طَغَتِ الدِماءُ وَفاضَتِ الأَرواحُ
وَطَمَت سُهولٌ بِالرَدى وَبِطاحُ
The blood overflowed and the souls perished
And plains were flooded with turmoil and devastation
أَينَ الشَرائِعُ مِن شَريعَةِ ظالِمٍ
يُفني النُفوسَ وَما عَلَيهِ جُناحُ
Where are the laws from the law of an unjust ruler
Who destroys souls without impunity
مَشَتِ الجُنودُ إِلى الجُنودِ وَإِنَّما
مَشَتِ المَنونُ حَواصِداً تَجتاحُ
The armies marched against the armies but rather
Death marched harvesting lives
مُهَجٌ تَطيرُ بِها الحُتوفُ فَتَرتَمي
عَن أَنفُسٍ يودى بِها وَيُطاحُ
Shattered souls that hawks fly away with
Falling from souls taken away and fallen
رَثَتِ المَذابِحُ لِلدِماءَ مُراقَةً
مِلءَ البِطاحِ وَما رَثى الذَبّاحُ
The slaughterhouses cried for blood shedding
Filling the plains and the butcher did not cry
يَنهَلُّ صَيِّبُها فَيثني عَطفَهُ
مَرَحاً وَيَزخرُ سَيلُها فَيُراحُ
Its flooding overflows, so it bends its shoulder
Playing, while its torrent flows, so it is relieved
فاضَت حَوالَيهِ فَضُرِّجَ عَرشُهُ
مِنها وَخُضِّبَ تاجُهُ الوَضّاحُ
It overflowed around it, so its throne was stained
With blood from it, and its shining crown dyed
مَلِكٌ وَلا غَيرَ الجَماجِمِ حَولَهُ
سُورٌ وَلا غَيرَ الرِقابِ سِلاحُ
A king, and nothing but skulls around him
Ramparts, and nothing but necks as weapons
عَصفَ الجِلادُ بِها فَظَلَّ يُطيرُها
بيدٍ تَطيرُ بِها ظُبىً وَرِماحُ
The executioner blew them away, so he kept flying them
With a hand that flies vultures and spears
بَغَتِ المُلوكُ عَلى الشُعوبِ وَغَرَّها
مِمَّن تَسوسُ تَجاوُزٌ وَسَماحُ
Kings rebelled against nations, and it deluded them
From those they rule, transgression and forgiveness
جَنَبوا الخَلائِقَ طَيِّعينَ وَرُبَّما
جَمَحَ الجَنيبُ فَطالَ مِنهُ جِماحُ
They avoided creatures obeying, and sometimes
The avoider prejudiced, so his wings lengthened
الظُلمُ مَفسَدَةُ النُفوسِ وَما لَها
غَيرُ التَرَفُّقِ في الأُمورِ صَلاحُ
Injustice corrupts souls, and they have
Nothing but gentleness in matters as integrity
تَشتَدُّ ما اِشتَدَّ العِصابُ فَإِن يَلِن
لانَ الأَبِيُّ وَأَقصَرُ الطَمّاحُ
It gets worse as the grudges got worse, so if it softens
The resolute subsides and spears shorten
إِن يسجنِ الظُلمُ النُفوسَ فَعِندَهُ
بابُ الفِكاكِ وَعِندَها المِفتاحُ
If injustice imprisons souls, then with it
Is the key to freedom, and with it the key
فيمَ التَناحُرُ وَالخَلائِقُ أُخوَةٌ
وَالعَيشُ حَقٌّ لِلجَميعِ مُباحُ
So why the fighting while creatures are brothers
And living is a right for all permitted
وَالدَهرُ سَمحٌ وَالحَياةُ خَصيبَةٌ
وَالرِزقُ جَمٌّ وَالبِلادُ فِساحُ
And time is forgiving, and life is fruitful
And sustenance is plenty, and the countries spacious
إِنّا وَإِن قَدُمَ المَدى لَبَنو أَبٍ
يُغدى بنا في شَأنِهِ وَيُراحُ
We and if the past brought us, children of a father
It will treat us in its manner, so it relaxes
أَنَظَلُّ في الدُنيا يُفَرِّقُ بَينَنا
بغضٌ وَيَجمَعُنا وَغىً وَكِفاحُ
Does it remain in life dividing between us
Hatred and gathering us in adversity and fighting
ما بالُنا نَشقى لِتَنعَمَ عُصبَةً
مَلَكتَ فَلا رِفقٌ وَلا إِسجاحُ
What is wrong with us suffering so that a group enjoys
Who ruled, so no kindness and no dignity
تَقسو وَتَزعُمُ أَنَّما هِيَ رَحمَةٌ
تُحيي النُفوسَ وَنِعمَةٌ تُمتاحُ
It is cruel and claims it is but mercy
That revives souls and a grace that is allowed
طَلَبَت مَوَدّاتِ القُلوبِ وَمِلؤُها
حُرَقٌ تَهيجُ حُقودُها وَجِراحُ
It sought the hearts' affection, but filling them
Is burning that provokes its grudges and wounds
عِندَ الشُعوبِ مَآتِمٌ ما تَنقَضي
طولَ الحَياةِ وَعِندَها أَفراحُ
The nations have endless sorrows
While it has joys the lifespan
أَينَ المُلوكُ المَرتَجونَ لِغَمرَةٍ
تُجلى وَخَطبٍ يُعتَلى فَيُزاحُ
Where are the kings hoped for to remedy
A crisis that clears and ordeals that are pushed away
ذَهَبَ الرُعاةُ الصالِحونَ وَغالَهُم
قَدَرٌ لِإِفناءِ الشُعوبِ مُتاحُ
The good shepherds are gone, and their fate
Is to annihilate the nations afforded
كانوا مَصابيحَ الرَشادِ إِذا دَجَت
ظُلَمُ الحَياةِ وَأَعوَزَ المِصباحُ
They were beacons of guidance if the life’s darkness gloomed
And the lamp was lacking
كانوا الغِياثَ إِذا تَنوبُ عَظيمَةٌ
وَتَهولُ بارِزَةُ النُيوبِ وَقاحُ
They were relief if a calamity struck
And prominent fangs of aggressors attacked unabashed
كانوا الأُساةَ إِذا تَحَطَّمَ مَنكِبٌ
وَاِنهاضَ مِن وَقعِ الخُطوبِ جَناحُ
They were consolation if a shoulder broke down
And the rising from the impact of disasters a wing
يَجِدونَ ما يَجِدُ اللَهيفُ مِنَ الأَسى
وَلِرَبِّنا ناحَ الحَزينُ فَناحوا
They feel what the anxious feels from sorrow
And for our Lord the sorrowful wailed, so they wailed
ذهَبَوا فَما حَيّا المَمالِكَ بَعدَهُم
عَدلٌ وَلا أَحيا الشُعوبَ فَلاحُ
They left, so justice did not vitalize kingdoms after them
Nor did improving the nations succeed
خَلَتِ القُرونُ وَنورُهُم مُتَبَلِّجٌ
وَمَضى الزَمانُ وَفِكرُهُم فَيّاحُ
The generations passed, and their light still shines
And time went by, and their thought evident
الحَربُ هادِمَةُ الشُعوبِ وَإِنَّها
لِلشَرِّ بَينَ العالَمينَ لِقاحُ
War destroys nations, and it is indeed
Pollination of evil between the worlds
تَخبو وَتَقتَدحُ الحُقودُ رَمادَها
كَالنارِ هاجَ كَمينَها المِقداحُ
It dies down, and grudges ignite its ashes
Like fire whose embers the firestarters aroused
صَدعٌ وَإِن طالَ المَدى مُتَفاقِمٌ
وَدَمٌ وَإن جَفَّ الثَرى نَضّاحُ
A crack, and if the course lengthened, worsening
Blood, and if the ground dried, shedding
أَرَأَيتَ مَن ذَهَبَ الرَدى بِعَتادِها
فَإِذا العَتادُ تَفَجُّعٌ وَنُواحُ
Have you seen those that devastation took their weaponry
So there, the weaponry is wailing and crying
وَإِذا الحَياةُ سَفينَةٌ لَعِبَت بِها
هوجُ الرِياحِ وَخانَها المَلّاحُ
And that life is a ship which winds blew capriciously
And its sailor let it down
في جَوفِ مُصطَخِبٍ كَأَنَّ عُبابَهُ
صُوَرٌ لِعادي المَوتِ أَو أَشباحُ
In a disturbed interior, as if its haze is
Images of death’s enemy or ghosts
وَكَأَنَّما دُعِيَت نَزالِ فَأَجفَلَت
لِلحَربِ رابِيَةُ العَديدِ رِداحُ
And as if it was invited to fight, so it plunged
Insistently without composure or impatience
أَشقى النَعيمُ حَياتها وَأَباحَها
خِدرٌ أَعَزُّ وَذائِدٌ جَحجاحُ
Miserable bliss is its life that it permitted
Dearer barrier and repelling fearsome
عَرَبِيَّةٌ أَوفى بِعِزَّةِ قَومِها
نَسَبٌ لَهُم في الكابِرينَ صُراحُ
An Arab that fulfilled its people’s honor
Ancestry they have in the prominent explicit
البَأسُ مُلتَهِبٌ إِذا ما حورِبوا
وَإِذا اِستُنيلوا فَالنَدى دَلّاحُ
Wrath kindled if fought and if sought for help
And the dew glistened if solicited
وَإِذا يُهابُ بِهِم إِلى أُكرومَةٍ
نَفَروا وَإِن سيموا الهَوانَ أَشاحوا
And if dreaded to an attack they marched
And if the disgrace turned away they turned away
مَفجوعَةٌ وَلِعَت بِها أَحزانُها
وَمَحَت غَضارَةَ عَيشِها الأَتراحُ
Sorrowful, and its sorrows have toyed with it
And erased the fertility of its life, homes
كانَت إِذا دَرَجَ النَسيمُ بِسوحِها
دَرَجَت إِلَيه أَسِنَّةٌ وَصِفاحُ
It would - if a breeze gently blew over its plains -
Trot to it tongues and flashy ones fly to strife
وَتَصاهَلَت جُردٌ تَطيرُ إِلى الوَغى
وَكَأَنَّما طارَت بِهِنَّ رِياحُ
As if they flew away with them winds
Staying awake, disturbed by a raving child
باتَت يُؤَرِّقُها تَضَوُّرُ صِبيَةٍ
أَخَذ الطَوى مِنهُم فَهُم أَطلاحُ
That demise took from them, so they are perishing
Should I seek or die with dignity, no request or appeal satisfies
وَلَهَت أَتَطلُبُ أَم تَموتُ كَريمَةً
ما عابَها طَلَبٌ وَلا اِستِمناحُ
She clenched her child and grace of face
So her tears flowed pouring
ضَنّت بِصِبيَتِها وَرَونَقِ وَجهِها
فَتَحَدَّرَت عَبَراتُها تَنساحُ
Until when the stars hid its caves
And the darkness erased its wide horizon
حَتّى إِذا أَخفى النُجومَ مَغارُها
وَمَحا الظَلامَ صَديعُهُ المُنصاحُ
She went early, passing by tents greeting
Hastening, no leisure nor intrusiveness
بَكَرَت تَمُرُّ عَلى الخِيامِ حَيّيةً
عَجلى فَلا رَيثٌ وَلا إِلحاحُ
The day passed, and no hand reached her hand
So a transition ensued, and solace was miserable
زالَ النَهارُ وَلَم تَنَل يَدَها يَدٌ
فَأَمَضَّ مُنقَلَبٌ وَساءَ رَواحُ
She returned to her chicks, and there they were
Lying dead, so she screamed pleading, and they screamed
عادَت إِلى أَفراخِها فَإِذا بِهِم
صَرعى فَصاحَت تَستَجيرُ وَصاحوا
And there was a girl like the fertile spring
And there was a dignified graceful boy
وَإِذا فَتاةٌ كَالرَبيعِ خَصيبَةٌ
وَفَتىً كَرَيعانِ الصِبى مِسماحُ
An ambiguous confusing look not responding
Except the eyes gesturing, and comfort
رَأياً هَموداً ما يُحِيرُ جَوابَها
إِلّا العُيونُ مُشيرَةً وَالراحُ
They saw four, and a fifth gestured
So they examined, and they all emerged unkempt
بَصَرا بِأَربَعَةٍ وَلَوَّحَ خامِسٌ
فَتَأَمَّلا فَبَدا الجَميعُ وَلاحوا
They fled scared to both the living, then approached
There were plentiful meat and beverages
فَزِعا إِلى الحَيَّينِ ثَمَّتَ أَقبَلا
فَإِذا جُزورٌ جَمَّةٌ وَلِقاحُ
And servant girls brought after a short while
There the drinks overflowed and the cups
وَإذا إِماءٌ جِئنَ بَعدَ هُنَيهَةٍ
فَإِذا العِلابُ تَفيضُ وَالأَقداحُ
They drank life flowing in their bodies
So blood circulated in it and enjoyment crept
شَرِبوا الحَياةَ تَدُبُّ في أَجسامِهِم
فَمَشى دَمٌ فيها وَدَبّ مِراحُ
If it tasted the horrors of war, its heavens
The profligate would stop and the killer refrain
لَو ذاقَ أَهوالَ الحُروبِ جُناتُها
كَفَّ العَسوفُ وَأَمسَكَ السَفّاحُ
I treated the nation’s diseases and evil
There, the remedy is affection and loyalty
عالَجتُ أَدواءَ الشُعوبِ وَسُستُها
فإذا الدواء تودُّدٌ وصَفاحُ
And I probed life’s reasons and harshness
There, cooperation is strength and success
وبلوتُ أسباب الحياة وقستُها
فَإِذا التَعاوُنُ قُوَّةٌ وَنَجاحُ
Who shelters the kingdoms and nations in habitats
Where souls resort to and spirits
مَن لِلممالِكِ وَالشُعوبِ بِمَوئِلٍ
تَأوي النُفوسُ إِلَيهِ وَالأَرواحُ
And when will the astray return to guidance
A path most just and a shining star
وَمَتى يَرُدُّ الحائِرينَ إِلى الهُدى
نَهجٌ أَسَدُّ وَكَوكَبٌ لَمّاحُ
The ages gloomed, so the light of life does not show
Nor does the dawn show for its people
دَجَتِ العُصورُ فَما يَبينُ لِأَهلِها
نورُ الحَياةِ وَما يَحينُ صَباحُ
We gasp heavily, bearing us but from us
There is no enduring our evil burdens
نَستَفدِحُ الأَنفاسَ تَحمِلُنا وَما
مِنّا لِعِبءِ شُرورِنا اِستِفداحُ
Our morals are worthless, and we are well
And our hearts are mute, and we are eloquent
أَخلاقُنا جَرَبٌ وَنَحنُ صِحاحُ
وَقُلوبُنا خُرسٌ وَنَحنُ فِصاحُ
If our souls’ images our eyes witnessed
No self would blame nor find ugly
لَو عايَنَت صُوَرَ النُفوسِ عُيونُنا
لَم يَعدُها أَنَفٌ وَلا اِستِقباحُ
Kings legislated for us methods that are not for
Good disturbed nor extended to wrong
سَنَّ المُلوكُ لَنا طَرائِقَ ما بِها
لِلخَيرِ مُضطَرَبٌ وَلا مُنداحُ
And if kings abandoned the paths of guidance
The guides erred, and the advisers went astray
وَإِذا المُلوكُ تَنَكَّبَت سُبُلَ الهُدى
غَوَتِ الهُداةُ وَضَلَّتِ النُصّاحُ
And I have realized matters experimenting
There life is foolery and jest
وَلَقَد تَبَيَّنتُ الأُمورَ مُجَرِّباً
فَإِذا الحَياةُ دُعابَةٌ وَمِزاحُ
