ياO صاحِmy friend أَيقِظawaken راقِدَslumbering العودِthe lute
يا صاحِ أَيقِظ راقِدَ العودِ
وَياand O لُيَيلاتِlittle nights الحِمىthe sanctuary عُوديreturn
وَيا لُيَيلاتِ الحِمى عُودي
O friend, awaken the slumbering lute.
O rooster, wake the sleepers of the lute
And, little nights of the sanctuary, return.
And O feverish nights, return to me
وَياand O غُصونَboughs البانِthe ban tree ميليlean عَلىover الthe
وَيا غُصونَ البانِ ميلي عَلى ال
أَغصانِbranches بِالأَقمارِwith the moons أَوor مِيديsway
أَغصانِ بِالأَقمارِ أَو مِيدي
And, boughs of the ban tree, bend over the
And O boughs of acacia, incline to the boughs
branches with the moons, or sway.
With the moons, or sway with me
وَياand O عَذوليmy reproacher خَلِّleave off تَكرارَكَyour repetition الthe
وَيا عَذولي خَلِّ تَكرارَكَ ال
دُروسَlessons فيin لَوميblaming me وَتَفنيديand censuring me
دُروسَ في لَومي وَتَفنيدي
And, my reproacher, stop repeating the
And O my blamer, stop repeating
lessons in blaming and censuring me.
Your lessons in blaming me and refuting me
إِنّيindeed I لَصَوّامٌsurely a steadfast faster عَنِfrom العذلِreproach تَعmy feast-making (first part)
إِنّي لَصَوّامٌ عَنِ العذلِ تَع
ييدِيَmy feast-making (remaining part) فيin تَركِيَmy forgoing تَعييديmy feast-making
ييدِيَ في تَركِيَ تَعييدي
Indeed, I fast steadfastly from reproach; my feast
I'm fasting from flirting, repeatedly
lies in my forgoing my feast-making.
Trying to leave my repetitions
هَلdid حَدَقpupils الغزلانِthe gazelles غازَلنَناflirted with us
هَل حَدَق الغزلانِ غازَلنَنا
أَمor لَحَظاتُglances الخُرَّدِshy virgins الغيدِgraceful ones
أَم لَحَظاتُ الخُرَّدِ الغيدِ
Did the gazelles' eyes flirt with us,
Have the gazelles coquetted with us
or the glances of shy, graceful maidens?
Or are they glimpses of fluttering moths
بيضٌfair ones وَسُمرٌand dusky ones حُمِيَتwere protected بِالحِمىin the sanctuary
بيضٌ وَسُمرٌ حُمِيَت بِالحِمى
بِالبيضِby white swords وَالسُمرِand brown spears الأَماليدِsupple ones
بِالبيضِ وَالسُمرِ الأَماليدِ
Fair and dusky beauties, sheltered in the sanctuary
White and brown protected by fever
by white swords and supple brown spears.
By the white and the brown nightmares
جُدgive generously بِأَياديكَwith your favors أَياO ديكُrooster فَاِنthen abrogate (first part)
جُد بِأَياديكَ أَيا ديكُ فَاِن
سَخabrogate (remaining part) آيَةَverse النَّومِsleep بِتَسهيدِwith wakefulness
سَخ آيَةَ النَّومِ بِتَسهيدِ
Bestow your favors, O rooster, then
Wake up my rooster with your hands
abrogate sleep's verse with wakefulness.
Break the verse of sleep with soothing
وَهُبَّand rise ياO صاحِmy friend فَقَدfor already صاحَcalled out واa promiser (first part)
وَهُبَّ يا صاحِ فَقَد صاحَ وا
عِدٌa promiser (remaining part) بِإِنجازِwith fulfillment of المَواعيدِthe promises
عِدٌ بِإِنجازِ المَواعيدِ
And rise, my friend, for a promiser has called,
Come on my rooster, for the promise of fulfilling the promises has crowed
announcing the fulfillment of promises.
Connect the dawn with an eclipse, for there is no life like the lost one
وَصِلand join صَبوحاًa morning draught بِغَبوقٍto an evening draught فَماfor not
وَصِل صَبوحاً بِغَبوقٍ فَما
مَوجودُpresent عَيشٍlife مِثلُlike مَفقودِlost
مَوجودُ عَيشٍ مِثلُ مَفقودِ
And join a morning draught to an evening draught, for
Satisfy the nostrils of our jugs
life enjoyed is not like life missed.
With the blood of grape bunches
أرعِفmake bleed from the nose خَياشيمَnostrils أَباريقِناour ewers
أرعِف خَياشيمَ أَباريقِنا
مِنfrom دَمِblood أَوداجِjugular veins العَناقيدِthe grape clusters
مِن دَمِ أَوداجِ العَناقيدِ
Set the nostrils of our ewers bleeding
And draw from our elephant's trunk
with blood from the jugular veins of grape clusters.
Its date wine in the sea of cups
وَأَجرِand make flow مِنfrom خُرطومِspout راووقِناour wine-strainer
وَأَجرِ مِن خُرطومِ راووقِنا
تامورَهُits lifeblood فيinto بَحرِa sea ناجودِa wine vessel
تامورَهُ في بَحرِ ناجودِ
And let flow from our wine-strainer's spout
Rub the wind's breeze on my chest
its lifeblood into a wine vessel's sea.
The ears of sorrows of affliction
وَاعرُكand rub بِراحِwith the palm الرَّاحِwine فيin الصدرthe breast آears (first part)
وَاعرُك بِراحِ الرَّاحِ في الصدر آ
ذانَears (remaining part) هُمومٍsorrows ذاتhaving تَنكيدِvexation
ذانَ هُمومٍ ذات تَنكيدِ
And with wine's palm, rub within the breast the
And ride the one whose gray is content
ears of sorrows that bring distress.
It surpassed liberating the zealous horses
وَاِركَبand mount كُمَيتاًa chestnut mare راضهاtamed her أَشهَبٌa gray steed
وَاِركَب كُمَيتاً راضها أَشهَبٌ
فَاقَاthe two surpassed عِتاقَnoble steeds الضُمَّرِthe lean ones القُودِthe long-necked ones
فَاقَا عِتاقَ الضُمَّرِ القُودِ
And mount a chestnut mare tamed by a gray steed;
Worry is night and it is morning
the pair outstrip the noble, lean, long-necked steeds.
No night without morning ever lasts
فَالهَمُّfor sorrow لَيلٌnight وَهيَand she صُبحٌdawn وَماand no
فَالهَمُّ لَيلٌ وَهيَ صُبحٌ وَما
لَيلٌnight بِلاwithout صُبحٍdawn بِمَطرودِdriven away
لَيلٌ بِلا صُبحٍ بِمَطرودِ
For sorrow is night and she is dawn; no
Did our cupbearer come to us
night is driven away without dawn.
With a glowing or dim candle?
أَطافَdid he circulate ساقيناour cupbearer عَلَيناamong us بِقِنwith a lamp (first part)
أَطافَ ساقينا عَلَينا بِقِن
ديلٍlamp (remaining part) مُضيءٍshining أَمor بِقِنديدِwith wine
ديلٍ مُضيءٍ أَم بِقِنديدِ
Did our cupbearer circulate among us a
None fills the cup except the generous one
shining lamp, or wine?
Who unites and divides with wisdom
ماnot مَلأَfilled الكَأسَthe cup بِتَفريغِهِby his emptying الthe
ما مَلأَ الكَأسَ بِتَفريغِهِ ال
كِيسَpurse سِوَىexcept ذيone endowed with الكَيسِdiscernment وَالجودِand generosity
كِيسَ سِوَى ذي الكَيسِ وَالجودِ
None filled the cup by emptying the
And you, my singer, sing, for nothing makes my life pleasant but your singing
purse save one of discernment and generosity.
Delay the old virgin between the melodies and David
نَظَّمَhe knit together بِالتَبديدِby scattering شَملَthe ranks of العُلاeminence
نَظَّمَ بِالتَبديدِ شَملَ العُلا
وَالمَجدُand glory مِنfrom نَظمٍgathering وَتَبديدِand scattering
وَالمَجدُ مِن نَظمٍ وَتَبديدِ
By scattering wealth, he knit the ranks of eminence together;
Radiant as the sun, loving as the creation of
and glory consists of gathering and scattering.
The full moon of the faith, loved
وَأَنتَand you ياO مُطرِبُsinger غَرِّدwarble فَماfor not
وَأَنتَ يا مُطرِبُ غَرِّد فَما
تَرغيدُgiving ease to عَيشيmy life غَيرَother than تَغريدِsinging
تَرغيدُ عَيشي غَيرَ تَغريدِ
And you, O singer, warble, for
He managed people's affairs with wisdom and courage, decisively and rightly
the ease of my life is nothing but song.
So the flood of injustice subsided, and the ship of generosity sailed on generosity
اجلُunveil العَجوزthe old woman البِكرَthe virgin بَينَamong النداthe drinking companions (first part)
اجلُ العَجوز البِكرَ بَينَ الندا
مَىdrinking companions (remaining part) بِالمَزاميرِwith flutes وَداوودِand Dawud
مَى بِالمَزاميرِ وَداوودِ
Unveil the aged virgin among the drinking
His good work in his time
companions, with flutes and Dawud,
Was shaped like a necklace on a neck
مُشرِقَةًradiant كَالشَمسِlike the sun مَودودَةًbeloved
مُشرِقَةً كَالشَمسِ مَودودَةً
كَخلقِlike the character of بَدرِBadr (name) الدينِal-Din (name element) مَودودِMawdud (name)
كَخلقِ بَدرِ الدينِ مَودودِ
radiant as the sun, and beloved
So glory has a heart ailing with sorrows
like the character of Badr al-Din Mawdud.
Seeking relief, loaded with worries
ساسَhe governed أُمورَaffairs الناسِthe people فيin الرَأيِjudgment وَالand the
ساسَ أُمورَ الناسِ في الرَأيِ وَال
بَأسِmight بِتَشديدٍwith firmness وَتَسديدِand sound direction
بَأسِ بِتَشديدٍ وَتَسديدِ
He governed people's affairs with judgment and
O God, grant him full health
might, with firmness and sound direction.
For the wellness of generosity cured him
فَغيضَso was abated سَيلُthe flood of الظُلمِinjustice ثُمَّthen اِستَوَتcame to rest
فَغيضَ سَيلُ الظُلمِ ثُمَّ اِستَوَت
سَفينَةُthe ship of الجُودِgenerosity عَلىupon الجوديal-Judi
سَفينَةُ الجُودِ عَلى الجودي
Thus the flood of injustice ebbed; then came to rest
Protect the white nights from the light of
the ship of generosity upon al-Judi.
The full moon from his enemies, the blacks
صَنيعُهُhis beneficence الجَيِّدُfine فيin دَهرِهِhis time
صَنيعُهُ الجَيِّدُ في دَهرِهِ
صيغَwas fashioned لَهُfor him كَالعِقدِlike a necklace فيupon الجيدِthe neck
صيغَ لَهُ كَالعِقدِ في الجيدِ
His fine deeds in his time
If one could be ransomed from harm or evil
were fashioned for him like a necklace upon the neck.
He would be given eternal life in this world
فَالمَجدُfor glory ذوpossessing قَلبٍa heart لِأَمراضِهِbecause of his ailments
فَالمَجدُ ذو قَلبٍ لِأَمراضِهِ
مُرتَمِضٍscorched بِالهَمِّby worry مَزؤودِterrified
مُرتَمِضٍ بِالهَمِّ مَزؤودِ
For glory has a heart that, at his ailments,
Evidence of his merit stood
is scorched by worry and stricken with fear.
His praise is not imitation
فَعافِهِso heal him اللَهُمَّO God مِمّاfrom what بِهِafflicts him
فَعافِهِ اللَهُمَّ مِمّا بِهِ
فَبَرؤُهُfor his recovery عافِيَةُthe well-being of الجودِgenerosity
فَبَرؤُهُ عافِيَةُ الجودِ
So heal him, O God, of what afflicts him,
Glory did not lack his supremacy, for the like of him
for his recovery is generosity's well-being.
Never existed or will exist
صُنِprotect اللَياليthe nights البيضَwhite مِنfrom نورِthe light of بَدBadr (first part)
صُنِ اللَيالي البيضَ مِن نورِ بَد
رِBadr (remaining part) الدينِal-Din (name element) عَنfrom أَضدادِهِhis adversaries السّودِblack
رِ الدينِ عَن أَضدادِهِ السّودِ
Protect the nights whitened by the light of Badr
A sea of bounty, a sword of firmness, a hero
al-Din from his dark adversaries.
Who slaughtered transgression, supported the victorious
لَوif كانَhe were يُفدىransomed منfrom أَذىًharm أَوor رَدىdeath
لَو كانَ يُفدى من أَذىً أَو رَدى
بُشِّرَhe would be given glad tidings فيin الدُنياthis world بِتَخليدِof immortality
بُشِّرَ في الدُنيا بِتَخليدِ
If he could be ransomed from harm or death,
With his opening of the enemy's mouth, he left
he would be given glad tidings of immortality in this world.
No mouth for peace other than the blocked one
قامَتwere established بَراهينُproofs عَلىof فَضلِهِhis excellence
قامَت بَراهينُ عَلى فَضلِهِ
فَمَدحُهُso praising him لَيسَis not بِتَقليدِmere imitation
فَمَدحُهُ لَيسَ بِتَقليدِ
Proofs of his excellence have been established;
How many constrained did he set free, and how many grasping hands did he restrain with releasing and binding
so praising him is no mere imitation.
And how many generous acts of his, if counted
لاmay not عَدِمَbe deprived of المَجدُglory عُلاهُhis eminence فَماfor not
لا عَدِمَ المَجدُ عُلاهُ فَما
نَظيرُهُhis equal يَوماًever بِمَوجودِto be found
نَظيرُهُ يَوماً بِمَوجودِ
May glory never lose his eminence, for
Would exceed all that is counted
his equal is never to be found.
To his bounty and his praise
بَحرُa sea نَدىًbounty سَيفُa sword رَدىًdeath باتكٌsevering
بَحرُ نَدىً سَيفُ رَدىً باتكٌ
نَحرَthroats عدىًfoes نَصرَةُsuccor for مَنجودِone needing aid
نَحرَ عدىً نَصرَةُ مَنجودِ
A sea of bounty, a sword of death, severing
We fling the tents of glories
the throats of foes, the succor of the hard-pressed.
The prey of hunting birds panic before him
بِفَتحِهِby his conquering ثَغرَthe frontier of العِداthe enemy لَمdid not يَدَعleave
بِفَتحِهِ ثَغرَ العِدا لَم يَدَع
لِلسِلمِfor peace ثَغراًan opening غَيرَnot مَسدودِsealed
لِلسِلمِ ثَغراً غَيرَ مَسدودِ
By breaching the enemy's frontier, he left
In fear, like rumbling thunderbolts
no opening for peace unsealed.
His dignity and feast came together
كَمhow many فَكَّhe freed منof عانٍa captive وَكَمand how many كَفَّhe restrained مِنof
كَم فَكَّ من عانٍ وَكَم كَفَّ مِن
عاتٍa tyrant بِإِطلاقٍby release وَتَقييدِand fettering
عاتٍ بِإِطلاقٍ وَتَقييدِ
How many captives he freed, how many he restrained—
So we have two feasts in one feast
tyrants, through release and fettering!
He remains in luck's shadow, noble
وَكَمand how many لَهُhe has مِنof مَكرُماتٍnoble deeds مَتىwhenever
وَكَم لَهُ مِن مَكرُماتٍ مَتى
عُدَّتthey are counted تَعَدَّتthey surpass كُلَّevery مَعدودِcounted thing
عُدَّت تَعَدَّت كُلَّ مَعدودِ
And how many noble deeds are his: whenever
As long as the days extend
they are counted, they exceed every tally.
إِلىtoward نَداهُhis bounty وَإِلىand toward مَدحِهِpraising him
إِلى نَداهُ وَإِلى مَدحِهِ
نَضرِبُwe strike آباطَarmpits المَقاحيدِthe high-humped she-camels
نَضرِبُ آباطَ المَقاحيدِ
Toward his bounty and toward his praise
we strike the armpits of high-humped she-camels.
تَعنوsubmit لَهُto him الصيدُthe proud nobles الصَّناديدُthe champions فيin الthe
تَعنو لَهُ الصيدُ الصَّناديدُ في ال
رَوعِterror of battle اِرتِياعاًin fright كَالرَعاديدِlike cowards
رَوعِ اِرتِياعاً كَالرَعاديدِ
The proud, mighty warriors bow to him in the
terror of battle, quaking like cowards.
إِبلالهُhis recovery وَالعيدُand Eid جاءاboth came مَعاًtogether
إِبلالهُ وَالعيدُ جاءا مَعاً
فَليَهنِناso may they gladden us عيدانِtwo Eids فيin عيدِone Eid
فَليَهنِنا عيدانِ في عيدِ
His recovery and Eid have come together;
so may two Eids in one Eid gladden us!
لاmay not زالَhe cease فيin ظِلٍّshade مِنَof السَّعدِgood fortune واample (first part)
لا زالَ في ظِلٍّ مِنَ السَّعدِ وا
رِفٍample (remaining part) مَدىthroughout الأَيّامِthe days مَمدودِextended
رِفٍ مَدى الأَيّامِ مَمدودِ
May he ever remain in good fortune's shade,
ample and extended throughout the days.
Partial English translation: 65 of 74 Arabic lines translated.