قالَت سَكَت وَما سَكَتَّ سُدى

قالَت سَكَت وَما سَكَتَّ سُدى

أَعيا الكَلامُ عَلَيكَ أَم نَفِدا

أَعيا الكَلامُ عَلَيكَ أَم نَفِدا

She said, “You have fallen silent, and not without cause.

She said, and though she was silent, her silence was not in vain,

She said: "You are silent, yet your silence is not without cause;

Has speech become too hard for you, or has it run out?

Have words failed you, or have they come to an end?

Has speech wearied you, or have your words run dry?

إِنّا عَرَفنا فيكَ ذا كَرَمٍ

إِنّا عَرَفنا فيكَ ذا كَرَمٍ

ما إِن عَرَفنا فيكَ مُقتَصِدا

ما إِن عَرَفنا فيكَ مُقتَصِدا

We have known you to be generous;

We knew you had generosity,

We have known you to be a man of generous spirit,

never have we known you to be sparing.

Though we never knew you to be sparing.

We never knew you to be sparing or withholding.

فَأَطلِق يَراعَكَ يَنطَلِق خَبَباً

فَأَطلِق يَراعَكَ يَنطَلِق خَبَباً

وَاِحلُل لِسانَكَ يَحلُلِ العُقَدا

وَاِحلُل لِسانَكَ يَحلُلِ العُقَدا

So release your reed pen; let it break into a trot,

So unleash your thoughts to flow freely,

So unleash your pen, let it race forth freely,

and loosen your tongue: it will untie the knots.

And untie your tongue to unknot dilemmas.

And loosen your tongue, that it may unravel the knots.

ما قيمَةَ الإِنسانِ مُعتقِداً

ما قيمَةَ الإِنسانِ مُعتقِداً

إِن لَم يَقُل لِلناسِ ما اِعتَقَدا

إِن لَم يَقُل لِلناسِ ما اِعتَقَدا

What worth has a person who holds a belief,

Of what value is a man of conviction

What worth has a man in his convictions,

if he does not tell people what he believes?

If he does not tell people what he believes?

If he does not declare to the world what he believes?

وَالجَيشِ تَحتَ البَندِ مُحتَشِداً

وَالجَيشِ تَحتَ البَندِ مُحتَشِداً

إِن لَم يَكُن لِلحَربِ مُحتَشِدا

إِن لَم يَكُن لِلحَربِ مُحتَشِدا

And an army massed beneath its banner,

And an army at the ready fully prepared

Or an army massed beneath the banner,

if it is not assembled for war?

If it was not readied for war?

If it has not assembled for the fight?

وَالنورِ مُستَتِراً فَقُلتُ لَها

وَالنورِ مُستَتِراً فَقُلتُ لَها

كُفّي المَلامَة وَاِقصُري الفَنَدا

كُفّي المَلامَة وَاِقصُري الفَنَدا

And light kept hidden?” I said to her:

The light concealed, so I said to her

Or light that remains hidden?" So I said to her:

“Stop blaming me, and cease your foolish talk.

Enough blame, and shorten the hostility.

"Cease your blame and cut short your rebuke.

ماذا يُفيدُ الصَوتُ مُرتَفِعاً

ماذا يُفيدُ الصَوتُ مُرتَفِعاً

إِن لَم يَكُن لّصَوتِ ثَمَّ صَدى

إِن لَم يَكُن لّصَوتِ ثَمَّ صَدى

What good is a voice raised high,

What good is a voice raised up high

What use is a voice raised high,

if there is no echo there for the voice?

If that voice has no echo?

If there is no echo to return the sound?

وَالنورُ مُنبَثِقا وَمُنتَشِراً

وَالنورُ مُنبَثِقا وَمُنتَشِراً

إِن لَم يَكُن لِلناسِ هُدى

إِن لَم يَكُن لِلناسِ هُدى

And light streaming forth and spreading,

The light emanating and spreading

Or light breaking forth and spreading wide,

if it gives people no guidance?

If it does not provide guidance to the people?

If it serves as guidance for no one?

إِنَّ الحَوادِثَ في تَتابُعِها

إِنَّ الحَوادِثَ في تَتابُعِها

أَبدَلنَني مِن ضِلَّتي رَشَدا

أَبدَلنَني مِن ضِلَّتي رَشَدا

Indeed, events, in their succession,

The succession of events

Life's tribulations, in their endless succession,

have given me sound judgment in place of my delusion.

Have changed my confusion into composure.

Have traded my delusion for wisdom.

ما خانَني فِكري وَلا قَلَمي

ما خانَني فِكري وَلا قَلَمي

لَكِن رَأَيتُ الشِعرَ قَد كَسَدا

لَكِن رَأَيتُ الشِعرَ قَد كَسَدا

Neither my thought nor my pen betrayed me,

My mind and pen have not failed me,

My intellect has not failed me, nor has my pen,

but I saw that poetry was no longer in demand.

But I saw poetry had come to a halt.

But I have seen that poetry has lost its worth.

كانَ الشَباب وَكانَ لي أَمَلٌ

كانَ الشَباب وَكانَ لي أَمَلٌ

كَالبَحرِ عُمقاً كَالزَمانِ مَدى

كَالبَحرِ عُمقاً كَالزَمانِ مَدى

Youth was with me, and I had hope,

My youth was there and I had hope

There was youth once, and I possessed a hope,

as deep as the sea, as vast as time.

As deep as an ocean and as long as time.

Deep as the ocean, vast as time itself.

وَصَحابَةٌ مِثلُ الرِياضِ شَذىً

وَصَحابَةٌ مِثلُ الرِياضِ شَذىً

وَصَواحِبٌ كَوُرودِها عَدَدا

وَصَواحِبٌ كَوُرودِها عَدَدا

And companions as fragrant as gardens,

Friends like a garden's fragrance,

And companions fragrant as blooming gardens,

and female companions as numerous as their roses.

And companions as numerous as its roses.

And lovers as numerous as the roses therein.

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

But when I stretched out my hand

But when I stretched out my hand

But when I reached out my hand,

and cast my gaze around, I found no one.

And turned my eyes, I found no one.

And turned my gaze, I found no one.

ذَهَبَ الصِبى وَمَضى الهَوى مَعَهُ

ذَهَبَ الصِبى وَمَضى الهَوى مَعَهُ

أَصَبابَة وَالشَيبُ قَد وَفَدا

أَصَبابَة وَالشَيبُ قَد وَفَدا

Youth departed, and love went with it.

Childhood passed and passion went with it,

Youth has departed, and passion has gone with it;

Can there be passion when gray hair has already arrived?

And old age had arrived.

Can yearning remain when gray hair has arrived?

فَاليَومَ إِن أَبصَرتُ غانِيَةً

فَاليَومَ إِن أَبصَرتُ غانِيَةً

أُغضي كَأَنَّ بِمُقلَتي رَمَدا

أُغضي كَأَنَّ بِمُقلَتي رَمَدا

So today, if I see a beautiful woman,

So if today I see a flirtatious lady,

So today, if I behold a beauty,

I lower my gaze, as though my eye were inflamed.

I avert my eyes as if cataracts cloud them.

I lower my eyes as though they were inflamed.

وَإِذا تُدارُ الكَأسُ أَصرِفُها

وَإِذا تُدارُ الكَأسُ أَصرِفُها

عَنّي وَكُنتُ أَلومُ مَن زَهِدا

عَنّي وَكُنتُ أَلومُ مَن زَهِدا

And when the cup is passed around, I turn it

And if a cup is passed around, I pass it by

And if the wine cup is passed, I turn it away,

away from me—though I once blamed those who abstained.

Though once I would blame whoever abstained.

Though I once blamed those who abstained.

وَإِذا سَمِعتُ هُتافَ شادِيَةٍ

وَإِذا سَمِعتُ هُتافَ شادِيَةٍ

أَمسَكتُ عَنها السَمع وَالكَبِدا

أَمسَكتُ عَنها السَمع وَالكَبِدا

And when I hear a songstress's call,

And if I hear the shouts of a reveler,

And if I hear the song of a chantress,

I withhold from her my hearing and my liver.

I block my hearing and my liver from it.

I shield my hearing and my heart from her.

كَفَّنتُ أَحلامي وَقُلتُ لَها

كَفَّنتُ أَحلامي وَقُلتُ لَها

نامي فَإِنَّ الحُبَّ قَد رَقَدا

نامي فَإِنَّ الحُبَّ قَد رَقَدا

I shrouded my dreams and said to them,

I buried my dreams and told them

I have shrouded my dreams and said to them:

‘Sleep, for love has already fallen asleep.’

Sleep, for passion has slumbered.

'Sleep now, for love has gone to rest.'

وَقعُ الخُطوبِ عَلَيَّ أَخرَسَني

وَقعُ الخُطوبِ عَلَيَّ أَخرَسَني

وَكَذا العَواصِفُ تُسكِتُ الغَرِدا

وَكَذا العَواصِفُ تُسكِتُ الغَرِدا

The blows of calamity upon me struck me dumb,

The calamities that fell upon me silenced me,

The crushing weight of calamities has silenced me,

just as storms silence the songbird.

Just as storms silence the songbird.

Just as tempests silence the singing bird.

عَمرٌ صَديقٌ كانَ يَحلِفُ لي

عَمرٌ صَديقٌ كانَ يَحلِفُ لي

إِن نُحتُ ناح وَإِن شَدَوتُ شَدا

إِن نُحتُ ناح وَإِن شَدَوتُ شَدا

Amr, a friend, used to swear to me:

A life-long friend who swore to me

Amr was a friend who would swear to me:

if I lamented, he would lament; if I sang, he would sing.

That if I flew, he would fly, if I walked, he would walk.

If I wept, he would weep; if I sang, he would sing.

وَإِذا مَشَيتُ إِلى المَنونِ مَشى

وَإِذا مَشَيتُ إِلى المَنونِ مَشى

وَإِذا قَعَدتُ لِحاجَةٍ قَعَدا

وَإِذا قَعَدتُ لِحاجَةٍ قَعَدا

And if I walked toward death, he would walk,

I believed him and made him my support

If I walked toward death, he would walk with me,

and if some need made me stay, he would stay.

And I stood for him as a pillar.

And if I paused for a need, he would pause.

صَدَّقتُهُ فَجَعَلتُهُ عَضُدي

صَدَّقتُهُ فَجَعَلتُهُ عَضُدي

وَأَقَمتُ مِن نَفسي لَهُ عَضُدا

وَأَقَمتُ مِن نَفسي لَهُ عَضُدا

I believed him and made him my supporting arm,

But when I stretched out my hand

I believed him and made him my right hand,

and made myself a supporting arm for him.

And turned my eyes, I found no one.

And offered my own soul as support for him.

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

But when I stretched out my hand

India - just the mention of her name

But when I reached out my hand,

and cast my gaze around, I found no one.

And I suppose snakes recoil or senses numb.

And turned my gaze, I found no one.

هِند وَأَحسَبُني إِذا ذُكِرَت

هِند وَأَحسَبُني إِذا ذُكِرَت

أَطَءُ الأَفاعي أَو أَجُسُّ مُدى

أَطَءُ الأَفاعي أَو أَجُسُّ مُدى

Hind—when she is mentioned, I imagine myself

She was a goddess I used to worship

And Hind—when her name is spoken, I feel

treading on vipers or touching knives.

Adore and revere - how much worship that was!

As if I tread on vipers or touch sharp blades.

كانَت إِلَهاً كُنتُ أَعبُدُهُ

كانَت إِلَهاً كُنتُ أَعبُدُهُ

وَأَجُلُّه وَالحُسنُ كَم عُبِدا

وَأَجُلُّه وَالحُسنُ كَم عُبِدا

She was a deity whom I used to worship

How often I visited her alive and alert

She was a deity I used to worship,

and revere—how often beauty has been worshipped!

And left her alive and awake.

And revere—for how often is beauty worshipped!

كَم زُرنَها وَالحَيُّ مُنتَبِهٌ

كَم زُرنَها وَالحَيُّ مُنتَبِهٌ

وَتَرَكتُها وَالحَيُّ قَد هَجَدا

وَتَرَكتُها وَالحَيُّ قَد هَجَدا

How often they visited her while the neighborhood was awake,

And how many times I stood with her at the pond

How often I visited her while the tribe was awake,

and I left her when the neighborhood had fallen asleep.

As the wind wove brocade above it.

And left her only when the world had gone to sleep.

وَلَكَم وَقَفتُ عَلى الغَديرِ بِها

وَلَكَم وَقَفتُ عَلى الغَديرِ بِها

وَالريحُ تَنسُجُ فَوقَهُ زَرَدا

وَالريحُ تَنسُجُ فَوقَهُ زَرَدا

And how often I stood with her beside the pool,

And the earth danced under us, enraptured,

How often I stood with her by the pool,

while the wind wove chain mail over it.

While the stars danced above us, envious.

While the wind wove ripples like chainmail upon it.

وَالأَرضُ تَرقُصُ تَحتَنا طَرَباً

وَالأَرضُ تَرقُصُ تَحتَنا طَرَباً

وَالشُهبُ ترقُصُ فَوقَنا حَسَدا

وَالشُهبُ ترقُصُ فَوقَنا حَسَدا

And the earth danced beneath us for joy,

And how many times we sat in the gardens together

The earth danced beneath us in delight,

and the shooting stars danced above us in envy.

With no fear of spies or ambush.

And the stars danced above us in envy.

وَلَكَم جَلَسنا في الرِياضِ مَعاً

وَلَكَم جَلَسنا في الرِياضِ مَعاً

لا طارِئً نَخشى وَلا رَصَدا

لا طارِئً نَخشى وَلا رَصَدا

And how often we sat together in the gardens,

The night draped over the earth

How often we sat in the gardens together,

fearing neither an intruder nor a watcher,

And clouds froze over the moon.

Fearing neither intruder nor spy.

وَاللَيلُ فَوقَ الأَرضِ مُنسَدِلٌ

وَاللَيلُ فَوقَ الأَرضِ مُنسَدِلٌ

وَالغَيمُ فَوقَ البَدرِ قَد جَمَدا

وَالغَيمُ فَوقَ البَدرِ قَد جَمَدا

with night draped over the earth,

Passion met me closely at times

While night draped itself over the earth,

and clouds frozen above the full moon.

And complained to me when distant.

And clouds stood frozen over the full moon.

قَد كاشَفَتني الحُبَّ مُقتَرِباً

قَد كاشَفَتني الحُبَّ مُقتَرِباً

وَشَكَت إِلَيَّ الشَوقَ مُبتَعِدا

وَشَكَت إِلَيَّ الشَوقَ مُبتَعِدا

She had revealed her love to me as I drew near,

But when I stretched out my hand

She confessed her love when I drew near,

and complained to me of longing as I drew away.

And turned my eyes, I found no one.

And complained of longing when I was far.

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

But when I stretched out my hand

A people I once captivated

But when I reached out my hand,

and cast my gaze around, I found no one.

Brought me sorrow and despair.

And turned my gaze, I found no one.

قَومي وَقَد أَطرَبتُهُم زَمَناً

قَومي وَقَد أَطرَبتُهُم زَمَناً

ساقوا إِلَيَّ الحُزن وَالكَمَدا

ساقوا إِلَيَّ الحُزن وَالكَمَدا

My people, whom I had delighted for a time,

They had promised if I stretched out my hand

My people, whom I delighted with song for so long,

brought me sorrow and anguish.

Every youth would stretch his to mine.

Have driven only sorrow and anguish toward me.

هُم عاهَدوني إِن مَدَدتُ يَدي لَيَمُد

هُم عاهَدوني إِن مَدَدتُ يَدي لَيَمُد

دَ كُلُِّ فَتىً إِلَيَّ يَدا

دَ كُلُِّ فَتىً إِلَيَّ يَدا

They pledged to me that, if I stretched out my hand, surely

They said tomorrow our clouds will rain,

They promised me that if I reached out my hand,

every young man would stretch a hand toward me.

So I went back saying tomorrow.

Every young man would reach his hand back to me.

قالوا غَداً تَهمي سَحائِبُنا

قالوا غَداً تَهمي سَحائِبُنا

فَرَجَعتُ أَدراجي أَقولُ غَدا

فَرَجَعتُ أَدراجي أَقولُ غَدا

They said, ‘Tomorrow our clouds will pour down rain.’

I thought I would catch up to the four,

They said, 'Tomorrow our clouds will pour rain upon you,'

So I retraced my steps, saying, ‘Tomorrow.’

Whether they hid underground or ascended.

So I retraced my steps, telling myself: 'Tomorrow.'

وَظَنَنتُ أَنّي مُدرِكٌ أَرَبي

وَظَنَنتُ أَنّي مُدرِكٌ أَرَبي

إِن غارَ تَحتَ الأَرضِ أَو صَعَدا

إِن غارَ تَحتَ الأَرضِ أَو صَعَدا

And I thought I would attain my desire,

So I went walking happily on the ground,

I thought I had attained my desire,

whether it sank beneath the earth or rose above.

Whether seated in a group or alone.

Whether buried in the earth or ascending to the sky.

فَذَهَبتُ أَمشي في الثَرى مَرِحاً

فَذَهَبتُ أَمشي في الثَرى مَرِحاً

ما بَينَ جُلّاسي وَمُنفَرِدا

ما بَينَ جُلّاسي وَمُنفَرِدا

So I went walking joyfully upon the earth,

The holy warrior attained his goal

I walked upon the earth in jubilation,

among my companions and when alone,

Or the pauper if he was blessed.

Both among my company and when alone.

تيهَ المُجاهِدُ نالَ بُغيَتُهُ

تيهَ المُجاهِدُ نالَ بُغيَتُهُ

أَو تيهَ مِسكينٍ إِذا سَعِدا

أَو تيهَ مِسكينٍ إِذا سَعِدا

with the pride of a striver who has attained his goal,

But when I stretched out my hand

With the pride of a warrior who seized his prize,

or the pride of a poor man when he finds good fortune.

And turned my eyes, I found no one.

Or the joy of a wretched man suddenly blessed.

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

But when I stretched out my hand

They threatened me when I cried out at them

But when I reached out my hand,

and cast my gaze around, I found no one.

My ferocious cries of criticism.

And turned my gaze, I found no one.

هُم هَدَّدوني حينَ صِحتُ بِهِم

هُم هَدَّدوني حينَ صِحتُ بِهِم

صَيحاتِيَ الشَعواءَ مُنتَقِدا

صَيحاتِيَ الشَعواءَ مُنتَقِدا

They threatened me when I cried out at them

And I saw in their pupils a spark

They threatened me when I cried out to them,

with my fierce cries of criticism.

And I saw in their throats rage.

Criticizing them with fierce, wild shouts.

وَرَأَيتُ في أَحداقِهِم شَرَراً

وَرَأَيتُ في أَحداقِهِم شَرَراً

وَرَأَيتُ في أَشداقِهِم زَبَدا

وَرَأَيتُ في أَشداقِهِم زَبَدا

And I saw sparks in their eyes,

And I heard one of them cry out to them

I saw sparks of fire in their eyes,

and I saw foam in their mouths.

To kill me wherever I was found.

And saw foam gathering at their lips.

وَسَمِعتُ صائِحُم يَقولُ لَهُم

وَسَمِعتُ صائِحُم يَقولُ لَهُم

أَن أُقتُلوهُ حَيثُما وُجِدا

أَن أُقتُلوهُ حَيثُما وُجِدا

And I heard their caller saying to them,

So I went back seeing them as brutes

And I heard their crier calling out to them:

‘Kill him wherever he is found!’

Lost in confusion, and seeing myself as a child.

'Kill him wherever he may be found!'

فَرَجَعتُ أَحسَبُهُم بَرابِرَةً

فَرَجَعتُ أَحسَبُهُم بَرابِرَةً

في مَهمَه وَأَظُنُّني وَلَدا

في مَهمَه وَأَظُنُّني وَلَدا

So I came away thinking them barbarians

Nights passed, beyond count,

I recoiled, deeming them barbarians,

in a trackless wilderness, and myself a child.

And I was sad, dejected, frozen.

In a savage wasteland, feeling like a helpless child.

مَرَّت لَيالٍ ما لَها عَدَدٌ

مَرَّت لَيالٍ ما لَها عَدَدٌ

وَأَنا حَزينٌ باهِتٌ كَمَدا

وَأَنا حَزينٌ باهِتٌ كَمَدا

Countless nights passed,

I shudder if I see any one of them

Countless nights have passed since then,

while I was sorrowful, pale with anguish.

Like a frightened rabbit seeing a lion.

While I remain sad, bewildered, and aggrieved.

أَرتاعُ إِن أَبصَرتُ واحِدَهُم

أَرتاعُ إِن أَبصَرتُ واحِدَهُم

ذُعرَ الشُوَيهَةِ أَبصَرَت أَسَدا

ذُعرَ الشُوَيهَةِ أَبصَرَت أَسَدا

I start in terror if I see one of them,

And if I sleep, I sleep restless,

I panic if I catch sight of one of them,

with a little ewe's fright at the sight of a lion.

And if I wake, I wake shaking.

Like a lamb terrified at the sight of a lion.

وَإِذا رَقَدتُ رَقَدتُ مُضطَرِباً

وَإِذا رَقَدتُ رَقَدتُ مُضطَرِباً

وَإِذا صَحَوتُ صَحَوتُ مُرتَعِدا

وَإِذا صَحَوتُ صَحَوتُ مُرتَعِدا

And when I sleep, I sleep restlessly,

But when I stretched out my hand

If I sleep, my sleep is fitful and disturbed,

and when I wake, I wake trembling.

And turned my eyes, I found no one.

And when I wake, I wake trembling.

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

لَكِنَّني لَمّا مَدَدتُ يَدي

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي لَم أَجِد أَحَدا

But when I stretched out my hand

Do not mention them if they ask,

But when I reached out my hand,

and cast my gaze around, I found no one.

And if they ask, do not mention me at all.

And turned my gaze, I found no one.

لا تَذكُروهُم لي وَإِن سَأَلوا

لا تَذكُروهُم لي وَإِن سَأَلوا

لا تَذكُروني عِندَهُم أَبَدا

لا تَذكُروني عِندَهُم أَبَدا

Do not mention them to me, and even if they ask,

Not one of them can fill a barn,

Do not mention them to me; and if they ask,

never mention me in their presence.

Yet they have promises that would fill a country.

Do not ever mention my name to them.

لا يَملَءُ السِربالَ واحِدُهُم

لا يَملَءُ السِربالَ واحِدُهُم

وَلَهُ وُعودٌ تَملَءُ البَلَدا

وَلَهُ وُعودٌ تَملَءُ البَلَدا

Not one of them fills his tunic,

Oh how I wish I never knew them

Not one of them can fill his own clothes,

yet he has promises that fill the land.

Before I ever knew anyone.

Yet his empty promises fill the entire land.

يا لَيتَني ضَيَّعتُ مَعرِفَتي

يا لَيتَني ضَيَّعتُ مَعرِفَتي

مِن قَبلِ أَعرِفَ أَحَدا

مِن قَبلِ أَعرِفَ أَحَدا

Oh, if only I had lost my knowledge

I wish I had lost all capacity for knowing,

before I came to know anyone.”

Before I ever came to know a single soul.