أدموعُ النساء والأَطفالِ

أدموعُ النساء والأَطفالِ

تجرح القلب أم دموع الرجالِ

تجرح القلب أم دموع الرجالِ

Are these the tears of women and children

Do the tears of women and children

that wound the heart—or the tears of men?

Wound the heart, or the tears of men?

بلدٌ كان آمناً مطمئناً

بلدٌ كان آمناً مطمئناً

فرماه القضاء بالزلزالِ

فرماه القضاء بالزلزالِ

My country was safe and tranquil

A land that was safe and at peace,

until Fate hurled an earthquake upon it.

Then fate struck it with an earthquake.

هزَّةٌ إثر هزَّةٍ تركته

هزَّةٌ إثر هزَّةٍ تركته

طللاً دارساً من الأَطلال

طللاً دارساً من الأَطلال

Shock after shock left it

Shock after shock left it

a time-effaced ruin among ruins.

An effaced ruin among ruins.

مادت الأَرضُ ثم شَبَّتْ وألقت

مادت الأَرضُ ثم شَبَّتْ وألقت

ما على ظهرها من الأَثقالِ

ما على ظهرها من الأَثقالِ

The earth swayed, then reared and cast off

The earth swayed, then reared up and cast off

the burdens upon its back.

Whatever burdens were upon its back.

فتهاوتْ ذات اليمين ديار

فتهاوتْ ذات اليمين ديار

لفظت أهلها وذات الشمالِ

لفظت أهلها وذات الشمالِ

Houses toppled on the right,

Houses on the right collapsed;

and on the left, having cast out their people,

They spewed out their people, as did those on the left,

بعجاجٍ تُثيره تَرَكَ الدنيا

بعجاجٍ تُثيره تَرَكَ الدنيا

ظلاماً وشمسها في الزوالِ

ظلاماً وشمسها في الزوالِ

amid dust raised by the wreckage of the world,

Amid dust they stirred up, which left the world

whose landmarks and sun were fading away.

In darkness, though its sun was at noon.

فإذا الدور وهي إمَّا قبورٌ

فإذا الدور وهي إمَّا قبورٌ

تحتها أهلُها وإما خوال

تحتها أهلُها وإما خوال

And behold: the houses were either graves,

Behold the houses: they are either graves,

their people beneath them, or else empty.

Their people beneath them, or else empty.

وأرقُّ النسيم لو مرَّ بالقا

وأرقُّ النسيم لو مرَّ بالقا

ئم منها لدكَّه فهو بالِ

ئم منها لدكَّه فهو بالِ

I watch the breeze: if it passed over any remnant

And the gentlest breeze, if it passed over what still stood

still standing, it would level it, so ruinous is it.

Of them, would level it, so dilapidated is it.

لا تقف سائلاً بنابلس الثكلى

لا تقف سائلاً بنابلس الثكلى

فما عندها مجيبُ سؤالِ

فما عندها مجيبُ سؤالِ

Do not stop to question bereaved Nablus:

Do not stand asking in bereaved Nablus;

there is no one there to answer a question.

For she has no one to answer a question.

أرأيت الطيور تنفر ذعراً

أرأيت الطيور تنفر ذعراً

من خفافٍ عن سرحها وثقال

من خفافٍ عن سرحها وثقال

Have you seen the birds fleeing in terror,

Have you seen birds scatter in terror,

light and heavy alike, from their open range?

Light and heavy alike, away from their trees?

هكذا نُفِّرتْ عن الدور أهلٌ

هكذا نُفِّرتْ عن الدور أهلٌ

عمروها إلى كهوف الجبالِ

عمروها إلى كهوف الجبالِ

Thus were its people driven from the homes

So people were driven from the homes

they had built, toward the mountain caves.

They had inhabited, into the mountain caves.

أرسومٌ وكن قبل صروحاً

أرسومٌ وكن قبل صروحاً

كلُّ صرحٍ عاتٍ على الدهر عال

كلُّ صرحٍ عاتٍ على الدهر عال

Are these mere traces, though once soaring buildings,

Are these mere remnants? Once they were palaces,

each a lofty palace defying time?

Each palace lofty, defying time.

فالتحفنا السماء بعد ستورٍ

فالتحفنا السماء بعد ستورٍ

وشفوفٍ مُذالةٍ وحجال

وشفوفٍ مُذالةٍ وحجال

So we took the sky for our covering, after curtains,

So we wrapped ourselves in the sky, after curtains

trailing sheer drapes, and bridal canopies.

And trailing sheer cloths and bridal chambers.

وليالي الأَعراس يا لهف قلبي

وليالي الأَعراس يا لهف قلبي

عطلتْها تقلُّباتُ الليالي

عطلتْها تقلُّباتُ الليالي

And wedding nights—alas, my heart!—

And the wedding nights—alas for my heart!—

the vicissitudes of time have annulled them.

The nights' vicissitudes have put an end to them.

أضحك الدهر يا ابن ودي وأبكى

أضحك الدهر يا ابن ودي وأبكى

يوم لم يخطر الأَسى في بالِ

يوم لم يخطر الأَسى في بالِ

Time made us laugh, dear son of my affection, and made us weep

Time brought laughter, O son of my affection, and tears,

on a day when sorrow had never crossed the mind.

On a day when sorrow had not crossed the mind.

رب وادٍ كأنّه النَّهَرُ الأَخ

رب وادٍ كأنّه النَّهَرُ الأَخ

ضر يختال في برودِ الجمال

ضر يختال في برودِ الجمال

Many a valley, green as a river,

Many a valley, like a green river,

once strutted in the robes of beauty.

Struts in the robes of beauty.

خطرات النسيم ذاتُ اعتلالٍ

خطرات النسيم ذاتُ اعتلالٍ

فيه الدّوح مائس باختيال

فيه الدّوح مائس باختيال

Languid breaths of breeze passed through it,

The breeze's stirrings are languid;

while its great trees swayed proudly.

Within it, the great trees sway proudly.

غَشِيَتْهُ الطيور مختلفات

غَشِيَتْهُ الطيور مختلفات

رائعات الأَلوان والأشكال

رائعات الأَلوان والأشكال

Birds of many kinds thronged it,

Birds thronged it, of many kinds,

resplendent in their colors and forms,

Splendid in their colors and forms,

صادحات على أرائك في الأَيْ

صادحات على أرائك في الأَيْ

ك يَصِلْنَ الغدوَّ بالآصالِ

ك يَصِلْنَ الغدوَّ بالآصالِ

singing on thrones amid the groves,

Singing upon couches in the grove,

joining mornings to evenings.

Joining mornings to late afternoons.

نغمات أرسلنَها ذات تسجي

نغمات أرسلنَها ذات تسجي

ع وكرِّ في اللحن واسترسال

ع وكرِّ في اللحن واسترسال

Melodies they loosed, richly cadenced,

Notes they sent forth, full of trilling,

repeating their song in flowing succession.

Repetition in the melody, and an easy flow.

يا طيور الوادي غليل فؤادي

يا طيور الوادي غليل فؤادي

كان يشفيه بردُ تلكَ الظلال

كان يشفيه بردُ تلكَ الظلال

O birds of the valley, my heart’s burning thirst

O birds of the valley, my heart's burning thirst

was soothed by the coolness of those shades.

Was soothed by the coolness of those shades.

يا طيور الوادي رزايا بلادي

يا طيور الوادي رزايا بلادي

مَزَجَتْ لي الغناء بالأعوال

مَزَجَتْ لي الغناء بالأعوال

O birds of the valley, my country’s calamities

O birds of the valley, my country's calamities

have mingled my song with wailing.

Have mingled song with wailing for me.

كان واديك اللسرور مآلاً

كان واديك اللسرور مآلاً

فغدا بالثبور شرَّ مآل

فغدا بالثبور شرَّ مآل

Your valley was once a resort for joy,

Your valley once was a haven for joy;

but through ruin it has met the worst of fates.

Then, through ruin, it became the worst of destinations.

كان عيبال من صدى الأُنس يهتز

كان عيبال من صدى الأُنس يهتز

زُ فماذا سمعت في عيبال

زُ فماذا سمعت في عيبال

Mount Ebal once quivered with the echo of fellowship—

Ebal once trembled with the echo of joy;

what, then, have you heard upon Ebal?

What, then, have you heard on Ebal?

كان جرزيم منزهاً والغواني

كان جرزيم منزهاً والغواني

في ظلال منه وماءٍ زلالِ

في ظلال منه وماءٍ زلالِ

Gerizim was a pleasure-ground, with lovely maidens

Gerizim was a pleasure-ground, and lovely women

amid its shade and limpid water.

Were amid its shade and crystal-clear water.

أدموع عيونه أَصباه

أدموع عيونه أَصباه

زفرات الأَرمال والأَثكال

زفرات الأَرمال والأَثكال

Are these the tears of its springs, stirred forth by

Are its springs tears? Is its east wind

the sighs of widows and bereaved mothers?

The sighs of the widowed and the bereaved?

يا يد الموت ما عهدت أُلوفاً

يا يد الموت ما عهدت أُلوفاً

منك هوجاً تمتد للاغتيالِ

منك هوجاً تمتد للاغتيالِ

O hand of death, never had I known thousands

O hand of death, I had never known thousands

from you so raging, reaching out to slaughter.

Of your kind, wildly stretching out to kill.

طغت الحرب خمسةً ما دهتنا

طغت الحرب خمسةً ما دهتنا

كثوانٍ مَرَّتْ بغير قتال

كثوانٍ مَرَّتْ بغير قتال

War raged for five years, yet did not strike us

War raged for five years, yet did not strike us

as did mere seconds that passed without combat.

As did seconds that passed without a battle.

ووجوه المنون شتى فبانت

ووجوه المنون شتى فبانت

كلُّها عند هذه الأَهوال

كلُّها عند هذه الأَهوال

The faces of death are many; now all

And Death's faces are varied; they were revealed,

were revealed amid these horrors.

All of them, amid these horrors.

من وحيد لأُمِّه وأبيه

من وحيد لأُمِّه وأبيه

جمعوه مفرَّقَ الأَوصال

جمعوه مفرَّقَ الأَوصال

Among them, an only son to his mother and father—

Among them, an only son to his mother and father,

they gathered his dismembered body.

They gathered him, his limbs torn apart.

ومكبّ على بنيه بوجهٍ

ومكبّ على بنيه بوجهٍ

خلط الدمع بالثرى المنهال

خلط الدمع بالثرى المنهال

And one bent over his children, his face

And one bending over his children, with a face

mingling tears with the cascading earth.

That mingled tears with the cascading earth.

وفتاةٍ لاذتْ بحقويْ أبيها

وفتاةٍ لاذتْ بحقويْ أبيها

جزعاً وهو ضارع بابتهال

جزعاً وهو ضارع بابتهال

And a girl clung to her father’s waist

And a girl who clung to her father's waist

in panic, while he pleaded in supplication.

In terror, while he pleaded in prayer.

وحريضٍ رأى ابنه يسلم الرو

وحريضٍ رأى ابنه يسلم الرو

ح قريباً منه بيعدَ المنال

ح قريباً منه بيعدَ المنال

And a grievously ill man saw his son yield his spi-

And a wasted man who saw his son yield his soul,

rit nearby, yet beyond the reach of rescue.

Close to him, yet beyond his reach.

ومريضٍ وعُوَّدٍ صرخ المو

ومريضٍ وعُوَّدٍ صرخ المو

ت وكانوا يدعون بالابلال

ت وكانوا يدعون بالابلال

And a sick man with his visitors—all felled by dea-

And a sick man and his visitors—Death shrieked,

th—though they had been praying for recovery.

While they were praying for recovery.

خُسِفَ البيتُ بالمريض ومَنْ عا

خُسِفَ البيتُ بالمريض ومَنْ عا

د وبالمحْصنات والأَطفال

د وبالمحْصنات والأَطفال

The house collapsed upon the sick man and all who visi-

The house was swallowed up, with the sick man and those who

ted him, upon the nurses and the children.

Visited him, and with the chaste women and children.

قد رأينا في لحظةٍ وسمعنا

قد رأينا في لحظةٍ وسمعنا

كيف تلهو المنون بالآجال

كيف تلهو المنون بالآجال

In a single instant we saw and heard

In an instant we saw, and heard,

how Death toys with allotted lifespans.

How Death toys with allotted lifespans.

ههنا نسوة جياع بلا مأ

ههنا نسوة جياع بلا مأ

وى سترن الجسوم بالأَسمال

وى سترن الجسوم بالأَسمال

Here are hungry women without shel-

Here are hungry women without

ter, covering their bodies with rags.

Shelter, who have covered their bodies with rags.

ههنا أسرة تهاجر والغم

ههنا أسرة تهاجر والغم

م بديل الأَثاث فوق الرحالِ

م بديل الأَثاث فوق الرحالِ

Here a family departs, carrying griefs

Here a family migrates, and sorrow

instead of furnishings upon their pack-saddles.

Replaces furniture upon the pack saddles.

ههنا مبتلىً بفقد ذويه

ههنا مبتلىً بفقد ذويه

ههنا معدم كثير العيال

ههنا معدم كثير العيال

Here is one afflicted by the loss of his kin;

Here is one afflicted by the loss of his kin;

here one destitute, with many dependents.

Here, a destitute man with many dependents.

ملأ الحزنُ كلَّ قلبٍ وأودتْ

ملأ الحزنُ كلَّ قلبٍ وأودتْ

ريح يأسٍ بنضرة الآمال

ريح يأسٍ بنضرة الآمال

Sorrow filled every heart and swept away

Grief filled every heart; swept away

a wind of despair, the bloom of hopes.

By a wind of despair was the bloom of hope.

دخلاءَ البلاد إنَّ فلسطي

دخلاءَ البلاد إنَّ فلسطي

ن لأَرضٌ كنوزها من نكال

ن لأَرضٌ كنوزها من نكال

Intruders in the land! Palestine indeed

Intruders in the land, Palestine

is a land whose treasures are chastisements.

Is indeed a land whose treasures are torment.

تِبْرُها صفرةُ الرَّدى فخذوه

تِبْرُها صفرةُ الرَّدى فخذوه

عن بنيها وآذنوا بارتحالِ

عن بنيها وآذنوا بارتحالِ

Her gold is death’s pallor—take that warning

Her gold dust is death's pallor; take it

from her sons, and proclaim your departure.

Away from her children, and announce your departure.

ربِّ لطفاً فقد أتانا نذيرٌ

ربِّ لطفاً فقد أتانا نذيرٌ

بوباءِ من بعد هذا الوبال

بوباءِ من بعد هذا الوبال

Lord, show mercy: a warning has come to us

Lord, grant mercy, for a warning has reached us

of pestilence after this affliction.

Of an epidemic after this calamity,

وجراد وكل آتٍ قريب

وجراد وكل آتٍ قريب

أوَ بعد الإمحال من إمحال

أوَ بعد الإمحال من إمحال

And locusts—and every coming evil is near;

And locusts; all that is coming is near.

or, after drought, what further drought can there be?

And after barrenness, can there be more barrenness?

ربِّ إن الكروب تترى علينا

ربِّ إن الكروب تترى علينا

حسبنا كرب هجرة واحتلال

حسبنا كرب هجرة واحتلال

Lord, calamities come upon us one after another;

Lord, afflictions come upon us one after another;

the anguish of exile and occupation is enough for us.

The anguish of migration and occupation is enough for us.