نظريmy gaze إِلىtoward لمعthe gleam الوميضِthe lightning حنينُlonging
نظري إِلى لمع الوميضِ حنينُ
وتنفُّسِيand my breathing لصَباto the east wind of الأصيلِthe late afternoon أنينُa moan
وتنفُّسِي لصَبا الأصيلِ أنينُ
My gaze toward the lightning's gleam is longing,
My sight to the glimmer of lightning yearning
and my breathing in the evening's east wind is a moan.
And my breath for the pure morning breeze moaning
ماnot كنتُI was أعلمُknowing قبلَbefore نازلةِthe woman dwelling in الحِمَىthe sanctuary
ما كنتُ أعلمُ قبلَ نازلةِ الحِمَى
أنَّthat الحبائلَthe snares والسهامَand the arrows عيونُeyes
أنَّ الحبائلَ والسهامَ عيونُ
Before the woman settled in the sanctuary, I never knew
I did not know before the fever's descent
that eyes could be snares and arrows.
That tendrils and arrows were eyes
ركزواthey planted بأبوابِat the entrances of القبَابِthe domed tents رماحَهمْtheir spears
ركزوا بأبوابِ القبَابِ رماحَهمْ
ووراءَهُنَّand beyond them أهِلَّةٌcrescent moons وغصونُand branches
ووراءَهُنَّ أهِلَّةٌ وغصونُ
They planted their spears at the entrances of the domed tents,
They positioned their spears at the gates of domes
and beyond them were crescent moons and branches.
And behind them, a crescent moon and twigs
آسادُlions of ملحمةٍbattle وأُدْمُand dusky gazelles of صريمةٍa thicket
آسادُ ملحمةٍ وأُدْمُ صريمةٍ
تحتbeneath الأكِلَّةِthe curtains فالكناسُso the gazelles' covert عرينُa lion's den
تحت الأكِلَّةِ فالكناسُ عرينُ
Lions of battle and dusky gazelles of the thicket
Lions of an epic and blood of clamor
beneath the curtains: the gazelles' covert is a lion's den.
Under the fortresses, so the foxes are in their dens
ومضَواand they departed يَشيمونَwatching for rain in الوميضَthe lightning وقدwhile already هَفَاquivered
ومضَوا يَشيمونَ الوميضَ وقد هَفَا
بخفوقِهat its flashing خَضلُrain-heavy الربابِthe cloudbanks هتونُpouring rain
بخفوقِه خَضلُ الربابِ هتونُ
They departed, watching the lightning, while there quivered
They went extinguishing the lightning, and it
at its flashing a rain-heavy, downpouring cloudbank.
Shook with its throbbing the tent's curtains, fallen
إِلّاif not يكنْit was نَعَبَcroaked الغرابُthe raven ببينهمْat their parting
إِلّا يكنْ نَعَبَ الغرابُ ببينهمْ
أُصُلاًat dusk فقدthen indeed نَعَبَتْcroaked سحائبُclouds جُونُdark
أُصُلاً فقد نَعَبَتْ سحائبُ جُونُ
If the raven did not croak at their parting
Unless the crow had carved out between them
at dusk, dark clouds certainly did croak.
A lineage, so the clouds of sadness carved
باتواthey spent the night ونجوىand whispers of البينdeparture بينَamong رِحالهمْtheir baggage
باتوا ونجوى البين بينَ رِحالهمْ
فوضَىscattered ومُستَرَقُand overheard snatches of الحديثِspeech شجونُsorrows
فوضَى ومُستَرَقُ الحديثِ شجونُ
They spent the night with whispers of departure among their baggage,
They spent the night with the distance's whisper between their encampments
scattered everywhere, and overheard speech was full of sorrows.
Chaos and stolen conversation lamentations
وتحمَّلواand they set out سَحَراًbefore dawn وحشوُand the contents of حُدوجِهمْtheir litters
وتحمَّلوا سَحَراً وحشوُ حُدوجِهمْ
صُوَرُforms of الجَآذرِyoung wild cattle والظِباءُand the gazelles العِينُwide-eyed
صُوَرُ الجَآذرِ والظِباءُ العِينُ
They set out before dawn, their litters filled
And they endured a pre-dawn raid and the appearances of their steeds
with forms of young wild cattle and wide-eyed gazelles.
Were like timid gazelles, and the doe-eyed gentle
ووراءَand behind أصدافِthe shells of الحُدوجِthe litters يهزُّهَاrocking them
ووراءَ أصدافِ الحُدوجِ يهزُّهَا
هُوجُheadlong الركائبِthe mounts لؤلؤٌpearls مكنونُhidden
هُوجُ الركائبِ لؤلؤٌ مكنونُ
Behind the shells of the litters, rocked
And behind the armor of the steeds it shakes
by headlong mounts, lay hidden pearls.
The determination of the mounts, a hidden pearl
إِنّindeed الأُلىthose whose أقوتْbecame deserted ربوعُهمُtheir dwellings لهمfor them
إِنّ الأُلى أقوتْ ربوعُهمُ لهم
بينbetween الأضالعِthe ribs منزلٌa dwelling مسكونُinhabited
بين الأضالعِ منزلٌ مسكونُ
Those whose dwellings lie deserted still have
The family strengthened their souls for them
between the ribs a dwelling inhabited.
Between their ribs, an inhabited abode
نُشِرَتْwere revived ربوعُهمُtheir dwellings بعَودِby the return of قَطينهاtheir inhabitants
نُشِرَتْ ربوعُهمُ بعَودِ قَطينها
ونشورُand the resurrection of ربعٍa dwelling أنthat يعودَreturn قطينُinhabitants
ونشورُ ربعٍ أن يعودَ قطينُ
Their dwellings were revived by their people's return;
Their souls were scattered by the firewood of her coquetry
a dwelling's resurrection is its people's return.
And the soul of the loved one, that it return coquettish
وَمَليحةٍand a lovely woman بكرتْcame early عليَّto me مُليحةًmaking signs
وَمَليحةٍ بكرتْ عليَّ مُليحةً
سَحَراًbefore dawn وقدand already صبغَstained الخدودَthe cheeks جفونُeyelids
سَحَراً وقد صبغَ الخدودَ جفونُ
And a lovely woman came to me early, making signs,
And a smooth-faced one, she appeared smooth-faced to me
before dawn, her eyelids having stained her cheeks.
At dawn, and kohl had dyed her eyelids
قالتshe said عهِدتُكَI knew you لاnot تُراعُfrightened لحادثٍby a calamity
قالت عهِدتُكَ لا تُراعُ لحادثٍ
وحصاةُand the stone of قلبكَyour heart لاnot تكادُscarcely تلينُsoftens
وحصاةُ قلبكَ لا تكادُ تلينُ
She said, 'I knew you unafraid of any calamity,
She said, "I knew you do not care for misfortune
the stone of your heart scarcely yielding.
And your heart's pebbles scarcely soften"
فاليومَbut today مالكwhat ails you مستكيناًsubdued يمتريdraws out
فاليومَ مالك مستكيناً يمتري
مخزونَthe stored supply of دمعكَyour tears قلبُكَyour heart المحزونُsorrowing
مخزونَ دمعكَ قلبُكَ المحزونُ
But today, why are you subdued, while
So today I saw you miserable, borrowing
your sorrowing heart draws out your stored tears?'
The reserve of your tearful, saddened heart
تبغيshe seeks سُلُوِّيmy forgetting وهوand it is أعوزُthe most elusive مطلبٍquest
تبغي سُلُوِّي وهو أعوزُ مطلبٍ
وطِلابُand seeking ماwhat لاnot يُستطاعُcan be attained جنونُmadness
وطِلابُ ما لا يُستطاعُ جنونُ
She seeks my forgetting—a most elusive quest;
You want my flirtation, and it is the most lacking desire
to seek what cannot be attained is madness.
And seeking what cannot be attained is madness
فأجبتُهاso I answered her كُفِّيcease الملامَthe blame وأقصريand desist
فأجبتُها كُفِّي الملامَ وأقصري
كلٌّeach بماby what كسبتْearned يداهُhis two hands رهينُheld hostage
كلٌّ بما كسبتْ يداهُ رهينُ
I answered her, 'Cease your blame and desist:
So I answered her, stop blaming me, and shorten
each is held hostage by what his hands have earned.'
Each gets what their hands have bound, a hostage
لمnot يُبقِleft عنديwith me للتجلُّدِfor endurance موضعاًroom
لم يُبقِ عندي للتجلُّدِ موضعاً
بينٌa parting بتفريقِto scattering الجميعِall together قمينُfit
بينٌ بتفريقِ الجميعِ قمينُ
No room for endurance has been left in me
No scope remains in me for endurance
by a parting fit to scatter all who were together.
It is clear with the separation of all, the winnower
ولقدand indeed أثرتُI roused العيسَthe pale camels ماnot لظهورهاfor their backs
ولقد أثرتُ العيسَ ما لظهورها
مماbecause of what أضرَّharmed بهاthem السِّفارُjourneying بطونُbellies
مما أضرَّ بها السِّفارُ بطونُ
Indeed I roused the pale camels; their backs have no
And I have chosen the best mounts; for their backs
bellies, so grievously has travel wasted them.
Nothing like the saddles' wounding of their abdomens
مشَقَstripped away السهوبُthe steppes لحومَهُنَّtheir flesh وعرَّقَتْand laid bare
مشَقَ السهوبُ لحومَهُنَّ وعرَّقَتْ
أشلاءَهُنَّtheir limbs فكلُّso every حرفٍlean she-camel نونُnūn: fish or letter ن
أشلاءَهُنَّ فكلُّ حرفٍ نونُ
The steppes stripped away their flesh and laid bare
The plains cracked their meat, and
their limbs, till each lean camel is a nūn.
Their legs sweated, so each letter is bent
يرسُفْنَthey shuffle فيin قيدِthe fetters of الكَلالِexhaustion كأنماas though
يرسُفْنَ في قيدِ الكَلالِ كأنما
حركاتُهنَّtheir movements وقدand already جَهِدنَthey were exhausted سكونُstillness
حركاتُهنَّ وقد جَهِدنَ سكونُ
They shuffle in the fetters of exhaustion, as though
They race in the fetter of emaciation as if
their movements, utterly spent, were stillness.
Their movements, exhausted, are stillness
ولقدand indeed تَرىyou see والريحُand the wind راسفةٌfettered إِذاwhen
ولقد تَرى والريحُ راسفةٌ إِذا
قِيستْmeasured إليهاagainst them والوميضand the lightning حَرُونُbalking
قِيستْ إليها والوميض حَرُونُ
Yet you may see the wind as fettered when
And you can see, when the wind is raging, if
measured against them, and lightning as balking.
Compared to it, the lightning is scorching
وكأنّهاand as though they والليلُand the night وَحْفٌthick فاحمٌcoal-black
وكأنّها والليلُ وَحْفٌ فاحمٌ
عوجُcrooked المدارىthe combs والظلامُand the darkness قرونُbraided tresses
عوجُ المدارى والظلامُ قرونُ
As though, with night a thick, coal-black mass,
It is as if it and the night are a darkness, packed
they were crooked combs, and darkness tresses.
Bent roads and gloom are spears
يرميdrives بهنَّthem نياطَthe far reaches of كلِّevery تنوفةٍwilderness
يرمي بهنَّ نياطَ كلِّ تنوفةٍ
همٌّa resolve وهمٌّand a sorrow فيin الضلوعِthe ribs كمينُhidden
همٌّ وهمٌّ في الضلوعِ كمينُ
What drives them into the far reaches of every wilderness
It hurls at them the stars of every ascent
is a resolve, while a sorrow lies hidden in the ribs.
Concerns and concerns in the ribs lying in wait
هممٌaspirations تعاورُهاassail them in turn الهمومُthe cares وعزمةٌand a resolve
هممٌ تعاورُها الهمومُ وعزمةٌ
عذراءُvirginal شيَّبَهاmade it gray الخطوبُthe calamities العونُseasoned
عذراءُ شيَّبَها الخطوبُ العونُ
Aspirations assailed in turn by cares, and a resolve
Ambitions, worries exchange them, and determination
virginal, yet grayed by seasoned calamities.
An unsullied that has been whitened by life's calamities helper
وإِذاand when طغَىoverflows بحرُthe sea of الزِماعfirm resolve فماthen not لهُfor it
وإِذا طغَى بحرُ الزِماع فما لهُ
إِلّاexcept القِلاصَthe young she-camels اليعملاتِthe tireless ones سَفِينُships
إِلّا القِلاصَ اليعملاتِ سَفِينُ
When the sea of resolve overflows, it has
And if the sea of time overflows, it has
no ships but tireless young she-camels.
None except the slender spindly trees, a boat
وإِذاand when نباbecame inhospitable الوطنُthe homeland العسوفُoppressive بأهلهِto its people
وإِذا نبا الوطنُ العسوفُ بأهلهِ
فظهورُهنَّthen their backs لمنfor those whom حملنَthey carry حُصونُfortresses
فظهورُهنَّ لمن حملنَ حُصونُ
When an oppressive homeland rejects its people,
And if the homeland calls out longingly for its people
their backs are fortresses for those they carry.
Then their backs are for those who carried fortresses
يَخبِطنَthey tread through أحشاءَthe innards of الدياجيthe dark nights أوuntil يُرَىis seen
يَخبِطنَ أحشاءَ الدياجي أو يُرَى
للصبحِof dawn خدٌّa cheek واضحٌclear وجبينُand a brow
للصبحِ خدٌّ واضحٌ وجبينُ
They tread through the innards of dark nights until
They beat the ribs of darkness or the dawn appears
dawn shows a clear cheek and brow.
With a cheek visible and a bright forehead
ولقدand indeed سلبتُI robbed مِراحَهنَّtheir high spirits إِلىtoward حمَىthe sanctuary of
ولقد سلبتُ مِراحَهنَّ إِلى حمَى
ملكٍa king لهfor him ربُّthe Lord of السماءِheaven مُعينُa helper
ملكٍ له ربُّ السماءِ مُعينُ
Indeed I robbed them of their high spirits, driving toward the sanctuary
And I have taken their aspirations to the love
of a king whose helper is the Lord of heaven:
Of a king for whom the Lord of the Heavens is helper
مسعودٍMasʿūd الميمونِauspicious طائرهُhis omen الذيwhose
مسعودٍ الميمونِ طائرهُ الذي
جَدُّthe fortune of المُنيخthe one encamping ببابِهat his gate ميمونُauspicious
جَدُّ المُنيخ ببابِه ميمونُ
Masʿūd, auspicious in omen, whose
Auspicious, fortunate, its bird
visitors encamped at his gate have auspicious fortune.
The forebears of the constellation at his door fortunate
ملكِking of الملوكthe kings ابنِson of السلاطينthe sultans الألىwho
ملكِ الملوك ابنِ السلاطين الألى
ملكواthey ruled رقابَthe necks of العالمينَall mankind ودَينُواand subjugated
ملكوا رقابَ العالمينَ ودَينُوا
King of kings, son of the sultans who
King of kings, son of sultans sublime
ruled all mankind's necks and made them submit.
Who ruled over the necks of all the worlds and judged
ركزواthey planted ببرقةَin Barqa والصعيدِand Upper Egypt رماحَهمْtheir spears
ركزوا ببرقةَ والصعيدِ رماحَهمْ
والهندُand India مربطُthe tethering ground of خيلِهمtheir horses والصينُand China
والهندُ مربطُ خيلِهم والصينُ
They planted their spears in Barqa and Upper Egypt;
They positioned their spears in Damascus and the countryside
India and China are their horses' tethering grounds.
And India is the pasture of their horses and China
ملكواthey mastered الأعنَّةَthe reins والأسنَّةَand the spearheads والظُبَىand the blades
ملكوا الأعنَّةَ والأسنَّةَ والظُبَى
والخيلُand the horses تنزوleap فيin الوغىbattle وتلينُand yield
والخيلُ تنزو في الوغى وتلينُ
They mastered reins, spearheads, and blades,
They ruled over Nubia and Abyssinia and the gazelles
while horses leapt in battle and yielded.
And the horses flow into the fray and are gentle
فكأنَّهاso as though they تحتَbeneath الفوارسthe horsemen والظُبَىand the blades
فكأنَّها تحتَ الفوارس والظُبَى
تحتَbeneath العجاجِthe dust بوارقٌlightning flashes ودجونُand dark clouds
تحتَ العجاجِ بوارقٌ ودجونُ
As though the horses beneath their riders, and the blades
So it is as if beneath the horsemen and the gazelles
beneath the dust, were lightning flashes and dark clouds.
Are canopies and carpets
مجدٌglory تُوُورِثَwas inherited كابراًgreat forebear عنfrom كابرٍgreat forebear
مجدٌ تُوُورِثَ كابراً عن كابرٍ
والدهرُand time مقتَبلٌyoung وآدمُand Adam طِينُclay
والدهرُ مقتَبلٌ وآدمُ طِينُ
Glory inherited, great forebear from great forebear,
A glory inherited from great to great
when time was young and Adam still clay.
And fate is welcoming and Adam is clay
فالعزُّso might أقعسُunbending والجنابُand the domain ممنَّعٌimpregnable
فالعزُّ أقعسُ والجنابُ ممنَّعٌ
والمجدُand glory أتلعُlofty والفِناءُand the courtyard حصينُfortified
والمجدُ أتلعُ والفِناءُ حصينُ
His might is unbending, his domain impregnable;
So honor is most chaste, and repute made inaccessible
his glory towers, his courtyard is fortified.
And glory most respected, and perishing a citadel
شُغِفتْwere enamored بدعوَتِهِwith proclaiming him المنابرُthe pulpits يافعاًas a youth
شُغِفتْ بدعوَتِهِ المنابرُ يافعاً
وصباand longed إِليهِfor him المُلكُsovereignty وهوwhile he was جنينُunborn
وصبا إِليهِ المُلكُ وهو جنينُ
The pulpits yearned to proclaim him while he was young,
The minbars were infatuated with his youthful call
and sovereignty longed for him while he was still unborn.
And kingship inclined to him while he was a fetus
شَرِقُoverflowing البنانِthe fingers بجودهwith his generosity غَدِقُabundant الندَىbounty
شَرِقُ البنانِ بجوده غَدِقُ الندَى
كلتاboth يديهِhis hands للعُفَاةِfor petitioners يمينُa right hand
كلتا يديهِ للعُفَاةِ يمينُ
His fingers overflow with giving, his bounty pours;
Dawn's clarity by his generosity pouring rain's bounty
both his hands are right hands to petitioners.
Both his hands to the destitute are a right hand
للملكِfor sovereignty مأوىa refuge فيin ظِلالِthe shade of لوائهِhis banner
للملكِ مأوى في ظِلالِ لوائهِ
يأويtakes shelter إِليهwith him النصرُvictory والتمكينُand secure power
يأوي إِليه النصرُ والتمكينُ
Sovereignty has a refuge in the shade of his banner;
For the king, there is refuge in the shadows of his banners
victory and secure power take shelter with him.
Victory and empowerment take refuge in it
طرِبُjoyous الشمائلof disposition حينwhen تنآدُsway القناthe spears
طرِبُ الشمائل حين تنآدُ القنا
ثمِلاًdrunkenly ويَشْرَقُand chokes بالدماءon blood وتينُan aorta
ثمِلاً ويَشْرَقُ بالدماء وتينُ
He is joyous of disposition when the spears sway
A sphere revolves around the knob of his crown
drunkenly, and an aorta chokes on blood.
And moves wherever it moves
ينجابُclears away عنهfrom him النقعُthe dust وهوwhile he كأنَّهُas though he
ينجابُ عنه النقعُ وهو كأنَّهُ
قَمرٌa moon لهfor it سعدُSaʿd: fortune السُّعودِal-Suʿūd: fortunes قرينُa companion
قَمرٌ له سعدُ السُّعودِ قرينُ
The dust clears from him, and he seems
Kings hunt under his feet
a moon with Saʿd al-Suʿūd as its companion.
And the Gabriel shades him with his wing
والمشرفيّةُand the Mashrafi swords فيin العجاجthe dust لوامعٌgleaming
والمشرفيّةُ في العجاج لوامعٌ
والأعوجيةُand the Aʿwaj-bred horses فيin الصفوفِthe ranks صُفونُstanding with one forehoof raised
والأعوجيةُ في الصفوفِ صُفونُ
Mashrafi swords gleam amid the dust,
The well-bred horses, necks burdened
and Aʿwaj-bred steeds stand poised in the ranks.
The effort of the delicate ones in their necks and tendons
وعليهand above him نشرُthe spread of مظلةٍa canopy مكنونةٍtreasured
وعليه نشرُ مظلةٍ مكنونةٍ
بالدرِّwith pearls والياقوتِand rubies وهوand it is ثمينُprecious
بالدرِّ والياقوتِ وهو ثمينُ
Above him spreads a treasured canopy,
Their hooves outstripped sights
with pearls and rubies, precious indeed.
So the outstripping of their goals and eyelids is equal
سوداءُblack حمراءُred الحِفافat the edges كأنَّهاas though it
سوداءُ حمراءُ الحِفاف كأنَّها
زهرُblossoms of الشقائقِthe anemones فيin الرياضthe gardens تبينُstand out
زهرُ الشقائقِ في الرياض تبينُ
Black, red-edged, as though it were
Were it not for the two goals being so distant I would swear
anemone blossoms standing out in gardens.
No one sees their movement as stillness
رُفعتُwas raised تردُّkeeps away الشمسَthe sun عنfrom شمسٍa sun لهاwhose
رُفعتُ تردُّ الشمسَ عن شمسٍ لها
نورٌlight إِذاwhen اعتكرَthickened الظلامُthe darkness مبينُclear
نورٌ إِذا اعتكرَ الظلامُ مبينُ
It was raised to keep the sun from a sun whose
The lightnings almost resemble them, if only
light is clear when darkness thickens.
Eyes and conjectures had not caught them
شمسانtwo suns يكتنفانهاflank it منfrom فوقِهاabove it
شمسان يكتنفانها من فوقِها
شمسٌa sun وآخرُand another تحتهاbeneath it مدجونُshrouded
شمسٌ وآخرُ تحتها مدجونُ
Two suns flank it: above it
Of all the slackening of the reins when it flows
is one sun, and another lies veiled beneath it.
On the day of the wager, its outstripping is guaranteed
فبنورِand by the light of تلكthat one أضاءتِshone الدنياthe world إِذاwhen
فبنورِ تلك أضاءتِ الدنيا إِذا
ضاءتْshone بهthrough him الدنياthe world وعزَّand was exalted الدينُfaith
ضاءتْ به الدنيا وعزَّ الدينُ
By that sun's light the world shines, while
through him the world shines and faith is exalted.
Whether it climbs the towering mountain or rides the billowing sea
فلكٌa firmament يدورُrevolves علىabove ذؤابةِthe crest of تاجهِhis crown
فلكٌ يدورُ على ذؤابةِ تاجهِ
ويكونand it is أنَّىwherever دارit turns حيثُwhere يكونُhe is
ويكون أنَّى دار حيثُ يكونُ
A firmament revolves above the crest of his crown,
It is fires and talents
and follows every turn, wherever he may be.
With his brother Allah strengthened his mighty arm
تمشيwalk الملوكُthe kings الصِيدُproud تحتbeneath ركابِهhis stirrup
تمشي الملوكُ الصِيدُ تحت ركابِه
ويُظِلُّهand shades him بجناحِهwith his wing جِبرينُJibrīn: Gabriel
ويُظِلُّه بجناحِه جِبرينُ
Proud kings walk beneath his stirrup,
And his minister, one of his folk, is Aaron
and Gabriel shades him with his wing.
Two flints, events sprouted from them
والجردُand the sleek steeds مثقلةُweighed down الرِقابِat the necks يؤُودُهاburdens them
والجردُ مثقلةُ الرِقابِ يؤُودُها
حَمْلُcarrying النُّضارِgold بكدِّهاwith their exertion ويرينُand overwhelms
حَمْلُ النُّضارِ بكدِّها ويرينُ
The sleek steeds, their necks weighed down, are burdened
So the wood is firm and the sparks years
by carrying gold as they toil, and it overwhelms them.
Together despite the enemies' injustice, supporting each other
سبقتْoutstripped حوافرُهاtheir hooves النواظرَthe eyes فاستوىso became equal
سبقتْ حوافرُها النواظرَ فاستوى
سبقٌracing إِلىtoward غاياتِهاtheir goals وشفونُand gazing
سبقٌ إِلى غاياتِها وشفونُ
Their hooves outstripped the eyes, making equal
For both of them, the channel of truth is sturdy
the race to their goal and a glance toward it.
The prayer leader and the one who prays behind him are preceded by him
لولاwere it not for تراميthe distance between الغايتينِthe two endpoints لأقسمَwould swear الthe
لولا ترامي الغايتينِ لأقسمَ ال
راؤونَonlookers أنَّthat حَراكَهاtheir movement تسكينُstillness
راؤونَ أنَّ حَراكَها تسكينُ
Were the two endpoints not so far apart, the
And behind him, all of humanity is beneath
onlookers would swear their movement was stillness.
O king, by whose majesty
قدindeed كادَalmost يُشبههاresembles them البُروقُthe lightning flashes لَوَif اَنَّهاthey
قد كادَ يُشبهها البُروقُ لَوَ اَنَّها
لمnot يعتلقْهاcatch them أعينٌeyes وظنونُand thoughts
لم يعتلقْها أعينٌ وظنونُ
Lightning flashes might almost resemble them, if they
The ordainment is fulfilled and creation is instituted
were not caught by eyes and thoughts.
His pleasure revives and his anger ruins
منfrom كلevery جيَّاشِsurging العِنانthe reins إِذاwhen جَرىit runs
من كل جيَّاشِ العِنان إِذا جَرى
يومَon the day of الرِّهانِthe race فسبقُهthen its victory مضمونُassured
يومَ الرِّهانِ فسبقُه مضمونُ
Each is a steed that surges against the reins; when it runs
So they are life for creation and bliss
on race day, its victory is assured.
The wolves have wreaked havoc on the flock, and it has
إِنif يفرعِit scales الطودَthe mountain الأشمَّtowering فأجدلٌthen a falcon
إِن يفرعِ الطودَ الأشمَّ فأجدلٌ
أوor يركبِit rides البحرَthe sea الخِضَمَّvast فنونُthen a fish
أو يركبِ البحرَ الخِضَمَّ فنونُ
If it scales the towering mountain, it is a falcon;
No shepherd, and the thief, while trusted, is a traitor
if it rides the vast sea, it is a fish.
And a gang has contested the kingdom's authority
بأخيهِthrough his brother شدَّstrengthened اللّهُGod أزرَthe strength of جلالهِhis majesty
بأخيهِ شدَّ اللّهُ أزرَ جلالهِ
ووزيرُهand his minister منfrom أهلِهhis family هارونُHārūn
ووزيرُه من أهلِه هارونُ
Through his brother, God strengthened his majesty,
None know which of them is infatuated
and his minister from his own family is Hārūn.
And they have seized what neither The One of the Two Horns
قِدحانِtwo arrow-shafts قدalready نَبَتِglanced away الحوادثُthe calamities عنهماfrom them both
قِدحانِ قد نَبَتِ الحوادثُ عنهما
فالعودُso the wood صُلْبٌhard والغِرارُand the blade's edge سنينُkeen
فالعودُ صُلْبٌ والغِرارُ سنينُ
Two arrow-shafts from which calamities have glanced away:
Nor Korah owned, ruling
the wood is hard, the blade's edge keen.
So in every land, a banner and a gang
جُمعاthey were joined علىdespite رغمthe opposition of العدَىthe enemies وتسانَداand supported one another
جُمعا على رغم العدَى وتسانَدا
فكلاهماso both of them صَدقُstraight القناةِof spear-shaft متينُsturdy
فكلاهما صَدقُ القناةِ متينُ
Joined despite their foes, they have supported one another;
Were gathered, and a war unendurable, heavy
each is a straight, sturdy spear-shaft.
Ready your sturdy resolve, for they
سبقwent ahead المجلِّيthe winner والمصلِّيand the runner-up دونهbehind him
سبق المجلِّي والمصلِّي دونه
ووراءهُand behind him كلُّall البريةِmankind دونُlesser
ووراءهُ كلُّ البريةِ دونُ
The winner has gone ahead, the runner-up behind him;
Are civil strife that has settled in their plains, mournful
and behind that one all mankind falls short.
So its kindling is sudden, and its embers
ياO أيهاyou الملِكُking الذيwho بجلالِهthrough his majesty
يا أيها الملِكُ الذي بجلالِه
قُضِيَwas decreed القضاءُthe decree وكُوِّنَand was formed التكوينُcreation
قُضِيَ القضاءُ وكُوِّنَ التكوينُ
O king, through whose majesty
Are a fire that flames, and its fuel is a dragon
decrees are decreed and creation is formed,
It is as if religion, having been loaded with it
مرضاتُهُhis favor تُحْيِيgives life ويُرْدِيand destroys سُخْطُهhis wrath
مرضاتُهُ تُحْيِي ويُرْدِي سُخْطُه
فهماso they both حياةٌlife للورىfor mankind ومَنُونُand death
فهما حياةٌ للورى ومَنُونُ
his favor gives life, his wrath destroys;
Is a sea whose laden ship has capsized
they are life and death to mankind.
And unleash upon them ranks like them, and provoke them
عاثتravaged ذؤالةُthe wolf فيin القطيعthe flock ومَاand not لهfor it
عاثت ذؤالةُ في القطيع ومَا له
راعٍa shepherd وأضحىand became اللصُّthe thief وهوwhile he is أمينُa trusted keeper
راعٍ وأضحى اللصُّ وهو أمينُ
The wolf has ravaged the flock, which has no
A pouring that makes two armies forgotten
shepherd, and the thief has become its trusted keeper.
And strengthen your hands with your uncle's rope, for he
وتنازعَand disputed الملكَsovereignty الشَّعاعَscattered عِصابةٌa band
وتنازعَ الملكَ الشَّعاعَ عِصابةٌ
لمnot يُدْرَwas known أيهُّمُwhich of them بهby it المفتونُbewitched
لم يُدْرَ أيهُّمُ به المفتونُ
A band contended over a kingdom torn apart;
Is your master, so he is privy to what you love
none knew which of them was bewitched by it.
And emerge under it a banner granting victory
وتناهبواand they plundered ماwhat لمnot يكنْwas منfrom قبلُbefore ذوDhū: possessor of الthe
وتناهبوا ما لم يكنْ من قبلُ ذو ال
قرنينQarnayn: two horns يملِكُهpossessed it ولاnor قارونُQārūn
قرنين يملِكُه ولا قارونُ
They plundered what, before them, neither Dhū al-
Its rise paired with its emergence
Qarnayn nor Qārūn had possessed.
O sons of the kings who hunt, behind you
فبكلِso in every أرضٍland رايةٌa banner وعصابةٌand a faction
فبكلِ أرضٍ رايةٌ وعصابةٌ
جُمعتْassembled وحربٌand a war لاnot تُطاقُcan be endured زبونُsavage
جُمعتْ وحربٌ لا تُطاقُ زبونُ
In every land there is a banner and a faction
Are grave matters, if you address them, they become simple
assembled, and an unbearable, savage war.
Before, the trustee betrayed his brother
جرِّدْunsheathe عزيمتَكyour resolve المتينةَfirm إنّهاindeed they are
جرِّدْ عزيمتَك المتينةَ إنّها
فتنٌtumults ركَدنَgrew entrenched سهولهُنَّtheir plains حُزونُrugged hills
فتنٌ ركَدنَ سهولهُنَّ حُزونُ
Unsheathe your firm resolve: these are
So the trusted one was removed from him, the secured
entrenched tumults, whose plains are rugged hills.
The slaves have overcome the position of your throne
فبغاثُهاso their weak birds مستنسِرٌacting as eagles وشرارُهَاand their sparks
فبغاثُها مستنسِرٌ وشرارُهَا
نارٌfire تُشَبُّkindled ودودُهَاand their worms تِنِّينُdragons
نارٌ تُشَبُّ ودودُهَا تِنِّينُ
Their weak birds act as eagles, and their sparks
And the slave is the link's betrayer, disgraced
are fires kindled, their worms dragons.
These are the rounds of fickleness that have afflicted
وكأنماand as though الديناthe world وقدand already شُحِنتْwas crammed بهاwith them
وكأنما الدينا وقد شُحِنتْ بها
بحرٌa sea تَكَفَّأَcapsized فُلكُهُits ship المشحونُladen
بحرٌ تَكَفَّأَ فُلكُهُ المشحونُ
The world, crammed with them, is as though
All the people, so where are the unique ones?
a sea whose laden ship has capsized.
So rise up against it with resolve, enveloped by gazelles
وارمand strike الصفوفَthe ranks بمثلهنَّwith their like وشُنَّهاand unleash it
وارم الصفوفَ بمثلهنَّ وشُنَّها
شعواءَall-consuming يُنسَىis forgotten عندَهاbeside it صِفِّينُṢiffīn
شعواءَ يُنسَى عندَها صِفِّينُ
Strike their ranks with matching ranks, and unleash a war
And thoroughbreds, their composition hidden
so sweeping that Ṣiffīn will be forgotten beside it.
And storm against them with warships stormingly
واشدُدْand strengthen يديكَyour two hands بحبلِwith the rope of عمِّكَyour uncle إِنَّهُindeed he
واشدُدْ يديكَ بحبلِ عمِّكَ إِنَّهُ
مولاكَyour protector فهوso he بماfor what تحبُّyou desire ضمينُa guarantor
مولاكَ فهو بما تحبُّ ضمينُ
Grasp your uncle's rope firmly with both hands; he is
Scattering the necks' usurpation while they are lowly
your protector, guaranteeing what you desire.
Measure them with the bushel, bushel for bushel, and recompense them
واطلَعْand appear عليهbefore him برايةٍwith a banner منصورةٍvictorious
واطلَعْ عليه برايةٍ منصورةٍ
إِقبالُهhis good fortune بطلوعِهاwith its rising مقرونُbound
إِقبالُه بطلوعِها مقرونُ
Appear before him with a victorious banner;
For their transgressions, for transgressions are debts
his good fortune is bound to its rising.
My ambitions and opinions have inclined toward you
أبَنيO sons of الملوكِthe kings الصيدِproud إنَّindeed وراءكمْbehind you
أبَني الملوكِ الصيدِ إنَّ وراءكمْ
خطباًa crisis إِذاif دبَّرْتُموهُyou manage it يهونُgrows easy
خطباً إِذا دبَّرْتُموهُ يهونُ
O sons of proud kings, behind you lies
With my mounts, and the men's passions are talents
a crisis that grows easy if you manage it.
I seek the limits of sublimity, and my temperament
منfrom قبلbefore ذاthis خانَbetrayed الأمينal-Amīn شقيقهhis brother
من قبل ذا خانَ الأمين شقيقه
فأُديلso was given ascendancy منهover him لبغيهfor his wrongdoing المأمونُal-Maʾmūn
فأُديل منه لبغيه المأمونُ
Before this, al-Amīn betrayed his brother,
Refuses moderation, for moderation is baseness
so al-Maʾmūn prevailed over him for his wrongdoing.
So submit, that I may attain in you what I hoped
غلبseized العبيدُthe slaves علىcontrol of مقرِّthe seat of سريرِكمyour throne
غلب العبيدُ على مقرِّ سريرِكم
والعبدُand the slave خَوَّارُweak القناةِof shaft مهينُcontemptible
والعبدُ خَوَّارُ القناةِ مهينُ
Slaves have seized the seat of your throne,
Supposing, and the supposition of the brilliant is certainty
and the slave is weak of shaft and contemptible.
هيit is جولةُthe ascendancy of الضْحَّاكِal-Ḍaḥḥāk عمَّspread بلاؤُهاits affliction
هي جولةُ الضْحَّاكِ عمَّ بلاؤُها
كلَّall الأنامِmankind فأينso where is أفْرِيدُونُAfrīdūn
كلَّ الأنامِ فأين أفْرِيدُونُ
This is al-Ḍaḥḥāk's ascendancy, whose affliction has reached
all mankind—so where is Afrīdūn?
فانهضْso rise لهاagainst it بالعزمwith resolve تكنفُهsurrounding it الظُبَىthe blades
فانهضْ لها بالعزم تكنفُه الظُبَى
والسابغيّةُand the full-length armor نسجُهاits weave موضونُclose-knit
والسابغيّةُ نسجُها موضونُ
Rise against it with resolve, edged blades surrounding it,
and full-length armor, its weave close-knit.
واعصِفْand storm عليهمupon them بالقواضبِwith cutting swords عصفةًa blast
واعصِفْ عليهم بالقواضبِ عصفةً
تذرُleaves الرِقابَthe necks الغُلْبَthick وهيwhile they are درينُwithered herbage
تذرُ الرِقابَ الغُلْبَ وهي درينُ
Storm upon them with cutting swords, in a blast
that leaves thick necks like withered herbage.
كايلْهُمُmeasure out to them بالصاعِby the measure صاعاًa measure واجزِهمْand repay them
كايلْهُمُ بالصاعِ صاعاً واجزِهمْ
بِتراتِهمfor their wrongs إنّindeed التِراتِthe wrongs ديونُdebts
بِتراتِهم إنّ التِراتِ ديونُ
Measure them measure for measure, and repay them
for their wrongs, for wrongs are debts.
إِنَّindeed الهَوىdesire والرأيَand judgment مالاboth inclined نحوكمْtoward you
إِنَّ الهَوى والرأيَ مالا نحوكمْ
بركائبيwith my mounts وهوىand the desires of الرجالِmen فنونُmanifold
بركائبي وهوى الرجالِ فنونُ
Desire and judgment have both turned toward you
with my mounts; men's desires are manifold.
أبغيI seek نهاياتِthe utmost limits of العُلىloftiness وسجيتيand my nature
أبغي نهاياتِ العُلى وسجيتي
تأبىrejects التوسُّطَthe middle ground فالتوسطُfor the middle ground هونُabasement
تأبى التوسُّطَ فالتوسطُ هونُ
I seek the utmost heights, and my nature
rejects the middle ground, for mediocrity is abasement.
فاسلمْso remain safe لأدركَthat I may attain فيكin you ماwhat أمَّلْتُهُI hoped for
فاسلمْ لأدركَ فيك ما أمَّلْتُهُ
ظنَّاًin expectation وظنُّand the expectation of الألمعيِّthe discerning man يقينُcertainty
ظنَّاً وظنُّ الألمعيِّ يقينُ
May you remain safe, that in you I may attain what I hoped
in expectation—for the discerning man's expectation is certainty.
Partial English translation: 144 of 160 Arabic lines translated.