أَلاAh! لَيتَwould that لَمحَthe flash البارِقِof the lightning المُتَأَلِّقِgleaming
أَلا لَيتَ لَمحَ البارِقِ المُتَأَلِّقِ
يَلُفُّgathers ذُيولَthe trailing skirts العارِضِof the raincloud المُتَدَفِّقِpouring forth
يَلُفُّ ذُيولَ العارِضِ المُتَدَفِّقِ
Ah, would that the flash of gleaming lightning
gathered the trailing skirts of the pouring raincloud,
وَيَركَبُand mounts مِنfrom ريحِthe wind الصَباthe east wind مَتنَthe back سابِحٍof a coursing steed
وَيَركَبُ مِن ريحِ الصَبا مَتنَ سابِحٍ
كَريمٍnoble وَمِنand from لَيلِthe night السُرىof night travel ظَهرَthe back أَبلَقِof a piebald steed
كَريمٍ وَمِن لَيلِ السُرى ظَهرَ أَبلَقِ
and rode the east wind as a coursing steed,
a noble one, and the night of travel as a piebald mount,
فَيُهديthen bears إِلىto قَبرٍa grave بِحِمصَin Hims تَحِيَّةًa greeting
فَيُهدي إِلى قَبرٍ بِحِمصَ تَحِيَّةً
مَتىwhenever تَحتَمِلهاcarries it راحَةُthe palm الريحِof the wind تَعبَقِgrows fragrant
مَتى تَحتَمِلها راحَةُ الريحِ تَعبَقِ
then bore a greeting to a grave in Hims:
whenever the wind's palm bears it, that palm grows fragrant.
فَعِنديfor I have لِحِمصٍfor Hims أَيُّwhat a نَظرَةِgaze لَوعَةٍof anguish
فَعِندي لِحِمصٍ أَيُّ نَظرَةِ لَوعَةٍ
وَلِلنَجمِand toward the star وَهناًlate at night أَيُّwhat a نَظرَةِgaze مُطرِقِof one bowed down
وَلِلنَجمِ وَهناً أَيُّ نَظرَةِ مُطرِقِ
For Hims I have such a gaze of burning grief,
and for the star, late at night, such a downcast gaze,
حَناناًin longing إِلىtoward قَبرٍa grave هُنالِكَthere نازِحٍfaraway
حَناناً إِلى قَبرٍ هُنالِكَ نازِحٍ
وَشِلوٍand a body عَثاwrought havoc فيهِin it البِلىdecay مُتَمَزِّقِtorn apart
وَشِلوٍ عَثا فيهِ البِلى مُتَمَزِّقِ
in longing for a distant grave there,
and a body torn apart, ravaged by decay.
وَكَيفَand how بِشَكوىwith a lament ساعَةٍof an hour أَشتَفيI find relief بِهاthrough it
وَكَيفَ بِشَكوى ساعَةٍ أَشتَفي بِها
وَدونَand in the way of التَلاقيreunion كُلُّevery بَيداءَdesert سَملَقِbare and level
وَدونَ التَلاقي كُلُّ بَيداءَ سَملَقِ
How can I find an hour's lament to soothe me,
when every bare, level desert bars reunion?
فَهَلso is there عِندَwith عَبدِAbd (servant) اللَهِAllah (God) ماباتَwhat, through the night, يَنطَويenfolds
فَهَل عِندَ عَبدِ اللَهِ ماباتَ يَنطَوي
عَلَيهِaround it الحَشاthe heart مِنof لَوعَةٍanguish وَتَحَرُّقِand burning grief
عَلَيهِ الحَشا مِن لَوعَةٍ وَتَحَرُّقِ
Does Abd Allah know what my heart enfolds by night,
of anguish and burning grief?
وَقَدand indeed أَذكَرَتَنيreminded me العَهدَthe former days بِالأُنسِof companionship أَيكَةٌa grove
وَقَد أَذكَرَتَني العَهدَ بِالأُنسِ أَيكَةٌ
فَأَذكَرتُهاso I reminded it of نَوحَthe lament الحَمامِof the doves المُطَوَّقِring-necked
فَأَذكَرتُها نَوحَ الحَمامِ المُطَوَّقِ
And a grove had reminded me of past companionship,
so I reminded it of the ring-necked doves' lament.
وَأَكبَبتُand I bent down أَبكيI weep بَينَbetween وَجدٍgrief أَظَلَّنيovershadowed me
وَأَكبَبتُ أَبكي بَينَ وَجدٍ أَظَلَّني
حَديثٍnew وَعَهدٍand former days لِلشَبيبَةِof youth مَخلَقِfaded
حَديثٍ وَعَهدٍ لِلشَبيبَةِ مَخلَقِ
I bent down weeping, between a grief that overshadowed me,
newly come, and the faded days of youth.
وَأَنشَقُand I inhale أَنفاسَthe breaths الرِياحِof the winds تَعَلُّلاًseeking solace
وَأَنشَقُ أَنفاسَ الرِياحِ تَعَلُّلاً
فَأَعدَمُso I fail to find فيهاin them طيبَthe sweetness ذاكَthat التَنَشُّقِinhaling
فَأَعدَمُ فيها طيبَ ذاكَ التَنَشُّقِ
And I inhale the breaths of the winds, seeking solace,
yet in them I miss the sweetness of that inhaling.
وَلَمّاand when عَلَتoverspread وَجهَthe face النَهارِof day كَآبَةٌgloom
وَلَمّا عَلَت وَجهَ النَهارِ كَآبَةٌ
وَدارَتand circled بِهِaround it لِلشَمسِof the sun نَظرَةُa gaze مُشفِقِof one feeling pity
وَدارَت بِهِ لِلشَمسِ نَظرَةُ مُشفِقِ
And when gloom overspread the face of day,
and the sun's pitying gaze swept across it,
عَطَفتُI turned عَلىtoward الأَجداثِthe graves أَجهَشُI burst into sobs تارَةًat times
عَطَفتُ عَلى الأَجداثِ أَجهَشُ تارَةً
وَأَلثُمُand I kiss طَوراًat other times تُربَهاtheir soil مِنfrom تَشَوُّقيmy longing
وَأَلثُمُ طَوراً تُربَها مِن تَشَوُّقي
I turned toward the graves, sometimes bursting into sobs,
and sometimes kissing their soil out of longing.
وَقُلتُand I said لِمُغفٍto a sleeper لايَهُبُّdoes not wake مِنَfrom الكَرىslumber
وَقُلتُ لِمُغفٍ لايَهُبُّ مِنَ الكَرى
وَقَدand indeed بِتُّI spent the night مِنfrom وَجدٍgrief بِلَيلِin the night المُؤَرَّقِof one kept awake
وَقَد بِتُّ مِن وَجدٍ بِلَيلِ المُؤَرَّقِ
I spoke to a sleeper who never wakes from slumber,
having spent a sleepless night in grief:
لَقَدindeed صَدَعَتshattered أَيديthe hands الحَوادِثِof calamities شَملَناour union
لَقَد صَدَعَت أَيدي الحَوادِثِ شَملَنا
فَهَلso is there مِنany تَلاقٍreunion بَعدَafter هَذاthis التَفَرُّقِseparation
فَهَل مِن تَلاقٍ بَعدَ هَذا التَفَرُّقِ
The hands of calamity have indeed shattered our union;
is there any reunion after this separation?
وَإِنand if يَكُthere is لِلخِلَّينِfor the two friends ثَمَّthere اِلتِقاءَةٌa meeting
وَإِن يَكُ لِلخِلَّينِ ثَمَّ اِلتِقاءَةٌ
فَياthen oh لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge أَينَwhere أَوor كَيفَhow نَلتَقيwe meet
فَيا لَيتَ شِعري أَينَ أَو كَيفَ نَلتَقي
And if the two friends have a meeting there,
would that I knew where, or how, we shall meet!
فَأَعزِزso how grievous عَلَيناfor us أَنthat تَباعَدَdistance grew بَينَناbetween us
فَأَعزِز عَلَينا أَن تَباعَدَ بَينَنا
فَلَمso not يَدرِhe knew ماwhat أَلقىI suffer وَلَمand not أَدرِI knew ماwhat لَقيhe suffered
فَلَم يَدرِ ما أَلقى وَلَم أَدرِ ما لَقي
How grievous for us that distance grew between us,
so he knew not what I suffer, nor I what he suffered.
فَهاso here أَناI وَقفٌheld in place بَينَbetween دَمعٍtears وَزَفرَةٍand a sigh
فَها أَنا وَقفٌ بَينَ دَمعٍ وَزَفرَةٍ
أَرىI see ذاكَthat one يُهويfalls حَيثُwhere هاتيكَthat other تَرتَقيrises
أَرى ذاكَ يُهوي حَيثُ هاتيكَ تَرتَقي
So here I am, held between a tear and a sigh,
seeing the one fall where the other rises.
فَسَقياًso may rain fall لِقَبرٍupon a grave بَينَbetween أَضلُعِthe ribs تُربَةٍof earth
فَسَقياً لِقَبرٍ بَينَ أَضلُعِ تُربَةٍ
مَتىwhenever أَتَذَكَّرهُI remember it بِهاin it أَتَشَوَّقِI yearn
مَتى أَتَذَكَّرهُ بِها أَتَشَوَّقِ
May rain bless a grave between the ribs of earth,
whenever I remember it there, I yearn.
وَأَلويand I twist ضُلوعيmy ribs أَندُبُI lament المَجدَglory وَالنَدىand generosity
وَأَلوي ضُلوعي أَندُبُ المَجدَ وَالنَدى
بِأَفصَحِwith the most eloquent دَمعٍtears تَحتَbeneath أَخرَسِthe mutest مَنطِقِspeech
بِأَفصَحِ دَمعٍ تَحتَ أَخرَسِ مَنطِقِ
And I twist my ribs, lamenting glory and generosity,
with the most eloquent tears beneath the mutest speech.
إِذاwhen قُمتُI rise أَخطوI step خُطوَةًa step بِفَنائِهِin his courtyard
إِذا قُمتُ أَخطو خُطوَةً بِفَنائِهِ
تَعَثَّرتُI stumble فيin دَمعٍtears بِهِin it مُتَرَقرِقِshimmering
تَعَثَّرتُ في دَمعٍ بِهِ مُتَرَقرِقِ
When I rise to take a step in his courtyard,
I stumble in tears that shimmer there.
وَمَهماand whenever لَثَمتُI kiss الأَرضَthe earth شَوقاًin longing لِلَحدِهِfor his tomb
وَمَهما لَثَمتُ الأَرضَ شَوقاً لِلَحدِهِ
وَجَدتُI find ثَراهاits moist soil طَيِّبَsweet المُتَنَشَّقِto breathe in
وَجَدتُ ثَراها طَيِّبَ المُتَنَشَّقِ
Whenever I kiss the earth, longing for his tomb,
I find its moist soil sweet to breathe in.
وَمِثلِيَand one like me يَبكيweeps لِلمُصابِfor the loss بِمِثلِهِof one like him
وَمِثلِيَ يَبكي لِلمُصابِ بِمِثلِهِ
فَإِنso if أَخلَقَwears out الصَبرُpatience الجَميلُnoble فَأَخلِقِthen let it wear out
فَإِن أَخلَقَ الصَبرُ الجَميلُ فَأَخلِقِ
And one like me weeps at losing one like him;
if noble patience wears out, then let it wear out.
فَقَدfor indeed كانَhe was يَومَon the day الرَوعِof terror أَبيَضَwhite صارِماًkeen
فَقَد كانَ يَومَ الرَوعِ أَبيَضَ صارِماً
بِكَفّيin my palm وَيَومَand on the day الفَخرِof pride تاجاًa crown بِمَفرَقِon the head's crown
بِكَفّي وَيَومَ الفَخرِ تاجاً بِمَفرَقِ
For on the day of terror he was a white, keen sword
in my palm, and on the day of pride a crown upon my head.
أَغَرُّradiant طَليقُopen الوَجهِof face يَهتَزُّhe thrills لِلعُلىto greatness
أَغَرُّ طَليقُ الوَجهِ يَهتَزُّ لِلعُلى
وَيَمضيand advances مَضاءَwith the keenness المَشرَفِيِّof the Mashrafi sword المُذَلَّقِsharpened
وَيَمضي مَضاءَ المَشرَفِيِّ المُذَلَّقِ
Radiant and open-faced, he thrills to greatness,
and advances with a sharpened Mashrafi sword's keenness.
وَيَستَصحِبُand takes as companion الذِكرَrenown الجَميلَfair فَيَرتَديso he clothes himself
وَيَستَصحِبُ الذِكرَ الجَميلَ فَيَرتَدي
بِأَحسَنَin what is finer مِنthan وَشيِthe embroidery الرَبيعِof spring وَأَعبَقِand more fragrant
بِأَحسَنَ مِن وَشيِ الرَبيعِ وَأَعبَقِ
He takes fair renown as his companion, and clothes himself
in what is finer and more fragrant than spring's embroidery.
وَيَرميand shoots بِسَهمٍwith an arrow لاnot يَطيشُstrays مُفَوَّقٍnocked
وَيَرمي بِسَهمٍ لا يَطيشُ مُفَوَّقٍ
يُقَرطِسُhits the mark فيin يُمنىthe right hand سَعيدٍof a fortunate man مُوَفَّقِfavored
يُقَرطِسُ في يُمنى سَعيدٍ مُوَفَّقِ
He shoots a nocked arrow that never strays,
hitting the mark in a fortunate, favored man's right hand.
قَضىhe died بَينَbetween كَفٍّa hand لِلسَماحِwith generosity مُغيمَةٍcloud-laden
قَضى بَينَ كَفٍّ لِلسَماحِ مُغيمَةٍ
تَفيضُoverflowing وَوَجهٍand a face لِلطَلاقَةِwith cheerfulness مُبرِقِflashing
تَفيضُ وَوَجهٍ لِلطَلاقَةِ مُبرِقِ
He died between a hand cloud-laden with generosity,
pouring forth, and a face flashing with cheer.
وَكَمand how many لِلحَياfor the rain مِنof أَدمُعٍtears فيهِfor him ثَرَّةٍcopious
وَكَم لِلحَيا مِن أَدمُعٍ فيهِ ثَرَّةٍ
وَلِلرَعدِand for thunder مِنof جَيبٍa collar عَلَيهِover him مُشَقَّقِtorn
وَلِلرَعدِ مِن جَيبٍ عَلَيهِ مُشَقَّقِ
How many copious tears the rain has shed over him,
and how many collars thunder has torn for him;
وَلِلبَرقِand for the lightning مِنof قَلبٍa heart بِهِbecause of him مُتَمَلمِلٍrestless
وَلِلبَرقِ مِن قَلبٍ بِهِ مُتَمَلمِلٍ
وَلِلنَجمِand for the star مِنof طَرفٍan eye عَلَيهِover him مُؤَرَّقِkept sleepless
وَلِلنَجمِ مِن طَرفٍ عَلَيهِ مُؤَرَّقِ
how many restless hearts the lightning has for him,
and how many sleepless eyes the star has over him!
كَأَنas though لَمnot أَشِمI watched for مِنfrom بِشرِهِhis cheerfulness بَرقَlightning مُزنَةٍof a raincloud
كَأَن لَم أَشِم مِن بِشرِهِ بَرقَ مُزنَةٍ
تَصوبُpours down بِوَكّافٍwith a steady downpour مِنَof الجودِgenerosity مُغدِقِabundant
تَصوبُ بِوَكّافٍ مِنَ الجودِ مُغدِقِ
As though I had never glimpsed in his cheer a raincloud's lightning,
pouring down a steady, abundant rain of bounty;
وَلاnor قِلتُI rested at noon مِنهُfrom him بَينَbetween ظِلٍّshade لِعَطفَةٍof kindness
وَلا قِلتُ مِنهُ بَينَ ظِلٍّ لِعَطفَةٍ
تَنَدّىgrew dewy وَنورٍand light لِلبَشاشَةِof cheerfulness مونِقِlovely
تَنَدّى وَنورٍ لِلبَشاشَةِ مونِقِ
nor taken my noon rest with him between kindness's shade,
fresh with dew, and the lovely light of a cheerful welcome;
وَلَمand not أَلتَفِتI turned مِنfrom وَجهِهِhis face لَيلَةَon the night السُرىof night travel
وَلَم أَلتَفِت مِن وَجهِهِ لَيلَةَ السُرى
إِلىtoward فَيلَقٍan army يَلقىmeets الظَلامَthe darkness بِفَيلَقِwith an army
إِلى فَيلَقٍ يَلقى الظَلامَ بِفَيلَقِ
nor turned from his face on a night journey
toward a host meeting darkness with a host.
فَماso no اِبنُa son شَمالٍof the north wind باتَspent the night يَهفوfluttering كَأَنَّماas though
فَما اِبنُ شَمالٍ باتَ يَهفو كَأَنَّما
بِهِin it خَلفَbehind أَستارِthe veils الدُجىof darkness مَسُّa touch أَولَقِof madness
بِهِ خَلفَ أَستارِ الدُجى مَسُّ أَولَقِ
For no son of the north wind, fluttering all night as though
touched by madness behind the veils of darkness,
سَرىjourneyed by night بَينَamid دَفّاعٍa driving torrent مِنof الوَدقِthe rain مُغدِقٍcopious
سَرى بَينَ دَفّاعٍ مِن الوَدقِ مُغدِقٍ
يَسُحُّpours down وَلَمّاعٍand flashing مِنَof البَرقِthe lightning مُحرِقِscorching
يَسُحُّ وَلَمّاعٍ مِنَ البَرقِ مُحرِقِ
journeying through a driving, copious torrent of rain,
pouring down, and a scorching flash of lightning,
بِأَندىany wetter ذُيولاًin trailing skirts مِنthan جُفونيmy eyelids مَوهِناًlate at night
بِأَندى ذُيولاً مِن جُفوني مَوهِناً
وَأَهفىand more fluttering جَناحاًin wing مِنthan ضُلوعيmy ribs وَأَخفَقِand more throbbing
وَأَهفى جَناحاً مِن ضُلوعي وَأَخفَقِ
is wetter in its trailing skirts than my eyelids late at night,
nor does its wing flutter or beat more than my ribs.
Sol 6.1