طَوى بَعضَ نَفسي إِذ طَواكَ الثَرى عَنّي

طَوى بَعضَ نَفسي إِذ طَواكَ الثَرى عَنّي

وَذا بَعضُها الثاني يَفيضُ بِهِ جَفني

وَذا بَعضُها الثاني يَفيضُ بِهِ جَفني

The earth folded away part of my soul when it folded you away from me,

Part of me was folded when the soil folded you from me,

The earth folded away a part of my soul when it hid you from my sight,

And here is its other part, overflowing from my eyelid.

And here is its other part overflowing my eyelids,

And the other part flows freely from my weeping eyelids.

أَبي خانَني فيكَ الرَدى فَتَقَوَّضَت

أَبي خانَني فيكَ الرَدى فَتَقَوَّضَت

مَقاصيرُ أَحلامي جَبَيتٍ مِنَ التِبنِ

مَقاصيرُ أَحلامي جَبَيتٍ مِنَ التِبنِ

Father, death betrayed me in taking you, and so collapsed

Fate has betrayed me in you, so the shelters of my dreams collapsed,

Father, Death betrayed me in taking you, and so collapsed

The chambers of my dreams, like a house of straw.

Huts of hay and mud.

The palaces of my dreams, falling like a house of straw.

وَكانَت رِياضي حالِياتٍ ضَواحِكاً

وَكانَت رِياضي حالِياتٍ ضَواحِكاً

فَأَقوَت وَعَفَّ زَهرَها الجَزَعُ المُضني

فَأَقوَت وَعَفَّ زَهرَها الجَزَعُ المُضني

My gardens were adorned and smiling,

My gardens were empty laughters,

My gardens were once adorned and laughing,

Then lay deserted, their flowers effaced by exhausting anguish.

So they grew weak and the blossoms wilted in deep grief,

But now they are desolate, their flowers withered by exhausting grief.

وَكانَت دِنانِيَ بِالسُرورِ مَليأَةً

وَكانَت دِنانِيَ بِالسُرورِ مَليأَةً

فَطاحَت يَدٌ عَمياءُ بِالخُمرِ وَالدَنِّ

فَطاحَت يَدٌ عَمياءُ بِالخُمرِ وَالدَنِّ

My wine jars were filled with joy,

My vines were full of joy,

My wine jars were once brimming with joy,

Then a blind hand swept away the wine and the jar.

Then a blind hand spilled the wine and vine.

But a blind hand has smashed both the wine and the vessel.

فَلَيسَ سِوى طَعمِ المَنِيَّةِ في فَمي

فَلَيسَ سِوى طَعمِ المَنِيَّةِ في فَمي

وَلَيسَ سِوى صَوتِ النَوادِبِ في أُذُني

وَلَيسَ سِوى صَوتِ النَوادِبِ في أُذُني

There is nothing but the taste of death in my mouth,

So I have nothing but the taste of death in my mouth,

Now there is nothing but the taste of death in my mouth,

And nothing but the sound of mourning women in my ear.

And only the sound of mourning women in my ears,

And nothing but the sound of wailing mourners in my ears.

وَلا حَسَنٌ في ناظِرَيَّ وَقَلَّما

وَلا حَسَنٌ في ناظِرَيَّ وَقَلَّما

فَتَحتَهُما مِن قَبلُ إِلّا عَلى حُسنِ

فَتَحتَهُما مِن قَبلُ إِلّا عَلى حُسنِ

No beauty meets my eyes, though seldom

No more beauty in my eyes, and rarely before

Nothing looks beautiful to my gaze, though rarely

Did I open them before except upon beauty.

Did I open them except to your beauty,

Did I open my eyes before without seeing beauty.

وَما صُوَرُ الأَشياءِ بَعدَكَ غَيرَها

وَما صُوَرُ الأَشياءِ بَعدَكَ غَيرَها

وَلَكِنَّما قَد شَوَّهَتها يَدُ الحُزنِ

وَلَكِنَّما قَد شَوَّهَتها يَدُ الحُزنِ

The forms of things are no different after you,

The image of things is not what it was after you,

The forms of things have not changed since you left,

But sorrow's hand has disfigured them.

But grief has marred it by its touch.

But the hand of sorrow has distorted them all.

عَلى مَنكبي تِبرُ الضُحى وَعَقيقُهُ

عَلى مَنكبي تِبرُ الضُحى وَعَقيقُهُ

وَقَلبِيَ في نارٍ وَعَينايَ في دُجنِ

وَقَلبِيَ في نارٍ وَعَينايَ في دُجنِ

On my shoulder lie the morning's gold dust and its carnelian,

On my shoulders dawn sheds its perfume and agate beads,

Upon my shoulder lies the gold and ruby light of dawn,

While my heart is in fire and my eyes in gloom.

While my heart burns and my eyes stay in gloom.

Yet my heart is in fire, and my eyes are lost in gloom.

أَبَحتُ الأَسى دَمعي وَأَنهَبتُهُ دَمي

أَبَحتُ الأَسى دَمعي وَأَنهَبتُهُ دَمي

وَكُنتُ أُعِدُّ الحُزنَ ضَرباً مِنَ الجُبنِ

وَكُنتُ أُعِدُّ الحُزنَ ضَرباً مِنَ الجُبنِ

I surrendered my tears to sorrow and let it plunder my blood,

I let flow my tears openly and drew my blood secretly,

I surrendered my tears to sorrow, and let it plunder my blood,

Though I once counted sorrow a kind of cowardice.

I used to count grief itself as a kind of cowardice.

Though I once considered yielding to grief a kind of cowardice.

فَمُستَنكِرٌ كَيفَ اِستَحالَت بَشاشَتي

فَمُستَنكِرٌ كَيفَ اِستَحالَت بَشاشَتي

كَمُستَنكِرٍ في عاصِفِ رَعشَةِ الغُصنِ

كَمُستَنكِرٍ في عاصِفِ رَعشَةِ الغُصنِ

One who wonders how my cheerfulness has changed

So I wonder how my cheer changed,

I wonder at how my cheerfulness has transformed,

Is like one wondering at a branch's trembling in a gale.

Like one wondering at the trembling of a branch in a storm.

Just as one stares astonished at a branch trembling in a storm.

يَقولُ المُعِزّي لَيسَ يُحدي البُكا الفَتى

يَقولُ المُعِزّي لَيسَ يُحدي البُكا الفَتى

وَقَولُ المُعِزّي لا يُفيدُ وَلا يُغني

وَقَولُ المُعِزّي لا يُفيدُ وَلا يُغني

The consoler says, 'Weeping does a man no good,'

The comforter says: Crying does not suit the man,

The consoler says, "Weeping does the young man no good,"

Yet the consoler's words neither help nor avail.

But the comforter's words do not help or avail.

But the words of the consoler offer neither help nor relief.

شَخَصتُ بِروحي حائِراً مُتَطَلِّعاً

شَخَصتُ بِروحي حائِراً مُتَطَلِّعاً

إِلى ما وَراءِ البَحرِ أَدنو وَأَستَدني

إِلى ما وَراءِ البَحرِ أَدنو وَأَستَدني

I journeyed in spirit, bewildered, gazing

I wandered in spirit, lost and searching

I gazed out with my soul, bewildered and searching,

Toward what lies beyond the sea, drawing close and seeking to draw it closer,

Beyond the sea, coming nearer and leaning over.

Towards what lies beyond the sea, drawing near and seeking closeness.

كَذاتِ جَناحٍ أَدرَكَ السَيلُ عِشَّها

كَذاتِ جَناحٍ أَدرَكَ السَيلُ عِشَّها

فَطارَت عَلى رَوعٍ تَحومُ عَلى الوَكنِ

فَطارَت عَلى رَوعٍ تَحومُ عَلى الوَكنِ

Like a bird whose nest the flood overtook,

Like a winged creature on whom the flood fell, destroying her nest,

Like a bird whose nest was swept away by the flood,

Who flew in terror, circling over her nest.

So she flew about distraught, hovering over the brink.

Flying in panic, hovering over where her home once stood.

فَواهاً لَو اِنِّيَ كُنتُ في القَومِ عِندَما

فَواهاً لَو اِنِّيَ كُنتُ في القَومِ عِندَما

نَظَرتَ إِلى العَوّادِ تَسأَلُهُم عَنّي

نَظَرتَ إِلى العَوّادِ تَسأَلُهُم عَنّي

Ah, if only I had been among them when

Alas, would that I had been among the people when

Oh, how I wish I had been among the crowd when

You looked at those visiting you, asking them about me.

You looked at the visitors asking about me!

You looked at the visitors, asking them for me.

وَيا لَيتَما الأَرضُ اِنطَوى لي بِساطُها

وَيا لَيتَما الأَرضُ اِنطَوى لي بِساطُها

فَكُنتُ مَعَ الباكينَ في ساعَةِ الدَفنِ

فَكُنتُ مَعَ الباكينَ في ساعَةِ الدَفنِ

And if only the earth's carpet had folded up for me,

Would that the earth folded its expanse around me

Would that the earth had folded beneath my feet,

So I could have been with the weepers at the hour of burial.

So I were among the weepers at the time of burial,

So I could be with the mourners at the hour of burial.

لَعَلّي أَفي تِلكَ الأُبُوَّةَ حَقَّها

لَعَلّي أَفي تِلكَ الأُبُوَّةَ حَقَّها

وَإِن كانَ لا يوفى بَِكَيلٍ وَلا وَزنِ

وَإِن كانَ لا يوفى بَِكَيلٍ وَلا وَزنِ

Perhaps I could repay that fatherhood its due,

Perhaps to give due measure to my grief -

Perhaps to give that fatherhood its due right,

Though its due cannot be paid by measure or by weight.

Although no measure or weight suffices.

Even if such a debt can never be fully measured or weighed.

فَأَعظَمُ مَجدي كانَ أَنَّكَ لي أَبٌ

فَأَعظَمُ مَجدي كانَ أَنَّكَ لي أَبٌ

وَأَكبَرُ فَخري كانَ قَولُكَ ذا إِبني

وَأَكبَرُ فَخري كانَ قَولُكَ ذا إِبني

For my greatest glory was that you were my father,

My greatest glory was that you were a father to me,

For my greatest glory was that you were my father,

And my greatest pride was your saying, 'This is my son.'

And my greatest pride was your saying to me, "This is my son."

And my highest pride was when you said, "This is my son."

أَقولُ لَوَ أَنّي كَي أُبَرِّدَ لَوعَتي

أَقولُ لَوَ أَنّي كَي أُبَرِّدَ لَوعَتي

فَيَزدادُ شَجوي كُلَّما قُلتُ لَوَ أَنّي

فَيَزدادُ شَجوي كُلَّما قُلتُ لَوَ أَنّي

I say, 'If only I...' to cool my burning anguish,

I keep saying: would that I could cool my pain -

I say "If only..." hoping to cool my burning anguish,

But my grief grows whenever I say, 'If only I...'

Then my lament grows when I say "would that".

But my grief only deepens every time I say "If only..."

أَحَتّى وَداعُ الأَهلِ يُحرَمُهُ الفَتى

أَحَتّى وَداعُ الأَهلِ يُحرَمُهُ الفَتى

أَيا دَهرُ هَذا مُنتَهى الحَيفِ وَالغَبنِ

أَيا دَهرُ هَذا مُنتَهى الحَيفِ وَالغَبنِ

Is a man denied even a farewell to his family?

Even farewells of loved ones are denied to the youth -

Must a man be denied even the farewell to his family?

O Time, this is the utmost injustice and unfairness!

O Time, this is the utmost injustice and tyranny!

Oh Fate, this is the height of injustice and loss.

أَبي وَإِذا ما قُلتُها فَكَأَنَّني

أَبي وَإِذا ما قُلتُها فَكَأَنَّني

أُنادي وَأَدعو يا مَلاذي وَيا رُكني

أُنادي وَأَدعو يا مَلاذي وَيا رُكني

Father—and whenever I say it, it is as though I

When I say "Father", it is as if I am calling, appealing:

Father—and when I say the word, it is as if

Call out and implore, 'O my refuge, O my pillar!'

"O my refuge and pillar!"

I call out and pray, "Oh my refuge, oh my pillar!"

لِمَن يَلجَءُ المَكروبُ بَعدَكَ في الحِمى

لِمَن يَلجَءُ المَكروبُ بَعدَكَ في الحِمى

فَيَرجِعَ رَيّانَ المُنى ضاحِكَ السِنِّ

فَيَرجِعَ رَيّانَ المُنى ضاحِكَ السِنِّ

To whom can the distressed turn after you, within the sanctuary,

When the distressed seeks refuge after you, who will he turn to,

To whom shall the distressed turn in the sanctuary now that you are gone,

And return, his wishes satisfied, his teeth showing in a smile?

To return happy and laughing?

To return with thirst quenched and a smile on his face?

خَلَعتَ الصِبا في حَومَةِ المَجدِ ناصِعاً

خَلَعتَ الصِبا في حَومَةِ المَجدِ ناصِعاً

وَنُزِّهَ فيكَ الشَيبُ عَن لَوثَةِ الأَفنِ

وَنُزِّهَ فيكَ الشَيبُ عَن لَوثَةِ الأَفنِ

You cast off youth, unblemished, in glory's arena,

You doffed youth in the ardour of glory, shining,

You shed your youth in the arena of glory, remaining pure,

And in you gray hair was kept free of the taint of feeblemindedness.

And old age in you was cleansed of the stain of senility,

And your old age was kept free from the stain of feebleness.

فَذِهنٌ كَنَجمِ الصَيفِ في أَوَّلِ الدُجى

فَذِهنٌ كَنَجمِ الصَيفِ في أَوَّلِ الدُجى

وَرَأيٌ كَحَدِّ السَيفِ أَو ذَلِكَ الذِهنِ

وَرَأيٌ كَحَدِّ السَيفِ أَو ذَلِكَ الذِهنِ

A mind like a summer star at the onset of darkness,

A mind like the star of summer in the first part of night,

With a mind sharp as the summer star at the onset of night,

And judgment like a sword's edge, or the edge of that mind.

And a judgement like the edge of the sword - or that mind.

And judgment like a sword's edge, keen as that very mind.

وَكُنتَ تَرى الدُنيا بِغَيرِ بَشاشَةٍ

وَكُنتَ تَرى الدُنيا بِغَيرِ بَشاشَةٍ

كَأَرضٍ بِلا ماءٍ وَصَوتٍ بِلا لَحنِ

كَأَرضٍ بِلا ماءٍ وَصَوتٍ بِلا لَحنِ

You saw a world without cheerfulness

You saw the world without cheerfulness,

You viewed the world without false cheer,

As land without water, and a voice without melody.

Like a waterless land, a voice without melody.

Like land without water, or a voice without song.

فَما بِكَ مِن ضُرٍّ لِنَفسِكَ وَحدَها

فَما بِكَ مِن ضُرٍّ لِنَفسِكَ وَحدَها

وَضِحكُكَ وَالإِناسُ لِلجارِ وَالخِدنِ

وَضِحكُكَ وَالإِناسُ لِلجارِ وَالخِدنِ

Whatever pain you had was for yourself alone,

You had no harm for yourself alone,

You bore no burdens for your own sake alone;

But your laughter and companionship were for neighbor and close friend.

Your laughter and sociability were for neighbour and comrade.

Your laughter and warmth were for the neighbor and the friend.

جَريءٌ عَلى الباغي عَيوفٌ عَنِ الخَنا

جَريءٌ عَلى الباغي عَيوفٌ عَنِ الخَنا

سَريعٌ إِلى الداعي كَريمٌ بِلا مَنِّ

سَريعٌ إِلى الداعي كَريمٌ بِلا مَنِّ

Bold against the oppressor, averse to foul speech,

Bold toward the oppressor, gentle toward the meek,

Bold against the tyrant, turning away from the obscene,

Quick to answer a caller, generous without reminding others of your favors.

Quick to answer the caller, generous without reproach,

Swift to answer the call, generous without boasting.

وَكُنتَ إِذا حَدَّثتَ حَدَّثَ شاعِرٌ

وَكُنتَ إِذا حَدَّثتَ حَدَّثَ شاعِرٌ

لَبيبٌ دَقيقُ الفَهمِ وَالذَوقِ وَالفَنِّ

لَبيبٌ دَقيقُ الفَهمِ وَالذَوقِ وَالفَنِّ

When you spoke, a poet spoke,

When you talked you were like an eloquent poet,

And when you spoke, it was a poet speaking—

Discerning, subtle in understanding, taste, and art.

Subtle of mind, taste and art.

Wise, with precise understanding, taste, and art.

فَما اِستَشعَرَ المُصغي إِلَيكَ مَلالَةً

فَما اِستَشعَرَ المُصغي إِلَيكَ مَلالَةً

وَلا قُلتَ إِلّا قالَ مِن طرَبٍ زِدني

وَلا قُلتَ إِلّا قالَ مِن طرَبٍ زِدني

No one listening to you ever felt boredom,

No listener felt boredom with you,

The one listening to you never felt boredom,

And you never spoke but he said in delight, 'Give me more.'

And you said nothing without the listener saying "Give me more!"

Nor did you speak without them crying in delight, "Give us more!"

بِرَغمِكَ فارَقتَ الرُبوعَ وَإِنَّنا

بِرَغمِكَ فارَقتَ الرُبوعَ وَإِنَّنا

عَلى الرُغمِ مِنّا سَوفَ نَلحَقُ بِالظَعنِ

عَلى الرُغمِ مِنّا سَوفَ نَلحَقُ بِالظَعنِ

Against your will you left the dwellings, and we

Despite you, you left the meadows, while we,

Against your will you left these lands, and indeed we,

Against our will shall join the departing caravan.

Despite ourselves, will join the worms.

Against our will, shall follow the departing caravan.

طَريقٌ مَشى فيها المَلايِيِنُ قَبلَنا

طَريقٌ مَشى فيها المَلايِيِنُ قَبلَنا

مِنَ المَلِكِ الامي إِلى عَبدِهِ القَنِّ

مِنَ المَلِكِ الامي إِلى عَبدِهِ القَنِّ

A road that millions walked before us,

A road travelled before us by millions

It is a path trodden by millions before us,

From the unlettered king to his bondslave.

From the humblest subject to the king.

From the unlettered king to his bonded slave.

تَظُنُّ لَنا الدنيا وَما في رِحابِها

تَظُنُّ لَنا الدنيا وَما في رِحابِها

وَلَيسَت لَنا إِلّا كَما البَحرُ لِلسُفُنِ

وَلَيسَت لَنا إِلّا كَما البَحرُ لِلسُفُنِ

You think the world is ours, and all within its expanses,

You fancy the world and what is in its expanse is for us,

We think the world and its vastness belong to us,

Yet it is ours only as the sea belongs to ships:

While it is for us only as the sea is for ships:

Yet it is ours only as the sea belongs to the ships:

تَروحُ وَتَغدو حُرَّةً في عُبابِهِ

تَروحُ وَتَغدو حُرَّةً في عُبابِهِ

كَما يَتَهادى ساكِنُ السِجنِ في السِجنِ

كَما يَتَهادى ساكِنُ السِجنِ في السِجنِ

They go by evening and by morning, free upon its surging waters,

They move about freely in its waves

Roaming back and forth freely upon its waves,

As a prisoner saunters within the prison.

Like the prisoner pacing about in prison.

Just as a prisoner paces within his cell.

وَزَنتُ بِسِرِّ المَوتِ فَلسَفَةَ الوَرى

وَزَنتُ بِسِرِّ المَوتِ فَلسَفَةَ الوَرى

فَشالَت وَكانَت جَعجَعاتٍ بِلا طَحنِ

فَشالَت وَكانَت جَعجَعاتٍ بِلا طَحنِ

I weighed mankind's philosophy against the mystery of death,

I weighed the secret of death against the world's philosophies

I weighed the philosophies of men against the secret of death,

And it rose in the balance: mere mill-clatter without grinding.

And they failed, mere prattling without substance.

But they proved light, mere clatter without substance.

فَأَصدُقُ أَهلِ الأَرضِ مَعرِفَةً بِهِ

فَأَصدُقُ أَهلِ الأَرضِ مَعرِفَةً بِهِ

كَأَكثَرَهُم جَهلاً يُرَجِّمُ بِالظَنِّ

كَأَكثَرَهُم جَهلاً يُرَجِّمُ بِالظَنِّ

For the one on earth whose knowledge of it is truest,

So the truest of mankind in his knowledge of it

The one on earth with the truest knowledge of it,

Like the most ignorant among them, only conjectures.

Is most ignorant, conjecturing blindly,

Is like the most ignorant, merely guessing in the dark.

فَذا مِثلُ هَذا حائِرُ اللُبِّ عِندَهُ

فَذا مِثلُ هَذا حائِرُ اللُبِّ عِندَهُ

وَذاكَ كَهَذا لَيسَ مِنهُ عَلى أَمنِ

وَذاكَ كَهَذا لَيسَ مِنهُ عَلى أَمنِ

This one, like that one, is bewildered in mind before it,

One like this is confused by it,

This one is like that one: mind baffled before it,

And that one, like this, is not safe from it.

Another like that has no safety from it.

And that one is like this one: never safe from it.

فَيا لَكَ سِفراً لَم يَزَل جِدُّ غامِضٍ

فَيا لَكَ سِفراً لَم يَزَل جِدُّ غامِضٍ

عَلى كَثرَةِ التَفصيلِ في الشَرحِ وَالمِنَنِ

عَلى كَثرَةِ التَفصيلِ في الشَرحِ وَالمِنَنِ

O what a book you are, still profoundly obscure,

O you whose journey remains an obscure riddle

Oh, what a tome that remains utterly obscure,

Despite the abundance of detail in explanation and favors.

Despite ample detail in explanation and favour!

Despite the many detailed explanations and commentaries.

أَيا رَمزَ لُبنانٍ جَلالاً وَهَيبَةً

أَيا رَمزَ لُبنانٍ جَلالاً وَهَيبَةً

وَحُصنَ الوَفاءِ المَحضِ في ذَلِكَ الحوسنِ

وَحُصنَ الوَفاءِ المَحضِ في ذَلِكَ الحوسنِ

O symbol of Lebanon in majesty and awe,

O glory of Lebanon, in majesty and awe!

O symbol of Lebanon in majesty and awe,

And stronghold of pure fidelity within that stronghold,

O fortress of pure loyalty in that beauty!

A fortress of pure loyalty standing within that beauty.

ضَريحُكَ مَهما يَستَسِرَّ وَبَلدَةٌ

ضَريحُكَ مَهما يَستَسِرَّ وَبَلدَةٌ

أَقَمتَ بِها تَبني المَحامِدَ ما تَبني

أَقَمتَ بِها تَبني المَحامِدَ ما تَبني

Your tomb, however hidden it may be, and a town

Wherever your tomb lies hidden, and whatever town

Your tomb—however hidden it may be—and the town

Where you dwelt, building the noble deeds you built,

You built up confers glory however it be built.

Where you lived, building a legacy of praise,

أَحَبُّ مِنَ الأَبراجِ طالَت قِبابُها

أَحَبُّ مِنَ الأَبراجِ طالَت قِبابُها

وَأَجمَلُ في عَينَيَّ مِن أَجمَلِ المُدنِ

وَأَجمَلُ في عَينَيَّ مِن أَجمَلِ المُدنِ

Are dearer than towers whose domes rise high,

Of all the towers rising high I love most

Are dearer to me than towers with soaring domes,

And lovelier to my eyes than the loveliest cities.

The loveliest in my eyes of all cities

And fairer in my eyes than the loveliest of cities.

عَلى ذَلِكَ القَبرِ السَلامُ فَذِكرُهُ

عَلى ذَلِكَ القَبرِ السَلامُ فَذِكرُهُ

أَريجٌ بِهِ نَفسي عَنِ العِطرِ تَستَغني

أَريجٌ بِهِ نَفسي عَنِ العِطرِ تَستَغني

Peace upon that grave, for its remembrance

Is that grave on which I invoke peace - so the memory of it

Peace be upon that grave, for its memory is a fragrance

Is a fragrance that lets my soul dispense with perfume.

Suffices me for perfume, I need no perfume.

So sweet my soul needs no other perfume.