رَقَّتgrew tender حَواشيthe edges of الدَهرُtime فَهيَso they تَمَرمَرُripple
رَقَّت حَواشي الدَهرُ فَهيَ تَمَرمَرُ
وَغَداand has become الثَرىthe earth فيin حَليِهِits jewels يَتَكَسَّرُsways coyly
وَغَدا الثَرى في حَليِهِ يَتَكَسَّرُ
Time's edges have grown tender, so they ripple;
and earth now sways coyly in its jewels.
نَزَلَتhas arrived مُقَدِّمَةُthe vanguard of المَصيفِsummer حَميدَةًwelcome
نَزَلَت مُقَدِّمَةُ المَصيفِ حَميدَةً
وَيَدُand the favor of الشِتاءِwinter جَديدَةٌfresh لاnot تُكفَرُis denied
وَيَدُ الشِتاءِ جَديدَةٌ لا تُكفَرُ
Summer's welcome vanguard has arrived,
and winter's favor, still fresh, is not denied.
لَولاbut for الَّذيwhat غَرَسَplanted الشِتاءُwinter بِكَفِّهِwith its palm
لَولا الَّذي غَرَسَ الشِتاءُ بِكَفِّهِ
لاقىwould have encountered المَصيفُsummer هَشائِماًwithered stalks لاnot تُثمِرُbear fruit
لاقى المَصيفُ هَشائِماً لا تُثمِرُ
But for what winter planted with its palm,
summer would have met withered stalks that bear no fruit.
كَمhow many لَيلَةٍa night آسىsuccored البِلادَthe lands بِنَفسِهِwith its own self
كَم لَيلَةٍ آسى البِلادَ بِنَفسِهِ
فيهاduring it وَيَومٍand a day وَبلُهُits downpour مُثعَنجِرُgushing copiously
فيها وَيَومٍ وَبلُهُ مُثعَنجِرُ
How many a night it gave itself to succor the lands,
and many a day, its downpour gushing!
مَطَرٌrain يَذوبُmelts away الصَحوُclear weather مِنهُfrom it وَبَعدَهُand after it
مَطَرٌ يَذوبُ الصَحوُ مِنهُ وَبَعدَهُ
صَحوٌclear weather يَكادُalmost مِنَfrom الغَضارَةِlushness يُمطِرُrains
صَحوٌ يَكادُ مِنَ الغَضارَةِ يُمطِرُ
Rain before which clear skies melt away; and afterward,
clear weather that almost rains from sheer lushness.
غَيثانِtwo rains فَالأَنواءُfor the rainstorms غَيثٌrain ظاهِرٌvisible
غَيثانِ فَالأَنواءُ غَيثٌ ظاهِرٌ
لَكَto you وَجهُهُits face وَالصَحوُand clear weather غَيثٌrain مُضمَرُhidden
لَكَ وَجهُهُ وَالصَحوُ غَيثٌ مُضمَرُ
Two rains: the storms are a rain made visible,
whose face you see; clear weather is a hidden rain.
وَنَدىًand dew إِذاwhen اِدَّهَنَتare anointed بِهِwith it لِمَمُthe locks of الثَرىthe earth
وَنَدىً إِذا اِدَّهَنَت بِهِ لِمَمُ الثَرى
خِلتَyou would think السِحابَthe cloud أَتاهُcame to it وَهُوَwhile it مُعَذِّرُoffers excuses
خِلتَ السِحابَ أَتاهُ وَهُوَ مُعَذِّرُ
And dew: when earth's locks are anointed with it,
you would think a cloud had come to it, offering excuses.
أَرَبَيعَناO our spring فيin تِسعَnine عَشرَةَten حِجَّةًa year
أَرَبَيعَنا في تِسعَ عَشرَةَ حِجَّةً
حَقّاًtruly لَهِنَّكَindeed you are لَلرَبيعُsurely the spring الأَزهَرُradiant
حَقّاً لَهِنَّكَ لَلرَبيعُ الأَزهَرُ
O our spring among nineteen years,
truly, you are indeed the radiant spring!
ماnot كانَتِwere الأَيّامُthe days تُسلَبrobbed of بَهجَةًsplendor
ما كانَتِ الأَيّامُ تُسلَب بَهجَةً
لَوif أَنَّthat حُسنَthe beauty of الرَوضِthe meadow كانَwere يُعَمَّرُgranted long life
لَو أَنَّ حُسنَ الرَوضِ كانَ يُعَمَّرُ
The days would not be robbed of splendor,
if the meadow's beauty were granted long life.
أَوَلاand do you not تَرىsee الأَشياءَthings إِنif هِيَthey غُيِّرَتare changed
أَوَلا تَرى الأَشياءَ إِن هِيَ غُيِّرَت
سَمُجَتgrow ugly وَحُسنُyet the beauty of الأَرضِthe earth حينَwhen تُغَيَّرُit is changed
سَمُجَت وَحُسنُ الأَرضِ حينَ تُغَيَّرُ
Do you not see that things, when changed,
grow ugly—yet earth's beauty lies in change?
ياO صاحِبَيَّmy two companions تَقَصَّياboth survey fully نَظَرَيكُماyour two gazes
يا صاحِبَيَّ تَقَصَّيا نَظَرَيكُما
تَرَياyou two will see وُجوهَthe faces of الأَرضِthe earth كَيفَhow تَصَوَّرُthey take shape
تَرَيا وُجوهَ الأَرضِ كَيفَ تَصَوَّرُ
O my two companions, let your gazes range to their utmost:
you will see earth's faces, how they take shape.
تَرَياyou two will see نَهاراًa day مُشمِساًsunlit قَدalready شابَهُhas whitened it
تَرَيا نَهاراً مُشمِساً قَد شابَهُ
زَهرُthe blossoms of الرُباthe hills فَكَأَنَّماso, as though هُوَit مُقمِرُwere moonlit
زَهرُ الرُبا فَكَأَنَّما هُوَ مُقمِرُ
You will see a sunlit day, whitened
by the hills' blossoms, as though it were moonlit.
دُنياa world مَعاشٌa livelihood لِلوَرىfor humankind حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen
دُنيا مَعاشٌ لِلوَرى حَتّى إِذا
جُلِيَis unveiled الرَبيعُspring فَإِنَّماthen only هِيَit مَنظَرُa spectacle
جُلِيَ الرَبيعُ فَإِنَّما هِيَ مَنظَرُ
A world that sustains humankind, until, when
spring is unveiled, it is nothing but a sight to behold.
أَضحَتhas come to تَصوغُfashion بُطونُهاits depths لِظُهورِهاfor its surfaces
أَضحَت تَصوغُ بُطونُها لِظُهورِها
نَوراًblossom تَكادُalmost لَهُbecause of it القُلوبُhearts تُنَوِّرُbloom
نَوراً تَكادُ لَهُ القُلوبُ تُنَوِّرُ
Its depths have come to fashion for its surfaces
blossoms at which hearts almost bloom,
مِنof كُلِّevery زائِرَةٍa visitor تَرَقرَقُshimmers بِالنَدىwith dew
مِن كُلِّ زائِرَةٍ تَرَقرَقُ بِالنَدى
فَكَأَنَّهاso, as though it were عَينٌan eye عَلَيهِupon it تَحَدَّرُstreams down
فَكَأَنَّها عَينٌ عَلَيهِ تَحَدَّرُ
each a visitor shimmering with dew,
as though it were an eye shedding tears upon it.
تَبدوappears وَيَحجُبُهاand veils it الجَميمُlush growth كَأَنَّهاas though it were
تَبدو وَيَحجُبُها الجَميمُ كَأَنَّها
عَذراءُa maiden تَبدوappears تارَةًat times وَتَخَفَّرُand grows bashful
عَذراءُ تَبدو تارَةً وَتَخَفَّرُ
It appears, and lush growth veils it, as though it were
a maiden, now showing herself, now growing shy.
حَتّىuntil غَدَتbecame وَهَداتُهاits hollows وَنِجادُهاand its uplands
حَتّى غَدَت وَهَداتُها وَنِجادُها
فِئَتَينِtwo companies فيin خِلَعِrobes of honor الرَبيعِspring تَبَختَرُstrut
فِئَتَينِ في خِلَعِ الرَبيعِ تَبَختَرُ
Until its hollows and its uplands became
two companies strutting in spring's robes of honor,
مُصفَرَّةًyellow مُحمَرَّةًred فَكَأَنَّهاso, as though they were
مُصفَرَّةً مُحمَرَّةً فَكَأَنَّها
عُصَبٌbands تَيَمَنَّtake Yemen's side فيin الوَغاbattle وَتَمَضَّرُand take Mudar's side
عُصَبٌ تَيَمَنَّ في الوَغا وَتَمَضَّرُ
yellow and red, as though they were
bands siding with Yemen and Mudar in battle.
مِنamong them فاقِعٍvivid yellow غَضِّtender النَباتِin growth كَأَنَّهُas though it were
مِن فاقِعٍ غَضِّ النَباتِ كَأَنَّهُ
دُرُّpearls يُشَقَّقُare split open قَبلُfirst ثُمَّthen يُزَعفَرُare saffron-dyed
دُرُّ يُشَقَّقُ قَبلُ ثُمَّ يُزَعفَرُ
Some vivid yellow, tender-grown, as though they were
pearls first split open, then dyed with saffron;
أَوor ساطِعٍblazing فيin حُمرَةٍredness فَكَأَنَّso, as though ماwhatever
أَو ساطِعٍ في حُمرَةٍ فَكَأَنَّ ما
يَدنوdraws near إِلَيهِto it مِنَof الهَواءِthe air مُعَصفَرُsafflower-dyed
يَدنو إِلَيهِ مِنَ الهَواءِ مُعَصفَرُ
or blazing red, as though whatever
air comes near it were dyed with safflower.
صُنعُthe handiwork of الَّذيthe One لَولاbut for بَدائِعُthe wonders of صُنعِهِHis craft
صُنعُ الَّذي لَولا بَدائِعُ صُنعِهِ
ماnot عادَturned أَصفَرَyellow بَعدَafter إِذwhen هُوَit أَخضَرُwas green
ما عادَ أَصفَرَ بَعدَ إِذ هُوَ أَخضَرُ
The work of Him, but for the wonders of whose craft
it would not turn yellow after being green.
خُلُقٌa disposition أَطَلَّemerged مِنَfrom الرَبيعِspring كَأَنَّهُas though it were
خُلُقٌ أَطَلَّ مِنَ الرَبيعِ كَأَنَّهُ
خُلُقُthe disposition of الإِمامِthe Imam وَهَديُهُand his manner المُتَيَسِّرُeasy
خُلُقُ الإِمامِ وَهَديُهُ المُتَيَسِّرُ
A disposition emerges from spring, as though it were
the Imam's disposition and his easy manner.
فيin الأَرضِthe earth مِنfrom عَدلِthe justice of الإِمامِthe Imam وَجودِهِand his bounty
في الأَرضِ مِن عَدلِ الإِمامِ وَجودِهِ
وَمِنَand from النَباتِvegetation الغَضِّtender سُرجٌlamps تَزهَرُshine
وَمِنَ النَباتِ الغَضِّ سُرجٌ تَزهَرُ
On earth, from the Imam's justice and his bounty,
and from tender growth, lamps shine forth.
تُنسىare forgotten الرِياضُthe gardens وَماand whatever يُرَوَّضُis cultivated فِعلُهُhis deed
تُنسى الرِياضُ وَما يُرَوَّضُ فِعلُهُ
أَبَداًforever عَلىthrough مَرِّthe passing of اللَياليthe nights يُذكَرُis remembered
أَبَداً عَلى مَرِّ اللَيالي يُذكَرُ
Gardens and all that is cultivated are forgotten; his deeds
are remembered forever as the nights pass.
إِنَّindeed الخَليفَةَthe Caliph حينَwhen يُظلِمُbrings darkness حادِثٌa calamity
إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ حينَ يُظلِمُ حادِثٌ
عَينُthe eye of الهُدىguidance وَلَهُand for him الخِلافَةُthe caliphate مَحجَرُan eye socket
عَينُ الهُدى وَلَهُ الخِلافَةُ مَحجَرُ
Indeed, the Caliph, when a calamity brings darkness,
is the eye of guidance; the caliphate is his socket.
كَثُرَتmultiplied بِهِthrough him حَرَكاتُهاits movements وَلَقَدand indeed تُرىcould be seen
كَثُرَت بِهِ حَرَكاتُها وَلَقَد تُرى
مِنfrom فَترَةٍa lull وَكَأَنَّهاand as though it were تَتَفَكَّرُpondering
مِن فَترَةٍ وَكَأَنَّها تَتَفَكَّرُ
Through him its movements multiplied; once it could be seen
in a lull, as though lost in thought.
ماnot زِلتُI have ceased أَعلَمُto know أَنَّthat عُقدَةَthe knot of أَمرِهاits affairs
ما زِلتُ أَعلَمُ أَنَّ عُقدَةَ أَمرِها
فيin كَفِّهِhis palm مُذever since خُلِّيَتit was left free تَتَخَيَّرُto choose
في كَفِّهِ مُذ خُلِّيَت تَتَخَيَّرُ
I have always known that the knot of its affairs
lay in his palm, ever since it was left free to choose.
سَكَنَgrew still الزَمانُtime فَلاso no يَدٌhand مَذمومَةٌblameworthy
سَكَنَ الزَمانُ فَلا يَدٌ مَذمومَةٌ
لِلحادِثاتِfor calamities وَلاand no سَوامٌgrazing livestock يُذعَرُis frightened
لِلحادِثاتِ وَلا سَوامٌ يُذعَرُ
Time has grown still: no blameworthy hand
is left to calamities, nor are grazing herds alarmed.
نَظَمَstrung together البِلادَthe lands فَأَصبَحَتso they became وَكَأَنَّهاand as though they were
نَظَمَ البِلادَ فَأَصبَحَت وَكَأَنَّها
عِقدٌa necklace كَأَنَّas though العَدلَjustice فيهِin it جَوهَرُa jewel
عِقدٌ كَأَنَّ العَدلَ فيهِ جَوهَرُ
He has strung the lands together, so that they are like
a necklace, with justice as its jewel.
لَمdid not يَبقَremain مَبدىًa desert camp موحِشٌdesolate إِلّاexcept that اِرتَوىdrank its fill
لَم يَبقَ مَبدىً موحِشٌ إِلّا اِرتَوى
مِنfrom ذِكرِهِmention of him فَكَأَنَّماso, as though هُوَit مَحضَرُa settled town
مِن ذِكرِهِ فَكَأَنَّما هُوَ مَحضَرُ
No desolate desert camp remains but has drunk its fill
of his renown, as though it were a settled town.
مَلِكٌa king يَضِلُّloses its way الفَخرُpride فيin أَيّامِهِhis days
مَلِكٌ يَضِلُّ الفَخرُ في أَيّامِهِ
وَيَقِلُّand seems little فيamid نَفَحاتِهِhis bountiful gifts ماwhat يَكثُرُis plentiful
وَيَقِلُّ في نَفَحاتِهِ ما يَكثُرُ
A king in whose days pride loses its way,
and beside whose bounty abundance seems small.
فَليَعسُرَنَّso it will surely be hard عَلىfor اللَياليthe nights بَعدَهُafter him
فَليَعسُرَنَّ عَلى اللَيالي بَعدَهُ
أَنthat يُبتَلىbe afflicted بِصُروفِهِنَّby their reversals المُعسِرُthe needy
أَن يُبتَلى بِصُروفِهِنَّ المُعسِرُ
So the nights will surely find it hard, after him,
to afflict the needy with their reversals.
Translation model: Sol 6.1