أنَّmoaned شوقاًwith longing وللمحبِّand for the lover أنينُa moan
أنَّ شوقاً وللمحبِّ أنينُ
حينwhen فاضتْoverflowed علىupon الخدودِthe cheeks الجفونُthe eyelids
حين فاضتْ على الخدودِ الجفونُ
He moaned with longing; a lover has his moan,
Longing belongs to lovers, and moaning,
when eyelids overflowed upon the cheeks.
When tears overflowed upon the cheeks.
أهِah! منfor زفرةٍa sigh يُنشَئهاbrings it forth الشَّوlonging (first part)
أهِ من زفرةٍ يُنشَئها الشَّو
قlonging (completion) وداءٌand an ailment بينbetween الضلوعِthe ribs دفينburied
ق وداءٌ بين الضلوعِ دفين
Ah, for a sigh that longing brings forth,
Alas for the sigh that longing evokes,
and an ailment buried between the ribs!
And a hidden illness among the ribs.
كيفhow يسلوfinds solace الشجيُّthe grief-stricken أمor كيفhow ينسىforgets الthe
كيف يسلو الشجيُّ أم كيف ينسى ال
صبُّlovelorn one أمor كيفhow يذهلُis distracted المحزونthe sorrowful one
صبُّ أم كيف يذهلُ المحزون
How can the grief-stricken find solace, or how can the lovelorn forget,
How can the long-suffering be consoled? How can sorrow forget?
or how can the sorrowful be distracted?
How can the grieved be heedless?
لاdo not تَلمنيreproach me بالرقتينover al-Raqqatayn ودعنيand leave me
لا تَلمني بالرقتين ودعني
إِنَّindeed قلبيmy heart بالرقتينin al-Raqqatayn رَهينcaptive
إِنَّ قلبي بالرقتين رَهين
Do not reproach me over al-Raqqatayn; leave me be.
Do not blame me for being delicate; leave me be.
My heart is held captive in al-Raqqatayn.
My heart is held hostage by delicacy.
ياO نديميmy boon companion أماdo you not تحنُّyearn إلىfor القصrevelry (first part)
يا نديمي أما تحنُّ إلى القص
فِrevelry (completion) فهذاso this is أوانُthe time يبدوappears الحنينyearning
فِ فهذا أوانُ يبدو الحنين
O my boon companion, do you not yearn for revelry?
My friend, do you not yearn for the meadow?
Now is the time for yearning to appear.
For this is the time when longing appears.
ماwhat ترىdo you think جانبَthe precinct المصَلَّىal-Musalla وقدand already أَشرshone (first part)
ما ترى جانبَ المصَلَّى وقد أَشر
قَshone (completion) منهof it ظهورُهُits heights والبطونand the hollows
قَ منه ظهورُهُ والبطون
What do you think of the precinct of al-Musalla, now that
Do you see the mosque’s side having shone
its heights and hollows have grown radiant?
With its backs and bellies?
أُقحوانٌchrysanthemums وسُوسَنٌand irises وشقيقٌand anemones
أُقحوانٌ وسُوسَنٌ وشقيقٌ
وبهارٌand yellow oxeyes يُجْنَىare gathered وآذَريونand marigolds
وبهارٌ يُجْنَى وآذَريون
Chrysanthemums, irises, and anemones,
Carnations, lilies and wallflowers,
and yellow oxeyes to be gathered, and marigolds.
And blossoms are being picked, and storeys.
أُسرجتْwere lit فيin رياضهits gardens سُرجُlamps القطْrain (first part)
أُسرجتْ في رياضه سُرجُ القطْ
رِrain (completion) وطابتْand grew lovely سهولُهُits plains والحزونand the rugged uplands
رِ وطابتْ سهولُهُ والحزون
The lamps of rain were lit in its gardens,
In its gardens the migrate birds alighted
and its plains and rugged uplands grew lovely.
And its plains and depressed delighted.
إِنindeed آذارAdhar (March) لمdid not يذرْleave تحتَbeneath بطنِthe belly الthe
إِن آذار لم يذرْ تحتَ بطنِ ال
أرضِearth شيئاًanything أكنَّهhid it كانونKanun
أرضِ شيئاً أكنَّه كانون
Indeed, Adhar has left beneath the belly of the
March left nothing beneath the land’s belly
earth nothing that Kanun had hidden.
That it had concealed like December.
وبداand appeared النرجسُthe narcissus البديعُlovely كأمثاlike likenesses (first part)
وبدا النرجسُ البديعُ كأمثا
لِlikenesses (completion) عيونٍof eyes ترنوgaze إليهاat them عيونeyes
لِ عيونٍ ترنو إليها عيون
And lovely narcissus blossoms appeared like
The beautiful narcissi appeared like
eyes at which other eyes gaze.
Eyes yearning for eyes.
ماwhat ترىdo you think جانبَthe precinct الهنيِّal-Hani وقدand already أشshone (first part)
ما ترى جانبَ الهنيِّ وقد أش
رقَshone (completion) فيهin it الخِيريّthe wallflowers والنِسرينand the wild roses
رقَ فيه الخِيريّ والنِسرين
What do you think of the precinct of al-Hani, now that
Do you see the side of spring having shone
wallflowers and wild roses shine there?
With clove gilliflower and common snowdrop?
صاحcalled فيهin it الهزَارthe nightingale ناحmourned بهin it القُمthe ringdove (first part)
صاح فيه الهزَار ناح به القُم
ريُّringdove (completion) غنَّىsang فيin جوِّهits air الشفنينthe turtledove
ريُّ غنَّى في جوِّه الشفنين
The nightingale called there; the ringdove mourned,
The bulbul cried in it, the turtledove moaned,
and the turtledove sang in its air.
The chaffinch sang in its air the goldfinch.
فلهذاso this one has قيصومُهits yarrow وخُزاماand lavender
فلهذا قيصومُه وخُزاما
هُits وذاand that one الوردُroses فيهin it والياسمينand jasmine
هُ وذا الوردُ فيه والياسمين
So this one has its yarrow and lavender,
So its chamomile, purslane, and jasmine,
and that one has roses and jasmine.
The roses in it, and the yasmens.
وكأنَّand as though الفراتَthe Euphrates بينهماbetween them both عيa spring (first part)
وكأنَّ الفراتَ بينهما عي
نُspring (completion) لُجينٍof silver يعومُfloat فيهاin it السَّفينthe ships
نُ لُجينٍ يعومُ فيها السَّفين
And the Euphrates between them seems a spring
As if the Euphrates between them is an eye
of silver in which ships float,
Of crystal wherein ships swim.
كبطونِlike the bellies الحيّاتِof snakes أوor كظهورِlike the backs الthe
كبطونِ الحيّاتِ أو كظهورِ ال
مشرفياتِMashrafi swords أخْلَصَتْهاrefined them القيونthe smiths
مشرفياتِ أخْلَصَتْها القيون
like the bellies of snakes, or the backs of
Like snakes’ bellies or backs of balconies
Mashrafi swords refined by smiths.
That the bridges made smooth.
ماnot أتىcame to الناسَpeople مثلُlike ذاthis العامِyear عامٌa year
ما أتى الناسَ مثلُ ذا العامِ عامٌ
لاno ولاand not جاءcame مثلُlike ذاthis الحينِtime حينa time
لا ولا جاء مثلُ ذا الحينِ حين
No year like this year has come to people,
Never did a year like this year come,
no, nor has a time like this time come.
Nor a time like this time come.
بلدٌa land مُشرقُradiant الأزاهرِwith blossoms مُوعٍlush
بلدٌ مُشرقُ الأزاهرِ مُوعٍ
وسحابٌand clouds جمُّabundant in العَزاليrain-spouts هَتونpouring steadily
وسحابٌ جمُّ العَزالي هَتون
A lush land, radiant with blossoms,
A land radiant with flowers, abundant rain,
and clouds with abundant rain-spouts, pouring steadily.
And clouds heavy with burdens.
تتلاقىmeet المياهُthe waters ماءٌwater منfrom المزْrain clouds (first part)
تتلاقى المياهُ ماءٌ من المزْ
نِrain clouds (completion) وماءٌand water يجريruns وماءand water معينfrom springs
نِ وماءٌ يجري وماء معين
The waters meet: water from rain clouds,
Waters meet each other, water from the rain,
water that runs, and spring water.
Flowing water, and spring water.
كمhow many غداwent in the morning نحوtoward ديرthe Monastery of زكَّاءَZakka منof قَلa heart (first part)
كم غدا نحو دير زكَّاءَ من قَل
بٍheart (completion) صحيحٍsound فراحthen returned at evening وهوand it was حزينsorrowful
بٍ صحيحٍ فراح وهو حزين
How many a heart went at dawn toward the Monastery of Zakka,
How many went by morning to Deir Zakaa
untroubled, only to return at evening sorrowful!
With a sincere heart, and left downcast?
لوif علىtoward الديرِthe monastery عجتَyou turned aside يوماًone day الألَهتwould divert (first part)
لو على الديرِ عجتَ يوماً الألَهت
كَyou فُنونٌvaried delights وأَطربتْكَand would delight you فُنونvaried delights
كَ فُنونٌ وأَطربتْكَ فُنون
If one day you turned aside to the monastery,
If one day you lingered by the monastery, charmed
some diversions would engross you, and others delight you.
By arts and made joyous by arts,
لائميmy reproacher فيfor صبابتيmy passionate longing قَدْكَenough for you! مَهلاًgently!
لائمي في صبابتي قَدْكَ مَهلاً
لاdo not تَلمنيreproach me إِنindeed الملامَreproach جنونmadness
لا تَلمني إِن الملامَ جنون
You who reproach my passionate longing, enough—be gentle!
My blamer in my youth, wait a bit.
Do not reproach me; reproach is madness.
Do not blame me, for blaming is madness.
كمhow many a غزالٍgazelle فيin كفِّهhis palm الوردُroses مَبذوfreely offered (first part)
كم غزالٍ في كفِّه الوردُ مَبذو
لٌfreely offered (completion) وفيand on الخدِّthe cheek منهof him وردٌa rose مَصونguarded
لٌ وفي الخدِّ منه وردٌ مَصون
How many a gazelle has roses freely offered in his palm,
How many gazelles in their hands is rose,
and on his cheek a rose kept inviolate!
And rose preserved in their cheeks?
فإذاso when ماemphatic particle أجلتُI let roam طرفيَmy gaze فيover خدَّcheeks (first part)
فإذا ما أجلتُ طرفيَ في خدَّ
يهِhis (dual ending) جالتْwandered فيin القلبthe heart منيof mine الظنونfancies
يهِ جالتْ في القلب مني الظنون
So whenever I let my gaze roam over his cheeks,
When I glance at their cheeks, suspicions arise
fancies wandered through my heart.
And roam in my heart.
لاnot سعيدٌfortunate منwhoever ليسis not يُسعدهُmakes him fortunate جfortune (first part)
لا سعيدٌ من ليس يُسعدهُ ج
دٌّfortune (completion) سعيدٌfortunate وطائرٌand an omen-bearing bird مَيمونauspicious
دٌّ سعيدٌ وطائرٌ مَيمون
No one is fortunate unless aided by
Happy is he whom no cheek makes happy.
good fortune and a bird of good omen,
Happy is the fortunate, auspicious bird.
ولسانٌand a tongue مثلlike الحُسامِa sharp sword وقلبٌand a heart
ولسانٌ مثل الحُسامِ وقلبٌ
صادقٌtrue عزمهُits resolve ورأيٌand a judgment رَصينsound
صادقٌ عزمهُ ورأيٌ رَصين
a tongue like a sharp sword, and a heart
A tongue like a sword, a truthful heart,
true in its resolve, and sound judgment.
Firm resolve and sound opinion.
لاdo not تبكينَّweep (emphatic) علىover الأطلالِthe ruins والدمنِand old campsite traces
لا تبكينَّ على الأطلالِ والدمنِ
ولاand not علىover منزلٍa dwelling أقوىbecame deserted منthrough الزمنِtime
ولا على منزلٍ أقوى من الزمنِ
Do not weep over ruins and old campsite traces,
Do not cry over ruins and edifices,
nor over a dwelling left desolate by time.
Nor over an abode mightier than time.
وقمْand rise بناwith us نصطبحْlet us drink in the morning صهباءَtawny wine صافيةًclear
وقمْ بنا نصطبحْ صهباءَ صافيةً
تنفيbanishes الهمومَcares ولاand does not تُبْقيleave منany of الحزنsorrow
تنفي الهمومَ ولا تُبْقي من الحزن
And rise with us to drink clear tawny wine in the morning,
Rise, and let us greet the morn, pure,
which banishes cares and leaves no sorrow.
Dispelling worries and leaving no sorrow.
بكراًuntouched معتقةًwell-aged عذراءَvirgin واضحةًbright
بكراً معتقةً عذراءَ واضحةً
تبدوappears فتخبرناand tells us عنof سالفbygone الزمنtime
تبدو فتخبرنا عن سالف الزمن
Untouched, well-aged, virgin, and bright,
Early, a mature, clear maid
it appears and tells us of time long past.
Appearing to tell us of time past.
خمراًwine مروّقةًclarified صفراَyellow فاقعةًintensely bright
خمراً مروّقةً صفراَ فاقعةً
كأنماas though مزجتit was mixed منfrom طرفكyour gaze الوسنdrowsy
كأنما مزجت من طرفك الوسن
Clarified wine, yellow and intensely bright,
A wine well-strained, yellow, effervescent,
as though it were blended from your drowsy gaze.
As if you mixed it with your arm.
يسعىhastens بهاwith it غنجٌa coy one فيon خدهhis cheek ضَرَجٌa blush
يسعى بها غنجٌ في خده ضَرَجٌ
فيin ثغرهhis mouth فَلَجٌa gap between teeth يُنْمَىis traced إلىto اليمنYemen
في ثغره فَلَجٌ يُنْمَى إلى اليمن
A coy one hastens with it, a blush upon his cheek.
With it strides a cupbearer with mole on cheek,
A gap between his teeth is traced to Yemen.
Cleft in his lips, inclined to the right.
فيin ريقهِhis saliva عسلٌhoney قلبيmy heart بهwith it ثملٌdrunk
في ريقهِ عسلٌ قلبي به ثملٌ
فيin مشيهhis walk ميلa sway أربىoutdid علىbeyond الغصنthe bough
في مشيه ميل أربى على الغصن
In his saliva is honey; my heart is drunk on it.
In his spittle is honey, with it my heart is drunk.
His walk has a sway that outdoes the bough.
In his gait a leaning upon the branch.
كأنهas though he were قمرٌa moon ماnot مثلهlike him بشرٌa mortal
كأنه قمرٌ ما مثله بشرٌ
فيin طرفهhis eyes حورٌdark irises against bright whites يرنوhe gazes فيجرحنيand so wounds me
في طرفه حورٌ يرنو فيجرحني
He is like a moon; no mortal is his equal.
As if he is a moon, no mortal his like,
His eyes are black against brilliant white; he gazes and wounds me.
In his eyes, houris longing, wounding me.
سبحانglory to خالِقِهhis Creator ياoh! ويحَalas for عاشقهhis lover
سبحان خالِقِه يا ويحَ عاشقه
يُهديhe bestows لرامقهon his beholder ضعفاًa double share منof الشجنsorrow
يُهدي لرامقه ضعفاً من الشجن
Glory to his Creator! Alas for his lover!
Glory to his Creator! Woe to his lover!
He bestows on his beholder a double share of sorrow.
He brings to his viewer weakness from pining.
فيin روضةa garden زهرتbloomed بالنبتwith plants مذsince حسنتgrew lovely
في روضة زهرت بالنبت مذ حسنت
كأنهاas though it were فرشتcarpeted منfrom وجههhis face الحسنbeautiful
كأنها فرشت من وجهه الحسن
In a garden blooming with plants since it grew lovely,
In a garden bloomed with plants when it thrived,
as though carpeted with the beauty of his face.
As if it were carpeted with his beauty.
ياoh! طيبَsweetness of مجلسناour gathering والطيرand the birds يطربناdelight us
يا طيبَ مجلسنا والطير يطربنا
والعودُand the oud يُسْعِدُناgladdens us معwith منشدٍa singer حسنfine
والعودُ يُسْعِدُنا مع منشدٍ حسن
How sweet our gathering, with the birds delighting us,
O goodly our session, the birds make us joyous,
and the oud gladdening us, with a fine singer!
The lute gladdens us with a fine singer.
Sol 6.1