طالَgrew long ذاthis اللَّيلُnight عليناupon us فاعتَكَرthen grew dark
طالَ ذا اللَّيلُ علينا فاعتَكَر
وكأَنِّيand as though I ناذرُone vowing الصُّبحِthe dawn سَمَرnightlong wakefulness
وكأَنِّي ناذرُ الصُّبحِ سَمَر
This night has grown long upon us and thickened into darkness.
The night has been long upon us, so it grew dark
As though I had vowed to stay awake until dawn,
As if I were keeping vigil for the dawn to break
مِنbecause of نَجِيِّthe whispering companion الهَمِّgrief عنديwith me ثاوِياًdwelling
مِن نَجِيِّ الهَمِّ عندي ثاوِياً
بينَbetween ماwhat أُعلِنُI reveal منهُof it وأُسِرّand I conceal
بينَ ما أُعلِنُ منهُ وأُسِرّ
Because of grief, my whispering companion dwelling with me,
Sheltering my worries, keeping some secret
Between what I reveal of it and what I conceal.
And some confessed, the night being just as long
وكأَنَّand as though اللَّيلَthe night فيهwithin it مِثلُهُits like
وكأَنَّ اللَّيلَ فيه مِثلُهُ
وَلَقِدماًand long ago ظُنَّwas thought باللَّيلِof the night القِصَرbrevity
وَلَقِدماً ظُنَّ باللَّيلِ القِصَر
As though the night contained another like itself,
I did not close my eyes until it passed
Though long ago the night was thought brief.
Hoping to see the cheerful morn
لَمnot أُغَمِّضI closed my eyes طولَهُits whole length حتَّىuntil انقَضَىit ended
لَم أُغَمِّض طولَهُ حتَّى انقَضَى
أَتَمَنَّىI long لَوif only أَرَىI could see الصُّبحَthe dawn جَشَرbreak brightly
أَتَمَنَّى لَو أَرَى الصُّبحَ جَشَر
I never closed my eyes throughout it, until it passed,
My side weary as if it were being lulled
Wishing I could see the dawn break bright.
The bow causing sores on the skin
شَئِزٌrestless جَنبِيmy side كأَنِّيas though I مُهدأُlaid down
شَئِزٌ جَنبِي كأَنِّي مُهدأُ
جَعَلَplaced القَينُthe smith علىupon الدَّفِّthe side إبَرneedles
جَعَلَ القَينُ على الدَّفِّ إبَر
My side is restless, as though, lying down,
Not for love, but an unwelcome guest
A smith had planted needles along my flank.
Stole sleep while wakefulness keeps me company
غيرَnot from ماany عِشقٍpassionate love ولَكِنbut طارِقٌa night visitor
غيرَ ما عِشقٍ ولَكِن طارِقٌ
خَلَسَstole النَّومَsleep وأَجدانيand bestowed upon me السَّهَرwakefulness
خَلَسَ النَّومَ وأَجداني السَّهَر
Not from love, but from a visitor in the night
When news of an intimate friend reached me
That stole sleep and bestowed wakefulness upon me.
I did not doubt it though the messenger surprised me
إذwhen أتانيcame to me نَبَأُnews مشنfrom (corrupt spelling) مُنعِمٍa benefactor
إذ أتاني نَبَأُ مشن مُنعِمٍ
لَمnot أَخُنهُI betrayed him والَّذيby the one who أَعطَىgave الخَبَرthe news
لَم أَخُنهُ والَّذي أَعطَى الخَبَر
When news reached me from a benefactor
Even when confirmation came to convince me
Whom I never betrayed—by the one who gave the news.
Sweet company can be found even with bitterness
قِيلَit was said حتَّىuntil جاءَنيcame to me مَصدَقُهُits confirmation
قِيلَ حتَّى جاءَني مَصدَقُهُ
ولقدand indeed يُلفَىis found معَwith الصَّفوِclarity الكَدَرturbidity
ولقد يُلفَى معَ الصَّفوِ الكَدَر
It was spoken of, until its confirmation reached me;
Do you see any early rising camels
And indeed, the turbid is found beside the clear.
Looking out longingly from the sand dunes
هَلdo تَرَىyou see مِنany ظُعُنٍwomen in litters باكِرَةٍdeparting early
هَل تَرَى مِن ظُعُنٍ باكِرَةٍ
يَتَطَلَّعنَthey appear مِنَfrom النَّجدِthe uplands أُسَرin groups
يَتَطَلَّعنَ مِنَ النَّجدِ أُسَر
Do you see any women in litters, departing early,
Like the sea heaving up waves
Appearing from the uplands in companies,
When the currents stir below its surface
كخَلاَفِlike willows البَحرِthe sea تَعلُوrising above غَمرَةًdeep water
كخَلاَفِ البَحرِ تَعلُو غَمرَةً
إذwhen سَجَاgrew still التَّيَّارُthe current منهof it واسبَكَرand stretched out
إذ سَجَا التَّيَّارُ منه واسبَكَر
Like willows by the sea, rising above deep water,
You see everything in its resemblance
As its current grows still and stretches out?
Every soul and relic is battered
وتَرَىand you see مِنof كلِّevery شَيءٍthing أَشبُهاًlikenesses
وتَرَى مِن كلِّ شَيءٍ أَشبُهاً
كلُّevery رُوحٍliving being وقِرامٍand a patterned curtain مُختَدَرscreened
كلُّ رُوحٍ وقِرامٍ مُختَدَر
And you see likenesses of every sort of thing:
On the slopes, the colors of wildflowers
Every living form, and patterned curtains drawn close.
And meadow blossoms rise above the grass
وعَلَىand upon الأَحداجِthe camel-litters أَلوانُcolors القَناspear-shafts
وعَلَى الأَحداجِ أَلوانُ القَنا
وخُزامَىand lavender الرَّوضِthe meadow يَعلُوهُrise above it الزَّهَرthe blossoms
وخُزامَى الرَّوضِ يَعلُوهُ الزَّهَر
On the camel-litters are the colors of spear-shafts,
They flourished every year but are now gone
And meadow lavender, with blossoms rising above it.
So the meadow’s deer enjoy the fruit
سَبَكَتpoured فيin كلِّevery عامٍyear وَدقضهُprobably its rain (corrupt text)
سَبَكَت في كلِّ عامٍ وَدقضهُ
فَظباءُso the gazelles الرَّوضِthe meadow يَقرِare fed (reading uncertain) منَfrom الثَّمَرthe fruit
فَظباءُ الرَّوضِ يَقرِ منَ الثَّمَر
Year after year it has poured down its rain [reading uncertain],
Tell Nu’man on my behalf, as an envoy
So the meadow's gazelles are fed with fruit.
The words of one who feared and made excuses
أَبلغِconvey to النُّعمانَal-Nu'man عنِّيfrom me مَألُكاًa message
أَبلغِ النُّعمانَ عنِّي مَألُكاً
قَولَthe words مَنone who خافَfeared أظطِناناًsuspicion فاعتَذَرand made his defense
قَولَ مَن خافَ أظطِناناً فاعتَذَر
Convey to al-Nu'man a message from me,
By God, I swear, so accept my oath
The words of one who feared suspicion and made his defense:
That I am not useless whenever I pray earnestly
إِنَّنيtruly I واللهby God فاقبَلso accept حَلفَتيmy oath
إِنَّني والله فاقبَل حَلفَتي
لأَindeed (word fragment) بيلٌa monk (word fragment) كلَّماwhenever صَلَّىhe prayed جَأَرhe cried aloud
لأَ بيلٌ كلَّما صَلَّى جَأَر
Truly, by God—accept my oath—
Trembling inside a beautiful temple
I am indeed a monk, who cries aloud whenever he prays,
Handsome in patience and true in poetry
مُرعَدٌmade to tremble أَحشاؤُهُhis inward parts فيin هَيكَلٍa sanctuary
مُرعَدٌ أَحشاؤُهُ في هَيكَلٍ
حَسَنٌfine لِمَّتهhis locks وافيabundant in الشَّعَرhair
حَسَنٌ لِمَّته وافي الشَّعَر
His inward parts trembling in a sanctuary,
A faithful heart hoping for its freedom
Fine of locks, abundant of hair,
On a day when no slave is ungrateful for what he stored away
مُؤمِنُfaithful الصَّدرِat heart يُرَجِّيhoping for عِتقَهُhis deliverance
مُؤمِنُ الصَّدرِ يُرَجِّي عِتقَهُ
يومَthe day لاnot يُكَفرُis denied credit for عَبدٌa servant ماwhat أدَّخَرhe stored up
يومَ لا يُكَفرُ عَبدٌ ما أدَّخَر
Faithful at heart, hoping for his deliverance
We have not borne ill will against your enemies
On the day no servant is denied what he has laid up.
And with God we have ample excuses
ماnot حَمَلنَاwe bore الغلَّrancor منfrom أعدائكُمyour enemies
ما حَمَلنَا الغلَّ من أعدائكُم
ولَدَىand with اللهِGod مِنَof العُذرِthe defense الُمسَرthe concealed
ولَدَى اللهِ مِنَ العُذرِ الُمسَر
We have borne none of your enemies' rancor,
Our enemies surround us, none can help us
And with God lies the defense kept secret.
Other than God’s aid, and God gives victory
حَولَناaround us الأَعداءُthe enemies ماnothing يَنصُرنُاaids us
حَولَنا الأَعداءُ ما يَنصُرنُا
غيرُexcept عَونٍthe aid اللهِof God واللهُand God نَصَرgranted victory
غيرُ عَونٍ اللهِ واللهُ نَصَر
Enemies surround us; nothing aids us
Do not fret over me like a broken bone
But God's help—and God has granted victory.
Fretting until the bone is mended
لاdo not تَكُونَنَّever be كآسيlike one treating عَظمِهhis bone
لا تَكُونَنَّ كآسي عَظمِه
بأَسَىًwith treatment حتَّىuntil إذاwhen العَظمُthe bone جَبَرknit
بأَسَىً حتَّى إذا العَظمُ جَبَر
Do not be like one who heals his own bone
After it heals, it still desires grace
With treatment, until the bone has knit,
They walk gently once fractured and reset
عادَhe returned بعدَafter الَجبرِthe knitting يَبغيseeking وَهيَةًa weakness
عادَ بعدَ الَجبرِ يَبغي وَهيَةً
يَنحُوَنَّinsistently attempts الَمشيَwalking منهُon it فانكَسَرso it broke
يَنحُوَنَّ الَمشيَ منهُ فانكَسَر
Then returns after its knitting, seeking a weakness,
Recall the blessings I have not forgotten
Insisting on walking on it—so it breaks.
For your efforts when the slave shows ingratitude
وأذكُرِand remember النُّعمَىthe favor الَّتيwhich لَمnot أَنسَهَاI forgot it
وأذكُرِ النُّعمَى الَّتي لَم أَنسَهَا
لكَfor you فيin السَّعيِstriving إذاwhen العبَدُthe servant كَفَرwas ungrateful
لكَ في السَّعيِ إذا العبَدُ كَفَر
And remember the favor which I have not forgotten,
When we scattered them like embers
In striving for you, when the servant was ungrateful,
Sparks scattered by the kindler in the night
إذwhen جَعَلناهُمwe made them تَباذِيرَscattered fragments كَمَاjust as
إذ جَعَلناهُم تَباذِيرَ كَمَا
فَرَّقَscattered القابِسُthe fire-kindler فيin اللَّيلِthe night الشَّرَرsparks
فَرَّقَ القابِسُ في اللَّيلِ الشَّرَر
When we scattered them far and wide, as
I gathered you in, no longer a fleeing slave
One kindling fire scatters sparks in the night.
But beware of further killing and rebellion from us
فاكتَنِتso keep sheltered لاnot تَكُbe عَبداًa slave طائراًflighty
فاكتَنِت لا تَكُ عَبداً طائراً
واحذَرِand beware الأَقتالَthe champions مِنَّاamong us والثَّوَرand the bulls
واحذَرِ الأَقتالَ مِنَّا والثَّوَر
So keep yourself sheltered; do not be a flighty slave,
Our good deeds have already lifted
And beware the champions among us, and the bulls.
Those of us who stumble and fall
إنمَّاonly قدalready قَدَّمَتhas advanced مَسعاتُناour striving
إنمَّا قد قَدَّمَت مَسعاتُنا
نعَماًfavors تَرفَعُraise up منَّاamong us مَنwhoever عَثرَstumbled
نعَماً تَرفَعُ منَّا مَن عَثرَ
Our striving has already brought forward only
For us there is glory, and a Lord Most Gracious
Favors that raise up whoever among us stumbles.
In His hands lies all good – whatever He wills comes to pass
ولَنَاand ours is مَجدٌglory ورَبٌّand a lord مُفِضَلٌbountiful
ولَنَا مَجدٌ ورَبٌّ مُفِضَلٌ
بِيَدَيهِin his hands الَخيرُgoodness ماwhat شاءَhe willed أَمَرhe commanded
بِيَدَيهِ الَخيرُ ما شاءَ أَمَر
Ours are glory and a bountiful lord,
From Him there is grace, with Him vastness
In whose hands is goodness; he commands what he wills.
We hope only for what others miss
مِنهُfrom him فَضلٌbounty ولَدَيهِand with him سِعَةٌabundance
مِنهُ فَضلٌ ولَدَيهِ سِعَةٌ
إنَّماonly يُرجَىis hoped for لِمَاfor what فاتَeluded الغِيرَothers
إنَّما يُرجَى لِمَا فاتَ الغِيرَ
From him comes bounty, and with him is abundance;
With an intercessor successful, who looks upon us
He alone is sought for what eludes others.
In his hands today, relief in hardship
وشَفيعٍand an intercessor مُنجحِeffective يَنظُرُناattends to us
وشَفيعٍ مُنجحِ يَنظُرُنا
بِيَديهِin his hands اليَومَtoday تَيسِيرُthe easing العُسُرhardship
بِيَديهِ اليَومَ تَيسِيرُ العُسُر
And an effective intercessor attends to us,
Our arms did not grow weak in the battle
In whose hands today lies the easing of hardship.
While the opponent rose against us and overcame
لَمnot تَضِقgrew constrained أَذرُعُناour arms فيin خَلَّةٍa need
لَم تَضِق أَذرُعُنا في خَلَّةٍ
وعَلاَand rose high ذُوone engaged in الَخصمِcontending مشنَّاamong us (corrupt spelling) وظَهَرand prevailed
وعَلاَ ذُو الَخصمِ مشنَّا وظَهَر
Our arms did not fail us in hardship,
When we made them choke in narrow straits
And the contender among us rose high and prevailed,
Then we strove against them and were victorious
إذwhen جَعَلناهُمwe placed them بِضيقِin a narrow مَأزِقٍstrait
إذ جَعَلناهُم بِضيقِ مَأزِقٍ
ثُمَّthen نِلناwe attained السَّعيَthe prize of striving مِنهُمfrom them والظَّفَرand victory
ثُمَّ نِلنا السَّعيَ مِنهُم والظَّفَر
When we hemmed them into a narrow strait,
Then won from them the prize of striving and victory.
Partial English translation: 58 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1