جُرّيdraw النَسيمَthe breeze عَلىover ماءِthe juice of العَناقيدِthe grape clusters
جُرّي النَسيمَ عَلى ماءِ العَناقيدِ
وَعَلِّليand soothe بِالأَمانيwith hopes كُلَّevery مَعمودِgrief-stricken one
وَعَلِّلي بِالأَماني كُلَّ مَعمودِ
Draw the breeze across the juice of grape clusters,
and soothe with hopes every grief-stricken soul.
ياO نَفحَةًa waft هَزَّتِstirred الأَحشاءَthe innermost parts شائِقَةًrousing longing
يا نَفحَةً هَزَّتِ الأَحشاءَ شائِقَةً
وَذَكَّرَتand recalled نَفَحاتِthe fragrant breaths of الخُرَّدِthe shy maidens الغيدِthe graceful ones
وَذَكَّرَت نَفَحاتِ الخُرَّدِ الغيدِ
O waft that stirred the heart's depths, awakening longing,
and recalled the fragrances of shy, graceful maidens.
يَضُمُّهاenfolds it اللَيلُthe night فيwithin أَثناءِthe folds of غَيهَبِهِits deep darkness
يَضُمُّها اللَيلُ في أَثناءِ غَيهَبِهِ
وَالقَطرُand the rain يَلمَسُtouches أَطرافَthe edges of الجَلاميدِthe boulders
وَالقَطرُ يَلمَسُ أَطرافَ الجَلاميدِ
Night enfolds it within the folds of its darkness,
while rain touches the edges of the boulders.
كَأَنَّهاas though it عَنfrom طَريقِthe path of المُزنِthe rain clouds طائِشَةًstraying
كَأَنَّها عَن طَريقِ المُزنِ طائِشَةً
لَحظٌa glance تُرَدِّدُهُrepeats it أَجفانُthe eyelids of مَزؤودِa frightened person
لَحظٌ تُرَدِّدُهُ أَجفانُ مَزؤودِ
As though, straying from the path of rain clouds,
it were a glance repeated by a frightened one's eyelids.
لَيتَwould that الأَحِبَّةَthe beloveds أَغرَينَthey urged الرِياحَthe winds بِناtoward us
لَيتَ الأَحِبَّةَ أَغرَينَ الرِياحَ بِنا
وَإِنand even if نَأَينَthey went far away عَلىat شَحطٍa great distance وَتَبعيدِand remoteness
وَإِن نَأَينَ عَلى شَحطٍ وَتَبعيدِ
Would that the beloveds had sent the winds our way,
even though they had gone far away, remote and distant.
وَلَيتَهُنَّand would that they عَلىdespite يَأسِdespair of اللِقاءِmeeting لَناfor us
وَلَيتَهُنَّ عَلى يَأسِ اللِقاءِ لَنا
عَلَّلنَthey soothed بِالوَعدِwith promises سَيرَthe journey of الضُمَّرِthe lean mounts القودِthe long-necked ones
عَلَّلنَ بِالوَعدِ سَيرَ الضُمَّرِ القودِ
And would that, though we despaired of meeting them,
they soothed with promises the march of lean, long-necked camels.
أَبيتُI spend the night وَاللَيلُand the night مَبثوثٌspread حَبائِلُهُits snares
أَبيتُ وَاللَيلُ مَبثوثٌ حَبائِلُهُ
وَالوَجدُand longing يَقنِصُhunts down مِنّيfrom me كُلَّevery مَجلودِsteadfast one
وَالوَجدُ يَقنِصُ مِنّي كُلَّ مَجلودِ
I spend the night while night's snares lie spread,
and longing hunts down all the endurance within me.
شَوقاًin longing إِلَيكَfor you وَإِشفاقاًand in concern عَليكَfor you وَليand I have
شَوقاً إِلَيكَ وَإِشفاقاً عَليكَ وَلي
دَمعانِtwo tears ماwhat lies بَينَbetween مَحلولٍone released وَمَعقودِand one bound
دَمعانِ ما بَينَ مَحلولٍ وَمَعقودِ
From longing for you and concern for you, I have
two tears: one flowing, the other held back.
لَيسَis not الغَريبُthe stranger الَّذيthe one whom تَنأىcarry far away الدِيارُthe homes بِهِwith him
لَيسَ الغَريبُ الَّذي تَنأى الدِيارُ بِهِ
إِنَّindeed الغَريبَthe stranger قَريبٌsomeone near غَيرُnot مَودودِloved
إِنَّ الغَريبَ قَريبٌ غَيرُ مَودودِ
The stranger is not the one whom far-off lands carry away;
the stranger is someone close by, yet unloved.
ياO طائِرَbird of البانِthe ben tree ماnever غُرَّبتَyou were banished عَنfrom سَكَنٍa home
يا طائِرَ البانِ ما غُرَّبتَ عَن سَكَنٍ
يَوماًever وَلاnor كُنتَwere you عَنfrom مَأوىًa refuge بِمَطرودِdriven away
يَوماً وَلا كُنتَ عَن مَأوىً بِمَطرودِ
O bird of the ben tree, never were you banished from a home
on any day, nor driven from a refuge.
وَأَنتَand you فيin ظِلَّthe shade of أَفنانٍboughs مُهَدَّلَةٍdrooping
وَأَنتَ في ظِلَّ أَفنانٍ مُهَدَّلَةٍ
تَحنوbend tenderly عَليكَover you نِقِنوانِfruit stalks of (unclear form) العَناقيدِthe grape clusters
تَحنو عَليكَ نِقِنوانِ العَناقيدِ
And you are in the shade of drooping boughs,
with fruit-cluster stalks bending over you.
مَلَأتَyou filled عُشَّيكَyour two nests طَعماًwith food غَيرَnot مُختَلَسٍstolen
مَلَأتَ عُشَّيكَ طَعماً غَيرَ مُختَلَسٍ
بِلاwithout رَقيبٍa watcher وَوِردٍand drinking water غَيرَwithout تَصريدِrationing
بِلا رَقيبٍ وَوِردٍ غَيرَ تَصريدِ
You have filled your two nests with food not stolen,
without a watcher, and with drinking water never rationed.
تَبكيyou weep وَمالَكَand you have no مِنany إِلفٍdear companion فُجِعتَyou were bereaved بِهِof him
تَبكي وَمالَكَ مِن إِلفٍ فُجِعتَ بِهِ
وَلاnor لُويتَwere you put off عَلىat بُعدٍa distance بِمَوعودِwith a promise
وَلا لُويتَ عَلى بُعدٍ بِمَوعودِ
You weep, though no dear companion has been torn from you,
nor have you been kept waiting, far away, on a promise.
ظُلِمتَyou were wronged ماnot أَنتَyou مِنof هَمّيmy worry وَلاnor كَمَديmy anguish
ظُلِمتَ ما أَنتَ مِن هَمّي وَلا كَمَدي
إِنَّindeed العَليلَthe ailing one لَقَلبٌtruly a heart عادَهُvisited it عيديmy recurring sorrow
إِنَّ العَليلَ لَقَلبٌ عادَهُ عيدي
You have been wronged—yet you know neither my worry nor my anguish.
The ailing one is a heart visited by my recurring sorrow.
أَناI الَّذيam the one who إِنif بَكَىweeps وَجداًfrom longing فَحُقَّthen it is warranted لَهُfor him
أَنا الَّذي إِن بَكَى وَجداً فَحُقَّ لَهُ
كَمhow great a difference بَينَbetween باكٍone weeping مِنَfrom البَلوىaffliction وَغِرّيدِand a warbling bird
كَم بَينَ باكٍ مِنَ البَلوى وَغِرّيدِ
I am the one who, if he weeps with longing, has cause to do so;
how far apart are one weeping from affliction and a warbling bird!
وَخُلَّةٍand a beloved woman جُذِبَتwas drawn away تَثنيturning مَوَدَّتَهاher affection
وَخُلَّةٍ جُذِبَت تَثني مَوَدَّتَها
عَنيaway from me وَأَمسَكتُand I held back عَنهاfrom her بِالمَواعيدِwith promises
عَني وَأَمسَكتُ عَنها بِالمَواعيدِ
And many a beloved, drawn away, turned her affection
from me, while I held back from her, relying on promises.
مِنّيfrom me إِلىto الدَهرِTime شَكوىa complaint غَيرُnot غافِلَةٍheedless
مِنّي إِلى الدَهرِ شَكوى غَيرُ غافِلَةٍ
عَنof موثَقٍone bound بِحِبالِwith the ropes of العَجزِhelplessness مَصفودِshackled
عَن موثَقٍ بِحِبالِ العَجزِ مَصفودِ
From me to Time goes a complaint, never heedless
of one bound and shackled by the ropes of helplessness.
يُحارِبُhe battles الهَمَّsorrow إِنif مالَinclines الرُقادُsleep بِهِwith him
يُحارِبُ الهَمَّ إِن مالَ الرُقادُ بِهِ
حَتّىuntil تَجَلّىclear away غِياباتُthe dark recesses of المَراقيدِsleeping places
حَتّى تَجَلّى غِياباتُ المَراقيدِ
He battles sorrow whenever sleep inclines him,
until the dark depths of slumber are dispelled.
يَبنيhe builds وَبَينَand amid المُنىhopes أَنّيthat I أَقولُsay لَهاto them
يَبني وَبَينَ المُنى أَنّي أَقولُ لَها
بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكَand between you قَطعُcrossing البيدِthe deserts وَالبيدِand the deserts
بَيني وَبَينَكَ قَطعُ البيدِ وَالبيدِ
He builds; and amid hopes, I say to them:
Between me and you lies the crossing of desert upon desert.
وَساهِمينَand gaunt men عَلىon الأَكوارِthe camel saddles دَأبُهُمُtheir constant practice
وَساهِمينَ عَلى الأَكوارِ دَأبُهُمُ
قَرعُstriking السِياطِwhips بِأَعناقِagainst the necks of المَقاحيدِhigh-humped camels
قَرعُ السِياطِ بِأَعناقِ المَقاحيدِ
And many gaunt riders upon camel saddles, whose habit is
striking whips against the necks of high-humped camels—
عاطَيتُهُمI shared with them مِنfrom عُلالاتِthe last remnants of الكَرَىslumber نُطَفاًdrops
عاطَيتُهُم مِن عُلالاتِ الكَرَى نُطَفاً
وَالسَيرُand the journey يَرجُمُpelts جُلموداًa boulder بِجُلمودِwith a boulder
وَالسَيرُ يَرجُمُ جُلموداً بِجُلمودِ
I shared with them drops from the last remnants of slumber,
while the journey pelted boulder with boulder.
وَلِلحُداةِand for the camel drivers عَلىalong آثارِناour tracks زَجَلٌa ringing chant
وَلِلحُداةِ عَلى آثارِنا زَجَلٌ
يُغزيsends raiding المَطاياthe mounts بِأَجوازِinto the midst of القَراديدِthe rocky heights
يُغزي المَطايا بِأَجوازِ القَراديدِ
And the camel drivers, along our tracks, raise a ringing chant
spurring the mounts into the midst of rocky heights.
يُقَطِّعونَthey sever حُبىthe binding cords of الأَيّامِthe days عَنaway from طَبَعٍdisgrace
يُقَطِّعونَ حُبى الأَيّامِ عَن طَبَعٍ
وَتَحتَبيand they gird themselves بِالمَعاليwith lofty deeds وَالمَحاميدِand praiseworthy acts
وَتَحتَبي بِالمَعالي وَالمَحاميدِ
They cut the days' binding cords free of disgrace,
and the days gird themselves with lofty deeds and praises.
وَيَهجُرونَand they forsake إِذاwhen جَدَّتgrow earnest عَزائِمُهُمtheir resolves
وَيَهجُرونَ إِذا جَدَّت عَزائِمُهُم
دُنياa world تَلاعَبُtoys بِالغُرِّwith the noble ones المَجاويدِthe generous ones
دُنيا تَلاعَبُ بِالغُرِّ المَجاويدِ
And when their resolves grow earnest, they forsake
a world that toys with noble, generous men.
ماnot الفَقرُpoverty عارٌa disgrace وَإِنand even if كَشَّفتَyou expose عَورَتَهُits nakedness
ما الفَقرُ عارٌ وَإِن كَشَّفتَ عَورَتَهُ
وَإِنَّماand only العارُdisgrace مالٌwealth غَيرُnot مَحمودِpraiseworthy
وَإِنَّما العارُ مالٌ غَيرُ مَحمودِ
Poverty is no shame, even if you expose its nakedness;
the only shame is wealth unworthy of praise.
تُلقىare found أَكُفُّهُمُtheir palms فيin كُلِّevery نائِبَةٍcalamity
تُلقى أَكُفُّهُمُ في كُلِّ نائِبَةٍ
مَلوِيَّةًwound about بِحِبالِwith the cords of البَأسِvalor وَالجودِand generosity
مَلوِيَّةً بِحِبالِ البَأسِ وَالجودِ
Their hands are found, in every calamity,
entwined with the cords of valor and generosity.
إِنif صاحَcries out صائِحُهُمtheir caller يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle هَجَمواthey charge
إِن صاحَ صائِحُهُم يَومَ الوَغى هَجَموا
عَلىon السَوابِقِthe swift steeds بِالبيضِwith gleaming swords المَذاويدِthat drive foes back
عَلى السَوابِقِ بِالبيضِ المَذاويدِ
If their caller cries out on the day of battle, they charge
on swift steeds, with gleaming swords that drive foes back.
وَكَمand many an عَدُوٍّenemy مَشَتmarched فيهِinto him رِماحُهُمُtheir spears
وَكَم عَدُوٍّ مَشَت فيهِ رِماحُهُمُ
فَاِستَنصَرَthen he sought help الرَكضَthe gallop مِنfrom جَرداءَa sleek mare قَيدودِlong-bodied
فَاِستَنصَرَ الرَكضَ مِن جَرداءَ قَيدودِ
And many an enemy through whom their spears have marched
sought help in the gallop of a sleek, long-bodied mare,
مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَبلَجَradiant-faced man إِنif خَبَتburn low عَزائِمُهُhis resolves
مِن كُلِّ أَبلَجَ إِن خَبَت عَزائِمُهُ
أَلقَتcast إِلَيهِto him الأَمانيhopes بِالمَقاليدِwith the keys
أَلقَت إِلَيهِ الأَماني بِالمَقاليدِ
from every bright-faced man: if his resolves burn low,
hopes cast their keys before him.
إِذاwhen تَحَرَّقَhe blazes with ardor أَحشاءُthe innards of الفَلاthe wilderness مُلِئَتare filled
إِذا تَحَرَّقَ أَحشاءُ الفَلا مُلِئَت
مِنfrom رَعيِهِhis tending خاطِرُthe mind of الرَئبالِthe lion وَالسيدِand the wolf
مِن رَعيِهِ خاطِرُ الرَئبالِ وَالسيدِ
When he blazes with ardor, the wilderness's depths are filled,
and through his tending, so is the mind of lion and wolf.
وَإِنand if جَرَىhe runs شِرِقَتchokes بِالحَصلِwith gains راحَتُهُhis palm
وَإِن جَرَى شِرِقَت بِالحَصلِ راحَتُهُ
أَخَذاًin seizing وَبَدَّدَand he scatters أَنفاسَthe breaths of المَجاهيدِthe exhausted ones
أَخَذاً وَبَدَّدَ أَنفاسَ المَجاهيدِ
And if he races, his palm chokes with gains,
seizing them, and scattering the breaths of the exhausted.
ياO اِبنَson of الحُسَينِal-Husayn وَماand not دَعوايَmy claim كاذِبَةًfalse
يا اِبنَ الحُسَينِ وَما دَعوايَ كاذِبَةً
إِذاwhen نَسَبتُكَI trace your lineage فيamong الشُمِّthe lofty ones المَناجيدِthe valiant ones
إِذا نَسَبتُكَ في الشُمِّ المَناجيدِ
O son of al-Husayn, my claim is not false
when I rank you among the lofty, valiant men,
الطاعِنينَthose who lance مِنَof الأَعداءِthe enemies ماwhomever لَحِقواthey overtake
الطاعِنينَ مِنَ الأَعداءِ ما لَحِقوا
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَلطِمُslap هاماتِthe crowns of الصَياخيدِthe hard boulders
وَالخَيلُ تَلطِمُ هاماتِ الصَياخيدِ
who lance whichever enemies they overtake,
while horses slap the crowns of hard boulders.
مُعَوَّدونَaccustomed مِنَby الأَيّامِthe days مَرتَبَةًto a rank
مُعَوَّدونَ مِنَ الأَيّامِ مَرتَبَةً
لاnot يَستَطيلُreaches up إِلَيهاto it كُلُّevery صِنديدِchampion
لا يَستَطيلُ إِلَيها كُلُّ صِنديدِ
They are accustomed by the days to a station
that not every champion can reach.
يَأبونَthey refuse أَنthat يَلبَسَshould clothe الإِظلامُdarkness رَبعَهُمُtheir dwelling
يَأبونَ أَن يَلبَسَ الإِظلامُ رَبعَهُمُ
لَيلاًat night وَماand not عَذَّبواthey tormented طَرفاًan eye بِتَسهيدِwith sleeplessness
لَيلاً وَما عَذَّبوا طَرفاً بِتَسهيدِ
They refuse to let darkness clothe their dwelling
at night, yet have not tormented an eye with sleeplessness.
وَيَغضَبونَand they grow angry إِذاwhen عاطَيتَهُمyou offer them هِمَماًaspirations
وَيَغضَبونَ إِذا عاطَيتَهُم هِمَماً
مُرَفَّهاتٍpampered وَهَمّاًand a purpose غَيرَnot مَكدودِworn by toil
مُرَفَّهاتٍ وَهَمّاً غَيرَ مَكدودِ
And they grow angry if you offer them ambitions
pampered, and a purpose unstrained by toil.
هُمُthey الضُيوفُare guests لِأَرضٍof a land غَيرِnot آهِلَةٍinhabited
هُمُ الضُيوفُ لِأَرضٍ غَيرِ آهِلَةٍ
مِنَby الأَنيسِhuman company وَوِردٍand a watering place غَيرِnot مَورودِvisited
مِنَ الأَنيسِ وَوِردٍ غَيرِ مَورودِ
They are guests in a land uninhabited
by human company, and at an unfrequented watering place.
فَأَنتَso you أَبسَطُهُمhave the widest reach among them باعاًin armspan إِذاwhen بَسَطواthey extend
فَأَنتَ أَبسَطُهُم باعاً إِذا بَسَطوا
أَيديهِمُtheir hands لِوَعيدٍfor a threat أَوor لَموعودِfor a promise
أَيديهِمُ لِوَعيدٍ أَو لَموعودِ
So you reach farthest among them when they extend
their hands in threat or promise.
الآنَnow جاءَتhave come خُيولُthe horses of السِعدِgood fortune راكِضَةًgalloping
الآنَ جاءَت خُيولُ السِعدِ راكِضَةً
تَجريracing بِيَومٍwith a day مُضيءِbright الوَجهِin face مَجدودِfortunate
تَجري بِيَومٍ مُضيءِ الوَجهِ مَجدودِ
Now the horses of good fortune have come galloping,
racing with a bright-faced, fortunate day,
بِمَولِدٍwith a birth صَقَلَpolished الآباءُthe forefathers حِليَتَهُits adornment
بِمَولِدٍ صَقَلَ الآباءُ حِليَتَهُ
فَطَوَّقَso collared المَجدُglory أَعناقَthe necks of المَواليدِthe newborns
فَطَوَّقَ المَجدُ أَعناقَ المَواليدِ
with a birth whose adornment the forefathers polished;
so glory encircled the necks of the newborns.
مَولودَةٌa newborn girl نَهَبَplundered الراؤونَthe onlookers بِهجَتَهاher loveliness
مَولودَةٌ نَهَبَ الراؤونَ بِهجَتَها
لَثماًwith kisses وَعانَقنَهاand they (women) embraced her فيin ثَوبِa robe مَحسودِenvied
لَثماً وَعانَقنَها في ثَوبِ مَحسودِ
A newborn girl whose loveliness the onlookers plundered
with kisses, and women embraced her in an envied robe.
كانَتshe was شِهاباًa meteor كَساclothed ظَلماءَهُits darkness وَضحاًin brightness
كانَت شِهاباً كَسا ظَلماءَهُ وَضحاً
وَاللَيلُand night يَدخُلُenters فيinto أَثوابِهِits robes السودِthe black ones
وَاللَيلُ يَدخُلُ في أَثوابِهِ السودِ
She was a meteor that clothed its darkness in brightness,
while night slipped into its black robes.
جاءَتcame بِهاwith her لَيلَةٌa night تَثنيinclining سَوالِفَهاthe sides of its neck
جاءَت بِها لَيلَةٌ تَثني سَوالِفَها
فيagainst صَدرِthe breast of يَومٍa day رَشيقِslender القَدِّin stature أُملودِsupple
في صَدرِ يَومٍ رَشيقِ القَدِّ أُملودِ
A night brought her, inclining its neck
against the breast of a day slender in stature and supple.
لِلَّهِGod be praised for شَمسُa sun of عُلىًnobility جاءَتcame بِجَوهَرَةٍwith a jewel
لِلَّهِ شَمسُ عُلىً جاءَت بِجَوهَرَةٍ
غَرّاءَradiant عَنfrom قَمَرٍa moon بِالمَجدِwith glory مَسعودِblessed
غَرّاءَ عَن قَمَرٍ بِالمَجدِ مَسعودِ
God be praised for a sun of nobility that brought a jewel,
radiant, from a moon blessed with glory!
ماnot عُدِّدَتwas reckoned مِنكَfrom you إِلاexcept نُطفَةٌa drop of seed سَلَكَتmade its way
ما عُدِّدَت مِنكَ إِلا نُطفَةٌ سَلَكَت
إِلىtoward الأَمانيhopes طَريقَthe path of الماءِwater فيthrough العودِa bough
إِلى الأَماني طَريقَ الماءِ في العودِ
Only a drop of seed was reckoned from you, making its way
toward hopes by water's path through a bough.
نَشَرتَyou unfurled مِنهاthrough her خِماراًa veil فيin الفَخارِproud glory طَوىfolded away
نَشَرتَ مِنها خِماراً في الفَخارِ طَوى
مَعَalongside النَوائِبِmisfortunes تيجانَthe crowns of الصَناديدِchampions
مَعَ النَوائِبِ تيجانَ الصَناديدِ
Through her you unfurled a veil that, in glory, folded away,
alongside misfortunes, the crowns of champions.
شَريفَةٌa noble girl رَشَّحَتprepared مِنهاin her مَناسِبُهاher lineages
شَريفَةٌ رَشَّحَت مِنها مَناسِبُها
لَحِليَةِfor the adornment of العِزِّhonor مَجرىthe contour of اللَيتِthe side of the neck وَالجيدِand the neck
لَحِليَةِ العِزِّ مَجرى اللَيتِ وَالجيدِ
A noble girl whose ancestry has prepared in her
the line of her neck and its sides for honor's adornment.
ماnot كُنتَyou were تَقبَلُaccepting بَذلَthe giving of الدَهرِTime تَكرِمَةًas an honor
ما كُنتَ تَقبَلُ بَذلَ الدَهرِ تَكرِمَةً
حَتّىuntil حَباكَit favored you بِبَذلٍwith a gift غَيرِnot مَردودِrefused
حَتّى حَباكَ بِبَذلٍ غَيرِ مَردودِ
You would not accept Time's giving as an honor
until it favored you with a gift not to be refused.
أَعطاكَit gave you كَنزَa treasure of فَخارٍglory كانَit had been يَصرِفُهُdiverting it
أَعطاكَ كَنزَ فَخارٍ كانَ يَصرِفُهُ
مِنfrom نَسلِthe offspring of غَيرِكَothers than you فيamong شَتّىvarious عِباديدِscattered multitudes
مِن نَسلِ غَيرِكَ في شَتّى عِباديدِ
It gave you a treasure of glory it had been diverting
from others' offspring among far-scattered multitudes:
شَجاًa choking sorrow لِنَفسِfor the soul of شُجاعِthe champion of الحَربِwar مُعتَرِضاًlodged crosswise
شَجاً لِنَفسِ شُجاعِ الحَربِ مُعتَرِضاً
وَفَرحَةًand a joy لِفُؤادِfor the heart of العاشِقِthe lover الرودِthe gentle one
وَفَرحَةً لِفُؤادِ العاشِقِ الرودِ
a choking sorrow lodged across the soul of war's champion,
and a joy to the heart of the gentle lover.
فَرَّقتَyou scattered عَنكَaway from you العِدىthe enemies تَدمىbleed ضَمائِرُهاtheir innermost hearts
فَرَّقتَ عَنكَ العِدى تَدمى ضَمائِرُها
بِباعِwith an armspan of عِزٍّmight عَلىover الأَيّامِthe days مَمدودِoutstretched
بِباعِ عِزٍّ عَلى الأَيّامِ مَمدودِ
You scattered your enemies, their secret hearts bleeding,
with a span of might outstretched over the days.
لاnever زِلتَmay you cease تَملِكُpossessing وَالأَحداثُand calamities راغمَةٌare humbled
لا زِلتَ تَملِكُ وَالأَحداثُ راغمَةٌ
عِناقَthe embrace of غُصنِa branch of الأَمانيhopes غَيرِnot مَخضودِbroken
عِناقَ غُصنِ الأَماني غَيرِ مَخضودِ
May you always possess, with calamities humbled,
the embrace of hope's unbroken branch.
وَتَستَنيرُand grow radiant لَكَfor you الأَيّامُthe days مُلهِيَةًbringing delight
وَتَستَنيرُ لَكَ الأَيّامُ مُلهِيَةً
يُنمىis elevated بِهاwithin them كُلُّevery إِصباحٍdawn إِلىto عيدِa feast day
يُنمى بِها كُلُّ إِصباحٍ إِلى عيدِ
And may the days grow radiant for you, bringing delight,
each dawn within them elevated to a feast day.
ياO مُطلِقَliberator of السَمعِthe ear وَالأَسماعُand ears ماnot بَرِحَتhave ceased
يا مُطلِقَ السَمعِ وَالأَسماعُ ما بَرِحَت
أَسيرَةًcaptive فيin يَدَيّmy two hands عَذلٍreproach وَتَفنيدِand disparagement
أَسيرَةً في يَدَيّ عَذلٍ وَتَفنيدِ
O liberator of the ear, while ears have remained
captive in my two hands—reproach and disparagement.
وَرُبَّand many a رُزءٍloss مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days مُنهَجِمٍcrashing in
وَرُبَّ رُزءٍ مِنَ الأَيّامِ مُنهَجِمٍ
عَزَّاكَconsoled you مِنهُfor it النُهىreason عَنfor خَيرِمَفقودِthe best of those lost
عَزَّاكَ مِنهُ النُهى عَن خَيرِمَفقودِ
And many a loss that came crashing from the days—
reason consoled you for it, for the best of those lost.
ماnot زلِتَyou ceased تَرقُبُawaiting إِحسانَthe kindness of الزَمانِTime لَهُfor it
ما زلِتَ تَرقُبُ إِحسانَ الزَمانِ لَهُ
حَتّىuntil تَبَدَّلتَyou exchanged مَولوداًa newborn بِمَولودِfor a newborn
حَتّى تَبَدَّلتَ مَولوداً بِمَولودِ
You kept awaiting Time's kindness in return for it,
until you exchanged one newborn for another.