الجَيشُthe army الحَياlife-giving rain فيin مَأقَظِthe arena of الرَوضِthe garden مَعرَكٌa battlefield
الجَيشُ الحَيا في مَأقَظِ الرَوضِ مَعرَكٌ
كَأَنَّas though لَهُit had ثائِراًa rebel عَلىupon الأَرضِthe earth يُدرَكُto be captured
كَأَنَّ لَهُ ثائِراً عَلى الأَرضِ يُدرَكُ
The rain's army has a battlefield in the garden's arena,
As though it had a rebel on earth to capture.
إِذاwhen اِستَلَّdraws فيهِwithin it الرَعدُthunder أَسيافَthe swords of بَرقِهِits lightning
إِذا اِستَلَّ فيهِ الرَعدُ أَسيافَ بَرقِهِ
فَلَيسَso there is not بِهِin it إِلّاexcept دَمُthe blood of الزِقِّthe wineskin يُسفَكُis spilled
فَلَيسَ بِهِ إِلّا دَمُ الزِقِّ يُسفَكُ
When thunder draws there the swords of its lightning,
Only the wineskin's blood is spilled.
فَياoh, then حَبَّذاhow lovely فَصلُthe season of الخَريفِautumn وَمُزنُهُand its rain clouds
فَيا حَبَّذا فَصلُ الخَريفِ وَمُزنُهُ
وَسُترُand the veils of السَحابِthe clouds الطَلقِunfettered بِالبَرقِwith lightning تُحبَكُare woven
وَسُترُ السَحابِ الطَلقِ بِالبَرقِ تُحبَكُ
How lovely are autumn and its rain clouds,
And the veils of unfettered clouds woven with lightning!
وَلِلطَلِّand the drizzle has فيin الغَدرانِthe pools رَقشٌa pattern مُنَمنَمٌfinely wrought
وَلِلطَلِّ في الغَدرانِ رَقشٌ مُنَمنَمٌ
كَأَنَّas though أَديمَthe surface of الماءِthe water صَرحٌa palace مُشَبَّكُlatticed
كَأَنَّ أَديمَ الماءِ صَرحٌ مُشَبَّكُ
The drizzle traces a finely wrought pattern in the pools,
As though the water's surface were a latticed palace.
وَلَمand did not أَنسَI forget ليfor me فيin دَيرِthe monastery of سَهلانِSahlan لَيلَةًa night
وَلَم أَنسَ لي في دَيرِ سَهلانِ لَيلَةً
بِهاduring it السُحبُthe clouds تَبكيweep وَالبَوارِقُand the lightning flashes تَضحَكُlaugh
بِها السُحبُ تَبكي وَالبَوارِقُ تَضحَكُ
I have not forgotten a night I spent at the Monastery of Sahlan,
When clouds wept and lightning flashes laughed.
وَثَوبُand the robe of الثَرىthe earth بِالزَعفَرانِwith saffron مُعَطَّرٌperfumed
وَثَوبُ الثَرى بِالزَعفَرانِ مُعَطَّرٌ
وَلِلريحِand the wind has ذَيلٌa train بِالرِياضِin the gardens مُمَسَّكُmusk-scented
وَلِلريحِ ذَيلٌ بِالرِياضِ مُمَسَّكُ
The earth's robe was perfumed with saffron,
And the wind's train was musk-scented in the gardens.
وَأَقبَلَand approached شَمّاسٌa deacon وَقَسٌّand a priest وَأُسقُفٌand a bishop
وَأَقبَلَ شَمّاسٌ وَقَسٌّ وَأُسقُفٌ
وَمِطرانُهُمand their metropolitan مَعَwith مَقرَبانٍa high prelate وَبَطرَكُand a patriarch
وَمِطرانُهُم مَعَ مَقرَبانٍ وَبَطرَكُ
A deacon came, a priest, and a bishop,
And their metropolitan, with a high prelate and a patriarch.
يَحُفّونَthey gather بيaround me حَتّىuntil كَأَنّيas though I لَدَيهِمُin their presence
يَحُفّونَ بي حَتّى كَأَنّي لَدَيهِمُ
حَبيبٌa beloved مُفَدّىworth any ransom أَوor مَليكٌa king يُمَلَّكُbeing enthroned
حَبيبٌ مُفَدّى أَو مَليكٌ يُمَلَّكُ
They gathered around me, as though to them I were
A beloved worth any ransom, or a king being enthroned.
وَيُصغونَand they listen ليto me عِلماًknowing بِأَنّيthat I am لِبَحثِهِمُfor their debates
وَيُصغونَ لي عِلماً بِأَنّي لِبَحثِهِمُ
عُذَيقُa little palm جَناهُits fruit وَالجُذيلُand the little tree-trunk المُحَكَّكُrubbed smooth
عُذَيقُ جَناهُ وَالجُذيلُ المُحَكَّكُ
They listened to me, knowing that in their debates I was
The little palm yielding its fruit, the well-rubbed scratching-post.
وَأَقبَلَand approached كُلٌّeach مِنهُمُof them بِمُدامَةٍwith wine
وَأَقبَلَ كُلٌّ مِنهُمُ بِمُدامَةٍ
بِهاwith it كانَhe used to فيin تَقديسِهِhis consecration rites يَتَنَسَّكُpractice devotion
بِها كانَ في تَقديسِهِ يَتَنَسَّكُ
Each of them approached with wine
With which he had worshipped in his sacred rites.
فَذَلِكَso that one نَحويtoward me يَحمِلُcarries الكَأسَthe cup جاثِياًkneeling
فَذَلِكَ نَحوي يَحمِلُ الكَأسَ جاثِياً
وَهَذاand this one بِمَسحِby passing الكَفِّthe palm بيover me يَتَبَرَّكُseeks a blessing
وَهَذا بِمَسحِ الكَفِّ بي يَتَبَرَّكُ
One brought the cup toward me on his knees,
Another sought a blessing by passing his palm over me.
وَطافواand they passed around بِكَأسٍa cup لاnot يُوَحِّدُprofesses oneness راحُهاits wine
وَطافوا بِكَأسٍ لا يُوَحِّدُ راحُها
وَلَكِنbut لَهاit has فيin الكَأسِthe cup ماءٌwater يُشَرِّكُassociating a partner
وَلَكِن لَها في الكَأسِ ماءٌ يُشَرِّكُ
They passed a cup whose wine was no monotheist,
But water in the cup made it admit a partner.
مُشَعشَعَةٌradiant, diluted wine يُخفيconceals الزُجاجُthe glass شُعاعَهاits radiance
مُشَعشَعَةٌ يُخفي الزُجاجُ شُعاعَها
فَمِنso by نورِهاits light سِترُthe veil of الدُجُنَّةِdarkness يُهتَكُis torn apart
فَمِن نورِها سِترُ الدُجُنَّةِ يُهتَكُ
A radiant, diluted wine whose rays the glass conceals,
So by its light the veil of darkness is torn.
تَوَهَّمَهاimagined it الساقونَthe cupbearers نوراًlight مُجَسَّماًembodied
تَوَهَّمَها الساقونَ نوراً مُجَسَّماً
فَظَلَّتso it kept بِهاabout it بَعدَafter اليَقينِcertainty تُشَكِّكُsowing doubt
فَظَلَّت بِها بَعدَ اليَقينِ تُشَكِّكُ
The cupbearers took it for embodied light,
Yet even after certainty, it kept them doubting what it was.
إِذاwhen قَبَّلوهاthey kissed it يُنعِشُrevives الروحَthe soul لُطفُهاits delicacy
إِذا قَبَّلوها يُنعِشُ الروحَ لُطفُها
وَإِنand if تَرَكوهاthey left it فَهيَthen it لِلجِسمِfor the body تَهتِكُravages
وَإِن تَرَكوها فَهيَ لِلجِسمِ تَهتِكُ
When they kissed it, its delicacy revived the soul,
But if they forsook it, it ravaged the body.
وَإِنand if سامَحوهاthey indulged it فيin المِزاجِthe mixing تَمَرَّدَتit rebelled
وَإِن سامَحوها في المِزاجِ تَمَرَّدَت
وَمالَتand it swayed فَكادَتso nearly أَنفُسُthe souls of الصَحبِthe companions تَهلَكُperished
وَمالَت فَكادَت أَنفُسُ الصَحبِ تَهلَكُ
If they indulged it in the mixing, it rebelled,
And swayed, till the companions' souls nearly perished.
فَتَكناwe assailed بِسَيفِwith the sword of الماءِwater فيهاagainst it فَحاوَلَتso it sought
فَتَكنا بِسَيفِ الماءِ فيها فَحاوَلَت
قِصاصاًretribution فَباتَتso it spent the night وَهِيَwhile it فيin العَقلِthe mind تَفتُكُwreaked havoc
قِصاصاً فَباتَت وَهِيَ في العَقلِ تَفتُكُ
We assailed it with water's sword, and it sought
Retribution, spending the night assailing the mind.
وَهَبَّand rose لَناfor us شادٍa singer كَريمٌnoble نِجادُهُhis sword-belt
وَهَبَّ لَنا شادٍ كَريمٌ نِجادُهُ
خُؤولَتُهُhis maternal kin فيin الفَخرِrenown قَيسٌQays وَبَرمَكُand Barmak
خُؤولَتُهُ في الفَخرِ قَيسٌ وَبَرمَكُ
A singer rose for us, noble of sword-belt,
His maternal kin, in renown, were Qays and Barmak.
يُحَرَّكُsets vibrating أَوتاراًstrings تُناسِبُharmonize حِسَّهاtheir sound
يُحَرَّكُ أَوتاراً تُناسِبُ حِسَّها
بِهاthrough them تَسكُنُfind peace الأَرواحُthe souls حينَwhen تُحَرَّكُare stirred
بِها تَسكُنُ الأَرواحُ حينَ تُحَرَّكُ
He set strings vibrating, their tones in harmony;
Through them souls found peace when the strings were stirred.
إِذاwhen جَسَّhe plucked لِلعُشّاقِfor lovers عُشّاقَUshshaq (musical mode) نَغمَةٍa melody
إِذا جَسَّ لِلعُشّاقِ عُشّاقَ نَغمَةٍ
يُشارِكُهاjoins it فيin اليَمِّthe sea رَستٌRast وَسَلمَكُand Salmak
يُشارِكُها في اليَمِّ رَستٌ وَسَلمَكُ
When for lovers he plucked a strain of Ushshaq,
Rast and Salmak joined it in the sea.
وَرَتَّلَand he chanted مِنfrom شِعريmy poetry نَسيباًa love-song مُنَقَّحاًpolished
وَرَتَّلَ مِن شِعري نَسيباً مُنَقَّحاً
يَكادُalmost يُعيرُlends الراحَwine سُكراًintoxication وَيوشَكُand nearly does
يَكادُ يُعيرُ الراحَ سُكراً وَيوشَكُ
He chanted from my verse a polished love-song,
It all but lent intoxication to wine itself.
إِذاwhen ماever تَأَمَّلتُI contemplated البُيوتَthe verses رَأَيتُهاI saw them
إِذا ما تَأَمَّلتُ البُيوتَ رَأَيتُها
نُضاراًpure gold بِنارِin the fire of الأَلمَعِيَّةِbrilliance of wit يُسبَكُbeing cast
نُضاراً بِنارِ الأَلمَعِيَّةِ يُسبَكُ
Whenever I contemplated the verses, I saw them:
Pure gold, cast in the fire of brilliant wit.
وَلَمّاand when مَلَكتُI possessed الكَأسَthe cup ثُمَّthen حَسَوتُهاI sipped it
وَلَمّا مَلَكتُ الكَأسَ ثُمَّ حَسَوتُها
تَقاضَتit demanded repayment فَظَلَّتand it continued وَهيَwhile it لِلعَقلِover the mind تَملِكُheld dominion
تَقاضَت فَظَلَّت وَهيَ لِلعَقلِ تَملِكُ
When I possessed the cup and then sipped it,
It demanded repayment and took possession of my mind.
بَخِلتُI begrudged عَلىto الأَغيارِoutsiders مِنهاof it بِقَطرَةٍeven a drop
بَخِلتُ عَلى الأَغيارِ مِنها بِقَطرَةٍ
وَجُدتُand I gave generously لِساقَيهاto its cupbearer بِماwith what كُنتُI used to أَملِكُown
وَجُدتُ لِساقَيها بِما كُنتُ أَملِكُ
I begrudged outsiders even a drop of it,
Yet I lavished on its cupbearer all I owned.
وَناوَلتُهُand I handed him كَأساًa cup إِذاwhen ماever تَمَسَّكَتclasped
وَناوَلتُهُ كَأساً إِذا ما تَمَسَّكَت
يَداهُhis two hands بِهاaround it ظَلَّتthey remained بِهاfrom it تَتَمَسَّكُmusk-scented
يَداهُ بِها ظَلَّت بِها تَتَمَسَّكُ
I handed him a cup: whenever
His hands clasped it, they grew musk-scented from it.
فَظَلَّso he continued إِلىtoward اللَذّاتِpleasures يَهديguiding نُفوساًsouls
فَظَلَّ إِلى اللَذّاتِ يَهدي نُفوساً
عَلىalthough أَنَّهُthat he لاnot يَهتَديfinds his way أَينَwhere يَسلُكُhe goes
عَلى أَنَّهُ لا يَهتَدي أَينَ يَسلُكُ
He went on guiding souls toward pleasures,
Though he could not find which way to go.
فَلاso do not تَنسَforget نَصيبَكَyour share فيin الدُنياthis world وَاِبتَدِرand hasten
فَلا تَنسَ نَصيبَكَ في الدُنيا وَاِبتَدِر
إِلىto الراحِwine إِنَّindeed الراحَwine لِلروحِfor the soul تُمسِكُsustains
إِلى الراحِ إِنَّ الراحَ لِلروحِ تُمسِكُ
So do not forget your share in this world; hasten
To wine, for wine sustains the soul.
وَثِقand be sure أَنَّthat رَبَّthe Lord of العَرشِthe Throne جَلَّexalted is جَلالُهُHis majesty
وَثِق أَنَّ رَبَّ العَرشِ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ
غَفورٌforgiving رَحيمٌmerciful لِلسَرائِرِof innermost secrets مُدرِكُaware
غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ لِلسَرائِرِ مُدرِكُ
And be sure that the Lord of the Throne—exalted be His majesty—
Is forgiving, merciful, aware of innermost secrets.
وَماand whatever كانَthere may be مِنof ذَنبٍsin لَديهِbefore Him فَإِنَّهُthen He
وَما كانَ مِن ذَنبٍ لَديهِ فَإِنَّهُ
سَيَغفِرُهُHe will forgive it إِلّاexcept بِهِwith Him حينَwhen نُشرِكُwe associate partners
سَيَغفِرُهُ إِلّا بِهِ حينَ نُشرِكُ
Whatever sin there may be before Him, He
Will forgive it, except when we associate partners with Him.
Sol 6.1