تَنبهتْawoke فيupon الروابيthe hills نَسْمةُthe breeze الفَلَقِof dawn
تَنبهتْ في الروابي نَسْمةُ الفَلَقِ
تزجيwafts تباشيرهits glad tidings منfrom جانبthe edge الأفقِof the horizon
تزجي تباشيره من جانب الأفقِ
The breeze of dawn awoke upon the hills,
The breeze of dawn stirred in the meadows,
wafting its glad tidings from the horizon's edge.
Bringing tidings from the edge of the horizon,
وهينمتand it murmured فيin ميادينِthe open grounds الرياضof the gardens علىover
وهينمت في ميادينِ الرياض على
رقراقِshimmering طلِّdew بجيدِon the neck الغصنof the branch متسقِstrung in order
رقراقِ طلِّ بجيدِ الغصن متسقِ
It murmured across the gardens' open grounds, over
And it fluttered about the gardens' fields upon
shimmering dew strung along the branch's neck.
The soft twittering of the branch's bending twig.
فاعمدso seek إلىtoward خِلَسِstolen moments اللذاتِof pleasures مبتكراًsetting out early
فاعمد إلى خِلَسِ اللذاتِ مبتكراً
واغنمand seize غضارةthe lushness عيشof life بالمنىwith hopes شرِقbrimming
واغنم غضارة عيش بالمنى شرِق
So seek stolen moments of pleasure early,
So I set about seeking secluded pleasures,
and seize the lushness of a life brimming with hopes,
And I sought the prime of life with fulfilled wishes,
بمخطفwith one slender الكشحِin the waist مجدولfirmly formed الشوىin the limbs غَنِجcoquettish
بمخطف الكشحِ مجدول الشوى غَنِج
مُنَعْسdrowsy الطَّرفِin the gaze معسولhoney-sweet اللَّمىin the lips' dark tint عَبقfragrant
مُنَعْس الطَّرفِ معسول اللَّمى عَبق
with a slender-waisted, firm-limbed, coquettish beloved,
With the wine-skin of addiction bending low, drunk
drowsy-eyed, honey-sweet in his dusky lips, fragrant.
Languid of glance, sweet of saliva, fragrant.
ورفِّهِand refresh السمعَthe hearing مُرْتاحاًdelighted بمغتردٍwith a songster
ورفِّهِ السمعَ مُرْتاحاً بمغتردٍ
منamong البلابلِthe nightingales للألبابِof minds مسترقِa thief
من البلابلِ للألبابِ مسترقِ
And refresh your hearing, delighted by a songster
And I lent my ear to one singing alone,
among the nightingales, a thief of minds,
Of nightingales, their songs to hearts softly stealing,
يحكيechoes أهازيجَsongs ماwhat أبقىleft behind الغريضal-Gharid وماand what
يحكي أهازيجَ ما أبقى الغريض وما
صاغfashioned ابنIbn; son of جامعJami فيin الألحانthe melodies منof طُرقِmodes
صاغ ابن جامع في الألحان من طُرقِ
echoing songs al-Gharid left behind, and what
Reciting melodies of enduring passion, and what
Ibn Jami fashioned of melodic modes.
Ibn Jami has composed in song and meter.
فطالfor long ماemphatic particle نَبَّهَawakened الروضُthe garden الأريضُluxuriant لناfor us
فطال ما نَبَّهَ الروضُ الأريضُ لنا
جَفناًan eyelid بهينمةwith the murmuring الأنفاسِof breaths فيat الغَسَقِdusk
جَفناً بهينمة الأنفاسِ في الغَسَقِ
For often the luxuriant garden has awakened for us
Long did the dewy garden awaken for us
an eyelid with the murmur of its breaths at dusk.
A sleeping eyelid, as the breaths flow in dusk,
وفَتَّحَand opened النُّورُthe blossoms أحداقاًeyes بلاwithout هُدُبٍeyelashes
وفَتَّحَ النُّورُ أحداقاً بلا هُدُبٍ
صيْبٍa downpour بمنهلّwith streaming أجفانeyelids بلاwithout حدقpupils
صيْبٍ بمنهلّ أجفان بلا حدق
And the blossoms were opened into eyes without lashes
And light opened eyes without kohl,
by a downpour from streaming, pupil-less eyelids.
A look without restraint, with eyelids without coyness,
كأنّهنَas though they were يعاليلٌbubbles منكّسةٌoverturned
كأنّهنَ يعاليلٌ منكّسةٌ
تمزقتwere torn apart بارتجاسِby the trembling الريحof the wind فيamong الورقthe leaves
تمزقت بارتجاسِ الريح في الورق
As though they were overturned bubbles,
As if they were disheveled orphans
torn by the wind's trembling among the leaves.
Torn by the wind blowing through leaves,
سرىpassed by night يجمِّشُcaressing منfrom شَجَرائِهاits thickets قُضُباًbranches
سرى يجمِّشُ من شَجَرائِها قُضُباً
حتىuntil وهيloosened حَليهاits jewelry المنسوقstrung in order فيon العُنُقِthe neck
حتى وهي حَليها المنسوق في العُنُقِ
It passed by night, caressing branches from its thickets,
Myrtle whose branches it violently shakes
until its jewels, strung about the neck, came loose.
Even their adornments hang from their necks.
ينسابglides تحتbeneath بصونin safekeeping (unclear here) اطبقتclosed over حبلاًa cord
ينساب تحت بصون اطبقت حبلاً
منof الجيَابgarment openings علىover رضراضهits small pebbles القَلِقِrestless
من الجيَاب على رضراضه القَلِقِ
It glides beneath [unclear reading], where a cord is fastened
Beneath transparent robes it flows
of collars over its restless pebbles.
From their dresses onto their shaking, restless legs,
تحكيresembles نصاعةthe brightness خديهof his two cheeks إذاwhen التهباthey flared
تحكي نصاعة خديه إذا التهبا
منfrom الخفارةmodesty بدراًa full moon لاحappeared فيin شَفَقِtwilight
من الخفارة بدراً لاح في شَفَقِ
The brightness of his cheeks, when they flare
Their glowing cheeks tell of ardency when
from modesty, resembles a full moon appearing in twilight.
Kindled by the bashfulness of a rising moon.
واقبلand came forth الوردُthe rose منfrom برْعُومهِits bud عجلاًhurriedly
واقبل الوردُ من برْعُومهِ عجلاً
يبديreveals لناto us فوقَabove ريّاthe rich scent نشرهِof its diffusing perfume العَبِقِfragrant
يبدي لنا فوقَ ريّا نشرهِ العَبِقِ
The rose hurried forth from its bud,
The roses hastened from their buds
showing us, above its rich, fragrant perfume,
To show for us their fragrant spreading above the meadow,
دراهماdirhams منof يواقيتٍrubies علىupon قُضُبٍstems
دراهما من يواقيتٍ على قُضُبٍ
تراكمتpiled up تحتَbeneath دينارٍa dinar علىon طَبَقِa platter
تراكمت تحتَ دينارٍ على طَبَقِ
dirhams of ruby upon stems,
Silver coins from rubies on twigs
heaped beneath a dinar on a platter.
Piled under a golden dinar on a plate.
وقدand already أحاطتْencircled لرقصِfor the dance الدَسْتَبَندِthe dastaband (hand-linked dance) بهاaround them
وقد أحاطتْ لرقصِ الدَسْتَبَندِ بها
منof الزبرجدchrysolite حيتانfish منof الورقِleaves
من الزبرجد حيتان من الورقِ
Around them, for the dastaband dance, had gathered
And for the dance of the cut sleeve they are encircled
fish of chrysolite, fashioned from leaves.
By emerald serpents made of paper,
واطلعand brought forth الياسمينthe jasmine الغضّfresh حينَwhen بَداit appeared
واطلع الياسمين الغضّ حينَ بَدا
دُرّاًpearls يفوحexhaling fragrance بنَشْرwith a perfume منهfrom it متفَقharmonious
دُرّاً يفوح بنَشْر منه متفَق
And fresh jasmine, when it appeared, brought forth
The soft jasmine appeared when it began
pearls exhaling its harmonious perfume,
To shine like a pearl emitting from it diffuse fragrance,
كروبجاتِlike rubajas (uncertain term) صغارٍsmall سالَflowed فيthrough لُمَعgleams
كروبجاتِ صغارٍ سالَ في لُمَع
منfrom أفقهاtheir horizon ذائبmolten الياقوتruby بالشَفقin the twilight
من أفقها ذائب الياقوت بالشَفق
like little rubajas, through whose gleams there flowed
Like small bubbles flowing in the evening glow
from their horizon, molten ruby in the twilight.
Melted ruby with the sunset,
ونرجسُand the narcissus الروضof the garden قدalready حيّاgreeted بمضعفهwith its double bloom
ونرجسُ الروض قد حيّا بمضعفه
فيin أصفرyellow فاقعvivid مَعْwith أبيضٍwhite يققpure
في أصفر فاقع مَعْ أبيضٍ يقق
The garden's narcissus greeted us with its double bloom,
And the garden narcissi greeted in plenty
in vivid yellow beside pure white.
With bright yellow and white interspersed,
كأنّهas though it وهوwhile it is فيon قضبٍstems منعّمةtender
كأنّه وهو في قضبٍ منعّمة
يلقيlays النسيمthe breeze عليهاupon them نفسthe breath معتنقof one embracing
يلقي النسيم عليها نفس معتنق
As though it, upon tender stems
As if, while on its smooth branches
where the breeze lays an embracer's breath,
The breeze blows upon it a hugging breath,
أمشاطcombs درّof pearl منof الأبريزpure gold فيamong جمَمٍlocks
أمشاط درّ من الأبريز في جمَمٍ
جُعْدٍcurly فماthus ranging بينbetween مجموعgathered ومفترقand spread apart
جُعْدٍ فما بين مجموع ومفترق
were pearl combs in pure gold, among locks
Combs of strung pearls in a mass
of curls, some gathered and some spread apart.
Of curled and scattered locks.
هذيthese خلائقcreations; qualities ماwhat حاكَwove الربيعُspring وهلand has it?
هذي خلائق ما حاكَ الربيعُ وهل
لغبرانسيof Ghibransi حكىcopied ياO صاحِfriend منany خلقquality
لغبرانسي حكى يا صاحِ من خلق
Such are the creations spring has woven; has it
These are creatures which spring has woven, for who
copied any of Ghibransi's qualities, my friend?
But the Creator narrates, O eloquent one, their making?
فماfor no بداappeared فيهwithin it منany روضgarden ولاnor زهرٍbloom
فما بدا فيه من روض ولا زهرٍ
وشاقand stirred longing إِلاّexcept بلطفthrough grace منهfrom him مسترقstolen
وشاق إِلاّ بلطف منه مسترق
No garden or bloom appeared within it
Nothing appeared in it of garden or flower
and stirred longing except through grace stolen from him.
Without His subtle touch stealing in.
شهمa noble man لوif أنَّthat الثريّاthe Pleiades منamong مواهبهِhis gifts
شهم لو أنَّ الثريّا من مواهبهِ
لفرقتهاwould surely distribute them أياديهhis hands علىacross الأفقthe horizon
لفرقتها أياديه على الأفق
A noble man: were the Pleiades among his gifts,
Glorious! If only the Pleiades of His gifts
his hands would scatter them across the horizon.
Were apportioned by His hands unto the horizon,
إذاwhen انبرىset itself فهمُهhis understanding فيto حلِّsolving مشكلةa difficulty
إذا انبرى فهمُه في حلِّ مشكلة
أزرىput to shame بفعلthe work of الظباthe blades الهندّيةIndian الذَلِقkeen
أزرى بفعل الظبا الهندّية الذَلِق
When his understanding sets itself to solving a difficulty,
Whenever His understanding unravels a problem
it shames the work of keen Indian blades.
More wondrous than the nimble Indian gazelles,
أوor فاهspoke دانyielded لهto him الغصَّانal-Ghassan فيin كَلمٍwords
أو فاه دان له الغصَّان في كَلمٍ
أبهىmore splendid منthan الروضthe gardens غِبَّafter العارضِthe raincloud الغدقcopiously raining
أبهى من الروض غِبَّ العارضِ الغدق
Or, when he speaks, al-Ghassan yields to him in words
Or whenever the branches yield to Him in speech
more splendid than gardens after a copious raincloud.
More beautiful than the garden, dense and verdant,
ودانand yielded قُسٌّQuss لمّاto what يبديهhe brings forth منof فِقَرeloquent passages
ودان قُسٌّ لمّا يبديه من فِقَر
تكادalmost تنسقare strung فيat اللبّاتthe throat-hollows والعُنُقand the neck
تكاد تنسق في اللبّات والعُنُق
And Quss bows to the passages he brings forth,
And the stout staff submits to what poverty He shows,
almost fit to be strung at throats and necks.
You'd think it knotted pearls and collar,
تشابهwas harmonious الرصفُthe setting منof عقيانهاtheir pure gold وزرىand put to shame
تشابه الرصفُ من عقيانها وزرى
تلاحمthe close interweaving النسجof the fabric بالديباجbrocade والسرقand silk
تلاحم النسج بالديباج والسرق
Their pure-gold setting is harmonious, and
The pavement resembles from its foundations, and most fine
their closely interwoven fabric shames brocade and silk.
Is the weaving of its wool and silk brocade,
يرقرقripples البحرthe sea فيthrough أعطافهاtheir folds أبداًforever
يرقرق البحر في أعطافها أبداً
ماءwater السلامةof safety لاnot ينفكceases عنfrom نَسقorder
ماء السلامة لا ينفك عن نَسق
The sea forever ripples through their folds
The sea ripples forever in its edges
with waters of safety, never departing from order.
The water of safety never swerving from equilibrium.
وافىcame to دمشقDamascus فأمستso she became وهيwhile she was فيin دَعَةٍease
وافى دمشق فأمست وهي في دَعَةٍ
كأنّماas though انتاشهاhe rescued her منfrom لُجَّةِthe depths الغَرقof drowning
كأنّما انتاشها من لُجَّةِ الغَرق
He came to Damascus, and she found herself at ease,
And it came to Damascus while in tranquility
as though he had rescued her from the depths of drowning.
As if saved from the depth of submersion,
وحلَّand alighted بالطائرwith the omen الميمونauspicious ساحتهاin her courts
وحلَّ بالطائر الميمون ساحتها
ركابهhis mounts فوقabove هامthe heads العزّof glory والحدقand the eyes
ركابه فوق هام العزّ والحدق
With an auspicious omen, there alighted in her courts
And the fortunate bird landed in its field
his mounts, above the heads of glory and the eyes.
His steed atop the glory and splendor,
وقدand indeed اجدّrenewed لناfor us فيin كلevery جارحةٍlimb
وقد اجدّ لنا في كل جارحةٍ
شكراًgratitude فماthus ranging بينbetween منثورprose ومنتسِقand ordered verse
شكراً فما بين منثور ومنتسِق
He renewed in every limb of ours
And he created for us in every limb
gratitude, both in prose and ordered verse,
Gratitude, both scattered and arranged.
ملأىbrimming هناكthere حلاًsettling منfrom بعدafter مرتحلa departure
ملأى هناك حلاً من بعد مرتحل
فيin منزلa dwelling بضياءwith the light الشرعof sacred law مؤتلقradiant
في منزل بضياء الشرع مؤتلق
brimming there, as he settled after journeying,
There a solution was filled after journeying,
in a dwelling radiant with the light of sacred law.
In an abode with the illumination of the Law flaring,
وهاكهاand take it منfrom خبيرone skilled in القولspeech سابغةan ample coat of mail
وهاكها من خبير القول سابغة
فكلso falls short عنهاbeside it حبيكthe close-knit workmanship البيضof helmets والحلقand mail-rings
فكل عنها حبيك البيض والحلق
And take it from one skilled in speech—an ample coat of mail;
And it came to you from the expert of speech overflowing,
the close-knit workmanship of helmets and mail-rings falls short of it.
None but the fanciest eggs and necks.
ذرتrose علىabove سحرthe magic هاروتof Harut فراوزهاits ornamental borders
ذرت على سحر هاروت فراوزها
ربعيةspring-like الوشيin embroidery قدalready جاءتit came علىin نسقorder
ربعية الوشي قد جاءت على نسق
Its borders rose above Harut's magic,
It scattered the spell of Harut's sorcery,
spring-like in embroidery, arranged in perfect order.
Its four integrity verses came into form,
تاهتgloried بمدحكin praising you لماwhen افترparted in a smile مبسَمهاits smiling mouth
تاهت بمدحك لما افتر مبسَمها
عنrevealing غرradiant أوصافكyour qualities المسكيةmusky العبقfragrant
عن غر أوصافك المسكية العبق
It gloried in praising you when its smiling mouth parted
Bewildered by your praise when its smile shone forth
to reveal your radiant, musky, fragrant qualities.
From the comb of your sweet fragrant attributes.
فهيfor they التيare what صيرتهاmade it روضةa garden أُنفاًfresh and untouched
فهي التي صيرتها روضة أُنفاً
يهفوyearns لطيبfor the sweetness شذاهاof its scent كلevery منتشِقone who inhales
يهفو لطيب شذاها كل منتشِق
Those are what made it a fresh, untouched garden,
For it is what made it a garden of delight
for whose sweet scent everyone who inhales it yearns.
To which every scent-sniffing soul aspires,
وجهتهاI sent it لعكاظto Ukaz الشعرof poetry فيin خجلshyness
وجهتها لعكاظ الشعر في خجل
كَأننيas though I رحتwent أهديgive as a gift النجمthe star للأفقto the horizon
كَأنني رحت أهدي النجم للأفق
I sent it shyly to the Ukaz of poetry,
And I directed it to the poetry of Ukaz in shyness
as though I went to give a star to the horizon.
As if I sought to offer a star to the horizon,
وماand no تريشfeathers جناحthe wing الحظّof fortune منany أدبliterary work
وما تريش جناح الحظّ من أدب
علياكyour eminence إِلاexcept ويلفىand is found غيرnot ملتحقcatching up
علياك إِلا ويلفى غير ملتحق
No literary work has its wing of fortune feathered
And the wing of fortune does not feather with literary grace upon you
by your eminence but is found still unable to catch up.
Except to find me without attachment.
Sol 6.1