أضْرَمَkindled الدَّمْعُtears فِيin الحُشَاشَةِthe heart's core نَارَاa fire
أضْرَمَ الدَّمْعُ فِي الحُشَاشَةِ نَارَا
حِينwhen قَالُواthey said شَطَّwent far away الحَبِيبُthe beloved وسَاراand departed
حِين قَالُوا شَطَّ الحَبِيبُ وسَارا
Tears kindled a fire in the heart's core
Tears ignited a fire in the iris when they said the beloved departed and traveled on
When they said, 'The beloved has gone far away and departed.'
He traveled away from me and I could not find patience
سَارَdeparted عَنِّيfrom me وَلَمْand did not أجِدْI find لِيَfor myself صَبْراًpatience
سَارَ عَنِّي وَلَمْ أجِدْ لِيَ صَبْراً
كَيْفَhow حَالِيmy state وَلَمْand did not أجِدْI find لِيfor myself اصطِبَاراendurance
كَيْفَ حَالِي وَلَمْ أجِدْ لِي اصطِبَارا
He departed from me, and I found no patience within me.
How is my state when I cannot find composure
How do I fare, when I have found no endurance?
It confused the mind then clipped its wings
طَيَّرَsent flying العَقْلَthe mind ثُمَّthen قَصَّclipped جَنَاحِيmy wing
طَيَّرَ العَقْلَ ثُمَّ قَصَّ جَنَاحِي
وَقَصَاand grew remote مَنْزِلاًin dwelling وَشَطَّand grew distant مَزَارَاas a place to visit
وَقَصَا مَنْزِلاً وَشَطَّ مَزَارَا
He sent my reason flying, then clipped my wing,
And determined a dwelling and sailed on
And grew remote in dwelling, far away to visit.
Woe to my heart and woe to every lover
وَيْحَwoe to قَلْبِيmy heart وَوَيْحَand woe to كُلّevery مُحِبّlover
وَيْحَ قَلْبِي وَوَيْحَ كُلّ مُحِبّ
فَقَدَlost الْعَيْنَthe beloved's presence فَاقْتَفَىand so followed الآثَارَاthe traces
فَقَدَ الْعَيْنَ فَاقْتَفَى الآثَارَا
Woe to my heart, and woe to every lover
For he lost his eyes and so followed the traces
Who lost the beloved's presence and followed the traces.
He watches the stars in the darkness and however
يَرْقُبُwatches النَّجْمَthe star فِيin الظَّلاَمِthe darkness وَمَهْمَاand whenever
يَرْقُبُ النَّجْمَ فِي الظَّلاَمِ وَمَهْمَا
لَمَعَflashed البَرْقُthe lightning فِيin الغَمَامِthe clouds اسْتَطَارَاgrew agitated
لَمَعَ البَرْقُ فِي الغَمَامِ اسْتَطَارَا
He watches the star in the darkness, and whenever
The lightning flashed in the clouds extending
Lightning flashes in the clouds, he grows agitated.
And if a dove moans in the branches
وَإذَاand when نَاحَlamented فِيin الغُصُونِthe branches حَمَامٌdoves
وَإذَا نَاحَ فِي الغُصُونِ حَمَامٌ
مَزَّقَrent القَلْبَthe heart ثُمَّthen شَقَّtore الإزَارَاthe waistcloth
مَزَّقَ القَلْبَ ثُمَّ شَقَّ الإزَارَا
And when doves lament among the branches,
It tore up the heart then ripped up the waistwrap
He rends his heart, then tears his waistcloth.
And if a specter of loved ones comes to visit
وَإذَاand when زَارَvisited لِلأحَبَّةِbelonging to loved ones طَيْفٌa dream-image
وَإذَا زَارَ لِلأحَبَّةِ طَيْفٌ
نَكَّسَlowered اَلرَّأْسَthe head ذِلَّةin abasement وَصَغَارَاand humiliation
نَكَّسَ اَلرَّأْسَ ذِلَّة وَصَغَارَا
And when a dream-image of loved ones visits,
He bows his head lowly and humbled
He lowers his head in abasement and humiliation.
He kept to melancholy and grief and so
لاَزَمَclung to السُّهْدَsleeplessness وَالأسَىand sorrow فَلِهَذاَso for this reason
لاَزَمَ السُّهْدَ وَالأسَى فَلِهَذاَ
عَلَّمَtaught النَّوْحَlamentation وَالبُكَاand weeping الأطْيَاراَthe birds
عَلَّمَ النَّوْحَ وَالبُكَا الأطْيَاراَ
He clung to sleeplessness and sorrow; and so
Taught sorrow and crying to the birds
He taught the birds lamentation and weeping.
So he lost patience and solace and thus
فَقَدَlost الصَّبْرَpatience وَالسُّلُوَّand solace فَأضْحَىand so became
فَقَدَ الصَّبْرَ وَالسُّلُوَّ فَأضْحَى
يُظْهِرُshows الحُبَّlove لَوْعَةًanguish وَاسْتِعَارَاand burning
يُظْهِرُ الحُبَّ لَوْعَةً وَاسْتِعَارَا
He lost patience and solace, and came to
Shows ardour and borrows feelings of burning
Show his love in anguish and burning.
And sickness clothed his body so he became
وَكَسَاand clothed جِسْمَهُhis body السَقَامُsickness فَأمْسَىand so became
وَكَسَا جِسْمَهُ السَقَامُ فَأمْسَى
سُهْدُsleeplessness عَيْنَيْهِof his two eyes لِلْجُفُونِfor the eyelids شِعَاراَan inner garment
سُهْدُ عَيْنَيْهِ لِلْجُفُونِ شِعَاراَ
And sickness clothed his body, and so
The wakefulness of his eyes being a banner
His eyes' sleeplessness became his eyelids' inner garment.
Oh my people is there no helper helping
يَاO لَقَوْمِيmy people, to the rescue أمَاis there not مَعِينٌa flowing spring مُعِينٌgiving aid
يَا لَقَوْمِي أمَا مَعِينٌ مُعِينٌ
غَيْرَother than دَمْعٍtears أفَاضَpoured forth مِنْهُfrom it البِحَارَاthe seas
غَيْرَ دَمْعٍ أفَاضَ مِنْهُ البِحَارَا
O my people! Is there no flowing spring to aid me,
Other than tears pouring forth seas
Other than tears from which he poured forth seas?
Or a brother flashing lightning to me or a friend
أوْor شَقِيقٌa brother بَرِقُّis tender (probable reading) لِيtoward me أوْor رَفِيقٌa companion
أوْ شَقِيقٌ بَرِقُّ لِي أوْ رَفِيقٌ
يَحْفَظُprotects الجَارَthe neighbor أوْor يُرَاعِيrespects الجِوَارَاneighborly ties
يَحْفَظُ الجَارَ أوْ يُرَاعِي الجِوَارَا
Or a brother who is tender toward me, or a companion
Who would guard a neighbour or heed the neighbourhood
Who protects his neighbor or honors neighborly ties?
Or a true loyal friend fulfilling a promise competing
أوْor صَدِيقٌa friend صَدُوقُtruthful وَعْدٍin promise يُبَارِيcontends against
أوْ صَدِيقٌ صَدُوقُ وَعْدٍ يُبَارِي
نَقْضَthe breaking of عَهْدِيmy covenant وَيَكْتُمُand conceals الأسْرَارَاthe secrets
نَقْضَ عَهْدِي وَيَكْتُمُ الأسْرَارَا
Or a friend true to his promise, who contends against
To break my vow and conceal secrets
The breaking of my covenant and keeps secrets?
Or a friend listening to the plight of my condition
أوْor سَمِيرٌa nighttime companion يُصْغِيlistens إلَىto شَرْحِan account of حَالِيmy state
أوْ سَمِيرٌ يُصْغِي إلَى شَرْحِ حَالِي
فَحَدِيثِيfor my tale لَيُطْرِبُsurely enthralls السُّمَّارَاthe nighttime companions
فَحَدِيثِي لَيُطْرِبُ السُّمَّارَا
Or a nighttime companion who listens to an account of my state?
Thus my discourse brings joy to gatherings
For my tale surely enthralls the nighttime companions.
What has happened, O my heart, then leave it
كَانَhappened مَاwhat كَانَhappened يَاO فُؤَادِيmy heart فَدَعْهُso leave it
كَانَ مَا كَانَ يَا فُؤَادِي فَدَعْهُ
فَالَّذِيfor that which كُنْتُI used to أخْتَشِيfear مِنْهُof it صَارَاcame to pass
فَالَّذِي كُنْتُ أخْتَشِي مِنْهُ صَارَا
What happened has happened, my heart; so let it be.
For what I had feared has come to pass
For what I used to fear has come to pass.
The matter is finished so resolve what you can resolve
قُضِيَwas decreed الأمْرُthe matter فَاقْضِso decree مَاwhat أنْتَyou قَاضٍdecreeing
قُضِيَ الأمْرُ فَاقْضِ مَا أنْتَ قَاضٍ
فَلَكُthe sphere الوَصْلِof union بِالقَطِيعَةِwith estrangement دَارَاturned
فَلَكُ الوَصْلِ بِالقَطِيعَةِ دَارَا
The matter is decreed; decree what you will.
For you, with estrangement the abode of reunion
The sphere of union has turned to estrangement.
Alas from separation and overflowing eyelids
آهِah مِنْfor فُرْقَةٍparting وَفَيْضِand the overflow of جُفُونٍeyelids
آهِ مِنْ فُرْقَةٍ وَفَيْضِ جُفُونٍ
صَيَّرَmade الطَّرْفَthe eye وَالْفُؤَادَand the heart حَيَارَىbewildered
صَيَّرَ الطَّرْفَ وَالْفُؤَادَ حَيَارَى
Ah, for parting and the flood from eyelids,
That made the eyes and heart lost
That left the eye and the heart bewildered.
Who is my victorious when none other than a heart
مَنْwho نَصِيرِيmy helper وَلَيْسَand there is not غَيْرُother than فُؤَادٍa heart
مَنْ نَصِيرِي وَلَيْسَ غَيْرُ فُؤَادٍ
مَاتَdied شَوْقًاof longing وَمَاand did not دَرَىknow الإنْتِصَارَاvictory
مَاتَ شَوْقًا وَمَا دَرَى الإنْتِصَارَا
Who will help me, when there is nothing but a heart
That died of longing and did not know deliverance
That died of longing and never knew victory?
Woe to the people of passion whom they see intoxicated
وَيْحَwoe to أهْلِthe people of الهَوَىlove يُرَوْنَare seen سُكَارَىdrunk
وَيْحَ أهْلِ الهَوَى يُرَوْنَ سُكَارَى
بِهَوَاهِمْwith their passion وَمَاyet not هُمُthey بِسُكَارَىdrunk (emphatic)
بِهَوَاهِمْ وَمَا هُمُ بِسُكَارَى
Woe to lovers, who are seen as drunk
With their passion yet they are not intoxicated
With their passion, though they are not drunk.
They made humiliation a law for people
صَيَّرُواthey made الذُّلabasement شِرْعَةًa law لأنَاسٍfor people
صَيَّرُوا الذُّل شِرْعَةً لأنَاسٍ
أنِفُواdisdained الذُّلَّabasement فِيin الهَوَىlove وَالصَّغَارَاand humiliation
أنِفُوا الذُّلَّ فِي الهَوَى وَالصَّغَارَا
They made abasement a law for people
Too proud for humiliation in passion and belittlement
Who disdained abasement and humiliation in love.
Oh hard-hearted have mercy on a heart
يَاO قُسَاةَhard ones القُلُوبِof heart رِفْقًاshow gentleness بِقَلْبٍwith a heart
يَا قُسَاةَ القُلُوبِ رِفْقًا بِقَلْبٍ
لَمْnot يَكُنْwas قَطُّever يَألَفُgrow familiar with الأحْجَارَاstones
لَمْ يَكُنْ قَطُّ يَألَفُ الأحْجَارَا
O hard-hearted ones, be gentle with a heart
That has never been wont to befriend stones
That has never grown familiar with stones.
You have forgotten our vows and my heart
قَدْindeed نَسِيتُمyou have forgotten عُهُودَنَاour pledges وَفُؤَادِيand my heart
قَدْ نَسِيتُم عُهُودَنَا وَفُؤَادِي
لَمْdid not يَزِدْهُincrease it البُعَادُdistance إلاَّexcept إذِّكَارَاremembrance
لَمْ يَزِدْهُ البُعَادُ إلاَّ إذِّكَارَا
You have forgotten our pledges; as for my heart,
Distance only increased its reminders
Distance has only deepened its remembrance.
How many eyelids have you clad in wakefulness
كَمْhow many جُفُونٍeyelids كَسَوْتُمُوهَاyou clothed them سُهَاداًin sleeplessness
كَمْ جُفُونٍ كَسَوْتُمُوهَا سُهَاداً
وَقُلُوبand hearts سَلَبْتُمُوهَاyou robbed them of القَرَارَاrepose
وَقُلُوب سَلَبْتُمُوهَا القَرَارَا
How many eyelids you have clothed in sleeplessness,
And hearts you have robbed of tranquility
And hearts you have robbed of repose!
Every day passion deals me a death blow
كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday يَسُومُنِيinflicts upon me الحُبُّlove حَتْفاًdeath
كُلَّ يَوْمٍ يَسُومُنِي الحُبُّ حَتْفاً
بِنَوًىthrough separation شَبَّkindled فِيin الأضَالِعِthe ribs نَارَاa fire
بِنَوًى شَبَّ فِي الأضَالِعِ نَارَا
Every day love inflicts death upon me
With a fire kindling in the ribs
Through separation that kindled a fire within my ribs.
And when darkness creeps up to overtake me
وَإذَاand when مَاever (emphasis) الظَّلاَمُthe darkness جَنَّfell رَمَانِيstruck me
وَإذَا مَا الظَّلاَمُ جَنَّ رَمَانِي
سَهْمُan arrow وَجْدٍof longing يُهَيِّجُstirs الأفْكَارَاthoughts
سَهْمُ وَجْدٍ يُهَيِّجُ الأفْكَارَا
And whenever darkness falls, I am struck
An arrow of love that stirs up thoughts
By an arrow of longing that stirs my thoughts.
My night grew long and the face of my dawn did not appear
طَالَgrew long لَيْلِيmy night وَلَمْand did not يَلُحْappear وَجْهُthe face of صُبْحِيmy dawn
طَالَ لَيْلِي وَلَمْ يَلُحْ وَجْهُ صُبْحِي
يَاoh تُرَىI wonder هَلْwhether أرَىI see الظَّلاَمَthe darkness يُوَارَىis hidden away
يَا تُرَى هَلْ أرَى الظَّلاَمَ يُوَارَى
My night has grown long, and my dawn's face has not appeared.
I wonder, will I see the darkness disappear?
I wonder: will I see the darkness hidden away?
If the morning were to come alive with hope
لَوْif يَكُونُwere الصَّبَاحُmorning حَيَّاalive يُرَجَّىhoped for
لَوْ يَكُونُ الصَّبَاحُ حَيَّا يُرَجَّى
لَمْwould not تَرَyou see الزُّهْرَthe bright stars فِيin السَّمَاءِthe sky حَيَارَىbewildered
لَمْ تَرَ الزُّهْرَ فِي السَّمَاءِ حَيَارَى
If morning were alive and could be hoped for,
You would not see flowers lost in the sky
You would not see the bright stars bewildered in the sky.
Partial English translation: 53 of 54 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1