جَلَستُI sat إِلَيهاbeside her وَالتَرامُand the tram يَعدوspeeds
جَلَستُ إِلَيها وَالتَرامُ يَعدو
إِلىto حَيثُwhere لاno واشٍtale-bearer هُناكthere وَلاand no ضِدُّfoe
إِلى حَيثُ لا واشٍ هُناك وَلا ضِدُّ
I sat beside her as the tram sped on,
I sat beside her while the tram sped on, toward a place with neither spy nor foe.
to where there was no tale-bearer and no foe.
These trains are strung across the earth, as though the land were a neck and they its necklace.
قَدِalready اِنتَظَتwere strung هَذيthese القِطاراتُthe trains فيin الثَرىthe earth
قَدِ اِنتَظَت هَذي القِطاراتُ في الثَرى
كَأَنَّas though الثَرىthe earth جيدa neck وَتِلكَand those لَهاfor it عَقدُa necklace
كَأَنَّ الثَرى جيد وَتِلكَ لَها عَقدُ
These trains lay strung upon the earth,
Indeed, a necklace—nay, many necklaces! Do you not see the rails winding and stretching across the ground?
as though the earth were a neck, and they its necklace.
It moves, folding up the earth beneath it, as if its wheels were hands and the soil a garment.
بَلىyes indeed هِيَit عَقدٌa necklace بَلrather عُقودٌnecklaces أَلاdo you not تَرىsee
بَلى هِيَ عَقدٌ بَل عُقودٌ أَلا تَرى
عَلىupon الأَرضِthe ground أَسلاكاًwires تَدورُcurve فَتَمتَدُّthen stretch out
عَلى الأَرضِ أَسلاكاً تَدورُ فَتَمتَدُّ
Yes, a necklace—rather, necklaces. Do you not see
Massive as a mountain, save that the mountain stands still; swift as the wind, save that the wind remains unseen.
wires upon the ground, curving and stretching away?
In its sheer speed, I fancied it stood still, while the world and all upon its back raced by.
يَسيرُit travels فَيَطويand folds up الأَرضَthe earth طَيّاًfolding كَأَنَّماas though
يَسيرُ فَيَطوي الأَرضَ طَيّاً كَأَنَّما
دَواليبُهُits wheels أَيديhands كَأَنَّas though الثَرىthe earth بُردُa striped cloak
دَواليبُهُ أَيدي كَأَنَّ الثَرى بُردُ
It travels, folding up the earth, as though
Carriages hover about it as if it were a king, and those carriages his attending guard.
its wheels were hands, and the earth a striped cloak.
Even the wind falls short when racing it, so how could sleek, swift steeds hope to keep pace?
فَكَالطَودِso like a mountain إِلّاexcept أَنَّthat ذَيّاكَthat one ثابِتٌmotionless
فَكَالطَودِ إِلّا أَنَّ ذَيّاكَ ثابِتٌ
وَكَالريحِand like the wind إِلّاexcept أَنَّthat هاتيكَthat one لاnot تَبدوappears
وَكَالريحِ إِلّا أَنَّ هاتيكَ لا تَبدو
Like a mountain, except that the mountain stands still,
Yet its reins lie in the palm of a servant; oh, who has ever seen a king commanded by a serf?
and like the wind, except that the wind cannot be seen.
It seems to me, my friend, like a guesthouse: one delegation departs as another arrives.
تَوَهَّمتُهُI imagined it مِنbecause of سُرعَةِthe speed of السَيرِtravel راكِداًmotionless
تَوَهَّمتُهُ مِن سُرعَةِ السَيرِ راكِداً
وَأَنَّand that الدُنىthe world فيمَنalong with those who عَلىupon ظَهرِهاits back تَعدوraces
وَأَنَّ الدُنى فيمَن عَلى ظَهرِها تَعدو
Its speed made me imagine it motionless,
Inside, I secluded myself with my beloved, defying my critics, with no aim for her or me but closeness.
and that the world was racing, with all upon its back.
It carried us across the land at a gallop, as if knowing that swift flight was our desire.
تَحومُcircle عَلَيهِaround it المَركَباتُthe vehicles كَأَنَّهُas though it
تَحومُ عَلَيهِ المَركَباتُ كَأَنَّهُ
مَليكa king وَتِلكَand those المَركَباتُthe vehicles لَهُfor him جُندُtroops
مَليك وَتِلكَ المَركَباتُ لَهُ جُندُ
Vehicles circle around it, as though it were
By God, nothing startled me but its sudden halt, for I had feared some wretch might surprise us.
a king, and those vehicles its troops.
When its journey ended, lo and behold, we stood upon the shore of the boundless sea.
تُقَصِّرُfalls short عَنهُof it الريحُthe wind إِمّاif تَسابُقاًin racing
تُقَصِّرُ عَنهُ الريحُ إِمّا تَسابُقاً
فَكَيفَso how تُجاريهِkeep pace with it المُطَهَّمَةُthe well-formed horses الجُردُthe sleek
فَكَيفَ تُجاريهِ المُطَهَّمَةُ الجُردُ
The wind falls short of it when they race,
There we stood, lips sealed in silence, as if struck mute, though not for lack of passion.
so how could sleek, well-formed horses keep pace with it?
We kept silent, yet our eyes spoke volumes; the most tender of conversations is that which the eyes sing.
عَلىdespite أَنَّهُthat it فيin كَفِّthe palm of عَبدٍa slave زِمامُهُits rein
عَلى أَنَّهُ في كَفِّ عَبدٍ زِمامُهُ
فَياso, O مَنwho رَأىhas seen مَلِكاًa king يَصرِفُهُdirects him عَبدُa slave
فَيا مَن رَأى مَلِكاً يَصرِفُهُ عَبدُ
Yet its rein lies in a slave's hand—
We were intoxicated without wine, but rather by love; when it swells in a man's heart, reason fades.
who has ever seen a king directed by a slave?
She spoke, tears wandering in her eyes, while the roses on her cheeks had turned to pale yellow.
كَأَنّيas though I بِهِwith it ياO صاحِfriend دارَa house ضِيافَةٍhospitality
كَأَنّي بِهِ يا صاحِ دارَ ضِيافَةٍ
يُغادِرُهُleaves it وَفدa party وَيَقصِدُهُand heads toward it وَفدُa party
يُغادِرُهُ وَفد وَيَقصِدُهُ وَفدُ
I picture it, my friend, as a house of hospitality:
"Oh, my companion, how sweet death would be right here, if indeed we must one day taste our end."
one party leaves it, and another comes.
What a terrifying and tremendous thought! What a sight to make even solid rock turn soft!
خَلَوتُI was alone بِمَنwith the one whom أَهوىI love بِهِin it رُغمَdespite عاذِليmy reproacher
خَلَوتُ بِمَن أَهوى بِهِ رُغمَ عاذِلي
وَلَمand not يَكُwas غَيرُother than القُربِcloseness ليfor me وَلَهاand for her قَصدُan aim
وَلَم يَكُ غَيرُ القُربِ لي وَلَها قَصدُ
In it I was alone with the one I love, despite my reproacher,
I replied to her, "I love whatever you love; indeed, even poison from you is as sweet as honeycomb."
and neither she nor I sought anything but closeness.
She asked, "Do you long for death for my sake? Cease this jesting; a man's true ornament is his gravity."
فَسارَso it traveled بِناwith us فيacross الأَرضِthe earth وَخداًat a swift pace كَأَنَّماas though
فَسارَ بِنا في الأَرضِ وَخداً كَأَنَّما
دَرىit knew أَنَّthat ماwhat نَبغيهِwe seek it مِنهُfrom it هُوَit الوَخدُswift travel
دَرى أَنَّ ما نَبغيهِ مِنهُ هُوَ الوَخدُ
It carried us swiftly across the earth, as though
I told her, "If I were dwelling in Paradise itself, and you were not with me, by God, Paradise would bring me no joy."
it knew that speed was what we sought from it.
"If no cradle beside you is to hold me, then how lovely, O Hind, if a single grave were to hold us both."
فَماso nothing راعَنيalarmed me وَاللَهِby God إِلّاexcept وُقوفُهُits stopping
فَما راعَني وَاللَهِ إِلّا وُقوفُهُ
فَقدfor indeed كُنتُI was أَخشىafraid أَنthat يُفاجِأُناmight surprise us وَغدُa scoundrel
فَقد كُنتُ أَخشى أَن يُفاجِأُنا وَغدُ
By God, nothing alarmed me but its stopping,
She said, "By the life of Truth, you speak sincerely; may you remain in love, and may love remain yours."
for I had feared some scoundrel might surprise us.
Had I not adored her beauty before, I would have fallen madly in love with her then, by God—and that is enough for me ever after.
وَلَمّاand when اِنتَهىit finished مِنwith سَيرِهits journey وَإِذاand behold بِناthere we were
وَلَمّا اِنتَهى مِن سَيرِه وَإِذا بِنا
عَلىupon شاطِءِthe shore of البَحرِthe sea الَّذيwhich ماno لَهُfor it حَدُّboundary
عَلى شاطِءِ البَحرِ الَّذي ما لَهُ حَدُّ
When it finished its journey, there we were
upon the shore of the sea that has no bounds.
هُناكَthere وَقَفناwe stood وَالشِفاهُand the lips صَوامِتٌsilent
هُناكَ وَقَفنا وَالشِفاهُ صَوامِتٌ
كَأَنَّas though بِناin us عِيّاspeechlessness وَليسَand there was no بِناin us وَجدُpassionate longing
كَأَنَّ بِنا عِيّا وَليسَ بِنا وَجدُ
There we stood, our lips silent,
as though we were tongue-tied, not consumed by love.
سَكَتناwe fell silent وَلَكِنَّbut العُيونَthe eyes نَواطِقٌspeaking
سَكَتنا وَلَكِنَّ العُيونَ نَواطِقٌ
أَرَقُّthe tenderest حَديثٍspeech ماwhat العُيونُthe eyes بِهِwith it تَشدوsing
أَرَقُّ حَديثٍ ما العُيونُ بِهِ تَشدو
We fell silent, but our eyes spoke:
the tenderest speech is what the eyes sing.
سَكِرناwe grew drunk وَلاand no خَمرwine وَلَكِنَّهُbut it was الهَوىlove
سَكِرنا وَلا خَمر وَلَكِنَّهُ الهَوى
إِذاwhen اِشتَدَّgrows strong فيin قَلبِthe heart of اِمرِئٍa person ضَعُفَweakens الرُشدُsound judgment
إِذا اِشتَدَّ في قَلبِ اِمرِئٍ ضَعُفَ الرُشدُ
We were drunk, though there was no wine—it was love:
when it grows strong in a person's heart, sound judgment weakens.
فَقالَتthen she said وَفيand in أَجفانِهاher eyelids الدَمعُthe tears جائِلٌswimming
فَقالَت وَفي أَجفانِها الدَمعُ جائِلٌ
وَقَدand already عادَhad become مُصفَرّاًyellowed عَلىupon خَدِّهاher cheek الوَردُthe rose
وَقَد عادَ مُصفَرّاً عَلى خَدِّها الوَردُ
Then she said, with tears swimming in her eyelids,
and the rose upon her cheek now yellowed:
أَلاah حَبَّذاhow welcome ياO صاحِبيmy friend المَوتُdeath هَهُناright here
أَلا حَبَّذا يا صاحِبي المَوتُ هَهُنا
إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنthere is مِنfrom تَذَوُّقِtasting الرَدىdeath بُدُّan escape
إِذا لَم يَكُن مِن تَذَوُّقِ الرَدى بُدُّ
“Ah, my friend, how welcome death would be here,
if there is no escaping the taste of death!”
فَيالَكso, what a ... you are مِنof فِكرٍa thought مُخيفfrightening وَهائِلٍand dreadful
فَيالَك مِن فِكرٍ مُخيف وَهائِلٍ
وَياand O لَكَfor you مِنof مَرأىa sight يُرُقُّsoftens لَهُat it الصَلدُhard stone
وَيا لَكَ مِن مَرأى يُرُقُّ لَهُ الصَلدُ
What a frightening, dreadful thought!
And what a sight, at which even hard stone softens!
فَقُلتُthen I said لَهاto her إِنّيindeed I مُحِبٌّa lover لِكُلِّof all ماthat which
فَقُلتُ لَها إِنّي مُحِبٌّ لِكُلِّ ما
تُحِبّينَyou love إِنَّindeed السُمَّpoison مِنكِfrom you هُوَit is الشُهدُhoney
تُحِبّينَ إِنَّ السُمَّ مِنكِ هُوَ الشُهدُ
I told her, “I love all that
you love; poison from you is honey.”
فَقالَتthen she said أَمِنis it for أَجليmy sake تَحِنُّyou long إِلىfor الرَدىdeath
فَقالَت أَمِن أَجلي تَحِنُّ إِلى الرَدى
دَعِleave aside الهَزلَjesting إِنَّindeed المَرءَa person حِليَتُهُhis adornment الجَدُّearnestness
دَعِ الهَزلَ إِنَّ المَرءَ حِليَتُهُ الجَدُّ
She said, “Is it for my sake that you long for death?
Leave off jesting: earnestness is a person's adornment.”
فَقُلتُthen I said لَهاto her لَوif كُنتُI were فيin الخُلدِparadise راتِعاًreveling
فَقُلتُ لَها لَو كُنتُ في الخُلدِ راتِعاً
وَلَستِand you are not مَعيwith me وَاللَهِby God ماnot سَرَّنيdelighted me الخُلدُparadise
وَلَستِ مَعي وَاللَهِ ما سَرَّني الخُلدُ
I told her, “Were I reveling in paradise,
and you not with me—by God, paradise would not delight me.
فَإِنso if لَمnot يَكُنthere is مَهدٌa cradle طِلَيكِyour neck (unclear spelling) يَضُمُنيenfolds me
فَإِن لَم يَكُن مَهدٌ طِلَيكِ يَضُمُني
فَياthen oh حَبَّذاhow welcome ياO هِندُHind لَوif ضَمَّناheld us لَحدُa grave
فَيا حَبَّذا يا هِندُ لَو ضَمَّنا لَحدُ
If the cradle of your neck cannot enfold me,
how welcome, Hind, would a grave be that held us both!”
فَقالَتthen she said لَعَمرِby the life of الحَقِّthe Truth إِنَّكَindeed you صادِقٌsincere
فَقالَت لَعَمرِ الحَقِّ إِنَّكَ صادِقٌ
فَدُمتَso may you remain عَلىin وُدaffection وَدامَand may endure لَكَfor you الوُدُّlove
فَدُمتَ عَلى وُد وَدامَ لَكَ الوُدُّ
She said, “By the life of Truth, you are sincere:
may you remain loving, and may love remain yours.”
فَلَوand if لَمnot أَكُنI had been مِنfrom قَبلُbefore أَعشَقُpassionately loving حُسنَهاher beauty
فَلَو لَم أَكُن مِن قَبلُ أَعشَقُ حُسنَها
لَهُمتُI would have been love-struck بِهاwith her وَاللَهِby God حَسبِيَenough for me مِنfrom بَعدُafterward
لَهُمتُ بِها وَاللَهِ حَسبِيَ مِن بَعدُ
Had I not already loved her beauty,
I would have been lost in love with her—by God, she is enough for me henceforth.
Partial English translation: 26 of 52 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1