قُلsay لِلحَمائِمِto the doves فيon ضِفافِthe banks of الواديthe valley
قُل لِلحَمائِمِ في ضِفافِ الوادي
ياO لَيتَكُنَّif only you were عَلىupon شَغافِthe inmost folds of فُؤاديmy heart
يا لَيتَكُنَّ عَلى شَغافِ فُؤادي
Say to the doves along the valley's banks:
Say to the doves upon the valley’s banks,
O, would that you were upon my heart's inmost folds,
"I wish you were perched within the depths of my heart,
لِتَرَيَنَّso you may surely see كَيفَhow تَبَعثَرَتwere scattered أَحلامُهُits dreams
لِتَرَيَنَّ كَيفَ تَبَعثَرَت أَحلامُهُ
وَجَرَتand raced بِهِthrough it الآلامُthe sorrows خَيلَsteeds of طِرادِpursuit
وَجَرَت بِهِ الآلامُ خَيلَ طِرادِ
That you might see how its dreams were scattered,
To see how its dreams have been scattered,
And sorrows raced through it like steeds in pursuit.
And how pains have raced through it like horses in pursuit.
كانَتwere تَشُعُّshining عَلىupon جَوانِبِهِits sides المُنىhopes
كانَت تَشُعُّ عَلى جَوانِبِهِ المُنى
فَخَبَتthen faded وَبَدَّلَand it exchanged جَمرَهاtheir embers بِرَمادِfor ashes
فَخَبَت وَبَدَّلَ جَمرَها بِرَمادِ
Hopes once shone upon its sides,
Hopes used to radiate upon its sides,
Then faded, and it exchanged their embers for ashes.
But they faded, and it exchanged its embers for cold ash.
أَسعِدنَهُgladden it فَعَسىthen perhaps يَخُفُّwill ease وُلوعُهُits yearning
أَسعِدنَهُ فَعَسى يَخُفُّ وُلوعُهُ
إِنَّindeed الشَجِيَّthe sorrowful one أَحَقُّmost deserving بِالإِسعادِof being gladdened
إِنَّ الشَجِيَّ أَحَقُّ بِالإِسعادِ
Gladden it; perhaps its yearning will ease:
Sing to it, for perhaps its passion may lighten;
The sorrowful have the greatest claim to joy.
Truly, the sorrowful one is most deserving of joy.
ذَهَبَhas gone الصِباyouth وَبَقَيتِand you remain فيin حَسَراتِهِregrets for it
ذَهَبَ الصِبا وَبَقَيتِ في حَسَراتِهِ
لَيتَif only الأَسىgrief مِثلَlike الصِباyouth لِنَفادِwere bound to end
لَيتَ الأَسى مِثلَ الصِبا لِنَفادِ
Youth has gone, and you remain amid regrets for it.
Youth has departed, and you remain amidst its regrets;
Would that grief, like youth, were bound to end!
Would that sorrow were like youth, destined to end!
إِنَّindeed الشَبابَyouth هُوَitself الغِنىwealth فَإِذاand when مَضىit passes
إِنَّ الشَبابَ هُوَ الغِنى فَإِذا مَضى
وَأَقَمتَand you remain لاnot يَنفَكُّceases فَقرَكَyour poverty باديapparent
وَأَقَمتَ لا يَنفَكُّ فَقرَكَ بادي
Youth itself is wealth; and when it passes,
Youth is true wealth; so when it passes,
And you remain, your poverty is ever plain.
And you remain, your poverty never ceases to show.
أَمسَيتُI have come to أَنظُرُlook فيat الحَياةِlife فَلاyet not أَرىI see
أَمسَيتُ أَنظُرُ في الحَياةِ فَلا أَرى
إِلّاexcept سَواداًdarkness آخِذاًtaking hold بِسَوادِof darkness
إِلّا سَواداً آخِذاً بِسَوادِ
I now gaze upon life, yet see nothing
I have come to look upon life and see nothing,
But darkness clasping darkness.
Save darkness grasping at darkness.
أَلقىI greet الصَباحَthe morning فَلاbut not يَطولُlasts long تَأَمُّليmy contemplation
أَلقى الصَباحَ فَلا يَطولُ تَأَمُّلي
حَتّىuntil يَحولُturns شُعاعُهُits radiance لِصَعادِinto spears
حَتّى يَحولُ شُعاعُهُ لِصَعادِ
I greet the morning, but scarcely have I gazed
I meet the morning, but my contemplation does not last,
Before its radiance turns to spears.
Before its beams turn into rising dust.
وَإِذاand when تُقابِلُنيface me النُجومُthe stars تَخاوَصَتsquint
وَإِذا تُقابِلُني النُجومُ تَخاوَصَت
فَكَأَنَّماso as though هِيَthey أَعيُنُthe eyes of الحُسّادِthe envious
فَكَأَنَّما هِيَ أَعيُنُ الحُسّادِ
And when the stars face me, they squint,
And when the stars confront me, they squint,
As though they were the eyes of the envious.
As though they were the eyes of the envious.
ماnot ثَمَّthere ذِكرىa memory إِذاwhen خَطَرَتoccurs عَلىto
ما ثَمَّ ذِكرى إِذا خَطَرَت عَلى
قَلبيmy heart اِستَراحَfinds rest سِوىexcept خَيالِthe image of الواديthe valley
قَلبي اِستَراحَ سِوى خَيالِ الوادي
No memory, when it passes through
There is no memory there—if it crosses my mind,
My heart, brings rest, save the valley's image.
My heart finds rest—except the phantom of the valley.
أَفَلاdoes it not تَزالُstill الشَمسُthe sun تَصبُغُdye وَجهَهُits face
أَفَلا تَزالُ الشَمسُ تَصبُغُ وَجهَهُ
بِالوَرسِwith yellow wars-dye آوِنَةat times وَبِالفِرصادِand with mulberry red
بِالوَرسِ آوِنَة وَبِالفِرصادِ
Does the sun not still dye its face
Does the sun still dye its face,
With yellow wars-dye at times, and with mulberry red?
With saffron at times, and crimson mulberry at others?
أَفَلاdoes it not يَزالُstill يَذوبُmelt فيin أَمواجِهِits waves
أَفَلا يَزالُ يَذوبُ في أَمواجِهِ
ذَهَبُthe gold of الأَصيلlate afternoon وَفَضَّةُand the silver of الآرادِearly mornings
ذَهَبُ الأَصيل وَفَضَّةُ الآرادِ
Does there not still melt within its waves
Does there still melt into its waves,
The gold of evening and the silver of early mornings?
The gold of the twilight and the silver of the ripples?
لَهَفيmy anguish إِذاwhen وَرَدَcome to the water الرِفاقُthe companions عَشِيَّةًat dusk
لَهَفي إِذا وَرَدَ الرِفاقُ عَشِيَّةً
وَذَكَرتُand I remember أَنّيthat I لَستُI am not فيamong الرُوّادِthose who come
وَذَكَرتُ أَنّي لَستُ في الرُوّادِ
Ah, my anguish when companions come to the water at dusk,
My sorrow arises when companions arrive at evening,
And I remember I am not among those who come!
And I remember that I am not among the visitors,
وَإِذاand when الحَمامُthe doves شَداsing وَصَفَّقَand clap مَوجُهُits waves
وَإِذا الحَمامُ شَدا وَصَفَّقَ مَوجُهُ
أَنthat لاnot أُصَفِّقَI applaud لِلحِمامِfor the doves الشاديsinging
أَن لا أُصَفِّقَ لِلحِمامِ الشادي
And when the doves sing and its waves clap,
And when the dove sings and its waves clap,
That I do not applaud the singing doves!
That I am not there to applaud the singing dove,
وَإِذاand when النَخيلُthe palms تَطاوَلَتgrow long أَظلالُهُtheir shadows
وَإِذا النَخيلُ تَطاوَلَت أَظلالُهُ
أَنthat لاnot يَكونَbe مِظَلَّتيmy shelter وَوِساديand my pillow
أَن لا يَكونَ مِظَلَّتي وَوِسادي
And when the palms' shadows stretch long,
And when the palm trees extend their shadows,
That they are not my shelter and my pillow!
That they are not my canopy nor my pillow,
وَإِذاand when الكَواكِبُthe stars رَصَّعَتstud آفاقُهُits horizons
وَإِذا الكَواكِبُ رَصَّعَت آفاقُهُ
أَنthat لاnot يَكونَbe لِرَعيِهِنَّfor watching them سُهاديmy sleeplessness
أَن لا يَكونَ لِرَعيِهِنَّ سُهادي
And when the stars stud its horizons,
And when the stars bejewel its horizons,
That my sleepless hours are not spent watching them!
That my sleeplessness is not spent tending to them.
ذُقتُI tasted الهَوىlove وَعَرَفتُهُand knew it فيon شَطِّهِits bank
ذُقتُ الهَوى وَعَرَفتُهُ في شَطِّهِ
إِنَّindeed الهَوىlove لِلمَرءِfor a person كَالميلادِlike birth
إِنَّ الهَوى لِلمَرءِ كَالميلادِ
I tasted love and knew it upon its bank;
I tasted love and knew it upon its banks;
Love is to a person like being born.
Truly, love to a man is like a second birth.
لاnot تُدرِكُgrasp الأَكبادُhearts سِرَّthe secret of وُجودِهاtheir existence
لا تُدرِكُ الأَكبادُ سِرَّ وُجودِها
حَتّىuntil يَجولُcourses الحُبُّlove فيthrough الأَكبادِhearts
حَتّى يَجولُ الحُبُّ في الأَكبادِ
Hearts do not grasp the secret of their being
Hearts do not grasp the secret of their existence,
Until love courses through those hearts.
Until love roams freely within them.
ماas long as عُشتُI have lived لَمhas not يَمسُسtouched جَوانِحَكَyour breast الهَوىlove
ما عُشتُ لَم يَمسُس جَوانِحَكَ الهَوى
لَمnot نَدرِwe have known ماwhat فيin العَيشِlife مِنof أَمجادِglories
لَم نَدرِ ما في العَيشِ مِن أَمجادِ
As long as I have lived, love has not touched your breast;
As long as you live, if love has not touched your ribs,
We have not known what glories life contains.
We know not what glories lie in life.
لاnot تُبصِرُsee العَينُthe eye الرِياضthe gardens وَحَليَهاand their jewels
لا تُبصِرُ العَينُ الرِياض وَحَليَها
إِلّاexcept عَلىby ضَوءِthe light of الصَباحِmorning الهاديguiding
إِلّا عَلى ضَوءِ الصَباحِ الهادي
The eye cannot see gardens and their jewels
The eye does not perceive the gardens and their ornaments,
Except by the guiding light of morning.
Except by the light of the calm morning.
وَطَنانِtwo homelands أَشوَقُmost yearning ماwhen أَكونُI am إِلَيهِماfor them both
وَطَنانِ أَشوَقُ ما أَكونُ إِلَيهِما
مِصرُEgypt الَّتيwhich أَحبَبتُهاI have loved it وَبِلاديand my country
مِصرُ الَّتي أَحبَبتُها وَبِلادي
Two homelands draw my deepest longing:
Two homelands I yearn for most:
Egypt, which I have loved, and my own country.
Egypt, which I have loved, and my own country.
وَمَواطِنُand the homelands of الأَرواحِspirits يَعظُمُgrows شَأنَهاtheir importance
وَمَواطِنُ الأَرواحِ يَعظُمُ شَأنَها
فيwithin النَفسِthe soul فَوقَabove مَواطِنِthe homelands of الأَجسادِbodies
في النَفسِ فَوقَ مَواطِنِ الأَجسادِ
The homelands of spirits stand higher in esteem
And the homelands of souls hold greater significance,
Within the soul than the homelands of bodies.
Within the self, than the homelands of bodies.
حِرصيmy care عَلىfor حُبِّloving الكِنانَةِal-Kinana دونَهُless than it
حِرصي عَلى حُبِّ الكِنانَةِ دونَهُ
حِرصُthe care of السَجينِthe prisoner عَلىfor بَقاياthe remnants of الزادِprovisions
حِرصُ السَجينِ عَلى بَقايا الزادِ
My care to cherish al-Kinana exceeds
My zeal for the love of Egypt is matched only,
A prisoner's care for his remaining provisions.
By the zeal of a prisoner for the last of his provisions.
بَلَدَO land of الجَماليbeauty خَفِيِّهits hidden aspect وَجَلِيِّهِand its visible aspect
بَلَدَ الجَمالي خَفِيِّه وَجَلِيِّهِ
وَالفَنِّand art مِنof مُستَطرِفthe newly acquired وَتِلادِand the inherited
وَالفَنِّ مِن مُستَطرِف وَتِلادِ
O land of beauty, hidden and revealed,
Land of beauty, both hidden and revealed,
And of art, both new and ancestral!
And of art, both novel and ancient.
عَرَضَتdisplayed مَواكِبَهاtheir pageants الشُعوبُthe peoples فَلَمbut did not أَجِدI find
عَرَضَت مَواكِبَها الشُعوبُ فَلَم أَجِد
إِلّاexcept بِمِصرَin Egypt نَضارَةَthe freshness of الآبادِthe ages
إِلّا بِمِصرَ نَضارَةَ الآبادِ
The nations displayed their pageants, yet I found
Nations displayed their processions, yet I found not,
Only in Egypt the freshness of the ages.
Save in Egypt, the freshness of eternity.
كَمhow many مِنof دَفينٍa buried one فيin ثَراهاits soil لَمhas not يَزَلceased
كَم مِن دَفينٍ في ثَراها لَم يَزَل
كَالحَيِّlike the living ذاpossessing مِقَةaffection وَذاand possessing أَحقادِgrudges
كَالحَيِّ ذا مِقَة وَذا أَحقادِ
How many lie buried in its soil, yet remain
How many buried in its soil remain,
As though alive, bearing love and grudges!
Like the living, possessing love and possessing malice,
وَمُشَيَّدٍand a lofty edifice لِلناسِfor people إِذwhen يَغشونَهُthey visit it
وَمُشَيَّدٍ لِلناسِ إِذ يَغشونَهُ
مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَرضٍland خِشيَةَthe awe of العُبّادِworshippers
مِن كُلِّ أَرضٍ خِشيَةَ العُبّادِ
And many a lofty monument inspires in those who visit it
And edifices built for people, which they visit,
From every land the awe of worshippers.
From every land, with the reverence of worshippers.
عاشَlived الجُدودthe ancestors وَأَثَّلواand they founded ماwhat أَثَّلواthey founded
عاشَ الجُدود وَأَثَّلوا ما أَثَّلوا
وَاليَومَand today يَنبَعِثونَthey rise again فيin الأَحفادِthe descendants
وَاليَومَ يَنبَعِثونَ في الأَحفادِ
The ancestors lived and founded all they founded,
The ancestors lived and established what they established,
And today they rise again in their descendants,
And today they are resurrected in the grandchildren,
المُسبِغينَthose lavishing عَلىupon النَوابِغِthe gifted فَضلَهُمtheir bounty
المُسبِغينَ عَلى النَوابِغِ فَضلَهُم
كَالفَجرِlike dawn مُنبَسِطاًspreading عَلىover الأَطوادِtowering mountains
كَالفَجرِ مُنبَسِطاً عَلى الأَطوادِ
Who lavish their bounty upon the gifted,
Who bestow their bounty upon geniuses,
Like dawn spreading over towering mountains.
Like the dawn spreading over the mountains.
أَبناءَO sons of مِصرَEgypt الناهِضينَrising تَحِيَّةًa greeting
أَبناءَ مِصرَ الناهِضينَ تَحِيَّةً
كَوَدادِكُمlike your love إِنif لَمnot أَقُلI say كَوَداديlike my love
كَوَدادِكُم إِن لَم أَقُل كَوَدادي
O rising sons of Egypt, a greeting
O rising sons of Egypt, a greeting to you,
As warm as your love—if I do not say as mine—
Like your affection, if I do not say like mine,
مِنfrom شاعِرٍa poet كَلِفٍenamored بِكُمof you وَبِأَرضِكُمand of your land
مِن شاعِرٍ كَلِفٍ بِكُم وَبِأَرضِكُم
أَبَداًalways يُواليhe befriends فيكُمfor your sake وَيُعاديand he opposes
أَبَداً يُوالي فيكُم وَيُعادي
From a poet enamored of you and your land,
From a poet enamored with you and with your land,
Who always befriends and opposes for your sake.
Who forever befriends and makes enemies for your sake.
إِنif تُكرِمواyou honor شَيخَthe elder of الصَحافَةِjournalism تُكرَمواyou are honored
إِن تُكرِموا شَيخَ الصَحافَةِ تُكرَموا
أَسنىthe brightest of الكَواكِبِthe stars فيin سَماءِthe sky of الضادِḍād, symbolizing Arabic
أَسنى الكَواكِبِ في سَماءِ الضادِ
Honor is yours if you honor journalism's elder,
If you honor the Sheikh of the Press, you honor,
The brightest star in the sky of Arabic.
The brightest star in the sky of the Arabic tongue.
خَلَعَdraped الشَبابُyouth عَلىupon الكِنانَةِal-Kinana مُطرَفاًa sumptuous cloak
خَلَعَ الشَبابُ عَلى الكِنانَةِ مُطرَفاً
هُوَit is كَالرَبيعِlike spring عَلىupon رُبىًhills وَوِهادِand hollows
هُوَ كَالرَبيعِ عَلى رُبىً وَوِهادِ
Youth draped al-Kinana in a sumptuous cloak,
Youth has draped a robe over Egypt,
Like spring upon hills and hollows.
That is like spring upon the hills and valleys.
ماnot زالَceased يُقحِمُplunges فيinto الجَهالَةِignorance نورُهُhis light
ما زالَ يُقحِمُ في الجَهالَةِ نورُهُ
حَتّىuntil تَقاصَرَgrew shorter لَيلُهاits night المُتَماديlong-drawn
حَتّى تَقاصَرَ لَيلُها المُتَمادي
His light kept piercing ignorance,
His light continued to charge against ignorance,
Until its lingering night grew shorter,
Until its prolonged night grew short,
بِصَحيفَةٍthrough a newspaper نورُthe light of العُيونِeyes سَوادُهاits black print
بِصَحيفَةٍ نورُ العُيونِ سَوادُها
وَبَياضُهاand its whiteness مِنfrom ناصِعِthe bright whiteness of الأَجيادِnecks
وَبَياضُها مِن ناصِعِ الأَجيادِ
Through a newspaper whose black print is light to the eyes,
With a journal whose black ink is the light of eyes,
And whose whiteness comes from gleaming necks.
And whose whiteness is like pure, noble necks,
يُنبوعُa fountain of مَعرِفَةknowledge وَهَيكَلُand a temple of حِكمَةٍwisdom
يُنبوعُ مَعرِفَة وَهَيكَلُ حِكمَةٍ
وَوِعاءُand a vessel of آدابletters وَكُنزُand a treasure of رَشادِguidance
وَوِعاءُ آداب وَكُنزُ رَشادِ
A fountain of knowledge, a temple of wisdom,
A spring of knowledge and a temple of wisdom,
A vessel of letters, a treasure of guidance.
A vessel of literature and a treasure of guidance.
أَغلىthe most precious المَواهِبtalents وَالعُقولِand minds رَأَيتُهاI have seen them
أَغلى المَواهِب وَالعُقولِ رَأَيتُها
سَكَنَتdwelt قُصورَpalaces of مَهارِقparchments وَمِدادِand ink
سَكَنَت قُصورَ مَهارِق وَمِدادِ
I have seen the most precious talents and minds
The most precious talents and minds I have seen,
Dwelling in palaces of parchment and ink.
Have dwelt in palaces of parchment and ink.
ذِكرُthe memory of المَجاهِدِthe striver فيin الحَقيقَةِreality خالِدٌeverlasting
ذِكرُ المَجاهِدِ في الحَقيقَةِ خالِدٌ
وَيَزولُand passes away رُبَّthe master of السَيفthe sword وَالأَجنادِand armies
وَيَزولُ رُبَّ السَيف وَالأَجنادِ
The memory of the striver is truly everlasting,
The memory of one who struggles for truth is eternal,
While the master of sword and armies passes away.
While the lord of the sword and armies vanishes.
لَولاwere it not for جَبابِرَةُthe titans of القَرائِحِcreative genius لَمnot يَسِرwould spread
لَولا جَبابِرَةُ القَرائِحِ لَم يَسِر
فيthroughout الأَرضِthe earth ذِكرُthe fame of جَبابِرِthe mighty ones among القُوّادِcommanders
في الأَرضِ ذِكرُ جَبابِرِ القُوّادِ
Without the titans of genius, there would not have spread
Were it not for the giants of intellect, there would not travel,
Across the earth the fame of mighty commanders.
Upon the earth the fame of the giants of command.
ماno ذَلَّلتُhas smoothed سُبُلَthe paths to المَعاليgreatness أُمَّةٌa nation
ما ذَلَّلتُ سُبُلَ المَعالي أُمَّةٌ
إِلّاexcept بِقُوَّةِthrough the strength of مُصلِحٍa reformer أَوor هاديa guide
إِلّا بِقُوَّةِ مُصلِحٍ أَو هادي
No nation has smoothed the paths to greatness
No nation has paved the paths of glory,
Except through the strength of a reformer or a guide.
Except by the power of a reformer or a guide.
صَرّوفٌSarruf يَسأَلُكَasks you الأَنامُmankind فَقُلso tell لَهُمto them
صَرّوفٌ يَسأَلُكَ الأَنامُ فَقُل لَهُم
كَمhow many فيin حَياتِكَyour life ساعَةَan hour of اِستِشهادِmartyrdom
كَم في حَياتِكَ ساعَةَ اِستِشهادِ
Sarruf, mankind asks you; tell them:
Sarruf, the people ask you, so tell them:
How many hours of martyrdom has your life held?
How many hours of martyrdom are in your life?
طَلَعَrose القُنوطُdespair عَلَيكَagainst you مِنfrom أَغوارِهِits depths
طَلَعَ القُنوطُ عَلَيكَ مِن أَغوارِهِ
فَرَدَدتَand you repelled طائِرَهits bird وَجَأشُكَwhile your heart هاديcalm
فَرَدَدتَ طائِرَه وَجَأشُكَ هادي
Despair rose against you from its depths,
Despair rose upon you from its depths,
And you repelled its bird, your heart serene.
But you repelled its omen while your heart was calm.
وَمَضَيتَand you went on تَستَقصيprobing الحَياةlife وَسِرَّهاand its secret
وَمَضَيتَ تَستَقصي الحَياة وَسِرَّها
فيin كُلِّevery عاقِلَةsentient being وَكُلِّand every جَمادِlifeless thing
في كُلِّ عاقِلَة وَكُلِّ جَمادِ
And you went on probing life and its secret
And you went on investigating life and its secret,
In every sentient being and every lifeless thing,
In every sentient being and every inanimate object,
حَتّىuntil لَكِدتَyou almost تُحِسَّfelt هاجِسَةَthe whisper of المُنىhopes
حَتّى لَكِدتَ تُحِسَّ هاجِسَةَ المُنى
وَتَبينَand you discerned كَمhow many فيin النَفسِthe soul مِنof أَضدادِopposites
وَتَبينَ كَم في النَفسِ مِن أَضدادِ
Until you almost felt the whispering of hopes
Until you almost felt the whisper of hopes,
And discerned how many opposites dwell in the soul.
And realized how many opposites exist within the soul.
أَنتَyou الَّذيthe one who أَسرَتjourneyed by night بِهِwith him عَزَماتُهُhis resolves
أَنتَ الَّذي أَسرَت بِهِ عَزَماتُهُ
وَالدَربُand the road غامِضَةٌobscure عَلىto الرُوّادِpathfinders
وَالدَربُ غامِضَةٌ عَلى الرُوّادِ
You are the one whose resolves bore him through the night,
You are the one whose determinations journeyed by night,
While the road was obscure to pathfinders,
While the path was obscure even to the pioneers,
وَاللَيلُand night آفاتٌperils عَلىover أَغوارِهاits ravines
وَاللَيلُ آفاتٌ عَلى أَغوارِها
وَالهَولُand terror أَنجادٌmighty warriors عَلىupon الأَنجادِthe highlands
وَالهَولُ أَنجادٌ عَلى الأَنجادِ
And night was a host of perils over its ravines,
And the night was a plague upon the lowlands,
And terror stood as warriors upon the heights.
And terror was high plateaus upon the high plateaus.
إِنَّindeed الحَقائِقَtruths أَنتَyou ناشِرٌunfurling بَندَهاtheir banner
إِنَّ الحَقائِقَ أَنتَ ناشِرٌ بَندَها
فيin حينِthe time when كانَwas العِلمُknowledge كَالإِلحادِlike unbelief
في حينِ كانَ العِلمُ كَالإِلحادِ
It was you who unfurled the banner of truth
Verily, truths—you are the unfurler of their banner,
At a time when knowledge was akin to unbelief,
At a time when science was treated like heresy,
وَالعَقلُand reason فيin الشَرقِيِّthe Easterner مِنbecause of أَوهامِهِhis delusions
وَالعَقلُ في الشَرقِيِّ مِن أَوهامِهِ
كَالنَسرِlike an eagle فيin الأَوهاقnooses وَالأَصفادِand chains
كَالنَسرِ في الأَوهاق وَالأَصفادِ
And the Easterner's mind, through his delusions,
And the intellect of the Easterner, due to his illusions,
Was like an eagle in nooses and chains.
Was like an eagle in snares and shackles.
تَشقىsuffer مَتىwhenever تَشقىsuffer الشُعوبُthe nations بِجَهلِهاthrough their ignorance
تَشقى مَتى تَشقى الشُعوبُ بِجَهلِها
وَتَعُزُّand grow mighty حينَwhen تَعُزُّgrow mighty بِالأَفرادِthrough individuals
وَتَعُزُّ حينَ تَعُزُّ بِالأَفرادِ
Nations suffer, when they suffer, through their ignorance,
Nations suffer when they suffer due to their ignorance,
And grow mighty, when they do, through individuals:
And they become mighty when they become mighty through individuals,
الساهِرينَthose keeping vigil اللَيلَthrough the night مِثلَlike نُجومِهِits stars
الساهِرينَ اللَيلَ مِثلَ نُجومِهِ
فَكَأَنَّهُمso as though they لِلدَهرِfor Time بِالمِرصادِlie in wait
فَكَأَنَّهُم لِلدَهرِ بِالمِرصادِ
Those who keep vigil through the night like its stars,
Those who stay awake at night like its stars,
As though they lay in wait for Time;
As if they are lying in wait for Time itself,
الباذِلينَthose offering نُفوسَهُمtheir lives لَمnot يَسأَلواthey asked
الباذِلينَ نُفوسَهُم لَم يَسأَلوا
وَعَلىand upon النُفوسِthe souls مَدارِعُcoats of الفولادِsteel
وَعَلى النُفوسِ مَدارِعُ الفولادِ
Who give their lives and ask for nothing,
Who sacrifice their souls, asking for nothing,
Their souls clad in coats of steel.
While upon their souls are armors of steel.
خَفَضواthey lowered جَناحَهُمtheir wing وَتَحتَand beneath بُرودِهِمtheir cloaks
خَفَضوا جَناحَهُم وَتَحتَ بُرودِهِم
هِمَمُthe ambitions of المُلوكkings وَصَولَةُand the onslaught of المُرّادِdefiant giants
هِمَمُ المُلوك وَصَولَةُ المُرّادِ
They lower their wings, yet beneath their cloaks
They lowered their wing in humility, yet beneath their cloaks,
Lie kings' ambitions and the onslaught of defiant giants.
Are the ambitions of kings and the assault of conquerors.
لَهُمُtheirs is الزَمانُtime قَديمُهits past وَحَديثُهُand its present
لَهُمُ الزَمانُ قَديمُه وَحَديثُهُ
ماnot الناسُpeople فيin الدُنياthe world سِوىexcept الآحادِexceptional individuals
ما الناسُ في الدُنيا سِوى الآحادِ
Time is theirs, its past and its present;
To them belongs Time, its ancient and its modern;
Humanity in this world is but its outstanding few.
People in this world are nothing but the unique few.
إِنَّindeed الأَنامَmankind عَلىacross اِختِلافِthe diversity of عُصورِهِمtheir eras
إِنَّ الأَنامَ عَلى اِختِلافِ عُصورِهِم
جَعَلواthey have assigned لِأَهلِto the people of العِلمِknowledge صَدرَthe foremost seat in الناديthe gathering
جَعَلوا لِأَهلِ العِلمِ صَدرَ النادي
Mankind, through all its different ages,
Truly, mankind, throughout their varying ages,
Has given the learned the foremost seat in the gathering.
Have assigned the forefront of the assembly to the people of knowledge.
ماnot العيدُthe celebration لِلخَمسينَfor fifty بَلbut عيدُa celebration of النُهىintellect
ما العيدُ لِلخَمسينَ بَل عيدُ النُهى
وَفُنونِهand its arts وَالخاطِرِand the mind الوَقّادِblazing
وَفُنونِه وَالخاطِرِ الوَقّادِ
The celebration is not of fifty years, but of intellect
This is not a festival for the fifty years, but a festival of the mind,
And its arts, and the blazing mind.
And of its arts, and of the burning intellect,
عيفدُa celebration الحَصافَةsound judgment وَالصَحافَةِand journalism كُلِّهاall of it
عيفدُ الحَصافَة وَالصَحافَةِ كُلِّها
فيin مِصرَEgypt فيin بَيروتَBeirut فيin بَغداسدِBaghdad
في مِصرَ في بَيروتَ في بَغداسدِ
A celebration of sound judgment and all journalism,
The festival of prudence and of all journalism,
In Egypt, in Beirut, in Baghdad.
In Egypt, in Beirut, and in Baghdad.
ماnot العَيشُlife بِالأَعوامِby years كَمhow many مِنof حِقبَةٍan age
ما العَيشُ بِالأَعوامِ كَم مِن حِقبَةٍ
كَالمَحوِlike an erasure فيin عُمرِthe lifetime of السَوادِthe masses العاديordinary
كَالمَحوِ في عُمرِ السَوادِ العادي
Life is not reckoned in years; how many an age
Life is not measured by years; how many eras,
Is like a blank in the lifetime of the ordinary crowd!
Are like oblivion in the lifespan of the common multitude?
العُمرُa lifetime إِلّاexcept بِالمَآثِرِthrough noble deeds فارِغٌempty
العُمرُ إِلّا بِالمَآثِرِ فارِغٌ
كَالقَفرِlike a wasteland طالَgrew long بِهِin it عَناءُthe toil of الحاديthe singing camel-driver
كَالقَفرِ طالَ بِهِ عَناءُ الحادي
Without noble deeds, a lifetime is empty,
Life, without glorious deeds, is empty,
Like a wasteland where the camel-driver's toil drags on.
Like a wasteland where the singer's toil is long.
وَسِوىand other than حَياةِthe life of العَبقَرِيِّthe genius نَقيسُهاwe measure it
وَسِوى حَياةِ العَبقَرِيِّ نَقيسُها
فَتُقاسُso it is measured بِالآجالby allotted lifespans وَالآمادِand spans of time
فَتُقاسُ بِالآجال وَالآمادِ
Lives other than the genius's we measure—
But the life of the genius, we measure it otherwise,
They are measured by allotted terms and spans of time.
For it is measured by eternities and epochs.
Sol 6.1