تذكّرْتُI remembered عهْداًa time للشّبابِof youth الذيthat ولّىpassed away
تذكّرْتُ عهْداً للشّبابِ الذي ولّى
فَصابَso poured down لهُfor it تسْكابُthe pouring of دَمْعيَmy tears وانْهَلاّand streamed forth
فَصابَ لهُ تسْكابُ دَمْعيَ وانْهَلاّ
I remembered an era of youth now gone.
I recall a pact with youth that passed away,
So my tears poured down for it and flowed in torrents.
My tears flowed and lament poured in its memory.
وقُلْتُand I said وقدْand already آنَسْتُI perceived بارِقَةَa lightning-flash of الهَوىlove
وقُلْتُ وقدْ آنَسْتُ بارِقَةَ الهَوى
عُهودَdays of الصِّباyouth ياoh ماhow ألَذَّdelightful وماand how أحْلَىsweet
عُهودَ الصِّبا يا ما ألَذَّ وما أحْلَى
And I said, having glimpsed a lightning-flash of love:
And I said, when love's lightning illuminated,
Days of youth—oh, how delightful, how sweet!
O, youth's pacts! How sweet and gentle were they!
إذِwhen العيْشُlife غضٌّfresh والشّبيبَةُand youth روْضَةٌa garden
إذِ العيْشُ غضٌّ والشّبيبَةُ روْضَةٌ
أزاهِرُهاits flowers تُجْنَىare gathered وأنوارُهاand its blossoms تُجْلَىare unveiled
أزاهِرُها تُجْنَى وأنوارُها تُجْلَى
When life was fresh and youth a garden,
When life was tender, youth a garden,
its flowers gathered and its blossoms unveiled.
Its flowers plucked, its lights revealed.
عُهودٌdays مُنىdreams ألْوىswept away بجدّتِهاtheir freshness المَدىtime
عُهودٌ مُنى ألْوى بجدّتِها المَدى
وقلّصَand shrank منْfrom إيناسِهاtheir solace ذلِكَthat الظِّلاّshade
وقلّصَ منْ إيناسِها ذلِكَ الظِّلاّ
Days of dreams, whose freshness time swept away,
Pacts of bliss I yearned for, though time has marched on
and whose comforting shade it drew back.
And the shade diminished their intimacy.
وماand not كانَit was إلاexcept كالخَيالِlike a dream-vision لنائِمٍto a sleeper
وما كانَ إلا كالخَيالِ لنائِمٍ
ألمّvisited briefly وياand oh سُرْعانَhow swiftly ماthat قوّضَstruck الرَّحْلاthe camp
ألمّ ويا سُرْعانَ ما قوّضَ الرَّحْلا
It was nothing but a dream-vision to a sleeper,
It was but like a dream to a slumbering man -
visiting briefly—oh, how swiftly it struck camp!
How swift was its departure!
فَلِلّهِso, by God منْof ضَيْفٍa guest حَميدٍpraiseworthy مُقامُهُhis stay
فَلِلّهِ منْ ضَيْفٍ حَميدٍ مُقامُهُ
لدَيْناwith us فلَوْso if طالَlasted long المُقامُthe stay لَماwould not مُلاّhave been tired of
لدَيْنا فلَوْ طالَ المُقامُ لَما مُلاّ
By God, what a guest, whose stay was welcome
Blessed was that esteemed guest during his stay with us,
with us! Had he stayed longer, we would not have tired of him.
Had he stayed longer, it would not have wearied.
نَوىhe resolved ظَعَناًdeparture قبْلَbefore الوَداعِfarewell مُبادِراًhastening
نَوى ظَعَناً قبْلَ الوَداعِ مُبادِراً
فجادَso may it drench الحَياrain مثْواهُhis abode أنْlest يتَماحَلاit become barren
فجادَ الحَيا مثْواهُ أنْ يتَماحَلا
He resolved to depart, hastening off before farewell;
He intended departure before bidding farewell, hastening away,
so may rain drench his abode, lest it become barren.
So the sands of life became his abode.
وخلّفَناand he left us behind نأتِيwe visit الرّسومَthe ruins فنَشْتَكيand so we complain
وخلّفَنا نأتِي الرّسومَ فنَشْتَكي
إلَيْهاto them وهلْand can تَشْفيheal الرّسومُthe ruins جَوىًheartache كلاّno indeed
إلَيْها وهلْ تَشْفي الرّسومُ جَوىً كلاّ
He left us visiting the ruins and lamenting
He left us resorting to relics, complaining
to them—but can ruins cure heartache? No indeed!
To them - but can relics relieve ardour?
وممّاand among what شَجانيsaddened me أنْthat مرَرْتُI passed بمَكْتَبٍby a school
وممّا شَجاني أنْ مرَرْتُ بمَكْتَبٍ
فهيّجَand so it stirred وجْديmy longing للزّمانِfor the time الذيthat ولّىpassed away
فهيّجَ وجْدي للزّمانِ الذي ولّى
Among the things that saddened me was passing by a school,
What pained me more was passing by a school
which stirred my longing for the time now gone.
That revived my passion for the days now gone.
وكمْand how many a قدَمٍfoot قدْindeed أُقْدِمَتْwas urged forward لغَرامِهاfor its passion
وكمْ قدَمٍ قدْ أُقْدِمَتْ لغَرامِها
ولحظٍand a glance علىtoward تَعْذيبِtormenting مهْجَتِهِhis heart دَلاّpointed
ولحظٍ على تَعْذيبِ مهْجَتِهِ دَلاّ
And many a foot was urged onward by its passion,
How many feet had walked there for love!
and a glance pointed the way to tormenting his heart.
How many a glance had tortured my love-lorn heart!
بعيدٌfar عنِfrom الأبْصارِeyes سامٍlofty مكانُهُits station
بعيدٌ عنِ الأبْصارِ سامٍ مكانُهُ
فللّهِso, by God ماhow أبْهىsplendid وللّهِand by God ماhow أعْلىlofty
فللّهِ ما أبْهى وللّهِ ما أعْلى
Far from sight, lofty is its station;
Far from sights, sublime is its dignity,
by God, how splendid! By God, how lofty!
Glorious is it! Blessed is its loftiness!
خَميلةُa grove of ذِكْرٍremembrance جادَهاwatered it generously واكِفُa shower of الهُدَىguidance
خَميلةُ ذِكْرٍ جادَها واكِفُ الهُدَى
فمِنْthus, of حِكمَةٍwisdom تُرْوَىis related ومِنْand of آيةٍa verse تُتْلَىis recited
فمِنْ حِكمَةٍ تُرْوَى ومِنْ آيةٍ تُتْلَى
A grove of remembrance, watered by a shower of guidance,
A gathering of remembrance it inspires, guidance it calls to,
with wisdom recounted and a verse recited.
Lessons of wisdom it provides, verses of truth it recites.
وقدْand indeed حلّsettled فيهِin it منْamong مَهاwhite antelopes of الإنْسِhumankind فِتيةٌyoung men
وقدْ حلّ فيهِ منْ مَها الإنْسِ فِتيةٌ
أوانِسُtame creatures لاnot يَعْرِفْنَthey know شِيحاًwormwood ولاnor رَمْلاsand
أوانِسُ لا يَعْرِفْنَ شِيحاً ولا رَمْلا
And there have settled youths, white antelopes of humankind,
Choice youths have settled there, intimate friends
tame creatures who know neither wormwood nor sand.
Who know no waning or ebbing in fervour.
تُراعُthey are frightened منَby الوَسْميّthe autumn rain إنْif كانَit is ساقِطاًfalling
تُراعُ منَ الوَسْميّ إنْ كانَ ساقِطاً
علَيْهاupon them وتسْتَجْفيand they find harsh النّسيمَthe breeze إذاwhen اعْتَلاّit grows languid
علَيْها وتسْتَجْفي النّسيمَ إذا اعْتَلاّ
They are frightened by the autumn rain, should it fall
They nurse the rosebush if it falls,
upon them, and deem the breeze harsh even when it is languid.
And draw the breeze if it grows still.
وليْسَand there is not لدَيْهاwith them للعِذارِof cheek-down توقُّعٌany expectation
وليْسَ لدَيْها للعِذارِ توقُّعٌ
فترْهَبُso they would fear يوْماًone day عقْرَباًa scorpion منْهُfrom it أوor صِلاّan asp
فترْهَبُ يوْماً عقْرَباً منْهُ أو صِلاّ
They have no expectation of down upon their cheeks,
They anticipate no harm from fate -
that they should one day fear a scorpion or an asp from it.
Never fearing a day or an hour.
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَكَىweeps منْهُمamong them لَذيغٌone stung لِدرّةٍby a whip
إذا ما بَكَى منْهُم لَذيغٌ لِدرّةٍ
وجادَتْand poured generously بدُرِّwith pearls of الدّمْعِtears مُقْلَتُهُhis eye النّجْلاwide
وجادَتْ بدُرِّ الدّمْعِ مُقْلَتُهُ النّجْلا
When one of them weeps, stung by a whip,
When pearls fall from their eyes for a beloved's pain,
and his wide eye showers pearls of tears,
And their long lashes pour forth the full moon's light,
وسالَand flowed بصَفْحِover the surface of الخدِّthe cheek دُرُّpearls of دُموعِهhis tears
وسالَ بصَفْحِ الخدِّ دُرُّ دُموعِه
رأيْتَyou see شَقيقَthe anemone of الرّوْضِthe garden بالغَيْمِby the cloud قدindeed طُلاّhas been bedewed
رأيْتَ شَقيقَ الرّوْضِ بالغَيْمِ قد طُلاّ
and the pearls of his tears flow across his cheek,
You see the meadow's streams flow with the rain,
you see the garden's anemone bedewed by a cloud.
I stood still, and they hastened at once,
وماand not كانَit was إلاexcept أنthat وقَفْتُI stopped فأسْرَعواthen they hurried
وما كانَ إلا أن وقَفْتُ فأسْرَعوا
يَريشونَthey fletch منْfrom أهْدابِthe lashes of أحْداقِهِمْtheir eyes نَبْلاarrows
يَريشونَ منْ أهْدابِ أحْداقِهِمْ نَبْلا
No sooner had I stopped than they hurried,
To aim the arrows of their glances,
fletching arrows with the lashes of their eyes.
How many blades were drawn! How many swords unsheathed!
وهبّواand they sprang الىtoward أعْطافِهِمْtheir flanks ولِحاظِهمْand their glances
وهبّوا الى أعْطافِهِمْ ولِحاظِهمْ
فكمْso how many a صَعْدَةٍspear هُزّتْwas brandished وكمْand how many a صارِمٍkeen sword سُلاّwas drawn
فكمْ صَعْدَةٍ هُزّتْ وكمْ صارِمٍ سُلاّ
And they sprang into action with their supple forms and glances:
Gently, O people! We are the people of guidance,
how many a spear was brandished, how many a keen sword drawn!
Reciters of God's book - do not forget virtue.
رُوَيْدَكُمُgently, all of you ياO قوْمُpeople إنّاindeed we بَنوsons of الهُدَىguidance
رُوَيْدَكُمُ يا قوْمُ إنّا بَنو الهُدَى
أآلُO people of كِتابِthe Book of اللهِGod لاdo not تنْسُواforget الفَضْلاkindness
أآلُ كِتابِ اللهِ لا تنْسُوا الفَضْلا
Gently, O people! We are sons of guidance.
Our utmost hope is to gain a glance,
O people of God's Book, do not forget kindness.
Our contentment with attaining the bond however little.
قُصارَىthe utmost of مُناناour wishes أنْto نَفوزَwe gain بنَظْرَةٍwith a glance
قُصارَى مُنانا أنْ نَفوزَ بنَظْرَةٍ
ونقْنَعُand we are content منْof نيْلِattaining الوِصالِunion بِماwith what قَلاّis little
ونقْنَعُ منْ نيْلِ الوِصالِ بِما قَلاّ
Our utmost wish is to gain a glance,
To God I complain of the ardour I suffer,
and we are content with little in attaining union.
And the portion of hardship He has apportioned.
الىto اللهِGod أشْكوI complain ماwhat أُلاقِيI endure منَof الجَوىheartache
الى اللهِ أشْكو ما أُلاقِي منَ الجَوى
وبعْضُand some of الذيwhat ألْقاهُI endure it منْof لاعِجٍsearing anguish أجْلاmore apparent
وبعْضُ الذي ألْقاهُ منْ لاعِجٍ أجْلا
To God I complain of the heartache I endure,
O soul! When the days of passion shone for you,
and some of the searing anguish I bear is plainer still.
You said to the visitor, welcome!
وياand oh لكَfor you منْof نفْسٍa soul إذاwhen برَقَتْflashed لَهاbefore it
ويا لكَ منْ نفْسٍ إذا برَقَتْ لَها
عُهودُthe days of الهَوىlove قالَتْit said لوارِدِهto its visitor أهْلاwelcome
عُهودُ الهَوى قالَتْ لوارِدِه أهْلا
And what a soul! When before it flash
From a glance that led my eyes to weep,
the days of love, it says to love's visitor, 'Welcome!'
And thought that guided my heart to love-sickness.
ومِنْand of نظْرَةٍa glance دلّتْled علىto جَفْنِيَmy eyelid البُكاweeping
ومِنْ نظْرَةٍ دلّتْ على جَفْنِيَ البُكا
ومِنْand of خطْرَةٍa passing thought قادَتْled الىto قلْبِيَmy heart الخَبْلاmadness
ومِنْ خطْرَةٍ قادَتْ الى قلْبِيَ الخَبْلا
And what a glance, that led weeping to my eyelid,
O father of Ja'far! You surpassed every teacher,
and what a passing thought, that led madness into my heart!
Your guidance leading your children to the ideal path.
أباO Abu جَعْفَرٍJa'far جارَيْتَyou rivaled كلَّevery معلِّمٍteacher
أبا جَعْفَرٍ جارَيْتَ كلَّ معلِّمٍ
ففُقْتَand so you surpassed بَنيهِhis sons فيin طريقَتِكَyour method المُثْلىexemplary
ففُقْتَ بَنيهِ في طريقَتِكَ المُثْلى
O Abu Ja'far, you rivaled every teacher,
O blessed dwelling! Father of Ja'far made it
and surpassed his sons in your exemplary method.
A home, and it made him also its own.
وياand O حضْرَةًan abode أضْحىcame to be أبوAbu جعفَرٍJa'far بِهاin it
ويا حضْرَةً أضْحى أبو جعفَرٍ بِها
فكانَso he was لَهاfor it أهْلاًworthy وكانتْand it was لهُfor him أهْلاworthy
فكانَ لَها أهْلاً وكانتْ لهُ أهْلا
And O abode where Abu Ja'far has come to dwell:
You remain a refuge for the zealous, and a bounds
he was worthy of it, and it was worthy of him.
Your protection never weakens or crosses.
بَقيتَmay you remain كِناساًa covert للظِّباءِfor gazelles ومَرْبَعاًand a spring pasture
بَقيتَ كِناساً للظِّباءِ ومَرْبَعاً
جَنابُكَyour precinct لاdoes not يشْكوsuffer عَفاءًdesolation ولاnor مَحْلاdrought
جَنابُكَ لا يشْكو عَفاءً ولا مَحْلا
May you remain a covert for gazelles and a spring pasture,
your precinct suffering neither desolation nor drought.
Partial English translation: 52 of 54 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1