ماwhat لِذاتِails the wearer of الوِشاحِthe sash جاءَتshe came تَبَختَرstrutting
ما لِذاتِ الوِشاحِ جاءَت تَبَختَر
وَالضَواحيand the countryside بِرُدنِهاby her sleeve تَتَعَطَّرgrows fragrant
وَالضَواحي بِرُدنِها تَتَعَطَّر
What ails the sash-wearing maiden, that she comes strutting,
while the countryside is perfumed by her sleeve?
تَقتُلُshe kills الصَبَّthe lovesick man بِالرُنُوِّwith a lingering gaze فَيُرديso it lays him low
تَقتُلُ الصَبَّ بِالرُنُوِّ فَيُردي
وَتَلافيهِand she rescues him بِالدُنُوِّby drawing near فَيَنشُرso he revives
وَتَلافيهِ بِالدُنُوِّ فَيَنشُر
She kills the lovesick man with her gaze, laying him low,
and rescues him by drawing near, so he revives.
غادَةًa tender maiden فيin خُدودِهاher cheeks جَنَّةٌa garden لِلfor the
غادَةً في خُدودِها جَنَّةٌ لِل
عينِeye وَالثَغرِand the mouth لِلمَراشِفِfor lips كَوثَرKawthar
عينِ وَالثَغرِ لِلمَراشِفِ كَوثَر
A maiden whose cheeks are a garden for
the eye, and whose mouth is Kawthar for lips.
تَخجَلُshe shames البَدرَthe full moon طَلعَةًin countenance حينَwhen تَبدوshe appears
تَخجَلُ البَدرَ طَلعَةً حينَ تَبدو
تَفضَحُputs to shame البَرقَlightning مَبسِمُهاher smiling mouth حينَwhen تَفتَرshe parts her lips
تَفضَحُ البَرقَ مَبسِمُها حينَ تَفتَر
Her countenance shames the full moon when she appears;
her smiling mouth shames lightning when her lips part.
جُرِّدَتwas drawn مِنfrom قَوامِهاher figure كُلَّevery رُمحٍspear
جُرِّدَت مِن قَوامِها كُلَّ رُمحٍ
وَاِنتَضَتand she unsheathed مِنfrom لِحاظِهاher glances كُلَّevery أَبتَرshort sword
وَاِنتَضَت مِن لِحاظِها كُلَّ أَبتَر
Every spear was drawn from her figure,
and from her glances she unsheathed every short sword.
كُلَّماwhenever أَسلَمَتsurrendered لِحَديِهِto its two edges روحُthe soul of
كُلَّما أَسلَمَت لِحَديِهِ روحُ
صاحٍa sober man ياO مُسلِمونَMuslims اللَهُGod أَكبَرis greatest
صاحٍ يا مُسلِمونَ اللَهُ أَكبَر
Whenever to its two edges yields the soul
of a sober man—O Muslims, God is greatest!
ماnever اِنثَنَتshe swayed أَوor رَنَتgazed لِعَمريby my life إِلّاexcept
ما اِنثَنَت أَو رَنَت لِعَمري إِلّا
حارَبَتناshe assailed us بِأَبيَضٍwith a bright sword بَعدَafter أَسمَرa dusky spear
حارَبَتنا بِأَبيَضٍ بَعدَ أَسمَر
By my life, never does she sway or glance but
she assails us with a bright sword after a dusky spear.
دَمِيَّةُan icon of بَيعَةَa church النَفوسِsouls أَحَلَّتshe made lawful prey
دَمِيَّةُ بَيعَةَ النَفوسِ أَحَلَّت
ماnever رَآهاsaw her الحَنيفُthe monotheist إِلّاwithout تَنصُرbecoming Christian
ما رَآها الحَنيفُ إِلّا تَنصُر
A church's icon, she has made souls lawful prey;
no monotheist saw her without turning Christian.
تَتَجَلّىshe unveils عَنrevealing جَبهَةٍa brow وَضحاهاand its morning radiance
تَتَجَلّى عَن جَبهَةٍ وَضحاها
فَلِهَذاtherefore مِنهاfrom her سَناthe radiance of الشَمسُthe sun أَسفَرshone forth
فَلِهَذا مِنها سَنا الشَمسُ أَسفَر
She unveils a brow and its morning radiance;
thus the sun's radiance shines forth from her.
ذاتُpossessing وَجهْa face إِذاwhen تَلاهاhe follows her مُنيرٌa radiant one
ذاتُ وَجهْ إِذا تَلاها مُنيرٌ
ذاتَpossessing ثَغرٍa mouth عَنfor مِثلِهِits like صِلpray وَاِنحَرand sacrifice
ذاتَ ثَغرٍ عَن مِثلِهِ صِل وَاِنحَر
Hers is a face that a radiant one follows;
hers a mouth—for its like, pray and sacrifice.
وَصَلَّتand she prayed بَعدَafter هِجرَةٍexile فَأَقامَتand she settled
وَصَلَّت بَعدَ هِجرَةٍ فَأَقامَت
مِنwithin هَواناour love كَمُقلَةٍlike an eyeball مِنwithin مَحجِرan eye socket
مِن هَوانا كَمُقلَةٍ مِن مَحجِر
She prayed after exile, and took her place
in our love like an eye within its socket.
آنَسَتناshe put us at ease حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماindeed اِئتَلَفناwe grew close
آنَسَتنا حَتّى إِذا ما اِئتَلَفنا
فَتَكتُI struck treacherously فَتكَةَthe treacherous stroke of الرَشيدِal-Rashid بِجَعفَرagainst Ja'far
فَتَكتُ فَتكَةَ الرَشيدِ بِجَعفَر
She put us at ease until, when we grew close,
I struck as al-Rashid struck Ja'far.
إِنَّماindeed الحُبُّlove مِثلَماjust as قيلَit was said قُتِلwas slain
إِنَّما الحُبُّ مِثلَما قيلَ قُتِل
وارِدُالحُبِّone entering love ماnot لَهُfor him مِنany مَصدَرway out
وارِدُالحُبِّ ما لَهُ مِن مَصدَر
Love is as the saying goes: slain
is he who enters love—there is no way out.
ماwhat لَناails us نَعشَقُwe love الحِسانَbeautiful women وَنَردىand perish
ما لَنا نَعشَقُ الحِسانَ وَنَردى
أَنَّthat حُمرَthe redness of الخُدودِcheeks مَوتٌis death أَحمَرcrimson
أَنَّ حُمرَ الخُدودِ مَوتٌ أَحمَر
Why do we love beautiful women and perish,
when rosy cheeks are a crimson death?
وَيحَalas for قَلبيmy heart يَهيمُit wanders فيin كُلِّevery وادٍvalley
وَيحَ قَلبي يَهيمُ في كُلِّ وادٍ
وَهوَwhile it يَسعىpursues وَراafter الضِباءِthe gazelles النَفَرthe skittish
وَهوَ يَسعى وَرا الضِباءِ النَفَر
Alas for my heart, wandering through every valley,
as it pursues the skittish gazelles.
تَستَبيهِshe enthralls it بِكُلِّwith every أَلعَسَdark-red-lipped أَحةوىdusky one
تَستَبيهِ بِكُلِّ أَلعَسَ أَحةوى
أَفلَجَgap-toothed تَحتَbeneath كُلِّevery أَدعَجٍdark-pupilled أَحوَرwhite-bright-eyed one
أَفلَجَ تَحتَ كُلِّ أَدعَجٍ أَحوَر
They enthrall it with every dusky, dark-red mouth,
gap-toothed beneath each dark-pupilled, white-bright eye.
ماwhat لَكَis yours لِلقُلوبِover hearts فيin دَولَةِthe kingdom of الحُبِّlove
ما لَكَ لِلقُلوبِ في دَولَةِ الحُبِّ
غَداbecame داعِياًa herald لَهُfor him كُلَّevery مِنبَرpulpit
غَدا داعِياً لَهُ كُلَّ مِنبَر
What power you have over hearts in love's kingdom!
Every pulpit has become his herald.
هُوَhe كِسرىis Khosrow of المُلوكِkings لَحظاًin glances وَلَكِنbut
هُوَ كِسرى المُلوكِ لَحظاً وَلَكِن
فَعَلَّهُhis treatment بِاِمرِئِof a man of الهَوىlove فَعَلَis the treatment of قَيصَرCaesar
فَعَلَّهُ بِاِمرِئِ الهَوى فَعَلَ قَيصَر
He is Khosrow among kings in his glances, yet
his treatment of love's man is Caesar's treatment.
لاmay not أَزالend الإِلَهُGod دَولَتَهُhis dominion الغَرthe splendid (continued)
لا أَزال الإِلَهُ دَولَتَهُ الغَر
راcompletion of 'splendid' وَإِنeven though كانَhe has قَدindeed طَغىtransgressed وَتَجَبَّرand grown tyrannical
را وَإِن كانَ قَد طَغى وَتَجَبَّر
May God never end his splendid reign,
though he has transgressed and grown tyrannical.
إِنَّindeed فيin ظِلِّهاits shade رَعاياsubjects مَعانٍmeanings
إِنَّ في ظِلِّها رَعايا مَعانٍ
نَصَرتُهاI aided them فيin الفَتكِslaying نَصراًwith support مُؤَزَّرmighty
نَصَرتُها في الفَتكِ نَصراً مُؤَزَّر
For in its shade dwell meanings as subjects;
I have given them mighty aid in slaying.
جالِدُbattled الثَغرِthe mouth كُلَّevery قَلبٍheart إِلىuntil أَنthat
جالِدُ الثَغرِ كُلَّ قَلبٍ إِلى أَن
فَتَقتَyou released ريحُthe scent of ذاthis الجَلادِcombat بِعَنبَرwith ambergris
فَتَقتَ ريحُ ذا الجَلادِ بِعَنبَر
The mouth battled every heart until
you released this battle's scent with ambergris.
وَرَمىand hurled الوَجدُpassion كُلَّevery صَدرٍbreast بِنارٍwith fire
وَرَمى الوَجدُ كُلَّ صَدرٍ بِنارٍ
وَغَزاand invaded الحُبُّlove كُلَّevery نَفسٍsoul بِعَسكَرwith an army
وَغَزا الحُبُّ كُلَّ نَفسٍ بِعَسكَر
Passion hurled fire into every breast,
and love invaded every soul with an army.
إِنَّindeed سَهمَthe arrow of العُيونِthe eyes يَنفَذpierces فيinto الصَدthe breast (continued)
إِنَّ سَهمَ العُيونِ يَنفَذ في الصَد
رِcompletion of 'breast' وَلَوeven if أَلبَسَclad الحَديدُin iron المُعَصفَرsafflower-dyed
رِ وَلَو أَلبَسَ الحَديدُ المُعَصفَر
The arrow of the eyes pierces the breast,
even when clad in safflower-dyed iron.
مَوطِنٌa place عِندَهُwhere يَهيgrows feeble كُلَّevery عَزمٍresolve
مَوطِنٌ عِندَهُ يَهي كُلَّ عَزمٍ
وَيوليand turns قَذالَهُhis nape كُلَّevery مَسعَرbattle-kindler
وَيولي قَذالَهُ كُلَّ مَسعَر
A place where every resolve grows feeble,
and every battle-kindler turns his back.
يَنفَدُruns out الصَبرَpatience فيهِthere مِنfrom جَعبَةِthe quiver of الصَدthe breast (continued)
يَنفَدُ الصَبرَ فيهِ مِن جَعبَةِ الصَد
رِcompletion of 'breast' لَعَمريby my life حاشاكَnot you بَلrather أَنتَyou أَصبَرare more patient
رِ لَعَمري حاشاكَ بَل أَنتَ أَصبَر
Patience is spent there from the breast's quiver—
by my life, not yours! You are more steadfast.
ياO عَجيبَmarvel of الذَكاءِintelligence ياO نادِرَrare in المِثequal (continued)
يا عَجيبَ الذَكاءِ يا نادِرَ المِث
لِcompletion of 'equal' الَّذيwho ظَلَّremained لِلعَجائِبِof wonders مَظهَرa manifestation
لِ الَّذي ظَلَّ لِلعَجائِبِ مَظهَر
O marvel of intelligence, O peerless one,
who has remained a manifestation of wonders!
أَنتَyou وَاللَهُby God مِنare among كُنوزِthe treasures of اللَياليthe nights
أَنتَ وَاللَهُ مِن كُنوزِ اللَيالي
أَبرَزَتكَbrought you forth الأَقدارُthe fates كُلَّكَall of you جَوهَرa jewel
أَبرَزَتكَ الأَقدارُ كُلَّكَ جَوهَر
You are, by God, a treasure of the nights;
the fates brought you forth, a jewel through and through.
كَيفَhow نَحكيcan we recount عَلاكَyour eminence ياO كامِلَcomplete in العُدequipment (continued)
كَيفَ نَحكي عَلاكَ يا كامِلَ العُد
دَةِcompletion of 'equipment' إِذwhen نَحنُwe فيin مَجالِكَyour arena حَسَرare unarmed
دَةِ إِذ نَحنُ في مَجالِكَ حَسَر
How can we recount your eminence, O fully armed one,
when in your arena we stand unarmed?
يَطرَبُdelights الشِعرُpoetry مِنكَfrom you أَحَسَنُmore beautifully ماthan يُطdelights (continued)
يَطرَبُ الشِعرُ مِنكَ أَحَسَنُ ما يُط
رِبُcompletion of 'delights' صَوتَthe sound of الخُلخالِthe anklet فيon ساقٍa leg أَعفَرpale tawny
رِبُ صَوتَ الخُلخالِ في ساقٍ أَعفَر
Your poetry delights more sweetly than
the sound of an anklet on a pale leg.
ياO لَكَfor you اللَهُGod مِنof أَديبٍa man of letters إِذاwhen ماever
يا لَكَ اللَهُ مِن أَديبٍ إِذا ما
عَدَّhe is counted يَوماًone day فَغَيرُهُthen anyone else لَيسَis not يُذكَرmentioned
عَدَّ يَوماً فَغَيرُهُ لَيسَ يُذكَر
God bless you—what a man of letters! Whenever
he is counted, no other is mentioned.
بَينَهُbetween him فيin الذكاءِintelligence وَبَينَand between سِواهُanyone else
بَينَهُ في الذكاءِ وَبَينَ سِواهُ
فَرَقَّa difference ماthat بَينَis between أَميَلٍan unarmed man وَمُكَفِّرand an armored warrior
فَرَقَّ ما بَينَ أَميَلٍ وَمُكَفِّر
Between him and all others in intelligence
lies the gulf between an unarmed man and an armored warrior.
جاءَنcame to me مِنكَfrom you ياO خَليليmy dear friend كِتابٌa letter
جاءَن مِنكَ يا خَليلي كِتابٌ
لاdo not تَسَلask كَمhow much سَرىit relieved كُروبيmy sorrows وَكَمand how much سَرit delighted
لا تَسَل كَم سَرى كُروبي وَكَم سَر
A letter from you reached me, my dear friend;
do not ask how it eased my sorrows, how it delighted me.
طالَماfor so long اِشتاقَهُyearned for it فُؤاديmy heart حَتّىuntil
طالَما اِشتاقَهُ فُؤادي حَتّى
ضاعَwafted مِنهُfrom it فَتيقُthe unsealed fragrance of مِسكٍmusk أَذفَرpungent
ضاعَ مِنهُ فَتيقُ مِسكٍ أَذفَر
So long had my heart yearned for it, until
the scent of unsealed, pungent musk wafted from it.
ماnot كَفىsufficed ياO فَريدَةَpeerless gem of العِقدِthe necklace حَتّىuntil
ما كَفى يا فَريدَةَ العِقدِ حَتّى
أَصبَحَbecame اليَومَtoday أَكتَبُthe finest writer of القَومِthe people أَشعَرthe finest poet
أَصبَحَ اليَومَ أَكتَبُ القَومِ أَشعَر
It was not enough, O necklace's peerless gem, until
today the finest writer became the finest poet.
ماwhat تَرىdo you think فيof فَتاةٍa maiden of خِدرٍseclusion سَبَتنيwho captured me
ما تَرى في فَتاةٍ خِدرٍ سَبَتني
بِمَعانٍwith meanings بِهاby which المَدارِكُthe faculties تَخدَرare entranced
بِمَعانٍ بِها المَدارِكُ تَخدَر
What think you of a secluded maiden who captured me
with meanings that leave the faculties entranced,
بِطِرازٍwith an embroidery مِنَof الفَصاحَةِeloquence أَزرىthat outshone
بِطِرازٍ مِنَ الفَصاحَةِ أَزرى
صُنعَthe workmanship of صَنعاءَSana'a وَهوَand it is وَشيٌbrocade مُحَبَّرrichly patterned
صُنعَ صَنعاءَ وَهوَ وَشيٌ مُحَبَّر
with an embroidery of eloquence that outshone
Sana'a's handiwork, itself richly patterned brocade?
أَنتَyou ياO مَعدِنَmine of اللآليpearls الغَواليprecious
أَنتَ يا مَعدِنَ اللآلي الغَوالي
مِثلَthe like of ذاthese الدُرِّpearls مِنكَfrom you لاnot يَستَكثِرis deemed too much
مِثلَ ذا الدُرِّ مِنكَ لا يَستَكثِر
You, O mine of precious pearls—
such pearls are no surprise from you.
جِئتَyou came تَثنيpraising عَلىof بَيانيmy eloquence وَفَضليand my merit
جِئتَ تَثني عَلى بَياني وَفَضلي
ذاكَthat تَاللَهِby God أَنتَyou أَذكىare cleverer وَأَمهَرand more skilled
ذاكَ تَاللَهِ أَنتَ أَذكى وَأَمهَر
You came praising my eloquence and merit;
by God, it is you who are cleverer and more skilled.
قَدindeed كَفَتنيhas sufficed me مِنكَfrom you الشَهادَةَthe testimony فيin إِثestablishing proof (continued)
قَد كَفَتني مِنكَ الشَهادَةَ في إِث
باتِcompletion of 'establishing proof' مَنagainst whoever قالَspoke بِالخِلافِin contradiction وَأَنكَرand denied
باتِ مَن قالَ بِالخِلافِ وَأَنكَر
Your testimony has sufficed me as proof
against whoever argued otherwise and denied.
وَبِعَونِand with the aid of الإِلَهِGod ياO صادِقَtrue in الأَفdeeds (continued)
وَبِعَونِ الإِلَهِ يا صادِقَ الأَف
عالِcompletion of 'deeds' قَدindeed رَدَّwas repelled شانِئيmy hater وَهوَand he is أَبتَرcut off
عالِ قَد رَدَّ شانِئي وَهوَ أَبتَر
And with God's aid, O true in deeds,
my hater has been repelled, cut off.
قُلsay لِمَنto whoever رامَsought سَترَto conceal فَضلِيَmy merit بُغضاًout of hatred
قُل لِمَن رامَ سَترَ فَضلِيَ بُغضاً
لَمnot تَكُنcould be شَمسَa sun of ضَحوَةٍmidmorning لَتَسَتَّرconcealed
لَم تَكُن شَمسَ ضَحوَةٍ لَتَسَتَّر
Tell whoever sought to conceal my merit out of hatred:
a morning sun cannot be hidden.
ليI have مِنَof الحَزمِprudence جُنَّةًa shield وَدِلاصand polished mail
لي مِنَ الحَزمِ جُنَّةً وَدِلاص
وَمِنَand of العَزمِresolve لِأُمَّةٍa suit of armor وَسَنُوَّرand a cuirass
وَمِنَ العَزمِ لِأُمَّةٍ وَسَنُوَّر
I have prudence for a shield and polished mail,
and resolve for armor and a cuirass.
وَبِكَفّيand in my hand مِنَof المَضاءِresoluteness حُسامٌa cutting sword
وَبِكَفّي مِنَ المَضاءِ حُسامٌ
وَعَلىand upon هامَتيmy head مِنَof العِزِّhonor مَغفَرa mail helmet
وَعَلى هامَتي مِنَ العِزِّ مَغفَر
In my hand is a sword of resoluteness,
and upon my head a helmet of honor.
لاnot تَرىyou see مَنanyone who يُريدُwants بِيَfor me السوءَharm إِلّاexcept
لا تَرى مَن يُريدُ بِيَ السوءَ إِلّا
واقِعاًfallen تَحتَbeneath ظَفرِthe claw of لَيثٍa lion مُظَفَّرvictorious
واقِعاً تَحتَ ظَفرِ لَيثٍ مُظَفَّر
You will find none who wishes me harm but
fallen beneath the claw of a victorious lion.
مُنذِرِيٌّa Mundhirid يَفيfulfills النُذورَthe vows إِذاwhen أَنhe warns (continued)
مُنذِرِيٌّ يَفي النُذورَ إِذا أَن
ذَرَcompletion of 'he warns' يَومَthe day of اللِقاbattle أَطاحَhe fells وَأَندَرand casts down
ذَرَ يَومَ اللِقا أَطاحَ وَأَندَر
A Mundhirid, true to his vows; when he gives
warning on battle-day, he fells and casts down.
قيلَit was said فيof أَسمىthe loftiest لَيثٍlion صَبورَpatient لَعَمريby my life
قيلَ في أَسمى لَيثٍ صَبورَ لَعَمري
لاnot يَكونُcan be الصَبورُthe patient one إِلّاanything but غَضَنفَرa mighty lion
لا يَكونُ الصَبورُ إِلّا غَضَنفَر
Of the loftiest lion they said, 'Patient'—by my life,
the patient one can only be a mighty lion.
لَستَyou are not مِمَّنamong those who يَقولُsay شَيئاًanything فَرِيّاfabricated
لَستَ مِمَّن يَقولُ شَيئاً فَرِيّا
أَنتَyou فيin كَنَهِthe true nature of حالٍthe condition of خَلَّكَyour friend أَبصَرare more discerning
أَنتَ في كَنَهِ حالٍ خَلَّكَ أَبصَر
You are not one to utter a fabrication;
you know best your friend's true condition.
وَلَكُمand how often كُنتَyou have been لِلضَعيفِto the weak مُعيناًa helper
وَلَكُم كُنتَ لِلضَعيفِ مُعيناً
وَكَماand as قُلتَyou said ليto me مُجيراًa protector لِمَعشَرof a people
وَكَما قُلتَ لي مُجيراً لِمَعشَر
How often have you been a helper to the weak,
and, as you told me, a protector of a people.
إِنif يَكونواthey have بِيَin me اِستَجارواsought refuge فَمِنّيthen through me
إِن يَكونوا بِيَ اِستَجاروا فَمِنّي
يَستَظِلّونَthey take shelter تَحتَbeneath لِبدَةِthe mane of قُسورa lion
يَستَظِلّونَ تَحتَ لِبدَةِ قُسور
If they have sought refuge in me, then through me
they shelter beneath a lion's mane.
ياO صَديقاًfriend نَأىwho went far away عَلىon مَتنِthe back of شَهباa gray mare (continued)
يا صَديقاً نَأى عَلى مَتنِ شَهبا
ءٍcompletion of 'a gray mare' سَبوحٍsmooth-striding مِنَamong الجِيادِthe steeds الضَمُرlean
ءٍ سَبوحٍ مِنَ الجِيادِ الضَمُر
O friend who journeyed far on the back of a gray
mare, smooth-striding among lean steeds,
إِنif أُرِمI seek تَركَto leave off ذِكرِهِmentioning him فَهوَthen he is أَشهىmore delightful
إِن أُرِم تَركَ ذِكرِهِ فَهوَ أَشهى
أَوor أَرُمI seek ذِكرَto mention فَضلِهِhis merit فَهوَthen it is أَشهَرbetter known
أَو أَرُم ذِكرَ فَضلِهِ فَهوَ أَشهَر
if I try to leave him unmentioned, he is too dear;
or to recount his merit, it is too well known.
وَلَعَمريand by my life مَنwhoever كانَhas been بِالسَعيِthrough striving أَجدىmore beneficial
وَلَعَمري مَن كانَ بِالسَعيِ أَجدى
فَهوَthen he is بِالذِكرِof remembrance وَالمَدائِحِand praises أَجدَرmore deserving
فَهوَ بِالذِكرِ وَالمَدائِحِ أَجدَر
By my life, whoever does more good through striving
is more deserving of remembrance and praise.
إِنindeed شَوقيmy longing إِلَيكَfor you جَمٌّis great وَلَكِنbut
إِن شَوقي إِلَيكَ جَمٌّ وَلَكِن
جَمُّthe abundance of عَتبيmy reproach عَلَيكِtoward you أَوفىis fuller وَأَغزَرand more abundant
جَمُّ عَتبي عَلَيكِ أَوفى وَأَغزَر
My longing for you is great, but
my reproach toward you is yet fuller and more abundant.
أَينَwhere كُتبُare the letters of الأَصحابِfriends تَطلَعُarriving تَترىin succession
أَينَ كُتبُ الأَصحابِ تَطلَعُ تَترى
مِثلَماjust as يَحتَسيone sips السَلافَchoice wine المُكَرَّرrepeatedly
مِثلَما يَحتَسي السَلافَ المُكَرَّر
Where are the friends' letters, arriving in succession,
as one sips choice wine again and again?
هَلhave نَسيتَyou forgotten العُهودَthe pledges هَيهاتَfar from it ماnever كاwere (continued)
هَل نَسيتَ العُهودَ هَيهاتَ ما كا
نَتcompletion of 'were' عُهودٌpledges ماthat بَينَناare between us العُمرُthroughout life تَخفِرbetrayed
نَت عُهودٌ ما بَينَنا العُمرُ تَخفِر
Have you forgotten the pledges? Far from it! Never
were our pledges to be broken while life endures.
ياO رَعىmay cherish اللَهُGod عَيشَناour life سابِقاًof old وَالدَهand time (continued)
يا رَعى اللَهُ عَيشَنا سابِقاً وَالدَه
رُcompletion of 'and time' وَلّىturned away بِذَيلِهِover its train يَتَعَثَّرstumbling
رُ وَلّى بِذَيلِهِ يَتَعَثَّر
May God cherish our life of old, while time
has turned away, stumbling over its own train.
تِلكَthose أَيّامَناdays of ours تَقَضَّتpassed سَريعاًswiftly
تِلكَ أَيّامَنا تَقَضَّت سَريعاً
كَخَيالِlike the phantom of المَنامِa dream لَيلاًby night إِذاwhen مَرit passed
كَخَيالِ المَنامِ لَيلاً إِذا مَر
Those days of ours passed swiftly,
like a dream's phantom passing in the night.
كَمhow often رَشَفناwe sipped كَأسَthe cup of السُرورِjoy دِهاقاًbrimming
كَم رَشَفنا كَأسَ السُرورِ دِهاقاً
وَهَصَرناand we bent غُصنَthe bough of الصَبابَةِardent love أَخضَرgreen
وَهَصَرنا غُصنَ الصَبابَةِ أَخضَر
How often we sipped joy's brimming cup,
and bent the green bough of ardent love!
جَمَعَmay unite اللَهُGod ليfor me بِكُمwith you عَنwithin قَريبٍa short time
جَمَعَ اللَهُ لي بِكُم عَن قَريبٍ
خَيرَthe finest شَملٍreunion بِجاهِthrough the honor of طَهَTaha الأَزهَرthe radiant
خَيرَ شَملٍ بِجاهِ طَهَ الأَزهَر
May God soon bring me together with you
in the finest reunion, through the honor of radiant Taha.
Sol 6.1