أَلاَcome now عدِّturn away عَنِfrom ذِكْرِmentioning الرَّحِيقِthe pure wine الْمُفَدَّمِthe deep-red
أَلاَ عدِّ عَنِ ذِكْرِ الرَّحِيقِ الْمُفَدَّمِ
وَخُذْهَاand take it شَمُولاًas wine مِنْfrom بِشَارَةِglad tidings of مَقْدَمِan arrival
وَخُذْهَا شَمُولاً مِنْ بِشَارَةِ مَقْدَمِ
Come, leave off speaking of deep-red wine,
No more reminiscing about spilt wine,
And take your wine from glad tidings of an arrival,
Take it all in with the glad tidings of the new arrival,
وَكَاسَيْنِand two cups لَكِنْbut مِنْfrom كِتَابَيْنِtwo letters مُعْلِنِone announcing
وَكَاسَيْنِ لَكِنْ مِنْ كِتَابَيْنِ مُعْلِنِ
بِمَاof what كَانَcame to pass مِنْconcerning قُرْبِthe approach of الْحُسَيْنِal-Husayn وَمُعْلِمِand one informing
بِمَا كَانَ مِنْ قُرْبِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَمُعْلِمِ
And two cups—but from two letters, one announcing
And two goblets, but from two different books that reveal
Al-Husayn's approach, and the other bringing word.
What was once so near, al-Husayn and his guiding light,
وَيَارَاكِضَand O you who spur الْوَجْنَاءِthe sturdy she-camel مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween مُنْجِدٍone bound for Najd
وَيَارَاكِضَ الْوَجْنَاءِ مَا بَيْنَ مُنْجِدٍ
يَخُدُّfurrows بِهَاwith her خَدَّthe cheek of الْفَلاَةِthe desert وَمُتْهِمِand one bound for Tihama
يَخُدُّ بِهَا خَدَّ الْفَلاَةِ وَمُتْهِمِ
O rider spurring the sturdy she-camel, now bound for Najd,
And you who gallop the sandy wastes between Munjid
Furrowing the desert's cheek with her, now for Tihama:
And Khud, who braves through the wilderness unafraid,
تَجلُّis too great يَدٌa favor أَسْدَيْتَyou bestowed عَنْfor كُلِّevery مِنْحَةٍgift
تَجلُّ يَدٌ أَسْدَيْتَ عَنْ كُلِّ مِنْحَةٍ
فَفِيso over النَّفْسِthe soul أَوْor مَاwhatever فَوْقَهَاsurpasses it فَتَحَكَّمِso command as you will
فَفِي النَّفْسِ أَوْ مَا فَوْقَهَا فَتَحَكَّمِ
The favor you bestowed is beyond any gift in return;
A hand that gives freely, neither compelled by greed
So over my life, or whatever surpasses it, command as you will.
Nor pride, but one that rules o’er the soul and more,
أَلاَcome now سَقِّنِيgive me drink مِنْهَاof it دِرَاكاًin swift succession وَغَنَّنِيand sing to me
أَلاَ سَقِّنِي مِنْهَا دِرَاكاً وَغَنَّنِي
عَلَىto نَغَمَاتِthe melodies of الْمِزْهَرِthe lute الْمُتَرَنِّمِthe singing
عَلَى نَغَمَاتِ الْمِزْهَرِ الْمُتَرَنِّمِ
Come, give me draughts of it in swift succession, and sing to me
Pour me a draft and let me sing the melody
To the notes of the singing lute,
Of the musky blossoms in soft gentle tones,
بِقُرْبِof the nearness of أَخِيmy brother الْمَحْضِpure in الْوِدَادِaffection وَوَاحِدِيand my one and only
بِقُرْبِ أَخِي الْمَحْضِ الْوِدَادِ وَوَاحِدِي
ونورِيَand my light فيin داجdarkness منof الخطبcalamity مظلمpitch-dark
ونورِيَ في داج من الخطب مظلم
Of my brother's nearness—pure in affection, my one and only,
Next to my true brother, my one kin and light
And my light in calamity's pitch-dark gloom.
That shines on my dark day even when life glooms,
ولولاand were it not for اتقائيmy fear of عتبهhis reproach قلتI would have said جاهداًearnestly
ولولا اتقائي عتبه قلت جاهداً
بِمِلْءِwith the full force of لِسَانِيmy tongue سَيَدِيmy lord وَمُعَظِّمِيand he who honors me
بِمِلْءِ لِسَانِي سَيَدِي وَمُعَظِّمِي
Had I not feared his reproach, I would have said earnestly,
And if not for fear of upsetting him, I’d say
With all my voice: 'My lord, and he who honors me!'
Loudly, with all my tongue will yield, my master great,
قُدُومُكَyour arrival أَسْنَىmore splendid فِيin فُؤَادِيَmy heart مَوْقِعاًa place
قُدُومُكَ أَسْنَى فِي فُؤَادِيَ مَوْقِعاً
مِنَthan الْوَصْلِunion فِيin قَلْبِthe heart of الْعَمِيدِthe love-stricken الْمُتَّيمِthe love-enslaved
مِنَ الْوَصْلِ فِي قَلْبِ الْعَمِيدِ الْمُتَّيمِ
Your arrival holds a more splendid place in my heart
For your arrival has brought me untold pleasure,
Than union in the heart of a love-stricken, enthralled lover,
Like rain on desert sand that soaks to the deepest depths,
وَأَشْهَىand more desirable مِنَthan الأَمْنِsafety الْمُتَاحِgranted لِخَائِفٍto one afraid
وَأَشْهَى مِنَ الأَمْنِ الْمُتَاحِ لِخَائِفٍ
وَأَحْسَنُand finer مِنْthan نَيْلِgaining الْغِنَىwealth عِنْدَin the eyes of مُعْدِمِa pauper
وَأَحْسَنُ مِنْ نَيْلِ الْغِنَى عِنْدَ مُعْدِمِ
And is more desirable than safety granted to one afraid,
Sweeter than safety for one filled with fright,
And finer than gaining wealth is to a pauper.
Better than attaining wealth when deprived and destitute,
وَمَاالشُّهْدُand honey is not مَمْزُوجاًmixed بِمَاءِwith the water of غَمَامَةٍa raincloud
وَمَاالشُّهْدُ مَمْزُوجاً بِمَاءِ غَمَامَةٍ
بِأَعْذَبَany sweeter مِنْthan تَرْدَادِrepeating ذِكْرِكَmention of you فِيin فَمِيmy mouth
بِأَعْذَبَ مِنْ تَرْدَادِ ذِكْرِكَ فِي فَمِي
Nor is honey, mixed with a raincloud's water,
Not honey mixed with water from a rain cloud
Sweeter than repeating your name in my mouth.
Tastes better than the sweet mention of you by my lips,
وَإِنْand even if عَرضَتْstand in the way دُونَbarring التَّزَاوُرِmutual visits بَيْنَنَاbetween us
وَإِنْ عَرضَتْ دُونَ التَّزَاوُرِ بَيْنَنَا
مَهَامِهُtrackless deserts تُعْيِيexhaust كُلَّevery خُفٍّcamel's padded foot وَمَنْسَمِand camel's toe
مَهَامِهُ تُعْيِي كُلَّ خُفٍّ وَمَنْسَمِ
And though, barring our mutual visits, there stand between us
And if we’re kept apart and cannot visit each other,
Trackless deserts that weary every camel's foot and toe,
The pangs exhaust every shoe sole and strap,
فَقَلبِيso my heart لَكَfor you الْبَيْتُthe House الْعَتِيقُthe Ancient مَقَامُهُits station
فَقَلبِي لَكَ الْبَيْتُ الْعَتِيقُ مَقَامُهُ
وَشَوْقِيَand my longing إِحْرَامِيmy pilgrim consecration وَدَمْعِيَand my tears زَمْزَمِيmy Zamzam
وَشَوْقِيَ إِحْرَامِي وَدَمْعِيَ زَمْزَمِي
My heart, for you, holds the station of the Ancient House;
So my heart is your eternal sanctuary,
My longing is my pilgrim consecration, and my tears my Zamzam.
My desire like one on pilgrimage, my tears as Zamzam,
ليَfor me اللهُGod كَمْhow much شَوْقٍlonging لِبُعْدِكَat your distance غَالَنِيhas overwhelmed me
ليَ اللهُ كَمْ شَوْقٍ لِبُعْدِكَ غَالَنِي
وَوَجْدٍand anguish لِذِكْرِat the memory of عَهْدِكَyour companionship الْمُتَقَدِّمِbygone
وَوَجْدٍ لِذِكْرِ عَهْدِكَ الْمُتَقَدِّمِ
God help me! How much longing at your distance has overwhelmed me,
May God reward our lasting bond with the best
And anguish at recalling your companionship of old!
Of rewards, for He truly rewards the generous,
وَكَمْand how many عَبْرَةٍa tear مَسْفُوحَةٍshed كُلَّمَاwhenever جَرَتْit flowed
وَكَمْ عَبْرَةٍ مَسْفُوحَةٍ كُلَّمَا جَرَتْ
يُحَدِّثُspeaks مِنْهَاfrom it عَنْof دَمِيmy blood كُلُّall عَنْدَمِcrimson dye
يُحَدِّثُ مِنْهَا عَنْ دَمِي كُلُّ عَنْدَمِ
And many a tear is shed; whenever it flows,
And if an opponent crosses the west, hurling sorrows,
All the crimson dye within it speaks of my blood.
My eyelids have been taught by you to weep,
جَزَىmay reward اللهُGod عَهْدَthe days of الْقُرْبِnearness خَيْرَthe best of جَزَائِهِHis recompense
جَزَى اللهُ عَهْدَ الْقُرْبِ خَيْرَ جَزَائِهِ
بِأَعْظَمَwith the greatest مَاthat which يُجْزِيrepays بِهِwith it حَقُّthe due of مُنْعِمِa benefactor
بِأَعْظَمَ مَا يُجْزِي بِهِ حَقُّ مُنْعِمِ
May God reward the days of nearness with His best reward,
They have seen in you such beauty that captivates
With the greatest recompense that repays a benefactor's due.
And binds the eyes of the admiring onlooker,
وَسَقَىand may He water بِثَغْرِat the frontier of الْغَرْبِthe West إِنْif عَارِضٌa raincloud هَمىًpoured down
وَسَقَى بِثَغْرِ الْغَرْبِ إِنْ عَارِضٌ هَمىً
مَعَالِمَlandmarks قَدْindeed عَلَّمنthey taught جَفْنِيَmy eyelid يَنْهَمِيto stream
مَعَالِمَ قَدْ عَلَّمن جَفْنِيَ يَنْهَمِي
And may He water, at the frontier of the West, if a raincloud pours,
In any garden the caravan once lodged,
The landmarks that taught my eyelid to stream.
Then journeyed on after gathering strength,
رَأَتْthey saw مِنْكَof you عَنِّيin my stead مِلأَهَاtheir fill حُسْنَbeauty of مَنْظَرٍa sight
رَأَتْ مِنْكَ عَنِّي مِلأَهَا حُسْنَ مَنْظَرٍ
يُقَيِّدُfetters طَرفَthe gaze of النَّاظِرِthe beholder الْمُتَوَسِّمِthe discerning
يُقَيِّدُ طَرفَ النَّاظِرِ الْمُتَوَسِّمِ
They saw in you, in my stead, their fill of a lovely sight
A sea of manners whose waves hurl forth
That fetters the gaze of the discerning beholder,
Precious pearls between the singular and the pair,
وَماand whatever شِئْتَyou wished مِنْof رَوْضٍa garden أَنَاخَalighted بِهِin it الْحَيَاthe rain
وَما شِئْتَ مِنْ رَوْضٍ أَنَاخَ بِهِ الْحَيَا
وَأَزْمَعَand resolved عَنْهُaway from it السَّيْرَdeparture بَعْدَafter تَلَوّمِlingering
وَأَزْمَعَ عَنْهُ السَّيْرَ بَعْدَ تَلَوّمِ
And a garden such as you could wish for, where the rain alighted
And yet I saw what I lost of you and felt as if
And resolved to depart from it after lingering,
My happiness could hardly make up for my regret,
وَبَحْرٍand a sea مِنَof الآدَابِliterary learning يَقْذِفُcasts forth مَوْجُهُits waves
وَبَحْرٍ مِنَ الآدَابِ يَقْذِفُ مَوْجُهُ
ثَمِينَprecious الَّلآلِيthe pearls بَيْنَamong فَذٍّa single one وَتَوْأَمِand a twin
ثَمِينَ الَّلآلِي بَيْنَ فَذٍّ وَتَوْأَمِ
And a sea of literary learning, whose waves cast forth
You have mastered and perfected all virtues, O Aba
Precious pearls, single and twin.
Ali, so excel and bring to perfection!
وَلَكَّنِنِيbut I أَبْصَرْتُsaw مَاwhat ضَاعَwas lost مِنْكَof you لِيto me
وَلَكَّنِنِي أَبْصَرْتُ مَا ضَاعَ مِنْكَ لِي
فَكَادَso almost سُرُورِيmy joy لاَnot يَفِيsuffices بِتَنَدُّمِto offset regret
فَكَادَ سُرُورِي لاَ يَفِي بِتَنَدُّمِ
Yet I saw what of you had been lost to me,
How many fallen pillars have you raised anew,
So my joy almost failed to offset my regret.
And reunited disputing tribes of Yarbu’ and Lahtham,
مَلكتَyou possessed وَتَمَّمتَand you perfected الْفَضَائِلَthe virtues يَاO أَباfather of
مَلكتَ وَتَمَّمتَ الْفَضَائِلَ يَا أَبا
علِيٍّAli فَدُمْso endure مِنْas مَالِكٍa possessor ومُتَمِّمِand a perfecter
علِيٍّ فَدُمْ مِنْ مَالِكٍ ومُتَمِّمِ
You possessed and perfected the virtues, O Abu
Should I congratulate you or myself on this,
Ali; so endure as possessor and perfecter.
When there can be no greater tidings for you?
فَكَمْfor how many مِنَof عُلَىheights of glory أَحْيَيْتَyou revived بَعْدَafter دُرُوسِهَاtheir effacement
فَكَمْ مِنَ عُلَى أَحْيَيْتَ بَعْدَ دُرُوسِهَا
وَمَكْرُمَةٍand a noble virtue شَيَّدْتَyou built up بَعْدَafter تَهَدُّمِcollapse
وَمَكْرُمَةٍ شَيَّدْتَ بَعْدَ تَهَدُّمِ
For how many heights of glory you revived after they faded,
For by what you initiated and then repeated,
And noble virtues you rebuilt after their collapse!
There is no gift like one given open-handedly,
وَكَمْand how often جَمَعَتْunited يُمْنَاكَyour right hand بَعْدَafter افْتِرَاقِهَاtheir separation
وَكَمْ جَمَعَتْ يُمْنَاكَ بَعْدَ افْتِرَاقِهَا
خَصيمَيْthe two rivals of نِجَارٍone stock مِنْconsisting of يَرَاعِa reed pen وَلَهْذَمِand a sharp spear
خَصيمَيْ نِجَارٍ مِنْ يَرَاعِ وَلَهْذَمِ
And how often your right hand reunited, after their parting,
You have unleashed a sea that rides the waves
Two rivals of one stock: the reed pen and sharp spear.
Of glory and might, surging and heaving,
أُهَنِّيكَshall I congratulate you أَمْor نَفْسِيmyself بِهَذَاwith this أَخُصُّهَاI single it out
أُهَنِّيكَ أَمْ نَفْسِي بِهَذَا أَخُصُّهَا
بَدْياًfirst فَمَاfor it is not الْبُشْرَىthe glad tidings لَدَيْكَfor you بِأَعْظَمِany greater
بَدْياً فَمَا الْبُشْرَى لَدَيْكَ بِأَعْظَمِ
Shall I congratulate you, or single out myself for this
Guided by the stars when darkness falls,
First? For the glad tidings are no greater for you.
And by lightning when it roams the day,
وَإِنِّيand indeed I بِمَاfor what أَوْلَيْتَyou bestowed بَدْءاًat first وَعَوْدَةًand again
وَإِنِّي بِمَا أَوْلَيْتَ بَدْءاً وَعَوْدَةً
وَلاَand nothing مِثْلَequals إِهْدَاءgifting الْجَوَادِthe steed الْمُطَهَّمِthe finely formed
وَلاَ مِثْلَ إِهْدَاء الْجَوَادِ الْمُطَهَّمِ
And I, for what you bestowed, first and yet again—
It bellows when the soothsayer lends an ear,
And nothing equals the gift of the finely formed steed.
And neighs when the astrologer steals a glance,
بَعَثْتَyou sent بِهِhim بَحْرَاًas a sea لَهُhe has مِنْfrom مَرَاحِهِhis high spirits
بَعَثْتَ بِهِ بَحْرَاً لَهُ مِنْ مَرَاحِهِ
عُبَابٌa swelling surge بِمَوْجِwith waves of الزَّهْوِpride وَالْبَأْوِand grandeur يَرْتَمِيtosses
عُبَابٌ بِمَوْجِ الزَّهْوِ وَالْبَأْوِ يَرْتَمِي
You sent him as a sea, whose high spirits raise
So I made it dwell in the depths of my being,
A swelling surge, tossing in waves of pride and grandeur.
A dear secret in my concealed heart,
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle سَرَىhe travels لَيْلاًby night فَبِالنَّجْمِthen by the star يَهْتَدِيhe finds his way
إِذَا مَا سَرَى لَيْلاً فَبِالنَّجْمِ يَهْتَدِي
وَمَهْمَاand whenever انْتَمَىhe claims descent يَوْمَاًever فَلِلْبَرْقِthen to lightning يَنْتَمِيhe traces his lineage
وَمَهْمَا انْتَمَى يَوْمَاً فَلِلْبَرْقِ يَنْتَمِي
When he travels by night, he finds his way by the star;
How wondrous that I am so excessively devoted,
And if ever he claims descent, he traces his line to lightning.
Smitten with passion though he’s Ibn Muljam’s son,
يُصِيخُhe listens intently إِذَاwhen أَصْغَىhe lends an ear بِمِسْمَعِwith the hearing of كَاهِنٍa soothsayer
يُصِيخُ إِذَا أَصْغَى بِمِسْمَعِ كَاهِنٍ
وَيَرْنُوand he gazes إِذَاwhen أَوْمَأhe gestures بِطَرْفِwith the eye of مُنْجِّمِan astrologer
وَيَرْنُو إِذَا أَوْمَأ بِطَرْفِ مُنْجِّمِ
He listens, when he lends an ear, with a soothsayer's hearing,
Yet my gift to you has an obvious reason,
And gazes, when he gestures, with an astrologer's eye.
The fruit of a love that dwells inside, ever-present,
فَبَوْأَتُهُso I lodged him مِنْwithin مُهْجَتِيmy heart's blood مُتَبَوَّأa dwelling
فَبَوْأَتُهُ مِنْ مُهْجَتِي مُتَبَوَّأ
عَزِيزاًdear عَلَىto سِرِّthe secret of الْفُؤَادِthe heart الْمُكَتَّمِclosely concealed
عَزِيزاً عَلَى سِرِّ الْفُؤَادِ الْمُكَتَّمِ
So I lodged him in my heart's blood, in a dwelling
A will that whenever the striking of tents is recalled,
Dear to the heart's closely guarded secret.
Extends the hand of one wronged seeking aid,
وَيَاand oh عَجَباًwhat a wonder مِنِّيat me وَفَرْطِand the excess of تَشَيُّعِيmy Shi'i devotion
وَيَا عَجَباً مِنِّي وَفَرْطِ تَشَيُّعِي
أهِيمُI am mad with love بِوَجْدِيwith my passion فِيهِfor him وَهْوَwhile he is ابْنُson of مُلْجَمِMuljam
أهِيمُ بِوَجْدِي فِيهِ وَهْوَ ابْنُ مُلْجَمِ
And how strange I am, with my excessive Shi'i devotion:
Can one linger where enemies lie in wait,
I am mad with longing for him, though he is Ibn Muljam!
With room for the steeds of poetry to race,
وَدُونَكَهَاand take it مِنِّيfrom me إِلَيْكَto you بَدِيهَةًan improvisation
وَدُونَكَهَا مِنِّي إِلَيْكَ بَدِيهَةً
نَتِيجَةَthe offspring of حُبٍّlove فِيin الْفُؤَادِthe heart مُخَيِّمِencamped
نَتِيجَةَ حُبٍّ فِي الْفُؤَادِ مُخَيِّمِ
And take it, from me to you, an improvisation,
And patience for composing poetry and verse?
The offspring of a love encamped within the heart,
You remain grand in renown however quickly the steeds gallop,
بُنَيَّةَa little daughter of فِكْرٍa thought كُلَّمَاwhenever ذُكِرَis mentioned النَّوَىseparation
بُنَيَّةَ فِكْرٍ كُلَّمَا ذُكِرَ النَّوَى
يَمُدُّstretches out يَدَthe hand of الْمُسْتَنْصِرِone seeking aid الْمُتَظَلِّمِcomplaining of wrong
يَمُدُّ يَدَ الْمُسْتَنْصِرِ الْمُتَظَلِّمِ
A little daughter of a thought that, whenever separation is mentioned,
Nor when the dawn horses charge the darkness
Stretches out the hand of one seeking aid and complaining of wrong.
Can you be seen behind the last and the first,
وَهَلْand is there بَعْدَafter شَطْرِhalf of الْحَوْلِthe year فِيin دَارِan abode of غُرْبَةِexile
وَهَلْ بَعْدَ شَطْرِ الْحَوْلِ فِي دَارِ غُرْبَةِ
مُقَامٌa sojourn بِمَرْأَىin full view لِلْعَدُوِّof the enemy الْمُصَمِّمِthe unrelenting
مُقَامٌ بِمَرْأَى لِلْعَدُوِّ الْمُصَمِّمِ
And is there, after half a year in an abode of exile—
You remain supreme in might and name so long
A sojourn in full view of an unrelenting enemy—
As the horses keep time over the glorious sands,
مَجَالٌroom لأَِفْرَاسِfor the steeds of الْقَرِيحَةِpoetic inspiration إِنْif جَرَتْthey run
مَجَالٌ لأَِفْرَاسِ الْقَرِيحَةِ إِنْ جَرَتْ
وَصَبْرٌand patience عَلَىfor صَوْغِfashioning الْكَلاَمِspeech الْمُنَظَّمِmeasured
وَصَبْرٌ عَلَى صَوْغِ الْكَلاَمِ الْمُنَظَّمِ
Room for inspiration's steeds, should they race,
And patience to cast speech into measured form?
بَقِيتَmay you remain عَظِيمَgreat in الْقَدْرِrank وَالصِّيتِand renown مَاas long as سَرَتْthey travel
بَقِيتَ عَظِيمَ الْقَدْرِ وَالصِّيتِ مَا سَرَتْ
سِرَاعُswift الْمَطَايَاthe mounts بِالْمُقَامِby the station الْمُعَظَّمِthe venerated
سِرَاعُ الْمَطَايَا بِالْمُقَامِ الْمُعَظَّمِ
May you remain great in rank and renown, as long as
Swift mounts travel by the venerated station,
وَمَاand as long as أَرْسِلَتْare sent forth خَيْلُthe steeds of الصَّبَاحِdawn عَلَىagainst الدُّجَىthe darkness
وَمَا أَرْسِلَتْ خَيْلُ الصَّبَاحِ عَلَى الدُّجَى
فَتُبْصِرُهَاso you see them مِنْamong them أَشْهَبٍa grey steed خلْفَbehind أَدْهَمِa black steed
فَتُبْصِرُهَا مِنْ أَشْهَبٍ خلْفَ أَدْهَمِ
And as long as dawn's steeds are sent against the darkness,
So you see them: a grey steed behind a black.
Partial English translation: 66 of 72 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1