مِنْfrom مَوْطِنِthe homeland of الثّلْجِsnow زَحّافاًcrawling إلىto عَدَنِAden
مِنْ مَوْطِنِ الثّلْجِ زَحّافاً إلى عَدَنِ
خَبّتْtrotted بِيَwith me الرَّيحُthe wind فيon مُهْرٍa colt بِلاwithout رَسَنِa bridle
خَبّتْ بِيَ الرَّيحُ في مُهْرٍ بِلا رَسَنِ
Crawling from the homeland of snow to Aden,
From the land of snow, sailing to Eden
the wind bore me at a trot on a bridleless colt.
The wind has deceived me in a bridle without a rein
كَأْسِيmy cup عَلَىupon صَهْوَةٍa mount’s back مِنْهُof it يُصَفِّقُهاfills it
كَأْسِي عَلَى صَهْوَةٍ مِنْهُ يُصَفِّقُها
مَاwhat قَيّضَallotted اللهGod لِيto me مِنْof خَلْقِهِHis creation الحَسَنِbeautiful
مَا قَيّضَ الله لِي مِنْ خَلْقِهِ الحَسَنِ
My cup upon its back is filled
My cup claps on the palm of the one who pours it
by what God has allotted me of His beautiful creation.
For what God has destined for me of his beautiful creation
مِنْfrom مَوْطِنِthe homeland of الثّلْجِsnow . مِنْfrom خُضْرِgreen العُيُونِeyes بِهِthere
مِنْ مَوْطِنِ الثّلْجِ . مِنْ خُضْرِ العُيُونِ بِهِ
لِمَوْطِنِto the homeland السُّمْرِof the brown-skinned مِنْof سَمْرَاءِa dusky maiden ذيDhu (of) يَزَنِYazan
لِمَوْطِنِ السُّمْرِ مِنْ سَمْرَاءِ ذي يَزَنِ
From the homeland of snow, from its green-eyed beauties,
From the land of snow, from the green of eyes with it
to the home of the brown-skinned, of Dhu Yazan’s dusky maiden,
To the land of brownness, from a brown one with coquetry
مِنْof كُلِّevery مُلْتَفّةِwell-rounded الكَشْحَيْنِthe two flanks نَاعِمَةٍsoft
مِنْ كُلِّ مُلْتَفّةِ الكَشْحَيْنِ نَاعِمَةٍ
مَيّادَةٍswaying مِثْلِlike غُصْنِa branch البَانَةِof the moringa tree الَلدِنِsupple
مَيّادَةٍ مِثْلِ غُصْنِ البَانَةِ الَلدِنِ
of every soft woman with rounded flanks,
From every tender one with plump cheeks
swaying like the supple branch of a moringa tree.
Delicate like a bough of soft banana
يَاO لَلتّصَابِيfor playing at youth .. أَلاَwill it not يَنْفَكُّcease يَجْذِبُنيdrawing me
يَا لَلتّصَابِي .. أَلاَ يَنْفَكُّ يَجْذِبُني
عَلَىat الثّمانِينَeighty جَذْبَthe drawing of النُّوقِshe-camels بِالعَطَنِat the watering ground
عَلَى الثّمانِينَ جَذْبَ النُّوقِ بِالعَطَنِ
Ah, this playing at youth—will it never stop drawing me
Oh you charmers! Do the pulling of the she-camels in heat not cease to pull me
at eighty, like she-camels drawn to the watering ground?
Though in my eighties, with desire without tiredness
قَالْواthey said : أَمَاdo you not تَنْتَشِيbecome intoxicated إلاّexcept عَلَىamid خَطَرٍdanger
قَالْوا : أَمَا تَنْتَشِي إلاّ عَلَى خَطَرٍ
فَقُلتُso I said : ذَلِكَthat مِنْpart of لَهْويmy amusement ، ومِنْand part of دَدَنِيmy play
فَقُلتُ : ذَلِكَ مِنْ لَهْوي ، ومِنْ دَدَنِي
They said, 'Do you find rapture only in danger?'
They said: Do you not become alert except upon danger?
So I said, 'That is part of my amusement and my play.'
So I said: That is from my amusement and my flirting
سُبْحَانَglory to مَنْHim who ألّفَunited الضِّدَّيْنِthe two opposites فِيin خَلَديmy mind
سُبْحَانَ مَنْ ألّفَ الضِّدَّيْنِ فِي خَلَدي
فَرْطَan excess of الشّجَاعَةِcourage فِيwithin فَرْطٍan excess مِنَof الجُبُنِcowardice
فَرْطَ الشّجَاعَةِ فِي فَرْطٍ مِنَ الجُبُنِ
Glory to Him who joined the two opposites in my mind:
Glory to Him who created the opposites in my nature
an excess of courage within an excess of cowardice.
Excess courage with excess cowardice
لاnot أتّقيI fear خَزَراتِsidelong glares "الذِّئْبِof the wolf" تَرْصُدُنيwatching me
لا أتّقي خَزَراتِ "الذِّئْبِ" تَرْصُدُني
وأتّقِيand I fear نَظَراتِthe gazes "الأَدْعَجِof the dark-eyed one" الشّدِنِthe young gazelle
وأتّقِي نَظَراتِ "الأَدْعَجِ" الشّدِنِ
I do not fear the wolf’s sidelong glares that watch me,
I do not fear the traps of the ‘wolf’ lying in wait for me
yet I fear the gazes of the dark-eyed young gazelle.
And I fear the glances of the 'doe-eyed' one full of allure
خَبّتْtrotted بِيwith me الرِّيحُthe wind .. فِيin إيمَاضِa flash بَارِقَةًof lightning
خَبّتْ بِي الرِّيحُ .. فِي إيمَاضِ بَارِقَةً
تُلْغِيerases مَسَافَةَthe distance بَيْنَbetween العَيْنِthe eye والأُذُنِand the ear
تُلْغِي مَسَافَةَ بَيْنَ العَيْنِ والأُذُنِ
The wind bore me at a trot, in a lightning flash
The wind has deceived me, in a flashing lightning
that erases the distance between the eye and the ear.
That removes the distance between the eye and the ear
لَمْdid not أدْرِهَاI comprehend it زَمَناًas time تُطْوَىbeing folded away مَرَاحِلُهُits stages
لَمْ أدْرِهَا زَمَناً تُطْوَى مَرَاحِلُهُ
أمْor أنّهاthat it was عَثَرَاتُthe stumbles العُمْرِof life بِالزَّمَنِagainst time
أمْ أنّها عَثَرَاتُ العُمْرِ بِالزَّمَنِ
I could not tell: was it time whose stages were folded away,
I did not know whether it is a time whose miles
or life’s stumblings against time?
Can be folded, or stumbles of age with time
وَاللهِby God مَابَعُدَتْhas not grown distant دَارٌa home ، وإِنْand even if بَعُدَتْit is distant
وَاللهِ مَابَعُدَتْ دَارٌ ، وإِنْ بَعُدَتْ
مَاhow أقْرَبَnear الشّوْطَthe journey مِنْto أَهْلِيmy family ومِنْand to سَكَنِيmy dwelling
مَا أقْرَبَ الشّوْطَ مِنْ أَهْلِي ومِنْ سَكَنِي
By God, no home is far, however far it lies:
By Allah, no home has become far, and if it did become far
how short the journey to my family and my dwelling!
How near is the journey from my family and my dwelling
وَيَاand O شَبَاباًyoung men أَحَلّتْنِيhas lodged me مُرُؤَتُهُمْtheir chivalry
وَيَا شَبَاباً أَحَلّتْنِي مُرُؤَتُهُمْ
فِيin أيِّwhat a مُحْتَضِنِwelcoming host مِنْfrom أَيِّwhat a مُحْتَضَنِplace of embrace
فِي أيِّ مُحْتَضِنِ مِنْ أَيِّ مُحْتَضَنِ
And O young men, whose chivalry has lodged me
Oh youth! Seeing them has allowed me
in such welcoming arms, from such a cherished haven!
In any refuge of any refuge
لاnot يَبْلُغُmatches الشُّكْرُgratitude مَاwhat تُسْدُونَyou bestow مِنْof كَرَمٍgenerosity
لا يَبْلُغُ الشُّكْرُ مَا تُسْدُونَ مِنْ كَرَمٍ
ولاnor يُوَفِّيdoes justice to بَيَانِيmy eloquence سَابِغَabundant المِنَنِfavors
ولا يُوَفِّي بَيَانِي سَابِغَ المِنَنِ
No thanks can match the generosity you bestow,
Gratitude cannot reach what you confer of generosity
nor can my eloquence do justice to your abundant favors.
Nor can my eloquence do justice to abundant favor
أَتَيْتَكُمْI came to you وَمَتَاعِيand my baggage فَيْضُan overflow عَاطِفَةٍof feeling
أَتَيْتَكُمْ وَمَتَاعِي فَيْضُ عَاطِفَةٍ
بِهَاthrough it يُثَارُis stirred جَنَانُthe heart الأفْوَهِof the eloquent one اللّسِنِthe fluent speaker
بِهَا يُثَارُ جَنَانُ الأفْوَهِ اللّسِنِ
I came to you, my baggage an overflow of feeling
I came to you and my belongings are an abundance of affection
that stirs the heart of the eloquent, fluent speaker.
With which the mouths of the eloquent are set alight
أُلقيI offer عَلَيْكُمْto you بِمَاwith what أنْتُمْyou أحَقُّmost entitled بِهِto it
أُلقي عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا أنْتُمْ أحَقُّ بِهِ
مِمَاof what يُنَفِّسُbrings relief عَنْfrom شَجْوٍgrief وَعَنْand from حَزَنِsorrow
مِمَا يُنَفِّسُ عَنْ شَجْوٍ وَعَنْ حَزَنِ
I offer you what you are most entitled to,
I confer upon you what you are more deserving of
of that which eases grief and sorrow.
Than that which relieves an anguish and a sorrow
وَنَاقِلُand one carrying التّمْرِdates عَنْout of جَهْلٍignorance إلَىto "هَجَرٍHajar"
وَنَاقِلُ التّمْرِ عَنْ جَهْلٍ إلَى "هَجَرٍ"
كَنَاقِلِlike one carrying الشِّعْرِpoetry مَوْشِيّاًembroidered إلَىto "اليَمَنِYemen"
كَنَاقِلِ الشِّعْرِ مَوْشِيّاً إلَى "اليَمَنِ"
One who ignorantly carries dates to Hajar
The carrier of dates from ignorance to 'Hijr'
is like one who carries embroidered poetry to Yemen.
Is like the carrier of poetry walking to 'Yemen'
سَلِمْتِmay you be safe يَاO ثَوْرَةَrevolution السِّتِّينَof the sixties فِيin "اليَمَنِYemen"
سَلِمْتِ يَا ثَوْرَةَ السِّتِّينَ فِي "اليَمَنِ"
لاmay not تَرْمِstrike عَزْمَكِyour resolve جَبّاراًmighty يَدُthe hand الوَهَنِof weakness
لا تَرْمِ عَزْمَكِ جَبّاراً يَدُ الوَهَنِ
May you be safe, O revolution of the sixties in Yemen!
You are safe, oh revolution of 'sixty' in 'Yemen'
May the hand of weakness never strike your mighty resolve,
Do not cast your resolve as the hand of weakness
ولاand may not يَعِثْravage بصُدورٍin breasts مِنْكِof yours مُؤمِنَةٍbelieving
ولا يَعِثْ بصُدورٍ مِنْكِ مُؤمِنَةٍ
سُلُّthe wasting disease التفَرُّقِof division والأهواءِand whims والإحَنِand grudges
سُلُّ التفَرُّقِ والأهواءِ والإحَنِ
nor may your believing breasts be ravaged
And do not arouse in the chests of those who believe in you
by the wasting disease of division, whims, and grudges.
The regiments of division, whims, and sorrow
ولاand may not يَطَحْfall لكِof yours فيin عَلْيائِهِits lofty height عَلَمٌa banner
ولا يَطَحْ لكِ في عَلْيائِهِ عَلَمٌ
يُزهَىtakes pride بِهِin it النَّسْرُthe vulture طَلاَّعاًsoaring عَلَىover القُنَنِthe peaks
يُزهَى بِهِ النَّسْرُ طَلاَّعاً عَلَى القُنَنِ
May no banner of yours fall from its lofty height,
And do not let a banner wave haughtily for you
in which the vulture glories, soaring over the peaks.
With which the eagles sunbathe looking at spears
وطَابَand may thrive زَرْعُكِyour crop رَيَّانَاًwell-watered غَنِيتِyou are self-sufficient بِهِthrough it
وطَابَ زَرْعُكِ رَيَّانَاً غَنِيتِ بِهِ
فِيin أَرْضِكِyour land البِكْرِvirgin عَنْwithout needing مُخضَوضَرِthe green growth الدِّمَنِof dung heaps
فِي أَرْضِكِ البِكْرِ عَنْ مُخضَوضَرِ الدِّمَنِ
May your crop flourish, lush and watered, enough for you
Good is your crop watered with which you are rich
in your virgin land, without the green growth of dung heaps.
In your virgin land away from the bloodied garment
يَاO طَلْعَةَthe appearance الفَجْرِof dawn مِنْof يَوْمٍa day وُعِدْتِyou were promised بِهِit
يَا طَلْعَةَ الفَجْرِ مِنْ يَوْمٍ وُعِدْتِ بِهِ
لَوْif لَمْnot تَكَونِيyou were صَبَاحاًa morning مِنْهُof it لَمْnot يَكُنِwould exist
لَوْ لَمْ تَكَونِي صَبَاحاً مِنْهُ لَمْ يَكُنِ
O dawning of a day that was promised to you,
Oh rising of dawn from a day you were promised
had you not been its morning, it would never have been.
If you were not a morning from it, it would not have existed
وَيَاand O وَدِيعَةَa trust أجْيَالٍof generations تَلَقّفَهَاtook it up
وَيَا وَدِيعَةَ أجْيَالٍ تَلَقّفَهَا
رُوَّادُthe pioneers جِيلٍof a generation عَلَىamid الّلأْواءhardship مُؤْتَمَنِentrusted
رُوَّادُ جِيلٍ عَلَى الّلأْواء مُؤْتَمَنِ
And O trust handed down by generations, taken up
Oh trust of generations taken up
by pioneers of a generation entrusted amid hardship.
By the patrons of a generation trusting in the banners
حُثِّيhasten خُطَاكِyour steps إلَىtoward غَايٍgoals خُلِقْتِyou were created لَهَاfor them
حُثِّي خُطَاكِ إلَى غَايٍ خُلِقْتِ لَهَا
وَجَاوِزِيهَاand surpass them ، ولاand do not تَخْشَيْfear ، وَلاَand do not تَهِنِيweaken
وَجَاوِزِيهَا ، ولا تَخْشَيْ ، وَلاَ تَهِنِي
Hasten your steps toward the goals for which you were created,
Hasten your steps to an aim you were created for
and surpass them; do not fear, and do not weaken.
And exceed it, do not fear, nor become downcast
آلاؤُكِyour blessings الغُرُّradiant مَاwhat أسْلَفْتِyou have bestowed مِنْof نِعَمِfavors
آلاؤُكِ الغُرُّ مَا أسْلَفْتِ مِنْ نِعَمِ
ومَجْدُكِand your glory الضَّخمُgreat مَاwhat فَدَّاكِredeemed you مِنْas ثَمَنِa price
ومَجْدُكِ الضَّخمُ مَا فَدَّاكِ مِنْ ثَمَنِ
Your radiant blessings are the favors you have already bestowed,
Your great bounties are what you offered of blessings
and your great glory is the price paid to redeem you.
And your tremendous glory is what ransomed you of a price
الْكَادِحُونَthe toilers مَضَىpassed قَرْنٌa century ، وهُمْwhile they were أسُدٌlions
الْكَادِحُونَ مَضَى قَرْنٌ ، وهُمْ أسُدٌ
مُصَفَّدونَshackled ، وَمَلْزوزونَand bound together فِيin قَرَنِa shared tether
مُصَفَّدونَ ، وَمَلْزوزونَ فِي قَرَنِ
A century passed over the toilers, while they were lions
The toilers - a century has passed, while they are lions
shackled and bound together in a shared tether,
Shackled and prodded with spears in the spear
مُسَمَّرونَnailed fast عَلَىto غَيْظٍrage يَضِجُّclamoring بِهِمْwithin them
مُسَمَّرونَ عَلَى غَيْظٍ يَضِجُّ بِهِمْ
مَاas loudly as ضَجَّresounded سَاحِلُكِyour coast المُرْتَجُّthe reverberating بالسُّفُنِwith ships
مَا ضَجَّ سَاحِلُكِ المُرْتَجُّ بالسُّفُنِ
nailed fast to a rage that clamored within them
Nailed with rage seething within them
as loudly as your coast, seething with ships, resounded.
Than your coast has not seethed with ships
حتّىuntil إذَاwhen دَارَturned يَوْماًone day "عَقْرَبُthe clock hand" الزَّمَنِof time
حتّى إذَا دَارَ يَوْماً "عَقْرَبُ" الزَّمَنِ
بِسَاعَةٍthrough an hour هِيَit عُمْرُa lifetime الوَاثِقِof the confident one الفَطِنِthe discerning
بِسَاعَةٍ هِيَ عُمْرُ الوَاثِقِ الفَطِنِ
Until, one day, the hand of time turned
Until when the ‘hand’ of time one day turned
through an hour that was a lifetime for the confident, discerning man.
At an hour that is the life of the confident, insightful one
مَدُّواthey stretched out السّوَاعِدَthe arms لَمْdid not تَنْصَبْgrow weary وَلَمْand did not تَلِنِsoften
مَدُّوا السّوَاعِدَ لَمْ تَنْصَبْ وَلَمْ تَلِنِ
تَجْتَثُّuprooting كُلَّall جُذُورِthe roots الغَابِرِof the past العَفِنِrotten
تَجْتَثُّ كُلَّ جُذُورِ الغَابِرِ العَفِنِ
They stretched out arms that neither tired nor softened,
They stretched their arms that did not erect or soften
uprooting all the roots of the rotten past.
Uprooting all the roots of the rotten, decayed one
كَذَاكَthus تَنْصَهِرare fused الثّوْراتُrevolutions شَامِخَةًtowering
كَذَاكَ تَنْصَهِر الثّوْراتُ شَامِخَةً
شَبَتْgrew up عَلَىon الغَضَبِanger الخَلاّقِcreative والمِحَنِand ordeals
شَبَتْ عَلَى الغَضَبِ الخَلاّقِ والمِحَنِ
Thus revolutions are fused, towering high,
Thus revolutions rise lofty
reared on creative anger and ordeals.
Growing on creative anger and ordeal
وَأَنْتَand you يَاO أَيُّهَاyou الجِيلُgeneration الّذِيthat احْتَضَنَتْshe embraced
وَأَنْتَ يَا أَيُّهَا الجِيلُ الّذِي احْتَضَنَتْ
يَوْمَيْكَyour two days ، صُنْguard غَدَهاher tomorrow المَوْعُودَpromised ، وَاحْتَضِنِand embrace
يَوْمَيْكَ ، صُنْ غَدَها المَوْعُودَ ، وَاحْتَضِنِ
And you, O generation—she embraced
And you, oh generation, who its two days embraced
your two days; guard her promised tomorrow, and embrace it.
Guard its promised tomorrow, and embrace
وَيَاand O أَحِبّايَmy dear ones صَفْحَاًpardon عَنْfor مُكَابَرةٍarrogance
وَيَا أَحِبّايَ صَفْحَاً عَنْ مُكَابَرةٍ
مِنْfrom مُلْهَمٍan inspired one بِغُرُورِby the conceit النّفْسِof the self مُرْتَهَنِheld captive
مِنْ مُلْهَمٍ بِغُرُورِ النّفْسِ مُرْتَهَنِ
And O my dear ones, pardon the arrogance
Oh my loved ones, excuse a stubbornness
of an inspired man held captive by self-conceit.
From one inspired with arrogance, caught up in it
يُزْهَاهَfills him with pride .. أَنْthat قَوَافِيهِِhis rhymes مُنْشَرَةٌwidely spread
يُزْهَاهَ .. أَنْ قَوَافِيهِِ مُنْشَرَةٌ
يَشَّدُوsing الْحُدَاةُthe camel-drivers بِهَاwith them فِيin الْحِلِّsettlement وَالضَّعَنِand travel
يَشَّدُو الْحُدَاةُ بِهَا فِي الْحِلِّ وَالضَّعَنِ
It fills him with pride that his rhymes are spread abroad,
He is adorned that his rhymes are scattered
sung by camel-drivers at rest and on the road.
With which the talkative clap in party and in gloom
إِنِّيindeed I وإِنْand although كَانَis جَرَّسُthe chime الكَأْسِof the cup يَسْحَرُنِيenchants me
إِنِّي وإِنْ كَانَ جَرَّسُ الكَأْسِ يَسْحَرُنِي
وَيّمْتَرِيand draws forth سَمَرُnight-talk السُّمَّارِof night companions مِنْsome of شَجْنِsorrow
وَيّمْتَرِي سَمَرُ السُّمَّارِ مِنْ شَجْنِ
Indeed, though the cup’s chime enchants me,
And if the clinking of the cup enchants me
and companions’ night-talk draws forth sorrow,
And the nectar of drink intoxicates me from ecstasy
لَتسْتَجِمُindeed finds repose عَلَىin الضَّرَاءِseclusion خَاطِرَتِيmy thought
لَتسْتَجِمُ عَلَى الضَّرَاءِ خَاطِرَتِي
كَأْنَهَاas though it were نَشّوَةُthe rapture الْعَيَنَينِof the two eyes بِالْوَسَنِwith drowsiness
كَأْنَهَا نَشّوَةُ الْعَيَنَينِ بِالْوَسَنِ
my thoughts do find repose in seclusion,
My thoughts will become still upon harm
like the eyes’ rapture in drowsiness.
As if it is the intoxication of the eyes with beauty
وَيَسْتَبِدُّand takes possession بِنَفْسِيof my soul وَهْيَwhile it is حَالِمَةٌdreaming
وَيَسْتَبِدُّ بِنَفْسِي وَهْيَ حَالِمَةٌ
مِنْfrom كِبْرِيَاءِthe majesty الْقَوَافِيof rhymes زَهْوُthe pride مُفْتَتِنِof one enraptured
مِنْ كِبْرِيَاءِ الْقَوَافِي زَهْوُ مُفْتَتِنِ
And my dreaming soul is possessed
And my soul is seized while dreaming
by an enraptured one’s pride in the majesty of rhymes.
With the arrogance of rhymes, the vanity of one enraptured
مَاhow أرْخَصَcheap المَوْتَdeath عِنْديto me إذْwhen يَنِدُّbreaks loose فَمِيmy mouth
مَا أرْخَصَ المَوْتَ عِنْدي إذْ يَنِدُّ فَمِي
بِمَاwith what تَحُوكُweave بَنَاتُthe daughters الشّعْرِof poetry مِنْof كَفَنِيmy shroud
بِمَا تَحُوكُ بَنَاتُ الشّعْرِ مِنْ كَفَنِي
How cheap death is to me when my mouth breaks loose
How cheap is death to me when my mouth boasts
with what the daughters of poetry weave into my shroud.
With what the daughters of poetry weave of my shroud
وَمَاand how أَرَقَّtender اللّيالِيthe nights وَهْيَas they تُسْلِمُنِيdeliver me
وَمَا أَرَقَّ اللّيالِي وَهْيَ تُسْلِمُنِي
يَوْمَon the day القِرَاعِof combat لِظَهْرِto the back المَرْكَبِof the mount الخَشِنِrough
يَوْمَ القِرَاعِ لِظَهْرِ المَرْكَبِ الخَشِنِ
And how tender the nights are as they hand me over
And how gentle are the nights while they deliver me
on the day of combat to the back of a rough mount.
On the day of voyage to the back of the rough boat
حَسِبتنيI imagined myself وعُقابُwhile the eagle الجَوِّof the air يَصْعَدُascends بِيwith me
حَسِبتني وعُقابُ الجَوِّ يَصْعَدُ بِي
إلَىto السّمَاواتِthe heavens ، مَحْمولاًcarried إلَىtoward وَطَنِيmy homeland
إلَى السّمَاواتِ ، مَحْمولاً إلَى وَطَنِي
I fancied myself, as the eagle of the air bore me up
I reckoned as the eagle of the air ascends with me
into the heavens, carried toward my homeland:
To the heavens, carried to my homeland
مَاhow أقْرَبَnear الشّمْسَthe sun مِنيto me ، غَيْرَexcept أنَّthat دَمِيmy blood
مَا أقْرَبَ الشّمْسَ مِني ، غَيْرَ أنَّ دَمِي
مَاnot إنْat all يُصَلِّيprays لِغَيْرِto anything but الشّعْرِpoetry مِنْany وَثَنِidol
مَا إنْ يُصَلِّي لِغَيْرِ الشّعْرِ مِنْ وَثَنِ
how close the sun was to me! Yet my blood
How near is the sun from me, but my blood
prays to no idol other than poetry.
Does not pray to other than poetry from an idol
وَخِلْتُنِيand I imagined myself وَالنْجُومُwhile the stars الزُّهْرُbright طَوْعُat the command of يَدِيmy hand
وَخِلْتُنِي وَالنْجُومُ الزُّهْرُ طَوْعُ يَدِي
عَنْهُنَّof them فِيمَاin what أصُوغُI fashion النّيِّراتِshining things غَنِيself-sufficient
عَنْهُنَّ فِيمَا أصُوغُ النّيِّراتِ غَنِي
And I imagined myself, with the bright stars at my hand’s command,
And I left the stars flowers in the palm of my hand
in no need of them for the shining things I fashion.
From them while I fashion odes, chanting
أقُولُI say والشّيْبُwhile gray hair يَحْدُونِيdrives me onward ، يُصَارِعُهُwrestles with it
أقُولُ والشّيْبُ يَحْدُونِي ، يُصَارِعُهُ
حُبُّlove الحَيَاةِof life ، وَمَاand what فِيهاin it مِنَof الفِتَنِallurements
حُبُّ الحَيَاةِ ، وَمَا فِيها مِنَ الفِتَنِ
I say, while gray hair drives me onward, locked in struggle
I say as old age races me, combatting it
with love of life and all the allurements it holds:
The love of life, and what temptations are in it
رِجْلاَنِtwo legs لِيof mine يَحْمِلانِcarry "الشِّعْرَpoetry" خَاتِمَةًas a final act
رِجْلاَنِ لِي يَحْمِلانِ "الشِّعْرَ" خَاتِمَةً
وَيَسْعَيانِand make their way إلَىtoward الأخْرَىthe hereafter عَلَىin وَهَنِweakness
وَيَسْعَيانِ إلَى الأخْرَى عَلَى وَهَنِ
Two legs of mine bear poetry to the last,
Two legs carrying ‘poetry’ in conclusion
and make their way, in weakness, toward the hereafter.
And two hastening to the next upon frailty
"مِنْfrom مَوْطِنِthe homeland of الثّلْجِsnow" زَحّافاًcrawling ، إلَىto .. "عَدَنِAden"
"مِنْ مَوْطِنِ الثّلْجِ" زَحّافاً ، إلَى .. "عَدَنِ"
خَبّتْtrotted بِيwith me الرِّيحُthe wind فِيon مُهْرٍa colt بِلاwithout رَسَنِa bridle
خَبّتْ بِي الرِّيحُ فِي مُهْرٍ بِلا رَسَنِ
Crawling from the homeland of snow to Aden,
From the land of snow sailing to.. ‘Eden’
the wind bore me at a trot on a bridleless colt.
The wind has deceived me in a bridle without rein
Sol 6.1