بَلىyes indeed صَبأواthey changed their faith قبليbefore me..وإنِّيand indeed I سَأصْبأshall change my faith ُ
بَلى صَبأوا قبلي..وإنِّي سَأصْبأ ُ
فأبدأso I begin ُ منكِfrom you الآنnow ماas long as دُمتُI remain أبدأI begin ُ
فأبدأ ُ منكِ الآن ما دُمتُ أبدأ ُ
Yes, they changed their faith before me; I too shall change mine.
Yes, they have raged before me..and I will rage
So I begin with you now, since I am beginning.
So I start with you now as long as I start
أجَلْyes كنتِyou were يوماonce ًنَجمَةthe star َالكونof the universe ِوانطفَتْand it went out
أجَلْ كنتِ يوما ًنَجمَة َالكون ِوانطفَتْ
ولكنَّكِbut you الآنَnow التيthe one who ليسَis not تُطفَأextinguished ُ
ولكنَّكِ الآنَ التي ليسَ تُطفَأ ُ
Yes, you were once the star of the universe, and it went out,
Yes, you were once the star of the universe and faded away
But now you are the one that cannot be extinguished.
But now you are the one that does not fade away
دِلالَةproof َأنَّthat الأرضَthe earth كلُّall ذئابِهاits wolves
دِلالَة َأنَّ الأرضَ كلُّ ذئابِها
تَعاوَتْhowled together علىover مَجرىthe stream دِماكِof your blood..وَتَخسأand slink away in disgrace ُ
تَعاوَتْ على مَجرى دِماكِ..وَتَخسأ ُ
The proof is that all the wolves of the earth
Proof that the entire earth, all its wolves
Have howled together over the stream of your blood—and slink away in disgrace.
Worked together against your blood flow..and became rancid
يَظلُّremains طَهوراpurifying ًكلُّevery جُرحwound ٍفَتَحتِهِyou opened it
يَظلُّ طَهورا ًكلُّ جُرح ٍفَتَحتِهِ
عسىmay كلُّevery مَظلومwronged person ٍبِهِwith it يَتَوَضَّأperform ablution ُ !
عسى كلُّ مَظلوم ٍبِهِ يَتَوَضَّأ ُ !
Every wound you have opened remains purifying,
Every wound they opened
May every wronged soul perform ablution with it!
Remains pure so that every oppressed may perform ablution with it!
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Yes, they have raged before me..and I will rage
أجَلْyes صََبأواthey changed their faith قَبليbefore me..وإنِّيand indeed I سَأصبأshall change my faith ُ
أجَلْ صََبأوا قَبلي..وإنِّي سَأصبأ ُ
فَأبدأso I begin ُمنكِfrom you الآنَnow ماas long as دمتُI remain أبدأI begin ُ
فَأبدأ ُمنكِ الآنَ ما دمتُ أبدأ ُ
Yes, they changed their faith before me; I too shall change mine.
So I start with you now as long as I start
So I begin with you now, since I am beginning.
The world gathered against you in its night
تَجَمَّعَتgathered الدُّنياthe world عليكِagainst you بِلَيلِهاwith its night
تَجَمَّعَت الدُّنيا عليكِ بِلَيلِها
بِكلِّwith all ضَواريهاits beasts of prey..فعاثُواso they ran riot ، وأوبأواand they spread pestilence
بِكلِّ ضَواريها..فعاثُوا ، وأوبأوا
The world gathered against you with its night,
With all its beasts..they wreaked havoc and muddled
With all its beasts of prey; then they ran riot and spread pestilence.
Those who wouldn’t dare to overstep in dreams grew bold
تَجَرَّأdared َ مَنthose who فيin الحُلمa dream ِلاdo not يَتَجَرَّأdare ُ
تَجَرَّأ َ مَن في الحُلم ِلا يَتَجَرَّأ ُ
وَهَيَّأand made preparations َ مَنthose who فيin الوَهمfantasy ِلاdo not يَتَهَيَّأready themselves ُ
وَهَيَّأ َ مَن في الوَهم ِلا يَتَهَيَّأ ُ
Those who dare not even in a dream dared,
And those who wouldn’t dare prepare in delusions prepared
And those who cannot ready themselves even in fancy made ready.
And armies erupted that only God knows
وَجاشَتْand surged forth جيوشٌarmies يَعلمُknows اللهُGod أنَّهاthat they
وَجاشَتْ جيوشٌ يَعلمُ اللهُ أنَّها
وَمَنand those who جَيَّشوهاthey mustered them..ماnot أثارواthey stirred up ، وعَبَّأواand they mobilized
وَمَن جَيَّشوها..ما أثاروا ، وعَبَّأوا
And armies surged forth—God knows that they
Who provoked them..they didn’t arouse or rally
And those who mustered them stirred up and mobilized
Except that it’s hatred upon the land of Sumer
سوىexcept أنَّهُthat it is حِقدٌhatred علىagainst أرضthe land ِسومرof Sumer ٍ
سوى أنَّهُ حِقدٌ على أرض ِسومر ٍ
لأنَّbecause ثَراهاits soil للحضاراتِfor civilizations مَنشَأa birthplace
لأنَّ ثَراها للحضاراتِ مَنشَأ
Nothing but hatred for the land of Sumer,
Because its soil is the origin of civilizations
For its soil is the birthplace of civilizations;
Because the heir of light shines like it
لأنَّbecause وَريثَthe heir الضَّوءِof light يَسطعُshines مثلَهُlike it
لأنَّ وَريثَ الضَّوءِ يَسطعُ مثلَهُ
وَمَعدنُand the metal هذاof this one مثلُlike ذاthat one ليسَdoes not يَصدأrust ُُ
وَمَعدنُ هذا مثلُ ذا ليسَ يَصدأ ُُ
For the heir to light shines like it,
And the mine of this like that does not rust!
And this one's metal, like the other's, does not rust.
America tries with all its armies
تُحاولُtries أمريكاAmerica بِكلِّwith all جيوشِهاits armies
تُحاولُ أمريكا بِكلِّ جيوشِها
لِكيin order to تَستَفِزَّprovoke الغَيبَthe unseen،والغَيبُand the unseen يَهزأscoffs ُ
لِكي تَستَفِزَّ الغَيبَ،والغَيبُ يَهزأ ُ
America is trying, with all its armies,
To provoke the unseen, and the unseen mocks
To provoke the unseen—and the unseen scoffs.
And they missed that the devils themselves
وَفاتَهُموand it escaped them أنَّthat الشَّياطينthe devils نَفسَهُمthemselves
وَفاتَهُمو أنَّ الشَّياطين نَفسَهُم
لوif التُمِسواthey were asked أنto يَفعَلواthey do ماnot تَجَرَّأواthey would have dared
لو التُمِسوا أن يَفعَلوا ما تَجَرَّأوا
And it escaped them that the devils themselves,
If asked to do what they dared
Had they been asked to do it, would not have dared.
Because the course of the earth..God alone
لأنَّbecause مَسارَthe course الأرضof the earth ِ..اللهُGod وَحدَهُHe alone
لأنَّ مَسارَ الأرض ِ..اللهُ وَحدَهُ
كفيلٌa guarantor بهِfor it..يُعْليraises up ، وَيُخْليand empties ، ويَملأand fills ُ
كفيلٌ بهِ..يُعْلي ، وَيُخْلي ، ويَملأ ُ
For the earth's course—God alone
Is responsible for it..He elevates, empties, and fills!
Is its guarantor; He raises up, empties, and fills.
And glory to the Lord of the universe..His kingship
وسُبحانَand glory be ربِّto the Lord الكونof the universe ِ.. لاnot مَلَكوتُهُHis dominion
وسُبحانَ ربِّ الكون ِ.. لا مَلَكوتُهُ
مُشاعٌheld in common ، ولاnor ناموسُهُHis law العَدلُjust مُرجَأdeferred ُ!
مُشاعٌ ، ولا ناموسُهُ العَدلُ مُرجَأ ُ!
And glory be to the Lord of the universe! His dominion is not
Is not shared, and the justice of His law is not delayed!
Held in common, nor is His just law deferred!
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Peace on Baghdad..there is no sun like its sun
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Nor its darkness, a house that glitters
سَلامٌpeace علىupon بغدادBaghdad..لاnot مثلَlike شمسِهاher sun
سَلامٌ على بغداد..لا مثلَ شمسِها
وَلاnor كَدُجاهاlike her darkness ، دارَةa halo ٌ تَتَلألأsparkles ُ
وَلا كَدُجاها ، دارَة ٌ تَتَلألأ ُ
Peace be upon Baghdad! Nothing is like her sun,
Nor an oasis in earth like plenty Baghdad
Nor does any halo glitter like her darkness.
Nor another Tigris that the soul thirsts for!
ولاnor كَثَرىlike the soil بغدادof Baghdad فيon الأرضthe earth ِواحَةan oasis ٌ
ولا كَثَرى بغداد في الأرض ِواحَة ٌ
ولاnor دَجلَةTigris ٌأfragment of 'another' ُخرىremainder of 'another' لهاfor it الرُّوحُthe soul تَظمأthirsts ُ!
ولا دَجلَة ٌأ ُخرى لها الرُّوحُ تَظمأ ُ!
Nor is there on earth an oasis like Baghdad's soil,
And no shade but its shade we take shelter in
Nor another Tigris for which the soul thirsts!
And none but its brilliance in winter we wrap ourselves with!
ولاand no ظِلَّshade إلاexcept ظِلَّهاher shade نَتَفَيَّأwe seek shade ُ
ولا ظِلَّ إلا ظِلَّها نَتَفَيَّأ ُ
وإلاand except سَناهاher radiance فيin الشِّتاwinter نَتَدَفَّأwe warm ourselves ُ!
وإلا سَناها في الشِّتا نَتَدَفَّأ ُ!
And we seek no shade but hers,
You are surrendered so there is no refuge on earth but you
And in winter warm ourselves by her radiance alone!
And no hand on earth but yours we cling to
سَلِمتِmay you be safe فَماfor there is no فيon الأرضearth ِإلاكِexcept you مَفزَعٌa refuge
سَلِمتِ فَما في الأرض ِإلاكِ مَفزَعٌ
ولاnor مِنany يَدٍhand فيon الأرضearth ِإلاكِexcept you تَكلأguards ُ
ولا مِن يَدٍ في الأرض ِإلاكِ تَكلأ ُ
May you be safe, for on earth there is no refuge but you,
How strange, O love of both Euphrates’
Nor any protecting hand on earth but yours.
When did the wings of those who abandoned you rest?
لأعجَبُI do marvel ياO عِشْقَlove الفُراتَينof the two Euphrates ِكلَّهُall of it
لأعجَبُ يا عِشْقَ الفُراتَين ِكلَّهُ
جَوانِحُthe breasts مَنof those who عافُوكِthey spurned you أيَّانَwhen تَهدأgrow still ُ؟
جَوانِحُ مَن عافُوكِ أيَّانَ تَهدأ ُ؟
I marvel, O all the love of the two Euphrates:
And how can you see coolness in the water and be sated?
The breasts of those who spurned you—when will they be still?
And how can you taste flavor in food and delight?
وكيفَand how تَرىthey find فيin الماءِthe water بَرداcoolness ًفَتَرتويso they drink their fill
وكيفَ تَرى في الماءِ بَردا ًفَتَرتوي
وكيفَand how تَرىthey find لِلزَّادِfor the food طعماa flavor ًفَتَهنأso they enjoy it ُ؟
وكيفَ تَرى لِلزَّادِ طعما ًفَتَهنأ ُ؟
And how can they find coolness in water and drink their fill,
And how can those who were distanced from you sleep at night?
And how can they find flavor in food and enjoy it?
And how can those who disavow you ward off calamity?!
وكيفَand how ينامُsleeps الليلَat night مَنthose who عنكِfrom you أبعَدواthey went far away
وكيفَ ينامُ الليلَ مَن عنكِ أبعَدوا
وكيفَand how يَذودُwards off الوَيلَwoe مَنone who منكِfrom you يَبرأdisowns ُ؟!
وكيفَ يَذودُ الوَيلَ مَن منكِ يَبرأ ُ؟!
And how can those who have gone far from you sleep at night,
Whenever all the earth was straitened for us
And how can one who disowns you ward off woe?!
On a palm frond we would lean!
وكنَّاand we used to إذاwhenever ضاقَتْgrew narrow بناfor us الأرضُthe earth كلُّهاall of it
وكنَّا إذا ضاقَتْ بنا الأرضُ كلُّها
علىon خوصَةٍa palm leaflet مِنfrom سَعفَةٍa palm frond نَتَوَكَّأwe lean ُ!
على خوصَةٍ مِن سَعفَةٍ نَتَوَكَّأ ُ!
And whenever the whole earth closed in on us,
So how, with a wound in our guts, do we roam
We would lean on a leaflet from a palm frond!
Lands in which the wound of strangers is provoked?!
فَكيفَso how ، وَفيand in الأحشاءِthe entrails جُرحٌa wound ، نَدورُwe wander فيthrough
فَكيفَ ، وَفي الأحشاءِ جُرحٌ ، نَدورُ في
ديارlands ٍبهاin them جُرحُthe wound الغَريبينَof the strangers يُنْكَأis reopened ُ؟!
ديار ٍبها جُرحُ الغَريبينَ يُنْكَأ ُ؟!
So how, with a wound in our entrails, can we wander through
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Lands where the strangers' wound is reopened?!
Peace on Baghdad.. I grew addicted to her worries
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So nothing in it surprises anymore
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And I grew addicted to her complaints, and I grew addicted to her patience
سَلامٌpeace علىupon بغدادBaghdad..أدمَنتُI grew addicted to هَمَّهاher anguish
سَلامٌ على بغداد..أدمَنتُ هَمَّها
فَماso no عادَlonger فيهاin her فاجيءٌa sudden shock بَعْدُanymore يَفْجأtakes by surprise ُ
فَما عادَ فيها فاجيءٌ بَعْدُ يَفْجأ ُ
Peace be upon Baghdad! I have grown addicted to her anguish,
And I grew addicted to her as a wound that disdains humiliation!
So no sudden shock in her surprises me anymore.
And here it is, bleeding but stubborn
وأدمَنتُand I grew addicted to شَكواهاher lament ، وأدمَنتُand I grew addicted to صَبرَهاher patience
وأدمَنتُ شَكواها ، وأدمَنتُ صَبرَها
وأدمَنتُهاand I grew addicted to her جُرحاas a wound ًعنabove الذfragment of 'humiliation' ُّلِّremainder of 'humiliation' يَربأrises ُ
وأدمَنتُها جُرحا ًعن الذ ُّلِّ يَربأ ُ
And I have grown addicted to her lament, and grown addicted to her patience,
And from it the arteries of the jealous flow!
And I have grown addicted to her—a wound that rises above humiliation.
Proof that the entire earth, all its wolves
وهاand behold هيَshe ذيthis one تَدمَىbleeds ولكنْbut أبيَّةunbowed ٌ
وها هيَ ذي تَدمَى ولكنْ أبيَّة ٌ
وعنهاand from her شَرايينُthe arteries الغَيورينَof the fiercely loyal تَدرأward off harm ُ!
وعنها شَرايينُ الغَيورينَ تَدرأ ُ!
And here she is, bleeding, yet unbowed,
Worked together against your blood flow, and became rancid
And the arteries of the fiercely loyal shield her!
Every wound they opened remains pure
دِلالَةproof َأنَّthat الأرضَthe earth ، كلُّall ذئابِهاits wolves
دِلالَة َأنَّ الأرضَ ، كلُّ ذئابِها
تَعاوَتْhowled together علىover مَجرىthe stream دِماكِof your blood ، وَتَخسأand slink away in disgrace ُ
تَعاوَتْ على مَجرى دِماكِ ، وَتَخسأ ُ
The proof is that all the wolves of the earth
So that every oppressed may perform ablution with it!
Have howled together over the stream of your blood—and slink away in disgrace.
يَظلُّremains طَهوراpurifying ًكلُّevery جُرحwound ٍفَتَحتِهِyou opened it
يَظلُّ طَهورا ًكلُّ جُرح ٍفَتَحتِهِ
عسىmay كلُّevery مَظلومwronged person ٍبِهِwith it يَتَوَضَّأperform ablution ُ!
عسى كلُّ مَظلوم ٍبِهِ يَتَوَضَّأ ُ!
Every wound you have opened remains purifying,
May every wronged soul perform ablution with it!
Partial English translation: 59 of 62 Arabic lines translated.