بَكَتwept مَعناًwith us العَلياءُlofty glory إِذwhen فَقَدَتlost مَعناMa'n
بَكَت مَعناً العَلياءُ إِذ فَقَدَت مَعنا
وَلَمand not يَبقَremain لَفظٌa word لِلقَوافيfor the rhymes وَلاnor مَعنىa meaning
وَلَم يَبقَ لَفظٌ لِلقَوافي وَلا مَعنى
Lofty glory wept with us when she lost Ma'n.
The sublime one wept when she lost Ma'n,
No word remained for the rhymes, nor any meaning.
And no words remained for rhymes, nor meaning.
وَغارَتand sank نُجومُthe stars of المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَكُوِّرَتand was shrouded
وَغارَت نُجومُ المَكرُماتِ وَكُوِّرَت
هُنالِكَthere شَمسُthe sun of المَجدِglory كاسِفَةًeclipsed حُزناin grief
هُنالِكَ شَمسُ المَجدِ كاسِفَةً حُزنا
The stars of noble deeds sank; shrouded was
The stars of the virtuous faded away
the sun of glory there, eclipsed with grief.
And there the sun of glory set, saddened with grief.
مَضىpassed away اللَسِنُthe eloquent man المِنطيقُthe fluent speaker فيin كُلِّevery مَحفَلٍgathering
مَضى اللَسِنُ المِنطيقُ في كُلِّ مَحفَلٍ
وَأُخرِسَand was silenced مَنthe one أَلفاظُهُhis words تُفحِمُrender speechless اللُّسناthe eloquent speakers
وَأُخرِسَ مَن أَلفاظُهُ تُفحِمُ اللُّسنا
Gone is the eloquent man, the fluent speaker at every gathering;
The eloquent tongues in every gathering are silenced,
silenced is he whose words left eloquent speakers speechless.
And the one whose words would silence tongues is made mute.
رَعَتgrazed بَعدَهُafter him فيamong الحَيِّthe clan فُصلانُcamel calves دورِهِhis houses
رَعَت بَعدَهُ في الحَيِّ فُصلانُ دورِهِ
وَزالَand ceased هَديرُthe roar of المُقرَمِthe stud camel الصارِعِwho fells القِرناthe rival
وَزالَ هَديرُ المُقرَمِ الصارِعِ القِرنا
After him, the camel calves of his houses grazed among the clan;
After him the prime of life is pastured on loss,
the roar of the stud camel who felled his rival ceased.
And the roar of the formidable, horn-wielding warrior is stilled.
وَآضَتand became لَهُfor him الأَيّامُthe days سوداًblack كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَآضَت لَهُ الأَيّامُ سوداً كَأَنَّها
سُرىًnight journeys أَصبَحَbecame التَأويبُdaytime travel فيهاin them سُرىًnight travel وَهُناlate at night
سُرىً أَصبَحَ التَأويبُ فيها سُرىً وَهُنا
The days turned black for him, as though they were
The days mourned him in black as if
night journeys, with daytime travel turned to travel late at night.
The Pleiades at nightfall mourned in black garb.
حَوالِكُpitch-black أَلوانٍhues كَوالِحُscowling أَوجُهٍfaces
حَوالِكُ أَلوانٍ كَوالِحُ أَوجُهٍ
فَلَسناso we do not نَرىsee فيهِنَّin them حُسناًbeauty وَلاnor حَسناanything fair
فَلَسنا نَرى فيهِنَّ حُسناً وَلا حَسنا
Dark of hue, grim of face,
Your environs are of varied hues like the faces
we see in them neither beauty nor anything fair.
Of the bereaved, so we see in them neither beauty nor charm.
فَياso, O قَبرَهُhis grave كَمhow much حُزتَyou have gathered مَجداًglory وَسُؤدَداًand eminence
فَيا قَبرَهُ كَم حُزتَ مَجداً وَسُؤدَداً
وَكَمand how much لَوعَةًanguish مِنهُover him وَحُزناًand sorrow بِكَwith you الحُزناwe have lodged
وَكَم لَوعَةً مِنهُ وَحُزناً بِكَ الحُزنا
O his grave, how much glory and eminence you have gathered!
Oh his grave, how much glory you took in
And how much anguish for him and sorrow we have lodged with you!
And how much anguish from him and how much grief you harbor!
وَياand O قَبرَهُhis grave وارَيتَyou concealed مِنهُof him أَنامِلاًfingers
وَيا قَبرَهُ وارَيتَ مِنهُ أَنامِلاً
إِذاwhen المُزنُthe rain clouds ضَنَّتwere stingy بِالحَياwith life-giving rain كانَتِthey were المُزناthe rain clouds
إِذا المُزنُ ضَنَّت بِالحَيا كانَتِ المُزنا
O his grave, you concealed his fingers,
Oh his grave, you hid from him fingers
which, when clouds begrudged life-giving rain, were themselves rain clouds:
When the bereaved despaired of life, being utterly despondent.
مَفاتِحُkeys to أَرزاقٍsustenance سَحائِبُclouds of أَنعُمٍblessings
مَفاتِحُ أَرزاقٍ سَحائِبُ أَنعُمٍ
تَسُحُّpour down عَلىupon الأَقصىthe farthest مِنَamong الخَلقِhumankind وَالأَدنىand the nearest
تَسُحُّ عَلى الأَقصى مِنَ الخَلقِ وَالأَدنى
keys to sustenance, clouds of blessings,
Keys to sustenance, clouds of bounty
pouring upon the farthest of humankind and the nearest.
That rain upon the farthest and nearest of creation.
وَكانَand he would إِذاwhen وافاهُcame to him عافٍa supplicant وَخائِفٌand a fearful man
وَكانَ إِذا وافاهُ عافٍ وَخائِفٌ
أَصابَgained المُنىthe wishes عافوهُhis supplicants وَالخائِفُand the fearful man الأَمناsafety
أَصابَ المُنى عافوهُ وَالخائِفُ الأَمنا
Whenever a supplicant and a fearful man came to him,
When the fearful and hoping came to him
his supplicants gained their wishes, and the fearful man safety.
The hoping found safety and the fearful found peace.
وَأَنّىand how وَقَدhaving already ذُقناwe tasted مَرارَةَthe bitterness of فَقدِهِlosing him
وَأَنّى وَقَد ذُقنا مَرارَةَ فَقدِهِ
نَزورُwe visit دِياراًdwellings ماnot نُحِبُّwe love لَهاof them مَغنىan abode
نَزورُ دِياراً ما نُحِبُّ لَها مَغنى
And how, having tasted the bitterness of losing him,
And how, when we have tasted the bitterness of losing him,
can we visit dwellings where no abode is dear to us?
Could we visit lands that hold no charm for us?
يَميناًby oath لَقَدindeed بَزَّhas stripped off الزَمانُTime حُجولَهُits white leg-markings
يَميناً لَقَد بَزَّ الزَمانُ حُجولَهُ
وَغُرَّتَهُand its forehead-blaze مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him وَاليَدَand the hand اليُمنىright
وَغُرَّتَهُ مِن بَعدِهِ وَاليَدَ اليُمنى
I swear, Time has stripped off its white leg-markings,
Truly time has trampled its coursers
and its forehead-blaze after him, and its right hand.
And after him it was deluded, and the right hand too.
وَدِدتُI wished بِأَنthat لَمnot يخلقcreate اللَهُGod ليfor me وَقَدwhen already
وَدِدتُ بِأَن لَم يخلق اللَهُ لي وَقَد
نَعاهُannounced his death لِيَto me الناعونَthe death-announcers عَيناًan eye وَلاnor أُذناan ear
نَعاهُ لِيَ الناعونَ عَيناً وَلا أُذنا
I wished that God had not created for me—when
Would that when death announced him to me
the death-announcers brought me his news—an eye or an ear.
God had not created for me either eye or ear!
فَكَمand how many جَرَحواthey wounded قَلباًa heart وَكَمand how many حَرَّقواthey burned حَشاًa bosom
فَكَم جَرَحوا قَلباً وَكَم حَرَّقوا حَشاً
بِنَعيِهِمُby their announcing the death of معناًMa'n وَكَمand how many أَقرَحواthey made sore جَفناan eyelid
بِنَعيِهِمُ معناً وَكَم أَقرَحوا جَفنا
How many hearts they wounded, how many bosoms they burned,
How they wounded a heart! How they inflamed a mind
by announcing Ma'n's death, and how many eyelids they made sore!
With the news of Ma'n! How they ulcerated the eyelids!
قَليلٌtoo little لَناfor us شَقُّrending الجُيوبِthe garment collars تَأَسُّفاًin grief
قَليلٌ لَنا شَقُّ الجُيوبِ تَأَسُّفاً
وَإِسبالُand pouring down دَمعٍtears بَعضُهُsome of them يَحمِلُcarries السُفناships
وَإِسبالُ دَمعٍ بَعضُهُ يَحمِلُ السُفنا
Too little for us is rending our collars in grief,
It is but little for us to rend our cloaks in sadness
and pouring down tears, some of which carry ships.
And to let fall a tear, some of which could float ships.
فَقَدfor indeed كانَتِwas الدُنياthe world تُجامِلُنيtreating me kindly بِهِthrough him
فَقَد كانَتِ الدُنيا تُجامِلُني بِهِ
وَتَرفَعُنيand raising me مِنهُthrough him إِلىto المَنزِلِthe station الأَسنىthe loftiest
وَتَرفَعُني مِنهُ إِلى المَنزِلِ الأَسنى
For through him the world treated me kindly
For the world would flatter me through him
and raised me through him to the loftiest station.
And elevate me through him to the most noble abode.
إِذاif كانَتِwere الأَقدارُthe fates خَصميmy adversary فَأَينَthen where مَنone who
إِذا كانَتِ الأَقدارُ خَصمي فَأَينَ مَن
يَرُدُّrepels إِذاwhen اِستَصرَختُI cried for help أَنيابَهاtheir fangs الحُجناhooked
يَرُدُّ إِذا اِستَصرَختُ أَنيابَها الحُجنا
If the fates are my adversary, where is one
When fate is my adversary, then where is he who would
to repel their hooked fangs when I cry for help?
Repel its fangs when I cry out?
أَفيis there on كُلِّevery يَومٍday لِلخُطوبِfor calamities إِغارَةٌa raid
أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ لِلخُطوبِ إِغارَةٌ
عَلَيَّagainst me بِمَنwith one who لاnot يَسأَمُtires of الضَربَstriking وَالطَعناand thrusting
عَلَيَّ بِمَن لا يَسأَمُ الضَربَ وَالطَعنا
Do calamities mount a raid every day
Does every day bring strife swooping down on me
against me, with one who never tires of striking and thrusting?
With one who does not tire of striking and stabbing?
أَظُنُّI think فُؤاديmy heart لِلهُمومِfor sorrows قَرارَةًa basin
أَظُنُّ فُؤادي لِلهُمومِ قَرارَةً
فَقَدfor indeed عَمَّengulfed مِنهُfrom it سَيلُهاtheir torrent السَهلَthe plain وَالحَزناand rugged ground
فَقَد عَمَّ مِنهُ سَيلُها السَهلَ وَالحَزنا
I think my heart is a basin for sorrows,
I think my heart has become the repository of sorrows,
for from it their torrent has engulfed plain and rugged ground.
For their torrent has flooded the easy and difficult terrain.
وَقَدand indeed ماتَdied سَعدُSa'd الدَولَةِal-Dawla بنُson of مُحَسِّنٍMuhassin
وَقَد ماتَ سَعدُ الدَولَةِ بنُ مُحَسِّنٍ
فَأَنّىso how أَرىI see فيamong الناسِpeople مِثلاًan equal لَهُto him أَنّىhow
فَأَنّى أَرى في الناسِ مِثلاً لَهُ أَنّى
And Sa'd al-Dawla ibn Muhassin has died;
The good fortune of the state died with Muhsin's son,
how can I see among people an equal to him—how?
So how do I see the like of him among people? Where?
مَضىhas gone مِنfrom يَمينيmy right hand صارِمٌa keen sword كانَwas ماضِياًsharp
مَضى مِن يَميني صارِمٌ كانَ ماضِياً
وَغَيثٌand rain سَكوبٌpouring كانَwas يوسِعُنيlavishing upon me هَتناshowers
وَغَيثٌ سَكوبٌ كانَ يوسِعُني هَتنا
Gone from my right hand is a sword that was keen,
Gone is the sword that was resolute and decisive,
and a pouring rain that lavished showers upon me.
And the pouring rain that would expand around me abundantly.
عَزيزٌpainful عَلَيناfor us ياO أَباfather of الجودِgenerosity أَنَّناthat we
عَزيزٌ عَلَينا يا أَبا الجودِ أَنَّنا
حَيَيناhave lived on وَقَدwhile already غالَتكَsnatched you away أَيديthe hands of الرَّدىdeath مِنّاfrom us
حَيَينا وَقَد غالَتكَ أَيدي الرَّدى مِنّا
It pains us, O father of generosity, that we
Dear sir, how hard for us that we lived on
have lived on while death's hands snatched you from us.
While the hands of time snatched you harshly from us!
وَماand not كُنتَyou were إِلّاexcept حِصنَthe fortress of قَومِكَyour people باذِخاًtowering
وَما كُنتَ إِلّا حِصنَ قَومِكَ باذِخاً
فَبَعدَكَso after you لاnot يَلقَونَthey find إِنif ظُلِمواthey are wronged حِصناa fortress
فَبَعدَكَ لا يَلقَونَ إِن ظُلِموا حِصنا
You were none other than your people's towering fortress;
You were but the formidable fortress of your people,
so after you, they find no fortress if they are wronged.
So after you they find no refuge if oppressed.
وَكُنتَand you were لَهُمfor them جاهاًprestige وَرُكناًand a pillar مُؤَثَّلاًfirmly founded
وَكُنتَ لَهُم جاهاً وَرُكناً مُؤَثَّلاً
فَقَدfor indeed عَدِمواthey have lost مِنfrom بَعدِكَafter you الجاهَthe prestige وَالرُكناand the pillar
فَقَد عَدِموا مِن بَعدِكَ الجاهَ وَالرُكنا
And you were their prestige and a firmly founded pillar;
You were their glory and pillar, lofty and firm,
for after you, they have lost both prestige and pillar.
So after you they lost glory and pillar.
تَمَنّىwished رِجالٌmen أَنthat تَموتَyou die لِيَشرُفواso they might gain honor
تَمَنّى رِجالٌ أَن تَموتَ لِيَشرُفوا
وَهَيهاتَbut far from it لاقَواthey met بَعدَكَafter you الذُلَّhumiliation وَالوَهناand weakness
وَهَيهاتَ لاقَوا بَعدَكَ الذُلَّ وَالوَهنا
Men wished you would die so that they might gain honor;
Some men wished you dead so they might gain prominence,
but far from it! After you they met humiliation and weakness.
But alas, after you they tasted but disgrace and frailty!
لَكَyours are الباقِياتُthe enduring deeds الصالِحاتُrighteous لَدىamong الوَرىhumankind
لَكَ الباقِياتُ الصالِحاتُ لَدى الوَرى
فَإِنso if تَفنَyou perish فيin الدُنياthe world فَذِكرُكَthen your memory لاnot يَفنىperishes
فَإِن تَفنَ في الدُنيا فَذِكرُكَ لا يَفنى
Yours are the enduring good deeds among humankind;
For you are the good deeds that remain with mankind,
so if you perish in this world, your memory does not perish.
So if you perish in this world, still your memory does not perish.
سَتَذكُرُwill remember أَقوامٌpeoples مَقامَكَyour place فيهِمُamong them
سَتَذكُرُ أَقوامٌ مَقامَكَ فيهِمُ
فَدَأبُهُمُand their constant habit مِنfrom بَعدafter أَنto يَقرَعواthey strike السِّناthe tooth
فَدَأبُهُمُ مِن بَعد أَن يَقرَعوا السِّنا
Peoples will remember your place among them;
Some folk will recall your position among them
thereafter their constant habit will be to gnash their teeth.
And their work after is but to strike their teeth.
وَقَدand indeed كانَused to بَطنُthe belly of الأَرضِthe earth يَحسُدُenvy ظَهرَهاits back
وَقَد كانَ بَطنُ الأَرضِ يَحسُدُ ظَهرَها
فَمُذbut since مِتّyou died أَمسىbecame ظَهرُهاits back يَحسُدُenvious of البَطناthe belly
فَمُذ مِتّ أَمسى ظَهرُها يَحسُدُ البَطنا
The earth's belly used to envy its back;
The belly of the earth used to envy its back,
but since you died, its back has come to envy its belly.
But since you died its back envies its belly!
فَياso, O عاشِقَlover of الدُّنياthe world النَجاءَflee فَإِنَّهاfor it
فَيا عاشِقَ الدُّنيا النَجاءَ فَإِنَّها
إِذاwhen سالَمَتmade peace غارَتraided وَأَظهَرَتِand revealed الضِغناrancor
إِذا سالَمَت غارَت وَأَظهَرَتِ الضِغنا
So, lover of this world, flee! For it,
O lover of life, take heed, for it
when it makes peace, raids and reveals its rancor.
When friendly, betrays, and shows but malice.
إِذاif ماever رَأَيتَyou see القَومَa people أَودىperished كِبارُهُمtheir great men
إِذا ما رَأَيتَ القَومَ أَودى كِبارُهُم
فَلَيسَthen not يُقيمُaccords اللَهُGod يَوماًever لَهُمto them وَزناweight
فَلَيسَ يُقيمُ اللَهُ يَوماً لَهُم وَزنا
If ever you see a people whose great men have perished,
When you see a people whose elders have perished,
God will never accord them any weight.
God will not grant them prominence again.
وَلَوand had رَدَّwarded off عَنهُfrom him المَوتَdeath بَأسٌvalor لَأَزهَقَتwould surely have extinguished
وَلَو رَدَّ عَنهُ المَوتَ بَأسٌ لَأَزهَقَت
شِفارُthe edges of المَواضيkeen blades أَنفُساًlives وَالقَناand the spears اللُدناsupple
شِفارُ المَواضي أَنفُساً وَالقَنا اللُدنا
Had valor warded death from him, they would have snuffed out
Had power driven back death from him
lives—the edges of keen swords and supple spears;
Lips of the cleavers of skulls would have snatched lives,
وَطارَتand would have flown إِلىto يَومِthe day of الكَريهَةِbattle فِتنَةٌa tumult
وَطارَت إِلى يَومِ الكَريهَةِ فِتنَةٌ
تَقاعَسُshrink back عَنهاfrom it الأُسدُthe lions ناكِصَةًretreating جُبناin cowardice
تَقاعَسُ عَنها الأُسدُ ناكِصَةً جُبنا
and a tumult would have flown to the day of battle,
And a tribulation would have taken wing
from which lions shrink back, retreating in cowardice.
From which even lionesses retreat in cowardice.
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it is المَوتُdeath الَّذيwhich لاnot يُرَدُّcan be repelled إِنif
وَلَكِنَّهُ المَوتُ الَّذي لا يُرَدُّ إِن
أَرادَit intends مَغاراًa raid فيamong الأَنامِhumankind وَلاnor يُثنىcan be diverted
أَرادَ مَغاراً في الأَنامِ وَلا يُثنى
But it is death, which cannot be repelled if
But it is death, which cannot be repelled
it intends a raid among humankind, nor can it be diverted.
If it desires a tomb among the people, and will not be dissuaded.
Sol 6.1