فيin داعِجاتِthe dark depths of اللَّياليْthe nights اسْتَرْوَحَsought solace العُمُرُlife
في داعِجاتِ اللَّياليْ اسْتَرْوَحَ العُمُرُ
وَجْهَthe face of المَعانيْmeanings فَغَامَso grew dim السَّمْعُhearing والبَصَرُand sight
وَجْهَ المَعانيْ فَغَامَ السَّمْعُ والبَصَرُ
In the deepest-black nights, life sought solace in
the face of meanings; hearing and sight grew dim.
يَرُبُّنِيْnurtures me فيat ابْتِداءاتِthe beginnings of الرُّؤىvisions وَجَلٌtrepidation
يَرُبُّنِيْ في ابْتِداءاتِ الرُّؤى وَجَلٌ
ويَزْدَهِيْنِيَand enthralls me فيin أُمِّthe heart of الدُّجَىdarkness سَمَرُnight talk
ويَزْدَهِيْنِيَ في أُمِّ الدُّجَى سَمَرُ
Trepidation nurtures me at the beginnings of visions,
and night talk enthralls me in the heart of darkness.
يُعِيْدُنِيْreturns me فيto دَمِthe blood of الأَيَّامِthe days آوِنَةًat times
يُعِيْدُنِيْ في دَمِ الأَيَّامِ آوِنَةً
ويَنْتَضِيْنِيْand unsheathes me أَوانًاat times حِيْنَwhen يَنْهَمِرُit pours down
ويَنْتَضِيْنِيْ أَوانًا حِيْنَ يَنْهَمِرُ
At times it returns me to the blood of days,
and at times unsheathes me as it pours down.
يَشُدُّdraws taut فِيَّwithin me جَبِيْنَthe brow of الوقْتِtime ، مِنْfrom يَدِهِits hand
يَشُدُّ فِيَّ جَبِيْنَ الوقْتِ ، مِنْ يَدِهِ
أَعُبُّI drink deeply ماءَthe water of القَوافيrhymes ماno بِهِin it كَدَرُmurk
أَعُبُّ ماءَ القَوافي ما بِهِ كَدَرُ
It draws time's brow taut within me; from its hand
I drink deep the water of rhymes, free of murk.
أَسْرَتْcarried by night خُطَاهُhis footsteps بِطَرْفِيْwith my gaze والدُّنَىand the worlds لُجَجٌocean depths
أَسْرَتْ خُطَاهُ بِطَرْفِيْ والدُّنَى لُجَجٌ
حَتَّىuntil تَبَلَّجَgrew bright دَرْبِيْmy path والخُطَىand the footsteps شَرَرُsparks
حَتَّى تَبَلَّجَ دَرْبِيْ والخُطَى شَرَرُ
His footsteps bore my gaze through night, while worlds were ocean depths,
until my path grew bright, and footsteps were sparks.
ماnot كانَthere was مِنْهُfrom him ومِنِّيand from me غَيْرanything but ُ رَاحِلَةٍa mount
ما كانَ مِنْهُ ومِنِّي غَيْر ُ رَاحِلَةٍ
مِنَof الخَيَالِimagination تخبُّtrotting ثُمَّthen تَنْكَدِرُplunging down
مِنَ الخَيَالِ تخبُّ ثُمَّ تَنْكَدِرُ
Nothing came of him and me but a mount
of imagination, trotting, then plunging down.
مَنْwho أَنْتَare you؟ قُلْتُI said ، وفيand in صوتيmy voice انْحَنَتْbowed شَعَفٌpeaks
مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ قُلْتُ ، وفي صوتي انْحَنَتْ شَعَفٌ
مِنَof الجِبالِthe mountains تَحُثُّspurring الشوْقَlonging : ماwhat الخَبَرُnews؟!
مِنَ الجِبالِ تَحُثُّ الشوْقَ : ما الخَبَرُ؟!
“Who are you?” I said, and in my voice bowed peaks
of mountains, spurring longing: “What news?
ماذاwhat هُنَاكَis there ، لماذاwhy الشَّمْسُthe sun فيin خَفَرٍbashfulness
ماذا هُنَاكَ ، لماذا الشَّمْسُ في خَفَرٍ
تُغَفْغِفُquivers اليومَtoday كالعذراءِlike a maiden تَنْكَسِرُfalters؟
تُغَفْغِفُ اليومَ كالعذراءِ تَنْكَسِرُ؟
What is there? Why is the sun bashful,
quivering today, faltering like a maiden?
وكانتِand it was الأَمْسَyesterday نِيْرانًاfires وغاشِيَةًand an engulfing scourge
وكانتِ الأَمْسَ نِيْرانًا وغاشِيَةً
كمْhow often أَمْطَرَتْكَit rained on you رُعافَthe nosebleed of الجَمْرِembers يَنْثَجِرُgushing forth!
كمْ أَمْطَرَتْكَ رُعافَ الجَمْرِ يَنْثَجِرُ!
Yesterday it was fires and an engulfing scourge—
how often it rained on you the gushing blood of embers!
ولِمْand why أَرَىdo I see، عَجَبًاastonishingly، فيكَin you الضُّحَىmorning brightness ولَهُand it has
ولِمْ أَرَى، عَجَبًا، فيكَ الضُّحَى ولَهُ
مباسمٌsmiling mouths تَهَبُbestowing التُّفَّاحَapples .. تَعْتَصِرُpressing؟
مباسمٌ تَهَبُ التُّفَّاحَ .. تَعْتَصِرُ؟
And why, wonder of wonders, do I see morning in you, with
smiling mouths that bestow apples, pressing them?
إِنِّيindeed I عَرَفْتُكَknew you لاnot تَلْوِيْyou turn علىtoward فَرَحٍjoy
إِنِّي عَرَفْتُكَ لا تَلْوِيْ على فَرَحٍ
إِلاَّexcept يُنَغِّصُهُspoils it فيupon وَجْهِكَyour face الكَدَرُgloom
إِلاَّ يُنَغِّصُهُ في وَجْهِكَ الكَدَرُ
I knew you never turned toward joy
without gloom embittering it upon your face.
إِنِّيindeed I عَرَفْتُكَknew you جَوَّابَa wanderer through الفَضَاءِthe expanse علىon
إِنِّي عَرَفْتُكَ جَوَّابَ الفَضَاءِ على
ساقَيْنِtwo legs مِنْof تَعَبٍweariness أَزْرَىwore down بهاthem السَّفَرُtravel
ساقَيْنِ مِنْ تَعَبٍ أَزْرَى بها السَّفَرُ
I knew you as a wanderer of the expanse, on
two legs of weariness, worn down by travel.
إِنِّيindeed I عَرَفْتُكَknew you قَبْلَbefore اليَوْمِtoday تَعْرِفُنِيyou recognize me
إِنِّي عَرَفْتُكَ قَبْلَ اليَوْمِ تَعْرِفُنِي
فَتَنْثَنِيso you turn away خَجَلاًin shame أَنْbecause مَسَّكَtouched you الضَّرَرُhardship
فَتَنْثَنِي خَجَلاً أَنْ مَسَّكَ الضَّرَرُ
I knew you before today: you would recognize me
and turn away, ashamed that hardship had touched you,
وتَبْتَغِيْand you seek جَاهِدًاstrenuously فيin السُّوْقِthe market مُدَّخَلاًa hiding place
وتَبْتَغِيْ جَاهِدًا في السُّوْقِ مُدَّخَلاً
أَنْso that لاnot تراكَsee you عُيُونُthe eyes of السُّوقِthe market ياO جُبَرُJubar
أَنْ لا تراكَ عُيُونُ السُّوقِ يا جُبَرُ
striving to find a hiding place in the market
so the market's eyes would not see you, Jubar.
ماwhat هذهis this النِّقْلَةُtransformation النَّوْعِيَّةُqualitative التَحَفَتْwrapped itself
ما هذه النِّقْلَةُ النَّوْعِيَّةُ التَحَفَتْ
فيin شَمْلتَيْكَyour two cloaks ففيكَfor in you البَدْوُnomads والحَضَرُand townspeople؟
في شَمْلتَيْكَ ففيكَ البَدْوُ والحَضَرُ؟
What is this sea change that has wrapped itself
in your two cloaks? In you are nomad and townsman.
ياO أيُّهاyou الشَّبَحُphantom الذِّكْرَىmemory أَمَاis there no خَبَرُnews
يا أيُّها الشَّبَحُ الذِّكْرَى أَمَا خَبَرُ
عمّاabout what بَراكَfashioned you جديداًanew حينَwhen تُدَّكَرُyou are recalled؟
عمّا بَراكَ جديداً حينَ تُدَّكَرُ؟
O phantom, O memory, is there no news
of what fashioned you anew, when you are recalled?
قُلْspeak غَنِّsing إِنِّيindeed I وَهَبْتُhave given السَّمْعَhearing ضَوْءَthe light of دَمِيْmy blood ،
قُلْ غَنِّ إِنِّي وَهَبْتُ السَّمْعَ ضَوْءَ دَمِيْ ،
مَنْwho ذاis it that يَلُمُّgathers سرابَthe mirage of القَفْرِthe desert أَوْor يَذَرُleaves!
مَنْ ذا يَلُمُّ سرابَ القَفْرِ أَوْ يَذَرُ!
Speak, sing! I have given hearing the light of my blood.
Who can gather the desert's mirage, or leave it?
قُلْtell: أينwhere ثَوْبٌa garment علىon المَتْنَيْنِboth shoulders مُهْتَرِئٌthreadbare
قُلْ: أين ثَوْبٌ على المَتْنَيْنِ مُهْتَرِئٌ
تَخِيْطُهُstitch it مِنْfrom لَيَالِيْthe nights of قَهْرِكَyour anguish الإِبَرُthe needles؟
تَخِيْطُهُ مِنْ لَيَالِيْ قَهْرِكَ الإِبَرُ؟
Tell me: where is that threadbare garment on your shoulders,
stitched by needles from the nights of your anguish?
قُلْtell: أينwhere ظِلْعَانِtwo ribs، كاناwere شُهْرَتَيْكَyour two hallmarks،وماand what
قُلْ: أين ظِلْعَانِ، كانا شُهْرَتَيْكَ،وما
بَيْنَهُمَاbetween them جُرُفٌa ravine ، إِنْif تُبْتَغَىare sought الشُّهَرُhallmarks؟
بَيْنَهُمَا جُرُفٌ ، إِنْ تُبْتَغَى الشُّهَرُ؟
Tell me: where are those two ribs, your two hallmarks, and what
lay between them—a ravine, if hallmarks are sought?
ماذاwhat فَعَلْتَdid you do بِباقِيْwith the remainder of الحَبِّthe grain يَوْمَthe day غَزَاinvaded
ماذا فَعَلْتَ بِباقِيْ الحَبِّ يَوْمَ غَزَا
دَبَاthe hatchlings of الجَرَادِthe locusts وماand nothing فيin الجُرْنِthe threshing floor مُدَّخَرُstored؟
دَبَا الجَرَادِ وما في الجُرْنِ مُدَّخَرُ؟
What did you do with the remaining grain the day
locust hatchlings invaded, with nothing stored on the threshing floor?
كيفhow اسْتَطَعْتَdid you manage حياةًa life والمَدَىand the expanse كَفَنٌa shroud
كيف اسْتَطَعْتَ حياةً والمَدَى كَفَنٌ
كيفhow اسْتَعَادَتْregained بَيَاضَthe whiteness of الدِّرَّةِthe pearl الدِّرَرُthe pearls؟
كيف اسْتَعَادَتْ بَيَاضَ الدِّرَّةِ الدِّرَرُ؟
How did you manage a life when the expanse was a shroud?
How did the pearls regain the whiteness of a pearl?
هلdo ماnot تَزَالُcease بِحَبَّاتِon berries of الفَنَاnightshade أُمَمٌpeoples
هل ما تَزَالُ بِحَبَّاتِ الفَنَا أُمَمٌ
هناhere تَمُوتُdie لِتَشْقَىso that they suffer بَعْدَهاafter them أُخَرُothers؟
هنا تَمُوتُ لِتَشْقَى بَعْدَها أُخَرُ؟
Do peoples still, on nightshade berries,
die here, for others to suffer after them?
مَنْwho غَيَّرَchanged الحَالَthe state حَالاًinto a state طَلْعُهاwhose dawning أَلَقٌis radiance
مَنْ غَيَّرَ الحَالَ حَالاً طَلْعُها أَلَقٌ
عِنْدَat اللِّقَاءِthe meeting فَتُطْرَىso is praised الحَالُthe state والغِيَرُand the changes؟
عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ فَتُطْرَى الحَالُ والغِيَرُ؟
Who changed your state to one whose dawning is radiance
at our meeting, so both state and changes win praise?”
قالhe said: اتَّئِدْbe patient!، فَلِسَانِيْfor my tongue طائِرٌis a bird حَصِرَتْwere confined
قال: اتَّئِدْ!، فَلِسَانِيْ طائِرٌ حَصِرَتْ
دُوْنَbelow الذُّرَىthe summits جَانِحَاهُits two wings والذُّرَىand the summits سِيَرُlife-stories
دُوْنَ الذُّرَى جَانِحَاهُ والذُّرَى سِيَرُ
He said: “Be patient! My tongue is a bird whose wings are confined
below the summits, and the summits are life-stories.
ماذاwhat أَقُولُcan I say، وإِذْand when مِثْلُlike اسْمِهِits name جَبَلِيْmy mountain
ماذا أَقُولُ، وإِذْ مِثْلُ اسْمِهِ جَبَلِيْ
فَيْفَاءَFayfa (wilderness) لاno مَطَرٌrain تُرْجَىto be hoped for ولاnor ثَمَرُfruit
فَيْفَاءَ لا مَطَرٌ تُرْجَى ولا ثَمَرُ
What can I say, when my mountain lived up to its name,
Fayfa—a barren waste, with no rain to hope for, no fruit?
وإِذْand when أَفاوِيْقُscant yields ماwhat يَجْنِيْهِhe reaps it قاطِنُهُits inhabitant
وإِذْ أَفاوِيْقُ ما يَجْنِيْهِ قاطِنُهُ
فِيْهِwithin it المَجَاعَاتُfamines والأَمْراضُand diseases والخَطَرُand danger
فِيْهِ المَجَاعَاتُ والأَمْراضُ والخَطَرُ
And when the scant harvest its dweller reaped
within it was famine, disease, and danger;
والمَوْتُand Death يَمْلأُfills شِدْقَيْهِhis mouth's corners وقَبْضَتَهُand his fist
والمَوْتُ يَمْلأُ شِدْقَيْهِ وقَبْضَتَهُ
يَمْشِيْhe walks الهُوَيْنَىleisurely وبالأشْلاءِand with severed limbs يَأْتَزِرُhe girds himself!
يَمْشِيْ الهُوَيْنَى وبالأشْلاءِ يَأْتَزِرُ!
and Death filled his jaws and his fist,
walking leisurely, girded with severed limbs!
يُعَابِثُhe toys with المَرْأَةَthe woman الحُبْلَىpregnant يَقُوْلُsaying لَهَاto her:
يُعَابِثُ المَرْأَةَ الحُبْلَى يَقُوْلُ لَهَا:
المَوْتُDeath طِفْلِيْmy child ومَهْدُand the cradle of الطِّفْلِthe child مُحْتَفَرُa dug-out pit!
المَوْتُ طِفْلِيْ ومَهْدُ الطِّفْلِ مُحْتَفَرُ!
He toys with the pregnant woman, saying to her:
‘Death is my child, and the child's cradle a dug-out grave!’
ويَلْكُزُand he jabs الكَهْلَthe middle-aged man فيin أَوْدَاجِهِhis jugular veins جَنَفًاcruelly:
ويَلْكُزُ الكَهْلَ في أَوْدَاجِهِ جَنَفًا:
كَمْhow long ذاthus يُعَاشُdoes one live! وكَمْand how long ذاthus يُشْتَكَىis lamented الكِبَرُold age!
كَمْ ذا يُعَاشُ! وكَمْ ذا يُشْتَكَى الكِبَرُ!
And cruelly jabs the middle-aged man in his jugular veins:
‘How long is one to live! How long complain of old age!’
لَيْتَif only الأُلَىthose whom أَكَلَdevoured المَوْتُDeath الزُّؤَامُsudden and deadly قَضَواhad spent
لَيْتَ الأُلَى أَكَلَ المَوْتُ الزُّؤَامُ قَضَوا
يَوْمَيْtwo days of حَيَاةٍlife ، تُرَوَّىare watered الأَعْظُمُthe bones النُّخُرُcrumbling!
يَوْمَيْ حَيَاةٍ ، تُرَوَّى الأَعْظُمُ النُّخُرُ!
If only those whom sudden Death devoured had spent
two days of life, their crumbling bones watered anew,
كَيْمَاso that يَرَواthey might see غَرْسَهُمْtheir planting، أَحْفَادَgrandchildren ماnot سَغِبُواhave hungered،
كَيْمَا يَرَوا غَرْسَهُمْ، أَحْفَادَ ما سَغِبُوا،
ماتُواthey died انْتِظَارًاwaiting عسىin hope أنْthat يُوْرِقَwould put forth leaves الشَّجَرُthe trees
ماتُوا انْتِظَارًا عسى أنْ يُوْرِقَ الشَّجَرُ
to see their planting—grandchildren who have never hungered;
they died waiting, hoping the trees would put forth leaves.
ياO قَوْمmy people، ماnot جِئْتُI came مَدَّاحًاas a panegyrist، ولستُand I am not أَناI
يا قَوْم، ما جِئْتُ مَدَّاحًا، ولستُ أَنا
مَنْone who يُحْسِنُis skilled in المَدْحَpraise إِمَّاwhen المَدْحُpraise يُنْتَقَرُis carefully selected
مَنْ يُحْسِنُ المَدْحَ إِمَّا المَدْحُ يُنْتَقَرُ
My people, I have not come as a panegyrist; I am not
one skilled in praise when praise is chosen with care.
ياO صاحِmy friend، إنَّindeed اللَّياليthe nights أَعْقَبَتْhave brought forth قَمَراًa moon
يا صاحِ، إنَّ اللَّيالي أَعْقَبَتْ قَمَراً
يَضُمُّembraces كُلَّall جِبَالِيْmy mountains ذلكَthat القَمَرُmoon
يَضُمُّ كُلَّ جِبَالِيْ ذلكَ القَمَرُ
My friend, the nights have brought forth a moon;
that moon embraces all my mountains.
يَلُمُّgathers فيهاwithin them شَتِيْتَthe scattered ones of المَهْدِthe cradle يُرْضِعُهاsuckles them
يَلُمُّ فيها شَتِيْتَ المَهْدِ يُرْضِعُها
حَلِيْبَهُits milk فَيَرِفُّso flutters الغُصْنُthe branch والحَجَرُand the stone!
حَلِيْبَهُ فَيَرِفُّ الغُصْنُ والحَجَرُ!
It gathers in them the cradle's scattered ones, suckling them
with its milk, till branch and stone flutter!
إِنْif جِئْتَyou have come تَسْأَلُasking عَنْabout حَالِيْmy state وكَيْفَand how غَدَاit has become
إِنْ جِئْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ حَالِيْ وكَيْفَ غَدَا
فَلْتُسْأَلِthen let be asked الأرضُthe earth والأنسامُand the breezes والزَّهَرُand the flowers
فَلْتُسْأَلِ الأرضُ والأنسامُ والزَّهَرُ
If you have come to ask about my state and what it has become,
then let the earth, the breezes, and the flowers be asked.
يَوْمَthe day الْتَقَىmet سَحَرُthe dawn of التَّارِيْخِhistory مِلْءَfilling يَدِيْmy hand
يَوْمَ الْتَقَى سَحَرُ التَّارِيْخِ مِلْءَ يَدِيْ
صَفْوَthe purity of السُّيُوفِswords، ألاah ياO نِعْمَhow splendid ذاthis السَّحَرُdawn!
صَفْوَ السُّيُوفِ، ألا يا نِعْمَ ذا السَّحَرُ!
The day history's dawn met, filling my hand,
the purity of swords—ah, how splendid that dawn!
يَوْمَthe day اسْتَفَاقَawoke بِأَعْرافِamid the manes of الخُيُولِthe horses ضُحًىin the morning
يَوْمَ اسْتَفَاقَ بِأَعْرافِ الخُيُولِ ضُحًى
نَخْلُthe date palms of السِّنِيْنِthe years الذيwhich قدindeed كادَalmost يَنْدَثِرُvanished
نَخْلُ السِّنِيْنِ الذي قد كادَ يَنْدَثِرُ
The day, amid horses' manes, in the morning awoke
the date palms of years, which had almost vanished,
حَتَّىuntil تَبَجَّسَgushed forth قَلْبُthe heart of الصَّخْرِthe rock مُنْتَفِضًاshaking
حَتَّى تَبَجَّسَ قَلْبُ الصَّخْرِ مُنْتَفِضًا
طَيْراًbirds مِنَof الماءِwater يُرْوِيْنَاquenching our thirst ويَعْتَذِرُand offering apology
طَيْراً مِنَ الماءِ يُرْوِيْنَا ويَعْتَذِرُ
until the rock's heart gushed forth, shaking off
birds of water, quenching our thirst and offering apology.
وسابقتْand raced مَوْجَةٌa wave تَحْتَثُّurging on جارتَهاits neighbor
وسابقتْ مَوْجَةٌ تَحْتَثُّ جارتَها
تَسَامَقَتْtowered صُوُراًas images تَشْتَقُّهاfashion them صُوَرُimages
تَسَامَقَتْ صُوُراً تَشْتَقُّها صُوَرُ
And one wave raced, urging its neighbor on,
towering as images fashioned by other images.
ذُؤَابَةُthe crest of المَجْدِglory واختالَand swayed proudly النُّواسُthe dangling lock بِهاwith it
ذُؤَابَةُ المَجْدِ واختالَ النُّواسُ بِها
نَشْوَىintoxicated with الفَخَارِpride وأَنْفُand the nose of الذُّلِّabasement مُنْعَفِرُdust-smeared!
نَشْوَى الفَخَارِ وأَنْفُ الذُّلِّ مُنْعَفِرُ!
Glory's crest, with its dangling lock swaying proudly,
drunk with pride, while abasement's nose lay in the dust!
تَهُزُّshakes فيin مُهْجَةِthe heart of الصَّحْراءِthe desert عَوْسَجَةَthe boxthorn of (مenjambment marker)
تَهُزُّ في مُهْجَةِ الصَّحْراءِ عَوْسَجَةَ (م)
الزَّمَانِtime، ماwhat غُرَرٌsplendors جاشَتْsurged بهاwith them غُرَرُsplendors!
الزَّمَانِ، ما غُرَرٌ جاشَتْ بها غُرَرُ!
It shakes, in the desert's heart, the boxthorn of
time—what splendors, surging with splendors!
وَتَفْغَمُand fills الجَوَّthe air فيin كُلِّevery القُرَىvillage عَبَقًاwith fragrance
وَتَفْغَمُ الجَوَّ في كُلِّ القُرَى عَبَقًا
أَرْدَانُهُits sleeves العِزُّmight والتَّمْكِيْنُand ascendancy والظَّفَرُand victory
أَرْدَانُهُ العِزُّ والتَّمْكِيْنُ والظَّفَرُ
And the air in every village is drenched in fragrance
by its sleeves—might, ascendancy, and victory.
كَأَنَّماas though قدalready وَعَتْhad realized كُلُّall الجَزِيْرَةِthe Peninsula أَنْthat
كَأَنَّما قد وَعَتْ كُلُّ الجَزِيْرَةِ أَنْ
قَدْhad احْتَوَتْembraced قَدَرًاa destiny أَحْشَاؤُهاits depths الصُّبُرُsteadfast
قَدْ احْتَوَتْ قَدَرًا أَحْشَاؤُها الصُّبُرُ
As though all the Peninsula had realized that
its steadfast womb had embraced a destiny;
كَأَنَّماas though هِيَshe زَرْقَاءُZarqa اجْتَلَتْbeheld clearly غَدَهَاher tomorrow ،
كَأَنَّما هِيَ زَرْقَاءُ اجْتَلَتْ غَدَهَا ،
وذِمَّةُand the guarantee of المُسْتَحِيْلِthe impossible البَيْرَقُthe banner الخَضِرُgreen!
وذِمَّةُ المُسْتَحِيْلِ البَيْرَقُ الخَضِرُ!
as though she were Zarqa, beholding her tomorrow,
and the green banner were the impossible's guarantee!
عبدُAbd (servant of) العَزِيْزِal-Aziz (the Mighty) لَهُto him فيin دِيْنِthe faith of كُلِّevery فَتًىyoung man
عبدُ العَزِيْزِ لَهُ في دِيْنِ كُلِّ فَتًى
دَيْنٌa debt فَتًىyoung أَبَدًاforever ماnot إِنْat all لَهُfor it عُمُرُan age
دَيْنٌ فَتًى أَبَدًا ما إِنْ لَهُ عُمُرُ
Abd al-Aziz—to him, in every youth's faith,
a debt is owed, forever young and ageless.
مَنْwho وَحَّدَunited الأَرْضَthe land أَرْضَthe land of اللهِGod فيin جَسَدٍa body
مَنْ وَحَّدَ الأَرْضَ أَرْضَ اللهِ في جَسَدٍ
المَسْجِدانِthe two Mosques بِهِin it العَيْنَانِthe two eyes والحَوَرُand dark-white eye beauty
المَسْجِدانِ بِهِ العَيْنَانِ والحَوَرُ
Who united the land—God's land—in one body,
the two Mosques its eyes, with their dark-and-white beauty?
ومَنْand who أَحاطَencircled رِقَابَthe necks of الجِيْلِthe generation مَأْثُرَةًwith a noble deed
ومَنْ أَحاطَ رِقَابَ الجِيْلِ مَأْثُرَةً
مِنْfrom بَعْدِهِafter him الجِيْلُthe generation يَتْلُوْهاrecites it ويَأْتَثِرُand follows its example
مِنْ بَعْدِهِ الجِيْلُ يَتْلُوْها ويَأْتَثِرُ
And who hung about a generation's necks a noble deed,
which the generation after him recites and follows as its example?
مَنْwho قَبْلَهُbefore him لَمَّgathered هذاthis الشَّعْثَdisarray فيinto رِئَةٍa lung
مَنْ قَبْلَهُ لَمَّ هذا الشَّعْثَ في رِئَةٍ
أَنْفاسُهاits breaths الشِّيْحُwormwood والكَاذِيُّand pandanus والمَطَرُand rain!
أَنْفاسُها الشِّيْحُ والكَاذِيُّ والمَطَرُ!
Who before him gathered this disarray into one lung,
whose breaths are wormwood, pandanus, and rain?
ومَنْand who تُرَاهُdo you think ابْتَنَىbuilt للعُرْبِfor the Arabs مَمْلَكَةًa kingdom
ومَنْ تُرَاهُ ابْتَنَى للعُرْبِ مَمْلَكَةً
فيin شَكْلِthe shape of قَلْبٍa heart بِنَبْضِwith the pulse of القَلْبِthe heart يَعْتَمِرُis alive!
في شَكْلِ قَلْبٍ بِنَبْضِ القَلْبِ يَعْتَمِرُ!
And who, do you think, built the Arabs a kingdom
in the shape of a heart, alive with the heart's own pulse?
هَبَّتْblew صَبًاan east wind حَمَلَتْcarried وَطْفَاءَa thick raincloud ماnot هَدَأَتْrested
هَبَّتْ صَبًا حَمَلَتْ وَطْفَاءَ ما هَدَأَتْ
حَتَّىuntil تَغَشَّتْoverspread بِلاديmy land وَهْيَwhile it تَنْهَمِرُpours down
حَتَّى تَغَشَّتْ بِلادي وَهْيَ تَنْهَمِرُ
An east wind rose, bearing a thick cloud that did not rest
until it overspread my land, pouring down.
فَغَيَّرَso changed اللهُGod حَالِيْmy state نَضْرَةًinto freshness ورِضًىand contentment
فَغَيَّرَ اللهُ حَالِيْ نَضْرَةً ورِضًى
وسَنْبَلَand made bear ears الحَقْلَthe field صَخْرٌrock يانِعٌripe نَضِرُverdant
وسَنْبَلَ الحَقْلَ صَخْرٌ يانِعٌ نَضِرُ
So God changed my state to freshness and contentment,
and ripe, verdant rock made the field bear ears of grain.
إِنِّيindeed I اسْتَفَقْتُawoke وفيand in كَفَّيَّmy two palms مَدْرَسَةٌa school
إِنِّي اسْتَفَقْتُ وفي كَفَّيَّ مَدْرَسَةٌ
مَبْنِيَّةٌbuilt بِعُيُونِwith eyes of النُّوْرِlight تَنْتَظِرُwaiting
مَبْنِيَّةٌ بِعُيُونِ النُّوْرِ تَنْتَظِرُ
I awoke with a school in my two palms,
built of eyes of light, waiting.
إِنِّيindeed I اسْتَفَقْتُawoke وماand not أَلْقَىI find أَخِيْmy brother وأَخِيْand my brother
إِنِّي اسْتَفَقْتُ وما أَلْقَى أَخِيْ وأَخِيْ
خَصْمَيْنِtwo foes فيin رَحِمٍa womb .. واللَّيْلُand the night مُعْتَكِرُmurky
خَصْمَيْنِ في رَحِمٍ .. واللَّيْلُ مُعْتَكِرُ
I awoke, no longer finding my brother and my brother
two foes within one womb, while night lay murky.
إِنِّيindeed I رَأَيْتُsaw سَبِيْلِيْmy way لاحِبًاbroad أَمَمًاstraight ahead
إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ سَبِيْلِيْ لاحِبًا أَمَمًا
مُعَبَّدَpaved الخَطْوِfor footsteps لاnot تَنْبُوْjolt بِهِon it العثَرُstumbles
مُعَبَّدَ الخَطْوِ لا تَنْبُوْ بِهِ العثَرُ
I saw my way broad and straight ahead,
paved for footsteps, with no stumbling to throw one off.
وقَدْand already تَسَدَّتْhad ascended جِبالِيْmy mountains الشُّمَّlofty فارِعَةٌa towering bough
وقَدْ تَسَدَّتْ جِبالِيْ الشُّمَّ فارِعَةٌ
مِنْfrom دَوْحَةِthe spreading tree of النُّوْرِlight أَفْنَانِيْmy branches بهَاupon it زُهُرُradiant
مِنْ دَوْحَةِ النُّوْرِ أَفْنَانِيْ بهَا زُهُرُ
And a towering bough had ascended my lofty mountains,
from the spreading tree of light; upon it my branches shine.
والدَّرْبُand the path أَعْمَىblind تَجَلَّىshone clear ناظِراهُits two eyes كماjust as
والدَّرْبُ أَعْمَى تَجَلَّى ناظِراهُ كما
جَلَّتْpolished مَحَاجِرَهاtheir eye-sockets بالأَنْجُمِwith stars الدُّجُرُdark nights
جَلَّتْ مَحَاجِرَها بالأَنْجُمِ الدُّجُرُ
The blind path's two eyes shone clear, just as
dark nights polished their eye-sockets with stars.
عَهْدٌan age جَدِيْدٌnew مُرِبٌّsteadily rain-giving كُلُّهُall of it لُغَةٌa language
عَهْدٌ جَدِيْدٌ مُرِبٌّ كُلُّهُ لُغَةٌ
مِنَof التَّفَوُّقِexcellence والإِقْدَامِand bold advance تَنْصَهِرُfusing together
مِنَ التَّفَوُّقِ والإِقْدَامِ تَنْصَهِرُ
A new age, steadily raining, all of it a language
of excellence and bold advance, fusing into one.
يَرْنُوْgazes إِلىtoward أَسْطُرٍlines أُخْرَىother تُزَوْبِعُهاwhirls them
يَرْنُوْ إِلى أَسْطُرٍ أُخْرَى تُزَوْبِعُها
حُرِّيَّةٌfreedom سَنَّهاordained it الإِسلامُIslam والنَّظَرُand reflection
حُرِّيَّةٌ سَنَّها الإِسلامُ والنَّظَرُ
It gazes toward other lines, whirled into storms
by freedom ordained by Islam and reflection.
يَرْمِيْaims for فِجَاجَthe broad passes of الرُّؤَىعَنْvisions, from كُلِّevery قافِيَةٍrhyme
يَرْمِيْ فِجَاجَ الرُّؤَىعَنْ كُلِّ قافِيَةٍ
فَيَسْتَهِلُّand so begins قَصِيْدٌa poem ثائِرٌrebellious خَطِرُdaring!
فَيَسْتَهِلُّ قَصِيْدٌ ثائِرٌ خَطِرُ!
It aims for the broad passes of vision from every rhyme,
and a rebellious, daring poem begins!”
فَقُلْتُso I said، إِذْwhen قَالَhe spoke، وارْتَفَّتْand fluttered علىupon شَفَتِيْmy lip
فَقُلْتُ، إِذْ قَالَ، وارْتَفَّتْ على شَفَتِيْ
فَراشَةُthe butterfly of الشِّعْرِpoetry، واسْتَشْرىand ran wild بِهاwith it الوَتَرُthe string:
فَراشَةُ الشِّعْرِ، واسْتَشْرى بِها الوَتَرُ:
So I said, when he had spoken, as upon my lip fluttered
the butterfly of poetry, and the string ran wild with it:
إِنَّindeed المَسَافَةَdistance عَجْزٌhelplessness حِيْنَwhen تَذْرَعُهاyou pace it out
إِنَّ المَسَافَةَ عَجْزٌ حِيْنَ تَذْرَعُها
وهِمَّةُand the resolve of الحُلْمِthe dream تُدْنِيْهَاdraws it near وتَخْتَصِرُand shortens it !
وهِمَّةُ الحُلْمِ تُدْنِيْهَا وتَخْتَصِرُ !
“Distance is helplessness when you pace it out,
but the dream's resolve draws it near and shortens it!”
Sol 6.1