حَيِّياgreet, you two دونَbelow الكَثيبِthe dune
حَيِّيا دونَ الكَثيبِ
مَرتَعَpasture الظَبيِthe gazelle الرَبيبِthe reared one
مَرتَعَ الظَبيِ الرَبيبِ
You two, greet below the dune
Greetings below the sand dune
the pasture of the pet gazelle.
Grazing ground of the beloved gazelle
وَاِسأَلانيand ask me, you two عَنabout قَريبٍone close
وَاِسأَلاني عَن قَريبٍ
فيin الهَوىlove غَيرِnot قَريبِclose
في الهَوى غَيرِ قَريبِ
And you two, ask me about one close
Ask me about a loved one
in love, yet far away.
In passion, not far away
وارِدٍcoming to drink ماءَwater عُيونٍeyes
وارِدٍ ماءَ عُيونٍ
مُصطَلٍwarming himself نارَfire قُلوبِhearts
مُصطَلٍ نارَ قُلوبِ
Coming to drink the waters of eyes,
Seeking water of springs
warming himself at the fire of hearts.
Kindling fire of hearts
وَقفَةًa pause بِالرُبعِat the campsite أَقوىbecame deserted
وَقفَةً بِالرُبعِ أَقوى
بَينَbetween أَعقادِfolds الكَثيبِthe dune
بَينَ أَعقادِ الكَثيبِ
Pause at the campsite, now deserted,
A stopover in the desert, more intense
between the folds of the dune.
Among the sand dune chains
وَعَفاand was effaced اليَومَtoday عَلىthrough كَرtwo returns (beginning)
وَعَفا اليَومَ عَلى كَر
رَيtwo returns (completion) قِطارٍrain-showers وَجَنوبِand the south wind
رَي قِطارٍ وَجَنوبِ
And today it is effaced by the repeated
The day overlooked the shame
returns of rain and the south wind,
Of the train and the shameful acts
بِسَوافيwith dust-bearing winds التُرُبِdust الباthe passing (beginning)
بِسَوافي التُرُبِ البا
رِحِpassing (completion) وَالتُربِand dust الغَريبِforeign
رِحِ وَالتُربِ الغَريبِ
with winds bearing passing dust
With the turbans of my homeland
and dust brought from afar.
And the turbans of a foreign land
وَالَّذيand what بِالرُبعِat the campsite مِنfrom بُعabsence (beginning)
وَالَّذي بِالرُبعِ مِن بُع
دِهِمُtheir absence (completion) بَعضُpart الَّذيwhat بيin me
دِهِمُ بَعضُ الَّذي بي
The campsite's affliction from their absence
And the one far away from them
is but part of what afflicts me.
Is part of the one close by
وَاِحبِساand halt, you two الرَكبَthe caravan عَلىfor حاneed (beginning)
وَاِحبِسا الرَكبَ عَلى حا
جَةِneed (completion) ذيone possessing القَلبِthe heart الطَروبِimpassioned
جَةِ ذي القَلبِ الطَروبِ
And you two, halt the caravan for
Detain the caravan for the need
the need of one with a yearning heart:
Of one with a fluttering heart
مُستَهامٌlove-crazed دَلَّهُled him الشَوlonging (beginning)
مُستَهامٌ دَلَّهُ الشَو
قُlonging (completion) عَلىto دارِdwelling الحَبيبِthe beloved
قُ عَلى دارِ الحَبيبِ
a lovesick man whom longing led
Yearning, led by fervor
to the dwelling of his beloved.
To the abode of the beloved
مَوقِفٌa stopping-place مُيِّزَwas distinguished لِلرَكبِfor the caravan
مَوقِفٌ مُيِّزَ لِلرَكبِ
بَرِيّاًan innocent one مِنfrom مُريبِa suspect
بَرِيّاً مِن مُريبِ
A halt that showed the caravan
A stopping point distinguishing for the caravan
the innocent apart from the suspect.
Innocence from guilt
ياO غَزالَgazelle الرَملِthe sands قَلبيmy heart
يا غَزالَ الرَملِ قَلبي
لَكَto you مُنقادُsubmissive الجَنيبِthe led mount
لَكَ مُنقادُ الجَنيبِ
O gazelle of the sands, my heart
O gazelle of the sand, my heart
is yours, docile as a led mount.
Is obedient to you
هَلis there سَبيلٌa way ليfor me إِلىto راrest (beginning)
هَل سَبيلٌ لي إِلى را
حَةِrest (completion) قَلبٍa heart مِنfrom وَجيبِthrobbing
حَةِ قَلبٍ مِن وَجيبِ
Is there a way for me to find
Is there a way for me to the comfort
rest for a heart, free from throbbing?
Of a heart free from blame
نَظرَةًa glance يَملِكُهاclaims it الطَرthe eye (beginning)
نَظرَةً يَملِكُها الطَر
فُeye (completion) عَلىunder عَينِthe eye الرَقيبِthe watcher
فُ عَلى عَينِ الرَقيبِ
A glance the eye can claim
A glance it owns which the eyelid
under the watcher's very eye.
Casts over the watcher’s eye
ماnot لِقائيmy encounter مِنfrom عَدوّيmy enemy
ما لِقائي مِن عَدوّي
كَلِقائيlike my encounter مِنfrom مَشيبِgray hair
كَلِقائي مِن مَشيبِ
What I suffer from my enemy
My meeting with my enemies
is nothing like what I suffer from gray hair:
Is like meeting with old age
موقِدٍkindling ناراًa fire أَضاءَتlit up
موقِدٍ ناراً أَضاءَت
فَوقَupon فودَيَّmy two temples عُيوبيmy flaws
فَوقَ فودَيَّ عُيوبي
kindling a fire that has lit up
A kindling lighting up
my flaws upon both my temples,
Over my defects and flaws
وَبَياضٍand whiteness هُوَit عِندَin the eyes of الthe
وَبَياضٍ هُوَ عِندَ ال
بيضِfair women مِنamong شَرِّthe worst ذُنوبيmy sins
بيضِ مِن شَرِّ ذُنوبي
and a whiteness that, in the eyes of
And a whiteness which with the whites
fair women, is among my worst sins.
Is protection from my sins
ياO قِوامَmainstay الدينِof the faith وَالقاand the one standing (beginning)
يا قِوامَ الدينِ وَالقا
ئِمُstanding (completion) مِنfrom دونِin front of الخُطوبِcalamities
ئِمُ مِن دونِ الخُطوبِ
O Qiwam al-Din, who stands
O pillar of the faith, standing
against calamities,
Without affliction
وَالَّذيand he who يَدعوsummons النَدىgenerosity مِنfrom
وَالَّذي يَدعو النَدى مِن
هُhim (suffix) بِداعٍthrough a caller مُستَجيبِresponsive
هُ بِداعٍ مُستَجيبِ
and you who summon generosity
And the one who calls the dew from Him
from yourself through a caller ready to answer;
With a responding prayer
وَمُغَطّيand one covering الذَنبِwrongdoing بِالعَفwith pardon (beginning)
وَمُغَطّي الذَنبِ بِالعَف
وِpardon (completion) وَكَشّافَand dispeller of الكُروبِdistresses
وِ وَكَشّافَ الكُروبِ
and you who veil wrongdoing with pardon
Covering sins with pardon
and dispel distress;
And revealing tribulations
بِيَدَيهِin his two hands رَكدَةُstillness السَلpeace (beginning)
بِيَدَيهِ رَكدَةُ السَل
مِpeace (completion) وَزَلزالُand the earthquake الحُروبِwars
مِ وَزَلزالُ الحُروبِ
in his hands are the stillness of peace
In His hands, the stillness of peace
and the earthquake of wars.
And the earthquake of wars
قُرِعَتwere struck مِنfrom عودِهِhis wood الأَعthe enemies (beginning)
قُرِعَت مِن عودِهِ الأَع
داءُenemies (completion) بِالنَبعِwith nabʿ-wood الصَليبِhard
داءُ بِالنَبعِ الصَليبِ
His enemies were struck with his staff,
The enemies were struck
made of hard nabʿ-wood,
By the bubbling spring of the cross
بِمَهيبِby one awe-inspiring البِشرِcheerfulness فيin المَحthe assembly (beginning)
بِمَهيبِ البِشرِ في المَح
فِلِassembly (completion) مَرجوِّlooked to with hope القُطوبِfrowning
فِلِ مَرجوِّ القُطوبِ
by one whose cheerful face inspires awe in
With the awe of mankind in the battle
the assembly, whose frown inspires hope;
Where the brave aspire
قائِدِleader of الخَيلِthe steeds تَساقىshare a drink
قائِدِ الخَيلِ تَساقى
بِدَمِwith blood الطَعنِspear-thrusts الصَبيبِstreaming
بِدَمِ الطَعنِ الصَبيبِ
leader of steeds that share a drink
The horsemen leader mingled
of blood streaming from spear-thrusts.
With blood of spears
كُلُّevery أَحوىdark-coated steed عاقِصٌknotting بِالدwith blood (beginning)
كُلُّ أَحوى عاقِصٌ بِالد
دَمِblood (completion) أَطرافَends السَبيبِmane and tail hair
دَمِ أَطرافَ السَبيبِ
Each dark steed knots with blood
Every one with curved sword stained
the tips of its mane and tail.
With blood, the sword-belts
مِنfrom رِجالٍmen أَسفَرواshone بِالwith the
مِن رِجالٍ أَسفَروا بِال
طولِgenerosity أَيّامَdays الشُحوبِpallor
طولِ أَيّامَ الشُحوبِ
From men who shone with
Of men who wore the long days
generosity in days of pallor,
Of misery and hunger
كَثُرواgrew abundant مَجداًin glory وَطابواand became pure
كَثُروا مَجداً وَطابوا
مِنfrom نَجيبٍa noble one فَنَجيبِthen a noble one
مِن نَجيبٍ فَنَجيبِ
they grew great in glory and pure in stock,
Abundant in glory were they
from one noble to the next.
From noble stock
وَتَرىand you see الحَيَّthe tribe سِواهُمother than them
وَتَرى الحَيَّ سِواهُم
مُكثِراًprolific غَيرَnot مَطيبِproducing noble offspring
مُكثِراً غَيرَ مَطيبِ
And you see a tribe other than theirs
And you see the living except them
prolific, but not producing noble offspring.
Numerous, but not wholesome
رُبَّmany a غاوٍmisguided one طُرُقَpaths المَجglory (beginning)
رُبَّ غاوٍ طُرُقَ المَج
دِglory (completion) طُروقَapproach المُستَريبِthe doubter
دِ طُروقَ المُستَريبِ
Many a misguided seeker of glory's paths
Many a misguided took
approaches like a man beset by doubt;
The ways of the doubtful
ساوَرَassailed الأَمرَthe undertaking وَلَمand did not يَعknow (beginning)
ساوَرَ الأَمرَ وَلَم يَع
لَمknow (completion) بِأَسرارِof the secrets الغُيوبِthe unseen
لَم بِأَسرارِ الغُيوبِ
he assailed the undertaking, yet did not know
A shadow he takes from it
the secrets of the unseen.
Morsels without riding
ظُلَّةٌa shadowy canopy يَسلُكُfollows a path مِنهاthrough it
ظُلَّةٌ يَسلُكُ مِنها
لَقَماًa broad road غَيرَnot رَكوبِfit for riding
لَقَماً غَيرَ رَكوبِ
A shadowy canopy through which he takes
Forever it misleads him
a broad road unfit for riding;
To the suspicious matter
أَبَداًalways يَدحوdrives بِهِhim الغَيerror (beginning)
أَبَداً يَدحو بِهِ الغَي
يُerror (completion) إِلىtoward الأَمرِthe undertaking المُريبِdubious
يُ إِلى الأَمرِ المُريبِ
always, error drives him
He was misled and the mothers
toward the dubious undertaking.
Count for him tore garments
سارَset out وَالأُمّاتُand the mothers يُعدِدprepare (beginning)
سارَ وَالأُمّاتُ يُعدِد
نَthey (feminine verb ending) لَهُfor him شَقَّrending الجُيوبِrobe necklines
نَ لَهُ شَقَّ الجُيوبِ
He marched, while mothers prepared
He lends tears certain
to tear their robes at the breast for him.
Of the painful day
يُسلِفُgives in advance الدَمعَtears يَقيناًwith certainty
يُسلِفُ الدَمعَ يَقيناً
بِرَدىof death اليَومِthe day العَصيبِgrievous
بِرَدى اليَومِ العَصيبِ
He advances his tears, certain
His candle extinguished and the ties
of death on the grievous day.
Of the debased heart obeyed
شامَهاglimpsed it وَاِنصاعَand turned back مَحلوloosened (beginning)
شامَها وَاِنصاعَ مَحلو
لَloosened (completion) عُرىbonds القَلبِthe heart النَخيبِtimorous
لَ عُرى القَلبِ النَخيبِ
He glimpsed it and turned back, with loosened
Exhausted from standing, not moving
bonds of a timorous heart;
A leg from wickedness
مُرهَقَhard-pressed الوَقفَةِin his stance لاnot يَغpresses (beginning)
مُرهَقَ الوَقفَةِ لا يَغ
مِزُpresses (completion) ساقاًa leg مِنfrom لُغوبِweariness
مِزُ ساقاً مِن لُغوبِ
hard-pressed where he stands, unable to flex
Shedding torn attire
a leg from weariness;
To the tossing of the mind
طارِحاًcasting مُنخَرِقَtorn السَجthe bucket (beginning)
طارِحاً مُنخَرِقَ السَج
لِbucket (completion) إِلىagainst جولِthe side القَليبِthe well
لِ إِلى جولِ القَليبِ
casting a torn bucket
The skin ripped, the heart visible
against the side of the well;
From the desirable wound
مَزِقَtorn الجِلدِin skin يُرىcan be seen القَلthe heart (beginning)
مَزِقَ الجِلدِ يُرى القَل
بُheart (completion) مِنَthrough الجُرحِthe wound الرَغيبِgaping
بُ مِنَ الجُرحِ الرَغيبِ
his skin torn, the heart can be seen
Crying with the rubbish overturned
through the gaping wound;
From a soaring eagle
ناجِياًescaping مُنقَلَبَlike the retreat of الأَبthe mottled bird (beginning)
ناجِياً مُنقَلَبَ الأَب
غَثِmottled bird (completion) مِنfrom بازٍa hawk طَلوبِeagerly pursuing
غَثِ مِن بازٍ طَلوبِ
escaping as a mottled bird turns away
A day no face remains
from a hawk eager in pursuit.
From bruises and scars
يَومَa day لاnot يَثبُتُholds firm وَجهٌa face
يَومَ لا يَثبُتُ وَجهٌ
مِنagainst كُلومٍwounds وَنُدوبِand scars
مِن كُلومٍ وَنُدوبِ
On a day when no face holds out
The pot of death bubble
against wounds and scars,
With embers and flames
نَغَرَتboiled قِدرُthe cauldron المَناياdeaths
نَغَرَت قِدرُ المَنايا
مِنfrom أُوارٍscorching heat وَلَهيبِand flame
مِن أُوارٍ وَلَهيبِ
the cauldron of death boiled
It hurls death when turbulent
with scorching heat and flame,
With slippers
تَقذِفُhurls المَوتَdeath إِذاwhenever حُشwas stoked (beginning)
تَقذِفُ المَوتَ إِذا حُش
شَwas stoked (completion) لَظاهاits blaze بِالكُعوبِwith spear-shaft joints
شَ لَظاها بِالكُعوبِ
hurling death whenever
Woe to you, O cycles of days
its blaze was stoked with spear-shafts.
As long as I live and my disappointment
اِخسَئيbegone ياO نُوَبَcalamities الأَيّاthe days (beginning)
اِخسَئي يا نُوَبَ الأَيّا
مِdays (completion) ماas long as عِشتُI live وَخيبيand fail
مِ ما عِشتُ وَخيبي
Begone, O calamities of the days,
And go back, O claw of misfortunes
while I live, and be thwarted!
White-clawed
وَاِرجِعيand return ناصِلَةَhaving shed الأَظفاthe claws (beginning)
وَاِرجِعي ناصِلَةَ الأَظفا
رِclaws (completion) بَيضاءَwhite النُيوبِthe fangs
رِ بَيضاءَ النُيوبِ
And turn back with your claws shed,
A wonder how you reached
your fangs white.
The awe-inspiring lion
عَجَباًa wonder كَيفَhow تَطاوَلdared (beginning)
عَجَباً كَيفَ تَطاوَل
تِyou (feminine verb ending) إِلىagainst اللَيثِthe lion المَهيبِawe-inspiring
تِ إِلى اللَيثِ المَهيبِ
A wonder! How did you dare rise
And the towering mountain
against the awe-inspiring lion,
With smooth slopes
وَإِلىand against طَودٍa mountain مِنَof العِزmight (beginning)
وَإِلى طَودٍ مِنَ العِز
زَةِmight (completion) مِزلاقِslippery الجُنوبِin its flanks
زَةِ مِزلاقِ الجُنوبِ
and against a mountain of might
A difficult back that cuts off
with slippery flanks?
The rider before riding
ظَهرُthe back صَعبٍan unruly mount يَقِصُcrushes الراthe rider (beginning)
ظَهرُ صَعبٍ يَقِصُ الرا
كِبَrider (completion) مِنfrom قَبلِbefore الرُكوبِmounting
كِبَ مِن قَبلِ الرُكوبِ
An unruly mount's back, which crushes
How much have I worn patience from you
the rider before he mounts.
Instead of harsh old age
كَمhow often لَبِستُI wore الطولَbounty مِنكُمfrom you
كَم لَبِستُ الطولَ مِنكُم
بَدَلَinstead of البُردِthe cloak القَشيبِfresh and fine
بَدَلَ البُردِ القَشيبِ
How often have I worn your bounty
Blessings like rainfall dotted
instead of a fresh, fine cloak!
The meadow of the strange garden
نِعَمٌblessings كَالمُزنِlike rainclouds نَقَّطsprinkled (beginning)
نِعَمٌ كَالمُزنِ نَقَّط
نَthey (feminine verb ending) ثَرىmoist soil الروضِthe meadow الغَريبِforeign
نَ ثَرى الروضِ الغَريبِ
Blessings like rainclouds have sprinkled
Gusts with a blowing breeze
the soil of a foreign meadow;
Floating with tails
نافِحاتٍwafting بِنَسيمٍwith a breeze
نافِحاتٍ بِنَسيمٍ
سافِياتٍscattering بِذَنوبِwith a bucketful
سافِياتٍ بِذَنوبِ
wafting a breeze,
Each day I am between
scattering water by the bucketful.
A caller and responder
كُلَّevery يَومٍday أَناI مِنهاfrom them
كُلَّ يَومٍ أَنا مِنها
بَينَbetween داعٍa caller وَمُجيبِand a respondent
بَينَ داعٍ وَمُجيبِ
Every day, because of them, I am
Save me from terrors of days
now calling, now answering.
And raids of afflictions
اِنجُbe safe مِنfrom رَوعاتِterrors أَيّاdays (beginning)
اِنجُ مِن رَوعاتِ أَيّا
مٍdays (completion) وَغاراتِand raids خُطوبِcalamities
مٍ وَغاراتِ خُطوبِ
Be safe from the terrors of days
Remaining as long as the light differs
and the raids of calamities,
On the fresh branch
باقِياًremaining ماas long as اِختَلَفَswayed النوthe blossom (beginning)
باقِياً ما اِختَلَفَ النو
رُblossom (completion) عَلىupon الغُصنِthe branch الرَطيبِtender
رُ عَلى الغُصنِ الرَطيبِ
remaining while the blossom sways
Safe from the trembling of wind
upon the tender branch,
From fasting and defects
هَزَّةَthe stirring of الريحِthe wind سَليماًfree
هَزَّةَ الريحِ سَليماً
مِنfrom وُصومٍblemishes وَعُيوبِand faults
مِن وُصومٍ وَعُيوبِ
at the wind's stirring, free
You will not meet with tribulation except
of blemishes and faults.
Casting without hitting the mark
لاmay not لَقاكِmeet you الخَطبُcalamity إِلّاexcept
لا لَقاكِ الخَطبُ إِلّا
رامِياًshooting غَيرَnot مُصيبِhitting the mark
رامِياً غَيرَ مُصيبِ
May calamity meet you only
Whenever you finish a period
shooting, but missing its mark.
Time comes with another
كُلَّماwhenever أَفنَيتَyou exhaust عَقباًa generation
كُلَّما أَفنَيتَ عَقباً
جاءَcame دَهرٌtime بِعَقيبِwith a successor
جاءَ دَهرٌ بِعَقيبِ
Whenever you outlive a generation,
A festival returned to union
time brings another to succeed it.
Of lover and beloved
مِهرَجانٌMihrjan عادَreturned إِلماa visit (beginning)
مِهرَجانٌ عادَ إِلما
مَvisit (completion) مُحِبٍّa lover بِحَبيبِto a beloved
مَ مُحِبٍّ بِحَبيبِ
Mihrjan has returned, visiting
And a ransom came from refusal
as a lover visits his beloved.
In strange falsehood
وَفِداًas a delegate جاءَcame مِنَfrom الإِقgood fortune (beginning)
وَفِداً جاءَ مِنَ الإِق
بالِgood fortune (completion) فيamong زَورٍvisitors غَريبِrare
بالِ في زَورٍ غَريبِ
It came as good fortune's delegate,
Indeed the doubt of time has become
amid a rare company of visitors.
For you, certain of the unseen
إِنَّindeed رَيبَvicissitudes الدَهرِtime أَمسىbecame
إِنَّ رَيبَ الدَهرِ أَمسى
لَكَfor you مَأمونَsafe المَغيبِin its unseen outcome
لَكَ مَأمونَ المَغيبِ
Indeed, time's vicissitudes now hold
Is there for an illness between body
no unseen danger for you.
And heart a healer?
هَلis there لِداءٍfor an illness بَينَbetween جِسمٍa body
هَل لِداءٍ بَينَ جِسمٍ
وَفُؤادٍand a heart مِنany طَبيبِphysician
وَفُؤادٍ مِن طَبيبِ
Is there, for an ailment between a body
He is in your bodies
and a heart, any physician?
And He is in our hearts
هُوَit فيin الأَجسامِbodies مِنكُمamong you
هُوَ في الأَجسامِ مِنكُم
وَهوَand it مِنّاamong us فيin القُلوبِhearts
وَهوَ مِنّا في القُلوبِ
Among you, it is in bodies;
O rising of the full moon, you have
among us, it is in hearts.
No fear of setting
ياO طُلوعَrising البَدرِthe full moon لاmay not ناreach (beginning)
يا طُلوعَ البَدرِ لا نا
لَكَreach you (completion) مَحذورُthe feared الغُروبِsetting
لَكَ مَحذورُ الغُروبِ
O rising full moon, may you never
be overtaken by the dreaded setting!
Partial English translation: 120 of 122 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1