أضاءshone بِبُرقَةٍover a stony tract بَرقٌlightning لَموعُbrilliantly flashing
أضاء بِبُرقَةٍ بَرقٌ لَموعُ
فَأَرَّقَةُso it kept him awake وَصُحبَتُهُwhile his companions هُجوعُasleep
فَأَرَّقَةُ وَصُحبَتُهُ هُجوعُ
A flashing bolt of lightning shone over a stony tract,
A flash of lightning lit up the gloomy night,
and kept him awake while his companions slept.
And its flickering light awoke the sleeping heights,
كَإِيمَاءِlike the signaling of الحَوَاجِبِthe eyebrows يَومَon the day of بَينٍparting
كَإِيمَاءِ الحَوَاجِبِ يَومَ بَينٍ
بِتَسلِيمٍin farewell greeting وَقَدwhile indeed غَفَلَwas unaware الجَمِيعُeveryone
بِتَسلِيمٍ وَقَد غَفَلَ الجَمِيعُ
Like eyebrows signaling on a day of parting,
Like an eyebrow's gesture on the day we parted,
a farewell greeting while everyone was unaware.
Bidding farewell while others stayed, unheeded.
كَأنَّas though رَبابَهُits cloud-bank الجَونِيّdark أعياhad grown weary
كَأنَّ رَبابَهُ الجَونِيّ أعيا
فَصُبّso was poured down عَلَيهِupon it مِنof لَهَبٍflame قَطِيعُa whip
فَصُبّ عَلَيهِ مِن لَهَبٍ قَطِيعُ
As though its dark cloud-bank had grown weary,
As if a lovesick lute spilled flames that seethed,
so a whip of flame was brought down upon it.
And molten metal on its frets was poured.
كَأَنَّas though الجَوthe sky صُكّwas struck بِصَارِمَيهِwith its two swords
كَأَنَّ الجَو صُكّ بِصَارِمَيهِ
فَسَالَand streamed عَلَىover حَنَادِسِهِits deepest darkness النّجيعُfresh blood
فَسَالَ عَلَى حَنَادِسِهِ النّجيعُ
As though the sky had been struck with its two swords,
As if the skies were struck by two sharp blades
and fresh blood streamed over its deepest darkness.
And blood ran down their groaning battlements.
كَأنّas though الرّيحَthe wind تَجريruns فِيهِthrough it خَيلٌhorses
كَأنّ الرّيحَ تَجري فِيهِ خَيلٌ
بِأيدِيat the forelegs of الرَّاكِضَاتِthe galloping mares لَهَاfor them شُموعُcandles
بِأيدِي الرَّاكِضَاتِ لَهَا شُموعُ
As though the wind were horses racing through it,
As if the wind raced horses through the gloam,
with candles at the forelegs of the galloping mares.
Their torches held by hands urging them on.
شَجاgrieved صدعُthe cleft of السَّنَاradiance فِيهِwithin it فُؤَاداًa heart
شَجا صدعُ السَّنَا فِيهِ فُؤَاداً
لِرَوعَاتِfrom the terrors of النَّوَىseparation فِيهِin it صُدُوعُcracks
لِرَوعَاتِ النَّوَى فِيهِ صُدُوعُ
A cleft of light within it grieved a heart
It cracked the granite of the mount's stout heart,
cracked by the terrors of separation.
For tremors born within it were not few.
تَذَكّرَhe remembered إِذwhen شَبِيبَتُهُhis youth غُرابٌa raven
تَذَكّرَ إِذ شَبِيبَتُهُ غُرابٌ
لَهُfor it فِيin رَوضِthe garden of عِفّتِهِhis chastity وُقُوعُalighting
لَهُ فِي رَوضِ عِفّتِهِ وُقُوعُ
He remembered when his youth was a raven
It brought back days when crows, young and naive,
alighting in the garden of his chastity;
Nested in meadows of its chastity.
وَإذand when مَرمَىthe reach of غَوَانِيهِhis fair women قَرِيبٌnear
وَإذ مَرمَى غَوَانِيهِ قَرِيبٌ
إلَيهِto him وَخَطوًand the stride of هِمَّتِهِhis ambition ذَرِيعُlong
إلَيهِ وَخَطوً هِمَّتِهِ ذَرِيعُ
and when his fair women were within reach,
When loved ones lived nearby and often came,
close to him, and his ambition took long strides;
Though steep the paths and difficult to scale.
وَإذand when وَادِيthe valley of صَبَابَتِهِhis passionate longing مَرِيعٌlush
وَإذ وَادِي صَبَابَتِهِ مَرِيعٌ
عَلَيهِover it لِلتّقَىfor piety حِصنٌa fortress مَنِيعُimpregnable
عَلَيهِ لِلتّقَى حِصنٌ مَنِيعُ
and when the valley of his passionate longing was lush,
When life was like a docile, quiet wadi,
guarded by an impregnable fortress of piety.
Though virtue built around it many a keep.
وَلَكِنّand yet الشَّبَابَyouth إِذَاwhen تَوَلَّىdeparts
وَلَكِنّ الشَّبَابَ إِذَا تَوَلَّى
فَصَعبٌthen it is hard أَنthat يَكُونَthere should be لَهُfor it رُجُوعُa return
فَصَعبٌ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ رُجُوعُ
But when youth departs,
But youth, when gone, does not come back anew,
it is hard for it to return.
And none can stop time's wheel its course pursuing.
وَمَنand whoever لَمdoes not يَستَطِعhave the ability رَدّاًa restoration لِشَيءٍof something
وَمَن لَم يَستَطِع رَدّاً لِشَيءٍ
فَإِنَّfor indeed الصَّبرَendurance عَنهُwithout it يَستَطِيعُhe can manage
فَإِنَّ الصَّبرَ عَنهُ يَستَطِيعُ
And whoever cannot bring something back
When will denies me power to change one thing,
can still bear doing without it.
Patience alone remains for me to wield.
إِذَاwhen شَيطَانُthe devil of أَطمَاعِيmy cravings عَصَانِيdisobeys me
إِذَا شَيطَانُ أَطمَاعِي عَصَانِي
فإنَّthen indeed قَنَاعَتِيmy contentment مَلَكٌan angel مُطِيعُobedient
فإنَّ قَنَاعَتِي مَلَكٌ مُطِيعُ
When the devil of my cravings disobeys me,
If appetite and greed try to misguide,
my contentment is an obedient angel.
Contentment is an angel kind and true.
وَمَنand whomever وَطِئَتهُtrampled him أَقدَامُthe feet of المَنَايَاdeaths
وَمَن وَطِئَتهُ أَقدَامُ المَنَايَا
فَإِنِّيfor I am ذَلِكَthat النّيقُmountain peak الرَّفِيعُlofty
فَإِنِّي ذَلِكَ النّيقُ الرَّفِيعُ
And whomever the feet of death may trample,
And those the feet of death have come upon,
I am that lofty mountain peak.
Are but that proud and noble falcon freed.
وَإنand if صَالَattacks الزّمانُTime فإِِنَّthen indeed عَزماًa resolve
وَإن صَالَ الزّمانُ فإِِنَّ عَزماً
لَدّيّwithin me الأَنفِthe nose of صَولَتِهِits assault جَدُوعُsevering
لَدّيّ الأَنفِ صَولَتِهِ جَدُوعُ
And if Time attacks, there is a resolve
Though time may twist its flowing current awry,
within me that severs the nose of its assault.
My will shall dam its tide like branches hewed.
وَإِنand if تَضِقِgrows cramped البلادُthe lands فَثَمّthen there عَيشٌa livelihood
وَإِن تَضِقِ البلادُ فَثَمّ عَيشٌ
وَثَمَّand there مَهَامِهٌفِيحٌvast, open wildernesses وَرِيعُand uplands
وَثَمَّ مَهَامِهٌفِيحٌ وَرِيعُ
And if the lands grow cramped, elsewhere there is a livelihood,
Though lands may narrow, life has bread and meat,
and there are vast wildernesses and uplands.
And generous, righteous acts that I may do.
وَإنand if مَحَلَgrows rainless الغَمَامُthe clouds فَلِلقَوَافِيthen for the rhymes
وَإن مَحَلَ الغَمَامُ فَلِلقَوَافِي
غَمَامٌa cloud نَبتُthe herbage of مَسقَطِهِwhere its rain falls مَرِيعُlush
غَمَامٌ نَبتُ مَسقَطِهِ مَرِيعُ
And if the clouds grow rainless, the rhymes have
Though clouds may muster, twisting verse's rhyme
a cloud whose rainfall makes the herbage lush.
Can sprout thick banks of clouds when ink is spewed.
وَلَمand have not يُمحِلgrown barren رِيَاضُthe gardens of بَنَاتِthe daughters of فِكرٍthought
وَلَم يُمحِل رِيَاضُ بَنَاتِ فِكرٍ
وَمَاءُand the water of أبِيAbu (father of) الرَّبيعِal-Rabi (spring) لَهَاfor them رَبِيعُspringtime
وَمَاءُ أبِي الرَّبيعِ لَهَا رَبِيعُ
The gardens of the daughters of thought have not grown barren,
Gardens of thought still yield their fruit diverse,
and Abu al-Rabi's water is their springtime.
As showers of the spring their life renew.
ولاnor أخوَتhave set نُجُومُthe stars of سَمَاءِthe sky of مَجدٍglory
ولا أخوَت نُجُومُ سَمَاءِ مَجدٍ
لَهَاfor them مِنfrom أُفقِthe horizon of سُؤدَدِهِhis nobility طُلُوعُrising
لَهَا مِن أُفقِ سُؤدَدِهِ طُلُوعُ
Nor have the stars in the sky of glory set;
Still rise the sister stars in glory's sky,
they rise from the horizon of his nobility.
Their radiant dawn breaks on the edge of blue.
تَنَامُsleep عُفَاتُهُhis petitioners شِبَعاًsated وَرَيّاًand quenched
تَنَامُ عُفَاتُهُ شِبَعاً وَرَيّاً
إذَاwhen ذادَdrives away الكَرَىsleep ظَمَأthirst وَجوعُand hunger
إذَا ذادَ الكَرَى ظَمَأ وَجوعُ
His petitioners sleep sated and quenched,
Full-fed, his chastity will sleep in peace,
when thirst and hunger drive sleep away.
When dearth and hunger spread their dismal hue.
وَيُورِدُand he leads to water مِنfrom مَوَاهِبِهِhis gifts بِحَاراًseas
وَيُورِدُ مِن مَوَاهِبِهِ بِحَاراً
إذَاwhen يَبِسَتdry up منَfrom الشّظفِhardship الدُّمُوعُthe tears
إذَا يَبِسَت منَ الشّظفِ الدُّمُوعُ
And he leads them to seas of his gifts,
His gifts pour seas when teardrops are but drops,
when hardship has dried their tears.
His orchards grow heavy when branches are few.
ويُجنَىand is harvested دوحُthe great trees of أنعمهhis favors رطَاباfresh fruit
ويُجنَى دوحُ أنعمه رطَابا
إِذاwhen اصفَرَّتturn yellow عَلَىupon الغُصنِthe bough الفُروعُthe shoots
إِذا اصفَرَّت عَلَى الغُصنِ الفُروعُ
And fresh fruit is gathered from the great trees of his favors,
Nurses forget their young and mothers' hearts
when the shoots upon the bough have yellowed,
Will not be filled when udders give no dew.
وأُذهلَتِand are distracted المَرَاضِعُthe nursing mothers عَنfrom بَنِيهَاtheir children
وأُذهلَتِ المَرَاضِعُ عَن بَنِيهَا
وَأنسِيَand is made to forget أمَّهُits mother الضَّرعَthe udder التَّبِيعُthe calf
وَأنسِيَ أمَّهُ الضَّرعَ التَّبِيعُ
and nursing mothers are distracted from their children,
He tends the marches, no dissenting hearts,
and the calf is made to forget its mother's udder.
No wealth is wasted, no man swerves untrue.
رَعَىtended أمرَthe affairs of الثُّغورِthe frontiers فَلاso no قُلُوبٌhearts
رَعَى أمرَ الثُّغورِ فَلا قُلُوبٌ
تُخالِفُهُoppose him ولاand no مَالٌwealth يَضِيعُgoes to waste
تُخالِفُهُ ولا مَالٌ يَضِيعُ
He tended the affairs of the frontiers, so no hearts
But grace of God has spread o'er all instead,
oppose him, and no wealth goes to waste.
And every tribe gives thanks in chorus due.
وَلَكنand yet مِنّةa favor لِلّهِfrom God عَمَّتembraced all
وَلَكن مِنّة لِلّهِ عَمَّت
وَأعلَنَand proclaimed شكرَهَاthanks for it المَلأُthe assembly الجَمِيعُall
وَأعلَنَ شكرَهَا المَلأُ الجَمِيعُ
But a favor from God has embraced all,
None but denies by his own artifice,
and the whole assembly has proclaimed its thanks.
Though intentions fair may meet fortunes rude.
وَمََنand whoever يَجحَدdenies فَمَاthen not حُرِمَwas deprived of اصطِنَاعاًkind treatment
وَمََن يَجحَد فَمَا حُرِمَ اصطِنَاعاً
وَلَكِنand yet رُبَّمَاsometimes خابَcomes to nothing الصَّنِيعُa kindness
وَلَكِن رُبَّمَا خابَ الصَّنِيعُ
And whoever denies it has not been deprived of kindness,
One whose nature is to raven and rend
but kindness sometimes comes to nothing.
May gift a torrent when his mood comes true.
إذwhen استشرىhe grows fierce سَطَاhe attacks ليثٌa lion هَصورٌcrushing
إذ استشرى سَطَا ليثٌ هَصورٌ
وَإنand when أعطَىhe gives هَمَىغيثٌrain pours down هَمُوعُcopiously flowing
وَإن أعطَى هَمَىغيثٌ هَمُوعُ
When he grows fierce, he strikes as a crushing lion;
Raiment of reverence makes him a defender,
and when he gives, copious rain pours down.
By him the armorer's craft is given its due.
تَسَربَلَclothed himself مِنfrom مَهَابَتِهِhis awe-inspiring majesty دلاصاًpolished armor
تَسَربَلَ مِن مَهَابَتِهِ دلاصاً
يُفَلّis blunted بِهَاby it السُّرَيجيُّthe Surayji sword الصَّنيعُfinely wrought
يُفَلّ بِهَا السُّرَيجيُّ الصَّنيعُ
He donned his awe-inspiring majesty as polished armor,
His strength has forged a sword to smite and sever,
against which the finely wrought Surayji sword is blunted.
With it the mailcoat and the helm lie hewed.
وَأصلَتَand he unsheathed مِنfrom عَزِيمَتِهِhis resolve حُساماًa cutting sword
وَأصلَتَ مِن عَزِيمَتِهِ حُساماً
تُقَدُّare cleft بِهِwith it الجَوَاشِنُthe breastplates وَالدُّروعُand coats of mail
تُقَدُّ بِهِ الجَوَاشِنُ وَالدُّروعُ
And from his resolve he drew a cutting sword,
In gloom, his blade will strike his foeman ever,
with which breastplates and coats of mail are cleft.
For at its lifting, many dead accrue.
فَمَهمَاthen whenever ثَارَrises فِيin جَوٍّthe air قَتامٌbattle-dust
فَمَهمَا ثَارَ فِي جَوٍّ قَتامٌ
فَفِيهِthen within it لرَفعِat the raising of شَفرَتِهِhis blade صَرِيعُone slain
فَفِيهِ لرَفعِ شَفرَتِهِ صَرِيعُ
Whenever battle-dust rises in the air,
Some prostrate low before his might and power,
one lies slain there at the lifting of his blade.
Some bow their heads in humbleness anew.
لَهُfor it فِيat سُوقِهِمtheir shins طَوراًat times سُجُودٌprostration
لَهُ فِي سُوقِهِم طَوراً سُجُودٌ
وَفِيand upon هَامَاتِهِمtheir heads طَوراًat times رُكُوعُbowing
وَفِي هَامَاتِهِم طَوراً رُكُوعُ
At times it prostrates itself at their shins,
He tames wild souls, serene and suppliant made,
and at times bows upon their heads.
Meekness and awe upon their faces grew.
سَمِيُّnamesake of مُسَخّرِthe subduer of الأروَاحِthe winds فِيهِwithin him
سَمِيُّ مُسَخّرِ الأروَاحِ فِيهِ
مِنَof الهَديright conduct السَّكِينَةُserenity وَالخُشوعُand humility
مِنَ الهَدي السَّكِينَةُ وَالخُشوعُ
Namesake of the subduer of winds, within him
Had that Defender given him the throne,
are the serenity and humility of right conduct.
A trustee he'd be, no breach of trust he'd do.
فَلَوso if وَلاّهhe entrusted him ذاكَthat الملكَkingdom وَلّىhe appointed
فَلَو وَلاّه ذاكَ الملكَ وَلّى
أَمِيناa trustworthy man لاnot يخونُbetrays ولاand not يَضِيعُlets things go to waste
أَمِينا لا يخونُ ولا يَضِيعُ
Had he entrusted him with that kingdom, he would have appointed
Tomorrow we'd be his ribs protecting all,
a trustworthy man who neither betrays nor lets things go to waste.
Be they of ivory or basalt hue.
غَداbecame قَلباًa heart وَنَحنُand we لَهُfor him ضُلوعٌribs
غَدا قَلباً وَنَحنُ لَهُ ضُلوعٌ
تَحُفّsurround بِهِaround him فَدَانٍso one nearby أَوor شَسُوعُone far away
تَحُفّ بِهِ فَدَانٍ أَو شَسُوعُ
He has become a heart, and we are ribs for him,
Kindness he shows, as ribs curve round the heart,
encircling him, whether near or far.
No deficiency reveals their form, 'tis true.
وَلكِنand yet بِرُّهُhis kindness يَحنوbends protectively عَلَينَاover us
وَلكِن بِرُّهُ يَحنو عَلَينَا
كَمَاjust as تَحنوbend عَلَىover القَلبِthe heart الضُّلُوعُthe ribs
كَمَا تَحنو عَلَى القَلبِ الضُّلُوعُ
Yet his kindness bends protectively over us,
Our chiefs, how well their reins have bound us fast,
as ribs bend over the heart.
Obedience worn while hard their burdens grew!
أَقَائِدَنَاO our leader لَكَمhow many قيدَتwere led إلَينَاto us
أَقَائِدَنَا لَكَم قيدَت إلَينَا
أمَانٍwishes فِيin أزِمِّتهاtheir reins خَضُوعُsubmissive
أمَانٍ فِي أزِمِّتها خَضُوعُ
O our leader, how many have been led toward us—
We reaped beneath your shade rich harvests' gain,
wishes, submissive beneath their reins!
No fear to haunt, alarm us nor subdue.
قَطَفناwe plucked فِيin ظلالِكُمُyour shade جَناهاtheir fruit
قَطَفنا فِي ظلالِكُمُ جَناها
ولاand no خَطبٌcalamity يَعُوقُhinders ولاand no يَرُوعُalarms
ولا خَطبٌ يَعُوقُ ولا يَرُوعُ
We plucked their fruit beneath your shade,
Your advent made existence bloom afresh,
with no calamity to hinder or alarm us.
As rain on meadows makes their green renew.
حَيِينَاwe lived بانتِجاعِكُمُby seeking your bounty حَيَاةًa life
حَيِينَا بانتِجاعِكُمُ حَيَاةً
كَقَطرِlike drops of الغيثِrain مَوقِعُهُwhere it falls نَجيعُbeneficial
كَقَطرِ الغيثِ مَوقِعُهُ نَجيعُ
In seeking your bounty, we lived a life
Your favor was our intercessor's robe
like rain whose fall is life-giving.
When pressed by nights - great favors you bestow!
وَكَانand was شَفِيعَنَاour intercessor عِندَbefore اللَّيَالِيthe nights
وَكَان شَفِيعَنَا عِندَ اللَّيَالِي
رَجَاؤُكُمُour hope in you فَيَاso, oh نِعمَexcellent is الشَّفِيعُthe intercessor
رَجَاؤُكُمُ فَيَا نِعمَ الشَّفِيعُ
And our intercessor before the nights was
May He who rewards all good repay you well,
our hope in you—what an excellent intercessor!
For payment from our hands will not accrue.
جَزَاكُمmay he reward you شَاكِرُthe rewarder of الإِحسَانِkindness عَنَّاon our behalf
جَزَاكُم شَاكِرُ الإِحسَانِ عَنَّا
فَإِنَّfor indeed جَزَاءَكُمyour recompense لاnot نَستَطِيعُwe can
فَإِنَّ جَزَاءَكُم لا نَستَطِيعُ
May the Rewarder of kindness repay you on our behalf,
And blessings as the Feast of Sacrifice dawns anew!
for we cannot repay you.
Its radiant morn adorned by your light's hue.
وَهَنَّأكُمand may he gladden you بِغُرّةat the bright beginning of عيدِthe feast of نَحرٍsacrifice
وَهَنَّأكُم بِغُرّة عيدِ نَحرٍ
لِرِونَقِهَاfor its splendor بِبَهجَتِكُمthrough your joy سُطُوعُshining
لِرِونَقِهَا بِبَهجَتِكُم سُطُوعُ
And may He gladden you at the bright dawn of the Feast of Sacrifice,
Your gifts at hand for slaughter offerings made,
whose splendor shines with your joy.
Your perfumes spread as fires of good works strew.
مَنَائِحُthe gifts of جودِكُمyour generosity فِيهِduring it تُضَحّيare offered in sacrifice
مَنَائِحُ جودِكُم فِيهِ تُضَحّي
وَصَائِكُand the heady scent of طِيبِكُمyour perfume فِيهِduring it يَضُوعُwafts fragrantly
وَصَائِكُ طِيبِكُم فِيهِ يَضُوعُ
The gifts of your bounty are offered as sacrifices during it,
Last long your days, while lightning cleaves the clouds,
and the heady scent of your perfume wafts through it.
And gloom is pierced by gleam when nights are through!
وَدُمتُمand may you endure مَاas long as حَدَاdrives onward بَرقٌlightning سَحَاباًclouds
وَدُمتُم مَا حَدَا بَرقٌ سَحَاباً
وَمَاand as long as جَلّىdispels دُجَىthe darkness of لَيلٍnight صَدِيعُdawn
وَمَا جَلّى دُجَى لَيلٍ صَدِيعُ
And may you endure as long as lightning drives clouds onward,
and as long as dawn dispels the darkness of night.
Partial English translation: 82 of 84 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1