ياO أَراكَarak tree الحِمىthe preserve تُرانيdo you think I أَراكاshall see you
يا أَراكَ الحِمى تُراني أَراكا
أَيُّwhat قَلبٍheart جَنىhas wronged عَلَيهِagainst it جَناكاyour fruit
أَيُّ قَلبٍ جَنى عَلَيهِ جَناكا
O arak tree of the preserve, do you think I shall see you?
What heart has your fruit wronged?
أَعطَشَmay [He] make thirsty اللَهُGod كُلَّevery فَرعٍbough بِنَعماin Nu‘man (continued)
أَعطَشَ اللَهُ كُلَّ فَرعٍ بِنَعما
نَ[completes Nu‘man] مِنَfor الماطِرِrain-bearing الرِوىdrenching وَسَقاكاand water you
نَ مِنَ الماطِرِ الرِوى وَسَقاكا
May God leave every bough in Nu‘man thirsty
for drenching rain, and water you.
أَيُّwhat نورٍlight لِناظِرَيَّfor my two eyes إِذاif ما[emphasis]
أَيُّ نورٍ لِناظِرَيَّ إِذا ما
مَرَّpassed يَومٌa day وَناظِريand my eye لاnot يَراكاsees you
مَرَّ يَومٌ وَناظِري لا يَراكا
What light can my eyes have, if
a day passes and my eye does not see you?
لاnot يَرىsee السَوءَharm مَنwhoever رَآكَhas seen you مَدىthroughout الدَهtime (continued)
لا يَرى السَوءَ مَن رَآكَ مَدى الدَه
رِ[completes 'time'] وَأَحياand may [He] give life الإِلَهُGod مَنwhoever حَيّاكاgreets you
رِ وَأَحيا الإِلَهُ مَن حَيّاكا
May whoever sees you never see harm throughout all time,
and may God grant life to whoever greets you.
وَرَعىand may [He] protect كُلَّevery ناشِقٍone inhaling fragrance لَكَfor you دَلَّتguided
وَرَعى كُلَّ ناشِقٍ لَكَ دَلَّت
هُhim صَباًan east wind طَلَّةٌdew-laden عَلىto رَيّاكاyour fragrance
هُ صَباً طَلَّةٌ عَلى رَيّاكا
And may He protect each seeker of your scent, guided
to your fragrance by a dew-laden east wind.
ماwhat [harm] عَلىupon البَرقِthe lightning لَوif تَحَمَّلَit journeyed مِنfrom نَجNajd (continued)
ما عَلى البَرقِ لَو تَحَمَّلَ مِن نَج
دٍ[completes Najd] بِأَظعانِهِwith its caravans فَسَقّىthen watered حِماكاyour preserve
دٍ بِأَظعانِهِ فَسَقّى حِماكا
What would it cost the lightning to journey from Najd
with its caravans, and water your preserve?
ياO دِيارَabodes of الأَحبابِthe loved ones كَيفَhow تَغَيَّرchanged
يا دِيارَ الأَحبابِ كَيفَ تَغَيَّر
تِyou (feminine verb ending) وَياand O عَهدُbygone time ماwhat الَّذيthat which أَبلاكاwore you away
تِ وَيا عَهدُ ما الَّذي أَبلاكا
O homes of loved ones, how you have changed!
And O bygone time, what has worn you away?
هَلare? أُولاكَthose الَّذينَwhom عَهديmy remembrance بِهِمof them فيin
هَل أُولاكَ الَّذينَ عَهدي بِهِم في
كَyou عَلىin عَهدِهِمtheir former state وَأَينَand where أُولاكاthose people
كَ عَلى عَهدِهِم وَأَينَ أُولاكا
Are those whom I remember in
you still as they were? And where are those people?
لَمdid not تَدَعleave فيكَin you نائِباتُcalamities of اللَياليthe nights
لَم تَدَع فيكَ نائِباتُ اللَيالي
أَثَراًa trace لِلهَوىof love سِوىexcept مَغناكاyour dwelling-place
أَثَراً لِلهَوى سِوى مَغناكا
The calamities of the nights have left in you
no trace of love except your dwelling-place,
وَأَثافٍand hearthstones كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were رَذاياexhausted beasts left behind
وَأَثافٍ كَأَنَّهُنَّ رَذايا
وَأَسارىand captives لاnot يَنظُرونَthey await فِكاكاrelease
وَأَسارى لا يَنظُرونَ فِكاكا
and hearthstones like exhausted, abandoned beasts
and captives who expect no release,
وَشَجيجٍand a splintered stake طَمَّcropped الزَمانُTime نَواصيforelocks
وَشَجيجٍ طَمَّ الزَمانُ نَواصي
هِits كَماas شَعَّثَfrayed الوَليدُthe child السِواكاthe tooth-stick
هِ كَما شَعَّثَ الوَليدُ السِواكا
and a splintered stake whose forelocks Time has cropped,
as a child frays a tooth-stick.
الذَميلَa swift trot! الذَميلَa swift trot! ياO رَكبُcaravan إِنّيindeed I
الذَميلَ الذَميلَ يا رَكبُ إِنّي
لَضَمينٌsurely a guarantor أَنthat لاnot يَخيبَfail سُراكاyour night journey
لَضَمينٌ أَن لا يَخيبَ سُراكا
A swift trot, a swift trot, O caravan! I
surely guarantee your night journey will not fail.
خَلِّleave أَوطانَthe homelands of مَعشَرٍa people مَنَعواthey barred سَرyour herd (continued)
خَلِّ أَوطانَ مَعشَرٍ مَنَعوا سَر
حَكَ[completes 'your herd'] رَعيَgrazing in الحِمىthe preserve وَمَلّواand they tired of قِراكاhosting you
حَكَ رَعيَ الحِمى وَمَلّوا قِراكا
Leave the lands of a people who denied your herd
the preserve’s pasture, and tired of hosting you.
جَيئُهُمtheir visitor مُخمَسُfive days without water الرِكابِthe riding camels فَنادَواso they cried
جَيئُهُم مُخمَسُ الرِكابِ فَنادَوا
جَنِّبِavoid الوِردَthe watering-place لاmay you never نَقَعتَslake صَداكاyour thirst
جَنِّبِ الوِردَ لا نَقَعتَ صَداكا
To their visitor, with mounts five days thirsty, they cried:
“Avoid the watering-place—may you never slake your thirst!”
وَضَحَتshone clearly غُرَّةُthe white blaze of الضِياءِdaylight عَلىduring القَرthe approach to water (continued)
وَضَحَت غُرَّةُ الضِياءِ عَلى القَر
بِ[completes 'approach to water'] فَبَلّواso they quenched their thirst وَأَرسَلوهاand sent them [the camels] العِراكاjostling together
بِ فَبَلّوا وَأَرسَلوها العِراكا
The white blaze of daylight shone as water drew near;
they drank, and sent the camels in, jostling together.
ياO مَليكَking of المُلوكِkings والىmay [He] grant successively لَكَto you النَصvictory (continued)
يا مَليكَ المُلوكِ والى لَكَ النَص
رَ[completes 'victory'] عَلىover العالَمِthe world الَّذيHe who وَلّاكاappointed you ruler
رَ عَلى العالَمِ الَّذي وَلّاكا
O king of kings, may He grant you victory upon victory—
He who appointed you over the world.
وَرَأَيتَand may you see العَدوَّthe enemy حَيثُwhere تَراهُyou see him
وَرَأَيتَ العَدوَّ حَيثُ تَراهُ
وَرَآكَand may [he] see you العَدوُّthe enemy حَيثُwhere يَراكاhe sees you
وَرَآكَ العَدوُّ حَيثُ يَراكا
And may you see the enemy where you now see him,
and may the enemy see you where he now sees you.
كَمhow far إِلىto كَمhow far تَبغيyou seek الصُعودَascent وَقَدwhen already جُزpassed (continued)
كَم إِلى كَم تَبغي الصُعودَ وَقَد جُز
تَyou (verb ending) المَعاليthe heights وَقَدand already طَلَعتَyou ascended السُكاكاthe upper sky
تَ المَعالي وَقَد طَلَعتَ السُكاكا
How far—how much farther—will you seek to climb, when you have passed
the heights and ascended the sky?
زِدتَyou surpassed سَبقاًin precedence عَلىbeyond أَبيكَyour father وَكانَتand it would have been
زِدتَ سَبقاً عَلى أَبيكَ وَكانَت
غايَةُthe utmost of المَجدِglory لَوif لَحِقتَyou caught up with أَباكاyour father
غايَةُ المَجدِ لَو لَحِقتَ أَباكا
You have outstripped your father, though it would have been
the utmost glory merely to catch up with your father.
بانِياًas a builder تَرفَعُyou raise السُموكَlofty roofs إِلىto أَيwhere (continued)
بانِياً تَرفَعُ السُموكَ إِلى أَي
نَ[completes 'where'] المَراقيthe ascents وَقَدwhen already بَلَغتَyou have reached السِماكاal-Simak [the star]
نَ المَراقي وَقَد بَلَغتَ السِماكا
Builder raising lofty roofs, where
can the stairways lead, now you have reached al-Simak?
نِلتَyou attained ماwhat نِلتَهُyou attained it اِنفِراداًalone وَزاحَمand vied (continued)
نِلتَ ما نِلتَهُ اِنفِراداً وَزاحَم
تَyou (verb ending) الدَراريthe brilliant stars عَلىfor العَلاءِloftiness اِشتِراكاas a sharer
تَ الدَراري عَلى العَلاءِ اِشتِراكا
Alone you won all you won, and vied
with the brilliant stars to share the heights.
ياO أَسيرَcaptive of الخُطوبِcalamities نادِcall upon غِياثَthe rescuer of الthe
يا أَسيرَ الخُطوبِ نادِ غِياثَ ال
خَلقِmankind إِنَّindeed الَّذيthe one whom رَجَوتَyou hoped for هُناكاis there
خَلقِ إِنَّ الَّذي رَجَوتَ هُناكا
O captive of calamities, call upon the rescuer of
mankind: the one you hoped for is there.
مَنhe whom إِذاwhen غالَناassails us الضَلالُerror رَأَيناwe see
مَن إِذا غالَنا الضَلالُ رَأَينا
هُhim قِواماًa mainstay لِدينِناfor our faith أَوor مِساكاa sustaining support
هُ قِواماً لِدينِنا أَو مِساكا
He whom, when error assails us, we see
as our faith’s mainstay, or its support.
مَلَكَhe gained المُلكَkingship ثُمَّthen جَلَّgrew too exalted عَنِfor المُلkingship (continued)
مَلَكَ المُلكَ ثُمَّ جَلَّ عَنِ المُل
كِ[completes 'kingship'] فَأَمسىand came to يَستَخدِمُhe employs الأَملاكاthe kings
كِ فَأَمسى يَستَخدِمُ الأَملاكا
He gained kingship, then grew too great for kingship,
and came to make kings his servants.
عَجَباًhow astonishing! كَيفَhow يَرتَضيhe accepts صَفحَةَthe flat surface of النَعthe sandal (continued)
عَجَباً كَيفَ يَرتَضي صَفحَةَ النَع
لِ[completes 'the sandal'] لِرِجلٍfor a foot يَطاhe treads بِهاwith it الأَفلاكاthe celestial spheres
لِ لِرِجلٍ يَطا بِها الأَفلاكا
How strange that he should accept a sandal’s sole
for a foot with which he treads the celestial spheres!
رَسَخَتtook root فيin العَلاءِloftiness أَجبالُكَyour mountains الشُمthe lofty (continued)
رَسَخَت في العَلاءِ أَجبالُكَ الشُم
مُ[completes 'the lofty'] وَدارَتand turned عَلىupon الأَعاديthe enemies رَحاكاyour millstone
مُ وَدارَت عَلى الأَعادي رَحاكا
Your lofty mountains have taken root in the heights,
and your millstone has turned upon your enemies:
مِنamong [them] طَموحٍa headstrong one خَطَمتَهُyou bridled him وَجَموحٍand a bolter
مِن طَموحٍ خَطَمتَهُ وَجَموحٍ
بِكَthrough you أَعضَضتَهُyou made him bite الشَكيمَthe bit فَلاكاso he champed it
بِكَ أَعضَضتَهُ الشَكيمَ فَلاكا
among them, a headstrong one you bridled, and a bolter
whom by your might you made bite the bit and champ it.
لَمnot تَزَلyou ceased تَطعَنُthrusting at المُوَلّينَthose fleeing حَتّىuntil
لَم تَزَل تَطعَنُ المُوَلّينَ حَتّى
حَسِبتَyou reckoned مِنamong قَناthe spines of الظُهورِbacks قَناكاyour spears
حَسِبتَ مِن قَنا الظُهورِ قَناكا
You never ceased to spear the fleeing, until
you reckoned your spears among their backbones.
وَرِجالٍand men تَحَكَّكواrubbed themselves [against you] فَأَفاقواthen came to their senses
وَرِجالٍ تَحَكَّكوا فَأَفاقوا
بِجُذَيلٍagainst a little tree-trunk قَدalready عَوَّدوهُthey accustomed it to الحِكاكاrubbing
بِجُذَيلٍ قَد عَوَّدوهُ الحِكاكا
And men who rubbed against you came to their senses
at a little tree-trunk long accustomed to their rubbing.
فَرعُa bough of عِزٍّglory يُعطيgives عَلىwith اللينِgentleness ماwhatever شاwished (continued)
فَرعُ عِزٍّ يُعطي عَلى اللينِ ما شا
ءَ[completes 'wished'] جَناهُits fruit فَإِنbut if رَأىit sees الضَيمَoppression شاكاit grows thorny
ءَ جَناهُ فَإِن رَأى الضَيمَ شاكا
A bough of glory, yielding gently whatever
fruit one desires, but growing thorny at the sight of oppression.
ضَرَبواthey struck فيagainst جَوانِبِthe sides of الطَودِthe mountain فَاِنظُرso look
ضَرَبوا في جَوانِبِ الطَودِ فَاِنظُر
حَمِقَthe folly of العاجِزينَthe helpless كَيفَhow أَحاكاit made an impression
حَمِقَ العاجِزينَ كَيفَ أَحاكا
They struck at the mountain’s flanks; behold
the folly of the helpless—what mark did it make?
قَطَعتَyou cut short ياO اِبنَson of واصِلٍWasil مُدَّةَthe span of العُمlife (continued)
قَطَعتَ يا اِبنَ واصِلٍ مُدَّةَ العُم
رِ[completes 'life'] فَهاجَso became enraged الضُبارِمُthe mighty lion الفَتّاكاthe deadly slayer
رِ فَهاجَ الضُبارِمُ الفَتّاكا
You cut your lifespan short, O Ibn Wasil,
so the mighty, murderous lion was roused.
طاحَhe fell فيupon حَدِّthe edge of مِخلَبيكَyour two claws وَخَسَّتand too base was
طاحَ في حَدِّ مِخلَبيكَ وَخَسَّت
أَكلَةُa morsel of الذِئبِthe wolf أَنto تُقارِبَcome near فاكاyour mouth
أَكلَةُ الذِئبِ أَن تُقارِبَ فاكا
He fell upon the edge of your two claws; too base
was a wolf’s morsel to approach your mouth.
هَلcan? يَروعُfrighten القُرومَthe noble chiefs عِندَكَat your side وَالأُسand the lions (continued)
هَل يَروعُ القُرومَ عِندَكَ وَالأُس
دَ[completes 'and the lions'] كُلَيبٌa little dog عَوىhowled لَهاat them فيin حِماكاyour preserve
دَ كُلَيبٌ عَوى لَها في حِماكا
Can the noble chiefs and lions at your side be frightened
by a little cur howling at them in your preserve?
طَلَبَhe sought الأَمرَdominion فَاِنثَنىthen turned back بِغُرورٍwith delusion
طَلَبَ الأَمرَ فَاِنثَنى بِغُرورٍ
كانَit was فَوتاًfailure فَخالَهُbut he imagined it إِدراكاattainment
كانَ فَوتاً فَخالَهُ إِدراكا
He sought dominion, but turned back deluded:
what was failure he imagined attainment.
صاحَبَthe master of الأَمرَdominion مِنhe who قِرىfeasted السَيفِthe sword وَالضَيand the guest (continued)
صاحَبَ الأَمرَ مِن قِرى السَيفِ وَالضَي
فِ[completes 'and the guest'] وَرَوّىand quenched القَناthe spears وَأَنتَand you كَذاكاare such
فِ وَرَوّى القَنا وَأَنتَ كَذاكا
The ruler is he who feasts both sword and
guest, and slakes the spears’ thirst—and such are you.
كَيفَhow تَقذىis irritated by a mote عَينٌan eye وَيَألَمُand aches طَرفٌan eye
كَيفَ تَقذى عَينٌ وَيَألَمُ طَرفٌ
نَظَرَthat saw اليَومَtoday وَجهَكَyour face الضَحّاكاbeaming
نَظَرَ اليَومَ وَجهَكَ الضَحّاكا
How can an eye smart, or a gaze feel pain,
that has seen your beaming face today?
أَناI غَرسٌa plant غَرَستَهُyou planted it وَأَجَلُّand noblest of الthe
أَنا غَرسٌ غَرَستَهُ وَأَجَلُّ ال
غَرسِplants ماthat which قَرَّرَتmade firm ثَراهُits soil يَداكاyour two hands
غَرسِ ما قَرَّرَت ثَراهُ يَداكا
I am a plant you planted, and the noblest of
plants is one whose soil your hands have firmed.
لَمnot أَجِدI have found صانِعاًa benefactor سِواكَother than you وَلاnor أَعI know (continued)
لَم أَجِد صانِعاً سِواكَ وَلا أَع
رِفُ[completes 'I know'] فيamong الناسِmankind مُنعِماًa giver of favors ماat all [emphatic] سِواكاother than you
رِفُ في الناسِ مُنعِماً ما سِواكا
I have found no benefactor but you, nor do I know
among mankind any giver of favors besides you.
فيin حِمىthe shelter of طولِكَyour bounty اِهتَزَزتَI swayed وَأَورَقand put forth leaves (continued)
في حِمى طولِكَ اِهتَزَزتَ وَأَورَق
تَI (verb ending) قَريبَwithin reach الجَنىthe fruit بِصَوبِwith the downpour of نَداكاyour generosity
تَ قَريبَ الجَنى بِصَوبِ نَداكا
In the shelter of your bounty I swayed and put forth leaves,
my fruit within reach, beneath the rain of your generosity.
كُلَّevery يَومٍday فَضلٌa favor عَلَيَّupon me جَديدٌnew
كُلَّ يَومٍ فَضلٌ عَلَيَّ جَديدٌ
وَعَلاءٌand eminence أَنالُهُI attain it مِنfrom عُلاكاyour exalted rank
وَعَلاءٌ أَنالُهُ مِن عُلاكا
Every day brings a fresh favor upon me,
and eminence I gain from your exalted rank.
وَعَطاءٌand bounty تَزَيَّدَsurpassed البَحرَthe sea يَعلوrises
وَعَطاءٌ تَزَيَّدَ البَحرَ يَعلو
كُلَّماwhenever قيلَit is said قَدalready بَلَغتَyou have attained مُناكاyour desires
كُلَّما قيلَ قَد بَلَغتَ مُناكا
And bounty that outdoes the sea rises higher
whenever it is said, “You have attained your desire.”
وَإِذاand when ما[emphasis] طَوَيتُI put aside عَنكَfrom you التَقاضيpressing demands
وَإِذا ما طَوَيتُ عَنكَ التَقاضي
عُنِيَcared الطَولُthe bounty مِنكَfrom you بيfor me فَاِقتَضاكاso it pressed you [to give]
عُنِيَ الطَولُ مِنكَ بي فَاِقتَضاكا
Whenever I refrain from pressing you for gifts,
your bounty cares for me and presses you instead.
لاno سَفيرٌenvoy إِلَيكَto you إِلّاexcept مَعاليnoble qualities
لا سَفيرٌ إِلَيكَ إِلّا مَعالي
كَyour وَلاand no شافِعٌintercessor إِلَيكَwith you سِواكاother than you
كَ وَلا شافِعٌ إِلَيكَ سِواكا
I have no envoy to you but your noble qualities,
and no intercessor with you but yourself.
أَيُّهاO الطالِبُseeker الَّذيwho قَلقَلَjolted العيthe pale camels (continued)
أَيُّها الطالِبُ الَّذي قَلقَلَ العي
سَ[completes 'the pale camels'] وَأَبلىand wore out غُروضَهاtheir girths وَالوِراكاand the saddle-cloths
سَ وَأَبلى غُروضَها وَالوِراكا
O seeker who has jolted the pale camels onward
and worn out their girths and saddle-cloths,
نادِcall out بِالرَكبِto the caravan قَدalready بَلَغتَyou have reached إِلىto البَحthe sea (continued)
نادِ بِالرَكبِ قَد بَلَغتَ إِلى البَح
رِ[completes 'the sea'] فَعَرِّسso halt for the night بِهِbeside it كَفاكَit suffices you كَفاكاit suffices you
رِ فَعَرِّس بِهِ كَفاكَ كَفاكا
call to the caravan: “You have reached the sea;
encamp beside it—it suffices you, it suffices!”
Translation model: Sol 6.1