ياO رَبعَabode of رامةRamah مَربَعspring home of الآرامِthe gazelles
يا رَبعَ رامة مَربَع الآرامِ
دَرَسَتhave faded مَعالِمُهُits landmarks عَلىover الأَيّامِthe days
دَرَسَت مَعالِمُهُ عَلى الأَيّامِ
O dwelling of Rāmah, grazing ground of white gazelles,
O abode of Ramah, spring home of the gazelles,
whose landmarks the days have effaced:
its landmarks have faded with the passing days.
ماnever آضreturned طَرفُeye of اللحظِthe glance فيكَwithin you مُسلِّماًoffering greeting
ما آض طَرفُ اللحظِ فيكَ مُسلِّماً
إِلّاexcept وَفاضَتand overflowed مُهجَتيmy heart بِسَلامِwith a greeting
إِلّا وَفاضَت مُهجَتي بِسَلامِ
never did my gaze turn toward you in greeting
Never has my gaze returned to greet you
but my soul overflowed with salutations.
without my heart overflowing with a salutation.
هَلis there وَقفَةٌa halt بِعراصِهِin its courts أَشفيI assuage بِهاthrough it
هَل وَقفَةٌ بِعراصِهِ أَشفي بِها
مِنfrom حُبِّlove of ساكِنهِits dweller غَليلَburning thirst of أواميmy parching thirst
مِن حُبِّ ساكِنهِ غَليلَ أوامي
Might I pause in its courtyards and thereby assuage
Can a halt within its courts let me assuage
the burning thirst of my longing for its inhabitant?
the burning thirst born of love for its dweller?
رَبعٌan abode أَذَلتُI poured out بِهِin it مَصونَguarded مدَامِعيmy tears
رَبعٌ أَذَلتُ بِهِ مَصونَ مدَامِعي
وَأَطَلتُand I prolonged فيهِwithin it تَوَلُّعيmy passionate longing وَقِياميand my standing
وَأَطَلتُ فيهِ تَوَلُّعي وَقِيامي
A dwelling where I humbled my guarded tears
An abode where I poured out my guarded tears,
and prolonged my yearning and my vigil.
and prolonged my yearning and my standing there.
لَمdid not تُبقِleave نازِلَةcalamity of النَوىseparation مِنهُof it سِوىanything but
لَم تُبقِ نازِلَة النَوى مِنهُ سِوى
طَلَلa ruined trace عَلىunder حُكمِdecree of الزَمانtime رِمامِdecayed remains
طَلَل عَلى حُكمِ الزَمان رِمامِ
The calamity of separation left nothing of it but
Separation's calamity left nothing of it but
a ruin, decayed beneath time’s decree:
a ruined trace, crumbling under time's decree.
نُؤيٌa tent trench بِمُنعَطَفِat the bend of الدِيارthe dwellings وَرَسمِهاand their traces
نُؤيٌ بِمُنعَطَفِ الدِيار وَرَسمِها
يُبدوappears كَماjust as اِنعَطَفَتcurved حنيَّةُbow of راميan archer
يُبدو كَما اِنعَطَفَت حنيَّةُ رامي
a trench at the bend of the encampment, whose trace
A trench at the bend of the dwellings and their traces
appears curved like an archer’s bow,
appears curved like an archer's bow.
وَثَلاثand three جاراتٍneighbors أَقَمنremained بِساحِهِin its courtyard
وَثَلاث جاراتٍ أَقَمن بِساحِهِ
سُفعsoot-dark الوُجُوهfaces كرائِماتِlike brooding حَمامِdoves
سُفع الوُجُوه كرائِماتِ حَمامِ
and three neighbors who settled in its yard—
And three neighbors remained within its courtyard,
dark-faced, noble doves.
soot-dark of face, like brooding doves.
وَلَقَدand indeed حَبَستُI halted عَلىbeside الدِيارthe dwellings عِصابَةًa band
وَلَقَد حَبَستُ عَلى الدِيار عِصابَةً
حَنَتِbent الضُلوعَthe ribs عَلىaround جَوىًheartache وَضِرامِand flame
حَنَتِ الضُلوعَ عَلى جَوىً وَضِرامِ
I reined in at the dwellings a company
And indeed I halted a band beside the dwellings,
whose ribs bent over anguish and flame,
whose ribs curved around heartache and flame,
مُتَهافتينَslumping عَلىonto الرِحالthe saddles كَفِتيَةٍlike youths
مُتَهافتينَ عَلى الرِحال كَفِتيَةٍ
خَرّواthey fell سُجوداًprostrate بَعدَafter طُولِa long duration of قيامِstanding
خَرّوا سُجوداً بَعدَ طُولِ قيامِ
collapsing upon their saddles like youths
slumping over their saddles like young men
who fell prostrate after standing long.
who fell prostrate after standing long.
شَرِبَتdrank بِكاساتِfrom cups of السُرىnight travel خَمرَwine of الكَرىslumber
شَرِبَت بِكاساتِ السُرى خَمرَ الكَرى
حَتّىuntil اِغتَدَتbecame صَرعىprostrate بِغَيرِwithout مُدامِwine
حَتّى اِغتَدَت صَرعى بِغَيرِ مُدامِ
They drank from the cups of night travel the wine of slumber
They drank the wine of slumber from cups of night travel,
until they lay felled, though they had drunk no wine.
until they lay overcome, without wine.
طَلَلٌa ruin وَقَفتُI stood عَلىupon رباهits heights نائِحاًlamenting
طَلَلٌ وَقَفتُ عَلى رباه نائِحاً
غَربَa torrent of المَدامِعtears مِثلَlike فَيضِthe downpour of غَمامِclouds
غَربَ المَدامِع مِثلَ فَيضِ غَمامِ
A ruin—upon its heights I stood lamenting,
A ruin upon whose heights I stood lamenting,
shedding tears like a cloudburst,
my tears streaming like a cloud's downpour.
وَلهانَdistraught أنشدُI seek فيin مَعاهدold sites of رَسمِهِits traces
وَلهانَ أنشدُ في مَعاهد رَسمِهِ
عَهدdays of الشَبابyouth مَضىpassed كَطَيفَlike a phantom of مُقامِa sojourn
عَهد الشَباب مَضى كَطَيفَ مُقامِ
distraught, seeking amid the haunts of its trace
Distraught, I seek among the old sites of its traces
a youth now gone, like a phantom’s fleeting stay.
the days of youth, gone like a phantom of a sojourn.
ياO مُذكريyou who remind me زَمَنthe time of الصَبابةardent love وَالصِباand youth
يا مُذكري زَمَن الصَبابة وَالصِبا
ذَكَرتُكَI remembered you ذِكريmy remembrance هاطلاتِfalling showers of رهامِfine rain
ذَكَرتُكَ ذِكري هاطلاتِ رهامِ
O you who recall to me the days of passion and youth,
O you who remind me of the days of passion and youth,
I remembered you with remembrance pouring like gentle rain.
I remembered you; my remembrance fell in showers of fine rain,
وَكَستكَand it clothed you مِنfrom خَلعrobes of honor of الشَبابyouth وَرفِّهِand its ease
وَكَستكَ مِن خَلع الشَباب وَرفِّهِ
خِلَعاًrobes of honor تَروقُdelight لِناظرfor a beholder مُستامِseeking to buy
خِلَعاً تَروقُ لِناظر مُستامِ
Youth and its lush abundance clothed you
and clothed you, from youth's finery and its ease,
in robes that delight the admiring beholder.
in robes that delight an appraising beholder.
قَدindeed كُنتَyou were مَألفhaunt of كُلِّevery ريمٍgazelle أَهيَفٍslender-waisted
قَد كُنتَ مَألف كُلِّ ريمٍ أَهيَفٍ
يَهفوyearns إَلَيكَtoward you وَرَبعand abode of كُلِّevery غَرامِpassion
يَهفو إَلَيكَ وَرَبع كُلِّ غَرامِ
You were once the haunt of every slender white gazelle,
You once were the haunt of every slender-waisted gazelle
yearning for you, and the home of every passion—
that yearned for you, and the abode of every passion,
مِنof كُلِّevery مُخطَفَةِslender الحَشاof waist كَأَخيlike a brother of الرَشاthe gazelle fawn
مِن كُلِّ مُخطَفَةِ الحَشا كَأَخي الرَشا
لِلِحاظِهاfor her glances فيin القَلبِthe heart وَقعُimpact of سِهامِarrows
لِلِحاظِها في القَلبِ وَقعُ سِهامِ
each slim-waisted beauty, gazelle-like,
each slender of waist, like a fawn's kin,
whose glances strike the heart like arrows;
her glances striking the heart with the impact of arrows.
رُعبُوبَةٌa tender maiden سُقيَتwas watered مياهwaters of شَبيبةٍyouth
رُعبُوبَةٌ سُقيَت مياه شَبيبةٍ
فَغَدَتand so became كَزَهرِlike blossoms of الرَوضِthe garden غبَّafter سِجامِpouring rain
فَغَدَت كَزَهرِ الرَوضِ غبَّ سِجامِ
a full-limbed maiden, watered by the freshness of youth,
A tender maiden watered with the waters of youth,
who became like a garden’s blossoms after streaming rain;
she became like garden blossoms after pouring rain.
بَدرٌa full moon بِلَيلِin the night of الشعرِthe hair مَهماwhenever أَسفَرَتshe unveiled her face
بَدرٌ بِلَيلِ الشعرِ مَهما أَسفَرَت
فيهin it أَرتكَshe showed you الشمسُthe sun جُنحَthe wing of ظلَامِdarkness
فيه أَرتكَ الشمسُ جُنحَ ظلَامِ
a full moon amid the night of her hair: whenever she unveiled,
A full moon in the night of her hair; whenever she unveils,
the sun within it showed you the heart of darkness.
she shows you there the sun beneath a wing of darkness.
قالَتshe said وَقَدand having نَثَرَتscattered فَريدَpearls of مَدامِعٍtears
قالَت وَقَد نَثَرَت فَريدَ مَدامِعٍ
فيon خَدِّهاher cheek كَفَريدlike pearls of عِقدa necklace نِظامِa bead-string
في خَدِّها كَفَريد عِقد نِظامِ
She said, scattering matchless tears
She said, having scattered pearls of tears
upon her cheek like the separate pearls of a necklace,
on her cheek like pearls from a strung necklace,
وَالبينُand separation زُمَّتwere bridled لِلرَحيلfor departure رِكابُهُits mounts
وَالبينُ زُمَّت لِلرَحيل رِكابُهُ
وَيَدُand the hand of النَوىseparation تَعطوreaches out بِفَضلِwith the loose end of زِمامِa rein
وَيَدُ النَوى تَعطو بِفَضلِ زِمامِ
while separation’s mounts were saddled for departure
while separation's mounts were bridled for departure
and separation’s hand reached for the loose end of the rein:
and separation's hand reached out with a rein's loose end:
لَيتَwould that الَّذيthe One who خَلَقَcreated النَوىseparation جَعلَhad made الحَصىthe pebbles
لَيتَ الَّذي خَلَقَ النَوى جَعلَ الحَصى
بِخِفافِهِنَّbeneath their padded feet مَفاصِليmy joints وَعِظاميand my bones
بِخِفافِهِنَّ مَفاصِلي وَعِظامي
“Would that He who created separation had made the pebbles
Would that the One who created separation had made the pebbles
beneath their hooves my joints and bones!”
beneath their padded feet my joints and bones!
فَأَجبتُهاso I answered her لَمّاwhen سَمِعتُI heard مَقالَهاher words
فَأَجبتُها لَمّا سَمِعتُ مَقالَها
وَالدَمعُand tears مِنfrom حَذَرfear of التَفَرُّقparting هامِstreaming
وَالدَمعُ مِن حَذَر التَفَرُّق هامِ
I answered her when I heard her words,
So I answered her when I heard her words,
while tears streamed for fear of our parting:
as tears streamed in dread of separation:
لاdo not تَجزَعيgrieve مِمّاover what دَهاكِbefell you فَرُبّماfor sometimes
لا تَجزَعي مِمّا دَهاكِ فَرُبّما
جُعلِis made التَرحُّلُdeparture وَصلةًa link لِمقامِto a settled abode
جُعلِ التَرحُّلُ وَصلةً لِمقامِ
“Do not despair at what has befallen you; perhaps
Do not grieve over what has befallen you; sometimes
departure may become a means of reaching an abode.
departure is made a means to a settled abode.
وَإِلىand toward جَنابthe presence of أَبيAbu السعودِal-Su'ud وَربعهand his dwelling
وَإِلى جَناب أَبي السعودِ وَربعه
نُصّيurge onward الرَكايبthe riding camels تَظفَريyou will succeed بِمَرامِin a desired goal
نُصّي الرَكايب تَظفَري بِمَرامِ
Toward the court and dwelling of Abū al-Suʿūd
And toward Abu al-Su'ud's presence and his dwelling
urge the mounts, and you shall attain your desire—
urge your mounts onward; you will attain your wish.
بِجَنابin the presence of أَفضَلthe finest عالمٍscholar وَطِئَtrod الثَرىthe earth
بِجَناب أَفضَل عالمٍ وَطِئَ الثَرى
فيamong ذاthis الوَرىhumankind أَوفاهُمُtheir most faithful بِذِمامِto pledges
في ذا الوَرى أَوفاهُمُ بِذِمامِ
at the court of the finest scholar ever to tread the earth,
In the presence of the finest scholar to tread the earth,
the most faithful to his covenant among all mankind;
among these people the most faithful to his pledges,
خَيرthe best اِمرئٍman لَمnever تَشتَبهbecome confused آراؤُهُhis judgments
خَير اِمرئٍ لَم تَشتَبه آراؤُهُ
عِندَwhen اِشتباهthe confusion of البيدِthe deserts وَالأَعلامِand landmarks
عِندَ اِشتباه البيدِ وَالأَعلامِ
the best of men, whose judgments never grow confused
the best of men, whose judgments never grow confused
when deserts and landmarks become indistinguishable.
when deserts and landmarks are hard to distinguish.
بِذُراهin his shelter يُلفىis found الجودُgenerosity ملقٍlaying down رَحلَهُits saddle
بِذُراه يُلفى الجودُ ملقٍ رَحلَهُ
وَالمَجدُand glory لاnot بِأَباطِحٍin broad valley beds وَأَكامِand hills
وَالمَجدُ لا بِأَباطِحٍ وَأَكامِ
At his heights generosity is found unloading its saddle,
In his shelter generosity is found laying down its saddle,
and glory too—not in lowlands or hills.
and glory too—not in valley beds or on hills.
علَمُbeacon of الهُدىguidance بَحرُsea of الندىbounty مَولىmaster of الجَدَاlargesse
علَمُ الهُدى بَحرُ الندى مَولى الجَدَا
طُولَthroughout المَدىall time لِذَويهِfor his people خَيرthe best إِمامِleader
طُولَ المَدى لِذَويهِ خَير إِمامِ
A beacon of guidance, an ocean of bounty, a lord of gifts,
Beacon of guidance, sea of bounty, master of largesse,
through all time the best guide to his people;
through all time the best leader for his people;
مَنhe who لَمnot تَزَلhave ceased to be أَعتابهُhis thresholds لِذَويfor those possessing النُهىreason
مَن لَم تَزَل أَعتابهُ لِذَوي النُهى
حرمُsanctuary of النَوالِbounty وَكَعبةُand Kaaba of الإِكرامِhonor
حرمُ النَوالِ وَكَعبةُ الإِكرامِ
he whose thresholds have ever been, for those of understanding,
he whose thresholds have ever been, for men of reason,
the sanctuary of largesse and the Kaaba of honor.
a sanctuary of bounty and a Kaaba of honor.
بَلnay إِنif تَمُتَّyou claim connection إِلىto ذُراهhis shelter بِنِسبَةٍthrough a tie
بَل إِن تَمُتَّ إِلى ذُراه بِنِسبَةٍ
هَذيthis أَمِنتَyou are safe إِذاًthen مِنَfrom الإِعدامِdestitution
هَذي أَمِنتَ إِذاً مِنَ الإِعدامِ
Indeed, if you claim kinship with his heights
Nay, if you are linked to his shelter by a bond
through this bond, you will then be safe from destitution.
like this, you are then safe from destitution.
أَسرَتtook captive لَهُfor him الآفاقthe horizons عَزمةresolve of هَمِّهِhis ambition
أَسرَت لَهُ الآفاق عَزمة هَمِّهِ
ضَرَبتpitched رُواقَcanopy of المَجدِglory فَوقَabove الهامِheads
ضَرَبت رُواقَ المَجدِ فَوقَ الهامِ
The resolve of his ambition journeys across the horizons
His ambition's resolve took the horizons captive for him
and pitches glory’s pavilion above all heads.
and pitched the canopy of glory above all heads.
وَاِحتاطَand secured itself هَذاthis الدينُfaith مِنهُthrough him بِصارِمٍwith a sword
وَاِحتاطَ هَذا الدينُ مِنهُ بِصارِمٍ
ماضيkeen الشَباof edge كَالصارِمِlike a cutting sword الصَمصامِunbending
ماضي الشَبا كَالصارِمِ الصَمصامِ
Through him this faith has armed itself with a sword
And this faith secured itself through him with a sword,
keen-edged as the invincible Ṣamṣām.
keen-edged as an unbending, cutting blade.
وَرَساand stood firm لَهُfor it طَوداًas a mountain تَقاعَسfell short دُونَهُbeneath it
وَرَسا لَهُ طَوداً تَقاعَس دُونَهُ
هَضَباتُthe hills of رَضوىRadwa مِنamong ذراهاits summits الساميthe lofty
هَضَباتُ رَضوى مِن ذراها السامي
For the faith he stood firm as a mountain, before which
And he stood firm for it, a mountain before which fell short
the hills of Raḍwā fell short of his lofty summits.
Radwa's hills, even their lofty summits.
يأويseeks refuge إِلَيهِin him الحِلمُforbearance مُعتَصِماًseeking protection إِذاwhen
يأوي إِلَيهِ الحِلمُ مُعتَصِماً إِذا
طارَتflew رِياحُwinds of الطَيشِrecklessness بِالأَحلامِwith people's reason
طارَت رِياحُ الطَيشِ بِالأَحلامِ
Forbearance takes refuge in him whenever
Forbearance seeks refuge in him, holding fast, when
the winds of rashness scatter men’s minds.
the winds of recklessness carry reason away.
عَفُّchaste الإِزارِof waistcloth يَجُرُّhe trails أَذيالَhems of التُقىpiety
عَفُّ الإِزارِ يَجُرُّ أَذيالَ التُقى
وَالدينand faith لاnot بِتغَطرُفٍwith arrogance وَعُرامِand insolence
وَالدين لا بِتغَطرُفٍ وَعُرامِ
Chaste in honor, he trails the robes of piety
Chaste in his garments, he trails the hems of piety
and faith, without arrogance or violence.
and faith, not with arrogance and insolence.
لاnot تطَّبيهِentice him مَطامِعُtemptations of الدُنياthe world وَلَوeven if
لا تطَّبيهِ مَطامِعُ الدُنيا وَلَو
بَسَمَتshe smiled لَهُat him عَنrevealing ثَغرِهاher mouth البَسّامِever-smiling
بَسَمَت لَهُ عَن ثَغرِها البَسّامِ
The temptations of this world cannot entice him, even if
The world's temptations cannot lure him, even if
it smiles upon him with its radiant mouth.
she smiles at him, revealing her ever-smiling mouth.
مَولايَmy lord ياO رُكنَpillar of الهِدايَةِguidance وَالهُدىand the right way
مَولايَ يا رُكنَ الهِدايَةِ وَالهُدى
وَمَنِand you who اِغتَدىhave become لِلدينfor the faith خَيرَthe best قِوامِsupport
وَمَنِ اِغتَدى لِلدين خَيرَ قِوامِ
My lord, O pillar of right guidance and true direction,
My lord, O pillar of guidance and the right way,
you who have become the faith’s finest support:
and you who have become the faith's finest support,
لاmay not تُغببvisit intermittently الأَنواءُthe rainstorms رَبعَكَyour dwelling إِنَّهُindeed it
لا تُغبب الأَنواءُ رَبعَكَ إِنَّهُ
حِصنٌa fortress لَناfor us مِنagainst حادِثِmisfortunes of الأَيّامِthe days
حِصنٌ لَنا مِن حادِثِ الأَيّامِ
may the rain clouds never visit your dwelling only by fits and starts, for it
may the rains visit your dwelling unceasingly, for it
is our fortress against the assaults of time.
is our fortress against the misfortunes of time.
وَإِلىand to حِماكَyour sanctuary الرَحبِspacious وافَتarrived غادَةٌa graceful maiden
وَإِلى حِماكَ الرَحبِ وافَت غادَةٌ
بَسّامَةٌever-smiling تُزهىis radiant كَبَدرlike a full moon تَمامِat fullness
بَسّامَةٌ تُزهى كَبَدر تَمامِ
To your spacious sanctuary there has come a maiden,
And to your spacious sanctuary a maiden has come,
smiling, resplendent as the full moon.
ever smiling, resplendent like a moon at its full.
قَصَدَتكَshe sought you مِنfrom عُلياthe heights of دِمشقDamascus رَجاءَin hope أَنthat
قَصَدَتكَ مِن عُليا دِمشق رَجاءَ أَن
تَحظىshe might be favored بِبِرِّكَwith your kindness ياO أَبَرَّmost beneficent هُمامِnoble man
تَحظى بِبِرِّكَ يا أَبَرَّ هُمامِ
She has sought you from the heights of Damascus, hoping
She sought you from the heights of Damascus, in the hope that
to gain your kindness, O kindest of noble lords.
she might win your kindness, O kindest of noble men.
لاmay not زِلتَyou cease to be مَحروسَguarded الجَنابthe precinct بِدَولَةٍby good fortune
لا زِلتَ مَحروسَ الجَناب بِدَولَةٍ
تَسموrises مَدىthroughout الأَيّامthe days وَالأَعوامِand the years
تَسمو مَدى الأَيّام وَالأَعوامِ
May your court remain protected by a dynasty
May your precinct ever be guarded by good fortune
that rises ever higher through days and years—
that rises through the days and years,
ماas long as حَنَّyearned لِلوَطَنِfor his homeland الغَريبِthe exile وَماand as long as شَدَتsang
ما حَنَّ لِلوَطَنِ الغَريبِ وَما شَدَت
وُرقُgray الحَمامdoves عَلىupon فُروعbranches of بَشامِbalsam trees
وُرقُ الحَمام عَلى فُروع بَشامِ
as long as the exile yearns for home, and as long as
as long as the exile yearns for home, and song rises
grey doves coo upon the branches of balsam trees.
from gray doves on the branches of balsam trees.
Sol 6.1