لهفيmy longing علىfor غُصنthe branch of النّقاthe sand-dune المتمايلِswaying
لهفي على غُصن النّقا المتمايلِ
يهتزُّhe sways معتدلاًupright وليسand is not بعادلِjust
يهتزُّ معتدلاً وليس بعادلِ
My longing for the swaying branch of the sand-dune!
I yearn for the swaying branch of the supple palm tree,
He sways, upright, yet he is not just.
Swaying gently, not violently or unjustly.
لاnot يستفيقُhe sobers مُنازلاًbattling عشّاقهُhis lovers
لا يستفيقُ مُنازلاً عشّاقهُ
بفتورwith the languor of لحظٍa glance كالقضاءِlike doom النازلdescending
بفتور لحظٍ كالقضاءِ النازل
He never sobers while battling his lovers
Its lovers do not awaken from their dwellings
with a languid glance like descending doom.
Due to a moment of indifference, like an unexpected fate.
فعشارهُso his cheek-down (uncertain reading) منfrom فارسPersia ونجارهُand his lineage
فعشارهُ من فارس ونجارهُ
منfrom عامرٍʿĀmir ولحاظهُand his glances منfrom بابلBabylon
من عامرٍ ولحاظهُ من بابل
So his cheek-down [uncertain reading] is from Persia, and his lineage
Its wood is from Persia and its carpenter
from ʿĀmir, and his glances from Babylon.
Is from Oman, and its foliage is from Babylon.
ياO قلبَthe heart of عاشقهِhis lover وسهمَand the arrow of جفونهِhis eyelids
يا قلبَ عاشقهِ وسهمَ جفونهِ
مَنwho الزمَforced المقتولَthe slain حبَّto love القاتلthe slayer
مَن الزمَ المقتولَ حبَّ القاتل
O his lover's heart, and arrow of his eyelids,
O heart that loves it and pupil of its eyes,
who forced the slain to love the slayer?
Who could love a killer except the one killed?
أسطاdid he assail بلحظٍwith a glance أمor بأبيضَwith a bright sword صارمٍkeen
أسطا بلحظٍ أم بأبيضَ صارمٍ
وخطاand he strode بقدٍّwith a figure أمor بأسمرَwith a dusky spear ذابلslender
وخطا بقدٍّ أم بأسمرَ ذابل
Did he strike with a glance, or with a bright, keen sword?
Did it approach with a glance or with a sharp white sword,
And did he stride with a figure, or a dusky, slender spear?
Or with a slender figure or with a tanned body ready to wither?
يلقاكhe meets you منfrom لدنthe suppleness of القوامthe stature برامحٍwith a spearman
يلقاك من لدن القوام برامحٍ
ويصولand he charges منfrom هُدبthe lashes of الجفونِthe eyelids بنابلwith an archer
ويصول من هُدب الجفونِ بنابل
From his supple stature he meets you with a spearman,
It meets you with spears from its slim waist,
and charges from his eyelids' lashes with an archer.
And assaults with arrows from its eyelashes.
كالبدرlike the full moon يسريhe travels فيamong نجومthe stars of قلائدٍnecklaces
كالبدر يسري في نجوم قلائدٍ
وظلامand the darkness of أصداغٍtemple-locks وسحبِand the clouds of غلائلsheer robes
وظلام أصداغٍ وسحبِ غلائل
Like the full moon, he travels amid necklace-stars,
Like the moon it moves among the stars’ necklaces,
and the darkness of temple-locks, and clouds of sheer robes.
And the darkness of its temples and clouds of its tresses.
ماnot جالflowed دمعيmy tears بعدafter طولthe length of جمودهtheir stillness
ما جال دمعي بعد طول جموده
إلاّexcept علىover ذاكthat الوشاحthe sash الجائلswaying
إلاّ على ذاك الوشاح الجائل
My tears did not roam, after their long stillness,
My tears did not flow after their long stillness
except over that swaying sash.
Except for that fluttering cheek.
أهوىI love الذيthe one who يُهوىis loved علىdespite هجرانهِhis desertion
أهوى الذي يُهوى على هجرانهِ
حتىuntil سخطتُI grew angry علىat الخيالthe phantom الواصلvisiting
حتى سخطتُ على الخيال الواصل
I love him who is loved despite his desertion,
I love the one I love to the point of hating
until I grew angry at the phantom that came to visit.
His estrangement, until I resent even the imagination that unites us.
زورٌa visitor غداbecame منamong أضلعيmy ribs ومدامعيand my tears
زورٌ غدا من أضلعي ومدامعي
حيرانَbewildered بينbetween مواقدٍhearths ومناهلand watering places
حيرانَ بين مواقدٍ ومناهل
A visitor became, amid my ribs and tears,
Falsehood arose in my ribs and tears,
bewildered between hearths and watering places.
Perplexed between embers and springs.
بيafflicting me رافلٌone trailing robes فيin حلّةthe robe of الحسنbeauty الذيwho
بي رافلٌ في حلّة الحسن الذي
ماnot باتspent the night عنof ظلمwronging المحبّthe lover بغافلheedless
ما بات عن ظلم المحبّ بغافل
I suffer for one trailing beauty's robe, who
In me is a gazelle in the garb of beauty that
never spends a night heedless of wronging his lover.
Did not spend the night heedless of the injustice of the lover.
ثاوٍdwelling بقلبيin my heart ظلتُI kept أسألasking صامتاًsilently
ثاوٍ بقلبي ظلتُ أسأل صامتاً
عنهabout him سؤالُthe asking of العرفِthe knowing one المتجاهلfeigning ignorance
عنه سؤالُ العرفِ المتجاهل
He dwells in my heart; I kept asking silently
Thirsty in my heart I remained silently asking about him
about him, as a knowing man who feigns ignorance asks.
The question of the aloof camel to the pouring rain.
ذوpossessor of الخصرthe waist تثقلهُweigh him down العيونُthe eyes فخطوهُso his step
ذو الخصر تثقلهُ العيونُ فخطوهُ
للضعفِbecause of weakness خطوُthe step of الشاربthe drinker المتثاقلheavy-stepping
للضعفِ خطوُ الشارب المتثاقل
The slender-waisted one is weighed down by gazes; his step
He whose waist is weighted down by eyes, so his gait
from weakness is the ponderous step of a drinker.
Is the gait of the drunk camel.
عانقتهI embraced him ومنand among العجائبthe wonders ناحلٌa wasted one
عانقته ومن العجائب ناحلٌ
يبغيseeks الشّفاءَhealing منfrom السّقيمthe sickly one النّاحلwasted
يبغي الشّفاءَ من السّقيم النّاحل
I embraced him—how strange that one wasted away
I embraced him yet wondrously emaciated,
should seek healing from one sickly and wasted!
Seeking remedy from the feeble healer.
والصّبحُand dawn منfrom تحتbeneath الظّلامthe darkness كأنّهُas though it were
والصّبحُ من تحت الظّلام كأنّهُ
لونُthe color of المشيبgray hair خلالَamid صبغٍdye ناصلfading
لونُ المشيب خلالَ صبغٍ ناصل
And dawn beneath the darkness seemed
The dawn under the darkness is as though
the color of gray hair amid fading dye.
The color of gray hair amid the pure black dye.
والبرقُand lightning يسريtravels بالسّحابthrough the clouds تشبّهاًin resemblance
والبرقُ يسري بالسّحاب تشبّهاً
بالوعدِto the promise بينbetween يديthe two hands of نوالthe bounty of الفاضلthe excellent man
بالوعدِ بين يدي نوال الفاضل
And lightning travels through the clouds, resembling
And lightning moves through the clouds resembling
a promise preceding the excellent man's bounty.
A promise before the arrival of virtuous rain.
متبرعٌone who gives freely أشكوI complain إليهto him خصاصتيmy poverty
متبرعٌ أشكو إليه خصاصتي
شكوىthe complaint of الجدوبparched lands إلىto الغمامthe clouds الهاطلpouring
شكوى الجدوب إلى الغمام الهاطل
A free giver: to him I complain of my poverty,
A charitable man to whom I complain of my deficiencies,
as parched lands complain to pouring clouds.
The complaint of the locust to the pouring cloud.
وأبيتُand I pass the night مشتاقاًyearning for نجازthe fulfillment of َوعودهِhis promises
وأبيتُ مشتاقاً نجاز َوعودهِ
شوقَthe longing of الظّلامdarkness إلىfor الهلالthe crescent الآفلsetting
شوقَ الظّلام إلى الهلال الآفل
And I pass the night longing for his promises' fulfillment,
And I spent the night longing for the fulfillment of his promises,
as darkness longs for the setting crescent.
The longing of darkness for the disappearing crescent moon.
يقظانُwakeful أطمعنيmade me hopeful رذاذُthe drizzle of سماحهِhis generosity
يقظانُ أطمعني رذاذُ سماحهِ
والطلُّand dew يؤذنُheralds بالملثِّpersistent rain الوابلpouring heavily
والطلُّ يؤذنُ بالملثِّ الوابل
Wakeful—his generosity's drizzle filled me with hope,
The drizzle of his leniency keeps me awake,
and dew heralds a steady downpour.
And the rising of dawn foretells abundant rain.
فالحلمُfor forbearance ليسis not بعازبٍabsent والسّعدُand good fortune
فالحلمُ ليس بعازبٍ والسّعدُ
ليسis not بآفلٍsetting والرأيُand judgment ليسis not بفائلunsound
ليس بآفلٍ والرأيُ ليس بفائل
For his forbearance never departs, and his good fortune
For dreams are not bachelor, and fortune
never sets; his judgment never fails.
Is not waning, and opinion is not useless.
يعلوhe rises سناًin radiance حيثُwhere النجومُthe stars طوامسٌdimmed
يعلو سناً حيثُ النجومُ طوامسٌ
ويجودand he gives freely فيin الزمنthe age اللئيمbase الباخلmiserly
ويجود في الزمن اللئيم الباخل
He rises in radiance where the stars are dim,
It ascends though years where stars are lamps,
and gives freely in a base, miserly age.
And it acts generously in the mean, stingy times.
وإذاand when امتطتْmount ظهرَthe back of اليراعthe reed pen بنابهُhis fingertips (uncertain reading)
وإذا امتطتْ ظهرَ اليراع بنابهُ
صاغتْthey fashioned حلىornaments for جيدthe neck of الرّمانthe pomegranate العاطلunadorned
صاغتْ حلى جيد الرّمان العاطل
And when his fingertips [uncertain reading] mount the reed-pen's back,
And if the ostrich spread its wings on the pasture,
they fashion ornaments for the pomegranate's unadorned neck.
It crafted necklaces on the neck of the idle wild cow.
كُتبٌwritings تدينsubmit لهاto them الكتائبُthe battalions عنوةًby force
كُتبٌ تدين لها الكتائبُ عنوةً
ورسائلٌand missives مثلُlike الأتيthe torrent السائلflowing
ورسائلٌ مثلُ الأتي السائل
Writings to which battalions submit by force,
Writings which regiments are forced to obey
and missives like a flowing torrent.
And messages like the persistent beseecher.
تجنيthey reap ثمارthe fruits of المعجزاتmiracles وتارةًand at times
تجني ثمار المعجزات وتارةً
تجنيthey wreak harm علىupon كبدthe liver of العدوِّthe enemy الخاتلdeceitful
تجني على كبد العدوِّ الخاتل
They reap the fruits of miracles, and at times
It reaps the fruits of miracles, and at times
wreak harm upon the treacherous enemy's liver.
Reaps the liver of the treacherous enemy.
حلّتْuntied لهاfor them أسماعناour ears عقدthe knots of الحُبىknee-binding cloths
حلّتْ لها أسماعنا عقد الحُبى
وكذاand likewise تُحلُّare untied لكلِّfor every شيءٍthing هائلawe-inspiring
وكذا تُحلُّ لكلِّ شيءٍ هائل
Our ears untied the knots of their knee-bindings for them,
Our ears wore its necklace of love,
as such knots are untied for every awe-inspiring thing.
And so it adorns everything monumental.
خطٌّscript بديعٌexquisite حازcontained معنىًa meaning رائقاًdelightful
خطٌّ بديعٌ حاز معنىً رائقاً
كالماءِlike water محفوفاًsurrounded بنورby the blossoms of خمائلgroves
كالماءِ محفوفاً بنور خمائل
Exquisite script containing a delightful meaning,
A wonderful line attained exquisite meaning
like water encircled by the blossoms of groves.
Like water accompanied by the light of torches.
طربتْthrilled للقياهُat meeting it العقولُthe minds صبابةًwith longing
طربتْ للقياهُ العقولُ صبابةً
طربَthe rapture of المشوقِone who yearns إلىfor الخليطthe companions الزائلdeparting
طربَ المشوقِ إلى الخليط الزائل
Minds thrilled with longing at meeting it,
Intellects were enchanted by meeting it,
as one yearning thrills for departing companions.
The enchantment of the longing for the fleeting mixture.
كالّليثِlike a lion يجزمُhe cuts down كلّevery ناصبraiser of رايةٍa banner
كالّليثِ يجزمُ كلّ ناصب رايةٍ
يبغيseeking النزالcombat بعاملwith a spearhead منfrom عاملa man of action
يبغي النزال بعامل من عامل
Like a lion, he cuts down every man raising a banner,
Like a lion, it defeats every rival raising a flag
seeking combat, with a spearhead wielded by a man of action.
Seeking battle with a worker from the workers.
يثنيhe turns back الخطوبَcalamities بمثلهاwith their like ويسيرُand he proceeds فيthrough
يثني الخطوبَ بمثلها ويسيرُ في
أجمthickets of الرّماحspears بكلّwith every ليثٍٍٍlion باسلvaliant
أجم الرّماح بكلّ ليثٍٍٍ باسل
He turns calamities back with their like, and moves through
It turns calamities with its like and walks in
thickets of spears with every dauntless lion.
The hottest of battles with every brave lion.
لولاهُwere it not for him كانwould be الشّملthe company غيرَnot مجمّعٍreunited
لولاهُ كان الشّمل غيرَ مجمّعٍ
ومنازلُand the dwellings of العلياءِhigh honor غيرَnot أواهلinhabited
ومنازلُ العلياءِ غيرَ أواهل
Without him, the company would not be reunited,
Were it not for him, the group would not be united
and the dwellings of high honor would be uninhabited.
And the homes of nobles would not be shelters.
أأباO Abū عليٍّʿAlī دعوةٌa plea منfrom كاملٍan accomplished man
أأبا عليٍّ دعوةٌ من كاملٍ
والدّهرُand time حربٌan enemy للجوادto the generous man الكاملaccomplished
والدّهرُ حربٌ للجواد الكامل
O Abū ʿAlī, a plea from an accomplished man!
O Abu Ali, an invitation from Kamil
And time is an enemy to the accomplished giver.
While time is war for the perfect and generous.
ماليI have no إلىto ملكthe king of الملوكkings وسيلةٌmeans of approach
مالي إلى ملك الملوك وسيلةٌ
إلاّexcept علاكyour eminence وتلكand that خيرُthe best of وسائليmy means of approach
إلاّ علاك وتلك خيرُ وسائلي
I have no means of approach to the king of kings
I have no means to the King of Kings
except your eminence, and that is my best means.
Except you, and that is the best of my means.
منone who جودهُhis bounty كالغيثlike rain يسقيwaters نازحاًone far away
من جودهُ كالغيث يسقي نازحاً
منfrom غيرother than جوبcrossing مفارزٍdeserts ومجاهلand unknown wastes
من غير جوب مفارزٍ ومجاهل
He whose bounty, like rain, waters one far away,
From his generosity like rain quenching thirst
without crossing deserts and unknown wastes.
Without troughs or bowls.
تلقىmeet العداةَthe enemies سيوفهُhis swords بصواعقٍwith thunderbolts
تلقى العداةَ سيوفهُ بصواعقٍ
مرهوبةٍterrifying وجيادهُand his steeds بزلازلwith earthquakes
مرهوبةٍ وجيادهُ بزلازل
His swords meet enemies with thunderbolts,
His swords meet enemies with terrifying
terrifying ones, and his steeds with earthquakes.
Lightning, and his steeds with quakes.
منof معشرٍa people هامواthey yearned إلىtoward هيمthe thirsty ones of القناspears
من معشرٍ هاموا إلى هيم القنا
بسحائبٍwith clouds مخلوقةٍfashioned بأناملwith fingertips
بسحائبٍ مخلوقةٍ بأنامل
Of a people who yearn toward thirsty spears,
A group who strove to the heat of battle
with clouds fashioned from fingertips.
With clouds created by hands.
تظماthirst العواليthe spearheads فيin بحارthe seas of أكفّهمtheir palms
تظما العوالي في بحار أكفّهم
تحوtoward (uncertain reading) الطّلىnecks عجباًhow strange لظامٍfor a thirsty one ناهلdrinking
تحو الطّلى عجباً لظامٍ ناهل
Spearheads thirst in the seas of their palms,
The summits are immersed in oceans of their palms,
toward necks [uncertain reading]—how strange, one thirsty yet drinking!
Circling wonders for an extractor obtaining water.
فرسانَknights of ملحمةٍbattle غيوثُrainclouds for جديبةٍa barren land
فرسانَ ملحمةٍ غيوثُ جديبةٍ
أقمارُmoons for داجيةٍa dark night أسودُlions of جحافلmassed armies
أقمارُ داجيةٍ أسودُ جحافل
Knights of battle, rainclouds for a barren land,
The horsemen of an epic, saving the thirsty,
moons for a dark night, lions of massed armies.
Moons of darkness, lions of regiments.
لمnot يدجُgrew dark ليلُthe night of النّقعbattle-dust إلاّexcept that أطلعواthey made rise
لم يدجُ ليلُ النّقع إلاّ أطلعوا
زهرَthe bright ones of النّجومthe stars علىupon الوشيجspear-shafts الذّابلslender
زهرَ النّجوم على الوشيج الذّابل
Never did the night of battle-dust darken but they raised
The night of gloom did not darken before they appeared
bright stars upon slender spear-shafts.
The blossoms of stars over the withered pasture.
مثلُlike البدورthe full moons المشرقاتِradiant تطاعنواthey exchanged spear-thrusts
مثلُ البدور المشرقاتِ تطاعنوا
بكواكبwith stars وتضاربواand exchanged blows بجداولwith streams
بكواكب وتضاربوا بجداول
Like radiant full moons, they exchanged spear-thrusts
They clashed like shining planets,
with stars, and sword-blows with streams.
With stars and contended with rivers.
بلrather كالشموسlike suns متىwhenever تجلواthey shine forth فيin وغىbattle
بل كالشموس متى تجلوا في وغى
غدتbecame الكماةُthe armored warriors بظلّin the shadow of جنحٍa wing زائلvanishing
غدت الكماةُ بظلّ جنحٍ زائل
Rather, like suns: whenever they shine forth in battle,
Rather like suns when they appeared in the tumult
the armored warriors stand in a vanishing wing's shade.
The stars became shades with wings disappearing.
منof كلِّevery ماضيkeen الحدّthe edge مرهوبdreaded الشّباthe points
من كلِّ ماضي الحدّ مرهوب الشّبا
والعزمِand resolve مرجوِّhoped for السّماحin generosity حلاحلa mighty chief
والعزمِ مرجوِّ السّماح حلاحل
Each is keen of edge, dreaded in his points
Of all the past, the limit formidable of terror
and resolve, sought for generosity—a mighty chief.
And determination hoped for leniency slippery.
كالسمهريّlike a Samhārī spear تحارyou are bewildered بينbetween أواخرٍrear ends
كالسمهريّ تحار بين أواخرٍ
ونهُof it (uncertain reading) مسدّدةٍleveled وبينand between أوائلforward ends
ونهُ مسدّدةٍ وبين أوائل
Like a Samhārī spear, you are baffled between the rear ends
Like the swift they confound between latecomers
of it [uncertain reading], leveled, and the forward ends.
And aimed arrows and between early arrivals.
ملقومِof a people (uncertain reading) خضرِgreen مناصلٍblades ومنازلٍand dwellings
ملقومِ خضرِ مناصلٍ ومنازلٍ
فإذاbut when تكونُthere is وغىًbattle فسودُthen black قساطلdust clouds
فإذا تكونُ وغىً فسودُ قساطل
Of a people [uncertain reading] with green blades and dwellings,
Corrector of green blades and dwellings,
but when battle comes, they are black clouds of dust.
So when they become tumultuous they darken prisons.
فاطلقْso release ولوeven if باليأسthrough despair قيدَthe fetter of فصاحتيmy eloquence
فاطلقْ ولو باليأس قيدَ فصاحتي
فاليأسfor despair يطلقfrees منfrom لسانthe tongue of الآملthe hopeful one
فاليأس يطلق من لسان الآمل
So release, even through despair, the fetter of my eloquence;
So untie even with despair the bond of my expression
for despair loosens the hopeful man's tongue.
For despair frees the tongue of the hopeful.
والمدحُand praise تحييهِrevive it الوعودُpromises حقيقةًtruly
والمدحُ تحييهِ الوعودُ حقيقةً
ويميتهُand kills it بُعدُthe remoteness of المدىthe horizon المتطاولever-lengthening
ويميتهُ بُعدُ المدى المتطاول
And promises truly bring praise to life,
And praise is revived by promises truly
and the distance of an ever-lengthening horizon kills it.
And killed by the distance of prolonged expectancy.
عزَّgrew hard to attain المرامُthe goal وماand not مدحتُI praised مذمّماًa blameworthy man
عزَّ المرامُ وما مدحتُ مذمّماً
فألامُso I am blamed فيهِfor it ولاnor هتفتُI cried out بباخلto a miser
فألامُ فيهِ ولا هتفتُ بباخل
The goal grew hard to attain; I have not praised a blameworthy man
Glory became difficult and I never praised a blamer
to be reproached for it, nor cried out to a miser.
So any fault in it or cried for a miser.
ظفرَobtained العفاةthe petitioners السائلوكwho ask you بفاعلٍa man of deeds
ظفرَ العفاة السائلوك بفاعلٍ
جمِّabundant in النّوالbounty وقدand indeed قنعتُI was content بقائلwith a speaker
جمِّ النّوال وقد قنعتُ بقائل
The petitioners who ask you have gained a man of deeds,
The askers have attained success with a doer
lavish in bounty, while I have been content with a speaker.
Bountiful and I sufficed with a sayer.
لظميتُI have indeed thirsted منfrom سيلthe torrent of السّماحgenerosity بزاخرٍin a brimming flood
لظميتُ من سيل السّماح بزاخرٍ
وضللتُand I lost my way منfrom سننthe path of العلاءeminence بسابلon an open road
وضللتُ من سنن العلاء بسابل
I have indeed thirsted amid generosity's brimming torrent,
I gathered from the flood of kindness abundant
and strayed from eminence's path, though it lay open.
And I wandered from the ways of the sublime seeking.
فافللْso break ببأسكwith your might نابَthe fang of دعرٍa wicked man فاتكٍmurderous
فافللْ ببأسك نابَ دعرٍ فاتكٍ
وافتحْand open لجودكto your generosity بابَthe door of حظٍّfortune خاملneglected
وافتحْ لجودك بابَ حظٍّ خامل
So break with your might the fang of a murderous villain,
So repel with your might the fang of an attacking enemy
and open to your generosity the door of neglected fortune.
And open for your kindness the door of dormant fortune.
فلطالماfor how often حقّقتَyou fulfilled قصدَthe aim of قصائديmy odes
فلطالما حقّقتَ قصدَ قصائدي
وسلبتَand you stole بالإحسانthrough kindness عقلthe reason of عقائليmy noble ladies
وسلبتَ بالإحسان عقل عقائلي
For often you have fulfilled the aim of my odes,
For you have long fulfilled the purpose of my poems
and through kindness stolen the reason of my noble ladies.
And seized with benevolence the intellect of my tribes.
عربيّةan Arabic poem أنشأتهاI composed it فيin جلّقٍJilliq
عربيّة أنشأتها في جلّقٍ
وكأنّماand as though نشأتit grew up ببرقةِin Burqat عاقلʿĀqil
وكأنّما نشأت ببرقةِ عاقل
An Arabic poem I composed in Jilliq,
Arabic I composed during wakefulness
as though it had grown in Burqat ʿĀqil.
As if it was composed with the lightning of a reasonable man.
أكرمْhow noble بهاit is حضريّةًtown-bred بدويّةًBedouin
أكرمْ بها حضريّةً بدويّةً
رقّتit grew delicate وراعتand inspired awe كالحسامlike the sword الفاصلcleaving
رقّت وراعت كالحسام الفاصل
How noble it is, town-bred and Bedouin!
Honor with it a city Arab and a nomad Arab,
Delicate and awe-inspiring, like a cleaving sword.
It softened and observed like the separating sword.
هاجتit stirred بلابلَthe restless stirrings of كلِّevery سمعٍear لذّةًwith delight
هاجت بلابلَ كلِّ سمعٍ لذّةً
فكأنهاso it is as though فيin الطّيبsweetness شدوُthe song of بلابلbulbuls
فكأنها في الطّيب شدوُ بلابل
It stirred each ear's restless longings with delight,
It stirred nightingales of every hearing with pleasure,
as though its sweetness were the singing of bulbuls.
As if it were the warbling of nightingales in perfume.
حوتِit contained الجزالةَrobustness والفصاحةَand eloquence لمnot ينلهاhas attained it
حوتِ الجزالةَ والفصاحةَ لم ينلها
عالمٌa scholar وتنالُyet it reaches فهمَthe understanding of الجاهلthe ignorant person
عالمٌ وتنالُ فهمَ الجاهل
It holds vigor and eloquence; it has never been attained
It contained gravity and eloquence none attained
by a scholar, yet it reaches the ignorant person's understanding.
And attains the understanding of the ignorant.
لاdo not تحفلنَّtake heed بنظمof the verse of قومٍpeople أصلهُits source
لا تحفلنَّ بنظم قومٍ أصلهُ
نظميmy verse فلجُّfor the depths of البحرthe sea أصلُthe source of الساحلthe shore
نظمي فلجُّ البحر أصلُ الساحل
Do not heed the verse of those whose source
Do not heed the verse of people whose origin
is my verse: the sea's depths are the source of its shore.
Is my verse, for the sea is the origin of the coast.
طلبواthey sought ففاتهمُbut it eluded them الذيwhat أناI قائلٌam saying
طلبوا ففاتهمُ الذي أنا قائلٌ
كالنجمlike a star يبعُدis far عنfrom يدِthe hand of المتطاولone reaching upward
كالنجم يبعُد عن يدِ المتطاول
They sought, but what I utter eluded them,
They sought but missed what I am saying,
like a star far beyond an outstretched hand.
Like a star that distances from the hand of the ambitious.
فهمُso they are البغاثُlowly birds متىwhenever سمواthey soared لمنيفةٍtoward a lofty height
فهمُ البغاثُ متى سموا لمنيفةٍ
بسقتْtowering high منواthey were afflicted منfrom منطقيmy speech بأجادلby falcons
بسقتْ منوا من منطقي بأجادل
They are lowly birds; whenever they soar toward a lofty height
When the insects sought to rise to an eminence,
towering high, they are beset by the falcons of my speech.
My logic from me poured on them with arguers.
هنَّthey القوافيthe rhymes ماas long as أمنتI am safe فإنbut if أخفْI fear
هنَّ القوافي ما أمنت فإن أخفْ
ضيماًinjustice فهنَّthen they are عشائريmy clans وقبائليand my tribes
ضيماً فهنَّ عشائري وقبائلي
They are rhymes so long as I am safe; but if I fear
They are docile rhymes, and if I hide
injustice, then they are my clans and tribes.
Injury, they are my tribes and clans.
أصبحتُI have become سحبانSaḥbān المقالِin speech مكاثراًvying in numbers
أصبحتُ سحبان المقالِ مكاثراً
بعديدهاwith their multitude فكأننيso it is as though I فيam among وائلWāʾil
بعديدها فكأنني في وائل
I have become Saḥbān in speech, vying in numbers
I have become clouds of expression contending
with their multitude, as though I were among Wāʾil.
With their number, as if I were among the early arrivals.
Sol 6.1