وَرَاءَbehind ضُلُوعِthe ribs of الغَيمِthe clouds قَلبُthe heart of مَشُوقِone who longs
وَرَاءَ ضُلُوعِ الغَيمِ قَلبُ مَشُوقِ
لِبَرقٍfor lightning بِذَاتِat Dhat الأَبرَقَينal-Abraqayn خَفُوقِflickering
لِبَرقٍ بِذَاتِ الأَبرَقَين خَفُوقِ
Behind the clouds' ribs is the heart of one who longs
for lightning flickering at Dhat al-Abraqayn.
بَدَاit appeared طَفَلاًat dusk يُزجِيdriving السَّحَابَthe clouds وَإِنَّمَاyet only
بَدَا طَفَلاً يُزجِي السَّحَابَ وَإِنَّمَا
أَدَارَit passed around عَلَىover الآفَاقِthe horizons كَأسَa cup of غَبُوقِevening wine
أَدَارَ عَلَى الآفَاقِ كَأسَ غَبُوقِ
It appeared at dusk, driving the clouds, yet it only
passed a cup of evening wine around the horizons.
فَيَاO then مَنyou who رَآىsaw لَونِيmy color أَصيلاًas dusk وَعَبرَتِيand my tears
فَيَا مَن رَآى لَونِي أَصيلاً وَعَبرَتِي
غَمَاماًas clouds وَقَلبِيand my heart وَهوَwhile it is خَفقُthe throbbing of بُرُوقِlightning flashes
غَمَاماً وَقَلبِي وَهوَ خَفقُ بُرُوقِ
O you who saw my color as dusk, and my tears
as clouds, and my heart as lightning's throb—
أَلاtake heed فَاعجَبُواso marvel مِنِّيat me وَإِنِّيَthough I وَاحِدٌam one
أَلا فَاعجَبُوا مِنِّي وَإِنِّيَ وَاحِدٌ
يُضَمِّنُنِيmakes me embody حبيبa beloved صِفَاتِthe qualities of فَرِيقِa company
يُضَمِّنُنِي حبيب صِفَاتِ فَرِيقِ
marvel at me: though I am but one,
a beloved makes me embody a whole company's qualities.
وَمَنand who لِبُرَيقٍwill help a little lightning-flash يَشتَكِيcomplains مِنهُof it أُفقُهُits horizon
وَمَن لِبُرَيقٍ يَشتَكِي مِنهُ أُفقُهُ
بِجُرحof a wound كَجُرحِlike the wound of الحُبِّlove غَيرnot مُفِيقِrecovering
بِجُرح كَجُرحِ الحُبِّ غَير مُفِيقِ
And who will help a little lightning-flash whose horizon complains
of a wound like love's, with no recovery?
قَعَدتُI sat لَهُto watch it فِيamong فِتيَةٍyoung men أدَبِيَّةٍliterary
قَعَدتُ لَهُ فِي فِتيَةٍ أدَبِيَّةٍ
يُقِيمُونَthey establish لِلآدَابِfor literature أَكرَمَthe noblest سُوقِmarket
يُقِيمُونَ لِلآدَابِ أَكرَمَ سُوقِ
I sat to watch it among young men of letters,
who set up the noblest market for literature.
مِنَamong القَومِthe men جَالَتranged فِيthrough المَعَانِيmeanings شِفاهُهُمtheir lips
مِنَ القَومِ جَالَت فِي المَعَانِي شِفاهُهُم
مَجَالَas the ranging of أَكُفٍّhands فِيamong كُؤُوسِcups of رَحِيقِpure wine
مَجَالَ أَكُفٍّ فِي كُؤُوسِ رَحِيقِ
Men whose lips ranged through meanings
as hands range among cups of pure wine.
يَقُولُونَthey say لِيto me شَبِّهmake a likeness فَقُلتُso I said كَأَنَّمَاas though
يَقُولُونَ لِي شَبِّه فَقُلتُ كَأَنَّمَا
يَجُرُّit trails عَلَىover الكَافورِcamphor ذَيلَa hem of عَقِيقِagate
يَجُرُّ عَلَى الكَافورِ ذَيلَ عَقِيقِ
They said to me, 'Make a likeness'; I said, 'It is as though
it trails an agate hem over camphor.'
فأَومَواthen they signaled لِيto me شَبِّهmake a likeness فَقُلتُso I said كَأَنَّمَاas though
فأَومَوا لِي شَبِّه فَقُلتُ كَأَنَّمَا
أَفَاضَit poured عَلَىover البِلَّورِcrystal رَدعَa stain of حلُوقِsaffron perfume (reading khuluq)
أَفَاضَ عَلَى البِلَّورِ رَدعَ حلُوقِ
They signaled to me, 'Make a likeness'; I said, 'It is as though
it poured a stain of saffron perfume over crystal.'
وَلَوand if حسُنَwere pleasing التَّكرَارُrepetition قُلتُI would say كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَلَو حسُنَ التَّكرَارُ قُلتُ كَأَنَّهُ
وَرَاءَbehind ضُلُوعِthe ribs of الغَيمِthe clouds قَلبُthe heart of مَشُوقِone who longs
وَرَاءَ ضُلُوعِ الغَيمِ قَلبُ مَشُوقِ
And were repetition pleasing, I would say, 'It seems that
behind the clouds' ribs is the heart of one who longs.'
فَقَالُواthen they said أَرَدنَاwe wanted سُرعَةًswiftness وَتَوَقُّداًand fiery brilliance
فَقَالُوا أَرَدنَا سُرعَةً وَتَوَقُّداً
فَقُلتُso I said ذَكَرتُمyou evoked خَاطِرَthe mind of ابنِIbn حَرِيقِHariq
فَقُلتُ ذَكَرتُم خَاطِرَ ابنِ حَرِيقِ
They said, 'We wanted swiftness and fiery brilliance.'
I said, 'You have evoked Ibn Hariq's mind.'
وَإِنَّand indeed سَنَاthe gleam of بَرقٍlightning يَكُونُis شَبِيهَهُlike it
وَإِنَّ سَنَا بَرقٍ يَكُونُ شَبِيهَهُ
لَيَزدَادsurely gains بِالتَّشبِيهِthrough comparison حُسنَbeauty of بَرِيقِradiance
لَيَزدَاد بِالتَّشبِيهِ حُسنَ بَرِيقِ
Indeed, the gleam of lightning that resembles it
surely gains a lovelier radiance through the comparison.
وَآيَةُand the sign of بَرقِthe lightning of الجَوِّthe sky سَكبُthe pouring of دُمُوعِهِits tears
وَآيَةُ بَرقِ الجَوِّ سَكبُ دُمُوعِهِ
بِأَبطَحon the gravel bed of وَادٍa valley أَوor سَمَاوَةِthe height of نِيقِa mountain peak
بِأَبطَح وَادٍ أَو سَمَاوَةِ نِيقِ
The sign of the sky's lightning is the pouring of its tears
on a valley's gravel bed or a mountain's lofty crest,
لِيُطلِعَto bring forth فِيamong مُلدِthe tender parts of الغُصُونِthe branches كَوَاكِباًstars
لِيُطلِعَ فِي مُلدِ الغُصُونِ كَوَاكِباً
مِنَof الزهرِblossoms تُعشِيdazzle العَينَthe eye لَمعَthe flash of شُرُوقِsunrise
مِنَ الزهرِ تُعشِي العَينَ لَمعَ شُرُوقِ
to bring forth among tender branches stars
of blossom that dazzle the eye like sunrise's flash.
وَآيةُand the sign of ذاكَthat الخَاطِرِmind الفَذِّpeerless نَفثَةٌa breathed utterance
وَآيةُ ذاكَ الخَاطِرِ الفَذِّ نَفثَةٌ
تَسُدُّblocks عَلَىto الأَذهَانِminds كُلَّevery طَرِيقِpath
تَسُدُّ عَلَى الأَذهَانِ كُلَّ طَرِيقِ
And the sign of that peerless mind is a breath of poetry
that bars every avenue to other minds.
هِيَit الحُسنُbeauty لاnot مَاwhat تَزدَهِيtakes pride رَوضَةُthe garden of الرُّبَىthe hills
هِيَ الحُسنُ لا مَا تَزدَهِي رَوضَةُ الرُّبَى
بِخَدِّin the cheek of أقَاحٍdaisies أَوor بِثَغرِin the mouth of شَقِيقِanemones
بِخَدِّ أقَاحٍ أَو بِثَغرِ شَقِيقِ
It is beauty—not the hillside garden's splendor
in a daisy's cheek or an anemone's mouth.
مِنَamong المُذهَبَاتِthe gilded poems الغُرِّradiant تَهوىplunge رِكَابُهَاits riding-mounts
مِنَ المُذهَبَاتِ الغُرِّ تَهوى رِكَابُهَا
إِلَىinto كُلِّevery فَجٍّpass فِيin البَيَانِeloquence عَميقِdeep
إِلَى كُلِّ فَجٍّ فِي البَيَانِ عَميقِ
Among the radiant, gilded poems, its mounts plunge
into every deep pass of eloquence.
تَسيرُit travels وَرَاءَbeyond السَّمعِhearing فِيthrough كُلِّevery فَدفَدٍwilderness
تَسيرُ وَرَاءَ السَّمعِ فِي كُلِّ فَدفَدٍ
إِلىto مُستَقَرِّthe dwelling of القَلبِthe heart سَيرَat the pace of سَبُوقِan outstripping steed
إِلى مُستَقَرِّ القَلبِ سَيرَ سَبُوقِ
Beyond the hearing, it travels through every wilderness
to the heart's dwelling, at an outracing steed's pace.
أَقُولُI say وَقَدand already سُقِّيتُI was given to drink بَعضَsome of سُلافِهَاits choicest wine
أَقُولُ وَقَد سُقِّيتُ بَعضَ سُلافِهَا
فَأَصبَحتُand so I became بَينَamong الشَّربِthe drinkers غَيرَnot مُفِيقsober
فَأَصبَحتُ بَينَ الشَّربِ غَيرَ مُفِيق
I say, having been given some of its choicest wine,
and become, among the drinkers, unable to sober:
أيَاO رُقعَةَsheet of الحَبرِthe scholar المُقَبَّلِkissed نَعلُهُhis sandal
أيَا رُقعَةَ الحَبرِ المُقَبَّلِ نَعلُهُ
سَخَاwas generous بِكِwith you فَارُوقُthe arbiter of البَيَانeloquence فَرُوقِيso dazzle
سَخَا بِكِ فَارُوقُ البَيَان فَرُوقِي
'O sheet of the scholar whose sandal is kissed,
eloquence's arbiter has bestowed you generously—so dazzle!'
وَيَاand O مُتَعَاطِيهَاyou who attempt it مَكَانَكَstay in your place تَستَرِحyou will rest
وَيَا مُتَعَاطِيهَا مَكَانَكَ تَستَرِح
فَكَمfor how many مِنof رَسِيمٍa trotting mount دُونَهَاshort of it وَعَتِيقِand a thoroughbred
فَكَم مِن رَسِيمٍ دُونَهَا وَعَتِيقِ
And you who would attempt its like: stay where you are and rest;
how many swift trotters and thoroughbreds fall short of it!
يَقِرُّis pleasing بِعَينِيto my eye أنthat تَقَهقَرتُI retreated دُونَهَاbefore it
يَقِرُّ بِعَينِي أن تَقَهقَرتُ دُونَهَا
كَمَاjust as يَتَحَامَىavoids الغُصنُthe branch فَرعَthe crown of سَحُوقِa towering palm
كَمَا يَتَحَامَى الغُصنُ فَرعَ سَحُوقِ
It gladdens my eye that I have retreated before it,
as a branch shuns the crown of a towering palm.
وَقَدand indeed سَرَّنِيit delighted me أَنthat ذَابَmelted away عَنهَاfrom it حَسُودُهاits envier
وَقَد سَرَّنِي أَن ذَابَ عَنهَا حَسُودُها
كَأَنَّas though فَرَاشاًa moth حَامَcircled حَولَaround سَحُوقِa consuming flame
كَأَنَّ فَرَاشاً حَامَ حَولَ سَحُوقِ
And I was glad that its envier melted away from it,
like a moth circling a consuming flame.
لَقَدindeed رَشَقَتpierced قَلبَthe heart of الحَسُودِthe envier سِهَامُهَاits arrows
لَقَد رَشَقَت قَلبَ الحَسُودِ سِهَامُهَا
بِنَصلٍwith a point كَنَصلِlike the point of الزَّاعِبِّيthe Zaʿibi spear فَتِيقِbroad
بِنَصلٍ كَنَصلِ الزَّاعِبِّي فَتِيقِ
Its arrows have pierced the envier's heart
with a broad point like a Zaʿibi spearhead.
وَلَمand did not يَعنِهِaid him سَردُthe linking of الدُّرُوعِcoats of mail وَإِنَّمَاbut only
وَلَم يَعنِهِ سَردُ الدُّرُوعِ وَإِنَّمَا
لِغَيرِfor other than سِهَامِthe arrows of الفِكرِthought نَسجُthe weave of سَلُوقِSaluq
لِغَيرِ سِهَامِ الفِكرِ نَسجُ سَلُوقِ
Linked coats of mail could not aid him; rather,
Saluq's weave is for arrows other than those of thought.
وَجَاشَتand it surged عَلَىupon سَمعِيmy hearing بِخَمسَةِwith five أَبحُرٍseas
وَجَاشَت عَلَى سَمعِي بِخَمسَةِ أَبحُرٍ
فَحَلَّso settled بِهَاin them ذِهنِيmy mind مَحَلَّin the place of غَرِيقِa drowned person
فَحَلَّ بِهَا ذِهنِي مَحَلَّ غَرِيقِ
And it surged upon my hearing with five seas,
and my mind in them took a drowned man's place:
بِخَمسَةِwith five أَبيَاتٍverses تَمُتُّtrace kinship مِنَthrough النُّهَىintellect
بِخَمسَةِ أَبيَاتٍ تَمُتُّ مِنَ النُّهَى
إِلَىto نَسَبٍa lineage صِنوthe twin of الصَّبَاحِmorning عَرِيقِdeep-rooted
إِلَى نَسَبٍ صِنو الصَّبَاحِ عَرِيقِ
with five verses that, through intellect, trace their kinship
to a deep-rooted lineage, the twin of morning.
مَدَدتَyou extended بِهَاwith them نَحوِيtoward me يَمِينَa right hand of مَوَدَّةٍaffection
مَدَدتَ بِهَا نَحوِي يَمِينَ مَوَدَّةٍ
وَجِدٍّand earnestness كَصَدرِlike the breast of المَشرَفِيِّthe Mashrafi sword وَثِيقِfirm
وَجِدٍّ كَصَدرِ المَشرَفِيِّ وَثِيقِ
With them you stretched toward me a right hand of affection
and earnestness, firm as a Mashrafi sword's breast.
يَميناًan oath بِماby what لَنَاwe share مِنof خَاطِرٍinspiration مُتَسَلسِلٍflowing in sequence
يَميناً بِما لَنَا مِن خَاطِرٍ مُتَسَلسِلٍ
رَتُوقٍever-mending لأَثوَابِfor the garments of البَيَانِeloquence فَتُوقِever-rending
رَتُوقٍ لأَثوَابِ البَيَانِ فَتُوقِ
I swear by the flowing inspiration we share,
ever mending eloquence's robes, ever rending them:
لأنتَindeed you أَخِيmy brother لاnot مَاwhat تَخَيَّلَimagined وَارِثِيmy heir
لأنتَ أَخِي لا مَا تَخَيَّلَ وَارِثِي
فَرُبَّfor many a صَدِيقٍfriend فَوقَabove كُلِّevery شَقِيقِfull brother
فَرُبَّ صَدِيقٍ فَوقَ كُلِّ شَقِيقِ
you are indeed my brother—not the one my heir imagined;
many a friend stands above every full brother.
تَعَالَcome أُجَاذِبكَlet me exchange with you الحَدِيثَconversation هُنَيهَةًa little while
تَعَالَ أُجَاذِبكَ الحَدِيثَ هُنَيهَةً
عَلَىabout صَرفِthe turns of دَهرٍtime بِالعِتَابِof reproach خَلِيقِdeserving
عَلَى صَرفِ دَهرٍ بِالعِتَابِ خَلِيقِ
Come, let me exchange talk with you a little while
about the turns of a time deserving reproach.
بآيةِas evidenced by مَاhow يُضحِيit spends the morning وَيُمسِيand spends the evening يَعُقُّنِيbeing unfilial to me
بآيةِ مَا يُضحِي وَيُمسِي يَعُقُّنِي
سَيَعلَمُit will learn إِنif حَاسَبتُهُI call it to account بِعُقُوقِfor ingratitude
سَيَعلَمُ إِن حَاسَبتُهُ بِعُقُوقِ
Witness how it wrongs me morning and evening:
it will learn, if I call it to account for its ingratitude.
ألاindeed وَلَهُand it has فِيin مِسطَحٍMistah شَرُّthe worst إسوَةٍexample
ألا وَلَهُ فِي مِسطَحٍ شَرُّ إسوَةٍ
غَدَاةَthe morning when ازدَرَىhe sneered جَهلاًignorantly بِفَضلِat the merit of عَتِيقِAtiq
غَدَاةَ ازدَرَى جَهلاً بِفَضلِ عَتِيقِ
Indeed, it has in Mistah the worst example,
the morning when, in ignorance, he sneered at Atiq's merit.
إِذاwhenever رُمتُI sought أَنto أَسمُوrise هَوَتplunged بِيwith me رِيحُهُits wind
إِذا رُمتُ أَن أَسمُو هَوَت بِي رِيحُهُ
لِكُلِّto every مَكَانٍplace فِيin الخُضُوعِabasement سَحِيقِabysmal
لِكُلِّ مَكَانٍ فِي الخُضُوعِ سَحِيقِ
Whenever I seek to rise, its wind plunges me
into every abyss of abasement.
نُحِبُّwe love بَنَاتthe daughters of الفِكرِthought وَهيَthough they تَعُقُّنَاare unfilial to us
نُحِبُّ بَنَات الفِكرِ وَهيَ تَعُقُّنَا
فَمَاso why لِعَدُوِّيfor my enemy أَرتَضِيهِI accept him صَدِيقِيas my friend
فَمَا لِعَدُوِّي أَرتَضِيهِ صَدِيقِي
We love the daughters of thought, though they are unfilial to us;
why, then, do I accept my enemy as my friend?
وَتَسرِيand they travel by night وَمَاyet not عَادتreturned عَلَينَاto us بِعَائِدٍwith any benefit
وَتَسرِي وَمَا عَادت عَلَينَا بِعَائِدٍ
وَقُبِّحَand shame on عَانٍa captive فِيin ثِيَابِthe clothes of طَلِيقِa free person
وَقُبِّحَ عَانٍ فِي ثِيَابِ طَلِيقِ
They journey by night, yet bring us no return;
and shame on a captive in a free man's clothes!
كَفَىsuffices زَلَلاًas a failing لِلدَّهرِon time's part أَنَّthat التِقَاءَنَاour meeting
كَفَى زَلَلاً لِلدَّهرِ أَنَّ التِقَاءَنَا
كأبلَقَlike a piebald stallion مَعدُومِdevoid of الوُجُودِexistence عَقُوقِpregnant
كأبلَقَ مَعدُومِ الوُجُودِ عَقُوقِ
It is enough of a failing in time that our meeting
is like a nonexistent, pregnant piebald stallion.
Sol 6.1