ماnever ماسَhe swayed مُنعَطِفاًbending فيin قُرطَقٍa short tunic وَقَباand a robe
ما ماسَ مُنعَطِفاً في قُرطَقٍ وَقَبا
إِلّاexcept وَعَوَّذتُهُand I invoked protection for him مِنagainst غاسِقٍnight-darkness وَقَباset in
إِلّا وَعَوَّذتُهُ مِن غاسِقٍ وَقَبا
Never did he sway, bending in a short tunic and robe,
No detour on the road twisted in its ruggedness,
without my invoking protection for him against darkness as it fell.
Except I invoked protection from darkness for it.
ظَبيٌa gazelle نَباfailed to cut سَيفُthe sword صَبريmy patience فيin مَحَبَّتِهِlove for him
ظَبيٌ نَبا سَيفُ صَبري في مَحَبَّتِهِ
وَطِرفُand the steed عَزميmy resolve بِمَيدانِin the arena of السُلُوِّforgetfulness كَباstumbled
وَطِرفُ عَزمي بِمَيدانِ السُلُوِّ كَبا
A gazelle, in whose love the sword of my patience failed,
A gazelle bleating - my sword of patience is unsheathed for its love,
and the steed of my resolve stumbled in the field of forgetting.
And the tip of my resolve aiming at the highest goal.
مُتَرَّكُTurkish-styled اللَحظِthe glance فيin أَخلاقِهِhis character دَمَثٌgentle
مُتَرَّكُ اللَحظِ في أَخلاقِهِ دَمَثٌ
مُستَعرِبُArabized اللَفظِspeech تُركِيٌّa Turk إِذاwhen اِنتَسَباhe states his lineage
مُستَعرِبُ اللَفظِ تُركِيٌّ إِذا اِنتَسَبا
Turkish in his glance, gentle in his character,
Unrefined in manners, vulgar in speech -
Arabized in speech, a Turk when he names his lineage.
A Turk in origin whenever he lays claim.
يَرميhe shoots بِسَهمٍwith an arrow مِنَof الأَسقامِillnesses أَسهَمَنيmade me wan
يَرمي بِسَهمٍ مِنَ الأَسقامِ أَسهَمَني
عَنfrom حاجِبٍan eyebrow لِلكَرىsleep عَنfrom ناظِريmy eyes حُجَباbarred
عَن حاجِبٍ لِلكَرى عَن ناظِري حُجَبا
He shoots an arrow of sickness that has wasted me
He shot me an arrow of sickness, when
from an eyebrow that has barred sleep from my eyes.
An eyebrow screening the vision obscured my sight.
صَعبُhard القِيادِto rein in فَإِنthen if راضَتtamed خَلائِقَهُhis disposition
صَعبُ القِيادِ فَإِن راضَت خَلائِقَهُ
كَأسُa cup المُدامِwine أَلانَتsoftened مِنهُin him ماwhat صَعُباwas stubborn
كَأسُ المُدامِ أَلانَت مِنهُ ما صَعُبا
Hard to rein in; yet if his disposition is tamed
Difficult to lead, yet if his nature is content,
by a cup of wine, it softens what is stubborn in him.
The cup of wine turns gentle however hard.
وَلَيلَةٍand a night جادَgave generously ليto me عَدلُthe justice of الزَمانِTime بِهِwith him
وَلَيلَةٍ جادَ لي عَدلُ الزَمانِ بِهِ
فَلَمso did not يُفِدyield بَعدَهاafter it جوداًbounty وَلاnor ذَهَباgold
فَلَم يُفِد بَعدَها جوداً وَلا ذَهَبا
And a night when Time's justice bestowed him on me—
And a night Fate was just to me through him,
after it, Time yielded neither bounty nor gold.
After which his generosity ceased nor did gold flow.
سُقيتُI was given drink مِنfrom يَدِهِhis hand طَوراًat one time وَمِنand from فَمِهِhis mouth
سُقيتُ مِن يَدِهِ طَوراً وَمِن فَمِهِ
كَأسَيtwo cups of سُلافٍchoice wine تُزيلُthat removes الهَمَّworry وَالكُرَباand distress
كَأسَي سُلافٍ تُزيلُ الهَمَّ وَالكُرَبا
I was given drink, now from his hand, now from his mouth:
I was given drink from his hand at times, and from his mouth
two cups of choice wine that dispel worry and distress.
My goblet of the first drops that dispel anxiety and distress.
فيin جَنَّةٍa garden مِنamong رِياضِmeadows الحَزنِthe rugged uplands غالِيَةٍprecious
في جَنَّةٍ مِن رِياضِ الحَزنِ غالِيَةٍ
يُضاحِكُexchanges smiles with الزَهرُthe blossoms مِنamong نُوّارِهاits flowers السُحُباthe clouds
يُضاحِكُ الزَهرُ مِن نُوّارِها السُحُبا
In a precious garden among the meadows of the rugged uplands,
In a garden of the meadows of sorrow, secluded,
the blooms among its flowers exchanged smiles with the clouds.
Where flowers smile at the clouds' glow.
قَدalready أَفرَشَتناit spread bedding for us مِنَfrom الرَوضِthe meadow الأَنيقِthe lovely بِهاthere
قَد أَفرَشَتنا مِنَ الرَوضِ الأَنيقِ بِها
بُسطاًcarpets وَمَدَّand stretched عَلَيناover us دَوحُهاits great trees طُنُباtent-ropes
بُسطاً وَمَدَّ عَلَينا دَوحُها طُنُبا
There it had spread for us, from the lovely meadow,
carpets; and its great trees stretched tent-ropes over us.
It spread carpets for us from the delicate meadow therein
بِتناwe spent the night بِهاthere لَيلَةًa night رَقَّتbecame gentle شَمائِلُهاits ways
بِتنا بِها لَيلَةً رَقَّت شَمائِلُها
كَيَومِهاlike its day يَستَجِدُّrenews اللَهوَrevelry وَالطَرَباand rapture
كَيَومِها يَستَجِدُّ اللَهوَ وَالطَرَبا
We spent a night there, gentle in its ways,
And stretched its branches over us.
like its day, renewing revelry and rapture.
We spent a night wherein its features softened,
أَسقيI give drink نَديميmy drinking companion بِهاthere إِذwhen غَبَwas absent ثالِثُناour third
أَسقي نَديمي بِها إِذ غَبَ ثالِثُنا
إِذاwhen شَرِبتُI drank وَيَسقينيand he gives me drink إِذاwhen شَرِباhe drank
إِذا شَرِبتُ وَيَسقيني إِذا شَرِبا
I served my drinking companion there, with our third absent,
As if renewed in play and delight each day.
whenever I drank; and he served me whenever he drank,
I serve my boon companion with it when our third is absent.
مِنfrom قَهوَةٍwine كَشُعاعِlike the rays of الشَمسِthe sun مُشرِقَةٍradiant
مِن قَهوَةٍ كَشُعاعِ الشَمسِ مُشرِقَةٍ
إِذاwhen جَرىflowed الماءُwater فيهاinto it أَطلَعَتit brought forth شُهُباbright stars
إِذا جَرى الماءُ فيها أَطلَعَت شُهُبا
with wine as radiant as the rays of the sun:
When I drink he serves me and when he drinks I serve.
when water flowed into it, it brought forth bright stars.
Of coffee radiant as the rays of the rising sun,
شَعشَعتُهاI mixed it with water فَأَضاءَso shone الشَرقُthe East مُنبَلِجاًbreaking into light
شَعشَعتُها فَأَضاءَ الشَرقُ مُنبَلِجاً
بِهاthrough it وَقامَand stood لَهاbefore it الحِرباءُthe chameleon مُنتَصِباupright
بِها وَقامَ لَها الحِرباءُ مُنتَصِبا
I mixed it with water, and the East shone clear
When water flows into it stars appear.
with its light, and the chameleon stood upright before it.
I prepared it, and the East shone bright with it,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen أَمحَلَتbecame barren مِنهاof it زُجاجَتُناour bottle
حَتّى إِذا أَمحَلَت مِنها زُجاجَتُنا
وَظَلَّand remained مِنهاof it غَديرُthe pool الدَنِّthe wine-jar قَدalready نَضَباhad run dry
وَظَلَّ مِنها غَديرُ الدَنِّ قَد نَضَبا
Until, when our bottle lay barren of it,
And for it warriors stood erect.
and the pool of wine in the jar lay drained,
Until when our glasses were emptied of it,
نَبَّهتُI roused راهِبَa monk دَيرٍa monastery كانَhad been يُؤنِسُناdelighting us
نَبَّهتُ راهِبَ دَيرٍ كانَ يُؤنِسُنا
تَرجيعُهُhis lilting of الصَوتَthe voice إِنwhether صَلّىhe prayed وَإِنand whether خَطَباhe preached
تَرجيعُهُ الصَوتَ إِن صَلّى وَإِن خَطَبا
I roused a monastery's monk, who had delighted us
And the pool of its coffee was depleted.
with his lilting voice, whether he prayed or preached.
I alerted a monk of a monastery who entertained us
بادَرتُهُI hastened to him وَقَرَعتُand knocked on البابَthe door واحِدَةًonce
بادَرتُهُ وَقَرَعتُ البابَ واحِدَةً
قَرعاًa knock تَوَسَّمَhe discerned مِنfrom إِخفائِهِits quietness الأَدَباcourtesy
قَرعاً تَوَسَّمَ مِن إِخفائِهِ الأَدَبا
I hastened to him and knocked once upon the door,
With his chanting voice whether in prayer or preaching.
a knock whose quietness he recognized as courtesy.
I went ahead and knocked on the door just once,
فَقامَso he rose يَسحَبُdragging بُردَيهِhis two cloaks عَلىat مَهَلٍleisure
فَقامَ يَسحَبُ بُردَيهِ عَلى مَهَلٍ
فَماso did not اِشتَشاطَbecome frantic بِناat us خَوفاًwith fear وَلاnor رَعَباterror
فَما اِشتَشاطَ بِنا خَوفاً وَلا رَعَبا
He rose, slowly dragging his two cloaks,
A knock which in its gentleness implied courtesy.
not thrown by us into a frenzy of fear or terror.
So he got up dragging his gown at leisure,
وَجاءَand he came يَسأَلُasking عَمّاabout what لَيسَdid not يُنكِرُهُfind it unfamiliar
وَجاءَ يَسأَلُ عَمّا لَيسَ يُنكِرُهُ
مِمّاof what نَرومُwe seek وَلَكِنbut يُثبِتُconfirms الطَلباthe request
مِمّا نَرومُ وَلَكِن يُثبِتُ الطَلبا
He came asking about what was no mystery to him
Without bursting out at us in fear or alarm.
of what we sought, merely to confirm the request.
And he came to ask about what he does not deny us,
فَقُلتُso I said ضَيفٌa guest مُلِمٌstopping by غَيرُnot ذيpossessing طَمَعٍdesire
فَقُلتُ ضَيفٌ مُلِمٌ غَيرُ ذي طَمَعٍ
فيfor الزادِprovisions لَكِنَّهُbut he يَرضىis content بِماwith what شَرِباhe drinks
في الزادِ لَكِنَّهُ يَرضى بِما شَرِبا
I said: “A guest stopping by, with no desire
What we desire, and only confirms the request.
for provisions, but content with whatever he drinks.”
I said, "An honored guest without greed for provisions,
فَأَطلَقَso he opened البابَthe door إِذناًas permission فيfor الدُخولِentry لَناfor us
فَأَطلَقَ البابَ إِذناً في الدُخولِ لَنا
وَقالَand said هَذاthis عَلَيناupon us بَعضُpart of ماwhat وَجَباis obligatory
وَقالَ هَذا عَلَينا بَعضُ ما وَجَبا
So he opened the door, giving us leave to enter,
Yet satisfied with what was drunk."
and said: “This is part of the duty we owe.”
So he opened the door permitting us entry,
وَجاءَناand he brought us بِسُلافٍchoice wine نَشرُهاits scent عَبِقٌfragrant
وَجاءَنا بِسُلافٍ نَشرُها عَبِقٌ
شَمطاءُgray-haired قَدalready عُتِّقَتhad been aged فيin دَنِّهاits jar حِقَباfor ages
شَمطاءُ قَد عُتِّقَت في دَنِّها حِقَبا
He brought us choice wine, rich in fragrance,
And said, "This is part of what we owe."
gray-haired, aged for eras in its jar.
And he brought goblets whose fragrance was diffused,
أَفنىconsumed المَدىtime جِرمَهاits substance حيناًfor a while فَلوand had مَكَثَتit remained
أَفنى المَدى جِرمَها حيناً فَلو مَكَثَت
فيin الدَنِّthe jar حَولاًa year لَكادَتit would almost أَنto تَطيرَfly هَباas dust
في الدَنِّ حَولاً لَكادَت أَن تَطيرَ هَبا
Time had worn down its substance for a while; had it stayed
Aged, as if released from captivity in his coffee long ago.
in the jar a year, it would almost have flown off as dust.
Time had erased their crime, for if they stayed
فَأَترَعَso he filled الكَأسَthe cup حَتّىuntil فاضَoverflowed فاضِلُهاits excess
فَأَترَعَ الكَأسَ حَتّى فاضَ فاضِلُها
بِكَفِّهِover his palm وَسَقانيand gave me drink بَعدَماafter شَرِباhe drank
بِكَفِّهِ وَسَقاني بَعدَما شَرِبا
He filled the cup until its excess overflowed
In the coffee a year, they would almost fly like dust.
over his palm, and gave me drink after drinking himself.
He drained the cup until its remainder overflowed
فَمُذso when رَأَيناwe saw سُروراًjoy فيin أَسِرَّتِهِhis facial lines
فَمُذ رَأَينا سُروراً في أَسِرَّتِهِ
تَبدوappearing وَكَفّاًand a hand لَهُof his بِالنَورِwith light مُختَضِباdyed
تَبدو وَكَفّاً لَهُ بِالنَورِ مُختَضِبا
Once we saw joy in his features
Into his palm, and served me after he drank.
appearing, and a hand of his dyed with light,
Since we saw joy in his company
كِلناwe measured out لَهُfor him فِضَّةًsilver بِالكَفِّby the handful فاضِلَةًsurplus
كِلنا لَهُ فِضَّةً بِالكَفِّ فاضِلَةً
عَنّاbeyond our needs وَكالand he measured out لَناfor us مِنfrom دونِهِin its stead ذَهَباgold
عَنّا وَكال لَنا مِن دونِهِ ذَهَبا
we measured out silver for him by the handful, surplus
Shining, as if his palm had been dyed with light.
to our needs, and he measured out gold for us instead,
To him we were silver in hand, overflowing,
مِنfrom قَهوَةٍwine حَجَبوهاthey veiled it فيin مَعابِدِهِمtheir sanctuaries
مِن قَهوَةٍ حَجَبوها في مَعابِدِهِم
وَعَلَّقواand they hung حَولَهاaround it الأَستارَthe curtains وَالصُلُباand the crosses
وَعَلَّقوا حَولَها الأَستارَ وَالصُلُبا
from wine they had veiled in their sanctuaries,
While without him we were but gold.
and they had hung curtains and crosses around it.
Of coffee they had hidden in their temples
فَبِتُّso I spent the night أَسقيgiving drink نَديميmy drinking companion مِنfrom سُلافَتِهاits purest part
فَبِتُّ أَسقي نَديمي مِن سُلافَتِها
راحاًwine تَكونُwould be إِلىtoward راحاتِهِhis comforts سَبَباa cause
راحاً تَكونُ إِلى راحاتِهِ سَبَبا
So I spent the night pouring for my companion, from its purest part,
And hung curtains and crosses about.
wine that would bring him ease.
I stayed serving my friend from his goblets,
ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَسقيهِgiving him drink حَتّىuntil مالَleaned جانِبُهُhis side
ما زِلتُ أَسقيهِ حَتّى مالَ جانِبُهُ
إِلىtoward الوِسادِthe pillow وَأَغفىand he dozed بَعدَماafter غُلِباhe was overcome
إِلى الوِسادِ وَأَغفى بَعدَما غُلِبا
I kept giving him drink until his body leaned
Comforts that would lead to his comfort.
toward the pillow, and he dozed once overcome.
I kept serving him until he leaned his side
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen قُدَّwas torn ذَيلُthe hem اللَيلِthe night مِنfrom دُبُرٍbehind
حَتّى إِذا قُدَّ ذَيلُ اللَيلِ مِن دُبُرٍ
بِهاthere وَسَلَand unsheathed عَليناupon us صُبحُهاits dawn قُضُباswords
بِها وَسَلَ عَلينا صُبحُها قُضُبا
Until, when night's hem was torn from behind
Against the pillow and fell asleep overcome.
there, and its dawn unsheathed swords upon us,
Until the night pulled its tail from behind,
وَمَدَّand stretched باعُthe arm الضُحىthe morning كَفّاًa hand أَنامِلُهاits fingertips
وَمَدَّ باعُ الضُحى كَفّاً أَنامِلُها
تُزجيsends forth الشُعاعَthe rays وَأَخرىand another تَلقَطُgathers الشُهُباthe bright stars
تُزجي الشُعاعَ وَأَخرى تَلقَطُ الشُهُبا
and morning's arm stretched out a hand whose fingertips
And dawn beamed its radiance upon us.
sent forth rays, and another gathered the bright stars,
And the seller of daybreak stretched its fingers
نَبَّهتُهُI woke him وَجَبينُand the brow الصُبحِdawn مُندَلِقٌstreaming forth
نَبَّهتُهُ وَجَبينُ الصُبحِ مُندَلِقٌ
وَقَدand already دَناdrew near أَجَلُthe appointed end الظَلماءِdarkness وَاِقتَرَباand approached
وَقَد دَنا أَجَلُ الظَلماءِ وَاِقتَرَبا
I woke him as dawn's brow streamed forth,
Shooting beams while another grasps meteors.
and darkness's appointed end drew near, close at hand.
I woke him while the brow of dawn dripped,
فَقامَso he rose يَمسَحُrubbing عَينَيهِhis eyes بِراحَتِهِwith his palm
فَقامَ يَمسَحُ عَينَيهِ بِراحَتِهِ
وَالنَومُand sleep يُعقَدُknots مِنfrom أَجفانِهِhis eyelids الهُدُباthe lashes
وَالنَومُ يُعقَدُ مِن أَجفانِهِ الهُدُبا
He rose, rubbing his eyes with his palm,
And the term of darkness had drawn near and come.
while sleep knotted the lashes of his eyelids.
So he got up wiping his eyes with his palm,
عاطَيتُهُI shared drink with him وَحِجابُand the veil اللَيلِthe night مُنخَرِقٌtorn
عاطَيتُهُ وَحِجابُ اللَيلِ مُنخَرِقٌ
راحاًwine تُخَرِّقُpierces مِنbecause of لَألائِهاits brilliance الحُجُباthe veils
راحاً تُخَرِّقُ مِن لَألائِها الحُجُبا
I shared with him, while night's veil lay torn,
While slumber knotted his eyelids.
wine that pierced the veils with its radiance:
I presented him, while the veil of night was torn,
عَذراءَa virgin تَعلَمُshe knows أَنَّthat الماءَwater والِدُهاher father
عَذراءَ تَعلَمُ أَنَّ الماءَ والِدُها
وَتَستَشيطُand she rages إِذاwhen ماever مَسَّهاhe touches her غَضَباin anger
وَتَستَشيطُ إِذا ما مَسَّها غَضَبا
a virgin who knows that water is her father,
A maiden who knows water is her father
and flies into a rage whenever he touches her.
And is livid if angered by it.
إِذاwhen أَصابَtouches لُجَينُthe silver الماءِwater عَسجَدَهاher gold
إِذا أَصابَ لُجَينُ الماءِ عَسجَدَها
أَرتَكَshe shows you دُرّاًpearls يُزيكَunclear, possibly 'shows you' الدُرِّmilk (contextual reading) مُحتَلَباfreshly drawn
أَرتَكَ دُرّاً يُزيكَ الدُرِّ مُحتَلَبا
When the silver of water meets her gold,
If the turbulent water hits her chaste body
she shows you pearls resembling freshly drawn milk [reading uncertain].
It leaves a pearl that adorns the pearl with purity.
وَبِتُّand I spent the night فيin طيبِthe sweetness of عَيشٍliving رَقَّbecame gentle جانِبُهُits side
وَبِتُّ في طيبِ عَيشٍ رَقَّ جانِبُهُ
مُرَفَّهَat ease البالِin mind لاnot أَخشىI fear بِهِin it نَصَباweariness
مُرَفَّهَ البالِ لا أَخشى بِهِ نَصَبا
And I spent the night in sweet living, gentle in its ways,
And I spent a life of good living which softened his side,
at ease in mind, fearing no weariness there.
Carefree, fearing no fatigue through it.
بِتناwe spent the night نُقَضّيهِpassing it وَالأَيّامُand the days تُنشِدُناrecite to us
بِتنا نُقَضّيهِ وَالأَيّامُ تُنشِدُنا
ماnot كُلُّevery يَومٍday يَنالُattains المَرءُa person ماwhat طَلَباhe sought
ما كُلُّ يَومٍ يَنالُ المَرءُ ما طَلَبا
We spent the night enjoying it, while the days sang to us:
We spent it while the days chant to us
“Not every day does one attain what one seeks.”
That not every day does one attain what is sought.
وَالدَهرُand Time قَدalready غَفَلَتgrew heedless أَيّامُهُits days وَغَدَتand became
وَالدَهرُ قَد غَفَلَت أَيّامُهُ وَغَدَت
بِطيبِwith the sweetness of ساعاتِهِits hours تَستَوقِفُholds back النُوَباcalamities
بِطيبِ ساعاتِهِ تَستَوقِفُ النُوَبا
And Time's days had grown heedless, and now
And time inadvertently spent its days
held back calamities with the sweetness of its hours.
Halting its good hours with misfortune.
فَلاso do not تُضِعsquander ساعَةًan hour كانَتwas لَناto us هِبَةًa gift
فَلا تُضِع ساعَةً كانَت لَنا هِبَةً
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat يَستَرِدَّtakes back الدَهرُTime ماwhat وَهَباit gave
مِن قَبلِ أَن يَستَرِدَّ الدَهرُ ما وَهَبا
So do not squander an hour that was a gift to us,
So do not miss an hour that was a gift to us
before Time takes back what it gave.
Before time takes back what it gave.
Partial English translation: 77 of 78 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1