صُدّيturn away دَلالاcoquettishly فإِنيfor indeed I عنكfrom you مَصدودُshut out
صُدّي دَلالا فإِني عنك مَصدودُ
أعرضتِyou turned away عَمداًdeliberately وقلْبّand a heart مَعْمودُstricken
أعرضتِ عَمداً وقلْبّ مَعْمودُ
Turn away coyly, for I am shut out from you.
Turn back, my guide, for I'm barred from you,
You turned away deliberately, and a heart lies stricken;
You purposefully turned away though my heart's tied to you,
بهin him اصرارpersistence وفيand in اجفانهhis eyelids مَرَهٌbleariness
به اصرار وفي اجفانه مَرَهٌ
وأَنتِand you كحلاءُkohl-dark-eyed فيin خديكَyour two cheeks تَوريدُa rosy flush
وأَنتِ كحلاءُ في خديكَ تَوريدُ
he persists, and his eyelids are bleared;
With persistence in his eyelids bitterness lies,
and you are kohl-eyed, your cheeks flushed rose-red.
While you are kohl in your cheeks that flows,
وفيand in مفارقهِhis hair-partings شَيبٌgray hair وقدand already نشرتspread
وفي مفارقهِ شَيبٌ وقد نشرت
حُسناًbeauty عليكِupon you فروعٌtresses جثلةٌthick سُودُblack
حُسناً عليكِ فروعٌ جثلةٌ سُودُ
And gray lies in his hair-partings, while there spread
Parting made my hair turn grey, though you've spread
over you, in beauty, thick black tresses.
Beauty upon yourself - fresh, green branches they are.
يَهنْيكmay it bring you joy ماwhat نمتِyou slept منof ليلٍa night هدأُتِyou rested بهin it
يَهنْيك ما نمتِ من ليلٍ هدأُتِ به
فإِنّماfor only ليْلُناour night دَمعٌtears وتَسهْيدُand sleeplessness
فإِنّما ليْلُنا دَمعٌ وتَسهْيدُ
May your sleep in a night of repose bring you joy,
Blessed be your sleep in the quiet night,
for our night is nothing but tears and sleeplessness.
For our night is but tears and sighing.
أَبدَتshowed سُعادُSuad نُفوراًaversion فهيso she مُعرِضةٌturning away
أَبدَت سُعادُ نُفوراً فهي مُعرِضةٌ
كأنَّهاas though she رَشأٌa gazelle fawn فيin الرَّملthe sand مَردْودُdriven back
كأنَّها رَشأٌ في الرَّمل مَردْودُ
Suad showed aversion, so she turns away,
Good fortune showed disdain so she's averse,
like a gazelle fawn driven back among the sands.
As if she's a gazelle in the sands chased away.
بيضاءُfair-skinned ليّنةsupple الأعطافin the flanks ماnever برَزَتshe appeared
بيضاءُ ليّنة الأعطاف ما برَزَت
إلاّbut بداappeared قَمرٌa moon واهتزَّand swayed أُملوُدُa tender bough
إلاّ بدا قَمرٌ واهتزَّ أُملوُدُ
Fair-skinned and supple of flank, she never appears
White, gentle, soon as she came into view
but a moon appears and a tender bough sways.
A moon appeared and swayed a bending branch.
تختالstruts بينamong مُروطٍmantles باشرَتtouched directly بَشراًskin
تختال بين مُروطٍ باشرَت بَشراً
كأَنَّهاas though she منfrom أَديمthe skin of الشّمسthe sun مقدودُcut
كأَنَّها من أَديم الشّمس مقدودُ
She struts in mantles that brush her skin,
She sways between blossoms, smiles a smiling
as though she were cut from the sun's own skin.
As if it's leather dried under the sun's pouring.
ومَبسمٍand a mouth رتلwith well-spaced teeth كأنas though ريقتهُits saliva
ومَبسمٍ رتل كأن ريقتهُ
مَجَّتpoured out عليهupon it السّلافاتِthe purest wines العناقيدُthe grape clusters
مَجَّت عليه السّلافاتِ العناقيدُ
And a mouth with well-spaced teeth, whose moisture seems
O fairest of people when your eyelids shine
the purest wine poured upon it by grape clusters.
With those cheeks, lips, and smooth neck.
ياO أَحسنَmost beautiful of النّاسpeople أَعطافاًin form إذاwhen برقتflashed
يا أَحسنَ النّاس أَعطافاً إذا برقت
تلكَthose العوارضُside teeth واللَّباتُand throat-hollows والجيدُand the neck
تلكَ العوارضُ واللَّباتُ والجيدُ
O loveliest of people in form, when there flash
The pact made our nights too short,
those teeth, the throat-hollows, and the neck!
If only the pact remained, as was agreed.
سَقىmay water العهادُrecurring rains لييلاَتٍlittle nights لناfor us قَصُرتwere brief
سَقى العهادُ لييلاَتٍ لنا قَصُرت
لوif only دامlasted للعْهَدِfor the pledge وصلٌunion منكَfrom you معهودُcustomary
لو دام للعْهَدِ وصلٌ منكَ معهودُ
May recurring rains water those brief nights of ours,
Good too were zephyrs of your consent for us,
if only your accustomed union had endured, true to our pledge.
If only that life returned as was known before.
وحبّذاand how lovely نفحاتٌbreezes منfrom رضاكِyour favor لناfor us
وحبّذا نفحاتٌ من رضاكِ لنا
لوif only أَنthat فارطthe bygone part of ذاكthat العيشlife مَردودُrestored
لو أَن فارط ذاك العيش مَردودُ
And how sweet the breezes of your favor toward us,
Days to relax and settle down there were,
if only that bygone life could be restored!
On it the shade of prosperity spread.
ايّامَin days when للّهوfor pleasure مُصطافٌa summer retreat ومُرتَبَعٌand a spring abode
ايّامَ للّهو مُصطافٌ ومُرتَبَعٌ
عليهover it ظلّthe shade السّراءِof gladness مَمْدُودُspread
عليه ظلّ السّراءِ مَمْدُودُ
In days when pleasure had a summer retreat and a spring abode,
The theater of life and joys flowed,
with the shade of gladness spread above it.
In its plains wildlife multiplied and cried.
ومَسرَحُand the pasture العيشof life واللَّذاتand pleasures ساريةroaming by night
ومَسرَحُ العيش واللَّذات سارية
فيin أَبْرَدَيهits dawn and dusk ظباءُgazelles انَّسtame غِيدُgraceful-necked
في أَبْرَدَيه ظباءُ انَّس غِيدُ
And the pasture of life and pleasures, where roam
It hunted for me with bonds of love does,
in its cool dawn and dusk, tame, graceful-necked gazelles.
Adorned with eyes of love, outstretched.
يصطاهاcatches them ليfor me بأشراكwith the snares الودادof affection صِباًyouthful passion
يصطاها لي بأشراك الوداد صِباً
مرشحٌnurtured بعيونat the springs الحُبِّof love مَوْدُودُbeloved
مرشحٌ بعيون الحُبِّ مَوْدُودُ
Youthful passion catches them for me in affection's snares,
There I'd see the sweet drinks being sipped,
nurtured at love's springs and held dear.
And longing's anguish being fulfilled and soothed.
وثمand there أَرْىhoney اللَّمَىdarkness of the lips المعسولُhoney-sweet مرتَشفٌsipped
وثم أَرْى اللَّمَى المعسولُ مرتَشفٌ
منfrom ريقهاher saliva وغليلُand the burning thirst الشّوقof longing مَبْرُودُcooled
من ريقها وغليلُ الشّوق مَبْرُودُ
And there the honeyed sweetness of dark lips is sipped
Roaming thus, and my heart roaming in youth,
from her saliva, and longing's burning thirst is cooled.
No blame on you though you joke and tease.
تيهيbe proud كذاكlike that ودليِّand be coquettish بالشّبابin your youth فلاso no
تيهي كذاك ودليِّ بالشّباب فلا
لومblame عليكupon you وانتِand you الكاعبُthe budding-breasted maiden الرُّودُthe tender one
لوم عليك وانتِ الكاعبُ الرُّودُ
Be proud like this, and coquettish in your youth; no
Grey has marked my temples - I'm an old man,
blame falls on you, the tender, budding-breasted maiden.
No able limbs did fate form for me.
وقدand already اشابَhas grayed عذاريmy sideburns أَننيthat I رجلُa man
وقد اشابَ عذاري أَنني رجلُ
ماnot صوَرتwere fashioned ليَfor me أعضاءٌlimbs جلاميدُsolid boulders
ما صوَرت ليَ أعضاءٌ جلاميدُ
And my sideburns have grayed because I am a man
I'm bound to a care in a land that won't
whose limbs were not fashioned from solid boulders.
Be lightened, with its associations and songs.
لازمتُI lived with هَماًgrief بأرضin a land لاnot يفرّجهdispels it
لازمتُ هَماً بأرض لا يفرّجه
مُدامُهاits wine والنَّدامىand drinking companions والأَغاريدُand songs
مُدامُها والنَّدامى والأَغاريدُ
I have lived with grief in a land where it is not dispelled
Nothing relieves my worries when they strike
by its wine, drinking companions, or songs.
Except the darkness, onto which the flames are heaped.
لاnot يكشفdispels الهمَّgrief عنيfrom me حينwhen يطْرقنيit visits me by night
لا يكشف الهمَّ عني حين يطْرقني
إلاّexcept الدّجىnight's darkness والفلاand deserts والبُزَّلُand mature camels القُودُlong-necked
إلاّ الدّجى والفلا والبُزَّلُ القُودُ
Nothing lifts my sorrow when it visits me by night
When a land's plants bloom, to me it doesn't
but night's darkness, deserts, and mature, long-necked camels.
Reveal those who dwell in its wilderness.
إذاwhen البلادُthe lands نبَتproved inhospitable ليto me فيamong الأنيسhuman companions فلاthen not
إذا البلادُ نبَت لي في الأنيس فلا
تنبوprove inhospitable بساكنهاto their dweller فيamong وحشهاtheir wild beasts البيدُthe deserts
تنبو بساكنها في وحشها البيدُ
When lands spurn me among human companions, never
My staying in a land the clouds grace,
do deserts spurn their dweller among their wild beasts.
Where my drinking of it is a painful gulp -
وماand why مُقامَيmy staying فيin ارْضa land يَجُودُpours generously بهاupon it
وما مُقامَي في ارْض يَجُودُ بها
صَوبُthe downpour الغمامof clouds وشربيand my drinking منهfrom it تصريدُscant watering
صَوبُ الغمام وشربي منه تصريدُ
And why should I stay in a land lavishly watered
As for Abu l-Qasim, his gifts to me
by the clouds' downpour, while my draught of it is scant?
Are bountiful, in all circumstances praised.
أَمَّاas for أبوAbu القاسمal-Qasim فنائلُهُthen his bounty
أَمَّا أبو القاسم فنائلُهُ
عنديto me جزيلabundant علىin الحالاتall circumstances محمُودُpraiseworthy
عندي جزيل على الحالات محمُودُ
As for Abu al-Qasim, his bounty
I've become a neighbor of his in bounty,
is abundant to me, praiseworthy in every circumstance.
I reckon, of the enriching ones counted.
أصبحتُI have become جارَthe neighbor of علّيٍAli فيin كرامتهhis generosity
أصبحتُ جارَ علّيٍ في كرامته
أَعدُّI reckon أَنيthat I منamong المُثْرينthe wealthy مَعدودُcounted
أَعدُّ أَني من المُثْرين مَعدودُ
I have become Ali's neighbor within his generous care;
I've been allowed by him a green meadow,
I consider myself numbered among the wealthy.
From his fair palm a master, and faithful friend.
أُتيحَwas granted ليto me منهُfrom him رَوضٌa meadow بالغمىwith herbage خَضِلٌlush and moist
أُتيحَ لي منهُ رَوضٌ بالغمى خَضِلٌ
منfrom مُزْنrain-clouds كفيهhis two palms مَوْلِيٌّwatered by following rain ومَعُهودُand watered by recurring rain
من مُزْن كفيه مَوْلِيٌّ ومَعُهودُ
From him I was granted a meadow, lush with herbage,
I boast we've found in his open-handedness
watered and watered again by the rain-clouds of his palms.
The utmost one can reach in bounty.
اغرُّillustrious أوجدنْاmade us find فيماin what يجودhe gives generously بهwith it
اغرُّ أوجدنْا فيما يجود به
منof النَّدىbounty مُنتهىthe utmost ماwhat يبلغُcan reach الجُودُgenerosity
من النَّدى مُنتهى ما يبلغُ الجُودُ
Illustrious, he has shown us in what he gives
In his company for delegations a pasture,
of bounty the utmost that generosity can attain.
And for the needy an open place for wishes.
وعندَهُand with him كَلأٌpasture للوفدfor delegations مُنْتَجَعٌsought for sustenance
وعندَهُ كَلأٌ للوفد مُنْتَجَعٌ
ومَشرعُand a watering place لبنيfor the sons of الحَاجاتneeds مَوْرُودُfrequented
ومَشرعُ لبني الحَاجات مَوْرُودُ
And with him is pasture sought by visiting delegations,
Free with his hands, simple in his stand
and a watering place frequented by those in need.
In valor and bounty between men witnessed.
طَلقُopen اليدينboth hands بسيطُlavish in الخَيرgoodness موقفهُhis stand
طَلقُ اليدين بسيطُ الخَير موقفهُ
فيin البأسbattle والجُودand generosity بينamong النّاسِpeople مشْهُودُwitnessed
في البأس والجُود بين النّاسِ مشْهُودُ
Open-handed, lavish in goodness, his stand
Capacious, when the day of clamor was straitened,
in battle and bounty is witnessed among men.
He pressed on when the horsemen were called.
رحَبٌlarge-hearted إذاwhen ضاقthings tighten يومَon the day of الروَّعterror مقتحِمٌcharging in
رحَبٌ إذا ضاق يومَ الروَّع مقتحِمٌ
ماضٍpressing forward إذاwhen كانthere is بالفرسانamong the horsemen تعْريدُfearful retreat
ماضٍ إذا كان بالفرسان تعْريدُ
Large-hearted when things tighten on the day of terror, he charges in,
I smell he was given succession to rule
pressing forward when the horsemen shrink back in fear.
By the inherited crown of Yazin's clan;
أَشمُّproud and aquiline قلّدهُgirded him with الماثورَthe patterned sword ذُوDhu يَزَنٍYazan
أَشمُّ قلّدهُ الماثورَ ذُو يَزَنٍ
قِدْماًlong ago والبسَهand clad him in الماذيَّfine mail داوُدُDawud
قِدْماً والبسَه الماذيَّ داوُدُ
Proud and aquiline, he was girded with the patterned sword by Dhu Yazan
Girded by it a polished sword, its blades
long ago, and Dawud clad him in fine mail.
Are Indian, ornamented, filed down.
يعدوgallops بهwith him اجردٌa sleek horse صُمٌhard سَنابِكُهُits hooves
يعدو به اجردٌ صُمٌ سَنابِكُهُ
مطهمَّwell-formed شَنِجٌtaut الأَنْساءِthe hamstrings ممْسودُfirmly knit
مطهمَّ شَنِجٌ الأَنْساءِ ممْسودُ
A sleek horse gallops bearing him, its hooves hard,
In an impregnable mountain fortress he's protected
well-formed, taut of hamstring, firmly knit.
By chiefs of glorious Nubian descent.
فيin مَعقلa stronghold منamong جبالthe mountains العزّof glory يمنَعهُprotects him
في مَعقل من جبال العزّ يمنَعهُ
منfrom آلthe house of نبهانNabhan شُمُّlofty-nosed سادةٌlords صيدُhigh-headed
من آل نبهان شُمُّ سادةٌ صيدُ
In a stronghold among the mountains of glory, he is guarded
Whites it has, of whom the ancients said:
by lofty, high-headed lords of the house of Nabhan.
"Be generous, be honored, and for your principles stand firm."
بيضٌfair-faced بهاmagnanimous chiefs (first fragment) ليلmagnanimous chiefs (second fragment) قالsaid الأَوّلونthe forebears لهمto them
بيضٌ بها ليل قال الأَوّلون لهم
جُودواbe generous وسُودواand be lords وعنand in defense of احسابكُمyour ancestral honors ذُودُواdefend
جُودوا وسُودوا وعن احسابكُم ذُودُوا
Fair, magnanimous chiefs, to whom their forebears said:
Like lions it moves them, stripped, poisoned,
Be generous, be lords, and defend your ancestral honor.
Above them the coat of mail is tightened.
كالأَسدlike lions تنقلهمcarry them جُردsleek horses مُسموّمةmarked
كالأَسد تنقلهم جُرد مُسموّمة
عليهمupon them حَلقُrings الماذيِّof fine mail مَسْرودُlinked together
عليهم حَلقُ الماذيِّ مَسْرودُ
Like lions, they are borne by sleek, marked horses;
A people ennobled by an ally who praises them
upon them the rings of fine mail are linked together.
when unharmed, and the distressed of the land seek refuge.
قومٌa people يُعزّبهمgains honor through them جارٌa neighbor ويحْمدهَمand praises them
قومٌ يُعزّبهم جارٌ ويحْمدهَم
عَافٍa seeker of gifts ويلْجأand seeks refuge باديshowing الكَربdistress مَنجودُone afflicted
عَافٍ ويلْجأ بادي الكَرب مَنجودُ
A people through whom a neighbor gains honor, and who are praised
Give Abu l-Qasim, the hoped for, a full hand
by a seeker of gifts; and an afflicted man, his distress plain, seeks refuge with them.
In glory accompanied by length and support.
أَبلغconvey to أباAbu القاسمal-Qasim المامولthe hoped-for بسطَoutstretching of يدa hand
أَبلغ أبا القاسم المامول بسطَ يد
فيin العزّglory يَصحبُهاaccompanies it طُولfar-reaching bounty وتأييدُand support
في العزّ يَصحبُها طُول وتأييدُ
Tell Abu al-Qasim, whose outstretched hand is hoped for,
Still you remain in a splendid state, its star
in glory, with far-reaching bounty and support attending it:
In the celestial sphere, of the heights, is fortunate.
لاnever زلتَmay you cease فيin دولةa reign زهراءradiant كوكبهاits star
لا زلتَ في دولة زهراء كوكبها
فيin البُرجthe zodiacal mansion منof فلكthe sphere العلياءof high honor مَسْعودُfortunate
في البُرج من فلك العلياء مَسْعودُ
May you ever remain in a radiant reign, whose star
Happiest be with a festival's joy - you are its elation,
is fortunate in its zodiacal mansion in the sphere of high honor.
For us every day in your time is a feast.
واسعدْand rejoice بغُرةّat the dawn of عيدa festival أَنتyou بهْجَتهُits joy
واسعدْ بغُرةّ عيد أَنت بهْجَتهُ
بكلon every يومday لناfor us فيin دهركمyour time عيدُa festival
بكل يوم لنا في دهركم عيدُ
And rejoice at the dawn of a festival whose joy you are;
Write to him the strung gems, so his name thereby
every day of your time is a festival for us.
Every precious day something rare is made.
ودونكand take الجوهرَthe jewels المنَظومstrung فاسمُso rise high بهwith it
ودونك الجوهرَ المنَظوم فاسمُ به
ماnot كلَّevery يومday نفيسُprecious الدرّpearls موجودُfound
ما كلَّ يوم نفيسُ الدرّ موجودُ
And take the strung jewels, and rise high with them;
With your favor foil my enviers,
not every day can precious pearls be found.
Since I'm only envied due to your grace.
واكْبُتْand confound بعطفكwith your kindness حُسّاديmy enviers علىfor نعمتيmy blessing
واكْبُتْ بعطفك حُسّادي على نعمتي
إِنّماonly أَناI منbecause of جَدْواكyour bounty مَحْسُودُenvied
إِنّما أَنا من جَدْواك مَحْسُودُ
And with your kindness, confound those who envy my blessing;
I am envied only for your bounty.
Partial English translation: 76 of 78 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1