عَهْدِي بِهِ مَدَّ النَّهَارِ كَأَنَّمَا خُضِبَ الْبَنَانُ وَرَأْسُهُ بِالْعَظْلَمِ
I remember him through the day as though his fingers and head had been dyed with the dark blue substance called ʿaẓlam.
Madda al-nahār indicates the length of the day. Khuḍiba is passive, and al-ʿaẓlam names a dark-blue dye plant or pigment. Colour serves to intensify the bodily aftermath of combat.
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ʿAntarah ibn Shaddād: Cavalry Witnesses, Courage, Restraint and Duels (verses 43–56)
عَهْدِي بِهِ مَدَّ النَّهَارِ كَأَنَّمَا خُضِبَ الْبَنَانُ وَرَأْسُهُ بِالْعَظْلَمِ
I remember him through the day as though his fingers and head had been dyed with the dark blue substance called ʿaẓlam.
Madda al-nahār indicates the length of the day. Khuḍiba is passive, and al-ʿaẓlam names a dark-blue dye plant or pigment. Colour serves to intensify the bodily aftermath of combat.