ماسَتshe swayed فأزرتand so cast shame بالغصونupon the boughs الميَّسِswaying
ماسَت فأزرت بالغصون الميَّسِ
وأَتَتكَand she came to you تخطرُstepping gracefully فيin غلالةِa sheer gown of سُندسِfine silk
وأَتَتكَ تخطرُ في غلالةِ سُندسِ
She swayed, putting swaying boughs to shame,
And came to you, stepping gracefully in a sheer gown of fine silk.
وَتبرّجتand displayed her beauty جُنحَthe wing of الظَلامdarkness كأَنَّهاas though she were
وَتبرّجت جُنحَ الظَلام كأَنَّها
شَمسٌa sun تجلَّتrevealed itself فيin دياجيthe dark depths of الحِندِسِpitch-black night
شَمسٌ تجلَّت في دياجي الحِندِسِ
And displayed her beauty beneath the wing of darkness, as though she were
A sun revealed amid the depths of pitch-black night.
تَختالshe saunters proudly بينamong لِداتِهاher peers فتخالهاso you imagine her
تَختال بين لِداتِها فتخالها
بَدراًa full moon بداappeared بينamong الجواريthe coursing stars الكُنَّسِthat hide away
بَدراً بدا بين الجواري الكُنَّسِ
She saunters proudly among her peers, and you take her for
A full moon appearing among the coursing stars that hide away.
أَرِجَتgrew fragrant بريّاهاwith her scent الصَباthe east wind وتضوَّعتand diffused fragrance
أَرِجَت بريّاها الصَبا وتضوَّعت
أَنفاسُهاher breaths وَالصبحُand dawn لمnot yet يَتنفَّسِbreathe
أَنفاسُها وَالصبحُ لم يَتنفَّسِ
The east wind grew fragrant with her scent, and fragrance wafted from
Her breaths, while dawn had not yet breathed.
وَوفتand she kept faith بمَوعِدهاwith her tryst وَباتَand spent the night وشاتُهاher slanderers
وَوفت بمَوعِدها وَباتَ وشاتُها
للوجدfrom anguish بينbetween عَمٍone blind وآخرand another أَخرسِmute
للوجد بين عَمٍ وآخر أَخرسِ
And she kept her tryst, while her slanderers spent the night
In anguish, one blind and another mute.
وَالبَرقُand lightning يخفقُflutters قَلبُهits heart منfrom غَيرةٍjealousy
وَالبَرقُ يخفقُ قَلبُه من غَيرةٍ
وَالنجمُand the star يَرمُقُناwatches us بمقلةِwith the eye of أَشوسِone glaring askance
وَالنجمُ يَرمُقُنا بمقلةِ أَشوسِ
And lightning's heart flutters with jealousy,
And the star watches us with a scowling eye.
ياoh طيبَthe sweetness of لَيلَتِناour night بمُنعَرَجat the bend of اللِوىal-Liwa
يا طيبَ لَيلَتِنا بمُنعَرَج اللِوى
وَمبيتناand our night's lodging فوقupon الكَثيبthe sand dune الأَوعسِsoft
وَمبيتنا فوق الكَثيب الأَوعسِ
How sweet our night at the bend of al-Liwa,
And our night spent upon the soft sand dune!
إِذwhen باتَpassed the night شَمليmy peace فيin ضَمانِthe keeping of وِصالهاunion with her
إِذ باتَ شَملي في ضَمانِ وِصالها
وَالقربُand closeness يُبدلُchanges وحشَتيmy loneliness بتأَنُّسِinto companionship
وَالقربُ يُبدلُ وحشَتي بتأَنُّسِ
When my peace lay in the keeping of union with her,
And closeness turns my loneliness into companionship.
وَاللَيلُand night يكتمُconceals سِرَّناour secret وَنجومُهand its stars
وَاللَيلُ يكتمُ سِرَّنا وَنجومُه
تَرنوgaze إِليناtoward us عنfrom لحاظٍeyes نُعَّسِdrowsy
تَرنو إِلينا عن لحاظٍ نُعَّسِ
And night conceals our secret, while its stars
Gaze upon us with drowsy eyes.
وَسَنىand the radiance of المجرَّةthe Milky Way فيin السَماءِthe sky كأَنَّهas though it were
وَسَنى المجرَّة في السَماءِ كأَنَّه
نهرٌa river تدفَّقflowed فيthrough حديقَةِa garden of نَرجسِnarcissi
نهرٌ تدفَّق في حديقَةِ نَرجسِ
And the Milky Way's radiance in the sky is like
A river flowing through a garden of narcissi.
باتَتshe spent the night تُديرpassing around عليَّto me منfrom أَلحاظهاher glances
باتَت تُدير عليَّ من أَلحاظها
كأساًa cup وأخرىand another منfrom لَماهاher dark lips الألعسِdusky
كأساً وأخرى من لَماها الألعسِ
All night she passed to me, from her glances,
A cup, and another from her dusky lips.
حتّىuntil إِذاwhen رقَّgrew gentle النَسيمُthe breeze وأَخفقتand vanished
حتّى إِذا رقَّ النَسيمُ وأَخفقت
منfrom أفقthe horizon of مجلِسناour gathering نجومُthe stars of الأكؤسِthe cups
من أفق مجلِسنا نجومُ الأكؤسِ
Until, when the breeze grew gentle and vanished
From our gathering's horizon the stars of the cups,
قالَتshe said وقدand already واليتُI kept repeating هَصرَthe bending of قوامِهاher figure
قالَت وقد واليتُ هَصرَ قوامِها
ضاقَtightened الخناقُthe grip on the throat منfrom العِناقthe embrace فنفِّسِso let me breathe
ضاقَ الخناقُ من العِناق فنفِّسِ
She said, as I kept bending her figure:
Your embrace has tightened my throat—let me breathe!
ثمَّthen اِنثَنَتshe turned away حذرَfor fear of الفراقparting مروعةًterrified
ثمَّ اِنثَنَت حذرَ الفراق مروعةً
فيin هيئَةthe bearing of المُستَوحِشone fearful and lonely المستأنسِone seeking comfort
في هيئَة المُستَوحِش المستأنسِ
Then she turned away, terrified at the prospect of parting,
With the bearing of one fearful yet seeking comfort.
تتَنَفَّسُshe breathes الصُعَداءdeep sighs منfrom وَجدٍlonging وَقَدand already
تتَنَفَّسُ الصُعَداء من وَجدٍ وَقَد
غصَّchoked الظَلامُthe darkness بصُبحِهon its dawn المتنفِّسِbreathing
غصَّ الظَلامُ بصُبحِه المتنفِّسِ
She heaved deep sighs of longing, while already
Darkness choked upon its breathing dawn.
واِستعجلَتand she hastened شدَّthe tightening of النِطاقthe girdle وودعتand bade farewell
واِستعجلَت شدَّ النِطاق وودعت
توديعَthe farewell of مختلسٍone slipping away بحَيرةِin the bewilderment of مُبلِسِone in despair
توديعَ مختلسٍ بحَيرةِ مُبلِسِ
And she hastened to tighten her girdle and bade farewell,
A furtive farewell, with the bewilderment of one in despair.
لِلَّهpraise be to God for غانيةٌa beautiful woman عَنَتbowed لضيائِهاto her radiance
لِلَّه غانيةٌ عَنَت لضيائِها
شَمسُthe sun of الضحىforenoon إِذwhen أَشرقتshe shone فيin الأطلسِsatin
شَمسُ الضحى إِذ أَشرقت في الأطلسِ
Praise be to God for a beauty to whose radiance bowed
The forenoon sun, when she shone in satin.
سلبتshe stole نفوسَthe souls of أوليthose possessed of الغَرامpassionate love صَبابةًin yearning
سلبت نفوسَ أولي الغَرام صَبابةً
بجمالهاthrough her beauty الباهيsplendid السنيِّradiant الأَنفسِmost precious
بجمالها الباهي السنيِّ الأَنفسِ
She stole the souls of lovers in passionate longing,
With her splendid, radiant, most precious beauty.
وَسأَلتُهاand I asked her نَفسيfor my soul فَقالَتso she said حيرةًin bewilderment
وَسأَلتُها نَفسي فَقالَت حيرةً
لاmay not كانَexist منwhoever يَنسىforgets الأَحبَّةloved ones أَوor نسيhas forgotten
لا كانَ من يَنسى الأَحبَّة أَو نسي
And I asked her for my soul; bewildered, she said:
May whoever forgets loved ones, or has forgotten them, never exist!
لَمnot أَنسَهاI forget her فأذكرَso I might recall أَنسَهاher companionship
لَم أَنسَها فأذكرَ أَنسَها
عَلِقتclung يَديmy hand منهfrom him بودٍّto an affection أَقعَسِunshakable
عَلِقت يَدي منه بودٍّ أَقعَسِ
I have not forgotten her, that I should recall her companionship;
My hand held fast to an unshakable affection from him.
هَذاthis is الحسينُal-Husayn بنُson of الحسينِal-Husayn أَخوbrother of العُلىhigh glory
هَذا الحسينُ بنُ الحسينِ أَخو العُلى
عَلِقتclung يديmy hand منهfrom him بودٍّto an affection أقعسِunshakable
عَلِقت يدي منه بودٍّ أقعسِ
This is al-Husayn ibn al-Husayn, brother of high glory;
My hand held fast to an unshakable affection from him.
لَمnot يُنسِهِmake him forget بُعدُthe remoteness of الدِيارِthe homes مَودَّتيmy affection
لَم يُنسِهِ بُعدُ الدِيارِ مَودَّتي
يوماًfor a day وعهديand my pledge عندهwith him لمnot يبخسِbe slighted
يوماً وعهدي عنده لم يبخسِ
The distance between our homes has not made him forget my affection
For a single day; my pledge with him has never been slighted.
وَسِواهand another besides him يُظهرُdisplays ودَّهhis affection بِلسانِهwith his tongue
وَسِواه يُظهرُ ودَّه بِلسانِه
وَخميرُهand his hidden intent كصحيفةِlike the scroll of المتلمِّسِal-Mutalammis
وَخميرُه كصحيفةِ المتلمِّسِ
And another shows his affection with his tongue,
Yet his hidden intent is like al-Mutalammis's scroll.
هَذاthis is الوفيُّthe faithful one الهاشميُّthe Hashimite المجتبىthe chosen one
هَذا الوفيُّ الهاشميُّ المجتبى
غَوثُsuccor to الجَليسthe companion لهwith him وبدرُand the full moon of المجلِسِthe gathering
غَوثُ الجَليس له وبدرُ المجلِسِ
This is the faithful, chosen Hashimite,
Succor to whoever sits with him, and the full moon of the gathering.
طابَتwas good أرومةُthe root of مجدهhis glory فزكتand so flourished بهthrough him
طابَت أرومةُ مجده فزكت به
وَالغرسُand the plant يُعربُspeaks عَنof زَكاءthe goodness of المغرسِthe planting-ground
وَالغرسُ يُعربُ عَن زَكاء المغرسِ
The root of his glory was sound, and flourished through him;
And the plant reveals the goodness of its planting-ground.
إِيهٍsay on! أَخاbrother of المَجدِglory المؤثَّلdeep-rooted وَالعُلىand high honor
إِيهٍ أَخا المَجدِ المؤثَّل وَالعُلى
لِلَّهto God درُّكyour excellence منas أَديبٍa man of letters أَكيسِmost discerning
لِلَّه درُّك من أَديبٍ أَكيسِ
Say on, brother of deep-rooted glory and high honor!
God be praised for you, most discerning man of letters!
وافتarrived قصيدتُكَyour poem الَّتيwhich فعلتworked بناupon us
وافت قصيدتُكَ الَّتي فعلت بنا
فعلَthe effect of المُدامةwine بالنُهىon minds والأرؤسِand heads
فعلَ المُدامة بالنُهى والأرؤسِ
Your poem arrived, the one that worked upon us
As wine works upon minds and heads.
أَلبستَهاyou clothed it وشيَthe embroidery of الكلامspeech فأَقبلتand so it came
أَلبستَها وشيَ الكلام فأَقبلت
مختالةًstrutting proudly تَزهوflaunting itself بأَبهىin the most splendid مَلبَسِattire
مختالةً تَزهو بأَبهى مَلبَسِ
You clothed it in the embroidery of speech, and it came
Strutting proudly in the most splendid attire.
ماnot ضَرَّharmed سامعَهاits hearer وقدand already جُليَتit was unveiled لهto him
ما ضَرَّ سامعَها وقد جُليَت له
أَنthat لاnot يُجيلَhe passes around كؤوسَهاits cups أَوor يَحتَسيhe drinks
أَن لا يُجيلَ كؤوسَها أَو يَحتَسي
Its hearer suffers no harm, once it is unveiled to him,
By neither passing round its cups nor drinking.
جدَّدتَyou renewed ليfor me عَهدَthe days of الصِباyouth بنسيبهاwith its love prelude
جدَّدتَ لي عَهدَ الصِبا بنسيبها
وربوعand the abodes of عهديmy days بالصِباin youth لمnot تدرسِbe effaced
وربوع عهدي بالصِبا لم تدرسِ
You renewed for me the days of youth with its love prelude,
And the abodes of my youthful days have not been effaced.
وَإِليكهاand here it is for you غَرّاءradiant تَستلبُcaptivates الحجاthe intellect
وَإِليكها غَرّاء تَستلبُ الحجا
وَتَروضُand tames كلَّevery جَموحheadstrong طَبعٍtemperament أَشرَسِfierce
وَتَروضُ كلَّ جَموح طَبعٍ أَشرَسِ
And here it is for you, radiant, captivating the mind,
And taming every headstrong, fierce temperament.
نضَّدتُI arranged عِقدَthe necklace of نِظامهاits verse وبعثتُهاand I sent it
نضَّدتُ عِقدَ نِظامها وبعثتُها
دُرَراًas pearls تَفوقُare superior علىto الدّراريthe brilliant stars الخُنَّسِthat withdraw
دُرَراً تَفوقُ على الدّراري الخُنَّسِ
I strung the necklace of its verse and sent it forth,
Pearls outshining the bright stars that withdraw from sight.
وَكسوتُهاand I clothed it منfrom وصفthe description of ودِّكyour affection حُلَّةًa robe
وَكسوتُها من وصف ودِّك حُلَّةً
هَزَّتit swayed لهاfor it عِطفthe side of المحلّىthe adorned one المكتسيthe robed one
هَزَّت لها عِطف المحلّى المكتسي
And clothed it in a robe describing your affection,
In it, it swayed its side like one adorned and robed.
تُجلىit is unveiled عليكbefore you وَنجمُand the star of سعدِكyour good fortune مُشرِقٌshining
تُجلى عليك وَنجمُ سعدِك مُشرِقٌ
فيat قِمَّةthe summit of الفَلَكِthe celestial sphere الرَفيعlofty الأطلسِstarless
في قِمَّة الفَلَكِ الرَفيع الأطلسِ
It is unveiled before you, while your lucky star shines
At the summit of the lofty, starless sphere.
Sol 6.1