إيهِAh برناسُParnassus هَيكَلُtemple الشُعَراءِthe poets
إيهِ برناسُ هَيكَلُ الشُعَراءِ
وَمصلّىand a place of prayer الكَهّانِthe priests وَالأَنبِياءِand the prophets
وَمصلّى الكَهّانِ وَالأَنبِياءِ
Ah, Parnassus, temple of poets,
O Bernas temple of poets
and place of prayer for priests and prophets!
And sanctuary of priests and prophets
لاmay ... not دهاكَbefell you الفَناءُextinction بَعدafter بَقاءٍendurance
لا دهاكَ الفَناءُ بَعد بَقاءٍ
خالِدٌimmortal أَنتَyou فيin ضَميرِinner consciousness البَقاءِeternity
خالِدٌ أَنتَ في ضَميرِ البَقاءِ
May extinction never befall you after you have endured;
Death shall not vanquish you after life
you are immortal in the heart of eternity.
Immortal you are in the conscience of eternity
لاmay ... not رَأىsaw الدَهرُTime غارَthe laurel رَأسِكyour head يَذويwithers
لا رَأى الدَهرُ غارَ رَأسِك يَذوي
بَعدَafter هذاthis النضورfreshness هذاthis البَهاءِsplendor
بَعدَ هذا النضور هذا البَهاءِ
May Time never see your head's laurel wither
Time has not seen your brilliant head decay
after this freshness, this splendor.
After this blossoming, this splendour
إِنَّindeed غاراًa laurel عَلىupon ذراكَyour heights لمجدٌindeed a glory
إِنَّ غاراً عَلى ذراكَ لمجدٌ
خَلَّدتهimmortalized it نَوابِغُthe geniuses القُدَماءِthe ancients
خَلَّدته نَوابِغُ القُدَماءِ
Indeed, a laurel upon your heights is a glory
Indeed a cave on your land is glory
immortalized by the geniuses of antiquity.
Immortalized by the geniuses of antiquity
حكمَةٌwisdom أَنتَyou فيin الوُجودِexistence وَنورٌand a light
حكمَةٌ أَنتَ في الوُجودِ وَنورٌ
لِعقولِfor the minds الجَهّالِthe ignorant وَالحُكَماءِand the wise
لِعقولِ الجَهّالِ وَالحُكَماءِ
You are wisdom in existence, and a light
You are wisdom in existence and light
for the minds of the ignorant and the wise.
For the minds of the ignorant and the wise
سكبَpoured الفَجرُdawn فيinto مَراشِفِهاher lips الthe (article)
سكبَ الفَجرُ في مَراشِفِها ال
حُمرِred رَحيقَthe nectar الخُلودِimmortality لِلشُعَراءِfor the poets
حُمرِ رَحيقَ الخُلودِ لِلشُعَراءِ
Dawn poured into her lips—
Dawn poured in its pillows only the red
red—the nectar of immortality for poets.
Nectar of immortality for the poets
إيهAh برناسParnassus وَالعَرائِسُand the brides تَشدوsing
إيه برناس وَالعَرائِسُ تَشدو
فيكَwithin you أُغنيَّةَthe song الهَوىlove وَالرَجاءِand hope
فيكَ أُغنيَّةَ الهَوى وَالرَجاءِ
Ah, Parnassus, and the brides sing
O Bernas, and the brides sing
within you the song of love and hope.
In you the song of love and hope
سَكبَpoured الفَجرُdawn فيinto مَراشِفِهاher lips الthe (article)
سَكبَ الفَجرُ في مَراشِفِها ال
حمرِred رَحيقَthe nectar الخُلودِimmortality لِلشُعراءِfor the poets
حمرِ رَحيقَ الخُلودِ لِلشُعراءِ
Dawn poured into her lips—
Dawn poured in its pillows only the red
red—the nectar of immortality for poets.
Nectar of immortality for the poets
هَيكَلَtemple الفَنِّart وَالجَمالِand beauty سَلامٌpeace
هَيكَلَ الفَنِّ وَالجَمالِ سَلامٌ
وَسَلامُand peace ياO هَيكَلَtemple البُؤَساءِthe wretched
وَسَلامُ يا هَيكَلَ البُؤَساءِ
Temple of art and beauty, peace!
Temple of art and beauty, peace be upon you
And peace, O temple of the wretched!
And peace be upon you, temple of the miserable
سَجدprostrated itself المَجدُglory تَحتَbeneath قَوسِكَyour arch سكراdrunken (first part)
سَجد المَجدُ تَحتَ قَوسِكَ سكرا
نَdrunken (ending) سجودَthe prostration الفَقيرِthe poor person لِلأَغنِياءِto the rich
نَ سجودَ الفَقيرِ لِلأَغنِياءِ
Glory prostrated itself beneath your arch, drunk,
Glory prostrated beneath your arch intoxicated
as the poor prostrate themselves before the rich.
Like the poor's prostration to the wealthy
قُلsay لِأَبنائِكَto your sons الَّذينَwho اِستَمَدّواdrew
قُل لِأَبنائِكَ الَّذينَ اِستَمَدّوا
شُعلَةَthe flame الوَحيِinspiration مِنكَfrom you كَالكَهرُباءِlike electricity
شُعلَةَ الوَحيِ مِنكَ كَالكَهرُباءِ
Tell your sons, who drew
Tell your children who drew
the flame of inspiration from you like electricity:
The flame of inspiration from you like electricity
إِنَّماnothing but البُؤسُmisery فيin تُرابيmy soil ثَراءُwealth
إِنَّما البُؤسُ في تُرابي ثَراءُ
فَرِدواso draw المَجدَglory منfrom بحارِthe seas ثَرائيmy wealth
فَرِدوا المَجدَ من بحارِ ثَرائي
Misery in my soil is nothing but wealth;
Misery in my dust is only wealth
so draw glory from the seas of my wealth.
Take back glory from my seas of wealth
وَدَعواand leave الغَيرَothers يَبحَثونَthey search طَويلاًat length
وَدَعوا الغَيرَ يَبحَثونَ طَويلاً
فيin وُحولِthe mire الغِنىwealth عَنfor الإِثراءِenrichment
في وُحولِ الغِنى عَن الإِثراءِ
And let others search at length
And let others search for a long time
in the mire of riches for enrichment.
For the secrets of wealth without gain
فَلَكمfor you have منof لَآلىءpearls النورlight كَنزٌa treasure
فَلَكم من لَآلىء النور كَنزٌ
فَاِنثُروهُso scatter it علىupon طَريقِthe path الإِباءِproud defiance
فَاِنثُروهُ على طَريقِ الإِباءِ
For you have a treasure of pearls of light;
For you have many pearls of light as treasure
so scatter it along the path of proud defiance.
Scatter it on the path of magnanimity
إِنَّماnothing but الشاعِرُthe poet الحَقيقِيُّtrue قَلبٌa heart
إِنَّما الشاعِرُ الحَقيقِيُّ قَلبٌ
ذابَmelted حُبّاًwith love عَلىupon شُعاعِa ray الفِداءِself-sacrifice
ذابَ حُبّاً عَلى شُعاعِ الفِداءِ
The true poet is nothing but a heart
The true poet is only a heart
that melted with love upon a ray of self-sacrifice.
That melted in love in the ray of sacrifice
هوhe روحُa spirit منfrom السَماءِheaven اِستَمَدَّتdrew
هو روحُ من السَماءِ اِستَمَدَّت
حِكمَةَthe wisdom الفَنِّart منfrom دِماغِthe brain السَماءِheaven
حِكمَةَ الفَنِّ من دِماغِ السَماءِ
He is a spirit from heaven that drew
He is a soul from the sky that drew
the wisdom of art from heaven's brain.
The wisdom of art from the brain of the sky
هوhe بانٍa builder يوَدّwishes تَقويضَdemolition رُكنٍa pillar
هو بانٍ يوَدّ تَقويضَ رُكنٍ
شَيَّدَتهerected it مَظالِمُthe injustices الزُعَماءِthe leaders
شَيَّدَته مَظالِمُ الزُعَماءِ
He is a builder who wishes to demolish a pillar
He is one who wants to undermine a pillar
erected by the leaders' injustices.
Erected by the oppressions of leaders
وَبناءُand the building العَلىgreatness عَلىupon ذلِكَthat الركthe pillar (first part)
وَبناءُ العَلى عَلى ذلِكَ الرك
نِpillar (ending) وَتِلكَand those الأَنقاضِthe ruins أَقوىthe strongest بِناءِbuilding
نِ وَتِلكَ الأَنقاضِ أَقوى بِناءِ
And the edifice of greatness upon that pillar
And building the sublime on that pillar and rubble is stronger building
and those ruins is the strongest edifice.
He is the lyre whose feelings secretly tell
هوَhe قيثارَهُhis lyre الشعورfeeling تُناجيcommunes
هوَ قيثارَهُ الشعور تُناجي
بِنَشيدthrough the song الأَوتارِthe strings سرَّthe secret الضِياءِlight
بِنَشيد الأَوتارِ سرَّ الضِياءِ
He—feeling is his lyre, communing
The hymn of the strings the secret of light
through the strings' song with the secret of light.
So the assured light is in the poet's mind
فَالضِياءُfor the light الأَكيدُtrue فيin مقلَةthe eye الشاthe poet (first part)
فَالضِياءُ الأَكيدُ في مقلَة الشا
عِرِpoet (ending) لاnot فيin النُجومِthe stars أَوor فيin ذُكاءِDhuka (the sun)
عِرِ لا في النُجومِ أَو في ذُكاءِ
For true light is in the poet's eye,
Not in the stars or in intelligence
not in the stars or in Dhuka, the sun.
He is an eagle that has the wings of a God
هوhe نسرٌan eagle لهُhe has جناحاthe two wings إِلهٍa god
هو نسرٌ لهُ جناحا إِلهٍ
طائِرٌflying فيin مَدينَةِthe city التعساءِthe unhappy
طائِرٌ في مَدينَةِ التعساءِ
He is an eagle with a god's two wings,
Flying in the city of the miserable
flying through the city of the unhappy,
Sprinkling a tear of grief on the earth
ناثِرٌscattering دَمعَةa tear العزاءِconsolation عَلىupon الأَرthe earth (first part)
ناثِرٌ دَمعَة العزاءِ عَلى الأَر
ضِearth (ending) لتَشفيto heal تَعاسَةَthe misery الضُعَفاءِthe weak
ضِ لتَشفي تَعاسَةَ الضُعَفاءِ
scattering a tear of consolation upon the earth
To heal the misery of the weak
to heal the misery of the weak.
He is the soul of Khalil in the bright star
هوhe روحthe spirit الخَليلKhalil فيin النجمَةthe star الزهradiant (first part)
هو روح الخَليل في النجمَة الزه
راءradiant (ending) تَمتَصُّabsorbs عُنصرthe essence الزَهراءِthe radiant one
راء تَمتَصُّ عُنصر الزَهراءِ
He is Khalil's spirit in the radiant star,
That absorbs the element of brightness
absorbing the essence of the radiant one,
To water the arts and revive
لتروّيto irrigate بهِwith it الفُنونthe arts وَتحييand revive
لتروّي بهِ الفُنون وَتحيي
مَيِّتthe dead الشِعرpoetry فيin عُروقِthe veins الرُواءِbeauty
مَيِّت الشِعر في عُروقِ الرُواءِ
to irrigate the arts with it and revive
The dead poetry in the veins of the storytellers
dead poetry in the veins of beauty.
O beloved of the country you have dispensed
أَيO خَليلَKhalil البِلادِthe homeland وَفَّيتَyou fulfilled قِسطاًa share
أَي خَليلَ البِلادِ وَفَّيتَ قِسطاً
منof فُروضٍduties عَلَيكَupon you لِلعَلياءِto greatness
من فُروضٍ عَلَيكَ لِلعَلياءِ
O Khalil of the homeland, you have fulfilled a share
A share of duties upon you to the sublime
of the duties you owe to greatness.
So be resolute for success and complete
فَاِشدُدِso strengthen العَزمَresolve لِلنجاءfor swift advance وَأَكمِلand complete
فَاِشدُدِ العَزمَ لِلنجاء وَأَكمِل
ذلِكَthat الشَوطُthe course ياO رَبيبَfoster-child النجاءِswiftness
ذلِكَ الشَوطُ يا رَبيبَ النجاءِ
So steel your resolve for swift advance, and complete
That journey my hopeful lad
that course, O foster-child of swiftness!
You do not see after exile in the country
ماwhat تَرىyou see فيin البِلادِthe homeland بَعدafter اِغتِرابٍliving abroad
ما تَرى في البِلادِ بَعد اِغتِرابٍ
أَسوىanything besides? البُؤسِmisery وَالبَلىand decay وَالشَقاءِand suffering
أَسوى البُؤسِ وَالبَلى وَالشَقاءِ
What do you see in the homeland after living abroad,
Worse misery, decay and torment
but misery, decay, and suffering?
A breast that has nurtured a child
إِنَّindeed صَدراًa breast حنَوتَyou leaned طفلاًas a child عَلَيهِupon it
إِنَّ صَدراً حنَوتَ طفلاً عَلَيهِ
لهوَit is indeed صَدرٌa breast مهشَّمُshattered الأَعضاءِthe limbs
لهوَ صَدرٌ مهشَّمُ الأَعضاءِ
Indeed, the breast you leaned upon as a child
It is a chest whose limbs are shattered
is surely a breast with shattered limbs.
Injustices have been absolved of them but
كلَّall ماthat which فيin البِلادِthe homeland أَمسىbecame غَريباًstrange
كلَّ ما في البِلادِ أَمسى غَريباً
شَوَّهتَهُdisfigured it مناكِلُthe torments الغُرَباءِthe foreigners
شَوَّهتَهُ مناكِلُ الغُرَباءِ
Everything in the homeland has become strange,
Denied they are of the innocent
disfigured by the foreigners' torments.
Martyrs of the sublime passed away, and we remained
فَبلبنانfor in Lebanon أَيمُthe widow المَجدِglory ثَكلىbereaved
فَبلبنان أَيمُ المَجدِ ثَكلى
وَهيَand she تَبكيweeps مصيبَةَthe calamity الأَبناءِthe sons
وَهيَ تَبكي مصيبَةَ الأَبناءِ
For in Lebanon, glory's widow is bereaved,
In a life full of ailments
and she weeps over her sons' calamity.
If you peered from the loophole of death you see
هيَshe تَبكيweeps for الأُلىthose who أَبادَهُمannihilated them الظُلinjustice (first part)
هيَ تَبكي الأُلى أَبادَهُم الظُل
مُinjustice (ending) وَوارَتهُمand buried them يَدُthe hand البَغضاءِhatred
مُ وَوارَتهُم يَدُ البَغضاءِ
She weeps for those whom injustice annihilated
The whispers of souls in the living
and the hand of hatred buried.
O tombs in which revelation has settled
بَرِئَتdisassociated themselves مِنهُمfrom them المَظالِمُthe injustices لكِنbut
بَرِئَت مِنهُم المَظالِمُ لكِن
أَنكَرَتdenied أَنَّهُمthat they مِنamong الأَبرِياءِthe innocent
أَنكَرَت أَنَّهُم مِن الأَبرِياءِ
The injustices disavowed them, yet
None in you is bound to perish
denied that they were among the innocent.
Every generation bows before you in glory
شُهداءُthe martyrs العلىgreatness قَضتperished وَبَقيناand we remained
شُهداءُ العلى قَضت وَبَقينا
فيin حَياةٍa life كَثيرَةِfull of الأَدواءِailments
في حَياةٍ كَثيرَةِ الأَدواءِ
The martyrs of greatness have died, and we remain
And throws on you the flowers of eternity
in a life of many ailments.
O pinnacle of towers in the highest horizons
إِنif أَطَلَّتthey peer out منfrom كوَّةِthe window المَوتِdeath تبصرthey see
إِن أَطَلَّت من كوَّةِ المَوتِ تبصر
نَزَواتِcaprices الأَرواحِthe souls فيin الأَحياءِthe living
نَزَواتِ الأَرواحِ في الأَحياءِ
If they peer through death's window, they see
What is in the highest heavens?
the souls' caprices within the living.
And maidens of space, what have they confided
ياO قبوراًgraves تربَّعَsat enthroned الوَحيُinspiration فيهاwithin them
يا قبوراً تربَّعَ الوَحيُ فيها
لَيسَis not مَنwhoever فيكِwithin you صائِراًdestined لِلفَناءِfor extinction
لَيسَ مَن فيكِ صائِراً لِلفَناءِ
O graves where inspiration sits enthroned,
To you when you have adorned them in space?
none within you is destined for extinction.
Every night they visit and secretly
كلّevery جيلٍgeneration يَجثوkneels أَمامكbefore you بِالمَجin glory (first part)
كلّ جيلٍ يَجثو أَمامك بِالمَج
دِglory (ending) وَيَرميand casts عَلَيكِupon you زهرَflowers البقاءِeternity
دِ وَيَرمي عَلَيكِ زهرَ البقاءِ
Every generation kneels before you in glory
Converse with you at length in their endless bosoms
and casts upon you the flowers of eternity.
How Virgil, al-Maarri and Homer
ياO سَميرnight companion الأَبراجِthe constellations فيin مُنتَهىthe farthest reaches الأَجthe skies (first part)
يا سَمير الأَبراجِ في مُنتَهى الأَج
واءِskies (ending) ماذاwhat فيin مُنتَهىthe farthest reaches الأَجواءِthe skies
واءِ ماذا في مُنتَهى الأَجواءِ
O night-companion of the constellations in the farthest skies,
In that airy place
what lies in the farthest skies?
With the blessed boy, Byblos rejoiced
وَعَذارىand the maidens الفَضاءِspace ماذاwhat أَسَرَّتconfided
وَعَذارى الفَضاءِ ماذا أَسَرَّت
لَكَto you لَمّاwhen أَضَفتَهاyou hosted them فيin الفَضاءِspace
لَكَ لَمّا أَضَفتَها في الفَضاءِ
And the maidens of space—what did they confide
And the lairs of beasts roared
to you when you hosted them in space?
From temples, the intoxicated gazes of priests
كلّevery لَيلٍnight تَزورُهاyou visit them فَتُناجيand they whisper to (continued)
كلّ لَيلٍ تَزورُها فَتُناجي
كَyou (attached suffix) طَويلاًat length فيin خِدرِهاtheir bower المُتَنائيfar-off
كَ طَويلاً في خِدرِها المُتَنائي
Every night you visit them, and they whisper to
And prophets have peered
you at length in their far-off bower.
And poetry prostrated in prayer, the prostration
كَيفَhow فرجيلVirgil وَالمَعرّيand al-Ma'arri وَهوand Homer (first part)
كَيفَ فرجيل وَالمَعرّي وَهو
ميروسHomer (ending) فيin ذلِكَthat المَكانthe place الهَوائيaerial
ميروس في ذلِكَ المَكان الهَوائي
How are Virgil, al-Ma'arri, and Homer
Of the barefoot believers and the loyal
in that aerial place?
O companion of visions, peace be upon you
طَرِبَتrejoiced بِعَلبَكُّBaalbek بِالوَلدin the son البَthe dutiful (first part)
طَرِبَت بِعَلبَكُّ بِالوَلد البَ
رِّdutiful (ending) وَبشَّتand smiled لَهُupon him ثُغورُthe lips الظِباءِthe gazelles
رِّ وَبشَّت لَهُ ثُغورُ الظِباءِ
Baalbek rejoiced in the dutiful son,
And peace upon you, master of poets
and the gazelles' lips smiled upon him.
وَأَطَلَّتand peered out منfrom الهَياكِلِthe temples سكرىintoxicated
وَأَطَلَّت من الهَياكِلِ سكرى
نَظَراتُthe gazes الكَهّانِthe priests وَالأَنبِياءِand the prophets
نَظَراتُ الكَهّانِ وَالأَنبِياءِ
And out from the temples peered, intoxicated,
the gazes of priests and prophets.
وَجثاand knelt الشعرُpoetry لِلَّصلاةِfor prayer جثّوthe kneeling الthe (article)
وَجثا الشعرُ لِلَّصلاةِ جثّو ال
مُؤمِنينَbelievers العُفاةَthe supplicants وَالأُمَناءِand the trustworthy
مُؤمِنينَ العُفاةَ وَالأُمَناءِ
And poetry knelt in prayer like the
suppliant believers and the trustworthy.
ياO نَديمُboon companion الرُؤىvisions عَلَيكَupon you سَلامٌpeace
يا نَديمُ الرُؤى عَلَيكَ سَلامٌ
وَسَلامٌand peace ياO سَيِّدَmaster الشُعَراءِthe poets
وَسَلامٌ يا سَيِّدَ الشُعَراءِ
O boon companion of visions, peace be upon you!
And peace, O master of poets!
Partial English translation: 81 of 88 Arabic lines translated.