In light of the recent torrential rains, I thought I would translate some lines on a rainstorm by the famous pre-Islamic Arab poet Imr al-Qays. The last 12 lines of his famous Suspended Ode (mu`allaqa) are devoted to this description. Although there are already translations by other of the entire poem, I present here the first 6 of the 12 rainstorm lines in my own translation (rhymed pentameter couplet), followed by the original Arabic. I may translate the other 6 at some future time.
Behold this lightning, fellow fine, and see its gleam,
Like streaking arms amidst piled clouds who beam!
Its glow gives light, or like a friar’s lamp,
The plaited wick burns bright, with fuel-oil damp.
Between Udhayb and Darij I sat tight,
With friends, observing from afar this sight.
From Yadhbul and Sitar the storm extends,
As far as Qatan, I’d guess, the rain descends.
Kutayfa was deluged before midday,
And huge acacias[1] on their faces lay.
To Mount Qannan the shower gives fair share,
And brings down mountain goats from every lair.
[1] I have translated the Arabic kanahbal as “acacia.” The scientific name for the specific species that is called kahanbal is Acacia origena, a taller species of the genus with thicker collar diameter, which grows in Arabia.
أصَاحِ تَرَى بَرْقاً أُرِيْكَ وَمِيْضَـهُ ** كَلَمْـعِ اليَدَيْنِ فِي حَبِيٍّ مُكَلَّـلِ
يُضِيءُ سَنَاهُ أَوْ مَصَابِيْحُ رَاهِـبٍ ** أَمَالَ السَّلِيْـطَ بِالذُّبَالِ المُفَتَّـلِ
قَعَدْتُ لَهُ وصُحْبَتِي بَيْنَ ضَـارِجٍ ** وبَيْنَ العـُذَيْبِ بُعْدَمَا مُتَأَمَّـلِ
عَلَى قَطَنٍ بِالشَّيْمِ أَيْمَنُ صَوْبِـهِ ** وَأَيْسَـرُهُ عَلَى السِّتَارِ فَيَذْبُـلِ
فَأَضْحَى يَسُحُّ المَاءَ حَوْلَ كُتَيْفَةٍ **يَكُبُّ عَلَى الأذْقَانِ دَوْحَ الكَنَهْبَلِ
ومَـرَّ عَلَى القَنَـانِ مِنْ نَفَيَانِـهِ ** فَأَنْزَلَ مِنْهُ العُصْمَ مِنْ كُلِّ مَنْـزِلِ
Suheil Laher : Language and Literature Blog 
