يومٌa day منof العُمْرِlife فيin واديكِyour valley مَعدودُcounted
يومٌ من العُمْرِ في واديكِ مَعدودُ
مُستوحِشاتٌestranged بهin it أيَّاميَmy days السُودُdark
مُستوحِشاتٌ به أيَّاميَ السُودُ
A day of life in your valley is a day that counts;
A day in your valley, my life is counted
My dark days are strangers there.
Filled with lonely days, gloomy and dark
نزلتُI alighted ساحتَكِyour grounds الغنَّاءَverdant فانبعثَتْand so arose
نزلتُ ساحتَكِ الغنَّاءَ فانبعثَتْ
بالذكرياتِwith memories الشَّجيَّاتِpoignant الأناشيدthe songs
بالذكرياتِ الشَّجيَّاتِ الأناشيد
I alighted in your verdant grounds, and there arose
I entered your melodious courtyard, memories awoke
Songs with poignant memories.
Songs and yearnings poured out painfully
واجتَزتُand I passed through رغمَdespite اللياليthe nights بابَa gate ساحرةٍan enchantress
واجتَزتُ رغمَ الليالي بابَ ساحرةٍ
مرَّpassed الشبابُyouth عليهby it وهوwhile it was مسدودshut
مرَّ الشبابُ عليه وهو مسدود
Despite the nights, I passed through an enchantress's gate,
I passed beyond the gate of an enchantress
Which youth had passed by while it was shut.
Despite the nights, though shut youth has gone
قامَتْarose قِيامتُهits resurrection بالحُسْنِwith beauty وانتشرتْand spread
قامَتْ قِيامتُه بالحُسْنِ وانتشرتْ
فيهwithin it الأهازيجُthe songs والأضواءُand the lights والغيدand the graceful women
فيه الأهازيجُ والأضواءُ والغيد
It rose to life in beauty, and there spread
It was resurrected in beauty, songs and lights spread
Through it songs, lights, and graceful women.
The river, the swaying trees trilled joyfully
ماnot وحدَهُhe alone غرَّدَwarbled الشاديthe songster لِيرْقِصَهُto make it dance
ما وحدَهُ غرَّدَ الشادي لِيرْقِصَهُ
الماءُthe water والشجرُand the trees المهتزُّswaying غِرِّيدtuneful
الماءُ والشجرُ المهتزُّ غِرِّيد
The songster did not warble alone to make it dance:
The valley itself is paradise, envied
Water and the swaying trees are full of song.
Or like eternal gardens, desired yet beyond reach
وادa valley هوit الجَّنةُparadise المحسودُenvied داخلُهاone entering it
واد هو الجَّنةُ المحسودُ داخلُها
أوor أنَّهthat it منby جِنانgardens الخُلدِof eternity محسودenvied
أو أنَّه من جِنان الخُلدِ محسود
A valley that is paradise, whose entrants are envied,
Trust, Zaheela, that beauty everywhere
Or else it is envied by the gardens of eternity.
Is but an imitation of your inborn grace
ثقيbe assured " زحيْلةُZuhayla " أنَّthat الحسْنَbeauty أجمَعَهُall of it
ثقي " زحيْلةُ " أنَّ الحسْنَ أجمَعَهُ
فيin الكونِthe universe عنfrom حُسنكِyour beauty المطبوعِinnate تقليدan imitation
في الكونِ عن حُسنكِ المطبوعِ تقليد
Be assured, Zuhayla, that all beauty
You are life itself, without you my days
In the universe is copied from your innate beauty.
Are but waste and loss, aimless drifting
أنتِyou الحياةُlife وعمرٌand a lifetime فيin سواكِother than you مضىpassed
أنتِ الحياةُ وعمرٌ في سواكِ مضى
فإنماso nothing but هوit تبذيرٌsquandering وتبديدand wasting
فإنما هو تبذيرٌ وتبديد
You are life; a lifetime spent anywhere but in you
I swear I would give my youth its full due
Is nothing but squandering and waste.
If the past could somehow be restored
أقسمتُI swore أُعطيI give شبابيmy youth حقَّthe due قيمتهِof its worth
أقسمتُ أُعطي شبابي حقَّ قيمتهِ
لوif only أنَّthat ماwhat فاتَhas passed منهof it اليومَtoday مردودreturned
لو أنَّ ما فاتَ منه اليومَ مردود
I swore to give my youth its rightful worth,
But how can that be, when one's fate is hostage
If only what has passed of it could be returned today.
To it, and gain in life so limited
وكيفَand how بيfor me ونصيبُand the lot المرءof a person مُرْتَهَنٌheld in pledge
وكيفَ بي ونصيبُ المرء مُرْتَهَنٌ
بهto it ، ومَغْنَمُهُand his gain فيin العُمْرِlife محدودlimited
به ، ومَغْنَمُهُ في العُمْرِ محدود
But how could I, when a person's lot is bound
No two hills flanking your valley gave birth
To it, and his gain in life is limited?
To one nobler or lovelier than you
لمdid not يأتِcome للجَبَلْينِto the two mountains العاطفَيْنِbending علىover
لم يأتِ للجَبَلْينِ العاطفَيْنِ على
واديكِyour valley أبهىmore splendid وأنقىand purer منهُthan it مولودan offspring
واديكِ أبهى وأنقى منهُ مولود
No child has come to the two mountains bending over
The world's pleasures brought you their tidings
Your valley more splendid or purer than it.
And birds greeted you with joyful song
زَفَّتْjoyfully brought لهto it مُتَعُthe pleasures الدُّنياof the world بشائرَهاtheir glad tidings
زَفَّتْ له مُتَعُ الدُّنيا بشائرَها
واستقبلَتْهُand welcomed it مِنfrom الطيرِthe birds الأغاريدthe melodies
واستقبلَتْهُ مِن الطيرِ الأغاريد
The world's pleasures brought it their glad tidings,
Shading you, protecting you from the burning wind
And melodies from the birds welcomed it.
A canopy of delicate shade outstretched
أوفىrose above عليهover it يَقيهِshielding it حَرَّthe heat هاجرةٍof noon
أوفى عليه يَقيهِ حَرَّ هاجرةٍ
سُرادِقٌa canopy منof لطيفِgentle الظلِّshade ممدودoutspread
سُرادِقٌ من لطيفِ الظلِّ ممدود
Above it, shielding it from the heat of noon, rose
The guards kept watch over you on both sides
An outspread canopy of gentle shade.
Sheltered from people's prying eyes
بالحََوْرِwith poplars قامَstood علىon الجنبينِboth sides يحْرُسُهُguarding it
بالحََوْرِ قامَ على الجنبينِ يحْرُسُهُ
مُعَوَّذٌcharmed against harm منagainst عُيونِthe eyes الناسِof people مرصودstationed
مُعَوَّذٌ من عُيونِ الناسِ مرصود
The poplar stood on either side to guard it,
You faced the horizon proudly erect
Charmed against human eyes, standing watch.
Bending to no wind, nor ever turning back
تناولَreached الأفْقَthe horizon معتزّاًproud بقامتهِof its stature
تناولَ الأفْقَ معتزّاً بقامتهِ
لاnot ينثنيbends فَنَنٌa branch منهof it ولاnor عودa bough
لا ينثني فَنَنٌ منه ولا عود
It reached the horizon, proud of its stature;
Saying to storms descending upon you
Not a branch of it bends, nor a bough.
Turn away, none but the guards are my thunder
يقولُit says للعاصفاتِto the storm winds النازلاتِdescending بهِupon it
يقولُ للعاصفاتِ النازلاتِ بهِ
إليكِaway with you عنيّfrom me ، فغيرُfor other than " الحَوْرِthe poplar " رِعديدa coward
إليكِ عنيّ ، فغيرُ " الحَوْرِ " رِعديد
It says to the storm winds bearing down upon it:
Nature crafted you, with lush trees
Away from me! Others than the poplar are cowards.
And the babbling brook, perfectly composed
صُنْعُhandiwork الطبيعةِof nature ، بالأشجارِwith trees وارفةًspreading shade
صُنْعُ الطبيعةِ ، بالأشجارِ وارفةً
لَهُfor it ، وبالنَّهَرِand with the river الرّقراقِshimmering ، تحديدa delineation
لَهُ ، وبالنَّهَرِ الرّقراقِ ، تحديد
Nature's handiwork—with trees spreading shade
She blessed you with her favor, so you burst forth
Over it, and with the shimmering river—defines its bounds.
While many a valley she left dry, barren
خَصَّتْهُshe favored it باللُطفِwith grace منهاfrom her فهوso it مُنْبَعِثٌspringing to life
خَصَّتْهُ باللُطفِ منها فهو مُنْبَعِثٌ
ورُبَّand many a وادٍvalley جَفتْهُshe forsook it فهوso it موءودburied alive
ورُبَّ وادٍ جَفتْهُ فهو موءود
She singled it out for her grace, and it sprang to life;
Imagination surveyed your every aspect
And many a valley she forsook lies buried alive.
Drawing me to you, even the stone idols
طافَroamed الخيالُimagination علىover شَتَّىthe various مظاهرهِits aspects
طافَ الخيالُ على شَتَّى مظاهرهِ
واستوقَفَتْنيand stopped me بهِthere حتَّىeven الجْلاميدthe boulders
واستوقَفَتْني بهِ حتَّى الجْلاميد
Imagination roamed across its many aspects,
The hard rock split open before you, revealing
And even its boulders made me stop.
Flowing water, in the mute rock, carving
تَفَجَّرَgushed forth الحجرُthe stone القاسيhard بهِthere وبداand appeared
تَفَجَّرَ الحجرُ القاسي بهِ وبدا
فيon وَجْنَةِthe cheek الصَّخرةِof the rock الصَّماءِsolid توريدa rosy flush
في وَجْنَةِ الصَّخرةِ الصَّماءِ توريد
The hard stone gushed forth there, and there appeared
Waters cascading from atop, scattered
A rosy flush upon the solid rock's cheek.
Rushing on, rising up, directed on high
تجريflow المياهُthe waters أعاليهِin its upper reaches مُبعَثرَةًscattered
تجري المياهُ أعاليهِ مُبعَثرَةً
لهاthey have هُنالكَthere تصويبٌa descent وتصعيدand an ascent
لها هُنالكَ تصويبٌ وتصعيد
The waters run scattered through its upper reaches,
Then descending, seeking rest, confined
There descending and rising.
In channels, the shining pebbles ease their way
حتىuntil إذاwhen انحدَرَتْthey descended تبغيseeking قَرارتَهُits depths
حتى إذا انحدَرَتْ تبغي قَرارتَهُ
تَضيقُare strained ذرعاًin capacity بمجراهاby their course الأخاديدthe gullies
تَضيقُ ذرعاً بمجراها الأخاديد
Until, when they flow down, seeking its depths,
In the foothills, a threshold whose edge they've honed
The gullies are overwhelmed by their passage.
Above the boulders, roaring threats they toss
استقبلَتْهاreceived them المجاريthe channels يَسْتَحِمُّbathe بهاin them
استقبلَتْها المجاري يَسْتَحِمُّ بها
زاهيbright الحصىthe pebbles فَلهُso for them فيهنَّwithin them تمهيدa prepared bed
زاهي الحصى فَلهُ فيهنَّ تمهيد
The channels receive them; bathing in them are
From spring to spring, their tumult spreads
Bright pebbles, with a bed prepared for them there.
Catching the eye, or turning the gaze
فهُنَّso they فيat السفحَِّْthe mountain's foot عَتْبٌreproach رقَّsoftened جانبُهُits edge
فهُنَّ في السفحَِّْ عَتْبٌ رقَّ جانبُهُ
وهنand they يزفُرْنَpant فوقَover الصخرِthe rocks تهديدa threat
وهن يزفُرْنَ فوقَ الصخرِ تهديد
So at the mountain's foot they are reproach with a softened edge;
On the law of Moses, baptized in water
Yet, panting over the rocks, they are a threat.
As if, immersed by the water's eyes
ماwhat is بينَbetween عَيْنٍa spring وأُخرىand another فاضَoverflowed رَيِّقُهاits clear water
ما بينَ عَيْنٍ وأُخرى فاضَ رَيِّقُها
أنْthat تُلْفَتَbe turned العينُthe eye أوor أنْthat يُعطَفَbe bent الجْيدthe neck
أنْ تُلْفَتَ العينُ أو أنْ يُعطَفَ الجْيد
Between one spring and another, its clear water overflows,
Her blood drained from both jugular veins
To draw the eye or make the neck turn.
Good tidings, September brings ripe grapes
هذيthis " المسيحيَّةُthe Christian woman " الحسناءُbeautiful تكَّleans (uncertain reading) علىupon
هذي " المسيحيَّةُ " الحسناءُ تكَّ على
شرعِthe law " المسيحِof Christ " لهاfor her بالماءِwith water تعميدbaptism
شرعِ " المسيحِ " لها بالماءِ تعميد
This beautiful Christian woman [leans?] upon
Clustering on trellises, clinging in bunches
Christ's law; hers is baptism with water.
God bless the beautiful evenings here
كأنَّهاas though she ، وعُيونُwhile the springs الماءِof water تَغْمُرُهاengulf her ،
كأنَّها ، وعُيونُ الماءِ تَغْمُرُها ،
مُستْنزَفُdrained of الدَّمblood مِنfrom عِرْقَيْهِhis two veins مفصودbled
مُستْنزَفُ الدَّم مِن عِرْقَيْهِ مفصود
She seems, while springs of water engulf her,
Where darkness is lit up by the glowing moon
One drained of blood, bled from both veins.
Nature's charm multiplied by a gentle gathering
بُشرىglad tidings بأيلولof September شَهرٍthe month الخْمرةِof wine اجتَمَعَتْgathered
بُشرى بأيلول شَهرٍ الخْمرةِ اجتَمَعَتْ
علىon العرائشِthe trellises تَلْتَمُّcluster together العناقيدthe grape clusters
على العرائشِ تَلْتَمُّ العناقيد
Glad tidings of September, the month of wine! Gathered
Of both sexes, cheerful and amused
On the trellises, the grape clusters crowd together.
In cafés, sweethearts who've come down
للهِto God belongs درُّthe excellence العَشِيَّاتِof the evenings الحِسانِbeautiful بهاthere
للهِ درُّ العَشِيَّاتِ الحِسانِ بها
يُسْرِجْنَlight ظُلمتَهاtheir darkness الغِيدُthe graceful women الأماليدsupple
يُسْرِجْنَ ظُلمتَها الغِيدُ الأماليد
How splendid the lovely evenings there,
To the valley of love, with lovers intoxicated
Whose darkness graceful, supple women light!
Goblets circulating, uncomplicated
لُطْفُthe grace الطبيعةِof nature محشودٌgathered يتّمِمُهُcompletes it
لُطْفُ الطبيعةِ محشودٌ يتّمِمُهُ
جمعٌa gathering لطيفٌcharming منof الجنسَيْنِboth sexes محشودassembled
جمعٌ لطيفٌ من الجنسَيْنِ محشود
Nature's grace is gathered there, completed by
Conversation, no gloom or tedium
A charming crowd of both sexes assembled together.
Just comfort overwhelming them
فيin كلِّevery مُقهىًcafé عشيقاتٌfemale lovers نزلنَthey alighted علىat
في كلِّ مُقهىً عشيقاتٌ نزلنَ على
" واديthe valley الغرامِof love " وعُشَّاقٌand male lovers معاميدlove-stricken
" وادي الغرامِ " وعُشَّاقٌ معاميد
In every café are women in love, come down to
Passed cups and refilling as soon as emptied
The Valley of Love, and love-stricken men.
How You wasted your charms in a land
تدورُcirculate بينهُمُamong them الأقداحُthe cups لاno كَدَرٌgloom
تدورُ بينهُمُ الأقداحُ لا كَدَرٌ
يعلوovershadows الحديثَthe conversation ولاnor فيin العيشِlife تنكيدvexation
يعلو الحديثَ ولا في العيشِ تنكيد
Cups circulate among them; no gloom
Where your like is everywhere scattered about
Overshadows their talk, nor does vexation trouble their life.
Your style is unique, no complexity
الرَّشْفَةُthe sip النزرُscant منfrom فرطthe abundance ارتياحِهِمِof their delight
الرَّشْفَةُ النزرُ من فرط ارتياحِهِمِ
كأسٌa cup مُفايَضَةٌoverflowing والكأسُand the cup راقودa wine jar
كأسٌ مُفايَضَةٌ والكأسُ راقود
From their abundant delight, even a tiny sip
Weighs down the spirit, no knotted composition
Is an overflowing cup, and a cup is a wine jar.
Your breasts and chest, a trinity I hallow
خَوْدَO maiden البِقاعِof the Beqaa لقدindeed ضُيّعْتِyou were wasted فيin بَلدٍa land
خَوْدَ البِقاعِ لقد ضُيّعْتِ في بَلدٍ
تنَاثَرتْwere scattered فوقهُacross it أمثالُكِthose like you الخُودthe maidens
تنَاثَرتْ فوقهُ أمثالُكِ الخُود
O maiden of the Beqaa, you have been wasted in a land
Could trinity and oneness be combined
Where maidens like you are scattered everywhere.
Wine blended with saliva, dancing
أُسلوبُthe style حُسْنكِof your beauty مُمتازٌdistinctive فلاso no عَنتٌstrain
أُسلوبُ حُسْنكِ مُمتازٌ فلا عَنتٌ
فيin الروحthe soul منهُfrom it ، ولاnor فيin السَبْكِthe molding تعقيدcomplexity
في الروح منهُ ، ولا في السَبْكِ تعقيد
Your beauty's style is distinctive: no strain
The cup passed by your mouth, a kiss
On the soul comes from it, nor any complexity in its molding.
If my wish were granted, nothing else I'd want
نهداكِyour two breasts والصدرُand the chest " ثالوثٌa trinity أُقدّسُهI hold it sacred
نهداكِ والصدرُ " ثالوثٌ أُقدّسُه
لوif كانَwere يُجمَعُbe combined تثليثٌtrinity وتوحيدand oneness
لو كانَ يُجمَعُ تثليثٌ وتوحيد
Your two breasts and your chest are a trinity I hold sacred,
Except to be the shawl wrapped around your hips
If trinity and oneness could be brought together.
The sash across them rules in its orbit
الخَمْرُthe wine ممزوجةًmixed بالرِّيقِwith saliva راقصةٌdancing
الخَمْرُ ممزوجةً بالرِّيقِ راقصةٌ
والكأسُand the cup مرَّتْpassed بثغرٍacross a mouth منكِof yours عِربيدwanton
والكأسُ مرَّتْ بثغرٍ منكِ عِربيد
The wine, mingled with saliva, dances,
Hips refreshed, waist bent yet firm
And the cup has passed across your wanton lips.
Your clothes display your assets openly
لوif يُستجابwere granted رجائيmy wish ماnot رجوتُI would wish سوىexcept
لو يُستجاب رجائي ما رجوتُ سوى
أنّيthat I وشاحٌa sash علىaround كَشْحيكِyour two flanks مردودwound
أنّي وشاحٌ على كَشْحيكِ مردود
If my wish were granted, I would wish only
Embroidered, though hanging in folds
To be a sash wound around your two flanks.
Your beauty emerges in all its power
جارَwas unjust النِطاقُthe girdle عليهاto her فيin حكومتهِits rule
جارَ النِطاقُ عليها في حكومتهِ
فالرِّدفُso the hips مُنتعِشٌrevived والخَصْرُand the waist مجهودstrained
فالرِّدفُ مُنتعِشٌ والخَصْرُ مجهود
The girdle was unjust to her in its rule:
Nothing left covered, but for propriety
So her hips flourish, while her waist is hard-pressed.
Your bare waist wanders, more beautiful
وأْعلَنَتْand proclaimed خيرَthe best ماof what فيهاin her مَلابسُهاher clothes
وأْعلَنَتْ خيرَ ما فيها مَلابسُها
مُنَمَّقاتٌembellished عليهنَّupon them التجاعيدthe folds
مُنَمَّقاتٌ عليهنَّ التجاعيد
And her clothes proclaimed the best of her,
Than with a belt wrapped round and buckled
Embellished, with folds upon them.
As for the wondrous high and low
وكشَّفَتْand revealed جَهْدَto the utmost ماthat اسطاعَتْthey could محاسنَهاher charms
وكشَّفَتْ جَهْدَ ما اسطاعَتْ محاسنَها
ولمand did not تدَعْleave خافياًanything hidden لوif لاnot التقاليدthe conventions
ولم تدَعْ خافياً لو لا التقاليد
And revealed her charms as fully as they could,
Beauty granted them her glowing moon
And would have left nothing hidden, were it not for convention.
One exposes himself shamelessly
ماnot خَصرُهاher waist وهوwhile it عُريانٌbare تتيهُshe boasts بهِof it
ما خَصرُها وهو عُريانٌ تتيهُ بهِ
أرقُّslenderer منهthan it إذِwhen الزُّنَّارُthe girdle مشدودtightened
أرقُّ منه إذِ الزُّنَّارُ مشدود
Her waist, bare as she proudly flaunts it,
So confined he can hardly be contained
Is no slenderer than when her girdle is drawn tight.
While your supple one sways and you say
أمَّاas for البديعانِthe two marvels منof عالٍa high one ومُنْخَفِضٍand a low one
أمَّا البديعانِ من عالٍ ومُنْخَفِضٍ
فِداهماtheir ransom كلُّall حُسْنٍbeauty أُعطىَgiven to الغيدthe graceful women
فِداهما كلُّ حُسْنٍ أُعطىَ الغيد
As for those two marvels, one high and one low,
Ostrich plumes adorn his rear and back
Let all beauty given to graceful women be their ransom.
Beware the great temptation, her gaze
فقدfor indeed تجسَّمَtook bodily form هذاthis one غيرَnot محتَشِمٍmodest
فقد تجسَّمَ هذا غيرَ محتَشِمٍ
منfrom فرطِthe excess ماof what ضَيَّقتهُshe constricted it فهوso it مشهودplainly seen
من فرطِ ما ضَيَّقتهُ فهو مشهود
For this one bulges, unabashed,
Is bewitching, all trouble and confusion
So tightly has she confined it that it stands revealed.
When she looks at you with her eyes
ونطَّand bounced ذيّاكthat one مرتجّاًquivering تقولُyou would say : بهِupon it
ونطَّ ذيّاك مرتجّاً تقولُ : بهِ
رِيِشُfeathers النعامِof ostriches علىupon الوِرْكَيْنِthe two hips منضودarrayed
رِيِشُ النعامِ على الوِرْكَيْنِ منضود
And that one bounced, quivering; you would say it bore
Surrender to them, you're captured, shackled
Ostrich feathers arrayed upon the hips.
Love is like Saturn, no connection
إيَّاكَbeware والفتنةَand the enchantment الكبرىthe greatest فنظرتُهاfor her gaze
إيَّاكَ والفتنةَ الكبرى فنظرتُها
مسحورةٌbewitched ، كلّهاall of it همٌّanxiety وتسهيدand sleeplessness
مسحورةٌ ، كلّها همٌّ وتسهيد
Beware the great enchantment: her gaze
Or constancy, neither stinginess nor openness
Is bewitched, all anxiety and sleeplessness.
My homeland of magic, poetry revives
إذاif رَمَتْكَshe strikes you بعينَيْهاwith her two eyes فَلبِّهِماthen answer them both
إذا رَمَتْكَ بعينَيْها فَلبِّهِما
واعلَمْand know بأنَّكَthat you مأخوذٌcaptured فمصفودthen fettered
واعلَمْ بأنَّكَ مأخوذٌ فمصفود
If she strikes you with her two eyes, answer them,
When your beauty flows, as is its custom
And know that you are captured, then fettered.
Its imagination is fed by the imagination in you
وإنَّماand nothing but الحبُّlove زَحليٌّZahlean فلاso no صِلةٌunion
وإنَّما الحبُّ زَحليٌّ فلا صِلةٌ
ولاnor صدودٌrejection ، ولاnor بُخْلٌwithholding ، ولاnor جودgenerosity
ولا صدودٌ ، ولا بُخْلٌ ، ولا جود
Love is simply Zahlean: neither union
Its charm engendered by your own charm
Nor rejection, neither withholding nor generosity.
A promised encounter with you stirs me
ياO موطِنَhome السِحرَof enchantment إنَّindeed الشِعرpoetry يُنعْشُهrevives it
يا موطِنَ السِحرَ إنَّ الشِعر يُنعْشُه
فيضٌa flood منof الحُسْنِbeauty فيin واديكَyour valley معهودfamiliar
فيضٌ من الحُسْنِ في واديكَ معهود
O home of enchantment, poetry is revived by
As if to unfettered youth I was fated to return
A familiar flood of beauty in your valley.
My heart flows from the memory of parting
خيالُهُits imagery منfrom خيالٍa vision فيكَin you مأخذهُits source
خيالُهُ من خيالٍ فيكَ مأخذهُ
ولطفُand the grace معناهof its meaning منfrom معناكَyour meaning توليدderivation
ولطفُ معناه من معناكَ توليد
Its imagery takes its source from the visions in you,
As if from eternal gardens exiled
And the grace of its meaning is born of your meaning.
God forbid any phantom of you should comfort me
اهتاجنيstirred me موعدٌa rendezvous ليfor me فيكin you يجمعُنيbrings me together
اهتاجني موعدٌ لي فيك يجمعُني
كأنَّنيas though I بالشَّبابwith youth الطَّلْقِcarefree موعودpromised
كأنَّني بالشَّباب الطَّلْقِ موعود
A rendezvous that brings me to you stirred me,
If one day in its arms I am abandoned
As though I were promised carefree youth.
وريعَand was startled قلبيَmy heart منby ذكرىthe thought مُفارَقَةٍof parting
وريعَ قلبيَ من ذكرى مُفارَقَةٍ
كأنَّنيas though I منfrom جِنانِthe gardens الخُلْدِof eternity مطرودexpelled
كأنَّني من جِنانِ الخُلْدِ مطرود
And my heart was startled by the thought of parting,
As though I were expelled from the gardens of eternity.
لاmay not أبعدَbanish اللهُGod طيفاًa vision منكof you يؤنسنيkeeps me company
لا أبعدَ اللهُ طيفاً منك يؤنسني
إذاwhen احتوتنيَenfold me فيin أحضانهاtheir arms البيدthe deserts
إذا احتوتنيَ في أحضانها البيد
May God never banish a vision of you that keeps me company
When the deserts enfold me in their arms.
Partial English translation: 101 of 106 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1