أَرَاكَO arak tree الْحِمَىthe sanctuary شَوْقِيmy longing إِلَيْكَfor you شَدِيدُintense
أَرَاكَ الْحِمَى شَوْقِي إِلَيْكَ شَدِيدُ
وصَبْرِيand my patience وَنَوْمِيand my sleep فيin هَوَاكَlove of you شَريدُfugitive
وصَبْرِي وَنَوْمِي في هَوَاكَ شَريدُ
O arak tree of the sanctuary, my longing for you is intense;
I see your passion for me is intense,
and my patience and sleep have fled for love of you.
And my patience and sleep in your love are troubled.
مَضَىpassed زَمَنٌa time لَمْnot يَأْتِنِيhas come to me عَنْكَfrom you قَادِمٌa traveler
مَضَى زَمَنٌ لَمْ يَأْتِنِي عَنْكَ قَادِمٌ
بِبُشْرَىwith glad tidings ولَمْand not يَعْطِفْturned عَلَيَّtoward me بَرِيدُa courier
بِبُشْرَى ولَمْ يَعْطِفْ عَلَيَّ بَرِيدُ
Time has passed, and no traveler has come from you
Time has passed without any messenger coming to me
with glad tidings, nor has a courier turned toward me.
With good tidings, nor has any letter turned to me.
وَحِيدٌalone مِنَfrom الْخُلانِfriends فيin أَرْضِa land of غُرْبَةٍestrangement
وَحِيدٌ مِنَ الْخُلانِ في أَرْضِ غُرْبَةٍ
أَلاindeed كُلُّeveryone مَنْwho يَبْغِيseeks الْوَفَاءَfidelity وَحِيدُalone
أَلا كُلُّ مَنْ يَبْغِي الْوَفَاءَ وَحِيدُ
Alone, without friends, in a foreign land;
Alone, estranged among friends in a foreign land,
indeed, everyone who seeks fidelity is alone.
Indeed, whoever seeks loyalty is alone.
فَهَلْso is there لِغَرِيبٍfor a stranger طَوَّحَتْهُflung him away يَدُthe hand of النَّوَىseparation
فَهَلْ لِغَرِيبٍ طَوَّحَتْهُ يَدُ النَّوَى
رُجُوعٌa return وَهَلْand is there لِلْحَائِمَاتِfor the circling birds وُرُودُaccess to water
رُجُوعٌ وَهَلْ لِلْحَائِمَاتِ وُرُودُ
Is there, then, for a stranger flung away by separation's hand,
Is there a return for an emigrant whom the days of parting have cast off
a return? And can the circling birds reach water?
Or a comeback for those who are gone?
وَهَلْand will زَمَنٌan age وَلَّىpassed away وَعَيْشٌand a life تَقَيَّضَتْwas shattered
وَهَلْ زَمَنٌ وَلَّى وَعَيْشٌ تَقَيَّضَتْ
غَضَارَتُهُits freshness بَعْدَafter الذَّهَابِpassing away يَعُودُreturn
غَضَارَتُهُ بَعْدَ الذَّهَابِ يَعُودُ
And will a bygone age, and a life that has lost
Does time that has passed and a life that has been diminished
its freshness, return after passing away?
Regain its freshness after it is gone?
أُعَلِّلُI console نَفْسِيmyself بِالقَدِيمِwith the past وَإِنَّماbut only
أُعَلِّلُ نَفْسِي بِالقَدِيمِ وَإِنَّما
يَلَذُّis delightful اقْتِبَالُfirst encounter with الشَّيءِa thing وَهْوَwhile it is جَدِيدُnew
يَلَذُّ اقْتِبَالُ الشَّيءِ وَهْوَ جَدِيدُ
I console myself with the past, yet only
I comfort myself with the past, yet
a first encounter with a thing, while it is new, brings delight.
The arrival of something new is more delightful.
وَمَاand not ذِكْرِيَmy recollection of الأَيَّامَthe days إِلَّاexcept لأَنَّهاbecause they
وَمَا ذِكْرِيَ الأَيَّامَ إِلَّا لأَنَّها
ذِمَامٌbonds of obligation لِعِرْفَانin recognition of الصِّبَاyouth وَعُهودُand pledges
ذِمَامٌ لِعِرْفَان الصِّبَا وَعُهودُ
And I recall those days only because they are
And my recollection of days is just
bonds of gratitude to youth, and pledges.
To recognize youth and covenants.
فَلَيْسَfor he is not بِمَفْقُودٍtruly lost فَتىًa young man ضَمَّهُembraced him الثَّرَىthe earth
فَلَيْسَ بِمَفْقُودٍ فَتىً ضَمَّهُ الثَّرَى
وَلَكِنَّand yet مَنْone whom غَالَsnatched away الْبِعَادseparation فَقِيدُlost
وَلَكِنَّ مَنْ غَالَ الْبِعَاد فَقِيدُ
For a young man whom the earth embraces is not truly lost;
Not lost is a man embraced by soil,
but one whom separation has snatched away is lost.
Rather lost is one distanced by separation.
أَلاbehold أَيُّهاO الْيَوْمُthe day الَّذِيwhich لَمْnot أَكُنْI was لَهُof it
أَلا أَيُّها الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي لَمْ أَكُنْ لَهُ
ذَكُوراًmindful سِوَىexcept أَنْthat قِيلَit was said لِيto me هُوَit عِيدُa feast day
ذَكُوراً سِوَى أَنْ قِيلَ لِي هُوَ عِيدُ
O day of which I was not
O day that I was not awake for
mindful, save when I was told, 'It is a feast day!'
Except being told it is a feast.
أَتَسْأَلُنَاdo you ask us لُبْسَwearing الجَدِيدِnew clothes سَفَاهَةًfoolishly
أَتَسْأَلُنَا لُبْسَ الجَدِيدِ سَفَاهَةً
وَأَثْوابُنَاand our garments ماas قَدْalready عَلِمْتَyou know حَدِيدُiron
وَأَثْوابُنَا ما قَدْ عَلِمْتَ حَدِيدُ
Do you foolishly ask us to wear new clothes,
Will you foolishly ask us to wear new clothes
when our garments, as you know, are iron?
When our garments, as you know, are ragged?
فَحَظُّso the share of أُناسٍsome people مِنْهُof it كَأْسٌa cup وَقَيْنَةٌand a singing girl
فَحَظُّ أُناسٍ مِنْهُ كَأْسٌ وَقَيْنَةٌ
وَحَظُّand the share of رِجالٍmen ذُكْرَةٌremembrance وَنَشِيدُand song
وَحَظُّ رِجالٍ ذُكْرَةٌ وَنَشِيدُ
So some people's share of it is a cup and a singing girl,
The luck of some is a cup and a bottle,
and some men's share is remembrance and song.
And the fortune of men is boasting and singing.
لِيَهْنَmay he rejoice بِهِin it مَنْone who باتَspent the night جَذْلانَjoyful نَاعِماًat ease
لِيَهْنَ بِهِ مَنْ باتَ جَذْلانَ نَاعِماً
أَخَاa companion of نَشَوَاتٍraptures ماnot عَلَيْهِagainst him حَقُودُa grudge-bearer
أَخَا نَشَوَاتٍ ما عَلَيْهِ حَقُودُ
May he enjoy it who passes the night joyful and at ease,
To delight one who slept well-off and content,
a companion of raptures, with no one bearing him a grudge.
A comrade of pleasures with no grudges.
تَرَىyou see أَهْلَهُhis family مُسْتَبْشِرينَgladdened بِقُرْبِهِby his nearness
تَرَى أَهْلَهُ مُسْتَبْشِرينَ بِقُرْبِهِ
فَهُمْso they حَوْلَهُaround him لاnot يَبْرَحُونَleave شُهُودُpresent
فَهُمْ حَوْلَهُ لا يَبْرَحُونَ شُهُودُ
You see his family glad to have him near;
You see his family rejoicing at his nearness.
so they remain around him, ever present.
They are around him, never leaving as witnesses.
إِذَاif سارَhe departs عَنْهُمْfrom them سَارَhe departs وَهْوَwhile he is مُكَرَّمٌhonored
إِذَا سارَ عَنْهُمْ سَارَ وَهْوَ مُكَرَّمٌ
وَإِنْand if عَادَhe returns فِيهِمْamong them عَادَhe returns وَهْوَwhile he is سَعِيدُhappy
وَإِنْ عَادَ فِيهِمْ عَادَ وَهْوَ سَعِيدُ
If he leaves them, he departs with honor;
If he travels away from them, he travels honored,
and if he returns among them, he returns happy.
And if he returns to them, he returns happy.
يُخَاطِبُhe addresses كُلاًeach one بِالَّذِيwith what هُوَhe أَهْلُهُworthy of it
يُخَاطِبُ كُلاً بِالَّذِي هُوَ أَهْلُهُ
فَمُبْدِئُso an initiator of شكُرٍْthanks تَارَةًat times وَمُعِيدُand a repeater
فَمُبْدِئُ شكُرٍْ تَارَةً وَمُعِيدُ
He addresses each with what befits him,
He addresses each with what suits them,
now offering thanks, now offering them again.
Sometimes beginning gratitude, other times repeating it.
فَمَنْso who لِغَرِيبٍfor a stranger سَرْنَسُوفُSarnasuf مُقَامُهُhis dwelling
فَمَنْ لِغَرِيبٍ سَرْنَسُوفُ مُقَامُهُ
رَمَتْstruck شَمْلَهُhis circle الأَيَّامُthe days فَهْوَso he is لَهِيدُcrushed
رَمَتْ شَمْلَهُ الأَيَّامُ فَهْوَ لَهِيدُ
Who, then, will help a stranger whose dwelling is Sarnasuf,
But for a stranger whose stay is fleeting,
whose circle the days have scattered, leaving him crushed?
His group was torn apart by days and he became confused.
بِلادٌa land بِهَاin it ماwhat بِالْجَحِيمِin Hell وإِنَّماbut only
بِلادٌ بِهَا ما بِالْجَحِيمِ وإِنَّما
مَكَانَin place of اللَّظَىflame ثَلْجٌsnow بِهَاin it وَجَلِيدُand ice
مَكَانَ اللَّظَى ثَلْجٌ بِهَا وَجَلِيدُ
A land containing what Hell contains, except
A land where, unlike hell, there is ice and snow,
that in place of flame, it has snow and ice.
Bulgars, Romans, and Tatars gathered and competed,
تَجَمَّعَتِgathered الْبُلْغارُthe Bulgars وَالرُّومُand the Rum بَيْنَهاwithin it
تَجَمَّعَتِ الْبُلْغارُ وَالرُّومُ بَيْنَها
وزَاحَمَهَاand crowded into it التَّاتَارُthe Tatars فَهْيَso it is حُشُودُthrongs
وزَاحَمَهَا التَّاتَارُ فَهْيَ حُشُودُ
The Bulgars and the Rum have gathered there,
When they chatter, you hear their clamor
and the Tatars press into it, so it teems with crowds.
Almost making the earth quake.
إِذَاwhen رَاطَنُواthey speak a foreign tongue بَعْضاًone another سَمِعْتَyou hear لِصَوْتِهِمْfrom their voice
إِذَا رَاطَنُوا بَعْضاً سَمِعْتَ لِصَوْتِهِمْ
هَدِيداًa crashing roar تَكَادُalmost الأَرْضُthe earth مِنْهُfrom it تَمِيدُreels
هَدِيداً تَكَادُ الأَرْضُ مِنْهُ تَمِيدُ
When they speak their foreign tongue to one another, you hear in their voices
Ugly are their faces and looks as if they are
a crashing roar from which the earth almost reels.
Soldiers for other than my father's people.
قِبَاحُugly النَّوَاصِيforelocks وَالْوُجُوهِand faces كَأَنَّهُمْas though they
قِبَاحُ النَّوَاصِي وَالْوُجُوهِ كَأَنَّهُمْ
لِغَيْرِfor someone other than أَبِيthe father of هَذَاthis الأَنَامِhumankind جُنُودُsoldiers
لِغَيْرِ أَبِي هَذَا الأَنَامِ جُنُودُ
Ugly in forelock and face, as though they were
Vagrants, not of a known tribe,
soldiers of someone other than the father of this human race.
So no fathers or ancestors are known for them.
سَواسِيَةٌall alike لَيْسُواthey are not بِنَسْلِdescended from قَبيلَةٍa tribe
سَواسِيَةٌ لَيْسُوا بِنَسْلِ قَبيلَةٍ
فَتُعْرَفso might be known آباءٌfathers لَهُمْfor them وجُدُودُand forefathers
فَتُعْرَف آباءٌ لَهُمْ وجُدُودُ
All alike, they do not descend from a tribe
They have images, not faces, upon which
whose fathers and forefathers one could recognize.
Eyes and cheeks are assigned.
لَهُمْthey have صُوَرٌshapes لَيْسَتْare not وُجُوهاًfaces وإِنَّماbut merely
لَهُمْ صُوَرٌ لَيْسَتْ وُجُوهاً وإِنَّما
تُنَاطُare attached إِلَيْهَاto them أَعْيُنٌeyes وَخُدودُand cheeks
تُنَاطُ إِلَيْهَا أَعْيُنٌ وَخُدودُ
They have shapes, not faces; rather,
They clamor around me like calves, some
eyes and cheeks are hung upon them.
Babble incoherently when they try to speak.
يَخُورُونَthey low حَولِيaround me كَالْعُجُولِlike calves وَبَعْضُهُمْand some of them
يَخُورُونَ حَولِي كَالْعُجُولِ وَبَعْضُهُمْ
يُهَجِّنُhe disfigures لَحْنَthe cadence of الْقَوْلِspeech حِينَwhen يُجِيدُhe speaks well
يُهَجِّنُ لَحْنَ الْقَوْلِ حِينَ يُجِيدُ
They low around me like calves, and some of them
I look around but see no gentleman among them
mar the cadence of speech even at their best.
To chat with me where I chat.
أَدُورُI turn بِعَينيwith my eye لاnot أَرَىI see بَيْنَهُمْamong them فَتىًa young man
أَدُورُ بِعَيني لا أَرَى بَيْنَهُمْ فَتىً
يَرُودُroams مَعِيwith me فيin الْقَوْلِspeech حَيْثُwhere أَرُودُI roam
يَرُودُ مَعِي في الْقَوْلِ حَيْثُ أَرُودُ
I turn my eye about and see no young man among them
So I gain no strangeness from them,
who roams with me in speech wherever I roam.
Nor am I, for as long as I stayed, beneficial among them.
فَلاso not أَنَاI مِنْهُمْfrom them مُسْتَفِيدٌlearning غَرِيبَةًa rare insight
فَلا أَنَا مِنْهُمْ مُسْتَفِيدٌ غَرِيبَةً
وَلاand not أَنَاI فِيهِمْamong them ماas long as أَقَمْتُI remain مُفِيدُof benefit
وَلا أَنَا فِيهِمْ ما أَقَمْتُ مُفِيدُ
So I learn no rare thing from them,
Who can bring me days that passed before these
nor am I of use among them as long as I remain.
In Egypt where my life, if continued, would be pleasant?
فَمَنْso who لِيfor me بِأَيَّامٍwith days مَضَتْpassed قَبْلَbefore هَذِهِthese
فَمَنْ لِي بِأَيَّامٍ مَضَتْ قَبْلَ هَذِهِ
بِمِصْرَin Egypt وَعَيْشِيand my life لَوْif only يَدُومُit endures حَمِيدُpleasant
بِمِصْرَ وَعَيْشِي لَوْ يَدُومُ حَمِيدُ
Who, then, can restore to me the days gone by before these,
Perhaps Allah will fulfill a reunion after estrangement
in Egypt, where my life was good—if only it had lasted?
And a father and son will rejoice in the meeting.
عَسَىmay اللهُGod يَقْضِيdecree قُرْبَةًnearness بَعْدَafter غُرْبَةٍexile
عَسَى اللهُ يَقْضِي قُرْبَةً بَعْدَ غُرْبَةٍ
فَيَفْرَحَso may rejoice بِاللُّقْياat reunion أَبٌa father وَوَليدُand a child
فَيَفْرَحَ بِاللُّقْيا أَبٌ وَوَليدُ
May God decree nearness after exile,
so that father and child may rejoice in reunion.
Partial English translation: 52 of 54 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1