عَلى تَعميرِ نوحٍ ماتَ نوحُ

عَلى تَعميرِ نوحٍ ماتَ نوحُ

فَنائِحَةٌ لِأَمرٍ ما تَنوحُ

فَنائِحَةٌ لِأَمرٍ ما تَنوحُ

Despite Noah's long life, Noah died;

Noah toiled to build his ark until he died,

Though granted the longevity of Noah, even Noah died,

so a mourning woman mourns for some reason.

Yet no one weeps for that which made Noah weep.

So let the mourner wail for a cause that demands wailing.

أَمَعلولاً بِعَبرَتِهِ عَليلا

أَمَعلولاً بِعَبرَتِهِ عَليلا

لَحاهُ عَلى البُكا لاح صَحيحُ

لَحاهُ عَلى البُكا لاح صَحيحُ

Is it a stricken man, ill from his tears,

Sick with grief, his tears made him bedridden,

Is the sick man to be blamed for his tears while he is ailing,

whom a healthy reproacher has blamed for weeping?

But still he persevered weeping on his sickbed.

Even as the healthy man scolds him for his weeping?

فَكَيفَ الصَبرُ أَم كَيفَ التَعَزّي

فَكَيفَ الصَبرُ أَم كَيفَ التَعَزّي

وَمِن عِرنينِهِ وَلَدي ذَبيحُ

وَمِن عِرنينِهِ وَلَدي ذَبيحُ

How, then, can there be patience or consolation,

How can I be patient? How can I be consoled

How can there be patience, or how can there be solace,

when my son is slaughtered through his nose?

When his helpless cries make me want to slaughter my own children?

When my son has been slaughtered by the blood of his own nose?

رَقَيتُ رُعافَه فَأَبى رُقوءاً

رَقَيتُ رُعافَه فَأَبى رُقوءاً

وَدامَ وَمَزجُهُ دَمِيَ السَفوحُ

وَدامَ وَمَزجُهُ دَمِيَ السَفوحُ

I recited charms over his nosebleed, but it refused to stop;

I tried to soothe his convulsions but he resisted comfort

I tried to staunch his nosebleed, but it refused to cease,

and it continued, mingled with my streaming blood.

As his blood continued to drench my garments.

It persisted, and its flow was the shedding of my own blood.

وَجَرَّحَ كُلَّ جارِحَةٍ بِجِسمي

وَجَرَّحَ كُلَّ جارِحَةٍ بِجِسمي

مُفَضَّضُهُ وَمُذهَبُهُ الجَريحُ

مُفَضَّضُهُ وَمُذهَبُهُ الجَريحُ

And every limb of my body was wounded

He wounded every part of me with his frail body,

It wounded every limb within my body,

by its wounded silver and gold.

Lacerated and battered, the wounded one.

Leaving his silvered, gilded form broken and wounded.

فَلَمّا ماتَ مُتُّ أَسىً عَلَيهِ

فَلَمّا ماتَ مُتُّ أَسىً عَلَيهِ

كَأَنّي كُنتُ جِسماً وَهوَ روحُ

كَأَنّي كُنتُ جِسماً وَهوَ روحُ

When he died, I died of grief for him,

So when he died, I died of anguish over him,

When he died, I died of sorrow for him,

as though I were a body and he its soul.

As if I were but a body and he my soul.

As if I were merely the body and he the soul.

فَنادَيتُ القَريحَةَ أَبِّنيهِ

فَنادَيتُ القَريحَةَ أَبِّنيهِ

فَقالَت نعمَ ما اِقتَرَحَ القَريحُ

فَقالَت نعمَ ما اِقتَرَحَ القَريحُ

So I called upon my poetic gift: 'Elegize him.'

I called upon the intellect to explain it to me;

I called upon my poetic muse, saying, "Eulogize him!"

It said: 'Excellent is what the wounded man proposed.'

It said: “Yes, this is what the wise intellect has determined.”

She replied, "Excellent is what the wounded heart proposes."

سَلامُ اللَهِ وَالصَلَواتُ تَترى

سَلامُ اللَهِ وَالصَلَواتُ تَترى

عَلى قَمَرٍ أَنارَ بِهِ الضَريحُ

عَلى قَمَرٍ أَنارَ بِهِ الضَريحُ

God's peace and blessings, coming one after another,

May the blessings and prayers of God

May the peace of God and prayers in succession

upon a moon by whom the grave was lit;

Be upon a moon that illuminated the tomb,

Descend upon a moon who has illuminated the tomb.

عَلى زَهرٍ أَنارَت مِنهُ أَرضٌ

عَلى زَهرٍ أَنارَت مِنهُ أَرضٌ

تَهُبُّ لَهُ مِنَ الفِردَوسِ ريحُ

تَهُبُّ لَهُ مِنَ الفِردَوسِ ريحُ

upon a blossom from which the earth shone bright,

Upon a flower whose fragrance made the earth

Upon a flower who has lit up the earth,

for whom a breeze blows out of Paradise.

Smell of paradise, with the winds conveying its scent.

For whom a breeze from Paradise now blows.

فَنَمَّ عَلى الثَرى طيبٌ يَفوحُ

فَنَمَّ عَلى الثَرى طيبٌ يَفوحُ

وَنورٌ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ يَلوحُ

وَنورٌ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ يَلوحُ

So a wafting fragrance betrayed the soil's secret,

So he slept in earth’s embrace, his sweet scent still diffusing,

A fragrance wafted over the soil, spreading perfume,

and a light from his beauties gleams.

His beauty's light still shining.

And a light from his virtues began to shimmer.

أَغِبّ مَزارَهُ وَأَغيب عَنهُ

أَغِبّ مَزارَهُ وَأَغيب عَنهُ

وَأَحزاني كَما تَغدو تَروحُ

وَأَحزاني كَما تَغدو تَروحُ

I visit his resting place at intervals, and am absent from him,

I avoid his tomb, distancing myself,

I visit his grave intermittently, then stay away,

and my sorrows return at dusk as they come at dawn.

While my sorrows alternate as they come and go.

While my sorrows come and go as they please.

وَلكِنّ الزَمانَ عَلَيَّ حَتّى

وَلكِنّ الزَمانَ عَلَيَّ حَتّى

بِعرفِ ضَريحِهِ الشافي شَحيحُ

بِعرفِ ضَريحِهِ الشافي شَحيحُ

Yet time, toward me, is even

But time is against me, so that I rarely

But time has become so stingy with me,

stingy with his grave's healing fragrance.

Get to savor his healing shrine.

Begrudging even the healing scent of his shrine.

نَبا بَصَري فَنابَ القَلبُ عَنهُ

نَبا بَصَري فَنابَ القَلبُ عَنهُ

وَبِتُّ بِهِ ألحُّ وَلا أَليحُ

وَبِتُّ بِهِ ألحُّ وَلا أَليحُ

My sight failed, so the heart took its place,

My eyes caught sight of it, so my heart recoiled;

My sight failed, so my heart stood in its place,

and with it I spent the night persisting, never turning aside.

I insist on staying there and refuse to budge.

I pass the night insisting on seeing him, yet I cannot see.

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّني بِهُدى فُؤادي

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّني بِهُدى فُؤادي

تَبيّنَ لي مِنَ الحَسَنِ القَبيحُ

تَبيّنَ لي مِنَ الحَسَنِ القَبيحُ

Have you not seen that, guided by my heart,

Don’t you see that my heart’s guidance

Do you not see that through the guidance of my heart,

the ugly became distinct to me from the beautiful?

Shows me clearly what is ugly and what is beautiful?

The ugly has become distinct to me from the beautiful?

فَلَو تُرِكَ المَسيحُ يُريدُ بُرئي

فَلَو تُرِكَ المَسيحُ يُريدُ بُرئي

لَقالَ كَفَت بَصيرَتُكَ المَسيحُ

لَقالَ كَفَت بَصيرَتُكَ المَسيحُ

Had the Messiah been allowed to seek my cure,

Had the Messiah wanted to test my vision, he would have said

If the Messiah were left wishing to cure me,

he would have said: 'Your inner sight has spared the Messiah the task.'

“Your sight is sufficient, oh spiritual teacher.”

He would say, "Your own insight suffices without the Messiah."

وَماتَ اِبني فَها أَنا لا فُؤادٌ

وَماتَ اِبني فَها أَنا لا فُؤادٌ

وَلا بَصَرٌ وَلا مَوتٌ مُريحُ

وَلا بَصَرٌ وَلا مَوتٌ مُريحُ

And my son died; so here I am, with no heart,

But my son died, and now I have neither a heart,

My son has died, so here I am with no heart,

no sight, and no death to bring relief.

Nor sight, nor is death a comfort.

With no sight, and no death to bring relief.

تَشَبَّث أَيُّها المَرزوءُ صَبراً

تَشَبَّث أَيُّها المَرزوءُ صَبراً

وَإِلّا فاتَكَ الأَجرُ الرَبيحُ

وَإِلّا فاتَكَ الأَجرُ الرَبيحُ

Hold fast to patience, you bereaved one,

So brace yourself, oh afflicted one, with patience,

Cling, O afflicted one, to patience,

or else the abundant reward will pass you by.

Else you will miss out on ample reward.

Otherwise, the profitable reward will escape you.

أَتُنكِر مَن أَتى أَو سَوفَ يَأتي

أَتُنكِر مَن أَتى أَو سَوفَ يَأتي

وَرَبُّكَ مَن أَتاحَ وَمَن يُتيحُ

وَرَبُّكَ مَن أَتاحَ وَمَن يُتيحُ

Do you reject whoever has come or will come,

Can you deny what has happened or what will eventually happen?

Do you deny the One who came or is yet to come,

when your Lord is He who brought it about and brings it about?

It is your Lord who gives and takes away.

When your Lord is the One who grants and determines all?

نَصيحُ بِكَ اِصطَبِر فَتضمَّ ثُكلاً

نَصيحُ بِكَ اِصطَبِر فَتضمَّ ثُكلاً

أَما يَكفيكَ مِن غَيٍّ نَصيحُ

أَما يَكفيكَ مِن غَيٍّ نَصيحُ

We cry to you: 'Be patient, and embrace bereavement.'

My advice to you is: have patience and you will win;

An advisor calls to you: "Be patient," lest you compound your loss;

Is a sincere adviser not enough to keep you from error?

Are these calamities not enough advice for you?

Is not a sincere advisor enough to save you from error?

نَطيحُ فَتُؤخَذَ الثاراتُ مِنّا

نَطيحُ فَتُؤخَذَ الثاراتُ مِنّا

وَناطِحُ كُلِّ جَمّاءٍ نَطيحُ

وَناطِحُ كُلِّ جَمّاءٍ نَطيحُ

We fall, and vengeance is then exacted from us;

I attack so vengeance is taken from us,

We are struck down, and retributions are taken from us,

and whoever gores any hornless beast is himself gored.

Ready to gore any stubborn opponent.

And he who butts against fate is the one who gets broken.

نَزوحُ عَنِ الأَسى وَنَلِجُّ فيهِ

نَزوحُ عَنِ الأَسى وَنَلِجُّ فيهِ

أَعَمركَ لَم يَشُق سَكَنٌ نَزوحُ

أَعَمركَ لَم يَشُق سَكَنٌ نَزوحُ

We turn away from grief, yet persist in it.

I avoid sorrow and plunge right into it -

We try to move away from sorrow, yet we plunge further into it,

By your life, has a departing beloved not brought anguish?

Has solitude in exile never burdened you during your life?

By your life, leaving one's home has never been easy.

نَبوحُ بِشُكرِ خالِقِنا وَنَنسى

نَبوحُ بِشُكرِ خالِقِنا وَنَنسى

فَيَردَعُ مِنكَ زَمّاراً نَبوحُ

فَيَردَعُ مِنكَ زَمّاراً نَبوحُ

We proclaim thanks to our Creator, yet forget;

I pour out thanks to our Creator and forget,

We profess thanks to our Creator, yet we forget,

then a barking dog restrains the piper in you.

So cease moping and tune your reed pipe!

For the barking of grief silences the singer within you.

نَفوحُ وَأَنتَ جَبنتَ قَلباً

نَفوحُ وَأَنتَ جَبنتَ قَلباً

فَأَن تَشجُع فَكر نَفوحُ

فَأَن تَشجُع فَكر نَفوحُ

We spread fragrance, while you have grown cowardly at heart;

I excel while you have cowardly hearts,

We breathe heavy sighs, while you were faint of heart,

so for you to grow brave is a bountiful thought.

So how can thought ever excel?

But if you take courage, then thought becomes fragrant.

فَقَد صَدَقوا وَلكِن هُدَّ رُكني

فَقَد صَدَقوا وَلكِن هُدَّ رُكني

فَمَن يَحمي وَأَعدائي تبيحُ

فَمَن يَحمي وَأَعدائي تبيحُ

For they spoke truly, but my mainstay has been shattered.

They spoke true, but guide my pillar of faith -

They spoke the truth, yet my pillar has been demolished,

Who will protect me while my enemies plunder?

Who will protect me while my enemies run rampant?

So who will protect me when my enemies violate the sanctuary?

هَوى نَجمي السَعيدُ وَفُلَّ سَيفي

هَوى نَجمي السَعيدُ وَفُلَّ سَيفي

وَأَبطلَ مِنّيَ البَطَلُ المشيحُ

وَأَبطلَ مِنّيَ البَطَلُ المشيحُ

My lucky star fell, and my sword was blunted;

My lucky star has fallen and my sword failed;

My lucky star has fallen, and my sword is blunted,

and the resolute champion in me became powerless.

The brave hero has been vanquished.

And the cautious hero within me has been rendered void.

وَفُرِّقَ جَمعُ فِهرٍ وَهيَ شَتّى

وَفُرِّقَ جَمعُ فِهرٍ وَهيَ شَتّى

وَأَوحَشَتِ المَنازِلُ وَهيَ سيحُ

وَأَوحَشَتِ المَنازِلُ وَهيَ سيحُ

And Fihr's gathering was dispersed, split apart,

The army of fierce lions is scattered,

The gathering of the clan of Fehr is dispersed and scattered,

and the dwellings grew desolate, though wide and open.

And the once flourishing dwellings are desolate.

And the dwellings have become desolate, though they are vast.

أَعَن عَبد الغنيّ غِنىً وَفيهِ

أَعَن عَبد الغنيّ غِنىً وَفيهِ

تَناهَت غمَّةُ المَجدِ الطَموحُ

تَناهَت غمَّةُ المَجدِ الطَموحُ

Can one do without Abd al-Ghani, in whom

Is Abd al-Ghani in need when in him

Is there any substitute for Abd al-Ghani? In him,

the anguish of aspiring glory reached its utmost?

Lies the perfection of glorious ambition?

The anguish of ambitious glory reached its limit.

مَضى مَن قَبَّلَت يَدَهُ الثُرَيّا

مَضى مَن قَبَّلَت يَدَهُ الثُرَيّا

وَمَن رُكِبَت بِهِ الدُنيا الجَموحُ

وَمَن رُكِبَت بِهِ الدُنيا الجَموحُ

Gone is he whose hand the Pleiades kissed,

He whose hand was kissed by fate has gone,

Gone is the one whose hand the Pleiades kissed,

and he by whom the headstrong world was ridden;

As has he who rode the wild horse of glory.

And by whom the unruly world was tamed.

وَمَن زانَ العَشيرَةِ وَهوَ طِفلٌ

وَمَن زانَ العَشيرَةِ وَهوَ طِفلٌ

وَقيلَ كَأَنَّهُ عِلماً سَطيحُ

وَقيلَ كَأَنَّهُ عِلماً سَطيحُ

and he who adorned the clan while still a child,

He who honored his clan while still a child,

He who adorned the tribe while still a child,

and of whom they said: 'He is like Satih in knowledge.'

And was called a flowing stream of knowledge.

And of whom it was said, "He is like Satih in knowledge."

وَريعَت بِاِسمِهِ الأُسدُ الضَواري

وَريعَت بِاِسمِهِ الأُسدُ الضَواري

وَفُلَّ بِحَدِّ مِقوَلِهِ الصَفيحُ

وَفُلَّ بِحَدِّ مِقوَلِهِ الصَفيحُ

Predatory lions were terrified by his name,

At his name the fierce lions fled,

The predatory lions were terrified by his name,

and the broad blade was blunted by the edge of his tongue.

And the sharp sword submitted to his words.

And the broadsword was dulled by the sharpness of his eloquence.

خَبا قَمَراً وَغابَ زُلال صادٍ

خَبا قَمَراً وَغابَ زُلال صادٍ

فَخابَ المُستَمي وَالمُستَميحُ

فَخابَ المُستَمي وَالمُستَميحُ

He faded as a moon, and clear water for the thirsty vanished;

The shining moon has set, and the beauty of the full moon faded,

He faded like a moon, and the cool water for the thirsty vanished,

so the seeker and the supplicant were disappointed.

So failed the one who hoped, and the hopeful one.

So the seeker of rain and the seeker of favors were disappointed.

تَأمَّل كَيفَ جَنَّ الصُبحُ لَيلاً

تَأمَّل كَيفَ جَنَّ الصُبحُ لَيلاً

وَكَيفَ تَضايَقَ البَلَدُ الفَسيحُ

وَكَيفَ تَضايَقَ البَلَدُ الفَسيحُ

Consider how morning darkened into night,

Observe how the dawn has veiled the night,

Contemplate how the morning turned into dark night,

and how the spacious land grew cramped.

And how the vast land has narrowed.

And how the vast land became constricted.

وَأَصبَحَت الغَواني ثاكِلاتٍ

وَأَصبَحَت الغَواني ثاكِلاتٍ

أَحَقُّ بِها مِنَ الوَشيِ المَسوحُ

أَحَقُّ بِها مِنَ الوَشيِ المَسوحُ

And the beautiful women became bereaved,

The singing girls have become forsaken,

The beautiful women became bereaved mourners,

sackcloth more fitting for them than brocade.

More deserving of them than the unkempt drunkard.

Hairshirts are more fitting for them now than brocade.

أَقُرَّةَ أَعيُنِ الأَشرافِ فهرٍ

أَقُرَّةَ أَعيُنِ الأَشرافِ فهرٍ

وَجَدُّكَ مِنهُمُ المَحض الصَريحُ

وَجَدُّكَ مِنهُمُ المَحض الصَريحُ

O delight of the eyes of Fihr's nobles,

Delight of the nobles’ eyes, O Fahar!

O delight of the eyes of the nobles of Fehr,

your grandfather is one of them, pure and true-born.

You were the purest quintessence to them.

Whose lineage among them is pure and unmixed.

حَديثكَ وَالأَباريقُ المَآقي

حَديثكَ وَالأَباريقُ المَآقي

غَبوقُ القَومِ بَعدَكَ وَالصبوحُ

غَبوقُ القَومِ بَعدَكَ وَالصبوحُ

Talk of you—with the eyes' corners as pitchers—

Your conversation and the morning draughts

Your conversation is gone, and the wine-ewers are now tear-ducts,

is the people's evening drink after you, and their morning draught.

Were the people’s most precious final sip and predawn drink.

Becoming the people's evening draught and morning drink after you.

دَميتَ بِرَغمِ أَنفِ المَجدِ حَتّى

دَميتَ بِرَغمِ أَنفِ المَجدِ حَتّى

تَغَيَّرَ وَجهُكَ الحَسنُ المَليحُ

تَغَيَّرَ وَجهُكَ الحَسنُ المَليحُ

You bled, to glory's humiliation, until

You bled in spite of the glory’s anger until

You bled, despite the nose of glory being held high, until

your fair, lovely face was changed.

Your lovely cheerful face changed.

Your beautiful, comely face was altered.

وَقِحتَ وَلَم يَقِح جُرحي فَيَبرا

وَقِحتَ وَلَم يَقِح جُرحي فَيَبرا

وَهَل تَدمى الأَهِلَّةُ أَو تَقيحُ

وَهَل تَدمى الأَهِلَّةُ أَو تَقيحُ

You festered, but my wound did not fester and heal;

You were wounded, but my wound will not heal and close up -

Your wound dried, while my wound did not dry to heal,

and do crescent moons bleed or fester?

Do new moons bleed or wounds fester?

But do crescent moons ever bleed or fester?

وَلَو أَدماكَ غَيرُ اللَّهِ أَجرَوا

وَلَو أَدماكَ غَيرُ اللَّهِ أَجرَوا

دَماً في سيلِهِ تَكبو السبوحُ

دَماً في سيلِهِ تَكبو السبوحُ

Had anyone but God made you bleed, they would have poured out

If none but God had made you bleed,

If other than God had caused you to bleed, they would have unleashed

blood in whose torrent the swift steed would stumble.

Your blood would have flooded the torrents.

Blood in a torrent wherein strong swimmers would stumble.

هِيَ الأَقدارُ لَيسَ تَقي دُروعٌ

هِيَ الأَقدارُ لَيسَ تَقي دُروعٌ

مَنِ اِستَولَت عَلَيهِ وَلا صُروحُ

مَنِ اِستَولَت عَلَيهِ وَلا صُروحُ

Such is fate: no coats of mail protect

It is fate; no shields or citadels

It is the Fates; no shields can protect

whomever it has overpowered, nor do lofty towers.

Protect those it has overtaken.

Whomever they have seized, nor can lofty towers.

دَنا مِنّي الرَحيلُ وَقَلَّ زادي

دَنا مِنّي الرَحيلُ وَقَلَّ زادي

وَشِبتُ وَما لِأَعمالي صُلوحُ

وَشِبتُ وَما لِأَعمالي صُلوحُ

Departure has drawn near to me, and my provisions are scant;

My departure draws near, and my supplies are few;

My departure draws near, and my provision is scant,

I have grown gray, yet there is no goodness in my deeds.

I’ve grown old and my deeds lack piety.

I have grown gray, yet my deeds lack righteousness.

وَما أَذنَبتُ مَحضاً في كِتابٍ

وَما أَذنَبتُ مَحضاً في كِتابٍ

وَمَحوُ الذَنبِ تَوبَتي النَصوحُ

وَمَحوُ الذَنبِ تَوبَتي النَصوحُ

Whatever sins I committed stand plainly in a book,

I have sinned not in secret,

I have not sinned purely in the written record,

and my sincere repentance is the erasure of sin.

And repentance blots out my unveiled sins.

And the erasure of sin is my sincere repentance.

فَهَلّا تُبتها مِن قَبلِ يَومٍ

فَهَلّا تُبتها مِن قَبلِ يَومٍ

بِما أَسرَرتُ مِن سوءٍ يَبوحُ

بِما أَسرَرتُ مِن سوءٍ يَبوحُ

Why then did I not repent thus before a day

Why not repent before a day comes

So why did I not repent before a day

that divulges the evil I concealed?

When my whispered sins are laid bare?

When the evil I concealed will be revealed?

أَيا عَبدَ الغنيّ اِشفَع غَداً لي

أَيا عَبدَ الغنيّ اِشفَع غَداً لي

لِيَصفَحَ عَنّي الرَبّ الصَفوحُ

لِيَصفَحَ عَنّي الرَبّ الصَفوحُ

O Abd al-Ghani, intercede for me tomorrow,

O Abd al-Ghani, intercede for me tomorrow

O Abd al-Ghani, intercede for me tomorrow,

so the ever-forgiving Lord may pardon me,

So the oft-forgiving Lord will pardon me.

That the Forgiving Lord may pardon me,

فَيُسعِدَ ذا الشَقَيَّ بِما تَمَنَّى

فَيُسعِدَ ذا الشَقَيَّ بِما تَمَنَّى

وَيُحسِنَ قُربَكَ العَيشُ القَبيحُ

وَيُحسِنَ قُربَكَ العَيشُ القَبيحُ

and make this wretched man happy with what he wished for,

And so make happy the wretched one with what he desires,

And grant this wretched soul the joy it longed for,

and ugly life may grow beautiful beside you.

For proximity to you makes miserable life pleasant.

And that your nearness may make this ugly life beautiful.