بَددwaste ٌ، كلُّall عُمْرِهhis life ِبَدَدwaste ُ
بَدد ٌ، كلُّ عُمْرِه ِبَدَد ُ
كلُّall ماthat يَدَّعيhe claims ، وماand what يَعِدhe promises ُ
كلُّ ما يَدَّعي ، وما يَعِد ُ
Waste—his whole life is waste:
all he claims, and all he promises,
القوافيthe rhymes ، والجاهand prestige ُ، والولدand offspring ُ
القوافي ، والجاه ُ، والولد ُ
والثَّراءُand riches المَوهومimagined ،والتَّلدand inherited wealth ُ
والثَّراءُ المَوهوم ،والتَّلد ُ
the rhymes, the prestige, the offspring,
the imagined riches, the inherited wealth,
والمَواعيدand promises ُماnot لهاthey have عَدَدa number ُ
والمَواعيد ُما لها عَدَد ُ
والرِّضاand contentment ،والرَّفاهand comfort ُ، والرَّغَدand ease ُ
والرِّضا ،والرَّفاه ُ، والرَّغَد ُ
the promises without number,
contentment, comfort, and ease.
بَدَدwaste ٌ كلُّهاall of them ، وأوجَعُهاand their most painful part
بَدَد ٌ كلُّها ، وأوجَعُها
أنَّهthat he ُ الآنَnow عُمْرُهhis life ُبَدَwast- د-e ُ
أنَّه ُ الآنَ عُمْرُه ُبَدَ د ُ
Waste, all of it; and most painful of all
is that his life is waste now.
عَلِّميهteach him ِ إذاif ظَفِرْتِyou get hold بِهof him ِ
عَلِّميه ِ إذا ظَفِرْتِ بِه ِ
بعدَafter ستّينsixty كيفَhow يَقتَصدhe economizes ُ!
بعدَ ستّين كيفَ يَقتَصد ُ!
Teach him, if you get hold of him,
after sixty, how to be frugal!
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أمَّO mother of خلدونKhaldun ، والدand the wor- ُّنا-ld أمَدa span ٌ
أمَّ خلدون ، والد ُّنا أمَد ٌ
كلُّall ماthat ظلَّremains فيin الدthe wor- ُّنا-ld أمَدa span ُ
كلُّ ما ظلَّ في الد ُّنا أمَد ُ
Umm Khaldun, the world is a span;
everything left in the world is a span:
محضُmere وقتٍtime علىover دقائقِهits minutes ِ
محضُ وقتٍ على دقائقِه ِ
يَنحَنيbends وهوwhile it يَذبلُwithers الجَسَدthe body ُ
يَنحَني وهو يَذبلُ الجَسَد ُ
nothing but time, over whose minutes
the body bends as it withers.
كلَّماwhenever امتَدit lengthens َّيَنقَطِعْbreaks سَبَبٌa bond
كلَّما امتَد َّيَنقَطِعْ سَبَبٌ
مِنfrom رَجاناour hope ، ويَنخَلِعْand is pulled out وَتَدa peg ُ
مِن رَجانا ، ويَنخَلِعْ وَتَد ُ
Whenever it lengthens, a strand snaps
from our hope, and a peg is pulled loose.
أمَّO mother of خلدونKhaldun ، نحنُwe مِنfrom وَجَعpain ٍ
أمَّ خلدون ، نحنُ مِن وَجَع ٍ
ضِلعُناour rib عنfrom أخيهits brother ِيَبتَعِدdraws away ُ
ضِلعُنا عن أخيه ِيَبتَعِد ُ
Umm Khaldun, out of pain,
one rib of ours draws away from its brother.
كلُّall أوتادِناour pegs مُزَعْزَعَةshaken ٌ
كلُّ أوتادِنا مُزَعْزَعَة ٌ
فَبمِاذاso by what تُكابِرُshow defiance العَمَدthe pillars ُ؟!
فَبمِاذا تُكابِرُ العَمَد ُ؟!
All our pegs are shaken loose;
so how can the pillars stand defiant?
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أنتِyou تَدرينَknow أنَّنيthat I مَرِحmerry ٌ
أنتِ تَدرينَ أنَّني مَرِح ٌ
طولَthroughout عُمْريmy life..مُشاكِسٌmischievous،غَرِدsongful ُ
طولَ عُمْري..مُشاكِسٌ،غَرِد ُ
You know that I am merry,
all my life mischievous, full of song,
عاشِقٌa lover حَدto the point َّ أنْthat يَضُجَّclamors دَميmy blood
عاشِقٌ حَد َّ أنْ يَضُجَّ دَمي
لِسَناfor the radiance of الفَجْرِdawn حينَwhen يَنجَرِدit bares itself ُ
لِسَنا الفَجْرِ حينَ يَنجَرِد ُ
a lover, to the point that my blood clamors
for dawn's radiance as it bares itself.
كنتُI was عُمْريmy life إذاwhenever انتَهىended مَدَدa supply ٌ
كنتُ عُمْري إذا انتَهى مَدَد ٌ
مِنof هُياميmy passion يَجيئُنيcomes to me مَدَدa supply ُ
مِن هُيامي يَجيئُني مَدَد ُ
All my life, whenever one reserve
of passion ran out, another came to me.
لمnot اI (verb prefix) ُسائِلْquestion ، لكنْbut أعيشُI live هوىًa love
لم ا ُسائِلْ ، لكنْ أعيشُ هوىً
لمnot يَعِشْhas lived مِثلَlike زَهْوِهِits splendor أحَدanyone ُ
لم يَعِشْ مِثلَ زَهْوِهِ أحَد ُ
I did not question; I simply lived a love
whose splendor no one else had known.
رُبَّماperhaps كانَwas كلُّهall of it ُ زَبَداًfoam
رُبَّما كانَ كلُّه ُ زَبَداً
آهah ِلَوif only عادَreturned ذلكَthat الزَّبَدfoam ُ!
آه ِلَو عادَ ذلكَ الزَّبَد ُ!
Perhaps it was all foam.
Ah, if only that foam would return!
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أمَّO mother of خلدونKhaldun..أيُّwhat بارقةglimmer ٍ
أمَّ خلدون..أيُّ بارقة ٍ
حلوَةsweet ٍجاءَناcame to us بهاwith it الرَّشَدmaturity ُ؟
حلوَة ٍجاءَنا بها الرَّشَد ُ؟
Umm Khaldun, what glimmer
of sweetness has maturity brought us?
أيَّwhat زَهْوsplendor ٍ، وأيَّand what عافيَةwell-being ٍ
أيَّ زَهْو ٍ، وأيَّ عافيَة ٍ
حَشَدَamassed العُمْرُlife وهوَwhile it يَحتَشِدaccumulates ُ؟
حَشَدَ العُمْرُ وهوَ يَحتَشِد ُ؟
What splendor, what well-being
has life amassed as it piles up?
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نحنُwe كنّاwere رَفيفَthe flutter of أجنِحَةwings ٍ
نحنُ كنّا رَفيفَ أجنِحَة ٍ
فغَدَوناso we became نَمشيwe walk وَنَستَنِدand we lean on support ُ!
فغَدَونا نَمشي وَنَستَنِد ُ!
We were the flutter of wings,
and now we walk leaning on support!
وحَشَوناand we stuffed جلودَناour skins حِكَماًwith wisdom
وحَشَونا جلودَنا حِكَماً
وبَرَعناand we excelled فيin كيفَhow نَنتَقِدwe criticize ُ
وبَرَعنا في كيفَ نَنتَقِد ُ
We stuffed our skins with wisdom
and excelled at knowing how to criticize.
أجمَلُthe loveliest of العُمرِlife غالَslew هَدْأتَهits calm ُ
أجمَلُ العُمرِ غالَ هَدْأتَه ُ
خوفُناour fear أنَّناthat we سَنَفتَقِدshall lose ُ
خوفُنا أنَّنا سَنَفتَقِد ُ
The calm of life's loveliest part was slain
by our fear of what we would lose.
صارَbecame بَعدَafter الصَّفاءِserenity يُقلِقُناit troubles us
صارَ بَعدَ الصَّفاءِ يُقلِقُنا
أينَwhere نَغفوwe doze..وكيفَand how نَبتَرِدwe cool ourselves ُ!
أينَ نَغفو..وكيفَ نَبتَرِد ُ!
After serenity, what came to trouble us was
where to doze, and how to cool ourselves!
كَمhow much طُمأنينَةٍpeace of mind عَواذِلُناour reproachers
كَم طُمأنينَةٍ عَواذِلُنا
وَأدوهاthey buried it alive فيamong بَعضsome of ِ ماwhat وَأدواthey buried alive
وَأدوها في بَعض ِ ما وَأدوا
How much peace of mind our reproachers
buried alive among the things they buried.
فَغَدَوناso we became مَحسوبَةcalculated ًسَلَفاًin advance
فَغَدَونا مَحسوبَة ًسَلَفاً
ضِحْكناour laughter، والبُكاءُand weeping، والجَلَدand endurance ُ
ضِحْكنا، والبُكاءُ، والجَلَد ُ
So now, calculated in advance are
our laughter, our weeping, our endurance.
بَدَدwaste ٌ، كلُّall عُمرِهhis life ِ بَدَدwaste ُ
بَدَد ٌ، كلُّ عُمرِه ِ بَدَد ُ
لاno وِقاءٌprotection لَهfor him ُ، ولاand no سَنَدsupport ُ
لا وِقاءٌ لَه ُ، ولا سَنَد ُ
Waste—his whole life is waste;
he has neither protection nor support.
مُنذfor ُخمسينfifty وهوَwhile he مُعتَكِفٌsecluded
مُنذ ُخمسين وهوَ مُعتَكِفٌ
وَعلَيهand over him ِمنfrom نَفسِهhis own self ِ رَصَدa watch ُ
وَعلَيه ِمن نَفسِه ِ رَصَد ُ
For fifty years he has been secluded,
with his own self keeping watch over him.
حَسِبَhe thought الدthe stu- َّرسَ-dy تارَةonce ً أرَباًa purpose
حَسِبَ الد َّرسَ تارَة ً أرَباً
فَبَرىso he wore away الرّوحthe soul وهوَwhile he يَجتهدstrives ُ
فَبَرى الرّوح وهوَ يَجتهد ُ
Once he thought study his purpose,
so he whittled away his soul as he strove.
حَسِبَhe thought الشِّعرَpoetry مَلجأa refuge ً، فذوَىthen he withered
حَسِبَ الشِّعرَ مَلجأ ً، فذوَى
وهوَwhile he يُوريstrikes sparks ،والشِّعرُand poetry يَتَّقِدblazes ُ
وهوَ يُوري ،والشِّعرُ يَتَّقِد ُ
He thought poetry a refuge, and withered
while he struck sparks and poetry blazed.
ظَنَّhe thought أولادَهhis children ُ لَهfor him ُ سَبَباًa lifeline
ظَنَّ أولادَه ُ لَه ُ سَبَباً
فَفَداهمso he ransomed them بِكلِّwith all ماthat يَجِدhe finds ُ
فَفَداهم بِكلِّ ما يَجِد ُ
He thought his children a lifeline,
so he ransomed them with everything he could find.
كانَwas أقصىthe utmost of أحلامِهhis dreams ِوَلَدa son ٌ
كانَ أقصى أحلامِه ِوَلَد ٌ
يَزدَهيstands proud ، أوor بُنَيَّةa little daughter ٌتَلِدbears children ُ!
يَزدَهي ، أو بُنَيَّة ٌتَلِد ُ!
The utmost of his dreams was a son
who would stand proud, or a little daughter who would bear children!
وإذاand suddenly كلُّall سَعْيِهhis striving ِ بَدَwast- د-e ُ
وإذا كلُّ سَعْيِه ِ بَدَ د ُ
شِعْرُهhis poetry ُ،والدّروسُand studies، والوَلَدand offspring ُ
شِعْرُه ُ،والدّروسُ، والوَلَد ُ
And suddenly all his striving was waste:
his poetry, his studies, his offspring.
بَدَدwaste ٌ، كلُّall عُمرِهhis life ِبَدَwast- د-e ُ
بَدَد ٌ، كلُّ عُمرِه ِبَدَ د ُ
كلُّall ماthat يَدhe clai- َّعي-ms ، وماand what يَعِدhe promises ُ
كلُّ ما يَد َّعي ، وما يَعِد ُ
Waste—his whole life is waste:
all he claims, and all he promises.
عَلِّميهteach him ِياO مَنyou who عَجِلتِyou hurried بِهhim along ِ
عَلِّميه ِيا مَن عَجِلتِ بِه ِ
بَعدَafter ستّينsixty كيفَhow يَتَّئِدhe takes his time ُ!
بَعدَ ستّين كيفَ يَتَّئِد ُ!
Teach him, you who hurried him along,
after sixty, how to take his time!
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أمَّO mother of خَلدونKhaldun ، لاnot أI (verb prefix) قولُsay كماas..
أمَّ خَلدون ، لا أ قولُ كما..
لاno ، ولاand not أرصُدI watch for ُالذيwhat رَصَدواthey watched for
لا ، ولا أرصُد ُالذي رَصَدوا
Umm Khaldun, I do not speak as...
No, nor do I watch for what they watched for.
أناI عنديI have زَرْعيmy crops وساقيَتيand my watercourse
أنا عندي زَرْعي وساقيَتي
وَنَواعيرُand waterwheels ماؤهاtheir water هَدَa ro- د-ar ُ
وَنَواعيرُ ماؤها هَدَ د ُ
I have my crops and my watercourse,
and waterwheels whose water roars.
كلُّevery دَلْوbucket ٍ بهاon them لَهit has ُ رِئَةa lung ٌ
كلُّ دَلْو ٍ بها لَه ُ رِئَة ٌ
وَحْدَهاit alone بالدّموعwith tears ِتَنفَرِدis set apart ُ
وَحْدَها بالدّموع ِتَنفَرِد ُ
Each bucket upon them has a lung
alone in its tears.
وَتَعَلَّمتُand I learned إذas يَدورُturns بِهاwithin them
وَتَعَلَّمتُ إذ يَدورُ بِها
حُزنُهاtheir sorrow السَّرْمَديُّeverlasting والكَمَدand anguish ُ
حُزنُها السَّرْمَديُّ والكَمَد ُ
And I learned, as within them revolved
their eternal sorrow and anguish,
أنَّهاthat they وَحْدَهاthey alone مُخَوَّلَةare authorized ٌ
أنَّها وَحْدَها مُخَوَّلَة ٌ
أنْthat يُغَنّيsings دولابُهاtheir wheel النَّكِدwoeful ُ!
أنْ يُغَنّي دولابُها النَّكِد ُ!
that they alone were entitled
to have their woeful wheel sing!
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لاdo not تَقوليsay أسْرَفتَyou were wasteful ياO سَنَديmy mainstay
لا تَقولي أسْرَفتَ يا سَنَدي
رُبَّmany a تَعبانweary person ماnot لَهhe has ُسَنَدsupport ُ
رُبَّ تَعبان ما لَه ُسَنَد ُ
Do not say, 'You were wasteful, my mainstay.'
Many a weary soul has no support.
أناI عنديI have حُزنيmy sorrow ألوذI seek refuge ُبِهin it ِ
أنا عندي حُزني ألوذ ُبِه ِ
فاقِدone lacking ُالحُزنsorrow ِأينَwhere يَتَّسِدlays his head ُ؟!
فاقِد ُالحُزن ِأينَ يَتَّسِد ُ؟!
I have my sorrow to seek refuge in;
where can one without sorrow lay his head?
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بَدَدwaste ً ، كلُّall عُمْرlife ِهhis ِبَدَدwaste ُ
بَدَد ً ، كلُّ عُمْر ِه ِبَدَد ُ
ماwhat أضَعْناwe squandered بِهin it ِ، وماand what نَجِدwe find ُ
ما أضَعْنا بِه ِ، وما نَجِد ُ
Waste—his whole life is waste:
what we squandered in it, and what we find.
كَمhow much زَرَعناwe planted ، وَكَمand how much سَقىwatered دَمُناour blood
كَم زَرَعنا ، وَكَم سَقى دَمُنا
وَسَهرْناand we kept vigil حتىuntil ذوَىwithered الكَبِدthe liver ُ
وَسَهرْنا حتى ذوَى الكَبِد ُ
How much we planted, how much our blood watered,
and we kept vigil until the liver withered.
كَمhow often نَسَجْناwe wove ضلوعَناour ribs زَرَداًinto mail
كَم نَسَجْنا ضلوعَنا زَرَداً
شاخِصاتٌstanding erect ليَومِناfor our day الزَّرَدthe mail links ُ
شاخِصاتٌ ليَومِنا الزَّرَد ُ
How often we wove our ribs into mail,
the links standing erect for our day.
كمhow often ..وليلُwhile the night of الشتاءِwinter يَرقَبُناwatches us
كم ..وليلُ الشتاءِ يَرقَبُنا
خَوفُناour fear فيهin it ِ كادَnearly يَنجَمِدfreezes ُ
خَوفُنا فيه ِ كادَ يَنجَمِد ُ
How often, while winter's night watched us,
our fear within it nearly froze.
وصَبَْرناand we endured ، وكلُّwhile every ثانيَةsecond ٍ
وصَبَْرنا ، وكلُّ ثانيَة ٍ
تَتَلَوّىwrithes كأنَّهاas though it أبَدeternity ُ
تَتَلَوّى كأنَّها أبَد ُ
And we endured, while every second
writhed as though it were eternity.
أسَفاًalas أنْthat يُقالَit be said قدalready صَدِئواthey have rusted
أسَفاً أنْ يُقالَ قد صَدِئوا
والمروءاتُand noble virtues حَبْلُهاtheir rope مَسَدpalm fiber ُ
والمروءاتُ حَبْلُها مَسَد ُ
Alas that it should be said, 'They have rusted,'
while the rope of noble virtues is palm fiber.
أمَّO mother of خَلدونKhaldun إنَّindeed بيwithin me غَبَشاًdimness
أمَّ خَلدون إنَّ بي غَبَشاً
ألفُa thousand فَجْرdawns ٍعليهover it ِيَنعَقِدgather ُ
ألفُ فَجْر ٍعليه ِيَنعَقِد ُ
Umm Khaldun, there is a dimness within me
over which a thousand dawns gather.
لمnot يَزَلْhas ceased نَبْعُناour spring جَداولُهits streams ُ
لم يَزَلْ نَبْعُنا جَداولُه ُ
كلُّevery آتٍcomer مِنfrom مائِهاtheir water يَرhe comes to dri- ِد-nk ُ
كلُّ آتٍ مِن مائِها يَر ِد ُ
Our spring still has its streams;
every comer comes to drink their water.
فإذاand if جاءَناhe comes to us بِلاwithout بَلَدa homeland ٍ
فإذا جاءَنا بِلا بَلَد ٍ
فَقَناديلُناthen our lamps لَهfor him ُ بَلَدa homeland ُ!
فَقَناديلُنا لَه ُ بَلَد ُ!
And if he comes to us without a homeland,
then our lamps are a homeland for him!
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أمَّO mother of خَلدونKhaldun كَفكِفيstem وَجَعيmy pain
أمَّ خَلدون كَفكِفي وَجَعي
وَعِدِينيand promise me ببَعضa little of ِماwhat أعِدI promise ُ
وَعِدِيني ببَعض ِما أعِد ُ
Umm Khaldun, stem my pain,
and promise me a little of what I promise.
أناI أدريknow بأنَّthat ألْويَتيmy banners
أنا أدري بأنَّ ألْويَتي
نِصفُهاhalf of them فيin الرّياحthe winds ِيَرتَعِدtrembles ُ
نِصفُها في الرّياح ِيَرتَعِد ُ
I know that, of my banners,
half tremble in the winds.
أناI أدريknow بأنَّthat ليI have سُفُناًships
أنا أدري بأنَّ لي سُفُناً
فُقِدlost (verb stem) َتْfeminine ending فيin عِدادِthe ranks of مَنthose who فُقِدواwere lost
فُقِد َتْ في عِدادِ مَن فُقِدوا
I know that I have ships
lost among the ranks of the lost.
أناI أدريknow بأنَّthat بيwithin me وَرَماًa swelling
أنا أدري بأنَّ بي وَرَماً
مُنذfor ُخَمسينfifty وهوَwhile it يَطَّرِدkeeps growing ُ
مُنذ ُخَمسين وهوَ يَطَّرِد ُ
I know that within me is a swelling
that has kept growing for fifty years.
وَبِأنّيand that I تَساؤليmy questioning حَرَدanger ُ
وَبِأنّي تَساؤلي حَرَد ُ
وَبأنّيand that I خصومَتيmy hostility لَدَobsti- د-nacy ُ
وَبأنّي خصومَتي لَدَ د ُ
And that my questioning is anger,
and that my hostility is obstinacy.
أناI أدريknow ، أدريknow بأنَّthat دَميmy blood
أنا أدري ، أدري بأنَّ دَمي
فيin الشَّرايينthe arteries باتَhas become يَتَّقِدablaze ُ
في الشَّرايين باتَ يَتَّقِد ُ
I know, I know that my blood
has begun to blaze in the arteries
بسِنينwith years ٍبحُزنِهاwith their sorrow ذهبَتْpassed
بسِنين ٍبحُزنِها ذهبَتْ
وَسنينand years ٍ بِحُزنِهاwith their sorrow تَفِدarrive ُ
وَسنين ٍ بِحُزنِها تَفِد ُ
with years that went away with their sorrow
and years that arrive with their sorrow.
أمَّO mother of خَلدونKhaldun ..أيُّwhat مُعْجِزَةmiracle ٍ
أمَّ خَلدون ..أيُّ مُعْجِزَة ٍ
تُقنِعُconvinces العِرقَthe vein كيفَhow يَنفصِدis bled ُ؟!
تُقنِعُ العِرقَ كيفَ يَنفصِد ُ؟!
Umm Khaldun, what miracle
could persuade a vein to let itself be bled?
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أناI أقنَعْتُconvinced كلَّall أورِدَتيmy veins
أنا أقنَعْتُ كلَّ أورِدَتي
أنَّthat نَصْليmy blade بهاin them سَيَنغَمِدwill be sheathed ُ
أنَّ نَصْلي بها سَيَنغَمِد ُ
I have convinced all my veins
that my blade will be sheathed in them,
وَبِأنّيand that I مُعَوِّضٌwill replace دَمَهاtheir blood
وَبِأنّي مُعَوِّضٌ دَمَها
بِمَرازيبwith gutters ماؤهاtheir water هَدَدُa roar
بِمَرازيب ماؤها هَدَدُ
and that I will replace their blood
with gutters whose waters roar,
بشموعwith candles ٍأضواؤهاtheir lights رُمُدashen ُ
بشموع ٍأضواؤها رُمُد ُ
وَضلوعand ribs ٍأوجاعُهاtheir aches جُدُدnew ُ
وَضلوع ٍأوجاعُها جُدُد ُ
with candles whose lights are ashen,
and ribs whose aches are new,
بِتَقاليدwith traditions كُلُّهاall of them هُجِرَتْwere abandoned
بِتَقاليد كُلُّها هُجِرَتْ
وَمَواليدand newborns كُلُّهُمall of them وُئِدواwere buried alive
وَمَواليد كُلُّهُم وُئِدوا
with traditions all abandoned,
and newborns all buried alive,
بِغَدٍwith a tomorrow مُبْهَمhazy ٍجَداوِلُهits streams ُ
بِغَدٍ مُبْهَم ٍجَداوِلُه ُ
كلُّهاall of them بالدّموعwith tears ِتَتَّحِدunite ُ
كلُّها بالدّموع ِتَتَّحِد ُ
with a hazy tomorrow whose streams
all merge with tears.
فاعذso forgive (stem fragment) ُرينيme (feminine imperative ending) إذاif نَذvow (stem fragment) َرْتُI (verb ending) دَميmy blood
فاعذ ُريني إذا نَذ َرْتُ دَمي
رُبَّmany a وَعْدٍpromise يَبكيweeps لِمَنfor those who وَعَدواpromised!
رُبَّ وَعْدٍ يَبكي لِمَن وَعَدوا!
So forgive me if I have vowed my blood:
many a promise weeps for those who promised!
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أمَّO mother of خلدونKhaldun..لَملِميgather up سَهَريmy sleeplessness
أمَّ خلدون..لَملِمي سَهَري
وارْقدُيand lie down بيwith me فالناسُfor the people قدhave رَقدواslept
وارْقدُي بي فالناسُ قد رَقدوا
Umm Khaldun, gather up my sleeplessness,
and lie down with me, for the people have slept.
أناI مازلتُam still مُوقِظاًkeeping awake وَجَعيmy pain
أنا مازلتُ مُوقِظاً وَجَعي
بَينَماwhile كلُّall إخوَتيmy brothers هَجَدواhave slumbered
بَينَما كلُّ إخوَتي هَجَدوا
I am still keeping my pain awake,
while all my brothers have slumbered.
وَغَداًand tomorrow ، والعيونُas the eyes تَسألُناask us
وَغَداً ، والعيونُ تَسألُنا
ماwhat حَصَدْناwe reaped لهاfor them ، وماand what حَصَدواthey reaped
ما حَصَدْنا لها ، وما حَصَدوا
And tomorrow, as the eyes ask us
what we reaped for them, and what the others reaped,
نَتَراءىwe appear فَقيرَةimpoverished ً يَدhand ُناour
نَتَراءى فَقيرَة ً يَد ُنا
وَلكلِّand for every امريءٍperson يَدa hand ٌ وَيَدand a hand ُ
وَلكلِّ امريءٍ يَد ٌ وَيَد ُ
we shall appear with our hand impoverished,
while every man has one hand and another.
نَتَراءىwe appear نحنُwe النّيامَthe sleepers غَداًtomorrow
نَتَراءى نحنُ النّيامَ غَداً
بَينَماwhile القَومُthe people كلُّهُمall of them سَهِدواstayed awake!
بَينَما القَومُ كلُّهُم سَهِدوا!
Tomorrow we shall appear the sleepers,
while all the people stayed awake!
ألفُa thousand حَمْدٍpraises للهto God .. نَشْكُرُهwe thank Him ُ
ألفُ حَمْدٍ لله .. نَشْكُرُه ُ
أنَّناthat we بالمَلامfor blame ِنَنْفَرِدare singled out ُ
أنَّنا بالمَلام ِنَنْفَرِد ُ
A thousand praises to God—we thank Him
that we alone are singled out for blame.
ألفُa thousand حَمْدٍpraises للهto God ِ أنَّthat لَناwe have
ألفُ حَمْدٍ لله ِ أنَّ لَنا
وَحدَناus alone ماwhat يُخَلِّفُleaves behind الكَمَدsorrow ُ
وَحدَنا ما يُخَلِّفُ الكَمَد ُ
A thousand praises to God that ours,
ours alone, is what sorrow leaves behind:
التَّشَفّيgloating،واللَّومُand reproach ،والحَسَدand envy ُ
التَّشَفّي،واللَّومُ ،والحَسَد ُ
وَنَزيفٌand bleeding عَليهfor it ِ نُنتَقَدwe are criticized ُ
وَنَزيفٌ عَليه ِ نُنتَقَد ُ
gloating, reproach, and envy,
and bleeding for which we are criticized.
بَدَدwaste ٌ ، كلُّall عُمْرِهhis life ِ بَدَwast- د-e ُ
بَدَد ٌ ، كلُّ عُمْرِه ِ بَدَ د ُ
كلُّall ماthat يَدhe clai- َّعي-ms ، وماand what يَعِدhe promises ُ
كلُّ ما يَد َّعي ، وما يَعِد ُ
Waste—his whole life is waste:
all he claims, and all he promises.
هَدْهِديهrock him gently ِلَعَلَّperhaps غُرْبَتَهhis estrangement ُ
هَدْهِديه ِلَعَلَّ غُرْبَتَه ُ
حينَwhen يَغفوhe sleeps تَغفوit sleeps وَتَنضَمِدand heals ُ!
حينَ يَغفو تَغفو وَتَنضَمِد ُ!
Rock him gently; perhaps his estrangement,
when he sleeps, will sleep and heal.
Sol 6.1