أَجفانُeyelids خوطِof a shoot البانَةِof the bān tree الأُملودِsupple
أَجفانُ خوطِ البانَةِ الأُملودِ
مَشغولَةٌpreoccupied بِكَwith you عَنaway from وِصالِunion with هُجودِsleep
مَشغولَةٌ بِكَ عَن وِصالِ هُجودِ
The eyelids of the supple bān-tree shoot
The eyelids of the graceful damsel's languid glances,
are too absorbed in you to embrace sleep.
Preoccupied with you, neglect trysts of affection.
سَكَبَتpoured ذَخيرَةَa hoard دَمعَةٍof tears مُصفَرَّةٍyellow-tinged
سَكَبَت ذَخيرَةَ دَمعَةٍ مُصفَرَّةٍ
فيupon وَجنَةٍa cheek مُحمَرَّةِreddened التَوريدِwith a rosy flush
في وَجنَةٍ مُحمَرَّةِ التَوريدِ
They poured their hoard of yellow-tinged tears
She poured the treasure of a yellow tear
upon a cheek red with a rosy flush.
In a blushed cheek of flowing crimson.
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though وَهيَthe breaking نِظامِهاof their thread نَظمٌa string of ornaments وَهىcame undone
فَكَأَنَّ وَهيَ نِظامِها نَظمٌ وَهى
مِنof يارِقٍa bracelet وَقَلائِدٍand necklaces وَعُقودِand jeweled strings
مِن يارِقٍ وَقَلائِدٍ وَعُقودِ
As though their broken thread were a strand undone
So her visage in its symmetry appears like braids,
of bracelets, necklaces, and jeweled strings.
Necklaces and strings of pearls.
أَذكَتkindled حُميّاthe fervor وَجدِهاof her longing حُمَّةَthe sting الأَسىof sorrow
أَذكَت حُميّا وَجدِها حُمَّةَ الأَسى
فَغَدَتso she became بِنارٍwith a fire غَيرِnot ذاتِhaving خُمودِextinction
فَغَدَت بِنارٍ غَيرِ ذاتِ خُمودِ
Her longing's fervor inflamed the sting of sorrow,
Her fervent passion ignited sorrow’s blaze,
so she burned with a fire that never dies.
And it blazed with unabating flames.
طَلَعَتshe appeared طُلوعَlike the rising الشَمسِof the sun فيat طَرَفِthe brink النَوىof parting
طَلَعَت طُلوعَ الشَمسِ في طَرَفِ النَوى
وَالشَمسُand the sun طالِعَةٌrising بِطَرفِwith a gaze حَسودِenvious
وَالشَمسُ طالِعَةٌ بِطَرفِ حَسودِ
She appeared like sunrise at the brink of parting,
She rose like the dawn sun in the height of ecstasy,
while the sun rose with an envious gaze.
While the sun rose in the sky of her envious beloved.
وَتَأَمَّلَتand she studied شَبَحيmy form بِعَينٍwith an eye أَيَّدَتthat strengthened
وَتَأَمَّلَت شَبَحي بِعَينٍ أَيَّدَت
عَمَدَthe pillars الهَوىof passion فيin قَلبِيَmy heart المَعمودِlove-stricken
عَمَدَ الهَوى في قَلبِيَ المَعمودِ
And she studied my form with an eye that strengthened
She glanced at my specter with an eye that lent
love's pillars in my love-stricken heart.
Support to passion’s pillar in my smitten heart.
فَنَحَرتُso I slaughtered حُسنَthe beauty الصَبرِof patience تَحتَbeneath الصَدرِthe breast عَنbecause of
فَنَحَرتُ حُسنَ الصَبرِ تَحتَ الصَدرِ عَن
جَيَدٍa lovely long neck بِواضِحِwith the brightness نَحرِهاof her upper chest وَالجيدِand the neck
جَيَدٍ بِواضِحِ نَحرِها وَالجيدِ
So I slew fair patience beneath my breast, for
So I slaughtered patience’s beauty beneath my chest
a lovely long neck, with her bright breast and throat.
With a clear slaughtering stroke across her neck.
حاشىfar be it لِجَمرِfor the embers حَشايَof my breast أَنto يَلقىmeet الحَشاthe breast
حاشى لِجَمرِ حَشايَ أَن يَلقى الحَشا
إِلّاexcept بِلَفحٍwith a scorching blast مِثلِlike لَفحِthe scorching blast وَقودِof burning fuel
إِلّا بِلَفحٍ مِثلِ لَفحِ وَقودِ
Far be it from the embers in my breast to touch a breast
Far be it that sorrow’s ember should meet firewood
save with a scorching blast like that of burning fuel.
Except with a touch like the kiss of tinder.
أَضحىbecame الَّذيwhat بَقَّتهُhad spared it نيرانُthe fires الحَشاof the breast
أَضحى الَّذي بَقَّتهُ نيرانُ الحَشا
مِنّيof me حَبيساًa captive فيon سَبيلِthe road البيدِof deserts
مِنّي حَبيساً في سَبيلِ البيدِ
What the fires within my breast had spared
He whom the fires of grief left of me
of me became a captive on the desert road.
Has become a captive for destruction’s sake.
أَذراءُthe crests أَمطاءِof the backs الغِنىof wealth يَضحَكنَthey smile عَنfrom
أَذراءُ أَمطاءِ الغِنى يَضحَكنَ عَن
أَذراءِthe crests أَمطاءِof the backs المَطاياof riding-camels القودِlong-necked
أَذراءِ أَمطاءِ المَطايا القودِ
The crests on wealth's backs smile forth
The delights of wealth laugh off the delights
from the crests on the backs of long-necked riding-camels.
Of mounts pacing with provisions for the road.
فَظَلَلتُso I shaded حَدَّthe bounds الأَرضِof the earth تَحتَbeneath العزمِresolve فيon
فَظَلَلتُ حَدَّ الأَرضِ تَحتَ العزمِ في
وَجناءَa stout-cheeked she-camel تُدنيbringing near حَدَّthe bounds كُلِّof every بَعيدِdistant place
وَجناءَ تُدني حَدَّ كُلِّ بَعيدِ
So I shaded earth's bounds beneath my resolve, upon
So I roamed the earth’s expanse beneath resolve
a stout-cheeked she-camel that brings every distant bound near.
In plains that diminish the range of all faraway places.
تَحثوshe flings إِذاwhen حَثَّurges العِتاقَthe thoroughbreds الوَخدُswift striding فيinto
تَحثو إِذا حَثَّ العِتاقَ الوَخدُ في
غُرَرِthe brows العِتاقِof the thoroughbreds النَقعَthe dust بِالتَوحيدِall by herself
غُرَرِ العِتاقِ النَقعَ بِالتَوحيدِ
She flings—when swift striding spurs the thoroughbreds—into
They spur faster when the pillow's shift spurs on
the thoroughbreds' brows the dust, all by herself.
The cheeks' profusion toward divine oneness.
تَعريسُهاher night-rest خَلَلَamid السُرىnight travel تَقريبُهاher trotting
تَعريسُها خَلَلَ السُرى تَقريبُها
حَتّىuntil أَنَختُI made the camel kneel بِأَحمَدَbefore Ahmad المَحمودِthe praised
حَتّى أَنَختُ بِأَحمَدَ المَحمودِ
Her rest amid the night march is her trotting pace,
Her wedding nights midst the bedchambers, her acclimation
until I made her kneel before Ahmad, the praised.
Until I triumphed with the most praised Ahmad.
فَحَطَطتُso I alighted تَحتَbeneath غَمامَةٍa cloud مَغمورَةٍbrimming
فَحَطَطتُ تَحتَ غَمامَةٍ مَغمورَةٍ
بِحَياwith rain بُروقٍof lightning flashes ضاحِكاًsmiling وَرُعودِand thunder
بِحَيا بُروقٍ ضاحِكاً وَرُعودِ
So I alighted beneath a cloud overflowing
So I alighted beneath a cloudburst
with the rain of lightning and thunder, smiling.
With laughter-flashing and rumbling storms.
تَلقاهُyou meet him بَينَamong الزائِرينَthe visitors كَأَنَّهُas though he were
تَلقاهُ بَينَ الزائِرينَ كَأَنَّهُ
قَمَرُthe moon السَماءِof the sky يَلوحُshining بَينَamong سُعودِauspicious stars
قَمَرُ السَماءِ يَلوحُ بَينَ سُعودِ
You meet him among the visitors as though he were
You find him amongst visitors as though he were
the moon of heaven, shining among auspicious stars.
The moon of heaven gleaming among the stars.
لَوif فاحَgave off fragrance عودٌaloeswood فيin النَدِيِّthe gathering وَذِكرُهُand his renown
لَو فاحَ عودٌ في النَدِيِّ وَذِكرُهُ
لَعَلاwould surely surpass بِطيبِby the sweetness الذِكرِof renown طيبَthe fragrance العودِof aloeswood
لَعَلا بِطيبِ الذِكرِ طيبَ العودِ
If aloeswood and his renown breathed fragrance in the gathering,
If aloes wood were to exude in the stream and its scent
his renown's sweetness would surpass the scent of aloeswood.
Would rise with the scent of the finest aloes wood.
وَلّاهُentrusted him with مَنصورٌMansur سَماحَthe bounty يَمينِهِof his right hand
وَلّاهُ مَنصورٌ سَماحَ يَمينِهِ
وَمَضىand departed فَقيدَlacking المِثلِan equal غَيرَnot فَقيدِlost
وَمَضى فَقيدَ المِثلِ غَيرَ فَقيدِ
Mansur entrusted him with his right hand's bounty,
Mansur endowed him with his generous right hand
and departed, peerless, yet not lost.
And he left unequaled without equal.
فَيَرىso he sees فَناءَthe depletion المالِof wealth أَفضَلَthe best ذُخرِهِof his treasures
فَيَرى فَناءَ المالِ أَفضَلَ ذُخرِهِ
وَخُلودَand the immortality ذِكرِof remembrance الحَمدِof praise خَيرَthe best خُلودِimmortality
وَخُلودَ ذِكرِ الحَمدِ خَيرَ خُلودِ
So he sees wealth's depletion as his finest treasure,
So he sees wealth’s evanescence as the best of his treasures,
and undying remembrance in praise as the best immortality.
And endless praise as the best of eternity.
يُبديhe begins giving أَبوAbu (father of) الحَسَنِal-Hasan اللُهىlavish gifts وَيُعيدُهاand repeats them
يُبدي أَبو الحَسَنِ اللُهى وَيُعيدُها
فَمُؤَمِّلوهُso those hoping in him مِنَfrom اللُهىthe gifts فيin عيدِa festival
فَمُؤَمِّلوهُ مِنَ اللُهى في عيدِ
Abu al-Hasan offers lavish gifts and gives them again,
Abu al-Hasan shows kindness and restores it,
so those who hope in him find a festival in his gifts.
So those hopeful of kindness await his feast day.
حَيَّيتُI greeted غُرَّتَهُhis radiant brow بِحُسنِwith the beauty مَدائِحٍof praises
حَيَّيتُ غُرَّتَهُ بِحُسنِ مَدائِحٍ
غُرٍّradiant فَحَيّاso he greeted غَرَّتيmy brow بِالجودِwith generosity
غُرٍّ فَحَيّا غَرَّتي بِالجودِ
I saluted his radiant brow with beautiful odes,
I greeted his prime with excellent eulogies—
radiant themselves; he saluted my brow with bounty.
A greeting, so greet my prime with bounty!
لَوif رامَhe sought جُلموداًa boulder بِجانِبِbeside صَخرَةٍa rock
لَو رامَ جُلموداً بِجانِبِ صَخرَةٍ
يَوماًone day لَرَضَّضَhe would surely crush جانِبَthe side الجُلمودِof the boulder
يَوماً لَرَضَّضَ جانِبَ الجُلمودِ
If he set his sights on a boulder beside a rock
If solidity were to intend one day to cleave
one day, he would crush the boulder's flank.
The side of solidity it would split asunder.
وَإِذاand when الثُغورُthe frontiers اِستَنصَرَتهُask him for aid شَباthe points القَناof spears
وَإِذا الثُغورُ اِستَنصَرَتهُ شَبا القَنا
أَروىhe slakes الشَباthe points مِنfrom ثُغرَةٍa throat-hollow وَوَريدِand a jugular vein
أَروى الشَبا مِن ثُغرَةٍ وَوَريدِ
And when the frontiers call on him for aid with spearpoints,
When the land's expanses need his aid, the youth’s resolve
he slakes those points with blood from throat and jugular.
Quenches their thirst from a spring and artery.
يَستَلُّhe unsheathes إِثرَin pursuit of عَدُوِّهاtheir enemy عَزَماتِهِhis resolves
يَستَلُّ إِثرَ عَدُوِّها عَزَماتِهِ
فَيَعُمُّهاso he encompasses them بِالنَصرِwith victory وَالتَأيِيدِand reinforcement
فَيَعُمُّها بِالنَصرِ وَالتَأيِيدِ
He unsheathes his resolves in pursuit of their foe,
He pursues their enemies with his determination
so he envelops them in victory and reinforcement.
Granting them triumph and support.
ذوpossessing ناظِرٍan eye حَدِبٍcompassionate وَسَمعٍand an ear عائِرٍroving
ذو ناظِرٍ حَدِبٍ وَسَمعٍ عائِرٍ
نَحوَtoward الطَريدِthe fugitive الصارِخِcrying for help المَجهودِexhausted
نَحوَ الطَريدِ الصارِخِ المَجهودِ
He has a compassionate eye and an ear that roams
With a sharp, intent gaze and hearing set toward
toward the fugitive crying for help, worn out.
The screaming, exhausted prey.
تَلقاهُyou meet him مُنفَرِداًalone وَتَحسَبُand you think أَنَّهُthat he is
تَلقاهُ مُنفَرِداً وَتَحسَبُ أَنَّهُ
مِنbecause of عَزمِهِhis resolve فيamid عُدَّةِarms وَعَديدِand a host
مِن عَزمِهِ في عُدَّةِ وَعَديدِ
You meet him alone, yet imagine that he is
You find him alone, and suppose that he is,
through his resolve, amid arms and a host.
Through his resolve, an army and multitude.
ياO أَيُّهاyou المَلِكُking المُرَجّىin whom hopes rest وَالَّذيand the one who
يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ المُرَجّى وَالَّذي
قَدَحَتstruck sparks بِهِthrough him فِطَنيmy wits نِظامَthe stringing نَشيديof my song
قَدَحَت بِهِ فِطَني نِظامَ نَشيدي
O king in whom hopes rest, and you through whom
O you, the hoped-for King, whom my insight has moved
my wits struck sparks to string together my song:
To compose the rhythm of my poem.
أَناI راجِلٌon foot بِبِلادِin the lands مَروٍof Marw راكِبٌriding above
أَنا راجِلٌ بِبِلادِ مَروٍ راكِبٌ
فيin جَودَةِthe excellence الأَشعارِof poems كُلَّevery مُجيدِmaster poet
في جَودَةِ الأَشعارِ كُلَّ مُجيدِ
I am on foot in the lands of Marw, yet I outride
I am a footman in the land of Ma'arr, mounted
every accomplished poet in excellence of verse.
Atop the steeds of sublime poetry.
فَأَعِزَّso ennoble ذِلَّةَthe lowliness رُجلَتيof my being on foot بِمُهَذَّبٍwith a refined steed
فَأَعِزَّ ذِلَّةَ رُجلَتي بِمُهَذَّبٍ
حُلوَpleasing المَخيلِin appearance مُقَذَّذٍneatly trimmed مَقدودِwell-proportioned
حُلوَ المَخيلِ مُقَذَّذٍ مَقدودِ
So ennoble my lowly state on foot with a refined steed,
So honor the lowliness of my legs with one who is refined,
pleasing to behold, neatly trimmed and well-proportioned,
Sweet of gait, elegant and extended.
ذيhaving كُمتَةٍa bay coat أَوor شُقرَةٍa chestnut coat أَوor حُوَّةٍa dark-bay coat
ذي كُمتَةٍ أَو شُقرَةٍ أَو حُوَّةٍ
أَوor دُهمَةٍa black coat فَهِمُperceptive الفُؤادِof heart سَديدِsure in action
أَو دُهمَةٍ فَهِمُ الفُؤادِ سَديدِ
with a bay, chestnut, or dark-bay coat,
Of brown, blond or bay coat,
or a black one—keen of heart and sure.
Or dusky—the very marrow of sagacity.
تَتَنَزَّهُroam for pleasure اللَحَظاتُthe glances فيin حَرَكاتِهِhis movements
تَتَنَزَّهُ اللَحَظاتُ في حَرَكاتِهِ
كَتَنَزُّهيlike my roaming for pleasure فيin ظِلِّكَyour shade المَمدودِoutspread
كَتَنَزُّهي في ظِلِّكَ المَمدودِ
Glances roam in delight through his movements,
The glances dance gracefully in his motions
as I roam in delight beneath your spreading shade.
Like my dances in your extended shade.
مُتَسَربِلٌclad بُرداًin a mantle يَفوقُsurpasses بِوَشيِهِwith its pattern
مُتَسَربِلٌ بُرداً يَفوقُ بِوَشيِهِ
بَينَamid المَواكِبِthe cavalcades حُسنَthe beauty وَشيِof embroidery بُرودِon cloaks
بَينَ المَواكِبِ حُسنَ وَشيِ بُرودِ
Clad in a mantle, he surpasses with its pattern,
Clad in a coat that surpasses in its lightness
amid the cavalcades, the beauty of embroidered cloaks.
The beauty of the coats of brocade.
فَإِذاso when بَداhe appears فيat مَشهَدٍa gathering قامَتrise لَهُfor him
فَإِذا بَدا في مَشهَدٍ قامَت لَهُ
نُبَلاءُthe nobles صَدرِat the head المَحفِلِof the assembly المَشهودِattended
نُبَلاءُ صَدرِ المَحفِلِ المَشهودِ
So when he appears at an assembly, there rise for him
So when he appears in a scene, the nobles
the nobles at the head of the gathered company.
Of the honored assembly's breasts stand for him.
يَجِدُfinds السُرورَjoy الراكِبُthe rider الغاديgoing out in the morning بِهِon him
يَجِدُ السُرورَ الراكِبُ الغادي بِهِ
كَسُرورِهِlike his joy بِالفارِسِin the horseman المَولودِnewborn
كَسُرورِهِ بِالفارِسِ المَولودِ
The rider who sets out on him in the morning finds joy
The rider finds joy in the one carrying him
like his joy in a newborn horseman.
Like his joy in the natural-born knight.
إِنif سابَقَتهُrace him الخَيلُthe horses فيin مَيدانِهاtheir racecourse
إِن سابَقَتهُ الخَيلُ في مَيدانِها
قَذَفَتcast إِلَيهِto him الخَيلُthe horses بِالإِقليدِwith the key of command
قَذَفَت إِلَيهِ الخَيلُ بِالإِقليدِ
If the horses race him on their course,
If the horses outpace him in the race-course
the horses cast him the key of command.
They fling their reins to him in surrender.
فَيَروحُso he returns بَينَamong مُؤَدِّبيهِhis trainers مُخالِفاًset apart
فَيَروحُ بَينَ مُؤَدِّبيهِ مُخالِفاً
مُتَعَصِّباًwearing a headband بِعِصابَةِwith the band التَسويدِof supremacy
مُتَعَصِّباً بِعِصابَةِ التَسويدِ
So he returns among his trainers, set apart,
So he goes amongst his trainers defying
wearing the headband of supremacy.
And girt with the sash of the blackest black.
وَمُشَيِّعوهُand his escorts مُعَوِّذوهُinvoke protection over him بِكُلِّwith every ماthing that
وَمُشَيِّعوهُ مُعَوِّذوهُ بِكُلِّ ما
عَرَفوهُthey know it مِنof عُوَذٍprotective charms مِنَfrom التَحميدِpraise of God
عَرَفوهُ مِن عُوَذٍ مِنَ التَحميدِ
And his escorts invoke protection over him with all
While his entourage charm him against every
the protective charms they know, drawn from praise of God.
Incantation they know to avert praise.
يَتَعَشَّقونَthey adore نَضارَةًfreshness فيin وَجهِهِhis face
يَتَعَشَّقونَ نَضارَةً في وَجهِهِ
عُشقَthe love الفَتىof a young man وَجهَfor the face الفَتاةِof the maiden الرودِtender
عُشقَ الفَتى وَجهَ الفَتاةِ الرودِ
They adore the freshness in his face
They fall for the radiance in his face—
as a young man loves the face of a tender maiden.
The love of a boy for a rosy-cheeked girl.
أَغضىI lower عَلَيكَbefore you جُفونَthe eyelids شُكرِكَof thanking you إِنَّهاfor they
أَغضى عَلَيكَ جُفونَ شُكرِكَ إِنَّها
ثَقُلَتhave grown heavy عَلَيَّupon me لِجودِكَbecause of your bounty المَوجودِpresent
ثَقُلَت عَلَيَّ لِجودِكَ المَوجودِ
I lower before you the eyelids of my gratitude to you, for they
I lower my eyelids in gratitude to you—they
have grown heavy upon me from your present bounty.
Grew heavy upon me due to your bounty.
إِنّيindeed I اِعتَصَمتُtook refuge بِطولِin the height طَودِكَof your mountain إِنَّهُindeed it
إِنّي اِعتَصَمتُ بِطولِ طَودِكَ إِنَّهُ
طَودٌa mountain يَقومُstands مَقامَin place طَودِof a mountain حَديدِof iron
طَودٌ يَقومُ مَقامَ طَودِ حَديدِ
Indeed, I have taken refuge in your mountain's height, for it
I take refuge in the height of your towering mountain,
is a mountain that stands in place of a mountain of iron.
A mountain that takes the place of steel bastions.
لاnot يَهتَديfinds its way صَرفُthe vicissitudes الزَمانِof time إِلىto اِمرِىءٍa man
لا يَهتَدي صَرفُ الزَمانِ إِلى اِمرِىءٍ
مُتَصَرِّفٍmoving about بِفَنائِكَin your courtyard المَعهودِfamiliar
مُتَصَرِّفٍ بِفَنائِكَ المَعهودِ
Time's vicissitudes cannot find their way to a man
The course of time arrives at no man
who moves about within your familiar courtyard.
Presiding in your familiar domain.
Sol 6.1