وَفِيand in غَياباتِthe hidden depths of أَطْباقِthe layers of الخطوبِcalamities شَجٍone grief-stricken
وَفِي غَياباتِ أَطْباقِ الخطوبِ شَجٍ
بالبَيْنِby separation يَيْأَسُhe despairs أَحياناًat times ويَنْتَظِرُand he waits
بالبَيْنِ يَيْأَسُ أَحياناً ويَنْتَظِرُ
And in the dark depths of layered calamities, one stricken
In the absences of destiny's tribulations
by separation sometimes despairs and sometimes waits.
Sometimes despairing of separation, sometimes hoping
مُظاهِرٌdoubly cloaked بَيْنَbetween لَيْلَيْthe two nights of كُرْبَةٍanguish ودُجىًand darkness
مُظاهِرٌ بَيْنَ لَيْلَيْ كُرْبَةٍ ودُجىً
لاnot يُرْتَجىis hoped for لَهُماfor them both فَجْرٌdawn ولاnor سَحَرُthe predawn hour
لا يُرْتَجى لَهُما فَجْرٌ ولا سَحَرُ
Clad in two nights—one of anguish, one of darkness—
Appearances between two nights of sorrow and gloom
for neither is there hope of dawn or the hour before it.
For which no dawn or daybreak is hoped
قَدْalready أَخْرَسَhas silenced الدهرُtime منهُfrom him مَنْطِقاًspeech هَتَفَتْcried out
قَدْ أَخْرَسَ الدهرُ منهُ مَنْطِقاً هَتَفَتْ
عنهُon his behalf الرَّزاياthe calamities أَلاis there no غادٍmorning traveler فَمُعْتَبِرُand thus one taking heed
عنهُ الرَّزايا أَلا غادٍ فَمُعْتَبِرُ
Time has silenced his voice; calamities have cried
Time has been struck dumb, voices silenced -
in his stead: "Will no morning traveler come and take heed
Oh heedless one, be admonished!
لِمُعْتَلِيfor one lofty in هِمَّةٍaspiration بَيْنَamong النجومِthe stars هَوَتْplunged downward
لِمُعْتَلِي هِمَّةٍ بَيْنَ النجومِ هَوَتْ
بِهِwith him النجومُthe stars بِرُزْءٍwith a calamity مَاno لَهُfor it وَزَرُrefuge
بِهِ النجومُ بِرُزْءٍ مَا لَهُ وَزَرُ
of one whose ambition towered among the stars, brought down
For one aspiring beyond the stars they sank
by the stars in a calamity from which there is no refuge?"
Upon him without burden or consequence
وتِلْكَand those آثارُهُhis traces بالمَشْرِقَيْنِin the two Easts سَناًradiance
وتِلْكَ آثارُهُ بالمَشْرِقَيْنِ سَناً
للعينِfor the eye والعَيْنُand the person himself لاno حَظٌّshare ولاnor أَثَرُtrace
للعينِ والعَيْنُ لا حَظٌّ ولا أَثَرُ
And those are his traces in the two Easts, a radiance
And those are his traces in the two horizons, years
for the eye; yet his person has neither share nor trace.
Visible to the eye, though the eye discerns no trace
حانٍbending tenderly عَلَىover كَرِشٍa brood منثورةٍscattered سُلُبٍbereft
حانٍ عَلَى كَرِشٍ منثورةٍ سُلُبٍ
يكادُalmost منfrom شَجْوِهِنَّtheir grief النَّجْمُthe stars يَنْتَثِرُscatter
يكادُ من شَجْوِهِنَّ النَّجْمُ يَنْتَثِرُ
He bends tenderly over a scattered, bereft brood;
Scattered upon shredded chairs of ruin, despoiled
the stars almost scatter from their grief.
The stars nearly scattered from their lamentation
أُبْرِزْنَthey were brought out منfrom سُتُرِthe veils of الإِكرامِhonor وانْسَدَلَتْand fell down
أُبْرِزْنَ من سُتُرِ الإِكرامِ وانْسَدَلَتْ
منof الهوانِhumiliation عَلَيْناupon us بَعْدَهُafter him سُتُرُveils
من الهوانِ عَلَيْنا بَعْدَهُ سُتُرُ
They were brought out from honor's veils, and there fell
Reveal yourselves from behind the veil of honor and descend
veils of humiliation upon us after him.
The mantle of disgrace upon us after him
يُخْفِيconceals التَّعَفُّفَrestraint from begging مَثْواناour dwelling فلَيْسَso there is no لِذِيfor one possessing
يُخْفِي التَّعَفُّفَ مَثْوانا فلَيْسَ لِذِي
أُنْسٍfriendliness إِلَىtoward وَحْشِناour desolation سَمْعٌhearing ولاnor بَصَرُsight
أُنْسٍ إِلَى وَحْشِنا سَمْعٌ ولا بَصَرُ
Our dwelling conceals our dignified restraint, so no one
Modesty hides our dwelling places, so one with no
of friendly heart has ear or eye for our desolation.
Hearing or sight has access to our desolation
ولاand no يَدٌhand غيرَother than أَيدِيthe hands of الظُّلْمِoppression تَعرِفُناknows us
ولا يَدٌ غيرَ أَيدِي الظُّلْمِ تَعرِفُنا
ولاand not بغيرِby anything other than دُموعِthe tears of العينِthe eye نَنْتَصِرُwe defend ourselves
ولا بغيرِ دُموعِ العينِ نَنْتَصِرُ
And no hand knows us but the hands of oppression,
No hands know us but the hands of injustice
nor have we any defense but the tears of our eyes.
Through no tears but those of our eyes can we prevail
نَرْعىwe graze on الهَشيمَdry stalks ونَمْتَصُّand we suck الثِّمارَthe fruits وَقَدْand already
نَرْعى الهَشيمَ ونَمْتَصُّ الثِّمارَ وَقَدْ
أَظَلَّshaded أَنهارَناour rivers الأَغصانُthe branches والثَّمَرُand the fruit
أَظَلَّ أَنهارَنا الأَغصانُ والثَّمَرُ
We graze on dry stalks and suck at fruit, though once
We graze on debris and nibble fruit though
branches and fruit shaded our rivers.
Our rivers are shaded by branches and fruit
والأَرضُand the earth مَضْجَعُa bed for أَبْشارٍskins مُمَهَّدَةٍprepared
والأَرضُ مَضْجَعُ أَبْشارٍ مُمَهَّدَةٍ
لَهَاfor them الأَرائِكُthe couches فِيin الأَكْنانِsheltered chambers والسُّرُرُand the beds
لَهَا الأَرائِكُ فِي الأَكْنانِ والسُّرُرُ
And earth is the bed of bodies once provided
The earth a banquet hall spread out
with couches in sheltered chambers, and beds.
With couches in its nooks and alcoves
وتحتَand beneath أَجْنَحَةِthe wings of الإِشفاقِcompassion حانِيةًbending tenderly
وتحتَ أَجْنَحَةِ الإِشفاقِ حانِيةً
حُمْرُred الحواصِلِthe crops لاno ماءٌwater ولاnor شَجَرُtrees
حُمْرُ الحواصِلِ لا ماءٌ ولا شَجَرُ
And beneath compassion's tenderly bending wings
Under wings of compassion, the red hills
are red-cropped nestlings—no water and no trees.
Parched with no water or trees
إذَاwhenever تَضَرَّمَhe blazes up بالشَّكْوىwith complaint تَحَلَّلَهُsuffuses him
إذَا تَضَرَّمَ بالشَّكْوى تَحَلَّلَهُ
وَجْهٌa face بماءِwith the water of الحَياءِshame العِدِّinexhaustible يَنْفَجِرُgushes forth
وَجْهٌ بماءِ الحَياءِ العِدِّ يَنْفَجِرُ
Whenever complaint sets him aflame, he is drenched
When it laments its misfortune, a face
by a face gushing with shame's inexhaustible waters.
Flows with the water of diffident tears
وهلand is there بِسَمْعِكَin your hearing يَاO يَحْيَىYahya حَيِيتَmay you live لَناfor us
وهل بِسَمْعِكَ يَا يَحْيَى حَيِيتَ لَنا
عنaway from دَعْوَتيmy plea زَوَرٌaversion أَوْor عَنْكَaway from you ليfor me وَزَرُa refuge
عن دَعْوَتي زَوَرٌ أَوْ عَنْكَ لي وَزَرُ
And does your ear, O Yahya—may you live for us—
And has my call, O Yahya, revived for us
turn from my plea, or have I any refuge apart from you?
False hope, or do I unjustly blame you?
وهَلْand do بِمَدْحِكَby praising you أَسْتَقْضيكَI exact from you عارِفَةًa favor
وهَلْ بِمَدْحِكَ أَسْتَقْضيكَ عارِفَةً
بَلِrather الغَمامُthe raincloud بِطَبْعِby the nature of السَّكْبِoutpouring يَنْهَمِرُpours down
بَلِ الغَمامُ بِطَبْعِ السَّكْبِ يَنْهَمِرُ
And by praising you do I exact a favor from you?
Do I summon you in praise, knowing
Rather, the raincloud pours down: outpouring is its nature.
The clouds pour down without need of beseeching?
وإِنَّand indeed أَوْلىmore fitting بِمُهْدٍfor one offering فيكَabout you مِدْحَتَهُhis praise
وإِنَّ أَوْلى بِمُهْدٍ فيكَ مِدْحَتَهُ
لَوْif جاءَhe came قَبْلُbeforehand مِنَfor التَّقْصِيرِfalling short يَعْتَذِرُhe apologizes
لَوْ جاءَ قَبْلُ مِنَ التَّقْصِيرِ يَعْتَذِرُ
And it would better befit one offering his praise of you,
And worthier of rest in you is he who would apologize
were he first to come apologizing for falling short.
For remissness before offering praise
وأَيْنَand where نَظميmy verse ونَثْرِيand my prose منcompared with حُلىthe adornments of مَلِكٍa king
وأَيْنَ نَظمي ونَثْرِي من حُلى مَلِكٍ
تُتْلىare recited بِمَفْخَرِهِin celebration of his glory الآياتُthe verses والسُّوَرُand the surahs
تُتْلى بِمَفْخَرِهِ الآياتُ والسُّوَرُ
And what are my verse and prose beside the adornments of a king
Where are my poems and prose amidst the adornments of a king
for whose glory the verses and surahs are recited?
Recited in his glory beside verses and surahs?
وكيفَand how يَبْلُغcan reach سَبْقِيmy racing ahead فِيin مَدَائِحِهِpraises of him
وكيفَ يَبْلُغ سَبْقِي فِي مَدَائِحِهِ
مَدىًa reach تقاصَرَfell short عنهُof it الجِنُّthe jinn والبَشَرُand humankind
مَدىً تقاصَرَ عنهُ الجِنُّ والبَشَرُ
And how can my racing ahead in his praise attain
How can my compositions reach the extent
a reach that jinn and humankind have fallen short of?
Beyond which jinn and mankind fall short in his praise?
لِيَهْنِكَmay it gladden you الفِطْرُEid al-Fitr والأَعيادُand the feasts تتبعُهُfollow it
لِيَهْنِكَ الفِطْرُ والأَعيادُ تتبعُهُ
فِيin عِزِّthe glory of مُلْكِكَyour reign مَاno فِيin صفوِهِits clarity كَدَرُmurk
فِي عِزِّ مُلْكِكَ مَا فِي صفوِهِ كَدَرُ
May Eid al-Fitr gladden you, and the feasts that follow it,
May his festivals and feasts follow him to the glory
in your reign's glory, with no murk to mar its clarity.
Of his reign without discord marring their joy
والنَّصرُand victory مُتَّصِلٌunbroken والفَتْحُand conquest مُقْتَبَلٌforthcoming
والنَّصرُ مُتَّصِلٌ والفَتْحُ مُقْتَبَلٌ
سارٍtraveling by night فَمُدَّلِجٌthen traveling before dawn غادٍsetting out in the morning فَمُبْتَكِرُthen setting out early
سارٍ فَمُدَّلِجٌ غادٍ فَمُبْتَكِرُ
And victory is unbroken, conquest forthcoming,
Victory unbroken, opening triumphantly
traveling by night, on before dawn; setting out in the morning, at its earliest.
One conquering, one emerging to vanquish anew
وَقَدْand indeed تسابَقَتِhave raced البُشْرَىglad tidings إِلَيْكَto you بِماwith that which
وَقَدْ تسابَقَتِ البُشْرَى إِلَيْكَ بِما
بِهِthrough it توالَتْcame in succession إِلَىto أَعادائِكَyour enemies النُّذُرُwarnings
بِهِ توالَتْ إِلَى أَعادائِكَ النُّذُرُ
And glad tidings have raced to you with that
And good tidings raced to bring you news
which has brought warning after warning to your enemies.
Portending endless woes for your enemies
فالْبَسْso don ثيابَthe robes of ثَناءٍpraise حَلْيُthe adornment of عاتِقِهاtheir shoulder
فالْبَسْ ثيابَ ثَناءٍ حَلْيُ عاتِقِها
سيفٌa sword عَلَىon الثَّغْرِthe frontier لاnot يُبْقِيspares ولاnor يَذَرُleaves
سيفٌ عَلَى الثَّغْرِ لا يُبْقِي ولا يَذَرُ
So don robes of praise, whose shoulder's adornment
So don on the raiment of praise, its collar a sword
is a sword upon the frontier, sparing and leaving nothing.
At the ready, sparing and smiting without distinction
لعلَّناmay we نَرِدُcome to drink at الماءَthe water الَّذِيwhich صَدَرَتْdeparted
لعلَّنا نَرِدُ الماءَ الَّذِي صَدَرَتْ
عنهُfrom it الحوائِمُthe thirsty circling creatures وِرْداًa coming to drink مَاno لَهُfor it صَدَرُdeparture
عنهُ الحوائِمُ وِرْداً مَا لَهُ صَدَرُ
May we reach the water from which have departed
That we may regain the water that gushed forth
the circling thirsty creatures, and drink there never to depart.
In abundance, inexhaustible for all
وتَنْجَلِيand clears ظُلُماتُthe darknesses of الخطْبِcalamity عنfrom أُمَمٍpeoples
وتَنْجَلِي ظُلُماتُ الخطْبِ عن أُمَمٍ
لاnot الشَّمْسُthe sun آفِلَةٌsetting عنهاfrom them ولاnor القَمَرُthe moon
لا الشَّمْسُ آفِلَةٌ عنها ولا القَمَرُ
And may calamity's darkness lift from peoples
And the gloom of disasters lifts from peoples
for whom neither the sun nor the moon sets,
Eclipsed neither by fading sun nor waning moon
بأَوْجُهِthrough the faces of الفاطِمِيِّينَthe Fatimids الَّتِيwhich شَهِدَتْtestified
بأَوْجُهِ الفاطِمِيِّينَ الَّتِي شَهِدَتْ
شمسُthe sun of الضُّحىmidmorning أَنَّهاthat they are فِيon وجهِهاher face غُرَرُwhite forehead blazes
شمسُ الضُّحى أَنَّها فِي وجهِها غُرَرُ
through the faces of the Fatimids, which
In the faces of the Fatimids, which the sun at dawn witnessed
the midmorning sun has testified are bright blazes upon her face.
Were mysteries beyond all creation's ken
Sol 6.1