أَقَناعَةًcontentment? مِنfrom بَعدِafter طولِlength of جَفاءِestrangement
أَقَناعَةً مِن بَعدِ طولِ جَفاءِ
بِدُنُوِّwith the approach of طَيفٍa dream-phantom مِنfrom حَبيبٍa beloved ناءِfar away
بِدُنُوِّ طَيفٍ مِن حَبيبٍ ناءِ
Am I to be content, after long estrangement,
After long estrangement a mask of intimacy
with the approach of a phantom from a distant beloved?
With the approach of a beloved's phantom that bent close;
بِأَبيwith my father as ransom وَأُمّيand my mother شادِنٌa young gazelle قُلناwe said لَهُto him
بِأَبي وَأُمّي شادِنٌ قُلنا لَهُ
نَفديكَwe ransom you بِالأَمّاتِwith mothers وَالآباءِand fathers
نَفديكَ بِالأَمّاتِ وَالآباءِ
May my father and mother be ransom for a young gazelle, to whom we said:
By my life and my parents' lives we cried to him,
We would ransom you with mothers and fathers.
"We'll ransom you with our mothers and fathers!"
رَشَأٌa gazelle fawn إِذاif لَحَظَhe glanced at العَفيفَthe chaste man بِنَظرَةٍwith a glance
رَشَأٌ إِذا لَحَظَ العَفيفَ بِنَظرَةٍ
كانَتit became لَهُfor him سَبَباًa cause إِلىto الفَحشاءِlewdness
كانَت لَهُ سَبَباً إِلى الفَحشاءِ
A fawn whose glance, if cast upon a chaste man,
A lewd fellow, when he ogles the chaste with a glance
would become his inducement to lewdness.
Becomes for him the cause of going astray;
وَجَناتُهُhis cheeks تَجنيdo harm عَلىto عُشّاقِهِhis lovers
وَجَناتُهُ تَجني عَلى عُشّاقِهِ
بِبَديعِwith the splendor of ماwhat فيهاin them مِنَof اللَألاءِradiance
بِبَديعِ ما فيها مِنَ اللَألاءِ
His cheeks wreak havoc on his lovers
And his gardens temptation upon his lovers
with the wondrous radiance within them.
With the wondrous beauty in them of soft voices;
بيضٌwhite عَلَتهاcovered them حُمرَةٌredness فَتَوَرَّدَتand so they became rosy
بيضٌ عَلَتها حُمرَةٌ فَتَوَرَّدَت
مِثلَlike المُدامِwine خَلَطتَهاyou mixed it بِالماءِwith water
مِثلَ المُدامِ خَلَطتَها بِالماءِ
White, they were overlaid with red and became rosy,
White, tinged by redness, and red buds among them,
like wine that you have mixed with water.
Like wine mixed with water, both together:
فَكَأَنَّهاso as though they بَرَزَتappeared لَناto us بِغَلالَةٍin a thin robe
فَكَأَنَّها بَرَزَت لَنا بِغَلالَةٍ
بَيضاءَwhite تَحتَbeneath غِلالَةٍa thin robe حَمراءِred
بَيضاءَ تَحتَ غِلالَةٍ حَمراءِ
So they seemed to appear before us in a thin robe,
So they seemed to have come forth to us wearing
white, beneath a red robe.
White mantles with red borders around them.
كَيفَhow اِتِّقاءُguarding against لِحاظِهِhis glances وَعُيونُناand our eyes
كَيفَ اِتِّقاءُ لِحاظِهِ وَعُيونُنا
طُرُقٌpaths لِأَسهُمِهاfor their arrows إِلىto الأَحشاءِthe vitals
طُرُقٌ لِأَسهُمِها إِلى الأَحشاءِ
How can we guard against his glances, when our eyes
How can his glances and eyes be shunned
are pathways for their arrows to our vitals?
When they are highways for arrows to our hearts?
صَبَغَdyed الحَياshyness خَدَّيهِhis two cheeks لَونَthe color of مَدامِعيmy tears
صَبَغَ الحَيا خَدَّيهِ لَونَ مَدامِعي
فَكَأَنَّهُso as though he يَبكيweeps بِمِثلِwith the like of بُكائيmy weeping
فَكَأَنَّهُ يَبكي بِمِثلِ بُكائي
Shyness dyed his cheeks the color of my tears,
Wine has dyed his cheeks the color of my tears,
so he seemed to be weeping just as I weep.
As though he weeps with weeping like mine;
كَيفَhow اِتِّقاءُwarding off جَآذِرٍoryx calves يَرمينَناthey shoot at us
كَيفَ اِتِّقاءُ جَآذِرٍ يَرمينَنا
بِظُبىwith the edges of الصَوارِمِkeen swords مِنfrom عُيونِthe eyes of ظِباءِgazelles
بِظُبى الصَوارِمِ مِن عُيونِ ظِباءِ
How can we ward off oryx calves that shoot at us
How can the heart-inflaming one who shoots us
with the edges of keen swords from gazelles' eyes?
With the does' glances of his languid eyes be shunned?
يارَبَّO possessor of تِلكَthat المُقلَةِeye النَجلاءِwide
يارَبَّ تِلكَ المُقلَةِ النَجلاءِ
حاشاكَmay you be spared مِمّاfrom what ضُمِّنَتwere made to hold أَحشائيmy vitals
حاشاكَ مِمّا ضُمِّنَت أَحشائي
O you who possess that wide eye,
O Lord of that slender fawn, who has filled
may you be spared what my heart bears.
My heart with all that her body can contain!
جازَيتَنيyou repaid me بُعداًwith distance بِقُربيfor my closeness فيin الهَوىlove
جازَيتَني بُعداً بِقُربي في الهَوى
وَمَنَحتَنيand you granted me غَدراًtreachery بِحُسنِfor the goodness of وَفائيmy fidelity
وَمَنَحتَني غَدراً بِحُسنِ وَفائي
You repaid my nearness in love with distance,
You have rewarded my loyalty with estrangement,
and gave me betrayal for my faithful devotion.
And met my virtue with betrayal and disdain.
جادَتwatered generously عِراصَكِyour open grounds ياO شَآمُSyria سَحابَةٌa cloud
جادَت عِراصَكِ يا شَآمُ سَحابَةٌ
عَرّاضَةٌwide-spreading مِنfrom أَصدَقِthe surest of الأَنواءِrain-bearing stars
عَرّاضَةٌ مِن أَصدَقِ الأَنواءِ
May a cloud lavish rain on your open grounds, O Syria,
Your clouds have rained in the land of Salamiyah,
broad-spreading, from the surest rain-bearing stars.
A shower generous from the truest clouds.
بَلَدُland of المَجانَةِwanton merriment وَالخَلاعَةِand licentiousness وَالصِباand youth
بَلَدُ المَجانَةِ وَالخَلاعَةِ وَالصِبا
وَمَحَلِّand the home of كُلِّevery فُتُوَّةٍgallantry وَفَتاءِand youthful vigor
وَمَحَلِّ كُلِّ فُتُوَّةٍ وَفَتاءِ
Land of revelry, abandon, and youth,
Land of gallantry, valor, and noble youths,
and home of all gallantry and youthful vigor.
Home of every knight and hero bold and brave.
أَنواعُvarieties of زَهرٍflowers وَاِلتِفافُand the dense growth of حَدائِقٍgardens
أَنواعُ زَهرٍ وَاِلتِفافُ حَدائِقٍ
وَصَفاءُand the clarity of ماءٍwater وَاِعتِدالُand the mildness of هَواءِair
وَصَفاءُ ماءٍ وَاِعتِدالُ هَواءِ
Flowers of many kinds and densely growing gardens,
Kinds of flowers, gardens in clusters massed together,
and clear water and temperate air.
Pure waters' sheen, the temperate air's caress;
وَخَرائِدٌand maidens مِثلُlike الدُمىfigurines يَسقينَناthey give us drink
وَخَرائِدٌ مِثلُ الدُمى يَسقينَنا
كَأَسَينِtwo cups مِنof لَحظٍglances وَمِنand of صَهباءِtawny wine
كَأَسَينِ مِن لَحظٍ وَمِن صَهباءِ
And maidens like figurines give us to drink
Gazelles like swords, whose glances give us to drink
two cups: one of glances, one of tawny wine.
Deep draughts of lightning-flash and swordblade's gleam.
وَإِذاand when أَدَرنَthey passed around عَلىamong النَدامىthe drinking companions كَأسَهاits cup
وَإِذا أَدَرنَ عَلى النَدامى كَأسَها
غَنَّينَناthey sang to us شِعرَthe poetry of اِبنِson of أَوسِAws الطائيal-Ta'i
غَنَّينَنا شِعرَ اِبنِ أَوسِ الطائي
And when they pass its cup among the drinking companions,
And when they pass the wine-cup round to companions
they sing us the poetry of Ibn Aws al-Ta'i.
They sing the verses of Ibn Awis al-Ta'i.
فارَقتُI parted from حينَwhen شَخَصتُI departed عَنهاfrom her لِذَّتيmy delight
فارَقتُ حينَ شَخَصتُ عَنها لِذَّتي
وَتَرَكتُand I left أَحوالَstates of السُرورِjoy وَرائيbehind me
وَتَرَكتُ أَحوالَ السُرورِ وَرائي
When I departed from her, I parted from my delight,
Since I departed I've been parted from my bliss;
and left all states of joy behind me.
I left behind me joy and happiness.
وَنَزَلتُand I lodged مِنwithin بَلَدِthe land of الجَزيرَةِal-Jazira مَنزِلاًa dwelling
وَنَزَلتُ مِن بَلَدِ الجَزيرَةِ مَنزِلاً
خِلواًempty مِنَof الخُلَطاءِcompanions وَالنُدَماءِand drinking friends
خِلواً مِنَ الخُلَطاءِ وَالنُدَماءِ
And I took a dwelling in the land of al-Jazira,
From the island country I made my way
devoid of companions and drinking friends.
To a lonely place, far from allIGNorant men.
فَيُمِرُّso it turns bitter عِنديto me كُلُّevery طَعمٍflavor طَيِّبٍpleasant
فَيُمِرُّ عِندي كُلُّ طَعمٍ طَيِّبٍ
مِنbecause of رِبقِهاits fetters وَيَضيقُand becomes narrow كُلُّevery فَضاءِopen space
مِن رِبقِها وَيَضيقُ كُلُّ فَضاءِ
So every pleasant flavor turns bitter to me
So every exquisite taste that comes from it
because of its fetters, and every expanse grows narrow.
Seems mean, and every open space too cramped.
الشامُSyria لابَلَدُnot the land of الجَزيرَةِal-Jazira لَذَّتيmy delight
الشامُ لابَلَدُ الجَزيرَةِ لَذَّتي
وَيَزيدُand Yazid لاماءُnot the water of الفُراتِthe Euphrates مُنائيmy desire
وَيَزيدُ لاماءُ الفُراتِ مُنائي
Syria, not the land of al-Jazira, is my delight,
No, not the island country, but Damascus
and Yazid, not the water of the Euphrates, is my desire.
Is my delight; increase of Euphrates' stream
وَأَبيتُand I spend the night مُرتَهَنَheld captive الفُؤادِthe heart بِمَنبِجَin Manbij الthe
وَأَبيتُ مُرتَهَنَ الفُؤادِ بِمَنبِجَ ال
سَوfirst part of 'black' داءِcompletion of 'black' لاnot بِالرَقَّةَin al-Raqqa البَيضاءِwhite
سَو داءِ لا بِالرَقَّةَ البَيضاءِ
And I spend the night, my heart held captive in Manbij the
Does not add to my pleasure; I remain
Black, not in Raqqa the White.
A prisoner, loving Manbij, not white (ar-Ragga).
مَنwho مُبلِغُone who informs النَدماءَthe drinking companions أَنّيthat I بَعدَهُمafter them
مَن مُبلِغُ النَدماءَ أَنّي بَعدَهُم
أُمسيI spend the evening نَديمَa drinking companion to كَواكِبِthe stars of الجَوزاءِOrion
أُمسي نَديمَ كَواكِبِ الجَوزاءِ
Who will tell the drinking companions that, away from them,
If only someone would tell the noble ones
I pass my evenings as a boon companion to Orion's stars?
That after them I spend my nights with Virgo's stars!
وَلَقَدand indeed رَعَيتُI preserved فَلَيتَso would that شِعريmy knowledge مَنwho رَعىpreserved
وَلَقَد رَعَيتُ فَلَيتَ شِعري مَن رَعى
مِنكُمamong you عَلىdespite بُعدِthe distance of الدِيارِthe homes إِخائيmy brotherly friendship
مِنكُم عَلى بُعدِ الدِيارِ إِخائي
And I have kept faith; would that I knew who has preserved,
Though you have left me I tend the pasture still;
among you, my brotherly bond despite the distance between our homes.
But who, at such a distance from his folk, tends me?
فَحمَwas struck dumb الغَبِيُّthe dullard وَقُلتُand I said غَيرَnot مُلَجلِجٍfaltering
فَحمَ الغَبِيُّ وَقُلتُ غَيرَ مُلَجلِجٍ
إِنّيindeed I لَمُشتاقٌsurely longing إِلىfor العَلياءِlofty glory
إِنّي لَمُشتاقٌ إِلى العَلياءِ
The dullard was struck dumb, and I said without faltering:
The foolish one grew hot, and I said calmly,
I truly long for lofty glory.
"I long for those who dwell upon the heights."
وَصِناعَتيand my craft ضَربُstriking with السُيوفِswords وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
وَصِناعَتي ضَربُ السُيوفِ وَإِنَّني
مُتَعَرِّضٌcontending فيin الشِعرِpoetry بِالشُعَراءِwith the poets
مُتَعَرِّضٌ في الشِعرِ بِالشُعَراءِ
And my craft is striking with swords, and indeed I
My skill is sword-strokes, and my poetry's woven
contend with the poets in verse.
With threads the other poets have spun out.
وَاللَهُand God يَجمَعُناbrings us together بِعِزٍّin honor دائِمٍlasting
وَاللَهُ يَجمَعُنا بِعِزٍّ دائِمٍ
وَسَلامَةٍand well-being مَوصولَةٍjoined بِبَقاءِwith continued life
وَسَلامَةٍ مَوصولَةٍ بِبَقاءِ
And may God unite us in lasting honor,
O God Who will unite us, constant,
and well-being joined with enduring life.
In lasting honor and unbroken harmony!
Sol 6.1