صَددتyou turned away أَنbecause عادbecame روضthe garden of الرأسthe head ذاpossessing زَهَرٍblossoms
صَددت أَن عاد روض الرأس ذا زَهَرٍ
فالشَيبُso gray hair عِندِكِto you ذَنبٌa sin غيرnot مغتفرِforgiven
فالشَيبُ عِندِكِ ذَنبٌ غير مغتفرِ
You turned away because the garden of my head had come into bloom;
I thought youth's garden would bloom again
to you, gray hair is an unforgivable sin.
But to you gray hair is an unforgiven sin
لاmay not دَرَّyield دَرُّthe yield of بَياضthe whiteness of الشَيبِgray hair إِنَّindeed لَهُit has
لا دَرَّ دَرُّ بَياض الشَيبِ إِنَّ لَهُ
فيin أَعيُنthe eyes of الغيدِslender beauties مِثلَlike الوَخزِpricking بالإِبَرِwith needles
في أَعيُن الغيدِ مِثلَ الوَخزِ بالإِبَرِ
No blessing on gray hair's whiteness! For it has
Do not blame the white hair, for it
in slender beauties' eyes, something like the prick of needles.
Pricks the eyes of the bright like needles in skin
سَوادthe blackness of رأسِكَyour head عِندَto الهائِماتِwomen enamored بِهِof it
سَواد رأسِكَ عِندَ الهائِماتِ بِهِ
مُعادِلٌequal لِسَوادِto the dark core of القَلبِthe heart وَالبَصَرِand the eye
مُعادِلٌ لِسَوادِ القَلبِ وَالبَصَرِ
The blackness of your hair, to women enamored of it,
To those who love the black, your raven hair
matches the dark core of the heart and the eye.
Equals the darkness of heart and vision fair
قَدonce كانَwas مَغفِرَthe mail-helmet of رأسيmy head لاقتيرno pale studs بِهِin it
قَد كانَ مَغفِرَ رأسي لاقتير بِهِ
فَصَيَّرتهso it turned it into قَتيراًpale studs صبغةthe dye of الكِبَرِold age
فَصَيَّرته قَتيراً صبغة الكِبَرِ
My head's mail-helmet once had no pale studs;
My forgiving raven locks which I prized
then old age's dye turned it into studs of gray.
Are now shamed by the dyes of old age despised
كُنbe منof ملاحظthe glances of عينيهاher eyes عَلىon حذرٍguard
كُن من ملاحظ عينيها عَلى حذرٍ
فَإِنَّماfor indeed لَحظُهاher glance أَمضىkeener مِنَthan القَدَرِfate
فَإِنَّما لَحظُها أَمضى مِنَ القَدَرِ
Beware the glances of her eyes,
Beware her glancing eyes, their piercing dart
for her glance is keener than fate.
Is more fatal than the sharpest spear to heart
أَهتَزُّI tremble عِندَwhen تَمَنّيwishing for وَصلِهاunion with her طَرَباًin delight
أَهتَزُّ عِندَ تَمَنّي وَصلِها طَرَباً
وَرُبَّand many a أمنِيَةwish أَحلىsweeter مِنَthan الظَفَرِattainment
وَرُبَّ أمنِيَة أَحلى مِنَ الظَفَرِ
I tremble with delight when wishing for union with her;
I quake in longing when she calls, for nothing
many a wish is sweeter than attainment.
Is sweeter than hopes of love enthralling
تَجنيshe wrongs عَليَّme وَأَجنيand I gather fruit مِنfrom مَراشِفهاher lips
تَجني عَليَّ وَأَجني مِن مَراشِفها
فَفيso amid الجناfruit-gathering وَالجَناياتand offenses انقَضىpassed away عُمُريmy life
فَفي الجنا وَالجَنايات انقَضى عُمُري
She wrongs me, while I gather fruit from her lips;
She tempts and I yield, spent in her embrace
so amid fruit-gathering and offenses my life passed away.
Thus my life is lost in joy and disgrace
أَهدىbrought as a gift لَناto us طَيفُهاher phantom نَجداًNajd وَساكِنُهُand its inhabitants
أَهدى لَنا طَيفُها نَجداً وَساكِنُهُ
حَتّىuntil اقتَصناwe hunted ظباءthe gazelles of البَدوthe desert فيin الحَضَرِsettled lands
حَتّى اقتَصنا ظباء البَدو في الحَضَرِ
Her phantom brought us Najd and its inhabitants,
Her phantom brought joy to quench fire inside
until we hunted desert gazelles in settled lands.
Till we shunned the wilds for the city's tide
يخنسنthey retreat بَينَbetween فروجthe openings of المعلماتthe patterned fabrics كَماjust as
يخنسن بَينَ فروج المعلمات كَما
يكنسنthey take shelter بَينَamong فُروعthe branches of الظالẓāl trees والسَمرِand samur acacias
يكنسن بَينَ فُروع الظال والسَمرِ
They retreat between the openings of patterned fabrics, as
They hide in teachers' sleeves like frightened fowl
they shelter among the branches of ẓāl and samur trees.
Among branches of jujube and lotus foul
فَباتَso it spent the night يَجلوrevealing لَناto us مِنfrom وَجهِهاher face قمراًa moon
فَباتَ يَجلو لَنا مِن وَجهِها قمراً
مِنَfrom البَراقِعِthe veils لَولاbut for كَلفَةُthe dark patches of القَمَرِthe moon
مِنَ البَراقِعِ لَولا كَلفَةُ القَمَرِ
All night it revealed to us a moon in her face,
Her face was the moon unveiled for me at night
from beneath the veils, but free of the moon's dark patches.
But for veil's shame not the true moon's light
وَراعهاand alarmed her حَرُّthe heat of أَنفاسيmy breaths فَقلتso I said لَهاto her
وَراعها حَرُّ أَنفاسي فَقلت لَها
هَوايَmy passion نارٌfire وَأَنفاسيand my breaths مِنَamong الشَرَرِsparks
هَوايَ نارٌ وَأَنفاسي مِنَ الشَرَرِ
The heat of my breaths alarmed her, and I told her:
My burning breath startled her, so I said
My passion is fire, and my breaths are sparks.
My love's a fire and my breath makes sparks spread
فَزادَso added to دُرُّthe pearls of الثَناياthe front teeth دَرُّthe flow of أَدمعهاher tears
فَزادَ دُرُّ الثَنايا دَرُّ أَدمعها
فالتفَّso entwined مُنتَظمstrung pearls مِنهُof it بمنتِثرِwith scattered ones
فالتفَّ مُنتَظم مِنهُ بمنتِثرِ
The flow of her tears added to the pearls of her front teeth,
Her tears flowed faster, uniformly scattered
so strung pearls entwined with scattered ones.
As prose and poetry together gathered
فَماso nothing نكرناwe found strange مِنَin الطَيفِthe phantom المُلِمِّvisiting بِناus
فَما نكرنا مِنَ الطَيفِ المُلِمِّ بِنا
ممنfrom the one whom هَويناهُwe loved إِلّاexcept قِلَّةُthe lack of الخَفرِmodesty
ممن هَويناهُ إِلّا قِلَّةُ الخَفرِ
We found nothing strange in the phantom visiting us
That loved shade we knew was too brief to enjoy
from the one we loved, except its lack of modesty.
For lack of time, not lack of convoy
باتَتshe spent the night تُبيحُallowing لَناus ماwhat لاnot تَجودshe bestows بِهِof it
باتَت تُبيحُ لَنا ما لا تَجود بِهِ
مِنَof الرِضابِsaliva اللَذيذdelicious البارِدcold الخَصرِcool
مِنَ الرِضابِ اللَذيذ البارِد الخَصرِ
All night she allowed us what she would not bestow:
She granted delights at night beyond measure
that delicious saliva, cold and cool.
Cold drinks and pleasures no riches can treasure
فثرتthen I sprang up أَعثرstumbling فيin ذيلthe hem of الدُجىdarkness ولهاًdistraught
فثرت أَعثر في ذيل الدُجى ولهاً
وَالجوُّand the sky رَوضٌa garden وَزهرand the bloom of الشيبgray hair كالزَهرِlike flowers
وَالجوُّ رَوضٌ وَزهر الشيب كالزَهرِ
Then I sprang up, distraught, stumbling in night's hem,
I stumbled in the darkness, hair disheveled
while the sky was a garden, and gray hair's bloom like flowers.
The meadow was a garden, my white hair petaled
وَللمجرَّةand the Milky Way has فَوقَabove الأَرضِthe earth مُعتَرِضٌa crosswise stretch
وَللمجرَّة فَوقَ الأَرضِ مُعتَرِضٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though it were حَبَبٌbubbles يَطفوfloating عَلىon نَهَرِa river
كَأَنَّها حَبَبٌ يَطفو عَلى نَهَرِ
Above the earth the Milky Way stretched crosswise,
The galaxy stretched across the ground below
like bubbles floating on a river.
Like grains floating upon a river's flow
وَلِلثُّرَيّاand the Pleiades have رُكودstillness فَوقَabove أَرحلناour saddles
وَلِلثُّرَيّا رُكود فَوقَ أَرحلنا
كَأَنَّهاas though they were قطعةa piece مِنof جلدةthe skin of النَمِرِa leopard
كَأَنَّها قطعة مِن جلدة النَمِرِ
The Pleiades stood still above our saddles,
Above our camel litter the Pleiades cluster
like a piece of leopard skin.
Gleamed like the spotted pelt of a tiger or panther
وَأَدهمand the black steed of الليلnight نَحوtoward الغَربthe west مُنهَزِمٌfleeing
وَأَدهم الليل نَحو الغَرب مُنهَزِمٌ
وَأَشقَرُand the chestnut steed of الفَجرِdawn يَتلوهُfollows it عَلىon الأَثَرِits trail
وَأَشقَرُ الفَجرِ يَتلوهُ عَلى الأَثَرِ
Night's black steed fled toward the west,
The dark night retreated, vanquished in the west
and dawn's chestnut steed followed close behind.
The blond dawn pursued hot on its heels at best
كَأَنَّas though أَنجمهits stars وَالصبحwhile dawn يغمضهاcloses them
كَأَنَّ أَنجمه وَالصبح يغمضها
قَسراًby force عيونeyes غفتdozed مِنfrom شِدَّةِthe intensity of السَهَرِwakefulness
قَسراً عيون غفت مِن شِدَّةِ السَهَرِ
Its stars seemed, as dawn closed them,
As if the stars and dawn shut their eyes perforce
by force, eyes dozing from prolonged wakefulness.
After all-night vigil, overpowered by drowsiness
فَرَوَّعthen startled السِربَthe herd لماwhen ابتلgrew wet أَكرعهits shanks
فَرَوَّع السِربَ لما ابتل أَكرعه
فيin جَدوَلٍa stream مِنfrom خَليجthe channel of الفَجرِdawn مُنفَجِرِbursting forth
في جَدوَلٍ مِن خَليج الفَجرِ مُنفَجِرِ
Then it startled the herd when its shanks grew wet
When the flock was disturbed by the cry of a grouse
in a stream bursting from dawn's channel.
Who splashed in the brook at the break of dawn's house
وَلَوand if قدرتI could وَثوبwhile the robe of اللَيلِnight مُنخَرِقٌwas torn
وَلَو قدرت وَثوب اللَيلِ مُنخَرِقٌ
بِالصُبحِby dawn رَقَّعتهI would patch it مِنهُنَّfrom them بِالشَعَرِwith hair
بِالصُبحِ رَقَّعته مِنهُنَّ بِالشَعَرِ
Had I the power, with night's robe torn
If I could mend the night's ripped cloak at dawn
by dawn, I would patch it with their hair.
With their hair I would patch that cloth, travel-worn
قالَتshe said أَأَنساكِhas made you forget? نَجداًNajd حُبُّlove of مطَّرفٍa new beloved
قالَت أَأَنساكِ نَجداً حُبُّ مطَّرفٍ
فَقُلتso I said خُبرُكِknowing you firsthand يُغنينيsuffices me عَنwithout الخَبَرِhearsay
فَقُلت خُبرُكِ يُغنيني عَن الخَبَرِ
She said: Has a newly won love made you forget Najd?
"Have you forgotten love of Motarrif?" she said
I replied: Knowing you firsthand frees me from hearsay.
I said, "Just to hear puts my heart at ease."
أَخَذتِyou took طَرفيmy gaze وَسَمعيand my hearing يَومَon the day of بَينِكُمُyour departure
أَخَذتِ طَرفي وَسَمعي يَومَ بَينِكُمُ
فَكَيفَso how أَهوىcan I love بِلاwithout سَمعٍhearing وَلاand without بَصَرِsight
فَكَيفَ أَهوى بِلا سَمعٍ وَلا بَصَرِ
You took my gaze and hearing on the day of your departure;
You took my eyes and hearing when we met
how can I love without hearing or sight?
Now eyeless and deaf how can new love beget?
وَقَدand already أَخَذتِyou took فُؤاديmy heart قَبلُbefore فاطَّلعيso look within
وَقَد أَخَذتِ فُؤادي قَبلُ فاطَّلعي
هَلis there? فيهِin it غَيرُكِother than you مِنany أُنثىwoman وَمِنand any ذَكَرِman
هَل فيهِ غَيرُكِ مِن أُنثى وَمِن ذَكَرِ
You had already taken my heart, so look within:
Long ago you stole my heart, look and see
is anyone there besides you, woman or man?
If any female or male resides there but thee
فَإِنso if وَجدتyou find سِوىapart from التَوحيدbelief in God's oneness فيهِin it هَوىًlove
فَإِن وَجدت سِوى التَوحيد فيهِ هَوىً
إِلّاexcept هَواكِlove for you فَلاthen do not تُبقيspare وَلاand do not تَذَريleave anything
إِلّا هَواكِ فَلا تُبقي وَلا تَذَري
If, apart from belief in God's oneness, you find any love there
If you find any love there but yours efface it
except love for you, then spare nothing and leave nothing.
Do not leave one shred or atom in its place
حَكَّمَتI appointed as judge حُبَّكِyour love فيin قَلبيmy heart فَجارَso it acted unjustly وَمَنand whoever
حَكَّمَت حُبَّكِ في قَلبي فَجارَ وَمَن
يَقنَعaccepts بِحُكمِthe rule of الهَوىpassion فيin قَلبِهِhis heart يَجرِacts unjustly
يَقنَع بِحُكمِ الهَوى في قَلبِهِ يَجرِ
I made your love judge in my heart; it was unjust—and whoever
Your love conquered my heart so it was depraved
accepts passion's rule over his heart does it wrong.
He who accepts love's rule is thus enslaved
بَيضاءa fair woman تَسحَبُtrails لَيلاًa night حُسنَهُits beauty أَبَداًalways
بَيضاء تَسحَبُ لَيلاً حُسنَهُ أَبَداً
فيin الطُولِlength مِنهُof it وَحسنand the beauty of اللَيلِnight فيin القِصَرِbrevity
في الطُولِ مِنهُ وَحسن اللَيلِ في القِصَرِ
A fair woman trails a night whose beauty always
A bright white radiance whose beautyforever
lies in its length, while night's beauty lies in brevity.
Lengthens the night and the night enhances her
يَحكيresembles جناgathered blossoms of الأُقحوانchrysanthemums الغضّfresh مَبسِمُهاher smile
يَحكي جنا الأُقحوان الغضّ مَبسِمُها
فيin اللَونcolor وَالريحand scent وَالتَفليجand tooth-spacing وَالأَشَرِand serrated edges
في اللَون وَالريح وَالتَفليج وَالأَشَرِ
Her smile resembles fresh chrysanthemum blossoms
The dimples' rosebud smile relates the hue
in color, scent, tooth-spacing, and serrated edges.
And scent of apple blossoms born anew
لَوif لَمnot يَكُنwere أُقحُواناًa chrysanthemum ثَغرُthe mouth of مَبسِمِهاher smile
لَو لَم يَكُن أُقحُواناً ثَغرُ مَبسِمِها
ماnot كانَwould يَزدادgrow more طيباًfragrant ساعَةat the hour of السَحرِthe predawn
ما كانَ يَزداد طيباً ساعَة السَحرِ
Were her smiling mouth not a chrysanthemum,
Were it anything but apple, the smile's perfume
it would not grow more fragrant at the hour before dawn.
Would not heighten at the hour of dews
لَهاshe has عَلىover الغيدslender beauties فَضلsuperiority مِثلَlike ماthe way فَضُلَتsurpassed
لَها عَلى الغيد فَضل مِثلَ ما فَضُلَت
كَفّاthe two hands of الرَئيسthe chief أَبيAbu عَمروٍAmr عَلىover المَطَرِrain
كَفّا الرَئيس أَبي عَمروٍ عَلى المَطَرِ
She excels slender beauties just as
She exceeds the bright like Abu Amr's palm
the two hands of the chief Abu Amr excel the rain.
Surpasses the raincloud brimming with balm
وهبهand grant that it بارهماrivals them both فيin غُزرِthe abundance of نيلهماtheir giving
وهبه بارهما في غُزرِ نيلهما
فَهَلthen can يباريهماrival them both فيin الجودِgenerosity بِالبِدَرِwith bags of money
فَهَل يباريهما في الجودِ بِالبِدَرِ
Grant that it rivals them in the abundance of their gifts:
God granted them open-handed clouds in plenty
can it rival them in giving bags of money?
Does the full moon itself give so bounteously?
ذوa man with صورةa form أَفرَغcast الرَحمنthe Merciful صيغتهاits shape
ذو صورة أَفرَغ الرَحمن صيغتها
فيin قالِبthe mold of المَجدِglory لاnot فيin قالِبthe mold of البشرِhumankind
في قالِب المَجدِ لا في قالِب البشرِ
A man whose form the Merciful poured
A form created by God in glory's mold
into the mold of glory, not the mold of mortals.
Not in human proportions as we behold
وَماءand the luster of وَجهa face ينِّبيtells عَنof صَرامَتِهِhis firmness
وَماء وَجه ينِّبي عَن صَرامَتِهِ
إِنindeed الفرندa blade's watered pattern دَليلُa sign of الصارِمِthe keen blade الذَكَرِstrong
إِن الفرند دَليلُ الصارِمِ الذَكَرِ
The luster of his face tells of his firmness:
A face whose smile betrays his sternness
the watered pattern marks a keen, strong blade.
Since a Frank's face reveals a man's character
بَحرٌa sea وَلَكِنَّهُbut he تَصفوrun clear مَوارِدهhis watering places
بَحرٌ وَلَكِنَّهُ تَصفو مَوارِده
وَالبَحرand the sea مُنبَعِثsurges بِالصَفوِwith clear water وَالكدرِand murky water
وَالبَحر مُنبَعِث بِالصَفوِ وَالكدرِ
He is a sea, yet his watering places run clear,
He is a sea, but its gifts are pure
while the sea surges with clearness and turbidity.
While the sea spits both wholesome and impure
لاdo not تنكرَنَّdeem strange نَفيساًa precious thing منamong مَواهِبِهِhis gifts
لا تنكرَنَّ نَفيساً من مَواهِبِهِ
فَلَيسَfor it is not ينكرdeemed strange قَذفُthe casting up البَحرِby the sea بالدُرَرِof pearls
فَلَيسَ ينكر قَذفُ البَحرِ بالدُرَرِ
Do not marvel at anything precious among his gifts,
Do not deny he has some meritorious traits
for the sea's casting up pearls is no marvel.
What sea does not cast forth pearls and coralline freight?
صَعبunyielding in الأباءrefusal ذَلولgentle in الصَفحpardon مُبتَعِدُfar removed in
صَعب الأباء ذَلول الصَفح مُبتَعِدُ
المحلِّstation دانيnear in النَدىbounty مُستَحكِمfirmly secured المَرَرِtwisted cords
المحلِّ داني النَدى مُستَحكِم المَرَرِ
Unyielding in refusal, gentle in pardon, far above
Proud yet gentle, distant yet close, his justice reigns.
in rank, near in bounty, his cords of strength firmly twined.
He metes out sentences beyond appeals or complaints.
ياO مَنone who يَرومseeks لَهُfor him شُبهاًa likeness يُشاكِلُهُmatching him
يا مَن يَروم لَهُ شُبهاً يُشاكِلُهُ
لَقَدindeed طلبتyou sought مَحالاًan impossibility لَيسَnot فيin القَدَرِdestiny
لَقَد طلبت مَحالاً لَيسَ في القَدَرِ
O you who seek a likeness matching him,
You who compare him to others, desist!
you have sought an impossibility not granted by fate.
You attempt the impossible, give up your twist
إِنif كُنتَyou are تَطلُبseeking بَحراًa sea لاnot يَغيضdwindles فزرthen visit
إِن كُنتَ تَطلُب بَحراً لا يَغيض فزر
مُحَمَّدMuhammad بِنibn الحُسَينal-Husayn الآنnow أَوor فَذرِthen desist
مُحَمَّد بِن الحُسَين الآن أَو فَذرِ
If you seek a sea that never dwindles, visit
If you seek a bottomless sea of glory, then gaze-
Muhammad ibn al-Husayn now, or abandon the quest.
At Muhammad ibn Hussein, feast your eyes and give praise
فَمَجدِهِfor his glory وَنداهand his generosity المحضpure فيin حَضَرٍresidence at home
فَمَجدِهِ وَنداه المحض في حَضَرٍ
وَمالهand his wealth وَثَناهُand his praise الغضُّfresh فيon سَفَرِa journey
وَماله وَثَناهُ الغضُّ في سَفَرِ
For his glory and his pure generosity stay at home,
His fame and repute in cities did peak,
while his wealth and fresh praise are on the road.
He was praised in the wilds when traveling sheikh
يَزيدincreases مَعروفهhis beneficence بالسَترِthrough concealment منزلةin rank
يَزيد مَعروفه بالسَترِ منزلة
كماjust as يَزيدُincreases بَهاءthe beauty of الخودthe maiden بالخفرِthrough modesty
كما يَزيدُ بَهاء الخود بالخفرِ
His beneficence gains rank through concealment,
His generosity increases despite his reserve
as a maiden's beauty grows through modesty.
Just as cheeks' bloom enhanced by kohl verbs
تَرىyou see مياهthe waters of النَدىbounty تَجريflowing بأنملةthrough a fingertip
تَرى مياه النَدى تَجري بأنملة
تَرَقرَقَthe shimmering of الماءِwater فيon الهِندِيَّةِthe Indian blades البترِkeen-cutting
تَرَقرَقَ الماءِ في الهِندِيَّةِ البترِ
You see the waters of bounty flow through a fingertip,
Time relented and granted him more than due
like water shimmering on keen Indian blades.
Sometimes oysters yield pearls as virtues accrue
عَرَفتُI recognized أَباءهhis forefathers الشمُّlofty الكِرامnoble بِهِthrough him
عَرَفتُ أَباءه الشمُّ الكِرام بِهِ
كَذاكَlikewise يَعرِفone recognizes طيبthe goodness of الأَصلِthe root بالثَمَرِthrough the fruit
كَذاكَ يَعرِف طيب الأَصلِ بالثَمَرِ
Through him I recognized his lofty, noble forefathers;
He occupies the center of every steep ascent,
thus the goodness of the root is known by its fruit.
As the pupil focuses between eyelids' crescent
قَومa people علواrose high وَأَضاؤواand illuminated الأُفقthe horizon واتصلتand were unbroken
قَوم علوا وَأَضاؤوا الأُفق واتصلت
أَنواؤهمtheir rain-showers كفعالlike the workings of الأَنجمthe stars الزُهُرِradiant
أَنواؤهم كفعال الأَنجم الزُهُرِ
A people who rose high and lit the horizon; unbroken were
Without him the enemy tastes no death by pen
their rain-showers, like the workings of radiant stars.
A lion's claws without the lion are dull again
مَضواthey departed وَأَهوىand he hastened عَلىin آثارهمtheir footsteps خلفاًas a successor
مَضوا وَأَهوى عَلى آثارهم خلفاً
وَالسُحبand clouds مبقيةleave lasting traces لِلروضfor gardens وَالغَدرِand pools
وَالسُحب مبقية لِلروض وَالغَدرِ
They passed away, and he followed swiftly in their tracks as their heir;
In him are glory and death, as a warrior's mail
and clouds leave gardens and pools behind.
Holds poison and antidote, bane and balm to avail
قَدonce كنتI was أَهواهloving him تَقليداًon trust لمِخبرهin reports of him
قَد كنت أَهواه تَقليداً لمِخبره
فصرتso I came to أَهواهُlove him بِالتَقليدon trust وَالنَظرand firsthand sight
فصرت أَهواهُ بِالتَقليد وَالنَظر
I once loved him on trust in reports of him;
Whenever he pounced his fingers flexed to smite
now I love him both on trust and through sight.
Or his spears found their marks in the vulnerable site
وَكنتand I used to أُكبِرُهُrevere him قَبلَbefore اللِقاءmeeting لَهُwith him
وَكنت أُكبِرُهُ قَبلَ اللِقاء لَهُ
فازددتso I grew in reverence للفرقbecause of the difference بَينَbetween العينdirect sight والأَثَرِand reports
فازددت للفرق بَينَ العين والأَثَرِ
I revered him before meeting him,
Wounding thrusts issued that victims must bear
and grew in reverence at the difference between sight and report.
As stars pierce, not grazing the sky but fixed there
لاno غروwonder إِنif سمحyielded الدهرtime البَخيلstingy بِهِby giving him
لا غرو إِن سمح الدهر البَخيل بِهِ
فَطالَماfor often فاضَgushed ماءthe water of النَهرِthe river مِنfrom حَجَرِa stone
فَطالَما فاضَ ماء النَهرِ مِن حَجَرِ
No wonder that stingy time should yield him,
O Lord, I tread a path of complex implication
for river water has often gushed from stone.
Rein me in with concise lucid expression
جادَwas generous الزَمانtime فأعطىand gave فَوقَbeyond قيمَتهits own worth
جادَ الزَمان فأعطى فَوقَ قيمَته
وَرُبَّماand sometimes جادَتyielded generously الأَصدافshells بِالدُرَرِwith pearls
وَرُبَّما جادَت الأَصداف بِالدُرَرِ
Time was generous, giving more than its own worth,
To speak in utmost brevity yet make clear
and shells sometimes yield pearls.
The gist, shunning laxity and austere
يحلdwells مِنin كُلِّevery مَجدglory شامِخٍlofty وَسَطاًat the center
يحل مِن كُلِّ مَجد شامِخٍ وَسَطاً
توسطlike the central place of العينthe eye بَينَbetween الشفرone lid-rim وَالشفرِand the other lid-rim
توسط العين بَينَ الشفر وَالشفرِ
He occupies the center of every lofty glory,
Calligraphy flowed gently like water
as the eye sits between one lid-rim and the other.
Meeting generosity, matching letter for letter
لَولاهُwithout him لَمnot يَقضِwould judge فيagainst أَعدائِهِhis enemies قَلَمa pen
لَولاهُ لَم يَقضِ في أَعدائِهِ قَلَم
وَمخلبand the claw of اللَيثthe lion لَولاwithout اللَيثُthe lion كالظُفُرِlike a fingernail
وَمخلب اللَيث لَولا اللَيثُ كالظُفُرِ
Without him, no pen would pass judgment against his foes;
His spears like pens laid down in surrender
without the lion, its claw is like a fingernail.
Inversely reflecting sunlight in its splendor
فيهِin him المُنىhopes وَالمَناياand deaths كالشُجاعlike the serpent بِهwithin it
فيهِ المُنى وَالمَنايا كالشُجاع بِه
الدِرياقantidote وَالسُمّand poison جمُّabundant in النَفعbenefit وَالضَرَرِand harm
الدِرياق وَالسُمّ جمُّ النَفع وَالضَرَرِ
In him are hopes and deaths, like the serpent bearing
The bright meanings illuminate the black letters
antidote and poison, abundant in benefit and harm.
For darkness reveals and highlights nature's mysteries
ماnever صَرَّscratched إِلّاexcept that وصلَّتand rang بيضthe gleaming أَنصلهhis blades
ما صَرَّ إِلّا وصلَّت بيض أَنصله
فيagainst الهامskulls أَوor أطَّتِgroaned الأَرماحthe spears فيat الثَغرِthe frontier
في الهام أَو أطَّتِ الأَرماح في الثَغرِ
His pen never scratched but his gleaming blades rang
Neither all black resembles the pupil of the eye
against skulls, or spears groaned on the frontier,
Nor all white counted among houris on high
وَغادَرَتand left فيamong العِدىthe foes طَعناًthrust-wounds يَحفencircling بِهِaround them
وَغادَرَت في العِدى طَعناً يَحف بِهِ
ضَربsword blows كَماjust as حَفَّتsurrounded الأعكانbelly-folds بِالسررِaround navels
ضَرب كَما حَفَّت الأعكان بِالسررِ
and left his foes with thrust-wounds surrounded
Unless paired excellently in an ideal match
by sword blows, as belly-folds surround navels.
Black and white perfected in appropriate detachment
ياoh رَبَّmany a مَعنىًmeaning بَعيدfar-reaching in الشأوِscope أَسلُكُهُI thread it
يا رَبَّ مَعنىً بَعيد الشأوِ أَسلُكُهُ
فيon سلكa string of لَفظwording قَريبeasy in الفَهمِunderstanding مُختَصَرِconcise
في سلك لَفظ قَريب الفَهمِ مُختَصَرِ
How many a far-reaching meaning I thread
Your letters tell not what their positions contain
on a string of concise, easily understood words!
For not all black obscures the eyes' windowpane
لَفظاًwording يَكونthat is لعقدfor the necklace of القَولspeech واسِطَةa central jewel
لَفظاً يَكون لعقد القَول واسِطَة
ماsomewhere بَينَbetween مَنزِلَةthe degree of الأَسهابverbosity وَالحصرِand constriction
ما بَينَ مَنزِلَة الأَسهاب وَالحصرِ
Wording that forms the central jewel of speech's necklace,
Nor does other white dazzle blackness the same
between verbosity and cramped brevity.
As houris' beauty is measured by unique acclaim
إِنَّindeed الكِتابةwriting سارَتjourneyed نَحوأَنملهtoward his fingertips
إِنَّ الكِتابة سارَت نَحوأَنمله
وَالجودand generosity فالتَقَياso they both met فيهِin him عَلىby قَدرِdestiny
وَالجود فالتَقَيا فيهِ عَلى قَدرِ
Writing journeyed toward his fingertips,
They leave the sun's page blank to scrawl on the sphere
and generosity too; they met in him by decree.
Like crescent moons on the crescent eyelids appear
تَردُّdrive back أَرماحهhis spears الأَقلامthe pens صاغِرَةhumbled
تَردُّ أَرماحه الأَقلام صاغِرَة
عَكساًin reversal كَعَكسِlike the turning back of شعاعthe rays of الشَمسِthe sun للبصرof the gaze
عَكساً كَعَكسِ شعاع الشَمسِ للبصر
His spears drive pens back, abased,
The spherical dots ring round like brows repeating
as the sun's rays drive back the gaze.
The diacritics between like pearls inset and fleeting
يَجلوreveal بَياضthe brightness of المَعانيmeanings سودthe blackness of أَحرُفِهاtheir letters
يَجلو بَياض المَعاني سود أَحرُفِها
إِنَّindeed الظَلامdarkness لَيَجلوsurely reveals رونَقthe splendor of السَحَرِthe predawn hour
إِنَّ الظَلام لَيَجلو رونَق السَحَرِ
Their black letters reveal the brightness of the meanings;
Your lines do not relay their own implication
indeed, darkness brings out the splendor of the predawn hour.
For not all black is black to imagination
وَفيand in كِتابِكَyour writing فاعذرso forgive منwhoever يهيمis enthralled بِهِby it
وَفي كِتابِكَ فاعذر من يهيم بِهِ
مِنَamong المَحاسِنbeauties ماwhat فيis in أَحسَنthe loveliest الصُوَرِforms
مِنَ المَحاسِن ما في أَحسَن الصُوَرِ
In your writing—forgive whoever is enthralled by it—
Nor does every white shine the same unless
are beauties found in the loveliest forms.
Paired by the eyes' precision, nothing less
يتركنthey leave صَفحةthe face of شمسthe sun of الطرسthe parchment ساحَتهits surface
يتركن صَفحة شمس الطرس ساحَته
نَمشاءfreckled تحسبهاyou think it منof صفحَةِthe face of القمرthe moon
نَمشاء تحسبها من صفحَةِ القمر
They leave the parchment's sunlike face, its surface,
You emptied yourself to nurture the noble ones
freckled, so that you take it for the face of the moon.
While others grow palms and trees, you grow men like sons
الطِرسُthe parchment كالوَجهِlike a face وَالنوناتand the nuns دائِرَةcurving
الطِرسُ كالوَجهِ وَالنونات دائِرَة
مِثلَlike الحَواجِبِeyebrows وَالسيناتand the sins كالطُررِlike forelocks
مِثلَ الحَواجِبِ وَالسينات كالطُررِ
The parchment is like a face, the nuns curving
When you trod Damascus, you sold but the ground
like eyebrows, and the sins like forelocks.
Your feet trod, at ambergris' price by the pound
تَحكيresemble حروفكyour letters لاnot مَعنىthe meaning of مواقعهاtheir placements
تَحكي حروفك لا مَعنى مواقعها
وَلَيسَand not كلevery سَوادblackness أَسودَthe black of البصَرِthe eye
وَلَيسَ كل سَواد أَسودَ البصَرِ
Your letters resemble these features, not the meaning of their placement;
A charity they sense not, whensoles press the dirt path
not every blackness is the black of an eye.
Your feet's touch made the dusty track a scented bath
وَلَيسَand not كلevery بَياضwhiteness بصَّgleams أَسوَدِهِits black part
وَلَيسَ كل بَياض بصَّ أَسوَدِهِ
فيماin anything سِوىother than العينِthe eye مَعدوداًcounted مِنَamong الحورِbeautiful eye-contrast
فيما سِوى العينِ مَعدوداً مِنَ الحورِ
Nor is every whiteness with a gleaming black part,
Your palm's generosity moved the noblest to praise
outside the eye, counted as lovely eye-contrast.
As the sun borrows the stars' illuminating rays
وَلاand not يُعُدّانare the two counted فيin عَينِthe eye of امرىءٍa person حَوَراًbeautiful eye-contrast
وَلا يُعُدّان في عَينِ امرىءٍ حَوَراً
إِلّاexcept إِذاwhen اجتَمعاthey both meet فيهِin it عَلىin قَدَرِdue proportion
إِلّا إِذا اجتَمعا فيهِ عَلى قَدَرِ
Nor are the two counted as such beauty in anyone's eye,
Whom do you find, though they praise you, enhances their fame?
unless they meet there in due proportion.
For praising the date palm's sway is praising its name
فَرَّغتَyou freed نَفسَكَyourself للأَحرارfor noble men تَغرِسُهمcultivating them
فَرَّغتَ نَفسَكَ للأَحرار تَغرِسُهم
وَهَمُّand the concern of غَيرِكَothers غرسplanting النَخلِpalms وَالشَجرِand trees
وَهَمُّ غَيرِكَ غرس النَخلِ وَالشَجرِ
You have freed yourself to cultivate noble men,
Whenever people's hands grasped and clutched you gave more
while others care to plant palms and trees.
At gloom's darkness the gems shine all the more
لَمّاwhen وَطئتyou trod دِمَشقاًDamascus بيعwas sold ماwhat وطئتtrod
لَمّا وَطئت دِمَشقاً بيع ما وطئت
رِجلاكyour two feet مِنهاof it بِسعرat the price of العَنبَرambergris الذَفرِstrongly fragrant
رِجلاك مِنها بِسعر العَنبَر الذَفرِ
When you trod Damascus, what you trod was sold—
Iraq turns her neck expectantly to imbibe your morning dew
the ground beneath your feet—for fragrant ambergris's price.
Yearning for you, keeping vigil the long night through
وَهَذِهِand this صِلَةٌa gift لاnot يَشعُرونَthey are aware بِهاof it
وَهَذِهِ صِلَةٌ لا يَشعُرونَ بِها
أَجَدَتyou did good حَتّىeven بِوطءby treading with الرِجلthe foot فيin العفرِdust
أَجَدَت حَتّى بِوطء الرِجل في العفرِ
This was a gift they did not recognize:
Ever removed from all misfortunes that infect the rest
you did good even by stepping into the dust.
Delivered from fate and people's ways unblessed
منfrom جودthe generosity of كَفِّكَyour hand جادgave generously الأَكرَمونَthe noblest men نَدىًbounty
من جود كَفِّكَ جاد الأَكرَمونَ نَدىً
وَالشَمسُand the sun مِنهاfrom it ضِياءthe light of الأَنجمthe stars الزُهرِradiant
وَالشَمسُ مِنها ضِياء الأَنجم الزُهرِ
From your hand's bounty the noblest men give generously,
No night blanketed nor dawn pursued in brightening hue
and from the sun comes the light of the radiant stars.
Nor birds trilled their hymns at the hour of dew
فمنso whoever تَجِدyou find مِنهُمamong them يَمدحكpraises you مادحهhis praiser
فمن تَجِد مِنهُم يَمدحك مادحه
وَالمَدحand the praise فيin أَرَجِthe fragrance of النَوارblossoms للمطرِbelongs to the rain
وَالمَدح في أَرَجِ النَوار للمطرِ
So whoever among them you find praised, his praiser praises you;
But you remained unperturbed by all worldly plights
the praise in flowers' fragrance belongs to the rain.
Safe from the whims of fate and every blight
وَكُلَّماand whenever شَحَّgrew stingy أَهلthe people of الأَرضِthe earth زِدتَyou increased نَدىًbounty
وَكُلَّما شَحَّ أَهل الأَرضِ زِدتَ نَدىً
بظلمةagainst the darkness of الدُهمblack steeds تَبدوappears زينةthe beauty of الغُرَرِwhite forehead blazes
بظلمة الدُهم تَبدو زينة الغُرَرِ
Whenever the earth's people grow stingy, you give more:
against black steeds' darkness, white blazes show their beauty.
أَماas for العِراقُIraq فَيَثنيit bends جيدthe neck of مُلتَفِتٍone looking back
أَما العِراقُ فَيَثني جيد مُلتَفِتٍ
شَوقاًin longing إِلَيكَfor you وَيَرعىand keeps watch لَيلَthrough the night of مُنتَظِرِone waiting
شَوقاً إِلَيكَ وَيَرعى لَيلَ مُنتَظِرِ
As for Iraq, it bends the neck of one looking back,
longing for you, and keeps the night-watch of one waiting.
لاmay you never زِلتَcease to be فيin معزلa place apart عَنfrom كُلِّevery نائِبَةٍcalamity
لا زِلتَ في معزل عَن كُلِّ نائِبَةٍ
مُسَلَّماًkept safe منfrom صُروفِthe vicissitudes of الدَهرtime وَالغِيَرِand changes of fortune
مُسَلَّماً من صُروفِ الدَهر وَالغِيَرِ
May you always remain apart from every calamity,
safe from time's vicissitudes and changing fortunes,
ماas long as جَنَّdarkened ليلnight وَلاحَand appeared الصُبحُdawn يتبعهfollowing it
ما جَنَّ ليل وَلاحَ الصُبحُ يتبعه
وَماand as long as تَرَنَّمتِsang الأَطيارbirds فيin السَحرِthe predawn hour
وَما تَرَنَّمتِ الأَطيار في السَحرِ
as long as night darkens and dawn appears following it,
and as long as birds sing in the hour before dawn.
Partial English translation: 138 of 146 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1