ولَمَّاand when تَلافَيْناwe came upon التِّلالَthe hills بِلَعْلَعٍat Laʿlaʿ
ولَمَّا تَلافَيْنا التِّلالَ بِلَعْلَعٍ
ولَفَّتْand circled بناaround us آرامُwhite gazelles جَرْعاءِof the sandy tract لَعْلَعِof Laʿlaʿ
ولَفَّتْ بنا آرامُ جَرْعاءِ لَعْلَعِ
And when we came upon the hills at Laʿlaʿ,
When we bypassed the hills in procession
and the white gazelles of Laʿlaʿ's sandy tract circled around us,
And the meadows of Jarʿā’ encompassed us
ولاحَتْand appeared قِبابُdomed tents الحبِّof love منfrom أيْمَنِthe right side اللِّواof al-Liwā
ولاحَتْ قِبابُ الحبِّ من أيْمَنِ اللِّوا
رَشَشْناwe sprinkled مَفازاتِthe wastes الطُّلولِof ruined dwellings بأدْمُعِwith tears
رَشَشْنا مَفازاتِ الطُّلولِ بأدْمُعِ
and love's domed tents appeared to the right of al-Liwā,
The domes of love appeared from the right of the folds
we sprinkled the wastes of the ruined dwellings with tears.
We sprinkled the barrens with our tears
تَباكىfeigned weeping أُناسٌsome people يَدَّعونَmake claims وإنَّماbut only
تَباكى أُناسٌ يَدَّعونَ وإنَّما
يُبَيِّنُexposes هَطَّالُthe downpour البُكاof weeping كُلَّevery مُدَّعِpretender
يُبَيِّنُ هَطَّالُ البُكا كُلَّ مُدَّعِ
Some people feigned weeping, making claims; yet only
People weep pretending while in fact
the downpour of tears exposes every pretender.
The chanter's weeping reveals every pretender
وقَلْبٌand a heart رَعاهُguarded it اللهُGod ماnot زالَceased راعياًkeeping watch over
وقَلْبٌ رَعاهُ اللهُ ما زالَ راعياً
أجارِعَهُمْtheir sandy tracts بينَbetween الحَطيمِal-Ḥaṭīm وأجْرَعِand Ajraʿ
أجارِعَهُمْ بينَ الحَطيمِ وأجْرَعِ
And a heart—may God guard it—still keeps watch over
A heart God tended, remaining a shepherd
their sandy tracts between al-Ḥaṭīm and Ajraʿ.
Sheltering them amid ruins and crying out
يَصُبُّpours out وُلوعاًpassion منfrom جَميعِall جِهاتِهِits sides
يَصُبُّ وُلوعاً من جَميعِ جِهاتِهِ
فَماthen what الرَّأيُthe counsel فيconcerning ذاكَthat الفُؤادِheart المُوَلَّعِkindled with passion
فَما الرَّأيُ في ذاكَ الفُؤادِ المُوَلَّعِ
It pours out passion from every side:
It pours anguish from all its sides
what, then, is to be done with that passion-kindled heart?
What is your view of that impassioned heart?
فَياthen O كَبِديmy liver ماnot ذُبْتِyou melted والجَمْرُwhile the embers لاهِبٌblazing
فَيا كَبِدي ما ذُبْتِ والجَمْرُ لاهِبٌ
وياand O مُهْجَتيmy heart's blood لِمْwhy أنتِyou لمnot تَقَطَّعيyou broke apart
ويا مُهْجَتي لِمْ أنتِ لم تَقَطَّعي
Then O my liver, you have not melted, though the embers blaze!
Oh my liver, why do you melt and the embers are burning?
And O my heart's blood, why have you not been torn apart?
Oh my inner self, why have you not been torn apart?
بَعُدْتِyou have grown distant وهذاand this الحَيُّencampment أقْرَبُthe nearest ماwhat يُرىis seen
بَعُدْتِ وهذا الحَيُّ أقْرَبُ ما يُرى
بِمَرْأُىwithin sight منof المَحْبوبِthe beloved أنتِyou ومَسْمَعِand hearing
بِمَرْأُى من المَحْبوبِ أنتِ ومَسْمَعِ
You have grown distant, though this encampment is the nearest in sight;
You are far away while this life is the closest thing seen
you are within sight and hearing of the beloved.
Within sight of the beloved you are, and hearing
تَلألأsparkled فيwithin طَيِّthe folds الحِجابِof the veil جَمالُهُhis beauty
تَلألأ في طَيِّ الحِجابِ جَمالُهُ
ولاحَand appeared ولكنْand yet بالجَمالِin beauty المُبَرْقَعِveiled
ولاحَ ولكنْ بالجَمالِ المُبَرْقَعِ
His beauty sparkled within the folds of the veil,
His beauty shines through the veil
and appeared, yet in veiled beauty.
And appears but with veiled beauty
وَرَقْرَقَةِand by the rippling النَّشْرِof fragrance الخُزاميlavender إذاwhen بَداit appeared
وَرَقْرَقَةِ النَّشْرِ الخُزامي إذا بَدا
لَطيفاًdelicate يَميجُsets swaying الرَّوْضَthe garden فيin خَيرِthe finest أرْبُعِdwelling places
لَطيفاً يَميجُ الرَّوْضَ في خَيرِ أرْبُعِ
And by the rippling of lavender fragrance when it rises,
The tinkling of the Khuzāmī spread when it emerges
delicate, setting the garden swaying in the finest abodes;
Delicate, stirring the meadow during the finest time
وَرِقَّةِand by the delicacy رَمْشٍof lashes منfrom جُفونٍeyelids مَريضَةٍlanguid
وَرِقَّةِ رَمْشٍ من جُفونٍ مَريضَةٍ
تَصولُassail بمَجْذوبِwith the drawn الحُسامِsword المُلَمَّعِburnished
تَصولُ بمَجْذوبِ الحُسامِ المُلَمَّعِ
and by the delicacy of lashes on languid eyelids,
The fluttering of eyelids from sick eyes
that assail with a drawn, burnished sword;
Roaming with the crazed, polished sword
وَدِقَّةِand by the slenderness مَنْحولِlean القَوامِof stature الَّذيthat انْبَرىcame forth
وَدِقَّةِ مَنْحولِ القَوامِ الَّذي انْبَرى
بِعودٍwith a shaft يَمانِيِّYemeni السِّنانِthe spearhead مُشَرَّعِleveled
بِعودٍ يَمانِيِّ السِّنانِ مُشَرَّعِ
and by the slenderness of the lean figure that came forth
The swaying of the slender, tall figure which came forth
with a leveled shaft bearing a Yemeni spearhead;
With a Yemeni rod, teeth bared
ولامِعِand by the gleam نورٍof light منfrom جَبينٍa brow مُلألاءٍglittering
ولامِعِ نورٍ من جَبينٍ مُلألاءٍ
تَجَلَّىrevealed itself بأصْنافِin the forms الجَمالِof beauty المُنَوَّعِvaried
تَجَلَّى بأصْنافِ الجَمالِ المُنَوَّعِ
and by the gleam of light from a glittering brow,
And the shining light from a bright forehead
revealed in beauty's many varied forms:
Manifest in varieties of adorned beauty
أعَزَّexalted الغِنىwealth قَوْميmy people وأنِّيand indeed I فَقيرُهُمْtheir pauper
أعَزَّ الغِنى قَوْمي وأنِّي فَقيرُهُمْ
وَفدْتُI came as a visitor عَلَيْهمْto them لاnothing عَلَيَّon me ولاand nothing معيwith me
وَفدْتُ عَلَيْهمْ لا عَلَيَّ ولا معي
wealth has exalted my people, while I am their pauper;
My people's wealth impoverished me, and I their poorest
I came to them with nothing on me and nothing with me.
I came to them, not to me or with me
تَقولُsay بِطَمْطامِamid the deep sea الدَّياجيof dark nights خُدودُهُمْtheir cheeks
تَقولُ بِطَمْطامِ الدَّياجي خُدودُهُمْ
لِطالِعَةِto the rising الشَّمْسِsun المُهَلَّلَةِbeaming اطْلَعيrise
لِطالِعَةِ الشَّمْسِ المُهَلَّلَةِ اطْلَعي
Amid the deep sea of dark nights, their cheeks say
Their cheeks say in prattling
to the rising, beaming sun: 'Rise!'
“Rise to see the crescent moon risen!”
شَكَوْتُI complained لآرامِto the white gazelles الحِمىof the sanctuary هَجْرَthe desertion سادَتيof my masters
شَكَوْتُ لآرامِ الحِمى هَجْرَ سادَتي
هوit الظَّبْيُthe gazelle شيءٌa thing لاnot يَرِقُّfeels tenderness ولاnor يعيunderstands
هو الظَّبْيُ شيءٌ لا يَرِقُّ ولا يعي
I complained to the sanctuary's white gazelles of my masters' desertion;
I complained to the feverish meadows of my masters' estrangement
it is the gazelle—a creature that neither feels tenderness nor understands.
He is the gazelle - it cares not nor understands
وساجَلْتُand I vied فيهمfor their sake كُلَّevery بَحرٍsea مُطَمْطَمٍdeep and surging
وساجَلْتُ فيهم كُلَّ بَحرٍ مُطَمْطَمٍ
بِدَمعيwith my tears وهَزَّand shook الطَّوْدَthe mountain صَوْتُthe sound تَفجُّعيof my lament
بِدَمعي وهَزَّ الطَّوْدَ صَوْتُ تَفجُّعي
And for their sake I vied with every deep, surging sea
And I contended with every roaring sea among them
with my tears, and the sound of my lament shook the mountain.
With my tears, and my crying out shook the hillocks
أُلاقيI face المَناياdeaths كَيso that ألاقيI may meet عَبيدَهُمْtheir servants
أُلاقي المَنايا كَي ألاقي عَبيدَهُمْ
وأودِعُand I entrust روحيmy soul لَهْفَةًyearning للمُوَدِّعِto the one bidding farewell
وأودِعُ روحي لَهْفَةً للمُوَدِّعِ
I face death so that I may meet their servants,
I seek death to meet their servants
and entrust my soul, in yearning, to the one bidding farewell.
And confide my soul in yearning for the confider
ويَسْأمُand grows weary مِنِّيof me اللَّيلُthe night منfrom طولِthe length أنَّتيof my moaning
ويَسْأمُ مِنِّي اللَّيلُ من طولِ أنَّتي
ويُبكيand makes weep الصُّخورَthe rocks الرَّاسِياتِfirmly rooted تَوَجُّعيmy anguish
ويُبكي الصُّخورَ الرَّاسِياتِ تَوَجُّعي
And night grows weary of me from my long moaning,
The night grows weary of me from my long sighing
and my anguish makes the firmly rooted rocks weep.
And my suffering makes even boulders weep
أُلاقيI face المَناياdeaths كيso that ألاقيI may meet عَبيدَهُمْtheir servants
أُلاقي المَنايا كي ألاقي عَبيدَهُمْ
وأُودِعُand I entrust روحيmy soul لهفَةًyearning للموَدَّعِto the one bid farewell
وأُودِعُ روحي لهفَةً للموَدَّعِ
I face death so that I may meet their servants,
Alone I suffer their concerns and my misfortune
and entrust my soul, in yearning, to the one being bid farewell.
Not finding a consoler or fellow sufferer
ويسأَمُand grows weary منِّيof me اللَّيْلُthe night منfrom طولِthe length أنَّتيof my moaning
ويسأَمُ منِّي اللَّيْلُ من طولِ أنَّتي
ويُبكيand makes weep الصُّخورَthe rocks الرَّاسِياتِfirmly rooted توجُّعيmy anguish
ويُبكي الصُّخورَ الرَّاسِياتِ توجُّعي
And night grows weary of me from my long moaning,
My inner self halted on a summit of their land
and my anguish makes the firmly rooted rocks weep.
Healthy, and I say: O sky, do not depart!
وَحيداًalone أُعانيI suffer همَّهُمْgrief over them وامُصيبَتيalas, my calamity
وَحيداً أُعاني همَّهُمْ وامُصيبَتي
ولمand not أَلقَI found منany مُسْلٍcomforter ولاnor متوَجِّعِsympathizer
ولم أَلقَ من مُسْلٍ ولا متوَجِّعِ
Alone I suffer grief over them—alas, my calamity!
I restrain my passions, dejected, in bewilderment
And I have found neither comforter nor sympathizer.
And the feverish meadow is accustomed to snarling in bewilderment
علىon ذُروَةٍa summit منof أرضِهِمْtheir land وقْفُthe dedication مُهْجَتيof my heart's blood
على ذُروَةٍ من أرضِهِمْ وقْفُ مُهْجَتي
صَحيحٌvalid ومنِّيand from me ياO سَماءُsky ألاbehold اقْلِعيcease
صَحيحٌ ومنِّي يا سَماءُ ألا اقْلِعي
On a summit of their land, the dedication of my heart's blood
With my rapture, my anguish, my brokenness, my agony
is valid; and from me comes the cry: 'O sky, do cease!'
With the longing of my heart, with grief, pleading
أُجالِدُI wrestle with أشواقيmy longings كَئيباًsorrowful بمَهْيَعٍat Mahyaʿ
أُجالِدُ أشواقي كَئيباً بمَهْيَعٍ
وريمُand the white gazelle الحِمىof the sanctuary اعْتادَgrew accustomed to النِّفارَflight بمَهْيَعِat Mahyaʿ
وريمُ الحِمى اعْتادَ النِّفارَ بمَهْيَعِ
I wrestle with my longings, sorrowful, at Mahyaʿ,
With a soul that departed and was absent due to your absence
while the sanctuary's white gazelle has grown used to fleeing at Mahyaʿ.
Say to it: "Oh our soul's servant, return!"
بذُلِّيby my abasement بوجْديby my longing بانْكِساريby my brokenness بلَوْعَتيby my burning anguish
بذُلِّي بوجْدي بانْكِساري بلَوْعَتي
بلهْفَةِby the yearning قلبيof my heart بالضَّنىby wasting sickness بتخَضُّعيby my humble submission
بلهْفَةِ قلبي بالضَّنى بتخَضُّعي
By my abasement, by my longing, by my brokenness, by my burning anguish,
by my heart's yearning, by wasting sickness, by my humble submission,
بروحٍby a soul بكُمْwith you راحَتْdeparted وغابتْand vanished بغيْبِكُمْin your absence
بروحٍ بكُمْ راحَتْ وغابتْ بغيْبِكُمْ
فقولواthen say لهاto it ياO نفسَsoul خادِمِناof our servant ارْجِعيreturn
فقولوا لها يا نفسَ خادِمِنا ارْجِعي
by a soul that departed with you and vanished in your absence,
then say to it: 'O soul of our servant, return!'
Partial English translation: 46 of 50 Arabic lines translated.