صَدَفَتshe spurned لُهَيّاLuhayya قَلبِيَmy heart المُستَهتِرِinfatuated
صَدَفَت لُهَيّا قَلبِيَ المُستَهتِرِ
فَبَقيتُso I remained نَهبَprey to صَبابَةٍardent longing وَتَذَكُّرِand remembrance
فَبَقيتُ نَهبَ صَبابَةٍ وَتَذَكُّرِ
Luhayya spurned my infatuated heart,
My heedless heart stumbled upon her charm,
So I remained the prey of longing and remembrance.
And I remained prey to youth and memories.
غابَتvanished نُجومُthe stars of السَعدِgood fortune يَومَthe day of فِراقِهاparting from her
غابَت نُجومُ السَعدِ يَومَ فِراقِها
وَأَساءَتِand mistreated الأَيّامُthe days فيهاconcerning her مَحضِريmy standing
وَأَساءَتِ الأَيّامُ فيها مَحضِري
The stars of good fortune vanished on the day she departed,
The stars of fortune vanished the day we parted,
And the days made my standing with her wretched.
And the days turned bleak and dreary.
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday فيin فُؤاديmy heart وَقعَةٌa battle
في كُلِّ يَومٍ في فُؤادي وَقعَةٌ
لِلشَوقِof longing إِلّاexcept أَنَّهاthat it لَمnot تُذكَرِwas mentioned
لِلشَوقِ إِلّا أَنَّها لَم تُذكَرِ
Each day, within my heart, a battle rages
Each day my heart is struck with yearning -
Of longing, though it goes unmentioned.
Though it remains unspoken.
أَرِنيshow me حَليفاًan ally لِلصِباof youthful passion جارىraced with الصِباyouthful passion
أَرِني حَليفاً لِلصِبا جارى الصِبا
فيin حَلبَةِthe arena of الأَحزانِsorrows لَمnot يَتَفَطَّرِwas torn apart
في حَلبَةِ الأَحزانِ لَم يَتَفَطَّرِ
Show me an ally of youthful passion who raced with passion
Show me as a comrade of youth, flowing with youth
In the arena of sorrows and was not torn apart.
In the arena of sorrows, unbroken.
أَمّاas for الَّذيwhat فيin جِسمِهِhis body فَسَلِthen ask الَّتيthe woman who
أَمّا الَّذي في جِسمِهِ فَسَلِ الَّتي
هَجَرَتهُshe deserted him وَهوَwhile he مُواصِلٌmaintains ties لَمnot يَهجُرِdeserted
هَجَرَتهُ وَهوَ مُواصِلٌ لَم يَهجُرِ
As for what ails his body, ask the woman
As for the one whose body - ask her, the one
Who deserted him while he kept faith and never deserted her.
Who abandoned him while he maintained loyalty.
صَفراءُgolden-complexioned صُفرَةَwith the golden hue of صِحَّةٍhealth قَدalready رَكَّبَتshe encased
صَفراءُ صُفرَةَ صِحَّةٍ قَد رَكَّبَت
جُثمانَهُhis body فيin ثَوبِa garment of سُقمٍsickness أَصفَرِyellow
جُثمانَهُ في ثَوبِ سُقمٍ أَصفَرِ
Golden with the golden hue of health, she has encased
Jaundiced with the yellow of ill health
His body in a yellow garment of sickness.
She dressed his body in the garb of sickness.
قَتَلَتهُshe killed him سِرّاًsecretly ثُمَّthen قالَتshe said جَهرَةًopenly
قَتَلَتهُ سِرّاً ثُمَّ قالَت جَهرَةً
قَولَthe words of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq لاno بِظَبيٍby a gazelle أَعفَرِtawny
قَولَ الفَرَزدَقِ لا بِظَبيٍ أَعفَرِ
She killed him secretly, then said aloud
Secretly she killed him, then openly
Al-Farazdaq's words: 'No, by a tawny gazelle.'
Spoke the words of Farazdaq - no calumny.
نَظَرَتshe looked إِلَيهِat him فَماand scarcely اِستَنَمَّتsought disclosure from لَحظَهاher glance
نَظَرَت إِلَيهِ فَما اِستَنَمَّت لَحظَها
حَتّىbefore تَمَنَّتshe wished أَنَّهاthat she لَمnot تَنظُرِhad looked
حَتّى تَمَنَّت أَنَّها لَم تَنظُرِ
She looked at him, and scarcely read what her glance revealed
She looked at him - her glance did not delight
Before she wished she had not looked.
Before she wished she had not looked.
وَرَأَتand she saw شُحوباًpallor رابَهاthat troubled her فيin جِسمِهِhis body
وَرَأَت شُحوباً رابَها في جِسمِهِ
ماذاwhat يُريبُكِtroubles you مِنabout جَوادٍa fine steed مُضمَرِmade lean for racing
ماذا يُريبُكِ مِن جَوادٍ مُضمَرِ
And she saw a pallor in his body that troubled her:
And she saw a pallor that drew her attention
What troubles you about a steed made lean for racing?
To his body - what rouses your suspicion of a reserved steed?
غَرَضُthe target of الحَوادِثِcalamities ماnot تَزالُceases مُلِمَّةٌan affliction
غَرَضُ الحَوادِثِ ما تَزالُ مُلِمَّةٌ
تَرميهِpelts him عَنfrom شَزَنٍa flank بِأُمِّwith the mother of حَبَوكَرِHabawkar (calamity)
تَرميهِ عَن شَزَنٍ بِأُمِّ حَبَوكَرِ
He is the target of calamities; some affliction is always
The aim of events continues to pelt him
Pelting him from the flank with Umm Habawkar—a dire calamity.
With Umm Haboukar - ever casting at empty space.
سَدِكَتclung بِهِto him الأَقدارُfate's decrees حَتّىso much that إِنَّهاindeed they
سَدِكَت بِهِ الأَقدارُ حَتّى إِنَّها
لَتَكادُindeed almost تَفجَأُهُsurprise him بِماwith what لَمnot يَقدُرِwas decreed
لَتَكادُ تَفجَأُهُ بِما لَم يَقدُرِ
Fate's decrees have clung to him so closely that
Misfortunes have overwhelmed him until
They almost surprise him with what was never decreed.
They almost ambush him unexpectedly.
ماnot كَفَّdesisted مِنfrom حَربِbattling الزَمانِTime وَرَميِهِand pelting it
ما كَفَّ مِن حَربِ الزَمانِ وَرَميِهِ
بِالصَبرِwith patience إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat he لَمnot يُنصَرِwas aided
بِالصَبرِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ لَم يُنصَرِ
He has not ceased battling Time and pelting it
Nothing has protected him from the war of time
With patience, though he has received no help.
And its assault except that he was not supported.
ماnot إِنindeed يَزالُceases بِحَدِّwith the edge of حَزمٍresolve مُقبِلٍadvancing
ما إِن يَزالُ بِحَدِّ حَزمٍ مُقبِلٍ
مُتَوَطِّئاًtreading upon أَعقابَthe heels of رِزقٍlivelihood مُدبِرِretreating
مُتَوَطِّئاً أَعقابَ رِزقٍ مُدبِرِ
He keeps pressing forward with the keen edge of resolve,
Ever pressing forward with resolve
Treading on the heels of livelihood in retreat.
Seeking sustenance though it retreats.
العيسُthe pale camels تَعلَمُknow أَنَّthat حَوباواتِهاtheir souls
العيسُ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ حَوباواتِها
رَيخٌat ease إِذاwhen بَلَغَتكَthey reach you إِنif لَمnot تُنحَرِare slaughtered
رَيخٌ إِذا بَلَغَتكَ إِن لَم تُنحَرِ
The pale camels know that their souls
The flock knows that their warbling
Will rest easy once they reach you, if they are not slaughtered.
Is but wind if you are not sacrificed.
كَمhow many ظَهرِan expanse of مَرتٍbarren land مُقفِرٍdesolate جاوَزتُهُI crossed it
كَم ظَهرِ مَرتٍ مُقفِرٍ جاوَزتُهُ
فَحَلَلتُthen I settled in رَبعاًa dwelling مِنكَof yours لَيسَis not بِمُقفِرِdesolate
فَحَلَلتُ رَبعاً مِنكَ لَيسَ بِمُقفِرِ
How many a barren, desolate tract have I crossed!
How often have I traversed a barren fortune
Then I settled in a dwelling of yours that is not desolate.
To find in you a quarter that is not barren!
بِنَداكَthrough your bounty يوسىis healed كُلُّevery جُرحٍwound يَعتَلىsurpasses
بِنَداكَ يوسى كُلُّ جُرحٍ يَعتَلى
رَأبَthe mending of الأُساةِthe healers بِدَردَبيسٍby a dire calamity قِنطَرِimmense
رَأبَ الأُساةِ بِدَردَبيسٍ قِنطَرِ
Your bounty heals every wound that defies
With your call every festering wound is healed -
The healers' mending—a wound dealt by some vast, dire calamity.
Bandaged with the salve of Qinṭar.
جودٌgenerosity كَجودِlike the generosity of السَيلِthe torrent إِلاّexcept أَنَّthat ذاthis one
جودٌ كَجودِ السَيلِ إِلاّ أَنَّ ذا
كَدِرٌmuddy وَأَنَّand that نَداكَyour bounty غَيرُnot مُكَدَّرِclouded
كَدِرٌ وَأَنَّ نَداكَ غَيرُ مُكَدَّرِ
A generosity like the torrent's, except that the latter
A generosity like the torrent’s flow, except
Is muddy, while your bounty is unclouded.
One is turbid while yours is clear.
الفِطرُEid al-Fitr وَالأَضحىand Eid al-Adha قَدِalready اِنسَلَخاboth passed وَليwhile I have
الفِطرُ وَالأَضحى قَدِ اِنسَلَخا وَلي
أَمَلٌa hope بِبابِكَat your door صائِمٌfasting لَمnot يُفطِرِhas broken its fast
أَمَلٌ بِبابِكَ صائِمٌ لَم يُفطِرِ
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha have passed, while I have
The Feast and Sacrifice have passed while I
A hope fasting at your door, which has not broken its fast.
Hope at your door, fasting, unfed.
عامٌa year وَلَمand not يُنتِجhas given birth نَداكَyour bounty وَإِنَّماwhereas
عامٌ وَلَم يُنتِج نَداكَ وَإِنَّما
تُتَوَقَّعُis awaited الحُبلىthe pregnant woman لِتِسعَةِfor nine أَشهُرِmonths
تُتَوَقَّعُ الحُبلى لِتِسعَةِ أَشهُرِ
A year has passed, and your bounty has not given birth, whereas
A year has gone by with no gift from you,
A pregnant woman is expected to deliver in nine months.
Though the pregnant are expected in nine months.
جِشpour forth ليfor me بِبَحرٍwith a sea واحِدٍone أُغرِقكَI will drown you فيin
جِش لي بِبَحرٍ واحِدٍ أُغرِقكَ في
مَدحٍpraise أَجيشُI pour forth لَهُfor it بِسَبعَةِwith seven أَبحُرِseas
مَدحٍ أَجيشُ لَهُ بِسَبعَةِ أَبحُرِ
Pour forth one sea for me, and I will drown you in
Deluge me with but one sea, that I may drown you
Praise, for which I pour forth seven seas.
In praise - I would marshal seven seas.
قَصِّرshorten بِبَذلِكَby your giving عُمرَthe life of مُطلِكَyour delay تَحوِyou will secure ليfor me
قَصِّر بِبَذلِكَ عُمرَ مُطلِكَ تَحوِ لي
حَمداًpraise يُعَمِّرُlasts عُمرَthe lifetime of سَبعَةِseven أَنسُرِvultures
حَمداً يُعَمِّرُ عُمرَ سَبعَةِ أَنسُرِ
Shorten your delay's life by giving, and secure my
Expend your long life for my sake, transform
Praise that lasts for the lifetimes of seven vultures.
It into praise that gives life for seven eagles.
كَمhow many مِنof كَثيرِone abundant in البَذلِgiving قَدindeed جازَيتُهُI have repaid him
كَم مِن كَثيرِ البَذلِ قَد جازَيتُهُ
شُكراًin gratitude بِأَطيَبَwith something sweeter مِنthan نَداهُhis bounty وَأَكثَرِand more abundant
شُكراً بِأَطيَبَ مِن نَداهُ وَأَكثَرِ
How many a lavish giver have I repaid,
How many generous ones have I rewarded
In gratitude, with something sweeter and more abundant than his bounty.
With thanks fairer and greater than their gift!
شَرُّthe worst of الأَوائِلِthe first وَالأَواخِرِand the last ذِمَّةٌa bond
شَرُّ الأَوائِلِ وَالأَواخِرِ ذِمَّةٌ
لَمnot تُصطَنَعwas cultivated وَصَنيعَةٌand a favor لَمnot تُشكَرِwas thanked
لَم تُصطَنَع وَصَنيعَةٌ لَم تُشكَرِ
Worst of all, from first to last: a bond
The worst of morals, past and present, is an obligation
Left uncultivated, and a favor left unthanked.
Unreciprocated and a favor unthanked.
لاdo not تُغضِبَنَّكَanger you مُنهِضاتيmy urgings إِنَّهاindeed they
لا تُغضِبَنَّكَ مُنهِضاتي إِنَّها
مَذخورَةٌstored up لَكَfor you فيin السِقاءِthe waterskin الأَوفَرِthe fullest
مَذخورَةٌ لَكَ في السِقاءِ الأَوفَرِ
Do not let my urgings anger you: they
Do not let my odes anger you - they are
Are stored for you in the fullest waterskin.
Reserved for you in the most copious waterskin.
أَفديكَmay I be your ransom مورِقَputting forth leaves مَوعِدٍa promise لَمnot يَفدِنيsaved me
أَفديكَ مورِقَ مَوعِدٍ لَم يَفدِني
مِنfrom قَولِthe saying of باغٍa detractor أَنَّهُthat it لَمnot يُثمِرِbore fruit
مِن قَولِ باغٍ أَنَّهُ لَم يُثمِرِ
May I be your ransom—your leafy promise has not saved me
I ransom you - a mirage of an unfulfilled promise,
From a detractor's claim that it has borne no fruit.
One who said he would not bear fruit.
قَدindeed كِدتُI nearly أَنto أَنسىforget ظِماءَthe thirst of جَوانِحيmy inner breast
قَد كِدتُ أَن أَنسى ظِماءَ جَوانِحي
مِنbecause of بُعدِthe distance of شُقَّةِthe journey to مَورِديmy watering-place عَنfrom مَصدَريmy departure-point
مِن بُعدِ شُقَّةِ مَورِدي عَن مَصدَري
I have almost forgotten the thirst within my breast,
I almost forgot the thirst of my soul
From the vast distance between my watering-place and my point of departure.
After the misery of my spring’s departure.
وَلَئِنand if indeed أَرَدتَyou wish لَأَعذِرَنَّكَI will surely excuse you مُحمَلاًburdened
وَلَئِن أَرَدتَ لَأَعذِرَنَّكَ مُحمَلاً
وَالعَجزُand inability عِنديin my view عُذرُan excuse for غَيرِone not المُعذِرِtruly excusable
وَالعَجزُ عِندي عُذرُ غَيرِ المُعذِرِ
And if you wish, I will surely excuse you as burdened,
And if you wish, I will excuse you,
And inability, to me, is the excuse of one with no excuse.
Though to me inability is no excuse.
ماnot إِنindeed أَرانيI see myself مادِحاًpraising وَمُعاتِباًand reproaching
ما إِن أَراني مادِحاً وَمُعاتِباً
إِلّاexcept وَقَدand already حَرَّرتُI have crafted verse فيكَabout you فَحَرِّرِso set me free
إِلّا وَقَد حَرَّرتُ فيكَ فَحَرِّرِ
Never do I see myself praising and reproaching
Whenever you see me praising or blaming,
Without having crafted verse about you—so set me free.
Know that I have focused my keen gaze upon you.
وَاِعلَمand know بِأَنّيthat I اليَومَtoday غَرسُa planting of مَحامِدٍpraises
وَاِعلَم بِأَنّي اليَومَ غَرسُ مَحامِدٍ
تَزكوflourishes فَتَجنيهاso you harvest them غَداًtomorrow فيin العَسكَرِal-ʿAskar (the camp)
تَزكو فَتَجنيها غَداً في العَسكَرِ
And know that today I am a planting of praises
And know that today I am a sapling of praises
That will flourish, for you to harvest tomorrow in al-ʿAskar.
That will thrive to harvest in your camp tomorrow.
Sol 6.1