وماand not الشِّعْرُpoetry حُبٌlove شاغِفٌheart-consuming وصَبابةٌand ardent longing
وما الشِّعْرُ حُبٌ شاغِفٌ وصَبابةٌ
فَحَسْبُand nothing more. ولكنْbut حكمةٌwisdom وتأمُّلُand contemplation!
فَحَسْبُ. ولكنْ حكمةٌ وتأمُّلُ!
And poetry is not consuming love and ardent longing
Poetry is not just passionate love and youthful folly,
alone; rather, it is wisdom and contemplation!
That is hardly sufficient. It is wisdom and reflection!
جذبْتُI drew بهwith it نَحْويtoward me الفَواتِنَenchanting women فَتْرَةًfor a while
جذبْتُ به نَحْوي الفَواتِنَ فَتْرَةً
منof العُمْرِlife. ثمthen انْجابَfell away عَنِّيfrom me التَّدَلُّلُcoquetry!
من العُمْرِ. ثم انْجابَ عَنِّي التَّدَلُّلُ!
With it I drew enchanting women toward me for a while
For a while it drew me to beauties,
in my life; then coquetry fell away from me.
In the springtime of my life. Then, it weaned me off infatuation!
فقدfor indeed أَطْفَأَتquenched دُنْيايَmy world مِنsome of وقْدَةِthe blaze الصِّباyouth
فقد أَطْفَأَت دُنْيايَ مِن وقْدَةِ الصِّبا
وَوَلَّىand departed شَبابٌyouth كانused to يَسْطوact violently ويَجْهَلُand act rashly!
وَوَلَّى شَبابٌ كان يَسْطو ويَجْهَلُ!
For my world had quenched some of youth's flame,
It extinguished the flame of my youth kindled by the morning glow,
and youth departed, once domineering and reckless.
And bid farewell to a heedless youth given to ignorance.
وأَصْبَحَand became شِعْريmy poetry يَنْشُدُseeks الحَقَّtruth جاهراًopenly
وأَصْبَحَ شِعْري يَنْشُدُ الحَقَّ جاهراً
وماand not عادَreturned يُشْجِيهِmoves it to sorrow الهوىpassion والتَّغَزُّلُand love-verse!
وما عادَ يُشْجِيهِ الهوى والتَّغَزُّلُ!
And my poetry began to seek truth openly,
Now my verse sings of truth openly,
and passion and love-verse no longer moved it to sorrow.
No longer stirred by passion or amorous overtures.
أرانيI see myself. وماand not أَرْضىI accept لِشِعْريfor my poetry تَدَلُّهاًinfatuation
أراني. وما أَرْضى لِشِعْري تَدَلُّهاً
ولاnor ظَمَأًthirst لِلْكأْسfor the cup. فالْكأْسُfor the cup يَسْطِلُstupefies!
ولا ظَمَأً لِلْكأْس. فالْكأْسُ يَسْطِلُ!
I find I will not accept infatuation in my poetry,
Look at me! I do not approve of verse that is coy,
nor thirst for the cup, for the cup stupefies.
Nor a thirst for the cup. For the cup overflows!
وحُسْنُand the beauty الغَوانيfair women يَسْتَطِيلُlords it علىover الوَنىweakness
وحُسْنُ الغَواني يَسْتَطِيلُ على الوَنى
ويُعْرِضُand turns away عنهfrom it.. وهوwhile it is شِلْوٌa corpse مُجَدَّلُlaid low!
ويُعْرِضُ عنه.. وهو شِلْوٌ مُجَدَّلُ!
And fair women's beauty lords it over weakness,
The charms of the lovely ones fail over time,
and turns away from it—a corpse laid low.
And one turns away from them... For they are withering roses.
وقدand indeed صِرْتُهُI have become it فالشِّعْرُso poetry عِنْديto me مُقَدَّسٌsacred
وقد صِرْتُهُ فالشِّعْرُ عِنْدي مُقَدَّسٌ
فماso not أَرْتَضِيهِI accept it. وهوwhile it يَهْوِيfalls فَيَسْفُلُand sinks low!
فما أَرْتَضِيهِ. وهو يَهْوِي فَيَسْفُلُ!
And I have become that corpse; poetry to me is sacred,
I have elevated it so that poetry to me is sacred,
so I will not accept it falling and sinking low.
I do not approve if it aspires low.
ولاnor أَرْتَضِيهِI accept it عانِياًcaptive مُتَزَلِّفاًfawning..
ولا أَرْتَضِيهِ عانِياً مُتَزَلِّفاً..
ولاnor حاقِداًrancorous يَفْرِيrends حَناياهُits inner folds مِنْجَلُa sickle!
ولا حاقِداً يَفْرِي حَناياهُ مِنْجَلُ!
Nor will I accept it captive and fawning,
Nor do I approve it humiliated and groveling,
nor rancorous, a sickle rending its inner folds.
Or malicious unleashing its sickles.
سَمَوْتُI rose بهwith it للنَّجْمْto the star أَغْشىI approach مشارِفاًheights
سَمَوْتُ به للنَّجْمْ أَغْشى مشارِفاً
تُطِلُّoverlook علىupon كَوْنٍa universe بهin it الحَقُّtruth فَيْصَلُthe arbiter!
تُطِلُّ على كَوْنٍ به الحَقُّ فَيْصَلُ!
I soared with it starward, reaching heights
I carried it aloft to the stars, overcoming horizons
overlooking a universe where truth is the arbiter.
That look out on a universe in which truth prevails!
تُطِلُّlook down بهthrough it غُرُّradiant المَشاعِرِfeelings والنُّهىand reason
تُطِلُّ به غُرُّ المَشاعِرِ والنُّهى
عليكupon you بِسَلْسالٍwith flowing water زُلالٍclear and sweet فَتَنْهَلُso you drink deeply!
عليك بِسَلْسالٍ زُلالٍ فَتَنْهَلُ!
Through it, radiant feelings and reason look down
They look out with it on surging emotions and desires
upon you with clear, sweet-flowing water, and you drink deeply,
Quench your thirst through a gentle chain from which you drink!
وتَرْوِيand quench غَليلاًa burning longing كَانَwas لِلْمَجْدِfor glory ظامِئاًthirsty..
وتَرْوِي غَليلاً كَانَ لِلْمَجْدِ ظامِئاً..
فَلاقاهُso it found it لاnot يُكْدِيstints. ولاand not يَتَبَذَّلُdebases itself!
فَلاقاهُ لا يُكْدِي. ولا يَتَبَذَّلُ!
and quench a burning longing that had thirsted for glory,
And revive an ardor that was thirsty for glory...
and found it unstinting, without self-abasement.
It found no relief or servility in it!
فَقُلْتُso I said هُناhere طابَwas pleasant المُقامُthe dwelling لِوامِقٍfor a lover
فَقُلْتُ هُنا طابَ المُقامُ لِوامِقٍ
إلىtoward كلِّall ماthat which يُسْديbestows. ولاand not يَتَعَلَّلُmakes excuses!
إلى كلِّ ما يُسْدي. ولا يَتَعَلَّلُ!
So I said: Here is a pleasant dwelling for one who loves
So I said, here is the abode for lofty aims,
all that bestows and makes no excuses.
For all that soothes and does not rationalize!
ولاقَيْتُand I met فيهin it مَعْشَراًa company مُتَرَفِّعاًlofty-minded
ولاقَيْتُ فيه مَعْشَراً مُتَرَفِّعاً
فماfor not فِيهِin it أَوْحالٌmire. ولاnor فيهin it جَنْدَلُrocks
فما فِيهِ أَوْحالٌ. ولا فيه جَنْدَلُ
And there I met a lofty-minded company,
No muck or filth among them.
for there is no mire within it, nor any rocks.
But fine silk... and lustrous pearls...
بَلىrather فيهin it إِبْرِيزٌrefined gold نَقِيٌّpure.. ولُؤْلُؤٌand pearls
بَلى فيه إِبْرِيزٌ نَقِيٌّ.. ولُؤْلُؤٌ
سنِيٌّradiant. ورَوْضٌand a garden عَبْقَرِيٌّwondrous.. وجَدْوَلُand a stream!
سنِيٌّ. ورَوْضٌ عَبْقَرِيٌّ.. وجَدْوَلُ!
Rather, it holds pure gold and pearls
And a fragrant meadow...and a stream!
of radiant luster, and a wondrous garden and a stream.
They wrapped my soul in warmth and it responded,
وحَفُّواand they gathered بِرُوحِيaround my soul فاسْتَجابَتْso it responded فإِنَّهُمْfor indeed they
وحَفُّوا بِرُوحِي فاسْتَجابَتْ فإِنَّهُمْ
كِبارٌgreat بِماin what يَبْدوappears وماand what يَتَغَلْغَلُruns deep..!
كِبارٌ بِما يَبْدو وما يَتَغَلْغَلُ..!
And they gathered around my soul, which responded, for they
For they are great in what appears and what stirs beneath!
are great in what is outward and what runs deep within.
These are, in their generosity, Hatim and Antarah,
بَهالِيلُnoble men. هذاthis one حاتِمٌHatim فيin سَخائِهِhis generosity
بَهالِيلُ. هذا حاتِمٌ في سَخائِهِ
وعَنْتَرَةٌand Antarah هذاthis one. وهذاand this one السَّمَوْأَلُal-Samaw'al!
وعَنْتَرَةٌ هذا. وهذا السَّمَوْأَلُ!
Noble men: this one is Hatim in his generosity,
And this is Simawal!
and this one is Antarah, and this one is al-Samaw'al.
And they said, "You have entered a welcoming land,
وقالواand they said. لقدindeed آنَسْتَyou gladdened رَبْعاًan abode مُرَحِّباًwelcoming
وقالوا. لقد آنَسْتَ رَبْعاً مُرَحِّباً
بمنto whoever جاءهcame to it واسْتَكْرَمُونِيand esteemed me.. وأَجْزَلواand gave lavishly!
بمن جاءه واسْتَكْرَمُونِي.. وأَجْزَلوا!
And they said, 'You have gladdened an abode that welcomes
We have honored and been generous to those who came."
whoever comes to it'; they esteemed me and gave lavishly.
So my soul found peace with them...and my companions found peace,
فطِبْتُso I was glad بِهمthrough them نَفْساًin spirit.. وطِبْتُand I grew gracious بِهِمْthrough them نَدىًin generosity
فطِبْتُ بِهم نَفْساً.. وطِبْتُ بِهِمْ نَدىً
فقدfor indeed ضَمَّنيembraced me صَحْبٌcompanions كِرامٌnoble.. ومَنْزِلُand a home!
فقد ضَمَّني صَحْبٌ كِرامٌ.. ومَنْزِلُ!
So through them I was glad in spirit, and through them gracious in giving,
For a generous company...and home embraced me!
for noble companions and a home had embraced me.
I made my inspiration shine brightly with them...
وأَلْفَيْتُand I found إِلهامِيmy inspiration بِهِمْthrough them مُتَأَلِّقاًradiant..
وأَلْفَيْتُ إِلهامِي بِهِمْ مُتَأَلِّقاً..
تَعَزُّgains honor بِهِthrough it مِنْهُمْamong them جَنُوبٌsouth وشَمْأَلُand north!
تَعَزُّ بِهِ مِنْهُمْ جَنُوبٌ وشَمْأَلُ!
And I found my inspiration radiant through them;
My sides and left hand drew pride from them!
their south and north gain honor through it.
So if I were to soar I would not lie,
فَلَوْso if أَنَّنيthat I أَطْرَيْتُI lavished praise لمnot أَكُI would be كاذِباًa liar
فَلَوْ أَنَّني أَطْرَيْتُ لم أَكُ كاذِباً
ولاnor مادِحاًpraising مَنْone who غابَwas absent عنهfrom him التَّفَضُّلُgenerosity!
ولا مادِحاً مَنْ غابَ عنه التَّفَضُّلُ!
So if I lavished praise, I would not be lying,
Or flatter one who lacks nobility!
nor praising anyone devoid of generosity.
Nor grovel in hypocrisy and overindulge
ولمand not أَتَمَرَّغْI wallowed فيin الرِّياءِhypocrisy وأَغْتَدِيand go forth at dawn
ولم أَتَمَرَّغْ في الرِّياءِ وأَغْتَدِي
بماwith what قُلْتُI said.. بِئْسَhow vile المادِحُthe panegyrist المُتَوسِّلُthe supplicant!
بما قُلْتُ.. بِئْسَ المادِحُ المُتَوسِّلُ!
And I did not wallow in hypocrisy, nor go forth at dawn
In what I have said...how vile the flattering supplicant!
with what I said—how vile the begging panegyrist!
Oh how wretched are those who make verse seductively sweet
ألاindeed ساءَwretched is مَنْone who يُزْجِيoffers القَوافِيَrhymes حُلْوَةًsweet
ألا ساءَ مَنْ يُزْجِي القَوافِيَ حُلْوَةً
إلىto قَزَمٍa dwarf جَدْواهُhis bounty شَوْكthorns وحَنْظَلُand bitter gourd!
إلى قَزَمٍ جَدْواهُ شَوْك وحَنْظَلُ!
How vile is one who offers sweet rhymes
To a pygmy whose armor is thorns and brambles!
to a dwarf whose bounty is thorns and bitter gourd!
Contemptible. It brings no shame or begging!
هناhere الشِّعْرُpoetry مَجْدٌglory.. لاnot رِياءَhypocrisy ولاnor هَوىًpassion
هنا الشِّعْرُ مَجْدٌ.. لا رِياءَ ولا هَوىً
مَقِيتٌloathsome. فماso not يَخْزىit is disgraced. ولاand not يَتَسَوَّلُit begs!
مَقِيتٌ. فما يَخْزى. ولا يَتَسَوَّلُ!
Here poetry is glory, not hypocrisy or passion
With it a group ascended to the stars and rejoiced,
of a loathsome kind; it suffers no disgrace and does not beg.
While another plunged into darkness howling with it!
سماrose مِنْهُthrough it رَهْطٌa band لِلنُّجومِto the stars فَهلَّلُواso they exulted
سما مِنْهُ رَهْطٌ لِلنُّجومِ فَهلَّلُوا
وأَهْوىand hurled down بِهwith it للدَّرْكِto the depths رهْطٌa band فَأَعْوَلُواso they wailed!
وأَهْوى بِه للدَّرْكِ رهْطٌ فَأَعْوَلُوا!
Through it a band rose to the stars and exulted,
You are blessed to find glory and honor from it,
and another band hurled it to the depths and wailed.
While the invalid and misguided found shame and disgrace!
تَبارَكْتَblessed are you لاقيfound مِنْكَfrom you مَجْداًglory وعِزَّةًand honor
تَبارَكْتَ لاقي مِنْكَ مَجْداً وعِزَّةً
مُحِقٌone in the right. ولاقىand met الخِزْيَdisgrace والهُونَand abasement مُبْطِلُone in the wrong!
مُحِقٌ. ولاقى الخِزْيَ والهُونَ مُبْطِلُ!
Blessed are you! Glory and honor from you were found
I prostrated in gratitude to its dew and loftiness,
by one in the right; one in the wrong met shame and abasement.
For I was not of those who opposed and were shaken!
سَجَدْتُI prostrated myself امْتِناناًin gratitude لِلنَّدىfor bounty مِنْكَfrom you والعُلاand exaltation
سَجَدْتُ امْتِناناً لِلنَّدى مِنْكَ والعُلا
فماfor not كُنْتُI was مِمَّنْamong those who خالَفُوكَopposed you فَزُلْزِلُواso they were shaken!
فما كُنْتُ مِمَّنْ خالَفُوكَ فَزُلْزِلُوا!
I prostrated myself in gratitude for your bounty and exaltation,
Nor was I of those who blasphemed...and stumbled,
for I was not among those who opposed you and were shaken.
And none were deluded but the blind misguided!
وماand not كُنْتُI was مِمَّنْamong those who جَدَّفُواblasphemed.. فَتَعَثَّرواso they stumbled
وما كُنْتُ مِمَّنْ جَدَّفُوا.. فَتَعَثَّروا
وماand not مِنْهمواamong them إلاَّexcept العَمِيُّthe blind المُضَلَّلُthe deluded!
وما مِنْهموا إلاَّ العَمِيُّ المُضَلَّلُ!
Nor was I among those who blasphemed and stumbled,
And they were misled by cheap façades, so they went astray
and none of them is anything but blind and deluded.
Through barren wilds with no shelters!
وأَغْراهُمواand enticed them الزَّيْفُfalsehood الرَّخِيصُcheap فَأَوْغَلواso they ventured far
وأَغْراهُموا الزَّيْفُ الرَّخِيصُ فَأَوْغَلوا
بِهِwith it منof قِفارٍbarren wastes لَيْسthere is not فيهِنَّin them مَوْئِلُa refuge!
بِهِ من قِفارٍ لَيْس فيهِنَّ مَوْئِلُ!
And cheap falsehood enticed them, so they ventured far
For abundance is but machinery, containing no drink,
with it through barren wastes that offer no refuge.
And glory but drought, containing no food!
فماfor not الوَفْرُwealth إلاَّbut الآلُa mirage ماnot فِيهِin it مَشْرَبٌa drink
فما الوَفْرُ إلاَّ الآلُ ما فِيهِ مَشْرَبٌ
ولاand not المَجْدُglory إلاَّbut الجَدْبُbarrenness ماnot فِيهِin it مأْكَلُfood!
ولا المَجْدُ إلاَّ الجَدْبُ ما فِيهِ مأْكَلُ!
For wealth is only a mirage, with nothing in it to drink,
Both ruin their master if he is not,
and glory only barren ground, with nothing in it to eat.
Submissive to his Lord, at peace and resigned!
كلاeach of اثْنَيْهماthe two of them يُرْدِيbrings ruin إذاif كانَit is سَيِّداًa master
كلا اثْنَيْهما يُرْدِي إذا كانَ سَيِّداً
علىover رَبِّهِits owner.. والسَّالِمُand the safe one المُتَبَتِّلُthe devoted ascetic!
على رَبِّهِ.. والسَّالِمُ المُتَبَتِّلُ!
Each of the two brings ruin if it becomes master
But glory I seek...and wealth...
over its owner; the devoted ascetic is safe.
From You they are my glory and abundance, Most Sublime!
ولكنَّand yet مَجْداًglory أَبْتَغِيهِI seek it.. وثَرْوَةًand wealth..
ولكنَّ مَجْداً أَبْتَغِيهِ.. وثَرْوَةً..
لَدَيْكَwith you هُماthey both مَجْدِيmy glory وَوَفْرِيand my wealth المُجَلِّلُennobling!
لَدَيْكَ هُما مَجْدِي وَوَفْرِي المُجَلِّلُ!
But the glory I seek, and the riches
My soul disdains hastening to them...
with you—these are my glory and my ennobling wealth.
And my contentment comes from what is deferred...ordained!
ستَعْتَزَّwill take pride نَفْسيmy soul بالمُعَجَّلِin what is immediate مِنْهُماfrom both of them..
ستَعْتَزَّ نَفْسي بالمُعَجَّلِ مِنْهُما..
ويُرْضيand will please رُفاتيmy remains منfrom المَعادِthe hereafter.. المُؤَجَّلُwhat is deferred!
ويُرْضي رُفاتي من المَعادِ.. المُؤَجَّلُ!
My soul will take pride in the immediate portion of both,
You are glorified, my Lord... For I look to them both...
and the deferred portion in the hereafter will please my remains.
You are the Most Generous, Most Hopeful!
تَمَجَّدتَglorified are you رَبَّيmy Lord.. إنَّيindeed I مُتَطَلِّعٌlooking eagerly..
تَمَجَّدتَ رَبَّي.. إنَّي مُتَطَلِّعٌ..
إلىtoward اثْنَيْهماboth of them.. أَنْتَyou الكَرِيمُthe Generous One المُؤَمَّلُthe one hoped for!
إلى اثْنَيْهما.. أَنْتَ الكَرِيمُ المُؤَمَّلُ!
Glorified are you, my Lord; I am looking eagerly
toward them both; you are the Generous One in whom hope rests.
Partial English translation: 64 of 66 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1