قَدْindeed تَوَلَّىdeparted رِفَاقُنَاour companions وَبَقِينَاand we remained
قَدْ تَوَلَّى رِفَاقُنَا وَبَقِينَا
يَعْلَمُknows اللهGod بَعْدَهُمْafter them مَاwhat لَقِينَاwe suffered
يَعْلَمُ الله بَعْدَهُمْ مَا لَقِينَا
Our companions have departed, and we remain.
Our friends have parted and we remained
God knows what we have suffered since they left.
God knows after them what we encountered
هَلْis there? مِنْany of الصَّابِthe bitter sap فِيin كُؤُوسِكَyour cups سُؤْرٌa remnant
هَلْ مِنْ الصَّابِ فِي كُؤُوسِكَ سُؤْرٌ
قَدْindeed سُقِينَاwe were given drink يَاO دَهْرُTime حَتَّىuntil رَوِينَاwe drank our fill
قَدْ سُقِينَا يَا دَهْرُ حَتَّى رَوِينَا
Is there any bitter sap left in your cups?
Is there still drink in your cups, my friend?
O Time, we have been made to drink until we drank our fill.
We've drunk our fill, oh fate, and were quenched
أَوَدَاعٌis it farewell? يَتْلُوfollows وَدَاعاًa farewell وَتَأْبِيand an elegy (word begins)
أَوَدَاعٌ يَتْلُو وَدَاعاً وَتَأْبِي
نٌend of 'elegy' عَلَىon الإِثْرِthe heels مُعْقِبٌfollowing closely تَأْبِينَاan elegy
نٌ عَلَى الإِثْرِ مُعْقِبٌ تَأْبِينَا
Is it farewell following farewell, and an elegy
Farewells come and go, reluctant though
following another elegy hard on its heels?
Sorrows chase them, unwilling to relent
أَيُّهَاO الشَّاعِرُpoet الَّذِيwho كَانَwas حِيناًat times
أَيُّهَا الشَّاعِرُ الَّذِي كَانَ حِيناً
يَتَغَنَّىsings وَكَانَand was يَنْحَبُsobs حِيناًat times
يَتَغَنَّى وَكَانَ يَنْحَبُ حِيناً
O poet, who at times
Oh poet, who once sang joyfully
would sing, and at times would sob,
And once wept woefully, in times gone
حَطِّمِshatter! العُودَthe lute إِنْindeed كَرَّthe recurrence of اللَّيَالِيthe nights
حَطِّمِ العُودَ إِنْ كَرَّ اللَّيَالِي
لَمْnot (past negation) يُغَادِرْleave فِيin العُودِthe lute إِلاَّexcept الأَنِينَاmoaning
لَمْ يُغَادِرْ فِي العُودِ إِلاَّ الأَنِينَا
Shatter the lute, for the cycle of nights
Break the lute if nights grew long
has left in the lute nothing but moaning.
Naught remains in it but sighing laments
أَنْthat يُلِمَّshould visit الرَّدَىdeath بِمَيَّupon May غَدَاةًone morning
أَنْ يُلِمَّ الرَّدَى بِمَيَّ غَدَاةً
يَاO لَقَوْمِيmy people, for help بِأَيِّby what خَطْبٍcalamity دُهِينَاwe were struck
يَا لَقَوْمِي بِأَيِّ خَطْبٍ دُهِينَا
That death should visit May one morning—
That adversity assailed in the morrow’s dew
O my people, what a calamity has struck us!
Oh my people, what misfortunes made us stoop!
طَالِعُthe ascendant star of السَّعْدِgood fortune هَلْhas? تَحَوَّلَturned into نَوْءاًa rain-bearing star
طَالِعُ السَّعْدِ هَلْ تَحَوَّلَ نَوْءاً
يَبْعَثُsends forth الرِّيحَthe wind وَالسَّحَابَand the clouds الهَتُونَاpouring rain
يَبْعَثُ الرِّيحَ وَالسَّحَابَ الهَتُونَا
Has the star of good fortune become a rain-bearing star,
Did the auspicious stars turn inauspicious?
sending wind and clouds that pour down rain?
Stirring winds and listless clouds?
فَإِذَاand if مَاemphatic particle أَقَرَّgladdened أَمسٍyesterday عُيُوناًeyes
فَإِذَا مَا أَقَرَّ أَمسٍ عُيُوناً
قَرَّحَmade sore اليَوْمَtoday بِالدُّمُوعِwith tears العُيُونَاthe eyes
قَرَّحَ اليَوْمَ بِالدُّمُوعِ العُيُونَا
And if yesterday brought gladness to eyes,
When yesterday's eyes close satisfied
today has made those eyes sore with tears.
Today's weep, tears streaming again
نِعْمَةٌa blessing مَاnot سَخَاwas generous بِهَاwith it الدَّهْرُTime حَتَّىuntil
نِعْمَةٌ مَا سَخَا بِهَا الدَّهْرُ حَتَّى
آبَreturned كَالعَهْدِas ever سَالِباًplundering وَضَنِينَاand miserly
آبَ كَالعَهْدِ سَالِباً وَضَنِينَا
No sooner had Time bestowed a blessing
A blessing unstinting, until time
than it returned, as ever, plundering and miserly.
Took away, unfulfilled, leaving us yearning
أَيُّO هَذَاthis الثَّرَىearth ظَفِرْتَyou gained بِحُسْنٍwith beauty
أَيُّ هَذَا الثَّرَى ظَفِرْتَ بِحُسْنٍ
كَانَwas بِالطُّهْرِby purity وَالعَفَافِand chastity مَصُونَاsafeguarded
كَانَ بِالطُّهْرِ وَالعَفَافِ مَصُونَا
O earth, you have won a beauty
What is this soil you held with beauty?
kept safe by purity and chastity.
Chaste and virtuous it remained preserved
لَهْفَalas for نَفْسِيmy soul عَلَىover حِجىًa mind عَبْقَرِيٍّof genius
لَهْفَ نَفْسِي عَلَى حِجىً عَبْقَرِيٍّ
كَانَwas ذُخْراًa treasure in reserve فَصَارَthen became كَنْزاًa treasure دَفِينَاburied
كَانَ ذُخْراً فَصَارَ كَنْزاً دَفِينَا
How my soul grieves for a mind of genius,
My soul yearns for an absent sage
once a treasure held in reserve, now a buried treasure.
Once a treasure, now wealth buried deep
إِيهِah! يَاO مَيMay أَسْرَفَwent to excess اليُتْمُorphanhood تَبْرِيtorment (word begins)
إِيهِ يَا مَي أَسْرَفَ اليُتْمُ تَبْرِي
حاًend of 'torment' بِرُوحٍupon a spirit كَانَwas الوَفِيَّthe faithful one الحَنُونَاthe tender one
حاً بِرُوحٍ كَانَ الوَفِيَّ الحَنُونَا
Ah, May, orphanhood went too far in tormenting
Alas, orphanhood took to excess, robbing
a spirit that was faithful and tender.
A spirit once compassionate and affectionate
فَقْدُكِyour loss of الوَالِدَيْنِboth parents حَالاًat one time فَحَالاًthen at another
فَقْدُكِ الوَالِدَيْنِ حَالاً فَحَالاً
جَعَلَmade البِيضَthe white ones مِنَamong لَيَالِيكِyour nights جُونَاblack
جَعَلَ البِيضَ مِنَ لَيَالِيكِ جُونَا
Your losing both parents, one after the other,
Losing your parents, time after time
turned the white among your nights black.
Made your nights all gloom and darkness
وَرَمَىand struck أَصْغَرَيْكَyour two lesser ones: heart and tongue رَامِيthe striker of الكَبِيرَيْthe two elders (word begins)
وَرَمَى أَصْغَرَيْكَ رَامِي الكَبِيرَيْ
نِend of 'the two elders' فَذَاقَاso the two tasted قَبْلَbefore المَنُونِdeath المَنُونَاdeath
نِ فَذَاقَا قَبْلَ المَنُونِ المَنُونَا
And the striker of your two elders struck your two lesser ones—heart and tongue—
And threw your little one against the elder
so they tasted death before death itself.
Both tasted death before death met them
أَقْفَرَbecame deserted البَيْتُthe house أَيْنَwhere نَادِيكِyour salon يَاO مَيُّMay
أَقْفَرَ البَيْتُ أَيْنَ نَادِيكِ يَا مَيُّ
إِلَيْهِto it الوُفُودُthe visiting groups يَخْتَلِفُونَاcome and go
إِلَيْهِ الوُفُودُ يَخْتَلِفُونَا
The house is deserted. Where is your salon, O May,
The home lies empty, where is your caller, My?
to which visitors would come and go?
Caravans came constantly to visit
صَفْوَةُthe elite of المَشْرِقَيْنِthe two Easts نُبْلاًin nobility وَفَضْلاًand distinction
صَفْوَةُ المَشْرِقَيْنِ نُبْلاً وَفَضْلاً
فِيin ذَرَاكَyour shelter الرَّحِيبِspacious يَعْتَمِرُونَاpay visits
فِي ذَرَاكَ الرَّحِيبِ يَعْتَمِرُونَا
The elite of the two Easts, in nobility and distinction,
The elite of East and West in nobility and merit
would visit your spacious shelter.
To your vast sanctum performing pilgrimage
فَتُسَاقُso are presented البُحُوثُdiscussions فِيهِin it ضَرُوياًin varied forms (uncertain reading)
فَتُسَاقُ البُحُوثُ فِيهِ ضَرُوياً
وَيُدَارُand is conducted الحَدِيثُconversation فِيهِin it شَجُونَاin many branches
وَيُدَارُ الحَدِيثُ فِيهِ شَجُونَا
There, discussions were set forth in various forms [uncertain reading],
Discussions held, sincere dialogues
and conversation branched into many themes.
Hearts attracted, finding all they sought
وَتُصِيبُand obtain القُلُوبُthe hearts وَهِيَwhile they are غِرَاثُhungry
وَتُصِيبُ القُلُوبُ وَهِيَ غِرَاثُ
مِنْfrom ثِمَارِthe fruits of العُقُولِminds مَاwhat يَشْتَهِينَاthey desire
مِنْ ثِمَارِ العُقُولِ مَا يَشْتَهِينَا
And hearts, hungry as they were, found
Of fruits of minds, aspirations fulfilled
among the fruits of minds whatever they desired.
Of writers you led the precedence
فِيin مَجَالِthe arena of الأَقْلامِpens آلَpassed إِلَيْكِto you السَّthe lead (word begins)
فِي مَجَالِ الأَقْلامِ آلَ إِلَيْكِ السَّ
بْقُend of 'the lead' فِيamong المُنْشِئَاتِwomen writers وَالمُنْشِئينَاand men writers
بْقُ فِي المُنْشِئَاتِ وَالمُنْشِئينَا
In the arena of pens, to you fell
In prose and verse compositions, guiding
the lead among women writers and men.
Where is that eloquence to take all minds
أَيْنَwhere ذَاكَthat البَيَانُeloquence يَأْخُذُtakes hold بِالأَلْبَof minds (word begins)
أَيْنَ ذَاكَ البَيَانُ يَأْخُذُ بِالأَلْبَ
ابِend of 'minds' فِيمَاin what تَجْلِينَyou reveal أَوْor تَصِفِينَاyou describe
ابِ فِيمَا تَجْلِينَ أَوْ تَصِفِينَا
Where is that eloquence that captivates minds
In any forum you address, making hearts incline?
in what you reveal or describe?
The East mourned its eloquent orator
فِيin لُغَاتٍlanguages شَتَّىvarious وَفِيand in لُغَةِthe language of الضَّḍād (word begins)
فِي لُغَاتٍ شَتَّى وَفِي لُغَةِ الضَّ
ادِend of 'ḍād' تُجِندِينَyou excel (uncertain reading) صَوْغَthe shaping of مَاwhat تَكْتُبِينَاyou write
ادِ تُجِندِينَ صَوْغَ مَا تَكْتُبِينَا
In diverse languages, and in the tongue of ḍād,
Her words were never of the common kind
you excel at shaping what you write [uncertain reading].
Most articulate in pure Arabic she expressed
أَدَبٌliterature قَدْindeed جَمَعْتَyou gathered فِيهِin it عُلُوماًsciences
أَدَبٌ قَدْ جَمَعْتَ فِيهِ عُلُوماً
يُخْطِيءُmisjudges الظَّنُّconjecture عَدَّهَاcounting them وَفُنُونَاand arts
يُخْطِيءُ الظَّنُّ عَدَّهَا وَفُنُونَا
A literature in which you gathered sciences
After fulfilling speech's clearest signs
beyond thought's reckoning, and arts.
She delighted, refined, and urged
وَتَصَرَّفْتِand you worked فِيهِin it نَظْماًin verse وَنَثْراًand prose
وَتَصَرَّفْتِ فِيهِ نَظْماً وَنَثْراً
بِاقْتِدَارٍwith mastery تَصَرُّفَthe manner of working of المُلْهَمِينَاthe inspired
بِاقْتِدَارٍ تَصَرُّفَ المُلْهَمِينَا
And you worked within it, in verse and prose,
Goodness, worldly and of faith combined
with mastery, as the inspired do.
With talk that combined the two delights
تَبْتَغِينَyou seek الصَّلاحَrighteousness مِنْfrom كُلِّevery وَجْهٍdirection
تَبْتَغِينَ الصَّلاحَ مِنْ كُلِّ وَجْهٍ
وَتُعَانِينَand you endure شِقْوَةَthe misery of المُصْلِحِينَاreformers
وَتُعَانِينَ شِقْوَةَ المُصْلِحِينَا
You seek righteousness from every quarter,
However one may prefer or intertwine
and endure the misery of reformers.
She gauged it phrase and glance and faith
وَحْيُinspiration of قَلْبٍa heart يَفِيضُoverflows بِالحُبِّwith love لِلخَيْfor good (word begins)
وَحْيُ قَلْبٍ يَفِيضُ بِالحُبِّ لِلخَيْ
رِend of 'good' وَيَهْدِيand guides إِلَيْهِtoward it مَنْthose who يَهْتَدُونَاfind guidance
رِ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يَهْتَدُونَا
The inspiration of a heart overflowing with love for good,
As the beloved willed it to entwine
and guiding toward it those who seek guidance.
That was your concern in life and melody
وَيَوَدُّand wishes الحَيَاةَlife عِزّاًdignity وَجُهْداًand striving
وَيَوَدُّ الحَيَاةَ عِزّاً وَجُهْداً
لاnot يَوَدُّwishes الحَيَاةَlife خَسْفاًabasement وَلِينَاand softness
لا يَوَدُّ الحَيَاةَ خَسْفاً وَلِينَا
And it wishes life to be dignity and striving,
While you played, never to forget your goal
not a life of abasement and softness.
You sought only the lofty, shunning
فَهْوَso it آناًat times يَبُثُpours out بَثّاًsorrow رَفِيقاًgently
فَهْوَ آناً يَبُثُ بَثّاً رَفِيقاً
يَمْلأُfills النَّفْسَthe soul رَحْمَةًwith compassion وَحَنِينَاand longing
يَمْلأُ النَّفْسَ رَحْمَةً وَحَنِينَا
At times it pours out its sorrow gently,
Caprices, avoiding tribulations whole
filling the soul with compassion and longing.
You made learning your work and its yield you reaped
وَهْوَand it آناًat times يَثُورُrises in revolt ثَوْرَةَthe revolt of حُزّa free spirit (uncertain reading)
وَهْوَ آناً يَثُورُ ثَوْرَةَ حُزّ
عَاصِفاًstorming عَصْفَةًa blast تَدُكُّdemolishes الحُصُونَاfortresses
عَاصِفاً عَصْفَةً تَدُكُّ الحُصُونَا
And at times it rises in a free spirit's revolt [uncertain reading],
Delighting the cultivated and refined
storming with a blast that shatters fortresses.
Peace be upon you, remembering you we live
يَنْصُرُchampions الْعَقْلَreason يَكْشِفُexposes الجَهْلَignorance يُوحِيinspires الthe
يَنْصُرُ الْعَقْلَ يَكْشِفُ الجَهْلَ يُوحِي ال
عَدْلَjustice يرْعَىcares for الضَّعِيفَthe weak وَالمِسْكِينَاand the destitute
عَدْلَ يرْعَى الضَّعِيفَ وَالمِسْكِينَا
It champions reason, exposes ignorance, inspires
And despite the distance, you are near, brought to mind
justice, and cares for the weak and the destitute.
The women's union in Egypt has a credit
أَيْنَwhere ذَاكَthat الصَّوْتُvoice الَّذِيwhich يَمْلِكًcommands الأَسْthe ears (word begins)
أَيْنَ ذَاكَ الصَّوْتُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكً الأَسْ
مَاعَend of 'the ears' فِيat كُلِّevery مَوْقِفٍoccasion تَقِفِينَاyou take your stand
مَاعَ فِي كُلِّ مَوْقِفٍ تَقِفِينَا
Where is that voice that commands the ears
Larger than people witness or define
on every occasion when you take your stand?
Today, in loyalty, it sets an example
فُجِعَwas bereaved الشَّرْقُthe East فِيof خَطِيبَتِهِits woman orator الفُصْحَthe most eloquent (word begins)
فُجِعَ الشَّرْقُ فِي خَطِيبَتِهِ الفُصْحَ
ىend of 'the most eloquent' وَمَاand not كَانَwas خَطْبُهَاher loss لِيَهُونَاto be slight
ى وَمَا كَانَ خَطْبُهَا لِيَهُونَا
The East was bereaved of its most eloquent woman orator,
With praise, fulfilling what we owed in kind
and her loss could never be a slight calamity.
It preserves My's rights, and for the nation
أَبْلَغُthe most eloquent النَّاطِقَاتِwomen speakers بِالضَّادِin the tongue of ḍād عَبَّتْshe drank deeply
أَبْلَغُ النَّاطِقَاتِ بِالضَّادِ عَبَّتْ
بَعْدَafter أَنْthat أَدَّتِshe delivered البَلاغَthe message المُبِينَاclear
بَعْدَ أَنْ أَدَّتِ البَلاغَ المُبِينَا
The most eloquent of women speaking the tongue of ḍād drank deeply,
Pays dues that repay its debts in full
after delivering the clear message.
O Guidance, you are mercy and guidance for the East
أَطْرَبَتْهُshe delighted it وَهَذَّبَتْهُand she refined it وَحَثَّتْand she urged
أَطْرَبَتْهُ وَهَذَّبَتْهُ وَحَثَّتْ
هُit عَلَىtoward الصَّالِحَاتِgood deeds دُنْيَاworldly life وَدِينَاand faith
هُ عَلَى الصَّالِحَاتِ دُنْيَا وَدِينَا
She delighted it, refined it, and urged
So immortalize it, and span the years confined
it toward good deeds, in worldly life and faith.
بِكَلاَمٍwith speech حَوَىcontained الطَّرِيفَيْنِboth charms تَنْغِmelody (word begins)
بِكَلاَمٍ حَوَى الطَّرِيفَيْنِ تَنْغِ
يماًend of 'melody' كَمَاas يُسْتَحَبُّis pleasing أَوْor تَلوِينَاexpressive color
يماً كَمَا يُسْتَحَبُّ أَوْ تَلوِينَا
With speech embracing both charms: melody
as one finds pleasing, or expressive color.
قَدَّرَتْهُshe shaped it لَفْظاًin words وَلَحْظاًand glances وَإِيمَاand gestures (word begins)
قَدَّرَتْهُ لَفْظاً وَلَحْظاً وَإِيمَا
ءًend of 'gestures' بِمَاas وَدَّتِwished المُنَىhopes أَنْthat يَكُونَاit should be
ءً بِمَا وَدَّتِ المُنَى أَنْ يَكُونَا
She shaped it in words, glances, and gestures,
as hopes wished it to be.
ذَاكَthat فِيin العَيْشِlife مَاwhat شُغِلْتَyou were occupied بِهِwith it وَالand the
ذَاكَ فِي العَيْشِ مَا شُغِلْتَ بِهِ وَال
غِيدُgraceful women تَلْهُوamuse themselves وَأَنْتَwhile you لاdo not تَلْهِينَاamuse yourself
غِيدُ تَلْهُو وَأَنْتَ لا تَلْهِينَا
That was what occupied you in life, while
graceful women amused themselves, and you did not.
لَمْdid not تَرُومِيyou seek إِلاَّexcept الجَلِيلَthe noble وَجَانَبْand shunned (verb stem)
لَمْ تَرُومِي إِلاَّ الجَلِيلَ وَجَانَبْ
تِyou (feminine suffix) الأَبَاطِيلَfalsehoods وَاتَّقَيْتِand you guarded against الفُتُونَاtemptations
تِ الأَبَاطِيلَ وَاتَّقَيْتِ الفُتُونَا
You sought only the noble, and shunned
falsehoods and guarded against temptations.
وَجَعَلْتِand you made التَّحْصِيلَlearning دَأْباًa constant pursuit وَآتَيْand gave (verb stem)
وَجَعَلْتِ التَّحْصِيلَ دَأْباً وَآتَيْ
تِyou (feminine suffix) جَنَاهُits harvest فَطَابَso it was sweet لِلمُجَتَبِينَاto those who gathered it
تِ جَنَاهُ فَطَابَ لِلمُجَتَبِينَا
You made learning your constant pursuit, and offered
its harvest, sweet to those who gathered it.
فَعَلَيْكِso upon you السَّلامُpeace ذِكْرَاكِyour memory تَحْيَىlives on
فَعَلَيْكِ السَّلامُ ذِكْرَاكِ تَحْيَى
وَبِرَغْمِand despite البِعَادِseparation لاnot تَبْعِدِينَاyou grow distant
وَبِرَغْمِ البِعَادِ لا تَبْعِدِينَا
Peace be upon you; your memory lives on,
and despite separation, you do not grow distant.
لاتِّحَادِto the Union of النِّسَاءِwomen فِيin مِصْرَEgypt فَضْلٌmerit
لاتِّحَادِ النِّسَاءِ فِي مِصْرَ فَضْلٌ
أَكْبَرَheld in high esteem النَّاسُpeople مِنْهُof it مَاwhat يَشْهَدُونَاthey witness
أَكْبَرَ النَّاسُ مِنْهُ مَا يَشْهَدُونَا
The Women's Union in Egypt has merit,
and people honor what they witness of it.
قَدَّمَoffered اليَوْمَtoday فِيin الوَفَاءِfidelity مِثَالاًan example
قَدَّمَ اليَوْمَ فِي الوَفَاءِ مِثَالاً
مِنْamong مَسَاعِيهِits endeavors بِالثَّنَاءِof praise قَمِينَاworthy
مِنْ مَسَاعِيهِ بِالثَّنَاءِ قَمِينَا
Today it offered an example of fidelity,
among its endeavors, worthy of praise.
فَهْوَso it يَرْعَىsafeguards بِهِthrough it لِمِيَّfor May حُقُوقاًrights
فَهْوَ يَرْعَى بِهِ لِمِيَّ حُقُوقاً
وَهْوَand it يَقْضِيsettles عَنْon behalf of البِلادِthe country دُيُونَاdebts
وَهْوَ يَقْضِي عَنْ البِلادِ دُيُونَا
Thus it safeguards through this what is due to May,
and settles debts on the country's behalf.
يَاO هُدَىHuda أَنْتِyou رَحْمَةٌmercy وَهُدىًand guidance لِلشَّfor the East (word begins)
يَا هُدَى أَنْتِ رَحْمَةٌ وَهُدىً لِلشَّ
رْقِend of 'the East' فَأَبْقَىso remain (intended imperative) لَهُfor it وَأَفْنِيand wear out السِّنِينَاthe years
رْقِ فَأَبْقَى لَهُ وَأَفْنِي السِّنِينَا
O Huda, you are mercy and guidance to the
East; live on for it, and wear out the years!
Partial English translation: 65 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1