كَم بَينَ طَيّاتِ العُصورِ الخالِيَه

كَم بَينَ طَيّاتِ العُصورِ الخالِيَه

عِظَةٍ لِأَبناءِ الدُهورِ الآتِيَه

عِظَةٍ لِأَبناءِ الدُهورِ الآتِيَه

Within the folds of bygone ages, how many

How many lessons for the coming generations

How many lessons lie hidden within the folds of bygone eras,

Lessons lie for the children of ages yet to come!

Lie hidden in the folds of bygone ages,

Serving as a sermon for the children of ages to come.

عِبَرُ اللَيالي كَاللَيالي جَمَّةٌ

عِبَرُ اللَيالي كَاللَيالي جَمَّةٌ

لَكِنَّما النُزرُ القُلوبُ الواعِيَه

لَكِنَّما النُزرُ القُلوبُ الواعِيَه

The lessons of nights, like the nights themselves, are many,

Nights pass like nights in their monotony,

The lessons of the nights are as plentiful as the nights themselves,

But few are the hearts that heed.

Yet only enlightened souls perceive the gems.

Yet those with hearts that truly heed are scarce indeed.

الدَهرُ يُفنينا وَنَحسَبُ أَنَّهُ

الدَهرُ يُفنينا وَنَحسَبُ أَنَّهُ

يُفني بِنا أَيّامَهُ وَلَيالِيَه

يُفني بِنا أَيّامَهُ وَلَيالِيَه

Time destroys us, while we imagine that it

Time destroys us though we fancy

Time annihilates us, while we reckon that it is we

Exhausts its days and nights through us.

That it is we who are passing its days and nights away.

Who are consuming its days and its nights.

فَإِذا مَشى فينا الفَناءُ فَراعَنا

فَإِذا مَشى فينا الفَناءُ فَراعَنا

خَلَقَ الخَيالُ لَنا الحَياةَ الثانِيَه

خَلَقَ الخَيالُ لَنا الحَياةَ الثانِيَه

And when annihilation walks among us and frightens us,

When decay falls upon us we awake

When annihilation walks among us, it startles us,

Imagination creates a second life for us.

To the phantom of a second life imagination has created.

For imagination had created for us a second life.

إِنَّ الحَياةَ قَصيدَةٌ أَبياتُها

إِنَّ الحَياةَ قَصيدَةٌ أَبياتُها

أَعمارُنا وَالمَوتُ فيها القافِيَه

أَعمارُنا وَالمَوتُ فيها القافِيَه

Life is a poem whose verses

Life is a poem whose rhyming

Truly, life is a poem; its verses

Are our lifetimes, and death in it is the rhyme.

Couplets are our lives, and death is its refrain.

Are our lifespans, and death within it is the rhyme.

كَم تَعشَقُ الدُنيا وَتُنكِرُ صَدَّها

كَم تَعشَقُ الدُنيا وَتُنكِرُ صَدَّها

أَنَسَيتَ أَنَّ الخُلفَ طَبعُ الغانِيَه

أَنَسَيتَ أَنَّ الخُلفَ طَبعُ الغانِيَه

How deeply you adore the world, yet resent her rebuff!

How you love this life, denying

How much you adore the world while denying its rejection,

Have you forgotten that faithlessness is the fair woman's nature?

That loss is the law of the verse;

Have you forgotten that betrayal is the nature of a beauty?

وَتَوَدُّ لَو يَبقى عَلَيكَ نَعيمُها

وَتَوَدُّ لَو يَبقى عَلَيكَ نَعيمُها

أَجَهِلتَ أَنَّ عَلَيكَ رَدَّ الغانِيَه

أَجَهِلتَ أَنَّ عَلَيكَ رَدَّ الغانِيَه

And you wish her bliss would stay with you.

You wish that its pleasures would stay with you

You wish for its bliss to remain yours forever,

Did you not know you must send the fair one away?

Though you know the turn of the verse is loss and decay.

Are you ignorant that you must face the beauty's refusal?

خَلِّ الغُرورَ بِما لَدَيكَ فَإِنَّما

خَلِّ الغُرورَ بِما لَدَيكَ فَإِنَّما

دُنياكَ زائِلَةٌ وَنَفسُكَ فانِيَه

دُنياكَ زائِلَةٌ وَنَفسُكَ فانِيَه

Forsake pride in what you have, for indeed

Leave off your pride in what you own;

Abandon vanity regarding what you possess, for truly

Your world is passing away, and your soul is mortal.

Your life and your soul are but guests here.

Your world is fleeting, and your soul is mortal.

إِنَّ الأُلى وَطِأَت نِعالُهُمُ السُهى

إِنَّ الأُلى وَطِأَت نِعالُهُمُ السُهى

وَطِأَت جِباهَهُمُ نِعالُ الماشِيَه

وَطِأَت جِباهَهُمُ نِعالُ الماشِيَه

Indeed, those whose sandals trod al-Suha

The high and mighty have been brought low

Those whose sandals once trod upon the high stars,

Had their brows trodden by the hooves of livestock.

And the feet of the humble mounted high.

Their foreheads were eventually trodden by the hooves of cattle.

لَو أَنَّ حَيّاً خالِدٌ فَوقَ الثَرى

لَو أَنَّ حَيّاً خالِدٌ فَوقَ الثَرى

ما ماتَ هَرونٌ وَزالَ مُعاوِيَه

ما ماتَ هَرونٌ وَزالَ مُعاوِيَه

Were any living being immortal upon the earth,

If one alive were above decay

If any living being were immortal upon the dust,

Harun would not have died, nor Muawiyah passed away.

Neither Hārūn nor Muʿāwiyah would have died;

Harun would not have died, nor would Muawiyah have passed away.

أَو كانَ عِزٌّ دائِماً ما أَصبَحَت

أَو كانَ عِزٌّ دائِماً ما أَصبَحَت

بَغدادُ في عَدَدِ الطُلولِ البالِيَه

بَغدادُ في عَدَدِ الطُلولِ البالِيَه

Or had glory lasted forever, never would

The glory of Baghdad would have remained

Or if glory were everlasting, Baghdad would not have become

Baghdad have joined the ranks of crumbling ruins.

Ever repulsing the armies that attacked her.

Counted among the number of worn-out ruins.

أَخنَت عَلَيها الحادِثاتُ فَدورُها

أَخنَت عَلَيها الحادِثاتُ فَدورُها

خِرَبٌ تُعاوِدُها الرِياحُ السافِيَه

خِرَبٌ تُعاوِدُها الرِياحُ السافِيَه

Calamities ravaged her, so her houses are

Misfortunes have blown over her till her dwellings

Calamities betrayed her, so her mansions became

Ruins revisited by dust-sweeping winds.

Lie open ruins bare for the sweeping winds.

Desolate ruins revisited by the dust-scattering winds.

يَأوي إِلَيها البومُ غَيرَ مُرَوَّعٍ

يَأوي إِلَيها البومُ غَيرَ مُرَوَّعٍ

مِن كُلِّ نَعّابٍ أَحَمِّ الذافِيَه

مِن كُلِّ نَعّابٍ أَحَمِّ الذافِيَه

Owls seek shelter there, unafraid

The owl takes shelter undisturbed in her −

The owl takes shelter there, unalarmed

Of any jet-black cawing bird [final word unclear].

Target for every stone the mischievous boys hurl.

By every croaking raven with pitch-black feathers.

نَزَلَ القَضاءُ فَما حَماها سورُها

نَزَلَ القَضاءُ فَما حَماها سورُها

وَلَطالَما رَدَّ الجُيوشَ الغازِيَه

وَلَطالَما رَدَّ الجُيوشَ الغازِيَه

Fate descended, and her wall did not protect her,

Fate descended and her walls could not protect her

Fate descended, and her wall did not protect her,

Though time and again it repelled invading armies.

Though long they had turned back the hostile invader

Though often it had repelled invading armies.

وَاِجتاحَ مُجتاحُ العُروشِ مُلوكَها

وَاِجتاحَ مُجتاحُ العُروشِ مُلوكَها

فَكَأَنَّهُم أَعجازُ نَخلٍ خاوِيَه

فَكَأَنَّهُم أَعجازُ نَخلٍ خاوِيَه

And the ravager of thrones swept away her kings,

And the Caliphs she sheltered were like date palms

The Destroyer of Thrones swept away her kings,

So they seemed hollow stumps of palm trees.

Whose crowns are only withered, leafless trunks.

Leaving them like the hollow trunks of fallen palm trees.

أَينَ القُصورُ الشاهِقاتُ وَأَهلُها

أَينَ القُصورُ الشاهِقاتُ وَأَهلُها

بادَ الجَميعُ فَما لَهُم مِن باقِيَه

بادَ الجَميعُ فَما لَهُم مِن باقِيَه

Where are the towering palaces and their people?

Where are the high-aspiring palaces and their folk −

Where are the towering palaces and their inhabitants?

All have perished; no remnant of them remains.

All have vanished and left no trace behind.

All have perished; not a remnant of them remains.

دَرَسَت مَعالِمُها وَغَيَّرَها البِلى

دَرَسَت مَعالِمُها وَغَيَّرَها البِلى

وَلَقَد تُرى حِلَلُ المَحاسِنِ كاسِيَه

وَلَقَد تُرى حِلَلُ المَحاسِنِ كاسِيَه

Her landmarks faded, and decay transformed her,

Time has altered them as writing is blotted

Her landmarks are erased, and decay has altered her,

Though once she was seen clad in beauty's robes;

Out of parchment when the ink fades and disappears.

And indeed, the robes of beauty are seen turning into rags.

أَيّامَ لا دَوحُ المَعارِفِ ذابِلٌ

أَيّامَ لا دَوحُ المَعارِفِ ذابِلٌ

ذاوٍ وَلا دورُ الصِناعَةِ خالِيَه

ذاوٍ وَلا دورُ الصِناعَةِ خالِيَه

In days when learning's great trees were not withered,

Yet their terraces can be seen like women whose veils

Days when the great tree of knowledge was not withered

Nor shriveled, and the houses of industry were not empty;

Have slipped and hang negligently round them.

Nor shriveled, and the houses of industry were not empty.

أَيّامَ لا لُغَةُ الكِتابِ غَريبَةٌ

أَيّامَ لا لُغَةُ الكِتابِ غَريبَةٌ

فيها وَلا هِمَمُ الأَعارِبِ وانِيَه

فيها وَلا هِمَمُ الأَعارِبِ وانِيَه

In days when the language of the Book was no stranger

Days when the torches of knowledge are not extinguished,

Days when the language of the Book was not strange

There, nor the Arabs' aspirations flagging;

When its forums and schools are not left empty;

Within her, nor were the ambitions of the Arabs weak.

أَيّامَ كانَ العِلمُ يَغبِطُ أَهلَهُ

أَيّامَ كانَ العِلمُ يَغبِطُ أَهلَهُ

أَهلُ الثَراءِ ذَوُ البُرودِ الضافِيَه

أَهلُ الثَراءِ ذَوُ البُرودِ الضافِيَه

In days when learning's people were envied

Days when the Book's idioms are still eloquent

Days when knowledge was the envy of its people,

By the wealthy, wearers of ample striped cloaks;

And Bedouin hearts have not lost their ardour.

And the wealthy wore ample, flowing robes.

أَيّامَ كانَ لِكُلِّ حُسنٍ شاعِرٌ

أَيّامَ كانَ لِكُلِّ حُسنٍ شاعِرٌ

كَلِفٌ بِهِ وَلِكُلِّ شِعرٍ راوِيَه

كَلِفٌ بِهِ وَلِكُلِّ شِعرٍ راوِيَه

In days when every beauty had a poet

Days when the scholar envies not the wealthy

Days when every beauty had a poet

Enamored of it, and every poem a narrator;

Nor warm furs in winter the scantily clothed.

Infatuated with it, and every poem had a reciter.

أَيّامَ دِجلَةُ مُطمَإِنٌّ هادِئٌ

أَيّامَ دِجلَةُ مُطمَإِنٌّ هادِئٌ

جَذلانُ يَهزَءُ بِالبُحورِ الطامِيَه

جَذلانُ يَهزَءُ بِالبُحورِ الطامِيَه

In days when the Tigris was serene and calm,

Days when every beauty has one who woos it

Days when the Tigris was reassured and calm,

Joyous, mocking the swelling seas;

And every poem flows from the eager poet's lips.

Joyful, mocking the swelling seas.

النيلُ خادِمُهُ الأَمينُ وَعَبدَهُ

النيلُ خادِمُهُ الأَمينُ وَعَبدَهُ

نَهرُ الفُراتِ وَكُلُّ عَينٍ جارِيَه

نَهرُ الفُراتِ وَكُلُّ عَينٍ جارِيَه

The Nile its faithful servant, and its slave

Days when Tigris, Euphrates, and every brook

The Nile was its faithful servant, and its slave

The Euphrates River, and every flowing spring;

Course calmly to the sea that gulps them greedily −

Was the Euphrates river and every flowing spring.

تَهوى الكَواكِبُ أَنَّها حَصبائُهُ

تَهوى الكَواكِبُ أَنَّها حَصبائُهُ

أَو أَنَّها شَجَرٌ عَلَيهِ حانِيَه

أَو أَنَّها شَجَرٌ عَلَيهِ حانِيَه

The stars longed to be its pebbles,

The Nile a faithful slave pouring its water

The stars wished they were mere pebbles in its bed,

Or trees bending tenderly over it;

While stars vie to quench their luminous thirst.

Or that they were trees leaning over its banks.

وَتَوَدُّ كُلُّ سَحابَةٍ مَرَّت بِهِ

وَتَوَدُّ كُلُّ سَحابَةٍ مَرَّت بِهِ

لَو أَنَّهُ سُحُبٌ عَلَيها هامِيَه

لَو أَنَّهُ سُحُبٌ عَلَيها هامِيَه

And every cloud that passed by it wished

Clouds imagine themselves pearls strung together

And every cloud that passed it by wished

That it were clouds pouring rain upon her.

Or trees with their fruit weighing down the branches.

That the river was a cloud pouring down upon it.

وَتَرى الغَزالَةُ طَيفَها عِندَ الضُحى

وَتَرى الغَزالَةُ طَيفَها عِندَ الضُحى

في سَطحِهِ فَتَبيتُ عَطشى راوِيَه

في سَطحِهِ فَتَبيتُ عَطشى راوِيَه

And the sun saw her reflection at midmorning

The gazelle in the sun at dawn sees her image

The sun sees its specter at mid-morning

On its surface, then spent the night thirsty yet quenched.

Mirrored in the limpid water and lingers to drink.

On the river's surface, spending the night thirsty yet quenched.

أَيّامَ كانَ الشَرقُ مَرهوبَ الحِمى

أَيّامَ كانَ الشَرقُ مَرهوبَ الحِمى

يَكسو الجَلالُ سُهولَهُ وَرَوابِيَه

يَكسو الجَلالُ سُهولَهُ وَرَوابِيَه

In days when the East's domain inspired dread,

Days when the East is held in awe,

Days when the sanctuary of the East was feared,

Majesty clothed its plains and hills;

Its plains and hills clothed in majesty;

And majesty clothed its plains and its hills.

أَيّامَ تَحسُدُها العَواصِمُ مِثلَما

أَيّامَ تَحسُدُها العَواصِمُ مِثلَما

حَسَدَ العَواطِلُ أُختَهُنَّ الحالِيَه

حَسَدَ العَواطِلُ أُختَهُنَّ الحالِيَه

In days when capitals envied her, just as

Days that other capitals envy

Days which the capitals envied, just as

Unadorned women envied their jeweled sister;

Just as the ancients envied their predecessors.

Women without jewelry envy their adorned sister.

وَلَطالَما كانَت تُعَزُّ بِعِزِّها

وَلَطالَما كانَت تُعَزُّ بِعِزِّها

مِصرٌ وَيَحمي ذِكرَها أَنطاكِيَه

مِصرٌ وَيَحمي ذِكرَها أَنطاكِيَه

And how often her glory brought honor

When Egypt boasted of its splendour

And often Egypt was strengthened by her strength,

To Egypt, while her renown shielded Antioch;

And Syria's fame was guarded by Antioch.

And Antioch protected her renown.

أَيّامَ هَرونٌ يُديرُ شُؤونَها

أَيّامَ هَرونٌ يُديرُ شُؤونَها

يا عَصرَ هَرونِ عَلَيكَ سَلامِيَه

يا عَصرَ هَرونِ عَلَيكَ سَلامِيَه

In days when Harun managed her affairs,

Days of Hārūn when he governed affairs

Days when Harun managed her affairs;

O age of Harun, my greetings be upon you!

− Hail to that epoch of yours, Harun!

O age of Harun, upon you is my peace.

مَلِكٌ أَدالَ مِنَ الجَهالَةِ عِلمُهُ

مَلِكٌ أَدالَ مِنَ الجَهالَةِ عِلمُهُ

وَأَذَلَّ صارِمُهُ المُلوكَ العاتِيَه

وَأَذَلَّ صارِمُهُ المُلوكَ العاتِيَه

A king whose learning wrested power from ignorance,

A leader who led ignorance away from his people

A king whose knowledge triumphed over ignorance,

Whose keen sword humbled defiant kings;

And broke the sword of the tyrant in their defence.

And whose sharp sword humbled arrogant kings.

وَمَشَت تُطَوِّفُ في البِلادِ هِباتُهُ

وَمَشَت تُطَوِّفُ في البِلادِ هِباتُهُ

تَغشى حَواضِرَها وَتَغشى البادِيَه

تَغشى حَواضِرَها وَتَغشى البادِيَه

And his gifts went wandering through the lands,

His generosity traveled to every region

His gifts walked, roaming through the lands,

Overspreading their cities and overspreading the desert;

Covering deserts and settled communities.

Covering her cities and covering the desert.

مَلَأَ البِلادَ عَوارِفاً وَمَعارِفاً

مَلَأَ البِلادَ عَوارِفاً وَمَعارِفاً

وَالأَرضَ عَدلاً وَالنُفوسَ رَفاهِيَه

وَالأَرضَ عَدلاً وَالنُفوسَ رَفاهِيَه

He filled the lands with benefactions and learning,

He filled the lands with learning and noble deeds,

He filled the lands with favors and knowledge,

And the earth with justice, and souls with comfort.

Bringing justice, security, and ease.

The earth with justice, and souls with prosperity.

فَتَحَضَّرَ البادونَ في أَيّامِهِ

فَتَحَضَّرَ البادونَ في أَيّامِهِ

وَاِستَأنَسَت حَتّى الوُحوشُ الضارِيَه

وَاِستَأنَسَت حَتّى الوُحوشُ الضارِيَه

Thus the desert dwellers grew civilized in his days,

So the Bedouins became civilized

The nomads became civilized in his days,

And even the savage beasts grew tame.

And even the beasts shed their wildness.

And even the predatory beasts became tame.

وَتَسَربَلَت بَغدادُ ثَوبَ مَهابَةٍ

وَتَسَربَلَت بَغدادُ ثَوبَ مَهابَةٍ

لَيسَت تَراهُ أَو تَراهُ ثانِيَه

لَيسَت تَراهُ أَو تَراهُ ثانِيَه

And Baghdad donned a robe of majesty,

And Baghdad was robed in majestic splendour,

Baghdad was robed in a gown of awe,

She sees it no more—or will she see it again?

None seeing the like of it before or since.

Which she does not see now, nor will she see again.

هاتيكَ أَيّامٌ تَلاشَت مِثلَما

هاتيكَ أَيّامٌ تَلاشَت مِثلَما

تَمحو مِنَ الرِقِّ الحُروفَ الماحِيَه

تَمحو مِنَ الرِقِّ الحُروفَ الماحِيَه

Those were days that vanished, just as

But those days have vanished, passing away

Those are days that have vanished, just as

An eraser wipes letters from parchment.

Like writing on a slate erased by a swipe.

The eraser wipes letters from the parchment.

لَم يَبقَ إِلّا ذِكرُها يا حُسنَها

لَم يَبقَ إِلّا ذِكرُها يا حُسنَها

ذِكرى تَهَشُّ لَها العِظامُ البالِيَه

ذِكرى تَهَشُّ لَها العِظامُ البالِيَه

Nothing remains but their memory—how beautiful!

Only their memory lives on, O their beauty!

Nothing remains but her memory—oh, her beauty!

A memory at which decaying bones rejoice.

A yearning that pierces the bones of the ruined.

A memory at which decaying bones rejoice.

لَو أَنَّ هَذا الدَهرَ سِفرٌ كُنتَ يا

لَو أَنَّ هَذا الدَهرَ سِفرٌ كُنتَ يا

عَصرَ الحَضارَةِ مَتنَهُ وَالحاشِيَه

عَصرَ الحَضارَةِ مَتنَهُ وَالحاشِيَه

If time itself were a book, you would be, O

If the ages were a journey, your era,

If this Time were a written book, you would be,

Age of civilization, its text and its margins.

O Age of Enlightenment, would be its provision.

O Age of Civilization, its text and its margins.

عَصرٌ لَئِن جاءَ البَشيرُ بِعودِهِ

عَصرٌ لَئِن جاءَ البَشيرُ بِعودِهِ

فَلَأَخلَعَنَّ عَلى البَشيرِ شَبابِيَه

فَلَأَخلَعَنَّ عَلى البَشيرِ شَبابِيَه

An age—if a herald came announcing its return,

Should the harbinger herald its return

An age—if the bringer of good news announced its return,

Then I would surely cloak the herald in my youth.

I would doff my years as garments outworn.

I would cast off my youth upon that messenger.

إيهٍ أَبا المَأمونِ ذِكرُكَ آبِدٌ

إيهٍ أَبا المَأمونِ ذِكرُكَ آبِدٌ

في الأَرضِ مِثلُ الشامِخاتِ الراسِيَه

في الأَرضِ مِثلُ الشامِخاتِ الراسِيَه

Ah, father of al-Ma'mun, your memory is everlasting,

Alas for al-Má'mūn, immortal your memory

Take heed, O Father of Ma'mun, your memory is eternal

On earth, like the lofty, firmly rooted mountains;

Fixed on earth like mountains solid and high.

In the earth, like the towering, anchored mountains.

باقٍ عَلى مَرِّ العُصورِ بَقائَها

باقٍ عَلى مَرِّ العُصورِ بَقائَها

وَكَذاكَ ذِكرُ ذَوي النُفوسِ السامِيَه

وَكَذاكَ ذِكرُ ذَوي النُفوسِ السامِيَه

Enduring through the ages as long as they endure,

It lasts through the ages like those of the noble

Remaining through the passage of ages as they remain,

And likewise endures the memory of those with lofty souls.

If no ideal remains for us to embody.

And likewise is the memory of those with lofty souls.

إِن لَم يَكُن لَكَ مِن مِثالٍ بَينَنا

إِن لَم يَكُن لَكَ مِن مِثالٍ بَينَنا

فَلِأَنَّ روحَكَ كُلَّ حينٍ دانِيَه

فَلِأَنَّ روحَكَ كُلَّ حينٍ دانِيَه

If there is no likeness of you among us,

Your spirit dwells with us, kindly and generous,

If there is no likeness of you among us now,

It is because your spirit is always near.

A bright star, a sun declining at close of day.

It is because your spirit is close at every moment.

هِيَ في الخَمائِلِ زَهرَةٌ فَيّاحَةٌ

هِيَ في الخَمائِلِ زَهرَةٌ فَيّاحَةٌ

هِيَ في الكَواكِبِ شَمسُها المُتَلاِيَه

هِيَ في الكَواكِبِ شَمسُها المُتَلاِيَه

It is a fragrant flower in the groves;

How strange that you died though still living!

It is a fragrant flower in the gardens,

Among the stars, it is their glittering sun.

How came you to rest in the all-effacing tomb!

It is the shimmering sun among the stars.

إِنّي لَأَعجَبُ كَيفَ مُتَّ وَفي الوَرى

إِنّي لَأَعجَبُ كَيفَ مُتَّ وَفي الوَرى

حَيٌّ وَكَيفَ طَوَتكَ هَذي الطاوِيَه

حَيٌّ وَكَيفَ طَوَتكَ هَذي الطاوِيَه

I marvel how you died, while among humankind

Time overthrows what you constructed

I marvel at how you died, yet among the people

A living soul remained—and how this enfolder folded you away;

Yet time fears not the hand raised to admonish!

You are alive, and how this folding earth enfolded you.

وَمِنَ الزَمانِ يَهُدُّ ما شَيَّدتَهُ

وَمِنَ الزَمانِ يَهُدُّ ما شَيَّدتَهُ

وَيحَ الزَمانِ أَما تَهيبَ بانِيَه

وَيحَ الزَمانِ أَما تَهيبَ بانِيَه

And at Time, which tears down what you built.

My soul pours its complaint out to you

And that Time destroys what you built;

Woe to Time! Did it not stand in awe of its builder?

For you are the refuge of every troubled soul.

Woe to Time! Did it not fear its own builder?

تَشكو إِلَيكَ اليَومَ نَفسي شَجوَها

تَشكو إِلَيكَ اليَومَ نَفسي شَجوَها

فَلَأَنتَ مُفزِعُ كُلِّ نَفسٍ شاكِيَه

فَلَأَنتَ مُفزِعُ كُلِّ نَفسٍ شاكِيَه

Today my soul complains to you of its grief,

Do you know your home has been changed

My soul complains to you today of its sorrow,

For you are surely the refuge of every complaining soul.

And voices of mourning replace the glad song?

For you are the refuge of every complaining soul.

أَتُراكَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ دارَكَ بُدِّلَت

أَتُراكَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ دارَكَ بُدِّلَت

مِن صَوتِ إِحَقٍ بِصَوتِ الناعِيَه

مِن صَوتِ إِحَقٍ بِصَوتِ الناعِيَه

I wonder, do you know your house has been transformed,

Do you know that what you established

Do you know that your abode has been exchanged,

From Ihaq's voice to a death-announcing woman's cry?

Negligent souls have dissipated and scattered?

From the voice of chanting to the voice of the mourning woman?

أَتُراكَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ ما أَثَّلتَهُ

أَتُراكَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ ما أَثَّلتَهُ

قَد ضَيَّعَتهُ الأَنفُسُ المُتَلاهِيَه

قَد ضَيَّعَتهُ الأَنفُسُ المُتَلاهِيَه

I wonder, do you know that what you firmly founded

Alas for the East after you! Truly it

Do you know that what you established

Has been squandered by heedless souls?

Has sunk into weakness, tottering on the brink.

Has been wasted by souls lost in amusement?

يا وَيحَ هَذا الشَرقِ بَعدَكَ إِنَّهُ

يا وَيحَ هَذا الشَرقِ بَعدَكَ إِنَّهُ

لِلضَعفِ باتَ عَلى شَفيرِ الهاوِيَه

لِلضَعفِ باتَ عَلى شَفيرِ الهاوِيَه

Alas for this East after you! It has

Once disdaining the stars, it is now content

O woe to this East after you, for truly

Through weakness come to the brink of the abyss.

If its people enjoy security and well being.

Due to weakness, it has spent the night on the brink of the abyss.

ما كانَ يَقنَعُ بِالنُجومِ وَسائِداً

ما كانَ يَقنَعُ بِالنُجومِ وَسائِداً

وَاليَومَ يَقنَعُ أَهلَهُ بِالعافِيَه

وَاليَومَ يَقنَعُ أَهلَهُ بِالعافِيَه

Once it would not accept the stars as pillows,

Plunging blindly into ignorance, as though

It was not content with the stars as a pillow,

And today its people are content with mere well-being.

Bewitched, bitten by the daughter of the crafty.

Yet today its people are content merely with survival.

مُستَرسِلونَ إِلى الذُهولِ كَأَنَّما

مُستَرسِلونَ إِلى الذُهولِ كَأَنَّما

سُحِروا أَوِ اِصطُرِعوا بِبِنتِ الخابِيَه

سُحِروا أَوِ اِصطُرِعوا بِبِنتِ الخابِيَه

Yielding themselves to stupor, as though

Surrendering to destiny, as though seized

Drifting into stupor as if

Bewitched, or felled by the wine-jar's daughter;

Unresisting by fate and the victor subduing.

They were bewitched or struck down by the daughter of the wine-jar.

مُستَسلِمونَ إِلى القَضاءِ كَأَنَّما

مُستَسلِمونَ إِلى القَضاءِ كَأَنَّما

أُخِذوا وَلَمّا يُؤخَذوا بِالغاشِيَه

أُخِذوا وَلَمّا يُؤخَذوا بِالغاشِيَه

Submitting themselves to fate, as though

To attain the noble is to gain the ideal;

Surrendering to Fate as if

Already seized, though the overwhelming calamity has not yet seized them.

For them the noble is but the tyrant or his lackey!

They were seized, yet not seized, by the Overwhelming Event.

المَجدُ إِدراكُ النَفيسِ وَعِندَهُم

المَجدُ إِدراكُ النَفيسِ وَعِندَهُم

ما المَجدُ إِلّا شادِنٌ أَو شادِيَه

ما المَجدُ إِلّا شادِنٌ أَو شادِيَه

Glory means attaining what is precious, but to them

They love life for life's sake alone

Glory is the attainment of the precious, but to them,

Glory is nothing but a young gazelle or a singing woman.

While true living is to have a high aim and purpose.

Glory is nothing but a singing girl or a female singer.

يَهوى الحَياةَ الناسُ طَوعُ نُفوسِهِم

يَهوى الحَياةَ الناسُ طَوعُ نُفوسِهِم

وَهُمُ يُريدونَ الحَياةَ كَما هِيا

وَهُمُ يُريدونَ الحَياةَ كَما هِيا

People yearn for life to obey their wills,

Their souls have grown small so their leader fears

People love life, obeying the whims of their souls,

But they want life just as it is.

The coward as much as the despot overbearing.

And they want life to remain exactly as it is.

صَغُرَت نُفوسُهُمُ فَباتَ عَزيزُهُم

صَغُرَت نُفوسُهُمُ فَباتَ عَزيزُهُم

يَخشى الجَبانَ كَما يَخافُ الطاغِيَه

يَخشى الجَبانَ كَما يَخافُ الطاغِيَه

Their souls have shrunk, so even their mighty man

Silently they bear humiliation like beasts

Their souls have become small, so their mighty one

Fears the coward as he fears the tyrant.

On whom not even threats have effect.

Fears the coward just as he fears the tyrant.

حَمَلوا المَغارِمَ ساكِتينَ كَأَنَّما

حَمَلوا المَغارِمَ ساكِتينَ كَأَنَّما

كَبُرَت عَلى أَحناكِهِم لا الناهِيَه

كَبُرَت عَلى أَحناكِهِم لا الناهِيَه

They bore burdens in silence, as though

Never has the world heard of a people like them −

They bore penalties in silence, as if

The prohibitive 'no' were too large for their jaws.

They died in life's midst, not in death's.

The command 'No' was too great for their jaws.

لَم تَسمَعِ الدُنيا بِقَومٍ قَبلَهُم

لَم تَسمَعِ الدُنيا بِقَومٍ قَبلَهُم

ماتوا وَما بَرِحوا الدِيارَ الفانِيَه

ماتوا وَما بَرِحوا الدِيارَ الفانِيَه

The world had never heard, before them, of a people

Had they sought to defend their glorious past

The world has never heard of a people before them

Who died without leaving their perishing dwellings.

They would be the epitome of peoples risen high.

Who died yet did not leave their perishable homes.

اللَهَ لَو حَرَصوا عَلى أَمجادِهِم

اللَهَ لَو حَرَصوا عَلى أَمجادِهِم

فَلَتِلكَ عُنوانُ الشُعوبِ الراقِيَه

فَلَتِلكَ عُنوانُ الشُعوبِ الراقِيَه

By God, if only they had guarded their glories!

But the rabble took over all they had,

By God, had they guarded their glories,

For those are indeed the hallmark of advanced peoples.

Even their swords, their lamps, and their pans.

Those would be the title of rising nations.

مَلَكَ العُلوجُ أُمورَهُم وَمَتاعَهُم

مَلَكَ العُلوجُ أُمورَهُم وَمَتاعَهُم

حَتّى سَوامُهُمُ وَحَتّى الآنِيَه

حَتّى سَوامُهُمُ وَحَتّى الآنِيَه

Foreign brutes took possession of their affairs and their goods,

Shameful that the Arabs now dread their ancestors

Barbarians have possessed their affairs and their goods,

Even their grazing herds, and even their utensils.

As their slaves turned masters now make free.

Even their grazing livestock and their vessels.

وَخَجلَةَ العَرَبِيِّ مِن أَجدادِهِ

وَخَجلَةَ العَرَبِيِّ مِن أَجدادِهِ

صارَت عَبيدُهُمُ الطَغامُ مَُوالِيَه

صارَت عَبيدُهُمُ الطَغامُ مَُوالِيَه

And oh, the Arab's shame before his ancestors!

Sons of the Caliphs, heirs of past grandeur,

O the shame of the Arab before his ancestors,

Their vile slaves have become his masters.

Unsheath your swords, joust in the Spanish arena!

Their slaves and the rabble have become their masters.

أَبَني الغَطارِقَةِ الجَبابِرَةِ الأُلى

أَبَني الغَطارِقَةِ الجَبابِرَةِ الأُلى

وَطِؤوا اللُوارَ وَدَوَّخوا إِسبانِيَه

وَطِؤوا اللُوارَ وَدَوَّخوا إِسبانِيَه

O sons of those proud, mighty rulers who

In your history lies a truthful lesson

O sons of the noble chiefs, the mighty ones who

Trod the Loire and subdued Spain;

If you would question it−no other source as valid.

Trod upon the Loire and subdued Spain,

مِن حَولِكُم وَأَمامَكُم تارِخُهُم

مِن حَولِكُم وَأَمامَكُم تارِخُهُم

فَاِستَخبِروهُ فَذاكَ أَصدَقُ راوِيَه

فَاِستَخبِروهُ فَذاكَ أَصدَقُ راوِيَه

Their history lies around you and before you;

They led armies on every plain grown narrow

Around you and before you is their history;

So question it: it is the most truthful narrator.

They besieged citadels, assaulting high towers.

Ask it for news, for it is the most truthful narrator.

قادوا الجُيوشَ فَكُلُّ سَهلٍ ضَيِّقٌ

قادوا الجُيوشَ فَكُلُّ سَهلٍ ضَيِّقٌ

وَرَنوا المَعاقِلَ فَهيَ أَرضٌ داحِيَه

وَرَنوا المَعاقِلَ فَهيَ أَرضٌ داحِيَه

They led armies, and every plain was too narrow;

Thrones toppled as monarchs fled in terror

They led armies so that every plain became narrow,

And they gazed upon strongholds, which became open ground.

And lofty palaces crashed to the ground.

And they gazed at fortresses until the earth seemed flat.

وَسَطَوا فَأَسقَطَتِ العُروشُِ مُلوكَها

وَسَطَوا فَأَسقَطَتِ العُروشُِ مُلوكَها

رُعباً وَأَجفَلَتِ الصُروحُ العالِيَه

رُعباً وَأَجفَلَتِ الصُروحُ العالِيَه

And they attacked, and thrones cast down their kings

High astride the stars they rode without cease

They attacked, and thrones dropped their kings

In terror, and the towering palaces fled in fright;

While around the stars' eyes watched, staring in fear.

In terror, and the high citadels fled in fear.

وَمَشَوا عَلى هامِ النُجومِ فَلَم تَزَل

وَمَشَوا عَلى هامِ النُجومِ فَلَم تَزَل

في اللَيلِ مِن وَجَلٍ تُحَدِّقُ ساهِيَه

في اللَيلِ مِن وَجَلٍ تُحَدِّقُ ساهِيَه

And they walked upon the stars' heads, which still

Their steeds stirred the dust clouds to raging storms

They walked upon the heads of the stars, which remained

Stare through the night, distracted by dread.

As the comets bolted in fright, swift spurring.

In the night staring in distraction out of dread.

وَرَدَت خُيولُهُمُ المَجَرَّةَ شُزَّباً

وَرَدَت خُيولُهُمُ المَجَرَّةَ شُزَّباً

وَالشُهبُ مِن حَولِ المَجَرَّةِ صادِيَه

وَالشُهبُ مِن حَولِ المَجَرَّةِ صادِيَه

Their lean horses came to drink at the Milky Way,

Time granted dominion into their hands

Their horses arrived lean at the Milky Way,

While the shooting stars around the Milky Way were thirsty.

Though time itself has no respect for the mighty.

And the shooting stars around the Milky Way were thirsty.

أَعطاهُمُ صَرفُ الزَمانِ زِمامَهُ

أَعطاهُمُ صَرفُ الزَمانِ زِمامَهُ

أَمِنوا وَما أَمِنَ الزَمانُ دَواهِيَه

أَمِنوا وَما أَمِنَ الزَمانُ دَواهِيَه

Time's vicissitudes gave them its reins;

I do not rouse you to emulate their conquests

The vicissitudes of Time gave them its reins;

They were safe, but Time was not safe from its calamities.

But to keep inviolate what remains of their heritage.

They were safe, but Time was not safe from their cunning.

لا أَستَفِزُّكُم لِمِثلِ فُتوحِهِم

لا أَستَفِزُّكُم لِمِثلِ فُتوحِهِم

لَكِن إِلى حِفظِ البَقايا الباقِيَه

لَكِن إِلى حِفظِ البَقايا الباقِيَه

I do not rouse you to conquests like theirs,

Are your glorious ancestors' honours now lost

I do not provoke you to attempt their conquests,

But to preserve the remnants that remain.

As nomads' cattle trample them underfoot?

But rather to preserve the remnants that remain.

أَتَذَلُّ آنافَ المُلوكِ جُدودُكُ

أَتَذَلُّ آنافَ المُلوكِ جُدودُكُ

وَتَسومُكُم خَسفاً رُعاةُ الماشِيَه

وَتَسومُكُم خَسفاً رُعاةُ الماشِيَه

Did your forefathers humble the noses of kings,

How long will you bear degradation as though

Are the noses of your kingly ancestors to be humbled,

Yet livestock herders inflict humiliation upon you?

Lulled in comfort, while shame is a fire blazing!

While shepherds of cattle impose humiliation upon you?

كَم تَصبِرونَ عَلى الهَوانِ كَأَنَّكُم

كَم تَصبِرونَ عَلى الهَوانِ كَأَنَّكُم

في غَبطَةٍ وَالذُلُّ نارٌ حامِيَه

في غَبطَةٍ وَالذُلُّ نارٌ حامِيَه

How much humiliation you endure, as though you

O men, do you not realize your worth

How long will you endure disgrace as if you are

Were in bliss—yet humiliation is a blazing fire!

If you do not rise up you will be an extinct race!

In bliss, when humiliation is a scorching fire?

يا لِلرِجالِ أَما عَلِمتُم طَنَّكُم

يا لِلرِجالِ أَما عَلِمتُم طَنَّكُم

إِن لَم تَثوروا أُمَّةٌ مُتَلاشِيَه

إِن لَم تَثوروا أُمَّةٌ مُتَلاشِيَه

O men! Do you not know that you

Land of Peace, a poet sends you greetings

O men! Do you not know that your silence,

Are a vanishing nation if you do not rise?

Though tears of blood, not words, match your calamity.

If you do not revolt, marks a vanishing nation?

دارَ السَلامِ تَحِيَّةٌ مِن شاعِرٍ

دارَ السَلامِ تَحِيَّةٌ مِن شاعِرٍ

حَسَدَت مَدامِعُهُ عَلَيكِ قَوافِيَه

حَسَدَت مَدامِعُهُ عَلَيكِ قَوافِيَه

O Abode of Peace, greetings from a poet

The stream of his tears spilt for you − if only

O Abode of Peace (Baghdad), a greeting from a poet

Whose tear ducts envied his rhymes over you;

In times past he had wept at their misfortunes!

Whose tear ducts envied his rhymes over you.

فَأَراقَ ماءَ شُؤونِهِ وَلَو أَنَّهُ

فَأَراقَ ماءَ شُؤونِهِ وَلَو أَنَّهُ

في الغادِياتِ أَراقَ ماءَ الغادِيَه

في الغادِياتِ أَراقَ ماءَ الغادِيَه

So he poured the waters of his tear ducts; and had he

He shed the water of his tear-glands, and if he

Been among morning rain clouds, he would have poured a morning cloud's water.

Had your glory been regained by weeping

Had shed the water of the rain-clouds during the morning rains,

لَو كانَ مَجدُكَ مُستَرَدّاً بِالبُكا

لَو كانَ مَجدُكَ مُستَرَدّاً بِالبُكا

قَطَرَت مَحاجِرُهُ الدِماءَ القانِيَه

قَطَرَت مَحاجِرُهُ الدِماءَ القانِيَه

If your glory could be restored by weeping,

His eyelids' blood would have poured in torrents.

If your glory could be reclaimed by weeping,

His eye sockets would have dripped crimson blood.

To you every grieving soul turns in sorrow

His eyes would have dripped dark red blood.

فَعَلَيكِ تَذهَبُ كُلُّ نَفسٍ حَسرَةً

فَعَلَيكِ تَذهَبُ كُلُّ نَفسٍ حَسرَةً

وَلِمِثلِ خَطبِكِ تُستَعارُ الباكِيَه

وَلِمِثلِ خَطبِكِ تُستَعارُ الباكِيَه

So every soul wastes away in sorrow over you,

And for your afflictions the sad are called to mourn.

For upon you, every soul departs in regret,

And for a calamity like yours, a weeping woman is borrowed.

And for a calamity like yours, the hired mourner is sought.