أَصَباO east wind الأَصائِلthe late afternoons إِنَّindeed بُرقَةَthe stony tract of مُنشِدِMunshid
أَصَبا الأَصائِل إِنَّ بُرقَةَ مُنشِدِ
تَشكوcomplains of اِختِلافَكِyour repeated visits بِالهُبوبِwith blowing السَرمَدِceaseless
تَشكو اِختِلافَكِ بِالهُبوبِ السَرمَدِ
O east wind of late afternoons, surely the stony tract of Munshid
complains of your repeated visits with ceaseless blowing.
لاdo not تُتعِبيwear out عَرَصاتِهاits courtyards إِنَّindeed الهَوىlove
لا تُتعِبي عَرَصاتِها إِنَّ الهَوى
مُلقاًcast down عَلىupon تِلكَthose الرُسومِruined traces الهُمَّدِlifeless
مُلقاً عَلى تِلكَ الرُسومِ الهُمَّدِ
Do not weary its courtyards; for love
lies cast upon those lifeless ruins.
دِمَنٌcampsite remains مَواثِلُstanding visible كَالنُجومِlike stars فَإِنand if عَفَتthey fade away
دِمَنٌ مَواثِلُ كَالنُجومِ فَإِن عَفَت
فَبِأَيِّthen by which نَجمٍstar فيin الصَبابَةِardent longing نَهتَديshall we be guided
فَبِأَيِّ نَجمٍ في الصَبابَةِ نَهتَدي
Campsite remains stand like stars; if they fade,
what star shall guide us through ardent longing?
وَالدارُand the dwelling تَعلَمُknows أَنَّthat دَمعيmy tears لَمdid not يَغِصfail to flow
وَالدارُ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ دَمعي لَم يَغِص
فَأَروحَso I should depart أَحمِلُI bear مِنَّةًa debt of gratitude مِنfrom مُسعِدِa fellow mourner
فَأَروحَ أَحمِلُ مِنَّةً مِن مُسعِدِ
And the dwelling knows my tears did not fail
and leave me indebted to a fellow mourner.
قامَتshe rose تَعَجَّبُmarveling مِنat أَسايَmy grief وَأَرسَلَتand she sent
قامَت تَعَجَّبُ مِن أَسايَ وَأَرسَلَت
بِاللَحظِwith a glance فيin طَلَبِpursuit of الدُموعِtears الخُرَّدِvirgin
بِاللَحظِ في طَلَبِ الدُموعِ الخُرَّدِ
She rose, marveling at my grief, and sent
her glance in pursuit of virgin tears.
ماnot كانَwas ليfor me جَلَدٌfortitude فَيودِيَso it might perish إِنَّماonly
ما كانَ لي جَلَدٌ فَيودِيَ إِنَّما
أَودىperished غَداةَon the morning of الظاعِنينِthe departing travelers تَجَلِّديmy show of fortitude
أَودى غَداةَ الظاعِنينِ تَجَلِّدي
I had no fortitude that could perish; it was only
my show of fortitude that died the morning the travelers left.
وَرَمَتand she shot at سَوادَthe dark core of القَلبِthe heart حينَwhen رَنَتshe gazed عَلىin
وَرَمَت سَوادَ القَلبِ حينَ رَنَت عَلى
عَجَلٍhaste فَأَصمَتَهُso she killed it outright بِطَرفٍwith a glance أَصيَدِhaughty
عَجَلٍ فَأَصمَتَهُ بِطَرفٍ أَصيَدِ
She aimed at my heart's dark core when she glanced in
haste, and slew it outright with a haughty gaze.
ماwhat ليails me رَأَيتُI have seen الناسَpeople مِنamong مُستَحسِنٍone finding beautiful
ما لي رَأَيتُ الناسَ مِن مُستَحسِنٍ
قُبحَthe ugliness of السُؤالِbegging وَسائِلٍand a petitioner مُستَرفِدِseeking gifts
قُبحَ السُؤالِ وَسائِلٍ مُستَرفِدِ
Why is it that I see people—some finding beauty in
the ugliness of begging, others petitioning for gifts?
كَرُمَproved generous الأَميرُthe emir اِبنُson of الأَميرِthe emir فَأَصبَحَso became الthe
كَرُمَ الأَميرُ اِبنُ الأَميرِ فَأَصبَحَ ال
مُجديgiver إِلَيهِto him وَهوَwhile he is عافٍa supplicant مُجتَدِseeking gifts
مُجدي إِلَيهِ وَهوَ عافٍ مُجتَدِ
The emir, the emir's son, is so generous that the
giver turns to him as a supplicant seeking gifts.
وَرَمىand he shot at العَدُوَّthe enemy فَلَمso did not يُقَصِّرfall short سَهمُهُhis arrow
وَرَمى العَدُوَّ فَلَم يُقَصِّر سَهمُهُ
حَتّىuntil تَخَضخَضَit quivered فيin رَمِيٍّa stricken victim مُقصَدِmortally hit
حَتّى تَخَضخَضَ في رَمِيٍّ مُقصَدِ
He shot at the enemy, his arrow never flagging
until it quivered within a victim mortally struck.
وَاِهتَزَّand he swayed فيamid وَرَقِthe foliage of النَدىgenerosity فَتَحَيَّرَتso were bewildered
وَاِهتَزَّ في وَرَقِ النَدى فَتَحَيَّرَت
حَرَكاتُthe movements of غُصنِthe branch of البانَةِthe bān tree المُتَأَوِّدِbending
حَرَكاتُ غُصنِ البانَةِ المُتَأَوِّدِ
He swayed amid generosity's foliage, bewildering
the movements of a bending bān-tree branch.
عَقّادُa knotter of أَلوِيَةٍbanners تَظَلُّremain لَهاfor them طُلىthe necks of
عَقّادُ أَلوِيَةٍ تَظَلُّ لَها طُلى
أَعدائِهِhis enemies وَكَأَنَّهاand as though they لَمhad not تُعقَدِbeen fastened
أَعدائِهِ وَكَأَنَّها لَم تُعقَدِ
He knots banners, before which the necks
of his foes remain as though never fastened on.
مَغموسَةٍsteeped فيin النَصرِvictory تَشدوsinging عَنof يَدٍa hand
مَغموسَةٍ في النَصرِ تَشدو عَن يَدٍ
مَملوأَةٍfilled ظَفَراًwith triumph تَروحُgoing forth at evening وَتَغتَديand setting out at dawn
مَملوأَةٍ ظَفَراً تَروحُ وَتَغتَدي
Steeped in victory, they sing of a hand
filled with triumph, as they go forth at dusk and dawn.
بَثَّhe scattered الفَوائِدَgifts فيamong الأَباعِدِthe distant وَالدُنىand the near
بَثَّ الفَوائِدَ في الأَباعِدِ وَالدُنى
حَتّىuntil تَوَهَّمناهُwe imagined him مَخروقَpierced اليَدِin the hand
حَتّى تَوَهَّمناهُ مَخروقَ اليَدِ
He scattered gifts among the distant and the near,
till we imagined his hand had holes in it.
يُعطيhe gives عَلىamid الغَضَبِanger المُتَعتِعِthat makes one stammer وَالرِضاand contentment
يُعطي عَلى الغَضَبِ المُتَعتِعِ وَالرِضا
وَعَلىand amid التَهَلُّلِbeaming joy وَالعُبوسِand frowning الأَربَدِdark-faced
وَعَلى التَهَلُّلِ وَالعُبوسِ الأَربَدِ
He gives in shaking anger and in contentment,
when beaming and when darkly scowling.
كَالغَيثِlike rain يَسقيwatering الخابِطينَwayfarers بِأَبيَضِwith a white one
كَالغَيثِ يَسقي الخابِطينَ بِأَبيَضِ
مِنof غَيمِهِits clouds وَبِأَحمَرٍand with a red one وَبِأَسوَدِand with a black one
مِن غَيمِهِ وَبِأَحمَرٍ وَبِأَسوَدِ
Like rain that waters wayfarers from white clouds,
and from its red clouds and its black.
يَستَقصِرُhe finds too short اللَيلَthe night التَمامَfull-length إِذاwhen اِنتَحىhe heads
يَستَقصِرُ اللَيلَ التَمامَ إِذا اِنتَحى
بِالخَيلِwith the cavalry ناحِيَةَtoward العَدُوِّthe enemy الأَبعَدِmost distant
بِالخَيلِ ناحِيَةَ العَدُوِّ الأَبعَدِ
He finds the longest night too short when he heads
with his cavalry toward the most distant foe.
لاnot ناهِلُsated with drink الأَجفانِthe eyelids إِنeven if كانَwere الكَرىsleep
لا ناهِلُ الأَجفانِ إِن كانَ الكَرى
خِمساًa fifth-day watering لِصادِيَةِfor thirsty العُيونِeyes الوُرَّدِcoming to drink
خِمساً لِصادِيَةِ العُيونِ الوُرَّدِ
His eyelids never drink their fill, though sleep be
a fifth-day watering for thirsty eyes come to drink.
ماnot ضَرَّharmed أَهلَthe people of الثَغرِthe frontier إِبطاءُthe delay of الحَياrain
ما ضَرَّ أَهلَ الثَغرِ إِبطاءُ الحَيا
عَنهُمfrom them وَفيهِمand among them يوسُفُYusuf بنُson of مُحَمَّدِMuhammad
عَنهُم وَفيهِم يوسُفُ بنُ مُحَمَّدِ
No harm came to the frontier's people from rain's delay
in reaching them, with Yusuf ibn Muhammad in their midst.
يَسَلونَهُthey ask him فَيَكونُso becomes نائِلُهُhis bounty الغِنىwealth
يَسَلونَهُ فَيَكونُ نائِلُهُ الغِنى
وَيُقَصِّرونَand they hold back عَنِfrom السُؤالِasking فَيَبتَديso he initiates giving
وَيُقَصِّرونَ عَنِ السُؤالِ فَيَبتَدي
They ask him, and his bounty is wealth;
they refrain from asking, and he gives unprompted.
إِنif ساسَهُمhe governs them حَدَثاًas a youth فَساعَةُthen an hour of رَأيِهِhis judgment
إِن ساسَهُم حَدَثاً فَساعَةُ رَأيِهِ
كَالدَهرِlike an age جَدَّgrew new الدَهرُtime أَوor لَمdid not يَجدِدِgrow new
كَالدَهرِ جَدَّ الدَهرُ أَو لَم يَجدِدِ
Though he governs them young, one hour of his judgment
is like an age, whether time renews itself or not.
باديmanifest in سَماحٍgenerosity غَرَdescended فيinto واديthe valley of النَدىbounty
بادي سَماحٍ غَرَ في وادي النَدى
لَهُمُfor them فَأَنجَدَthen rose to the heights فيin العَلاءِglory المُنجِدِrising high
لَهُمُ فَأَنجَدَ في العَلاءِ المُنجِدِ
Open in generosity, he descended into bounty's valley
for them, then ascended into soaring glory.
وَنَضاand he bared غِرارىthe two edges of سَيفِهِhis sword لِيُوَقِّياso they might guard
وَنَضا غِرارى سَيفِهِ لِيُوَقِّيا
طَرَفَيهِمِtheir two flanks عَنagainst كُلِّevery خَطبٍcalamity مُؤيِدِoverwhelming
طَرَفَيهِمِ عَن كُلِّ خَطبٍ مُؤيِدِ
He bared his sword's two edges, that they might guard
their two flanks against every overwhelming calamity.
فَكَفاهُمُso he spared them فِسقَthe wickedness of المُوَحِّدِthe monotheist أَنthat سَعىhe strove
فَكَفاهُمُ فِسقَ المُوَحِّدِ أَن سَعى
فيهِمamong them بِإِصلاحٍthrough reform وَشِركَand the idolatry of المُلحِدِthe heretic
فيهِم بِإِصلاحٍ وَشِركَ المُلحِدِ
He spared them the monotheist's wickedness by striving
for reform among them—and spared them the heretic's idolatry.
أَوَand (questioning) ماnot سَمِعتَyou have heard بِيَومِهِof his day المَشهودِrenowned فيin
أَوَ ما سَمِعتَ بِيَومِهِ المَشهودِ في
لُكّامِهِمtheir Lukkam إِنif كُنتَyou were لَمّاnot yet تَشهَدِwitness it
لُكّامِهِم إِن كُنتَ لَمّا تَشهَدِ
Have you not heard of his renowned day in
their Lukkam, if you have not yet witnessed it?
يَومُthe day of الزَواقولِthe Zawaqul الَّذينَwho تَقاصَرَتgrew short
يَومُ الزَواقولِ الَّذينَ تَقاصَرَت
أَعمارُهُمtheir lifespans فَتَقَطَّعَتso were cut off عَنshort of مَوعِدِan appointed time
أَعمارُهُم فَتَقَطَّعَت عَن مَوعِدِ
The day of the Zawaqul, whose shortened
lives were cut off before their appointed time.
شَهَرواthey brandished عَلىagainst الإِسلامِIslam حَدَّthe edge of مَناصِلٍblades
شَهَروا عَلى الإِسلامِ حَدَّ مَناصِلٍ
لَولاbut for اِلتِهابُthe blaze of حُسامِهِhis sword لَمwould not تُغمَدِhave been sheathed
لَولا اِلتِهابُ حُسامِهِ لَم تُغمَدِ
They bared against Islam the edges of swords;
but for his blade's blaze, those swords would not have been sheathed.
وَتَوَقَّدواand they blazed جَمرَنas embers فَسالَthen poured عَلَيهِمُupon them
وَتَوَقَّدوا جَمرَن فَسالَ عَلَيهِمُ
مِنfrom بَأسِهِhis might سَيلُthe torrent of الغَمامِrainclouds المُزبَدِfoaming
مِن بَأسِهِ سَيلُ الغَمامِ المُزبَدِ
They blazed as embers; then upon them poured
from his might, the foaming torrent of a raincloud.
حُمرُred السُيوفِthe swords كَأَنَّماas though دَرَبَتfashioned (unclear form) لَهُمfor them
حُمرُ السُيوفِ كَأَنَّما دَرَبَت لَهُم
أَيديthe hands of القُيونِsmiths صَفائِحاًblades مِنof عَسجَدِgold
أَيدي القُيونِ صَفائِحاً مِن عَسجَدِ
Red were their swords, as though there had been forged for them
by smiths' hands, blades of gold.
وَكَأَنَّand as though مَشيَهُمُtheir march وَقَدwhile already حَمَلواthey carried الظُباsword-edges
وَكَأَنَّ مَشيَهُمُ وَقَد حَمَلوا الظُبا
مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath سَقفٍa roof بِالزُجاجِwith glass مُمَرَّدِsmoothly surfaced
مِن تَحتِ سَقفٍ بِالزُجاجِ مُمَرَّدِ
As they marched bearing sword-edges, it seemed
they were beneath a roof smoothly faced with glass.
مَزَّقتَyou tore apart أَنفُسَهُمtheir lives بِقَلبٍwith a heart واحِدٍsingle
مَزَّقتَ أَنفُسَهُم بِقَلبٍ واحِدٍ
جُمِعَتwere united قَواصيهِits farthest parts وَسَيفٍand a sword أَوحَدِpeerless
جُمِعَت قَواصيهِ وَسَيفٍ أَوحَدِ
You tore their lives apart with a single heart,
its farthest reaches united, and a peerless sword.
لَمnot تَلقَهُمyou met them زَحفاًin a massed advance وَلَكِنbut rather حَملَةًwith a charge
لَم تَلقَهُم زَحفاً وَلَكِن حَملَةً
جاءَتthat came كَضَربَةِlike the blow of ثائِرٍan avenger لَمwas not يُنجَدِgiven aid
جاءَت كَضَربَةِ ثائِرٍ لَم يُنجَدِ
You met them not in a massed advance, but with a charge
that came like an unaided avenger's blow.
فيamong فِتيَةٍyoung warriors طَلَبواthey pursued غُبارَكَyour dust إِنَّهُindeed it is
في فِتيَةٍ طَلَبوا غُبارَكَ إِنَّهُ
نَهجٌa path تَرَفَّعَrose high عَنabove طَريقِthe road to السُؤدُدِpreeminence
نَهجٌ تَرَفَّعَ عَن طَريقِ السُؤدُدِ
With young warriors pursuing your dust—truly it is
a path exalted above the road to preeminence.
كَالرُمحِlike a spear فيهِin it بِضعَa few عَشرَةَten فِقرَةًjoints
كَالرُمحِ فيهِ بِضعَ عَشرَةَ فِقرَةً
مُنقادَةًfollowing obediently خَلفَbehind السِنانِthe spearhead الأَصيَدِproud
مُنقادَةً خَلفَ السِنانِ الأَصيَدِ
Like a spear with a dozen-odd joints,
following obediently behind the proud spearhead.
أَطفَأتَyou quenched جَمرَتُهُمtheir burning coal وَكانَتand it was ذاpossessing سَناًradiance
أَطفَأتَ جَمرَتُهُم وَكانَت ذا سَناً
وَالعَمقُand al-Amq بَعضُpart of حَريقِهاits conflagration المُتَوَقِّدِblazing
وَالعَمقُ بَعضُ حَريقِها المُتَوَقِّدِ
You quenched their burning coal, though it had shone brightly,
and al-Amq was part of its blazing conflagration.
وَالنارُand the fire لَوif تُرِكَتit were left عَلىin ماthe state in which أُذكِيَتit was stoked
وَالنارُ لَو تُرِكَت عَلى ما أُذكِيَت
مِنfrom خَلفِهاbehind it وَأَمامِهاand before it لَمwould not تَخمُدِhave died out
مِن خَلفِها وَأَمامِها لَم تَخمُدِ
Had the fire been left as it was being fed
from behind and in front, it would not have died.
وَقَعَدتُand I stayed behind عَنكَfrom you وَلَوand if بِمُهجَةِwith the life of آخَرanother
وَقَعَدتُ عَنكَ وَلَو بِمُهجَةِ آخَر
غَيريother than me أَقومُI rise إِلَيهِمُagainst them لَمwould not أَقعُدِhave stayed behind
غَيري أَقومُ إِلَيهِمُ لَم أَقعُدِ
I stayed behind from you; had it been with another's life,
not mine, that I faced them, I would not have stayed behind.
ماnot كانَwas قَلبُكَyour heart فيwithin سَوادِthe dark depths of جَوانِحيmy breast
ما كانَ قَلبُكَ في سَوادِ جَوانِحي
فَأَكونَso I might be ثَمَّthere وَلاnor لِسانيmy tongue فيin يَديmy hand
فَأَكونَ ثَمَّ وَلا لِساني في يَدي
Your heart was not in the dark depths of my breast,
that I should be there, nor was my tongue in my hand.
وَأَنَand I الشُجاعُthe brave one وَقَدand indeed بَداbecame evident لَكَto you مَوقِفيmy stand
وَأَنَ الشُجاعُ وَقَد بَدا لَكَ مَوقِفي
بِعَقَرقُسٍat Aqarqus وَالمَشرَفِيَّةُand the Mashrafi swords شُهَّديmy witnesses
بِعَقَرقُسٍ وَالمَشرَفِيَّةُ شُهَّدي
And I am brave: you have seen my stand
at Aqarqus, the Mashrafi swords my witnesses.
وَرَأَيتَنيand you saw me فَرَأَيتَso you saw أَعجَبَthe strangest مَنظَرٍsight
وَرَأَيتَني فَرَأَيتَ أَعجَبَ مَنظَرٍ
رَبُّthe master of القَصائِدِodes فيamid القَناspears المُتَقَصِّدِsplintering
رَبُّ القَصائِدِ في القَنا المُتَقَصِّدِ
You saw me, and saw the strangest sight:
the master of odes amid splintering spears.
طائِيُّكَyour Ta'i الأَدنىclosest أَساءَdid wrong إِساءَةًa wrong
طائِيُّكَ الأَدنى أَساءَ إِساءَةً
فيin أَمسِهِhis yesterday الماضيbygone وَأَحسَنَand will do well فيon غَدِthe morrow
في أَمسِهِ الماضي وَأَحسَنَ في غَدِ
Your closest Ta'i committed a wrong
in his bygone yesterday, and will do well tomorrow.
فَاِسلَمso be safe سَلامَةَas safe as عِرضِكَyour honor المَوفورِintact مِنfrom
فَاِسلَم سَلامَةَ عِرضِكَ المَوفورِ مِن
صَرفِthe reversals of الحَوادِثِmisfortunes وَالزَمانِand time الأَنكَدِbaleful
صَرفِ الحَوادِثِ وَالزَمانِ الأَنكَدِ
May you be safe, as your untarnished honor is, from
the turns of calamity and baleful time.
فَلَقَدfor indeed بَنَيتَyou have built المَجدَglory حَتّىto the point that لَوif بَنَتbuilt
فَلَقَد بَنَيتَ المَجدَ حَتّى لَو بَنَت
كَفّاكَyour two hands مَجداًglory ثانِياًa second لَمnot تُحمَدِyou would be praised
كَفّاكَ مَجداً ثانِياً لَم تُحمَدِ
For you have built glory so fully that, were
your hands to build a second glory, you would earn no praise.
وَجَعَلتَand you made فِعلَكَyour deed تِلوَimmediately after قَولِكَyour word قاصِراًshortening
وَجَعَلتَ فِعلَكَ تِلوَ قَولِكَ قاصِراً
عُمرَthe lifespan of العَدُوِّthe enemy بِهِby it وَعُمرَand the lifespan of المَوعِدِthe promise
عُمرَ العَدُوِّ بِهِ وَعُمرَ المَوعِدِ
You made your deed follow your word, cutting short
with it the enemy's life and the life of a promise.
وَمَلَأتَand you filled أَحشاءَthe entrails of العَدُوِّthe enemy بَلابِلاًanxieties
وَمَلَأتَ أَحشاءَ العَدُوِّ بَلابِلاً
فَاِرتَدَّso he turned يَحسُدُto envy فيكَon your account مَنthose whom لَمnot يَحسُدِhe had envied
فَاِرتَدَّ يَحسُدُ فيكَ مَن لَم يَحسُدِ
You filled the enemy's entrails with anxieties,
so he now envies, because of you, those he never envied.
Sol 6.1