صَباhe felt love’s longing شَوقاًwith longing فَحَنَّso he yearned إِلىfor الدِيارِthe homelands
صَبا شَوقاً فَحَنَّ إِلى الدِيارِ
وَنازَعَهُand wrestled with him for الهَوىpassion ثَوبَthe robe of الوَقارِdignity
وَنازَعَهُ الهَوى ثَوبَ الوَقارِ
He was stirred by longing and yearned for his homeland,
and passion wrested from him the robe of dignity.
وَهاجَand stirred لَهُin him الغَرامَpassion غِناءُthe song of وُرقٍgray doves
وَهاجَ لَهُ الغَرامَ غِناءُ وُرقٍ
هَواتِفُcalling out فيin غُصونٍbranches مِنof نُضارِpure gold
هَواتِفُ في غُصونٍ مِن نُضارِ
The song of gray doves stirred passion in him—
calling out amid branches of pure gold.
صَدَحنَthey sang out غُدَيَّةًone early morning فَتَرَكنَso they left قَلبيmy heart
صَدَحنَ غُدَيَّةً فَتَرَكنَ قَلبي
وَكانَand it had been الطَودthe mountain كَالشَيءِlike something الضِمارِlost beyond reach
وَكانَ الطَود كَالشَيءِ الضِمارِ
They sang one early morning and left my heart—
once a mountain—like something lost beyond reach.
رُوَيداًgently ياO حمامُdoves بِمُستَهامٍwith a love-bewildered man
رُوَيداً يا حمامُ بِمُستَهامٍ
مَشُوقٍyearning مَنَّهُwore him down طولُthe length of السفارِthe travels
مَشُوقٍ مَنَّهُ طولُ السفارِ
Gently, O doves, with one bewildered by love,
a yearning man worn down by long travels.
بَراهُwhittled him down الشَوقُlonging بَريas in whittling القِدحِthe arrow shaft جِدّاًseverely
بَراهُ الشَوقُ بَري القِدحِ جِدّاً
فَغادَرَهُso it left him بِقَلبٍwith a heart مُستَطارِbeside itself
فَغادَرَهُ بِقَلبٍ مُستَطارِ
Longing has severely whittled him, as an arrow shaft is whittled,
and left him with a heart beside itself.
فَواso, oh عَجَباًhow strange لَكُنَّfor you تَنُحنَyou lament خَوفَfor fear of الthe (continued next line)
فَوا عَجَباً لَكُنَّ تَنُحنَ خَوفَ ال
فراقparting وَماand not بَدَتappeared خَيلُhorses المِعارِthe charge
فراق وَما بَدَت خَيلُ المِعارِ
How strange—you mourn in fear of
parting, though no charging horses have appeared.
وَلَمand not تُصدَعwas broken لَكُنَّfor you عَصاًa staff بِبَينٍby separation
وَلَم تُصدَع لَكُنَّ عَصاً بِبَينٍ
وَلَمand not تَعبَثhas toyed لَكُنَّfor you نَوىًseparation بِعارِwith disgrace
وَلَم تَعبَث لَكُنَّ نَوىً بِعارِ
Separation has not broken your staff of unity,
nor has distance toyed with you to your shame;
وَأَنتُنَّand you النَواعِمُthe pampered ones بَينَamong بانٍban (moringa) trees
وَأَنتُنَّ النَواعِمُ بَينَ بانٍ
وَخَيريٍّand wallflowers يَرِفُّswaying وَجُلَّنارِand pomegranate blossoms
وَخَيريٍّ يَرِفُّ وَجُلَّنارِ
while you are pampered among ban trees,
and swaying wallflowers and pomegranate blossoms,
وَبَينَand among بَنَفسَجٍviolets يَزدادُincreasing حُسناًin beauty
وَبَينَ بَنَفسَجٍ يَزدادُ حُسناً
كَلَونِlike the color of القَرصِa pinch فيon وُجنِthe cheeks of الجَواريthe maidens
كَلَونِ القَرصِ في وُجنِ الجَواري
and among violets growing lovelier,
like the color a pinch leaves on maidens’ cheeks.
تَرِدنَyou come to drink نمِيرَsweet, pure water دِجلَةَthe Tigris لاnot لِغَبٍّat alternate-day intervals
تَرِدنَ نمِيرَ دِجلَةَ لا لِغَبٍّ
بِطاناًfull-bellied مِنfrom بَواكيرِthe earliest الثِمارِfruits
بِطاناً مِن بَواكيرِ الثِمارِ
You drink the Tigris’s sweet water, not merely every other day,
full-bellied from the earliest fruits,
لَدىbeside أَوكارِكُنَّyour nests بِحَيثُwhere تاجُthe crown of الthe (continued next line)
لَدى أَوكارِكُنَّ بِحَيثُ تاجُ ال
خَليفَةِcaliph لاnot بِأَجوازِin the depths of البَراريthe wilderness
خَليفَةِ لا بِأَجوازِ البَراري
beside your nests, where the crown of the
caliph is—not in the depths of the wilderness.
فَكَيفَso how بِكُنَّwith you لَوif نِيطَتwere hung شُجونيmy sorrows
فَكَيفَ بِكُنَّ لَو نِيطَت شُجوني
بِكُنَّupon you وَنارُand the fire of وَجديmy yearning واِدِّكاريand my remembrance
بِكُنَّ وَنارُ وَجدي واِدِّكاري
How would you fare if my sorrows were hung
upon you, and the fire of my yearning and remembrance?
مُنيتُI was afflicted مِنَby الزَمانِtime بِعَنقَفيرٍwith a dire calamity
مُنيتُ مِنَ الزَمانِ بِعَنقَفيرٍ
قَليلٌslight عِندَهاbeside it حَزُّthe slicing of الشِفارِthe blades
قَليلٌ عِندَها حَزُّ الشِفارِ
Time has afflicted me with a dire calamity,
beside which the slicing of blades is slight:
فِرَاقُseparation from أَحِبَّةٍloved ones وَذَهابُand the loss of مالٍwealth
فِرَاقُ أَحِبَّةٍ وَذَهابُ مالٍ
وَضَيمُand oppression by أَقارِبٍrelatives وَأَذاةُand harm from جارِa neighbor
وَضَيمُ أَقارِبٍ وَأَذاةُ جارِ
separation from loved ones and loss of wealth,
oppression by relatives and harm from a neighbor.
فَلاso no وَاللَهِand by God ماno وَجدٌanguish كَوَجديlike my anguish
فَلا وَاللَهِ ما وَجدٌ كَوَجدي
وَلاand no عُرِفَwas known اِصطِبارٌpatient endurance كَاِصطِباريlike my endurance
وَلا عُرِفَ اِصطِبارٌ كَاِصطِباري
No, by God, no anguish equals mine,
nor has endurance like mine been known.
وَلائِمَةٍand a reproaching woman وَأَحزَنَهاand grieved her مَسيريmy departure
وَلائِمَةٍ وَأَحزَنَها مَسيري
وَقَدand already شَرِقَتshe choked بِأَدمُعِهاon her tears الغِزارِthe abundant
وَقَد شَرِقَت بِأَدمُعِها الغِزارِ
And a reproaching woman, grieved by my departure,
choking on her abundant tears,
تَقولُshe says وَقَدand already رَأَتshe saw عِيسيmy pale camels وَرَحليand my saddle
تَقولُ وَقَد رَأَت عِيسي وَرَحلي
وَصَدّيand my turning away عَنfrom هَواهاher love وَاِزوِراريand my aversion
وَصَدّي عَن هَواها وَاِزوِراري
said, when she saw my pale camels and my saddle,
and my turning from her love and drawing away:
عَلىfor مَwhat تَجشَّمُyou brave الأَهوالَthe terrors فَرداًalone
عَلى مَ تَجشَّمُ الأَهوالَ فَرداً
بُغبِرِin the dusty البِيدِdeserts أَوor لُجَجِthe depths of البِحارِthe seas
بُغبِرِ البِيدِ أَو لُجَجِ البِحارِ
Why do you brave terrors alone
in dusty deserts or the seas’ depths?
أَمالاًis it wealth ماthat تُحاوِلُyou seek أَمor عُلُوّاًlofty rank
أَمالاً ما تُحاوِلُ أَم عُلُوّاً
هُديتَmay you be guided أَمِor اِجتِواءًaversion لِلدِيارِto the homelands
هُديتَ أَمِ اِجتِواءً لِلدِيارِ
Is it wealth you seek, or high rank—
may you be guided—or aversion to your homeland?
أَتَقنَعُdo you accept بِالعَلاةِwith a hard rock مِنَinstead of العَلاليthe upper chambers
أَتَقنَعُ بِالعَلاةِ مِنَ العَلالي
بَديلاًas a substitute وَالمُثارِand stirred-up dust مِنinstead of الوِثارِthe soft bedding
بَديلاً وَالمُثارِ مِن الوِثارِ
Will you accept hard rock instead of lofty chambers,
as a substitute, and stirred dust instead of soft bedding?
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her غِشاشاًhurriedly وَالمَطاياand the mounts
فَقُلتُ لَها غِشاشاً وَالمَطايا
إِلىtoward التَجليحِbold onward movement حاضِرَةُready for الحَضارِgalloping
إِلى التَجليحِ حاضِرَةُ الحَضارِ
I answered her hastily, while the mounts
were ready to press boldly onward at a gallop:
ذَرينيleave me لاno أَباfather لَكِfor you كَيفَhow يَرضىcan one accept
ذَريني لا أَبا لَكِ كَيفَ يَرضى
بِدارِwith a dwelling of الهُونِhumiliation ذُوone possessing الحَسَبِnoble lineage النُضارِpure
بِدارِ الهُونِ ذُو الحَسَبِ النُضارِ
Leave me—may you have no father! How can one accept
a home of disgrace when one has pure, noble lineage?
فَظِلُّso the shade of السِدرِthe lote tree عِندَin the face of الذُلِّhumiliation أَولىmore fitting
فَظِلُّ السِدرِ عِندَ الذُلِّ أَولى
بِأَهلِfor the people of المَجدِglory مِنthan ظِلِّthe shade of السِدارِthe curtains
بِأَهلِ المَجدِ مِن ظِلِّ السِدارِ
When faced with abasement, the lote-tree’s shade is fitter
for men of honor than the shade of curtains.
فَكَمso how long أُفنيshall I squander عَلىon التَسويفِprocrastination عُمراًa lifetime
فَكَم أُفني عَلى التَسويفِ عُمراً
أَتىthat came فيin إِثرِthe wake of أَعمارٍlifetimes قِصارِshort
أَتى في إِثرِ أَعمارٍ قِصارِ
How long shall I squander a lifetime in procrastination,
one that came after other fleeting lives?
وَحتّامَand until when الخُلودُremaining إِلىin مَكانٍa place
وَحتّامَ الخُلودُ إِلى مَكانٍ
عَلىwith مَضَضٍbitter pain بِهِin it أَبَداًforever أُداريI placate
عَلى مَضَضٍ بِهِ أَبَداً أُداري
How long shall I remain attached to a place
where, in bitter pain, I am forever placating others?
وَلَوand if أَنّيthat I أُداريwere placating قِرمَa chieftain of قَومٍa people
وَلَو أَنّي أُداري قِرمَ قَومٍ
كَريمَnoble in المُنتَهىancestry حاميguardian of الذِمارِwhat must be defended
كَريمَ المُنتَهى حامي الذِمارِ
If I were placating a people’s chieftain,
noble in ancestry, guardian of all he must defend,
عُذِرتُI would be excused وَقُلتُand would say لِلنَّفسِto my soul اِطمَئِنّيbe at peace
عُذِرتُ وَقُلتُ لِلنَّفسِ اِطمَئِنّي
وَمِلتُand would incline إِلىtoward التَحَلُّمِforbearance وَالوَقارِand dignity
وَمِلتُ إِلى التَحَلُّمِ وَالوَقارِ
I would be excused, and tell my soul: Be at peace,
and incline toward forbearance and dignity.
وَلَكِنّيbut I أُداريplacate كُلَّevery قَرٍّape
وَلَكِنّي أُداري كُلَّ قَرٍّ
يُجَلُّhe is esteemed إِذاwhen يُعَدُّhe is counted مِنَamong القَرارِthe apes
يُجَلُّ إِذا يُعَدُّ مِنَ القَرارِ
But I placate every ape,
esteemed as great when counted among apes,
كَليلِdull of الطَرفِsight عَنtoward سُبُلِthe paths of المَعاليgreatness
كَليلِ الطَرفِ عَن سُبُلِ المَعالي
بَصيرٍkeen-eyed بِالمَآثِرِfor noble deeds وَالإثارِand preferential favors
بَصيرٍ بِالمَآثِرِ وَالإثارِ
whose eyes are dull to the paths of greatness,
yet keen for noble deeds and preferential favors.
تَعَلَّقَhe clung مِنamong عُرىthe bonds of قَوميmy people بِسَبٍّby a cord
تَعَلَّقَ مِن عُرى قَومي بِسَبٍّ
ضَعيفٍweak لَيسَnot بِالسَبَبِthe rope المُغارِfirmly twisted
ضَعيفٍ لَيسَ بِالسَبَبِ المُغارِ
He clung to my people’s bonds by a cord
so weak, not a firmly twisted rope.
فَأَصبَحَso he became كالحُبارىlike a houbara bustard مُقذَحِرّاًpuffed up
فَأَصبَحَ كالحُبارى مُقذَحِرّاً
بِحِذرِيَةٍon a stony mound لَهُof his لاnot كَالحِذارِlike the mounds
بِحِذرِيَةٍ لَهُ لا كَالحِذارِ
Thus he became like a houbara bustard, puffed up
on his own stony mound, unlike other mounds.
فَياso O شَرَّworst of الدُهورِthe ages جُزيتَmay you be repaid شَرَّthe worst الthe (continued next line)
فَيا شَرَّ الدُهورِ جُزيتَ شَرَّ ال
جَزاءِrequital وَذُقتَand may you taste فُقدانَthe loss of الشّرارِthe wicked
جَزاءِ وَذُقتَ فُقدانَ الشّرارِ
O worst of ages, may you receive the worst
requital and taste the loss of the wicked,
لترأَمَso that you cherish كُلَّevery ذيpossessor of شَرَفٍnobility قَديمٍancient
لترأَمَ كُلَّ ذي شَرَفٍ قَديمٍ
وَتَذرُواand scatter ماwhat بِرَأسِكَis on your head مِنof ذِرارِchaff
وَتَذرُوا ما بِرَأسِكَ مِن ذِرارِ
so that you cherish everyone of ancient nobility
and scatter the chaff upon your head.
فَقَدfor indeed كَلَّفتَنيyou burdened me خُطَطاًordeals أَشابَتthat turned gray
فَقَد كَلَّفتَني خُطَطاً أَشابَت
قَذالىthe back of my head قَبلَbefore خَطٍّa line of down فيon عِذاريmy cheek’s beard-line
قَذالى قَبلَ خَطٍّ في عِذاري
You have burdened me with ordeals that turned gray
the back of my head before down traced my cheeks.
وَلَوand if أَجرضتُI had choked مِنكَbecause of you بِغَيرِon something other than ريقيmy saliva
وَلَو أَجرضتُ مِنكَ بِغَيرِ ريقي
لَكانَthen would have been بِأَعذَبِwith the sweetest الماءِwater اِعتِصاريmy relief from choking
لَكانَ بِأَعذَبِ الماءِ اِعتِصاري
Had I choked because of you on anything but my saliva,
the sweetest water would have relieved my choking.
فَقُلso tell لِلشّامِتينَthose who gloat بِناover us عِلاناًopenly
فَقُل لِلشّامِتينَ بِنا عِلاناً
هَنيئاًmay it please you بِالمَهانَةِwith humiliation وَالصَغارِand abasement
هَنيئاً بِالمَهانَةِ وَالصَغارِ
Tell those who gloat over us openly:
May you enjoy humiliation and abasement!
مَكانَكُمُstay where you are فَسِخّواso defecate فَالمَعاليfor the heights of glory
مَكانَكُمُ فَسِخّوا فَالمَعالي
صِعابٌare difficult لَيسَnot تُدرَكُcan be attained بِالسِّرارِby whispering
صِعابٌ لَيسَ تُدرَكُ بِالسِّرارِ
Stay where you are and defecate; the heights of glory
are difficult and cannot be reached by whispering.
فَقَدfor indeed نِلتُI attained المُنىmy desires غَضّاًwhile young بِجِدٍّthrough earnest effort
فَقَد نِلتُ المُنى غَضّاً بِجِدٍّ
وَعَزمٍand determination لاnot يَقِرُّsettles عَلىupon قَرارِa resting place
وَعَزمٍ لا يَقِرُّ عَلى قَرارِ
I attained my desires while still young, through earnest effort
and a resolve that never settles into rest.
Sol 6.1