سقى الله أطلالَ ما صبا
إلى ربعها المأنوسِ قلبُ مشوقٍ
May God water the ruins, so long as there yearns
God watered the ruins of what was built
for their familiar dwelling a longing heart.
To its familiar quarter, the heart of a longing lover,
وطلَّت دموعاً أو غيوثاً بتربها
سيوفُ لحاظٍ أو سيوفُ بروق
And may tears or downpours be shed upon their soil
Who shed tears or rain on its soil,
by swords of glances or swords of lightning.
Swords of soft blankets or swords of lightening.
إذا ما الصَّبا هَّبت على الروض قبَّلت
ثغورَ أقاحٍ أو خدودَ شقيق
Whenever the east wind blew over the meadow, it kissed
Whenever the breeze blew on the garden, it kissed
the mouths of daisies or the cheeks of anemones.
The lips of a blossom or the cheeks of an iris,
وان خطرت في يانع الدوح عانقت
قدود غصون وشحت بعقيق
And if it sauntered through the lush trees, it embraced
And if it swayed in the tender branches, it embraced
the slender forms of branches adorned with carnelian.
The arms of the boughs and adorned itself with carnelian.
وان جنحت شمسُ الأصيل حسبتها
عرائس تجلى ضمخت بخلوق
And if the late-afternoon sun declined, I took them for
And if the morning sun inclined, I imagined it
brides being unveiled, anointed with saffron perfume.
Brides revealed, bathed in creation.
صبحتُ بها الأيامَ من خمرةِ الصّبا
وتيه الغنى نشوانَ غيرَ مفيق
I gave the days there a morning draught of youth's wine
I spent the days intoxicated with the wine of youth
and wealth's swagger, intoxicated and never sobering.
Lost in bliss, not yet awake.
وما خانني إلاّ الشبابُ فأنني
وثقتُ بعهدٍ منهُ غير وثيق
And nothing betrayed me but youth, for I
Only youth betrayed me, though I trusted
trusted a pledge from it that was not trustworthy.
A pact with it, not firm enough.
وقد لاح في فوديَّ بيض كأنها
كواكب في الظلماء ذاتُ شروق
And white hairs have already appeared at my temples, as though they were
In my cheeks whiteness appeared as if
stars in the darkness, shining forth.
Stars in the dark endowed with sunrise.
وما حان عصر الشيب لكن أتاحه
لقاء عدوٍّ وازورارُ صديق
And the time for gray hair had not come, but it was brought on
The time of gray hair has not yet come, but was brought on
by encountering an enemy and a friend's turning away.
By encountering a foe and parting with a friend.
Sol 6.1