أَأَرجواshall I hope مِنfrom الإِلمامvisiting بِالطَللthe ruin الباليworn
أَأَرجوا مِن الإِلمام بِالطَلل البالي
لَماfor what بيَails me أَبلالاًa cure وَذَلِكَand that أَبلىhas worn away ليme
لَما بيَ أَبلالاً وَذَلِكَ أَبلى لي
Can I hope that visiting the worn ruins will heal what ails me?
That hope has itself worn me away.
مَنازلdwellings مَنof one whom أَهوىI love سقاكِmay you be watered كَأَدمُعيlike my tears
مَنازل مَن أَهوى سقاكِ كَأَدمُعي
عَلىupon كُلevery حالstate كَلweary أَوطفheavy-clouded هَطّالpouring
عَلى كُل حال كَل أَوطف هَطّال
Dwellings of the one I love, may clouds water you as my tears do,
In every state, with heavy, abundant rain.
أَحيّيكshall I greet you أَمor أُبكيكweep for you أَمor أَشتَكيcomplain النَوىof separation
أَحيّيك أَم أُبكيك أَم أَشتَكي النَوى
إِلَيكَto you أَمor الأَيّامthe days أَمor سوءَthe misery of أَحواليmy condition
إِلَيكَ أَم الأَيّام أَم سوءَ أَحوالي
Shall I greet you, weep over you, or complain of separation
To you, to the days, or of my wretched state?
وَاعذرand excuse باكa weeper مَنwho يُخاطبaddresses أَعجَماًthe speechless
وَاعذر باك مَن يُخاطب أَعجَماً
وَيَرجوand hopes شِفاءًfor healing مِنfrom دَوارسweathered أَطلالruins
وَيَرجو شِفاءً مِن دَوارس أَطلال
Forgive a weeper who addresses what cannot speak
And hopes for healing from ruined traces.
مَحاerased الدَهرُtime مِنfrom رقّthe parchment of الفَلاةthe desert سُطورَهاtheir lines
مَحا الدَهرُ مِن رقّ الفَلاة سُطورَها
كَماjust as أَنهجتwore down أَيديthe hands of البَلىdecay خَطthe outline of تمثالan image
كَما أَنهجت أَيدي البَلى خَط تمثال
Time has erased their lines from the parchment of the desert,
As the hands of decay have worn away the outline of an image.
وَقفتI stopped بِهاat them والعيسwhile the white camels بِالرَكبwith the caravan تَرتَميhurled onward
وَقفت بِها والعيس بِالرَكب تَرتَمي
هَويّthe swoop of القَطاsandgrouse لِلوَردtoward water فيin المهمهِthe waste الخاليempty
هَويّ القَطا لِلوَرد في المهمهِ الخالي
I stopped there while the white camels carrying our company rushed on,
Like sandgrouse descending to water in the empty waste.
أَهابُI called بِهاto them الحاديthe camel driver المُطرّبtuneful فَاِنتَضىand drew forth
أَهابُ بِها الحادي المُطرّب فَاِنتَضى
سُيوفاًswords عَلىupon أَنضاءِworn bodies وَخدswift travel وَأَرقالand measured travel
سُيوفاً عَلى أَنضاءِ وَخد وَأَرقال
The tuneful camel driver called to them, and they drew forth
Their swords of swift and measured travel over their worn bodies.
فَمَرَتso they passed سراعاًswiftly كَالسِهامlike arrows بِسَهَّمlean and taut
فَمَرَت سراعاً كَالسِهام بِسَهَّم
كَسُمرlike dark shafts of القَناspears أَحلافcompanions of هَمٍّworry وَبلبالand turmoil
كَسُمر القَنا أَحلاف هَمٍّ وَبلبال
They sped away like arrows, lean and taut,
Like dark spear shafts, sworn companions of care and turmoil.
كَأَنّas if لَمnot يَرواthey knew إِلّاexcept الرِحالsaddles مواطِناًas homelands
كَأَنّ لَم يَروا إِلّا الرِحال مواطِناً
وَلَمand not يَخلقواthey were created إِلّاexcept لِشَدّfor loading وَتِرحالand departure
وَلَم يَخلقوا إِلّا لِشَدّ وَتِرحال
As though they knew no homeland but their saddles
And had been made only for loading and departure.
فَلَمthen I did not أَرَsee إِلّاexcept أَشعَثa disheveled one الراسthe head مائِلاًleaning
فَلَم أَرَ إِلّا أَشعَث الراس مائِلاً
وَسَفعand blackened أَثافhearthstones ماthat ثلتkindled قَلبيَmy heart الصاليburning
وَسَفع أَثاف ما ثلت قَلبيَ الصالي
I saw only a disheveled, leaning remnant,
And blackened hearthstones that kindled my burning heart.
وَنؤياًand a trench كَسَتهُclothed it الساقياتthe rain channels عَذافِراًwith coarse earth
وَنؤياً كَسَتهُ الساقيات عَذافِراً
كَمحنيّlike a bent زِندforearm تَحتَbeneath مَنهَجworn أَسمالrags
كَمحنيّ زِند تَحتَ مَنهَج أَسمال
And a trench the rains had covered with coarse earth,
Like a bent forearm beneath worn rags.
وَأَفئِدَةand hearts للعاشِقينof lovers يَجوهاconsumed by it
وَأَفئِدَة للعاشِقين يَجوها
تَلوبwrithe أَواماًwith thirst كَالحَوائِمِlike circling creatures ضلالlost
تَلوب أَواماً كَالحَوائِمِ ضلال
And lovers' hearts consumed by it,
Twisting with thirst like creatures circling lost.
إِذاwhen الوَرقthe doves غَنَتsang فيin الدِيارthe dwellings رايتهاI saw them
إِذا الوَرق غَنَت في الدِيار رايتها
عَلىto نَغَماتthe notes of الطَيرthe birds تَرقصdance كَالآلlike a mirage
عَلى نَغَمات الطَير تَرقص كَالآل
When the doves sang in those dwellings, I saw their remnants
Dance to the birds' notes like a shimmering mirage.
كانَas though لَمnot تَكُنthey had been مَأوىa shelter for كِرامnoble people أَعِزةhonored
كانَ لَم تَكُن مَأوى كِرام أَعِزة
وَمَثوىand an abode for وفودguests فيin غَدوmornings وَآصالand evenings
وَمَثوى وفود في غَدو وَآصال
As though they had never sheltered noble, honored people
Or hosted visitors morning and evening;
وَكُلُand every مَعنىًone devoted بِالمَكارمto virtues وَالعُلىand high rank
وَكُلُ مَعنىً بِالمَكارم وَالعُلى
مِنfrom المَهدthe cradle بِذّالlavish in giving الرَغائبwishes مِفضالgenerous
مِن المَهد بِذّال الرَغائب مِفضال
As though no one endowed with virtue and high rank
Had been generous from the cradle, granting wishes freely;
كَريمnoble وَقورdignified حازَpossessed كُلevery فَضيلةٍvirtue
كَريم وَقور حازَ كُل فَضيلةٍ
أَغَرّbright السَجاياin character ماجدillustrious العممthrough paternal kin وَالخالand maternal kin
أَغَرّ السَجايا ماجد العمم وَالخال
A dignified noble who possessed every excellence,
Bright in character, illustrious through uncle and maternal uncle.
لَهُfor him شُغلoccupation عَنapart from جودِهِhis generosity وَسَماحهand his liberality
لَهُ شُغل عَن جودِهِ وَسَماحه
عَنapart from النَفسhimself وَالأَنفاسand his breaths مِنwithout غَيرneglects or flaws of duty أَخلالneglects
عَن النَفس وَالأَنفاس مِن غَير أَخلال
His generosity and openhandedness kept him occupied
Beyond thought of himself and his own breath, without neglect.
حَديثtalk of المَعاليhonor وَالمَكارمand virtues بَينَهُمamong them
حَديث المَعالي وَالمَكارم بَينَهُم
وَصاياand counsels of شَيوخelders بَلindeed تَمائمamulets for أَطفالchildren
وَصايا شَيوخ بَل تَمائم أَطفال
Talk of honor and virtue among them
Was elders' counsel, even children's amulets.
كانَas though لَمnot يَجلhe had ranged فيهاthere عَلىupon كُلevery سابقswift horse
كانَ لَم يَجل فيها عَلى كُل سابق
وَلَمand not يَتَلاقىhad met كُلevery أَروعbold man جَوّالroaming
وَلَم يَتَلاقى كُل أَروع جَوّال
As though no rider had ranged there on every swift horse
And no bold wanderers had met there.
وَأَغلبand a broad-chested one ضارfierce لَيسَnothing غَيرَother than مَفاضَةٍa coat of armor
وَأَغلب ضار لَيسَ غَيرَ مَفاضَةٍ
لَهُfor him لبدٌa mane مِنabove فَوقa sleek horse أَجرَدlong-tailed ذَيّالtrailing
لَهُ لبدٌ مِن فَوق أَجرَد ذَيّال
Nor any fierce, broad-chested warrior whose only armor
Was a mane above a sleek horse with a trailing tail.
يَفوتhe outstrips الرِياحthe winds النكبcontrary وَهُوَwhile he مُقَيدis restrained
يَفوت الرِياح النكب وَهُوَ مُقَيد
وَيَسبُقand he precedes رَجعthe return of الطَرفthe glance مِنwithout غَيرhaste-making إِعجالhaste
وَيَسبُق رَجع الطَرف مِن غَير إِعجال
It outstripped contrary winds even when reined in
And beat the blink of an eye without haste.
أَخفlighter عَلىon الغَبراthe earth مِنthan الظلa shadow وَطأَةًin tread
أَخف عَلى الغَبرا مِن الظل وَطأَةً
وَأَوشكand quicker مِنthan كَرّthe return of الهَواجسthoughts فيin البالthe mind
وَأَوشك مِن كَرّ الهَواجس في البال
Its tread on the earth was lighter than a shadow,
Its motion quicker than thoughts returning to mind.
إِذاwhen اِتَقَدَblazed المازيّthe armor مِنfrom حَرّthe heat of عَزمِهمtheir resolve
إِذا اِتَقَدَ المازيّ مِن حَرّ عَزمِهم
وَحَرّand the heat of ذَكاءٍkeen intelligence يَومَon a day of كَرّcharge وَأَهوالand terrors
وَحَرّ ذَكاءٍ يَومَ كَرّ وَأَهوال
When their armor blazed with the heat of their resolve
And the heat of their wit on a day of charge and terror,
فَماthen no ثُمَthere ظَلٌّshade غَيرexcept قَسطاطa tent of عَثيرraised dust
فَما ثُمَ ظَلٌّ غَير قَسطاط عَثير
دَعائِمُهُits supports المرّانthe supple spears وَالأَسَلand reeds العاليtall
دَعائِمُهُ المرّان وَالأَسَل العالي
There was no shade there but a tent of rising dust,
Its supports the tall, supple spears.
مَرابضresting places of آسادlions وَمَجرىand a course for سَوابقracers
مَرابض آساد وَمَجرى سَوابق
وَمَسرَحand a roaming place for آرامgazelles وَمَرتَعand a pasture for أَشبالcubs
وَمَسرَح آرام وَمَرتَع أَشبال
A resting place of lions and a course for racing horses,
A roaming ground for gazelles and a pasture for cubs.
كانَas though لَمnot تَكُنit had been يَوماًever كناساًa shelter وَمَعقلاًand refuge
كانَ لَم تَكُن يَوماً كناساً وَمَعقلاً
لِآرامfor gazelles of أُنسٍfamiliarity بَينَbetween حالunburdened وَمِعطالand pregnant
لِآرام أُنسٍ بَينَ حال وَمِعطال
As though it had never been a shelter and refuge
For familiar gazelles, some unburdened and some heavy with young.
كانَas though لَمnot أَطِعI obeyed فيهاthere دَواعيthe calls of صَبابَتيmy longing
كانَ لَم أَطِع فيها دَواعي صَبابَتي
وَلَمand not أَرضَI pleased أَحبابيmy loved ones وَلَمand not أَعصI disobeyed عُذاليmy blamers
وَلَم أَرضَ أَحبابي وَلَم أَعص عُذالي
As though I had never obeyed my longing there,
Nor pleased my loved ones, nor defied those who blamed me.
كانَas though لَمnot يَطفhe passed around فيهاthere عَليّto me بِكاسِهِhis cup
كانَ لَم يَطف فيها عَليّ بِكاسِهِ
أَغرُّbright الثَناياin teeth وَاضحclear الجيدof neck وَالخالand beauty mark
أَغرُّ الثَنايا وَاضح الجيد وَالخال
As though the bright-toothed one had never passed me his cup there,
His neck and beauty mark clearly visible.
بَلىyes كَمhow often سَقانيhe gave me drink وَالصَباحwhile dawn مَعwith الدُجىdarkness
بَلى كَم سَقاني وَالصَباح مَع الدُجى
كَتَوشيعlike interweaving of وَشيٍembroidery فيin مَدارعgarments of ابّالa textile
كَتَوشيع وَشيٍ في مَدارع ابّال
Yet how often he served me while dawn mingled with darkness
Like embroidery woven through garments.
يَشجّhe mixes الحَميّاthe wine ليfor me بِمَعسولwith the honeyed ريقِهِof his saliva
يَشجّ الحَميّا لي بِمَعسول ريقِهِ
فَتُسكرso it becomes drunk قَبليbefore me مِنfrom لَماهُhis lips بِسلسالwith clear water
فَتُسكر قَبلي مِن لَماهُ بِسلسال
He mixed the wine for me with his honeyed saliva,
So the clear drink was intoxicated by his lips before I was.
بِعَينيهِin his eyes لِلرائينfor onlookers تَقطيبthe frown of فاتكa slayer
بِعَينيهِ لِلرائين تَقطيب فاتك
وَحيرةand bewilderment of مَظلومa wronged person وَطَلعةand the look of مُغتالan assassin
وَحيرة مَظلوم وَطَلعة مُغتال
In his eyes, onlookers found a killer's frown,
A wronged person's bewilderment, and an assassin's look;
وَرَوعةand fright of مَبغةتone surprised وَادهاشand the dazzle of ساحرa sorcerer
وَرَوعة مَبغةت وَادهاش ساحر
وَإِيناسand friendliness of نَبّاذٍa wine seller وَهَيبَةَand the authority of نَبّالan archer
وَإِيناس نَبّاذٍ وَهَيبَةَ نَبّال
The alarm of one taken by surprise and a sorcerer's dazzle,
A wine seller's welcome and an archer's commanding presence;
وَعِفةand chastity of نَساكascetics وَتَكريهand teasing of شاطرa rogue
وَعِفة نَساك وَتَكريه شاطر
وَتَمويهُand concealment of مَنّاعa refuser وَأَطماعand enticements of بِذّالa giver
وَتَمويهُ مَنّاع وَأَطماع بِذّال
The restraint of ascetics and a rogue's teasing,
A refuser's concealment and a giver's enticement;
وَنَظرةand the look of مُشتاقone longing وَإِغفاءand the drowsing of صادفone encountered
وَنَظرة مُشتاق وَإِغفاء صادف
وَإِعراضand the turning away of إِهمالneglect وَلَفتةand a turn of إِقبالattention
وَإِعراض إِهمال وَلَفتة إِقبال
A lover's glance and a chance drowsing,
A neglectful turning away and a sudden turn toward me.
يَميتhe kills وَيُحييand gives life مَنwhomever يَشاءُhe wishes بِنَظرةwith a glance
يَميت وَيُحيي مَن يَشاءُ بِنَظرة
وَيُبديand reveals الَّذيwhat تَخفيconceal الضَمائرhearts فيat once الحالimmediately
وَيُبدي الَّذي تَخفي الضَمائر في الحال
With a glance he kills or gives life to whomever he wishes
And at once reveals what hearts conceal.
وَفيand in كُلevery عَضوlimb مِنهُof him ساقa cupbearer وَقَرقفand strong wine
وَفي كُل عَضو مِنهُ ساق وَقَرقف
وَفيand in كُلevery عرقvein فيَّin me سورةa surge of جريالwine
وَفي كُل عرق فيَّ سورة جريال
In every limb of his are cupbearer and strong wine,
And in every vein of mine a surge of wine's fire.
وَهاتنةand a singing bird تُمليrecites حَديثa tale of صَبابةlonging
وَهاتنة تُملي حَديث صَبابة
عَلىupon غُصنٍa branch عالٍhigh مِنof الرندميّالmyrtle, swaying
عَلى غُصنٍ عالٍ مِن الرندميّال
A singing bird recited a tale of longing
On a high branch of the swaying myrtle.
فَنبهso it awakened أَشواقيmy longings وَوَجديَand my anguish سَجعَهاits warbling
فَنبه أَشواقي وَوَجديَ سَجعَها
وَلمand not أَكُI was ساهٍheedless عَنof هَواهُhis love وَلاnor ساليforgetful
وَلم أَكُ ساهٍ عَن هَواهُ وَلا سالي
Its warbling roused my yearning and my anguish,
Though I had never forgotten his love or ceased to grieve.
كَأَنّas though غَليلthe burning thirst of الشَوقlonging بَينَbetween جَوانِحيmy ribs
كَأَنّ غَليل الشَوق بَينَ جَوانِحي
لِسانa tongue of لَهيبflame دَبَّcrept فيthrough جسمa body
لِسان لَهيب دَبَّ في جسم
The fever of longing between my ribs seemed
A tongue of flame creeping through a body.
فَواحرَّoh, how hot أَشواقيmy longings وواطولand oh, how long غلَتيmy thirst
فَواحرَّ أَشواقي وواطول غلَتي
وَواكَبديand oh, my liver الحَرّاburning وَواجسميَand oh, my body الباليwasted
وَواكَبدي الحَرّا وَواجسميَ البالي
How fiercely my longing burns, how long my thirst!
Alas, my burning liver and my wasted body!
رَمَتنيthe nights struck me اللَياليthe nights بِالفُراقwith separation وَجَذand cut ذتcut
رَمَتني اللَيالي بِالفُراق وَجَذ ذت
بِسَيفwith the sword of النَوىdistance وَالبينand parting قَلبيmy heart وَأَوصاليand my limbs
بِسَيف النَوى وَالبين قَلبي وَأَوصالي
The nights struck me with separation and cut
My heart and limbs with the sword of distance and parting.
فَإِنso if تَردنيlongings destroy me الأَشواقlongings أَقضI will die بِحَسرَتيof my regret
فَإِن تَردني الأَشواق أَقض بِحَسرَتي
وَيَبقىand remains الهَوىlove وَالشَوقand longing أَسرَعthe swifter قتّالkiller
وَيَبقى الهَوى وَالشَوق أَسرَع قتّال
If longing destroys me, I will die of regret,
While love and yearning remain swift killers.
وَإِنand if تَبقنيlongings leave me الأَشواقlongings لِلحُزنfor grief وَالضَناand wasting
وَإِن تَبقني الأَشواق لِلحُزن وَالضَنا
أَعشI will live كاسِفاًdowncast باليin mind بِهَمٍّwith worry وَاوجالand fears
أَعش كاسِفاً بالي بِهَمٍّ وَاوجال
If longing leaves me to grief and wasting,
I will live downcast, burdened by worry and fear.
كَفىenough حُزناًgrief طولlength of اِغتِرابexile وَوَحشةand loneliness
كَفى حُزناً طول اِغتِراب وَوَحشة
وَقلَّةand scarcity of أَعوانhelpers وَإِخفاقand failure of آمالhopes
وَقلَّة أَعوان وَإِخفاق آمال
Long exile and loneliness are grief enough,
Along with few helpers and frustrated hopes.
فَلاso no بدعwonder إِنif قَلَّdiminished اِحتِماليmy endurance مُنكَرٌa thing to deny
فَلا بدع إِن قَلَّ اِحتِمالي مُنكَرٌ
تَغَيرthe change of حاليmy condition بَعدَafter خَمسةfive أَحوالconditions
تَغَير حالي بَعدَ خَمسة أَحوال
So it is no wonder if my endurance has dwindled
And my condition has changed after five reversals:
تَنوعvariation of أَطوارcircumstances وَفَقَدand loss of موانسcompanions
تَنوع أَطوار وَفَقَد موانس
وَأَعوازand lack of أَوطارdesired things وَقلةand scarcity of أَشكالpeers
وَأَعواز أَوطار وَقلة أَشكال
Changing circumstances and the loss of companions,
Unfulfilled desires and a scarcity of my peers;
وَهمّand worry بِلاwithout حَدlimit وَطَرفand an eye بِلاwithout كَرىsleep
وَهمّ بِلا حَد وَطَرف بِلا كَرى
وَقَلبٌand a heart بِلاwithout أُنسcomfort وَكَفٌّand a hand بِلاwithout مالmoney
وَقَلبٌ بِلا أُنس وَكَفٌّ بِلا مال
Care without limit and eyes without sleep,
A heart without comfort and a hand without money.
تَنكبكavoid الهَمّthe grief الدَخيلintrusive فَإِنَّهُfor it
تَنكبك الهَمّ الدَخيل فَإِنَّهُ
إِلىto الحُرthe free person أَسىsorrow مِنfrom خَيالfancy إِلىto خالreality
إِلى الحُر أَسى مِن خَيال إِلى خال
Avoid the intrusive grief, for to a free person it is
A sorrow that reaches from fancy into reality.
وَأَضيعand more lost than مِنone whom أَودىruined بِهِby it الهَمworry وَالأَسىand sorrow
وَأَضيع مِن أَودى بِهِ الهَم وَالأَسى
كَريمa noble person أَهانَتlowered قَدرُهُhis standing رِقَةَpoverty of الحالcircumstance
كَريم أَهانَت قَدرُهُ رِقَةَ الحال
No one is more lost than a person ruined by worry and sorrow:
A noble person whose poverty has lowered his standing.
وَغَيَّرand altered مِنهُin him العَدمwant غُرَّthe finest of خِصالِهِhis traits
وَغَيَّر مِنهُ العَدم غُرَّ خِصالِهِ
وَكَلفهُand forced on him الإِقلالpoverty عادةthe habit of بِخّالa miser
وَكَلفهُ الإِقلال عادة بِخّال
Want has altered his finest traits
And hardship has forced on him a miser's habits.
فَإِنso if تَرِنيyou see me مِنof حليةthe adornment of المالwealth عاطِلاًbare
فَإِن تَرِني مِن حلية المال عاطِلاً
فَإِنthen indeed بَحَمدby praise of اللَهِGod مِنof عَفَّةrestraint حاليis my condition
فَإِن بَحَمد اللَهِ مِن عَفَّة حالي
Though you see me without the adornment of wealth,
By God's praise, I still possess a life of restraint.
وَماand what فَضلmerit of حَرّa free person ذلhumbled فيin طَلَبseeking الغِنىriches
وَما فَضل حَرّ ذل في طَلَب الغِنى
وَرَبand the Lord of الوَرىcreation يَكفيهِwill suffice him مِنwithout غَيرdifficulty إِشكالِdifficulty
وَرَب الوَرى يَكفيهِ مِن غَير إِشكالِ
What merit has a free person who submits to humiliation in seeking riches?
The Lord of creation will provide for him without difficulty.
وَلاand may not كُنتI be أَنthat لانَتsoftened قَناتيmy spear shaft لِغامزfor one who presses
وَلا كُنت أَن لانَت قَناتي لِغامز
وَلوeven if قطَّعتcut نَحريmy throat قَوارضchafing أَغلاليmy chains
وَلو قطَّعت نَحري قَوارض أَغلالي
May I never bend my spear shaft before one who presses me,
Even if the chains that chafe me cut through my throat.
وَإِنand if كانَwere ماwhat زانَadorned اللِئامthe base مِنof الثَراwealth
وَإِن كانَ ما زانَ اللِئام مِن الثَرا
يُعادلit equals عِنديto me كُلُهُall of it وَزنthe weight of مِثقالa small measure
يُعادل عِندي كُلُهُ وَزن مِثقال
Though the riches that adorn the base
Are, in my eyes, all worth the weight of a mere coin,
فَقُلso say لِغَبيto a fool بِالزَمانconcerning time وَأَهلِهِand its people
فَقُل لِغَبي بِالزَمان وَأَهلِهِ
يُحاولwho tries جَهلاًin ignorance مِنهُfrom him هَضميto diminish me وَإِذلاليand humiliate me
يُحاول جَهلاً مِنهُ هَضمي وَإِذلالي
Tell the fool who trusts in his times and their people
And ignorantly tries to belittle and humiliate me:
يَميناًby oath بِحَولby the power of اللَهِGod لَيسَnever يَنالُهُwill he attain it
يَميناً بِحَول اللَهِ لَيسَ يَنالُهُ
وَلَوeven if حَزَّhe severed أَوصاليmy limbs بِأَبيضwith a bright blade فِصالseparating
وَلَو حَزَّ أَوصالي بِأَبيض فِصال
By God's power, he will never achieve it,
Even if he cuts my limbs with a keen, separating blade.
الأَمنِseek from غَيريsomeone other than me الخَسفabasement وَاِستَبقand preserve وَثبَتيyour force
الأَمنِ غَيري الخَسف وَاِستَبق وَثبَتي
فَإِنfor إِذاif ساررَتنيyou confront me غَيرwithout نِكالpunishment
فَإِن إِذا ساررَتني غَير نِكال
Seek humiliation from someone other than me; keep your force in reserve.
For if you confront me, you will find no escape from punishment.
فَإِنso if تَرَyou see يَوماًone day لِلخَطوبbefore calamities اِستكانَتيmy yielding
فَإِن تَرَ يَوماً لِلخَطوب اِستكانَتي
ماnot خالَفتhave contradicted وَاللَهِby God قَوليَmy words أَفعاليmy deeds
ما خالَفت وَاللَهِ قَوليَ أَفعالي
If you ever see me yield to calamities,
My actions have not, by God, contradicted my words.
وَماand not ذاكَthat إِلاexcept لِلقَضاءِbefore fate ضَراعةsubmission
وَما ذاكَ إِلا لِلقَضاءِ ضَراعة
وَهَلand can تَدفَعturn away الأَقدارdestinies حيلةَthe device of مُحتالِa schemer
وَهَل تَدفَع الأَقدار حيلةَ مُحتالِ
That yielding is only submission to fate;
Can any schemer's device turn destiny aside?
وَمضطغنand a resentful one تَبدوappears شَرارةthe spark of حِقدِهِhis hatred
وَمضطغن تَبدو شَرارة حِقدِهِ
فَيَطفِئُهاso extinguishes it صَفحيmy pardon وَحِلميand my patience وَإِمهاليand my forbearance
فَيَطفِئُها صَفحي وَحِلمي وَإِمهالي
A resentful man lets the spark of his hatred show,
But my pardon, patience, and forbearance put it out.
انزهI keep pure طَبعيmy nature إِنif أَحمِلُهُI burden it القَذاwith filth
انزه طَبعي إِن أَحمِلُهُ القَذا
وَماand not خَلقتI created نَفسيmy soul مطيئةa mount ادغالfor deceit
وَما خَلقت نَفسي مطيئة ادغال
I keep my nature pure rather than burden it with filth;
My soul was not made a mount for deceit.
يَجشمنيmakes me endure خَوفfear of الهَوانhumiliation إِذاwhen بَداit appears
يَجشمني خَوف الهَوان إِذا بَدا
كَأَنيَas though I مِنهاfrom it بَينَbetween أَشداقthe jaws of رئبالa lion
كَأَنيَ مِنها بَينَ أَشداق رئبال
The fear of humiliation makes me endure hardship when it appears,
As though, to escape it, I stood between a lion's jaws.
وَدوّيَّةand a vast desert تَشكوcomplain الرِياحthe winds كِلالهاof their weariness
وَدوّيَّة تَشكو الرِياح كِلالها
إِذاwhen سَلَكتَهاyou cross it وَالقَطاwhile sandgrouse خَوفfear أَضلالgetting lost
إِذا سَلَكتَها وَالقَطا خَوف أَضلال
I would cross a vast waste where the winds complain of weariness,
Where even sandgrouse fear losing their way.
إِذاwhen ماindeed طَفاrises فيهاwithin it حَريقthe blaze of هَجيرهاits midday heat
إِذا ما طَفا فيها حَريق هَجيرها
تَحصنتtake shelter الأَرواحliving creatures فيin طُررthe crowns of الضالdesert trees
تَحصنت الأَرواح في طُرر الضال
When the blaze of its midday heat rises,
Living creatures take refuge in the crowns of desert trees.
أَحرhotter نَسيماًin breeze مِنthan دِيارlands تَنكرتthat turned hostile
أَحر نَسيماً مِن دِيار تَنكرت
لِحَرto a free person رَأىwho saw فيهاin them تَحكمthe rule of أَنذالthe vile
لِحَر رَأى فيها تَحكم أَنذال
Its breeze is hotter than that of lands that have turned against
A free person who sees the rule of the vile there;
وَأَعوزand harder مِنthan كَفa miser's palm البَخيلto find مَخارِجاًexits
وَأَعوز مِن كَف البَخيل مَخارِجاً
وَأَفسحand broader مِنthan آمالthe hopes of أَخرقa fool بِطالidle
وَأَفسح مِن آمال أَخرق بِطال
It is harder to find a way out of than a miser's palm
And wider than the hopes of a foolish idler.
أَحَبdearer إِلىto قَلبيmy heart مِنthan الخُلدparadise مَوطِناًas a homeland
أَحَب إِلى قَلبي مِن الخُلد مَوطِناً
إِذاif حاوَلواthey seek فيin الخُلدparadise ذلةhumiliation of أَمثاليpeople like me
إِذا حاوَلوا في الخُلد ذلة أَمثالي
Such a place is dearer to my heart as a home than paradise
If, in paradise, they seek to humiliate people like me.
Translation model: Sol 6