شكراًthanks لدهريto my Time بالضميرin the heart وبالفمand with the mouth
شكراً لدهري بالضمير وبالفم
لماfor having أعاضَreplaced بمُنعمٍwith a benefactor عنin place of مُنعمِa benefactor
لما أعاضَ بمُنعمٍ عن مُنعمِ
Thanks to my Time, in my heart and on my lips,
My thanks to fate for giving me, in mind and mouth,
for replacing one benefactor with another.
The means to praise one who granted me gifts,
لاnot سلوةًforgetful consolation بلbut صبوةًyearning بمجانسٍfor a kindred spirit
لا سلوةً بل صبوةً بمجانسٍ
بَرَدَcooled الوصالُunion بهاthrough it فؤادَthe heart المُغْرمِof the enamored one
بَرَدَ الوصالُ بها فؤادَ المُغْرمِ
Not forgetful consolation, but longing for a kindred spirit,
Not to console me but to raise me with gatherings
through which union cooled the enamored heart.
Where love's union cooled the heart of this lovesick soul.
خيرُthe best الودادof affection ودادُthe affection أفْوهَof an eloquent ناطقٍspeaker
خيرُ الوداد ودادُ أفْوهَ ناطقٍ
لعبتplayed بهwith it الجُلَّgreat calamities ولمand did not يتصرَّمِbreak off
لعبت به الجُلَّ ولم يتصرَّمِ
The best affection is an eloquent speaker's affection,
The best affection is that of one whose eloquent mouth
played upon by great calamities, yet never severed.
Played with allure, and was unaffected.
حيِّsalute المنيعَthe invulnerable الجارِneighbor يُقرنُis coupled بأسُهhis might
حيِّ المنيعَ الجارِ يُقرنُ بأسُه
فيin النائباتِcalamities إلىto جزيلِabundant الأنْعُمِfavors
في النائباتِ إلى جزيلِ الأنْعُمِ
Salute him whose neighbor is inviolable, whose might is coupled
The refuge of the guarded neighbor in hard times
in calamities with copious favors.
Is to the one of abundant gifts.
غرسhe planted الصنيعkindness فلاso neither اللسانthe tongue بصامتٍsilent
غرس الصنيع فلا اللسان بصامتٍ
دونshort of الثناءِpraise ولاnor الوفاءُloyalty بمنجمِceasing
دون الثناءِ ولا الوفاءُ بمنجمِ
He planted kindness: the tongue will not be silent
The planting of favor - neither tongue stays silent
in praise, nor will loyalty ever cease.
Of praise, nor loyalty remains unmarked.
ليI have نفسa soul مشغوفٍof one enamored بسالفof the former عهدهhis bond
لي نفس مشغوفٍ بسالف عهده
لمdid not ترضaccept نسيانَforgetting الرفيقthe companion الأقدمoldest
لم ترض نسيانَ الرفيق الأقدم
Mine is the soul of one enamored of his former bond,
My soul craves conversations of the past,
unwilling to forget the oldest companion.
Never pleased to forget that oldest friend.
مضروبةstruck بشباby the sharp edges الخطوبof calamities تنوشُهاassailing it
مضروبة بشبا الخطوب تنوشُها
بالجورunjustly عاديةُthe assault الغَدورof the treacherous one الأزْلمِthe harsh one
بالجور عاديةُ الغَدور الأزْلمِ
Struck by calamities' sharp edges, it is assailed
Struck by the calamity of separation, she sips
unjustly by harsh, treacherous Time's assault.
Unjustly the deadly poison of aloofness.
حسناءbeautiful آنسةٌcompanionable إذاwhen هيit أكْرِمَتْis honored
حسناء آنسةٌ إذا هي أكْرِمَتْ
ونوارُand a shy woman باديةٍof the desert إذاwhen لمnot تُكرمِit is honored
ونوارُ باديةٍ إذا لم تُكرمِ
Beautiful and companionable when honored,
A beautiful, intimate maiden - when she is generous
and a shy desert woman when it is not honored.
She is the light of the land when not honored.
يلويpostpones مواعدهاits promised dates الزمانTime وتقتضيand it demands
يلوي مواعدها الزمان وتقتضي
إنجازهُhis fulfillment فإلىso until متىwhen وإلىand until كمhow long
إنجازهُ فإلى متى وإلى كم
Time postpones the promises made to it, and it demands
Time disappoints her appointments, and requires
that he fulfill them—until when, and for how long?
Fulfilling them - so until when and how much?
سعدprospered الجهولthe ignorant man ولاحand appeared علميmy knowledge ذائديmy deterrent
سعد الجهول ولاح علمي ذائدي
عماfrom what أرومI seek فليتنيso if only I لمhad not أعْلَمِknown
عما أروم فليتني لم أعْلَمِ
The ignorant prospered; my knowledge proved my deterrent
Good luck made the ignorant thrive and my banner of knowledge fade
from what I seek—would that I had never known.
From what I intended, would that I hadn't learned!
وغدوتand I became ذاpossessed of حزنٍsorrow بفضلٍthrough excellence مطربٍdelighting
وغدوت ذا حزنٍ بفضلٍ مطربٍ
غيريsomeone other than me فكنتُso I was كمنعمٍlike a benefactor لمdid not ينعمِenjoy comfort
غيري فكنتُ كمنعمٍ لم ينعمِ
I grew sorrowful through an excellence that delighted
And I became sad because of another's joyous grace
another; so I was like a benefactor who enjoyed no comfort.
While I was like one who enjoyed no bounty.
واستهونand belittled القومُthe people المقالَspeech سفاهةًfoolishly
واستهون القومُ المقالَ سفاهةً
فالفضلُso excellence للسكيتfor the silent one لاnot المُتكلمِthe speaker
فالفضلُ للسكيت لا المُتكلمِ
The people foolishly belittled speech,
The people deemed words as foolishness,
so excellence belonged to the silent, not the speaker.
So favor is for the silent, not the speaker.
وندمتand I regretted للعمرِfor the lifetime المُقضَّtroubled عندهُwith him
وندمت للعمرِ المُقضَّ عندهُ
فَلكادَso indeed nearly يقضيdecreed بالحِمامِdeath تَندُّميmy remorse
فَلكادَ يقضي بالحِمامِ تَندُّمي
I regretted my troubled lifetime with him,
And I regretted my life spent in his service
and my remorse almost decreed my death.
When my only consolation was almost regret itself.
هَمٌّa grief ثوىsettled بينbetween الضلوعِthe ribs مُبرِّحٌagonizing
هَمٌّ ثوى بين الضلوعِ مُبرِّحٌ
لولاwere it not for الوزيرُthe vizier وفضلهُand his bounty لمwould not يُنْجمِcease
لولا الوزيرُ وفضلهُ لم يُنْجمِ
An agonizing grief lodged between my ribs,
A worry settled in my ribs, escaping
which, but for the vizier and his bounty, would never cease.
Had it not been for the minister and his grace it would not have shone.
بمصمِّمٍin one resolved للخيرon good غيرnot مُنكِّبٍturning aside
بمصمِّمٍ للخير غير مُنكِّبٍ
ومُنكِّبٍand turning aside فيin الشرِّevil غيرnot مُصمِّمِpersisting
ومُنكِّبٍ في الشرِّ غير مُصمِّمِ
One resolute in good, never swerving aside,
With resolve for good, not turning away,
and swerving away from evil, never persisting in it.
And turning to evil, not resolved.
شرفٌan honor لدينto the faith اللهof God ليسnot بمُعورٍvulnerable
شرفٌ لدين الله ليس بمُعورٍ
فيamid الحادثانtime's vicissitudes ولاnor بنكْسِa weakling مُحْجمِretreating
في الحادثان ولا بنكْسِ مُحْجمِ
An honor to God's faith, never vulnerable
An honor to Allah's religion, not disgraced
in adversity, nor a weakling who retreats.
By events, nor defeated and withdrawn.
فتبلَّجso shone المجدُglory الأثيلُdeep-rooted طلاقةًwith cheerfulness
فتبلَّج المجدُ الأثيلُ طلاقةً
عنfrom ثغْرa mouth مُبْتهجٍrejoicing بهin him متبسِّمِsmiling
عن ثغْر مُبْتهجٍ به متبسِّمِ
Deep-rooted glory shone out in delight,
So glory's eternal brilliance burst forth
from a smiling mouth rejoicing in him:
From a cheerful face making those who saw him smile.
بمجردِthrough one who lays bare الأيامِthe days فيin حالاتهhis states
بمجردِ الأيامِ في حالاته
علاَّمةٍdeeply learned بالدهْرِabout Time غيرِnot مُعَلَّمِtaught
علاَّمةٍ بالدهْرِ غيرِ مُعَلَّمِ
through one who lays the days bare in all his states,
A sign of the days in their states, unmarked
deeply learned in Time, though never taught.
By the passage of time. His creed:
مستهترٍabsorbed بالمأثراتin noble deeds شعارهُhis watchword
مستهترٍ بالمأثرات شعارهُ
وضعُsetting down الرحالِthe saddles بهاamong them وحمْلُand bearing المغرمthe cost
وضعُ الرحالِ بها وحمْلُ المغرم
Absorbed in noble deeds, his watchword is
Disregard for hardships, his motto -
to lay down saddles among them and shoulder the cost.
To set foot on them, a load for the enamored.
عُلْويُّlofty برقٍlightning لاحshone فيin أفقthe horizon العُلىof eminence
عُلْويُّ برقٍ لاح في أفق العُلى
فأضاءso illuminated منsome of حظِّthe lot الفقيرِof the poor man المُظْلمِdarkened
فأضاء من حظِّ الفقيرِ المُظْلمِ
Lofty lightning shone on the horizon of eminence,
A High rising star shone on the horizon of heights
and lit the poor man's darkened lot.
And illuminated the darkened fortune of the poor.
طابتْwere auspicious مخايلُهits portents لشايمِto the watcher لمْعِهof its flash
طابتْ مخايلُه لشايمِ لمْعِه
عِلْماًknowing ببادرةِthe first onset of السَّحوحِthe pouring cloud المُثجمِcopiously raining
عِلْماً ببادرةِ السَّحوحِ المُثجمِ
Its portents delighted the watcher of its flash,
The imaginations of the blameworthy shone at the brilliance of his gleam,
knowing the first onset of a copious, drenching downpour.
Knowing the first proof of the frowning critic.
خِرْقٌa deft, generous man تبرعُهhis free giving رفيقُthe companion نوالهِof his bounty
خِرْقٌ تبرعُه رفيقُ نوالهِ
ومتىand whenever تُسلْis requested جدواهُhis bounty لمdid not يتَلوَّمِdelay
ومتى تُسلْ جدواهُ لم يتَلوَّمِ
A deft, generous man, whose free gifts accompany his bounty,
A tear his generosity repaired, and when
who never delays when his favor is sought.
Would its flowing ever be blamed?
تتجنبavoids الغبراءdrought عَقْوةَthe precincts أرضهِof his land
تتجنب الغبراء عَقْوةَ أرضهِ
رهَباًin dread لمنهلof the downpour النَّوالِof bounty المُرْزمِthundering
رهَباً لمنهل النَّوالِ المُرْزمِ
Drought avoids the precincts of his land,
The dust avoids the ruggedness of his land,
in dread of the thundering downpour of his bounty.
Fearing the watering place of sweet bounty.
ثبتٌa steadfast man توقِّرهlend him dignity الخطوبcalamities بحيثwhere لاneither
ثبتٌ توقِّره الخطوب بحيث لا
صبرُpatience الحليمof the forbearing لهاagainst them ولاnor المُتَحلمthe would-be forbearing
صبرُ الحليم لها ولا المُتَحلم
Steadfast, trials lend him dignity where neither
Firm whom calamities cannot endure,
the forbearing nor the would-be forbearing can endure them.
Neither can the patience of the forbearing nor the dreamer.
يزدادُhe increases منfrom أجْلابهنَّtheir uproars رزانةًin composure
يزدادُ من أجْلابهنَّ رزانةً
كالريحlike the wind تُظهرُreveals منsome of أناةِthe composure الأيْهمof the mountain
كالريح تُظهرُ من أناةِ الأيْهم
Their uproar only increases his composure,
He gains, through their striking, more composure,
as wind reveals a mountain's patience.
Like the wind displays the composure of the stoic.
غمْرُboundless الخلائقin character تُتَّقىare feared سطواتهُhis assaults
غمْرُ الخلائق تُتَّقى سطواتهُ
مُتواضعٌhumble لمnot يُلْفَwas found غيرother than مُعظَّمِhonored
مُتواضعٌ لم يُلْفَ غير مُعظَّمِ
Boundless in character, his assaults are feared;
The flood of creatures - his might is feared,
humble, yet never found unhonored.
Humble, never beholden except as glorified.
تتلوfollows سجاجتهُhis gentleness عواديthe onsets بأسِهof his might
تتلو سجاجتهُ عوادي بأسِه
إنّindeed الغِرارthe edge وراءbeyond صفْحِthe flat المِخْذمِof the cleaving sword
إنّ الغِرار وراء صفْحِ المِخْذمِ
His gentleness follows the onsets of his might:
His fierceness follows his tranquility, verily
the edge lies beyond the flat of the cleaving sword.
Fury comes after the drawing of swords.
وافٍfaithful إذاwhen نقضَbroke الزمانُTime عُهودهُits covenants
وافٍ إذا نقضَ الزمانُ عُهودهُ
لقيَhe met المُعاهدthe covenant-partner فيwithin الجديلthe braided cord المُبْرمِfirmly twisted
لقيَ المُعاهد في الجديل المُبْرمِ
Faithful: when Time breaks its covenants,
Loyal, if time breaks its pledges
he meets his covenant-partner in a firmly twisted bond.
He meets the ally at the place of covenant.
لوif واثَقَhe covenanted with الرمضاءthe scorching ground فيin حبِّlove الصدىof thirst
لو واثَقَ الرمضاء في حبِّ الصدى
لغداhe would come to يَعُدُّcount الضبَّthe lizard حوتَa fish الخضْرمof the vast sea
لغدا يَعُدُّ الضبَّ حوتَ الخضْرم
If he covenanted with scorching ground in love of thirst,
If the wilderness trusted the love of echo
he would count the lizard a fish of the vast sea.
It would count the wolf as friend.
غيرانُjealous in protection يحميguards ماwhat يشاءhe wills ببأسهِwith his might
غيرانُ يحمي ما يشاء ببأسهِ
لاnot جارهُhis neighbor بِلَقىًa castoff ولاnor مُستسلمِsurrendered
لا جارهُ بِلَقىً ولا مُستسلمِ
Jealous in protection, he guards what he wills with his might;
A protector who guards what he wills with his might
his neighbor is neither abandoned nor surrendered.
Without a treaty, and none can resist him.
لوif لاذتsought refuge الغبراءthe earth منهfrom him بعصمةٍin protection
لو لاذت الغبراء منه بعصمةٍ
لحمىhe would protect ثراهاits soil أنْfrom يُداسَbeing trodden بمنْسمِby a camel's pad
لحمى ثراها أنْ يُداسَ بمنْسمِ
If the earth sought shelter in his protection,
If the dust sought refuge in his protection
he would guard its soil from being trodden by a camel's pad.
He would guard its bridal gifts from being trampled.
ومُشردٍand a fugitive ينزوtosses بهhim فرقُterror الرَّدىof death
ومُشردٍ ينزو به فرقُ الرَّدى
نَزْوَthe leaping المُدامةِof wine بالنزيفwith the drunkard المُفعمbrimful
نَزْوَ المُدامةِ بالنزيف المُفعم
And many a fugitive, whom terror of death makes leap
And a nomad whom separation's horsemen drive
as wine makes a brimful drunkard leap,
Like the swaying of the drunk overflowing with drink.
جمِّabundant in الظنونsuspicions يكادalmost يدرأrepels خوفهُhis fear
جمِّ الظنون يكاد يدرأ خوفهُ
محضpure اليقينcertainty إذاwhen بداappears بتوهُّمas a conjecture
محض اليقين إذا بدا بتوهُّم
thronged with suspicions, his fear almost repels
He gathers all guesses - his fear almost wards off
pure certainty when it appears as conjecture.
Fear itself when it appears with misgivings.
رسبتsank بهwith him السُّدَفthe darknesses الضخامthick كأنهas though he
رسبت به السُّدَف الضخام كأنه
صلْدٌa hard stone توغَّلpenetrated لُجَّthe depths يَمٍّof a sea مِدْأمِsurging
صلْدٌ توغَّل لُجَّ يَمٍّ مِدْأمِ
Thick darkness sank him, as though he were
To him cling the mighty sands as though he were
a hard stone plunging into the depths of a surging sea.
An impenetrable fortress sunken into the depths of a valley.
يأويseeks shelter لتعريسٍfor a night's rest فيبعثُthen stirs رجلهُhis foot
يأوي لتعريسٍ فيبعثُ رجلهُ
مَرُّthe passing النَّسيمof the breeze علىover المكانِthe place المُرْتمِsilent
مَرُّ النَّسيم على المكانِ المُرْتمِ
He seeks a night's rest, yet his foot is set moving
He comes to take rest but sends forth his leg
by the breeze passing over that silent place.
Like the passing of the soft breeze over the resting place.
نِسْعُthe girth المطيَّةof the mount والرسيمand trotting لحذرهِbecause of his fear
نِسْعُ المطيَّة والرسيم لحذرهِ
بحجارةِagainst the stones المِعْزاءِof rocky ground كالمُتبغِّمِlike one lowing
بحجارةِ المِعْزاءِ كالمُتبغِّمِ
His mount's girth and its trot, to his frightened mind,
The gait of the excellent horse and the trotter slow in caution
among the stones of rocky ground sound like lowing.
Like the sullen-faced at stones of the goat pen.
يهفوbuffets بهhim ضخمٌa mighty peril تخاذلfaltered عندهُbefore it
يهفو به ضخمٌ تخاذل عندهُ
نصرُthe support المُطاعof the obeyed leader فباسهُso his might لمdid not يعْصمِprotect
نصرُ المُطاع فباسهُ لم يعْصمِ
A mighty peril buffets him, before which faltered
The bold cower before him, and his might did not
an obeyed leader's help; his might could not protect him.
Save the protected, so his power was not restrained.
آويتهyou sheltered him فحميتهand protected him منfrom ذُعْرِهhis terror
آويته فحميته من ذُعْرِه
دُونto the exclusion of الرجالother men وكانand he was عينَthe very essence المُسلَمِof one abandoned
دُون الرجال وكان عينَ المُسلَمِ
You sheltered him and protected him from his terror,
I gave him refuge and protected him from his panic
alone among men, when he was utterly forsaken.
Besides the men, and he was the protected Muslim.
وطريدand a fugitive from مجدبةٍa barren year غدتْwent off بثرائهِwith his wealth
وطريد مجدبةٍ غدتْ بثرائهِ
شهباءُan ashen year مُرْديةٍdeadly كحدِّlike the edge اللَّهْذَمِof a keen spear
شهباءُ مُرْديةٍ كحدِّ اللَّهْذَمِ
And a fugitive from a barren year that swept away his wealth,
And a starved vagrant whose poverty through my wealth
an ashen, deadly year, like a keen spear's edge:
Became a celestial orb shedding abundant rain.
سفعتُهscorched him منfrom غبرائهاits dust عرَّاقَةٌa stripping drought
سفعتُه من غبرائها عرَّاقَةٌ
تَذَرُleaves الخميلةَthe lush meadow تُرْبةَdust المُتيممِfor one performing dry ablution
تَذَرُ الخميلةَ تُرْبةَ المُتيممِ
a scouring drought from its dust scorched him,
I raised him above the dust of his humiliation -
leaving the lush meadow as dust for dry ablution.
A purification leaving the garment spotless.
ماnot زالceased إخلافthe broken promises النجومof the stars ينوشهُassailing him
ما زال إخلاف النجوم ينوشهُ
حتىuntil أثابَreturned بهwith him فُوَيْقjust above المُصْرمِone bereft of livestock
حتى أثابَ به فُوَيْق المُصْرمِ
The stars' broken promises kept assailing him,
The succession of stars continued to give him drink
until they left him barely above a man bereft of livestock.
Until the cloth came to cover the vine-trimmer.
حتىuntil إذاwhen ماindeed الذودُthe small camel herd صرَّمwasted نحضَهits flesh
حتى إذا ما الذودُ صرَّم نحضَه
لَسُّlicking الرغامdust بكلin every فجٍّpass أقْتَمِdust-darkened
لَسُّ الرغام بكل فجٍّ أقْتَمِ
Until, when his small camel herd's flesh was wasted
Until when the shield of protection decreased his intoxication
by licking dust in every dust-darkened pass,
He camped at the meadow where there was no fuller thorn.
وأقامand remained بالصرمat the encampment العزيبremote فلمso did not يُطِقْmanage
وأقام بالصرم العزيب فلم يُطِقْ
دركَreaching المعاطِنthe watering places باللقاحِwith milch camels المُعظمِheavy with young
دركَ المعاطِن باللقاحِ المُعظمِ
and he stayed in a remote encampment, unable
And he stayed at the barren herbage but could not
to reach the watering places with milch camels heavy with young,
Reach the lofty pastures and great threshold.
واشتدَّand intensified محْلٌfamine فاغتدتso became أشلاؤُهُits carcasses
واشتدَّ محْلٌ فاغتدت أشلاؤُهُ
للمُترفfor the pampered man العيَّافِfastidious أكْرمthe finest مطعمِfood
للمُترف العيَّافِ أكْرم مطعمِ
and famine worsened, so his herd's carcasses became
And a place grew strained, so his body parts dispersed
the choicest food for the pampered, fastidious man:
To the luxury-loving glutton - the best food.
أمَّsought الطريدُthe outcast نوالthe bounty مُوليof a giver of نِعْمَةٍa blessing
أمَّ الطريدُ نوال مُولي نِعْمَةٍ
فأناخَso halted عنكَaway from you بالمُجيرِwith the protector المُطعمthe provider of food
فأناخَ عنكَ بالمُجيرِ المُطعم
the outcast sought the bounty of a giver of blessings,
But the protected found refuge in the grace of a patron
and turned from you to halt at the sheltering provider.
So he rested from you under the generous, noble host.
إنَّindeed ابنson خالدٍof Khalid الكريمnoble أرومةًin lineage
إنَّ ابن خالدٍ الكريم أرومةً
غيثُrain الفقيرfor the poor ومنْعةُand protection المُستعصمِfor the refuge-seeker
غيثُ الفقير ومنْعةُ المُستعصمِ
Truly, Ibn Khalid, noble in lineage,
Indeed the son of Khalid the generous intends
is the poor man's rain and the refuge-seeker's defense.
To be rain for the poor and protector of the defended.
غمرُabundant in المواهبgifts مستريحٌeffortless رِفدُهhis aid
غمرُ المواهب مستريحٌ رِفدُه
فذُّsingle السؤالthe request أخوpossessor of نوالٍbounty تَوأمِtwinned
فذُّ السؤال أخو نوالٍ تَوأمِ
Lavish in gifts, his aid comes effortlessly,
Abundance of gifts, resting at ease - his support
asked for one thing, he gives a double bounty.
Sufficient for requests, brother to attainment.
تدنيbring near لهto him الأقصىthe remotest مطيُّmounts عزائِمٍof resolutions
تدني له الأقصى مطيُّ عزائِمٍ
يسخرنthey scoff منat ولدthe offspring الجديلof al-Jadil وشدقمِand Shadqam
يسخرن من ولد الجديل وشدقمِ
Mounts of resolve bring the remotest places near to him,
The most distant draws near to him, steed of resolute determination
mocking the offspring of al-Jadil and Shadqam:
Mocking the son of the maidservant and little mouth.
وخَّادةٌswift-stepping لاnot تشتكيcomplains لغَبfatigue السُّرىof night-travel
وخَّادةٌ لا تشتكي لغَب السُّرى
صُبرُenduring الخفافhoofpads علىacross الفلاthe wastes والمَخْرمand mountain passes
صُبرُ الخفاف على الفلا والمَخْرم
swift-stepping, never complaining of night-travel's weariness,
A cheek that does not complain of the absence of intimacy -
their pads enduring wastes and mountain passes.
Patience of the brave over iron and flint.
ويذودُand defends عنهhim مُسدَّدٌan unerring force فيin قصدهits aim
ويذودُ عنه مُسدَّدٌ في قصده
يهديbrings الصوارherds لهto him بغيرwithout تلوُّمِdelay
يهدي الصوار له بغير تلوُّمِ
And a host unerring in its aim defends him,
And a protector facilitates his just aim,
bringing him herds without delay.
Guiding the sparks without hesitation towards him.
جمُّabundant الغواربin crests ماؤهits water منfrom نقْعةِraised dust
جمُّ الغوارب ماؤه من نقْعةِ
فضلتْoutstripped سوابحُهits swimming steeds مرورَthe passage العُوَّمِof swimmers
فضلتْ سوابحُه مرورَ العُوَّمِ
Countless are its crests; its water comes from dust,
He took an auspicious hope and left it
its swimming steeds outstripping the passage of swimmers.
To flow freely upon the meadows.
جزلٌmassive كموجlike the waves البحرof the sea تمخضchurns لُجهits depths
جزلٌ كموج البحر تمخض لُجه
رأدَat the outset الضُّحىof forenoon هوجاءُa furious wind لمnot تتنسَّمِsoftened into a breeze
رأدَ الضُّحى هوجاءُ لم تتنسَّمِ
Massive as sea-waves, its depths are churned
As if the roll of stars in the darkness
at early forenoon by a furious wind that never softens.
Were the gathering of wave to wave.
ضاقتbecame too narrow بهfor it الدهناءُal-Dahna واتَّسعتand broadened بهthrough it
ضاقت به الدهناءُ واتَّسعت به
فيin الرزقlivelihood تاليةُthe following flock النسورof vultures الحُوَّمِcircling
في الرزق تاليةُ النسور الحُوَّمِ
Al-Dahna is too narrow for it, while it broadens
By Allah, your noble, honorable merits
the livelihood of the circling vultures in its wake.
Have brought you near to the honor of the Greatest Imam.
عمَّتspread everywhere إغارتهُits raiding فشمسso the sun نهارهof its day
عمَّت إغارتهُ فشمس نهاره
مسلوبةُdeprived of التشريقradiance عندat الملْحمِthe battle
مسلوبةُ التشريق عند الملْحمِ
Its raiding reaches everywhere; its daytime sun
Modesty concealed them so the poverty of time proclaimed them -
is robbed of radiance amid the battle.
The firm is compelled by disobedience of glory.
ودجاand darkened فكادتso almost أنthat تضِلَّlose their way رماحُهits spears
ودجا فكادت أن تضِلَّ رماحُه
فيin الطَّعْنِthrusting لولاwere it not for ربطُهاtheir tethering بالأنجمِto the stars
في الطَّعْنِ لولا ربطُها بالأنجمِ
Darkness falls, and its spears almost lose their way
Creation split its goodness and he obtained it
in thrusting, were they not tethered to the stars.
Seeing the wrong of glory if it does not sew.
واستمطرتand begged rain مُعْطُthe bare expanses الفُلاةof the wilderness جيادهُits steeds
واستمطرت مُعْطُ الفُلاة جيادهُ
فولَغْنَso they lapped منهfrom it فيin المسيحflowing sweat وفيand in الدَّمِblood
فولَغْنَ منه في المسيح وفي الدَّمِ
The bare expanses beg its steeds for rain,
So he took from you extended, with no limit,
then lap from it flowing sweat and blood.
In thrusting and in striking the submissive.
منfrom كلevery مُحتدمone ablaze الحفيظةwith wrath لودناif he approached
من كل مُحتدم الحفيظة لودنا
للحشرto the Resurrection حاذَرهُfeared him حريقُthe fire جهنَّمِof Hell
للحشر حاذَرهُ حريقُ جهنَّمِ
From every man ablaze with wrath—were he to approach
And declared permitted from you one of eloquent speech
the Resurrection, Hell's fire would fear him.
Judicious, when he speaks perfectly coherent.
نغَضتْshook شمائلهhis traits الحقودُvindictive فهمَّso he intended أنto
نغَضتْ شمائله الحقودُ فهمَّ أن
يزريput to shame بإيجافِthe gallop الجوادِof the steed الشَّيظمtall
يزري بإيجافِ الجوادِ الشَّيظم
His vindictive nature stirred, and he resolved
The listener contemplates his words
to put the tall steed's gallop to shame.
Measuring eloquence in the most generous carpenter.
وسماand lifted بهhim الأملhope المجيدُglorious فخلتَهُso you imagined him
وسما به الأمل المجيدُ فخلتَهُ
يجريhe runs الجوادthe steed علىupon قذالِthe nape المِرْزمِof al-Mirzam
يجري الجواد على قذالِ المِرْزمِ
A glorious hope lifted him, so you would think him
He speaks concisely in his glances
running his steed upon al-Mirzam's nape.
So the duration of his gaze is alphabet letters.
وكأنَّand as though مُنكدرthe plunging النجومof stars بغيْهبٍthrough darkness
وكأنَّ مُنكدر النجوم بغيْهبٍ
شدُّthe charge الكميof an armored champion إلىagainst الكميan armored champion المُعلمِbearing a battle-sign
شدُّ الكمي إلى الكمي المُعلمِ
The stars' plunging through black night seems
If time has wronged me with its injustice
an armored champion's charge upon a marked champion.
I think this time is my time to progress.
للهِto God دَرُّthe excellence مناقبٍof virtues شَرَفيَّةٍhonorable
للهِ دَرُّ مناقبٍ شَرَفيَّةٍ
أدنتكbrought you near منto شرفthe honor الإمامof the Imam الأعظمِsupreme
أدنتك من شرف الإمام الأعظمِ
God bless those honorable virtues
So drive forth the one whose hands planted - I boast of you
that brought you near the supreme Imam's honor.
And to your pride I belong.
كتمconcealed التواضعُhumility فضلهاtheir excellence فأذاعهُso proclaimed it
كتم التواضعُ فضلها فأذاعهُ
فقرthe need الزمانof Time إلىfor الشديدthe strong man الأحْزمmost resolute
فقر الزمان إلى الشديد الأحْزم
Humility concealed their excellence; it was revealed
by Time's need for the strong, most resolute.
نشقbreathed in الخليقةُcreation طيبهاtheir fragrance واسْتافَهُand inhaled it
نشق الخليقةُ طيبها واسْتافَهُ
فرأىand judged عُقوقdisloyalty المجدto glory إنif لمnot يَرْثمِkiss
فرأى عُقوق المجد إن لم يَرْثمِ
Creation breathed their fragrance and inhaled it,
and deemed it disloyal to glory not to kiss it.
فاستلَّso drew منكfrom you مهنَّداًan Indian blade لاnot حَدُّهُits edge
فاستلَّ منك مهنَّداً لا حَدُّهُ
نابٍblunt ولاnor فيin الضَّربstriking بالمستثلمِnotched
نابٍ ولا في الضَّرب بالمستثلمِ
So it drew from you an Indian blade, whose edge
is neither blunt nor notched in striking.
وأحلَّand installed منكfrom you دنيَّةُa lowly station ذاpossessing منْطقٍspeech
وأحلَّ منك دنيَّةُ ذا منْطقٍ
فصلٍdecisive إذاwhen ماindeed قالhe speaks غيرnot مجمجمِmumbling
فصلٍ إذا ما قال غير مجمجمِ
And from you it installed [in a lowly station] a man whose speech
is decisive whenever he speaks, never mumbling.
يتأملُbeholds المُصغيthe listener إلىto ألفاظِهِhis words
يتأملُ المُصغي إلى ألفاظِهِ
قسَّQuss الفصاحةof eloquence فيin النِّجارlineage الأكرمِnoblest
قسَّ الفصاحة في النِّجار الأكرمِ
The listener to his words beholds
a Quss of eloquence, of the noblest stock.
يتكلمُspeaks الإيجازَbrevity فيin لحظاتهhis glances
يتكلمُ الإيجازَ في لحظاته
فدوامso the continuance نظرتهof his gaze حروفُletters المُعجمof the alphabet
فدوام نظرته حروفُ المُعجم
His glances speak in brevity;
his steady gaze forms letters of the alphabet.
إنif كانhas أخَّرنيheld me back الزمانُTime بجورهthrough its injustice
إن كان أخَّرني الزمانُ بجوره
فأظنُّso I think هذاthis الحينtime حينَthe time تقدميof my advancement
فأظنُّ هذا الحين حينَ تقدمي
If Time has held me back through its injustice,
I think this hour is the hour of my advancement.
فاسْقِso water الذيwhat غرستْplanted يداكyour two hands فإننيfor I
فاسْقِ الذي غرستْ يداك فإنني
لكwith you أعْتزيI claim affiliation وإلىand to فخاركَyour glory أنْتميI belong
لك أعْتزي وإلى فخاركَ أنْتمي
Water what your hands have planted, for I
claim affiliation with you, and belong to your glory.
Partial English translation: 122 of 138 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1