هَبْهاgrant her دَعاءَكَyour prayer ، فَهيَfor she لاnot تَتَذكََّرُremembers
هَبْها دَعاءَكَ ، فَهيَ لا تَتَذكََّرُ
مِنfrom فَرْطِthe intensity of ماhow اشتَبَكَتْbecame entangled عليهاaround her الأعْصُرُthe ages
مِن فَرْطِ ما اشتَبَكَتْ عليها الأعْصُرُ
Grant her your prayer, for she cannot remember,
so fiercely have the ages tangled around her.
وَأعِدْand repeat نِداءَcall كَyour مَرَّةonce ً أanother (start) ُخرىanother (end) لَهاto her
وَأعِدْ نِداءَ كَ مَرَّة ً أ ُخرى لَها
فَلَعَلَّso perhaps عَبْرَتَهاher tear بِهِthrough it تَتَكَسَّرُbreaks apart
فَلَعَلَّ عَبْرَتَها بِهِ تَتَكَسَّرُ
And repeat your call to her once more,
so perhaps her tear will shatter against it.
وَلَعَلَّهاand perhaps she ،وَهيَwhile she الذthe slaughtered victim (start) َّبيحَةslaughtered victim (end) ُ،سَيَّديmy master
وَلَعَلَّها ،وَهيَ الذ َّبيحَة ُ،سَيَّدي
بِمَهيبِwith the majesty of صَوتِكَyour voice عُريُهاher nakedness يَتَدَis cloaked (start) ثَّرُis cloaked (end)!
بِمَهيبِ صَوتِكَ عُريُها يَتَدَ ثَّرُ!
And perhaps, my master, slaughtered victim that she is,
her nakedness will be cloaked in your majestic voice!
وَلَعَلَّand perhaps مَنthose who وَثَبُواpounced علىupon حُرُماتِهاher sanctities
وَلَعَلَّ مَن وَثَبُوا على حُرُماتِها
نَزَواتُهُمtheir whims بِجَلالِهِbefore its majesty تَتَعَثَّرُfalter
نَزَواتُهُم بِجَلالِهِ تَتَعَثَّرُ
And perhaps those who pounced upon her sanctities
will have their whims stumble before its majesty.
هَبْهاgrant her جَمالَJamal الدِّينal-Din ِصَوتَكَyour voice حانياtender ً
هَبْها جَمالَ الدِّين ِصَوتَكَ حانيا ً
يَعلوrises ، فَيَخشَعُso bows in awe مِنfrom تُقاهُits piety المِنبَرُthe pulpit!
يَعلو ، فَيَخشَعُ مِن تُقاهُ المِنبَرُ!
Grant her, Jamal al-Din, your tender voice,
rising till the pulpit bows in awe before its piety!
فَعَسىso perhaps مَسامِعُُهُمtheir ears ،وَبَعضُand some of قلوبِهِمtheir hearts
فَعَسى مَسامِعُُهُم ،وَبَعضُ قلوبِهِم
تَندَىgrow moist بِهِwith it مِنfrom قَبْلِماbefore تَتَحَجَّرُharden to stone
تَندَى بِهِ مِن قَبْلِما تَتَحَجَّرُ
Perhaps their ears, and some of their hearts,
will grow moist with it before they turn to stone.
وَعَساكَand perhaps you تُدرِكُsave قَطرَةa drop ًمِنof مائِهاher water
وَعَساكَ تُدرِكُ قَطرَة ًمِن مائِها
أوor نَخلَةa palm tree ًيَبِسَتْhas withered تَعودُreturns ، فَتُثمِرُand bears fruit!
أو نَخلَة ًيَبِسَتْ تَعودُ ، فَتُثمِرُ!
And perhaps you may save a drop of her water,
or a withered palm may revive and bear fruit!
وَلَعَلَّand perhaps طاعِنَهاher stabber ، وأنتَwhile you تَهُزُّهshake him ُ
وَلَعَلَّ طاعِنَها ، وأنتَ تَهُزُّه ُ
يَصحُوawakens، فَيَسقُطand falls ُمِنfrom يَدَيهِhis hands الخِنجَرُthe dagger!
يَصحُو، فَيَسقُط ُمِن يَدَيهِ الخِنجَرُ!
And perhaps her stabber, as you shake him,
will awaken, and the dagger fall from his hands!
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بغدادُBaghdad أsister (start) ُختُكَyour sister (end) مُصطفىMustafa ، فَأقِمْso offer لَهاfor her
بغدادُ أ ُختُكَ مُصطفى ، فَأقِمْ لَها
أنتَyou yourself الصَّلاةthe prayer َ ، لَعَلَّهاperhaps she تَتَأثََّرُis moved
أنتَ الصَّلاة َ ، لَعَلَّها تَتَأثََّرُ
Baghdad is your sister, Mustafa; offer for her
the prayer yourself, perhaps she will be moved
بِعَميقwith the depth of ِوَجْدِكَyour ardor..عَلَّperhaps فيon شُطآنِهاher shores
بِعَميق ِوَجْدِكَ..عَلَّ في شُطآنِها
جُرْفاa bank ً تُلامِسُهyou touch it ُ فَلاso not يَتَفَطَّرُsplits apart!
جُرْفا ً تُلامِسُه ُ فَلا يَتَفَطَّرُ!
by your profound ardor—perhaps upon her shores
a bank you touch will not split apart!
فَلَقَدfor indeed عَهِدتُكَI have known you والمُروءَةand nobility ُغَيْمَةa cloud ٌ
فَلَقَد عَهِدتُكَ والمُروءَة ُغَيْمَة ٌ
فيin صَوتِكَyour voice الحانيthe tender تَهِلُّpours down وَتُمطِرُand rains!
في صَوتِكَ الحاني تَهِلُّ وَتُمطِرُ!
For I have known you—your nobility a cloud
in your tender voice, pouring down rain!
تَسقيwaters الهَوىlove..ياoh رُبَّmany a عَوْسَجَةٍthornbush بِهِthrough it
تَسقي الهَوى..يا رُبَّ عَوْسَجَةٍ بِهِ
بَقيَتْremained طِوالَthroughout حَياتِهاits life تَخضَوضِرُgrowing green!
بَقيَتْ طِوالَ حَياتِها تَخضَوضِرُ!
watering love—how many a thornbush, through it,
has stayed green throughout its life!
صِفَةthe epithet ُ" الجَميلthe beautiful ِ"كأنَّas though كلَّall حُروفِهاits letters
صِفَة ُ" الجَميل ِ"كأنَّ كلَّ حُروفِها
تُنْمىare ascribed إلَيكَto you ، وكُلَّهاand all of them بِكَthrough you تُزْهِرُblossom!
تُنْمى إلَيكَ ، وكُلَّها بِكَ تُزْهِرُ!
The epithet 'beautiful'—as though all its letters
are ascribed to you, and all blossom through you!
وَجْهاin face ً، وأخلاقاand in character ً، وَعُمْقَand depth of مُروءَةٍnobility
وَجْها ً، وأخلاقا ً، وَعُمْقَ مُروءَةٍ
وَتُقىًand piety .. وأعْظَمُهُنَّand greatest of them أنَّكَthat you تَأسِرُcaptivate
وَتُقىً .. وأعْظَمُهُنَّ أنَّكَ تَأسِرُ
In face, in character, and in depth of nobility,
and in piety—and greatest of them all, you captivate
بِوَديعwith the gentleness of ِ طَبْعِكَyour nature ، حَدَّto the extent أنَّthat مَحَبَّةlove ً
بِوَديع ِ طَبْعِكَ ، حَدَّ أنَّ مَحَبَّة ً
تَنسابُflows مِلْءَfilling الرُّوحthe soul ِحَيْثُwherever تؤَشِّرُyou gesture!
تَنسابُ مِلْءَ الرُّوح ِحَيْثُ تؤَشِّرُ!
with your gentle nature, so much that love
flows to fill the soul wherever you gesture!
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عُذراforgive me ًأباAbu (father of) حَسَنHasan ٍ.. هُموميَmy worries جَمَّةmany ٌ
عُذرا ًأبا حَسَن ٍ.. هُموميَ جَمَّة ٌ
وَوَريفُand the leafy spread of غُصْنِكَyour bough رغمَdespite نَأيِكَyour distance أخضَرُgreen
وَوَريفُ غُصْنِكَ رغمَ نَأيِكَ أخضَرُ
Forgive me, Abu Hasan: my cares are many,
and your luxuriant bough is green despite your distance.
وأخافُand I fear مِنfrom وَجَعيmy pain عليهِfor it فَقدfor indeed مَضَتْhave passed
وأخافُ مِن وَجَعي عليهِ فَقد مَضَتْ
عشرونَtwenty عاماyears ًبَينَناbetween us تَتَحَسَّرُlamenting
عشرونَ عاما ًبَينَنا تَتَحَسَّرُ
And I fear for it because of my pain, for there have passed
twenty years between us, lamenting
أنَّاthat we أضَعْناsquandered فيin الأسىsorrow أعمارَناour lives
أنَّا أضَعْنا في الأسى أعمارَنا
والحُزنُand grief فيin أعماقِناour depths يَتَجَذtakes root (start) َّرُtakes root (end)
والحُزنُ في أعماقِنا يَتَجَذ َّرُ
that we squandered our lives in sorrow,
while grief takes root deep within us.
لَمnot نَلتَفِتْwe paid heed لِلمُحْدِقاتِto the surrounding threats بِبَيْتِناaround our home
لَم نَلتَفِتْ لِلمُحْدِقاتِ بِبَيْتِنا
والمُحْدِقينَand those surrounding بِهِit ، وأينَand where تَسَتَّرواthey concealed themselves
والمُحْدِقينَ بِهِ ، وأينَ تَسَتَّروا
We paid no heed to the threats surrounding our home,
or those encircling it, or where they hid.
لَمnot نَسألwe asked الأبوابَthe doors عَنabout أقفالِهاtheir locks
لَم نَسأل الأبوابَ عَن أقفالِها
لَمnot نَدْرِwe knew ماذاwhat خَلفَهُنَّbehind them يُدَis plotted (start) بَّرُis plotted (end)
لَم نَدْرِ ماذا خَلفَهُنَّ يُدَ بَّرُ
We did not ask the doors about their locks;
we did not know what was being plotted behind them.
وَإذاand suddenly بِناwe found ourselves ، فيwithin لَيلَتَينtwo nights ِ، مُباحَةlaid open ٌ
وَإذا بِنا ، في لَيلَتَين ِ، مُباحَة ٌ
حَتَّىeven مَحارِمُناour sanctities لِمَنto whoever يَتَسَوَّرُscales the walls!
حَتَّى مَحارِمُنا لِمَن يَتَسَوَّرُ!
And suddenly, within two nights, laid open were
even our sanctities to whoever scaled the walls!
أمَّاas for الدِّماءُthe blood ، فَلَوthen if وَصَفْتُI described أقَلَّهاthe least of it
أمَّا الدِّماءُ ، فَلَو وَصَفْتُ أقَلَّها
لَجَرَتْwould surely flow دُموعُكَyour tears فيin ضَريحِكَyour tomb تَزخَرُsurging!
لَجَرَتْ دُموعُكَ في ضَريحِكَ تَزخَرُ!
As for the blood, if I described the least of it,
your tears would flow in torrents within your tomb!
هذاthis دَمُthe blood of الفُقَراءِthe poor يَنزِفُbleeds مُصطفىMustafa
هذا دَمُ الفُقَراءِ يَنزِفُ مُصطفى
وَفَقيرُهُمand their poor person يَبكيweeps عليهِover him الأفقَرُthe poorer one!
وَفَقيرُهُم يَبكي عليهِ الأفقَرُ!
This is the blood of the poor bleeding, Mustafa,
and their poor are mourned by those poorer still!
هذاthis دَمُthe blood of العُلَماءِthe scholars .. مَنthose whom أحْبَبْتَهُمyou loved them
هذا دَمُ العُلَماءِ .. مَن أحْبَبْتَهُم
ذwere slaughtered (start) ُبِحُواwere slaughtered (end) علىin مَرأىthe sight of الأنامhumankind ِوَسُفِّرواand were deported!
ذ ُبِحُوا على مَرأى الأنام ِوَسُفِّروا!
This is the blood of scholars—those you loved,
slaughtered before humankind and deported!
وَدَمُand the blood of الَّذينَthose who كَتَبْتَyou wrote عنهُمabout them أنَّهُمthat they
وَدَمُ الَّذينَ كَتَبْتَ عنهُم أنَّهُم
بَنَواbuilt الحَضارَةcivilization َفيin العراقIraq ِ،وَعَمَّرُواand built it up
بَنَوا الحَضارَة َفي العراق ِ،وَعَمَّرُوا
And the blood of those of whom you wrote that they
built civilization in Iraq and made it flourish.
دَمُthe blood of هؤلاءِthese people يَسيلُflows ، لاnot دَمُthe blood of مَنwhoever غَزاinvaded
دَمُ هؤلاءِ يَسيلُ ، لا دَمُ مَن غَزا
وَحِذاؤهand his shoe ُ بِرِقابِناover our necks يَتَأمَّرُlords it over!
وَحِذاؤه ُ بِرِقابِنا يَتَأمَّرُ!
It is their blood that flows, not the blood of the invader,
whose shoe lords it over our necks!
ياO سَيِّديmy master ، بغدادُBaghdad حتىeven شَمسُهاher sun
يا سَيِّدي ، بغدادُ حتى شَمسُها
سَوداءُblack مِمّاfrom what وَجْهُهاher face يَتَعَفَّرُis dust-soiled!
سَوداءُ مِمّا وَجْهُها يَتَعَفَّرُ!
My master, Baghdad—even her sun
is black from the dust that soils her face!
لاneither ماؤهاher water يَنسابُflows ، لاnor ظَلْماؤهاher darkness
لا ماؤها يَنسابُ ، لا ظَلْماؤها
تَنجابُis dispelled .. لاnor إعسارُهاher hardship يَتَيَسَّرُbecomes easy
تَنجابُ .. لا إعسارُها يَتَيَسَّرُ
Neither does her water flow, nor does her darkness
lift; nor does her hardship give way to ease.
أمّاas for مَواسِمُthe seasons of شِعرِهاher poetry فَجَميعُهاthen all of them
أمّا مَواسِمُ شِعرِها فَجَميعُها
مِنfrom بَعْدِafter صَوتِكَyour voice عارِضٌa passing thing لاnot يُذكَرُis mentioned!
مِن بَعْدِ صَوتِكَ عارِضٌ لا يُذكَرُ!
As for her seasons of poetry, all of them,
after your voice, are a passing thing, not worth mention!
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عُذراforgive me ًأباAbu (father of) حَسَنHasan ٍ، وَمِثْلُكَand one like you عاذِone who excuses (start) رٌone who excuses (end)
عُذرا ًأبا حَسَن ٍ، وَمِثْلُكَ عاذِ رٌ
لُغَتيmy language علىbecause of وَجَعيmy pain ، وَمِثليَand one like me يُعذis excused (start) َرُis excused (end)
لُغَتي على وَجَعي ، وَمِثليَ يُعذ َرُ
Forgive me, Abu Hasan; one like you excuses
my language in my pain, and one like me is excused.
إنَّاindeed we تَقاسَمْناshared التَّشَرُّدَdisplacement ..عِشتَهyou lived it ُ
إنَّا تَقاسَمْنا التَّشَرُّدَ ..عِشتَه ُ
قَبْليbefore me ، وَهاand here أنَذاI am بِهthrough it ِ أتَعَثَّرُI stumble
قَبْلي ، وَها أنَذا بِه ِ أتَعَثَّرُ
We have shared displacement; you lived it
before me, and here I am, stumbling through it.
لَنْwill not أدَّعيI claim أنِّيthat I صَبورٌpatient فيin الأذىsuffering
لَنْ أدَّعي أنِّي صَبورٌ في الأذى
بَعضُsome الأذىsuffering مِنthan كُلِّall صَبْرٍpatience أكبَرُgreater!
بَعضُ الأذى مِن كُلِّ صَبْرٍ أكبَرُ!
I will not claim that I am patient in suffering;
some suffering is greater than all patience!
لكنَّهbut it ُ وَطَنيmy homeland يُهَيَّأis being prepared ُ نَعْشُهits bier ُ
لكنَّه ُ وَطَني يُهَيَّأ ُ نَعْشُه ُ
لِيَصيرَso it becomes أوطاناhomelands ًتَضيعُare lost وَتُطْمَرُand are buried
لِيَصيرَ أوطانا ًتَضيعُ وَتُطْمَرُ
But it is my homeland—its bier is being prepared
so it may become homelands, lost and buried.
مِنfor أجْلthe sake of ِمَنwhom ذwas slaughtered (start) ُبِحَwas slaughtered (end) العِراقُIraq ،وأهلُهand its people ُ
مِن أجْل ِمَن ذ ُبِحَ العِراقُ ،وأهلُه ُ
فيin كلِّevery أرجاءِcorner of البَريَّةthe world ِبُعثِرواwere scattered؟
في كلِّ أرجاءِ البَريَّة ِبُعثِروا؟
For whose sake was Iraq slaughtered, and its people
scattered to every corner of the earth?
مِنfor أجْلthe sake of ِمَنwhom مليونُa million طِفلchild ٍشُرِّدواwere displaced
مِن أجْل ِمَن مليونُ طِفل ٍشُرِّدوا
وَحَدائقُand gardens of السَّرَطانcancer ِفيهِمwithin them تُزهِرُblossom؟!
وَحَدائقُ السَّرَطان ِفيهِم تُزهِرُ؟!
For whose sake were a million children displaced,
while gardens of cancer blossom within them?!
مِنfor أجْلthe sake of ِمَنwhom ياO سَيِّديmy master آباؤناour fathers
مِن أجْل ِمَن يا سَيِّدي آباؤنا
وَصِغارُناand our little ones مِنfrom كلِّevery بَيتٍhome هُجِّرواwere driven out؟
وَصِغارُنا مِن كلِّ بَيتٍ هُجِّروا؟
For whose sake, my master, were our fathers
and our little ones driven from every home?
كُلٌّeach بأرضin a land ٍ ..لاno أباfather لأبيهِمُوto their father
كُلٌّ بأرض ٍ ..لا أبا لأبيهِمُو
اليابِساتُthe lands نَأتْgrew distant بِهِمwith them والأبحُرُand the seas
اليابِساتُ نَأتْ بِهِم والأبحُرُ
Each in a land—may their father be fatherless!
The lands and the seas have carried them far away.
وَلِمَنand for whom بَنادِقُthe rifles of أهلِناour people وَنِصاand blades (start) لُهُمtheir blades (end)
وَلِمَن بَنادِقُ أهلِنا وَنِصا لُهُم
بَعضٌsome علىagainst أعناقthe necks of ِبَعضothers ٍتُشهَرُare brandished؟
بَعضٌ على أعناق ِبَعض ٍتُشهَرُ؟
And for whom are our people's rifles and blades
brandished by some against the necks of others?
أفَهذِهis this, then ِلُغَةthe language of ُ العَدالَةjustice ِمُصطَفىMustafa
أفَهذِه ِلُغَة ُ العَدالَة ِمُصطَفى
جاءواthey came بِهاwith it لِيُقَوِّمواto set things right ، وَيُحَرِّرواand to liberate؟
جاءوا بِها لِيُقَوِّموا ، وَيُحَرِّروا؟
Is this the language of justice, Mustafa,
which they brought to set things right and liberate?
لِتَنامَso she may sleep إسرائيلُIsrael مِلْءَthe fullness of جفونِهاher eyelids؟
لِتَنامَ إسرائيلُ مِلْءَ جفونِها؟
وَكلابُهاand her dogs فيin أرضِناour land تَتَبَختَرُswagger؟
وَكلابُها في أرضِنا تَتَبَختَرُ؟
So Israel may sleep with her eyelids fully at rest?
while her dogs swagger in our land?
لِتُقيمَso she may dwell أمريكاAmerica بِعُقْرin the heart of ِبيوتِناour homes
لِتُقيمَ أمريكا بِعُقْر ِبيوتِنا
وَنَظَلَّand we remain نحنُwe لَهاfor her خِرافاsheep ًتُنحَرُare slaughtered ؟
وَنَظَلَّ نحنُ لَها خِرافا ًتُنحَرُ ؟
So America may dwell in the heart of our homes,
and we remain her sheep, being slaughtered?
أفَلَمwas it not, then يَكُنْbe إلاexcept نَزيفُthe bleeding of دِمائِناour blood
أفَلَم يَكُنْ إلا نَزيفُ دِمائِنا
سُقياirrigation لِكيso that يَنموgrows الخَرابُthe devastation الأكبَرُthe greater؟!
سُقيا لِكي يَنمو الخَرابُ الأكبَرُ؟!
Was there nothing but the bleeding of our blood
to water the growth of the greater devastation?!
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عَفْوَthe pardon of ابتِسامَتِكَyour smile التيwhich أدريI know بِهاof it
عَفْوَ ابتِسامَتِكَ التي أدري بِها
حَتَّىeven بِأقسىamid the harshest المُوجِعاتِagonies تُنَوِّرُshines
حَتَّى بِأقسى المُوجِعاتِ تُنَوِّرُ
I ask your smile's pardon—the smile I know
shines even through the cruelest agonies.
أنتَyou الإمامُthe imam السَّمْحُthe gracious ، والعَلَمُand the luminary الذيwho
أنتَ الإمامُ السَّمْحُ ، والعَلَمُ الذي
أبَداalways ً مَعالِمُthe features of وَجْهِهhis face ِ تَستَبشِرُbeam with gladness
أبَدا ً مَعالِمُ وَجْهِه ِ تَستَبشِرُ
You are the gracious imam, the luminary whose
facial features always beam with gladness.
ماnot راءَsaw هُhim مَنany راءbeholder ٍ ، فيin أوجاعِهhis sufferings ِ
ما راءَ هُ مَن راء ٍ ، في أوجاعِه ِ
إلاexcept ، عَلىat أوجاعِهhis sufferings ِ ، يَتَنَدَّرُjests!
إلا ، عَلى أوجاعِه ِ ، يَتَنَدَّرُ!
No beholder ever saw him in his suffering
without his making light of that suffering!
ياO صاحِبَmaster of القَلَمthe pen ِالأthe most sensitive (start) ُحِسُّmost sensitive (end) كأنَّهas though it ُ
يا صاحِبَ القَلَم ِالأ ُحِسُّ كأنَّه ُ
تَبكيweep السُّطورُthe lines عَلَيهِover it وَهوَwhile it يُسَطِّرُwrites
تَبكي السُّطورُ عَلَيهِ وَهوَ يُسَطِّرُ
O master of the most sensitive pen, it is as though
the lines weep over it while it writes,
مِنfrom فَرْطِthe intensity of ماhow يَبْريwhittles away حُشاشَتَهits last spark of life ُبِهاwith them
مِن فَرْطِ ما يَبْري حُشاشَتَه ُبِها
أرأيتُموhave you all seen قَلَماa pen ً بِحَرفٍby a letter يؤسَرُis held captive؟!
أرأيتُمو قَلَما ً بِحَرفٍ يؤسَرُ؟!
so fiercely does it whittle away its last spark of life with them.
Have you ever seen a pen held captive by a letter?!
لِلَّهِto God دَexcellence (start) رُّكَyour excellence (end) مُصطَفىMustafa ، وَمُبارَكٌand blessed
لِلَّهِ دَ رُّكَ مُصطَفى ، وَمُبارَكٌ
قَبرٌa grave حَواكَheld you ، وإنْand even if تَكُنyou are لاnot تُقبَرُare buried!
قَبرٌ حَواكَ ، وإنْ تَكُن لا تُقبَرُ!
God bless you, Mustafa! And blessed is
a grave that holds you, though you cannot be buried!
Sol 6.1