Rainstorm (2/2) (Poetry by Imr al-Qays)

I had previously translated the first 6 lines of the famous pre-Islamic Arab poet Imr al-Qays‘ fabulous description of a rainstorm. I present here the rest of the description, once again in my own translation (rhymed pentameter couplet), followed by the original Arabic.

And at Tayma’ no branch was left alone,

Nor any fort, save those shored up with stone.

See Mount Thabir when first the rain comes down:

A chief of people, wrapped in fine striped gown!

At dawn, the scum and water ‘round this hill,

Mujaymir, look just like a spinning wheel.

O’er parched Ghabit it cast its verdant cloak,

Like dazzling wares strewn out by pedlar-folk.

At dawn the whistling birds now sing with zest

As if they have drunk peppered wine, fresh-pressed.

By afternoon, you see drowned beasts galore,

Like soil-stained onions floating near the shore.

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وَتَيْمَاءَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ بِهَا جِذْعَ نَخْلَـةٍ ** وَلاَ أُطُمـاً إِلاَّ مَشِيْداً بِجِنْـدَلِ

كَأَنَّ ثَبِيْـراً فِي عَرَانِيْـنِ وَبْلِـهِ **  كَبِيْـرُ أُنَاسٍ فِي بِجَـادٍ مُزَمَّـلِ

كَأَنَّ ذُرَى رَأْسِ المُجَيْمِرِ غُـدْوَةً ** مِنَ السَّيْلِ وَالأَغثَاءِ فَلْكَةُ مِغْـزَلِ

وأَلْقَى بِصَحْـرَاءِ الغَبيْطِ بَعَاعَـهُ ** نُزُوْلَ اليَمَانِي ذِي العِيَابِ المُحَمَّلِ

كَأَنَّ مَكَـاكِيَّ الجِـوَاءِ غُدَّبَـةً ** صُبِحْنَ سُلافاً مِنْ رَحيقٍ مُفَلْفَـلِ

كَأَنَّ السِّبَـاعَ فِيْهِ غَرْقَى عَشِيَّـةً ** بِأَرْجَائِهِ القُصْوَى أَنَابِيْشُ عُنْصُـلِ

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Rainstorm (Poetry by Imr al-Qays)

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.

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[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

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Elegy for Sakhr

Khansaa (d, 645 CE / 24 H) was famous for her poems mourning her two brothers. Below is a poetic translation (rhymed iambic pentameter couplets) one of these elegies, followed by the original Arabic.

O eyes flow copiously and do not dry!
For Sakhr, the generous, will you not cry?
Will you not mourn this valiant nobleman?
And weep for this fair leader of his clan?
A tall brave man, a host to those in need.
While still a lad, his people he did lead.
When folk reach with their hands for eminence 
He joins them in pursuit of excellence 
But he achieves more glory than them all,
And then continues rising, standing tall.
In arduous times their burdens they transfer
To him 'though he's a stripling, they aver.
Behold how glory 'pon his house descends!
Content is he that far his praise extends.
Immediately when glory is invoked,
He stands and dons this, his exclusive cloak.

أَعَينَيَّ جودا وَلا تَجمُدا ** أَلا تَبكِيانِ لِصَخرِ النَدى

أَلا تَبكِيانِ الجَريءَ الجَميلَ ** أَلا تَبكِيانِ الفَتى السَيِّدا

طَويلَ النِجادِ رَفيعَ العِمادِ ** سادَ عَشيرَتَهُ أَمرَدا

إِذا القَومُ مَدّوا بِأَيديهِمِ ** إِلى المَجدِ مَدَّ إِلَيهِ يَدا

فَنالَ الَّذي فَوقَ أَيديهِمِ ** مِنَ المَجدِ ثُمَّ مَضى مُصعِدا

يُكَلِّفُهُ القَومُ ما عالُهُم ** وَإِن كانَ أَصغَرَهُم مَولِدا

تَرى المَجدَ يَهوي إِلى بَيتِهِ ** يَرى أَفضَلَ الكَسبِ أَن يُحمَدا

وَإِن ذُكِرَ المَجدُ أَلفَيتَهُ ** تَأَزَّرَ بِالمَجدِ ثُمَّ اِرتَدى

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