يَاO قَبْرَgrave of حِفْنِيHifni أَجِبْنِيanswer me
يَا قَبْرَ حِفْنِي أَجِبْنِي
مَاذَاwhat صَنَعْتَyou have done بِحِفْنِيwith Hifni؟
مَاذَا صَنَعْتَ بِحِفْنِي؟
O grave of Hifni, answer me.
O grave, bury me, answer me
What have you done with Hifni?
What have you done with my corpse?
مَاذَاwhat صَنَعْتَyou have done بِعِلْمٍwith learning؟
مَاذَا صَنَعْتَ بِعِلْمٍ؟
وَمَاand what صَنَعْتَyou have done بِفَنِّwith art؟
وَمَا صَنَعْتَ بِفَنِّ؟
What have you done with learning?
What have you done with knowledge?
And what have you done with art?
And what have you done with art?
وَمَاand what صَنَعْتَyou have done بِفِكْرٍwith thought
وَمَا صَنَعْتَ بِفِكْرٍ
مَاضِيkeen الشَّبَاةِthe blade's edge وَذِهْنِand intellect؟
مَاضِي الشَّبَاةِ وَذِهْنِ؟
And what have you done with thought,
And what have you done with the thought
keen-edged, and with intellect?
Of my exuberant youth and mind?
طَوَيْتَyou enfolded خَيْرَthe finest مَثَابٍplace of return
طَوَيْتَ خَيْرَ مَثَابٍ
لِلطَّائِفِينَfor those who circle وَرُكْنِand a pillar!
لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَرُكْنِ!
You have enfolded the finest sanctuary
You have folded the best reward
for those who circle it, and a pillar!
For the circumambulators and the corner!
فِيin كُلِّevery يَوْمٍday رِثَاءٌan elegy
فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ رِثَاءٌ
لِصَاحِبٍfor a companion أَوْor لِخِدْنِfor a close friend
لِصَاحِبٍ أَوْ لِخِدْنِ
Every day brings an elegy
Every day there is an elegy
for a companion or a close friend.
For a friend or an edifice
حَتَّىso much so that لَقَدْindeed كَادَalmost شِعْرِيmy verse
حَتَّى لَقَدْ كَادَ شِعْرِي
يَبْكِيweeps لِضَعْفِيfor my weakness وَوَهْنِيand my frailty
يَبْكِي لِضَعْفِي وَوَهْنِي
So much so that my verse almost
That my poetry almost
weeps at my weakness and frailty.
Cries for my weakness and frailty
فَإِنَّمَاfor only أَنَاI مِنْهُfrom it
فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا مِنْهُ
وَإِنَّمَاand only هُوَit مِنِّيfrom me
وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنِّي
For I am of it alone,
It is but a part of me
and it is of me alone.
And I am but a part of it
الْوَزْنُthe meter مِنْfrom نَبْضِthe pulse of قَلْبِيmy heart
الْوَزْنُ مِنْ نَبْضِ قَلْبِي
وَالْبَحْرُand the sea of verse مِنْfrom مَاءِthe water of جَفْنِيmy eyelid
وَالْبَحْرُ مِنْ مَاءِ جَفْنِي
The meter comes from my heart's pulse,
The meter is from the pulse of my heart
and its sea from the water of my eyelid.
And the verse from the water of my eyelids
رَحَاmillstone الْمَنَايَاdeaths رُوَيْدًاgently
رَحَا الْمَنَايَا رُوَيْدًا
خَلَطْتِyou mingled طِحْنًاflour بِطِحْنِwith flour!
خَلَطْتِ طِحْنًا بِطِحْنِ!
Millstone of death, go gently!
O death, go slowly,
You have mingled flour with flour!
You have mixed flour with flour!
وَإِنَّمَاand merely النَّاسُpeople ظَعْنٌa traveling caravan
وَإِنَّمَا النَّاسُ ظَعْنٌ
يَسِيرُtravels فِيin إِثْرِthe wake of ظَعْنِa caravan
يَسِيرُ فِي إِثْرِ ظَعْنِ
And people are but a caravan
People are but bleating sheep
following in another caravan's wake.
Going after other bleating sheep
فَمَاso no حَدِيدٌiron بِبَاقٍenduring
فَمَا حَدِيدٌ بِبَاقٍ
وَلَاand no حِذَارٌcaution بِمُغْنِيavailing
وَلَا حِذَارٌ بِمُغْنِي
So iron does not endure,
So neither iron remains
nor does caution avail.
Nor caution of use
وَكُلُّand every عَقْلٍmind مُضِيءٍluminous
وَكُلُّ عَقْلٍ مُضِيءٍ
إِلَىtoward خُمُودٍextinction وَأَفْنِand mental decline
إِلَى خُمُودٍ وَأَفْنِ
And every luminous mind
And every shining mind
is bound for dimming and decline.
Fades out and withers away
يَكَادُalmost إِنْif مَالَbends غُصْنٌa bough
يَكَادُ إِنْ مَالَ غُصْنٌ
يَشْكُوcomplains of الزَّمَانَTime لِغُصْنِto a bough
يَشْكُو الزَّمَانَ لِغُصْنِ
If a bough bends, it almost
Were a branch to incline
complains of Time to another bough.
Complaining of time to another branch
تَعْسًاwoe لَهُto it، كَمْhow often نُعَزِّيwe console
تَعْسًا لَهُ، كَمْ نُعَزِّي
حِينًاat one time، وَحِينًاand at another time نُهَنِّيwe congratulate!
حِينًا، وَحِينًا نُهَنِّي!
Woe to it! How often we console
Woe to it! We sometimes console
at one time, and at another congratulate!
And sometimes congratulate!
مِنِfrom اجْتِمَاعٍa gathering لِعُرْسٍfor a wedding
مِنِ اجْتِمَاعٍ لِعُرْسٍ
إِلَىto اجْتِمَاعٍa gathering لِدَفْنِfor burial
إِلَى اجْتِمَاعٍ لِدَفْنِ
From a gathering for a wedding
From a wedding gathering
to a gathering for burial.
To a funeral gathering
وَالْمَرْءُand man يُحْيِيkeeps alive الْأَمَانِيhopes
وَالْمَرْءُ يُحْيِي الْأَمَانِي
وَالدَّهْرُand Time يُبْلِيwears away وَيُفْنِيand destroys
وَالدَّهْرُ يُبْلِي وَيُفْنِي
And man keeps hopes alive,
One nourishes hopes
and Time wears away and destroys.
While time ruins and destroys
فَكَمْso how often تَمَنَّيْتُI have wished لَكِنْbut
فَكَمْ تَمَنَّيْتُ لَكِنْ
مَاذَاwhat أَفَادَavailed التَّمَنِّيwishing؟
مَاذَا أَفَادَ التَّمَنِّي؟
How often I have wished! But
How I wished, but
what did wishing gain?
What did wishing avail?
دَعْنِيlet me أُقَلِّبُI turn about طَرْفِيmy gaze
دَعْنِي أُقَلِّبُ طَرْفِي
فِيin ظُلْمَةِthe darkness of اللَّيْلِthe night دَعْنِيlet me
فِي ظُلْمَةِ اللَّيْلِ دَعْنِي
Let me turn my gaze about
Let me turn my eyes
in the darkness of night—let me,
In the darkness of night, let me
حَيْرَانَbewildered أَضْرِبُI strike كَفِّيmy palm
حَيْرَانَ أَضْرِبُ كَفِّي
أَسًىin grief وَأَقْرَعُand I strike سِنِّيmy tooth
أَسًى وَأَقْرَعُ سِنِّي
bewildered, strike my palm
Confused, clapping my palms
in grief and gnash my teeth.
Sorrowing and shaving my years
قَدْindeed خَانَنِيbetrayed me الدَّهْرُTime يَوْمًاone day
قَدْ خَانَنِي الدَّهْرُ يَوْمًا
يَاah لَيْتَهُif only it لَمْdid not يَخُنِّيbetray me!
يَا لَيْتَهُ لَمْ يَخُنِّي!
Time betrayed me one day;
Time has once betrayed me
ah, if only it had not betrayed me!
Would that it had not betrayed me!
أَكُلَّمَاis it whenever مَرَّpasses نَعْشٌa bier
أَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ نَعْشٌ
أَوْor طَافَpassed around نَعْيٌnews of death بِأُذْنِيby my ear
أَوْ طَافَ نَعْيٌ بِأُذْنِي
Is it each time a bier passes,
Whenever a bier passed by
or news of death passes my ear,
Or news buzzed in my ear
طَارَtook flight الْفُؤَادُthe heart، فَلَوْلَاso, were it not for
طَارَ الْفُؤَادُ، فَلَوْلَا
بَقِيَّةٌa remnant، نَدَّescaped عَنِّيfrom me
بَقِيَّةٌ، نَدَّ عَنِّي
that my heart takes flight? Were it not for
My heart would fly away
a remnant, it would escape me.
Had there been no remainder to restrain me
لَوْلَاwere it not for التُّقَىpiety لَمْnot أَجِدْهُI find it
لَوْلَا التُّقَى لَمْ أَجِدْهُ
بِجَانِبِيbeside me أَوْor يَجِدْنِيit finds me
بِجَانِبِي أَوْ يَجِدْنِي
Without piety, I would not find it
Were it not for piety, I would not have found it
beside me, nor would it find me.
Beside me or find me
قَالُواthey said: أَجَدْتَyou excelled at الْمَرَاثِيelegies
قَالُوا: أَجَدْتَ الْمَرَاثِي
فَقُلْتُso I said: إِنَّyes indeed، وَإِنِّيand indeed I
فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ، وَإِنِّي
They said, “You have excelled at elegies.”
They said you found elegy
I replied, “Indeed! And as for me,
I said yes, and
دُمُوعُthe tears of عَيْنِيmy eye قَرِيضِيmy verse
دُمُوعُ عَيْنِي قَرِيضِي
وَزَفْرَةُand the sigh of الْوَجْدِanguish لَحْنِيmy melody
وَزَفْرَةُ الْوَجْدِ لَحْنِي
my eye's tears are my verse,
The tears of my eyes are my rhymes
and the sigh of anguish is my melody.
And the sigh of passion is my tune
عَلِّيperhaps I أُدَاوِيI heal حَزِينًاone grieving
عَلِّي أُدَاوِي حَزِينًا
فَالْحُزْنُfor sorrow يُمْحَىis erased بِحُزْنِby sorrow
فَالْحُزْنُ يُمْحَى بِحُزْنِ
Perhaps I may heal someone grieving,
Teach me to treat a saddened one
for sorrow is erased by sorrow.
For grief is erased by grief
أَوْor يَشْتَفِيfinds healing بِبُكَاءٍthrough weeping
أَوْ يَشْتَفِي بِبُكَاءٍ
مَنْone who شَأْنُهُhis plight مِثْلُlike شَأْنِيmy plight
مَنْ شَأْنُهُ مِثْلُ شَأْنِي
Or weeping may bring relief
Or quenched by shedding tears
to one whose plight is like mine.”
For one whose plight is like mine
أَيْنَwhere النُّبُوغُgenius تَوَارَىhid itself؟
أَيْنَ النُّبُوغُ تَوَارَى؟
يَاO قَبْرَgrave of حِفْنِيHifni أَجِبْنِيanswer me
يَا قَبْرَ حِفْنِي أَجِبْنِي
Where has genius hidden itself?
Where has the genius gone?
O grave of Hifni, answer me.
O grave, bury me, answer me
أَكُلَّمَاis it whenever لَاحَappeared بَدْرٌa full moon
أَكُلَّمَا لَاحَ بَدْرٌ
رَمَتْهُpelted it رِيحٌa wind بِدَجْنِwith gloom؟
رَمَتْهُ رِيحٌ بِدَجْنِ؟
Is it whenever a full moon appears
Does every rising moon
that a wind pelts it with gloom?
Get shot by a wind to decay?
وَخَلَّفَand it left الْأَرْضَthe earth حَيْرَىbewildered
وَخَلَّفَ الْأَرْضَ حَيْرَى
سَهْلٌa plain يَمُوجُsurges بِحَزْنِwith rugged terrain
سَهْلٌ يَمُوجُ بِحَزْنِ
And the moon leaves the earth bewildered,
Leaving the earth distraught
a plain surging with rugged ground.
A plain billowing with sorrow
وَرُبَّand many a زَهْرٍflower شَذَاهُits fragrance
وَرُبَّ زَهْرٍ شَذَاهُ
يُزْرِيputs to shame بِأَرْوَاحِthe fragrances of عَدْنِEden
يُزْرِي بِأَرْوَاحِ عَدْنِ
And many a flower whose fragrance
While many a fragrant flower
puts Eden's fragrances to shame,
Blooms with the spirits of Eden
كَأَنَّمَاas though مَنَحَتْهُshe gave it
كَأَنَّمَا مَنَحَتْهُ
أَلْوَانَهَاher colors ذَاتُa woman of حُسْنِbeauty
أَلْوَانَهَا ذَاتُ حُسْنِ
as though it had been given
As if its hues were bestowed
a lovely woman's own colors—
By the essence of beauty
جَمَالُهُits beauty الْغَضُّfresh أَغْرَىcoaxed
جَمَالُهُ الْغَضُّ أَغْرَى
أَغْصَانَهُits branches بِالتَّثَنِّيinto swaying
أَغْصَانَهُ بِالتَّثَنِّي
its fresh beauty coaxed
Its green charm has bent
its branches into swaying.
Its branches with supple grace
غَذَّتْهُfed it أَطْبَاءُthe teats of طَلٍّdew
غَذَّتْهُ أَطْبَاءُ طَلٍّ
حِينًاat times، وَأَثْدَاءُand the breasts of مُزْنِrain clouds
حِينًا، وَأَثْدَاءُ مُزْنِ
The teats of dew nourished it
Nurtured by the rain of dawn at times
at times, and the breasts of rain clouds.
And the clouds of drizzle at times
تَسْرِيpasses بِهِover it الرِّيحُthe wind رِفْقًاgently
تَسْرِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ رِفْقًا
فِيin خَشْيَةٍfear وَتَأَنِّيand deliberation
فِي خَشْيَةٍ وَتَأَنِّي
The wind passes over it gently,
The breeze blows by gently
with timid, unhurried care,
In fear and softness
كَأَنَّهَاas though it were فَمُthe mouth of أُمٍّa mother
كَأَنَّهَا فَمُ أُمٍّ
يَمُرُّpasses فِيacross وَجْنَةِthe cheek of ابْنِa son
يَمُرُّ فِي وَجْنَةِ ابْنِ
as though it were a mother's mouth
As if it were a mother's mouth
brushing across a son's cheek.
Passing by the cheek of her son
النَّحْلُthe bees تَرْشُفُsip مِنْهُfrom it
النَّحْلُ تَرْشُفُ مِنْهُ
رَحِيقَهُits nectar وَتُغَنِّيand sing
رَحِيقَهُ وَتُغَنِّي
The bees sip from it
The bees sipping its nectar
its nectar, and sing.
And buzzing in tune
تَجْنِيthey harvest وَلَمْand did not تَدْرِknow يَوْمًاever
تَجْنِي وَلَمْ تَدْرِ يَوْمًا
أَنَّthat الرَّدَىdeath سَوْفَwill يَجْنِيharvest
أَنَّ الرَّدَى سَوْفَ يَجْنِي
They harvest, never once knowing
Reaping without ever knowing
that death would harvest.
That decay will someday reap it
طَغَتْoverwhelmed عَلَيْهِover it سَمُومٌa scorching wind
طَغَتْ عَلَيْهِ سَمُومٌ
حَرَّىburning hot كَأَنْفَاسِlike the breaths of جِنِّjinn
حَرَّى كَأَنْفَاسِ جِنِّ
A scorching wind overwhelmed it,
Poisons have overwhelmed it
burning like the breaths of jinn,
Hot like the breaths of jinn
فَغَادَرَتْهُso it left it رُكَامًاa heap
فَغَادَرَتْهُ رُكَامًا
أَجَفَّdrier مِنْthan عُودِa stalk of تِبْنِstraw
أَجَفَّ مِنْ عُودِ تِبْنِ
and left it a heap,
Leaving it debris
drier than a stalk of straw.
Drier than tinder
وَالدَّهْرُand Time أَحْرَىthe likeliest رَفِيقٍcompanion
وَالدَّهْرُ أَحْرَى رَفِيقٍ
بِأَنْto يَخُونَbetray وَيُخْنِيand bring ruin
بِأَنْ يَخُونَ وَيُخْنِي
And Time is the likeliest companion
While time, the companion, is prone
to betray and bring ruin.
To betray and cheat me
يَاO قَبْرَgrave of حِفْنِيHifni أَجِبْنِيanswer me
يَا قَبْرَ حِفْنِي أَجِبْنِي
وَارْحَمْand have mercy on بَقِيَّةَthe remainder of سِنِّيmy years
وَارْحَمْ بَقِيَّةَ سِنِّي
O grave of Hifni, answer me,
O grave, bury me, answer me
and have mercy on my remaining years.
And have mercy on my remaining years
قَدْindeed رَاعَنِيfrightened me مِنْكَfrom you صَمْتٌa silence
قَدْ رَاعَنِي مِنْكَ صَمْتٌ
بِحَقِّهِfor his sake لَاdo not تَرُعْنِيfrighten me
بِحَقِّهِ لَا تَرُعْنِي
A silence from you has frightened me;
Your silence has frightened me
for his sake, do not frighten me.
Do not, by your right, frighten me
فَفِيكَfor within you أَمْضَىkeener جَنَانًاin heart
فَفِيكَ أَمْضَى جَنَانًا
مِنْthan كُلِّevery فُصْحٍeloquent speaker وَلُسْنِand fluent speaker
مِنْ كُلِّ فُصْحٍ وَلُسْنِ
For in you lies one keener of heart
For in you I have spent serene times
than every eloquent and fluent speaker.
Of every eloquence and expression
وَفِيكَand within you شِعْرٌpoetry نَقِيٌّpure
وَفِيكَ شِعْرٌ نَقِيٌّ
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery وَقْصٍwaqs: dropping a foot's vowelled second letter وَخَبْنِand khabn: dropping a foot's unvowelled second letter
مِنْ كُلِّ وَقْصٍ وَخَبْنِ
And in you lies pure poetry,
In you is poetry, pure
free of every waqs and khabn contraction.
Of every storytelling and allurement
كَأَنَّهُas though it were بَسَمَاتٌsmiles
كَأَنَّهُ بَسَمَاتٌ
لِلْوَصْلِfor reunion بَعْدَafter التَّجَنِّيunjust reproach
لِلْوَصْلِ بَعْدَ التَّجَنِّي
It is like smiles
As if it were smiles
of reunion after unjust reproach,
Reuniting after separation
أَوْor نَفْحَةٌa breath مِنْfrom «جَمِيلٍJamil»
أَوْ نَفْحَةٌ مِنْ «جَمِيلٍ»
طَافَتْpassed بِأَحْلَامِthrough the dreams of «بُثْنِButhn»
طَافَتْ بِأَحْلَامِ «بُثْنِ»
or a breath from Jamil
Or a whiff from ‘Jamil'
passing through Buthn's dreams,
Floating around the dreams of ‘Buthaina'
أَوْor رَغْوَةٌfoam مِنْfrom سُلَافٍchoice wine
أَوْ رَغْوَةٌ مِنْ سُلَافٍ
تَفِيضُoverflows مِنْfrom رَأْسِthe top of دَنِّa wine jar
تَفِيضُ مِنْ رَأْسِ دَنِّ
or foam from choice wine
Or the foam from honey
overflowing from the top of a wine jar.
Pouring from the top of the jar
كَمْhow many a نُكْتَةٍsubtle jest فِيهِin it كَادَتْalmost
كَمْ نُكْتَةٍ فِيهِ كَادَتْ
تَخْفَىbe hidden عَلَىfrom كُلِّevery ظَنِّconjecture!
تَخْفَى عَلَى كُلِّ ظَنِّ!
How many a subtle jest in it almost
What subtle humor it contains
eluded every conjecture—
Nearly hidden from all guesses!
مِصْرِيَّةٍEgyptian جَالَroamed فِيهَاthrough it
مِصْرِيَّةٍ جَالَ فِيهَا
ذَوْقُthe taste of الْأَدِيبِthe man of letters الْمِفَنِّversatile
ذَوْقُ الْأَدِيبِ الْمِفَنِّ
Egyptian, through which roamed
Egyptian, excelling
the taste of a versatile man of letters!
In the taste of the refined connoisseur
لَوْif كُنْتَyou were تَعْرِفُknow حِفْنِيHifni
لَوْ كُنْتَ تَعْرِفُ حِفْنِي
لَقُلْتَyou would say: زِدْنِيgive me more وَزِدْنِيand give me more!
لَقُلْتَ: زِدْنِي وَزِدْنِي!
If you knew Hifni,
Had you known my corpse
you would say, “Give me more, and more!”
You would have said: Give me more, give me more!
نَحْوٌgrammar يَصُكُّstrikes الْكِسَائِيal-Kisa'i
نَحْوٌ يَصُكُّ الْكِسَائِي
وَيَزْدَرِيand sneers بِابْنِat Ibn جِنِّيJinni
وَيَزْدَرِي بِابْنِ جِنِّي
His grammar strikes al-Kisa'i
Grammar that makes Kisa'i split
and sneers at Ibn Jinni.
And looks down on Ibn Jinni
وَإِنْand if أُثِيرَwas stirred up جِدَالٌa debate
وَإِنْ أُثِيرَ جِدَالٌ
رَأَيْتَهُyou would see him خَيْرَthe finest قِرْنِopponent
رَأَيْتَهُ خَيْرَ قِرْنِ
And if a debate arose,
And if a debate were stirred
you would see him the finest opponent.
You would have seen him the best of his time
الْعِلْمُknowledge أَمْضَىthe keenest سِلَاحٍweapon
الْعِلْمُ أَمْضَى سِلَاحٍ
لَهُfor him وَأَوْقَىand the most protective مِجَنِّshield
لَهُ وَأَوْقَى مِجَنِّ
Knowledge was the keenest weapon
Knowledge is his sharpest weapon
he had, and the surest shield.
And his surest shield
قَدْindeed كَانَhe was ضَخْمًاmassive جَسِيمًاlarge-bodied
قَدْ كَانَ ضَخْمًا جَسِيمًا
يَبْدُوappears كَشَامِخِlike a towering حِصْنِfortress
يَبْدُو كَشَامِخِ حِصْنِ
He was massive, large of body,
He used to be huge, bulky
looking like a towering fortress.
Appearing like an erect fortress
اللَّحْمُthe flesh رِخْوٌsoft بَدِينٌplump
اللَّحْمُ رِخْوٌ بَدِينٌ
لَهُit has نُعُومَةُthe softness of قُطْنِcotton
لَهُ نُعُومَةُ قُطْنِ
His flesh was soft and plump,
Flesh soft and plump
with the softness of cotton.
With the softness of cotton
وَالصَّدْرُand the breast رَحْبٌbroad فَسِيحٌspacious
وَالصَّدْرُ رَحْبٌ فَسِيحٌ
مَاnot جَاشَseethed يَوْمًاever بِضِغْنِwith rancor
مَا جَاشَ يَوْمًا بِضِغْنِ
And his breast was broad and spacious,
And a chest spacious and serene
never once seething with rancor.
That never swelled with anger
فِيin وَجْهِهِhis face الْجَهْمِstern حُسْنٌbeauty
فِي وَجْهِهِ الْجَهْمِ حُسْنٌ
مِنْfrom رُوحِهِhis spirit الْمُسْتَكِنِّhidden within
مِنْ رُوحِهِ الْمُسْتَكِنِّ
In his stern face was beauty
In his frowning face is a beauty
from the spirit hidden within him.
From his tranquil soul
قَدْindeed زَارَنِيhe visited me ذَاتَon a certain يَوْمٍday
قَدْ زَارَنِي ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ
فِيin وَقْتِa time of قَيْظٍsummer heat وَكِنِّand shelter
فِي وَقْتِ قَيْظٍ وَكِنِّ
He visited me one day
He once visited me
during summer heat, in shelter.
On a hot and muggy day
فَكَانَso he was أُنْسًاa comfort تَدَانَتْdrew near
فَكَانَ أُنْسًا تَدَانَتْ
بِهِthrough him الْمُنَىwishes بَعْدَafter ضَنِّwithholding
بِهِ الْمُنَى بَعْدَ ضَنِّ
He was a comfort; there drew near
Bringing comfort by which
through him wishes once withheld.
Sorrow abated after distress
فَاضَflowed abundantly الْحَدِيثُconversation زُلَالًاas clear water
فَاضَ الْحَدِيثُ زُلَالًا
عَذْبًاsweet وَمَاand did not قَالَsay قَطْنِيenough for me
عَذْبًا وَمَا قَالَ قَطْنِي
Conversation flowed like clear water,
The talk overflowed, fresh
sweet, and he never said, “Enough for me!”
Sweet, and he never belittled me
فُكَاهَةٌa joke مِنْfrom لَدُنْهُhis side
فُكَاهَةٌ مِنْ لَدُنْهُ
وَنُكْتَةٌand a witty quip مِنْfrom لَدُنِّيmy side
وَنُكْتَةٌ مِنْ لَدُنِّي
A joke from him,
Wit from him
and a witty quip from me;
And anecdote from me
فِيin الْأُذْنِthe ear قَهْوَةُwine كَرْمٍgrapevines
فِي الْأُذْنِ قَهْوَةُ كَرْمٍ
وَالْكَفِّand the hand قَهْوَةُcoffee بُنِّcoffee beans
وَالْكَفِّ قَهْوَةُ بُنِّ
in the ear, the wine of the vine,
In the ear coffee of generosity
and in the hand, coffee from beans.
And in the palm coffee beans
أَرْوِيI recite وَيَرْوِيand he recites الْقَوَافِيthe rhymes
أَرْوِي وَيَرْوِي الْقَوَافِي
كَالدُّرِّlike pearls وَزْنًاweight بِوَزْنِfor weight
كَالدُّرِّ وَزْنًا بِوَزْنِ
I recite, and he recites, the rhymes,
I quench and he quenches poetic meters
like pearls, weight for weight.
Like pearls, measure for measure
يَاO مَجْلِسًاa gathering عَادَturned into وَجْدًاanguish
يَا مَجْلِسًا عَادَ وَجْدًا
يُذْكِيkindles الْفُؤَادَthe heart وَيُضْنِيand exhausts
يُذْكِي الْفُؤَادَ وَيُضْنِي
O gathering, now turned to anguish,
O a gathering that restored fervor
kindling the heart and wearing it down!
And kindled the heart and delighted it
ضَاعَwas lost الصِّبَاyouth وَرَجَعْنَاand we returned
ضَاعَ الصِّبَا وَرَجَعْنَا
مِنْهُfrom it بِصَفْقَةِwith a bargain of غَبْنِbeing cheated
مِنْهُ بِصَفْقَةِ غَبْنِ
Youth was lost, and we returned
Youth is gone and we returned from it
from it, cheated in the bargain.
With a losing deal
حِفْنِيHifni، سَلَامٌpeace وَنُورٌand light
حِفْنِي، سَلَامٌ وَنُورٌ
لِقَلْبِكَto your heart الْمُطْمَئِنِّtranquil
لِقَلْبِكَ الْمُطْمَئِنِّ
Hifni, peace and light
My comrade, peace and light
to your tranquil heart.
To your tranquil heart
فَارَقْتَyou left أَهْلًاkin وَسَكْنًاand a dwelling
فَارَقْتَ أَهْلًا وَسَكْنًا
لِخَيْرِfor better أَهْلٍkin وَسَكْنِand a dwelling
لِخَيْرِ أَهْلٍ وَسَكْنِ
You left kin and a dwelling
You left family and home
for better kin and a better dwelling.
For the best family and home
تَثْنِيbend إِلَيْكَtoward you الْقَوَافِيthe rhymes
تَثْنِي إِلَيْكَ الْقَوَافِي
أَعْنَاقَهَاtheir necks حِينَwhen تُثْنِيthey praise
أَعْنَاقَهَا حِينَ تُثْنِي
The rhymes bend toward you
The rhymes bend their necks to you
their necks as they praise you.
When bending them to rhyme
Sol 6.1