هَذيthese المَنازِلُthe dwellings بِالغَميمِat al-Ghamim فَنادِهاso call to them
هَذي المَنازِلُ بِالغَميمِ فَنادِها
وَاِسكُبand pour forth سَخِيَّthe abundant flow العَينِof the eye بَعدَafter جَمادِهاits dryness
وَاِسكُب سَخِيَّ العَينِ بَعدَ جَمادِها
These are the dwellings at al-Ghamim; call out to them.
These dwellings beneath the gloomy clouds, call to them
And pour forth the eye's generous tears after its dryness.
Pour forth freely your weeping eyes after the drought
إِنif كانَthere is دَينٌa debt لِلمَعالِمِto the landmarks فَاِقضِهِthen pay it
إِن كانَ دَينٌ لِلمَعالِمِ فَاِقضِهِ
أَوor مُهجَةٌa soul عِندَamong الطُلولِthe ruins فَفادِهاthen ransom it
أَو مُهجَةٌ عِندَ الطُلولِ فَفادِها
If a debt is owed to these landmarks, pay it;
If there is a debt owed to these ruins, then redeem it
or if a soul remains among the ruins, ransom it.
Or grief held by the tall stalks of the oleander, then relieve it
ياهَلah, will تَبُلُّquench مِنَsome of الغَليلِthe burning longing إِلَيهِمfor them
ياهَل تَبُلُّ مِنَ الغَليلِ إِلَيهِم
إِشرافَةٌa glimpse لِلرَكبِof the caravan فَوقَabove نِجادِهاtheir ridges
إِشرافَةٌ لِلرَكبِ فَوقَ نِجادِها
Ah, will it quench some burning longing for them—
O halts, do you not alleviate the stranded with hospitality
a glimpse of the caravan above their ridges?
A lofty tent for the riders atop its fine-haired camels
نُؤيٌa drainage trench كَمُنعَطِفِlike the curve الحَنِيَّةِof a bow دونَهُbefore it
نُؤيٌ كَمُنعَطِفِ الحَنِيَّةِ دونَهُ
سُحمُblack الخُدودِof cheek لَهُنَّtheirs is إِرثُthe inheritance رَمادِهاof its ashes
سُحمُ الخُدودِ لَهُنَّ إِرثُ رَمادِها
A trench like the curve of a bow, before it
Young gazelles, below them the dark cheeks whose heritage is the ashes
black-cheeked hearthstones, inheritors of its ashes.
Where the tents of communities settled and the resting place of youths
وَمَناطُand the anchoring-place أَطنابٍof tent-ropes وَمَقعَدُand a seat فِتيَةٍof young men
وَمَناطُ أَطنابٍ وَمَقعَدُ فِتيَةٍ
تَخبوdie down زِنادُthe fire-strikers الحَيِّof the tribe غَيرَexcept زِنادِهاtheir fire-strikers
تَخبو زِنادُ الحَيِّ غَيرَ زِنادِها
And moorings for tent-ropes, and a seat of young men:
Whose provisions of life have waned, not like their provisions
the tribe's fires die out, but theirs do not.
And the movement of the stallions of the steeds for some lads
وَمَجَرُّand the trail أَرسانِof halters الجِيادِof the steeds لِغِلمَةٍbelonging to youths
وَمَجَرُّ أَرسانِ الجِيادِ لِغِلمَةٍ
سَجَفواthey curtained البُيوتَthe tents بِشُقرِهاwith their chestnut steeds وَوِرادِهاand their bay steeds
سَجَفوا البُيوتَ بِشُقرِها وَوِرادِها
And the trail of steeds' halters, belonging to youths
Who have abandoned the houses with their blondness and whiteness
who curtained the tents with their chestnuts and bays.
And I have detained over the abodes a band
وَلَقَدand indeed حَبَستُI detained عَلىbeside الدِيارِthe dwellings عِصابَةًa band
وَلَقَد حَبَستُ عَلى الدِيارِ عِصابَةً
مَضمومَةَclasped الأَيديthe hands إِلىagainst أَكبادِهاtheir livers
مَضمومَةَ الأَيدي إِلى أَكبادِها
Indeed, I detained a band beside the dwellings,
Whose hands cling to their livers, grieving, conversing in tears
their hands pressed against their livers,
With sighs in their sleeping places. They stood at it as though their mounts
حَسَرىexhausted تَجاوَبُanswer one another بِالبُكاءِwith weeping عُيونُهاtheir eyes
حَسَرى تَجاوَبُ بِالبُكاءِ عُيونُها
وَتَعُطُّand rend بِالزَفَراتِwith sighs فيthrough أَبرادِهاtheir cloaks
وَتَعُطُّ بِالزَفَراتِ في أَبرادِها
exhausted, their eyes answering one another in tears,
Were their pillars, then they broke camp as tears poured its water and the supplies of their grief unloaded
and rending their cloaks with sighs.
From every carrier of provisions the teardrops from the ornaments of its saddlebags
وَقَفواthey stood بِهاthere حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّas though مَطِيَّهُمtheir mounts
وَقَفوا بِها حَتّى كَأَنَّ مَطِيَّهُم
كانَتwere قَوائِمُهُنَّtheir legs مِنmade from أَوتادِهاits tent-pegs
كانَت قَوائِمُهُنَّ مِن أَوتادِها
They stood there until it seemed their mounts
Your life, rather the life of your ruins lasted through eras
had legs made from the dwellings' tent-pegs.
Where the drizzle of its goodliness heals the sick region
ثُمَّthen اِنثَنَتturned away وَالدَمعُand tears ماءُthe water مَزادِهاof their waterskins
ثُمَّ اِنثَنَت وَالدَمعُ ماءُ مَزادِها
وَلَواعِجُand the burning pangs الأَشجانِof grief مِنamong أَزوادِهاtheir provisions
وَلَواعِجُ الأَشجانِ مِن أَزوادِها
Then the band turned away, tears the water of its waterskins,
And it has become, through the most excellent encampments, auspiciousness
and burning pangs of grief among its provisions.
Visiting while deceitful to its frequenters
مِنof كُلِّeach مُشتَمِلٍone wrapped in حَمايِلَthe shoulder-straps رَنَّةٍof a lament
مِن كُلِّ مُشتَمِلٍ حَمايِلَ رَنَّةٍ
قَطرُdroplets المَدامِعِof tearful eyes مِنamong حُليِّthe ornaments نِجادِهاof its swordbelt
قَطرُ المَدامِعِ مِن حُليِّ نِجادِها
Each of them wrapped in a lament's sword-straps,
Do you seek from the beholders after you anything
with teardrops among its swordbelt's ornaments.
Other than their flowing tears and their pillows
حَيَّتكَgreeted you بَلrather حَيَّتgreeted طُلولَكَyour ruins ديمَةٌa steady rain
حَيَّتكَ بَل حَيَّت طُلولَكَ ديمَةٌ
يَشفيheals سَقيمَthe ailing الرَبعِhomestead نَفثُthe breath عِهادِهاof its returning showers
يَشفي سَقيمَ الرَبعِ نَفثُ عِهادِها
A steady rain greeted you—rather, greeted your ruins;
No hoard remains for the tears over you all
the breath of its returning showers heals the ailing homestead.
No indeed, nor eyes that have shed their tears
وَغَدَتand became عَلَيكَover you مِنَof الخَمايِلِthe lush thickets يَمنَةًa Yemeni mantle
وَغَدَت عَلَيكَ مِنَ الخَمايِلِ يَمنَةً
تَستامُseeks a price نافِقَةًin demand عَلىamong رُوّادِهاits seekers
تَستامُ نافِقَةً عَلى رُوّادِها
And over you it became a Yemeni mantle of thickets,
Our weeping has preoccupied the tears from the dwellings
seeking a price, in demand among its seekers.
To weep for Fatimah over her children
هَلdo تَطلُبونَyou seek مِنَfrom النَواظِرِthe eyes بَعدَكُمafter your departure
هَل تَطلُبونَ مِنَ النَواظِرِ بَعدَكُم
شَيئاًanything سِوىexcept عَبَراتِهاtheir tears وَسُهادِهاand their sleeplessness
شَيئاً سِوى عَبَراتِها وَسُهادِها
Do you ask anything of the eyes after your departure,
They did not leave her regarding the martyr when he saw
except their tears and sleeplessness?
The Euphrates push back from its banks against its currents
لَمnot يَبقَremains ذُخرٌa reserve لِلمَدامِعِfor the tearful eyes عَنكُمُapart from you
لَم يَبقَ ذُخرٌ لِلمَدامِعِ عَنكُمُ
كَلّاno indeed وَلاnor عَينٌan eye جَرىflowed لِرُقَدِهاfor its slumber
كَلّا وَلا عَينٌ جَرى لِرُقَدِها
No store of tears remains unspent on you;
Do you suppose she knew that al-Husayn is an outcast
no indeed, nor an eye whose flow is for its slumber.
We met the Banu Turaba at his birth
شَغَلَdistracted الدُموعَthe tears عَنِfrom الدِيارِthe dwellings بُكاؤُناour weeping
شَغَلَ الدُموعَ عَنِ الدِيارِ بُكاؤُنا
لِبُكاءِfor the weeping فاطِمَةٍof Fatimah عَلىover أَولادِهاher children
لِبُكاءِ فاطِمَةٍ عَلى أَولادِها
Our weeping has diverted our tears from the dwellings,
Umayyah counted them in Iraq among her celebrations
as we mourn Fatimah's weeping over her children.
While in Syria she did not heed the Prophet's anger and morning came
لَمnot يَخلُفوهاthey acted as her successors فيregarding الشَهيدِthe martyr وَقَدand already رَأىhe saw
لَم يَخلُفوها في الشَهيدِ وَقَد رَأى
دُفَعَthe surges الفُراتِof the Euphrates يذادُbeing driven away عَنfrom أَورادِهاits watering places
دُفَعَ الفُراتِ يذادُ عَن أَورادِها
They failed to honor her in the martyr, who had seen
The Prophet's progeny prey for her steed
the Euphrates' surges, yet was barred from its watering places.
And the Prophet's blood atop her mountains
أَتُرىdo you think دَرَتshe knew أَنَّthat الحُسَينَal-Husayn طَريدَةٌwas prey
أَتُرى دَرَت أَنَّ الحُسَينَ طَريدَةٌ
لَقَناfor the spears بَنيof the sons الطَرداءِof the outcasts عِندَat وِلادِهاher giving birth
لَقَنا بَني الطَرداءِ عِندَ وِلادِها
Do you think she knew that al-Husayn was prey
Alas for her belonging to the Alawite faction
for the spears of the outcasts' sons when she gave birth?
That followed Umayyah after the glory of its leadership
كانَتthere were مَآتِمُmourning gatherings بِالعِراقِin Iraq تَعُدُّهاcounted them
كانَت مَآتِمُ بِالعِراقِ تَعُدُّها
أُمَويَّةٌthe Umayyad house بِالشامِin Syria مِنamong أَعيادِهاits festivals
أُمَويَّةٌ بِالشامِ مِن أَعيادِها
There were mourning gatherings in Iraq, which
It made the badges of disgrace on its snouts
the Umayyad house in Syria counted among its festivals.
And the vile brands on the cheeks of its steeds
ماnot راقَبَتit heeded غَضَبَthe anger النَبِيِّof the Prophet وَقَدand already غَداhad become
ما راقَبَت غَضَبَ النَبِيِّ وَقَد غَدا
زَرعُthe crop النَبِيِّof the Prophet مَظَنَّةًa likely target لِحَصادِهاfor its harvesting
زَرعُ النَبِيِّ مَظَنَّةً لِحَصادِها
It did not heed the Prophet's anger, though
She claimed the religion sanctioned her killing them
the Prophet's crop had become a likely harvest for it.
Is this religion not from their ancestors?
باعَتit sold بَصائِرَclear insights دينِهاof its faith بِضَلالِهاfor its error
باعَت بَصائِرَ دينِها بِضَلالِها
وَشَرَتand bought مَعاطِبَdestructive perils غَيِّهاof its waywardness بِرَشادِهاwith its guidance
وَشَرَت مَعاطِبَ غَيِّها بِرَشادِها
It sold the clear insights of its faith for its error,
She sought the legacy of paganism through it
and bought the perils of its waywardness with its guidance.
And found old rancor from its grudges
جَعَلَتit made رَسولَthe Messenger اللَهِof God مِنamong خُصَمائِهاits adversaries
جَعَلَت رَسولَ اللَهِ مِن خُصَمائِها
فَلَبِئسَso how evil ماwhat ذَخَرَتit stored لِيَومِfor the day مَعادِهاof its return
فَلَبِئسَ ما ذَخَرَت لِيَومِ مَعادِها
It made God's Messenger one of its adversaries;
She monopolized the authority from its absence
how evil what it stored for the day of its return!
And judged however she wished over its witnesses
نَسلُthe offspring النَبِيِّof the Prophet عَلىupon صِعابِthe unruly ones مَطِيِّهاof its mounts
نَسلُ النَبِيِّ عَلى صِعابِ مَطِيِّها
وَدَمُand the blood النَبِيِّof the Prophet عَلىon رُؤوسِthe tips صِعادِهاof its spears
وَدَمُ النَبِيِّ عَلى رُؤوسِ صِعادِها
The Prophet's offspring ride its unruly mounts,
God preceded you to their souls
and the Prophet's blood is on the tips of its spears.
And you reaped sins in their bodies
واah لَهفَتاهُmy anguish لِعُصبَةٍfor a band عَلَوِيَّةٍof Ali's lineage
وا لَهفَتاهُ لِعُصبَةٍ عَلَوِيَّةٍ
تَبِعَتthat followed أُمَيَّةَUmayyah بَعدَafter عِزِّthe glory قِيادِهاof its leadership
تَبِعَت أُمَيَّةَ بَعدَ عِزِّ قِيادِها
Ah, my anguish for a band of Ali's lineage
If those domes are destroyed then the pillars of the faith fell
that followed Umayyah after the glory of its own leadership!
Before its pillars
جَعَلَتit placed عِرانَthe nose-ring الذُلِّof abasement فيin آنافِهاtheir noses
جَعَلَت عِرانَ الذُلِّ في آنافِها
وَعِلاطَand the neck-mark وَسمِof the brand الضَيمِof oppression فيon أَجِيادِهاtheir necks
وَعِلاطَ وَسمِ الضَيمِ في أَجِيادِها
It placed the nose-ring of abasement in their noses,
Indeed the caliphate has inclined
and branded their necks with oppression's mark.
Away from its subjects, black and white
زَعَمَتit claimed بِأَنَّthat الدينَreligion سَوَّغَpermitted قَتلَهاtheir killing
زَعَمَت بِأَنَّ الدينَ سَوَّغَ قَتلَها
أَوَليسَand is it not هَذاthis الدينُreligion عَنfrom أَجدادِهاtheir forefathers
أَوَليسَ هَذا الدينُ عَن أَجدادِها
It claimed that religion sanctioned their killing;
Umayyah's wrongs have erased its podiums
yet was not this religion handed down by their forefathers?
Their wolves descend on its timber
طَلَبَتit sought تُراثَthe inheritance الجاهِلِيَّةِof the age of ignorance عِندَهاin their possession
طَلَبَت تُراثَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ عِندَها
وَشَفَتand assuaged قَديمَthe ancient الغِلِّrancor مِنamong أَحقادِهاits grudges
وَشَفَت قَديمَ الغِلِّ مِن أَحقادِها
It sought the age of ignorance's inheritance from them,
It is the elite of Allah, to whom He revealed
and assuaged the ancient rancor of its grudges.
And decreed His commands to its glories
وَاِستَأثَرَتand monopolized بِالأَمرِthe authority عَنexcluding غُيّابِهاtheir absent members
وَاِستَأثَرَت بِالأَمرِ عَن غُيّابِها
وَقَضَتand passed judgment بِماaccording to what شاءَتit wished عَلىover شُهّادِهاtheir present members
وَقَضَت بِما شاءَت عَلى شُهّادِها
It monopolized authority, excluding their absent members,
It took the pieces of earthenware, so one who envies
and ruled as it pleased over those of them present.
May resent the two weighty things among its enviers
اللَهُGod سابَقَكُمoutstripped you إِلىto أَرواحِهاtheir souls
اللَهُ سابَقَكُم إِلى أَرواحِها
وَكَسَبتُمُand you earned الآثامَthe sins فيthrough أَجسادِهاtheir bodies
وَكَسَبتُمُ الآثامَ في أَجسادِها
God reached their souls before you did,
Asceticism and inspirations are in its fruits
while you earned sins through their bodies.
And murder, if not for Allah, among its ascetics
إِنif قُوَّضَتwere dismantled تِلكَthose القِبابُdomed tents فَإِنَّماthen indeed
إِن قُوَّضَت تِلكَ القِبابُ فَإِنَّما
خَرَّتfell عِمادُthe pillars الدينِof faith قَبلَbefore عِمادِهاtheir tent-poles
خَرَّت عِمادُ الدينِ قَبلَ عِمادِها
If those domed tents were dismantled, then surely
A faction whose children are swaddled with spears
the pillars of faith fell before their tent-poles.
And the cradle mounts of its girls are the back of its horses
إِنَّindeed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate أَصبَحَتhas become مَزويَّةًwithheld
إِنَّ الخِلافَةَ أَصبَحَت مَزويَّةً
عَنfrom شَعبِهاtheir clan بِبَياضِهاwith its white members وَسَوادِهاand its black members
عَن شَعبِها بِبَياضِها وَسَوادِها
Indeed, the caliphate has now been withheld
Its enemies relate its merits for eternity
from their clan, white and black alike.
And attribute it to its opposites
طَمَسَتeffaced مَنابِرَهاits pulpits عُلوجُthe brutes أُمَيَّةٍof Umayyah
طَمَسَت مَنابِرَها عُلوجُ أُمَيَّةٍ
تَنزوleap ذِئابُهُمُtheir wolves عَلىupon أَعوادِهاits timbers
تَنزو ذِئابُهُمُ عَلى أَعوادِها
Umayyah's brutes have effaced its pulpits;
O jealousy of Allah, be wrathful for His Prophet
their wolves leap upon its timbers.
And remove the whites from their sheaths
هِيَit صَفوَةُthe chosen ones اللَهِof God الَّتيwho أَوحىHe revealed لَهاto them
هِيَ صَفوَةُ اللَهِ الَّتي أَوحى لَها
وَقَضىand conveyed أَوامِرَهُHis commands إِلىto أَمجادِهاtheir illustrious ones
وَقَضى أَوامِرَهُ إِلى أَمجادِها
They are God's chosen ones, to whom He revealed,
From a faction whose blood of Muhammad
and conveyed His commands to their illustrious ones.
And his progeny spilled between its Yazid and Ziyad
أَخَذَتthey took hold بِأَطرافِof every edge الفَخارِof glory فَعاذِرٌso one may excuse
أَخَذَت بِأَطرافِ الفَخارِ فَعاذِرٌ
أَنthat يُصبِحَshould become الثَقَلانِhumans and jinn مِنamong حُسّادِهاtheir enviers
أَن يُصبِحَ الثَقَلانِ مِن حُسّادِها
They grasped glory on every side; I can excuse
The shackles of Allah's wealth fill their palms
humans and jinn should they become their enviers.
While the palms of Allah's family are in shackles
الزَهدُasceticism وَالأَحلامُand forbearance فيin فُتّاكِهاtheir fierce fighters
الزَهدُ وَالأَحلامُ في فُتّاكِها
وَالفَتكُand deadly force لَولاwere it not for اللَهُGod فيin زُهّادِهاtheir ascetics
وَالفَتكُ لَولا اللَهُ في زُهّادِها
Asceticism and forbearance dwell in their fierce fighters,
They struck the progeny of Muhammad with the sword of Muhammad
and, but for God, deadly force in their ascetics.
Like the striking of preys after its hunter
عُصَبٌbands يُقَمَّطُis swaddled بِالنَجادِin a swordbelt وَليدُهاtheir newborn
عُصَبٌ يُقَمَّطُ بِالنَجادِ وَليدُها
وَمُهودُand the cradles صِبيَتِهاof their children ظُهورُthe backs جِيادِهاof their steeds
وَمُهودُ صِبيَتِها ظُهورُ جِيادِها
Bands whose newborns are swaddled in swordbelts,
I said to the lofty-saddled caravan, they are as though
and whose children's cradles are their steeds' backs.
Eagles perched atop the mountain passes
تَرويrecount مَناقِبَthe noble deeds فَضلِهاof their excellence أَعداؤُهاtheir enemies
تَروي مَناقِبَ فَضلِها أَعداؤُها
أَبَداًunceasingly وَتُسنِدُهُand attest it إِلىon the authority of أَضدادِهاtheir foes
أَبَداً وَتُسنِدُهُ إِلى أَضدادِها
Their enemies recount the noble deeds of their excellence
It marches crookedly like an ostrich he mounted
unceasingly, attesting it on the authority of their foes.
Whose bridle broke so it rebelled against its guide
ياO غَيرَةَprotective zeal اللَهِof God اِغضَبيbe angry لِنَبِيِّهِfor His Prophet
يا غَيرَةَ اللَهِ اِغضَبي لِنَبِيِّهِ
وَتَزَحزَحيand move forth بِالبيضِwith bright swords عَنout of أَغمادِهاtheir scabbards
وَتَزَحزَحي بِالبيضِ عَن أَغمادِها
O God's protective zeal, rage for His Prophet,
Until it imagined from the delusions of its necks
and bring the bright swords forth from their scabbards!
Their necks amongst its numbers during travel
مِنagainst عُصبَةٍa band ضاعَتwas wasted دِماءُthe blood مُحَمَّدٍof Muhammad
مِن عُصبَةٍ ضاعَت دِماءُ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَبَنيهِand his sons بَينَbetween يَزيدِهاits Yazid وَزِيادِهاand its Ziyad
وَبَنيهِ بَينَ يَزيدِها وَزِيادِها
Against a band among whom Muhammad's blood was wasted,
Stop with me, even if the lower garb is soiled, it is but
and his sons', between its Yazid and its Ziyad.
Anguish which the boiling within the heart clings to
صَفَداتُgifts مالِof the wealth اللَهِof God مِلءُfill أَكُفُّهاtheir palms
صَفَداتُ مالِ اللَهِ مِلءُ أَكُفُّها
وَأَكُفُّand the hands آلِof the household اللَهِof God فيin أَصفادِهاtheir fetters
وَأَكُفُّ آلِ اللَهِ في أَصفادِها
Gifts of God's wealth fill their palms,
In the howling wilderness, where their blood will be shed
while the hands of God's household are in their fetters.
And the resting place of their bodies on the day they are whipped
ضَرَبواthey struck بِسَيفِwith the sword مُحَمَّدٍof Muhammad أَبناءَهُhis sons
ضَرَبوا بِسَيفِ مُحَمَّدٍ أَبناءَهُ
ضَربَthe beating of الغَرائِبِstrange she-camels عُدنَthat returned بَعدَafter ذِيادِهاtheir being driven off
ضَربَ الغَرائِبِ عُدنَ بَعدَ ذِيادِها
With Muhammad's sword they struck his sons,
The desert, from its dwellings, and the birds, from
as strange she-camels are beaten when they return after being driven off.
Its warbling, and the beasts, from its visitors
قَدindeed قُلتُI said لِلرَكبِto the riders الطِلاحِthe exhausted كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
قَد قُلتُ لِلرَكبِ الطِلاحِ كَأَنَّهُم
رُبدُdusky النُسورِvultures عَلىupon ذُرىthe summits أَطوادِهاof their mountains
رُبدُ النُسورِ عَلى ذُرى أَطوادِها
I said to the exhausted riders, who seemed
The drops of tears flow to it, yet only
like dusky vultures upon their mountain summits,
The hearts' love dwells from its supplies
يَحدوa driver chants بِعوجٍto curved-necked mounts كَالحَنِيِّlike bows أَطاعَهُobeyed him
يَحدو بِعوجٍ كَالحَنِيِّ أَطاعَهُ
مُعتاصُهاtheir unruly ones فَطَغىso he overbore عَلىupon مُنقادِهاtheir docile ones
مُعتاصُها فَطَغى عَلى مُنقادِها
while a driver urged bow-curved mounts, obeyed by
O day of Ashura, how much agony you have
their unruly ones, then driving their docile ones too hard,
The entrails dance from its burning
حَتّىuntil تَخَيَّلَhe imagined مِنfrom هَبابِthe tossing رِقابِهاof their necks
حَتّى تَخَيَّلَ مِن هَبابِ رِقابِها
أَعناقَهاtheir necks فيduring السَيرِthe journey مِنamong أَعدادِهاtheir number
أَعناقَها في السَيرِ مِن أَعدادِها
until, from the tossing of their necks, he imagined
You have not returned except my heart is a burning ember
their necks, as they traveled, among the number of the mounts:
Scorching, though I exaggerate in cooling it
قِفhalt بيwith me وَلَوeven if only لَوثَfor a wrapping الإِزارَof the waistcloth فَإِنَّماfor it is only
قِف بي وَلَو لَوثَ الإِزارَ فَإِنَّما
هِيَit مُهجَةٌa soul عَلِقَclung الجَوىburning grief بِفُؤادِهاto its heart
هِيَ مُهجَةٌ عَلِقَ الجَوى بِفُؤادِها
Halt with me, if only for the tying of a waistcloth, for it
Like the throat's bitterness, recurring is its soreness
is but a soul whose heart is seized by burning grief,
The overflowing of tears repeats its counts
بِالطَفِّat al-Taff حَيثُwhere غَداbecame مُراقُthe spilling-place دِمائِهاof its blood
بِالطَفِّ حَيثُ غَدا مُراقُ دِمائِها
وَمَناخُand the kneeling-place أَينُقِهاof its she-camels لِيَومِfor the day جِلادِهاof its battle
وَمَناخُ أَينُقِها لِيَومِ جِلادِها
at al-Taff, where its blood was poured out,
O grandfather, the battalions of sadness have not ceased
and its she-camels knelt for the day of its battle.
To overwhelm the conscience with their abhorrence and chasing
القَفرُthe wilderness مِنamong أَرواقِهاits porticoes وَالطَيرُand birds مِنamong
القَفرُ مِن أَرواقِها وَالطَيرُ مِن
طُرّاقِهاits night-visitors وَالوَحشُand wild beasts مِنamong عُوّادِهاits visitors
طُرّاقِها وَالوَحشُ مِن عُوّادِها
The wilderness forms its porticoes, and birds are among
Forever upon you, and pouring tears
its night-guests, and wild beasts among its visitors.
If weeping does not comfort them, blindness makes them subside
تَجريflow لَهاfor it حَبَبُthe beads الدُموعِof tears وَإِنَّماyet indeed
تَجري لَها حَبَبُ الدُموعِ وَإِنَّما
حَبُّthe kernels القُلوبِof hearts يَكُنُّlie hidden مِنamong أَمدادِهاtheir replenishing supplies
حَبُّ القُلوبِ يَكُنُّ مِن أَمدادِها
Beads of tears flow for it, yet
This praise, though I have not attained, rather
the kernels of hearts lie hidden within their supply.
It is an arena from which they removed the honor of its steed
ياO يَومَday عاشوراءَof Ashura كَمhow many لَكَyou have لَوعَةًburning pangs
يا يَومَ عاشوراءَ كَم لَكَ لَوعَةً
تَتَرَقَّصُdance الأَحشاءُthe entrails مِنfrom إيقادِهاtheir kindling
تَتَرَقَّصُ الأَحشاءُ مِن إيقادِها
O day of Ashura, how many burning pangs you hold,
Shall I say your benevolence has flourished, while you
making the entrails dance with their kindling!
Are the flourishing of every region of its lands?
ماnever عُدتَyou returned إِلّاwithout عادَbecoming again قَلبيmy heart غُلَّةٌa burning thirst
ما عُدتَ إِلّا عادَ قَلبي غُلَّةٌ
حَرّىsearing وَلَوeven though بالَغتُI did my utmost فيin إِبرادِهاcooling it
حَرّى وَلَو بالَغتُ في إِبرادِها
Whenever you return, my heart becomes a burning thirst,
Or shall I gain more loftiness for you in my praises
searing, though I do my utmost to cool it.
Where are the mountains from the hilltops and their plateaus?
مِثلُlike السَليمِone bitten by a snake مَضيضَةٌpainful آناؤُهُhis hours
مِثلُ السَليمِ مَضيضَةٌ آناؤُهُ
خُزرُthe slant-eyed العُيونِof eye تَعودُهُrevisit him بِعِدادِهاwith their recurring pangs
خُزرُ العُيونِ تَعودُهُ بِعِدادِها
Like a snake-bitten man whose hours are agony,
How to praise the stars when they rise
the slant-eyed ones revisit him with their recurring pangs.
Above the eyes to the extent of their distances?
ياO جَدُّgrandfather لاnever زالَتmay cease كَتائِبُbattalions حَسرَةٍof grief
يا جَدُّ لا زالَت كَتائِبُ حَسرَةٍ
تَغشىoverrun الضَميرَthe inmost heart بِكَرِّهاwith their charges وَطِرادِهاand their pursuits
تَغشى الضَميرَ بِكَرِّها وَطِرادِها
O grandfather, may battalions of grief never cease
The dawning of the sun has made describing it needless
to overrun the inmost heart with their charges and pursuits,
Its splendor, its brilliance, and its remoteness
أَبَداًforever عَلَيكَfor you وَأَدمُعٌand tears مَسفوحَةٌpoured forth
أَبَداً عَلَيكَ وَأَدمُعٌ مَسفوحَةٌ
إِنif لَمnot يُراوِحهاit visits them at evening البُكاءُweeping يُغادِهاvisits them at dawn
إِن لَم يُراوِحها البُكاءُ يُغادِها
forever for you, with tears poured forth:
if weeping does not visit them at evening, it visits them at dawn.
هَذاthis الثَناءُpraise وَماand not بَلَغتُI reached the goal وَإِنَّماand it is only
هَذا الثَناءُ وَما بَلَغتُ وَإِنَّما
هِيَit حَلبَةٌa racecourse خَلَعواthey removed عِذارَthe bridle's cheek-strap جَوادِهاof its steed
هِيَ حَلبَةٌ خَلَعوا عِذارَ جَوادِها
This is my praise, yet I have fallen short; it is only
a racecourse whose steed's bridle they have cast off.
أَأَقولُshall I say جادَكُمُmay it lavish bounty on you الرَبيعُspring وَأَنتُمُwhen you yourselves
أَأَقولُ جادَكُمُ الرَبيعُ وَأَنتُمُ
فيin كُلِّevery مَنزِلَةٍdwelling رَبيعُthe spring بِلادِهاof its lands
في كُلِّ مَنزِلَةٍ رَبيعُ بِلادِها
Shall I say, 'May spring lavish bounty on you,' when you
are, in every dwelling, the springtime of its lands?
أَمor أَستَزيدُshall I seek more لَكُمfor you عُلاًloftiness بِمَدائِحيthrough my praises
أَم أَستَزيدُ لَكُم عُلاً بِمَدائِحي
أَينَwhere الجِبالُthe mountains مِنَcompared with الرُبىthe hills وَوِهادِهاand their hollows
أَينَ الجِبالُ مِنَ الرُبى وَوِهادِها
Or shall I seek more loftiness for you through my praises?
How far above hills and their hollows are the mountains!
كَيفَhow الثَناءُpraise عَلىof النُجومِthe stars إِذاwhen سَمَتthey rise high
كَيفَ الثَناءُ عَلى النُجومِ إِذا سَمَت
فَوقَabove العُيونِthe eyes إِلىto مَدىthe extent أَبعادِهاof their distances
فَوقَ العُيونِ إِلى مَدى أَبعادِها
How can one praise the stars when they rise
above the eyes to their farthest reaches?
أَغنىmade needless طُلوعُthe rising الشَمسِof the sun عَنthe need for أَوصافِهاdescriptions of it
أَغنى طُلوعُ الشَمسِ عَن أَوصافِها
نِجَلالِهاby its majesty (likely intended) وَضِيائِهاand its radiance وَبَعادِهاand its remoteness
نِجَلالِها وَضِيائِها وَبَعادِها
The sun's rising makes descriptions of it needless,
by its majesty, its radiance, and its remoteness.
Partial English translation: 104 of 116 Arabic lines translated.