أَينَwhere الغَزالُthe gazelle الماطِلُthe procrastinating one
أَينَ الغَزالُ الماطِلُ
بَعدَكِafter you ياO مَنازِلُdwellings
بَعدَكِ يا مَنازِلُ
Where is the gazelle who puts me off,
Where is the shy gazelle after your abode, O dwellings?
after you, O dwellings?
My state has become clear to the herd, so why did the delayer stay?
قَدindeed بانَhas departed حاليthe adorned one of سِربِهِhis herd
قَد بانَ حالي سِربِهِ
فَلِمthen why أَقامَremained العاطِلُthe unadorned one
فَلِم أَقامَ العاطِلُ
His herd's adorned one has departed;
Who would bring back the slain lover of love, if only the killer returned to him,
why has the unadorned one remained?
The arrows wound him, and he hopes the archer will come back.
مَنwho لِقَتيلِfor the slain one of الحُبِّlove لَوif only
مَن لِقَتيلِ الحُبِّ لَو
رُدَّwere returned عَلَيهِto him القاتِلُthe killer
رُدَّ عَلَيهِ القاتِلُ
Who will aid love's slain one? If only
That vanished youth was ushered out with pouring tears,
his killer were returned to him!
Substitutes and replacements did not please me after him.
يَجرَحُهُwounds him النَبلُthe arrows وَيَهand longs (beginning)
يَجرَحُهُ النَبلُ وَيَه
وىlongs (completion) أَنto يَعودَreturn النابِلُthe archer
وى أَن يَعودَ النابِلُ
Arrows wound him, and he longs
It would not have harmed the days if whiteness had cleaved to them,
for the archer to return.
The days of every lover are few.
شُيِّعَwas escorted بِالقَطرِwith drops الرِوىcopious
شُيِّعَ بِالقَطرِ الرِوى
ذاكَthat الشَبابُyouth الراحِلُdeparting
ذاكَ الشَبابُ الراحِلُ
With drenching drops was escorted
A shadow, no matter how long it remains on your cheek, is ephemeral.
that departing youth.
With your cheeks he saw what the abstainer loved.
ماnot سَرَّنيgladdened me مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter it
ما سَرَّني مِن بَعدِهِ
الأَعواضُcompensations وَالبَدائِلُand substitutes
الأَعواضُ وَالبَدائِلُ
No joy have I found since it left
And the necklaces took back from you their scattered pearls,
in recompenses or replacements.
And their murderous eyes sheathed their blades around you.
ماwhat ضَرَّharmed ذيthese الأَيّامِdays لَوif
ما ضَرَّ ذي الأَيّامِ لَو
أَنَّthat البَياضَthe white hair الناصِلُwhat falls away
أَنَّ البَياضَ الناصِلُ
What harm would these days suffer, if
So neither the anklets jingle nor the bracelets tinkle,
the white hair were what fell away?
And if they promise, know that the delayer is a liar.
كُلُّevery حَبيبٍbeloved أَبَداًalways
كُلُّ حَبيبٍ أَبَداً
أَيّامُهُhis days قَلائِلُfew
أَيّامُهُ قَلائِلُ
Every beloved, always,
The promise of the white-haired one to reconnect is a vain lie.
has but few days.
Nights in the house quenched their thirst with pouring chains,
ظِلُّa shadow وَكَمand how long يَبقىremains عَلىon
ظِلُّ وَكَم يَبقى عَلى
فَودِكَyour temple ظِلٌّa shadow زائِلُvanishing
فَودِكَ ظِلٌّ زائِلُ
A shadow—and how long can remain
Followed by the lamp and the stoppered flasks.
upon your temple a fleeting shadow?
Children of light nurtured by the separating caravans,
لَقَدindeed رَأىhas seen بِعارِضَيon the two cheeks (beginning)
لَقَد رَأى بِعارِضَي
كَyour (suffix) ماwhat أَحَبَّwished for العاذِلُthe reproacher
كَ ما أَحَبَّ العاذِلُ
Indeed, upon your cheeks he has seen
The hills are clothed and after them the plains are adorned.
what he wished for—the reproacher.
As if the king of kings were raining upon it,
وَاِستَرجَعَتand reclaimed مِنكَfrom you اللِحاthe glances (beginning)
وَاِستَرجَعَت مِنكَ اللِحا
ظَglances (completion) الخُرُّدُthe shy maidens العَقائِلُthe noble ladies
ظَ الخُرُّدُ العَقائِلُ
And they have reclaimed their glances from you—
He is alive, and in life there are examples of his generosity,
the shy, noble maidens.
The rescuer of every precarious time, if a leaning year bites,
وَأُغمِدَتand were sheathed عَنكَaway from you نُصوblades (beginning)
وَأُغمِدَت عَنكَ نُصو
لُblades (completion) الأَعيُنِthe eyes القَواتِلُdeadly
لُ الأَعيُنِ القَواتِلُ
And sheathed away from you are the blades
The pillar of the world when tremors shake it,
of those deadly eyes.
A fierce lion in the night, enemy of daybreak, unvanquished,
فَلاso neither الدَماليجُthe armlets يُقَعقِعrattle (beginning)
فَلا الدَماليجُ يُقَعقِع
نَthey (feminine plural ending) وَلاnor الخَلاخِلُthe anklets
نَ وَلا الخَلاخِلُ
So neither the armlets rattle,
Bearing burdens that distress defeats, and attaining,
nor do the anklets.
The doer of deeds that the sayer falls short of,
فَإِنso if وَعَدنَthey promise فَاِعلَمَنthen know for certain
فَإِن وَعَدنَ فَاِعلَمَن
أَنَّthat الغَريمَthe debtor الماطِلُthe procrastinator
أَنَّ الغَريمَ الماطِلُ
If they promise, know for certain
The bearer of loads lighter than what the carrier bears,
that the debtor is one who delays.
The leader of regiments led by tribes,
وَوَعدُand a promise to ذيthe possessor of الشَيبَةِgray hair بِالof the (beginning)
وَوَعدُ ذي الشَيبَةِ بِال
وَصلِunion غُرورٌdeception باطِلُvain
وَصلِ غُرورٌ باطِلُ
And a promise to the gray-haired man of
In it the sun loses its way, its orbits confused,
union is empty deception.
Rockets provoked to havoc by rockets
سَقىmay water لَياليthe nights of الدارِthe dwelling جَوa dark cloud (beginning)
سَقى لَيالي الدارِ جَو
نُdark cloud (completion) بَرقَةٍa sandy, stony tract سَلاسِلُflowing freely
نُ بَرقَةٍ سَلاسِلُ
May a dark cloud water the dwelling's nights,
A group like the trees of al-Dahna, it has widows,
over stony sands, pouring freely.
Whose nobles fear beyond the armor of the fighter
يَخلُفُهُsucceeds it عَلىon الرُبىthe hills الthe
يَخلُفُهُ عَلى الرُبى ال
نُوّارُblossoms وَالخَمائِلُand leafy thickets
نُوّارُ وَالخَمائِلُ
After it, upon the hills come
As if the ranks of the spears were carried by warriors
blossoms and leafy thickets.
Figures borne by rising Scorpios
أَطفالُinfants نَورٍblossoms أَرضَعَتsuckled (beginning)
أَطفالُ نَورٍ أَرضَعَت
هاthem (suffix) الفِرَقُthe cloud-herds المَطافِلُwith suckling young
ها الفِرَقُ المَطافِلُ
Infant blossoms, suckled
As Al-Dabur returns to them after fleeing
by herds of nursing clouds.
So say to the transgressor led astray by a murderous opinion:
تُكسىare clothed العَواليthe heights وَتُحَand are adorned (beginning)
تُكسى العَوالي وَتُحَ
لّىare adorned (completion) بَعدَهُafter it العَواطِلُthe unadorned ones
لّى بَعدَهُ العَواطِلُ
The heights are clothed, and adorned
“I have embarked upon a plan in which your mother is confused”
after it are the bare places.
It circled heights that disputants fall short of
كَأَنَّماas though يُمطِرُهُrains upon it
كَأَنَّما يُمطِرُهُ
مَلكُthe king of المُلوكِkings العادِلُthe just
مَلكُ المُلوكِ العادِلُ
As though rain were bestowed upon it
Your grandfather pushed you back from climbing it in disgrace
by the just King of Kings.
Its pick was beyond your reach, and the tall summits
هُوَhe الحَياthe life-giving rain وَفيand in الحَياthe rain
هُوَ الحَيا وَفي الحَيا
مِنfrom جودِهِhis generosity شَمائِلُtraits
مِن جودِهِ شَمائِلُ
He is the life-giving rain; and in rain
Can what escapes your gaze, o aspirant, attain?
are traits of his generosity.
What a pauser you are, walking where the accomplisher stumbles!
غِياثُsuccor of كُلِّevery أَزمَةٍcrisis
غِياثُ كُلِّ أَزمَةٍ
إِنif عَضَّbites عامٌa year ماحِلُdrought-stricken
إِن عَضَّ عامٌ ماحِلُ
The succor in every crisis,
The upholding of religion is through the throat of loftiness, combatting
when a drought-stricken year bites.
It prevents encroachment, no subjugator or contender
وَداعِمُand supporter of الدُنياthe world إِذاwhen
وَداعِمُ الدُنيا إِذا
مادَتswayed بِهاwith it الزَلازِلُearthquakes
مادَت بِها الزَلازِلُ
And the world's support when
Has the son of Wasil not seen himself caught in the snares
earthquakes set it swaying.
It cast him in a current of masses that has no coasts
لَيثٌa lion هَموسُsoft-treading اللَيلِby night عَswift-running (beginning)
لَيثٌ هَموسُ اللَيلِ عَ
دّاءُswift-running (completion) النَهارِby day باسِلُfearless
دّاءُ النَهارِ باسِلُ
A lion, soft-treading by night,
So his ascension by the female oryxes took flight
swift-running by day, fearless.
Did the torn-skinned one escape them, for him there are cures
ذوpossessor of راحَةٍa palm يَعتَرِكُcontend الthe
ذو راحَةٍ يَعتَرِكُ ال
بَأسُbattle-fury بِهاin it وَالنائِلُand bounty
بَأسُ بِها وَالنائِلُ
Possessor of a palm where contend
Shame on his neck from his blood there are burdens
battle-fury and bounty.
He descends the descent of the long robe, frayed and torn
الفاعِلُthe doer of الفِعلَthe deed الَّذيthat
الفاعِلُ الفِعلَ الَّذي
يَعجِزُis powerless عَنهُregarding it القائِلُthe speaker
يَعجِزُ عَنهُ القائِلُ
The doer of the deed that
The fortresses and strongholds spit him out
the speaker is powerless to describe.
Connections between them were severed by rods
وَالحامِلُand bearer of العِبءَthe burden رَمىcast off
وَالحامِلُ العِبءَ رَمى
أَقَلَّless مِنهُthan it الحامِلُthe bearer
أَقَلَّ مِنهُ الحامِلُ
And bearer of a burden—cast off
It guided him therein like the tooth guided the working tool
was a lesser one by another bearer.
The nobles go where the lowly crawl underneath them
وَالقائِدُand leader of الفَيلَقَthe army تَنsubmit (beginning)
وَالقائِدُ الفَيلَقَ تَن
قادُsubmit (completion) لَهُto him القَبائِلُthe tribes
قادُ لَهُ القَبائِلُ
And leader of the host, to whom
And feet are not blameworthy if tools break
the tribes submit.
He attempted to repel its setting, after so far, o remoteness, what does he attempt,
تَنسَدُّis screened فيهِwithin it الشَمسُthe sun قَدalready
تَنسَدُّ فيهِ الشَمسُ قَد
تاهَتwandered astray بِهاwith it القَساطِلُthe dust clouds
تاهَت بِها القَساطِلُ
The sun is screened within it,
Like one pushing back a torrent in the chest of a mountain, while asking
lost amid the dust clouds.
Until he mounted a steed unrecognized by milestones
قَنابِلٌsquadrons تَحفِزُهاurge them onward
قَنابِلٌ تَحفِزُها
إِلىto الرَدىdeath قَنابِلُsquadrons
إِلى الرَدى قَنابِلُ
Squadrons driven onward
It seeks no water and homes cannot be folded on it
to death by other squadrons.
Its owner has cleverness among people while slumbering at heart
جَمعٌa host كَشَجراءِlike the woodland of اللَديthe two valley-sides (beginning)
جَمعٌ كَشَجراءِ اللَدي
دَينِtwo valley-sides (completion) لَهُit has أَرامِلُsandy tracts
دَينِ لَهُ أَرامِلُ
A host like the woodland of a valley's
Lofty in the eye while mean and lowly in the spirit
two sides, with stretches of sand.
A horseman who neither descends lifetimes nor makes descents
يَخشىfears عَواليهِits spearpoints وَراbehind (beginning)
يَخشى عَواليهِ وَرا
ءَbehind (completion) الحَبَرِthe embroidered cloth المُقاتِلُthe warrior
ءَ الحَبَرِ المُقاتِلُ
He fears its spearpoints from behind
So rouse the funds of sedition feared for its unpredictability
the embroidered cloth—the warrior.
There lies a cunning hyena and a ravenous wolf
كَأَنَّas though مَعروضَthe displayed array of القَناlances
كَأَنَّ مَعروضَ القَنا
يَنقُلُهُcarry it الصَواهِلُthe neighing steeds
يَنقُلُهُ الصَواهِلُ
As though the array of lances
Today is early, and tomorrow leadership becomes arduous
carried by neighing steeds
And God in it guarantees what you want accomplished
أَراقِمٌspeckled serpents تَحمِلُهاcarry them
أَراقِمٌ تَحمِلُها
عَقارِبٌscorpions شَوائِلُwith raised tails
عَقارِبٌ شَوائِلُ
were speckled serpents borne
If this year belongs to it, then demise has an acceptor
by scorpions with raised tails.
And the cure for disease is that no ruin hastened
كَماjust as تَثوبُswarm back الدَبرُthe bees قَدalready
كَما تَثوبُ الدَبرُ قَد
عادَreturned إِليهاto them العاسِلُthe honey-gatherer
عادَ إِليها العاسِلُ
As bees swarm back when
In every day of your hands, a blessing descends
the honey-gatherer has returned to them.
I distance myself while he in the land seeks me out
فَقُلthen say لِغاوٍto a misguided man مَدَّهُsustained him
فَقُل لِغاوٍ مَدَّهُ
فيin الغَيِّerror رَأيٌcounsel قاتِلُdeadly
في الغَيِّ رَأيٌ قاتِلُ
Then tell the misguided man, sustained
Like a flashing light from him, and pouring rain
in error by deadly counsel:
Later mercies including early ones
إِنّيindeed I اِرتَقَيتُascended to خِطَّةًa station
إِنّي اِرتَقَيتُ خِطَّةً
أُمُّكَyour mother فيهاin it هابِلُbereaved
أُمُّكَ فيها هابِلُ
I have ascended to a station
So excellent for me is a son, and excellent the pregnancy
where your mother would be bereaved.
Remain over lifetimes, treading upon the platforms of your descent, o you
ساوَرَتassailed أَطواداًmountains تَرَfall (beginning)
ساوَرَت أَطواداً تَرَ
دّىfall (completion) دونَهاshort of them الأَجادِلُthe falcons
دّى دونَها الأَجادِلُ
You assailed mountains, beneath which
You have no other home than the house of loftiness after the nights carry you
the falcons fall.
And convey from Nayrouz what the hopeful conveys from you
رَدَّكَturned you back عَنfrom صُعودِهاascending them
رَدَّكَ عَن صُعودِها
بِالخِزيِin disgrace جَدٌّfortune نازِلُdeclining
بِالخِزيِ جَدٌّ نازِلُ
From ascending them you were turned back
The nights pass with you and fate is heedless of you
in disgrace by declining fortune.
Like the cutting blade passing on its sharpener, and a sharpener comes
فاتَeluded يَدَيكَyour two hands قابُهاtheir span
فاتَ يَدَيكَ قابُها
وَالقُلَلُand the summits الأَطاوِلُthe loftiest
وَالقُلَلُ الأَطاوِلُ
Their span eluded your hands,
While it is like the deceiving mirror, cleaving and splitting
and so did the loftiest peaks.
O Buwayhids you are the necks and the shoulders
وَهَلand can تَنالُreach ماwhat عَلاrose
وَهَل تَنالُ ما عَلا
عَنbeyond لَحظِكَyour gaze الأَنائِلُthe fingers
عَن لَحظِكَ الأَنائِلُ
And can fingers reach what rises
In you are the springs of dew and the pregnant clouds
beyond your gaze?
Migrants of days, in your shadows the roots are protected
ياO لَكَfor you مِنof حافٍa barefoot man مَشىwalked
يا لَكَ مِن حافٍ مَشى
حَيثُwhere يَزِلُslips الناعِلُthe shod man
حَيثُ يَزِلُ الناعِلُ
What a barefoot walker you are,
And people are you, and other than you is withering and vanishing
where even the shod man slips!
After you there is no hope or use in survival
إِنَّindeed قِوامَQiwam الدينِal-Din عَنin defense of
إِنَّ قِوامَ الدينِ عَن
ثَغرِthe frontier of العُلىglory مُناضِلُa defender
ثَغرِ العُلى مُناضِلُ
Qiwam al-Din is indeed
a defender of glory's frontier.
يُمَنِّعُmakes impregnable الطَودَthe mountain فَلاso no
يُمَنِّعُ الطَودَ فَلا
راقٍclimber وَلاnor مُطاوِلُone rivaling its height
راقٍ وَلا مُطاوِلُ
He makes the mountain impregnable: no
climber can scale it, no rival match its height.
أَماdid ... not رَأىsee اِبنُIbn واصِلٍWasil
أَما رَأى اِبنُ واصِلٍ
تَقنِصُهُcapture him الحَبائِلُthe snares
تَقنِصُهُ الحَبائِلُ
Did Ibn Wasil not see
how the snares caught him?
أَلقاهُhe cast him فيinto تَيّارِa torrent جَvast (beginning)
أَلقاهُ في تَيّارِ جَ
مٍّvast (completion) ماnot لَهُit has سَواحِلُshores
مٍّ ما لَهُ سَواحِلُ
He cast him into a torrent,
vast, with no shores.
فَطارَand he took flight تَرقيهِchant charms over him الظُبىthe sword-edges
فَطارَ تَرقيهِ الظُبى
وَالأَسَلُand the spears الذَوابِلُslender
وَالأَسَلُ الذَوابِلُ
He took flight, the sword-edges chanting charms over him,
and the slender lances.
أَفلَتَهاescaped them مُنخَرِقُtorn الthe
أَفلَتَها مُنخَرِقُ ال
جِلدِskin لَهُhe has وَلاوِلُwails
جِلدِ لَهُ وَلاوِلُ
He escaped them with torn
skin, uttering wails.
عارٍnaked عَلىon عاتِقِهِhis shoulder
عارٍ عَلى عاتِقِهِ
مِنof دَمِهِhis blood حَمائِلُsword-belts
مِن دَمِهِ حَمائِلُ
Naked, with slung upon his shoulder
sword-belts of his own blood.
يَنزِلُlodges مِنهُon him مَنزِلَthe place of الرَدthe rear-rider (beginning)
يَنزِلُ مِنهُ مَنزِلَ الرَد
فِrear-rider (completion) الطَويلُthe long الذابِلُslender spear
فِ الطَويلُ الذابِلُ
There lodges on him, where the rear-rider sits,
the long, slender lance.
يَلفِظُهُspit him out لَفظَas the spitting out of السَحاpeelings
يَلفِظُهُ لَفظَ السَحا
الآطامُthe towers وَالمَعاقِلُand the strongholds
الآطامُ وَالمَعاقِلُ
He is spat out like peelings
by the towers and strongholds.
تَقَطَّعَتwere severed بَينَهُماbetween the two
تَقَطَّعَت بَينَهُما
بِالقُضُبِby cutting swords الوَسائِلُthe ties
بِالقُضُبِ الوَسائِلُ
Severed between the two
by cutting swords were all the ties.
دَلّاهُhe lowered him فيهاinto them مِثلَlike ماwhat
دَلّاهُ فيها مِثلَ ما
دَلّىlowered السِنانَthe spearhead العامِلُthe upper spear-shaft
دَلّى السِنانَ العامِلُ
He lowered him into them, just as
the upper shaft lowers the spearhead.
يَمضيdrives onward العَواليthe spearpoints حَيثُwhere تَثremain (beginning)
يَمضي العَوالي حَيثُ تَث
ويremain (completion) تَحتَهاbeneath them الأَسافِلُthe lower shafts
وي تَحتَها الأَسافِلُ
He drives the spearpoints onward, while
the lower shafts remain beneath them.
وَماand no blame عَلىupon الأَكعُبِthe spear-joints أَنif
وَما عَلى الأَكعُبِ أَن
تَنحَطِمُare shattered العَوامِلُthe upper spear-shafts
تَنحَطِمُ العَوامِلُ
No blame rests on the spear's joints if
the upper shafts are shattered.
حاوَلَtried رَدَّto repel غَربِهاtheir keen edge
حاوَلَ رَدَّ غَربِها
ياoh بُعدَhow remote ماwhat يُحاوِلُhe attempts
يا بُعدَ ما يُحاوِلُ
He tried to turn back their keen edge;
how far beyond him is what he attempts!
كَدافِعٍlike one pushing فيagainst صَدرِthe breast of سَيa torrent (beginning)
كَدافِعٍ في صَدرِ سَي
لِtorrent (completion) الطَودِthe mountain وَهوَwhile it سائِلُflows
لِ الطَودِ وَهوَ سائِلُ
Like one pushing against the breast of a torrent
from a mountain, as it pours.
حَتّىuntil اِمتَطىmounted راحِلَةًa mount
حَتّى اِمتَطى راحِلَةً
تُنكِرُهاdo not recognize it الرَواجِلُthose on foot
تُنكِرُها الرَواجِلُ
Until he mounted a steed
that those on foot do not recognize.
لاnot تَرِدُgoes to الماءَwater وَلاnor
لا تَرِدُ الماءَ وَلا
تُطوىare traversed بِهاon it المَنازِلُthe journey's stages
تُطوى بِها المَنازِلُ
It goes to no watering-place, nor
are journey-stages crossed upon it.
لِرَبِّهاfor its master نَباهَةٌprominence
لِرَبِّها نَباهَةٌ
فيamong الناسِpeople وَهوَwhile he خامِلُobscure
في الناسِ وَهوَ خامِلُ
Its rider has prominence
among people, though he is obscure.
فيin العَينِthe eye عالٍhigh وَهوَwhile he فيin الthe
في العَينِ عالٍ وَهوَ في ال
قَلبِheart مُذالٌabased سافِلُlow
قَلبِ مُذالٌ سافِلُ
High to the eye, yet in the
heart abased and low.
وَفارِسٌand a horseman لاnot يَنزِلُdismounts الthe
وَفارِسٌ لا يَنزِلُ ال
دَهرَall time وَلاnor يُنازِلُengages in combat
دَهرَ وَلا يُنازِلُ
And a horseman who never dismounts
for all time, nor enters combat.
فَاِخبِطso strike رَصيدَone lying in wait for فِتنَةٍsedition
فَاِخبِط رَصيدَ فِتنَةٍ
تُخشىare feared بِهاthrough it الغَوائِلُcalamities
تُخشى بِها الغَوائِلُ
So strike the one lying in wait for strife,
through which calamities are feared.
هُناكَthere ضَبُّa lizard كِديَةٍa rocky mound
هُناكَ ضَبُّ كِديَةٍ
لاطَclinging fast وَذِئبٌand a wolf عاسِلُloping
لاطَ وَذِئبٌ عاسِلُ
There is a lizard of a rocky mound,
clinging fast, and a loping wolf.
فَاليَومَso today بَكرٌa young camel وَغَداًand tomorrow
فَاليَومَ بَكرٌ وَغَداً
صَعبُhard القِيادِto lead بازِلُa mature camel
صَعبُ القِيادِ بازِلُ
Today a young camel; tomorrow,
a mature one, hard to lead.
وَاللَهُand God فيهِconcerning him ضامِنٌa guarantor
وَاللَهُ فيهِ ضامِنٌ
لِماof what أَرَدتَyou desired كافِلُa surety
لِما أَرَدتَ كافِلُ
And God, concerning him, guarantees
what you desire, and stands surety.
إِنif كانَis ذاthis العامُyear لَهُhis
إِن كانَ ذا العامُ لَهُ
فَلِلمَناياthen for death قابِلُthe coming year
فَلِلمَنايا قابِلُ
If this year belongs to him,
the next belongs to death.
وَمِنand among دَواءِremedies for الداءِillness أَنif
وَمِن دَواءِ الداءِ أَن
ماطَلَlingers كَيٌّcautery عاجِلُprompt
ماطَلَ كَيٌّ عاجِلُ
And a remedy for disease, should it
linger, is swift cautery.
فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday مِنfrom أَياfavors (beginning)
في كُلِّ يَومٍ مِن أَيا
ديكَyour favors (completion) قَطينٌa resident guest نازِلُalighting
ديكَ قَطينٌ نازِلُ
Every day, from your favors comes
a guest who settles in.
أَبعُدُI go far عَنهُfrom him وَهوَyet he عَabout (beginning)
أَبعُدُ عَنهُ وَهوَ عَ
نّيme (completion) فيthroughout البِلادِthe lands سائِلُinquiring
نّي في البِلادِ سائِلُ
I go far from him, yet he inquires
after me throughout the lands.
كَالغَيثِlike rain ضَوءٌlight بارِقٌflashing
كَالغَيثِ ضَوءٌ بارِقٌ
مِنهُfrom him وَرَيٌّand refreshment وابِلُcopious
مِنهُ وَرَيٌّ وابِلُ
Like a rain-cloud: flashing light
comes from him, and a drenching abundance.
أَواخِرٌlater gifts مِنof مِنَنٍfavors
أَواخِرٌ مِن مِنَنٍ
يَضُمُّهاembrace them الأَوائِلُthe earlier ones
يَضُمُّها الأَوائِلُ
Later gifts
are embraced by the earlier ones.
فَنِعمَso how excellent ليfor me مِنas a وَلَدٍchild
فَنِعمَ لي مِن وَلَدٍ
وَنَعمَتِand how excellent الحَوامِلُthe bearers
وَنَعمَتِ الحَوامِلُ
How excellent a child for me,
and how excellent its bearers!
فَدُمso endure عَلىthrough الدَهرِall time تَخَbypass (beginning)
فَدُم عَلى الدَهرِ تَخَ
طّىbypass (completion) رَبعَكَyour dwelling النَوازِلُcalamities
طّى رَبعَكَ النَوازِلُ
Endure through time; may they bypass
your dwelling—the calamities.
ماno لَكَfor you عَنfrom دارِthe abode of العُلىglory
ما لَكَ عَن دارِ العُلى
أُخرىthe last of اللَياليthe nights ناقِلُa remover
أُخرى اللَيالي ناقِلُ
None shall remove you from glory's home,
even at the very last of nights.
وَاِبلُغand attain مِنَfrom النَيروزِNowruz ماwhat
وَاِبلُغ مِنَ النَيروزِ ما
يَبلُغُattains مِنكَfrom you الآمِلُthe hopeful one
يَبلُغُ مِنكَ الآمِلُ
And attain from Nowruz what
the hopeful man attains from you.
تَمضيpass اللَياليthe nights بِكَwith you وَالand the
تَمضي اللَيالي بِكَ وَال
مِقدارُfate عَنكَof you غافِلُheedless
مِقدارُ عَنكَ غافِلُ
The nights pass with you, while
fate remains heedless of you.
كَالنَصلِlike the blade يَمضيdeparts صاقِلٌa polisher
كَالنَصلِ يَمضي صاقِلٌ
عَنهُfrom it وَيَأتيand comes صاقِلُa polisher
عَنهُ وَيَأتي صاقِلُ
Like a blade: one polisher leaves
it, and another polisher comes.
وَهوَwhile it كَماjust as ساءَdismayed العِداthe enemies
وَهوَ كَما ساءَ العِدا
ماضيkeen الغِرارِedged قاصِلُcleaving
ماضي الغِرارِ قاصِلُ
Yet, to its foes' dismay, it remains
keen-edged, cutting through.
آلَO house of بُوَيهٍBuwayh أَنتُمُyou are الthe
آلَ بُوَيهٍ أَنتُمُ ال
أَعناقُnecks وَالكَواهِلُand shoulders
أَعناقُ وَالكَواهِلُ
O house of Buwayh, you are the
necks and shoulders.
فيكُمin you يَنابيعُsprings النَدىbounty
فيكُم يَنابيعُ النَدى
وَالدُلَّحُand rain-laden clouds الهَوامِلُpouring freely
وَالدُلَّحُ الهَوامِلُ
In you are springs of bounty,
and heavy clouds pouring freely.
هَواجِرُscorching noons الأَيّامِof the days فيin
هَواجِرُ الأَيّامِ في
ظِلالِكُمyour shade أَصائِلُlate afternoons
ظِلالِكُم أَصائِلُ
The days' scorching noons, in
your shade, are late afternoons.
وَالناسُand mankind أَنتُمyou وَسِواand other than (beginning)
وَالناسُ أَنتُم وَسِوا
كُمyou (plural suffix) باقِرٌa cattle herd وَجامِلُand a camel herd
كُم باقِرٌ وَجامِلُ
Humanity is you; the rest
are herds of cattle and camels.
ماnot فيin الرَجاءِhope بَعدَكُمafter you
ما في الرَجاءِ بَعدَكُم
وَلاnor البَقاءِliving on طائِلُany good
وَلا البَقاءِ طائِلُ
After you, hope holds no good,
nor does living on.
Partial English translation: 84 of 168 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1