عَلاَrose over مَفْرِقِيmy hair's parting بَعْدَafter الشَّبابِyouth مَشِيبُgray hair
عَلاَ مَفْرِقِي بَعْدَ الشَّبابِ مَشِيبُ
فَفَوْدِيso my temple ضَحُوكٌsmiling وَالفُؤادand the heart كَئِيبُsorrowful
فَفَوْدِي ضَحُوكٌ وَالفُؤاد كَئِيبُ
Gray hair has risen over my parting after youth;
So my temple smiles while my heart is sad.
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle مَشَىmoved هَذَاthese الشَّرَارُsparks بِلِمَّةٍthrough a head of hair
إِذَا مَا مَشَى هَذَا الشَّرَارُ بِلِمَّةٍ
فَمَاthen not هِيَit إِلاَّexcept فَحْمَةٌa lump of coal سَتَذُوبُwill melt away
فَمَا هِيَ إِلاَّ فَحْمَةٌ سَتَذُوبُ
When these sparks run through a head of hair,
It is but a lump of coal that will melt away.
أَرَاعَكَhas it alarmed you? إِصبَاحٌdaybreak يُطَارِدُchases away ظُلْمَةًa darkness
أَرَاعَكَ إِصبَاحٌ يُطَارِدُ ظُلْمَةً
بِهَاin it كَانَthere was أُنْسٌcomfort مَاas much as تَشَاءُyou wish وَطِيبُand pleasure
بِهَا كَانَ أُنْسٌ مَا تَشَاءُ وَطِيبُ
Has daybreak alarmed you, chasing away a darkness
Where dwelt all the comfort and delight you wished?
فَمَاthen what بَالُthe matter with ضَوْءٍa light فيin دُجَىdarkness الرأْسِthe head مُؤْذِنٍannouncing
فَمَا بَالُ ضَوْءٍ في دُجَى الرأْسِ مُؤْذِنٍ
بِأَنَّthat زَمَاناًa time مَرَّpassed لَيسَdoes not يَؤُوبُreturn
بِأَنَّ زَمَاناً مَرَّ لَيسَ يَؤُوبُ
What, then, of a light in the head's darkness, declaring
That a time gone by will never return?
غَنِمْنَاwe gained بِهِin it أَمْنَsecurity الحَيَاةِof life وَيُمْنَهَاand its good fortune
غَنِمْنَا بِهِ أَمْنَ الحَيَاةِ وَيُمْنَهَا
كَلَيْلٍlike a night بِهin it يَلْقَىmeets الحَبيبَthe beloved حَبِيبُa lover
كَلَيْلٍ بِه يَلْقَى الحَبيبَ حَبِيبُ
In it we gained life's peace and good fortune,
As in a night when a lover meets the beloved.
شَبابٌyouth تَقَضَّىpassed بَينَamid لَهوٍplay وَنَعْمَةٍand ease
شَبابٌ تَقَضَّى بَينَ لَهوٍ وَنَعْمَةٍ
إِذَاwhen الدَّهْرُtime مُصْغٍlistening وَالسُّرُورُand joy مُجيبُanswering
إِذَا الدَّهْرُ مُصْغٍ وَالسُّرُورُ مُجيبُ
Youth passed amid play and ease,
When time lent an ear and gladness answered.
وَإِذْand when لاَnot تُعَدُّare counted المَعْصِيَاتُtransgressions عَلَىagainst الفَتَىthe young man
وَإِذْ لاَ تُعَدُّ المَعْصِيَاتُ عَلَى الفَتَى
خَطَاhe stepped صَي[unclear fragment] عَلَيهِagainst him ذُنُوبُsins
خَطَا صَي عَلَيهِ ذُنُوبُ
And when transgressions were not counted against a youth,
He stepped—[text unclear]—sins against him.
وَإِذْand when كُلُّevery صَعبِdifficulty لاَnot يُرامُis attempted مُذلَّلٌsubdued
وَإِذْ كُلُّ صَعبِ لاَ يُرامُ مُذلَّلٌ
لاَnot يُجَازُis traversed رَحِيبُspacious
لاَ يُجَازُ رَحِيبُ
And when every unassailable difficulty was subdued,
What could not be traversed was spacious;
وَإِذْand when كُلُّevery أَرْضِland رَوْضَةٌa garden عَبْقَرِيَّةٌwondrous
وَإِذْ كُلُّ أَرْضِ رَوْضَةٌ عَبْقَرِيَّةٌ
جَدِيبٍbarren ground فيin الدِّيَارِthe lands خَصِيبُfertile
جَدِيبٍ في الدِّيَارِ خَصِيبُ
And when every land was a wondrous garden,
Barren ground among the lands was fertile;
وَإِذْand when كُلُّevery ذِيpossessor of قَلْبٍa heart خَفُوقٍthrobbing بِصَبْوَةٍwith youthful longing
وَإِذْ كُلُّ ذِي قَلْبٍ خَفُوقٍ بِصَبْوَةٍ
عَلَىdespite الْجَهْلِignorance مِنْهُon his part شَاعِرٌa poet وَأَديبُand a man of letters
عَلَى الْجَهْلِ مِنْهُ شَاعِرٌ وَأَديبُ
And when everyone whose heart throbbed with longing,
Despite his ignorance, was a poet and man of letters;
وَإِذْand when يَثِبُleaps الفِكْرُthought الْبَطِيءُthe slow فَيَرْتَقِيand so ascends
وَإِذْ يَثِبُ الفِكْرُ الْبَطِيءُ فَيَرْتَقِي
إِلىto الأَوْجِthe summit لاَnot يَثْنِيهِturns it back عَنهُfrom it لُغُوبُweariness
إِلى الأَوْجِ لاَ يَثْنِيهِ عَنهُ لُغُوبُ
And when slow thought leaped and climbed
To the summit, no weariness turning it back;
وَإِذْand when نَسْتَلِذُّwe relish الْقَرَّthe bitter cold وَهْوَthough it is كَرِيهَةٌa hateful thing
وَإِذْ نَسْتَلِذُّ الْقَرَّ وَهْوَ كَرِيهَةٌ
وَإِذْand when نَسْتَطِيبُwe find pleasant الْحَرَّthe heat وَهْوَthough it is مُذِيبُable to melt
وَإِذْ نَسْتَطِيبُ الْحَرَّ وَهْوَ مُذِيبُ
And when we relished cold, though hateful,
And when we found heat pleasant, though it could melt us;
وَإِذْand when تَسْتَبِينَاcaptivates us كُلُّevery ذَاتِwoman possessing مَلاَحَةٍbeauty
وَإِذْ تَسْتَبِينَا كُلُّ ذَاتِ مَلاَحَةٍ
لَهَاshe has فِتْنَةٌenchantment بِاللاَّعِبينَwith those at play لَعُوبُplayful
لَهَا فِتْنَةٌ بِاللاَّعِبينَ لَعُوبُ
And when every woman of beauty held us captive,
With a charm that toyed with those at play;
وَإِذْand when تَتَلَقَّانَاmeet us الصُّرُوفُfate's changes بِرَحْمَةٍwith mercy
وَإِذْ تَتَلَقَّانَا الصُّرُوفُ بِرَحْمَةٍ
وَيَنْحَازُand veers away عَنَّاfrom us السَّهمُthe arrow وَهْوَthough it is مُصِيبُunerring
وَيَنْحَازُ عَنَّا السَّهمُ وَهْوَ مُصِيبُ
And when the turns of fate met us mercifully,
And the arrow veered from us, though unerring;
تَقِينَاprotects us الْرَّزَايَاcalamities رَأْفَةُcompassion اللهِof God بِالصِّبَاfor youth
تَقِينَا الْرَّزَايَا رَأْفَةُ اللهِ بِالصِّبَا
وَتَدْرَأُand ward off عَنَّاfrom us الْحَادِثَاتِmisfortunes غُيُوبُunseen forces
وَتَدْرَأُ عَنَّا الْحَادِثَاتِ غُيُوبُ
God's compassion for youth shielded us from calamities,
And unseen forces warded misfortunes away from us.
فَكُنَّاso we were كَأَفْرَاخٍlike nestlings تَعَرَّضَwas exposed وَكْرُهَاtheir nest
فَكُنَّا كَأَفْرَاخٍ تَعَرَّضَ وَكْرُهَا
وَلِلنَّوْءِand the rainstorm had هَطْلٌa downpour وَالرِّيَاحِand the winds هُبُوبُa blowing
وَلِلنَّوْءِ هَطْلٌ وَالرِّيَاحِ هُبُوبُ
So we were like nestlings whose nest lay exposed,
While storms poured and winds blew;
فَلَمْyet did not تُؤْذِهَاharm them الأَمْطَارُthe rains وَهْيَthough they are مَهَالِكٌdeadly perils
فَلَمْ تُؤْذِهَا الأَمْطَارُ وَهْيَ مَهَالِكٌ
وَلَمْand did not يُرْدِهَاkill them الإِعْصَارُthe whirlwind وَهُوَthough it is شَعُوبُDeath
وَلَمْ يُرْدِهَا الإِعْصَارُ وَهُوَ شَعُوبُ
Yet the rains did not harm them, though deadly,
Nor did the whirlwind kill them, though it was Death.
بَلِrather اهْتَزَّrocked مَثْوَاهَاtheir dwelling لِيَهْنِئَهَاso it might soothe them الكَرَىslumber
بَلِ اهْتَزَّ مَثْوَاهَا لِيَهْنِئَهَا الكَرَى
وَبُلَّتْand were moistened لإِمْرَاءِto make digestible الطَّعامِthe food حُبُوبُgrains
وَبُلَّتْ لإِمْرَاءِ الطَّعامِ حُبُوبُ
Instead, their dwelling rocked to make sleep sweet to them,
And grains were moistened to make the food easy to digest.
وَكُنَّاand we were كَمُوسَىlike Moses يَوْمَon the day أَمْسَىhe reached evening وَفُلْكُهُand his boat
وَكُنَّا كَمُوسَى يَوْمَ أَمْسَى وَفُلْكُهُ
عَلَىon النِّيلthe Nile عُشْبٌgrass يَابِسٌdry وَرَطِيبُand fresh
عَلَى النِّيل عُشْبٌ يَابِسٌ وَرَطِيبُ
And we were like Moses when evening came, his boat
Upon the Nile made of grass, dry and green.
مَشَتْit moved فَوقَover تَيَّارِthe current of البَوَارِdestruction تَخَطُّراًswaying proudly
مَشَتْ فَوقَ تَيَّارِ البَوَارِ تَخَطُّراً
تَرَاءَىappeared بِصَافِيin the clear الماءِwater وَهْوَthough it was مَرِيبُominous
تَرَاءَى بِصَافِي الماءِ وَهْوَ مَرِيبُ
It swayed proudly over a current of ruin,
That showed in limpid water, though ominous.
يَعَضُّbites الرَّدَىDeath أَطْرَافَهَاits edges بِنَواجِذِwith molars
يَعَضُّ الرَّدَى أَطْرَافَهَا بِنَواجِذِ
مِنَof المَوجِthe waves تَبْدُوappear تَارَةًat times وَتَغيبُand disappear
مِنَ المَوجِ تَبْدُو تَارَةً وَتَغيبُ
Death gnawed its edges with molars
Of waves, now showing, now disappearing.
وَيَبْسِمُand smiles وَجْهُthe face of الغُوْرِthe deep مِنْout of رِقَّةtenderness لَهَاfor it
وَيَبْسِمُ وَجْهُ الغُوْرِ مِنْ رِقَّة لَهَا
وَمَاand nothing تَحتَهُbeneath it إِلاَّbut دُجىًdarkness وَقُطُوبُand frowning
وَمَا تَحتَهُ إِلاَّ دُجىً وَقُطُوبُ
And the face of the deep smiled with tenderness for it,
While beneath lay only darkness and scowls.
فَجَازتْso it crossed بِهِwith him الأَخْطَارَthe dangers وَالطِّفلُwhile the child نَائِمٌasleep
فَجَازتْ بِهِ الأَخْطَارَ وَالطِّفلُ نَائِمٌ
تُرَاعِيwatch over سُرَاهَاits night journey شَمْأَلٌa north wind وَجَنُوبُand a south wind
تُرَاعِي سُرَاهَا شَمْأَلٌ وَجَنُوبُ
So it carried him through dangers while the child slept,
North wind and south guarding its passage by night,
إلىَto حَيثُwhere يُنْجَىis saved مِنfrom مَخَالِبِthe claws of حَتْفِهِhis doom
إلىَ حَيثُ يُنْجَى مِن مَخَالِبِ حَتْفِهِ
غَرِيقٌa drowning person وَيُوقَىand is protected from الظَّالمِينَthe oppressors غَرِيبُa stranger
غَرِيقٌ وَيُوقَى الظَّالمِينَ غَرِيبُ
To where, from the claws of his doom, is rescued
A drowning one, and a stranger is shielded from oppressors;
إلىَto مُلْتَقَىa reunion with أُمٍّa mother وَمَنْجَاةِand the deliverance of أُمَّةٍa nation
إلىَ مُلْتَقَى أُمٍّ وَمَنْجَاةِ أُمَّةٍ
إِلَىto الطُّورِthe Mount يُدْعَىis invoked اللهُGod وَهْوَand He is قَرِيبُnear
إِلَى الطُّورِ يُدْعَى اللهُ وَهْوَ قَرِيبُ
To reunion with a mother and a nation's deliverance,
To the Mount, where God is invoked, and He is near.
رَعَىmay he preserve اللهُGod ذَاكَthat العَهدَtime فَالعَيشُfor life بَعدَهُafter it
رَعَى اللهُ ذَاكَ العَهدَ فَالعَيشُ بَعدَهُ
وُجُومٌsilent grief عَلَىover أَيَّامِهِits days وَوَجِيبُand heart-pounding
وُجُومٌ عَلَى أَيَّامِهِ وَوَجِيبُ
May God preserve that time; for life thereafter
Is silent grief for its days and a pounding heart.
يَقُولُونَthey say لَيلٌa night جَاءَنَاcame to us بَعدَهُafter it الهُدَىguidance
يَقُولُونَ لَيلٌ جَاءَنَا بَعدَهُ الهُدَى
صَدَقْتُمْyou spoke truly هُدىًguidance لَكِنْbut أَسىًsorrow وَكُرُوبُand anguish
صَدَقْتُمْ هُدىً لَكِنْ أَسىً وَكُرُوبُ
They say: 'A night, after which guidance came to us.'
'True—guidance, but sorrow and anguish.'
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle انجلىbroke clear صُبْحٌa dawn بِصَادِقِwith the truth of نُورِهِits light
إِذَا مَا انجلى صُبْحٌ بِصَادِقِ نُورِهِ
وَبُدِّدَand was dispersed مِنfrom وَهْمِthe illusion of الظَّلاَمِdarkness كَذُوبُa falsehood
وَبُدِّدَ مِن وَهْمِ الظَّلاَمِ كَذُوبُ
When dawn breaks with its truthful light,
And the falsehood of darkness's illusion is dispersed,
وَحَصْحَصَand became clear حَقُّthe truth of الشَّيءِthe thing رَاعَstartled جَمَالُهُits beauty
وَحَصْحَصَ حَقُّ الشَّيءِ رَاعَ جَمَالُهُ
وَلَمand did not تَخْفَremain hidden عُوْراتٌshameful flaws بِهِin it وَعُيُوبُand defects
وَلَم تَخْفَ عُوْراتٌ بِهِ وَعُيُوبُ
And a thing's truth stands clear, its beauty startles,
And its shameful flaws and defects are not concealed;
وَأَضْحَىand became ذَلِيلاًhumbled للنَّواظِرِbefore the eyes مَشْهَدٌa scene
وَأَضْحَى ذَلِيلاً للنَّواظِرِ مَشْهَدٌ
رَأَتْهُthat saw it بِنُورِby the light of الشُّهبِthe stars وهُوَwhile it was مَهِيبُawe-inspiring
رَأَتْهُ بِنُورِ الشُّهبِ وهُوَ مَهِيبُ
And a scene becomes abject before the eyes
That saw it by starlight, when it was majestic.
فَهَلْso is there? فيin الضُّحىdaylight إِلاَّanything but ابْتِذَالٌbanality مُجَدَّدٌrenewed
فَهَلْ في الضُّحى إِلاَّ ابْتِذَالٌ مُجَدَّدٌ
تَثُوبُreturn بِهِwith it الأَنْوَارُthe lights حِينَwhen تَثُوبُthey return
تَثُوبُ بِهِ الأَنْوَارُ حِينَ تَثُوبُ
Is there in daylight anything but renewed banality,
Which the lights bring back whenever they return?
وَهَلْand is there? فيin الضُّحىdaylight طَيْفٌa dream-phantom يَسُرُّdelights بِزَوْرَةٍwith a visit
وَهَلْ في الضُّحى طَيْفٌ يَسُرُّ بِزَوْرَةٍ
إِذَاwhen سَاءَنَاgrieves us مِنَّنof those whom (unclear form) نُحِبُّwe love مَغِيبُabsence
إِذَا سَاءَنَا مِنَّن نُحِبُّ مَغِيبُ
And is there in daylight a phantom whose visit delights,
When the absence of those we love grieves us?
وَهَلْand is there? فيin الضُّحىdaylight إلاَّanything but جُرُوحٌwounds وَغَارَةٌand a raid
وَهَلْ في الضُّحى إلاَّ جُرُوحٌ وَغَارَةٌ
لَحُوحٌrelentless وَإِلاَّand only سَالِبٌa plunderer وَسَلِيبُand one plundered
لَحُوحٌ وَإِلاَّ سَالِبٌ وَسَلِيبُ
And is there in daylight anything but wounds and a raid,
Relentless—and nothing but plunderer and plundered?
وَهَلْand is there? فيin الضُّحَىdaylight كَأْسٌa cup صَفُوحٌforgiving عَنِof العِدَىenemies
وَهَلْ في الضُّحَى كَأْسٌ صَفُوحٌ عَنِ العِدَى
إِذَاwhen رَابَتِaroused suspicion الكَاسَاتُthe cups لَيْسَdoes not تَرِيبُarouse suspicion
إِذَا رَابَتِ الكَاسَاتُ لَيْسَ تَرِيبُ
And is there in daylight a cup that pardons enemies,
That raises no suspicion when other cups do?
وَهَلْand is there? فيin الضُّحَىdaylight رَاحٌwine حَمُولٌurging عَلَىtoward النَّدَىgenerosity
وَهَلْ في الضُّحَى رَاحٌ حَمُولٌ عَلَى النَّدَى
تُصَبُّis poured فَرَاحَاتُso the palms الكِرَامِof the generous تَصُوبُrain down
تُصَبُّ فَرَاحَاتُ الكِرَامِ تَصُوبُ
And is there in daylight wine that urges generosity,
Poured out, so the palms of the generous rain down?
أبِالصَّخبِis it with the clamor? السَّاعِيhastening بِهِamid it كُلُّevery مُغْتَدٍearly riser
أبِالصَّخبِ السَّاعِي بِهِ كُلُّ مُغْتَدٍ
إِلىtoward الرِّزْقِa livelihood يُرْضِيpleases مِسْمَعَيْهِhis two ears طَرُوبُa music-lover
إِلى الرِّزْقِ يُرْضِي مِسْمَعَيْهِ طَرُوبُ
Can the clamor in which each early riser hurries
After his livelihood delight a music-lover's ears?
أَتْمْكِنُنَاcan it enable us? مِنْto بَارِحِlast night's الأُنْسِintimacy عُزْلَةٌsolitude
أَتْمْكِنُنَا مِنْ بَارِحِ الأُنْسِ عُزْلَةٌ
وَجَارَاand the two neighbors of رِضَانَاour contentment نَاقِمٌa malcontent وَغَضُوبُand an angry person
وَجَارَا رِضَانَا نَاقِمٌ وَغَضُوبُ
Can solitude give us back last night's intimacy,
While a malcontent and a hothead neighbor our contentment?
أَيَهْنِئُنَاcan it delight us? لِلشَّمسِof the sun وَجْهٌa face وَدُونَهُwhile before it
أَيَهْنِئُنَا لِلشَّمسِ وَجْهٌ وَدُونَهُ
دُخَانٌsmoke مَثَارٌstirred up لِلأَذَىfor harm وَحُرُوبُand wars
دُخَانٌ مَثَارٌ لِلأَذَى وَحُرُوبُ
Can the sun's face delight us, when before it
Lie smoke stirred up for harm, and wars?
أَتَأْوِيdoes it take refuge? إِلىَin ضَوْضَاءِthe clamor of سُوقٍa market صَبَابَةٌardent longing
أَتَأْوِي إِلىَ ضَوْضَاءِ سُوقٍ صَبَابَةٌ
وَتِلْكَwhile it نَفُورٌskittish كَالقَطَاةِlike a sandgrouse وَثُوبُquick to leap
وَتِلْكَ نَفُورٌ كَالقَطَاةِ وَثُوبُ
Can longing take refuge in a market's din,
When it is skittish as a sandgrouse, quick to spring away?
إِلَيْكُمُaway with you عَنِّيfrom me بِالحَقَائِقِwith the truths إِنَّنيindeed I
إِلَيْكُمُ عَنِّي بِالحَقَائِقِ إِنَّني
عَلَىdespite الكُرْهِreluctance مِنِّيon my part بِالحَيَاةِin matters of life طَبِيبُa physician
عَلَى الكُرْهِ مِنِّي بِالحَيَاةِ طَبِيبُ
Away from me with your truths! I,
Despite myself, am a physician of life.
أَعِيدُواrestore إِلىto قَلْبِيmy heart عَذِيرَthe excuse of شَبَابِهِits youth
أَعِيدُوا إِلى قَلْبِي عَذِيرَ شَبَابِهِ
فَمَاfor ... nothing الشَّيبُgray hair إِلاَّbut عَاذِلٌa reprover وَرَقِيبُand a watcher
فَمَا الشَّيبُ إِلاَّ عَاذِلٌ وَرَقِيبُ
Restore to my heart the indulgence of its youth;
For gray hair is only a reprover and a watcher.
وَلاَand do not غَرَّكُمْdeceive you مِنِّيabout me ابتِسَامٌa smile بِلِمَّتيin my locks
وَلاَ غَرَّكُمْ مِنِّي ابتِسَامٌ بِلِمَّتي
فَرُبَّfor many a ابتِسَامٍsmile لاَحَgleamed وَهْوَwhile it was شُبُوبُa blaze
فَرُبَّ ابتِسَامٍ لاَحَ وَهْوَ شُبُوبُ
And let no smile in my locks deceive you about me;
For many a smile has shone that was a blaze.
أَلَيسَتْare not? نُجُومُthe stars of اللَّيْلِnight أَشْبَهَmore like بِالنَّدَىdew
أَلَيسَتْ نُجُومُ اللَّيْلِ أَشْبَهَ بِالنَّدَى
عَلَىalthough أَنَّهاthey are جَمْرٌembers ذَكَاblazed up وَلَهِيبُand flame
عَلَى أَنَّها جَمْرٌ ذَكَا وَلَهِيبُ
Are not the stars of night most like dew,
Although they are glowing embers and flame?
Sol 6.1