غَنَّاهُsang to him الأَمْسُyesterday وأَطْرَبَهُand delighted him
غَنَّاهُ الأَمْسُ وأَطْرَبَهُ
وشَجَاهُand saddened him اليومُtoday فَماso what of غَدُهُhis tomorrow
وشَجَاهُ اليومُ فَما غَدُهُ
Yesterday sang to him and delighted him;
Yesterday it delighted him and made him joyful
Yesterday sang to him and stirred his soul,
and today saddened him—what of his tomorrow?
And today it pained him, so what will tomorrow bring?
And today has grieved him; what will his tomorrow bring?
قَدْindeed كانَwas لهُfor him قلبٌa heart كالطِّفْلِlike a child
قَدْ كانَ لهُ قلبٌ كالطِّفْلِ
يدُthe hand الأَحلامِof dreams تُهَدْهِدُهُrocks it
يدُ الأَحلامِ تُهَدْهِدُهُ
He once had a heart like a child,
Once his heart was like a child’s
He once possessed a heart just like a child,
rocked by the hand of dreams,
Whose dreams rock it to sleep
Cradled softly by the hand of dreams.
مُذْsince كانَwas لهfor him مَلَكٌan angel فيin الكونِthe universe
مُذْ كانَ له مَلَكٌ في الكونِ
جَميلُbeautiful الطَّلعَةِof face يَعْبُدُهُhe worships him
جَميلُ الطَّلعَةِ يَعْبُدُهُ
since he had an angel in the universe,
Since for him there was an angel in the universe
When he possessed an angel in this world,
fair of face, whom he worships.
Beautiful in appearance who worshipped him
Of lovely countenance, whom he adored.
فيin جوفِthe depths اللَّيْلِof night يُناجيهِhe confides in him
في جوفِ اللَّيْلِ يُناجيهِ
وأَمامَand before الفَجْرِthe dawn يُمَجِّدُهُhe glorifies him
وأَمامَ الفَجْرِ يُمَجِّدُهُ
In the depths of night he confides in him,
In the darkness of night he would confide in him
In the depth of night, he would whisper to him,
and in dawn's presence he glorifies him.
And at dawnbreak he would glorify him
And before the breaking dawn, glorify his name.
وعلىand on الهَضَباتِthe hills يُغنِّيهِhe sings to him
وعلى الهَضَباتِ يُغنِّيهِ
آياتِverses الحُبِّof love ويُنْشِدُهُand recites to him
آياتِ الحُبِّ ويُنْشِدُهُ
And on the hills he sings to him
And on the highlands he would sing his love verses to him
Upon the hillsides, he would sing to him
verses of love, and chants to him.
And recite poems to him
Verses of love, reciting them aloud.
لولاهُwithout him لماwould not عَذُبَتْhave grown sweet فيin
لولاهُ لما عَذُبَتْ في
الكونِthe universe مَصَادِرُهُhis departures ومَوارِدُهُand his arrivals
الكونِ مَصَادِرُهُ ومَوارِدُهُ
Without him, there would have been no sweetness in
Without him the springs in the universe would not have flowed sweetly
Were it not for him, the sources in this world
his departures and arrivals in the universe.
Neither would his feelings have overflowed with passionate poetry
Would not run sweet, nor would its waters flow;
ولَماnor would فاضَتْhave overflowed بالشِّعْرِwith poetry الحthe liv- (fragment)
ولَما فاضَتْ بالشِّعْرِ الح
يِّ-ing (completes 'living') مَشَاعِرهُhis feelings وقَصَائِدُهُand his poems
يِّ مَشَاعِرهُ وقَصَائِدُهُ
Nor would they have overflowed with living poetry—
You’d walk in the woods as love’s joys chased you
Nor would his senses and his poems overflow
his feelings and his poems.
And serenaded you
With the vibrant pulse of living verse.
تمشيwalk فيin الغابِthe woods فتَتْبَعهthen follow him
تمشي في الغابِ فتَتْبَعه
أَفراحُthe joys الحُبِّof love وتَنْشُدُهُand seek him
أَفراحُ الحُبِّ وتَنْشُدُهُ
In the woods they walk, then follow him—
And you’d look to the horizons and see them
He walks the woods, and there follows him
the joys of love, which seek him.
As groups of light lying in wait for you
The joys of love, seeking him out.
ويرىand he sees الآفاقَthe horizons فيُبْصِرُهاso he beholds them
ويرى الآفاقَ فيُبْصِرُها
زُمَراًbands فيin النُّورِthe light تُراصِدُهُwatch for him
زُمَراً في النُّورِ تُراصِدُهُ
He sees the horizons and beholds them
And you’d look at the birds and think them
He looks upon the horizons and beholds them
as bands in the light, watching for him.
The dreams of love twittering around you
As throngs within the light, watching over him.
ويرىand he sees الأَطْيارَthe birds فيَحْسَبُهاso he thinks them
ويرى الأَطْيارَ فيَحْسَبُها
أَحلامَdreams الحُبِّof love تُغَرِّدُهُsing to him
أَحلامَ الحُبِّ تُغَرِّدُهُ
He sees the birds and thinks them
And you’d look at the flowers and think them
He sees the birds and imagines them to be
dreams of love, singing to him.
Love’s smiles greeting you
The very dreams of love, warbling to him.
ويرىand he sees الأَزهارَthe flowers فيَحْسَبُهاso he thinks them
ويرى الأَزهارَ فيَحْسَبُها
بَسماتِsmiles الحُبِّof love تُوارِدُهُcome to him in turn
بَسماتِ الحُبِّ تُوارِدُهُ
He sees the flowers and thinks them
So you imagined the universe confiding in you
He sees the flowers and deems them to be
smiles of love, coming to him in turn.
And the beauty of the world making you happy
Smiles of love, arriving one by one.
فَيَخَالُso he imagines الكونَthe universe يُناجيهِconfides in him
فَيَخَالُ الكونَ يُناجيهِ
وجَمالَand the beauty العالَمِof the world يُسْعِدُهُmakes him happy
وجَمالَ العالَمِ يُسْعِدُهُ
So he imagines the universe confiding in him,
And the stars of night smiling at you
He fancies the universe confides in him,
and the world's beauty making him happy,
And the whisper of the forest chasing you
And that the world's beauty exists to bring him joy;
ونُجومَand the stars اللَّيلِof night تُضاحِكُهُlaugh with him
ونُجومَ اللَّيلِ تُضاحِكُهُ
ونَسيمَand the breeze الغابِof the woods يُطَارِدُهُchases him
ونَسيمَ الغابِ يُطَارِدُهُ
and the stars of night laughing with him,
And you imagined the roses flirting with you
That the stars of the night laugh along with him,
and the woodland breeze chasing him.
As you frolicked and played with them
And the forest breeze pursues him playfully.
ويَخالُand he imagines الوَرْدَthe roses يداعِبُهُcaress him
ويَخالُ الوَرْدَ يداعِبُهُ
فرحاًjoyfully فتعابثهso plays with them يَدُهُhis hand
فرحاً فتعابثه يَدُهُ
And he imagines the roses caressing him
And you saw the spring and its glance
He imagines the rose is caressing him,
joyfully, so his hand plays with them.
And the morning breeze ruffling it
In delight, as his hand toys with its petals.
ويرىand he sees اليُنْبوعَthe spring ونَظْرَتَهُand its gaze
ويرى اليُنْبوعَ ونَظْرَتَهُ
ونَسيمُand the breeze الصُّبْحِof morning يُجَعِّدُهُripples it
ونَسيمُ الصُّبْحِ يُجَعِّدُهُ
He sees the spring and its gaze,
And the babbling brook like a melody
He gazes at the spring and its clear face,
and the morning breeze ripples it.
With the woodland breezes echoing it
As the morning breeze ripples its surface.
وخريرُand the murmur الماءِof water لهُfor him نَغَمٌa melody
وخريرُ الماءِ لهُ نَغَمٌ
نَسَماتُthe breezes الغابِof the woods تُرَدِّدُهُrepeat it
نَسَماتُ الغابِ تُرَدِّدُهُ
The murmur of water is, to him, a melody
And you saw the slender grass that had shot up
The murmuring water holds a melody for him,
that the woodland breezes repeat.
Among the trees observing you
Which the forest zephyrs echo back.
ويرىand he sees الأَعشابَthe grasses وقَدْand already سَمَقَتْhave grown tall
ويرى الأَعشابَ وقَدْ سَمَقَتْ
بَيْنَamong الأَشجارِthe trees تُشاهِدُهُwatch him
بَيْنَ الأَشجارِ تُشاهِدُهُ
He sees the grasses, which have grown tall
And the sash of a little child fluttering
He sees the tall grasses that have risen high
among the trees, watching him;
So love shone brightly and you praised it
Amidst the trees, standing witness to him.
ونِطاقُand the girdle الطِّفلِof the child تُنَمِّقُهاadorns them
ونِطاقُ الطِّفلِ تُنَمِّقُها
فَيَجُلُّso he reveres الحُبَّlove ويَحْمدُهُand praises it
فَيَجُلُّ الحُبَّ ويَحْمدُهُ
and the child's girdle adorns them.
Oh what days that have gladdened
Nature’s sash adorns them in array,
So he reveres love and praises it.
A heart among people only to consume it later!
So he reveres Love and sings its praise.
ياAh! للأَيَّامِfor the days! فكمand how often سَرَّتْthey gladdened
يا للأَيَّامِ فكم سَرَّتْ
قلباًa heart فيamong النَّاسِpeople لتُكْمِدُهُonly to grieve it
قلباً في النَّاسِ لتُكْمِدُهُ
Ah, the days! How often they have gladdened
Like a whore whose lover
Oh, how the days have passed! How often they pleased
a heart among people, only to fill it with grief.
She wines and dines then casts aside
A human heart, only to leave it grieving.
هيَthey (the days) مِثْلُlike العاهِرِthe harlot عاشِقُهاher lover
هيَ مِثْلُ العاهِرِ عاشِقُها
تسقيهِshe gives him to drink الخمرَwine وَتَطْردُهُand drives him away
تسقيهِ الخمرَ وَتَطْردُهُ
They are like a harlot: her lover
Today she gives you her sweetness
Fate is like a harlot to her lover;
she plies with wine and drives away.
Like honey only to rob you of it tomorrow
She serves him wine, then casts him out the door.
يُعْطيكَgives you اليومُtoday حلاوتهاher sweetness
يُعْطيكَ اليومُ حلاوتها
كالشَّهْدِlike honey ليَسْلُبَهاto steal it away غَدُهُits tomorrow
كالشَّهْدِ ليَسْلُبَها غَدُهُ
Today gives you her sweetness,
Last night she passionately embraced you
Today, she grants you her sweetness, like honey,
like honey, only for its tomorrow to steal it away.
And slept alongside you
Only for tomorrow to steal it all away.
بالأَمسِyesterday يعَانِقُهاhe embraces her فرحاًjoyfully
بالأَمسِ يعَانِقُها فرحاً
ويضاجعُهاand he lies with her فَتُوَسِّدُهُso she pillows his head
ويضاجعُها فَتُوَسِّدُهُ
Yesterday he embraced her joyfully
But today she walks beside you like a spectre
Yesterday he embraced her in delight,
and lay with her; then she pillowed his head.
Grief has emaciated him and soured his disposition
Lying with her, and she made herself his pillow.
واليومَand today يُسايِرُهاhe walks beside her شَبَحاًas a ghost
واليومَ يُسايِرُها شَبَحاً
أَضناهُhas worn him down الحزنُsorrow وَنَكَّدَهُand made him wretched
أَضناهُ الحزنُ وَنَكَّدَهُ
Today he walks beside her as a ghost,
In the woods he recites his elegies
But today he walks alongside her as a ghost,
worn down and made wretched by sorrow.
With the cedar boughs supporting him
Worn down by sorrow and bitter misery.
يتلوhe recites فيin الغابِthe woods مَرَاثيهِhis elegies
يتلو في الغابِ مَرَاثيهِ
وجُذُوعُand the trunks السَّرْوِof cypresses تُسانِدُهُsupport him
وجُذُوعُ السَّرْوِ تُسانِدُهُ
He recites his elegies in the woods,
And he walks among people but not one of them
He recites his elegies within the woods,
and the cypress trunks support him.
Can fathom his isolation
While trunks of cypress lean to hold him up.
ويُماشيand he walks with النَّاسَpeople وماyet no أَحَدٌone
ويُماشي النَّاسَ وما أَحَدٌ
مِنْهُمْamong them يَشْجِيهِgrieves him تَفَرُّدُهُhis solitude
مِنْهُمْ يَشْجِيهِ تَفَرُّدُهُ
He walks alongside people, yet not one
In the night of desolation his bed
He walks among the people, yet not one
of them is saddened by his solitude.
Is the cave of loneliness
Among them is moved by his solitude.
فيin ليلِthe night الوَحْشَةِof desolation مسْراهُhis night journey
في ليلِ الوَحْشَةِ مسْراهُ
وبِكَهْفِand in the cave الوَحْدَةِof solitude مرقَدُهُhis resting place
وبِكَهْفِ الوَحْدَةِ مرقَدُهُ
Through the night of desolation runs his path,
Yesterday’s voices torture him
His journey lies through the night of desolation,
and in the cave of solitude lies his resting place.
And the spectre of death threatens him
And in the cave of loneliness, he makes his bed.
أَصواتُthe voices الأَمسِof yesterday تُعَذِّبُهُtorment him
أَصواتُ الأَمسِ تُعَذِّبُهُ
وخيالُand the specter الموتِof death يُهَدِّدُهُthreatens him
وخيالُ الموتِ يُهَدِّدُهُ
Yesterday's voices torment him,
Yesterday the universe had a sunset for him
The voices of yesterday rise to torment him,
and the specter of death threatens him.
That illuminated the horizon with its blushing
And the specter of death now threatens him.
بالأَمسِyesterday لهُfor him شفَقٌa twilight glow فيin الكونِthe universe
بالأَمسِ لهُ شفَقٌ في الكونِ
يُضيءُlights up الأُفْقَthe horizon تورُّدُهُits rosy hue
يُضيءُ الأُفْقَ تورُّدُهُ
Yesterday he had a twilight glow in the universe;
But today the night has blinded him
Yesterday, he owned a twilight in the world,
its rosy hue lit the horizon.
So nothing in the world makes him happy
Whose rosy glow illuminated the horizon.
واليومَand today لَقَدْindeed غَشَّاهُhas shrouded him اللَّيلُthe night
واليومَ لَقَدْ غَشَّاهُ اللَّيلُ
فماso nothing فيin العالمِthe world يُسعدُهُmakes him happy
فما في العالمِ يُسعدُهُ
And today the night has indeed shrouded him,
Yesterday it delighted him and made him joyful
But today, the night has overwhelmed him;
so nothing in the world brings him joy.
And today it pained him, so what will tomorrow bring?
There is nothing left in the world to bring him joy.
غنَّاهُsang to him الأَمسُyesterday وأَطْرَبَهُand delighted him
غنَّاهُ الأَمسُ وأَطْرَبَهُ
وشَجَاهُand saddened him اليَومَtoday فَماso what of غَدُهُhis tomorrow
وشَجَاهُ اليَومَ فَما غَدُهُ
Yesterday sang to him and delighted him;
Yesterday sang to him and stirred his soul,
and today saddened him—what of his tomorrow?
And today has grieved him; what will his tomorrow bring?
Partial English translation: 58 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1