أَمدَّهsustained him الدمعُtears حتىuntil غاضَran dry جائدُهtheir wellspring
أَمدَّه الدمعُ حتى غاضَ جائدُه
فمنْso who بأَدمعِwith the tears of عينيهhis two eyes يرافدُهwill aid him
فمنْ بأَدمعِ عينيه يرافدُه
Tears sustained him until their wellspring ran dry.
Tears sustained him as his eyelids overflowed,
Who, then, will aid him with the tears of his own eyes?
So who will replenish him with the tears of his eyes?
الروحُthe soul والدمُand the blood والأحداقُand the eyes وَدَّhe wished لهاfor them
الروحُ والدمُ والأحداقُ وَدَّ لها
لوif only تستحيلُthey would turn إلىinto دمعٍtears يناجدهwould aid him
لو تستحيلُ إلى دمعٍ يناجده
The soul, the blood, the eyes—he wished that they
The soul, blood, and pupils have loved him,
might turn to tears to come to his aid.
If only they could turn into tears crying for him.
مشرّدdeprived النومِof sleep ماnot قَرَّتْwere at rest مضاجعُهhis beds
مشرّد النومِ ما قَرَّتْ مضاجعُه
وَهلْand can تقرُّbe at rest بموتورٍbeneath a bereaved man وَسائدهhis pillows
وَهلْ تقرُّ بموتورٍ وَسائده
Robbed of sleep, his beds have known no rest;
Insomnia scattered, his bed did not comfort him,
and can a bereaved man's pillows ever rest?
Can it be comforting while his pillow is in agony?
باتتْspent the night دمشقُDamascus عَلَىupon طوفانa flood منof لهبٍflame
باتتْ دمشقُ عَلَى طوفان من لهبٍ
ياO ديْنtorment قلبيَof my heart منfrom خطبٍa calamity تكابدهshe endures it
يا ديْن قلبيَ من خطبٍ تكابده
Damascus spent the night upon a flood of flame.
Damascus spent the night in a flood of flames,
O my heart's torment at the calamity she endures!
Oh my aching heart, from the disasters it endured.
موجٌa wave منof النارِfire لاnot تهداgrow quiet زواخرُهits swelling surges
موجٌ من النارِ لا تهدا زواخرُه
يمدّهfeeds it آخرٌanother ماnot yet ارتدَّreceded وافدهits incoming surge
يمدّه آخرٌ ما ارتدَّ وافده
A wave of fire, its swelling surges never quiet;
A wave of fire whose vessels cannot be calmed,
another feeds it before its incoming surge recedes.
One recedes and another surges forth undeterred.
وَبْلُa downpour القذائفِof shells هطَّالاًpouring heavily لهfor it مددٌa supply
وَبْلُ القذائفِ هطَّالاً له مددٌ
والنارُand fire والنفطُand oil والتهديمُand demolition رافدهits feeder
والنارُ والنفطُ والتهديمُ رافده
The pelting downpour of shells supplies it,
Shells rain down supplies of aid upon it,
and fire, oil, and demolition are its tributaries.
While fire, petroleum and destruction nourish it.
ترىyou see القبابَthe domes بهin it غرقىsubmerged فتحسبهاso you think them
ترى القبابَ به غرقى فتحسبها
سفناًships تهاوىfoundering ببحرٍin a sea ثارraged راعدهits thunder
سفناً تهاوى ببحرٍ ثار راعده
You see the domes submerged in it, and think them
You’d think the domes drowned in it were ships
ships foundering in a sea whose thunder rages.
Foundering in a raging, rumbling sea.
فيin ذمةِthe keeping of اللهِGod والتاريخand history ماwhat لقيتْshe suffered
في ذمةِ اللهِ والتاريخ ما لقيتْ
وَفيand in سبيلِpursuit of الأمانيhopes ماwhat تصامدهshe stands firm against it
وَفي سبيلِ الأماني ما تصامده
In the keeping of God and history is all she has suffered;
What it endured is now under God and history’s protection,
and all she withstands is for the sake of her hopes.
And in the cause of aspirations, how it resisted!
أمسىhas become الذيhe who كانwas فيin جنَّاتِهاher gardens بَهِجاًjoyful
أمسى الذي كان في جنَّاتِها بَهِجاً
بمارجٍamid a swirling flame مِنْof سعيرٍraging fire فارseethed واقدهits burning flame
بمارجٍ مِنْ سعيرٍ فار واقده
He who once rejoiced in her gardens is now
He who dwelt happily in its gardens
amid swirling, raging fire, its flame seething.
Spends the evening in marshes of blazing hellfire.
النارُfire منfrom فوقهabove him والنارُand fire دائرةٌencircling
النارُ من فوقه والنارُ دائرةٌ
بهaround him فإنْso if فَرَّhe fled أردتهstruck him dead رواصدهhis ambushers
به فإنْ فَرَّ أردته رواصده
Fire is above him, and fire encircles
The flames above and ring of fire below,
him; if he flees, those lying in wait strike him dead.
If he escapes, its guards will push him back in.
فيin كلِّevery زاويةٍcorner رامٍa marksman وَمنand those who نفرواfled
في كلِّ زاويةٍ رامٍ وَمن نفروا
شيباًgray-haired elders وَحوراًand dark-eyed women وَأطفالاًand children طرائدهhis quarry
شيباً وَحوراً وَأطفالاً طرائده
At every corner stands a marksman, and those who flee—
In every corner, snipers target
gray-haired elders, dark-eyed women, and children—are his quarry.
The gray-haired, maidens, and children.
وَربَّand many a مكنونةٍsecluded woman كالدرِّlike pearls ضنّone jealously withheld بهit
وَربَّ مكنونةٍ كالدرِّ ضنّ به
عَلىfrom العيونِeyes فصانتهso they protected it نواضدهits arrangers
عَلى العيونِ فصانته نواضده
And many a secluded woman, like a pearl jealously withheld
How many hidden pearls were preserved
from eyes, protected by those who arrayed it,
By their veils, protecting their eyes’ modesty.
تخطَّتِcrossed النارَthe fire ليلاًby night وَهيwhile she حاملةٌwas carrying
تخطَّتِ النارَ ليلاً وَهي حاملةٌ
طفلاًa child قضىdied برصاصِby the bullets of القومِthe men والدهhis father
طفلاً قضى برصاصِ القومِ والده
crossed the fire by night, carrying
The fire was traversed at night by a woman
a child whose father had died by those men's bullets.
Carrying a baby whose father was killed by their bullets.
فماand not تناءتْwent far بهwith him حتىbefore أُتيحَwas allotted لهto him
فما تناءتْ به حتى أُتيحَ له
شظيّةٌa shell fragment بانَwas severed منهاby it عنهfrom him ساعدهhis forearm
شظيّةٌ بانَ منها عنه ساعده
She had not gone far with him before there befell him
No sooner had she picked him up
a shell fragment that severed his forearm.
Than a shard, revealing its blade, severed his arm.
ضمّتْclasped إلىto صدرِهاher breast شلْواًa torn body يسيلُstreaming دماًblood
ضمّتْ إلى صدرِها شلْواً يسيلُ دماً
كالطيرِlike a bird هاضbroke جناحاًa wing منهof it صائدa hunter
كالطيرِ هاض جناحاً منه صائد
She clasped to her breast a torn body streaming blood,
She clutched to her chest his dripping blood
like a bird whose wing a hunter has broken.
Like a bird whose wing was clipped by a hunter.
ياO هولthe horror ذلكof that منas مرآىa sight شهدتُI witnessed وَفدْand indeed (probable misprint)
يا هول ذلك من مرآى شهدتُ وَفدْ
وَددتُI wished لوif only كنتI were أعمىblind لاnot أشاهدهI see it
وَددتُ لو كنت أعمى لا أشاهده
O the horror of that sight I witnessed! Indeed,
Oh, the horror of what I saw that day!
I wished I were blind, unable to see it.
I wish I were blind, unable to witness it.
قفْstand فيamid الخرائبِthe ruins وابكِand mourn المجدَglory معتبطاًslain untimely
قفْ في الخرائبِ وابكِ المجدَ معتبطاً
فإنهاfor they are ياalas لأحزانيfor my sorrows مراقدهits tombs
فإنها يا لأحزاني مراقده
Stand amid the ruins and mourn glory slain untimely;
Stand amid the ruins, cry for the lost glory,
for these—alas for my sorrows!—are its tombs.
For these, alas, were its resting grounds.
الذكرياتُthe memories منof التاريخِhistory قدhave already دُرستْbeen effaced
الذكرياتُ من التاريخِ قد دُرستْ
وَطارفُand the new gains of المجدِglory موؤُدٌburied alive وَتالدهand its old inheritance
وَطارفُ المجدِ موؤُدٌ وَتالده
The memories of history have been effaced,
Memories from history have been erased,
and glory's new gains and ancient heritage lie buried alive.
And vestiges of glory are fading and perishing.
ياO آسيَhealer of الجرحِthe wound بادرْhasten ضمدَto bandage سائلهits bleeding flow
يا آسيَ الجرحِ بادرْ ضمدَ سائله
إذاif تريَّثتَyou delay لمwill not تنجعْbe effective ضمائدهits dressings
إذا تريَّثتَ لم تنجعْ ضمائده
O healer of the wound, hasten to staunch its bleeding;
Oh healer of wounds, hurry to dress its injuries,
if you delay, its dressings will do no good.
If you hesitate, your bandages will be of no use.
إنindeed الذينthose who تولواundertook كبرَthe chief part of نكبتناour calamity
إن الذين تولوا كبرَ نكبتنا
أخطاهُمeluded them منof قويمِsound الرأيjudgment أرشدهits wisest counsel
أخطاهُم من قويمِ الرأي أرشده
Indeed, those chiefly responsible for our calamity—
Those who neglected the gravity of our disaster,
the wisest of sound counsels eluded them.
Their steps deviated from the path of wisdom.
لوif يفعلُwere to do اللهُGod جلّexalted be اللهُGod ماwhat فعلواthey did
لو يفعلُ اللهُ جلّ اللهُ ما فعلوا
بأهلِto the people of جلّقJilliq لمwould not يعبدهworship Him عابدهHis worshiper
بأهلِ جلّق لم يعبده عابده
Were God—exalted be God—to do what they did
If God should do to the traitors of Ghouta
to the people of Jilliq, His worshipers would not worship Him.
What they did, none would worship Him.
بَلَتْtested دمشقُDamascus بنيهاher sons يومَon the day of محنتِهاher ordeal
بَلَتْ دمشقُ بنيها يومَ محنتِها
فلمْand did not تجدْfind غيرany but مَنْone whose صحّتْwere sound عقائدهhis convictions
فلمْ تجدْ غير مَنْ صحّتْ عقائده
Damascus tested her sons on the day of her ordeal,
Damascus tested its people on the day of tribulation,
and found none but those whose convictions were sound.
Finding none but those of genuine faith.
ترىyou see الحنيفيَّthe Muslim يومَon the day of الروعِterror مبتدراًhastening
ترى الحنيفيَّ يومَ الروعِ مبتدراً
إلىto المسيحيِّthe Christian فيin البلوىaffliction يساعدهhelping him
إلى المسيحيِّ في البلوى يساعده
You see the Muslim, on the day of terror, hastening
You see on the fearful day the Hanafi
to the Christian, helping him in affliction.
Hurrying to help the Christian in adversity.
خلَّىleft حماهhis refuge ليحميto protect عِرْضَthe honor of صاحبِهhis companion
خلَّى حماه ليحمي عِرْضَ صاحبِه
وَصالَand he charged خشيةَfor fear أنthat تؤتىbe assailed مواردهhis watering places
وَصالَ خشيةَ أن تؤتى موارده
He left his own refuge to protect his companion's honor,
Homs left its protection to guard a neighbor’s honor,
and charged, lest his watering places be assailed.
Fearing its sanctuaries would be violated.
أماas for سريرهُinner nature (probable misprint) منof those who خانواbetrayed فقدand indeed فُضحتwas exposed
أما سريرهُ من خانوا فقد فُضحت
وَانمازand was distinguished عنfrom ثابتِthe steadfast in الإيمانِfaith فاسدهthe one corrupt in it
وَانماز عن ثابتِ الإيمانِ فاسده
As for the inner nature of those who betrayed, it has been exposed,
As for those who betrayed, their sins were exposed,
and those corrupt in faith stood apart from the steadfast.
Deviants from the steadfastness of faith, corrupt.
الحمدُpraise للهto God أنَّيthat I am فيin حمىthe protection of وَطنٍa homeland
الحمدُ لله أنَّي في حمى وَطنٍ
تحميprotect كنائسَهits churches فيهwithin it مساجدُهits mosques
تحمي كنائسَه فيه مساجدُه
Praise be to God that I am sheltered by a homeland
Praise God I am in a homeland
where its mosques protect its churches.
Whose churches are protected by its mosques.
فكيفso how يغمطُbe denied حقاًa right فيin قضيتهits cause
فكيف يغمطُ حقاً في قضيته
واللهُand God وَهوand He is الشهيدُthe Witness العدلُthe Just شاهدُهits witness
واللهُ وَهو الشهيدُ العدلُ شاهدُه
How, then, can it be denied its right in its cause,
How could the truth of its cause be unjust
when God—the Witness, the Just—is its witness?
When God, The Just Witness, observes all?
بقيةَsurvivors of السيفِthe sword والنيرانِand fires إنَّindeed لكمfor you
بقيةَ السيفِ والنيرانِ إنَّ لكم
شأْناًa great standing تراءَتْhave appeared عَلَىat قربٍclose range شواهدهits signs
شأْناً تراءَتْ عَلَى قربٍ شواهده
Survivors of sword and fire, you have
What remains of the sword and fire, you have
a greatness whose signs have appeared close at hand.
An issue seeming close when its signs appeared.
لكمْfor you وَإِنْand even though مسّكمhas touched you قرحٌwounds وَطولُand prolonged أذىsuffering
لكمْ وَإِنْ مسّكم قرحٌ وَطولُ أذى
منof طيّبِgood الذكرِremembrance بعدafter اليومِtoday خالدهits everlasting part
من طيّبِ الذكرِ بعد اليومِ خالده
Though wounds and long affliction have touched you, yours is
You were hit with wounds and long torment,
the everlasting share of good remembrance after today.
Yet you will have good remembrance everlasting.
للهGod be praised for يومكمُyour day يوماًwhat a day فإنَّfor indeed لهit has
لله يومكمُ يوماً فإنَّ له
ماwhat بعدهcomes after it وَإِنand even if اشتدتْbecome severe شدائدهits hardships
ما بعده وَإِن اشتدتْ شدائده
God be praised for your day—what a day! For it has
God’s is your day, for after it, He has
an aftermath, however fierce its hardships.
What comes next, however severe the trials.
للهGod be praised for معقلكمْyour stronghold منwhat a معقلٍfortress أشبٍthickly wooded
لله معقلكمْ من معقلٍ أشبٍ
عَلَىupon الوئامِharmony لقدindeed شيدتْwere built قواعدهits foundations
عَلَى الوئامِ لقد شيدتْ قواعده
God be praised for your stronghold, a thickly wooded fortress!
God’s is your fortress, built from one most valiant
Upon harmony its foundations were surely built.
On concord - its foundations He erected.
عاليlofty in البروجtowers تعالىrose high فوقهabove it علمٌa banner
عالي البروج تعالى فوقه علمٌ
الحقُtruth رافعهُits raiser والحقُand truth عاقدهits fastener
الحقُ رافعهُ والحقُ عاقده
High-towered, above it rises a banner;
Tall of minarets, above it flies a flag
truth raises it, and truth binds it fast.
Of truth, raised by truth, and by truth unfurled.
فتىyoung man of دمشقDamascus اصطبرْbe steadfast للخطبagainst calamity تجبههconfront it
فتى دمشق اصطبرْ للخطب تجبهه
إنَّindeed العروبةَArabhood جيشٌan army أنتyou قائدهits commander
إنَّ العروبةَ جيشٌ أنت قائده
Young man of Damascus, endure calamity and confront it;
Damascus youth, be patient facing disasters!
Arabhood is an army; you are its commander.
You are the leader of Arabism’s army.
لاno عذرexcuse فيfor اليأسdespair مماof what كانwas ممتنعاًunattainable
لا عذر في اليأس مما كان ممتنعاً
إذاif تقصيّتyou pursue thoroughly أمراًa matter أنتyou واجدهwill attain it
إذا تقصيّت أمراً أنت واجده
There is no excuse for despairing of what was unattainable,
No excuse for despair at what was impossible,
if you pursue a matter fully, you will attain it.
If you investigate a matter, you will find it.
أماas for دمشقُDamascus فلاso she does not ترجوhope لنجدتِهاfor her rescue
أما دمشقُ فلا ترجو لنجدتِها
سوىexcept فتاهاher young man الذيwhose شاعتbecame widespread محامدهhis praiseworthy deeds
سوى فتاها الذي شاعت محامده
As for Damascus, she hopes for her rescue from none
As for Damascus, it hopes for no salvation
but her young man, whose praiseworthy deeds are renowned.
But its youth whose glories have spread.
بلَوعةِwith the anguish of الثكلِbereavement تدعوهshe calls him لينصرهاto aid her
بلَوعةِ الثكلِ تدعوه لينصرها
وَبالجراحand with the wounds التيthat تدميdraw blood تناشدهshe implores him
وَبالجراح التي تدمي تناشده
With the anguish of bereavement she calls him to aid her,
It calls him in the agony of bereavement
and with her bleeding wounds she implores him.
And with its bleeding wounds appeals to him.
Sol 6.1