مَغانيhaunts الشَعبِthe valley طيباًin beauty فيamong المَغانيthe haunts
مَغاني الشَعبِ طيباً في المَغاني
بِمَنزِلَةِin the rank of الرَبيعِspring مِنَwithin الزَمانِtime
بِمَنزِلَةِ الرَبيعِ مِنَ الزَمانِ
The valley's haunts, in beauty among all haunts,
The songs of the common people are good songs
The abodes of the ravine, in their grace among abodes, / Are as the season of Spring amid all of time.
hold spring's place among the seasons.
Like springtime is to the year
Yet the Arab youth stands within them alone, / A stranger in face, in hand, and in tongue.
وَلَكِنَّand yet الفَتىthe youth العَرَبِيَّArab فيهاwithin them
وَلَكِنَّ الفَتى العَرَبِيَّ فيها
غَريبُa stranger الوَجهِthe face وَاليَدِand the hand وَاللِسانِand the tongue
غَريبُ الوَجهِ وَاليَدِ وَاللِسانِ
Yet the Arab youth within them
Yet the Arab youth amongst them
The playground of Jinns! Had Solomon paced their ground, / He would have journeyed with an interpreter found.
is a stranger in face, hand, and tongue.
Is a stranger in face, hand, and tongue
They enchanted our horsemen and steeds, till I feared / For even our noble mounts, lest they refuse to stir.
مَلاعِبُplaygrounds جِنَّةٍjinn لَوif سارَtraveled فيهاthrough them
مَلاعِبُ جِنَّةٍ لَو سارَ فيها
سُلَيمانٌSolomon لَسارَhe would surely travel بِتَرجُمانِwith an interpreter
سُلَيمانٌ لَسارَ بِتَرجُمانِ
Playgrounds of jinn: were they traversed
The gardens are places of play, where
We rode out at dawn, while the boughs shook down / Upon the manes, drops like pearls from a crown.
by Solomon, he would travel with an interpreter.
Even Solomon would need a translator
I journeyed on, and they veiled the sun from my sight, / Yet granted me passage of sufficient light.
طَبَتenticed فُرسانَناour horsemen وَالخَيلَand the horses حَتّىso that
طَبَت فُرسانَنا وَالخَيلَ حَتّى
خَشيتُI feared وَإِنand although كَرُمنَthey were noble مِنَof الحِرانِbalking
خَشيتُ وَإِن كَرُمنَ مِنَ الحِرانِ
They enchanted our horsemen and horses so
Our horses and knights relaxed there
The sun through the leaves cast onto my vest / Gold dinars that flee from the fingers' quest.
that I feared, noble though they were, they might balk.
Until I feared that even the noble may err
It bears fruits that beckon, offering up / Wine that stands firm without need of a cup.
غَدَوناwe set out at dawn تَنفُضُshook off الأَغصانُthe branches فيهاtherein
غَدَونا تَنفُضُ الأَغصانُ فيها
عَلىonto أَعرافِهاtheir manes مِثلَthe likeness of الجُمانِpearls
عَلى أَعرافِها مِثلَ الجُمانِ
We set out at dawn; there the branches scattered
We marched at dawn, the branches shaking
And waters where pebbles chime in the stream, / Like bangles on maidens' wrists as they gleam.
upon their manes what looked like pearls.
Above their fences like locusts swarming
Had this been Damascus, my reins would be drawn / By a master of feasts, with Chinese bowls upon.
فَسِرتُso I traveled وَقَدand already حَجَبنَthey screened الشَمسَthe sun عَنّيfrom me
فَسِرتُ وَقَد حَجَبنَ الشَمسَ عَنّي
وَجَبنَand they gathered مِنَfrom الضِياءِthe light بِماwith what كَفانيsufficed me
وَجَبنَ مِنَ الضِياءِ بِما كَفاني
So I rode on, the branches screening the sun from me,
I walked as the sun was veiled from me
Where aloes-wood burns when the guest-fires ignite, / And fragrant smoke wafts through the air of the night.
and gathering from its light what sufficed for me.
And the light was obscured, giving me what sufficed
You arrive at his door with a heart bold and free, / But depart with a heart full of timidity.
وَأَلقىand cast الشَرقُthe sunlight مِنهاthrough them فيinto ثِيابيmy clothes
وَأَلقى الشَرقُ مِنها في ثِيابي
دَنانيراًdinars تَفِرُّflee مِنَfrom البَنانِthe fingertips
دَنانيراً تَفِرُّ مِنَ البَنانِ
And sunlight, passing through them, cast into my clothes
The east cast on my clothes from it
Abodes whose phantom presence held sway, / Escorting me on to Nubandajan's way.
dinars that flee from the fingertips.
Gold coins scattering from the mint
When the ring-doves cooed in the shade of the tree, / The song-maidens answered with sweet melody.
لَهاit has ثَمَرٌfruit تُشيرُit beckons إِلَيكَto you مِنهُfrom it
لَها ثَمَرٌ تُشيرُ إِلَيكَ مِنهُ
بِأَشرِبَةٍwith drinks وَقَفنَthey stood بِلاwithout أَوانيvessels
بِأَشرِبَةٍ وَقَفنَ بِلا أَواني
It bears fruit, from which it beckons to you
It has fruits that beckon you
But those in the ravine need clear speech more / Than the dove when it sings and wails to the core.
with drinks standing without vessels.
With drinks though lacking cups
Though two descriptions may seem close in art, / The subjects described remain worlds apart.
وَأَمواهٌand waters تَصِلُّring بِهاin them حَصاهاtheir pebbles
وَأَمواهٌ تَصِلُّ بِها حَصاها
صَليلَthe tinkling of الحَليِjewelry فيon أَيديthe hands of الغَوانيbeautiful women
صَليلَ الحَليِ في أَيدي الغَواني
And waters whose pebbles ring within them
It has clear waters that join together
In Bawwan’s ravine, my steed speaks and asks: / "Is it from this we ride to war’s bloody tasks?"
like jewelry tinkling on the hands of fair women.
The tinkling of jewelry on the wrists of beautiful maidens
"Your father, Adam, first sinned and transgressed, / And taught you to leave the gardens of the blessed."
وَلَوand even if كانَتit were دِمَشقَDamascus ثَنىwould turn عِنانيmy reins
وَلَو كانَت دِمَشقَ ثَنى عِناني
لَبيقُwell-mixed الثُردِbread-and-broth dishes صينِيُّChinese الجِفانِplatters
لَبيقُ الثُردِ صينِيُّ الجِفانِ
And even were it Damascus, my reins would be turned
If Damascus folded up its reins
I replied: "When Abu Shuja' meets my eye, / I forget all mankind and this place under the sky."
by one with finely made tharid and Chinese platters.
It would be the piebald steed with the smooth neck
"For the world and its people are merely a lane, / To one who among men has no peer to reign."
يَلَنجوجِيُّaloeswood-fueled ماwhatever رُفِعَتwas kindled لِضَيفٍfor a guest
يَلَنجوجِيُّ ما رُفِعَت لِضَيفٍ
بِهِat his place النيرانُthe fires نَدِّيُّincense-scented الدُخانِsmoke
بِهِ النيرانُ نَدِّيُّ الدُخانِ
Aloeswood is what is kindled for a guest
The brief visitor whose fires were kindled
"I practiced my praise on the others I knew, / Like tilting with lances that act as a cue."
in his fires, their smoke fragrant with incense.
With smoke rising, hospitable
Through Adud al-Dawla, power stands tall, / For without the Arm, the hands must fall.
تَحِلُّyou lodge بِهِwith him عَلىupon قَلبٍa heart شُجاعٍbrave
تَحِلُّ بِهِ عَلى قَلبٍ شُجاعٍ
وَتَرحَلُand you depart مِنهُfrom him عَنfrom قَلبٍa heart جَبانِcowardly
وَتَرحَلُ مِنهُ عَن قَلبٍ جَبانِ
You arrive at his home with a brave heart
It settles on a courageous heart
No grip on the bright swords that sever and cleave, / No share of the lances the warriors weave.
and leave it with a cowardly heart.
And departs from a cowardly soul
The realm called to him, its refuge and shield, / For the virgin battle or the blood-soaked field.
مَنازِلُdwellings لَمdid not يَزَلcease مِنهاof them خَيالٌa phantom
مَنازِلُ لَم يَزَل مِنها خَيالٌ
يُشَيِّعُنيescorts me إِلىto النِوبَنذَجانِal-Nawbandhajan
يُشَيِّعُني إِلى النِوبَنذَجانِ
Dwellings whose phantom never ceased
Abodes from which a specter never ceased
His name, Fanna Khusraw, no loss does it bring, / To the one who invokes or names the king.
to escort me as far as al-Nawbandhajan.
To accompany me to Nubia
His virtues defy what conjecture can count, / Or what sight and report can ever recount.
إِذاwhen غَنّىsang الحَمامُthe doves الوُرقُgray فيهاwithin them
إِذا غَنّى الحَمامُ الوُرقُ فيها
أَجابَتهُanswered it أَغانِيُّthe songs of القِيانِsinging women
أَجابَتهُ أَغانِيُّ القِيانِ
When the gray doves sing within them,
When the doves coo, the leaves responding
Men's lands are of dust and of fear, it is plain, / But safety is soil in Abu Shuja’s domain.
the singing women's songs answer them.
With the songs of the cranes
It guards every merchant from thieves in the night, / And ensures every felon meets the sword's bite.
وَمَنand whoever بِالشِعبِin the valley أَحوَجُmore in need مِنthan حَمامٍdoves
وَمَن بِالشِعبِ أَحوَجُ مِن حَمامٍ
إِذاwhen غَنّىsang وَناحَand lamented إِلىfor البَيانِclear expression
إِذا غَنّى وَناحَ إِلى البَيانِ
And those in the valley need more than doves do,
And who needs the common people more than a dove
If treasures sought guardians they could trust, / To the valleys and peaks they were safely thrust.
when singing and lamenting, to make their meaning plain.
When it coos and moans for the deserts
There they remained, unguarded and free, / Crying to passers-by: "Do you not see me?"
وَقَدand sometimes يَتَقارَبُdraw close الوَصفانِthe two descriptions جِدّاًvery much
وَقَد يَتَقارَبُ الوَصفانِ جِدّاً
وَمَوصوفاهُماand their two subjects مُتَباعِدانِare far apart
وَمَوصوفاهُما مُتَباعِدانِ
Two descriptions may be very close indeed,
The two descriptions may coincide entirely
His charms are the Mashrifi blades, white and cold, / Against every viper, venomous and old.
while the two things they describe are far apart.
While the two described are far apart
Yet no spell saves his wealth from his generous hand, / Nor keeps gold from being scattered like sand.
يَقولُsays بِشِعبِin the valley of بَوّانٍBawwan حِصانيmy horse
يَقولُ بِشِعبِ بَوّانٍ حِصاني
أَعَنis it away from هَذاthis يُسارُone travels إِلىto الطِعانِspearfighting
أَعَن هَذا يُسارُ إِلى الطِعانِ
My horse says in the valley of Bawwan:
They say the horses of Buwaan are my horses
A vigilant guardian defended Fars’ side, / Urging life through the death where martyrs abide.
“Is it away from this that one rides to spearfighting?
As if to wound me with their spears
With blows that stirred Death to a frenzied delight, / Unlike the lute’s strings struck in the night.
أَبوكُمyour father آدَمٌAdam سَنَّset the pattern of المَعاصيsins
أَبوكُم آدَمٌ سَنَّ المَعاصي
وَعَلَّمَكُمand taught you مُفارَقَةَparting from الجِنانِthe gardens of Paradise
وَعَلَّمَكُم مُفارَقَةَ الجِنانِ
Your father Adam set the pattern of sin
Your father Adam taught sins
As if blood from skulls, on the forelocks displayed, / Clothed the lands in the pheasant’s red brocade.
and taught you to forsake the gardens of Paradise.”
And to leave gardens
If lovers’ hearts were cast in that fray, / The eyes of the fair would hold no sway.
فَقُلتُso I said إِذاwhen رَأَيتُI see أَباAbu شُجاعٍShuja
فَقُلتُ إِذا رَأَيتُ أَبا شُجاعٍ
سَلَوتُI forgot عَنِabout العِبادِmankind وَذاand this المَكانِplace
سَلَوتُ عَنِ العِبادِ وَذا المَكانِ
I replied: when I see Abu Shuja,
So I said, when I saw the courageous father
Never before have I seen lion cubs twain, / Like his sons, nor two colts on the racing plain.
I forget mankind and this place.
I asked about creatures and places
Contending in nobility, fierce in their race, / Mirroring the majesty of their father’s face.
فَإِنَّfor indeed الناسَmankind وَالدُنياand the world طَريقٌa road
فَإِنَّ الناسَ وَالدُنيا طَريقٌ
إِلىto مَنone who ماnot لَهُfor him فيamong الناسِmankind ثانِan equal
إِلى مَن ما لَهُ في الناسِ ثانِ
For mankind and the world are a road
People and the world are a road
Most eager in council to hear the report: / "How one drove a lance in the battle's sport."
to one who has no equal among men.
To One who has no equal among people
Their first sight was glory, the heights of the free, / Attached to it early by destiny's decree.
لَقَدindeed عَلَّمتُI taught نَفسيmyself القَولَspeech فيهِمabout them
لَقَد عَلَّمتُ نَفسي القَولَ فيهِم
كَتَعليمِlike training in الطَرادِjousting بِلاwithout سِنانِa spearhead
كَتَعليمِ الطَرادِ بِلا سِنانِ
Indeed, I taught myself to speak of them
I trained myself to speak of them
The first words they grasped and spoke to the world: / "Aid the distressed," and "Let captions be uncurled."
as one trains in jousting without a spearhead.
Like training a mule without reins
You were the Sun that dazzled the sight; / How now, when two others join in your light?
بِعَضدِthrough Adud الدَولَةِal-Dawla اِمتَنَعَتbecame invincible وَعَزَّتand grew mighty
بِعَضدِ الدَولَةِ اِمتَنَعَت وَعَزَّت
وَلَيسَand there are not لِغَيرِfor other than ذيone possessing عَضُدٍan upper arm يَدانِtwo hands
وَلَيسَ لِغَيرِ ذي عَضُدٍ يَدانِ
Through Adud al-Dawla my soul grew invincible and mighty;
With the strength of the state it gained might and glory
May they live as the Two Moons, giving life through their ray, / Without envy or strife to darken the day.
no one without an upper arm has two hands,
And none but the mighty have power
May they rule but the lands of the foes they defeat, / And inherit but from those whom in battle they meet.
وَلاnor قَبضٌa grasp عَلىon البيضِthe white swords المَواضيthe keen ones
وَلا قَبضٌ عَلى البيضِ المَواضي
وَلاnor حَظٌّa share مِنَin السُمرِthe brown spears اللِدانِthe supple ones
وَلا حَظٌّ مِنَ السُمرِ اللِدانِ
nor a grasp upon keen white swords,
No seizing the wandering eggs
Let the foe's many sons be, in their span, / Like the suffix that dwindles the stature of man.
nor a share in supple brown spears.
Or share of the slippery fish
A prayer like pure praise, with no false art, / Delivered directly from heart unto heart.
دَعَتهُit named him بِمَفزَعِfor the refuge of الأَعضاءِthe limbs مِنهاof it
دَعَتهُ بِمَفزَعِ الأَعضاءِ مِنها
لِيَومِfor the day of الحَربِwar بِكرٍmaiden أَوor عَوانِrenewed
لِيَومِ الحَربِ بِكرٍ أَو عَوانِ
The state named him for the refuge of its limbs
It called them at the havens of limbs
For I am the ripple that gleams on the blade, / And you are the Yemeni steel, finely made.
for war's day, whether maiden or renewed.
For the day of war, early or late
Were you not among men, their lives would be found / As nonsense, like speech with no meaning or sound.
فَماso no يُسميnames كَفَنّاlike Fanna خُسرَKhusraw مُسمٍa name-giver
فَما يُسمي كَفَنّا خُسرَ مُسمٍ
وَلاnor يُكَنيgives a byname كَفَنّاlike Fanna خُسرَKhusraw كانيa byname-giver
وَلا يُكَني كَفَنّا خُسرَ كاني
No giver of names names one like Fanna Khusraw,
So no shroud is named loss
nor does a giver of bynames style one like Fanna Khusraw.
And no shroud hints at loss
وَلاand not تُحصىcan be counted فَضائِلُهُhis virtues بِظَنِّby conjecture
وَلا تُحصى فَضائِلُهُ بِظَنِّ
وَلاnor الإِخبارُreports عَنهُabout him وَلاnor العِيانِdirect observation
وَلا الإِخبارُ عَنهُ وَلا العِيانِ
His virtues cannot be counted by conjecture,
Its virtues cannot be fathomed
nor by reports of him, nor by firsthand sight.
Nor described, even seen
أُروضُlands الناسِof men مِنof تُربٍsoil وَخَوفٍand fear
أُروضُ الناسِ مِن تُربٍ وَخَوفٍ
وَأَرضُand the land of أَبيAbu شُجاعٍShuja مِنof أَمانِsafety
وَأَرضُ أَبي شُجاعٍ مِن أَمانِ
The lands of men are made of soil and fear;
I tame people with soil and fear
Abu Shuja's land is made of safety.
While my father’s land grants safety
تُذِمُّgrants protection عَلىagainst اللُصوصِthieves لِكُلِّto every تَجرٍmerchant
تُذِمُّ عَلى اللُصوصِ لِكُلِّ تَجرٍ
وَتَضمَنُand guarantees لِلصَوارِمِto the keen swords كُلَّevery جانيcriminal
وَتَضمَنُ لِلصَوارِمِ كُلَّ جاني
It pledges every trader protection against thieves
It suppresses thieves, condemning all sins
and promises every culprit to the keen swords.
And protects swords from every criminal
إِذاwhen طَلَبَتseek وَدائِعُهُمtheir deposits ثِقاتٍtrustworthy keepers
إِذا طَلَبَت وَدائِعُهُم ثِقاتٍ
دُفِعنَthey are entrusted إِلىto المَحانيthe valley bends وَالرِعانِand the mountain spurs
دُفِعنَ إِلى المَحاني وَالرِعانِ
When their deposits seek trustworthy keepers,
If asked for deposits in trust
they are entrusted to valley bends and mountain spurs.
They are given to the bedouins and sheepherders
فَباتَتso they spend the night فَوقَهُنَّupon them بِلاwithout صِحابٍcompanions
فَباتَت فَوقَهُنَّ بِلا صِحابٍ
تَصيحُcrying out بِمَنto whoever يَمُرُّpasses أَماdo you not تَرانيsee me
تَصيحُ بِمَن يَمُرُّ أَما تَراني
So they spend the night upon them without companions,
They spent the night above them unclaimed
calling to whoever passes: “Do you not see me?”
Crying, "Can you not see me!"
رُقاهُhis charms كُلُّevery أَبيَضَwhite sword مَشرَفِيٍّMashrafi
رُقاهُ كُلُّ أَبيَضَ مَشرَفِيٍّ
لِكُلِّfor every أَصَمَّdeaf صِلٍّdeadly snake أُفعُوانِmale serpent
لِكُلِّ أَصَمَّ صِلٍّ أُفعُوانِ
His charms are every white Mashrafi sword,
Every bright-faced noble youth aspires to it
against every deaf, deadly male serpent.
Deaf to every silent beckoning fool
وَماand not تَرقىcan be charmed لُهاهُhis gifts مِنagainst نَداهُhis bounty
وَما تَرقى لُهاهُ مِن نَداهُ
وَلاnor المالُwealth الكَريمُprecious مِنَfrom الهَوانِcontempt
وَلا المالُ الكَريمُ مِنَ الهَوانِ
Yet no charm can shield his gifts from his bounty,
Neither its splendor nor generous wealth
nor precious wealth from disdain.
Are diminished by disgrace
حَمىguarded أَطرافَthe borders of فارِسَFars شَمَّرِيٌّa resolute warrior
حَمى أَطرافَ فارِسَ شَمَّرِيٌّ
يَحُضُّurges عَلىtoward التَباقيmutual survival بِالتَفانيthrough mutual annihilation
يَحُضُّ عَلى التَباقي بِالتَفاني
A resolute warrior has guarded the frontiers of Fars,
A horseman defends the land of the brave
urging mutual survival through mutual annihilation,
Urgent for self-sacrifice
بِضَربٍwith blows هاجَaroused أَطرابَthe raptures of المَناياdeath
بِضَربٍ هاجَ أَطرابَ المَنايا
سِوىother than ضَربِstriking المَثالِثِthe third strings وَالمَثانيand the second strings
سِوى ضَربِ المَثالِثِ وَالمَثاني
with blows that stir death's raptures,
With a blow that stirred the resolve of fate
not the striking of third and second strings.
Except the stroke of three and eight
كَأَنَّas though دَمَthe blood of الجَماجِمِskulls فيamong العَناصيtufts of hair
كَأَنَّ دَمَ الجَماجِمِ في العَناصي
كَساclothed البُلدانَthe lands ريشَin the plumage of الحَيقُطانِthe male francolin
كَسا البُلدانَ ريشَ الحَيقُطانِ
As though the blood of skulls, amid tufts of hair,
As if the blood of skulls in the meadows
had clothed the lands in a male francolin's plumage.
Were a robe of finches worn by the land
فَلَوso if طُرِحَتwere cast قُلوبُthe hearts of العِشقِpassionate love فيهاinto it
فَلَو طُرِحَت قُلوبُ العِشقِ فيها
لَماthey would not خافَتfear مِنَof الحَدَقِthe eyes الحِسانِthe beautiful
لَما خافَت مِنَ الحَدَقِ الحِسانِ
If love-stricken hearts were cast into it,
If hearts were exposed there
they would not fear beautiful eyes.
They would not fear the piercing eyes
وَلَمand not أَرَI saw قُبلَهُbefore him شِبلَيtwo cubs of هِزَبرٍa lion
وَلَم أَرَ قُبلَهُ شِبلَي هِزَبرٍ
كَشِبلَيهِlike his two cubs وَلاnor مُهرَيtwo colts for رِهانِracing
كَشِبلَيهِ وَلا مُهرَي رِهانِ
Before him I never saw two cubs of a lion
I have not seen cubs like his cubs
like his two cubs, nor two racing colts,
Or a filly like his filly
أَشَدَّmore intense تَنازُعاًin rivalry لِكَريمِfor a noble أَصلٍlineage
أَشَدَّ تَنازُعاً لِكَريمِ أَصلٍ
وَأَشبَهُand more resembling مَنظَراًin appearance بِأَبِto a father هِجانِpurebred
وَأَشبَهُ مَنظَراً بِأَبِ هِجانِ
more keenly vying for a noble lineage,
Most eager to take after their noble origin
or more like a purebred sire in appearance,
And most resembling the face of the snarling lion
وَأَكثَرَand more فيin مَجالِسِهِhis gatherings اِستِماعاًin hearing
وَأَكثَرَ في مَجالِسِهِ اِستِماعاً
فُلانٌso-and-so دَقَّbroke رُمحاًa spear فيin فُلانِso-and-so
فُلانٌ دَقَّ رُمحاً في فُلانِ
or hearing more often in his gatherings:
Hearing the most in his gatherings
“So-and-so broke a spear in so-and-so.”
So-and-so pierced his spear in so-and-so
وَأَوَّلُand the first رَأيَةٍsight رَأياthe two saw المَعاليlofty glory
وَأَوَّلُ رَأيَةٍ رَأيا المَعالي
فَقَدfor already عَلِقاthe two clung بِهاto it قَبلَbefore الأَوانِthe proper time
فَقَد عَلِقا بِها قَبلَ الأَوانِ
The first sight they saw was lofty glory;
The first sight they comprehended
they clung to it before the proper time.
Was the nobility they clung to early on
وَأَوَّلُand the first لَفظَةٍutterance فَهِماthe two understood وَقالاand the two said
وَأَوَّلُ لَفظَةٍ فَهِما وَقالا
إِغاثَةُaid to صارِخٍone crying for help أَوor فَكُّfreeing عانِa captive
إِغاثَةُ صارِخٍ أَو فَكُّ عانِ
And the first utterance they understood and spoke was
The first words they understood and spoke
aid to one crying for help, or freeing a captive.
Were to help a screaming victim or free a prisoner
وَكُنتَand you were الشَمسَthe sun تَبهَرُdazzling كُلَّevery عَينٍeye
وَكُنتَ الشَمسَ تَبهَرُ كُلَّ عَينٍ
فَكَيفَso how وَقَدand already بَدَتappeared مَعَهاbeside it اِثنَتانِtwo
فَكَيفَ وَقَد بَدَت مَعَها اِثنَتانِ
You were the sun, dazzling every eye;
You were the sun blinding all eyes
how then, now that two have appeared beside it?
So how could two suns appear
فَعاشاso may the two live عيشَةَthe life of القَمَرَينِthe sun and moon يُحياlife is sustained
فَعاشا عيشَةَ القَمَرَينِ يُحيا
بِضَوئهِماby their light وَلاand not يَتَحاسَدانِthe two envy each other
بِضَوئهِما وَلا يَتَحاسَدانِ
May they live as sun and moon do: life is sustained
They lived a life like that of two moons
by their light, and they do not envy each other.
Lit by their glow, not envious of each other
وَلاand may not مَلَكاthe two possess سِوىexcept مُلكِthe dominion of الأَعاديenemies
وَلا مَلَكا سِوى مُلكِ الأَعادي
وَلاand may not وَرِثاthe two inherit سِوىexcept مَنthose whom يَقتُلانِthe two kill
وَلا وَرِثا سِوى مَن يَقتُلانِ
May they possess no realms but those of their enemies,
They did not rule but over the enemies
and inherit only from those they kill.
And did not inherit but those they killed
وَكانَand may be اِبناthe two sons of عَدوٍّan enemy كاثَراهُthe two rivaled him in numbers
وَكانَ اِبنا عَدوٍّ كاثَراهُ
لَهُfor him ياءَيthe two yā letters حُروفِthe letters of أُنَيسِيانِunaysiyan (little person)
لَهُ ياءَي حُروفِ أُنَيسِيانِ
And may a foe's two sons, vying with him in numbers,
They were as bountiful to an enemy
be for that foe the two yā’s in ‘unaysiyan’—‘little person.’
As the extra Ya letters in my verses
دُعاءٌa prayer كَالثَناءِlike praise بِلاwithout رِثاءٍelegy
دُعاءٌ كَالثَناءِ بِلا رِثاءٍ
يُؤَدّيهِconveys it الجَنانُthe heart إِلىto الجَنانِthe heart
يُؤَدّيهِ الجَنانُ إِلى الجَنانِ
A prayer like praise, without elegy,
A prayer like praise without elegy
conveyed from heart to heart.
Carried by heavens to heavens
فَقَدfor indeed أَصبَحتُI have become مِنهُthrough it فيin فِرِندٍa blade's watered pattern
فَقَد أَصبَحتُ مِنهُ في فِرِندٍ
وَأَصبَحَand it has become مِنكَthrough you فيin عَضبٍa keen sword يَمانِYemeni
وَأَصبَحَ مِنكَ في عَضبٍ يَمانِ
For through it I now dwell in a sword's watered pattern,
So I have been angry with him
and through you it dwells in a keen Yemeni blade.
While you have been angry with me
وَلَولاand were it not for كَونُكُمyour presence فيamong الناسِmankind كانواthey would be
وَلَولا كَونُكُم في الناسِ كانوا
هُراءًbabble كَالكَلامِlike speech بِلاwithout مَعانيmeanings
هُراءً كَالكَلامِ بِلا مَعاني
Were you not among mankind, they would be
If not for you, the people would be
mere babble, like speech without meaning.
Nonsense, like speech devoid of meaning
Partial English translation: 48 of 96 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1