عَسىmay لَيلَةُthe night الدَّهناءِal-Dahna تَسريtravel by night بُدورُهاher full moons
عَسى لَيلَةُ الدَّهناءِ تَسري بُدورُها
فَقَدfor indeed غابَwas absent واشيهاher talebearer وَنامَand slept سَميرُهاher evening companion
فَقَد غابَ واشيها وَنامَ سَميرُها
May a night in al-Dahnāʾ travel by night with its full moons;
May the full moons of al-Dahna's night travel through the dark,
for its tale-bearer has vanished, and its evening companion sleeps.
for her talebearer is absent, and her evening companion sleeps.
طَلَبناwe sought الكَرىsleep مِنهاfrom her فَدَلَّتso she pointed عَلَيكُمُtoward you
طَلَبنا الكَرى مِنها فَدَلَّت عَلَيكُمُ
فَهَلso is there عِندَكُمwith you مِنany فَضلَةٍa remainder نَستَعيرُهاwe might borrow it
فَهَل عِندَكُم مِن فَضلَةٍ نَستَعيرُها
We asked that night for sleep, but it directed us to you:
We sought sleep from her, and she directed us toward you;
have you some small remnant of it that we might borrow?
have you any to spare that we might borrow?
وَبَدَّدَand scattered حَرُّthe heat الشَّوقِof longing شَملَthe gathering نَسيمِهاof her breeze
وَبَدَّدَ حَرُّ الشَّوقِ شَملَ نَسيمِها
عَذيرِيَone to excuse me مِنfor وَجديmy passion بِكُمfor you وَعَذيرُهاand one to excuse her
عَذيرِيَ مِن وَجدي بِكُم وَعَذيرُها
The heat of longing scattered the gathered company of its breeze;
And longing's heat scattered the company of her breeze;
pardon my rapture over you—and pardon the breeze as well.
who will excuse me for my passion for you, and excuse her?
وَجَذوَةِand an ember نارٍof fire دونَwithout ذِكرِmentioning مَكانِهاits location
وَجَذوَةِ نارٍ دونَ ذِكرِ مَكانِها
سَريرَةُa secret حُبٍّof love لاnot يُخافُis feared ظُهورُهاits disclosure
سَريرَةُ حُبٍّ لا يُخافُ ظُهورُها
There is a glowing ember whose place need not be named,
And an ember of fire, whose place is left unmentioned,
the secret of a love whose disclosure is not feared.
is a secret of love whose disclosure is not feared.
تَناهَيتُI went to the utmost فيin كِتمانِهِconcealing it فَنَسِيتُهُso I forgot it
تَناهَيتُ في كِتمانِهِ فَنَسِيتُهُ
فَلِلَّهِso to God belongs نَفسٌa soul غابَvanished عَنهاfrom it ضَميرُهاits inward thought
فَلِلَّهِ نَفسٌ غابَ عَنها ضَميرُها
I carried concealment so far that I forgot the love itself—
I carried its concealment so far that I forgot it;
by God, what a soul, with its own secret absent from it!
by God, what a soul whose inward thought has vanished from it!
رَفَعتُمyou raised سَناهاits radiance لِلقِرىfor hospitality وَبَخِلتُمُand were stingy
رَفَعتُم سَناها لِلقِرى وَبَخِلتُمُ
فَماso not شَبَّflared إِلَّاexcept فيin القُلوبِthe hearts سَعيرُهاits blaze
فَما شَبَّ إِلَّا في القُلوبِ سَعيرُها
You raised its radiance as a fire of hospitality, yet withheld your welcome;
You raised its glow for hospitality, yet were stingy,
for nowhere but in hearts was its blaze kindled.
so its blaze flared nowhere but in hearts.
أَقولُI say لِمَغرورٍto a deluded man سَرىtraveled by night فيin طِلابِهاpursuit of her
أَقولُ لِمَغرورٍ سَرى في طِلابِها
وَماand not قَتلَtraversed البَيداءthe desert إِلَّاexcept خَبيرُهاone who knows it
وَما قَتلَ البَيداء إِلَّا خَبيرُها
I say to one deluded, traveling by night in search of her:
I tell a deluded man who traveled by night in pursuit of her—
only one versed in the wilderness can overcome it.
and only one who knows the desert can cross it—
حَذارِbeware عُيوناًeyes عِندَهاwith her بَدَوِيَّةًBedouin
حَذارِ عُيوناً عِندَها بَدَوِيَّةً
يُطيلُprolongs فُتوراًweakness فيin العِظامthe bones فُتورُهاtheir languor
يُطيلُ فُتوراً في العِظام فُتورُها
Beware the desert-bred eyes she possesses,
beware the Bedouin eyes she possesses:
whose languor makes languor linger deep within the bones;
their languor prolongs weakness in the bones;
وَغَيرانَand a jealous man لَوif هَبَّتblew لَهُtoward him الرّيحُthe wind ظَنَّهاhe thought it
وَغَيرانَ لَو هَبَّت لَهُ الرّيحُ ظَنَّها
رِسالَةَa message مشغوفٍof one infatuated بِهاwith her يَستَزيرُهاhe invites her to visit
رِسالَةَ مشغوفٍ بِها يَستَزيرُها
and beware a jealous lover who, if the wind should blow, imagines it
and a jealous man who, if the wind blew toward him, would deem it
a message from one lovesick for her, inviting her to visit.
a message from one infatuated with her, inviting her to visit.
وَلَمّاand when وَقَفناwe stood فيin الدِّيارِthe dwellings وَعِندَناand with us
وَلَمّا وَقَفنا في الدِّيارِ وَعِندَنا
مَدامِعُtears نُسديهاwe offer them لَكُمto you وَتُثيرُهاand stir them up
مَدامِعُ نُسديها لَكُم وَتُثيرُها
When we halted among the dwellings, we had tears
And when we stood among the dwellings, we had with us
to offer you—tears those dwellings stirred anew.
tears we offered you, and which the dwellings stirred,
شَكَوناwe complained إِلَيهاto them ماwhat لَقيناwe suffered مِنَof الضَّناwasting sickness
شَكَونا إِلَيها ما لَقينا مِنَ الضَّنا
فَعَرَّفَناso taught us كَيفَwhat it is like السَّقامُsickness دُثورُهاtheir decay
فَعَرَّفَنا كَيفَ السَّقامُ دُثورُها
We complained to them of the wasting sickness we had suffered,
we complained to them of the wasting sickness we had suffered;
and they showed us how sickness itself had effaced them.
and their decay taught us what sickness is.
وَقَدand indeed دَرَسَتwere effaced إِلَّاexcept إِمارَةُa sign ذاكِرٍfor one remembering
وَقَد دَرَسَت إِلَّا إِمارَةُ ذاكِرٍ
تَلوحُappear لَهُto him بَعدَafter التَّماديa long lapse سُطورُهاtheir lines
تَلوحُ لَهُ بَعدَ التَّمادي سُطورُها
They had been erased, except for a sign visible to one who remembers—
They had been effaced, save a mark for one who remembers,
lines emerging before him after the long passage of time;
its lines appearing to him after a long passage of time;
وَنُؤيٌand a camp-trench كَسِرِّlike a crease الكَفِّof the palm عافeffaced تَعاقَبَتalternated
وَنُؤيٌ كَسِرِّ الكَفِّ عاف تَعاقَبَت
عَلىover طَيِّهِits fold ريحُthe wind الصَّباthe east wind وَدُبورُهاand its west wind
عَلى طَيِّهِ ريحُ الصَّبا وَدُبورُها
and a hearth-trench like a palm’s secret markings, over whose folded trace
and an effaced camp-trench, like a crease in the palm, swept in turn
the east wind and the west wind had followed one another.
along its fold by the east wind and the west wind;
وَأَورَقَand gray ash فيamid سُحمblack stones عَوارٍbare كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَأَورَقَ في سُحم عَوارٍ كَأَنَّها
بِهِwith it لَمَمٌlocks of hair قَدalready لاحَappeared فيهاamong them قَتيرُهاtheir gray strands
بِهِ لَمَمٌ قَد لاحَ فيها قَتيرُها
Grayness sprouted among black, bare patches, as though
and gray ash amid bare black stones, as though they
locks of hair there had begun to show their silver.
with it were locks of hair showing their gray strands.
خَليلَيَّmy two friends قَدindeed عَمَّencompassed all الأَسىsorrow وَتَقاسَمَتand shared
خَليلَيَّ قَد عَمَّ الأَسى وَتَقاسَمَت
فُنونَthe kinds البِلىof decay عُشّاقُthe lovers لَيلَىof Layla وَدُورُهاand her dwellings
فُنونَ البِلى عُشّاقُ لَيلَى وَدُورُها
My two companions, sorrow has spread everywhere and apportioned
My two friends, grief has engulfed all, and they have shared
ruin’s many arts among Laylā’s lovers and her dwellings.
the many forms of decay—Layla's lovers and her homes.
فَلاso no دارَdwelling إِلَّاexcept دِمنَةٌa dung-stained campsite وَرُسومُهاand its traces
فَلا دارَ إِلَّا دِمنَةٌ وَرُسومُها
وَلاand no نَفسَsoul إِلَّاexcept لَوعَةٌanguish وَزَفيرُهاand its sighing
وَلا نَفسَ إِلَّا لَوعَةٌ وَزَفيرُها
There is no dwelling now but an ash heap and its traces,
No dwelling remains but a dung-stained campsite and its traces,
and no soul but an ache and the sigh it breathes.
and no soul but anguish and its sighing.
لَعَمرُby the life اللَّياليof the nights ماnot حَمَدتُI praised قَديمَهاtheir past
لَعَمرُ اللَّيالي ما حَمَدتُ قَديمَها
فَيوحِشُنيso as to leave me desolate ذُهّابُهاtheir departure وَمُرورُهاand their passing
فَيوحِشُني ذُهّابُها وَمُرورُها
By the life of the nights, I have never praised their former days:
By the life of the nights, I never praised their past,
their departure and passing only leave me desolate.
that their departure and passing should leave me desolate.
وَقالواand they said عَطاءَthe bounty الدَّهرِof time يَبلىwears out جَديدُهُits newness
وَقالوا عَطاءَ الدَّهرِ يَبلى جَديدُهُ
وَمَنand who ليfor me بِدُنياwith a world لاnot يَدومُlasts سُرورُهاits joy
وَمَن لي بِدُنيا لا يَدومُ سُرورُها
They say, “Time’s gift—however new—must wear away.”
They said, 'Time's bounty—its freshness wears away.'
Where can I find a world whose happiness endures?
And who will grant me a world whose joy does not endure?
وَعاذِلَةٍand a reproving woman عابَتfaulted عَلَيَّin me قَناعَتيmy contentment
وَعاذِلَةٍ عابَت عَلَيَّ قَناعَتي
كَأَنّيas though I إِذاif رُمتُsought الغِنىwealth أَستَثيرُهاrouse her
كَأَنّي إِذا رُمتُ الغِنى أَستَثيرُها
A reproachful woman blamed me for my contentment,
And many a reproving woman faulted my contentment,
as though, if I sought riches, I could simply summon them.
as though, if I sought wealth, I would stir her up.
وَلَوand if أَنَّنيthat I خَبَّرتُهاtold her كَيفَhow عَزمَتيmy resolve
وَلَو أَنَّني خَبَّرتُها كَيفَ عَزمَتي
عَلىdespite بُعدِهاher distance حَنَّتyearned مِنَfrom الشَّوقِlonging عيرُهاher caravan
عَلى بُعدِها حَنَّت مِنَ الشَّوقِ عيرُها
Had I told her the true measure of my resolve,
And had I told her the nature of my resolve,
even from afar her caravan beasts would have yearned toward it.
her caravan, distant though it was, would have yearned with longing.
رُوَيدَكَbe patient حَتّىuntil يَسحَبtrails الرَّوضُthe meadow ذَيلَهُits skirt
رُوَيدَكَ حَتّى يَسحَب الرَّوضُ ذَيلَهُ
وَتَنشُرُand unfold أَعلامُthe landmarks الفَيافيof the deserts وَقورُهاand their hillocks
وَتَنشُرُ أَعلامُ الفَيافي وَقورُها
Go gently, until the garden trails its hem
Be patient until the meadow trails its skirt,
and the desert unfurls its grave and stately banners.
and the desert's landmarks and hillocks unfold.
فَليfor I have هِمَّةٌan ambition لَوif ابعَدَmoved far away اللَّهُGod دارَهاits dwelling
فَلي هِمَّةٌ لَو ابعَدَ اللَّهُ دارَها
عَنِfrom الشّامِal-Sham لَمnot يُعرَفbe known لِمِثليfor one like me نَظيرُهاits equal
عَنِ الشّامِ لَم يُعرَف لِمِثلي نَظيرُها
Mine is an aspiration whose home, though God has set it far
For I have an ambition: were God to move its home far
from Syria, has no peer in any man like me.
from al-Sham, no equal to it would be known in one like me.
فَإِنso if أَعرَضَتstretch across مِنfrom دونِناbefore us هَضَباتُهُits uplands
فَإِن أَعرَضَت مِن دونِنا هَضَباتُهُ
وَوَدَّعَناand bid us farewell لُبنانُهاits Lebanon وَسَنيرُهاand its Sanir
وَوَدَّعَنا لُبنانُها وَسَنيرُها
Though its highlands should rise between us,
So if its uplands stretch across before us,
and we bid farewell to Lebanon and Sanīr;
and its Lebanon and Sanir bid us farewell,
وَلاحَتand appear ذُرىthe summits أَطوادِof the mountains مِصرَof Egypt وَفَرَّجَتand parted
وَلاحَت ذُرى أَطوادِ مِصرَ وَفَرَّجَت
سُجوفَthe curtains الدُّجىof darkness أَهرامُهاits pyramids وَقُصورُهاand its palaces
سُجوفَ الدُّجى أَهرامُها وَقُصورُها
though the peaks of Egypt’s mountains come into view, parting
and the peaks of Egypt's mountains appear, and lifted are
the veils of darkness—its pyramids and palaces—
the curtains of darkness by its pyramids and palaces,
فَقوليthen say لِواديto the valley المَحلِof drought أَينَwhere نَزيلُهُits guest
فَقولي لِوادي المَحلِ أَينَ نَزيلُهُ
وَلِلسَّنَةِand to the year الشَّهباءash-gray with famine كَيفَhow فَقيرُهاits pauper
وَلِلسَّنَةِ الشَّهباء كَيفَ فَقيرُها
say to the valley of drought, “Where is its guest to lodge?”
then ask the valley of drought where its guest is,
and ask the ashen year how its poor are faring.
and the ash-gray year of famine how its pauper fares.
وَقوميand rise اسأَليask عَنabout مِنَّةٍa favor تَغلِبِيَّةٍTaghlibi
وَقومي اسأَلي عَن مِنَّةٍ تَغلِبِيَّةٍ
سَرىtraveled by night بِشرُهاits gladness قَبلَbefore النَّدىthe bounty وَبَشيرُهاand its herald
سَرى بِشرُها قَبلَ النَّدى وَبَشيرُها
Rise and inquire into the might of Taghlib,
And rise and ask about a Taghlibi favor,
whose glad tidings traveled before its bounty, together with its herald.
whose gladness and herald traveled by night ahead of its bounty.
إِذاwhen بَلَغَتare attained مِنfrom ناصِرِNasir الدَّولَةِal-Dawla المُنىthe hopes
إِذا بَلَغَت مِن ناصِرِ الدَّولَةِ المُنى
فَماthen what عُذرُهاtheir excuse أَلَّاthat not تُوَفّىbe fulfilled نُذورُهاtheir vows
فَما عُذرُها أَلَّا تُوَفّى نُذورُها
When, through Nāṣir al-Dawla, she attains her hopes,
When hopes are fulfilled through Nasir al-Dawla,
what excuse will she have not to fulfill her vows?
what excuse have they for leaving their vows unfulfilled?
وَأَبلَجَand a radiant man مِنfrom آلِthe house المُثَنّىof al-Muthanna تَأَلَّفَتassembled
وَأَبلَجَ مِن آلِ المُثَنّى تَأَلَّفَت
لِناسِبِهِfor his genealogist شُهبُthe meteors العُلىof eminence وَبُدورُهاand its full moons
لِناسِبِهِ شُهبُ العُلى وَبُدورُها
Praise, though miserly in spending itself, has gathered its treasures
And a radiant man of the house of al-Muthanna; gathered
so that the stars and full moons of glory may befit him.
for his genealogist are the meteors and full moons of eminence.
تُناخُare made to kneel عِتاقُthe noble العِيسِpale camels حَولَaround قِبابِهِhis pavilions
تُناخُ عِتاقُ العِيسِ حَولَ قِبابِهِ
وَقَدand indeed أَمِنَتare safe from شَدَّstrapping on الرِّحالِthe saddles ظُهورُهاtheir backs
وَقَد أَمِنَت شَدَّ الرِّحالِ ظُهورُها
Purebred camels kneel around his pavilions,
Noble pale camels are made to kneel around his pavilions,
their backs worn by saddles tightened for the journey.
their backs safe now from having saddles strapped upon them.
مِنَof القَومِthe people سَنُّوthey established لِلمُلوكِfor kings شَريعَةًa code
مِنَ القَومِ سَنُّو لِلمُلوكِ شَريعَةً
مِنَof المَجدِglory كانَتhad أَغفَلَتهاoverlooked it دُهورُهاtheir ages
مِنَ المَجدِ كانَت أَغفَلَتها دُهورُها
They are a people who established for kings a law of glory
Of a people who laid down for kings a code
which the ages, in their long neglect, had overlooked.
of glory that their ages had neglected.
فَإِنso if يُمنَحare granted الأَلقابtitles قَومٌpeople سِواهُمُother than them
فَإِن يُمنَح الأَلقاب قَومٌ سِواهُمُ
فَأَوَّلُهاthen their first مِنfrom عِندِهِمtheir keeping وَأَخِيرُهاand their last
فَأَوَّلُها مِن عِندِهِم وَأَخِيرُها
If men outside their house are granted honorific titles,
If other people are granted titles,
those titles have their beginning and their end with them.
their first and last come from these men.
لَهُمtheirs سَيفُهاits Sword وَسَعدُهاand its Fortune وَسَعيدُهاand its Fortunate One
لَهُم سَيفُها وَسَعدُها وَسَعيدُها
وَناصِرُهاand its Defender وَفَخرُهاand its Pride وَمُنيرُهاand its Illuminator
وَناصِرُها وَفَخرُها وَمُنيرُها
Theirs are its Sword, its Fortune, and its Felicity;
Theirs are its Sword, its Fortune, and its Fortunate One,
its Champion, its Glory, and its Radiance.
its Defender, its Pride, and its Illuminator.
كَأَنَّكُمُas though you وَالأَرضُand the earth أَبناءchildren لَيلَةٍof one night
كَأَنَّكُمُ وَالأَرضُ أَبناء لَيلَةٍ
فَماfor not عُرِفَتwas known إِلَّاexcept وَمِنكُمand from you أَميرُهاits ruler
فَما عُرِفَت إِلَّا وَمِنكُم أَميرُها
You and the earth seem to have been born in a single night,
It is as though you and the earth were children of one night,
for it has known no sovereign except your rule.
for it was never known without one of you as its ruler.
إِذاwhen أَظلَمَتdarkened فيهاon it اللَّيالِيَthe nights جَلَوتُمُyou unveiled
إِذا أَظلَمَت فيها اللَّيالِيَ جَلَوتُمُ
عَلَيهاupon it وجوهاًfaces يُخجِلُputs to shame الشَّمسَthe sun نورُهاtheir light
عَلَيها وجوهاً يُخجِلُ الشَّمسَ نورُها
Whenever its nights grow dark, you illuminate them
When the nights darkened upon it, you unveiled
with faces whose brilliance shames the sun.
upon it faces whose light puts the sun to shame.
وَماand never عَدِمَتlacked مِنكُمfrom you يَداًa hand رَبعِيَّةًlike spring rain
وَما عَدِمَت مِنكُم يَداً رَبعِيَّةً
إِذاwhen أَمحَلَتsuffered drought عاذَتsought refuge بِهاin it تَستَجيرُهاseeks its protection
إِذا أَمحَلَت عاذَت بِها تَستَجيرُها
The earth has never lacked from you a springlike hand
It never lacked from you a hand like spring rain;
to which it flees for refuge whenever drought leaves it barren.
when drought struck, it sought that hand's refuge and protection.
وَلاand may never زالَتِcease الأَمصارُthe cities تُزهىglory بِذِكرِكُمin your mention
وَلا زالَتِ الأَمصارُ تُزهى بِذِكرِكُم
مَنابِرُهاtheir pulpits حَتّىuntil يَطولَgrows tall قَصيرُهاtheir short one
مَنابِرُها حَتّى يَطولَ قَصيرُها
May the cities never cease to glory in your remembrance
May the cities never cease to glory in your mention,
upon their pulpits, until the short among them rises tall.
their pulpits, until even their short ones grow tall.
سَبَقتُمyou preceded إِلىto الأَيامthe days قَبلَbefore صُروفِهاtheir vicissitudes
سَبَقتُم إِلى الأَيام قَبلَ صُروفِها
فَماso not ثَبَتَتbecame stable إِلَّاexcept عَلَيكُمupon you أُمورُهاtheir affairs
فَما ثَبَتَت إِلَّا عَلَيكُم أُمورُها
You reached appointed deaths before their turns could come,
You reached the days before their vicissitudes,
and the world’s affairs stood firm only through you.
so their affairs found stability only through you.
وَصاحَبتُموهاand you accompanied them وَهيَwhile they were بَعدُstill غَريرَةinnocent
وَصاحَبتُموها وَهيَ بَعدُ غَريرَة
فَصَحَّتso they proved sound لَكُمfor you ثُمَّthen استَمَرَّgrew firm مَريرُهاtheir twisted cord
فَصَحَّت لَكُم ثُمَّ استَمَرَّ مَريرُها
You kept the world company while she was still a guileless girl;
And you kept company with them while they were still innocent,
for you she grew sound, and her strength became steadfast.
so they proved true to you, then their twisted cord grew firm.
وَأَغذَيتُمُand you nourished الدُّنياthe world بِفَيضِwith the overflow نَوالِكُمof your gifts
وَأَغذَيتُمُ الدُّنيا بِفَيضِ نَوالِكُم
فَمِنso from عِندِكُمyour keeping أَمطارُهاits rains وَبُحورُهاand its seas
فَمِن عِندِكُم أَمطارُها وَبُحورُها
You nourished the world with the overflowing abundance of your gifts;
And you nourished the world with the overflow of your gifts,
from you come its rainstorms and its seas.
so its rains and its seas come from you.
وَلَمّاand when شَكَتcomplained فَقدَthe loss الكِرامof the generous إِلَيكُمُto you
وَلَمّا شَكَت فَقدَ الكِرام إِلَيكُمُ
وَكانَand was عَلَيكُمincumbent on you بَعثُهاits revival وَنُشورُهاand its resurrection
وَكانَ عَلَيكُم بَعثُها وَنُشورُها
When it complained to you that noble men had vanished,
And when it complained to you of the loss of the generous,
its resurrection and renewal rested with you.
and its revival and resurrection lay upon you,
أَعَدتُمyou restored عَلَىto طَيِّTayy حُمَيداًHumayd وَحازِماًand Hazim
أَعَدتُم عَلَى طَيِّ حُمَيداً وَحازِماً
فَأَمرَعَso grew lush واديهاits valley وَفاضَand overflowed غَديرُهاits pool
فَأَمرَعَ واديها وَفاضَ غَديرُها
You restored to Ṭayyiʾ men both praiseworthy and resolute,
you restored Humayd and Hazim to Tayy,
and so its valley grew green and its stream overflowed.
so its valley grew lush and its pool overflowed.
وَقَدand indeed طَمِعَتset its hopes فيon حاتِمHatim فَلَعَلَّهُso perhaps he
وَقَد طَمِعَت في حاتِم فَلَعَلَّهُ
بِسَعدِكُمُthrough your good fortune يَشتاقُهاlongs for it فَيَزورُهاand so visits it
بِسَعدِكُمُ يَشتاقُها فَيَزورُها
It even longed for another Ḥātim—perhaps
It has set its hopes on Hatim too; perhaps he
through your good fortune he might yearn for it and grant protection.
will, through your good fortune, long for it and visit it.
صَنائِعُbenefactions إِنif فادَتhave come إِلَيكُمto you صِعابَهاtheir unruly ones
صَنائِعُ إِن فادَت إِلَيكُم صِعابَها
فَإِنَّthen indeed طَليقَone set free العارِفاتby kindnesses أَسيرُهاtheir captive
فَإِنَّ طَليقَ العارِفات أَسيرُها
Deeds of beneficence—when their handiwork comes before you—
Benefactions—if their unruly ones have come to you,
hold even the man they have freed as their captive.
then one freed by kindness is its captive.
لَكُمfor you ذَخَرَتهاstored them العَلاقاتُthe bonds of affection وَأَجمَعَتand resolved together
لَكُم ذَخَرَتها العَلاقاتُ وَأَجمَعَت
عَلىupon مَطلِهاdelaying them أَعوامُهاtheir years وَشُهورُهاand their months
عَلى مَطلِها أَعوامُها وَشُهورُها
For you I stored up bonds of obligation and gathered them,
Bonds of affection kept them for you, and they agreed
while their years and months conspired to delay fulfillment.
to delay them—their years and months.
وَماand not ذَهَبَتdeparted عَنfrom قادِرٍan able man قَطُّever نِعمَةٌa blessing
وَما ذَهَبَت عَن قادِرٍ قَطُّ نِعمَةٌ
يَمُنُّhe bestows بِهاit إِلّاexcept إِلَيكُمto you مَصيرُهاits destination
يَمُنُّ بِها إِلّا إِلَيكُم مَصيرُها
No blessing ever departed from one capable of bestowing it
No blessing ever left a man able
without finding its final destination in you.
to bestow it without finding its way to you.
شَهِدتُI testify لَقَدindeed جادَتrained generously عَلىupon الأَرضِthe earth مُزنَةٌa raincloud
شَهِدتُ لَقَد جادَت عَلى الأَرضِ مُزنَةٌ
أَكُفُّكَyour hands أَحياrevived كُلَّevery أَرضٍland مَطيرُهاits rainfall
أَكُفُّكَ أَحيا كُلَّ أَرضٍ مَطيرُها
I testify: a raincloud has poured its bounty over the earth—
I testify: a raincloud has indeed poured upon the earth—
your palms have revived every land its rain could reach.
your hands—whose rain has brought every land to life.
وَأَنَّكَand that you لَوif نادَيتَcalled ساكِنَةَthe dwellers الثَّرىthe dust
وَأَنَّكَ لَو نادَيتَ ساكِنَةَ الثَّرى
أَجابَanswered صَداهاtheir echo أَوor أَصاخَتlistened intently قُبورُهاtheir graves
أَجابَ صَداها أَو أَصاخَت قُبورُها
Were you to call those dwelling beneath the soil,
And that, if you called to those dwelling in the dust,
their echo would answer, or their graves would listen.
their echo would answer, or their graves would listen.
وَإِنَّand indeed امرَأa man يَسعىadvances إِلَيكَagainst you بِكَيدِهِwith his plotting
وَإِنَّ امرَأ يَسعى إِلَيكَ بِكَيدِهِ
كَباحِثَةٍlike a digging creature عَنfor مُديَةٍa knife تَستَثيرُهاshe unearths it
كَباحِثَةٍ عَن مُديَةٍ تَستَثيرُها
Whoever advances against you with some plot
And a man who advances against you with his plotting
is like one searching for a knife that will turn against him.
is like a creature digging for a knife and unearthing it.
يَمُدُّhe stretches إِلىtoward نَيلِreaching السَّماءِthe sky بَنانَهُhis fingers
يَمُدُّ إِلى نَيلِ السَّماءِ بَنانَهُ
وَتِلكَand those أَحاديثُthe tales المُنىof hopes وَغُرورُهاand their delusion
وَتِلكَ أَحاديثُ المُنى وَغُرورُها
He stretches his fingers toward attaining the sky,
He stretches his fingers out to reach the sky,
but those are merely the tales and delusions of desire.
but those are the tales of hope and its delusions.
فَلَوso if أَضمَرَتconcealed فيكَagainst you الكَواكِبُthe stars غَدرَةtreachery
فَلَو أَضمَرَت فيكَ الكَواكِبُ غَدرَة
تَحَيَّرَwas confounded هاديهاtheir guide وَضَلَّand lost the way بَصيرُهاtheir seer
تَحَيَّرَ هاديها وَضَلَّ بَصيرُها
Were the stars to conceal some treachery against you,
Had the stars concealed treachery against you,
their guide would lose his way and their keen-sighted one go blind.
their guide would be confounded, and their seer lose his way.
وَلَوand if خالَفَتopposed أَفلاكُهاtheir spheres ماwhat تُريدُهُyou desire
وَلَو خالَفَت أَفلاكُها ما تُريدُهُ
لأَنزَلَهاwould surely bring them down قَسراًby force إِلَيكَto you مُديرُهاtheir mover
لأَنزَلَها قَسراً إِلَيكَ مُديرُها
Were their celestial spheres to oppose what you desire,
And had their spheres opposed what you desired,
their mover would force them down into your hands.
their mover would force them down to you.
وَلَوand if عَدِمَتlacked مِنكَfrom you الخِلافَةُthe caliphate نَظرَةa glance
وَلَو عَدِمَت مِنكَ الخِلافَةُ نَظرَة
وَهَىweakened تاجُهاits crown العاليlofty وَمادَand swayed سَديرُهاits Sadir palace
وَهَى تاجُها العالي وَمادَ سَديرُها
Had the caliphate lacked you as its champion,
And had the caliphate lacked one glance from you,
its throne would have swayed even as it climbed toward glory.
its lofty crown would weaken, and its Sadir palace sway.
وَلَوand if كَتَمَتhid عَنكَfrom you القُلوبُthe hearts سَريرَةa secret
وَلَو كَتَمَت عَنكَ القُلوبُ سَريرَة
تُريبكَarouses your suspicion ماnot ضُمَّتwere closed عَلَيهاover it صُدورُهاtheir breasts
تُريبكَ ما ضُمَّت عَلَيها صُدورُها
Were hearts to conceal from you an inward secret,
And had hearts hidden from you a secret
your insight would reveal what their breasts had folded within.
that aroused your suspicion, their breasts could not have enclosed it.
وَقَدand indeed ظَهَرَتappeared آياتُthe signs سَيفِكَof your sword لِلعِدىto the enemies
وَقَد ظَهَرَت آياتُ سَيفِكَ لِلعِدى
وَقامَand arose بِأَمرِby the command اللَّهِof God فيهِمamong them نَذيرُهاtheir warner
وَقامَ بِأَمرِ اللَّهِ فيهِم نَذيرُها
The manifest signs of your sword have appeared before the enemy,
The signs of your sword have appeared to your enemies,
and within it a warner has arisen by God’s command.
and, by God's command, their warner has risen among them.
فَإِنso if أَبَتِrefused الحُسّادُthe envious إِلّاexcept عِنادَهاtheir defiance
فَإِن أَبَتِ الحُسّادُ إِلّا عِنادَها
فَقَدfor indeed عَرَفَتhave known سُمرَthe brown shafts العَواليof long spears نُحُورُهاtheir throats
فَقَد عَرَفَت سُمرَ العَوالي نُحُورُها
If envy proves nothing except its stubborn denial,
If the envious insist on nothing but defiance,
the throats of foes have learned the truth from spear shafts.
their throats have already known the brown shafts of long spears.
وَكَمand how many طالِبٍa seeker أَمراًa thing وَفيهِand in it حِمامُهُhis death
وَكَم طالِبٍ أَمراً وَفيهِ حِمامُهُ
وَسارِيَةٍand a night-traveler تَسعىhastens إِلىtoward ماwhat يُضيرُهاharms her
وَسارِيَةٍ تَسعى إِلى ما يُضيرُها
Every seeker of an affair in which his death lies hidden,
How many a man seeks a thing in which lies his death,
and every night-marching band hastening toward what will harm it—
and a night-wanderer hastens toward what harms her!
لَكَmay you have الخَيرُgood ماnot جُهدُthe effort القَوافيof rhymes بِبالِغable to attain
لَكَ الخَيرُ ما جُهدُ القَوافي بِبالِغ
مَداكَyour reach وَإِنand even if بَذَّoutstripped الرِّياحَthe winds حَسيرُهاtheir weary one
مَداكَ وَإِن بَذَّ الرِّياحَ حَسيرُها
good be yours! No ever-renewed verse can attain
May good be yours: no striving of rhymes can attain
your utmost reach, though its exhausted coursers outstrip the winds.
your reach, though their weary runner outpaces the winds.
وَلَوand if نُظِمَتwere strung فيكَin your praise النُّجومُthe stars مَدائِحاًpraise-poems
وَلَو نُظِمَت فيكَ النُّجومُ مَدائِحاً
لَقَصَّرَwould surely fall short عَنof حَدِّthe measure الثَّناءِof praise مَسيرُهاtheir course
لَقَصَّرَ عَن حَدِّ الثَّناءِ مَسيرُها
Were praises strung like constellations among the stars,
And were the stars strung as poems in your praise,
their course would still fall short of praise’s furthest bound.
their course would fall short of the measure of praise.
وَليand I have فيكَin you آمالٌhopes طِوالٌfar-reaching وَماand not سَمَتrose
وَلي فيكَ آمالٌ طِوالٌ وَما سَمَت
إِلىtoward غايَةٍa goal إِلّاexcept وَأَنتَand you جَديرُهاworthy of it
إِلى غايَةٍ إِلّا وَأَنتَ جَديرُها
I have long hopes in you, and they have never aspired
And I have far-reaching hopes in you, nor have they risen
to any end of which you were not fully worthy.
toward any goal of which you are not worthy.
وَماand not فاتَنيescaped me خَيرٌany good نَداكَyour bounty كَفيلُهُits guarantor
وَما فاتَني خَيرٌ نَداكَ كَفيلُهُ
وَلاand not غِبتُwas I absent عَنfrom نُعمىa blessing وَقَوميwhile my people حُضورُهاpresent at it
وَلا غِبتُ عَن نُعمى وَقَومي حُضورُها
No good from your bounty has passed me by while you guaranteed it,
No good that your bounty guarantees has escaped me,
nor have I been absent from favor while my people enjoyed its presence.
nor have I missed a blessing at which my people were present.
Sol 6.1