قَابَلconfronted الصُّبْحُthe dawn الدُّجَىthe darkness فَانْهَزمَاso it was routed
قَابَل الصُّبْحُ الدُّجَى فَانْهَزمَا
ومحاand erased بالسَّيْفِwith the sword أفْقthe horizon of الغَلَسِpredawn gloom
ومحا بالسَّيْفِ أفْق الغَلَسِ
Dawn confronted the darkness, and it fled defeated.
And with its sword erased the horizon of predawn gloom.
وَعَلَىand upon الغَيْمِthe clouds بِبَرْقٍwith lightning رَقَمَاhe embroidered
وَعَلَى الغَيْمِ بِبَرْقٍ رَقَمَا
ثَوْبَa robe of دِيبَاجٍbrocade بِهِin it الجَوُّكُسِيthe sky was clothed
ثَوْبَ دِيبَاجٍ بِهِ الجَوُّكُسِي
And upon the clouds, with lightning, embroidered
A robe of brocade in which the sky was clothed.
نَسَخَtranscribed الصُّبْحُthe dawn أحَادِيثَthe tales of الدُّجَىthe darkness
نَسَخَ الصُّبْحُ أحَادِيثَ الدُّجَى
بيدٍwith a hand بَيْضَاءَwhite فِيon لَوْحِthe tablet of النَّهَارْthe day
بيدٍ بَيْضَاءَ فِي لَوْحِ النَّهَارْ
Dawn transcribed the tales of darkness
With a white hand upon the tablet of day.
وَلِكَهْفِand to the cavern of المغربِthe west الليْلُthe night الْتَجَاsought refuge
وَلِكَهْفِ المغربِ الليْلُ الْتَجَا
حِينَwhen نَادَىcried الفجرُthe dawn فيin الشرقthe east البِدَارْmake haste
حِينَ نَادَى الفجرُ في الشرق البِدَارْ
And night sought refuge in the cavern of the west,
When dawn cried in the east, “Make haste!”
وَجَلاَand unveiled الصُّبْحُthe dawn جبينًاa brow أبْلَجَاradiant
وَجَلاَ الصُّبْحُ جبينًا أبْلَجَا
فَاخْتَفَىso it hid مِنْfrom نُورِهِits light النجمُthe star وَغَارْand sank from sight
فَاخْتَفَى مِنْ نُورِهِ النجمُ وَغَارْ
And morning unveiled a radiant brow,
So the star hid from its light and sank from sight.
وَبَكَىand wept القُمْرِيُّthe turtledove لَمَّاwhen ابْتَسَمَاsmiled
وَبَكَى القُمْرِيُّ لَمَّا ابْتَسَمَا
عاطرُfragrant الزَّهرِthe blossoms بثغرٍwith a mouth ألْعَسِdusky-lipped
عاطرُ الزَّهرِ بثغرٍ ألْعَسِ
And the turtledove wept when it smiled—
The fragrant blossom, with its dusky lips.
وَزَهَاand bloomed خدُّthe cheek of الرُّبَىthe hills فَانْسَجَمَاso there streamed
وَزَهَا خدُّ الرُّبَى فَانْسَجَمَا
دمعُthe tears of عينِthe eye of العارضthe raincloud المُنبجِسِgushing
دمعُ عينِ العارض المُنبجِسِ
And the hills' cheek bloomed, and down streamed
Tears from the eye of the gushing raincloud.
رَقَمَembroidered الغيمُthe cloud عَلَىupon رَدْنِthe sleeve of النَّسِيمْthe breeze
رَقَمَ الغيمُ عَلَى رَدْنِ النَّسِيمْ
بِسَنَاwith the radiance of البرقِthe lightning طِرَازاًan embroidered border مُعْلَمَاpatterned
بِسَنَا البرقِ طِرَازاً مُعْلَمَا
The cloud embroidered upon the breeze's sleeve
With lightning's radiance, an emblazoned border.
وَاكْتَسَتْand donned خُودُthe maiden of الربَىthe hills ثَوْبَthe robe of النَّعِيمْbliss
وَاكْتَسَتْ خُودُ الربَى ثَوْبَ النَّعِيمْ
فَزَهَتْso she shone خداًin cheek وَطَابَتْand was sweet مَبْسَمَاin smiling mouth
فَزَهَتْ خداً وَطَابَتْ مَبْسَمَا
And the maiden of the hills donned a robe of bliss,
So her cheek shone and her smiling mouth was sweet.
فَامْحُso erase بِالراحwith wine دُجَىthe darkness of اللَّيْلِthe night البهيمْpitch-black
فَامْحُ بِالراح دُجَى اللَّيْلِ البهيمْ
فَبِأفْقِfor on the horizon of الكَأسِthe cup خِلْنَاwe fancied أنْجُمَاstars
فَبِأفْقِ الكَأسِ خِلْنَا أنْجُمَا
So erase with wine the darkness of pitch-black night,
For on the cup's horizon we fancied stars.
وَاسْألِand ask السَّاقِيthe cupbearer لِمَاذَاwhy خَتَمَاhe sealed
وَاسْألِ السَّاقِي لِمَاذَا خَتَمَا
قَهْوَةَthe wine of الريقِthe saliva بِمِسْكِwith the musk of اللَّعَسِdusky lips
قَهْوَةَ الريقِ بِمِسْكِ اللَّعَسِ
And ask the cupbearer why he sealed
The wine of his saliva with the musk of dusky lips,
وَعَلَىand upon الخدّthe cheek بِخَالٍwith a mole وَسَمَاhe marked
وَعَلَى الخدّ بِخَالٍ وَسَمَا
نُورَthe light of بَدْرٍa full moon جَلَّwas exalted عَنْbeyond مُقْتَبِسِa borrower of light
نُورَ بَدْرٍ جَلَّ عَنْ مُقْتَبِسِ
And upon his cheek marked with a mole
A full moon's light, too exalted to be borrowed.
يَاO شَقِيقَtwin of الرُّوحthe soul قُلْsay لِيto me مَنْwho أذَابْdissolved
يَا شَقِيقَ الرُّوح قُلْ لِي مَنْ أذَابْ
بَهْرَمَانَthe safflower-red of الرَّاحِthe wine فِيin دُرّthe pearls of الكُؤُوسْthe cups
بَهْرَمَانَ الرَّاحِ فِي دُرّ الكُؤُوسْ
O twin of my soul, tell me who dissolved
The wine's safflower-red in the pearls of the cups?
أزجَاجٌis it glass مَاwhat نَرَاهُwe see أمْor شَرَابْwine
أزجَاجٌ مَا نَرَاهُ أمْ شَرَابْ
أمْor بُرُوجٌtowers أشْرَقَتْshone فِيهَاin them الشُّمُوسْthe suns
أمْ بُرُوجٌ أشْرَقَتْ فِيهَا الشُّمُوسْ
Is what we see glass, or wine?
Or towers within which suns have shone?
وَلآلٍand pearls مَاwhat عَلاَهُrose atop it أمْor حَبَابْbubbles
وَلآلٍ مَا عَلاَهُ أمْ حَبَابْ
أمْor زُهُورٌflowers نُضّدَتْwere arrayed فَوْقَabove الغُرُوسْthe plantings
أمْ زُهُورٌ نُضّدَتْ فَوْقَ الغُرُوسْ
And are those atop it pearls, or bubbles?
Or flowers arrayed above the plantings?
أمْor ضِيَاthe radiance of أفْقٍa horizon بِطِرْسٍon a parchment رُسِمَاwas drawn
أمْ ضِيَا أفْقٍ بِطِرْسٍ رُسِمَا
لِشِفَاfor the cure of العَيّinarticulacy وَبُرءِand the healing of الخَرَسِmuteness
لِشِفَا العَيّ وَبُرءِ الخَرَسِ
Or a horizon's radiance traced on a parchment,
To cure faltering speech and heal muteness?
أمْor سَنَاthe gleam of نَجْمِa star of سُرُورٍjoy رَجَمَاthat pelted
أمْ سَنَا نَجْمِ سُرُورٍ رَجَمَا
مَارِدَthe rebellious demon of الْهَمّcare بِشُهْبِwith the meteors of الحَرَسِthe guards
مَارِدَ الْهَمّ بِشُهْبِ الحَرَسِ
Or the gleam of a star of joy that pelted
The demon of care with the sentries' shooting stars?
بِأبِيmy father be the ransom of بدراًa full moon عَلَىupon غُصْنٍa branch عَلاَrose
بِأبِي بدراً عَلَى غُصْنٍ عَلاَ
بَيْنَbetween جَفْنَيْهِhis two eyelids فتورٌlanguor وَفتُونْand enchantment
بَيْنَ جَفْنَيْهِ فتورٌ وَفتُونْ
My father be the ransom of a full moon risen on a branch,
Between his eyelids lie languor and enchantment.
إنْif رَأتْsaw عَيْنَاهُhis two eyes وَلْهَانًاa lovesick man سَلاَforgot his love
إنْ رَأتْ عَيْنَاهُ وَلْهَانًا سَلاَ
تَدْعُهُthey call him كُنْbe مُغْرَمًاenamored بِيof me فَيَكُونْso he becomes so
تَدْعُهُ كُنْ مُغْرَمًا بِي فَيَكُونْ
If his eyes see a lovesick man who has found solace,
They call him: “Be enamored of me!”—and he is.
جُنَّwent mad فِيهِfor him قَيْسُQays قَبْلِيbefore me المُبْتَلَيthe afflicted
جُنَّ فِيهِ قَيْسُ قَبْلِي المُبْتَلَي
وَجُنُونُand the madness of النَّاسِpeople بِالعِشْقِthrough love فُنُونْvaried kinds
وَجُنُونُ النَّاسِ بِالعِشْقِ فُنُونْ
Qays, the afflicted, went mad for him before me,
And people's madness in love takes many forms.
زَارَنِيhe visited me فِيin غَفْلَةٍan unguarded moment مُحْتَشِمَاbashful
زَارَنِي فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُحْتَشِمَا
فَشَفَىso he healed رُوحِيmy soul وَأحَيَاand revived نَفَسِيmy breath
فَشَفَى رُوحِي وَأحَيَا نَفَسِي
He visited me in an unguarded moment, bashful,
So he healed my soul and revived my breath.
وَحَبَانِيand bestowed on me فيin اخْتِلاَسٍa stolen moment نِعَمَاblessings
وَحَبَانِي في اخْتِلاَسٍ نِعَمَا
يَاoh لَهَاfor them مِنْof نِعَمٍblessings فِيin خُلَسِstolen moments
يَا لَهَا مِنْ نِعَمٍ فِي خُلَسِ
And granted me blessings in stolen moments—
Oh, what blessings in stolen moments!
لحظُهُhis glance وَالجفنُand the eyelid سهمٌan arrow وحسَامْand a sharp sword
لحظُهُ وَالجفنُ سهمٌ وحسَامْ
وَالحُلَىand the charms والقدُّand the figure شمسٌa sun وَقَضيبْand a branch
وَالحُلَى والقدُّ شمسٌ وَقَضيبْ
His glance and eyelid are an arrow and a sword;
And his charms and figure are a sun and a branch;
والسناand the radiance وَالشَّعْرُand the hair نُورٌlight وَظَلاَمْand darkness
والسنا وَالشَّعْرُ نُورٌ وَظَلاَمْ
وَاللَّمَىand lip-darkness وَالرّيقُand the saliva مِسْكٌmusk وَحَليبْand milk
وَاللَّمَى وَالرّيقُ مِسْكٌ وَحَليبْ
And his radiance and hair are light and darkness;
And his dusky lips and saliva are musk and milk;
وَالحَيَاand bashfulness وَالخَدُّand the cheek وَرْدٌroses وَمدَامْand wine
وَالحَيَا وَالخَدُّ وَرْدٌ وَمدَامْ
وَالطُّلَىand the necks وَالردفُand the rump ظَبْيٌa gazelle وَكثيبْand a sand dune
وَالطُّلَى وَالردفُ ظَبْيٌ وَكثيبْ
And his bashfulness and cheek are roses and wine;
And his neck and haunches are a gazelle and a sand dune.
قَدْindeed زَهَاhe shone عَيْنًاin eye وَخَدّاًand in cheek وَفَمَاand in mouth
قَدْ زَهَا عَيْنًا وَخَدّاً وَفَمَا
فتحاشىso he kept clear منof قذًىa mote أوْor خَنَسِsnubness
فتحاشى من قذًى أوْ خَنَسِ
He is splendid in eye and cheek and mouth,
And free of any mote or snubness.
وَبَدَاand appeared فِيin شَعْرِهِhis hair مُلْتَثِمَاveiled
وَبَدَا فِي شَعْرِهِ مُلْتَثِمَا
فَأرَىso he showed الشَّمْسَthe sun بليلٍin a night غَلِسِdusky
فَأرَى الشَّمْسَ بليلٍ غَلِسِ
And appeared veiled in his hair,
Thus showing the sun in a dusky night.
لَوْif رَأىsaw البَدْرُthe full moon سنَاهhis radiance احْتَجَبَاit would veil itself
لَوْ رَأى البَدْرُ سنَاه احْتَجَبَا
خشيةَfor fear of الخَسْفِeclipse بِحُجْبِbehind the veils of الغَسَقِdarkness
خشيةَ الخَسْفِ بِحُجْبِ الغَسَقِ
If the full moon saw his radiance, it would veil itself
Behind the veils of darkness, for fear of eclipse.
أوْor جَلاَhe unveiled لِلصُّبْحِto the dawn خَدّاًa cheek لأبَىit would refuse
أوْ جَلاَ لِلصُّبْحِ خَدّاً لأبَى
أنْto يِعيرَlend الافْقَthe horizon ثَوْبَthe robe of الشَّفَقِtwilight glow
أنْ يِعيرَ الافْقَ ثَوْبَ الشَّفَقِ
Or if he bared a cheek to dawn, it would refuse
To lend the horizon the robe of twilight's glow.
مُذْsince رَأتْsaw هَاروتَHarut عَيْنَيْهِhis two eyes الظِّبَاthe gazelles
مُذْ رَأتْ هَاروتَ عَيْنَيْهِ الظِّبَا
آمَنَتْthey believed حَقًّاtruly بِسِحْرِin the magic of الحَدَقِthe pupils
آمَنَتْ حَقًّا بِسِحْرِ الحَدَقِ
Since the gazelles saw Harut in his eyes,
They truly believed in the magic of the pupils.
أوْor تَرَyou see الحَاجِبَthe eyebrow قَوْساًa bow وَرَمَىand he shot
أوْ تَرَ الحَاجِبَ قَوْساً وَرَمَى
بِسهَامِwith the arrows of اللحظِthe glance قَلْبَthe heart of الهَجِسِthe anxious one
بِسهَامِ اللحظِ قَلْبَ الهَجِسِ
Or you see his eyebrow as a bow, and he shoots
The anxious one's heart with arrows of his glance.
وَنَضَاand unsheathed فِيin الجفنِthe eyelid سَيْفًاa sword وَحَمَىand guarded
وَنَضَا فِي الجفنِ سَيْفًا وَحَمَى
حسنَهُhis beauty مِنْfrom نَظْرَةِthe glance of المُخْتَلِسِthe furtive onlooker
حسنَهُ مِنْ نَظْرَةِ المُخْتَلِسِ
And in his eyelid he unsheathes a sword and guards
His beauty from a furtive onlooker's glance.
إنْif أضَاhe lit الديجُورَthe pitch-dark night مِنْfrom طَلْعَتِهِhis countenance
إنْ أضَا الديجُورَ مِنْ طَلْعَتِهِ
فَبِخَدَّيْهِthen on his two cheeks البدورُthe full moons الطُّلَّعُrising
فَبِخَدَّيْهِ البدورُ الطُّلَّعُ
If he lights the pitch-dark night with his countenance,
Then on his cheeks are rising full moons;
أوْor أرَانَاshowed us الوَرْدَthe roses فِيin وجْنَتِهِhis cheek
أوْ أرَانَا الوَرْدَ فِي وجْنَتِهِ
فَبعطفيهِthen at his two sides الغُصُونُthe boughs اليُنَّعُflourishing
فَبعطفيهِ الغُصُونُ اليُنَّعُ
Or shows us roses in his cheek,
Then at his sides are flourishing boughs;
أوسَبَاor captured الآسَادَthe lions مِنْthrough نَظْرَتِهِhis glance
أوسَبَا الآسَادَ مِنْ نَظْرَتِهِ
فَبِجفنيهِthen in his two eyelids الظِّبَاءُthe gazelles الرُّتَّعُgrazing
فَبِجفنيهِ الظِّبَاءُ الرُّتَّعُ
Or takes lions captive with his glance,
Then in his eyelids are grazing gazelles.
آسُthe myrtle of صُدْغَيْهِhis two temples عَلَىupon الوَرْدِthe roses نَمَاgrew
آسُ صُدْغَيْهِ عَلَى الوَرْدِ نَمَا
وَعَجيبٌand wondrous جَنَّةٌa garden فيin قَبَسِa flame
وَعَجيبٌ جَنَّةٌ في قَبَسِ
The myrtle of his temples grew upon roses,
And wondrous—a garden amid flame!
وَبِدُرٍّand with pearls فِيin عَقِيقٍcarnelian نُظِمَاwas strung
وَبِدُرٍّ فِي عَقِيقٍ نُظِمَا
ثغرُهhis mouth الزاهيradiant الزّكيُّfragrant النَّفَسِbreath
ثغرُه الزاهي الزّكيُّ النَّفَسِ
And strung with pearls in carnelian was
His radiant mouth, sweet of breath.
يَاO لَقَوْمِيto my people مَنْwho مُجِيرِيmy protector مِنْfrom رَشَاa young gazelle
يَا لَقَوْمِي مَنْ مُجِيرِي مِنْ رَشَا
لَمْdid not يُؤَمِّنْgrant safety خَائِفًاa frightened man مِنْfrom حَرْبِهِhis warfare
لَمْ يُؤَمِّنْ خَائِفًا مِنْ حَرْبِهِ
O my people, who will protect me from a young gazelle
Who grants no frightened man safety from his warfare?
كَيْفَhow يُصْغِيheeds فِيهِconcerning him سَمْعِيmy hearing لِلْوَشَاto the slanderers
كَيْفَ يُصْغِي فِيهِ سَمْعِي لِلْوَشَا
وَفُؤَادِيand my heart مُحْبَسٌimprisoned فِيin حُبِّهِhis love
وَفُؤَادِي مُحْبَسٌ فِي حُبِّهِ
How can my ears heed slanderers concerning him,
When my heart is imprisoned in his love?
قَدْindeed غَزَاhe conquered سَمْعِيmy hearing وَعَيْنِيand my eye وَالحَشَاand the heart
قَدْ غَزَا سَمْعِي وَعَيْنِي وَالحَشَا
وَهْوَwhile he لاَهٍheedless آمنٌsecure فِيin سِرْبِهِhis abode
وَهْوَ لاَهٍ آمنٌ فِي سِرْبِهِ
He has conquered my hearing, my eye, and my heart,
While he is heedless, secure in his abode.
غَنِمَhe took as booty الكُلَّeverything ولَمَّاand when قَسَمَاhe divided
غَنِمَ الكُلَّ ولَمَّا قَسَمَا
جارhe acted unjustly إذwhen حازhe claimed الحشاthe heart فيin الخُمُسِthe fifth share
جار إذ حاز الحشا في الخُمُسِ
He took everything as booty, and when he divided it,
He was unjust, claiming my heart as the fifth share.
وَلأحْبَاسِand as for the endowments of فُؤَادِيmy heart هَدَمَاhe demolished
وَلأحْبَاسِ فُؤَادِي هَدَمَا
أمِنَis it among الجَائِزِthe permissible هَدْمُthe demolition of الحُبُسِthe endowments
أمِنَ الجَائِزِ هَدْمُ الحُبُسِ
And he demolished the endowments of my heart:
Is the destruction of endowments permissible?
ظَالِمٌunjust فيin الحكمِjudgment غُصْنٌa branch ذُوpossessing اعْتِدَالْuprightness
ظَالِمٌ في الحكمِ غُصْنٌ ذُو اعْتِدَالْ
أفْتَدِيهِI would ransom him منas a ظَلُومٍtyrant عَادِلِjust
أفْتَدِيهِ من ظَلُومٍ عَادِلِ
Unjust in judgment, yet a bough of upright form,
I would ransom him, that just tyrant.
أمَرَhe commanded الدَّمْعَthe tears عَلَىupon خَدّيmy cheek فَسَالْso they flowed
أمَرَ الدَّمْعَ عَلَى خَدّي فَسَالْ
ثُمَّthen لَمْdid not يَسْمَحْallow بِرَدّthe turning back of السَّائِلِthe flowing suppliant
ثُمَّ لَمْ يَسْمَحْ بِرَدّ السَّائِلِ
He ordered tears down my cheek, and they flowed,
Then would not let the flowing suppliant be turned back.
وَأضَاعَand squandered العُمْرَthe lifetime فِيin قِيلٍhearsay وَقَالْand chatter
وَأضَاعَ العُمْرَ فِي قِيلٍ وَقَالْ
يَاoh لَعُمْرِيby my life ضَاعَwas lost أجْرُthe reward of العَامِلِthe worker
يَا لَعُمْرِي ضَاعَ أجْرُ العَامِلِ
And wasted my life in hearsay and chatter—
Oh, by my life, the worker's reward is lost!
مَزَّقَhe tore القَلْبَthe heart وَللطرفand for the eye عَمَىblindness
مَزَّقَ القَلْبَ وَللطرف عَمَى
وَبِهِand in him بُرْءُhealing from الأسَىgrief وَالطَّمَسِand loss of sight
وَبِهِ بُرْءُ الأسَى وَالطَّمَسِ
He tore my heart, and left my eye blind,
Yet in him lies healing for grief and blindness.
وَبِدَمْعِيand with my tears أغْرَقَhe drowned الجفنَthe eyelid كَمَاjust as
وَبِدَمْعِي أغْرَقَ الجفنَ كَمَا
أحرقَhe burned القلبَthe heart بِنَارِwith the fire of الهَجَسِanxious thoughts
أحرقَ القلبَ بِنَارِ الهَجَسِ
And with my tears he drowned my eyelid, just as
He burned my heart with the fire of anxious thoughts.
بthrough الخلوفal-Khuluf النظمُverse فيin الأفْقِthe horizon الرَّفِيعْlofty
ب الخلوف النظمُ في الأفْقِ الرَّفِيعْ
وَبِهِand through him قَدْindeed صَارَit became فِيin أعْلَىthe highest of الرُّتَبْthe ranks
وَبِهِ قَدْ صَارَ فِي أعْلَى الرُّتَبْ
Through al-Khuluf, verse stands on the lofty horizon,
And through him has risen to the highest ranks.
شَاعِرُthe poet of الدُّنْيَاthe world إمَامُthe leader of أهْلِthe practitioners of البَدِيعْrhetorical ornament
شَاعِرُ الدُّنْيَا إمَامُ أهْلِ البَدِيعْ
قَيِّمُthe guardian of النُظَّامِversifiers شَيْخُthe master of أهْلِthe people of الأدَبْliterature
قَيِّمُ النُظَّامِ شَيْخُ أهْلِ الأدَبْ
The world's poet, leader of the masters of rhetorical art,
Guardian of versifiers, master of the people of letters.
قَدْindeed حَبَاendowed اللَّهُGod بِأزْهَارِwith the blossoms of الرَّبِيعْspring
قَدْ حَبَا اللَّهُ بِأزْهَارِ الرَّبِيعْ
شِعْرَهُhis poetry فَاعْتَزَّso it stood exalted عَنْbeyond شِعْرِthe poetry of العَرَبْthe Arabs
شِعْرَهُ فَاعْتَزَّ عَنْ شِعْرِ العَرَبْ
God has bestowed the blossoms of spring upon
His poetry, which thus rose above the poetry of the Arabs.
قُلْsay لِمَنْto whoever عَارَضَهُrivaled him كُنْbe فَهِمَاdiscerning
قُلْ لِمَنْ عَارَضَهُ كُنْ فَهِمَا
لاَdo not ترَregard الدُّخَّانthe smoke مثلَlike القَبَسِthe flame
لاَ ترَ الدُّخَّان مثلَ القَبَسِ
Tell whoever rivals him: “Be discerning;
Do not regard smoke as the equal of flame.”
إنَّindeed لِلَّهِto God تَعَالَىexalted is He نِعَمَاblessings
إنَّ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى نِعَمَا
لَمْdid not يَنَلْهَاattain them أحَدٌanyone بِالْهَوَسِthrough frenzy
لَمْ يَنَلْهَا أحَدٌ بِالْهَوَسِ
Indeed, God Most High has blessings
That no one has attained through frenzy.
Sol 6.1