شَيَّعواthey escorted to burial الشَمسَthe sun وَمالواand bore away بِضُحاهاher morning light
شَيَّعوا الشَمسَ وَمالوا بِضُحاها
وَاِنحَنىand bent الشَرقُthe East عَلَيهاover her فَبَكاهاand wept for her
وَاِنحَنى الشَرقُ عَلَيها فَبَكاها
They escorted the sun away, bearing off her morning light,
They bid farewell to the sun and leaned on its morning glow
and the East bent over her and wept for her.
And the East bowed over it, crying
لَيتَنيwould that I فيin الرَكبِthe procession لَمّاwhen أَفَلَتshe set
لَيتَني في الرَكبِ لَمّا أَفَلَت
يوشَعٌJoshua هَمَّتshe made to depart فَنادىthen he called فَثَناهاand turned her back
يوشَعٌ هَمَّت فَنادى فَثَناها
Would that, in the procession when she set, I were
I wish I were among the caravan when it set
Joshua: she made to depart; he called and turned her back.
Joshua's desire stirred and he called it back
جَلَّلَshrouded الصُبحَthe morning سَواداًin blackness يَومُهاher day
جَلَّلَ الصُبحَ سَواداً يَومُها
فَكَأَنَّso it was as though الأَرضَthe earth لَمhad not تَخلَعcast off دُجاهاits darkness
فَكَأَنَّ الأَرضَ لَم تَخلَع دُجاها
Her day shrouded the morning in blackness,
The dawn clothed its day in blackness
as though the earth had never cast off its darkness.
As if the earth had not shed its darkness
اِنظُرواlook تَلقَواyou will find عَلَيهاupon her شَفَقاًa crimson twilight
اِنظُروا تَلقَوا عَلَيها شَفَقاً
مِنfrom جِراحاتِthe wounds of الضَحاياthe fallen وَدِماهاand their blood
مِن جِراحاتِ الضَحايا وَدِماها
Look, and you will find upon her a crimson twilight
Look, they meet it with an afterglow
from the wounds of the fallen and their blood.
From the wounds of victims and their blood
وَتَرَواand you will see بَينَbetween يَدَيهاher hands عَبرَةًa tear
وَتَرَوا بَينَ يَدَيها عَبرَةً
مِنfrom شَهيدٍa martyr يَقطُرُdrips الوَردَroses شَذاهاits fragrance
مِن شَهيدٍ يَقطُرُ الوَردَ شَذاها
And you will see before her a tear
And you see before it a tear
from a martyr, its fragrance dripping roses.
From a martyr whose roses drip their scent
آذَنَinformed الحَقُّTruth ضَحاياهاher fallen ones بِهاof her
آذَنَ الحَقُّ ضَحاياها بِها
وَيحَهُwoe to it حَتّىeven إِلىto المَوتىthe dead نَعاهاit announced her death
وَيحَهُ حَتّى إِلى المَوتى نَعاها
Truth informed her fallen ones of her;
The Truth gave tidings to its victims through it
woe to it! Even to the dead it announced her death.
And awakened even the dead with its call
كَفَّنوهاthey shrouded her حُرَّةًfree عُلوِيَّةًexalted
كَفَّنوها حُرَّةً عُلوِيَّةً
كَسَتِshe clothed المَوتَdeath جَلالاًin majesty وَكَساهاand it clothed her
كَسَتِ المَوتَ جَلالاً وَكَساها
They shrouded her, free and exalted;
They shrouded it a free Alawite
she clothed death in majesty, and it clothed her.
Having clothed death with majesty and honor
مِصرُEgypt فيin أَكفانِهاher shrouds إِلّاexcept الهُدىguidance
مِصرُ في أَكفانِها إِلّا الهُدى
لُحمَةُthe weft of الأَكفانِthe shrouds حَقٌّtruth وَسُداهاand their warp
لُحمَةُ الأَكفانِ حَقٌّ وَسُداها
Egypt lies in her shrouds, save guidance;
Except for guidance, Egypt gained nought from its shroud
truth is the shrouds' weft and their warp.
The flesh of the shroud is truth and its warp
خَطَرَpassed majestically النَعشُthe bier عَلىover الأَرضِthe earth بِهاbearing her
خَطَرَ النَعشُ عَلى الأَرضِ بِها
يَحسِرُexhausts الأَبصارَthe eyes فيin النَعشِthe bier سَناهاher radiance
يَحسِرُ الأَبصارَ في النَعشِ سَناها
The bier passed majestically over the earth bearing her;
The bier passed over the ground bearing it
her radiance within it exhausted the eyes.
Eyes peered into the bier scanning its height
جاءَهاcame to her الحَقُّTruth وَمِنand among عادَتِهاher habits
جاءَها الحَقُّ وَمِن عادَتِها
تُؤثِرُshe prefers الحَقَّtruth سَبيلاًas a path وَاِتِّجاهاand a direction
تُؤثِرُ الحَقَّ سَبيلاً وَاِتِّجاها
Truth came to her; it was her custom
Ask Safita about her weddings
to choose truth as her path and direction.
Did the announcer walk through it and erase it?
ماnot دَرَتknew مِصرٌEgypt بِدَفنٍto a burial صُبِّحَتit awoke
ما دَرَت مِصرٌ بِدَفنٍ صُبِّحَت
أَمor عَلىto البَعثِresurrection أَفاقَتit awoke مِنfrom كَراهاits slumber
أَم عَلى البَعثِ أَفاقَت مِن كَراها
Egypt did not know whether it awoke to a burial
It disturbed the holidaymaker from his chatter
or rose from its slumber to resurrection.
And vanished from the riverbank and its sediment
صَرَخَتit cried out تَحسَبُهاyou would think it بِنتَa daughter of الشَرىthe lion-thicket
صَرَخَت تَحسَبُها بِنتَ الشَرى
طَلَبَتdemanded مِنfrom مِخلَبِthe claw of المَوتِdeath أَباهاits father
طَلَبَت مِن مِخلَبِ المَوتِ أَباها
It cried out—you would think it a daughter of the lion-haunted thicket,
At night it opened the doors of its monastery
demanding its father from death's claw.
And the bells established their allegiance to it
وَكَأَنَّand as though الناسَthe people لَمّاwhen نَسَلواthey hurried forth
وَكَأَنَّ الناسَ لَمّا نَسَلوا
شُعَبُbranches of السَيلِthe torrent طَغَتoverflowed فيat مُلتَقاهاtheir meeting place
شُعَبُ السَيلِ طَغَت في مُلتَقاها
And the people, as they hurried forth, seemed
Lightning split the gloom unfolding it
branches of a torrent overflowing where they met.
The land of Syria and folding its sky
وَضَعواthey placed الراحَtheir palms عَلىupon النَعشِthe bier كَماas
وَضَعوا الراحَ عَلى النَعشِ كَما
يَلمَسونَthey touch الرُكنَthe sacred Corner فَاِرتَدَّتthen they withdrew نَزاهاpurified
يَلمَسونَ الرُكنَ فَاِرتَدَّت نَزاها
They laid their palms upon the bier as they
Bearing the news creeping sadly
touch the sacred Corner; their hands drew back purified.
Like bereavement processions in the heat of their wake
خَفَضواthey lowered فيon يَومِthe day of سَعدٍSaad هامَهُمtheir heads
خَفَضوا في يَومِ سَعدٍ هامَهُم
وَبِسَعدٍand through Saad رَفَعواthey raised أَمسِyesterday الجِباهاthe brows
وَبِسَعدٍ رَفَعوا أَمسِ الجِباها
On Saad's day they bowed their heads,
Doubt assaulted her and she wavered
though through Saad they had raised their brows yesterday.
Whispering into ears and lips
سائِلواask زَحلَةًZahle عَنabout أَعراسِهاits festivities
سائِلوا زَحلَةً عَن أَعراسِها
هَلdid مَشىpass الناعيthe death-announcer عَلَيهاover them فَمَحاهاand erase them
هَل مَشى الناعي عَلَيها فَمَحاها
Ask Zahle about its festivities:
I said: O people gather your dreams
did the death-announcer pass over them and erase them?
Each soul in its veins denies them
عَطَّلَemptied المُصطافَthe summer resort مِنof سُمّارِهِits evening companions
عَطَّلَ المُصطافَ مِن سُمّارِهِ
وَجَلاand drove away عَنfrom ضِفَّةِthe bank of الواديthe valley دُماهاits beauties
وَجَلا عَن ضِفَّةِ الوادي دُماها
He emptied the summer resort of its evening companions
O enemy of captivity, no specter smiled at him
and drove its beauties from the valley's bank.
In a blueprint unless he consented to it
فَتَحَopened الأَبوابَthe doors لَيلاًat night دَيرُهاits monastery
فَتَحَ الأَبوابَ لَيلاً دَيرُها
وَإِلىand to الناقوسِthe bell قامَتrose بيعَتاهاits two churches
وَإِلى الناقوسِ قامَت بيعَتاها
Its monastery opened its doors at night,
Your tether will not chafe from the captivity
and its two churches rose to ring the bell.
That wandered the slave-market and covenanted with it
صَدَعَcleft البَرقُthe lightning الدُجىthe darkness تَنشُرُهُspreads it
صَدَعَ البَرقُ الدُجى تَنشُرُهُ
أَرضُthe land of سورِيّاSyria وَتَطويهِand folds it away سَماهاits sky
أَرضُ سورِيّا وَتَطويهِ سَماها
Lightning cleft the darkness, spread abroad by
The messengers descended upon him and the feet
the land of Syria and folded away by its sky.
Of the noble stumbled over it and pardoned it
يَحمِلُcarries الأَنباءَthe tidings تَسريtravel by night موهِناًlate at night
يَحمِلُ الأَنباءَ تَسري موهِناً
كَعَواديlike the raiders of الثُكلِbereavement فيin حَرِّthe fierce heat of سُراهاtheir night journey
كَعَوادي الثُكلِ في حَرِّ سُراها
It carried tidings traveling late at night,
O remains like the basil of dawn
like bereavement's raiders in their fevered night journey.
Which Eden crowned the zeal of its creatures
عَرَضَarose الشَكُّdoubt لَهاfor them فَاِضطَرَبَتso they faltered
عَرَضَ الشَكُّ لَها فَاِضطَرَبَت
تَطَأُtread upon الآذانَthe ears هَمساًin whispers وَالشِفاهاand the lips
تَطَأُ الآذانَ هَمساً وَالشِفاها
Doubt assailed them, and they faltered,
And remnants of a temple of generosity
treading ears and lips in whispers.
And life that the land cultivated its vitality
قُلتُI said ياO قَومُmy people اِجمَعواgather أَحلامَكُمyour wits
قُلتُ يا قَومُ اِجمَعوا أَحلامَكُم
كُلُّevery نَفسٍsoul فيin وَريدَيهاits two jugular veins رَداهاits death
كُلُّ نَفسٍ في وَريدَيها رَداها
I said, 'My people, gather your wits:
Justice bid farewell to its emblems through it
every soul bears its death in its two jugular veins.'
And the systems of consultation wept their counsel
ياO عَدُوَّenemy of القَيدِthe fetter لَمdid not يَلمَحhe glimpse لَهُof it
يا عَدُوَّ القَيدِ لَم يَلمَح لَهُ
شَبَحاًa shadow فيin خُطَّةٍa course إِلّاexcept أَباهاhe rejected it
شَبَحاً في خُطَّةٍ إِلّا أَباها
O foe of the fetter, who never glimpsed its
It embraced your funeral bier and huddled around it
shadow in any course without rejecting that course,
A flag you ransomed from indignity
لاdo not let يَضِقbe strained ذَرعُكَyour endurance بِالقَيدِby the fetter الَّذيthat
لا يَضِق ذَرعُكَ بِالقَيدِ الَّذي
حَزَّcut into فيin سوقِthe shins of الأَواليthe ancients وَبَراهاand wore them down
حَزَّ في سوقِ الأَوالي وَبَراها
do not lose patience with the fetter that
It embraced the breast that embraced it
cut into the shins of the ancients and wore them down.
And warded off the arrow from it and protected it
وَقَعَfell الرُسلُthe messengers عَلَيهِupon it وَاِلتَوَتand twisted
وَقَعَ الرُسلُ عَلَيهِ وَاِلتَوَت
أَرجُلُthe feet of الأَحرارِthe free فيهِin it فَعَفاهاand it effaced them
أَرجُلُ الأَحرارِ فيهِ فَعَفاها
The messengers fell to it, and entangled
My wonder at it and its leader
in it were free men's feet, which it effaced.
How does an unarmed elder protect its sanctuary
ياO رُفاتاًremains مِثلَlike رَيحانِthe sweet basil of الضُحىthe morning
يا رُفاتاً مِثلَ رَيحانِ الضُحى
كَلَّلَتcrowned عَدنٌEden بِهاwith them هامَthe summits of رُباهاits hills
كَلَّلَت عَدنٌ بِها هامَ رُباها
O remains, like the morning's sweet basil,
The pulpit of the river collapsed
with which Eden crowned the summits of its hills,
From bereaving it, its dowels withered from its habitation
وَبَقاياand remnants of هَيكَلٍa frame مِنof كَرمٍgenerosity
وَبَقايا هَيكَلٍ مِن كَرمٍ
وَحَياةٍand life أَترَعَfilled الأَرضَthe earth حَياهاits rain
وَحَياةٍ أَترَعَ الأَرضَ حَياها
and remnants of a frame made of generosity
Who shot the horseman off his steed
and life, whose rain filled the earth.
And stunned rhetoric into silence
وَدَّعَbade farewell العَدلُjustice بِهاin her أَعلامَهُits standards
وَدَّعَ العَدلُ بِها أَعلامَهُ
وَبَكَتand wept أَنظِمَةُthe institutions of الشورىconsultation صُواهاtheir guideposts
وَبَكَت أَنظِمَةُ الشورى صُواها
In her, justice bade farewell to its standards,
Fate writhed in cities twisting them
and the institutions of consultation wept for their guideposts.
And stunned mountains with what stunned them
حَضَنَتembraced نَعشَكَyour bier وَاِلتَفَّتand wrapped itself بِهِaround it
حَضَنَت نَعشَكَ وَاِلتَفَّت بِهِ
رايَةٌa banner كُنتَyou were مِنَfrom الذُلِّhumiliation فِداهاits ransom
رايَةٌ كُنتَ مِنَ الذُلِّ فِداها
A banner embraced your bier and wrapped itself around it—
It seized Bostra and ruined a clan
a banner you had ransomed from humiliation.
That touched the death rattle with its hand
ضَمَّتِit embraced الصَدرَthe breast الَّذيthat قَدhad ضَمَّهاembraced it
ضَمَّتِ الصَدرَ الَّذي قَد ضَمَّها
وَتَلَقّىand received السَهمَthe arrow عَنهاin its stead فَوَقاهاand protected it
وَتَلَقّى السَهمَ عَنها فَوَقاها
It embraced the breast that had embraced it
The chalice circulated among the tribes
and taken the arrow in its stead, protecting it.
From the wine of patriotism it imbibed
عَجَبيmy wonder مِنهاat it وَمِنand at قائِدِهاits leader
عَجَبي مِنها وَمِن قائِدِها
كَيفَhow يَحميguards الأَعزَلُthe unarmed man الشَيخُthe old man حِماهاits domain
كَيفَ يَحمي الأَعزَلُ الشَيخُ حِماها
I marvel at it and at its leader:
It distracted its minarets from a captivating lute
how does the unarmed old man guard its domain?
A mellifluous and sublimely adroit chord
مِنبَرُthe pulpit of الواديthe Valley ذَوَتwithered أَعوادُهُits timbers
مِنبَرُ الوادي ذَوَت أَعوادُهُ
مِنfrom أَواسيهاtheir foundations وَجَفَّتand dried مِنfrom ذُراهاtheir summits
مِن أَواسيها وَجَفَّت مِن ذُراها
The Valley's pulpit—its timbers have withered
The spirit of its nation swooned over it
from their foundations and dried up at their summits.
And an ear that loved it with both ears
مَنwho رَمىhurled الفارِسَthe horseman عَنoff صَهوَتِهاits saddle
مَن رَمى الفارِسَ عَن صَهوَتِها
وَدَهاand afflicted الفُصحىeloquent Arabic بِماwith what أَلجَمَbridled فاهاits mouth
وَدَها الفُصحى بِما أَلجَمَ فاها
Who hurled the horseman from its saddle
Every day a spiritual sermon
and struck eloquent Arabic with what bridled its mouth?
Like psalms and the melodies of its diction
قَدَرٌa fate بِالمُدنِupon the cities أَلوىlaid hold وَالقُرىand the villages
قَدَرٌ بِالمُدنِ أَلوى وَالقُرى
وَدَهاand afflicted الأَجبالَthe mountains مِنهُfrom it ماwhat دَهاهاbefell them
وَدَها الأَجبالَ مِنهُ ما دَهاها
A fate that laid hold on the cities and villages,
It deluded Egypt even if in it
and from which calamity befell the mountains.
Were horsemen that deluded the desolate ranges
غالَslew بَسطوراPasteur وَأَردىand felled عُصبَةًa company
غالَ بَسطورا وَأَردى عُصبَةً
لَمَسَتtouched جُرثومَةَthe germ of المَوتِdeath يَداهاtheir two hands
لَمَسَت جُرثومَةَ المَوتِ يَداها
It slew Pasteur and felled a company
Guardian of the Fount of Truth and defender of its basin
whose hands had touched the germ of death.
Destiny unleashed its edicts against it
طافَتِwent round الكَأسُthe cup بِساقيto the cupbearer of أُمَّةٍa nation
طافَتِ الكَأسُ بِساقي أُمَّةٍ
مِنfrom رَحيقِthe nectar of الوَطَنِيّاتِpatriotic verse سَقاهاhe gave it drink
مِن رَحيقِ الوَطَنِيّاتِ سَقاها
The cup came round to a nation's cupbearer,
It took Saad from the house a hand
who had given it the nectar of patriotic verse to drink.
That seizes lions from the origin of their burrows
عَطِلَتwere bereft آذانُهاits ears مِنof وَتَرٍa string
عَطِلَت آذانُها مِن وَتَرٍ
ساحِرٍenchanting رَنَّrang مَلِيّاًfor a long time فَشَجاهاand moved it
ساحِرٍ رَنَّ مَلِيّاً فَشَجاها
Its ears were bereft of a string,
Had it struck other than one with a soul it would not
enchanting, that rang long and stirred its heart:
Have been safe from it, neither peak nor dale
أَرغُنٌan organ هامَwas enthralled بِهِby it وِجدانُهاits heart
أَرغُنٌ هامَ بِهِ وِجدانُها
وَأَذانٌand a call to prayer عَشِقَتهُadored it أُذُناهاits two ears
وَأَذانٌ عَشِقَتهُ أُذُناها
an organ with which its heart was enthralled,
It defies medicine with its glove
and a call to prayer its two ears adored.
The malady of fate that frustrated its cure
كُلَّevery يَومٍday خُطبَةٌa sermon روحِيَّةٌspiritual
كُلَّ يَومٍ خُطبَةٌ روحِيَّةٌ
كَالمَزاميرِlike the psalms وَأَنغامِand the melodies of لُغاهاtheir tongues
كَالمَزاميرِ وَأَنغامِ لُغاها
Each day, a spiritual sermon,
From behind the ear it obtained an affliction
like psalms and the melodies of their tongues.
That his peers attained only through prestige
دَلَّهَتenraptured مِصراًEgypt وَلَوand even if أَنَّthat بِهاin it
دَلَّهَت مِصراً وَلَو أَنَّ بِها
فَلَواتٍdeserts دَلَّهَتwould enrapture وَحشَthe wild beasts of فَلاهاits wildernesses
فَلَواتٍ دَلَّهَت وَحشَ فَلاها
It enraptured Egypt; had there been within it
It did not square with the frankest of souls
deserts, it would have enraptured the beasts of their wastes.
Neither hand, nor tongue, nor repose, nor vigilance
ذائِدُthe defender of الحَقِّtruth وَحاميand guardian of حَوضِهِits watering-place
ذائِدُ الحَقِّ وَحامي حَوضِهِ
أَنفَذَتfulfilled فيهِin him المَقاديرُthe fates مُناهاtheir wishes
أَنفَذَت فيهِ المَقاديرُ مُناها
The defender of truth and guardian of its watering-place—
These planks from Adam neither revealed their pace
in him the fates fulfilled their wishes.
Nor recognized their gait or track
أَخَذَتtook سَعداًSaad مِنَfrom البَيتِthe house يَدٌa hand
أَخَذَت سَعداً مِنَ البَيتِ يَدٌ
تَأخُذُtakes الآسادَthe lions مِنfrom أَصلِthe heart of شَراهاtheir thickets
تَأخُذُ الآسادَ مِن أَصلِ شَراها
A hand took Saad from his house,
It conveyed an anxiety and leaned towards doom
a hand that takes lions from the heart of their thickets.
That in life failed to evade its steps
لَوif أَصابَتit struck غَيرَother than ذيpossessing روحٍa soul لَماthen not
لَو أَصابَت غَيرَ ذي روحٍ لَما
سَلِمَتwould have escaped مِنهاfrom it الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades وَسُهاهاand their Suha
سَلِمَت مِنها الثُرَيّا وَسُهاها
Had it struck what has no soul, even
It mixes the two lifetimes, white hair and youth
the Pleiades and their Suha would not have escaped it.
And the two lives, misery and comfort
تَتَحَدّىchallenges الطِبَّmedicine فيin قُفّازِهاits gauntlet
تَتَحَدّى الطِبَّ في قُفّازِها
عِلَّةُthe affliction of الدَهرِTime الَّتيwhose أَعياproved elusive دَواهاits cure
عِلَّةُ الدَهرِ الَّتي أَعيا دَواها
Challenging medicine with its gauntlet is
A boat floating forever in tears
Time's affliction, whose cure has proved elusive.
That recognized no shore but the one after it
مِنfrom وَراءِbeyond الإِذنِpermission نالَتseized ضَيغَماًa lion
مِن وَراءِ الإِذنِ نالَت ضَيغَماً
لَمnot يَنَلhe struck أَقرانَهُhis peers إِلّاexcept وِجاهاface to face
لَم يَنَل أَقرانَهُ إِلّا وِجاها
Without permission it seized a lion
The bereft slip along its traces
who had only ever struck his peers face to face.
And when it hid from them one day, their lips cracked
لَمnot تُصارِحit dealt openly with أَصرَحَthe frankest of الناسِmen يَداًin deed
لَم تُصارِح أَصرَحَ الناسِ يَداً
وَلِساناًand in speech وَرُقاداًand in sleep وَاِنتِباهاand in waking
وَلِساناً وَرُقاداً وَاِنتِباها
It did not deal openly with the frankest of men in deed,
A nation sheds over Saad blood
in speech, in sleep, and in waking.
From the rock of truth it built its edifice
هَذِهِthese الأَعوادُthe timbers مِنsince آدَمَAdam لَمnot
هَذِهِ الأَعوادُ مِن آدَمَ لَم
يَهدَrest خُفّاهاtheir two hooves وَلَمand not يَعرَbe bare مَطاهاtheir back
يَهدَ خُفّاها وَلَم يَعرَ مَطاها
These timbers, since Adam, have never
It is sheer obstinacy in its fount
rested their two hooves, nor left their back unburdened.
And sheer refusal in the clamor of its limpidity
نَقَلَتcarried خوفوKhufu وَمالَتand bore away بِمِناwith Mina
نَقَلَت خوفو وَمالَت بِمِنا
لَمnot يَفُتmissed حَيّاًa living soul نَصيبٌa share مِنof خُطاهاtheir steps
لَم يَفُت حَيّاً نَصيبٌ مِن خُطاها
They carried Khufu and bore Mina away;
Its elders taught it the truth and faith
no living soul has missed its share of their steps.
Imbibed the truth through it like sucklings
تَخلِطُmingles العُمرَينِlife's two ages شيباًgray hair وَصِباًand youth
تَخلِطُ العُمرَينِ شيباً وَصِباً
وَالحَياتَينِand the two lives شَقاءًmisery وَرَفاهاand ease
وَالحَياتَينِ شَقاءً وَرَفاها
They mingle life's two ages, gray hair and youth,
It spent money, safety, and blood
and its two lives, misery and ease.
And on its leader cast its hope
زَورَقٌa skiff فيin الدَمعِtears يَطفوfloats أَبَداًforever
زَورَقٌ في الدَمعِ يَطفو أَبَداً
عَرَفَknew الضَفَّةَthe bank إِلّاexcept ماwhat تَلاهاlay beyond it
عَرَفَ الضَفَّةَ إِلّا ما تَلاها
A skiff that forever floats on tears,
It burdened it with a pact it fulfilled
knowing the bank, but not what lies beyond it.
And tested it with rights that it dispensed
تَهلَعُpanics الثَكلىthe bereaved mother عَلىin آثارِهِits wake
تَهلَعُ الثَكلى عَلى آثارِهِ
فَإِذاthen when خَفَّsped بِهاwith her يَوماًone day شَفاهاit healed her
فَإِذا خَفَّ بِها يَوماً شَفاها
The bereaved mother panics in its wake,
The son of seventy endured captivity for it
but if one day it carries her away, it heals her.
And the misery of prison and woe of exile
تَسكُبُpours الدَمعَtears عَلىover سَعدٍSaad دَماًas blood
تَسكُبُ الدَمعَ عَلى سَعدٍ دَماً
أُمَّةٌa nation مِنfrom صَخرَةِthe rock of الحَقِّtruth بَناهاhe built it
أُمَّةٌ مِن صَخرَةِ الحَقِّ بَناها
Pouring tears as blood over Saad is
A journey from Eden on earth to
a nation he built from the rock of truth,
An abode nearer than its axis
مِنfrom لَيانٍgentleness هُوَit فيin يَنبوعِهاits spring
مِن لَيانٍ هُوَ في يَنبوعِها
وَإِباءٍand defiance هُوَit فيin صُمِّthe solid masses of صَفاهاits rock
وَإِباءٍ هُوَ في صُمِّ صَفاها
from a gentleness found in its spring
A vanquisher who flung it into a boulder
and a defiance found in its solid stone.
That repelled the eagles to it and gave it refuge
لُقِّنَwas taught الحَقَّtruth عَلَيهِthrough him كَهلُهاits mature man
لُقِّنَ الحَقَّ عَلَيهِ كَهلُها
وَاِستَقىand drew الإيمانُfaith بِالحَقِّin truth فَتاهاits young man
وَاِستَقى الإيمانُ بِالحَقِّ فَتاها
Through him its mature men were taught truth,
A jewel in sea and land deprecated its crown
and its youth drew faith in truth.
Ask it and ask those who envy it
بَذَلَتgave مالاًwealth وَأَمناًand safety وَدَماًand blood
بَذَلَت مالاً وَأَمناً وَدَماً
وَعَلىand upon قائِدِهاits leader أَلقَتplaced رَجاهاits hope
وَعَلى قائِدِها أَلقَت رَجاها
It gave wealth, safety, and blood,
Why did nothing but it flow from the pearl
and placed its hope upon its leader.
It engendered revolution a free woman
حَمَّلَتهُit entrusted him with ذِمَّةًa trust أَوفىhe fulfilled بِهاit
حَمَّلَتهُ ذِمَّةً أَوفى بِها
وَاِبتَلَتهُand it tested him بِحُقوقٍwith rightful claims فَقَضاهاand he discharged them
وَاِبتَلَتهُ بِحُقوقٍ فَقَضاها
It charged him with a trust that he fulfilled
Through the honored, free lifetimes it nurtured
and tested him with rightful claims that he discharged.
None wished for offspring but it
اِبنُaged سَبعينَseventy تَلَقّىfaced دونَهاin its defense
اِبنُ سَبعينَ تَلَقّى دونَها
غُربَةَthe estrangement of الأَسرِcaptivity وَوَعثاءَand the hardships of نَواهاseparation from it
غُربَةَ الأَسرِ وَوَعثاءَ نَواها
At seventy, in its defense he faced
And who begets the radiant spurns all but it
the estrangement of captivity and the hardships of separation from it.
From its cubs the forest flowed
سَفَرٌa journey مِنfrom عَدَنِthe Eden of الأَرضِthe earth إِلىto
سَفَرٌ مِن عَدَنِ الأَرضِ إِلى
مَنزِلٍa dwelling أَقرَبُnearer مِنهُthan it قُطُباهاits two poles
مَنزِلٍ أَقرَبُ مِنهُ قُطُباها
A journey from the Eden of the earth to
Between its eyes, writhing with fervor
a dwelling farther away than either of its poles.
God bless its branch
قاهِرٌan oppressor أَلقىcast بِهِhim فيonto صَخرَةٍa rock
قاهِرٌ أَلقى بِهِ في صَخرَةٍ
دَفَعَdrove النَسرَthe eagle إِلَيهاtoward it فَأَواهاand it sheltered there
دَفَعَ النَسرَ إِلَيها فَأَواها
An oppressor cast him onto a rock;
And ordain the good for Egypt in its yield
he drove the eagle toward it, and it took shelter there.
Did it not write its constitution for it
كَرِهَتhated مَنزِلَهاits place فيin تاجِهِhis crown
كَرِهَت مَنزِلَها في تاجِهِ
دُرَّةٌa pearl فيby البَحرِthe sea وَالبَرِّand the land نَفاهاhe banished it
دُرَّةٌ في البَحرِ وَالبَرِّ نَفاها
It hated its place in his crown—
With free blood and elevate its tribune
a pearl he banished by sea and land.
We wrote it so it became an image
اِسأَلوهاask it وَاِسأَلواand ask شائِنَهاits disgracer
اِسأَلوها وَاِسأَلوا شائِنَها
لِمَwhy لَمnot يَنفِhe banish مِنَamong الدُرِّthe pearls سِواهاany but it
لِمَ لَم يَنفِ مِنَ الدُرِّ سِواها
Ask it, and ask the man who disgraced it,
Its core truth and its end truth
why he banished no other pearl.
The rebel slept except for revolution
وَلَدَbegot الثَورَةَthe revolution سَعدٌSaad حُرَّةًfree
وَلَدَ الثَورَةَ سَعدٌ حُرَّةً
بِحَياتَيwith the two lives of ماجِدٍa noble man حُرٍّfree نَماهاhe nurtured it
بِحَياتَي ماجِدٍ حُرٍّ نَماها
Saad begot the revolution free
In the path of truth whose embers will not fade
and nurtured it through a noble, free man's two lives.
As a child it adopted it warming
ماnot تَمَنّىhe desired غَيرُهاany but it نَسلاًas offspring وَمَنand whoever
ما تَمَنّى غَيرُها نَسلاً وَمَن
يَلِدِbegets الزَهراءَal-Zahra يَزهَدhas no desire فيfor سِواهاany other
يَلِدِ الزَهراءَ يَزهَد في سِواها
He wished for no other offspring; and whoever
Its palms, and as a youth it nurtured it
begets al-Zahra has no desire for any other.
It toured it with a rousing pen
سالَتِflowed الغابَةُthe forest مِنwith أَشبالِهاits lion cubs
سالَتِ الغابَةُ مِن أَشبالِها
بَينَbefore عَينَيهِhis two eyes وَماجَتand surged بِلَباهاwith its lionesses
بَينَ عَينَيهِ وَماجَت بِلَباها
The forest poured forth its lion cubs
And tongue whenever its enclosures wearied
before his eyes and surged with its lionesses.
And cast itself into its volcano
بارَكَblessed اللَهُGod لَهاfor it فيin فَرعِهاits branch
بارَكَ اللَهُ لَها في فَرعِها
وَقَضىand decreed الخَيرَgood لِمِصرٍfor Egypt فيin جَناهاits harvest
وَقَضى الخَيرَ لِمِصرٍ في جَناها
God blessed it in its branch
Thus becoming the first of men to face its flames
and decreed good for Egypt in its harvest.
Have you known after Moses one with a hand
أَوَand did لَمnot يَكتُبhe write لَهاfor it دُستورَهاits constitution
أَوَ لَم يَكتُب لَها دُستورَها
بِالدَمِwith the blood الحُرِّfree وَيَرفَعُand raise مُنتَداهاits assembly
بِالدَمِ الحُرِّ وَيَرفَعُ مُنتَداها
Did he not write its constitution
That flung a staff into Pharaoh's face
in free blood and raise its assembly?
And a grieving, screaming woman
قَدindeed كَتَبناهاwe wrote it فَكانَتso it became صورَةًa picture
قَد كَتَبناها فَكانَت صورَةً
صَدرُهاits beginning حَقٌّtruth وَحَقٌّand truth مُنتَهاهاits end
صَدرُها حَقٌّ وَحَقٌّ مُنتَهاها
We wrote it, and it became a picture
Whose visage the yoke, O people, adorned and crowned
whose beginning is truth and whose ending is truth.
It obtained victory over the arrogant from an arrogant one
رَقَدَslept الثائِرُthe rebel إِلّاexcept ثَورَةًa revolution
رَقَدَ الثائِرُ إِلّا ثَورَةً
فيin سَبيلِthe cause of الحَقِّtruth لَمnot تَخمُدdied down جُذاهاits embers
في سَبيلِ الحَقِّ لَم تَخمُد جُذاها
The rebel slept, but not the revolution
Victorious over the days, divinely supported
in truth's cause, whose embers never died.
The deaf Nile mutters around it
قَدindeed تَوَلّاهاhe tended it صَبِيّاًas a boy فَكَوَتand it burned
قَد تَوَلّاها صَبِيّاً فَكَوَت
راحَتَيهِhis two palms وَفَتِيّاًand as a young man فَرعاهاhe nurtured it
راحَتَيهِ وَفَتِيّاً فَرعاها
He tended it as a boy, and it burned
And India's blades did not speak nonsense
his two palms; as a young man he nurtured it.
Where is the free soul from my eyes
جالَranged فيهاthrough it قَلَماًas a pen مُستَنهِضاًrousing others
جالَ فيها قَلَماً مُستَنهِضاً
وَلِساناًand as a tongue كُلَّماwhenever أَعيَتit grew weary حَداهاhe sang it onward
وَلِساناً كُلَّما أَعيَت حَداها
He ranged through it as a pen rousing others
I used to see with my eyes yesterday?
and a tongue that sang it onward whenever it wearied.
Whenever I came it roused itself
وَرَمىand cast بِالنَفسِhimself فيinto بُركانِهاits volcano
وَرَمى بِالنَفسِ في بُركانِها
فَتَلَقّىand met أَوَّلَthe first of الناسِthe people لَظاهاits blaze
فَتَلَقّى أَوَّلَ الناسِ لَظاها
And he cast himself into its volcano
And confided the good tidings of me to it and summoned it
and was the first of all to meet its blaze.
And time flowed so what did it remember
أَعَلِمتُمhave you known بَعدَafter موسىMoses مِنany يَدٍhand
أَعَلِمتُم بَعدَ موسى مِن يَدٍ
قَذَفَتcast فيinto وَجهِthe face of فِرعَونَPharaoh عَصاهاits staff
قَذَفَت في وَجهِ فِرعَونَ عَصاها
Have you known, since Moses, a hand
And the soul's recollection is part of its troth
that cast its staff in Pharaoh's face?
I glimpse the days in it and I see
وَطِأَتtrod نادِبَةًlamenting صارِخَةًcrying out
وَطِأَت نادِبَةً صارِخَةً
شاهَbecame hideous وَجهُthe face of الرِقِّslavery ياO قَومُmy people وَشاهاand became hideous
شاهَ وَجهُ الرِقِّ يا قَومُ وَشاها
It strode forward, lamenting and crying out:
Behind old-age the statue of its youth
'Hideous is slavery's face, my people—hideous!'
I do not know when its freshness darkened,
ظَفِرَتwon بِالكِبرِpossession of grandeur مِنfrom مُستَكبِرٍa haughty man
ظَفِرَت بِالكِبرِ مِن مُستَكبِرٍ
ظافِرِa conqueror of الأَيّامِthe days مَنصورِvictorious لِواهاtheir banner
ظافِرِ الأَيّامِ مَنصورِ لِواها
It wrested grandeur from a haughty man,
Did age climb above it or did it climb over age?
a conqueror of days, triumphant under their banner.
Seventy alighted in its temple
القَناthe spears الصُمُّsolid نَشاوىdrunken حَولَهُaround him
القَنا الصُمُّ نَشاوى حَولَهُ
وَسُيوفُand the swords of الهِندِIndia لَمnot تَصحُsobered ظُباهاtheir edges
وَسُيوفُ الهِندِ لَم تَصحُ ظُباها
The solid spears were drunken around him,
So it wavered while plentiful in its column
and the edges of India's swords had not sobered.
The fright of the club if it jests
أَينَwhere مِنfrom عَينَيَّmy two eyes نَفسٌa soul حُرَّةٌfree
أَينَ مِن عَينَيَّ نَفسٌ حُرَّةٌ
كُنتُI used to بِالأَمسِyesterday بِعَينَيَّwith my two eyes أَراهاsee her
كُنتُ بِالأَمسِ بِعَينَيَّ أَراها
Where has a free soul gone from my sight,
Its jest will not take away its splendor
whom only yesterday I saw with my own eyes?
Excuse will prevail against its utmost anger
كُلَّماwhenever أَقبَلتُI approached هَزَّتshe stirred نَفسَهاherself
كُلَّما أَقبَلتُ هَزَّت نَفسَها
وَتَواصىand enjoined each other بِشرُهاher cheer بيconcerning me وَنَداهاand her generosity
وَتَواصى بِشرُها بي وَنَداها
Whenever I approached, she stirred herself,
And affection attain the ends of its approval
and her cheer and generosity enjoined each other to welcome me.
It has patience for its enviers
وَجَرىand flowed الماضيthe past فَماذاand what اِدَّكَرَتshe recalled
وَجَرى الماضي فَماذا اِدَّكَرَت
وَاِدِّكارُand the remembrance of النَفسِthe soul شَيءٌa part مِنof وَفاهاits fidelity
وَاِدِّكارُ النَفسِ شَيءٌ مِن وَفاها
And the past flowed forth—what did she recall?
Resembling pardoning and a clemency from attacking it
A soul's remembrance is part of its fidelity.
I do not forget a laughing page
أَلمَحُI glimpse الأَيّامَthe days فيهاwithin her وَأَرىand see
أَلمَحُ الأَيّامَ فيها وَأَرى
مِنfrom وَراءِbehind السِنِّage تِمثالَthe likeness of صِباهاher youth
مِن وَراءِ السِنِّ تِمثالَ صِباها
I glimpse the days within her, and see
That seizes the soul and courses to its passion
behind her age the likeness of her youth.
And a discourse like the tales of infatuation
لَستُI do not أَدريknow حينَwhen تَندىshe glistens نَضرَةًwith freshness
لَستُ أَدري حينَ تَندى نَضرَةً
عَلَتِshe rose above الشَيبَthe gray hair أَمِor الشَيبُthe gray hair عَلاهاrose above her
عَلَتِ الشَيبَ أَمِ الشَيبُ عَلاها
I do not know, when she glistens with freshness,
That kindled in the youth a yearning and narrated it
whether she outshines the gray hair or the gray hair outshines her.
And a rugged canal that if granted
حَلَّتِsettled السَبعونَseventy years فيin هَيكَلِهاher frame
حَلَّتِ السَبعونَ في هَيكَلِها
فَتَداعىand it crumbled وَهيَwhile she مَوفورٌintact بِناهاher structure
فَتَداعى وَهيَ مَوفورٌ بِناها
Seventy years settled in her frame,
To the unarmed fish it would be bewildered and lost in it
and the frame crumbled, though her own edifice stayed whole.
Where am I from a pen if
رَوعَةُthe awe of الناديthe gathering إِذاwhen جَدَّتshe was earnest فَإِنbut if
رَوعَةُ النادي إِذا جَدَّت فَإِن
مَزَحَتshe jested لَمnot يُذهِبِdiminished المَزحُjesting بَهاهاher splendor
مَزَحَت لَم يُذهِبِ المَزحُ بَهاها
The gathering's awe when she was earnest; yet if
I appoint it to eulogize the sun and elegy it
she jested, jesting never dimmed her splendor.
It betrayed me on Saad's day and overflowed
يَظفَرُprevails العُذرُan excuse بِأَقصىover the utmost سُخطِهاher anger
يَظفَرُ العُذرُ بِأَقصى سُخطِها
وَيَنالُand attains الوُدُّaffection غاياتِthe utmost bounds of رِضاهاher approval
وَيَنالُ الوُدُّ غاياتِ رِضاها
An excuse prevailed against her utmost anger,
In the eulogies and fell short of its scope
and affection won the fullest measure of her favor.
In God's bliss a soul that was granted
وَلَهاand she has صَبرٌpatience عَلىtoward حُسّادِهاher enviers
وَلَها صَبرٌ عَلى حُسّادِها
يُشبِهُresembles الصَفحَforgiveness وَحِلمٌand forbearance عَنtoward عِداهاher foes
يُشبِهُ الصَفحَ وَحِلمٌ عَن عِداها
She had patience with her enviers,
The delights of life yet did not forget its piety
resembling forgiveness, and forbearance toward her foes.
Neither revealing knowledge when its pride approached
لَستُI do not أَنسىforget صَفحَةًa countenance ضاحِكَةًsmiling
لَستُ أَنسى صَفحَةً ضاحِكَةً
تَأخُذُcaptivates النَفسَthe soul وَتَجريand flows فيin هَواهاits desires
تَأخُذُ النَفسَ وَتَجري في هَواها
I do not forget a smiling countenance
With destiny nor the science that adorned it
that captivates the soul and flows along its desires,
It passed away devout
وَحَديثاًand conversation كَرِواياتِlike tales of الهَوىlove
وَحَديثاً كَرِواياتِ الهَوى
جَدَّarose anew لِلصَبِّin the lover حَنينٌlonging فَرواهاand he recounted them
جَدَّ لِلصَبِّ حَنينٌ فَرواها
and conversation like tales of love,
Free from the perplexity of doubt guiding it
retold by a lover when longing stirred anew,
It perceived a frail humanity and saw
وَقَناةًand a spear صَعدَةٌa straight shaft لَوif وُهِبَتwere given
وَقَناةً صَعدَةٌ لَو وُهِبَت
لِلسِماكِto al-Simak الأَعزَلِthe Unarmed اِختالَhe strutted وَتاهاand swaggered
لِلسِماكِ الأَعزَلِ اِختالَ وَتاها
and a spear, a straight shaft, which, if given
Behind the ephemeral world its God
to al-Simak the Unarmed, would make him strut and swagger.
It only hastened when the Truth called it
أَينَwhere مِنّيfrom me قَلَمٌa pen كُنتُI used to إِذاwhenever
أَينَ مِنّي قَلَمٌ كُنتُ إِذا
سُمتُهُI bade it أَنto يَرثِيَelegize الشَمسَthe sun رَثاهاit elegized her
سُمتُهُ أَن يَرثِيَ الشَمسَ رَثاها
Where is the pen that, whenever
Would that it were the day of anguish that called it
I bade it mourn the sun, would mourn her?
خانَنيit betrayed me فيon يَومِthe day of سَعدٍSaad وَجَرىand ran
خانَني في يَومِ سَعدٍ وَجَرى
فيthrough المَراثيelegies فَكَباand stumbled دونَshort of مَداهاtheir reach
في المَراثي فَكَبا دونَ مَداها
It betrayed me on Saad's day, and raced
through elegies, then stumbled short of their reach.
فيin نَعيمِthe bliss of اللَهِGod نَفسٌa soul أوتِيَتwas granted
في نَعيمِ اللَهِ نَفسٌ أوتِيَت
أَنعُمَthe blessings of الدُنياthe world فَلَمyet did not تَنسَforget تُقاهاher piety
أَنعُمَ الدُنيا فَلَم تَنسَ تُقاها
In God's bliss is a soul that was granted
the world's blessings, yet never forgot her piety.
لاneither الحِجىreason لَمّاwhen تَناهىreached its height غَرَّهاdeceived her
لا الحِجى لَمّا تَناهى غَرَّها
بِالمَقاديرِabout fate وَلاnor العِلمُlearning زَهاهاmade her proud
بِالمَقاديرِ وَلا العِلمُ زَهاها
Neither reason, when it reached its height, deceived her
about fate, nor did learning make her proud.
ذَهَبَتshe departed أَوّابَةًever repentant مُؤمِنَةًbelieving
ذَهَبَت أَوّابَةً مُؤمِنَةً
خالِصاًfree مِنfrom حَيرَةِthe bewilderment of الشَكِّdoubt هُداهاher guidance
خالِصاً مِن حَيرَةِ الشَكِّ هُداها
She departed, ever repentant and believing,
her guidance free of the bewilderment of doubt.
آنَسَتperceived خَلقاًcreation ضَعيفاًfrail وَرَأَتand saw
آنَسَت خَلقاً ضَعيفاً وَرَأَت
مِنfrom وَراءِbeyond العالَمِthe world الفانيperishing إِلَهاa God
مِن وَراءِ العالَمِ الفاني إِلَها
She perceived frail creation and saw
beyond the perishing world a God.
ماnever دَعاهاsummoned her الحَقُّTruth إِلّاexcept سارَعَتshe hastened
ما دَعاها الحَقُّ إِلّا سارَعَت
لَيتَهُwould that it يَومَon the day of وَصيفٍWasif ماnot دَعاهاhad summoned her
لَيتَهُ يَومَ وَصيفٍ ما دَعاها
Truth never summoned her but she hastened;
would that, on Wasif's day, it had not summoned her.
Partial English translation: 175 of 188 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1