أَكُفُّhands تَغلبَof Taghlib أنواءُrain-bearing stars الحَياof rain الجاريflowing
أَكُفُّ تَغلبَ أنواءُ الحَيا الجاري
ونارُand the fire بأسِهِمُof their martial might أذكىfiercer منthan النارِfire
ونارُ بأسِهِمُ أذكى من النارِ
The hands of Taghlib are the rain-bearing stars of streaming showers,
I can overcome the currents of fleeting life,
and the fire of their might burns fiercer than fire.
And the fire of their animosity is more igniting than fire itself.
والحمْدُand praise حَلْيُthe adornment بنof the son of حَمدانَHamdan تَعرِفُهُyou know it
والحمْدُ حَلْيُ بن حَمدانَ تَعرِفُهُ
والحقُّand truth أبلَجُradiant لاnot يُلقىis met بإنكارِwith denial
والحقُّ أبلَجُ لا يُلقى بإنكارِ
Praise is Ibn Hamdan's adornment, as you know,
Praise be to Halib bin Hamdan, whom you recognize,
and truth is radiant, not met with denial.
And truth is evident, not met with denial.
قَومٌa people إذاwhen نَزَلَarrive الزُّوَّارُthe visitors ساحَتهمin their courtyard
قَومٌ إذا نَزَلَ الزُّوَّارُ ساحَتهم
تَفَيَّؤُواthey seek shade ظِلَّthe shade جَنَّاتٍof gardens وأنهارِand rivers
تَفَيَّؤُوا ظِلَّ جَنَّاتٍ وأنهارِ
A people whose visitors, on entering their courtyard,
A people, when guests descend upon their dwelling,
rest in the shade of gardens and rivers.
They rest in the shade of lush gardens and rivers.
مُؤمَّرونappointed commanders إذاwhen ثارَتْrise قرومُهُمُtheir champions
مُؤمَّرون إذا ثارَتْ قرومُهُمُ
أَفْضَتْreached إلىto الغايةِthe limit القُصْوىfarthest منof الثَّارِvengeance
أَفْضَتْ إلى الغايةِ القُصْوى من الثَّارِ
Men appointed to command: when their champions rise,
When their swords are unsheathed,
they reach the utmost limit of vengeance.
They unleash the utmost extent of vengeance.
فكلُّso every أيامِهمof their days يومُa day الكِلابِof al-Kilab إذاwhen
فكلُّ أيامِهم يومُ الكِلابِ إذا
عُدَّتْare counted وقائِعُهُمtheir battles أوor يومُa day ذيof Dhu قارِQar
عُدَّتْ وقائِعُهُم أو يومُ ذي قارِ
Each of their days is a day of al-Kilab, when
So all their days are like the day of dogs, if
their battles are counted—or a day of Dhu Qar.
Their events are recounted, or the day of Dhi Qar.
تتابَعتْfollowed one another بركاتُthe blessings اللهِof God نازلَةًdescending
تتابَعتْ بركاتُ اللهِ نازلَةً
علىupon أبيAbu البَركاتِal-Barakat المانعِprotector of الجارِthe neighbor
على أبي البَركاتِ المانعِ الجارِ
God's blessings descended one after another
The blessings of God descend successively,
upon Abu al-Barakat, protector of the neighbor,
Upon Abu al-Barakat, the barrier, the neighbor.
علىupon الحَياthe rain الغَمْرِabundant والبَحرِand the sea الذيwhich رسَبَتْsank
على الحَيا الغَمْرِ والبَحرِ الذي رسَبَتْ
فيهin it جواهرُهits jewels والضَّيْغَمِand the lion الضَّاريravening
فيه جواهرُه والضَّيْغَمِ الضَّاري
upon the abundant rain, and the sea in which
Upon the teeming, deep sea in which
its jewels sank, and the ravening lion,
Its pearls and surging waves settled.
علىupon الأميرِthe emir الذيwho أضحَتْbecame مناقبُهhis virtues
على الأميرِ الذي أضحَتْ مناقبُه
مِثلَlike النُّجومِthe stars تُضئُilluminate اللَّيلَthe night للسَّاريfor the night traveler
مِثلَ النُّجومِ تُضئُ اللَّيلَ للسَّاري
upon the emir whose virtues have become
Upon the prince whose merits
like stars that light the night for the night traveler.
Are like the stars, lighting the night for the watcher.
إذاwhen عَزْمتُI resolved علىon إحصائِهاcounting them ازدَحَمَتْthey crowded together
إذا عَزْمتُ على إحصائِها ازدَحَمَتْ
فكاثَرَتْso they outnumbered مِدَحيmy praises فيهof him وإكباريand my reverence
فكاثَرَتْ مِدَحي فيه وإكباري
When I resolve to count them, they crowd together,
When I resolve to enumerate them they throng together
outnumbering my praises of him and my reverence.
Multiplying my praise and extolment of him.
وهلand can يُقاسُbe measured فضاءُthe expanse البحرِof the sea مُنحَرِفَاًobliquely
وهل يُقاسُ فضاءُ البحرِ مُنحَرِفَاً
بأذرُعٍwith cubits قصَّرَتْfell short عنهof it وأَشبارِand handspans
بأذرُعٍ قصَّرَتْ عنه وأَشبارِ
Can the sea's expanse be measured obliquely
Can the expanse of the tumultuous sea be measured
with cubits that fall short of it, and handspans?
With forearms too short to span it and fingers?
أصبحْتُI have come to أُظْهِرُshow شُكراًgratitude عنfor صَنائِعِهhis favors
أصبحْتُ أُظْهِرُ شُكراً عن صَنائِعِه
وأُضْمِرُand I conceal الوُدَّaffection فيهاfor them أيَّthe utmost إضمارِconcealment
وأُضْمِرُ الوُدَّ فيها أيَّ إضمارِ
I have come to show gratitude for his favors,
I profess gratitude for his deeds
while keeping affection for them utterly concealed,
While concealing the deepest affection for them.
كيانعِlike the ripening النَّخْلِpalm يُبْديreveals للعيونto the eyes ضُحىًin the morning
كيانعِ النَّخْلِ يُبْدي للعيون ضُحىً
طَلْعاًblossom clusters نَضيداًclosely layered ويُخفْيand conceals غَضَّtender جُمَّارِpalm-hearts
طَلْعاً نَضيداً ويُخفْي غَضَّ جُمَّارِ
like a ripening palm that shows to eyes at morning
Like the date palm revealing to eyes the radiance
clustered blossoms, yet hides its tender heart.
Of blooming spadices, yet hiding the unripe fruit.
أO أكرمَnoblest النَّاسِof people إلاَّexcept أنthat تُعَدَّyou be reckoned أباًa father
أ أكرمَ النَّاسِ إلاَّ أن تُعَدَّ أباً
فاتَsurpassed الكِرامَthe noble بآباءٍthrough forefathers وآثارِand deeds
فاتَ الكِرامَ بآباءٍ وآثارِ
O noblest of men—unless you are counted a father
Who is the most generous of people unless you consider him a father,
who surpassed the noble in forefathers and deeds.
Transcending generosity, forebears and traces?
أشكوI complain إليكَto you حَلِيفَيْtwo partners in غارةٍa raid شهَرَاthey both drew
أشكو إليكَ حَلِيفَيْ غارةٍ شهَرَا
سَيفَthe sword الشِّقاقِof discord علىagainst دِيباجِthe brocade أشعاريof my poems
سَيفَ الشِّقاقِ على دِيباجِ أشعاري
I complain to you of two partners in a raid who drew
I complain to you of the treachery of two allies
the sword of discord against the brocade of my poems:
Who unsheathed the sword of discord upon the brocade of my poetry.
ذِئْبَيْنِtwo wolves لوif ظفرَاthey both seized بالشِّعرِpoetry فيin حَرَمٍa sanctuary
ذِئْبَيْنِ لو ظفرَا بالشِّعرِ في حَرَمٍ
لَمَزَّقاهُthey would tear it apart بأنيابٍwith fangs وأظفارِand claws
لَمَزَّقاهُ بأنيابٍ وأظفارِ
two wolves who, if they seized poetry in a sanctuary,
Two wolves, if they gained power over poetry in a sanctuary,
would tear it apart with fangs and claws.
Would shred it with fangs and claws.
سَلاّthey both drew عليهagainst it سيوفَthe swords البَغْيِof aggression مُصْلَتةًunsheathed
سَلاّ عليه سيوفَ البَغْيِ مُصْلَتةً
فيin جَحْفَلٍan army منof شَنيعِhideous الظُّلْمِinjustice جرَّارِvast
في جَحْفَلٍ من شَنيعِ الظُّلْمِ جرَّارِ
They drew against it the unsheathed swords of aggression
They attacked it with the swords of enmity, sharpened
in a vast army of hideous injustice.
In a squadron of atrocious injustice, tyrants.
وأرخصَاهُand they cheapened it فقُلْso imagine فيof العِطرِperfume مُنْتَهَبَاًplundered
وأرخصَاهُ فقُلْ في العِطرِ مُنْتَهَبَاً
لديهِماwith the two of them يُشتَرىis bought منfrom غَيرِother than عَطَّارِa perfumer
لديهِما يُشتَرى من غَيرِ عَطَّارِ
They cheapened it; imagine perfume plundered,
And cheapened it, so say that scent plundered by them
bought from them, not from a perfumer.
Can be purchased without a perfumer.
لَطائِمُperfume-laden caravans المِسْكِof musk والكافورِand camphor فائحةٌfragrant
لَطائِمُ المِسْكِ والكافورِ فائحةٌ
منهfrom it ومُنْتَخَبُand the choicest الهِنْديِّIndian aloeswood والغارِand laurel
منه ومُنْتَخَبُ الهِنْديِّ والغارِ
Caravans of musk and camphor waft their fragrance
The aromas of musk and camphor exude from it
from it, with choice Indian aloeswood and laurel.
And the choice of Indian and Thai aloes.
وكلُّand every مُسفَرِةِradiant الألفاظِin wording تَحسَبُهاyou would think it
وكلُّ مُسفَرِةِ الألفاظِ تَحسَبُها
صفيحةًa sword-blade بينbetween إشراقٍbrilliance وإسفارِand radiance
صفيحةً بين إشراقٍ وإسفارِ
And each poem of radiant diction you would think
And all the eloquent words you would think
a sword-blade between brilliance and radiance.
Are brocade with a rising and setting.
أَرَقْتُI poured out ماءَthe water شبابيof my youth فيinto محاسِنِهاits beauties
أَرَقْتُ ماءَ شبابي في محاسِنِها
حتىuntil تَرقَرقَshimmered فيهاwithin it ماؤُهاits water الجاريflowing
حتى تَرقَرقَ فيها ماؤُها الجاري
I poured the water of my youth into its beauties
I stayed up late infusing my youthful water into its beauties
until its flowing water shimmered within it.
Until its flowing water rippled within.
كأنَّماas though نَفَسُthe breath الرَّيحانِof basil يَمْزُجُهُblends it
كأنَّما نَفَسُ الرَّيحانِ يَمْزُجُهُ
صَبَاthe east breeze الأصائلِof late afternoons منfrom أنفاسِthe breaths نَوَّارِof blossoms
صَبَا الأصائلِ من أنفاسِ نَوَّارِ
As though the breath of basil were blended
As if the very soul of sweet basil mingling with it
by the late-afternoon east wind with the breath of blossoms.
Was poured in by the gentlest of winds.
باعاthey both sold عرائِسَthe brides شِعْريof my poetry بالعراقِin Iraq فلاso let not
باعا عرائِسَ شِعْري بالعراقِ فلا
تَبْعَدْperish سَباياهُits captives منamong عُونٍmature women وأبكارِand virgins
تَبْعَدْ سَباياهُ من عُونٍ وأبكارِ
They sold the brides of my poetry in Iraq; may
They sold the brides of my poetry in Iraq so neither
its captive women, mature and virgin, never perish!
Its captives are rescued nor their chastity preserved.
مجهولةُunknown القَدْرِin worth مظلومٌwronged عَقائِلُهاits noble ladies
مجهولةُ القَدْرِ مظلومٌ عَقائِلُها
مقسومةٌdivided بينamong جُهَّالٍignorant people وأغمارِand simpletons
مقسومةٌ بين جُهَّالٍ وأغمارِ
Their worth unknown, their noble ladies wronged,
Unknown in merit, its anklets wrongfully distributed
divided among ignoramuses and simpletons.
Between fools and those sunk in darkness.
وماand what يَضرُّهمُاharms the two of them والدُرُّwhile pearls ذوpossess خَطَرٍhigh value
وما يَضرُّهمُا والدُرُّ ذو خَطَرٍ
إنif حلَّياهُthey both use it to adorn ملوكاًkings ذاتَpossessing أخطارِhigh rank
إن حلَّياهُ ملوكاً ذاتَ أخطارِ
What harm would it do the two of them, since pearls are precious,
It does not harm them, though pearls are precarious,
if they adorned with them kings of high rank?
If they adorn kings of high rank.
وماand never رأىsaw الناسُpeople سَبْياًcaptives مثلَlike سَبْيِهِماtheir captives
وما رأى الناسُ سَبْياً مثلَ سَبْيِهِما
بِيعَتْwas sold نفَيسَتُهits choicest captive ظُلماًunjustly بدينارِfor a dinar
بِيعَتْ نفَيسَتُه ظُلماً بدينارِ
People have never seen captives like theirs:
People never saw captives like their captives,
the choicest captive sold unjustly for a dinar.
Its finest sold unjustly for a coin.
إذاif كساكَhe clothes you ثيابَthe garments المَدحِof praise سالبُهاtheir thief
إذا كساكَ ثيابَ المَدحِ سالبُها
يَوماًone day فإنَّكَthen surely you أنتَyou yourself المكتسيthe clothed العاريthe naked
يَوماً فإنَّكَ أنتَ المكتسي العاري
If the thief of praise's garments clothes you in them
When the clothes of praise garb you one day
one day, then you yourself are clothed yet naked.
It is you who are the naked wearer.
واللهِby God ماnot مدَحاthey both praised حيّاًa living person ولاnor رَثَياthey both mourned
واللهِ ما مدَحا حيّاً ولا رَثَيا
مَيْتاًa dead person ولاnor افتَخَراthey both boasted إلاexcept بأشعاريwith my poems
مَيْتاً ولا افتَخَرا إلا بأشعاري
By God, they never praised the living or mourned
By God, I never praised anyone living or eulogized
the dead, nor boasted, except with my poems.
Anyone dead except with my poetry.
إنif توَّجاكَthey both crown you بدُرٍّwith pearls فهوthen it is منfrom لُجَجيmy depths
إن توَّجاكَ بدُرٍّ فهو من لُجَجي
أوor ختَّماكَthey both give you a signet بياقوتٍwith rubies فأحجاريthen the stones are mine
أو ختَّماكَ بياقوتٍ فأحجاري
If they crown you with pearls, those are from my depths;
If they crowned you with a full moon, it is from my surges,
or fit you with a ruby signet, the stones are mine.
Or sealed you with a ruby, it is my stones.
هذاthis وعنديَand I have منof لفظٍwords أُشَعشِعُهُI dilute it
هذا وعنديَ من لفظٍ أُشَعشِعُهُ
سُلافةٌchoice wine ذاتُpossessing أضواءٍgleams وأنوارِand lights
سُلافةٌ ذاتُ أضواءٍ وأنوارِ
Yet I have, in words I dilute,
I have a diction whose flashes I ignite
a choice wine full of gleams and lights,
With eloquence of illumination and light.
كريمةٌnoble ليسَnot منfrom كَرْمٍa vine ولاnor التَثمَتْput on a face-veil
كريمةٌ ليسَ من كَرْمٍ ولا التَثمَتْ
عروسُهاits bride بخمارٍwith a veil عندَat خَمَّارِa wine-seller's
عروسُها بخمارٍ عندَ خَمَّارِ
noble, not from a vine; nor has
Noble, not by any nobility, nor did its bride
its bride donned a veil at a wine-seller's.
Don a veil with a saleswoman.
تَنشُوit arises خِلالَthrough شِغافِthe inmost covering القلبِof the heart إنif نشأَتْarose
تَنشُو خِلالَ شِغافِ القلبِ إن نشأَتْ
ذاتُthe one with الحَبابِbubbles خِلالَamid الطِّينِclay والقارِand pitch
ذاتُ الحَبابِ خِلالَ الطِّينِ والقارِ
It arises within the heart's inmost folds, though
It sprouts through the crevices of the heart if it desires,
bubbling wine arose amid clay and pitch.
The kernel amidst clay and grit.
لمnot يبقَremains ليto me منof قريضٍpoetry كانwas ليfor me وَزَراًa refuge
لم يبقَ لي من قريضٍ كان لي وَزَراً
علىagainst الشَّدائدِhardships إلاexcept ثِقْلُthe weight أوزاريof my burdens
على الشَّدائدِ إلا ثِقْلُ أوزاري
Nothing remains to me of poetry that was my refuge
No strength remains in me from the poetry that was my asset
against hardships, save the weight of my burdens.
Against adversities except the weight of my burdens.
أراهI see it قدalready هُتِكَتْwere torn أستارُthe veils حُرمَتِهof its sanctity
أراه قد هُتِكَتْ أستارُ حُرمَتِه
وسائرُand other الشِّعرِpoetry مستورٌveiled بأستارِwith veils
وسائرُ الشِّعرِ مستورٌ بأستارِ
I see the veils of its sanctity torn apart,
I see its sanctity has been violated
while all other poetry is sheltered behind veils.
While the rest of poetry is veiled in curtains.
كأنهas though it were جَنَّةٌa garden راحَتْbecame حدائقُهاits plots
كأنه جَنَّةٌ راحَتْ حدائقُها
منthrough الغَبِيَّينَthe two fools فيin نارfire وإعصارِand a whirlwind
من الغَبِيَّينَ في نار وإعصارِ
It is like a garden whose plots have fallen,
It is as if it were a garden whose orchards
at those two fools' hands, into fire and whirlwind.
Were ravaged by the foolish, amid fire and tempest.
عارٍstripped منَof النَّسَبِlineage الوضَّاحِillustrious مُنتَسِبٌclaiming kinship
عارٍ منَ النَّسَبِ الوضَّاحِ مُنتَسِبٌ
فيin الخالديَّةِal-Khalidiyya بينbetween الذُّلِّhumiliation والعارِand shame
في الخالديَّةِ بين الذُّلِّ والعارِ
Stripped of illustrious lineage, it claims kinship
A disgrace clinging to famed lineage
in al-Khalidiyya, between humiliation and shame.
Debased, amid humiliation and shame.
وماand not أَظُنُّI think دَعِيَّthe false claimant الأزدِto Azd يُنْصِفُنيdoes me justice
وما أَظُنُّ دَعِيَّ الأزدِ يُنْصِفُني
حتىuntil تموجَsurge بهwith him أمواجُthe waves تَيَّاريof my torrent
حتى تموجَ به أمواجُ تَيَّاري
I do not think the false claimant to Azd will do me justice
I do not expect the claimant of noble Azd ancestry
until the waves of my torrent toss him about.
To vindicate me until my currents surge.
غضبانُangry يستُرُhe hides عنيfrom me وجهَهhis face بِيَدٍwith a hand
غضبانُ يستُرُ عني وجهَه بِيَدٍ
وَدِدْتُI wished لوthat سُمِّرَتْit were nailed فيهto it بمسمارِwith a nail
وَدِدْتُ لو سُمِّرَتْ فيه بمسمارِ
Angry, he hides his face from me with a hand
Wrathful, he hides his face from me with a hand
I wish were nailed to it with a nail.
I wish were nailed to it with a nail.
لقدindeed تحيَّفَdespoiled شِعْريmy poetry مَعْشَرٌa company غَرَرٌreckless
لقد تحيَّفَ شِعْري مَعْشَرٌ غَرَرٌ
منهمsome of them قريبٌnearby ومنهمand some of them نازحُfar away الدَّارِin abode
منهم قريبٌ ومنهم نازحُ الدَّارِ
A reckless band has indeed despoiled my poetry,
My poetry has certainly been distorted by a group of deceivers
some nearby, and some living far away.
Among them are relatives and those who deserted home.
يُفوِّقونthey nock arrows ونَبْليwhile my arrows فيin كِنانَتِهits quiver
يُفوِّقون ونَبْلي في كِنانَتِه
إليَّat me كُلَّevery كليلِblunt النَّصلِin arrowhead خَوَّارِfeeble
إليَّ كُلَّ كليلِ النَّصلِ خَوَّارِ
They nock, while my arrows lie in their quiver,
They claim superiority though my pedigree surpasses theirs,
every blunt-tipped, feeble shaft against me.
To me, as carrion to the noble thoroughbred horse.
ولوand if تفوَّقَwere nocked سَهمْيmy arrow راكباًriding وَتَراًa bowstring
ولو تفوَّقَ سَهمْي راكباً وَتَراً
يوماًone day لطالit would take long عليهمfor them نَقْضُto undo أوتاريmy bowstrings
يوماً لطال عليهم نَقْضُ أوتاري
But if my arrow were nocked upon a bowstring
If my arrow ever surpassed the rider and sanctuary,
one day, undoing my bowstrings would be a long task for them.
The loosening of their bowstrings would be prolonged against them.
إياكُمُbeware أنof تَشِيمُواwatching برقَthe lightning غاديَةٍof a morning cloud
إياكُمُ أن تَشِيمُوا برقَ غاديَةٍ
مُسِفَّةٍlow-hanging بذُعافِwith deadly venom السُّمِّof poison مِدرارِpouring abundantly
مُسِفَّةٍ بذُعافِ السُّمِّ مِدرارِ
Beware of watching the lightning of a morning cloud
Beware imbibing the lightning of passing clouds
hanging low and streaming with deadly poison.
Drenched in lethal poison dripping copiously.
ولاand do not يَغُرَّنَّكُمْlet deceive you أمطارُthe showers مُبتَسمٍof a smiling man
ولا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ أمطارُ مُبتَسمٍ
يُزجيhe drives الصَّواعِقَthunderbolts فيin أثناءِthe midst أمطارِof rain showers
يُزجي الصَّواعِقَ في أثناءِ أمطارِ
Do not be deceived by the showers of a smiling man
Do not be fooled by the smile of a downpour
who drives thunderbolts amid his rains.
That unleashes thunderbolts amid the rain.
فالسَّيفُfor the sword يُبديshows ابتساماًa smile عندupon هَزَّتِهits brandishing
فالسَّيفُ يُبدي ابتساماً عند هَزَّتِه
وقدwhile already أسَرَّconcealed المناياdeaths أيَّthe utmost إسرارِconcealment
وقد أسَرَّ المنايا أيَّ إسرارِ
For the sword shows a smile when brandished,
For the sword shows a smile when brandished
while keeping death utterly concealed.
Though it has concealed deaths, whatever their number.
وماand never رأيتُمyou saw شُجاعاًa serpent قبلَbefore رؤيَتِهseeing him
وما رأيتُم شُجاعاً قبلَ رؤيَتِه
قَراكُمُhe served you as guests وهوwhile he is مُودٍdeath-dealing شَهْدَhoneycomb مُشتارِof a honey-gatherer
قَراكُمُ وهو مُودٍ شَهْدَ مُشتارِ
Never before seeing him had you seen a serpent
You have not seen a brave man before seeing him
that served you a honey-gatherer's honeycomb while dealing death.
Make peace with you while sipping elect nectar.
يَبُرُّhe treats kindly مِنكمamong you شبَاباًyoung men ماnot لَهمthey have حزَنٌsorrow
يَبُرُّ مِنكم شبَاباً ما لَهم حزَنٌ
علىfor الصِّباyouth وشيوخاًand old men غيرَnot أبرارِrighteous
على الصِّبا وشيوخاً غيرَ أبرارِ
He treats kindly the young among you, who feel no sorrow
He sheds from you youths who have no sorrow
for youth, and old men who are not righteous.
For their prime, and elders who are not righteous.
مَنْwhoever كانwas يَعجَزُunable عنto master سَهليmy easy ground إذاwhen استَبقَتْraced
مَنْ كان يَعجَزُ عن سَهلي إذا استَبقَتْ
خَيلُthe steeds القَريضِof poetry فكمthen how much تُجتابُis traversed أوعاريof my rugged ground
خَيلُ القَريضِ فكم تُجتابُ أوعاري
Whoever cannot master my easy ground when
Whoever cannot withstand my easy verse when
poetry's steeds race—how much of my rugged ground can be crossed?
The steeds of poetry race, how will he withstand my fervor?
وهلand can يَقومُstand لجَمْعيagainst my host حينَwhen أُضرِمُهُI set it ablaze
وهل يَقومُ لجَمْعي حينَ أُضرِمُهُ
مُغرَّرٌa reckless man عنfrom زِنادٍfire-sticks قلبُهُhis heart واريkindled
مُغرَّرٌ عن زِنادٍ قلبُهُ واري
Can there stand against my host, when I set it ablaze,
When I ignite it, can one addicted to the flint
a reckless man whose heart is kindled by fire-sticks?
In his heart endure me, while his bosom is nude?
لوif كنُتُمُyou were العنبرَambergris الوَردَrose-hued الشَّبيهَresembling بهit
لو كنُتُمُ العنبرَ الوَردَ الشَّبيهَ به
والمنْدلَand aloeswood الرَّطْبَmoist شَبَّتْwould blaze منكُمُfrom you ناريmy fire
والمنْدلَ الرَّطْبَ شَبَّتْ منكُمُ ناري
Were you rose-hued ambergris, resembling it,
Had you been the perfumed rose this fire resembled,
and moist aloeswood, my fire would blaze from you;
And the juicy sweet apple, my fire would have kindled you.
لكِنَّكُمْbut you حَطَبٌfirewood بالٍdecayed يُحرِّقُهُburns it
لكِنَّكُمْ حَطَبٌ بالٍ يُحرِّقُهُ
سَعيرُthe blaze شَمْسِof the sun الضُّحىat midmorning منfrom قبلِbefore أشعاريmy poems
سَعيرُ شَمْسِ الضُّحى من قبلِ أشعاري
but you are decayed firewood, burned
But you are withered wood, set alight
by the blaze of the midmorning sun, even before my poems.
By the blaze of the midday sun prior to my poetry.
Sol 6.1