زارَهُvisited him الطَيفُthe dream-phantom زَورَةًa visit فيin مَنامِهhis sleep
زارَهُ الطَيفُ زَورَةً في مَنامِه
غَرَّمَتهُit made him pay ماwhat فاتَهُhad passed him by مِنof غَرامِهhis passion
غَرَّمَتهُ ما فاتَهُ مِن غَرامِه
The phantom visited him once in his sleep.
The phantom visited him in a dream
That visit made him pay for the passion he had missed.
And blamed him for what he missed of his love
كانَhe was خِلواًfree مِنَof السَقامِsickness فَلَمّاbut when
كانَ خِلواً مِنَ السَقامِ فَلَمّا
زارَهُvisited him الطَيفُthe phantom عادَbecame again حِلفَa sworn companion of سَقامِهhis sickness
زارَهُ الطَيفُ عادَ حِلفَ سَقامِه
He had been free of sickness, but when
He was free of sickness, but when
the phantom visited him, he became his sickness's sworn companion again.
The phantom visited him, he swore by the return of his illness
لَمdid not يَزُرهُvisit him طَيفُa phantom of المَنامِsleep وَلَكنbut
لَم يَزُرهُ طَيفُ المَنامِ وَلَكن
زارَهُvisited him مَنone who نَفىbanished لَذيذَsweet مَنامِهhis sleep
زارَهُ مَن نَفى لَذيذَ مَنامِه
It was not a phantom of sleep that visited him, but
The phantom of the dream did not visit him, rather
one who banished his sweet sleep.
The one who denied the sweetness of his sleep visited him
عَجَباًhow strange أَنthat يُلِمَّshould appear طَيفٌa phantom لِأَسماof Asma' (first part)
عَجَباً أَن يُلِمَّ طَيفٌ لِأَسما
ءَcompletion of Asma' عَلىwith غَيرِno مَوعِدٍappointment مِنfor لِمامِهits visit
ءَ عَلى غَيرِ مَوعِدٍ مِن لِمامِه
How strange that a phantom of Asma' should appear
Strangely a phantom visits names
without an appointed time for its visit,
Without an appointment from his turban
زائِراًvisiting مِنfrom لِوىthe winding sands of الشَآمِal-Sham وَرَيّاand fragrance
زائِراً مِن لِوى الشَآمِ وَرَيّا
هُits كَرَيّاlike the scent of عَرارِهِits ʿarar blossoms وَبَشامِهand its balsam
هُ كَرَيّا عَرارِهِ وَبَشامِه
visiting from the winding sands of al-Sham, its fragrance
A visitor from the folds of Syria, and its views
like the scent of its ʿarar blossoms and balsam.
Like its views and its plains and mountains
طَرَقَvisited by night الرَكبَthe caravan وَالدُجاand the darkness مِثلُlike فَودَيْtwo sidelocks
طَرَقَ الرَكبَ وَالدُجا مِثلُ فَودَيْ
هِits وَوَلّىand departed وَالصُبحُand the dawn مِثلُlike اِبتِسامِهits smile
هِ وَوَلّى وَالصُبحُ مِثلُ اِبتِسامِه
It came to the caravan by night, darkness like its sidelocks,
The caravan marched and the darkness like its affection
and departed, dawn like its smile.
And the dawn like its smile
وَتَخَطّىand it crossed واديthe valley of الأَراكِarak trees فَماbut not لاbecame supple (first part)
وَتَخَطّى وادي الأَراكِ فَما لا
نَتcompletion of 'became supple' غُصونُthe branches of الأَراكِarak trees لِينَthe suppleness of قَوامِهits figure
نَت غُصونُ الأَراكِ لِينَ قَوامِه
It crossed the Valley of Arak, yet
And he crossed the valley of Al Arak, so the branches
the arak boughs lacked the suppleness of its figure.
Of Al Arak did not bend to his body
كُلَّماwhenever مَرَّit passed مَوهِناًlate at night هَيَّجَتstirred لِيin me
كُلَّما مَرَّ مَوهِناً هَيَّجَت لِي
لَوعَةًa burning ache بِالهَديلِwith cooing وُرقُgray حَمامِهits doves
لَوعَةً بِالهَديلِ وُرقُ حَمامِه
Whenever it passed late at night, there stirred in me
Whenever it passed by something soft, the leaves
a burning ache at the cooing of its gray doves.
Of the doves stirred sorrow with the dew
وَتَذَكَّرتُand I remembered ساكِناًa dweller بِرِجامِat the cairns of النْal-Nabr (first part)
وَتَذَكَّرتُ ساكِناً بِرِجامِ النْ
نَبْرِcompletion of al-Nabr سَقياًmay rain bless لِساكِنٍfor a dweller بِرِجامِهat its cairns
نَبْرِ سَقياً لِساكِنٍ بِرِجامِه
And I remembered one dwelling at the cairns of al-Nabr—
And I remembered residing in the poles of Naber
may rain bless one dwelling by its cairns!
Watering a resident in his poles
يُضرِمُhe kindles النارَfire بِاليَفاعon the heights وَقَلبيand my heart
يُضرِمُ النارَ بِاليَفاع وَقَلبي
فيهِwithin it ماwhat فيis on يَفاعِهِhis heights مِنof ضِرامِهhis blaze
فيهِ ما في يَفاعِهِ مِن ضِرامِه
He kindles fire on the heights, and my heart
Kindling the fire with twigs, and my heart
holds what his heights hold of his blaze.
Contains what the twigs contain from its inflammation
جُؤذَرٌa fawn مِنamong جَآذِرِthe fawns of الحَيِّthe tribe لاdoes not يُوkeep (first part)
جُؤذَرٌ مِن جَآذِرِ الحَيِّ لا يُو
فيcompletion of 'keep' بِمِيعادِهِhis appointment وَلاnor بِذِمامِهhis pledge
في بِمِيعادِهِ وَلا بِذِمامِه
A fawn among the tribe's fawns, who neither
A knight of the alive knights, neither fulfilling
keeps his appointment nor his pledge.
His promise nor his word
فَضَحَput to shame البَدرَthe full moon وَالدُجىand the darkness فَسَناهُfor his radiance
فَضَحَ البَدرَ وَالدُجى فَسَناهُ
كَسَناهُlike its radiance وَفَرعُهُand his hair كَظَلامِهlike its darkness
كَسَناهُ وَفَرعُهُ كَظَلامِه
He put the full moon and darkness to shame: his radiance
The full moon exposed the darkness and it
is like the moon's radiance, his hair like the night's darkness.
Was like its exposure and its spout like its darkness
ياO خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends سَقِّيانيgive me drink, you two حَرامَthe forbidden الرwine (first part)
يا خَلِيلَيَّ سَقِّياني حَرامَ الر
راحِcompletion of 'wine' صِرفاًunmixed وَاستَغفِراand seek forgiveness, you two مِنfor حَرامِهits unlawfulness
راحِ صِرفاً وَاستَغفِرا مِن حَرامِه
O my two friends, give me the forbidden
Oh my friend, serve me the unlawful drink
wine unmixed, and seek forgiveness for its unlawfulness.
Turning away, and ask forgiveness from its unlawfulness
بِنتَdaughter of كَرمٍa vine تَفُضُّdispels هَمَّthe sorrow of أَخيone afflicted with الهَمsorrow (first part)
بِنتَ كَرمٍ تَفُضُّ هَمَّ أَخي الهَم
مِcompletion of 'sorrow' إِذاwhen فُضَّis opened دَنُّهاher cask مِنfrom خِتامِهits seal
مِ إِذا فُضَّ دَنُّها مِن خِتامِه
A daughter of the vine, she dispels the grief-stricken man's sorrow
The daughter of a generous vine whose worry overflows
when her cask is freed from its seal.
When its seal is opened by my worried brother
سَلَكَتshe followed مَسلَكَthe course of الحَياةِlife وَدَبَّتand crept
سَلَكَت مَسلَكَ الحَياةِ وَدَبَّت
بَينَbetween لَحمِthe flesh of الفَتىthe young man وَبَينَand between عِظامِهhis bones
بَينَ لَحمِ الفَتى وَبَينَ عِظامِه
She followed the course of life and crept
It took the path of life and crept
between the young man's flesh and his bones,
Between the flesh of the youth and his bones
مِثلَlike حُبِّlove for المُعِزِّal-Muʿizz تَشرَبُهُdrink it الأَنْthe souls (first part)
مِثلَ حُبِّ المُعِزِّ تَشرَبُهُ الأَنْ
فُسcompletion of 'souls' شُربَthe drinking of الثَرىthe soil لِدَرِّof the milk of غَمامِهhis clouds
فُس شُربَ الثَرى لِدَرِّ غَمامِه
like love for al-Muʿizz, which souls drink
Like the love of the beloved it is sipped by the
as soil drinks the milk of his clouds.
Souls like the drinking of the earth for its cloudburst
مَلِكٌa king واضِحُradiant الجَبينِthe brow كَأَنَّas though الشْthe sun (first part)
مَلِكٌ واضِحُ الجَبينِ كَأَنَّ الشْ
شَمسَcompletion of 'sun' ماwhat lies بَينَbetween تاجِهِhis crown وَلِثامِهand his face-veil
شَمسَ ما بَينَ تاجِهِ وَلِثامِه
A king of radiant brow, as though the
A king with a clear forehead, as if the
sun were between his crown and his face-veil.
Sun is between his crown and turban
مُحسِنٌa benefactor نَستَفيدُwe gain مِنfrom يَدِهِhis hand الثَرwealth (first part)
مُحسِنٌ نَستَفيدُ مِن يَدِهِ الثَر
وَةَcompletion of 'wealth' فَضلاًas a bounty وَحِكمَةًand wisdom مِنfrom كَلامِهhis speech
وَةَ فَضلاً وَحِكمَةً مِن كَلامِه
A benefactor: from his hand we gain
A benefactor from whom we gain generosity and
wealth as a bounty, and wisdom from his speech.
Wisdom from his speech
ذَهَبَwent away الدَهرُTime بِالكِرامِwith the noble وَقَدand indeed رُدْwas restored (first part)
ذَهَبَ الدَهرُ بِالكِرامِ وَقَد رُدْ
دَcompletion of 'was restored' بِهِthrough him كُلُّevery ذاهِبٍdeparted one مِنof كِرامِهits noble ones
دَ بِهِ كُلُّ ذاهِبٍ مِن كِرامِه
Time carried off the noble, but
Time took the generous and returned
through him every noble it lost has been restored.
With it all who depart from his generosity
مُتلِفٌa lavish spender مُخلِفٌa replenisher وَسَهلٌand gentle إِذاwhen سُوtreated peaceably (first part)
مُتلِفٌ مُخلِفٌ وَسَهلٌ إِذا سُو
لِمَcompletion of 'treated peaceably' أَهلٌamiable وَأَيِّدٌand mighty فيin خِصامِهhis disputes
لِمَ أَهلٌ وَأَيِّدٌ في خِصامِه
A lavish spender who replenishes, gentle when
Reconciling, succeeding, easy when asked
met with peace—amiable, and mighty in dispute.
A family and supported in his dispute
لَمdid not يَحُزattain قَيصَرٌCaesar مَداهُhis reach وَلاnor قاstand (first part)
لَم يَحُز قَيصَرٌ مَداهُ وَلا قا
مَcompletion of 'stand' اليَمانِيُّthe Yemeni تُبَّعٌTubbaʿ فيin مَقامِهhis station
مَ اليَمانِيُّ تُبَّعٌ في مَقامِه
Caesar did not attain his reach, nor did
Neither Caesar reached his extent nor Yemen's Tubba`
Tubbaʿ the Yemeni stand in his station.
In his position
عارِضٌa rain-cloud مُسبِلٌpouring down إِذاwhen تُمحِلُgrows barren الأَرthe earth (first part)
عارِضٌ مُسبِلٌ إِذا تُمحِلُ الأَر
ضُcompletion of 'earth' كَفىsufficed as القَطرَrain قَطرَةٌa drop مِنof رِهامِهhis drizzle
ضُ كَفى القَطرَ قَطرَةٌ مِن رِهامِه
A rain-cloud pouring down: when the earth
Bestowing, spending, when the earth complains
grows barren, one drop of his drizzle is rain enough.
A drop of his shower suffices
مُلهَجٌdevoted بِالنَدىto generosity تَراهُyou see him يَرىhe sees الساthe petitioner (first part)
مُلهَجٌ بِالنَدى تَراهُ يَرى السا
ئِلَcompletion of 'petitioner' مِنout of حُبِّهِhis love لَهُfor him فيin مَنامِهhis dreams
ئِلَ مِن حُبِّهِ لَهُ في مَنامِه
Devoted to generosity, you find him dreaming
Passionate with dew, you see him see the
of the petitioner, out of his love for him.
Questioner in his love for him in a dream
قامَhe took charge بِالمُلكِof the realm بَعدَafter أَنthat هَبَطَfell المُلthe realm (first part)
قامَ بِالمُلكِ بَعدَ أَن هَبَطَ المُل
كُcompletion of 'realm' إِلىuntil أَنthat أَقامَهُhe restored it بِقِيامِهby his own rising
كُ إِلى أَن أَقامَهُ بِقِيامِه
He took charge of the realm after the realm had fallen,
He maintained the kingdom after the kingdom
until his own rising set it upright.
Declined until he established it with his determination
وَهَوَتand fell ذُروَةُthe summit of العُلىglory فَبَناهاso he rebuilt it
وَهَوَت ذُروَةُ العُلى فَبَناها
بِالصَقِيلَينِwith the two burnished ones عَزمِهِhis resolve وَحُسامِهand his sword
بِالصَقِيلَينِ عَزمِهِ وَحُسامِه
And the summit of glory fell, so he rebuilt it
And the peak of loftiness collapsed, so he built it
with the two burnished ones—his resolve and his sword.
With his strong resolve and sword
فَرَّغَتemptied كَفُّهُhis hand الكُنوزَthe treasures وَأَفنىand he exhausted
فَرَّغَت كَفُّهُ الكُنوزَ وَأَفنى
بِعَطاby giving to الطارِقِينَnight visitors بُزلَmature camels سَوامِهhis grazing herds
بِعَطا الطارِقِينَ بُزلَ سَوامِه
His hand emptied the treasuries, and he exhausted
His palm emptied the treasures and wasted
his mature grazing camels in gifts to night visitors.
The striking of the visitants the jars of his vigil
يَتَّقيhe fears اللَهَGod مِثلَlike ماthe way يَتَّقيhe fears الذَمblame (first part)
يَتَّقي اللَهَ مِثلَ ما يَتَّقي الذَم
مcompletion of 'blame' وَيُمسيand reaches evening وَالحَمدُand praise جُلُّthe greatest part of اغتِنامِهhis gain
م وَيُمسي وَالحَمدُ جُلُّ اغتِنامِه
He fears God just as he fears
He fears God as he fears blame and ends the day while
blame, and at evening praise is his chief gain.
All his gain is thanks
مَلِكٌa king يَغرَقُdrown المُلوكُthe kings ذَووwearers of التِيcrowns (first part)
مَلِكٌ يَغرَقُ المُلوكُ ذَوو التِي
جانِcompletion of 'crowns' فيin فَضلِهِhis bounty وَفيand in إِنعامِهhis favors
جانِ في فَضلِهِ وَفي إِنعامِه
A king: kings who wear crowns drown
A king in whose favor the crowned kings
in his bounty and in his favors.
Drown in superiority and grace
يَطلُعُrises البَدرُthe full moon فيin السَماءِthe sky فَيَلقاand he meets
يَطلُعُ البَدرُ في السَماءِ فَيَلقا
هُit بِوَجهٍwith a face وَسامُهُits beauty كَوَسامِهlike its beauty
هُ بِوَجهٍ وَسامُهُ كَوَسامِه
The full moon rises in the sky, and he meets
The full moon rises in the sky, so it meets
it with a face whose beauty is like its beauty.
Him with a face, while he equals its beauty
يُشرِقُshines اللَيلُthe night مِنfrom سَناهُhis radiance كَماjust as تُشshines (first part)
يُشرِقُ اللَيلُ مِن سَناهُ كَما تُش
رِقُcompletion of 'shines' ظَلماؤُهُits darkness بِبَدرِwith the moon of تَمامِهits fullness
رِقُ ظَلماؤُهُ بِبَدرِ تَمامِه
Night shines from his radiance, just as
The night shines from his brilliance as
its darkness shines with the moon at its fullness.
Its darkness shines with the fullness of its moon
وَتَفوحُand wafts الصَباthe east wind بِرائِحَةِwith the scent of العَنambergris (first part)
وَتَفوحُ الصَبا بِرائِحَةِ العَن
بَرِcompletion of 'ambergris' مِنfrom نَحوِthe direction of قَصرِهِhis palace وَخِيامِهand his tents
بَرِ مِن نَحوِ قَصرِهِ وَخِيامِه
The east wind wafts the scent of ambergris
And the morning breeze wafts with the scent
from the direction of his palace and his tents.
Of amber from his palace and tents
مُفلِحٌprosperous مُنجِحٌsuccessful يَسيرُhe travels وَلِلإِقand good fortune has (first part)
مُفلِحٌ مُنجِحٌ يَسيرُ وَلِلإِق
بالِcompletion of 'good fortune' جَيشٌan army مِنfrom خَلفِهِbehind him وَأَمامِهand before him
بالِ جَيشٌ مِن خَلفِهِ وَأَمامِه
Prosperous and successful, he marches, with good fortune's
Successful, enabling, he walks and for the
army behind him and before him.
Horizon an army behind and before him
كُلَّماwhenever رامَhe sought مَطلَباًa goal يَسَّرَmade easy اللGod (first part)
كُلَّما رامَ مَطلَباً يَسَّرَ الل
هcompletion of 'God' لَهُfor him ماwhatever يَرُومُهُhe seeks it مِنof مَرامِهhis aims
ه لَهُ ما يَرُومُهُ مِن مَرامِه
Whenever he seeks a goal, God makes easy
Whenever he seeks something, God makes easy
for him whatever he seeks of his aims.
What he wants from his purpose
خَيَّمَencamped السَعدُgood fortune فيin ذَراهُhis shelter وَماand not اِستَسbecame fortunate (first part)
خَيَّمَ السَعدُ في ذَراهُ وَما اِستَس
عَدَcompletion of 'became fortunate' إِلّاexcept بِحُبِّهِthrough his love لِإِمامِهfor his imam
عَدَ إِلّا بِحُبِّهِ لِإِمامِه
Good fortune pitched its tent in his shelter; he became fortunate
Good fortune camped in his home, and he only
only through his love for his imam.
Prospers with his love for his imam
مُحسِنٌa benefactor بِالعِبادِto the people مَنwhoever سَأَلَasks اللGod (first part)
مُحسِنٌ بِالعِبادِ مَن سَأَلَ الل
هَcompletion of 'God' لَهُمfor them فيfor بِقائِهِhis continued life وَدَوامِهand his endurance
هَ لَهُم في بِقائِهِ وَدَوامِه
A benefactor to the people is whoever asks God
Benefiting the servants, whom he asked
on their behalf for his continued life and endurance.
God for their survival and continuity
دافِعٌa defender مانِعٌa protector عَنالثَغرِof the frontier لاnot يَأholds back (first part)
دافِعٌ مانِعٌ عَنالثَغرِ لا يَأ
لُوcompletion of 'holds back' اجتِهاداًeffort فيin حِفظِهِguarding it وَاهتِمامِهand caring for it
لُو اجتِهاداً في حِفظِهِ وَاهتِمامِه
A defender and protector of the frontier, he spares no
Defending, preventing the border, he does not
effort in guarding it and caring for it.
Spare any effort to protect and care for it
قَصرُهُhis palace كَعبَةٌa Kaaba وَيُمناهُand his right hand كَالرُكlike the Corner (first part)
قَصرُهُ كَعبَةٌ وَيُمناهُ كَالرُك
نِcompletion of 'Corner' لَناfor us وِاستِلامُهاand touching it كَاستِلامِهlike touching it
نِ لَنا وِاستِلامُها كَاستِلامِه
His palace is a Kaaba, and his right hand is like the
His palace is like the Ka`bah, and its prosperity like
Corner to us; touching it is like touching that Corner.
The Yemeni corner for us, and touching it like touching him
بَشَّرَتgave glad tidings نَفسَهاto themselves المَكارِمُthe noble virtues لَمّاwhen
بَشَّرَت نَفسَها المَكارِمُ لَمّا
بَشَرُوهاthey gave them glad news بِشُربِهِof his drinking لِمُدامِهof his wine
بَشَرُوها بِشُربِهِ لِمُدامِه
The noble virtues gave themselves glad tidings when
The virtues gave glad tidings to themselves when
they were told that he was drinking his wine.
They were given good news of serving his wine
وَاستَفَزَّand roused السُرورُjoy مَغناهُhis dwelling وَاهتَزand it swayed (first part)
وَاستَفَزَّ السُرورُ مَغناهُ وَاهتَز
زcompletion of 'swayed' بِمَنwith those فَوقَupon أَرضِهِits ground مِنamong ندامهhis drinking companions
ز بِمَن فَوقَ أَرضِهِ مِن ندامه
Joy roused his dwelling, and it swayed
And joy incited its songs, and the higher
with the drinking companions upon its ground.
Heavens shook for whoever is above its soil
مَنزِلٌa dwelling يَشتَهيlongs الزَمانُTime بِأَنto يَبlay flat (first part)
مَنزِلٌ يَشتَهي الزَمانُ بِأَن يَب
سُطَcompletion of 'lay flat' خَدَّيهِits two cheeks فيin مَكانِthe place of رِجامِهits stones
سُطَ خَدَّيهِ في مَكانِ رِجامِه
A dwelling where Time longs to lay
An abode time desires to extend its
its two cheeks in place of the dwelling's stones.
Cheeks in the place of its poles
كادَتalmost الراحُthe wine أَنto تَطيرَfly مِنَfrom الدَسْthe tray (first part)
كادَت الراحُ أَن تَطيرَ مِنَ الدَسْ
تِcompletion of 'tray' ارتِياحاًin eager delight إِلىtoward يَمينِthe right hand of هُمامِهits noble lord
تِ ارتِياحاً إِلى يَمينِ هُمامِه
The wine almost flew from the tray,
The wind almost flew from the hand
in eager delight toward its noble lord's right hand.
In comfort to the right of his resolve
إِنَّماonly يَفرَحُrejoices الزَمانُTime بِأَنwhen يَفhe rejoices (first part)
إِنَّما يَفرَحُ الزَمانُ بِأَن يَف
رَحَcompletion of 'rejoices' فيهِin it وَغَمُّهُand its grief بِاغتِمامِهat his grieving
رَحَ فيهِ وَغَمُّهُ بِاغتِمامِه
Time rejoices only when he
Indeed, time only rejoices in rejoicing
rejoices in it; its grief comes from his grieving.
In it, and its sorrow in his worrying
مَدَّهُsustained him اللَهُGod بِالسُعودِwith good fortune وَأَعطاand granted
مَدَّهُ اللَهُ بِالسُعودِ وَأَعطا
هُhim المُنىwishes فيin مَسيرِهِhis traveling وَمُقامِهand his staying
هُ المُنى في مَسيرِهِ وَمُقامِه
May God sustain him with good fortune and grant
God gave him good fortune and granted him
him his wishes in his travels and his stays.
Success in his journey and residence