ماذاwhat حلاgrew sweet لكِfor you بَعديafter me
ماذا حلا لكِ بَعدي
بعدafter القِلاaversion والتَّصدِّيand defiance؟!
بعد القِلا والتَّصدِّي؟!
What has grown sweet for you after me,
What has befallen you after me
After aversion and defiance?!
After the separation and estrangement?!
أمَّاas for أناI فِحَلاِthen grew sweet ليfor me
أمَّا أنا فِحَلاِ لي
أَنِّيthat I حَظِيتُI was favored بِجُنْدِwith an army!
أَنِّي حَظِيتُ بِجُنْدِ!
As for me, what has pleased me
As for me, my solace
Is that I have gained an army—
Is that I was blessed with beauty!
منof المِلاحِthe beauties شَذِيٌّfragrant
من المِلاحِ شَذِيٌّ
أَعِيشُI live منهthrough it بِرَغْدِin plenty!
أَعِيشُ منه بِرَغْدِ!
Of beauties, fragrant—
With a charm that I live luxuriously with!
Through which I live in plenty!
While you are alone, bleak
وحيدةٌalone أنْتِyou.. شِلْوٌa torn remnant
وحيدةٌ أنْتِ.. شِلْوٌ
منfrom بعدafter عِزَّhonor ومَجْدِand glory!
من بعد عِزَّ ومَجْدِ!
Alone you are—a torn remnant,
After glory and might!
After honor and glory!
None desire you, so they incline
لاnot يَشْتَهِيهاdesires her فَيَصْبوand so yearns
لا يَشْتَهِيها فَيَصْبو
إلىfor القَذىrefuse غَيْرُexcept وَغْدِa scoundrel
إلى القَذى غَيْرُ وَغْدِ
None desires her and yearns
Towards trash except for a glutton
For refuse, save a scoundrel.
You were once a shining star
قدindeed كنْتِyou were نَجْماًa star وَضِيئاًradiant
قد كنْتِ نَجْماً وَضِيئاً
لِكُلِّfor every غَوْرٍlowland ونَجْدِand upland!
لِكُلِّ غَوْرٍ ونَجْدِ!
You were once a radiant star
For every gorge and plateau!
For every lowland and upland!
The muscular envied you intensely
حَسَدْنَكِthey envied you الغِيدُthe graceful women وَجْداًpassionately
حَسَدْنَكِ الغِيدُ وَجْداً
كَمِثْلِlike حَدَِّthe edge الفِرِنْدِthe sword!
كَمِثْلِ حَدَِّ الفِرِنْدِ!
The graceful women envied you with a passion
Like the edge of a sharp sword!
As keen as the edge of a sword!
And they said you're not up to it
وقُلْنَand they said لْيسَتْshe is not بِنِدَّa peer
وقُلْنَ لْيسَتْ بِنِدَّ
فأنْتfor you are أعْظَمُgreatest ندِّpeer!
فأنْت أعْظَمُ ندِّ!
And said: She is no peer,
Yet you are the greatest supporter!
For you are the greatest of peers!
And we will reward you with affection
ونحنand we نَجْزِيكَrepay you وُدّاًaffection
ونحن نَجْزِيكَ وُدّاً
إذاif أَرَدْتyou wish بِوُِدِّfor affection !
إذا أَرَدْت بِوُِدِّ !
And we repay you with affection,
If you wanted with friendship!
For affection, if you wish!
Rather, we will reward you with connection
بلrather سوفwill نَجْزِيكَrepay you وَصْلاًunion
بل سوف نَجْزِيكَ وَصْلاً
وقدand indeed جُزِيتَyou were repaid بِصَدِّwith rejection!
وقد جُزِيتَ بِصَدِّ!
Rather, we will grant you union,
And you have been rewarded with rejection!
Though you have been repaid with rejection!
We are the beautiful gazelles
نَحْنwe الحِسانُthe beautiful women اللَّواتيwho
نَحْن الحِسانُ اللَّواتي
فيin الرَّوْضِthe garden أَنْضَرُfreshest وَرْدِroses!
في الرَّوْضِ أَنْضَرُ وَرْدِ!
We are the beautiful women who are
In the garden, more radiant than flowers!
The freshest roses in the garden!
And we fell in love with poetry
وقدand indeed شُغِفْناwe were captivated بِشِعْرٍby poetry
وقد شُغِفْنا بِشِعْرٍ
يشفيheals الصُّدورَthe hearts ويُسديand bestows favors!
يشفي الصُّدورَ ويُسدي!
And we have been captivated by verse
That heals the chests and pours forth!
That heals hearts and bestows favors!
As if it were the warbling of a bird
كأَنَّهas though it were شَدْوُsong طَيْرٍbirds
كأَنَّه شَدْوُ طَيْرٍ
كأنَّهas though it were طَعْمtaste شَهْدِhoney!
كأنَّه طَعْم شَهْدِ!
As though it were birdsong,
As if it were the taste of honey!
As though it were the taste of honey!
And it may be a warner
وقدand perhaps يكونُit is نَذِيراًa warning
وقد يكونُ نَذِيراً
كَمِثْلِlike بَرْقٍlightning ورَعْدِand thunder!
كَمِثْلِ بَرْقٍ ورَعْدِ!
And it may be a warning,
Like lightning and thunder!
Like lightning and thunder!
Take the peak of beauty and leave
خُذْtake قِمَّةَthe pinnacle الحُسْنِbeauty واتْرُكِand leave
خُذْ قِمَّةَ الحُسْنِ واتْرُكِ
ماwhat كانَwas منهof it كلَحْدِlike a tomb!
ما كانَ منه كلَحْدِ!
Take the pinnacle of beauty, and leave
What was of it rough
Whatever in it was like a tomb!
The inspirers are like who dress
المُلْهِماتُthe muses كَسَوْنَthey clothed
المُلْهِماتُ كَسَوْنَ
القَريضَpoetry أَجْمَلthe loveliest بُرْدِmantle!
القَريضَ أَجْمَل بُرْدِ!
The muses have clothed
Poetry in the finest attire!
Verse in the loveliest mantle!
And they dressed it in attire
وقدand indeed كَساهُنَّit clothed them بُرْداًa mantle
وقد كَساهُنَّ بُرْداً
فَرُحْنَso they went away منهfrom it بِخُلْدِwith immortality!
فَرُحْنَ منه بِخُلْدِ!
And it has clothed them in a mantle,
So they rejoiced in it eternally!
So they came away from it immortal!
So bestow upon us your poetry
فاصْدَحْso sing out بِشِعْرِكَwith your poetry فيناamong us
فاصْدَحْ بِشِعْرِكَ فينا
ياO شاعراًpoet مِنfrom مَعَدِّMaʿadd..!
يا شاعراً مِن مَعَدِّ..!
So sing out your poetry among us,
O poet of integrity..!
O poet of Maʿadd!
For it is for transcendence
فإنهfor it لِسُمُوَّtoward exaltation
فإنه لِسُمُوَّ
يَقُودُit leads .. لاnot لِتَردِّيtoward decline!
يَقُودُ .. لا لِتَردِّي!
For it is toward exaltation
It leads.. not to decline!
That it leads—not toward decline!
And the free poet disdains
والشاعِرُand the poet الحُرُّfree يأْبَىrefuses
والشاعِرُ الحُرُّ يأْبَى
إلاَّexcept قَبُولَaccepting التَّحَدِّيthe challenge!
إلاَّ قَبُولَ التَّحَدِّي!
And the free poet refuses
Except accepting the challenge!
Anything but accepting the challenge!
And she challenged you one day
وقدand indeed تَحَدَّتْكَshe challenged you يوماًonce
وقد تَحَدَّتْكَ يوماً
فَجاوزَتْso she exceeded كُلِّall قَصْدِmoderation!
فَجاوزَتْ كُلِّ قَصْدِ!
And she once challenged you,
So she surpassed all intentions!
And went beyond all moderation!
So toss her in a pit
فأَلْقِهاso cast her فيinto حفيرa pit
فأَلْقِها في حفير
فإِنَّهfor it خَيْرُthe best حَدِّpunishment...!
فإِنَّه خَيْرُ حَدِّ...!
So cast her into a pit,
For it is the best boundary...!
For that is the best punishment!
Not who gets lost in glory
ماnot مَنْone who يَتِيهُboasts بِمَجْدٍof glory
ما مَنْ يَتِيهُ بِمَجْدٍ
كمنlike one who يَتِيهboasts بِنَهْدِof a breast!
كمن يَتِيه بِنَهْدِ!
One who boasts of glory is not
Like who gets lost in cleavage!
Like one who boasts of a breast!
And we heard a talk
وقدand indeed سَمِعْناwe heard حَدِيثاًa tale
وقد سَمِعْنا حَدِيثاً
يُشْقيtorments النُّفُوسَthe souls ويُرْدىand destroys!
يُشْقي النُّفُوسَ ويُرْدى!
And we have heard a tale
That grieves the souls and lays them to waste!
That torments souls and destroys them!
Saying she was a gazelle
يَقُولُit says كانتshe was غزالاًa gazelle
يَقُولُ كانت غزالاً
فأَصْبَحَتْthen she became مِثْلَlike قِرْدِa monkey!
فأَصْبَحَتْ مِثْلَ قِرْدِ!
It says she was a gazelle,
But became like an ape!
Then became like a monkey!
She did not settle down with joking
فلاso not اسْتَقامَتْshe was upright بِهَزْلٍin jest
فلا اسْتَقامَتْ بِهَزْلٍ
ولاnor استقامَتْshe was upright بِجِدِّin earnest!
ولا استقامَتْ بِجِدِّ!
Thus she was upright neither in jest,
Nor settled down seriously!
Nor was she upright in earnest!
So they turned away from her,
فَصَدَّso turned away عنهاfrom her هُواةًadmirers..
فَصَدَّ عنها هُواةً..
منfrom كُلِّevery حُرِّfreeman وَعَبْدِand slave!
من كُلِّ حُرِّ وَعَبْدِ!
So her admirers turned away from her—
All the free and enslaved!
From among all freemen and slaves!
She said to them, what has befallen you
قالتshe said لهمto them ماwhat اعْتَراكُمْcame over you
قالت لهم ما اعْتَراكُمْ
مِنfrom بَعْدafter حُبِّlove وَوَجْدِand passion!
مِن بَعْد حُبِّ وَوَجْدِ!
She said to them: What has come over you
After love and passion!
After love and passion?!
You were soldiers to me
كُنْتُمْyou were لدَيَّat my side جُنوداًsoldiers
كُنْتُمْ لدَيَّ جُنوداً
يَخْشَوْنَthey feared صَدِّىmy rejection وبُعْديand my distance!
يَخْشَوْنَ صَدِّى وبُعْدي!
You were soldiers at my side,
Fearing my voice and distance!
Who feared my rejection and my distance!
My love floored you as corpses
صَرْعىslain هَوايَlove for me جُثِيّاًkneeling
صَرْعى هَوايَ جُثِيّاً
ماnot تَسْتَطيلونyou acted arrogantly عِنْديbefore me!
ما تَسْتَطيلون عِنْدي!
Slain by love for me, on your knees,
You cannot stand before me!
Never acting haughtily before me!
You left me and went
تَرَكْتُمونيyou left me ورُحْتُمْand you went away
تَرَكْتُموني ورُحْتُمْ
عَنِّيfrom me. فأصْبَحْتُso I became وَحْديalone!
عَنِّي. فأصْبَحْتُ وَحْدي!
You left me and went away
Away from me, so I was alone!
From me, so I was left alone!
You were weak sheep
كُنْتُمْyou were خِرافاَsheep ضِعافاًweak
كُنْتُمْ خِرافاَ ضِعافاً
فكيفso how عُدْتُمْyou became كأُسْدِlike lions؟!
فكيف عُدْتُمْ كأُسْدِ؟!
You were feeble sheep,
So how did you become like lions?!
So how have you become like lions?!
They said to her, we were protected
قالواthey said لهاto her. قدindeed وُقِيناwe were protected
قالوا لها. قد وُقِينا
منfrom شَرِّevil ذاكthat التَّعَدِّيaggression!
من شَرِّ ذاك التَّعَدِّي!
They said to her: We have been protected
From the evil of that transgression!
From the evil of that aggression!
From the evil of deceptive beauty
منfrom شَرِّevil حُسْنِbeauty هَصُورٍcrushing
من شَرِّ حُسْنِ هَصُورٍ
ماnot إنْemphatic particle لهfor it مِنany مَرَدِّrepelling!
ما إنْ له مِن مَرَدِّ!
From the evil of a crushing beauty
That has no cure!
Against which there is no defense!
We lived paying its price for ages
عِشْناwe lived نُفَدِّيهsacrificing ourselves for it دَهْراًfor an age
عِشْنا نُفَدِّيه دَهْراً
وماand not نَراهُwe see it يُفَدَِّيit makes sacrifices!
وما نَراهُ يُفَدَِّي!
We lived for an age, sacrificing ourselves for it,
And we do not see it pays off!
Yet we never see it sacrifice in return!
And we were worn out by misfortune
وقدand indeed بُلِناwe were tried بِنَحْسِwith ill fortune
وقد بُلِنا بِنَحْسِ
وماand not بُلِيناwe were tried بِسَعْدِwith good fortune..!
وما بُلِينا بِسَعْدِ..!
And we were visited by ill fortune,
And were not worn out by good fortune..!
But never visited by good fortune!
She said, woe to you for you
قالتshe said خَسِئْتُمْshame on you فأنْتُمْfor you are
قالت خَسِئْتُمْ فأنْتُمْ
بُغاةُseekers مَكْرٍdeceit وكَيْدِand guile!
بُغاةُ مَكْرٍ وكَيْدِ!
She said: Shame on you, for you are
Are the rebels of cunning and deceit!
Seekers of deceit and guile!
And copious tears flowed
وسالand flowed دَمْعٌtears غَزيرٌcopious
وسال دَمْعٌ غَزيرٌ
منهاfrom her علىover كُلِّevery خَدِّcheek!
منها على كُلِّ خَدِّ!
And copious tears flowed
From her over every cheek!
From her down each cheek!
She said, I wish I
قالَتْshe said تَمَنَّيْتُI wished أنِّيthat I
قالَتْ تَمَنَّيْتُ أنِّي
قدhad لُذْتُI took refuge يَوْماًonce برُشْديin my good sense!
قد لُذْتُ يَوْماً برُشْدي!
She said: I wish that I
Was guided one day by my reason!
Had once taken refuge in my good sense,
So I did not pasture it with rejection
فلمso not أَرُعْهُI alarmed him بِصَدٍّwith rejection
فلم أَرُعْهُ بِصَدٍّ
ولمand not أرُعْهI alarmed him بِحَصْدِby cutting down!
ولم أرُعْه بِحَصْدِ!
And had not alarmed him with rejection,
Nor pasture it with harvesting!
Nor alarmed him by cutting him down!
It was an impenetrable dam
قدindeed كانhe was سَدّاًa barrier مَنِيعاًimpregnable
قد كان سَدّاً مَنِيعاً
وقدand indeed عَبَثْتُI toyed بِسَدِّيwith my barrier!
وقد عَبَثْتُ بِسَدِّي!
He had been an impregnable barrier,
And I toyed with my dam!
And I had toyed with my barrier!
And it was a beautiful promise
وكانand he was وعْداًa promise جَميلاًbeautiful
وكان وعْداً جَميلاً
فماyet not وَفَيْتُI kept faith لِوَعْديwith my promise!
فما وَفَيْتُ لِوَعْدي!
And he had been a beautiful promise,
Yet I did not fulfill my promise!
Yet I did not keep my promise!
This is the story of a sword
هذيthis حكايةُthe tale of سَيْفِa sword
هذي حكايةُ سَيْفِ
لمnot يَسْتَقِرَّit settled بِغِمْدِin a sheath!
لم يَسْتَقِرَّ بِغِمْدِ!
This is the tale of a sword
That did not settle in its sheath!
That never settled in a sheath!
For its sheath was brittle
فَغِمْدُهfor its sheath كانwas هَشّماًbrittle
فَغِمْدُه كان هَشّماً
ولمand not يكُنْit was بالأَشَدِّof greater strength!
ولم يكُنْ بالأَشَدِّ!
For its sheath was brittle,
And was not solid!
Nor was it the stronger!
And the sword was unleashed
والسَّيْفُand the sword كانَwas رَهِيفاًkeen
والسَّيْفُ كانَ رَهِيفاً
يَسْطُوit strikes بكفِّwith a hand وزِنْدِand forearm!
يَسْطُو بكفِّ وزِنْدِ!
And the sword was keen,
Brandishing with palms and wrists!
Striking with hand and forearm!
And no balance holds up
وماand not يَقُومُstands وِفاقٌaccord
وما يَقُومُ وِفاقٌ
ماwhat lies بَيْنbetween ضَعْفٍweakness وأَيْدِand strength!
ما بَيْن ضَعْفٍ وأَيْدِ!
And no accord can stand
Between weakness and support!
Between weakness and strength!
And I was not wanton
ولمand not أكُنْI was بِغَوَيِّmisguided
ولم أكُنْ بِغَوَيِّ
أوْor كُنْتُI was أَزْهوtaking pride بِجدِّيin my good fortune!
أوْ كُنْتُ أَزْهو بِجدِّي!
And I was neither misguided
Or I was pretentious with my own!
Nor boastful of my good fortune!
But I was pretentious with my reason
بلrather كنْتُI was أزْهوtaking pride بِرُشْديin my good sense
بل كنْتُ أزْهو بِرُشْدي
وشيمتيand my character. وبرفْديand my generosity!
وشيمتي. وبرفْدي!
Rather, I took pride in my good sense,
And my virtues, and with my abundance!
And my character, and my generosity!
And I did not go astray so I misery
ولمand not أُضِلِّI led astray فأُشْقِيand so caused misery
ولم أُضِلِّ فأُشْقِي
لكِنbut أُعِينُI help وأَهديand guide!
لكِن أُعِينُ وأَهدي!
Nor did I lead astray and bring misery;
Rather I assist and guide!
But I help and guide!
O my departure, you will not heed
ياO غادتيmy lovely maiden. لنwill not تُراعِيyou be alarmed
يا غادتي. لن تُراعِي
مِنِّيfrom me بِكَيْدٍwith guile وحِقْدِand rancor!
مِنِّي بِكَيْدٍ وحِقْدِ!
O my lovely maiden, you shall not be alarmed
From me with cunning and hatred!
By guile or rancor from me!
You will not hear but gratitude
لنwill not تَسْمَعيyou hear غَيْرَother than شُكْرٍthanks
لن تَسْمَعي غَيْرَ شُكْرٍ
علىfor الصُّدودِthe rejection وحَمْدِand praise!
على الصُّدودِ وحَمْدِ!
You shall hear nothing but thanks
For the estrangement and praise!
For your rejection, and praise!
For I have a chaste tongue
فَلِيfor I have لِسانٌa tongue عَفِيفٌchaste
فَلِي لِسانٌ عَفِيفٌ
فيماin what يُعِيدُit repeats ويُبْديand expresses!
فيما يُعِيدُ ويُبْدي!
For mine is a chaste tongue
In what it repeats and initiates!
In what it repeats and declares!
And I have a pure gaze..
وليand I have يَراعٌa reed-pen طَهْورٌpure..
ولي يَراعٌ طَهْورٌ..
سَماrose high بِجَزْرٍwith ebb ومَدِّand flow!
سَما بِجَزْرٍ ومَدِّ!
And mine is a pure reed-pen,
By heaven through land and sea!
It rose high with ebb and flow!
It has never drawn hastily
لمnot يَسْطit attacked يَوماًever بِسَهْوٍthrough inadvertence
لم يَسْط يَوماً بِسَهْوٍ
أَوْor يَسْطُit attacked يَوْماًever بِعَمْدِwith intent!
أَوْ يَسْطُ يَوْماً بِعَمْدِ!
It never once attacked through inadvertence,
Or drawn one day deliberately!
Nor ever attacked deliberately!
So my being is of fragrance
فَعُنْصُريfor my essence مِنof عَبِيرٍperfume
فَعُنْصُري مِن عَبِيرٍ
زاكٍfragrant بِعُودٍwith aloeswood ونَدِّand incense..!
زاكٍ بِعُودٍ ونَدِّ..!
For my essence is of perfume,
Prospering with aloes wood and myrtle..!
Fragrant with aloeswood and incense!
My roses were a fresh Euphrates
قدindeed كانَwas وِرْديmy draught فُراتاًsweet water
قد كانَ وِرْدي فُراتاً
عَذْباًfresh.فَطِبْتُso I grew pure بِوِرْديthrough my draught!
عَذْباً.فَطِبْتُ بِوِرْدي!
My drinking water was indeed sweet,
So I flourished through my roses!
Fresh; so through my draught I grew pure!
Partial English translation: 111 of 112 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1