Sol 6.1

  1. ببيت الأمة أعتَقلِ المطيّا

    وفي دهليزه أطرق ملِيا

    At the House of the Nation, tether the mounts;

    and in its vestibule, bow your head a long while.

  2. وألقِ سِبال ذقنك فيه وأنشق

    تراب الساحة الكبرى ذكيا

    And let your beard's locks fall there, and inhale

    the great courtyard's fragrant dust.

  3. وأدِّ إلى الجزيريّ التحايا

    وسله ينل لك الإذن العلِيا

    And convey greetings to al-Jaziri,

    and ask him to secure the august permission for you.

  4. وحَملق فيه حين يهز عِطفا

    تجد تحت الغِلالة سمهريا

    And stare at him as he sways a shoulder;

    you will find a Samharian lance beneath the thin robe.

  5. وقل لم أدرِ أنت أم الجديلي

    ألذّ تقمصا وأَحبّ زِيا

    And say: I cannot tell whether you or al-Judayli

    are more delightful in a shirt, more pleasing in attire.

  6. وإن يحمل إليك الإذن فاصعد

    تجد دَرَجا يبلغك الرُّقيا

    And if he brings you permission, go upstairs;

    you will find steps that carry you upward.

  7. هناك دع التبهنس كابن سينا

    ولا تتبخترنّ زمخشريا

    There, abandon swaggering like Ibn Sina,

    and do not strut like al-Zamakhshari.

  8. ولا ترقص إذا أنشدتَ شعرا

    فإن الرقص آذى البحتريا

    And do not dance when you recite poetry,

    for dancing harmed al-Buhturi.

  9. وقل يا واهب الرتب العوالى

    متى وعسى تبلَّغني النديا

    And say: O giver of exalted ranks,

    when, I hope, will you bring me into the assembly?

  10. ورأسك لا فشرت ولن تراني

    مجمش لحيتي ما دمت حيا

    By your head, I have not lied, and you will never see me

    stroking my beard as long as I live.

  11. ولا قرقرت أوبربرت يوما

    كما هيجت ديكا مالِطِيا

    Nor have I ever clucked or jabbered,

    as when you rouse a Maltese cock.

  12. ولا سمع الجماعة غير أني

    أرى السودان قطرا أجنبيا

    Nor has the company heard anything but that I

    regard Sudan as a foreign country.

  13. برئت إليك من خلطي وخبطي

    ومما لفق الواشي علَيا

    I disavow before you my muddling and blundering,

    and what the talebearer fabricated against me.

  14. وجئت إليك أشكو من هموم

    مؤرّقة فهل تُصغى إليّا

    And I have come to you to complain of worries

    that rob me of sleep; will you listen to me?

  15. فقد ضاقت بي الدنيا فسعني

    فقد تسمع المنافق والتقيا

    For the world has closed in on me; make room for me,

    for you do hear both the hypocrite and the devout.

  16. فكم خصم عطفت عليه حتى

    تقدّم في ولايتك الوليا

    For you have favored many an opponent, until

    he outstripped the loyal supporter in your favor.

  17. فهبني كنت خصما أو عدوّا

    أليس الصفح مذهبك الرضيا

    So suppose I was an opponent or an enemy:

    is forgiveness not your commendable creed?

  18. لعلك قد علمت وفاة مكسى

    وكيف مضى وخّلف لي عليا

    Perhaps you have learned of Maksi's death,

    and how he passed away and left Ali to me.

  19. و أوفرلَند أدركها كُساح

    فليت كساحَها في ركبتيا

    And Overland has been stricken with rickets;

    if only its rickets were in my own two knees!

  20. وخطب الصيدلية كان أدهى

    وأنكر موقعا في مسمعيا

    And the pharmacy's calamity was more disastrous,

    and more shocking as it struck my ears.

  21. رحلت وفي العيادة كل شئ

    وعدت فما وجدت هناك شيا

    I left with everything still in the clinic;

    and returned, but found nothing there.

  22. خلَت من كل ما فيها كأني

    أقمت الفأر فيها صيدليا

    It was empty of all it had held, as though I

    had installed the mouse there as a pharmacist.

  23. ولى مرضى من العمال كُثر

    إذا الأسطى مضى بعث الصبيا

    And I have many patients among the workers;

    when the master craftsman leaves, he sends the apprentice.

  24. أحررها تذاكر ليس تحُصى

    وما من ذاك شئ في يديا

    I write them out: prescriptions beyond counting,

    yet nothing from all that is in my hands.