أحَنَنْتَhave you yearned? مِنْout of شَوْقٍlonging إِلَىfor لُبْنَانِLebanon
أحَنَنْتَ مِنْ شَوْقٍ إِلَى لُبْنَانِ
وَارَحْمَتَاoh, pity! لَكَfor you مِنْas رَمِيمٍcrumbling remains عَانِafflicted
وَارَحْمَتَا لَكَ مِنْ رَمِيمٍ عَانِ
Have you yearned, out of longing, for Lebanon?
You languished in yearning for Lebanon
Oh, pity for you, afflicted, crumbling remains!
And had mercy on a wretch in pain
شَوْقٌa longing تُكابِدُهُyou endure it وَيَثْوِيand dwells مِنْكَwithin you فِيin
شَوْقٌ تُكابِدُهُ وَيَثْوِي مِنْكَ فِي
مَثْوَىthe abode of الرُّؤىdreams مِنْwithin مُهْجَةِthe heart of الْوَسْنَانِthe drowsy one
مَثْوَى الرُّؤى مِنْ مُهْجَةِ الْوَسْنَانِ
A longing you endure, which dwells within you in
A yearning you endure as it finds refuge
the abode of dreams within the drowsy one's heart.
In the abode of visions, from the tenderness of beauty
جُسُّواprobe مِظَنَّةَthe likely seat of حِسِّهِhis feeling أَفَنَابِضٌis it then beating?
جُسُّوا مِظَنَّةَ حِسِّهِ أَفَنَابِضٌ
فِيهَاwithin it فُؤَادُthe heart of مُتَيَّمٍone love-struck وَلْهَانِdistraught with longing
فِيهَا فُؤَادُ مُتَيَّمٍ وَلْهَانِ
Probe the likely seat of his feeling—does there, then, beat
They examined the place of his passion - is there
within it the heart of one love-struck and distraught?
Within it a throbbing heart, humble and subdued?
وَاسْتَطْلِعُواand examine الرَّسْمَthe remnant المُحِيلَwasted فَهَلْthen is there? بِهِwithin it
وَاسْتَطْلِعُوا الرَّسْمَ المُحِيلَ فَهَلْ بِهِ
يَوْمَon the day of المَآبِreturn لِقُرَّةfor delight عَيْنَانِtwo eyes
يَوْمَ المَآبِ لِقُرَّة عَيْنَانِ
And examine the wasted remnant—are there within it,
And they examined the inimitable drawing - can it
on the day of return, two eyes to rejoice?
On the day fate strikes, comfort two eyes?
أَرُفَاتُare these the remains of حِيٍّa living person كَانَwas فَرْدَpeerless in زَمَانِهِhis age
أَرُفَاتُ حِيٍّ كَانَ فَرْدَ زَمَانِهِ
بِذَكَائِهِthrough his brilliance بَلْindeed فَرْدَpeerless in كُلِّevery زَمَانِage
بِذَكَائِهِ بَلْ فَرْدَ كُلِّ زَمَانِ
Are these the remains of a man once peerless in his age,
The remains of one alive who was unique in his time
through his brilliance—indeed, peerless in every age?
Nay, unique in all time, in his intelligence
هَلْdoes? يَسْتَطِيعُis able إِشَارَةًa gesture أَوْor نَبْأةًa faint sound
هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ إِشَارَةً أَوْ نَبْأةً
أَوْor رَمْزِa signal of طَرْفٍthe eye أَوْor حَرَاكَmovement of بَنَانِfingertips
أَوْ رَمْزِ طَرْفٍ أَوْ حَرَاكَ بَنَانِ
Can he make a gesture or a faint sound,
Can it make a sign or news
or a signal of the eye, or a movement of the fingertips?
Or the wink of an eye or the movement of a fingertip?
لاno شَيْءَthing بَاقٍremaining مِنْكَof you إِلاَّexcept أَسْطُراًwritten lines
لا شَيْءَ بَاقٍ مِنْكَ إِلاَّ أَسْطُراً
خَلَدَتْbecame immortal بِحُسْنِthrough the beauty of الصَّوْغِcrafting وَالتَّبْيَانِand clear expression
خَلَدَتْ بِحُسْنِ الصَّوْغِ وَالتَّبْيَانِ
Nothing remains of you except written lines
Nothing remains of you but lines
made immortal by fine crafting and clear expression,
Made immortal by excellent composition and clarity
وَجَمِيلُand a beautiful ذِكْرٍremembrance لَمْdid not يُفِدْhelp فِيin دَفْعِwarding off مَاwhat
وَجَمِيلُ ذِكْرٍ لَمْ يُفِدْ فِي دَفْعِ مَا
يَتَبَشَّعُbecomes hideous التَّحْوِيلُthe transformation فِيin الجُثْمَانِthe body
يَتَبَشَّعُ التَّحْوِيلُ فِي الجُثْمَانِ
and a beautiful remembrance that could not ward off
And beautiful mention which was no use in dispelling what
the hideous transformation of the body.
Mutation makes rag in the body
إِنِّيindeed I لأَنْظُرُI truly look كَيْفَhow بِتَّyou have become فَلاso not أَرَىI see
إِنِّي لأَنْظُرُ كَيْفَ بِتَّ فَلا أَرَى
فِيin المَجْدِglory مَاanything that يُغْنِيavails مِنَof الإِنْسَانِthe human being
فِي المَجْدِ مَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ
I truly look at what you have become, and see nothing
I look at how you were brought low, but I see
in glory that can avail a human being.
No glory in it to benefit a human
وَأَرَاكَand I see you قَدْalready أَمْسَىhas become فُؤَادُكَyour heart خَالِياًempty
وَأَرَاكَ قَدْ أَمْسَى فُؤَادُكَ خَالِياً
أَبَداًforever مِنَof الأَفْرَاحِjoys وَالأَحْزَانِand sorrows
أَبَداً مِنَ الأَفْرَاحِ وَالأَحْزَانِ
And I see that your heart has become empty
And I see your heart has become empty
forever of joys and sorrows.
Forever of joys and sorrows
لَكِنْbut تَوَهَّمْنَاwe imagined قَرَارَكَyour resting فِيin الحِمَىthe homeland
لَكِنْ تَوَهَّمْنَا قَرَارَكَ فِي الحِمَى
أَشْفَىmore soothing لِغلَّةِfor the burning thirst of عَوْدِكَyour frame الظَّمْآنِthirsty
أَشْفَى لِغلَّةِ عَوْدِكَ الظَّمْآنِ
Yet we imagined your resting in the homeland
But we imagined your rest in the protected realm
would better soothe the burning thirst of your parched frame.
More healing for your returning eager passion
لُبْنَانُLebanon يَاO جَبَلاًmountain كَأَنَّas though نَزِيلَهُits dweller
لُبْنَانُ يَا جَبَلاً كَأَنَّ نَزِيلَهُ
إِنْif يَرْتَحِلْhe departs عَنْهُfrom it طَرِيدُan exile from جِنَانِparadise's gardens
إِنْ يَرْتَحِلْ عَنْهُ طَرِيدُ جِنَانِ
Lebanon, O mountain, whose dweller seems,
O Lebanon, a mountain as if its inhabitant
if he leaves it, an exile from paradise's gardens.
When exiled from it, is expelled from gardens
لَوْif أَنَّthat أَطْوَاداًmountains مَعَانٍmeanings جُسِّمَتْwere embodied
لَوْ أَنَّ أَطْوَاداً مَعَانٍ جُسِّمَتْ
مَاnot كَنْتُI would be غَيْرَother than الشَّوْقِlonging وَالتَّحْنَانِand yearning
مَا كَنْتُ غَيْرَ الشَّوْقِ وَالتَّحْنَانِ
If mountains were meanings given bodily form,
If hardships with meaning were rendered
I would be nothing but longing and yearning.
I would be naught but longing and affection
تَتَنَفَّلُoffer voluntary devotions الْبَهَجَاتُjoys فِيكَin you زَوَاهِياًradiant
تَتَنَفَّلُ الْبَهَجَاتُ فِيكَ زَوَاهِياً
بِأَشِعَّةٍwith rays يَرْفُلْنَthey trail their robes فِيin أَلْوَانِcolors
بِأَشِعَّةٍ يَرْفُلْنَ فِي أَلْوَانِ
Joys offer their devotions in you, radiant
Joys bloom in you, luxuriantly
with rays that trail their robes in colors.
With rays that glow in colors
أَمَّاas for ظِلالُكَyour shadows فَهْيَthen they are أَشْبَاحٌphantoms لِمَاof what
أَمَّا ظِلالُكَ فَهْيَ أَشْبَاحٌ لِمَا
فِيin أَنْفُسِthe souls of النَّائِينَthose far away مِنْof أَشْجَانِsorrows
فِي أَنْفُسِ النَّائِينَ مِنْ أَشْجَانِ
As for your shadows, they are phantoms of
As for your shadows, they are specters of what is
the sorrows within the souls of those far away.
In the souls of those distant from passions
هَذَاthis ابْنُكَyour son الْعَلَمُthe mountain الأَشَمُّproud and lofty قَدِalready انْطَوَىhas folded away
هَذَا ابْنُكَ الْعَلَمُ الأَشَمُّ قَدِ انْطَوَى
فِيin بَرْزَخٍa grave مُتَطَامِنِlow-lying الأَرْكَانِthe sides
فِي بَرْزَخٍ مُتَطَامِنِ الأَرْكَانِ
This son of yours, that proud, lofty mountain, is folded away
This is your son, the sublime mark, who has now folded
in a grave whose sides lie low.
Into a firmament fortified at its pillars
تِلْكَthose الْعَظَائِمُgreat things كُلُّهَاall of them قَدْalready أَصْبَحَتْhave become
تِلْكَ الْعَظَائِمُ كُلُّهَا قَدْ أَصْبَحَتْ
شَيْئاًa bit مِنَof الْعَظْمِbone المَهِيضِshattered الْفَانِيperishing
شَيْئاً مِنَ الْعَظْمِ المَهِيضِ الْفَانِي
All those great things have now become
All those great deeds have now become
a mere bit of shattered, perishing bone.
Some transient, crumbling greatness
مَاذَاwhat تَقُولٌsay ذُرَاكَyour peaks وَهْيَwhile they are شَوَاهِدٌwitnesses
مَاذَا تَقُولٌ ذُرَاكَ وَهْيَ شَوَاهِدٌ
هَذِيthis الْبَقِيَّةَremnant مِنْof نَهًىintellect وَبَيَانِand eloquence
هَذِي الْبَقِيَّةَ مِنْ نَهًى وَبَيَانِ
What do your peaks say, as they bear witness to
What do your ruins say - they are witnesses
this remnant of intellect and eloquence?
To this remainder of interdiction and clarification
مَاذَاwhat يَقُولُsays السَّفْحُthe mountainside أَنْكَرَfound strange سَمْعُهُits hearing
مَاذَا يَقُولُ السَّفْحُ أَنْكَرَ سَمْعُهُ
هَذَاthis السُّكُوتَsilence عَلَىupon الصَّدَىthe echo الرَّنَانِringing
هَذَا السُّكُوتَ عَلَى الصَّدَى الرَّنَانِ
What does the mountainside say, its ear finding strange
What does the mountainside say? Its hearing is denied
this silence laid over the ringing echo?
This silence over the melodious echo
بَيْرُوتُBeirut يَاO بَلَداًcity عَزِيزاًdear طَيِّباًkindly
بَيْرُوتُ يَا بَلَداً عَزِيزاً طَيِّباً
سَمْحَgenerous of السَّرِيرَةِheart صَادِقَsincere in الْشُّكْرَانِgratitude
سَمْحَ السَّرِيرَةِ صَادِقَ الْشُّكْرَانِ
Beirut, O dear and kindly city,
O Beirut, beloved honest land
generous at heart, sincere in gratitude,
Of easy nature, true in gratitude
بَيْرُوتُBeirut هَذَاthis is مَنْthe one who بَلَغْتِyou reached مِنَof العُلَىglory
بَيْرُوتُ هَذَا مَنْ بَلَغْتِ مِنَ العُلَى
بِمَكَانِهِthrough his standing السَّامِيlofty أَعَزَّthe most honored مَكَانِplace
بِمَكَانِهِ السَّامِي أَعَزَّ مَكَانِ
Beirut, this is he through whom you attained, in glory,
Beirut, this is who attained through loftiness
by his lofty standing, the most honored place.
The most precious position in rank
حَيِّيgreet مَثُوبَتَهُhis return إِلَيْكِto you وَأَكْرِمِيand honor
حَيِّي مَثُوبَتَهُ إِلَيْكِ وَأَكْرِمِي
مَاas much as شِئْتِyou wish زَائِرَكِyour visitor الرَّفِيعِlofty in الشَّانِrank
مَا شِئْتِ زَائِرَكِ الرَّفِيعِ الشَّانِ
Greet his return to you, and honor
Greet abundantly his emissary to you, and honor
as much as you wish, your visitor of lofty rank.
However you wish your eminent, glorious visitor
وَتَذَكَّرِيand remember أَيَّامَهُhis days الْغُرَّradiant الَّتِيwhich
وَتَذَكَّرِي أَيَّامَهُ الْغُرَّ الَّتِي
كَانَتْwere عُقُودَnecklaces of بَدَائِعٍwonders وَمَعَانِand meanings
كَانَتْ عُقُودَ بَدَائِعٍ وَمَعَانِ
And remember his radiant days, which
And remember the days of his youth that were
were necklaces of wonders and meanings.
Necklaces of wonders and meanings
جَعَلَتْthey made شُمُوسَكِyour suns فِيamong الشُّمُوسِthe suns فَرَائِداًpeerless jewels
جَعَلَتْ شُمُوسَكِ فِي الشُّمُوسِ فَرَائِداً
بِالآيَتَيْنِthrough the two wonders النُّورِlight وَالعِرْفَانِand knowledge
بِالآيَتَيْنِ النُّورِ وَالعِرْفَانِ
They made your suns peerless jewels among suns,
That made your suns the banners of the lights
through the two wonders: light and knowledge.
With the two signs: enlightenment and mystic knowledge
كَانَتthere was لَنَاfor us بِالْقُرْبِin nearness مِنْهُto him سَلْوَةٌconsolation
كَانَت لَنَا بِالْقُرْبِ مِنْهُ سَلْوَةٌ
فَأَزَالَهَاso it took it away هَذَاthis الْفِرَاقُparting الثَّانِيsecond
فَأَزَالَهَا هَذَا الْفِرَاقُ الثَّانِي
We had consolation in being near him;
Being near him gave us consolation
this second parting has taken it away.
Then this second separation removed it
أَيْO نَعْشَهُhis bier فِيكَin you الْعَفافُpurity مُشَيِّعاًborne to burial
أَيْ نَعْشَهُ فِيكَ الْعَفافُ مُشَيِّعاً
وَالْعِلْمُand knowledge مَبْكِياًmourned بِكُلِّby every جنَانِheart
وَالْعِلْمُ مَبْكِياً بِكُلِّ جنَانِ
O his bier, in you purity is borne to burial,
In you chastity escorts his bier
and knowledge is mourned by every heart.
And knowledge weeps in every garden
أَبْلِغْdeliver وَدِيعَتَنَاour entrusted charge إِلَىto أَحْبابِنَاour loved ones
أَبْلِغْ وَدِيعَتَنَا إِلَى أَحْبابِنَا
وَاحْمِلْand carry تَحِيَّتَنَاour greeting إِلَىto الأَوْطَانِthe homelands
وَاحْمِلْ تَحِيَّتَنَا إِلَى الأَوْطَانِ
Deliver our entrusted charge to our loved ones,
Convey our trust to our loved ones
and carry our greeting to the homelands.
And carry our greeting to the nations
كُنَّاwe were نَوَدُّwishing بِكَwith you المَصِيرَto journey إِلَىto الْحِمَىthe homeland
كُنَّا نَوَدُّ بِكَ المَصِيرَ إِلَى الْحِمَى
وَتَأَسِّيَand finding solace الإِخْوَانِbrothers بِالإِخْوَانِin brothers
وَتَأَسِّيَ الإِخْوَانِ بِالإِخْوَانِ
We wished to journey with you to the homeland,
We wanted to journey with you to the protected realm
and for brothers to find solace in brothers.
And gather the brethren round the brethren
لَكِنْbut عَدَانَاkept us away الْبَيْنُseparation دونfrom عِنَاقِهِمْembracing them
لَكِنْ عَدَانَا الْبَيْنُ دون عِنَاقِهِمْ
فَتَولَّso take charge وَلْيَتَعَانَقِand let them embrace الدَّمْعَانِthe two streams of tears
فَتَولَّ وَلْيَتَعَانَقِ الدَّمْعَانِ
But separation kept us from embracing them;
But distance prevented us from embracing them
so take our place, and let the two streams of tears embrace.
So depart, and let two tears embrace
Sol 6.1