مَهْرَجَانَfestival القَصيدpoetry " غَنِّsing! قَصِيْدِيmy verse
مَهْرَجَانَ القَصيد " غَنِّ قَصِيْدِي
بَيْنَamid زُهْرِblossoms المُنَىwishes وحُلْوِand sweetness النَّشِيدِsong
بَيْنَ زُهْرِ المُنَى وحُلْوِ النَّشِيدِ
O festival of poetry, sing my verse,
Sing my poem
amid the blossoms of wishes and the sweetness of song.
Between the blossoms of wishes and the sweet melody
فالمَعَانيfor the meanings انتَقَيْتُهاI selected them مِنْfrom جِنَانٍgardens
فالمَعَاني انتَقَيْتُها مِنْ جِنَانٍ
والهَوَىand love صُغْتُهI fashioned it مَآثِرَglorious deeds صيدِproud men
والهَوَى صُغْتُه مَآثِرَ صيدِ
For I chose the meanings from gardens,
I have picked its meanings from gardens
and fashioned love into the glorious deeds of proud men.
And inspired its passion from the feats of the hunter
والقَوَافِيand the rhymes كَأَنهاas though they were عَبَقُfragrance الرَّوْthe garden (first part)
والقَوَافِي كَأَنها عَبَقُ الرَّوْ
ضِgarden (completion) وَنفْحُand the breath الوُرُودِthe roses بَيْنَamong الوُرُودِthe roses
ضِ وَنفْحُ الوُرُودِ بَيْنَ الوُرُودِ
And the rhymes seem the garden's fragrance,
And its rhymes are like the scent of flowers
and the breath of roses among roses.
And the blooming roses’ fragrance among the roses
هَاهَناhere نَفْحَةٌa breath مِنَof الأَمَلِhope الحُلْـsweet (first part)
هَاهَنا نَفْحَةٌ مِنَ الأَمَلِ الحُلْـ
ـوsweet (completion) وفَيْضٌand an overflow منof خَيرهits goodness الْممدُودِfar-reaching
ـو وفَيْضٌ من خَيره الْممدُودِ
Here is a breath of sweet hope,
And an overflowing of its endless goodness
and an overflow of its far-reaching goodness,
And a meeting swirling with light, enriching
وَلقَاءٌand a gathering يَمُوْجُsurges بالنُّورِwith light يَجْلوreveals
وَلقَاءٌ يَمُوْجُ بالنُّورِ يَجْلو
مَكرُمَاتnoble virtues ِ البَيَانِeloquence دَفْقَoutpouring الجُودِgenerosity
مَكرُمَات ِ البَيَانِ دَفْقَ الجُودِ
and a gathering surging with light, revealing
The beauties of rhetoric with generosity’s flow
the noble virtues of eloquence, the outpouring of generosity.
“Come on my nightingale”, for how many friends
إِيْهِgo on! " لَكْنُوLucknow " فَكَمْand how many ضَمَمْتِyou embraced نَديًّاan assembly
إِيْهِ " لَكْنُو " فَكَمْ ضَمَمْتِ نَديًّا
مِنْof شُيُوخٍelders وَمِنْand of شَبابٍyoung men نَجيْدِvaliant
مِنْ شُيُوخٍ وَمِنْ شَبابٍ نَجيْدِ
Go on, Lucknow! How many gatherings you have embraced,
Of elders and fine youth have you brought together
of elders and valiant young men!
O tenderness of passion and cordial affection
يَاO حَنانَtenderness الهَوَىlove وصَفْوَand purity ودادٍaffection
يَا حَنانَ الهَوَى وصَفْوَ ودادٍ
غَرِّديsing! مِنْfrom قَصِيدِكyour poetry المَعْهُودِfamiliar
غَرِّدي مِنْ قَصِيدِك المَعْهُودِ
O tenderness of love and purity of affection,
Sing from your familiar poem
sing from your familiar poetry.
Adorn your wealthy home with passion, with glory,
زَيِّنيadorn! دَارَكِyour home الغَنيَّةَrich بالشَّوْwith longing (first part)
زَيِّني دَارَكِ الغَنيَّةَ بالشَّوْ
قlonging (completion) ، بِمَجْدٍwith glory ، بِمَلحَمَاتwith epics الجُدُودِthe forefathers
ق ، بِمَجْدٍ ، بِمَلحَمَات الجُدُودِ
Adorn your home, rich in longing,
With the epics of the ancestors
with glory, with the epics of your forefathers.
How I called upon the poem from a teardrop of humiliation
كَمْhow often دَعَوْتُI called القَصِيدَpoetry منfrom دَمْعَةa tear الذُلِّhumiliation
كَمْ دَعَوْتُ القَصِيدَ من دَمْعَة الذُلِّ
فَأَلْوَىand it turned away إلىto مَكَانٍa place بَعيدِdistant
فَأَلْوَى إلى مَكَانٍ بَعيدِ
How often I called to poetry from a tear of humiliation,
But it turned to a distant place
and it turned away to a distant place!
How I looked in the paths of disgrace
كمْhow often تَلَفَّتُّI looked around فيin دُرُوبpaths هَوَانٍdegradation
كمْ تَلَفَّتُّ في دُرُوب هَوَانٍ
وَحَوَالَيَّand around me ألفُa thousand خَطْوٍa step شريدِwandering
وَحَوَالَيَّ ألفُ خَطْوٍ شريدِ
How often I looked about on paths of degradation,
And around me a thousand steps astray
with a thousand wandering footsteps around me,
With remnants of caravans torn apart
وَبقَايَاand remnants قَواَفِلٍcaravans مَزَّقَتْهاtore them apart
وَبقَايَا قَواَفِلٍ مَزَّقَتْها
عَضّةُbite الرِّيحthe wind والتطامُand the battering النُّجُودِthe highlands
عَضّةُ الرِّيح والتطامُ النُّجُودِ
and the remnants of caravans torn apart
By the biting wind and impetuous squalls
by the wind's bite and the highlands' battering.
Crowding the roads, ruins
زَحَمَتْهاhemmed them in عَلَىalong الدُّرُوبthe roads زَوَاياcorners
زَحَمَتْها عَلَى الدُّرُوب زَوَايا
وَرَمَتْهاand hurled them فيinto غَيْهَبٍdarkness وسُدُودِand barriers
وَرَمَتْها في غَيْهَبٍ وسُدُودِ
Corners hemmed them in along the roads,
And throwing them into obscured, blocked valleys
and hurled them into darkness and barriers.
The flowers of rhyme slipped from my hands
أَفْلَتَتْslipped away مِنْfrom يَدَيَّmy two hands زُهْرُblossoms القوَافيthe rhymes
أَفْلَتَتْ مِنْ يَدَيَّ زُهْرُ القوَافي
وَنَأىand receded اللحْنُthe melody فيinto بطونِthe depths البيْدِthe deserts
وَنَأى اللحْنُ في بطونِ البيْدِ
The blossoms of rhyme slipped from my hands,
And the tune distanced itself in the expanse of the desert
and the melody receded into the depths of the deserts.
And the meanings were scattered in the sky
وَالمَعَانيand the meanings تَنَاثَرَتْscattered فيin فَضَاءٍspace
وَالمَعَاني تَنَاثَرَتْ في فَضَاءٍ
واخْتَفَتْand vanished خَلْفَbehind أُفْقِهِits horizon المسْدُودِsealed
واخْتَفَتْ خَلْفَ أُفْقِهِ المسْدُودِ
And the meanings scattered through space,
And disappeared behind its blocked horizon
and vanished behind its sealed horizon.
The poem’s pride suns away from disgrace
كِبْرياءُpride القَصِيدِpoetry يَشْمُسُrecoils عَنْfrom ذُلٍّhumiliation
كِبْرياءُ القَصِيدِ يَشْمُسُ عَنْ ذُلٍّ
ويَنْأَىand keeps away عَنfrom الهَوَىcaprice والجُحودِand denial
ويَنْأَى عَن الهَوَى والجُحودِ
The pride of poetry recoils from humiliation,
And distances itself from passion and denial
and keeps far from caprice and denial.
In it is honor, it is the literature of Islam
عِزّةٌdignity فِيهin it ، إِنَّهُindeed it is أدَبُliterature الإِسْـIslam (first part)
عِزّةٌ فِيه ، إِنَّهُ أدَبُ الإِسْـ
ـلاَمِIslam (completion) غَرْسُplanting الإِيمانِfaith ، رَيُّwatering العُهودِthe covenants
ـلاَمِ غَرْسُ الإِيمانِ ، رَيُّ العُهودِ
There is dignity in it: it is the literature of Islam,
The planting of faith, the watcher of pacts
the planting of faith, the watering of covenants.
O pillar of the poem, raised by truth
يَاO إِبَاءَproud defiance القَصِيدِpoetry يَرْفَعُهُraises it الصّدْtruthfulness (first part)
يَا إِبَاءَ القَصِيدِ يَرْفَعُهُ الصّدْ
قُtruthfulness (completion) فَيَرْقَىso it ascends إلىto مَطَافِsphere خُلُودِimmortality
قُ فَيَرْقَى إلى مَطَافِ خُلُودِ
O poetry's proud defiance! Truthfulness raises it,
So it rises to the highest place of immortality
and it ascends to immortality's sphere.
It does not lower itself to passion
لاَnot يَسِفُّstoops الهَوَىlove وَلاَand not يَهْبطُdescends الحسُّfeeling
لاَ يَسِفُّ الهَوَى وَلاَ يَهْبطُ الحسُّ
وَلاَand not ينحنيbows لعَضّto the bite of قُيودِchains
وَلاَ ينحني لعَضّ قُيودِ
Love does not stoop, nor does feeling fall,
Nor bow down to the biting of shackles
nor does it bow to the bite of chains.
The nobility of speech is from the guidance of truth
شَرَفُhonor القَوْلِspeech مِنْfrom هُدَىguidance الحقِtruth
شَرَفُ القَوْلِ مِنْ هُدَى الحقِ
وسِحْرُand the enchantment البَيَانِeloquence بالتَوْحيدِthrough affirming God's oneness
وسِحْرُ البَيَانِ بالتَوْحيدِ
The honor of speech comes from the guidance of truth,
And the magic of rhetoric is in Oneness
and the enchantment of eloquence from affirming God's oneness.
A literature that is quenched at it
أَدَبٌa literature يَرْتَويdrinks its fill البَيَانُeloquence لَدَيهat its side
أَدَبٌ يَرْتَوي البَيَانُ لَدَيه
مِنْfrom حَديثٍa hadith ، مِنَfrom الكتابthe Book المَجيدِglorious
مِنْ حَديثٍ ، مِنَ الكتاب المَجيدِ
A literature at whose side eloquence drinks its fill
From a hadith, from the Glorious Book
from hadith, from the glorious Book.
Its fragrant wood is so desired
رَفَّfluttered بالطَّيْبِwith fragrance عُودُهُits bough فَتَمنَّىso wished
رَفَّ بالطَّيْبِ عُودُهُ فَتَمنَّى
كُلُّevery رَوْضٍgarden نَدَاوَةًmoisture مِنْfrom عُودِa bough
كُلُّ رَوْضٍ نَدَاوَةً مِنْ عُودِ
Its bough fluttered with fragrance, and
That every garden wished for its fresh fragrance
every garden longed for moisture from a bough.
It spreads precious gems over the lands
يَنْشُرُspreads الجَوْهَرَgems الكَرِيْمprecious عَلَىacross الدَّهْـthe ages (first part)
يَنْشُرُ الجَوْهَرَ الكَرِيْم عَلَى الدَّهْـ
ـرِages (completion) غَنِيّاًrich باللؤلؤin pearls المنضودِstrung
ـرِ غَنِيّاً باللؤلؤ المنضودِ
It spreads precious gems across the ages,
Rich with strung pearls
rich in strung pearls.
So the inspired poet came
فأتىthen came الشاعرُthe poet المدلُّthe proudly confident عليهin it
فأتى الشاعرُ المدلُّ عليه
صاغهhe fashioned it منfrom أساورٍbracelets وand عقودِnecklaces
صاغه من أساورٍ و عقودِ
Then came the poet, proud of it;
And formed it into bracelets and necklaces
he fashioned it from bracelets and necklaces.
The swaying beauties wished for
فَتَمَنَّتْso wished مُهَفْهَفَاتُthe slender ones الغَوَانيthe beauties
فَتَمَنَّتْ مُهَفْهَفَاتُ الغَوَاني
حِلْيَةًan ornament حَوْلَaround مِعْصَمٍa wrist أَوْجِيدِor a neck
حِلْيَةً حَوْلَ مِعْصَمٍ أَوْجِيدِ
Then the slender beauties wished
An ornament around a delicate wrist
for an ornament around a wrist or neck.
It is the rustling of dew on the sleek leaf
هُوَit رَفُّthe flutter النَّدَىdew عَلَىupon الوَرَقthe leaves اليَاdry (first part)
هُوَ رَفُّ النَّدَى عَلَى الوَرَق اليَا
بِسِdry (completion) يَهْتَزُّquivers فيin رَبيعٍa spring جَدِيدِnew
بِسِ يَهْتَزُّ في رَبيعٍ جَدِيدِ
It is the flutter of dew upon dry leaves,
Shaking in a new spring
quivering in a new spring.
It is the pulsation of strings with a beautiful melody
هُوَit خَفْقُthe throbbing الأوْتَارِthe strings بالنَّغَمwith melody الحَاtender (first part)
هُوَ خَفْقُ الأوْتَارِ بالنَّغَم الحَا
نيْtender (completion) عَلَىamid بَهْجَةٍdelight وَفَرْحَةِand the joy of عِيدِa festival
نيْ عَلَى بَهْجَةٍ وَفَرْحَةِ عِيدِ
It is the throbbing of strings with a tender melody,
To the joy and happiness of Eid
amid delight and a festival's joy.
It is the blooming youth of the devout and a longing
هُوَit زَهْوُsplendor الصِّبَاyouth التَّقيِّpious وَشَوْقٌand longing
هُوَ زَهْوُ الصِّبَا التَّقيِّ وَشَوْقٌ
مَنْfrom عَفافٍchastity وَزِيْنَةٌand adornment فيin بُرُودِrobes
مَنْ عَفافٍ وَزِيْنَةٌ في بُرُودِ
It is the splendor of pious youth, and longing
Of chastity, and beauty in cool calmness
from chastity, and adornment in robes.
It is in the universe a sign that glory
هُوَit فيin الكَوْنِthe universe آيَةٌa sign حَوَّمhovered المَجْـglory (first part)
هُوَ في الكَوْنِ آيَةٌ حَوَّم المَجْـ
ـدُglory (completion) عَلَيْهَاabove it رَوائِعاًmarvels مِنْof نشيْدِsong
ـدُ عَلَيْهَا رَوائِعاً مِنْ نشيْدِ
It is a sign in the universe; glory hovered
Has cast on it wondrous hymns
above it with marvels of song.
O tenderness of the poem, o touch of Islam
يَاO حَنَانَtenderness القَصيدِpoetry ، يَاO لمْسَةَa touch الإِسْـIslam (first part)
يَا حَنَانَ القَصيدِ ، يَا لمْسَةَ الإِسْـ
ـلاَمIslam (completion) سَلْوَىsolace الحَزينthe sorrowful مَأْوىrefuge الطَّريدِthe outcast
ـلاَم سَلْوَى الحَزين مَأْوى الطَّريدِ
O tenderness of poetry, O touch of Islam,
Solace of the sad, refuge of the outcast
solace of the sorrowful, refuge of the outcast,
O spaciousness of safety, wiping
يَاO رِحَابَspacious haven الأمَانsafety يَمْسَحُwipes away ذُلاًّhumiliation
يَا رِحَابَ الأمَان يَمْسَحُ ذُلاًّ
عَنْfrom جُفُونٍeyelids وَدَمْعَةًand a tear عَنْfrom خُدُودِcheeks
عَنْ جُفُونٍ وَدَمْعَةً عَنْ خُدُودِ
O spacious haven of safety, wiping humiliation
Humiliation from eyelids and tears from cheeks
from eyelids, and a tear from cheeks.
O sanctuary that the weak flees to
يَاO حِمىًa sanctuary يَفْزَعُseeks refuge الضَّعِيفُthe weak إليْهِto it
يَا حِمىً يَفْزَعُ الضَّعِيفُ إليْهِ
فإذَاand behold فيهin it قُوَّةٌstrength مِنْof أُسُودِlions
فإذَا فيه قُوَّةٌ مِنْ أُسُودِ
O sanctuary to which the weak turn for refuge,
Where he finds might from lions
and behold, within it is the strength of lions!
O song of the poor in the path of truth
ياO غَنَاءَwealth الفَقِيرthe poor فيin مَنْهَجthe path of الحقtruth
يا غَنَاءَ الفَقِير في مَنْهَج الحق
وَفيand in دَرْبِهِits road الأمِينtrustworthy الرَّشيدِrightly guided
وَفي دَرْبِهِ الأمِين الرَّشيدِ
O wealth of the poor on the path of truth,
And on his loyal, guided road
and on its trustworthy, rightly guided road!
O blessing of man carrying from it
ياO لَنُعْمَىwhat a blessing الإِنسَانِhumankind يَحْمِلُone carries مِنْهُfrom it
يا لَنُعْمَى الإِنسَانِ يَحْمِلُ مِنْهُ
مِشْعَلاًa torch شَقَّpierced مِنْfrom لَيَالٍnights سُوْدِblack
مِشْعَلاً شَقَّ مِنْ لَيَالٍ سُوْدِ
Oh, what a blessing for humankind! From it one carries
A torch that pierced through dark nights
a torch that pierced through black nights.
Passion fluttered and chose from it
رَفْرَفَfluttered الشَّوْقُlonging فانْتَقَىso chose أَدَبُthe literature of الإِسـIslam (first part)
رَفْرَفَ الشَّوْقُ فانْتَقَى أَدَبُ الإِسـ
ـلاَمِIslam (completion) مِنْهُfrom it قُمْريَّةَa turtledove التَغْريدِwarbling
ـلاَمِ مِنْهُ قُمْريَّةَ التَغْريدِ
Longing fluttered, and the literature of Islam chose
Islam’s literature, the moonlike warbling
from it a turtledove of song.
And love granted in it the greatest verse
وَهَبَbestowed الحُبُّlove عِنْدَهin its presence الآيَةَthe sign الكُبْـgreatest (first part)
وَهَبَ الحُبُّ عِنْدَه الآيَةَ الكُبْـ
ـرىgreatest (completion) وأَغْنَىand enriched قُدْسِيَّةَsanctity التَرْدِيدrepetition
ـرى وأَغْنَى قُدْسِيَّةَ التَرْدِيد
Love bestowed there the greatest sign,
And enriched the holiness of chanting
and enriched the sanctity of repetition.
“There is no god but He”
فَهُوَfor He اللهGod لاَno إلهdeity سِواهُbesides Him
فَهُوَ الله لاَ إله سِواهُ
هِيَit أَعْلَىloftiest هَوىًlove وَأَحْلىand sweetest نَشِيدِsong
هِيَ أَعْلَى هَوىً وَأَحْلى نَشِيدِ
For He is God; there is no deity but Him.
Is the highest passion and sweetest poem
It is the loftiest love and the sweetest song.
Return, O seasons, our majesty’s splendor
رَجِّعيecho! يَاO دُناworlds جَلاَلَmajesty هَوَاناour love
رَجِّعي يَا دُنا جَلاَلَ هَوَانا
واسْجُديand prostrate yourself وانْعَميand delight بهذاin this السُّجودِprostration
واسْجُدي وانْعَمي بهذا السُّجودِ
Echo, O worlds, the majesty of our love,
And prostrate and enjoy this bowing
and prostrate yourselves, and delight in this prostration.
I am a slave of God—how great is love
أناI عَبْدٌa servant للهof God مَاhow أَعظَمَgreat الحُبَّlove
أنا عَبْدٌ لله مَا أَعظَمَ الحُبَّ
ـبlove (completion) وَand أَغْنَاهُhow rich it is باليقيَنwith certainty الشَّديدfirm
ـب وَ أَغْنَاهُ باليقيَن الشَّديد
I am a servant of God: how great is love,
The most enriching with strong conviction
and how rich it is in firm certainty!
O melodies, o poem of the nights
يَاO أَهازِيجُchants يَاO نَشيدَsong اللَّيَاليthe nights
يَا أَهازِيجُ يَا نَشيدَ اللَّيَالي
رَجِّعيecho! اللحْنَthe melody أَوor أعيديrepeat! قَصِيديmy verse
رَجِّعي اللحْنَ أَو أعيدي قَصِيدي
O chants, O song of the nights,
Return the tune or repeat my poem
echo the melody, or repeat my verse.
With love I have delight in the days’ mouth
أناI بالحبّthrough love نَشْوَةٌrapture فيin فَمِthe mouth of الدّهْـtime (first part)
أنا بالحبّ نَشْوَةٌ في فَمِ الدّهْـ
ـرِtime (completion) وَلْحنٌand a melody مِنَof الهَوَىlove المنْشُودِlonged-for
ـرِ وَلْحنٌ مِنَ الهَوَى المنْشُودِ
Through love I am rapture in the mouth of time,
And a melody of desired passion
and a melody of longed-for love.
O gift of Islam, o breath of faith
يَاO عَطَاءَgift الإِسْلاَمIslam يَاO نَفْحَةَbreath الإِيـfaith (first part)
يَا عَطَاءَ الإِسْلاَم يَا نَفْحَةَ الإِيـ
ـمَانfaith (completion) يَادُرَّةَO pearl العَطَاءِgiving الفَرِيدِmatchless
ـمَان يَادُرَّةَ العَطَاءِ الفَرِيدِ
O gift of Islam, O breath of faith,
O unique pearl of gifts
O pearl of matchless giving!
A literature that blazed in nights with glory
أَدَبٌa literature شَعَّshone فيin اللّياليthe nights مَعَwith العَزْresolve (first part)
أَدَبٌ شَعَّ في اللّيالي مَعَ العَزْ
مresolve (completion) زَكَاflourished عِطْرُهُits fragrance دَماًblood مِنْfrom شهيدِa martyr
م زَكَا عِطْرُهُ دَماً مِنْ شهيدِ
A literature that shone in the nights with resolve,
Its fragrance purified with blood of martyrs
its fragrance flourishing as blood from a martyr.
How many times did it urge steeds in battlefields
كَمْhow often جَلاهُrevealed it عَلَىon المَيادينthe fields فُرْسَاknights (first part)
كَمْ جَلاهُ عَلَى المَيادين فُرْسَا
نٌknights (completion) وَغَنَّتْهُand sang it وَثْبَةٌa charge مِنْof صِيدِproud warriors
نٌ وَغَنَّتْهُ وَثْبَةٌ مِنْ صِيدِ
How often knights revealed it on the fields,
And odes sang of its leap, of its hunter
and a charge of proud warriors sang it!
So arise, O masterpieces of poetry, this is an arena
فانْهَضِيso rise! يَاO رَوَائعَmarvels الشِّعْرِpoetry هذيthis
فانْهَضِي يَا رَوَائعَ الشِّعْرِ هذي
سَاحَةٌan arena زَغْرديululate! لَهَاfor it وَand أَعيديrepeat!
سَاحَةٌ زَغْردي لَهَا وَ أَعيدي
Rise, then, O marvels of poetry! Here is
Chirp in it, and repeat my poem
an arena: ululate for it, and sound again.
You are at the peak of rhetoric, an abundant
أَنْتyou فيat ذِرْوَةِthe summit of البَيَانِeloquence عَطَاءٌa gift
أَنْت في ذِرْوَةِ البَيَانِ عَطَاءٌ
زَاخِرٌoverflowing بالهُدَىwith guidance وأَبْحُرُand seas جُودِgenerosity
زَاخِرٌ بالهُدَى وأَبْحُرُ جُودِ
At the summit of eloquence, you are a gift
Gift of guidance and a sea of generosity
overflowing with guidance, and seas of generosity.
O abodes of Islam, gardens raised
يَاO دِيِارَlands الإِسْلاَمِIslam جُنَّتْwere maddened رُبَاهَاtheir hills
يَا دِيِارَ الإِسْلاَمِ جُنَّتْ رُبَاهَا
بَيْنْbetween عَادٍan aggressor مَرَوِّعٍterrifying وَحَسُودِand an envier
بَيْنْ عَادٍ مَرَوِّعٍ وَحَسُودِ
O lands of Islam, whose hills were maddened
Between a terrifying and envious enemy
between a terrifying aggressor and an envier,
Unleash your volcanoes, pour lava
أَطْلقيunleash! دُونَهُin his path البَراكِينَthe volcanoes ، صُبِّيpour out!
أَطْلقي دُونَهُ البَراكِينَ ، صُبِّي
حِمماًlava ، زَلْزليshake! القَوَاعِدَthe foundations ، مِيْديquake!
حِمماً ، زَلْزلي القَوَاعِدَ ، مِيْدي
unleash volcanoes in his path; pour out
Shake the foundations, raze them
lava; shake the foundations; quake!
And storm the rage of hurricanes, and rain
وَاعصِفيand rage! غَضْبَةَthe fury of الأعَاصِيرhurricanes ، وارْميand hurl!
وَاعصِفي غَضْبَةَ الأعَاصِير ، وارْمي
فَوْقَهُupon him مِنْof قَنابلٍbombs وand حَديدِiron
فَوْقَهُ مِنْ قَنابلٍ و حَديدِ
And rage with the fury of hurricanes, and hurl
On it bombs and iron
upon him bombs and iron.
I am not the inspired poet if my poetry
لسْتُI am not بِالشَّاعِرِthe poet المُدِلِّthe proudly confident إذاif لَمْnot
لسْتُ بِالشَّاعِرِ المُدِلِّ إذا لَمْ
يَكُbe شِعْريmy verse قَذَائِفاًprojectiles مِنْof وَقُودِfuel
يَكُ شِعْري قَذَائِفاً مِنْ وَقُودِ
I am not the proudly confident poet if
Is not bombs of fuel
my verse is not projectiles of fuel.
And if a sword is sheathed
وَإِذاand if مَاever انْطَوىwithdrew عَلَىupon الغِمدthe sheath سَيْفٌa sword
وَإِذا مَا انْطَوى عَلَى الغِمد سَيْفٌ
أَوor خَلاَwas emptied السَّاحُthe field منof هَوَىthe passion of صِنديدِa champion
أَو خَلاَ السَّاحُ من هَوَى صِنديدِ
And if ever a sword withdraws into its sheath,
Or the battlefield emptied of passions’ iron
or the field is empty of a champion's passion,
My poem will go on the road
سَوفَwill يَمْضيgo on عَلَىalong الطّرِيقِthe road قَصِيدِيmy verse
سَوفَ يَمْضي عَلَى الطّرِيقِ قَصِيدِي
كالنَّدَىlike dew رَفَّfluttered فيin رَبِيعٍa spring جَدِيدnew
كالنَّدَى رَفَّ في رَبِيعٍ جَدِيد
my verse will go on along the road,
Like dew that trembled in a new spring
like dew that fluttered in a new spring.
O man of letters of Islam, where are the palaces
ياO أَديبَwriter الإِسْلامِIslam أَيْنَwhere السَّرَاياthe companies
يا أَديبَ الإِسْلامِ أَيْنَ السَّرَايا
نَزَعَتْtore themselves away عنfrom مَضَاجِعٍbeds وَand مُهُودِcradles
نَزَعَتْ عن مَضَاجِعٍ وَ مُهُودِ
O writer of Islam, where are the companies
That snatched away beds and pillows?
that tore themselves from beds and cradles?
Awoken by lightning bolts of a call
أَيْقَظَتْهَاawakened them صَوَاعِقٌthunderbolts مِنْof نِداءٍa call
أَيْقَظَتْهَا صَوَاعِقٌ مِنْ نِداءٍ
خاطِفَاتٌsnatching بَقيَّةًa remnant مِنْfrom كُبُودِlivers
خاطِفَاتٌ بَقيَّةً مِنْ كُبُودِ
Thunderbolts of a call awakened them,
Snatching the remnants of brooding
snatching remnants from livers.
Melodies rushed them into battle
دَفَعَتْهاdrove them إلىto النِّزَالcombat أَهَازِيْـchants (first part)
دَفَعَتْها إلى النِّزَال أَهَازِيْـ
ـجُchants (completion) فَمَاجَتْand they surged عَلىupon لهيبthe blaze of النَّشيدِsong
ـجُ فَمَاجَتْ عَلى لهيب النَّشيدِ
Chants drove them into combat,
Seething with the flames of chanting
and they surged upon the blaze of song.
Brandishing them over Palestine’s expanse—thundering
وَجَلتْهَاand revealed them عَلَىon بِطَاحthe plains of " فِلَسْطْيـPalestine (first part)
وَجَلتْهَا عَلَى بِطَاح " فِلَسْطْيـ
ـنَPalestine (completion) " دَويّاًa roar فيon يَوْمِهَاits day المَشْهُودِmomentous
ـنَ " دَويّاً في يَوْمِهَا المَشْهُودِ
The chants revealed them on the plains of Palestine,
On its witnessed day
as a roar on its momentous day,
And over Kabul—the lands roared
وَعَلَىand over " كَابُلٍKabul " ، وَزَمْزَمَتِand rumbled الأرْthe earth (first part)
وَعَلَى " كَابُلٍ " ، وَزَمْزَمَتِ الأرْ
ضُearth (completion) لَهِيْباًaflame وَand أَرْعَدَتْthundered بالجُنُودِwith soldiers
ضُ لَهِيْباً وَ أَرْعَدَتْ بالجُنُودِ
and over Kabul; the earth rumbled
With fervor and rumbled with armies
aflame, and thundered with soldiers.
The literature of the lost is night and wine
أَدَبُthe literature of التَّائِهينَthe lost لَيْلٌnight وand َخَمْرٌwine
أَدَبُ التَّائِهينَ لَيْلٌ و َخَمْرٌ
بَيْنَamid كَأَسٍa cup مُحطَّمٍshattered أَوْor غيدِgraceful beauties
بَيْنَ كَأَسٍ مُحطَّمٍ أَوْ غيدِ
The literature of the lost is night and wine,
Between a shattered cup or a grape vine
amid a shattered cup or graceful beauties,
When the poem slumbers in the haze of drunkenness
حِينَwhen يَغْفُوdozes القَصِيدُpoetry فيin خَدَرِstupor السُّكْـintoxication (first part)
حِينَ يَغْفُو القَصِيدُ في خَدَرِ السُّكْـ
ـرِintoxication (completion) لخَصْرٍfor a waist مُهَفْهَفٍslender وَنُهُودِand breasts
ـرِ لخَصْرٍ مُهَفْهَفٍ وَنُهُودِ
when poetry dozes in drunken stupor
To a swaying waist and nodding bosom
for a slender waist and breasts.
A literature that failed into debauchery and slept
أَدَبٌa literature ذَلَّwas abased فيin الفُجُورُdebauchery وand نَامَتْslept
أَدَبٌ ذَلَّ في الفُجُورُ و نَامَتْ
بَيْنَwithin أحْضَانِهِits embraces جُفُونُthe eyelids of العَبيدِslaves
بَيْنَ أحْضَانِهِ جُفُونُ العَبيدِ
A literature abased in vice; and there slept
Between its arms lay the eyelids of the slaves
within its embrace the eyelids of slaves.
They steal away behind the magic of a false motto
يَتَوَارَوْنَthey hide themselves خَلْفَbehind سِحْرِthe spell of شِعَارٍa slogan
يَتَوَارَوْنَ خَلْفَ سِحْرِ شِعَارٍ
كاذبٍfalse أَوْor زَخَارِفٍembellishments ووُعُودِand promises
كاذبٍ أَوْ زَخَارِفٍ ووُعُودِ
They hide behind the spell of a slogan,
Or decorations and false promises
a false one, or behind embellishments and promises.
Name whatever example you wish, for this is
سَمِّname! مَاwhatever شِئْتyou wish مِنْof مِثالٍan example فَهَذاfor this is
سَمِّ مَا شِئْت مِنْ مِثالٍ فَهَذا
أَدَبُthe literature of الضَّائعthe lost الشَقيِّthe wretched الجَحُودِthe denier
أَدَبُ الضَّائع الشَقيِّ الجَحُودِ
Name whatever example you wish: this is
The literature of the misguided, wretched ingrate
the literature of the lost, wretched denier.
It will perish with time, while the literature
سَوفَwill يَفنَىperish مَعَwith الزّمَانtime وَيَبْقَىand remain
سَوفَ يَفنَى مَعَ الزّمَان وَيَبْقَى
أَدَبُthe literature of الحقِّtruth شُعْلَةًa flame فيin الوُجُودِexistence
أَدَبُ الحقِّ شُعْلَةً في الوُجُودِ
It will perish with time, while there remains
Of truth remains a flame in existence
the literature of truth, a flame in existence.
Partial English translation: 123 of 124 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1