أَسَلُI ask الدِّيَارَthe dwellings عَنِabout الْحَبِيبِthe beloved وَفِيand in الْحَشَاthe breast
أَسَلُ الدِّيَارَ عَنِ الْحَبِيبِ وَفِي الْحَشَا
دَارٌa home لَهُfor him مَأْهُولَةٌinhabited وَمَقَامُand an abode
دَارٌ لَهُ مَأْهُولَةٌ وَمَقَامُ
I ask the dwellings about the beloved, while within my breast
I ask the abodes about the beloved, while in the wilderness
he has an inhabited home and an abode.
There is a house of his, inhabited, and a dwelling,
وَمِنَand among الْعَنَاءِthe anguish سُؤَالُquestioning خَاشِعَةِhumbled الصُّوَىthe landmarks
وَمِنَ الْعَنَاءِ سُؤَالُ خَاشِعَةِ الصُّوَى
بِيَدِby the hand of الْفَنَاءِdestruction جَوَابُهَاtheir answer إِرْمَامُsilence
بِيَدِ الْفَنَاءِ جَوَابُهَا إِرْمَامُ
And it is anguish to question dwellings whose landmarks are humbled
And from distress is the questioning of the humble walls,
by destruction's hand, whose answer is silence.
With the hand of oblivion, their answer is gestures,
ذَكَرَتْremembered بِهَاin them النَّفْسُthe soul اللَّجُوجُobstinate زَمَانَهَاits former days
ذَكَرَتْ بِهَا النَّفْسُ اللَّجُوجُ زَمَانَهَا
إِنَّindeed التَّذَكُّرَremembrance لِلنُّفُوسِfor souls غَرَامُconsuming passion
إِنَّ التَّذَكُّرَ لِلنُّفُوسِ غَرَامُ
There the obstinate soul recalled its former days;
The obstinate soul recalled through them its time,
indeed, remembrance is a consuming passion for souls.
For remembering is passion to the souls,
إِذْwhen لِلْهَوَىfor love ثَمَرٌfruit يَرِفُّshimmers وَلِلصِّبَاand for youth
إِذْ لِلْهَوَى ثَمَرٌ يَرِفُّ وَلِلصِّبَا
كَأْسٌa cup تُشَفُّis drained وَلِلْمُنَىand for wishes إِلْمَامُa brief visit
كَأْسٌ تُشَفُّ وَلِلْمُنَى إِلْمَامُ
When love had fruit that shimmered, and youth had
When for desire there is fruit that flickers, and for youth
a cup to be drained, and wishes came visiting.
A cup that is sipped, and for wishes, determination.
تَسْتَنُّgambol فِيهَاin them الْعِينُwide-eyed gazelles بَيْنَamong مَخَانِسٍcoverts
تَسْتَنُّ فِيهَا الْعِينُ بَيْنَ مَخَانِسٍ
فِيهَاin them السَّلامُgreeting تَعَانُقٌembracing وَلِزَامُand clasping
فِيهَا السَّلامُ تَعَانُقٌ وَلِزَامُ
There wide-eyed gazelles gambol among their coverts,
In it the eye is delighted between parties
where greetings are embraces and close clasping,
In which there is greeting, embrace and union.
فِيamong فِتْيَةٍyoung men فَاضَoverflowed النَّعِيمُbliss عَلَيْهِمُupon them
فِي فِتْيَةٍ فَاضَ النَّعِيمُ عَلَيْهِمُ
وَنَمَاهُمُand nurtured them التَّبْجِيلُreverence وَالإِعْظَامُand honor
وَنَمَاهُمُ التَّبْجِيلُ وَالإِعْظَامُ
among young men upon whom bliss overflowed,
With youths in whom bliss overflowed upon them
whom reverence and honor nurtured.
And reverence and esteem made them grow.
ذَهَبَتْwent بِهِمْwith them شِيَمُthe virtues of الْمُلُوكِkings فَلَيْسَso there is not فِيin
ذَهَبَتْ بِهِمْ شِيَمُ الْمُلُوكِ فَلَيْسَ فِي
تَلْعَابِهِمْtheir playfulness هَذَرٌidle talk وَلاnor إِبْرَامُvexation
تَلْعَابِهِمْ هَذَرٌ وَلا إِبْرَامُ
Kingly virtues bore them along, so in
The traits of kings went away with them, so there is not in
their play there is neither idle talk nor vexation.
Their dalliance any absurdity or coercion.
لاnot يَنْطِقُونَthey speak بِغَيْرِwith anything but آدَابِthe courtesies of الْهَوَىlove
لا يَنْطِقُونَ بِغَيْرِ آدَابِ الْهَوَى
سُمُحُgenerous النُّفُوسِof soul عَلَىamid الْبَلاءِadversity كِرَامُnoble
سُمُحُ النُّفُوسِ عَلَى الْبَلاءِ كِرَامُ
They speak only with love's courtesies,
They speak not but the etiquette of passion,
generous of soul, noble in adversity.
Of gentle souls, patient with ordeal, generous.
مِنْamong كُلِّevery أَبْلَجَradiant-faced man يُسْتَضَاءُlight is sought بِنُورِهِby his light
مِنْ كُلِّ أَبْلَجَ يُسْتَضَاءُ بِنُورِهِ
كَالْبَدْرِlike the full moon جَلَّىburnished صَفْحَتَيْهِits two cheeks غَمَامُa cloud
كَالْبَدْرِ جَلَّى صَفْحَتَيْهِ غَمَامُ
Each a radiant man whose light illumines others,
From each pretty faced one, his light is borrowed
like the full moon, its two cheeks burnished by a cloud.
As if the full moon unveiled its surface from clouds.
سَهْلُgentle الْخَلِيقَةِin temperament لاnot يَسُوءُdispleases جَلِيسَهُhis companion
سَهْلُ الْخَلِيقَةِ لا يَسُوءُ جَلِيسَهُ
بَيْنَamong الْمَقَامَةِthe assembled company وَاضِحٌbright-faced بَسَّامُever smiling
بَيْنَ الْمَقَامَةِ وَاضِحٌ بَسَّامُ
Gentle in temperament, he never displeases his companion;
The eye cannot be fixed on their brilliance
among the company, bright-faced and ever smiling.
And feet falter when meeting them.
مُتَوَاضِعٌhumble لِلْقَوْمِtoward the people تَحْسَبُyou think أَنَّهُthat he
مُتَوَاضِعٌ لِلْقَوْمِ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّهُ
مَوْلَىًa servant لَهُمْto them فِيin الدَّارِthe house وَهْوَwhile he is هُمَامُa noble hero
مَوْلَىً لَهُمْ فِي الدَّارِ وَهْوَ هُمَامُ
Humble toward his fellows, you would think him
The riders spend the evening, so if her cup is illuminated
their servant in the house, though he is a noble hero.
They went, and if the light diminished, they stayed.
تَتَقَاصَرُfall short الأَفْهَامُminds دُونَbefore فِعَالِهِhis deeds
تَتَقَاصَرُ الأَفْهَامُ دُونَ فِعَالِهِ
وَتَسِيرُand march تَحْتَbeneath لِوَائِهِhis banner الأَقْوَامُpeoples
وَتَسِيرُ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِ الأَقْوَامُ
Minds fall short of his deeds,
She was confined in a prison, no light stood against its destruction,
and peoples march beneath his banner.
And no darkness lingered upon it.
فَإِذَاso when تَكَلَّمَhe speaks فَالرُّؤُوسُthen the heads خَوَاضِعٌbowed
فَإِذَا تَكَلَّمَ فَالرُّؤُوسُ خَوَاضِعٌ
وَإِذَاand when تَنَاهَضَhe rises فَالصُّفُوفُthen the ranks قِيَامُstanding
وَإِذَا تَنَاهَضَ فَالصُّفُوفُ قِيَامُ
When he speaks, heads bow;
Until when she slept and her agitation subsided,
and when he rises, the ranks stand.
It flowed, and tasting it had no pain.
حَتَّىuntil انْتَبَهْنَاwe awoke بَعْدَafter مَاthe time when ذَهَبَdeparted الصِّبَاyouth
حَتَّى انْتَبَهْنَا بَعْدَ مَا ذَهَبَ الصِّبَا
أَنَّthat الْخَلاعَةَrevelry وَالصِّبَاand youth أَحْلامُdreams
أَنَّ الْخَلاعَةَ وَالصِّبَا أَحْلامُ
Until we awoke, after youth had departed,
It enchants the eyes with its fire but it
to find that revelry and youth are dreams.
Is cold upon its drinker, and peaceful.
لاdo not تَحْسَبَنَّever suppose الْعَيْشَgood living دَامَlasted لِمُتْرَفٍfor a pampered person
لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْعَيْشَ دَامَ لِمُتْرَفٍ
هَيْهَاتَfar from it لَيْسَthere is no عَلَىagainst الزَّمَانِtime دَوَامُpermanence
هَيْهَاتَ لَيْسَ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ دَوَامُ
Do not suppose good living lasts for the pampered;
So polish with it the rust of worries, and be not
far from it: nothing endures against time.
A fool whom fantasies alarm.
تَأْتِيcome الشُّهُورُthe months وَتَنْتَهِيand end أَيَّامُهَاtheir days
تَأْتِي الشُّهُورُ وَتَنْتَهِي أَيَّامُهَا
لَمْعَa flash السَّرَابِof the mirage وَتَنْقَضِيand pass away الأَعْوَامُthe years
لَمْعَ السَّرَابِ وَتَنْقَضِي الأَعْوَامُ
Months arrive, and their days vanish
And know that man is not immortal,
like a mirage's flash, and the years pass away.
And time has in it health and disease.
وَالنَّاسُand people فِيمَاin what lies بَيْنَbetween ذَلِكَthat وَارِدٌone arriving
وَالنَّاسُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَارِدٌ
أَوْor صَادِرٌone departing تَجْرِيflow بِهِwith him الأَيَّامُthe days
أَوْ صَادِرٌ تَجْرِي بِهِ الأَيَّامُ
And amid all this, people are arriving
The youth perishes the length of life, and it
or departing, borne along by the days.
Is a disease for him, without chagrin, poison.
لاno طَائِرٌbird يَنْجُوescapes وَلاnor ذُوone possessing مِخْلَبٍa claw
لا طَائِرٌ يَنْجُو وَلا ذُو مِخْلَبٍ
يَبْقَىremains وَعَاقِبَةُand the end of النُّفُوسِsouls حِمَامُdeath
يَبْقَى وَعَاقِبَةُ النُّفُوسِ حِمَامُ
No bird escapes, nor does any clawed creature
So look with your eyes, do you see any nation
remain; the end of all souls is death.
That lasted? And is there for the wayfarer an abode?
فَادْرَأْso ward off هُمُومَthe cares of النَّفْسِthe soul عَنْكَfrom you إِذَاwhen اعْتَرَتْbeset
فَادْرَأْ هُمُومَ النَّفْسِ عَنْكَ إِذَا اعْتَرَتْ
بِالْكَأْسِwith the cup فَهْيَfor it is عَلَىagainst الْهُمُومِcares حُسَامُa sharp sword
بِالْكَأْسِ فَهْيَ عَلَى الْهُمُومِ حُسَامُ
So ward off the soul's cares when they beset you
These cities have been emptied of their people
with the cup: it is a sharp sword against cares.
After bliss, and these pyramids.
فَالْعَيْشُfor life لَيْسَdoes not يَدُومُendure فِيin أَلْوَانِهِits hues
فَالْعَيْشُ لَيْسَ يَدُومُ فِي أَلْوَانِهِ
إِلَّاexcept إِذَاwhen دَارَتْcirculated عَلَيْهِaround it الْجَامُthe winecup
إِلَّا إِذَا دَارَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْجَامُ
For life does not endure in all its hues
Nothing remains but that delusion
unless the goblet passes round within it,
In fate chews up ambitions.
مِنْof خَمْرَةٍwine تَذَرُleaves الْكَبِيرَthe old man إِذَاwhen انْتَشَىhe becomes drunk
مِنْ خَمْرَةٍ تَذَرُ الْكَبِيرَ إِذَا انْتَشَى
بَعْدَafter اشْتِعَالِthe blazing of الشَّيْبِgray hair وَهْوَwhile he is غُلامُa youth
بَعْدَ اشْتِعَالِ الشَّيْبِ وَهْوَ غُلامُ
filled with wine that leaves an old man, when drunk,
And I had realized matters without it
a youth, even after his gray hair has blazed.
And reversal and affirmation came upon me.
لَعِبَplayed الزَّمَانُtime بِهَاwith it فَغَادَرَthen left جِسْمَهَاits body
لَعِبَ الزَّمَانُ بِهَا فَغَادَرَ جِسْمَهَا
شَبَحاًa phantom تَحَارُare bewildered لِدَرْكِهِin grasping it الأَفْهَامُminds
شَبَحاً تَحَارُ لِدَرْكِهِ الأَفْهَامُ
Time has played with it, leaving its body
And if stillness is stirring, and if tranquility
a phantom whose apprehension bewilders minds.
Is flaming, and if silence is speech.
حَمْرَاءُred دَارَcircled بِهَاaround it الْحَبَابُbubbles فَصَوَّرَتْso it formed
حَمْرَاءُ دَارَ بِهَا الْحَبَابُ فَصَوَّرَتْ
فَلَكاًa celestial sphere تَحُفُّsurround سَمَاءَهُits sky الأَجْرَامُcelestial bodies
فَلَكاً تَحُفُّ سَمَاءَهُ الأَجْرَامُ
Red, with bubbles circling it, it forms
And if life yet no life, a demise
a celestial sphere whose sky is ringed by heavenly bodies.
That makes bodies live, yet it is decay.
لاnot تَسْتَقِيمُholds steady الْعَيْنُthe eye فِيamid لَمَعَانِهَاits brilliance
لا تَسْتَقِيمُ الْعَيْنُ فِي لَمَعَانِهَا
وَتَزِلُّand slip عِنْدَupon لِقَائِهَاmeeting it الأَقْدَامُfeet
وَتَزِلُّ عِنْدَ لِقَائِهَا الأَقْدَامُ
The eye cannot hold steady amid its brilliance,
This arrives and that departs, unwillingly,
and feet slip upon meeting it.
From it, so reconciliation at times, and feud.
تَعْشُوgrope for light الرِّكَابُriding camels فَإِنْthen if تَبَلَّجَshines forth كَأْسُهَاits cup
تَعْشُو الرِّكَابُ فَإِنْ تَبَلَّجَ كَأْسُهَا
سَارُواthey traveled وَإِنْand if زَالَdeparted الضِّيَاءُthe light أَقَامُواthey stayed
سَارُوا وَإِنْ زَالَ الضِّيَاءُ أَقَامُوا
The riding camels grope for light; if its cup shines forth,
Thus the light, if you clarify your matter, is darkness,
the riders move on; if the light departs, they halt.
And the beginning, if you ponder it, is the end.
حُبِسَتْit was confined بِأَكْلَفَin a dark-stained vessel لَمْdid not يَقُمْappear بِفِنَائِهِin its precincts
حُبِسَتْ بِأَكْلَفَ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِفِنَائِهِ
نُورٌlight وَلَمْand did not يَبْرَحْdepart عَلَيْهِover it ظَلامُdarkness
نُورٌ وَلَمْ يَبْرَحْ عَلَيْهِ ظَلامُ
It was confined in a dark-stained vessel, in whose precincts no
light appeared, and darkness never left it.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen رَقَدَتْit slept وَقَرَّand settled قرَارُهَاits resting state
حَتَّى إِذَا رَقَدَتْ وَقَرَّ قرَارُهَا
سَلِسَتْit grew mellow فَلَيْسَso there is no لِذَوْقِهَاin tasting it إِيلامُpain
سَلِسَتْ فَلَيْسَ لِذَوْقِهَا إِيلامُ
Until, when it had slept and come to rest,
it grew mellow, with no pain in tasting it.
تَسُمُbrands الْعُيُونَthe eyes بِنَارِهَاwith its fire لَكِنَّهَاbut it is
تَسُمُ الْعُيُونَ بِنَارِهَا لَكِنَّهَا
بَرْدٌcoolness عَلَىfor شُرَّابِهَاits drinkers وَسَلامُand peace
بَرْدٌ عَلَى شُرَّابِهَا وَسَلامُ
It brands the eyes with its fire, yet it is
coolness and peace to its drinkers.
فَاصْقُلْso polish away بِهَاwith it صَدَأَthe rust of الْهُمُومِcares وَلاand do not تَكُنْbe
فَاصْقُلْ بِهَا صَدَأَ الْهُمُومِ وَلا تَكُنْ
غِرّاًa naive person تَطِيرُfly off بِلُبِّهِwith his wits الأَوْهَامُillusions
غِرّاً تَطِيرُ بِلُبِّهِ الأَوْهَامُ
So polish away the rust of cares with it, and do not be
a dupe whose wits are swept away by illusions.
وَاعْلَمْand know بِأَنَّthat الْمَرْءَa person لَيْسَis not بِخَالِدٍimmortal
وَاعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ الْمَرْءَ لَيْسَ بِخَالِدٍ
وَالدَّهْرُand time فِيهِwithin it صِحَّةٌhealth وَسَقَامُand sickness
وَالدَّهْرُ فِيهِ صِحَّةٌ وَسَقَامُ
And know that no person is immortal,
and time holds both health and sickness.
يَهْوَىdesires الْفَتَىthe young man طُولَlength of الْحَيَاةِlife وَإِنَّهَاand indeed it is
يَهْوَى الْفَتَى طُولَ الْحَيَاةِ وَإِنَّهَا
دَاءٌa disease لَهُfor him دُونَbeneath الشَّغَافِthe heart's membrane عُقَامُincurable
دَاءٌ لَهُ دُونَ الشَّغَافِ عُقَامُ
A young man longs for a lengthy life, though it is
an incurable malady for him beneath the heart's membrane.
فَاطْمَحْso look upward بِطَرْفِكَwith your gaze هَلْdo تَرَىyou see مِنْany أُمَّةٍnation
فَاطْمَحْ بِطَرْفِكَ هَلْ تَرَى مِنْ أُمَّةٍ
خَلَدَتْhas lived forever وَهَلْand is there لاِبْنِfor the son of السَّبِيلِthe road مُقَامُan abode
خَلَدَتْ وَهَلْ لاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِ مُقَامُ
So lift your gaze: do you see any nation
that has lived forever? Does a wayfarer have a lasting abode?
هَذِيthese الْمَدَائِنُcities قَدْalready خَلَتْhave emptied مِنْof أَهْلِهَاtheir inhabitants
هَذِي الْمَدَائِنُ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا
بَعْدَafter النَّعِيمِbliss وَهَذِهِand these الأَهْرَامُpyramids
بَعْدَ النَّعِيمِ وَهَذِهِ الأَهْرَامُ
These cities stand emptied of their inhabitants
after their bliss, and these pyramids likewise.
لاno شَيءَthing يَبْقَىremains غَيْرَexcept أَنthat خَدِيعَةًa deception
لا شَيءَ يَبْقَى غَيْرَ أَن خَدِيعَةً
فِيin الدَّهْرِtime تَنْكُلُrecoil دُونَهَاbefore it الأَحْلامُminds
فِي الدَّهْرِ تَنْكُلُ دُونَهَا الأَحْلامُ
Nothing remains; yet there is a deception
in time before which reason recoils.
وَلَقَدْand indeed تَبَيَّنْتُI discerned الأُمُورَthings بِغَيْرِهَاthrough things other than them
وَلَقَدْ تَبَيَّنْتُ الأُمُورَ بِغَيْرِهَا
وَأَتَىand came عَلَيَّupon me النَّقْضُunravelling وَالإِبْرَامُand binding fast
وَأَتَى عَلَيَّ النَّقْضُ وَالإِبْرَامُ
And I have indeed discerned things through what they are not,
and unravelling and binding have come upon me.
وَإِذَاand behold السُّكُونُstillness تَحَرُّكٌmovement وَإِذَاand behold الْخُمُوdying out (continued)
وَإِذَا السُّكُونُ تَحَرُّكٌ وَإِذَا الْخُمُو
دُcompletion of 'dying out' تَلَهُّبٌblazing وَإِذَاand behold السُّكُوتُsilence كَلامُspeech
دُ تَلَهُّبٌ وَإِذَا السُّكُوتُ كَلامُ
And behold, stillness is movement, and dying out
is blazing, and silence is speech.
وَإِذَاand behold الْحَيَاةُlife وَلاand no حَيَاةَlife مَنِيَّةٌdeath
وَإِذَا الْحَيَاةُ وَلا حَيَاةَ مَنِيَّةٌ
تَحْيَاlive بِهَاthrough it الأَجْسَادُbodies وَهْيَwhile they are رِمَامُdecayed remains
تَحْيَا بِهَا الأَجْسَادُ وَهْيَ رِمَامُ
And behold, life—there is no life—is death,
through which bodies live, though they are crumbling remains.
هَذَاthis one يَحُلُّsettles وَذَاكَand that one يَرْحَلُdeparts كَارِهَاًunwillingly
هَذَا يَحُلُّ وَذَاكَ يَرْحَلُ كَارِهَاً
عَنْهُfrom it فَصُلْحٌso peace تَارَةًat times وَخِصَامُand strife
عَنْهُ فَصُلْحٌ تَارَةً وَخِصَامُ
This one settles, and that one departs unwillingly
from it: now peace, now strife.
فَالنُّورُfor light لَوْif بَيَّنْتَyou made clear أَمْرَكَyour condition ظُلْمَةٌdarkness
فَالنُّورُ لَوْ بَيَّنْتَ أَمْرَكَ ظُلْمَةٌ
وَالْبَدْءُand the beginning لَوْif فَكَّرْتَyou pondered فِيهِupon it خِتَامُan ending
وَالْبَدْءُ لَوْ فَكَّرْتَ فِيهِ خِتَامُ
For light, if you understood your condition, is darkness,
and the beginning, if you pondered it, is an ending.
Partial English translation: 50 of 78 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1