تِهْwander فيin زَمَانِthe age of التِّيهِbewilderment وَاهْدِand guide مُحَيَّرَاa bewildered person
تِهْ في زَمَانِ التِّيهِ وَاهْدِ مُحَيَّرَا
وَاسْكُبْand pour سُلاَفَكَyour purest wine لِلنَّدامَىfor the drinking companions كَوْثَرَاKawthar, the river of abundance
وَاسْكُبْ سُلاَفَكَ لِلنَّدامَى كَوْثَرَا
Wander in the age of bewilderment, and guide someone bewildered.
Lost in the time of bewilderment, guide the perplexed,
And pour your purest wine for your drinking companions as Kawthar.
And pour your drink for the repentant like a copious rain.
وَانْشُرْand spread زَبُورَكَyour psalter فِيin الدَّيَاجيthe dark nights كَوْكَبًاa star
وَانْشُرْ زَبُورَكَ فِي الدَّيَاجي كَوْكَبًا
يَذَرُleaves العَصِيَّthe intractable مِنَamong الطَّلاَسِمِthe talismans نَيِّرَاluminous
يَذَرُ العَصِيَّ مِنَ الطَّلاَسِمِ نَيِّرَا
And unfurl your psalter in the dark nights as a star
Spread your bees in the darkness like stars,
that renders the intractable among talismans luminous.
Leaving the disobedient stunned and dazed.
وَاذْرِفْand shed حُدَاءَكَyour camel-driver's chant فَالدُّرُوبُfor the roads مَهَامِهٌtrackless wastes
وَاذْرِفْ حُدَاءَكَ فَالدُّرُوبُ مَهَامِهٌ
وَالهَدْيُand guidance فيin زمَنِthe age of الضَّلاَلَةِerror مُفْتَرَىfabricated
وَالهَدْيُ في زمَنِ الضَّلاَلَةِ مُفْتَرَى
And weep your camel-driver's chant, for the roads are trackless wastes,
Rain down your sermons, for the paths have become muddled,
and guidance in the age of error is a fabrication.
And guidance in the time of misguidance has become suspect.
مَاwhat أَنْتَare you إِنْif لَمْnot تَشْتَمِلْكَenfolds you جَلاَلَةٌmajesty
مَا أَنْتَ إِنْ لَمْ تَشْتَمِلْكَ جَلاَلَةٌ
تَسْبِيcaptivates القُلُوبَthe hearts وَتَسْتَمِيلُand sways نُهَىthe minds of الوَرَىhumankind؟
تَسْبِي القُلُوبَ وَتَسْتَمِيلُ نُهَى الوَرَى؟
What are you if no majesty enfolds you,
What are you if majesty does not cloak you,
captivating hearts and swaying the minds of humankind?
Captivating hearts and inclining the free?
مَاwhat أَنْتَare you إِنْif لَمْnot نَتَّخِذْكَwe take you مَثَابَةًa place of return
مَا أَنْتَ إِنْ لَمْ نَتَّخِذْكَ مَثَابَةً
لِلسَّالِكِينَfor the wayfarers، وَلِلْحَقِيقَةِand for truth مَعْبَرَاa crossing؟
لِلسَّالِكِينَ، وَلِلْحَقِيقَةِ مَعْبَرَا؟
What are you if we do not take you as a place of return
What are you if we do not take you as a refuge
for the wayfarers, and a crossing to truth?
For the wayfarers, and a passage to the truth?
مَاwhat أَنْتَare you إِنْif لَمْnot نَنْتَظِرْكَwe await you رِسَالَةًa message
مَا أَنْتَ إِنْ لَمْ نَنْتَظِرْكَ رِسَالَةً
فِيهَاwithin it المَعَارِفُthe forms of knowledge قَدْalready فَضَحْنَthey exposed مُنَكَّرَاsomething disguised؟
فِيهَا المَعَارِفُ قَدْ فَضَحْنَ مُنَكَّرَا؟
What are you if we do not await you as a message
What are you if we do not await you as a message
whose knowledge has laid bare what was disguised?
In which knowledge is laid bare, exposing the rejected?
أوَand (question) لَسْتَyou are not فيin فَلَكِthe orbit of الكِنَانَةِal-Kinanah (Egypt) بَدْرَهَاits full moon
أوَ لَسْتَ في فَلَكِ الكِنَانَةِ بَدْرَهَا
مُتَألِّقًاshining، أوَand (question) لَسْتَyou are not أَنْتَyou الأَزْهَرَاal-Azhar, the most radiant؟
مُتَألِّقًا، أوَ لَسْتَ أَنْتَ الأَزْهَرَا؟
Are you not al-Kinanah's full moon in its orbit,
Or are you not a full moon in the sky of concealment,
shining—are you not yourself al-Azhar?
Shining radiantly, are you not the most blossomed?
يَاO أيُّهَاyou الشَّيْخُthe sheikh المُسَافِرُthe traveler فيthrough القُرُوthe centuries (first part)
يَا أيُّهَا الشَّيْخُ المُسَافِرُ في القُرُو
نِ(completes 'centuries') مُظَفَّرًاvictorious كَمْhow many جُزْتَyou traversed فِيهَاwithin them أَدْهُرَاages
نِ مُظَفَّرًا كَمْ جُزْتَ فِيهَا أَدْهُرَا
O sheikh, journeying through the centuries,
O you old man who travels the lands victoriously,
triumphant—how many ages you have traversed there!
How long have you wandered them for ages!
مُتَرَفِّعًاexalted كَالنَّسْرِlike the eagle فيin عَلْيَائِهِits heights
مُتَرَفِّعًا كَالنَّسْرِ في عَلْيَائِهِ
مَاnot كَانَwas يَوْمًاever عَرْشُهُits throne فَوْقَabove الثَّرَىthe earth
مَا كَانَ يَوْمًا عَرْشُهُ فَوْقَ الثَّرَى
Lofty as an eagle in its heights,
Lofty as an eagle in its supremacy,
whose throne was never upon the earth,
Never has its throne been above the earth,
أَوْor كَانَwas يَوْمًاever كَالْبُغَاثِlike weak birds خَلاَlay open لَهُto it الْـthe
أَوْ كَانَ يَوْمًا كَالْبُغَاثِ خَلاَ لَهُ الْـ
ـجَوُّsky الْمُغَبَّرُdust-clouded فَانْثَنَىso it turned مُسْتَنْسِرَاposing as an eagle !
ـجَوُّ الْمُغَبَّرُ فَانْثَنَى مُسْتَنْسِرَا !
nor ever like a weak bird for whom the
Nor has the dusty firmament ever been empty for it,
dusty sky lay open, so it turned to posing as an eagle!
So it stooped, feeling cramped!
أَوْor كَانَwas يَوْمًاever كَالجَنَادِبِlike grasshoppers مُنْشِدًاchanting
أَوْ كَانَ يَوْمًا كَالجَنَادِبِ مُنْشِدًا
سَمْعَthe hearing of الغَيَاهِبِthe dark depths مَاnot يُرَيْنَthey are seen وَلاَnor يُرَىhe is seen
سَمْعَ الغَيَاهِبِ مَا يُرَيْنَ وَلاَ يُرَى
nor ever like grasshoppers, chanting
Nor has it ever been like the owls, singing
to the ears of the dark depths, unseen themselves, and he unseen.
The hearing of ghosts, unseen and unseeing.
بَلْrather كُنْتَyou were شَمْسًاa sun فيin ضُحَاهَاits morning radiance فَذَّةًpeerless
بَلْ كُنْتَ شَمْسًا في ضُحَاهَا فَذَّةً
تَهَبُbestows التَّجَدُّدَrenewal وَالضِّيَاءَand the light الأَبْهَرَاthe most dazzling
تَهَبُ التَّجَدُّدَ وَالضِّيَاءَ الأَبْهَرَا
Rather, you were a sun, peerless in its morning radiance,
But you were a sun in its shining splendor,
bestowing renewal and the most dazzling light.
Bestowing renewal and dazzling brilliance.
وَالْيَوْمَand today صِرْتَyou became مَعَwith اللَّيَاليthe nights طَائِرًاa bird
وَالْيَوْمَ صِرْتَ مَعَ اللَّيَالي طَائِرًا
نِضْوًاworn out فَلاَso neither سَفْحًاa slope أَصَبْتَyou reached وَلاَnor ذُرَاsummits
نِضْوًا فَلاَ سَفْحًا أَصَبْتَ وَلاَ ذُرَا
And today, with the nights, you have become a bird,
And today you've become, along with the nights, a wanderer,
worn out, reaching neither slopes nor summits.
Aimless, alighting neither on a peak nor meadow.
مَاwhat لِيwith me أَرَاكَI see you تَجُرُّyou drag خَطْوَكَyour steps سَيِّدِيmy master
مَا لِي أَرَاكَ تَجُرُّ خَطْوَكَ سَيِّدِي
بَيْنَamong التَّنَائِفِthe deserts مُثْقَلاًburdened مُتَعَثِّرَاstumbling؟
بَيْنَ التَّنَائِفِ مُثْقَلاً مُتَعَثِّرَا؟
Why do I see you dragging your steps, my master,
Why do I see you drag your step, my master,
among the deserts, burdened and stumbling?
Burdened and stumbling between crosses?
أَسْيَانَsorrowful ذَاpossessed of لَهَفٍanguish تَؤُمُّyou head for مجَاهِلاًunknown wastes
أَسْيَانَ ذَا لَهَفٍ تَؤُمُّ مجَاهِلاً
هَيْمَانَdistraught مُرْتَكَسًاfallen back تَعُودُyou return القَهْقَرَىbackwards
هَيْمَانَ مُرْتَكَسًا تَعُودُ القَهْقَرَى
Sorrowful and anguished, heading for unknown wastes,
Like a horse yearning, wandering ignorantly,
distraught and fallen back, you retreat backwards.
A weary spirit, returning back down the slope.
أَهِيَis it الشُّيُوخَةُold age أَثْخَنَتْكَhas grievously wounded you بِنَافِذٍwith something piercing
أَهِيَ الشُّيُوخَةُ أَثْخَنَتْكَ بِنَافِذٍ
مِنْof طَعْنِهَاits stabbing فَكَفَفْتَso you restrained خَيْلَكَyour horses عَنْfrom سُرَىnight travel؟
مِنْ طَعْنِهَا فَكَفَفْتَ خَيْلَكَ عَنْ سُرَى؟
Has old age grievously wounded you with a piercing
Is it old age that has pierced you with its stabs
thrust of its own, so you reined your horses back from night travel?
So you reined in your horses from galloping?
أَمْor جُبَّةٌa robe فَيْنَانَةُluxuriant الأَرْدَانِthe sleeves فيin
أَمْ جُبَّةٌ فَيْنَانَةُ الأَرْدَانِ في
زَمَنِan age of التَّعَرِّيnakedness وَانْفِلاتَاتِand loosenings العُرَاthe ties ؟
زَمَنِ التَّعَرِّي وَانْفِلاتَاتِ العُرَا ؟
Or a robe with luxuriant sleeves in
Or is it the armor of vain glory in the time
an age of nakedness and the loosening of ties?
Of undressing and the liberation of slaves?
أَمْor ذِيthese الهُمُومُthe cares قَدِalready انْحَنيْتَyou have bowed لِوَطْئِهَاunder their tread
أَمْ ذِي الهُمُومُ قَدِ انْحَنيْتَ لِوَطْئِهَا
ونَفَضْتَand you shook كَفَّكَyour palm مُكْدِيًاempty-handed مسْتَعْبِرَاmoved to tears ؟
ونَفَضْتَ كَفَّكَ مُكْدِيًا مسْتَعْبِرَا ؟
Or have you bowed beneath the tread of these cares,
Or have anxieties bent you with their weight
and shaken out your palm, empty-handed and weeping?
And you wiped your palm, tearfully complaining?
وَجَلَسْتَand you sat تُزْجيyou send لِلطُّلُولِto the ruins شَجَاكَyour sorrow لاَno
وَجَلَسْتَ تُزْجي لِلطُّلُولِ شَجَاكَ لاَ
خِلٌّa friend أَسَاكَconsoled you وَلاَnor غَوِيٌّan erring man أَقْصَرَاdesisted
خِلٌّ أَسَاكَ وَلاَ غَوِيٌّ أَقْصَرَا
And sat sending your sorrow to the ruins: no
You sit mourning the rising to your confidants -
friend consoled you, nor did a wayward man desist.
No intimate consoles you, no companion comforts.
تَعِظُyou admonish الأَصَمَّthe deaf man وَقَدْand already أَصَاخَhe listened لِجَهْلِهِto his ignorance
تَعِظُ الأَصَمَّ وَقَدْ أَصَاخَ لِجَهْلِهِ
وَتُطِبُّand you treat مَيْتًاa dead man حَقُّهُhis due أَنْto يُقْبَرَاbe buried
وَتُطِبُّ مَيْتًا حَقُّهُ أَنْ يُقْبَرَا
You admonish the deaf man, who has listened to his ignorance,
You preach to the deaf whose right is to be buried,
and treat a dead man who ought to be buried.
And eulogize the dead - a sign of invalidity.
وَالطِّبُّand medicine لِلْمَوْتَىfor the dead دَلِيلُa sign of تَبَطُّلٍidleness
وَالطِّبُّ لِلْمَوْتَى دَلِيلُ تَبَطُّلٍ
وَدُعَاءُand calling صُمٍّthe deaf بَيْعُselling مَاwhat لاَnot يُشْتَرَىis bought
وَدُعَاءُ صُمٍّ بَيْعُ مَا لاَ يُشْتَرَى
And medicine for the dead is a sign of idleness,
Praying for the deceased is proof of futility,
and calling to the deaf is selling what no one buys.
And calling the deaf is selling the unsellable.
لَهْفِيmy anguish عَلَيْكَfor you مِنَbecause of الذِّئَابِthe wolves تَسَوَّرُواthey scaled
لَهْفِي عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الذِّئَابِ تَسَوَّرُوا
مِحْرَابَكَyour prayer-niche الأَسْنَىthe most radiant وَدَاسُواand they trampled المِنْبَرَاthe pulpit
مِحْرَابَكَ الأَسْنَى وَدَاسُوا المِنْبَرَا
How I grieve for you because of the wolves who scaled
I agonize over the wolves who have crept
your most radiant prayer-niche and trampled the pulpit,
Into your sanctuary and trampled the pulpit,
وَعَوَوْاand they howled بِآيَاتِwith verses of الضَّغِينَةِrancor وُقَّحًاbrazenly
وَعَوَوْا بِآيَاتِ الضَّغِينَةِ وُقَّحًا
وَتَنَبَّؤُواand they prophesied كَذِبًاfalsely وَقَاؤُواand they vomited مُنْكَرَاabomination
وَتَنَبَّؤُوا كَذِبًا وَقَاؤُوا مُنْكَرَا
and brazenly howled verses of rancor,
And brazenly recited verses of resentment,
and prophesied falsely and vomited abominations.
Speaking lies and uttering rejections.
وَتَنَاشَدُواand they chanted to one another أَوْرَادَهُمْtheir litanies فَالإفْكُfor falsehood فِيـin
وَتَنَاشَدُوا أَوْرَادَهُمْ فَالإفْكُ فِيـ
ـهَاthem نَاعِقٌcawing وَالحَقُّand truth سِقْطٌa miscarried child مُزْدَرَىdespised
ـهَا نَاعِقٌ وَالحَقُّ سِقْطٌ مُزْدَرَى
And chanted their litanies to one another, for falsehood in
They recite their litanies in which lies
them caws, while truth is a despised, miscarried child.
Speak whilst truth is downtrodden and scorned.
يَبْغُونَهَاthey seek it عِوَجًاcrooked وَفَضْلَand an excess of تفَيْهُقٍgrandiloquence
يَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَفَضْلَ تفَيْهُقٍ
وَبَلاَغَةًand eloquence خُنْثَىhermaphroditic وَفِقْهًاand jurisprudence أعْوَرَاone-eyed
وَبَلاَغَةً خُنْثَى وَفِقْهًا أعْوَرَا
They seek it crooked, with an excess of grandiloquence,
They want it crooked, with the excellence of imbeciles,
and hermaphroditic eloquence and one-eyed jurisprudence.
An effeminate eloquence, and a one-eyed jurisprudence,
مِثْلَlike الْمُهَرِّجِthe jester فيin بَلاَطِthe court of الْمُلْكِroyalty كَمْhow often
مِثْلَ الْمُهَرِّجِ في بَلاَطِ الْمُلْكِ كَمْ
أَرْخَىhe let down غَدَائِرَهُhis braids وَحَلَّand untied الْمِئْزَرَاthe waistcloth !
أَرْخَى غَدَائِرَهُ وَحَلَّ الْمِئْزَرَا !
Like the jester in the royal court—how often
Like the jester in the court of the king - how
he let down his braids and untied his waistcloth!
He lowered his gown and slipped down his belt!
عَبَثًاin vain يُحَاوِلُhe tries أَنْto يُفَرِّجَrelieve كُرْبَةًdistress
عَبَثًا يُحَاوِلُ أَنْ يُفَرِّجَ كُرْبَةً
عَنْfrom عَابِسٍa frowning man أَوْor أَنْto يُسَلِّيَentertain قَيْصَرَاCaesar
عَنْ عَابِسٍ أَوْ أَنْ يُسَلِّيَ قَيْصَرَا
In vain he tries to relieve distress
In vain he tries to dispel the gloom
from a frowning man, or to entertain Caesar.
Of a sullen man or entertain Caesar.
لَكِنَّهُbut it is الْهُونُabasement الَّذِيwhich جُبِلَتْwere molded عَلَيْـupon
لَكِنَّهُ الْهُونُ الَّذِي جُبِلَتْ عَلَيْـ
ـهِit خَلائِقٌmultitudes وَاسْتَمْرَؤُوهُand they relished it أَدْهُرَاfor ages
ـهِ خَلائِقٌ وَاسْتَمْرَؤُوهُ أَدْهُرَا
Yet it is the abasement upon
But he is the meekness which creation is created upon,
which multitudes were molded, and which they relished for ages.
And they took it for granted for ages!
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou الشَّيْخُthe sheikh الغَرِيبُthe stranger بِأَرْضِهin his land
يَا أَيُّهَا الشَّيْخُ الغَرِيبُ بِأَرْضِه
هَلاَّwhy not رَحَلْتَyou departed وَجُزْتَand you passed beyond كَوْنًاa world أكْفَرَاmore faithless !
هَلاَّ رَحَلْتَ وَجُزْتَ كَوْنًا أكْفَرَا !
O sheikh, a stranger in your own land,
O old man, stranger in his land, why not
why not depart and pass beyond a world still more faithless!
Depart and traverse a land more blasphemous!
فَمِنَfor it is of الْجَلاَلَةِmajesty أَنْto تَعِيشَlive مُغَرَّبًاexiled
فَمِنَ الْجَلاَلَةِ أَنْ تَعِيشَ مُغَرَّبًا
وَمِنَand it is of الفقَاهَةِunderstanding أَنْto تَمُوتَdie مُطَهَّرَاpurified
وَمِنَ الفقَاهَةِ أَنْ تَمُوتَ مُطَهَّرَا
For it is a mark of majesty to live exiled,
For it is majestic to live estranged
and of understanding to die purified.
And wise to die absolved.
وَمِنَand it is of الصَّفَاقَةِshamelessness أَنْthat يُقِيمَhe remains عَلَىamid الأَذَىharm
وَمِنَ الصَّفَاقَةِ أَنْ يُقِيمَ عَلَى الأَذَى
ذُوone possessing فِطْنَةٍdiscernment وَيَزُورَand visits جَفْنَيْهِhis two eyelids الكَرَىslumber!
ذُو فِطْنَةٍ وَيَزُورَ جَفْنَيْهِ الكَرَى!
And it is shameless for one to dwell amid abuse—
And it is foolishness for one of acumen to stay on harm's way
a man of insight—while slumber visits his eyelids!
And visit his eyelids while they still see!
ارْحَلْdepart ودَعْنَاand leave us يَاO غَرِيبُstranger فَكُلُّنَاfor all of us
ارْحَلْ ودَعْنَا يَا غَرِيبُ فَكُلُّنَا
لَكَto you خَائِنٌa traitor وَالثَّبْتُand the steadfast one ولَّىturned away مُدْبِرَاretreating !
لَكَ خَائِنٌ وَالثَّبْتُ ولَّى مُدْبِرَا !
Depart and leave us, stranger, for each of us
Depart and leave us be, stranger, for we
is a traitor to you, and the steadfast has turned away in retreat!
Are all traitors to you, and even the firm have retreated.
وَالْقِرْدُand the ape أصْبَحَhas become فيamong الخَلاَئِقِthe people رَاهِبًاa monk
وَالْقِرْدُ أصْبَحَ في الخَلاَئِقِ رَاهِبًا
مُتَنَسِّكًاpracticing asceticism وَالجَحْشُand the donkey-foal أمْسَىhas become قَسْوَرَاa lion !
مُتَنَسِّكًا وَالجَحْشُ أمْسَى قَسْوَرَا !
And the ape has become a monk among the people,
The ape has become a monk among creation
an ascetic, and the donkey-foal has become a lion!
Devoutly practicing religion, and the calf has become a priest!
ارْحَلْdepart وَدَعْنَاand leave us فيin غَيَابَةِthe dark depths of خِزْيِنَاour shame
ارْحَلْ وَدَعْنَا في غَيَابَةِ خِزْيِنَا
فَالْخِزْيُfor shame مِنَّاfrom us قَدْhas indeed بَدَاappeared مُسْتَقْذِرَاregarded as filthy !
فَالْخِزْيُ مِنَّا قَدْ بَدَا مُسْتَقْذِرَا !
Depart and leave us in the dark depths of our shame,
Depart and leave us to the ignominy of our disgrace
for shame has emerged from us, an object of disgust!
Which has appeared from us ugly and repulsive.
وَالْقُبْحُand ugliness أَلْفَىfound فيin صِفَاقِthe skin of وُجُوهِنَاour faces
وَالْقُبْحُ أَلْفَى في صِفَاقِ وُجُوهِنَا
وَطَنًاa homeland لَهُfor it فِيهِin it الرِّفَادَةُsupport وَالْقِرَىand hospitality !
وَطَنًا لَهُ فِيهِ الرِّفَادَةُ وَالْقِرَى !
And ugliness has found in the skin of our faces
Ugliness has found in our sullen faces
a homeland where it enjoys support and hospitality!
A homeland, inhabiting it for ages.
وَالزُّورُand falsehood نَحْنُwe الشَّاهِدُوهُthose attesting to it جِبِلَّةًby nature
وَالزُّورُ نَحْنُ الشَّاهِدُوهُ جِبِلَّةً
وَالدَّجْلُand deception نَحْنُwe الْمُبْدِعُوهُthose creating it مُصَوَّرَاembodied !
وَالدَّجْلُ نَحْنُ الْمُبْدِعُوهُ مُصَوَّرَا !
And falsehood—we are its witnesses by nature,
Falsehood - we are the witnesses born with it,
and deception—we are the ones who create it in embodied form!
Deceit - we are the ones who shaped it and depicted it.
وَالرَّاقِصُونَand those dancing عَلَىupon حِبَالِthe ropes of الإثْمِsin نَحْـwe (first part)
وَالرَّاقِصُونَ عَلَى حِبَالِ الإثْمِ نَحْـ
ـنُ(completes 'we') ونَحْنُand we مَنْthose who بَاعُواsold الكِتَابَthe Book تَحَضُّرَاfor civilization !
ـنُ ونَحْنُ مَنْ بَاعُوا الكِتَابَ تَحَضُّرَا !
And the dancers upon the ropes of sin are
We are the ones who dance on ropes of sin,
we, and we are those who sold the Book in pursuit of civilization!
We are the ones who sold the Book readied for trade.
العَارِضُونَthose offering مِنَfrom الحَرَامِthe forbidden بِضَاعَةًmerchandise
العَارِضُونَ مِنَ الحَرَامِ بِضَاعَةً
وَالفَاتِحُونَand those opening مِنَfrom الشَّرَائِعِthe sacred laws مَتْجَرَاa shop !
وَالفَاتِحُونَ مِنَ الشَّرَائِعِ مَتْجَرَا !
Those offering wares drawn from the forbidden,
Displaying forbidden wares,
and those setting up shop with the sacred laws!
And opening up the scriptures for commerce.
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou الشَّيْخُthe sheikh الغَرِيبُthe stranger أَنَاI وَأَنْـand you (first part)
يَا أَيُّهَا الشَّيْخُ الغَرِيبُ أَنَا وَأَنْـ
ـتَ(completes 'you') مُضَيَّعَانِboth cast aside كَآبَةًin melancholy وَتَطَيُّرَاand foreboding
ـتَ مُضَيَّعَانِ كَآبَةً وَتَطَيُّرَا
O sheikh, a stranger, I and
O old stranger man, I and you
you are both cast aside in melancholy and foreboding.
Are both distraught and superstitious.
صِنْوَانِtwo shoots of one root نَحْنُwe عَلَىamid الْمَكَارِهِhardships نَغْتَدِيwe set out in the morning
صِنْوَانِ نَحْنُ عَلَى الْمَكَارِهِ نَغْتَدِي
وَنَرُوحُand we return at evening ننْزِفُwe bleed منfrom جَوَانَاour anguish أبْحُرَاseas
وَنَرُوحُ ننْزِفُ من جَوَانَا أبْحُرَا
We are two shoots of one root, setting out each morning amid hardships,
Thirsty we live on tribulations
and returning at evening, bleeding seas from our anguish.
And wander bleeding from our depths.
لاَnot الشِّعْرُpoetry حَلَّuntied مَعَamong الأَعَاجِمِthe foreign-tongued عُقْدَتِيmy knot
لاَ الشِّعْرُ حَلَّ مَعَ الأَعَاجِمِ عُقْدَتِي
ويْحيwoe to me وَلاَnor سِجْنُthe prison of القَوَافِيrhymes حَرَّرَاset free
ويْحي وَلاَ سِجْنُ القَوَافِي حَرَّرَا
Neither has poetry untied my knot among the foreign-tongued,
Poetry has not solved my problems nor
woe to me!—nor has the prison of rhymes set me free.
Freed me - alas! Nor has the prison of meter and rhyme.
صَدْيانَparched أَقْبَعُI crouch فيin غَيَابَةِthe dark depths of مَهْمَهٍa trackless desert
صَدْيانَ أَقْبَعُ في غَيَابَةِ مَهْمَهٍ
رُوحًاa soul مُصَفَّدَةًshackled وَقَلْبًاand a heart فُطِّرَاtorn apart
رُوحًا مُصَفَّدَةً وَقَلْبًا فُطِّرَا
Parched, I crouch in the dark depths of a trackless waste,
Gloomily I lurk in the obscurity of bewilderment,
a shackled soul and a heart torn apart.
A shackled soul and a created heart.
وَالْحُرُّand the free man فيin زَمَنِthe age of الطَّغَامِthe rabble مُنَكَّرٌunrecognized
وَالْحُرُّ في زَمَنِ الطَّغَامِ مُنَكَّرٌ
يُعْطِيhe gives فَيُجْحَدُso he is denied gratitude أَوْor يَقُولُhe speaks فَيُمْتَرَىso he is doubted!
يُعْطِي فَيُجْحَدُ أَوْ يَقُولُ فَيُمْتَرَى!
And the free man in the age of the rabble goes unrecognized:
The free in the age of tyranny are rejected -
he gives and is met with ingratitude, or speaks and is doubted!
They give so it is denied, or speak so they are accused of lies!
فَارْحَلْso depart فَإِنِّيfor I رَاحِلٌam departing فَعَسَىso perhaps نُصَاwe encounter (first part)
فَارْحَلْ فَإِنِّي رَاحِلٌ فَعَسَى نُصَا
دِفُ(completes 'encounter') عَالَمًاa world مُعْشَوْشِبًاlush with grass مُخْضَوْضِرَاrichly green
دِفُ عَالَمًا مُعْشَوْشِبًا مُخْضَوْضِرَا
So depart, for I am departing; perhaps we shall
So depart, for I too am leaving, perhaps we will
encounter a world lush with grass and richly green.
Explore a world that is leafy and blossoming.
الْحُبُّlove فِيهِin it مَعَwith النَّسَائِمِthe breezes ذَائِعٌwidespread
الْحُبُّ فِيهِ مَعَ النَّسَائِمِ ذَائِعٌ
وَالطُّهْرُand purity يَثْوِيdwells بِالضَّمائِرِin consciences جَوْهَرَاas a jewel
وَالطُّهْرُ يَثْوِي بِالضَّمائِرِ جَوْهَرَا
Love spreads there with the breezes,
Love in it is spreading with the breeze,
and purity dwells in consciences as a jewel.
And purity dwells as a jewel in consciences.
فَلَقَدْfor it may indeed يَرِقُّgrow tender الصَّخْرُrock وَهْوَthough it is مُكَابِرٌobstinate
فَلَقَدْ يَرِقُّ الصَّخْرُ وَهْوَ مُكَابِرٌ
فَتَرَىso you see الحَيَاrain مِنْfrom رَاحَتَيْهِits two palms تفَجَّرَاgushed forth
فَتَرَى الحَيَا مِنْ رَاحَتَيْهِ تفَجَّرَا
For rock may grow tender, stubborn though it is,
Even rocks melt though stubborn,
so you see rain gush forth from its two palms.
You'd see snakes burst out from beneath them.
وَلَقَدْand it may indeed يَبَرُّact kindly اللَّيْلُnight وَهْوَthough it is مُكَفِّرٌshrouding
وَلَقَدْ يَبَرُّ اللَّيْلُ وَهْوَ مُكَفِّرٌ
فَتَرَاهُso you see it رَغْمَdespite الدَّجْنِthe overcast gloom يُبْدُوappears مُقْمِرَاmoonlit
فَتَرَاهُ رَغْمَ الدَّجْنِ يُبْدُو مُقْمِرَا
And night may be kind, though it veils,
Even the night shines though obscuring,
so you see it, despite the overcast gloom, appear moonlit.
You'd see it appear radiant despite the darkness.
وَأَرَاكَand I see you تَبْسِمُsmile فِيamid ائْتِلاَقَاتِthe gleams of الضُّحَىmorning light
وَأَرَاكَ تَبْسِمُ فِي ائْتِلاَقَاتِ الضُّحَى
لَحْنًاa melody هَتُونًاsteadily raining جَادَrained generously upon أُفْقًاa horizon أَخْضَرَاgreen
لَحْنًا هَتُونًا جَادَ أُفْقًا أَخْضَرَا
And I see you smiling amid the gleams of morning light,
I see you smile in the embraces of dawn
a rain-streaming melody that drenched a green horizon.
A gentle melody flowing to the green horizon.
فَلأَنْتَfor you indeed are أُفْقِيmy horizon فِيin الغَرَامِpassionate love وَكَعْبَتِيand my Kaaba
فَلأَنْتَ أُفْقِي فِي الغَرَامِ وَكَعْبَتِي
وَهَوَاكَand love of you دِينِيmy religion مُذْsince دَرَجْتُI took my first steps مُبَشِّرَاbearing glad tidings
وَهَوَاكَ دِينِي مُذْ دَرَجْتُ مُبَشِّرَا
For you indeed are my horizon in love and my Kaaba,
For you are my horizon in love, and my kabah,
and love of you is my religion, since I took my first steps bearing glad tidings.
Since I trod as a missionary your passion is my faith.
وَبِكَand through you انْثَنَيْتُI turned إِليْكَtoward you مِنْكَfrom you فَمَاfor ... is not المَدَىthe expanse
وَبِكَ انْثَنَيْتُ إِليْكَ مِنْكَ فَمَا المَدَى
إلاَّexcept رُؤَاكَvisions of you، وبَعْضُand part of عِشْقِيmy love مَاwhat جَرَىflowed !
إلاَّ رُؤَاكَ، وبَعْضُ عِشْقِي مَا جَرَى !
And through you I turned toward you from you; for the expanse is nothing
And in you I leaned unto you - what distance
but visions of you, and what has flowed is part of my love!
Except seeing you, and some of my fervor that transpired!
فَاغْفِرْso forgive جُنُونيَmy madness وَاحْتِدَامَand the fervor of مَشَاعِرِيmy feelings
فَاغْفِرْ جُنُونيَ وَاحْتِدَامَ مَشَاعِرِي
فَالتِّيهُfor wandering حَانِيmy tavern-keeper وَالنَّدِيمُand the drinking companion هُوَhe السُّرَىnight travel!!
فَالتِّيهُ حَانِي وَالنَّدِيمُ هُوَ السُّرَى!!
So forgive my madness and the fervor of my feelings,
Forgive my madness and the intensity of my feelings -
for wandering is my tavern-keeper, and night travel my drinking companion!
Bewilderment has come upon me, and my companion is regret!!
Sol 6.1