سَلِask البَدرَthe full moon عَنِّيabout me إِنif قَدِمتَyou arrive عَلَىto البَدرِthe full moon
سَلِ البَدرَ عَنِّي إِن قَدِمتَ عَلَى البَدرِ
يُخَبِّركَit will tell you أَنِّيthat I مِثلُهlike it أبَداًalways أَسرِيI travel by night
يُخَبِّركَ أَنِّي مِثلُه أبَداً أَسرِي
Ask the full moon about me, if you come to the full moon;
Ask the full moon about me, if you visit the full moon
it will tell you that, like it, I forever travel by night.
It will inform you that I'm like it, always traveling
وأَنِّيand that I أَهفُوI fly swiftly بِالمَطَايَاon the mounts عَلَىdespite الوَجَاsore hooves
وأَنِّي أَهفُو بِالمَطَايَا عَلَى الوَجَا
وَأحمِلُهَاand I drive them مِنfrom حَيثُwhere أَدرِيI know وَلاand not أَدرِيI know
وَأحمِلُهَا مِن حَيثُ أَدرِي وَلا أَدرِي
And that I fly on my mounts despite their sore hooves,
And that I yearn for the horses on the sands
and drive them through places I know and do not know,
And I carry them from where I know and where I don't know
بِعَزمٍwith resolve يَخَالُit deems البَحرthe sea شَربَةَa draught for مُرتَوٍone drinking his fill
بِعَزمٍ يَخَالُ البَحر شَربَةَ مُرتَوٍ
وَيَحسَبand it reckons طُولَthe length of الأَرضِthe earth فِيwithin سَعَةِthe breadth of الشِّبرِa handspan
وَيَحسَب طُولَ الأَرضِ فِي سَعَةِ الشِّبرِ
with resolve that deems the sea one draught for someone drinking his fill,
With determination that rivals the sea gulping down a sweet drink
and reckons the earth's length within a handspan's breadth.
And considers the length of the earth to be the width of a span
نَذَرتُI vowed عَلَيهِupon it أَنthat يُبَلِّغَنِيit bring me to المُنَىdesired goals
نَذَرتُ عَلَيهِ أَن يُبَلِّغَنِي المُنَى
فَهَلso will إِنif بَلَغتُI reach النَّجمَthe star يَكمُلُbe complete فِيin نَذرِيmy vow
فَهَل إِن بَلَغتُ النَّجمَ يَكمُلُ فِي نَذرِي
I have bound it by a vow to bring me to my desires;
I vowed to it that it would convey me to my death
so if I reach the star, will my vow be fulfilled?
So if I reach the star, will my vow be completed?
إِذَاwhen الأُفقُthe horizon يَتلُوrecites سُورَةthe surah of اللَّيلِnight بِالفَلاin the wilderness
إِذَا الأُفقُ يَتلُو سُورَة اللَّيلِ بِالفَلا
تَلَوتُI recited لَهُto it مِنfrom صَارِمِيmy sharp sword سُورَةَthe surah of الفَجرِdawn
تَلَوتُ لَهُ مِن صَارِمِي سُورَةَ الفَجرِ
When the horizon recites the Surah of Night in the wilderness,
When the horizon recites the chapter of the night in spots
I recite to it, from my sharp sword, the Surah of Dawn.
I recite to it from my sword the chapter of dawn
وَإِنand if خَانَنِيbetrays me خِلٌّa friend أَعُدُّI count on وَفاءَهُhis loyalty
وَإِن خَانَنِي خِلٌّ أَعُدُّ وَفاءَهُ
فَسَيفِيthen my sword وَزِيرٌa minister لِيfor me أَشُدُّI strengthen بِهِwith it أَزرِيmy back
فَسَيفِي وَزِيرٌ لِي أَشُدُّ بِهِ أَزرِي
And if a friend whose loyalty I count on betrays me,
And if a friend betrays me, I count his loyalty
my sword is my minister, with which I strengthen my back.
So my sword is a minister to me, I hold it close
سَيَدرِيmy age will learn زَمَانِيmy age أَيَّwhat عِلقprecious treasure مَضِنَّةٍjealously cherished
سَيَدرِي زَمَانِي أَيَّ عِلق مَضِنَّةٍ
أَضَاعَit squandered وَيُفنِيand it wears away السِّنَّthe teeth قَرعاًby gnashing إِذَاwhen يَدرِيit knows
أَضَاعَ وَيُفنِي السِّنَّ قَرعاً إِذَا يَدرِي
My age will learn what a jealously cherished treasure
My time will know which twisted branch
it has squandered, and will gnash its teeth away when it knows.
Wasted away and destroyed years when it realizes
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends مَاwhat لِلدَّهرِwith time يَطوِيit folds away مَآرِبيmy aims
خَلِيلَيَّ مَا لِلدَّهرِ يَطوِي مَآرِبي
أَلاis there not حَكَمٌa judge فَصلٌdecisive يُقيدُexacts redress مِنfrom الدَّهرِtime
أَلا حَكَمٌ فَصلٌ يُقيدُ مِن الدَّهرِ
My two friends, why does time fold away my aims?
My friend, why does time conceal my affairs
Is there no decisive judge to exact redress from time?
Isn't there a just judgment that restricts time?
وَمَاand what لِعُقَابِwith the eagle of النَّائِبَاتِcalamities تَصِيدُنِيit hunts me
وَمَا لِعُقَابِ النَّائِبَاتِ تَصِيدُنِي
أَمَاdoes it not عَلِمَتit knows فِيon الأَرضِthe earth وَكراًa nest سِوَىother than وَكرِيmy nest
أَمَا عَلِمَت فِي الأَرضِ وَكراً سِوَى وَكرِي
And why does the eagle of calamities hunt me?
And why do misfortunes hunt me
Does it know no nest on earth besides mine?
Don't they know a den other than my den?
نَعَمyes عَلِمَتit knows وَكراًa nest سِوَاهُother than it وَإِنَّمَاbut it is only that
نَعَم عَلِمَت وَكراً سِوَاهُ وَإِنَّمَا
صُرُوفُthe vicissitudes of اللَّيَالِيnights تَستَطِيلُact overbearingly عَلَىover الحُرِّthe freeborn
صُرُوفُ اللَّيَالِي تَستَطِيلُ عَلَى الحُرِّ
Yes, it knows another nest; it is only that
Yes, they know another den, but
the vicissitudes of nights lord it over the freeborn.
The turns of nights grow long in freeing
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends قَدalready أَفنَيتُI exhausted دَمعِيmy tears صَبَابَةًin yearning
خَلِيلَيَّ قَد أَفنَيتُ دَمعِي صَبَابَةً
فَمَنso who عِندَهُwith him دَمعٌtears أُقيمُI establish بِهِwith them عُذرِيmy excuse
فَمَن عِندَهُ دَمعٌ أُقيمُ بِهِ عُذرِي
My two friends, I have exhausted my tears in yearning;
My friend, I have wasted my tears streaming
so who has tears with which I may plead my excuse?
So who has tears with which I defend my excuse?
وَهَاand behold سِمطُa string of دَمعِيmy tears مُذsince نَأَيتُمyou departed كَأَنَّمَاas though
وَهَا سِمطُ دَمعِي مُذ نَأَيتُم كَأَنَّمَا
أُعَلِّمُهُI teach it مِنfrom بَعدِكُمafter you صَنعَةَthe craft of النَّثرِscattering; prose
أُعَلِّمُهُ مِن بَعدِكُم صَنعَةَ النَّثرِ
And here is my string of tears: since you departed, it is as though
And my tear pouring has not stopped since I left you
I teach it, in your absence, the art of scattering.
As if after you I teach it the craft of prose
فَلَمّاso when رَأَواthey saw دَمعِيmy tears تَلاطَمcrashed together مَوجُهُtheir waves
فَلَمّا رَأَوا دَمعِي تَلاطَم مَوجُهُ
دَعَونِيthey called me عَلَىby حُكمِthe decree of البُكَاweeping بِأَبِيas Abu (father of) بَحرِBahr (a sea)
دَعَونِي عَلَى حُكمِ البُكَا بِأَبِي بَحرِ
When they saw my tears, their waves crashing together,
When they saw my tear surging in waves
they called me Abu Bahr by weeping's decree.
They called me to rule over crying, the father of the sea
أَخِلايَmy dear friends بِالخَضرَاءِin al-Khadra' دُومُواremain بِنعمَةٍin bliss
أَخِلايَ بِالخَضرَاءِ دُومُوا بِنعمَةٍ
فَوَالعَصرِfor, by Time أَنِّيindeed I مُذsince نَأَيتُمyou departed لَفِيsurely in خُسرِloss
فَوَالعَصرِ أَنِّي مُذ نَأَيتُم لَفِي خُسرِ
My friends in al-Khadra', may you remain in bliss;
My friends, stay in the green oasis
for, by Time, since you departed I am surely in loss.
By the evening, since I left you, I have been losing
إِذاwhen نَسَمَتwafted رِيحُthe wind of الجَزِيرَةِal-Jazira هَيَّجَتit stirred
إِذا نَسَمَت رِيحُ الجَزِيرَةِ هَيَّجَت
ذمَاءَthe lingering life of نُفَيسٍa little soul لاnot تَرِيشُit fletches arrows وَلاand not تَبرِيit whittles arrows
ذمَاءَ نُفَيسٍ لا تَرِيشُ وَلا تَبرِي
When the wind of al-Jazira wafts, it stirs
When the breeze of the peninsula stirs
a little soul's lingering life, without fletching or whittling arrows.
It excites the slumber of a soul that does not rest or calm
تَقِfear اللَّهَGod فِيهَاfor it يَاO نَسِيمُbreeze فَإِنَّهَاfor indeed it
تَقِ اللَّهَ فِيهَا يَا نَسِيمُ فَإِنَّهَا
إِذَاif فُقِدَتit is lost ضَاعَis lost الصِّبَاyouth وَالهَوَىand love العُذرِيchaste
إِذَا فُقِدَت ضَاعَ الصِّبَا وَالهَوَى العُذرِي
Fear God for it, O breeze, for
Protect it, oh breeze, for if it is lost
if it is lost, youth and chaste love are lost.
The morning and infatuation will be lost
يقِرُّit acknowledges لِعَينَيto the two eyes of بَانَةthe ban-tree of السِّدرِal-Sidr أَنَّنِيthat I
يقِرُّ لِعَينَي بَانَة السِّدرِ أَنَّنِي
أَحِنُّI yearn عَلَىdespite عُفرٍpale gazelles إِلَىfor بَانَةِthe ban-tree of السِّدرِal-Sidr
أَحِنُّ عَلَى عُفرٍ إِلَى بَانَةِ السِّدرِ
It confesses to the two eyes of the ban-tree of al-Sidr that I
It settles my eye for the acacia of Bana
yearn, despite pale gazelles, for the ban-tree of al-Sidr.
That I yearn for a dune towards the acacia of Bana
أُغازِلُI court بَرقَthe lightning of الغَربِthe west حُبّاًout of love لِعَهدِكُمfor the days with you
أُغازِلُ بَرقَ الغَربِ حُبّاً لِعَهدِكُم
فَمَهمَاso whenever بَدَاappears بَرقٌlightning أَقُلI say كُنbe أَبَاAbu (father of) ذَرِّDharr
فَمَهمَا بَدَا بَرقٌ أَقُل كُن أَبَا ذَرِّ
I court the western lightning out of love for the days with you;
I flirt with the lightning of the west, loving your era
whenever lightning appears, I say, 'Be Abu Dharr.'
So whenever lightning flashes, I say here I am, Abu Dharr
كَأَنas though لَمnot نردwe visited زَهرَthe flowers of الرِّيَاضِthe gardens وَلَمand not نرِدwe came to
كَأَن لَم نرد زَهرَ الرِّيَاضِ وَلَم نرِد
مَشَارِعَthe watering places of ذَاكَthat النَّهرِriver بُورِكَbe blessed مِنas a نَهرِriver
مَشَارِعَ ذَاكَ النَّهرِ بُورِكَ مِن نَهرِ
As though we had never visited the garden flowers, nor come
It's as if we never wanted the flowers of the gardens, and never wanted
to that river's watering places—blessed be that river!
The streets of that river - blessings from a river!
وَلَمand not نَلتَحِفwe wrapped ourselves in ظِلَّthe shade of الأَرَاكَةِthe arak-tree بُردَةًas a cloak
وَلَم نَلتَحِف ظِلَّ الأَرَاكَةِ بُردَةً
مُنَمَّقَةَadorned الأَعطَافِin its folds بِالزَّهَرِwith flowers النَّضرِfresh
مُنَمَّقَةَ الأَعطَافِ بِالزَّهَرِ النَّضرِ
Nor wrapped ourselves in the arak-tree's shade as a cloak
And we never wrapped ourselves in the shade of the palm trees, a garment
whose folds were adorned with fresh flowers;
Embroidered at the sleeves with fresh flowers
وَلمand not نَلتَقِطwe gathered دُرَّthe pearls of الحَديثِconversation عَشِيَّةًone evening
وَلم نَلتَقِط دُرَّ الحَديثِ عَشِيَّةً
بِسَاحَةِin the courtyard of ذَاكَthat القَصرِpalace أَفدِيهِI would ransom it مِنas a قَصرِpalace
بِسَاحَةِ ذَاكَ القَصرِ أَفدِيهِ مِن قَصرِ
nor gathered the pearls of conversation one evening
And we never picked the pearls of conversation in the evening
in that palace's courtyard—what a palace, for which I would give my life!
In the courtyard of that palace - I ransom it from any palace!
شَبَابٌyouth وَإخوَانٌand friends تَوَلَّىpassed away كِلاهُمَاboth of them
شَبَابٌ وَإخوَانٌ تَوَلَّى كِلاهُمَا
فَلاso may not خَانَنِيbetray me دَمعِيmy tears وَلاand may not جَدَّrally لِيfor me صَبرِيmy patience
فَلا خَانَنِي دَمعِي وَلا جَدَّ لِي صَبرِي
Youth and friends—both have passed away;
Youth and brothers have both deserted
may my tears never betray me, nor my patience rally to my aid.
So neither did my tears betray me, nor did my patience strengthen me
وَكَمand how often رُمتُI strove أَلاthat not يَشعَبَscatter الدَّهرُtime شَملَنَاour company
وَكَم رُمتُ أَلا يَشعَبَ الدَّهرُ شَملَنَا
وَلَكِنَّbut سِحرَthe magic of الدَّهرِtime أَنفَذُmore effective مِنthan سِحريmy magic
وَلَكِنَّ سِحرَ الدَّهرِ أَنفَذُ مِن سِحري
How often I strove for time not to scatter our company!
And how I wished time would not divide us
But time's magic is more effective than mine.
But the sorcery of time is stronger than my sorcery
ثَلاثَةُthree إخوَانٍfriends تَأَلَّفَcame together شَملُهُمtheir company
ثَلاثَةُ إخوَانٍ تَأَلَّفَ شَملُهُم
تَأَلَّفَthe coming together of شَملِthe company of الظِّلِّshade وَالمَاءِand water وَالزَّهرِand flowers
تَأَلَّفَ شَملِ الظِّلِّ وَالمَاءِ وَالزَّهرِ
Three friends, whose company came together
Three brothers whose gathering was united
as shade, water, and flowers come together.
Like the gathering of shade, water, and flowers
فَأمَّاas for أبُوAbu (father of) مُوسَىMusa فَنَأيُهُthen his distance عَبرَةٌa tear
فَأمَّا أبُو مُوسَى فَنَأيُهُ عَبرَةٌ
وَيَاand oh لَيتَنِيwould that I أَلفَاهُmight find him أَعلَىhigher مِنَthan العَصرِTime
وَيَا لَيتَنِي أَلفَاهُ أَعلَى مِنَ العَصرِ
As for Abu Musa, his distance brings tears;
As for Abu Musa - his remoteness is a lesson
and oh, would that I could find him exalted above Time!
If only I had met him at a loftier time
لَهُhe has أَدَبٌrefinement سَمحٌgracious كَمَاjust as رَقَّتِwas gentle الصَّبَاthe east wind
لَهُ أَدَبٌ سَمحٌ كَمَا رَقَّتِ الصَّبَا
إِلَىalong with أَدَبٍrefinement كَسبٍacquired كَعَهدِكَas you know بِالشِّحرِat al-Shihr
إِلَى أَدَبٍ كَسبٍ كَعَهدِكَ بِالشِّحرِ
His refinement is gracious, as gentle as the east wind,
He has a generous literary style, as the dawn softened
joined to acquired refinement, such as you know at al-Shihr.
To a literary style he earned, as you knew him to have poetry
أَقُولُI say خَلِيلِيmy friend وَهوُwhile he is أَعظَمُgreater رُتبَةًin rank
أَقُولُ خَلِيلِي وَهوُ أَعظَمُ رُتبَةً
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it is that تَأتِيarise الضَّرُورَاتُnecessities فِيin الشِّعرِpoetry
وَلَكِنَّهُ تَأتِي الضَّرُورَاتُ فِي الشِّعرِ
I call him 'my friend,' though his rank is higher;
I say my friend, and he is of highest rank
but it is so: necessities arise in poetry.
But necessities come in poetry
وَمَاand not شَبَّgrew up عَمرٌو'Amr فِيin الزَّمَانِthe time الَّذِيthat مَضَىpassed
وَمَا شَبَّ عَمرٌو فِي الزَّمَانِ الَّذِي مَضَى
عَنِbeyond الطَّوقِthe collar لَكِنbut شَبَّgrew up عَنهُbeyond it أَبُوAbu (father of) عَمرِ'Amr
عَنِ الطَّوقِ لَكِن شَبَّ عَنهُ أَبُو عَمرِ
It was not 'Amr, in times gone by, who outgrew
Time did not make Amro youthful in the past era
the collar; rather, Abu 'Amr outgrew it.
But it made him youthful over it - Abu Amr
وَإِنَّand indeed بَنِيthe sons of حَسُّونَHassun سَادَةُthe lords of دَهرِهِمtheir age
وَإِنَّ بَنِي حَسُّونَ سَادَةُ دَهرِهِم
وَلَكنَّbut هَذَاthis man فِيهِمُamong them بيضةُthe egg of العُقرِbarrenness
وَلَكنَّ هَذَا فِيهِمُ بيضةُ العُقرِ
The sons of Hassun are indeed the lords of their age,
And the clan of Hassoun are the masters of their time
but this man among them is the peerless egg of barrenness.
But among them is the egg of the eagles
وَلاand no عَجَبٌwonder أَنthat سَادَهُمhe became their lord وَهوwhile he is مِنهُمُone of them
وَلا عَجَبٌ أَن سَادَهُم وَهو مِنهُمُ
فَمِنfor among جُملَةِthe company of الأَسيَافِswords صَمصَامَتاthe two Samsama blades of عَمرو'Amr
فَمِن جُملَةِ الأَسيَافِ صَمصَامَتا عَمرو
No wonder he became their lord, though he is one of them;
It's no wonder he mastered them, and he is one of them
for among swords are 'Amr's two Samsama blades.
Among the collection of swords, the two swords of Amro
وَبِيand in me مِنfrom نَوَىthe separation of ابنِIbn (son of) القَاسِمِal-Qasim النَّدبِthe noble man لَوعَةٌanguish
وَبِي مِن نَوَى ابنِ القَاسِمِ النَّدبِ لَوعَةٌ
تعَلّمteaches قَلبِيmy heart كَيفَhow يَنزَحُit goes far away عَنfrom صَدرِيmy breast
تعَلّم قَلبِي كَيفَ يَنزَحُ عَن صَدرِي
The separation from noble Ibn al-Qasim leaves me with anguish
And in me from the essence of Ibn Al-Qassim is a wound
that teaches my heart how to depart from my breast.
That teaches my heart how to be carried from my chest
تَنَاءىhe went far away فَمَاso no مَرَّpassed السُّلُوُّforgetful solace بِخَاطِرِيthrough my mind
تَنَاءى فَمَا مَرَّ السُّلُوُّ بِخَاطِرِي
وَلاand not أَشرَقَتshone فِيin مُقلَتِيmy eye غُرَّةُthe radiant face of البَدرِthe full moon
وَلا أَشرَقَت فِي مُقلَتِي غُرَّةُ البَدرِ
He has gone far away; no solace has crossed my mind,
He disappeared, and time did not pass in my thoughts
nor has the full moon's bright face shone in my eye.
Nor did the crescent shine in my eyelids
وَتُطرِبُنِيand it enraptures me ذِكرَاهُhis memory حَتَّىuntil يَقُولَsays مَنwhoever
وَتُطرِبُنِي ذِكرَاهُ حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَن
يُعَاينُنِيsees me حُدُّواinflict the prescribed penalty on فَلاناًso-and-so عَلَىfor السُّكرِdrunkenness
يُعَاينُنِي حُدُّوا فَلاناً عَلَى السُّكرِ
His memory enraptures me until someone says,
And remembering him excites me until someone
upon seeing me, 'Give so-and-so the prescribed penalty for drunkenness.'
Who sees me says, "Restrain So-and-so from intoxication!"
أَحِبَّتَنَاour beloved friends قَصَّرتُI fell short فِيin شُكرِthanking مَجدِكُمyour glory
أَحِبَّتَنَا قَصَّرتُ فِي شُكرِ مَجدِكُم
وَلَكِنَّنِيbut I أَغيَيَتُI reached my utmost فِيهِin it عَلَىaccording to قَدرِيmy ability
وَلَكِنَّنِي أَغيَيَتُ فِيهِ عَلَى قَدرِي
Our beloved friends, I have fallen short in thanking your glory,
My loved ones, I fell short in thanking your glory
but I have gone as far in it as my ability allows.
But I grew weary in it to my ability
فَأَنتُمfor you are ظُبَاthe blade-edges of بَاسِيmy might وَأَطوَادُand the mountains of عِصمَتِيmy protection
فَأَنتُم ظُبَا بَاسِي وَأَطوَادُ عِصمَتِي
وَمُستَوطِنُوand the dwellers in صَدريmy breast وَمُستَوجِبُوand those deserving شُكرِيmy thanks
وَمُستَوطِنُو صَدري وَمُستَوجِبُو شُكرِي
For you are the blade-edges of my might and the mountains of my protection,
So you are the doorsteps of my domination and pillars of my allegiance
the dwellers in my breast and those who deserve my thanks.
And dwellers of my chest and deservers of my gratitude
وَدُونَكُمُوهَاand take it, all of you تُحفَةًas a gift مِنfrom أَخِيكُمُyour brother
وَدُونَكُمُوهَا تُحفَةً مِن أَخِيكُمُ
تَصُوغُit fashions سِوَارَa bracelet of الشُّكرِgratitude فِيon مِعصَمِthe wrist of البرِّkindness
تَصُوغُ سِوَارَ الشُّكرِ فِي مِعصَمِ البرِّ
And take it, a gift from your brother,
And along with it, a gift from your brother
fashioning gratitude's bracelet on kindness's wrist.
Which forms the bracelet of gratitude on the wrist of righteousness
عَسَىmay اللَّهُGod يُدنِينَاbring us close عَلَىdespite بُعدِthe distance of دَارِنَاour abode
عَسَى اللَّهُ يُدنِينَا عَلَى بُعدِ دَارِنَا
فَقَدfor indeed يَلتَقِيmay meet مَاءُthe water of الغَمَامِthe clouds مَعَwith الخَمرِwine
فَقَد يَلتَقِي مَاءُ الغَمَامِ مَعَ الخَمرِ
May God bring us close, though our abode is far away;
May God bring us close despite the distance of our homes
for the water of clouds may mingle with wine.
For the water of clouds may meet with wine
Sol 6.1