بكَرَcame early " الخريفُautumn " فراحso it began يُوعِدهُthreatening him
بكَرَ " الخريفُ " فراح يُوعِدهُ
أنْthat سوفَwould يُزْبِدُهُmake him foam ويُرْعِدُهُand make him thunder
أنْ سوفَ يُزْبِدُهُ ويُرْعِدُهُ
Autumn came early and began to threaten him,
Autumn came early and threatened
saying it would set him foaming and thundering.
To stir and boom against summer
وبَدَتْand appeared منfrom الأرماثthe rafts ، عائمةًfloating
وبَدَتْ من الأرماث ، عائمةً
فيهupon him ، طلائعُthe vanguard ماwhat يُجَنِّدُهit musters it
فيه ، طلائعُ ما يُجَنِّدُه
And from the rafts appeared, floating
Foam appeared floating on the sand
upon him, the vanguard of what it musters.
Harbingers of what it mobilizes
وكأنَّand as though ، منfrom زَبَدِthe foam الرِّمالof sand علىupon
وكأنَّ ، من زَبَدِ الرِّمال على
أمواجهhis waves ، طِفْلاًa child يُهَدْهِدهhe rocks him
أمواجه ، طِفْلاً يُهَدْهِده
As though, from the foam of sand upon
As if from the froth of sand, on its waves
his waves, he had a child to rock.
A child it would rock to sleep
واستَثْقَلَand found heavy النوتيُّthe boatman مِجْذَفَهhis oar
واستَثْقَلَ النوتيُّ مِجْذَفَه
بَرِماًchafing بمِقبَضهat its handle يُجَدِّدهhe renews it
بَرِماً بمِقبَضه يُجَدِّده
The boatman found his oar heavy;
The sailor felt the weight of his oar
chafing at its handle, he refashions it.
With decay, though his grip revived it
وتحفَّزَتْand braced themselves شُمُّthe lofty peaks الجبالof the mountains لهُagainst him
وتحفَّزَتْ شُمُّ الجبال لهُ
بثُلوجهاwith their snow كِسفَاًin slabs تُهدِّدهthreatening him
بثُلوجها كِسفَاً تُهدِّده
The lofty mountains braced themselves against him,
The scent of mountains provoked it
threatening him with their snow in slabs.
With its snows, piles that menaced
ظلَّتْthey kept تَعُدُّcounting خُطاهhis steps تَرقُبُهwatching him
ظلَّتْ تَعُدُّ خُطاه تَرقُبُه
فيin الصيفِsummer مُزدهراًflourishing وتحسُدهand envying him
في الصيفِ مُزدهراً وتحسُده
They kept counting his steps, watching him
Throughout summer flourishing, they counted its steps
flourish in summer, and envying him:
Watching over it, though envying it
جَرداءُbarren ، وهوwhile he يَضِجُّresounds مَلْعَبُهُhis playground
جَرداءُ ، وهو يَضِجُّ مَلْعَبُهُ
ظَلْماءُdark ، وهوwhile he يُشَبُّis kindled مَوقِدهhis hearth!
ظَلْماءُ ، وهو يُشَبُّ مَوقِده!
barren, while his playground resounded;
Barren while its playground roared
dark, while his hearth was kindled;
Darkened while its fire blazed
خرَساءُmute ، والأنعامُwhile the livestock تُرقصهُmake him dance
خرَساءُ ، والأنعامُ تُرقصهُ
وكأنَّهاand as though they بالموجwith waves تَرفِدهsupply him
وكأنَّها بالموج تَرفِده
mute, while the livestock made him dance,
Mute though cattle danced around it
as though they supplied him with waves.
As if waves sustained it
تَتَعَثَّرُstumble الأجيالُthe generations خالدةًenduring
تَتَعَثَّرُ الأجيالُ خالدةً
فيهاwithin them .. ويَحضُنُهاand embraces them مُخَلَّدهhis deathless being
فيها .. ويَحضُنُها مُخَلَّده
Generations stumble onward, enduring
Generations tripped into it, immortalized
within them; his deathless being embraces them.
As "David" roused it with psalms
" داودُDavid " بالمزمارِwith the pipe يُوقِظهwakes him
" داودُ " بالمزمارِ يُوقِظه
ويُنيمُهُand lulls him بالعُودwith the lute " مَعبدهhis Ma'bad "
ويُنيمُهُ بالعُود " مَعبده "
David wakes him with the pipe,
And "Maabad" soothed it on lute
and his Ma'bad lulls him with the lute.
It was robbed and plundered by ants
والهِيمُand thirsty camels تخزُنُهُhoard him وتنهبُهُand plunder him
والهِيمُ تخزُنُهُ وتنهبُهُ
والغِيدُand slender beauties تُنزِلهُlower him وتصُعِدهand raise him
والغِيدُ تُنزِلهُ وتصُعِده
Thirsty camels hoard him and plunder him,
Taken up and brought down by locusts
and slender beauties lower him and raise him.
It cast its beauties to the winds
ألْقَتْshe cast إليهbefore him مِنof مفاتِنِهاher charms
ألْقَتْ إليه مِن مفاتِنِها
ماwhat ليسَdoes not إلاَّexcept اللهُGod يَشهَدهbehold it
ما ليسَ إلاَّ اللهُ يَشهَده
She laid before him, of her charms,
Things that only God could witness
what none but God beholds;
It threw to it vigils of bliss
ورمَتْand she cast لهto him يقظانَawake مِنof مُتَعٍdelights
ورمَتْ له يقظانَ مِن مُتَعٍ
ماwhat نحنُwe فيin الأحلامِdreams نَنشُدهseek it
ما نحنُ في الأحلامِ نَنشُده
and cast to him, awake, such delights
That we only dreamed of
as we seek in dreams.
The star guarded it and its tryst
والنجمُand the star حارسُهاher guardian وحارسُهand his guardian
والنجمُ حارسُها وحارسُه
والظلُّand the shade موعدُهاher trysting-place وموعدهand his trysting-place
والظلُّ موعدُها وموعده
The star is her guardian and his,
As did the shade, its promise and vow
and the shade her trysting-place and his.
Now I understand its sighing
الآنَnow أُدْرِكُI understand سِرَّthe secret زَفْرتهِof his sigh
الآنَ أُدْرِكُ سِرَّ زَفْرتهِ
إذsince لمnot يَعُدْremains سِرّاًa secret تَجَلّدهhis endurance
إذ لم يَعُدْ سِرّاً تَجَلّده
Now I understand the secret of his sigh,
As it could no longer conceal its ache
since his endurance is no longer secret.
For it had lost the breath that sustained it
فَلفَقدِهso, for his loss of نَفَساًa breath تَنَفُّسُهُhis breathing
فَلفَقدِه نَفَساً تَنَفُّسُهُ
ولذِكرهand for his remembrance of نَهداًa breast تَنَهَّدهhis sighing
ولذِكره نَهداً تَنَهَّده
His breathing comes from missing a breath,
And for remembrance, the sigh that released it
his sighing from remembering a breast.
The poor soul pursued its wave
يتَعقَّبُpursues المسكينُthe poor wretch موجَتَهاher wave
يتَعقَّبُ المسكينُ موجَتَها
عَبَثاًin vain بمَوْجتهِwith his wave وتطْرُدهand she drives him off
عَبَثاً بمَوْجتهِ وتطْرُده
The poor wretch pursues her wave
Futilely with its wave though it drove it away
in vain with his own wave, and she drives him off.
Until now it knew not its nature
لمnot يَدْرِhe knew حتىuntil الآنَnow شِيمتَهاher nature
لم يَدْرِ حتى الآنَ شِيمتَها
حسِبَhe thought الهوىlove نَغَماًa melody يُردِّدهhe repeats it
حسِبَ الهوى نَغَماً يُردِّده
He has not yet learned her nature;
Thinking desire was a tune that entertained it
he thought love a melody he could repeat.
Yesterday its goal was so sweet
أمسِyesterday استطابتْshe found pleasant فيهin him مَقصِدَهاher destination
أمسِ استطابتْ فيه مَقصِدَها
واليومَand today أهونُless valued منهthan he مَقصِدهhis destination
واليومَ أهونُ منه مَقصِده
Yesterday she delighted in her destination in him;
Today that goal was less meaningful
today his own destination is valued less than he.
If it could bring back its greenery
لوif يستطيعُhe could لَرَدَّhe would reject خُضرتَهُhis verdure
لو يستطيعُ لَرَدَّ خُضرتَهُ
وبرغْمِand despite سَفْحَيْهِhis two banks تورَّدهhis rosy bloom
وبرغْمِ سَفْحَيْهِ تورَّده
If he could, he would reject his verdure
And redden its slopes against their pallor
and, despite his two banks, his rosy bloom.
Though it disliked that the love of its knocker
وبرغْمهِand against his will أنْthat حبَّwas loved خابِطُهُthe one battering him
وبرغْمهِ أنْ حبَّ خابِطُهُ
للزارعينَby farmers وذُمَّand was condemned مَوردهhis watering-place
للزارعينَ وذُمَّ مَورده
Against his will, the one who batters him is loved
Was for the farmers and the curse of its rain
by farmers, while his watering-place is condemned.
"Al Bayd" did not know
ماسرَّهُit did not gladden him " والبِيضُwhile fair women " تُنْكِرهُdisown him
ماسرَّهُ " والبِيضُ " تُنْكِرهُ
أنَّthat المراعيthe pastures الخُضْرَgreen تَحْمَدهpraise him!
أنَّ المراعي الخُضْرَ تَحْمَده!
With fair women disowning him, it does not gladden him
That the green meadows praised it!
that green pastures praise him.
Memories of its transparency witnessed it
فالذكْرَياتُfor the memories الغُرُّbright يَشهدُهاhe witnesses them
فالذكْرَياتُ الغُرُّ يَشهدُها
رقراقُهُhis rippling water الصافيclear وتَشْهَدهand they witness him
رقراقُهُ الصافي وتَشْهَده
His bright memories are witnessed
Its pure burbling witnessed it
by his clear rippling water, and they witness him.
Not fearing the violence of its torrents
مُتطامِنٌbowed low لمnot تُخْشَwas feared صَولتُهhis assault
مُتطامِنٌ لم تُخْشَ صَولتُه
لكبْbut (text unclear) تَضيقُis constrained بصائِلٍby an assailant يَدهhis hand
لكبْ تَضيقُ بصائِلٍ يَده
Bowed low, his assault was not feared,
Should valleys constrain its hands
but his hand is constrained by an assailant.
From the north, one hand lifted it
فمِنَso from الشَّمالthe north يدٌa hand وتُنْهِضُهُand lifts him
فمِنَ الشَّمال يدٌ وتُنْهِضُهُ
ومِنَand from الجَنوبthe south يدٌa hand وتُقْعِدهand sets him down
ومِنَ الجَنوب يدٌ وتُقْعِده
A hand from the north lifts him,
And from the south, one hand rested it
and a hand from the south sets him down.
Like people to the graves was its refuge
كالنَّاسِlike people للحُفُراتِto the pits مَرجِعُهhis return
كالنَّاسِ للحُفُراتِ مَرجِعُه
ومِنَand from النِّطافِthe drops النُزْرِscant مولِدهhis birth
ومِنَ النِّطافِ النُزْرِ مولِده
Like men, to pits he returns,
And from drops was its birth
and from scant drops he was born.
Its submission was like theirs, eternally
وخُضوعُهُand his submission كخُضوعهمْlike their submission أبداًalways
وخُضوعُهُ كخُضوعهمْ أبداً
للغيبِto the unseen أنَّىwherever سارَhe went يقصدهhe seeks it
للغيبِ أنَّى سارَ يقصده
His submission, like theirs, is always
To the unknown wherever it was fated
to the unseen: wherever he goes, he seeks it.
The season sustained it, minus the season
والفَصلُُand the season ، دونَrather than الفَصلِthe other season ، يُنْعشُهُrevives him
والفَصلُُ ، دونَ الفَصلِ ، يُنْعشُهُ
والأرضُand the land ، دونrather than الأرضthe other land ، تُسعِدهdelights him
والأرضُ ، دون الأرض ، تُسعِده
One season, not another, revives him;
And the earth, minus the earth, made it happy
one land, not another, delights him.
So remote - the sky did not expand it
لَغِبٌweary فلاso neither الإِمساءُevening يُوسِعُهُlavishes upon him
لَغِبٌ فلا الإِمساءُ يُوسِعُهُ
عَطْفاًtenderness ، ولاnor الإِصباحُmorning يُنجِدهcomes to his aid
عَطْفاً ، ولا الإِصباحُ يُنجِده
Weary: neither evening lavishes upon him
Gently, nor the dawn save it
tenderness, nor morning comes to his aid.
The star blind and unable to accompany it
النجمُthe star أعمىblind لاnot يرافِقُهُaccompanies him
النجمُ أعمى لا يرافِقُهُ
والطيرُand the bird أخرَسُmute لاnot يُغرِّدهsings to him
والطيرُ أخرَسُ لا يُغرِّده
The star is blind and does not accompany him;
The bird mute and unable to sing to it
the bird is mute and does not sing to him.
Bewildered, no orbit to bathe it
مُتحَيِّرٌbewildered لاnot يستَحِمُّbathes بهِin him
مُتحَيِّرٌ لا يستَحِمُّ بهِ
فَلَكٌa celestial orb ولاnor الأضواءُthe lights تُرشِدهguide him
فَلَكٌ ولا الأضواءُ تُرشِده
Bewildered: none bathes in him—
No lights to guide it
no celestial orb; nor do the lights guide him.
As if fog had crowded around it
وكأنَّand as though مُحتَشَدَthe massed gathering الضَّبابِof fog بهِupon him
وكأنَّ مُحتَشَدَ الضَّبابِ بهِ
بابٌa door بوجهِin the face of الشُهْبِmeteors يُوصِدهhe shuts it
بابٌ بوجهِ الشُهْبِ يُوصِده
As though the massed fog upon him
A door blocking the face of its meteors
were a door he shuts in the face of meteors.
The faded sun reminding it
والشَّمسُand the sun فاترةٌlukewarm تُذَكِّرهُreminds him
والشَّمسُ فاترةٌ تُذَكِّرهُ
وضَحَbrightness السَّناof radiance أيَّامَin the days تُوقِدهshe kindles him
وضَحَ السَّنا أيَّامَ تُوقِده
The lukewarm sun reminds him
Of the radiance of days when it lit its hearth
of radiant brightness in the days she kindled him,
Days when it blew from its spirit into its depths
أيَّامَdays when تنفُخُshe blows فيinto قَرارتهِhis depths
أيَّامَ تنفُخُ في قَرارتهِ
منfrom رُوحهاher spirit نَفَساًa breath تُجَدِّدهshe renews him
من رُوحها نَفَساً تُجَدِّده
days when she blew into his depths
A breath that revived it
a breath from her spirit, renewing him.
Even the moon saddened and isolated it
والبدرُand the full moon .. حتىeven البدرُthe full moon يُوحشهmakes him lonely
والبدرُ .. حتى البدرُ يُوحشه
فيon يومِthe day محنتهِof his ordeal ويُفردهand leaves him alone
في يومِ محنتهِ ويُفرده
The full moon—even the full moon—makes him lonely
On the day of its ordeal, leaving it alone
on the day of his ordeal, and leaves him alone.
These two were never like the others
هذاthis one الذيwho ماnot كانَthere was مِثلَهماlike those two
هذا الذي ما كانَ مِثلَهما
للصيفِfor summer منany مَثَلٍemblem يُخَلِّدهimmortalizing it
للصيفِ من مَثَلٍ يُخَلِّده
He, for whom there was nothing like those two—
For summer they were the best examples that immortalized it
no emblem to immortalize summer.
Together they fostered passion
كاناthey both were يَرُبَّانِnurturing الغرامَlove معاًtogether
كانا يَرُبَّانِ الغرامَ معاً
ذاthis one يَصْطَفيهِchooses him ، وذاand that one يُهَدْهِدهrocks him
ذا يَصْطَفيهِ ، وذا يُهَدْهِده
Together they nurtured love,
One chose it, the other cradled it
one choosing him, the other rocking him.
Of the commotion of spring, there remained in it
لمnot يبقَremains منof هَرَجِthe clamor الربيعof spring بهِin him
لم يبقَ من هَرَجِ الربيع بهِ
الاexcept الذيwhat قدalready فاتpassed أجودهits best
الا الذي قد فات أجوده
Nothing of spring's clamor remains in him
Only what was most generous
but what has seen its best pass away.
On its coast, of the bower
ومنand of العريشِthe arbor علىon شواطئهhis banks
ومن العريشِ على شواطئه
إلاّexcept خُشَيْباتlittle sticks تحدِّدهmarking its outline
إلاّ خُشَيْبات تحدِّده
And of the arbor on his banks,
Only shrubs that delineated it
nothing but little sticks marking its outline.
Disheveled by the breeze, as if playful
ركبٌa caravan تحملdeparted عنهfrom him ناشطهُits vigorous members
ركبٌ تحمل عنه ناشطهُ
واقامand stayed عاجزُهits helpless members ومُقْعَدهand its crippled members
واقام عاجزُه ومُقْعَده
A caravan: its vigorous members departed from him,
A madwoman gone to undo it
while its helpless and crippled stayed behind.
What summer had let down of its tresses
والسامرُونَand the night-talkers انفضَّdispersed عُرْسُهُمُtheir wedding feast
والسامرُونَ انفضَّ عُرْسُهُمُ
لاneither جِدُّهُits earnestness أغنىavailed ، ولاnor دَدهits play
لا جِدُّهُ أغنى ، ولا دَده
The night-talkers' wedding feast has dispersed;
Autumn came to curl up!
neither its earnestness availed, nor its play.
Revealing dormancy, a neck that
حجَلَhopped الغُرابُthe crow علىupon مواقِدهمْtheir hearths
حجَلَ الغُرابُ على مواقِدهمْ
وعلىand upon الرَّمادِthe ashes بهاthere يُلَبِّدهit tamps them down
وعلى الرَّمادِ بها يُلَبِّده
The crow hopped upon their hearths
Yesterday in bloom, stretched out
and on the ashes there, tamping them down.
As if its swimmer, fearing its pool
ومنَand among الحَمامِthe doves أظَلَّهُshaded him زَجِلٌa cooer
ومنَ الحَمامِ أظَلَّهُ زَجِلٌ
كَلِفٌenamored بلحنِof the tune الصَّيفِof summer يُنْشِدهsinging it
كَلِفٌ بلحنِ الصَّيفِ يُنْشِده
And among the doves, a cooer casts its shade over him,
Anxious, found its temple blocked!
enamored of summer's tune, singing it.
Would it return tomorrow to its playground
ضَنْكُstraitened المسَفَّةِin low flight يَدَّنيdraws near عَطَشاًthirstily
ضَنْكُ المسَفَّةِ يَدَّني عَطَشاً
وتَموُّجُand the surging الآذيِّof the swell يُبعِدهdrives it away
وتَموُّجُ الآذيِّ يُبعِده
Straitened in its low flight, it draws near, thirsty,
Or would it not return tomorrow like yesterday?!
and the heaving swell drives it away.
The sailor dismantled his boat
مُتَسائلاًquestioning بشمَgrew sickened حالَchanged رَيِّقُهُhis clear water
مُتَسائلاً بشمَ حالَ رَيِّقُهُ
عنfrom حُرِّa pure لونٍhue كانit used to يَعهَدهknow it!؟
عن حُرِّ لونٍ كان يَعهَده!؟
Questioning, sickened: his clear water has changed
With tar, after the locusts, bundling it
from the pure hue it once knew.
Living off scraps he nailed
وعلىand on الضِّفافِthe banks، البطُّthe ducks مُنكمِشٌhuddled
وعلى الضِّفافِ، البطُّ مُنكمِشٌ
لاهٍbusied بذاويwith the withered النبتِplants يَعضِدهit crops them
لاهٍ بذاوي النبتِ يَعضِده
On the banks the ducks huddle,
To the board, or rope he made into his pillow
busied with withered plants, cropping them.
I did not know, had lamps not shone
شَعْثُdisheveled النَّسيلin plumage ، كأنَّas though عابثةًa reckless woman
شَعْثُ النَّسيل ، كأنَّ عابثةً
مَجنونةًmad راحتْset about تُبدِّدهscattering it
مَجنونةً راحتْ تُبدِّده
Their plumage is disheveled, as though some reckless
On its coast, where was its tomb?
madwoman had set about scattering it.
It left...so I said: it fell asleep
ماwhat الصَّيفُsummer سبَّطَsmoothed منof جَدائلِهits tresses
ما الصَّيفُ سبَّطَ من جَدائلِه
جاءَcame الخريفُautumn لهto it يُجَعِّدهcrimping it!
جاءَ الخريفُ له يُجَعِّده!
Whatever summer smoothed of its tresses,
And its lids, bleary, put it to bed
autumn has come to crimp.
It faded...so I said: it slumbered, though still
باديshowing الخُمولِlanguor يؤودُهburdens it عُنُقٌa neck
بادي الخُمولِ يؤودُه عُنُقٌ
فيin أمسyesterday ، منout of زهْوٍpride ، يُمدِّدهit stretched it!
في أمس ، من زهْوٍ ، يُمدِّده!
Visibly languid, it is burdened by a neck
An echo in the ear from a sigh that rose
which yesterday it stretched in pride.
As if a coffin being prepared
وكأنَّهand as though it ، إذwhen خِيفَwas feared مَسبَحُهits swimming-place
وكأنَّه ، إذ خِيفَ مَسبَحُه
مُتَرِّهبُa monk قدalready سُدَّwas shut مَعْبَدهits sanctuary!
مُتَرِّهبُ قد سُدَّ مَعْبَده!
As though, now its swimming-place is feared,
By its sailors among what supported it
it were a monk whose sanctuary had been shut.
And I thought a dirge convoyed it
أتُرىdo you think يعودُit returns غداًtomorrow لِمَلْعَبهِto its playground
أتُرى يعودُ غداً لِمَلْعَبهِ
لأمْor (text unclear) لاnot يعودُreturns كأمسهlike its yesterday غدهits tomorrow؟!
لأمْ لا يعودُ كأمسه غده؟!
Will it, I wonder, return tomorrow to its playground,
To the grave, nails secured it
or will its tomorrow not become like its yesterday?
And the orators alternated verses
وتهضَّمَand humbled النُوتيُّthe boatman زورقَهhis boat
وتهضَّمَ النُوتيُّ زورقَه
بالقارwith pitch، بعدafter الغِيدthe slender beauties، يَحشُدهhe crowds it
بالقار، بعد الغِيد، يَحشُده
The boatman has humbled his boat,
Noble, weeping ones that eulogized it!
crowding it with pitch, after the slender beauties.
O mute, weary, your eloquence
يقتاتُhe earns his sustenance منfrom كِسَرٍfragments يُثَبِّتثهاhe fastens them
يقتاتُ من كِسَرٍ يُثَبِّتثها
فيto اللوحthe plank ، أوor حَبلٍa rope يُمَسِّدهhe twists it
في اللوح ، أو حَبلٍ يُمَسِّده
He earns his sustenance from fragments he fastens
A gushing eternal spring
to a plank, or a rope he twists.
The pearls of its necklace panic
لمnot أدْرِI knew لوif لمnot تُنبِنيinform me سُرُجٌlamps
لم أدْرِ لو لم تُنبِني سُرُجٌ
فيon شاطئيهhis two banks ِ ، أينَwhere مَرقدهhis resting-place
في شاطئيه ِ ، أينَ مَرقده
I would not have known, had lamps not shown me,
At what distressed them, scattered about
on his two banks, where his resting-place lay.
Memories awakened in it a wound
ومَضَتْthey flashed .. فقلتُso I said : النّومُsleep أعوزَهeluded him
ومَضَتْ .. فقلتُ : النّومُ أعوزَه
وجُفونُهand his eyelids ، رُمْداًinflamed ، تُسَهِّدهkeep him awake!
وجُفونُه ، رُمْداً ، تُسَهِّده!
They flashed, and I said: sleep has eluded him,
That in its withering hands lingered
and his inflamed eyelids keep him awake.
Appointed by time, it cultivated it
وخَبَتْand they dimmed .. فقلتُso I said : غفاhe dozed ، وإنَّthough صَدىًan echo
وخَبَتْ .. فقلتُ : غفا ، وإنَّ صَدىً
فيin السَّمْعِthe ear منof زَفْرٍsighing يُصَعِّدهhe sends it aloft!
في السَّمْعِ من زَفْرٍ يُصَعِّده!
They dimmed, and I said: he has dozed, though an echo
On its coast, then harvested it
of a sigh he sends aloft remains in the ear.
Oh shore, you are the dearest transformed
وكأنَّand as though تابوتاًa coffin يُعِدُّprepares لهُfor him
وكأنَّ تابوتاً يُعِدُّ لهُ
مَلاَّحُهhis boatman فيماin what يُنَضِّدهhe arranges it
مَلاَّحُه فيما يُنَضِّده
As though a coffin were being prepared for him
In speakers, by what you immortalize
by his boatman, in what he lays together.
And so nature, in its elements
وحسِبتُand I took for مِزماراًa pipe يُشَيَّعُهescorting him
وحسِبتُ مِزماراً يُشَيَّعُه
للقبرِto the grave ، مسماراًa nail يُشَدَّدهhe drives it tight
للقبرِ ، مسماراً يُشَدَّده
And I took for a pipe escorting him
Is a jinn confined, its spirit withered!
to the grave a nail he drove tight,
We roam its inertia to unleash it
وتجاوُبَand the answering calls of الأجْراءِthe hired hands قافيةًa rhyme
وتجاوُبَ الأجْراءِ قافيةً
سمحاءَgracious باكيةًweeping تُمَجّدهglorifying him!
سمحاءَ باكيةً تُمَجّده!
and the laborers' answering calls for a rhyme,
And its barren ambiguity to conceive it
gracious, weeping, glorifying him.
Perhaps this is so, and perhaps it is a language
ياO صامتاًsilent one عِيّاًtongue-tied ، ومَنْطِقُهُand his speech
يا صامتاً عِيّاً ، ومَنْطِقُهُ
مُتَفَجِّرُbursting forth اليَنْبُوعthe spring سَرْمَدهthroughout his eternity
مُتَفَجِّرُ اليَنْبُوع سَرْمَده
O silent one, tongue-tied, whose speech
Not yet attuned, we try to discipline it
is a spring bursting forth for all eternity;
And maybe its simplicities laughed
تَهفوflutter فرائدُthe precious beads عِقدهِof his necklace جَزَعاًin anguish
تَهفو فرائدُ عِقدهِ جَزَعاً
مماat what بهاis in them ، وتهيمُand wander lost شُرَّدهhis strays
مما بها ، وتهيمُ شُرَّده
the gems of his necklace flutter in anguish
Mocking us for what we complicate
at what is in them, while his strays wander lost.
وتُثيرُand stir فيهwithin him الذكرياتُmemories شجاًgrief
وتُثيرُ فيه الذكرياتُ شجاً
يَعياhe is wearied بهby it فيَخُورُso gives way أيِّدهhis strength
يَعيا به فيَخُورُ أيِّده
Memories stir grief within him,
which wearies him until his strength gives way.
ومُوَكَّلاًand one entrusted بالدَّهرwith Time ، يَزرعُهُhe sows it
ومُوَكَّلاً بالدَّهر ، يَزرعُهُ
فيon شاطئيهhis two banks ثمَّthen يحصُدهhe reaps it
في شاطئيه ثمَّ يحصُده
And you, entrusted with Time, sow it
on your two banks, then reap it.
ياO شَطُّriver ، أنتَyou أعزُّmost glorious مُنقَلباًin destiny
يا شَطُّ ، أنتَ أعزُّ مُنقَلباً
فيamong الناطقينَspeaking beings بماthrough what تُخَلِّدهyou immortalize it
في الناطقينَ بما تُخَلِّده
O river, your destiny is the most glorious
among speaking beings, through what you immortalize.
وكذاand likewise الطبيعةُNature فيin عناصرهاher elements
وكذا الطبيعةُ في عناصرها
جِنٌّa jinn حَبيسُimprisoned الرُّوحِin spirit مجهَدهits exhausted spirit!
جِنٌّ حَبيسُ الرُّوحِ مجهَده!
Thus Nature too, in her elements,
is a jinn, its spirit imprisoned and exhausted.
نَرتادُwe explore جامدَهاher inert matter نُفَجِّرُهwe burst it open
نَرتادُ جامدَها نُفَجِّرُه
وعقيمَand the barren part of غامضِهاher mysteries نُوَلَّدهwe bring it to birth
وعقيمَ غامضِها نُوَلَّده
We explore her inert matter, bursting it open,
and bring her barren mysteries to birth.
فلعلَّso perhaps ذاthis ، ولعَّلهاand perhaps she لُغةٌa language
فلعلَّ ذا ، ولعَّلها لُغةٌ
منof غيرِother than ماany جرْسٍsound نعوَّدهwe make it familiar
من غيرِ ما جرْسٍ نعوَّده
So perhaps this—and perhaps she—is a language
with none of the sounds we habitually use.
ولربَّماand perhaps ضَحِكتْlaughed بسائطُهاher simple expanses
ولربَّما ضَحِكتْ بسائطُها
هُزْءاًin mockery بناof us ممَّاat what نُعَقِّدهwe complicate it
هُزْءاً بنا ممَّا نُعَقِّده
And perhaps her simple expanses laugh
in mockery of us at what we complicate.
Partial English translation: 121 of 136 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1