ودعتI bade farewell to قلبيmy heart فيamong الخليطthe companions المنجدbound for Najd
ودعت قلبي في الخليط المنجد
فتقاعدso hold back ياO عينeye بيwith me أوor أنجديlend aid
فتقاعد يا عين بي أو أنجدي
I bade my heart farewell among the companions bound for Najd.
I bid my heart farewell in the deep night
So hold back with me, O eye, or come to my aid.
So turn away, O eye of mine, or you will find no succor
هذاthis الفراقparting ولوand even if أردتyou wished زيادةan increase
هذا الفراق ولو أردت زيادة
مماthan what لقيتyou suffered منof الأسىsorrow لمdid not تزددyou gain more
مما لقيت من الأسى لم تزدد
This is parting; even if you wished for more
This parting - even if you wanted more
than the sorrow you have suffered, you could suffer no more.
Sorrow than you have met - would not increase
منwho مبلغwill tell العذالthe reproachers عنيon my behalf أننيthat I
من مبلغ العذال عني أنني
مقتولslain by قاتلةa woman who kills اللواحظwith glances لاتدىshe pays no blood-price
مقتول قاتلة اللواحظ لاتدى
Who will tell my reproachers, on my behalf, that I
Tell those who reproach me that I
am slain by a woman whose glances kill, who pays no blood-price?
Am slain by the blows of pitiless fortune
تثنيshe folds علىover البدرthe full moon اللثامthe veil وتنثنيand she bends
تثني على البدر اللثام وتنثني
عنaway from مثلthe likeness of خوطa slender shoot البانةthe bān tree المتاودgently bending
عن مثل خوط البانة المتاود
She folds her veil over the full moon, and sways
Who folds the radiant moon in her garment and turns away
like the gently bending shoot of a bān tree.
From the like of outstretched hands begging
ماnot كانthere was ليfor me جلدendurance فأدَّىso it rendered (unclear here) بعدهاafter her departure
ما كان لي جلد فأدَّى بعدها
لكنماbut rather أودىperished الغداةthis morning تجلدىmy show of endurance
لكنما أودى الغداة تجلدى
I had no endurance to lose after her departure [verb unclear];
I had not the fortitude, so after her
but this morning my show of endurance perished.
I was destroyed at dawn by my own boldness
ذاتO wearer of القلائدnecklaces ماnot أحلّmade lawful لكfor you الهوىlove
ذات القلائد ما أحلّ لك الهوى
قتليmy killing وقدand indeed حلَّلتهِyou have made it lawful فتقلَّديso wear its burden
قتلي وقد حلَّلتهِ فتقلَّدي
O wearer of necklaces, love did not permit you
O she of the necklaces, passion does not allow you
to kill me; yet you have made it lawful, so wear its burden.
To kill me when you yourself have indulged in it
ورحلتand I departed حينwhen رحلتyou departed عنكfrom you بمقلةwith an eye
ورحلت حين رحلت عنك بمقلة
عبرىtearful وغلّةand a burning thirst لمhad not تبردِcooled
عبرى وغلّة لم تبردِ
And when you departed, I left you with an eye
When you went away from me with my love and longing
wet with tears, and a burning thirst that had not cooled.
Never cooling, you took away my tears and anguish
سقتmay water العهادrecurring rains عراصthe open grounds of معهدكyour dwelling الذيwhich
سقت العهاد عراص معهدك الذي
جمعunited الصبابةyearning والصِّباand youth منof معهدa dwelling
جمع الصبابة والصِّبا من معهد
May recurring rains water the grounds of your dwelling, which
I watered the pact, the covenant you made
united yearning and youth—what a dwelling!
That brought together youth and morning in one bond
وونتand faltered بقوتهwith its strength الرياحthe winds ولاand not ونىfaltered
وونت بقوته الرياح ولا ونى
دمعthe tears of الغمامthe clouds يروحcome in the evening فيهthere ويغتديand come in the morning
دمع الغمام يروح فيه ويغتدي
The winds faltered before its strength, but never faltered
It tossed about in its power the winds but did not toss about
the clouds' tears, coming there evening and morning.
The tears of the clouds that came and went in it
فكرتI pondered عصرa season of شبيبةyouth قضَّيتهI spent it
فكرت عصر شبيبة قضَّيته
فيهthere ولماand not yet اقضىI discharge حقthe due of مفنَّديmy reproacher
فيه ولما اقضى حق مفنَّدي
I pondered a season of youth I had spent
I remembered the springtime of my youth that I spent
there, not yet paying my reproacher his due:
In it, but did not fulfill the right of my devotion
عصراa time بلغتI attained بهin it المنىmy hopes فكأنهso it seemed
عصرا بلغت به المنى فكأنه
عصرthe age of الأمامthe Imam المستضيءal-Mustaḍīʾ الأمجدthe most glorious
عصر الأمام المستضيء الأمجد
a time in which I attained my hopes, as though it were
A springtime in which I attained wishes, as though it were
the age of the most glorious Imam al-Mustaḍīʾ,
The radiant and glorious springtime of the imam
مولىmaster of الأنامmankind أبيAbū محمدMuḥammad الذيwho
مولى الأنام أبي محمد الذي
ورثinherited الفخارglory عنfrom النبيthe Prophet محمدMuḥammad
ورث الفخار عن النبي محمد
master of mankind, Abū Muḥammad, who
My master of mankind, my father Muhammed
inherited glory from the Prophet Muḥammad,
Who inherited glory from the Prophet Muhammed
ذيpossessor of المكرماتnoble deeds الغرradiant والمننand favors التيwhich
ذي المكرمات الغر والمنن التي
نفدwas exhausted الزمانtime وذكرهاand their remembrance لمdid not ينفدrun out
نفد الزمان وذكرها لم ينفد
possessor of radiant noble deeds and favors whose
Possessor of noble deeds, a cave whose generosity
memory remains unspent though time itself is spent.
Time has not depleted, and whose reputation has not waned
ذاكthat one الذيwho أضحىbecame مآلa refuge for محلأٍone driven away
ذاك الذي أضحى مآل محلأٍ
عنfrom وردهhis watering-place وثمالand succor for عافa petitioner مجتديseeking gifts
عن ورده وثمال عاف مجتدي
He is the one who became a refuge for someone driven
He whose place of rest became filled
from his watering-place, and succor for a petitioner seeking gifts.
With roses, and a grove lush with trees
يبدوكhe approaches you first بالمعروفwith kindness قبلbefore سؤالهasking him
يبدوك بالمعروف قبل سؤاله
للهby God ماhow أهناdelightful عطاءthe giving of المهتديal-Muhtadī
لله ما أهنا عطاء المهتدي
He offers you kindness before you ask him;
He would grant you favor before you asked
by God, how delightful is al-Muhtadī's giving!
What excellent gifts are those of the rightly guided!
ملتفentwined أعرافthe crests of الوشيجspear-shafts إذاwhen أنتميI claim descent
ملتف أعراف الوشيج إذا أنتمي
أيwhat المنابتroots والثرىand soil والسؤددand lordship
أي المنابت والثرى والسؤدد
Entwined are the spear-shafts' crests when I claim descent—
Twisting the necklaces of intimacy when youinclined toward
what roots, what soil, what lordship!
Any places of growth, land, or riverbanks
وأرىand I see زنادthe firesteel of العزمresolve لمdid not يرقَrise دجىًdarkness
وأرى زناد العزم لم يرقَ دجىً
فيin ليلthe night of مشكلةa perplexity برأىthrough a judgment مسلدunclear epithet
في ليل مشكلة برأى مسلد
And I see the firesteel of resolve: no darkness has risen
I see the spark of determination did not slumber
in the night of perplexity, through his judgment [epithet unclear].
In the night of complex matters with resolute opinion
هاميpouring down سحابthe clouds of الراحتينthe two palms لآملٍfor a hopeful petitioner
هامي سحاب الراحتين لآملٍ
ساميlofty منارthe beacon of المجدglory ذاكيblazing المصّدِunclear in the supplied text
سامي منار المجد ذاكي المصّدِ
The clouds of his palms pour rain for a hopeful petitioner;
My worries were clouds of comfort for a hopeful one
his beacon of glory is lofty, his [unclear word] ablaze.
Lofty as a minaret of glory and wise of purpose
ذوpossessor of همةan ambition قدindeed جاوزتit surpassed بعلوهاthrough its height
ذو همة قد جاوزت بعلوها
هامthe heads of السّماكthe Simāk stars معاboth together وفرقand the crown of الفرقدِFarqad
هام السّماك معا وفرق الفرقدِ
His ambition, in its height, has surpassed
With an ambition whose loftiness surpassed
the heads of both Simāk stars and Farqad's crown.
The inkwells and the stars equally
هجدتslept رعاياهhis subjects غداةwhen رعاهمhe watched over them
هجدت رعاياه غداة رعاهم
أمناsecure بمقلةbeneath the eye of خاشعa reverent person متهجدِkeeping prayerful vigil
أمنا بمقلة خاشع متهجدِ
His subjects slept when he watched over them,
His subjects celebrated when he shepherded them
secure beneath the eye of a humble worshiper keeping vigil.
Gently with the staff of one humble and devout
ملكa king إذاwhen ظمىthirsted السنانthe spearhead بكفهin his hand
ملك إذا ظمى السنان بكفه
فوthe mouth of (unclear here) يدthe hand of منwhoever عاداهopposed him اسمa name لموردِfor a watering-place
فو يد من عاداه اسم لموردِ
A king: when the spearhead in his hand thirsts,
A king whose palm, when swords were sheathed by it
the mouth of his foe's hand is a name for a watering-place [text unclear].
Would return their blades as white as hailstones
وإذاand when سيوفthe swords of الهندIndia أوردهاbrings them to drink الوفىthe faithful one
وإذا سيوف الهند أوردها الوفى
بيضاwhite أعادhe returned لجينهاtheir silver كالعسجدlike gold
بيضا أعاد لجينها كالعسجد
And when the faithful one brings India's swords to drink,
His hands took up a feat the like of which
white at first, he returns their silver like gold.
Was never seen in glory, then cast the unerring arrow
أخذتtook hold يداهhis two hands بمُسهمةٍof a bow ماnot مثلهاits like
أخذت يداه بمُسهمةٍ ما مثلها
فيin المجدglory ثمthen رمتshot بسهمwith an arrow مسددwell-aimed
في المجد ثم رمت بسهم مسدد
His hands took hold of a bow unmatched
O lieutenant of the Merciful, you who restored
in glory, then loosed a well-aimed arrow.
The prime of nomads and the sheep-pastures of the filthy ones
أخليفةَO Caliph of الرحمنthe Merciful ياO منyou whose ربعهdwelling
أخليفةَ الرحمن يا من ربعه
كلأَpasture for العفاةpetitioners ونجعةand a grazing-ground for المسترفدِone seeking aid
كلأَ العفاة ونجعة المسترفدِ
O Caliph of the Merciful, you whose dwelling
You who could dissipate the unity
is pasture for petitioners and grazing-ground for seekers of aid,
Of the wicked, O restorer of the dispersed unity
بدَّدتyou scattered شملthe gathered whole of لهاكyour gifts ماthroughout بينamong الورىmankind
بدَّدت شمل لهاك ما بين الورى
ياO جامعاgatherer of شملthe ranks of العلىglory المتبددِscattered
يا جامعا شمل العلى المتبددِ
you scattered your collected gifts among mankind,
O you whose actions appear shining white
O gatherer of glory's scattered ranks!
In every record, a year of drought made black
ياO منyou whose ترىare seen أفعالهhis deeds مبيضةshining white
يا من ترى أفعاله مبيضة
فيin كلevery سدفهgloom of عامa year of جدبdrought اسودِblack
في كل سدفه عام جدب اسودِ
O you whose deeds are seen shining white
I continued to be the objective, determinedly inclining
in every gloom of a black, drought-stricken year,
Toward purposes, possessing might and aim
لازلتmay you always remain مقصودsought الجنابof court ميَّمماapproached
لازلت مقصود الجناب ميَّمما
دانىnear المقاصدin approach ذاpossessing عدa perennial spring ومقصدِand a place of resort
دانى المقاصد ذا عد ومقصدِ
may your court forever be sought and approached,
You were generous to me and showed the finest
easy to reach, with a perennial spring and a place of resort.
Generosity of a torrent flooding violently
قدindeed جدتyou gave generously ليto me كراagain (reading uncertain) وأحسنand the finest ماwhat يرىis seen
قد جدت لي كرا وأحسن ما يرى
مجودunclear, possibly bounty الجوادthe generous giver الخرقعندunclear compound
مجود الجواد الخرقعند
You have given to me again; and the finest thing one sees
By your minister - truly he administered the land
is the generous giver's bounty [wording unclear].
In new events, endowed with penetrating perception
بأبيmay my father ransom him وزيركyour minister أنهindeed he is وزرa refuge for الورىmankind
بأبي وزيرك أنه وزر الورى
فيamid الحادثاتcalamities وربand a master of رأيِcounsel محصدِfirmly woven
في الحادثات ورب رأيِ محصدِ
May my father ransom your minister, for he is mankind's refuge
I saw him as the bravest who would unsheathe
amid calamities, and a master of firmly woven counsel.
His sword in battle and above the naked sword
تلقاهyou find him أشجعthe bravest منof those who يجردdraw فيin الوغىbattle
تلقاه أشجع من يجرد في الوغى
سيفاa sword وينهدand charge فوقupon نهدa powerful steed أجردِsleek-coated
سيفا وينهد فوق نهد أجردِ
You find him the bravest of those who draw in battle
And the gentlest to guide the people under the darkness
a sword and charge upon a powerful, sleek steed.
With the horses stumbling over rugged terrain
وتراهand you see him اهدِىthe surest guide of القومthe men تحتbeneath عجاجةٍa dust-cloud
وتراه اهدِى القوم تحت عجاجةٍ
والخيلwhile the horses تعثرstumble بالقناover the spears المتقصدِshattered
والخيل تعثر بالقنا المتقصدِ
And you see him the surest guide among men beneath a dust-cloud,
Accustomed to plunging into adversities through you
while horses stumble over shattered spears.
He emulated in courage and magnanimity
متعوداaccustomed to خوضwading into الكرائهhardships لمnot يزلcease
متعودا خوض الكرائه لم يزل
بكby your example فيin الشجاعةcourage والسماحةand generosity يقتديhe models himself
بك في الشجاعة والسماحة يقتدي
Accustomed to wading into hardships, he has never ceased
Confronting your enemies and meeting them
to follow your example in courage and generosity.
On a plain noisy with the neighing of stallions
متعرضاconfronting لعداتكمyour enemies ولقائهمand meeting them
متعرضا لعداتكم ولقائهم
فيwithin عارضa cloud-like host زجلclamorous الجوانبat the flanks مزبدِfoaming
في عارض زجل الجوانب مزبدِ
Confronting your enemies and meeting them
I observed him and saw the best endowed
within a cloud-like host, clamorous at its flanks and foaming,
Man whose sight would please the envious
أبصرتهI beheld him فرأيتand so I saw احسنthe finest منعمbenefactor
أبصرته فرأيت احسن منعم
تقذىfill with grit برؤيتهat the sight of him عيونthe eyes of الحسَّدِthe envious
تقذى برؤيته عيون الحسَّدِ
I beheld him, and saw the finest benefactor,
O embodiment of favor, you protected him
at whose sight the envious eyes fill with grit.
And guided aright his blemish that was not set right
ياكاليO guardian of الإحسانbeneficence أَنتyou حميتهyou protected it
ياكالي الإحسان أَنت حميته
وسددتand you sealed ثلمتهits breach التيwhich لمhad not تسددِbeen sealed
وسددت ثلمته التي لم تسددِ
O guardian of beneficence, you have protected it
O sole one of my religion, o you whose love
and sealed its breach that had not been sealed.
Obligates all believers to hold fast
ياO واحدpeerless one of الدينياthe world ويامنand O you whose حبهlove
يا واحد الدينيا ويامن حبه
فرضan obligation بهto it استمساكholding fast كلevery موحدِmonotheist
فرض به استمساك كل موحدِ
O peerless one of the world, O you whose love
You remain open-handed, pouring the dew
is a duty to which every monotheist holds fast,
In sustenance for students, flourishing the hand
لازلتmay you always remain طلقopen الكفof palm منهمرpouring forth الندىbounty
لازلت طلق الكف منهمر الندى
بالرفدwith gifts للطلابfor seekers مخضرgreen الندىdew
بالرفد للطلاب مخضر الندى
may you forever be open-handed, pouring forth bounty,
And you reached your feast day a thousand years, returning
with gifts for seekers, green with dew.
In happiness remaining, and eternal honor
ولقيتand may you greet عيدكyour festival ألفa thousand عامyears عائدreturning
ولقيت عيدك ألف عام عائد
بسعادةwith happiness تبقىthat lasts وعزand glory سرمدِeverlasting
بسعادة تبقى وعز سرمدِ
And may you greet your festival returning for a thousand years,
You remain open-handed, pouring the dew
with lasting happiness and everlasting glory.
In sustenance for students, braiding the soil of the hand
لاmay you never زلتcease to be سبطoutstretched الكفof palm منهمرpouring forth الندىbounty
لا زلت سبط الكف منهمر الندى
بالرفدwith gifts للطلابfor seekers جعدclumped ثرىthe moist earth of اليَّدthe hand
بالرفد للطلاب جعد ثرى اليَّد
May you never cease to be open-handed, pouring forth bounty,
with gifts for seekers, your hand's moist earth richly clumped.
Partial English translation: 76 of 78 Arabic lines translated.