أَرَكائِبَO mounts الأَحبابِthe loved ones إِنَّindeed الأَدمُعاthe tears
أَرَكائِبَ الأَحبابِ إِنَّ الأَدمُعا
تَطِسُpound الخُدُودَthe cheeks كَماjust as تَطِسنَyou pound اليَرمَعاsoft pebbles
تَطِسُ الخُدُودَ كَما تَطِسنَ اليَرمَعا
O mounts of my loved ones, the tears
The ships of loved ones, truly the tears
O mounts of my beloveds, behold how my falling tears / Trample these cheeks as you trample the stony waste.
pound my cheeks as you pound the soft pebbles.
Flow down the cheeks like flowing torrents
Know well who it is that distance bears upon your backs, / And walk with gentle gait, submissive to the rein.
فَاِعرِفنَso recognize مَنwhom حَمَلَتhas carried عَلَيكُنَّupon you النَوىseparation
فَاِعرِفنَ مَن حَمَلَت عَلَيكُنَّ النَوى
وَاِمشينَand walk هَوناًgently فيin الأَزِمَّةِthe reins خُضَّعاsubmissive
وَاِمشينَ هَوناً في الأَزِمَّةِ خُضَّعا
So recognize those whom separation has set upon you,
So recognize who has set you against me
Time was when modesty would hold my tears at bay, / But now my weeping holds all modesty away.
and walk gently, submissive to the reins.
And walk gently in times of affliction and submission
As though each bone within this flesh cried out in grief, / And every vein became a channel for the tears.
قَدindeed كانَused to يَمنَعُنيprevent me الحَياءُmodesty مِنَfrom البُكاweeping
قَد كانَ يَمنَعُني الحَياءُ مِنَ البُكا
فَاليَومَbut today يَمنَعُهُprevents it البُكاweeping أَنfrom يَمنَعاpreventing me
فَاليَومَ يَمنَعُهُ البُكا أَن يَمنَعا
Modesty once kept me from weeping,
Shyness used to prevent me from crying
She who outshines the gazelle shames her lover too, / And my collapse before her proves my ruin true.
but today weeping prevents it from restraining me,
Today, crying prevents it from preventing
She unveiled her face, yet parting veiled her in a pallor / That masked her eyes, though no woven veil was there.
حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّas though لِكُلِّfor every عَظمٍbone رَنَّةًa wail
حَتّى كَأَنَّ لِكُلِّ عَظمٍ رَنَّةً
فيwithin جِلدِهِits skin وَلِكُلِّand for every عِرقٍvein مَدمَعاa tear duct
في جِلدِهِ وَلِكُلِّ عِرقٍ مَدمَعا
until each bone seems to have a wail
It is as if every bone has a lament
As if, with teardrops trickling down her golden hue, / She was pure gold inlaid with double strings of pearls.
within its skin, and every vein a tear duct.
In its skin and every vein a tear
She loosened three dark tresses of her hair that night, / And thus displayed four nights within a single one.
وَكَفىand suffices بِمَنby one who فَضَحَput to shame الجَدايَةَthe young gazelle فاضِحاًas one who exposes
وَكَفى بِمَن فَضَحَ الجَدايَةَ فاضِحاً
لِمُحِبِّهِof her lover وَبِمَصرَعيand by my downfall ذاthis مَصرَعاas a downfall
لِمُحِبِّهِ وَبِمَصرَعي ذا مَصرَعا
She who puts the young gazelle to shame is enough to expose
It is enough that one who exposed secrets openly
She turned her face to greet the moon within the sky, / And showed me two bright moons shining at once together.
her lover; and this downfall of mine is downfall enough.
Betrayed his lover and my death with death
Restore our bond! May rain-clouds water your abode— / Clouds constant as your love should be, and never cease.
سَفَرَتshe unveiled وَبَرقَعَهاand veiled her الفِراقُparting بِصُفرَةٍwith a yellow pallor
سَفَرَت وَبَرقَعَها الفِراقُ بِصُفرَةٍ
سَتَرَتcovered مَحاجِرَهاher eye sockets وَلَمand not تَكُwas بُرقُعاa veil
سَتَرَت مَحاجِرَها وَلَم تَكُ بُرقُعا
She unveiled, but parting veiled her with a yellow pallor
She traveled and absence made her sallow
Thunderous rain that turns the air to fire, the wastes / To surging seas, and hills to gardens green and lush.
that covered her eye sockets, though it was no veil.
Concealing her eyelids without kohl
Bountiful as Abdul-Wahid's fingertips, which pour / Relief and safety on the chosen, and terror on the rest.
فَكَأَنَّهاso as though she وَالدَمعُwhile the tears يَقطُرُdrip فَوقَهاover her
فَكَأَنَّها وَالدَمعُ يَقطُرُ فَوقَها
ذَهَبٌgold بِسِمطىwith two strands of لُؤلُؤٍpearls قَدhad رُصِّعاbeen inlaid
ذَهَبٌ بِسِمطى لُؤلُؤٍ قَد رُصِّعا
So, with tears dripping over her, she seemed
As if she were gold with pearls streaming down her
Wedded to honor since his birth, as if he drank / Chivalry with his mother's milk while yet a babe.
like gold inlaid with two strands of pearls.
Adorned with threaded strands of pearls
His gifts are strung upon him like protective charms; / He holds them dear, and trembles should they fall away.
كَشَفَتshe uncovered ثَلاثَthree ذَوائِبٍtresses مِنof شَعرِهاher hair
كَشَفَت ثَلاثَ ذَوائِبٍ مِن شَعرِها
فيon لَيلَةٍa night فَأَرَتand so showed لَيالِيَnights أَربَعاfour
في لَيلَةٍ فَأَرَت لَيالِيَ أَربَعا
She uncovered three tresses of her hair
She revealed three braids of her hair
He makes his favors flash as bright as cutting swords, / And raises virtues high as leveled spear-points gleam.
one night, and thus revealed four nights.
In one night so I saw four nights
Smiling upon the needy with a radiant face / Whose brilliance overwhelms the lightning's sudden flash.
وَاِستَقبَلَتand she faced قَمَرَthe moon of السَماءِthe sky بِوَجهِهاwith her face
وَاِستَقبَلَت قَمَرَ السَماءِ بِوَجهِها
فَأَرَتنِيَand so showed me القَمَرَينِthe two moons فيat وَقتٍone time مَعاtogether
فَأَرَتنِيَ القَمَرَينِ في وَقتٍ مَعا
She faced the moon in the sky with her face,
She turned her face to the moon in the sky
Yet to his foes revealing power so immense, / Were its shoulder to graze the sky, the heavens would shake.
thus showing me the two moons together at once.
Showing me two moons at the same time
Decisive, vigilant, noble, wise, and truly astute, / Fierce in dispute, magnanimous, and awe-inspiring.
رُدّيrestore الوِصالَunion سَقىmay water طُلولَكِyour ruined dwellings عارِضٌa rain cloud
رُدّي الوِصالَ سَقى طُلولَكِ عارِضٌ
لَوif كانَwere وَصلُكِunion with you مِثلَهُlike it ماnot أَقشَعاcleared away
لَو كانَ وَصلُكِ مِثلَهُ ما أَقشَعا
Restore our union! May a rain cloud water your ruined dwellings—
Return the union that gave drink to your long separation
A tactful scribe, an orator, a giver freely born, / Sagacious, pure as gold, and eloquent of tongue.
one that, if union with you were like it, would never clear away.
If your union were like it would not fade
A soul possessing the very nature of Time itself: / Destroyer of lives, disperser of all gathered things.
زَجَلٌthundering يُريكِshows you الجَوَّthe sky ناراًas fire وَالمَلاand the open land
زَجَلٌ يُريكِ الجَوَّ ناراً وَالمَلا
كَالبَحرِlike the sea وَالتَلَعاتِand the slopes رَوضاًa meadow مُمرِعاlush
كَالبَحرِ وَالتَلَعاتِ رَوضاً مُمرِعا
Thundering, it shows you the sky as fire, and the open land
A man who shows you the atmosphere as fire and salt
A hand possessing the generosity of rain-clouds, / Watering alike the peopled lands and barren wastes.
like a sea, and the slopes as a lush meadow,
As a meadow, green like the sea and hills
Forever scattering the hoard of gathered wealth, / While mending the fractured bonds of noble deeds.
كَبَنانِlike the fingers of عَبدِAbd (servant of) الواحِدِal-Wahid (the One) الغَدَقِlavish الَّذيwho
كَبَنانِ عَبدِ الواحِدِ الغَدَقِ الَّذي
أَروىquenched thirst وَآمَنَand granted safety مَنwhomever يَشاءُhe wishes وَأَفزَعاand frightened
أَروى وَآمَنَ مَن يَشاءُ وَأَفزَعا
like the fingers of lavish Abd al-Wahid, who
Like the meadows of Abdul Waheed, so green
He thrills to give with the same vibrant energy / As a sword quivers in battle when the strike rings true.
quenches thirst, grants safety to whom he wills, and strikes fear.
Who gives drink and safety to whom he wills, and terror
O you whose meeting enriches the poor man's hope, / And fulfills the prayer he whispers after prayer.
أَلِفَgrew accustomed to المُروءَةَnoble conduct مُذsince نَشاhe first grew فَكَأَنَّهُso as though he
أَلِفَ المُروءَةَ مُذ نَشا فَكَأَنَّهُ
سُقِيَwas given to drink اللِبانَmilk بِهاwith it صَبِيّاًas a child مُرضَعاsuckling
سُقِيَ اللِبانَ بِها صَبِيّاً مُرضَعا
He has been accustomed to noble conduct since childhood, as though
He mastered manliness from when he was born
Hold back—not from lack—for you have surpassed the bounds, / And reached a height where stars revolve beneath your feet; so rest.
he had been given milk mingled with it as a suckling child.
As if he was fed as a suckling milk mixed with frankincense
You have attained such stations of high nobility / As neither men nor jinn have ever reached before.
نُظِمَتwere strung مَواهِبُهُhis gifts عَلَيهِupon him تَمائِماas amulets
نُظِمَت مَواهِبُهُ عَلَيهِ تَمائِما
فَاِعتادَهاso he grew used to them فَإِذاso whenever سَقَطنَthey fell تَفَزَّعاhe took fright
فَاِعتادَها فَإِذا سَقَطنَ تَفَزَّعا
His gifts were strung upon him as amulets;
His virtues were threaded onto him like amulets
You hold the virtue of them both, a height of grace / No man has dared to covet, nor dared hope to seek.
he grew used to them, and whenever they fell, he took fright.
So he got used to them and when they fell he panicked
Fate executes your will as if it were your own, / Resolving on the instant whatever you resolve.
تَرَكَmade الصَنائِعَbenefactions كَالقَواطِعِlike sharp swords بارِقاflashing (word fragment)
تَرَكَ الصَنائِعَ كَالقَواطِعِ بارِقا
تٍplural ending of 'flashing' وَالمَعالِيَand lofty deeds كَالعَوالِيَlike spearheads شُرَّعاleveled
تٍ وَالمَعالِيَ كَالعَوالِيَ شُرَّعا
He made his benefactions like flashing swords,
He left arts shining like meteors
And stubborn Time obeys you, humble as a slave / Who answers with swift service when his master calls.
and his lofty deeds like leveled lances,
And sublime deeds spread open like banners
Your glories have devoured all other glories known, / Leaving the steeds of my description lame and spent.
مُتَبَسِّماًsmiling لِعُفاتِهِto his petitioners عَنrevealing واضِحٍwhite teeth
مُتَبَسِّماً لِعُفاتِهِ عَن واضِحٍ
تَغشىoutshine لَوامِعُهُtheir gleams البُروقَthe lightning flashes اللُمَّعاglittering
تَغشى لَوامِعُهُ البُروقَ اللُمَّعا
smiling at his petitioners and revealing white teeth
Smiling at his chastity instead of something clearly shameful
They ran the very orbit of the sun itself, / Traversing past the sunset and the eastern rim.
whose gleams outshine the glittering lightning,
His splendors overwhelm the gleaming lightnings
If this world were joined to another just the same, / Your fame would fill them both, and fear you wanted more.
مُتَكَشِّفاًuncovering لِعُداتِهِto his enemies عَنrevealing سَطوَةٍmight
مُتَكَشِّفاً لِعُداتِهِ عَن سَطوَةٍ
لَوif حَكَّrubbed مَنكِبُهاits shoulder السَماءَthe sky لَزَعزَعاwould surely shake it
لَو حَكَّ مَنكِبُها السَماءَ لَزَعزَعا
revealing to his enemies a might
Baring his weapons instead of tyranny
How can one who claims yet more for you be false, / When God bears witness that his claims are nothing but the truth?
whose shoulder would shake the sky if it brushed against it.
If its shoulder shook the heavens it would shake them
And how can any speaker fully state your case, / Preserving but a fragment of the vastness lost?
الحازِمَthe resolute اليَقِظَthe vigilant الأَغَرَّthe radiant العالِمَthe learned الthe
الحازِمَ اليَقِظَ الأَغَرَّ العالِمَ ال
فَطِنَperceptive الأَلَدَّthe formidable disputant الأَريَحِيَّthe openhanded الأَروَعاthe awe-inspiring
فَطِنَ الأَلَدَّ الأَريَحِيَّ الأَروَعا
The resolute, the vigilant, the radiant, the learned, the
The resolute, vigilant, daring, knowledgeable, discerning
If he alone defines what it means to be a man, / Then name the rest of human kind a mere finger.
perceptive, the unyielding, the openhanded, the awe-inspiring;
Quick-witted, pleasant, delightful, outstanding one
If this is how a noble strives for generosity, / Then rain itself is miserly compared to him.
الكاتِبَthe writer اللَبِقَthe deft الخَطيبَthe orator الواهِبَthe giver الthe
الكاتِبَ اللَبِقَ الخَطيبَ الواهِبَ ال
نَدُسَexpert اللَبيبَthe discerning الهِبرِزِيَّthe distinguished المِصقَعاthe eloquent speaker
نَدُسَ اللَبيبَ الهِبرِزِيَّ المِصقَعا
the writer, the deft, the orator, the giver, the
The elegant, eloquent, generous, ingenious writer
Al-Abbas left you behind, his radiant son and heir, / A vision for our eyes, a legend till the end of days.
expert, the discerning, the distinguished, the eloquent.
Of pleasant company, the excellent debater
نَفسٌa soul لَهاit has خُلُقُthe disposition of الزَمانِTime لِأَنَّهُfor it
نَفسٌ لَها خُلُقُ الزَمانِ لِأَنَّهُ
مُفنيdestroyer of النُفوسِsouls مُفَرِّقٌscattering ماwhat جَمَّعاit gathered
مُفني النُفوسِ مُفَرِّقٌ ما جَمَّعا
A soul with Time's disposition, for Time
A soul whose nature is that of time, for
destroys souls and scatters what it has gathered;
It destroys souls and divides what is joined
وَيَدٌand a hand لَهاit has كَرَمُthe generosity of الغَمامِthe cloud لِأَنَّهُfor it
وَيَدٌ لَها كَرَمُ الغَمامِ لِأَنَّهُ
يَسقيwaters العِمارَةَinhabited land وَالمَكانَand ground البَلقَعاbarren
يَسقي العِمارَةَ وَالمَكانَ البَلقَعا
and a hand with a cloud's generosity, for a cloud
And a hand whose generosity is that of clouds, for
waters inhabited land and barren ground alike.
It gives drink to dwellings and barren land
أَبَداًalways يُصَدِّعُbreaks apart شَعبَa gathering of وَفرٍwealth وافِرِabundant
أَبَداً يُصَدِّعُ شَعبَ وَفرٍ وافِرِ
وَيَلُمُّand reunites شَعبَthe union of مَكارِمٍnoble deeds مُتَصَدِّعاfractured
وَيَلُمُّ شَعبَ مَكارِمٍ مُتَصَدِّعا
Forever he breaks apart a hoard of abundant wealth,
He forever reconciles and restores
and heals the fractured union of noble deeds.
An abundant clan and brings together a split one
يَهتَزُّquivers لِلجَدوىto give bounty اِهتِزازَwith the quivering of مُهَنَّدٍan Indian-forged sword
يَهتَزُّ لِلجَدوى اِهتِزازَ مُهَنَّدٍ
يَومَon the day of الرَجاءِhope هَزَزتَهُyou brandished it يَومَon the day of الوَعىbattle
يَومَ الرَجاءِ هَزَزتَهُ يَومَ الوَعى
He thrills to give, with the quiver of an Indian-forged blade,
He trembles with resolve like a bent spear
on the day of hope, as when you brandished it on the day of battle.
Shook by hope one day and awareness another day
ياO مُغنِياًgiver of wealth أَمَلَthe hope of الفَقيرِthe poor man لِقائُهُmeeting him
يا مُغنِياً أَمَلَ الفَقيرِ لِقائُهُ
وَدُعائُهُand his supplication بَعدَafter الصَلاةِprayer إِذاwhen دَعاhe supplicates
وَدُعائُهُ بَعدَ الصَلاةِ إِذا دَعا
O giver of wealth, meeting you is the poor man's hope,
O you who sing the hopes of the destitute with your presence
and his plea after prayer whenever he supplicates.
And whose prayer after prayers when you pray
أَقصِرdesist وَلَستَand you are not بِمُقسِرٍa coercer جُزتَyou surpassed المَدىthe limit
أَقصِر وَلَستَ بِمُقسِرٍ جُزتَ المَدى
وَبَلَغتَand you reached حَيثُwhere النَجمُthe star تَحتَكَbeneath you فَاِربَعاso pause
وَبَلَغتَ حَيثُ النَجمُ تَحتَكَ فَاِربَعا
Hold back—though you compel no one—you have passed the limit,
You fell short and were not stingy, you fulfilled your duty
and reached where the star is beneath you; so pause.
And reached where the stars wander in groups of four
وَحَلَلتَand you occupied مِنamong شَرَفِthe nobility of الفَعالِdeeds مَواضِعاًstations
وَحَلَلتَ مِن شَرَفِ الفَعالِ مَواضِعاً
لَمnot يَحلُلِoccupied الثَقَلانِhumankind and jinn مِنهاof them مَوضِعاone station
لَم يَحلُلِ الثَقَلانِ مِنها مَوضِعا
You have occupied, among noble deeds, stations
And attained positions of glorious deeds
not one of which humankind or jinn has occupied.
That neither of the two precious ones attained
وَحَوَيتَand you encompassed فَضلَهُماthe excellence of both وَماand not طَمِعَaspired اِمرُؤٌany man
وَحَوَيتَ فَضلَهُما وَما طَمِعَ اِمرُؤٌ
فيهِto it وَلاnor طَمِعَaspired اِمرُؤٌany man أَنto يَطمَعاaspire
فيهِ وَلا طَمِعَ اِمرُؤٌ أَن يَطمَعا
You have gathered the excellence of both; no man has aspired
And contained their superiority - none aspired
to it, nor has any man aspired even to aspire to it.
To it, nor aspired that he would aspire
نَفَذَtook effect القَضاءُFate بِماwith what أَرَدتَyou desired كَأَنَّهُas though it
نَفَذَ القَضاءُ بِما أَرَدتَ كَأَنَّهُ
لَكَfor you كُلَّماwhenever أَزمَعتَyou resolved upon شَيئاًsomething أَزمَعاit resolved
لَكَ كُلَّما أَزمَعتَ شَيئاً أَزمَعا
Fate has carried out what you desired, as though
Fate carried out what you wanted as if
it were yours: whenever you resolved upon something, it resolved likewise.
It were yours - whatever thing you intended was intended
وَأَطاعَكَand obeyed you الدَهرُTime العَصِيُّrebellious كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَأَطاعَكَ الدَهرُ العَصِيُّ كَأَنَّهُ
عَبدٌa slave إِذاwhen نادَيتَyou called لَبّىanswered مُسرِعاswiftly
عَبدٌ إِذا نادَيتَ لَبّى مُسرِعا
And rebellious Time obeyed you, as though it were
And defiant time obeyed you as if it
a slave who answered swiftly whenever you called.
Were a slave, responding quickly when you called
أَكَلَتdevoured مَفاخِرُكَyour glories المَفاخِرَthe glories وَاِنثَنَتand turned back
أَكَلَت مَفاخِرُكَ المَفاخِرَ وَاِنثَنَت
عَنfrom شَأوِهِنَّtheir reach مَطِيُّthe mounts of وَصفيmy description ظُلَّعاlimping
عَن شَأوِهِنَّ مَطِيُّ وَصفي ظُلَّعا
Your glories devoured all other glories; back turned
Your glories surpassed glories and recoiled
the mounts of my praise, limping short of their reach.
From competing with them, my eulogy's journey failed
وَجَرَينَand they ran مَجرىthe course of الشَمسِthe sun فيin أَفلاكِهاits orbits
وَجَرَينَ مَجرى الشَمسِ في أَفلاكِها
فَقَطَعنَso they crossed مَغرِبَهاits setting-place وَجُزنَand passed المَطلَعاthe rising-place
فَقَطَعنَ مَغرِبَها وَجُزنَ المَطلَعا
And your glories ran the sun's course through its orbits,
And they flowed like the course of the sun in its orbits
crossing its setting-place and passing beyond its rising-place.
Cutting short its setting and overtaking its rising
لَوif نيطَتِwere tied الدُنياthe world بِأُخرىto another مِثلِهاlike it
لَو نيطَتِ الدُنيا بِأُخرى مِثلِها
لَعَمَمنَهاthey would encompass it وَخَشينَand they would fear أَنthat لاnot تَقنَعاyou be content
لَعَمَمنَها وَخَشينَ أَن لا تَقنَعا
If this world were tied to another like it,
If the world were adjoined by another like it
they would encompass it, yet fear you would not be content.
It would encompass it and fear it would not suffice
فَمَتىso when يُكَذَّبُis called a liar مُدَّعٍone who claims لَكَfor you فَوقَbeyond ذاthis
فَمَتى يُكَذَّبُ مُدَّعٍ لَكَ فَوقَ ذا
وَاللَهُand God يَشهَدُbears witness أَنَّthat حَقّاًtrue ماwhat اِدَّعىhe claimed
وَاللَهُ يَشهَدُ أَنَّ حَقّاً ما اِدَّعى
So when could one who claims more than this for you be called a liar,
So when can someone who claims superiority over this be denied
when God bears witness that what he claims is true?
And Allah bears witness that the claim is true?
وَمَتىand when يُؤَدّيcan convey شَرحَan account of حالِكَyour state ناطِقٌa speaker
وَمَتى يُؤَدّي شَرحَ حالِكَ ناطِقٌ
حَفِظَhas preserved القَليلَthe little النَزرَscant مِمّاof what ضَيَّعاhe let slip
حَفِظَ القَليلَ النَزرَ مِمّا ضَيَّعا
And when could any speaker fully describe your state,
And when can a speaker fully describe your condition
when he has kept so little beside all he has let slip?
If he keeps safe the little, the pittance, of what was squandered?
إِنif كانَis لاnot يُدعىis called الفَتىthe youth إِلّاexcept كَذاlike this
إِن كانَ لا يُدعى الفَتى إِلّا كَذا
رَجُلاًa man فَسَمِّthen call الناسَthe people طُرّاًall إِصبَعاa finger
رَجُلاً فَسَمِّ الناسَ طُرّاً إِصبَعا
If a youth must be like this to be called
If one calls a young man thus
a man, then call all other people, every one, a finger.
Name the people as birds with one finger
إِنif كانَdoes لاnot يَسعىstrive لِجودٍfor generosity ماجِدٌa noble man
إِن كانَ لا يَسعى لِجودٍ ماجِدٌ
إِلّاexcept كَذاlike this فَالغَيثُthen rain أَبخَلُthe stingiest of مَنthose who سَعىstrive
إِلّا كَذا فَالغَيثُ أَبخَلُ مَن سَعى
If no noble man strives for generosity
If a glorious one only strives for generosity thus
except like this, then rain is the stingiest of all who strive.
Then rain is more stingy than one who strived
قَدhas خَلَّفَleft behind العَبّاسُal-Abbas غُرَّتَكَyour radiant self اِبنَهُhis son
قَد خَلَّفَ العَبّاسُ غُرَّتَكَ اِبنَهُ
مَرأىًa sight لَناfor us وَإِلىand until القِيامَةِthe Resurrection مَسمَعاsomething to hear of
مَرأىً لَنا وَإِلى القِيامَةِ مَسمَعا
Al-Abbas has left behind your radiant self, his son,
Al-‘Abbas left you his mantle my son
for us to behold, and to hear of until the Resurrection.
A sight for us until the final days and hearing
Partial English translation: 37 of 74 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1