أُراقِبُI await مِنfrom طَيفِthe phantom of الحَبيبِthe beloved وِصالاunion
أُراقِبُ مِن طَيفِ الحَبيبِ وِصالا
وَيَأبىand refuses خَيالٌa phantom أَنto يَزورَvisit خَيالاa phantom
وَيَأبى خَيالٌ أَن يَزورَ خَيالا
I await union from the beloved's phantom,
I watch for a glimpse of my beloved, hoping for a union,
and a phantom refuses to visit a phantom.
But an apparition refuses to visit an apparition.
وَهَلand have? أَبقَتِleft الأَشجانُsorrows إِلّاanything but مُمَثَّلاًan effigy
وَهَل أَبقَتِ الأَشجانُ إِلّا مُمَثَّلاً
تُعاوِدُهُrevisit him أَيديthe hands of الضَناwasting sickness وَمِثالاand a likeness
تُعاوِدُهُ أَيدي الضَنا وَمِثالا
And have sorrows left anything but an effigy,
Do branches remain except as fuel,
revisited by the hands of wasting sickness, and a mere likeness?
Set aflame by the hands of separation and likeness?
أَلَمَّvisited بِناus وَاللَيلُand the night قَدalready شابَhad grayed رَأسُهُits head
أَلَمَّ بِنا وَاللَيلُ قَد شابَ رَأسُهُ
وَقَدand already مَيَّلَtilted الغَربُthe west النُجومَthe stars وَمالاand inclined
وَقَد مَيَّلَ الغَربُ النُجومَ وَمالا
It visited us when night had grown gray-headed,
The night grew old and its hair turned white.
and the west had tilted the stars and inclined.
The west tilted the stars and they leaned.
وَأَنّىand how اِهتَدىfound the way فيin مُدلَهِمِّpitch-black ظَلامِهِits darkness
وَأَنّى اِهتَدى في مُدلَهِمِّ ظَلامِهِ
يَخوضُwades through بِحاراًseas أَوor يَجوبُtraverses رِمالاsands
يَخوضُ بِحاراً أَو يَجوبُ رِمالا
And how did it find its way through its pitch-black darkness,
How does one find his way in the darkness of its still blackness,
wading through seas or traversing sands?
Crossing a sea or traversing a desert?
تَأَوَّبَreturned at night مِنfrom نَحوِthe direction of الأَحِبَّةِthe loved ones طارِداًdriving away
تَأَوَّبَ مِن نَحوِ الأَحِبَّةِ طارِداً
رُقاديmy sleep وَماand not أَسدىbestowed إِلَيَّupon me نَوالاa gift
رُقادي وَما أَسدى إِلَيَّ نَوالا
It returned at night from the direction of the loved ones, driving
He startled my sleep coming from the direction of my loved ones,
my sleep away, yet bestowing no gift on me.
But brought me no gifts.
أَوائِلُthe first moments مَسَّthe touch of الغَمضِsleep أَجفانَthe eyelids of ناظِريmy eye
أَوائِلُ مَسَّ الغَمضِ أَجفانَ ناظِري
كَماas قارَبَapproached القَومُthe people العِطاشُthe thirsty صِلالاscant pools of water
كَما قارَبَ القَومُ العِطاشُ صِلالا
At sleep's first touch upon my eyelids,
When drowsiness first touched my eyes,
as thirsty men approach scant pools of water.
It was as if the thirsty tribe approached watering holes.
وَماand not كانَit was إِلّاbut عارِضاًa fleeting apparition مِنfrom طَماعَةٍhopeful yearning
وَما كانَ إِلّا عارِضاً مِن طَماعَةٍ
أَزالَremoved الكَرىsleep عَنfrom مُقلَتَيَّmy two eyes وَزالاand vanished
أَزالَ الكَرى عَن مُقلَتَيَّ وَزالا
It was only a fleeting apparition born of yearning,
But it was only a dream caused by longing
which banished sleep from my two eyes and vanished.
That cleared the worry from my eyelids and departed.
سَقىmay water اللَهُGod أَظعاناًcaravans أَجَزنَpassed عَلىby الحِمىthe protected pasture
سَقى اللَهُ أَظعاناً أَجَزنَ عَلى الحِمى
خِفافاًlight كَأَقواسِlike bows for النِصالِarrowheads عِجالاhurrying
خِفافاً كَأَقواسِ النِصالِ عِجالا
May God water the caravans that passed by the protected pasture,
May God water the camels that swiftly crossed the sanctuary,
light as bows for arrows, hurrying.
Like arrows released from bows in haste.
يُغالِبنَthey contend with أَعناقَthe necks of الرُبىthe hills عَجرَفيَّةًwith headlong fierceness
يُغالِبنَ أَعناقَ الرُبى عَجرَفيَّةً
قِراعُthe clash of رِجالٍmen فيin اللِقاءِbattle رِجالاmen
قِراعُ رِجالٍ في اللِقاءِ رِجالا
They battle the necks of the hills with headlong fierceness—
They defeat the necks of the hillsides arrogantly,
the clash of men with men in battle.
Men meeting men in battle.
وَجَدتُI found اِصطِباريmy patience دونَهُنَّwithout them سَفاهَةًfoolishness
وَجَدتُ اِصطِباري دونَهُنَّ سَفاهَةً
وَأَبصَرتُand I saw رُشديmy good sense بَعدَهُنَّafter them ضَلالاdelusion
وَأَبصَرتُ رُشدي بَعدَهُنَّ ضَلالا
I found my patience without them foolishness,
I found my patience with them to be folly,
and saw my good sense, after they had gone, as delusion.
And saw my sanity after them to be misguidance.
وَماand what ضَرَّwould harm مَنthe one who أَمسىhas come to be زِماميmy rein بِكَفِّهِin his palm
وَما ضَرَّ مَن أَمسى زِمامي بِكَفِّهِ
عَلىdespite النَأيِthe distance لَوif أَرخىhe slackened لَناfor us وَأَطالاand lengthened
عَلى النَأيِ لَو أَرخى لَنا وَأَطالا
What harm would it do him whose palm now holds my rein,
It did no harm to whoever held my reins firmly
despite the distance, to slacken it for us and let it out?
To release us for a while had he so lengthened.
تَذَكَّرتُI remembered أَيّامَthe days of القَرينَةِthe companion وَالهَوىand love
تَذَكَّرتُ أَيّامَ القَرينَةِ وَالهَوى
يُجَدِّدُrenews أَقراناًbonds لَناfor us وَحِبالاand cords
يُجَدِّدُ أَقراناً لَنا وَحِبالا
I remembered the days of companionship, when love
I recalled the days of companionship and passion
was renewing our bonds and cords.
Renewing for us friends and covenants.
مَضَينَthey passed بِعَيشٍwith a life لاnot يَعُدنَwill they return بِمِثلِهِwith its like
مَضَينَ بِعَيشٍ لا يَعُدنَ بِمِثلِهِ
وَأَعقَبنَناand bequeathed us مَرَّthe passage of الزَمانِtime خَيالاa phantom
وَأَعقَبنَنا مَرَّ الزَمانِ خَيالا
They passed with a life whose like they will not bring again,
We lived a life that time will not replicate,
and bequeathed us, as time passed, a phantom.
And the passing days left us with only a mirage.
سَليask عَنabout فَميmy mouth فَصلَthe decisiveness of الخِطابِspeech وَعَنand about يَديmy hand
سَلي عَن فَمي فَصلَ الخِطابِ وَعَن يَدي
رِماحاًspears كَحَيّاتِlike the serpents of الرِمالِthe sands طِوالاlong
رِماحاً كَحَيّاتِ الرِمالِ طِوالا
Ask decisive speech about my mouth, and about my hand ask
Ask my mouth which parts ways in speech and ask my hands
long spears like the serpents of the sands,
For spears like the snakes of the sand dunes, long.
وَبيضاًand bright swords تُرَوّىare drenched بِالدِماءِwith blood مُتونُهاtheir blades
وَبيضاً تُرَوّى بِالدِماءِ مُتونُها
إِذاwhen ماever لَقينَthey meet الدارِعينَarmored men نِهالاdrinking their fill
إِذا ما لَقينَ الدارِعينَ نِهالا
and bright swords whose blades are drenched in blood,
And white swords quenched with blood in their blades
when they meet armored men and drink their fill.
When they meet armored men as saplings.
فَماso why لِيَfor me أَرضىI am content بِالقَليلِwith little ضَراعَةًin meekness
فَما لِيَ أَرضى بِالقَليلِ ضَراعَةً
وَأوسِعُand I allow ample دَينَthe debt to المَشرَفيَّthe Mashrafi sword مِطالاdelay in payment
وَأوسِعُ دَينَ المَشرَفيَّ مِطالا
Why should I meekly be content with little,
Why should I be content with little out of cowardice
and keep postponing my debt to the Mashrafi sword?
And extend the debt of the nobleminded without end?
تُريدُdesire اللَياليthe nights أَنto تَخِفَّtoy بِمِقوَديwith my leading-rein
تُريدُ اللَيالي أَن تَخِفَّ بِمِقوَدي
وَأَيُّand what a جَوادٍnoble steed لَوif only أَصابَit found مَجالاroom to run
وَأَيُّ جَوادٍ لَو أَصابَ مَجالا
The nights seek to toy with my leading-rein—
The nights try to outpace me,
and what a noble steed, if only it found room to run!
But what horse wouldn’t seize an opportunity?
سَآخُذُهاI shall take it إِمّاeither اِستِلاباًby snatching وَفَلتَةًand a sudden stroke
سَآخُذُها إِمّا اِستِلاباً وَفَلتَةً
وَإِمّاor else طِراداًmounted charges فيamid الوَغىbattle وَقِتالاand combat
وَإِمّا طِراداً في الوَغى وَقِتالا
I shall take it, either by snatching it in a sudden stroke,
I will take them either by force or escape,
or by charges amid battle and by combat.
Either by pursuit in battle and fighting.
فَإِنfor if أَناI لَمdo not أَركَبride إِلَيهاtoward it مُخاطِراًtaking risks
فَإِن أَنا لَم أَركَب إِلَيها مُخاطِراً
وَأُعظِمُand I make mighty قَولاًspeech دونَهاfor its sake وَقِتالاand battle
وَأُعظِمُ قَولاً دونَها وَقِتالا
For if I do not ride toward it, taking risks,
For if I do not attack them boldly
and strive mightily for it in speech and battle,
And speak ill of them and fight,
فَهَذاthen this حُساميmy sharp sword لِمwhy أُرِقَّwas honed ذُبابَهُits point
فَهَذا حُسامي لِم أُرِقَّ ذُبابَهُ
مَضاءًfor sharpness وَهَذاand this ذابِليmy slender spear لِمَwhy طالاgrew long
مَضاءً وَهَذا ذابِلي لِمَ طالا
then why was the point of this sword of mine honed
Then here is my sword - why haven’t I sharpened its edge
to sharpness? And why has this slender spear of mine grown long?
And made it smooth? And here is my spear – why have I let it languish?
وَأَطلُبُهاand I seek it بِالراقِصاتِwith the dancing mounts كَأَنَّماas though
وَأَطلُبُها بِالراقِصاتِ كَأَنَّما
أُثَوِّرُI rouse مِنهاfrom them رَبرَباًa herd of wild cattle وَرِئالاand young ostriches
أُثَوِّرُ مِنها رَبرَباً وَرِئالا
And I seek it with the dancing mounts, as though
And I seek them in dancing girls as if
I were rousing from them a herd of wild cattle and young ostriches.
I gather from them scraps and plenty.
إِذاwhen أَسقَطَshed السَيرُthe journey العَنيفُharsh نِعالَهاtheir sandals
إِذا أَسقَطَ السَيرُ العَنيفُ نِعالَها
مِنَfrom الأَينِexhaustion أَحذَتهاshod them الدِماءُblood نِعالاsandals
مِنَ الأَينِ أَحذَتها الدِماءُ نِعالا
When the harsh journey strips them of their sandals,
When the violent journey made them take off their slippers,
from exhaustion, blood shods them with sandals.
The blood took away their slippers.
وَكُلُّand every غَضَنيٍّGhadani mount إِذاwhen قُلتُI said قَدalready وَنىflagged
وَكُلُّ غَضَنيٍّ إِذا قُلتُ قَد وَنى
مِنَfrom الشَدِّhard running جَلّىtook the lead فيin الغُبارِthe dust وَجالاand wheeled about
مِنَ الشَدِّ جَلّى في الغُبارِ وَجالا
And every Ghadani mount, when I say it has flagged
And whenever I said that any young gazelle bent
from hard running, takes the lead in the dust and wheels about.
From intensity, it showed itself pale in the dust.
وَأَكبَرُand the greatest هَمّيmy concern أَنto أُلاقِيَmeet فاضِلاًa man of excellence
وَأَكبَرُ هَمّي أَن أُلاقِيَ فاضِلاً
أُصادِفُI find مِنهُfrom him لِلغَليلِfor burning thirst بَلالاrefreshment
أُصادِفُ مِنهُ لِلغَليلِ بَلالا
My greatest concern is to meet a man of excellence,
My greatest concern is that I meet a superior man
from whom I find refreshment for my burning thirst.
From whom I can obtain relief from anguish.
فِدىًa ransom لِأَبيfor Abu الفَتحِal-Fath الأَفاضِلُthe excellent men إِنَّهُfor he
فِدىً لِأَبي الفَتحِ الأَفاضِلُ إِنَّهُ
يَبَرُّexcels عَلَيهِمover them إِنwhether أَرَمَّis silent وَقالاand speaks
يَبَرُّ عَلَيهِم إِن أَرَمَّ وَقالا
Let men of excellence be ransom for Abu al-Fath, for he
My father Al-Fatah – the superior men are ransoms for him.
surpasses them, whether silent or speaking.
He prevails over them if he shoots and speaks.
إِذاwhen جَرَتِran الآدابُthe literary arts جاءَhe came أَمامَهاahead of them
إِذا جَرَتِ الآدابُ جاءَ أَمامَها
قَريعاًa camel sire وَجاءَand came الطالِبونَthe seekers إِفالاcamel calves
قَريعاً وَجاءَ الطالِبونَ إِفالا
When the literary arts race, he comes ahead of them,
When manners prevail, he comes forward
a camel sire, while the seekers come as camel calves.
Rebuking, while the seekers remain silent.
فَتىًa young man مُستَعادُasked to be repeated القَولِthe speech حُسناًfor its beauty وَلَمand never يَكُنhe was
فَتىً مُستَعادُ القَولِ حُسناً وَلَم يَكُن
يَقولُsays مُحالاًnonsense أَوor يُحيلُmakes absurd مَقالاa statement
يَقولُ مُحالاً أَو يُحيلُ مَقالا
A young man whose words are asked for again for their beauty, who never
A young man retrieving excellent speech – he didn’t use
utters nonsense or turns speech into absurdity.
To say what is impossible or make what is said impossible.
لِيَقرِيَto feast أَسماعَthe ears of الرِجالِmen فَصاحَةًeloquence
لِيَقرِيَ أَسماعَ الرِجالِ فَصاحَةً
وَيورِدُand leads to water أَفهامَthe understanding of العُقولِminds زُلالاclear, sweet water
وَيورِدُ أَفهامَ العُقولِ زُلالا
That he may feast men's ears on eloquence,
To please the ears of men loudly
and lead the understanding of minds to clear, sweet water.
And lead the minds of intellects to clarity.
وَيُجريand makes flow لَناfor us عَذباًsweet water نَميراًwholesome وَبَعضُهُمand some of them
وَيُجري لَنا عَذباً نَميراً وَبَعضُهُم
إِذاwhen قالَhe speaks أَجرىmakes flow لِلمَسامِعِto the ears آلاa mirage
إِذا قالَ أَجرى لِلمَسامِعِ آلا
He makes sweet, wholesome water flow for us; yet some of them,
And he brought us fresh soft speech, while some of them,
when they speak, make a mirage flow to the ears.
If they speak, make harsh sounds flow to the hearing.
أَسَفُّهُمُthe most approachable of them إِنif مُيِّزَare distinguished القَومُthe men خِلَّةًin friendship
أَسَفُّهُمُ إِن مُيِّزَ القَومُ خِلَّةً
وَأَثقَبُهُمand the most piercing of them يَومَon the day of الجِدالِdebate نِصالاin arrowheads
وَأَثقَبُهُم يَومَ الجِدالِ نِصالا
The most approachable of them in friendship, when the men are judged,
I pity them if the people notice a fault with them,
and his arrowheads pierce deepest on the day of debate.
And they are most heavily burdened on the day of debate and swords.
وَماand not كانَit was إِلّاbut السَيفَthe sword أَطلَقَhe unleashed غَربَهُits keen edge
وَما كانَ إِلّا السَيفَ أَطلَقَ غَربَهُ
وَزادَand added غِرارَيthe two edges of مَضرَبَيهِits two striking sides صِقالاpolish
وَزادَ غِرارَي مَضرَبَيهِ صِقالا
It was nothing but a sword: he unleashed its keen edge,
He unleashed only his sword, releasing its edge,
and added polish to both edges of its striking blade.
Increasing the polishing of its two sides.
وَلَمّاand when رَأَيتُI saw الوَفرَwealth دونَbeneath مَحَلِّهِhis standing
وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الوَفرَ دونَ مَحَلِّهِ
جَزاءًas recompense وَقَدand already أَسدىhe bestowed يَداًa favor وَأَنالاand gave gifts
جَزاءً وَقَد أَسدى يَداً وَأَنالا
And when I saw that wealth fell short of his standing
And when I saw the abundance was less than it deserved
as recompense, though he had bestowed a favor and given gifts,
As a reward when he offered his hand and attained,
بَعَثتُI sent لَهُto him وَفراًan abundance مِنَof الشِعرِpoetry باقِياًenduring
بَعَثتُ لَهُ وَفراً مِنَ الشِعرِ باقِياً
وَكَنزاًand a treasure مِنَof الحَمدِpraise الجَزيلِlavish وَمالاand wealth
وَكَنزاً مِنَ الحَمدِ الجَزيلِ وَمالا
I sent him an enduring abundance of poetry,
I sent to him an abundance of poetry remaining
and a treasure of lavish praise, and riches.
And a treasure of generous praise and wealth.
فَسِمso mark آخِراًthe ending مِنهُof it كَوَسمِكَas you marked أَوَّلاًthe beginning
فَسِم آخِراً مِنهُ كَوَسمِكَ أَوَّلاً
وَشُنَّand shower عَلَيهِupon it رَونَقاًsplendor وَجَمالاand beauty
وَشُنَّ عَلَيهِ رَونَقاً وَجَمالا
So mark its end as you marked its beginning,
Name the last part of it like you named the first,
and shower it with splendor and beauty.
And grant it grace and beauty.
وَمِثلُكَand one like you إِنif أَولىgrants الجَميلَa kindness أَتَمَّهُcompletes it
وَمِثلُكَ إِن أَولى الجَميلَ أَتَمَّهُ
وَإِنand if بَدَأَbegins الإِحسانَbeneficence زادَincreases it وَوالىand keeps it coming
وَإِن بَدَأَ الإِحسانَ زادَ وَوالى
One like you, when he grants a kindness, completes it,
And one like you, if he perfects the beautiful,
and when he begins doing good, adds to it and keeps it coming.
Started with benefaction and then increased and remained loyal.
Sol 6.1