نظَرْتُI looked إليهاat her وهيwhile she تَرْنُوgazed steadily بِطَرْفِهاwith her gaze
نظَرْتُ إليها وهي تَرْنُو بِطَرْفِها
إليَّat me كَلَيْثٍlike a lion فيin عَرِينٍa den مُمَنَّعِimpregnable!
إليَّ كَلَيْثٍ في عَرِينٍ مُمَنَّعِ!
I looked at her as she fixed her gaze
On me, like a lion in an impregnable den!
فَأطْرَقْتُso I lowered my head إجْلالاin reverence لهاfor her ومَهابةًand awe
فَأطْرَقْتُ إجْلالا لها ومَهابةً
وخِفْتُand I feared فقدfor perhaps تَلْهوshe plays وأَشْقىwhile I suffer بِمَصْرَعيthrough my death!
وخِفْتُ فقد تَلْهو وأَشْقى بِمَصْرَعي!
So I lowered my head in reverence and awe before her,
And I feared: she might play, while I die in misery!
وقلتand I said لهاto her رِفْقاًbe gentle فإنِّيfor I مُفَزَّعٌam terrified
وقلت لها رِفْقاً فإنِّي مُفَزَّعٌ
منby الحُسْنِbeauty هذاthis وهوwhile it غَيْرُis not مُفَزَّعِterrified!
من الحُسْنِ هذا وهو غَيْرُ مُفَزَّعِ!
And I said to her, “Be gentle, for I am terrified
By this beauty, while it remains unafraid!”
ألاah رُبَّmany a قَلْبٍheart منbelonging to جَمالٍa beauty مُبَرْقَعٍveiled
ألا رُبَّ قَلْبٍ من جَمالٍ مُبَرْقَعٍ
يُطِيحُlays low بِقَلْبٍa heart منof كَمِيًّa warrior مُدَرَّعِarmored!
يُطِيحُ بِقَلْبٍ من كَمِيًّ مُدَرَّعِ!
Ah, many a veiled beauty’s heart
Lays low the heart of an armored warrior!
تَبارَكْتَblessed are You رَبِّيmy Lord كيفhow يُشْقيmakes wretched قُلوبَناour hearts
تَبارَكْتَ رَبِّي كيف يُشْقي قُلوبَنا
ويُسعِدُهاand gladdens them حُسْنٌbeauty شدِيدُintense in التَّرَفُّعِaloofness؟!
ويُسعِدُها حُسْنٌ شدِيدُ التَّرَفُّعِ؟!
Blessed are You, my Lord! How does it torment our hearts
And gladden them—beauty so intensely aloof?
ولوand if أَنَّنيI خُيِّرْتُwere given a choice ماnot اخْتَرْتُwould I choose مَوْقِفاًa place to stand
ولو أَنَّني خُيِّرْتُ ما اخْتَرْتُ مَوْقِفاً
لَدىat بابِهِits door أُبْدِيI display إليهto it تَضَرُّعيmy supplication!
لَدى بابِهِ أُبْدِي إليه تَضَرُّعي!
And had I been given a choice, I would not have chosen to stand
At its door, displaying my supplication to it!
فَلِلْحُرِّfor the free person نَفْسٌa soul لاnot تَطيقُcan bear تَضَرُّعاًsupplication..
فَلِلْحُرِّ نَفْسٌ لا تَطيقُ تَضَرُّعاً..
ولاand not تنثنيdoes it turn away عنfrom مَجْدِهاits glory المَتَضَوِّعِfragrantly diffusing!
ولا تنثني عن مَجْدِها المَتَضَوِّعِ!
For the free person’s soul cannot bear supplication,
Nor does it turn from its fragrant glory!
ولكِنَّهاyet it تهفوyearns إلىfor الحُبِّlove مُلْهِماًinspiring..
ولكِنَّها تهفو إلى الحُبِّ مُلْهِماً..
بِكُلِّwith every نَضِيرٍfresh thing فيin الحياةِlife ومُمْرِعِand lush thing!
بِكُلِّ نَضِيرٍ في الحياةِ ومُمْرِعِ!
Yet it yearns for love, which inspires it
With all that is fresh and lush in life:
بِيَنْبُوعهاwith its spring الحاليsweet.. بِشَدْوِwith the song of طُيُورِهاits birds
بِيَنْبُوعها الحالي.. بِشَدْوِ طُيُورِها
بِآلائِهاwith its blessings منof كُلِّevery غالٍprecious thing ومُمْتِعِand delightful thing!
بِآلائِها من كُلِّ غالٍ ومُمْتِعِ!
With its sweet spring, with its birdsong,
With its blessings, all that is precious and delightful!
فكيفso how أَطِيقُcan I bear الصَّبْرَforbearance عنهaway from it وصَبْوَتيwhile my longing
فكيف أَطِيقُ الصَّبْرَ عنه وصَبْوَتي
إليهfor it كجَمْرٍlike embers حارِقٍburning بَيْنbetween أَضْلُعيmy ribs؟!
إليه كجَمْرٍ حارِقٍ بَيْن أَضْلُعي؟!
How can I bear to forgo it, when my longing
For it is like burning embers between my ribs?
فياso, oh لَيْتَهif only it لمhad not يَطْغَgrown tyrannical.. ياoh لَيْتَif only قَلْبَهُits heart
فيا لَيْتَه لم يَطْغَ.. يا لَيْتَ قَلْبَهُ
شَجِيٌّsorrowful فماand so not يَطْغىacts tyrannically كَقَلْبيlike my heart المُوَلَّعlove-stricken!
شَجِيٌّ فما يَطْغى كَقَلْبي المُوَلَّع!
Oh, if only it had not grown tyrannical! If only its heart
Were sorrowful and not tyrannical, like my love-stricken heart!
ولكِنَّbut بَعْضَsome الحُسْنِbeauty يَدْفَعُdrives ربَّهits possessor
ولكِنَّ بَعْضَ الحُسْنِ يَدْفَعُ ربَّه
إلىto جَنَفٍinjustice يَقْسوis cruel علىtoward المُتَوَجِّعِthe sufferer!
إلى جَنَفٍ يَقْسو على المُتَوَجِّعِ!
But some beauty drives its possessor
To injustice that treats the sufferer cruelly!
فَيَضْطَرُّهthus it forces him إِمَّاeither إلىto النَّأْيdeparture كارِهاًunwillingly
فَيَضْطَرُّه إِمَّا إلى النَّأْي كارِهاً
وإمَّاor else إلىinto جَدْيa goat kid يَسيرُwalking بأَرْبَعِon four legs!
وإمَّا إلى جَدْي يَسيرُ بأَرْبَعِ!
Thus forcing him either to depart unwillingly,
Or to become a goat kid, walking on all fours!
ولَيْسَand there is no كَمِثْلِanything like الهَجْرِabandonment لِلْحُرِّfor the free person قاتِلٌkiller
ولَيْسَ كَمِثْلِ الهَجْرِ لِلْحُرِّ قاتِلٌ
ولَيْسand there is none كمِثْلِlike النَّأْيseparation لِلْمُتَفَجِّعfor the grief-stricken..!
ولَيْس كمِثْلِ النَّأْي لِلْمُتَفَجِّع..!
No killer of the free is like abandonment,
Nor, for the grief-stricken, is any like separation!
ولوand if كانwere رَبُّthe possessor of الحُسْنِbeauty يُدْرِكُto realize أَنَّهthat
ولو كان رَبُّ الحُسْنِ يُدْرِكُ أَنَّه
غَداًtomorrow سَوْفَwill يَمْضيdepart الحُسْنُbeauty غَيْرَwithout مُوَدِّعِbidding farewell!
غَداً سَوْفَ يَمْضي الحُسْنُ غَيْرَ مُوَدِّعِ!
If the possessor of beauty realized that
Tomorrow beauty will depart without farewell,
لَمَاthen not كانَwould he be مَفْتُوناًinfatuated.. وماnor كانَwould he be قاسِياًcruel
لَمَا كانَ مَفْتُوناً.. وما كانَ قاسِياً
علىtoward عاشِقٍa lover ذِيwith خافِقٍa beating heart مُتَقَطِّعِbreaking apart!
على عاشِقٍ ذِي خافِقٍ مُتَقَطِّعِ!
He would not be infatuated, nor would he be cruel
To a lover whose beating heart is breaking!
فياso, ah رُبَّماperhaps يَغْدوwill awaken العَتِيُّthe arrogant one وحُسْنُهُwhile his beauty
فيا رُبَّما يَغْدو العَتِيُّ وحُسْنُهُ
تَوَلَّىhas departed فَيُشْقِيهand so torments him ازْدِراءcontempt for التَّقطُّعِheartbreak!
تَوَلَّى فَيُشْقِيه ازْدِراء التَّقطُّعِ!
Ah, the arrogant one may yet awaken, his beauty
Gone, and contempt for his heartbreak tormenting him!
وقالand said أُصَيْحابيmy dear companions. وقدwhen already شابَhad grayed مَفْرِقيmy hair’s parting
وقال أُصَيْحابي. وقد شابَ مَفْرِقي
وبانتْand appeared غُضُونٌwrinkles فيon المُحَيَّاthe face المُضَلَّعِangular!
وبانتْ غُضُونٌ في المُحَيَّا المُضَلَّعِ!
And my dear companions said, when my hair’s parting had grayed
And wrinkles had appeared on my angular face:
متىwhen أَنْتَyou ياO هذاyou there المُدَلَّهُlove-bewildered one تَرْعَوِيcome to your senses
متى أَنْتَ يا هذا المُدَلَّهُ تَرْعَوِي
وتُقْصِرُand desist عنfrom هذاthis الهوىpassion المُتَطَلِّعِever-aspiring؟!
وتُقْصِرُ عن هذا الهوى المُتَطَلِّعِ؟!
“When will you, you love-bewildered man, come to your senses
And desist from this ever-aspiring passion?
لقدindeed عُدْتَyou have become شَيْخاًan old man راعِشاًtrembling مُتَخلِّعاًtottering
لقد عُدْتَ شَيْخاً راعِشاً مُتَخلِّعاً
وماand not زِلْتَhave you ceased عنfrom بَلْواكَyour affliction لَسْتَyou are not بِمُقْلِعَone who desists؟!
وما زِلْتَ عن بَلْواكَ لَسْتَ بِمُقْلِعَ؟!
You have become a trembling, tottering old man,
Yet still you will not give up your affliction!
يُشِيحُturn away الهوىlove والحُسْنُand beauty عنكَfrom you. أَماdo you not تَرىsee
يُشِيحُ الهوى والحُسْنُ عنكَ. أَما تَرى
وتسمعand hear ماwhat قالاهthey both said فيكabout you؟! ألاdo you not تَعِيunderstand؟!
وتسمع ما قالاه فيك؟! ألا تَعِي؟!
Love and beauty turn away from you. Do you not see
And hear what they both have said of you? Do you not understand?”
وقُلْتُand I said لأَصْحابيto my companions. لقدindeed كُنُتُI was طامِعاًcovetous
وقُلْتُ لأَصْحابي. لقد كُنُتُ طامِعاً
وقدand indeed كانَwas ماwhat حاوَلْتُهُI pursued it شَرَّthe worst مَطْمَعِobject of desire!
وقد كانَ ما حاوَلْتُهُ شَرَّ مَطْمَعِ!
And I told my companions: Indeed, I was covetous,
And what I pursued was the worst object of desire!
وقدand indeed كنْتُI was ضِلِّيلاًdeeply astray حَسَبْتُI considered كهُولَتِيmy middle age
وقد كنْتُ ضِلِّيلاً حَسَبْتُ كهُولَتِي
كمِثْلِlike شبابٍyouth ساءَwas wicked فيهduring it تَمَتُّعيmy indulgence!
كمِثْلِ شبابٍ ساءَ فيه تَمَتُّعي!
I was deeply astray: I reckoned my middle age
No different from youth, when my indulgence was wicked!
مِنof الرُّشْدِwisdom لِلْفانِيfor the mortal الذيwho عاشَlived ماجناًlicentiously
مِن الرُّشْدِ لِلْفانِي الذي عاشَ ماجناً
وصَدَّعَهُand shattered him الشَّيْطانُSatan أُنَكىmost grievous تَصَدُّعِshattering!
وصَدَّعَهُ الشَّيْطانُ أُنَكى تَصَدُّعِ!
It is wisdom for the mortal who lived licentiously,
And whom Satan shattered with the cruelest shattering,
تَراجُعُهُhis turning back عنfrom غَيّهِhis waywardness واجْتِنابُهُand his avoidance of
تَراجُعُهُ عن غَيّهِ واجْتِنابُهُ
مآثِمَهُhis sins قَبْلَbefore الرَّدىdeath المُتَوَقِّعِexpected!
مآثِمَهُ قَبْلَ الرَّدى المُتَوَقِّعِ!
To turn back from his waywardness and shun
His sins before the death that awaits!
ولمand not أَتَراجَعْhave I turned back بَعْدُyet ياoh لَيْتَif only أَنَّنيI
ولم أَتَراجَعْ بَعْدُ يا لَيْتَ أَنَّني
سَلَكْتُI had followed سَبِيليthe two paths of حِكْمةٍwisdom وتَهَجُّعَand sleep!
سَلَكْتُ سَبِيلي حِكْمةٍ وتَهَجُّعَ!
Yet I have not turned back yet. If only I
Had taken the twin paths of wisdom and repose!
فَشَتَّانَso vast the difference ماindeed بَينيْbetween تَفَجّعِthe anguish of يافعٍa youth
فَشَتَّانَ ما بَينيْ تَفَجّعِ يافعٍ
وشَيْخٍand an old man علىdespite العِلاَّتِinfirmities لمdid not يَتَوَجَّعِfeel anguish!
وشَيْخٍ على العِلاَّتِ لم يَتَوَجَّعِ!
How vast the gulf between a youth’s anguish
And an old man who felt no anguish despite his infirmities!
تَبارَكْتَblessed are You رَبِّيmy Lord هلwill سَتَسْخوYou be generous لآِبِقٍto a runaway servant
تَبارَكْتَ رَبِّي هل سَتَسْخو لآِبِقٍ
بِتَوْبَتِهwith his repentance حتىuntil يَرىhe sees خَيْرَthe best مَهْجَعِresting place!
بِتَوْبَتِه حتى يَرى خَيْرَ مَهْجَعِ!
Blessed are You, my Lord! Will You be generous to a runaway servant,
Granting him repentance, till he sees the best resting place,
فَيَمْشيso he may walk بهin it مِنfrom بَعْدِafter طُولِa long period of غِوايةٍwaywardness..
فَيَمْشي به مِن بَعْدِ طُولِ غِوايةٍ..
ويَسْرِيand journey by night علىby نورٍa light هناكthere مُشَعْشَعِradiant!
ويَسْرِي على نورٍ هناك مُشَعْشَعِ!
So he may walk there, after long waywardness,
And journey by night in the radiant light there?
بَلىyes indeed إِنَّنيI indeed أَرْجوhope فماfor not ليdo I have وسِيلَةٌa means
بَلى إِنَّني أَرْجو فما لي وسِيلَةٌ
سوىexcept عَفْوِهِHis pardon المأْمُولِhoped-for يَوْمَon the day of التَّجَمُّعِgathering!
سوى عَفْوِهِ المأْمُولِ يَوْمَ التَّجَمُّعِ!
Yes, indeed I hope, for I have no means
Except His hoped-for pardon on the Day of Gathering!
تَجَرَّعْتُI drank down حُلْوَthe sweetness of الإِثْمِsin يَوْمَin the time of شَبِيبَتيmy youth
تَجَرَّعْتُ حُلْوَ الإِثْمِ يَوْمَ شَبِيبَتي
وهاand here أناI am أَشْكوcomplaining منof قرِيرِthe chill of التَّجَرُّعِdrinking down!
وها أنا أَشْكو من قرِيرِ التَّجَرُّعِ!
I drank down the sweetness of sin in my youth,
And here I am, complaining of the chill of drinking it down!
لقدindeed جَعَلَتْmade مِنِّيof me الغِوايَةُwaywardness طِفْلَهاits child
لقد جَعَلَتْ مِنِّي الغِوايَةُ طِفْلَها
وأدْنَتْand brought close فَميmy mouth الظَّمآنthirsty مِنto ثَدْيthe breast of مُرْضِعِa nursing woman!
وأدْنَتْ فَمي الظَّمآن مِن ثَدْي مُرْضِعِ!
Waywardness indeed made me its child,
And brought my thirsty mouth close to a nursing woman’s breast!
وأهْفُوand I yearn بِيَوْميin my present day لِلتُّقىfor piety وجَلالِهِand its majesty
وأهْفُو بِيَوْمي لِلتُّقى وجَلالِهِ
ونِيَّةِand the intention of قِدِّيسٍa saint. وعَزْمand the resolve of سَمَيْدَعِa noble chief!
ونِيَّةِ قِدِّيسٍ. وعَزْم سَمَيْدَعِ!
Yet today I yearn for piety and its majesty,
For a saint’s intention and a noble chief’s resolve!
كأَنِّيas though I بِنَفْسيwith my soul. وهيwhile it فيin حَمْأَةِthe mire of القَذىfilth
كأَنِّي بِنَفْسي. وهي في حَمْأَةِ القَذى
تَنِقُّcroaks. فماand so not كانتwas it سوىother than نَفْسِthe soul of ضُفْدُعِa frog!
تَنِقُّ. فما كانت سوى نَفْسِ ضُفْدُعِ!
I seem to see my soul, there in the mire of filth,
Croaking—it was nothing but the soul of a frog!
أَهِيْمُI am enamored بِمَجْدِof the glory of الخالِدينthe immortals وأَجْتَليand I behold
أَهِيْمُ بِمَجْدِ الخالِدين وأَجْتَلي
محاسِنَهُمtheir virtues.. أَهْليmy family وصَحْبيand my companions ومَرْبَعيand my abode..!
محاسِنَهُم.. أَهْلي وصَحْبي ومَرْبَعي..!
I am enamored of the glory of the immortals, and behold
Their virtues—my family, my companions, my abode!
Sol 6.1