بَكَيتI wept دَماًblood لَماwhen سَرىtraveled by night بارقthe lightning flash of الحِمىthe sanctuary
بَكَيت دَماً لَما سَرى بارق الحِمى
فَأَسرَىso it carried by night إِلىto قَلبيmy heart حَديثاًa tale مكتماconcealed
فَأَسرَى إِلى قَلبي حَديثاً مكتما
I wept blood when the sanctuary's lightning flashed through the night,
I wept blood when the lightning of fever flashed,
And carried a hidden tale by night into my heart.
And it conveyed to my heart a secret tale,
وَذَكرنيand reminded me عَيشاًa life تَقضىhad passed برامةat Rama
وَذَكرني عَيشاً تَقضى برامة
وَعَصراًand a time بِذاتat Dhat الرقمتينal-Raqmatayn تقدماgone before
وَعَصراً بِذات الرقمتين تقدما
And reminded me of a life gone by at Rama,
Reminding me of a life fulfilled in tranquility,
And a former time at Dhat al-Raqmatayn.
And an era marked by the two abodes.
وَلَمand did not أَنسَهاforget it لَكِنَّنيbut I زدتI grew لَوعةanguish
وَلَم أَنسَها لَكِنَّني زدت لَوعة
وَشَوقاًand yearning إِلىtoward الشَعبthe ravine اليَمانيthe Yemeni فيهماin both of them
وَشَوقاً إِلى الشَعب اليَماني فيهما
Nor had I forgotten it, but my anguish grew,
I did not forget it, but my agony intensified,
And my longing for the Yemeni ravine in them both.
And longing for the Yemeni people in both abodes intensified.
مَغانabodes رِياضgardens العَيشof life فيهاwithin them نَضيرةlush
مَغان رِياض العَيش فيها نَضيرة
وَغُصنand the bough شَبابيof my youth كانَwas فيهاwithin them مقوماupright
وَغُصن شَبابي كانَ فيها مقوما
Abodes where the gardens of life were lush,
Blissful gardens wherein my counterpart thrived,
And the bough of my youth stood straight within them.
And the branch of my youth was made robust.
كَسَتهاclothed them غَواديthe morning showers المُزنof rain clouds ثَوباًa robe مُطَرزاًembroidered
كَسَتها غَوادي المُزن ثَوباً مُطَرزاً
فَأَضحىso became أَديمthe skin الأَرضof the earth مِنهاfrom them منمنماfinely patterned
فَأَضحى أَديم الأَرض مِنها منمنما
The clouds' morning showers clothed them in an embroidered robe,
Its valleys clothed it with an embroidered gown,
So the earth's skin became finely patterned by them.
Making the expanse of the land speckled from it.
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) بَكىwept جفنthe eyelid الغَمامof the clouds بِأَرضِهاupon their land
إِذا ما بَكى جفن الغَمام بِأَرضِها
زَهاblossomed رَوضهاtheir meadow مِنfrom دَمعِهits tears وَتَبَسماand smiled
زَها رَوضها مِن دَمعِه وَتَبَسما
Whenever the clouds' eyelid wept upon their land,
Whenever its cloud's eyelid weeps over its land,
Their meadow blossomed from its tears and smiled.
Its meadows flourish from its tears and smile.
وَلَمand did not تَزَلcease الوَرقاءthe gray dove وَاللَيلwhile the night فاحمcoal-black
وَلَم تَزَل الوَرقاء وَاللَيل فاحم
ترددrepeats أَشجاناًlaments وَصَوتاًand a voice مرخماmellowed
تردد أَشجاناً وَصَوتاً مرخما
And the gray dove, while the night was coal-black, kept
The warbler and the night continue
Repeating laments and a mellow song.
To echo melancholic tones and husky sounds.
تُشيرsignals إِلىto الأُخرىthe other وَلَمand did not تَدرِknow أَنَّنيthat I
تُشير إِلى الأُخرى وَلَم تَدرِ أَنَّني
أَشَدُّmore intense ولوعاًin passion بِالصَبابةwith ardent longing منهماthan both of them
أَشَدُّ ولوعاً بِالصَبابة منهما
Signaling to the other, unaware that I
Hinting to one another, not knowing that I
Am more consumed by ardent longing than either of them.
Am more ardently enamored with youth than both.
حَمامةO dove سلعof Sal‘ اقصريdesist إِنَّنيindeed I فتىa young man
حَمامة سلع اقصري إِنَّني فتى
إِذاwhen رنمتsang وَرقاءa gray dove نَجدof Najd تَرنَّماsang melodiously
إِذا رنمت وَرقاء نَجد تَرنَّما
Dove of Sal‘, desist: I am a young man
O my friend from Sula, I am a lad,
Who sings whenever a gray dove of Najd sings.
Who, whenever the warbler of Najd sings, sings along.
تَبيتينyou spend the night فيat سَفحthe foot of الغويرal-Ghuwayr وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
تَبيتين في سَفح الغوير وَإِنَّني
أَبيتI spend the night بِأَكنافin the reaches of العِراقIraq متيماenthralled by love
أَبيت بِأَكناف العِراق متيما
You spend the night at the foot of al-Ghuwayr, while I
You spend nights on the slope of Al-Ghuwayr while I
Spend mine in the reaches of Iraq, enthralled by love.
Spend nights in the bosoms of Iraq pining.
إِذاif نحتyou lament وَالأَجفانwhile the eyelids مِنكَof yours قَريرةserene
إِذا نحت وَالأَجفان مِنكَ قَريرة
فَماthen what حالَthe condition of جفنan eyelid قَدalready غَداhas become دَمعهits tears دَماblood
فَما حالَ جفن قَد غَدا دَمعه دَما
If you lament while your eyelids remain serene,
When your eyelids trickle,
What, then, of an eyelid whose tears have turned to blood?
What of an eyelid whose tears became blood?
ألاO for مبلغاًa messenger عَنيfrom me الحِجازthe Hijaz وَأَهلهand its people
ألا مبلغاً عَني الحِجاز وَأَهله
أهيلthe dear folk الحمىof the sanctuary عَنيfrom me سَلاماًa greeting of peace مُسلماconveyed
أهيل الحمى عَني سَلاماً مُسلما
O for someone to convey from me to the Hijaz and its people,
O you, heading to the Hijaz and its people,
The dear folk of the sanctuary, a greeting of peace delivered from me,
Give my regards to the kindred of fever.
وَشَوقاًand longing بقَلبيin my heart كُلَّماwhenever هبتblew الصباthe east wind
وَشَوقاً بقَلبي كُلَّما هبت الصبا
تسعرflared up مِنهاfrom it حَرهits heat فَتَضَرماso it blazed
تسعر مِنها حَره فَتَضَرما
And the longing in my heart: whenever the east wind blows,
And longing in my heart, whenever the northerly wind blows,
Its heat is fanned by the wind and bursts into flame.
Kindles its heat, so it flares up.
أَحنI yearn حَنينthe yearning of الإلفthe lover فارقparted from إِلفهhis beloved
أَحن حَنين الإلف فارق إِلفه
إِذاwhen حَكمتheld sway أَيديthe hands النَوائبof calamities فيهماover both of them
إِذا حَكمت أَيدي النَوائب فيهما
I yearn with the yearning of a lover parted from his beloved,
I yearn with the most ardent yearning of an intimate separated from his intimate,
When the hands of calamity rule over them both.
When the hands of tribulations come between them.
وَأَصبوand I yearn إِلىfor عربArabs بظمياءat Zamya’ خَيمواthey pitched tents
وَأَصبو إِلى عرب بظمياء خَيموا
وَحُبهمand love for them ماthe space بَينَbetween جَنبيmy two sides خَيماpitched its tent
وَحُبهم ما بَينَ جَنبي خَيما
And I yearn for Arabs who pitched their tents at Zamya’,
And I pine for the Arabs who pitched their abodes,
While love for them pitched its tent between my sides.
While love for them pitches its abode between my sides.
وَماand not الدارthe abode قَصديmy aim لَيسَis not قَصديmy aim سِوىother than فتىa youth
وَما الدار قَصدي لَيسَ قَصدي سِوى فتى
عَلَيهِupon him إِلَهthe God of العَرشthe Throne صَلىbestowed blessings وَسَلماand bestowed peace
عَلَيهِ إِلَه العَرش صَلى وَسَلما
And the abode is not my aim; I seek none but a youth
It is not the abode I aim for, I aim for none but the youth,
Upon whom the God of the Throne has bestowed blessings and peace.
Upon whom the Lord of the Throne prayed and blessed.
هُوَhe السَيدthe master الفَردthe peerless الأَخيرthe last الَّذيwho حَوىencompassed
هُوَ السَيد الفَرد الأَخير الَّذي حَوى
بِأَولon the first يَومday فَضلthe excellence of منthose who قَدalready تَقَدماhad preceded
بِأَول يَوم فَضل من قَد تَقَدما
He is the peerless master, the last, who encompassed
He is the singular, final master who embodied
On the first day the excellence of those who had gone before.
On the first day excellence above all who preceded.
وَبَدرand a full moon أَضاءَilluminated الكَونthe universe مِنfrom نورthe light of وَجهِهhis face
وَبَدر أَضاءَ الكَون مِن نور وَجهِه
وَقَدand indeed كانَhad been بِالأَوثانwith idols وَالشركand polytheism مُظلِماdark
وَقَد كانَ بِالأَوثان وَالشرك مُظلِما
And a full moon that lit the universe with the light of his face,
A full moon that illuminated the universe with his face’s light,
Which had been darkened by idols and polytheism.
While it had been darkened with idols and polytheism.
وَشَمسand a sun هدىof guidance قَدindeed عاينbeheld الكُفرunbelief عَينهاits orb
وَشَمس هدى قَد عاين الكُفر عَينها
وَلَكنهُbut it لَماwhen رأىsaw نورَهاits light عَمىwent blind
وَلَكنهُ لَما رأى نورَها عَمى
And a sun of guidance whose orb unbelief beheld,
A guiding sun that polytheism saw with its own eyes,
But when it saw that sun's light, it went blind.
But when it saw his light, it went blind.
وَطالعand one rising حَتّىuntil مزقtore apart الحيفinjustice نَجمهhis star
وَطالع حَتّى مزق الحيف نَجمه
فَأَضحىso became حساماًa cutting sword للشَريعةfor the sacred law مخذماkeen-edged
فَأَضحى حساماً للشَريعة مخذما
And one who rose until his star tore injustice apart,
An ascending star that tore the injustice of its star,
And thus became a keen-edged sword for the sacred law.
Making it a sharp sword for the Law made resolute.
كَريمa generous man مَتىwhenever صافحتهyou shook his hand نلتyou obtained نائِلاًa gift
كَريم مَتى صافحته نلت نائِلاً
وَفَضلاًand bounty عَميماًall-embracing جلَwas too great أَنto يَتَقَوماbe appraised
وَفَضلاً عَميماً جلَ أَن يَتَقَوما
A generous man: whenever you clasp his hand, you receive a gift
So generous, when you greet him, you attain your wants
And all-embracing bounty too great to be appraised.
And abundant grace too majestic to be bounded.
إِمامthe leader of النَبيينthe prophets الكِرامthe noble وَسَيدand a master
إِمام النَبيين الكِرام وَسَيد
إِلىto الحَقthe Truth فيfor فَصلthe rendering of القَضاءjudgment تَقَدماcame forward
إِلى الحَق في فَصل القَضاء تَقَدما
The leader of the noble prophets and a master
The imam of the honorable prophets and master
Who came forward to the Truth for the rendering of judgment.
Stepping forth to the truth in conclusive judgment.
وَإِنand even if غَدَتbecome القَومthe people الكِرامthe noble فَإِنَّهُthen he
وَإِن غَدَت القَوم الكِرام فَإِنَّهُ
يَكونis أَجَلthe most exalted of العالَمينall beings وَأَكرَماand the noblest
يَكون أَجَل العالَمين وَأَكرَما
And even if the people become noble, he
And if the honorable become, he will be
Is the most exalted and noblest of all beings.
The most majestic and generous of both worlds.
هُوَhe القَمَرthe moon الأَعلىthe loftiest الَّذيwho ضَمgathered صحبهhis companions
هُوَ القَمَر الأَعلى الَّذي ضَم صحبه
وَفَرقَهُمand scattered them فيthroughout سائرall الكَونthe universe أَنجُماas stars
وَفَرقَهُم في سائر الكَون أَنجُما
He is the loftiest moon, who gathered his companions
The highest moon that encompassed his companions
And scattered them as stars throughout the universe.
And dispersed them as stars across the cosmos.
وَكَمand how often راوَدَتهُsought to seduce him الشمthe lofty mountains عَنaway from نَفسهhimself فَماyet did not
وَكَم راوَدَتهُ الشم عَن نَفسه فَما
رَأَتfound قَلبهhis heart إِلاexcept غَنياًself-sufficient مُكرماhonored
رَأَت قَلبه إِلا غَنياً مُكرما
And how often the lofty mountains sought to seduce him, yet they
How often have calamities tested him, yet they did not
Found his heart nothing but self-sufficient and honored.
See his heart as anything but wealthy and generous.
وَربand many حَصىpebbles جَيشan army مِنof الشركpolytheism أقصدتstruck dead
وَرب حَصى جَيش مِن الشرك أقصدت
فَفاقَتso they surpassed عَصاthe staff of موسىMoses وَعَزمand the resolve of ابنthe son of مريَماMary
فَفاقَت عَصا موسى وَعَزم ابن مريَما
And many pebbles struck down an army of polytheists,
And how many an army of polytheism with evil intentions,
Thus surpassing Moses' staff and the resolve of Mary's son.
Surpassing Moses’ staff and Jesus son of Mary’s resolve!
وَكَمand many a نارfire حَربof war خاضَهاhe plunged into it صارَbecame حَرهاits heat
وَكَم نار حَرب خاضَها صارَ حَرها
كَماlike نارthe fire of إِبراهيمAbraham أهَدىmore guiding وَأَسلَماand safer
كَما نار إِبراهيم أهَدى وَأَسلَما
And many a fire of war he plunged into—its heat became
And how many fires of war he plunged into, becoming
Like Abraham's fire, bringing greater guidance and safety.
Like the fire of Abraham—guiding and protected!
وَأَحياand revived قُلوبthe hearts of العارِفينthose who know بِهَديهthrough his guidance
وَأَحيا قُلوب العارِفين بِهَديه
وَرَوىand watered بِهِwith it بَعدَafter الحَرارةthe heat وَالظَماand thirst
وَرَوى بِهِ بَعدَ الحَرارة وَالظَما
And with his guidance he revived the hearts of those who know,
He brought to life the hearts of those knowing him through his guidance,
And watered them with it after heat and thirst.
Quenching with it after heat and thirst.
عَلَيهِupon him صَلاةthe blessing of اللَهGod ثُمthen سَلامهHis peace
عَلَيهِ صَلاة اللَه ثُم سَلامه
مَدىthroughout الدَهرall time ماas long as حادَa camel-driver حداchants to the camels وَتَرَنَّماand sings melodiously
مَدى الدَهر ما حادَ حدا وَتَرَنَّما
Upon him be God's blessing, then His peace,
Upon him be Allah’s prayers and peace
Throughout all time, so long as a camel-driver chants and sings:
As long as criticisms flow and verse is rhythmically composed.
صَلاةa blessing يَعمencompasses الآلthe family وَالصَحبand the companions نَشرهاits fragrance
صَلاة يَعم الآل وَالصَحب نَشرها
وَكُلand all العِبادthe servants الصالِحينthe righteous تكرماas a generous favor
وَكُل العِباد الصالِحين تكرما
A blessing whose fragrance envelops his family and companions,
Prayers that encompass his Household and companions,
And all righteous servants, as a generous favor.
And all righteous servants, honoring them.
Sol 6.1