ناغيت " لُبناناً " بشِعريَ جِيلا

ناغيت " لُبناناً " بشِعريَ جِيلا

وضفرته لجبينهِ إكليلا

وضفرته لجبينهِ إكليلا

For a generation I serenaded Lebanon with my poetry,

I sang of "Lebanon" in my poetry for a generation,

and plaited it into a wreath for its brow.

And I wove it a wreath for its forehead.

وردَدْتُ بالنغَمِ الجميلِ لأرزه

وردَدْتُ بالنغَمِ الجميلِ لأرزه

ظِلاًّ أفاءَ به عليَّ ظَليلا

ظِلاًّ أفاءَ به عليَّ ظَليلا

And with beautiful melody I returned to its cedars

And I echoed the beautiful melody for its cedars,

the sheltering shade they had spread over me.

That gave me welcome shade.

أو مَا ترى شعري كأنَّ خِلالَه

أو مَا ترى شعري كأنَّ خِلالَه

نسيَ النسيمُ جناحَهُ المبلولا

نسيَ النسيمُ جناحَهُ المبلولا

Or do you not see my verse, as though within it

Or don't you see my poetry as if its lines

the breeze had forgotten its wet wing?

Forgot the rustling breeze its dampened wings.

وحِسانَ لُبنانٍ منحتُ قصائدي

وحِسانَ لُبنانٍ منحتُ قصائدي

فسحبنهنَّ كَدَلِّهنَّ ذُيولا

فسحبنهنَّ كَدَلِّهنَّ ذُيولا

And to Lebanon's beauties I gave my poems,

And the charm of Lebanon I gave to my poems

and they trailed them like trains of their coquetry.

So they drew them like drawing their trains.

أهديتُهُنَّ عُيونَهنَّ نوافِذاً

أهديتُهُنَّ عُيونَهنَّ نوافِذاً

كعيونِهِنَّ إذا رَمَيْنَ قتيلا

كعيونِهِنَّ إذا رَمَيْنَ قتيلا

I offered them the choicest of those poems, piercing

I gave them their eyes as open windows

like their eyes when they strike a victim dead.

Like their eyes when they cast a slain man glances.

فردَّدنهنَّ من الأسى وجِراحِه

فردَّدنهنَّ من الأسى وجِراحِه

كِسَراً .. فَرُحْتُ المُّهنَّ فُلولا

كِسَراً .. فَرُحْتُ المُّهنَّ فُلولا

But they returned them, from sorrow and its wounds,

But they gave them back in sorrow and wounds

in fragments; I went gathering their broken shards.

Brokenly - so I rejoiced at their remnants.

ورَجَعْتُ أدراجي أجرُّ غنيمةً

ورَجَعْتُ أدراجي أجرُّ غنيمةً

من " بنتِ بيروتٍ " جوىً وغليلا

من " بنتِ بيروتٍ " جوىً وغليلا

And I retraced my steps, dragging home as spoils

And I went back disappointed, pulling the spoils

from the daughter of Beirut, heartache and burning thirst.

Of “the daughter of Beirut” - ardour and anguish.

لُعنَ القصيدُ فأيُّ مُثرٍ شامخٍ

لُعنَ القصيدُ فأيُّ مُثرٍ شامخٍ

سرعانَ ما استجدى الحسانَ ذليلا

سرعانَ ما استجدى الحسانَ ذليلا

Accursed be poetry! How many a proud, wealthy man

Cursed be poetry so what erect and lofty peak

has swiftly begged the beauties in abasement!

Swiftly sought favours and became base.

رَدَّتْ مطامِحُه البِعادَ دوانياً

رَدَّتْ مطامِحُه البِعادَ دوانياً

وكثيرَ ما خَدعَ الخيالَ قليلا

وكثيرَ ما خَدعَ الخيالَ قليلا

His ambitions brought far-off things near,

Its ambitions cast me into madness

and made little of much that beguiled the imagination.

And my imagination often tricked me a little.

ناغيتُ " لُبناناً " وهل أبقى الهوى

ناغيتُ " لُبناناً " وهل أبقى الهوى

بُقيىً على قيثارتي لتقولا

بُقيىً على قيثارتي لتقولا

I serenaded Lebanon—has love left

I sang of “Lebanon” - and does love remain

a remnant upon my lyre for it to utter?

Alive on my zither so it says:

طارحتُه النغماتِ في أعيادِه

طارحتُه النغماتِ في أعيادِه

بأرقَّ من سجعِ الحمامِ هديلا

بأرقَّ من سجعِ الحمامِ هديلا

I exchanged melodies with it at its festivals,

I scattered it in its feasts more softly

in cooing gentler than the pigeons' song.

Than the cooing of the doves.

ومَسحْتُ دمعَ الحُزنِ في أتراحِه

ومَسحْتُ دمعَ الحُزنِ في أتراحِه

وجعلتُ مَحْضَ عواطفي مِنديلا

وجعلتُ مَحْضَ عواطفي مِنديلا

And I wiped sorrow's tears in its times of grief,

And I wiped the tear of sorrow in its dwellings

making my pure feelings a handkerchief.

And made my pure emotions a handkerchief.

وكذاكَ كنتُ وما أزالُ كما بنى

وكذاكَ كنتُ وما أزالُ كما بنى

أهلي أُجازي بالجميلِ جميلا

أهلي أُجازي بالجميلِ جميلا

And so I was, and still am, as shaped

And that is how I was and still am, as my family built me,

by my family: repaying kindness with kindness.

I repay good with good.

يا شيخَ " لُبنانَ " الأشمِّ فوارعاً

يا شيخَ " لُبنانَ " الأشمِّ فوارعاً

وشمائلاً ، ومناعةً ، وقبيلا

وشمائلاً ، ومناعةً ، وقبيلا

O elder of Lebanon, lofty in its towering heights,

O sheikh of the astringent "Lebanon" - streets

its virtues, its strength, and its people,

And features, and sturdiness, and clan!

مثَّلثَهُ في كلِّهنَّ فلم يُردْ

مثَّلثَهُ في كلِّهنَّ فلم يُردْ

بسواك عنكَ . ولن يريدَ بديلا

بسواك عنكَ . ولن يريدَ بديلا

you embodied it in them all; it would not seek

Its triangle represented in all of them yet it did not want

another in your stead, nor ever seek a substitute.

Other than you. And it will not seek an alternative.

إنَّ العراقَ وقد نزلتَ رُبوعَهُ

إنَّ العراقَ وقد نزلتَ رُبوعَهُ

لَيَعُدُّ ساكِنَه لديكَ نزيلا

لَيَعُدُّ ساكِنَه لديكَ نزيلا

Iraq, now that you have entered its lands,

Iraq where you have descended its expanses

surely counts its own inhabitants as your guests.

Will count its dweller as your guest.

بُشرى " بشارةُ " أنْ تجوسَ خِلالَها

بُشرى " بشارةُ " أنْ تجوسَ خِلالَها

وتُزيرَ طرَفك أهلَها وتُجيلا

وتُزيرَ طرَفك أهلَها وتُجيلا

Glad tidings, Bishara, that you roam through them

Good tidings “Basharah” that you roam through it

and let your gaze visit their people and wander!

And visit its people and honour it.

قف في ضفافِ الرافدينِ وناجِها

قف في ضفافِ الرافدينِ وناجِها

وتفيَّ صَفصافاً بها ونخيلا

وتفيَّ صَفصافاً بها ونخيلا

Stand on the banks of the Two Rivers and commune with them,

Stand on the banks of the two rivers and confide in them

and take shade beneath their willows and palms.

And wander through its apple trees and date palms leisurely.

واسمَعْ غِناء الحاصدينَ حُقولَها

واسمَعْ غِناء الحاصدينَ حُقولَها

للحاصداتِ من القلوبِ حُقولا

للحاصداتِ من القلوبِ حُقولا

And hear the song of the men reaping their fields

And listen to the singing of its reapers in its fields

to the women who reap fields from their hearts.

For the hearts of the reapers are fields.

سترى القريضَ أقلَّ مِن أنْ يَجتلى

سترى القريضَ أقلَّ مِن أنْ يَجتلى

لغةَ النفوسِ عواطفاً ومُيولا

لغةَ النفوسِ عواطفاً ومُيولا

You will find poetry too slight to reveal

You will find poetry much less than to be revealed

the language of souls in their feelings and inclinations.

The language of souls - tendencies and inclinations.

وتلمَّسِ الآهاتِ في نَبَراتِهِمْ

وتلمَّسِ الآهاتِ في نَبَراتِهِمْ

يُشعِلْنَ من حَدَقِ العيونِ فتيلا

يُشعِلْنَ من حَدَقِ العيونِ فتيلا

And feel the sighs within their voices:

And touch the sighs in their tones

they kindle a wick from the pupils of the eyes.

That kindle from the corner of eyes a wick.

واستنطِقِ " الرَّمَلاتِ " في جَنَباتها

واستنطِقِ " الرَّمَلاتِ " في جَنَباتها

ولطالما استوحى النبوغُ رمولا

ولطالما استوحى النبوغُ رمولا

And bid the sands along their margins speak—

And interrogate its “sandy grounds” in its sides

how often genius has drawn inspiration from sands!

For genius has often been inspired by its sands.

واستوحِ كُوفاناً وبصرةَ إذ هُما

واستوحِ كُوفاناً وبصرةَ إذ هُما

يتصدَّرانِ العالَمَ المأهولا

يتصدَّرانِ العالَمَ المأهولا

And seek inspiration from Kufan and Basra, for they

And be inspired by Kufa and Basra as they

stand at the forefront of the inhabited world,

Head the inhabited world.

يستورِدانِ حَضارةً ومواهباً

يستورِدانِ حَضارةً ومواهباً

ويُصدِّرانِ فطاحلاً وفحولا

ويُصدِّرانِ فطاحلاً وفحولا

importing civilization and talents,

They import civilization and talents

and exporting great masters and towering geniuses.

And export champions and stallions.

وتَقرَّ " بغداداً " فانَّ دُروبَها

وتَقرَّ " بغداداً " فانَّ دُروبَها

ستُريكَ من سِفرْ الزمانِ فُصولا

ستُريكَ من سِفرْ الزمانِ فُصولا

And explore Baghdad, for its pathways

And visit “Baghdad” for its roads

will show you chapters from the book of time.

Will show you seasons of the journey of time.

ستُريكَ كيف إذا استتمّتْ دولةٌ

ستُريكَ كيف إذا استتمّتْ دولةٌ

أعمى الغرورُ رجالَها لتدولا

أعمى الغرورُ رجالَها لتدولا

They will show you how, when a state reaches its fullness,

It will show you how when a state was completed

pride blinds its men, so that it passes away.

Pride blinded its men and it declined.

إيهٍ " بِشارةُ " لم تكنْ لتَحُدَّ من

إيهٍ " بِشارةُ " لم تكنْ لتَحُدَّ من

مهوى النفوسِ ولم تكنْ لتحولا

مهوى النفوسِ ولم تكنْ لتحولا

Ah, Bishara, you were never one to curb

Oh “Basharah”, you were not created

the hearts' longing, nor to stand in its way.

To diminish the desires of souls nor to change them.

إني رَصَدتُكَ من بعيد لم أُرِدْ

إني رَصَدتُكَ من بعيد لم أُرِدْ

إذناً عليكَ ولا بعثتُ رسولا

إذناً عليكَ ولا بعثتُ رسولا

I watched you from afar; I did not seek

I have watched you from afar. I did not want

permission to approach you, nor did I send a messenger.

Permission to you nor sent a messenger.

ودخلتُ نفسَك لم أزاحِمْ حاجباً

ودخلتُ نفسَك لم أزاحِمْ حاجباً

عنها ، ولم ألجِ " الرِواقَ " فضولا

عنها ، ولم ألجِ " الرِواقَ " فضولا

And I entered your soul without jostling a chamberlain

And I entered your soul. I did not disturb

away from it, nor entering the portico out of idle curiosity.

Its barrier, nor pried open “the porch” out of curiosity.

وحَلَفْتُ لا أُوذي الملوك ولا أُرى

وحَلَفْتُ لا أُوذي الملوك ولا أُرى

ظِلاًّ على بابِ " الأميرِ " ثقيلا

ظِلاًّ على بابِ " الأميرِ " ثقيلا

And I swore not to trouble kings, nor appear

And I swore I will not harm kings nor see

a burdensome shadow at the prince's door.

A shadow on the “prince’s” door burdened.

صَونٌ لمجدِ الشعرِ أوهمَ خاطئاً

صَونٌ لمجدِ الشعرِ أوهمَ خاطئاً

أنّي خُلِقتُ على قِلىً مجبولا

أنّي خُلِقتُ على قِلىً مجبولا

Safeguarding poetry's glory led someone wrongly to think

Safeguarding the glory of poetry made a fool think

I was created with aversion ingrained in me.

That I was born to be easily deceived.

ولربما ظنَّ الرواجمُ أنّهمْ

ولربما ظنَّ الرواجمُ أنّهمْ

سيرَوْنَ من هذا " المنخَّل " غُولا

سيرَوْنَ من هذا " المنخَّل " غُولا

And perhaps the conjecturers thought that they

And perhaps scoundrels thought that they

would see a ghoul emerge from this 'Munakhkhal'.

Would see a “sieve” bring out ghosts from me.

وعرفتُ فضلَكَ قبل كونِك عاهلاً

وعرفتُ فضلَكَ قبل كونِك عاهلاً

تُرخي عليكَ حِجابَك المسدولا

تُرخي عليكَ حِجابَك المسدولا

And I knew your worth before you became a ruler,

And I knew your merit before you became ruler

letting your lowered veil fall over you.

Lowering over you your draped curtain.

تَلِجُ العقولَ عباقراً ونوابغاً

تَلِجُ العقولَ عباقراً ونوابغاً

وتُمحِّصُ المعقولَ والمنقولا

وتُمحِّصُ المعقولَ والمنقولا

You enter the minds of geniuses and prodigies,

You perplex minds - geniuses and eminent,

and scrutinize reasoned knowledge and transmitted learning.

And scrutinize the reasonable and transmitted.

ووجدتُك المُعطي السياسةَ حقَّها

ووجدتُك المُعطي السياسةَ حقَّها

ترعى النُّصوصَ وتُحسِنُ التأويلا

ترعى النُّصوصَ وتُحسِنُ التأويلا

And I found you giving politics its due,

And I found you who gives politics its due

attending to texts and interpreting them well,

Observing texts and adept at interpretation.

والمستجيرَ بظلِّها من ظلِّها

والمستجيرَ بظلِّها من ظلِّها

تتخيرُ التحويرَ والتحويلا

تتخيرُ التحويرَ والتحويلا

seeking shelter in its shade from its own shade,

And who takes refuge in its shade from its shade

choosing modification and transformation.

Choosing distortion and twisting.

ولمستُ يومَك حين ضجَّ ضجيجُها

ولمستُ يومَك حين ضجَّ ضجيجُها

ومشتْ تدُكُّ روابياً وسهولا

ومشتْ تدُكُّ روابياً وسهولا

And I felt the force of your day when its clamor rose

And I touched your day when its clamour roared

and it advanced, crushing hills and plains,

And its torrents surged over plains and plateaus.

تستخدمُ المتفجراتِ لدافعٍ

تستخدمُ المتفجراتِ لدافعٍ

عن حقِّهِ وتُسخِّرُ " الأسطولا "

عن حقِّهِ وتُسخِّرُ " الأسطولا "

deploying explosives against one defending

It employs explosives out of a motive

his rights, and pressing the fleet into service.

To defend its right and recruits its “navy”.

وعُقابُ " لبنانٍ " تَضُمُّ جَناحَها

وعُقابُ " لبنانٍ " تَضُمُّ جَناحَها

تحمي الفِراخَ وتحرُسُ الزُّغلولا

تحمي الفِراخَ وتحرُسُ الزُّغلولا

And Lebanon's eagle folds her wing,

And Lebanon’s punishment - its wings embrace -

protecting her chicks and guarding the squab.

Protects chicks and guards cubs.

وبنوكَ أُسْدَ الغابِ في لبِداتِهِمْ

وبنوكَ أُسْدَ الغابِ في لبِداتِهِمْ

عُبْلُ السواعد يمنعونَ الغيلا

عُبْلُ السواعد يمنعونَ الغيلا

And your sons, lions of the forest in their manes,

And your lions in their lairs - the might of their arms

stout of forearm, defend the thicket.

Prevent wrongdoing.

حتى إذا انجلتِ العَجاجةُ وارتمى

حتى إذا انجلتِ العَجاجةُ وارتمى

شِلْواً – ربيبُ " فَجارةٍ " منخولا

شِلْواً – ربيبُ " فَجارةٍ " منخولا

Until, when the dust storm cleared, there lay

Until when the dust settled and the scoundrel flung himself,

a torn carcass—the fosterling of wickedness, riddled through—

A whelp - Nursling of the “delinquent” - downcast.

وتخلتِ الأقدارُ عن متجبِّرٍ

وتخلتِ الأقدارُ عن متجبِّرٍ

ملأ البلادَ وأهلَها تنكيلا

ملأ البلادَ وأهلَها تنكيلا

and fate abandoned a tyrant

And fate abandoned an arrogant one

who had filled the land and its people with torment,

Who filled the country and its people with injustice.

وبرزتَ مثلُ السيفِ لا مُستسلماً

وبرزتَ مثلُ السيفِ لا مُستسلماً

جُبْناً ، ولا نِكْساً ، ولا مخذولا

جُبْناً ، ولا نِكْساً ، ولا مخذولا

you emerged like a sword, neither surrendering

You appeared like an uncovered sword - neither surrendering

through cowardice, nor craven, nor forsaken.

Cowardly, nor defeated, nor helpless.

وتزاحمتْ بالهاتفينَ شِعابُها

وتزاحمتْ بالهاتفينَ شِعابُها

يُزجُونكَ التكبيرَ والتهليلا

يُزجُونكَ التكبيرَ والتهليلا

And its mountain passes thronged with those cheering,

And its valleys crammed at the two phones

offering you cries of 'God is greatest' and 'There is no god but God'.

Proclaiming your magnification and praise.

كنتَ الجديرَ بكلِّ ذاكَ وفوقَه

كنتَ الجديرَ بكلِّ ذاكَ وفوقَه

إذ كنتَ سيفَ جهادِها المسلولا

إذ كنتَ سيفَ جهادِها المسلولا

You were worthy of all that and more,

You deserved all that and more

for you were the drawn sword of its struggle.

For you were its bared sword of holy war.

يا شيخَ " لبنانٍ " وحَسْبُكَ خِبرةً

يا شيخَ " لبنانٍ " وحَسْبُكَ خِبرةً

رَفَعَتْك شيخاً في الملوك جليلا

رَفَعَتْك شيخاً في الملوك جليلا

O elder of Lebanon, sufficient for you is experience

O sheikh of “Lebanon” - and your experience is enough -

that raised you to a venerable elder among kings.

It raised you a venerable sheikh among kings.

جرَّبتَ حنظلةَ الدخيلِ وطعمَها

جرَّبتَ حنظلةَ الدخيلِ وطعمَها

وصميمَها وطِلاءَها المعسولا

وصميمَها وطِلاءَها المعسولا

You tried the intruder's colocynth and its taste,

You tasted the deception of the foreigner and its flavour

its core and its honeyed coating.

And essence and its sweet coating.

ولمستَ من لَهَبِ السياطِ ووَقْعها

ولمستَ من لَهَبِ السياطِ ووَقْعها

فوقَ الظهورِ على الطُّغاةِ دليلا

فوقَ الظهورِ على الطُّغاةِ دليلا

And you felt, in the whips' flame and their blows

And you touched the flames of whips and their impact

upon backs, evidence against the tyrants.

Over backs upon tyrants as evidence.

ورأيتَ كيف العِلْجُ يُسمِنُ أهلَهُ

ورأيتَ كيف العِلْجُ يُسمِنُ أهلَهُ

يُقري بنيهِ شعبَك المهزولا

يُقري بنيهِ شعبَك المهزولا

And you saw how the foreign brute fattens his own people,

And you saw how the solution fattened its people

serving your emaciated people as a feast to his sons.

Feeding your starving people.

وعرفتَ قدرَ العاملينَ مبجَّلاً

وعرفتَ قدرَ العاملينَ مبجَّلاً

شكراً ، وحظَّ العاملينَ جزيلا

شكراً ، وحظَّ العاملينَ جزيلا

And you recognized the workers' worth, honoring it

And you knew the worth of the revered workers

with gratitude, and their entitlement to a generous share.

Thanking, and the lot of workers abundantly.

رَنتِ العيونُ إليكَ تُكبِرُ موقفاً

رَنتِ العيونُ إليكَ تُكبِرُ موقفاً

من " شيخِ " لُبنانَ النبيل نبيلا

من " شيخِ " لُبنانَ النبيل نبيلا

Eyes gazed at you, admiring the stand

Eyes have looked to you magnifying a stand

of Lebanon's noble elder—a noble stand.

From the noble sheikh of Lebanon.

وتُريدُ منك وقد تقلَّصَ ظلُّهم

وتُريدُ منك وقد تقلَّصَ ظلُّهم

ألا تَميزَ على الدخيلِ دخيلا..

ألا تَميزَ على الدخيلِ دخيلا..

And they ask of you, now that their shadow has shrunk,

And they want from you - when their shadow has shrunk -

not to favor one intruder over another.

That you don't favour the foreigner over the foreigner.

فلقد خَبَرنا نحنُ قبلَك مِثلَهُ

فلقد خَبَرنا نحنُ قبلَك مِثلَهُ

وأشرَّ في لغةِ الطُغاةِ مثيلاً

وأشرَّ في لغةِ الطُغاةِ مثيلاً

For we, before you, have known his like,

For we - before you - have experienced the like of him

and an even worse counterpart in the language of tyrants.

And more evil in the language of tyrants.

فاذا بـ " حنظلةٍ " تَحِنُ لأختِها

فاذا بـ " حنظلةٍ " تَحِنُ لأختِها

وإذا بـ " شدقمَ " يستظلُّ " جديلا "

وإذا بـ " شدقمَ " يستظلُّ " جديلا "

And behold, one colocynth yearns for its sister,

So a Khanzir leans to its sister

and Shadqam takes shelter beneath Jadil.

And a Shidqam takes shade under a Jadil.

وإذا بأولاوءٍ تفرِّقُ بينَهم

وإذا بأولاوءٍ تفرِّقُ بينَهم

شتى الدُّروبِ ويلتقونَ سبيلا

شتى الدُّروبِ ويلتقونَ سبيلا

And these men, separated from one another

And evildoers divide between them

by divergent roads, meet upon one path.

Different paths and meet on one way.

فاوِض فقد غَدَت العوالِمُ عالماً

فاوِض فقد غَدَت العوالِمُ عالماً

ما زالَ حَبْلُ صِلاتهِ موصولا

ما زالَ حَبْلُ صِلاتهِ موصولا

Negotiate, for the worlds have become one world,

So negotiate - for worlds have become one world

the cord of its relations still connected.

Its connection rope still joined.

وسيجرِفُ التاريخُ في تيّارِه

وسيجرِفُ التاريخُ في تيّارِه

شعباً يَظَلُ مُجانِباً معزولا

شعباً يَظَلُ مُجانِباً معزولا

And history will sweep away in its current

And history will dredge in its current

a people that remains apart and isolated.

A people remaining isolated and secluded.

وتُراثُ " لُبنانٍ " قديمٌ نشرهُ

وتُراثُ " لُبنانٍ " قديمٌ نشرهُ

في المشرقينِ مواهباً وعقولا

في المشرقينِ مواهباً وعقولا

And Lebanon's heritage has long been spread

Lebanon's heritage is old - its talents and minds

through the two Easts as talents and minds.

Spread it in the two Easts.

لكنْ تَوَقَّ من الوعودِ سلاسلاً

لكنْ تَوَقَّ من الوعودِ سلاسلاً

برّاقةً ، ومن العهودِ كُبولا

برّاقةً ، ومن العهودِ كُبولا

But beware promises that become chains,

But it avoided from promises gleaming

glittering, and covenants that become shackles.

Chains, and from covenants fetters.

فاوِضْ وخلِّ وراءَ سمعِك مُغرياً

فاوِضْ وخلِّ وراءَ سمعِك مُغرياً

وأمامَ عينِكَ شامتاً وعَذولا

وأمامَ عينِكَ شامتاً وعَذولا

Negotiate, and leave the tempter out of earshot,

So negotiate and leave behind you enticer

and keep the gloater and reproacher before your eyes.

And before your eye gloating and vindictive.

ولأنتَ أعلمُ إنْ تُزحْزَحْ عندَهم

ولأنتَ أعلمُ إنْ تُزحْزَحْ عندَهم

شبراً ، فسوفَ يُزحزحونكَ ميلا

شبراً ، فسوفَ يُزحزحونكَ ميلا

You know best: if you are shifted before them

For you know best if you are pushed aside from them

a handspan, they will shift you a mile.

A handspan - they will push you a mile.

وإذا ارتختْ عُقَدٌ تيسّرَ حلُّها

وإذا ارتختْ عُقَدٌ تيسّرَ حلُّها

جدُّوا لكم عُقَداً تُريدُ حُلولا

جدُّوا لكم عُقَداً تُريدُ حُلولا

And whenever knots slacken and become easy to untie,

And if knots are loosened that make their untying easy

they devise for you fresh knots demanding solutions.

They strain you with knots wanting solutions.

" عبدَ الاله " وليس عاباً أنْ أرى

" عبدَ الاله " وليس عاباً أنْ أرى

عِظمَ المقَامِ مُطوِّلاً فأطيلا

عِظمَ المقَامِ مُطوِّلاً فأطيلا

Abd al-Ilah, it is no fault if I see

Abdullah - and it's no shame that I see

the greatness of the occasion calling for length, and speak at length.

The great status lengthening so I lengthen.

كرَّمت صيفَك يستثيرُ جلاله

كرَّمت صيفَك يستثيرُ جلاله

نُطقاً ، ويدفعُ قائلاً ليقولا

نُطقاً ، ويدفعُ قائلاً ليقولا

You honored your guest [the text reads 'your summer']; his majesty stirs

I honoured your summer arousing its sublimity

speech, and urges a speaker to speak.

Speaking, and impelling the speaker to say:

يا ابنَ الذينَ تنزَّلتْ ببيوتِهم

يا ابنَ الذينَ تنزَّلتْ ببيوتِهم

سُوَرُ الكتابِ ، فرُتِّلتْ ترتيلا

سُوَرُ الكتابِ ، فرُتِّلتْ ترتيلا

O son of those in whose homes descended

O son of those who revelations descended upon their homes,

the chapters of the Book, recited in measured recitation,

Reciting a recital.

الحاملينَ من الأمانةِ ثقلَها

الحاملينَ من الأمانةِ ثقلَها

لا مُصعِرينَ ولا أصاغِرَ مِيلا

لا مُصعِرينَ ولا أصاغِرَ مِيلا

who bore the burden of the trust,

Bearers of its heaviness honestly

neither turning their cheeks in pride nor petty, wavering men,

Not submissive nor smaller in inclination.

والناصبينَ بيوتَهم وقبورَهم

والناصبينَ بيوتَهم وقبورَهم

للسائلينَ عن الكرامِ دليلا

للسائلينَ عن الكرامِ دليلا

who set up their homes and graves

They established their homes and graves

as a guide for those seeking the generous,

For the questioners about generosity as guides.

والطامسينَ من الجهالةِ غَيْهباً

والطامسينَ من الجهالةِ غَيْهباً

والمُطلعينَ من النُّهى قِنديلا

والمُطلعينَ من النُّهى قِنديلا

who effaced the blackness of ignorance

They buried ignorance’ obscurity

and raised a lamp of reason,

And enlightened deviation with a lantern.

ملكوا البلادَ عروشَها وقصورَها

ملكوا البلادَ عروشَها وقصورَها

واستعذبوا وعْث التراب مَقيلا

واستعذبوا وعْث التراب مَقيلا

they possessed the lands, their thrones and palaces,

They possessed the lands - their thrones and palaces

yet found the rough earth sweet as a resting place.

And made the dust of the earth sweet habitation.

يا ابنَ النبيِّ وللملوكِ رسالةٌ

يا ابنَ النبيِّ وللملوكِ رسالةٌ

مَنْ حَقَّها بالعدلِ كانَ رسولا

مَنْ حَقَّها بالعدلِ كانَ رسولا

O son of the Prophet, kings too have a mission:

O son of the prophet - and for kings a message

whoever fulfills it through justice is a messenger.

Those who fulfilled its justice were messengers.

يرجو العراقُ بظلِّ رايةٍ فيصلٍ

يرجو العراقُ بظلِّ رايةٍ فيصلٍ

أنْ يرتقي بكما الذُّرى ويطولا

أنْ يرتقي بكما الذُّرى ويطولا

Iraq hopes, beneath Faisal's banner,

Iraq hopes in the shade of the Faisal banner

to scale the heights through you both and rise.

To rise in it and lengthen.

لا شك أنَّ وديعةً مرموقةً

لا شك أنَّ وديعةً مرموقةً

عز الكفيلُ لها فكنت كفيلا

عز الكفيلُ لها فكنت كفيلا

There is no doubt that a cherished trust

No doubt a lofty deposit

could scarcely find a guardian; you became its guardian.

The guarantor was capable so you were guarantor.

وكيانُ مُلكٍ في حداثةِ عهدِه

وكيانُ مُلكٍ في حداثةِ عهدِه

يتطلَّبُ التلطيفَ والتدليلا!

يتطلَّبُ التلطيفَ والتدليلا!

And the fabric of a kingdom in its early days

And the entity of a kingdom in its novelty

requires gentleness and tender care.

Requires gentling and pampering!

وسياسة حضنتْ دُعاةَ هزيمةٍ

وسياسة حضنتْ دُعاةَ هزيمةٍ

وتبنَّتِ التفريقَ والتضليلا

وتبنَّتِ التفريقَ والتضليلا

And a policy that embraced the advocates of defeat

And a policy that embraced proponents of defeat

and adopted division and deception,

And adopted separation and misleading.

تُغري المثقفَّ أن يكون مُهادِناً

تُغري المثقفَّ أن يكون مُهادِناً

وابنَ الجهالةِ أنْ يظَلَّ جَهولا

وابنَ الجهالةِ أنْ يظَلَّ جَهولا

tempting the educated man to be compliant

Tempts the intellectual to be an appeaser

and the child of ignorance to remain ignorant,

And the son of ignorance to remain ignorant.

ألقت على كتِفيكَ من زَحَماتِها

ألقت على كتِفيكَ من زَحَماتِها

عبءاً تنوءُ بهِ الرِّجالُ ثقيلا

عبءاً تنوءُ بهِ الرِّجالُ ثقيلا

has laid upon your shoulders, from its turmoil,

It burdened your shoulder with some of its crowds

a heavy burden beneath which men stagger.

A load men stagger under, heavy.

شدَّتْ عروقَك من كرائمِ هاشمٍ

شدَّتْ عروقَك من كرائمِ هاشمٍ

بيضٌ نمينَ خديجةً وبتولا

بيضٌ نمينَ خديجةً وبتولا

Your veins were strengthened by noble women of Hashim,

It tied your veins with the nobilities of Hashim

fair women whose lineage reaches Khadija and Batul.

White Namin birthed Khadeejah and Batool.

وحَنَتْ عليكَ من الجدودِ ذؤابةٌ

وحَنَتْ عليكَ من الجدودِ ذؤابةٌ

رَعَتِ الحسينَ . وجعفراً وعقيلا

رَعَتِ الحسينَ . وجعفراً وعقيلا

And over you bent an illustrious line of forefathers,

And it had mercy upon you from ancestors benevolence

which had nurtured Husayn, Ja'far, and Aqil.

That grazed Al-Hussein, Ja'far and Aqeel.

قُدْتَ السفينةَ حين شَقَّ مقادُها

قُدْتَ السفينةَ حين شَقَّ مقادُها

وتطلَّبتْ رُبَّانَها المسؤولا

وتطلَّبتْ رُبَّانَها المسؤولا

You steered the ship when steering her grew hard

You steered the ship when its pole was split

and she demanded her responsible helmsman.

And its captain was held responsible.

أعْطتْكَ دَفَّتها فلم تَرجِعْ بها

أعْطتْكَ دَفَّتها فلم تَرجِعْ بها

خوفَ الرِّياحِ ولا اندفعتَ عَجولا

خوفَ الرِّياحِ ولا اندفعتَ عَجولا

She gave you her rudder; you did not turn her back

It gave you its wheel so you did not return it

for fear of the winds, nor rush ahead in haste.

Fearing the winds nor were you hasty.

وَمنَحْتَها والعاصِفاتُ تؤودُها

وَمنَحْتَها والعاصِفاتُ تؤودُها

مَتناً أزلَّ وساعداً مفتولا

مَتناً أزلَّ وساعداً مفتولا

And you gave her, as the gales weighed her down,

And you granted it - and gales try to destroy it -

a sleek back and a muscular arm.

A body unbowed and an unfettered arm.

أُعطِيتَ ما لم يُعطَ قبلَكَ مثلَه

أُعطِيتَ ما لم يُعطَ قبلَكَ مثلَه

شعباً على عِرفانِكُمْ مجبولا

شعباً على عِرفانِكُمْ مجبولا

You were granted what none before you was granted:

You were given what none were given the like of

a people born to gratitude toward you.

A people built on your gratitude.

إنَّ العراقَ يُجلُّ بيْعةَ هاشمٍ

إنَّ العراقَ يُجلُّ بيْعةَ هاشمٍ

من عهدِ جدِّكَ بالقرونِ الأولى

من عهدِ جدِّكَ بالقرونِ الأولى

Iraq reveres its pledge of allegiance to Hashim,

Iraq reveres the pledge of Hashim

from your forefather's age in the earliest centuries.

Since the era of your grandfather in the early centuries.

هذي مصارِعُ مُنجبيكَ ودورُهم

هذي مصارِعُ مُنجبيكَ ودورُهم

يملأنَ عَرضاً للعراقِ وطُولا

يملأنَ عَرضاً للعراقِ وطُولا

Here are the places where your forebears fell, and their homes,

Filling Iraq’s breadth and length.

filling Iraq in breadth and length.

Their pilgrimage and circumambulation of its masses

ما كانَ حجُّهُمُ وطوفُ جموعِهمْ

ما كانَ حجُّهُمُ وطوفُ جموعِهمْ

لقبورِ أهلِكَ ضَلَّةً وفُضولا

لقبورِ أهلِكَ ضَلَّةً وفُضولا

Their pilgrimage and their multitudes' circling

To the graves of your family were not straying nor meddling.

around your family's graves were no misguidance or idle excess.

The love of the first - they inhabited the abode appeasing them

حبُّ الأُولى سكنوا الديارَ يَشفُّهم

حبُّ الأُولى سكنوا الديارَ يَشفُّهم

فيعاوِدونَ طلولَها تقبيلا

فيعاوِدونَ طلولَها تقبيلا

Love for those who inhabited the land consumes them,

So they repeat its caressing kissing.

so they return to kiss its ruined traces.

O sheikh of “Lebanon” the scream of a screamer

يا شيخَ " لُينانٍ " شكيَّةَ صارخٍ

يا شيخَ " لُينانٍ " شكيَّةَ صارخٍ

تتخلَّلُ الترحيبَ والتأهيلا

تتخلَّلُ الترحيبَ والتأهيلا

O elder of Lebanon, a crier's complaint

Penetrates the welcoming and honouring.

mingles with the welcome and greeting.

We wanted you - not “gloomy” hearts among us

كنّا نُريدُك لا القلوب " مغيمة "

كنّا نُريدُك لا القلوب " مغيمة "

فينا . ولا خِصبُ النفوسِ مَحيلا

فينا . ولا خِصبُ النفوسِ مَحيلا

We wanted you here with no clouded hearts

Nor fertility of souls barren.

within us, nor the souls' fertile ground grown barren,

To show you Iraq’s joys - its north

لنريكَ أفراحَ العراقَ شَمالَه

لنريكَ أفراحَ العراقَ شَمالَه

وجنوبَه وشبيبةً وكُهولا

وجنوبَه وشبيبةً وكُهولا

to show you Iraq's joys, its north

And south, and youths and elders.

and its south, its youths and mature men.

You came to Iraq while in it from Palestine

جئتَ العراقَ ومِن فِلَسْطِينٍ به

جئتَ العراقَ ومِن فِلَسْطِينٍ به

وَجَعٌ مطببَّهُ يعودُ عليلا

وَجَعٌ مطببَّهُ يعودُ عليلا

You came to Iraq, where from Palestine there is

A pain bandaged returning sick.

a pain whose physician returns himself ailing.

And the grieving mosque casts over

والمسجدُ المحزونُ يُلقي فوقَه

والمسجدُ المحزونُ يُلقي فوقَه

ليلاً – على الشرقِ الحزينِ – طويلا

ليلاً – على الشرقِ الحزينِ – طويلا

And the grieving mosque casts above it

The sorrowful East a long night.

a long night over the sorrowing East.

Palestine left as if it did not recognize

ذهبتْ فِلَسْطينٌ كأن لم تَعترِفْ

ذهبتْ فِلَسْطينٌ كأن لم تَعترِفْ

مِن كافليها ضامناً وكفيلا

مِن كافليها ضامناً وكفيلا

Palestine is gone, as though she had never recognized

Among its patrons a guarantor and caretaker.

among her guardians a guarantor or protector.

And it forgot as if Jesus and Ahmad did not walk

وعفَتْ كأن لم يمشِ في ارجائها

وعفَتْ كأن لم يمشِ في ارجائها

" عيسى " ، و " أحمدُ " لم يَطِرْ محمولا

" عيسى " ، و " أحمدُ " لم يَطِرْ محمولا

And she lies effaced, as though within her bounds had never walked

Carried in its surroundings.

Jesus, nor Ahmad flown, borne aloft.

And the Aqsa mosque as if the call did not rise in it

والمسجدُ الأقصى كأنْ لم يرتفعْ

والمسجدُ الأقصى كأنْ لم يرتفعْ

فيهِ أذانٌ بُكرةً وأصيلا

فيهِ أذانٌ بُكرةً وأصيلا

And al-Aqsa Mosque—as though there had never risen

At dawn and nightfall.

within it a call to prayer, at dawn and in the evening.

And Saladin’s soil trampled and his armies

وثرى صلاح ِالدينِ دِيسَ وأنعلتْ

وثرى صلاح ِالدينِ دِيسَ وأنعلتْ

منه جيوشُ الواغلِين خُيولا

منه جيوشُ الواغلِين خُيولا

And Salah al-Din's soil was trampled, and horses were shod

Of invading horses saddled it.

with it by the armies of the intruders.

And the “Khanziri” with his alliance and promises

و " الحنظلُّي " بحِلْفِهِ ووعُودهِ

و " الحنظلُّي " بحِلْفِهِ ووعُودهِ

ما زالَ كاذبُ وعدِه ممطولا

ما زالَ كاذبُ وعدِه ممطولا

And al-Hanzali, the Colocynth Man, with his alliance and promises—

Remains liar - his promise elongated.

his false pledge remains deferred.

He did not heed the law of the unbelievers, nor fulfilled

لم يرعَ شرعَ الكافرينَ ، ولا وفى

لم يرعَ شرعَ الكافرينَ ، ولا وفى

حقَّيهما القرآن َ والانجيلا

حقَّيهما القرآن َ والانجيلا

He observed no law of the unbelievers, nor gave

Both their rights - the Quran and the Bible.

the Qur'an and Gospel their respective dues.

He gave Elnby its people so Balfour took care of them

أعطى " إلَنْبي " أهلَها فاستامهم

أعطى " إلَنْبي " أهلَها فاستامهم

بلفورُ ، فاستوصى بهم عِزريلا

بلفورُ ، فاستوصى بهم عِزريلا

Allenby handed over her people; they were bargained for

And bequeathed them to Israel.

by Balfour, who then charged Azrael with their care.

And today he boasts with "neutrality" as boasting

واليومَ يفخرُ " بالحيادِ " كفاخرٍ

واليومَ يفخرُ " بالحيادِ " كفاخرٍ

بالقتلِ إذ لم " يُسلَخِ " المقتولا

بالقتلِ إذ لم " يُسلَخِ " المقتولا

And today he boasts of 'neutrality', like one boasting

Of killing if he did not “skin” the killed.

of murder because he did not flay the man he killed.