تذكَّرتُI recalled أيَّاماًdays مضَتْpassed ولَيالِياand nights؟!
تذكَّرتُ أيَّاماً مضَتْ ولَيالِيا؟!
قَضَيْتُI spent بهاin them كِفْلاًa portion منof العُمْرِlife حالِياsweet!
قَضَيْتُ بها كِفْلاً من العُمْرِ حالِيا!
I recalled days gone by, and nights!
I recalled days now passed and nights long gone,
In them I spent a sweet portion of my life!
When my prime of life away with them had flown!
تَملَّكْنَthey possessed منِّيof me نُهْيَتيmy reason وحَشاشَتِيand my life-breath
تَملَّكْنَ منِّي نُهْيَتي وحَشاشَتِي
وأَنْسَيْنَنيand they made me forget ماwhat كانwas عَذْباًsweet وغالِياand dear!
وأَنْسَيْنَني ما كان عَذْباً وغالِيا!
They possessed my reason and my life-breath,
My dignity they usurped, my bashfulness,
And made me forget what was sweet and dear!
Made me forget what once was sweet and dear.
وأَنْسَيْنَنيand they made me forget حتىeven أُهَيْليmy dear family ومَعْشريand my companions
وأَنْسَيْنَني حتى أُهَيْلي ومَعْشري
فماso not عُدْتُI remained إلاَّexcept عاشِقاa lover مُتَصابِياplaying at youth!
فما عُدْتُ إلاَّ عاشِقا مُتَصابِيا!
And made me forget even my dear family and my companions,
Made me forget, until my people and kin,
So I was nothing but a lover playing at youth!
I was but a lovesick bard, distraught, forlorn.
وماand not عُدْتُI remained إلاَّexcept مُسْتَهِيماًmadly enamored بِخُرَّدٍof secluded maidens..
وما عُدْتُ إلاَّ مُسْتَهِيماً بِخُرَّدٍ..
منamong الغِيدِgraceful beauties أَصْبَحْنَthey became الهوىlove المُتَفانِياall-consuming!
من الغِيدِ أَصْبَحْنَ الهوى المُتَفانِيا!
And I was only one madly enamored of secluded maidens,
Crazed was I, madly in love, all caution to the wind...
Among graceful beauties who became all-consuming love!
When love was fresh, desires were new each morn.
زَمانٌa time تَوَّلىَّpassed away ليتَهُwould that it كانَwas باقِياًlasting..
زَمانٌ تَوَّلىَّ ليتَهُ كانَ باقِياً..
وياand oh لَيْتَهُwould that it كانَwas الزَّمانَthe time المُوالِياfollowing!
ويا لَيْتَهُ كانَ الزَّمانَ المُوالِيا!
A time gone by—would that it had endured,
Time has passed, would that it had remained,
And oh, would that it had been the time to follow!
Would that it were still that lovely time of yore!
كَأَنِّيas though I بهin it كنْتُI was المَلاكَthe angel الذيwho ثَوىdwelt
كَأَنِّي به كنْتُ المَلاكَ الذي ثَوى
بِفِرْدَوْسِهِin his paradise يَرْجوhoping for الخُلودَimmortality المُصافِياfaithful in friendship!
بِفِرْدَوْسِهِ يَرْجو الخُلودَ المُصافِيا!
It was as though, in it, I were the angel who dwelt
As if I were angel in Paradise laid,
In his paradise, hoping for immortality that would befriend him!
Yearning for eternal life evermore.
فَلَمْso did not أَبْقَI remain مَخْلُوقاًa creature مِنof الأُنْسِhumankind (contextual reading) راجِياًhoping for
فَلَمْ أَبْقَ مَخْلُوقاً مِن الأُنْسِ راجِياً
حُطاماًworldly goods ومَجْداًand glory.. بلrather غَدَوتُI became المُجافِياthe one who shuns!
حُطاماً ومَجْداً.. بل غَدَوتُ المُجافِيا!
So I was no longer a human creature hoping for
No more did I seek the company of man,
Worldly goods and glory; instead, I turned away!
Ruin or glory... Nay, but cold and distant I became.
كِلاboth اثْنَيْهِماthe two of them كاناthey were لَديَّto me تَفاهَةًa trifle
كِلا اثْنَيْهِما كانا لَديَّ تَفاهَةً
أَمامَbefore الهوىlove يُزْجِيbrings إليَّto me الأمانياwishes!
أَمامَ الهوى يُزْجِي إليَّ الأمانيا!
Both of them were mere trifles to me
To me they both were paltry, nothing worth,
Before love, which brought me wishes!
When love would stir in me hopes and desires.
وكُنَّand they were حِساناًbeauties شامِخاتٍlofty بعزَّةٍwith pride
وكُنَّ حِساناً شامِخاتٍ بعزَّةٍ
مِنfrom الحُسْنِbeauty ماnot يَخْتارُchooses إلاَّexcept العَوالياthe exalted!
مِن الحُسْنِ ما يَخْتارُ إلاَّ العَواليا!
And they were beauties, lofty with a pride
They were beauties of pride and dignity,
Born of beauty that chooses only the exalted!
Who chose none but the exceptional and grand.
إذاwhen اخْتَرْنَthey chose لمnot يَخْتَرْنَthey chose إلاَّexcept مُجَلِّياًa foremost champion
إذا اخْتَرْنَ لم يَخْتَرْنَ إلاَّ مُجَلِّياً
وإلاَّor else كَرِيمَاa generous man يَسْتَطِيبُrelishes المجانياthe gathered fruits!
وإلاَّ كَرِيمَا يَسْتَطِيبُ المجانيا!
When they chose, they chose only a champion,
If they chose, they chose none but the refined,
Or a generous man who relished the gathered fruits!
Or the generous, who gratis gifts would hand.
لهfor him وَحْدَهُhim alone أَلاؤُهُنَّtheir bounties سَخِيَّةًlavish
له وَحْدَهُ أَلاؤُهُنَّ سَخِيَّةً
تُضِيءُilluminate حَوانِيهِhis heart's recesses فَيُشْجِرَso he plants with trees المغانِياthe abodes!
تُضِيءُ حَوانِيهِ فَيُشْجِرَ المغانِيا!
For him alone their bounties are lavish,
To him alone their radiance they would give,
Lighting his heart's recesses, so he clothes the abodes in trees!
Lighting his verse, kindling the ecstasies.
بِشِعْرٍwith poetry إذاwhen ماemphatic particle صاغَهُhe fashions it جَوْهَراًjewels
بِشِعْرٍ إذا ما صاغَهُ جَوْهَراً
فَآياتُهُthen its verses ترويquench القلوبthe hearts الصوادياthe thirsty!
فَآياتُهُ تروي القلوب الصواديا!
With poetry: when he fashions it into jewels,
If he would pen it as a precious jewel,
Then its verses quench the thirsting hearts!
Its verses would solace souls in agony.
لهfor him القَوْلُspeech مِطْواعٌpliant كبِئْرٍlike a well مُنَضَّرflourishing
له القَوْلُ مِطْواعٌ كبِئْرٍ مُنَضَّر
فَيُطرِبُso he delights ألفاظاًwording. ويَسْموand he soars مَعانياmeanings!
فَيُطرِبُ ألفاظاً. ويَسْمو مَعانيا!
Speech is pliant to him, like a flourishing well,
His words were supple like fresh verdant plants,
So he enchants with words and soars in meaning!
Melodies would trill, meanings ascend on high.
وماand not ابْتَذَلَتْshe debased herself مِنْهُنَّamong them قَطُّever خَرِيدةٌa secluded maiden
وما ابْتَذَلَتْ مِنْهُنَّ قَطُّ خَرِيدةٌ
ولاnor واصَلَتْshe joined in love إلاexcept الكَمِيَّthe warrior المباهياthe proud one!
ولا واصَلَتْ إلا الكَمِيَّ المباهيا!
And no secluded maiden among them ever debased herself,
No cheap floozy did they ever embrace,
Nor joined in love with any but the proud warrior!
Only the elite of suitors they would draw nigh.
وقُلْتُand I said لإحداهُنَto one of them يَوْماًone day وقدand already رَنَتْshe gazed
وقُلْتُ لإحداهُنَ يَوْماً وقد رَنَتْ
إليَّat me بِشَوْقٍwith longing يَسْتَرِقُّenslaves الحَوانِياthe heart's recesses!
إليَّ بِشَوْقٍ يَسْتَرِقُّ الحَوانِيا!
And one day I said to one of them, as she gazed
One day I said to a beauty who had glanced at me,
At me with longing that enslaved the heart's recesses:
Yearning, stealing away my thoughts in a sigh:
أَلَيْسَis there not لِماfor what تَطْوِينَهyou harbor it مِنany نِهايةٍan ending
أَلَيْسَ لِما تَطْوِينَه مِن نِهايةٍ
تُخِيفُfrightens. وتَطْوِيand holds in store لِلْقُلوبِfor the hearts العَوادِياcalamities؟!
تُخِيفُ. وتَطْوِي لِلْقُلوبِ العَوادِيا؟!
Does what you harbor not have an ending
"Does not what you hide have an ending, frightening,
That frightens and holds calamities in store for hearts?
That terrifies, folding the hearts in fear?"
فقالتْthen she said. وقدand already أَذْرَتْshe shed دُمُوعاًtears سَخِينَةًhot
فقالتْ. وقد أَذْرَتْ دُمُوعاً سَخِينَةً
تشِفُّreveal عنabout الحُبِّlove الذيwhich كانَwas ضارياfierce!!
تشِفُّ عن الحُبِّ الذي كانَ ضاريا!!
Then she said, shedding hot tears
She replied, hot tears streaming, revealing,
That revealed how fierce the love had been:
A love that fiercely within her did lie:
لقدindeed كِدْتُI nearly أَنْسىI forget فيin هَواكَlove for you كَرامَتِيmy dignity
لقد كِدْتُ أَنْسى في هَواكَ كَرامَتِي
وإنْand though كانَwas عَقْليmy reason فيin الهوىlove كانwas هادِياa guide!
وإنْ كانَ عَقْلي في الهوى كان هادِيا!
I nearly forgot my dignity in loving you,
"I nearly forgot my honor in loving you,
And though my reason had been a guide in love!
Though reason was my guide in passion's sea.
وإنْand though كُنْتُI was لمnot تَنْسَyou forget العَفافَchastity فَصُنْتَنيso you protected me
وإنْ كُنْتُ لم تَنْسَ العَفافَ فَصُنْتَني
وآثَرْتَand you preferred مِنِّيfrom me عِفَّةًchastity وتَدانِياand closeness!
وآثَرْتَ مِنِّي عِفَّةً وتَدانِيا!
And though I was [so], you did not forget chastity, so you protected me,
If you never forgot virtue, you shielded me,
And preferred in me both chastity and closeness!
Preferring from me chastity and propriety.
أراكَI see you كَروُحيas my soul بَلْrather وأَغْلاand dearer مَكانَةًin esteem
أراكَ كَروُحي بَلْ وأَغْلا مَكانَةً
فكيفso how لِصادٍfor a thirsty one أَنْto يَعافَspurn السَّواقِياthe watercourses؟!
فكيف لِصادٍ أَنْ يَعافَ السَّواقِيا؟!
I see you as my soul—indeed, dearer in esteem;
I see you as my soul, nay, of greater worth,
How could a thirsty one spurn the watercourses?
So how can one turn away from the cupbearer's wine?
وَمَرَّتْand passed بِناover us الأَيَّامُthe days ثمthen تَنكَّرَتْturned hostile
وَمَرَّتْ بِنا الأَيَّامُ ثم تَنكَّرَتْ
فياso, oh لحياةٍwhat a life تَسْتَطِيبُrelishes المآسِياtragedies!
فيا لحياةٍ تَسْتَطِيبُ المآسِيا!
And the days passed over us, then turned hostile;
Days passed by us, then disguised themselves,
Oh, what a life, delighting in tragedies!
Oh cursed life that savors tragedies!
تَرُدُّsends back بِهاthrough them العانيthe captive إلىto اللَّهْوِamusement عابِثاًidly playing
تَرُدُّ بِها العاني إلى اللَّهْوِ عابِثاً
وتَمْسَخُand transforms مِنfrom أَحرارِهِنَّtheir freeborn women غَوانِياseductive beauties!
وتَمْسَخُ مِن أَحرارِهِنَّ غَوانِيا!
Through them it sends the captive back to amusement, idly playing,
It reduces the jolly man to idle frivolity,
And transforms their freeborn women into seductive beauties!
Making libertines of free and noble ladies.
…………… بعْدَafter تَرَهُّبيmy ascetic retreat
............... بعْدَ تَرَهُّبي
وبَعْدَand after اعْتِيادِيmy growing accustomed أَنْto أرىI see الرَّوْضَthe garden ذاوياwithering!
وبَعْدَ اعْتِيادِي أَنْ أرى الرَّوْضَ ذاويا!
... after my ascetic retreat,
...After my devotion,
And after I grew used to seeing the garden wither!
And after I had grown accustomed to seeing the garden decayed!
وقدand already عَرَفَتْshe knew مِنِّيof me الذيwhat كانَwas حاضِراًpresent
وقد عَرَفَتْ مِنِّي الذي كانَ حاضِراً
كماjust as عَرَفَتْshe knew مِنِّيof me الذيwhat كانَwas ماضَياpast!
كما عَرَفَتْ مِنِّي الذي كانَ ماضَيا!
And she had learned of me what belonged to the present,
She knew the me of present and days gone by,
Just as she had learned of me what belonged to the past!
She hesitated... Not all beauties are like her,
تَأَنَّbe patient.. فَماfor not كُلُّall الحِسانِthe beauties كَمِثْلِهاlike her
تَأَنَّ.. فَما كُلُّ الحِسانِ كَمِثْلِها
ودَعْand leave عَنْكَaway from you أَيَّاماًdays مَضَيْنَthey passed خَوالِياbygone!
ودَعْ عَنْكَ أَيَّاماً مَضَيْنَ خَوالِيا!
Be patient; not all beauties are like her,
Leave behind days that have passed, disappointing.
And leave behind days that have passed and gone!
For you have the best in me, so purify my heart,
فَإنَّfor indeed لكfor you الحُسْنىthe best لدَيَّwith me فَصافِنيso love me sincerely
فَإنَّ لك الحُسْنى لدَيَّ فَصافِني
تُصافِyou will love sincerely فُؤاداًa heart مِنكِfrom you يَرجوhopes for التَّلاقياmeeting!
تُصافِ فُؤاداً مِنكِ يَرجو التَّلاقيا!
For you shall have the best from me; love me sincerely,
That longs to see you, living in hopes for years,
You will truly love a heart that hopes to meet with you!
Content with the wishes you fulfill, ecstasies you stir.
يَعيشُlives زَماناًa while بالمُنىon wishes تَسْتَفِزُّهُthey stir it
يَعيشُ زَماناً بالمُنى تَسْتَفِزُّهُ
إِليكَtoward you وتَرْضىand accepts فيin هَواكَlove for you الدَّواهِياcalamities!
إِليكَ وتَرْضى في هَواكَ الدَّواهِيا!
It lives awhile on wishes that impel it
By what I endured from her I was saddened,
Toward you, and accepts calamities for love of you!
And by what she endured - my mind found rest!
عَرَفْتُI knew بِماof what لاقَيْتُI endured منهاfrom her فَسَاءَنِيso it pained me
عَرَفْتُ بِما لاقَيْتُ منها فَسَاءَنِي
وماand what هيshe قدalready لاقَتْهُshe endured it. فارْتاحَso found relief بالِيَاmy mind!
وما هي قد لاقَتْهُ. فارْتاحَ بالِيَا!
I knew what I had suffered from her, and it pained me,
She regretted the fading of her youth,
And what she herself had suffered; then my mind found relief!
And regretted what had marred her prime.
لقدْindeed رَثَّgrew threadbare مِنْهاof her ماwhat ازْدَهَتْshe gloried بِجَدِيدِهِin its newness
لقدْ رَثَّ مِنْها ما ازْدَهَتْ بِجَدِيدِهِ
وقدand already نَدِمَتْshe regretted مِمَّاover what أَشابَturned gray النَّواصِياthe forelocks!
وقد نَدِمَتْ مِمَّا أَشابَ النَّواصِيا!
What she had gloried in when new had grown threadbare,
She reached the depths of sadness,
And she regretted what had turned forelocks gray!
Returning like one gone astray, stumbling blind.
وقدand already بَلَغَتْshe reached بالحُزْنِwith sorrow أَقْصىthe furthest مَجالِهِits extent
وقد بَلَغَتْ بالحُزْنِ أَقْصى مَجالِهِ
وعادَتْand she became كَمِثْلِlike الضَّلِّthe shadow (likely intended) يُدْميmakes bleed المآقياthe inner eye-corners!
وعادَتْ كَمِثْلِ الضَّلِّ يُدْمي المآقيا!
And in sorrow she had reached its furthest limit,
Do not grieve, for I am faithful in love,
And became like a shadow, making the eyes' corners bleed!
And I know it best, visions most clear...
فَلاso do not تَبْتَئِسْyou despair. إِنِّيindeed I الوَفِيَّةُthe faithful woman فيin الهوىlove
فَلا تَبْتَئِسْ. إِنِّي الوَفِيَّةُ في الهوى
وإنِّيand indeed I بهof it أَدْرىknow better. أَجْلىclearer مَرائِياin mirrors..!
وإنِّي به أَدْرى. أَجْلى مَرائِيا..!
So do not despair; I am faithful in love,
I love you, so that I see none but you in my dreams,
And I know it better, with clearer mirrors!
However you are, wherever you rest your head.
أُحِبُّكَI love you حتىuntil ماnot أَراكَI see you سِوىexcept الرُّؤىvisions
أُحِبُّكَ حتى ما أَراكَ سِوى الرُّؤى
تَطِيبُare pleasant وتَحْلوand are sweet أَيْنَماwherever كُنْتَyou are ثاوِياdwelling!
تَطِيبُ وتَحْلو أَيْنَما كُنْتَ ثاوِيا!
I love you until I see you only as visions,
So I said to her... Enough! For I am determined,
Pleasant and sweet, wherever you dwell!
I shall not waver again in love's battle!
فقُلْتُthen I said لهاto her.. كُفِّيstop فَإِنِّيfor indeed I مُرَزَّأٌstricken with loss
فقُلْتُ لها.. كُفِّي فَإِنِّي مُرَزَّأٌ
فلَنْso will not أَسْتَوِيI settle فيin مَرْبَعa spring abode الحُبِّlove ثانياa second time!
فلَنْ أَسْتَوِي في مَرْبَع الحُبِّ ثانيا!
Then I told her: Enough! I am stricken with loss,
You will forget love and its foolishness,
For I shall not settle in love's spring abode again!
You will cast love from you, no longer enthralled!
لَسَوْفَsurely in time سَتَسْلِينyou will forget الهوىlove وسِفاهَهُand its folly
لَسَوْفَ سَتَسْلِين الهوى وسِفاهَهُ
وسَوْفَand in time سَتَلْقِينَyou will find الهوىlove عَنْكِof you سالياforgetful!
وسَوْفَ سَتَلْقِينَ الهوى عَنْكِ ساليا!
Surely you will forget love and its folly,
You think that your love is undying,
And you will find love forgetful of you!
But no - since love was, it has been fleeting!
تَظُنِّينَyou imagine مِثْليlike me أَنَّthat حُبَّكِyour love خالِدٌimmortal
تَظُنِّينَ مِثْلي أَنَّ حُبَّكِ خالِدٌ
وكلاَّbut no. فَمُذْfor ever since كانَexisted الهوىlove. كانwas فانِياmortal!
وكلاَّ. فَمُذْ كانَ الهوى. كان فانِيا!
Like me, you imagine your love immortal,
Worldly life - how it twists the truth in passion,
But no! Love has been mortal from the moment it began!
And in feeling - how it bends fanciful thoughts!
أدُنْيايَO my world ماhow أَحْلاsweet الحَقِيقةَtruth فيin النُّهىreason
أدُنْيايَ ما أَحْلا الحَقِيقةَ في النُّهى
وفيand in الحِسِّfeeling. ماhow أَنْكىwounding الخَيالَfantasy المُداجِياdeceitful!
وفي الحِسِّ. ما أَنْكى الخَيالَ المُداجِيا!
O my world, how sweet truth is to reason,
I was - woe to me - a poet turned from his course,
And to feeling, how wounding is deceitful fantasy!
My guide. And if blamed, a defiant debater!
وقدand already كنْتُI was –وَيْحيwoe to me شاعراًa poet مُتنَكِّباًturning away from
وقد كنْتُ –وَيْحي شاعراً مُتنَكِّباً
هُدايَmy guidance. فإِنْso if عُوتبْتُI was reproached كنْتُI was المُلاحياthe disputant!
هُدايَ. فإِنْ عُوتبْتُ كنْتُ المُلاحيا!
I had been—woe to me!—a poet turning away from
I see my reality as a garden, so I wander
My guidance; if reproached, I would argue!
Through barren imagination... How astray!
أَرىI see واقِعيmy reality رَوْضاًa garden فَأصْدِفُyet I turn aside سالِكاًtreading
أَرى واقِعي رَوْضاً فَأصْدِفُ سالِكاً
قِفارwastelands خَيالٍof fantasy مُسْرِفٍextravagant.. وفيافياand deserts!
قِفار خَيالٍ مُسْرِفٍ.. وفيافيا!
I see my reality as a garden, yet turn aside to tread
The wastelands and deserts of extravagant fantasy!
Partial English translation: 74 of 76 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1