ياO نائِحَmourner الطَلحِthe acacia أَشباهٌalike عَواديناour afflictions
يا نائِحَ الطَلحِ أَشباهٌ عَوادينا
نَشجىwe grieve لِواديكَfor your valley أَمor نَأسىwe mourn لِواديناfor our valley
نَشجى لِواديكَ أَم نَأسى لِوادينا
O mourner in the acacia, our afflictions are alike.
O mourner of the tamarisk trees, grief unites us,
Shall we grieve for your valley, or mourn for ours?
Do we cry for your valley, or for our own valley?
ماذاwhat تَقُصُّyou recount عَلَيناto us غَيرَexcept أَنَّthat يَداًa hand
ماذا تَقُصُّ عَلَينا غَيرَ أَنَّ يَداً
قَصَّتclipped جَناحَكَyour wing جالَتroamed فيin حَواشيناour confines
قَصَّت جَناحَكَ جالَت في حَواشينا
What do you tell us, except that a hand
What else can you tell us, except that fate
Clipped your wing and ranged through our own confines?
Clipped your wings, wandering in our outskirts.
رَمىcast بِناus البَينُseparation أَيكاًa grove غَيرَother than سامِرِناour evening company
رَمى بِنا البَينُ أَيكاً غَيرَ سامِرِنا
أَخاO brother الغَريبِof the exile وَظِلّاًand shade غَيرَother than ناديناour gathering-place
أَخا الغَريبِ وَظِلّاً غَيرَ نادينا
Separation cast us into a grove not our evening haunt,
Separation cast us astray, far from our gathering place,
O brother of the exile, and beneath shade not our gathering-place.
O stranger’s brother and a shade unlike our shade.
كُلٌّeach رَمَتهُstruck him النَوىexile ريشَfeathered الفِراقُseparation لَناfor us
كُلٌّ رَمَتهُ النَوى ريشَ الفِراقُ لَنا
سَهماًan arrow وَسُلَّand was drawn عَلَيكَagainst you البَينُseparation سِكّيناa knife
سَهماً وَسُلَّ عَلَيكَ البَينُ سِكّينا
Each has been struck by exile; separation feathered for us
The days of parting shot us all with arrows,
An arrow, while estrangement drew a knife against you.
Piercing you and handing us daggers.
إِذاwhen دَعاcalls الشَوقُlonging لَمnot نَبرَحwe depart بِمُنصَدِعٍwith a broken one
إِذا دَعا الشَوقُ لَم نَبرَح بِمُنصَدِعٍ
مِنَof الجَناحَينِthe two wings عَيٍّpowerless لاnot يُلَبّيناanswers us
مِنَ الجَناحَينِ عَيٍّ لا يُلَبّينا
When longing calls, we cannot depart with a broken wing—
When longing calls, our wings broken,
One of the pair, powerless, that will not answer us.
We cannot fly to answer its call.
فَإِنso if يَكُhas الجِنسُspecies ياO اِبنَchild الطَلحِof the acacia فَرَّقَناdivided us
فَإِن يَكُ الجِنسُ يا اِبنَ الطَلحِ فَرَّقَنا
إِنَّindeed المَصائِبَafflictions يَجمَعنَbring together المُصابيناthe afflicted
إِنَّ المَصائِبَ يَجمَعنَ المُصابينا
If species has divided us, O child of the acacia,
If kinship parts us, o son of the tamarisk,
Afflictions bring the afflicted together.
Hardships bring together the afflicted.
لَمnot تَألُyou spared ماءَكَyour water تَحناناًyearning وَلاnor ظَمَأًthirst
لَم تَألُ ماءَكَ تَحناناً وَلا ظَمَأً
وَلاnor اِدِّكاراًremembrance وَلاnor شَجواsorrow أَفانيناof many kinds
وَلا اِدِّكاراً وَلا شَجوا أَفانينا
You have spared none of your tears in yearning or thirst,
You didn’t quench your thirst out of tenderness,
Nor in remembrance or sorrows of many kinds.
Nor out of thirst, nor out of remembrance,
تَجُرُّyou drag مِنfrom فَنَنٍa branch ساقاًa leg إِلىto فَنَنٍa branch
تَجُرُّ مِن فَنَنٍ ساقاً إِلى فَنَنٍ
وَتَسحَبُand you trail الذَيلَthe tail تَرتادُyou seek المُؤاسيناthose offering comfort
وَتَسحَبُ الذَيلَ تَرتادُ المُؤاسينا
You drag a leg from one branch to another,
Nor our elegy that vanished.
And trail your tail, seeking those who offer comfort.
You drag your leg from ordeal to ordeal,
أُساةُphysicians جِسمِكَof your body شَتّىmany حينَwhen تَطلُبُهُمyou seek them
أُساةُ جِسمِكَ شَتّى حينَ تَطلُبُهُم
فَمَنthen who لِروحِكَfor your soul بِالنُطسِwith skilled physicians المُداويناthe healers
فَمَن لِروحِكَ بِالنُطسِ المُداوينا
Your body's physicians are many when you seek them;
Your trailing tail treading the consolers.
But who will find skilled healers for your soul?
Healers cannot cure your bodily pain,
آهاalas لَناfor us نازِحيexiled from أَيكٍa grove بِأَندَلُسٍin Andalusia
آها لَنا نازِحي أَيكٍ بِأَندَلُسٍ
وَإِنalthough حَلَلناwe settled رَفيقاًa companion مِنto رَوابيناour hills
وَإِن حَلَلنا رَفيقاً مِن رَوابينا
Alas for us, far from our grove, here in Andalusia,
Who then can heal your soul with insight?
Though we have settled beside a companion to our hills.
Alas! We bid farewell to a comrade from Andalusia,
رَسمٌa ruin وَقَفناwe stood عَلىin accordance with رَسمِthe custom الوَفاءِof loyalty لَهُto it
رَسمٌ وَقَفنا عَلى رَسمِ الوَفاءِ لَهُ
نَجيشُwe surge بِالدَمعِwith tears وَالإِجلالِand reverence يَثنيناbows us
نَجيشُ بِالدَمعِ وَالإِجلالِ يَثنينا
A ruin: we stood beside it in faithful observance,
Though we found solace in one of our riders.
Our tears surging, while reverence bowed us.
We stood true to loyalty’s pledge,
لِفِتيَةٍfor young men لاnot تَنالُtouches الأَرضُthe earth أَدمُعَهُمtheir tears
لِفِتيَةٍ لا تَنالُ الأَرضُ أَدمُعَهُم
وَلاnor مَفارِقَهُمthe crowns of their heads إِلّاexcept مُصَلّيناwhile praying
وَلا مَفارِقَهُم إِلّا مُصَلّينا
For young men whose tears the earth could not touch,
Our tears flow, bowed in reverence.
Nor the crowns of their heads, except in prayer.
For youths whom the earth cannot soak their tears,
لَوif لَمnot يَسودواthey ruled بِدينٍthrough a religion فيهِin it مَنبَهَةٌdistinction
لَو لَم يَسودوا بِدينٍ فيهِ مَنبَهَةٌ
لِلناسِfor humankind كانَتwould have been لَهُمfor them أَخلاقُهُمtheir character ديناa religion
لِلناسِ كانَت لَهُم أَخلاقُهُم دينا
Had they not ruled through a faith that brought distinction
Nor their departure, except in prayer.
To humankind, their character would have been their religion.
Had they not been guided by faith, so salient to people,
لَمnot نَسرِwe journeyed by night مِنfrom حَرَمٍa sanctuary إِلّاexcept إِلىto حَرَمٍa sanctuary
لَم نَسرِ مِن حَرَمٍ إِلّا إِلى حَرَمٍ
كَالخَمرِlike wine مِنfrom بابِلٍBabylon سارَتtravelled لِداريناto Darin
كَالخَمرِ مِن بابِلٍ سارَت لِدارينا
We journeyed by night from no sanctuary but to another,
Their morals alone would have sufficed as faith.
Like wine that travelled from Babylon to Darin.
We moved from a sanctuary to a sanctuary,
لَمّاwhen نَباturned away الخُلدُParadise نابَتstood in عَنهُfor it نُسخَتُهُits likeness
لَمّا نَبا الخُلدُ نابَت عَنهُ نُسخَتُهُ
تَماثُلَresemblance الوَردِto the rose خِيرِيّاًwallflower وَنَسريناand eglantine
تَماثُلَ الوَردِ خِيرِيّاً وَنَسرينا
When Paradise turned us away, its likeness took its place,
Like wine from Babylon that flowed to our abode.
As wallflower and eglantine resemble the rose.
When eternity shone, its prestine image faded,
نَسقيwe water ثَراهُمtheir dust ثَناءًwith praise كُلَّماwhenever نُثِرَتwere scattered
نَسقي ثَراهُم ثَناءً كُلَّما نُثِرَت
دُموعُناour tears نُظِمَتwere composed مِنهاfrom them مَراثيناour elegies
دُموعُنا نُظِمَت مِنها مَراثينا
We water their dust with praise; whenever scattered,
Like flowers, it withered, while we remained.
Our tears are strung into our elegies.
We water their tombs with praise whenever
كادَتalmost عُيونُthe finest قَوافيناof our rhymes تُحَرِّكُهُstirred it
كادَت عُيونُ قَوافينا تُحَرِّكُهُ
وَكِدنَand they almost يوقِظنَawakened فيin التُربِthe earth السَلاطيناthe sultans
وَكِدنَ يوقِظنَ في التُربِ السَلاطينا
The finest of our rhymes almost stirred that dust,
Our tears compose elegies for them.
And almost woke the sultans in the earth.
Our poems’ rhymes almost awakened them,
لَكِنَّbut مِصرَEgypt وَإِنalthough أَغضَتshe closed her eyes عَلىin مِقَةٍaffection
لَكِنَّ مِصرَ وَإِن أَغضَت عَلى مِقَةٍ
عَينٌa spring مِنَfrom الخُلدِParadise بِالكافورِwith camphor تَسقيناgives us drink
عَينٌ مِنَ الخُلدِ بِالكافورِ تَسقينا
But Egypt, though she closes her eyes in affection,
We nearly roused the sultans in the dust.
Is a spring from Paradise, giving us camphor-scented drink.
But Egypt, though it shed tears in anguish,
عَلىalong جَوانِبِهاher banks رَفَّتfluttered تَمائِمُناour amulets
عَلى جَوانِبِها رَفَّت تَمائِمُنا
وَحَولَand around حافاتِهاher edges قامَتarose رَواقيناour porticoes
وَحَولَ حافاتِها قامَت رَواقينا
Along her banks our amulets fluttered,
Still waters our eyes with camphor of immortality.
And around her edges our porticoes arose.
Around it flapped our amulets,
مَلاعِبٌplaygrounds مَرِحَتfrolicked فيهاin them مَآرِبُناour desires
مَلاعِبٌ مَرِحَت فيها مَآرِبُنا
وَأَربُعٌand dwellings أَنِسَتfelt at home فيهاin them أَمانيناour hopes
وَأَربُعٌ أَنِسَت فيها أَمانينا
Playgrounds where our desires frolicked,
And around its edges stood our porticoes.
And dwellings where our hopes felt at home;
Playgrounds where our wishes roamed,
وَمَطلَعٌand a rising-place لِسُعودٍfor good fortune مِنamong أَواخِرِناour later generations
وَمَطلَعٌ لِسُعودٍ مِن أَواخِرِنا
وَمَغرِبٌand a setting-place لِجُدودٍfor forebears مِنamong أَواليناour earliest generations
وَمَغرِبٌ لِجُدودٍ مِن أَوالينا
A rising-place of good fortune for our later generations,
And gardens where our hopes resided.
And a setting-place for forebears from our earliest ones.
A rising for glories from our demise,
بِنّاwe departed فَلَمbut not نَخلُwe lacked مِنa رَوحٍcomforting breeze يُراوِحُناvisits us at dusk
بِنّا فَلَم نَخلُ مِن رَوحٍ يُراوِحُنا
مِنfrom بَرِّthe land مِصرَof Egypt وَرَيحانٍand sweet basil يُغاديناgreets us at dawn
مِن بَرِّ مِصرَ وَرَيحانٍ يُغادينا
We parted, but never lacked a comforting breeze visiting us at dusk
And a sunset for ancestry from our origins.
From Egypt's land, nor sweet basil greeting us at dawn.
We breathed in Egypt’s sanctity and gardens,
كَأُمِّlike the mother موسىof Moses عَلىin اِسمِthe name اللَهِof God تَكفُلُناshe cares for us
كَأُمِّ موسى عَلى اِسمِ اللَهِ تَكفُلُنا
وَبِاِسمِهِand in His name ذَهَبَتshe went فيinto اليَمِّthe sea تُلقيناto cast us
وَبِاِسمِهِ ذَهَبَت في اليَمِّ تُلقينا
Like Moses' mother, in God's name she cares for us,
A mother like Moses’ mother who took us in,
And in His name she went to cast us into the sea.
And by His name saved us from the river,
وَمِصرُand Egypt كَالكَرمِlike the vine ذيpossessing الإِحسانِbeneficence فاكِهَةٌfruit
وَمِصرُ كَالكَرمِ ذي الإِحسانِ فاكِهَةٌ
لِحاضِرينَfor those at home وَأَكوابٌand cups لِباديناfor our faraway ones
لِحاضِرينَ وَأَكوابٌ لِبادينا
Egypt, like the beneficent vine, is fruit
Throwing us in its waters.
For those at home, and cups for those of us far afield.
Egypt is generous like a vine, ripe fruit
ياO سارِيَnight traveller البَرقِof lightning يَرميflashes عَنfrom جَوانِحِناour ribs
يا سارِيَ البَرقِ يَرمي عَن جَوانِحِنا
بَعدَafter الهُدوءِstillness وَيَهميand pours عَنfrom مَآقيناour eyes' corners
بَعدَ الهُدوءِ وَيَهمي عَن مَآقينا
O night-roaming lightning, flashing from within our ribs
For those present, and cups for the nomads.
After stillness, and pouring from our eyes' corners,
O lightning bearer, striking our hearts
لَمّاwhen تَرَقرَقَshimmered فيin دَمعِthe tears السَماءِof the sky دَماًas blood
لَمّا تَرَقرَقَ في دَمعِ السَماءِ دَماً
هاجَflared البُكاweeping فَخَضَبناso we dyed الأَرضَthe earth باكيناwhile weeping
هاجَ البُكا فَخَضَبنا الأَرضَ باكينا
When it shimmered, blood-red, in the sky's tears,
After stillness, and raging in our shelters.
Weeping flared, and we dyed the earth as we wept.
When the sky rained blood in teardrops,
اللَيلُnight يَشهَدُbears witness لَمnot نَهتِكwe tore دَياجِيَهُits darkness
اللَيلُ يَشهَدُ لَم نَهتِك دَياجِيَهُ
عَلىover نِيامٍsleepers وَلَمand not نَهتِفwe called out بِساليناto those forgetting us
عَلى نِيامٍ وَلَم نَهتِف بِسالينا
Night bears witness: we did not tear its darkness
Sorrow stirred, and we dyed the earth crying.
Over sleepers, nor call out to those who forgot us.
The night bears witness, we did not disturb its peace,
وَالنَجمُand the star لَمnot يَرَناsaw us إِلّاexcept عَلىon قَدَمٍa foot
وَالنَجمُ لَم يَرَنا إِلّا عَلى قَدَمٍ
قِيامَkeeping vigil لَيلِthrough the night الهَوىof love لِلعَهدِof the pledge راعيناguardians
قِيامَ لَيلِ الهَوى لِلعَهدِ راعينا
And the star has never seen us except on our feet,
Nor clamored in our vigils.
Keeping love's night-vigil, guarding the pledge.
The stars never saw us except standing
كَزَفرَةٍlike a sigh فيin سَماءِthe sky اللَيلِof night حائِرَةٍbewildered
كَزَفرَةٍ في سَماءِ اللَيلِ حائِرَةٍ
مِمّاfrom what نُرَدِّدُwe repeat فيهِwithin it حينَwhen يُضويناit gathers us in
مِمّا نُرَدِّدُ فيهِ حينَ يُضوينا
Like a bewildered sigh in the night sky,
Through the night of passion, guarding our pledge.
One of those we repeat within it when it gathers us in.
Lost like a gasp in the night sky,
بِاللَهِby God إِنif جُبتَyou traversed ظَلماءَthe darkness العُبابِof the swelling sea عَلىupon
بِاللَهِ إِن جُبتَ ظَلماءَ العُبابِ عَلى
نَجائِبِnoble steeds النورِof light مَحدُوّاًdriven onward بِجريناby our running
نَجائِبِ النورِ مَحدُوّاً بِجرينا
By God, if you cross the darkness of the swelling sea upon
Repeated in our circle when it brings us low.
Noble steeds of light, driven onward by our running,
By God, if darkness descends upon you,
تَرُدُّward off عَنكَfrom you يَداهُHis two hands كُلَّevery عادِيَةٍassailant
تَرُدُّ عَنكَ يَداهُ كُلَّ عادِيَةٍ
إِنساًhumans يَعِثنَwreak فَساداًhavoc أَوor شَياطيناdevils
إِنساً يَعِثنَ فَساداً أَو شَياطينا
His two hands ward off every assailant from you,
Do not undo the buttons of light in madness.
Humans wreaking havoc, or devils,
Every harming hand turns away from you,
حَتّىuntil حَوَتكَenfolded you سَماءُthe sky النيلِof the Nile عالِيَةٍlofty
حَتّى حَوَتكَ سَماءُ النيلِ عالِيَةٍ
عَلىabove الغُيوثِthe rains وَإِنalthough كانَتthey were مَياميناauspicious
عَلى الغُيوثِ وَإِن كانَت مَيامينا
Until the Nile's sky enfolds you, lofty
Be it human or devil sowing corruption.
Above the rains, however auspicious they may be,
Until Egypt’s towering sky shelters you
وَأَحرَزَتكَand sheltered you شُفوفُsheer veils اللازَوَردِof lapis lazuli عَلىabove
وَأَحرَزَتكَ شُفوفُ اللازَوَردِ عَلى
وَشيِthe embroidery الزَبَرجَدِof chrysolite مِنfrom أَفوافِthe striped fabrics واديناof our valley
وَشيِ الزَبَرجَدِ مِن أَفوافِ وادينا
And sheer veils of lapis lazuli shelter you above
Above the clouds, even if they are our clouds.
The chrysolite embroidery of our valley's striped fabrics,
You are protected by the hyacinth gardens
وَحازَكَand embraced you الريفُthe countryside أَرجاءًexpanses مُؤَرَّجَةًfragrant
وَحازَكَ الريفُ أَرجاءً مُؤَرَّجَةً
رَبَتswelled خَمائِلَinto thickets وَاِهتَزَّتand stirred بَساتيناinto gardens
رَبَت خَمائِلَ وَاِهتَزَّت بَساتينا
And the countryside embraces you in fragrant expanses
On the banks of glittering turquoise.
That swell into thickets and stir into gardens,
The countryside embraced you in all its meadows,
فَقِفthen stand إِلىbeside النيلِthe Nile وَاِهتُفand call out فيin خَمائِلِهِits thickets
فَقِف إِلى النيلِ وَاِهتُف في خَمائِلِهِ
وَاِنزِلand descend كَماas نَزَلَdescended upon الطَلُّthe dew الرَياحيناsweet basil
وَاِنزِل كَما نَزَلَ الطَلُّ الرَياحينا
Then stand by the Nile and call out in its thickets,
Where gazelles grazed and gardens swayed.
And descend as dew descends upon sweet basil.
So stand by the Nile, and call out in its meadows,
وَآسِand soothe ماwhat باتَhas begun يَذويto wither مِنamong مَنازِلِناour homes
وَآسِ ما باتَ يَذوي مِن مَنازِلِنا
بِالحادِثاتِthrough calamities وَيَضوىand wastes away مِنamong مَغانيناour dwellings
بِالحادِثاتِ وَيَضوى مِن مَغانينا
And soothe the homes of ours that have begun to wither
And descend as the windswept dew descends.
Under calamities, and the dwellings of ours that waste away.
Relieve what is wasting of our dwellings,
وَياand O مُعَطِّرَةَperfumer الواديof the valley سَرَتshe travelled سَحَراًbefore dawn
وَيا مُعَطِّرَةَ الوادي سَرَت سَحَراً
فَطابَso became fragrant كُلُّevery طُروحٍdistant place مِنamong مَراميناour destinations
فَطابَ كُلُّ طُروحٍ مِن مَرامينا
And O perfumer of the valley, travelling before dawn,
Melting away with time and fading pleasures.
You made every distant place of our exile fragrant.
You who scent the valley at dawn,
ذَكِيَّةُfragrant الذَيلِof trailing hem لَوif خِلناwe imagined غِلالَتَهاher gauzy robe
ذَكِيَّةُ الذَيلِ لَو خِلنا غِلالَتَها
قَميصَthe shirt يوسُفَof Joseph لَمnot نُحسَبwe would be considered مُغاليناextravagant
قَميصَ يوسُفَ لَم نُحسَب مُغالينا
Fragrant is her trailing hem; if we imagined her gauzy robe
Sweetening all our resting places.
To be Joseph's shirt, we should not be thought extravagant.
Graceful-tailed one, if not for your aggression,
جَشِمتِyou braved شَوكَthe thorns السُرىof night travel حَتّىuntil أَتَيتِyou brought لَناto us
جَشِمتِ شَوكَ السُرى حَتّى أَتَيتِ لَنا
بِالوَردِwith roses كُتباًletters وَبِالرَيّاand with fragrance عَناويناaddresses
بِالوَردِ كُتباً وَبِالرَيّا عَناوينا
You braved the thorns of night travel until you brought us
We would not be blamed for Joseph’s shirt.
Letters in the roses, and addresses in their fragrance.
You suffered the thorns until you brought us
فَلَوso if جَزَيناكِwe repaid you بِالأَرواحِwith souls غالِيَةًprecious perfume
فَلَو جَزَيناكِ بِالأَرواحِ غالِيَةً
عَنfor طيبِthe fragrance مَسراكِof your night journey لَمnot تَنهَضwould suffice جَوازيناour recompense
عَن طيبِ مَسراكِ لَم تَنهَض جَوازينا
Even if we repaid you with our souls as precious perfume,
Roses as books, and lilies as titles.
For your fragrant night journey, our recompense would fall short.
If we repaid you with precious souls,
هَلis there مِنamong ذُيولِكِyour trailing hems مَسكِيٌّa musk-scented one نُحَمِّلُهُwe burden it
هَل مِن ذُيولِكِ مَسكِيٌّ نُحَمِّلُهُ
غَرائِبَwonders الشَوقِof longing وَشياًas embroidery مِنfrom أَماليناour dictated words
غَرائِبَ الشَوقِ وَشياً مِن أَمالينا
Is there a musk-scented train of yours that we might burden
It still would not equal your fragrant path.
With wondrous yearnings, embroidered from our dictated words,
Can your tail carry yearnings and dreams
إِلىto الَّذينَthose whom وَجَدناwe found وُدَّthe love غَيرِهِمُof others than them
إِلى الَّذينَ وَجَدنا وُدَّ غَيرِهِمُ
دُنياworldliness وَوُدَّهُموand their love الصافيthe pure هُوَit الديناthe faith
دُنيا وَوُدَّهُمو الصافي هُوَ الدينا
To those beside whom we found others' love to be
To those whose love we found unlike the rest—
Worldliness, while their pure love alone was faith?
Wordly love, while theirs is love of faith?
ياO مَنthose whom نَغارُwe jealously guard عَلَيهِمthem مِنagainst ضَمائِرِناour innermost thoughts
يا مَن نَغارُ عَلَيهِم مِن ضَمائِرِنا
وَمِنand against مَصونِthe guarded هَواهُمlove for them فيin تَناجيناour whispered confidences
وَمِن مَصونِ هَواهُم في تَناجينا
O you for whom we are jealous even of our innermost thoughts,
O you whom we envy with our conscience,
And of your love, guarded in our whispered confidences,
And whose passion we guard in whispers—
غابَwas hidden الحَنينُyearning إِلَيكُمfor you فيin خَواطِرِناour thoughts
غابَ الحَنينُ إِلَيكُم في خَواطِرِنا
عَنِfrom الدَلالِfond familiarity عَلَيكُمwith you فيin أَمانيناour wishes
عَنِ الدَلالِ عَلَيكُم في أَمانينا
Our yearning for you lies buried in our thoughts,
Yearning for you is lost in our thoughts,
Beyond the fond liberties we take with you in our wishes.
Unable to reveal you in our wishes.
جِئناwe came إِلىto الصَبرِpatience نَدعوهُcalling upon it كَعادَتِناas is our habit
جِئنا إِلى الصَبرِ نَدعوهُ كَعادَتِنا
فيin النائِباتِcalamities فَلَمbut not يَأخُذit took بِأَيديناour hands
في النائِباتِ فَلَم يَأخُذ بِأَيدينا
We came to Patience and called on it, as is our habit
We resorted as usual to patience
In calamities, but it did not take our hands.
In trials, but it did not take our hands.
وَماand not غُلِبناwe were overcome عَلىin دَمعٍtears وَلاnor جَلَدٍfortitude
وَما غُلِبنا عَلى دَمعٍ وَلا جَلَدٍ
حَتّىuntil أَتَتناreached us نَواكُمseparation from you مِنthrough صَياصيناour strongholds
حَتّى أَتَتنا نَواكُم مِن صَياصينا
We had never lost command of tears or fortitude
We had no power over tears or endurance
Until separation from you breached our strongholds.
Until news of you came from our protector.
وَنابِغيand [unclear in the source] كَأَنَّas though الحَشرَthe Resurrection آخِرُهُits end
وَنابِغي كَأَنَّ الحَشرَ آخِرُهُ
تُميتُناkills us فيهِwithin it ذِكراكُمyour memory وَتُحييناand revives us
تُميتُنا فيهِ ذِكراكُم وَتُحيينا
And [unclear in the source], as though the Resurrection were its end,
It seems resurrection’s end is death
Your memory kills us within it and brings us back to life.
In remembering you, and life in forgetting.
نَطويwe fold away دُجاهُits darkness بِجُرحٍwith a wound مِنfrom فُراقِكُموparting with you
نَطوي دُجاهُ بِجُرحٍ مِن فُراقِكُمو
يَكادُalmost فيin غَلَسِthe dimness الأَسحارِof predawn hours يَطويناfolds us away
يَكادُ في غَلَسِ الأَسحارِ يَطوينا
We fold away its darkness with a wound from parting with you,
We folded the darkness in a wound
Which, in the dusk before dawn, almost folds us away.
That nearly folded us in the dark’s lap.
إِذاwhen رَساstands still النَجمُthe star لَمnot تَرقَأcease weeping مَحاجِرُناour eye sockets
إِذا رَسا النَجمُ لَم تَرقَأ مَحاجِرُنا
حَتّىuntil يَزولَit moves away وَلَمand not تَهدَأgrow still تَراقيناour collarbones
حَتّى يَزولَ وَلَم تَهدَأ تَراقينا
When the star stands still, our eyes do not cease weeping
When the stars settled, our eyelids did not rest
Until it moves away, nor do our collarbones grow still.
Until they faded, and our wakefulness calmed.
بِتناwe spent the night نُقاسيenduring الدَواهيdisasters مِنfrom كَواكِبِهِits stars
بِتنا نُقاسي الدَواهي مِن كَواكِبِهِ
حَتّىuntil قَعَدناwe sat بِهاbecause of them حَسرىexhausted تُقاسيناthey struggle with us
حَتّى قَعَدنا بِها حَسرى تُقاسينا
We spent the night enduring disasters from its stars,
We matched their afflictions with constellations
Until we sat exhausted by them, and they struggled with us.
Until we sat with them, sharing agony.
يَبدوappears النَهارُday فَيَخفيهِand conceals it تَجَلُّدُناour fortitude
يَبدو النَهارُ فَيَخفيهِ تَجَلُّدُنا
لِلشامِتينَfrom those who gloat وَيَأسوهُand heals it تَأَسّيناour self-consolation
لِلشامِتينَ وَيَأسوهُ تَأَسّينا
Day appears, and our fortitude conceals the wound
Dawn appears, but our composure hides it
From those who gloat, while our self-consolation heals it.
From the gloaters, and our misery makes it dreary.
سَقياًmay rain bless لِعَهدٍan age كَأَكنافِlike the slopes الرُبىof hills رِفَةًin luxuriance
سَقياً لِعَهدٍ كَأَكنافِ الرُبى رِفَةً
أَنّىwherever ذَهَبناwe went وَأَعطافِand the turns الصَباof the east wind ليناin gentleness
أَنّى ذَهَبنا وَأَعطافِ الصَبا لينا
May rain bless an age luxuriant as the slopes of hills,
An era like the rain’s folds, plentiful,
Wherever we went, and gentle as the turns of the east wind.
Where did we go, while youth’s companions are supple?
إِذِwhen الزَمانُtime بِناfor us غَيناءُa lush grove زاهِيَةٌradiant
إِذِ الزَمانُ بِنا غَيناءُ زاهِيَةٌ
تَرِفُّflutter أَوقاتُناour hours فيهاwithin it رَياحيناlike sweet basil
تَرِفُّ أَوقاتُنا فيها رَياحينا
When time, for us, was a lush and radiant grove,
When time brought us shining companionship
Within which our hours fluttered like sweet basil.
And our times flourished with winds.
الوَصلُunion صافِيَةٌa pure draught وَالعَيشُand life ناغِيَةٌa sweet-voiced companion
الوَصلُ صافِيَةٌ وَالعَيشُ ناغِيَةٌ
وَالسَعدُand good fortune حاشِيَةٌa retinue وَالدَهرُand Time ماشيناour walking companion
وَالسَعدُ حاشِيَةٌ وَالدَهرُ ماشينا
Union was a pure draught, and life a sweet-voiced companion,
Unity is pure, life is pleasant,
Good fortune our retinue, and Time walked beside us.
Fortune adorns, and fate proceeds.
وَالشَمسُand the sun تَختالُstruts فيin العِقيانِpure gold تَحسَبُهاyou would think her
وَالشَمسُ تَختالُ في العِقيانِ تَحسَبُها
بَلقيسَBilqis تَرفُلُtrails her robes فيin وَشيِthe embroidery اليَمانيناof the Yemenis
بَلقيسَ تَرفُلُ في وَشيِ اليَمانينا
The sun strutted in pure gold; you would think her
The sun promenades, deceptively, in the clouds,
Bilqis, trailing the embroidered robes of the Yemenis.
Like Balkis strolling in Yemen’s attire.
وَالنيلُand the Nile يُقبِلُapproaches كَالدُنياlike the world إِذاwhen اِحتَفَلَتit celebrates
وَالنيلُ يُقبِلُ كَالدُنيا إِذا اِحتَفَلَت
لَوif only كانَthere were فيهاin it وَفاءٌfaithfulness لِلمُصافيناto those sincere with us
لَو كانَ فيها وَفاءٌ لِلمُصافينا
And the Nile approached like the world in festival,
The Nile welcomes, as when the world celebrates,
If only that world were faithful to those who sincerely love us.
Were it loyal to the devoted.
وَالسَعدُand good fortune لَوif only دامَendured وَالنُعمىand blessings لَوِif only اِطَّرَدَتcontinued unbroken
وَالسَعدُ لَو دامَ وَالنُعمى لَوِ اِطَّرَدَت
وَالسَيلُand the flood لَوif only عَفَّrefrained وَالمِقدارُand destiny لَوif only ديناwere subdued
وَالسَيلُ لَو عَفَّ وَالمِقدارُ لَو دينا
If only good fortune endured, and blessings flowed unbroken,
If fortune stayed, favor continued,
The flood were chaste, and destiny could be subdued.
The torrent subsided, and fate yielded!
أَلقىcast عَلىupon الأَرضِthe earth حَتّىuntil رَدَّهاturned it ذَهَباًinto gold
أَلقى عَلى الأَرضِ حَتّى رَدَّها ذَهَباً
ماءًwater لَمَسناwe touched بِهِwith it الإِكسيرَthe elixir أَوor طيناclay
ماءً لَمَسنا بِهِ الإِكسيرَ أَو طينا
It cast upon the earth, until it turned it into gold,
We would have spilled on earth until it turned to gold—
Water with which we touched elixir—or clay.
We would have touched the elixir or clay.
أَعداهُimparted to it مِنsome of يُمنِهِits blessing التابوتُthe ark وَاِرتَسَمَتand were traced
أَعداهُ مِن يُمنِهِ التابوتُ وَاِرتَسَمَت
عَلىalong جَوانِبِهِits banks الأَنوارُthe lights مِنfrom سيناSinai
عَلى جَوانِبِهِ الأَنوارُ مِن سينا
The ark imparted some of its blessing to it, and there appeared
The ark accompanied it on its right,
Along its banks the lights from Sinai.
And from Sinai, lights adorned its sides.
لَهُit possesses مَبالِغُthe utmost ماof what فيin الخُلقِcharacter مِنof كَرَمٍgenerosity
لَهُ مَبالِغُ ما في الخُلقِ مِن كَرَمٍ
عَهدُthe pledge الكِرامِof the noble وَميثاقُand the covenant الوَفِيّيناof the faithful
عَهدُ الكِرامِ وَميثاقُ الوَفِيّينا
It possesses the utmost generosity that character can hold:
It possesses the ultimate generosity,
The pledge of the noble and the covenant of the faithful.
Era of nobility, and pact of the loyalists.
لَمnot يَجرِoccurred لِلدَهرِfor Time إِعذارٌa circumcision feast وَلاnor عُرُسٌa wedding
لَم يَجرِ لِلدَهرِ إِعذارٌ وَلا عُرُسٌ
إِلّاexcept بِأَيّامِناin our days أَوor فيin لَياليناour nights
إِلّا بِأَيّامِنا أَو في لَيالينا
Time held neither circumcision feast nor wedding
Weddings and birthdays belong only
Except in our days or on our nights.
To our days and nights.
وَلاnor حَوىheld السَعدُgood fortune أَطغىmore headstrong فيin أَعِنَّتِهِits reins
وَلا حَوى السَعدُ أَطغى في أَعِنَّتِهِ
مِنّاthan us جِياداًsteeds وَلاnor أَرحىbroader مَياديناracing grounds
مِنّا جِياداً وَلا أَرحى مَيادينا
Nor did Fortune hold more headstrong steeds in its reins
Fortune never boasted among us
Than us, nor broader racing grounds.
Of taming steeds or raced arenas.
نَحنُwe اليَواقيتُthe rubies خاضَpassed through النارَfire جَوهَرُناour substance
نَحنُ اليَواقيتُ خاضَ النارَ جَوهَرُنا
وَلَمand not يَهُنwas cheapened بِيَدِby the hand التَشتيتِof dispersion غاليناour precious worth
وَلَم يَهُن بِيَدِ التَشتيتِ غالينا
We are rubies; our substance has passed through fire,
We are the gemstones, our essence tested by fire,
And dispersion's hand has not cheapened our precious worth.
Never yielding to the hands of scatterers.
وَلاnor يَحولُchanges لَناfor us صِبغٌcolor وَلاnor خُلُقٌcharacter
وَلا يَحولُ لَنا صِبغٌ وَلا خُلُقٌ
إِذاwhen تَلَوَّنَchanges color كَالحِرباءِlike a chameleon شانيناour hater
إِذا تَلَوَّنَ كَالحِرباءِ شانينا
Neither our color nor our character changes
We take on no artificial color or nature
When our hater changes color like a chameleon.
Should we vary like the fickle chameleon.
لَمnot تَنزِلِdescended الشَمسُthe sun ميزاناًto a balance وَلاnor صَعَدَتascended
لَم تَنزِلِ الشَمسُ ميزاناً وَلا صَعَدَت
فيin مُلكِهاher dominion الضَخمِthe vast عَرشاًa throne مِثلَlike واديناour valley
في مُلكِها الضَخمِ عَرشاً مِثلَ وادينا
The sun never descended to a balance, nor ascended
The sun never came down to measure
A throne in her vast kingdom that equalled our valley.
Nor ascended its massive throne like our valley.
أَلَمwas she not تُؤَلَّهworshipped as a deity عَلىalong حافاتِهِits banks وَرَأَتand saw
أَلَم تُؤَلَّه عَلى حافاتِهِ وَرَأَت
عَلَيهِupon it أَبناءَهاher children الغُرَّthe radiant المَياميناthe auspicious
عَلَيهِ أَبناءَها الغُرَّ المَيامينا
Was she not worshipped as a deity along its banks, and did she not see
Did it not deify its edges when it saw
Upon it her radiant, auspicious children?
Its red-cheeked children on them?
إِنif غازَلَتshe courts شاطِئَيهِits two banks فيin الضُحىthe forenoon لَبِساthey both wear
إِن غازَلَت شاطِئَيهِ في الضُحى لَبِسا
خَمائِلَgroves السُندُسِof fine silk المَوشِيَّةِembroidered الغيناlush
خَمائِلَ السُندُسِ المَوشِيَّةِ الغينا
When she courts its two banks at forenoon, they clothe themselves
If it flirted with its banks at sunrise, wearing
In lush groves of embroidered fine silk.
Green hyacinth gowns with vivid colors.
وَباتَand became كُلُّevery مُجاجِsap-exuding one الوادِof the valley مِنamong شَجَرٍtrees
وَباتَ كُلُّ مُجاجِ الوادِ مِن شَجَرٍ
لَوافِظَemitters القَزِّof silk بِالخيطانِwith threads تَرميناcast toward us
لَوافِظَ القَزِّ بِالخيطانِ تَرمينا
And all the valley's sap-exuding trees become
Each tree in the valley’s bend appears
Emitters of silk, casting their threads toward us.
To have woven textiles with sturdy threads.
وَهَذِهِand this الأَرضُearth مِنof سَهلٍplains وَمِنand of جَبَلٍmountains
وَهَذِهِ الأَرضُ مِن سَهلٍ وَمِن جَبَلٍ
قَبلَbefore القَياصِرِthe Caesars دِنّاهاwe ruled it فَراعيناas Pharaohs
قَبلَ القَياصِرِ دِنّاها فَراعينا
And this earth, both plains and mountains,
This land, with its plains and mountains
We ruled as Pharaohs before the Caesars.
Bowed to Caesars, and we were its shepherds!
وَلَمand not يَضَعlaid حَجَراًa stone بانٍa builder عَلىupon حَجَرٍa stone
وَلَم يَضَع حَجَراً بانٍ عَلى حَجَرٍ
فيon الأَرضِthe earth إِلّاexcept عَلىupon آثارِthe traces بانيناof our builders
في الأَرضِ إِلّا عَلى آثارِ بانينا
No builder laid stone upon stone
No builder placed stone over stone
On earth except upon the traces of our builders.
Except over the ruins of our builders.
كَأَنَّas though أَهرامَthe pyramids مِصرٍof Egypt حائِطٌa wall نَهَضَتraised
كَأَنَّ أَهرامَ مِصرٍ حائِطٌ نَهَضَت
بِهِwith it يَدُthe hand الدَهرِof Time لاnot بُنيانُthe building فانيناof our mortal men
بِهِ يَدُ الدَهرِ لا بُنيانُ فانينا
As though Egypt's pyramids were a wall raised
As if Egypt’s pyramids were walls
By the hand of Time, not the building of our mortal men.
Erected by the hands of time, not passing builders.
إيوانُهُits hall الفَخمُthe magnificent مِنamong عُلياthe loftiest مَقاصِرِهِof its chambers
إيوانُهُ الفَخمُ مِن عُليا مَقاصِرِهِ
يُفنيwears away المُلوكَkings وَلاand not يُبقيspares الأَواويناpalatial halls
يُفني المُلوكَ وَلا يُبقي الأَواوينا
Its magnificent hall, among its loftiest chambers,
Its lofty hallmarks subdue kings
Wears kings away and spares no palatial halls.
And leave no heirs to its pillars.
كَأَنَّهاas though they وَرِمالاًand sands حَولَهاaround them اِلتَطَمَتclashed
كَأَنَّها وَرِمالاً حَولَها اِلتَطَمَت
سَفينَةٌa ship غَرِقَتsank إِلّاexcept أَساطيناfor masts
سَفينَةٌ غَرِقَت إِلّا أَساطينا
As though they, with sands clashing around them,
As if they are sand dunes with a sunken
Were a ship sunk except for its masts.
Ship between them, leaving only its boards.
كَأَنَّهاas though they تَحتَbeneath لَألاءِthe glitter الضُحىof forenoon ذَهَباًgolden
كَأَنَّها تَحتَ لَألاءِ الضُحى ذَهَباً
كُنوزُtreasures فِرعَونَof Pharaoh غَطَّينَcovered المَوازيناthe scales
كُنوزُ فِرعَونَ غَطَّينَ المَوازينا
As though, golden beneath the morning's glitter,
As if under the dawn’s radiance, they are gold,
They were Pharaoh's treasures, heaped over the scales.
Covering the treasury and its scales.
أَرضُland الأُبُوَّةِof fatherhood وَالميلادِand birth طَيَّبَهاmade it fragrant
أَرضُ الأُبُوَّةِ وَالميلادِ طَيَّبَها
مَرُّthe passage الصِباof youth فيin ذُيولٍtrailing hems مِنof تَصابيناour youthful play
مَرُّ الصِبا في ذُيولٍ مِن تَصابينا
Land of fatherhood and birth, made fragrant
A land of fatherhood and birth, sweetened
By youth passing in the trailing hems of our youthful play.
By the wind’s passing through our plaits.
كانَتwere مُحَجَّلَةٌwhite-fetlocked فيهاthere مَواقِفُناour deeds
كانَت مُحَجَّلَةٌ فيها مَواقِفُنا
غُرّاًbright-browed مُسَلسَلَةَlinked المَجرىin their course قَوافيناour rhymes
غُرّاً مُسَلسَلَةَ المَجرى قَوافينا
Our deeds there bore white fetlocks
Our stances grandly interconnected,
And shining foreheads; our rhymes flowed in linked succession.
Like rhyming poems flowing mellifluously.
فَآبَso returned مِنfrom كُرَةِthe ball الأَيّامِof days لاعِبُناour player
فَآبَ مِن كُرَةِ الأَيّامِ لاعِبُنا
وَثابَand awoke مِنfrom سِنَةِthe drowse الأَحلامِof dreams لاهيناour idler
وَثابَ مِن سِنَةِ الأَحلامِ لاهينا
So our player returned from the ball-game of days,
Our playful era left through the days’ spheres
And our idler awoke from the drowse of dreams.
And the daydreams of our imagination returned.
وَلَمand not نَدَعwe left لِلَياليfor the nights صافِياًanything unspoiled فَدَعَتso they prayed
وَلَم نَدَع لِلَيالي صافِياً فَدَعَت
بِأَنthat نَغَصَّwe should choke فَقالَand said الدَهرُTime آميناAmen
بِأَن نَغَصَّ فَقالَ الدَهرُ آمينا
We left the nights nothing unspoiled, so they prayed
We left no moment pure, so time called
That we should choke, and Time said, 'Amen.'
For us to spoil it, and it said “amen”.
لَوِif اِستَطَعناwe could لَخُضناwe would traverse الجَوَّthe air صاعِقَةًas a thunderbolt
لَوِ اِستَطَعنا لَخُضنا الجَوَّ صاعِقَةً
وَالبَرَّand the land نارَas fire وَغىًof battle وَالبَحرَand the sea غِسليناas foul pus
وَالبَرَّ نارَ وَغىً وَالبَحرَ غِسلينا
If we could, we would cross the air as a thunderbolt,
If we could, we would have torn the sky with lightning,
The land as battle-fire, and the sea as foul pus,
And set the land and sea aflame deliriously.
سَعياًhurrying إِلىto مِصرَEgypt نَقضيwe fulfill حَقَّthe due ذاكِرِناof one remembering us
سَعياً إِلى مِصرَ نَقضي حَقَّ ذاكِرِنا
فيهاthere إِذاwhen نَسِيَforgets الوافيthe faithful one وَباكيناand one weeping for us
فيها إِذا نَسِيَ الوافي وَباكينا
Hurrying to Egypt, to repay the one who remembers us
Seeking Egypt, fulfilling the right of our memories,
There when the faithful forget, and who weeps for us.
If the loyal forgets, we will weep.
كَنزٌa treasure بِحُلوانَin Helwan عِندَin the keeping اللَهِof God نَطلُبُهُwe seek it
كَنزٌ بِحُلوانَ عِندَ اللَهِ نَطلُبُهُ
خَيرَthe best الوَدائِعِof deposits مِنfrom خَيرِthe best المُؤَدّيناof those returning trusts
خَيرَ الوَدائِعِ مِن خَيرِ المُؤَدّينا
A treasure in Helwan, in God's keeping, which we seek:
A treasure lies with God that we seek,
The best of deposits, from the best of those who restore them.
The best trust from the most faithful trustee.
لَوif غابَwere absent كُلُّevery عَزيزٍdear one عَنهُfrom it غَيبَتَناas we have been absent
لَو غابَ كُلُّ عَزيزٍ عَنهُ غَيبَتَنا
لَمnot يَأتِهِwould reach it الشَوقُlonging إِلّاexcept مِنfrom نَواحيناour direction
لَم يَأتِهِ الشَوقُ إِلّا مِن نَواحينا
If every dear one were absent from it as we have been,
If all the dear ones forget it, our longing
Longing would reach it only from our direction.
Only comes from our directions.
إِذاwhen حَمَلناwe bear لِمِصرٍfor Egypt أَوor لَهُfor it شَجَناًsorrow
إِذا حَمَلنا لِمِصرٍ أَو لَهُ شَجَناً
لَمnot نَدرِwe know أَيُّwhich هَوىlove الأُمَّينِof the two mothers شاجيناsaddens us
لَم نَدرِ أَيُّ هَوى الأُمَّينِ شاجينا
When we bear sorrow for Egypt or for that treasure,
If we carry sorrow for Egypt or it,
We cannot tell which of our two mothers' loves makes us mourn.
We know not which adoration makes us burn.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.