مالَfell away أَحبابُهُhis loved ones خَليلاًfriend خَليلاby friend
مالَ أَحبابُهُ خَليلاً خَليلا
وَتَوَلّىand departed اللِداتُage-mates إِلّاexcept قَليلاa few
وَتَوَلّى اللِداتُ إِلّا قَليلا
His loved ones fell away, friend by friend,
and his age-mates departed, save a few.
نَصَلواthey slipped free أَمسِyesterday مِنfrom غُبارِthe dust of اللَياليthe nights
نَصَلوا أَمسِ مِن غُبارِ اللَيالي
وَمَضىand he went on وَحدَهُby himself يَحُثُّhastening الرَحيلاdeparture
وَمَضى وَحدَهُ يَحُثُّ الرَحيلا
Yesterday they slipped free of the dust of nights,
and he went on alone, hastening departure.
سَكَنَتfell still مِنهُمof theirs الرُكابُthe mounts كَأَنas though لَمnot (past)
سَكَنَت مِنهُم الرُكابُ كَأَن لَم
تَضطَرِبthey stirred ساعَةًfor an hour وَلَمand did not تَمضِtravel ميلاa mile
تَضطَرِب ساعَةً وَلَم تَمضِ ميلا
Their mounts fell still, as though they had never
stirred an hour or traveled a mile.
جُرِّدواthey were stripped مِنof مَنازِلَdwellings الأَرضِthe earth إِلّاexcept
جُرِّدوا مِن مَنازِلَ الأَرضِ إِلّا
حَجَراًa stone دارِساًweathered وَرَملاًand sand مَهيلاloosely heaped
حَجَراً دارِساً وَرَملاً مَهيلا
They were stripped of earthly dwellings, except
a weathered stone and loosely heaped sand.
وَتَعَرَّواand they were laid bare إِلىto البِلىdecay فَكَساهُمso it clothed them
وَتَعَرَّوا إِلى البِلى فَكَساهُم
خُشنَةَthe roughness of اللَحدِthe grave وَالدُجىand darkness المَسدولاdraped
خُشنَةَ اللَحدِ وَالدُجى المَسدولا
They lay naked before decay, which clothed them
in the grave’s roughness and draped darkness,
فيin يَبابٍa wasteland مِنَof الثَرىearth رَدَّهُmade it المَوDeath (first part)
في يَبابٍ مِنَ الثَرى رَدَّهُ المَو
تُcompletes “Death” نَقِيّاًpure مِنَof الحُقودِrancors غَسيلاwashed clean
تُ نَقِيّاً مِنَ الحُقودِ غَسيلا
in a wasteland of earth that Death had made
pure, washed clean of rancor.
طَرَحواthey cast off عِندَهُthere, beside it الهُمومَcares وَقالواand they said
طَرَحوا عِندَهُ الهُمومَ وَقالوا
إِنَّindeed عِبءَthe burden of الحَياةِlife كانَwas ثَقيلاheavy
إِنَّ عِبءَ الحَياةِ كانَ ثَقيلا
There they cast off their cares and said:
“Life’s burden was indeed heavy.
إِنَّماonly العالَمُthe world الَّذيwhich مِنهُfrom it جِئناwe came
إِنَّما العالَمُ الَّذي مِنهُ جِئنا
مَلعَبٌa stage لاnot يُنَوِّعُvaries التَمثيلاthe performance
مَلعَبٌ لا يُنَوِّعُ التَمثيلا
The world from which we came is only
a stage that never varies its performance.
بَطَلُthe leading character of المَوتِDeath فيin الرِوايَةِthe play رُكنٌa mainstay
بَطَلُ المَوتِ في الرِوايَةِ رُكنٌ
بُنِيَتit was built مِنهُfrom him هَيكَلاًas a framework وَفُصولاand acts
بُنِيَت مِنهُ هَيكَلاً وَفُصولا
The character Death is the play’s mainstay,
from whom its framework and acts were built.
كُلَّماwhenever راحَwent away أَوor غَداcame forth المَوتُDeath فيهاwithin it
كُلَّما راحَ أَو غَدا المَوتُ فيها
سَقَطَfell السِترُthe curtain بِالدُموعِwith tears بَليلاsoaked
سَقَطَ السِترُ بِالدُموعِ بَليلا
Whenever Death comes or goes within it,
the curtain falls, drenched in tears.”
ذِكرَياتٌmemories مِنَof الأَحِبَّةِloved ones تُمحىare erased
ذِكرَياتٌ مِنَ الأَحِبَّةِ تُمحى
بِيَدٍby a hand لِلزَمانِof Time تَمحوthat erases الطُلولاruined dwellings
بِيَدٍ لِلزَمانِ تَمحو الطُلولا
Memories of loved ones are erased
by Time’s hand, which effaces ruined dwellings.
كُلُّevery رَسمٍtrace مِنof مَنزِلٍa dwelling أَوor حَبيبٍa beloved
كُلُّ رَسمٍ مِن مَنزِلٍ أَو حَبيبٍ
سَوفَwill يَمشيwalk البِلىdecay عَلَيهِover it مُحيلاlaying waste
سَوفَ يَمشي البِلى عَلَيهِ مُحيلا
Every trace of a dwelling or a beloved—
decay will pass over it, laying it waste.
رُبَّmany a ثُكلٍbereavement أَساكَhealed you مِنof قُرحَةِthe wound of الثُكbereavement (first part)
رُبَّ ثُكلٍ أَساكَ مِن قُرحَةِ الثُك
لِcompletes “bereavement” وَرُزءٍand a calamity نَسّاكَmade you forget رُزءاًa calamity جَليلاgrievous
لِ وَرُزءٍ نَسّاكَ رُزءاً جَليلا
Many a bereavement has healed your wound of loss,
and a calamity made you forget a grievous calamity.
ياO بَناتَdaughters of القَريضِpoetry قُمنَrise (feminine plural) مَناحاas mourners (first part)
يا بَناتَ القَريضِ قُمنَ مَناحا
تٍcompletes “mourners” وَأَرسِلنَand send forth (feminine plural) لَوعَةًanguish وَعَويلاand wailing
تٍ وَأَرسِلنَ لَوعَةً وَعَويلا
O daughters of verse, rise as mourners
and send forth anguish and wailing.
مِنthan بَناتِdaughters of الهَديلِcooing أَنتُنَّyou (feminine plural) أَحنىmore tender
مِن بَناتِ الهَديلِ أَنتُنَّ أَحنى
نَغمَةًin melody فيin الأَسىsorrow وَأَشجىand more plaintive هَديلاin cooing
نَغمَةً في الأَسى وَأَشجى هَديلا
You are tenderer than the daughters of cooing
in sorrow’s melody, more plaintive in your cooing.
إِنَّindeed دَمعاًtears تَذرِفنَyou shed (feminine plural) إِثرَafter رِفاقيmy companions
إِنَّ دَمعاً تَذرِفنَ إِثرَ رِفاقي
سَوفَwill يَبكيweep for بِهِwith it الخَليلُthe friend الخَليلاthe friend
سَوفَ يَبكي بِهِ الخَليلُ الخَليلا
The tears you shed in my companions’ wake—
with them, friend shall weep for friend.
رُبَّmany a يَومٍday يُناحُmourning is raised فيهِon it عَلَيناfor us
رُبَّ يَومٍ يُناحُ فيهِ عَلَينا
لَوif only نُحِسُّwe could sense النُواحَthe wailing وَالتَرتيلاand the chanting
لَو نُحِسُّ النُواحَ وَالتَرتيلا
Many a day will we be mourned—
if only we could sense the wailing and the chanting—
بِمَراثٍwith elegies كَتَبنَthey wrote (feminine plural) بِالدَمعِwith tears عَنّاabout us
بِمَراثٍ كَتَبنَ بِالدَمعِ عَنّا
أَسطُراًlines مِنof جَوىًheartache وَأُخرىand others غَليلاburning anguish
أَسطُراً مِن جَوىً وَأُخرى غَليلا
with elegies they wrote about us in tears:
lines of heartache, and others of burning anguish.
يَجِدُwill find القائِلونَspeakers فيهاin them المَعانيmeanings
يَجِدُ القائِلونَ فيها المَعاني
يَومَon the day لاnot يَأذَنُallows البِلىdecay أَنthat نَقولاwe speak
يَومَ لا يَأذَنُ البِلى أَن نَقولا
Speakers will find meanings in them
on the day decay will not allow us to speak.
أَخَذَtook المَوتُDeath مِنfrom يَدِthe hand of الحَقِّTruth سَيفاًa sword
أَخَذَ المَوتُ مِن يَدِ الحَقِّ سَيفاً
خالِدِيِّKhalid-like الغِرارِin edge عَضباًkeen صَقيلاpolished
خالِدِيِّ الغِرارِ عَضباً صَقيلا
Death took from Truth’s hand a sword,
Khalid-like in edge, keen and polished,
مِنone of سُيوفِthe swords of الجِهادِstruggle فولاذُهُits steel الthe
مِن سُيوفِ الجِهادِ فولاذُهُ ال
حَقُّTruth فَهَلthen (question) كانَwas قَينُهُits smith جِبريلاGabriel
حَقُّ فَهَل كانَ قَينُهُ جِبريلا
one of the swords of struggle, its steel
being Truth—was Gabriel, then, its smith?
لَمَسَتهُtouched it يَدُthe hand of السَماءِheaven فَكانَso it became الthe
لَمَسَتهُ يَدُ السَماءِ فَكانَ ال
بَرقَlightning وَالرَعدَand thunder خَفقَةًa flashing swing وَصَليلاand a ringing clang
بَرقَ وَالرَعدَ خَفقَةً وَصَليلا
Heaven’s hand touched it, and it became
lightning in its swing and thunder in its clang.
وَإِباءُand the proud defiance of الرِجالِmen أَمضىsharper مِنَthan السَيthe sword (first part)
وَإِباءُ الرِجالِ أَمضى مِنَ السَي
فِcompletes “the sword” عَلىin كَفِّthe palm of فارِسٍa horseman مَسلولاdrawn
فِ عَلى كَفِّ فارِسٍ مَسلولا
And men’s proud defiance is sharper than a sword
drawn in a horseman’s hand.
رُبَّmany a قَلبٍheart أَصارَهُmade it الخُلقُnoble character ضِرغاa lion (first part)
رُبَّ قَلبٍ أَصارَهُ الخُلقُ ضِرغا
ماًcompletes “a lion” وَصَدرٍand a breast أَصارَهُmade it الحَقُّTruth غيلاa lion’s thicket
ماً وَصَدرٍ أَصارَهُ الحَقُّ غيلا
Many a heart has noble character made a lion,
and a breast has Truth made a lion’s thicket.
قيلَit was said حَلِّلهُanalyze him قُلتُI said عِرقٌa vein مِنَof التِبuncoined gold (first part)
قيلَ حَلِّلهُ قُلتُ عِرقٌ مِنَ التِب
رِcompletes “uncoined gold” أَراحَspared البَيانَexposition وَالتَحليلاand analysis
رِ أَراحَ البَيانَ وَالتَحليلا
They said, “Analyze him.” I said, “A vein of gold
that spares all exposition and analysis.”
لَمnot (past) يَزِدhe increased فيin الحَديدِiron وَالنارِand fire إِلّاexcept
لَم يَزِد في الحَديدِ وَالنارِ إِلّا
لَمحَةًa gleam حُرَّةًpure وَصَبراًand patience جَميلاnoble
لَمحَةً حُرَّةً وَصَبراً جَميلا
Amid iron and fire, he gained nothing but
a pure gleam and noble patience.
لَمnot (past) يَخَفhe feared فيin حَياتِهِhis life شَبَحَthe specter of الفَقpoverty (first part)
لَم يَخَف في حَياتِهِ شَبَحَ الفَق
رِcompletes “poverty” إِذاwhen طافَit haunted بِالرِجالِamong men مَهولاterrifying
رِ إِذا طافَ بِالرِجالِ مَهولا
Never in his life did he fear poverty’s specter,
when it haunted men, terrifying.
جاعَhe hungered حيناًfor a time فَكانَyet he was كَاللَيثِlike the lion آبىproudest
جاعَ حيناً فَكانَ كَاللَيثِ آبى
ماwhen تُلاقيهِyou meet it يَومَon a day of جوعٍhunger هَزيلاgaunt
ما تُلاقيهِ يَومَ جوعٍ هَزيلا
He hungered for a time, yet was like the lion—proudest
when you meet it gaunt upon a day of hunger.
تَأكُلُdevours الهِرَّةُthe cat الصِغارَthe young إِذاwhen جاshe becomes hungry (first part)
تَأكُلُ الهِرَّةُ الصِغارَ إِذا جا
عَتcompletes “she becomes hungry” وَلاbut does not تَأكُلُeat اللَباةُthe lioness الشُبولاthe cubs
عَت وَلا تَأكُلُ اللَباةُ الشُبولا
A cat devours its young when
hungry, but a lioness does not eat her cubs.
قيلَit was said غالٍextreme فيin الرَأيِopinion قُلتُI said هَبوهُsuppose him so
قيلَ غالٍ في الرَأيِ قُلتُ هَبوهُ
قَدmay يَكونbe الغُلُوُّextremism رَأياًan opinion أَصيلاdeep-rooted
قَد يَكون الغُلُوُّ رَأياً أَصيلا
They said, “Extreme in opinion.” I said, “Suppose he is:
extremism may be a deep-rooted conviction.
وَقَديماًand long ago بَنىbuilt الغُلُوُّextremism نُفوساًsouls
وَقَديماً بَنى الغُلُوُّ نُفوساً
وَقَديماًand long ago بَنىbuilt الغُلُوُّextremism عُقولاminds
وَقَديماً بَنى الغُلُوُّ عُقولا
Long ago, extremism built souls,
and long ago, extremism built minds.
وَكَمand how often اِستَنهَضَit roused الشُيوخَthe old وَأَذكىand kindled
وَكَم اِستَنهَضَ الشُيوخَ وَأَذكى
فيin الشَبابِthe young الطِماحَambition وَالتَأميلاand hope
في الشَبابِ الطِماحَ وَالتَأميلا
How often it roused the old and kindled
ambition and hope among the young.
وَمِنَand among الرَأيِopinions ماthat which يَكونُis نِفاقاًhypocrisy
وَمِنَ الرَأيِ ما يَكونُ نِفاقاً
أَوor يَكونُis اِتِّجاهُهُits aim التَضليلاmisleading
أَو يَكونُ اِتِّجاهُهُ التَضليلا
Some opinions are hypocrisy,
or have deception as their aim.
وَمِنَand among النَقدِcriticism وَالجِدالِand debate كَلامٌtalk
وَمِنَ النَقدِ وَالجِدالِ كَلامٌ
يُشبِهُresembles البَغيَaggression وَالخَناand obscenity وَالفُضولاand meddling
يُشبِهُ البَغيَ وَالخَنا وَالفُضولا
And some talk in criticism and debate
resembles aggression, obscenity, and meddling.
وَأَرىand I see الصِدقَtruthfulness دَيدَناًa constant habit لِسَليلِfor the scion of الthe
وَأَرى الصِدقَ دَيدَناً لِسَليلِ ال
رافِعِيّينَRafi‘is وَالعَفافَand moral purity سَبيلاa path
رافِعِيّينَ وَالعَفافَ سَبيلا
I see truthfulness as the habit of the scion
of the Rafi‘is, and moral purity as his path.
عاشَhe lived لَمnot (past) يَغتَبِbackbite الرِجالَmen وَلَمand did not يَجmake (first part)
عاشَ لَم يَغتَبِ الرِجالَ وَلَم يَج
عَلcompletes “make” شُؤونَthe affairs of النُفوسِpeople قالاًhearsay وَقيلاand gossip
عَل شُؤونَ النُفوسِ قالاً وَقيلا
He lived without backbiting men, nor did he make
people’s private affairs a matter of gossip.
قَدindeed فَقَدناwe have lost بِهِin losing him بَقِيَّةَthe remnant of رَهطٍa band
قَد فَقَدنا بِهِ بَقِيَّةَ رَهطٍ
أَيقَظواthey awakened النيلَthe Nile وادِياًas a valley وَنَزيلاand as dwellers
أَيقَظوا النيلَ وادِياً وَنَزيلا
In losing him, we have lost the remnant of a band
who awakened the Nile—its valley and its dwellers.
حَرَّكوهُthey stirred it وَكانَand it was بِالأَمسِyesterday كَالكَهlike the Cave (first part)
حَرَّكوهُ وَكانَ بِالأَمسِ كَالكَه
فِcompletes “like the Cave” حُزوناًin rugged lands وَكَالرَقيمِand like al-Raqim سُهولاin plains
فِ حُزوناً وَكَالرَقيمِ سُهولا
They stirred it; yesterday it had been like the Cave
in its rugged lands, and like al-Raqim in its plains.
ياO أَمينَAmin; trustee of الحُقوقِrights أَدَّيتَyou fulfilled your duty حَتّىuntil
يا أَمينَ الحُقوقِ أَدَّيتَ حَتّى
لَمnot (past) تَخُنyou betrayed مِصرَEgypt فيin الحُقوقِrights فَتيلاa thread’s worth
لَم تَخُن مِصرَ في الحُقوقِ فَتيلا
O Amin, trustee of rights, you fulfilled your charge,
never betraying Egypt’s rights by even a thread.
وَلَوِand if اِسطَعتَyou had been able زِدتَyou would have added مِصرَto Egypt مِنَfrom الحَقjustice (first part)
وَلَوِ اِسطَعتَ زِدتَ مِصرَ مِنَ الحَق
قِcompletes “justice” عَلىbeside نيلِهاher Nile المُبارَكِblessed نيلاanother Nile
قِ عَلى نيلِها المُبارَكِ نيلا
Had you been able, you would have given Egypt, from justice,
another Nile beside her blessed Nile.
لَستُI do not أَنساكَforget you قابِعاًhuddled بَينَbetween دُرجَيtwo drawers
لَستُ أَنساكَ قابِعاً بَينَ دُرجَي
كَyour مُكِبّاًbent over عَلَيهِماover them both مَشغولاabsorbed
كَ مُكِبّاً عَلَيهِما مَشغولا
I do not forget you, huddled between your two drawers,
bent over them, absorbed.
قَدindeed تَوارَيتَyou hid yourself فيin الخُشوعِhumility فَخالوso they thought
قَد تَوارَيتَ في الخُشوعِ فَخالو
كَyou ضَئيلاًsmall وَماand not خُلِقتَyou were created ضَئيلاsmall
كَ ضَئيلاً وَما خُلِقتَ ضَئيلا
You hid yourself in humility, so they thought
you small, though you were not created small.
سائِلِask الشَعبَthe people عَنكَabout you وَالعَلَمَand the flag الخَفّاfluttering (first part)
سائِلِ الشَعبَ عَنكَ وَالعَلَمَ الخَفّا
قَcompletes “fluttering” أَوor سائِلِask اللِواءَthe banner الظَليلاsheltering
قَ أَو سائِلِ اللِواءَ الظَليلا
Ask the people about yourself, and the fluttering flag,
or ask the sheltering banner.
كَمhow many a إِمامٍleader قَرُبتَyou drew near فيin الصَفِّthe ranks مِنهُto him
كَم إِمامٍ قَرُبتَ في الصَفِّ مِنهُ
وَمُغَنٍّand a singer قَعَدَتَyou sat مِنهُbeside him رَسيلاa fellow singer
وَمُغَنٍّ قَعَدَتَ مِنهُ رَسيلا
How many a leader you stood near in the ranks,
and a singer beside whom you sat as a fellow singer,
تُنشِدُyou sing to الناسَthe people فيin القَضِيَّةِthe cause لَحناًa melody
تُنشِدُ الناسَ في القَضِيَّةِ لَحناً
كَالحَوارِيِّlike an apostle رَتَّلَchanted الإِنجيلاthe Gospel
كَالحَوارِيِّ رَتَّلَ الإِنجيلا
singing the people a melody of the cause,
like an apostle chanting the Gospel.
ماضِياًpressing on فيin الجِهادِstruggle لَمnot (past) تَتَأَخَّرyou hung back
ماضِياً في الجِهادِ لَم تَتَأَخَّر
تَزِنُyou weigh الصَفَّthe ranks أَوor تُقيمَyou marshal الرَعيلاthe troop
تَزِنُ الصَفَّ أَو تُقيمَ الرَعيلا
Pressing on in struggle, never lingering
to weigh the ranks or marshal the troop.
ماnot تُباليyou care مَضَيتَyou went وَحدَكَby yourself تَحميdefending
ما تُبالي مَضَيتَ وَحدَكَ تَحمي
حَوزَةَthe domain of الحَقِّTruth أَمor مَضَيتَyou went قَبيلاwith a band
حَوزَةَ الحَقِّ أَم مَضَيتَ قَبيلا
You did not care whether you went alone to defend
Truth’s domain, or marched with a band.
إِنif يَفُتmisses فيكَin your honor مِنبَرَthe pulpit of الأَمسِyesterday شِعريmy poetry
إِن يَفُت فيكَ مِنبَرَ الأَمسِ شِعري
إِنَّindeed ليI have المِنبَرَthe pulpit الَّذيwhich لَنwill never يَزولاpass away
إِنَّ لي المِنبَرَ الَّذي لَن يَزولا
If my verse missed yesterday’s pulpit in your honor,
I have the pulpit that shall never pass away,
جَلَّtoo exalted عَنfor مُنشِدٍa reciter سِوىother than الدَهرِTime يُلقيrecites
جَلَّ عَن مُنشِدٍ سِوى الدَهرِ يُلقي
هِit عَلىto الغابِرينَthose yet to come جيلاًone generation فَجيلاthen another generation
هِ عَلى الغابِرينَ جيلاً فَجيلا
too exalted for any reciter but Time, which recites
it to those yet to come, generation after generation.
Translation model: Sol 6.1