غَنىsang المَعنىthe lovelorn one مِنfrom فُؤادa heart موجعaching
غَنى المَعنى مِن فُؤاد موجع
وَدُموعand tears عَينيof my eye فالخدودon the cheeks سكابpouring
وَدُموع عَيني فالخدود سكاب
The lovelorn man sang from an aching heart,
The meaning sang from a suffering heart,
And tears from my eyes poured down my cheeks.
And my tears, so my cheeks flowed,
وَدُموعand tears عَينيof my eye ساقَهاdrove them الهَجرabandonment وَالجَفاand estrangement
وَدُموع عَيني ساقَها الهَجر وَالجَفا
جَرىflowed فَوقَover خَدthe cheek of المُستَهامthe lovesick one وَسابand streamed
جَرى فَوقَ خَد المُستَهام وَساب
My tears were driven by abandonment and estrangement;
And my tears brought by estrangement and aloofness,
They flowed over the lovesick man's cheek and streamed away.
Ran over the cheek of the sleepless and flowed.
وَنيرانand fires قَلبيof my heart كُلevery ماtime أَقولI say تنطفيgo out
وَنيران قَلبي كُل ما أَقول تنطفي
أَوجسI sense لَهاtheir جواwithin الضُلوعthe ribs لَهابblaze
أَوجس لَها جوا الضُلوع لَهاب
Whenever I say the fires of my heart are going out,
And the fires of my heart, whatever I say extinguishes them,
I sense their blaze within my ribs.
I feel for them inside my ribs a flame.
يُوجسfeels ضَميريmy heart مِنfrom سَناهاtheir radiance وَلظاتهاand their flames
يُوجس ضَميري مِن سَناها وَلظاتها
وَجَمرand embers الغَضاof ghada wood يَلذَعscorch بِلاwithout شَبابa blaze
وَجَمر الغَضا يَلذَع بِلا شَباب
My heart feels their radiance and flames,
My conscience is apprehensive of its meanness and cruelty,
And embers of ghada wood scorch without a blaze.
And the embers of anger sting without restraint.
ببيwithin me هُمومcares يَعجزcannot manage الطُودthe mountain شيلهاbearing them
ببي هُموم يَعجز الطُود شيلها
لَوeven if هوَit طَويلis tall يَحيلturns مِنهاbecause of them ذابmelted
لَو هوَ طَويل يَحيل مِنها ذاب
Within me are cares a mountain cannot bear;
I have worries that the camels cannot carry,
However tall it stands, they would make it melt.
Were it tall it would melt from them.
ماwhat حيلَتيcan I do ياO ناسpeople ضاقَتhas narrowed بَصيرَتيmy insight
ما حيلَتي يا ناس ضاقَت بَصيرَتي
وَالراسand the head مِنfrom جُوىthe burning grief of اللَياليthe nights شابturned gray
وَالراس مِن جُوى اللَيالي شاب
What can I do, people? My insight has narrowed,
My situation, O people, my vision narrowed,
And my head has turned gray from the nights' burning grief.
And my head from the burning of nights grew white hair.
راسيmy head ربشmottled gray وَأَنبتand snapped حيليmy strength منfrom البلاaffliction
راسي ربش وَأَنبت حيلي من البلا
وَظَهريand my back حَناهbent it الهَمcare وَأَلفand a thousand مُصابcalamities
وَظَهري حَناه الهَم وَأَلف مُصاب
My head is mottled gray, my strength broken by affliction,
My head sprouted white hair, and my strength from ordeals grew,
And care and a thousand calamities have bent my back.
And my back, bent it worry and accustomed to misfortune.
عَليلailing الضَناfrom wasting illness مَسقومsick مِنfrom وَحشةthe desolation of النَوىseparation
عَليل الضَنا مَسقوم مِن وَحشة النَوى
وَعَنand from منظرthe sight of العوادsickbed visitors جسميmy body غابvanished
وَعَن منظر العواد جسمي غاب
Wasted by suffering, sick from the desolation of separation,
Sickly, complaining, emaciated from the desolation of estrangement,
My body has vanished from my visitors' sight.
And from seeing visitors, my body disappeared.
لَولاwere it not for عَينيmy eye ماnot يَرانيsees me مسايليone asking after me
لَولا عَيني ما يَراني مسايلي
مِنfrom كثرthe abundance of ماwhat قاسىendured الضميرthe heart حوابsearing anguish
مِن كثر ما قاسى الضمير حواب
Were it not for my eyes, those asking after me would not see me,
Were it not for my eyes, my greeters would not see me,
So much searing anguish has my heart endured.
From how much the conscience endured dissolution.
طَريحlaid low by الهَوىlove أَشكوI complain مِنof البُعدdistance وَالجَفاand estrangement
طَريح الهَوى أَشكو مِن البُعد وَالجَفا
وَبيand in me علةan illness عيتdefied عَلىthe efforts of الطبابthe physicians
وَبي علة عيت عَلى الطباب
Laid low by love, I complain of distance and estrangement,
Languishing in passion, I complain of distance and aloofness,
And an illness in me has defeated the physicians.
And I have an illness that has tired doctors.
عالجتهاI treated it بالنارwith fire لاno ماnot واسيتهاI soothed it
عالجتها بالنار لا ما واسيتها
وَماand not كُنتwas I أُلاقيfinding لشفاهاfor its cure بابa way
وَما كُنت أُلاقي لشفاها باب
I treated it with fire—no, I never soothed it,
I treated it with fire, I did not comfort it,
And I could find no way to cure it.
And I could not find a door to its healing.
وَمنand whoever نظرنيsaw me قالsaid ماno بوin him فايدةhope of recovery
وَمن نظرني قال ما بو فايدة
هَذاthis one موليpassing away راحhas gone نجمهhis star غابhas set
هَذا مولي راح نجمه غاب
Whoever saw me said, 'There is no hope for him;
And whoever saw me said it is no use,
This man is passing away; his star is gone, has set.'
This boy, his star has disappeared.
ياO ونتيmy groan ماnot وَنهاgroaned it قبلbefore غيرناanyone but us
يا ونتي ما وَنها قبل غيرنا
وَلاnor ظَنI think مثليas I was صابwas stricken حيa living soul وَطابand recovered
وَلا ظَن مثلي صاب حي وَطاب
Ah, my groan—none before us has groaned its like,
O my beauty, none before us,
Nor, I think, has a living soul suffered as I have and recovered.
And none like me hit by perfect pleasure.
وَلاnor وَنهاgroaned it مِنone who عالجstruggled with البينparting وَالنياand separation
وَلا وَنها مِن عالج البين وَالنيا
وَلاnor ونهاgroaned it مَلذوعone scorched by سنthe fang of الدابthe serpent
وَلا ونها مَلذوع سن الداب
Nor has one struggling with parting and separation groaned so,
And none from the healer of separation and hardship,
Nor one scorched by a serpent's fang.
And none burned by the torment of separation.
وَلاnor الخلجthe bereaved she-camel مثليlike me يَومwhen ترزمshe moans for جَنينهاher calf
وَلا الخلج مثلي يَوم ترزم جَنينها
وَلاnor الثكلthe bereaved إِنif هلواthey shed دُموعtears سكابstreaming
وَلا الثكل إِن هلوا دُموع سكاب
Nor does a bereaved she-camel moan like me when she calls to her calf,
And no mother when her fetus trembles,
Nor the bereaved, even when they shed streaming tears.
And no bereaved if they shed flowing tears.
وَجديmy anguish طفحoverflowed منfrom واهجthe blazing heat of القلبthe heart وَالحَشاand the breast
وَجدي طفح من واهج القلب وَالحَشا
عَقليmy mind غَداًdeparted منيfrom me وَرُشديand my judgment غابvanished
عَقلي غَداً مني وَرُشدي غاب
My anguish overflowed from the blazing heart and breast;
My reason overflowed from the fervor of the heart and hallucinations,
My mind has left me, and my judgment is gone.
My mind tomorrow will be gone and my sanity disappeared.
ياO مَنone who خبرhas heard ياO مَنone who علمhas known فيin زَمانناour time
يا مَن خبر يا مَن علم في زَماننا
جَرىhappened مثلlike هؤاthis وَاخبرواand ask الشيابthe elders
جَرى مثل هؤا وَاخبروا الشياب
O you who have heard, O you who have known: in our time,
O you who knows, o you who knows in our time,
Has anything like this happened? Ask the elders.
The like of this happened, so inform the elders.
خانbetrayed الدَهرtime غرارdeceitful غدارtreacherous بِالفتىtoward the young man
خان الدَهر غرار غدار بِالفتى
مَرحومmay mercy be upon منwhoever سميcalled الدَهرtime دَولابa revolving wheel
مَرحوم من سمي الدَهر دَولاب
Time betrayed the young man, deceitful and treacherous;
Time betrayed the young man, deceitful traitor,
Mercy upon whoever called time a revolving wheel.
Dead from being called the turning of fate.
ياO مؤامنينthose trusting الدَهرtime كُونواbe عَلىon حَذرguard
يا مؤامنين الدَهر كُونوا عَلى حَذر
الأَيامthe days تَجريrun on وَالدَهرand time قلابever-turning
الأَيام تَجري وَالدَهر قلاب
You who trust time, be on your guard:
O believers, beware of time,
The days run on, and time keeps turning.
The days pass and time changes.
الأَيّامthe days يسقنكmake you drink مرارthe bitterness of الصقطريSocotran aloe
الأَيّام يسقنك مرار الصقطري
مِنfrom بَعدafter شربdrinking الراحwine وَالجلابand jallab syrup
مِن بَعد شرب الراح وَالجلاب
The days make you drink the bitterness of Socotran aloe,
The days make you drink bitterness after drinking comfort and wine,
After drinking wine and jallab syrup.
The days impregnate the maiden against her will.
الأَيّامthe days يَحبلنconceive البتكruin منfrom طباعهمtheir nature
الأَيّام يَحبلن البتك من طباعهم
وَبلدنand give birth عَلىin رَغمspite of الأُنوفthe noses اعجابwonders
وَبلدن عَلى رَغم الأُنوف اعجاب
The days conceive ruin: that is their nature,
The days gossip and play,
And give birth to wonders against everyone's will.
And tyrannize the youth and elders.
الأَيامthe days يَشرينbuy الزَخاريفembellishments وَاللعبand games
الأَيام يَشرين الزَخاريف وَاللعب
وَيطغينand tyrannize للفتيانover the young men وَالشيابand the elders
وَيطغين للفتيان وَالشياب
The days buy up embellishments and games,
The days play with sultans and ministers,
And tyrannize over young men and elders.
The days claim rocks are dust.
الأَيامthe days يَلعبنtoy with السَلاطينthe sultans وَالوزرand the ministers
الأَيام يَلعبن السَلاطين وَالوزر
الأَيّامthe days يَدعينleave الصُخورthe rocks تُرابdust
الأَيّام يَدعين الصُخور تُراب
The days toy with sultans and ministers;
If the days inclined towards the graves they would shake them,
The days leave rocks as dust.
And whoever resisted the days saw his desire disappear.
الأَيامthe days لَوif مالواthey bore down عَلىupon الغورthe Ghor ضَعضعواthey would shatter
الأَيام لَو مالوا عَلى الغور ضَعضعوا
وَمِنand whoever عاندdefied الأَيامthe days رَأيوhis purpose خابfailed
وَمِن عاند الأَيام رَأيو خاب
If the days bore down on the Ghor, they would make it crumble,
I entrust my affairs to them, perhaps God will release us,
And whoever defies the days sees his purpose fail.
From them and open doors for all.
وَشليand what have I to do بمساويهمwith their evils عَسىmay اللَهGod يَفكناfree us
وَشلي بمساويهم عَسى اللَه يَفكنا
مِنهُمfrom them وَيَفتحand open لِلجَميعfor everyone بوابdoors
مِنهُم وَيَفتح لِلجَميع بواب
And what have I to do with their evils? May God free us
After this, O fire of my heart, ignite
From them, and open doors for everyone.
And bring meanings and an answer to the discourse.
مِنfrom عقبafter ذاthis ياO نارfire of قَلبيmy heart توقديblaze up
مِن عقب ذا يا نار قَلبي توقدي
وَهاتيand bring مَعانيpoetic meanings وَللخطابand to the message جَوابan answer
وَهاتي مَعاني وَللخطاب جَواب
After this, fire of my heart, blaze up,
The pen went on writing rhymes I picked
And bring poetic meanings and an answer to the message.
From the parchment paper Cloud's Tail.
سارset out القَلمthe pen يَكتُبto write قَوافيrhymes جَنيتهاI gathered them
سار القَلم يَكتُب قَوافي جَنيتها
مِنfrom فَوقover قُرطاسpaper الطلاحيTalahi سابflowed
مِن فَوق قُرطاس الطلاحي ساب
The pen set out to write rhymes I had gathered;
It shows what my heart felt of ordeals,
Across the Talahi paper it flowed.
And explains worries like clouds over plateaus.
يُبديreveals عَلىabout ماwhat حاقَbeset قَلبيmy heart مِنof البَلاaffliction
يُبدي عَلى ما حاقَ قَلبي مِن البَلا
وَيَشرَحand explains هموماًcares مثلlike غَيمclouds هضابhills
وَيَشرَح هموماً مثل غَيم هضاب
It reveals the affliction that beset my heart,
O you who passes me, carry my message
And lays out cares like clouds piled into hills.
On the back of a slender, fast riding camel.
ياO غادياًone departing مِنيfrom me تحملcarrying رِسالَتيmy letter
يا غادياً مِني تحمل رِسالَتي
عَلىon متنthe back of ضامرa lean camel سَيرtravel يانجابO camel courier
عَلى متن ضامر سَير يانجاب
You who depart from me carrying my letter,
Hasten, hardship of travel, and beware of speed,
On the back of a lean camel, travel, O courier.
Your secret destination, faster than a spindle.
أَسريtravel by night وَجدand press on السَيرthe journey وَاحذرand beware مِنof البَطاdelay
أَسري وَجد السَير وَاحذر مِن البَطا
سرgo حوبتكyour errand (uncertain) أَسرَعfaster مِنthan الدُولابthe wheel
سر حوبتك أَسرَع مِن الدُولاب
Travel by night, press on, and beware of delay;
And where did God guide you, messenger of tidings,
Go on your errand, faster than the wheel.
And one who cannot reach the dear and disappeared.
وَلمand make ready هداكmay He guide you اللَهGod ياO طارشmessenger of النياseparation
وَلم هداك اللَه يا طارش النيا
وَمِنand one who لاnot يُدركcan reach عنof عَزيزa dear one وغابand went away
وَمِن لا يُدرك عن عَزيز وغاب
Make ready—God guide you—messenger of separation,
Whoever divided us, however long his bracelet,
And of one who cannot reach a dear one who is gone.
Would that it remain in ruins and wreckage.
مِنfrom قسطمونيKastamonu مَدset out يَخربmay they fall to ruin سِوارهاits walls
مِن قسطموني مَد يَخرب سِوارها
ياoh رَيتهاwould that it تَبقىremained دَمارdevastation وَخَرابand ruins
يا رَيتها تَبقى دَمار وَخَراب
Set out from Kastamonu—may its walls fall to ruin;
Slaughter Suhail and spur Al Nathouk to speed,
Would that it remained devastation and ruins!
You’ll see it pass the road, O pruner.
أنحرhead toward سَهيلSuhayl وَحثand urge نضوكyour worn camel عَنaway from البَطاdelay
أنحر سَهيل وَحث نضوك عَن البَطا
تَراهاthose are مَجاريthe courses of الدَربthe road ياO قرضابswift rider
تَراها مَجاري الدَرب يا قرضاب
Head toward Suhayl, and urge your worn camel against delay;
After four days when you arrive, I will ring
Those are the courses of the road, swift rider.
The guest bell, the like of us absent.
مِنfrom عقبafter رابعthe fourth يَومday إِذاwhen جيتyou reach أَنقرهAnkara
مِن عقب رابع يَوم إِذا جيت أَنقره
ضَيفbe a guest of الرُبوعthe folk المثلناwho are like us غيابfar from home
ضَيف الرُبوع المثلنا غياب
After the fourth day, when you reach Ankara,
Greet them, O my messenger, all of them,
Be the guest of those folk who, like us, are far from home.
Echo my greetings hundreds, hundreds, writings.
سلمgreet عليهمthem ياO رَسوليmy messenger جَميعهمall of them
سلم عليهم يا رَسولي جَميعهم
رَددrepeat سَلاميmy greeting ميةa hundred ميةa hundred كتابletters
رَدد سَلامي مية مية كتاب
Greet them, my messenger, every one;
The morning there, set your face shining,
Repeat my greetings—a hundred letters upon a hundred.
And your right hand for pulling the ropes.
الصُبحin the morning مِنهاfrom there مدset out وَجهكyour face مُشرقturned east
الصُبح مِنها مد وَجهك مُشرق
وَادعيand let يَمينكyour right hand للحبلat the rein جذابbe a puller
وَادعي يَمينك للحبل جذاب
In the morning, set out from there with your face turned east,
Beware tarrying with them, you might trust their situation,
And let your right hand tug the rein.
Beware, the steps of men are wolves.
أَياكbeware غجGypsies التركof the Turks تأمنtrust بحالهمin their ways
أَياك غج الترك تأمن بحالهم
احذرbeware تَرىyou see خَطوthe tread of الرِجالthe men ذِيابwolves
احذر تَرى خَطو الرِجال ذِياب
Beware the Turkish Gypsies; do not trust their ways.
Your road villages and the faces of their people,
Take care: the men's tread is that of wolves.
Among them after al-Narboo springs and pits.
دَربكyour road عشاهرto Shahir وَالقُرىand the villages وَجوهthe notables of أَهلَهاtheir people
دَربك عشاهر وَالقُرى وَجوه أَهلَها
فيهاthere بَعدalso الناربوعwe have companions حبابbeloved
فيها بَعد الناربوع حباب
Your road leads to Shahir, the villages, and their notables;
Greet them, O messenger, like others,
There, too, we have beloved companions.
And take the path of space and expanse.
سلمgreet عليهمthem ياO رسلmessenger مثلlike غَيرهمthe others
سلم عليهم يا رسل مثل غَيرهم
وَلنهجand take the road عَلىalong مَدthe extent of الفَضاthe open country وَالبابand the gate
وَلنهج عَلى مَد الفَضا وَالباب
Greet them, messenger, as you did the others,
After six and four, at Qaisariya,
And follow the road across the open country and through the gate.
You’ll find youths like lions of the forest.
عَلىto قَيسريةKayseri بَعدafter ستةsix وَأَربعةand four
عَلى قَيسرية بَعد ستة وَأَربعة
مَلفاكyou will find غلمةyoung men مثلlike أَسدlions of الغابthe forest
مَلفاك غلمة مثل أَسد الغاب
To Kayseri, after six days and four,
A quarter at al-Jawdat, their elders built their huts,
You will find young men like lions of the forest,
It brought you near them, of fat and marrow.
ربعاfolk عَلىupon الجوداتacts of generosity أَبنواbuilt خباهمtheir tents
ربعا عَلى الجودات أَبنوا خباهم
أَدناكthe least you meet مِنهُمamong them للسمنof ghee صبابa generous pourer
أَدناك مِنهُم للسمن صباب
Folk who built their tents upon generosity;
Convey my greetings to all the loved ones,
Even the least of them pours out ghee.
Hundreds of fat and marrow.
أَقريconvey سَلاميmy greeting للمحبينto those who love us كُلهمall of them
أَقري سَلامي للمحبين كُلهم
عَددa count of ميةa hundred للسمنof ghee صبابgenerous pourers
عَدد مية للسمن صباب
Convey my greeting to all those who love us,
Your road at al Shahba, the Arabs settle it
A hundred in number, to the pourers of ghee.
And below, only meadows and lavender.
دربكyour road عَلىto الشهباal-Shahba العربthe Arabs فيin ركونهاits quarters
دربك عَلى الشهبا العرب في ركونها
وَماand nothing دُونَهاbefore it غَيرexcept الرهاal-Ruha وَعنتابand Aintab
وَما دُونَها غَير الرها وَعنتاب
Your road leads to al-Shahba, with Arabs in its quarters;
Homs and Hama, the road you must pass,
And before it lie only al-Ruha and Aintab.
And your destination, Damascus absent.
حمصHoms وَحماهand Hama الدَربthe road لازمmust تمرهاyou pass through them
حمص وَحماه الدَرب لازم تمرها
وَبنيتيand as I intend تَلفيyou reach دمشقDamascus غيابfar from home
وَبنيتي تَلفي دمشق غياب
Homs and Hama—you must pass through them on your way,
Satisfied in Damascus, the Levant, moor your love,
And, as I intend, reach Damascus, far from home.
You have arrived well, O student.
ريضlinger بدمشقin Damascus الشامof al-Sham نوخmake kneel هجينتكyour riding she-camel
ريض بدمشق الشام نوخ هجينتك
تراكyou see, you وَصلتhave arrived بِخَيرsafely ياO طلابseeker
تراك وَصلت بِخَير يا طلاب
Linger in Damascus of al-Sham; make your she-camel kneel.
If you are detained in the Levant, convey my regards,
You have arrived safely, seeker.
You’ll find Yahya like a green branch.
إِنif جيتyou reach حبسthe prison of الشامDamascus بلغdeliver تحيتيmy greeting
إِن جيت حبس الشام بلغ تحيتي
ملفاكyou will find يحيىYahya مثلlike رنكthe bearing of ذيابwolves
ملفاك يحيى مثل رنك ذياب
If you come to Damascus's prison, deliver my greeting;
Greet the delight of my eyes, Abu Hassan,
There you will find Yahya, wolf-like in bearing.
In my heart, hundreds of thousands calculations.
سلمgreet عَلىto مضمونthe cherished one of عَينيmy eye أَبوAbu (father of) حسنHasan
سلم عَلى مضمون عَيني أَبو حسن
قَلوtell him بِقَلبيin my heart مَيةa hundred أَلفthousand حسابworries
قَلو بِقَلبي مَية أَلف حساب
Greet Abu Hasan, held dear in my eyes;
O brother, your concern is the bird of power and strength,
Tell him: 'My heart holds a hundred thousand worries.
While I am doubtful about others, you see.
ياخيO my brother همكworry for you هدهدshattered الحيلstrength وَالقوىand vigor
ياخي همك هدهد الحيل وَالقوى
وَلانيand I am not عَلىover غَيرanother تَرىyou see مرتابanxious
وَلاني عَلى غَير تَرى مرتاب
Brother, worry for you has shattered my strength and vigor,
While I doubt others healers of worry,
And, you see, I am anxious for no other.
O brother, I have no companions but you.
وَلانيand I am not علىtoward غيركanyone but you مشافيlooking expectantly منamong الملاthe people
وَلاني على غيرك مشافي من الملا
ياخيO my brother ماليI have no مِنfrom وَراكbeyond you صحابcompanions
ياخي مالي مِن وَراك صحاب
Nor among people do I look toward anyone but you;
O brother, your concern is white hair and beard,
Brother, I have no companions beyond you.
And everyday my heart tastes a thousand kinds of torment.
ياO خيmy brother همكworry for you شيبturned gray الروسheads وَاللحىand beards
يا خي همك شيب الروس وَاللحى
وَكُلand every يَومday قَلبيmy heart بذوقtastes ألفa thousand عذابtorments
وَكُل يَوم قَلبي بذوق ألف عذاب
Brother, worry for you has whitened heads and beards,
Everyday my heart injustice and woe bite me,
And every day my heart tastes a thousand torments.
I suffer as Quraish's camel suffered.
كُلevery يَومday قلبيmy heart الضيمoppression وَالوَيلand misery ينكعوtorment it
كُل يَوم قلبي الضيم وَالوَيل ينكعو
أَعانيI suffer كماas عانىsuffered قريصone bitten by الدابthe serpent
أَعاني كما عانى قريص الداب
Each day, oppression and misery torment my heart;
And I always imagine you as if before me,
I suffer as one bitten by a serpent suffered.
As if your absence from us never happened.
وَدومand always أَشخصكمI picture you كَأَنas though قبالكمbefore you
وَدوم أَشخصكم كَأَن قبالكم
وَكَأنand as though زَولكyour figure عنناfrom us ماnot غابdeparted
وَكَأن زَولك عننا ما غاب
I always picture you, as though I stood before you,
As if your absence obvious to my eyes and thoughts,
As though your figure had never left us,
And your image imprinted on my conscience, a veil.
وَكَأنand as though زَولكyour figure نصبbefore عَينيmy eye وَفكرَتيand my thoughts
وَكَأن زَولك نصب عَيني وَفكرَتي
وَمَطبوعand imprinted شَخصكyour image عالضميرupon the heart حجابa talisman
وَمَطبوع شَخصك عالضمير حجاب
As though your figure stood before my eyes and thoughts,
My eyes spill tears from the fervor of passion,
And your image were imprinted on my heart, a talisman.
From my cheek its torrent carved channels.
عَينيmy eye تهلpours الدَمعtears مِنfrom واهجthe burning heat of النياseparation
عَيني تهل الدَمع مِن واهج النيا
مِنfrom فَوقover خَديmy cheek سَيلَهاits stream مزرابa waterspout
مِن فَوق خَدي سَيلَها مزراب
My eyes pour tears from the burning heat of separation;
From atop my cheek the tears and blood drip,
Over my cheek their stream runs like a waterspout.
On a cheek worn by the injustice of time and grew youthful.
مِنfrom فوقover خَديmy cheek تذرفsheds الدَمعtears وَالدَماand blood
مِن فوق خَدي تذرف الدَمع وَالدَما
عَلىupon عارضa side of the beard كضwore down الزَمانtime وَشابand turned gray
عَلى عارض كض الزَمان وَشاب
Over my cheek they shed tears and blood,
A vow upon me, if time brings us back together,
On a beard that time has worn down and turned gray.
I will slaughter for God's sake as many camels as possible.
نذراًa vow عليupon me إِنif جَمعbrings together الدَهرtime بَينناus
نذراً علي إِن جَمع الدَهر بَيننا
لأَذبَحI shall slaughter لِوَجهfor the sake of اللَهGod حيلbarren she-camels غصابstout (uncertain)
لأَذبَح لِوَجه اللَه حيل غصاب
I vow, if time brings us together,
And adorn the despised house after us,
To slaughter stout barren she-camels for God's sake.
And say my life in your presence is sweet.
وَازينand adorn الدارthe house المهانةhumbled بعدناby our absence
وَازين الدار المهانة بعدنا
وَأَقولand say عيشيmy life فيin لقاكمmeeting you طابbecame sweet
وَأَقول عيشي في لقاكم طاب
And adorn the house humbled by our absence,
And I visit you specifically in Hittin,
And say, "My life is sweet in meeting you."
And hold a banquet for the settled and bedouin.
وَأَزورand visit أَناI حطينHattin فيكمfor you مُخصصespecially
وَأَزور أَنا حطين فيكم مُخصص
وَأعملand hold وَليمةa feast للحضرfor those present وَالغابand those absent
وَأعمل وَليمة للحضر وَالغاب
I will visit Hattin especially for you,
And if the Lord of the Throne divided us,
And hold a feast for those present and absent.
Then my hopes, O my beloved, failed.
وَإِنand if كانَhas ربthe Lord of العَرشthe Throne قاسمdecreed ببعدناour separation
وَإِن كانَ رب العَرش قاسم ببعدنا
بيكونwill have ظَنيmy hope ياO وَزينيmy dear one خابfailed
بيكون ظَني يا وَزيني خاب
And if the Lord of the Throne has decreed our separation,
I have no means but crying and hallucinating,
Then my hopes, my dear one, will have failed.
And for your image, my heart you see it melted.
ماwhat حيلَتيcan I do غَيرexcept البكاweeping وَالمخايلةand imagining
ما حيلَتي غَير البكا وَالمخايلة
وَلشخصكمand for your person قَلبيmy heart تَراهyou see it ذابmelted
وَلشخصكم قَلبي تَراه ذاب
What can I do but weep and imagine you?
Patience, beautiful is patience, sweeter than honey,
You see, my heart has melted for your person.
Time, O pillar, of trials and wonders.
صَبراًpatience جَميلbeautiful الصَبرpatience أَحلىsweeter مِنthan العَسَلhoney
صَبراً جَميل الصَبر أَحلى مِن العَسَل
الدَهرtime ياoh مابوhow much it contains محنtrials وَعجابand wonders
الدَهر يا مابو محن وَعجاب
Beautiful patience! Patience is sweeter than honey.
Time, O pillar, of diverse wonders,
Oh, how many trials and wonders time contains!
God makes for salvation reasons.
الدَهرtime ياoh ماhow many بوwithin it عجايبmarvels منوعةvaried
الدَهر يا ما بو عجايب منوعة
اللَهGod يَجعلmay provide للخلاصfor deliverance أَسبابmeans
اللَه يَجعل للخلاص أَسباب
Oh, how many varied marvels time contains!
By God, by He who created earth and heaven,
May God provide the means of deliverance.
The Living, O Worshipped, O Bestower.
بِاللهby God بالليby Him who خالقcreated الأَرضthe earth وَالسَماand heaven
بِالله باللي خالق الأَرض وَالسَما
باحيI plead ياO مَعبودworshipped One ياO وهابBestower
باحي يا مَعبود يا وهاب
By God, by Him who created earth and heaven,
O Raiser of the seven mighty mountains,
I plead, O worshipped One, O Bestower.
With no pillars or boards of wood.
ياO رافعraiser of السبعthe seven heavens الشِدادmighty العَواليlofty
يا رافع السبع الشِداد العَوالي
عَلىupon غَيرno عمدانpillars وَطاand a footing of (uncertain) خشابtimber
عَلى غَير عمدان وَطا خشاب
O You who raised the seven mighty, lofty heavens,
O Helper of the oppressed, O Hearer of prayer,
Without pillars or timber underpinnings;
O He whose will, nothing can veil.
ياO منجدhelper of المضيومthe oppressed ياO سامعhearer of الدُعاprayers
يا منجد المضيوم يا سامع الدُعا
ياO مَنYou whose مرادكYour will ماno عليهover it حِجابveil
يا مَن مرادك ما عليه حِجاب
O helper of the oppressed, O hearer of prayers,
O Spreader of the earth over the water and air,
O You whose will no veil obstructs,
And Sender of clouds from within heaped clouds.
ياO باسطspreader of الخرساthe silent earth عَلىover الماءthe water وَالهَوىand the air
يا باسط الخرسا عَلى الماء وَالهَوى
وَمجريand mover of السَحبthe clouds مِنfrom ضمنwithin غَيمcloudbanks هضابheaped like hills
وَمجري السَحب مِن ضمن غَيم هضاب
O You who spread the silent earth over water and air,
Relieve him who expects none but Your mercy,
And drive the clouds from within hill-like cloudbanks,
And open for us from Your generosity’s sea, a door.
تفرجgrant relief لِمَنto one who لاnot يَرتجيhopes for غَيرanything but رحمتكYour mercy
تفرج لِمَن لا يَرتجي غَير رحمتك
وَافتحand open لناfor us مِنfrom بَحرthe sea of جودكYour generosity بابa door
وَافتح لنا مِن بَحر جودك باب
Grant relief to one who hopes for nothing but Your mercy,
And unite all the kin, O Creator of beings,
And open for us a door from the sea of Your generosity.
For the right of the Prophet and the four caliphs.
وَتلمand reunite شملthe scattered company of الكلeveryone ياO خالقCreator of الوَرىhumankind
وَتلم شمل الكل يا خالق الوَرى
بحقfor the sake of النَبيthe Prophet وَالأَربعةand the four أَقطابspiritual poles
بحق النَبي وَالأَربعة أَقطاب
And reunite everyone, O Creator of humankind,
We are scattered, we have none but Your mercy,
For the Prophet's sake and that of the four spiritual poles.
We came to the lands of the Turks as foreigners.
لاناfor we are قطايعcut off مالناwe have nothing غيرexcept رحمتكYour mercy
لانا قطايع مالنا غير رحمتك
لجاياrefugees بديرانin the lands of التركthe Turks أَجنابstrangers
لجايا بديران الترك أَجناب
For we are cut off, with nothing but Your mercy,
And conclude my words with prayers upon the Prophet,
Refugees, strangers in the lands of the Turks.
Who regulates the order of existence precisely.
واختمand I close كلاميmy words بِالصلاةwith blessings عَلىupon النَبيthe Prophet
واختم كلامي بِالصلاة عَلى النَبي
ضابطkeeper of نظامthe order of الكَونthe universe بِالأَحسابby reckoning
ضابط نظام الكَون بِالأَحساب
And I close my words with blessings upon the Prophet,
Conclude for us with good, my master and protector,
The keeper of the universe's order by reckoning.
And make our nights a new moon.
يَختمmay bring to an end لناfor us بِالخَيرwith goodness سَيديmy Lord وَمالكيand my Master
يَختم لنا بِالخَير سَيدي وَمالكي
وَيَجعلand make لَياليناour nights الملاحfair قرابnear
وَيَجعل لَيالينا الملاح قراب
May my Lord and Master bring us to a good end,
And bring our fair nights near.
Partial English translation: 140 of 142 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1