بعْدafter الثَّمانِينَeighty خَبَتْdied down جَذْوتيmy ember
بعْد الثَّمانِينَ خَبَتْ جَذْوتي
وآدَنيand weighed me down السُّقْمُillness. وطابand became sweet الرَّحيلْdeparture!
وآدَني السُّقْمُ. وطاب الرَّحيلْ!
After eighty, my ember has dimmed,
After eighty my passion faded away
and illness has weighed me down; departure has grown sweet!
And illness overcame me, how sweet to depart!
بعدafter الثمانينeighty أَبَتْrefused صَبْوَتيmy youthful passion
بعد الثمانين أَبَتْ صَبْوَتي
إلاَّexcept انْحساراًreceding عنfrom جبينيmy brow الأَثِيلْnoble!
إلاَّ انْحساراً عن جبيني الأَثِيلْ!
After eighty, my youthful passion would do nothing
After eighty my youth refused
but recede from my noble brow,
Except to recede from my aged forehead!
إلاَّexcept ابْتِعاداًdrawing away عنfrom هوًىdesire قاتِلٍdeadly
إلاَّ ابْتِعاداً عن هوًى قاتِلٍ
يَرْمِيcasts بهwith it ثَغْرٌa mouth وطَرْفٌand an eye كحِيلْkohl-dark!
يَرْمِي به ثَغْرٌ وطَرْفٌ كحِيلْ!
but draw away from a deadly desire
Except to withdraw from a lethal desire
shot forth by lips and a kohl-dark eye!
With which a mouth and a flirting glance assail me!
عِشْتُI lived حَياتيmy life مُصْغياًlistening لِلْهوىto desire
عِشْتُ حَياتي مُصْغياً لِلْهوى
فَكانَso it was ليfor me –أُوّاهِalas بِئْسَwretched is الدَّليلْthe guide!
فَكانَ لي –أُوّاهِ بِئْسَ الدَّليلْ!
I lived my life listening to desire,
I lived my life listening to passion
and it was for me—alas!—a wretched guide!
So for me - alas, what an evil guide!
كنْتُI was حُساماًa sharp sword مُنْتَضًىunsheathed فاخْتَفىthen it vanished
كنْتُ حُساماً مُنْتَضًى فاخْتَفى
بِغِمْدِهin its scabbard ماnot إنْemphatic particle لهit has منany صَلِيلْringing of metal!
بِغِمْدِه ما إنْ له من صَلِيلْ!
I was a drawn sword; then it vanished
I used to be an unsheathed sword then disappeared
inside its scabbard, without a single clang!
In its sheath without a ringing sound!
عَهْدُthe age of الصَّباboyhood وَلَّىpassed. ومِنand from بَعْدِهafter it
عَهْدُ الصَّبا وَلَّى. ومِن بَعْدِه
وَلىَّfled شبابيmy youth راكِضاًrunning منfrom السَّبيلْthe path!
وَلىَّ شبابي راكِضاً من السَّبيلْ!
The age of boyhood passed, and after it
The days of youth have passed. After them
my youth fled, running from the path!
My prime of life hurried away from the path!
ياoh لَيْتَنيif only I كنْتُI had تَوَقَّيْتُهُguarded against it
يا لَيْتَني كنْتُ تَوَقَّيْتُهُ
هذاthis الهوىdesire. هذاthis الضَّلالُthe delusion الوبيلْruinous!
هذا الهوى. هذا الضَّلالُ الوبيلْ!
If only I had guarded myself against it—
Would that I had avoided
this desire, this ruinous delusion!
This passion, this woeful misguidance!
ماnot كنْتُI was أَدْرِيI knew أْنَّنيthat I سابِحٌswimming
ما كنْتُ أَدْرِي أْنَّني سابِحٌ
فيin حَمْأَةٍblack mud أَحْسَبُهاI thought it to be السَّلْسَبيلْSalsabil!
في حَمْأَةٍ أَحْسَبُها السَّلْسَبيلْ!
I did not know that I was swimming
I did not know I was swimming
in black mud I took for Salsabil!
In mire which I thought a paved road!
لكنَّهاbut it كانَتْwas فَفرَّتْthen it fled وماand how
لكنَّها كانَتْ فَفرَّتْ وما
أضَلَّنِيdeluded I was بالخادِعِby the deceiver المُسْتَطِيلْoverbearing!
أضَلَّنِي بالخادِعِ المُسْتَطِيلْ!
But it was there, then fled—and how
But it was - then it escaped and did not
deluded I was by the overbearing deceiver!
Mislead me with the deceitful mirage!
كانتْit was حُساماًa sword فَوْقَabove رأْسيmy head إذاwhenever
كانتْ حُساماً فَوْقَ رأْسي إذا
عَصَيْتُهI defied it كنْتُI was الصَّرِيعَthe fallen one القَتِيلْthe slain one!
عَصَيْتُه كنْتُ الصَّرِيعَ القَتِيلْ!
It was a sword above my head; whenever
It used to be a sword over my head, if
I defied it, I was struck down and slain!
I disobeyed it, I would be the slain victim!
وَيْليwoe to me منfrom الرَّمْضاءِthe scorching ground هَلاَّwhy not اسْتَوَتْsettled
وَيْلي من الرَّمْضاءِ هَلاَّ اسْتَوَتْ
رِجْلايَmy feet منهاaway from it بالخَمِيلِin the thicket الظَّلِيلْshady؟!
رِجْلايَ منها بالخَمِيلِ الظَّلِيلْ؟!
Woe to me for the scorching ground! Why did not
Woe is me! Did the sultry heat level
my feet find rest away from it in the shady thicket?
My feet in it with the shady palm-tree?!
لكِنَّنيbut I كنْتُI was الفَتىthe youth سادِراًheedlessly wandering
لكِنَّني كنْتُ الفَتى سادِراً
فيin الغَيِّerror يروىdrinks his fill منfrom قَذاةِa speck of impurity الغَلِيلْburning thirst!
في الغَيِّ يروى من قَذاةِ الغَلِيلْ!
But I was a youth, heedlessly wandering
But I was the young man wandering
in error, drinking my fill from the dregs of burning thirst!
In the dark drinking from the thick turbid wine!
يَلُومُنيreproach me الصَّحْبُthe companions فماyet not أَرْعَوِيI desist..
يَلُومُني الصَّحْبُ فما أَرْعَوِي..
بلrather أَسْتَوِيI rise upright مُنْتَشِياًintoxicated بالصَّهِيلْby the neighing!
بل أَسْتَوِي مُنْتَشِياً بالصَّهِيلْ!
My companions reproached me, yet I would not desist;
My companions blame me but I do not notice them,
instead, I rose upright, intoxicated by the neighing!
Rather I walk erect with neighing!
أَشْعُرُI feel مِنfrom بعدafter المَشِيبِthe graying of age الذيthat
أَشْعُرُ مِن بعد المَشِيبِ الذي
أنَهكَنيwore me out.. أَشْعُرُI feel أَنِّيthat I العلِيلْthe ailing one!
أنَهكَني.. أَشْعُرُ أَنِّي العلِيلْ!
I feel, after the gray-haired years that
After grey hairs that
have worn me out—I feel that I am ill!
Exhausted me.. I feel that I am the invalid!
عَلِيلُsick جِسْمٍbody راعِشٍtrembling يَنْحَنِيbends
عَلِيلُ جِسْمٍ راعِشٍ يَنْحَنِي
علىon عَصاهُhis staff. فيin الضُّحىmidmorning والأَصِيلْand late afternoon!
على عَصاهُ. في الضُّحى والأَصِيلْ!
An invalid, trembling in body, bending
An invalid with a trembling emaciated body
over his staff, in midmorning and late afternoon!
Bending over his stick at dawn and nightfall!
يَنْشِجُsobs فيin صَمْتٍsilence لِئَلاَّlest يرَىsee
يَنْشِجُ في صَمْتٍ لِئَلاَّ يرَى
منهfrom him الوَرىthe world الدَّمْعَthe tears. ويُخْفيand hides العَوِيلْthe wailing!
منه الوَرى الدَّمْعَ. ويُخْفي العَوِيلْ!
He sobs in silence, lest
Moaning in silence lest anyone should see
the world see his tears; he hides his wailing!
Tears from him and to hide the wailing!
وَيْليwoe to me منfrom النَّارِthe fire الَّتيthat اكْتَوَىhe was scorched
وَيْلي من النَّارِ الَّتي اكْتَوَى
بهاby it. ومنand from شجوىmy sorrow وسُهديand my sleeplessness الطَّويلْlong!
بها. ومن شجوى وسُهدي الطَّويلْ!
Woe to me for the fire that scorched
Woe is me for the embers with which I was branded
him, and for my sorrow and my long sleeplessness!
And the ardour and sleepless nights of my love!
ومِنand from ضَمِيرٍa conscience لمnot أُطِعْI heeded نُصْحَهُits counsel
ومِن ضَمِيرٍ لم أُطِعْ نُصْحَهُ
كأَنَّماas though يَطْلُبنيasks of me المُسْتَحِيلْthe impossible!
كأَنَّما يَطْلُبني المُسْتَحِيلْ!
and for a conscience whose counsel I did not heed,
And from a conscience whose advice I did not heed
as though it were asking the impossible of me!
As if it demanded the impossible from me!
يَخِزُنيstabs me وخْزاًa stabbing تسيلpour الحشاthe entrails
يَخِزُني وخْزاً تسيل الحشا
بهbecause of it دَماًblood يجريflows. وماand not منany مُقِيلْone granting reprieve!
به دَماً يجري. وما من مُقِيلْ!
It stabs me so that my entrails pour
It rebukes me with a rebuke that pours down
a stream of blood, with none to grant reprieve!
Blood that flows and has no stauncher!
فياso, oh لَعِصْيانٍfor disobedience مَضىhas passed يَبْتَليafflicts..
فيا لَعِصْيانٍ مَضى يَبْتَلي..
حاضِرَهُits present منهfrom it بِهَمٍّwith sorrow ثَقِيلْheavy!
حاضِرَهُ منه بِهَمٍّ ثَقِيلْ!
Oh, for disobedience gone by, afflicting
So woe for disobedience that has passed but still
its present with the heavy sorrow it has bred!
Afflicts the present with heavy concerns!
أَياO ضَمِيريmy conscience.. إنَّنيindeed I نادِمٌrepentant
أَيا ضَمِيري.. إنَّني نادِمٌ
فياso, oh لِعِزٍّfor dignity يَشْتَهِيهِcraves it الذَّلِيلْthe humbled one!
فيا لِعِزٍّ يَشْتَهِيهِ الذَّلِيلْ!
O my conscience, I am repentant!
O my conscience.. I do repent,
Oh, for the dignity the humbled man desires!
So where is the might sought by the abject?!
قدindeed كنْتُI was بُوماًan owl ناعِباًcroaking منfrom الدُّجىthe darkness
قد كنْتُ بُوماً ناعِباً من الدُّجى
فكيفso how أَشْدُوI sing فيin الضُّحَىmidmorning بالهَدِيلْwith cooing؟!
فكيف أَشْدُو في الضُّحَى بالهَدِيلْ؟!
I was indeed an owl, croaking from the darkness;
I used to be a wailing owl in the dark,
so how can I sing in midmorning with a coo?
So how can I in daylight sing the love-song?!
والشِّعْرُand poetry كمhow often أَرْسَلْتُهُI sent it forth شادِياًsinging
والشِّعْرُ كم أَرْسَلْتُهُ شادِياً
فَصاغَand it fashioned دُرّاًpearls فيabout الأَثيثluxuriant hair الأَسِيلْsmooth cheeks!
فَصاغَ دُرّاً في الأَثيث الأَسِيلْ!
And poetry—how often I sent it forth singing,
And poetry - how often I sent it buzzing
and it fashioned pearls about luxuriant hair and smooth cheeks,
To produce in feeble prosody precious pearls!
منfrom الحَوَرِdark irises against white eyes السَّاجيlanguid يُذِيبُmelts الحَشاthe heart
من الحَوَرِ السَّاجي يُذِيبُ الحَشا
والقَدِّand the figure يختالsways proudly طَرِيداًtall and straight.. نَحِيلْslender!
والقَدِّ يختال طَرِيداً.. نَحِيلْ!
from languid, dark eyes that melt the heart,
With Indian swords it melts the warriors
and a figure swaying proudly, tall and slender!
And the spears dance.. so slender!
وكادنيand schemed against me الحبُّlove كماas كِدْتُهُI schemed against it
وكادني الحبُّ كما كِدْتُهُ
ورُبَّماand sometimes بَزَّoutdid النَّشِيطَthe vigorous one الكَليلْthe weary one
ورُبَّما بَزَّ النَّشِيطَ الكَليلْ
And love schemed against me, as I schemed against it;
And love almost killed me as I killed it
and sometimes the weary surpass the vigorous.
And the active perhaps conquered the inert!
بالشِّعْرِthrough poetry كنْتُI was الشَّامِخَthe proud one المُعْتَلِيthe exalted one
بالشِّعْرِ كنْتُ الشَّامِخَ المُعْتَلِي
الكاسِبthe winner of الحَرْبَthe war بِسَيْفٍwith a sword صَقِيلْpolished!
الكاسِب الحَرْبَ بِسَيْفٍ صَقِيلْ!
Through poetry, I was the proud, exalted one,
With poetry I was the lofty orator
the victor in war with a polished sword!
Who gained war with a sharpened sword!
كمhow often دانَsubmitted ليto me الحُسْنُbeauty فأكْرَمْتُهُand I honored it
كم دانَ لي الحُسْنُ فأكْرَمْتُهُ
منfrom بَعْدafter أَنْthat دانْit submitted. وكانand it was البَخِيلْthe miserly one!
من بَعْد أَنْ دانْ. وكان البَخِيلْ!
How often beauty submitted to me, and I honored it
Often beauty surrendered to me so I honoured it
after it had yielded, though it had been miserly!
After it surrendered, though it had been avaricious!
ذلكthat عَهْدٌan age كنْتُI was ذاpossessing مِرَّةٍstrength
ذلك عَهْدٌ كنْتُ ذا مِرَّةٍ
بهin it. ولمand not يَبْقremains لهاof it منany قَلِيلْlittle!
به. ولم يَبْق لها من قَلِيلْ!
That was an age when I possessed strength;
That was an era in which I was once
not even the least of that strength remains!
Arrogant. And little of it remains!
كمhow much أتَمنىَّI wish أنَّهاthat it لمnot تَكُنْexisted
كم أتَمنىَّ أنَّها لم تَكُنْ
وأنَّنيand that I كنْتُI was الضَّعيفَthe weak one الهَزِيلْfrail!
وأنَّني كنْتُ الضَّعيفَ الهَزِيلْ!
How I wish it had never existed,
Would that it had never been
and that I had been weak and frail!
And that I had been the feeble emaciated man!
فقدfor perhaps يكونُbe الضَّعْفُweakness ليfor me عِصْمَةًa safeguard
فقد يكونُ الضَّعْفُ لي عِصْمَةً
منfrom جَنَفٍwrongdoing كنْتُI was بهthrough it أَسْتَطِيلْacting overbearingly!
من جَنَفٍ كنْتُ به أَسْتَطِيلْ!
For weakness may be my safeguard
For weakness might have protected me
from wrongdoing through which I lorded it over others!
From tyranny in which I delighted!
واليَوْمَand today إنَّيindeed I هَيْكَلٌa skeleton راعِشٌtrembling
واليَوْمَ إنَّي هَيْكَلٌ راعِشٌ
يَبِسُهُits dry substance راحَis gone. وراحَand is gone البَلِيلَthe moist substance!
يَبِسُهُ راحَ. وراحَ البَلِيلَ!
And today I am a trembling skeleton,
And today I am a trembling skeleton
its dry substance gone, its moist substance gone too!
Whose freshness the winds have wasted and extinguished the remainders!
يَدِبُّcreeps.. يَسْتَنْشِقُinhales بَعْضَsome of الشَّذاfragrance
يَدِبُّ.. يَسْتَنْشِقُ بَعْضَ الشَّذا
منfrom رَوْضِهِits garden الذاوِيwithering ورَطْبand moist النَّجيلْgrass!
من رَوْضِهِ الذاوِي ورَطْب النَّجيلْ!
It creeps along, breathing in a little fragrance
Crawling.. inhaling some fragrance
from its withering garden and the moist grass,
From his garden gone to waste and the dew of the palms!
مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter أَنْthat كانَit was كثيرَplentiful in النَّدىdew
مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ كانَ كثيرَ النَّدى
بالثَّمَرِwith fruit الحالِيsweet.. زاهيresplendent in النَّخِيلْpalms!
بالثَّمَرِ الحالِي.. زاهي النَّخِيلْ!
after it had once been rich in dew,
After it had abundant drops of dew
with sweet fruit and resplendent palms!
With ripe fruit.. and palms luxuriant!
أسْتَغْفِرُI ask forgiveness of اللهGod. وأرجوand I hope for الهُدىguidance
أسْتَغْفِرُ الله. وأرجو الهُدى
منهfrom Him يُوافِينيcomes to meet me بِصَفْحٍwith pardon جَمِيلْgracious!
منه يُوافِيني بِصَفْحٍ جَمِيلْ!
I ask God's forgiveness and hope for guidance
I pray God for forgiveness and hope for guidance
from Him, that He may meet me with gracious pardon!
From Him in the form of a beautiful pardon!
هُناكَthere ماhow أَجْمَلَbeautiful تِلْكَthose الصُّوىwaymarks
هُناكَ ما أَجْمَلَ تِلْكَ الصُّوى
تَهْدِيguide. وماand how أَسْعَدَhappy فيهاtherein النَّزِيلْthe lodger!
تَهْدِي. وما أَسْعَدَ فيها النَّزِيلْ!
There—how beautiful those waymarks are:
There - how beautiful are those dwellings
they guide—and how happy is the one who dwells there!
That give tranquility, and how happy is the lodger!
وياand O أُهَيْليmy dear family ورِفاقيand my companions الأُلىwho
ويا أُهَيْلي ورِفاقي الأُلى
كانواthey were هَوايَmy love المُسْتطابَcherished الحَفِيلْabundant!
كانوا هَوايَ المُسْتطابَ الحَفِيلْ!
And O my dear family and my companions, who
And O my companions and intimate friends
were my cherished, overflowing love!
Who were my fresh and fragrant passion!
منwhoever كانَwas مِنهُمُamong them لمhas not يَزَلْceased بالحِمىin the haven
من كانَ مِنهُمُ لم يَزَلْ بالحِمى
يَزِينُهadorns it.. يَشْرُفُgains honor منهthrough him القَبِيلْthe clan!
يَزِينُه.. يَشْرُفُ منه القَبِيلْ!
Whoever among them still dwells in the haven
He among them who still remains has not ceased to adorn it
adorns it; through him the clan gains honor!
And his tribe still takes pride in him!
ومَنand whoever تَناءىhas gone far away. فهوthen he فيin دارِهِhis abode
ومَن تَناءى. فهو في دارِهِ
تِلْكَthat one التيwhich تُكْرِمُهُhonors him بالجَزِيلْwith bounty!
تِلْكَ التي تُكْرِمُهُ بالجَزِيلْ!
And whoever has gone far away is in his abode,
And he who turned away, he is in his abode,
the one that honors him with bounty!
That which honours him with abundant favour!
كمhow often طَوَّقُونيthey garlanded me بالمُنىwith hopes حُلْوَةٌsweet
كم طَوَّقُوني بالمُنى حُلْوَةٌ
وبالرُّؤىand with visions رفَّافَةًfluttering تَسْتَمِيلْentice!
وبالرُّؤى رفَّافَةً تَسْتَمِيلْ!
How often they garlanded me with sweet hopes
How they crowned me with pleasures sweet
and fluttering visions that entice!
And visions that enchant and attract!
وكنْتُand I was لاnot أَشْكوI complain of الوَنىweariness مَرَّةًonce
وكنْتُ لا أَشْكو الوَنى مَرَّةً
إلاَّexcept وجاءواand they came بالمُثِيبِwith what rewards. المُنيلْwhat bestows!
إلاَّ وجاءوا بالمُثِيبِ. المُنيلْ!
And never once did I complain of weariness
And I never complained of sorrow
without their bringing reward and bounty!
Except they came with the reward that dispels it!
أَسْتَنْزِلُI call down الرَّحْمَةَmercy لِلْمُنتَأيfor the one gone far away
أَسْتَنْزِلُ الرَّحْمَةَ لِلْمُنتَأي
وأَنْشُدُand I seek النُّعْمىbliss لباقيfor the rest of الرَّعِيلْthe company!
وأَنْشُدُ النُّعْمى لباقي الرَّعِيلْ!
I invoke mercy for the departed one,
I invoke mercy for the departed
and seek bliss for the rest of the company!
And blessings for the rest of the company!
وارْتَجيand I hope for الغُفْرانforgiveness مِنْهُمfrom them علىfor..
وارْتَجي الغُفْران مِنْهُم على..
ماwhat كانَwas مِنِّيfrom me قَبْلَbefore يَوْمِthe day of الرّحَيلْdeparture!
ما كانَ مِنِّي قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الرّحَيلْ!
And I hope for their forgiveness for
And I hope they will forgive me for
what I did before the day of departure!
What was done by me before the day of departure!
Sol 6.1