قفاhalt, you two نبكlet us weep نفساًfor a soul طالhas lasted long منهاin her بُسورُهاher gloom
قفا نبك نفساً طال منها بُسورُها
وقصَّرand fell short عماof what تشتهيهshe desires سرورُهاher joy
وقصَّر عما تشتهيه سرورُها
Halt, you two: let us weep for a soul whose gloom has long endured,
Stop weeping, O self, though its fortresses be long,
and whose joy falls short of what she desires.
And though joy be foreshortened for it.
فإنfor if سكنتshe rests يجنيdoes harm عليهاto her سكونُهاher stillness
فإن سكنت يجني عليها سكونُها
وإنand if أَضمَرتshe conceals يُفشيreveals بذاكthereby ضميرُهاher inward thought
وإن أَضمَرت يُفشي بذاك ضميرُها
For if she rests, her stillness does her harm;
If it finds peace, its peace will bring it down;
and if she conceals something, her inward thought reveals it.
If it conceals, its conscience will divulge it.
فتغدوso morning finds her كأنas though الصبحthe morning صلٌّa viper يروعهاterrifies her
فتغدو كأن الصبح صلٌّ يروعها
وتَسريand she journeys at night كأنas though الليلthe night لصٌّa thief يَضيرُهاharms her
وتَسري كأن الليل لصٌّ يَضيرُها
Morning comes to her like a viper that terrifies her,
At dawn it is as if the dawn frightens it away,
and she journeys by night as though the night were a thief that harms her.
And at night it flees as if the night would harm it.
باunclear fragment حفرٌpits مماfrom what جناهhas wrought جَنانهاher heart
با حفرٌ مما جناه جَنانها
فأضحتso she became وذاكand that اليأسdespair فيهاwithin her خفيرهاher watchman
فأضحت وذاك اليأس فيها خفيرها
[Opening unclear] pits from what her heart has wrought,
O digger of the pit it has fallen into!
so that despair has become her watchman within.
Thus despair has become its companion.
فماso she has not برحتceased تستقطرdrawing out الدمعَtears منfrom دمٍblood
فما برحت تستقطر الدمعَ من دمٍ
بنارٍwith a fire لهاbelonging to her بينbetween الضلوعthe ribs تثيرهاshe stirs it
بنارٍ لها بين الضلوع تثيرها
She has never ceased drawing tears from blood,
It does not stop shedding tears from blood,
with a fire between her ribs that she stirs.
With a fire burning between its ribs that stirs it.
فراحتso she became ورسمُwhile the outline الجسمof the body يغرقُهُsubmerges it دمٌblood
فراحت ورسمُ الجسم يغرقُهُ دمٌ
بدمعٍwith tears ويحرقْهُand burns it بأخرىin another way سعيرهاher blaze
بدمعٍ ويحرقْهُ بأخرى سعيرها
The body's outline became submerged in blood,
It went away while the body was overflowing with blood,
mingled with tears, while her blaze burned it in another way.
With tears, and burnt with another blaze.
ولمand not يبقremained منهاof her فيto العيانthe eye سوىexcept إذاwhen
ولم يبق منها في العيان سوى إذا
تناديyou call يُجبْكanswers you اَنينُهاher moaning وزفيرهاand her sighing
تنادي يُجبْك اَنينُها وزفيرها
Nothing remained of her to the eye, except that when
Nothing remained of it visible, except when
you call, her moaning and sighing answer you.
Its moaning calls you, and its sigh.
إذاif كانhave سكانthe inhabitants الديارof the houses ترحّلواdeparted
إذا كان سكان الديار ترحّلوا
فهلso will يُجْدِيَنْكُمavail you all بعدafter ليليLayla قصورهاtheir palaces
فهل يُجْدِيَنْكُم بعد ليلي قصورها
If the dwellers in the houses have departed,
If the dwellers of the abode travelled away,
will their palaces avail you after Layla?
After my night, will your castles avail you?
وكيفand how أرىcan I see فيهاthere سميراًa night companion مسامراًconversing by night
وكيف أرى فيها سميراً مسامراً
بليليabout Layla وقدwhen already سُدَّتhave been barred عليَّagainst me ثغورهاtheir gates
بليلي وقد سُدَّت عليَّ ثغورها
How can I see there a companion conversing by night
How can I see in it an evening conversation,
about Layla, when their gates have been barred against me?
When its peaks are barred from me?
أغالبُI struggle against فيهاthere الدهرَtime والدهرُand time غالبٌis victorious
أغالبُ فيها الدهرَ والدهرُ غالبٌ
وهيهاتand far beyond reach منيof me قَبْجُهاtheir partridges وصُقورهاand their falcons
وهيهات مني قَبْجُها وصُقورها
I struggle there against time, but time prevails;
I struggle against fate, and fate overcomes;
their partridges and falcons are far beyond my reach.
Woe to me from its ruggedness and hawks!
رعىmay preserve اللَهGod أياماًdays تجلَّتshone forth شموسهاtheir suns
رعى اللَه أياماً تجلَّت شموسها
عليناupon us كماjust as جلَّتgrew splendid لديناamong us بدورهاtheir full moons
علينا كما جلَّت لدينا بدورها
May God preserve days whose suns shone
May God shepherd days whose suns
upon us, as their full moons grew splendid in our midst.
Shone upon us as they did in our homes.
وددتُand I wished أرىto see منهاof them خيالَthe phantom خيالهاof their phantom
وددتُ أرى منها خيالَ خيالها
وقلتُand I said عسىperhaps أنيthat I بوهمٍin imagination أزورهاmay visit them
وقلتُ عسى أني بوهمٍ أزورها
I wished to see even the phantom of their phantom,
I wished to see even the specter of its specter,
and said: perhaps I may visit them in imagination.
And said, perhaps in delusion I may visit it.
فقيلَthen it was said وطِرفُwhile the steed الدهرof time للبينfor separation مُسرَجٌis saddled
فقيلَ وطِرفُ الدهر للبين مُسرَجٌ
أمنكhave you any رقادٌsleep كيso that يراكit may see you يَسيرهاtheir slightest part
أمنك رقادٌ كي يراك يَسيرها
Then it was said, while time's steed stood saddled for separation:
I was told: The nights for separation have saddles;
Have you any sleep, that their faintest trace might see you?
Do you slumber that it may come to you walking?
فقلتُso I said وجفنيwhile my eyelid لاnot يَلُمُّcomes visiting غِرارُهits brief slumber
فقلتُ وجفني لا يَلُمُّ غِرارُه
فأينso where لِطَرفيfor my eye نومةٌa sleep أستعيرهاI can borrow it
فأين لِطَرفي نومةٌ أستعيرها
I said, no brief slumber visits my eyelid:
I said: My eyelid feels no shame from its slumber;
where is a sleep that I might borrow for my eye?
Where can my eye obtain sleep and borrow it?
كفىenough for أرقيmy sleeplessness أنيthat I أبيتspend the night وعبرتيand my tears
كفى أرقي أني أبيت وعبرتي
يغيضebb رُقاهاtheir charms إذas تفيضoverflow بحورهاtheir seas
يغيض رُقاها إذ تفيض بحورها
Enough to keep me sleepless is that I pass the night with tears
It suffices that I stay up and my tears overflow
whose charms ebb as their seas overflow.
When its abundant seas overflow.
كفىenough for أرقيmy sleeplessness أرضٌa land وطئناwe trod حزونَهاits rugged uplands
كفى أرقي أرضٌ وطئنا حزونَها
حُفاةًbarefoot ولمand not تُسلَكwere traversed بخيلٍby horses وُعورهاits rough ways
حُفاةً ولم تُسلَك بخيلٍ وُعورها
Enough to keep me sleepless is a land whose rugged uplands we trod
It suffices that I stay up; a land whose sadness
barefoot, whose rough ways horses have not traversed.
We trod barefoot, and its wounds were not paved.
وعورٌcrags تَرىyou see عبءthe burden of الرئسةleadership باهظاًcrushing
وعورٌ تَرى عبء الرئسة باهظاً
وقدand already كلَّhas faltered عنهاunder it باعهاits strength ونصيرهاand its helper
وقد كلَّ عنها باعها ونصيرها
Crags where you see the burden of leadership crushing,
Wounds you see whose burdens of leadership are heavy,
its strength and its helper already exhausted beneath it.
When its sellers and supporters wearied of it.
وناهيكand sufficient for you عنconcerning عبءa burden يَكِلُّgrow weary لثقلهunder its weight
وناهيك عن عبء يَكِلُّ لثقله
مناكبُthe shoulders أملاكof angels السماof heaven وظهورهاand their backs
مناكبُ أملاك السما وظهورها
Enough said of a burden whose weight wearies
Not to mention the burden that weighs down
the shoulders and backs of heaven's angels.
The shoulders of the kings of heaven and earth.
أرىI deem أُحُداًUhud بلindeed طورسيناMount Sinai ويَذبُلاًand Yadhbul
أرى أُحُداً بل طورسينا ويَذبُلاً
أدقَّslighter وأخفىand less visible بلindeed أخفُّlighter ثَبيرهاits Thabir
أدقَّ وأخفى بل أخفُّ ثَبيرها
I deem Uhud—indeed, Mount Sinai and Yadhbul—
I see love embodied, melting away,
slighter and less visible; even its Thabir is lighter.
More refined and hidden, nay most hidden than its vapor.
لكto you الويلwoe ياO منyou who جئتhave come تبغيseeking إمارةًauthority
لك الويل يا من جئت تبغي إمارةً
فماso not أنتَyou إلّاexcept عبدهاits slave لاnot أميرهاits ruler
فما أنتَ إلّا عبدها لا أميرها
Woe to you, you who have come seeking authority:
Woe unto you who came seeking authority
you are only its slave, not its ruler.
While being nothing but its slave, not its prince.
تروحyou go at evening بقلبٍwith a heart بالمهماتwith duties مولعٍconsumed
تروح بقلبٍ بالمهمات مولعٍ
وتغدوand rise at morning بكبدٍwith a liver لاnot يَكِفُّceases سعيرهاits blaze
وتغدو بكبدٍ لا يَكِفُّ سعيرها
You go at evening with a heart consumed by duties,
You go with a heart infatuated with burdens
and rise at morning with a liver whose blaze never ceases.
And you return with a liver that its blaze does not suffice.
يروقكpleases you منهاfrom it لذةٌa pleasure منof سيادةٍmastery
يروقك منها لذةٌ من سيادةٍ
ويعروكand afflicts you بَعداًafterward ظَمئُهاits thirst وهجيرهاand its noonday heat
ويعروك بَعداً ظَمئُها وهجيرها
The pleasure of mastery in it delights you,
You are pleased by the pleasures of supremacy from it,
but afterward its thirst and noonday heat afflict you.
While its remoteness and desolation rebut you.
يمجُّspews مَنوناًdeath حكمُهاits rule وذمامُهاand its obligations
يمجُّ مَنوناً حكمُها وذمامُها
ويسكبُand pours ناراًfire عرشُهاits throne وسريرهاand its royal seat
ويسكبُ ناراً عرشُها وسريرها
Its rule and obligations spew death,
Its rule fills you with anxiety, and its reins
and its throne and royal seat pour out fire.
Pour fire into its throne and enclosures.
عدوكyour enemy منthe one who يصليكmakes you endure نارَthe fire of عداوةٍenmity
عدوك من يصليك نارَ عداوةٍ
ألاbehold إنماindeed الساداتthe rulers هذاthis مصيرهاtheir destiny
ألا إنما السادات هذا مصيرها
Your enemy is whoever makes you endure the fire of enmity:
Your enemy is one who prays the fire of enmity upon you;
behold, this is the destiny of rulers.
Indeed, this is the fate of overlords.
رويدكtake it slowly لاdo not تَتْسَيطَرَنَّdomineer تبجُّحاًboastfully
رويدك لا تَتْسَيطَرَنَّ تبجُّحاً
فماfor not يفسدcorrupts الأعمالَdeeds إلّاexcept شرورهاtheir evils
فما يفسد الأعمالَ إلّا شرورها
Take it slowly; do not domineer boastfully:
Go gently, be not carried away by arrogance,
only their evils corrupt deeds.
For only evil corrupts deeds.
سقتكَhas given you to drink رئاستْكَyour leadership السيادةَmastery حلوةًsweet
سقتكَ رئاستْكَ السيادةَ حلوةً
لكto you الويلwoe مماfor what قدalready أجنَّتhave concealed صدورهاits breasts
لك الويل مما قد أجنَّت صدورها
Your leadership has given you sweet mastery to drink:
Its supremacy gave you sovereignty's drink sweetly;
woe to you for what its breasts have concealed.
Woe unto you from what it has stirred in breasts!
فإنso if كانhas مبداهاits beginning أراكَshown you حلاوةًsweetness
فإن كان مبداها أراكَ حلاوةً
تمهَّلwait تجدyou will find قدalready مرَّhas grown bitter منهاof it أخيرهاits ending
تمهَّل تجد قد مرَّ منها أخيرها
If its beginning showed you sweetness,
If its beginning showed you its sweetness,
wait: you will find that its ending has grown bitter.
Beware; you will find its end has become bitter.
فاقللhow few, then بمنamong those who ينجوescape رئيساًas a ruler مُسلَّطاًinvested with power
فاقلل بمن ينجو رئيساً مُسلَّطاً
وأيُّand which فجاجٍmountain passes هانbecame easy منهاamong them وُعورهاtheir rugged ways
وأيُّ فجاجٍ هان منها وُعورها
How few escape as rulers invested with power!
Take a lesson from one who survives a tyrant
And which mountain passes have easy rugged ways?
And which rugged one has been humbled by its wounds?
ألاbehold إنماindeed خمرthe wine of الرئاسةِleadership خمرةٌan intoxicant
ألا إنما خمر الرئاسةِ خمرةٌ
متىwhenever لَذَّtastes sweet موردْهاits approach أَمَرَّmakes bitter صدورهاits departure
متى لَذَّ موردْها أَمَرَّ صدورها
Behold, the wine of leadership is an intoxicant:
Beware! The wine of authority is a wine
whenever its approach tastes sweet, it makes its departure bitter.
That when it touches the heart, it troubles breasts.
فياoh, then طالماhow often لَعْبَتْhave played بروسٍwith heads رؤوسُهاits heads
فيا طالما لَعْبَتْ بروسٍ رؤوسُها
كماjust as لعبتhave played بالمَلْحَماتamid bloody battles ذكورهاits men
كما لعبت بالمَلْحَمات ذكورها
Oh, how often its heads have played with heads,
How many heads it has toyed with
just as its men have played amid bloody battles.
As it toyed with brave heroes.
سقتgave to drink راغبيهاthose seeking it أولاًat first راحَthe wine of راحةٍrepose
سقت راغبيها أولاً راحَ راحةٍ
فظنّواso they thought بهذيof this الراحwine هذاthis نَميرهاits clear, sweet water
فظنّوا بهذي الراح هذا نَميرها
At first it gave its seekers the wine of repose,
It gave its desirers rest first, and they thought
and they thought this wine was its clear, sweet water.
This was its purpose.
إلىuntil أنthat غدواthey became منهاfrom it سكارىdrunk فماand not صحواthey sobered
إلى أن غدوا منها سكارى فما صحوا
صَباحاًin the morning إلىuntil أنthat صاحَcried out فيهمamong them نذيرهاits warning herald
صَباحاً إلى أن صاحَ فيهم نذيرها
Until they became drunk on it, and did not sober
Until they were intoxicated by it and did not sober
in the morning, until its warning herald cried among them.
In the morning until its warner cried out among them.
فهَبُّواso they sprang up وهمwhile they were فيin دارan abode of نارٍfire أُوارُهاits blaze
فهَبُّوا وهم في دار نارٍ أُوارُها
جحيمٌhellfire وآلاتُand instruments of التعاذيبtorture سورهاits wall
جحيمٌ وآلاتُ التعاذيب سورها
They sprang up to find themselves in a house of fire whose blaze
They awoke while its flames surrounded them,
was hellfire, with instruments of torture for its wall.
A hell, and the implements of torture were its walls.
فهذاso this is مماتُthe death of السائدينthe rulers إذاwhen طغواthey transgress
فهذا مماتُ السائدين إذا طغوا
وإنand if نافقواthey practise hypocrisy فيهاin it فهذاthen this is نُشورهاtheir resurrection
وإن نافقوا فيها فهذا نُشورها
This is the death of rulers when they transgress;
Thus is the death of tyrants when they transgress,
and if they practise hypocrisy there, this is their resurrection.
And this is their resurrection, even if they were hypocrites in it.
لأنهمُbecause they لمdid not يعدلواact justly فيin مَقامهمtheir station
لأنهمُ لم يعدلوا في مَقامهم
ولمand did not يَعدلواact justly فيin سيرةٍa way of conduct ضاءshone نورهاits light
ولم يَعدلوا في سيرةٍ ضاء نورها
For they did not act justly in their station,
Because they did not rule justly in their position
nor act justly in a way whose light shone.
And did not walk the path of the light that shone from it.
هَبُواsuppose أنهمthat they سادواruled فشادواand built رِئاسةًa dominion
هَبُوا أنهم سادوا فشادوا رِئاسةً
فأينso where الأُلَىthose who شادواbuilt وأينand where أميرهاits ruler
فأين الأُلَى شادوا وأين أميرها
Suppose they ruled and built a dominion:
They recklessly thought they ruled, so they caused corruption,
where are those who built it, and where is its ruler?
Now, where are the high ones who built it? And where is its prince?
وأينand where السيادَةْdominion ثمthen أينwhere غنيُّهاits rich man
وأين السيادَةْ ثم أين غنيُّها
وأينand where مسودٌone who is ruled ثمthen أينwhere فقيرهاits poor man
وأين مسودٌ ثم أين فقيرها
Where is dominion, and where is its rich man?
And where is the sovereignty? Then where is its wealth?
Where is the one ruled, and where is its poor man?
And where is the pauper, then where is its poor one?
مضواthey passed on يقرعونbeating الصدرَthe breast حبَّfor love of رئاسةٍleadership
مضوا يقرعون الصدرَ حبَّ رئاسةٍ
تروعُهمُterrify them أحكامُهاits judgments وأمورهاand its affairs
تروعُهمُ أحكامُها وأمورها
They passed on, beating their breasts for love of leadership,
They passed away patting their chests, loving authority,
terrified by its judgments and affairs.
Though its judgments and reins alarmed them.
وقدand indeed صَبَحَتهمovertook them at dawn حالةٌa state لاnot تُصيبكمbefalls you
وقد صَبَحَتهم حالةٌ لا تُصيبكم
يساويequals كبيرَthe greatest of القومthe people فيهاin it صغيرهاtheir lowliest
يساوي كبيرَ القوم فيها صغيرها
A state overtook them at dawn that does not befall you,
It left them in a forbidden place of refuge
in which the lowliest equals the greatest of the people.
To protect a self that its scriptures purified.
كأضغاثlike tangled أحلامٍdreams مضتpassed مثلماjust as مضتpassed
كأضغاث أحلامٍ مضت مثلما مضت
قرونٌgenerations وضمَّتهاand enclosed them لبعثٍfor resurrection قبورهاtheir graves
قرونٌ وضمَّتها لبعثٍ قبورها
Like tangled dreams, they passed, just as
Scriptures that protect it through Mary in the world -
generations passed, their graves enclosing them for resurrection.
And no less, from a self that Mary is its walls.
يرونthey see جواباًan answer لاno جواباًanswer يرونهthey see it
يرون جواباً لا جواباً يرونه
كرجعlike the return of الصدىan echo يرتدrebounds عنهاfrom it صفيرهاits whistling
كرجع الصدى يرتد عنها صفيرها
They see an answer—no answer do they see—
She is the virgin who saved humankind through her virginity,
like an echo, its whistling rebounds from it.
And her favors upon them, it is said, are her limp.
فأضحواso they became كشِلْوٍlike a torn carcass والشياطينwhile the devils حولهaround it
فأضحوا كشِلْوٍ والشياطين حوله
كواسرُهاits raptors تنتاشُهمtear at them ونسورهاand its vultures
كواسرُها تنتاشُهم ونسورها
They became like a torn carcass, with devils around it;
Her hands loved me - hands altogether gracious!
its raptors and vultures tear at them.
And those are hands whose fragrance does not go unnoticed.
وماand none راحdeparted عنهاfrom it ظافراًvictorious بسلامةٍin safety
وما راح عنها ظافراً بسلامةٍ
يجرُّdragging ذيولَthe trailing hems of الفوزtriumph إلاexcept غيورهاits zealous guardian
يجرُّ ذيولَ الفوز إلا غيورها
None departed from it victorious and safe,
Notwithstanding her gifts if you are ungrateful,
trailing the robes of triumph, except its zealous guardian.
Do gifts ever go bad one day to an ingrate?
وأصبحand he came to be منهاaway from it فيin جنابٍa sanctuary ممنعٍimpregnable
وأصبح منها في جنابٍ ممنعٍ
يحصنfortifying نفساًa soul نمَّقتَهاadorned it سطورهاits lines
يحصن نفساً نمَّقتَها سطورها
He came to be, away from it, in an impregnable sanctuary,
If the contract of trusts recoiled from it,
fortifying a soul that its lines have adorned.
Or if it travelled the land of enemies on an evil journey?
سطورٌlines تُحصِّنْهاfortify it بمريمwith Mary فيamong الورىhumankind
سطورٌ تُحصِّنْها بمريم في الورى
وناهيكand sufficient for you عنconcerning نفسٍa soul ومريمُand Mary سورهاits wall
وناهيك عن نفسٍ ومريمُ سورها
Lines that fortify it with Mary among humankind:
I praised you, O Virgin, to gain through praising you
enough said of a soul whose wall is Mary!
A delicate, delicate prisoner who is dear to me.
هيshe البِكرthe Virgin قدindeed نجَّىsaved الأناسيَّhumankind بِكرُهاher firstborn
هي البِكر قد نجَّى الأناسيَّ بِكرُها
وآلاؤهand his blessings فيهمamong them يُقالis pardoned عَثورهاtheir stumbling
وآلاؤه فيهم يُقال عَثورها
She is the Virgin whose firstborn saved humankind,
Without you O Queen of earth and sky,
and through his blessings to them, their stumbling is forgiven.
A necklace of poems whose pearls are throats.
حبتنيbestowed on me أياديهاher hands الأياديَfavors جمَّةًabundant
حبتني أياديها الأياديَ جمَّةً
وتلكand those أيادٍfavors ليسis not يخفىhidden عبيرهاtheir fragrance
وتلك أيادٍ ليس يخفى عبيرها
Her hands bestowed abundant favors upon me,
So treat them well if you are their subject,
favors whose fragrance cannot be hidden.
You are their gems and you are their twinkles.
وماand not ضرharms نعماهاher blessings إذاif كنتyou are جاحداًungrateful
وما ضر نعماها إذا كنت جاحداً
وهلand can يَهجُنُtarnish الآلاءَblessings يوماًever كَفورهاtheir ungrateful recipient
وهل يَهجُنُ الآلاءَ يوماً كَفورها
Your ingratitude does not harm her blessings:
You own a lifelong devotion and praises binding,
can their ungrateful recipient ever tarnish blessings?
Neither its years nor months wearied me.
إذاif نفرتshe withdraws رابَtroubles الثقاتِthe trustworthy نِفارُهاher withdrawal
إذا نفرت رابَ الثقاتِ نِفارُها
وإنand if سفرتshe unveils herself رابtroubles العداةَthe enemies سفورهاher unveiling
وإن سفرت راب العداةَ سفورها
If she withdraws, her withdrawal troubles the trustworthy;
Your attributes transcended to their value,
if she unveils herself, her unveiling troubles her enemies.
So where is its Farazdaq and where is its Jarir?
مدحتُكِI praised you ياO عَذْراVirgin لِأُضحيso I might become بمدحكthrough my praise of you الthe (continued next line)
مدحتُكِ يا عَذْرا لِأُضحي بمدحك ال
رقيقtender رقيقاًa slave حبّذاhow delightful ليto me أَسيرهاher captive
رقيق رقيقاً حبّذا لي أَسيرها
I praised you, O Virgin, to become, through my praise of you,
A gathering has adorned it with praise
so tender, a slave—how sweet to me to be her captive!
That the silk-robed poet would find difficult.
فدونكِso take this ياO سلطانةَqueen of الأرضearth والسماand heaven
فدونكِ يا سلطانةَ الأرض والسما
قلادةَa necklace of نظمٍverse والدراريand the shining stars نحورهاits necks
قلادةَ نظمٍ والدراري نحورها
Take, O queen of earth and heaven,
A beautiful purchase - if Kanana saw it
a necklace of verse, with shining stars as its necks.
She would rule that Udhra not be blamed for her chastity's wounds.
فأحسِنْhow lovely, then بهاit is إذاsince أنتِyou موضوعُthe subject of نظمهاits verse
فأحسِنْ بها إذا أنتِ موضوعُ نظمها
وأنتِand you فرائدْهاits choice pearls وأنتand you شُذورهاits golden beads
وأنتِ فرائدْها وأنت شُذورها
How lovely it is, since you are the subject of its verse!
I see all poetry besides you as donkey fodder
You are its choice pearls, and you its golden beads.
Its animals trail it, and its donkeys.
لكto you العمرُa lifetime وقفٌconsecrated والمدائحُand praises مَوثِقٌa pledge
لك العمرُ وقفٌ والمدائحُ مَوثِقٌ
ولمand not تكفنيsufficed me أعوامُهاtheir years وشهورهاand their months
ولم تكفني أعوامُها وشهورها
My lifetime is consecrated to you, and praises are a pledge;
And all praise besides you as dispraise
their years and months have not sufficed me.
May God dissolve descriptions that their evils adorned.
علَتrose high وغلَتand grew precious أوصافُكِyour qualities عندat قدرِهاtheir worth
علَت وغلَت أوصافُكِ عند قدرِها
فأينso where فَرَزدَقْهاtheir al-Farazdaq وأينand where جريرهاtheir Jarir
فأين فَرَزدَقْها وأين جريرها
Your qualities have risen high and grown precious in their worth:
I loved you with fine praise that it is as if
where is their al-Farazdaq, and where their Jarir?
Scattered pearls from nights' oysters in their rounds.
وقدand indeed طرَّزتهاembroidered them بالمديحwith praise مقامةٌa maqamah
وقد طرَّزتها بالمديح مقامةٌ
يعزُّis too difficult علىfor ذاكthat الحريريal-Hariri حريرهاits silk
يعزُّ على ذاك الحريري حريرها
A maqamah has embroidered them with praise,
Pearls systematically threaded in them
its silk beyond even that al-Hariri.
Their throats adorning their breasts.
خريدةُa maiden of حسنٍbeauty لوif رأتهاsaw her كنانةٌKinana
خريدةُ حسنٍ لو رأتها كنانةٌ
قضتwould judge أنthat عُذرةْUdhra لاnot تلامare blamed عُذُورهاits excuses
قضت أن عُذرةْ لا تلام عُذُورها
A maiden of beauty: if Kinana saw her,
Adorning their cheeks a fine, flirtatious grace
it would judge that Udhra's excuses deserve no blame.
As charm adorned the rosy cheek its allure.
أرىI see كلevery شعرٍpoem فيabout سواكanyone but you شعيرةًa barley grain
أرى كل شعرٍ في سواك شعيرةً
بَهائمُهاits beasts تجترُّهاchew it as cud وحميرهاand its donkeys
بَهائمُها تجترُّها وحميرها
I see every poem about anyone but you as a barley grain
Coquettish, almost narrating from a smiling mouth
that its beasts and donkeys chew as cud;
In your praise, as if it narrated its lines.
وكلَّand every مديحٍpraise فيof سواكanyone but you مذمةًblame
وكلَّ مديحٍ في سواك مذمةً
لحىmay curse اللَهُGod أوصافاًdescriptions حِلاهاtheir ornaments شرورهاtheir evils
لحى اللَهُ أوصافاً حِلاها شرورها
and every praise of anyone but you as blame.
My refuge, and it suffices me as guidance her purity.
May God curse descriptions whose ornaments are their evils.
Upon her is God's peace, and God is witness
حبوتُكI bestowed on you مدحاًpraise رقَّgrew delicate حتىuntil كأنهas though it were
حبوتُك مدحاً رقَّ حتى كأنه
لآلئpearls هلَّتrose فيin اللياليthe nights بدورهاtheir full moons
لآلئ هلَّت في الليالي بدورها
I bestowed on you praise so delicate that it seemed
That I am her servant, and thankful.
like pearls whose full moons rose in the nights.
بأصدافِin the shells of أسدافِthe darknesses of اللياليthe nights لآلئٌpearls
بأصدافِ أسدافِ الليالي لآلئٌ
منظَّمةٌstrung فيهاwithin them النحورُthe necks بُحورهاtheir poetic meters or seas
منظَّمةٌ فيها النحورُ بُحورها
In the shells of the nights' darkness lie pearls,
strung within them, with their poetic meters as necks.
تَزيْنُadorns حِلاهاits ornaments رقَّةٌa delicacy حلبيةٌAleppine
تَزيْنُ حِلاها رقَّةٌ حلبيةٌ
كماjust as زيَّنadorned الخودَthe maiden الرداحَfull-figured فُتورهاher languor
كما زيَّن الخودَ الرداحَ فُتورها
An Aleppine delicacy adorns its ornaments,
as languor adorns a full-figured maiden.
منمقةٌadorned تفترُّsmiles عنrevealing ثغرa mouth مُرتَضٍpleasing
منمقةٌ تفترُّ عن ثغر مُرتَضٍ
بمدحكin praise of you حتىuntil كادalmost تحكيspeak سطورهاits lines
بمدحك حتى كاد تحكي سطورها
Adorned, it smiles through a pleasing mouth
in praise of you, until its lines almost speak.
فهاso behold أناI والعذراءُand the Virgin مريمMary فيamong الورىhumankind
فها أنا والعذراءُ مريم في الورى
ملاذيmy refuge ويكفينيand suffices me اهتداءًas guidance طُهورهاher purity
ملاذي ويكفيني اهتداءً طُهورها
Here I am, with the Virgin Mary among humankind
as my refuge; her purity suffices me for guidance.
عليهاupon her سلامthe peace of اللَهGod واللَهُand God شاهدٌa witness
عليها سلام اللَه واللَهُ شاهدٌ
عليَّregarding me بأنِّيthat I am عبدُهاher servant وشَكورهاand grateful to her
عليَّ بأنِّي عبدُها وشَكورها
Upon her be God's peace, and God is witness
that I am her servant and grateful to her.
Partial English translation: 117 of 128 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1