قَدindeed أَعجَزَbaffled الشُعَراءُthe poets طولَthroughout حَياتِهِhis life
قَد أَعجَزَ الشُعَراءُ طولَ حَياتِهِ
وَاليَومَand today يَعجَزُهُمhe baffles them بِنَدبِin lamenting مَماتِهِhis death
وَاليَومَ يَعجَزُهُم بِنَدبِ مَماتِهِ
He baffled the poets throughout his life,
and today he baffles them in lamenting his death.
هَيهاتَimpossible يوجَدُto be found فيin البَرِيَّةِcreation مِنهُمamong them
هَيهاتَ يوجَدُ في البَرِيَّةِ مِنهُم
كُفؤٌan equal لِيُرثيهِto elegize him بِمِثلِwith the like of لُغاتِهِhis language
كُفؤٌ لِيُرثيهِ بِمِثلِ لُغاتِهِ
Impossible to find among them in all creation
an equal to elegize him in language like his.
كانَwas الأَميرُthe commander لِجَيشِهِمof their army مُستَنَّةًgalloping
كانَ الأَميرُ لِجَيشِهِم مُستَنَّةً
فُرسانَهُمtheir horsemen فيin الظِلِّthe shade مِنof راياتِهِhis banners
فُرسانَهُم في الظِلِّ مِن راياتِهِ
He commanded their army, while at a gallop
their horsemen rode beneath his banners’ shade.
ماnot عابَdisgraced أَهلَthe people of العَبقَرِيَّةِgenius أَنَّهُمthat they
ما عابَ أَهلَ العَبقَرِيَّةِ أَنَّهُم
قَدindeed قَصَّرواfell short فيin الخَبِّtrotting عَنof غاياتِهِhis goals
قَد قَصَّروا في الخَبِّ عَن غاياتِهِ
It was no disgrace to men of genius that they
fell short of his goals in the race.
هَذاthis أَميرُthe prince of الشِعرِpoetry غَيرَnot مُدافِعٌcontested
هَذا أَميرُ الشِعرِ غَيرَ مُدافِعٌ
فيin الشَرقِthe East أَجمَعُall of it مُنذُsince فَتقِthe opening of لَهاتِهِhis throat
في الشَرقِ أَجمَعُ مُنذُ فَتقِ لَهاتِهِ
This is the undisputed Prince of Poetry
throughout the East, since first he opened his mouth.
لَوif كانَthere were وَحيٌrevelation بَعدَafter وَحيِthe revelation of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
لَو كانَ وَحيٌ بَعدَ وَحيِ مُحَمَّدٍ
لاwould (corrupt division of لانشقّ) نَشَقَburst forth (intended انشقّ) ذاكَthat الوَحيُrevelation عَنfrom آياتِهِhis verses
لا نَشَقَ ذاكَ الوَحيُ عَن آياتِهِ
Had there been revelation after Muhammad’s revelation,
that revelation would have burst forth from his verses.
السِحرُmagic فيin نَفَثاتِهِhis breaths وَالزَهرُand blossoms فيin
السِحرُ في نَفَثاتِهِ وَالزَهرُ في
نَفَحاتِهِhis fragrant wafts وَالدَهرُand Time بَعضَone of رُواتِهِhis reciters
نَفَحاتِهِ وَالدَهرُ بَعضَ رُواتِهِ
Magic lies in his breaths, and blossoms in
his fragrant wafts; Time is among his reciters.
رَقَّتsoftened لِنَغمَتِهِat his melody القُلوبُthe hearts فَكَيفَماand however
رَقَّت لِنَغمَتِهِ القُلوبُ فَكَيفَما
غَنّىhe sang بِهاwith it رَقَصَتthey danced عَلىto نَبَراتِهِhis cadences
غَنّى بِها رَقَصَت عَلى نَبَراتِهِ
Hearts softened at his melody, and however
he sang, they danced to his cadences.
تَغدوbecome المَعانيthe meanings العُصمُinaccessible شُمسَrestive مَقادَةٍled obediently
تَغدو المَعاني العُصمُ شُمسَ مَقادَةٍ
فَيَقودُهاand he leads them قَومُleading (probably قَوْد) الغُلامِthe boy لِشاتِهِof his ewe
فَيَقودُها قَومُ الغُلامِ لِشاتِهِ
Inaccessible meanings, though restive, become tractable,
and he leads them as a boy leads his ewe.
وَإِذاand if أَرادَhe chooses الصَخرَةَthe rock الصَمّاءَunyielding مِنamong
وَإِذا أَرادَ الصَخرَةَ الصَمّاءَ مِن
أَغراضِهِhis themes رَقَّتit grew fine نظيرَlike سِحاتِهِhis shavings
أَغراضِهِ رَقَّت نظيرَ سِحاتِهِ
And if he chooses the unyielding rock from among
his themes, it grows thin as his pen’s shavings.
ماnot رامَhe sought شارِدَan elusive piece of حِكمَةٍwisdom فيin نَظمِهِhis verse
ما رامَ شارِدَ حِكمَةٍ في نَظمِهِ
إِلّاexcept that أَصابَhe struck صَميمَهاits very heart بِحَصاتِهِwith his pebble of wit
إِلّا أَصابَ صَميمَها بِحَصاتِهِ
No elusive wisdom did he seek in his verse
without striking its heart with the pebble of his wit.
جَلّىmade clear الإِلَهُGod لَهُto him الأُمورَall things كَأَنَّماas though
جَلّى الإِلَهُ لَهُ الأُمورَ كَأَنَّما
يُلقىis cast عَلَيهاupon them الشَمسُthe sun ِنfrom (damaged مِن) نَظَراتِهِhis glances
يُلقى عَلَيها الشَمسُ ِن نَظَراتِهِ
God laid all things clear before him, as though
the sun were cast upon them from his glances.
فَكَساso he clothed الطَبيعَةَnature مِنfrom نَسيجِthe fabric of بَيانِهِhis eloquence
فَكَسا الطَبيعَةَ مِن نَسيجِ بَيانِهِ
حَلَلاًrobes خَلَتfree مِنof غَيرِanything but طَرزٍthe embroidery of دَواتِهِhis inkwell
حَلَلاً خَلَت مِن غَيرِ طَرزٍ دَواتِهِ
So from the fabric of his eloquence he clothed nature
in robes bearing no embroidery but his inkwell’s.
فَتَرىthus you see الطَبيعَةnature قَبلَbefore نَظَرَتِهِhis glance لَهاat it
فَتَرى الطَبيعَة قَبلَ نَظَرَتِهِ لَها
غَيرَunlike الطَبيعَةِnature وَهيَwhen it is فيin مِرآتِهِhis mirror
غَيرَ الطَبيعَةِ وَهيَ في مِرآتِهِ
Thus nature before his gaze falls upon it
is not the nature seen within his mirror.
وَالحُسنُand beauty يُشرِقُshines فيin العُيونِthe eyes بِذاتِهِthrough its own essence
وَالحُسنُ يُشرِقُ في العُيونِ بِذاتِهِ
وَهَناand here يُضيءُit shines بِذاتِهِthrough its essence وَصِفاتِهِand its attributes
وَهَنا يُضيءُ بِذاتِهِ وَصِفاتِهِ
Beauty shines in the eyes through its own essence,
but here it shines in essence and attributes alike.
هَذاthis هُوَis الشِعرُthe poetry الَّذيwhich بِنُبوغِهِthrough its genius
هَذا هُوَ الشِعرُ الَّذي بِنُبوغِهِ
لَمdid not تُحسِنِmanage النُظَراءَthe peers قَرعَknocking upon عَتَباتِهِits thresholds
لَم تُحسِنِ النُظَراءَ قَرعَ عَتَباتِهِ
This is the poetry whose genius
his peers could not even approach at its thresholds.
كَالدُرِّlike pearls فيin لَمَعاتِهِits gleams وَالبَدرُand the full moon فيin
كَالدُرِّ في لَمَعاتِهِ وَالبَدرُ في
قَسَماتِهِits features وَالصُبحُand dawn فيin نَسَماتِهِits breezes
قَسَماتِهِ وَالصُبحُ في نَسَماتِهِ
Like pearls in its gleams, the full moon in
its features, and dawn in its breezes.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَوَيتَyou recited (context: I recited) الشِعرَpoetry عَنfrom آحادِهِits singular masters
وَلَقَد رَوَيتَ الشِعرَ عَن آحادِهِ
وَأَلِفَتand I grew accustomed لِلسِبّاقَto racing فيin حَلَباتِهِits racecourses
وَأَلِفَت لِلسِبّاقَ في حَلَباتِهِ
Indeed, I have recited poetry from its singular masters,
and grown accustomed to racing upon its courses.
وَقَضَيتَand you spent (context: I spent) فيهِin it صَبوَتيmy youthful passion وَصَبابَتيand my yearning
وَقَضَيتَ فيهِ صَبوَتي وَصَبابَتي
وَقَطَفتَand you plucked (context: I plucked) مِنهُfrom it خَيرَthe finest of نُوّاراتِهِits blossoms
وَقَطَفتَ مِنهُ خَيرَ نُوّاراتِهِ
In it I spent my youthful passion and yearning,
and plucked from it the finest of its blooms.
وَأَثَرتُand I roused فيin المَيدانِthe arena بُزلَthe mature ones among فُحولِهِits stallions
وَأَثَرتُ في المَيدانِ بُزلَ فُحولِهِ
وَأَطرَتand I sent soaring فيthrough الآفاقِthe horizons شُهبُthe gray ones among بُزاتِهِits falcons
وَأَطرَت في الآفاقِ شُهبُ بُزاتِهِ
I roused its mature stallions in the arena,
and sent its gray falcons soaring through the horizons.
فَرَأَيتُand I found شَوقيShawqi لَمdid not يَدَعleave فيin عَصرِهِhis age
فَرَأَيتُ شَوقي لَم يَدَع في عَصرِهِ
قِرناًa rival يَهُزُّbrandishing قَناتِهِhis spear لِقَناتِهِagainst his spear
قِرناً يَهُزُّ قَناتِهِ لِقَناتِهِ
And I found that Shawqi had left in his age
no rival to brandish a spear against his.
الفَردَthe peerless one فيin أَمداحِهِhis praises وَنُواحِهِand his lamentations
الفَردَ في أَمداحِهِ وَنُواحِهِ
وَالفَذُّand the unmatched one فيin أَمثالِهِhis maxims وَعِظاتِهِand his exhortations
وَالفَذُّ في أَمثالِهِ وَعِظاتِهِ
Peerless in his praises and lamentations,
unmatched in his maxims and exhortations.
وَإِذاand when تَعَرَّضَhe turned لِلغَرامِto love فَهَلdid ever دَرَتknow
وَإِذا تَعَرَّضَ لِلغَرامِ فَهَل دَرَت
لُغَةُthe language of الغَرامِlove نَظيرَthe like of شَوقِيّاتِهِhis Shawqiyyat
لُغَةُ الغَرامِ نَظيرَ شَوقِيّاتِهِ
And when he turned to love, did ever
love’s language know the like of his Shawqiyyat?
ماnothing فيin الهَيامِpassionate love كَوَجدِهِlike his rapture وَحَنينِهِand his yearning
ما في الهَيامِ كَوَجدِهِ وَحَنينِهِ
أَوor فيin النَسيبِlove poetry كَظَبيِهِlike his gazelle وَمَهاتِهِand his oryxes
أَو في النَسيبِ كَظَبيِهِ وَمَهاتِهِ
Nothing in passion equals his rapture and yearning,
nor in love poetry his gazelle and oryxes.
أَوor خاضَhe entered فيinto ذِكرىmemories of العَذيبِal-‘Udhayb تَشابَهَتbecame alike
أَو خاضَ في ذِكرى العَذيبِ تَشابَهَت
أَعطافَthe bodies of مُستَمَعيهِhis listeners مَعَwith باناتِهِhis bān trees
أَعطافَ مُستَمَعيهِ مَعَ باناتِهِ
Or when he enters memories of al-‘Udhayb, alike become
his listeners’ swaying bodies and his bān trees.
وَإِذاand when تَحَدَّثَhe spoke بِالرَبيعِof spring وَرَوضِهِand its garden
وَإِذا تَحَدَّثَ بِالرَبيعِ وَرَوضِهِ
أَنساكَhe made you forget بِالتَحبيرِthrough artistry وَشىthe embroidery of نَباتِهِits plants
أَنساكَ بِالتَحبيرِ وَشى نَباتِهِ
And when he speaks of springtime and its garden,
his artistry makes you forget its plants’ embroidery.
أَوor سَلَّhe unsheathed فيin وَصفِdescribing الوَقائِعِbattles صارِماًa keen sword
أَو سَلَّ في وَصفِ الوَقائِعِ صارِماً
خِلتُI imagined العِدىthe foes سالَتflowed عَلىupon شَفَراتِهِits blades
خِلتُ العِدى سالَت عَلى شَفَراتِهِ
Or, depicting battles, he unsheathes a keen sword:
I imagine the enemy flowing upon its blades.
لاno رُتبَةًrank تَعلوrises above مَكانَتِهِhis station وَلاnor
لا رُتبَةً تَعلو مَكانَتِهِ وَلا
شَرَفٌeminence يُنافُis raised عَلَيهِabove him مِنfrom شَرَفاتِهِits heights
شَرَفٌ يُنافُ عَلَيهِ مِن شَرَفاتِهِ
No rank rises above his station, nor
does any eminence overlook him from its heights.
نَحَتَhe carved القوافيthe rhymes السائِرتُfar-ranging أَوابِداًinto enduring marvels
نَحَتَ القوافي السائِرتُ أَوابِداً
ماذاwhat يُفيدُcan achieve النَحتُchipping away مِنfrom أَثلاتِهِhis rooted tamarisks
ماذا يُفيدُ النَحتُ مِن أَثلاتِهِ
He carved the far-ranging rhymes into enduring marvels;
what can chipping away take from his rooted tamarisks?
قَدindeed بَذَّhe outstripped آلِهَةَthe gods of القَريضِpoetry بِأَسرِهِمall of them
قَد بَذَّ آلِهَةَ القَريضِ بِأَسرِهِم
وَمَحاand erased عِبادَةَthe worship of لاتِهِits Lat وَمَناتِهِand its Manat
وَمَحا عِبادَةَ لاتِهِ وَمَناتِهِ
He surpassed all the gods of poetry,
and erased the worship of its Lat and Manat.
يُنضونَthey exhaust كُلَّevery نَجيبَةٍnoble she-camel أَنto يُطلِعواbring up
يُنضونَ كُلَّ نَجيبَةٍ أَن يُطلِعوا
جَبَلاًa mountain يَحِلُّhe occupies الرَأسَthe summit مِنamong شَعَفاتِهِits peaks
جَبَلاً يَحِلُّ الرَأسَ مِن شَعَفاتِهِ
They exhaust every noble she-camel trying to climb
a mountain whose highest summit he inhabits.
وَلَكُمand how often مَرَرتُI passed بِحاسِدينَthose envious لِفَضلِهِof his excellence
وَلَكُم مَرَرتُ بِحاسِدينَ لِفَضلِهِ
رَغمَdespite القَلىhatred يَروونَthey recite مِنsome of أَبياتِهِhis verses
رَغمَ القَلى يَروونَ مِن أَبياتِهِ
How often I have passed those envious of his excellence,
who, despite their hatred, recite his verses.
لاno نِدَّequal يَعدِلهُmatches him وَكَمand how many مِنa مَجلِسٍgathering
لا نِدَّ يَعدِلهُ وَكَم مِن مَجلِسٍ
أَشعارَthe poems of شَوقيShawqi النَدُّthe incense فيin سَمَراتِهِits evening conversations
أَشعارَ شَوقي النَدُّ في سَمَراتِهِ
He has no equal—and how many a gathering
has Shawqi’s poems as incense for its evening conversations!
يَتَمَثَّلُis embodied العَصرُthe age الحَديثُmodern بِشِعرِهِin his poetry
يَتَمَثَّلُ العَصرُ الحَديثُ بِشِعرِهِ
حَقَّtruly التَمثيلِrepresented مِنfrom جَميعِall جِهاتِهِits aspects
حَقَّ التَمثيلِ مِن جَميعِ جِهاتِهِ
The modern age is embodied in his poetry
with perfect fidelity, in all its aspects.
وَلَرُبَّand many a بَيتٍverse يَستَقِلُّstands alone بِجُملَةٍwith a statement
وَلَرُبَّ بَيتٍ يَستَقِلُّ بِجُملَةٍ
تَغنىmakes needless عَنِany need for التاريخِhistory فيin صَفَحاتِهِits pages
تَغنى عَنِ التاريخِ في صَفَحاتِهِ
And many a verse stands alone with a statement
that makes history’s pages unnecessary.
لَمwas not يَفتَتِنbeguiled مِنby its lapses عَثرِهِwith evils discovered in them بِمَساوِئٍwith evils
لَم يَفتَتِن مِن عَثرِهِ بِمَساوِئٍ
كَلّاcertainly not وَلَمnor did يُغمِطهُhe deny it مِنany of حَسَناتِهِits merits
كَلّا وَلَم يُغمِطهُ مِن حَسَناتِهِ
He was not beguiled by the evils of its failings,
nor did he deny it any of its merits.
قَدindeed لازَمَhe adhered to الأَنصافَfairness فيin أَحكامِهِhis judgments
قَد لازَمَ الأَنصافَ في أَحكامِهِ
لاno فَرقَdistinction بَينَbetween صِحابِهِhis friends وَعُداتِهِand his foes
لا فَرقَ بَينَ صِحابِهِ وَعُداتِهِ
He held fast to fairness in his judgments,
making no distinction between his friends and foes.
وَإِذاand if سَأَلتَyou ask عَنِabout الجِهادِthe struggle فَإِنَّهُthen he
وَإِذا سَأَلتَ عَنِ الجِهادِ فَإِنَّهُ
مُنذُsince الحَداثَةِyouth كاَwas (damaged كان) فيamong سَرَواتِهِits foremost men
مُنذُ الحَداثَةِ كاَ في سَرَواتِهِ
And if you ask about the struggle, he
was among its foremost men from his youth.
كَالسَيفُlike the sword فيin أَوضائِهِhis brilliance وَمَضائِهِand his cutting force
كَالسَيفُ في أَوضائِهِ وَمَضائِهِ
وَاللَيثُand the lion فيin وَثباتِهِhis leaps وَثَباتِهِand his steadfastness
وَاللَيثُ في وَثباتِهِ وَثَباتِهِ
Like a sword in his brilliance and cutting force,
and a lion in his leaps and steadfastness.
ماnot حَلَّbefell بِالإِسلامِIslam حيفَinjustice مُصيبَةٌa calamity
ما حَلَّ بِالإِسلامِ حيفَ مُصيبَةٌ
إِلّاexcept وَكانَhe was بِهاin it لِسانُthe voice of شِكاتِهِits complaints
إِلّا وَكانَ بِها لِسانُ شِكاتِهِ
No cruel calamity befell Islam
without his becoming the voice of its complaints.
يَحميhe guards حَقائِقِهِits truths وَيوضِحُand clarifies سُبُلَهُits paths
يَحمي حَقائِقِهِ وَيوضِحُ سُبُلَهُ
وَيُقيلُand helps recover طولَthroughout الوَقتِthe time مِنfrom عَثَراتِهِits stumbles
وَيُقيلُ طولَ الوَقتِ مِن عَثَراتِهِ
He guards its truths and makes its paths clear,
and always helps it recover from its stumbles.
يَلقىhe casts عَلىupon غَمَراتِthe surging depths of كُلِّevery مُلِمَّةٍcalamity
يَلقى عَلى غَمَراتِ كُلِّ مُلِمَّةٍ
قَولاًwords يُزيلُthat dispel أُجاجَهاits brine بِفُراتِهِwith their sweet water
قَولاً يُزيلُ أُجاجَها بِفُراتِهِ
Into the surging depths of every calamity he casts
words whose sweet waters dispel its brine.
وَيَظَلُّand he continues يُرسِلَهاsending them forth قَصائِدَas poems شُرَّداًfar-ranging
وَيَظَلُّ يُرسِلَها قَصائِدَ شُرَّداً
غُرَراًradiant تَشَقُّcleaving الفَجرَthe dawn عَنout of لَيلاتِهِits nights
غُرَراً تَشَقُّ الفَجرَ عَن لَيلاتِهِ
And he keeps sending them forth as far-ranging poems,
radiant verses that cleave dawn from its nights.
كانَتwere قَصائِدُهُhis poems هِيَthey الصَوتُthe voice الَّذيthat
كانَت قَصائِدُهُ هِيَ الصَوتُ الَّذي
سَرىlifted عَنِfrom الإِسلامِIslam ثَقلُthe weight of سُباتِهِits slumber
سَرى عَنِ الإِسلامِ ثَقلُ سُباتِهِ
His poems were the voice that
lifted from Islam the weight of its slumber.
بَعَثتُI stirred (context: they stirred) بِهِthrough it روحَthe spirit of الحَياةِlife كَأَنَّهاas though they
بَعَثتُ بِهِ روحَ الحَياةِ كَأَنَّها
هِيَwere صُوَرُthe trumpet of إِسرافيلَIsrafil فيin زَعَقاتِهِhis resounding blasts
هِيَ صُوَرُ إِسرافيلَ في زَعَقاتِهِ
They breathed through it the spirit of life, as though they
were Israfil’s trumpet in his resounding blasts.
قَدindeed كانَhe was أَدرىthe most knowledgeable of الناسِpeople بِالداءِabout the malady الَّذيthat
قَد كانَ أَدرى الناسِ بِالداءِ الَّذي
قَدindeed حَطَّbrought down هَذاthis الشَرقُEast عَنfrom صَهَواتِهِits saddles
قَد حَطَّ هَذا الشَرقُ عَن صَهَواتِهِ
He knew better than all men the malady that
had brought this East down from its saddles:
داءٌa malady هُوَnamely الأخلاقُmorals فيin اِضمِحلالِهاtheir decay
داءٌ هُوَ الأخلاقُ في اِضمِحلالِها
فَلِذاtherefore تَرىyou see الأَخلاقَmorality رَأسَforemost in وَصاتِهِhis counsels
فَلِذا تَرى الأَخلاقَ رَأسَ وَصاتِهِ
the malady of morals in decay.
Thus you see morality foremost in his counsels.
وَفّىhe fulfilled عَنِon behalf of الشَرقِthe East القَديمِancient نِضالِهِhis struggle
وَفّى عَنِ الشَرقِ القَديمِ نِضالِهِ
مِنfrom يَومِthe day of نَشأَتِهِhis beginnings لِيومِuntil the day of وَفاتِهِhis death
مِن يَومِ نَشأَتِهِ لِيومِ وَفاتِهِ
He fulfilled his struggle for the ancient East
from the day he arose until the day he died.
قَدindeed ذادَhe defended عَنهُit بِقَلبِهِwith his heart وَبِلُبِّهِand with his intellect
قَد ذادَ عَنهُ بِقَلبِهِ وَبِلُبِّهِ
شَأنَas is the way of الأَبِيَّthe proud man يَذودُhe defends عَنagainst encroachment on تَرِكاتِهِhis inheritances
شَأنَ الأَبِيَّ يَذودُ عَن تَرِكاتِهِ
He defended it with his heart and intellect,
as the proud man defends his inheritance:
ماضٍa past يَحذِرهُthat warns him against اِستِلابُthe plundering of تُراثِهِhis heritage
ماضٍ يَحذِرهُ اِستِلابُ تُراثِهِ
مِنهُfrom him وَيَحفِزُهُand spurs him لِأَخذِto exact تِراتِهِhis vengeance
مِنهُ وَيَحفِزُهُ لِأَخذِ تِراتِهِ
a past that warns him against the plundering of his heritage
from him, and spurs him to avenge his wrongs.
أَعلىhe raised مَنارِthe beacon of الشَرقِthe East فيin أَوصافِهِhis descriptions
أَعلى مَنارِ الشَرقِ في أَوصافِهِ
وَأَجادَand excelled at وَصفَdescribing الغَربِthe West فيin آفاتِهِits afflictions
وَأَجادَ وَصفَ الغَربِ في آفاتِهِ
He raised the East’s beacon high in his descriptions,
and masterfully described the West’s afflictions.
وَوَحىand revealed إِلىto الشَرقِيِّthe Easterner بِالطُرقِthe paths الَّتيthat
وَوَحى إِلى الشَرقِيِّ بِالطُرقِ الَّتي
يَمشيhe travels النَجاءُswiftly بِهاalong them لِأَجلِfor the sake of نَجاتِهِhis deliverance
يَمشي النَجاءُ بِها لِأَجلِ نَجاتِهِ
He revealed to the Easterner the paths
he must swiftly travel for his deliverance.
أَمَليhe enjoined (probably أملى) مُكافَحَةَresistance to الذِئابِthe wolves عَوادِياًmarauding
أَمَلي مُكافَحَةَ الذِئابِ عَوادِياً
بِالوادِin the valley قَدhad حَلّواthey settled مَكانَin place of رُعاتِهِits shepherds
بِالوادِ قَد حَلّوا مَكانَ رُعاتِهِ
He urged resistance to the marauding wolves
in the valley, who had supplanted its shepherds:
الجائِسينَthe prowlers بِبَحرِهِacross its sea وَبِبَرِّهِand across its land
الجائِسينَ بِبَحرِهِ وَبِبَرِّهِ
وَالجائِشينَand the surging hordes بِنَجدِهِin its highlands وَوَطاتِهِand its lowlands
وَالجائِشينَ بِنَجدِهِ وَوَطاتِهِ
those prowling across its sea and land,
and surging through its highlands and lowlands,
وَالغاصِبينَand the usurpers لِزَرعِهِof its crops وَلِضَرعِهِand of its udders
وَالغاصِبينَ لِزَرعِهِ وَلِضَرعِهِ
وَالآكِلينَand the devourers لِتَمرِهِof its dates بِنَواتِهِwith their stones
وَالآكِلينَ لِتَمرِهِ بِنَواتِهِ
those plundering its crops and its udders,
and devouring its dates, stones and all.
أَشعارِهِhis poems تَحياlive وَتُحييand give life to أُمَّةًa nation
أَشعارِهِ تَحيا وَتُحيي أُمَّةً
تَجِدَthat finds الحَياةَlife الحَقَّtrue فيin كَلِماتِهِhis words
تَجِدَ الحَياةَ الحَقَّ في كَلِماتِهِ
His poems live and give life to a nation
that finds true life in his words.
ياO راحِلاًdeparted one مَلَأَwho filled الزَمانِtime بَدائِعاًwith marvels
يا راحِلاً مَلَأَ الزَمانِ بَدائِعاً
مِنfrom قَبلُbefore أَنthat نَزَلَdescended القَضاfate بِسُكاتِهِwith his silencing
مِن قَبلُ أَن نَزَلَ القَضا بِسُكاتِهِ
O departed one who filled time with marvels
before fate descended to silence him!
أَتَرَكتَhave you left بَعدَكَafter you شاعِراًa poet تَرضىyou would approve بِأَنthat
أَتَرَكتَ بَعدَكَ شاعِراً تَرضى بِأَن
تَرعىshould graze جِيادَthe noble steeds of الفِكرِthought فيin تَلَعاتِهِhis uplands
تَرعى جِيادَ الفِكرِ في تَلَعاتِهِ
Have you left behind a poet you would deem worthy
for thought’s noble steeds to graze upon his uplands?
يَبكيmourns بِكَin you الإِسلامُIslam خَيرَthe best of جُنودِهِits soldiers
يَبكي بِكَ الإِسلامُ خَيرَ جُنودِهِ
أَبَداًforever وَيَرثيand laments الشَرقَthe East خَيرَthe best of حُماتِهِits defenders
أَبَداً وَيَرثي الشَرقَ خَيرَ حُماتِهِ
In you Islam mourns the best of its soldiers
forever, and the East laments the best of its defenders.
وَكَأَنَّand as though واديthe valley of النيلِthe Nile مِنfrom أَحزانِهِits sorrows
وَكَأَنَّ وادي النيلِ مِن أَحزانِهِ
يَلقىcasts عَلىupon الشَطينِthe two banks مشنfrom (damaged مِن) زَفَراتِهِits sighs
يَلقى عَلى الشَطينِ مشن زَفَراتِهِ
It is as though the Nile Valley, in its sorrow,
casts some of its sighs upon both banks.
وَنَوادِبُand the female mourners of العَرَبِيَّةَArabic الفُصحىeloquent لَهاfor it
وَنَوادِبُ العَرَبِيَّةَ الفُصحى لَها
نَدبٌa lament عَلَيكَfor you يُذيبُthat melts فيin رَنّاتِهِits tones
نَدبٌ عَلَيكَ يُذيبُ في رَنّاتِهِ
And the mourners of eloquent Arabic have
a lament for you whose tones melt hearts.
اِنظُرlook إِلىat الإِخوانِthe brothers كَيفَhow تَرَكتَهُمyou left them
اِنظُر إِلى الإِخوانِ كَيفَ تَرَكتَهُم
مِنamong كُلِّevery مُضطَجِعٍone lying عَلىupon جَمَراتِهِhis embers
مِن كُلِّ مُضطَجِعٍ عَلى جَمَراتِهِ
Look at your brothers—how you have left them,
each lying upon his burning coals.
اِنظُرlook لِحالِat the state of أَخٍa brother فِداكَwho would ransom you بِروحِهِwith his soul
اِنظُر لِحالِ أَخٍ فِداكَ بِروحِهِ
لَوif كانَit were يُحييto revive المَيتَthe dead عَزمَthe resolve of فُداتِهِhis ransomers
لَو كانَ يُحيي المَيتَ عَزمَ فُداتِهِ
Look at a brother’s state, who would ransom you with his soul,
if his ransomers’ resolve could revive the dead.
قضدindeed (damaged قد) كُنتُI was (context: you were) طولَthroughout العُمرِlife قُرَّةَthe delight of عَينِهِhis eye
قضد كُنتُ طولَ العُمرِ قُرَّةَ عَينِهِ
وَالآنَand now يَجريflows السَخنَthe burning heat مِنof عَبَراتِهِhis tears
وَالآنَ يَجري السَخنَ مِن عَبَراتِهِ
You were the delight of his eye throughout life,
and now his tears stream burning hot.
مَضَتِhave passed السُنونُthe years الأَربَعونَforty وَنَحنُwhile we فيin
مَضَتِ السُنونُ الأَربَعونَ وَنَحنُ في
هَذاthis الإِخاءُbrotherhood نَمُزُّsip مِنof قَهَواتِهِits wines
هَذا الإِخاءُ نَمُزُّ مِن قَهَواتِهِ
Forty years have passed while we
have sipped the wines of this brotherhood.
أَرعاكَI care for you مِنfrom بُعدٍafar وَتَرعانيand you care for me عَلىtrue to
أَرعاكَ مِن بُعدٍ وَتَرعاني عَلى
عَهدِa covenant نَهُزُّwe shake الرَطبَripe dates مِنfrom عَذَباتِهِits branches
عَهدِ نَهُزُّ الرَطبَ مِن عَذَباتِهِ
I cared for you from afar, and you for me, true to
a covenant from whose branches we shook ripe dates.
عَهدٌa covenant رَعَيناهُwe tended it مَديدَthroughout the long span of حَياتِناour lives
عَهدٌ رَعَيناهُ مَديدَ حَياتِنا
وَاليَومَand today زادَincreased المَوتُdeath مِنthe degree of حُرماتِهِits sanctity
وَاليَومَ زادَ المَوتُ مِن حُرماتِهِ
A covenant we tended throughout our long lives,
whose sanctity death has now increased.
قَدindeed كُنتُI was أَطمَحُhoping أَنthat تَرىyou would be seen ليfor me راثِياًas an elegist
قَد كُنتُ أَطمَحُ أَن تَرى لي راثِياً
ياO مَنyou whom غَدَوتُI have become اليَومَtoday بَينَamong رِثاتِهِhis elegists
يا مَن غَدَوتُ اليَومَ بَينَ رِثاتِهِ
I had hoped you would be my elegist,
O you among whose elegists I find myself today.
كُنّاwe used to نَخافُfear رِداكَyour death قَبلَbefore وُقوعِهِits occurrence
كُنّا نَخافُ رِداكَ قَبلَ وُقوعِهِ
فَلَناso we have الأَمانُsafety اليَومَtoday مِنfrom دَهَشاتِهِits shocks
فَلَنا الأَمانُ اليَومَ مِن دَهَشاتِهِ
We feared your death before it came,
so today we are safe from its sudden shocks.
تَبّاًwoe لِعَيشٍto a life قَدmay يَكونُbe مَساؤُهُits evening
تَبّاً لِعَيشٍ قَد يَكونُ مَساؤُهُ
نوحاًlamentation وَكانَthough was سُرورُهُits joy بِغَداتِهِin its morning
نوحاً وَكانَ سُرورُهُ بِغَداتِهِ
Woe to a life whose evening may become
lamentation, though its morning was joy!
وَالمَرءُand a man إِنif يَنظُرconsiders لِماwhat يُبلىhe is afflicted بِهِwith
وَالمَرءُ إِن يَنظُر لِما يُبلى بِهِ
لاno فَرقَdifference بَينَbetween بَقائِهِhis survival وَفَواتِهِand his passing
لا فَرقَ بَينَ بَقائِهِ وَفَواتِهِ
If a man considers all he must endure,
there is no difference between his survival and his passing.
فَالمَيتُfor the dead man وَهوَwhile he يَذوبُdissolves فيamid حَشَراتِهِhis insects
فَالمَيتُ وَهوَ يَذوبُ في حَشَراتِهِ
كَالحَيُّlike the living man وَهوَwhile he يَذوبُdissolves فيin حَسَراتِهِhis regrets
كَالحَيُّ وَهوَ يَذوبُ في حَسَراتِهِ
For the dead man, wasting away amid his vermin,
is like the living man wasting away in his regrets.
نَرجوwe hope لَكَfor you الدارَthe abode الَّتيwhose عِمارُهاits dwellers
نَرجو لَكَ الدارَ الَّتي عِمارُها
هُمthey are كُلَّall مَنwho صَنَعَdid الجَميلَgood لِذاتِهِfor its own sake
هُم كُلَّ مَن صَنَعَ الجَميلَ لِذاتِهِ
We pray you reach the abode whose dwellers
are all who did good for its own sake.
يُضفيmay clothe عَلَيكَyou in اللَهُGod ثَوبَthe robe of نَعيمِهِHis bliss
يُضفي عَلَيكَ اللَهُ ثَوبَ نَعيمِهِ
وَاللَهُand God لاnot تُحصيyou can count ضُروبَthe kinds of هِباتِهِHis gifts
وَاللَهُ لا تُحصي ضُروبَ هِباتِهِ
May God clothe you in the robe of His bliss;
God’s gifts are of kinds beyond your counting.
قَدindeed كُنتُI was (context: you were) فيin الدُنياthis world هِزاراًa nightingale صادِحاًsinging
قَد كُنتُ في الدُنيا هِزاراً صادِحاً
يَشجيmoves to sorrow وَيُسليand consoles الناسَpeople فيthrough نَغَماتِهِhis melodies
يَشجي وَيُسلي الناسَ في نَغَماتِهِ
In this world you were a singing nightingale,
whose melodies moved and comforted people.
فَالآنَso now كُنbe بِجَلالِof the majesty of رَبِّكَyour Lord ساجِعاًsinging
فَالآنَ كُن بِجَلالِ رَبِّكَ ساجِعاً
وَالطائِرُand the bird المُحكىimitated فيin جَنّاتِهِHis gardens
وَالطائِرُ المُحكى في جَنّاتِهِ
Now sing in praise of your Lord’s majesty,
and be the bird whose song is imitated in His gardens.
Sol 6.1