إليكَto you تَنَاهىhas culminated كلُّall فَخْرٍpride وسُؤدَدٍand nobility
إليكَ تَنَاهى كلُّ فَخْرٍ وسُؤدَدٍ
فأبْلِso outlast اللّياليthe nights والأنامَand humankind وجَدِّدِand renew yourself
فأبْلِ اللّيالي والأنامَ وجَدِّدِ
In you all pride and nobility have reached their culmination.
All pride and glory lead to you,
Outlast the nights and humankind, and renew yourself.
So spend the nights and days renewing your glory.
لجَدّكَfor your grandfather كانwas المَجْدُglory ثمّthen حَوَيْتُهyou possessed it
لجَدّكَ كان المَجْدُ ثمّ حَوَيْتُه
ولابْنِكَand for your son يُبْنَىis built منهfrom it أشرَفُthe noblest مَقْعدِseat
ولابْنِكَ يُبْنَى منه أشرَفُ مَقْعدِ
Glory belonged to your grandfather; then you possessed it,
Glory was yours, then you embraced it,
And from it the noblest seat is built for your son.
And your son builds from it the most noble seat.
ثلاثةُthree أيّامٍdays هيَthey are الدّهرُtime كلّهall of it
ثلاثةُ أيّامٍ هيَ الدّهرُ كلّه
وماand not هُنّthey غيرَother than الأمسِyesterday واليومِand today والغَدِand tomorrow
وما هُنّ غيرَ الأمسِ واليومِ والغَدِ
Three days make up the whole of time,
Three days, no more, make up this life,
And they are only yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
No more than yesterday, today and tomorrow.
وماand not البَدرُthe full moon إلاّexcept واحِدٌone غيرَexcept أنّهthat it
وما البَدرُ إلاّ واحِدٌ غيرَ أنّه
يَغِيبُdisappears ويأتيand returns بالضّياءِwith light المُجَدِّدِrenewing
يَغِيبُ ويأتي بالضّياءِ المُجَدِّدِ
The full moon is but one, except that
The full moon is but one, though it
It disappears and returns with renewing light.
Disappears to give renewed radiance.
فلاso do not تَحْسِبِsuppose الأقْمارَthe moons خَلْقاًcreations كثيرةًnumerous
فلا تَحْسِبِ الأقْمارَ خَلْقاً كثيرةً
فجُمْلتُهاso all of them مِنfrom نَيّرٍa radiant orb مُتَرَدِّدِrecurring
فجُمْلتُها مِن نَيّرٍ مُتَرَدِّدِ
So do not think the moons are many separate creations:
Think not the moons are many in number,
All of them are one radiant orb returning.
In truth, just one moon rising again.
وللحَسَنِand to al-Hasan الحُسْنىthe finest goodness وإنand even if جادgave generously غيرُهsomeone other than him
وللحَسَنِ الحُسْنى وإن جاد غيرُه
فذلكَso that جُودٌgenerosity ليسis not بالمُتَعَمَّدِdeliberately intended
فذلكَ جُودٌ ليس بالمُتَعَمَّدِ
To al-Hasan belongs the finest goodness; though another gives,
Goodness deserves the finest praise, though others are generous,
That is generosity not deliberately intended.
That's just natural bounty, not calculated giving.
لهhis is الجَوْهَرُthe essence السّاريcoursing يُؤمِّمُmakes for شخصَهhis person
له الجَوْهَرُ السّاري يُؤمِّمُ شخصَه
يَجوبُtraverses إليهtoward him مَحْتِداًa lineage بَعْدَafter مَحْتِدِa lineage
يَجوبُ إليه مَحْتِداً بَعْدَ مَحْتِدِ
His is the coursing essence that seeks his person,
The essence flows through him, sweetening his being,
Traversing lineage after lineage toward him.
Seeking him ardently after seeking.
ولوand even if كتَمواthey concealed أنسابَهُمْtheir genealogies لَعَزَتْهُمُوwould surely identify their ancestry
ولو كتَموا أنسابَهُمْ لَعَزَتْهُمُو
وُجُوهٌfaces وفِعلٌand conduct شاهِدٌbearing witness كلَّat every مَشهَدِgathering
وُجُوهٌ وفِعلٌ شاهِدٌ كلَّ مَشهَدِ
Even if they concealed their ancestry, they would be identified by
Had they concealed their lineage, their faces would still reveal them,
Faces and conduct bearing witness at every gathering.
Actions and deeds bear witness in every gathering.
وقدْand sometimes يُجْتَدىis sought as a gift فضْلُthe bounty الغَمامِof clouds وإنّماand only
وقدْ يُجْتَدى فضْلُ الغَمامِ وإنّما
منfrom البحرِthe sea فيماaccording to what يزعمُclaim الناسُpeople يَجتديit seeks bounty
من البحرِ فيما يزعمُ الناسُ يَجتدي
The bounty of clouds may be sought; yet it is only
Though bounty comes from the clouds, in truth it springs
From the sea, as people claim, that they seek bounty.
From the sea - or so people claim.
ويَهْديand guides الدليلُthe guide القوْمَthe people والليلُwhile the night مُظلِمٌis dark
ويَهْدي الدليلُ القوْمَ والليلُ مُظلِمٌ
ولكنّهand yet he بالنّجمِby the star يَهْديguides ويَهْتَديand finds his way
ولكنّه بالنّجمِ يَهْدي ويَهْتَدي
The guide leads the people while the night is dark,
The guide leads the tribe though dark is the night,
Yet by the star he guides and finds his own way.
He finds direction by the stars that guide.
فياso O أحلمَmost forbearing السّاداتِof lords منfrom غيرِother than ذِلّةٍabasement
فيا أحلمَ السّاداتِ من غيرِ ذِلّةٍ
وياand O أجْوَدَmost generous الأجْوادِof the generous منfrom غيرِother than مَوْعِدِa promise
ويا أجْوَدَ الأجْوادِ من غيرِ مَوْعِدِ
O most forbearing of lords, without abasement,
O most patient lord without submissiveness,
And most generous of the generous, without a prior promise!
O most generous giver making no appointments.
وَطِئْتَyou trod صروفَvicissitudes الدهرِof time وطْأةَthe tread ثائرٍof an avenger
وَطِئْتَ صروفَ الدهرِ وطْأةَ ثائرٍ
فأتْلَفْتَso you destroyed منهاof them نَفْسَthe life ماof whatever لمdid not تُصَفِّدِyou fetter
فأتْلَفْتَ منها نَفْسَ ما لم تُصَفِّدِ
You trod time's vicissitudes with an avenger's tread,
You endured fate's caprice like a raging camel,
And slew whichever of them you did not chain.
And so tamed it though it wasn't shackled.
وعَلّمْتَهُand you taught it منكَfrom you التّأنّيdeliberation فانْثَنىso it turned
وعَلّمْتَهُ منكَ التّأنّي فانْثَنى
إذاwhenever رامَit sought أمراًa thing رامَهit sought it بتأيُّدِwith unhurried care
إذا رامَ أمراً رامَه بتأيُّدِ
You taught time your deliberation, so it turned,
You taught it patience so it would bend
Whenever it sought a thing, to seeking it unhurriedly.
When attempting anything you support.
وأثْقَلْتَهand you burdened it مِنwith أنْعُمٍblessings وعَوَارِفٍand benefactions
وأثْقَلْتَه مِن أنْعُمٍ وعَوَارِفٍ
فسَارَso it moved بهاwith them سيرَthe gait البَطِيءِof a slow one المُقيّدِshackled
فسَارَ بها سيرَ البَطِيءِ المُقيّدِ
And you burdened it with blessings and benefactions,
You burdened it with favors and kindnesses
So it moved with them like one slow and shackled.
So it walks the gait of one fettered.
ودانتْand submitted لكَto you الأيامُthe days بالرّغمِunwillingly وانْضَوَتْand sought shelter
ودانتْ لكَ الأيامُ بالرّغمِ وانْضَوَتْ
إليكwith you اللياليthe nights فارْمِso shoot مَنwhomever شئتَyou wish تُقْصِدِyou will strike dead
إليك الليالي فارْمِ مَن شئتَ تُقْصِدِ
The days submitted to you unwillingly, and sought refuge
Days and nights submitted to you, so take
With you the nights; shoot whom you will—you will strike him down.
Whichever you wish and attain your goal,
بسَبْعِwith seven إماءٍbondwomen منfrom زَعاوَةَZa‘awa زُوّجَتْwere married
بسَبْعِ إماءٍ من زَعاوَةَ زُوّجَتْ
منfrom الرَومِthe Romans فيwithin نَعْماكَyour bounty سبْعةَseven أعْبُدِmale slaves
من الرَومِ في نَعْماكَ سبْعةَ أعْبُدِ
With seven bondwomen from Za‘awa, who were married
With seven slave girls of Zawāwah married
To seven Roman male slaves, amid your bounty.
To seven Romans enjoying your bounty.
ولولاكَand but for you لمwould not تُسْلَمْbe spared أفامِيّةُApamea الرّدىdoom
ولولاكَ لم تُسْلَمْ أفامِيّةُ الرّدى
وقدand indeed أبصَرَتْit had seen مِنin مِثْلِهاone like it مصرَعَthe downfall الرّديof the doomed
وقد أبصَرَتْ مِن مِثْلِها مصرَعَ الرّدي
Without you, Apamea would not have escaped doom,
Without you, treacherous Aphamia would not be safe,
Having seen a place like itself meet a fatal end.
Since she saw others like her meet their demise.
فأنْقَذْتَso you rescued منهاfrom it مَعقِلاًa stronghold هَضَبَاتُهits heights
فأنْقَذْتَ منها مَعقِلاً هَضَبَاتُه
تَلَفّعُwrap themselves منfrom نسْجِthe weave السّحابِof clouds وترْتَديand clothe themselves
تَلَفّعُ من نسْجِ السّحابِ وترْتَدي
You rescued there a stronghold whose heights
You saved a fortress, its summits
Wrap themselves in woven clouds and wear them as robes,
Wearing garments of cloud and sheathed in them.
وحِيداًalone بثغْرِat the frontier المسْلِمينَof the Muslims كأنّهُas though it were
وحِيداً بثغْرِ المسْلِمينَ كأنّهُ
بفِيهِin his mouth مُبَقَّىa surviving remnant منof نَواجِذِthe molars أدْرَدِof a toothless man
بفِيهِ مُبَقَّى من نَواجِذِ أدْرَدِ
Standing alone on the Muslims' frontier, as though it were
Alone on the Muslim border, as though
A molar left in the mouth of a toothless man,
Its mouth holds back the talons of screaming vultures,
بأخضَرَwith a green host مثلِlike البحرِthe sea ليسis not اخضرارُهits greenness
بأخضَرَ مثلِ البحرِ ليس اخضرارُه
منfrom الماءwater لكنْbut منfrom حديدٍiron مُسَرَّدِinterlinked
من الماء لكنْ من حديدٍ مُسَرَّدِ
With a green host like the sea, whose greenness comes not
Green as the sea, yet its greenness
From water, but from interlinked iron.
Not from water but steel bared.
كأنّas though الأنُوقَthe vultures الخُرْسَmute فوقَabove غُبارِهِits dust
كأنّ الأنُوقَ الخُرْسَ فوقَ غُبارِهِ
طَوالِعُfirst signs شَيبٍof gray hair فيin مَفَارِقِthe partings أسوَدِof a black-haired man
طَوالِعُ شَيبٍ في مَفَارِقِ أسوَدِ
The mute vultures above its dust seem
As if the black, silent camels atop its dust
Like the first gray hairs in a black-haired man's partings.
Were rising grey hairs amidst deep blackness.
وليسand is not قَضيبُa blade الهِندِof India إلاّexcept كنابِتٍlike a sprout
وليس قَضيبُ الهِندِ إلاّ كنابِتٍ
منof القَضْبِfresh fodder فيin كفّthe hand الهِدانِof the fainthearted المُعرِّدِwho flees
من القَضْبِ في كفّ الهِدانِ المُعرِّدِ
An Indian blade is merely like a sprout
Indian cane is but scribbling
Of fresh fodder in a fainthearted coward's hand.
Of cane in the hands of one with sleeves rolled up.
متىwhen أناI فيamong رَكْبٍriders يؤمّونَheading for مَنْزِلاًa dwelling
متى أنا في رَكْبٍ يؤمّونَ مَنْزِلاً
تَوَحّدَbecame unique منthrough شخْصِthe person الشريفِof the Sharif بأوْحَدِthrough a peerless one
تَوَحّدَ من شخْصِ الشريفِ بأوْحَدِ
When shall I be among riders bound for a dwelling
When will I be in a caravan, stopping somewhere
Made unique by the Sharif's peerless person,
Your noble figure unifies with most sublime?
علىon شَدْقمِيّاتٍShadqamiyya she-camels كأنّas though حُداتَهاtheir camel-drivers
على شَدْقمِيّاتٍ كأنّ حُداتَها
إذاwhen عَرّسَhalt for the night الرّكْبانُthe riders شُرّابُdrinkers مُرقِدِof a sleeping draught
إذا عَرّسَ الرّكْبانُ شُرّابُ مُرقِدِ
On Shadqamiyya she-camels whose drivers seem,
On elegant camels, as though their litter's poles
When the riders halt for the night, to have drunk a sleeping draught?
When erected by riders are the bed'ssupports.
تُلاحِظُwatch أعلامَlandmarks الفَلاof the desert بنَواظِرٍwith eyes
تُلاحِظُ أعلامَ الفَلا بنَواظِرٍ
كُحِلْنَwere kohled منfrom الليلِthe night التّمامِat its fullest length بإثْمدِwith antimony
كُحِلْنَ من الليلِ التّمامِ بإثْمدِ
They watch the desert's landmarks with eyes
Watching standards of departure with gazes
Kohled with antimony from the longest night.
Lined with the night's kohl when it's complete.
وقدand indeed أذهبتْhas worn away أخفافَهاtheir footpads الأرضُthe ground والوَجَىand foot soreness
وقد أذهبتْ أخفافَها الأرضُ والوَجَى
دماًto blood وتَرَدّىand cloaked itself فِضّةًin silver كلُّevery مُزْبِدِfoaming one
دماً وتَرَدّى فِضّةً كلُّ مُزْبِدِ
The ground and soreness have worn their footpads
Their hooves made the land and expanse bloody,
To blood, while every foaming beast has cloaked itself in silver.
Raining down silver coins, all scattered about.
يُخَلْنَare imagined as سَماماًswifts فيin السماءِthe sky إذاwhen بدَتْappeared
يُخَلْنَ سَماماً في السماءِ إذا بدَتْ
لهنّto them علىdespite أيْنٍexhaustion سَماوَةُthe outline مُورِدِof a watering place
لهنّ على أيْنٍ سَماوَةُ مُورِدِ
They seem like swifts in the sky whenever there appears
In the sky they appeared like textured garments,
To them, despite exhaustion, the outline of a watering place.
If they showed a blemish, you'd snatch at it by hand.
تظُنّyou imagine بهin it ذَوْبَmolten اللُّجَينِsilver فإنْbut if بدَتْappeared
تظُنّ به ذَوْبَ اللُّجَينِ فإنْ بدَتْ
لهto it الشمسthe sun أجرَتْshe poured فوقَهover it ذَوْبَmolten عسجدِgold
له الشمس أجرَتْ فوقَه ذَوْبَ عسجدِ
You imagine molten silver there; but when there appears
You'd think them folds of woven cloth, but if
The sun, she pours molten gold across its surface.
The sun shone on them it ran gold embroidery atop.
تَبيتُspend the night النّجومُthe stars الزُّهرُbright فيin حُجُراتهِits hollows
تَبيتُ النّجومُ الزُّهرُ في حُجُراتهِ
شوارعَdipping into the water مثلlike اللّؤلُؤِpearls المُتَبَدِّدِscattered
شوارعَ مثل اللّؤلُؤِ المُتَبَدِّدِ
The bright stars spend the night within its hollows,
Within its rooms the stars spend the night
Dipping into it like scattered pearls.
Like scattered pearls down each and every alley.
فأطْمَعْنَso they aroused desire فيfor أشباحِهِنّtheir images سواقِطاًfallen
فأطْمَعْنَ في أشباحِهِنّ سواقِطاً
علىupon الماءthe water حتىuntil كِدْنَthey almost يُلقَطْنَcould be plucked باليَدِby hand
على الماء حتى كِدْنَ يُلقَطْنَ باليَدِ
So they made one covet their images, fallen
Gazelles hoped to reach their shadows on the water,
Upon the water, until they could almost be plucked by hand.
Nearly grasping them in hand, so close they descended.
فمَدّتْso they stretched إلىtoward مثْلِthe likeness السّماءِof the sky رقابَهاtheir necks
فمَدّتْ إلى مثْلِ السّماءِ رقابَها
وعَبّتْand they gulped قليلاًa little بينَbetween نَسْرٍNasr وفَرْقَدِand Farqad
وعَبّتْ قليلاً بينَ نَسْرٍ وفَرْقَدِ
So they stretched their necks toward something like the sky,
Their necks reached the sky itself, swaying just a little
And gulped a little between Nasr and Farqad.
Between eagles and alighted ducks.
وذُكّرْنَand they were reminded منof نَيْلِthe bounty الشّريفِof the Sharif مَوارِداًwatering places
وذُكّرْنَ من نَيْلِ الشّريفِ مَوارِداً
فماso not نِلْنَthey obtained منهfrom it غيرَother than شِرْبٍa drink مُصَرَّدِscant
فما نِلْنَ منه غيرَ شِرْبٍ مُصَرَّدِ
And were reminded of watering places in the Sharif's bounty,
They were reminded of plentiful watering places
Yet obtained from it only a scant drink.
From your noble line, but got just a sip.
ولاحتْand appeared لهاto them نارٌa fire يُشَبّis kindled وَقودُهاits fuel
ولاحتْ لها نارٌ يُشَبّ وَقودُها
لأضْيافِهِfor his guests فيin كلّevery غَوْرٍlowland وفَدْفَدِand upland plain
لأضْيافِهِ في كلّ غَوْرٍ وفَدْفَدِ
A fire appeared to them, its fuel kindled
For guests fires ignited in every valley and trail,
For his guests in every lowland and upland plain,
Their fuel provided by your hospitality.
بخَرْقٍin a wilderness يُطيلُprolongs الجُنحُthe darkness فيهin it سُجودَهits prostration
بخَرْقٍ يُطيلُ الجُنحُ فيه سُجودَه
وللأرضِand the earth has زِيّthe garb الراهِبِof a monk المُتَعَبِّدِdevoted to worship
وللأرضِ زِيّ الراهِبِ المُتَعَبِّدِ
In a wilderness where darkness prolongs its prostration,
With a cleft where the wings bow down long in worship
And the earth wears the garb of a worshipful monk.
As the devout priest bows down to the earth.
ولوand if نَشَدَتْsought نَعْشاًthe Bier هناكَthere بَناتُهits daughters
ولو نَشَدَتْ نَعْشاً هناكَ بَناتُه
لماتتْthey would surely die ولمand would not تَسْمَعْhear لَهfor it صَوْتَthe voice مُنشِدِof a caller announcing a find
لماتتْ ولم تَسْمَعْ لَه صَوْتَ مُنشِدِ
If the Bier's daughters sought their Bier there,
If his daughters raised a bier therein
They would die without hearing a caller announce it found.
They would die without hearing a chanter.
وتكْتُمُand conceal فيهِin it العاصِفاتُthe storm winds نُفُوسَهاtheir souls
وتكْتُمُ فيهِ العاصِفاتُ نُفُوسَها
فلوso even if عَصَفَتْthey blew fiercely بالنّبْتِagainst the plants لمwould not يَتَأوّدِbend
فلو عَصَفَتْ بالنّبْتِ لم يَتَأوّدِ
The storm winds hide their souls within it:
Tempests hide their winds in its midst,
Even if they blasted the herbage, it would not bend.
Had they blown on plants, none would stand straight.
ولمand did not يَثْبُتِremain fixed القُطْبانِthe two poles فيهِin it تحَيّراًfrom bewilderment
ولم يَثْبُتِ القُطْبانِ فيهِ تحَيّراً
وماand not تلكَthat إلاّexcept وقْفَةٌa standstill عنْfrom تَبَلّدِstupefaction
وما تلكَ إلاّ وقْفَةٌ عنْ تَبَلّدِ
The two poles stood fixed there not from bewilderment;
The two poles have not settled in confusion,
That stillness comes only from stupefaction.
That was but a pause before decay.
فَمَرّتْso they passed on إذاwhen غنّىsang الرّديفُthe rear rider وقدand already وَنَتْthey had grown weary
فَمَرّتْ إذا غنّى الرّديفُ وقد وَنَتْ
بذِكْراهُat his mention زَفّتْthey sped كالنّعامِlike ostriches المُطَرَّدِbeing chased
بذِكْراهُ زَفّتْ كالنّعامِ المُطَرَّدِ
So they moved on when the rear rider sang, though weary;
They passed as the chorus sang, driven on
At his mention they sped like pursued ostriches.
Like ostriches chased away.
يُحاذِرْنَthey beware of وَطْءَtreading البِيدِthe deserts حتىso much that كأنّماas though
يُحاذِرْنَ وَطْءَ البِيدِ حتى كأنّما
يَطَأنَthey tread برأسِupon the crest الحَزْنِof rugged ground هامةَthe head أصْيَدِof a proud, stiff-necked one
يَطَأنَ برأسِ الحَزْنِ هامةَ أصْيَدِ
They tread the deserts warily, as though
They avoid trampling seedlings as though
They trod a haughty one's head atop the rugged ground.
Stepping with the head of grief on hunted prey.
ويَنْفُرْنَand they shy away فيin الظّلْماءِthe darkness عنfrom كلّevery جدوَلٍstream
ويَنْفُرْنَ في الظّلْماءِ عن كلّ جدوَلٍ
نِفَارَthe shying away جَبَانٍof a coward عنfrom حُسامٍa sword مُجَرَّدِdrawn
نِفَارَ جَبَانٍ عن حُسامٍ مُجَرَّدِ
In the darkness they shy away from every stream,
After darkness they startle away from every stream,
As a coward shies away from a drawn sword.
Like a coward fleeing a drawn sword.
تَطَاوَلَgrew long عهْدُthe time since الوارِدينَthe water-seekers بمائِهِat its water
تَطَاوَلَ عهْدُ الوارِدينَ بمائِهِ
وعُطّلَand was left unused حتىuntil صارَit became كالصّارمlike a sharp blade الصّديrusty
وعُطّلَ حتى صارَ كالصّارم الصّدي
Long has it been since drinkers came to its water,
Long has it been since those who came for its water,
And it was left unused until it became like a rusty blade.
Neglected until like a severed limb.
إلىtoward بَرَدَىBarada حتىuntil تظَلّthey remain كأنّهاas though they
إلى بَرَدَى حتى تظَلّ كأنّها
وقدand already كَرَعَتْthey drank deeply فيهfrom it لَواثِمُkissers مِبْرَدِof a file
وقد كَرَعَتْ فيه لَواثِمُ مِبْرَدِ
On to Barada, until they seem as though,
To such barrenness that it seems
Having drunk from it, they were kissing a file.
Sins of the swollen bellied drunk its fill.
أرىI see المجدَglory سيفاًa sword والقَريضَand poetry نِجادَهits baldric
أرى المجدَ سيفاً والقَريضَ نِجادَه
ولولاand but for نِجادُthe baldric السّيْفِof the sword لمwould not يُتَقَلّدِbe worn slung
ولولا نِجادُ السّيْفِ لم يُتَقَلّدِ
I see glory as a sword and poetry as its baldric;
I see glory as a sword and poetry its sheath,
Without the baldric, the sword would not be worn.
Without the sheath, a sword is never worn.
وخيرُand the best حِمالاتِbaldrics السيوفِof swords حِمالَةٌa baldric
وخيرُ حِمالاتِ السيوفِ حِمالَةٌ
تَحَلّتْwas adorned بأبْكارِwith maiden strains الثّناءِof praise المُخَلَّدِmade everlasting
تَحَلّتْ بأبْكارِ الثّناءِ المُخَلَّدِ
The best of sword-belts is a belt
Best for bearing swords are sheaths
Adorned with maiden strains of immortal praise.
Adorned with the finest preserved verse.
وأعْرَضَand stood in the way مِنfrom دونِshort of اللّقاءِthe meeting قَبائِلٌtribes
وأعْرَضَ مِن دونِ اللّقاءِ قَبائِلٌ
يَعُلّونَthey give repeated draughts خِرْصانَspearheads الوَشيجِof spear-shafts المُقَصَّدِsplintered
يَعُلّونَ خِرْصانَ الوَشيجِ المُقَصَّدِ
Tribes have barred the way to our meeting,
Yet tribes avert their faces before meeting,
Giving the spearheads of splintered shafts draught after draught.
Seeking imperfect, patch-worked leather.
غُواةٌmisguided men إذاwhen النّكباءُthe crosswind حَفّتْswept around بيوتَهْمtheir homes
غُواةٌ إذا النّكباءُ حَفّتْ بيوتَهْم
أقامواthey stationed لهاfor it الفُرْسانَhorsemen فيat كلّevery مَرْصَدِlookout
أقاموا لها الفُرْسانَ في كلّ مَرْصَدِ
Misguided men: when a crosswind brushes their houses,
Rebels, when disaster befalls their homes,
They station horsemen against it at every lookout.
Appoint horsemen for it at every watchtower.
يُطيعونَthey obey أمراًan order منfrom غَوِيّa misguided man كأنّهas though he
يُطيعونَ أمراً من غَوِيّ كأنّه
علىover الدهرِtime سُلطانٌa ruler يجُورُacts unjustly ويَعتديand transgresses
على الدهرِ سُلطانٌ يجُورُ ويَعتدي
They obey an order from a misguided man, as though he were
Obeying the command of a rebel as though
A ruler over time, acting unjustly and transgressing.
He holds sway over fate, wronging and trespassing.
إذاwhen نَفَرَتْwere startled منby رَعْدِthe thunder غيثٍof rain سَوامُهhis grazing herds
إذا نَفَرَتْ من رَعْدِ غيثٍ سَوامُه
سعَىhe rushed نحْوَهُtoward it بالمَشْرَفيّwith a Mashrafi sword المُهَنّدِIndian-made
سعَى نحْوَهُ بالمَشْرَفيّ المُهَنّدِ
When his grazing herds startle at a rainstorm's thunder,
When thunder rumbles, alarming his herd,
He rushes at it with an Indian-made Mashrafi sword.
He runs to it with his umbrella inclined.
وقدand indeed علمَتْknows هذيthis البسيطةُbroad earth أنّهاthat it is
وقد علمَتْ هذي البسيطةُ أنّها
تُراثُكَyour inheritance فلْتَشْرُفْso be exalted بذاكby that وتزْدَدِand grow greater
تُراثُكَ فلْتَشْرُفْ بذاك وتزْدَدِ
This broad earth knows that it is
This plain now knows it's your heritage
Your inheritance; be exalted by that, and grow greater.
So let it glory in that and grow forever.
وإنand if شئتَyou wish فازْعُمْthen assert أنّthat مَنthose who فوقَupon ظَهرِهاits back
وإن شئتَ فازْعُمْ أنّ مَن فوقَ ظَهرِها
عبيدُكَyour slaves واستَشْهِدْand call to witness إِلَهَكَyour God يَشْهَدِHe will testify
عبيدُكَ واستَشْهِدْ إِلَهَكَ يَشْهَدِ
If you wish, declare that all upon its back
If you wish, claim that those upon its back
Are your slaves; call your God to witness, and He will testify.
Are your servants - and call your God as witness.
وذِكْرُكَand remembrance of you يُذْكيkindles الشوْقlonging فيin كلّevery خاطِرٍmind
وذِكْرُكَ يُذْكي الشوْق في كلّ خاطِرٍ
ولوand even if أنّهit were فيin قَلْبِthe heart صَمّاءof a deaf stone جَلْمَدِhard and solid
ولو أنّه في قَلْبِ صَمّاء جَلْمَدِ
Remembrance of you kindles longing in every mind,
Thoughts of you rekindle longing in every soul,
Even were it in the heart of a deaf, unyielding rock.
Even if locked in the heart of a deaf mute.
Sol 6.1