بِأَبي خَيالٌ لاحَ لي مُتَلَفِّفاً

بِأَبي خَيالٌ لاحَ لي مُتَلَفِّفاً

بِعَباءَةٍ مِن عَهدِ فَخرَ الدينِ

بِعَباءَةٍ مِن عَهدِ فَخرَ الدينِ

My father be ransom for a phantom that appeared to me, wrapped

I would give my father as ransom for a phantom that appeared to me, wrapped

in a cloak from the age of Fakhr al-Din.

In a cloak from the era of Fakhr al-Din.

يَمشي عَلى مَهَلٍ وَيُرسِلُ طَرفَهُ

يَمشي عَلى مَهَلٍ وَيُرسِلُ طَرفَهُ

في حيرَةِ المُستَوحِشِ المَحزونِ

في حيرَةِ المُستَوحِشِ المَحزونِ

He walks slowly and casts his gaze

Walking slowly and casting his gaze about

in the bewilderment of one lonely and sorrowful.

With the bewilderment of one lonely and sorrowful.

مَن أَنتَ يا شَبَحاً كَئيباً صامِتاً

مَن أَنتَ يا شَبَحاً كَئيباً صامِتاً

قُل لي فَإِنَّكَ قَد أَثَرتَ شُجوني

قُل لي فَإِنَّكَ قَد أَثَرتَ شُجوني

Who are you, O gloomy, silent specter?

Who are you, O silent, gloomy specter?

Tell me, for you have stirred my sorrows.

Tell me, for you have stirred my deep grief.

أَخَيالُ خَصمٍ أَتَّقي نَزَواتِهِ

أَخَيالُ خَصمٍ أَتَّقي نَزَواتِهِ

أَم أَنتَ يا هَذا خَيالُ خَدينِ

أَم أَنتَ يا هَذا خَيالُ خَدينِ

Are you a foe's phantom, whose outbursts I guard against,

Are you the ghost of a foe whose caprices I fear,

or are you, you there, a dear friend's phantom?

Or are you, O stranger, the ghost of a close friend?

فَأَجابَني مُتَرَفِّقاً مُتَحَبِّباً

فَأَجابَني مُتَرَفِّقاً مُتَحَبِّباً

فَسَمِعتُ صَوتَ أَبٍ أَبَرَّ حَنونِ

فَسَمِعتُ صَوتَ أَبٍ أَبَرَّ حَنونِ

He answered me gently and affectionately,

He answered me gently and affectionately,

and I heard the voice of a most loving, tender father:

And I heard the voice of a most righteous, tender father:

يا شاعِري قُل لِلأُلى هَجَروني

يا شاعِري قُل لِلأُلى هَجَروني

أَنا ما نَسيتَكُم فَلا تَنسوني

أَنا ما نَسيتَكُم فَلا تَنسوني

O my poet, tell those who abandoned me:

"O my poet, tell those who have abandoned me:

I have not forgotten you, so do not forget me.

I have not forgotten you, so do not forget me.

ما بالِكُم طَوَّلتُمُ حَبلَ النَوى

ما بالِكُم طَوَّلتُمُ حَبلَ النَوى

يا لَيتَ هَذا الحَبلَ غَيرُ مَتينِ

يا لَيتَ هَذا الحَبلَ غَيرُ مَتينِ

Why have you lengthened the cord of separation?

Why have you lengthened the rope of separation?

Oh, would that this cord were not so strong!

Would that this rope were not so strong.

قَد طُفتُمُ الدُنيا فَهَل شاهَدتُمُ

قَد طُفتُمُ الدُنيا فَهَل شاهَدتُمُ

جَبَلاً عَلَيهِ مَهابَتي وَسُكوني

جَبَلاً عَلَيهِ مَهابَتي وَسُكوني

You have roamed the world; have you seen

You have roamed the world; have you ever beheld

a mountain with my majesty and stillness?

A mountain that bears my majesty and serenity?

أَوَرَدتُمُ كَمَناهِلي أَنَشَقتُمُ كَأَزا

أَوَرَدتُمُ كَمَناهِلي أَنَشَقتُمُ كَأَزا

هيري في الحُسنِ وَالتَلوينِ

هيري في الحُسنِ وَالتَلوينِ

Have you drunk at springs like mine, or smelled flowers like mine

Have you drunk from springs like mine? Have you inhaled scents

in beauty and color?

Like my blossoms in their beauty and hues?

وَلَقَد تَظَلَّلتُم بِأَشجارٍ فَهَل

وَلَقَد تَظَلَّلتُم بِأَشجارٍ فَهَل

رَفَّت غُصونٌ فَوقَكُم كَغُصوني

رَفَّت غُصونٌ فَوقَكُم كَغُصوني

You have taken shelter beneath trees; but have

You have sought shade beneath trees, but did

branches swayed above you like my branches?

Branches ever flutter above you like my branches?

وَسَمِعتُمُ شَتّى الطُيورِ صَوادِحاً

وَسَمِعتُمُ شَتّى الطُيورِ صَوادِحاً

أَسَمِعتُمُ أَشجى مِنَ الحَسّونِ

أَسَمِعتُمُ أَشجى مِنَ الحَسّونِ

You have heard all manner of birds singing;

You have heard all manner of birds singing;

have you heard one more moving than the goldfinch?

Did you hear any more moving than the goldfinch?

هَل أَنبَتَت كَالأَرزِ غَيري بُقعَةٌ

هَل أَنبَتَت كَالأَرزِ غَيري بُقعَةٌ

في مَجدِهِ وَجَلالِهِ المَيمونِ

في مَجدِهِ وَجَلالِهِ المَيمونِ

Has any other land brought forth the cedar's equal

Has any other land grown trees like the Cedar

in its glory and blessed grandeur?

In its glory and its auspicious majesty?

أَرَأَيتُمُ في ما رَأَيتُم فِتنَةً

أَرَأَيتُمُ في ما رَأَيتُم فِتنَةً

كَالبَدرِ حينَ يُطِلُّ مِن صِنّينِ

كَالبَدرِ حينَ يُطِلُّ مِن صِنّينِ

Have you seen, among all you have seen, an enchantment

Have you seen, in all you have viewed, a charm

like the full moon when it peers out from Sannine?

Like the full moon when it looks down from Sannine?

أَو كَالغَزالَةِ وَهيَ تَنقَضُّ تِبرَجا

أَو كَالغَزالَةِ وَهيَ تَنقَضُّ تِبرَجا

عِندَ المَغيبِ عَلى ذُرى حَرَمونِ

عِندَ المَغيبِ عَلى ذُرى حَرَمونِ

Or like the sun as it swoops down in splendor

Or like the sun descending in radiant display

at sunset upon Hermon's peaks?

At twilight upon the peaks of Mount Hermon?

مَرَّت قُرونٌ وَاِنطَوَت وَكَأَنَّني

مَرَّت قُرونٌ وَاِنطَوَت وَكَأَنَّني

لِمَحاسِني كُوِّنتُ مُنذُ سِنينِ

لِمَحاسِني كُوِّنتُ مُنذُ سِنينِ

Centuries have passed and vanished, yet it seems that I,

Centuries have passed and folded away, yet it seems

to judge by my beauties, was fashioned only years ago.

As if I were created for my beauty but a few years ago.

أَبلَيتُها وَبَقَيتُ إِلّا أَنَّني

أَبلَيتُها وَبَقَيتُ إِلّا أَنَّني

لِلشَوقِ كادَ غِيابُكُم يَبليني

لِلشَوقِ كادَ غِيابُكُم يَبليني

I wore them out and survived; yet

I wore out the ages while I remained, yet truly

your absence has almost worn me out with longing.

From longing, your absence has nearly worn me away."

لُبنانُ لا تَعذِل بَنيكَ إِذا هُمُ

لُبنانُ لا تَعذِل بَنيكَ إِذا هُمُ

رَكِبوا إِلى العَلياءِ كُلَّ سَفينِ

رَكِبوا إِلى العَلياءِ كُلَّ سَفينِ

Lebanon, do not reproach your sons if they

Lebanon, do not chide your sons if they

board every ship bound for the heights.

Have boarded every ship in pursuit of glory.

لَم يَهجُروكَ مَلالَةً لَكِنَّهُم

لَم يَهجُروكَ مَلالَةً لَكِنَّهُم

خُلِقوا لِصَيدِ اللُؤلُؤِ المَكنونِ

خُلِقوا لِصَيدِ اللُؤلُؤِ المَكنونِ

They did not abandon you out of weariness; rather, they

They did not leave you out of weariness, but rather

were created to hunt for hidden pearls.

They were created to hunt the hidden pearl.

وَرَثوا اِقتِحامَ البَحرِ عَن فينيقيا

وَرَثوا اِقتِحامَ البَحرِ عَن فينيقيا

أُمِّ الثَقافَةِ مَصدَرِ التَمدينِ

أُمِّ الثَقافَةِ مَصدَرِ التَمدينِ

They inherited the daring to brave the sea from Phoenicia,

They inherited the conquest of the sea from Phoenicia,

mother of culture, source of civilization.

The mother of culture, the source of civilization.

لَمّا وَلَدَتهُمُ نُسوراً حَلَّقوا

لَمّا وَلَدَتهُمُ نُسوراً حَلَّقوا

لا يَقنَعونَ مِنَ العُلى بِالدونِ

لا يَقنَعونَ مِنَ العُلى بِالدونِ

When you bore them as eagles, they soared;

Since she bore them as eagles, they have soared,

they do not settle for lesser heights.

Content with nothing less than the highest peaks.

وَالنَسرُ لا يَرضى السُجونَ وَإِن تَكُن

وَالنَسرُ لا يَرضى السُجونَ وَإِن تَكُن

ذَهَباً فَكَيفَ مَحابِسٌ مِن طينِ

ذَهَباً فَكَيفَ مَحابِسٌ مِن طينِ

And the eagle will not accept prisons, even if they are

The eagle accepts no prison, even if made

of gold; how, then, cages made of clay?

Of gold—so how then, a prison made of clay?

الأَرضُ لِلحَشَراتِ تَزحَفُ فَوقَها

الأَرضُ لِلحَشَراتِ تَزحَفُ فَوقَها

وَالجَوُّ لِلبازي وَلِلشاهينِ

وَالجَوُّ لِلبازي وَلِلشاهينِ

The earth is for insects that crawl upon it,

The earth is for the insects that crawl upon it,

and the sky for the goshawk and the peregrine falcon.

But the sky belongs to the falcon and the hawk.

فَأَجابَني وَالدَمعُ مِلءُ جُفونِهِ

فَأَجابَني وَالدَمعُ مِلءُ جُفونِهِ

كَم ذا تُسَلّيني وَلا تُسليني

كَم ذا تُسَلّيني وَلا تُسليني

He answered me, his eyes brimming with tears:

He answered me, tears brimming in his eyes:

How you console me, yet do not make me forget!

"How much you try to console me, yet I am not consoled.

ئنا كَالعَرينِ اليَومَ غابَ أُسودُهُ

ئنا كَالعَرينِ اليَومَ غابَ أُسودُهُ

وَتَفَرَّقوا عَنهُ لِكُلِّ عَرينِ

وَتَفَرَّقوا عَنهُ لِكُلِّ عَرينِ

Today I am like a lair whose lions have gone

I am like a den today whose lions have vanished,

and scattered from it to every other lair.

Scattering from it to every other lair.

الأَرمَنِيُّ عَلى سُفوحي وَالرُبى

الأَرمَنِيُّ عَلى سُفوحي وَالرُبى

يَبني الحُصونَ لِنَفسِهِ بِحُصوني

يَبني الحُصونَ لِنَفسِهِ بِحُصوني

The Armenian, upon my slopes and hills,

The Armenian upon my slopes and hills

builds himself fortresses within my strongholds.

Builds fortresses for himself from my own stones.

وَبَنو يَهوذا يَنصِبونَ خِيامَهُم

وَبَنو يَهوذا يَنصِبونَ خِيامَهُم

في ظِلِّ أَودِيَتي وَفَوقَ حُزوني

في ظِلِّ أَودِيَتي وَفَوقَ حُزوني

And the sons of Judah pitch their tents

And the sons of Judah pitch their tents

in the shade of my valleys and upon my rugged uplands.

In the shadow of my valleys and upon my rugged terrain.

وَبَنِيَّ عَنّي غافِلونَ كَأَنَّني

وَبَنِيَّ عَنّي غافِلونَ كَأَنَّني

قَد صِرتُ في الأَشياءِ غَيرَ ثَمينِ

قَد صِرتُ في الأَشياءِ غَيرَ ثَمينِ

My own sons are heedless of me, as though I

While my own sons are heedless of me, as if

had become a thing of no value.

I have become a thing of little worth.

أَنتُم دُيونٌ لي عَلى آميركا

أَنتُم دُيونٌ لي عَلى آميركا

وَمِنَ المُروأَةِ أَن تُرَدَّ دُيوني

وَمِنَ المُروأَةِ أَن تُرَدَّ دُيوني

You are debts that America owes me,

You are debts owed to me by America,

and honor requires that my debts be repaid.

And honor demands that my debts be repaid.

أَوَ لَيسَ مِن سُخرِ القَضاءِ وَهُزإِهِ

أَوَ لَيسَ مِن سُخرِ القَضاءِ وَهُزإِهِ

أَن يَأخُذَ المَثري مِنَ المِسكينِ

أَن يَأخُذَ المَثري مِنَ المِسكينِ

Is it not fate's mockery and derision

Is it not a mockery and jest of fate

that the wealthy should take from the poor?

That the wealthy should take from the destitute?

عودوا فَإِنَّ المالَ لا يُغنيكُمُ

عودوا فَإِنَّ المالَ لا يُغنيكُمُ

عَنّي وَلا هُوَ عَنكُمُ يُغنيني

عَنّي وَلا هُوَ عَنكُمُ يُغنيني

Return, for wealth cannot suffice you

Return, for wealth cannot replace me for you,

without me, nor can it suffice me without you.

Nor can it ever replace you for me."

فَشَجيتُ مِمّا قالَهُ لَكِنَّني

فَشَجيتُ مِمّا قالَهُ لَكِنَّني

لَمّا رَأَيتُكُمُ نَسيتُ شُجوني

لَمّا رَأَيتُكُمُ نَسيتُ شُجوني

I grieved at what he said; yet

I was deeply grieved by what he said, yet

when I saw you, I forgot my sorrows.

When I saw you all, I forgot my sorrows.

لُبنانُ فيكُم مائِلٌ إِن كُنتُمُ

لُبنانُ فيكُم مائِلٌ إِن كُنتُمُ

في مِصرَ أَو في الهِندِ أَو في الصينِ

في مِصرَ أَو في الهِندِ أَو في الصينِ

Lebanon is embodied in you, whether you are

Lebanon lives within you, whether you be

in Egypt or in India or in China.

In Egypt, in India, or in China.

إِن بُنتُمُ عَنهُ فَما زالَ الهَوى

إِن بُنتُمُ عَنهُ فَما زالَ الهَوى

يُدنيكُمُ مِنهُ كَما يُدنيني

يُدنيكُمُ مِنهُ كَما يُدنيني

If you are parted from it, love still

Even if you are far from him, love still

draws you near to it, as it draws me near.

Draws you near to him, just as it draws me.

وَحَراكُكُم لِعَلائِهِ وَسُكونِكُم

وَحَراكُكُم لِعَلائِهِ وَسُكونِكُم

وَإِلى ثَراهُ حَنينُكُم وَحَنيني

وَإِلى ثَراهُ حَنينُكُم وَحَنيني

Your movement and your stillness are for its glory,

Your toil and your rest are for his glory,

and your longing and mine are for its soil.

And for his soil is your longing and mine.

لَو أَمسَتِ الدُنيا لِغَيري كُلُّها

لَو أَمسَتِ الدُنيا لِغَيري كُلُّها

وَرُبّاهُ لي ما كُنتُ بِالمَغبونِ

وَرُبّاهُ لي ما كُنتُ بِالمَغبونِ

If the whole world belonged to someone else,

If the whole world belonged to another,

but Lebanon's hills were mine, I would not be the loser.

Yet his hills were mine, I would not be shortchanged.

أَنا في حِماكُم طائِرٌ مُتَرَنِّمٌ

أَنا في حِماكُم طائِرٌ مُتَرَنِّمٌ

بَينَ الأَقاحِ الغَضِّ وَالنِسرينِ

بَينَ الأَقاحِ الغَضِّ وَالنِسرينِ

In your shelter I am a singing bird,

In your sanctuary, I am a bird singing

among tender daisies and wild roses.

Between the fresh chamomile and the wild rose.

أَنتُم بَنو وَطَني وَأَنتُم إِخوَتي

أَنتُم بَنو وَطَني وَأَنتُم إِخوَتي

وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ دينُ المَحَبَّةِ ديني

وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ دينُ المَحَبَّةِ ديني

You are my countrymen, and you are my brothers,

You are the sons of my homeland, and you are my brothers,

and I am a man whose faith is the faith of love.

And I am a man whose faith is the religion of love.