راوَدَني النَومُ وَما بَرِحا

راوَدَني النَومُ وَما بَرِحا

حَتّى طَأطَأتُ لَهُ راسي

حَتّى طَأطَأتُ لَهُ راسي

Sleep wooed me and would not cease,

Sleep tempted me and did not cease

Sleep courted me, and would not cease,

Until I bowed my head to it.

Until I bowed my head to it

Until I bowed my head to his decree.

أَطبَقتُ جُفونِيَ فَاِنفَتَحا

أَطبَقتُ جُفونِيَ فَاِنفَتَحا

بابُ الرُؤيا وَالوَسواسِ

بابُ الرُؤيا وَالوَسواسِ

I closed my eyelids, and there opened

I closed my eyelids so they opened

I closed my eyelids, and there opened wide

The gate of dreams and whispering thoughts.

The gate of dreams and obsessions

The gate of visions and of whispering thoughts.

أَبصَرتُ كَأَنِّيَ في مَوضِع

أَبصَرتُ كَأَنِّيَ في مَوضِع

ما فيهِ غَيرُ الأَرواحِ

ما فيهِ غَيرُ الأَرواحِ

I saw myself as though in a place

I saw as if I were in a place

I saw myself within a strange abode,

Where there was nothing but spirits.

Where there was nothing but spirits

Wherein dwelt nothing else but souls;

فَوَقفتُ بَعيداً أَتَطَلَّع

فَوَقفتُ بَعيداً أَتَطَلَّع

فَلَمَحتُ ثَلاثَةَ أَشباحِ

فَلَمَحتُ ثَلاثَةَ أَشباحِ

So I stood far off, gazing,

I stood far away looking

So I stood far off, gazing on,

And glimpsed three apparitions:

I glimpsed three figures

And caught a glimpse of three pale ghosts.

وَلَدٌ يَتهادى في العَشرِ

وَلَدٌ يَتهادى في العَشرِ

وَفَتىً في بُردِ العِشرينا

وَفَتىً في بُردِ العِشرينا

A boy of ten, walking lightly,

A child frolicking in his teens

A boy who swayed in his tenth year,

And a youth in the mantle of twenty;

And a young man in his twenties

A youth wrapped in the cloak of twenty springs,

وَالثالِثُ شَيخٌ في طَمرِ

وَالثالِثُ شَيخٌ في طَمرِ

ذو جِسمٍ يَحكي العُرجونا

ذو جِسمٍ يَحكي العُرجونا

And the third, an old man in rags,

And the third an old man nearing

The third, an elder clad in tattered rags,

With a body like a bent date-palm stalk.

His end with a frail body

With body bent like a withered palm-bough.

وَإِذا بِالأَوَّلِ يَقتَرِبُ

وَإِذا بِالأَوَّلِ يَقتَرِبُ

مِنّي كَالطائِرِ في الوَثبِ

مِنّي كَالطائِرِ في الوَثبِ

And suddenly the first approached

The first approached me

And lo, the first draws near to me,

Me, leaping like a bird.

Like a bird taking wing

Bounding forward like a bird in flight,

فَشَعَرتُ كَأَنِّيَ أَضطَرِبُ

فَشَعَرتُ كَأَنِّيَ أَضطَرِبُ

وَكَأَنَّ خُطاهُ عَلى قَلبي

وَكَأَنَّ خُطاهُ عَلى قَلبي

Then I felt myself trembling,

I felt as if I trembled

And I felt a sudden trembling seize me,

As though his footsteps fell upon my heart.

As if his steps were on my heart

As if his footsteps fell upon my heart.

يا نَفسي ما هَذا الفَفَقُ

يا نَفسي ما هَذا الفَفَقُ

لا رُمحٌ مَعَهُ وَلا نَبلُ

لا رُمحٌ مَعَهُ وَلا نَبلُ

O my soul, what is this fluttering?

My soul, what is this unease

O soul of mine, what is this sudden dread?

He carries neither spear nor arrows.

He has no spear or arrows with him

He bears no spear, nor carries darts;

وَلِماذا الخِشيَةُ وَالقَلَقُ

وَلِماذا الخِشيَةُ وَالقَلَقُ

وَالخَلقُ أَحَبَّهُمُ الطِفلُ

وَالخَلقُ أَحَبَّهُمُ الطِفلُ

And why this fear and anxiety,

Why this fear and anxiety

Why then this fear and anxious state,

When the child is the dearest of all creatures?

When people love the child most

When the child is the most beloved of all creation?

وَإِذا بِالطِفلِ يُخاطِبُني

وَإِذا بِالطِفلِ يُخاطِبُني

بِكَلامٍ لا يَتَكَلَّفُهُ

بِكَلامٍ لا يَتَكَلَّفُهُ

And suddenly the child addressed me

And the child spoke to me

Then suddenly the child spoke out,

In words he spoke without affectation,

In effortless words

In words unfeigned and artless style,

وَيُمازِحُني وَيُداعِبُني

وَيُمازِحُني وَيُداعِبُني

فَكَأَنِّيَ شَخصٌ يَعرُفُهُ

فَكَأَنِّيَ شَخصٌ يَعرُفُهُ

Joking with me and teasing me,

He joked and caressed me

Jesting and toying with me there,

As though I were someone he knew.

As if I were someone he knew

As if I were someone he knew well.

ما بالَكَ مُنكَمِشاً كَمَدا

ما بالَكَ مُنكَمِشاً كَمَدا

قُم نَلعَب في فَيءِ الشَجَرِ

قُم نَلعَب في فَيءِ الشَجَرِ

What is the matter with you, withdrawn in sorrow?

Why are you withdrawn like a pillar

"Why do you shrink away in grief?

Get up; let us play in the trees' shade,

Come, let's play in the shade of the trees

Arise, let us play in the tree's soft shade,

وَنَهُزُّ الأَغصُنَ وَالعُمُدا

وَنَهُزُّ الأَغصُنَ وَالعُمُدا

وَنَذودُ عَنِ الثَمَرِ

وَنَذودُ عَنِ الثَمَرِ

And shake the branches and trunks,

Shake the branches and poles

And shake the boughs and sturdy trunks,

And guard the fruit.

And protect the fruit

And drive the birds away from the fruit.

أَو نَصنَعُ خَيلاً مِن قَصَبٍ

أَو نَصنَعُ خَيلاً مِن قَصَبٍ

أَو طَيّاراتٍ مِن وَرَقِ

أَو طَيّاراتٍ مِن وَرَقِ

Or make horses from reeds,

Or make horses out of reeds

Or let us fashion horses out of reeds,

Or kites from paper,

Or paper planes from leaves

Or fly our kites made out of paper,

وَمُدَىً وَسُيوفاً مِن خَشَبِ

وَمُدَىً وَسُيوفاً مِن خَشَبِ

وَنَجولُ وَنَركُضُ في الطُرُقِ

وَنَجولُ وَنَركُضُ في الطُرُقِ

And knives and swords from wood,

Swords and forts from wood

And whittle wooden knives and swords,

And roam and run along the roads;

And wander and race in the streets

To roam and run along the paths.

أَو نَأتي بِالفَحمِ القاتِم

أَو نَأتي بِالفَحمِ القاتِم

وَنُصَوِّرُ فَوقَ الأَبوابِ

وَنُصَوِّرُ فَوقَ الأَبوابِ

Or fetch dark charcoal

Or bring some dark coal

Or we can fetch some charcoal dark,

And draw upon the doors

And draw on the doors

And sketch upon the neighbors' doors

تَنّيناً في بَحرٍ عائِم

تَنّيناً في بَحرٍ عائِم

أَو لَيثاً يَخطُرُ في غابِ

أَو لَيثاً يَخطُرُ في غابِ

A dragon swimming in a sea,

A dragon in the sea

A dragon swimming in the sea,

Or a lion striding through a forest,

Or a lion roaming the forest

Or lion prowling through the woods;

أَو كَلباً يَعدو أَو حَمَلا

أَو كَلباً يَعدو أَو حَمَلا

يَرعى أَو نَهراً أَو هَضَبَه

يَرعى أَو نَهراً أَو هَضَبَه

Or a dog running, or a lamb

Or a running dog or grazing lamb

A running dog, or grazing lamb,

Grazing, or a river, or a hill,

Or a river or a hill

A winding river, or a hill,

أَو ديكاً يَنقُدُ أَو رَجُلاً

أَو ديكاً يَنقُدُ أَو رَجُلاً

يَمشي أَو مَهراً أَو عَرَبه

يَمشي أَو مَهراً أَو عَرَبه

Or a rooster pecking, or a man

Or a crowing rooster or a man walking

A pecking rooster, or a man

Walking, or a foal, or a cart;

Or a mare or a carriage

Walking, a young foal, or a cart.

أَو نَجبُلُ ماءً وَتُرابا

أَو نَجبُلُ ماءً وَتُرابا

وَنُشيدُ بُيوتاً وَقِبابا

وَنُشيدُ بُيوتاً وَقِبابا

Or knead together water and earth

Or we’ll mix water and dirt

Or we can mix the water and the dust,

And build houses and domes,

And build houses and domes

To build up houses and high domes,

أَو نَجعَلُ مِنهُ أَنصابا

أَو نَجعَلُ مِنهُ أَنصابا

أَو نَصنَعُ حَلوى وَكَبابا

أَو نَصنَعُ حَلوى وَكَبابا

Or make statues from it,

Or make dolls from it

Or shape from it statues and forms,

Or make sweets and kebabs.

Or cook sweets and shish kebabs

Or make pretend sweets and kebabs."

مَثَّلتُ الطِفلَ وَدُنياهُ

مَثَّلتُ الطِفلَ وَدُنياهُ

فَأَحَبَّت نَفسي دُنياهُ

فَأَحَبَّت نَفسي دُنياهُ

I pictured the child and his world,

I imagined the child and his world

I pictured the child and his small world,

And my soul came to love his world.

And my soul loved his world

And my soul fell in love with his domain;

وَدِدتُ لَو أَنِّيَ إِيّاهُ

وَدِدتُ لَو أَنِّيَ إِيّاهُ

بَل خِلتُ كَأَنِّيَ إِيّاهُ

بَل خِلتُ كَأَنِّيَ إِيّاهُ

I wished that I were he;

I wished I were him

I wished that I were truly him,

Indeed, I imagined I was he.

Indeed, I became like him

Nay, I fancied I was him again.

فَضَحِكتُ وَلَجَّ بِيَ الضِحكُ

فَضَحِكتُ وَلَجَّ بِيَ الضِحكُ

حَتّى اِستَلقَيتُ عَلى ظَهري

حَتّى اِستَلقَيتُ عَلى ظَهري

Then I laughed, and laughter seized me,

I laughed until laughter overwhelmed me

I laughed, and laughter took hold of me,

Until I lay upon my back.

And I fell on my back

Until I lay back upon the ground;

فَاِستَيقَظَ في الوَلَدِ الشَكُّ

فَاِستَيقَظَ في الوَلَدِ الشَكُّ

فَتَوَقَّفَ يَعجَبُ مِن أَمري

فَتَوَقَّفَ يَعجَبُ مِن أَمري

Then suspicion awoke in the boy,

Doubt awoke in the boy

Then doubt awoke within the boy,

And he stopped, wondering at my behavior,

And he stopped, amazed at my condition

He paused, wondering at my state.

وَيَقولُ أَياهَذا قَدكا

وَيَقولُ أَياهَذا قَدكا

فَوَحَقِّكَ ذا الطَيشُ الأَكبَر

فَوَحَقِّكَ ذا الطَيشُ الأَكبَر

Saying: You there, enough!

And said, “What is with you, old man

Saying: "O you, enough of this!

By your honor, this is the greatest folly!

By your life, such great madness

By God, this is the greatest folly;

ما تَضحَكُ مِنّي بَل مِنكا

ما تَضحَكُ مِنّي بَل مِنكا

إِيّاكَ أَنا لَو تَتَذَكَّر

إِيّاكَ أَنا لَو تَتَذَكَّر

You are not laughing at me, but at yourself:

You do not laugh at me, but at yourself

You do not laugh at me, but at yourself,

I am you, if you would remember.

If only you could remember”

For I am you, if you but recall."

وَتَوارى عَنّي وَاِحتَجَبا

وَتَوارى عَنّي وَاِحتَجَبا

كَالمَوجَةِ في عَرضِ النَهرِ

كَالمَوجَةِ في عَرضِ النَهرِ

And he vanished from me and hid,

And he shied away from me and hid

He vanished then and hid from view,

Like a wave in the river's midst.

Like a wave in the river

Like a wave in the river's breadth,

فَتَضايَقَ قَلبي وَاِضطَرَبا

فَتَضايَقَ قَلبي وَاِضطَرَبا

وَاِرتَجَّت روحي في صَدري

وَاِرتَجَّت روحي في صَدري

My heart grew distressed and trembled,

My heart tightened and was disturbed

My heart grew tight and troubled then,

And my soul shook within my breast.

And my soul quivered in my chest

And my spirit trembled in my breast.

وَإِذا الشَبَحُ الثاني أَقبَل

وَإِذا الشَبَحُ الثاني أَقبَل

يَتَرَنَّحُ مِثلَ المَخمورِ

يَتَرَنَّحُ مِثلَ المَخمورِ

Then suddenly the second apparition approached,

And the second figure approached

And then the second ghost drew near,

Swaying like a drunken man.

Staggering like a drunkard

Swaying as one with wine intoxicated;

اللَيلُ عَلى الدُنيا مُسدَل

اللَيلُ عَلى الدُنيا مُسدَل

وَعَلَيهِ وِشاحٌ مِن نورِ

وَعَلَيهِ وِشاحٌ مِن نورِ

Night lay draped over the world,

The night descends upon the world

Night was draped across the world,

While he wore a sash of light.

And he wears a cloak of light

Yet he wore a sash of woven light.

مَعصوبُ المُقلَةِ وَالدَربُ

مَعصوبُ المُقلَةِ وَالدَربُ

وَعرٌ وَكَثيرُ الآفاتِ

وَعرٌ وَكَثيرُ الآفاتِ

His eyes were bound, and the road

With eyeliner and the road obscured

Blindfolded were his eyes, while the path

Was rugged and full of perils,

Like a ship with no captain

Was rugged, filled with perils deep,

كَسَفينٍ لَيسَ لَها رَبُّ

كَسَفينٍ لَيسَ لَها رَبُّ

تَجري في بَحرِ الظُلُماتِ

تَجري في بَحرِ الظُلُماتِ

Like ships without a master

Sailing in the sea of darkness

Like a ship without a master's hand,

Sailing upon a sea of darkness.

Veiled by the waves

Sailing through the sea of gloom.

ماذا في الأُفقِ فَقَد وَقَفا

ماذا في الأُفقِ فَقَد وَقَفا

يَتَأَمَّلُ فيهِ وَيَبتَسِمُ

يَتَأَمَّلُ فيهِ وَيَبتَسِمُ

What is on the horizon? For he has stopped,

What is on the horizon that he stops

What lies on the horizon? For he paused,

Gazing at it and smiling.

And looks at it and smiles

To gaze upon it, smiling wide;

هَل لاحَ لَهُ وَجهٌ عَرَفا

هَل لاحَ لَهُ وَجهٌ عَرَفا

أَم هَزَّ جَوارِحَهُ نَغَمُ

أَم هَزَّ جَوارِحَهُ نَغَمُ

Has a face he knew appeared to him,

Did a face he knew appear?

Did a familiar face appear to him,

Or has a melody stirred his limbs?

Or did a tune move him?

Or did a melody stir his soul?

أَم أَبصَرَ أَلِهَةَ الحُبِّ

أَم أَبصَرَ أَلِهَةَ الحُبِّ

تَدعوهُ إِلَيها إِماءَ

تَدعوهُ إِلَيها إِماءَ

Or has he seen the gods of love,

Or did he see the goddesses of love

Or did he see the gods of love,

Calling him toward them with a gesture?

Beckoning him like maidens?

Beckoning him to come to them?

لا شَيءٌ في الأُفُقِ الرَحبِ

لا شَيءٌ في الأُفُقِ الرَحبِ

وَكَأَنَّ هُنالِكَ أَشياءَ

وَكَأَنَّ هُنالِكَ أَشياءَ

There is nothing in the wide horizon,

There is nothing on the vast horizon

There is nothing in the vast horizon,

Yet it seems as though things are there.

Yet it seems there are things there

Yet it seems as though great things are there.

الطَيرُ تُغَنّي لِلزَهرِ

الطَيرُ تُغَنّي لِلزَهرِ

وَيَظُنُّ الطَيرَ تُساجِلُهُ

وَيَظُنُّ الطَيرَ تُساجِلُهُ

The birds sing to the flowers,

The birds sing to the flowers

The birds are singing to the flowers,

And he thinks the birds are trading songs with him;

And think the birds are wooing them

He thinks the birds converse with him;

وَالزَهرُ تُرَحِّبُ بِالفَجرِ

وَالزَهرُ تُرَحِّبُ بِالفَجرِ

وَيَظُنُّ الزَهرَ تُغازِلُهُ

وَيَظُنُّ الزَهرَ تُغازِلُهُ

And the flowers welcome the dawn,

The flowers greet the dawn

The flowers welcome the rising dawn,

And he thinks the flowers are flirting with him.

And think it's courting them

He thinks the flowers court him now.

وَنَظَرتُ إِلَيهِ في البَرِّ

وَنَظَرتُ إِلَيهِ في البَرِّ

يَتَمَنّى لَو خاضَ البَحرا

يَتَمَنّى لَو خاضَ البَحرا

I watched him on dry land,

I looked at him on land

I watched him standing on the land,

Wishing he could venture into the sea;

Wishing he would sail the sea

Wishing he could plunge into the sea,

وَنَظَرتُ إِلَيهِ في البَحرِ

وَنَظَرتُ إِلَيهِ في البَحرِ

يَتَمَنّى لَو بَلَغَ البَرّا

يَتَمَنّى لَو بَلَغَ البَرّا

And I watched him at sea,

I looked at him at sea

I watched him while within the sea,

Wishing he could reach dry land.

Wishing he would reach the shore

Wishing he could reach the shore.

يَتَأَفَّفُ مِن بُطءِ الدَهرِ

يَتَأَفَّفُ مِن بُطءِ الدَهرِ

وَالدَهرُ يَسيرُ بِهِ وَثَبا

وَالدَهرُ يَسيرُ بِهِ وَثَبا

He chafes at time's slow pace,

He sighs at the slowness of fate

He chafes against the slowness of time,

While time carries him forward in leaps.

While fate moves him in leaps

Though time leaps forward with his stride;

وَيَنامُ لِيَحلَمَ بِالفَجرِ

وَيَنامُ لِيَحلَمَ بِالفَجرِ

وَالفَجرُ يُضيءُ لَهُ الدَربا

وَالفَجرُ يُضيءُ لَهُ الدَربا

And he sleeps to dream of dawn,

He sleeps to dream of dawn

He sleeps to dream of the coming dawn,

While dawn lights his path.

While dawn lights his way

While dawn already lights his path.

وَيُسائِلُ عَن كَأسِ الخَمرِ

وَيُسائِلُ عَن كَأسِ الخَمرِ

وَيُسائِلُهُ عَنها الناسُ

وَيُسائِلُهُ عَنها الناسُ

And he asks about the cup of wine,

He asks for the wine cup

He asks about the cup of wine,

And people ask him about it,

And people ask him about it

While people ask him for the same;

في اللَيلِ وَفي وَضحِ الفَجرِ

في اللَيلِ وَفي وَضحِ الفَجرِ

وَالخَمرَةُ فيهِ وَالكَأسُ

وَالخَمرَةُ فيهِ وَالكَأسُ

At night and in the brightness of dawn,

At night and at first light

In the night and in the light of dawn,

Though wine and cup are both within him.

While the wine and cup are within him

While the wine and cup are within him.

فَصَبَرتُ وَلازَمتُ الصَمتا

فَصَبَرتُ وَلازَمتُ الصَمتا

حَتّى دانى الظِلَّ الظِلُّ

حَتّى دانى الظِلَّ الظِلُّ

So I waited patiently and kept silent,

I was patient and kept silent

So I endured and kept my silence,

Until shadow drew near to shadow.

Until the shadow came near the shade

Until the shadow drew near the shadow;

فَأَشَرتُ إِلَيهِ مَن أَنتا

فَأَشَرتُ إِلَيهِ مَن أَنتا

فَأَجابَ أَنا ذاكَ الطِفلُ

فَأَجابَ أَنا ذاكَ الطِفلُ

Then I gestured to him: Who are you?

I gestured, “Who are you?”

I signaled to him: "Who are you?"

He answered: I am that child.

He replied, “I am that child.”

He answered: "I am that very child."

وَمَضى كَالظِلِّ إِذا اِنتَقَلا

وَمَضى كَالظِلِّ إِذا اِنتَقَلا

وَأَنا أَرجو لَو لَم يَمضِ

وَأَنا أَرجو لَو لَم يَمضِ

And he went, like a shadow shifting,

And he left like a moving shadow

He passed on like a shifting shade,

While I wished he would not go.

And I hoped he would not leave

While I pleaded that he would not go;

فَأَعَدتُ لِنَفسِيَ ما اِرتَجَلا

فَأَعَدتُ لِنَفسِيَ ما اِرتَجَلا

فَتَعَجَّبَ بَعضي مِن بَعضي

فَتَعَجَّبَ بَعضي مِن بَعضي

Then I repeated to myself what he had said on the spot,

So I spoke to myself again

I repeated what he had proclaimed,

And one part of me marveled at another.

And my self was amazed at my self

And part of me marveled at the other part.

الشَمسُ تَزَلُّ عَنِ الأُفقِ

الشَمسُ تَزَلُّ عَنِ الأُفقِ

كَالروحِ المُحتَضِرِ الساجي

كَالروحِ المُحتَضِرِ الساجي

The sun slips from the horizon,

The sun declines on the horizon

The sun was slipping from the sky,

Like a dying, motionless spirit.

Like a weary fading soul

Like a dying soul, still and calm;

غَمَرَتها أَمواجُ الغَسَقِ

غَمَرَتها أَمواجُ الغَسَقِ

فَتَوارَت خَلفَ الأَمواجِ

فَتَوارَت خَلفَ الأَمواجِ

Waves of dusk engulfed it,

Submerged by the waves of dusk

Engulfed by waves of twilight gloom,

And it vanished behind the waves.

Veiled behind the waves

It vanished behind the swelling tides.

وَالغَيمُ الأَسوَدُ يَحتَشِدُ

وَالغَيمُ الأَسوَدُ يَحتَشِدُ

تَبَقاً في الجَوِّ عَلى طَبَقِ

تَبَقاً في الجَوِّ عَلى طَبَقِ

And the black clouds gather,

And the black clouds gather

And black clouds gathered in a mass,

Layer upon layer in the sky.

Remaining in the sky in layers

Layer upon layer in the air,

وَاللَيلُ يَطولُ وَيَطَّرِدُ

وَاللَيلُ يَطولُ وَيَطَّرِدُ

وَالأَرضُ كَسارٍ في نَفَقِ

وَالأَرضُ كَسارٍ في نَفَقِ

And night lengthens and goes on unbroken,

And the night grows long and drives away

The night grew long and marched along,

And the earth is like a night traveler in a tunnel.

The land like one vanished in a cave

And the earth seemed lost within a tunnel.

وَإِذا شَيخٌ في صَحراءِ

وَإِذا شَيخٌ في صَحراءِ

كَالزَورَقِ في عَرضِ البَحرِ

كَالزَورَقِ في عَرضِ البَحرِ

And suddenly an old man in a desert,

And there is an old man in the desert

Suddenly, an elder in a wasteland,

Like a skiff in the midst of the sea,

Like a boat in the sea

Like a small boat in the open sea;

أَعياهُ الصُلحُ مَعَ الماءِ

أَعياهُ الصُلحُ مَعَ الماءِ

وَأَضاعَ الدَربَ إِلى البَرِّ

وَأَضاعَ الدَربَ إِلى البَرِّ

Wearied by making peace with the water,

Tired of reconciling with the water

Weary of making peace with the waves,

And having lost the path to shore,

And losing the way to shore

He had lost the way to the solid shore.

يَمشي في الأَرضِ عَلى مَهلٍ

يَمشي في الأَرضِ عَلى مَهلٍ

وَعَلى حَذَرٍ لَكِن يَمشي

وَعَلى حَذَرٍ لَكِن يَمشي

Walks upon the earth slowly,

He walks slowly and carefully

He walks the earth with heavy steps,

And cautiously, yet he walks,

Yet he walks like

With caution, yet he still walks on;

كَالشاةِ تُساقُ إِلى القَتلِ

كَالشاةِ تُساقُ إِلى القَتلِ

بِعَصا جَبّارٍ ذي بَطشِ

بِعَصا جَبّارٍ ذي بَطشِ

Like a sheep driven to slaughter

A lamb driven to slaughter

Like a sheep being driven to the slaughter,

By the staff of a tyrant of brutal might.

By the staff of an oppressor

By the staff of a ruthless, mighty hand.

يا شَيخُ لِماذا لا تَقِفُ

يا شَيخُ لِماذا لا تَقِفُ

دَمِيَت رِجلاكَ مِنَ الرَكضِ

دَمِيَت رِجلاكَ مِنَ الرَكضِ

Old man, why do you not stop?

Old man, why do you not stop

I cried: "O Elder, why not rest?

Your feet have bled from running.

You have bloodied your feet with running

Your feet are bleeding from the race."

فَأَجابَ بِصَوتٍ يَرتَجِفُ

فَأَجابَ بِصَوتٍ يَرتَجِفُ

الأَرضُ تَسيرُ عَلى الأَرضِ

الأَرضُ تَسيرُ عَلى الأَرضِ

He answered in a trembling voice:

He replied in a trembling voice

He answered with a quivering voice:

Earth walks upon earth.

The earth moves on the earth

"Earth is walking upon the earth."

يا شَيخُ رُوَيداً فَالبَدرُ

يا شَيخُ رُوَيداً فَالبَدرُ

سَيُضيءُ الدَربَ فَتَستَهدي

سَيُضيءُ الدَربَ فَتَستَهدي

Old man, slowly! The full moon

Old man, slow down, for the moon

"O Elder, soft! For the full moon

Will light the path, and you will find your way.

Will light the way for you to find

Will light the path and guide your way."

فَأَجابَ وَيَتلوهُ الفَجرُ

فَأَجابَ وَيَتلوهُ الفَجرُ

لَكِن سَيُضيءُ لِمَن بَعدي

لَكِن سَيُضيءُ لِمَن بَعدي

He replied: And dawn will follow it,

He answered, and dawn follows him

He said: "And dawn follows the moon,

But it will shine for those who come after me.

But it will shine for those after me

But it will shine for those after me."

أَيَلَذُّ لِغُصنٍ مُنكَسِرٍ

أَيَلَذُّ لِغُصنٍ مُنكَسِرٍ

عَرَّتهُ الريحُ مِنَ الوَرَقِ

عَرَّتهُ الريحُ مِنَ الوَرَقِ

Can a broken branch delight,

Does a broken branch tossed

"Does a broken branch find any joy,

Stripped of its leaves by the wind,

By the wind enjoy seeing in the moonlight

Stripped naked of its leaves by wind,

أَن يُبصِرَ في ضَوءِ القَمَرِ

أَن يُبصِرَ في ضَوءِ القَمَرِ

ما كانَ عَلَيهِ عَلى الطُرُقِ

ما كانَ عَلَيهِ عَلى الطُرُقِ

In seeing, by the light of the moon,

What it had on the roads?

To see, within the pale moonlight,

What it once wore, lying upon the roads?

A dead man feels no joy in the burial ground

Its scattered ruins upon the road?

ما لَذَّةُ مَيتٍ في الرَمسِ

ما لَذَّةُ مَيتٍ في الرَمسِ

بِالزَهرِ الفَوّاحِ العَطِرِ

بِالزَهرِ الفَوّاحِ العَطِرِ

What pleasure has one dead in the grave

From fragrant colorful flowers

What pleasure has the dead in the grave

In fragrant, sweet-scented flowers?

A light that does not shine in the soul

From flowers fragrant and perfumed?

نورٌ لا يُشرِقُ في النَفسِ

نورٌ لا يُشرِقُ في النَفسِ

كَغَباءٍ في أُذنِ الحَجرِ

كَغَباءٍ في أُذنِ الحَجرِ

Light that does not shine within the soul

Is like a mist in the ear of stone

A light that shines not in the soul

Is like dullness in the ear of stone.

The planets and shooting stars did not slip away from me

Is like dull silence to a stone."

ما اِستَخَفَّت عَنّي الأَفلاكُ

ما اِستَخَفَّت عَنّي الأَفلاكُ

وَالشُهبُ بَلِ اِستَخفى حُبّي

وَالشُهبُ بَلِ اِستَخفى حُبّي

The celestial spheres have not hidden themselves from me,

But my love slipped away

"The stars have not hidden from my sight,

Nor the shooting stars; rather, my love has hidden itself.

No thorns filled my path

Nor the meteors, but my love is gone;

لَم تَملَء دَربي الأَشواكُ

لَم تَملَء دَربي الأَشواكُ

إِنَّ الأَشواكَ لَفي قَلبي

إِنَّ الأَشواكَ لَفي قَلبي

Thorns have not filled my path;

The thorns are in my heart

My path was not filled up with thorns,

Indeed, the thorns are in my heart.

Old man, your words hurt me

The thorns are buried in my heart."

يا شَيخُ شَجاني ما قُلتا

يا شَيخُ شَجاني ما قُلتا

وَزَرَعتَ بِنَفسِيَ آلامَك

وَزَرَعتَ بِنَفسِيَ آلامَك

Old man, what you said has grieved me,

And planted pains in my soul

"O Elder, your words have grieved my soul,

And you have planted your sorrows in my soul.

Who are you? He replied, I am you

And planted your pain within my breast.

مَن أَنتَ أَجابَ أَنا أَنتَ

مَن أَنتَ أَجابَ أَنا أَنتَ

أَنا ذاتُكَ تَمشي قُدّامك

أَنا ذاتُكَ تَمشي قُدّامك

Who are you? He answered: I am you;

I am your being walking ahead of you

Who are you?" He answered: "I am you.

I am your own self, walking ahead of you.

How I search among the planets

I am your self walking ahead."

كَم أَبحَثُ بَينَ الأَجرامِ

كَم أَبحَثُ بَينَ الأَجرامِ

عَنّي وَأُنَقِّبُ في الأَرضِ

عَنّي وَأُنَقِّبُ في الأَرضِ

How often I search among the heavenly bodies

And dig in the earth for myself

How often I search among the stars,

For myself, and dig through the earth!

My dreams bury my dreams

Looking for me, and digging the earth.

أَحلامِيَ تَطمُرُ أَحلامي

أَحلامِيَ تَطمُرُ أَحلامي

بَعضي مَدفونٌ في بَعضي

بَعضي مَدفونٌ في بَعضي

My dreams bury my dreams;

Some of me is buried in some of me

My dreams are burying my dreams,

Part of me lies buried within another part.

I did not see myself yesterday

And part of me is buried in part of me.

لَم أُبصِر ذاتي بِالأَمسِ

لَم أُبصِر ذاتي بِالأَمسِ

في لَوحِ زُجاجٍ أَو ماءِ

في لَوحِ زُجاجٍ أَو ماءِ

Yesterday I did not see myself

In a glass panel or water

I did not see myself yesterday,

In a pane of glass or water;

But my soul appeared in my soul

In a pane of glass or pool of water;

بَل لاحَت نَفسِيَ في نَفسي

بَل لاحَت نَفسِيَ في نَفسي

فَهيَ المَرإِيَّةُ وَالرائي

فَهيَ المَرإِيَّةُ وَالرائي

Rather, my soul appeared within my soul:

It is the seer and the seen

But my self appeared within my self,

So it is both the seen and the seer.

For it is the image seen and the seer.