Sol 5.6

  1.    

    They adored false beauty, dressed in borrowed finery;

    but in you I adored your own gifted beauty.

  2.    

    !

    In you I revered Nature’s secret—

    how splendid your sun is at sunrise and sunset!

  3. ، !

    I remembered you, and so remembered my childhood

    and my amulets. Blessed be your cradle—blessed!

  4. ،    

    !

    They called you pasture for grazing beasts—if only they

    had called you fertile pasture for minds!

  5.    

    For minds of genius, you are the source of their inspiration;

    how many a night you have spent inspiring poet and orator.

  6. In you I saluted those steadfast in conviction,

    the pure in inmost thought and heart;

  7.    

    and women going bareheaded to the fields,

    while chastity walks behind them as a watchful guard.

  8.    

    Your maidens robbed the flowers of their beauty,

    and the flowers wept, seeking their stolen loveliness.

  9. Nature clothed the face of your earth in brocade,

    and favored your breeze as it breathed perfume.

  10. ،    

    ،

    The branches spread their shade; wherever

    you turn, you fancy a pavilion has been pitched.

  11.    

    The branches leaned over the water, as bends

    a mother to kiss her beloved child.

  12. :

    The palms appeared, their boughs turquoise,

    bearing beads of pure carnelian.

  13.    

    ؟

    Have you seen a colossus with pendants hanging from him,

    or a titan filling every eye with awe?

  14.    

    How many a waterwheel, though untouched by love’s yearning,

    has moaned and poured forth its tears!

  15.    

    And a dove—the heart heard its call,

    and I heard the heart answering between my ribs.

  16.    

    Graceful maidens dip their jars into the pool,

    which goes on laughing full-mouthed, exultant.

  17. Two flocks—ducks and fair young maidens—

    compete in swimming and leaping.

  18. ،

    At late afternoon you see the streams as though

    made of silver in which gold has been melted.

  19. ، ،    

    O full moon, you are the daughter of villages; I see you in

    the night of cities whenever you rise, a stranger.

  20.    

    Stillness has spread its banners over the villages;

    you can almost hear the heartbeat.

  21.    

    Life appeared there in its first full bloom,

    even though it moved along at a creeping pace.

  22. The people there sleep soundly, eyes full of sleep,

    in an age that robs beds and weary sides of rest.

  23. ، ،    

    This is happiness: how many huts it has sheltered,

    and how many lofty, spacious palaces it has fled!

  24. : ، :    

    ،

    They said, “Civilization.” I said, “Unveil its face”;

    its beauties appeared—and proved to be defects.

  25.    

    ، «»؟

    What harm has befallen the country folk because they pay no heed

    to medicine, or do not know the microbe?

  26.    

    ،

    The simplicity of their life has guaranteed their health;

    their air was pure, and so became a physician.

  27. ،

    They suckled the nectar of grazing herds and knew

    no drink but sweet spring water and that nectar.

  28. ؟

    The sun’s rays coursed through their bodies

    and flowed through their faces like kindled blood.

  29.    

    ؟

    The village sun clothed faces in freshness;

    have you ever seen dyed faces in the villages?

  30. ،    

    ،

    Walk through the fields: you will see exercise among them

    as a living art—and among us, as a written prescription.

  31. «»

    I admired in the villagers the mettle of their resolve;

    in patience, I counted each one a Job.

  32. I found goodness of spirit innate in him,

    and his affection easy to gain, close at hand.

  33. ،

    In him you see a character frank and true,

    and no broad grin tainted with deceit.

  34. :

    ،

    I do not say that illiteracy blemishes him:

    be good—not merely a clerk and accountant.

  35. How many a literate city-dweller has gone astray,

    assailing honor and slitting pockets!

  36.    

    In the countryside are youths whose brows stream

    with sweat that becomes threaded pearls.

  37.    

    Not beardless youths with delicate hands,

    donning new clothes every day.

  38. They gave Egypt more than lay within their power,

    and accepted as their share less than bare sufficiency.

Sol 5.6