَأَنَّني يَوْمَ حَثَّ الحَادِيانِ بِهَا
نَحْوَtoward الإِوَانَةِal-Iwana بِالطَّاعُونِby plague مَتْلُولُfelled
نَحْوَ الإِوَانَةِ بِالطَّاعُونِ مَتْلُولُ
As though, on the day the two camel-drivers urged her on
It was as though when the two guides drove me with it
toward al-Iwana, I were felled by plague.
Towards Al-Eewanah during the plague stumbling,
يَوْمَthe day ارْتَحَلْتُI saddled up بِرَحْلِيwith my saddle دُونَwithout بَرْذَعَتيmy saddlecloth
يَوْمَ ارْتَحَلْتُ بِرَحْلِي دُونَ بَرْذَعَتي
والقَلْبُand the heart مُسْتَوْهِلٌdismayed بِالبَيْنِby separation مَشْغُولُpreoccupied
والقَلْبُ مُسْتَوْهِلٌ بِالبَيْنِ مَشْغُولُ
The day I put on my saddle without my saddlecloth,
The day I departed with my saddlebag without my armor,
my heart was dismayed and consumed by separation.
While my heart was busy with parting fully occupied.
ثُمَّthen اغْتَرَزْتُI set foot in the stirrup عَلَىon نَضْوِيmy lean mount لأبْعَثَهُto rouse it
ثُمَّ اغْتَرَزْتُ عَلَى نَضْوِي لأبْعَثَهُ
إِثْرafter الحُمُولِthe laden camels الغَوَادِيdeparting at dawn وهْوَwhile it مَعْقُولُis hobbled
إِثْر الحُمُولِ الغَوَادِي وهْوَ مَعْقُولُ
Then I planted my foot in my lean mount's stirrup to rouse it
Then I was girded on my she-camel to send it
after the departing laden camels, though it was still hobbled.
After the caravans passing through the valley, and it was comprehended.
فَاسْتَعْجَلَتْthen hurried عَبْرَةٌa tear شَعْوَاءُunruly قَمَّحَهَاmade it well up
فَاسْتَعْجَلَتْ عَبْرَةٌ شَعْوَاءُ قَمَّحَهَا
مَاءٌwater ومَالَand turned aside بِهاwith it فيin جَنْفِهاits veering الجُولُthe eye's rim
مَاءٌ ومَالَ بِها في جَنْفِها الجُولُ
Then an unruly tear hurried forth, made to well up by
So a swift tear flowed copiously, moistened by
water; the eye's rim turned its errant course aside.
Water, and it tilted within its eyelid playfully.
فَقُلْتُso I said مَاwhat لِحُمُولِof the laden camels الحَيِّof the tribe قَدْalready خَفِيَتْthey have vanished
فَقُلْتُ مَا لِحُمُولِ الحَيِّ قَدْ خَفِيَتْ
أَكَلَّhas grown weary? طَرْفِيَmy sight أَمْor غَالَتْهُمُhas carried them off الغُولُthe ghoul
أَكَلَّ طَرْفِيَ أَمْ غَالَتْهُمُ الغُولُ
I said: 'Why have the tribe's laden camels vanished?
So I said, “Why have the caravans of the living hidden from my vision?
Has my sight grown weary, or has the ghoul carried them off?'
Have the wolves devoured them or have they been carried off by ghuls?”
يَخْفَوْنَthey disappear طَوْراًat times فَأَبْكِيso I weep ثُمَّthen يَرْفَعُهُمْlifts them
يَخْفَوْنَ طَوْراً فَأَبْكِي ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهُمْ
آلُthe mirage الضُّحَىof midmorning والهِبِلاَّتُand billows المَرَاسِيلُdrifting freely
آلُ الضُّحَى والهِبِلاَّتُ المَرَاسِيلُ
At times they disappear and I weep; then they are lifted by
They hide for a while so I cry, then the kinfolk of the forenoon raise them up,
the midmorning mirage and freely drifting billows.
And the communications of nightfall lead them with the caravans.
تَخْدِيtrot swiftly بِهِمْwith them رُجُفُquivering الأَلْحِيin the jaws مُلَيَّثَةٌhead-wrapped
تَخْدِي بِهِمْ رُجُفُ الأَلْحِي مُلَيَّثَةٌ
أَظْلاَلُهُنَّtheir shadows لأَيْدِيهنَّfor their forefeet تَنْعِيلُshoeing
أَظْلاَلُهُنَّ لأَيْدِيهنَّ تَنْعِيلُ
Camels with quivering jaws bear them at a trot, their heads swathed;
They walk with them while the vertigo of mid-day heat distorts them,
their shadows shoe their forefeet.
Their shadows to their hands inclining.
ولِلْحُدَاةِand for the camel-drivers عَلَىalong آثَارِهِمْtheir tracks زَجَلٌchanting
ولِلْحُدَاةِ عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ زَجَلٌ
ولِلسَّرَابِand for the mirage عَلَىon الحِزَّانِthe rocky ridges تَبْغِيلُmule-like pacing
ولِلسَّرَابِ عَلَى الحِزَّانِ تَبْغِيلُ
The camel-drivers' chants ring out behind them,
And for their vestiges on the ashes is the clamor of crawling,
and the mirage on the rocky ridges paces like a mule.
And for the mirage upon the gravel plains is delusion.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen حَالَتِintervened الشَّهْلاَءُthe gray ridge دُونَهُمُscreening them
حَتَّى إِذَا حَالَتِ الشَّهْلاَءُ دُونَهُمُ
واسْتَوْقَدَand blazed الحَرُّthe heat قَالُواthey said قَوْلَةًa word قِيلُواtake your midday rest
واسْتَوْقَدَ الحَرُّ قَالُوا قَوْلَةً قِيلُوا
Until, when the gray ridge screened them from view
Until when the afternoon prevented them from passage
and the heat blazed, they said: 'Take your midday rest.'
And the heat kindled, they uttered a saying: encamp!
واسْتَقْبَلُواand they headed toward وَادِياًa valley جَرْسُthe cooing الحَمَامِof doves بِهِin it
واسْتَقْبَلُوا وَادِياً جَرْسُ الحَمَامِ بِهِ
كَأَنَّهُas though it نَوْحُlamentation أَنْبَاطٍof Nabataeans مَثَاكِيلُbereaved
كَأَنَّهُ نَوْحُ أَنْبَاطٍ مَثَاكِيلُ
They headed into a valley where the doves' cooing
And they faced a valley in which the ringing of pigeons,
was like the wailing of bereaved Nabataeans.
As though it were the moaning of Anbati camels lamenting.
لَمْnot يُبْقِleft مِنْfrom كَبِدِيmy liver شَيْئاًanything أَعِيشُI live بِهِby it
لَمْ يُبْقِ مِنْ كَبِدِي شَيْئاً أَعِيشُ بِهِ
طُولُthe length الصَّبَابَةِof yearning والبِيضُand the fair women الهَرَاكِيلُfull-hipped
طُولُ الصَّبَابَةِ والبِيضُ الهَرَاكِيلُ
No part of my liver by which to live has been spared
Of my liver, nothing remains for me to live by
by long yearning and fair, full-hipped women.
Because of the length of travel and the separation of encampments.
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery بَدَّاءَfull-thighed woman فيin البُرْدَيْنِthe two cloaks يَشْغَلُهَاdistracts her
مِنْ كُلِّ بَدَّاءَ في البُرْدَيْنِ يَشْغَلُهَا
عَنْfrom حَاجَةِthe business الحَيِّof the tribe عُلاَّمٌhenna وتَحْجِيلُand foot-dyeing
عَنْ حَاجَةِ الحَيِّ عُلاَّمٌ وتَحْجِيلُ
Every full-thighed woman, dressed in her two cloaks, is distracted
With every kind of affliction stinging them
from the tribe's affairs by henna and the staining of her feet.
From needs of the living: tokens and pensiveness.
مِمَّنْamong those who يَجُولُsway وِشاحَاهَاher two sashes إِذَاwhen انْصَرَفَتْshe turns
مِمَّنْ يَجُولُ وِشاحَاهَا إِذَا انْصَرَفَتْ
ولاَand not تَجُولُturn loosely بِسَاقَيْهَاaround her two legs الخَلاَخِيلُthe anklets
ولاَ تَجُولُ بِسَاقَيْهَا الخَلاَخِيلُ
One whose two sashes swing when she turns,
From those who wander while their loincloths, when they turn away,
but whose anklets do not turn around her legs.
Flutter, and their anklets jingle not with bells.
يَزِينُadorns أَعْدَاءَthe sides مَتْنَيْهَاher back's two flanks ولَبَّتَهاand her throat's hollow
يَزِينُ أَعْدَاءَ مَتْنَيْهَا ولَبَّتَها
مُرَجَّلٌcombed hair مُنْهَلdrenched once بِالمِسْكِwith musk مَعْلُولُdrenched again
مُرَجَّلٌ مُنْهَل بِالمِسْكِ مَعْلُولُ
The sides of her back and the hollow of her throat are adorned by
He adorns the enemies of her neck and breast
combed hair, steeped once and again in musk.
A man effeminate, perfumed, and dressed in beautiful clothes.
تُمِرُّهُshe twists it عَطِفَcurving at الأَطْرَافِthe ends ذَاhaving غُدَرٍtresses
تُمِرُّهُ عَطِفَ الأَطْرَافِ ذَا غُدَرٍ
كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they عَنَاقِيدُgrape clusters القُرَىof the villages المِيلُdrooping
كَأَنَّهُنَّ عَنَاقِيدُ القُرَى المِيلُ
She twists it, curling at the ends, into locks
She passes by him, though he be treacherous,
like the drooping grape clusters of the villages.
As though they were bunches of lote trees bending over.
هِيفُslender المُرَدَّىwhere the mantle falls رَدَاحٌfull-hipped فيin تَأَوُّدِهَاher swaying
هِيفُ المُرَدَّى رَدَاحٌ في تَأَوُّدِهَا
مَحْطُوطَةُsmoothly contoured المَتْنِof back والأَحْشَاءِand belly عُطْبُولُa long-necked beauty
مَحْطُوطَةُ المَتْنِ والأَحْشَاءِ عُطْبُولُ
Slender where her mantle falls, full-hipped in her swaying,
Swaying of the well-rounded camel litter wherein she rides
smooth of back and belly, a long-necked beauty.
Propped up, her belly girth and intestines exposed.
كَأَنَّas though بَيْنَbetween تَرَاقِيهَاher collarbones ولبَّتِهَاand her throat's hollow
كَأَنَّ بَيْنَ تَرَاقِيهَا ولبَّتِهَا
جَمْراًembers بِهِwithin it مِنْfrom نُجُومِthe stars اللَّيْلِof the night تَفْصِيلُinterspersed ornament
جَمْراً بِهِ مِنْ نُجُومِ اللَّيْلِ تَفْصِيلُ
As though between her collarbones and the hollow of her throat
As though between her neck and breast
were embers inlaid with stars of the night.
Were embers therein of the stars of night embedded.
تَشْفِيcures مِنَof السِّلِّconsumption والبِرْسَامِand pleurisy رِيقَتُهَاher saliva
تَشْفِي مِنَ السِّلِّ والبِرْسَامِ رِيقَتُهَا
سُقْمٌillness لِمَنْfor those whom أَسْقَمَتْshe made ill داءٌa disease عَقَابِيلlingering aftereffects
سُقْمٌ لِمَنْ أَسْقَمَتْ داءٌ عَقَابِيل
Her saliva cures consumption and pleurisy,
Her saliva heals consumption and mange -
yet is sickness for those she sickens, a disease with lingering aftereffects.
A sickness for whoever she has made ill: unfailing remedies.
تَشْفِيquenches الصَّدَىthirst أَيْنَمَاwherever مَالَinclines الضَّجِيعُthe bedfellow بِهَاwith her
تَشْفِي الصَّدَى أَيْنَمَا مَالَ الضَّجِيعُ بِهَا
بَعْدَafter الكَرَىsleep رِيقَةٌsaliva مِنْهَاfrom her وتَقْبِيلُand kissing
بَعْدَ الكَرَى رِيقَةٌ مِنْهَا وتَقْبِيلُ
Wherever her bedfellow draws her close, thirst is cured by
Her saliva heals the ringing in the ears wherever the sleeper turns to her,
saliva from her and kisses after sleep.
After the wine cups: a draft from it and a kiss.
يَصْبُواthey yearn إِلَيْهَاtoward her ولَوْand even if كَانُواthey were عَلىin عَجَلٍhaste
يَصْبُوا إِلَيْهَا ولَوْ كَانُوا عَلى عَجَلٍ
بِالشِّعْبِin the mountain pass مِنْof مَكَّةَMecca الشَّيبُthe gray-haired men المَثَاكِيلُthe bereaved
بِالشِّعْبِ مِنْ مَكَّةَ الشَّيبُ المَثَاكِيلُ
Even in haste, they would yearn for her—
They hasten to her even if they are in a hurry
the bereaved graybeards in a mountain pass of Mecca.
At Shi’b from Mecca - the graybeards, the weak.
تَسْبِيcaptivates القُلُوبَthe hearts فَمِنْso among زُوَّارِهَاher visitors دَنِفٌa lovesick man
تَسْبِي القُلُوبَ فَمِنْ زُوَّارِهَا دَنِفٌ
يَعْتَدُّreckons آخِرthe end دُنْيَاهُof his worldly life ومَقْتُولُand one slain
يَعْتَدُّ آخِر دُنْيَاهُ ومَقْتُولُ
She captures hearts; among her visitors is a lovesick man
She captures hearts, so among her visitors are those
who reckons his worldly life at its end, and one slain.
Who exceed the limits and are destroyed.
كَأَنَّas though ضَحْكَتَهاher smile يَوْماًone day إِذَاwhen ابْتَسَمَتْshe smiles
كَأَنَّ ضَحْكَتَها يَوْماً إِذَا ابْتَسَمَتْ
بَرْقٌlightning سَحَائِبُهُits clouds غُرٌّwhite زَهَالِيلُsmooth-spread
بَرْقٌ سَحَائِبُهُ غُرٌّ زَهَالِيلُ
As though her smile, on a day when she smiles, were
As though her laughter one day when she smiles
lightning whose clouds are white and smoothly spread.
Is lightning whose clouds are dense, rumbling,
كَأَنَّهُas though it زَهَرٌblossom جَاءَcame الجُنَاةُthe gatherers بِهِwith it
كَأَنَّهُ زَهَرٌ جَاءَ الجُنَاةُ بِهِ
مُسْتَطْرَفٌa fresh delight طَيِّبُsweet الأَرْواحِin scent مَطْلُولُdewy
مُسْتَطْرَفٌ طَيِّبُ الأَرْواحِ مَطْلُولُ
As though it were blossom brought by the gatherers,
As though it is a flower the vintners have brought
a fresh delight, sweet-scented and wet with dew.
A choice bouquet of pleasant fragrance plucked.
كَأَنَّهَاas though she حِينَwhen يَنْضُوsheds النَّوْمُsleep مِفْضَلَهاher loose gown
كَأَنَّهَا حِينَ يَنْضُو النَّوْمُ مِفْضَلَها
سَبِيكَةٌan ingot لَمْnot تُنَقِّصْهَاdiminished it المَثَاقِيلُthe weights
سَبِيكَةٌ لَمْ تُنَقِّصْهَا المَثَاقِيلُ
As though, when sleep sheds her loose gown, she were
As though she is, when slumber reveals her bangs,
an ingot that the weights have not diminished.
A poured ingot that the scales have not diminished.
أَوْor مُزْنَةٌa rain-cloud كَشَّفَتْcleared away عَنْهَاfrom it الصَّبَاthe east wind رَهَجاًdust
أَوْ مُزْنَةٌ كَشَّفَتْ عَنْهَا الصَّبَا رَهَجاً
حَتَّىuntil بَدَاappeared رَيِّقٌa bright leading edge مِنْهَاfrom it وتَكْلِيلُand a crowning rim
حَتَّى بَدَا رَيِّقٌ مِنْهَا وتَكْلِيلُ
Or a rain-cloud from which the east wind has cleared the dust,
Or a buried hoard that the youths have uncovered,
until its bright leading edge and crowning rim appear.
Until her saliva was exposed and her collar.
أَوْor بَيْضَةٌan egg بَيْنَamong أَجْمَادٍhard ridges يُقَلِّبُهَاturns it over
أَوْ بَيْضَةٌ بَيْنَ أَجْمَادٍ يُقَلِّبُهَا
بِالمَنْكَبيْنِwith both shoulders سُخَامُsoft الزِّفِّin down إِجْفِيلُeasily startled
بِالمَنْكَبيْنِ سُخَامُ الزِّفِّ إِجْفِيلُ
Or an egg among hard ridges, turned over
Or an ewe that the soft sands had isolated
with both shoulders by a soft-plumed, skittish ostrich.
From her accustomed pasture - cheeks clearly tattooed.
يَخْشَىfears النَّدَىthe dew فَيُوَلِّيهَاso it turns toward it مَقَاتِلَهُits vulnerable parts
يَخْشَى النَّدَى فَيُوَلِّيهَا مَقَاتِلَهُ
حَتَّىuntil يُوَافِيَmeets قَرْنَthe rim الشَّمْسِof the sun تَرْجِيلُbrooding
حَتَّى يُوَافِيَ قَرْنَ الشَّمْسِ تَرْجِيلُ
Fearing the dew, it turns its vulnerable parts toward the egg,
In a lofty abode of the musical entertainer living,
until its brooding meets the rising rim of the sun.
With the jinn of twittering, and the evil eye, the observers.
أَوْor نَعْجَةٌa wild cow مِنْfrom إِرَاخِwild cattle الرَّمْلِof the sands أَخْذَلَهَاkept her back
أَوْ نَعْجَةٌ مِنْ إِرَاخِ الرَّمْلِ أَخْذَلَهَا
عَنْfrom إِلْفِهاher companion وَاضِحُbright الخَدَّيْنِof cheeks مَكْحُولُkohl-eyed
عَنْ إِلْفِها وَاضِحُ الخَدَّيْنِ مَكْحُولُ
Or a cow among the wild cattle of the sands, kept back
Her soul said to her, “Be with him at his birth
from her companion by a bright-cheeked, kohl-eyed calf,
For the wretched, if you go beyond, are eaten.”
بِشُقَّةٍin a stretch مِنْof نَقَاthe dune العَزَّافِal-Azzaf يَسْكُنُهَاinhabit it
بِشُقَّةٍ مِنْ نَقَا العَزَّافِ يَسْكُنُهَا
جِنُّthe jinn الصَّرِيمَةَof the sand tract والعِينُand the wide-eyed cows المَطَافِيلُmothers with calves
جِنُّ الصَّرِيمَةَ والعِينُ المَطَافِيلُ
in a stretch of the dune of al-Azzaf, inhabited by
So the heart is concerned with terrors that alarm it,
the jinn of the sand tract and wide-eyed mothers with calves.
And the flesh, from intense fright, is withered.
قَالَتْsaid لَهَاto her النَّفْسُher heart كُونِيbe عِنْدَat مَوْلِدِهِhis birthplace
قَالَتْ لَهَا النَّفْسُ كُونِي عِنْدَ مَوْلِدِهِ
إِنَّindeed المُسْيكِينَthe poor little one إِنْif جَاوَزْتِyou go beyond مَأْكُولُwill be eaten
إِنَّ المُسْيكِينَ إِنْ جَاوَزْتِ مَأْكُولُ
Her heart told her: 'Stay where he was born;
It grows accustomed through a heart not divided
if you go beyond, the poor little one will be eaten.'
And a pearl that no misfortunes have disgraced.
فَالقَلْبُso the heart يَعْنَىis harried بِرَوْعَاتٍby terrors تُفَزِّعُهُthat frighten it
فَالقَلْبُ يَعْنَى بِرَوْعَاتٍ تُفَزِّعُهُ
واللَّحْمُand the flesh مِنْfrom شِدَّةِthe intensity الإِشْفَاقِof fear مَخْلُولُwasted
واللَّحْمُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الإِشْفَاقِ مَخْلُولُ
Her heart is harried by terrors that frighten it,
Until one ferocious of nature restrained her in the air,
and her flesh is wasted by the intensity of her fear.
Deafening, while I reddened the cheeks, disgraced.
تَعْتَادُهُshe returns to him بِفُؤَادٍwith a heart غَيْرِnot مُقْتَسَمٍdivided
تَعْتَادُهُ بِفُؤَادٍ غَيْرِ مُقْتَسَمٍ
ودِرَّةٍand flowing milk لَمْnot تَخَوَّنْهَاdiminished it الأَحَالِيلُthe milk-ducts
ودِرَّةٍ لَمْ تَخَوَّنْهَا الأَحَالِيلُ
She returns to him with an undivided heart,
He clenched his jaws on her - all who approached him
and a flow of milk the milk-ducts have not depleted,
Turned away, and into his trunk was insertion.
حَتَّىuntil احْتَوَىseized بِكْرَهَاher firstborn بِالجَوِّin the open مُطَّرِدٌa ranging beast
حَتَّى احْتَوَى بِكْرَهَا بِالجَوِّ مُطَّرِدٌ
سَمَعْمَعٌlean and nimble أَهْرَتُwide الشِّدْقَيْنِin both jaws زُهْلُولُsleek
سَمَعْمَعٌ أَهْرَتُ الشِّدْقَيْنِ زُهْلُولُ
until, out in the open, a ranging beast seized her firstborn—
Of the flowers that the breeze had scattered
lean and nimble, broad-jawed and sleek.
Nothing remained on his nose ropes except amulets.
شَدَّtightened المَمَاضِغَthe chewing muscles مِنْهُof it كُلَّevery مُنْصَرَفٍcurve
شَدَّ المَمَاضِغَ مِنْهُ كُلَّ مُنْصَرَفٍ
مِنْfrom جَانِبَيْهِboth its sides وفيand in الخُرْطُومِthe muzzle تَسْهِيلُa smooth taper
مِنْ جَانِبَيْهِ وفي الخُرْطُومِ تَسْهِيلُ
Its chewing muscles draw tight at every inward curve
As though between his eyes and forehead
on either side, while its muzzle slopes smoothly.
Were from his dye in the blood of the people a handkerchief.
لَمْnot يَبْقَremained مِنْof زَغَبٍdown طَارَflew off النَّسِيلُthe shed hair بِهِwith it
لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْ زَغَبٍ طَارَ النَّسِيلُ بِهِ
عَلىon قَرَامَتْنِهِthe ridge of its back إِلاَّexcept شَمَالِيلُragged tufts
عَلى قَرَامَتْنِهِ إِلاَّ شَمَالِيلُ
Of the down swept away by shedding, none remained
Sturdy as a spear, clenched in his hands,
on the ridge of its back except ragged tufts.
And from it the canals stretched out, and in them a ghoul.
كَأَنَّمَاas though بَيْنَbetween عَيْنَيْهِits eyes وزُبْرَتِهِand its mane
كَأَنَّمَا بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وزُبْرَتِهِ
مِنْfrom صَبْغِهِits staining فيin دِمَاءِthe blood القَوْمِof the people مِنْدِيلُa kerchief
مِنْ صَبْغِهِ في دِمَاءِ القَوْمِ مِنْدِيلُ
As though between its eyes and its mane
He crosses the deserts in leaps, and his watering place
were a kerchief dyed by its dipping in the people's blood.
From lack of grief is pools - water wheels.
كَالرُّمْحِlike a spear أَرْقَلَquivered فيin الكَفَّيْنِboth hands واطَّرَدَتْand ran straight
كَالرُّمْحِ أَرْقَلَ في الكَفَّيْنِ واطَّرَدَتْ
مِنْهُof it القَنَاةُthe shaft وفِيهَاand in it لَهْذَمٌa broad sharp blade غُولُdeadly
مِنْهُ القَنَاةُ وفِيهَا لَهْذَمٌ غُولُ
Like a spear quivering in both hands, with
When he first snorted, and made her hear it,
a straight shaft and a broad, deadly blade set in it.
With a lofty mansion or bend below,
يَطْوِيtraverses المفَاوِزَthe wastes غِيطَاناًthrough hollows ومَنْهَلُهُand its watering place
يَطْوِي المفَاوِزَ غِيطَاناً ومَنْهَلُهُ
مِنْfrom قُلَّةِthe crest الحَزْنِof the rocky upland أَحْوَاضٌbasins عَدَامِيلُworn
مِنْ قُلَّةِ الحَزْنِ أَحْوَاضٌ عَدَامِيلُ
It crosses the wastes through hollows; its watering places
The ululation almost burst from his larynx
are worn basins on the crest of the rocky upland.
And rattling between his jaws: broken bits.
لَمَّاwhen ثَغَاhe bleated الثَّغْوَةَthe bleat الأُولَىfirst فَأَسْمَعَهَاand made her hear it
لَمَّا ثَغَا الثَّغْوَةَ الأُولَى فَأَسْمَعَهَا
ودُونَهُand between him and her شُقَّةٌa distance مِيلاَنِtwo miles أَوْor مِيلُone mile
ودُونَهُ شُقَّةٌ مِيلاَنِ أَوْ مِيلُ
When he uttered his first bleat and made her hear it,
She shook the black rocks with decorated hooves,
with two miles or one between her and him,
And their striking when they struck: soft sounds.
كَادَalmost اللُّعَاعُthe tender shoots مِنَof الحَوْذَانِbuttercup يَسْحَطُهَاchoked her
كَادَ اللُّعَاعُ مِنَ الحَوْذَانِ يَسْحَطُهَا
ورِجْرِجٌand a trembling mass بَيْنَbetween لحْيَيْهَاher two jaws خَنَاطِيلُscattered clumps
ورِجْرِجٌ بَيْنَ لحْيَيْهَا خَنَاطِيلُ
the tender buttercup shoots almost choked her,
Until she came to the camp of the wretched one, searching for him,
with loose, trembling clumps between her jaws.
And around her were pieces of him scattered.
تُذْرِيscatters الخُزَامَىlavender بأَظْلاَفٍwith cloven hooves مُخَذْرَفَةٍmoving swiftly
تُذْرِي الخُزَامَى بأَظْلاَفٍ مُخَذْرَفَةٍ
ووَقْعُهُنَّand their striking إِذَاwhen وَقَعْنَthey strike تَحْلِيلُa light touch
ووَقْعُهُنَّ إِذَا وَقَعْنَ تَحْلِيلُ
She scatters lavender with swift-striking hooves,
The searching of a mourner for a heart in her playgrounds,
whose fall, when they fall, is only a light touch,
And henna on her hands embedded.
حَتَّىuntil أَتَتْshe came مَرْبِضَthe resting place المِسْكِينِof the poor one تَبْحَثُهُpawing through it
حَتَّى أَتَتْ مَرْبِضَ المِسْكِينِ تَبْحَثُهُ
وحَوْلَهَاand around her قِطَعٌpieces مِنْهُof him رَعَابِيلُtorn shreds
وحَوْلَهَا قِطَعٌ مِنْهُ رَعَابِيلُ
until she reaches the poor one's resting place and paws through it,
with torn scraps of him scattered around her.
بَحْثَthe searching الكَعَابِof the young maiden لِقُلْبٍfor a bracelet فيin مَلاَعِبِهَاher play-places
بَحْثَ الكَعَابِ لِقُلْبٍ في مَلاَعِبِهَا
وفيand on اليَدَيْنِboth hands مِنَof الحِنّاءِhenna تَفْصِيلُpatterned markings
وفي اليَدَيْنِ مِنَ الحِنّاءِ تَفْصِيلُ
Like a young maiden searching for a bracelet in her playground,
with patterned henna on both hands.
Partial English translation: 86 of 90 Arabic lines translated.