ألِبارقِfor a lightning flash? متألقgleaming الأيماضِthe flashes
ألِبارقِ متألق الأيماضِ
وهناlate at night يَعرقsweats الساعِدthe forearm النّباضِthrobbing
وهنا يَعرق الساعِد النّباضِ
Was it for a lightning flash, gleaming brightly,
O lightning, brilliant flashes
late at night, its throbbing forearm sweating,
You have sparkled with tears of remorse
رَقْرَقتَyou made ripple منfrom ماءthe water of المَدامعthe tear ducts عَبرَةًa tear
رَقْرَقتَ من ماء المَدامع عَبرَةً
منعتdenied جفونكyour eyelids لذَّةthe pleasure of الإغْماضِclosing the eyes
منعت جفونك لذَّة الإغْماضِ
that you let a tear ripple from your eyes' waters,
Your eyelids prevented the bliss of slumber
denying your eyelids the pleasure of closing?
The visiting specter passed you by, weakening you
وسرىand traveled by night لكto you الطَّيفthe phantom المعاودreturning موهناًlate at night
وسرى لك الطَّيف المعاود موهناً
بجوًىwith burning grief أمَضَّكtormented you أيّماthe utmost إمْضاضِtorment
بجوًى أمَضَّك أيّما إمْضاضِ
And the returning phantom visited you late at night,
With yearning that consumed you utterly
with a burning grief that tormented you sorely,
When you remembered friends in passion
لماwhen ذكرتyou recalled منfrom الأحبةthe loved ones بالحمىin the protected pasture
لما ذكرت من الأحبة بالحمى
رشفاتsips of عيشlife فيin هوًىlove وتراضيand mutual contentment
رشفات عيش في هوًى وتراضي
when you recalled, from the loved ones in the protected pasture,
Moments of delight in love and harmony
sips of life amid love and mutual contentment.
The friends were determined to part, never diverting
عزمresolved upon الأحبّةthe loved ones فرقةa parting لمdid not تنصرفyou turn away
عزم الأحبّة فرقة لم تنصرف
عنْهاfrom it وأنتwhile you لبعضfor some of حاجكyour needs قاضيfulfilling
عنْها وأنت لبعض حاجك قاضي
The loved ones resolved upon a parting; you did not turn
From it while you arbitrated someone’s need
away from it, while fulfilling some need of your own.
My soul is ransom for the slanderers at morn
نفْسيmy soul فداءa ransom for الظاعنينthose departing غدّيةat daybreak
نفْسي فداء الظاعنين غدّية
واليَعْمُلاتand tireless she-camels تُشدُّare strapped بالأحفاضِwith baggage
واليَعْمُلات تُشدُّ بالأحفاضِ
My soul be ransom for those departing at daybreak,
And the camel mares bound with ropes
and for the tireless she-camels being strapped with baggage,
Lovely ones I grew up with, passionately
وأوانسand winsome maidens خرُدbashful virgins بإحكامthrough mastery of الهوىlove
وأوانس خرُد بإحكام الهوى
حتفاًdeath علىupon مهجthe hearts of الرّجالmen قواضيdecreeing
حتفاً على مهج الرّجال قواضي
and winsome, bashful maidens who, through mastery of love,
Dying heroically on the chests of men, arbiters
decree death upon the hearts of men.
Note them through the veils with eager eyes
لاحظنthey glanced منthrough خلَلgaps in الستورthe curtains بأعينwith eyes
لاحظن من خلَل الستور بأعين
دُعجdeeply dark كحيلاتkohl-lined العيونthe eyes مراضِlanguid
دُعج كحيلات العيون مراضِ
They glanced through gaps in the curtains with eyes
Like kohl of eyes, sickly
deeply dark, kohl-lined, and languid.
And casting from the corner of eyes that made our hearts
ورمينand they shot عنfrom حدقpupils جعلنthey made قلوبناour hearts
ورمين عن حدق جعلن قلوبنا
لنصالfor the points of أسهمهنَّtheir arrows كالأغراضِlike targets
لنصال أسهمهنَّ كالأغراضِ
And they shot from pupils, making our hearts
For their glances like targets
like targets for the points of their arrows.
Displaying their innocence to us, but when they rejected us
بيضfair women عرضنappeared لناto us فلماand when صدنناthey caught us
بيض عرضن لنا فلما صدننا
بجمالهنwith their beauty رمينthey shot بالإعْراضِwith rejection
بجمالهن رمين بالإعْراضِ
Fair maidens appeared before us; when they caught us
With their beauty, they cast us off
with their beauty, they struck us with rejection.
Though the fair ones unite, you will never see
إنindeed الحسانthe beauties وإنeven if وصلنthey grant union فلنthen never تَرىyou see
إن الحسان وإن وصلن فلن تَرى
فيin ودهنtheir affection سَجيَّةَthe quality of الأمحاضِpure sincerity
في ودهن سَجيَّةَ الأمحاضِ
Indeed, though beauties offer union, you will never see
In their love the quality of sincerity
in their affection the quality of pure devotion.
And how can one who is parted find love
ومتىand when يصحّbe assured لهfor him منfrom البيضfair women الهَوىlove
ومتى يصحّ له من البيض الهَوى
مَنone who فيin مفارقهhis hair-partings سُطورlines of بياضِwhiteness
مَن في مفارقه سُطور بياضِ
And when can love from fair women be assured to
In the fair whose traces are like a white page
one whose hair-partings bear streaks of white?
Though old age shows its wisdom to you
إنindeed المشيبgray hair وإنeven if بداappears لكto you حلْمَهُits wisdom
إن المشيب وإن بدا لك حلْمَهُ
لَبهاءsurely the splendor of ريعانthe prime of الشَبيبةِyouth ناضيstripping away
لَبهاء ريعان الشَبيبةِ ناضي
Gray hair, though its wisdom may appear to you,
The prime of youth is forgotten
surely strips away the splendor of youth's prime.
And death is more soothing to the wealthy than living
والموتُand death أروحmore restful للغنيfor the wealthy man منthan عيشهِhis life
والموتُ أروح للغني من عيشهِ
فيamong الحيّthe tribe بينbetween الشّيبgray hairs والأبغاضِand hatreds
في الحيّ بين الشّيب والأبغاضِ
And death is more restful for the wealthy man than his life
Among the living with old age and hatreds
among the tribe, amid gray hairs and hatreds.
What holds back the ally of the home of poverty from
ماذاwhat يعوقdeters حليفَone bound to دارthe abode of الفقرpoverty عنfrom
ماذا يعوق حليفَ دار الفقر عن
سُبُلroads طوالٍlong فيthrough البلادthe lands عراضِbroad
سُبُل طوالٍ في البلاد عراضِ
What keeps one bound to poverty's abode from
The long roads in the desolate lands
long, broad roads through the lands?
When the flames are kindled and the sparks increase
إنيindeed I إذاwhen ذكتblaze الهَواجرُthe midday heats والتظتand ignite
إني إذا ذكت الهَواجرُ والتظت
نارُthe fire of الصّياهدَscorching wastes فيamid الحَصَىthe pebbles الرَضراضِbroken
نارُ الصّياهدَ في الحَصَى الرَضراضِ
Indeed, when the midday heats flare and there blazes
In the crashing stones heated red
the fire of scorching wastes amid broken pebbles,
I went farther than the heroes with characteristics
جاوزتُI crossed أجوازthe heartlands of الفَلاthe wilderness بِرَواسِمٍon swift-striding she-camels
جاوزتُ أجواز الفَلا بِرَواسِمٍ
مثلlike القسيّbows أوor أراكٍarak trees وغواضيand ghada shrubs
مثل القسيّ أو أراكٍ وغواضي
I cross the heartlands of the wilderness on swift-striding she-camels,
Like the strong, the bright, the valiant
like bows, or arak trees and ghada shrubs.
The vile follows them with lowered gaze
ذُلَلٌdocile بَراهُنَّwore them down الوجيفُswift trotting علىduring السُّرىnight travel
ذُلَلٌ بَراهُنَّ الوجيفُ على السُّرى
حوصُnarrow العيونthe eyes حوائلlean الأعراضِframes
حوصُ العيون حوائل الأعراضِ
Docile, worn lean by the swift pace of night travel,
And averted eyes full of disapproval
narrow-eyed and spare of frame,
They carry the burdens of praise as fuel
يحملنthey carry أثقالthe burdens of الثناءpraise قواصداّheading purposefully
يحملن أثقال الثناء قواصداّ
يطلُبْنthey seek ليfor me منهfrom him رضىthe satisfaction of المعتاضِone recompensed
يطلُبْن لي منه رضى المعتاضِ
they carry burdens of praise, heading purposefully onward,
Seeking my satisfaction from it
seeking from him, for me, the contentment of one recompensed.
And when they reach Abu Al-Hussein they pasture around me
فإذاand when بلغنthey reach أباAbu الحسينal-Husayn رتعنthey graze freely بيwith me
فإذا بلغن أبا الحسين رتعن بي
فيin أمرعِlush pasture وشرعنand enter to drink وسطamid حياضِwatering pools
في أمرعِ وشرعن وسط حياضِ
When they reach Abu al-Husayn, they graze with me
In a meadow amidst enclosures
in lush pasture, and drink amid watering pools.
They make the hands of the destitute wealthy
فأَفدنso they bring أيديthe hands of المعسرينthe needy مياسراriches
فأَفدن أيدي المعسرين مياسرا
وأعدنand restore أسنمةًhumps علىto الأنقاضِworn-out camels
وأعدن أسنمةً على الأنقاضِ
Thus they bring prosperity into the hands of the needy,
And return to the ruins to rebuild
and restore humps to worn-out camels.
A rain when our hopes are barren
غيثrain إذاwhen ماan emphatic particle أجدبتgrow barren آمالناour hopes
غيث إذا ما أجدبت آمالنا
يممنهthey head toward him فرتعنand graze بينamong رياضِgardens
يممنه فرتعن بين رياضِ
He is rain: whenever our hopes grow barren,
They drive it to pasture between gardens
they make for him and graze amid gardens.
Generosity, courage, dignity and glory
تغدوbecome السمّاحةُgenerosity والبسالةُand valor والحجَىand wisdom
تغدو السمّاحةُ والبسالةُ والحجَى
والمجدand glory حشوthe filling of قميصهhis shirt الفَضْفاضِample
والمجد حشو قميصه الفَضْفاضِ
Generosity, valor, and wisdom come to dwell,
Fill his flowing robe
with glory, within his ample shirt.
Then he is clothed in wisdom and armored with prohibition
ثمthen ارتدىhe clothed himself بالحلمin forbearance وادّرَعand armored himself in النّهىreason
ثم ارتدى بالحلم وادّرَع النّهى
مغضٍaverting his gaze عنfrom الجهالthe ignorant أوor متغاضيdeliberately overlooking
مغضٍ عن الجهال أو متغاضي
Then he robes himself in forbearance and armors himself in reason,
Indifferent to the ignorant or overlooking
averting his gaze from the ignorant, or overlooking them.
You have beautified, Abu Hassan, the traits of a youth
حسنتhave become fine أباAbu حسنHasan صفاتكyour qualities منas فتىًa young man
حسنت أبا حسن صفاتك من فتىً
لصعابof the difficult غاياتِgoals of العُلىgreatness رَوّاضِa masterful tamer
لصعاب غاياتِ العُلى رَوّاضِ
How fine are your qualities, Abu Hasan, as a young man
Keen to attain the highest goals
who tames the difficult goals of greatness,
Every great feat has been shouldered
ولعْبٌand for the burden of (uncertain reading) كلّevery عظيمةmighty undertaking متحمّلa bearer
ولعْبٌ كلّ عظيمة متحمّل
ولبحرand into the sea of كلevery كريهةadversity خوّاضٍone who plunges deeply
ولبحر كل كريهة خوّاضٍ
and bears the burden of every mighty undertaking,
And the ocean plowed by every despised diver
and plunges into the sea of every adversity!
You have risen above the towering heights with resolve
ولقدand indeed علوتyou ascended الباذخاتthe towering heights بهمَّةwith resolve
ولقد علوت الباذخات بهمَّة
ومضاءand the vigor of رأيjudgment مُبرَمfirm نهّاضِresolutely advancing
ومضاء رأي مُبرَم نهّاضِ
Indeed, you have scaled the towering heights with resolve
And the brilliant judgment of a determined shining light
and the vigor of firm, aspiring judgment.
You took on the duty of supporting the exalted
ولقدand indeed نهضتَyou rose بنهضwith the vigor of أروعan awe-inspiring man فاتكdaring
ولقد نهضتَ بنهض أروع فاتك
نَدبٍa ready champion بإعباءwith the burdens of العُليgreatness بهّاضِoverpowering
نَدبٍ بإعباء العُلي بهّاضِ
Indeed, you rose with the vigor of an awe-inspiring, daring man,
A successor to the excellent predecessors
a ready champion, overpowering the burdens of greatness.
You are capable of every virtue
آتcoming to لكلevery فضيلةٍvirtue متناولattaining
آت لكل فضيلةٍ متناول
آبٍrefusing لكلevery رذيلةvice رفّاضِutterly rejecting
آبٍ لكل رذيلة رفّاضِ
Coming to and attaining every virtue,
And abstaining from every baseness
refusing and utterly rejecting every vice.
You walked in benevolence like a glorious predecessor
وسلكتand you followed فيin المعروفgood deeds سيرةthe way of ماجدa noble man
وسلكت في المعروف سيرة ماجد
جارًproceeding علىalong سننthe path of الأوائلthe forebears ماضيgoing onward
جارً على سنن الأوائل ماضي
And in good deeds you followed the way of a noble man,
Following the ways of early times
proceeding along the path of the forebears.
And you have spread in earning virtues a comfort
وبسطتَand you spread فيin كسبacquiring المكارمnoble deeds راحةa palm
وبسطتَ في كسب المكارم راحة
كالبحرlike the sea يقذفcasts forth بالجديwith bounty الفياضِoverflowing
كالبحر يقذف بالجدي الفياضِ
And you extended your palm in pursuing noble deeds,
Like the sea casting its overflowing fullness
like the sea, casting forth overflowing bounty.
Continuing thereby to satisfy desires
مازالhas always remained بذلكَyour giving للْرَغائِبُfor cherished gifts آسياًa healer
مازال بذلكَ للْرَغائِبُ آسياً
لجراحfor the wounds of نابِthe fang of اللَّزبةhardship العَضّاضِfiercely biting
لجراح نابِ اللَّزبة العَضّاضِ
Your giving of cherished gifts has always been a healer
And heal the wounds of calamity, the biting
for wounds from hardship's fiercely biting fang.
The beauty of your reputation still undertakes
وجميلُand the beauty of عُرفكyour beneficence لمnot يزلcease مُتكفَّلاًundertaking
وجميلُ عُرفك لم يزل مُتكفَّلاً
جبراًmending لعظمfor the bone of الغيرةmisfortune المُنْهاضٍshattered
جبراً لعظم الغيرة المُنْهاضٍ
And your gracious beneficence has always undertaken
To compensate for the greatest misfortune
to mend the bone shattered by misfortune.
Your stature prevented you from an act
جنتبyou kept clear (uncertain reading) شأنكyour standing أنthat تشينكdisgraces you خطِّةa course of conduct
جنتب شأنك أن تشينك خطِّة
وحميتand you shielded عرضكyour honor وصمةَa stain on الأعراضِreputations
وحميت عرضك وصمةَ الأعراضِ
You kept your standing clear of any course that would disgrace you,
That would dishonor you and brand as tainted
and shielded your honor from the stain that mars reputations.
Omar bin Nabhan built for you
ولقدand indeed بنيbuilt عمرUmar بنson of نبهانNabhan لكمfor you all
ولقد بني عمر بن نبهان لكم
بنيانَan edifice of عزٍmight ليسis not بالمنقاضِcrumbling
بنيانَ عزٍ ليس بالمنقاضِ
Indeed, Umar ibn Nabhan built for you
A foundation of might that cannot be toppled
an edifice of might that cannot crumble.
So greet and live undertaking our needs
فاسلمso remain safe وعشْand live متكفلاًproviding for حاجاتِناour needs
فاسلم وعشْ متكفلاً حاجاتِنا
أنتyou الشفيعthe intercessor وجودكand your generosity المتقاضيِthe one pressing a claim
أنت الشفيع وجودك المتقاضيِ
So remain safe, and live on, providing for our needs;
You are the intercessor, your benevolence the judge
you are the intercessor, and your generosity presses our claims.
And may God decree your pleasure with me
وقضىand may decree الإلهGod رضاكyour pleasure عنّيwith me أنَّنيfor I
وقضى الإله رضاك عنّي أنَّني
ياذهلO Dhuhl عنكwith you بحسنfor the excellence of برَّكyour kindness راضيpleased
ياذهل عنك بحسن برَّك راضي
May God ordain your pleasure with me, for I,
For in your kindness I am pleased and appeased
O Dhuhl, am pleased with you for your gracious kindness.
To you it is like an exquisite bride
وإليكهَاand here she is for you مثلَlike العروسthe bride بديعةًwondrous
وإليكهَا مثلَ العروس بديعةً
فيهاin her شفاءُhealing for الهمّsorrow والأمراضِand ailments
فيها شفاءُ الهمّ والأمراضِ
And here she is for you, wondrous as a bride,
In whom is the cure for care and sickness
in her is healing for sorrow and disease.
It crossed the mind of moral wisdom
خطرتflashed بهاthrough her حِكَمُwise counsels of النَّهىreason فيin خاطرٍa mind
خطرت بها حِكَمُ النَّهى في خاطرٍ
متوقدٍaflame كالحيةlike the serpent النَّضاضِdarting
متوقدٍ كالحية النَّضاضِ
Through her, reason's wise counsels flashed in a mind
Kindled like glowing embers
aflame like a darting serpent.
God reward the two poets, for they
اللهGod دَرُّexcellence (in praise) الشاعرَينthe two poets فإنّهمfor they
الله دَرُّ الشاعرَين فإنّهم
بانواbuilders of (uncertain spelling) العُلىgreatness وَصياقلand polishers of الأعْراضِreputations
بانوا العُلى وَصياقل الأعْراضِ
God bless the two poets, for they are
Represented the exalted and burnished reputations
builders of greatness and polishers of honor.
Poetry is the best preaching cautioning against
والشعرُand poetry أوعظُthe most admonishing زاجرٍa deterrent عنfrom سُبَّةdisgrace
والشعرُ أوعظُ زاجرٍ عن سُبَّة
وعلىand toward المكارمnoble deeds خيرُthe best ماthat which حَضَّاضِurges strongly
وعلى المكارم خيرُ ما حَضَّاضِ
Poetry is the most admonishing deterrent from disgrace,
Vileness and encouraging virtues
and the best encourager toward noble deeds.
Partial English translation: 81 of 82 Arabic lines translated.