طِفْلانِtwo children كَالأَخَوَيْنِlike two brothers مُؤْتَلِفَانِunited
طِفْلانِ كَالأَخَوَيْنِ مُؤْتَلِفَانِ
شَبَّاthey grew up وَشَبَّand grew عَلَىin الهَوَىlove القَلْبَانِthe two hearts
شَبَّا وَشَبَّ عَلَى الهَوَى القَلْبَانِ
Two children, close-knit like two brothers,
Two children like brothers, united
They grew up, and both hearts grew in love.
Both grew into youth, their hearts filled with passion
مُتَمَازِحَيْنِteasing each other كَأَنَّمَاas though نَفْسَاهُمَاtheir two souls
مُتَمَازِحَيْنِ كَأَنَّمَا نَفْسَاهُمَا
نَفْسٌone soul لَهَاit has شَبَحَانِtwo forms مُنْفَصِلانِseparate
نَفْسٌ لَهَا شَبَحَانِ مُنْفَصِلانِ
Playfully teasing each other, as though their two souls
Joking with one another, as if their very souls
Were one soul with two separate forms.
Were one soul with two images, inseparable
يَتَشَاطَرَانِthey share العَيْشَlife إِنْif يَحْسُنْit is pleasant وَإِنْand if
يَتَشَاطَرَانِ العَيْشَ إِنْ يَحْسُنْ وَإِنْ
يَخْشُنْit is harsh كَمَاas تَتَشَاطَرُshare العَيْنَانِthe two eyes
يَخْشُنْ كَمَا تَتَشَاطَرُ العَيْنَانِ
They share life, whether it is pleasant or
Sharing in good and bad times alike
Harsh, as the two eyes share it.
As two eyes share sight
لَبِثَاthey remained عَلَىin هَذَاthis الوِصَالِcloseness بُرَيْهَةًa little while
لَبِثَا عَلَى هَذَا الوِصَالِ بُرَيْهَةً
ثُمَّthen انْقَضَتْit passed وَتَفَارَقَand parted الخِلاَّنِthe two friends
ثُمَّ انْقَضَتْ وَتَفَارَقَ الخِلاَّنِ
They remained in this closeness for a little while;
For a time they remained in this bond
Then that time passed, and the two friends parted.
Then it was broken, and the two friends parted
كَانَتْshe was أَلِيفَتَهُhis companion وَكَانَand he was أَلِيفَهَاher companion
كَانَتْ أَلِيفَتَهُ وَكَانَ أَلِيفَهَا
فَسَطَاthen struck النَّوَىseparation وَتَشَتَّتَand were scattered الإِلفَانِthe two companions
فَسَطَا النَّوَى وَتَشَتَّتَ الإِلفَانِ
She was his companion, and he was hers;
She was his companion, and he was hers
Then separation struck, and the two companions were scattered.
But fate intervened, severing their closeness
جَزِعَاthey agonized لِهَذاover this البَيْنِparting حَتَّىuntil كَانَit came to be لاnot
جَزِعَا لِهَذا البَيْنِ حَتَّى كَانَ لا
يَلْهُوfind pleasure بِشَيْءٍin anything ذَانِكَthose two الفَتَيانِyouths
يَلْهُو بِشَيْءٍ ذَانِكَ الفَتَيانِ
They agonized over this parting, until no longer
Grieving at this separation, to the point that
Did those two youths find pleasure in anything.
Those two youths delighted in nothing
سَرْعَانَquickly مَاindeed أَنْمَىmatured الجَوَىlove's anguish عَقْلَيْهِمَاtheir two minds
سَرْعَانَ مَا أَنْمَى الجَوَى عَقْلَيْهِمَا
وَتَعَلَّمَاand they learned التَّفْكِيرَthinking قَبْلَbefore أَوَانِthe proper time
وَتَعَلَّمَا التَّفْكِيرَ قَبْلَ أَوَانِ
Soon love's anguish matured their minds,
Soon their intellects matured
And they learned to think before their time.
And they learned to think before their time
فَتَرَاسَلاso they corresponded لاnot يُحْسِنَانِthey knew how كِتَابَةًto write
فَتَرَاسَلا لا يُحْسِنَانِ كِتَابَةً
بِالذِّكْرِthrough remembrance وَهْوَand it is رَسُولُthe messenger of كُلِّevery جَنَانِheart
بِالذِّكْرِ وَهْوَ رَسُولُ كُلِّ جَنَانِ
So they corresponded, though they could not write,
Exchanging letters, though neither wrote well,
Through remembrance, the messenger of every heart.
With remembrance, the messenger of every garden
وَتَشَاكَيَاand they exchanged laments كُلٌّeach إِلَىto آلامِهِhis sorrows
وَتَشَاكَيَا كُلٌّ إِلَى آلامِهِ
شَكْوَىa lament أَدَلَّmost revealing عَلَىof وَفَاءِthe faithfulness of العَانِيthe sufferer
شَكْوَى أَدَلَّ عَلَى وَفَاءِ العَانِي
And they lamented, each to their own sorrows,
Sharing their sorrows, each lamenting their pain
In a lament most revealing of the sufferer's faithfulness.
A lament that evoked the suffering of the troubled
وَاسْتَرْسَلاand they surrendered themselves كُلٌّeach إِلَىto آمَالِهِhis hopes
وَاسْتَرْسَلا كُلٌّ إِلَى آمَالِهِ
بِالقُرْبِof nearness بَعْدَafter تَطَاوُحِbeing tossed far apart الهِجْرَانِestrangement
بِالقُرْبِ بَعْدَ تَطَاوُحِ الهِجْرَانِ
And they surrendered, each to their hopes
And confiding their hopes for nearness
Of nearness after estrangement had tossed them far apart.
After the discord of parting
لَكِنَّهُbut it طَالَlasted long البِعَادُseparation وَشُوغِلاَand they were distracted
لَكِنَّهُ طَالَ البِعَادُ وَشُوغِلاَ
عَنْfrom مُؤْلِمِpainful التَّذْكَارremembrance بِالحِدْثَانِby life's events
عَنْ مُؤْلِمِ التَّذْكَار بِالحِدْثَانِ
But separation lasted long, and they were distracted
But the distance grew long, and both were preoccupied
From painful remembrance by life's events.
From painful thoughts by other matters
فَاسْتَوْدَعَاso they were entrusted فِيin مَعْلَمَيْنِtwo schools لِيَنْمُواso that they might grow
فَاسْتَوْدَعَا فِي مَعْلَمَيْنِ لِيَنْمُوا
بِهِمَاwithin both of them عَلَىin الآدابrefinement وَالعِرْفَانِand knowledge
بِهِمَا عَلَى الآداب وَالعِرْفَانِ
So they were placed in two schools, to grow
So they entrusted themselves to two schools
Within them in refinement and knowledge,
To be reared in manners and wisdom
وَلْيَنْسَيَاand so they might forget ذَاكَthat القَدِيمَold مِنَof الهَوَىlove
وَلْيَنْسَيَا ذَاكَ القَدِيمَ مِنَ الهَوَى
فِيin عِشْرَةِthe company of الأَتْرَابِage-mates وَالأَقْرَانِand peers
فِي عِشْرَةِ الأَتْرَابِ وَالأَقْرَانِ
And to forget that old love
And forget that old love
In the company of age-mates and peers.
In the company of peers and fellows
فَتَعَلَّمَاso they learned النُّطْقَspeech الصَّحِيحَcorrect وَعُوِّدَاand they were trained
فَتَعَلَّمَا النُّطْقَ الصَّحِيحَ وَعُوِّدَا
خَطَّwriting الحُرُوفِthe letters كِلاهُمَاboth of them فِيat آنِthe same time
خَطَّ الحُرُوفِ كِلاهُمَا فِي آنِ
So they learned correct speech and were trained
There they learned proper speech and were trained
To write letters, both at the same time.
In the writing of letters, both at once
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen رَسَمَاthey traced الكَلامَwords جَرَىflowed كَمَاas
حَتَّى إِذَا رَسَمَا الكَلامَ جَرَى كَمَا
اتَّفَقَاthe two agreed عَلَىupon قَلَمَيْهِمَاtheir two pens لَفْظَانِtwo words
اتَّفَقَا عَلَى قَلَمَيْهِمَا لَفْظَانِ
Until, when they traced words, there flowed, as though
Until, when they shaped words, these flowed as if
They had agreed, two words from their pens:
Their two pens had agreed on utterances
خُلْوَانِboth empty مِنْof مَعْنىًmeaning وَفِيand in قَلْبَيْهِمَاtheir two hearts
خُلْوَانِ مِنْ مَعْنىً وَفِي قَلْبَيْهِمَا
لَهُمَاfor them أَحَبَّthe dearest مُنَىhopes of الحَيَاةِlife مَعَانِيmeanings
لَهُمَا أَحَبَّ مُنَى الحَيَاةِ مَعَانِي
Empty of meaning, yet within their hearts
Empty of meaning, though in their hearts
They held meanings—life's dearest hopes.
Were the dearest hopes and meanings of life
جَمَعَاthey gathered البَلاغَةَeloquence كُلَّهَاall of it فِيin اسْمَيْنِtwo names قَدْhad
جَمَعَا البَلاغَةَ كُلَّهَا فِي اسْمَيْنِ قَدْ
كُتِبَاthe two were written بلاwithout حُسْنٍbeauty وَلاand without إِتْقَانِskill
كُتِبَا بلا حُسْنٍ وَلا إِتْقَانِ
They gathered all eloquence into two names that had
Bringing together all eloquence in two names
Been written without beauty or skill.
Written without beauty or skill
كَتَبَwrote الفَتَىthe boy سَلْمَىSalma وَخَطَّتْand she wrote يُوسُفُYusuf
كَتَبَ الفَتَى سَلْمَى وَخَطَّتْ يُوسُفُ
وَإِلَيْكَand here for you مَاwhat عَنيَاthey meant بِبَعْضِwith some بَيَانِexplanation
وَإِلَيْكَ مَا عَنيَا بِبَعْضِ بَيَانِ
The boy wrote Salma, and she wrote Yusuf;
The youth wrote “Salma” and Yusuf drew
And here, with a little explanation, is what they meant.
And to you, some of what they meant to convey:
قَالَsaid الفَتَىthe boy يَاO مَنْone whose تَحَلَّىgrew lovely لِيto me اسْمُهَاher name
قَالَ الفَتَى يَا مَنْ تَحَلَّى لِي اسْمُهَا
فَرَسَمْتُهُso I traced it وَيَدَايَand my two hands تَرْتَجِفَانِtremble
فَرَسَمْتُهُ وَيَدَايَ تَرْتَجِفَانِ
The boy said: “O you whose name grew lovely to me,
The youth said: O she whose name adorned me
I traced it while my two hands trembled.
I drew it though my hands trembled
صَوَّرْتُهُI pictured it وَكَأَنَّand as though صُورَتَهَاher image بَدَتْappeared
صَوَّرْتُهُ وَكَأَنَّ صُورَتَهَا بَدَتْ
فِيهِin it أَرَاهَاI see her دُونَهُbeyond it وَتَرَانِيand she sees me
فِيهِ أَرَاهَا دُونَهُ وَتَرَانِي
I pictured it, as though her image had appeared
I pictured it as if her image appeared
Within it; I see her beyond it, and she sees me.
In it - I saw her through it, and she saw me
وَعَبَدْتُand I worshipped أَحْرُفَهُits letters كَرَمْزٍlike a symbol حَاجِبٍveiling
وَعَبَدْتُ أَحْرُفَهُ كَرَمْزٍ حَاجِبٍ
صَنَماًan idol رَآهُhe saw it عَابِدُa worshipper of الأَوْثَانِidols
صَنَماً رَآهُ عَابِدُ الأَوْثَانِ
And I worshipped its letters, like a symbol veiling
I worshipped its letters like the obscure signs
An idol beheld by an idol-worshipper.
Of an idol, seen by a pagan worshipper
لَكِنْbut شَجَانِيsaddened me الطِّرْسُthe page قَرَّlay still بِضَمِّهِin embracing it
لَكِنْ شَجَانِي الطِّرْسُ قَرَّ بِضَمِّهِ
وَمَشُوقُand the yearning heart صَدْرِيof my breast دَائمُceaseless الخَفَقَانِthrobbing
وَمَشُوقُ صَدْرِي دَائمُ الخَفَقَانِ
But it saddened me that the page lay still, embracing it,
But the paper cut me, pressed to my chest
While the yearning heart in my breast throbbed ceaselessly.
And the fluttering of my heart quickened
وَأَغَارَنِيand made me jealous قَلَمِيmy pen يَصِرُّsqueaks مُقَبِّلاًkissing
وَأَغَارَنِي قَلَمِي يَصِرُّ مُقَبِّلاً
تِلْكَthose الحُرُوفَletters بِمَلْثَمٍwith a kissing mouth رَنَّانِresounding
تِلْكَ الحُرُوفَ بِمَلْثَمٍ رَنَّانِ
And my pen made me jealous, squeaking as it kissed
While my pen, insistently kissing
Those letters with its ringing lips.
Those letters with murmuring lips, made me jealous
فَحَطَمْتُso I shattered شِقَّيْهِits two halves تَوَهُّمَimagining أَنَّthat مَاwhat
فَحَطَمْتُ شِقَّيْهِ تَوَهُّمَ أَنَّ مَا
عَاقَبْتُهُI punished it شَفَتَانِtwo lips آثِمَتَانِsinful
عَاقَبْتُهُ شَفَتَانِ آثِمَتَانِ
So I shattered its two halves, imagining that what
So I broke it in two, imagining that I had
I punished was a pair of sinful lips.
Punished those sinful lips
سَلْمَىSalma وَمَاand how أَحْلَىsweet اسْمَهَاher name وَحُرُوفَهُand its letters
سَلْمَى وَمَا أَحْلَى اسْمَهَا وَحُرُوفَهُ
مَوْصُولَةًjoined كَقَلائِدِlike necklaces of العِقْيَانِpure gold
مَوْصُولَةً كَقَلائِدِ العِقْيَانِ
Salma—how sweet her name, and its letters,
Salma - how sweet her name and its letters
Linked together like necklaces of pure gold!
Linked like strings of pearls
مُتَشَابِكَاتٍintertwined يَرْتَضِعْنَthey suckle عَلَىthroughout المَدَىtime
مُتَشَابِكَاتٍ يَرْتَضِعْنَ عَلَى المَدَى
مَاءَthe water of الحَيَاةِlife مَعاًtogether وَهُنَّand they هَوَانِيcontented
مَاءَ الحَيَاةِ مَعاً وَهُنَّ هَوَانِي
Intertwined, they suckle throughout time
Entwined, suckling together the water of life
The water of life together, contented.
While they are cups, pliant and submissive
وَلَوَand if أَنَّهُنَّthat they فُصِلْنَwere separated بِتْنَthey would become أَوَاسِفاًsorrowful
وَلَوَ أَنَّهُنَّ فُصِلْنَ بِتْنَ أَوَاسِفاً
كَاليَتْمِlike orphanhood يَفْطِمُweans مُرْضِعَthe nurse of الوِلدَانِthe children
كَاليَتْمِ يَفْطِمُ مُرْضِعَ الوِلدَانِ
And if they were parted, they would become sorrowful,
If they were separated, it would be mournful
As orphanhood weans children from their nurse.
Like an orphan severed from the nursing breast
يَاO ذِيthese الحُرُوفُletters أَأَنْتِare you عَالِمَةٌaware بِمَاof what
يَا ذِي الحُرُوفُ أَأَنْتِ عَالِمَةٌ بِمَا
أَوْلَيْتِهِyou bestowed it مِنْof طَائِلِabundant الإِحْسَانِkindness
أَوْلَيْتِهِ مِنْ طَائِلِ الإِحْسَانِ
O letters, do you know what
O you of letters, do you know
Immense kindness you have bestowed?
What kindness I have shown you?
لَوْif كُنْتُI were مِنْكِone of you لَمَاI would not فَتِئْتُcease مَنَعَّماًblessed
لَوْ كُنْتُ مِنْكِ لَمَا فَتِئْتُ مَنَعَّماً
أَبَداًforever بِأَطْيَبِwith the sweetest مُلْتَقًىmeeting وَقِرَانِand union
أَبَداً بِأَطْيَبِ مُلْتَقًى وَقِرَانِ
If I were one of you, I would never cease to be blessed
If I were made of you, I would live forever blissful
Forever with the sweetest meeting and union;
In the sweetest place and company
وَلمَاand I would not غَدَوْتُhave become عَلَىin الفِرَاقِseparation كَمَاas أُرَىI am seen
وَلمَا غَدَوْتُ عَلَى الفِرَاقِ كَمَا أُرَى
رُوحاًa soul تَهُمُّis about to بِفُرْقَةِpart from الجُثْمَانِthe body
رُوحاً تَهُمُّ بِفُرْقَةِ الجُثْمَانِ
Nor would I have become, in separation, as I seem,
I would not, at our separation, wander as I do
A soul about to part from the body.
A soul longing for its body’s absence
طَالَlasted long النَّوَىseparation يَاO مُنْيَتِيmy desire سَلْمَىSalma فَهَلْso does
طَالَ النَّوَى يَا مُنْيَتِي سَلْمَى فَهَلْ
زَمَنُthe time of التَّنَائِيbeing far apart آذِنٌheralding بِتَدَانِيdrawing near
زَمَنُ التَّنَائِي آذِنٌ بِتَدَانِي
Separation has lasted long, Salma, my desire; does
The days of longing have been long, Salma, so are we
The time of distance herald our drawing near?
Approaching a time of unity?
مَاnot زِلْتِyou have ceased مِلْءَfilling نَوَاظِرِيmy eyes وَخَوَاطِرِيand my thoughts
مَا زِلْتِ مِلْءَ نَوَاظِرِي وَخَوَاطِرِي
لَكِنَّbut شَفَتَايَmy two lips مُوحَشَتَانِdesolate
لَكِنَّ شَفَتَايَ مُوحَشَتَانِ
You still fill my eyes and my thoughts,
You remain my sights and thoughts
But my two lips are desolate.
Though my lips are desolate
يَاO لَيْتَنَاif only we طِفْلانِtwo children لَمْnot نَبْرَحْwe cease to be كَمَاas
يَا لَيْتَنَا طِفْلانِ لَمْ نَبْرَحْ كَمَا
كُنَّاwe were إِلَىuntil مُتَأَخِّرِthe latest of الأَزْمَانِtimes
كُنَّا إِلَى مُتَأَخِّرِ الأَزْمَانِ
Oh, would that we were children still, just as
Would that we were children again, never leaving
We were, until the remotest reaches of time!
That state until the end of time!
قَالُواthey said لِمِثْلِكِfor one like you فِيin المَدَارِسِschools سَلْوَةٌsolace
قَالُوا لِمِثْلِكِ فِي المَدَارِسِ سَلْوَةٌ
كَذَبُواthey lied أَيَسْلُواcan he forget كَارِهُone who hates السُّلْوَانِforgetting
كَذَبُوا أَيَسْلُوا كَارِهُ السُّلْوَانِ
They said: ‘For one like you, schools offer solace.’
They called you “frivolity” in school -
They lied! Can one who hates forgetting forget?
They lied! Ask the loather of frivolity!
بِيَwithin me حُرْقَةٌa burning ache أَخْفَيْتُهَاI concealed it عَنْهُمْfrom them كَمَاas
بِيَ حُرْقَةٌ أَخْفَيْتُهَا عَنْهُمْ كَمَا
يُخْفِيconceals الرَّمَادُash ذَوَاكِيblazing النِّيرَانِfires
يُخْفِي الرَّمَادُ ذَوَاكِي النِّيرَانِ
A burning ache is in me, hidden from them, as
In me is an ardor I hid from them
Ash conceals blazing fires.
As embers conceal the flames within
سَلْمَىSalma العُلُومُknowledge جَمِيعُهَاall of it فِيin لَفْظَةٍa word
سَلْمَى العُلُومُ جَمِيعُهَا فِي لَفْظَةٍ
كَالعِطْرِlike perfume قَطْرَتُهُits drop عَصِيرُthe essence of جِنَانِgardens
كَالعِطْرِ قَطْرَتُهُ عَصِيرُ جِنَانِ
Salma—all knowledge in a single word,
Salma, all knowledge is contained in one phrase
Like perfume, whose drop is the essence of gardens.
Like a drop of perfume, the extract of gardens
سَلْمَىSalma الحَيَاةُlife وَمَاand what is النَّعِيمُbliss مُخَلَّداًeverlasting
سَلْمَى الحَيَاةُ وَمَا النَّعِيمُ مُخَلَّداً
يُشْرَىis bartered لَدَىupon إِقْبَالِهَاher approach بِثَوَانِيfor seconds
يُشْرَى لَدَى إِقْبَالِهَا بِثَوَانِي
Salma is life; what is everlasting bliss,
Salma, you are life - and eternal bliss
Bartered for seconds when she draws near?
Can only be bought with your return
سَأَجِدُّI shall strive فِيin طَلَبِيmy pursuit فَأَسْتَدْنِيso I shall bring nearer بِهِthrough it
سَأَجِدُّ فِي طَلَبِي فَأَسْتَدْنِي بِهِ
زَمَناًa time أَصِيرُI become وَفِيand in يَدَيَّmy two hands عِنَانِيmy reins
زَمَناً أَصِيرُ وَفِي يَدَيَّ عِنَانِي
I shall strive in my pursuit, and through it bring nearer
I will strive to gain means and draw nearer
A time when my reins will be in my own hands;
A time when I hold the reins again
فَأَطِيرُthen I shall fly مِنْout of شَغَفِيmy passion إِلَيْكَto you تَشَوُّقاًin longing
فَأَطِيرُ مِنْ شَغَفِي إِلَيْكَ تَشَوُّقاً
وَأَبُلُّand I shall quench غُلَّةَthe burning thirst of قَلْبِيmy heart الظَّمْآنِparched
وَأَبُلُّ غُلَّةَ قَلْبِي الظَّمْآنِ
Then I shall fly to you, impelled by passion and longing,
Then I will fly to you from passion’s fervor
And quench the burning thirst of my parched heart.”
And achieve the harvest of my thirsting heart
قَالَتْshe said وَقَدْand already رَسَمَتْshe traced عَلَىupon الطِّرْسِthe page اسْمُهُhis name
قَالَتْ وَقَدْ رَسَمَتْ عَلَى الطِّرْسِ اسْمُهُ
يَاO مَنْone whose وَقَفْتُI devoted لِحُبِّهِto his love وِجْدَانِيmy feelings
يَا مَنْ وَقَفْتُ لِحُبِّهِ وِجْدَانِي
She said, having traced his name upon the page:
She said, having drawn his name upon the page:
“O you to whose love I have devoted my soul,
O you at whose love I surrendered my being
وَحَلاand became sweet هَوَانِيmy abasement فِيهِfor him لِيto me وَصَبَابَتِيand my yearning
وَحَلا هَوَانِي فِيهِ لِي وَصَبَابَتِي
حَتَّىuntil كَأَنِّيas though I قَدْhad هَوَيْتُI loved هَوَانِيmy abasement
حَتَّى كَأَنِّي قَدْ هَوَيْتُ هَوَانِي
And my abasement for you and my yearning grew sweet to me,
And dissolved into adoration, until I seemed
Until it seemed I had fallen in love with my abasement.
To have fallen into adoration of myself
لِيَكُنْlet it be فِدًىa sacrifice لَكَfor you يَاO أَلِيفَcompanion of طُفُولَتِيmy childhood
لِيَكُنْ فِدًى لَكَ يَا أَلِيفَ طُفُولَتِي
أَنْthat بِتُّI have become فِيكَfor your sake أَلِيفَةَa companion of الأَشْجَانِsorrows
أَنْ بِتُّ فِيكَ أَلِيفَةَ الأَشْجَانِ
Let this be a sacrifice for you, companion of my childhood:
Let my childhood companion be ransom for you
That for your sake I have become a companion of sorrows,
And I will pass into you the intimacy of longing
وَغَدَوْتُand I became أَسْتَحْلِيI savor جَمَالَكَyour beauty غَائِباًin your absence
وَغَدَوْتُ أَسْتَحْلِي جَمَالَكَ غَائِباً
مِنْfrom أَحْرُفٍletters نَمَّقْتُهَاI adorned them بِبَنَانِيwith my fingertips
مِنْ أَحْرُفٍ نَمَّقْتُهَا بِبَنَانِي
And have come to savor your beauty in your absence
I pretended to admire your absent beauty
From letters I adorned with my fingertips.
With letters I formed with my fingers
نَمَّقْتُهَاI adorned them وَكَأَنَّنِيand as though I صَوَّرْتُهَاI pictured them
نَمَّقْتُهَا وَكَأَنَّنِي صَوَّرْتُهَا
عَنْfrom صُورَةٍan image مَرْسُومَةٍdrawn بِجِنَانِيin my heart
عَنْ صُورَةٍ مَرْسُومَةٍ بِجِنَانِي
I adorned them, as though I were copying them
I formed them as if I had depicted them
From an image drawn within my heart.
From an image painted in my soul
سَوَّدْتُهَاI blackened them وَحُرُوفُهَاand their letters فِيin مُهْجَتِيmy heart
سَوَّدْتُهَا وَحُرُوفُهَا فِي مُهْجَتِي
نَارِيَّةٌfiery كُتِبَتْwere written بِأَحْمَرin red قَانِيdeep crimson
نَارِيَّةٌ كُتِبَتْ بِأَحْمَر قَانِي
I inked them black, while their letters in my heart
I traced them, and though their letters in my core
Are fiery, written in deepest crimson.
Are fiery, written in my blood
يَبْغِيseek الأَقَارِبُthe relatives لِيfor me هَنَاءًhappiness آتِياًto come
يَبْغِي الأَقَارِبُ لِي هَنَاءً آتِياً
بِالعِلْمِthrough learning وَهْوَand it is لِيَfor me الشَّقَاءُthe misery الثَّانِيsecond
بِالعِلْمِ وَهْوَ لِيَ الشَّقَاءُ الثَّانِي
My relatives seek future happiness for me
My family wishes me future happiness
Through learning, yet it is my second misery.
Through knowledge, though it is my second misery
أَيُضَاعُis it squandered فِيon غَيْرِanything but الهَوَىlove عَهْدُthe season of الصِّبَاyouth
أَيُضَاعُ فِي غَيْرِ الهَوَى عَهْدُ الصِّبَا
وَالعُمْرُand life مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter الشَّبِيبَةِyouth فَانِيfleeting
وَالعُمْرُ مِنْ بَعْدِ الشَّبِيبَةِ فَانِي
Should youth's season be wasted on anything but love,
Can the promise of youth be wasted on other than love
When life after youth is fleeting?
When life after one’s prime is fleeting?
أَلِنَسْتَزِيدَis it to increase يَقِينَنَاour certainty بِضَلالِنَاof our error
أَلِنَسْتَزِيدَ يَقِينَنَا بِضَلالِنَا
وَبِجَهْلِنَاand of our ignorance نَقْضِيwe spend أَحَبَّthe dearest زَمَانِtime
وَبِجَهْلِنَا نَقْضِي أَحَبَّ زَمَانِ
Is it to deepen our certainty of our error
Should we not increase our certainty in our misguidance
And our ignorance that we spend our dearest time?
And by our ignorance be rid of the best of times?
خَلُّواleave free سَبِيلَthe path of الطَّيْرِthe bird يَمْرَحُit frolics هَانِئاًhappily
خَلُّوا سَبِيلَ الطَّيْرِ يَمْرَحُ هَانِئاً
فِيin جَوِّهِits sky وَيَرُودُand it roams كُلَّevery مَكَانِplace
فِي جَوِّهِ وَيَرُودُ كُلَّ مَكَانِ
Leave the bird's path free, to frolic happily
Leave the bird to flutter merrily
In its sky and roam everywhere;
In his air, roaming every place
وَليَلحَقَنَّand let it surely join بِإِلْفِهِwith its mate وَلَيَسْعَدَاand let them both be happy
وَليَلحَقَنَّ بِإِلْفِهِ وَلَيَسْعَدَا
حِيناًa while قُبَيلَjust before العَهْدِacquaintance بِالأَحْزَانِwith sorrows
حِيناً قُبَيلَ العَهْدِ بِالأَحْزَانِ
And let it surely join its mate, and let them be happy
And let them reunite in their harmony, and be happy
For a while, just before they come to know sorrow.”
For a while before the age of sorrows
هَذَاthis يَسِيرٌa little مِنْof مَعَانٍmeanings جَاوَزَتْsurpassed
هَذَا يَسِيرٌ مِنْ مَعَانٍ جَاوَزَتْ
وُسْعَthe capacity of امْرِيءٍa person وَقَدِand indeed احْتَوَاهَاcontained them اسْمَانِtwo names
وُسْعَ امْرِيءٍ وَقَدِ احْتَوَاهَا اسْمَانِ
This is but a little of meanings that surpassed
This small amount of meaning surpassed
A person's capacity, yet two names contained them.
What one person can contain, yet two names held it
وَلَرُبَّمَاand often عَجَزَتْfell short بَلاغَاتُthe eloquence of الوَرَىhumankind
وَلَرُبَّمَا عَجَزَتْ بَلاغَاتُ الوَرَى
عَمَّاof what يَخُطُّwrite هُدًىguidance طِفْلانِtwo children
عَمَّا يَخُطُّ هُدًى طِفْلانِ
And often the eloquence of humankind falls short
Though the eloquence of the world may fall short
Of the wisdom two children set down.
Of what two children pen in guidance
Sol 6.1