ماnot أُغْمِدَwas sheathed العَضْبُthe keen sword حتّىuntil جُرِّدَwas unsheathed الذكرُthe hard-tempered sword
ما أُغْمِدَ العَضْبُ حتّى جُرِّدَ الذكرُ
ولاnor اختفَىdisappeared قَمَرٌa moon حتىuntil بداappeared قَمَرُa moon
ولا اختفَى قَمَرٌ حتى بدا قَمَرُ
The keen blade was not sheathed until the hard-tempered blade was drawn.
Nor did one moon disappear before another moon appeared.
قدindeed ماتَdied يحيَىYahya فماتَso died الناسُthe people كُلّهُمُall of them
قد ماتَ يحيَى فماتَ الناسُ كُلّهُمُ
حتىuntil إذاwhen ماemphatic particle عليٌّAli جاءهمhe came to them نُشِرواthey were resurrected
حتى إذا ما عليٌّ جاءهم نُشِروا
Yahya died, and all the people died,
until, when Ali came to them, they were raised to life.
إنْif يُبْعَثُواthey are resurrected بسُرورٍwith joy مِنْfrom تملُّكهِhis accession
إنْ يُبْعَثُوا بسُرورٍ مِنْ تملُّكهِ
فَمنْthen from مَنيّةthe death of يحيَىYahya بالأسَىin grief قُبِرواthey were buried
فَمنْ مَنيّة يحيَى بالأسَى قُبِروا
If joy at his accession brings them back to life,
Yahya's death had buried them in grief.
أَوفىarrived عليٌّAli فَسِنُّso the tooth of المَلكِkingship ضاحِكَةٌsmiling
أَوفى عليٌّ فَسِنُّ المَلكِ ضاحِكَةٌ
وعينُهُand his eye منbecause of أبيهhis father دَمْعُهاits tears هَمِرُpouring
وعينُهُ من أبيه دَمْعُها هَمِرُ
Ali arrived, and kingship's teeth shone in a smile,
while his eye pours tears for his father.
ياO يَومَday وَلَّىhe departed عنِfrom الدُّنياthe world بِهِon it طُمِسَتْwere obliterated
يا يَومَ وَلَّى عنِ الدُّنيا بِهِ طُمِسَتْ
بِظُلمَةِby the darkness of الرزءِbereavement مِنamong أَنواركَyour lights الغُررَthe brightest
بِظُلمَةِ الرزءِ مِن أَنواركَ الغُررَ
O day when he left this world, on which were blotted out
by bereavement's darkness the brightest of your lights!
ومادَتِand swayed الأَرضُthe earth منbecause of فُقدانِهاits loss of جَبلاًa mountain
ومادَتِ الأَرضُ من فُقدانِها جَبلاً
ينابِعُsprings الجودِgenerosity منfrom سفحَيهِits two slopes تَنفَجِرُburst forth
ينابِعُ الجودِ من سفحَيهِ تَنفَجِرُ
The earth swayed at losing a mountain
from whose two slopes the springs of bounty burst.
لَمdid not تُغْنِavail عَنهُhim غِياضٌthickets مِنof قَناًlances وظُبىًand sword-edges
لَم تُغْنِ عَنهُ غِياضٌ مِن قَناً وظُبىً
حمرُred الحماليقthe inner eyelids فيهاwithin them أُسْدُهاtheir lions الهُصُرُthe mighty
حمرُ الحماليق فيها أُسْدُها الهُصُرُ
Groves of lances and sword-edges could not save him;
within them, their mighty lions were red about the eyes.
يَرَونَthey see زُرْقَsteel-blue ذِئابٍwolves ماnot ثَعالِبهاtheir foxes (spear-tenons)
يَرَونَ زُرْقَ ذِئابٍ ما ثَعالِبها
إلَّاexcept عَوامِلُupper spear-shafts فيin أيمانهاtheir right hands سُمُرُdark-brown
إلَّا عَوامِلُ في أيمانها سُمُرُ
They see steel-blue wolves, whose foxes
are only dark spear-shafts in their right hands.
ويَترُكونَand they leave إِذاwhen جَيشَاthe two armies of الوَغىbattle انتَظَماform ranks
ويَترُكونَ إِذا جَيشَا الوَغى انتَظَما
سَلخاًa shed skin كَساهhad clothed it حديداًin iron حَيّةٌa serpent ذَكرُmale
سَلخاً كَساه حديداً حَيّةٌ ذَكرُ
And when battle's two armies form their ranks, they leave
a shed skin that a male serpent had clad in iron:
وديعةُa deposit of السّيلِthe torrent فيon البطحاءِthe gravel plain غَادرهاleft it behind
وديعةُ السّيلِ في البطحاءِ غَادرها
تقريfeed الرِّماحِthe spears بهاwith it الآصالُlate afternoons والبكرُand early mornings
تقري الرِّماحِ بها الآصالُ والبكرُ
a torrent's deposit, left upon the gravel plain,
with which late afternoons and mornings feast the spears.
لَمdid not يُغْنِيَاavail (the two) عَنهُhim لاneither عِزٌّmight يُدِلُّhe exults بِهِin it
لَم يُغْنِيَا عَنهُ لا عِزٌّ يُدِلُّ بِهِ
مَنone who كانَwas بِالكِبرِwith pride فيin عِرنِينِهِhis nose أَشَرُinsolent exultation
مَن كانَ بِالكِبرِ في عِرنِينِهِ أَشَرُ
Neither availed him: not might, in which exults
one whose nose bears the insolence of pride,
ولاnor مهابَةُthe awe of محجوبٍa veiled ruler تَبَرَّجَهاhe displayed it
ولا مهابَةُ محجوبٍ تَبَرَّجَها
كَأنّهُas though he عِندَbefore أبصارِthe eyes of الورىmankind خَفَرُmodesty
كَأنّهُ عِندَ أبصارِ الورى خَفَرُ
nor the awe of a veiled ruler, which he displayed,
as though he were modesty itself before mankind's eyes.
شُقَّتwere rent جُيوبُthe collars of المعاليhigh honors بالأسىwith grief وبكَتْand wept
شُقَّت جُيوبُ المعالي بالأسى وبكَتْ
فيin الخافقَينِeast and west عليهfor him الأنجمُthe stars الزُّهرُthe radiant
في الخافقَينِ عليه الأنجمُ الزُّهرُ
Glory's collars were rent with grief, and there wept
for him, in east and west, the radiant stars.
إِذِwhen السَّماءُthe sky بِصَوتِin the voice of الرَّعدِthunder صَرْختُهاits cry
إِذِ السَّماءُ بِصَوتِ الرَّعدِ صَرْختُها
يكادُalmost منهاfrom it فؤادُthe heart of الأرضِthe earth يَنفَطِرُsplits apart
يكادُ منها فؤادُ الأرضِ يَنفَطِرُ
When heaven let out its cry in thunder's voice,
earth's heart almost split apart from it.
والجَوُّand the air مُتَّقِدُburning الأحشاءِthe innards مُكتَئِبٌgrief-stricken
والجَوُّ مُتَّقِدُ الأحشاءِ مُكتَئِبٌ
كَأَنَّماas though البرقُthe lightning فيهاwithin it لِلأَسىfor grief سُعُرُblazing fires
كَأَنَّما البرقُ فيها لِلأَسى سُعُرُ
The air, its innards burning, is grief-stricken,
as though the lightning within it were grief's blazing fires.
وقَلَّand was too little لابنِfor the son of تَميمٍTamim حُزْنُthe grief of مَأتَمِهاits mourning
وقَلَّ لابنِ تَميمٍ حُزْنُ مَأتَمِها
فَكلّfor every حُزنٍgrief عظيمٍgreat فيهin his case مُحتَقَرُpaltry
فَكلّ حُزنٍ عظيمٍ فيه مُحتَقَرُ
For Ibn Tamim, the sorrow of its mourning is too small;
every mighty grief is paltry in his case.
قامَstood established الدّليلُthe proof ويَحيَىwhile Yahya لاno حياةَlife لهُfor him
قامَ الدّليلُ ويَحيَى لا حياةَ لهُ
إِنَّindeed المنِيَّةَdeath لاnot تُبقيspares ولاnor تَذرُleaves anything
إِنَّ المنِيَّةَ لا تُبقي ولا تَذرُ
The proof is plain: Yahya has no life;
death neither spares nor leaves anything.
أمسىhe became دفيناًburied ولمand not تُدْفَنْwere buried مفاخرُهُhis glories
أمسى دفيناً ولم تُدْفَنْ مفاخرُهُ
كالمِسْكِlike musk يُطوىis wrapped away ونشْرٌand a fragrance مِنهُfrom it يَنتَشرُspreads
كالمِسْكِ يُطوى ونشْرٌ مِنهُ يَنتَشرُ
He lies buried, yet his glories are not buried,
like musk, wrapped away while its fragrance spreads.
قدindeed كنتُI was أحسبُthinking أنthat أُعطَىI would be granted مُنايَmy wishes بهthrough him
قد كنتُ أحسبُ أن أُعطَى مُنايَ به
وأنand that يطولَwould last longer علىbeyond عمريmy lifetime لهُhis عمرُa lifetime
وأن يطولَ على عمري لهُ عمرُ
I had thought that through him my wishes would be granted,
and that his life would last beyond my own.
وهاand here أناI am اليومَtoday أرثيهِI elegize him وكنتُand I used to لهُfor him
وها أنا اليومَ أرثيهِ وكنتُ لهُ
أُنَقّحُpolish المدحَthe praise والدنياand the world لهاit has غِيَرُreversals
أُنَقّحُ المدحَ والدنيا لها غِيَرُ
Yet here I am today, elegizing him, for whom I once
polished praise; the world has its reversals.
ياO وَيْحَalas for طارِقِa night-visitor لَيلٍnight يَستَقِلُّbears up بِهِwith him
يا وَيْحَ طارِقِ لَيلٍ يَستَقِلُّ بِهِ
ساميlofty in التليلِthe neck براهُwore it down الأيْنُfatigue والضُّمُرُand leanness
سامي التليلِ براهُ الأيْنُ والضُّمُرُ
Alas for a night-traveler, borne along by
a high-necked steed, worn thin by fatigue and leanness!
فيin سرجهits saddle منamong طُيورِthe birds of الخيلِhorses مُبتْدِرٌone rushing forward
في سرجه من طُيورِ الخيلِ مُبتْدِرٌ
وماand not جناحاهُits two wings إلّاexcept العُنقُthe neck والخَصِرُand the waist
وما جناحاهُ إلّا العُنقُ والخَصِرُ
In the saddle of this bird among horses is a rushing rider;
its only two wings are its neck and flank.
يطويhe folds الضَّميرَhis inner heart علىaround سِرٍّa secret يُكِنُّhe conceals بهwithin it
يطوي الضَّميرَ على سِرٍّ يُكِنُّ به
بُشْرَىglad tidings ونَعْيٍand death-news حَيارَىbewildered منهماby them both البَشَرُmankind
بُشْرَى ونَعْيٍ حَيارَى منهما البَشَرُ
He folds his heart around a secret, hiding within it
glad tidings and death-news, both bewildering mankind.
لَولاwere it not for حَديثُnews of عَلِيٍّAli قلتُI would have said منfrom أسَفٍgrief
لَولا حَديثُ عَلِيٍّ قلتُ من أسَفٍ
بِفيكَin your mouth ياO مَنyou who نَعىannounced the death of يَحيَىYahya لَناto us العَفَرُdust
بِفيكَ يا مَن نَعى يَحيَى لَنا العَفَرُ
Were it not for the news of Ali, I would have said in grief:
'Dust in your mouth, you who announced Yahya's death to us!'
إِنif هُدَّwas shattered طَوْدٌa mountain فذاthen here is طَوْدٌa mountain يُعَادِلُهُmatching it
إِن هُدَّ طَوْدٌ فذا طَوْدٌ يُعَادِلُهُ
ظِلٌّa shade تُؤَمَّنُare made secure فيin أفيائِهِits shadows الجدُرُthe walls
ظِلٌّ تُؤَمَّنُ في أفيائِهِ الجدُرُ
If a mountain was shattered, here is a mountain to match it,
a shade beneath whose shadows walls are made secure.
أَوor غيضَwas drained بَحرٌa sea فَذاthen here is بَحرٌa sea بِمَوضِعِهِin its place
أَو غيضَ بَحرٌ فَذا بَحرٌ بِمَوضِعِهِ
لِوارِديهِfor those coming to it نَميرٌwholesome ماؤُهُits water خَصِرُcool
لِوارِديهِ نَميرٌ ماؤُهُ خَصِرُ
Or if a sea was drained, here is a sea in its place,
its water wholesome and cool for those who come to drink.
ياO واحِداًpeerless one جُمِعَتْwere gathered فيهِin him الكرامُthe noble ومَنْand one who
يا واحِداً جُمِعَتْ فيهِ الكرامُ ومَنْ
بِسَيفهby his sword مِلَّةٌthe faith of التَّوحيدِdivine oneness تَنتَصِرُtriumphs
بِسَيفه مِلَّةٌ التَّوحيدِ تَنتَصِرُ
O one man in whom the noble are gathered, and you
by whose sword the faith of divine oneness triumphs!
أوجَفْتَyou spurred on طِرْفَكَyour noble steed والإِيجافُand galloping عادتُهُits habit
أوجَفْتَ طِرْفَكَ والإِيجافُ عادتُهُ
والصُّبحُwhile dawn مُحتَجِبٌveiled واللَّيلُand night مُعتَكِرُthickly dark
والصُّبحُ مُحتَجِبٌ واللَّيلُ مُعتَكِرُ
You urged your steed to gallop—galloping is its habit—
while dawn was veiled and night lay thick and dark.
لَمّاwhen سَرَيتَyou traveled by night بِجَيشٍwith an army كُنتَyou were جُملَتَهُits entirety
لَمّا سَرَيتَ بِجَيشٍ كُنتَ جُملَتَهُ
وماand not رَفيقاكَyour two companions إلّاexcept النَّصرُvictory والظَّفَرُand triumph
وما رَفيقاكَ إلّا النَّصرُ والظَّفَرُ
When you rode by night with an army that was you alone,
your only two companions were victory and triumph.
طوىfolded up لهfor it اللَّهGod سَهباًa wilderness بِتَّyou spent the night قاطِعَهُcrossing it
طوى له اللَّه سَهباً بِتَّ قاطِعَهُ
كأنّماas though بُعْدُهُits distance بالقُرْبِby nearness يُخْتَصِرُwas shortened
كأنّما بُعْدُهُ بالقُرْبِ يُخْتَصِرُ
For it, God folded up a wilderness you spent the night crossing,
as though its distance were compressed into nearness.
وَقَصَّرَand shortened السَّعدُgood fortune لَيلاًa night فالتَقىso met عَجلاًswiftly
وَقَصَّرَ السَّعدُ لَيلاً فالتَقى عَجلاً
مِنهُof it العِشاءُevening علىupon كَفَّيكَyour two palms والسَّحَرُand predawn
مِنهُ العِشاءُ على كَفَّيكَ والسَّحَرُ
Good fortune shortened the night, so swiftly met
its evening and predawn upon your two palms.
وفيand within ضُلوعِكَyour ribs قَلبٌa heart حَشوُهُits contents هِمَمٌhigh ambitions
وفي ضُلوعِكَ قَلبٌ حَشوُهُ هِمَمٌ
وبَينَand between عَينَيكَyour two eyes عَزمٌresolve نَوْمُهُits sleep سَهَرُwakefulness
وبَينَ عَينَيكَ عَزمٌ نَوْمُهُ سَهَرُ
Within your ribs is a heart filled with high ambitions,
and between your eyes, a resolve whose sleep is wakefulness.
حَتّىuntil كَسَوْتَyou clothed حياةًin life جِسْمَthe body of مَملكةٍa kingdom
حَتّى كَسَوْتَ حياةً جِسْمَ مَملكةٍ
بِرَدّby returning روحٍa spirit إليهِto it منكَfrom you يَنْتَظرُit awaits
بِرَدّ روحٍ إليهِ منكَ يَنْتَظرُ
Until you clothed the body of a kingdom in life,
by returning to it the spirit it awaited from you.
هنئتَyou were congratulated بالملكِon kingship إذْwhen عُزّيتَyou were consoled فيfor ملكٍa king
هنئتَ بالملكِ إذْ عُزّيتَ في ملكٍ
لِمَوْتهِfor his death كانَhad been منكَfrom you العيشlife يذَّخِرُkeeps in reserve
لِمَوْتهِ كانَ منكَ العيش يذَّخِرُ
You were congratulated on kingship when consoled for a king
for whose death life had kept you in reserve.
جَلَستَyou sat فيon الدستِthe throne بالتَّوفيقِwith divine favor وابتَهَجَتْand rejoiced
جَلَستَ في الدستِ بالتَّوفيقِ وابتَهَجَتْ
بِكَin you المَنابِرُthe pulpits وَالتِّيجانُand the crowns والسُّرُرُand the royal couches
بِكَ المَنابِرُ وَالتِّيجانُ والسُّرُرُ
You took the throne with divine favor, and there rejoiced
in you the pulpits, crowns, and royal couches.
أَضحَتْhas become عُلاكَyour eminence علىupon التَّمكينِfirm establishment ثابِتَةًsteadfast
أَضحَتْ عُلاكَ على التَّمكينِ ثابِتَةً
فَطيبُso the fragrance of ذِكرِكَyour renown فيin الدُّنياthe world لهit has سَفَرُa journey
فَطيبُ ذِكرِكَ في الدُّنيا له سَفَرُ
Your eminence stands firmly established in power,
while the fragrance of your renown journeys through the world.
تناوَلَtook up القَوْسَthe bow باريهاits maker فأسْهُمُهُso his arrows
تناوَلَ القَوْسَ باريها فأسْهُمُهُ
نَوافِذٌpiercing فيthrough العدىthe enemies أَغراضُهاtheir targets الثُّغَرُthe vulnerable gaps
نَوافِذٌ في العدى أَغراضُها الثُّغَرُ
The bow's maker has taken up the bow, and his arrows
pierce the enemy; their targets are the vulnerable gaps.
وقامَand took charge بالأمرِof the affair سهْمٌan arrow منكَfrom you مُعْتَزِمٌresolute
وقامَ بالأمرِ سهْمٌ منكَ مُعْتَزِمٌ
يجريruns منَfrom اللَّهGod فيtoward إِسعادِهِits success القَدَرُdestiny
يجري منَ اللَّه في إِسعادِهِ القَدَرُ
A resolute arrow from you has taken charge,
while God's decree runs to ensure its success.
وأصبَحَتْand have become هِمَمُthe ambitions of الآمالِhopes سانِيةًrising high
وأصبَحَتْ هِمَمُ الآمالِ سانِيةً
عَنِbeyond العَطاياthe gifts الَّتيwhich عُنوانُهاtheir hallmark البِدَرُthe moneybags
عَنِ العَطايا الَّتي عُنوانُها البِدَرُ
The ambitions of hope have now risen high
beyond gifts whose hallmark is bags of coin.
وَأَنتَand you سَمحٌgenerous بِطَبعٍby a nature غَيرِnot مُنتَقِلٍchanging
وَأَنتَ سَمحٌ بِطَبعٍ غَيرِ مُنتَقِلٍ
سِيّانِequal فيduring المحلِdrought مِنكَfrom you الجَوْدُbounty وَالمَطَرُand rain
سِيّانِ في المحلِ مِنكَ الجَوْدُ وَالمَطَرُ
You are generous by an unchanging nature;
in drought, bounty from you is the same as rain.
واسلَمْand live safe لِعِزِّfor the glory of بنيthe sons of الإِسلامِIslam ماas long as سَجَعَتْcooed
واسلَمْ لِعِزِّ بني الإِسلامِ ما سَجَعَتْ
سَوامِرُnight-conversing ones among الطَّيرِthe birds وانآدتand swayed بِهاwith them السَّمُرُthe acacias
سَوامِرُ الطَّيرِ وانآدت بِها السَّمُرُ
Live on for the glory of Islam's sons, while cooing sounds
from birds that converse by night, and the acacias sway with them.
Sol 6.1