أَتَرىdo you suppose أَراكَI shall see you بِلاwithout رَقيبa watcher
أَتَرى أَراكَ بِلا رَقيب
يَوماًone day وَلاand without واشٍa tale-bearer مُريبِsuspicious
يَوماً وَلا واشٍ مُريبِ
Do you think I shall see you without a watcher
Do you see me without a watcher
One day, and with no suspicious tale-bearer?
One day with no suspicious companion?
وَتصيخand you listen attentively لِلشَكوىto the complaint فَأَشكوso I lament
وَتصيخ لِلشَكوى فَأَشكو
ماwhat لَقيتI have suffered مِنof الكُروبafflictions
ما لَقيت مِن الكُروب
And you will hear my complaint, so I may lament
I complain loudly of my troubles
The afflictions I have suffered.
Of all the sorrow I have known
لَوif كانَwere يَنفَعُنيbenefited me الطَبيthe physician (continued)
لَو كانَ يَنفَعُني الطَبي
بcompletes 'physician' شَكَوتُI would complain ماwhat بيin me لِلطَبيبto the physician
ب شَكَوتُ ما بي لِلطَبيب
If the physician could help me,
If medicine could help my body
I would tell the physician what ails me.
I would tell the doctor of my pain
وَمُتَيمand a love-stricken one قَدonce كانَwas ذاpossessing
وَمُتَيم قَد كانَ ذا
جسمa body مغشىcovered بِالندوبwith scars
جسم مغشى بِالندوب
And a love-stricken one who once possessed
And this love-sick, wounded heart
A body covered with scars.
Is left with only sighs and weeping
لَمnot تَبقِhas left مِنهُof him يَدthe hand of البُعاseparation (continued)
لَم تَبقِ مِنهُ يَد البُعا
دcompletes 'separation' سِوىexcept البَلابلanguish وَالنَحيبand sobbing
د سِوى البَلابل وَالنَحيب
The hand of separation has left nothing of him
The donkeys have filled up his side
But anguish and sobbing.
So what hope remains for the stranger?
قَدalready مَلءَfilled (uncertain reading) جانبِهُhis side الحَميرthe donkeys (literal reading)
قَد مَلءَ جانبِهُ الحَمير
فَكَيفَthen how ظَنَكَyour expectation بِالغَريبof the stranger
فَكَيفَ ظَنَكَ بِالغَريب
The donkeys have filled his side [wording unclear];
Have mercy on a wandering heart
Then what do you expect of a stranger?
That has never been filled up
رِفقاًgently بِقَلبٍwith a heart وَالهٍdistraught with love
رِفقاً بِقَلبٍ وَالهٍ
ماnot قَرَّقطُّever grew still مِنfrom الوَجيبpounding
ما قَرَّقطُّ مِن الوَجيب
Be gentle with a heart distraught with love,
Memories blow through it
Never once stilled from its pounding.
Like the wind blows through a wine jug
تَهفوmakes sway بِهِwith it الذِكرىremembrance كَماjust as
تَهفو بِهِ الذِكرى كَما
تَهفوmakes sway المدامةwine بِالشروبwith the habitual drinker
تَهفو المدامة بِالشروب
Memory makes it sway, as
Bringing it to life, then fading
Wine makes a habitual drinker sway.
As the soul feeds on false hopes
يَفنىit wastes away فَتَحييهِthen revives it أَماwishes (continued)
يَفنى فَتَحييهِ أَما
نيcompletes 'wishes' النَفسof the soul بِالأَملwith hope الكَذوبdeceitful
ني النَفس بِالأَمل الكَذوب
It wastes away, then is revived by the wishes
On the day we parted it was torn
Of the soul, with deceitful hope.
So cease lamenting torn garments
مَزَقتهُyou tore it apart يَومon the day of الفُراparting (continued)
مَزَقتهُ يَوم الفُرا
قcompletes 'parting' فَدَعكَso spare yourself مِنfrom شَقrending الجُيوبshirtfronts
ق فَدَعكَ مِن شَق الجُيوب
You tore it apart on the day of parting;
It played with my patience till it folded
So spare yourself the rending of shirtfronts.
And I shuddered at the flowing tears
لَعِبَتit toyed بِصَبريwith my patience فَاِنطَوىso it gave way
لَعِبَت بِصَبري فَاِنطَوى
فَفَزعتso I sought refuge لِلدَمعin tears السَكوبfreely flowing
فَفَزعت لِلدَمع السَكوب
It toyed with my patience until it gave way,
Leaves fell at night for my misery
So I turned to freely flowing tears.
On a branch still moist with dew
وَرَقgray doves وَقَعنَalighted لِشقوتيto my sorrow
وَرَق وَقَعنَ لِشقوتي
سِحراًbefore dawn (contextual reading) عَلىupon غُصنٍa branch رَطيبtender
سِحراً عَلى غُصنٍ رَطيب
Gray doves alighted, to my sorrow,
Weeping a thousand as they tumbled
Before dawn upon a tender branch.
Swept away by pitiless fate
يَبكينَthey lament أَلفاًa companion نازِحاًfar away
يَبكينَ أَلفاً نازِحاً
أَودَتbrought ruin بِهِupon him أَيديthe hands of الخُطوبcalamities
أَودَت بِهِ أَيدي الخُطوب
They lament a companion far away,
Greetings to the southern spirits
Destroyed by the hands of calamity.
Who carried the scent of the beloved
أَهلاًwelcome بِأَرواحto the breezes of الجُنوthe south (continued)
أَهلاً بِأَرواح الجُنو
بcompletes 'the south' تَحملتhave carried نَشرthe fragrance of الحَبيبthe beloved
ب تَحملت نَشر الحَبيب
Welcome to the breezes of the south,
Where can I find a liver that can bear
That have borne the beloved's fragrance.
The soft breeze from the south?
مِنfrom أَينَwhere ليfor me كَبدa liver تَذوmelts (continued)
مِن أَينَ لي كَبد تَذو
بcompletes 'melts' ترفقيbe gentle ريحwind of الجُنوبthe south
ب ترفقي ريح الجُنوب
What liver have I left to melt?
By God, O guide of the camel
Be gentle, wind of the south.
When you reach the hill
بِاللَهِby God ياO حاديdriver of المطيّthe riding camels
بِاللَهِ يا حادي المطيّ
إِذاwhen وَصلتyou arrive إِلىat الكَثيبthe dune
إِذا وَصلت إِلى الكَثيب
By God, O driver of the riding camels,
Stop there for the doe has perished
When you reach the dune,
On the barren wind-blown plains
فَاِحبسthen halt هُنالِكَthere أَينقاًshe-camels
فَاِحبس هُنالِكَ أَينقاً
أَودىbrought ruin بِهاupon them طَيtraversing السُهوبthe steppes
أَودى بِها طَي السُهوب
Then halt there the she-camels
Bearing the burdens of passion
Ruined by traversing the steppes.
Swaying like the branches of a cypress
يَحمِلنُthey carry أَنضاءthose wasted by الهَوىpassion
يَحمِلنُ أَنضاء الهَوى
مُتَرامِياتranging far and wide كَالسُروبlike herds
مُتَرامِيات كَالسُروب
They carry those whom passion has wasted,
Always driven by the madness of love
Ranging far and wide like herds.
And its whips and angry threats
جَعَلواthey made أَزمتهاtheir reins (the camels') الهَوىpassion
جَعَلوا أَزمتها الهَوى
وَسِياطِهاand their whips (the camels') زَجرthe urging cries of المُهيبthe driver
وَسِياطِها زَجر المُهيب
They made passion the camels' reins,
A moon whose tears count
And the driver's cries their whips.
The pain of so many rebuffs
وَوَردِهاand their drink (the camels') أَبَداًalways إِذاwhen
وَوَردِها أَبَداً إِذا
وَردتthey come to water مِنfrom الدَمعtears الصَبيبpouring
وَردت مِن الدَمع الصَبيب
And their drink is always, whenever
Whose glances make hearts
They come to water, a flood of tears.
Quiver like frightened does
تُمسيthey pass the evening وَتُصبحand they pass the morning مِنهمٌamong them
تُمسي وَتُصبح مِنهمٌ
أَبَداًalways عَلىon شَرفthe brink of الدَؤبceaseless toil
أَبَداً عَلى شَرف الدَؤب
They pass evening and morning among them,
Giving life and death with a glance
Always on the brink of ceaseless toil.
From eyes flashing with rage
وَاحططand set down رِحالَكyour saddles بِالفَناin the courtyard (continued)
وَاحطط رِحالَك بِالفَنا
ءِcompletes 'courtyard' الرَحبspacious وَالرَوضand the garden القَشيبfresh; verdant
ءِ الرَحب وَالرَوض القَشيب
And set down your saddles in the courtyard,
Frowning reveals his displeasure
Spacious, and in the fresh green garden.
To the watcher's prying eye
وَاِنظُرand look إِلىat الحَيthe tribe الحُلوencamped (continued)
وَاِنظُر إِلى الحَي الحُلو
لcompletes 'encamped' عَلىat اللَوىal-Liwa نَظرwith the gaze of الطَروبthe enraptured one
ل عَلى اللَوى نَظر الطَروب
And look upon the tribe encamped
While his eyelids hint
At al-Liwa with an enraptured gaze.
Mankind is dust in the balance
وَتَنحand keep away عَنfrom رَشأa gazelle-fawn بِهِin that place
وَتَنح عَن رَشأ بِهِ
كَمhow many صادَhe hunted مِنof أُسدlions مُهيبfearsome
كَم صادَ مِن أُسد مُهيب
And keep away from a gazelle-fawn there—
Love and indifference both
How many fearsome lions he has hunted!
Are clear to the wise
فَالفتكfor slaying فيهِin him ضَريبةan innate trait
فَالفتك فيهِ ضَريبة
وَالحُسنand beauty مِنهُfrom him بِلاwithout ضَريبan equal
وَالحُسن مِنهُ بِلا ضَريب
For slaying is his nature,
When I gave him the cup
And his beauty has no equal.
Of reproach at sunset
قَمَرٌa moon يَعدُّhe counts بُكايَmy weeping منbecause of
قَمَرٌ يَعدُّ بُكايَ من
أَلَمthe pain of الصُدودrejection مِنamong الذُنوبsins
أَلَم الصُدود مِن الذُنوب
A moon who counts my weeping, born of
He softened just as
The pain of rejection, among my sins.
The branch bends before the storm
تَصبيcaptivate شَمائِلُهُhis qualities القُلوhearts (continued)
تَصبي شَمائِلُهُ القُلو
بcompletes 'hearts' كَأَنَّهاas though they were راحthe wine of القُلوبhearts
ب كَأَنَّها راح القُلوب
His qualities captivate the hearts,
And made excuses for his sins
As though they were the wine of hearts.
Of abandonment and hurtful neglect
تَحييgive life وَتَقتُلand kill مُقلتاtwo eyes (continued)
تَحيي وَتَقتُل مُقلتا
هُhis (completes 'his two eyes') بِصارمwith the sword of اللَحظthe glance الغَضوبangry
هُ بِصارم اللَحظ الغَضوب
His two eyes give life and kill
To revive the days of unity
With the sword of an angry glance.
When tribes come together
تَقطيبthe furrowing of حاجبِهِhis brow بسرّwith the secret of
تَقطيب حاجبِهِ بسرّ
رُضاهُhis consent عَنfrom عَينthe eye of الرَقيبthe watcher
رُضاهُ عَن عَين الرَقيب
The furrowing of his brow guards the secret of
The moment now is purer than my tears
His consent from the watcher's eye.
And truer than old allegiances
وَجُفونَهُand his eyelids توحيsuggest بِأَنthat
وَجُفونَهُ توحي بِأَن
البَشَرcheerfulness فيin طَيthe folds of القُطوبfrowning
البَشَر في طَي القُطوب
And his eyelids suggest that
My devotion was clear when he left
Cheer lies within the folds of frowning.
To my homeland and family like a stranger
وَالودand affection وَالإِعراضand aversion لَيساthe two are not
وَالود وَالإِعراض لَيسا
يَخفيانhidden (of the two) عَلىfrom اللَبيبthe discerning person
يَخفيان عَلى اللَبيب
Neither affection nor aversion
And the full moon's fate is to wander
Is hidden from a discerning mind.
From zenith to the horizon's edge
لَمnot أَنسَI have forgotten إِذwhen عاطَيتُهُI shared with him
لَم أَنسَ إِذ عاطَيتُهُ
كَأسthe cup of العِتابreproach مَعat الغُروبsunset
كَأس العِتاب مَع الغُروب
I have not forgotten when I shared with him
O heart whatever remains in my being
The cup of reproach at sunset,
Is naught but burning embers
حَتّىuntil تَعطفhe bent kindly مِثلَماjust as
حَتّى تَعطف مِثلَما
ثَنَتbent الصَباthe east wind عَطفthe side of القَضيبthe bough
ثَنَت الصَبا عَطف القَضيب
Until he bent toward me, just as
Misfortunes have changed my comfort
The east wind bends the side of a bough.
To tatters in a moment
وَأَتىand he came بِعُذرwith an excuse عَنfor ذُنوsins (continued)
وَأَتى بِعُذر عَن ذُنو
بcompletes 'sins' الهَجرdesertion وَالصَدand rejection المُذيبconsuming
ب الهَجر وَالصَد المُذيب
And he offered an excuse for the sins
O heart since you are despairing
Of desertion and consuming rejection.
Can you see into the future?
سَقياًmay rain bless لِأَيامthe days of الحِمىthe sanctuary
سَقياً لِأَيام الحِمى
وَالوَصلand union مُجتَمعthe gathering of الشُعوبthe tribes
وَالوَصل مُجتَمع الشُعوب
May rain bless the days of the sanctuary,
Have patience, perhaps the Lord
And union, when the tribes were gathered.
Of the Throne will send relief soon
وَالوَقتand time أَصفىclearer مِنthan دُموtears (continued)
وَالوَقت أَصفى مِن دُمو
عيcompletes 'my tears' وَالهَوىand love مثلlike النَسيبlove poetry
عي وَالهَوى مثل النَسيب
And time was clearer than my tears,
And love was like love poetry.
قَدalready بانَhas departed أَلفيmy beloved فَالسَلاso farewell (continued)
قَد بانَ أَلفي فَالسَلا
مcompletes 'farewell' عَلىto السُرورjoy مِنfrom الكَئيبthe sorrowful one
م عَلى السُرور مِن الكَئيب
My beloved has departed; so farewell
To joy, from this sorrowful one.
أَمسيتI became لَماwhen غابَhe vanished فيin
أَمسيت لَما غابَ في
وَطَنيmy homeland وَأَهليand my family كَالغَريبlike a stranger
وَطَني وَأَهلي كَالغَريب
When he vanished, I became, in
My homeland and among my kin, like a stranger.
وَمَصيرand the fate of بَدرthe full moon التَمّcomplete fullness مِنfrom
وَمَصير بَدر التَمّ مِن
بَعدafter الطُلوعrising إِلىto المَغيبsetting
بَعد الطُلوع إِلى المَغيب
And the fate of the moon at its fullest,
After rising, is to set.
ياO بينseparation ماnot غادَرَتyou have left بَينbetween
يا بين ما غادَرَت بَين
جَوانِحيmy ribs غَيرother than اللَهيبflame
جَوانِحي غَير اللَهيب
O separation, you have left between
My ribs nothing but flame.
حئامَhow long? (apparent typo) تَبدلexchanges راحَتيmy rest
حئامَ تَبدل راحَتي
كَفthe hand of الحَوادثcalamities بِاللغوبfor weariness
كَف الحَوادث بِاللغوب
How long must my rest be exchanged
For weariness by the hand of calamities?
ياO قَلبheart لِأَنكَbecause you are قانِطاًdespairing
يا قَلب لِأَنكَ قانِطاً
فَهَلthen have you أَطلَعتlooked عَلىupon الغُيوبthe unseen
فَهَل أَطلَعت عَلى الغُيوب
O heart, since you are despairing,
Have you, then, looked into the unseen?
صَبراًpatience! عَسىperhaps يَأتيwill bring إِلَهthe God of
صَبراً عَسى يَأتي إِلَه
العَرشthe Throne بِالفَرَجwith relief القَريبnear at hand
العَرش بِالفَرَج القَريب
Patience! Perhaps the God
Of the Throne will bring relief soon.
Partial English translation: 70 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1