ذَكَرَhe recalled النَّقاal-Naqa (the sand dune) فاهتزَّso he quivered منfrom ذِكرِthe memory of النَّقاal-Naqa (the sand dune)
ذَكَرَ النَّقا فاهتزَّ من ذِكرِ النَّقا
أتُرَىdo you think? استُطِيرَwas sent flying فُؤَادُهُhis heart أمor أخفقاfluttered
أتُرَى استُطِيرَ فُؤَادُهُ أم أخفقا
He recalled al-Naqa and quivered at the memory of al-Naqa.
He recalled his beloved, so his heart quivered at her memory,
Did his heart take flight, do you think, or did it flutter?
Did it fly or fall in weakness for her sake?
وتَنفَّسَand he breathed الصُّعَداءa deep sigh حتَّىuntil خِلتهُI imagined him
وتَنفَّسَ الصُّعَداء حتَّى خِلتهُ
لوif كانَhe was بينَamong أراكِهِits arak trees ماnot أورَقاput forth leaves
لو كانَ بينَ أراكِهِ ما أورَقا
And he heaved a deep sigh, until I thought:
And the greedy one breathed deeply until his breath ran out,
Had he been among its arak trees, they would have put forth no leaves.
As if amidst his ribs grew tender leaves.
كلٌّeveryone لهُto him قلبٌa heart وقلبُand the heart أخيthe companion of الهَوَىpassionate love
كلٌّ لهُ قلبٌ وقلبُ أخي الهَوَى
لَربيبِto a fosterling قومٍa tribe فيin هَواهُlove for him تَعلَّقاbecame attached
لَربيبِ قومٍ في هَواهُ تَعلَّقا
Everyone has a heart, and a lover’s heart
Each heart has its own passions, and my brother's heart
Has clung in love to a tribe’s fosterling.
Clings to the darling of a people in his love.
يَجِدُّhe finds التَّنعُّمَpleasure فيin الشَّقاءِsuffering ويَلتظِيand he burns
يَجِدُّ التَّنعُّمَ في الشَّقاءِ ويَلتظِي
غَضَباًwith anger إذاwhen قالواthey said نَظُنُّكَwe think you أحمقاa fool
غَضَباً إذا قالوا نَظُنُّكَ أحمقا
He finds pleasure in suffering, and burns
He finds bliss in adversity and kindles
With anger when they say, ‘We think you a fool.’
Anger if they say "We think you a fool."
طُبِعَwas fashioned الزَّمانُtime علىfor العِنادِobstinacy وأهلُهُand its people
طُبِعَ الزَّمانُ على العِنادِ وأهلُهُ
طُبِعواwere fashioned علىto أخذِtaking الخديعةِdeceit مَوثِقاas a binding pledge
طُبِعوا على أخذِ الخديعةِ مَوثِقا
Time was fashioned for obstinacy, and its people
The age is bent on stubbornness and its people
Were fashioned to take deceit as a binding pledge.
Are bent on taking guile as their ally.
إنِّيindeed I أُصدِّقُI believe قولَthe words of حُرٍّa noble man صادقٍtruthful
إنِّي أُصدِّقُ قولَ حُرٍّ صادقٍ
لكنَّنيbut I أجِدُI find التَّجاربَexperiences أصدَقاmore truthful
لكنَّني أجِدُ التَّجاربَ أصدَقا
Indeed, I believe the words of a noble, truthful man,
I believe the word of a truthful free man,
But I find experience more truthful.
But I find experience more truthful still.
Sol 6.1