كانwas اسمهhis name (يحيىYahya) وكانand he used to يوافيcome to
كان اسمه (يحيى) وكان يوافي
بيتاًa house منof الميعادthe promised meeting والإخلافand broken promises
بيتاً من الميعاد والإخلاف
His name was Yahya, and he would come to
His name was Yahya, and he would keep
a house of trysts and broken promises.
Appointments, though inclined to deceit,
وافاهcame to it أولfirst مرةtime كمجدفlike an oarsman
وافاه أول مرة كمجدف
أعطىgave الضياعaimlessness قيادةcommand of المجدافthe oar
أعطى الضياع قيادة المجداف
He first came to it like an oarsman
The first time he came like an oarsman lost,
who gave aimlessness command of the oar.
Who leaves fate to guide where the oar is tossed.
وغداةand on the morning حياgreeted البابthe door قطّبfrowned لحظةa moment
وغداة حيا الباب قطّب لحظة
وصفاand brightened كوجهlike the face of الوارثthe heir المتلافthe spendthrift
وصفا كوجه الوارث المتلاف
One morning, as he greeted the door, it frowned briefly,
Next morning he knocked and glanced furtively,
then brightened like the face of a spendthrift heir.
Like an heir who's given to prodigality.
وهفاand yearned إلىto لقياهmeet him أنضرmost radiant مدخلa doorway
وهفا إلى لقياه أنضر مدخل
توميbeckon روائحهits fragrances إلىto الأضيافthe guests
تومي روائحه إلى الأضياف
The most radiant doorway yearned to meet him,
He swayed up to greet me, the porch a bower
its fragrances beckoning to the guests.
That breathed perfumes round him, an odorous shower.
وأتاهand came to it ثانيةa second time فماسthen swayed أمامهbefore him
وأتاه ثانية فماس أمامه
ثوبa dress كوشيlike the brocade of الموسمthe season الهفهافbreezy
ثوب كوشي الموسم الهفهاف
He came to it a second time; before him swayed
The second time he came I felt him fingering
a dress like the brocade of the breezy season.
A garment, soft as the downy wing
فكأنso, as though كلevery خميلةgrove ألقتcast علىupon
فكأن كل خميلة ألقت على
كتفيهits shoulders أرديهrobes منof الأفوافfine striped fabrics
كتفيه أرديه من الأفواف
As though every grove had cast upon
Of an ostrich, that each singing sprite
its shoulders robes of fine striped cloth.
Had flung o'er his shoulders, fold on fold quite.
ماذاwhat وراءbehind الثوبthe dress؟ فجرa dawn راسبsunken
ماذا وراء الثوب؟ فجر راسب
يهويfalls ويستحييand feels shy وفجرand a dawn طافafloat
يهوي ويستحيي وفجر طاف
What lay behind the dress? A sunken dawn,
What lay beneath the robe? A lifeless sea
falling and shy, and a dawn afloat.
That heaved unwillingly sluggishly,
ورناand gazed إلىtoward الشباكthe window يرجوhoping فاختفتthen she vanished
ورنا إلى الشباك يرجو فاختفت
وارتدand turned back بالوعدwith the promise الجليclear الخافيhidden
وارتد بالوعد الجلي الخافي
He gazed hopefully toward the window; she vanished,
And an orient pearl ran up to my window small,
and he turned back with a promise clear yet hidden.
Entreating, but vanished beyond recall.
وغداand went at dawn إليهto it فرقthen softened شيءsomething ظنهhe thought it
وغدا إليه فرق شيء ظنه
حسناءa beauty ترفلsways gracefully فيin ثيابclothes for زفافa wedding
حسناء ترفل في ثياب زفاف
He went there at dawn; something softened, which he took
He came again. I heard a lover's tread
for a beauty swaying in wedding clothes.
Rustle in bridal robes carmine red.
ودعاand called (حسيناًHusayn) مرةonce فأجابهthen answered him
ودعا (حسيناً) مرة فأجابه
صوتa voice كساقيةlike a stream منof الأصدافseashells
صوت كساقية من الأصداف
Once he called to Husayn, and answering him came
I called "Husayn." The answer came
a voice like a stream of seashells.
From water gurgling in vessels of brass.
فأشتمso he scented أترفlushest ربوةhillock أجنتbore ripe fruit لهfor him
فأشتم أترف ربوة أجنت له
ودناand drew near فغابتthen it vanished عنfrom يدthe hand of القطافthe plucker
ودنا فغابت عن يد القطاف
He scented the lushest knoll, ripening for him,
So up the slope of a fragrant hill I went,
and drew near, but it vanished from the plucker's hand.
But he eluded the hand's attempt
فهناso here مزارa shrine منof طفولاتchildhoods of الضحىthe morning
فهنا مزار من طفولات الضحى
ومنand of الشذىfragrance وأصايلand late afternoons of الأصيافsummers
ومن الشذى وأصايل الأصياف
Here was a shrine of the childhoods of morning,
To seize him. Here is a shine, a sacred fane,
of fragrance and the late afternoons of summers.
Of memories of dawn and of winds astir at noon,
يمضيgoes إليهto it علىupon الحنينlonging وينثيand turns back
يمضي إليه على الحنين وينثي
منهfrom it علىon فرسa horse منof الأطيافthe phantoms
منه على فرس من الأطياف
He goes to it borne by longing, and turns back
Of evening's gentle and wistful tune.
from it on a horse of phantoms.
Yet he gallops off on a magic steed.
هيshe لمdid not تعدهpromise him ويرتجيand hopes for ميعادهاher tryst
هي لم تعده ويرتجي ميعادها
وسدىand in vain ينعقدtakes shape خضرةthe greenness of الصفصافthe willow
وسدى ينعقد خضرة الصفصاف
She has promised him nothing, yet he hopes for her tryst,
He promised, but promises the truth belie,
and vainly takes shape as the willow's greenness.
While green leaves dance on the willow tree.
فيرودso he frequents كالسمسارlike a broker متجرthe shop of عمهاher paternal uncle
فيرود كالسمسار متجر عمها
ويشيدand speaks highly بالبياعof the seller والأصنافand the wares
ويشيد بالبياع والأصناف
Like a broker, he frequents her uncle's shop,
So he lingers on like a pedlar, praising
praising the seller and the wares.
His bargain, vaunting his wares amazing.
ويعودand returns قبلbefore العصرthe afternoon يقصدseeks جدهاher grandfather
ويعود قبل العصر يقصد جدها
فيin البيتthe house يطريpraises حمقهhis foolishness ويصافيand befriends
في البيت يطري حمقه ويصافي
Before afternoon he returns, seeking her grandfather
He comes, ere sunset, to call on her sire,
at home, praising his foolishness and courting his friendship.
Then fools me, leads me on, fans desire.
ومضىand went on يصادقbefriending عندat مدخلthe entrance of بابهاher door
ومضى يصادق عند مدخل بابها
مقهىa café وباباًand a door كالخفيرlike a guard الجافيaloof
مقهى وباباً كالخفير الجافي
He went on befriending, by her doorway,
He loiters by her door, sipping coffee,
a café and a door like an aloof guard.
Posturing, idle, like a guard set free.
وبلاand without محاولةtrying رآهاsaw her مرةonce
وبلا محاولة رآها مرة
جذلىjoyous كحقلlike a field of الزنبقlilies الرفافshimmering
جذلى كحقل الزنبق الرفاف
Once, without trying, he saw her,
I saw her once, in maidenly plight,
joyous as a shimmering field of lilies.
Like a field of narcissus, dazzling white.
كانwas المساءthe evening الغضtender عندupon رجوعهhis return
كان المساء الغض عند رجوعه
حقلاًa field ربيعياًspringlike ونهرand a river of سلافpure wine
حقلاً ربيعياً ونهر سلاف
On his return, the tender evening was
'Twas at his homecoming, in the tender green
a springtime field and a river of pure wine.
Of eve; the meadow, the river-all serene.
حقاًtruly رآهاsaw her كالضحىlike the morning light والبوحand the avowal فيin
حقاً رآها كالضحى والبوح في
نظراتهhis glances كالطائرlike a bird الخوافtimorous
نظراته كالطائر الخواف
He truly saw her like the morning light; the avowal in
Behind the pane she flirted and displayed
his glances was like a timorous bird.
A mane that rivalled the westering sun's cascade.
خلفbehind الزجاجthe glass تبرجتdisplayed her beauty وأظلهاand shaded her
خلف الزجاج تبرجت وأظلها
شعرhair كأهدابlike the lashes of الغروبthe sunset الصافيclear
شعر كأهداب الغروب الصافي
Behind the glass she displayed her beauty, shaded by
She was singing then, and dresses chose,
hair like the lashes of a clear sunset.
At times the diaphanous undershose
كانتshe was تغنيsinging حينذاكthen وتنتقيand choosing
كانت تغني حينذاك وتنتقي
ثوباًa dress وترميand casts aside بالقميصthe shirt الضافيample
ثوباً وترمي بالقميص الضافي
She was singing then, choosing
She took off, by the mirror poised half-bare,
a dress and casting off her ample shirt.
Then swayed, as her transparent skirt filled with air.
وأمامand before مرآةa mirror تعريbares نصفهاhalf her body
وأمام مرآة تعري نصفها
وتموجand undulates تحتbeneath المئزرthe waistcloth الشفافtransparent
وتموج تحت المئزر الشفاف
Before a mirror she bared half her body,
Why did he not call her? How to begin?
undulating beneath the transparent waistcloth.
Her name slipped from him, she was lost in the din
لِمwhy لاnot يناديهاcall her؟ وكيفand how؟ ويختفيand is hidden
لِم لا يناديها؟ وكيف؟ ويختفي
عنهfrom him اسمهاher name ويضيعand is lost فيin الأوصافdescriptions
عنه اسمها ويضيع في الأوصاف
Why does he not call to her? But how? Hidden
Of commonplaces. With lips ruby-bright,
from him is her name, lost amid descriptions:
A summer's snow, a day-star of delight,
شفقيةtwilight-hued الشفتينthe lips كحلىkohl-eyed ناهدfull-breasted
شفقية الشفتين كحلى ناهد
صيفيةsummery ثلجيةsnow-like الأعطافthe flanks
صيفية ثلجية الأعطاف
twilight-lipped, kohl-eyed, with swelling breasts,
With glances fawn-like, half defiant half meek,
summery, snowy in her curves.
The road lay empty; only the echoes could speak
وخلاand emptied الطريقthe road فلمso did not يصخlisten إلاexcept إلىto
وخلا الطريق فلم يصخ إلا إلى
أصدائهاher echoes وعبيرهاand her fragrance الهتافclamorous
أصدائها وعبيرها الهتاف
The road emptied; he listened only to
To him of her, whisper to him her scented name.
her echoes and her clamorous fragrance.
Dazed and content, like a child now roused from a dream
ومشىand walked يحدقstaring والذهولand bewilderment الحلوsweet فيin
ومشى يحدق والذهول الحلو في
عينيهhis eyes يبسمsmiles كالصبىlike a child الغافيsleeping
عينيه يبسم كالصبى الغافي
He walked, staring, while sweet bewilderment in
He repeated it over, the taste made intent;
his eyes smiled like a sleeping child.
A generous whisper changed to a storm, all pent.
ويعيدand replays فيتهمthen distrusts المنىwishes ويعودهand revisits him
ويعيد فيتهم المنى ويعوده
حلمa dream سخىlavish الهمسthe whispering والإرجافand alarming rumors
حلم سخى الهمس والإرجاف
He replays it, doubts his wishes, and is revisited by
He built up a kingdom and conquered the heights,
a dream lavish with whispers and alarming rumors.
Became the world's master, low necks and proud knights
فيشيدso he builds مملكةa kingdom ويستوليand takes possession علىof
فيشيد مملكة ويستولي على
أسمىloftiest الرؤوسthe heads وأعرضand broadest الأكتافthe shoulders
أسمى الرؤوس وأعرض الأكتاف
He builds a kingdom and takes possession of
His slaves. And he burst into song; a great throng
the loftiest heads and broadest shoulders.
Hailed him, in a great hall applauded him long.
ويرنand rings مذياعa radio فيمسيthen becomes مطرباًa singer
ويرن مذياع فيمسي مطرباً
فيamid زحمةa throng of التصفيقapplause والإرهافand rapt attention
في زحمة التصفيق والإرهاف
A radio rings out, and he becomes a singer
The wine flowed around him. "Antar" he then grew,
amid a throng of applause and rapt attention.
With the heart of a lion. Like "Abd Manaf's" son now,
يشدوsings فتحتشدso crowd together المسامرnighttime gatherings حولهaround him
يشدو فتحتشد المسامر حوله
مواجهsurging with الأثداءbreasts والأزدافand buttocks
مواجه الأثداء والأزداف
He sings, and nighttime gatherings crowd around him,
He burst through the ranks, laid a fair maiden low
surging with breasts and buttocks.
By force, as the sword-blades sliced to and fro.
ويمدand lengthens خطوتهhis stride فيركضthen gallops “عنترAntar”
ويمد خطوته فيركض “عنتر”
فيىin صدرهhis breast ويكرand charges (عبدAbd منافManaf)
فيى صدره ويكر (عبد مناف)
He lengthens his stride, and Antar gallops
His name was on every tongue, every bell
within his breast, and Abd Manaf charges.
Rang out the great deeds chronicled well
فيغيرso he raids يطعنthrusts أوor يحوزwins فلانةthis woman
فيغير يطعن أو يحوز فلانة
وفلانةand that woman بشريعةby the law of الأسيافswords
وفلانة بشريعة الأسياف
He raids and thrusts, or wins this woman
In his legend; on mouths of prince and of clown
and that woman by the law of swords.
In town and in countryside he was
فإذاthen behold اسمهhis name أخبارnews of كلevery مدينةcity
فإذا اسمه أخبار كل مدينة
وإذاand behold صداهhis echo مسامرnightly conversations of الأريافthe countryside
وإذا صداه مسامر الأرياف
Then his name is the news of every city,
renown. Then listless again, he strolled through the street,
and his echo the nightly talk of the countryside.
By commercial grandeur now lured, to compete
وتلينand softens خطوتهhis stride فيصبحthen becomes تاجراًa merchant
وتلين خطوته فيصبح تاجراً
تكسوهclothes him أبهةsplendor منfrom الآلافthousands
تكسوه أبهة من الآلاف
His stride softens, and he becomes a merchant,
With millionaires. Money's the best weapon!
clothed in the splendor of thousands.
Dullards like Mithnna, when once they could step in
إنindeed النقودmoney سلاحthe weapon of كلevery مقاتلfighter
إن النقود سلاح كل مقاتل
ماhow كانwas أصدقmost truthful حكمةthe wisdom of الأسلافthe forebears!
ما كان أصدق حكمة الأسلاف!
Money is the weapon of every fighter.
The Golden Hall, turned great lords from misrule.
How true the forebears' wisdom was!
I shall outrival all those who had gems, lands or gold,
منwho كانwas أوضعlowlier منthan (مثنىMuthanna) فاحتوىthen amassed
من كان أوضع من (مثنى) فاحتوى
مالاًwealth وأصبحand became أشرفnoblest الأشرافthe nobles
مالاً وأصبح أشرف الأشراف
Who was lowlier than Muthanna? Yet he amassed
And astonish my grandam, who'll scarcely be told
wealth and became the noblest of nobles.
That the times, though erst barren, have now a rich yield.
سأفوقI shall surpass منthose who أثرواgrew rich وتخبرand says جدتيmy grandmother
سأفوق من أثروا وتخبر جدتي
أنthat الزمانtime يرقgrows tender بعدafter جفافdrought
أن الزمان يرق بعد جفاف
I shall surpass those who grew rich; my grandmother says
My mother will light up candles and pray I'll rebuild
that time grows tender after drought.
Our name into glory, forgetting the past.
وتقصand recounts أميmy mother كيفhow كانwas دعاؤهاher prayer
وتقص أمي كيف كان دعاؤها
حوليaround me قناديلاًlamps تضيءlight up مطافيmy path
حولي قناديلاً تضيء مطافي
My mother tells how her prayer was
Again the dream led him on, hopes held him fast.
lamps around me, lighting my path.
He promised himself seas of benevolence vast.
وانجرand drifted along يهمسwhispering للطيوفto the phantoms ويجتليand beholds
وانجر يهمس للطيوف ويجتلي
وعداًa promise منof الإغداقprofusion والإسرافand extravagance
وعداً من الإغداق والإسراف
He drifted on, whispering to phantoms, beholding
A wish, and his fancy a music harp cast,
a promise of profusion and extravagance.
That poured out its measures like stars lucent-bright.
ويحولand transforms الدنياthe world بلمعةwith a flash of خاطرthought ٍ
ويحول الدنيا بلمعة خاطر ٍ
قيثارةa lyre موهوبةgifted العزافthe player
قيثارة موهوبة العزاف
With a flash of thought he turns the world into
A project, and lo it was done ere the night!
a lyre whose player is gifted.
To-morrow each maid would tell her mother of him,
فيعدso he prepares مشروعاًa venture وينجزand completes ثانياًa second
فيعد مشروعاً وينجز ثانياً
كالبرقlike lightning يحملهcarries him إلىtoward الأهدافthe goals
كالبرق يحمله إلى الأهداف
He prepares one venture and completes a second,
Hold him a suitor, from sister estranging him.
like lightning bearing him toward his goals.
While damsels would quarrel for admitting his claim,
وغداًand tomorrow ستخبرwill tell كلevery بنتgirl أمهاher mother
وغداً ستخبر كل بنت أمها
عنهabout him وتحسدand envies أختهاher sister وتجافيand grows aloof
عنه وتحسد أختها وتجافي
Tomorrow every girl will tell her mother
And yield, without asking, to his hand of flame.
about him, envy her sister, and grow aloof.
Ambition like love took him up to the skies
وتنافسand vies with الحلواتthe beauties بنتthe girl of مزارهhis shrine
وتنافس الحلوات بنت مزاره
فيهover him وتمنحهand gives him بلاwithout استعطافentreaty
فيه وتمنحه بلا استعطاف
The beauties will vie with the girl of his shrine
On wings of hope, weaving light fantasies.
for him, and give to him without entreaty.
When hark! a footfall stealthy, muffled, nigh.
وإلىand to مدىthe range of التحليقsoaring يرفعهlifts him هوىa passion
وإلى مدى التحليق يرفعه هوى
وهوىand a passion يخوضwades بهwith him مدىthe reaches of الإسعافsuccor
وهوى يخوض به مدى الإسعاف
A passion lifts him to the heights of flight,
A robber? Two cutthroats? His blood ran dry.
and a passion plunges him through the reaches of succor.
The watchman coughed, yawned, stretched himself, like one
ورناand gazed بلاwithout قصدintention فخالso he imagined تحركاًa movement
ورنا بلا قصد فخال تحركاً
يدنوdrawing near كقطاعlike highwaymen منfrom among الأجلافthe brutes
يدنو كقطاع من الأجلاف
He glanced unwittingly and imagined a movement
Deaf, indifferent, incurious, all cares gone.
approaching like brutish highwaymen.
The steps approached him; the gloom took shape
منwho ذاthat هناكthere؟ وكانand was يسعلcoughing حارسُa guard
من ذا هناك؟ وكان يسعل حارسُ
ويقصand recounts ثانa second person ٍ فرقةthe parting of الآلافcompanions
ويقص ثان ٍ فرقة الآلاف
Who is that there? A guard was coughing,
In a tall long form, a black mantle its drape.
and another recounted the parting of companions.
A ghost! It stalked him, huge and portentous,
وأجابand answered هرa tomcat هرةa she-cat فأجالthen cast فيacross
وأجاب هر هرة فأجال في
وجهthe face of السكونstillness توسمthe discerning gaze of العرافthe soothsayer
وجه السكون توسم العراف
A tomcat answered a she-cat, and he cast
Its silence that of a tomb, sepulchral, pesteous.
a soothsayer's searching gaze across the face of stillness.
Past a blind corner ghosts drove him unto
فاعتادهthen haunted him شبحa specter عليهon him عباءةa cloak
فاعتاده شبح عليه عباءة
شعثاًtattered ووجهand a face كالضريحlike a tomb العافيeffaced
شعثاً ووجه كالضريح العافي
A specter haunted him, wearing a cloak,
Where the night lay still, in terror's glue.
in tatters, with a face like an effaced tomb.
What horror lay in ambush? A jungle
واحتجand protested منعطفa bend أطارتscattered صمتهits silence
واحتج منعطف أطارت صمته
ونعاسهand its drowsiness نقالةa stretcher الإسعافemergency aid
ونعاسه نقالة الإسعاف
A bend in the road protested as its silence
Of craggy arms? He walked like one condemned,
and drowsiness were scattered by an emergency stretcher.
On whom fell beasts snarl and glare, self-condemned.
ماذاwhat دناdrew near منهto him؛ توثبthe leaping of غابةa forest
ماذا دنا منه؛ توثب غابة
منof أذرعarms صخريةstony الأخفافthe hooves؟
من أذرع صخرية الأخفاف؟
What approached him—the leaping of a forest
A lamp picked him out; he started anon to see
of arms with stony hooves?
His face, hands and gestures attract calamity.
ومشىand walked كمتهمlike an accused man تكشرbares its teeth حولهaround him
ومشى كمتهم تكشر حوله
وحشيةthe savagery of المنفىexile ووجهand the face of النافيthe banisher
وحشية المنفى ووجه النافي
He walked like an accused man, while around him snarled
And he saw his own visions, spoiled in their graft,
the savagery of exile and the banisher's face.
Like blood on the sword smeared thick after shaft.
وأشارand gestured مصباحa lamp فأنكرthen disowned وجههhis face
وأشار مصباح فأنكر وجهه
ويديهand his hands فيin إيمائهits gesture الخطافsnatching
ويديه في إيمائه الخطاف
A lamp gestured, disowning his face
"He's back, your son," his aunt whispered his mother.
and hands in its snatching signal.
"Pray for him now, wish him well, sister, or smother
ورأىand saw هواجسهhis misgivings علىon ظلthe shadow of الدجىdarkness
ورأى هواجسه على ظل الدجى
كدمlike the blood of الشهيدthe martyr علىon يدthe hand of السيافthe executioner
كدم الشهيد على يد السياف
He saw his misgivings on the shadow of darkness,
Your heart in cold fear for a son full of inner strife."
like a martyr's blood on the executioner's hand.
وأحسand sensed عمتهhis paternal aunt تقولsaying لأمهto his mother:
وأحس عمته تقول لأمه:
رجعreturned ابنthe son of قلبكyour heart: فأمنيso feel safe أوor خافيbe afraid
رجع ابن قلبك: فأمني أو خافي
He sensed his aunt saying to his mother:
"Your heart's son has returned: rest easy, or fear."
وهناكand there أخبرهtold him التعثرstumbling أنهthat he
وهناك أخبره التعثر أنه
يمضيgoes ويرجعand returns وهوwhile he is طاوhungry حافbarefoot
يمضي ويرجع وهو طاو حاف
There, his stumbling told him that
he goes and returns, hungry and barefoot.
Partial English translation: 107 of 112 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1