قُلsay لِمَسرىto the night-course of الريحِthe wind مِنfrom إِضَمِIdam
قُل لِمَسرى الريحِ مِن إِضَمِ
وَلَياليناand our nights بِذيat Dhu سَلَمِSalam
وَلَيالينا بِذي سَلَمِ
Say to the wind's night-course from Idam,
and to our nights at Dhu Salam:
طالَhas grown long لَيليmy night فيin هَوىlove of قَمَرٍa moon
طالَ لَيلي في هَوى قَمَرٍ
نامَhe slept عَنheedless of لَيليmy night وَلَمand did not أَنَمِI sleep
نامَ عَن لَيلي وَلَم أَنَمِ
My night has lengthened in love of a moon
who slept heedless of my night, while I did not sleep.
وَأَبيand by my father حَيّاهُmay He bless him مِنwhat a رَشَإٍyoung gazelle
وَأَبي حَيّاهُ مِن رَشَإٍ
مُستَطابِsweet اللَثمِkissing وَالشِيَمِand character
مُستَطابِ اللَثمِ وَالشِيَمِ
And by my father—bless him, that young gazelle,
so sweet in kisses and in character!
لَتَساوىsurely matched مابِنَظرَتِهِwhat is in his gaze
لَتَساوى مابِنَظرَتِهِ
وَبِجِسمِيَand in my body فيهِfor his sake مِنof سَقَمِsickness
وَبِجِسمِيَ فيهِ مِن سَقَمِ
Surely the languor in his gaze is matched
by my body's sickness for his sake.
لامَسَحتُI have not wiped الجَفنَthe eyelid مِنof سَهَرٍsleeplessness
لامَسَحتُ الجَفنَ مِن سَهَرٍ
وَوَقَيتُand I shielded القَلبَthe heart مِنfrom أَلَمِpain
وَوَقَيتُ القَلبَ مِن أَلَمِ
I have not wiped my eyelid free of sleeplessness,
nor shielded my heart from pain.
وَلَئِنand if indeed راوَدتُI sought to coax مِنsome سِنَةٍdrowsiness
وَلَئِن راوَدتُ مِن سِنَةٍ
لَبِماsurely for what أَرتادُI seek مِنof حُلُمِa dream
لَبِما أَرتادُ مِن حُلُمِ
And if I woo a little slumber,
it is for the dream I seek,
وَخَيالٍand an apparition لَوif سَرىit traveled by night لَخَباwould surely die down
وَخَيالٍ لَو سَرى لَخَبا
مابِصَدرِwhat is in the breast of الصَبِّthe impassioned lover مِنof ضَرَمِblazing fire
مابِصَدرِ الصَبِّ مِن ضَرَمِ
and an apparition whose nightly visit would quench
the blaze within the lover's breast.
فَسَقىso may He water اللَهُGod مَضاجِعَناour resting places
فَسَقى اللَهُ مَضاجِعَنا
بَينَamong طَلَحِthe acacias of الجِزعِthe valley-bend وَالسَلَمِand the salam trees
بَينَ طَلَحِ الجِزعِ وَالسَلَمِ
So may God water our resting places
among the valley-bend's acacias and salam trees,
وَبَكىand may weep باكيthe weeper of الغَمامِthe clouds بِهاover them
وَبَكى باكي الغَمامِ بِها
بَينَbetween مُنهَلٍّpouring rain وَمُنسَجِمِand streaming rain
بَينَ مُنهَلٍّ وَمُنسَجِمِ
and may the weeping clouds shed tears upon them,
in torrents and in steady streams.
فَلَكَمfor how many شَكوىa complaint هُناكَthere لَناof ours
فَلَكَم شَكوى هُناكَ لَنا
وَلَكَمand how many نَجوىa secret conversation بِهاthere وَكَمِand how many
وَلَكَم نَجوى بِها وَكَمِ
How many complaints we shared there,
how many secret talks there—how many!
وَاِلتِثامٍand kissing بَينَamid مُعتَنِقٍone embracing
وَاِلتِثامٍ بَينَ مُعتَنِقٍ
وَاِعتِناقٍand embracing بَينَamid مُلتَثِمِone kissing
وَاِعتِناقٍ بَينَ مُلتَثِمِ
And kisses amid embraces,
and embraces amid kisses,
بِكَلامٍwith speech رَقَّgrew tender جانِبُهُits manner
بِكَلامٍ رَقَّ جانِبُهُ
بَينَbetween مَنثورٍscattered prose وَمُنتَظِمِand ordered verse
بَينَ مَنثورٍ وَمُنتَظِمِ
with speech whose manner grew tender,
in scattered prose and ordered verse.
فَتَعاقَدناso we pledged ourselves يَداًhand بِيَدٍin hand
فَتَعاقَدنا يَداً بِيَدٍ
وَتَعاهَدناand we made a covenant فَماًmouth لِفَمِto mouth
وَتَعاهَدنا فَماً لِفَمِ
We pledged ourselves, hand in hand,
and made our covenant, mouth to mouth.
وَاِنتَصَفناand we took redress مِنfor مَظالِمِناour grievances
وَاِنتَصَفنا مِن مَظالِمِنا
وَأَخَذناand we took أَخذَthe taking of مُحتَكِمِone dictating terms
وَأَخَذنا أَخذَ مُحتَكِمِ
We took redress for our grievances,
and claimed our due as those who dictate terms.
وَاِنثَنىand swayed يَمشيwalking بِهِwith him غُصُنٌa bough
وَاِنثَنى يَمشي بِهِ غُصُنٌ
مِنamong جَناهُits fruits نَورُthe blossom of مُبتَسِمِa smiling mouth
مِن جَناهُ نَورُ مُبتَسِمِ
And a bough swayed, walking in his form,
its fruit the blossom of a smiling mouth.
وَقَبِلتُand I accepted الكَأسَthe cup مِنfrom يَدِهِhis hand
وَقَبِلتُ الكَأسَ مِن يَدِهِ
فَاِجتَنَيناso we plucked الوَردَroses مِنfrom عَنَمِʿanam, a red-fruited tree
فَاِجتَنَينا الوَردَ مِن عَنَمِ
I accepted the cup from his hand,
and we plucked roses from ʿanam branches.
وَسَواءٌand equal دُرَّthe pearls of مَنطِقِهِhis speech
وَسَواءٌ دُرَّ مَنطِقِهِ
وَحُلاهُand his ornaments حُسنَin beauty مُنتَظَمِof stringing
وَحُلاهُ حُسنَ مُنتَظَمِ
Equal were the pearls of his speech
and his jewels in their lovely stringing.
صَمَّgrew deaf سَمعيmy hearing فيهِconcerning him عَنto عَذَلٍreproach
صَمَّ سَمعي فيهِ عَن عَذَلٍ
وَاِبنُand a man of سِتّينَsixty أَخوa brother to صَمَمِdeafness
وَاِبنُ سِتّينَ أَخو صَمَمِ
My hearing grew deaf, for his sake, to reproach;
and a man of sixty is brother to deafness.
فَأَرانيso I find myself لاnot أَرىseeing صَدَداًa turning away
فَأَراني لا أَرى صَدَداً
عَنfrom وُلوعٍinfatuation وَالغَرامُand passion عَميis blindness
عَن وُلوعٍ وَالغَرامُ عَمي
Thus I see no way to turn
from infatuation: passion is blindness.
أَينَwhere ماwhat عانَيتُI endured مِنof شَغَفٍpassion
أَينَ ما عانَيتُ مِن شَغَفٍ
أَينَwhere ماقَضَّيتُwhat I spent مِنof لَمَمِfleeting follies
أَينَ ماقَضَّيتُ مِن لَمَمِ
Where is all the passion I endured?
Where are the fleeting follies I committed?
أَينَwhere ماwhat أَحرَزتُI secured مِنof أَمَلٍhope
أَينَ ما أَحرَزتُ مِن أَمَلٍ
آلَit ended up يَطوينيenfolding me عَلىin أَلَمِpain
آلَ يَطويني عَلى أَلَمِ
Where is all the hope I secured?
It ended by enfolding me in pain.
هَلَis there لَدَيَّwith me اليَومَtoday مِنهُof it سِوىanything but
هَلَ لَدَيَّ اليَومَ مِنهُ سِوى
طولِlength of قَرعِstriking السِنِّthe tooth مِنfrom نَدَمِregret
طولِ قَرعِ السِنِّ مِن نَدَمِ
What have I of it today except
long gnashing of teeth in regret?
كُلُّevery رَيّانٍquenched one إِلىto ظَمَإٍthirst
كُلُّ رَيّانٍ إِلى ظَمَإٍ
كُلُّevery وِجدانٍattainment إِلىto عَدَمِloss
كُلُّ وِجدانٍ إِلى عَدَمِ
Every quenched soul comes to thirst;
every attainment ends in loss.
أَيُّwhat شَملٍunion غَيرُis not مُنصَدِعٍsundered
أَيُّ شَملٍ غَيرُ مُنصَدِعٍ
أَيُّwhat حَبلٍcord غَيرُis not مُنصَرِمِsevered
أَيُّ حَبلٍ غَيرُ مُنصَرِمِ
What union is not sundered?
What cord is not severed?
آهِah تَحتَbeneath اللَيلِthe night مِنfrom أَرَقٍsleeplessness
آهِ تَحتَ اللَيلِ مِن أَرَقٍ
وَوَراءَand after البُرءِrecovery مِنof سَقَمِsickness
وَوَراءَ البُرءِ مِن سَقَمِ
Ah, the sleeplessness beneath the night,
and the sickness that follows recovery!
مالَturned aside بيwith me عَنfrom عَيشَةٍa life كَرُمَتthat was gracious
مالَ بي عَن عَيشَةٍ كَرُمَت
عُمُرٌa lifetime أَدنىbrought nearer إِلىto الهَرَمِdecrepitude
عُمُرٌ أَدنى إِلى الهَرَمِ
I was turned from a life once gracious
by an age that brought me near decrepitude.
عاثَravaged فيin خَطِّthe line of العِذارِthe cheek-down بِهِthrough it
عاثَ في خَطِّ العِذارِ بِهِ
شَرَرٌsparks قَدalready طارَhad flown فيinto فَحَمِcharcoal
شَرَرٌ قَد طارَ في فَحَمِ
Through it, my line of cheek-down was ravaged
by sparks that had flown into charcoal.
وَبَياضُand the brightness of العَيشِlife مُقتَرِنٌis bound
وَبَياضُ العَيشِ مُقتَرِنٌ
بِسَوادِto the blackness of العُذرِcheek-down وَاللَمَمِand locks of hair
بِسَوادِ العُذرِ وَاللَمَمِ
Life's brightness is bound
to the blackness of cheek-down and locks.
وَكَفانيand enough for me was مَسُّthe touch of فاقَتِهِits poverty
وَكَفاني مَسُّ فاقَتِهِ
أَنthat يُذيعَshould divulge الدَهرُTime مُهتَضَميmy humiliation
أَن يُذيعَ الدَهرُ مُهتَضَمي
And enough for me, of its poverty's sting,
that Time should proclaim my humiliation.
لاno لَعَمرِby the life of المَجدِglory وَالكَرَمِand generosity
لا لَعَمرِ المَجدِ وَالكَرَمِ
وَمَضاءِand the keenness of السَيفِthe sword وَالقَلَمِand the pen
وَمَضاءِ السَيفِ وَالقَلَمِ
No, by the life of glory and generosity,
and the keenness of sword and pen—
قَسَماًan oath بَرّاًfaithful وَيَشفَعُهُand reinforces it
قَسَماً بَرّاً وَيَشفَعُهُ
قَسَمٌan oath أَرعاهُI observe it مِنamong قَسَمِoaths
قَسَمٌ أَرعاهُ مِن قَسَمِ
a faithful oath, reinforced
by an oath I guard among all oaths—
لاnot يَنالُshall assail الدَهرُTime مِنfrom جِهَتيmy side
لا يَنالُ الدَهرُ مِن جِهَتي
وَبِإِبراهيمَand in Ibrahim مُعتَصَميis my refuge
وَبِإِبراهيمَ مُعتَصَمي
Time shall gain no hold upon me,
while in Ibrahim lies my refuge:
الإِمامُthe imam المُستَقِلُّstanding firm بِهِthrough him
الإِمامُ المُستَقِلُّ بِهِ
رُكنُthe pillar of بَيتِthe house of الفَضلِexcellence وَالكَرَمِand generosity
رُكنُ بَيتِ الفَضلِ وَالكَرَمِ
the imam through whom stands firm
the pillar of the house of excellence and generosity;
وَالشِهابُand the meteor المُستَضاءُtaken as a light بِهِthrough it
وَالشِهابُ المُستَضاءُ بِهِ
فيin دَياجيthe deep darkness of الظُلمِinjustice وَالظُلَمِand darkness
في دَياجي الظُلمِ وَالظُلَمِ
the meteor by whose light one sees
through the murk of injustice and darkness.
مِلءُfilling نَفسِthe soul of الدَهرِTime مِنwith شَرَفٍnobility
مِلءُ نَفسِ الدَهرِ مِن شَرَفٍ
قَدindeed رَساstood firm طَوداًas a mountain عَلىupon القِدَمِantiquity
قَد رَسا طَوداً عَلى القِدَمِ
Filling Time's very soul with nobility,
he stands rooted, a mountain, upon antiquity.
وَسَماحٌand generosity باسِطٌextending يَدَهُits hand
وَسَماحٌ باسِطٌ يَدَهُ
بِاليَدِwith the hand الطولىsupreme مِنَof النِعَمِblessings
بِاليَدِ الطولى مِنَ النِعَمِ
Generosity itself, stretching out its hand
with the upper hand in granting favors.
مِنfrom قُرَيشٍQuraysh فيin الصَميمِthe very heart وَمِنand from
مِن قُرَيشٍ في الصَميمِ وَمِن
فِتيَةِthe young warriors of الهَيجاءِbattle فيat القِمَمِthe summits
فِتيَةِ الهَيجاءِ في القِمَمِ
Of Quraysh's very heart, and among
battle's young warriors, at their summits.
حَمَلَتbore زَهوَthe splendor of الكَلامِspeech بِهِthrough him
حَمَلَت زَهوَ الكَلامِ بِهِ
دَولَةٌa state قامَتthat rose عَلىon قَدَمِa firm footing
دَولَةٌ قامَت عَلى قَدَمِ
Through him, proud speech was borne aloft
by a state that stood firmly on its feet.
نَهَضَتit rose فيin كُلِّevery مُعضِلَةٍdifficulty
نَهَضَت في كُلِّ مُعضِلَةٍ
بِوُجودِwith the presence of السَعدِgood fortune فيamong الخَدَمِthe servants
بِوُجودِ السَعدِ في الخَدَمِ
It rose to meet every difficulty,
with good fortune present among its servants,
وَاِهتَدَتand found its way فيin كُلِّevery مَجهَلَةٍunknown waste
وَاِهتَدَت في كُلِّ مَجهَلَةٍ
بِأَبيthrough Abu إِسحاقَIshaq مِنas عَلَمِa landmark
بِأَبي إِسحاقَ مِن عَلَمِ
and found its way through every unknown waste,
with Abu Ishaq as a guiding landmark.
يالَهُhow splendid he is مِنas فارِسٍa horseman نَجِدٍcourageous
يالَهُ مِن فارِسٍ نَجِدٍ
لَوif نَضاhe unsheathed عَنfrom صارِمٍa sharp sword خَذِمِslicing
لَو نَضا عَن صارِمٍ خَذِمِ
What a courageous horseman he is,
were he to unsheathe a keen, slicing blade,
وَاِرتَدىand clothed himself مِنهُwith it عَلىin غَضَبٍanger
وَاِرتَدى مِنهُ عَلى غَضَبٍ
بِحُسامٍin a sword غَيرِnot مُنثَلِمِchipped
بِحُسامٍ غَيرِ مُنثَلِمِ
and, in anger, clothe himself in it,
a sword whose edge is unchipped!
نُضِيَتwere unsheathed يَوماًone day بِهِthrough him ظُبَتاthe two edges of
نُضِيَت يَوماً بِهِ ظُبَتا
مَشرَفِيٍّa Mashrafi sword لَيسَnot بِالقَصِمِbrittle
مَشرَفِيٍّ لَيسَ بِالقَصِمِ
One day, through him, the two edges were drawn
of a Mashrafi sword that never breaks.
كَمhow often مَضىit went on يَفريcleaving وَكَمand how much سَفَكَتspilled
كَم مَضى يَفري وَكَم سَفَكَت
شَفرَتاهُits two edges مِنof عَبيطِfresh دَمِblood
شَفرَتاهُ مِن عَبيطِ دَمِ
How often it went on cleaving; how much
fresh blood its two edges spilled!
وَالحُسامُand the sword المَشرَفِيُّMashrafi هُناhere
وَالحُسامُ المَشرَفِيُّ هُنا
رَمزَةٌa sign توميpointing إِلىto الحَشَمِthe retinue
رَمزَةٌ تومي إِلى الحَشَمِ
The Mashrafi sword here
is a sign pointing to the retinue,
وَرِجالٌand men قادَةٌleaders نُجُبٌnoble-born
وَرِجالٌ قادَةٌ نُجُبٌ
نَزَلواstepped down عَنfrom رُتبَةِthe rank of البُهُمِdauntless champions
نَزَلوا عَن رُتبَةِ البُهُمِ
and men—leaders, noble-born—
who fell below the rank of dauntless champions,
وَأَحَلّواand vacated مِنfrom مَراكِزِهِمtheir stations
وَأَحَلّوا مِن مَراكِزِهِم
وَاِستَطارَتand flew away خَيلُهُمtheir horses بِهِمِwith them
وَاِستَطارَت خَيلُهُم بِهِمِ
and abandoned their stations,
their steeds flying away with them.
فَتَفرّىso parted الجَيشُthe army عَنto reveal مِلكٍa king
فَتَفرّى الجَيشُ عَن مِلكٍ
سافِرٍunveiling عَنfrom وَجهِthe face of مُلتَثِمِa veiled man
سافِرٍ عَن وَجهِ مُلتَثِمِ
Then the army parted to reveal a king,
uncovering a veiled face,
مُقدِمٍadvancing فيin الرَوعِterror مُجتَرِئٍdaring
مُقدِمٍ في الرَوعِ مُجتَرِئٍ
ضارِبٍstriking بِالسَيفِwith the sword مُقتَحِمِplunging in
ضارِبٍ بِالسَيفِ مُقتَحِمِ
bold in terror, daring,
striking with the sword, plunging in.
وَبِهِمand upon them lies ماجَرَّwhatever ... brought ذَلِكَthat مِنof
وَبِهِم ماجَرَّ ذَلِكَ مِن
كَلَمِthe wound of عارٍdisgrace أَوor جَنىthe harvest of كَلِمِwords
كَلَمِ عارٍ أَو جَنى كَلِمِ
Upon them lies whatever that brought of
the wound of disgrace or the harvest of words.
لاdo not تُقَدِّمput forward غَيرَany but مُضطَهَدٍone oppressed
لا تُقَدِّم غَيرَ مُضطَهَدٍ
وَقَريعٍand a champion غَيرِnot مُهتَضِمِabased
وَقَريعٍ غَيرِ مُهتَضِمِ
Put forward none but one oppressed,
a champion, yet unbowed,
صابِرٍpatient فيfor اللَهِGod مُحتَسِبٍseeking His reward
صابِرٍ في اللَهِ مُحتَسِبٍ
واثِقٍtrusting بِاللَهِin God مُعتَصِمِholding fast
واثِقٍ بِاللَهِ مُعتَصِمِ
patient for God's sake, seeking His reward,
trusting in God, holding fast to Him.
فيin the guarantee of ضَمانِthe Mashrafi sword المَشرَفِيِّthrough him understanding:?! بِهِtypo update
في ضَمانِ المَشرَفِيِّ بِهِ
وَقعَةٌa battle لِلعُربِfor the Arabs فيagainst العَجَمِthe non-Arabs
وَقعَةٌ لِلعُربِ في العَجَمِ
Through him, the Mashrafi sword guarantees
a battle for the Arabs against the non-Arabs,
فَتكَةٌa deadly assault فيupon الرومِthe Romans قاصِمَةٌbreaking
فَتكَةٌ في الرومِ قاصِمَةٌ
ظَهرَthe back of عِزِّthe might of الرومِthe Romans وَالصَنَمِand the idol
ظَهرَ عِزِّ الرومِ وَالصَنَمِ
a deadly assault upon the Romans, breaking
the back of the Romans' might and of the idol.
يَجمَعُjoins الضَربُthe stroke التَوأَمُtwin بِهاtherein
يَجمَعُ الضَربُ التَوأَمُ بِها
بَينَbetween فَلِّthe rout of الرومِthe Romans وَالرِمَمَِand decayed bones
بَينَ فَلِّ الرومِ وَالرِمَمَِ
There the twin stroke unites
the Romans' rout and moldering bones.
حَقُّthe right of حِمصٍHims أَنthat تُسَرَّshould rejoice بِهِin him
حَقُّ حِمصٍ أَن تُسَرَّ بِهِ
أَرضُهاits land مِنin عالَمٍa world عَلَمِa beacon
أَرضُها مِن عالَمٍ عَلَمِ
Hims has every right to rejoice in him,
its land rejoicing in a world unto himself, a beacon.
وَغَمامٌand a raincloud دونَbefore رَيِّقِهِits first rain
وَغَمامٌ دونَ رَيِّقِهِ
بَرقُa lightning-flash of بِشرٍgood cheer غَيرُnot مُتَّهَمِfalse
بَرقُ بِشرٍ غَيرُ مُتَّهَمِ
And a raincloud, before whose first rain shines
the unfailing lightning of good cheer.
مَاnot اِبتَدىhe began إِلّاexcept رَأَيتَyou saw بِهِin him
مَا اِبتَدى إِلّا رَأَيتَ بِهِ
شَيخَan elder of رَأيٍjudgment فيin فَتىa youth of كَرَمِgenerosity
شَيخَ رَأيٍ في فَتى كَرَمِ
He never begins without your seeing in him
an elder's judgment in a youth of generosity.
ظَلَّremained يَندىgrowing dewy وَجهُهُhis face خَفَراًfrom modesty
ظَلَّ يَندى وَجهُهُ خَفَراً
وَهوَwhile he is ذاكيbrightly burning شُعلَةِin the flame of الفَهَمِunderstanding
وَهوَ ذاكي شُعلَةِ الفَهَمِ
His face remains dewy with modesty,
while the flame of his understanding burns bright.
سَخِرَتmocked بِالنَجمِthe star هِمَّتُهُhis ambition
سَخِرَت بِالنَجمِ هِمَّتُهُ
وَاِزدَرَتand looked down يُمناهُhis right hand بِالدِيَمِon the steady rains
وَاِزدَرَت يُمناهُ بِالدِيَمِ
His ambition mocked the star,
and his right hand scorned the steady rains.
أَعصَمَتfound protection نَفسُthe soul of اِمرِئٍa man عَلِقَتthat clung
أَعصَمَت نَفسُ اِمرِئٍ عَلِقَت
مِنهُfrom him بِالوُثقىto the firmest مِنَof العِصَمِprotective bonds
مِنهُ بِالوُثقى مِنَ العِصَمِ
A man's soul has found protection, having clung
to the firmest of his protective bonds,
وَاِستَجارَتand sought refuge مِنfrom مُخَيَّمِهِhis encampment
وَاِستَجارَت مِن مُخَيَّمِهِ
بِفَناءِin the courtyard of البَيتِthe House وَالحَرَمِand the Sanctuary
بِفَناءِ البَيتِ وَالحَرَمِ
and sought refuge in his encampment
as in the courtyard of the House and the Sanctuary.
Sol 6.1