صافحتكshook your hand القلوبthe hearts قبلbefore النواظرthe eyes
صافحتك القلوب قبل النواظر
واستطارتand took wing إلىto لقاكmeeting you الخواطرthe thoughts
واستطارت إلى لقاك الخواطر
Hearts shook your hand before eyes did.
Hearts greeted you before eyes could see,
And thoughts took wing to meet you.
And thoughts eagerly awaited your presence.
وتلقاكand welcomed you عالمthe world of اليمنYemen الحرthe free
وتلقاك عالم اليمن الحر
كماjust as لاقتgreeted النفوسthe souls البشائرglad tidings
كما لاقت النفوس البشائر
And the free world of Yemen welcomed you,
The people of Yemen joyfully welcomed you,
as souls greeted glad tidings.
Like souls receiving good news.
وارتمىand flung itself forward يسكبpouring التراحيبwelcomes ألواcolors (first fragment)
وارتمى يسكب التراحيب ألوا
ناًcompletion of 'colors' كماjust as تسكبpour out اللحومthe flesh (as written) القياثرthe lyres
ناً كما تسكب اللحوم القياثر
And it flung itself forward, pouring welcomes in
Sounds of celebration poured forth,
colors, as lyres pour out flesh.
Like meat juices pouring from cooking pots.
وتملتand savored نزولكyour arrival اليمنYemen الخضراthe green
وتملت نزولك اليمن الخضرا
ففاضتso overflowed بالأغنياتwith songs الحناجرthe throats
ففاضت بالأغنيات الحناجر
And green Yemen savored your arrival,
Your arrival made Yemen turn green again,
so throats overflowed with songs.
And throats burst into song.
وتنزلتand you descended فيinto معانيthe meanings of حماهاher realm
وتنزلت في معاني حماها
مثلماjust as ينزلdescends into الشعاعlight المحاجرthe eye sockets
مثلما ينزل الشعاع المحاجر
And you descended into the meanings of her realm,
You descended like rays into the hearts of Hamah's people,
just as light descends into the eye sockets.
Like beams descending into chambers.
وهفاand yearned الموطنthe homeland الكريمthe noble يحييto salute
وهفا الموطن الكريم يحيي
مشعلthe torch of العلمlearning فيin سناكyour radiance الباهرthe dazzling
مشعل العلم في سناك الباهر
And the noble homeland yearned to salute
This noble homeland welcomes you,
the torch of learning in your dazzling radiance.
Torch of knowledge, your brilliance apparent.
وتغلغلتand you permeated فيwithin حناياهits innermost folds كالإيمانlike faith
وتغلغلت في حناياه كالإيمان
كالطهرlike purity فيin عفافthe chastity of الضمائرconsciences
كالطهر في عفاف الضمائر
And you permeated its innermost folds like faith,
You penetrated its essence like faith,
like purity in the chastity of consciences,
Like purity in hearts most modest.
كالمنىlike hopes فيin القلوبhearts كالدمlike blood فيin الأبدانbodies
كالمنى في القلوب كالدم في الأبدان
كالسكرlike intoxication فيin دماغthe brain of المعاقرthe habitual drinker
كالسكر في دماغ المعاقر
like hopes in hearts, like blood in bodies,
You were welcomed like yearning in hearts, like blood in veins,
like intoxication in the habitual drinker's brain.
Like sugar dissolving in sips of wine.
قدindeed تلقاكwelcomed you موطنيmy homeland ينثرscattering الترwelcome (first fragment)
قد تلقاك موطني ينثر التر
حيبcompletion of 'welcome' فيinto راحتيكyour two palms نثرthe scattering of الجواهرjewels
حيب في راحتيك نثر الجواهر
My homeland has welcomed you, scattering
My homeland greeted you, strewing perfumes,
welcome into your palms as one scatters jewels.
Like precious gems cast before your comfort.
وانتشىand grew intoxicated منfrom شعاعكyour radiance العلمlearning لماwhen
وانتشى من شعاعك العلم لما
زرتyou visited “دارHouse of العلومthe Sciences” ياO خيرbest زائرvisitor
زرت “دار العلوم” يا خير زائر
And learning grew intoxicated by your radiance when
When you visited Dar Al Uloom,
you visited Dar al-Ulum, O finest visitor.
Its knowledge shone in your glow.
وازدهيand grew radiant الشعرpoetry ينثرscattering النغمmelody الحلsweet (first fragment)
وازدهي الشعر ينثر النغم الحل
وكماcompletion of 'sweet'; just as ينثرscatters الربيعspring الأزاهرflowers
وكما ينثر الربيع الأزاهر
And poetry grew radiant, scattering sweet melody,
Poetry blossomed, scattering rhythmic tones,
as spring scatters flowers.
Like spring scattering flowers.
قدindeed رأىsaw “موطنيmy homeland” بمرآكat the sight of you “مصراًEgypt”
قد رأى “موطني” بمرآك “مصراً”
منبتthe birthplace of الفنart والإباand proud dignity والعباقرand geniuses
منبت الفن والإبا والعباقر
At the sight of you, my homeland saw Egypt,
My homeland saw in you an image of Egypt,
the birthplace of art, proud dignity, and geniuses.
Where art, glory and genius arise.
مصرEgypt أمmother of الحجازthe Hijaz واليمنand Yemen الthe (continued next line)
مصر أم الحجاز واليمن ال
ساميexalted وأمand mother of الشآمal-Sham أمmother of الجزائرAlgeria
سامي وأم الشآم أم الجزائر
Egypt, mother of the Hijaz and exalted Yemen,
Mother of Hejaz, Yemen and Syria,
and mother of al-Sham, mother of Algeria.
Mother of high-minded, noble souls.
وحدةthe unity of العربthe Arabs رايةa banner فيon رباهاher hills
وحدة العرب راية في رباها
ومنىand the hopes of العربthe Arabs فيin يديهاher two hands زواخرoverflowing
ومنى العرب في يديها زواخر
Arab unity is a banner on her hills,
Arab unity her banner raised high,
and Arab hopes overflow in her hands.
In her hands the ships of their hopes.
شادهاbuilt her اللهGod للعروبةfor Arabhood داراًa home
شادها الله للعروبة داراً
وابتناهاand built her بنيّراتwith the lights of الزواهرthe shining stars
وابتناها بنيّرات الزواهر
God raised her as a home for Arabhood,
God established her as the Arab home,
and built her with the lights of shining stars.
Building her with brilliant stars.
بلدةa country تنبتmakes grow العلومthe sciences وأرضand a land
بلدة تنبت العلوم وأرض
تلدgives birth to المجدglory والعلاand eminence والمفاخرand proud achievements
تلد المجد والعلا والمفاخر
A country that grows the sciences, a land
A land where knowledge grows,
that gives birth to glory, eminence, and proud achievements.
Where glory, sublimity and pride are born.
نيلهاher Nile المستفيضthe overflowing أنشودةthe song of اللهGod
نيلها المستفيض أنشودة الله
علىwithin مسمعthe hearing of اللياليthe nights العوابرthe passing
على مسمع الليالي العوابر
Her overflowing Nile is God's song
Her Nile an eternal hymn to God,
within the hearing of the passing nights.
Flowing by transient nights.
وحماهاand her realm كنانةthe quiver of اللهGod ترshoots (first fragment)
وحماها كنانة الله تر
ميcompletion of 'shoots' فيinto وجوهthe faces of العداthe foes السهامthe arrows الثوائرthe rebellious
مي في وجوه العدا السهام الثوائر
And her realm is God's quiver, shooting
God's care protects her from enemies' arrows,
rebellious arrows into the faces of foes.
Fired by hands aflame with rage.
يابنO son of مصرEgypt التيwhich تلاقتconverged عليهاupon her
يابن مصر التي تلاقت عليها
شيمthe noble traits of العربthe Arabs والنفوسand the souls الحرائرthe freeborn
شيم العرب والنفوس الحرائر
O son of Egypt, where there converged
O son of Egypt, where Arab virtues unite,
the Arabs' noble traits and freeborn souls.
And free souls congregate.
علمكyour banner العلمlearning ينشرspreads الدينthe faith فيthroughout الدنياthe world
علمك العلم ينشر الدين في الدنيا
كماjust as تنشرspread الشعاعlight المنائرthe beacons
كما تنشر الشعاع المنائر
Your banner—learning—spreads the faith throughout the world,
Your knowledge spreads faith throughout the world,
as beacons spread light.
Like brilliant rays spreading light.
وتجوبand you travel through الشعوبthe peoples فيin خدمةthe service of الإسلامIslam
وتجوب الشعوب في خدمة الإسلام
والحقand truth وارتباطand the binding of الأواصرties
والحق وارتباط الأواصر
And you travel among peoples in the service of Islam,
You journey serving Islam, truth and unity,
and truth, and the binding of ties.
Tying bonds between hearts sincere.
إيهspeak on عزامAzzam أنتyou are وعيawareness منfrom النيلthe Nile
إيه عزام أنت وعي من النيل
إلىto العربthe Arabs تستثيرyou stir المشاعرfeelings
إلى العرب تستثير المشاعر
Speak on, Azzam: you are awareness, from the Nile
O Azzam, you are a conscience that stirs
to the Arabs, stirring feelings.
Arab hearts and awakens spirits.
وسفيرand an ambassador تشيدyou build الوحدةunity الشماthe lofty
وسفير تشيد الوحدة الشما
وتستنهضand you awaken السناradiance فيin البصائرinner sight
وتستنهض السنا في البصائر
And an ambassador building lofty unity,
An envoy building unity, igniting insights,
and awakening radiance in inward vision.
Calling nations to unite in freedom.
وتناديand you call البلادthe lands للإتحادto union الحرfree
وتنادي البلاد للإتحاد الحر
والاتحادand union أقوىthe strongest مناصرsupporter
والاتحاد أقوى مناصر
And you call the lands to free union,
Unity stronger than all foes.
and union is the strongest ally.
In Arab unity lies eternal, defiant glory.
إنindeed فيin وحدةthe unity of العروبةArabhood مجداًglory
إن في وحدة العروبة مجداً
خالداًeverlasting ثائراًrebelling علىagainst كلevery ثائرrebel
خالداً ثائراً على كل ثائر
Indeed, in Arab unity there is glory,
The Arabs are one nation, united
everlasting, rising against every rebel.
By language, blood and origin.
إنماonly العربthe Arabs أمةa nation وحدتهاhas united her
إنما العرب أمة وحدتها
لغةthe language of الضادḍād (the Arabic letter) والدماand blood والعناصرand ancestry
لغة الضاد والدما والعناصر
The Arabs are a single nation, united by
Once they shook the world,
the language of ḍād, blood, and ancestry.
Splitting the darkness with gleaming swords.
إنماonly العربthe Arabs أمةa nation هزتshook الدنياthe world
إنما العرب أمة هزت الدنيا
وشقتand cleaved سودthe blackness of الخطوبcalamities العواكرthe murky
وشقت سود الخطوب العواكر
The Arabs are a single nation that shook the world
With pride they trod on Persian crowns,
and cleaved the blackness of murky calamities.
And marched upon heads of Caesars.
إنindeed للعربfor the Arabs غابراًa past داسtrampled “كسرىKisra”
إن للعرب غابراً داس “كسرى”
وتمشىand walked علىover رؤوسthe heads of القياصرthe Caesars
وتمشى على رؤوس القياصر
Indeed, the Arabs have a past that trampled Kisra
So draw, my nation, from your glorious past,
and walked over the heads of Caesars.
And build the most noble present.
فاستمديso draw ياO أمتيmy nation منfrom سناthe radiance of الماthe past (first fragment)
فاستمدي يا أمتي من سنا الما
ضيcompletion of 'past' معاليكyour lofty attainments واعمريand build up خيرthe finest حاضرpresent
ضي معاليك واعمري خير حاضر
So draw, O my nation, from the radiance of the past
Glory disdains to meet its sons
your lofty attainments, and build the finest present.
In hands that seize or imprison.
يأنفdisdains المجدglory أنto يلاقيmeet بنيهits sons
يأنف المجد أن يلاقي بنيه
فيin يديthe two hands of غاصبa usurper وفيand in كفthe palm of آسرa captor
في يدي غاصب وفي كف آسر
Glory disdains to meet its sons
Aspire, my nation, to every glory,
in a usurper's hands and in a captor's palm.
And rise with the vigor of early dawn.
فاطمحيso aspire أمتيmy nation إلىto كلevery مجدglory
فاطمحي أمتي إلى كل مجد
وانهضيand rise نهضةthe rising of الصباحthe morning الباكرthe early
وانهضي نهضة الصباح الباكر
So aspire, my nation, to every glory,
O envoy of free solidarity, you voiced
and rise as the early morning rises.
My deepest passions in verse.
ياO سفيرambassador of التضامنsolidarity الحرfree غنتsang of
يا سفير التضامن الحر غنت
سعيكyour striving الحرfree أمنياتيmy wishes الشواعرthe poet-hearted
سعيك الحر أمنياتي الشواعر
O ambassador of free solidarity, singing
My soul melted with love for Arabs,
of your free endeavor were my poet-hearted hopes.
Composing a song of inspiration and flowers.
وتلاشتand dissolved علىin هوىlove for العربthe Arabs روحيmy soul
وتلاشت على هوى العرب روحي
نغماًas a melody ملهمinspiring الغناsong والمزاهرand lutes
نغماً ملهم الغنا والمزاهر
And my soul dissolved in love for the Arabs,
A hymn pouring out my feelings,
into a melody inspiring song and lutes,
My essence, my heartbeat, my inner secrets.
ونشيداًand as a hymn أفرغتI poured فيهinto it أحاسيسيmy feelings
ونشيداً أفرغت فيه أحاسيسي
وذاتيand my self وخافقيand my beating heart والسرائرand hidden secrets
وذاتي وخافقي والسرائر
and a hymn into which I poured my feelings,
So receive, O poet of the Nile, my poetry,
and my self, my beating heart, and hidden secrets.
Verse whose title reads "Soul of a Poet."
فتلقىso receive ياO شاعرpoet of النيلthe Nile شعريmy poetry
فتلقى يا شاعر النيل شعري
فهوfor it is شعرpoetry عنوانهits title is “روحthe soul of شاعرa poet”
فهو شعر عنوانه “روح شاعر”
So receive my verse, O poet of the Nile:
for it is poetry titled “A Poet's Soul.”
Partial English translation: 68 of 70 Arabic lines translated.