يَموتُdies فيin الغابِthe forest أَوor فيin غَيرِهِsomewhere other than it الأَسَدُthe lion
يَموتُ في الغابِ أَو في غَيرِهِ الأَسَدُ
كُلُّall البِلادِlands وِسادٌa pillow حينَwhen تُتَّسَدُare used as a pillow
كُلُّ البِلادِ وِسادٌ حينَ تُتَّسَدُ
The lion dies in the forest or elsewhere.
The lion dies in the forest or elsewhere
Every land is a pillow when used as one.
When blocked, all the countries become pillows
قَدindeed غَيَّبَhas hidden الغَربُthe West شَمساًa sun لاno سَقامَillness بِهاin it
قَد غَيَّبَ الغَربُ شَمساً لا سَقامَ بِها
كانَتwas عَلىalong جَنَباتِthe sides of الشَرقِthe East تَتَّقِدُblazing
كانَت عَلى جَنَباتِ الشَرقِ تَتَّقِدُ
The West has hidden a sun untouched by illness,
The West has hidden a sun without disease
That blazed along the reaches of the East.
It was blazing on the sides of the East
حَداdrove onward بِهاwith it الأَجَلُthe appointed end المَحتومُinevitable فَاِغتَرَبَتand so it went abroad
حَدا بِها الأَجَلُ المَحتومُ فَاِغتَرَبَت
إِنَّindeed النُفوسَsouls إِلىto آجالِهاtheir appointed ends تَفِدُcome
إِنَّ النُفوسَ إِلى آجالِها تَفِدُ
Its inevitable term drove it on, and it went abroad;
The predetermined fate limited it, so it became an émigré
Indeed, souls journey to their appointed ends.
Indeed, souls go to their predetermined lifespans
كُلُّevery اِغتِرابٍstay abroad مَتاعٌan enjoyment فيin الحَياةِlife سِوىexcept
كُلُّ اِغتِرابٍ مَتاعٌ في الحَياةِ سِوى
يَومٍa day يُفارِقُparts from فيهِon which المُهجَةَthe soul الجَسَدُthe body
يَومٍ يُفارِقُ فيهِ المُهجَةَ الجَسَدُ
Every stay abroad is an enjoyment in life, except
Every emigration is transient in life except for
The day when the body parts from the soul.
The day when the soul separates from the body
نَعىannounced the death of الغَمامَthe rain-cloud إِلىto الواديthe valley وَساكِنِهِand its dweller
نَعى الغَمامَ إِلى الوادي وَساكِنِهِ
بَرقٌlightning تَمايَلَswayed مِنهُbecause of it السَهلُthe plain وَالجَلَدُand the rugged ground
بَرقٌ تَمايَلَ مِنهُ السَهلُ وَالجَلَدُ
The cloud's death was announced to the valley and its dweller
The lightening lamented to the valley and its inhabitants
By lightning that made the plain and rugged ground reel.
When its rebel rose, swaying the plains and mountains
بَرقُthe lightning of الفَجيعَةِcalamity لَمّاwhen ثارَrose ثائِرُهُits fury
بَرقُ الفَجيعَةِ لَمّا ثارَ ثائِرُهُ
كادَتalmost كَأَمسٍas yesterday لَهُover it الأَحزابُthe parties تَتَّحِدُunited
كادَت كَأَمسٍ لَهُ الأَحزابُ تَتَّحِدُ
When the lightning of calamity burst into fury,
The lightening of bereavement, when it ignited
The parties almost united over it, as yesterday.
Its factions were almost united like yesterday
قامَstood الرِجالُthe men حَيارىbewildered مُنصِتينَlistening silently لَهُto it
قامَ الرِجالُ حَيارى مُنصِتينَ لَهُ
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen هَدَّshattered مِنsome of آمالِهِمtheir hopes قَعَدواthey sat down
حَتّى إِذا هَدَّ مِن آمالِهِم قَعَدوا
The men stood bewildered, listening silently to it,
The men stood confused, listening to it
Until, when it shattered their hopes, they sat down.
Until when its hopes diminished, they sat down
عَلاrose over الصَعيدَUpper Egypt نهارٌa day كُلُّهُall of it شَجَنٌsorrow
عَلا الصَعيدَ نهارٌ كُلُّهُ شَجَنٌ
وَجَلَّلَand shrouded الريفَthe countryside لَيلٌa night كُلُّهُall of it سُهُدُsleeplessness
وَجَلَّلَ الريفَ لَيلٌ كُلُّهُ سُهُدُ
Over Upper Egypt rose a day entirely sorrow,
The day spread over the plain, all of it grief
And a night entirely sleeplessness shrouded the countryside.
And the night covered the countryside, all of it darkness
لَمdid not يُبقِleave لِلضاحِكينَfor those laughing المَوتُdeath ماwhat وَجَدواthey found
لَم يُبقِ لِلضاحِكينَ المَوتُ ما وَجَدوا
وَلَمand did not يَرُدَّrestore عَلىto الباكينَthose weeping ماwhat فَقَدواthey lost
وَلَم يَرُدَّ عَلى الباكينَ ما فَقَدوا
Death left the laughing none of what they had found,
Death did not leave for the laugher what they found
And restored to the weeping none of what they had lost.
Nor did it return to the criers what they lost
وَراءَbehind رَيبِthe vicissitudes of اللَياليthe nights أَوor فُجاءَتِهاtheir sudden shock
وَراءَ رَيبِ اللَيالي أَو فُجاءَتِها
دَمعٌtears لِكُلِّfor every شِماتٍgloater ضاحِكٍlaughing رَصَدُlying in wait
دَمعٌ لِكُلِّ شِماتٍ ضاحِكٍ رَصَدُ
Behind the nights' vicissitudes or their sudden shocks,
Beyond the doubts of nights or their suddenness
Tears lie in wait for every laughing gloater.
For every gloating mocker, a tear lies in wait
باتَتspent the night عَلىon الفُلكِthe ship فيin التابوتِthe coffin جَوهَرَةٌa jewel
باتَت عَلى الفُلكِ في التابوتِ جَوهَرَةٌ
تَكادُalmost بِاللَيلِby night فيin ظِلِّthe shadow of البِلىdecay تَقِدُglows
تَكادُ بِاللَيلِ في ظِلِّ البِلى تَقِدُ
On the ship, a jewel spent the night within the coffin,
A jewel lay in the coffin on the ship
Almost glowing by night beneath the shadow of decay.
At night, in the shadow of decay, it almost burns
يُفاخِرُboasts to النيلُthe Nile أَصدافَthe shells of الخَليجِthe Gulf بِهاof it
يُفاخِرُ النيلُ أَصدافَ الخَليجِ بِها
وَماand whatever يَدُبُّcreeps إِلىto البَحرَينِBahrain أَوor يَرِدُarrives
وَما يَدُبُّ إِلى البَحرَينِ أَو يَرِدُ
The Nile boasts of it to the shells of the Gulf,
The Nile boasts to the seashells of the gulf about it
And to whatever creeps toward Bahrain or arrives there.
And whatever creeps or comes to the two seas
إِنَّindeed الجَواهِرَjewels أَسناهاtheir brightest وَأَكرَمُهاand their noblest
إِنَّ الجَواهِرَ أَسناها وَأَكرَمُها
ماwhat يَقذِفُcasts forth المَهدُthe cradle لاnot ماwhat يَقذِفُcasts forth الزَبَدُthe foam
ما يَقذِفُ المَهدُ لا ما يَقذِفُ الزَبَدُ
Indeed, the brightest and noblest of jewels
Indeed, the most splendid and honorable jewels
Are what the cradle casts forth, not what the foam casts forth.
Are those born in the cradle, not those cast by the foam
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen بَلَغَreached الفَلَكُthe ship المَدىthe destination اِنحَدَرَتdescended
حَتّى إِذا بَلَغَ الفَلَكُ المَدى اِنحَدَرَت
كَأَنَّهاas though it فيin الأَكُفِّthe hands الصارِمُthe sharp sword الفَرِدُpeerless
كَأَنَّها في الأَكُفِّ الصارِمُ الفَرِدُ
When the ship reached its destination, it was lowered,
Until when the ship reached the destination, it descended
As though in the hands it were a peerless, cutting sword.
As if it, in the firm grip, is the only one
تِلكَthat البَقِيَّةُremnant مِنof سَيفِthe sword of الحِمىthe homeland كِسَرٌbroken pieces
تِلكَ البَقِيَّةُ مِن سَيفِ الحِمى كِسَرٌ
عَلىupon السَريرِthe bier وَمِنand of رُمحِthe spear of الحِمىthe homeland قَصِدُsplinters
عَلى السَريرِ وَمِن رُمحِ الحِمى قَصِدُ
That remnant of the homeland's sword is broken pieces
That remnant from the sword of zeal is a broken one
Upon the bier, and splinters of the homeland's spear.
On the deathbed, and from the spear of zeal, a thrust
قَدindeed ضَمَّهاembraced it فَزَكاand so grew noble نَعشٌa bier يُطافُis carried around بِهِwith it
قَد ضَمَّها فَزَكا نَعشٌ يُطافُ بِهِ
مُقَدَّمٌforemost كَلِواءِlike the banner of الحَقِّtruth مُنفَرِدُalone
مُقَدَّمٌ كَلِواءِ الحَقِّ مُنفَرِدُ
A bier embraced it and grew noble, borne around,
It was carried by a coffin, circled around
Leading the way, alone like the banner of truth.
Brought forward like the banner of truth, solitary
مَشَتwalked عَلىalong جانِبَيهِits two sides مِصرُEgypt تَنشُدُهُseeking him
مَشَت عَلى جانِبَيهِ مِصرُ تَنشُدُهُ
كَماas تَدَلَّهَتِbecame distraught الثَكلىthe bereaved mother وَتَفتَقِدُand searches
كَما تَدَلَّهَتِ الثَكلى وَتَفتَقِدُ
Egypt walked on either side of it, seeking him,
Egypt walked beside it, chanting for it
Like a bereaved mother, distraught and searching.
Like a bereaved woman, searching and longing
وَقَدand sometimes يَموتُdie كَثيرٌmany لاnot تُحِسُّهُمُyou sense them
وَقَد يَموتُ كَثيرٌ لا تُحِسُّهُمُ
كَأَنَّهُمas though they مِنfrom هَوانِthe slightness of الخَطبِthe calamity ماnot وُجِدواhad existed
كَأَنَّهُم مِن هَوانِ الخَطبِ ما وُجِدوا
And many may die without your sensing them,
And many may die, unnoticed
As though, so slight the calamity, they had never existed.
As if, from the insignificance of events, they did not exist
ثُكلُthe bereavement of البِلادِthe nation لَهُit has عَقلٌdiscernment وَنَكبَتُهاand its calamity
ثُكلُ البِلادِ لَهُ عَقلٌ وَنَكبَتُها
هِيَis النَجابَةُexcellence فيin الأَولادِthe children لاnot العَدَدُnumber
هِيَ النَجابَةُ في الأَولادِ لا العَدَدُ
A nation's bereavement has discernment; its calamity
The land's bereavement has a mind and its setback
Lies in the excellence of its children, not their number.
Is excellence in children, not multitude
مُكَلَّلُcrowned الهامِthe head بِالتَصريحِwith the declaration لَيسَnot لَهُfor him
مُكَلَّلُ الهامِ بِالتَصريحِ لَيسَ لَهُ
عودٌa framework مِنَof الهامِskulls يَحويهِenclosing him وَلاnor نَضَدُstacked tiers
عودٌ مِنَ الهامِ يَحويهِ وَلا نَضَدُ
His head crowned by the declaration, he has no
The one crowned with frankness has no
Framework of skulls enclosing him, nor a piled mound.
Pillar of glory to contain it, or pillar to support it
وَصاحِبُand the possessor of الفَضلِbeneficence فيupon الأَعناقِthe necks لَيسَnot لَهُfor him
وَصاحِبُ الفَضلِ في الأَعناقِ لَيسَ لَهُ
مِنَfrom الصَنائِعِprotégés أَوor أَعناقِهِمtheir necks سَنَدُsupport
مِنَ الصَنائِعِ أَو أَعناقِهِم سَنَدُ
And he whose favors lie upon men's necks has no
And the one with virtue upon necks has no
Support from his protégés or from their necks.
Arts or their necks to lean on
خَلاwas free مِنَof المِدفَعِthe cannon الجَبّارِmighty مَركَبُهُhis ship
خَلا مِنَ المِدفَعِ الجَبّارِ مَركَبُهُ
وَحَلَّand dwelt فيهِin it الهُدىguidance وَالرِفقُand gentleness وَالرَشَدُand sound judgment
وَحَلَّ فيهِ الهُدى وَالرِفقُ وَالرَشَدُ
His ship was free of the mighty cannon,
His ship devoid of the mighty cannon
And guidance, gentleness, and sound judgment dwelt in it.
In it, guidance, kindness, and wisdom lodged
إِنَّindeed المَدافِعَthe cannons لَمnot يُخلَقwas created لِصُحبَتِهاto accompany them
إِنَّ المَدافِعَ لَم يُخلَق لِصُحبَتِها
جُندُthe troops of السَلامِpeace وَلاnor قُوّادُهُits commanders المُجُدُillustrious
جُندُ السَلامِ وَلا قُوّادُهُ المُجُدُ
For the company of cannons were never created
Indeed, cannons were not created for their company
The soldiers of peace, nor its illustrious commanders.
The army of peace and its leaders are glory
ياO بانِيَbuilder of الصَرحَthe edifice لَمdid not يَشغَلهُdistract him مُمتَدِحٌa praiser
يا بانِيَ الصَرحَ لَم يَشغَلهُ مُمتَدِحٌ
عَنِfrom البِناءِbuilding وَلَمand did not يَصرِفهُturn him aside مُنتَقِدُa critic
عَنِ البِناءِ وَلَم يَصرِفهُ مُنتَقِدُ
O builder of the edifice, whom no praiser distracted
Oh builder of the edifice, no praiser
From building, and whom no critic turned aside,
Distracted him from building, or critic turned him
أَصَمَّdeaf عَنto غَضَبٍanger مِنfrom حَولِهِaround him وَرِضىًand approval
أَصَمَّ عَن غَضَبٍ مِن حَولِهِ وَرِضىً
فيin ثَورَةٍa revolution تَلِدُbears الأَبطالَheroes أَوor تَئِدُburies alive
في ثَورَةٍ تَلِدُ الأَبطالَ أَو تَئِدُ
Deaf to anger and approval all around him,
Deaf to anger around him and pleased
In a revolution that bears heroes or buries them alive.
In an awakening that creates heroes or suppresses them
تَصريحُكَyour declaration الخُطوَةُthe step الكُبرىgreat وَمَرحَلَةٌand a milestone
تَصريحُكَ الخُطوَةُ الكُبرى وَمَرحَلَةٌ
يَدنوdraws near عَلىat مِثلِهاthe like of it أَوor يَبعُدُrecedes الأَمَدُthe goal
يَدنو عَلى مِثلِها أَو يَبعُدُ الأَمَدُ
Your declaration is the great step and a milestone
Your declaration is the great step and an era
At the like of which the goal draws near or recedes.
Upon its like, epochs approach or distance
الحَقُّright وَالقُوَّةُand might اِرتَدّاboth turned back إِلىto حَكَمٍan arbiter
الحَقُّ وَالقُوَّةُ اِرتَدّا إِلى حَكَمٍ
مِنَamong الفَياصِلِdecisive judges ماno فيin دينِهِhis creed أَوَدُcrookedness
مِنَ الفَياصِلِ ما في دينِهِ أَوَدُ
Right and might turned back to an arbiter,
Right and might have retreated to a rule
One of the decisive judges, with no crookedness in his creed.
Among doctrines, whether in its religion or principles
لَولاbut for سِفارَتُكَyour diplomatic mission المَهدِيَّةُrightly guided اِختَصَماthe two would have quarreled
لَولا سِفارَتُكَ المَهدِيَّةُ اِختَصَما
وَمَلَّand would have wearied طولَthe length of النِضالِthe struggle الذِئبُthe wolf وَالنَقَدُand the sheep
وَمَلَّ طولَ النِضالِ الذِئبُ وَالنَقَدُ
Without your rightly guided mission, the two would have quarreled,
If not for your enlightened diplomacy, they would have disputed
And wolf and sheep would have wearied of the long struggle.
And the length of the struggle tired the wolf and the fawn
ماnot زِلتَyou ceased تَطرُقُknocking at بابَthe door of الصُلحِpeace بَينَهُماbetween them
ما زِلتَ تَطرُقُ بابَ الصُلحِ بَينَهُما
حَتّىuntil تَفَتَّحَتِopened wide الأَبوابُthe doors وَالسُدَدُand the barriers
حَتّى تَفَتَّحَتِ الأَبوابُ وَالسُدَدُ
You kept knocking at the door of peace between them,
You kept knocking on the door of peace between them
Until the doors and barriers opened wide.
Until the doors and blockades opened
وَجَدتَهاyou found it فُرصَةًan opportunity تُلقىare cast الحِبالُthe ropes لَهاfor it
وَجَدتَها فُرصَةً تُلقى الحِبالُ لَها
إِنَّindeed السِياسَةَpolitics فيهاwithin it الصَيدُhunting وَالطَرَدُand pursuit
إِنَّ السِياسَةَ فيها الصَيدُ وَالطَرَدُ
You found it an opportunity for which ropes are cast;
You found it an opportunity to cast the ropes for it
In politics lie hunting and pursuit.
Indeed, politics in it has the hunt and expulsion
طَلَبتَهاyou sought it عِندَamid هوجِthe fury of الحادِثاتِevents كَماjust as
طَلَبتَها عِندَ هوجِ الحادِثاتِ كَما
يَمشيgoes إِلىto الصَيدِthe hunt تَحتَbeneath العاصِفِthe raging storm الأَسَدُthe lion
يَمشي إِلى الصَيدِ تَحتَ العاصِفِ الأَسَدُ
You sought it amid the fury of events, just as
You sought it at the pinnacle of events, as
The lion goes hunting beneath the raging storm.
The lion walks to the hunt under the storm
لَمّاwhen وَجَدتَyou found مُعِدّاتِthe means for البِناءِbuilding بَنَتbuilt
لَمّا وَجَدتَ مُعِدّاتِ البِناءِ بَنَت
يَداكَyour two hands لِلقَومِfor the people ماwhat ذَمّواthey condemned وَماand what حَمَدواthey praised
يَداكَ لِلقَومِ ما ذَمّوا وَما حَمَدوا
When you found the means for building, work was wrought
When you found the building equipment, your hands built
By your hands for the people—what they blamed and what they praised.
For the people what they blamed and what they praised
بَنَيتَyou built صَرحَكَyour edifice مِنfrom جُهدِthe toil of البِلادِthe nation كَماjust as
بَنَيتَ صَرحَكَ مِن جُهدِ البِلادِ كَما
تُبنىare built مِنَfrom الصَخرِstone الآساسُthe foundations وَالعُمُدُand the pillars
تُبنى مِنَ الصَخرِ الآساسُ وَالعُمُدُ
You built your edifice from the nation's toil, just as
You built your edifice from the country's effort
Foundations and pillars are built from stone.
As the foundation and pillars are built from stone
فيهِwithin it ضَحاياsacrifices مِنَfrom الأَبناءِthe sons قَيِّمَةٌprecious
فيهِ ضَحايا مِنَ الأَبناءِ قَيِّمَةٌ
وَفيهِand within it سَعيٌstriving مِنَfrom الآباءِthe fathers مُطَّرِدُunceasing
وَفيهِ سَعيٌ مِنَ الآباءِ مُطَّرِدُ
Within it are precious sacrifices from the sons,
In it, precious sacrifices from the youth
And within it is ceaseless striving from the fathers.
And continuous efforts from the elders
وَفيand in أَواسيهِits foundations أَقلامٌpens مُجاهِدَةٌstruggling
وَفي أَواسيهِ أَقلامٌ مُجاهِدَةٌ
عَلىupon أَسِنَّتِهاtheir points الإِحسانُexcellence وَالسَدَدُand sound judgment
عَلى أَسِنَّتِها الإِحسانُ وَالسَدَدُ
And in its foundations are pens that struggle,
And in its halls, struggling pens
Upon whose points lie excellence and sound judgment.
Upon their tongues, benevolence and integrity
وَفيهِand within it أَلوِيَةٌbanners عَزَّgrew mighty الجِهادُthe struggle بِهِمthrough them
وَفيهِ أَلوِيَةٌ عَزَّ الجِهادُ بِهِم
لَولاbut for المَنِيَّةِdeath ماnot مالواthey fell وَلاnor رَقَدواthey slept
لَولا المَنِيَّةِ ما مالوا وَلا رَقَدوا
And within it are banners through whom the struggle grew mighty;
And in it, flags honor prided over them
But for death, they would neither have fallen nor slept.
If not for death, they would not have faltered or slept
رَمَيتَyou struck فيat وَتَدِthe stake of الذُلِّabasement القَديمِancient بِهِwith it
رَمَيتَ في وَتَدِ الذُلِّ القَديمِ بِهِ
حَتّىuntil تَزعزَعَshook loose مِنfrom أَسبابِهِits fastenings الوَتَدُthe stake
حَتّى تَزعزَعَ مِن أَسبابِهِ الوَتَدُ
With it you struck at the stake of ancient abasement,
You threw in the peg of old humiliation with it
Until the stake shook free of its fastenings.
Until its causes shook and the pegs fell out
طَوىfolded up حِمايَتَهُhis protection المُحتَلُّthe occupier وَاِنبَسَطَتand spread out
طَوى حِمايَتَهُ المُحتَلُّ وَاِنبَسَطَت
حِمايَةُthe protection of اللَهِGod فَاِستَذرىand so sought shelter بِهاbeneath it البَلَدُthe land
حِمايَةُ اللَهِ فَاِستَذرى بِها البَلَدُ
The occupier folded up his protection, and there spread
The occupier folded his protection and
God's protection, beneath which the land sought shelter.
God's protection expanded, so the country felt safe
نَمsleep غَيرَwithout باكٍweeping عَلىover ماشِدتَwhat you built مِنof كَرَمٍnobility
نَم غَيرَ باكٍ عَلى ماشِدتَ مِن كَرَمٍ
ماwhat شيدَwas built لِلحَقِّfor truth فَهوَso it is السَرمَدُeverlasting الأَبَدُeternal
ما شيدَ لِلحَقِّ فَهوَ السَرمَدُ الأَبَدُ
Sleep, without weeping over the noble works you built;
Whoever falls asleep grieving your generosity
What is built for truth is everlasting, eternal.
What is built for truth remains forever
ياO ثَروَةَwealth of الوَطَنِthe homeland الغاليprecious كَفىsuffices عِظَةًas a lesson
يا ثَروَةَ الوَطَنِ الغالي كَفى عِظَةً
لِلناسِfor people أَنَّكَthat you كَنزٌa treasure فيin الثَرىthe earth بَدَدُscattered
لِلناسِ أَنَّكَ كَنزٌ في الثَرى بَدَدُ
O wealth of the precious homeland, sufficient is the lesson
Oh treasure of the precious homeland, enough lesson
For people: you are a treasure scattered in the earth.
For people that you are a treasure in the buried soil
لَمdid not يُطغِكَmake you tyrannical الحُكمُpower فيin شَتّىvarious مَظاهِرِهِits manifestations
لَم يُطغِكَ الحُكمُ في شَتّى مَظاهِرِهِ
وَلاnor اِستَخَفَّكَmake you frivolous لينُthe ease of العَيشِliving وَالرَغَدُand abundance
وَلا اِستَخَفَّكَ لينُ العَيشِ وَالرَغَدُ
Power in all its guises did not make you tyrannical,
Rule did not make you arrogant in all its aspects
Nor did easy living and abundance make you frivolous.
Nor did the softness of living and prosperity slight you
تَغدوyou go forth عَلىbefore اللَهِGod وَالتاريخِand history فيin ثِقَةٍconfidence
تَغدو عَلى اللَهِ وَالتاريخِ في ثِقَةٍ
تَرجوyou hope فَتُقدِمُand so advance أَوor تَخشىyou fear فَتَتَّئِدُand so move cautiously
تَرجو فَتُقدِمُ أَو تَخشى فَتَتَّئِدُ
You go before God and history with confidence,
You rise for God and history confidently
Hoping, you advance; fearing, you proceed with care.
Seeking, so you advance, or fearing, so you hold back
نَشَأتَyou grew up فيon جَبهَةِthe brow of الدُنياthe world وَفيand on فَمِهاits mouth
نَشَأتَ في جَبهَةِ الدُنيا وَفي فَمِها
يَدورُturns حَيثُwherever تَدورُyou turn المَجدُglory وَالحَسَدُand envy
يَدورُ حَيثُ تَدورُ المَجدُ وَالحَسَدُ
You grew up on the world's brow and upon its lips;
You were raised at the world's forefront and in its mouth
Glory and envy turn wherever you turn.
Where glory and envy revolve
لِكُلِّfor every يَومٍday غَدٌa tomorrow يَمضيcarries away بِرَوعَتِهِits terror
لِكُلِّ يَومٍ غَدٌ يَمضي بِرَوعَتِهِ
وَماand not لِيَومِكَfor your day ياO خَيرَbest of اللِداتِpeers غَدُa tomorrow
وَما لِيَومِكَ يا خَيرَ اللِداتِ غَدُ
Every day has a tomorrow that carries away its terror,
For each day there is a passing tomorrow in its splendor
But your day, O best of peers, has no tomorrow.
And for your day, O best of babies, there is no tomorrow
رَمَتكَstruck you فيin قَنَواتِthe channels of القَلبِthe heart فَاِنصَدَعَتand so they split
رَمَتكَ في قَنَواتِ القَلبِ فَاِنصَدَعَت
مَنِيَّةٌdeath ماnot لَهاit has قَلبٌa heart وَلاnor كَبِدُa liver
مَنِيَّةٌ ما لَها قَلبٌ وَلا كَبِدُ
It struck you in the heart's channels, and they split—
Death has cast you into the channels of the heart, so it cracked
A death with neither heart nor liver.
A death that has no heart or liver
لَمّاwhen أَناخَتknelt عَلىupon تامورِكَyour heart اِنفَجَرَتburst forth
لَمّا أَناخَت عَلى تامورِكَ اِنفَجَرَت
أَزكىmore fragrant مِنَthan الوَردِroses أَوor مِنthan مائِهِtheir water الوُرُدُthe rose-red blood
أَزكى مِنَ الوَردِ أَو مِن مائِهِ الوُرُدُ
When it knelt upon your heart, there burst forth
When it moored at your coffin, the most fragrant
Rose-red blood, more fragrant than roses or their water.
Of roses or their water burst forth
ماnot كُلُّevery قَلبٍheart غَداwent forth أَوor راحَreturned فيin دَمِهِits blood
ما كُلُّ قَلبٍ غَدا أَو راحَ في دَمِهِ
فيهِwithin it الصَديقُthe friend وَفيهِand within it الأَهلُthe family وَالوَلَدُand the child
فيهِ الصَديقُ وَفيهِ الأَهلُ وَالوَلَدُ
Not every heart that comes and goes amid its blood
Not every heart that came or went, in its blood
Holds within it the friend, the family, and the child.
Is the friend, family, and children
وَلَمand did not تُطاوِلكَprolong its contest with you خَوفاًfor fear أَنthat يُناضِلَهاwould contend with it
وَلَم تُطاوِلكَ خَوفاً أَن يُناضِلَها
مِنكَfrom you الدَهاءُshrewdness وَرَأيٌand a judgment مُنقِذٌrescuing نَجِدُbrave
مِنكَ الدَهاءُ وَرَأيٌ مُنقِذٌ نَجِدُ
Nor did it prolong its contest with you, fearing it would be fought
Nor did cowardice make you hesitate that
By your shrewdness and a brave, rescuing judgment.
Wisdom and sound opinion would rescue you from it
فَهَلthen did رَثىpity المَوتُdeath لِلبِرِّgoodness الذَبيحِslaughtered وَهَلand did
فَهَل رَثى المَوتُ لِلبِرِّ الذَبيحِ وَهَل
شَجاهُgrieve it ذاكَthat الحَنانُtenderness الساكِنُstill الهَمِدُlifeless
شَجاهُ ذاكَ الحَنانُ الساكِنُ الهَمِدُ
Did death, then, pity slaughtered goodness, and did
Did death eulogize the slaughtered righteous, and did
That tenderness, stilled and lifeless, grieve it?
That residing tenderness, still and zealous, lament it?
هَيهاتَfar from it لَوif وُجِدَتwere found لِلمَوتِin death عاطِفَةُfeeling
هَيهاتَ لَو وُجِدَت لِلمَوتِ عاطِفَةُ
لَمwould not يَبكِweep for مِنof آدَمٍAdam أَحبابَهُhis loved ones أَحَدُanyone
لَم يَبكِ مِن آدَمٍ أَحبابَهُ أَحَدُ
Far from it! Had death possessed any feeling,
Never! If death had sentiment
Not one of Adam's children would have wept for his loved ones.
No loved one would cry over their loved ones
مَشَتwent forth تَذودُwarding off المَناياdeaths عَنfrom وَديعَتِهاher charge
مَشَت تَذودُ المَنايا عَن وَديعَتِها
مَدينَةُthe City of النورِLight فَاِرتَدَّتthen she recoiled بِهاbecause of them رَمَدُwith inflamed eyes
مَدينَةُ النورِ فَاِرتَدَّت بِها رَمَدُ
She went forth to ward off deaths from her charge—
The cities of light marched guarding its trust
The City of Light—then recoiled from them, her eyes inflamed.
Then turned back, blinded in both eyes
لَوif يُدفَعُcould be repelled المَوتُdeath رَدَّتshe would turn back عَنكَfrom you عادِيَهُits assault
لَو يُدفَعُ المَوتُ رَدَّت عَنكَ عادِيَهُ
لِلعِلمِfor science حَولَكَaround you عَينٌan eye لَمdid not تَنَمsleep وَيَدُand a hand
لِلعِلمِ حَولَكَ عَينٌ لَم تَنَم وَيَدُ
If death could be repelled, she would have turned its assault from you;
If death could be resisted, its transgression against you
Science had around you an eye that never slept, and a hand.
For knowledge around you, an eye that did not sleep and a hand
أَباO father of عَزيزٍAziz سَلامُthe peace of اللَهِGod لاno رُسُلٌmessengers
أَبا عَزيزٍ سَلامُ اللَهِ لا رُسُلٌ
إِلَيكَto you تَحمِلُcarry تَسليميmy greeting وَلاnor بُرَدُcouriers
إِلَيكَ تَحمِلُ تَسليمي وَلا بُرَدُ
Abu Aziz, God's peace be upon you; no messengers
Abu Aziz, may God's peace, no messengers
Carry my greeting to you, nor any couriers.
Carry my greetings and messages to you
وَنَفحَةٌand a fragrant breath مِنfrom قَوافيthe rhymes of الشِعرِpoetry كُنتَyou used to لَهاfor it
وَنَفحَةٌ مِن قَوافي الشِعرِ كُنتَ لَها
فيin مَجلِسِthe gathering of الراحِwine وَالرَيحانِand sweet basil تَحتَشِدُgather
في مَجلِسِ الراحِ وَالرَيحانِ تَحتَشِدُ
And a fragrant breath of poetry's rhymes, for which you would
And a breeze of poetry's rhymes, you were
Gather at sessions of wine and sweet basil.
Gathering for it in the garden of comfort and basil
أَرسَلتُهاI sent it وَبَعَثتُand I sent الدَمعَtears يَكنُفُهاto surround it
أَرسَلتُها وَبَعَثتُ الدَمعَ يَكنُفُها
كَماas تَحَدَّرَdescended حَولَaround السَوسَنِthe irises البَرَدُhail
كَما تَحَدَّرَ حَولَ السَوسَنِ البَرَدُ
I sent it, and sent tears to surround it,
I sent it and I sent tears surrounding it
As hail descends around the irises.
As drops streamed around the lilies
عَطَفتُI turned فيكَthinking of you إِلىtoward الماضيthe past وَراجَعَنيand returned to me
عَطَفتُ فيكَ إِلى الماضي وَراجَعَني
وُدٌّaffection مِنَfrom الصِغَرِchildhood المَعسولِhoneyed مُنعَقِدُbound together
وُدٌّ مِنَ الصِغَرِ المَعسولِ مُنعَقِدُ
Thinking of you, I turned toward the past, and there returned to me
I leaned towards the past in you and
A bond of affection formed in honeyed childhood,
Affection from the sweet childhood returned to me
صافٍpure عَلىthrough الدَهرِtime لَمnot تُقفِرbecame desolate خَلِيَّتُهُits hive
صافٍ عَلى الدَهرِ لَم تُقفِر خَلِيَّتُهُ
وَلاnor تَغَيَّرَchanged فيin أَبياتِهاits chambers الشُهُدُthe honey
وَلا تَغَيَّرَ في أَبياتِها الشُهُدُ
Pure through time; its hive has not grown desolate,
Pure over time, its cell did not become desolate
Nor has the honey in its chambers changed.
And the honey in its verses did not change
حَتّىuntil لَمَحتُكَI glimpsed you مَرموقَadmired الهِلالِthe crescent moon عَلىin
حَتّى لَمَحتُكَ مَرموقَ الهِلالِ عَلى
حَداثَةٍyouth تَعِدُpromising الأَوطانَthe homelands ماwhat تَعِدُyou promise
حَداثَةٍ تَعِدُ الأَوطانَ ما تَعِدُ
Until I glimpsed you, your crescent admired, still in
Until I saw you towering like the crescent
Youth, promising the homelands all you promised.
On a novelty that promises countries what it promises
وَالشِعرُand poetry دَمعٌtears وَوِجدانٌand inward feeling وَعاطِفَةٌand emotion
وَالشِعرُ دَمعٌ وَوِجدانٌ وَعاطِفَةٌ
ياO لَيتَwould that شِعرِيَmy knowledge هَلwhether قُلتُI have said الَّذيwhat أَجِدُI feel
يا لَيتَ شِعرِيَ هَل قُلتُ الَّذي أَجِدُ
Poetry is tears, inward feeling, and emotion;
Poetry is tears, passion, and sentiment
Would that I knew: have I said what I feel?
Oh how I wish my poetry conveyed what I feel!
Sol 6.1