لا تَقلَقي يَومَ النَوى أَو فَاِقلَقي

لا تَقلَقي يَومَ النَوى أَو فَاِقلَقي

يا نَفسُ كُلُّ تَجَمُّعٍ لِتَفَرُّقِ

يا نَفسُ كُلُّ تَجَمُّعٍ لِتَفَرُّقِ

Do not fret on the day of parting—or fret.

Do not fret on the day of parting, oh my soul, or be anxious,

Fret not on the day of parting, or fret as you will;

O soul, every gathering is destined for parting.

For every gathering is destined to disperse.

Oh soul, every gathering is destined to disperse.

اللَهُ قَدَّرَ أَن تَمُسَّ يَدُ الأَسى

اللَهُ قَدَّرَ أَن تَمُسَّ يَدُ الأَسى

أَرواحَنا كَيما تَرِقَّ وَتَرتَقي

أَرواحَنا كَيما تَرِقَّ وَتَرتَقي

God ordained that sorrow's hand should touch

God has decreed that the hand of sorrow

God has decreed that the hand of sorrow touch

Our souls, so that they may grow tender and ascend.

Should touch our spirits so they may grow refined.

Our spirits, so that they may soften and ascend.

أَوفى عَلى الشُهبِ الدُجى فَتَأَلَّقَت

أَوفى عَلى الشُهبِ الدُجى فَتَأَلَّقَت

لَولا اِعتِكارُ اللَيلِ لَم تَتَأَلَّقِ

لَولا اِعتِكارُ اللَيلِ لَم تَتَأَلَّقِ

Darkness loomed over the stars, so they glittered;

The stars shine brightest against the dark of night;

Darkness loomed over the meteors, so they sparkled;

Had night not thickened, they would not have glittered.

If not for the gloom of night they would not shine.

Were it not for the night's gloom, they would never shine.

وَالفَحمُ لَيسَ يُضيءُ إِن لَم يَضطَرِم

وَالفَحمُ لَيسَ يُضيءُ إِن لَم يَضطَرِم

وَالنَدُّ لَيسَ يَضوعُ إِن لَم يُحرَقِ

وَالنَدُّ لَيسَ يَضوعُ إِن لَم يُحرَقِ

And charcoal gives no light unless it blazes;

Embers give no light if they do not burn bright,

For coal gives off no light unless it is kindled,

And incense gives no fragrance unless it is burned.

Dew drops do not glisten if they are not lit.

And incense yields no fragrance unless it is burned.

لا أَضرِبُ الأَمثالَ مَدحاً لِلنَوى

لا أَضرِبُ الأَمثالَ مَدحاً لِلنَوى

لَيتَ الفِراقَ وَيَومُهُ لَم يُخلَقِ

لَيتَ الفِراقَ وَيَومُهُ لَم يُخلَقِ

I do not draw these comparisons in praise of parting;

I do not cite examples praising parting -

I cite not these parables to praise the distance;

Would that parting and its day had never been created!

Would that parting and its day had never come to be!

Would that separation and its day were never created.

ما في الوَداعِ سِوى تَلَعثُمِ أَلسُنٍ

ما في الوَداعِ سِوى تَلَعثُمِ أَلسُنٍ

وَذُهولِ أَرواحٍ وَهَمٍّ مُطبِقِ

وَذُهولِ أَرواحٍ وَهَمٍّ مُطبِقِ

In farewell there is only the stammering of tongues,

Leave-taking holds nothing but stammering tongues

In farewell, there is naught but the stammering of tongues,

And the bewilderment of souls, and all-enveloping grief.

Confused souls and overwhelming anxiety.

The stupor of souls, and overwhelming grief.

عَنَّفتُ قَلبِيَ حينَ طالَ خُفوقُهُ

عَنَّفتُ قَلبِيَ حينَ طالَ خُفوقُهُ

فَأَجابَ بَل لُمني إِذا لَم أَخفُقِ

فَأَجابَ بَل لُمني إِذا لَم أَخفُقِ

I rebuked my heart when its throbbing lingered;

I chided my heart when its throbbing grew too wild:

I rebuked my heart when its fluttering persisted,

So it answered: Rather, blame me if I do not beat.

It answered, “Let me throb if I cannot be still.”

But it replied, "Nay, blame me only if I cease to beat."

أَنا طائِرٌ قَد كانَ يَمرَحُ في الرُبى

أَنا طائِرٌ قَد كانَ يَمرَحُ في الرُبى

وَعَلى ضِفافِ الجَدوَلِ المُتَرَقرِقِ

وَعَلى ضِفافِ الجَدوَلِ المُتَرَقرِقِ

I am a bird that once frolicked among the hills

I am a bird that once freely roamed the meadows

I am a bird that once frolicked upon the hills,

And along the banks of the rippling brook.

And on the banks of the rippling brooks.

And along the banks of the shimmering stream.

فَطَوى الفَضاءُ مُروجَهُ وَفَضائَهُ

فَطَوى الفَضاءُ مُروجَهُ وَفَضائَهُ

لِيَزُجَّ في قَفَصِ الحَديدِ الضَيِّقِ

لِيَزُجَّ في قَفَصِ الحَديدِ الضَيِّقِ

Then space folded up its meadows and open reaches,

The sky then folded away my fields and horizons

But space folded up its meadows and its vastness,

To thrust me into a narrow iron cage.

To cage me in this narrow prison of iron.

To cast me into a narrow cage of iron.

لا بَل أَنا مَلِكٌ صَحَوتُ فَلَم أَجِد

لا بَل أَنا مَلِكٌ صَحَوتُ فَلَم أَجِد

عَرشي وَلا تاجي وَإِستَبرَقي

عَرشي وَلا تاجي وَإِستَبرَقي

No, rather I am a king; I awoke and did not find

No! I am a king who woke up to find

Nay, rather I am a king who awoke to find

My throne, nor my crown, nor my silk brocade.

My throne and crown were gone, and all my finery.

Neither his throne, nor his crown, nor his silken robes.

هانَت مَعاذيري وَضاعَت حِكمَتي

هانَت مَعاذيري وَضاعَت حِكمَتي

لَمّا سَمِعتُ حِكايَةَ القَلبِ الشَقي

لَمّا سَمِعتُ حِكايَةَ القَلبِ الشَقي

My excuses became worthless, and my wisdom vanished,

My excuses failed me, my wisdom left me

My excuses grew feeble and my wisdom vanished,

When I heard the tale of the unhappy heart.

When I heard the tale of that wretched heart.

When I heard the tale of the wretched heart.

لَو تَعدِلُ الدُنيا بِنا لَم يَنتَثِر

لَو تَعدِلُ الدُنيا بِنا لَم يَنتَثِر

شَملٌ نَظَمناهُ وَلَم نَتَفَرَّقِ

شَملٌ نَظَمناهُ وَلَم نَتَفَرَّقِ

Were the world fair to us, there would be no scattering

If life had favored us we would not have scattered

Had the world been just to us, no gathering

Of a union we had knit together, nor would we part.

A flock we had assembled, we would not have parted.

We had assembled would scatter, nor would we part.

لِلَّهِ مُنتِريالِكُم ذاتُ الحِلى

لِلَّهِ مُنتِريالِكُم ذاتُ الحِلى

وَمَدينَةُ الطَودِ الأَشَمِّ الأَبلَقِ

وَمَدينَةُ الطَودِ الأَشَمِّ الأَبلَقِ

How wondrous is your Montreal, decked in jewels,

To God I bid farewell to you, maidens of beauty,

To God belongs your Montreal, adorned in jewels,

And city of the lofty, piebald mountain!

And the hill of spices, magnificent and alluring!

The city of the towering, majestic mountain.

كَم وِقفَةٍ لي عِندَ شاطِءِ نَهرِها

كَم وِقفَةٍ لي عِندَ شاطِءِ نَهرِها

لا أَستَقي مِنهُ وَروحِيَ تَستَقي

لا أَستَقي مِنهُ وَروحِيَ تَستَقي

How often I stood beside her riverbank,

How often I paused by the bank of its river,

How often have I stood upon the bank of her river;

Drawing no water from it, while my soul drew water,

My soul drinking deep while my soul was drinking.

I drink not from it, yet my spirit drinks its fill.

مُتَعَلِّماً مِنهُ التَواضُعَ وَالنَدى

مُتَعَلِّماً مِنهُ التَواضُعَ وَالنَدى

وَالصَفحَ عَن عَبَثِ الجَهولِ الأَحمَقِ

وَالصَفحَ عَن عَبَثِ الجَهولِ الأَحمَقِ

Learning from it humility and generosity,

Learning from it modesty, softness and clemency,

Learning from it humility and generosity,

And forgiveness for the ignorant fool's mischief.

And forgiving the foolishness of the ignorant.

And forgiveness for the folly of the ignorant fool.

أَعطى الحُقولَ حَياتَها وَمَضى كَأَن

أَعطى الحُقولَ حَياتَها وَمَضى كَأَن

لَم يُعطِها شَيئاً وَلَم يَتَصَدَّقِ

لَم يُعطِها شَيئاً وَلَم يَتَصَدَّقِ

It gave the fields their life and passed on, as though

It gave life to the fields then departed as though

It gave the fields their life and flowed on,

It had given them nothing and offered no charity.

It had given them nothing, claiming no merit.

As if it had given nothing and bestowed no alms.

مَن كانَ لا يَدري فَيَقظَةُ زَرعِها

مَن كانَ لا يَدري فَيَقظَةُ زَرعِها

مِن فَضلِ هَذا الهاجِعِ المُستَغرِقِ

مِن فَضلِ هَذا الهاجِعِ المُستَغرِقِ

For anyone who does not know, the awakening of their crops

Who does not know that the wakefulness of its stream

For he who knows not: the awakening of her crops

Comes from the bounty of this sleeper, deep in slumber.

Comes from the grace of this tranquil spirit?

Springs from the bounty of this slumbering current.

ضَيَّعتُ عِندَ الواعِظينَ سَعادَتي

ضَيَّعتُ عِندَ الواعِظينَ سَعادَتي

وَوَجَدتُها في واعِظٍ لَم يَنطُقِ

وَوَجَدتُها في واعِظٍ لَم يَنطُقِ

I squandered my happiness among the preachers,

I wasted my joy on preachers till I found it

I wasted my happiness listening to preachers,

And found it in a preacher who did not speak.

In a silent mentor who did not preach.

And found it in a preacher who spoke no word.

مِلءُ المَدائِنِ وَالقُرى آلائُهُ

مِلءُ المَدائِنِ وَالقُرى آلائُهُ

وَهِباتُهُ وَيَعيشُ عَيشَ المُملِقِ

وَهِباتُهُ وَيَعيشُ عَيشَ المُملِقِ

The cities and villages brim with its blessings

The cities and villages brim with its blessings,

The cities and villages are filled with his bounties

And its gifts, while it lives a pauper's life.

Its gifts, while it lives the life of a pauper.

And gifts, yet he lives the life of a pauper.

لَولاهُ لَم يَخَضَرَّ قاعٌ مُجدِبٌ

لَولاهُ لَم يَخَضَرَّ قاعٌ مُجدِبٌ

لَولاكُمُ شَجَرُ المُنى لَم يورِقِ

لَولاكُمُ شَجَرُ المُنى لَم يورِقِ

Without it, no barren plain would grow green;

Without it no barren land would turn green again;

Were it not for him, the barren earth would not turn green;

Without you, the trees of hope would bear no leaves.

Without you, oh friends, no tree of hope would bloom.

Were it not for you, the tree of hope would bear no leaves.

عَرَضَت مَحاسِنَها الحَياةُ عَلَيكُمُ

عَرَضَت مَحاسِنَها الحَياةُ عَلَيكُمُ

فَأَخَذتُمُ بِأَحَبِّها وَالأَليَقِ

فَأَخَذتُمُ بِأَحَبِّها وَالأَليَقِ

Life displayed her beauties to you,

Life presented its beauty to you

Life displayed her charms before your eyes,

So you chose the dearest and most fitting of them.

And you chose what was fairest and most fitting.

And you chose the most beloved and the most fitting.

أَنا مِنكُمُ في رَوضَةٍ مِعطارَةٍ

أَنا مِنكُمُ في رَوضَةٍ مِعطارَةٍ

مِن مونِقٍ فيها اللِحاظُ لِمونِقِ

مِن مونِقٍ فيها اللِحاظُ لِمونِقِ

Through you I am in a fragrant garden,

I am one with you in a fragrant garden

Among you, I am in a fragrant garden,

Where eyes roam from one lovely sight to another.

Where everything is in harmony and proportion.

Gazing from one delight to another.

العِطرُ يَعبُقُ من جَميعِ وُرودِها

العِطرُ يَعبُقُ من جَميعِ وُرودِها

ما أَن مَرَرتَ بِزَهرَةٍ لَم تَعبُقِ

ما أَن مَرَرتَ بِزَهرَةٍ لَم تَعبُقِ

Fragrance wafts from all its roses;

Scent rises from all its flowers -

Fragrance wafts from all her roses;

Never have you passed a flower that gave no fragrance.

Pass by a blossom and you will smell its fragrance.

Never do you pass a flower that does not scent the air.

لِلَّهِ مُنتِريالِكُم وَجَلالَها

لِلَّهِ مُنتِريالِكُم وَجَلالَها

هِيَ رومَةُ الصُغرى وَضِرَّةُ جُلَّقِ

هِيَ رومَةُ الصُغرى وَضِرَّةُ جُلَّقِ

How wondrous is your Montreal and her majesty!

To God I bid you farewell, to its glory!

To God belongs your Montreal and her glory;

She is little Rome, and Jullaq's rival wife.

It is Lesser Rome, and the mound of Jullaq.

She is a lesser Rome, and a rival to Damascus.

رَقَّت عَلَيَّ نُجومُها وَتَواضَعَت

رَقَّت عَلَيَّ نُجومُها وَتَواضَعَت

حَتّى لَكِدتُ أَحُسُّها في مَفرِقي

حَتّى لَكِدتُ أَحُسُّها في مَفرِقي

Her stars grew tender toward me and bowed low,

Its stars were gentle to me, modest even,

Her stars were tender toward me and drew so low,

Till I almost felt them in the parting of my hair.

I almost felt them resting upon my forehead.

That I almost felt them rest upon my brow.

فَكَأَنَّما هِيَ أَنتُم وَكَأَنَّما

فَكَأَنَّما هِيَ أَنتُم وَكَأَنَّما

أَرواحُكُم مِن نورِها المُتَدَفِّقِ

أَرواحُكُم مِن نورِها المُتَدَفِّقِ

So it was as though they were you, and as though

It was as though you were they, as though

As though the stars were you, and as though

Your souls were made of their streaming light.

Your spirits flowed from their shining stream.

Your spirits were forged from their flowing light.

رَجَعَ الشَبابُ إِلَيَّ حينَ هَبَطتُها

رَجَعَ الشَبابُ إِلَيَّ حينَ هَبَطتُها

وَاليَومَ أَخرُجُ مِن شَبابي الريقِ

وَاليَومَ أَخرُجُ مِن شَبابي الريقِ

Youth returned to me when I alighted in her,

My youth came flooding back when I descended upon it,

Youth returned to me when I first alighted there,

And today I depart from my fresh-blooming youth.

Today I walk out of my youth restored.

But today I depart from the prime of my youth.

سَأَطيرُ عَنها في غَدٍ بِحَشاشَةٍ

سَأَطيرُ عَنها في غَدٍ بِحَشاشَةٍ

مَكلومَةٍ وَبِناظِرٍ مُغرَورِقِ

مَكلومَةٍ وَبِناظِرٍ مُغرَورِقِ

I shall fly away from her tomorrow with a spark of life,

Tomorrow I will soar away from it recklessly,

Tomorrow I shall fly from her with a wounded heart,

Wounded, and with an eye brimming with tears.

With a cloven heart and a weeping eye.

And with eyes brimming with tears.

وَيَغيبُ عَنّي طَودُها وَقِبابُها

وَيَغيبُ عَنّي طَودُها وَقِبابُها

وَقُصورُها خَلفَ الفَضاءِ الأَزرَقِ

وَقُصورُها خَلفَ الفَضاءِ الأَزرَقِ

And her mountain and her domes will vanish from my sight,

Its hills and domes and palaces will vanish from me

Her mountain, her domes, and her palaces shall fade

And her palaces, behind the blue expanse.

Behind the blue veil of the sky.

From my sight behind the blue expanse.

وَتَظَلُّ صورَتُها تَلوحُ لِخاطِري

وَتَظَلُّ صورَتُها تَلوحُ لِخاطِري

بَعضُ الرُأى سَلوى وَإِن تَصدُقِ

بَعضُ الرُأى سَلوى وَإِن تَصدُقِ

And her image will keep appearing to my mind;

Yet its image will linger before my mind’s eye,

Yet her image shall remain looming in my mind;

Some visions are solace, even if they prove true.

Some visions are consolation though they be false.

For some visions are a solace, if they hold true.