تُرىI wonder منfrom حَنينيmy yearning كانwas شَجوَthe lament of الحَمائِمِthe doves
تُرى من حَنيني كان شَجوَ الحَمائِمِ
وَمنand from أَدمُعيmy tears كانwas اِستِقاءُthe drawing of water by الغَمائِمthe clouds
وَمن أَدمُعي كان اِستِقاءُ الغَمائِم
I wonder: was the doves' lament born of my yearning,
My longing was the lament of doves,
Is it from my longing that the doves' sorrow sprang, / and from my tears that the clouds drew water?
and did the clouds draw their water from my tears?
And my tears drew down the clouds.
It is no wonder that I made the silent speak of grief, / and brought even the grazing beasts to tears.
فَلاso no غَروَwonder أَنthat أَنطَقتُI made speak بِالشَجوِwith grief صامِتاًa silent thing
فَلا غَروَ أَن أَنطَقتُ بِالشَجوِ صامِتاً
وَأَبكَيتُand I made weep حَتّىeven راتِعاتِthe freely grazing السَوائِمِherds
وَأَبكَيتُ حَتّى راتِعاتِ السَوائِمِ
No wonder, then, that I made a silent thing speak with grief,
Small wonder I speak though mute with grief
For this calamity has grown so great that the towering, / landmark mountains have crumbled at its impact.
and made even the freely grazing herds weep.
And weep until the nightingales rally.
And even the full moon of the dark night fell, / and the bright, drifting stars acquired darkness for his sake.
فَقَدfor indeed جَلَّwas grave هذاthis الخَطبcalamity حتىuntil تَدَكدَكَتthey crumbled
فَقَد جَلَّ هذا الخَطب حتى تَدَكدَكَت
لِمَوقِعِهِat its impact شُمُّthe lofty ones among الجِبالِthe mountains المَعالِمِthe landmarks
لِمَوقِعِهِ شُمُّ الجِبالِ المَعالِمِ
For this calamity was so great that there crumbled
So terrible was the blow that mountains
By your life, the day Qasim passed away / was to the people nothing less than the Day of Gathering.
at its impact the lofty, landmark mountains.
Were shaken to their massive foundations,
The mountain of the world and the moon of its darkness has passed, / as has its knight, renowned in the clash of battle.
وَحتىand even هوىfell بَدرُthe full moon of الدُجُنَّةِthe dark night وَاِكتَسَبand took on
وَحتى هوى بَدرُ الدُجُنَّةِ وَاِكتَسَب
لهfor him ظُلمَةًdarkness زُهرُthe bright ones among النُجومِthe stars العَوائِمِthe floating
له ظُلمَةً زُهرُ النُجومِ العَوائِمِ
And even the full moon of the dark night fell, and there came
The full moon of Dujail went into eclipse
Indeed, by God, he did not die alone; / rather, it is the death of eminence and noble virtues.
darkness for his sake upon the bright, floating stars.
And dawn stars were darkened in their beauty.
Otherwise, why do I see the white swords, the spears, / and the sleek warhorses in mourning after him?
لعمركَby your life ماnot يَومٌa day قضىdied فيهِon it قاسِمٌQasim
لعمركَ ما يَومٌ قضى فيهِ قاسِمٌ
علىupon الناسِthe people إِلّاexcept مِثلُlike يَومِthe day of التَزاحمthronging
على الناسِ إِلّا مِثلُ يَومِ التَزاحم
By your life, the day on which Qasim died
By your life, never did a day go by
And why do the travelers appear as though / the scorching hot winds have withered them?
was for mankind nothing but a likeness of the day of thronging.
When Qasim dealt harshly with others,
They weep for a glorious man whose tents were ever-thronged, / unyielding to enemies, hard to subdue.
مَضىpassed away هضبَةُthe great mountain of الدُنياthe world وَبدرُand the full moon of دُجائِهاits darkness
مَضى هضبَةُ الدُنيا وَبدرُ دُجائِها
وَفارِسُهاand its horseman المَشهورُthe renowned عِندَat التَصادُمِthe clash
وَفارِسُها المَشهورُ عِندَ التَصادُمِ
Gone is the world's great mountain and the full moon of its darkness,
Save the day of crowding for battle,
A brother of war, never found cowed before it / when it brought forth escalating calamities.
and its horseman, renowned in the clash of battle.
When he who seeks bloodshed is stern.
Instead, he plunges into its blazing flames / when every proud and mighty tyrant turns away.
أَجلyes إِنهindeed he وَاللَهِby God ماnot ماتdied وحدهُalone
أَجل إِنه وَاللَهِ ما مات وحدهُ
وَلكنَّهbut it is موتُthe death of العُلىlofty honor وَالمَكارِمِand noble virtues
وَلكنَّه موتُ العُلى وَالمَكارِمِ
Yes, by God, he did not die alone;
But the young moon lies dark,
I swear by the One to whose House the weary pilgrims journey, / seeking it from distant, rugged passes:
rather, his was the death of lofty honor and noble virtues.
And that famed knight of the clash is gone.
That had his soul been taken / by any man feared for his violence and vengeance,
وَإِلّاand if not فماthen what باليmy condition أَرىI see البيضَthe gleaming swords وَالقَناand the spears
وَإِلّا فما بالي أَرى البيضَ وَالقَنا
وَجُردَand the sleek المَذاكيmature steeds بَعدهُafter him فيin مَآتمِmourning gatherings
وَجُردَ المَذاكي بَعدهُ في مَآتمِ
And if not, why do I see the gleaming swords and spears,
Indeed, by God, he did not die alone.
His sons would have attacked him at dawn with armies / that roar like thundering, accumulated clouds,
and the sleek, seasoned steeds at mourning gatherings after his death?
Rather the death of honor and nobility.
And would have scoured his abode with youths / more intent on death than the edges of sharp swords.
وَماand what بالُis the matter with أَبناءِthe sons of السَبيلِthe road كأنماas though
وَما بالُ أَبناءِ السَبيلِ كأنما
بهِمupon them لَوَّحَتseared هيفُthe parching blasts of الرِياحِthe winds السَمائِمِthe scorching
بهِم لَوَّحَت هيفُ الرِياحِ السَمائِمِ
And what ails the wayfarers, as though
Else why do I see the partridge and wild deer
But it was Destiny—and God is indeed victorious— / so we accept what the Best of Judges decrees.
the parching blasts of scorching winds had seared them?
Wander wailing in their desolation?
You have stirred within me, O son of the noble ones, a sorrow / that echoes between my heart and my ribs.
يُبَكّونَthey mourn مَغشِيَّfrequented in الرُواقَينِthe two porticoes ماجِداًa noble man
يُبَكّونَ مَغشِيَّ الرُواقَينِ ماجِداً
أَبِيّاًunyielding علىtoward الأَعداءِthe enemies صَعبَhard of الشَكائِمِthe bridle-bits
أَبِيّاً على الأَعداءِ صَعبَ الشَكائِمِ
They mourn a noble man whose two porticoes were thronged,
And wayfarers like trees whipped in a storm
Do not deem me heedless or neglectful / of your favors, which fall like bountiful rain.
unyielding toward enemies, hard to bridle;
Weep at his tomb, defiant to the foe.
But I am bound by a circumstance that humbles its bearer, / forcing him to close his eyes while lances prick his vitals.
أَخاa brother of الحَربِwar لاnot يُلفىis found لَهاbefore it مُتَخَشِّعاcowering
أَخا الحَربِ لا يُلفى لَها مُتَخَشِّعا
إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis أَتَتit comes بِالمُعضِلِwith an intractable ordeal المُتَفاقِمِever worsening
إِذا ما أَتَت بِالمُعضِلِ المُتَفاقِمِ
a brother of war, never found cowering before it
War's brother, staunch when ills mount,
In you—may you remain so—we have a remnant of him: / a choke in the throat of enemies, a treasure for the peaceful.
when it brings an intractable, worsening ordeal.
Never shrinking from the clash of arms,
O Worshipper of the Merciful, O best of those whom / sleek horses have borne through the crashing tumult of battle,
وَلكِنَّهُbut he يَغشىenters لَهيبَthe blaze of شُواظِهاits smokeless flames
وَلكِنَّهُ يَغشى لَهيبَ شُواظِها
إِذاwhen حادَturns aside عنهاfrom it كلُّevery أَصيَدَhaughty man غاشِمِruthless
إِذا حادَ عنها كلُّ أَصيَدَ غاشِمِ
Yet he enters the blaze of its smokeless flames
But quenching its raging fires
And O best of destinations, at whose door / weary, travel-worn mounts with bleeding feet kneel down,
when every haughty, ruthless man turns aside from it.
When all the ravening knights held back.
You have my affection, which shall never be tainted / throughout life by the deceit of a flattering concealer.
حَلَفتُI swore بِمَنby Him حجَّvisited in pilgrimage المُبَلّونَthe pilgrims بَيتَهُHis House
حَلَفتُ بِمَن حجَّ المُبَلّونَ بَيتَهُ
يَؤمونَهُmaking for it منfrom نازِحاتِthe far-off المَخارمِmountain passes
يَؤمونَهُ من نازِحاتِ المَخارمِ
I swore by Him whose House the pilgrims have visited,
I swear by the Owner of the House, frequented
And may the God of the worlds send blessings and peace / upon the Chosen One of Abd Shams and Hashim.
making for it from far-off mountain passes,
By pilgrims, guarded from oppressors
عَلىto the effect أَنهthat it is so لَوif كانhad أَزهَقَtaken away نَفسهُhis life
عَلى أَنه لَو كان أَزهَقَ نَفسهُ
منfrom among الناسِpeople مَرهوبُone feared for الشَذاharm وَالمَناقِمِand vengeance
من الناسِ مَرهوبُ الشَذا وَالمَناقِمِ
that, had his life been taken
That had he been one whom people shunned,
by a man feared for his harm and vengeance,
Feared for his might by the violent and strong,
لَصَبَّحَهُwould have attacked him at dawn أَبناؤُهُhis sons بِجحافِلٍwith massed armies
لَصَبَّحَهُ أَبناؤُهُ بِجحافِلٍ
لهاthey have زَجَلٌa roar كَالعارِضِlike a rain cloud المُتَراكمِpiled up
لها زَجَلٌ كَالعارِضِ المُتَراكمِ
his sons would have attacked that man at dawn with massed armies,
His sons at dawn would have charged out
whose roar was like that of a piled-up rain cloud;
With throngs of warriors like clouds amassed,
وَجاسواand they would have swept خِلالَthrough الدارِthe dwelling منهof his بِفِتيَةٍwith young men
وَجاسوا خِلالَ الدارِ منه بِفِتيَةٍ
علىin facing المَوتِdeath أَمضىkeener منthan شِفارِthe edges of الصَوارِمِthe sharp swords
على المَوتِ أَمضى من شِفارِ الصَوارِمِ
and swept through his dwelling with young men
And plunged into his house with bands
keener in facing death than the edges of sharp swords.
Of youths who scorn the keenest swords.
وَلكنَّهُbut it is المِقدارُdestiny وَاللَهِby God غالِبٌprevailing
وَلكنَّهُ المِقدارُ وَاللَهِ غالِبٌ
وَنَرضىand we are content بِماwith what يَقضيdecrees بهconcerning it خَيرُthe best حاكِمِjudge
وَنَرضى بِما يَقضي به خَيرُ حاكِمِ
But it was destiny, which, by God, prevails,
But fate is victorious, and we accept
and we accept what the best of judges decrees.
The judgment of the Best of Judges.
وَهَيَّجتَand you have stirred ليfor me ياO اِبنَson of الأَكارِمِthe noble ones حَسرَةًanguish
وَهَيَّجتَ لي يا اِبنَ الأَكارِمِ حَسرَةً
تُرَدَّدُis sent to and fro ماfor emphasis بَينَbetween الحَشاthe entrails وَالحَيازِمِand the breastbones
تُرَدَّدُ ما بَينَ الحَشا وَالحَيازِمِ
And you have stirred in me, O son of noble men, an anguish
You roused in me, O son of the noble,
that surges back and forth between my entrails and my breastbones.
Sorrows that echo between valour and prudence.
فَلاso do not تَحسَبَنّيever think me غافِلاًheedless أَوor مُضَيِّعاًneglectful of
فَلا تَحسَبَنّي غافِلاً أَو مُضَيِّعاً
أَياديكُمُyour favors اللاتيwhich كَصوبِlike the downpour of الغَمائِمِthe clouds
أَياديكُمُ اللاتي كَصوبِ الغَمائِمِ
So do not think me heedless or neglectful
Think not that I forget or neglect
of your favors, which are like the downpour of clouds.
Your hands, which are rainclouds of bounty.
وَلكِنbut لِأَمرٍfor a purpose يَجدَعُcuts off الأَنفَthe nose رَبُّهُits owner
وَلكِن لِأَمرٍ يَجدَعُ الأَنفَ رَبُّهُ
وَيُغضيand he lowers his gaze وَفيwhile in الأَحشاءِthe entrails وَخزُthe stabbing of اللهاذمِthe spearheads
وَيُغضي وَفي الأَحشاءِ وَخزُ اللهاذمِ
But for a purpose a man cuts off his own nose,
But for a matter that humbles the soul
and lowers his gaze, while spear-points stab his entrails.
Though it agonizes the heart within.
وَفيكَand in you لناfor us لاnever زِلتَmay you cease منهُof him بَقِيَّةٌa remnant
وَفيكَ لنا لا زِلتَ منهُ بَقِيَّةٌ
شَجاًa choking thorn لِلأَعاديfor the enemies مَغنَماًa bounty لِلمُسالِمِfor the peaceful
شَجاً لِلأَعادي مَغنَماً لِلمُسالِمِ
And in you we have a remnant of him—may you endure—
Through you remains a remnant of him
a choking thorn for enemies, a bounty for the peaceful.
Which brings woe to his foes and peace to his allies.
فَياso, O عابِدَworshipper of الرَحمنِthe Merciful ياO خيرَbest of منthose whom جَرَتgalloped
فَيا عابِدَ الرَحمنِ يا خيرَ من جَرَت
بهbearing him الجُردُthe sleek steeds بينَamid المَأزقِthe battle's narrow confines المُتَلاطمِthe surging
به الجُردُ بينَ المَأزقِ المُتَلاطمِ
So, O ʿAbid al-Rahman, O best of those carried
O worshipper of the Merciful, best
by sleek steeds amid the surging crush of battle,
Of those the steeds bore into the clash of war,
وَياand O خيرَbest of مَقصودٍone sought out أَناخَknelt بِبابهِat his door
وَيا خيرَ مَقصودٍ أَناخَ بِبابهِ
رَذاياworn-out mounts سِفارٍof travel دامِياتِbleeding المَناسمِthe footpads
رَذايا سِفارٍ دامِياتِ المَناسمِ
and O best of those sought, at whose door have knelt
O most blessed goal, before whose door
camels worn out by journeys, their footpads bleeding.
The mounts of the embassies kneel.
لكُمto you مِنِّيَfrom me الودُّlove الذيwhich لاnot يَشوبهُtaints it
لكُم مِنِّيَ الودُّ الذي لا يَشوبهُ
مَدىthroughout العُمرِlife تَدليسُthe deceit of المُداجيthe dissembler المُكاتمِthe concealer of feelings
مَدى العُمرِ تَدليسُ المُداجي المُكاتمِ
You have from me a love that will never be tainted,
My affection for you no guile can mar,
throughout life, by a dissembling, secretive man's deceit.
Till my life's span runs out, concealed enmity uncovered.
وَصلِّand send blessings إلهَO God of العالَمينَall worlds مُسَلِّماًgranting peace
وَصلِّ إلهَ العالَمينَ مُسَلِّماً
علىupon المُصطَفىthe Chosen One منfrom عَبدِʿAbd (servant of) شَمسٍShams (the sun) وَهاشمِand Hashim
على المُصطَفى من عَبدِ شَمسٍ وَهاشمِ
And, O God of all worlds, send blessings and peace
Pray God for the Chosen One, submitting
upon the Chosen One of ʿAbd Shams and Hashim.
For the servant of Shams and Hashim.
Partial English translation: 25 of 50 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1