لِمَنto whom ياO ترىI wonder أَشكوI complain بِمَدمَعيَwith my tears الهملِstreaming
لِمَن يا ترى أَشكو بِمَدمَعيَ الهملِ
وَماand not ليَfor me فيin لُبنانَLebanon منany مخلِصٍfaithful خِلِّfriend
وَما ليَ في لُبنانَ من مخلِصٍ خِلِّ
To whom, I wonder, can I complain with my streaming tears,
To whom, I wonder, should I complain with my tearful eyes,
when I have no faithful friend in Lebanon?
In Lebanon I have no savior and confidant.
لَقَدindeed كانَthere was ليfor me فَضلٌkindness عَلىtoward كُلِّevery صاحِبٍcompanion
لَقَد كانَ لي فَضلٌ عَلى كُلِّ صاحِبٍ
فَأَنكرso denied صحبيmy companions كلَّall ماthat كانwas منof فَضليmy kindness
فَأَنكر صحبي كلَّ ما كان من فَضلي
I had indeed bestowed kindness on every companion,
I had favors upon all my friends,
yet my companions denied all the kindness I had shown.
Yet my friends denied every favor I had.
أَأَشكوshall I complain إِلىto القانونthe law غَدرَtreachery مَعاشِريmy companions
أَأَشكو إِلى القانون غَدرَ مَعاشِري
وَقدand already أَصبَحَhas become القانونُthe law يوطِأtrampled بِالرِجلِby the foot
وَقد أَصبَحَ القانونُ يوطِأ بِالرِجلِ
Shall I complain to the law of my companions' treachery,
Shall I complain to the law of the treachery of my companions,
when the law itself is now trampled underfoot?
When the law itself now tramples with its feet?
غداةَwhen طَلَبتُI sought النورَthe light أَنكَرَنيdisowned me الملاthe multitude
غداةَ طَلَبتُ النورَ أَنكَرَني الملا
وَلَمّاand when اِدَّرعتُI donned as armor الصِدقَtruth أَنكَرَنيdisowned me أَهليmy kin
وَلَمّا اِدَّرعتُ الصِدقَ أَنكَرَني أَهلي
When I sought the light, the multitude disowned me;
When I sought light, the scholars denied me,
and when I donned truth as armor, my kin disowned me.
And when I wore the garment of truth, my family disowned me.
تمرَّدَrebelled فَردٌan individual منfrom بِلاديَmy country مرَّةًonce
تمرَّدَ فَردٌ من بِلاديَ مرَّةً
وَصَوَّبَand aimed نَحويtoward me نبلَتينtwo arrows منof العذلِreproach
وَصَوَّبَ نَحوي نبلَتين من العذلِ
Once, a man from my country rebelled,
Once, an individual from my country rebelled against me
and aimed two arrows of reproach at me,
And shot two arrows of injustice towards me.
لِأَنّيbecause I لاnot أَمشيwalk عَلىalong نَهجِthe path جاهِلٍan ignoramus
لِأَنّي لا أَمشي عَلى نَهجِ جاهِلٍ
يَسيرُwalks شَموخَhaughtiness الأَنفِthe nose فيin ظُلمَةِthe darkness الجَهلِignorance
يَسيرُ شَموخَ الأَنفِ في ظُلمَةِ الجَهلِ
because I do not walk the path of an ignoramus
Because I do not walk the path of an ignorant one
who strides, nose held high, through the darkness of ignorance.
Who arrogantly walks in the darkness of ignorance.
وَلَوand if كانَhe were ذاpossessing عَقلٍreason يُقارِنُهaccompanies it الوَفاloyalty
وَلَو كانَ ذا عَقلٍ يُقارِنُه الوَفا
لماhe would not have حكَّمmade judge الجَهلَignorance المُغرّرthe deceiver بِالعَقلِof reason
لما حكَّم الجَهلَ المُغرّر بِالعَقلِ
Had he possessed reason joined with loyalty,
Had he been reasonable and matched with loyalty,
he would not have made ignorance, reason's deceiver, the judge.
He would not have let ignorance, tempted, judge reason.
وَلكِنbut تَعامىblinded himself عَنto هداهُhis guidance لِأَنَّهُbecause he
وَلكِن تَعامى عَن هداهُ لِأَنَّهُ
أُصيبَwas afflicted منby الدُنياthe world بمسٍّwith a touch منof الخَبلِmadness
أُصيبَ من الدُنيا بمسٍّ من الخَبلِ
But he blinded himself to his own guidance, because he
But he turned a blind eye to its guidance, because
was stricken by the world with a touch of madness.
He was afflicted by the vanities of this world.
رَأَيتُI saw فَتاةًa young woman أَمسِyesterday يَربطنيbinds me بِهاto her
رَأَيتُ فَتاةً أَمسِ يَربطني بِها
غَرامٌa love نَماgrew فيin الصَدرthe breast مجتَمِعunited الشَملِthe bonds
غَرامٌ نَما في الصَدر مجتَمِع الشَملِ
Yesterday I saw a young woman to whom I am bound
I saw a girl yesterday with whom
by a love that grew in my breast, whole and united.
Passion grew in my heart, united and collected.
لَهاshe has فيon لماهاher dusky lips العذبِsweet بَسمَةُa smile طاهِرٍa pure person
لَها في لماها العذبِ بَسمَةُ طاهِرٍ
تُنيرُilluminates دُجىthe darkness الظَلماءِthe dark night منof شِعرِهاher hair الجَثلِluxuriant
تُنيرُ دُجى الظَلماءِ من شِعرِها الجَثلِ
On her sweet, dusky lips is a pure soul's smile,
In her soft cheek, she has an innocent smile
illuminating the dark night of her luxuriant hair.
That lights up the darkness of her curly hair.
فَقُلتُso I said لهاto her إِنّيindeed I عَلىin الوُدِّaffection قائِمٌsteadfast
فَقُلتُ لها إِنّي عَلى الوُدِّ قائِمٌ
وَلكِنbut بُعاديmy absence سَوفwill يُخنيbring ruin عَلىupon الوَصلِunion
وَلكِن بُعادي سَوف يُخني عَلى الوَصلِ
I told her: I remain steadfast in affection,
I said to her, “Indeed I stand for love,
but my absence will destroy our union.
But my distance will betray our connection.”
فَإِنّيfor I سَأَنأىshall go far away عَنfrom بِلاديmy country مُسافِراًtraveling
فَإِنّي سَأَنأى عَن بِلادي مُسافِراً
فَلَستُfor I am not أَطيقُable to bear الظُلمَinjustice فيin البَلَدِthe land المحلِbarren
فَلَستُ أَطيقُ الظُلمَ في البَلَدِ المحلِ
For I shall travel far from my country,
“I will travel away from my country
since I cannot bear injustice in this barren land.
For I cannot bear injustice in the homeland.”
رَأَيتُI saw هناhere رَهطاًa group منof الناسِpeople آثَرواpreferred
رَأَيتُ هنا رَهطاً من الناسِ آثَروا
يدَthe hand الظُلمِoppression أَنthat تَعلوrise وَتفتكand strike down بِالعَدلِjustice
يدَ الظُلمِ أَن تَعلو وَتفتك بِالعَدلِ
Here I saw a group of people who preferred
I saw a group of people here who preferred
that oppression's hand rise and strike justice down.
The hand of injustice to rise and destroy justice.
رَأَيتَهُمyou saw them وَالقَيدُand the fetter حَولaround رِقابِهِمtheir necks
رَأَيتَهُم وَالقَيدُ حَول رِقابِهِم
وَأَيديهِمand their hands مَشدودَةbound tight الرَبطِthe binding بِالغُلِّwith shackles
وَأَيديهِم مَشدودَة الرَبطِ بِالغُلِّ
You saw them with fetters around their necks,
I saw them, shackled around their necks,
and their hands bound fast in shackles.
Their hands tied tightly in chains.
يَقودُهمleads them مِنfrom سافِلthe lowest الخَلقِhumankind زُمرَةa band
يَقودُهم مِن سافِل الخَلقِ زُمرَة
تُحاوِلtries نَفثَspitting السَمِّvenom فيهِمinto them كَالصَلِّlike an asp
تُحاوِل نَفثَ السَمِّ فيهِم كَالصَلِّ
A band from the lowest of humankind leads them,
Led by the lowest of creatures, a group
trying to spit venom into them like an asp.
That tries to spit venom into them like snakes.
تَبثُّspreads منfrom الأَغراضِself-interested motives فيهِمamong them مبادئاًdoctrines
تَبثُّ من الأَغراضِ فيهِم مبادئاً
أَشدَّmore damaging بِجِسمto the body الإِجتِماعِsociety منthan السلِّconsumption
أَشدَّ بِجِسم الإِجتِماعِ من السلِّ
It spreads among them doctrines born of self-interest,
It instills in them principles from whims
more devastating to the body of society than consumption.
More clinging to the social body than vineweeds.
تُريدُهُمwants them عُمياًblind عَنto النورِthe light وَالدُجىand darkness
تُريدُهُم عُمياً عَن النورِ وَالدُجى
يُخَيّشمُhangs over (unclear spelling) فَوقَabove الحَقِّtruth سَدلاًa veil عَلىupon سَدلِa veil
يُخَيّشمُ فَوقَ الحَقِّ سَدلاً عَلى سَدلِ
It wants them blind to light, while darkness
It wants them blind to the light while gloom
hangs over truth, veil upon veil.
Spreads over truth, cover upon cover.
وَتَهزَأُand mocks بِالشَخصِat the person الَّذيwho لَمdid not يُصخlisten لَهاto it
وَتَهزَأُ بِالشَخصِ الَّذي لَم يُصخ لَها
وَلكِنbut سَوادُblackness الهَدبِthe eyelashes أَبقىmore lasting مِنthan الكَحلِkohl
وَلكِن سَوادُ الهَدبِ أَبقى مِن الكَحلِ
And it mocks anyone who does not listen to it;
And it ridicules the one who did not applaud it,
yet the blackness of lashes outlasts kohl.
But the blackness of coal is more lasting than kohl.
فَقالَتso she said كُنbe الحَقtruth المُحَرَّرَliberated فيamong الوَرىhumankind
فَقالَت كُن الحَق المُحَرَّرَ في الوَرى
وَدعand let حَشَراتِinsects الأَرضِthe earth تَزحفُcrawl فيin الوَحلِthe mud
وَدع حَشَراتِ الأَرضِ تَزحفُ في الوَحلِ
She said: Be truth set free among humankind,
So she said, “Be the pure truth in the world,
and let the earth's insects crawl in the mud.
And let the insects of the earth crawl in the mud.”
فَماfor not أَنتَyou مِمَّنamong those whose يُثبطُhinders الهَمُّgrief سَعيَهُhis striving
فَما أَنتَ مِمَّن يُثبطُ الهَمُّ سَعيَهُ
وَثابِرand persevere عَلىin كَشفِdispelling الظَلامِdarkness بِلاwithout مَطلِdelay
وَثابِر عَلى كَشفِ الظَلامِ بِلا مَطلِ
You are not one whose striving grief can hinder;
“You are not of those who are discouraged,
persevere in dispelling darkness without delay.
And you persist in revealing the darkness without pause.”
وُجودُكyour existence فيin الدُنياthe world لِتَخدمَto serve مبدءاًa principle
وُجودُك في الدُنيا لِتَخدمَ مبدءاً
فَلاso do not تَبنِهِbuild it إِنif كُنتَyou are شَهماًnoble-hearted عَلىupon الرَملِsand
فَلا تَبنِهِ إِن كُنتَ شَهماً عَلى الرَملِ
Your existence in this world is to serve a principle,
“Your existence in the world is to serve a principle,
so, if you are noble-hearted, do not build it on sand.
So do not lament if you are steadfast on the sands.”
وَأَملِand dictate تَعاليمَteachings الحَياةِlife عَلىto المَلاthe multitude
وَأَملِ تَعاليمَ الحَياةِ عَلى المَلا
فَإِنَّfor indeed يَدَthe hand الأَجيالِgenerations تَكتُبُwrites ماwhat تَمليyou dictate
فَإِنَّ يَدَ الأَجيالِ تَكتُبُ ما تَملي
Dictate the teachings of life to the multitude,
“And dictate the teachings of life to the scholars,
for the hand of generations writes what you dictate.
For the hands of generations will write what you recite.”
وَلاand do not تَستَرقَّenslave النَفسَthe soul منfor أَجلthe sake of بَغيَةٍa desire
وَلا تَستَرقَّ النَفسَ من أَجل بَغيَةٍ
وَدسand trample حَشراتِvermin المُستَبِدّينَthe tyrants بِالنَعلِwith a shoe
وَدس حَشراتِ المُستَبِدّينَ بِالنَعلِ
Do not enslave your soul for the sake of a desire,
“Do not steal the self for a whim’s sake,
and trample the tyrants' vermin beneath your shoe.
And tread upon the insects of the tyrants.”
فَمَنfor whoever يَستبحdeems permissible هضمَviolation الحُقوقِrights لِغايَةٍfor an end
فَمَن يَستبح هضمَ الحُقوقِ لِغايَةٍ
فَذلِكَthen that person أَولىmore deserving بِالحَقارَةِof contempt وَالرَذلِand degradation
فَذلِكَ أَولى بِالحَقارَةِ وَالرَذلِ
For whoever deems the violation of rights lawful for an end,
“Whoever usurps rights for a purpose
is more deserving of contempt and degradation.
Is most deserving of despicability and meanness.”
وَأَسدand offer مَعwith الأَحرارِthe free أُغنيَّةَa song العَلىexaltation
وَأَسد مَع الأَحرارِ أُغنيَّةَ العَلى
فَماfor not الحُرُّthe free man إِلّاexcept بُلبُلُthe nightingale المَجدِglory وَالنُبلِand nobility
فَما الحُرُّ إِلّا بُلبُلُ المَجدِ وَالنُبلِ
And offer, with the free, a song of exaltation,
“And sing with the free the song of glory,
for the free man is but the nightingale of glory and nobility.
For the free is none but the nightingale of honor and nobility.”
وَماand not الحرُّthe free man إِلّاexcept ذلِكَthat العامِلُlaborer الَّذيwho
وَما الحرُّ إِلّا ذلِكَ العامِلُ الَّذي
تَمَشّىwalked عَلىupon هامِthe heads العبودَةِservitude وَالذُلِّand humiliation
تَمَشّى عَلى هامِ العبودَةِ وَالذُلِّ
And the free man is none other than that laborer who
“The free is none but that worker who
trod upon the heads of servitude and humiliation.
Walked over the neck of servitude and humiliation.”
هوhe الحُرُّthe free man رَمزُsymbol الحَقِّtruth رَمزُsymbol فَضيلَةٍa virtue
هو الحُرُّ رَمزُ الحَقِّ رَمزُ فَضيلَةٍ
تَسيرُjourneys مَعwith الأَجيالِgenerations فيin الشَرَفِhonor المُعليennobling
تَسيرُ مَع الأَجيالِ في الشَرَفِ المُعلي
He is the free man, the symbol of truth, the symbol of a virtue
“He is the free, the symbol of truth, the symbol of virtue,
that journeys with the generations in ennobling honor.
Who moves with generations in the highest honor.”
أَذابَmelted عَلىupon جَمرِembers الحَياةِlife دِماغَهhis brain
أَذابَ عَلى جَمرِ الحَياةِ دِماغَه
وَصيَّرَهand turned it into زيتاًoil ينّورilluminates فيalong السبلِthe paths
وَصيَّرَه زيتاً ينّور في السبلِ
He melted his brain upon the embers of life,
“He melted his mind over the embers of life
and turned it into oil that lights the paths.
And made it an oil that illuminates the paths.”
تَقولُshe says ابنةُdaughter الأَجيالِgenerations وَهيضand she (apparent typo) مطلَّةٌlooking down
تَقولُ ابنةُ الأَجيالِ وَهيض مطلَّةٌ
منfrom الهَيكَلِthe temple الأَسمىloftiest عَلىupon عالَمِthe world النَسلِposterity
من الهَيكَلِ الأَسمى عَلى عالَمِ النَسلِ
The daughter of generations speaks, looking down
“The daughter of generations will say as she gazes
from the loftiest temple upon the world of posterity:
From the highest temple over the world of progeny:”
تُرىI wonder مَنwho رَأىsaw قَبليbefore me الوجودَexistence مهدّماًruined
تُرى مَن رَأى قَبلي الوجودَ مهدّماً
وَمنand who ذاis it that رَأىsaw الأَحرارَthe free بانِيَةًbuilding قَبليbefore me
وَمن ذا رَأى الأَحرارَ بانِيَةً قَبلي
Who, I wonder, saw existence laid in ruins before me?
“Did anyone before me see existence demolished,
And who saw the free as builders before me?
And did anyone before me see the free rebuilding?”
هناhere سَكَنتgrew still تِلكَthat الفَتاةُyoung woman وحدَّقَتand gazed
هنا سَكَنت تِلكَ الفَتاةُ وحدَّقَت
إِلىtoward المَلاthe assembly الأَعلىhighest بِأَعيُنِهاwith her eyes النُجلِwide
إِلى المَلا الأَعلى بِأَعيُنِها النُجلِ
Here the young woman grew still and gazed
“Here dwelled that girl who stared
toward the heavenly assembly with her wide eyes.
At the high kingdom with her bright eyes.”
وَمنand from ثَغرِهاher mouth نورُlight المساواةِequality مشرقٌshining
وَمن ثَغرِها نورُ المساواةِ مشرقٌ
يفسِّرexplains أَنَّthat الملكthe king فيin خلقِهِhis created nature مثليlike me
يفسِّر أَنَّ الملك في خلقِهِ مثلي
And from her mouth shines the light of equality,
“From her mouth shone the light of equality
declaring that the king, in his created nature, is like me.
Explaining that the King created me equal to Him.”
وَحريَّةand freedom قَدalready أَشرَقَتhas dawned منfrom جَبينِهاher brow
وَحريَّة قَد أَشرَقَت من جَبينِها
وَرَمزُand a symbol إِخاءٍbrotherhood وَالسَلامُand peace علىupon الكُلِّall
وَرَمزُ إِخاءٍ وَالسَلامُ على الكُلِّ
And freedom has dawned from her brow,
“And freedom shone from her forehead,
and an emblem of brotherhood, and peace upon all.
The symbol of brotherhood and peace be upon all.”
Sol 6.1