عُمْرٌa lifetime قَطَعْتَyou cut short مَدَاهُits span قَبْلَbefore أَوَانِthe due time
عُمْرٌ قَطَعْتَ مَدَاهُ قَبْلَ أَوَانِ
خُذْhold بِالمُخْلَّدِto the immortal وَاعْدُand pass over مَاwhat هُوَit فَانِperishable
خُذْ بِالمُخْلَّدِ وَاعْدُ مَا هُوَ فَانِ
A life—you cut its span short before its time.
You shortened your life before its time
Hold fast to the immortal, and pass over what perishes.
Grasp the eternal and abandon the transient
مَاnot زِلْتَyou ceased فِيin جِدٍّearnest toil وَجَدٍّand fortune عَاثِرٍstumbling
مَا زِلْتَ فِي جِدٍّ وَجَدٍّ عَاثِرٍ
حَتَّىuntil سَمَوْتَyou rose high وَدُونَكَand beneath you القَمَرَانِthe sun and moon
حَتَّى سَمَوْتَ وَدُونَكَ القَمَرَانِ
You persevered in earnest toil and stumbling fortune,
You have been constantly striving
Until you soared, with sun and moon beneath you.
Until you rose above the two moons
عَجَّلْتَyou hastened بَيْنَكَyour departure فِيin جِهَادِكَyour struggle فَاحْتَوَىand it encompassed
عَجَّلْتَ بَيْنَكَ فِي جِهَادِكَ فَاحْتَوَى
مَعْنَىthe meaning of الشَّهَادَةmartyrdom وَهْيَand it ذَاتُpossessing مَعانِmeanings
مَعْنَى الشَّهَادَة وَهْيَ ذَاتُ مَعانِ
You hastened your departure in your struggle; it embraced
You hastened through your jihad
The meaning of martyrdom, itself rich in meanings.
To encompass the meaning of martyrdom in its essence
أَعْزِزْhow grievous عَلَىfor أَهْلِthe people of النُّهَىintellect أَلاَّthat not تُرَىyou are seen
أَعْزِزْ عَلَى أَهْلِ النُّهَى أَلاَّ تُرَى
فِيin الشَّوْطِthe race حِينَwhen تَسَابُقِthe racing of الأَقْرَانِpeers
فِي الشَّوْطِ حِينَ تَسَابُقِ الأَقْرَانِ
How grievous to the wise that you are not seen
Honor the people of prohibition by not being seen
In the race when peers compete.
Among the competitors when they race
وَعَلَىand for النَّديِّthe assembly مَكَانُكَyour place الخَالِيvacant إِذَاwhen
وَعَلَى النَّديِّ مَكَانُكَ الخَالِي إِذَا
رَنَتِgazed العُيُونُthe eyes إِلَىtoward أَعَزِّthe most honored مَكَانِplace
رَنَتِ العُيُونُ إِلَى أَعَزِّ مَكَانِ
And to the assembly, your vacant place, when
And in your high empty place when
Eyes turn toward the most honored seat.
Eyes turn to the highest place
مِنْfrom آلِthe family of عَقْلٍAql لاnot يَخِرُّfalls مُكَافِحٌa fighter
مِنْ آلِ عَقْلٍ لا يَخِرُّ مُكَافِحٌ
حَتَّىuntil يَلُوحَappears مِنَfrom الصُّفُوفِthe ranks الثَّانِيthe second
حَتَّى يَلُوحَ مِنَ الصُّفُوفِ الثَّانِي
No fighter from the house of Aql falls
From a family whose warrior does not retreat
Until another appears from the ranks.
Until he appears among the ranks of the second row
غُرٌّillustrious مِنَamong الفِتْيَانِthe young men مَاnot بَرِحْتَyou ceased لَهُمْfor them
غُرٌّ مِنَ الفِتْيَانِ مَا بَرِحْتَ لَهُمْ
فِيin الصَّالِحَاتِrighteous deeds البَاقِيَاتِenduring يَدَانِtwo hands
فِي الصَّالِحَاتِ البَاقِيَاتِ يَدَانِ
Radiant young men, for whom you have always had
A cave for the youth that you have not ceased
Two helping hands in good deeds that endure.
To have righteous lasting deeds for them
لِيfor me فِيهِمُamong them الأَصْفَىthe sincerest مِنَof الأَحْبَابِdear friends لاmay I not
لِي فِيهِمُ الأَصْفَى مِنَ الأَحْبَابِ لا
أَعْدَمْهُI lose him وَالأَوْفَىand the most loyal مِنَof الخُلاَّنِclose companions
أَعْدَمْهُ وَالأَوْفَى مِنَ الخُلاَّنِ
Among them I have the sincerest of dear friends—may I never
Among them I have the finest of friends whom
Lose him—and the most loyal of companions.
I do not lack and the most loyal of companions
وَهَبُواthey gave النَّفَائِسَprecious treasures وَالنُّفُوسَand lives كَأَنَّهَاas though they were
وَهَبُوا النَّفَائِسَ وَالنُّفُوسَ كَأَنَّهَا
فَضَلاتُleftovers of زَادٍprovisions فِيin هَوَىlove for لُبْنَانِLebanon
فَضَلاتُ زَادٍ فِي هَوَى لُبْنَانِ
They gave precious treasures and their lives as though they were
They gave their treasures and souls as if they were
Leftover provisions, for love of Lebanon.
Extra provisions on a journey to Lebanon
وَإِذَاand if ذَكَرْتَyou mention فِدَىthe sacrifice of سَعِيدٍSa'id مِنْهُمُamong them
وَإِذَا ذَكَرْتَ فِدَى سَعِيدٍ مِنْهُمُ
وَضَحَتْbecame clear صَحِيفَتُهُمْtheir record مِنfrom العُنْوَانِthe heading
وَضَحَتْ صَحِيفَتُهُمْ مِن العُنْوَانِ
And if you mention Sa'id's sacrifice among them,
And when you mention Sa'eed's sacrifice among them
Their record becomes clear from its heading.
Their history stands out from the title
مَاذَاwhat دَهَىbefell الأَفْرَاخَthe fledglings فِيin ظِلٍّa shade ضَحَاvanished
مَاذَا دَهَى الأَفْرَاخَ فِي ظِلٍّ ضَحَا
عَنْfrom أَيْكَةٍa grove فِيin نَعْمَةٍcomfort وَأَمَانِand safety
عَنْ أَيْكَةٍ فِي نَعْمَةٍ وَأَمَانِ
What befell the fledglings beneath a shade that vanished
What has made the chicks comfortable in pleasant shade
From a grove amid comfort and safety?
From a nest of luxury and safety
كَشَفَتْremoved مُفَاجَأَةُthe sudden onset of الرَّزِيئَةthe calamity سِتْرَهَاits covering
كَشَفَتْ مُفَاجَأَةُ الرَّزِيئَة سِتْرَهَا
وَانْتِيبَand was assailed مَأَلَفُthe abode of عِزِّهَاits honor بِهَوَانِby humiliation
وَانْتِيبَ مَأَلَفُ عِزِّهَا بِهَوَانِ
The sudden calamity stripped away its covering,
The surprise of misery has uncovered its veil
And its abode of honor was assailed by humiliation.
And the familiarity of its glory has been lost in disgrace
لاno لاَno وَيَأْبَىand rejects العَدْلُjustice ذَاكَthat مَثُوبَةًas recompense
لا لاَ وَيَأْبَى العَدْلُ ذَاكَ مَثُوبَةً
لِمُخَلِّفٍfor one leaving behind ذِمَماًobligations عَلَىupon الأَوْطَانِthe homelands
لِمُخَلِّفٍ ذِمَماً عَلَى الأَوْطَانِ
No, no! Justice rejects that as recompense
No, no - justice refuses that as recompense
For one who leaves obligations upon the homelands.
For one who lags behind with debts to his homelands
أَبْكِيكَI weep for you يَاO خِدْنِيmy close friend وَكَمْand how many مُتَقَدِّمٍone who went before
أَبْكِيكَ يَا خِدْنِي وَكَمْ مُتَقَدِّمٍ
أَمْسَيْتُI have become أبكِيهI weep for him مِنَamong الأَخْدَانِclose companions
أَمْسَيْتُ أبكِيه مِنَ الأَخْدَانِ
I weep for you, my close friend; how many who went before
I cry for you my lament and how many predecessors
Have I come to mourn among my companions!
Have I ended up crying for from among the loved ones
كَثرَتْmultiplied جِرَاحَاتِيmy wounds وَأَحْدَثُand the newest of مَاwhat أَتَىcame
كَثرَتْ جِرَاحَاتِي وَأَحْدَثُ مَا أَتَى
مُتَلاحِقاًin succession وَأَمَضُّهُand the most painful of them جُرْحَانِtwo wounds
مُتَلاحِقاً وَأَمَضُّهُ جُرْحَانِ
My wounds have multiplied; the newest of those that came
My wounds have multiplied and the newest that came
In succession—and the most painful—are two wounds.
In succession and harshest are two wounds
أَخَوَانِtwo brothers فِيin عَامٍone year رُزِئْتُهُمَاI was bereaved of both وَمَنْand who
أَخَوَانِ فِي عَامٍ رُزِئْتُهُمَا وَمَنْ
كَانَاthey both were لَعَمْرِيby my life ذَانِكَthose two الأَخْوَانِthe brothers
كَانَا لَعَمْرِي ذَانِكَ الأَخْوَانِ
Two brothers I lost in one year—and what
Brothers in a year I was distressed by both and they
Brothers those two were, by my life!
Were for my life those two brothers
بِالأَمْسِyesterday كُنْتَyou were عَزَاءَconsolation for قَلْبِيmy heart عَنْهُمَاfor the loss of both
بِالأَمْسِ كُنْتَ عَزَاءَ قَلْبِي عَنْهُمَا
وَاليَوْمَand today قَلْبِيmy heart فَاقِدُbereft of السُّلْوَانِsolace
وَاليَوْمَ قَلْبِي فَاقِدُ السُّلْوَانِ
Yesterday you were my heart's consolation for their loss;
Yesterday you were the solace of my heart from them
Today my heart is bereft of solace.
And today my heart is devoid of comfort
يَاO شَاعِرَpoet of العَرَبِthe Arabs الَّذِيwho آثَارُهُhis works
يَا شَاعِرَ العَرَبِ الَّذِي آثَارُهُ
جَمَعَتْgathered عُيونَthe gems of الشِّعْرِpoetry فِيin دِيوَانِa verse collection
جَمَعَتْ عُيونَ الشِّعْرِ فِي دِيوَانِ
O poet of the Arabs, whose works
O poet of the Arabs whose effects
Gathered the gems of poetry into a collection.
Have collected the eyes of poetry in a journal
صُغْتُI fashioned القَرِيضَverse فَرَاحَand it began يَبْهَىto outshine فِيamong الحِلَىornaments
صُغْتُ القَرِيضَ فَرَاحَ يَبْهَى فِي الحِلَى
مَاwhat صِيغَwas fashioned مِنْfrom دُرٍّpearls وَمِنْand from عِقْيَانِpure gold
مَا صِيغَ مِنْ دُرٍّ وَمِنْ عِقْيَانِ
I fashioned verse, and among ornaments it began to outshine
I listened to the ode then it began to shine in adornments
Whatever was wrought of pearls and pure gold.
That were crafted from pearls and from corals
أَللُّطْفُgrace فِيin تَأْلِيفِهits composition وَالظَّرْفُand elegance فِيin
أَللُّطْفُ فِي تَأْلِيفِه وَالظَّرْفُ فِي
تَصْرِيفهits handling صِفَتَانِtwo qualities بَيِّنَتَانِclearly evident
تَصْرِيفه صِفَتَانِ بَيِّنَتَانِ
Grace in its composition, and elegance in
The subtlety in its composition and the elegance in
Its handling, are two unmistakable qualities.
Its style are two evident qualities
تَتَبَارَيَانِthey both vie جَزَالَةًin vigor وَسُهُولَةًand ease
تَتَبَارَيَانِ جَزَالَةً وَسُهُولَةً
وَإِلَىand toward اسْتِلابِcapturing اللُّبِّthe mind تَسْتَبِقَانِthey both race
وَإِلَى اسْتِلابِ اللُّبِّ تَسْتَبِقَانِ
They vie in vigor and ease,
They compete in profundity and smoothness
And race to captivate the mind.
And in winning hearts
مَنْwho يَنْظِمُversifies المَعْنَىthe meaning الدَّقِيقَsubtle وَيُحْكِمُand perfects المَبْthe struc- (fragment)
مَنْ يَنْظِمُ المَعْنَى الدَّقِيقَ وَيُحْكِمُ المَبْ
نَى-ture (fragment) الرَّقِيقَdelicate بِذَلِكَwith that الإِتْقَانِmastery
نَى الرَّقِيقَ بِذَلِكَ الإِتْقَانِ
Who versifies subtle meaning and perfects the struc-
Who composes precise meaning and constructs delicate
ture, so delicate, with such mastery?
Structure with such perfection?
قَوْلٌspeech أَعَارَتْهُlent it الطَّبِيعَةُnature زِينَةًan adornment
قَوْلٌ أَعَارَتْهُ الطَّبِيعَةُ زِينَةً
خَلاَّبَةًenchanting مِنْfrom حُسْنِهَاher beauty الفَتَّانِcaptivating
خَلاَّبَةً مِنْ حُسْنِهَا الفَتَّانِ
Speech to which nature lent an adornment
A saying that nature has given alluring
Enchanting, drawn from her captivating beauty.
Beauty from its captivating charm
مَاhow أَجْمَلَbeautiful الصُّوَرَthe images الَّتِيthat تُجْلَىare revealed بِهِthrough it
مَا أَجْمَلَ الصُّوَرَ الَّتِي تُجْلَى بِهِ
فِيin أَبْهَجِthe brightest of الأَنْوَارِlights وَالأَلْوَانِand colors
فِي أَبْهَجِ الأَنْوَارِ وَالأَلْوَانِ
How beautiful the images revealed through it
How beautiful the images that are revealed through it
In the brightest lights and colors!
In the most delightful lights and colors
لَمْnot يَنْصُرِchampioned الفُصْحَىclassical Arabic كَنَصْرِكَlike your support جِهْبَذُa master scholar
لَمْ يَنْصُرِ الفُصْحَى كَنَصْرِكَ جِهْبَذُ
مُتَضَلِّعٌdeeply learned مُتَوَسِّعٌwidely learned فِيat آنِone time
مُتَضَلِّعٌ مُتَوَسِّعٌ فِي آنِ
No master scholar has championed classical Arabic as you did,
None have aided the eloquence like your aid, you seasoned
Deeply and broadly learned at once.
Expert, well-versed, at the time
قَوَّىstrengthened مَعَاقِلَهَاits strongholds وَدَرَّبَand trained نَشْأَهَاits rising youth
قَوَّى مَعَاقِلَهَا وَدَرَّبَ نَشْأَهَا
فَبَنَىand built لَهَاfor it جُدُراًwalls مِنَfrom الأَرْكَانِpillars
فَبَنَى لَهَا جُدُراً مِنَ الأَرْكَانِ
He strengthened its strongholds and trained its rising youth,
You strengthened its fortresses and trained its youth
And built for it walls of pillars.
So you built strong pillars for it
وَأَقَرَّهُand installed him فِيat الصَّدْرِthe head مِنْof دِيَوانِهِمْtheir council
وَأَقَرَّهُ فِي الصَّدْرِ مِنْ دِيَوانِهِمْ
أَشْيَاخُهَاits elders بِالطَّوْعِwillingly وَالإِذْعَانِand with deference
أَشْيَاخُهَا بِالطَّوْعِ وَالإِذْعَانِ
And they seated him at the head of their council—
And its elders settled it securely in their minds
Its elders, willingly and with deference.
By consent and submission
وَاحَسْرَتَاalas إِنَّindeed الكِنَانَةَKinana (Egypt) لَمْnot تَفُزْgained
وَاحَسْرَتَا إِنَّ الكِنَانَةَ لَمْ تَفُزْ
بِأَثَارَةٍwith a remnant مِنْof ذَلِكَthat العِرْفَانِknowledge
بِأَثَارَةٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ العِرْفَانِ
Alas! Kinana did not gain
Alas, ingratitude has not gained
Even a remnant of that knowledge.
Any knowledge from that recognition
أُدَبَاءَwriters of لُبْنَانَLebanon الكِرَامَnoble عَزَاءَكُمْcondolences to you
أُدَبَاءَ لُبْنَانَ الكِرَامَ عَزَاءَكُمْ
إِنَّاindeed we لَمُشْتَرِكُونَsurely share فِيin الأَحْزَانِthe sorrows
إِنَّا لَمُشْتَرِكُونَ فِي الأَحْزَانِ
Noble writers of Lebanon, my condolences to you:
Poets of noble Lebanon, your condolence
We surely share in the sorrows.
We share in the sorrows
هَلْhas حَلَّbefallen خَطْبٌa calamity بِالشَّآمِupon al-Sham (the Levant) وَأَهْلِهِand its people
هَلْ حَلَّ خَطْبٌ بِالشَّآمِ وَأَهْلِهِ
إِلاَّexcept that تَقَاسَمَshared شَجْوَخُits grief (apparent typo) القُطْرَانِthe two lands
إِلاَّ تَقَاسَمَ شَجْوَخُ القُطْرَانِ
Has any calamity befallen al-Sham and its people
Has any calamity befallen Damascus and its people
Without the two lands sharing its grief?
Except our sharing the bitterness of tar?
إِنْif لَمْnot تَرَوْنِيyou see me فِيin الجَمَاعَةthe gathering حَاضِراًpresent
إِنْ لَمْ تَرَوْنِي فِي الجَمَاعَة حَاضِراً
جِسْماًin body فَإِنِّيthen indeed I حَاضِرٌam present بِجَنَانِيwith my heart
جِسْماً فَإِنِّي حَاضِرٌ بِجَنَانِي
If you do not see me present in the gathering
If you do not see me present in body
In body, I am nevertheless present in my heart.
I am present in spirit
مَاnot بِيin me وَنىًslackness عَمَّنْtoward whoever دَعَانِيinvited me مِنْكُمُamong you
مَا بِي وَنىً عَمَّنْ دَعَانِي مِنْكُمُ
لَكِنَّbut حُكْماًa decree لاnot يُرَدُّis revoked عَدَانِيkept me away
لَكِنَّ حُكْماً لا يُرَدُّ عَدَانِي
No indolence keeps me from those of you who invited me;
I have no grudge against those of you who have invited me
But an irrevocable decree held me back.
Rather a judgment I cannot refuse has prevented me
شَأْنُthe duty of الصِّحَافَةthe press أَنْto تُشَرِّفَhonor مَنْthe one بِهِthrough him
شَأْنُ الصِّحَافَة أَنْ تُشَرِّفَ مَنْ بِهِ
شَرُفَتْwas honored وَمَنْand who أَوْلَىmore worthy بِذَاكَof that الشَّانِdistinction
شَرُفَتْ وَمَنْ أَوْلَى بِذَاكَ الشَّانِ
It is the press's duty to honor the one through whom
The press honors those who have been
It gained honor—and who is more worthy of that distinction?
Honored by it, and who is more deserving of this than he?
أَدُّواrender حُقُوقَthe dues of نَقِيبِهَاits leader وَخَطِيبِهَاand its orator
أَدُّوا حُقُوقَ نَقِيبِهَا وَخَطِيبِهَا
فَأَدِيبِهَاand its man of letters المُتفَوِّقِoutstanding الفَنَّانِthe artist
فَأَدِيبِهَا المُتفَوِّقِ الفَنَّانِ
Render what is owed to its leader and orator,
Give the press its leader and orator his rights
And its outstanding man of letters, the artist:
Its superior accomplished artist
أَلكَاتِبِthe writer الحُرِّfree المُجِيدaccomplished النَّائِبِthe representative الthe (split article)
أَلكَاتِبِ الحُرِّ المُجِيد النَّائِبِ ال
بَرِّrighteous الشَّديدsteadfast in العَزْمِresolve وَالإِيمَانِand faith
بَرِّ الشَّديد العَزْمِ وَالإِيمَانِ
The free, accomplished writer, the representative,
The free noble writer, the strong-willed steadfast
Righteous, steadfast in resolve and faith.
Representative of unshakable faith
رَجُلٌa man قُصَارَىthe utmost of جُهْدهِhis effort فِيamong قَوْمِهِhis people
رَجُلٌ قُصَارَى جُهْدهِ فِي قَوْمِهِ
نَصْرُsupporting المَضِيمِthe oppressed أَوِor افْتِكَاكُfreeing العَانِيthe captive
نَصْرُ المَضِيمِ أَوِ افْتِكَاكُ العَانِي
A man whose utmost effort among his people
A man whose utmost effort is for his people
Was to champion the wronged or free the captive.
To help the oppressed or free the suffering
يَحْمِيprotects حَقِيقَتَهُمْtheir rightful interests وَحُرِّيَّاتِهِمْand their freedoms
يَحْمِي حَقِيقَتَهُمْ وَحُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ
بِشَجَاعَةِwith the courage of المُسْتَبْسِلِthe fearless fighter المُتَفَانِيthe self-sacrificing
بِشَجَاعَةِ المُسْتَبْسِلِ المُتَفَانِي
He protects their rightful interests and their freedoms
He protects their rights and freedoms
With the courage of the fearless, self-sacrificing fighter.
With the courage of the dedicated selfless one
وَيَرُدُّand turns back كَيْدَthe plotting of خُصُومِهِمْtheir adversaries فِيinto نَحْرِهِمْtheir throats
وَيَرُدُّ كَيْدَ خُصُومِهِمْ فِي نَحْرِهِمْ
بِلِسَانِwith a tongue of صِدْقٍtruth دَامِغِconclusive in البُرْهَانِproof
بِلِسَانِ صِدْقٍ دَامِغِ البُرْهَانِ
And turns their enemies' schemes back upon their throats,
And he repels the guile of their enemies against them
With a truthful tongue, conclusive in its proof.
With the tongue of sincere convincing proof
وَيُنَزِّهُand frees الأَخْلاقَmorals مِنْfrom شُبَهٍsuspicions بِهَاin them
وَيُنَزِّهُ الأَخْلاقَ مِنْ شُبَهٍ بِهَا
وَيُطَهِّرُand purifies الآدَابَliterature مِنْfrom أَدْرَانِstains
وَيُطَهِّرُ الآدَابَ مِنْ أَدْرَانِ
And frees morals from the suspicions that cling to them,
And he purifies morals from any doubt in them
And purifies literature of stains.
And cleanses literature from impurities
أَوَدِيعُO Wadi' نَقْضِيكَwe bid you الوَدَاعَfarewell وَكُلُّنَاand all of us
أَوَدِيعُ نَقْضِيكَ الوَدَاعَ وَكُلُّنَا
ذَاكِيaflame الحَشَىat heart مُسْتَعْبِرُtearful الأَجْفَانِthe eyelids
ذَاكِي الحَشَى مُسْتَعْبِرُ الأَجْفَانِ
O Wadi', we bid you farewell, and all of us
Farewell, wisher of your farewell, and we are all
Are aflame at heart, with eyelids wet with tears.
With tearful eyes and flowing tears
سَتُعِيدُwill repeat طَيْرُthe birds of الأَرْزِthe cedars مَاwhat عَلَّمْتَهَاyou taught them
سَتُعِيدُ طَيْرُ الأَرْزِ مَا عَلَّمْتَهَا
مِنْof شَدْوِكَyour song المُشْجِيplaintive عَلَىthroughout الأَزْمَانِthe ages
مِنْ شَدْوِكَ المُشْجِي عَلَى الأَزْمَانِ
The birds of the cedars will repeat what you taught them
The birds of the cedars will repeat what you taught them
Of your plaintive song throughout the ages.
Of your burning poetry through the ages
وَسَتَذْكُرُand will remember الضَّادُArabic (the language of ḍād) اعْتِزَازَthe pride of بَيَانِهَاits eloquence
وَسَتَذْكُرُ الضَّادُ اعْتِزَازَ بَيَانِهَا
بِكَin you مَاas long as جَرَتْpersists ذِكْرَىthe memory of أَمِيرِa prince of بَيَانِeloquence
بِكَ مَا جَرَتْ ذِكْرَى أَمِيرِ بَيَانِ
And the language of ḍād will recall the pride its eloquence took
And the letter Dha will remember its pride in its
In you, as long as a prince of eloquence is remembered.
Eloquence through you, like the Prince of Eloquence is remembered
Sol 6.1