أَبكيكِI weep for you لَوif نَقَعَquenched الغَليلَthe burning thirst بُكائيmy weeping
أَبكيكِ لَو نَقَعَ الغَليلَ بُكائي
وَأَقولُand I speak لَوif ذَهَبَcarried away المَقالُspeech بِداءِwith an affliction
وَأَقولُ لَو ذَهَبَ المَقالُ بِداءِ
I would weep for you, if my weeping quenched the burning thirst,
And speak, if speech could carry an affliction away.
وَأَعوذُand I seek refuge بِالصَبرِin patience الجَميلِbeautiful تَعَزِّياًseeking consolation
وَأَعوذُ بِالصَبرِ الجَميلِ تَعَزِّياً
لَوif كانَthere were بِالصَبرِin patience الجَميلِbeautiful عَزائيmy consolation
لَو كانَ بِالصَبرِ الجَميلِ عَزائي
And I seek refuge in beautiful patience for consolation,
If beautiful patience could bring me solace.
طوراًat times تُكاثِرُنيoverwhelm me الدُموعُtears وَتارَةًand at other times
طوراً تُكاثِرُني الدُموعُ وَتارَةً
آويI take refuge إِلىin أَكرومَتيmy dignity وَحَيائيand my modesty
آوي إِلى أَكرومَتي وَحَيائي
At times tears overwhelm me, and at other times
I take refuge in my dignity and modesty.
كَمhow many عَبرَةٍa tear مَوَّهتُهاI disguised it بِأَنامِليwith my fingertips
كَم عَبرَةٍ مَوَّهتُها بِأَنامِلي
وَسَتَرتُهاand I concealed it مُتَجَمِّلاًmaintaining composure بِرِدائيwith my cloak
وَسَتَرتُها مُتَجَمِّلاً بِرِدائي
How many a tear I disguised with my fingertips,
And hid beneath my cloak, keeping my composure.
أُبديI display التَجَلُّدَfortitude لِلعَدوِّto the enemy وَلَوand if دَرىhe knew
أُبدي التَجَلُّدَ لِلعَدوِّ وَلَو دَرى
بِتَمَلمُليof my restlessness لَقَدthen indeed اِشتَفىwould be gratified أَعدائيmy enemies
بِتَمَلمُلي لَقَد اِشتَفى أَعدائي
I show the enemy fortitude; yet if he knew
My restlessness, my enemies would indeed be gratified.
ماnot كُنتُwould I have أُذخَرُheld back فيin فِداكَransom for you رَغيبَةًa precious possession
ما كُنتُ أُذخَرُ في فِداكَ رَغيبَةً
لَوif كانَwere يَرجِعُto return مَيِّتٌa dead person بِفِداءِthrough ransom
لَو كانَ يَرجِعُ مَيِّتٌ بِفِداءِ
I would have withheld no precious possession to ransom you,
If a dead person could return through ransom.
لَوif كانَwere يُدفَعُrepelled ذاthis الحِمامُdeath بِقوَّةٍby force
لَو كانَ يُدفَعُ ذا الحِمامُ بِقوَّةٍ
لَتَكَدَّسَتthen would mass عُصَبٌbands of men وَراءَbehind لِوائيmy banner
لَتَكَدَّسَت عُصَبٌ وَراءَ لِوائي
If this death could be repelled by force,
Bands of men would have massed behind my banner,
بِمُدَرَّبينَwith men trained عَلىin القِراعِcombat تَفَيَّأواthey sought shade
بِمُدَرَّبينَ عَلى القِراعِ تَفَيَّأوا
ظِلَّthe shade of الرِماحِspears لِكُلِّfor every يَومِday of لِقاءِbattle
ظِلَّ الرِماحِ لِكُلِّ يَومِ لِقاءِ
With men trained in combat, who sought shelter
In the shade of spears for every day of battle.
قَومٌmen إِذاwhen مَرِهواtheir eyes grew bleary بِأَغبابِfrom the aftermaths of السُرىnight travel
قَومٌ إِذا مَرِهوا بِأَغبابِ السُرى
كَحَلواthey kohled العُيونَthe eyes بِإِثمِدِwith the antimony of الظَلماءِdarkness
كَحَلوا العُيونَ بِإِثمِدِ الظَلماءِ
Men who, when their eyes grew bleary after night marches,
Kohled their eyes with the antimony of darkness.
يَمشونَthey walk فيin حَلَقِthe rings of الدُروعِarmor كَأَنَّهُمas though they
يَمشونَ في حَلَقِ الدُروعِ كَأَنَّهُم
صُمُّsolid الجَلامِدِboulders فيin غَديرِa pool of الماءِwater
صُمُّ الجَلامِدِ في غَديرِ الماءِ
They walk in rings of armor as though they were
Solid boulders in a pool of water,
بِبُروقِwith the lightning of أَدراعٍsuits of armor وَرَعدِand the thunder of صَوارِمٍkeen swords
بِبُروقِ أَدراعٍ وَرَعدِ صَوارِمٍ
وَغَمامِand clouds of قَسطَلَةٍbattle dust وَوَبلِand downpours of دِماءِblood
وَغَمامِ قَسطَلَةٍ وَوَبلِ دِماءِ
With the lightning of armor and the thunder of keen swords,
And clouds of battle dust and downpours of blood.
فارَقتُI abandoned فيكِover you تَماسُكيmy self-control وَتَجَمُّليand my composure
فارَقتُ فيكِ تَماسُكي وَتَجَمُّلي
وَنَسيتُand I forgot فيكَover you تَعَزُّزيmy pride وَإِبائيand my proud reserve
وَنَسيتُ فيكَ تَعَزُّزي وَإِبائي
In grief for you I abandoned my self-control and composure,
And forgot my pride and proud reserve.
وَصَنَعتُand I did ماwhat ثَلَمَmarred الوَقارَdignity صَنيعُهُits doing
وَصَنَعتُ ما ثَلَمَ الوَقارَ صَنيعُهُ
مِمّاbecause of what عَرانيbefell me مِنof جَوىburning grief البُرحاءِsevere anguish
مِمّا عَراني مِن جَوى البُرحاءِ
And I did things whose doing marred my dignity,
From the searing anguish that overtook me.
كَمhow many زَفرَةٍa sigh ضَعُفَتweakened فَصارَتand became أَنَّةًa moan
كَم زَفرَةٍ ضَعُفَت فَصارَت أَنَّةً
تَمَّمتُهاI completed it بِتَنَفُّسِby breathing الصُعَداءِa deep sigh
تَمَّمتُها بِتَنَفُّسِ الصُعَداءِ
How many a sigh weakened into a moan,
Which I completed with a deep-drawn breath.
لَهفانَgrief-stricken أَنزوI leap فيin حَبائِلَthe snares of كُربَةٍanguish
لَهفانَ أَنزو في حَبائِلَ كُربَةٍ
مَلَكَتit overmastered عَلَيَّover me جَلادَتيmy endurance وَغَنائيand my strength
مَلَكَت عَلَيَّ جَلادَتي وَغَنائي
Grief-stricken, I leap in the snares of anguish
That overmastered my endurance and strength.
وَجَرىand went on الزَمانُtime عَلىaccording to عَوائِدِthe habits of كَيدِهِits plotting
وَجَرى الزَمانُ عَلى عَوائِدِ كَيدِهِ
فيin قَلبِoverturning آماليmy hopes وَعَكسِand reversing رَجائيmy expectation
في قَلبِ آمالي وَعَكسِ رَجائي
And time followed its habitual plotting,
Overturning my hopes and reversing my expectations.
قَدindeed كُنتُI was آمُلُI hoped أَنthat أَكونَI might be لَكِfor you الفِداthe ransom
قَد كُنتُ آمُلُ أَن أَكونَ لَكِ الفِدا
مِمّاfrom what أَلَمَّbefell فَكُنتِbut you were أَنتِyou فِدائيmy ransom
مِمّا أَلَمَّ فَكُنتِ أَنتِ فِدائي
I had hoped to be your ransom
Against what befell; instead, you became my ransom.
وَتَفَرُّقُand the parting of البُعداءِstrangers بَعدَafter مَوَدَّةٍaffection
وَتَفَرُّقُ البُعداءِ بَعدَ مَوَدَّةٍ
صَعبٌhard فَكَيفَso how about تَفَرُّقُthe parting of القُرَباءِclose kin
صَعبٌ فَكَيفَ تَفَرُّقُ القُرَباءِ
And the parting of strangers after affection
Is hard; how, then, the parting of close kin?
وَخَلائِقُand the ways of الدُنياthe world خَلائِقُthe ways of مومِسٍa harlot
وَخَلائِقُ الدُنيا خَلائِقُ مومِسٍ
لِلمَنعِfor withholding آوِنَةًat times وَلِلإِعطاءِand for giving
لِلمَنعِ آوِنَةً وَلِلإِعطاءِ
And the world's ways are the ways of a harlot,
At times withholding, at times giving.
طَوراًat times تُبادِلُكَshe exchanges with you الصَفاءَaffection وَتارَةًand at other times
طَوراً تُبادِلُكَ الصَفاءَ وَتارَةً
تَلقاكَshe meets you تُنكِرُهاyou do not recognize her مِنَbecause of البَغضاءِhatred
تَلقاكَ تُنكِرُها مِنَ البَغضاءِ
At times she exchanges affection with you, and at other times
Meets you with hatred that makes her unrecognizable.
وَتَداوُلُand the alternation of الأَيّامِdays يُبليناwears us down كَماas
وَتَداوُلُ الأَيّامِ يُبلينا كَما
يُبليwears out الرَشاءَthe well-rope تَطاوُحُthe swaying of الأَرجاءِthe rims
يُبلي الرَشاءَ تَطاوُحُ الأَرجاءِ
And the succession of days wears us down, as
Swaying from rim to rim wears out a well-rope.
وَكَأَنَّand as though طولَthe length of العُمرِlife رَوحَةُan afternoon journey of راكِبٍa rider
وَكَأَنَّ طولَ العُمرِ رَوحَةُ راكِبٍ
قَضّىhe put behind him اللُغوبَweariness وَجَدَّand pressed on فيin الإِسراءِnight travel
قَضّى اللُغوبَ وَجَدَّ في الإِسراءِ
And a long life is like a rider's afternoon journey,
Who has put weariness behind him and presses on by night.
أَنضَيتِyou wore out عَيشَكِyour life عِفَّةًin chastity وَزَهادَةًand renunciation
أَنضَيتِ عَيشَكِ عِفَّةً وَزَهادَةً
وَطُرِحتِand you were laid down مُثقَلَةًweighed down مِنَby الأَعباءِburdens
وَطُرِحتِ مُثقَلَةً مِنَ الأَعباءِ
You wore out your life in chastity and renunciation,
And were laid down, weighed down by burdens:
بِصِيامِby fasting يَومِa day of القَيظِsummer heat تَلهَبُblazes شَمسُهُits sun
بِصِيامِ يَومِ القَيظِ تَلهَبُ شَمسُهُ
وَقِيامِand standing in prayer طولِthroughout اللَيلَةِthe night اللَيلاءِdeeply dark
وَقِيامِ طولِ اللَيلَةِ اللَيلاءِ
Fasting through a summer day whose sun blazes,
And standing in prayer throughout the deeply dark night.
ماnot كانَwas يَوماًever بِالغَبينِat all cheated مَنِwhoever اِشتَرىbought
ما كانَ يَوماً بِالغَبينِ مَنِ اِشتَرى
رَغدَthe ease of الجِنانِParadise's gardens بِعيشَةٍwith a life خَشناءِharsh
رَغدَ الجِنانِ بِعيشَةٍ خَشناءِ
Never was anyone cheated who bought
The ease of Paradise's gardens with a harsh life.
لَوif كانَwere مِثلَكِlike you كُلُّevery أُمٍّmother بَرَّةٍdutiful
لَو كانَ مِثلَكِ كُلُّ أُمٍّ بَرَّةٍ
غَنِيَwould be satisfied البَنونَthe sons بِهاwith her عَنِwithout الآباءِfathers
غَنِيَ البَنونَ بِها عَنِ الآباءِ
If every dutiful mother were like you,
Sons would need no fathers, having her.
كَيفَhow can السُلوُّforgetting وَكُلُّwhile every مَوقِعِplace reached by لَحظَةa glance
كَيفَ السُلوُّ وَكُلُّ مَوقِعِ لَحظَة
أَثَرٌa trace لِفَضلِكِof your goodness خالِدٌeverlasting بِإِزاءِbefore me
أَثَرٌ لِفَضلِكِ خالِدٌ بِإِزاءِ
How can I forget, when wherever my glance falls
A lasting trace of your goodness stands before me?
فَعَلاتُdeeds of مَعروفٍkindness تُقِرُّdelight نَواظِريmy eyes
فَعَلاتُ مَعروفٍ تُقِرُّ نَواظِري
فَتَكونُyet they become أَجلَتَthe strongest جالِبٍbringer لِبُكائيof my weeping
فَتَكونُ أَجلَتَ جالِبٍ لِبُكائي
Deeds of kindness delight my eyes,
Yet become the strongest summons to my tears.
ماnot ماتَdied مَنwhoever نَزَعَcast off البَقاءَlife وَذِكرُهُwhile his memory
ما ماتَ مَن نَزَعَ البَقاءَ وَذِكرُهُ
بِالصالِحاتِthrough good deeds يُعَدُّis counted فيamong الأَحياءِthe living
بِالصالِحاتِ يُعَدُّ في الأَحياءِ
One who has shed this life is not dead, when his memory
Through good deeds is counted among the living.
فَبِأَيِّso by which كَفٍّhand أَستَجِنُّI seek shelter وَأَتَّقيand guard myself
فَبِأَيِّ كَفٍّ أَستَجِنُّ وَأَتَّقي
صَرفَthe vicissitudes of النَوائِبِcalamities أَمor بِأَيِّthrough which دُعاءِprayer
صَرفَ النَوائِبِ أَم بِأَيِّ دُعاءِ
Then beneath whose hand can I shelter and guard myself
From the vicissitudes of calamities, or through whose prayer?
وَمَنِand who المُمَوِّلُprovides means ليfor me إِذاwhen ضاقَتis straitened يَديmy hand
وَمَنِ المُمَوِّلُ لي إِذا ضاقَت يَدي
وَمَنِand who المُعَلِّلُis the comforter ليfor me مِنَfrom الأَدواءِillnesses
وَمَنِ المُعَلِّلُ لي مِنَ الأَدواءِ
And who will provide for me when my means grow straitened?
And who will comfort me in illness?
وَمَنِand who الَّذيis the one who إِنif ساوَرَتنيassailed me نَكبَةٌa calamity
وَمَنِ الَّذي إِن ساوَرَتني نَكبَةٌ
كانَwould be المُوَقّىthe protector ليfor me مِنَfrom الأَسواءِevils
كانَ المُوَقّى لي مِنَ الأَسواءِ
And who, if a calamity assails me,
Will shield me from misfortunes?
أَمor مَنwho يَلِطُّdrapes عَلَيَّover me سِترَthe covering of دُعائِهِhis prayers
أَم مَن يَلِطُّ عَلَيَّ سِترَ دُعائِهِ
حَرَماًas a sanctuary مِنَfrom البَأساءِhardship وَالضَرّاءِand distress
حَرَماً مِنَ البَأساءِ وَالضَرّاءِ
Or who will drape the covering of his prayers over me,
A sanctuary from hardship and distress?
رُزآنِtwo afflictions يَزدادانِkeep increasing طولَin length of تَجَدُّدٍrenewal
رُزآنِ يَزدادانِ طولَ تَجَدُّدٍ
أَبَدَthroughout الزَمانِtime فَناؤُهاher passing وَبَقائيand my remaining
أَبَدَ الزَمانِ فَناؤُها وَبَقائي
Two afflictions keep growing, endlessly renewed
For all time: her passing and my remaining.
شَهِدَbore witness الخَلائِقُall people أَنَّهاthat she لَنَجيبَةٌis truly noble
شَهِدَ الخَلائِقُ أَنَّها لَنَجيبَةٌ
بِدَليلِas proved by مَنthose whom وَلَدَتshe bore مِنَamong النُجَباءِthe noble
بِدَليلِ مَن وَلَدَت مِنَ النُجَباءِ
All people testified that she was truly noble,
As shown by the noble ones she bore.
فيin كُلِّevery مُظلِمِdarkness of أَزمَةٍa crisis أَوor ضيقَةٍhardship
في كُلِّ مُظلِمِ أَزمَةٍ أَو ضيقَةٍ
يَبدوappears لَهاof hers أَثَرُthe trace of اليَدِthe hand البَيضاءِwhite
يَبدو لَها أَثَرُ اليَدِ البَيضاءِ
In the darkness of every crisis or hardship,
The mark of her generous white hand appears.
ذَخَرَتshe stored up لَناfor us الذِكرَremembrance الجَميلَbeautiful إِذاwhen اِنقَضىcomes to an end
ذَخَرَت لَنا الذِكرَ الجَميلَ إِذا اِنقَضى
ماwhat يَذخَرُstore up الآباءُfathers لِلأَبناءِfor sons
ما يَذخَرُ الآباءُ لِلأَبناءِ
She stored up fair remembrance for us, for when there has vanished
What fathers store up for their sons.
قَدindeed كُنتُI was آمُلُI hoped أَنthat يَكونَwould be أَمامَهاbefore her
قَد كُنتُ آمُلُ أَن يَكونَ أَمامَها
يَوميmy day of death وَتُشفِقُwhile she feared أَنthat تَكونَshe would be وَرائيafter me
يَومي وَتُشفِقُ أَن تَكونَ وَرائي
I had hoped that before her would come
My day of death; she feared she would live on after me.
كَمhow many آمِرٍone urging ليme بِالتَصَبُّرِto be patient هاجَstirred up ليfor me
كَم آمِرٍ لي بِالتَصَبُّرِ هاجَ لي
داءًan affliction وَقَدَّرَand supposed أَنَّthat ذاكَthat دَوائيmy cure
داءً وَقَدَّرَ أَنَّ ذاكَ دَوائي
How many a person urging me to patience stirred up in me
An affliction, thinking it was my cure.
آويI take refuge إِلىin بَردِthe coolness of الظِلالِshades كَأنَّنيas though I
آوي إِلى بَردِ الظِلالِ كَأنَّني
لِتَحَرُّقيbecause of my burning grief آويI take refuge إِلىin الرَمضاءِsun-scorched ground
لِتَحَرُّقي آوي إِلى الرَمضاءِ
I take refuge in the cool shade, as though
In my burning grief I were seeking refuge on scorching ground.
وَأَهُبُّand I start up مِنfrom طيبِthe sweetness of المَنامِsleep تَفَزُّعاًin terror
وَأَهُبُّ مِن طيبِ المَنامِ تَفَزُّعاً
فَزَعَthe terror of اللَديغِone stung نَباwho recoiled عَنِfrom الإِغفاءِdozing
فَزَعَ اللَديغِ نَبا عَنِ الإِغفاءِ
And I start up in terror from sweet sleep,
Like one stung, recoiling from slumber.
آباؤُكَyour forefathers الغُرُّthe illustrious الَّذينwho تَفَجَّرَتburst forth
آباؤُكَ الغُرُّ الَّذين تَفَجَّرَت
بِهِمِthrough them يَنابيعٌwellsprings مِنَof النَعماءِbounty
بِهِمِ يَنابيعٌ مِنَ النَعماءِ
Your illustrious forefathers, from whom burst forth
Wellsprings of bounty,
مِنamong them a ناصِرٍchampion لِلحَقِّof truth أَوor راعٍa guide إِلىtoward
مِن ناصِرٍ لِلحَقِّ أَو راعٍ إِلى
سُبُلِthe paths of الهُدىright guidance أَوor كاشِفِa dispeller of الغَمّاءِanguish
سُبُلِ الهُدى أَو كاشِفِ الغَمّاءِ
Among them champions of truth, or guides toward
The paths of right guidance, or dispellers of anguish.
نَزَلواthey settled بِعَرعَرَةِupon the crest of السَنامِthe hump مِنَof العُلىeminence
نَزَلوا بِعَرعَرَةِ السَنامِ مِنَ العُلى
وَعَلَواand rose عَلىabove الأَثباجِthe shoulders وَالأَمطاءِand the backs
وَعَلَوا عَلى الأَثباجِ وَالأَمطاءِ
They settled on the very crest of eminence's hump,
And rose above shoulders and backs.
مِنamong كُلِّevery مُستَبِقِone racing اليَدَينِwith both hands إِلىtoward النَدىgenerosity
مِن كُلِّ مُستَبِقِ اليَدَينِ إِلى النَدى
وَمُسَدِّدِand one setting right الأَقوالِwords وَالآراءِand opinions
وَمُسَدِّدِ الأَقوالِ وَالآراءِ
Each with both hands racing toward generosity,
And setting words and opinions right.
يُرجىhe is hoped for عَلىdespite النَظَرِthe gaze الحَديدِpiercing تَكَرُّماًin generosity
يُرجى عَلى النَظَرِ الحَديدِ تَكَرُّماً
وَيُخافُand he is feared فيin الإِطراقِlowering his head وَالإِغضاءِand lowering his gaze
وَيُخافُ في الإِطراقِ وَالإِغضاءِ
His generosity is hoped for despite his piercing gaze,
And he is feared with his head bowed and gaze lowered.
دَرَجواthey passed away عَلىin أَثَرِthe footsteps of القُرونِpast generations وَخَلَّفواand left behind
دَرَجوا عَلى أَثَرِ القُرونِ وَخَلَّفوا
طُرُقاًpaths مُعَبَّدَةًpaved مِنَof العَلياءِhigh glory
طُرُقاً مُعَبَّدَةً مِنَ العَلياءِ
They passed away in the footsteps of past generations, and left
Paved paths of lofty glory.
ياO قَبرُgrave أَمنَحُهُI grant it الهَوىlove وَأَوَدُّand I wish لَوthat
يا قَبرُ أَمنَحُهُ الهَوى وَأَوَدُّ لَو
نَزَفَتwould drain away عَلَيهِupon it دُموعُthe tears of كُلِّevery سَماءِheaven
نَزَفَت عَلَيهِ دُموعُ كُلِّ سَماءِ
O grave to which I give my love, I wish that
Every heaven would drain its tears upon you.
لاmay not زالَcease مُرتَجِزُthe chanter of الرعودِthunders مُجَلجِلٌrumbling
لا زالَ مُرتَجِزُ الرعودِ مُجَلجِلٌ
هَزِجُringing with البَوارِقِlightning flashes مُجلِبُraising الضَوضاءِa clamor
هَزِجُ البَوارِقِ مُجلِبُ الضَوضاءِ
May the thunder-chanting cloud never cease to rumble,
Singing with lightning and raising a clamor,
يَرغوit bellows رُغاءَthe bellowing of العودِan old camel جَعجَعَهُbrought it to a halt السُرىnight travel
يَرغو رُغاءَ العودِ جَعجَعَهُ السُرى
وَيَنوءُand it heaves نَوءَthe heaving of المُقرِبِa she-camel near birth العُشَراءِten months pregnant
وَيَنوءُ نَوءَ المُقرِبِ العُشَراءِ
Bellowing like an old camel halted by night travel,
And heaving like a ten-month-pregnant she-camel near birth,
يَقتادُit leads مُثقَلَةَthe heavily laden الغَمامِclouds كَأَنَّماas though
يَقتادُ مُثقَلَةَ الغَمامِ كَأَنَّما
يَنهَضنَthey rise بِالعَقَداتِwith the sand mounds وَالأَنقاءِand sand dunes
يَنهَضنَ بِالعَقَداتِ وَالأَنقاءِ
Leading rain-laden clouds, as though
They rose bearing heaps and dunes of sand.
يَهفوit sweeps along بِهاwith them جِنحَin the cover of الدُجىdarkness وَيَسوقُهاand drives them
يَهفو بِها جِنحَ الدُجى وَيَسوقُها
سَوقَthe driving of البِطاءِslow beasts بِعاصِفٍwith a gale هَوجاءِheadlong
سَوقَ البِطاءِ بِعاصِفٍ هَوجاءِ
It sweeps them through the cover of darkness and drives them
Like slow beasts, with a headlong gale.
يَرميكَpelts you بارِقُهاtheir lightning بِأَفلاذِwith pieces of الحَياlife-giving rain
يَرميكَ بارِقُها بِأَفلاذِ الحَيا
وَيَفُضُّand breaks open فيكَupon you لَطائِمَthe perfume-caskets of الأَنداءِdews
وَيَفُضُّ فيكَ لَطائِمَ الأَنداءِ
Their lightning pelts you with chunks of life-giving rain,
And breaks open upon you the perfume-caskets of dew,
مُتَحَلِّياًadorning yourself with عَذراءَthe maiden rain of كُلِّevery سَحابَةٍcloud
مُتَحَلِّياً عَذراءَ كُلِّ سَحابَةٍ
تَغذوthat nourishes الجَميمَfresh growth بِرَوضَةٍin a meadow عَذراءِvirgin
تَغذو الجَميمَ بِرَوضَةٍ عَذراءِ
Adorning yourself with the maiden rain of every cloud
That nourishes new growth in a virgin meadow.
لَلَؤُمتُI would indeed be base إِنif لَمnot أَسقِهاI water her بِمَدامِعيwith my tears
لَلَؤُمتُ إِن لَم أَسقِها بِمَدامِعي
وَوَكَلتُand I entrusted سُقياهاher watering إِلىto الأَنواءِrain-bringing stars
وَوَكَلتُ سُقياها إِلى الأَنواءِ
I would indeed be base if I did not water her with my tears,
And entrusted her watering to the rain-bringing stars.
لَهفيmy grief عَلىfor القَومِthe people الأولىwhom غادَرتُهُمI left behind
لَهفي عَلى القَومِ الأولى غادَرتُهُم
وَعَلَيهِمُand over them طَبَقٌa layer مِنَof البَيداءِdesert earth
وَعَلَيهِمُ طَبَقٌ مِنَ البَيداءِ
My grief for the people whom I left behind,
With a layer of desert earth over them,
مُتَوَسِّدينَlying with their heads resting عَلىon الخُدودِtheir cheeks كَأَنَّماas though
مُتَوَسِّدينَ عَلى الخُدودِ كَأَنَّما
كَرَعواthey drank deeply عَلىin ظَمَإٍthirst مِنَof الصَهباءِtawny wine
كَرَعوا عَلى ظَمَإٍ مِنَ الصَهباءِ
Resting on their cheeks, as though
They had drunk tawny wine in their thirst.
صُوَرٌforms ضَنَنتُI jealously withheld عَلىfrom العُيونِthe eyes بِلَحظِهاa glimpse of them
صُوَرٌ ضَنَنتُ عَلى العُيونِ بِلَحظِها
أَمسَيتُI have come to أوقِرُهاload them مِنَwith البَوغاءِdust
أَمسَيتُ أوقِرُها مِنَ البَوغاءِ
Forms I jealously withheld from gazing eyes,
I now load with dust.
وَنَواظِرٌand eyes كَحَلَkohled التُرابُthe dust جُفونَهاtheir eyelids
وَنَواظِرٌ كَحَلَ التُرابُ جُفونَها
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَحرُسُهاguard them مِنَfrom الأَقذاءِspecks
قَد كُنتُ أَحرُسُها مِنَ الأَقذاءِ
And eyes whose lids the dust has lined with kohl,
I once guarded from specks of grit.
قَرُبَتbecame near ضَرائِحُهُمtheir graves عَلىfor زُوّارِهاtheir visitors
قَرُبَت ضَرائِحُهُم عَلى زُوّارِها
وَنَأواand they went far away عَنِfrom الطُلّابِseekers أَيِّutter تَنائيremoteness
وَنَأوا عَنِ الطُلّابِ أَيِّ تَنائي
Their graves are near at hand for their visitors,
Yet they are immeasurably far from those who seek them.
وَلَبِئسَand truly wretched is ماwhat تَلقىencounters بِعُقرِwithin دِيارِهِمtheir dwellings
وَلَبِئسَ ما تَلقى بِعُقرِ دِيارِهِم
أُذنُthe ear of المُصيخِthe listener بِهاthere وَعَينُand the eye of الرائيthe beholder
أُذنُ المُصيخِ بِها وَعَينُ الرائي
Wretched indeed is what, within their dwellings,
The listening ear and the beholder's eye encounter.
وَمَعروفُكِand your kindness الساميlofty أَنيسُكِyour companion كُلَّماwhenever
وَمَعروفُكِ السامي أَنيسُكِ كُلَّما
وَرَدَarrives الظَلامُdarkness بِوَحشَةِwith the desolation of الغَبراءِthe dusty earth
وَرَدَ الظَلامُ بِوَحشَةِ الغَبراءِ
And your lofty kindness is your companion whenever
Darkness comes with the desolation of the dusty earth.
وَضِياءُand the radiance of ماwhat قَدَّمتِهِyou sent it ahead مِنof صالِحٍrighteous deeds
وَضِياءُ ما قَدَّمتِهِ مِن صالِحٍ
لَكِfor you فيin الدُجىdarkness بَدَلٌa replacement مِنَfor الأَضواءِlights
لَكِ في الدُجى بَدَلٌ مِنَ الأَضواءِ
And the radiance of the good deeds you sent ahead
Replaces other lights for you in darkness.
إِنَّindeed الَّذيthe One whom أَرضاهُpleased Him فِعلُكِyour deeds لاnot يَزَلceases
إِنَّ الَّذي أَرضاهُ فِعلُكِ لا يَزَل
تُرضيكِgladdens you رَحمَتُهُHis mercy صَباحَmorning مَساءِevening
تُرضيكِ رَحمَتُهُ صَباحَ مَساءِ
The One whom your deeds pleased never ceases
To gladden you with His mercy, morning and evening.
صَلّىmay He send blessings عَلَيكِupon you وَماand not فَقَدتِyou lacked صَلاتَهُHis blessing
صَلّى عَلَيكِ وَما فَقَدتِ صَلاتَهُ
قَبلَbefore الرَدىdeath وَجَزاكِand may He reward you أَيُّwhat a جَزاءِreward
قَبلَ الرَدى وَجَزاكِ أَيُّ جَزاءِ
May He bless you—you never lacked His blessing
Before death—and grant you the finest reward.
لَوif كانَcould يُبلِغُكِconvey to you الصَفيحُstone slabs رَسائِليmy messages
لَو كانَ يُبلِغُكِ الصَفيحُ رَسائِلي
أَوor كانَcould يُسمِعُكِmake you hear التُرابُthe earth نِدائيmy call
أَو كانَ يُسمِعُكِ التُرابُ نِدائي
If the stone slabs could convey my messages to you,
Or the earth could make you hear my call,
لَسَمِعتِyou would surely hear طولَthe length of تَأَوُّهيmy moaning وَتَفَجُّعيand my lamentation
لَسَمِعتِ طولَ تَأَوُّهي وَتَفَجُّعي
وَعَلِمتِand you would know حُسنَthe goodness of رِعايَتيmy care وَوَفائيand my fidelity
وَعَلِمتِ حُسنَ رِعايَتي وَوَفائي
You would hear my long moaning and lamentation,
And know the tenderness of my care and my fidelity.
كانَwas اِرتِكاضيmy kicking فيin حَشاكِyour womb مُسَبِّباًcausing
كانَ اِرتِكاضي في حَشاكِ مُسَبِّباً
رَكضَthe pounding of الغَليلِburning grief عَلَيكِfor you فيwithin أَحشائيmy entrails
رَكضَ الغَليلِ عَلَيكِ في أَحشائي
My kicking in your womb was the cause
Of burning grief's pounding for you within my own entrails.
Sol 6.1