كلevery نَوْحٍlament لَهُfor it صَدىan echo فِيin فؤَادِيmy heart
كل نَوْحٍ لَهُ صَدى فِي فؤَادِي
وَجَوَابٌand an answer مِنْfrom عَبْرَتِيmy tear وَمِدَادِيand my ink
وَجَوَابٌ مِنْ عَبْرَتِي وَمِدَادِي
Every lament has an echo in my heart,
Every lament has an echo in my heart,
and an answer from my tears and my ink.
And a response from my tears and my ink.
كَيْفَhow وَالرُّزْءُand the bereavement فِيin وَدُودٍloving صَفِيٍّa devoted friend
كَيْفَ وَالرُّزْءُ فِي وَدُودٍ صَفِيٍّ
وَرَدَdrank at الصَّفوَthe clear water مِنْfrom معِينِthe wellspring of وِدَادِيmy affection
وَرَدَ الصَّفوَ مِنْ معِينِ وِدَادِي
How could it be otherwise, when the loss is of a loving, devoted friend
How could it not when sorrow resides in the bosom of a true beloved,
who drank the clear water from the wellspring of my affection?
And loyalty has returned from a flowing spring of affection.
يَاO شُجُوناًsorrows تَمَسtouch أَوْتَارَthe strings of قَلْبِيmy heart
يَا شُجُوناً تَمَس أَوْتَارَ قَلْبِي
وَيْكِalas for you هَلاَّwhy not مَسَسْتِهَاyou touched them بِاتئَادِgently
وَيْكِ هَلاَّ مَسَسْتِهَا بِاتئَادِ
O sorrows that touch the strings of my heart,
O sorrows that touch the strings of my heart,
alas for you—why not touch them gently?
If only you had not touched them with such cruelty.
كَمْhow often أَصُوغُI fashion الْوَدَاعَfarewell إِثْرَafter وَدَاعٍa farewell
كَمْ أَصُوغُ الْوَدَاعَ إِثْرَ وَدَاعٍ
فِيamid بِعَادٍseparation يَجِيءُcomes تِلْوَfollowing بِعَادِseparation
فِي بِعَادٍ يَجِيءُ تِلْوَ بِعَادِ
How often I fashion farewell after farewell
How often do I bid farewell after bidding farewell,
amid separation that follows separation.
In a faraway land that comes after faraway lands.
وَالأَسَىand sorrow مِلْءُfills مِسْمَعِيmy hearing كُلَّمَاwhenever تُوyou inspire (first part)
وَالأَسَى مِلْءُ مِسْمَعِي كُلَّمَا تُو
حِيcompletion of 'you inspire' وَفِيand in أَضْلُعِيmy ribs اقْتِدَاحٌstriking sparks زِنَادِflints
حِي وَفِي أَضْلُعِي اقْتِدَاحٌ زِنَادِ
And sorrow fills my hearing whenever you
And anguish fills my hearing whenever the wind blows,
inspire me; within my ribs flints strike sparks.
And my ribs quiver with intense grief.
وَعُيُونِيand my eyes لاdo not تَهْجُرُleave الطِّرْسَthe writing sheet إِلاَّexcept
وَعُيُونِي لا تَهْجُرُ الطِّرْسَ إِلاَّ
وَسَوَادُand the blackness السُّطورِof the lines بَعْضُpart of سَوَاديmy darkness
وَسَوَادُ السُّطورِ بَعْضُ سَوَادي
And my eyes never leave the page except
My eyes do not abandon weeping,
when the blackness of the lines is part of my own darkness.
And the blackness of the lines is part of my blackness.
يَاO أَخاًbrother فَضْلُهُhis kindness عَلَيَّtoward me كَبِيرٌgreat
يَا أَخاً فَضْلُهُ عَلَيَّ كَبِيرٌ
مُذْsince تَفَيَّأتُI sought shade ظِلَّthe shade of هَذَاthis الْوَاديvalley
مُذْ تَفَيَّأتُ ظِلَّ هَذَا الْوَادي
O brother, whose kindness toward me is great
O brother, your virtues toward me are great
ever since I sought shade in this valley.
Ever since I took shade under the shadow of this valley.
يَاO سَلِيمَSalim (sound) الضَّمِيرِconscience وَالْقَلْبِand heart فِيin أَشْـnoblest (first part)
يَا سَلِيمَ الضَّمِيرِ وَالْقَلْبِ فِي أَشْـ
ـرَفِcompletion of 'noblest' مَعْنىًmeaning وَفِيand in أَعَزِّmost cherished مُرَادintent
ـرَفِ مَعْنىً وَفِي أَعَزِّ مُرَاد
O Salim, sound in conscience and heart, in the
O sincere of conscience and heart in the noblest meaning
noblest sense and in the most cherished intent.
And most precious purpose.
مَاwhat الَّذيthat which يَصْنَعُdo الأَحِبَّاءُloved ones بِالأَرْto the souls (first part)
مَا الَّذي يَصْنَعُ الأَحِبَّاءُ بِالأَرْ
وَاحِcompletion of 'souls' يَوْمَon the day of النَّوَىparting وَبِالأَكْبَادand to the livers
وَاحِ يَوْمَ النَّوَى وَبِالأَكْبَاد
What do loved ones do to
What can loved ones do on the day of parting
souls on the day of parting, and to livers?
With spirits and souls?
جَلَّgreat is فَقْدَيكَmy loss of you جَلَّgreat is بَعْدَكَafter you لِلأَفْـof the better (first part)
جَلَّ فَقْدَيكَ جَلَّ بَعْدَكَ لِلأَفْـ
ـضَلِcompletion of 'better' مِنْof شَطْرَيthe two halves of الْحَيَاةlife افْتِقَاديmy loss
ـضَلِ مِنْ شَطْرَي الْحَيَاة افْتِقَادي
Great is my loss of you; great, after you,
Your absence is significant during your life and after your death,
is my loss of the better of life's two halves.
I miss the best of both halves of life.
أَيُّwhat خَطْبٍcalamity دَهَىbefell الْفَضَائِلَthe virtues فِيin النَّدْthe gallant man (first part)
أَيُّ خَطْبٍ دَهَى الْفَضَائِلَ فِي النَّدْ
بِcompletion of 'gallant man' المُوَالِيthe loyal وَفِيand in الْهُمَامِthe valiant الْجَوَادthe generous
بِ المُوَالِي وَفِي الْهُمَامِ الْجَوَاد
What calamity has struck the virtues in the
What misfortune has covered virtues in friendship
gallant, loyal man, and in the valiant, generous one?
And generosity in deeds?
فيin الأَمِينِthe trustworthy الأَبَرِّthe most virtuous حُرِّnoble in السَّجَايَاcharacter
في الأَمِينِ الأَبَرِّ حُرِّ السَّجَايَا
صَادقِtrue to الْوَعْدthe promise مُخْلِفnot fulfilling الأَيْعَادthreats
صَادقِ الْوَعْد مُخْلِف الأَيْعَاد
In the trustworthy, most virtuous man, noble of character,
The faithful, the righteous, free of blemishes,
true to his promise, leaving his threats unfulfilled.
True to his promise, not violating his word.
لَهْفَanguished longing نَفْسِيmy soul عَلَىfor زَمَانٍa time تَقَضَّىnow passed
لَهْفَ نَفْسِي عَلَى زَمَانٍ تَقَضَّى
جَادَهُwatered it مَاwhenever اسْتَهَلَّbegan to pour صَوْبُthe downpour of الْعِهَادrecurring rains
جَادَهُ مَا اسْتَهَلَّ صَوْبُ الْعِهَاد
How my soul aches for a time now past!
My soul yearns for a time now gone
May the showers of returning rains drench it whenever they pour.
Whose good days have passed towards their end.
فِيهin it كناwe were رَهْطاًa band تَوَلوْاthey undertook بِمَاwith what فيwithin
فِيه كنا رَهْطاً تَوَلوْا بِمَا في
وُسْعِهِمْtheir power خِدْمَةًservice لِهَذيfor this الْبِلاَدcountry
وُسْعِهِمْ خِدْمَةً لِهَذي الْبِلاَد
In it we were a band who undertook, with what lay within
We were a group who strove with what was in their capacity
their power, to serve this country.
To serve this country.
وَعَلَيْنَاand over us أَبُوthe father of الصَّحَافَةjournalism فِيin الشَّرْthe East (first part)
وَعَلَيْنَا أَبُو الصَّحَافَة فِي الشَّرْ
قِcompletion of 'East' رَئِيسٌa leader نِعْمَhow excellent الرَّئِيسُthe leader الْهَادِيthe guiding
قِ رَئِيسٌ نِعْمَ الرَّئِيسُ الْهَادِي
And over us stood the father of journalism in the
And over us was Abu Al-Sehafa in the East,
East, a leader—what an excellent guiding leader!
An excellent guiding president.
كَمْhow many لَهُhe has فِيin سَبِيلِهَاits cause مِنْof مَسَاعٍendeavors
كَمْ لَهُ فِي سَبِيلِهَا مِنْ مَسَاعٍ
لَيْسَnot تُنْسَىare forgotten وَكَمْand how many لَهُhe has مِنْof أَيَادbenefactions
لَيْسَ تُنْسَى وَكَمْ لَهُ مِنْ أَيَاد
How many endeavors he has made in its cause,
How much effort he made in its cause,
never to be forgotten—and how many benefactions are his!
Efforts that will not be forgotten, and how many acts of generosity.
وَتُعِدand prepares الأَهْرَامُAl-Ahram بَيْنَbetween يَدَيْهhis hands
وَتُعِد الأَهْرَامُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْه
نَهْضَةَthe awakening of الْقُطْرِthe country أَيَّماhow great a إِعْدَادpreparation
نَهْضَةَ الْقُطْرِ أَيَّما إِعْدَاد
And Al-Ahram, in his hands, prepares
And the pyramids tell him
the country's awakening—what splendid preparation!
Of the nation’s renaissance and great preparation.
وَسَلِيمٌand Salim فِيamong الْعَامِلِينَthose working بلاَwithout دَعْpretension (first part)
وَسَلِيمٌ فِي الْعَامِلِينَ بلاَ دَعْ
وَىcompletion of 'pretension' عَلَىdespite أَنَّهthat he is مِنَamong الأَمْجَادthe illustrious
وَى عَلَى أَنَّه مِنَ الأَمْجَاد
And Salim is among those at work, without
And Suleiman, working without pretense
pretension, though he is among the illustrious.
That he is of glories.
رَقَدَfell asleep الأَكْثَرُونَmost مِنْof هَؤُلاءِthese الْصَّـthe companions (first part)
رَقَدَ الأَكْثَرُونَ مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ الْصَّـ
ـحْبِcompletion of 'companions' عَنَّاaway from us وَلَمand have not نَزَلْwe ceased فِيin سُهَادsleeplessness
ـحْبِ عَنَّا وَلَم نَزَلْ فِي سُهَاد
Most of these companions have fallen asleep
Most of these companions have died and left us
away from us, while we remain sleepless.
And we have not ceased shedding tears.
وَخَلِيلُand Khalil الْجَاوِيشِal-Jawish فِيمَنْamong those who تَوَلَّوْاhave departed
وَخَلِيلُ الْجَاوِيشِ فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّوْا
وَالنَّجيبَانِand the two noble men مِنْfrom بَنِيthe family of الْحَدادHaddad
وَالنَّجيبَانِ مِنْ بَنِي الْحَداد
And Khalil al-Jawish is among those who have departed,
And Khalil Al-Jawish is among those who have passed
and the two noble men of the Haddad family,
And the two Nobles of the Hadad family.
وَسِوَاهُمْand others besides them مِنْamong شَاعِرٍa poet وَأَدِيبٍand a man of letters
وَسِوَاهُمْ مِنْ شَاعِرٍ وَأَدِيبٍ
وَخَطيبٍand an orator كَانُواthey were منَamong الأَفْرَادthe outstanding individuals
وَخَطيبٍ كَانُوا منَ الأَفْرَاد
and others besides them—poets and men of letters,
And others of them, poets, writers,
and orators, who were outstanding individuals.
And orators who were unique individuals.
رَحمَmay He have mercy اللهُGod مَنْthose who قَضَىdied وَأَطَالَand may He prolong اللَّـGod (first part)
رَحمَ اللهُ مَنْ قَضَى وَأَطَالَ اللَّـ
ـهُcompletion of 'God' أَعْمَارَthe lives of سَائرthe remaining الأَنْدَادpeers
ـهُ أَعْمَارَ سَائر الأَنْدَاد
May God have mercy on those who died, and may God prolong
May God have mercy on those who have died
the lives of the remaining peers.
And prolong the lives of all the comrades.
وَامْضِand go يَاO صَاحبيmy friend خَليقاًworthy بأَنْof being تُرْelegized (first part)
وَامْضِ يَا صَاحبي خَليقاً بأَنْ تُرْ
ثَىcompletion of 'elegized' حَقيقاًdeserving عَلَيْكَfor you لُبْسُwearing الْحدَادmourning clothes
ثَى حَقيقاً عَلَيْكَ لُبْسُ الْحدَاد
And go, my friend, worthy to be
Go ahead, my friend, befitting that you truly
elegized, deserving that mourning garb be worn for you.
Inherit the wearing of black.
مَاnever تَمَادَىhas endured حُزْنُthe grief of النفُوسsouls عَلَىover مثْـone like (first part)
مَا تَمَادَى حُزْنُ النفُوس عَلَى مثْـ
ـلكَyou (completes 'one like you') فيمَنْamong those who خَلاَhave passed كَهَذَاas this التَّماديendurance
ـلكَ فيمَنْ خَلاَ كَهَذَا التَّمادي
Never has the grief of souls endured over one like
Sorrow for the likes of you did not persist
you, among the departed, as long as this.
Among those who passed as it has for this loss.
وَالأَسَىand sorrow بَعْدafter رَائحٍone departing in the evening لَمْnot يَكُنْhas been فيin
وَالأَسَى بَعْد رَائحٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ في
غَيْرother than ذَاthis الْخَطْبcalamity كَالأَسَىlike sorrow بَعْدَafter غَاديone departing in the morning
غَيْر ذَا الْخَطْب كَالأَسَى بَعْدَ غَادي
And sorrow after one who leaves in the evening has never, in
And the anguish after the departure of one who was never
any calamity but this, been like sorrow after one who leaves in the morning.
In others is like the anguish after him who has left.
أَبْلغconvey السَّابقينَthose who went before أَزْكَىthe purest التَّحياthe greetings (first part)
أَبْلغ السَّابقينَ أَزْكَى التَّحيا
تcompletion of 'greetings' منَfrom اللاَّحقينَthose who follow فيat ميعَادan appointed time
ت منَ اللاَّحقينَ في ميعَاد
Convey to those gone before the purest
Convey the finest greetings to the forerunners
greetings from those who follow, at the appointed time.
From the latecomers at the appointed time.
وَتَلَقَّand receive النُّعمَىbliss بوَجْهٍwith a face مُنيرٍradiant
وَتَلَقَّ النُّعمَى بوَجْهٍ مُنيرٍ
فِيهon it سِيمَاthe mark of تِلْكَthose المَعَانِيqualities الْجِيَادnoble
فِيه سِيمَا تِلْكَ المَعَانِي الْجِيَاد
And receive bliss with a radiant face,
And meet blessings with a cheerful face
bearing the mark of those noble qualities.
Bearing the traits of those generous virtues.
Sol 6.1