أَلاAh! حَيِّgreet بِالْمِقْيَاسِat al-Miqyas (the Nilometer) رَيَّاlush الْمَعَالِمِthe landmarks
أَلا حَيِّ بِالْمِقْيَاسِ رَيَّا الْمَعَالِمِ
وَقَلَّand is too little لَهَاfor it مِنَّاfrom us تَحِيَّةُa greeting قَادِمِof a visitor
وَقَلَّ لَهَا مِنَّا تَحِيَّةُ قَادِمِ
Ah, greet the lush grounds at al-Miqyas;
O joyful place measured by destiny, greetings to you, O landmark,
Yet a visitor's greeting from us scarcely does them justice.
Delightful gardens and refuge of doves,
مَلاعِبُplaygrounds آرَامٍof gazelles وَمَأْوَىand a refuge حَمَائِمٍof doves
مَلاعِبُ آرَامٍ وَمَأْوَى حَمَائِمٍ
وَمَسْقَطُand a falling-place أَنْدَاءٍof dewdrops وَمَسْرَىand a passage نَسَائِمِof gentle breezes
وَمَسْقَطُ أَنْدَاءٍ وَمَسْرَى نَسَائِمِ
Playgrounds of gazelles and a refuge for doves,
Abode of friends and breeze's pathway.
A place where dewdrops fall and gentle breezes pass.
Rivers from all sides surround it to irrigate it,
أَحَاطَتْencircled بِهِaround it لِلنِّيلِbelonging to the Nile مِنْfrom كُلِّevery جَانِبٍside
أَحَاطَتْ بِهِ لِلنِّيلِ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ
جَدَاوِلُstreams تُسْقِيهِwater it سُلافَthe choicest wine الْغَمَائِمِof the clouds
جَدَاوِلُ تُسْقِيهِ سُلافَ الْغَمَائِمِ
On every side it is encircled by the Nile's
With clouds' downpour.
Streams, watering it with the clouds' choicest wine.
The rivers meander as if they were interwoven,
تَدُورُcircle مَدَارَin the circuit of الْطَّوْقِthe necklace مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere تَلْتَقِيthey meet
تَدُورُ مَدَارَ الْطَّوْقِ مِنْ حَيْثُ تَلْتَقِي
مَسِيراًin their course وَتَنْسَلُّand slip away انْسِلالَwith the slithering of الأَرَاقِمِthe speckled serpents
مَسِيراً وَتَنْسَلُّ انْسِلالَ الأَرَاقِمِ
They circle like a necklace from the point where they meet
Flowing gently like creeping snakes.
In their course, and slip away as speckled serpents slither.
When the sun makes it laugh, it rustles softly
إِذَاwhen ضَاحَكَتْهَاsmiles upon them الشَّمْسُthe sun رَفَّتْshimmer مُتُونُهَاtheir surfaces
إِذَا ضَاحَكَتْهَا الشَّمْسُ رَفَّتْ مُتُونُهَا
رَفِيفَwith the gleam of الثَّنَايَاthe front teeth خَلْفَbehind حُمْرِred الْمَبَاسِمِsmiling mouths
رَفِيفَ الثَّنَايَا خَلْفَ حُمْرِ الْمَبَاسِمِ
When the sun smiles upon them, their surfaces shimmer
Behind crimson blossoms.
Like front teeth gleaming behind red, smiling lips.
And if the wind unleashes it, it reveals plaits
وَإِنْand if سَلْسَلَتْهَاripples them الرِّيحُthe wind أَبْدَتْreveals سَبَائِكَاًingots
وَإِنْ سَلْسَلَتْهَا الرِّيحُ أَبْدَتْ سَبَائِكَاً
مُقَدَّرَةٌevenly shaped كَالْوَشْمِlike tattooing فَوْقَupon الْمَعَاصِمِthe wrists
مُقَدَّرَةٌ كَالْوَشْمِ فَوْقَ الْمَعَاصِمِ
And if the wind ripples them, they reveal ingots
Predestined like tattoos above wrists.
Evenly shaped, like tattoos upon wrists.
It roams through the towering trees and ends
تَجُوسُthread their way خِلالَamong الْبَاسِقَاتِthe towering palms وَتَنْتَهِيand end
تَجُوسُ خِلالَ الْبَاسِقَاتِ وَتَنْتَهِي
إِلَىto سَاعِدٍa river-arm فِيin غَمْرَةِthe deep waters of النِّيلِthe Nile سَاجِمِpouring
إِلَى سَاعِدٍ فِي غَمْرَةِ النِّيلِ سَاجِمِ
They thread their way among the towering palms and end
At an arm submerged in the Nile's darkness.
At an arm pouring into the Nile's deep waters.
You see trees leaning amorously over the water
تَرَىyou see حَوْلَهَاaround them الأَشْجَارَthe trees وَلْهَىdistraught with longing مُكِبَّةًbending low
تَرَى حَوْلَهَا الأَشْجَارَ وَلْهَى مُكِبَّةً
عَلَىover الْمَاءِthe water فِعْلَin the manner of الصَّادِيَاتِthe thirsty ones الْحَوَائِمِthe circling ones
عَلَى الْمَاءِ فِعْلَ الصَّادِيَاتِ الْحَوَائِمِ
Around them you see the trees, yearning, bent low
Acting like gazelles gazing at their images.
Over the water like thirsty, circling birds.
And sprigs rising in the air as if they were
وَمُنْبَعِثَاتٍand rising ones فِيin الْهَوَاءِthe air كَأَنَّهَاas though they were
وَمُنْبَعِثَاتٍ فِي الْهَوَاءِ كَأَنَّهَا
بَيَارِقُbanners لَهْوٍof revelry رُكِّزَتْplanted فِيat الْمَوَاسِمِthe festivals
بَيَارِقُ لَهْوٍ رُكِّزَتْ فِي الْمَوَاسِمِ
And others rising into the air, as though they were
Banners of bliss planted during seasons.
Banners of revelry planted at festivals.
As if drinking from the soft hands of splendor,
مِنَof اللاءِthose which قَدْalready آلَيْنَhave sworn يَشْرَبْنَthey drink أَوْor else تَلِيadjoin
مِنَ اللاءِ قَدْ آلَيْنَ يَشْرَبْنَ أَوْ تَلِي
مَنَابِتُهَاtheir roots غَوْرَthe depths of الْبِحَارِthe seas الْخَضَارِمِthe vast
مَنَابِتُهَا غَوْرَ الْبِحَارِ الْخَضَارِمِ
Among those that have sworn to drink, or else have
Or their stems absorb the depths of verdant seas.
Their roots reach the depths of vast seas.
When the wind toys with its hilltops, its knights
إِذَاwhen لاعَبَتْplays with أَعْرَافَهَاtheir crests الرِّيحُthe wind خِلْتَهَاyou imagine them
إِذَا لاعَبَتْ أَعْرَافَهَا الرِّيحُ خِلْتَهَا
فَوَارِسَhorsemen تَعْصُوstriking بِالسُّيُوفِwith the swords الصَّوَارِمِthe keen-edged
فَوَارِسَ تَعْصُو بِالسُّيُوفِ الصَّوَارِمِ
When the wind plays with their crests, you imagine them
Rebel with sharp swords.
Horsemen striking with keen-edged swords.
Dawn appears with banners, as if hands
يَلُوحُgleams بِهَاon them طَلْعٌdate clusters نَضِيدٌclosely packed كَأَنَّهُas though they were
يَلُوحُ بِهَا طَلْعٌ نَضِيدٌ كَأَنَّهُ
فَرَائِدُchoice pearls سَاوَىmade equal بَيْنَهَاbetween them كَفُّthe hand of نَاظِمِa stringer
فَرَائِدُ سَاوَى بَيْنَهَا كَفُّ نَاظِمِ
Close-packed date clusters gleam upon them, as though they were
Have lined them up evenly between them.
Choice pearls evenly arranged by a stringer's hand.
When blossom time comes and it is adorned,
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle أَتَىcomes مِيقَاتُهَاtheir appointed time وَتَضَرَّجَتْand they turn crimson
إِذَا مَا أَتَى مِيقَاتُهَا وَتَضَرَّجَتْ
حَسِبْتَyou would think عَقِيقاًagate فِيin صِحَافِthe bowls of الْكَمَائِمِthe fruit-sheaths
حَسِبْتَ عَقِيقاً فِي صِحَافِ الْكَمَائِمِ
When their appointed season comes and they turn crimson,
You’d think it was carnelian in braids’ containers.
You would think them agates in the bowls of their fruit-sheaths.
Theaters of joy—if the people saw their beauty
مَسَارِحُgrounds لَهْوٍof revelry لَوْif رَأَىsaw الشَّعْبُthe people حُسْنَهَاtheir beauty
مَسَارِحُ لَهْوٍ لَوْ رَأَى الشَّعْبُ حُسْنَهَا
لَعَضَّhe would surely bite عَلَىover مَاwhat فَاتَهُhe missed بِالأَبَاهِمِwith the thumbs
لَعَضَّ عَلَى مَا فَاتَهُ بِالأَبَاهِمِ
Pleasure grounds: if the people saw their beauty,
They would bite their fingers in regret.
They would bite their thumbs over what they had missed.
I recalled an era gone by and pleasure
ذَكَرْتُI recalled بِهَاthere, in it عَصْرَاًan age تَوَلَّىgone by وَلَذَّةًand a pleasure
ذَكَرْتُ بِهَا عَصْرَاً تَوَلَّى وَلَذَّةً
تَقَضَّتْpassed away وَمَاand not عَهْدُthe covenant of الزَّمَانِtime بِدَائِمِlasting
تَقَضَّتْ وَمَا عَهْدُ الزَّمَانِ بِدَائِمِ
There I recalled an age gone by, and a pleasure
That's over—for time's promise isn't lasting.
That had ended; time's covenant does not endure.
Days are not good except with their people,
وَمَاand not تَحْسُنُare beautiful الأَيَّامُthe days إِلاexcept بِأَهْلِهَاthrough their people
وَمَا تَحْسُنُ الأَيَّامُ إِلا بِأَهْلِهَا
وَلاand not الدَّارُthe home إِلاexcept بِالصَّدِيقِthrough the friend الْمُلائِمِthe congenial
وَلا الدَّارُ إِلا بِالصَّدِيقِ الْمُلائِمِ
Days are beautiful only through their people,
Nor home except with a congenial friend.
And a home only through a congenial friend.
Oh, the bliss of youth in its prime
فَيَاso, ah! نِعْمَhow fine مَاwhat وَلَّتْdeparted بِهِwith it دَوْلَةُthe reign of الصِّبَاyouth
فَيَا نِعْمَ مَا وَلَّتْ بِهِ دَوْلَةُ الصِّبَا
وَلَمْand did not تَرْعَهُpreserve it مِنْfrom عَهْدِنَاour days الْمُتَقَادِمِlong past
وَلَمْ تَرْعَهُ مِنْ عَهْدِنَا الْمُتَقَادِمِ
Ah, how fine was what the reign of youth carried away
That our old days did not savour!
From our long-past days, and failed to preserve.
For life is fleeting and we are comrades
إِذِwhen الْعَيْشُlife أَفْنَانٌbranches وَنَحْنُand we عِصَابَةٌa band
إِذِ الْعَيْشُ أَفْنَانٌ وَنَحْنُ عِصَابَةٌ
أُولُوpossessors of تَرَفٍease مَاlinking particle بَيْنَbetween غَادٍone out at dawn وَهَائِمِand a wanderer
أُولُو تَرَفٍ مَا بَيْنَ غَادٍ وَهَائِمِ
When life had many branches, and we were a band
Leisurely between errant and wary.
Living in ease, some out at dawn, others wandering.
We follow the creed of loyalty and none
نَسِيرُwe walk عَلَىby دِينِthe creed of الْوَفَاءِloyalty وَلَمْand not يَكُنْthere was
نَسِيرُ عَلَى دِينِ الْوَفَاءِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ
سِوَىexcept الْحُبِّlove مِنْany قَاضٍjudge عَلَيْنَاover us وَحَاكِمِand ruler
سِوَى الْحُبِّ مِنْ قَاضٍ عَلَيْنَا وَحَاكِمِ
We walked by the creed of loyalty, and there was
But love has ruled or judged over us.
No judge or ruler over us but love.
When one of us speaks, before him stands
إِذَاwhen قَالَspoke مِنَّاamong us قَائِلٌa speaker قَامَrose دُونَهُin his defense
إِذَا قَالَ مِنَّا قَائِلٌ قَامَ دُونَهُ
شَهِيدٌa witness عَلَيْهِconcerning him صَادِقٌtruthful غَيْرُnot آثِمِsinful
شَهِيدٌ عَلَيْهِ صَادِقٌ غَيْرُ آثِمِ
When one of us spoke, there rose in his defense
A witness, honest and no sinner.
A truthful, blameless witness to his words.
Death hovers over him while he wards off
يَحُومُhovers عَلَيْهِover him وَالْمَنَايَاwhile deaths مُسِفَّةٌswooping low
يَحُومُ عَلَيْهِ وَالْمَنَايَا مُسِفَّةٌ
وَيَدْرَأُand wards off عَنْهُfrom him فِيinto صُدُورِthe breasts of اللَّهَادِمِthe mighty hosts
وَيَدْرَأُ عَنْهُ فِي صُدُورِ اللَّهَادِمِ
He hovered over him while deaths swooped low,
Destruction in the minds of the ignorant.
And shielded him, thrusting into the breasts of mighty hosts.
When rage burns him and a fit inclines him
إِذَاwhen أَلْهَبَتْهُset him ablaze غَضْبَةٌa fit of anger وَتَرَجَّحَتْand swayed
إِذَا أَلْهَبَتْهُ غَضْبَةٌ وَتَرَجَّحَتْ
بِهِwith him سَورَةٌa surge of fury أَغْرَىincited الظُّبَاthe sword-edges بِالْجَمَاجِمِagainst the skulls
بِهِ سَورَةٌ أَغْرَى الظُّبَا بِالْجَمَاجِمِ
When a fit of anger set him aflame and he was swayed
To stir the hyenas with skulls.
By a surge of fury, he set sword-edges upon skulls.
That era passed but for memories
فَقَدْfor indeed مَرَّhas passed ذَاكَthat الْعَصْرُage إِلاexcept for لُبَانَةًa longing
فَقَدْ مَرَّ ذَاكَ الْعَصْرُ إِلا لُبَانَةً
مُعَلَّقَةًhanging بَيْنَbetween الْحَشَاthe innermost heart وَالْحَيَازِمِand the ribs
مُعَلَّقَةً بَيْنَ الْحَشَا وَالْحَيَازِمِ
That age has passed, leaving only a longing
Suspended between past and future.
Hung between the heart's depths and the ribs.
When the soul recalls it one day
إِذَاif ذَكَرَتْهَاrecalls it النَّفْسُthe soul يَوْمَاًone day تَرَاجَعَتْreturn
إِذَا ذَكَرَتْهَا النَّفْسُ يَوْمَاً تَرَاجَعَتْ
عَلَيْهَاupon it عَقَابِيلُthe lingering pangs of الْهُمُومِsorrows الْقَدَائِمِthe ancient
عَلَيْهَا عَقَابِيلُ الْهُمُومِ الْقَدَائِمِ
If one day the soul recalls it, there return
Caravans of old sorrows return to it.
Upon it the lingering pangs of old sorrows.
An abode of companionship we frequented
وَمَنْزِلَةٍand a dwelling لِلأُنْسِfor companionship كُنَّاwe used to نَحُلُّهاinhabit it
وَمَنْزِلَةٍ لِلأُنْسِ كُنَّا نَحُلُّها
وَنَرْعَىand we graze بِهَاin it اللَّذَّاتِon pleasures رَعْيَas the grazing of السَّوَائِمِfree-grazing herds
وَنَرْعَى بِهَا اللَّذَّاتِ رَعْيَ السَّوَائِمِ
And a dwelling of companionship where we used to stay,
And savored pleasure like grazing beasts.
And graze there on pleasures as free-ranging herds graze,
It grew silent as if never lively yesterday,
عَفَتْwas effaced وَكَأَنْand as though لَمْnot تَغْنَflourished بِالأَمْسِyesterday وَالْتَقَتْand converged
عَفَتْ وَكَأَنْ لَمْ تَغْنَ بِالأَمْسِ وَالْتَقَتْ
عَلَيْهَاupon it أَعَاصِيرُthe whirlwinds of الرِّيَاحِthe winds الْهَوَاجِمِthe assailing
عَلَيْهَا أَعَاصِيرُ الرِّيَاحِ الْهَوَاجِمِ
Has vanished, as though it never flourished yesterday; and there have converged
Stormed by winds' violent onslaughts.
Upon it the whirlwinds of onrushing winds.
No good in a world whose promise does not last,
وَمَاand what خَيْرُgood دُنْيَاa world لاno بَقَاءَendurance لِعَهْدِهَاfor its covenant
وَمَا خَيْرُ دُنْيَا لا بَقَاءَ لِعَهْدِهَا
وَمَاand what طِيبُsweetness عَيْشٍof a life رَبُّهُits owner غَيْرُnot سَالِمِsafe
وَمَا طِيبُ عَيْشٍ رَبُّهُ غَيْرُ سَالِمِ
And what good is a world whose covenant cannot last?
No life's joy with an insecure Lord.
And what sweetness has a life whose owner is not safe?
Thus pass the nights and the discourse of demise
عَلَىin هَذِهِthis manner تَمْضِيpass اللَّيَالِيthe nights وَيَنْقَضِيand comes to an end
عَلَى هَذِهِ تَمْضِي اللَّيَالِي وَيَنْقَضِي
حَدِيثُthe tale of الْمُنَىhopes فِيهَاwithin them كَأَحْلامِlike the dreams of نَائِمِa sleeper
حَدِيثُ الْمُنَى فِيهَا كَأَحْلامِ نَائِمِ
Thus the nights pass, and there ends
Concludes in them like a sleeper's dreams.
The tale of hopes within them, like a sleeper's dreams.
Partial English translation: 55 of 56 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1