لَبَّيْكَat your service يَاO دَاعِيَsummoner of الأَشْوَاقِlongings مِنْwhat a دَاعِيsummoner
لَبَّيْكَ يَا دَاعِيَ الأَشْوَاقِ مِنْ دَاعِي
أَسْمَعْتَyou made hear قَلْبِيmy heart وَإِنْand though أَخْطَأْتَyou missed أَسْمَاعِيmy ears
أَسْمَعْتَ قَلْبِي وَإِنْ أَخْطَأْتَ أَسْمَاعِي
At your service, O summoner of longing—what a summoner!
I respond to your call, O summoner of passions, from a summoner
You made my heart hear, though you missed my ears.
You have heard my heart even if you misheard my hearing
مُرْنِيcommand me بِمَاwith whatever شِئْتَyou wish أَبْلُغْI shall attain كُلَّall مَاthat وَصَلَتْhas reached
مُرْنِي بِمَا شِئْتَ أَبْلُغْ كُلَّ مَا وَصَلَتْ
يَدِيmy hand إِلَيْهِto it فَإِنِّيfor I سَامِعٌlistening وَاعِيunderstanding
يَدِي إِلَيْهِ فَإِنِّي سَامِعٌ وَاعِي
Command me as you wish: I shall attain all within reach
Command me as you wish, I will attain everything
Of my hand, for I listen and understand.
My hand can reach, for I am listening and aware
فَلاso no وَرَبِّكَby your Lord مَاnot أُصْغِيI listen إِلَىto عَذَلٍreproach
فَلا وَرَبِّكَ مَا أُصْغِي إِلَى عَذَلٍ
وَلاnor أُبِيحُI open حِمَىthe sanctuary of قَلْبِيmy heart لِخَدَّاعِto a deceiver
وَلا أُبِيحُ حِمَى قَلْبِي لِخَدَّاعِ
No, by your Lord, I give no ear to reproach,
No, by your Lord, I do not listen to blaming
Nor open my heart's sanctuary to a deceiver.
Nor allow the sanctuary of my heart to be deceived
إِنِّيI am indeed امْرُؤٌa man لاnot يَرُدُّrestrains الْعَذْلُreproach بَادِرَتِيmy bold impulse
إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ لا يَرُدُّ الْعَذْلُ بَادِرَتِي
وَلاnor تَفُلُّblunts شَبَاةُthe sharp edge of الْخَطْبِmisfortune إِزْمَاعِيmy resolve
وَلا تَفُلُّ شَبَاةُ الْخَطْبِ إِزْمَاعِي
I am a man whose bold impulse reproach cannot restrain,
I am a man whose resolve is not returned by blaming
Nor can misfortune's sharp edge blunt my resolve.
Nor does the splendor of glory cease to please me
أَجْرِيI act عَلَىaccording to شِيمَةٍa disposition فِيin الْحُبِّlove صَادِقَةٍsincere
أَجْرِي عَلَى شِيمَةٍ فِي الْحُبِّ صَادِقَةٍ
لَيْسَتْdoes not تَهُمُّthink إِذَاwhen رِيعَتْit is frightened بِإِقْلاعِof giving up
لَيْسَتْ تَهُمُّ إِذَا رِيعَتْ بِإِقْلاعِ
I follow a disposition sincere in love,
I act with sincere loyalty in love
That never thinks of giving up, even when alarmed.
That does not suspect when slandered with turning away
لِلْحُبِّfor love مِنْfrom مُهْجَتِيmy soul كَهْفٌa cave يَلُوذُtakes refuge بِهِin it
لِلْحُبِّ مِنْ مُهْجَتِي كَهْفٌ يَلُوذُ بِهِ
مِنْfrom غَدْرِthe treachery of كُلِّevery امْرِئٍman بِالشَّرِّwith evil وَقَّاعِever assailing
مِنْ غَدْرِ كُلِّ امْرِئٍ بِالشَّرِّ وَقَّاعِ
Love has a cave within my soul, in which it shelters
For love my being is a cave in which it takes refuge
From the treachery of every man forever dealing harm.
From the betrayal of everyone evil and low
بَذَلْتُI gave فِيin الحُبِّlove نَفْسِيmy soul وَهْيَthough it is غَالِيَةٌprecious
بَذَلْتُ فِي الحُبِّ نَفْسِي وَهْيَ غَالِيَةٌ
لِبَاخِلٍto a miser بِصَفَاءِwith the purity of الْوُدِّaffection مَنَّاعِever withholding
لِبَاخِلٍ بِصَفَاءِ الْوُدِّ مَنَّاعِ
I gave my soul in love, precious though it is,
I spent my precious soul in love to one
To one miserly with pure affection, ever withholding it.
Stingy with the purity of affection and denying
أَشْكُوI complain إِلَيْهِto him وَلاand not يُصْغِيhe listens لِمَعْذِرَتِيto my plea
أَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ وَلا يُصْغِي لِمَعْذِرَتِي
مِنْfrom غَيْرِabsence of ذَنْبٍa sin جَنَتْهُcommitted it النَّفْسُthe soul أَوْor دَاعِيa cause
مِنْ غَيْرِ ذَنْبٍ جَنَتْهُ النَّفْسُ أَوْ دَاعِي
I complain to him, but he gives no ear to my plea,
I complain to him but he does not listen to my excuse
Though my soul has committed no offense, nor is there any cause.
Without fault, his soul suspected or incited
وَيْلاهُalas for me مِنْfor حَاجَةٍa desire فِيin النَّفْسِthe soul هَامَbecame enamored بِهَاwith it
وَيْلاهُ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ فِي النَّفْسِ هَامَ بِهَا
قَلْبِيmy heart وَقَصَّرَand fell short عَنْof إِدْرَاكِهَاattaining it بَاعِيmy reach
قَلْبِي وَقَصَّرَ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهَا بَاعِي
Alas for a desire within my soul that has enraptured
Woe to him from a need that has obsessed
My heart, yet my reach falls short of attaining it.
My heart but whose attainment has eluded my pursuer
أَسْعَىI strive لَهَاfor it وَهْيَthough it is مِنِّيfrom me غَيْرُnot دَانِيَةٍnear
أَسْعَى لَهَا وَهْيَ مِنِّي غَيْرُ دَانِيَةٍ
وَكَيْفَand how يَبْلُغُattains شَأْوَthe reach of الْكَوْكَبِthe star السَّاعِيthe striver
وَكَيْفَ يَبْلُغُ شَأْوَ الْكَوْكَبِ السَّاعِي
I strive for it, though it is far from me;
I strive for it while it is not humbled before me
And how can a striver attain a star's far height?
And how can one reach the status of the aspiring star?
يَاoh حَبَّذَاhow delightful جُرْعَةٌa draught مِنْof مَاءِwater مَحْنِيَةٍa valley bend
يَا حَبَّذَا جُرْعَةٌ مِنْ مَاءِ مَحْنِيَةٍ
وَضَجْعَةٌand lying down فَوْقَupon بَرْدِthe coolness of الرَّمْلِthe sand بِالْقاعِin the lowland
وَضَجْعَةٌ فَوْقَ بَرْدِ الرَّمْلِ بِالْقاعِ
Oh, how sweet a draught of water from a valley bend,
O excellent is a draught of the water of affliction
And lying upon the cool sand of the lowland,
And a rest upon the cool sands in the wasteland
وَنَسْمَةٌand a breeze كَشَمِيمِlike the fragrance of الْخُلْدِParadise قَدْhas حَمَلَتْcarried
وَنَسْمَةٌ كَشَمِيمِ الْخُلْدِ قَدْ حَمَلَتْ
رَيَّاthe fragrance of الأَزَاهِيرِblossoms مِنْfrom مِيثٍsoft lowlands وَأَجْرَاعِand sandy hills
رَيَّا الأَزَاهِيرِ مِنْ مِيثٍ وَأَجْرَاعِ
And a breeze like the fragrance of Paradise, bearing
And a breeze that carries the fragrance of eternity
The scent of blossoms from soft lowlands and sandy hills!
The scent of flowers from weathered ruins and knolls
يَاoh هَلْshall أَرَانِيI see myself بِذَاكَin that الْحَيِّquarter مُجْتَمِعَاًreunited
يَا هَلْ أَرَانِي بِذَاكَ الْحَيِّ مُجْتَمِعَاً
بِأَهْلِwith the people of وَدِّيmy affection مِنْamong قَوْمِيmy people وَأَشْيَاعِيand my followers
بِأَهْلِ وَدِّي مِنْ قَوْمِي وَأَشْيَاعِي
Oh, shall I see myself in that quarter, reunited
O would that I meet in that living place
With those dear to me among my people and my followers?
With my loved ones, my people and followers
وَهَلْand shall أَسُوقُI urge جَوَادِيmy steed لِلطِّرَادِfor the chase إِلَىto
وَهَلْ أَسُوقُ جَوَادِي لِلطِّرَادِ إِلَى
صَيْدِhunting الْجَآذِرِyoung wild cattle فِيin خَضْرَاءَa green meadow مِمْرَاعِlush with pasture
صَيْدِ الْجَآذِرِ فِي خَضْرَاءَ مِمْرَاعِ
And shall I urge my steed into the chase, to
And that I race my steed in the hunt
Hunt young wild cattle in a lush green meadow?
For the glancing gazelle in the green meadow
مَنَازِلٌdwellings كُنْتُI was مِنْهَاfrom them فِيin بُلَهْنِيَةٍease and plenty
مَنَازِلٌ كُنْتُ مِنْهَا فِي بُلَهْنِيَةٍ
مُمَتَّعاًenjoying comforts بَيْنَamong غِلْمَانِيmy young servants وَأَتْبَاعِيand my followers
مُمَتَّعاً بَيْنَ غِلْمَانِي وَأَتْبَاعِي
Homes where I once lived in ease,
Abodes in which I was happily reveling
Enjoying life's comforts among my young servants and followers.
Among my boys and followers
إِذَاwhenever أَشَرْتُI signaled لَهُمْto them فِيabout حاجَةٍa need بَدَرُواthey hastened
إِذَا أَشَرْتُ لَهُمْ فِي حاجَةٍ بَدَرُوا
قَضَاءَهَاfulfilling it قَبْلَbefore أَنْthat يَرْتَدَّreturns إِلْمَاعِيmy gesture
قَضَاءَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلْمَاعِي
Whenever I signaled them about a need, they hastened
When I gestured to them for a need, they rushed
To fulfill it before I could withdraw my gesture.
To fulfill it before my gesture returned
يَخْشَىfears الْبَلِيغُthe eloquent speaker لِسَانِيmy tongue قَبْلَbefore بَادِرَتِيmy first utterance
يَخْشَى الْبَلِيغُ لِسَانِي قَبْلَ بَادِرَتِي
وَيُرْعَدُand is made to tremble الْجَيْشُthe army بِاسْمِيat my name قَبْلَbefore إِيقَاعِيmy attack
وَيُرْعَدُ الْجَيْشُ بِاسْمِي قَبْلَ إِيقَاعِي
The eloquent speaker fears my tongue before my first words,
The eloquent fear my tongue before my act
And the army trembles at my name before my attack.
And the army thunders at my name before my strike
فَالْيَوْمَso today أَصْبَحْتُI have become لاnot سَهْمِيmy arrow بِذِيendowed with صَرَدٍpenetrating force
فَالْيَوْمَ أَصْبَحْتُ لا سَهْمِي بِذِي صَرَدٍ
إِذَاwhen رَمَيْتُI shoot وَلاnor سَيْفِيmy sword بِقَطَّاعِkeenly cutting
إِذَا رَمَيْتُ وَلا سَيْفِي بِقَطَّاعِ
But today I have come to this: my arrow no longer pierces
But today my arrows have no piercing heads
When I shoot, nor does my sword cut keenly.
When I shoot, nor does my sword cut
أَبِيتُI spend the night فِيon قُنَّةٍa summit قَنْوَاءَlofty قَدْhas بَلَغَتْreached
أَبِيتُ فِي قُنَّةٍ قَنْوَاءَ قَدْ بَلَغَتْ
هَامَthe crowns of السِّمَاكِal-Simak وَفَاتَتْهُand surpassed it بِأَبْوَاعِby armspans
هَامَ السِّمَاكِ وَفَاتَتْهُ بِأَبْوَاعِ
I spend my nights upon a lofty summit that has reached
I spend the nights in a crumbling shack
The crowns of al-Simak, and overtopped it by armspans.
That has reached the summit of ruggedness and dilapidation
يَسْتَقْبِلُgreets الْمُزْنُthe rainclouds لِيَتَيْهَاits neck's two sides بِوَابِلِهِwith their downpour
يَسْتَقْبِلُ الْمُزْنُ لِيَتَيْهَا بِوَابِلِهِ
وَتَصْدِمُand buffets الرِّيحُthe wind جَنْبَيْهَاits two flanks بِزَعْزَاعِwith a violent gale
وَتَصْدِمُ الرِّيحُ جَنْبَيْهَا بِزَعْزَاعِ
The rainclouds greet its neck's two sides with their downpour,
The rain pelts its gable to make it wander confusedly
And the wind buffets its flanks with a violent gale.
And the wind batters its sides with loud crashes
يَظَلُّremains شِمْرَاخُهَاits pinnacle يَبْساًdry وَأَسْفَلُهَاand its lower part
يَظَلُّ شِمْرَاخُهَا يَبْساً وَأَسْفَلُهَا
مُكَلَّلاًcrowned بِالنَّدَىwith dew يَرْعَىpastures flocks بِهِon it الرَّاعِيthe shepherd
مُكَلَّلاً بِالنَّدَى يَرْعَى بِهِ الرَّاعِي
Its pinnacle stays dry, while its lower slopes
Its peak remains dry while its base is
Are crowned with dew, where the shepherd grazes his flock.
Crowned with dew with which the shepherd grazes his flock
إِذَاwhen الْبُرُوقُlightning flashes ازْمَهَرَّتْblazed خِلْتَyou would think ذِرْوَتَهَاits summit
إِذَا الْبُرُوقُ ازْمَهَرَّتْ خِلْتَ ذِرْوَتَهَا
شَهْماًa valiant man تَدَرَّعَclad himself in armor مِنْof تِبْرٍraw gold بِأَدْرَاعِin coats of mail
شَهْماً تَدَرَّعَ مِنْ تِبْرٍ بِأَدْرَاعِ
When the lightning blazes, you would think its summit
When lightning flashes, its crest seems
A valiant man clad in armor of gold.
A reckless hero armored with solid plates
تَكَادُyou almost تَلْمِسُtouch مِنْهَاfrom it الشَّمْسَthe sun دَانِيَةًnearby
تَكَادُ تَلْمِسُ مِنْهَا الشَّمْسَ دَانِيَةً
وَتَحْبِسُand hold back الْبَدْرَthe full moon عَنْfrom سَيْرٍjourneying وَإِقْلاعِand departing
وَتَحْبِسُ الْبَدْرَ عَنْ سَيْرٍ وَإِقْلاعِ
From there, you almost touch the sun, so near,
Almost touching the sun while detaining
And hold the full moon back from journeying and departing.
The moon from journeying on and rising
أَظَلُّI remain فِيهَاin it غَرِيبَa stranger الدَّارِhome مُبْتَئِساًforlorn
أَظَلُّ فِيهَا غَرِيبَ الدَّارِ مُبْتَئِساً
نَابِيill at ease in الْمَضَاجِعِbeds مِنْfrom هَمٍّworry وَأَوْجَاعِand pains
نَابِي الْمَضَاجِعِ مِنْ هَمٍّ وَأَوْجَاعِ
I remain there, a stranger far from home, forlorn,
In it I remain a stranger far from home, distressed
Restless in bed from worry and pain.
Tossing in anguish, grief and pains
لاno فِيin سَرَنْدِيبَSerendib خِلٌّa close friend أَسْتَعِينُI seek help بِهِfrom him
لا فِي سَرَنْدِيبَ خِلٌّ أَسْتَعِينُ بِهِ
عَلَىagainst الْهُمومِsorrows إِذَاwhen هَاجَتْthey surge وَلاnor رَاعِيa caretaker
عَلَى الْهُمومِ إِذَا هَاجَتْ وَلا رَاعِي
In Serendib I have no friend whose help I can seek
Without a boon companion or confidante to assist me
Against sorrows when they surge, nor anyone to care for me.
Against worries when they surge and rage
يَظُنُّنِيsupposes me مَنْwhoever يَرَانِيsees me ضَاحِكَاًlaughing جَذِلاًcheerful
يَظُنُّنِي مَنْ يَرَانِي ضَاحِكَاً جَذِلاً
أَنِّيthat I am خَلِيٌّcarefree وَهَمِّيand my sorrow بَيْنَbetween أَضْلاعِيmy ribs
أَنِّي خَلِيٌّ وَهَمِّي بَيْنَ أَضْلاعِي
Whoever sees me laughing and cheerful imagines
Whoever sees me laughing lightly thinks
That I am carefree, though my sorrow lies between my ribs.
I am carefree while my worries are in my ribs
وَلاand no وَرَبِّكَby your Lord مَاnot وَجْدِيmy longing بِمُنْدَرِسٍfaded
وَلا وَرَبِّكَ مَا وَجْدِي بِمُنْدَرِسٍ
عَلَىdespite البِعَادِseparation وَلاnor صَبْرِيmy patience بِمِطْوَاعِreadily obedient
عَلَى البِعَادِ وَلا صَبْرِي بِمِطْوَاعِ
And no, by your Lord, my longing has not faded
No, by your Lord, I have no patience with separation
Despite the separation, nor does my patience obey me.
Nor is my endurance acquiescent
لَكِنَّنِيbut I مَالِكٌmaster of حَزْمِيmy resolve وَمُنْتَظِرٌand awaiting
لَكِنَّنِي مَالِكٌ حَزْمِي وَمُنْتَظِرٌ
أَمْرَاًa decree مِنَfrom اللَّهِGod يَشْفِيheals برْحَthe torment of أَوْجَاعِيmy pains
أَمْرَاً مِنَ اللَّهِ يَشْفِي برْحَ أَوْجَاعِي
But I remain master of my resolve, and await
Rather I control my resolve and await
A decree from God that will heal the torment of my pains.
A command from God that will heal the pain of my hurts
أَكُفُّI restrain غَرْبَthe torrent of دُمُوعِيmy tears وَهْيَwhile they are جَارِيَةٌflowing
أَكُفُّ غَرْبَ دُمُوعِي وَهْيَ جَارِيَةٌ
خَوْفَfor fear of الرَّقِيبِthe watcher وَقَلْبِيand my heart جدُّdeeply مُلْتُاعِanguished
خَوْفَ الرَّقِيبِ وَقَلْبِي جدُّ مُلْتُاعِ
I restrain the flood of my tears, though they flow,
I restrain the flowing of my tears in fear
For fear of the watcher, while my heart is deeply anguished.
Of the watcher while my heart is bursting with sorrow
فَإِنْso if يَكُنْit has been سَاءَنِيhas grieved me دَهْرِيmy fate وَغَادَرَنِيand left me
فَإِنْ يَكُنْ سَاءَنِي دَهْرِي وَغَادَرَنِي
رَهْنَa hostage to الأَسَىsorrow بَيْنَamid جَدْبٍdrought بَعْدَafter إِمْرَاعِlush abundance
رَهْنَ الأَسَى بَيْنَ جَدْبٍ بَعْدَ إِمْرَاعِ
So if my fate has grieved me and left me
So if my fortune acted against me and abandoned me
A hostage to sorrow, amid drought after lush abundance,
A hostage of grief after flourishing
فَإِنَّthen indeed فِيin مِصْرَEgypt إِخْوَاناًbrothers يَسُرُّهُمُdelights them
فَإِنَّ فِي مِصْرَ إِخْوَاناً يَسُرُّهُمُ
قُرْبِيmy nearness وَيُعْجِبُهُمْand impresses them نَظْمِيmy verse وَإِبْدَاعِيand my creativity
قُرْبِي وَيُعْجِبُهُمْ نَظْمِي وَإِبْدَاعِي
Then in Egypt there are brothers who rejoice in
Still in Egypt I have brothers gladdened
My nearness, and admire my verse and creativity.
By my proximity, and who admire my verse and creativity
Sol 6.1