فَتَاةَO maiden الْقَرِيضِpoetry، اهْبِطِيdescend مِنْfrom عَلِon high
فَتَاةَ الْقَرِيضِ، اهْبِطِي مِنْ عَلِ
مَدَدْتُI stretched out يَدَيَّmy two hands، فَلَاso do not تَبْخَلِيwithhold
مَدَدْتُ يَدَيَّ، فَلَا تَبْخَلِي
Maiden of poetry, descend from on high.
I have stretched out my hands, so do not withhold.
كَبَاtripped up بِفَتَىthe young man الشِّعْرِpoetry طُولُthe length of الصُّعُودِthe ascent
كَبَا بِفَتَى الشِّعْرِ طُولُ الصُّعُودِ
فَإِنْso if كُنْتِyou are رَاحِمَةًmerciful فَانْزِلِيthen descend
فَإِنْ كُنْتِ رَاحِمَةً فَانْزِلِي
The long ascent has made the young poet stumble;
if you are merciful, then come down.
يَحِنُّhe yearns إِلَيْكِfor you حَنِينَwith the yearning of الْمَشِيبِgray-haired age
يَحِنُّ إِلَيْكِ حَنِينَ الْمَشِيبِ
إِلَىfor ضَحِكَاتِthe laughter of الصِّبَاyouth الْمُخْضِلِdewy
إِلَى ضَحِكَاتِ الصِّبَا الْمُخْضِلِ
He yearns for you as gray-haired age yearns
for the laughter of dewy youth.
سَلَاhe forgot بِكِthrough you لَيْلَىLayla وَأَتْرَابَهَاand her companions
سَلَا بِكِ لَيْلَى وَأَتْرَابَهَا
وَنَامَand he slept عَنِthrough الْعَذْلِreproach وَالْعُذَّلِand the reproachers
وَنَامَ عَنِ الْعَذْلِ وَالْعُذَّلِ
Through you he forgot Layla and her companions,
and slept through reproach and the reproachers.
شَغَلْتِyou captivated فَتَاكِyour young man بِسِحْرِwith the magic of الْبَيَانِeloquence
شَغَلْتِ فَتَاكِ بِسِحْرِ الْبَيَانِ
وَلَوْلَاand were it not for عُيُونُكِyour eyes لَمْnot يُشْغَلِbe captivated
وَلَوْلَا عُيُونُكِ لَمْ يُشْغَلِ
You captivated your young poet with the magic of eloquence;
without your eyes, he would not have been captivated.
يَرَاكِhe sees you مِنَin اللَّيْلِthe night فِيin بَدْرِهِits full moon
يَرَاكِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فِي بَدْرِهِ
وَفِيand in شَعْرِهِits hair الْفَاحِمِcoal-black الْمُسْبَلِflowing down
وَفِي شَعْرِهِ الْفَاحِمِ الْمُسْبَلِ
He sees you in the night's full moon,
and in its flowing, coal-black hair,
وَفِيand in كُلِّevery آهٍsigh رَمَاهَاcast it الْهَوَىlove
وَفِي كُلِّ آهٍ رَمَاهَا الْهَوَى
عَلَىupon شَطِّthe shore of مَدْمَعِهِhis tears الْمُرْسَلِfreely flowing
عَلَى شَطِّ مَدْمَعِهِ الْمُرْسَلِ
and in every sigh that love has cast
upon the shore of his flowing tears.
وَيَلْقَاكِand he meets you فِيin كُلِّevery وَجْهٍface صَبِيحٍradiant
وَيَلْقَاكِ فِي كُلِّ وَجْهٍ صَبِيحٍ
بِغَيْرِby anything other than الْمَلَاحَةِbeauty لَمْnot يُصْقَلِbe polished
بِغَيْرِ الْمَلَاحَةِ لَمْ يُصْقَلِ
And he meets you in every radiant face
that nothing but beauty has polished.
وَمِنْand from فِيكِyour mouth يَسْمَعُhe hears نَجْوَىthe intimate whispers of الْغُصُونِthe branches
وَمِنْ فِيكِ يَسْمَعُ نَجْوَى الْغُصُونِ
وَيُصْغِيand he listens إِلَىto هَمْسَةِthe murmur of الْجَدْوَلِthe brook
وَيُصْغِي إِلَى هَمْسَةِ الْجَدْوَلِ
From your mouth he hears the branches' intimate whispers,
and listens to the murmur of the brook.
تَعِيشِينَyou live فِيin زَاخِرٍa surging sea مِنْof ضِيَاءٍlight
تَعِيشِينَ فِي زَاخِرٍ مِنْ ضِيَاءٍ
يُصَفِّقُit claps بِالْأَمَلِwith hope الْمُقْبِلِapproaching
يُصَفِّقُ بِالْأَمَلِ الْمُقْبِلِ
You live in a surging sea of light
whose waves clap with approaching hope.
تَحُومُhover الْمَلَائِكُthe angels مِنْfrom فَوْقِهِabove it
تَحُومُ الْمَلَائِكُ مِنْ فَوْقِهِ
كَمَاas حَامَhovered طَيْرٌbirds عَلَىover مَنْهَلِa watering place
كَمَا حَامَ طَيْرٌ عَلَى مَنْهَلِ
Angels hover above it
as birds hover over a watering place.
رَوِينَاwe drank our fill بِهِof it فَنَسِينَاso we forgot الْحَيَاةَlife
رَوِينَا بِهِ فَنَسِينَا الْحَيَاةَ
وَمَاand what دِيفَwas mixed فِيهَاinto it مِنَof الْحَنْظَلِbitter colocynth
وَمَا دِيفَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْحَنْظَلِ
We drank our fill of it and forgot life
and the bitter colocynth mixed into it.
وَذُقْنَاand we tasted سُلَافًاpure wine أَبَتْit refused أَنْto تَرِفَّquiver
وَذُقْنَا سُلَافًا أَبَتْ أَنْ تَرِفَّ
بِكَفِّin the hand of النُّوَاسِيِّal-Nuwasi وَالْأَخْطَلِand al-Akhtal
بِكَفِّ النُّوَاسِيِّ وَالْأَخْطَلِ
And we tasted pure wine that refused to quiver
in the hand of al-Nuwasi and al-Akhtal.
إِذَاwhen قُتِلَتْit was slain (diluted) أَحْيَتِit brought to life الشَّارِبِينَthe drinkers
إِذَا قُتِلَتْ أَحْيَتِ الشَّارِبِينَ
فَكَيْفَso how إِذَاif هِيَit لَمْnot تُقْتَلِbe slain (diluted)
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا هِيَ لَمْ تُقْتَلِ
When slain by dilution, it brings the drinkers to life;
what, then, if it has not been slain?
كَأَنَّas though الْحَبَابَthe bubbles عَلَىupon وَجْهِهَاits surface
كَأَنَّ الْحَبَابَ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا
وُعُودٌpromises حَصَلْنَthey came true وَلَمْand did not تَحْصُلِcome true
وُعُودٌ حَصَلْنَ وَلَمْ تَحْصُلِ
The bubbles upon its surface seem
like promises fulfilled, yet unfulfilled.
عِدِينِيpromise me عِدِينِيpromise me فَتَاةَO maiden الْقَرِيضِpoetry
عِدِينِي عِدِينِي فَتَاةَ الْقَرِيضِ
وَإِيَّاكِand beware إِيَّاكِbeware أَنْof تَمْطُلِيputting off fulfillment
وَإِيَّاكِ إِيَّاكِ أَنْ تَمْطُلِي
Promise me, promise me, maiden of poetry,
and beware, beware of putting me off.
تَعَالَيْcome نُقَبِّلُwe kiss وَجْهَthe face of الرَّبِيعِspring
تَعَالَيْ نُقَبِّلُ وَجْهَ الرَّبِيعِ
بَشِيرِthe herald of الْمُنَىwishes وَمُنَىand the desire of الْمُجْتَلِيthe beholder
بَشِيرِ الْمُنَى وَمُنَى الْمُجْتَلِي
Come, let us kiss the face of spring,
the herald of wishes and the beholder's desire.
وَنَجْمَعُand we gather مِنْfrom زَهْرِهِits blossoms مَاwhatever نَشَاءُwe wish
وَنَجْمَعُ مِنْ زَهْرِهِ مَا نَشَاءُ
وَنَرْفُلُand we strut فِيin ثَوْبِهِits robe الْمُخْمَلِvelvet
وَنَرْفُلُ فِي ثَوْبِهِ الْمُخْمَلِ
Let us gather whatever we wish of its blossoms,
and strut in its velvet robe.
تَعَالَيْcome نَطِيرُwe fly بِرِيشِwith the feathers of الْأَثِيرِthe ether
تَعَالَيْ نَطِيرُ بِرِيشِ الْأَثِيرِ
وَنَعْلُوand we rise بِهِwith it حَيْثُمَاwherever يَعْتَلِيit ascends
وَنَعْلُو بِهِ حَيْثُمَا يَعْتَلِي
Come, let us fly on the ether's feathers,
and rise with it wherever it ascends.
نَمُرُّwe pass كَمَاas مَرَّpassed طَيْفُthe phantom of الْخَيَالِfancy
نَمُرُّ كَمَا مَرَّ طَيْفُ الْخَيَالِ
أَلَمَّit visited لِمَامًاbriefly وَلَمْand did not يَحْلُلِstay
أَلَمَّ لِمَامًا وَلَمْ يَحْلُلِ
We pass as a phantom of fancy passed:
it briefly visited and did not stay.
فَبَيْنَاfor while نُحَدِّثُwe speak to أَهْلَthe people of الْحِجَازِthe Hijaz
فَبَيْنَا نُحَدِّثُ أَهْلَ الْحِجَازِ
إِذَاsuddenly صَوْتُكِyour voice الْعَذْبُsweet فِيin الْمَوْصِلِMosul
إِذَا صَوْتُكِ الْعَذْبُ فِي الْمَوْصِلِ
For while we speak to the people of the Hijaz,
suddenly your sweet voice is in Mosul.
نُحَيِّيwe greet بَنِيthe sons of الْعَرَبِthe Arabs الْأَوْفِيَاءَfaithful
نُحَيِّي بَنِي الْعَرَبِ الْأَوْفِيَاءَ
وَنُسْمِعُهُمْand we let them hear غَرَدَthe song of الْبُلْبُلِthe nightingale
وَنُسْمِعُهُمْ غَرَدَ الْبُلْبُلِ
We greet the faithful sons of the Arabs,
and let them hear the nightingale's song.
أُولَئِكَthose قَوْمِيmy people بُنَاةُthe builders of الْفَخَارِglory
أُولَئِكَ قَوْمِي بُنَاةُ الْفَخَارِ
وَزَيْنُand the adornment of الْمَحَافِلِgatherings وَالْجَحْفَلِand the army
وَزَيْنُ الْمَحَافِلِ وَالْجَحْفَلِ
Those are my people, the builders of glory,
the adornment of gatherings and the army.
وَلَوْلَاand were it not for الْإِذَاعَةُbroadcasting عَاشَwould live الْكِرَامُthe noble ones
وَلَوْلَا الْإِذَاعَةُ عَاشَ الْكِرَامُ
حُمَاةُthe guardians of الْعُرُوبَةِArab identity فِيin مَعْزِلِisolation
حُمَاةُ الْعُرُوبَةِ فِي مَعْزِلِ
Were it not for broadcasting, the noble ones would live—
those guardians of Arab identity—in isolation.
أَدَارَO house الْإِذَاعَةِbroadcasting مِنْfrom مُخْلِصٍa devoted person
أَدَارَ الْإِذَاعَةِ مِنْ مُخْلِصٍ
عَنِfrom الْوُدِّaffection وَالْعَهْدِand the pledge لَمْnot يَنْكُلِshirk
عَنِ الْوُدِّ وَالْعَهْدِ لَمْ يَنْكُلِ
O House of Broadcasting, from a devoted soul
who has never shirked affection or his pledge:
هَنَاءًcongratulations بِأَعْوَامِكِon your years الْمُشْرِقَاتِradiant
هَنَاءً بِأَعْوَامِكِ الْمُشْرِقَاتِ
وَأَيَّامِand the days of نَهْضَتِكِyour awakening الْحُفَّلِeventful
وَأَيَّامِ نَهْضَتِكِ الْحُفَّلِ
congratulations on your radiant years
and the eventful days of your awakening.
وُلِدْتِyou were born وَلِلْعِلْمِand science has أَسْرَارُهُits secrets
وُلِدْتِ وَلِلْعِلْمِ أَسْرَارُهُ
وَقَدْand indeed كُنْتِyou were مِنْamong سِرِّهِits mysteries الْمُعْضَلِbaffling
وَقَدْ كُنْتِ مِنْ سِرِّهِ الْمُعْضَلِ
You were born, and science had its secrets;
you were among its baffling mysteries.
بَذَلْتِyou freely gave الثَّقَافَةَculture لِلظَّامِئِينَto the thirsty
بَذَلْتِ الثَّقَافَةَ لِلظَّامِئِينَ
وَلَوْلَاand were it not for يَمِينُكِyour right hand لَمْnot تُبْذَلِbe given
وَلَوْلَا يَمِينُكِ لَمْ تُبْذَلِ
You freely gave culture to the thirsty;
without your right hand, it would not have been given.
وَنَبَّهْتِand you awakened وَسْنَانَthe drowsy جَفْنِeyelid of الصَّبَاحِmorning
وَنَبَّهْتِ وَسْنَانَ جَفْنِ الصَّبَاحِ
بِآيٍwith verses مِنَof الْكَلِمِthe words الْمُنْزَلِrevealed
بِآيٍ مِنَ الْكَلِمِ الْمُنْزَلِ
And you awakened morning's drowsy eyelid
with verses of the revealed word.
وَغَنَّيْتِand you sang حَتَّىuntil تَعَزَّىfound solace الْحَزِينُthe sorrowful
وَغَنَّيْتِ حَتَّى تَعَزَّى الْحَزِينُ
وَقَرَّand found repose الشَّجِيُّthe lovesick وَهَامَand fell in love الْخَلِيthe carefree
وَقَرَّ الشَّجِيُّ وَهَامَ الْخَلِي
And you sang until the sorrowful found solace,
the lovesick found repose, and the carefree fell in love.
تَرَانِيمُmelodies مَاnever سَمِعَتْهَاheard them الْفُنُونُthe arts
تَرَانِيمُ مَا سَمِعَتْهَا الْفُنُونُ
بِأَوْتَارِon the strings of إِسْحَاقَIshaq أَوْor زُلْزُلِZulzul
بِأَوْتَارِ إِسْحَاقَ أَوْ زُلْزُلِ
Melodies the arts had never heard
on the strings of Ishaq or Zulzul.
وَكَمْand how often قَدْindeed هَزَلْتِyou jested لِتَشْفِيto heal النُّفُوسَsouls
وَكَمْ قَدْ هَزَلْتِ لِتَشْفِي النُّفُوسَ
فَكَانَso it was مِنَpart of الْجِدِّserious endeavor أَنْto تَهْزِلِيjest
فَكَانَ مِنَ الْجِدِّ أَنْ تَهْزِلِي
How often you jested to heal souls;
thus your jesting became a serious endeavor.
مَضَتْwent on مِصْرُEgypt تَصْعَدُascending نَحْوَtoward السَّمَاءِthe sky
مَضَتْ مِصْرُ تَصْعَدُ نَحْوَ السَّمَاءِ
وَتَسْمُوand soars عَلَىabove مَسْبَحِthe realm of flight of الْأَجْدَلِthe falcon
وَتَسْمُو عَلَى مَسْبَحِ الْأَجْدَلِ
Egypt went on ascending toward the sky,
soaring above the falcon's realm of flight.
وَأَضْحَتْand she came to be مِنَthrough الْعِلْمِknowledge فِيin رَوْضَةٍa garden
وَأَضْحَتْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فِي رَوْضَةٍ
وَمِنْand through عِزَّةِthe might of الْمُلْكِsovereignty فِيin مَعْقِلِa stronghold
وَمِنْ عِزَّةِ الْمُلْكِ فِي مَعْقِلِ
She came to dwell in a garden of knowledge,
and in a stronghold of sovereign might.
تَتِيهُshe walks proudly بِتَارِيخِin the history of أَمْجَادِهَاher glories
تَتِيهُ بِتَارِيخِ أَمْجَادِهَا
وَتُزْهَىand she takes pride بِفَارُوقِهَاin her Farouk الْأَوَّلِthe First
وَتُزْهَى بِفَارُوقِهَا الْأَوَّلِ
She walks proudly in the history of her glories,
and takes pride in her Farouk the First.
Sol 6.1