قِفstop بالطلولِat the ruins الهمّدِlifeless
قِف بالطلولِ الهمّدِ
وَاِلثمand kiss رسومtraces المعهدِthe familiar dwelling
وَاِلثم رسوم المعهدِ
Stop at the lifeless ruins,
Stand still with the beauties of the institute
and kiss the traces of the familiar dwelling.
Whose features my youth has traced
دمَنٌruined dwellings بِهاin them قدalready سحبتI trailed
دمَنٌ بِها قد سحبت
صَبابتيmy yearning فيin المشهدِthe gathering place
صَبابتي في المشهدِ
Ruined dwellings where I once trailed
Features with which I have pulled
my yearning in the gathering place.
My adolescence in the scene
دمنٌruined dwellings بهاin them كمhow often صدّتturned away
دمنٌ بها كم صدّت
كلّevery أغنsoftly nasal-voiced ألعسdark-lipped أغيدِgraceful and swaying
كلّ أغن ألعس أغيدِ
Ruins where so often turned away
Features with which I have blocked
every soft-voiced, dark-lipped, graceful beauty.
Every howling miserable cry
وَسحبتand I trailed ذيلَthe hem of شبيبتيmy youth
وَسحبت ذيلَ شبيبتي
بينamong الحسانthe beauties الخرّدِthe bashful maidens
بين الحسان الخرّدِ
And I trailed the hem of my youth
And pulled the train of my youth
among the beautiful, bashful maidens,
Between the fine and delicate sand
مِنof كلّevery لسعاءdark-lipped beauty المراstart of 'the lips'
مِن كلّ لسعاء المرا
شفend of 'lips' بضّةsoft-fleshed المتجرّدِthe bared body
شف بضّة المتجرّدِ
each one dark-lipped,
From every stinging of passion
soft in her bared flesh.
A kiss of the one stripped bare
أيّامin the days روضthe garden of اللهوpleasure غضstart of 'fresh'
أيّام روض اللهو غض
ضٌend of 'fresh' دوحهits trees لمnot يحصدِbe cut down
ضٌ دوحه لم يحصدِ
In days when pleasure's garden was fresh,
Days of the fresh garden, green
its trees not yet cut down,
Its brightness unharvested
وَالشملُand the company مجتمعٌgathered منof الthe
وَالشملُ مجتمعٌ من ال
أحبابbeloved companions لمnot يتبدّدِbe scattered
أحباب لم يتبدّدِ
and the company was gathered, all the
And the gathering still united
beloved companions not yet scattered,
Friends not yet separated
وَالدهرُand Time عنّاheedless of us هاجدsleeping الthe
وَالدهرُ عنّا هاجد ال
أجفانeyelids غيرnot مسهّدِkept wakeful
أجفان غير مسهّدِ
and Time slept, heedless of us, its
And time for us, eyelids never closed
eyelids untroubled by wakefulness.
Sleepless, uncarpeted
بَيضاءfair-skinned يغشاهاcovers her اِحمراstart of 'redness'
بَيضاء يغشاها اِحمرا
رٌend of 'redness' فهيَso she مثلlike العسجدِpure gold
رٌ فهيَ مثل العسجدِ
Fair-skinned, with a blush upon her,
White covered with redness
she is like pure gold.
She's like a stock of hyacinth
تهتزّshe sways فيin بردthe coolness of الصباthe east wind
تهتزّ في برد الصبا
مثلَlike القضيبِthe branch الأملدِsupple
مثلَ القضيبِ الأملدِ
She sways in the cool east wind
Sways in the morning chill
like a supple branch.
Like an erect rod
وَتَميسand she sways gracefully إنwhen خطرتshe steps كعوlike a stalk (start)
وَتَميس إن خطرت كعو
دِend of 'stalk' الخيزرانbamboo الأملدِsupple
دِ الخيزران الأملدِ
And when she steps, she sways like a
Sways in the morning chill
supple bamboo stalk.
Like an erect rod
تهتزّshe sways فيin بردthe coolness of الصباthe east wind
تهتزّ في برد الصبا
مثلlike القضيبِthe branch الأملدِsupple
مثل القضيبِ الأملدِ
She sways in the cool east wind
Seeking morning, white
like a supple branch.
From beneath black night
تَسعىshe moves بصبحٍwith a dawn أبيضٍwhite
تَسعى بصبحٍ أبيضٍ
مِنfrom تحتbeneath ليلٍa night أسودِblack
مِن تحت ليلٍ أسودِ
She moves with a white dawn
As if the rose's blossom has appeared
beneath a black night.
Flush on her reddened cheek
وكأنّand as though زهرَblossoms الوردthe rose واstart of 'bright'
وكأنّ زهرَ الورد وا
ضحend of 'bright' خدّهاher cheek المتورّدِrose-tinted
ضح خدّها المتورّدِ
And rose blossoms seem to be the radiance
Oh, her love the day of parting
of her rosy cheek.
When her hand shook my hand
ياOh حبّهاher dearness يومthe day of النوىparting
يا حبّها يوم النوى
إِذwhen صافحتclasped يدهاher hand يديmy hand
إِذ صافحت يدها يدي
Oh, how dear she was on the day of parting,
And she bent a perfumed bracelet
when her hand clasped mine.
Unfastened, on my wrist
وَلوىand encircled عليّaround me بمعصمٍwith a wrist
وَلوى عليّ بمعصمٍ
ريّانplump لمnot يتلبّدِgrow coarse
ريّان لم يتلبّدِ
And she encircled me with a wrist,
And with a supple, gentle smile
plump and never roughened,
Sweeter than fresh water, cooler
وَبجيدand with the neck of ريمٍa white gazelle باللجيwith silver (word begins)
وَبجيد ريمٍ باللجي
نِend of 'silver' وَبالجمانand with pearls مقلّدِnecklace-adorned
نِ وَبالجمان مقلّدِ
and with a gazelle's neck, adorned with silver
A sun crowned with pearls
and strung pearls,
And beads of peridot
وَبمبسمٍand with a smiling mouth عذبٍsweet أَلذstart of 'more delicious'
وَبمبسمٍ عذبٍ أَلذ
ذَend of 'more delicious' منَthan الزلالclear water وأبردِand cooler
ذَ منَ الزلال وأبردِ
and with a sweet, smiling mouth, more delicious
Reproach me not, reproach me not
than clear water, and cooler.
I am not accepting your advice
شمسa sun مكلّلةwreathed الأديstart of 'the surface'
شمس مكلّلة الأدي
مِend of 'surface' بلؤلؤٍwith pearls وزبرجدِand peridot
مِ بلؤلؤٍ وزبرجدِ
A sun whose surface is wreathed
Have you guided or not guided?
with pearls and peridot.
Leave the blame, my reform
أمفنّديO my reprover لاdo not تلحنيblame me
أمفنّدي لا تلحني
أمفنّديO my reprover أمفنّديO my reprover
أمفنّدي أمفنّدي
O my reprover, do not blame me.
Is what the corrupt wants
O my reprover, O my reprover!
Do you want to guide
أَناI لستُam not نُصحكَyour counsel قابلاًaccepting
أَنا لستُ نُصحكَ قابلاً
أَرشدتَyou guided rightly أَمor لمnot ترشدِguide rightly
أَرشدتَ أَم لم ترشدِ
I will not accept your counsel,
One not already guided?
whether you guide rightly or not.
And repeating the warble
وَدعِand abandon الملامَreproach فمصلحيfor my would-be reformer
وَدعِ الملامَ فمصلحي
فيماin what يحاولhe attempts مفسدِa corrupter
فيما يحاول مفسدِ
Leave off reproach: my would-be reformer
In the rhyme of melody warbling
only corrupts what he attempts.
He sang, repeating my thoughts
أَتريدdo you want تهديto guide للهدىto right guidance
أَتريد تهدي للهدى
مَنone who لَمnot يكنwas بالمهتديrightly guided
مَن لَم يكن بالمهتدي
Would you lead to the right path
With his echoing melody
one who has never been rightly guided?
Passionately singing, igniting
ومردّدand one repeating التغريدtrilling فيin
ومردّد التغريد في
سجعِthe rhymed cadence of النشيدthe song مغرّدِwarbling
سجعِ النشيد مغرّدِ
And a warbler, repeating his trills
The embers of fervor kindled
in the rhymed cadences of song,
Wondrous is he, the singer
غنّىhe sang فردّدand set echoing فكرتيmy thoughts
غنّى فردّد فكرتي
بِنشيدهwith his song المتردّدِrepeated
بِنشيده المتردّدِ
sang and set my thoughts echoing
Of gentle, rhythmic chant
with his repeated song.
And I have tied, of tied judgements
وَشداand he sang وأَشعلand kindled فيin الحشاthe breast
وَشدا وأَشعل في الحشا
جَمرembers الجوىlove's anguish المتوقّدِblazing
جَمر الجوى المتوقّدِ
He sang and kindled within my breast
And rulings, what none has tied
the blazing embers of love's anguish.
I never thought I'd be humbled
عَجباًwhat wonder لَهat him منas ناشدٍa reciter
عَجباً لَه من ناشدٍ
سَجعاًrhymed song رخيمَmellow المنشدِthe reciter
سَجعاً رخيمَ المنشدِ
How wondrous he is as a reciter
By the threat of the intimidator
of rhymed song in a mellow voice!
And the edge of my proud sword flows over
وَعقدتand I tied مِنof عقدknots القضاdestiny
وَعقدت مِن عقد القضا
وَالحكمand decree ماwhat لمnot يعقدِwas tied
وَالحكم ما لم يعقدِ
And I tied knots of destiny
Lest my patience overflow
and decree that had never been tied.
Until I was thrown from time
ماnot كنتُI was أَحسبthinking أَنthat أذلstart of 'be humbled'
ما كنتُ أَحسب أَن أذل
لَend of 'be humbled' بِصولةby the onslaught of المتهدّدِthe threatening one
لَ بِصولة المتهدّدِ
I had not thought I would be humbled
With scattered calamities
by the onslaught of one who threatened me,
And the events of days walked on me
ويفلّand blunts حدّthe edge of حسامthe sword of عزstart of 'resolve'
ويفلّ حدّ حسام عز
ميend of 'my resolve' أنthat يفيضَdrain away تجلّديmy endurance
مي أن يفيضَ تجلّدي
or that my resolve's keen sword would be blunted
A scattered, ripped walk
as my endurance drained away,
If not for the King, disasters would have
حتّىuntil رُميتI was struck منby الزماstart of 'Time'
حتّى رُميت من الزما
نِend of 'Time' بحادثٍwith a calamity متبدّدِdispersing
نِ بحادثٍ متبدّدِ
until I was struck by Time
Seized my paths and goals
with a shattering calamity.
I set out to his field, and
وَمَشتand strode عليَّagainst me حوادثthe calamities of الthe
وَمَشت عليَّ حوادث ال
أيّامdays مشيَthe gait of مفنّدِa reprover
أيّام مشيَ مفنّدِ
And the calamities of the
Time struck its frozen river
days strode against me like a reprover.
So I gained from him the best
لولاbut for المليكُthe king فلاحFalah ضاstart of 'narrowed'
لولا المليكُ فلاح ضا
قتend of 'narrowed' بيaround me مَسالكthe paths to مقصديmy goal
قت بي مَسالك مقصدي
But for King Falah,
Refuge, sweetest springs
the paths to my goal would have narrowed around me.
With a brave lad, accustomed
يمّمتI made for ساحتَهhis court وصرand vicissitudes (word begins)
يمّمت ساحتَه وصر
فend of 'vicissitudes' الدهرِTime يقرعstrikes جلمدِmy hard rock
ف الدهرِ يقرع جلمدِ
I made for his court, while Time's vicissitudes
To the most complex problems
battered my rock.
O excellent in generosity and
فَحظيتso I gained منهfrom him بخيرthe finest منstart of 'refuge'
فَحظيت منه بخير من
تجعend of 'refuge' وأعذبand the sweetest موردِwatering place
تجع وأعذب موردِ
Through him I gained the finest refuge
Forgiving in giving, noblest
and the sweetest watering place,
And proudest soul, from despair
بفتىًin a youth ألدّunyielding علىat اِرتكاstart of 'undertaking'
بفتىً ألدّ على اِرتكا
بِend of 'undertaking' المشكلاتthe difficulties معوّدِaccustomed
بِ المشكلات معوّدِ
in an unyielding youth, accustomed to undertaking
And from being lost, a guide
difficult challenges.
He then took my vengeance
ياO جلّgreatest منof those who كراunclear word: karā وأسand most open-handed (start)
يا جلّ من كرا وأس
محend of 'most open-handed' فيin العطاءgiving وأجودِand most generous
مح في العطاء وأجودِ
O greatest of those who [karā: unclear], and most
From time, the transgressor
open-handed and generous in giving!
So time courted me with
وَأعزّand loftier نفساًin spirit منthan عصاstart of ''Isam'
وَأعزّ نفساً من عصا
مend of ''Isam' ومِنand than إياسIyas ومرشدِand Murshid
م ومِن إياس ومرشدِ
And loftier in spirit than 'Isam,
A smiling face after threatening
than Iyas and Murshid.
And I lived a soft life
فَغَداso he became بثأريwith my vengeance آخذاًtaking
فَغَدا بثأري آخذاً
منfrom ذيthis الزمانTime المعتديtransgressing
من ذي الزمان المعتدي
So he took up my vengeance
After the harshest life
against this transgressing Time.
He copied the unlucky stars
فعناso bowed إليّto me الدهرُTime بعstart of 'after'
فعنا إليّ الدهرُ بع
دend of 'after' تهدّدthreatening وتوعّدِand menacing
د تهدّد وتوعّدِ
And Time bowed to me, after
With the luckiest stars
its threats and menaces.
The superior son of the superior
وَغَدتand began بهthrough him الأيّامthe days تصstart of 'accompany'
وَغَدت به الأيّام تص
حبنيend of 'accompany me' بثغرwith a smiling mouth تودّدِaffection
حبني بثغر تودّدِ
Through him the days began to accompany me
The master son of the master
with a smile of affection.
The proudest son of the proudest
وَصحبتُand I lived عيشيmy life ناعماًin comfort
وَصحبتُ عيشي ناعماً
مِنfrom بعدafter عيشa life أنكدِmost wretched
مِن بعد عيش أنكدِ
And I lived my life in comfort
The most glorious son of the most glorious
after a most wretched life.
A King who sees his kin
نسخَhe effaced النحوسill-starred influences الطالعاstart of 'the rising ones'
نسخَ النحوس الطالعا
تend of 'rising ones' بطالعاتwith the ascendants of الأسعدِthe most auspicious
ت بطالعات الأسعدِ
He erased ill fortune's ascendant stars
In justice, as the furthest
with auspicious stars ascending.
And the one whom death forgets
الأفضلthe most excellent ابنson of الأفضلthe most excellent
الأفضل ابن الأفضل
والسيّدand the lord ابنson of السيّدِthe lord
والسيّد ابن السيّدِ
The most excellent, son of the most excellent,
When it passes, it trembles
and the lord, son of the lord,
He took generosity as a way
وَالأفخرand the most illustrious ابنson of الأفخرِthe most illustrious
وَالأفخر ابن الأفخرِ
وَالأمجدand the most glorious ابنson of الأمجدِthe most glorious
وَالأمجد ابن الأمجدِ
and the most illustrious, son of the most illustrious,
After Ahmad's way
and the most glorious, son of the most glorious.
Crowned, dressed
ملكa king يخالregards قريبهhis nearest kin
ملك يخال قريبه
فيin عدلهِhis justice كالأبعدِlike the most distant
في عدلهِ كالأبعدِ
A king who regards his nearest kin,
In the most splendid attire
in his justice, like the most distant.
Ask of him, you will be told of his
وَفتىand a youth متىwhenever مضتwent forth قريstart of 'verse' (sense uncertain)
وَفتى متى مضت قري
ضend of 'verse' الموتDeath منهbefore him يرعدِtrembles
ض الموت منه يرعدِ
And a youth: whenever verse goes forth [wording uncertain],
Qualities or the like of the happiest
Death trembles before him.
And hold firmly to the rope of his qualities
زَعمhe held السماحةَgenerosity سنّةًa tradition
زَعم السماحةَ سنّةً
لَحِقتfollowed بسنّةِthe tradition of أَحمدِAhmad
لَحِقت بسنّةِ أَحمدِ
He held generosity to be a tradition
Solid, harvested
following the tradition of Ahmad.
And if you stand at his door
متتوّجcrowned with تاجَthe crown of العلاeminence
متتوّج تاجَ العلا
مُتسربلاًrobed بالسؤددِin lordship
مُتسربلاً بالسؤددِ
Crowned with the crown of eminence,
And see him in the scene
robed in lordship.
Then kiss the carpet, between
سَلask عنهabout him تخبرyou will be told بالجلنof al-Julanda (name begins)
سَل عنه تخبر بالجلن
داal-Julanda (name ends) أوor بمثلof the like of الأسعدِal-As'ad
دا أو بمثل الأسعدِ
Ask about him: you will hear of al-Julanda,
His hands, bow down, prostrate
or of one like al-As'ad.
And if you seek his example
وَاِستَمسِكنّand hold fast بحبلto the cord of ذمstart of 'protection'
وَاِستَمسِكنّ بحبل ذم
متهend of 'his protection' القويّstrong المحصدِtightly twisted
مته القويّ المحصدِ
Hold fast to the cord of his protection,
His example is unmatched
strong and tightly twisted.
O best of whom every letter
وإِذاand when وقفتyou stand بدستهِat his throne
وإِذا وقفت بدستهِ
ورأيتهand see him فيin المشهدِthe assembly
ورأيته في المشهدِ
And when you stand at his throne
Found, set out to
and see him in the assembly,
Folded, its rider travels
فَاِلثمthen kiss بساطَthe carpet of الدستthe throne بيstart of 'between'
فَاِلثم بساطَ الدست بي
نَend of 'between' يديهِhis hands واِخضعand submit واِسجدِand prostrate yourself
نَ يديهِ واِخضع واِسجدِ
kiss the carpet of his throne
Back and forth, back and forth
before him; submit and prostrate yourself.
I thank you for your sake
وَلئنand if طَلبتyou seek مثالهُhis equal
وَلئن طَلبت مثالهُ
فمثالهthen his equal لمnot يوجدِhas been found
فمثاله لم يوجدِ
And if you seek his equal,
Thanks that come and go
his equal has never been found.
How much surplus I cannot
ياO خَيرbest منof those whom وجدتhastened إِليtoward
يا خَير من وجدت إِلي
هِhim كلّevery حرفٍlean she-camel جلعدِsturdy
هِ كلّ حرفٍ جلعدِ
O best of those toward whom hastens
Thank, and how much more you deserve
every lean, sturdy she-camel,
And for you white camels, not lazy
تُطوىare folded away بِراكبهاwith her rider الفداstart of 'the wastes'
تُطوى بِراكبها الفدا
فدend of 'wastes' فدفداًone vast expanse فيinto فدفدِanother vast expanse
فد فدفداً في فدفدِ
with her rider, the wastes are folded away,
At the Hajj, never tired
one vast expanse after another.
Like a pearl, but unpierced
إنّيindeed I لوجهكto your face; to you شاكرgrateful
إنّي لوجهك شاكر
شكراًwith thanks يروحgoes at evening ويغتدِand goes at dawn
شكراً يروح ويغتدِ
To you I offer thanks,
By the drill
thanks renewed at evening and dawn.
You make me forget Zuhair's words
كَمhow many منof فضولbounties لستI do not أكstart of 'deny'
كَم من فضول لست أك
فرهاend of 'deny them' وكمand how much لكyou have مزيدِfurther bounty
فرها وكم لك مزيدِ
How many bounties I will not deny,
About the generous, dark steed
and how much further bounty is yours!
And Ibn al-Rumi's speech
وَإِليكماand to you both غرّاءa radiant ode عنstart of 'among'
وَإِليكما غرّاء عن
دend of 'among' أوليpeople of الحجاwisdom لمnot تكسدِlose its market
د أولي الحجا لم تكسدِ
And to you both goes a radiant ode,
On the ruins of Barqa, desolate
never lacking a market among the wise.
No wonder, its meaning does not
كالدرِّlike pearls إلّاexcept أَنّهاthat it
كالدرِّ إلّا أَنّها
ماnot ثقّبتwas pierced بالمبردِwith a file
ما ثقّبت بالمبردِ
Like pearls, except that it
Suit the mind of the stupid
has not been pierced with a file.
For the rose, to the beetle, its
تُنسيكmakes you forget قولthe verse of زُهيرZuhayr فيabout
تُنسيك قول زُهير في
هرمHarim الجوادthe generous الأصيدِthe stately
هرم الجواد الأصيدِ
It makes you forget Zuhayr's verses on
Fragrance it never praised
Harim, the generous, stately lord,
And the sun, it never felt
وَمقالةand the words of ابنson of العبدal-'Abd فيabout
وَمقالة ابن العبد في
أطلالthe ruins of برقةBurqat ثهمدِThahmad
أطلال برقة ثهمدِ
and Ibn al-'Abd's words on
When rising, to the blind eye
the ruins of Burqat Thahmad.
لاno غروَwonder إِنif لمnot يحلُbe sweet معstart of 'meaning'
لا غروَ إِن لم يحلُ مع
ناهاend of 'its meaning' لعقلto the mind of الأبلدِthe dull-witted
ناها لعقل الأبلدِ
No wonder if its meaning is not sweet
to the mind of the dull-witted.
فالوردُfor the rose عندto الجُعلthe dung beetle نشstart of 'wafting'
فالوردُ عند الجُعل نش
رُend of 'wafting' أريجهِits fragrance لمnot يحمدِbe praised
رُ أريجهِ لم يحمدِ
For, to the dung beetle, the rose's wafting
fragrance earns no praise.
والشمسand the sun لمnot تحسسbe perceived إذاwhen
والشمس لم تحسس إذا
شرقتit rises لعينby the eye of الأرمدِone with inflamed eyes
شرقت لعين الأرمدِ
Nor is the sun perceived, when
it rises, by an inflamed eye.
Partial English translation: 123 of 130 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1