ياOh لَيتَماwould that خُلِقَwere created الزَمانُtime أَصيلاlate afternoon
يا لَيتَما خُلِقَ الزَمانُ أَصيلا
إِنّيindeed I أَراهُI see it كَالشَبابِlike youth جَميلاbeautiful
إِنّي أَراهُ كَالشَبابِ جَميلا
Oh, would that time had been made late afternoon!
O would that time were shaped as youth, so fair,
Oh, would that Time had been created as an eternal twilight,
Indeed, I see it as beautiful as youth.
To mine eyes now it seems but empty air,
For I see in it the beautiful charm of youth.
وَلّىpassed فَوَدَّعَتِso bade farewell السَماءَthe sky بَهائَهاits splendor
وَلّى فَوَدَّعَتِ السَماءَ بَهائَها
مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter it وَهَوىand sank النَهارُthe day عَليلاailing
مِن بَعدِهِ وَهَوى النَهارُ عَليلا
It passed, and the sky bade farewell to its splendor
The sky has shed its luster since gone by
It turned away, and the sky bade farewell to its splendor,
after its passing, and the day sank down, ailing.
And daylight wanes, infirm and bleak, awry,
In its wake, the day collapsed, sickly and pale.
جَنَحَتinclined ذُكاءُthe sun الغُروبِsunset كَأَنَّماas though
جَنَحَت ذُكاءُ الغُروبِ كَأَنَّما
تَبغيseeks رُقاداًsleep أَوor تُريدُwants مَقيلاa resting place
تَبغي رُقاداً أَو تُريدُ مَقيلا
The sun inclined toward sunset, as though
The eve’s bright wings fold in as if to keep
The sun inclined toward the west, as though
seeking sleep, or wishing for a place to rest.
Repose or homebound flight when shadows creep,
Seeking slumber or desiring a moment of rest.
وَتَناثَرَتand scattered قِطَعُfragments السَحابِthe clouds كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَتَناثَرَت قِطَعُ السَحابِ كَأَنَّها
الجَيشُthe army اللَهامُvast إِذاwhen اِنثَنىturns back مَفلولاrouted
الجَيشُ اللَهامُ إِذا اِنثَنى مَفلولا
And fragments of cloud scattered, as though they were
The clouds like remnants of a vanquished horde
And fragments of cloud scattered, resembling
a vast army turning back in defeat.
In disarray when turned and put to sword.
A vast army retreating in broken defeat.
هَذاthis وَقَدand already بَسَطَspread السُكونُstillness جَناحَهُits wing
هَذا وَقَد بَسَطَ السُكونُ جَناحَهُ
وَاللَيلُand night أَمسىwas now سِترُهُits curtain مَسدولاlowered
وَاللَيلُ أَمسى سِترُهُ مَسدولا
All this, while stillness had spread its wing,
While silence spreads its wings in dark repose
Now silence has spread wide its wing,
and night had let its curtain fall.
And night lets down its mantle, in it doze
And the night has let fall its heavy curtain.
قَدalready باتَspent the night كُلُّevery مُسَهَّدٍsleepless one طَوعَsubject to جَناحَهُits wing
قَد باتَ كُلُّ مُسَهَّدٍ طَوعَ جَناحَهُ
وَاللَيلُand night أَمسىwas now سِترُهُits curtain مَسدولاlowered
وَاللَيلُ أَمسى سِترُهُ مَسدولا
Every sleepless soul lay submissive beneath its wing,
All couched, to slumber yielding wing and breast,
Every sleepless soul has submitted to its embrace,
and night had let its curtain fall.
While night now dons its starry raiment dressed,
And the night has let fall its heavy curtain.
إِلّاexcept مُهَفهَفَةٌa slender maiden بِهاwith her نَزَلَlodged الهَوىlove
إِلّا مُهَفهَفَةٌ بِها نَزَلَ الهَوى
ضَيفاًas a guest وَلَكِنand yet لاnot يُريدُwants رَحيلاdeparture
ضَيفاً وَلَكِن لا يُريدُ رَحيلا
Except a slender maiden, with whom love had lodged
Save one whose heart is restless, consumed with fire,
Except for a slender maiden, in whom love has alighted
as a guest, yet wished for no departure.
A guest, but with no will to now retire.
As a guest, yet one who desires no departure.
غَيداءُa graceful maiden قَدalready وَصَلَتreached ذَوائِبُهاher tresses الثَرىthe earth
غَيداءُ قَد وَصَلَت ذَوائِبُها الثَرى
إِنّيindeed I لَأَحسُدُI surely envy ذَلِكَthat المَوصولاthe one reached
إِنّي لَأَحسُدُ ذَلِكَ المَوصولا
A graceful girl, whose tresses reached the earth—
Her plaits have brushed the earth; how I envy
A graceful beauty, whose long tresses reach the earth;
indeed, I envy the earth they touch.
Those tresses now the earth and dust ally!
I truly envy that ground which they touch.
تَحكيresembles المُدامَةَwine رِقَّةًin tenderness وَقَساوَةًand harshness
تَحكي المُدامَةَ رِقَّةً وَقَساوَةً
تَحكيresembles المَهاةَthe oryx لَواحِظاًglancing eyes وَتَليلاand neck
تَحكي المَهاةَ لَواحِظاً وَتَليلا
She resembles wine in tenderness and harshness,
Her cheeks reveal a soft, endearing way,
She resembles wine in both delicacy and cruelty,
and the oryx in her glancing eyes and neck.
And power to kill with flutter of her eye.
And mirrors the wild oryx in her glance and slender neck.
ماءُwater الحَياءِmodesty يَجولُcourses فيin وَجَناتِهاher cheeks
ماءُ الحَياءِ يَجولُ في وَجَناتِها
فَكَأَنَّso as though فيin تِلكَthose الكُؤوسِgoblets شَمولاwine
فَكَأَنَّ في تِلكَ الكُؤوسِ شَمولا
The dew of modesty courses through her cheeks,
A blush like wine stains modesty’s own bower,
The flush of modesty flows through her cheeks,
as though those goblets held wine.
As if those cups still ferment, charm and sour.
As though those vessels held fine, chilled wine.
وَالخَدُّand the cheek أَبهَجُloveliest ماwhen يَكونُit is مَورِداًrose-tinted
وَالخَدُّ أَبهَجُ ما يَكونُ مَورِداً
وَالطَرفُand the eye أَفتَنُmost enchanting اunclear fragment; likely 'when' يَكونُit is كَحيلاkohl-dark
وَالطَرفُ أَفتَنُ ا يَكونُ كَحيلا
The cheek is loveliest when rose-tinted,
More fair her cheek than any place of cheer,
Her cheek is the most delightful of springs,
and the eye most enchanting when kohl-dark.
More deadly her glance than kohl or mascar.
And her eye is most enchanting when darkened with kohl.
نَظَرَتshe looked وَرُبَّand many a مَنِيَّةٍdeath مِنfrom نَظرَةٍa glance
نَظَرَت وَرُبَّ مَنِيَّةٍ مِن نَظرَةٍ
قَدindeed كانَhad been عَنهاof it رَبُّهاits owner مَشغولاpreoccupied
قَد كانَ عَنها رَبُّها مَشغولا
She looked—and many a death comes from a glance
One look and many a soul she will waylay
She glanced—and how often does death arise from a single glance,
whose owner had been heedless of it.
While God from her was utterly away.
Of which its victim was wholly unaware.
فَهَوَتso she fell in love وَرُبَّand many a هَوىًlove تُنالُare attained بِهِthrough it المُنىwishes
فَهَوَت وَرُبَّ هَوىً تُنالُ بِهِ المُنى
وَهَوىًand a love يُنالُis attained بِهِthrough it الحِمامُdeath نَبيلاnoble
وَهَوىً يُنالُ بِهِ الحِمامُ نَبيلا
She fell in love—and many a love fulfills one's wishes,
Thus falling into love’s calamitous sea,
She fell in love; and there is love through which wishes are granted,
and many a love wins a noble death.
The noble falcon, and such likes as he.
And love through which a noble death is gained.
وَالحُبُّand love مَصدَرُهُits source العُيونُthe eyes وَرُبَّماand sometimes
وَالحُبُّ مَصدَرُهُ العُيونُ وَرُبَّما
تَخِذَtakes السَماعَhearing إِلىto القُلوبِhearts سَبيلاa path
تَخِذَ السَماعَ إِلى القُلوبِ سَبيلا
Love has its source in the eyes, though sometimes
For loving eyes and ears both intercede,
Love’s source is often the eyes, yet sometimes
it takes hearing as a path to hearts.
To hearts the ears will thus find ready lead.
It takes the path of hearing to reach the heart.
فَإِذاso if عَشِقتَyou fall in love فَلاthen do not تَلُمblame أَحداًanyone سِوىexcept
فَإِذا عَشِقتَ فَلا تَلُم أَحداً سِوى
عَينَيكَyour two eyes إِنَّindeed العُيونِthe eyes قَتولاdeadly
عَينَيكَ إِنَّ العُيونِ قَتولا
So, if you fall in love, blame no one but
In loving, blame no one but your eyes,
So if you fall in love, blame no one but
your own eyes: eyes are deadly.
For eyes, not hearts, are murderous when wise.
Your own eyes, for eyes are truly lethal.
وَدَّتshe wished وَقَدand already نالَovertook الذُبولُwithering خُدودَهاher cheeks
وَدَّت وَقَد نالَ الذُبولُ خُدودَها
لَوif only أَنَّthat فيin الشَوقِlonging المُقيمِenduring ذُبولاwithering
لَو أَنَّ في الشَوقِ المُقيمِ ذُبولا
She wished, as withering overtook her cheeks,
She bid farewell, her cheeks now lined with care,
She wished, as pale languor overtook her cheeks,
that her enduring longing might wither too.
Would that longing kept her beauty fair!
That her abiding longing might also fade away.
وَإِذاand when تَمَلَّكَتِtakes possession الصَبابَةُardent longing فيin اِمرِئٍa person
وَإِذا تَمَلَّكَتِ الصَبابَةُ في اِمرِئٍ
لَمnot يُجدِavails عَذلُthe censure العاذِلينَof reproachers فَتيلاa whit
لَم يُجدِ عَذلُ العاذِلينَ فَتيلا
And when ardent longing takes possession of a person,
When youth possesses one, no redress avails,
And when deep passion takes possession of a soul,
the censure of reproachers does not help a whit.
No critics barbs make flush of new love pale.
The scolding of critics is of no avail.
سَمِعَتshe heard دَوِيّاًa resounding report فيin الظَلامِthe darkness فَهَروَلَتso she hurried
سَمِعَت دَوِيّاً في الظَلامِ فَهَروَلَت
مَذعورَةًterrified بَعدَafter الوُقوفِstanding طَويلاa long time
مَذعورَةً بَعدَ الوُقوفِ طَويلا
She heard a resounding report in the darkness and hurried,
A sound in darkness made her start and race
She heard a resounding noise in the dark and rushed forward,
terrified, after standing a long while.
In panic off, her standing place displace.
Terrified, after having stood still for so long.
وَأَنينُand a groan مُحتَضِرٍof a dying man يَقولُhe says قَتَلتَنيyou killed me
وَأَنينُ مُحتَضِرٍ يَقولُ قَتَلتَني
ثَكَلَتكَmay she be bereaved of you أُمُّكَyour mother لَمnot أَنَلI attained مَأمولاwhat I hoped for
ثَكَلَتكَ أُمُّكَ لَم أَنَل مَأمولا
And a dying man's groan says: ‘You have killed me!
A dying moan: “You’ve killed me,” makes her fleet,
And the groan of a dying man saying: "You have slain me,"
May your mother be bereaved of you! I never attained my hope.’
“Would your mother mourn you, unfinished sweet!”
"May your mother mourn you! I did not attain my desire."
تَعدوshe runs وَتَجذُبُهاand draw her رَوادِفُهاher hips إِلّىtoward
تَعدو وَتَجذُبُها رَوادِفُها إِلّى
خَلفٍbackward فَتُجهَدُso strain خَصرَهاher waist المَتبولاlove-worn
خَلفٍ فَتُجهَدُ خَصرَها المَتبولا
She runs, her hips drawing her
Her hips tug at her skirts as she propels
She runs, while the weight of her hips pulls her
backward, straining her love-worn waist.
Her body forth, her tired waist rebels.
Backwards, exhausting her slender, fragile waist.
فَكَأَنَّso as though فيin ذاكَthat الوِشاحِthe sash مُتَيَّماًa lovesick lover
فَكَأَنَّ في ذاكَ الوِشاحِ مُتَيَّماً
وَكَأَنَّand as though فيin ذاكَthat الإِزارِthe waistcloth عَذولاa reproacher
وَكَأَنَّ في ذاكَ الإِزارِ عَذولا
As though that sash held a lovesick lover,
As if her mantle hides a cheetah’s spots,
As if within that sash there was an enthralled lover,
and that waistcloth a reproacher.
Her pants conceal a deer’s defined haunch knots.
And within that skirt, a censor holding her back.
تَخِذَتshe took مِنَfrom اللَيلِthe night المُخَيِّمِenveloping صاحِباًa companion
تَخِذَت مِنَ اللَيلِ المُخَيِّمِ صاحِباً
وَمِنَand from الأَنينِthe groan إِلىto الأَنينِthe groan دَليلاa guide
وَمِنَ الأَنينِ إِلى الأَنينِ دَليلا
She took the enveloping night as a companion,
The friend of blackest night she’s made her guide,
She took the enveloping night as her companion,
and the groans as her guide, from one to the next.
And moaning dirges to moaning confide.
And followed the trail from groan to groan.
تَبغيshe seeks الوُقوفَto learn عَلىabout حَقيقَةِthe truth أَمرِهِof his plight
تَبغي الوُقوفَ عَلى حَقيقَةِ أَمرِهِ
تَبغيshe seeks حَليلاًa mate لاnot تَراهُshe regards him جَليلاexalted
تَبغي حَليلاً لا تَراهُ جَليلا
She seeks to learn the truth of his plight,
She seeks to know the truth, clarify
Seeking to discover the truth of his plight,
seeking a mate whom she does not regard as exalted.
This vague enigma, find what hidden lie.
Seeking a beloved, though she could not see him clearly.
وَتُديرُand she turns فيin تِلكَthose البَنانِfingers مُسَدَّساًa revolver
وَتُديرُ في تِلكَ البَنانِ مُسَدَّساً
تَرَكَتhave left قَذائِفُهُits bullets السِهامَarrows فُضولاsuperfluous
تَرَكَت قَذائِفُهُ السِهامَ فُضولا
And in those fingers she turns a revolver,
She cocks her pistol ‘mid those silent towers,
Turning in her delicate fingertips a revolver,
whose bullets have made arrows superfluous.
Its shots for arrows leaving bloodied flowers.
Whose bullets render arrows obsolete.
فيin طَرفِهِits eye كَمَنَlurked الهَلاكُdestruction فَلَوso if رَناgazed
في طَرفِهِ كَمَنَ الهَلاكُ فَلَو رَنا
طَرفُthe eye الزَمانِof Time إِلَيهِtoward it عادَwould return كَليلاdulled
طَرفُ الزَمانِ إِلَيهِ عادَ كَليلا
Death lurked in its eye; if
Death lingers in his eyes, a fatal threat,
Destruction lies hidden in its gaze; were it to look
the eye of Time gazed at it, it would return dulled.
His aging gaze, though dim, can kill her yet.
At Time itself, Time’s eye would turn away weary.
قَدalready أَسكَنَتhad housed أُكُرُballs الرَصاصِof lead جُفونَهُits eyelids
قَد أَسكَنَت أُكُرُ الرَصاصِ جُفونَهُ
فَكَأَنَّso as though أَكباداًlivers تُجِنُّconceal غَليلاa burning grudge
فَكَأَنَّ أَكباداً تُجِنُّ غَليلا
Its eyelids had housed balls of lead,
His eyelids bullets from her gun have stilled
Lead spheres have made its eyelids their home,
as though they were livers harboring a burning grudge.
As if his heart with heated lead were filled.
Like hearts concealing a burning, unquenchable thirst.
يَحميprotects الضَعيفَthe weak مِنَfrom القَوِيِّthe strong وَرُبَّماand sometimes
يَحمي الضَعيفَ مِنَ القَوِيِّ وَرُبَّما
قَتَلَkilled الجَبانُthe coward بِهِwith it الفَتىthe youth البَهلولاgallant
قَتَلَ الجَبانُ بِهِ الفَتى البَهلولا
It shields the weak from the strong, though sometimes
It shields the meek against the tyrant’s rule,
It protects the weak from the strong, yet often
a coward uses it to kill a gallant youth.
The coward’s victory o’er the daring fool.
The coward uses it to slay the noble hero.
وَمِنَand from الأَسىanguish لَمnot تَعرِفِknew الحَسناءُthe beautiful woman هَلwhether
وَمِنَ الأَسى لَم تَعرِفِ الحَسناءُ هَل
قَطَعَتtraveled ذِراعاًa cubit فيduring السَرىthe night journey أَمor ميلاa mile
قَطَعَت ذِراعاً في السَرى أَم ميلا
In her anguish, the beauty could not tell whether
In grief, the girl can’t tell what she has ended -
Out of distress, the beauty knew not whether
she had traveled a cubit through the night or a mile.
An arm? A mile? So far her shots have wended!
She had traversed a mere cubit in the night, or a mile.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen رَأَتِshe saw المُرادَthe one sought وَماand not رَأَتshe saw
حَتّى إِذا رَأَتِ المُرادَ وَما رَأَت
إِلّاexcept خَيالاًa shadow عَلِقَتshe attached (unclear here) بِهِto it المَقتولاthe slain man
إِلّا خَيالاً عَلِقَت بِهِ المَقتولا
Until she saw the one she sought—though she saw
Until she sees the corpse her shots reveal
Until she spotted her target—yet she saw
only a shadow, to which she linked the slain man.
No more than a phantom her bullets seal.
Nothing but a shadow looming over the slain.
حَسِبتَهُshe thought him قاتِلَthe killer مَنof the one تُحِبُّshe loves وَأَيقَنَتand became certain
حَسِبتَهُ قاتِلَ مَن تُحِبُّ وَأَيقَنَت
أَنَّthat الَّذيthe one عَلِقَتshe was attached بِهِto him المَقتولاthe slain man
أَنَّ الَّذي عَلِقَت بِهِ المَقتولا
She thought him the killer of the one she loved, and was certain
You killed my love! she knows with certainty,
She deemed him the killer of her beloved, and was certain
that the man to whom she was attached was the one slain.
Though it’s the murdered corpse she now must see.
That the figure beneath him was her murdered love.
فَدَنَتso she drew near وَأَطلَقَتِand fired المُسَدَّسِthe revolver نَحوَtoward مَنthe one
فَدَنَت وَأَطلَقَتِ المُسَدَّسِ نَحوَ مَن
بَصُرَتshe caught sight بِهِof him عَرَضاًby chance فَخَرَّso he fell قَتيلاslain
بَصُرَت بِهِ عَرَضاً فَخَرَّ قَتيلا
So she drew near and fired the revolver at the one
She nears and fires point blank at his form,
She drew near and fired the weapon at the one
she glimpsed by chance, and he fell slain.
A body crumples that was straight and warm.
She had glimpsed in the dark, and he fell down dead.
صَرَعَتshe struck down فَتىًa youth صَرَعَstruck down الرَقيبَthe watcher وَجَندَلَتand felled
صَرَعَت فَتىً صَرَعَ الرَقيبَ وَجَندَلَت
أَسَداًa lion يَخُرُّfalls لَهُbefore him الهِزبَرُthe mighty lion ذَليلاhumbled
أَسَداً يَخُرُّ لَهُ الهِزبَرُ ذَليلا
She struck down a youth who had struck down the watcher, and felled
Like the full moon his beauty had its phases,
She struck down the youth who had just slain the spy,
a lion before whom the mighty lion falls humbled.
His nobility sweeter than spring gazes,
A lion before whom other lions would bow in submission.
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon حُسناًin beauty كَالغَمامِlike the raincloud سَماحَةًin generosity
كَالبَدرِ حُسناً كَالغَمامِ سَماحَةً
كَالغُصنِlike the bough غَضّاًtender كَالحُسامِlike the sword صَقيلاpolished
كَالغُصنِ غَضّاً كَالحُسامِ صَقيلا
Like the full moon in beauty, like the raincloud in generosity,
His freshness greener than the sapling bud,
Like the full moon in beauty, like the rain-clouds in generosity,
tender as a bough, polished as a sword.
His sword sharp as his valor, and blood.
Like a tender branch in youth, like a polished sword in steel.
ثَبَتَsteadfast الجِنانِof heart قَوِيُّهُstrong in it عَفَّchaste الإِزاthe waist- (word fragment)
ثَبَتَ الجِنانِ قَوِيُّهُ عَفَّ الإِزا
رِ-cloth (word completion) نَقِيُّهُpure in it ماnot خانَbetrayed قَطُّever خَليلاa friend
رِ نَقِيُّهُ ما خانَ قَطُّ خَليلا
Steadfast and strong of heart, chaste of waist-
A lionheart whose being duty braces,
Steadfast of heart and strong, of virtuous conduct,
cloth and pure—he never once betrayed a friend.
True friend who never once his kin betrays.
Pure of spirit, never betraying a friend.
هَذاthis هُوَhe الدَنِفُthe lovesick man الَّذيwho أَرضىsatisfied الهَوىlove
هَذا هُوَ الدَنِفُ الَّذي أَرضى الهَوى
فيهاin her وَأَغضَبَand angered كاشِحاًa secret foe وَعَذولاand a reproacher
فيها وَأَغضَبَ كاشِحاً وَعَذولا
This is the lovesick man who satisfied love
He who pleased her love, though others abhorred,
This was the lovesick soul who satisfied Love's demands,
in her, and angered a secret foe and a reproacher.
This was the knight her shots had lately gored.
For her sake, while angering the envious and the critic.
ماnot نالَgained بَعدَafter جِهادِهِhis struggle إِلّاexcept الرَدىdeath
ما نالَ بَعدَ جِهادِهِ إِلّا الرَدى
وَالبَدرُand the full moon يُكسِبُهُbrings it المَسيرُthe journey أُفولاsetting
وَالبَدرُ يُكسِبُهُ المَسيرُ أُفولا
After his struggle, he gained nothing but death,
His struggle gained him but the lowest place,
After all his struggle, he gained nothing but death;
and the full moon's journey brings it to its setting.
The moon must cede the sky as night winds race.
Just as the full moon’s journey earns it only a setting.
لَمnot تَعلَمِknew الحَسناءُthe beautiful woman أَنَّthat قَطيلَهاher victim
لَم تَعلَمِ الحَسناءُ أَنَّ قَطيلَها
مَنthe one لَمnot تَرَshe saw أَبَداًever سِواهُbesides him جَميلاbeautiful
مَن لَم تَرَ أَبَداً سِواهُ جَميلا
The beauty did not know that her victim
The girl knew not her love she had killed
The beauty did not know that the man she slew
was the only man she had ever found beautiful.
He whom she never saw but to give her thrill.
Was the one beside whom she found no other fair.
عَرَفَتshe realized وَذَلِكَand that عِندَماwhen طَلَعَrose الضُحىthe morning light
عَرَفَت وَذَلِكَ عِندَما طَلَعَ الضُحى
وَرَأَتand she saw عَياناًwith her own eyes نَعشَهُhis bier مَحمولاbeing carried
وَرَأَت عَياناً نَعشَهُ مَحمولا
She learned it when the morning light rose,
Only at dawn, the funeral bier in view,
She realized—but only when the morning sun arose,
and saw with her own eyes his bier being carried.
Did she see whom her random shot had slew.
And she saw his coffin being borne away.
لَمnot يُبلِغواthey reached القَبرَthe grave المُعَدَّprepared لِدَفنِهِfor his burial
لَم يُبلِغوا القَبرَ المُعَدَّ لِدَفنِهِ
إِلّاexcept وَقَدand already بَلَغَreached الرَدىdeath العُطبولاthe fair, long-necked maiden
إِلّا وَقَد بَلَغَ الرَدى العُطبولا
They had not reached the grave prepared for his burial
Not even to his readied grave was he brought
They had not yet reached the grave prepared for him,
before death had reached the lovely maiden.
Ere her own bitter bullet had found its slot.
Before death also claimed the graceful maiden.
ياO صاحِبيmy friend إِنif جُزتَyou pass فيby قَبرَيهِماtheir two graves
يا صاحِبي إِن جُزتَ في قَبرَيهِما
فَاِتلُthen recite السَلامَa greeting of peace عَلَيهِماto them both تَرتيلاin measured tones
فَاِتلُ السَلامَ عَلَيهِما تَرتيلا
O my friend, if you pass by their two graves,
My friend, if you visit where both lovers lie,
O my friend, if you should pass by their two graves,
recite to them both a greeting of peace in measured tones,
Recite a prayer soft o'er them with a sigh.
Recite a prayer of peace upon them with reverence.
مِنfrom شاعِرٍa poet ماnever حَرَّكَstirred الغُصنُthe bough الهَواthe breeze
مِن شاعِرٍ ما حَرَّكَ الغُصنُ الهَوا
إِلاexcept that تَذَكَّرَhe recalled وَردَةًWarda وَأَميلاand Emile
إِلا تَذَكَّرَ وَردَةً وَأَميلا
from a poet who, whenever the breeze stirs a bough,
From a bard who stirs no branch with song of love
From a poet who, whenever the breeze stirs the bough,
recalls Warda and Emile.
Save he recall a vine, some cooing dove!
Remembers a rose, and bends in sorrow.
Sol 6.1