ذَكَرُواthey recalled الْعُهُودَthe pledges فَهَاجَso arose مِنْfrom أَشْجَانِيmy sorrows
ذَكَرُوا الْعُهُودَ فَهَاجَ مِنْ أَشْجَانِي
شَوْقٌa longing إِذَاwhen جَنَّdescended الدُّجَىnight’s darkness نَاجَانِيwhispered to me
شَوْقٌ إِذَا جَنَّ الدُّجَى نَاجَانِي
They recalled the pledges, and from my sorrows rose
They recalled the covenants so longing stirred in me,
a longing that whispers to me when darkness falls.
A yearning that whispers to me when dusk falls.
فَكَأَنَّمَاso it is as though الآمَاقُthe inner eye-corners مِنِّيَof mine أَبْحُرٌseas
فَكَأَنَّمَا الآمَاقُ مِنِّيَ أَبْحُرٌ
يَقْذِفْنَthey cast forth بِاليَاقُوتِwith rubies وَالْمَرْجاَنِand coral
يَقْذِفْنَ بِاليَاقُوتِ وَالْمَرْجاَنِ
So the corners of my eyes seem like seas,
It seems my inner depths are an ocean
casting forth rubies and coral.
Casting pearls and coral from within me.
وَلَوand if أَنَّنِيthat I أَمْسَكْتُI restrained أَجْفَانِيmy eyelids وَقَدْwhile already
وَلَو أَنَّنِي أَمْسَكْتُ أَجْفَانِي وَقَدْ
ذَكَرُواthey recalled الْعُهُودَthe pledges لَقُلْتُI would have said مَاhow أَجْفَانِيunfeeling I am
ذَكَرُوا الْعُهُودَ لَقُلْتُ مَا أَجْفَانِي
And had I restrained my eyelids when
Had I but kept my eyelids closed when they
they recalled the pledges, I would have said, “How unfeeling I am!”
Recalled the covenants, I’d have said: “Not mine, my eyelids!”
أَشْكُوI complain إِلَىto اللهGod الفِرَاقَseparation فَإِنَّنِيfor indeed I
أَشْكُو إِلَى الله الفِرَاقَ فَإِنَّنِي
مَاnot لِيfor me بَمَاfor what فَعَلَdid الْفِرَاقُseparation يَدَانِtwo hands
مَا لِي بَمَا فَعَلَ الْفِرَاقُ يَدَانِ
I complain to God of separation, for I
I complain to God of parting - for surely
have no strength to bear what separation has wrought.
I've no control o’er what parting has done.
يَاAh لاَmay not رَعَىtend اللهGod الرِّمَالَthe sands وَلاَnor may سَقَىwater
يَا لاَ رَعَى الله الرِّمَالَ وَلاَ سَقَى
مِنْهَاamong them مُلِثُunceasing الْقَطْرِrain شَرَّthe worst مَكَانِplace
مِنْهَا مُلِثُ الْقَطْرِ شَرَّ مَكَانِ
Ah, may God never tend the sands, nor may
O He who tended neither the sands nor watered
unceasing rain water their worst spot:
The shifting dunes - evil the place and the time!
جَبَلاًa mountain لِطَارِقٍof Tariq مُذْsince أَقَلَّbore رِكَابَهُhis mounts
جَبَلاً لِطَارِقٍ مُذْ أَقَلَّ رِكَابَهُ
لَمْnever تَنْأَstayed away عَنْهُfrom it طَوَارِقُnight-assailants الْحَدَثَانِfate
لَمْ تَنْأَ عَنْهُ طَوَارِقُ الْحَدَثَانِ
Tariq’s mountain: ever since it bore his mounts,
Since Tariq moored his ships, not one high wave
fate’s night-assailants have never stayed away from it.
Has failed to crash upon those very shores.
يَاO مَجْمَعmeeting place of الْبَحْرِيْنِthe two seas كَمْhow many مَزَّقْتَyou shattered مِنْof
يَا مَجْمَع الْبَحْرِيْنِ كَمْ مَزَّقْتَ مِنْ
جَمْعٍa gathering وَكَمْand how often بَاعَدْتَyou drove apart بَعْدَafter تَدَانِيdrawing near
جَمْعٍ وَكَمْ بَاعَدْتَ بَعْدَ تَدَانِي
O meeting place of the two seas, how often you have shattered
O meeting place of two seas! How many a host
a gathering, and how often sundered those once close!
You divided after their coming together!
لَوْلاَwere it not for عَسَىperhaps وَلَعَلَّand maybe بَانَwould have departed تَجَلُّدِيmy fortitude
لَوْلاَ عَسَى وَلَعَلَّ بَانَ تَجَلُّدِي
وَبَرِئْتُand I would have renounced مِنْfrom صَبْرِيmy patience وَمِنْand from كِتْمَانِيmy concealment
وَبَرِئْتُ مِنْ صَبْرِي وَمِنْ كِتْمَانِي
But for “perhaps” and “maybe,” my fortitude would have fled,
Were it not for “perhaps” and “maybe,” my patience
and I would have renounced my patience and my concealment.
Would fail, my composure lost, discretion gone.
وَمِنَand among اللَّطَائِفِthe kindnesses وَاللَّطَائِفُand the kindnesses جَمَّةٌabundant
وَمِنَ اللَّطَائِفِ وَاللَّطَائِفُ جَمَّةٌ
للِّهِof God فِيin سِرِّsecret وَفِيand in إَعْلاَنِopenness
للِّهِ فِي سِرِّ وَفِي إَعْلاَنِ
And among the kindnesses—and many are the kindnesses
From Al-Ta'if come fine soft wisps of cloud
of God, in secret and openly—
By God’s secret decrees and clear portents.
خَوْدٌa lovely maiden أَتَتْنِيcame to me آنَسَتْbrought comfort مِنْfrom غُرْبَتِيmy exile
خَوْدٌ أَتَتْنِي آنَسَتْ مِنْ غُرْبَتِي
وَأَرَتْنِيand showed me الآمَالَhopes رَأْيَthe sight of عيَانِdirect witnessing
وَأَرَتْنِي الآمَالَ رَأْيَ عيَانِ
was a lovely maiden who came to me, easing my exile,
A beauty came to me, banished my loneliness,
and showed me hopes before my very eyes.
Showed me hopes clearly, realities manifest.
قَدْindeed كَنْتُI was فِيin نَارِthe fire of الْبِعَادِseparation مُعَذِّباًtormented
قَدْ كَنْتُ فِي نَارِ الْبِعَادِ مُعَذِّباً
فَدَخَلْتُso I entered مِنْهَاfrom it جَنَّةَthe paradise of الرِّضْوَانِcontentment
فَدَخَلْتُ مِنْهَا جَنَّةَ الرِّضْوَانِ
I had been tormented in the fire of separation,
I was tortured in the fires of absence
so from it I entered the paradise of contentment.
And entered thereby the gardens of joy.
وَجَرَرْتُand I trailed لِلْخُيَلاَءِin pride ذَيْلِيmy hem عِنْدَهَاin her presence
وَجَرَرْتُ لِلْخُيَلاَءِ ذَيْلِي عِنْدَهَا
وَجَرَيْتُand I raced فِيin الإِعْجَابِself-admiration مِلْءِthe full extent of عِنَانِيmy rein
وَجَرَيْتُ فِي الإِعْجَابِ مِلْءِ عِنَانِي
And before her I trailed my robe in pride,
Before her I dragged my train in pride
and raced in self-admiration, my reins fully loosed.
And rode the steed of conceit at full gallop.
وَكَأَنَّنِيand as though I عَاطِيْتُI shared كأْسَa cup of مُدَامَةٍwine
وَكَأَنَّنِي عَاطِيْتُ كأْسَ مُدَامَةٍ
صَهْبَاءَtawny بَيْنَamid مَثَالثٍthird strings وَمَثَانِيand second strings
صَهْبَاءَ بَيْنَ مَثَالثٍ وَمَثَانِي
And it was as though I shared a cup of wine,
I was like one made tipsy by a draught
tawny, amid the music of third and second strings.
Of sparkling wine ‘twixt the third cup and the eighth.
زَارَتْshe visited وَقَدْwhile already جَارَتْoppressed عَلَيَّagainst me يَدُthe hand of الضَّنَىwasting sickness
زَارَتْ وَقَدْ جَارَتْ عَلَيَّ يَدُ الضَّنَى
وَالسُّقْمُand illness قَدْalready أَنْحَىbore down عَلَىupon جُثْمَانِيmy body
وَالسُّقْمُ قَدْ أَنْحَى عَلَى جُثْمَانِي
She visited when the hand of wasting sickness had oppressed me,
Grief’s hand afflicted me, illness bowed
and illness had borne down upon my body.
My body down, when she came to visit.
فَاسْتَقْبَلتْso she met بِالْبُرْءِwith healing كُلَّevery تَأَلُّمٍpain
فَاسْتَقْبَلتْ بِالْبُرْءِ كُلَّ تَأَلُّمٍ
وَاسْتَدْرَكَتْand she rescued فَضْلَthe remainder of الذّمَاءِthe flicker of life الْفَانِيfading
وَاسْتَدْرَكَتْ فَضْلَ الذّمَاءِ الْفَانِي
So she met every pain with healing,
With wellness she met each pain,
and rescued the last flicker of my fading life.
Regained what failing health had diminished.
طِبَّthe healing art of الْمَسِيحِthe Messiah بَعَثْتyou revived يَاO ابْنَson of سمِيّهِhis namesake
طِبَّ الْمَسِيحِ بَعَثْت يَا ابْنَ سمِيّهِ
فِيin رُقْيَةٍa healing incantation خَفِيَتْwas hidden عَنْfrom الأَذْهَانِminds
فِي رُقْيَةٍ خَفِيَتْ عَنْ الأَذْهَانِ
You revived the Messiah’s healing art, O son of his namesake,
Good tidings, O son of the Chaste! For in secret
in a healing charm beyond the grasp of minds.
You work wonders beyond all minds and hearts.
سَخِرَتْmocked بَدَائِعُهَاits marvels الَّتِيwhich أَوْدَعْتَهَاyou placed within it
سَخِرَتْ بَدَائِعُهَا الَّتِي أَوْدَعْتَهَا
بِزَمَانِهَاat its age هَذَاthis وَكُلَّand every زَمَانِage
بِزَمَانِهَا هَذَا وَكُلَّ زَمَانِ
Its marvels, which you placed within it, mocked
Their marvels which you imbued the present time
this age of theirs, and every age.
You made subservient to it and all eras.
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou الْقَاضِيthe judge الَّذِيwho لَمْnot يَخْتَلِفْdisagreed
يَا أَيُّهَا الْقَاضِي الَّذِي لَمْ يَخْتَلِفْ
فِيover الْقَصْدِuprightness فِيهِin him وَفِيand over الْكَمَالِperfection اثْنَانِtwo people
فِي الْقَصْدِ فِيهِ وَفِي الْكَمَالِ اثْنَانِ
O judge, concerning whom no two have disagreed
O Judge in whom none find fault
over his uprightness and his perfection:
In fairness, and none disagree on perfection!
إِنِّيindeed I ظَفَرْتُI gained بِمِنْحَةٍwith a gift وَذَخِيْرَةٍand a treasure
إِنِّي ظَفَرْتُ بِمِنْحَةٍ وَذَخِيْرَةٍ
مِنْfrom وَدِّكَyour affection الْبَاقِيlasting عَلَىthrough الأَزْمَانِthe ages
مِنْ وَدِّكَ الْبَاقِي عَلَى الأَزْمَانِ
I have indeed gained a gift and a treasure
I gained a boon and treasure
from your affection that endures through the ages.
Of your lasting affection through the ages.
وَغَرْسُتand I planted حُبَّكَyour love فِيin الْفُؤَادِthe heart فَأَصْبَحَتْso they became
وَغَرْسُت حُبَّكَ فِي الْفُؤَادِ فَأَصْبَحَتْ
أَدْوَاحُهُits spreading trees مُخْضَرَّةَgreen الأَفْنَانِthe branches
أَدْوَاحُهُ مُخْضَرَّةَ الأَفْنَانِ
And I planted your love in my heart, so that
And I planted your love in my heart until
its spreading trees became green-branched.
Its horizons turned lush and verdant.
وَلَكمْand how many أَخٍْa brother لِلْخَطْبِfor adversity قَدْindeed أَعْدَدْتُهُI had readied him
وَلَكمْ أَخٍْ لِلْخَطْبِ قَدْ أَعْدَدْتُهُ
لَمْdid not تَجْنِreap مِنْهُfrom him يَدِيmy hand سِوَىexcept الْخُطْبَانِbitter colocynth
لَمْ تَجْنِ مِنْهُ يَدِي سِوَى الْخُطْبَانِ
And how many a brother I had readied for adversity,
How many wise sayings have I prepared
from whom my hand reaped nothing but bitter colocynth!
For the sermon, and all I reaped were words!
وَلَكَمْand how many جَمِيمٍlush growth قَدْindeed وَرَدْتُI reached جَمَامَهُits brimming pools
وَلَكَمْ جَمِيمٍ قَدْ وَرَدْتُ جَمَامَهُ
فَشَرِقْتُso I choked مِنْهاَfrom them بِالْحَمِيمِon scalding water الآنِيboiling hot
فَشَرِقْتُ مِنْهاَ بِالْحَمِيمِ الآنِي
And how many a lush meadow’s brimming pools I have reached,
How many a coarse fool I wished to refine,
only to choke on their boiling, scalding water!
Only to brim forth in the end with warmth.
حَرَّكْتَyou stirred مِنِّيwithin me فِطْنَةًa keen mind أَفْكَارُهَاits thoughts
حَرَّكْتَ مِنِّي فِطْنَةً أَفْكَارُهَا
وَقْفٌwholly devoted عَلَىto الْبُرَحَاءanguish وَالأَشْجَانِand sorrows
وَقْفٌ عَلَى الْبُرَحَاء وَالأَشْجَانِ
You stirred within me a keen mind whose thoughts
By your thoughts you stirred in me a perception
are given over to anguish and sorrows.
Halting deep in memories and passions.
أَوَand can it be بَعْدَafter شَطْرِhalf of الْحَوْلِthe year مغْتَرِباًin exile عَلَىunder
أَوَ بَعْدَ شَطْرِ الْحَوْلِ مغْتَرِباً عَلَى
حُكْمِthe rule of اللَّيَالِيthe nights نَازِحَfar from الأَوْطَانِnative lands
حُكْمِ اللَّيَالِي نَازِحَ الأَوْطَانِ
And can it be, after half a year in exile, under
Or after half a year away, driven from
the rule of nights, far from my native lands,
My home by the judges of nights and days.
تَذْكُوburns brightly لَدَيَّwithin me مِنْof الْبَيَانِeloquence شَرَارَةa spark
تَذْكُو لَدَيَّ مِنْ الْبَيَانِ شَرَارَة
وَتُشَامُand is glimpsed بَارِقَةٌa lightning flash مِنْof الْعِرْفُانِunderstanding
وَتُشَامُ بَارِقَةٌ مِنْ الْعِرْفُانِ
that a spark of eloquence kindles within me,
For me, your eloquence kindles a spark,
and a flash of understanding is glimpsed?
And your wisdom flashes like lightning.
لاَnot زِلْتَmay you cease تُبْدِيyou reveal وَجْهَthe face of كُلِّevery غَرِيبَةٍmarvel
لاَ زِلْتَ تُبْدِي وَجْهَ كُلِّ غَرِيبَةٍ
يُمْلِيdictate بَدِيعَthe wondrous part of حَدِيثِهَاits tale الْمَلَوَانِnight and day
يُمْلِي بَدِيعَ حَدِيثِهَا الْمَلَوَانِ
May you never cease to unveil the face of every marvel
You show the face of each new topic, dictating
whose wondrous tale night and day dictate,
In your elegant style meanings refulgent.
وَتُجِيلُand you set coursing فِيon يَوْمِthe day of الْبَيَانِeloquence جِيَادَهُits noble steeds
وَتُجِيلُ فِي يَوْمِ الْبَيَانِ جِيَادَهُ
فَيُقَالُso it is said هَذَاthis فَارِسُthe horseman of الْمِيدَانِthe arena
فَيُقَالُ هَذَا فَارِسُ الْمِيدَانِ
and, on the day of eloquence, set its noble steeds coursing,
On rhetoric’s day you race its steeds,
so it is said, “This is the horseman of the arena!”
Hailed as the knight of that arena.
مَاas long as أَنَّcooed فِيat السَّحَرِthe predawn hour الْحَمَامُthe doves بِنَغْمَةٍwith a melody
مَا أَنَّ فِي السَّحَرِ الْحَمَامُ بِنَغْمَةٍ
رَقَصَتْdanced لَهَاto it طَرَباًin delight غُصُونُthe boughs of الْبَانِthe bān tree
رَقَصَتْ لَهَا طَرَباً غُصُونُ الْبَانِ
as long as doves coo a melody before dawn
As if the doves in dawn sang a melody
to which the bān-tree boughs dance in delight.
To which the branches danced enraptured.
Sol 6.1