هَلdid ...? كانَwas يَومُكَyour day إِلّاexcept بَعدَafter أَيّامِdays
هَل كانَ يَومُكَ إِلّا بَعدَ أَيّامِ
سَبَقتَyou excelled فيهاin them بِإِنعامِwith beneficence وَإِرغامِand subjugation
سَبَقتَ فيها بِإِنعامِ وَإِرغامِ
Was your day anything but the sequel to days
Was your day not preceded by days
in which you led all others in bounty and subjugation?
In which you excelled in generosity and subjugation?
وَهَلand did ...? أَزالَكَremoved you عَنfrom هَذاthis سِوىother than قَدَرٍfate
وَهَل أَزالَكَ عَن هَذا سِوى قَدَرٍ
تَناوَلَseized الأُسدَthe lions مِنfrom غيلٍthickets وَآجامِand reed-beds
تَناوَلَ الأُسدَ مِن غيلٍ وَآجامِ
And did anything take you from us but a decree
And did anything remove you from this but a fate
that reaches lions in thickets and jungle lairs?
That seized lions from thickets and reed-beds?
إِنَّindeed المَناياdeaths مُغِرّاتٌdeceptive لِأَنفُسِناto our souls
إِنَّ المَنايا مُغِرّاتٌ لِأَنفُسِنا
وَإِنand even if أَمَدَّتit prolonged life بِأَعوامٍby years وَأَعوامِand years
وَإِن أَمَدَّت بِأَعوامٍ وَأَعوامِ
Deaths are raiders descending upon our souls,
Death beguiles our souls,
though they grant us reprieve year after year.
Even if it grants us years and years.
نَسعىwe flee بِأَقدامِناon our feet عَنهاaway from it فَتُدرِكُناso it overtakes us
نَسعى بِأَقدامِنا عَنها فَتُدرِكُنا
سَبقَoutstripping الجِيادِthe swift steeds وَماand not تَسعىit runs بِأَقدامِon feet
سَبقَ الجِيادِ وَما تَسعى بِأَقدامِ
We flee them on our feet, yet they overtake us
We flee from it on our feet, yet it overtakes us,
with racehorses’ speed, though they run on no feet.
With the swiftness of steeds, though it runs on no feet.
ماwhat ليfor me بِطَيِّat the folding away of اللَياليthe nights غَيرُnot مُكتَرِثٍconcerned
ما لي بِطَيِّ اللَيالي غَيرُ مُكتَرِثٍ
وَماand what وَرائِيَbehind me مِنهاof them كانَwas قُدّاميahead of me
وَما وَرائِيَ مِنها كانَ قُدّامي
Why do I fold away the nights so heedlessly,
Why am I unconcerned with the folding away of nights,
when what now lies behind me once lay ahead?
When those behind me once lay ahead of me?
أَظُنُّI imagine شَخصَthe figure of الرَدىdeath فَرداًa single being فَأَحذَرُهُso I guard against it
أَظُنُّ شَخصَ الرَدى فَرداً فَأَحذَرُهُ
وَالمَوتُand death أَكبَرُgreater مِنthan ظَنّيmy conjecture وَأَوهاميand my imaginings
وَالمَوتُ أَكبَرُ مِن ظَنّي وَأَوهامي
I picture death as a single foe and guard against it,
I imagine death as a single figure and guard against it,
yet death is greater than all my thoughts and fancies.
Yet death is greater than my conjecture and imaginings.
إِنَّindeed الحَياةَlife وَإِنand even if غَرَّتdeceived مَخائِلُهاits promising signs
إِنَّ الحَياةَ وَإِن غَرَّت مَخائِلُها
ظِلٌّa shadow وَإِنَّand indeed المُنىwishes أَضغاثُtangled bundles of أَحلامِdreams
ظِلٌّ وَإِنَّ المُنى أَضغاثُ أَحلامِ
Life, though its promising signs beguile us,
Indeed, life, though its promising signs deceive,
is a shadow, and hopes are confused dreams.
Is a shadow, and wishes are tangled bundles of dreams.
ناميflourishing growth البَقاءِof continued life إِلىtoward الذاويthe withered تَراجُعُهُits retreat
نامي البَقاءِ إِلى الذاوي تَراجُعُهُ
كُلّاًentirely وَلاand not يَرجِعُreturns الذاويthe withered إِلىto الناميthe flourishing
كُلّاً وَلا يَرجِعُ الذاوي إِلى النامي
Everything flourishing retreats toward withering;
Life's flourishing growth retreats toward withering,
never does the withered return to flourishing.
Wholly; the withered never returns to the flourishing.
أَباO Abu الفَوارِسِal-Fawaris (the horsemen) ماhow أَعلىmighty يَداًa hand عَصَفَتstormed
أَبا الفَوارِسِ ما أَعلى يَداً عَصَفَت
مِنَof المَنونِdeath بِأَعلىagainst the summit of عِزِّكَyour glory الساميthe lofty
مِنَ المَنونِ بِأَعلى عِزِّكَ السامي
O father of horsemen, what a lofty hand of yours was swept away
Abu al-Fawaris, how mighty the hand that stormed,
by death, at the very summit of your sublime might!
Death's hand, upon the summit of your lofty glory!
إِنَّindeed المَنِيَةَdeath ماnot زالَتceased مُفَوَّقَةًwith an arrow nocked
إِنَّ المَنِيَةَ ما زالَت مُفَوَّقَةً
حَتّىuntil رَمَتكَit shot you وَلاand no عَدوىredress عَلىagainst الراميthe archer
حَتّى رَمَتكَ وَلا عَدوى عَلى الرامي
Death had always kept its arrow trained
Death kept its arrow nocked
until it struck you—and no redress lies against the archer.
Until it shot you; there is no redress against the archer.
كَرَّتit charged فَلَمso did not تَثنِهاyou turn it back بِالسُمرِwith dark-shafted spears مُشرَعَةًleveled
كَرَّت فَلَم تَثنِها بِالسُمرِ مُشرَعَةً
وَلَمand did not تَرُعهاyou frighten it بِإِسراجِby saddling وَإِلجامِand bridling
وَلَم تَرُعها بِإِسراجِ وَإِلجامِ
It charged; you could not turn it with leveled brown lances,
It charged, and you did not repel it with leveled, dark-shafted spears,
nor frighten it with saddling and bridling.
Nor did you frighten it by saddling and bridling.
أَلاwhy not? اِتَّقَيتَyou shielded yourself بِماwith what سَوَّمتَyou arrayed مِنof عُدَدٍwar-gear
أَلا اِتَّقَيتَ بِما سَوَّمتَ مِن عُدَدٍ
وَماand what تَعَلَّمتَyou learned مِنof نَقضٍuntying وَإِبرامِand binding fast
وَما تَعَلَّمتَ مِن نَقضٍ وَإِبرامِ
Could you not shield yourself with the forces you arrayed,
Why did you not shield yourself with the war-gear you had arrayed,
and all you had learned of loosening and binding?
And what you had learned of untying and binding knots?
هَيهاتَfar from it! أَلقىحِمامٌdeath cast down كُلَّevery مارِنَةٍsupple spear
هَيهاتَ أَلقىحِمامٌ كُلَّ مارِنَةٍ
تَدمىis bloodied وَأَبطَلَand made futile مَوتٌdeath كُلَّall إِقدامِdaring
تَدمى وَأَبطَلَ مَوتٌ كُلَّ إِقدامِ
Far from it! Doom cast down every supple spear,
Far from it! Death has cast down every supple spear
left it bloodied, and death annulled every deed of courage.
Stained with blood, and death has made all daring futile.
تُمليdictate المَقاديرُthe destinies أَعماراًlifespans وَتَنسَخُهاand erase them
تُملي المَقاديرُ أَعماراً وَتَنسَخُها
وَيَضرِبُand strikes الدَهرُtime أَيّاماًdays بِأَيّامِagainst days
وَيَضرِبُ الدَهرُ أَيّاماً بِأَيّامِ
The decrees dictate lifespans, then erase them,
Destinies dictate lifespans and erase them,
and Time strikes out days with other days.
And time strikes days against days.
فَمِنso from كَمينِan ambush of رَدىًdeath تَسريcreep by night عَقارِبُهُits scorpions
فَمِن كَمينِ رَدىً تَسري عَقارِبُهُ
وَمِنand from طَلوعٍan emergence بَراياتِwith banners وَأَعلامِand standards
وَمِن طَلوعٍ بَراياتِ وَأَعلامِ
Now the scorpions of death creep from ambush;
Sometimes death lies in ambush, its scorpions creeping by night,
now death rises beneath banners and standards.
And sometimes it comes forth with banners and standards.
أَينَwhere is السَريرِthe throne وَقَدand already قامَstood السِماطُthe ranks لَهُfor him
أَينَ السَريرِ وَقَد قامَ السِماطُ لَهُ
إِجلالَin reverence for أَروَعَan imposing man عاليtall of القَدِّstature بَسّامِever-smiling
إِجلالَ أَروَعَ عالي القَدِّ بَسّامِ
Where is the throne, where the banquet ranks once stood for him,
Where is the throne, with the ranks standing in attendance,
honoring an awe-inspiring, towering, smiling lord?
In reverence for an imposing man, tall and ever smiling?
أَينَwhere are الجِيادُthe steeds تَنَزّىleaping فيin أَعِنَّتَهاtheir reins
أَينَ الجِيادُ تَنَزّى في أَعِنَّتَها
يَطلُبنَthey seek يَوماًa day قَطوباًscowling وَجهُهُits face دامِbloodied
يَطلُبنَ يَوماً قَطوباً وَجهُهُ دامِ
Where are the horses, prancing against their reins,
Where are the steeds, bounding against their reins,
seeking a grim day whose face streamed blood?
Seeking a scowling day, its face bloodied?
أَينَwhere are الفُيولُthe elephants كَأَنَّas though المُمتَطينَthe riders لَهاof them
أَينَ الفُيولُ كَأَنَّ المُمتَطينَ لَها
عَلىatop ذَوائِبِthe crests of أَطوادٍmassive mountains وَأَعلامِand lofty peaks
عَلى ذَوائِبِ أَطوادٍ وَأَعلامِ
Where are the elephants, their riders seeming
Where are the elephants, whose riders seem
to sit upon the summits of mountains and landmarks?
To be on the summits of massive mountains and lofty peaks?
أَينَwhere are الوُفودُthe delegations عَلىat الأَبوابِthe gates مُذكِرَةًrecalling
أَينَ الوُفودُ عَلى الأَبوابِ مُذكِرَةً
بِالفَرطِof the abundance مِنof مَجدِglory أَخوالٍmaternal uncles وَأَعمامِand paternal uncles
بِالفَرطِ مِن مَجدِ أَخوالٍ وَأَعمامِ
Where are the delegations at the gates, recounting
Where are the delegations at the gates, recalling
the surpassing glories of maternal and paternal kin?
The abundant glory of maternal and paternal uncles?
أَينَwhere are المَراتِبُthe ranks of honor وَالدُنياand the world عَلىon قَدَمٍa foot
أَينَ المَراتِبُ وَالدُنيا عَلى قَدَمٍ
مَوقوفَةٌheld standing بَينَbetween أَرماحٍspears وَأَقلامِand pens
مَوقوفَةٌ بَينَ أَرماحٍ وَأَقلامِ
Where are the ranks? The world itself stood poised
Where are the high stations, with the world on its feet,
between spears and pens.
Held in attendance between spears and pens?
مَضىhe departed وَلَمand did not يُغنِavail ماwhat عَدَّدتُI counted عَنهُfor him وَلاnor
مَضى وَلَم يُغنِ ما عَدَّدتُ عَنهُ وَلا
كَسبُwinning العُلىlofty honors وَاِجتِنابُand avoiding اللَومِblame وَالذامِand censure
كَسبُ العُلى وَاِجتِنابُ اللَومِ وَالذامِ
He passed away; neither all I have recounted of him availed,
He departed, and what I have listed did not avail him, nor
nor seeking praise, nor shunning blame and censure.
The winning of glory and avoidance of blame and censure.
وَعادَand became أَعظَمُthe greatest مَنof those فيin جَيشِهِhis army جُرَةًin daring
وَعادَ أَعظَمُ مَن في جَيشِهِ جُرَةً
وَلَيسَand is not يَملِكُhas power to do إِلّاexcept عَضَّbiting إِبهامِa thumb
وَلَيسَ يَملِكُ إِلّا عَضَّ إِبهامِ
The boldest man in his army returned
And the boldest in his army was left
with nothing in his power but to bite his thumb.
With nothing in his power but biting his thumb.
وَكانَand he was أَقطَعَsharper مِنthan صَمصامَةٍa keen sword ظُبَةًin edge
وَكانَ أَقطَعَ مِن صَمصامَةٍ ظُبَةً
فيناamong us وَأَمضىand more penetrating مَصاءًin cutting force مِنهُthan it فيin الهامِskulls
فينا وَأَمضى مَصاءً مِنهُ في الهامِ
Among us he was keener-edged than Samsama’s blade,
He was sharper of edge than a keen sword
and more piercing than it when striking skulls.
Among us, and keener than it in cutting through skulls.
لَمnot يُجرِhe made flow يَوماًever بِأَطرافِat the borders of العِراقِIraq دَماًblood
لَم يُجرِ يَوماً بِأَطرافِ العِراقِ دَماً
إِلّاexcept وَراعَand terrified دِماءَthe blood of القَومِthe people بِالشامِin al-Sham
إِلّا وَراعَ دِماءَ القَومِ بِالشامِ
Never did he spill blood at Iraq’s frontiers,
Never did he make blood flow at the borders of Iraq
but he made the people’s blood in Syria quake.
Without striking fear into the people's blood in al-Sham.
وَكانَand he was إِنif حافَoppressed عُدمٌdestitution ثُمَّthen عُذتَyou sought refuge بِهِwith him
وَكانَ إِن حافَ عُدمٌ ثُمَّ عُذتَ بِهِ
مَلَأتَyou filled أَرضَكَyour land مِنwith خَيلٍhorses وَأَنعامِand livestock
مَلَأتَ أَرضَكَ مِن خَيلٍ وَأَنعامِ
When deprivation wronged you, you sought refuge in him;
And whenever want oppressed you and you then sought refuge with him,
he filled your land with horses and herds.
You filled your land with horses and livestock.
يَحنوhe is tender عَلىtoward رَحِمٍkinship مَجفُوَّةٍneglected وَيَرىand deems right
يَحنو عَلى رَحِمٍ مَجفُوَّةٍ وَيَرى
قَطعَsevering الرِقابِnecks وَلاand not قَطعاًsevering لِأَرحامِof kinship ties
قَطعَ الرِقابِ وَلا قَطعاً لِأَرحامِ
He bent tenderly over kin who had been shunned, yet deemed
He was tender toward neglected kin, and would countenance
necks fit to sever—never the bonds of kinship.
Severing necks, but not severing ties of kinship.
تَبكيweep الرِكابُthe riding camels وَقَدand already رُدَّتwere turned back أَزِمَّتُهاtheir reins
تَبكي الرِكابُ وَقَد رُدَّت أَزِمَّتُها
فَالرَكبُso the caravan ماemphatic particle بَينَbetween إِعوالٍwailing وَإِرزامِand camels' moaning
فَالرَكبُ ما بَينَ إِعوالٍ وَإِرزامِ
The riding beasts weep, their reins turned homeward;
The riding camels weep, their reins turned back,
the caravan is all loud wailing and low moans.
So the caravan is caught between wailing and camels' groans.
اليَومَtoday يَرتاحُfinds relief مَنwhoever كانَتwere أَضالِعُهُhis ribs
اليَومَ يَرتاحُ مَن كانَت أَضالِعُهُ
عَلىon قَوادِمِthe foremost wing-feathers of أَحقادٍrancor وَأَوغامِand grudges
عَلى قَوادِمِ أَحقادٍ وَأَوغامِ
Today, the one whose ribs had harbored
Today the man finds relief whose ribs once lay
the pinions of grudges and rancors may rest.
On the foremost wing-feathers of rancor and grudges.
يَموتُdie قَومٌsome people فَلاso not يَأسىgrieves لَهُمfor them أَحَدٌanyone
يَموتُ قَومٌ فَلا يَأسى لَهُم أَحَدٌ
وَواحِدٌand one man مَوتُهُhis death حُزنٌsorrow لِأَقوامِfor peoples
وَواحِدٌ مَوتُهُ حُزنٌ لِأَقوامِ
Some people die, and no one grieves for them;
Some people die, and no one grieves for them;
one man dies, and whole peoples mourn.
Yet one man's death is grief for many peoples.
سَقىmay water الحَياthe rain مِنكَof yours أَوصالاًlimbs مُفَرَّقَةًscattered
سَقى الحَيا مِنكَ أَوصالاً مُفَرَّقَةً
فيهاin them مَجامِعُgathering places of إِجلالٍreverence وَإِعظامِand veneration
فيها مَجامِعُ إِجلالٍ وَإِعظامِ
May the raincloud water your scattered limbs,
May the rain water your scattered limbs,
where all majesty and veneration were gathered.
In which reverence and veneration are gathered.
غَيثانِtwo rains ذاthis one جامِدٌmotionless تَخفىare hidden مَشائِلُهُits signs (uncertain reading)
غَيثانِ ذا جامِدٌ تَخفى مَشائِلُهُ
عَنِfrom العُيونِeyes وَذاand this one باديexposed in الذَرىthe crests هاميpouring down
عَنِ العُيونِ وَذا بادي الذَرى هامي
Two rainclouds: this one motionless, its courses hidden
Two rains: this one lies still, its signs hidden
from sight; that one, its high crest revealed, pours down.
From sight; that one, its crests exposed, pours down.
لِلَّهِto God دَرُّكِyour excellence مِنas a غَرّاءَradiant one أَحرَزَهاsecured her
لِلَّهِ دَرُّكِ مِن غَرّاءَ أَحرَزَها
مَوسومَةًbranded قَلبُthe heart of ضِرغامٍa lion لِضِرغامِfor a lion
مَوسومَةً قَلبُ ضِرغامٍ لِضِرغامِ
How splendid the radiant deed you achieved,
God bless you, radiant one, won
stamped by a lion’s heart for a lion.
And branded by a lion's heart for a lion!
قَدindeed كِدتُI almost أَعقِلُهاhobble her لَولاbut for مُحافَظَةًregard
قَد كِدتُ أَعقِلُها لَولا مُحافَظَةً
عَلىfor يَدٍa helping hand سَلَفَتhad gone before مِنهُfrom him وَإِنعامِand bounty
عَلى يَدٍ سَلَفَت مِنهُ وَإِنعامِ
I nearly held it fast, but for the duty of preserving
I nearly hobbled her, but for my regard
a hand he once extended, and a kindness.
For an earlier helping hand from him, and his bounty.
أَعادَrestored عِزَّthe glory of أَبيmy father غَضّاًfresh وَخَوَّلَهُand bestowed on him
أَعادَ عِزَّ أَبي غَضّاً وَخَوَّلَهُ
ماwhatever شاءَhe wished مِنof بَذلِthe bestowal of إِعزازٍesteem وَإِكرامِand honor
ما شاءَ مِن بَذلِ إِعزازٍ وَإِكرامِ
He restored my father’s honor, fresh and green, and granted him
He made my father's glory fresh again, and granted him
whatever he wished of munificence, honor, and esteem.
Whatever he wished of freely bestowed esteem and honor.
وَكُنتُand I had أَجمَمتُهُlet him rest لِلعِزِّfor glory أَطلُبُهُI seek it
وَكُنتُ أَجمَمتُهُ لِلعِزِّ أَطلُبُهُ
وَإِنَّماand only كانَwas لِلمَقدورِfor what fate decreed إِجماميmy giving him rest
وَإِنَّما كانَ لِلمَقدورِ إِجمامي
I had kept him in reserve, seeking him for glory,
And I had let him rest for the glory I sought,
but it was for Fate that I had spared him.
Yet the respite I gave him served only what fate decreed.
وَدونَand before ماwhat تَشتَهيهِdesires it النَفسُthe soul مَتعَبَةٌhardship
وَدونَ ما تَشتَهيهِ النَفسُ مَتعَبَةٌ
إِنَّindeed اللَآليpearls وَراءَbeyond الأَخضَرِthe green sea الطاميswelling
إِنَّ اللَآلي وَراءَ الأَخضَرِ الطامي
Between the soul and what it desires lies weary toil:
And hardship lies before what the soul desires;
pearls lie beyond the surging green sea.
Indeed, pearls lie beyond the swelling green sea.
فَاِذهَبso depart كَماas ذَهَبَdeparted البَدرُthe full moon اِستَبَدَّtook sole possession بِهِof it
فَاِذهَب كَما ذَهَبَ البَدرُ اِستَبَدَّ بِهِ
بِرُغمِagainst the will of أَعيُنِناour eyes جِلبابُa cloak of إِظلامِdarkness
بِرُغمِ أَعيُنِنا جِلبابُ إِظلامِ
Go, then, as the full moon went—overmastered
So depart as the full moon departed, seized
before our very eyes by darkness’s veil.
Against our eyes' will by a cloak of darkness.
فَماso not لِدارِكَfor your dwelling مِنّاfrom us غَيرُother than مَقلِيَةٍaversion
فَما لِدارِكَ مِنّا غَيرُ مَقلِيَةٍ
وَلاand not لِقُربِكَfor nearness to you مِنّاfrom us غَيرُother than إِلمامِa brief visit
وَلا لِقُربِكَ مِنّا غَيرُ إِلمامِ
Your dwelling shall receive from us nothing but aversion,
So for your dwelling we have nothing but aversion,
and our nearness to you shall be no more than a passing visit.
And for nearness to you nothing but brief visits.
Sol 6.1