ساجِعُ الشَرقِ طارَ عَن أَوكارِهِ

ساجِعُ الشَرقِ طارَ عَن أَوكارِهِ

وَتَوَلّى فَنٌّ عَلى آثارِهِ

وَتَوَلّى فَنٌّ عَلى آثارِهِ

The songbird of the East has flown from his nests,

The East regained its glory, soaring from its lairs,

and an art has departed in his wake.

As art flourished in its vestiges left barren and bare.

غالَهُ نافِذُ الجَناحَينِ ماضٍ

غالَهُ نافِذُ الجَناحَينِ ماضٍ

لا تَفِرُّ النُسورُ مِن أَظفارِهِ

لا تَفِرُّ النُسورُ مِن أَظفارِهِ

A swift-winged, relentless one slew him,

With wings spread freely, an eagle takes flight,

whose talons the eagles cannot escape.

No claws make prey flee faster than its might.

يَطرُقُ الفَرخَ في الغُصونِ وَيَغشى

يَطرُقُ الفَرخَ في الغُصونِ وَيَغشى

لُبَداً في الطَويلِ مِن أَعمارِهِ

لُبَداً في الطَويلِ مِن أَعمارِهِ

He visits the fledgling in the branches, and overtakes

The fledgling hidden in branches, a tender chick,

Lubad amid the long span of his years.

Its down just growing as the days tick.

كانَ مِزمارَهُ فَأصبَحَ داوُ

كانَ مِزمارَهُ فَأصبَحَ داوُ

دُ كَئيباً يَبكي عَلى مِزمارِهِ

دُ كَئيباً يَبكي عَلى مِزمارِهِ

He was his flute; now David has become

Once a flute, now but a mourning grievance;

sorrowful, weeping over his flute.

Weeping for the music that was its sustenance.

عَبدُهُ بَيدَ أَنَّ كُلَّ مُغَنٍّ

عَبدُهُ بَيدَ أَنَّ كُلَّ مُغَنٍّ

عَبدُهُ في اِفتِنانِهِ وَاِبتِكارِهِ

عَبدُهُ في اِفتِنانِهِ وَاِبتِكارِهِ

Abduh—'his servant'—yet every singer

A slave to passion in rapture and creation,

is his servant in his artistry and invention.

Each singer enslaved by fascination.

مَعبَدُ الدَولَتَينِ في مِصرَ وَإِسحا

مَعبَدُ الدَولَتَينِ في مِصرَ وَإِسحا

قُ السَمِيَّينِ رَبِّ مِصرٍ وَجارِهِ

قُ السَمِيَّينِ رَبِّ مِصرٍ وَجارِهِ

Egypt's Ma'bad of the two realms, and Ishaq

A shrine where two states worshipped as one,

of the two exalted ones—Egypt's ruler and his neighbor.

Egypt and Syria, Lord and shining sun.

في بِساطِ الرَشيدِ يَوماً وَيَوماً

في بِساطِ الرَشيدِ يَوماً وَيَوماً

في حِمى جَعفَرٍ وَضافي سِتارِهِ

في حِمى جَعفَرٍ وَضافي سِتارِهِ

One day on al-Rashid's carpet, and another

Once feasts in the Abbasid Caliph’s abode,

within Ja'far's sanctuary and beneath his ample curtain.

Now refuge in Ja’far’s care as time eroded.

صَفوُ مُلكَيهِما بِهِ في اِزدِيادٍ

صَفوُ مُلكَيهِما بِهِ في اِزدِيادٍ

وَمِنَ الصَفوِ أَن يَلوذَ بِدارِهِ

وَمِنَ الصَفوِ أَن يَلوذَ بِدارِهِ

The pure joy of their two reigns grows through him,

The glory of both realms by him made greater,

and one such joy is to seek refuge in his home.

Seeking home when glory could not sate her.

يُخرِجُ المالِكينَ مِن حِشمَةِ المُل

يُخرِجُ المالِكينَ مِن حِشمَةِ المُل

كِ وَيُنسي الوَقورَ ذِكرَ وَقارِهِ

كِ وَيُنسي الوَقورَ ذِكرَ وَقارِهِ

He draws the two rulers out of the reserve of kingship,

Dimming the luster of the royal air,

and makes the dignified man forget his dignity.

Forgetting decorum without a care.

رُبَّ لَيلٍ أَغارَ فيهِ القَماري

رُبَّ لَيلٍ أَغارَ فيهِ القَماري

وَأَثارَ الحِسانَ مِن أَقمارِهِ

وَأَثارَ الحِسانَ مِن أَقمارِهِ

Many a night he made its turtledoves jealous,

Many a night the gambler won acclaim,

and roused the beauties among its moons,

Lighting stars that put the moon to shame.

بِصَباً يُذكِرُ الرِياضَ صَباهُ

بِصَباً يُذكِرُ الرِياضَ صَباهُ

وَحِجازٍ أَرَقُّ مِن أَسحارِهِ

وَحِجازٍ أَرَقُّ مِن أَسحارِهِ

with Saba that reminds the gardens of its east wind,

Memories of youth in the gardens he brings,

and Hijaz more delicate than its predawn hours,

Arabia through the poet’s strings sings.

وَغِناءٍ يُدارُ لَحناً فَلَحناً

وَغِناءٍ يُدارُ لَحناً فَلَحناً

كَحَديثِ النَديمِ أَو كَعُقارِهِ

كَحَديثِ النَديمِ أَو كَعُقارِهِ

and song passed round, melody after melody,

Melodies flow, note after note,

like a boon companion's talk or his wine,

Like a friend’s chatter or herbs antidote.

وَأَنينٍ لَو أَنَّهُ مِن مَشوقٍ

وَأَنينٍ لَو أَنَّهُ مِن مَشوقٍ

عَرَفَ السامِعونَ مَوضِعَ نارِهِ

عَرَفَ السامِعونَ مَوضِعَ نارِهِ

and a moan which, were it from a yearning lover,

A passion wails, if it were but for a lover,

would show the listeners the seat of his fire.

The listeners would know where burns the ember.

يَتَمَنّى أَخو الهَوى مِنهُ آهاً

يَتَمَنّى أَخو الهَوى مِنهُ آهاً

حينَ يُلحى تَكونُ مِن أَعذارِهِ

حينَ يُلحى تَكونُ مِن أَعذارِهِ

A lover wishes for an 'ah' from him,

The lovelorn wish his sigh would portray,

to serve as an excuse when he is reproached.

When pressed, the excuses he cannot say.

زَفَراتٌ كَأَنَّها بَثُّ قَيسٍ

زَفَراتٌ كَأَنَّها بَثُّ قَيسٍ

في مَعاني الهَوى وَفي أَخبارِهِ

في مَعاني الهَوى وَفي أَخبارِهِ

Sighs as though they were Qays's lament

Gasps that echo Qais in his agony,

on the meanings of love and on its tales.

Singing love’s meaning and its tragedy.

لا يُجازيهِ في تَفَنُّنِهِ العو

لا يُجازيهِ في تَفَنُّنِهِ العو

دُ وَلا يَشتَكي إِذا لَم يُجارِهِ

دُ وَلا يَشتَكي إِذا لَم يُجارِهِ

The oud cannot repay him for his artistry,

None can reward him for his art and creation,

and he does not complain if it fails to keep pace with him.

He never complains of less appreciation.

يَسمَعُ اللَيلُ مِنهُ في الفَجرِ يا لَي

يَسمَعُ اللَيلُ مِنهُ في الفَجرِ يا لَي

لُ فَيُصغي مُستَمهِلاً في فِرارِهِ

لُ فَيُصغي مُستَمهِلاً في فِرارِهِ

At dawn the night hears him call, 'O night!'

Dawn hears his songs, pleading: "Oh night, delay your death!"

and listens, delaying its flight.

As darkness slowly draws its dying breath.

فُجِعَ الناسُ يَومَ ماتَ الحَمولي

فُجِعَ الناسُ يَومَ ماتَ الحَمولي

بِدَواءِ الهُمومِ في عَطّارِهِ

بِدَواءِ الهُمومِ في عَطّارِهِ

The people were bereaved, the day al-Hamuli died,

All mourned the day Hamouli passed on,

of the cure for sorrow in its apothecary;

No cure left for grief in the apothecary gone.

بِأَبي الفَنِّ وَاِبنِهِ وَأَخيهِ

بِأَبي الفَنِّ وَاِبنِهِ وَأَخيهِ

القَوِيِّ المَكينِ في أَسرارِهِ

القَوِيِّ المَكينِ في أَسرارِهِ

of art's father, its son, and its brother,

Father of music, his son and his brother,

strong and firmly grounded in its mysteries;

Strong in secrets none else could uncover.

وَالأَبِيِّ العَفيفِ في حالَتَيهِ

وَالأَبِيِّ العَفيفِ في حالَتَيهِ

وَالجَوادِ الكَريمِ في إيثارِهِ

وَالجَوادِ الكَريمِ في إيثارِهِ

and of the proud, upright man in both his circumstances,

Pure elder in his prime and his fading,

and the generous, noble man in his selfless giving.

Generous one, in giving unweighting.

يَحبِسُ اللَحنَ عَن غِنىً مُدِلٍّ

يَحبِسُ اللَحنَ عَن غِنىً مُدِلٍّ

وَيُذيِقُ الفَقيرَ مِن مُختارِهِ

وَيُذيِقُ الفَقيرَ مِن مُختارِهِ

He withholds his melody from boastful wealth,

Holding back tunes from talented singers,

and lets the poor taste his choicest songs.

To let the poor enjoy his choice fingers.

يا مُغيثاً بِصَوتِهِ في الرَزايا

يا مُغيثاً بِصَوتِهِ في الرَزايا

وَمُعيناً بِمالِهِ في المَكارِهِ

وَمُعيناً بِمالِهِ في المَكارِهِ

O you who gave relief with your voice in calamities,

A voice to soothe in calamities cruel stings,

and gave aid with your wealth in hardships;

Wealth to help those who suffer slings.

وَمُحِلَّ الفَقيرِ بَينَ ذَويهِ

وَمُحِلَّ الفَقيرِ بَينَ ذَويهِ

وَمُعِزَّ اليَتيمِ بَينَ صِغارِهِ

وَمُعِزَّ اليَتيمِ بَينَ صِغارِهِ

and lodged the poor among your kin,

Sheltering the poor, their comfort he doubles,

and honored the orphan among your children;

Aiding the orphan, their woes he uncouples.

وَعِمادَ الصَديقِ إِن مالَ دَهرٌ

وَعِمادَ الصَديقِ إِن مالَ دَهرٌ

وَشِفاءَ المَحزونِ مِن أَكدارِهِ

وَشِفاءَ المَحزونِ مِن أَكدارِهِ

and a friend's pillar when fortune turned,

A friend true when fortunes waver and wane,

and the grieving man's cure for his sorrows;

Balm for the sorrowful, their grievance made plain.

لَستَ بِالراحِلِ القَليلِ فَتُنسى

لَستَ بِالراحِلِ القَليلِ فَتُنسى

واحِدُ الفَنِّ أُمَّةٌ في دِيارِهِ

واحِدُ الفَنِّ أُمَّةٌ في دِيارِهِ

you are no insignificant departed one, to be forgotten:

You were no short-lived star to forget,

art's unrivaled master is a nation in his land.

Maestro, your nation cannot your memory offset.

غايَةُ الدَهرِ إِن أَتى أَو تَوَلّى

غايَةُ الدَهرِ إِن أَتى أَو تَوَلّى

ما لَقيتَ الغَداةَ مِن إِدبارِهِ

ما لَقيتَ الغَداةَ مِن إِدبارِهِ

Fate's final limit, whether it comes or turns away,

Fate comes or goes, beginnings or ends,

is the adversity you met this morning.

You met each dawn that daybreak sends.

نَزَلَ الجَدُّ في الثَرى وَتَساوى

نَزَلَ الجَدُّ في الثَرى وَتَساوى

ما مَضى مِن قِيامِهِ وَعِثارِهِ

ما مَضى مِن قِيامِهِ وَعِثارِهِ

Good fortune has descended into the earth, and equal now are

The sublime now in the dust is lain,

its past risings and stumbles.

Triumphs and failures, none shall remain.

وَاِنَقضى الداءُ بِاليَقينِ مِنَ الحا

وَاِنَقضى الداءُ بِاليَقينِ مِنَ الحا

لَينِ فَالمَوتُ مُنتَهى إِقصارِهِ

لَينِ فَالمَوتُ مُنتَهى إِقصارِهِ

And illness ended with the certain one of the two outcomes,

Illness fades, death shall end the pact,

for death is the ultimate limit of its abatement.

The final limit beyond turning back.

لَهفَ قَومي عَلى مَخايِلِ عِزٍّ

لَهفَ قَومي عَلى مَخايِلِ عِزٍّ

زالَ عَنّا بِرَوضِهِ وَهَزارِهِ

زالَ عَنّا بِرَوضِهِ وَهَزارِهِ

Oh, my people's grief for the signs of a glory

My people grieve what pride we are missing,

that left us, with its garden and its nightingale!

The joy of your voice, your laughter ringing.

وَعَلى ذاهِبٍ مِنَ العَيشِ وَلَّي

وَعَلى ذاهِبٍ مِنَ العَيشِ وَلَّي

تَ فَوَلّى الأَخيرُ مِن أَوطارِهِ

تَ فَوَلّى الأَخيرُ مِن أَوطارِهِ

And for what has gone from life: you departed,

Mourning a life that has passed fleeting,

and the last of its delights departed too;

The last of times that is completing.

وَزَمانٍ أَنتَ الرِضى مِن بَقايا

وَزَمانٍ أَنتَ الرِضى مِن بَقايا

هُ وَأَنتَ العَزاءُ مِن آثارِهِ

هُ وَأَنتَ العَزاءُ مِن آثارِهِ

and for an age: you were the delight among its remnants,

From remnants you bring contentment simmering,

and you were the consolation among its traces.

Solace from ruins, new light glimmering.

كانَ لِلناسِ لَيلُهُ حينَ تَشدو

كانَ لِلناسِ لَيلُهُ حينَ تَشدو

لَحَقَ اليَومَ لَيلُهُ بِنَهارِهِ

لَحَقَ اليَومَ لَيلُهُ بِنَهارِهِ

Its night belonged to the people when you sang;

When people rejoiced in your tunes all night,

today its night has joined its day.

The day stretched to reach the dark’s height.