كانَتthere was لَناfor us عِندَbeside السِياجِthe fence شُجَيرَةٌa little tree
كانَت لَنا عِندَ السِياجِ شُجَيرَةٌ
أَلِفَgrew accustomed to الغِناءَsinging بِظِلِّهاin her shade الزَرزورُthe starling
أَلِفَ الغِناءَ بِظِلِّها الزَرزورُ
We had a little tree beside the fence;
We had a shrub by the fence
The starling grew used to singing in her shade.
Where the sparrow used to sing in its shade
طَفقَbegan الرَبيعُspring يَزورُهاvisiting her مُتَخَفِّياًsecretly
طَفقَ الرَبيعُ يَزورُها مُتَخَفِّياً
فَيَفيضُand pours مِنهاfrom her فيin الحَديقَةِthe garden نورُlight
فَيَفيضُ مِنها في الحَديقَةِ نورُ
Spring began to visit her in secret,
Spring used to visit it secretly
And light poured from her into the garden,
Overflowing light into the garden from within
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen حَلَّarrived الصَباحُmorning تَنَفَّسَتbreathed
حَتّى إِذا حَلَّ الصَباحُ تَنَفَّسَت
فيهاwithin her الزُهورُthe flowers وَزَقزَقَand chirped العُصفورُthe sparrow
فيها الزُهورُ وَزَقزَقَ العُصفورُ
Until, when morning came, there breathed
Until when morning came
Within her the flowers, and the sparrow chirped.
The flowers breathed in it and the sparrow chirped
وَسَرىand spread إِلىto أَرضِthe ground الحَديقَةِof the garden كُلِّهاall of it
وَسَرى إِلى أَرضِ الحَديقَةِ كُلِّها
نَبَأُthe news الرَبيعِof spring وَرُكبَهُand its caravan المَسحورُenchanted
نَبَأُ الرَبيعِ وَرُكبَهُ المَسحورُ
And through all the garden's earth there spread
And news of spring spread
The news of spring and its enchanted caravan.
To the whole garden, captivating it
كانَتshe was لَناours ياoh لَيتَهاif only she دامَتhad remained لَناours
كانَت لَنا يا لَيتَها دامَت لَنا
أَوor دامَcontinued يَهتِفُcalling فَوقَهاabove her الزَرزورُthe starling
أَو دامَ يَهتِفُ فَوقَها الزَرزورُ
She was ours—if only she had stayed ours,
We had it, if only it had lasted for us
Or the starling had kept calling above her.
Or the sparrow's shouting above it had lasted
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَجلِسُsit صَوبَهاfacing her فيon شُرفَتيmy balcony
قَد كُنتُ أَجلِسُ صَوبَها في شُرفَتي
أَوor كُنتُI used to أَجلِسُsit تَحتَهاbeneath her فيin ظِلَّتيmy shaded shelter
أَو كُنتُ أَجلِسُ تَحتَها في ظِلَّتي
I used to sit facing her on my balcony,
I used to sit facing it on my balcony
Or sit beneath her in my shaded shelter,
Or sit under it in its shade
أَوor كُنتُI used to أَرقُبُwatch فيin الضُحىthe forenoon زَرزورَهاher starling
أَو كُنتُ أَرقُبُ في الضُحى زَرزورَها
مَتَهَلِّلاًradiant with joy يَغشىvisiting نَوافِذَthe windows غُرفَتيof my room
مَتَهَلِّلاً يَغشى نَوافِذَ غُرفَتي
Or watch her starling in the forenoon,
Or watch in the morning its sparrow
Radiant with joy, visiting my room's windows.
Cheerfully covering the windows of my room
طوراًat times يُنَقِّرُpecks فيat الزُجاجُthe glass وَتارَةًand at times
طوراً يُنَقِّرُ في الزُجاجُ وَتارَةً
يَسموrises يُزَرزِرُtwitters فيin وُكارِthe nests سَقيفَتيof my porch
يَسمو يُزَرزِرُ في وُكارِ سَقيفَتي
At times it pecked at the glass, and at times
Sometimes pecking on the glass and sometimes
Rose, twittering in the nests of my porch.
Rising, chirping on my ceiling rafters
فَإِذاand when رَآنيit saw me طارَflew فيin أَغرودَةٍa song
فَإِذا رَآني طارَ في أَغرودَةٍ
بَيضاءَwhite وَاِستَوفىand covered all غُصونَthe branches شُجَيرَتيof my little tree
بَيضاءَ وَاِستَوفى غُصونَ شُجَيرَتي
And when it saw me, it flew in a song,
So when it saw me it flew in white joy
White, and ranged over all my little tree's branches.
And fulfilled the branches of my shrub
كانَتshe was لَناours ياoh لَيتَهاif only she دامَتhad remained لَناours
كانَت لَنا يا لَيتَها دامَت لَنا
أَوor دامَcontinued يَهتِفُcalling فَوقَهاabove her الزَرزورُthe starling
أَو دامَ يَهتِفُ فَوقَها الزَرزورُ
She was ours—if only she had stayed ours,
We had it, if only it had lasted for us
Or the starling had kept calling above her.
Or the sparrow's shouting above it had lasted
فَمَتىso when يَؤوبُreturns هُتافُهُits call وَمَتىand when أَرىshall I see
فَمَتى يَؤوبُ هُتافُهُ وَمَتى أَرى
نُوارُكَyour blossoms الثَلجِيِّsnowy ياO نارِنجَتيmy bitter-orange tree
نُوارُكَ الثَلجِيِّ يا نارِنجَتي
When will its call return, and when shall I see
When will its shouting stop and when will I see
Your snowy blossoms, O my bitter-orange tree?
Your snowy blossoms, my orange tree
وَمَتىand when أَطيرُshall I fly إِلَيكِto you تَرقُصُdances مُهجَتيmy heart
وَمَتى أَطيرُ إِلَيكِ تَرقُصُ مُهجَتي
فَرَحاًwith joy وَآخُذُand take مَجلِسيmy seat مِنfrom شُرفَتيmy balcony
فَرَحاً وَآخُذُ مَجلِسي مِن شُرفَتي
And when shall I fly to you, my heart dancing
And when will I fly to you, my soul dancing
With joy, and take my seat on my balcony?
With joy, taking my seat from my balcony
هَيهاتَalas لَنnever أَنسَwill I forget بِظِلِّكِin your shade مَجلِسيmy seat
هَيهاتَ لَن أَنسَ بِظِلِّكِ مَجلِسي
وَأَناand I أَراعيwatch الأُفقَthe horizon نِصفَhalf مُغَمِّضِclosing my eyes
وَأَنا أَراعي الأُفقَ نِصفَ مُغَمِّضِ
Alas, I shall never forget my seat in your shade,
Alas! I will not forget its shade my seat
As I watched the horizon with half-closed eyes.
As I watch the horizon, half-asleep
خَنَقَتchoked جُفونيmy eyelids ذِكرَياتٌmemories حُلوَةٌsweet
خَنَقَت جُفوني ذِكرَياتٌ حُلوَةٌ
مِنof عِطرِكِyour perfume القَمَريmoonlike وَالنَغَمِand the melody الوَضيradiant
مِن عِطرِكِ القَمَري وَالنَغَمِ الوَضي
Sweet memories choked my eyelids,
Sweet memories have choked my eyelids
Of your moonlike perfume and the radiant melody.
Of your moonlike scent and the soft melody
فَاِنسابَthen flowed مِنكِfrom you عَلىover كَليلِweary مَشاعِريmy feelings
فَاِنسابَ مِنكِ عَلى كَليلِ مَشاعِري
يَنبوعُa spring لَحنٍof melody فيin الخَيالِthe imagination مُفضَضِsilvered
يَنبوعُ لَحنٍ في الخَيالِ مُفضَضِ
Then from you there flowed over my weary feelings
So from you a stream of melody poured
A spring of melody, silvered in imagination.
On my heart's lethargy in my imagination
وَهَفَتand fluttered عَلَيكِover you الروحُthe soul مِنfrom واديthe valley الأَسىof sorrow
وَهَفَت عَلَيكِ الروحُ مِن وادي الأَسى
لِتَعُبَّto drink deeply مِنfrom خَمرِthe wine الأَريجِof fragrance الأَبيَضِwhite
لِتَعُبَّ مِن خَمرِ الأَريجِ الأَبيَضِ
And the soul fluttered over you from the valley of sorrow,
And my soul sighed for you from the valley of grief
To drink deeply of the wine of white fragrance.
To be drunk on the pure white wine
كانَتshe was لَناours ياoh لَيتَهاif only she دامَتhad remained لَناours
كانَت لَنا يا لَيتَها دامَت لَنا
أَوor دامَcontinued يَهتِفُcalling فَوقَهاabove her الزَرزورُthe starling
أَو دامَ يَهتِفُ فَوقَها الزَرزورُ
She was ours—if only she had stayed ours,
We had it, if only it had lasted for us
Or the starling had kept calling above her.
Or the sparrow's shouting above it had lasted
هَيهاتَalas لَنnever أَنسىwill I forget ضُحىthe forenoon سِبتَمبَرٍof September
هَيهاتَ لَن أَنسى ضُحى سِبتَمبَرٍ
وَالنَحلُand the bees يَغشىthrong نورَكِyour blossom المُتَلاليglittering
وَالنَحلُ يَغشى نورَكِ المُتَلالي
Alas, I shall never forget a September forenoon,
Alas! I will not forget the morning of September
With bees thronging your glittering blossom,
With bees covering your shimmering light
وَمَساءَand the evening مارِسَof March كَيفَhow يَهبِطُit descends تَلَّةًa hill
وَمَساءَ مارِسَ كَيفَ يَهبِطُ تَلَّةً
شَفَقِيَّةًtwilight-hued مَحدودَةَbounded الإِظلالِshade
شَفَقِيَّةً مَحدودَةَ الإِظلالِ
And a March evening—how it descends, a hill
And the evening of March how it descended
Of twilight, with bounded shade.
Like a sunset hill, limited in shade
نَزَلَdescended into الحَديقَةَthe garden تَحتَbeneath أَوهامِphantoms النَدىof dew
نَزَلَ الحَديقَةَ تَحتَ أَوهامِ النَدى
وَضَفاand spread عَلَيكِover you مُعَطَّرُperfumed الأَذيالِskirts
وَضَفا عَلَيكِ مُعَطَّرُ الأَذيالِ
It descended into the garden beneath phantoms of dew,
It landed in the garden beneath the dewy dreams
And spread over you with perfumed skirts.
And the scented hem flowed over you
فَهُناكَand there كَمhow many ذَهَبِيَّةٍa golden one شَغَفَتbecame enamored بِهاof it
فَهُناكَ كَم ذَهَبِيَّةٍ شَغَفَت بِها
روحيmy soul فَتاهَتthen strayed فيin مُروجِmeadows خَيالِof imagination
روحي فَتاهَت في مُروجِ خَيالِ
And there, how many golden things enraptured
For there, how much gold captivated my soul
My soul, which then strayed through meadows of fancy.
Wandering in the meadows of imagination
وَهُناand here تَحَرَّكَتِstirred الشُجَيرَةُthe little tree فيin أَسىsorrow
وَهُنا تَحَرَّكَتِ الشُجَيرَةُ في أَسى
وَبَكىand wept الرَبيعُspring خَيالَهاher image المَهجورِforsaken
وَبَكى الرَبيعُ خَيالَها المَهجورِ
And here the little tree stirred in sorrow,
And here the shrub moved in sorrow
And spring wept for her forsaken image.
And spring cried for its abandoned phantom
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered عَهدَthe days الصِباof youth فَتَأَوهَتthen moaned
وَتَذَكَّرَت عَهدَ الصِبا فَتَأَوهَت
وَكَأَنَّهاand as though she بِيَدِin the hand الأَسىof sorrow طَنبورُa lute
وَكَأَنَّها بِيَدِ الأَسى طَنبورُ
She remembered the days of youth and moaned,
And remembered the days of youth, sighing
As though she were a lute in sorrow's hand.
As if it were a lute in the hands of grief
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered أَيّامَdays يَرشُفُsips نورَهاher blossom
وَتَذَكَّرَت أَيّامَ يَرشُفُ نورَها
ريقُthe saliva الضُحىof forenoon وَيُزَرزِرُand twitters الزَرزورُthe starling
ريقُ الضُحى وَيُزَرزِرُ الزَرزورُ
And she remembered days when her blossom was sipped
And remembered the days when the glow of morning sprinkled it
By the saliva of forenoon, and the starling twittered.
And the sparrow chirped
وَعَرائِسُand the brides النارِنجِof bitter orange تَحلُمُdream فيin النَدىthe dew
وَعَرائِسُ النارِنجِ تَحلُمُ في النَدى
فَيَرِفُّthen flutters فيهاwithin them طَيفُهاtheir phantom المَسحورُenchanted
فَيَرِفُّ فيها طَيفُها المَسحورُ
And the bitter-orange brides dreamed in the dew,
And the blossoms of orange dreamed in the dew
And their enchanted phantom fluttered within them.
So its enchanted phantom wandered in them
كانَتshe was لَناours ياoh لَيتَهاif only she دامَتhad remained لَناours
كانَت لَنا يا لَيتَها دامَت لَنا
أَوor دامَcontinued يَهتِفُcalling فَوقَهاabove her الزَرزورُthe starling
أَو دامَ يَهتِفُ فَوقَها الزَرزورُ
She was ours—if only she had stayed ours,
We had it, if only it had lasted for us
Or the starling had kept calling above her.
Or the sparrow's shouting above it had lasted
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered عِندَbeside السِياجِthe fence أَزاهِراflowers
وَتَذَكَّرَت عِندَ السِياجِ أَزاهِرا
صَفراءَyellow رَفَّتfluttered فيin ظِلالِthe shadows العَوسَجِof the boxthorn
صَفراءَ رَفَّت في ظِلالِ العَوسَجِ
And she remembered flowers beside the fence,
And it remembered at the fence yellow flowers
Yellow, fluttering in the boxthorn's shade.
That bloomed in the shade of bamboo
زَهرُthe blossom القَطيفَةِof the marigold كَيفَhow خانَbetrayed عُهودَهاher pledges
زَهرُ القَطيفَةِ كَيفَ خانَ عُهودَها
نَسِيَforgot الهَوىlove فيin عِطرِهاher fragrance المُتَبَلِّجِradiant
نَسِيَ الهَوى في عِطرِها المُتَبَلِّجِ
The marigold blossom—how it betrayed her pledges,
The marigold's blossom, how it broke its covenant
Forgetting love amid her radiant perfume.
Forgot love in its gleaming scent
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered فيin رَعشَةٍa shudder لَمّاwhen سَباit carried off
وَتَذَكَّرَت في رَعشَةٍ لَمّا سَبا
زَرزورُهاher starling مِنهاfrom her وَلَمand did not يَتَحَرَّجِfeel scruples
زَرزورُها مِنها وَلَم يَتَحَرَّجِ
And with a shudder she remembered how it stole
And it remembered in a quiver when its sparrow
Her starling from her, without a qualm.
Flew from it without hesitation
وَهُناand here تَمَشَّتcoursed فيthrough الشُجَيرَةِthe little tree خِلجَةٌa tremor
وَهُنا تَمَشَّت في الشُجَيرَةِ خِلجَةٌ
وَبَكَتand she wept حَنيناًin longing لِلشَّذىfor the fragrance المُتَأَرِّجِwafting
وَبَكَت حَنيناً لِلشَّذى المُتَأَرِّجِ
And here a tremor coursed through the little tree,
And here a yearning crept into the shrub
And she wept, longing for the wafting fragrance.
And wept nostalgically for the waving aroma
كانَتshe was لَناours ياoh لَيتَهاif only she دامَتhad remained لَناours
كانَت لَنا يا لَيتَها دامَت لَنا
أَوor دامَcontinued يَهتِفُcalling فَوقَهاabove her الزَرزورُthe starling
أَو دامَ يَهتِفُ فَوقَها الزَرزورُ
She was ours—if only she had stayed ours,
We had it, if only it had lasted for us
Or the starling had kept calling above her.
Or the sparrow's shouting above it had lasted
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered شَفَقاًa twilight glow تَوَهَّجَglowed حُمرَةًred
وَتَذَكَّرَت شَفَقاً تَوَهَّجَ حُمرَةً
خَلَلَthrough الغُيومِthe clouds عَلىover رُبىthe hills الآصالِof late afternoons
خَلَلَ الغُيومِ عَلى رُبى الآصالِ
And she remembered twilight glowing red
And it remembered a sunset that blushed with red
Through the clouds over the hills of late afternoon.
Through the clouds upon the hillsides
وَبَدَتand appeared غُصونُthe branches الجَزورَينِof the casuarina كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَبَدَت غُصونُ الجَزورَينِ كَأَنَّها
قِلَعُsails تُرَفرِفflutter فيin بِحارِseas خَيالِof imagination
قِلَعُ تُرَفرِف في بِحارِ خَيالِ
And the casuarina's branches appeared as though
And the branches of the olive tree appeared as if they were
They were sails fluttering on seas of imagination.
Ships fluttering on the seas of imagination
وَهُناand here تَحَرَّكَتِstirred الشُجَيرَةُthe little tree فيin أَسىsorrow
وَهُنا تَحَرَّكَتِ الشُجَيرَةُ في أَسى
وَبَكىand wept الرَبيعُspring خَيالَهاher image المَهجورُforsaken
وَبَكى الرَبيعُ خَيالَها المَهجورُ
And here the little tree stirred in sorrow,
And here the shrub moved in sorrow
And spring wept for her forsaken image.
And spring cried for its abandoned phantom
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered عَهدَthe days الصِباof youth فَتَنَهَّدَتthen sighed
وَتَذَكَّرَت عَهدَ الصِبا فَتَنَهَّدَت
وَكَأَنَّهاand as though she بِيَدِin the hand الأَسىof sorrow طَنبورُa lute
وَكَأَنَّها بِيَدِ الأَسى طَنبورُ
She remembered the days of youth and sighed,
And remembered the days of youth, groaning
As though she were a lute in sorrow's hand.
As if it were a lute in hands of grief
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered شَجرَthe trees النَخيلِof palms وَهُدهُداًand a hoopoe
وَتَذَكَّرَت شَجرَ النَخيلِ وَهُدهُداً
قَدindeed كانَused to يَقصِدُهاvisit her صَباحَmorning مَساءِevening
قَد كانَ يَقصِدُها صَباحَ مَساءِ
And she remembered palm trees and a hoopoe
And it remembered the palm tree and a hoopoe
That used to visit her morning and evening.
That used to frequent it morning and evening
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered فيin اليوسِفيthe tangerine tree يَمامَةًa dove
وَتَذَكَّرَت في اليوسِفي يَمامَةً
كانَتshe used to تَنوحُlament اللَيلَةَthe night القَمراءِmoonlit
كانَت تَنوحُ اللَيلَةَ القَمراءِ
And she remembered a dove in the tangerine tree,
And it remembered in the jasmine a turtledove
Which used to lament through the moonlit night.
That would moan on the moonlit night
وَهُناand here تَحَرَّكَتِstirred الشُجَيرَةُthe little tree فيin أَسىsorrow
وَهُنا تَحَرَّكَتِ الشُجَيرَةُ في أَسى
وَبَكىand wept الرَبيعُspring خَيالَهاher image المَهجورُforsaken
وَبَكى الرَبيعُ خَيالَها المَهجورُ
And here the little tree stirred in sorrow,
And here the shrub moved in sorrow
And spring wept for her forsaken image.
And spring cried for its abandoned phantom
وَتَذَكَّرَتand she remembered عَهدَthe days الصِباof youth فَتَرَنَّحَتthen swayed
وَتَذَكَّرَت عَهدَ الصِبا فَتَرَنَّحَت
وَكَأَنَّهاand as though she بِيَدِin the hand الأَسىof sorrow طَنبورُa lute
وَكَأَنَّها بِيَدِ الأَسى طَنبورُ
She remembered the days of youth and swayed,
And remembered the days of youth, complaining
As though she were a lute in sorrow's hand.
As if it were a lute in the hands of grief
وَضَفَتand spread عَلىover كُلِّall الغُصونِthe branches سَحابَةًa cloud
وَضَفَت عَلى كُلِّ الغُصونِ سَحابَةً
وَزَكاand flourished الغَصينُthe twig وَفَتَّحَand opened النُوارُthe blossoms
وَزَكا الغَصينُ وَفَتَّحَ النُوارُ
And a cloud spread over all the branches,
And it draped all the branches with a cloud
And the twig flourished, and the blossoms opened.
And the branch flourished and the bud opened
وَتَهَلَّلَand rejoiced الزَرزورُthe starling فيamong أَوراقِهاher leaves
وَتَهَلَّلَ الزَرزورُ في أَوراقِها
وَزَهاand shone السِياجُthe fence وَفاحَتِand wafted الأَعطارُthe perfumes
وَزَها السِياجُ وَفاحَتِ الأَعطارُ
And the starling rejoiced among her leaves,
And the sparrow rejoiced in its leaves
And the fence shone, and perfumes wafted.
And the fence bloomed and the fragrances emanated
حَلِمَتshe dreamed بِأَرضٍof a land فيin الخَيالِthe imagination سَحيقَةٍfar away
حَلِمَت بِأَرضٍ في الخَيالِ سَحيقَةٍ
فيin ذلِكَthat الأُفقِhorizon القَصِيِّfar-off النائيdistant
في ذلِكَ الأُفقِ القَصِيِّ النائي
She dreamed of a faraway land in imagination,
It dreamed of a far distant land
In that remote and distant horizon.
In that distant, remote horizon
وَهُناكَand there تَحتَbeneath سَمانجونُthe azure سَمائِهاof its sky
وَهُناكَ تَحتَ سَمانجونُ سَمائِها
تاقَتshe longed إِلىfor أَحلامِهاher dreams الزَرقاءِblue
تاقَت إِلى أَحلامِها الزَرقاءِ
And there, beneath the azure of its sky,
And there under its blue poplar trees
She longed for her blue dreams.
It longed for its blue dreams
خَلَدَتshe surrendered إِلىto صَمتٍa silence هُناكَthere مُخَيمٌsettled
خَلَدَت إِلى صَمتٍ هُناكَ مُخَيمٌ
تَسجوlie still عَلَيهِover it خَوافِقُflutterings الأَفياءِof the shadows
تَسجو عَلَيهِ خَوافِقُ الأَفياءِ
She surrendered to a silence settled there,
A silence prevails there, encamped
Over which the shadows' flutterings lay hushed.
With the stars of night over it overlooking
هِيَit جَنَّةُa paradise الأَشجارِof trees وَالأَظلالِand shadows وَالand the
هِيَ جَنَّةُ الأَشجارِ وَالأَظلالِ وَال
أَعطارِperfumes وَالأَنغامِand melodies وَالأَندءِand dews
أَعطارِ وَالأَنغامِ وَالأَندءِ
It is a paradise of trees and shadows and
It is the paradise of trees, shades,
Perfumes, melodies, and dews.
Fragrances, tunes, and springs
يَتَزاهَرُblooms البِشنَينُthe water lily فَوقَupon شُطوطِهاits shores
يَتَزاهَرُ البِشنَينُ فَوقَ شُطوطِها
وَيُغازِلُand courts الدُفلىthe oleander زَهرَthe flower اللوتَسِof the lotus
وَيُغازِلُ الدُفلى زَهرَ اللوتَسِ
Water lilies blossom upon its shores,
The pink oleander blooms over its banks
And the oleander courts the lotus flower.
And the lotus seduces the water lily
وَعَرائِسُand the brides النارِنجِof bitter orange فاحَwafted عَبيرُهاtheir fragrance
وَعَرائِسُ النارِنجِ فاحَ عَبيرُها
بِالنَحلِof bees تَحلُمُdream فيin السُكونِthe stillness المُشمِسِsunlit
بِالنَحلِ تَحلُمُ في السُكونِ المُشمِسِ
And the bitter-orange brides, their perfume wafting,
And orange blossoms, their fragrance smells
Dream of bees in the sunlit stillness.
Of bees dreaming in the sunny tranquility
وَهُناكَand there زَرزورٌa starling يُغَرِّدُsings دائِماًalways
وَهُناكَ زَرزورٌ يُغَرِّدُ دائِماً
وَيَقُصُّand recounts أَحلامَthe dreams الزُهورِof flowers النُعَسِsleepy
وَيَقُصُّ أَحلامَ الزُهورِ النُعَسِ
And there a starling is always singing,
And there a sparrow always chirps
And recounts the dreams of sleepy flowers.
And tells tales to the sleepy flowers
يَرويtells لَهاto them أَسطورَةًa legend سِحرِيَّةًmagical
يَروي لَها أَسطورَةً سِحرِيَّةً
مِمّاfrom what يَفوحُbreathes fragrance بِهِwith it خَيالُthe imagination النَرجَسِof the narcissus
مِمّا يَفوحُ بِهِ خَيالُ النَرجَسِ
It tells them a magical legend
Relating to them a magical legend
From what the narcissus's imagination breathes forth.
Of what emanates from the narcissus' imagination
كانَتshe was لَناours ياoh لَيتَهاif only she دامَتhad remained لَناours
كانَت لَنا يا لَيتَها دامَت لَنا
أَوor دامَcontinued يَهتِفُcalling فَوقَهاabove her الزَرزورُthe starling
أَو دامَ يَهتِفُ فَوقَها الزَرزورُ
She was ours—if only she had stayed ours,
We had it, if only it had lasted for us
Or the starling had kept calling above her.
Or the sparrow's shouting above it had lasted
نارِنجَتيmy bitter-orange tree وَاللَهِand by God مُذsince فارَقَتِنيyou left me
نارِنجَتي وَاللَهِ مُذ فارَقَتِني
وَأَناand I حَليفُan ally كَآبَةٍof melancholy خَرساءِmute
وَأَنا حَليفُ كَآبَةٍ خَرساءِ
My bitter-orange tree—by God, since you left me,
My orange tree, by God, since you left me
I have been the ally of a mute melancholy.
And I became an ally of silent sorrow
أَصبَحتُI became بَعدَكَafter you فيin اِنقِباضٍdejection موحِشٍdesolate
أَصبَحتُ بَعدَكَ في اِنقِباضٍ موحِشٍ
وَكَأَنَّنيand as though I مِنهُbecause of it مَساءُan evening شِتاءِof winter
وَكَأَنَّني مِنهُ مَساءُ شِتاءِ
After you, I fell into desolate dejection,
After you I became withdrawn and desolate
And because of it I am like a winter evening.
As if I were a winter's sorrowful evening
تَتَناثَرُscatter الأَعطارُthe perfumes فيin آفاقِهاits horizons
تَتَناثَرُ الأَعطارُ في آفاقِها
روحيmy soul إِلَيكَtoward you وَراءَbeyond كُلِّevery فَضاءِexpanse
روحي إِلَيكَ وَراءَ كُلِّ فَضاءِ
Perfumes scatter across its horizons:
The fragrances scatter in its horizons
My soul goes toward you, beyond every expanse,
My soul to you beyond every space
وَتَرِفُّand flutters فيin دِهليزِthe corridor كُلِّevery أَشِعَّةٍrays
وَتَرِفُّ في دِهليزِ كُلِّ أَشِعَّةٍ
قَمراءَmoonlit أَوor تَرنيمَةٍa hymn بَيضاءِwhite
قَمراءَ أَو تَرنيمَةٍ بَيضاءِ
And flutters in the corridor of every ray
And flutter in the corridor of every
Of moonlight, or every white hymn.
Moonlit or white hymn
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَرجوhope أَنthat تَكونَwould be نِهايَتيmy end
قَد كُنتُ أَرجو أَن تَكونَ نِهايَتي
فيin ظِلِّthe shade هذاthis السورِthe wall حَيثُwhere أَراكِI see you
في ظِلِّ هذا السورِ حَيثُ أَراكِ
I had hoped that my end would come
I had hoped my end would be
In this wall's shade, where I could see you,
In the shade of this fence where I see you
وَيَكونُand would be آخِرَthe last ماwhat يُخَدِّرُlulls مَسمَعيmy hearing
وَيَكونُ آخِرَ ما يُخَدِّرُ مَسمَعي
زَرزورُكِyour starling الهَتّافُloud-calling فَوقَabove ذَراكِyour heights
زَرزورُكِ الهَتّافُ فَوقَ ذَراكِ
And that the last thing to lull my hearing
And the last thing to numb my hearing
Would be your calling starling above your crown;
Would be your shouting sparrow above your branches
وَيَطوفُand drifts فيthrough غَيبوبَتيmy unconsciousness فَيُفيقُنيthen awakens me
وَيَطوفُ في غَيبوبَتي فَيُفيقُني
فَجرٌa dawn قَصيرُbrief البَعثِin revival مِنfrom رَيّاكِyour fragrance
فَجرٌ قَصيرُ البَعثِ مِن رَيّاكِ
And through my unconsciousness would drift, awakening me,
And dawn would awaken me briefly
A dawn of brief revival from your fragrance.
From the numbness of your breeze
وَالآنَand now إِذsince عَجَلَhastened القَضاءُfate فَإِنَّماso only
وَالآنَ إِذ عَجَلَ القَضاءُ فَإِنَّما
سَيَقومُwill rise فيin الذِكرىmemory خَيالُthe image شَذاكِof your fragrance
سَيَقومُ في الذِكرى خَيالُ شَذاكِ
And now, since fate has hastened, only
And now when fate has hastened
The image of your fragrance will rise in memory.
So the memory of your aroma will stand
كانَتthere was لَناfor us عِندَbeside السِياجِthe fence شُجَيرَةٌa little tree
كانَت لَنا عِندَ السِياجِ شُجَيرَةٌ
أَلِفَgrew accustomed to الغِناءَsinging بِظِلِّهاin her shade الزَرزورُthe starling
أَلِفَ الغِناءَ بِظِلِّها الزَرزورُ
We had a little tree beside the fence;
We had a shrub by the fence
The starling grew used to singing in her shade.
Where the sparrow used to sing in its shade
طَفِقَbegan الرَبيعُspring يَزورُهاvisiting her مُتَخَفِّياًsecretly
طَفِقَ الرَبيعُ يَزورُها مُتَخَفِّياً
فَيَفيضُand pours مِنهاfrom her فيin الحَديقَةِthe garden نورُlight
فَيَفيضُ مِنها في الحَديقَةِ نورُ
Spring began to visit her in secret,
Spring used to visit it secretly
And light poured from her into the garden,
Overflowing light into the garden from within
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen حَلَّarrived الصَباحُmorning تَنَفَّسَتbreathed
حَتّى إِذا حَلَّ الصَباحُ تَنَفَّسَت
فيهاwithin her الزُهورُthe flowers وَزَقزَقَand chirped العُصفورُthe sparrow
فيها الزُهورُ وَزَقزَقَ العُصفورُ
Until, when morning came, there breathed
Until when morning came
Within her the flowers, and the sparrow chirped.
The flowers breathed in it and the sparrow chirped
وَسَرىand spread إِلىto أَرضِthe ground الحَديقَةِof the garden كُلِّهاall of it
وَسَرى إِلى أَرضِ الحَديقَةِ كُلِّها
نَبَأُthe news الرَبيعِof spring وَرَكبُهُand its caravan المَسحورُenchanted
نَبَأُ الرَبيعِ وَرَكبُهُ المَسحورُ
And through all the garden's earth there spread
And news of spring spread
The news of spring and its enchanted caravan.
To the whole garden, captivating it
كانَتshe was لَناours ياoh لَيتَهاif only she دامَتhad remained لَناours
كانَت لَنا يا لَيتَها دامَت لَنا
أَوor دامَcontinued يَهتِفُcalling فَوقَهاabove her الزَرزورُthe starling
أَو دامَ يَهتِفُ فَوقَها الزَرزورُ
She was ours—if only she had stayed ours,
We had it, if only it had lasted for us
Or the starling had kept calling above her.
Or the sparrow's shouting above it had lasted
Sol 6.1