هيthese are العيسُthe pale camels قُوداًlong-necked فيin الأزمَّةِthe reins تنفخُsnorting
هي العيسُ قُوداً في الأزمَّةِ تنفخُ
تمطّىstretches out بهاbeneath them منfrom عُجمةِthe compact mass الرملِof sand برزخُa ridge
تمطّى بها من عُجمةِ الرملِ برزخُ
These are the pale camels, long-necked, snorting against their reins.
A ridge of densely packed sand stretches beneath them.
فَليْنَthey combed away الدُّجىthe darkness عنfrom غُرَّةِthe bright brow الصبحِof dawn فاغتدتْand at morning became
فَليْنَ الدُّجى عن غُرَّةِ الصبحِ فاغتدتْ
بجنبِbeside النَّقَاthe sandhill منهاamong them وقوفٌstanding ones ونُوَّخُand kneeling ones
بجنبِ النَّقَا منها وقوفٌ ونُوَّخُ
They combed the darkness from dawn's bright brow, and at morning became
Beside the sandhill, some standing, others kneeling.
كأنas though اللَّغَامَthe foam الجَعْدَmatted طالَgrew long نسالُهُits trailing strands
كأن اللَّغَامَ الجَعْدَ طالَ نسالُهُ
علىupon الجُدُلِthe braided reins المرخاةِslackened برْسٌcotton مُسَبَّخُteased apart
على الجُدُلِ المرخاةِ برْسٌ مُسَبَّخُ
As though the matted foam, its trailing strands grown long,
Were teased-out cotton upon the slackened, braided reins.
عليهاupon them قِطافُshort-stepping ones المشيin walking أطولُthe longest خَطوِهاof their strides
عليها قِطافُ المشي أطولُ خَطوِها
قِدىthe measure of الفِتْرِa thumb-to-forefinger span إذْwhile أدنىthe shortest خُطاهنَّof their steps فرسخُa parasang
قِدى الفِتْرِ إذْ أدنى خُطاهنَّ فرسخُ
Upon them ride dainty walkers, whose longest stride
Is a thumb-to-forefinger span, while the camels' shortest step is a parasang.
بدورٌfull moons أَكَنَّتْهَاconcealed them خدورٌcurtained chambers يجُنُّهاshelters them
بدورٌ أَكَنَّتْهَا خدورٌ يجُنُّها
جناحُthe wing خُدارِيّof a dark eagle منof الليلِthe night أفتَخُbroad and drooping
جناحُ خُدارِيّ من الليلِ أفتَخُ
Full moons concealed in curtained howdahs, sheltered
By a dark eagle's broad, drooping wing of night.
تناهبنَthey shared as plunder غرَّthe choicest الحُسنِof beauty ملأىbrimful وسوقُهاits loads
تناهبنَ غرَّ الحُسنِ ملأى وسوقُها
فقدand indeed شَرِقَتْwere choked full منهاwith them قِبابٌdomed litters وأشرخُand saddle frames
فقد شَرِقَتْ منها قِبابٌ وأشرخُ
They shared out beauty's choicest treasures, its loads brimming full,
Till domed litters and saddle frames were choked with them.
فوشيُthus the brocade خُدودٍof cheeks بالجَمالِwith beauty مُنمنَمٌfinely patterned
فوشيُ خُدودٍ بالجَمالِ مُنمنَمٌ
ومسكُand the musk شعورٍof hair بالشبابwith youth مضمَّخُrichly anointed
ومسكُ شعورٍ بالشباب مضمَّخُ
Thus cheeks' brocade is finely patterned with beauty,
And hair's musk richly anointed with youth.
فياso O ظَعَناتِwomen in howdahs الحيِّof the tribe باللّهby God عَرِّجِيturn aside
فيا ظَعَناتِ الحيِّ باللّه عَرِّجِي
علىtoward سَلْسَلٍa sweet-running stream منfrom عبرتيmy tears يتنضَّخُgushing
على سَلْسَلٍ من عبرتي يتنضَّخُ
O women of the tribe's caravan, by God, turn aside
Toward a sweet stream gushing from my tears.
وياand O نَسَماتِgentle breaths الريحِof wind رفْقاًbe gentle بمهجتيwith my heart
ويا نَسَماتِ الريحِ رفْقاً بمهجتي
ففيfor in القلبthe heart نارٌa fire كُلَّماwhenever هجتِyou stir تُنْفَخُis fanned
ففي القلب نارٌ كُلَّما هجتِ تُنْفَخُ
O breaths of wind, be gentle with my heart:
For in the heart is a fire fanned whenever you stir.
وياand O نارَfire قلبيof my heart ماwhat is wrong لجمرِكَwith your ember كُلَّماwhenever
ويا نارَ قلبي ما لجمرِكَ كُلَّما
نضحتُI sprinkled عليهupon it الماءَwater لاnot يتبوَّخُdies down
نضحتُ عليه الماءَ لا يتبوَّخُ
O fire of my heart, why does your ember, whenever
I sprinkle water upon it, never die down?
وياand O صادحاتِsinging ones الوُرقِgray doves فيin الأيكthe thickets أقصِريcease
ويا صادحاتِ الوُرقِ في الأيك أقصِري
فماfor not ليَfor me إذwhen أشكوI complain ولاnor لكِfor you مُصرِخُa rescuer
فما ليَ إذ أشكو ولا لكِ مُصرِخُ
O singing gray doves in the thickets, cease:
For neither I, when I lament, nor you have a rescuer.
فياso O جِيرةًneighbors شطَّتْcarried far away بهمwith them غُربةُthe estrangement النَّوَىof separation
فيا جِيرةً شطَّتْ بهم غُربةُ النَّوَى
ولاعهدُهمand their bond is not يُنْسَىforgotten ولاnor الوُدُّaffection يُنْسَخُerased
ولاعهدُهم يُنْسَى ولا الوُدُّ يُنْسَخُ
O neighbors carried far away by separation's estrangement,
Their bond is not forgotten, nor their affection erased.
لكمfor you فيin جنوبthe regions الأرضِof the earth مسرىًa night-journey path ومسرحٌand a roaming ground
لكم في جنوب الأرضِ مسرىً ومسرحٌ
وللحبِّand for love فيwithin جَنْبَيَّmy two sides مرسىًan anchorage ومرسخُand a firm abode
وللحبِّ في جَنْبَيَّ مرسىً ومرسخُ
Through the earth's reaches you have a night-road and a roaming ground,
And love within my sides has an anchorage and a firm abode.
فمَنْso who مبلغٌwill convey عنيfrom me عِدايَmy enemies أَلُوكةًa message
فمَنْ مبلغٌ عني عِدايَ أَلُوكةً
تُؤَمُّare targeted بهاwith it هامُthe heads العُداةِof the enemies وتُشْدَخُand are smashed
تُؤَمُّ بها هامُ العُداةِ وتُشْدَخُ
Who, then, will carry from me to my foes a message
With which the enemies' heads are targeted and smashed?
أَفيis there in كلِّevery يومٍday جلبةٌa clamor منof عداوةٍhostility
أَفي كلِّ يومٍ جلبةٌ من عداوةٍ
تفرِّقُscatters أوor شوكٌthorns منof الضِّغْنِrancor تُنْتَخُare plucked out
تفرِّقُ أو شوكٌ من الضِّغْنِ تُنْتَخُ
Must every day bring a clamor of hostility
That scatters, or thorns of rancor to be plucked out,
ولسعةُand a sting كيدٍof scheming لوif يُرامُwere targeted بنفثِهاwith its venomous spitting
ولسعةُ كيدٍ لو يُرامُ بنفثِها
مناكبُthe shoulders رضوىof Radwa أوشكتْwould almost تتفسَّخُsplit apart
مناكبُ رضوى أوشكتْ تتفسَّخُ
And a sting of scheming whose venom, if aimed
At Radwa's shoulders, would almost tear them apart?
تطاولنيvie with my height قُعسlow-backed الضِرابhillocks سَفاهَةًfoolishly
تطاولني قُعس الضِراب سَفاهَةً
وقدalthough قَصَّرتْfell short عنيof me شماريخُmountain peaks بُذَّخُtowering
وقد قَصَّرتْ عني شماريخُ بُذَّخُ
Squat hillocks foolishly vie with my height,
Though towering mountain peaks have fallen short of me.
وماand not راعَنِيfrightened me هُدرُthe roaring الفَحالةِof stallion camels قبلَكُمْbefore you
وما راعَنِي هُدرُ الفَحالةِ قبلَكُمْ
فأرتاعُthat I should fear منfrom رزِّthe rumble البكارةof young she-camels تفلخُspluttering
فأرتاعُ من رزِّ البكارة تفلخُ
The roaring of stallion camels before you never frightened me,
That I should fear the young she-camels' rumble as they splutter.
أبَىforbids ليme قبولَacceptance الضيمِof humiliation مطمحُthe lofty aim هِمَّتِيof my ambition
أبَى لي قبولَ الضيمِ مطمحُ هِمَّتِي
ومُلقىand the resting place قَتوديof my saddle-wood والأمونُand the trusty camel المُنَوَّخُkneeling
ومُلقى قَتودي والأمونُ المُنَوَّخُ
My ambition's lofty aim forbids my accepting humiliation,
As do the resting place of my saddle and the trusty kneeling camel,
ومرثومةٌand a marked nose بالعِزِّwith honor شَمَّاءُhigh-bridged تنتحِيturns aside
ومرثومةٌ بالعِزِّ شَمَّاءُ تنتحِي
إِذاif رَئِمْتI grow fond of بوَّthe stuffed calf الصَّغارِof abasement وتشمخُand rises proudly
إِذا رَئِمْت بوَّ الصَّغارِ وتشمخُ
And a high-bridged nose stamped with honor, which turns away
If I embrace abasement's stuffed calf, and rises proudly.
وحظِّيَand my share منin أيامِthe days مُلْكٍof a reign بِعِزِّهِby its glory
وحظِّيَ من أيامِ مُلْكٍ بِعِزِّهِ
تُقامُare established مواقيتُthe epochs العُلَىof exalted rank وتُؤَرَّخُand are dated
تُقامُ مواقيتُ العُلَى وتُؤَرَّخُ
And my share in the days of a reign whose glory
Establishes and dates the epochs of exalted rank.
سُلالةُthe scion ظِلِّof the shadow اللّهِof God فيon الأرضthe earth إنْif جَرتْoccurs
سُلالةُ ظِلِّ اللّهِ في الأرض إنْ جَرتْ
لهof him ذُكْرَةٌa mention عندamong السلاطينthe sultans بَخْبَخُواthey say 'Bravo!'
له ذُكْرَةٌ عند السلاطين بَخْبَخُوا
The scion of God's shadow on earth—whenever
He is mentioned among sultans, they cry, 'Bravo!'
يتوقُyearns إليهfor him المُلكُkingship وهوand he لهُits ابْنُمٌson
يتوقُ إليه المُلكُ وهو لهُ ابْنُمٌ
ويحنوand bends tenderly عليهover him التاجُthe crown وهوand he لهُits أخُbrother
ويحنو عليه التاجُ وهو لهُ أخُ
Kingship yearns for him, and he is its son;
The crown bends tenderly over him, and he is its brother.
وتعنوand bow لهto him صِيْدُthe proud lords الممالكِof kingdoms خُضَّعاًsubmissively
وتعنو له صِيْدُ الممالكِ خُضَّعاً
إِذاwhen اصطفَّstand in ranks حَوليهِaround him كهولٌmature men وشُرَّخُand youths
إِذا اصطفَّ حَوليهِ كهولٌ وشُرَّخُ
The proud rulers of kingdoms bow humbly to him
When mature men and youths stand ranked around him.
وتشتاقُهand long for him الجُرْدُsleek horses الصوافِنُpoised with one hoof raised شُزَّبَاًlean-flanked
وتشتاقُه الجُرْدُ الصوافِنُ شُزَّبَاً
يجوسُhe traverses بهاwith them أرضَthe land العِدىof foes فتُدَوَّخُand it is subdued
يجوسُ بها أرضَ العِدى فتُدَوَّخُ
The sleek, poised steeds, lean-flanked, yearn for him;
With them he scours enemy land, and it is subdued.
وتأملand hope أنto تحظَىwin favor وتُنْقَشَand be engraved باسْمهِwith his name
وتأمل أن تحظَى وتُنْقَشَ باسْمهِ
وذايلُingots تِبْرٍof raw gold فيin المعادنthe mines سُوَّخُdeeply embedded
وذايلُ تِبْرٍ في المعادن سُوَّخُ
And hope to gain favor and be stamped with his name
Lumps of raw gold embedded deep in the mines.
يربيraise العِدىthe foes أبناءَهمْtheir sons لِسهامهِfor his arrows
يربي العِدى أبناءَهمْ لِسهامهِ
وللصَّقْرِand for the falcon ماwhatever أضحَىhave come to البُغَاثُweak birds يُفَرِّخُhatch
وللصَّقْرِ ما أضحَى البُغَاثُ يُفَرِّخُ
His foes raise their sons for his arrows;
And whatever the weak birds hatch is for the falcon.
لهhis is هضبةُthe plateau العزِّof honor القُدامسُmassive والذُّرَىand the summits
له هضبةُ العزِّ القُدامسُ والذُّرَى
منof المجدِglory والطَودُand the mountain الذيwhich هوis أبذخُloftiest
من المجدِ والطَودُ الذي هو أبذخُ
His is honor's massive plateau, and the summits
Of glory, and the mountain that towers highest.
ملوكٌkings همُthey حاطُواguarded الخِلافةَthe caliphate بعدَماafter
ملوكٌ همُ حاطُوا الخِلافةَ بعدَما
تهضَّمهاoppressed it أعداؤُهاits enemies وتنوَّخُواand encamped
تهضَّمها أعداؤُها وتنوَّخُوا
Kings who guarded the caliphate after
Its enemies had oppressed it and encamped upon it.
بهمthrough them ثَبَّتَmade firm اللّهُGod الهُدىguidance وتزلزلتْand shook
بهم ثَبَّتَ اللّهُ الهُدى وتزلزلتْ
أخامِصُthe arched soles قومٍof men فيin الضَّلالةِerror أُرْسِخُواwere rooted firmly
أخامِصُ قومٍ في الضَّلالةِ أُرْسِخُوا
Through them God made guidance firm, while there shook
The arched soles of men entrenched in error.
وبُصِّرَand was made to see محجوبُveiled البصائرin inner vision أكْمَهٌone blind from birth
وبُصِّرَ محجوبُ البصائر أكْمَهٌ
وأُسمِعَand was made to hear مشدودُstopped المسامِعin hearing أصلخُone utterly deaf
وأُسمِعَ مشدودُ المسامِع أصلخُ
The man blind from birth, his inner vision veiled, was made to see;
And the utterly deaf man, his ears stopped, was made to hear.
إِذاwhen المُلكُthe kingdom دَبَّتْcrept فيهinto it وعكةُa fever فِتْنَةٍof rebellion
إِذا المُلكُ دَبَّتْ فيه وعكةُ فِتْنَةٍ
سقَوهاthey made it drink الظُّبَاsword-edges مشحوذةًsharpened فتسبَّخُand it subsides
سقَوها الظُّبَا مشحوذةً فتسبَّخُ
When a fever of rebellion creeps into the kingdom,
They make it drink sharpened sword-blades, and it subsides.
فأسيافُهمso their swords بالأمنِwith security والخوفand fear ترتمِيstrike forth
فأسيافُهم بالأمنِ والخوف ترتمِي
وأيديهمُand their hands بالمالِwith wealth والدَّمِand blood تنضَخُgush
وأيديهمُ بالمالِ والدَّمِ تنضَخُ
Their swords strike forth with security and fear,
And their hands gush with wealth and blood.
لهمthey have نفحَتاtwo outpourings سَطوٍof assault وعَفْوٍand pardon فهذهِso this one
لهم نفحَتا سَطوٍ وعَفْوٍ فهذهِ
زُعَاقٌbitter brine وهاتِيكمand that one زُلالٌsweet, clear water منقَّخُpurified
زُعَاقٌ وهاتِيكم زُلالٌ منقَّخُ
They have two outpourings, assault and pardon: this one
Is bitter brine, and that one pure, sweet water.
ثِقالٌweighty إِذاwhen اصطفَّstand in ranks السِماطانِthe two rows حولَهمْaround them
ثِقالٌ إِذا اصطفَّ السِماطانِ حولَهمْ
خِفافٌswift إِذاwhen الداعيthe caller المُثَوِّبُrepeating the summons يصرُخُcries out
خِفافٌ إِذا الداعي المُثَوِّبُ يصرُخُ
They are weighty when the two ranks stand arrayed around them,
And swift when the rallying caller cries out.
حَذاfollowed حذوَهمْtheir footsteps ضافيlavish in العطاءgiving مؤَيَّدٌsupported
حَذا حذوَهمْ ضافي العطاء مؤَيَّدٌ
منby اللّهِGod ميمونُauspicious النقيبةِin disposition أبلخُproud and lofty
من اللّهِ ميمونُ النقيبةِ أبلخُ
In their footsteps walked one of lavish bounty, supported
By God, auspicious in disposition, proud and lofty.
بنَىhe built قُبَّةَthe dome الإسلامِof Islam بالسيفwith the sword بعدَماafter
بنَى قُبَّةَ الإسلامِ بالسيف بعدَما
تهاوتْcollapsed مبانيهِits structures وكادتْand nearly تَسَوَّخُsank into the ground
تهاوتْ مبانيهِ وكادتْ تَسَوَّخُ
He built Islam's dome with the sword after
Its structures had crumbled and nearly sunk away.
يقودhe leads الخميسَthe fivefold army المَجْرَvast غصَّwas choked بهwith it الفَلاthe wilderness
يقود الخميسَ المَجْرَ غصَّ به الفَلا
وأصبحَand became هامُthe heads الأكمِof hillocks وهوand it is مُشَدَّخُcrushed
وأصبحَ هامُ الأكمِ وهو مُشَدَّخُ
He leads the vast, fivefold army that chokes the wilderness,
And the heads of hillocks lie smashed and shattered.
إِذاwhen كرَّhe charged فيهمamong them طِرْفَهhis noble steed جمدواthey froze لهُbefore him
إِذا كرَّ فيهم طِرْفَه جمدوا لهُ
وذابواand they melted سواءًalike يافعٌa youth ومشيّخُand an old man
وذابوا سواءً يافعٌ ومشيّخُ
When he charges his noble steed among them, they freeze before him
And melt away, youth and elder alike.
فلاand no لونَcolor إلاexcept حينwhen يُسفرُshines forth مسفِرٌa radiant one
فلا لونَ إلا حين يُسفرُ مسفِرٌ
ولاand no روعَfear إلاexcept حينwhen يضحكُlaughs مفرِخُone relieved of fear
ولا روعَ إلا حين يضحكُ مفرِخُ
No color appears except when a radiant face shines forth;
And no fear exists except when one free of fear laughs.
وقدand indeed عَلِمَhas learned الإلحادُheresy مُذْsince نُصِرَwas given victory الهُدَىright guidance
وقد عَلِمَ الإلحادُ مُذْ نُصِرَ الهُدَى
بأنْthat ليسthere is no للدينِfor the faith الحنيفيِّupright and monotheistic مَنْسخُabrogation
بأنْ ليس للدينِ الحنيفيِّ مَنْسخُ
Heresy has learned, since right guidance was given victory,
That the upright, monotheistic faith has no abrogation.
غداit has become وبنوهُand its sons بينbetween حِرباءَa chameleon تنضُبٍof a tandub tree
غدا وبنوهُ بين حِرباءَ تنضُبٍ
تُشالَis hoisted علىupon جِذعٍa trunk ورقشاءَand a speckled snake تُسلخُis skinned
تُشالَ على جِذعٍ ورقشاءَ تُسلخُ
It and its sons are now divided between a tandub-tree chameleon
Hoisted upon a trunk, and a speckled snake being flayed.
وانand if يتوقَّواthey seek protection فيamong الشَّماريخِthe peaks منهمُfrom them
وان يتوقَّوا في الشَّماريخِ منهمُ
فسوفthen soon يَحُطُّwill bring down القومَthe people عنهاfrom them المشمرِخُthe towering one
فسوف يَحُطُّ القومَ عنها المشمرِخُ
And if they seek shelter from them among the peaks,
The towering one will soon bring the people down from there.
لهُhe has منamong بناتِthe daughters الريحِof the wind كُلُّevery طِمِرَّةٍswift, slender mare
لهُ من بناتِ الريحِ كُلُّ طِمِرَّةٍ
تَخايَلُprances proudly فيin ميدانِهاher arena وتَبَذَّخُand struts
تَخايَلُ في ميدانِها وتَبَذَّخُ
Among the wind's daughters, he owns every swift, slender mare
That prances in her arena and struts proudly.
عليهاupon her أصابيغُstains الدِماءِof blood كأنهاas though she
عليها أصابيغُ الدِماءِ كأنها
تُغَلَّفُis anointed with perfume ماthe space بينamong القَنَاthe lances وتُلَخْلَخُand is perfumed
تُغَلَّفُ ما بين القَنَا وتُلَخْلَخُ
Upon her are stains of blood, as though she
Were being anointed and perfumed amid the lances.
ضَمِنَّthey guaranteed القِرىhospitality للوحشِfor beasts والطيرِand birds فارتوتْand they drank their fill
ضَمِنَّ القِرى للوحشِ والطيرِ فارتوتْ
وكظَّتْand were glutted جِراءٌcubs منwith قِراهاtheir hospitality وأفرخُand chicks
وكظَّتْ جِراءٌ من قِراها وأفرخُ
They guaranteed beasts and birds a feast, till they drank their fill;
And cubs and chicks were glutted with their fare.
نَذَارِtake warning! لقومٍyou people أخطأواwho missed سُبُلَthe paths الهُدىof guidance
نَذَارِ لقومٍ أخطأوا سُبُلَ الهُدى
فحارواso they grew bewildered وتاهواand wandered فيin الضَّلالerror وطخطَخُواand laughed raucously
فحاروا وتاهوا في الضَّلال وطخطَخُوا
Take warning, you people who missed the paths of guidance,
Who grew bewildered, wandered in error, and laughed in mockery.
نَذَارِtake warning! لهمfor them قبلَbefore التيthe calamity which لاno شَوىglancing wound لهاbelongs to it
نَذَارِ لهم قبلَ التي لا شَوى لها
وعيداًas a threat يُصَكُّis struck السمعُthe hearing منهby it فَيُصمَخُand is deafened
وعيداً يُصَكُّ السمعُ منه فَيُصمَخُ
Let them take warning before the calamity that strikes to kill:
A threat that smites the hearing and deafens it.
حَذَارِbeware! لهمfor them منof سَخْطةِthe wrath اللّهof God إنهاfor it
حَذَارِ لهم من سَخْطةِ اللّه إنها
يُشاهُis disfigured بهاby it حُرُّthe nobility الوجوهof faces ويُمْسَخُand is transformed
يُشاهُ بها حُرُّ الوجوه ويُمْسَخُ
Let them beware God's wrath, for it
Disfigures noble faces and transforms them.
كأنيas though I see بهامٍbefore heads منهمُof them وسواعدٍand forearms
كأني بهامٍ منهمُ وسواعدٍ
تَطيحُflying off كماas طاحتْflew نَوىthe stones القَسْبِof dry dates تُرضَخُbeing crushed
تَطيحُ كما طاحتْ نَوى القَسْبِ تُرضَخُ
I seem to see their heads and forearms
Flying off like the stones of dry dates when pounded.
أبعدَis it after وُضوحthe clarity الحقِّof truth يرجونَthey hope for فسخَهُits undoing
أبعدَ وُضوح الحقِّ يرجونَ فسخَهُ
وللحقِّand truth has عَقْدٌa knot مُبرَمٌfirmly tied ليسnot يُفْسَخُto be undone
وللحقِّ عَقْدٌ مُبرَمٌ ليس يُفْسَخُ
After truth has become clear, do they hope to undo it,
When truth has a firmly tied knot that cannot be undone?
خدمتكُمُI served you والعمرُwhile life غَضٌّwas tender جميمُهُits fresh growth
خدمتكُمُ والعمرُ غَضٌّ جميمُهُ
نَدٍdewy وأهاضيبُand heavy rains الشبيبةِof youth نُضَّخُgushing
نَدٍ وأهاضيبُ الشبيبةِ نُضَّخُ
I served you while life was tender, its fresh growth
Dewy, and youth's heavy rains pouring in torrents.
أُسَيِّرُI send on their way فيin أيامِكمْyour days منfrom شَوارديmy wandering verses
أُسَيِّرُ في أيامِكمْ من شَواردي
عُلالةَa solace سيرٍfor travel حينwhen يمتدُstretches out سَرْبَخُa vast desert
عُلالةَ سيرٍ حين يمتدُ سَرْبَخُ
In your days I send forth some of my far-ranging verses,
As solace for the journey when a vast desert stretches out.
وأحمِلُand I carry منamong أسرارِكمyour secrets كلَّevery باهظٍburdensome thing
وأحمِلُ من أسرارِكم كلَّ باهظٍ
يَضيقُgrows narrow بهwith it صدرُthe breast الكريمِof a noble man فَيَنْضَخُand overflows
يَضيقُ به صدرُ الكريمِ فَيَنْضَخُ
And I bear every weighty thing among your secrets
That constricts a noble breast until it overflows.
وأُنشِئُand I compose فيfor الشُّورىcounsel صحائفَpages طيُّهاwhose folds contain
وأُنشِئُ في الشُّورى صحائفَ طيُّها
نوافثُspell-breathers سِحْرٍof magic للعزائمِof firm resolves نُسَّخُundoers
نوافثُ سِحْرٍ للعزائمِ نُسَّخُ
And I compose for counsel pages whose folds contain
Spell-breathers that undo firm resolves.
وأنصحُكمْand I advise you فيin حَلِّdeciphering كُلِّevery مترجَمٍcryptic matter
وأنصحُكمْ في حَلِّ كُلِّ مترجَمٍ
بهthrough it يُضبطُis controlled الأمرُthe affair الشَّعاعُscattered ويُرْسَخُand is made firm
به يُضبطُ الأمرُ الشَّعاعُ ويُرْسَخُ
And I advise you in deciphering every cryptic matter;
Through this, scattered affairs are controlled and made firm.
أحينَis it when أنىthe time has come أنto اجتنيI gather ثمرَthe fruit الرِّضاof favor
أحينَ أنى أن اجتني ثمرَ الرِّضا
أُرَدُّI am reduced إِلىto نَزْرٍa scant amount منof العيشِlivelihood يُرضَخُdoled out sparingly
أُرَدُّ إِلى نَزْرٍ من العيشِ يُرضَخُ
Now, when the time has come to gather the fruit of favor,
Am I reduced to a scant livelihood doled out in scraps?
ألوذُI seek refuge بكمwith you منfrom عَثْرةِa stumble الجَدُّof fortune إنّهاfor it
ألوذُ بكم من عَثْرةِ الجَدُّ إنّها
دهتنيhas struck me ولاand no ذنبٌsin بهwith which أتلطَّخُI am stained
دهتني ولا ذنبٌ به أتلطَّخُ
I seek refuge with you from fortune's stumble, for it
Has struck me, though no guilt stains me.
فعطفاًso have pity فقدfor indeed أودىhas ruined بيَme الضُّرُaffliction واشتفَىand has satisfied its spite
فعطفاً فقد أودى بيَ الضُّرُ واشتفَى
زمانيَmy time منthrough وطءٍa trampling يرُضُّthat crushes ويفضخُand shatters
زمانيَ من وطءٍ يرُضُّ ويفضخُ
Have pity: affliction has ruined me, and revenge has been taken
By my time, through a trampling that crushes and shatters.
ولاand do not تَدَعونيabandon me والحوادثَwith calamities إنّهاfor they
ولا تَدَعوني والحوادثَ إنّها
تُعرِّقنيstrip my bones bare عرقَas the stripping المُدىof knives وتُمَخْمِخُand suck out marrow
تُعرِّقني عرقَ المُدى وتُمَخْمِخُ
Do not abandon me to calamities, for they
Strip my bones as knives do, and suck out my marrow.
وأوصواand enjoin بيَconcerning me الأيامَthe days خيراًkindness فإنهاfor they
وأوصوا بيَ الأيامَ خيراً فإنها
بكمْafter your example تقتديmodel themselves فيماin what تُمِلُّthey dictate وتنسَخُand copy
بكمْ تقتدي فيما تُمِلُّ وتنسَخُ
And enjoin the days to treat me well, for they
Follow your example in what they dictate and transcribe.
فقدfor indeed ذُدْتُمyou drove away الهِيمَthirst-maddened camels الخوامسَdue to water on the fifth day عنaway from دميmy blood
فقد ذُدْتُم الهِيمَ الخوامسَ عن دمي
وقدand already كَرَبتْnearly أعناقthe necks قومٍof men تَفَسَّخُsplit apart
وقد كَرَبتْ أعناق قومٍ تَفَسَّخُ
For you drove the thirst-maddened camels, due for fifth-day watering, away from my blood,
When the necks of men were close to breaking apart.
وأنشأتُمُand you brought forth ليfor me مهجةًa life-force جُدْتُمُyou bestowed generously بِهاit
وأنشأتُمُ لي مهجةً جُدْتُمُ بِها
علىupon بَدَنٍa body ماnot فيهin it للروحfor the spirit مَنْفَخُa breathing space
على بَدَنٍ ما فيه للروح مَنْفَخُ
You brought forth for me a life-force, bestowed by you
Upon a body with no breathing room for the spirit.
رعاكمْmay He protect you منِHe who استرعاكُمentrusted to your care الخَلْقَcreation أنَّكُمْfor you
رعاكمْ منِ استرعاكُم الخَلْقَ أنَّكُمْ
لهمfor them وزرٌa refuge فيin كلevery خطبcalamity ومُصْرَخُand a rescuer
لهم وزرٌ في كل خطب ومُصْرَخُ
May He who entrusted creation to your care protect you, for you
Are their refuge and rescuer in every calamity.
ولاand may not خَلَتِbe empty الأيامُthe days منكمof you فإنَّكُمْfor you
ولا خَلَتِ الأيامُ منكم فإنَّكُمْ
لهاfor them غُرَرٌbright forehead-blazes فيهاamong them تلوحُshine وتشدخُand spread broadly
لها غُرَرٌ فيها تلوحُ وتشدخُ
May the days never be without you, for you
Are their white forehead-blazes, gleaming and spreading wide.