ياO مَنwho لِصُبحِfor the dawn of الشَيبِgray hair كَيفَhow تَنَفَّساbreathed
يا مَن لِصُبحِ الشَيبِ كَيفَ تَنَفَّسا
فيin لِمَّتيmy locks فَأَجابَهُso answered it لَيلُthe night of الأَسىsorrow
في لِمَّتي فَأَجابَهُ لَيلُ الأَسى
Who will help with the dawn of gray hair—how it breathed
O you whose gray hair breathed at dawn,
through my locks, and the night of sorrow answered it.
The night of sorrow answered when I complained,
لاdo not تَحسَبَنَّever suppose سَوادَthe blackness of شَعريmy hair نِعمَةًa blessing
لا تَحسَبَنَّ سَوادَ شَعري نِعمَةً
لَكِنrather كَسَتهُclothed it هُمومُthe worries of قَلبيmy heart حِندِساpitch darkness
لَكِن كَسَتهُ هُمومُ قَلبي حِندِسا
Do not think the blackness of my hair a blessing;
"Do not think my black hair a blessing,
rather, my heart's worries clothed it in pitch darkness.
But sorrows of my heart have clad it like a cloak."
إِلّاif not يَكُنhas been شابَturned gray العِذارُthe cheek-down وَلاand not اِنحَنىbent
إِلّا يَكُن شابَ العِذارُ وَلا اِنحَنى
ظَهريmy back فَقَدyet indeed شابَturned gray الفُؤادُthe heart وَقَوَّساand bowed
ظَهري فَقَد شابَ الفُؤادُ وَقَوَّسا
Though my cheek-down has not grayed, nor bent
Unless the youth sheds tears or bends,
my back, my heart has indeed grayed and bowed.
My back has aged though my heart is still young and bent.
إِنّيindeed I لَأَغضيcertainly avert مُقلَتيmy eye عَنfrom لائِميmy reproacher
إِنّي لَأَغضي مُقلَتي عَن لائِمي
وَأَرىand I see اِبتِساميmy smile مِنfrom ضَميريmy inner self عَبَّساa scowl
وَأَرى اِبتِسامي مِن ضَميري عَبَّسا
I certainly avert my eye from my reproacher,
I squint my eyelids against my blamers
and see my smile become a frown within my heart.
And see my smile frown from my conscience.
وَيَلينُand softens قَلبيmy heart لِلخَليلِtoward the friend مَوَدَّةًin affection
وَيَلينُ قَلبي لِلخَليلِ مَوَدَّةً
فَإِذاbut when أَحَسَّit sensed هَضيمَةًa wrong يَوماًone day قَسَماhardened
فَإِذا أَحَسَّ هَضيمَةً يَوماً قَسَما
My heart softens with affection for a friend,
My heart is soft to the friend with affection,
but when one day it feels wronged, it hardens.
But if he senses betrayal, it hardens and splits.
وَأَجيلُand I turn لَحظيmy gaze فيamong المُنىwishes شَغَفاًpassionately بِهاfor them
وَأَجيلُ لَحظي في المُنى شَغَفاً بِها
وَأَجَلُّand I hold above شَوقيmy yearning عَنbeyond لَعَلَّperhaps وَعَنand beyond عَسىmaybe
وَأَجَلُّ شَوقي عَن لَعَلَّ وَعَن عَسى
I turn my gaze among wishes, passionately drawn to them,
I delay my gaze in wishes with passion for them
and hold my yearning above 'perhaps' and 'maybe.'
And hold back my longing from “maybe” and “perhaps.”
ماwhat ليis with me أَرىI see الهالاتَthe halos عُدنَbecame هَوادِجاًhowdahs
ما لي أَرى الهالاتَ عُدنَ هَوادِجاً
وَلِهَذِهِand for these الأَضلاعِribs صارَتthey became مَكنِساa gazelle's covert
وَلِهَذِهِ الأَضلاعِ صارَت مَكنِسا
Why do I see halos turned into howdahs,
Why do I see the dreamlands a shelter?
and become a gazelle's covert within these ribs?
And for these ribs they became like a broom.
طُوِيَتwere folded عَلىaround بيضِwhite ones of الدُمىthe statues فَتَكانَسَتthen took shelter
طُوِيَت عَلى بيضِ الدُمى فَتَكانَسَت
فيهاwithin them ظِباءٌgazelles يَرتَعينِthey graze upon الأَنفُساsouls
فيها ظِباءٌ يَرتَعينِ الأَنفُسا
They were folded about white statues of beauty; then hid
Folded on the eggs of ostriches, so they swept
within them gazelles that graze upon souls.
In them antelopes grazing the souls.
فَهيَfor they are الدَراريthe brilliant stars فيin الهَواجِرِthe midday heats خُنَّساretreating
فَهيَ الدَراري في الهَواجِرِ خُنَّسا
وَهيَand they are الجَواريthe maidens فيin الهَوادِجِthe howdahs كُنَّساhiding
وَهيَ الجَواري في الهَوادِجِ كُنَّسا
They are brilliant stars, retreating in the midday heat,
So they are the young women in the protected, hidden,
and maidens hiding within the howdahs.
And they are the slave girls in the shelters, hidden.
يَطرُقنَthey visit by night أَمواهَthe waters of الفَلاةِthe desert تَعَرُّباًadopting Arab ways
يَطرُقنَ أَمواهَ الفَلاةِ تَعَرُّباً
وَيَرِدنَand they approach نيرانَthe fires of الضُلوعِthe ribs تَمَجُّساadopting Magian ways
وَيَرِدنَ نيرانَ الضُلوعِ تَمَجُّسا
They visit desert waters by night, adopting Arab ways,
They roam the horizons of the desert as Arabs
and approach the fires within the ribs like Magians.
And return the fires of ribs perfumed.
فَيَهِنُّamong them جائِلَةَloose-hanging الوِشاحِthe sash تَنَفَّسَتshe breathed
فَيَهِنُّ جائِلَةَ الوِشاحِ تَنَفَّسَت
فَزَهاso adorned النَسيمُthe breeze أَريجُهاher fragrance فَتَنَقَّساthen grew fragrant
فَزَها النَسيمُ أَريجُها فَتَنَقَّسا
Among them, one with a loose-hanging sash breathed;
The sash sways, breathed,
her fragrance adorned the breeze, and it grew perfumed.
The breeze made its scent blow, so it waved.
زارَتshe visited كَماas زارَvisited الخَيالُthe phantom تَسَتُّراconcealed
زارَت كَما زارَ الخَيالُ تَسَتُّرا
وَعَطَتand she reached out كَماas يَعطوreaches out الغَزالُthe gazelle تُوَجُّساapprehensively
وَعَطَت كَما يَعطو الغَزالُ تُوَجُّسا
She visited as a phantom visits, concealed,
She visited like a mirage covers itself
and reached out as a gazelle reaches, apprehensively.
And gave like the gazelle startles.
حَذِرَتshe feared مَنfrom الرُقَباءِthe watchers حَولَaround طِرافِهاher leather tent
حَذِرَت مَن الرُقَباءِ حَولَ طِرافِها
فَأَتَتso she came تَجُرُّtrailing عَلىover التُرابِthe dust السُندُساfine silk
فَأَتَت تَجُرُّ عَلى التُرابِ السُندُسا
She feared the watchers around her leather tent,
She was cautious of the spying necks around her
so she came trailing fine silk over the dust.
So she came dragging her gown on the ground.
مَلَّتshe tired of بِطاريقَthe grandees of الرِجالِmen وَشاقَهاand stirred her longing
مَلَّت بِطاريقَ الرِجالِ وَشاقَها
صُعلوكُa vagabond of حَيٍّa tribe لَيسَdoes not يُبقيretain مُنفِساanything precious
صُعلوكُ حَيٍّ لَيسَ يُبقي مُنفِسا
She tired of the grandees among men, and longed for
She despised the path of men and it tired her
a vagabond of the tribe who retains nothing precious.
A cocky lad who does not leave a soul alive.
زَعَمَتshe claimed فَتاةُthe maiden of الحَيِّthe tribe أَنّيthat I مُملِقٌam destitute
زَعَمَت فَتاةُ الحَيِّ أَنّي مُملِقٌ
أَرَأَيتَhave you seen إِملاقيmy poverty لِمَجيدِيَto my noble standing مُركِساbringing low
أَرَأَيتَ إِملاقي لِمَجيدِيَ مُركِسا
The maiden of the tribe claimed that I was destitute;
The girl of the tribe claimed I flatter
have you seen my poverty bring my noble standing low?
Did you see my flattery to the glorious stooped?
باتَتshe spent the night تُهَيِّجُهاstirring her وَساوِسُthe whisperings of حَليِهاher jewelry
باتَت تُهَيِّجُها وَساوِسُ حَليِها
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen الصُبحُthe dawn المُنيرُluminous تَنَفَّساbreathed
حَتّى إِذا الصُبحُ المُنيرُ تَنَفَّسا
All night the whisperings of her jewelry stirred her,
She stirred and the devils of her ornament whispered to her
until the luminous dawn breathed.
Until when the bright morning breathed
بَكَرَتshe came early تَلومُكَreproaching you فيfor النَدىgenerosity كَندِيَّةَa Kindite woman
بَكَرَت تَلومُكَ في النَدى كَندِيَّةَ
صَدَفِيَّةٌa Sadafite woman تُنميtraces descent to السُكونَal-Sakun وَأَشرَساand Ashras
صَدَفِيَّةٌ تُنمي السُكونَ وَأَشرَسا
She came early to blame you for generosity—a Kindite,
She blamed you at dawn, cunning and smooth
a Sadafite, tracing her descent to al-Sakun and Ashras.
Like a seashell growing tranquility and more stubborn.
ياO بِنتَdaughter of عَمّيmy paternal uncle هَلhave سَمِعتَyou heard بِماجِدٍof a noble man
يا بِنتَ عَمّي هَل سَمِعتَ بِماجِدٍ
يَبكينَthey weep أَوتىwas given [unclear form] الذَمِّblame أَطعَمَhe fed أَوor كَساhe clothed
يَبكينَ أَوتى الذَمِّ أَطعَمَ أَو كَسا
O daughter of my uncle, have you heard of a noble man
O daughter of my uncle, did you hear of Majid?
[Wording unclear:] they weep; he was given blame for feeding or clothing.
Who cries the utmost insult or feeds or clothes?
لاdo not تَحسَبيsuppose أَكَلَate المُرارَthe bitter plants عَميدُناour chief
لا تَحسَبي أَكَلَ المُرارَ عَميدُنا
غَرثاًfrom hunger وَلَكِنbut rather عِزَّةًout of pride وَتَغَطرُساand haughtiness
غَرثاً وَلَكِن عِزَّةً وَتَغَطرُسا
Do not suppose our chief ate bitter plants
Do not think our pillar has eaten bitterness
from hunger, but out of pride and haughtiness.
But honor and arrogance.
أَذهَلتِhave you forgotten عَنabout عُقبىthe reward of النَدىgenerosity إِنَّindeed النَدىgenerosity
أَذهَلتِ عَن عُقبى النَدى إِنَّ النَدى
لَيَرُدَّsurely brings back وَحشِيَّthe untamed of المُنىwishes مَتَأَنِّساmade friendly
لَيَرُدَّ وَحشِيَّ المُنى مَتَأَنِّسا
Have you forgotten generosity's reward? Generosity
You forgot about fate of dew that stirs
surely brings untamed wishes back as companions.
A lion when the lions are provoked and watchful.
عَقَرَslaughtered المَطِيَّةَthe riding beast لِلعِذارىfor the maidens رَبُّهاits owner
عَقَرَ المَطِيَّةَ لِلعِذارى رَبُّها
فَأُبيحَso was made available ثَغراًa mouth مِنfrom عُنَيزَةَUnayzah أَومَساluscious
فَأُبيحَ ثَغراً مِن عُنَيزَةَ أَومَسا
The owner slaughtered his mount for the maidens,
The shoulders of his kingdom descended from a shoulder
and Unayzah's luscious mouth was made his to enjoy.
That has ever gained from it an unlucky day.
لَمdid not يَنسَforget مَيتاًa dead man بِالكُلابِat al-Kulab وَرُبَّماand perhaps
لَم يَنسَ مَيتاً بِالكُلابِ وَرُبَّما
قَدindeed ضاقَgrew constrained ذَرعاًin patience أَنto يَفوهَspeak فَيُلبِساand obscure
قَد ضاقَ ذَرعاً أَن يَفوهَ فَيُلبِسا
He did not forget a dead man at al-Kulab, and perhaps
So if a shoulder sags or withers,
he could scarcely bear to speak and make things obscure.
It has bloomed from it a barren crippled thing.
وَنَسيتِand you forgot حُجراًHujr يضومَunclear; perhaps 'the day' هَيَّجَroused بِالعَصاwith the stick
وَنَسيتِ حُجراً يضومَ هَيَّجَ بِالعَصا
أَسَداًa lion مَنwhoever هاجَroused الأُسودَthe lions تَفَرَّساfell prey
أَسَداً مَن هاجَ الأُسودَ تَفَرَّسا
And you forgot Hujr, [the day] he roused with a stick
There was a kingdom in your dunes and the dew
a lion; whoever rouses lions falls prey.
In a mountain doe so it isolated and measured.
هَبَطَتfell كَواهِلُthe shoulders of مُلكِهِhis kingship مِنfrom كاهِلٍKahil
هَبَطَت كَواهِلُ مُلكِهِ مِن كاهِلٍ
أَبَداًforever أَصابَتit struck مِنهُfrom him يَوماًa day أَنحَساmost ill-omened
أَبَداً أَصابَت مِنهُ يَوماً أَنحَسا
The shoulders of his kingship fell at the hands of Kahil,
Like the kings of an army, whenever they trod the ground,
forever; it dealt him a most ill-omened day.
And I think it has for it the ground and the sun.
فَلَئِنeven if indeed أَبيرَتwere annihilated مالِكٌMalik أَوor كاهِلٌKahil
فَلَئِن أَبيرَت مالِكٌ أَو كاهِلٌ
فَلَقَدthen indeed أَبارَتit annihilated مِنهُin him قَرماًa chieftain أَحمَساfierce
فَلَقَد أَبارَت مِنهُ قَرماً أَحمَسا
Even if Malik or Kahil were annihilated,
And for its just peacemaker its contentment,
they had indeed slain, in him, a fierce chieftain.
Generosity and kindness that make the mute speak.
قَدindeed كانَthere was مُلكٌkingship فيamong كُنودِكَyour Kunud وَالنَدىand generosity
قَد كانَ مُلكٌ في كُنودِكَ وَالنَدى
فيin ظَبيَةٍa gazelle فَتَفَرَّداso both stood alone وَتَقَيَّساand followed Qays's ways
في ظَبيَةٍ فَتَفَرَّدا وَتَقَيَّسا
Kingship was among your Kunud, and generosity
His companions and his promises testified to him
in a gazelle; both stood alone and followed Qays's ways.
Even the clouds when they intend and sneak.
كَمُلوكِlike kings of جَيشٍan army كُلَّماwhenever وَطَئواthey trod الثَرىthe earth
كَمُلوكِ جَيشٍ كُلَّما وَطَئوا الثَرى
وَأَظُنُّand I think أَنَّthat لَهاto her belong الثَرىthe earth وَالأَشمُساand the suns
وَأَظُنُّ أَنَّ لَها الثَرى وَالأَشمُسا
Like the kings of an army whenever they trod the earth;
I swear by the dew and its customs among us
and I think the earth and the suns belong to her.
So it traveled with the caravan and wed.
وَلِطَودِهاand to her mountain السُلَميal-Sulami قاضيهاher judge الرَضاwell-regarded
وَلِطَودِها السُلَمي قاضيها الرَضا
كَرَمٌnobility وَجودٌand bounty يُنطِقانِthe two make speak الأَخرَساthe mute
كَرَمٌ وَجودٌ يُنطِقانِ الأَخرَسا
Her mountain, al-Sulami, her well-regarded judge,
And it clothed the land with clear justice and accepted it,
has nobility and bounty that make the mute speak.
They were stripped by the injustice of their governors, those clothes.
شَهِدَتbore witness لَهُfor him أَصحابُهُhis companions وَعِداتِهِand his enemies
شَهِدَت لَهُ أَصحابُهُ وَعِداتِهِ
حَتّىeven الغَمامُthe clouds إِذاwhen هَمىrained وَتَبَجَّساand gushed forth
حَتّى الغَمامُ إِذا هَمى وَتَبَجَّسا
His companions and his enemies bore witness for him,
And it prepared the destinies of matters with its wisdom
even the clouds, when they rained and gushed forth.
And threw at it the goal of adversities so it shot its arrow.
قَسَماًI swear لأَندىsurely most generous بِالنَدىwith bounty وَأَعتادِهِand its stores
قَسَماً لأَندى بِالنَدى وَأَعتادِهِ
فيناamong us فَسارَso it traveled مَعَwith الرَكبِthe caravan وَعَرَّساand camped at night
فينا فَسارَ مَعَ الرَكبِ وَعَرَّسا
I swear, he is most lavish with bounty and its stores
And there came to it for the lofty house its pillars
among us; it traveled with the caravan and camped by night.
Pillars for it of glory and honor unbending.
وَكَساand clothed الوَرىhumankind العَدلَjustice المُبينَmanifest وَقَبلَهُand before him
وَكَسا الوَرى العَدلَ المُبينَ وَقَبلَهُ
سُلِبواthey were stripped بِجَورِby the tyranny of وُلاتِهِمtheir governors تِلكَthose الكُساgarments
سُلِبوا بِجَورِ وُلاتِهِم تِلكَ الكُسا
He clothed mankind in manifest justice, and before him
They said, “The clan of Tha’laba, you have exhausted generosity
their governors' tyranny had stripped them of those garments.
That is attributed to its source,” so I said, “And what hope?”
وَأَعَدَّand arranged أَقدارَthe measures of الأُمورِaffairs بِحَزمِهِwith his resolve
وَأَعَدَّ أَقدارَ الأُمورِ بِحَزمِهِ
وَرَمىand shot بِهِwith it غَرَضَthe target of الخُطوبِmisfortunes فَقَرطَساso hit the bull's-eye
وَرَمى بِهِ غَرَضَ الخُطوبِ فَقَرطَسا
He arranged the measures of affairs with his resolve,
Bring one for Hatim of Tayy that equals
and aimed it at misfortunes' target, hitting the bull's-eye.
These and I promise not to breathe.
وَأَتَتهُand came to him لِلبَيتِfor the house الرَفيعِlofty عِمادُهُits pillar
وَأَتَتهُ لِلبَيتِ الرَفيعِ عِمادُهُ
عَمَدٌpillars لَهُfor him مَجداًglory وَعِزّاًand might أَقعَساunbending
عَمَدٌ لَهُ مَجداً وَعِزّاً أَقعَسا
To him came, for the lofty house whose pillar he is,
Or ask me among the people other than my father
pillars bringing him glory and unbending might.
Hafs, so do you find about him a substitute?
قالواthey said بَنوthe sons of ثُعِلThual نَفَستِyou begrudged مَكارِماًnoble deeds
قالوا بَنو ثُعِل نَفَستِ مَكارِماً
تُعزىare ascribed لِحاتِمِهاto their Hatim فَقُلتُso I said وَماand what عَسىmight be
تُعزى لِحاتِمِها فَقُلتُ وَما عَسى
The sons of Thual said: You begrudged noble deeds
Or carry some of what he carries
ascribed to their Hatim. I replied: What could they be?
To return you from it, miserable and scraping.
جيئواbring بِواحِدَةٍwith one deed لِحاتِمِof Hatim طَيِّءٍTayyi
جيئوا بِواحِدَةٍ لِحاتِمِ طَيِّءٍ
مِنof هَذِهِthese وَعَلَيَّand I undertake أَلّاnot to أَنفَساbegrudge
مِن هَذِهِ وَعَلَيَّ أَلّا أَنفَسا
Bring one deed of Hatim of Tayyi
People are similar but between them
like these, and I pledge not to begrudge it.
In merit is what is between the beast and humankind.
أَوor سائَلونيquestion me فيamong الأَنامِhumankind سِوىother than أَبيAbu
أَو سائَلوني في الأَنامِ سِوى أَبي
حَفصٍHafs فَهَلthen can you تَجِدونَfind عَنهُaway from him مَعدِساan alternative
حَفصٍ فَهَل تَجِدونَ عَنهُ مَعدِسا
Or ask me about anyone among mankind other than Abu
Do you think everyone the dew covered
Hafs—can you find an alternative to him?
Not every house in Damascus is sacred?
أَوor فَاِحمِلواthen bear بَعضَsome of الَّذيwhat هُوَhe حامِلٌis bearing
أَو فَاِحمِلوا بَعضَ الَّذي هُوَ حامِلٌ
لِيَرُدَّكُمso it may drive you back مِنهُfrom it يَلَملَمُYalamlam قَدرَساcolossal
لِيَرُدَّكُم مِنهُ يَلَملَمُ قَدرَسا
Or shoulder some of what he shoulders,
O shame of the shining moon, and it has seen
and a colossal Yalamlam of it will drive you back.
Umar cloaked in kinds of majesty.
الناسُpeople أَشباهُare alike وَلَكِنbut بَينَهُمbetween them
الناسُ أَشباهُ وَلَكِن بَينَهُم
فيin الفَضلِmerit ماwhat lies بَينَbetween الدُؤابَةِthe forelock وَالنَساand the sciatic vein
في الفَضلِ ما بَينَ الدُؤابَةِ وَالنَسا
People are alike, yet between them
If it could, it would come borrowing for it
in merit lies the distance between the forelock and the sciatic vein.
From its horizon, and if it found a place to borrow.
أَحَسِبتُمdid you think كُلِّevery اِمرِئٍperson غَمَرَoverflowing with النَدىgenerosity
أَحَسِبتُم كُلِّ اِمرِئٍ غَمَرَ النَدى
ماnot كُلُّevery بَيتٍhouse بِالشَآمِin al-Sham المَقدِساthe Holy House
ما كُلُّ بَيتٍ بِالشَآمِ المَقدِسا
Did you think every man overflowed with generosity?
A prince who hopes for its light has failed
Not every house in al-Sham is the Holy House.
Except the ungrateful, for he is destitute.
ياO خَجلَةَthe shame of القَمَرِthe moon المُنيرِshining وَقَدand already رَأَىit saw
يا خَجلَةَ القَمَرِ المُنيرِ وَقَد رَأَى
عُمراًUmar بِأَنواعِin various kinds of الجَلالَةِmajesty مُلبَساclothed
عُمراً بِأَنواعِ الجَلالَةِ مُلبَسا
How ashamed the shining moon was when it saw
It has sweetened the mouths of narrators with its praise
Umar clothed in every kind of majesty!
As if a perfumer saturating with scent.
لَوif يَستَطيعُit could لَجاءَit would come مُقتَبِساًseeking a spark لَهاof it
لَو يَستَطيعُ لَجاءَ مُقتَبِساً لَها
مِنfrom أُفقِهِits horizon وَإِذاand then لَصادَفَit would find مَقبِساa source of light
مِن أُفقِهِ وَإِذا لَصادَفَ مَقبِسا
If it could, it would come seeking a spark of that majesty
And I have exceeded the rank of speakers in thanking it
from its horizon, and then would find a source of light.
And if I persist in its praise, I will be mute.
خابَfailed اِمرُةٌa man يَرجوhoping for نُداهُhis bounty غَضاضَةًdisgrace
خابَ اِمرُةٌ يَرجو نُداهُ غَضاضَةً
إِلّاexcept الكَفورُthe ungrateful one فَإِنَّهُfor he قَدalready أَبلَساdespaired
إِلّا الكَفورُ فَإِنَّهُ قَد أَبلَسا
A man who looks for disgrace in his bounty hopes in vain,
O unique one of the Arabs, if you pictured
except the ungrateful one, who has indeed despaired.
An ancient charm, it would be from it the amulet.
طَيِّبَتُI perfumed أَفواهَthe mouths of الرَواةِthe reciters بِمَدحِهِwith his praise
طَيِّبَتُ أَفواهَ الرَواةِ بِمَدحِهِ
فَكَأَنَّas though عَطّاراًa perfumer يُضَمِّخُis anointing مُعرِساa bridegroom
فَكَأَنَّ عَطّاراً يُضَمِّخُ مُعرِسا
I perfumed the mouths of the reciters with his praise,
I have called you for the strange wishes in
as though a perfumer were anointing a bridegroom.
The darkness of the evil time relate a Jonah.
وَعَلَوتُand I surpassed قَدرَthe rank of الناطِقينَthe speakers بِشُكرِهِby thanking him
وَعَلَوتُ قَدرَ الناطِقينَ بِشُكرِهِ
وَلَئِنand if indeed تَمادىhe persists فيin نَداهُhis bounty لأَخرَساhe will surely strike dumb
وَلَئِن تَمادى في نَداهُ لأَخرَسا
I surpassed the rank of speakers through thanking him,
If the whale of events swallows my quest
yet if he persists in his bounty, he will surely silence me.
Then extend to it your generosity a garment.
ياO واحِدَpeerless one of العُربِthe Arabs الَّذيwho لَوif صَوَّرَتthey were fashioned
يا واحِدَ العُربِ الَّذي لَو صَوَّرَت
طِرفاًa noble steed عَتيقاًpurebred كانَwould be مِنهُof it القَونَساthe head's crown
طِرفاً عَتيقاً كانَ مِنهُ القَونَسا
O peerless one of the Arabs, were they fashioned
You are the quencher if a watering place is blocked
as a purebred steed, you would be its crown!
And the water if hope is muddled and despairing.
إِنّيindeed I دَعَوتُكَI called upon you لِلأَمانيfor hopes الغُرِّradiant فيin
إِنّي دَعَوتُكَ لِلأَماني الغُرِّ في
ظُلَمِthe darkness of الزَمانِthe age السَوءِevil أَحكيI resemble يونُساYunus
ظُلَمِ الزَمانِ السَوءِ أَحكي يونُسا
I have called on you for radiant hopes amid
And the inability to hope other than you, but
the darkness of this evil age, resembling Yunus.
I fear the plants of the meadow sneaking.
إِنif يَلتَقِمَswallows نونُthe whale of الحَوادِثِcalamities مَطلَبيmy quest
إِن يَلتَقِمَ نونُ الحَوادِثِ مَطلَبي
فَاِمدُدthen extend لَهُover it يَقطينَthe gourd-vine of جودِكَyour bounty مَلبَساas a garment
فَاِمدُد لَهُ يَقطينَ جودِكَ مَلبَسا
If the whale of calamities swallows my quest,
For you are the most fragrant knot stored
spread over it the gourd-vine of your bounty as a cloak.
Why would I not protect from wasting the soul?
أَنتَyou الرَواءُquenching water إِذاwhen تَعَذَّرَis inaccessible مَورِدٌa watering place
أَنتَ الرَواءُ إِذا تَعَذَّرَ مَورِدٌ
وَالماءُand water إِنif كَدُرَgrows turbid الرَجاءُhope فَأَيأَساand causes despair
وَالماءُ إِن كَدُرَ الرَجاءُ فَأَيأَسا
You are refreshment when a watering place is inaccessible,
and water when hope turns turbid and brings despair.
وَالعَجزُand failure أَنis to يُرجىbe hoped for سِواكَanyone but you وَإِنَّماand only
وَالعَجزُ أَن يُرجى سِواكَ وَإِنَّما
أَخشىI fear نَباتَthe growth of الرَوضَةِthe garden المُتَخَلِّساstealing away
أَخشى نَباتَ الرَوضَةِ المُتَخَلِّسا
Failure lies in hoping for anyone but you; I only
fear the garden's growth that steals away.
فَلَأَنتَfor surely you أَنفَسُthe most precious عُقدَةٍasset مَذخورَةٍstored in reserve
فَلَأَنتَ أَنفَسُ عُقدَةٍ مَذخورَةٍ
لِمَwhy لاnot أَصونَdo I protect عَنfrom اِبتِذاليmy wearing out الأنفُساthe most precious
لِمَ لا أَصونَ عَن اِبتِذالي الأنفُسا
For you are the most precious asset held in reserve;
why should I not spare the most precious from my wearing it out?
Partial English translation: 94 of 100 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1