وُقوفُكَyour standing فيin أَطلالِهِمtheir ruins وَسُؤالُهاand questioning them
وُقوفُكَ في أَطلالِهِم وَسُؤالُها
يُريكَshows you غُروبَstreams الدَمعِof tears كَيفَhow اِنهِمالُهاtheir pouring down
يُريكَ غُروبَ الدَمعِ كَيفَ اِنهِمالُها
Your standing among their ruins and questioning them
Your standing among their ruins, and her questioning,
shows you how the streams of tears pour down.
Shows you the sunset of tears, and their trickling,
وَماand not أَعرِفُI recognize الأَطلالَthe ruins فيin جَنبِthe vicinity of توضِحٍTudih
وَما أَعرِفُ الأَطلالَ في جَنبِ توضِحٍ
لِطولِbecause of the length of تَعَفّيهاtheir effacement وَلَكِنbut إِخالُهاI surmise them
لِطولِ تَعَفّيها وَلَكِن إِخالُها
I no longer recognize the ruins beside Tudih,
I know not the ruins compared to the radiance of her smile,
so long have they faded, though I can guess at them.
For too long has she been chaste, but her glance,
أَوَدُّI wish لَهاfor them سُقياwatering السَحابِthe clouds وَمَحوُهاand their effacement
أَوَدُّ لَها سُقيا السَحابِ وَمَحوُها
بِسُقياthrough the watering of السَحابِthe clouds حينَwhen يَصدُقُproves true خالُهاtheir promise of rain
بِسُقيا السَحابِ حينَ يَصدُقُ خالُها
I wish the clouds would water them, though their effacement comes
I wish for her clouds' rain and their effacement,
with cloud-rain, when its promise proves true.
With the rain of clouds when her cheeks grow sincere,
مَحَلَّتُناour dwelling وَالعَيشُand life غَضٌّtender نَباتُهُits growth
مَحَلَّتُنا وَالعَيشُ غَضٌّ نَباتُهُ
وَأَفنِيَةُand the courtyards of الأَيامِthe days خُضرٌgreen ظِلالُهاtheir shades
وَأَفنِيَةُ الأَيامِ خُضرٌ ظِلالُها
Our dwelling, when life's growth was tender,
Our abode, and life is tender greenery,
and the courtyards of days had verdant shade.
And the courtyards of days, verdant are their shades,
وَلَيلىand Layla عَلىon العَهدِthe pledge الَّذيwhich كانَwas لَمnot تَغُلhad carried away
وَلَيلى عَلى العَهدِ الَّذي كانَ لَم تَغُل
نَواهاher distance وَلاnor حالَتturned إِلىto الصَدِّrejection حالُهاher disposition
نَواها وَلا حالَت إِلى الصَدِّ حالُها
And Layla kept the old pledge; she had not been carried away
Leila did not break faith from what was,
by distance, nor had her disposition turned to rejection.
Nor changed to rejection her state,
فَقَدfor indeed أولِعَتhave become intent بِالعَوقِon obstruction دونَbarring لِقائِهاmeeting her
فَقَد أولِعَت بِالعَوقِ دونَ لِقائِها
تَنائِفُwastes مِنof بَيداءَa desert يَلمَعُgleams آلُهاits mirage
تَنائِفُ مِن بَيداءَ يَلمَعُ آلُها
For, bent on obstructing my meeting with her, stand
So she has fallen for love without meeting,
wastes of a desert whose mirage gleams.
Crossing the desert where her tent gleams,
وَكُنتُand I used to أُرَجّيhope for وَصلَهاunion with her عِندَduring هَجرِهاher estrangement
وَكُنتُ أُرَجّي وَصلَها عِندَ هَجرِها
فَقَدnow indeed بانَhas departed مِنّيfrom me هَجرُهاher estrangement وَوِصالُهاand union with her
فَقَد بانَ مِنّي هَجرُها وَوِصالُها
I used to hope for union with her when she shunned me;
I had hoped to be united to her when she deserted,
now both her estrangement and her union have parted from me.
But her leaving and union were clear to me,
فَلاقُربَso no nearness إِلّاexcept أَنthat يُعاوِدَreturns ذِكرُهاher memory
فَلاقُربَ إِلّا أَن يُعاوِدَ ذِكرُها
وَلاوَصلَand no union إِلّاexcept أَنthat يُطيفَvisits خَيالُهاher phantom
وَلاوَصلَ إِلّا أَن يُطيفَ خَيالُها
There is no nearness except when her memory returns,
So no coming near except through remembering her,
and no union except when her phantom visits.
No union but that her phantom appears,
بَلىindeed إِنَّsurely فيin وَخدِthe swift gait of المَطِيِّthe riding-camels لَبُلغَةًsurely a means of reaching
بَلى إِنَّ في وَخدِ المَطِيِّ لَبُلغَةً
إِلَيهاto her إِذاwhen شُدَّتwere fastened لِشَوقِout of longing رِحالُهاtheir saddles
إِلَيها إِذا شُدَّت لِشَوقِ رِحالُها
Yet the camels' swift gait offers a means of reaching
Yes, mounted messengers have eloquence,
her, when their saddles are fastened out of longing.
To reach her if their yearning mounts impel,
سَيَحمِلُwill carry أَثقاليmy burdens تَبَرُّعُthe voluntary bounty of مُنعِمٍa benefactor
سَيَحمِلُ أَثقالي تَبَرُّعُ مُنعِمٍ
بِأَنعُمِهِwith his favors آدَتweighed down رِكابيmy riding-camels ثِقالُهاtheir weighty ones
بِأَنعُمِهِ آدَت رِكابي ثِقالُها
A benefactor's freely given bounty will carry my burdens,
It will bear my burdens, generous as granted,
the weight of whose favors has bowed my riding-camels.
By its favors the stirrups have been eased,
وَأَيسَرُand easier مِنthan بَذلِbestowing الرَغائِبِprecious gifts حَملُهاcarrying them
وَأَيسَرُ مِن بَذلِ الرَغائِبِ حَملُها
لِمُستَكثِرٍfor one receiving much أَعياproved exhausting عَلَيهِfor him اِحتِمالُهاbearing them
لِمُستَكثِرٍ أَعيا عَلَيهِ اِحتِمالُها
Carrying precious gifts is easier than bestowing them,
And lighter than sacrificing needs is carrying them,
even for one receiving so much that their weight exhausts him.
For one overburdened, exhausted by enduring,
فَتىًa young man كانَتِwere الأَعباءُthe loads مِنfrom سَيبِthe bounty of كَفِّهِhis hand
فَتىً كانَتِ الأَعباءُ مِن سَيبِ كَفِّهِ
ثِنىrenewed giving مُنعِمٍa benefactor فَاِستَحقَبَتهاso carried them as packs بِغالُهاtheir mules
ثِنى مُنعِمٍ فَاِستَحقَبَتها بِغالُها
A young man: loads from the bounty of his hand were
A youth whose burdens were from his palm’s edge,
a giver's repeated largesse, borne as packs by their mules.
Bestowed by a generous one though expensive their price,
وَكُنتُand I used to إِذاwhen لَمnot يَكفِنيsuffice me القَومُthe people حاجَتيmy need
وَكُنتُ إِذا لَم يَكفِني القَومُ حاجَتي
كَفَتنيsufficed me يَدٌa hand أَيديthe hands of الرِجالِmen عِيالُهاits dependents
كَفَتني يَدٌ أَيدي الرِجالِ عِيالُها
Whenever the others could not meet my need,
When people could not fulfill my need,
a hand sufficed me, on which men's hands depend;
A hand fulfilled it, hands of men dependents,
وَوَجهٌand a face ضَمانُthe pledge of البِشرِcheerfulness مِنهُfrom it مُوَقَّفٌpledged
وَوَجهٌ ضَمانُ البِشرِ مِنهُ مُوَقَّفٌ
عَلىto النُجحِfulfillment وَالحاجاتُand the needs تَترىcome in succession عِجالُهاtheir urgent ones
عَلى النُجحِ وَالحاجاتُ تَترى عِجالُها
and a face whose smiling promise is pledged
A face on which people depend for success,
to fulfillment, while urgent requests come in succession.
And needs are quickly attained,
بِهِon it مِنfrom صَفيحِthe sword-steel of الهِندِIndia وَسمٌa mark تُبينُهُreveals it
بِهِ مِن صَفيحِ الهِندِ وَسمٌ تُبينُهُ
صَفيحَةُthe broad surface of وَضّاحٍa radiant one يَروقُdelights جَمالُهاits beauty
صَفيحَةُ وَضّاحٍ يَروقُ جَمالُها
It bears a mark from Indian sword-steel, made plain
With it, from Indian steel a sword whose excellence,
by a radiant face's broad surface, whose beauty enchants.
Polished steel makes clear its beauty,
مَتىwhenever رَبَّدَتهاdarkens it عِزَّةٌpride أَوحَفيظَةٌor indignation
مَتى رَبَّدَتها عِزَّةٌ أَوحَفيظَةٌ
أُعيدَwas restored إِلَيهاto it بِالسُؤالِthrough a request صِقالُهاits polish
أُعيدَ إِلَيها بِالسُؤالِ صِقالُها
Whenever pride or indignation darkens it,
When loftiness or anger disheveled it,
a request restores its polish.
Its sharp edge regained by questioning,
مَتىwhenever تَرَهاyou see it يَوماًone day عَلَيهاupon it دَليلُهاits identifying mark
مَتى تَرَها يَوماً عَلَيها دَليلُها
تُعَجِّبكَmakes you marvel مِنat شَمسٍa sun عَلَيهاupon it هِلالُهاits crescent
تُعَجِّبكَ مِن شَمسٍ عَلَيها هِلالُها
Whenever you see it one day, bearing its telltale mark,
Whenever you see a crescent adorning it,
it makes you marvel at a sun bearing its crescent.
A sun on it will amaze you, its crescent,
وَقَدand indeed عَجَمَتtested تِلكَthose الخُطوبُcalamities قَناتَهُhis spear-shaft
وَقَد عَجَمَت تِلكَ الخُطوبُ قَناتَهُ
فَزادَso increased عَلىunder عَجمِthe testing of الخُطوبِcalamities اِعتِدالُهاits straightness
فَزادَ عَلى عَجمِ الخُطوبِ اِعتِدالُها
And those calamities have tested his spear-shaft,
And those achievements have surpassed their peers,
and their testing only increased its straightness.
Excelling the achievements of champions,
وَماكانَand he was not مَحروماًdeprived مِنَof النَصرِvictory فيin الوَغىbattle
وَماكانَ مَحروماً مِنَ النَصرِ في الوَغى
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it is الحَربُwar اِغتَدَتcame at dawn وَسِجالُهاand its alternating fortunes
وَلَكِنَّها الحَربُ اِغتَدَت وَسِجالُها
He was not denied victory in battle,
And he was not deprived of victory in battle,
but war dawned with its alternating fortunes.
But war grew harsh, and its contention,
وَلَوand if شاءَhe wished إِذsince تَركُforgoing المَشِيَّةِone's wish سُؤدُدٌnobility
وَلَو شاءَ إِذ تَركُ المَشِيَّةِ سُؤدُدٌ
لَأَشوَتهُwould have struck him nonfatally يَومَon the day of الهُندُوانِal-Hinduwan نِبالُهاits arrows
لَأَشوَتهُ يَومَ الهُندُوانِ نِبالُها
Had he wished—though forgoing one's wish is nobility—
Had He willed when fate left revered,
its arrows would have missed his vitals on the day of al-Hinduwan.
Its arrows would have emptied the quivers of India,
غَداةَthe morning when يُجاريهِvies with him التَقَدُّمَin advancing فيin الوَغىbattle
غَداةَ يُجاريهِ التَقَدُّمَ في الوَغى
أَبوfather of غالِبٍGhalib وَالخَيلُand the cavalry تَترىcome in succession رِعالُهاits squadrons
أَبو غالِبٍ وَالخَيلُ تَترى رِعالُها
That morning, vying with him in advancing through battle, was
The morrow rivaling advancement in battle,
Abu Ghalib, as cavalry squadrons followed in succession.
Abu-Ghalib, horses neighing their charge,
كَأَنَّهُماas though the two were فيin نُصرَةٍmutual aid وَتَرافُدٍand mutual support
كَأَنَّهُما في نُصرَةٍ وَتَرافُدٍ
يَمينُكَyour right hand أَعطَتهاgave it الوَفاءَfull loyalty شِمالُهاits left hand
يَمينُكَ أَعطَتها الوَفاءَ شِمالُها
The two, in mutual aid and support, were like
As if both aiding and reciprocating,
your right hand, to which its left gave steadfast loyalty.
Your right hand granted loyalty, its left,
فَماأُسِراso they were not captured إِنَّindeed المَذاهِبَthe courses of action لَمnot تَكُنwere
فَماأُسِرا إِنَّ المَذاهِبَ لَم تَكُن
مُحيطاًencompassing بِكَيدِthe schemes of الآسِرينَthe captors مَجالُهاtheir scope
مُحيطاً بِكَيدِ الآسِرينَ مَجالُها
They were not truly captured; their scope for maneuver had not
They were not captured, schemes do not,
encompassed the captors' guile.
Surround the stratagems of captors, their sphere,
وَلاnor نَجَواdid they escape إِنَّindeed النَجاةَescape يَسيرَةٌeasy
وَلا نَجَوا إِنَّ النَجاةَ يَسيرَةٌ
وَلَكِنbut سُيوفٌswords أَكرَهَتهاcompelled them رِجالُهاtheir men
وَلَكِن سُيوفٌ أَكرَهَتها رِجالُها
Nor did they escape, though escape was easy;
Nor escaped, escape being easy,
rather, they were swords compelled by the men who wielded them.
But swords they were forced by men,
وَماand not ارتَبتُI doubted فيabout آلِthe family of المُدَبِّرِal-Mudabbir أَنَّهُمthat they
وَما ارتَبتُ في آلِ المُدَبِّرِ أَنَّهُم
إِذاwhen اِنتَسَبَتtrace their lineage غُرُّthe brightest of المَكارَمِnoble virtues آلُهاtheir family
إِذا اِنتَسَبَت غُرُّ المَكارَمِ آلُها
I never doubted that the family of al-Mudabbir,
I do not doubt the family of the excellent,
when shining virtues name their lineage, are their kin.
When the peak of glory was linked to it,
وَلاظَلَمَتnor did they wrong إِذwhen لَمnot تُمَيِّلturn over رَوِيَّةًa deliberation
وَلاظَلَمَت إِذ لَم تُمَيِّل رَوِيَّةً
بُغاةُthe seekers of النَدىbounty فيin أَنَّthat مالَكَyour wealth مالُهاtheir wealth
بُغاةُ النَدى في أَنَّ مالَكَ مالُها
Nor did they wrong you, though they gave it no thought—
Insurgents of fame never inclined a principle,
the seekers of bounty, in holding your wealth to be theirs.
When its possession was not theirs,
فِداكَmay he be your ransom أَباO father of إِسحاقَIshaq غادٍone setting out عَلىtoward العُلاgreatness
فِداكَ أَبا إِسحاقَ غادٍ عَلى العُلا
يُقَصِّرُfalls short عَنof غاياتِهاits goals وَتَنالُهاand you attain them
يُقَصِّرُ عَن غاياتِها وَتَنالُها
May a seeker of greatness be your ransom, Abu Ishaq:
Your ransom Abu Ishaq departed to the heights,
he falls short of its goals, while you attain them;
Falling short of its goals yet attaining them,
وَراجِيَةٌand one hoping أَنthat يَستَطيعَكَcan match you سَعيُهاher striving
وَراجِيَةٌ أَن يَستَطيعَكَ سَعيُها
وَقَدand indeed سافَرَتhave traveled بَينَamong الرِجالِmen خِلالُهاher virtues
وَقَد سافَرَت بَينَ الرِجالِ خِلالُها
and one hoping her striving can match you,
And hopeful that your efforts will avail you,
though her virtues have traveled among men.
And it has mingled with men, its ways,
وَكَمand how many شَرَفٍa noble distinction قَدindeed قُمتَyou have stood دونَbarring سَبيلِهِits path
وَكَم شَرَفٍ قَد قُمتَ دونَ سَبيلِهِ
وَفُرصَةِand an opportunity for مَجدٍglory لَمnot يَفُتكَescaped you اِهتِبالُهاits timely seizing
وَفُرصَةِ مَجدٍ لَم يَفُتكَ اِهتِبالُها
How many a height of honor whose path you have barred,
How many glories have you shielded without way,
and a chance for glory whose timely seizing you did not miss!
And occasions of glory never missed grasping,
وَنَبِّيتُكَand I was told of you اِستَبطَأتَyou deemed slow شُكريmy thanks لِأَنعُمٍfor favors
وَنَبِّيتُكَ اِستَبطَأتَ شُكري لِأَنعُمٍ
تَتابَعُcome in succession عِنديto me سَيبُهاtheir bounty وَنَوالُهاand their gifts
تَتابَعُ عِندي سَيبُها وَنَوالُها
I have been told you found my thanks slow for favors
I chide you, you delayed gratitude for bounties,
whose bounty and gifts come to me in succession.
Following me, their flow and bestowal,
وَكَيفَand how وَقَدwhen already سارَتhave traveled غَرائِبُrare poems لَمnot يَزَلceased
وَكَيفَ وَقَد سارَت غَرائِبُ لَم يَزَل
يَفوتُsurpasses فِعالَthe deeds of المُنعِمينَbenefactors مَقالُهاtheir words
يَفوتُ فِعالَ المُنعِمينَ مَقالُها
How so, when rare poems have gone abroad, whose words have never ceased
And how, wonders have not ceased,
to outstrip the deeds of benefactors?
To elude the actions of benefactors their words,
ضَوارِبُranging فيthrough الآفاقِthe horizons لَيسَis not بِبارِحٍdeparting
ضَوارِبُ في الآفاقِ لَيسَ بِبارِحٍ
بِهاwith them مِنfrom مَحَلٍّa place أَوطَنَتهُmade it a home اِرتِحالُهاtheir traveling
بِها مِن مَحَلٍّ أَوطَنَتهُ اِرتِحالُها
They range through the horizons; their traveling never takes them
Wanderers in horizons, not yesterday was a place,
away from a place where it has established them.
Inhabited, their travels have removed them,
قَصائِرُهاtheir short poems رَهنٌpledged بِتَجزِيَةِto repaying اللُهىgifts
قَصائِرُها رَهنٌ بِتَجزِيَةِ اللُهى
وَتَبقىand remain دُيوناًdebts فيupon الكِرامِthe generous طِوالُهاtheir long poems
وَتَبقى دُيوناً في الكِرامِ طِوالُها
Their short poems are pledged to repaying gifts,
Its deficiencies hostage to God’s repayment,
while their long ones remain debts owed by the generous.
And debts remain in generosity prolonged,
تَرَكتُI left سَوادَthe blackness of الشَكِّdoubt وَاِنحَزتُand turned aside طالِباًseeking
تَرَكتُ سَوادَ الشَكِّ وَاِنحَزتُ طالِباً
بَياضَthe whiteness of الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades حَيثُwhere مالَleaned ذُبالُهاtheir wicks
بَياضَ الثُرَيّا حَيثُ مالَ ذُبالُها
I left doubt's blackness and turned aside, seeking
I left the darkness of doubt and sided seeking,
the Pleiades' whiteness, where their wicks leaned.
Whiteness of contentment where its morn appears,
وَلَمand not أَرضَI was content مِنwith لَيلىLayla حَبيباًa beloved وَلامِنَnor with الthe
وَلَم أَرضَ مِن لَيلى حَبيباً وَلامِنَ ال
شَآمِSyria بِلاداًa land بَطَّبينيentices me اِحتِلالُهاdwelling in it
شَآمِ بِلاداً بَطَّبيني اِحتِلالُها
I was not content with Layla as a beloved, nor with
I was pleased by neither Leila as a lover, nor by,
Syria as a land whose dwelling could entice me.
Syria as a land whose settlement contents me,
أَرِحناrelieve us بِتَسيِيرِby setting moving المَطاياthe riding-camels فَإِنَّهاfor they are
أَرِحنا بِتَسيِيرِ المَطايا فَإِنَّها
صَريمَةُa firm resolve عَزمٍof determination حُلَّwas unfastened عَنهاfrom it عِقالُهاits hobble
صَريمَةُ عَزمٍ حُلَّ عَنها عِقالُها
Relieve us by setting the riding-camels in motion, for they are
Give us ease by sending the mounts, for they
a firm resolve whose hobble has been unfastened.
Are fiery resolve, their tether removed,
وَقَدand may يُبلِغُbring المُشتاقَthe yearning lover مَوقِعَto the goal of شَوقِهِhis longing
وَقَد يُبلِغُ المُشتاقَ مَوقِعَ شَوقِهِ
سُرىnight travel الأَرحَبِيّاتِthe Arhabi she-camels البَعيدِfar off كَلالُهاtheir weariness
سُرى الأَرحَبِيّاتِ البَعيدِ كَلالُها
And the yearning lover may be brought to the object of his yearning
And they may bring the longing one to the place of his longing,
by the night-march of Arhabi she-camels, slow to tire.
The wide expanse of the deserted encampments,
Sol 6.1