أماhas it not آنbecome time القلبthe heart أنto يهدأgrow still
أما آن القلب أن يهدأ
وللدمعand for the tears فيin العينthe eye أنto يرقأstop flowing
وللدمع في العين أن يرقأ
Has the time not come for the heart to grow still,
Should the heart find peace,
and for the tears in the eye to cease,
And tears dry in the eyes,
وللجسمand for the body فيin العمرlife أنto يستريحrest
وللجسم في العمر أن يستريح
وللداءand for the ailment فيin الصدرthe breast أنto يبرأheal
وللداء في الصدر أن يبرأ
and for the body to rest in life,
And the body rest in life,
and for the ailment in the breast to heal,
And illness heal in the chest,
وللنفسand for the soul فيin الوجدlonging أنto تستقرfind repose
وللنفس في الوجد أن تستقر
وللنارand for the fire فيin القلبthe heart أنto تطفأbe quenched
وللنار في القلب أن تطفأ
and for the soul in longing to find repose,
And the soul settle in passion,
and for the fire in the heart to be quenched?
And fire quench in the heart -
علامwhy وفيمand to what end عذابٌtorment طويلٌlong
علام وفيم عذابٌ طويلٌ
وعمرٌand a life قصيراٌshort لهfor it أنشئاwas created
وعمرٌ قصيراٌ له أنشئا
Why, and to what end, such long torment,
Why the long torment,
and a short life created for it?
And the short life to endure it?
مللتُI tired of الزمانَtime بماwith what قدalready حبانيit bestowed on me
مللتُ الزمانَ بما قد حباني
وماand what قدalready أعدَّit prepared وماand what هيَّأَit made ready
وما قد أعدَّ وما هيَّأَ
I have tired of time, of what it has bestowed on me,
I'm tired of time's games -
and what it has prepared and made ready:
What it's brought and prepared,
أَكاذيبlies لكنهاyet they تُطمِعُarouse hope in
أَكاذيب لكنها تُطمِعُ
النهىreason وتكونand they become لهاfor it مرتائan object of contemplation (unclear spelling)
النهى وتكون لها مرتائ
lies—yet they arouse hope in
Lies that entice
reason and become an object of its contemplation.
Forbidden joys, welcomed by the mind,
ويألفهاand grows familiar with them العقلthe mind مستقرياًexamining
ويألفها العقل مستقرياً
فيرعىso it grazes on الأكاذيبthe lies مستمرئاfinding them palatable
فيرعى الأكاذيب مستمرئا
And the mind grows used to them, examining them,
Which tends to the lies, swallowing them.
so it grazes on lies, finding them palatable.
I hoped for recovery, waiting for it,
أرجىI hope for شفاءًhealing وميعادهand its appointed time
أرجى شفاءً وميعاده
إذاwhenever أناI شرافتهI neared it (unclear spelling) أرجئاwas deferred
إذا أنا شرافته أرجئا
I hope for healing, but its appointed time,
If I postpone it, it gets delayed.
whenever I draw near it, is deferred.
Youth is a garment -
وأنand that الشبابyouth كثوبٍlike a garment ولكنand yet
وأن الشباب كثوبٍ ولكن
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle تخرَّقَit is torn لنwill not يُرفأَbe mended
إذا ما تخرَّقَ لن يُرفأَ
And youth is like a garment; yet
If torn, it cannot be mended.
once it is torn, it will not be mended.
Resolve is a sword - unless it rusts
هوit is العزمresolve سيفٌa sword إذاif لمnot يثلِّمهُnotch it
هو العزم سيفٌ إذا لم يثلِّمهُ
ضربٌa blow فلاthen no بدَّescape أَنthat يصدأَit rusts
ضربٌ فلا بدَّ أَن يصدأَ
Resolve is a sword: if it is not notched
It must keep striking.
by a blow, it must inevitably rust.
Had I sought greatness
لوif أنيthat I طلبتI sought علوّاًhigh rank لماwould not have
لو أني طلبت علوّاً لما
رضيتُI accepted لنعليfor my sandal السهىal-Suha موطئاa foothold
رضيتُ لنعلي السهى موطئا
Had I sought lofty rank, I would not
I'd not be content to tread with slippers.
have accepted al-Suha as a foothold for my sandal.
But I saw contentment in a life
ولكنand yet رأيتُI found القناعةcontentment فيin الthe (word fragment)
ولكن رأيتُ القناعة في ال
عيشliving أروحmore restful للقلبfor the heart بلindeed أَهنأَmore blissful
عيش أروح للقلب بل أَهنأَ
Yet I found that contentment in
That comforts the heart and brings joy.
life was more restful for the heart—indeed, more blissful.
I lost this and that, and went
فضيَّعتُso I squandered هذيthis وذاكand that ورحand went (verb fragment)
فضيَّعتُ هذي وذاك ورح
تُI (verb ending) أفتشsearch عنfor غرضa purpose خبئاhidden
تُ أفتش عن غرض خبئا
So I squandered this and that, and set
Seeking an obscure goal.
out to search for a hidden purpose.
The soul seeks only what is near -
وماand not غرضُthe aim النفسthe soul إلاexcept القريبthe near at hand
وما غرضُ النفس إلا القريب
سواءًalike أَأُجملwhether taken as a whole أمor جزِّئاdivided into parts
سواءً أَأُجمل أم جزِّئا
And the soul's aim is only what is near,
Be it complete or fragmented.
whether taken as a whole or divided into parts.
It battles me day after day
يناصبهاit wages against it الحربwar يوماًa day فيوماًthen another day
يناصبها الحرب يوماً فيوماً
ويوردهاand leads it to الحتفdeath آناًa moment وآand mo… (unfinished 'moment')
ويوردها الحتف آناً وآ
It wages war against the soul, day after day,
And death assigns it repeated blows
and leads it to death, moment after [moment].
The secret in attaining what you seek
وماand not السرُّthe secret فيin نيلattaining ماwhat أنتyou تطلبseek
وما السرُّ في نيل ما أنت تطلب
فيin العمرlife إلاexcept بأَنby the fact that تجرأyou dare
في العمر إلا بأَن تجرأ
And the secret of attaining what you seek
In life is simply to dare.
in life is nothing but daring.
I fled to the night from what I saw
فزعتُI sought refuge إلىto الليلfrom what مماI seeப்படு�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�்�் أرىline_34
فزعتُ إلى الليل مما أرى
وقدand already فزعtook fright الليلُthe night مماat what رأىit saw
وقد فزع الليلُ مما رأى
I sought refuge in the night from what I see,
The night too fled from what it saw!
and the night had taken fright at what it saw.
When darkness engulfed me
إذاwhen أناI أضوتنيwasted me away الداجياتُthe dark nights
إذا أنا أضوتني الداجياتُ
رأيتُI saw الدياجيthe darkness ليfor me أَضوأَbrighter
رأيتُ الدياجي لي أَضوأَ
When the dark nights wasted me away,
I found the moon lighting me.
I saw the darkness as brighter for me.
The most miserable creature is one
وأشقىand the most wretched البريةhumankind مثليlike me طريدٌan outcast
وأشقى البرية مثلي طريدٌ
يكونُis الظلامُdarkness لهfor him ملجأَa refuge
يكونُ الظلامُ له ملجأَ
And the most wretched of humankind is an outcast like me,
For whom darkness is refuge.
for whom darkness is a refuge.
Reviewing the dreams of life
أَراجعةٌreturning? فيin الزمانtime أمانيhopes
أَراجعةٌ في الزمان أماني
الحياةlife ومدنيةand bringing near ماwhat نأىgrew distant
الحياة ومدنية ما نأى
Will hopes return with time—
And the cities I never knew,
life's hopes—and bring near what has grown distant?
He came close - some drink
وهبهand suppose it دناcame near إنَّindeed بعضsome الشرابdrink
وهبه دنا إنَّ بعض الشراب
يغادرleaves شاربهits drinker أَظمأthirstier
يغادر شاربه أَظمأ
And suppose it came near: some drink
Leaves its drinker more thirsty.
leaves its drinker thirstier.
O Lord of the universe, erase part of Your name -
أياO ربLord ذاthis الكونuniverse حرفa letter منof اسمكyour name
أيا رب ذا الكون حرف من اسمك
لكنماyet اسمكyour name لنwill not يقرأَbe read
لكنما اسمك لن يقرأَ
O Lord, this universe is a letter of your name,
Though Your name cannot be read.
yet your name will not be read.
Turn a blind eye to a sinner, if Your light saw him,
تعامىwas obscured علىto مقلٍeyes لوif رأتthey saw
تعامى على مقلٍ لو رأت
لكادتthey would almost منfrom النورthe light أنto تفقأَburst
لكادت من النور أن تفقأَ
It is hidden from eyes that, if they saw,
He'd nearly be blinded by the light.
would almost burst from the light.
Dazzled by the light, one commits no sin,
ومنand whoever بهرdazzled النورُthe light ماnot جرَّincurred ذنباًa sin
ومن بهر النورُ ما جرَّ ذنباً
ولاand not عُدَّwas deemed فيin عمرهhis lifetime مخطئاa wrongdoer
ولا عُدَّ في عمره مخطئا
And whoever the light has dazzled has incurred no sin,
Never erring in life.
nor been deemed a wrongdoer in his lifetime.
I absolved myself lest I stray -
ربأتُI kept above بنفسيmy own soul عنaway from أَنto تضلَّgo astray
ربأتُ بنفسي عن أَن تضلَّ
ومنand who ليfor me بنفسيmy own soul أَنto أربأI keep above
ومن لي بنفسي أَن أربأ
I held my soul above going astray;
But who do I have to absolve me?
but who can help me keep my soul above it?
I loved my life no matter how
وأحببتُand I loved عمريmy life علىin أيany حالٍstate
وأحببتُ عمري على أي حالٍ
فناءًextinction سريعاًswift يرىis seen مبطئاas slow
فناءً سريعاً يرى مبطئا
And I loved my life in whatever state:
Swiftly vanishing - sluggish in sight.
a swift extinction that seems slow,
A worry contends my peace
وهمّاًand worry ينازعنيcontends with me for راحتيmy rest
وهمّاً ينازعني راحتي
وبؤساًand misery يرىsees الأحسنthe best الأسوأَthe worst
وبؤساً يرى الأحسن الأسوأَ
and worry that wrestles me for my peace,
And misery sees the best as worst.
and misery that sees the best as the worst.
Events made me shun my life -
لقدindeed زهدتنيmade me lose desire الحوادثُevents فيin حياتيmy life
لقد زهدتني الحوادثُ في حياتي
فأَسلمتُهاso I surrendered it مُبرئاabsolving it
فأَسلمتُها مُبرئا
Events have indeed made me lose desire for my life;
So I released it, exonerated.
so I surrendered it, absolving it.
Never did I spend a day laughing -
ولمand not ألفَI was found يوماًever أَسيفاًsorrowful لأَنيbecause I
ولم ألفَ يوماً أَسيفاً لأَني
صحبتُكَI accompanied you ياO دهرُTime مستهزئاmockingly
صحبتُكَ يا دهرُ مستهزئا
And I was never found sorrowful, for I
For I befriended you, oh sly time.
kept your company, O Time, mockingly.
I've made silence my friend -
والزمنيand compelled me to الصمتَsilence أَنthat المعيدthe one who restores
والزمني الصمتَ أَن المعيد
إنnot هوhe إلّاexcept الذيthe one who أبدأَfirst created
إن هو إلّا الذي أبدأَ
And what compelled me to silence was that the one who restores
For the repeatable is the limited.
is none other than the one who first created.
Partial English translation: 59 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1