هلِdoes الدَّارthe dwelling تدريknow ماwhat أثارتْit stirred منof الوجدِyearning
هلِ الدَّار تدري ما أثارتْ من الوجدِ
عشيّةon the evening عنّتْit appeared للنّواظرِto the eyes منfrom بُعْدِafar
عشيّة عنّتْ للنّواظرِ من بُعْدِ
Does the dwelling know what yearning it stirred
Does this house know what passion it stirred
the evening it appeared to the eyes from afar?
One evening when it appeared to distant gazes?
بَكيتُI wept ولولاand were it not for نظرةٌa glance بمحجّرٍwith an eye socket
بَكيتُ ولولا نظرةٌ بمحجّرٍ
إلىtoward الدّارthe dwelling لمwould not تجرِflow الدّموعُthe tears علىdown خدِّيmy cheek
إلى الدّار لم تجرِ الدّموعُ على خدِّي
I wept; but for a glance from an eye socket,
I cried, and had it not been for a veiled glance
toward the dwelling, tears would not have run down my cheek.
At the house, tears would not have flowed down my cheek.
أياO صاحِfriend لولاwere it not for أنّthat دمعِيَmy tears لمdid not يَطِحْfall
أيا صاحِ لولا أنّ دمعِيَ لم يَطِحْ
وقدand already لاحappeared رسمُthe trace of الحيِّthe camp لمwould not تدرِyou know ماwhat عنديwas within me
وقد لاح رسمُ الحيِّ لم تدرِ ما عندي
O friend, were it not that my tears had not fallen,
O friend, had my tears not brimmed over
when the camp's trace appeared, you would not have known what lay within me.
And the phantom of the beloved appeared, you would not know my inner feelings.
كتمتُكI concealed from you وجدِيmy yearning طولَthroughout ماthe time that أنتyou صاحبيmy companion
كتمتُك وجدِي طولَ ما أنت صاحبي
فنادتْso cried out دموعُthe tears of العينthe eye منّيfrom me علىabout وجدِيmy yearning
فنادتْ دموعُ العين منّي على وجدِي
I hid my yearning from you for as long as you were my companion,
I concealed my passion from you as long as you were my companion,
then my eye's tears cried out about my yearning.
Then my tears betrayed my passion.
ولمّاand when أقرّconfessed الدّمعُthe tears بانbecame clear لكto you الهوىlove
ولمّا أقرّ الدّمعُ بان لك الهوى
فلمso did not يُغنِavail إنكاريmy denial of الغرامَpassion ولاnor جحدِيmy disavowal
فلم يُغنِ إنكاري الغرامَ ولا جحدِي
And when the tears confessed, love became clear to you,
And when a tear confirms the presence of love,
and neither my denial of passion nor my disavowal availed.
My denial and concealment of love are futile.
تذكّرتُI remembered نجداًNajd بعدafter ماthat غُرتُI descended to the lowlands موهِناًlate at night
تذكّرتُ نجداً بعد ما غُرتُ موهِناً
وَأَينَand where is اِمرُءٌa man بالغَوْرِin al-Ghawr منfrom ساكنِيthe dwellers of نجدِNajd
وَأَينَ اِمرُءٌ بالغَوْرِ من ساكنِي نجدِ
I remembered Najd after descending to the lowlands late at night;
I remembered Najd after I had forgotten it a while,
how far is a man in al-Ghawr from the dwellers of Najd!
But where is the man with jewels compared to the Najdi men?
وَأَذكرنيand recalled to me شبهَthe likeness of القضيبِthe bough ونحنُwhile we فيwere on
وَأَذكرني شبهَ القضيبِ ونحنُ في
ظُهورِthe backs of مَطاياناour mounts قضيبٌa bough منof الرّندِlaurel
ظُهورِ مَطايانا قضيبٌ من الرّندِ
And a bough-like form was recalled to me, while we rode on
I remember the staffs when we were
the backs of our mounts, by a bough of laurel.
Riding our she-camels, a staff of teakwood.
وَمُعتجراتٍand women wrapped بالجمالin beauty كأنّماas though
وَمُعتجراتٍ بالجمال كأنّما
بَسَمْنَthey smiled إذاwhen يَبسِمنthey smile عنrevealing لؤلؤِthe pearls of العِقدِthe necklace
بَسَمْنَ إذا يَبسِمن عن لؤلؤِ العِقدِ
And women wrapped in beauty, as though
And women traveling in litters who smiled
whenever they smiled, they bared a necklace's pearls.
Like lightning when they smiled their pearl-like smiles.
لهنّthey have صباحٌa dawn منof وجوهٍfaces منيرةٍradiant
لهنّ صباحٌ من وجوهٍ منيرةٍ
تخلّلهاran through them ليلٌa night منof الفاحِمِcoal-black hair الجَعْدِcurly hair
تخلّلها ليلٌ من الفاحِمِ الجَعْدِ
They have a dawn of radiant faces,
They have a morning of radiant faces
threaded by a night of coal-black curls.
Interspersed with a night of curly, jet-black hair.
غلبنthey prevailed علىover ودّيmy affection ولولاand were it not for محاسنٌbeauties
غلبن على ودّي ولولا محاسنٌ
جلونthey displayed عليناbefore us ماnot غلبنthey would have prevailed علىover ودّيmy affection
جلون علينا ما غلبن على ودّي
They conquered my affection; but for beauties
They prevailed over my love, and were it not for their charms
they displayed before us, they would not have conquered my affection.
That make me overlook their prevail over my love!
وشرخand the prime of شبابٍyouth كنتI used to أحقرbelittle فضلهits merit
وشرخ شبابٍ كنت أحقر فضله
إلىuntil أنthat مضىit passed والضدُّand the opposite يُعرفis known بالضدِّby the opposite
إلى أن مضى والضدُّ يُعرف بالضدِّ
And youth's first bloom, whose worth I used to belittle,
And the flowers of youth I deemed insignificant
until it passed—an opposite is known by its opposite.
Until youth passed, and opposite is known by opposite.
أمنتُI was safe بهthrough it بينamong الغوانِيbeautiful women وظلُّهُwhile its shade
أمنتُ به بين الغوانِي وظلُّهُ
عليَّover me مقيمٌremained منfrom بعادٍestrangement ومنand from صدِّrejection
عليَّ مقيمٌ من بعادٍ ومن صدِّ
Through it, among fair women, I was safe—its shade
I felt secure with it among ravishing women, and its
still resting upon me—from estrangement and rejection.
Shade upon me remains from afar and from disfavor.
وقدand indeed قلتُI said لمّاwhen ضقتُI was straitened ذَرعاًin patience بخُطّةٍby a plight
وقد قلتُ لمّا ضقتُ ذَرعاً بخُطّةٍ
شَموسِrestive القَرَاof back أينwhere is الوزيرthe vizier أبوAbu سعدِSa'd
شَموسِ القَرَا أين الوزير أبو سعدِ
And I said, when my patience failed with a plight
When I was extremely distressed with worry
whose back was restive: "Where is the vizier Abu Sa'd?"
I said: O suns of Al-Qura, where is the minister Abu Sa‘d?
فَتىًa young man كانَwho was درعِيmy shield يومthe day تَحصبنِيpelted me العدىthe enemies
فَتىً كانَ درعِي يوم تَحصبنِي العدى
ويومand the day of ضرابِيmy striking للطُّلىat necks موضعَin place of الزّندِthe forearm
ويوم ضرابِي للطُّلى موضعَ الزّندِ
A young man who was my shield the day enemies pelted me,
The man who was my coat of mail when enemies waylaid me
and, when I struck at necks, took the forearm's place.
And my sure resort if spears should strike.
وَماand never جِئتُهI came to him وَالرشدُwhile sound judgment عنّيfrom me بمعزِلٍwas apart
وَما جِئتُه وَالرشدُ عنّي بمعزِلٍ
فَأَطلعنِيso he raised me إلّاexcept عَلىto ذرْوَةِthe summit of الرّشدِsound judgment
فَأَطلعنِي إلّا عَلى ذرْوَةِ الرّشدِ
Never did I come to him with sound judgment beyond my reach
I never came to him while lost
without his raising me to the summit of sound judgment.
Except that he guided me to the pinnacle of rectitude
وَكَمand how many لكَyou have فيماin what is بَينناbetween us مِنof مَواقفٍoccasions
وَكَم لكَ فيما بَيننا مِن مَواقفٍ
تسلّمتَyou received فيهاon them رِبْقَةَthe collar of الحمدِpraise والمجدِand glory
تسلّمتَ فيها رِبْقَةَ الحمدِ والمجدِ
How many occasions there have been between us
And how may common points were there between us
on which you received the collar of praise and glory!
When you assumed alone glory and praise!
فَبالسّيفِso with the sword طَوراًat times تولجyou usher النَّاسَpeople للهدىinto guidance
فَبالسّيفِ طَوراً تولج النَّاسَ للهدى
وطوراًand at times بأسبابby means of التكرّمِgenerosity والرّفدِand gifts
وطوراً بأسباب التكرّمِ والرّفدِ
At times, with the sword, you usher people into guidance,
Sometimes with the sword you drove the people to guidance
and at times through generosity and gifts.
And sometimes with robes of honor and stipends.
وَأَنتَand you حَميتَdefended المُلكَthe kingdom مِنfrom كلِّevery طالِعٍone rising
وَأَنتَ حَميتَ المُلكَ مِن كلِّ طالِعٍ
عَليهِagainst it كَماas تُحمىis defended العرينةُthe lion's den بالأسدِby the lion
عَليهِ كَما تُحمى العرينةُ بالأسدِ
You defended the kingdom from everyone rising
You protected the kingdom from every opponent
against it, as a lion defends its den.
As the lionesses’ den is protected by the lions.
عَلىupon كلّevery مطواعٍobedient steed إذاwhen سُمتَهyou bid it رَدىit gallops
عَلى كلّ مطواعٍ إذا سُمتَه رَدى
وإنand if لمnot تَسُمهyou bid it جَرْيَهits running فهوthen it لاdoes not يردِيgallop
وإن لم تَسُمه جَرْيَه فهو لا يردِي
Upon every obedient steed that gallops when you bid it,
You disciplined every compliant man when you named him
and does not gallop when you do not bid it run.
And even when you did not name him, still he was disciplined.
كأنَّكas though you منهُupon it فوقَabove غاربِthe withers of عاصفٍa blast
كأنَّك منهُ فوقَ غاربِ عاصفٍ
منَof الرّيحthe wind أَوor فيon ظهرِthe back of هَيقٍa male ostrich منamong الرُّبْدِthe dusky ones
منَ الرّيح أَو في ظهرِ هَيقٍ من الرُّبْدِ
Upon it, you seem above the withers of a blast
As though you were above a raging, stormy sea
of wind, or on the back of a dusky male ostrich.
Of wind, or on the back of a mule running in early dawn.
وَماand not لِسفاهٍfrom folly بلْbut لفَرْطِfrom an excess of شجاعةٍcourage
وَما لِسفاهٍ بلْ لفَرْطِ شجاعةٍ
نزعتَyou cast off جلابيبَthe cloaks of المضاعفةِdoubled mail السَّرْدِin weave
نزعتَ جلابيبَ المضاعفةِ السَّرْدِ
Not from folly, but from surpassing courage,
It was not frivolity, but excess of courage
you cast off cloaks of doubly woven mail.
Made you doff the mantles of hesitation and veil.
كَأنّكas though you مِنfrom بَأسٍvalor لَبِستَput on قميصَهits shirt
كَأنّك مِن بَأسٍ لَبِستَ قميصَه
لدَىamid الرَّوعِterror فيamong حَشْدٍa host وماyet not أنتَyou فيamong حَشْدِa host
لدَى الرَّوعِ في حَشْدٍ وما أنتَ في حَشْدِ
As though you had clothed yourself in valor's shirt,
As though you had clothed yourself with the boldness
amid terror, among a host—though you are among no host.
Of one who fears no pathways or crowding of men.
وَماand not لَكَfor you فيin هَزْلٍfrivolity معاجٌan inclination وإِنّماbut rather
وَما لَكَ في هَزْلٍ معاجٌ وإِنّما
أتيتَyou were approached كماas يؤتَىare approached الرّجالmen منthrough الجدِّearnestness
أتيتَ كما يؤتَى الرّجال من الجدِّ
You have no inclination toward frivolity; rather,
You came to be taken seriously, not jestingly,
you were approached as men are approached—in earnest.
With utmost earnestness, gravity and diligence.
ولمand did not يُبقِleave حِلمٌforbearance أنتَyou مالكُmaster of رِقِّهِits servitude
ولم يُبقِ حِلمٌ أنتَ مالكُ رِقِّهِ
بِقَلبكَin your heart بعدَafter الصَّفحِpardoning شيئاًanything منof الحِقدِrancor
بِقَلبكَ بعدَ الصَّفحِ شيئاً من الحِقدِ
And forbearance, whose servitude you command, has left
And you left in your nature no rancor which you harbor
no rancor in your heart after forgiveness.
In you heart against anyone, after showing clemency.
فَياso O نازِحاًone far away عنِّيfrom me وماand not لِيَfor me بعدَهafter him
فَيا نازِحاً عنِّي وما لِيَ بعدَه
علىagainst جَوْرِthe tyranny of أيّامٍdays إذاwhen جُرنَthey wronged منany مُعدِhelper
على جَوْرِ أيّامٍ إذا جُرنَ من مُعدِ
O you far from me, after whom I have
So farewell to me, though after you
no helper against the tyranny of days when they oppress!
I have no patience for the tyranny of time.
أماhas it not آنcome time للقربِfor the closeness الّذيthat كانwas بينناbetween us
أما آن للقربِ الّذي كان بيننا
فولّىthen departed حميداًpraised أنْto يُدالَbe given ascendancy منover البُعدِdistance
فولّى حميداً أنْ يُدالَ من البُعدِ
Is it not time for the closeness that once was between us,
Is it not time for our former close association
and departed with praise, to prevail over distance?
To return in beauty from the distances?
ولمand never تكُwas دارٌa dwelling أنتَyou فيهاwere in it بعيدةًdistant
ولم تكُ دارٌ أنتَ فيها بعيدةً
ولكنّنِيbut I بالعذرِthrough an excuse فيin حَلَقِthe loops of القِدِّthe leather thong
ولكنّنِي بالعذرِ في حَلَقِ القِدِّ
No dwelling with you in it was ever distant,
You were never in a house too far from me,
but an excuse holds me in loops of leather thongs.
But old age makes me slow to go places.
وَماand not أَناI إلّاexcept سائرٌjourneying كلَّevery طُرقةٍnightly visit
وَما أَنا إلّا سائرٌ كلَّ طُرقةٍ
إليكto you علىon عُرْيِthe bare backs of المطهّمَةِwell-formed horses الجُرْدِsleek horses
إليك على عُرْيِ المطهّمَةِ الجُرْدِ
I am ever journeying, every night,
I am but traveling every road
to you, bareback on sleek, well-formed steeds.
To you, barefoot and naked.
فكمso how many وطنٍa homeland بالوُدِّthrough affection مِنِّيfrom me سكنتُهI dwelt in it
فكم وطنٍ بالوُدِّ مِنِّي سكنتُه
وإنْand though لمdid not أُجرّرْI trail فيthrough جوانِبِهits sides بُرْدِيmy cloak
وإنْ لم أُجرّرْ في جوانِبِه بُرْدِي
How many a homeland I have dwelt in through my affection,
How many homes have I inhabited with affection
though I never trailed my cloak along its sides.
Without spreading my cloak over their expanses!
بقلبِيَin my heart كَلْمٌa wound منfrom فراقكparting with you مؤلمٌpainful
بقلبِيَ كَلْمٌ من فراقك مؤلمٌ
وكمand how many بالفتىin a man كَلْمٌa wound وماthough not حزّit cut بالجِلدِinto the skin
وكم بالفتى كَلْمٌ وما حزّ بالجِلدِ
In my heart is a painful wound from parting with you;
In my heart is painful word of separation from you
how many wounds a man bears that never cut his skin!
And how many painful words with no outward sign!
ودمعِيand my tears علىover ماwhat فاتنِيI missed منكof you قاطِرٌdripping
ودمعِي على ما فاتنِي منك قاطِرٌ
كأنِّيَas though I دونapart from النَّاسِthe people فارقتنِيyou parted from me وَحديme alone
كأنِّيَ دون النَّاسِ فارقتنِي وَحدي
My tears drip over what I have missed of you,
My flowing tears remember what I have lost of you
as though I alone, of all people, were the one you left.
As though, unlike other people, I alone lost you.
سقَىmay water اللَّهُGod أيّاماًdays مَضينthat passed وأنتwhile you بِيtoward me
سقَى اللَّهُ أيّاماً مَضين وأنت بِي
حَفيٌّattentive قريبُnear in المُلتَقىmeeting سَبِلُrain-pouring الرّعدِthunder
حَفيٌّ قريبُ المُلتَقى سَبِلُ الرّعدِ
May God water the days that passed, when you were to me
May God water the days that passed when you were with me,
attentive, readily met, with thunder pouring rain.
A bosom friend, soon to meet, like flash of lightning.
لهنَّthey have بقلبِيin my heart عَبْقَةٌa lingering scent أرَجِيَّةٌfragrant
لهنَّ بقلبِي عَبْقَةٌ أرَجِيَّةٌ
تبرّحُoutdoes بالنّفْحاتِthe fragrant wafts منfrom عنبرِthe ambergris of الهِندِIndia
تبرّحُ بالنّفْحاتِ من عنبرِ الهِندِ
Those days have a lingering fragrance in my heart,
To them in my heart is a lasting fragrance
outdoing the wafts of Indian ambergris.
That permeates with the breath of Indian ambergris.
وقدand indeed حالchanged فيناamong us كلُّevery شيءٍthing عهدتُهI once knew it
وقد حال فينا كلُّ شيءٍ عهدتُه
فلمso did not يبقَremain محفوظاًpreserved عليكfor you سوىexcept عهدِيmy pledge
فلم يبقَ محفوظاً عليك سوى عهدِي
Everything I once knew among us has changed,
Everything I ever expected from you is lost,
and nothing remains preserved for you but my pledge.
Nothing being guarded for your sake except my pledge.
ولولاand were it not for هَناةٌa small trouble كنتُI would be أقربَnearer منزِلاًin dwelling
ولولا هَناةٌ كنتُ أقربَ منزِلاً
وماand not كلُّevery سرٍّsecret فيwithin جوانحناour breasts نُبدِيwe reveal
وما كلُّ سرٍّ في جوانحنا نُبدِي
But for a small trouble, my dwelling would be nearer;
Had it not been for bashfulness
we do not reveal every secret within our breasts.
We would meet more often without hiding all our secrets.
فإنْso if تَنْأَyou go far away فالعيّوقُthen al-'Ayyuq ناءٍis distant وإنْand if تَغِبْyou disappear
فإنْ تَنْأَ فالعيّوقُ ناءٍ وإنْ تَغِبْ
فقدthen indeed غابَvanished عنّاfrom us بُرهةًfor a while كوكبُthe star of السّعدِgood fortune
فقد غابَ عنّا بُرهةً كوكبُ السّعدِ
If you are distant, al-'Ayyuq too is distant; and if you disappear,
If you become estranged, the ostrich has a companion,
the star of good fortune has vanished from us for a while.
And if you hide away, a lucky star has hidden from us a while.
وَلاand there is no خيرَgood فيin وادٍa valley وأنتwhile you بغيرهِare elsewhere
وَلا خيرَ في وادٍ وأنت بغيرهِ
وماand not العيشُlife مطلولاًdew-moistened خلافكin your absence بالرّغدِcomfortable
وما العيشُ مطلولاً خلافك بالرّغدِ
There is no good in a valley when you are elsewhere,
A valley is no good if you are in a different one,
nor is life, though dew-fresh, comfortable in your absence.
And life cannot be enjoyed away from you in comfort.
وإنِّيَand I مغمودٌam sheathed وإِنْand though كنتُI am باتِراًkeen-edged
وإنِّيَ مغمودٌ وإِنْ كنتُ باتِراً
ولاand no بُدّescape يوماًone day أنthat أُجرَّدَI be drawn منfrom غِمدِيmy sheath
ولا بُدّ يوماً أن أُجرَّدَ من غِمدِي
I am sheathed, though I am a cutting blade,
Though I conceal it, I am despondent
and one day I must be drawn from my sheath.
And one day I must be stripped of my scabbard.
فَإِنso if كُنتَyou are يوماًone day لَستَyou are not تَرضىpleased with ضريبةًa swordstroke
فَإِن كُنتَ يوماً لَستَ تَرضى ضريبةً
فإنّكthen indeed you ترضىare pleased بالضريبةِwith the swordstroke عنfrom حَدّيmy edge
فإنّك ترضى بالضريبةِ عن حَدّي
If one day a swordstroke does not please you,
If one day you will not accept me as a tax
the stroke from my edge will please you.
Surely you will accept me as your due.
لَحَىmay curse اللَّهُGod أَبناءَthe sons of الزمانِthe age فإِنّهمْfor indeed they
لَحَى اللَّهُ أَبناءَ الزمانِ فإِنّهمْ
بِتَيْهاءَin a wilderness لاnot تدنوdrawing near ضَلالاًastray عنfrom القَصدِthe right course
بِتَيْهاءَ لا تدنو ضَلالاً عن القَصدِ
May God curse the sons of this age, for they are
The sons of the age have been depraved by God
in a far-off wilderness, astray from the right course.
In foolish ways, straying far from the right path.
وَلَمand not يُرَwas seen إلّاexcept الهَزْلُfrivolity يَنفُقُto find a market عندهمْamong them
وَلَم يُرَ إلّا الهَزْلُ يَنفُقُ عندهمْ
فمنso who يشتريwill buy منِّيfrom me إذاif بعتُهI sell it جِدّيmy earnestness
فمن يشتري منِّي إذا بعتُه جِدّي
Only frivolity is seen to find a market among them;
They regard all earnestness as meaningless
who, then, will buy my earnestness from me if I sell it?
So who will buy my wares if I sell my soul?
وَمُختَلطاًand a confused state فيهin it الذّوائبُthe forelocks كالشَّوىare like the feet
وَمُختَلطاً فيه الذّوائبُ كالشَّوى
وحُرُّهُمُand their freeborn man مِنthrough لبسةِthe garb of الذُلِّhumiliation كالعبدِis like a slave
وحُرُّهُمُ مِن لبسةِ الذُلِّ كالعبدِ
And a confused world, where forelocks are like feet,
And confused notions circulated among them
and their freeborn man, clad in humiliation, is like a slave.
While the noble one disdains the garb of humiliation like a slave.
وكمand how many فيهمُamong them للجهلِthrough ignorance ميتٌa dead man وربّماand sometimes
وكم فيهمُ للجهلِ ميتٌ وربّما
يَموتdies اِمرُءٌa man لمnot يطوِهhave enclosed him القومُthe people فيin اللَّحْدِthe burial niche
يَموت اِمرُءٌ لم يطوِه القومُ في اللَّحْدِ
How many among them are dead from ignorance; sometimes
Among them are so many dead from ignorance
a man dies though his people have not laid him in the grave.
And sometimes a man dies with no one to bury him.
فياso O ليتَwould that أدواءَthe sicknesses of الزّمانِthe age الَّتيthat عَصتْresisted
فيا ليتَ أدواءَ الزّمانِ الَّتي عَصتْ
وأعيتْand proved incurable علىunder كلِّall المداواةِtreatment لاdo not تُعدِيinfect
وأعيتْ على كلِّ المداواةِ لا تُعدِي
Would that the sicknesses of this age, which have resisted
Ah, if only the woes of time that have rebelled
and baffled every treatment, were not contagious!
And defeated all attempts to cure them could be healed!
وَلَيسand there is no وفاءٌfulfillment للجميلfor goodness بموعدٍof an appointment
وَلَيس وفاءٌ للجميل بموعدٍ
لَدَيَّwith me ويأتينِيand comes to me القبيحُevil بلاwithout وَعْدِa promise
لَدَيَّ ويأتينِي القبيحُ بلا وَعْدِ
Good keeps no appointment
There is no honoring a favor at the promised moment,
with me, while evil comes to me without a promise.
While vileness comes to me without appointment.
وكمand how many لكyou have عنديwith me منof حقوقٍclaims كثيرةٍnumerous
وكم لك عندي من حقوقٍ كثيرةٍ
أنَفْنَthey exceed علىbeyond حصريmy reckoning وأعياand fails بِهاwith them عَدِّيmy count
أنَفْنَ على حصري وأعيا بِها عَدِّي
How many abundant claims you have upon me,
And how numerous rights have you against me
exceeding my reckoning and defeating my count!
That surpass my ability to count and hinder my hands!
فإنْso if فُتنَthey surpass حمدِيmy praise كثرةًin number وزيادةًand increase
فإنْ فُتنَ حمدِي كثرةً وزيادةً
فللّهِthen to God belongs دَرُّthe bounty of الفائتاتِthose surpassing مدىthe reach of حمدِيmy praise
فللّهِ دَرُّ الفائتاتِ مدى حمدِي
If they surpass my praise in number and abundance,
If exceeding and augmented praise of you occurs,
God bless those that exceed the reach of my praise!
Then God reward the superior ones I failed to praise!
وإنّيand I لمُهدٍindeed offer كلَّevery يومٍday قصيدةًa poem
وإنّي لمُهدٍ كلَّ يومٍ قصيدةً
إليكto you وماand not يُهديgive الأنامhumankind كماas أُهدِيI give
إليك وما يُهدي الأنام كما أُهدِي
Every day I offer a poem
Every day I compose a poem to you
to you; no mortal gives as I give.
Not like other men dedicate poems to one another.
يَسيرُtravel بِهاwith it عنِّيfrom me الرُّواةُthe reciters وإنّهاand indeed it
يَسيرُ بِها عنِّي الرُّواةُ وإنّها
لتَخدِيindeed it strides swiftly وماand not تخدِيstride swiftly الرُّواةُthe reciters كماas تخدِيit strides swiftly
لتَخدِي وما تخدِي الرُّواةُ كما تخدِي
Reciters carry it abroad from me, and it
The reciters transmit it from me, verily
indeed strides swiftly; the reciters do not stride as it does.
It enriches more than the transmitters enrich.
منof الكَلِمِwords الباقيenduring علىthrough الدّهرِtime خالداًimmortal
من الكَلِمِ الباقي على الدّهرِ خالداً
وكمand how many كَلِمٍwords لمnot يُؤتَhave been granted شيئاًanything منof الخُلدِimmortality
وكم كَلِمٍ لم يُؤتَ شيئاً من الخُلدِ
Words that endure through time, immortal,
Of lasting words that survive forever
while many words have been granted no share of immortality.
While many words failed to gain eternity.
هوit is الماءُwater طوراًat times رِقّةًin delicacy وسلاسةًand smoothness
هو الماءُ طوراً رِقّةً وسلاسةً
وطوراًand at times إذاwhen ماever شئتَyou wish كالحجرِlike stone الصَّلْدِunyielding
وطوراً إذا ما شئتَ كالحجرِ الصَّلْدِ
At times it is water, in delicacy and smoothness,
It is water, sometimes smooth and limpid
and at times, when you wish, like unyielding stone.
And sometimes, whenever you wish, solid as rock.
وَماand not قُدَّwas cut إلّاexcept مِنfrom قلوبٍhearts أديمُهُits hide
وَما قُدَّ إلّا مِن قلوبٍ أديمُهُ
فليسso there is not لهfor it فيهنَّwithin them شيءٌanything منof الرّدِّrejection
فليس له فيهنَّ شيءٌ من الرّدِّ
Its hide was cut from hearts alone,
It pours from hearts whose reception of them
so it meets no rejection within them.
Allows no rejection, resistance, or repeal.
فَخُذهso take it رَسولاًas a messenger نائباًdeputizing عنfor زيارتيmy visit
فَخُذه رَسولاً نائباً عن زيارتي
فإنّfor indeed قصيديmy poetry فيكabout you أنفعُmore useful منthan قصدِيmy coming
فإنّ قصيدي فيك أنفعُ من قصدِي
Take it, then, as a messenger standing in for my visit;
So take my poem as messenger visit you
my poetry about you is more useful than my coming to you.
Since my poem benefits more than my coming myself.
وَدُمand live on لِجَلالٍin majesty لَستَyou are not فيهin it مُشاركاًsharing with others
وَدُم لِجَلالٍ لَستَ فيه مُشاركاً
وَبَذلِand giving النّدىbounty فيamong النّاسِpeople والحلِّand loosing والعَقدِand binding
وَبَذلِ النّدى في النّاسِ والحلِّ والعَقدِ
Live on in majesty that you share with none,
It still belongs to greatness that excludes partnership,
in giving bounty to people, and in loosing and binding.
And freely bestowed bounty among people in bonds and authority.
Sol 6.1