لا شَفاني الدَمعُ إِلّا بِالشَرق

لا شَفاني الدَمعُ إِلّا بِالشَرق

فَكُلوا إِنسانَ عَيني بِالغَرَق

فَكُلوا إِنسانَ عَيني بِالغَرَق

May tears give me no cure save choking;

My tears provide no relief except at daybreak,

Tears brought me no healing, save by choking me,

So consign the pupil of my eye to drowning.

So my eye devours humanity at sunset.

So consume the pupil of my eye through drowning.

وَيح عَيني سُلِبَت قُرَّتها

وَيح عَيني سُلِبَت قُرَّتها

وَخَبا نيّرُها لَمّا اِئتَلَق

وَخَبا نيّرُها لَمّا اِئتَلَق

Alas for my eye, robbed of its joy;

Alas my eye! Its delight has been stolen,

Woe to my eye, stripped of its solace,

Its light went out just when it shone.

And its radiance has faded whenever it has blinked.

Its luminary faded just as it began to gleam.

وَلَدي فارَقتُ لا بَل كَبدي

وَلَدي فارَقتُ لا بَل كَبدي

فَالَّذي اِستَجمَعَ مِن شَملي اِفتَرَق

فَالَّذي اِستَجمَعَ مِن شَملي اِفتَرَق

I parted from my son—no, rather my liver;

The one I parted with was not just my child, but my own liver,

I parted from my son—no, rather from my own liver;

What had come together of my life has scattered.

So whoever was gathered from my family has now scattered.

Thus, what was gathered of my union has been scattered.

لا أُبالي بَعد أَن فارَقتهُ

لا أُبالي بَعد أَن فارَقتهُ

بِغُرابِ البَينِ إِن قيلَ نَعَق

بِغُرابِ البَينِ إِن قيلَ نَعَق

After parting from him, I care nothing

I care not after he left me,

I care not, now that I have parted from him,

For the raven of separation, if they say it croaked.

Whether it was said the crow croaked or uttered a cry.

If the crow of separation is said to have croaked.

لا أُحِبُّ النَسلَ بَعدَ اِبني وَلا

لا أُحِبُّ النَسلَ بَعدَ اِبني وَلا

تَطمَعُ الحَسناءُ مِنّي بِالعشق

تَطمَعُ الحَسناءُ مِنّي بِالعشق

I love no offspring after my son, nor

I do not love offspring after my son, nor does

I desire no offspring after my son, nor

Can a beautiful woman hope for love from me.

A beautiful woman hope for love from me.

Should any beauty hope for love from me.

بِأَبي غُصنٌ ذَوى حينَ زَها

بِأَبي غُصنٌ ذَوى حينَ زَها

بِأَبي نَجمٌ هَوى حينَ شَرَق

بِأَبي نَجمٌ هَوى حينَ شَرَق

My father be ransom for a branch that withered when it bloomed;

By my father, a blossoming branch has withered when it flowered,

May I be ransomed for a branch that withered when it bloomed,

My father be ransom for a star that fell when it shone.

By my father, a star has fallen when it rose!

May I be ransomed for a star that fell when it rose.

شقَّتِ الشَمسُ عَلَيهِ جَيبَها

شقَّتِ الشَمسُ عَلَيهِ جَيبَها

فَبَكى المزنُ مَعي وَالجيب شَق

فَبَكى المزنُ مَعي وَالجيب شَق

The sun tore open her bosom over him;

The sun split open its dress over him,

The sun tore its collar in mourning for him,

The rain-clouds wept with me and tore their bosom.

So the eyelids wept with me while the dress was torn.

And the rain-clouds wept with me, tearing their garments too.

كانَ دَمعي قَبلَ فُقداني لَهُ

كانَ دَمعي قَبلَ فُقداني لَهُ

في يَدِ الصَبرِ أَسيراً فَاِنطَلَق

في يَدِ الصَبرِ أَسيراً فَاِنطَلَق

Before my loss of him, my tears were

My tears before losing him

My tears, before I lost him,

Captive in patience's hand; then they broke free.

Were held captive by patience, and now have been unleashed.

Were prisoners in the hand of patience, but now they have broken free.

نَهكَتهُ عِلَّةٌ مَبدَؤُها

نَهكَتهُ عِلَّةٌ مَبدَؤُها

وَحشَةُ الأمِّ مَتى تُذكَر تشُق

وَحشَةُ الأمِّ مَتى تُذكَر تشُق

An illness exhausted him, beginning with

A sickness destroyed him, its beginning

An illness wore him down, its beginning was

His mother's estrangement, which rends whenever recalled.

Was the mother's heartache whenever it is recalled.

The loneliness of a mother—whenever mentioned, it splits the heart.

غَدَرَتهُ أُمُّهُ لكِن وَفَت

غَدَرَتهُ أُمُّهُ لكِن وَفَت

أمَةٌ أَحسَنُ منها مُرتَقق

أمَةٌ أَحسَنُ منها مُرتَقق

His mother betrayed him, but faithful proved

His mother betrayed him, but a concubine

His mother betrayed him, yet there remained faithful

A bondwoman, a better comforter than she.

Proved kinder than her, pure and devoted.

A bondmaid, better than her in compassion.

أَلِفَتهُ مِثلَما آلَفَها

أَلِفَتهُ مِثلَما آلَفَها

وَأَحَبَّتهُ اِعتِقاداً لا مَلَق

وَأَحَبَّتهُ اِعتِقاداً لا مَلَق

She grew fond of him as he grew fond of her;

She grew attached to him as he became attached to her,

She grew accustomed to him just as he did to her,

She loved him with sincere devotion, not flattery.

And loved him with true devotion, not just passion.

And she loved him out of conviction, not flattery.

خَمشَت ثُكلاً عَلَيهِ وَجنَةً

خَمشَت ثُكلاً عَلَيهِ وَجنَةً

لَطَمَت مِنها صَباحاً وَشَفَق

لَطَمَت مِنها صَباحاً وَشَفَق

In bereavement for him she scratched a cheek;

She risked her life over him and defended him,

She scratched her cheek in bereavement for him,

She slapped that cheek of hers at dawn and dusk.

Sobbing over him morning and evening.

And slapped it between the morning and the twilight.

لَوحهُ المَكتوبُ أَرجَت مَحوهُ

لَوحهُ المَكتوبُ أَرجَت مَحوهُ

لِتَرى ما خَطَّ مِنهُ وَمَشَق

لِتَرى ما خَطَّ مِنهُ وَمَشَق

She postponed wiping his written tablet

The board he would write on, she wished to erase

His written tablet—I hoped for its erasure,

To see what he had written and penned upon it.

So she could see what he had written and drawn.

To see what was inscribed and drawn upon it.

أَنا مِن خَمرَةِ ثُكلي طافِحٌ

أَنا مِن خَمرَةِ ثُكلي طافِحٌ

وَالهَوى مُصطَبحي وَالمُغتَبَق

وَالهَوى مُصطَبحي وَالمُغتَبَق

I am overflowing with the wine of my bereavement;

I am overflowing from the wine of my bereavement,

I am overflowing with the wine of my bereavement,

Love is my morning drink and evening draught.

While passion makes me drunk, and grief bewildered.

And passion is my morning draught and my evening drink.

لا تَلُمني في البُكا لَو كانَ مِن

لا تَلُمني في البُكا لَو كانَ مِن

صَخرَةٍ صَمّاء قَلبي لَاِنفَلَق

صَخرَةٍ صَمّاء قَلبي لَاِنفَلَق

Do not blame my weeping: had my heart been of

Do not blame me for crying - had my heart been

Do not blame me for weeping; even if my heart

Solid rock, it would have split apart.

A deaf rock, it would have cracked from weeping!

Were of solid rock, it would have split asunder.

قَد بَكى يَعقوبُ حَتّى اِبيَضَّتا

قَد بَكى يَعقوبُ حَتّى اِبيَضَّتا

حُزناً عَيناهُ بِالدَمعِ الغَدِق

حُزناً عَيناهُ بِالدَمعِ الغَدِق

Jacob wept until they turned white—

Jacob cried until his eyes turned white

Jacob wept until his eyes turned white

His two eyes, from grief and copious tears.

From copious tears in his deep sorrow.

From sorrow, with abundant tears,

وَشَكا البَثَّ إِلى اللَهِ وَقَد

وَشَكا البَثَّ إِلى اللَهِ وَقَد

وَعَدَ اللَهُ بِرَدِّ المُستَرَق

وَعَدَ اللَهُ بِرَدِّ المُستَرَق

He complained of his anguish to God, though

Job complained to God, and God had promised

And he complained of his grief to God, for indeed

God had promised to return the stolen one.

To return what was stolen.

God promised the return of what was stolen.

ثُمَّ وَفّاهُ بِرُجعى يوسُفٍ

ثُمَّ وَفّاهُ بِرُجعى يوسُفٍ

وَالأَخُ المَظلوم إِذ قيلَ سَرَق

وَالأَخُ المَظلوم إِذ قيلَ سَرَق

Then He fulfilled His promise by Joseph's return,

Then He fulfilled it with the return of Joseph,

Then He fulfilled it with the return of Joseph,

And that of the wronged brother, accused of stealing.

And the wrongly accused brother when theft was claimed.

And the wronged brother, when it was said he stole.

وَإِذا يَحزنُ مَن يَرجو المُنى

وَإِذا يَحزنُ مَن يَرجو المُنى

فَالَّذي اِستَيأَسَ بِالحُزنِ أَحَق

فَالَّذي اِستَيأَسَ بِالحُزنِ أَحَق

If one who hopes for his wishes grieves,

And if one who still hopes grieves,

And if one who hopes for wishes grieves,

The one who has despaired has greater claim to grief.

Then one who has lost all hope has more right to grieve!

Then he who has despaired is more deserving of grief.

قَطَّعَ الضرّ أَمامي كَبِدي

قَطَّعَ الضرّ أَمامي كَبِدي

وَأَراني قَمَري كَيفَ اِمَّحَق

وَأَراني قَمَري كَيفَ اِمَّحَق

Affliction tore my liver apart before me;

Hardship has shredded my liver in front of me,

Harm has cut my liver right before me,

It showed me how my moon was obliterated.

And shown me how my moon became eclipsed.

And showed me how my moon was obliterated.

أَطفَأَ السقمُ بِرُغمي نورهُ

أَطفَأَ السقمُ بِرُغمي نورهُ

وَرعافٌ كُلَّما كَفَّ دَفَق

وَرعافٌ كُلَّما كَفَّ دَفَق

Sickness extinguished his light against my will,

Sickness extinguished his light despite my efforts,

Sickness extinguished his light against my will,

And a nosebleed gushed anew whenever it stopped.

And drool that poured forth whenever he was hushed.

And a hemorrhage gushed forth whenever it ceased.

فَكِلانا في دَم مُشتَحِطٌ

فَكِلانا في دَم مُشتَحِطٌ

فَإِذا يرعَفُ أَبكى بِالحُرَق

فَإِذا يرعَفُ أَبكى بِالحُرَق

So both of us were wallowing in blood:

So we both are smeared with blood,

So both of us are stained in blood;

Whenever his nose bled, I wept with burning anguish.

And whenever he drools, I weep from the burning.

When he bleeds, he makes me weep with burning tears.

أَذبيحٌ أَم جَريحٌ وَجههُ

أَذبيحٌ أَم جَريحٌ وَجههُ

فَأَديمُ الحُسنِ مِنهُ مُختَرَق

فَأَديمُ الحُسنِ مِنهُ مُختَرَق

Is he slaughtered, or is his face wounded?

Was his face that of a slaughtered sacrifice,

Is his face slaughtered or wounded?

For beauty's skin upon him is pierced.

With his skin of beauty now torn?

For the surface of beauty in him is pierced.

أَم سَقيمُ عَبث السقم بِهِ

أَم سَقيمُ عَبث السقم بِهِ

وَتَلاشى لَحمهُ وَالجلدُ رَق

وَتَلاشى لَحمهُ وَالجلدُ رَق

Or is he a sick child whom sickness has ravaged,

Or a sick one harmed by the sickness,

Or is he sick, toyed with by illness,

Whose flesh wasted away and whose skin grew thin?

As his flesh faded and skin became thin?

Until his flesh vanished and his skin grew thin?

كربُهُ مِن كُربٍ كانَت بِهِ

كربُهُ مِن كُربٍ كانَت بِهِ

تَترُكُ الأَجفانَ قرحى بِالأَرَق

تَترُكُ الأَجفانَ قرحى بِالأَرَق

His agony arose from agonies within him

His suffering was from suffering that

His distress came from a distress within him

That left his eyelids sore through sleeplessness.

Would leave the eyelids wounded from lack of sleep.

That left his eyelids sore from sleeplessness.

وَلَقَد كانَ عَلى أَوصابِهِ

وَلَقَد كانَ عَلى أَوصابِهِ

رُبَّما نامَ ثَلاثاً في نَسَق

رُبَّما نامَ ثَلاثاً في نَسَق

Despite his ailments, he would

He would sometimes sleep three times in a row,

And indeed, amidst his pains,

Sometimes sleep three nights in succession.

Then the spasms would increase as restlessness intensified.

He would perhaps sleep three days in a row.

وَإِذا اِستَيقَظَ مِن نَومَتِهِ

وَإِذا اِستَيقَظَ مِن نَومَتِهِ

زادَتِ الأَوصابُ وَاِشتَدَّ القَلَق

زادَتِ الأَوصابُ وَاِشتَدَّ القَلَق

When he awoke from his sleep,

When they were surprised by his sleep,

But when he awoke from his slumber,

His ailments increased and his restlessness intensified.

I would say, God has not deprived him of gentleness.

The pains increased and the anxiety intensified.

وإِذا ما أعجِبوا مِن نَومِهِ

وإِذا ما أعجِبوا مِن نَومِهِ

قُلتُ لا غَروَ بِهِ اللَهُ رَفَق

قُلتُ لا غَروَ بِهِ اللَهُ رَفَق

Whenever they marveled at his sleep,

He would heal me when I kissed him,

And when they marveled at his sleep,

I said, 'No wonder: God has shown him kindness.'

And if I spoke to him, his mouth would respond.

I said: No wonder, God was being gentle with him.

كانَ يَشفيني إِذا قَبّلته

كانَ يَشفيني إِذا قَبّلته

وإِذا اِستَنطقتُ فاهُ فَنَطق

وإِذا اِستَنطقتُ فاهُ فَنَطق

He used to heal me when I kissed him,

He would heal me while he still breathed,

He used to heal me when I kissed him,

And when I prompted his mouth to speak and it spoke.

But who can heal when the breath is gone?

And when I asked his mouth to speak, it spoke.

كانَ يَشفيني وَفيهِ رَمَقٌ

كانَ يَشفيني وَفيهِ رَمَقٌ

فَمَنِ الشافي وَقَد ماتَ الرَمَق

فَمَنِ الشافي وَقَد ماتَ الرَمَق

He used to heal me while a spark of life remained in him;

The night of his death, he called me, and he

He used to heal me while there was a breath of life in him;

Who is the healer now that the spark has died?

Kissed my head and embraced me while sobbing.

So who is the healer now that the breath has died?

لَيلَةَ المَوتِ دَعاني فَدَعا

لَيلَةَ المَوتِ دَعاني فَدَعا

لي وَقَد قَبَّلَ رَأسي وَاِعتَنَق

لي وَقَد قَبَّلَ رَأسي وَاِعتَنَق

On the night of death he called me, then prayed

As he perspired from his fever he said,

On the night of death, he called me, so I prayed

For me, having kissed my head and embraced me.

“This is rosewater, not sweat.”

For him, while he kissed my head and embraced me.

وَهوَ يندي عِرقاً من شمَّهُ

وَهوَ يندي عِرقاً من شمَّهُ

قالَ هذا ماءُ وَردٍ لا عَرَق

قالَ هذا ماءُ وَردٍ لا عَرَق

As he glistened with sweat, whoever smelled him

I rubbed myself against his deathbed,

He was dripping with sweat; whoever smelled him

Said, 'This is rosewater, not sweat.'

And I wished that I too would perish.

Said: 'This is rose water, not sweat.'

وَلَقَد مَرَّغتُ في مَصرَعِهِ

وَلَقَد مَرَّغتُ في مَصرَعِهِ

وَجَناتي وَاِستَطبتُ المُنتَشَق

وَجَناتي وَاِستَطبتُ المُنتَشَق

I rubbed, upon the place where he died,

I do not know - did the Angel of Death come

And I rubbed my cheeks

My cheeks, and found what I inhaled sweet.

To extinguish a flame, or did he arrive perfumed?

Upon his deathbed, finding the scent sweet to inhale.

لَستُ أَدري ملكُ المَوتِ هُنا

لَستُ أَدري ملكُ المَوتِ هُنا

لِسَنىً أَخمَد أَم مسكاً فَتَق

لِسَنىً أَخمَد أَم مسكاً فَتَق

I do not know: was the Angel of Death here

A garden whose flowers have changed -

I do not know—is the Angel of Death here

To quench a radiance, or to unseal musk?

Every tulip, chamomile, and daisy has withered.

To extinguish a light, or to break open a pod of musk?

رَوضَةٌ غُيِّرَ مِن أَزهارِها

رَوضَةٌ غُيِّرَ مِن أَزهارِها

كُلُّ قانٍ وَغَضيضٍ وَيقَق

كُلُّ قانٍ وَغَضيضٍ وَيقَق

A garden, whose flowers were altered—

The narcissus and rose have wilted,

A garden whose flowers have been altered,

Every crimson, fresh, and pure-white bloom.

And the proud iris has drooped.

Every deep red, fresh, and pure white blossom.

ذَبلُ النِسرينُ وَالوَردُ النَدي

ذَبلُ النِسرينُ وَالوَردُ النَدي

وَاِستحالَ النَرجسُ الساجي الحَدق

وَاِستحالَ النَرجسُ الساجي الحَدق

The eglantine and dewy rose withered;

It has become a meadow of herbage

The wild rose and the dewy rose have withered,

The languid-eyed narcissus was transformed.

From which destructive insects emerge.

And the narcissus, with its quiet eyes, has transformed.

وَغَدا مَنبَتهُ مِمّا زَبى

وَغَدا مَنبَتهُ مِمّا زَبى

وَاِمَّحَت مِنهُ مَحاسينُ الخَلق

وَاِمَّحَت مِنهُ مَحاسينُ الخَلق

Its growing-place became raised ground [reading uncertain],

So it brought me anguish when his eyelids did not close

His growing place has become what the earth heaped up,

And the beauties of its form were effaced.

To bid farewell, nor his mouth speak.

And the beauties of creation have been erased from him.

فَشَجا إِذ لا الجُفونُ اِنطَبَقَت

فَشَجا إِذ لا الجُفونُ اِنطَبَقَت

مِنهُ تَغميضاً وَلا فوهُ نَطق

مِنهُ تَغميضاً وَلا فوهُ نَطق

He grieved me: his eyelids did not come together

Spasms drew his lips inward

It was a tragedy, for neither did his eyelids close

To shut his eyes, nor did his mouth speak.

With gaping cracks whenever they twitched.

In sleep, nor did his mouth speak.

قَلَّصَ التَشنيجُ مِنهُ شَفَة

قَلَّصَ التَشنيجُ مِنهُ شَفَة

عَن شَتيتٍ كُلَّما اِفتَرَّ بَرق

عَن شَتيتٍ كُلَّما اِفتَرَّ بَرق

Spasms drew back a lip of his

Seeing him dead redoubled my grief -

Convulsions retracted his lip

From spaced teeth that flashed whenever he smiled.

The branches dripped from it in misery.

Revealing teeth that flashed like lightning whenever they parted.

ضاعَفَت حُزني عَلَيهِ ميتَةٌ

ضاعَفَت حُزني عَلَيهِ ميتَةٌ

ظَلَّتِ الأَغصانُ مِنها في نَزَق

ظَلَّتِ الأَغصانُ مِنها في نَزَق

A death doubled my grief for him,

Death certainly left some of his beauty behind

A death that doubled my sorrow for him,

Leaving the branches tossing in agitation.

Like embroidery in creation.

Leaving the branches trembling in agitation.

وَلَقَد أَبقى الرَدى مِن حُسنِهِ

وَلَقَد أَبقى الرَدى مِن حُسنِهِ

لمحاً مِثلَ طِرازٍ في خَلَق

لمحاً مِثلَ طِرازٍ في خَلَق

Death did leave of his beauty

I do not say medicine was wrong, but

Yet death has left behind a trace of his beauty,

Glimmers like embroidery upon worn cloth.

Destiny simply differed in his case.

A glimpse like embroidery upon a worn garment.

لا أَقولُ الطِبُّ أَخطا إِنَّما

لا أَقولُ الطِبُّ أَخطا إِنَّما

خالَفَ المِقدار فيهِ ما اِتَّفَق

خالَفَ المِقدار فيهِ ما اِتَّفَق

I do not say medicine erred; rather,

None can alter what my Lord created -

I do not say medicine erred; rather,

Fate opposed what had seemed fitting for him.

The devil lied while God spoke the truth.

Destiny opposed what was agreed upon.

لَم يبدّل خَلق رَبّي أَحَدٌ

لَم يبدّل خَلق رَبّي أَحَدٌ

كَذَبَ الشَيطانُ وَاللَهُ صَدق

كَذَبَ الشَيطانُ وَاللَهُ صَدق

No one altered my Lord's creation;

God's will is done, praise be to Him!

No one can alter the creation of my Lord;

Satan lied, and God spoke truth.

He took back the blessing that He had given.

Satan lied, and God spoke the truth.

تَمَّ أَمرُ اللَهِ وَالحَمدُ لَهُ

تَمَّ أَمرُ اللَهِ وَالحَمدُ لَهُ

أَخَذَ النُعمى الَّتي كانَ رزق

أَخَذَ النُعمى الَّتي كانَ رزق

God's decree was fulfilled, and praise belongs to Him;

I face the days with acceptance, not anger,

The command of God is complete, and praise be to Him;

He took the blessing He had bestowed.

Regardless of the good or ill they bring.

He took back the blessing He had bestowed.

لَستُ أَلقى الدَهر إِلّا بِالرِضا

لَستُ أَلقى الدَهر إِلّا بِالرِضا

ما جَنى الدَهرُ فَأَلقى بِالحَنق

ما جَنى الدَهرُ فَأَلقى بِالحَنق

I meet time only with acceptance;

If God caused his death, He could have cured him,

I face time with nothing but contentment,

Time committed no wrong that I should meet it in anger.

So I submit to God, though He could have spared him.

Whatever time commits, though I meet it with rage.

قَتَلَ اللَهُ وَلَو شاءَ شَفى

قَتَلَ اللَهُ وَلَو شاءَ شَفى

فَتَقَ اللَه وَلَو شاءَ رَتَق

فَتَقَ اللَه وَلَو شاءَ رَتَق

God killed; had He willed, He would have healed.

The most precious soul was stolen from me,

God kills, and if He willed, He would heal;

God tore open; had He willed, He would have mended.

A white pearl sculpted from a clot.

God rips open, and if He willed, He would mend.

سلبت أَنفس عِلقٍ راحَتي

سلبت أَنفس عِلقٍ راحَتي

دُرَّةً بَيضاء صيغَت مِن عَلق

دُرَّةً بَيضاء صيغَت مِن عَلق

My palm was robbed of its most precious treasure:

I had hoped he would be a successor after me

Souls have robbed my palm of a precious thing,

A white pearl fashioned from a blood clot.

When death would come knocking.

A white pearl fashioned from blood.

لوذعِيٌّ كُنتُ أَرجو كَونَهُ

لوذعِيٌّ كُنتُ أَرجو كَونَهُ

خَلفاً مِنّي إِذا المَوتُ طَرق

خَلفاً مِنّي إِذا المَوتُ طَرق

A keen-witted boy, whom I hoped would be

O my slain one whose blood was shed

A brilliant one—I hoped he would be

My successor when death knocked.

Before maturity - it was not rightfully spilled!

A successor to me when death came knocking.

يا قَتيلاً مُهراقاً دَمُهُ

يا قَتيلاً مُهراقاً دَمُهُ

وَبِحَدِّ المُنتَضى لَم يُهرق

وَبِحَدِّ المُنتَضى لَم يُهرق

O slain one, whose blood was spilled,

My sins have delayed me from following him,

O slain one, whose blood was shed,

Though not spilled by an unsheathed sword's edge.

And he has departed to eternity before me.

Though not by the edge of a drawn sword.

أَخَّرَتني سَيِّئاتي بَعدَهُ

أَخَّرَتني سَيِّئاتي بَعدَهُ

وَجَرى لِلخُلدِ قَبلي فَسَبَق

وَجَرى لِلخُلدِ قَبلي فَسَبَق

My sins delayed me behind him;

I wonder - will we meet again

My sins delayed me after him,

He ran toward eternity before me and raced ahead.

In the gardens of eternity, or will we be apart?

While he ran toward eternity before me and won the race.

لَيتَ شِعري هَل ترانا نَلتَقي

لَيتَ شِعري هَل ترانا نَلتَقي

في جِنانِ الخُلدِ أَم نَحنُ فرق

في جِنانِ الخُلدِ أَم نَحنُ فرق

Would that I knew: do you see us meeting

One group has succeeded while another is doomed,

I wonder, will you see us meeting

In eternity's gardens, or are we separate groups?

Cursed if the servant disobeys.

In the Gardens of Eternity, or are we separated?

فِرقَةٌ فازَت وَأُخرى شَقِيَت

فِرقَةٌ فازَت وَأُخرى شَقِيَت

شِقوَةَ العَبدِ إِذا العَبدُ أَبِق

شِقوَةَ العَبدِ إِذا العَبدُ أَبِق

One group triumphed, another suffered misery—

While another group's fate is postponed -

A party that succeeded, and another that suffered wretchedness,

The misery of a slave when the slave runs away.

Suspended between safety and separation.

The wretchedness of a slave when the slave runs away.

وَلِأَمرِ اللَهِ أُخرى أرجِئَت

وَلِأَمرِ اللَهِ أُخرى أرجِئَت

فَهيَ وَقفٌ بَينَ أَمنٌ وَفَرق

فَهيَ وَقفٌ بَينَ أَمنٌ وَفَرق

Another group was deferred to God's judgment;

I betrayed my Master and did not advise him sincerely -

And by God's command, another group is deferred,

It remains in suspense between safety and fear.

If the servant strives to advise, he will be set free.

Standing suspended between safety and fear.

خُنتُ مَولايَ وَلَم أَنصَح لَهُ

خُنتُ مَولايَ وَلَم أَنصَح لَهُ

لَو سَعى العَبدُ بِنُصحٍ لَعَتَق

لَو سَعى العَبدُ بِنُصحٍ لَعَتَق

I betrayed my Master and was not sincere toward Him;

O you who resembled and looked like my father -

I was not sincere to my Master and did not advise Him well;

Had the slave striven sincerely, he would have been freed.

You were righteous to me while others were wicked.

Had the slave strived with sincerity, he would have been freed.

يا شَبيهاً وَسَمِيّاً لِأَبي

يا شَبيهاً وَسَمِيّاً لِأَبي

كُنتَ بَرّاً بي إِذا غَيرك عَق

كُنتَ بَرّاً بي إِذا غَيرك عَق

O likeness and namesake of my father,

You were a good branch - if only

O you who resemble and share the name of my father,

You were dutiful to me when another was undutiful.

You had surpassed ten years of age by two more.

You were dutiful to me when others were undutiful.

كُنتَ فَرعاً طَيِّباً لَو أَنَّهُ

كُنتَ فَرعاً طَيِّباً لَو أَنَّهُ

جاوَزَ العَشرَ بِثنتَينِ بَسق

جاوَزَ العَشرَ بِثنتَينِ بَسق

You were a goodly branch that, had it

You, servant of the Almighty, my son, perhaps

You were a good branch; had you

Passed ten by two, would have grown tall.

You were wise like me but did not live long enough.

Passed the age of ten by two years, you would have soared.

كُنتَ يا عَبدَ الغنيّ اِبني تُرى

كُنتَ يا عَبدَ الغنيّ اِبني تُرى

فَهِماً مِثلي وَلكِن لَم توق

فَهِماً مِثلي وَلكِن لَم توق

You, 'Abd al-Ghani, my son, were seen

And you escaped this world wherein

You were, O Abd al-Ghani, my son, seen to be

As discerning like me, yet you were not spared.

Misfortune piles upon misfortune.

Understanding like me, yet you were not protected.

وَتَخَلَّصتَ مِنَ الدُنيا الَّتي

وَتَخَلَّصتَ مِنَ الدُنيا الَّتي

طَبقاً تركبُ فيها عَن طَبَق

طَبقاً تركبُ فيها عَن طَبَق

You escaped from the world in which

How are you now, O branch of delight, O full moon of dusk?

You have broken free from the world in which

One passes from stage to stage.

Did they welcome you when the shroud was removed?

One rides layer upon layer of hardship.

كَيفَ أَصبَحت وَكَيفَ الحالُ يا

كَيفَ أَصبَحت وَكَيفَ الحالُ يا

غُصُنُ البانِ وَيا بَدر الغَسَق

غُصُنُ البانِ وَيا بَدر الغَسَق

How have you awoken, and how are you, O

Did you respond firmly when questioned by them,

How have you become, and how is your state, O

Bān-tree branch, O full moon of dusk?

Saying: “I testify God is true.”

Branch of the Ban tree, O full moon of the dark night?

هَل تَلَقّاكَ إِذ اِنفَضَّ الوَرى

هَل تَلَقّاكَ إِذ اِنفَضَّ الوَرى

فاتَنا القَبرُ بِرِفقٍ وَشَفَق

فاتَنا القَبرُ بِرِفقٍ وَشَفَق

Did they receive you, when the people dispersed—

“And my Prophet Ahmad whom He sent

Did the grave receive you, when the people dispersed,

The grave's two questioners—with gentleness and compassion?

With guidance - so He chose him over all people.

With gentleness and compassion?

هَل تَثَبَّتَّ مُجيباً لَهُما

هَل تَثَبَّتَّ مُجيباً لَهُما

قائِلاً أَشهَدُ أَنَّ اللَهَ حَق

قائِلاً أَشهَدُ أَنَّ اللَهَ حَق

Did you stand firm in answering them both,

My Imam is the Honorable House, and the Kaaba is

Did you remain steadfast answering the two angels,

Saying, 'I testify that God is true,

My direction of worship, the bond of faith.”

Saying: 'I bear witness that God is Truth,

وَنَبِيّي أَحمَدٌ أَرسَلَهُ

وَنَبِيّي أَحمَدٌ أَرسَلَهُ

بِالهُدى فَاِختارَهُ مِمَّن خَلَق

بِالهُدى فَاِختارَهُ مِمَّن خَلَق

And my prophet is Ahmad, whom He sent

If your father the scholar intercedes for you,

And my Prophet is Ahmad; He sent him

With guidance, choosing him from those He created.

God will forgive his sins, so intercede!

With guidance, choosing him from among those He created,

وَإِمامي الذِكرُ وَالكَعبَةُ لي

وَإِمامي الذِكرُ وَالكَعبَةُ لي

قِبلَةٌ هذي عُرى الدينِ مَرَق

قِبلَةٌ هذي عُرى الدينِ مَرَق

My guide is the Remembrance, and the Kaaba is

May God cool my heart whenever

And my Imam is the Quran, and the Kaaba is to me

My prayer-direction: these are religion's bonds [the final 'departed' is unclear].

It burns from remembering you.

A Qibla; these are the bonds of religion passed through'?

وأَبوكَ الحبرُ إِن تَشفَع لَهُ

وأَبوكَ الحبرُ إِن تَشفَع لَهُ

يَغفِرُ اللَه خَطاياهُ فَثق

يَغفِرُ اللَه خَطاياهُ فَثق

And your father, the scholar—if you intercede for him,

And may His mercy water your grave

And your father, the scholar—if you intercede for him,

God will forgive his sins, so be assured.'

As much as the leaves have dripped upon the grass.

God will forgive his sins, so be confident.

بَرَّدَ اللَهُ فُؤادي إِنَّهُ

بَرَّدَ اللَهُ فُؤادي إِنَّهُ

كُلَّما هاجَتهُ ذِكراكَ اِحتَرَق

كُلَّما هاجَتهُ ذِكراكَ اِحتَرَق

May God cool my heart: indeed,

My bereavement has burnt my eyelids with weeping -

May God cool my heart, for indeed,

Whenever your memory stirs it, it burns.

When will patience mend what has torn?

Whenever your memory stirs it, it burns.

وَسَقَت رَحمَتهُ قَبرَكَ ما

وَسَقَت رَحمَتهُ قَبرَكَ ما

حَنَّت الوُرقُ عَلى خُضر الوَرَق

حَنَّت الوُرقُ عَلى خُضر الوَرَق

May His mercy water your grave as long as

I hid my love at first, so it was hidden,

And may His mercy water your grave as long as

Gray doves coo upon green leaves.

Then I tried to calm my heart, but it fluttered!

The doves coo upon the green leaves.

يا أَخا الدُنيا اِعتَبِر هَل لَكَ مِن

يا أَخا الدُنيا اِعتَبِر هَل لَكَ مِن

مُلكِها غَير حنوطٍ وَخرق

مُلكِها غَير حنوطٍ وَخرق

O companion of the world, reflect: have you of

Ask the doves of Ik - do I weep for a fever?

O brother of the world, take heed: do you have

Its kingdom anything but burial perfume and rags?

And the lightning of caves - do I weep for its flashes?

From its kingdom anything other than embalming spices and rags?

وَاِنتَظِر مَن لَيسَ يُستَأذنُ في

وَاِنتَظِر مَن لَيسَ يُستَأذنُ في

رفعِ أَستارٍ وَلا فَتح غَلَق

رفعِ أَستارٍ وَلا فَتح غَلَق

Await the one for whom no permission is sought

I only weep for a great calamity

And wait for the One who seeks no permission to

To lift curtains or open a lock.

That has surpassed all calamities in my view.

Lift curtains or open locks.

هَل وَقى مَن في بُروجٍ شُيِّدَت

هَل وَقى مَن في بُروجٍ شُيِّدَت

أَو منيفٍ مُشمَخِرٍّ أَو نَفَق

أَو منيفٍ مُشمَخِرٍّ أَو نَفَق

Has anything protected those in raised towers,

For if not for grieving my son, I could endure

Did He spare anyone in fortified towers,

Or a lofty, towering height, or a tunnel?

Every burden that cannot be endured.

Or in a lofty, towering palace, or a tunnel?

حَيَوانٌ إِن تَقَضّى أَجَلٌ

حَيَوانٌ إِن تَقَضّى أَجَلٌ

قيلَ هذا ماتَ أَو ذاكَ نَفَق

قيلَ هذا ماتَ أَو ذاكَ نَفَق

A living creature—when its term has ended,

If you could see the clouds when they have favored me

A living being—when his time is up,

One says, 'This one died,' or 'That one perished.'

With weeping at the time of sunset...

It is said: 'This one died,' or 'That one perished.'

كَتَبَ اللَهُ عَلى الخَلقِ الرَدى

كَتَبَ اللَهُ عَلى الخَلقِ الرَدى

فَاِستَوى فيهِ مُلوكٌ وَسوق

فَاِستَوى فيهِ مُلوكٌ وَسوق

God decreed death upon creation;

One passed away young like him - no sins were decreed,

God has written death upon all creation,

In it, kings and commoners became equal.

So he escaped wrongdoings and uncertainties.

So kings and common subjects are equal in it.

أَيُّها الشامِتُ هَل تَأمن مِن

أَيُّها الشامِتُ هَل تَأمن مِن

حدثانِ الدَهرِ نَحساً وَرَهَق

حدثانِ الدَهرِ نَحساً وَرَهَق

O gloating one, are you safe from

He succeeded, having died young before

O you who gloat, are you secure from

Time's vicissitudes, ill fortune and oppression?

Being called corrupt or deviant.

The vicissitudes of time, from misfortune and burden?

لا تُعَيِّر فَسَواءٌ في الرَدى

لا تُعَيِّر فَسَواءٌ في الرَدى

أَنتَ وَالذَرُّ وَعوجُ اِبنِ عَنق

أَنتَ وَالذَرُّ وَعوجُ اِبنِ عَنق

Do not taunt, for equal in death are

But woe to an elderly man or youth

Do not taunt, for equal in death are

You, the ants, and 'Uj son of 'Anaq.

If he desires adultery or tells lies!

You, the ants, and Og son of Anak.

كَم بَصيرٍ ضَلَّ في غَيرِ الدُجى

كَم بَصيرٍ ضَلَّ في غَيرِ الدُجى

وَثَبوتٍ زَلَّ في غَيرِ الزَلَق

وَثَبوتٍ زَلَّ في غَيرِ الزَلَق

How many a seeing person strayed without darkness,

He took the easy path while we took the harder one,

How many with sight have gone astray in no darkness,

And a sure-footed person stumbled without slippery ground!

So he finished first while we lagged behind.

And how many steadfast ones slipped without a slippery place?

خالَفَ الدَهرُ هَواهُ فيهِما

خالَفَ الدَهرُ هَواهُ فيهِما

فَالحَيا أَفناهُ وَاِستَبقى الصَعَق

فَالحَيا أَفناهُ وَاِستَبقى الصَعَق

Time defied his wishes in both cases:

I will soon follow you, O servant of the Almighty,

Time opposed its own desire in them;

Rain destroyed one, yet the thunderstruck was spared.

And join you tomorrow in the afterlife!

So shame destroyed him, while the thunderbolt spared him.

فَالَّذي صَحَّ لَهُ عَنهُ صَحا

فَالَّذي صَحَّ لَهُ عَنهُ صَحا

وَإِذا اِعتَلَّ بِهِ القَلبُ اِعتَلَق

وَإِذا اِعتَلَّ بِهِ القَلبُ اِعتَلَق

Whoever sees its truth sobers from it;

It pains me to pass by a grave containing you -

He for whom truth became clear sobered up from it,

When the heart grows sick with it, it becomes entangled.

If only my side could touch your side!

But when the heart falls ill with it, it becomes attached.

رُبَّ عيرٍ يَتَسَمّى صاهِلاً

رُبَّ عيرٍ يَتَسَمّى صاهِلاً

فَإِذا صَوَّتَ قالوا قَد نَهَق

فَإِذا صَوَّتَ قالوا قَد نَهَق

Many a donkey calls itself a neighing horse;

May God gladden the heart of one aggrieved, if

Many a donkey calls itself a whinnying horse,

When it makes a sound, they say, 'It brayed.'

His sin has caused him misery on the most wretched day.

But when it voices its sound, they say: 'It brayed.'

نافَسَ اللَيث وَقَد ميزَ كَما

نافَسَ اللَيث وَقَد ميزَ كَما

ميزَ في دُهمِ المَذاكي ذو البَلَق

ميزَ في دُهمِ المَذاكي ذو البَلَق

It rivaled the lion, though plainly distinguished, as

It competed with the lion, though it was distinguished

A piebald stands out among dark, full-grown horses.

As the piebald is distinguished among dark horses.

بَينَ فكّي غِرارٌ مُحسِنٌ

بَينَ فكّي غِرارٌ مُحسِنٌ

ضَربَ ما قصَّر مِنهُ أَو حَلَق

ضَربَ ما قصَّر مِنهُ أَو حَلَق

Between my jaws is a blade, skillful

Between my jaws is a sharp tongue, proficient

At striking whatever fell short of it or soared high.

In striking; it has never fallen short or been dulled.

غَيرَ أَنَّ الثكلَ أَوهى جلدي

غَيرَ أَنَّ الثكلَ أَوهى جلدي

وَلِساني كَفَّهُ عَمَّن سَلَق

وَلِساني كَفَّهُ عَمَّن سَلَق

But bereavement weakened my fortitude

Except that bereavement has weakened my endurance,

And restrained my tongue from those who reviled me.

And restrained my tongue from those who speak harshly.

كَبِدي البَيضاءُ لا مِن عِلَّةٍ

كَبِدي البَيضاءُ لا مِن عِلَّةٍ

أَودَعَت كبدي بَياضاً فَذَرَق

أَودَعَت كبدي بَياضاً فَذَرَق

My white liver, white from no illness,

My white liver—it was not sickness

Lodged whiteness in my liver, which then suffered flux.

That deposited whiteness in my liver so it turned pale.

ثَقِّل اللهُمَّ ميزاني بِهِ

ثَقِّل اللهُمَّ ميزاني بِهِ

وَتَدارك لي فَعَقلي قَد زَهَق

وَتَدارك لي فَعَقلي قَد زَهَق

O God, make my scales heavy with him;

O God, weigh down my scales with him,

Come to my rescue, for my reason has departed.

And set me right, for my mind has departed.

وَأعذ نَفسي مِن وسواسِها

وَأعذ نَفسي مِن وسواسِها

يا إِلهَ الناسِ يا رَبَّ الفَلَق

يا إِلهَ الناسِ يا رَبَّ الفَلَق

Protect my soul from its whispers,

And protect my soul from its own whispers,

O God of humankind, O Lord of daybreak.

O God of mankind, O Lord of the Daybreak.

حَرَّقَ الثكل جُفوني بِالبُكا

حَرَّقَ الثكل جُفوني بِالبُكا

فَمَتى يَرقَعُ صَبري ما خَرَق

فَمَتى يَرقَعُ صَبري ما خَرَق

Bereavement burned my eyelids with weeping;

Bereavement has burned my eyelids with weeping;

When will my patience mend what it tore?

So when will my patience patch what has been torn?

وَلَقَد أَخفَيتُ وَجدي فَخَفى

وَلَقَد أَخفَيتُ وَجدي فَخَفى

وَلَقَد سَكَّنتُ قَلبي فَخَفَق

وَلَقَد سَكَّنتُ قَلبي فَخَفَق

I concealed my grief, yet it showed;

I have hidden my passion, so it disappeared,

I stilled my heart, yet it throbbed.

And I have quieted my heart, yet it palpitated.

سَل حَمام الأَيكِ هَل أَبكى الحِمى

سَل حَمام الأَيكِ هَل أَبكى الحِمى

وَبَروق الغَورِ هَل أَبكى البَرق

وَبَروق الغَورِ هَل أَبكى البَرق

Ask the grove's doves: do I weep for the protected pasture?

Ask the doves of the thicket: Did the sanctuary weep?

And the lowland's flashes: do I weep for lightning?

And the lightning of the lowlands: Did the lightning weep?

إِنَّما أَبكي لِخَطبٍ جَلَلٍ

إِنَّما أَبكي لِخَطبٍ جَلَلٍ

فاقَ عِندي كُلَّ خَطبٍ وَأفق

فاقَ عِندي كُلَّ خَطبٍ وَأفق

I weep only for a grievous calamity

I only weep for a momentous calamity,

That, for me, surpassed and outdid every calamity.

That exceeded, in my view, every calamity and horizon.

إِنَّني لَولا مُصابُ اِبني الرِضا

إِنَّني لَولا مُصابُ اِبني الرِضا

لَمُطيقٌ كُلَّ عِبءٍ لَم يُطق

لَمُطيقٌ كُلَّ عِبءٍ لَم يُطق

Indeed, were it not for the loss of my well-beloved son,

Were it not for the affliction of my son, the content one,

I could surely bear every unbearable burden.

I would be capable of bearing every burden that is unbearable.

لَو تَرى الغيمَ وَقَد أَسعَدَني

لَو تَرى الغيمَ وَقَد أَسعَدَني

بِالبُكا ساعَةَ أَودى فَوَدَق

بِالبُكا ساعَةَ أَودى فَوَدَق

If only you could see the cloud, joining me

If you saw the clouds assisting me

In weeping when he perished, pouring down rain.

With weeping the hour he perished, and they poured down rain...

مَرَّ لَم يُكتب عَلَيهِ سَيّئٌ

مَرَّ لَم يُكتب عَلَيهِ سَيّئٌ

فَنَجا مِن تَبِعاتٍ وَعَلَق

فَنَجا مِن تَبِعاتٍ وَعَلَق

He passed on with no evil deed recorded against him;

He passed without a sin written against him,

He escaped liabilities and entanglements.

So he escaped consequences and attachments.

فازَ مَن ماتَ صَغيراً مِثلَهُ

فازَ مَن ماتَ صَغيراً مِثلَهُ

لَم يُقَل عَفَّ وَلا قيلَ فَسَق

لَم يُقَل عَفَّ وَلا قيلَ فَسَق

One who dies young like him has triumphed;

He triumphs who dies young like him;

Neither 'He was chaste' nor 'He sinned' was said of him.

It is never said 'he was chaste' nor 'he was immoral'.

إِنَّما الوَيلُ لِكَهلٍ أَو فَتىً

إِنَّما الوَيلُ لِكَهلٍ أَو فَتىً

إِن رَنا اِختانَ وَإِن قالَ اِختَلَق

إِن رَنا اِختانَ وَإِن قالَ اِختَلَق

Woe is only for a mature man or a youth

Woe is only for the middle-aged or the youth:

Who betrays when he gazes and fabricates when he speaks.

If he gazes, he betrays; and if he speaks, he fabricates.

خَفَّ ظَهراً وَثَقُلنا أَظهُراً

خَفَّ ظَهراً وَثَقُلنا أَظهُراً

فَتَناهى وَكَبَونا في الطَلَق

فَتَناهى وَكَبَونا في الطَلَق

His back was light, while our backs were heavy;

He was light of back, while we are heavy-laden backs;

He reached the goal, while we stumbled in the race.

He finished, while we stumbled in the race.

أَنا في إِثرِكَ أَجري وَغَداً

أَنا في إِثرِكَ أَجري وَغَداً

بِكَ يا عَبد الغَنِيِّ المُلتَحَق

بِكَ يا عَبد الغَنِيِّ المُلتَحَق

I run in your wake, and tomorrow

I am running in your tracks, and tomorrow,

I shall join you, O 'Abd al-Ghani.

With you, O Abd al-Ghani, is the reunion.

شاقَني عرفُ ثَرىً تَحتَلُّهُ

شاقَني عرفُ ثَرىً تَحتَلُّهُ

لَيتَ جَنبي مِنكَ بِالجَنبِ اِلتَصَق

لَيتَ جَنبي مِنكَ بِالجَنبِ اِلتَصَق

The scent of the soil you dwell in makes me yearn;

The scent of the soil you occupy excites my longing;

Would that my side lay pressed against your side.

Would that my side were pressed against your side.

أَسعَدَ اللَهُ بِكَ المَفجوعِ إِن

أَسعَدَ اللَهُ بِكَ المَفجوعِ إِن

ذَنبُهُ أَشقاهُ في اليَوم الأَشَق

ذَنبُهُ أَشقاهُ في اليَوم الأَشَق

May God bless the bereaved one through you, if

May God grant happiness to the bereaved through you, for

His sin makes him wretched on the most grievous day.

His sin made him miserable on the most miserable day.