صَفحَةُa sheet of البَرقِlightning أَومَضَتflashed فيin الغَمامِthe clouds
صَفحَةُ البَرقِ أَومَضَت في الغَمامِ
أَمor شِهابٌa meteor يَشُقُّcleaves جَوفَthe heart of الظَلامِdarkness
أَم شِهابٌ يَشُقُّ جَوفَ الظَلامِ
Did a sheet of lightning flash in the clouds,
or a meteor cleave the heart of darkness,
أَمor سَليلُoffspring of البُخارِsteam طارَflew إِلىtoward القَصthe destination (fragment)
أَم سَليلُ البُخارِ طارَ إِلى القَص
دِ(completes 'destination') فَأَعياand exhausted سَوابِقَthe swiftest of الأَوهامِfancies
دِ فَأَعيا سَوابِقَ الأَوهامِ
or steam's offspring fly toward its destination,
outstripping the swiftest flights of fancy?
مَرَّit passed كَاللَمحِlike a flash لَمnot تَكَدnearly تَقِفُrests العَيthe eye (fragment)
مَرَّ كَاللَمحِ لَم تَكَد تَقِفُ العَي
نُ(completes 'eye') عَلىon ظِلِّthe shadow of جِرمِهِits bulk المُتَراميfar-stretching
نُ عَلى ظِلِّ جِرمِهِ المُتَرامي
It passed like a flash; the eye could scarcely settle
on the shadow of its far-stretching bulk.
أَوor كَشَرخِlike the prime of الشَبابِyouth لَمnot يَدرِknew كاسيwearer
أَو كَشَرخِ الشَبابِ لَم يَدرِ كاسي
هِits تَوَلّىit passed away فيin يَقظَةٍwakefulness أَوor مَنامِa dream
هِ تَوَلّى في يَقظَةٍ أَو مَنامِ
Or like the prime of youth, whose wearer never knew
whether it passed in wakefulness or a dream.
لاnot يُباليheeds السُرىnight travel إِذاwhen اِعتَكَرَgrew murky اللَيthe night (fragment)
لا يُبالي السُرى إِذا اِعتَكَرَ اللَي
لُ(completes 'night') وَخانَتand betrayed مَواقِعُthe footholds of الأَقدامِthe feet
لُ وَخانَت مَواقِعُ الأَقدامِ
It fears no night journey when the night grows murky
and footholds betray the feet.
يَقطَعُcrosses البيدَthe deserts وَالفَيافيand wildernesses وَحيداًalone
يَقطَعُ البيدَ وَالفَيافي وَحيداً
لَمnot تُضَعضِعهُshook it وَحشَةُthe desolation of الإِظلامِdarkness
لَم تُضَعضِعهُ وَحشَةُ الإِظلامِ
It crosses deserts and wildernesses alone,
unshaken by the desolation of darkness.
لَيسَnot يَثنيهِturns it back ماwhat يُذيبُmelts دِماغَthe brain of الضَبthe desert lizard (fragment)
لَيسَ يَثنيهِ ما يُذيبُ دِماغَ الضَب
بِ(completes 'desert lizard') يَومَon the day of الهَجيرِscorching midday heat بَينَamong المَواميdesert wastes
بِ يَومَ الهَجيرِ بَينَ المَوامي
It is not turned back by what melts the desert lizard's brain
at scorching noon amid the desert wastes.
لاno وَلاand not يَعتَريهِafflicts it ماwhat يُخرِسُsilences الناthe barking dog (fragment)
لا وَلا يَعتَريهِ ما يُخرِسُ النا
بِحَ(completes 'barking dog') فيin الزَمهَريرِbitter cold بَينَamong الخِيامِthe tents
بِحَ في الزَمهَريرِ بَينَ الخِيامِ
No, nor is it touched by what silences the barking dog
in bitter cold among the tents.
هائِمٌroaming كَالظَليمِlike a male ostrich أَزعَجَهُstartled it الصَيthe hunt (fragment)
هائِمٌ كَالظَليمِ أَزعَجَهُ الصَي
دُ(completes 'hunt') وَراعَتهُand terrified it طائِشاتُstraying السِهامِarrows
دُ وَراعَتهُ طائِشاتُ السِهامِ
Roaming like a male ostrich startled by the hunt
and terrified by arrows flying astray,
فَهوَso it يَشتَدُّraces فيin النَجاءِflight وَيَهويand rushes
فَهوَ يَشتَدُّ في النَجاءِ وَيَهوي
حَيثُwhere تُرمىare hurled بِجانِبَيهِat its two sides المَراميmissiles
حَيثُ تُرمى بِجانِبَيهِ المَرامي
it races in flight and rushes onward
where missiles are hurled at either side of it.
ياO حَديداًiron يَنسابُglides فَوقَover حَديدٍiron
يا حَديداً يَنسابُ فَوقَ حَديدٍ
كَاِنسِيابِlike the gliding of الرَقطاءِthe spotted serpent فَوقَover الرَغامِdust
كَاِنسِيابِ الرَقطاءِ فَوقَ الرَغامِ
O iron gliding over iron,
like a spotted serpent gliding over dust!
قَدindeed مَسَحتَyou spanned البِلادَthe lands شَرقاًeastward وَغَرباًand westward
قَد مَسَحتَ البِلادَ شَرقاً وَغَرباً
بِذِراعَيwith the two arms of مُشَمِّرٍone girded for action مِقدامِbold
بِذِراعَي مُشَمِّرٍ مِقدامِ
You have spanned the lands, east and west,
with the two arms of one girded for action and bold.
بَينَbetween جَنبَيكَyour two sides ماwhat بِجَنبَيَّbetween my two sides لَكِنbut
بَينَ جَنبَيكَ ما بِجَنبَيَّ لَكِن
ماwhat بِجَنبَيَّbetween my two sides مُستَديمُunceasing الضِرامِburning
ما بِجَنبَيَّ مُستَديمُ الضِرامِ
Between your sides is what lies between mine, but
what lies between mine is forever aflame.
أَنتَyou لاnot تَعرِفُyou know الغَرامَpassionate love وَإِنeven though كُنwere (fragment)
أَنتَ لا تَعرِفُ الغَرامَ وَإِن كُن
تَyou (verb ending) تُريناyou show us زَفيرَthe sighing of أَهلِthe people of الغَرامِpassionate love
تَ تُرينا زَفيرَ أَهلِ الغَرامِ
You know no passionate love, though
you show us the sighing of those in love.
أَنتَyou لاnot تَعرِفُyou know الحَنينَlonging إِلىfor الإِلthe beloved (fragment)
أَنتَ لا تَعرِفُ الحَنينَ إِلى الإِل
فِ(completes 'beloved') فَماthen what are هَذِهِthese الدُموعُthe tears الهَواميstreaming
فِ فَما هَذِهِ الدُموعُ الهَوامي
You know no longing for a beloved—
what, then, are these streaming tears?
أَنتَyou قاسيhard الفُؤادِof heart جَلدٌenduring عَلىagainst الأَيfatigue (fragment)
أَنتَ قاسي الفُؤادِ جَلدٌ عَلى الأَي
نِ(completes 'fatigue') شَديدُmighty in القُوىstrength شَديدُmighty in العُرامِfierceness
نِ شَديدُ القُوى شَديدُ العُرامِ
You are hard-hearted, enduring against fatigue,
mighty in strength, mighty in fierceness.
لاnot تُباليyou care أَرُعتَwhether you frightened بِالبَينِwith separation أَحباlovers (fragment)
لا تُبالي أَرُعتَ بِالبَينِ أَحبا
باً(completes 'lovers') وَأَسرَفتَand you went too far فيin أَذيhurting المُستَهامِthe lovelorn
باً وَأَسرَفتَ في أَذي المُستَهامِ
You care not whether you frighten lovers with parting
and go too far in tormenting the lovelorn,
أَمor جَمَعتَyou gathered الأَعداءَthe enemies فَوقَon صَعيدٍone plain
أَم جَمَعتَ الأَعداءَ فَوقَ صَعيدٍ
وَخَلَطتَand you mingled الأُسودَthe lions بِالآرامِwith the gazelles
وَخَلَطتَ الأُسودَ بِالآرامِ
or gather enemies on one plain
and mingle lions with gazelles.
إِنَّنيindeed I قَدindeed شَهِدتُwitnessed فيكَin you عَجيباًa marvel
إِنَّني قَد شَهِدتُ فيكَ عَجيباً
ضاقَwas too narrow عَنfor وَصفِهِdescribing it نِطاقُthe scope of الكَلامِspeech
ضاقَ عَن وَصفِهِ نِطاقُ الكَلامِ
I have indeed witnessed in you a marvel
beyond the compass of speech to describe.
جُزتَyou passed يَوماًone day بِناby us وَنَحنُwhile we عَلىon الجِسthe bridge (fragment)
جُزتَ يَوماً بِنا وَنَحنُ عَلى الجِس
رِ(completes 'bridge') قِيامٌstanding وَاللَيلُand the night لَيلُa night of التَمامِutmost length
رِ قِيامٌ وَاللَيلُ لَيلُ التَمامِ
You passed us once while we were on the bridge,
standing there on the longest of nights.
وَإِذاand behold راكِبٌa rider إِلىtoward الجِسرِthe bridge يَهويhurtles
وَإِذا راكِبٌ إِلى الجِسرِ يَهوي
بَينَbetween صَفَّينِtwo ranks مِنof مَماتٍdeath زُؤامِterrible
بَينَ صَفَّينِ مِن مَماتٍ زُؤامِ
And behold, a rider hurtling toward the bridge
between two ranks of terrible death!
مَرَّhe passed كَالسَهمِlike an arrow بَينَbetween تِلكَthose الحَناياarches
مَرَّ كَالسَهمِ بَينَ تِلكَ الحَنايا
قَدindeed رَماهُshot him مِنَfrom among المَقاديرِthe fates راميan archer
قَد رَماهُ مِنَ المَقاديرِ رامي
He passed like an arrow between those arches,
shot by an archer from among the fates.
فَتَرَدّىthen he plunged فيinto الماءِthe water وَالماءُand the water غَمرٌdeep
فَتَرَدّى في الماءِ وَالماءُ غَمرٌ
يَتَّقيهِshuns it القَضاءُFate وَالنَهرُand the river طاميswollen
يَتَّقيهِ القَضاءُ وَالنَهرُ طامي
Then he plunged into the water—the water was deep,
which Fate itself would shun; the river was swollen.
وَإِذاand behold سابِحٌa swimmer قَدِalready اِنقَضَّswooped فيinto الماthe water (fragment)
وَإِذا سابِحٌ قَدِ اِنقَضَّ في الما
ءِ(completes 'water') اِنقِضاضَthe swooping of العُقابِthe eagle فَوقَupon الحَمامِthe doves
ءِ اِنقِضاضَ العُقابِ فَوقَ الحَمامِ
And behold, a swimmer plunged into the water
as an eagle swoops upon doves.
غاصَhe dived فيinto لُجَّةِthe abyss of الحُتوفِdeaths بِعَزمٍwith resolve
غاصَ في لُجَّةِ الحُتوفِ بِعَزمٍ
لَمnot يُعَوَّدwas accustomed to مَواقِفَsituations of الإِحجامِretreat
لَم يُعَوَّد مَواقِفَ الإِحجامِ
He dived into death's abyss with a resolve
unaccustomed to occasions of retreat.
غابَhe disappeared فيهاinto it وَعادَand returned يَحمِلُcarrying جِسماًa body
غابَ فيها وَعادَ يَحمِلُ جِسماً
سَلَّهُhe wrested it مِنfrom يَدِthe hand of الهَلاكِdestruction اللِزامِinescapable
سَلَّهُ مِن يَدِ الهَلاكِ اللِزامِ
He vanished into it, then returned bearing a body
he had wrested from the grasp of inescapable destruction.
كافَحَhe battled المَوجَthe waves صارَعَhe wrestled الهَولَterror أَبلىhe fought valiantly
كافَحَ المَوجَ صارَعَ الهَولَ أَبلى
كَبَلاءِlike the prowess of المُهَنَّدِthe Indian-forged sword الصَمصامِthe keen blade
كَبَلاءِ المُهَنَّدِ الصَمصامِ
He battled the waves, wrestled with terror, and fought valiantly,
with the prowess of a keen Indian-forged sword.
وَاِنثَنىand he turned راجِعاًreturning إِلىtoward شاطِئِthe bank of النَهthe river (fragment)
وَاِنثَنى راجِعاً إِلى شاطِئِ النَه
رِ(completes 'river') رُجوعَlike the return of الكَمِيِّthe armored warrior غِبَّafter اِغتِنامِtaking spoils
رِ رُجوعَ الكَمِيِّ غِبَّ اِغتِنامِ
He turned back toward the river's bank,
returning like an armored warrior after taking spoils.
وَقَفَstood الناسُthe people ذاهِلينَastounded وَصاحواand they cried
وَقَفَ الناسُ ذاهِلينَ وَصاحوا
تِلكَthat is إِحدىone of عَجائِبِthe marvels of الأَيّامِthe days
تِلكَ إِحدى عَجائِبِ الأَيّامِ
The people stood astounded and cried:
This is one of the marvels of time!
أَنَجاةٌdeliverance? مِنَfrom القِطارِthe train مِنَfrom الجِسthe bridge (fragment)
أَنَجاةٌ مِنَ القِطارِ مِنَ الجِس
رِ(completes 'bridge') مِنَfrom النَهرِthe river جَلَّexalted is رَبُّthe Lord of الأَنامِall creatures
رِ مِنَ النَهرِ جَلَّ رَبُّ الأَنامِ
Deliverance from the train, from the bridge,
from the river? Exalted is the Lord of all creatures!
وَإِذاand behold صَيحَةٌa cry عَلَتrose مِنfrom فَتاةٍa young woman
وَإِذا صَيحَةٌ عَلَت مِن فَتاةٍ
بَرَزَتshe emerged مِنfrom صُفوفِthe ranks of ذاكَthat الزِحامِcrowd
بَرَزَت مِن صُفوفِ ذاكَ الزِحامِ
Then a cry rose from a young woman
who stepped out from the ranks of that crowd.
وَقَفَتshe stood مَوقِفَin the stance of الخَطيبِthe orator وَنادَتand called
وَقَفَت مَوقِفَ الخَطيبِ وَنادَت
تِلكَthat is عُقبىthe reward of رِعايَةِcaring for الأَيتامِorphans
تِلكَ عُقبى رِعايَةِ الأَيتامِ
She stood like an orator and called:
This is the reward of caring for orphans!
بَسَطَتit spread تَحتَهُbeneath him أَكُفّاًpalms تَلَقَّتcaught
بَسَطَت تَحتَهُ أَكُفّاً تَلَقَّت
هُhim وَحاطَتهُand protected him رَغمَdespite أَنفِthe nose of الحِمامِdeath
هُ وَحاطَتهُ رَغمَ أَنفِ الحِمامِ
It spread hands beneath him that caught
him and sheltered him in defiance of death.
دَعوَةُthe prayer of البائِسِthe wretched المُعَذَّبِthe tormented سورٌa rampart
دَعوَةُ البائِسِ المُعَذَّبِ سورٌ
يَدفَعُrepels الشَرَّevil عَنfrom حِياضِthe watering places of الكِرامِthe noble
يَدفَعُ الشَرَّ عَن حِياضِ الكِرامِ
The suffering wretch's prayer is a rampart
keeping evil from the watering places of the noble.
وَهيَand it حَربٌis war عَلىagainst البَخيلِthe miser وَذيand the one guilty of البَغoppression (fragment)
وَهيَ حَربٌ عَلى البَخيلِ وَذي البَغ
يِ(completes 'oppression') وَسَيفٌand a sword عَلىagainst رِقابِthe necks of اللِئامِthe base
يِ وَسَيفٌ عَلى رِقابِ اللِئامِ
It is war against the miser and the oppressor,
and a sword against the necks of the base.
إِنَّindeed هَذاthis الكَريمَgenerous man قَدindeed صانَsafeguarded عِرضيmy honor
إِنَّ هَذا الكَريمَ قَد صانَ عِرضي
وَحَمانيand protected me مِنfrom عادِياتِthe onslaughts of السَقامِillness
وَحَماني مِن عادِياتِ السَقامِ
This generous man has indeed safeguarded my honor
and protected me from the onslaughts of illness.
عالَsupported طِفليmy child وَعالَنيand supported me وَحَبانيand bestowed on me
عالَ طِفلي وَعالَني وَحَباني
بِكِساءٍwith clothing وَبِدرَةٍand a purse of money وَطَعامِand food
بِكِساءٍ وَبِدرَةٍ وَطَعامِ
He supported my child and me, and bestowed on me
clothing, a purse of money, and food.
وَهوَand he مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa company أَغاثواthey aided ذَويthose afflicted by البُؤdistress (fragment)
وَهوَ مِن مَعشَرٍ أَغاثوا ذَوي البُؤ
سِ(completes 'distress') وَقامواand they served فيin the cause of اللَهِGod خَيرَthe best القِيامِservice
سِ وَقاموا في اللَهِ خَيرَ القِيامِ
He belongs to a company who aided the distressed
and served God's cause with the finest service.
وَأَقامواand they established لِلبِرِّfor charity داراًa house فَكانَتso it became
وَأَقاموا لِلبِرِّ داراً فَكانَت
خَيرَthe best وِردٍwatering place يَؤُمُّهُseeks it كُلُّevery ظاميthirsty one
خَيرَ وِردٍ يَؤُمُّهُ كُلُّ ظامي
They founded a house for charity, which became
the finest watering place, sought by all who thirst.
مُلِئَتwas filled رَحمَةًwith mercy وَفاضَتand overflowed حَناناًwith compassion
مُلِئَت رَحمَةً وَفاضَت حَناناً
فَهيَso it لِلبائِساتِfor suffering women دارُa house of السَلامِpeace
فَهيَ لِلبائِساتِ دارُ السَلامِ
It was filled with mercy and overflowed with compassion,
a house of peace for suffering women.
زُرتُهاI visited it وَالشَقاءُwhile misery يَجريran وَرائيbehind me
زُرتُها وَالشَقاءُ يَجري وَرائي
وَشُعاعُand a ray of الرَجاءِhope يَسريflowed أَماميahead of me
وَشُعاعُ الرَجاءِ يَسري أَمامي
I visited it with misery running behind me
and a ray of hope streaming ahead of me.
لَمnot يَقولواthey said مَنِwho is الفَتاةُthe young woman وَلَكِنbut
لَم يَقولوا مَنِ الفَتاةُ وَلَكِن
سَأَلونيthey asked me هُناكَthere عَنabout آلاميmy pains
سَأَلوني هُناكَ عَن آلامي
They did not say, ‘Who is the young woman?’ Instead,
they asked me there about my pains.
ثُمَّthen أَهوَتshe bent إِلىtoward الغَريقِthe drowning man تُواسيcomforting
ثُمَّ أَهوَت إِلى الغَريقِ تُواسي
هِhim بِأَحلىwith something sweeter مِنthan مُنعِشاتِthe reviving draughts of المُدامِwine
هِ بِأَحلى مِن مُنعِشاتِ المُدامِ
Then she bent toward the man saved from drowning, consoling
him with comfort sweeter than wine's reviving draughts.
قَبَّلَتshe kissed راحَتَيهِhis two palms شُكراًin gratitude وَصاحَتand cried
قَبَّلَت راحَتَيهِ شُكراً وَصاحَت
قَدindeed نَجاwas saved صاحِبُthe giver of الأَياديfavors العِظامِgreat
قَد نَجا صاحِبُ الأَيادي العِظامِ
She kissed both his palms in gratitude and cried:
The giver of great favors has been saved!
قَدindeed نَجاwas saved المُنعِمُthe benefactor الجَوادُthe generous مِنَfrom المَوdeath (fragment)
قَد نَجا المُنعِمُ الجَوادُ مِنَ المَو
تِ(completes 'death') بِفَضلِthrough the grace of الزَكاةِalmsgiving وَالإِنعامِand generosity
تِ بِفَضلِ الزَكاةِ وَالإِنعامِ
The bountiful benefactor has escaped death
through the grace of almsgiving and generosity!
فَأَطَفناso we gathered بِهاaround her وَقَدand already مَلَأَfilled الأَنthe souls (fragment)
فَأَطَفنا بِها وَقَد مَلَأَ الأَن
فُسَ(completes 'souls') مِنّاof us جَلالُthe majesty of ذاكَthat المَقامِscene
فُسَ مِنّا جَلالُ ذاكَ المَقامِ
Then we gathered around her, and our souls were filled
with the majesty of that scene.
وَشَهِدناand we witnessed ثَغرَthe mouth of الوَفاءِfidelity تَجَلّىrevealed itself
وَشَهِدنا ثَغرَ الوَفاءِ تَجَلّى
إِذas تَجَلّىit appeared فيin ثَغرِهاher mouth البَسّامِsmiling
إِذ تَجَلّى في ثَغرِها البَسّامِ
We witnessed fidelity's smile unveiled
as it appeared upon her smiling lips.
وَرَأَيناand we saw شَخصَthe form of المُروءَةِchivalry وَالبِرand charity (fragment)
وَرَأَينا شَخصَ المُروءَةِ وَالبِر
رِ(completes 'charity') تَبَدّىappeared فيin شَخصِthe person of ذاكَthat الهُمامِnoble man
رِ تَبَدّى في شَخصِ ذاكَ الهُمامِ
We saw the form of chivalry and charity
embodied in the person of that noble man.
وَعَلِمناand we learned أَنَّthat الزَكاةَalmsgiving سَبيلُthe path of اللَGod (fragment)
وَعَلِمنا أَنَّ الزَكاةَ سَبيلُ اللَ
هِ(completes 'God') قَبلَbefore الصَلاةِprayer قَبلَbefore الصِيامِfasting
هِ قَبلَ الصَلاةِ قَبلَ الصِيامِ
We learned that almsgiving is God's path
before prayer, before fasting.
خَصَّهاsingled it out اللَهُGod فيin الكِتابِthe Book بِذِكرٍfor mention
خَصَّها اللَهُ في الكِتابِ بِذِكرٍ
فَهيَso it رُكنُthe pillar of الأَركانِthe pillars فيin الإِسلامِIslam
فَهيَ رُكنُ الأَركانِ في الإِسلامِ
God singled it out for mention in the Book:
it is the pillar of pillars in Islam.
بَدَأَتit began مَبدَأَat the beginning of اليَقينِcertainty وَظَلَّتand remained
بَدَأَت مَبدَأَ اليَقينِ وَظَلَّت
لِحَياةِfor the life of الشُعوبِpeoples خَيرَthe best قِوامِsupport
لِحَياةِ الشُعوبِ خَيرَ قِوامِ
It began with the dawn of certainty, and has remained
the best mainstay for the life of nations.
لَوif وَفىfulfilled his duty بِالزَكاةِin almsgiving مَنwhoever جَمَعَamassed الدُنthe world (fragment)
لَو وَفى بِالزَكاةِ مَن جَمَعَ الدُن
يا(completes 'world') وَأَهوىand rushed عَلىto اِقتِناءِacquiring الحُطامِworldly dross
يا وَأَهوى عَلى اِقتِناءِ الحُطامِ
Had the hoarders of worldly wealth fulfilled their duty in alms,
those who swooped to acquire its worldly dross,
ماnot شَكاcomplained of الجوعَhunger مُعدَمٌa destitute person أَوor تَصَدّىventured
ما شَكا الجوعَ مُعدَمٌ أَو تَصَدّى
لِرُكوبِto committing الشُرورِevils وَالآثامِand sins
لِرُكوبِ الشُرورِ وَالآثامِ
no destitute person would have complained of hunger or resorted
to pursuing evils and sins,
راكِباًriding رَأسَهُhis own head طَريداًoutcast شَريداًwandering
راكِباً رَأسَهُ طَريداً شَريداً
لاnot يُباليhe cares بِشِرعَةٍabout any law أَوor ذِمامِa binding pledge
لا يُبالي بِشِرعَةٍ أَو ذِمامِ
headstrong, outcast, and wandering,
heedless of law or binding pledge,
سائِلاًasking عَنabout وَصِيَّةَthe injunction of اللَهِGod فيهِconcerning him
سائِلاً عَن وَصِيَّةَ اللَهِ فيهِ
آخِذاًseizing قوتَهُhis sustenance بِحَدِّwith the edge of الحُسامِthe sword
آخِذاً قوتَهُ بِحَدِّ الحُسامِ
asking about God's command concerning him,
seizing his sustenance with the edge of a sword.
لَمnot أَقِفI took مَوقِفيmy stand لِأُنشِدَto recite شِعراًpoetry
لَم أَقِف مَوقِفي لِأُنشِدَ شِعراً
صُبَّwas cast فيinto قالَبٍa mold بَديعِexquisite in النِظامِcomposition
صُبَّ في قالَبٍ بَديعِ النِظامِ
I did not take my stand to recite poetry
cast into a mold of exquisite composition.
إِنَّماonly قُمتُI stood فيهِin it وَالنَفسُwhile the soul نَشوىintoxicated
إِنَّما قُمتُ فيهِ وَالنَفسُ نَشوى
مِنfrom كُؤوسِcups of الهُمومِcares وَالقَلبُand the heart داميbleeding
مِن كُؤوسِ الهُمومِ وَالقَلبُ دامي
I stood here only with my soul intoxicated
by cups of care, and my heart bleeding.
ذُقتُI tasted طَعمَthe flavor of الأَسىsorrow وَكابَدتُand endured عَيشاًa life
ذُقتُ طَعمَ الأَسى وَكابَدتُ عَيشاً
دونَeasier than شُربيmy drinking قَذاهُits dregs شُربُdrinking الحِمامِdeath
دونَ شُربي قَذاهُ شُربُ الحِمامِ
I tasted sorrow's flavor and endured a life
whose dregs were harder to drink than death.
فَتَقَلَّبتُso I tossed about فيin الشَقاءِmisery زَماناًfor a time
فَتَقَلَّبتُ في الشَقاءِ زَماناً
وَتَنَقَّلتُand I wandered فيamong الخُطوبِcalamities الجِسامِimmense
وَتَنَقَّلتُ في الخُطوبِ الجِسامِ
So I tossed about in misery for a time,
and wandered among immense calamities.
وَمَشىand went الهَمُّcare ثاقِباًpiercing فيthrough فُؤاديmy heart
وَمَشى الهَمُّ ثاقِباً في فُؤادي
وَمَشىand went الحُزنُsorrow ناخِراًgnawing فيthrough عِظاميmy bones
وَمَشى الحُزنُ ناخِراً في عِظامي
Care went piercing through my heart,
and sorrow went gnawing through my bones.
فَلِهَذاso for this وَقَفتُI stood أَستَعطِفُI seek the sympathy of الناthe people (fragment)
فَلِهَذا وَقَفتُ أَستَعطِفُ النا
سَ(completes 'people') عَلىfor البائِسينَthe suffering فيin كُلِّevery عامِyear
سَ عَلى البائِسينَ في كُلِّ عامِ
For this I have stood, seeking the people's compassion
for the suffering each year.