فُؤاديmy heart وفودُand the side-lock of الحَدَثa youth
فُؤادي وفودُ الحَدَث
يَشيبانِboth grow gray مِنfrom ذاthis الحَدَثcalamity
يَشيبانِ مِن ذا الحَدَث
My heart and a youth's side-lock
My heart and the fresh news are both aging,
My heart and the delegations of misfortune
both grow gray from this calamity.
From this fresh news I'm finding you the star of guidance,
Both turn gray from this calamity.
أجدّكis it really true? نَجمُthe star of الهُدىguidance
أجدّك نَجمُ الهُدى
وَنَجمُand the star of الجَداbounty فيin الجَدَثthe grave
وَنَجمُ الجَدا في الجَدَث
Is it true—the star of guidance
And the star of separation in the burial ground.
Is it true that you, the star of guidance
and the star of bounty lie in the grave?
My time which, when summer arrived, urged
And the star of generosity, are now in the grave?
رَمانيstruck me زَمانيmy time الَّذيwhich
رَماني زَماني الَّذي
إِذاwhen طَلَبَit pursued الحرَّthe noble man حَثّit hastened
إِذا طَلَبَ الحرَّ حَثّ
My time struck me—time which,
And aimed for my branches which had thrived
My time has struck me—that time which,
when it pursues a noble man, hastens.
In high ideals and produced fruit.
When seeking the free man, is relentless in pursuit.
فَأَقصَدَso it fatally struck فَرعيmy branch وَقَدand had
فَأَقصَدَ فَرعي وَقَد
زَكاflourished فيin المَعاليlofty virtues وَأَثand grew luxuriant
زَكا في المَعالي وَأَث
It dealt a fatal blow to my branch, which had
Like Joseph but I am like Jacob in sadness and spreading [news],
It struck down my branch just when it had
flourished in lofty virtues and grown luxuriant.
He earned glory in his youth except what he inherited,
Flourished in noble heights and grown thick with leaves.
كَيوسُفَlike Joseph لكِنَّنيbut I
كَيوسُفَ لكِنَّني
كَيَعقوبَlike Jacob حُزناًin sorrow وَبَثand anguish
كَيَعقوبَ حُزناً وَبَث
He was like Joseph; but I
And he swore - no elderly person broke his oath.
He was like Joseph, but as for me,
am like Jacob in sorrow and anguish.
I was that one whose pregnancy folded,
I am like Jacob in grief and sorrow.
تَكَسَّبَhe earned مَجداًglory عَلىdespite
تَكَسَّبَ مَجداً عَلى
صِباهُhis youth سِوىbeyond ماwhat وَرِثhe inherited
صِباهُ سِوى ما وَرِث
He earned glory despite
Like a full moon and sun together,
He acquired glory during his youth,
his youth, beyond what he inherited.
And he was a crescent third [of the month].
Distinct from the honor he merely inherited.
وَأَقسَمَand he swore لاno فاتَهُoutstripped him
وَأَقسَمَ لا فاتَهُ
كَبيرٌa great man فَماso not إِنat all (emphatic) حَنَثhe broke his oath
كَبيرٌ فَما إِن حَنَث
And he swore that no
Until a separation occurred, and I did not care or was troubled,
He swore that no greatness would escape him,
great man would outstrip him—and he never broke his oath.
Towards news my love leaned,
And indeed, he did not break his oath.
وَكُنتُand I was وَتِلكَand that woman الَّتيwho
وَكُنتُ وَتِلكَ الَّتي
وَهىgrew weak حَبلُهاher bond فَاِنتَكَثso it unraveled
وَهى حَبلُها فَاِنتَكَث
I and that woman whose
And the talk of news turned old.
I was—along with that bond which
bond grew weak and unraveled
May every backbiter and slanderer perish,
Weakened until its rope unraveled—
كَبَدرٍlike a full moon وَشَمسٍand a sun مَعاًtogether
كَبَدرٍ وَشَمسٍ مَعاً
وَكانَand he was هِلالاًa crescent ثَلثmade three
وَكانَ هِلالاً ثَلث
were like a full moon and a sun together;
For every babbler and fraud.
Like a full moon and a sun together,
and he, a crescent, made us three.
Virtue upon our time, yet how much new [news] did it inherit?
While he was the crescent moon that made us three.
إِلىuntil أَنthat جَرَتoccurred فُرقَةٌa separation
إِلى أَن جَرَت فُرقَةٌ
فَلَمso not أَكتَرِثI was troubled وَاِكتَرَثand he was troubled
فَلَم أَكتَرِث وَاِكتَرَث
Until a separation occurred:
Do I feel safe after the intention of a beloved or after seriousness turned to vain play?
Until a separation came to pass;
I was untroubled, but he was troubled.
Perhaps whoever fulfills the pilgrimage and finishes the ritual,
I was heedless of it, yet fate was intent.
إِلىtoward الحَدثِthe youth مالَتshe inclined هَوىًin love
إِلى الحَدثِ مالَت هَوىً
وَمَلَّتand she tired of حَديثَtalk of الجَدَثthe grave
وَمَلَّت حَديثَ الجَدَث
She inclined in love toward the youth,
Will supply me with a prayer in Mecca where there is no nonsense,
She inclined with love towards the young man,
and tired of talk of the grave.
It will relieve a weeping one, so which land was not flooded [with tears]?
And grew weary of the tales of the grave.
عَناbowed كُلُّevery غِرٍّnaïve fellow خَنٍfeeble
عَنا كُلُّ غِرٍّ خَنٍ
لِكُلِّto every غَريرٍinexperienced youth خَنَثeffeminate
لِكُلِّ غَريرٍ خَنَث
Every naïve weakling bowed
And if his tears were not blood, it would have sufficed from a plow.
Every treacherous deceiver was humbled,
to every inexperienced, effeminate youth.
It saddened the lion, crying for its son,
Before every naive, pliant youth.
عَفاءًruin عَلىupon دَهرِناour age
عَفاءً عَلى دَهرِنا
فَكَمfor how many مِنof جديدٍa new thing أَرَثit made threadbare
فَكَم مِن جديدٍ أَرَث
Ruin upon our age!
And made a dog pant.
May dust cover this time of ours;
For how many a new thing it has worn out!
It gathered people when the absent one was announced,
How many new things has it worn to tatters!
أَمِنis it from بَعدِafter قُربِcloseness نَوىًseparation
أَمِن بَعدِ قُربِ نَوىً
أَمِنis it from بَعدِafter جِدٍّearnestness عَبثfrivolity
أَمِن بَعدِ جِدٍّ عَبث
Is there separation after closeness?
So say which poison did it blow?
Is it after such close proximity,
Is there frivolity after earnestness?
Lo, a heart was delighted
And after seriousness, comes this absurdity?
عَسىmay مَنsomeone who يُوَفّيfulfills النُذوthe vows (word continues)
عَسى مَن يُوَفّي النُذو
رَending of 'vows' حَجّاًin pilgrimage وَيَقضيand removes التَفَثritual grime
رَ حَجّاً وَيَقضي التَفَث
May one who fulfills his vows
For the servant of the Rich [God] so it came to life,
Perhaps he who fulfills his vows
on pilgrimage and removes its ritual grime
And how much imagination pained him,
By performing Hajj and completing the rites,
يُزَوِّدُنيprovides me with دَعوَةًa prayer
يُزَوِّدُني دَعوَةً
بِمَكَّةَin Mecca إِذwhen لاno رَفَثlewdness
بِمَكَّةَ إِذ لا رَفَث
provide me with a prayer
So it touched the disheveled hair.
Will supply me with a prayer
in Mecca, where there is no lewdness,
My tears watered the land, the twister of snakes in the twisted sand,
In Mecca, where no obscenity is spoken,
يُغيثُbrings relief بِهاthrough it باكِياa weeping man
يُغيثُ بِها باكِيا
فَأَيُّfor what الثرىsoil لَمnot يُغَثwas rained upon
فَأَيُّ الثرى لَم يُغَث
bringing a weeping man relief through it—
It irrigated then bent,
Succoring thereby a weeping man—
for what soil has not been rained upon?
And it would not have harmed him had it stayed.
For what soil has not been watered by tears?
وَلَوand even if لَمnot يَكُنwere دَمعُهُhis tears
وَلَو لَم يَكُن دَمعُهُ
دَماًblood لَكَفىwould suffice for منwhoever حَرَثtilled
دَماً لَكَفى من حَرَث
Even if his tears were not
It mixed with searching the hidden passions,
And even if his tears were not blood,
blood, they would suffice for anyone who tilled.
About my regrets, it searched.
They would suffice to water the tilled earth.
شَجاgrieved الأسدَthe lion ناعيthe death-announcer of اِبنِهِhis son
شَجا الأسدَ ناعي اِبنِهِ
وَأَشمَتand made gloat كَلباًa dog لَهَثthat panted
وَأَشمَت كَلباً لَهَث
The herald of his son's death grieved the lion
We confide our secrets to you,
The herald of his son’s death grieved the lion,
and gave a panting dog cause to gloat.
And the water of shelter, we pour.
And brought gloating to the panting dog.
أَضَمَّdistressed الوَرىmankind إِذwhen نُعيthe death was announced
أَضَمَّ الوَرى إِذ نُعي
فَقُلso say أَيَّwhat سُمٍّpoison نَفَثhe spat out
فَقُل أَيَّ سُمٍّ نَفَث
He distressed mankind when the death was announced;
The children of Maalik cried for you
Did he encompass all mankind when his death was announced?
so tell me: what poison did he spit?
In the fresh bloom of the land.
Tell me, what poison has been spread?
أَلاbehold إِنّindeed قَلباًa heart سَرىjourneyed by night
أَلا إِنّ قَلباً سَرى
لِعَبدِfor Abd الغَنِيِّal-Ghani اِنبَعَثwas stirred
لِعَبدِ الغَنِيِّ اِنبَعَث
Lo, a heart journeyed by night,
With every fattened one being sated,
Truly, a heart that journeyed by night
stirred for Abd al-Ghani.
And far from them is all nonsense.
Has gone forth towards Abdul-Ghani.
وَرُبَّand many a خَيالٍvision لَهُof him
وَرُبَّ خَيالٍ لَهُ
أَلَمَّvisited فَلَمَّso it gathered الشَعَثthe disarray
أَلَمَّ فَلَمَّ الشَعَث
And many a vision of him
They do not disturb the towns,
And how often has a vision of him
visited and gathered my scattered self.
When every settler is disturbed.
Visited, and mended my disarray.
سَقىwatered الأَرضthe earth مِنfrom أَدمُعيmy tears
سَقى الأَرض مِن أَدمُعي
مُلِثُّunceasing الحَياrain فيin المَلَثthe resting place
مُلِثُّ الحَيا في المَلَث
The earth was watered with my tears
They taint the dress of piety,
He watered the earth with my tears,
by unceasing rain at the resting place.
When you do not taint them.
Like continuous rain falling in the gloom.
سَقانيgave me drink ثُمَّthen اِنثَنىturned away
سَقاني ثُمَّ اِنثَنى
وَماand what ضَرَّهُharmed him لَوif مَكَثhe stayed
وَما ضَرَّهُ لَو مَكَث
He gave me drink, then turned away;
So forbearance is like an immense mountain,
He gave me drink, then turned away;
what harm would it have done him to stay?
And generosity is like pouring rain.
What harm would have come to him had he stayed?
وَرابَand disquieted بِحَثِّby hastening السُرىnight travel
وَرابَ بِحَثِّ السُرى
أَعنwas it about حَسَراتيmy sorrows بحَثhe inquired
أَعن حَسَراتي بحَث
And his haste in night travel troubled me—
I worship the Rich One, so turn
He unsettled me by hastening his night journey;
did he inquire about my sorrows?
To the affliction in my heart which lingered
Was he searching for my sorrows?
نَبُثُّكَwe confide to you أَسرارَناour secrets
نَبُثُّكَ أَسرارَنا
وَماءَand the water of المَآقيthe inner eye-corners نَبُثwe spill
وَماءَ المَآقي نَبُث
We confide our secrets to you
And stand at Muzza when
We pour out our secrets to you,
and spill the water of our eyes.
You set out to it, so seek blessing.
Just as we pour out the water of our eyes.
بَكَتكَwept for you بَنوthe sons of مالِكٍMalik
بَكَتكَ بَنو مالِكٍ
رَبيعَthe springtime of الوَرىmankind فيamid الغَرَثhunger
رَبيعَ الوَرى في الغَرَث
Banu Malik wept for you,
It will intercede when one falls
The tribe of Banu Malik has wept for you,
mankind's springtime amid hunger.
The morning of the risen dead.
O spring of mankind in times of famine.
بِكُلِّwith every سَمينٍfattened beast قَرواthey fed guests
بِكُلِّ سَمينٍ قَروا
وَحاشاand far be it لَهُمfrom them كُلُّany غَثlean fare
وَحاشا لَهُم كُلُّ غَث
With every fattened beast they fed their guests;
You shunned harm and resentment,
They hosted guests with the choicest fat cattle,
far from them was any lean fare.
You left your father disheveled.
And kept far from them any lean meat.
وَلاand not يَغلثونَthey adulterate القُرىthe guests' fare
وَلا يَغلثونَ القُرى
إِذاwhen كُلُّevery قارٍhost غَلَثadulterated it
إِذا كُلُّ قارٍ غَلَث
They do not adulterate their guests' fare
And God said to you, "Go,
They never adulterate their hospitality
when every other host adulterates it.
Inherit My Paradise, do not inherit."
When other hosts mix the good with the bad.
يَلوثونَthey wind أَزرَthe girdles of التُقىpiety
يَلوثونَ أَزرَ التُقى
عَلَيهِمaround themselves إِذاwhen لَمnot تَلِثyou wind them
عَلَيهِم إِذا لَم تَلِث
They wind the girdles of piety
So you hurried to the huris that
They wrap themselves in the mantle of piety,
around themselves when you do not.
No faded one has touched.
Securing it firmly upon themselves.
فَحِلمٌso, forbearance كَطَودٍlike a mountain رَساstood firm
فَحِلمٌ كَطَودٍ رَسا
وَجودٌand generosity كَغَيثٍlike rain أَلَثpersisted
وَجودٌ كَغَيثٍ أَلَث
Thus, forbearance like a mountain rooted fast,
Their forbearance is like an anchored mountain,
and generosity like rain that never ceases.
Their generosity like rain that never ceases.
أَعَبدَO Abd الغنيّal-Ghani اِلتَفِتturn
أَعَبدَ الغنيّ اِلتَفِت
لِبَثٍّtoward anguish بِقَلبيin my heart لَبَثlingered
لِبَثٍّ بِقَلبي لَبَث
O Abd al-Ghani, turn
O Abdul-Ghani, turn your gaze
toward anguish that has stayed in my heart.
To the sorrow that lingers in my heart.
وَقِفand stand بِالمرَزّاby the bereaved man إِذاwhen
وَقِف بِالمرَزّا إِذا
بَرَزتَyou appear لَهُto him فَاِستَبَثso he poured out his grief
بَرَزتَ لَهُ فَاِستَبَث
And stand by the bereaved man when
And stand by the afflicted one when
you appear to him and he pours out his grief.
You appear to him as he pours out his grief.
يُشَفَّعis granted intercession إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle جَثاhe knelt
يُشَفَّع إِذا ما جَثا
غَداةَon the morning of قِيامِthe rising of الجُثَثthe bodies
غَداةَ قِيامِ الجُثَث
His intercession is accepted when he kneels
He shall be granted intercession when he kneels
on the morning the bodies rise.
On the morning when the dead shall rise.
أَبَينَis it amid الأَذىhurt وَالقَذىand grit in the eye
أَبَينَ الأَذى وَالقَذى
تَرَكتَyou left أَباكَyour father الشَعِثdisheveled
تَرَكتَ أَباكَ الشَعِث
Amid hurt and grit in the eyes,
Amidst suffering and the speck in the eye,
have you left your disheveled father?
You have left your father in disarray.
وَقالَand said لَكَto you اللَهُGod سِرgo
وَقالَ لَكَ اللَهُ سِر
ترِثyou inherit جَنَّتيMy garden لاnot تَرثgrow worn
ترِث جَنَّتي لا تَرث
And God said to you, 'Go:
May God say to you: Proceed,
inherit My garden, never to decay.'
Inherit My Paradise, and suffer no more.
فَحُرتَso you returned إِلىto الحورِthe houris لَمnot
فَحُرتَ إِلى الحورِ لَم
يُلِمَّapproached بِهاthem منanyone who طَمَثdeflowered
يُلِمَّ بِها من طَمَث
So you returned to the houris, whom
So you journeyed to the Houris,
no deflowerer had ever approached.
Whom no touch has ever defiled.
Partial English translation: 60 of 74 Arabic lines translated.