"مَنازِِلُabodes أَياتٍverses خَلَتْbecame empty منof تِلاوَةٍrecitation
"مَنازِِلُ أَياتٍ خَلَتْ من تِلاوَةٍ
ومَنْزِلُand a dwelling أُنْسٍfellowship مُقْفِرُdesolate العرصَاتِthe courtyards!"
ومَنْزِلُ أُنْسٍ مُقْفِرُ العرصَاتِ!"
Abodes of verses, emptied of recitation,
Dwellings of verses that no longer recite,
And a dwelling of fellowship, its courtyards desolate!
And a dwelling of intimacy bare of girls.
وَقَفْتُand I stood بِهاat them أسْتَنْشِدُasking to recount الرَّبْعَthe abode ماضِياًthe past
وَقَفْتُ بِها أسْتَنْشِدُ الرَّبْعَ ماضِياً
كئيباًsorrowful.. فلمso not أَسْمَعْI heard سوىexcept الزَّفَراتِthe sighs!
كئيباً.. فلم أَسْمَعْ سوى الزَّفَراتِ!
And I stood there, asking the abode to recount the past,
I stood in it summoning the past quarter -
Sorrowful—yet I heard nothing but sighs!
Gloomy.. hearing naught but sighs!
فقلتُso I said لهto it.. ياO رَبْعَabode مالَكَwhat ails you? مُوحِشاًdesolate..
فقلتُ له.. يا رَبْعَ مالَكَ مُوحِشاً..
شَجِيّاًgrief-stricken .. فلمso not أُبْصِرI saw سوىexcept العَبَراتِthe tears!
شَجِيّاً .. فلم أُبْصِر سوى العَبَراتِ!
So I said to it: O abode, why are you desolate,
So I said: "Why so desolate, O quarter..
Grief-stricken? Yet I saw nothing but tears!
So woeful! I see naught but tears."
فقالthen it said.. وكَلاَّbut no لمnot يَقُلْspeak.. إنَّهُindeed it احَتَمىtook refuge
فقال.. وكَلاَّ لم يَقُلْ.. إنَّهُ احَتَمى
بِصَمتِin silence بَلِيغeloquent غامِضِinscrutable النَّبرَاتِthe tones!
بِصَمتِ بَلِيغ غامِضِ النَّبرَاتِ!
Then it spoke—but no, it did not speak; it took refuge
It said not a word.. but donned
In eloquent silence with inscrutable tones!
An eloquent silence, cryptic intonations!
وياand oh رُبَّmany a صَمْتِsilence كانَwas أَسمَعَmore audible للورىto humankind
ويا رُبَّ صَمْتِ كانَ أَسمَعَ للورى
منthan الصَّوْتِthe voice يَعْلُوrises.. أوor منthan الهَمَسَاتِthe whispers!
من الصَّوْتِ يَعْلُو.. أو من الهَمَسَاتِ!
And oh, many a silence has been more audible to humankind
By God, its silence was more audible to all
Than a voice raised high, or than whispers!
Than a rising voice or whispered words.
لقدindeed كانَwas ليfor me أَهْلَونَfolk شَوسٌfierce and proud تَرحَّلواthey departed
لقد كانَ لي أَهْلَونَ شَوسٌ تَرحَّلوا
وأَبْقَوْاand they left صَدّىan echo يَهْوِيplunges إلىinto الدَّرَكاتِthe depths!
وأَبْقَوْا صَدّى يَهْوِي إلى الدَّرَكاتِ!
Indeed, I had fierce, proud folk who departed,
I once had a tribe, now travelers departed,
And left an echo plunging into the depths!
Leaving an echo plunging into darkness.
فماso no تَمَّwas complete ليfor me مِنany مُتْعَةٍpleasure أَسْتطيبُهاI find it pleasant..
فما تَمَّ لي مِن مُتْعَةٍ أَسْتطيبُها..
ولاnor ثَمَّthere ليfor me حُلْوٌsweetness مِنof الضَّحِكاتِlaughter!
ولا ثَمَّ لي حُلْوٌ مِن الضَّحِكاتِ!
So no pleasure I could savor was complete for me,
No joys have I fully savored..
Nor was there any sweetness of laughter for me!
No sweet laughter left to me.
شَجانيsaddened me الأَسىgrief مِنfrom بَعْدِهمafter them. وتَأَلَّبَتْand banded together
شَجاني الأَسى مِن بَعْدِهم. وتَأَلَّبَتْ
عَلََيَّagainst me الرَّزاياthe calamities.. منof نَوًىseparation وشَتاتِand dispersal!
عَلََيَّ الرَّزايا.. من نَوًى وشَتاتِ!
Grief wounded me after they left, and there gathered
Sorrow has hurt me since their loss.
Against me calamities of separation and dispersal!
Misery befell me, from estrangement and diaspora.
وكيفand how.. وقدand indeed كانواthey were البُطُولَةَvalor والنَّدىand generosity
وكيف.. وقد كانوا البُطُولَةَ والنَّدى
وكنْتُand I was بهمthrough them فيin أّرْفَعِthe highest الدَّرَجاتِthe ranks..!
وكنْتُ بهم في أّرْفَعِ الدَّرَجاتِ..!
And how could it be otherwise, when they were valor and generosity,
How could it not.. when they were my pride, my vigor,
And through them I stood in the highest ranks!
And I was with them at the highest ranks.
يَخافُfear الخُصومُthe foes اللٌّدُthe implacable مِنof سَطَواتهمtheir onslaughts
يَخافُ الخُصومُ اللٌّدُ مِن سَطَواتهم
فَيَنأَوْنَso they keep away عنِfrom حَيْفٍinjustice بهمagainst them.. وأذاةٍand harm!
فَيَنأَوْنَ عنِ حَيْفٍ بهم.. وأذاةٍ!
Implacable foes feared their onslaughts,
Foes fear the sharpness of their onslaught
And so refrained from wronging or harming them!
And avoid their injustice and harm.
ويَهْفوand yearns إلىtoward ساحاتِِهمtheir courtyards كُلُّevery بائِسٍwretched soul
ويَهْفو إلى ساحاتِِهم كُلُّ بائِسٍ
ضَعِيفٍweak. فَيْلقىthen finds يانِعَripe fruit الشَّجَراتِthe trees!
ضَعِيفٍ. فَيْلقى يانِعَ الشَّجَراتِ!
And toward their courtyards yearned every wretched
Every wretched weakling runs to their plains,
Weak soul, who found the trees' ripe fruit!
Finding a lush oasis, a sheltering tree.
يلُوذُseeks shelter بهاin them طَعْماًfor food وظلاًّand shade.. ويَرتويand drinks his fill
يلُوذُ بها طَعْماً وظلاًّ.. ويَرتوي
منof العَذْبِfresh water يُطفىءquenches لاعِجَthe searing heat of الجَمَراتِthe embers!
من العَذْبِ يُطفىء لاعِجَ الجَمَراتِ!
He sought shelter in them for food and shade, and drank his fill
There he tastes provision and shade, and drinks
Of fresh water, quenching the embers' searing heat!
Sweet water quenching the embers within.
وقدand indeed رَحَلواthey departed عَنِّيfrom me.. إلىto غَيْرِno رَجْعَةٍreturn..
وقد رَحَلوا عَنِّي.. إلى غَيْرِ رَجْعَةٍ..
ولمand not يبقremains مِمَّاof what كانwas عَيْرُexcept (apparent typo) فُتاتِcrumbs!
ولم يبق مِمَّا كان عَيْرُ فُتاتِ!
And they have departed from me, never to return,
They left me forever.. nothing remains
And nothing of what once was remains but crumbs!
Except remnants and scraps of the past.
أتَعْجَبُdo you wonder? منِّيat me.. مِنat دُمُوعيmy tears ولَهْفَتيand my longing..
أتَعْجَبُ منِّي.. مِن دُمُوعي ولَهْفَتي..
علىfor ذلكthat الماضِيthe past.. ومِنand at حَسَراتيmy bitter regrets؟!
على ذلك الماضِي.. ومِن حَسَراتي؟!
Do you wonder at me—at my tears and my longing
Do you wonder at my tears and pining
For that past, and at my bitter regrets?
For that bygone era, at my regrets?
فَقُلْتُso I said لهto it.. ياO رَبْعُabode ماnot أناI لائِمٌone who reproaches
فَقُلْتُ له.. يا رَبْعُ ما أنا لائِمٌ
ولكنَّنيbut I راثٍa mourner لِكَسْرfor the breaking of قَناةِa spear-shaft!
ولكنَّني راثٍ لِكَسْر قَناةِ!
So I said to it: O abode, I do not blame you,
I said: "O quarter, I blame no one.
But I mourn the breaking of a spear-shaft!
But I grieve for the loss of my canal."
فماfor not أناI إلاَّexcept مِنْكِof you بضعٌa part يرُوعُنيfrightens me
فما أنا إلاَّ مِنْكِ بضعٌ يرُوعُني
ويُفْزِعُنيand terrifies me رَوْضٌa garden غداbecame كَفَلاةِlike a desert!
ويُفْزِعُني رَوْضٌ غدا كَفَلاةِ!
For I am only a part of you; I am appalled
For without you, I'm but a glimpse that frightens me -
And terrified by a garden turned to desert!
A meadow that tomorrow becomes a wasteland.
بهin it العذبُfresh water مِلْحٌsalty بَعْدماafter كانَwas جارياًflowing
به العذبُ مِلْحٌ بَعْدما كانَ جارياً
زُلالاًcrystal-clear كَنِيلlike the Nile سائِغٍpleasant to drink.. وفُراتِand the Euphrates!
زُلالاً كَنِيل سائِغٍ.. وفُراتِ!
There, the fresh water is salty, after once flowing
The sweet turned salty after flowing
Crystal-clear, like the sweet waters of the Nile and Euphrates!
Clear as the Nile, smooth as Euphrates.
يُدِلُّboasts ويَزْهوand glories بالكُماةِin the warriors وَand.. وأَيْنَهُمْand where are they?؟!
يُدِلُّ ويَزْهو بالكُماةِ وَ.. وأَيْنَهُمْ؟!
فماfor not عَزَّتِgrew mighty الدُّنياthe world بِغَيْرِwithout كُماةِwarriors!
فما عَزَّتِ الدُّنيا بِغَيْرِ كُماةِ!
It boasts and glories in warriors—and... where are they?
It slopes and blossoms with stress.. but where are they?!
For the world has never been mighty without warriors!
For life tastes bitter without heroes around.
وماand not طابَwas pleasant عَيْشٌa life يَحْتميseeks shelter بِظَلامِهِin its darkness
وما طابَ عَيْشٌ يَحْتمي بِظَلامِهِ
ولاnor ضاءَshone إلاّexcept مِنthrough شُمُوسِthe suns of حُماةِdefenders!
ولا ضاءَ إلاّ مِن شُمُوسِ حُماةِ!
Nor has life been sweet while sheltering in its darkness,
No life feels good sheltered in its darkness,
Nor has it shone except through the suns of defenders!
No light shines but from the suns of defenders!
وهاand behold هوit يُقَِْصيهِkeeps it far السُّباتُslumber عنfrom العُلاthe heights
وها هو يُقَِْصيهِ السُّباتُ عن العُلا
فهلso ...? سوفwill يَصْحُوawaken بَعْدafter طُولِa long duration of سُباتِslumber؟!
فهل سوف يَصْحُو بَعْد طُولِ سُباتِ؟!
And behold, slumber keeps it far from the heights;
And now slumber takes him away from sublime heights..
Will it awaken after so long a slumber,
Will he wake after a lengthy hibernation?!
لٍيفَتَرعَto scale الأَوْجَthe pinnacle الرَّفيعَlofty. ويَسْتَوِيand settle
لٍيفَتَرعَ الأَوْجَ الرَّفيعَ. ويَسْتَوِي
عليهupon it كريماًnobly دُونَwithout خَوْفِfear of جُناةِwrongdoers!
عليه كريماً دُونَ خَوْفِ جُناةِ!
To scale the lofty pinnacle and settle
To ride the steep noble summit without fear
Upon it in honor, without fear of wrongdoers?
Of wicked bandits arriving to spoil and plunder.
لقدindeed كانتwere الأَسْلافُthe forebears مِنَّاamong us أماجِداًnoble..
لقد كانت الأَسْلافُ مِنَّا أماجِداً..
ولكنَّهمbut they بِالْمْجدِin glory غَيْرُnot عُتَاةِtyrants!
ولكنَّهم بِالْمْجدِ غَيْرُ عُتَاةِ!
Our forebears were indeed noble,
Our ancestors were glorious..
But in their glory they were no tyrants!
But never arrogant because of their glory!
جَنىdid wrong غَيْرُهمothers. واسْتَأسَدواand acted like lions بِسُيُوفِهمْwith their swords
جَنى غَيْرُهم. واسْتَأسَدوا بِسُيُوفِهمْ
بماthrough what حَصَدَتْreaped منof سُوقَةٍcommoners وسَراةِand nobles!
بما حَصَدَتْ من سُوقَةٍ وسَراةِ!
Others did wrong and acted like lions with their swords,
Others reaped the harvest of their blood and sweat,
Through what those swords reaped of commoners and nobles!
Seizing the spoils of their swords and steeds!
وماand not وَجَدَfound النَّاسُthe people الأمانَsafety بِقُرْبِهِمْnear them
وما وَجَدَ النَّاسُ الأمانَ بِقُرْبِهِمْ
ولاnor أَخْصَبتgrew fertile المَرْعىthe pasture بِشرِّthrough the evil of رُعاةِshepherds!
ولا أَخْصَبت المَرْعى بِشرِّ رُعاةِ!
And people found no safety near them,
Men found no safety in their company,
Nor did the pasture flourish under wicked shepherds!
Nor did the plains grow fertile under their shepherds.
وهمand they أَخْصَبواmade fertile الإجْدابَbarrenness دُونَwithout تَطاولٍarrogance
وهم أَخْصَبوا الإجْدابَ دُونَ تَطاولٍ
ولاnor طمعgreed فيfor طَيِّبِthe sweetness of الثَّمراتِthe fruits!
ولا طمع في طَيِّبِ الثَّمراتِ!
Yet our forebears made barren ground fertile, without arrogance,
But they made the land prosper without tyranny,
And without greed for sweet fruit!
Seeking no reward for the sweetest fruits.
فَطَابَso grew sweet الجَنَىthe harvest.. واسْتَمْتَعَand enjoyed النَّاسthe people بالْغِنَىwith prosperity
فَطَابَ الجَنَى.. واسْتَمْتَعَ النَّاس بالْغِنَى
وعادَتْand became سُفُوحُthe slopes of الأرْضِthe land كالسَّروَاتِlike the mountain heights!
وعادَتْ سُفُوحُ الأرْضِ كالسَّروَاتِ!
So the harvest was sweet, and people enjoyed prosperity,
So crops were bountiful, people delighted in plenty,
And the land's slopes became like the mountain heights!
And mountain slopes flourished like plateaus!
لَشَتَّانَhow different! ماemphasis بَيْنbetween الفَرِيقيْنthe two groups.. راشدٌrightly guided
لَشَتَّانَ ما بَيْن الفَرِيقيْن.. راشدٌ
وآخَرُand another غادٍgoing forth عاثِرُstumbling الخَطَواتِthe steps!
وآخَرُ غادٍ عاثِرُ الخَطَواتِ!
How different the two groups: one rightly guided,
What a difference between the two camps - one virtuous,
And the other going forth with faltering steps!
The other misguided, stumbling in its steps!
وحَدَّجَنيand stared at me الرَبْعُthe abode الحَزينُsorrowful بِنظْرَةٍwith a gaze
وحَدَّجَني الرَبْعُ الحَزينُ بِنظْرَةٍ
تفيضoverflows أسىًwith grief أَعْياbaffled بَليغَeloquent لُغاتِtongues!
تفيض أسىً أَعْيا بَليغَ لُغاتِ!
And the sorrowful abode fixed me with a gaze
The sorrowful quarter stared at me with a look
Overflowing with grief that defeated eloquent tongues!
Overflowing with grief beyond any lexicon..
وقالand said. لقدindeed واسَيْتَنيyou consoled me وَتَرَكْتَنيand you left me..
وقال. لقد واسَيْتَني وَتَرَكْتَني..
علىin غِبطَةٍjoy مِنat مُقْبِلِthe coming of السَّنَواتِthe years!
على غِبطَةٍ مِن مُقْبِلِ السَّنَواتِ!
And it said: You have indeed consoled me and left me
And said: "You have abandoned and deserted me..
In delight at the coming years!
Leaving me to welcome in years alone!"
كِلاناboth of us يُريدُdesire الخَيْرَgood.. لاnot أناI يائِسٌdespairing
كِلانا يُريدُ الخَيْرَ.. لا أنا يائِسٌ
ولاnor أَنْتَyou مِنof بُشْرىglad tidings بِماof what هوit آتىto come!
ولا أَنْتَ مِن بُشْرى بِما هو آتى!
Both of us desire good; I am not despairing,
We both seek what is good - I'm not despairing,
Nor do you despair of glad tidings of what is to come!
Nor you an herald of some coming promise!
شَكاتُكَyour complaint ماnot تُجْدِيhelps عَلَيْكَfor you بِلاwithout صَدًىan echo
شَكاتُكَ ما تُجْدِي عَلَيْكَ بِلا صَدًى
مُجِيبٍanswering ولاnor تجديhelps عَلَيَّfor me شَكاتيmy complaint!
مُجِيبٍ ولا تجدي عَلَيَّ شَكاتي!
Your complaint does you no good without an echo
Your complaints help you not without an answering echo;
That answers; nor does my complaint do me good!
Just as my cries are no use to you!
سأَصْبِرI shall be patient حتَّىuntil أطمَئنَّI am reassured بصَحْوةٍby an awakening
سأَصْبِر حتَّى أطمَئنَّ بصَحْوةٍ
تُبَلِّلُmoistens بالعَذْبِwith fresh water الفُراتِsweet لَهاتيmy uvula!
تُبَلِّلُ بالعَذْبِ الفُراتِ لَهاتي!
I shall be patient until an awakening reassures me,
I shall wait calmly for an awakening
That moistens my throat with fresh, sweet water!
That pours sweet water to quench my thirst.
فقدfor indeed أَيبَسَتْهاdried it out الحادثاتcalamities فَأَصْبَحَتْso it became
فقد أَيبَسَتْها الحادثات فَأَصْبَحَتْ
كَشَنِّlike a worn waterskin.. وماand not يَلْقىreceives حَنانَtenderness أُساةِhealers!
كَشَنِّ.. وما يَلْقى حَنانَ أُساةِ!
For calamities have dried it out, so it has become
Events have left it dry like faint wisps..
Like a worn waterskin, finding no tenderness from healers!
Meeting no kindness from passerby humans.
عَساناmay we نَرىsee مِنfrom مُقْبِلِapproaching الدَّهْرtime آتياًa future
عَسانا نَرى مِن مُقْبِلِ الدَّهْر آتياً
كماضٍlike a past مُخصِبِfertile الجَنَباتِthe reaches!
كماضٍ مُخصِبِ الجَنَباتِ!
May we see in the coming age a future
May we see the future bring renewed life -
Like the past, fertile on every side!
Invigorating the plains as before!
أياO صَبْوَةًa yearning أَدْمَتْbloodied حَشايmy heart.َ وأَرَّقَتْand kept awake
أيا صَبْوَةً أَدْمَتْ حَشاي.َ وأَرَّقَتْ
عُيُونيmy eyes.. وكانَتْand it was أَكْرَمَthe noblest الصَّبواتِthe yearnings!
عُيُوني.. وكانَتْ أَكْرَمَ الصَّبواتِ!
O yearning that bloodied my heart and kept
O youth who have pleased my inner depths,
My eyes sleepless—and was the noblest of yearnings!
Delighting my soul.. the best of youngsters!
لقدindeed أَجَّجَتْkindled مِنِّيwithin me الشُّعُورَfeeling فَألْهَمَتْso inspired
لقد أَجَّجَتْ مِنِّي الشُّعُورَ فَألْهَمَتْ
وقدand indeed أَيقَظَتْنيawakened me مِنfrom عَميقِdeep سُباتيmy slumber
وقد أَيقَظَتْني مِن عَميقِ سُباتي
It has indeed kindled my feelings and inspired me,
You have stirred my deepest feelings and inspired me.
And awakened me from my deep slumber!
You have awakened me from a deep slumber.
Sol 6.1