رِضاًcontentment بِحُكمِwith the decree of اللَهِGod لاnot سُخطاresentment
رِضاً بِحُكمِ اللَهِ لا سُخطا
بِعَدلِهِin His justice يَأخُذُHe takes ماwhat أَعطىHe gave
بِعَدلِهِ يَأخُذُ ما أَعطى
Contentment with God's decree, not resentment;
I accept God’s decree with contentment, not resentment; in His justice, He takes back what He bestowed.
In His justice He takes what He gave.
Fate has not betrayed nor hindered me; it is God who tests and decrees the just measure.
ماnot عَقَّنيwronged me الدَهرُTime وَلاnor عاقَنيhindered me
ما عَقَّني الدَهرُ وَلا عاقَني
اللَهُGod أَبلىput to the test وَقَضىand decreed القِسطاjustice
اللَهُ أَبلى وَقَضى القِسطا
Time has neither wronged me nor hindered me;
Others, when struck by misfortune, claim the nights have dealt a cruel and unjust blow.
God tested me and decreed justice.
If you have exceeded all bounds in blaming me, O critic, know that my sorrow, too, has surpassed all limits.
غَيريsomeone other than me إِذاwhen غَيَّرَهُaltered him حادِثٌa calamity
غَيري إِذا غَيَّرَهُ حادِثٌ
قالَsaid اللَياليthe nights أَحكَمَتfirmly wrought قسطاinjustice
قالَ اللَيالي أَحكَمَت قسطا
Someone else, when a calamity alters him,
Jacob’s own sons reproached him, yet he heeded not a single one of them in his grief.
Says: the nights have perfected injustice.
Look at my tears and fear their deluge; look at my sighs and beware their scorching heat.
إِنif جزتَyou surpassed إِفراطَكَyour excess ياO لائِميmy reproacher
إِن جزتَ إِفراطَكَ يا لائِمي
الحُزنَgrief أَيضاًtoo جاوَزَsurpassed الفَرطاexcess
الحُزنَ أَيضاً جاوَزَ الفَرطا
If you have surpassed your own excess, O my reproacher,
Death assaulted Abd al-Ghani, proving fiercer than the lions of the wild thicket.
Grief, too, has gone beyond all bounds.
I parted from my sweet basil, and with him went my soul, my lifeblood, my kin, and my tribe.
قَدindeed عَذَلتَrebuked يَعقوبَJacob أَسباطُهُhis sons
قَد عَذَلتَ يَعقوبَ أَسباطُهُ
فَلَمyet did not يُطِعobey فيin حُزنِهِhis grief سِبطاa son
فَلَم يُطِع في حُزنِهِ سِبطا
Jacob was indeed reproached by his sons,
To a bereaved one in the darkness I cried: "Who has snuffed out the candle?"
Yet in his grief he heeded not one son.
She replied, "It is a star that has set and fallen," and I was overwhelmed by a covering flood of tears.
اِنظُرlook at دُموعيmy tears وَاِخشَand fear طوفانَهاtheir flood
اِنظُر دُموعي وَاِخشَ طوفانَها
وَاِنظُرand look at زَفيريmy sighing وَاِحذَرِand beware القَنطاdespair
وَاِنظُر زَفيري وَاِحذَرِ القَنطا
Look at my tears, and fear their flood;
The horizon turned dark, yet through him, the heart of the cemetery was set aglow.
And look at my sighing, and beware despair.
The gravedigger wailed when he saw what radiant meteor he was covering with dust.
سَطاassailed عَلىupon عَبدِAbd (servant of) الغنيّal-Ghani (the Self-Sufficient) الرَدىdeath
سَطا عَلى عَبدِ الغنيّ الرَدى
وَكانَand was مِنthan أسدِthe lions of الشَرىal-Shara أَسطىfiercer in assault
وَكانَ مِن أسدِ الشَرى أَسطى
Death assailed Abd al-Ghani,
I cried, "Woe to you, and woe to me! How has such a star fallen and crashed to earth?"
And was fiercer than the lions of al-Shara.
"Do not bury Jupiter beneath the soil; let our faces serve as the ground for him to rest."
فارَقتI parted from ريحانيmy sweet basil وَروحيand my soul بِهِwith him
فارَقت ريحاني وَروحي بِهِ
وَمُهجَتيand my heart's blood وَالأَهلand the family وَالرَهطاand the kinfolk
وَمُهجَتي وَالأَهل وَالرَهطا
I parted from my sweet basil, and with him my soul,
He replied, seeing what I saw, "What God has prepared for him suffices."
My heart's blood, my family, and my kin.
"Rejoice in God’s good pleasure; whoever offers up such a one is safe from Divine wrath."
وَثاكِلٌand a bereaved parent قُلتُI said لَهُto him فيin الدُجىthe darkness
وَثاكِلٌ قُلتُ لَهُ في الدُجى
قَدindeed أَطفَأَextinguished الشَمعَةَthe candle منwhoever قَطّاtrimmed the wick
قَد أَطفَأَ الشَمعَةَ من قَطّا
And to a bereaved parent I said in the darkness:
I said, "He is innocent, while I am a sinner; can the deprived and the gifted ever be equal?"
The one who trimmed its wick has extinguished the candle.
A branch of youth, lathed from pure gold—glory to the One who perfected his form!
قالَتshe said هُوَhe النَجمُthe star هَوىfell آفِلاًsetting
قالَت هُوَ النَجمُ هَوى آفِلاً
فَغَطَّنيthen enveloped me الدَمعُtears الَّذيwhich غَطّىenveloped
فَغَطَّني الدَمعُ الَّذي غَطّى
She said: he is the star, fallen as it set.
Upon its summit the full moon was set, and the stars were fashioned into his earrings.
Then the enveloping tears enveloped me.
Kept close within the curtained rooms; when he appeared not, he was wrapped in the cloak of seclusion.
وَأَظلَمَand darkened الأُفقُthe horizon وَلكِنbut بِهِthrough him
وَأَظلَمَ الأُفقُ وَلكِن بِهِ
أَنارَتshone المَقبَرَةُthe cemetery الوسطاcentral
أَنارَت المَقبَرَةُ الوسطا
And the horizon darkened, but through him
When he recited, how eloquent his tongue; and when he wrote, how exquisite his script!
The central cemetery shone.
Whenever his handwriting is praised to me, my cheek stains red with the drops of my blood.
وَأَعوَلَand wailed القابِرُthe gravedigger لَمّاwhen رَأىhe saw
وَأَعوَلَ القابِرُ لَمّا رَأى
أَيَّwhat a شِهابٍblazing star بِالثَرىwith earth غَطّىhe covered
أَيَّ شِهابٍ بِالثَرى غَطّى
And the gravedigger wailed when he saw
It was a marvel that he taught precision to the very tutors who sought to instruct him.
What a blazing star he had covered with earth.
For many are called scholars, yet know neither the deep waters nor the shore.
فَقُلتُthen I said ياO وَيحَكَalas for you وَالوَيحُand the woe ليfor me
فَقُلتُ يا وَيحَكَ وَالوَيحُ لي
كَيفَhow هَوىfell الكَوكَبُthe star وَاِنحَطّاand sank
كَيفَ هَوى الكَوكَبُ وَاِنحَطّا
Then I said: alas for you—and alas for me—
Through him, I defied Fate while he was young, even as the days crept upon me with gray hair.
How has the star fallen and sunk so low?
But when Death passed its judgment upon him, I was left powerless, unable to move a hand.
لاdo not تَضعَنَّever lay المُشتَريJupiter فيin الثَرىthe earth
لا تَضعَنَّ المُشتَري في الثَرى
وَاِجعَلand make لَهُfor him أَوجُهَناour faces بُسطاcarpets
وَاِجعَل لَهُ أَوجُهَنا بُسطا
Do not lay Jupiter in the earth;
Do not speak his name, lest you spill my blood and scatter the pearl-string of my tears.
And make our faces carpets for him.
At the mention of him, the moisture dries in my mouth, and I cannot swallow for grief.
فَقالَthen he said ليto me وَهوَwhile he يَرىsees ماwhat أَرىI see
فَقالَ لي وَهوَ يَرى ما أَرى
يَكفيهِsuffices for him ماwhat اللَهُGod لَهُfor him وَطّاprepared
يَكفيهِ ما اللَهُ لَهُ وَطّا
He said to me, seeing what I saw:
If he were gone but the blink of an eye, I would cry out that he had tarried too long.
What God has prepared for him suffices.
How then can I bear patience, knowing for certain he will never draw near now that he has departed?
أَبشِرrejoice بِرضوانٍin good pleasure مِنَfrom اللَهِGod مَنwhoever
أَبشِر بِرضوانٍ مِنَ اللَهِ مَن
قَدَّمَsent ahead هذاthis one أَمِنَis safe from السُخطاwrath
قَدَّمَ هذا أَمِنَ السُخطا
Rejoice in God's good pleasure: whoever
I weep when I see his traces, like Imru' al-Qais gazing upon the sands of the Siqt.
Has sent this one ahead is safe from wrath.
How often has the viper bitten me since he left, though once I charmed the speckled snakes with his name.
قُلتُI said بَريءِinnocent وَأَناwhile I مُذنِبٌa sinner
قُلتُ بَريءِ وَأَنا مُذنِبٌ
هَلdoes? يَستَويbe equal المَحرومُthe deprived وَالمعطىand the endowed
هَل يَستَوي المَحرومُ وَالمعطى
I said: he is innocent, while I am a sinner.
O traveler who has pitched camp beneath the dust, taking my heart in the saddlebags you unloaded!
Are the deprived and the endowed equal?
Had your mother known she would never see your face again, she would never have harbored anger.
غُصنُa bough of الصِباyouth المَخروطُcarved مِنfrom عَسجَدgold
غُصنُ الصِبا المَخروطُ مِن عَسجَد
سُبحانَglory to مَنthe One who أَحكَمهُperfected it خَرطاin carving
سُبحانَ مَن أَحكَمهُ خَرطا
A bough of youth, carved from gold—
She kept a lock of your hair to console herself, a tress that once left fragrance on the comb.
Glory to Him who perfected its carving!
Your scent remains within it; when its perfume wafts, it binds the wounds of her grieving heart.
رُكِّبَwas set فيat أَعلاهُhis crown بَدرُthe full moon of الدُجىthe night
رُكِّبَ في أَعلاهُ بَدرُ الدُجى
وَصَيَّرَand He made النَجمthe star لَهُfor him قُرطاan earring
وَصَيَّرَ النَجم لَهُ قُرطا
The full moon of night was set at his crown,
Today I envy her that keepsake; were she to grant it to me, she would fulfill our bond.
And He made the star an earring for him.
But she sought other children in your place—may God grant no replacement nor gift!
قَرَّبَهُdrew him close الخِدرُthe curtained chamber إِذاwhen عَنhe appeared لَمnot
قَرَّبَهُ الخِدرُ إِذا عَن لَم
يَهتَدِdiscern إِنif يَشتَمِلِhe wraps himself in المَرطاthe mantle
يَهتَدِ إِن يَشتَمِلِ المَرطا
The curtained chamber drew him close; when he appeared, one could not
She crossed the sea, but had she been punished for her sin, she would never have reached the shore.
Recognize him if he wrapped himself in the mantle.
She chose the Berbers over her own Arabs; soon she will fancy the Romans and the Copts.
يقراhe reads فَماthen how أَفصَحَeloquent فاهُhis mouth وَإِنand if
يقرا فَما أَفصَحَ فاهُ وَإِن
يَكتُبhe writes فَماthen how أَحسَنهُbeautiful he is خَطّاin handwriting
يَكتُب فَما أَحسَنهُ خَطّا
He reads—how eloquent his mouth! And if
Like the people of Sheba, she exchanged her two gardens for bitter fruit and tamarisk.
He writes—how beautiful his script!
She found relief in distance; would that she had only moved from Tinnis to Qift!
أَكُلَّماevery time? يوصفُis described ليto me نَقطُهُhis dotting
أَكُلَّما يوصفُ لي نَقطُهُ
يَحمَرُّreddens خَدّيmy cheek بِدَميwith my blood نَقطاin dots
يَحمَرُّ خَدّي بِدَمي نَقطا
Whenever his dotting is described to me, must
Yet I ask God to forgive her sin; for were humans infallible, they would never err.
My cheek redden, dotted with my blood?
I followed her steps into error, and perhaps it was I who was the more mistaken.
وَكانَand there was فيهِin him عَجَبُa marvel أَنَّهُthat he
وَكانَ فيهِ عَجَبُ أَنَّهُ
عَلَّمَtaught مَنthe one who أَدَّبَهُschooled him الضَبطاaccuracy
عَلَّمَ مَن أَدَّبَهُ الضَبطا
And the wonder in him was that
She remained young while I grew old, and beautiful women despise the sight of gray at the temples.
He taught accuracy to the one who schooled him.
It is the sigh of a heavy heart; were its breath to rise, it would scorch the desert scrub.
وَرُبَّand many a مَنone whom يَدعونَهُthey call him مُقرِئاa recitation teacher
وَرُبَّ مَن يَدعونَهُ مُقرِئا
وَماand not دَرىknew الغَرقَdrowning وَلاnor الشَطّاthe shore
وَما دَرى الغَرقَ وَلا الشَطّا
And many a man they call a recitation teacher
I am one who complains that Death snapped his branch just as it grew lush and tall.
Knows neither drowning nor the shore.
Death hastened to strike him down, quick as an envious hand snatching a fallen prize.
صُلتُI defied عَلىagainst الدَهرِTime بِهِthrough him يافِعاًyouthful
صُلتُ عَلى الدَهرِ بِهِ يافِعاً
وَدَبَّتand crept الأَيّامُthe days ليtoward me شمطاgray-haired
وَدَبَّت الأَيّامُ لي شمطا
I defied Time through him, in youthful vigor,
The thirsty one sought rain in the tomb, but found there only drought.
And the days crept toward me, gray-haired.
Could he be ransomed—he who was pure gold while all others are base alloy—
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen حُكِّمَwas given power فيهِover him الرَدىdeath
حَتّى إِذا حُكِّمَ فيهِ الرَدى
لَمnot أَستَطِعI could قَبضاًgrasping وَلاnor بَسطاreleasing
لَم أَستَطِع قَبضاً وَلا بَسطا
Until, when death was given power over him,
Then radiant stars would pay his ransom, stars that guide the blind wanderer stumbling through the night.
I could neither grasp nor release.
Noble ones who never left their homeland, though their gaze reached India and the lands of war.
لاdo not تَذكُروهُmention him فَتُريقواlest you spill دَميmy blood
لا تَذكُروهُ فَتُريقوا دَمي
وَتَنثُرواand scatter مِنfrom أَدمُعيmy tears سِمطاa necklace
وَتَنثُروا مِن أَدمُعي سِمطا
Do not mention him, lest you spill my blood
They are God's lions; it is as if He created shields solely for their defense.
And scatter a necklace of my tears.
The rhyme of 'Zha' failed me in your elegy, my only one; how then shall I manage the 'Ta'?
حَديثُهُmention of him جَفَّdried بِهِat it فيin فَميmy mouth
حَديثُهُ جَفَّ بِهِ في فَمي
ريقيmy saliva فَماso not اِسطَعتُI could لَهُof it سَرطاa swallowing
ريقي فَما اِسطَعتُ لَهُ سَرطا
At the mention of him, there dried within my mouth
Yet I see that death is the path of every youth, a rugged steed that must inevitably be ridden.
My saliva; I could not swallow it.
كُنتُI used to إِذاwhen ماever غابَhe was absent مقدارَfor the span of ماthat
كُنتُ إِذا ما غابَ مقدارَ ما
يَرتَدُّreturns طَرفيmy glance قَلتُI said قَدalready أَبطاhe tarried
يَرتَدُّ طَرفي قَلتُ قَد أَبطا
Whenever he was gone for the time it took
My glance to return, I would say: he has tarried.
فَكَيفَso how صَبريmy patience وَأَناwhile I موقِنٌam certain
فَكَيفَ صَبري وَأَنا موقِنٌ
أَنthat لَيسَdoes not يَدنوdraw near بَعدَماafter شَطّاhe went far away
أَن لَيسَ يَدنو بَعدَما شَطّا
How, then, can I be patient, when I am certain
That he will not draw near after going far away?
أَبكيI weep إِذاwhen أَبصَرتُI see آثارَهُhis traces
أَبكي إِذا أَبصَرتُ آثارَهُ
مِثلَlike اِمرئِImru' القَيسِal-Qays رَأىhe saw السِّقطاal-Siqt (the sand's edge)
مِثلَ اِمرئِ القَيسِ رَأى السِّقطا
I weep when I see his traces,
Like Imru' al-Qays when he saw al-Siqt.
كَمhow many لَدَغَتنيbit me حَيَّةٌa snake بَعدَهُafter him
كَم لَدَغَتني حَيَّةٌ بَعدَهُ
وَكُنتُand I used to أَرقيcharm بِاِسمِهِwith his name الرُقطاthe speckled snakes
وَكُنتُ أَرقي بِاِسمِهِ الرُقطا
How many snakes have bitten me since him,
When I once charmed the speckled snakes with his name!
ياO راحِلاًdeparted traveler عَرَّسَmade a night-halt تَحتَbeneath الثَرىthe earth
يا راحِلاً عَرَّسَ تَحتَ الثَرى
وَالقَلبُand the heart فيin الرَحلِthe baggage الَّذيwhich حَطّاhe set down
وَالقَلبُ في الرَحلِ الَّذي حَطّا
O traveler who made his night-halt beneath the earth,
My heart is in the baggage you laid down.
لَوhad عَلِمَتknown أُمّكَyour mother أَلّاthat she would not تَرىsee
لَو عَلِمَت أُمّكَ أَلّا تَرى
وَجهَكَyour face ماnot أَزمَعتِshe resolved upon السُخطاresentment
وَجهَكَ ما أَزمَعتِ السُخطا
Had your mother known she would not see
Your face, she would not have resolved on resentment.
تَزَوَّدَتshe took provision مِنكَfrom you لِتَعليلِهاto console herself
تَزَوَّدَت مِنكَ لِتَعليلِها
ذُؤابَةًa lock of hair عَطَّرتِperfumed المشطاthe comb
ذُؤابَةً عَطَّرتِ المشطا
She took from you, to console herself,
A lock of hair that perfumed the comb.
رَيّاكَyour fragrance فيهاin it فَإِذاand when ضُوِّعَتwas diffused
رَيّاكَ فيها فَإِذا ضُوِّعَت
كانَتit was عَلىupon القَلبِthe heart الشَجيgrief-stricken رَبطاa strengthening bond
كانَت عَلى القَلبِ الشَجي رَبطا
Your fragrance is in it; when its scent is released,
It binds up the grief-stricken heart.
حَسَدتهاI envied her اليَومَtoday عَلَيهاfor it فَلَوso if
حَسَدتها اليَومَ عَلَيها فَلَو
جادَتshe was generous بِهاwith it وَفَّتshe fulfilled ليfor me الشَرطاthe condition
جادَت بِها وَفَّت لي الشَرطا
Today I envy her for it; if
She gave it, she would fulfill my condition.
بَلrather اِبتَغَتshe sought غَيرَكَother than you وُلداًa child فَلاso may not
بَل اِبتَغَت غَيرَكَ وُلداً فَلا
عَوَّضَهُcompensate him اللَهُGod وَلاnor أَنطىgive
عَوَّضَهُ اللَهُ وَلا أَنطى
Rather, she sought a child other than you; may
God neither compensate him nor give him anything!
أَجازَتِshe crossed البَحرَthe sea وَلَوand had عوقِبَتshe been punished
أَجازَتِ البَحرَ وَلَو عوقِبَت
بِذَنبِهاfor her sin لَمnot تَبلُغshe reach الشَطّاthe shore
بِذَنبِها لَم تَبلُغ الشَطّا
She crossed the sea; had she been punished
For her sin, she would not have reached the shore.
وَالبَربَرand the Berbers اِختارَتshe chose عَلىover عُربِهاher Arabs
وَالبَربَر اِختارَت عَلى عُربِها
وَسَوفَand will تَهوىshe desire الرومthe Romans وَالقِبطاand the Copts
وَسَوفَ تَهوى الروم وَالقِبطا
She chose the Berbers over her Arabs,
And will yet desire the Romans and the Copts.
كَأَنَّهاas though she مِنfrom سَبَأٍSaba بُدِّلَتwas given in exchange
كَأَنَّها مِن سَبَأٍ بُدِّلَت
بِجَنَّتَيهاfor her two gardens الأَثلَtamarisk وَالخَمطاand bitter-fruited trees
بِجَنَّتَيها الأَثلَ وَالخَمطا
As though she were from Saba, given in exchange
For her two gardens, tamarisk and bitter-fruited trees.
لَقَدindeed شَفَتshe healed بِالبُعدِthrough distance لَوif أَنَّهاthat she
لَقَد شَفَت بِالبُعدِ لَو أَنَّها
مِنfrom تنَّسٍTénès صارَتshe went إِلىto قِفطاQift
مِن تنَّسٍ صارَت إِلى قِفطا
She would indeed have healed me through distance, had she
Gone from Ténès to Qift.
وَاللَهand God أَستَغفرI seek forgiveness مِنfor ذَنبِهاher sin
وَاللَه أَستَغفر مِن ذَنبِها
لَوhad عُصِمَbeen safeguarded الإِنسانُman ماnot أَخطاerred
لَو عُصِمَ الإِنسانُ ما أَخطا
And I seek God's forgiveness for her sin;
Had man been safeguarded, he would not have erred.
خَطَوتُI stepped لِلغَيِّtoward error لِخَطواتِهاbecause of her steps
خَطَوتُ لِلغَيِّ لِخَطواتِها
وَرُبَّماand perhaps كُنتُI was أَناmyself أَخطاmore at fault
وَرُبَّما كُنتُ أَنا أَخطا
I stepped into error because of her steps,
And perhaps I myself was more at fault.
شَبَّتshe grew young وَشِبتُand I grew gray وَبِغَيضand detested by الدُمىthe doll-like beauties
شَبَّت وَشِبتُ وَبِغَيض الدُمى
مَنwhoever أَبصَرَتthey saw فيon فَودِهِhis temple الوَخطاgray flecks
مَن أَبصَرَت في فَودِهِ الوَخطا
She grew young, and I gray; doll-like beauties detest
Anyone they see with gray specks at his temple.
نَفثَةُa sigh مَصدورٍof a chest-stricken man إِذاwhen صَعَّدَتit raised
نَفثَةُ مَصدورٍ إِذا صَعَّدَت
أَنفاسَهُhis breaths أَحرَقَتِit scorched الأَرطىarta shrubs
أَنفاسَهُ أَحرَقَتِ الأَرطى
A sigh from a chest-stricken man; when it sends up
His breaths, it scorches the arta shrubs.
وَمُشتَكيand the lament of مِنone whose قَصفَتsnapped فرعهُhis branch
وَمُشتَكي مِن قَصفَت فرعهُ
شُعوبDeath لماwhen أَثَّgrew luxuriant وَاِشتَطّاand grew tall
شُعوب لما أَثَّ وَاِشتَطّا
And a lament from one whose branch was snapped
By Death, when it grew lush and tall.
وَأَسرَعَتand she hastened فيin صَرعِهِfelling him مِثلَماjust as
وَأَسرَعَت في صَرعِهِ مِثلَما
تَأخُذُtakes كَفّكyour hand الحاسِدenvious اللَقطاthe gleanings
تَأخُذُ كَفّك الحاسِد اللَقطا
And she hastened to fell him, just as
Your envious hand snatches up the gleanings.
فَاِنتَجَعَso sought الظَمآنُthe thirsty one غَيثَthe rain of البِلىdecay
فَاِنتَجَعَ الظَمآنُ غَيثَ البِلى
وَإِنَّماbut only يَنتَجِعُhe seeks القحطاdrought
وَإِنَّما يَنتَجِعُ القحطا
Then the thirsty one sought the rain of decay,
But he seeks only drought.
لَوif كانَhe were يُفدىransomed وَهوَwhile he مِنof جَوهَرa substance
لَو كانَ يُفدى وَهوَ مِن جَوهَر
مَحضٍpure إِذاwhile كانَwas الوَرىhumankind خَلطاmixed
مَحضٍ إِذا كانَ الوَرى خَلطا
If he could be ransomed—he, of a substance
Pure, while humankind was mixed—
فَداهُwould ransom him زهرٌradiant men بِهِمby them تهتديis guided
فَداهُ زهرٌ بِهِم تهتدي
عَشواءُa dim-eyed she-camel تسريtravels by night لَيلهاthrough her night خَبطاblundering
عَشواءُ تسري لَيلها خَبطا
Radiant men would ransom him, by whom is guided
A dim-eyed she-camel wandering blindly through her night.
أَعَزَّةٌnoble men لَمnot يَبرَحواhave left مِصرَهُمtheir city
أَعَزَّةٌ لَم يَبرَحوا مِصرَهُم
وَهُمyet they يَرونَsee الهِندَIndia وَالخُطّاand al-Khatt
وَهُم يَرونَ الهِندَ وَالخُطّا
Noble men who have never left their city,
Yet they see India and al-Khatt.
كَأَنَّماas though اللَهُGod وَهُمwhile they أسدُهُHis lions
كَأَنَّما اللَهُ وَهُم أسدُهُ
لِلدَّفعِto ward off harm عَنهُمfrom them خَلقcreated اللَمطاthe lamt antelopes
لِلدَّفعِ عَنهُم خَلق اللَمطا
It is as though God, they being His lions,
Created the lamt antelopes to defend them.
غابَتwas absent لِتَأبينِكَfor your elegy ياO واحِديmy only one
غابَت لِتَأبينِكَ يا واحِدي
قافِيَةُa rhyme in الظَاءthe letter ẓāʾ فَكَيفَso how الطّاthe letter ṭāʾ
قافِيَةُ الظَاء فَكَيفَ الطّا
For your elegy, my only one, there was no
Rhyme in ẓāʾ—how, then, one in ṭāʾ?
لكِنbut أَرىI see المَوتَdeath سَبيلthe path of الفَتىthe young man
لكِن أَرى المَوتَ سَبيل الفَتى
وَصَعبُهُand its unruly steed لاno بُدَّescape أَنthat يُمطىit be ridden
وَصَعبُهُ لا بُدَّ أَن يُمطى
Yet I see death as the young man's path,
And its unruly steed must be ridden.
Partial English translation: 55 of 110 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1