هَوَىًa longing كَانَwas لِيmine أَنْto أَلْبَسَwear الْمَجْدَglory مُعْلَمَاemblazoned
هَوَىً كَانَ لِي أَنْ أَلْبَسَ الْمَجْدَ مُعْلَمَا
فَلَمَّاso when مَلَكْتُI won السَّبْقَthe lead عِفْتُI disdained التَّقَدُّمَاadvancement
فَلَمَّا مَلَكْتُ السَّبْقَ عِفْتُ التَّقَدُّمَا
I once desired to don glory's emblazoned mantle;
but when I won the lead, I disdained advancement.
وَمَنْand whoever عَرفَknows الدُّنْيَاthe world رَأَىsees مَاwhat يَسُرُّهُdelights him
وَمَنْ عَرفَ الدُّنْيَا رَأَى مَا يَسُرُّهُ
مِنَof الْعَيْشِlife هَمّاًa grief يَتْرُكُturns الشَّهْدَhoney عَلْقَمَاbitter colocynth
مِنَ الْعَيْشِ هَمّاً يَتْرُكُ الشَّهْدَ عَلْقَمَا
Whoever knows the world sees what delights him
in life as grief that turns honey into bitter colocynth.
وَأَيُّand what نَعِيمٍbliss فِيin حَيَاةٍa life وَرَاءَهَاbeyond which
وَأَيُّ نَعِيمٍ فِي حَيَاةٍ وَرَاءَهَا
مَصَائِبُcalamities لَوْif حَلَّتْthey befell بِنَجْمٍupon a star لأَظْلَمَاit would darken
مَصَائِبُ لَوْ حَلَّتْ بِنَجْمٍ لأَظْلَمَا
What bliss is there in a life beyond which lie
calamities that would darken a star, were they to strike it?
إِذَاif كَانَis عُقْبَىthe end كُلِّof every حَيٍّliving being مَنِيَّةٌdeath
إِذَا كَانَ عُقْبَى كُلِّ حَيٍّ مَنِيَّةٌ
فَسِيَّانِthen equal are مَنْone who حَلَّdwelt in الْوِهَادَthe hollows وَمَنْand one who سَمَاrose high
فَسِيَّانِ مَنْ حَلَّ الْوِهَادَ وَمَنْ سَمَا
If death is the end of every living being,
then equal are those who dwell in hollows and those who rise high.
وَمِنْand among عَجَبٍwonders أَنَّاthat we نَرَىsee الْحَقَّthe truth جَهْرَةًplainly
وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ أَنَّا نَرَى الْحَقَّ جَهْرَةً
وَنَلْهُوand we amuse ourselves كَأَنَّاas though we لاnot نُحَاذِرُfear مَنْدَمَاregret
وَنَلْهُو كَأَنَّا لا نُحَاذِرُ مَنْدَمَا
It is a wonder that we see the truth plainly,
yet amuse ourselves as though we feared no regret.
يَوَدُّcraves الْفَتَىa man فِيon كُلِّevery يَوْمٍday لُبَانَةًa desired end
يَوَدُّ الْفَتَى فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ لُبَانَةً
فَإِنْthen if نَالَهَاhe attains it أَنْحَىhe turns لأُخْرَىtoward another وَصَمَّمَاand resolves
فَإِنْ نَالَهَا أَنْحَى لأُخْرَى وَصَمَّمَا
Each day a man craves some object of desire;
if he gains it, he turns resolutely toward another.
طَمَاعَةُgreed نَفْسٍof a soul تُورِدُleads الْمَرْءَa person مَشْرَعاًa watering place
طَمَاعَةُ نَفْسٍ تُورِدُ الْمَرْءَ مَشْرَعاً
مِنَof الْبُؤْسِmisery لاnot يَعْدُوهُhe passes beyond it أَوْunless يَتَحَطَّمَاhe is shattered
مِنَ الْبُؤْسِ لا يَعْدُوهُ أَوْ يَتَحَطَّمَا
A soul's greed leads a man to a watering place
of misery, which he cannot pass without being shattered.
أَرَىI see كُلَّevery حَيٍّliving being غَافِلاًheedless عَنْof مَصِيرِهِhis fate
أَرَى كُلَّ حَيٍّ غَافِلاً عَنْ مَصِيرِهِ
وَلَوْyet if رَامَhe sought عِرْفَانَknowledge الْحَقِيقَةِof the truth لانْتَمَىhe would rise
وَلَوْ رَامَ عِرْفَانَ الْحَقِيقَةِ لانْتَمَى
I see every living being heedless of his fate;
yet if he sought to know the truth, he would rise.
فَأَيْنَthen where الأُلَىthose who شَادُواbuilt high وَبَادُواand perished أَلَمْdid not? نَكُنْwe used to be
فَأَيْنَ الأُلَى شَادُوا وَبَادُوا أَلَمْ نَكُنْ
نَحُلُّwe dwell كَمَاas حَلُّواthey dwelt وَنَرْحَلُand we depart مِثْلَمَاjust as
نَحُلُّ كَمَا حَلُّوا وَنَرْحَلُ مِثْلَمَا
Where are those who built high and perished? Do we not
dwell as they dwelt, and depart just as
مَضَوْاthey passed away وَعَفَتْand faded آثَارُهُمْtheir traces غَيْرَexcept ذُكْرَةٍa memory
مَضَوْا وَعَفَتْ آثَارُهُمْ غَيْرَ ذُكْرَةٍ
تُشِيدُproclaims لَنَاto us مِنْهُمْof them حَدِيثاًa tale مُرَجَّمَاconjectural
تُشِيدُ لَنَا مِنْهُمْ حَدِيثاً مُرَجَّمَا
they passed away? Their traces have faded, save a memory
that proclaims to us a conjectural tale of them.
سَلِask الأَوْرَقَthe gray dove الْغِرِّيدَthe sweet-singing فِيamong عَذَبَاتِهِits branch-tips
سَلِ الأَوْرَقَ الْغِرِّيدَ فِي عَذَبَاتِهِ
أَنَاحَdid it lament? عَلَىover أَشْجَانِهِits sorrows أَمْor تَرَنَّمَاsing melodiously
أَنَاحَ عَلَى أَشْجَانِهِ أَمْ تَرَنَّمَا
Ask the gray, sweet-singing dove upon its branch-tips:
did it lament its sorrows, or sing?
تَرَجَّحَit rocks فِيin مَهْدٍa cradle مِنَof الأَيْكِthe trees لاnot يَنِيceases
تَرَجَّحَ فِي مَهْدٍ مِنَ الأَيْكِ لا يَنِي
يَمِيلُit sways عَلَيْهِupon it مَائِلاًleaning وَمُقَوَّماand upright
يَمِيلُ عَلَيْهِ مَائِلاً وَمُقَوَّما
It rocks in a cradle of boughs, never ceasing
to sway upon it, now leaning, now upright.
يَنُوحُit mourns عَلَىover فَقْدِthe loss الْهَديلِHadil وَلَمْthough not يَكُنْit had
يَنُوحُ عَلَى فَقْدِ الْهَديلِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ
رَآهُseen him فَيَاso O لِلَّهِGod! كَيْفَhow تَهَكَّمَاit mocks
رَآهُ فَيَا لِلَّهِ كَيْفَ تَهَكَّمَا
It mourns the loss of Hadil, though it had never
seen him—O God, how it mocks!
وَشَتَّانَand far apart are مَنْone who يَبْكِيweeps عَلَىwith غَيْرِno عِرْفَةٍacquaintance
وَشَتَّانَ مَنْ يَبْكِي عَلَى غَيْرِ عِرْفَةٍ
جِزَافاًat random وَمَنْand one who يَبْكِيweeps لِعَهْدٍfor a time تَجَرَّمَاnow past
جِزَافاً وَمَنْ يَبْكِي لِعَهْدٍ تَجَرَّمَا
How different are one who weeps without knowing,
at random, and one who weeps for a time now past!
لَعَمْرِيby my life لَقَدْindeed غَالَcarried off الرَّدَىdeath مَنْthe one whom أُحِبُّهُI love
لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ غَالَ الرَّدَى مَنْ أُحِبُّهُ
وَكَانَand it was بِوُدِّيmy wish أَنْthat أَمُوتَI die وَيَسْلَمَاand he be spared
وَكَانَ بِوُدِّي أَنْ أَمُوتَ وَيَسْلَمَا
By my life, death has carried off the one I love,
and I had wished to die and leave my beloved safe.
وَأَيُّand what حَيَاةٍlife بَعْدَafter أُمٍّa mother فَقَدْتُهَاI have lost her
وَأَيُّ حَيَاةٍ بَعْدَ أُمٍّ فَقَدْتُهَا
كَمَاas يَفْقِدُloses الْمَرْءُa person الزُّلالَclear water عَلَىin الظَّمَاthirst
كَمَا يَفْقِدُ الْمَرْءُ الزُّلالَ عَلَى الظَّمَا
What life is there after a mother I have lost,
as a thirsty man loses clear water?
تَوَلَّتْshe departed فَوَلَّىso departed الصَّبْرُpatience عَنِّيfrom me وَعَادَنِيand revisited me
تَوَلَّتْ فَوَلَّى الصَّبْرُ عَنِّي وَعَادَنِي
غَرَامٌconsuming longing عَلَيْهَاfor her شَفَّwasted جِسْمِيmy body وَأَسْقَمَاand made it ill
غَرَامٌ عَلَيْهَا شَفَّ جِسْمِي وَأَسْقَمَا
She departed; patience left me, and there returned to me
a yearning for her that wasted my body and made it ill.
وَلَمْand not يَبْقَremains إِلَّاexcept ذُكْرَةٌa memory تَبْعَثُstirs الأَسَىsorrow
وَلَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا ذُكْرَةٌ تَبْعَثُ الأَسَى
وَطَيْفٌand a phantom يُوَافِينِيvisits me إِذَاwhen الطَّرْفُthe eye هَوَّمَاdozes
وَطَيْفٌ يُوَافِينِي إِذَا الطَّرْفُ هَوَّمَا
Nothing remains but a memory that awakens sorrow,
and a phantom that visits me when my eye grows drowsy.
وَكَانَتْand she was لِعَيْنِيfor my eye قُرَّةًa comfort وَلِمُهْجَتِيand for my heart
وَكَانَتْ لِعَيْنِي قُرَّةً وَلِمُهْجَتِي
سُرُوراًa joy فَخَابَso was bereft الطَّرْفُthe eye وَالْقَلْبُand the heart مِنْهُمَاof both
سُرُوراً فَخَابَ الطَّرْفُ وَالْقَلْبُ مِنْهُمَا
She was a comfort to my eye, and to my heart
a joy; now eye and heart are bereft of both.
فَلَوْلاbut for اعْتِقَادِيmy belief بِالْقَضَاءِin divine decree وَحُكْمِهِand its judgment
فَلَوْلا اعْتِقَادِي بِالْقَضَاءِ وَحُكْمِهِ
لَقَطَّعْتُI would have torn apart نَفْسِيmyself لَهْفَةًin anguish وَتَنَدُّمَاand regret
لَقَطَّعْتُ نَفْسِي لَهْفَةً وَتَنَدُّمَا
But for my belief in divine decree and its judgment,
I would have torn myself apart in anguish and regret.
فَيَاso O خَبَرَاًtidings شَفَّwasted الْفُؤَادَthe heart فَأَوْشَكَتْand almost
فَيَا خَبَرَاً شَفَّ الْفُؤَادَ فَأَوْشَكَتْ
سُوَيْدَاؤُهُits inmost core أَنْto تَسْتَحِيلَdissolve فَتَسْجُمَاand then stream forth
سُوَيْدَاؤُهُ أَنْ تَسْتَحِيلَ فَتَسْجُمَا
O tidings that wasted my heart and nearly made
its deepest core dissolve and stream in tears!
إِلَيْكَaway with you فَقَدْfor indeed ثَلَّمْتَyou have breached عَرْشاًa throne مُمَنَّعاًwell-defended
إِلَيْكَ فَقَدْ ثَلَّمْتَ عَرْشاً مُمَنَّعاً
وَفَلَّلْتَand you blunted صَمْصَاماًa keen sword وَذَلَّلْتَand you humbled ضَيْغَمَاa lion
وَفَلَّلْتَ صَمْصَاماً وَذَلَّلْتَ ضَيْغَمَا
Away with you! You have breached a well-defended throne,
blunted a keen sword, and brought a lion low.
أَشَادَproclaimed بِهِit النَّاعِيthe death-announcer وَكُنْتُwhile I was مُحَارِبَاًfighting
أَشَادَ بِهِ النَّاعِي وَكُنْتُ مُحَارِبَاً
فَأَلْقَيْتُso I cast down مِنْfrom كَفِيmy hand الْحُسَامَthe sword الْمُصَمِّمَاthe cleaving
فَأَلْقَيْتُ مِنْ كَفِي الْحُسَامَ الْمُصَمِّمَا
The death-announcer proclaimed it while I was fighting,
and I cast the cleaving sword down from my hand.
وَطَارَتْand swept away بِقَلْبِيmy heart لَوْعَةٌanguish لَوْif أَطَعْتُهَاI obeyed it
وَطَارَتْ بِقَلْبِي لَوْعَةٌ لَوْ أَطَعْتُهَا
لأَوْشَكَwould have almost رُكْنُthe pillar الْمَجْدِof glory أَنْto يَتَهَدَّمَاcollapse
لأَوْشَكَ رُكْنُ الْمَجْدِ أَنْ يَتَهَدَّمَا
Anguish swept my heart away; had I obeyed it,
the pillar of glory would have all but collapsed.
وَلَكِنَّنِيbut I رَاجَعْتُregained حِلْمِيmy composure لأَنْثَنِيso I might withdraw
وَلَكِنَّنِي رَاجَعْتُ حِلْمِي لأَنْثَنِي
عَنِfrom الْحَرْبِwar مَحْمُودَpraised اللِّقَاءِin combat مُكَرَّمَاhonored
عَنِ الْحَرْبِ مَحْمُودَ اللِّقَاءِ مُكَرَّمَا
But I regained my composure, so I might withdraw
from battle, praised for my combat and honored.
فَلَمَّاso when اسْتَرَدَّrecalled الْجُنْدَthe troops صِبْغٌa tint مِنَof الدُّجَىdarkness
فَلَمَّا اسْتَرَدَّ الْجُنْدَ صِبْغٌ مِنَ الدُّجَى
وَعَادَand returned كِلاeach of الْجَيْشَيْنِthe two armies يَرْتَادُseeking مَجْثِمَاa resting place
وَعَادَ كِلا الْجَيْشَيْنِ يَرْتَادُ مَجْثِمَا
When a wash of darkness recalled the troops,
and each of the two armies returned to seek a resting place,
صَرَفْتُI turned عِنَانِيmy reins رَاجِعَاًreturning وَمَدَامِعِيwhile my tears
صَرَفْتُ عِنَانِي رَاجِعَاً وَمَدَامِعِي
عَلَىupon الْخَدِّthe cheek يَفْضَحْنَbetray الضَّمِيرَthe inner feelings الْمُكَتَّمَاconcealed
عَلَى الْخَدِّ يَفْضَحْنَ الضَّمِيرَ الْمُكَتَّمَا
I turned my reins, riding back, while my tears
upon my cheek betrayed my concealed feelings.
فَيَاso O أُمَّتَاmy mother! زَالَdeparted الْعَزَاءُconsolation وَأَقْبَلَتْand came
فَيَا أُمَّتَا زَالَ الْعَزَاءُ وَأَقْبَلَتْ
مَصَائِبُcalamities تَنْهَىforbid الْقَلْبَthe heart أَنْto يَتَلَوَّمَاpause
مَصَائِبُ تَنْهَى الْقَلْبَ أَنْ يَتَلَوَّمَا
O my mother! Consolation is gone, and there have come
calamities that allow the heart no respite.
وَكُنْتُand I used to أَرَىconsider الصَّبْرَpatience الْجَمِيلَnoble مَثُوبَةًa source of reward
وَكُنْتُ أَرَى الصَّبْرَ الْجَمِيلَ مَثُوبَةً
فَصِرْتُso I came to أَرَاهُsee it بَعْدَafter ذَلِكَthat مَأْثَمَاa sin
فَصِرْتُ أَرَاهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مَأْثَمَا
I used to see noble patience as a source of reward,
but after this I came to see it as a sin.
وَكَيْفَand how تَلَذُّrelish الْعَيْشَlife نَفْسٌa soul تَدَرَّعَتْhas clothed itself
وَكَيْفَ تَلَذُّ الْعَيْشَ نَفْسٌ تَدَرَّعَتْ
مِنَof الْحُزْنِsorrow ثَوْباًa garment بِالدُّمُوعِwith tears مُنَمْنَمَاembroidered
مِنَ الْحُزْنِ ثَوْباً بِالدُّمُوعِ مُنَمْنَمَا
How can a soul relish life, having clothed itself
in a garment of sorrow embroidered with tears?
تَأَلَّمْتُI suffered فِقْدَانَthe loss الأَحِبَّةِof loved ones جَازِعَاًdistraught
تَأَلَّمْتُ فِقْدَانَ الأَحِبَّةِ جَازِعَاً
وَمَنْand whoever شَفَّهُwasted him فَقْدُthe loss الْحَبِيبِof the beloved تَأَلَّمَاsuffers
وَمَنْ شَفَّهُ فَقْدُ الْحَبِيبِ تَأَلَّمَا
I suffered, distraught, at the loss of loved ones;
whoever is wasted by a loved one's loss must suffer.
وَقَدْand indeed كُنْتُI used to أَخْشَىfear أَنْto أَرَاكِsee you سَقِيمَةًill
وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَخْشَى أَنْ أَرَاكِ سَقِيمَةً
فَكَيْفَso how وَقَدْwhen already أَصْبَحْتِyou have become فِيin التُرْبِthe dust أَعْظُمَاbones
فَكَيْفَ وَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتِ فِي التُرْبِ أَعْظُمَا
I used to fear that I might see you ill;
how then, now you have become bones in the dust?
بَلَغْتِyou reached مَدَىthe span تِسْعِينَninety فِيamid خَيْرِthe best نِعْمَةٍblessings
بَلَغْتِ مَدَى تِسْعِينَ فِي خَيْرِ نِعْمَةٍ
وَمَنْand whoever صَحِبَaccompanied الأَيَّامَthe days دَهْراًfor an age تَهَدَّمَاcrumbles
وَمَنْ صَحِبَ الأَيَّامَ دَهْراً تَهَدَّمَا
You reached the span of ninety amid the finest blessings;
whoever keeps company with the days for long crumbles.
إِذَاwhen زَادَincreases عُمْرُthe lifespan الْمَرْءِof a person قَلَّdiminishes نَصِيبُهُhis share
إِذَا زَادَ عُمْرُ الْمَرْءِ قَلَّ نَصِيبُهُ
مِنَof الْعَيْشِlife وَالنُّقْصَانُand decline آفَةُthe bane مَنْof whoever نَمَاgrows
مِنَ الْعَيْشِ وَالنُّقْصَانُ آفَةُ مَنْ نَمَا
When a man's years increase, his share diminishes
of life; decline is the bane of all who grow.
فَيَاso O لَيْتَنَاwould that we كُنَّاhad been تُرَابَاًdust وَلَمْand not نَكُنْbeen
فَيَا لَيْتَنَا كُنَّا تُرَابَاً وَلَمْ نَكُنْ
خُلِقْنَاbeen created وَلَمْand not نَقْدَمْcome إِلَىinto الدَّهْرِtime مَقْدَمَاan arrival
خُلِقْنَا وَلَمْ نَقْدَمْ إِلَى الدَّهْرِ مَقْدَمَا
Would that we had been dust, and had never been
created, nor ever made our entrance into time!
أَبَىrefuses طَبْعُthe nature هَذَاof this الدَّهْرِage أَنْto يَتَكَرَّمَاbe generous
أَبَى طَبْعُ هَذَا الدَّهْرِ أَنْ يَتَكَرَّمَا
وَكَيْفَand how يَدِيpay blood-money مَنْone who كَانَwas بِالْبُخْلِwith miserliness مُغْرَمَاenamored
وَكَيْفَ يَدِي مَنْ كَانَ بِالْبُخْلِ مُغْرَمَا
The nature of this age refuses to be generous;
how can one in love with avarice pay blood-money?
أَصَابَfound لَدَيْنَاamong us غِرّةًheedlessness فَأَصَابَنَاso it struck us
أَصَابَ لَدَيْنَا غِرّةً فَأَصَابَنَا
وَأَبْصَرَand saw فِينَاin us ذَلّةًweakness فَتَحَكَّمَاso ruled at will
وَأَبْصَرَ فِينَا ذَلّةً فَتَحَكَّمَا
It caught us heedless, and so struck us,
and saw our weakness, so lorded over us.
وَكَيْفَand how يَصُونُcan preserve الدَّهْرُtime مُهْجَةَthe life عَاقِلٍof a wise person
وَكَيْفَ يَصُونُ الدَّهْرُ مُهْجَةَ عَاقِلٍ
وَقَدْwhen it has أَهْلَكَdestroyed الْحَيَّيْنِthe two tribes عَادَاً'Ad وَجُرْهُمَاand Jurhum
وَقَدْ أَهْلَكَ الْحَيَّيْنِ عَادَاً وَجُرْهُمَا
How could time preserve a wise man's life,
when it has destroyed the two tribes, 'Ad and Jurhum?
هُوَit is الأَزْلَمُthe ageless one الْخَدَّاعُthe deceiver يَخْفِرُbreaks faith إِنْwhen رَعَىit guards
هُوَ الأَزْلَمُ الْخَدَّاعُ يَخْفِرُ إِنْ رَعَى
وَيَغْدِرُand betrays إِنْwhen أَوْفَىit keeps faith وَيُصْمِيand kills outright إِذَاwhen رَمَىit shoots
وَيَغْدِرُ إِنْ أَوْفَى وَيُصْمِي إِذَا رَمَى
It is the ageless deceiver: it breaks faith when guarding,
betrays when keeping faith, and kills outright when it shoots.
فَكَمْhow often خَانَit betrayed عَهْدَاًa covenant وَاسْتَبَاحَand violated أَمَانَةًa trust
فَكَمْ خَانَ عَهْدَاً وَاسْتَبَاحَ أَمَانَةً
وَأَخْلَفَand broke وَعْدَاًa promise وَاسْتَحَلَّand deemed lawful مُحَرَّمَاwhat is forbidden
وَأَخْلَفَ وَعْدَاً وَاسْتَحَلَّ مُحَرَّمَا
How many a covenant it has betrayed, a trust it has violated,
a promise it has broken, a forbidden thing it has deemed lawful!
فَإِنْso if تَكُنِhave الأَيَّامُthe days أَخْنَتْdealt ruinously بِصَرْفِهَاthrough their reversals
فَإِنْ تَكُنِ الأَيَّامُ أَخْنَتْ بِصَرْفِهَا
عَلَيَّupon me فَأَيُّthen which النَّاسِof people يَبْقَىremains مُسَلَّمَاunharmed
عَلَيَّ فَأَيُّ النَّاسِ يَبْقَى مُسَلَّمَا
If the days, through their vicissitudes, have dealt harshly
with me, who among humankind remains unharmed?
وَإِنِّيand I indeed لأَدْريsurely know أَنَّthat عَاقِبَةَthe outcome الأَسَىof sorrow
وَإِنِّي لأَدْري أَنَّ عَاقِبَةَ الأَسَى
وَإِنْeven if طَالَit lasts long لاnot يُرْوِيquenches غَلِيلاًa burning thirst تَضَرَّمَاthat has flared up
وَإِنْ طَالَ لا يُرْوِي غَلِيلاً تَضَرَّمَا
I know full well that sorrow, in the end,
however long it lasts, cannot quench a burning thirst.
وَلَكِنَّهَاbut it is نَفْسٌa soul تَرَىconsiders الصَّبْرَpatience سُبَّةًa disgrace
وَلَكِنَّهَا نَفْسٌ تَرَى الصَّبْرَ سُبَّةً
عَلَيْهَاupon itself وَتَرْضَىand is content بِالتَّلَهُّفِwith anguished longing مَغْنَمَاas a prize
عَلَيْهَا وَتَرْضَى بِالتَّلَهُّفِ مَغْنَمَا
But mine is a soul that deems patience a disgrace
upon itself, and welcomes anguished longing as a prize.
وَكَيْفَand how أَرَانِيcould I see myself نَاسِياًforgetting عَهْدَthe bond خُلَّةٍof affection
وَكَيْفَ أَرَانِي نَاسِياً عَهْدَ خُلَّةٍ
أَلِفْتُI knew intimately هَوَاهَاits love نَاشِئاًas a youth وَمُحَكَّمَاand mature in judgment
أَلِفْتُ هَوَاهَا نَاشِئاً وَمُحَكَّمَا
How could I see myself forgetting a bond of affection
whose love I knew in youth and in seasoned years?
وَلَوْلاbut for أَلِيمُpainful الْخَطْبِcalamity لَمْnot أَمْرِI would make flow مُقْلَةًan eye
وَلَوْلا أَلِيمُ الْخَطْبِ لَمْ أَمْرِ مُقْلَةً
بِدَمْعٍwith tears وَلَمْnor أَفْغَرْopen wide بِقَافِيَةٍwith a rhyme فَمَاa mouth
بِدَمْعٍ وَلَمْ أَفْغَرْ بِقَافِيَةٍ فَمَا
But for this grievous calamity, I would not have set an eye flowing
with tears, nor opened a mouth to utter rhyme.
فَيَاso O رَبَّةَlady الْقَبْرِof the grave الْكَرِيمِnoble بِمَاby what حَوَىit holds
فَيَا رَبَّةَ الْقَبْرِ الْكَرِيمِ بِمَا حَوَى
وَقَتْكِmay it shield you الرَّدَىfrom death نَفْسِيmy soul وَأَيْنَbut how could that be? وَقَلَّمَاand scarcely ever
وَقَتْكِ الرَّدَى نَفْسِي وَأَيْنَ وَقَلَّمَا
O lady of the grave, made noble by what it holds,
would that my life had shielded you from death—but how? It is scarcely possible.
وَهَلْand does يَسْتَطِيعُhave the ability الْمَرْءُa person فِدْيَةَto ransom رَاحِلٍone departed
وَهَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ الْمَرْءُ فِدْيَةَ رَاحِلٍ
تَخَرَّمَهُsnatched him away الْمِقْدَارُfate فِيمَنْamong those whom تَخَرَّمَاit snatched away
تَخَرَّمَهُ الْمِقْدَارُ فِيمَنْ تَخَرَّمَا
Can a man ransom one departed,
whom fate has snatched away among those it has taken?
سَقَتْكِmay it give you drink يَدُthe hand الرِّضْوَانِof divine favor كَأْسَa cup كَرَامَةٍof honor
سَقَتْكِ يَدُ الرِّضْوَانِ كَأْسَ كَرَامَةٍ
مِنَfrom الْكَوْثَرِal-Kawthar الْفَيَّاضِoverflowing مَعْسُولَةَhoney-sweet اللَّمَىthe dusky lips
مِنَ الْكَوْثَرِ الْفَيَّاضِ مَعْسُولَةَ اللَّمَى
May the hand of divine favor give you a cup of honor
from overflowing al-Kawthar, honey-sweet upon the lips.
وَلاand may not زَالَcease رَيْحَانُthe basil التَّحِيَّةِof greeting نَاضِرَاًfresh
وَلا زَالَ رَيْحَانُ التَّحِيَّةِ نَاضِرَاً
عَلَيْكِupon you وَهَفَّافُand the gentle breeze الرِّضَاof favor مُتَنَسَّمَاbreathed in
عَلَيْكِ وَهَفَّافُ الرِّضَا مُتَنَسَّمَا
May the basil of greeting ever remain fresh
upon you, and favor's gentle breeze be yours to breathe.
لِيَبْكِlet weep عَلَيْكِfor you الْقَلْبُthe heart لاnot الْعَيْنُthe eye إِنَّنِيindeed I
لِيَبْكِ عَلَيْكِ الْقَلْبُ لا الْعَيْنُ إِنَّنِي
أَرَىfind الْقَلْبَthe heart أَوْفَىmore faithful بِالْعُهُودِto covenants وَأَكْرَمَاand nobler
أَرَى الْقَلْبَ أَوْفَى بِالْعُهُودِ وَأَكْرَمَا
Let the heart weep for you, not the eye; for I
find the heart more faithful to covenants, and nobler.
فَوَاللَّهِso by God لاnot أَنْسَاكِI forget you مَاas long as ذَرَّrises شَارِقٌa sun
فَوَاللَّهِ لا أَنْسَاكِ مَا ذَرَّ شَارِقٌ
وَمَاand as long as حَنَّcoos yearningly طَيْرٌa bird بِالأَرَاكِamong the arak trees مُهَيْنِمَاmurmuring softly
وَمَا حَنَّ طَيْرٌ بِالأَرَاكِ مُهَيْنِمَا
By God, I shall not forget you as long as a sun rises,
and as long as a bird coos softly among the arak trees.
عَلَيْكِupon you سَلامٌpeace لاno لِقَاءَةَmeeting بَعْدَهُafter it
عَلَيْكِ سَلامٌ لا لِقَاءَةَ بَعْدَهُ
إِلَىuntil الْحَشْرِthe Gathering إِذْwhen يَلْقَىmeets الأَخِيرُthe last الْمُقَدَّمَاthe one gone before
إِلَى الْحَشْرِ إِذْ يَلْقَى الأَخِيرُ الْمُقَدَّمَا
Peace be upon you, with no meeting after this
until the Gathering, when the last meets the one gone before.
Sol 6.1