أَتَرىdo you think السَحابَthe cloud إِذاwhen سَرَتtravels by night عُشراؤُهُits pregnant she-camel
أَتَرى السَحابَ إِذا سَرَت عُشراؤُهُ
يُمرىis milked عَلىover قَبرٍa grave بِبابِلَin Babylon ماؤُهُits water
يُمرى عَلى قَبرٍ بِبابِلَ ماؤُهُ
Do you think the cloud, when its pregnant she-camel travels by night,
Do you see the clouds when their evening first appears,
Has its water milked over a grave in Babylon?
Shedding their water on a grave in Babylon?
ياO حادِيَيهِits two camel-drivers قِفاhalt, you two بِبُزلِwith the mature camels of مَطيَّهِits riding train
يا حادِيَيهِ قِفا بِبُزلِ مَطيَّهِ
فَإِلىfor toward ثَرىthe soil of ذاthis القَبرِgrave كانَwas حُداؤُهُits driving-song
فَإِلى ثَرى ذا القَبرِ كانَ حُداؤُهُ
O its two drivers, halt with its full-grown riding camels;
O rider, rein in the camel's pace beside that tomb -
For its driving-song was meant for the soil of this grave.
For to this dust belonged the cure of his deep pain.
يَسقيwaters هَوىًa beloved لِلقَلبِfor the heart فيهِtherein وَمَعهَداًand a dwelling
يَسقي هَوىً لِلقَلبِ فيهِ وَمَعهَداً
رَقَّتwere tender مَنابِتُهُits shoots وَرَقَّand was gentle هَواؤُهُits air
رَقَّت مَنابِتُهُ وَرَقَّ هَواؤُهُ
It waters the heart's beloved there, and a dwelling
It waters a passion in his heart that has revived,
Whose shoots were tender and whose air was gentle.
Though its roots once softened and its winds turned kind.
قَدindeed كانَhad عاقَدَنيpledged me الصَفاءَsincere affection فَلَمand did not أَزُلswerve
قَد كانَ عاقَدَني الصَفاءَ فَلَم أَزُل
عَنهُfrom it وَماyet not بَقّىspared عَلَيَّtoward me صَفاؤُهُhis sincere affection
عَنهُ وَما بَقّى عَلَيَّ صَفاؤُهُ
He had pledged me sincere affection, and I never swerved
He had bound me in kindness, and still I never left,
From it, yet his affection did not spare me.
Nor lost the gentleness that was his way.
وَلَقَدand indeed حَفِظتُkept faith لَهُwith him فَأَينَso where is حِفاظُهُhis loyalty
وَلَقَد حَفِظتُ لَهُ فَأَينَ حِفاظُهُ
وَلَقَدand indeed وَفَيتُwas faithful لَهُto him فَأَينَso where is وَفاؤُهُhis faithfulness
وَلَقَد وَفَيتُ لَهُ فَأَينَ وَفاؤُهُ
And indeed I kept faith with him—where is his loyalty?
I kept faith with him, so where is his faith to me?
And indeed I was true to him—where is his faithfulness?
I was loyal to him, so where is his loyalty?
أَوعىdid he hear الدُعاءَthe call فَلَمand did not يُجِبهُanswer it قَطيعَةًout of estrangement
أَوعى الدُعاءَ فَلَم يُجِبهُ قَطيعَةً
أَمor ضَلَّwent astray عَنهُfrom him مِنَbecause of البِعادِdistance دُعاؤُهُthe call to him
أَم ضَلَّ عَنهُ مِنَ البِعادِ دُعاؤُهُ
Did he hear the call and not answer it out of estrangement,
Did he forget my prayers, or were they lost to him
Or did the call to him go astray through distance?
Amid the distance, and never reached his ears?
هَيهاتَfar from it أَصبَحَhave become سَمعُهُhis hearing وَعِيانُهُand his sight
هَيهاتَ أَصبَحَ سَمعُهُ وَعِيانُهُ
فيin التُربِthe earth قَدindeed حَجَبَتهُماhave veiled them both أَقذاؤُهُits motes
في التُربِ قَد حَجَبَتهُما أَقذاؤُهُ
Far from it! His hearing and his sight now lie
Alas, now his hearing and sight are under dust -
In earth, whose motes have veiled them both.
Veiled by its fog and darkness evermore.
يُمسيhe passes the evening وَلينُand the softness of مِهادِهِhis bed حَصباؤُهُits gravel
يُمسي وَلينُ مِهادِهِ حَصباؤُهُ
فيهِwithin it وَمُؤنِسُand the companion of لَيلِهِhis night ظَلماؤُهُits darkness
فيهِ وَمُؤنِسُ لَيلِهِ ظَلماؤُهُ
He lies at evening, its gravel his soft bedding
By night, pebbles make his resting place uneven;
Within it, and its darkness his night's companion.
By day, its gloom is his companion.
قَدindeed قُلِّبَتhave been altered أَعيانُهُhis bodily features وَتَنَكَّرَتand became unrecognizable
قَد قُلِّبَت أَعيانُهُ وَتَنَكَّرَت
أَعلامُهُhis distinguishing marks وَتَكَسَّفَتand were eclipsed أَضواؤُهُhis lights
أَعلامُهُ وَتَكَسَّفَت أَضواؤُهُ
His bodily features have been altered; unrecognizable now
His features are all changed, his signs effaced,
Are his distinguishing marks, and his lights have been eclipsed.
His lights obscured, their gleam gone dim.
مُغفٍslumbering وَلَيسَand not لِلَذَّةٍfor pleasure إِغفاؤُهُhis slumber
مُغفٍ وَلَيسَ لِلَذَّةٍ إِغفاؤُهُ
مُغضٍlowering his eyes وَلَيسَand not لِفِكرَةٍfor thought إِغضاؤُهُhis lowered gaze
مُغضٍ وَلَيسَ لِفِكرَةٍ إِغضاؤُهُ
He slumbers, but his slumber is not for pleasure;
Insensible though joy was his to claim;
His eyes are lowered, but not in contemplation.
Unheedful though in thought he took delight.
وَجهٌa face كَلَمحِlike the flash of البَرقِlightning غاضَebbed وَميضُهُits gleam
وَجهٌ كَلَمحِ البَرقِ غاضَ وَميضُهُ
قَلبٌa heart كَصَدرِlike the point of العَضبِa keen sword فُلَّwas blunted مَضاؤُهُits keenness
قَلبٌ كَصَدرِ العَضبِ فُلَّ مَضاؤُهُ
A face like lightning's flash—its gleam has ebbed;
A face like lightning's flash, once bright then vanished;
A heart like a keen sword's point—its keenness is blunted.
A heart like smoldering ashes, quick to flame.
حَكَمَruled البِلىdecay فيهِover him فَلَوso if يَلقىwere to meet بِهِhim
حَكَمَ البِلى فيهِ فَلَو يَلقى بِهِ
أَعداؤُهُhis enemies لَرَثىwould surely pity لَهُhim أَعداؤُهُhis enemies
أَعداؤُهُ لَرَثى لَهُ أَعداؤُهُ
Decay has ruled over him; if he were met
Time ruined him till if his foes had known,
By his enemies, his enemies would pity him.
Even his foes would now lament his fall.
إِنَّindeed الَّذيhe who كانَwas النَعيمُbliss ظِلالَهُhis shade
إِنَّ الَّذي كانَ النَعيمُ ظِلالَهُ
أَمسىhas come to يُطَنَّبُbe staked out بِالعَراءِin the bare open خِباؤُهُhis tent
أَمسى يُطَنَّبُ بِالعَراءِ خِباؤُهُ
Indeed, he whose shade was once bliss
That one whose joy was but the shade of might
Now has his tent pitched in the bare open.
Is now abandoned 'neath the naked sky.
قَدindeed خَفَّhas departed عَنfrom ذاكَthat الرَواقِportico حُضورُهُhis presence
قَد خَفَّ عَن ذاكَ الرَواقِ حُضورُهُ
أَبَداًforever وَعَنand from ذاكَthat الحِمىsanctuary ضَوضاؤُهُhis clamor
أَبَداً وَعَن ذاكَ الحِمى ضَوضاؤُهُ
His presence has departed from that portico
Gone from his palace is his stately air,
Forever, and his clamor from that sanctuary.
And from his guard his clamor and parade.
كانَتwere سَوابِقُهُhis swift steeds طِرازَthe embroidery of فِنائِهِhis courtyard
كانَت سَوابِقُهُ طِرازَ فِنائِهِ
يَجلوreveals جَمالَthe beauty of رَواؤُهُنَّtheir appearance رَواؤُهُhis appearance
يَجلو جَمالَ رَواؤُهُنَّ رَواؤُهُ
His swift steeds were his courtyard's embroidery;
The models of the tasks that were his pride
His fine appearance brought out the beauty of theirs.
Were like the sheen those labors would display.
وَرِماحُهُand his spears سُفَراؤُهُhis envoys وَسُيوفُهُand his swords
وَرِماحُهُ سُفَراؤُهُ وَسُيوفُهُ
خُفَراؤُهُhis guards وَجِيادُهُand his steeds نُدَماؤُهُhis boon companions
خُفَراؤُهُ وَجِيادُهُ نُدَماؤُهُ
His spears were his envoys, and his swords
His lances were his envoys, swords his guards,
His guards, and his steeds his boon companions.
His steeds his boon companions, mounts of war.
ماnot زالَceased يَغدوsets out in the morning وَالرِكابُand the riding camels حُداؤُهُhis driving-song
ما زالَ يَغدو وَالرِكابُ حُداؤُهُ
بَينَamong الصَوارِمِthe keen swords وَالعَجاجِand the swirling dust رِداؤُهُhis mantle
بَينَ الصَوارِمِ وَالعَجاجِ رِداؤُهُ
He kept setting out each morning, the camel-train his driving-song,
Still he would ride out, girded by lances' points
Among keen swords, with swirling dust for his mantle.
And the unyielding mail those blades would breach.
اُنظُرlook إِلىat هَذاthis الأَنامِhumankind بِعِبرَةٍfor a lesson
اُنظُر إِلى هَذا الأَنامِ بِعِبرَةٍ
لاdo not يُعجِبَنَّكَlet it impress you خَلقُهُits form وَبَهاؤُهُand its splendor
لا يُعجِبَنَّكَ خَلقُهُ وَبَهاؤُهُ
Look upon this humankind and take a lesson;
Look to these mortal throngs and be admonished -
Let not its form and splendor dazzle you.
Do not be fooled by fleeting pomp or show.
بَيناهُwhile it is كَالوَرَقِlike the foliage النَضيرِfresh green تَقَصَّفَتwere snapped
بَيناهُ كَالوَرَقِ النَضيرِ تَقَصَّفَت
أَغصانُهُits branches وَتَسَلَّبَتand donned mourning شَجَراؤُهُits trees
أَغصانُهُ وَتَسَلَّبَت شَجَراؤُهُ
While it is like fresh green foliage, snapped are
See them like withered leaves when branches slough,
Its branches, and its trees have donned mourning.
As their limbs fail and trunks grow cracked and dry.
أَنّىhow could تَحاماهُavoid it المَنونُdeath وَإِنَّماwhen in fact only
أَنّى تَحاماهُ المَنونُ وَإِنَّما
خُلِقَتwere created مَراعِيَas pastures لِلرَدىfor destruction خَضراؤُهُits greenery
خُلِقَت مَراعِيَ لِلرَدى خَضراؤُهُ
How could death avoid it, when
What saves them from the strokes of death, when life
Its greenery was created only as pasture for destruction?
Blossoms but briefly, while decay spreads long?
أَمor كَيفَhow تَأمُلُhope for فَلتَةًan escape أَجسادُهُits bodies
أَم كَيفَ تَأمُلُ فَلتَةً أَجسادُهُ
مِنfrom ذاthis الزَمانِTime وَحَشوُهاand their filling أَدواؤُهُits diseases
مِن ذا الزَمانِ وَحَشوُها أَدواؤُهُ
Or how can its bodies hope for escape
Or how hope for relief when in their bodies
From this Time, when its diseases fill them?
Only disease and suffering make their home?
لاdo not تَعجَبَنَّmarvel فَماfor not العَجيبُthe wonder فَناؤُهُits perishing
لا تَعجَبَنَّ فَما العَجيبُ فَناؤُهُ
بِيَدِat the hand of المَنونِdeath بَلِrather العَجيبُthe wonder بَقاؤُهُits survival
بِيَدِ المَنونِ بَلِ العَجيبُ بَقاؤُهُ
Do not marvel: the wonder is not its perishing
Do not be shocked at their decline - natural,
At death's hand; rather, the wonder is its survival.
Not odd, their fall, but strange, that they survive.
إِنّاindeed we لَنَعجَبُsurely wonder كَيفَhow حُمَّwas decreed حِمامُهُits death
إِنّا لَنَعجَبُ كَيفَ حُمَّ حِمامُهُ
عَنfrom a state of صِحَّةٍhealth وَيَغيبُand remains hidden عَنّاfrom us داؤُهُits illness
عَن صِحَّةٍ وَيَغيبُ عَنّا داؤُهُ
We indeed wonder how its death was decreed
We're shocked he stayed well, vanished without ailment,
From a state of health, while its illness stays hidden from us.
As fate decreed and sealed his overthrow.
مَنhe whose طاحَfell فيon سُبُلِthe paths of الرَدىdeath آباؤُهُhis forefathers
مَن طاحَ في سُبُلِ الرَدى آباؤُهُ
فَليَسلُكَنَّthen must surely follow طَريقَهُits road أَبناؤُهُhis sons
فَليَسلُكَنَّ طَريقَهُ أَبناؤُهُ
He whose forefathers fell along the paths of death—
They who tread the path their fathers walked
His sons will surely travel its road.
Will see their sons tread the same way again.
وَمُؤَمَّرٍand many a ruler نَزَلواthey brought down بِهِhim فيamong سوقَةٍcommoners
وَمُؤَمَّرٍ نَزَلوا بِهِ في سوقَةٍ
لاneither شَكلُهُhis like فيهِمamong them وَلاnor قُرَناؤُهُhis peers
لا شَكلُهُ فيهِم وَلا قُرَناؤُهُ
And many a ruler they brought down among commoners,
Marked men, they're singled out among the crowd -
With neither his like among them nor his peers.
Among their throngs, outcasts without compare.
قَدindeed كانَused to يَفرَقُfear ظِلَّهُhis shadow أَقرانُهُhis peers
قَد كانَ يَفرَقُ ظِلَّهُ أَقرانُهُ
وَيَغُضُّand lowered their gaze دونَbefore جَلالِهِhis majesty أَكفاؤُهُhis equals
وَيَغُضُّ دونَ جَلالِهِ أَكفاؤُهُ
His peers once feared his very shadow;
Once he would eclipse the radiance of peers,
His equals lowered their gaze before his majesty.
Dimming the brilliance other lords displayed.
وَمُحَجَّبٍand many a secluded man ضُرِبَتwas cast عَلَيهِover him مَهابَةٌawe
وَمُحَجَّبٍ ضُرِبَت عَلَيهِ مَهابَةٌ
يُغشيdazzles العُيونَthe eyes بَهاؤُهُhis splendor وَضِياؤُهُand his radiance
يُغشي العُيونَ بَهاؤُهُ وَضِياؤُهُ
And many a secluded man over whom awe was cast,
Veiled in awe, a dread unknown, resplendent,
Whose splendor and radiance dazzled the eyes—
His glorious air suffused, outshone all else.
نادَتهُcalled him مِنfrom خَلفِbehind الحِجابِthe veil مَنيَّةٌdeath
نادَتهُ مِن خَلفِ الحِجابِ مَنيَّةٌ
أَمَمٌclose at hand فَكانَso was جَوابَهاits answer حَوباؤُهُhis soul
أَمَمٌ فَكانَ جَوابَها حَوباؤُهُ
Death called him from behind the veil,
Then death called from behind the veil - he heard,
Close at hand; his soul was its answer.
Responded: here I am - and met his end.
شُقَّتwere split apart إِلَيهِto reach him سُيوفُهُhis swords وَرِماحُهُand his spears
شُقَّت إِلَيهِ سُيوفُهُ وَرِماحُهُ
وَأُميتَand were made as dead عَنهُin his defense عَبيدُهُhis male slaves وَإِماؤُهُand his female slaves
وَأُميتَ عَنهُ عَبيدُهُ وَإِماؤُهُ
His swords and spears were broken through to reach him,
Swords and lances turned away, slaves and servants
And his slaves, male and female, were as dead in his defense.
Perished, of no more use to him or joy.
لَمdid not يُغنِهِsave him مَنone who كانَhad وَدَّwished لَوَif only اَنَّهُhe were
لَم يُغنِهِ مَن كانَ وَدَّ لَوَ اَنَّهُ
قَبلَbefore المَنونِdeath مِنَfrom المَنونِdeath فِداؤُهُhis ransom
قَبلَ المَنونِ مِنَ المَنونِ فِداؤُهُ
He was not saved by one who had wished to be
If one who loved him had, before death came,
His ransom from death, before death came.
Offered himself to ransom life from death,
حَرَمٌa sanctuary عَلَيهِupon it الذُلُّabasement إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it
حَرَمٌ عَلَيهِ الذُلُّ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
أَبَداًforever لَيَشهَدُsurely bears witness بِالجَلالِto majesty بِناؤُهُits structure
أَبَداً لَيَشهَدُ بِالجَلالِ بِناؤُهُ
A sanctuary covered in abasement; yet
No use - though dishonor was denied him, ever
Its structure forever bears witness to majesty.
Would his great works attest to majesty.
مُتَخَشِّعٌhumbled بَعدَafter الأَنيسِfamiliar company جَنابُهُits precinct
مُتَخَشِّعٌ بَعدَ الأَنيسِ جَنابُهُ
مُتَضائِلٌdiminished بَعدَafter القَطينِthe inhabitants فِناؤُهُits courtyard
مُتَضائِلٌ بَعدَ القَطينِ فِناؤُهُ
Its precinct is humbled after its company has gone;
Humbled past familiarity, declining
Its courtyard diminished after its dwellers have left.
After greatness fades, its height no more.
عُريانُbare تَطرُدُdrives away كُلُّevery ريحٍwind تُربَهُits dust
عُريانُ تَطرُدُ كُلُّ ريحٍ تُربَهُ
وَتُطيعُand obeys أَوَّلَthe first of أَمرِهاits commands حَصباؤُهُits pebbles
وَتُطيعُ أَوَّلَ أَمرِها حَصباؤُهُ
Bare: every wind drives away its dust,
Bare the winds pound him and every gust
And its pebbles obey the wind's first command.
Obeys the first, flinging up pebbles and debris.
وَلَقَدand indeed مَرَرتُI passed بِبَرزَخٍby a burial-ground فَسَأَلتُهُand asked it
وَلَقَد مَرَرتُ بِبَرزَخٍ فَسَأَلتُهُ
أَينَwhere الأُلىthose who ضَمَّتهُمُembraced them أَرجاؤُهُits confines
أَينَ الأُلى ضَمَّتهُمُ أَرجاؤُهُ
And indeed I passed by a burial-ground and asked it:
I passed by death's isthmus and asked of it:
Where are those whom its confines embraced?
Where are they, the friends its expanse concealed?
مِثلِlike المَطيِّthe riding camels بَوارِكاًkneeling أَجداثُهُits graves
مِثلِ المَطيِّ بَوارِكاً أَجداثُهُ
تُسفىis blown عَلىupon جَنَباتِهاtheir flanks بَوغاؤُهُits fine dust
تُسفى عَلى جَنَباتِها بَوغاؤُهُ
Its graves are like riding-camels kneeling;
Like an untethered steed, its saddlebags
Its fine dust is blown upon their flanks.
Sway and spill their contents back and forth.
نادَيتُهُI called to it فَخَفيbut was hidden عَلَيَّfrom me جَوابُهُits answer
نادَيتُهُ فَخَفي عَلَيَّ جَوابُهُ
بِالقَولِin speech إِلّاexcept ماwhat زَقَتscreeched أَصداؤُهُits owls
بِالقَولِ إِلّا ما زَقَت أَصداؤُهُ
I called to it, but its answer eluded me
I called out but my words were met with silence -
In words, save what its owls screeched:
Just an echo mocking what I cried.
مِنfrom ناظِرٍa gazer مَطروفَةٍstricken أَلحاظُهُhis glances
مِن ناظِرٍ مَطروفَةٍ أَلحاظُهُ
أَوor خاطِرٍa thinker مَطلولَةٍslain unavenged سَوداؤُهُhis heart's core
أَو خاطِرٍ مَطلولَةٍ سَوداؤُهُ
From a gazer whose glances are stricken,
From a watcher's scornful look, thoughts drifting
Or a thinker whose heart's core lies slain unavenged,
Dark, a sufferer's groans, a hater's bile.
أَوor واجِدٍone in anguish مَكظومَةٍstifled زَفَراتُهُhis sighs
أَو واجِدٍ مَكظومَةٍ زَفَراتُهُ
أَوor حاقِدٍa hater مَنسيَّةٍforgotten شَحناؤُهُhis rancor
أَو حاقِدٍ مَنسيَّةٍ شَحناؤُهُ
Or one in anguish whose sighs are stifled,
Prone, stretched out, their bodies listless, as if
Or a hater whose rancor is forgotten.
Wine had drained their strength and left their limbs to fail,
وَمُسَنَّدينَand those laid propped عَلىupon الجُنوبِtheir sides كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
وَمُسَنَّدينَ عَلى الجُنوبِ كَأَنَّهُم
شَربٌa band of drinkers تَخاذَلَslackened بِالطِلاwith wine أَعضاؤُهُtheir limbs
شَربٌ تَخاذَلَ بِالطِلا أَعضاؤُهُ
And those laid upon their sides, as though they were
Under dust with no remorse or pity, 'til
A band of drinkers whose limbs have slackened with wine.
On judgment day entombed again in grave-pits.
تَحتَbeneath الصَعيدِthe soil لِغَيرِwithout إِشفاقٍcompassion إِلىuntil
تَحتَ الصَعيدِ لِغَيرِ إِشفاقٍ إِلى
يَومِthe Day of المَعادِReturn تَضُمُّهُمenfolds them أَحشاؤُهُits entrails
يَومِ المَعادِ تَضُمُّهُم أَحشاؤُهُ
Beneath the earth, without compassion, until
The earth that gave them birth has consumed them -
The Day of Return, its entrails enfold them.
Prey devoured by a beast's relentless jaws.
أَكَلَتهُمُdevoured them الأَرضُthe earth الَّتيthat وَلَدَتهُمُbore them
أَكَلَتهُمُ الأَرضُ الَّتي وَلَدَتهُمُ
أَكلَlike the devouring of الضَروسِa fierce-biting beast حَلَتgrew sweet لَهُto it أَكلاؤُهُits fodder
أَكلَ الضَروسِ حَلَت لَهُ أَكلاؤُهُ
The earth that bore them has devoured them,
Greetings lively garden, softly exhaling!
As a fierce-biting beast eats when its fodder tastes sweet.
Dawn diffusing gentle light in colors pure.
حَيّاكَmay it greet you مُعتَلِجُthe swirl of النَسيمِthe breeze وَلاand may not يَزَلcease
حَيّاكَ مُعتَلِجُ النَسيمِ وَلا يَزَل
سَحَراًat dawn تُفاوِحُvie in fragrance with نَورُهُits blossoms أَصباؤُهُits east winds
سَحَراً تُفاوِحُ نَورُهُ أَصباؤُهُ
May the swirling breeze greet you, and may there never cease
Lovely doe-eyed girls flutter past trailing
At dawn its east winds' vying in fragrance with its blossoms.
Tresses' scent - allure to catch their prey.
يَمريmilks عَلَيكَover you مِنَwith النُعامىthe south wind خِلفَهits teat
يَمري عَلَيكَ مِنَ النُعامى خِلفَه
مِنfrom عارِضٍa rain-cloud مُتَبَزِّلٍpouring forth أَنداؤُهُits dews
مِن عارِضٍ مُتَبَزِّلٍ أَنداؤُهُ
It milks its teat over you with the south wind,
Their smooth skin gave you freshest morning dew,
From a rain-cloud whose dews pour forth.
The Pleiades delivered you night rain.
فَسَقاكَso may it water you ماas long as حَمَلَcarries الزُلالَclear water سِجالُهُits water-buckets
فَسَقاكَ ما حَمَلَ الزُلالَ سِجالُهُ
وَنَحاكَand may it seek you ماas long as جَرَّleads الزُحوفَadvancing hosts لِواؤُهُits banner
وَنَحاكَ ما جَرَّ الزُحوفَ لِواؤُهُ
So may it water you as long as its buckets bear clear water,
But to avoid the shameless ways of yore,
And seek you out as long as its banner leads advancing hosts.
I'd shed their lifeblood on your tomb and mourn.
لَولاwere it not for اِتِّقاءُshunning الجاهِليَّةِthe pre-Islamic age سُقتُهُI would drive it
لَولا اِتِّقاءُ الجاهِليَّةِ سُقتُهُ
ذَوداًas a camel-herd تَمورُsurges عَلىover ثَراكَyour soil دِماؤُهُits blood
ذَوداً تَمورُ عَلى ثَراكَ دِماؤُهُ
Were I not shunning Jahiliyya custom, I would drive it
And every night beneath the sword preserve
As a herd of camels, its blood surging over your soil.
Some rebel's neck whose cries persist prolong.
وَأَطَرتُand I would send flying تَحتَbeneath السَيفِthe sword كُلَّevery عَشيَّةٍevening
وَأَطَرتُ تَحتَ السَيفِ كُلَّ عَشيَّةٍ
عُرقوبَthe hamstring of مُغتَبِطٍa contented camel يَطولُgrows long رُغاؤُهُits bellow
عُرقوبَ مُغتَبِطٍ يَطولُ رُغاؤُهُ
And beneath the sword each evening I would send flying
But I will leave their slaughtered bodies' stink
A contented camel's hamstring, its bellow drawn out.
To my tears' flood, keening grief and song.
لَكِنbut سَيَخلُفُwill replace عَقرَهاtheir hamstringing وَدِماءَهاand their blood
لَكِن سَيَخلُفُ عَقرَها وَدِماءَها
أَبَدَfor all اللَياليthe nights مَدمَعيmy tearful eye وَبُكاؤُهُand its weeping
أَبَدَ اللَيالي مَدمَعي وَبُكاؤُهُ
But their hamstringing and their blood will be replaced
My sense of shame restrains me - if decorum
Through all nights, by my tearful eye and its weeping.
Let weeping eyes maintain their modest gaze!
أَقنيI retain الحَياءَmodest restraint تَجَمُّلاًto be dignified لَوif only أَنَّهُit
أَقني الحَياءَ تَجَمُّلاً لَو أَنَّهُ
يَبقىremained مَعَwith الدَمعِthe tears اللَجوجِrelentless حَياؤُهُits modesty
يَبقى مَعَ الدَمعِ اللَجوجِ حَياؤُهُ
I would keep modest restraint for dignity, if only
When the year cycle brings your day anew,
My eye's modesty could remain beside the relentless tears.
I return, as the well return to health.
وَإِذاand when أَعادَbrings back الحَولُthe year يَومَكَyour day عادَنيrevisits me
وَإِذا أَعادَ الحَولُ يَومَكَ عادَني
مِثلَlike السَليمِthe snake-bitten one يَعودُهُrevisits him آناؤُهُhis hours of pain
مِثلَ السَليمِ يَعودُهُ آناؤُهُ
And when the year brings your day back, it revisits me
A home in my heart no cure can heal -
As a snake-bitten man is revisited by his hours of pain.
No remedy avails or brings relief.
دارٌa dwelling بِقَلبيin my heart لاnot يَعودُvisits طَبيبُهُits physician
دارٌ بِقَلبي لا يَعودُ طَبيبُهُ
يَأساًout of despair إِلَيَّto me وَلاand not يُصابُis found دَواؤُهُits cure
يَأساً إِلَيَّ وَلا يُصابُ دَواؤُهُ
A dwelling in my heart: its physician does not visit
Go - time does not stand still, and fate decreed
Me, out of despair, nor can its cure be found.
Its course for you and sealed your destiny.
فَاِذهَبso go فَلاso may not بَقِيَendure الزَمانُTime وَقَدand already هَوىcast down
فَاِذهَب فَلا بَقِيَ الزَمانُ وَقَد هَوى
بِكَyou صَرفُهُits vicissitude وَقَضىand decreed عَلَيكَagainst you قَضاؤُهُits decree
بِكَ صَرفُهُ وَقَضى عَلَيكَ قَضاؤُهُ
So go; may Time not endure, now that you have been felled
By its vicissitude, and its decree has doomed you.
Partial English translation: 100 of 102 Arabic lines translated.