Sol 6.1

  1. سقاكِ الحيا من أَرْبُعٍ وطلولِ

    وحَيًّاك منه عارضٌ بهَطولِ

    May life-giving rain water you, O dwellings and ruined traces,

    And may a cloud from it greet you with a downpour.

  2. وجادَ عليكِ الغيثُ كلَّ عشيَّةٍ

    تسيل الرُّبا من صوبه بسيول

    And may the rain pour generously upon you every evening,

    So the hills run with torrents from its rainfall.

  3. عفا رسمُ دارٍ غيَّرَ النَّأْيُ عهدها

    فطالَ بكائي عندها وعويلي

    A dwelling's trace has faded; separation has changed its former state,

    And long have been my weeping and wailing beside it.

  4. وقفتُ بها أستنزفُ العينَ ماءهَا

    بمُنْسَكِبٍ من مدمعي وهمول

    I stood there, draining the eye of its water,

    With a pouring, streaming flood from my tear duct.

  5. وأشكو غليلَ الوجد في عَرَصَاتها

    وما لي فيها ما يبلُّ غليلي

    And I lament the burning thirst of longing in its courtyards,

    With nothing there for me to quench my thirst.

  6. إلامَ أُداري مهجةً شفَّها الهوى

    بريَّا صباً من حاجرٍ وقبول

    How long shall I soothe a heart worn thin by love,

    With the fragrance of an east wind from Hajir and an easterly breeze,

  7. وأكتمُ وجدي عن وُشاتي وعُذَّلي

    وأُخفي الجوى عن صاحبي وخليلي

    And conceal my longing from my slanderers and reproachers,

    And hide my heartache from my companion and intimate friend?

  8. وقد عَلِمَ الواشون بالحبِّ أنَّني

    أطعْتُ غرامي إذ عَصَيْت عذولي

    The slanderers have already learned of my love: that I

    Obeyed my passion when I disobeyed my reproacher.

  9. أَلا مَن لقلبٍ لا يقرُّ من الجوى

    وجَفْنٍ لتسكابِ الدُّموع مذيل

    Ah, who will help a heart that finds no rest from heartache,

    And an eyelid abased by the pouring of tears?

  10. وما هاجني إلاَّ وميضٌ أشِيمه

    كما لاحَ من ماضي الغرار صقيل

    Nothing stirred me but a flash whose course I watched,

    Like the gleam of a polished blade with a keen edge.

  11. يذكِّرني ما لستُ أنساه في الغضا

    هبوبَ شمالٍ في مدار شمول

    It reminds me of what I cannot forget among the ghada trees:

    A north wind blowing while wine was passed round.

  12. فواهاً لأيَّام قَضَيْتُ ومربعٍ

    سَحَبْت عليه بالسّرور ذيولي

    Ah, for days I spent, and a spring encampment

    Where I trailed my robe's hems in joy,

  13. وصهباءَ يسقيها مليحٌ تَلَذُّ لي

    بأحوى غضيض الناظرين كحيل

    And tawny wine a handsome one serves, delightful to me

    With a dark-lipped youth, downcast and kohl-dark of eye.

  14. وقد نظمَتْ فيها الحبابُ كواكباً

    وزَرَّتْ عليها الشمس ثوبَ أصيل

    The bubbles had arranged stars within it,

    And the sun had buttoned upon it a robe of late afternoon.

  15. فهل يرجع الماضي من العيش في الحمى

    ويخضرُّ عُود اللَّهو بعد ذبول

    Will the past life within the sanctuary return,

    And the branch of pleasure grow green after withering?

  16. أَحِنّ إلى عهد الشَّباب وطيبه

    وحَيٍّ بأحناء الضلوع نزول

    I yearn for youth's days and sweetness,

    And a tribe encamped in the curves of my ribs:

  17. مصارع عشَّاقٍ ومغنى صبابة

    وكم في الحمى من مصرعٍ لقتيل

    Lovers' places of death, and an abode of yearning;

    And how many a slain one's place of death lies in the sanctuary!

  18. أَحِبَّتنا هلْ من رسولٍ إليكم

    وهل مبلغ عنِّي الغرام رسولي

    Our loved ones, is there a messenger to reach you?

    And will my messenger convey my passion on my behalf?

  19. جَفَوتم فأكثرتم جفاكم على النوى

    ألا فاسمحوا من نيلكم بقليل

    You shunned me and multiplied your coldness amid separation;

    Ah, grant me just a little of your bounty.

  20. فعندي من الأَشواق ما لو أبُثُّه

    عَرَفْتُم بأشراكِ الفتون حصولي

    For I have longings which, if I revealed them,

    Would show you how I am caught in enchantment's snares.

  21. ذُهِلْتُ بكم عَن غيركم بغَرامِكم

    وفيكم لعَمري حَيْرتي وذُهُولي

    Your love has made me forget all others for you;

    In you, by my life, lie my bewilderment and distraction.

  22. سأَطلبُ أسباب العُلى ولوَ انَّها

    بأَنياب آسادٍ ربضنَ بغيل

    I shall seek the means of greatness, even if they lie

    Among the fangs of lions crouching in a thicket.

  23. ولستُ بناءٍ عن منًى وركائبي

    ضوامنُ في إزعاجها بوصول

    I am not far from my hopes, and my riding camels

    Guarantee arrival when I urge them onward.

  24. أُسَيِّرها ما بينَ شرقٍ ومغربٍ

    وما بينَ وَخْدٍ مزعجٍ وذميل

    I drive them between east and west,

    Between a jolting stride and an easy trot.

  25. وإنِّي وإنْ لم آمن الدهر خطبه

    وما أَمنَ الأَيَّام غير جهول

    And I, though I do not trust time against its calamities—

    And none but a fool trusts the days—

  26. وأنهضُ أحياناً إلى ما يريبني

    وإنْ غَرَّ بعض الجاهلين خمولي

    Rise at times to face what makes me uneasy,

    Though my obscurity has deceived some ignorant men.

  27. حمول لأعباء الخطوب بأسرها

    ولكنَّني للضيم غير حمول

    I bear all the burdens of calamities,

    But I will not bear oppression.

  28. وما ذلَّ في الدُّنيا عزيزٌ بنفسه

    ولا عاشَ حرُّ القوم عيش ذليل

    No self-respecting man is abased in this world,

    Nor does the free man of a people live a life of humiliation.

  29. ترفَّعْتُ عن قوم زهدتُ بودّهم

    وما هُمْ بأمثالي لا بشكولي

    I held aloof from a people whose affection I ceased to seek;

    They are not my equals, nor of my kind.

  30. وحاولْتُ عزّ النَّفس بالصَّدّ عنهم

    وما كنتُ إلاَّ في أعزّ قبيل

    I sought self-respect by turning away from them,

    And I have belonged only to the noblest clan.

  31. وما سرَّني إلاَّ جميل محمَّد

    وليسَ جميلٌ بعد آل جميل

    Nothing delighted me but Muhammad's kindness,

    And there is no kindness beyond the house of Jamil.

  32. تظلَّلْتُ من بين الأنام بظلِّه

    فأصْبِحْتُ في ظلٍّ لديه ظليل

    Among all mankind, I took shelter in his shade,

    And came to dwell beside him in ample shade.

  33. ظفرتُ بهم غرَّ الوجوه أماجداً

    بكلِّ جليل القدر وابن جليل

    I found them radiant-faced, noble men,

    Each of lofty rank and the son of a lofty man.

  34. يخبّر سيماهم بغرِّ وجوههم

    إذا بَزَغَتْ عن مجده بأَثيل

    Their bearing speaks through their radiant faces,

    When they rise, of his deep-rooted glory.

  35. ويُشْرِقُ من لألاء صبح جبينهم

    شموسُ معالٍ لم تُرَعْ بأفول

    And from the radiance of their brows' dawn shine

    Suns of high honors, never frightened by setting.

  36. لئنْ أتَتِ الدُّنيا بأمثال غيرهم

    فهيهات أنْ تأتي لهم بمثيل

    Even if the world has brought forth the likes of others,

    Far be it from bringing forth their equal!

  37. فمن برِّهم نيلي مكارم برّهم

    فأكرمْ به من نائلٍ ومنيل

    Through their kindness I attain their noble favors;

    How noble he is, both recipient and giver!

  38. مناجيبُ لم يدنس من اللُّؤم عرضهم

    ولا عَلِقَتْ أُمٌّ لهم ببخيل

    Nobly born men whose honor baseness has never stained,

    Nor has any mother of theirs conceived a miser.

  39. فروعٌ تسامت للمعالي وأفْرَعَتْ

    بطيبِ فروعٍ قد زكَتْ بأُصول

    Branches that rose toward high honors and branched out

    With fine branches made pure by their roots.

  40. يُصيخون للدَّاعي إلى كشف ضرّهِ

    لدى كلِّ خطبٍ في الخطوب مهول

    They listen to the caller, seeking to relieve his distress,

    At every terrifying trial among the trials.

  41. فمنْ كلِّ سمَّاعٍ مجيبٍ إلى النَّدى

    سريع إلى الفعل الجميل عَجول

    Each is an attentive listener, answering the call to generosity,

    Swift to the noble deed, quick to act.

  42. وكمْ نازل مثلي بساحة حيِّهم

    أَقامَ ولم يُؤْذنْ له برحيل

    How many a guest like me has alighted in their tribe's courtyard,

    And stayed, not being given leave to depart.

  43. أَراشوا بني عبد الغنيّ جناحَه

    فأثرى بمالٍ ما هناك جزيل

    The sons of Abd al-Ghani feathered his wing,

    And he grew rich with abundant wealth there.

  44. وأصْبَحَ ذا جاهٍ عزيزٍ بجاههم

    عريضٍ على عرض الزَّمان طويل

    And gained mighty standing through their standing,

    Broad and enduring across the span of time.

  45. شكرتهُم شكر الرياض يدُ الحيا

    بأصدقِ قالٍ بالثناءِ وقيل

    I thanked them as gardens thank the hand of rain,

    With the truest speech and utterance of praise.

  46. وأثْنَتْ عليهمْ بالجميل عوالمٌ

    فمن مقصرٍ في مدحِهِم ومطيل

    And multitudes praised them for their goodness,

    Some brief in their praise, and some lengthy.

  47. وما زالَ لي من جود كفِّ محمَّد

    رواءُ غليل أو شفاءُ عليل

    From the generosity of Muhammad's hand, I have always had

    A quenching of thirst, or healing for one ailing.

  48. فتًى شغلَ الدُّنيا بحُسن ثنائه

    وقامَ له بالفضل ألْفُ دليل

    A young man whose fair renown engrossed the world,

    And a thousand proofs arose to attest his excellence.

  49. من القوم يهديهم إلى ما يسرُّهم

    مداركُ أفكار لهم وعقول

    He is of a people led toward what delights them

    By the discernment of their thoughts and minds.

  50. سليل المعالي وابنها ونِجارها

    فبُورِك من زاكٍ زكا وسليل

    A scion of high honors, their son and their very stock;

    Blessed be that pure one, who flourished, and that scion!

  51. ظفرت به دون الأنام بماجدٍ

    قؤولٍ بما قالَ الكرام فعول

    Beyond all mankind, I found in him a noble man,

    Rich in the words noble men speak, and rich in deeds.

  52. ألا بأبي من قد هداني لبرّه

    وأوْضَحَ في نَهْجِ العلاء سبيلي

    Ah, may my father ransom him who guided me to his kindness,

    And made my way clear along the path of greatness.

  53. تقال لديه في المكاره عَثْرتي

    وفي ظلِّه عند الهجير مقيلي

    In his presence, my stumbles amid adversity are set right,

    And in his shade is my rest in the midday heat.

  54. أرى جُمَل الإِحسان والخير كلَّه

    مفصَّلة في ذاتكم بفصول

    I see the sum of beneficence and all goodness

    Detailed in your very being, chapter by chapter.

  55. رفعْتُمْ برغم الحاسدين مكانتي

    فمنزلتي فوقَ السُّها ونزولي

    Despite the envious, you raised my station,

    So my rank and lodging are above al-Suha.

  56. إذا غبتُ عنكم أُبتُ من بعد غيبتي

    وكانَ إليكم أوْبَتي وقفولي

    Whenever I am absent from you, I return after my absence,

    And to you are my return and my homeward journey.

  57. سَموْتُم بحمد الله أبناء عصرِكم

    وكنتُمْ بهذا الجيل أكرم جيل

    You have surpassed your contemporaries, praise be to God,

    And in this generation you have been the noblest people.

  58. رعى الله من يرعى الوداد وأهْلَهُ

    وليسَ له فيه تلوُّن غول

    May God protect whoever tends affection and its people,

    And shows in it none of a ghoul's shifting guises.

  59. إليكم بني عبد الغني قصيدةً

    من الشّعر تحكي دقَّتي ونحولي

    To you, sons of Abd al-Ghani, I offer a poem

    Of verse that mirrors my slenderness and wasting.

  60. أُبشِّر بالإِقبال نفسي وبالمنى

    إذا وَقَعَتْ من لطفكمْ بقبول

    I gladden myself with good fortune and hopes,

    When, through your kindness, it meets with acceptance.