أإنْis it because بَكَتْwept ورقاءُa gray dove فيon غُضْنِa bough of بانْa bān tree (moringa)
أإنْ بَكَتْ ورقاءُ في غُضْنِ بانْ
تصَدّعتْshattered منكin you حصاةُthe stone of الجَنانْthe heart
تصَدّعتْ منك حصاةُ الجَنانْ
Is it because a gray dove wept on a bān-tree bough
If a dove weeps upon the branch of a ban tree,
that the stone of your heart shattered,
Does the firm core of your heart shatter?
وأذكرَتْهُand she reminded it منof; from زمانِthe days of الصّباyouth
وأذكرَتْهُ من زمانِ الصّبا
طيبَthe sweetness of المغانيthe familiar haunts والغوانيand the lovely women الحسانbeautiful
طيبَ المغاني والغواني الحسان
and she recalled to it, from the days of youth,
And reminds him of the days of youth,
the sweetness of familiar haunts and beautiful women?
Of the sweet dwellings and the beautiful, alluring women.
كيفَhow رَمَتْshe hurled بالنّارِwith fire أحشاءَهُhis innards
كيفَ رَمَتْ بالنّارِ أحشاءَهُ
ذاتُshe who has هديلٍa cooing voice فيin رياضِthe meadows of الجِنَانparadise; gardens
ذاتُ هديلٍ في رياضِ الجِنَان
How did she hurl fire into his innards—
How did she cast fire into his entrails,
she of the cooing voice, in the meadows of paradise?
That cooing dove in the gardens of Paradise?
يُرَنّحُsets swaying الغصْنَthe bough نسيمٌa breeze بهاamong them
يُرَنّحُ الغصْنَ نسيمٌ بها
مُعَانقٌembracing بينamong الغصونthe branches اللّدانsupple
مُعَانقٌ بين الغصون اللّدان
A breeze there sets the bough swaying,
A breeze makes the branch sway with her,
embracing amid the supple branches.
Embracing among the supple, tender twigs.
ومقلتاهاand her two eyes لوif بكتْshe wept عنهماfrom them both
ومقلتاها لو بكتْ عنهما
فاللؤلؤthen the pearl الرّطبُmoist لهit has مقلتانtwo eyes
فاللؤلؤ الرّطبُ له مقلتان
And her two eyes, if she should weep from them—
And her two eyes, had she wept from them,
the moist pearl would then have two eyes.
Moist pearls would serve as her eyes.
ماnot ذاكthat إلاexcept لنوىbecause of separation غربةٍexile
ما ذاك إلا لنوى غربةٍ
قساwas harsh عليهاto her الدهرُtime فيهاin it ولانand was gentle
قسا عليها الدهرُ فيها ولان
All this is only for the separation of exile,
That is only due to the distance of exile,
in which time has been harsh to her and gentle.
In which fate was harsh to her, then softened.
حمامةَO dove of الأيكthe thicket أبينيexplain clearly لناto us
حمامةَ الأيك أبيني لنا
منfrom أينwhere للعجماءِfor the speechless creature نُطقُthe speech of البيانeloquence
من أين للعجماءِ نُطقُ البيان
Dove of the thicket, explain clearly to us
O dove of the thicket, clarify for us,
how a speechless creature comes by eloquent speech.
From where does a mute creature possess eloquent speech?
هلhas? خانكِbetrayed you المخزونُthe stored-up reserve منof دمعَةٍa tear
هل خانكِ المخزونُ من دمعَةٍ
بكىwept بهاwith it عنكon your behalf فمنfor whoever خانbetrayed هانwas abased
بكى بها عنك فمن خان هان
Has your hidden store of tears betrayed you,
Did your hidden tear betray you,
weeping with one on your behalf? Whoever betrays is abased.
Weeping it for you? For whoever betrays is disgraced.
ياO ليلةًnight عَنّتْappeared لِعَينَيto the two eyes of شجٍa grieving man
يا ليلةً عَنّتْ لِعَينَي شجٍ
للدمعof tears ماwhat lies بينهماbetween them both لجّتانtwo deep seas
للدمع ما بينهما لجّتان
O night that appeared to a grieving man's two eyes,
O night that appeared before the eyes of a sorrowful man,
between which lie two deep seas of tears!
While between them flow two gulfs of tears.
سوداءُblack تُخفيshe conceals بينwithin أحشائِهاher innards
سوداءُ تُخفي بين أحشائِها
منfrom فَلَقِthe breaking of الإصباحdawn طفلاًa child هِجانpure-white
من فَلَقِ الإصباح طفلاً هِجان
Black, she conceals within her innards
A black night that conceals within its entrails,
a pure-white child of the breaking dawn.
A pure, white child born from the break of dawn.
كأنّماas though قرطُthe earring of الثريّاthe Pleiades لَهُit has
كأنّما قرطُ الثريّا لَهُ
فيin أُذْنِهاher ear خفقُthe fluttering of فؤادِthe heart of الجبانthe coward
في أُذْنِها خفقُ فؤادِ الجبان
As though the Pleiades' earring had,
As if the earring of the Pleiades for it,
in her ear, the flutter of a coward's heart.
In its ear, is like the pounding heart of a coward.
كأنّماas though فوقَabove قذالِthe nape of الدّجىdarkness
كأنّما فوقَ قذالِ الدّجى
لجامُthe bridle of طِرْفٍa steed ماnot لهit has منany عنانreins
لجامُ طِرْفٍ ما له من عنان
As though above the nape of darkness
As if upon the nape of the darkness,
were the bridle of a steed with no reins.
Is the bridle of a steed that has no reins.
كأنّماas though الإظلامdarkness بحرٌa sea طماswelled; overflowed
كأنّما الإظلام بحرٌ طما
والشرقُand the east والغربُand the west لهfor it ساحلانtwo shores
والشرقُ والغربُ له ساحلان
As though darkness were a swelling sea,
As if the darkness is a surging sea,
with east and west its two shores.
And the east and west are its two shores.
كأنّماas though الخضراءُthe green sky منfrom زُهرِهاits bright stars
كأنّما الخضراءُ من زُهرِها
روضةa meadow خرقٍa vast wilderness نورهاits blossoms أقحوانdaisies
روضة خرقٍ نورها أقحوان
As though the green sky, with its bright stars,
As if the green heavens, with their shining stars,
were a meadow on a vast plain, its blossoms daisies.
Are a vast meadow whose blossoms are chamomiles.
كأنّماas though النّسرانthe two Eagle stars قدhad حَلّقاthey both soared
كأنّما النّسران قد حَلّقا
كيso that يُبْصِرَاthey both might see حرْباًa war تُثيرُstirring up العُثَانsmoke
كي يُبْصِرَا حرْباً تُثيرُ العُثَان
As though the two Eagles had soared aloft
As if the two Eagles have soared,
to behold a war that raises smoke.
So they might behold a war stirring up dust.
كأنّماas though انقضّاthey both swooped وقدand had آنساthey both glimpsed
كأنّما انقضّا وقد آنسا
مصارعَthe death-sites of القتلىthe slain التيwhich ينعيانthey both lament
مصارعَ القتلى التي ينعيان
As though they had swooped, having glimpsed
As if they have swooped down, having sensed
the places where the slain fell, which they lament.
The battlegrounds of the slain whose death they mourn.
كأنّماas though الجوزاءُOrion مختالةٌstrutting proudly
كأنّما الجوزاءُ مختالةٌ
تسحبُshe drags فضلاًan extra fold منfrom رداءthe cloak of العنانthe clouds
تسحبُ فضلاً من رداء العنان
As though Orion strutted proudly,
As if Orion is strutting proudly,
trailing the extra folds of the clouds' cloak.
Dragging the trailing hem of the sky's cloak.
كأنّهاas though she راقصةٌa dancer صَوّبَتْlowered herself
كأنّها راقصةٌ صَوّبَتْ
وزاحمَand crowded الغربَthe west بهاwith her منكبانtwo shoulders
وزاحمَ الغربَ بها منكبان
As though she were a dancer lowering herself,
As if she is a dancer who has dipped down,
her two shoulders crowding the west.
Her two shoulders crowding the western horizon.
كأنّماas though شُدّتْshe was girdled نطاقاًwith a belt فماso not
كأنّما شُدّتْ نطاقاً فما
تبدوappear لهاof hers تحتَbeneath ثيابٍclothes يدانtwo hands
تبدو لها تحتَ ثيابٍ يدان
As though she had been tightly girdled, so that
As if she is bound tightly with a girdle, so that
neither of her hands shows beneath her clothes.
No hands appear for her beneath her garments.
كأنّماas though الشهبُthe stars الّتيwhich غَرّبَتْset in the west
كأنّما الشهبُ الّتي غَرّبَتْ
شهبُgray ones خيولٍhorses فيin استباقِracing for الرّهانthe stakes
شهبُ خيولٍ في استباقِ الرّهان
As though the stars that have set
As if the shooting stars that have set in the west,
were gray horses racing for the stakes.
Are the white blazes of horses racing for the prize.
كأنماas though الصّبحُdawn لهit has راحةٌa palm
كأنما الصّبحُ له راحةٌ
تلقطpicks up فيacross الآفاقthe horizons منهاfrom them جمانpearls
تلقط في الآفاق منها جمان
As though dawn had a palm
As if the morning has a palm,
that plucked pearls from them across the horizons.
Gathering pearls from the horizons.
نَكّبْتُI turned aside عنfrom ذِكْرِmentioning الهوىlove والمهاand the oryx (beautiful women)
نَكّبْتُ عن ذِكْرِ الهوى والمها
ونفيهاand renouncing them للشيخِfor the old man غيرother than الهوانdisgrace
ونفيها للشيخِ غير الهوان
I have turned aside from speaking of love and the oryx,
I turned away from the mention of passion and the beautiful oryxes,
and renouncing them brings an old man no disgrace.
For an old man to banish them is not a humiliation.
واهاًah! لأيّامِfor the days of الشبابِyouth الذيwhich
واهاً لأيّامِ الشبابِ الذي
ظلّcontinued بهin it يحلمdreaming حتىeven اللّسانthe tongue
ظلّ به يحلم حتى اللّسان
Ah, for the days of youth, in which
Ah, alas for the days of youth, which
even the tongue went on dreaming!
Even the tongue continued to dream of!
سلنيask me عنabout الدّنْياthe world فعنديfor I have لهاconcerning it
سلني عن الدّنْيا فعندي لها
فيin كلّevery فنّfield خَبَرٌinformation by report أوor عيَانdirect observation
في كلّ فنّ خَبَرٌ أو عيَان
Ask me about the world: concerning it I have,
Ask me about the world, for I possess concerning it
in every field, knowledge by report or firsthand sight.
In every art, a report or an eyewitness account.
فماfor no علىon الأرضthe earth عليمٌone knowledgeable بماof what
فما على الأرض عليمٌ بما
تجتمعgather الشهبُthe stars لهfor it فيin القرانconjunction
تجتمع الشهبُ له في القران
For no one on earth knows the purpose
For there is no one on earth knowledgeable of what
for which the stars gather in conjunction.
The stars gather for in their conjunction,
ولاnor مكانٌa place تتجارىrace one another بهin it
ولا مكانٌ تتجارى به
خيلُthe steeds of القوافيrhymes غيرُother than هذاthis المكانplace
خيلُ القوافي غيرُ هذا المكان
Nor is there a place where
And there is no place where
the steeds of rhyme race, other than this place.
The horses of rhymes race, other than this place.
ولاnor ندىًgenerosity فيهin it ضروبُkinds of الغنىwealth
ولا ندىً فيه ضروبُ الغنى
إلاexcept ندىthe generosity of هذاthis مليكِsovereign of الزّمانthe age
إلا ندى هذا مليكِ الزّمان
Nor does generosity embrace every kind of wealth
And there is no generosity containing all kinds of wealth,
save that of this sovereign of the age.
Except the generosity of this king of the age.
هذاthis is عليٌّAli نجلson of يحيىYahya الّذيwho
هذا عليٌّ نجل يحيى الّذي
فيin قَصْدهِseeking him نيلُattaining المنىwishes والأمانand safety
في قَصْدهِ نيلُ المنى والأمان
This is Ali, son of Yahya,
This is Ali, the son of Yahya, who,
by seeking whom desires and safety are attained.
In seeking him, lies the attainment of desires and safety.
هذاthis is الذيhe who فيin الملكkingship أضحىhas come to be لهhis
هذا الذي في الملك أضحى له
عِرْضٌhonor مصونٌsafeguarded ونوالٌand bounty مُهَانheld cheap; freely spent
عِرْضٌ مصونٌ ونوالٌ مُهَان
This is he who, in kingship, has come to possess
This is the one who in kingship has achieved
honor kept inviolate and bounty freely lavished.
A preserved honor and wealth generously bestowed.
هذاthis is الذيhe who شامَunsheathed لنصرِto champion الهُدىguidance
هذا الذي شامَ لنصرِ الهُدى
منْfrom غيرِwithout شمّsmelling; perhaps 'sheathing' here كلَّevery عَضْبٍsharp sword يمانYemeni
منْ غيرِ شمّ كلَّ عَضْبٍ يمان
This is he who, to champion guidance, drew
This is the one who drew, to support guidance,
every sharp Yemeni sword, never sheathing it.
Without ever sheathing it, every sharp Yemeni sword.
مَنْhe who بِشرُهُhis cheerful face تَرْجَمَinterpreted عنabout جودهhis generosity
مَنْ بِشرُهُ تَرْجَمَ عن جوده
والجودُand generosity فيin البشرcheerfulness لهhas for itself ترجمانan interpreter
والجودُ في البشر له ترجمان
He whose cheerful face speaks for his generosity,
He whose cheerful face translates his generosity,
and whose generosity has an interpreter in cheerfulness.
And generosity in his cheerful face finds its translator.
منhe who تلزمُbinds الناسَthe people لهtoward him طاعةٌobedience
من تلزمُ الناسَ له طاعةٌ
قدindeed أمرَcommanded اللهُGod بهاconcerning it فيin القُرَانthe Qur'an
قد أمرَ اللهُ بها في القُرَان
He to whom the people owe obedience,
He to whom the people owe an obedience
which God has indeed commanded in the Qur'an.
That God has commanded in the Quran.
فَمَشْرِقَاthus the two easts of الأرضِthe earth علىbecause of فضلهhis bounty
فَمَشْرِقَا الأرضِ على فضله
لمغربيهاof its two wests أبداًforever حاسدانboth envious
لمغربيها أبداً حاسدان
Thus the earth's two easts, because of his bounty,
Thus, the two easts of the earth, for his bounty,
forever envy its two wests.
Are forever envious of its two wests.
القاتلُthe slayer of الفقرَpoverty بسيفِwith the sword of الغنىwealth
القاتلُ الفقرَ بسيفِ الغنى
بحيثُwhere حدّاهُits two edges لهhis راحتانtwo palms
بحيثُ حدّاهُ له راحتان
He slays poverty with the sword of wealth,
The slayer of poverty with the sword of wealth,
whose two edges are his two palms.
Where its two edges are his own two palms.
والثابتُand steadfast in الحلمِforbearance إذاwhen ماemphatic particle هَفَتْfaltered
والثابتُ الحلمِ إذا ما هَفَتْ
لهbefore him منof الحلمforbearance هضابُthe highlands of الرّعانmountain spurs
له من الحلم هضابُ الرّعان
And remains steadfast in forbearance, even when
And the firm in forbearance, whenever others slip,
the craggy heights of forbearance falter before him.
Possessing towering mountains of forbearance.
لاnot يَعْرِضُinterferes المطلُdelay لانجازهwith his fulfillment of promises
لا يَعْرِضُ المطلُ لانجازه
ولاnor يشينblemishes المنّbeneficence منهfrom him امتنانreproaching others with favors
ولا يشين المنّ منه امتنان
No procrastination hinders his fulfillment of promises,
Procrastination never obstructs his fulfillment of promises,
nor do reminders of favors mar his giving.
Nor does a boastful reminder mar his giving.
تمنّwish ماwhatever شئتَyou please علىfrom فضلهhis bounty
تمنّ ما شئتَ على فضله
منof الأمانيwishes وعليهand upon him rests الضمانthe guarantee
من الأماني وعليه الضمان
Wish from his bounty whatever you please
Wish whatever you desire from his bounty,
from among your wishes; he guarantees them.
Of aspirations, and the guarantee is upon him.
مُملَّكٌinvested with sovereignty تخفقُflutter راياتهhis banners
مُملَّكٌ تخفقُ راياته
فيتّقِيهِso fears him مّنْwhoever حَوَىencompass الخافقانthe two horizons
فيتّقِيهِ مّنْ حَوَى الخافقان
A sovereign whose banners flutter,
A crowned king whose banners flutter,
so all whom the two horizons encompass fear him.
So whoever is contained within the two horizons fears him.
لقاؤهencountering him مُرْدٍfatal لأقرانهto his peers
لقاؤه مُرْدٍ لأقرانه
إذاwhen تلاقتْmeet حلقاتthe rings of البطانsaddle-girths
إذا تلاقتْ حلقات البطان
Encountering him is death to his rivals
Meeting him is fatal to his adversaries,
when the rings of saddle-girths meet.
When the rings of the saddle-girths meet in battle.
يبنيhe builds بركضِby the galloping of الجردlean steeds منfrom أرضهhis earth
يبني بركضِ الجرد من أرضه
سماءَa sky of نقعdust يومَon the day of حَرْبٍwar عوانrenewed
سماءَ نقع يومَ حَرْبٍ عوان
With the gallop of lean steeds he builds from his earth
By the galloping of short-haired steeds from his land, he builds
a sky of dust on a day of renewed war.
A sky of dust on the day of a fierce war.
يكرّhe charges كاللّيْثِlike a lion مُبيداًannihilating إذاwhen
يكرّ كاللّيْثِ مُبيداً إذا
ماemphatic particle عَرّدَfled النكسُthe craven وَخامَand recoiled الهدانthe fainthearted
ما عَرّدَ النكسُ وَخامَ الهدان
He charges like a lion, annihilating, when
He attacks like an annihilating lion, when
the craven flees and the fainthearted recoils.
The weak flee and the cowardly shrink back.
ضرْباًstriking وطعناًand thrusting بشباwith the sharp edges of مُنْصُلٍa sword-blade
ضرْباً وطعناً بشبا مُنْصُلٍ
كأنّهas though it لفظٌan utterance لهit has معنيانtwo meanings
كأنّه لفظٌ له معنيان
Striking and thrusting with a sword's sharp edges,
Striking and thrusting with the edge of a blade,
as though it were an utterance with two meanings.
As if it were a single word possessing two meanings.
نورُa light of هُدىًguidance فيin الصّدرthe forefront; place of honor منof دستهhis dais
نورُ هُدىً في الصّدر من دسته
ونارُand a fire of بأسٍvalor فوْقupon ظهرthe back of الحصانthe horse
ونارُ بأسٍ فوْق ظهر الحصان
A light of guidance at the forefront of his dais,
A light of guidance at the fore of his council,
and a fire of valor upon his horse's back.
And a fire of valor upon the back of his horse.
لاdo not تخشَfear منfrom كيدthe plotting of عدوّthe enemy of الهدىguidance
لا تخشَ من كيد عدوّ الهدى
إنّindeed عليّاًAli لَعَلَيْهِsurely against him مُعَانaided
إنّ عليّاً لَعَلَيْهِ مُعَان
Fear no plotting by the enemy of guidance:
Do not fear the deceit of the enemy of guidance,
Ali is surely aided against him.
For truly, Ali is aided against him by God.
عانىhe endured خداعَthe stratagems of الحربِwar طفلاًas a child فماso not
عانى خداعَ الحربِ طفلاً فما
يُقعْقعُrattles; intimidates القِرْنَthe adversary لهat him بالشنانwith worn waterskins
يُقعْقعُ القِرْنَ له بالشنان
He faced war's stratagems as a child, so no
He endured the deceits of war as a child, so
foe can cow him by rattling worn-out waterskins.
No adversary can frighten him by rattling dried skins.
حَمىhe protected حِمىthe sanctuary of الإسلامِIslam منfrom ضَيمهِhis oppression
حَمى حِمى الإسلامِ من ضَيمهِ
واستنصرَand sought victory الحقَّthe truth بهthrough him واستعانand sought aid
واستنصرَ الحقَّ به واستعان
He guarded Islam's sanctuary from his oppression,
He protected the sanctuary of Islam from its oppression,
and Truth sought victory through him and called on his aid.
And the truth sought victory and help through him.
يقدّمُhe leads الأبطالthe heroes فيin جحفلٍa mighty host
يقدّمُ الأبطال في جحفلٍ
والطيرُand the birds والوحشُand the beasts لهfor him جحفلانtwo mighty hosts
والطيرُ والوحشُ له جحفلان
He leads the heroes in a mighty host,
He leads the heroes in a massive army,
and birds and beasts form two hosts for him,
While the birds and the wild beasts form two armies for him.
معتادةًaccustomed to أكْلَeating لحومthe flesh of العدىthe foes
معتادةً أكْلَ لحوم العدى
غدتthey went forth at dawn خماصاًhungry ثمthen راحتreturned at dusk بطانfull-bellied
غدت خماصاً ثم راحت بطان
accustomed to eating the flesh of foes:
Accustomed to eating the flesh of the enemies,
they set out hungry at dawn and return sated at dusk.
They set out hungry and return with full bellies.
منof كلّevery ذئبٍwolf أوor عُقابٍeagle لهfor it
من كلّ ذئبٍ أو عُقابٍ له
كلَّat every مكرٍّcharge فيهin it شلوٌa torn limb خِوَانa dining-table
كلَّ مكرٍّ فيه شلوٌ خِوَان
Each wolf or eagle has,
From every wolf or eagle, which has
at every charge, a torn limb for a dining-table.
At every charge, a torn limb as a feast.
منamong كلّevery مرهوبdreaded in الشّذاferocity مُقدمٍbold warrior
من كلّ مرهوب الشّذا مُقدمٍ
بَرْدٌcoolness عليهto him حرُّthe heat of لَذْعِthe sting of الطّعانspear-thrusts
بَرْدٌ عليه حرُّ لَذْعِ الطّعان
Among them is every bold warrior of dreaded ferocity,
From every dreaded, fierce warrior, advancing boldly,
to whom the searing sting of spear-thrusts is coolness.
To whom the scorching heat of spear-thrusts feels cool.
يَغْشَىplunges into بِهِwith him الطِّرْفُthe steed صدورَthe points of القناthe spears
يَغْشَى بِهِ الطِّرْفُ صدورَ القنا
فهوso it is سليمُunharmed in الرّدْفِthe rump داميbloodied in اللَّبَانthe breast
فهو سليمُ الرّدْفِ دامي اللَّبَان
The steed plunges with him into the spearheads,
His steed plunges him into the chests of the spears,
its rump unscathed, its breast bloodied,
So its hindquarters remain safe while its chest is bloodied.
إذاwhen التقىmeet الجمعانِthe two armies فيin مأزِقٍa constricted place
إذا التقى الجمعانِ في مأزِقٍ
وَفَلّand blunted بالطّعْنby thrusting سنانٌa spearpoint سنانa spearpoint
وَفَلّ بالطّعْن سنانٌ سنان
when the two armies meet in close quarters,
When the two hosts clash in a narrow strait,
and, in the thrusting, spearpoint blunts spearpoint.
And one spearhead shatters another through thrusting.
ياO منyou who يُفيضُpour forth العرفَbeneficence منfrom راحةٍa palm
يا من يُفيضُ العرفَ من راحةٍ
مفاتحُthe keys to الأرزاقِsustenance منهاfrom it بنانfingers
مفاتحُ الأرزاقِ منها بنان
O you who pour bounty from a palm
O you who pour forth kindness from a palm,
whose fingers are the keys to sustenance,
Whose fingertips are the keys to livelihoods!
بقيتَmay you endure للجودِfor generosity حليفَan ally of العُلىglory
بقيتَ للجودِ حليفَ العُلى
فأنْتَfor you والجودُand generosity رضيعاare two sucklings of لبانmilk
فأنْتَ والجودُ رضيعا لبان
may you endure for generosity, an ally of glory;
May you remain for generosity an ally of eminence,
for you and generosity are sucklings of one milk.
For you and generosity are brothers nursing from the same breast.
وإنand though تلاكَfollows you العيدُthe festival فيin بهجَةٍsplendor
وإن تلاكَ العيدُ في بهجَةٍ
فأنْتَfor you are عيدٌa festival أوّلٌfirst وهوand it is ثانsecond
فأنْتَ عيدٌ أوّلٌ وهو ثان
And though the festival follows you in splendor,
And if the festival follows you in its joy,
you are the first festival, and it the second.
Then you are the first festival, and it is the second.
Sol 6.1