ظبياتُthe gazelles الحمىof the sanctuary وباناتand the bān trees سلعِof Salʿ
ظبياتُ الحمى وبانات سلعِ
بدّدتْscattered شملthe gathered company of أدمعيmy tears يومon a day of جمعِreunion
بدّدتْ شمل أدمعي يوم جمعِ
The gazelles of the sanctuary and the bān trees of Salʿ
The gazelles of fever and the wild doe of Sel'
scattered the company of my tears on a day of reunion.
Scattered my tears on the day of gathering.
كلّماwhenever خامرmingled with السلوُّsolace فؤاديmy heart
كلّما خامر السلوُّ فؤادي
دلَّهتهُmade it distraught مفجوعةٌa bereaved one ذاتُpossessing فرعa bough
دلَّهتهُ مفجوعةٌ ذاتُ فرع
Whenever solace mingled with my heart,
Whenever sorrow stirs my heart,
a bereaved bird upon a bough made it distraught.
A weeping one consoles it with its branch.
ياO بناتِdaughters of الغصونthe boughs شتَّانhow far apart ماwhat is بينbetween
يا بناتِ الغصون شتَّان ما بين
بكاءِweeping علىover الطلولthe ruins وسجعand cooing
بكاءِ على الطلول وسجع
O daughters of the boughs, how far apart are
O daughters of the boughs, vast is the difference
weeping over ruins and cooing!
Between shedding tears over the mounts and poetry.
لاno دليلproof of السقامsickness بادٍvisible عليكنَّupon you (feminine plural)
لا دليل السقام بادٍ عليكنَّ
كجسميlike my body ولاnor شهيدa witness of الدمعtears
كجسمي ولا شهيد الدمع
No visible proof of sickness is upon you,
There is no evidence of sickness upon you,
such as my body, nor tears to bear witness.
Like my body, nor a witnessing tear.
ماnot عرفتنَّyou knew (feminine plural) حالthe state of وجديmy longing بسعدىfor Saʿdā
ما عرفتنَّ حال وجدي بسعدى
والمطاياand the mounts ماwhat is بينbetween خفضlowering ورفعand raising
والمطايا ما بين خفض ورفع
You never knew the state of my longing for Saʿdā,
You know not the state of my passion for Sa’diyya,
as the mounts moved between sinking and rising,
And the camels between descent and ascent.
وبكائيand my weeping بالأربعَat the dwelling-sites الحمرِthe red ones بعدafter
وبكائي بالأربعَ الحمرِ بعد
البيضthe white ones شوقاًout of longing إلىfor الثلاثthe three السُّفعsoot-dark stones
البيض شوقاً إلى الثلاث السُّفع
or my weeping at the red dwelling-sites, after
And my crying for Al Arba‘ Al Hamra’ after
the white ones, yearning for the three soot-dark hearthstones.
Al Bayd‘, yearning for Al Thalath Al Sufa’.
أيهاO you اللائميwho blame me علىfor الجزعanguish البرحgrievous
أيها اللائمي على الجزع البرح
علىover ساكنthe dweller of اللوىal-Liwā فالجزعthen al-Jizʿ
على ساكن اللوى فالجزع
O you who blame me for grievous anguish
O you who blame me for lamenting the departure,
over the dweller of al-Liwā and then al-Jizʿ,
Upon the settler of passion, so lament!
غيرother than قلبيmy heart فاخدعهthen deceive it بالصبرwith patience إنif كانit is جليداًsteadfast
غير قلبي فاخدعه بالصبر إن كان جليداً
واحتلْand use your wiles علىon غيرِother than سمعيmy hearing
واحتلْ على غيرِ سمعي
deceive a heart other than mine with patience, if it is steadfast,
Make another heart stoic, if it be icy,
and ply your wiles upon ears other than mine.
And boast upon other than my hearing.
ضاقfailed ذرعيmy capacity بهجرat the desertion of لمياءَLamyāʾ والبينِand separation
ضاق ذرعي بهجر لمياءَ والبينِ
ولولاand were it not for الهوىlove لماwould not have ضاقَfailed ذرعيmy capacity
ولولا الهوى لما ضاقَ ذرعي
I cannot bear Lamyāʾ's desertion and separation;
My patience is tried with Lamiya’s estrangement and distance,
were it not for love, my strength would not fail.
If not for passion, my patience would not be tried.
خلِّleave عنّيme be فماfor neither وقوفيmy standing علىat الدّاthe dwell-
خلِّ عنّي فما وقوفي على الدّا
رِ-ing (completes 'dwelling') ولاnor سحّيَmy pouring الدموعَthe tears ببدعanything unprecedented
رِ ولا سحّيَ الدموعَ ببدع
Leave me be: neither my standing at the dwell-
Leave me be, my standing is not upon the abode,
ing nor my pouring out tears is anything new.
Nor do tears flow with innovations.
وهوand it is شرعthe law of الهوىlove وحاكمُand the judge of دينِthe faith of
وهو شرع الهوى وحاكمُ دينِ
الحسنbeauty يدعوcalls إلىfor اتّباعِfollowing الشرعthe law
الحسن يدعو إلى اتّباعِ الشرع
It is love's law, and the judge of the faith
It is the law of passion and the judge of
of beauty calls for obedience to that law.
Beauty’s religion, calling for adherence to law.
فهيَso it ليستis not عنديto me بأوّلthe first مسؤولٍthing questioned
فهيَ ليست عندي بأوّل مسؤولٍ
وقفناwe stood بهbeside it فضنَّand it grudged برجعa reply
وقفنا به فضنَّ برجع
To me, it is not the first place questioned
So it is not to me the first questioned,
beside which we stood, and which grudged a reply.
We paused at it, so it was cruel in returning.
ماnot عداهاpassed it by صوبُthe downpour of السّحابthe clouds وإنeven though كانit was
ما عداها صوبُ السّحاب وإن كان
جواداًgenerous إلاّexcept وثوقاًin trust بدمعيin my tears
جواداً إلاّ وثوقاً بدمعي
The clouds' downpour passed it by, although
Nothing but the clouds of drizzle, though generous
generous, only because it trusted my tears.
Unless secured by my tears.
ربماmany a ليلةٍnight سرىcame by at night بالحمياwith heady wine
ربما ليلةٍ سرى بالحميا
وهيand it is شمسٌa sun بدرُthe full moon of اللياليthe nights الدُّرعdark at their beginning
وهي شمسٌ بدرُ الليالي الدُّرع
Many a night there came with heady wine—
Maybe one night it travelled with shyness,
itself a sun—the full moon of nights dark at first.
Though it is a sun, a moon of delightful nights.
قاتلٌdeadly قوسُthe bow of حاجبيهِhis eyebrows إذاwhen
قاتلٌ قوسُ حاجبيهِ إذا
فوَّقَnocked سهمَthe arrow of الجفونthe eyelids منwith غيرno نزعdrawing of the bow
فوَّقَ سهمَ الجفون من غير نزع
Deadly is the bow of his eyebrows when
Murderous is the bow of its eyebrows, when
he nocks the arrow of his eyelids without drawing it.
It aims the arrow of eyelids without pulling.
عجبيmy wonder منat هواهُloving him وهوَthough he is ظلومٌunjust
عجبي من هواهُ وهوَ ظلومٌ
كيفhow يلقىis he met بطاعةٍwith obedience وبسمعand with compliance
كيف يلقى بطاعةٍ وبسمع
I marvel at loving him, though he is unjust:
My wonder at its passion though it is unjust,
how is he met with obedience and compliance?
How it meets with obedience and hearing!
يتمنىhe is desired علىdespite التجنّبavoidance والسُّخطِand displeasure
يتمنى على التجنّب والسُّخطِ
ويهوىand he is loved علىdespite القلىhatred والمنعand refusal
ويهوى على القلى والمنع
He is desired despite his avoidance and displeasure,
It desires avoidance and anger,
and loved despite his hatred and refusal.
And passionate love of meeting and refusal!
بتُّلاI spent the night (unclear form) منfrom صدغهhis temple-lock ومنand from لوعةthe anguish of التبريحtorment
بتُّلا من صدغه ومن لوعة التبريح
فيهfor him ماwhat is بينbetween لدغٍa sting ولذعand a burning
فيه ما بين لدغٍ ولذع
I spent the night, from his temple-lock and the anguish of torment
A biter of its cheek and of the agony of separation within it
for him, between a sting and a burning.
Is what is between a sting and a bite.
مشرعاتٌbrandished أسنّةthe spearheads of النارfire فيin
مشرعاتٌ أسنّة النار في
حربwar against الدياجيnight's darkness علىupon رماحlances of الشمعwax
حرب الدياجي على رماح الشمع
Brandished are the spearheads of fire, in
Uncoverers, spear-like fire in the
war against night's darkness, upon lances of wax.
War of lightning against the spears of candles.
كلُّevery صفراءَyellow candle للبلىdestined for wasting قلبهاits heart
كلُّ صفراءَ للبلى قلبها
نارٌfire تلظّىblazing وجسمهاand its body منof دمعtears
نارٌ تلظّى وجسمها من دمع
Every yellow candle, doomed to waste away: its heart
Every blonde has a heart for wearing out,
is blazing fire, and its body is made of tears.
A blazing fire and a body of tears.
فهيso they are فيin كلِّevery دجيةٍdarkness مارقاتٌpiercing through
فهي في كلِّ دجيةٍ مارقاتٌ
كسهامlike the arrows of المعزِّal-Muʿizz فيin كلِّevery نقعbattle-dust cloud
كسهام المعزِّ في كلِّ نقع
So in every darkness they pierce through,
So it is in every dark one, unruly ones
like al-Muʿizz's arrows in every cloud of battle-dust.
Like the arrows of goats in every ruggedness.
وقناand the lances of الخطِّal-Khaṭṭ ثاقباتُpiercing المواضيkeen blades
وقنا الخطِّ ثاقباتُ المواضي
والمواضيand the keen blades بوارقٌlightning flashes ذاتُpossessing لمعgleams
والمواضي بوارقٌ ذاتُ لمع
And al-Khaṭṭ's lances have piercing, keen points;
And the call of the line, piercing the plains,
and the keen blades are lightning, full of flashes.
The plains are fluttering with glittering ones.
والعواليand the spearheads مثلُlike الصّلالvipers عطاشاthirsty
والعوالي مثلُ الصّلال عطاشا
فهيso they are حرّىburning with thirst وقدand have أولعتْbecome infatuated بالولعwith blood
فهي حرّى وقد أولعتْ بالولع
The spearheads are thirsty as vipers;
The hilltops are like thirsty terrain,
they burn with thirst, infatuated with blood.
So they are hot and ardently desirous.
وكأنَّand as though الدّماءَthe blood فيin حومةِthe thick of الهيجاءbattle
وكأنَّ الدّماءَ في حومةِ الهيجاء
شابتtinged ذيلَthe hem of العجاجِthe dust-cloud بردعwith stains
شابت ذيلَ العجاجِ بردع
It is as though blood, in the thick of battle,
As if the blood in the zeal of the heated
has tinged the dust-cloud's hem with stains.
Coloured the tail of birds with power.
وعتاقُand the thoroughbreds of الجيادِthe steeds وهيَand they are بحارٌseas
وعتاقُ الجيادِ وهيَ بحارٌ
تتبارىvie ماwhat is بينbetween سخٍّan outpouring ومزعand a gallop
تتبارى ما بين سخٍّ ومزع
And the thoroughbred steeds—seas themselves—
The freed steeds, though they are seas
vie between a torrent's outpouring and a gallop.
Vying between vigor and bursting forth.
كلّeach طيّارةٍflying steed إلىtoward قصبthe prize of
كلّ طيّارةٍ إلى قصب
الغاياتِthe finishing lines يعنيafflicts آذيّهاits surging waves بالجزعwith anguish
الغاياتِ يعني آذيّها بالجزع
Each flies toward the prize
Each flier towards the field of intentions
at the finish; its surging waves afflict with anguish.
Means harming it with bereavement.
وإذاand when اجدبَgrows barren الزمانُthe age فماthen never تلقاهُyou find him
وإذا اجدبَ الزمانُ فما تلقاهُ
يوماًon any day إلاّexcept خصيبَfertile of الربعdwelling-place
يوماً إلاّ خصيبَ الربع
And when the age grows barren, you never find him
And if time grew arid, it never meets it
on any day except with flourishing quarters.
Except as a fertile land of spring.
صنعهُhis kindness عندtoward قاصديهِthose seeking him جميلٌfair
صنعهُ عند قاصديهِ جميلٌ
وكذاكand likewise الحياthe rain جميلُfair of الصّنعdoing
وكذاك الحيا جميلُ الصّنع
His kindness to those who seek him is fair,
Its making for its seekers is beautiful,
and so too is rain, fair in its doing.
Just as snakes are beautiful of making.
وحديدand keen الفؤادof heart بأساًin courage حديدkeen الطرفof sight
وحديد الفؤاد بأساً حديد الطرف
يومَon the day of الوغىbattle حديدkeen السّمعof hearing
يومَ الوغى حديد السّمع
Keen-hearted in courage, keen-eyed,
The iron of passion is the iron of a spearhead
on battle's day, keen of hearing.
On the day of clamor, iron of hearing.
فهوso he is مثلُlike الحسامِthe sword طابعهُits forger الهندُIndia
فهو مثلُ الحسامِ طابعهُ الهندُ
وكالغيثِand like rain جائدٌbountiful بالطبعby nature
وكالغيثِ جائدٌ بالطبع
He is like a sword whose forger is India,
So it is like the Indian swords in nature,
and like the rain, bountiful by nature.
And like pouring rain in sending down.
لوif درتْthey knew جودَthe bounty of عشرهِhis tenth مثلas ماwhat
لو درتْ جودَ عشرهِ مثل ما
ندريwe know لغاضتwould surely recede غيظاًin rage مياهthe waters of السبعthe seven seas
ندري لغاضت غيظاً مياه السبع
If they knew a tenth of his bounty as
If she knew its generosity like we know,
we know it, the waters of the seven seas would recede in rage.
The waters of lions would boil with rage.
سلمهُhis peace والوغىand battle حياةٌlife وموتٌand death
سلمهُ والوغى حياةٌ وموتٌ
والسّطاand the onslaught والحياand rain لضرٍّfor harm ونفعand benefit
والسّطا والحيا لضرٍّ ونفع
His peace and battle are life and death;
Entrust it and war is life and death,
his onslaught and rain bring harm and benefit.
Peacefulness and life for harm and benefit.
ملكٌa king دينهُhis creed السماحgenerosity فماso never ينفكُّdoes he part
ملكٌ دينهُ السماح فما ينفكُّ
منهُfrom it ماwhat is بينbetween وترٍodd وشفعand even
منهُ ما بين وترٍ وشفع
A king whose creed is generosity, he never parts
A king whose religion is generosity, he never
from it, through odd and even.
Ceases between a lute string and fingers.
طبّقcovered الأرضَthe earth مزنهُhis rain-clouds فالمطاياso the mounts
طبّق الأرضَ مزنهُ فالمطايا
آمناتٌsafe منfrom وردِwatering at خمسٍa five-day interval وربعand a four-day interval
آمناتٌ من وردِ خمسٍ وربع
His rain-clouds cover the earth, so the mounts
It spread the land with its melody so the camels
are spared five-day and four-day waits for water.
Are safe from roses of five and a quarter.
فإليهand toward him كمhow many أعملتwas driven on حرَّةٌa highbred she-camel تحدىurged with song
فإليه كم أعملت حرَّةٌ تحدى
وكمand how many شدَّwere tightened منof وضينٍa plaited saddle-strap ونسعand a girth
وكم شدَّ من وضينٍ ونسع
Toward him, how many a highbred she-camel has been driven, urged by song,
To it many a free soul challenged,
and how many a plaited saddle-strap and girth have been tightened!
And many a smooth and supple one yielded.
ظلَّhe continued يرعىto guard بعينهwith his eye سرحthe flock of الإسلامِIslam
ظلَّ يرعى بعينه سرح الإسلامِ
وبالسيفand with the sword فيin المساغبfamines يرعيgives pasture
وبالسيف في المساغب يرعي
He keeps watch with his eye over Islam's flock,
It remained guarding with its eyes the flock of Islam,
and with the sword, amid famine, gives it pasture.
And with the sword in battles it guards.
فهوso he منfrom ومضthe flashes of بيضهhis bright swords ومنand from
فهو من ومض بيضه ومن
العثيرthe dust يختالstruts proudly فيin صباحٍdaylight وقطعand shreds of darkness
العثير يختال في صباحٍ وقطع
Thus, from the flashing of his bright blades and
So it is in the glint of its whiteness and
the dust, he struts in daylight and shreds of darkness.
Stumbling it struts in a morn and detachment.
وبعيدand he brings back (uncertain reading) الجيادَthe steeds كانتthey were قبيلَjust before
وبعيد الجيادَ كانت قبيلَ
الكرّthe charge شهباًgray ماwhat is بينbetween بلقٍpiebald ones وبقعand spotted ones
الكرّ شهباً ما بين بلقٍ وبقع
And [he brings back] the steeds, which just before
And far are the steeds, before the collective attack
the charge were gray, now piebald and spotted.
Meteors between integrity and stains.
لاdo not تقسينْcompare بهwith him الأنامmankind فماfor not
لا تقسينْ به الأنام فما
الخروعُcastor wood فيin كلevery حالةٍstate كالنبعِlike nabʿ wood
الخروعُ في كل حالةٍ كالنبعِ
Do not compare mankind with him:
Do not make people suffer, for submission
castor wood is never, in any state, like nabʿ wood.
Is not in every situation like the spring.
منwhoever تعاطىundertook مسعاهُhis course فيin دركattaining
من تعاطى مسعاهُ في درك
المجدglory تعاطىundertook علىwith قصورٍshortcomings وضلعand a limp
المجد تعاطى على قصورٍ وضلع
Whoever attempts his course in attaining
Whoever undertook its pursuits in the
glory undertakes it with shortcomings and a limp.
Abode of glory undertook upon palaces and climbing.
ماnot جهامُthe rainless cloud السّحابof the clouds مثلَlike لموعflashing
ما جهامُ السّحاب مثلَ لموع
البرقlightning عذبُsweet of الحياrain شديدُstrong of الوقعfall
البرق عذبُ الحيا شديدُ الوقع
No rainless cloud is like one that flashes
Not the clouds of ostriches are like the flashing
with lightning, sweet with rain, mighty in its fall.
Of soft lightning, severe of falling.
مفعمُfull of الودقِrain والسحائبُwhile the clouds تشكوcomplain
مفعمُ الودقِ والسحائبُ تشكو
بحنينwith the lament of الورىmankind جفوفthe drying of الضرعthe udder
بحنين الورى جفوف الضرع
Brimming with rain, while the clouds lament,
Full of dew and the clouds complain
with mankind's moaning, the drying of their udders.
With the camels’ yearning for rainless udders.
نافذٌpiercing سهمُthe arrow of رأيهhis judgment الفذّpeerless لاnot
نافذٌ سهمُ رأيه الفذّ لا
يثنيهِturns it aside كيدٌa stratagem ولاnor مضاعفُdouble-layered درعarmor
يثنيهِ كيدٌ ولا مضاعفُ درع
The arrow of his peerless judgment pierces through; no
Effective is the arrow of its expert opinion, not
stratagem turns it aside, nor double-layered armor.
Swerved by schemes nor coats of mail.
واصلٌjoining قاطعٌsevering وماand not كلُّevery سيفٍsword
واصلٌ قاطعٌ وما كلُّ سيفٍ
كبنيlike the sons of يوسفٍYūsuf لوصلٍin joining وقطعand cutting
كبني يوسفٍ لوصلٍ وقطع
He joins and severs; not every sword
A separator, a cutter, and not every sword
is like Banū Yūsuf in joining and cutting.
Is like the swords of Joseph in bonding and detaching.
وملوكand the kings of الدنياthe world علىat البعدdistance والقربand nearness
وملوك الدنيا على البعد والقرب
سرابٌa mirage بقيعةٍon a level plain فيin الخدعdeception
سرابٌ بقيعةٍ في الخدع
The kings of the world, far and near,
The kings of the world in distance and nearness
are a mirage on a level plain in their deception.
Are a mirage of a plain amidst deceits.
كلُّevery نفسٍsoul حسيرةٌfalling short عنof مداهُhis reach
كلُّ نفسٍ حسيرةٌ عن مداهُ
لمnot تكلَّفwas charged with خلافwhat is beyond ماwhat فيis within الوسعcapacity
لم تكلَّف خلاف ما في الوسع
Every soul falls short of his reach;
Every soul is confused about its scope,
it is not charged with what lies beyond its capacity.
Not tasked beyond its capacity.
حملتْcarried ريحَthe scent of طيّباتthe sweet scents of غواليهِhis perfumes
حملتْ ريحَ طيّبات غواليهِ
جواريthe coursing currents of بردcoolness الرياحِthe winds المسعswift
جواري برد الرياحِ المسع
The scent of his sweet perfumes was carried
It carried the wind of its beautiful locality,
by the cool currents of the swift winds.
Maidens in the wind of cool breezes.
لمnot يلجْentered قلبَthe heart of كاسرٍa rending predator كاشرٍsnarling
لم يلجْ قلبَ كاسرٍ كاشرٍ
أحلىsweeter حديثاًin speech منهاthan it ولاnor سمعَheard سمعan ear
أحلى حديثاً منها ولا سمعَ سمع
No snarling predator's heart has ever admitted
No breaker’s heart was pleasured
a sweeter tale than this, nor has any ear heard one.
By speech sweeter than it, nor heard of hearing.
منhe who أعادَmade anew الأيامَthe days وهيَwhile they are عبيدٌslaves
من أعادَ الأيامَ وهيَ عبيدٌ
واللياليand the nights مثلَlike الإماءslave-women الوكعcrooked-footed
والليالي مثلَ الإماء الوكع
He who has made the days into slaves,
He who returned the days though they are slaves,
and the nights like crooked-footed slave-women.
The nights like modest maidens.
أيماwhichever ليلةٍnight دجتgrew dark فيamong الدراريthe brilliant stars
أيما ليلةٍ دجت في الدراري
فهيthen it is سوداءُa black woman فيin قلائدnecklaces of ودعcowrie shells
فهي سوداءُ في قلائد ودع
Whatever night grows dark among the brilliant stars
Any night that grows dark in abodes,
is a black woman wearing necklaces of cowries.
It is black in necklaces and tassels.
هوhe أعلىelevated شأنيmy standing وأثبتand confirmed فضليmy merit
هو أعلى شأني وأثبت فضلي
حيثwhile شأنيَّmy detractor (unclear spelling) فيin جحودٍdenial ودفعand rejection
حيث شأنيَّ في جحودٍ ودفع
He exalted my standing and confirmed my merit,
It is the highest of my status and surest of my merit,
while my detractor denied and rejected it.
Where my status is in denial and push.
وحبانيand he bestowed on me بكلّwith every فضفاضةample of الذّيلhem
وحباني بكلّ فضفاضة الذّيل
هيit is الروضُthe garden منof موشىembroidered fabric بصنعwith artistry
هي الروضُ من موشى بصنع
And he bestowed on me every wide-hemmed robe,
And granted me in every ample robe,
a garden of cloth embroidered with artistry.
It is the garden from interwoven by creation.
خلعrobes of honor ناقلتْset moving قلوبَthe hearts of الأعاديthe enemies
خلع ناقلتْ قلوبَ الأعادي
بخفوقٍwith fluttering منfrom الجمالbeauty وخلعand wrenching loose
بخفوقٍ من الجمال وخلع
Robes of honor that set the enemies' hearts
It undressed the hearts of enemies
fluttering at their beauty, and tore them loose.
With a throb of beauty and undressing.
أوسعتهمthey heaped upon them رغماًabasement وجدعاًand nose-cutting وماand what
أوسعتهم رغماً وجدعاً وما
خيرgood حياةٍis a life ماwhat is بينbetween رغمٍabasement وجدعand nose-cutting
خير حياةٍ ما بين رغمٍ وجدع
They heaped abasement and nose-cutting upon them; what
I broadened them by force and cleavage, and no
good is life amid abasement and nose-cutting?
Better life than one of force and cleavage.
وانتحبيand assailed me (unclear form) سودُthe dark ones of الحوادثmisfortunes فانتاشthen he drew free
وانتحبي سودُ الحوادث فانتاش
ببيضwith the bright ones of الأفعالdeeds منهنَّfrom them ضبعيmy upper arm
ببيض الأفعال منهنَّ ضبعي
Dark calamities assailed me, but he drew
And I flourish, the blacks of misfortunes mourn,
my arm free of them with bright deeds.
In the whites of deeds, among them my lioness.
كالغمامlike a rain-cloud الوكّافpouring down يتبعfollows ظلّيmy shadow
كالغمام الوكّاف يتبع ظلّي
ظلهُhis shade حيثُwherever كنتُI was منfrom كلّevery ربعquarter
ظلهُ حيثُ كنتُ من كلّ ربع
Like a pouring rain-cloud, my shadow is followed
Like sheltering clouds it follows my shadow,
by his shade, wherever I am, in every quarter.
Its shadow wherever I was in every quarter.
أيماwhat great خصبplenty in أزمةٍadversity فإذاand when أفظعgrew dreadful
أيما خصب أزمةٍ فإذا أفظع
خطبٌa calamity فأيّthen what a شاعبِmender of صدعa rift
خطبٌ فأيّ شاعبِ صدع
What plenty in adversity! And if a dreadful
Any fertile crisis, though most monstrous,
calamity strikes, what a mender of rifts!
Misfortunes, so which precipice to cleave!
سوفshall أكسوهُI clothe him كلَّevery موشيّةِembroidered poem
سوف أكسوهُ كلَّ موشيّةِ
العطفينِthe two flanks فينانةٍluxuriant ضحوكِlaughing at السبعthe seven
العطفينِ فينانةٍ ضحوكِ السبع
I shall clothe him in every poem embroidered
I will clothe it in every finely adorned
on both flanks, luxuriant, laughing at the seven.
Cloak of compassion, smiling of lions.
صعبتwas difficult فيin سهولةٍease فهيso it is كالماءِlike water
صعبت في سهولةٍ فهي كالماءِ
مخوفfeared السطاfor its force مرجىhoped for النفعfor its benefit
مخوف السطا مرجى النفع
Difficult in its ease, it is like water,
It was made easy in ease, so it is like water,
feared for its force, hoped for in its benefit.
Feared in flood, hoped for in benefit.
طفلةٌa newborn بنتُdaughter of ليلةٍone night تخجلshames البدرَthe full moon
طفلةٌ بنتُ ليلةٍ تخجل البدرَ
إذاwhen أسفرَshines forth ابنa son of خمسٍfive وتسعand nine
إذا أسفرَ ابن خمسٍ وتسع
A newborn, daughter of one night, shaming the full moon,
A young girl, daughter of a night, shaming the moon
when he shines forth, a son of five nights and nine.
If the son of five and nine grows radiant.
قدّستhallowed بيتهاits house المعاليnoble virtues فللأفهامِso for minds
قدّست بيتها المعالي فللأفهامِ
حجٌّa pilgrimage إليهto it منfrom كلevery سفعdusky place
حجٌّ إليه من كل سفع
Noble virtues hallowed its house; minds therefore
It sanctified its house through sublimity so for minds
make pilgrimage to it from every dusky quarter.
It is a pilgrimage from every lofty road.
كلُّeach بيضاءَwhite poem قبلتْhas been kissed بالسويداواتby the hearts' dark cores
كلُّ بيضاءَ قبلتْ بالسويداوات
فيin عمرتيthe two pilgrimages فرادىsingly وجمعand together
في عمرتي فرادى وجمع
Every white poem is kissed by the hearts' dark cores,
Every white one I kissed in my Umarah singly or collectively
in the two pilgrimages, singly and together.
In the Muzdalifah of my life’s pilgrimage.
فهيso it is فيin النظمverse مثلهُlike him فيamong بنيthe children of
فهي في النظم مثلهُ في بني
الدهرtime فلاso may they not ذوقواbe made to taste مرارةthe bitterness of فجعbereavement
الدهر فلا ذوقوا مرارة فجع
Among verses it is his like among the children
So it is to prosody as he is to the children
of time: may they never taste the bitterness of bereavement!
Of time, so they never tasted the bitterness of anguish.
Sol 6.1