Arwaʿ conveys ready alertness or being startled by a small disturbance. Nabbāḍ, from n-b-ḍ, evokes beating or throbbing. Aḥadhdh expresses quickness; mulammam describes a collected, solidly compact structure.
Translating all four merely as “very strong” destroys their distinctions. The first pair conveys sensitivity and activity, while the others suggest speed and compact form. The poetry accumulates precise descriptive effects in a compressed sequence.
Opening interactive controls...
Ṭarafah: The She-Camel’s Head, Senses, and Heart (Verses 30–37)
Arwaʿ conveys ready alertness or being startled by a small disturbance. Nabbāḍ, from n-b-ḍ, evokes beating or throbbing. Aḥadhdh expresses quickness; mulammam describes a collected, solidly compact structure.
Translating all four merely as “very strong” destroys their distinctions. The first pair conveys sensitivity and activity, while the others suggest speed and compact form. The poetry accumulates precise descriptive effects in a compressed sequence.