أَتَظُنُّنيDo you think me ماas long as عِشتُI live أَنعَمُat ease بالاin mind
أَتَظُنُّني ما عِشتُ أَنعَمُ بالا
هَيهاتَFar from it ذِلُّease العَيشِof life بَعدَكَafter you زالاhas vanished
هَيهاتَ ذِلُّ العَيشِ بَعدَكَ زالا
Do you think I shall have peace of mind as long as I live?
Far from it! Life's ease vanished after you.
غادَرتَنيYou left me غَرَضَa target النَوائِبِof calamities أَلتَقيmeeting
غادَرتَني غَرَضَ النَوائِبِ أَلتَقي
مِنهاfrom them بِصَدريwith my breast أَسهُماًarrows وَنِصالاand blades
مِنها بِصَدري أَسهُماً وَنِصالا
You left me a target for calamities, meeting
their arrows and blades with my breast.
وَحديalone عَلىdespite أَنَّthe fact that الرِجالَthe men كَثيرَةٌare many
وَحدي عَلى أَنَّ الرِجالَ كَثيرَةٌ
حَوليaround me وَماyet not كُلُّall الرِجالِmen رِجالاare true men
حَولي وَما كُلُّ الرِجالِ رِجالا
Alone, although the men are many
around me—and not all men are truly men.
أَناI رَهنُam hostage to مَظَلِمَةٍa wrong بِحُفرَتِكَat your grave الَّتيwhich
أَنا رَهنُ مَظَلِمَةٍ بِحُفرَتِكَ الَّتي
ضاقَتhas narrowed فَلاso may it not ضاقَتnarrow عَلَيكَupon you مَجالاin space
ضاقَت فَلا ضاقَت عَلَيكَ مَجالا
I am hostage to a wrong at your grave, which
has narrowed—may its space never narrow upon you!
مُتَوَجِّعٌin pain وَجِلٌafraid وَأَنتَwhile you بِمَعزِلٍare far removed
مُتَوَجِّعٌ وَجِلٌ وَأَنتَ بِمَعزِلٍ
أَنto تَعرِفَknow الأَوجاعَpains وَالأَوجالاand fears
أَن تَعرِفَ الأَوجاعَ وَالأَوجالا
In pain and afraid, while you are far removed
from knowing pains and fears.
جاوَرتُI dwelt beside مَنthose who يَجفوspurn الصَديقَthe friend وَأَنتَwhile you فيare in
جاوَرتُ مَن يَجفو الصَديقَ وَأَنتَ في
دارٍan abode تُجاوِرُyou dwell beside مُنعِماًa benefactor مِفضالاlavishly generous
دارٍ تُجاوِرُ مُنعِماً مِفضالا
I dwell beside those who spurn a friend, while you are in
an abode beside a gracious, lavish Giver.
فَلَوِSo if اِطَّلَعتَyou looked عَلَيَّupon me ياO اِبنَson of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
فَلَوِ اِطَّلَعتَ عَلَيَّ يا اِبنَ مُحَمَّدٍ
لَعَلِمتَyou would surely know أَنّيthat I مِنكَthan you أَسوَأُam worse حالاin condition
لَعَلِمتَ أَنّي مِنكَ أَسوَأُ حالا
If you could look upon me, son of Muhammad,
you would know that I am worse off than you.
ماليWhat have I وَلِلسَرّاءِand with happiness بَعدَafter مَعاشِرٍcompanions
مالي وَلِلسَرّاءِ بَعدَ مَعاشِرٍ
صَدَقواwere true هَوىًin love فَتَقارَبواand so drew close آجالاin death-times
صَدَقوا هَوىً فَتَقارَبوا آجالا
What have I to do with happiness after companions
whose love was true, whose deaths came close together?
زُهرٍradiant أُوَدِّعُI bid farewell كُلَّeach يَومٍday مِنهُمُamong them
زُهرٍ أُوَدِّعُ كُلَّ يَومٍ مِنهُمُ
قَمَراًto a moon وَأودِعُand I lay فيin الصَعيدِthe soil هِلالاa crescent
قَمَراً وَأودِعُ في الصَعيدِ هِلالا
Radiant ones: each day I bid farewell among them
to a moon, and lay a crescent in the soil.
إِخوانُbrothers صِدقٍof sincerity شَرَّدواdrove away بِفِراقِهِمby their parting
إِخوانُ صِدقٍ شَرَّدوا بِفِراقِهِم
نَوميmy sleep وَكانواand they were لِلسُرورِfor joy عِقالاa tether
نَومي وَكانوا لِلسُرورِ عِقالا
True brothers, whose parting drove away
my sleep; they had been a tether holding joy.
كانواThey were الأُسودَlions مَهابَةًin majesty وَحَمِيَّةًand fierce honor
كانوا الأُسودَ مَهابَةً وَحَمِيَّةً
وَالسُحبَand clouds جَوداًin generosity وَالبُدورَand full moons كَمالاin perfection
وَالسُحبَ جَوداً وَالبُدورَ كَمالا
They were lions in majesty and fierce honor,
clouds in generosity, and full moons in perfection.
نَزَلواThey settled in الهَواجِرَthe noonday heats بِالقَواءِon barren ground وَعَطَّلواand left deserted
نَزَلوا الهَواجِرَ بِالقَواءِ وَعَطَّلوا
جَنّاتِgardens عَدنٍof Eden دونَهاbehind them وَظِلالاand shades
جَنّاتِ عَدنٍ دونَها وَظِلالا
They settled in noonday heat on barren ground, forsaking
gardens of Eden and shade behind them.
وَنَأَتand grew distant بِهِمfrom them دارُthe abode النَعيمِof bliss فَأَزمَعواso they resolved
وَنَأَت بِهِم دارُ النَعيمِ فَأَزمَعوا
عَنهاfrom it إِلىto دارِthe abode البِلاof decay تِرحالاa journey
عَنها إِلى دارِ البِلا تِرحالا
The abode of bliss grew distant from them, so they resolved
to journey from it to the abode of decay.
وَرَماهُمُand struck them بِصَوائِبٍwith unerring shafts مِنfrom كَيدِهِits guile
وَرَماهُمُ بِصَوائِبٍ مِن كَيدِهِ
رَيبُthe vicissitudes الزَمانِof time فَزُلزِلواso they were shaken زِلزالاviolently
رَيبُ الزَمانِ فَزُلزِلوا زِلزالا
And with unerring shafts from its guile, they were struck by
the vicissitudes of time, and shaken to the core.
وَدَعَتهُمُand called them رُسُلُthe messengers المَنونِof death فَأَوجَفواso they hurried
وَدَعَتهُمُ رُسُلُ المَنونِ فَأَوجَفوا
يَتَتابَعونَfollowing one another إِلىtoward الرَدىdestruction أَرسالاin bands
يَتَتابَعونَ إِلى الرَدى أَرسالا
Death's messengers called them, and they hastened,
following one another toward destruction in bands.
فَكأَنَّهُمُas though they ظَنواthought الحِمامَDeath دَعاهُمُhad called them
فَكأَنَّهُمُ ظَنوا الحِمامَ دَعاهُمُ
لِمُلِمَّةٍfor a calamity فَمَشواso they went إِلَيهِto him عِجالاin haste
لِمُلِمَّةٍ فَمَشوا إِلَيهِ عِجالا
It was as though they thought Death had called them
to face a calamity, and they went swiftly to him.
بِأَبيmy father be ransom for وُجوهُهُمtheir faces النَواضِرُthe radiant عِزُّهاtheir honor
بِأَبي وُجوهُهُم النَواضِرُ عِزُّها
أَمسىhas become بِرَغميagainst my will فيin التُرابِthe dust مُذَالاabased
أَمسى بِرَغمي في التُرابِ مُذَالا
My father be their ransom—those radiant faces, whose honor
now lies abased in the dust, against my will.
بانواThey departed وَأَبقوَاand left فيwithin ضُلوعيmy ribs زَفرَةًa sigh
بانوا وَأَبقوَا في ضُلوعي زَفرَةً
تَرقىrising وَمِلءَand filling جَوانِحيmy breast بَلبالاwith turmoil
تَرقى وَمِلءَ جَوانِحي بَلبالا
They departed, leaving amid my ribs a sigh
that rises, and filling my breast with turmoil.
يُذكيkindles ضِرامُthe blaze النارِof fire مِنهاfrom it شُعلَةًa flame
يُذكي ضِرامُ النارِ مِنها شُعلَةً
ماءُthe water الدُموعِof tears تَزيدُهاincreases it إِشعالاin burning
ماءُ الدُموعِ تَزيدُها إِشعالا
The fire's blaze kindles a flame from it;
the water of tears makes it burn still fiercer.
سَكَنواThey dwelt in الثَرىthe soil وَرَجَعتُand I returned أَسآلُasking عَنهُمُabout them الthe (continued)
سَكَنوا الثَرى وَرَجَعتُ أَسآلُ عَنهُمُ ال
آثارَtraces لَوif only كانَتthey were تُجيبُanswering سُؤالاa question
آثارَ لَو كانَت تُجيبُ سُؤالا
They made their home in the soil; I returned to question their
traces—if only they would answer a question.
هُمThey خَلَّفونيleft me بَعدَهُمafter them ذاpossessed of حيرَةٍbewilderment
هُم خَلَّفوني بَعدَهُم ذا حيرَةٍ
أَبكيI weep over الرُسومَthe traces وَأَندُبُand lament الأَطلالاthe ruins
أَبكي الرُسومَ وَأَندُبُ الأَطلالا
They left me behind them bewildered,
weeping over traces and lamenting the ruins.
لَمnot تَقنَعِwere content الأَيّامُthe days لاmay not قَنِعَتthey be content بِأَنwith having
لَم تَقنَعِ الأَيّامُ لا قَنِعَت بِأَن
نَسَفَتswept away بُحوراًseas مِنهُمُamong them وَجِبالاand mountains
نَسَفَت بُحوراً مِنهُمُ وَجِبالا
The days were not content—may they never be content!—to have
swept away seas and mountains among them,
حَتّىuntil رَمَتنيthey struck me فيthrough الوَزيرِthe vizier بِحادِثٍwith a calamity
حَتّى رَمَتني في الوَزيرِ بِحادِثٍ
عَزَّwas difficult العَزاءُconsolation عَلَيَّfor me فيهِin it مَنالاto attain
عَزَّ العَزاءُ عَلَيَّ فيهِ مَنالا
until they struck me through the vizier with a calamity
for which consolation was hard for me to attain.
كَرَّتThey attacked again عَلَيَّupon me فَأَجهَرَتand blinded me بِمُصابِwith the loss مَنof one who
كَرَّت عَلَيَّ فَأَجهَرَت بِمُصابِ مَن
تَرَكَleft الدُموعَthe tears مُصابُهُhis loss أَوشالاas trickles
تَرَكَ الدُموعَ مُصابُهُ أَوشالا
They attacked me anew, blinding me with the loss of one
whose loss left my tears mere trickles.
مَنone who كانَwas لِلإِسلامِfor Islam مَجداًa glory باذِخاًtowering
مَن كانَ لِلإِسلامِ مَجداً باذِخاً
وَلِمَنصَبِand for the office الدينِof the faith الحَنيفِthe true جَلالاa majesty
وَلِمَنصَبِ الدينِ الحَنيفِ جَلالا
One who was a towering glory to Islam
and a majesty to the office of the true faith.
قِرنٌa champion إِذاwhen اِغتَصَّتbecame crowded مَجالِسُهُhis assemblies شَفاsatisfied
قِرنٌ إِذا اِغتَصَّت مَجالِسُهُ شَفا
بِعَطائِهِwith his bounty وَبَيانِهِand his eloquence السُؤآلاthe petitioners
بِعَطائِهِ وَبَيانِهِ السُؤآلا
A champion who, when his gatherings grew crowded, satisfied
with his bounty and eloquence those who asked.
القاتِلُthe slayer الوَهّابُthe lavish giver لاnot حَرِجٌconstrained إِذاwhen
القاتِلُ الوَهّابُ لا حَرِجٌ إِذا
أَعطىhe gave وَلاnor حَصِرٌtongue-tied إِذاwhen ماindeed قالاhe spoke
أَعطى وَلا حَصِرٌ إِذا ما قالا
The slayer, the lavish giver: never constrained when
he gave, nor tongue-tied when he spoke.
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَطرُدُdrive off كُلَّevery هَولٍterror بِاِسمِهِwith his name
قَد كُنتُ أَطرُدُ كُلَّ هَولٍ بِاِسمِهِ
حَتّىuntil رَكِبتُI plunged into بِمَوتِهِthrough his death الأَهوالاterrors
حَتّى رَكِبتُ بِمَوتِهِ الأَهوالا
I used to drive off every terror with his name,
until, with his death, I plunged into terrors.
أَردىfelled جَلالَJalal الدينِal-Din خَطبٌa calamity طالَfor long ماindeed
أَردى جَلالَ الدينِ خَطبٌ طالَ ما
أَردىfelled المُلوكَkings وَدَوَّخَand laid low الأَقيالاmighty rulers
أَردى المُلوكَ وَدَوَّخَ الأَقيالا
Jalal al-Din was felled by a calamity that had long
felled kings and laid mighty rulers low.
خَطبٌa calamity يُزيلُdrives away عَنِfrom الفَرائِسِthe prey أُسدَهاtheir lions
خَطبٌ يُزيلُ عَنِ الفَرائِسِ أُسدَها
وَيُزِلُّand makes slip عَنfrom هَضَباتِهاtheir crags الأَوعالاthe ibexes
وَيُزِلُّ عَن هَضَباتِها الأَوعالا
A calamity that drives lions from their prey
and makes ibexes slip from their crags.
أَودىHe died فَكادَتand almost أَنto تَميلَsway بِأَهلِهاwith its people
أَودى فَكادَت أَن تَميلَ بِأَهلِها
أَرضٌan earth تَوَسَّدُhe pillowed تُربَهاits soil إِجلالاin reverence
أَرضٌ تَوَسَّدُ تُربَها إِجلالا
He died, and almost swayed with its inhabitants
the earth whose soil he pillowed, in reverence.
إِنif رابَهُtroubled him رَيبُthe uncertainty المَنونِof death فَقَبلَهُthen before him
إِن رابَهُ رَيبُ المَنونِ فَقَبلَهُ
هَجَمَassailed الحِمامُDeath عَلىagainst الكِرامِthe noble وَغالاand slew unawares
هَجَمَ الحِمامُ عَلى الكِرامِ وَغالا
If death's uncertainty troubled him, before him
Death had assailed the noble and struck them unawares.
لِلَّهِBy God أَيُّwhat عُبابِa surge بَحرٍof a sea غاضَebbed يَوday (continued)
لِلَّهِ أَيُّ عُبابِ بَحرٍ غاضَ يَو
مَday (completion) ثَوىhe lay buried وَأَيُّand what عِمادِa pillar فَخرٍof glory مالاfell
مَ ثَوى وَأَيُّ عِمادِ فَخرٍ مالا
By God, what a surging sea ebbed on the day
he was laid to rest, and what a pillar of glory fell!
مَنwho يَكشِفُdispels الغَمّاءَcalamity إِنif نَزَلَتit descends وَمَنand who
مَن يَكشِفُ الغَمّاءَ إِن نَزَلَت وَمَن
يُمسيwill be لِكُّلِof every عَظيمَةٍgrievous matter حَمّالاa bearer
يُمسي لِكُّلِ عَظيمَةٍ حَمّالا
Who will dispel calamity when it descends, and who
will bear the burden of every grievous matter?
مَنwho يَلبَسُwears السَردَmail المُضاعَفَdoubled فيin الوَغىbattle
مَن يَلبَسُ السَردَ المُضاعَفَ في الوَغى
وَالحَمدَand praise فيon يَومِthe day النَدىof generosity سِربالاas a robe
وَالحَمدَ في يَومِ النَدى سِربالا
Who will wear doubled mail in battle,
and praise as a robe on the day of generosity?
مَنwho لِلقُرومِfor the chieftains البُزلِthe seasoned يَصدُقُهاmeets them in earnest إِذاwhen
مَن لِلقُرومِ البُزلِ يَصدُقُها إِذا
سَأَلَتthey ask for قِراعاًa clash بِالقَناwith spears وَنِزالاand combat
سَأَلَت قِراعاً بِالقَنا وَنِزالا
Who will meet the seasoned chieftains in earnest when
they demand the clash of spears and single combat?
وَلِذُبَّلٍand for slender spears تَحتَbeneath العَجاجِthe battle-dust كَأَنَّماas though
وَلِذُبَّلٍ تَحتَ العَجاجِ كَأَنَّما
أَرفَعنَthey raised مِنfrom خِرصانِهاtheir spearheads ذُبّالاwicks
أَرفَعنَ مِن خِرصانِها ذُبّالا
And who for the slender spears beneath the dust, as though
they raised wicks from their spearheads?
مَنwho يُخمِدُquenches الحَربَthe war العَوانَoft-renewed بِنارِهِwith his fire
مَن يُخمِدُ الحَربَ العَوانَ بِنارِهِ
يُرديfells الكُماةَarmored warriors وَيَحطِمُand crushes الأَبطالاchampions
يُردي الكُماةَ وَيَحطِمُ الأَبطالا
Who will quench the oft-renewed war with his own fire,
felling armored warriors and crushing champions?
مَنwho لِلمُغيراتِfor the raiding الجِيادِthoroughbreds يَرُدُّهاturns them back
مَن لِلمُغيراتِ الجِيادِ يَرُدُّها
طَرداًdriving عَلىon أَعقابِهاtheir heels جُفّالاin flight
طَرداً عَلى أَعقابِها جُفّالا
Who will turn back the raiding thoroughbreds,
driving them fleeing upon their heels?
يَبتَزُّهاstrips from them الآسادَthe lions مِنfrom صَهواتِهاtheir saddlebacks
يَبتَزُّها الآسادَ مِن صَهواتِها
غُلباًthick-necked وَتُلبِسُهاand clothes them with الدِماءَblood جِلالاas saddlecloths
غُلباً وَتُلبِسُها الدِماءَ جِلالا
Stripping the lions from their saddlebacks,
thick-necked, and draping the steeds in blood as saddlecloths?
مَنwho يَمتَطيهاrides them كَالذِئابِlike wolves عَوابِساًscowling
مَن يَمتَطيها كَالذِئابِ عَوابِساً
قُبّاًlean-flanked وَيوطِئُهاand makes them tread القَناthe spears العَسّالاthe swaying
قُبّاً وَيوطِئُها القَنا العَسّالا
Who will ride those steeds, scowling like wolves,
lean-flanked, and make them tread the swaying spears?
مَنwho يَنتَضيdraws الأَقلامَthe pens صامِتَةًsilent فَيُعthen lends them (continued)
مَن يَنتَضي الأَقلامَ صامِتَةً فَيُع
ديهاlends them (completion) لِساناًa tongue قاطِعاًdecisive وَمَقالاand speech
ديها لِساناً قاطِعاً وَمَقالا
Who will draw the silent pens and lend them
a decisive tongue and speech?
وَالبيضَand bright swords يَختَلِسُsnatches النُفوسَlives بِهِنَّwith them إِرby onslaught (continued)
وَالبيضَ يَختَلِسُ النُفوسَ بِهِنَّ إِر
هاقاonslaught (completion) وَتَختَطِفُand snatches العُيونَeyes صِقالاin polish
هاقا وَتَختَطِفُ العُيونَ صِقالا
And the bright swords, with which he snatches lives by
onslaught, while their polish snatches sight?
مَنwho لِلمَمالِكِfor the realms وَالرَعاياand the subjects سائِساًas a ruler
مَن لِلمَمالِكِ وَالرَعايا سائِساً
هَيهاتَalas ضاعواthey were lost بَعدَهُafter him إِهمالاthrough neglect
هَيهاتَ ضاعوا بَعدَهُ إِهمالا
Who will govern the realms and their subjects?
Alas, after him they are lost through neglect.
مَنwho لِلفَتاوىfor legal rulings وَالمَسائِلِand questions أَشكَلَتgrown obscure
مَن لِلفَتاوى وَالمَسائِلِ أَشكَلَت
فَيُزيلَand removes عَنهاfrom them اللَبسَconfusion وَالإِشكالاand difficulty
فَيُزيلَ عَنها اللَبسَ وَالإِشكالا
Who will attend to legal rulings and questions grown obscure,
and remove their confusion and difficulty?
مَنwho يَنحَرُslaughters الكومَthe high-humped camels العِزارَunclear camel epithet وَيَجعَلَand makes
مَن يَنحَرُ الكومَ العِزارَ وَيَجعَلَ
السُفَراتِthe feast-spreads مِنهاfrom them لِلفِصالِfor the camel calves فِصالاa weaning
السُفَراتِ مِنها لِلفِصالِ فِصالا
Who will slaughter the high-humped camels [epithet unclear] and make
feasts of their flesh a final weaning for their calves?
مَنwho لِلوُفودِfor delegations تَبيتُspending the night حَولَaround فِنائِهِhis courtyard
مَن لِلوُفودِ تَبيتُ حَولَ فِنائِهِ
عُصَباًin bands فَيوسِعَهُمthen lavishes upon them قِرىًhospitality وَنَوالاand gifts
عُصَباً فَيوسِعَهُم قِرىً وَنَوالا
Who will welcome delegations that spend the night around his courtyard
in bands, lavishing hospitality and gifts upon them?
مَنwho لِلمَهاريfor Mahri camels القودِthe tall أَنحَلَهاwasted them السُرىnight travel
مَن لِلمَهاري القودِ أَنحَلَها السُرى
حَطَّتset down بِساحَتِهِin his courtyard الرِحالَthe saddles كَلالاin exhaustion
حَطَّت بِساحَتِهِ الرِحالَ كَلالا
Who will care for the tall Mahri camels, wasted by night travel,
that set down their saddles in his courtyard, exhausted?
مَنwho لِلغَريبِfor the stranger نَبَتrejected بِهِhim أَوطانُهhis homelands
مَن لِلغَريبِ نَبَت بِهِ أَوطانُه
فَأَصابَand so he found أَهلاًkinsfolk مِنfrom نَداهُhis bounty وَآلاand a family
فَأَصابَ أَهلاً مِن نَداهُ وَآلا
Who will shelter the stranger whose homelands cast him out,
who found through his bounty kinsfolk and a family?
مَنwho لِليَتامىfor orphans وَالأَرامِلand widows مَلجَأًas a refuge
مَن لِليَتامى وَالأَرامِل مَلجَأً
تَأويthey shelter إِلَيهِin him وَعِصمَةًand protection وَمآلاand a haven
تَأوي إِلَيهِ وَعِصمَةً وَمآلا
Who will be a refuge for orphans and widows,
where they seek shelter, protection, and a haven?
أَودىdied أَبوthe father الفُقَراءِof the poor فَليَبكواso let them weep for أَباa father
أَودى أَبو الفُقَراءِ فَليَبكوا أَبا
مِنfrom جودِهِhis generosity كانواthey were عَلَيهِupon him عِيالاdependants
مِن جودِهِ كانوا عَلَيهِ عِيالا
The father of the poor has died; let them weep for a father
whose generosity supported them as dependants.
أَأَباO father of المُظَفَّرِal-Muzaffar كُنتَyou were ليfor me مِنagainst عُسرَتيmy hardship
أَأَبا المُظَفَّرِ كُنتَ لي مِن عُسرَتي
مالاًwealth وَمِنand against جَورِthe tyranny الخُطوبِof calamities مآلاa refuge
مالاً وَمِن جَورِ الخُطوبِ مآلا
O Abu al-Muzaffar, you were for me, against my poverty,
wealth, and against the tyranny of calamities a refuge.
ماalways زِلتَyou remained عَوناًa help فيamid الحَوادِثِcalamities ليfor me إِذاwhen
ما زِلتَ عَوناً في الحَوادِثِ لي إِذا
ضَعُفَتwas too weak يَمينٌa right hand أَنto تُعينَaid شِمالاa left hand
ضَعُفَت يَمينٌ أَن تُعينَ شِمالا
You always aided me amid calamities, when
the right hand was too weak to help the left.
ماwhat بالَis the matter with وُدٍّa love فيthrough الزَمانِtime ذَخرَتُهُI stored it
ما بالَ وُدٍّ في الزَمانِ ذَخرَتُهُ
لِشَدائِديfor my hardships أَمسىit became عَلَيَّagainst me وَبالاa bane
لِشَدائِدي أَمسى عَلَيَّ وَبالا
What ails a love I had stored through time
against my hardships, that it has become a bane to me?
وَمَلابِساًand garments مِنof غِبطَةٍhappiness أَلبَسَتنيyou clothed me in
وَمَلابِساً مِن غِبطَةٍ أَلبَسَتني
جُدُداًnew عَلامَwhy أَعَدتَّهاyou turned them back أَسمالاto rags
جُدُداً عَلامَ أَعَدتَّها أَسمالا
And the garments of happiness you clothed me in,
new—why have you turned them back to rags?
وَمُبَشِّراتُكَand your glad tidings كَيفَhow عُدنَbecame سَمائِماًscorching winds
وَمُبَشِّراتُكَ كَيفَ عُدنَ سَمائِماً
هوجاًraging وَكُنَّwhen they had been عَلىupon القُلوبِthe hearts شَمالاa north wind
هوجاً وَكُنَّ عَلى القُلوبِ شَمالا
And your glad tidings—how have they become scorching winds,
raging, when they once were cool north winds upon the heart?
سُلِبَتwas stripped of تَجَمُّلَهاits adornment عَلَيكَbecause of you وِزارَةٌa vizierate
سُلِبَت تَجَمُّلَها عَلَيكَ وِزارَةٌ
لَبِسَتhad clothed itself بِمُلكِكَthrough your rule رَونَقاًin splendor وَجَمالاand beauty
لَبِسَت بِمُلكِكَ رَونَقاً وَجَمالا
A vizierate has been stripped of its adornment by your loss,
having clothed itself through your rule in splendor and beauty.
يَبكيweeps لِفَقدِكَfor your loss دَستُهاits seat وَلَقَلَّماand seldom
يَبكي لِفَقدِكَ دَستُها وَلَقَلَّما
كانَتhas تُبَكّيlamented غابَةٌa thicket ريبالاa lion
كانَت تُبَكّي غابَةٌ ريبالا
Its seat weeps for your loss; how seldom
has a thicket mourned a lion!
ياO مورِديyou who bring me to ماءَthe water الدُموعِof tears وَلَمwhile ever يَزَلhas been
يا مورِدي ماءَ الدُموعِ وَلَم يَزَل
وِرديmy draught نَميراًwholesome مِنfrom يَدَيهِhis hands زُلالاcrystal-clear
وِردي نَميراً مِن يَدَيهِ زُلالا
O you who bring me to the water of tears, though ever
my draught from his hands was wholesome and crystal-clear!
وَمُحِمِّليand you who load me with العِبءَthe burden الثَقيلَheavy بِرُزئِهِthrough his loss
وَمُحِمِّلي العِبءَ الثَقيلَ بِرُزئِهِ
إِنّيindeed I عَهِدتُكَknew you تَحمِلُbearing الأَثقالاheavy burdens
إِنّي عَهِدتُكَ تَحمِلُ الأَثقالا
And you who load me with a heavy burden through his loss—
I knew you as one who bore heavy burdens.
أَمسَكتَyou refrained عَنfrom رَدِّreturning الجَوابِan answer وَطالَماand how often
أَمسَكتَ عَن رَدِّ الجَوابِ وَطالَما
جادَلتَyou debated فُرسانَthe champions الكَلامِof speech جِدالاin debate
جادَلتَ فُرسانَ الكَلامِ جِدالا
You have withheld an answering word, though so often
you debated the champions of speech.
وَقَطَعتَand you cut off آمالَthe hopes العُفاةِof suppliants وَلَمand not تَكُنwas
وَقَطَعتَ آمالَ العُفاةِ وَلَم تَكُن
لَكَfor you شيمَةًa trait أَنto تَقطَعَcut off الآمالاhopes
لَكَ شيمَةً أَن تَقطَعَ الآمالا
You have cut off the hopes of suppliants, though it was never
your nature to cut off hopes.
وَأَعَدتَّand you made again أَيّاميmy days الحَواليadorned بِالأَسىthrough sorrow
وَأَعَدتَّ أَيّامي الحَوالي بِالأَسى
عُطلاًunadorned وَلَيلاتيand my nights القِصارَshort طِوالاlong
عُطلاً وَلَيلاتي القِصارَ طِوالا
You have made my adorned days, through sorrow,
bare of jewels, and my short nights long.
وَرُزِئتُand I was bereaved مِنكَof you بِهِمَّةٍof a resolve عَلَوِيَّةٍexalted
وَرُزِئتُ مِنكَ بِهِمَّةٍ عَلَوِيَّةٍ
أَحرَزتَyou attained مِنهاthrough it الفَضلَexcellence وَالإِفضالاand beneficence
أَحرَزتَ مِنها الفَضلَ وَالإِفضالا
And in losing you I lost an exalted resolve
through which you won excellence and beneficence.
جاوَرتُهاI dwelt beside it وَغَنيتُand needed not أَنto أَستَرشِدَseek guidance from الthe (continued)
جاوَرتُها وَغَنيتُ أَن أَستَرشِدَ ال
ضُلّالَmisguided أَوor أَستَرفِدَseek aid from البُخّالاmisers
ضُلّالَ أَو أَستَرفِدَ البُخّالا
I lived beside it, needing neither to ask guidance of the
misguided nor seek aid from misers.
لَمnot يَسكُنِgrew calm الأَعداءُthe enemies مِنfrom فَرَقٍfear بِهاof it
لَم يَسكُنِ الأَعداءُ مِن فَرَقٍ بِها
حَتّىuntil سَكَنتَyou dwelt among جَنادِلاًrocks وَرِمالاand sands
حَتّى سَكَنتَ جَنادِلاً وَرِمالا
The enemies' fear of it never subsided
until you took your dwelling among rocks and sands.
وَحَلَلتَand you settled بِالبَيداءِin the wilderness مَنزِلَin an abode وَحشَةٍof desolation
وَحَلَلتَ بِالبَيداءِ مَنزِلَ وَحشَةٍ
وَهَجَرتَand you abandoned مَنزِلَan abode غِبطَةٍof happiness مِحلالاmuch-frequented
وَهَجَرتَ مَنزِلَ غِبطَةٍ مِحلالا
You settled in the wilderness, in an abode of desolation,
and left a much-frequented dwelling of happiness.
حَلِيَتwere adorned بِزَورَتِكَby your visit القُبورُthe graves وَعادَتِand became الthe (continued)
حَلِيَت بِزَورَتِكَ القُبورُ وَعادَتِ ال
دُنياworld بِماwhen وَدَّعتَهاyou bade it farewell مِعطالاunadorned
دُنيا بِما وَدَّعتَها مِعطالا
The graves were adorned by your visit, and the
world, when you bade it farewell, became bereft of jewels.
أَرضىmay gladden الحَياthe rain المِدرارُcopious تُربَكَyour soil مِنof فَتىًa noble man
أَرضى الحَيا المِدرارُ تُربَكَ مِن فَتىً
أَرضىgladdened العُفاةَsuppliants وَأَسخَطَand angered العُذّالاreproachers
أَرضى العُفاةَ وَأَسخَطَ العُذّالا
May abundant rain gladden your dust—what a noble man,
who gladdened suppliants and angered reproachers!
وَهَمىand may it pour عَلَيكَupon you بِمِثلِlike كَفِّكَyour palm ثَرَّةًin abundance
وَهَمى عَلَيكَ بِمِثلِ كَفِّكَ ثَرَّةً
وَسَقاكَand may it give you to drink خُلقَكَyour nature بارِداًcool سَلسالاsweet-flowing
وَسَقاكَ خُلقَكَ بارِداً سَلسالا
May it pour upon you, as freely flowing as your palm,
and water you with your own nature, cool and sweet,
بَسَحائِبٍfrom clouds قَدindeed كُنتَyou used to تَسحَبُtrail عِزَّةًin might
بَسَحائِبٍ قَد كُنتَ تَسحَبُ عِزَّةً
وَجَلالَةًand majesty مِنfrom فَوقِهاabove them الأَذيالاthe hems
وَجَلالَةً مِن فَوقِها الأَذيالا
from clouds above which, in might,
and majesty, you once trailed your robes.
فَليَشكُرَنَّكَso let him surely thank you مَنone for whom وَسَمتَyou branded بِميسَمِwith the brand of الthe (continued)
فَليَشكُرَنَّكَ مَن وَسَمتَ بِميسَمِ ال
حَسَناتِgood deeds أَيّاماًdays لَهُfor him أَغفالاunmarked
حَسَناتِ أَيّاماً لَهُ أَغفالا
Let him thank you, for whom you stamped with the mark of
good deeds days that had borne no mark.
فَليَسقِيَنَّso let him surely water ثَراكَyour soil حاكِيَةًmatching سِجَtorrents (continued)
فَليَسقِيَنَّ ثَراكَ حاكِيَةً سِجَ
الَtorrents (completion) المُزنِof rainclouds مِنfrom صَوبِthe streaming الدُموعِof tears سِجالاtorrents
الَ المُزنِ مِن صَوبِ الدُموعِ سِجالا
Let him water your dust with torrents matching
the clouds' downpours—torrents of streaming tears.
وَليَجعَلَنَّand let him surely make الدَمعَtears بَعدَكَafter you دَأبَهُhis habit
وَليَجعَلَنَّ الدَمعَ بَعدَكَ دَأبَهُ
وَالحُزنَand sorrow ماas long as اِمتَدَّextends الزَمانُtime وَطالاand lengthens
وَالحُزنَ ما اِمتَدَّ الزَمانُ وَطالا
Let him make tears his constant habit after you,
and sorrow, as long as time stretches on.
لاnot يَفخَرَنَّlet boast الشامِتونَthe gloaters فَإِنَّماfor indeed الthe (continued)
لا يَفخَرَنَّ الشامِتونَ فَإِنَّما ال
دُنياworld تُحيلُtransforms صُروفَهاits vicissitudes الأَحوالاconditions
دُنيا تُحيلُ صُروفَها الأَحوالا
Let the gloaters not boast, for the
world's vicissitudes overturn all conditions.
مَكّارَةٌscheming غَرّارَةٌdeluding غَدّارَةٌtreacherous
مَكّارَةٌ غَرّارَةٌ غَدّارَةٌ
بِبُعولِهاfor her husbands تَستَبدِلُshe exchanges الأَبدالاreplacements
بِبُعولِها تَستَبدِلُ الأَبدالا
Scheming, deluding, treacherous,
she trades her husbands for replacements.
ياO مَنyou who يُكَلِّفُهاdemands of her الوَفاءَfaithfulness بِذِمَّةٍto a covenant
يا مَن يُكَلِّفُها الوَفاءَ بِذِمَّةٍ
كَلَّفتَyou demanded of دُنياكَyour world الغَدورَthe treacherous مُحالاthe impossible
كَلَّفتَ دُنياكَ الغَدورَ مُحالا
You who demand that she honor a covenant,
you have demanded the impossible of your treacherous world.
لاnot تُخدَعَنَّbe deceived بِثَروَةٍby wealth وَشَبيبَةٍand youth
لا تُخدَعَنَّ بِثَروَةٍ وَشَبيبَةٍ
وَاِرقُبand expect لِأَيّامِfor the days السُرورِof joy زَوالاan end
وَاِرقُب لِأَيّامِ السُرورِ زَوالا
Do not be deceived by wealth and youth;
expect the days of joy to pass away.
Sol 6.1