يا أَيُّها الطِّفْلُ الَّذي قَدْ

يا أَيُّها الطِّفْلُ الَّذي قَدْ

كانَ كاللَّحنِ الجَميلْ

كانَ كاللَّحنِ الجَميلْ

O child who once

O child who was

O child who once

Was like a beautiful melody,

Like a beautiful melody

Was like a beautiful melody,

والوردةِ البيضاءِ تَعْبُقُ

والوردةِ البيضاءِ تَعْبُقُ

في غيابَاتِ الأَصيلْ

في غيابَاتِ الأَصيلْ

And the white rose, spreading fragrance

And a white rose diffusing fragrance

And a white rose wafting fragrance

In the deep shadows of late afternoon;

In the domains of the noble

In the depths of the twilight,

يا أَيُّها الطِّفلُ الَّذي قَدْ

يا أَيُّها الطِّفلُ الَّذي قَدْ

كانَ في هذا الوُجُودْ

كانَ في هذا الوُجُودْ

O child who once

O child who was

O child who once

Was in this existence,

In this existence

Was within this existence,

فرِحاً يُناجي فتنَةَ

فرِحاً يُناجي فتنَةَ

الدُّنيا بمعسولِ النَّشيدْ

الدُّنيا بمعسولِ النَّشيدْ

Joyful, communing with the enchantment of

Delight conversing with the charm

Joyfully communing with the charm

The world through honeyed song;

Of the world with the honeyed chant

Of the world with honeyed song,

ها أَنْتَ ذا قَدْ أَطْبَقَتْ

ها أَنْتَ ذا قَدْ أَطْبَقَتْ

جفنَيْكَ أَحلامُ المَنُونْ

جفنَيْكَ أَحلامُ المَنُونْ

Here you are: now sealed are

Dreams of the deceased have shut

Here you are, now closed upon

Your eyelids by the dreams of death;

Your eyelids

Your eyelids are the dreams of death,

وتَطَايرتْ زُمَرُ الملائِكِ

وتَطَايرتْ زُمَرُ الملائِكِ

حولَ مضْجعِكَ الأَمينْ

حولَ مضْجعِكَ الأَمينْ

And flocks of angels fluttered

And troops of angels

And throngs of angels have fluttered

Around your safe resting-place;

Have fluttered around your faithful bed

Around your peaceful bed,

ومضتْ بروحِكَ للسَّماءِ

ومضتْ بروحِكَ للسَّماءِ

عَرائسُ النُّورِ الحبيبْ

عَرائسُ النُّورِ الحبيبْ

And your soul was borne to heaven

And they have taken your soul to the heavens

And bore your soul to the heavens,

By the brides of beloved light,

The brides of the beloved light

The brides of the beloved light,

يحمِلْنَ تيجاناً مُذَهَّبَةً

يحمِلْنَ تيجاناً مُذَهَّبَةً

من الزَّهَرِ الغَريبْ

من الزَّهَرِ الغَريبْ

Bearing gilded crowns

Bearing gilded crowns

Carrying gilded crowns

Of exotic flowers.

Of strange flowers

Made of strange, exotic flowers.

ها أَنْتَ ذا قَدْ جَلَّلَتْكَ

ها أَنْتَ ذا قَدْ جَلَّلَتْكَ

سَكِينَةُ الأَبدِ الكبيرْ

سَكِينَةُ الأَبدِ الكبيرْ

Here you are: you have been enfolded

The tranquility of the great eternity has crowned you

Here you are, now shrouded by

By the stillness of vast eternity;

And those hearts have wept for you

The silence of the great eternity,

وبَكَتْكَ هاتيكَ القُلُوبُ

وبَكَتْكَ هاتيكَ القُلُوبُ

وضمَّكَ القبرُ الصَّغيرْ

وضمَّكَ القبرُ الصَّغيرْ

And those hearts wept for you,

And the small grave has embraced you

And those hearts wept for you,

And the little grave embraced you;

And the people who

And the small grave embraced you.

وتفرَّقَ النَّاسُ الَّذين

وتفرَّقَ النَّاسُ الَّذين

المقابِرِ شيَّعوكْ

المقابِرِ شيَّعوكْ

And scattered were the people who

Escorted you to the cemeteries have dispersed

And the people dispersed, those who

Escorted you to the graves;

And forgotten you from their world as

Escorted you to the graves,

ونسُوكَ مِنْ دنياهُمُ حتَّى

ونسُوكَ مِنْ دنياهُمُ حتَّى

كأَنْ لمْ يَعْرفوكْ

كأَنْ لمْ يَعْرفوكْ

And forgot you in their world, until

If they had never known you

And forgot you from their world, as if

It was as though they had never known you.

Life has distracted them from you

They had never known you.

شَغَلَتْهُمُ عنكَ الحَيَاةُ

شَغَلَتْهُمُ عنكَ الحَيَاةُ

وحَرْبُ هذي الكائنَاتْ

وحَرْبُ هذي الكائنَاتْ

Life distracted them from you,

And the war of these creatures

Life distracted them from you,

And the struggle of these beings.

Indeed, after you have lived life

And the war of these beings.

إنَّ الحَيَاةَ وقد قضيْتَ

إنَّ الحَيَاةَ وقد قضيْتَ

قُبَيْلَ معرفَةِ الحَيَاةْ

قُبَيْلَ معرفَةِ الحَيَاةْ

Life indeed—though you died

Before knowing life

Indeed, life—though you departed

Just before coming to know life—

It is a sea whose stillness is corruption

Before knowing what life is—

بحرٌ قَرارَتُهُ الرَّدى

بحرٌ قَرارَتُهُ الرَّدى

ونشيدُ لجته شَكَاةْ

ونشيدُ لجته شَكَاةْ

Is a sea whose depths are death,

And its clamor is misery

Is a sea whose depth is doom,

And the song of its deep is lament;

And on its shores hearts

And the song of its abyss is complaint,

وعلى شواطئهِ القُلُوبُ

وعلى شواطئهِ القُلُوبُ

تئنُّ داميةً عُراةْ

تئنُّ داميةً عُراةْ

And upon its shores, hearts

Moan nakedly

And upon its shores, hearts

Moan, bleeding and naked.

It is a sea where storms surge

Groan, bleeding and naked.

بحرٌ تجيشُ بع العَوَاصفُ

بحرٌ تجيشُ بع العَوَاصفُ

في العَشِيَّةِ والغَداةْ

في العَشِيَّةِ والغَداةْ

A sea in which the tempests surge

In the evening and morning

A sea where storms rage

At evening and at morning;

And clouds of darkness shade it

In the evening and the morning,

وتُظِلُّهُ سُحُبُ الظَّلامِ

وتُظِلُّهُ سُحُبُ الظَّلامِ

فلا سكونَ ولا إياةْ

فلا سكونَ ولا إياةْ

And clouds of darkness overshadow it:

So there is no peace or life

And clouds of darkness cast shadows upon it,

No stillness and no sunlight.

The waves of the lake have forgotten you

So there is no stillness and no light.

نَسِيَتْكَ أَمواجُ البُحَيْرَةِ

نَسِيَتْكَ أَمواجُ البُحَيْرَةِ

والنُّجُومُ الَّلامعهْ

والنُّجُومُ الَّلامعهْ

The lake's waves have forgotten you,

And the shining stars

The waves of the lake forgot you,

And the shining stars,

And the singing nightingale and those

And the shining stars,

والبُلبلُ الشَّادي وهاتيكَ

والبُلبلُ الشَّادي وهاتيكَ

المروجُ الشَّاسِعهْ

المروجُ الشَّاسِعهْ

And the singing nightingale, and those

Spacious meadows

And the singing nightingale, and those

Far-spreading meadows,

And the streams of the flourishing valley

Vast, sweeping meadows,

وَجَداولُ الوادي النَّضيرِ

وَجَداولُ الوادي النَّضيرِ

برَقْصِها وَخَريرها

برَقْصِها وَخَريرها

And the streams of the verdant valley,

With their ripple and murmur

And the brooks of the verdant valley,

With their dancing and their murmuring,

And the paths of the small mountain

With their dancing and their purling,

ومسالكُ الجبلِ الصَّغير

ومسالكُ الجبلِ الصَّغير

بعُشْبِها وزُهورها

بعُشْبِها وزُهورها

And the paths of the little mountain,

With its grass and flowers

And the paths of the small mountain,

With their grass and their flowers.

Even the friends, they lingered

With their grass and their flowers.

حتَّى الرِّفاقُ فإنَّهمْ

حتَّى الرِّفاقُ فإنَّهمْ

لبثوا مدًى يتساءلونْ

لبثوا مدًى يتساءلونْ

Even your companions: they

Perplexed, wondering

Even the playmates, for they

Spent a while asking one another,

Where this faithful one had vanished

Remained for a while wondering,

في حيرةٍ مشبوبةٍ

في حيرةٍ مشبوبةٍ

أَيْنَ اختفى هذا الأَمينْ

أَيْنَ اختفى هذا الأَمينْ

In bewilderment aflame,

But they knew that at night

In burning bewilderment:

Where has this trusted one vanished?

The processions of darkness had carried you

Where has this gentle one vanished?

لكنَّهمْ علموا بأنَّكَ

لكنَّهمْ علموا بأنَّكَ

في اللَّيالي الدَّاجيهْ

في اللَّيالي الدَّاجيهْ

But they came to know that

To the distant mountains

But they learned that you,

In the dark nights

So they forgot you like the people and turned

In the dark, gloomy nights,

حملتكَ غِيلانُ الظَّلامِ

حملتكَ غِيلانُ الظَّلامِ

إلى الجبالِ النَّائيهْ

إلى الجبالِ النَّائيهْ

The ghouls of darkness had carried you

To beautiful amusement

Were carried off by the ghouls of darkness

To the distant mountains.

Among the vine trees, streams,

To the distant mountains.

فَنَسُوكَ مثلَ النَّاسِ وانصرفوا

فَنَسُوكَ مثلَ النَّاسِ وانصرفوا

إلى اللَّهْوِ الجميلْ

إلى اللَّهْوِ الجميلْ

So they forgot you, like everyone else, and turned

Hilltops and plains

So they forgot you like the people, and turned away

To lovely play,

And they forgot the gentleness of your calm face

To beautiful amusement,

بَيْنَ الخمائلِ والجداولِ

بَيْنَ الخمائلِ والجداولِ

والرَّوابي والسُّهولْ

والرَّوابي والسُّهولْ

Among the thickets and the streams,

And your handsome appearance

Between the thickets and the brooks,

And the hills and the plains.

And they forgot your beautiful singing

And the hills and the plains.

ونسُوا وداعَةَ وجهكَ الهادي

ونسُوا وداعَةَ وجهكَ الهادي

ومنظَرَكَ الوسيمْ

ومنظَرَكَ الوسيمْ

And forgot the gentleness of your calm face

With your sweet, tender voice

They forgot the meekness of your calm face,

And your handsome appearance;

And they went to the delightful prairie

And your handsome appearance,

ونسُوا تَغَنِّيكَ الجميلَ

ونسُوا تَغَنِّيكَ الجميلَ

بِصَوتكَ الحلوِ الرَّخيمْ

بِصَوتكَ الحلوِ الرَّخيمْ

And forgot your beautiful singing

Chasing its birds

And they forgot your lovely singing

In your sweet, mellow voice.

And dislodging its rocks

With your sweet, melodious voice.

ومضوْا إلى المرْج البهيجِ

ومضوْا إلى المرْج البهيجِ

يطارِدُونَ طيورَهُ

يطارِدُونَ طيورَهُ

And went to the cheerful meadow,

And frolicking with its flowers

They went on to the joyful meadow,

Chasing its birds,

And from the white pebbles

Chasing its birds,

ويُزحزِحونَ صُخورَهُ

ويُزحزِحونَ صُخورَهُ

ويعابِثونَ زُهورَهُ

ويعابِثونَ زُهورَهُ

And shifting its rocks,

And green grass they built

And shifting its rocks,

And frolicking with its flowers;

Chambers and huts crowned

And toying with its flowers,

ويشيِّدونَ من الرِّمالِ البيضِ

ويشيِّدونَ من الرِّمالِ البيضِ

والحَصَبِ النضيرْ

والحَصَبِ النضيرْ

And building from white sands

With herbs and flowers

And building from the white sands

And bright pebbles

And from the brushwood

And the fresh pebbles,

غُرَفاً وأَكواخاً تُكَلِّلُها

غُرَفاً وأَكواخاً تُكَلِّلُها

الحشائشُ والزُّهورْ

الحشائشُ والزُّهورْ

Rooms and huts, crowned

Amid laughter and playfulness

Rooms and huts crowned by

With grasses and flowers;

They made arcades of lasting roses

Grasses and blossoms,

ويُنضِّدون من الرُّبى

ويُنضِّدون من الرُّبى

بَيْنَ التَّضاحُكِ والحُبورْ

بَيْنَ التَّضاحُكِ والحُبورْ

And arranging, from the hills,

That rival palace blossoms

And gathering from the hilltops,

Amid laughter and delight,

And tossed them in the river

Amidst laughter and delight,

طاقاتِ وردٍ آبدٍ

طاقاتِ وردٍ آبدٍ

تُزري بأَورادِ القُصورْ

تُزري بأَورادِ القُصورْ

Bouquets of wild roses

As an offering to the gods of joy

Bouquets of wild roses

That put palace roses to shame;

So they floated dancing

That mock the roses of palaces,

يُلقُونها في النَّهْرِ

يُلقُونها في النَّهْرِ

قُربانا ًلآلهة السُّرورْ

قُربانا ًلآلهة السُّرورْ

They cast them into the river

To the murmur of the current

Throwing them into the river

As an offering to the gods of joy,

All forgot you and no longer

As an offering to the gods of joy,

فَتَسيرُ في التَّيَّارِ راقصةً

فَتَسيرُ في التَّيَّارِ راقصةً

على نَغَمِ الخريرْ

على نَغَمِ الخريرْ

And they drift in the current, dancing

Remembered you in life

So they float in the current, dancing

To the music of its murmuring.

And time buried in the darkness

To the melody of the murmur.

كلٌّ نَسُوكَ ولم يعودوا

كلٌّ نَسُوكَ ولم يعودوا

يذكرونكَ في الحَيَاةْ

يذكرونكَ في الحَيَاةْ

All forgot you, and no longer

Of death even memories

All have forgotten you, and no longer

Remembered you in life;

Except a heart that continued throbbing

Remember you in this life,

والدَّهرُ يَدْفُنُ في ظلامِ

والدَّهرُ يَدْفُنُ في ظلامِ

الموتِ حتَّى الذِّكرياتْ

الموتِ حتَّى الذِّكرياتْ

And time buries in the darkness

In existence for meeting you

And time buries in the darkness

Of death even memories—

And wishing it could give life

Of death even the memories.

إلاَّ فؤاداً ظلَّ يخفُقُ

إلاَّ فؤاداً ظلَّ يخفُقُ

في الوُجُودِ إلى لِقاكْ

في الوُجُودِ إلى لِقاكْ

Except one heart that kept beating

To death and ransom you

Except for one heart that remained beating

In this world, yearning to meet you;

So when it saw a child crying for you

In existence, longing to meet you,

ويودُّ لو بَذَلَ الحَيَاةَ

ويودُّ لو بَذَلَ الحَيَاةَ

إلى المنيَّةِ وافتداكْ

إلى المنيَّةِ وافتداكْ

And wishes it could offer its life

And if it saw an apparition it called you

Wishing it could give up life

To death and ransom you.

It listened for your voice in existence

To death, to ransom you.

فإذا رأَى طفلاً بكاكَ

فإذا رأَى طفلاً بكاكَ

وإن رأَى شبَحاً دَعاكْ

وإن رأَى شبَحاً دَعاكْ

When it sees a child, it weeps for you,

And saw only your splendor

If it sees a child, it weeps for you;

And if it sees a shadow, it calls to you;

It listened for your beautiful melody

And if it sees a shadow, it calls to you.

يُصغي لصوتكَ في الوُجُودِ

يُصغي لصوتكَ في الوُجُودِ

ولا يرى إلاَّ بَهَاكْ

ولا يرى إلاَّ بَهَاكْ

It listens for your voice in all existence,

In the murmur of the watercourse

Listening for your voice in existence,

And sees nothing but your splendor.

In the ringing of the flute

And seeing nothing but your splendor.

يُصغي لنغمتكَ الجميلَةِ

يُصغي لنغمتكَ الجميلَةِ

في خريرِ السَّاقيهْ

في خريرِ السَّاقيهْ

It listens for your beautiful melody

In the singing of the birds

Listening for your beautiful tune

In the murmuring of the watercourse,

In the rumbling of the roaring sea

In the purling of the stream,

في رنَّةِ المزمارِ

في رنَّةِ المزمارِ

في لغوِ الطُّيور الشَّاديهْ

في لغوِ الطُّيور الشَّاديهْ

In the flute's ringing,

In the howling of the tempest

In the ringing of the flute,

In the chatter of singing birds,

In the density of the forests

In the chatter of singing birds,

في ضجَّةِ البَحر المجلجِل

في ضجَّةِ البَحر المجلجِل

في هَدير العاصفهْ

في هَدير العاصفهْ

In the uproar of the resounding sea,

In the sound of crashing thunder

In the uproar of the resounding sea,

In the roar of the storm,

In the bleating of the gentle lamb

In the roaring of the storm,

في لُجَّةِ الغاباتِ

في لُجَّةِ الغاباتِ

في صوتِ الرُّعودِ القاصِفهْ

في صوتِ الرُّعودِ القاصِفهْ

In the forests' tumult,

And in the shepherds' songs

In the depth of the forests,

In the sound of crashing thunder,

Among the green meadows

In the voice of crashing thunder,

في نُغْيَةِ الحَمَلِ الوَديعِ

في نُغْيَةِ الحَمَلِ الوَديعِ

وفي أَناشيدِ الرُّعاةْ

وفي أَناشيدِ الرُّعاةْ

In the gentle lamb's soft bleat,

And the hillside lush with plants

In the bleating of the gentle lamb,

And in the shepherds' songs,

And in the anthems of the shepherds,

بَيْنَ المروجِ الخُضْرِ

بَيْنَ المروجِ الخُضْرِ

والسَّفْحِ المجلَّلِ بالنَّباتْ

والسَّفْحِ المجلَّلِ بالنَّباتْ

Among the green meadows

In the sigh of the complainer

Amidst the green meadows,

And the slope clothed in plants,

And the clamor of noisy crowds

And the foothill cloaked in vegetation,

في آهةِ الشَّاكي

في آهةِ الشَّاكي

وضوضاءِ الجموع الصَّاخبهْ

وضوضاءِ الجموع الصَّاخبهْ

In the sufferer's sigh

In the sob of the weeping one

In the sigh of the complainer,

And the uproar of clamorous crowds,

Inflamed by the wailing of mourners

And the noise of the clamorous crowds,

في شهقةِ الباكي

في شهقةِ الباكي

يُؤجِّجُها نُواحُ النَّادبهْ

يُؤجِّجُها نُواحُ النَّادبهْ

In the weeper's sob,

In all the voices of existence

In the gasp of the weeper,

Kindled by the mourning woman's wails,

Melodious and woeful

Fueled by the wailing of the mourner,

في كلِّ أَصواتِ الوُجُودِ

في كلِّ أَصواتِ الوُجُودِ

طروبِهَا وكئيبِها

طروبِهَا وكئيبِها

In all the sounds of existence,

Tender and fierce

In all the voices of existence:

Their joyful and their mournful,

Loathsome and beloved

The joyful and the depressed,

ورخيمِها وعنيفِها

ورخيمِها وعنيفِها

وبغيضِها وحبيبِها

وبغيضِها وحبيبِها

And their mellow and their fierce,

It saw you in nature's images

The melodious and the violent,

And their hateful and their beloved.

Sweet and foul

The hateful and the beloved.

ويراكَ في صُوَرِ الطَّبيعَةِ

ويراكَ في صُوَرِ الطَّبيعَةِ

حُلوِها وذميمِها

حُلوِها وذميمِها

And it sees you in the forms of nature,

Grieving and cheerful

It sees you in the forms of nature:

Its lovely and its ugly,

Lowly and sublime

Its sweetness and its ugliness,

وحزينِها وبهيجِها

وحزينِها وبهيجِها

وحقيرِها وعظيمِها

وحقيرِها وعظيمِها

And its sorrowful and its cheerful,

In the gentleness of the serene dawn

Its sadness and its delight,

And its lowly and its mighty;

And the dreaming nights

Its meanness and its grandeur,

في رقَّةِ الفجرِ الوَديعِ

في رقَّةِ الفجرِ الوَديعِ

وفي اللَّيالي الحالِمَهْ

وفي اللَّيالي الحالِمَهْ

In the tenderness of gentle dawn,

In the charm of the beautiful sunset

In the delicacy of the gentle dawn,

And in the dreaming nights,

And the smiling stars

And in the dreaming nights,

في فتنة الشَّفقِ البَديعِ

في فتنة الشَّفقِ البَديعِ

وفي النُّجُومِ البَاسمهْ

وفي النُّجُومِ البَاسمهْ

In the enchantment of wondrous twilight,

In the dance of the lake's waves

In the charm of the exquisite twilight,

And in the smiling stars,

Under the lights of the stars

And in the smiling stars,

في رقصِ أَمواجِ البحيْرة

في رقصِ أَمواجِ البحيْرة

تَحْتَ أَضواءِ النُّجُومْ

تَحْتَ أَضواءِ النُّجُومْ

In the dancing of the lake's waves

In the magic of spring's flowers

In the dance of the lake's waves

Beneath the stars' light,

And the frolics of the clouds

Under the lights of the stars,

في سِحْرِ أَزهارِ الرَّبيعِ

في سِحْرِ أَزهارِ الرَّبيعِ

وفي تهاويل الغُيومْ

وفي تهاويل الغُيومْ

In the magic of spring flowers,

In the flashing of the quivering lightning

In the magic of spring flowers,

And in the fantastic shapes of clouds,

And the hurtling of thunderbolts

And in the terrors of the clouds,

في لمعَةِ البرق الخَفُوقِ

في لمعَةِ البرق الخَفُوقِ

وفي هُوِيِّ الصَّاعقهْ

وفي هُوِيِّ الصَّاعقهْ

In the gleam of flickering lightning,

In the baseness of the valley

In the flash of the flickering lightning,

And in the thunderbolt's descent,

And the enormity of towering mountains

And in the descent of the thunderbolt,

في ذِلَّةِ الوادي

في ذِلَّةِ الوادي

وفي كِبْرِ الجبال الشَّاهقهْ

وفي كِبْرِ الجبال الشَّاهقهْ

In the valley's humility,

In the scene of the woeful forest

In the humility of the valley,

And in the pride of towering mountains,

And withering roses

And the pride of the towering mountains,

في مشهَدِ الغابِ الكئيبِ

في مشهَدِ الغابِ الكئيبِ

وفي الورود العاويهْ

وفي الورود العاويهْ

In the sight of the sorrowful forest,

In the gloom of the sorrowful night

In the scene of the gloomy forest,

And in the howling roses,

And barren caves

And among the howling beasts,

في ظُلْمَةِ اللَّيل الحزين

في ظُلْمَةِ اللَّيل الحزين

وفي الكُهوف العاريهْ

وفي الكُهوف العاريهْ

In the darkness of the sorrowful night,

Did you recognize this heart in

In the darkness of the sad night,

And in the bare caves.

The darkness of those rocks

And in the barren caves.

أَعَرفتَ هذا القلبَ في

أَعَرفتَ هذا القلبَ في

ظلماءِ هاتيكَ اللُّحُودْ

ظلماءِ هاتيكَ اللُّحُودْ

Have you recognized this heart in

It is your mother's heart

Did you recognize this heart in

The darkness of those graves?

Your intoxicated mother with the sorrows of existence

The darkness of those graves?

هوَ قلبُ أُمِّكَ

هوَ قلبُ أُمِّكَ

أُمِّكَ السَّكْرَى بأَحزانِ الوُجُودْ

أُمِّكَ السَّكْرَى بأَحزانِ الوُجُودْ

It is your mother's heart,

It is the heart that will live

It is the heart of your mother,

Your mother, drunk with the sorrows of existence.

Like a blind minstrel

Your mother, intoxicated by the sorrows of existence.

هو ذلك القلبُ الَّذي

هو ذلك القلبُ الَّذي

سيَعيشُ كالشَّادي الضَّريرْ

سيَعيشُ كالشَّادي الضَّريرْ

It is that heart which

Singing its lingering sorrow

It is that heart which

Will live like a blind singer,

To the final breath

Will live like a blind singer,

يشدو بشكوَى حزنِهِ الدَّاجي

يشدو بشكوَى حزنِهِ الدَّاجي

إلى النَّفَسِ الأَخيرْ

إلى النَّفَسِ الأَخيرْ

Singing the lament of its dark sorrow

Neither will the mistress of forgetfulness have mercy

Chanting the complaint of its dark grief

Until its final breath.

On its grief and see its torment

Until the final breath.

لا ربَّةُ النِّسيانِ ترحمُ

لا ربَّةُ النِّسيانِ ترحمُ

حُزْنَهُ وترى شقاهْ

حُزْنَهُ وترى شقاهْ

The goddess of oblivion does not pity

No, nor will days wear down

Neither the Goddess of Oblivion has mercy

Its sorrow or see its misery;

With their fingers its agony

On its sorrow, nor sees its misery,

كلاّ ولا الأَيَّامُ تُبْلي

كلاّ ولا الأَيَّامُ تُبْلي

ي أَنامِلِها أَساهْ

ي أَنامِلِها أَساهْ

No, nor do the days wear away

Unless fate weaves for it

No, nor do the days wear away

Its grief with their fingers—

The crown of madness

Its sorrow with their fingertips,

إلاَّ إِذا ضَفَرَتْ لهُ

إلاَّ إِذا ضَفَرَتْ لهُ

الأَقدارُ إكليلَ الجنونْ

الأَقدارُ إكليلَ الجنونْ

Unless there is woven for it

And it becomes wretchedly laughing

Unless fate weaves for it

By the fates a wreath of madness,

Frolicked with by years

The crown of madness,

وغدا شقيًّا ضاحكاً

وغدا شقيًّا ضاحكاً

تلهو بمرآهُ السُّنُونْ

تلهو بمرآهُ السُّنُونْ

And it becomes a laughing wretch,

It is the heart that

And it becomes a laughing wretch,

The years making sport of its appearance.

No matter how life changes

At whose sight the years make merry.

هو ذلكَ القلبُ الَّذي

هو ذلكَ القلبُ الَّذي

مهما تقلَّبَتِ الحَيَاةْ

مهما تقلَّبَتِ الحَيَاةْ

It is that heart which,

And relentless time thrusts

It is that heart which,

However life may change,

Into the ravines of creatures

No matter how life fluctuates,

وتدَفَّعَ الزَّمَنُ المُدَمْدِمُ

وتدَفَّعَ الزَّمَنُ المُدَمْدِمُ

في شِعابِ الكائناتْ

في شِعابِ الكائناتْ

And roaring time may rush on

And the world sings and the nightingale of the beautiful forest trills,

And the rumbling time rushes forth

Through the ravines of existence,

It will continue worshipping your memories

In the ravines of beings,

وتَغَنَّتِ الدُّنيا وغرَّدَ

وتَغَنَّتِ الدُّنيا وغرَّدَ

بلبلُ الغَاب الجميلْ

بلبلُ الغَاب الجميلْ

And the world may sing, and there may warble

Neither tiring nor leaning

And the world sings, and the nightingale

The beautiful forest nightingale,

Like the earth walking on its soil

Of the forest chirps beautifully,

سَيَظَلُّ يعبُدُ ذكرياتِكِ

سَيَظَلُّ يعبُدُ ذكرياتِكِ

لا يَمَلُّ ولا يَميلْ

لا يَمَلُّ ولا يَميلْ

Will go on worshipping your memories,

Are joy and youth

It will remain worshipping your memories,

Never wearying, never turning away.

And night and the winged dawn

Never wearying, never wavering.

كالأَرض تمشي فوق تُرْبَتِها

كالأَرض تمشي فوق تُرْبَتِها

المسرَّةُ والشَّبابْ

المسرَّةُ والشَّبابْ

Like the earth, over whose soil walk

And storms and clouds

Like the earth: walking upon its soil are

Joy and youth,

And love sprouts in its regions

Joy and youth,

واللَّيلُ والفجرُ المجنَّحُ

واللَّيلُ والفجرُ المجنَّحُ

والعواصفُ والسَّحَابْ

والعواصفُ والسَّحَابْ

And night and winged dawn,

Daisies and roses

And the night, and the winged dawn,

And storms and clouds,

And death digs wherever

And the storms, and the clouds.

والحبُّ تَنبتُ في مواطِنِهِ

والحبُّ تَنبتُ في مواطِنِهِ

الشَّقائِقُ والورودْ

الشَّقائِقُ والورودْ

And love, in whose dwelling-places grow

Tombs and monuments stride

And love: in its homelands grow

Poppies and roses,

And pleasures pass between its chasms

Anemones and roses,

والموتُ تُحْفَرُ أَينما

والموتُ تُحْفَرُ أَينما

يخطو المقابرُ واللُّحودْ

يخطو المقابرُ واللُّحودْ

And death—dug wherever

Dreaming, swaying

And death: dug wherever

It steps are cemeteries and graves;

Intoxicated and the cosmos' desires

It steps are graves and tombs.

وتمرُّ بَيْنَ فجاجها اللَّذَّاتُ

وتمرُّ بَيْنَ فجاجها اللَّذَّاتُ

حالمةً تميدْ

حالمةً تميدْ

And through its broad ways pass pleasures,

Yearn to the distant horizon

And pleasures pass through its ravines,

Dreaming, swaying,

And the ghosts of ages dance

Dreaming and swaying,

سكرى وأَشواقُ الوَرَى

سكرى وأَشواقُ الوَرَى

ترنو إلى الأُفُقِ البعيدْ

ترنو إلى الأُفُقِ البعيدْ

Drunken, while the longings of humankind

To grief and amusement

Drunken, while the longings of mankind

Gaze toward the distant horizon;

Until the mist of death shrouds them

Gaze toward the distant horizon.

وتَظَلُّ ترقُصُ للأَسى

وتَظَلُّ ترقُصُ للأَسى

للَّهْوِ أَشباحُ الدُّهُورْ

للَّهْوِ أَشباحُ الدُّهُورْ

And still there dance, for sorrow,

In the valley of perdition

And the ghosts of the ages continue

For merriment, the phantoms of the ages,

And it continues to bloom and then flower

To dance for sorrow and amusement,

حتَّى يُواريها ضَبابُ الموتِ

حتَّى يُواريها ضَبابُ الموتِ

في وادي الدُّثورْ

في وادي الدُّثورْ

Until death's mist conceals them

Then the morning spreads it

Until the fog of death conceals them

In the valley of obliteration;

For death, for tearing thorns

In the valley of oblivion.

وتَظَلُّ تُورِقُ ثمَّ تُزْهِرُ

وتَظَلُّ تُورِقُ ثمَّ تُزْهِرُ

ثمَّ يَنْشُرُها الصَّباحْ

ثمَّ يَنْشُرُها الصَّباحْ

And still they put forth leaves, then bloom,

For streams, for winds

And it continues to leaf, then blossom,

Then morning spreads them forth

The smiles of a dreaming visage

Then the morning scatters them

للموتِ للشَّوكِ الممزَّقِ

للموتِ للشَّوكِ الممزَّقِ

للجداولِ للرِّياحْ

للجداولِ للرِّياحْ

For death, for the torn thorns,

Flickering in the lapse of joy

To death, to the tearing thorns,

For streams, for winds:

And the roses of a smiling garden

To the streams, to the winds.

بَسَماتُ ثَغْرٍ حالِمٍ

بَسَماتُ ثَغْرٍ حالِمٍ

يفترُّ في سَهْوِ السُّرورْ

يفترُّ في سَهْوِ السُّرورْ

The smiles of a dreaming mouth

Listening to the birds' melodies

Smiles of a dreaming mouth

That parts in joy's distraction,

And it continues to throb and then sing

Parting in the absent-mindedness of joy,

وَوُرودُ روضٍ باسِمٍ

وَوُرودُ روضٍ باسِمٍ

يُصغي لأَلحانِ الطُّيورْ

يُصغي لأَلحانِ الطُّيورْ

And the roses of a smiling garden

Then dust covers it

And roses of a smiling garden

That listens to the birds' melodies;

Listening to the melodies of birds.

وتظلُّ تخفقُ ثمَّ تشدُو

وتظلُّ تخفقُ ثمَّ تشدُو

ثمَّ يطويها التُّرابْ

ثمَّ يطويها التُّرابْ

And still they flutter, then sing,

A kiss and birds trilling

And they continue to beat, then sing,

Then the dust folds them away:

For life and youth

Then the dust folds them away:

قُبَلٌ وأَطيارٌ تُغَرِّدُ

قُبَلٌ وأَطيارٌ تُغَرِّدُ

للحياةِ وللشَّبابْ

للحياةِ وللشَّبابْ

Kisses and birds that warble

And it continues walking alongside

Kisses and birds warbling

To life and to youth;

Death, life's joys

For life and for youth.

وتظلُّ تمشي في جِوارِ

وتظلُّ تمشي في جِوارِ

الموتِ أَفراحُ الحَيَاةْ

الموتِ أَفراحُ الحَيَاةْ

And still walk beside

And the lark sings between

And the joys of life continue

Death the joys of life,

The skulls and skeletons

To walk in the neighborhood of death,

ويغرِّدُ الشُّحرورُ مَا

ويغرِّدُ الشُّحرورُ مَا

بَيْنَ الجَماجِمِ والرّفاتْ

بَيْنَ الجَماجِمِ والرّفاتْ

And the blackbird sings

And the dreaming earth sings

And the blackbird sings

Among skulls and remains;

Among the flock of stars

Amidst the skulls and the remains,

والأَرضُ حالمةٌ تغنِّي

والأَرضُ حالمةٌ تغنِّي

بَيْنَ أَسرابِ النُّجُومْ

بَيْنَ أَسرابِ النُّجُومْ

And the dreaming earth sings

The ancient past's chant

And the earth is dreaming, singing

Among the flocks of stars

And the eternal beginning's surah

Among the flocks of stars,

أُنشودَةَ الماضي البعيدِ

أُنشودَةَ الماضي البعيدِ

وسُورَةَ الأَزَلِ القديمْ

وسُورَةَ الأَزَلِ القديمْ

The song of the distant past

The anthem of the distant past,

And the surah of ancient eternity.

And the chapter of ancient eternity.