طالَgrew long لَيليmy night وَساوَرَتنيand assailed me الهُمومُthe worries
طالَ لَيلي وَساوَرَتني الهُمومُ
وَكَأَنّيand as though I لِكُلِّto every نَجمٍstar غَريمُa creditor
وَكَأَنّي لِكُلِّ نَجمٍ غَريمُ
My night grew long, and worries assailed me;
My night grew long as worries besieged me,
and as though I were a creditor to every star,
And I was aggrieved by every star,
ساهِراًwakeful هاجِراًforsaking لِنَوميof my sleep حَتّىuntil
ساهِراً هاجِراً لِنَومي حَتّى
لاحَappeared تَحتَbeneath الظَلامِthe darkness فَجرٌa dawn سَقيمُsickly
لاحَ تَحتَ الظَلامِ فَجرٌ سَقيمُ
wakeful, forsaking my sleep, until
Staying up late, sleepless, until
a sickly dawn appeared beneath the darkness.
Dawn's first glow appeared under the gloom.
دامَcontinued كَرُّthe recurrence النَهارِday وَاللَيلِand night مَحثوurged onward (word begins)
دامَ كَرُّ النَهارِ وَاللَيلِ مَحثو
ثَينِdual ending of 'urged onward' ذاthis one مُنبِهٌawakening وَهَذاand this one مُنيمُsleep-inducing
ثَينِ ذا مُنبِهٌ وَهَذا مُنيمُ
Day and night keep returning, driven
The millstones of night and day still turn;
onward: this one awakens us, that one brings sleep.
One wakes us, the other makes us sleep.
وَرَحىًand a millstone تَحتَناbeneath us وَأُخرىand another عَلَيناabove us
وَرَحىً تَحتَنا وَأُخرى عَلَينا
كُلُّevery مَرءٍperson فيهاin it طَحينٌground down هَشيمُshattered
كُلُّ مَرءٍ فيها طَحينٌ هَشيمُ
A millstone beneath us, and another above us;
One above, one below, grinding each
every person within is ground to powder, shattered.
Man's portion of grain, chaff and debris.
وَسُرورٌand joy وَكُربَةٌand anguish وَاِفتِقارٌand poverty
وَسُرورٌ وَكُربَةٌ وَاِفتِقارٌ
وَبَريقٌand glitter كَزُخرُفٍlike gilding لاnot يَدومُendures
وَبَريقٌ كَزُخرُفٍ لا يَدومُ
And joy, and anguish, and poverty,
Joy and sorrow, want and glittering show,
and glitter, like gilding, that does not last.
Wealth ephemeral as a mirage.
وَمُعافىًand one in health وَذوand one with سَقامٍillness وَحَيٌّand one alive
وَمُعافىً وَذو سَقامٍ وَحَيٌّ
وَحَبيسٌand a prisoner تَحتَbeneath التُرابِthe earth مُقيمُremaining
وَحَبيسٌ تَحتَ التُرابِ مُقيمُ
And one in health, one sick, and one alive,
Health and affliction, life and death,
and one imprisoned beneath the earth, abiding there.
Some housed beneath earth in their home.
وَغَويٌّand one astray عاصٍdisobedient وَبِرٌّand one righteous تَقيٌّdevout
وَغَويٌّ عاصٍ وَبِرٌّ تَقيٌّ
وَاِستَبانَand became clear المَحمودُthe praiseworthy وَالمَذمومُand the blameworthy
وَاِستَبانَ المَحمودُ وَالمَذمومُ
And one astray and disobedient, one righteous and devout;
Rebel and pious, the good distinct
and the praiseworthy and the blameworthy stand revealed.
From the blameworthy, clear to all.
وَبَخيلٌand a miser وَذوand one with سَخاءٍgenerosity وَلَولاand were it not for
وَبَخيلٌ وَذو سَخاءٍ وَلَولا
بُخلُstinginess هَذاthis one ماnot قيلَit was said هَذاthis one كَريمُgenerous
بُخلُ هَذا ما قيلَ هَذا كَريمُ
And a miser, and one generous; and were it not for
Without the miser's stinginess, none
this one's stinginess, none would say, 'This one is generous.'
Could ever call another generous.
وَنَرىand we see صَنعَةًhandiwork تُخَبِّرُtells عَنof خاCreator (word begins)
وَنَرى صَنعَةً تُخَبِّرُ عَن خا
لِقِناcompletion of 'our Creator' أَنَّهُthat He لَطيفٌsubtle حَكيمُwise
لِقِنا أَنَّهُ لَطيفٌ حَكيمُ
And we see handiwork that tells of our Creator,
We observe a creation that tells
that He is subtle and wise.
Us its Maker is gentle and wise.
كَيفَhow نَوميmy sleep وَقَدand already حَلَلتُI settled بِبَغداin Baghdad (word begins)
كَيفَ نَومي وَقَد حَلَلتُ بِبَغدا
دَcompletion of 'Baghdad' مُقيماًresiding فيin أَرضِهاits land لاnot أَريمُI depart
دَ مُقيماً في أَرضِها لا أَريمُ
How can I sleep, when I have settled in Baghdad,
How can I sleep when I've come to stay
dwelling on its soil, never departing?
In Baghdad, no transient visitor?
بِبِلادٍin a land فيهاin it الرَكاياthe wells عَلَيهِنabove them (pronoun continues)
بِبِلادٍ فيها الرَكايا عَلَيهِن
نَcompletion of 'them' أَكاليلُwreaths مِنof بَعوضٍmosquitoes يَحومُcircles
نَ أَكاليلُ مِن بَعوضٍ يَحومُ
In a land with wells above which
A land where mosquitoes form garlands
are wreaths of circling mosquitoes.
On the shrines - revolving, hovering swarms.
وَيحَalas for دارِthe abode of المُلكِkingship الَّتيwhich تَنفَحُwafts المِسmusk (word begins)
وَيحَ دارِ المُلكِ الَّتي تَنفَحُ المِس
كَcompletion of 'musk' إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle جَرىpassed عَليهاover it النَسيمُthe breeze
كَ إِذا ما جَرى عَليها النَسيمُ
Alas for the royal abode that wafts musk
Near the caliphal palace, musk-scented,
whenever the breeze passes over it.
Blown gently by the breeze.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الرَبيعَspring فيهاin it إِذاwhen نَوblossomed (word begins)
وَكَأَنَّ الرَبيعَ فيها إِذا نَو
وَرَcompletion of 'blossomed' وَشيٌbrocade أَوor جَوهَرٌjewels مَنظومُstrung together
وَرَ وَشيٌ أَو جَوهَرٌ مَنظومُ
And spring there, when it blossoms, seems
Spring blossoms there, woven pearls
brocade, or jewels strung together.
Or gems. Now it lies desolate, while
كَيفَhow قَدindeed أَقفَرَتit became desolate وَحارَand turned بِهاupon it الدَهtime (word begins)
كَيفَ قَد أَقفَرَت وَحارَ بِها الدَه
رُcompletion of 'time' وَغَنّىand serenaded الجِنانَthe gardens فيهاin it البومُthe owls
رُ وَغَنّى الجِنانَ فيها البومُ
How it has become desolate, and time has turned upon it,
Owls lament its ruins, once glorious,
and owls have serenaded its gardens.
Crumbling, whispering their sad dirge.
فَهيَso it هاتيكَthat one there أَصبَحَتhas become تَتَناجىwhispering to one another
فَهيَ هاتيكَ أَصبَحَت تَتَناجى
بِالتَشَكّيin complaint خَرابُهاits ruins المَهدومُdemolished
بِالتَشَكّي خَرابُها المَهدومُ
There it stands: now, in whispered conversation,
To the north, land; south, sea. Fruit picked
its demolished ruins exchange complaints.
There - peaches, pears. We lived in it, now gone,
طَرَفاهاits two sides بَرٌّland وَبَحرٌand sea وَيُجنىand is gathered الthe
طَرَفاها بَرٌّ وَبَحرٌ وَيُجنى ال
وَردُroses فيهاthere وَالشيحُand wormwood وَالقَيصومُand yarrow
وَردُ فيها وَالشيحُ وَالقَيصومُ
Its two sides are land and sea; there are gathered
All passes. What thing endures?
roses, wormwood, and yarrow.
From a fearsome place I came out alive;
نَحنُwe كُنّاwere سُكّانَهاits inhabitants فَاِنقَضىthen ended ذاthat (word begins)
نَحنُ كُنّا سُكّانَها فَاِنقَضى ذا
كَcompletion of 'that' وَبِنّاand we departed وَأَيُّand what شَيءٍthing يَدومُendures
كَ وَبِنّا وَأَيُّ شَيءٍ يَدومُ
We were its inhabitants; that time ended,
Violence left me; now I can rest.
and we departed—what thing endures?
God made things smooth, relieved my pain -
رَبُّmany a خَوفٍfear خَرَجتُI emerged مِنهُfrom it فَزالَthen departed الthe
رَبُّ خَوفٍ خَرَجتُ مِنهُ فَزالَ ال
بَأسُdistress مِنّيfrom me وَأُقحِمَand was forced in التَرخيمُsoftening
بَأسُ مِنّي وَأُقحِمَ التَرخيمُ
Many a fear have I escaped; the distress departed
My Lord is gentle, merciful.
from me, and softening was forced in.
You know me, awake in devotion when
وَجَّهَdirected الصُنعَkindness ليtoward me وَجَلّىand dispelled لِيَfor me الكَرdistress (word begins)
وَجَّهَ الصُنعَ لي وَجَلّى لِيَ الكَر
بَcompletion of 'distress' إِلَهٌGod رَبٌّa Lord لَطيفٌgentle رَحيمُmerciful
بَ إِلَهٌ رَبٌّ لَطيفٌ رَحيمُ
He directed kindness toward me and dispelled my distress—
The worthless sleep wrapped in their beds.
God, a Lord gentle and merciful.
Quietly wise if rage rises swiftly
أَناI مَنthe one whom تَعلَمونَyou know أَسهَرُI stay awake لِلمَجfor glory (word begins)
أَنا مَن تَعلَمونَ أَسهَرُ لِلمَج
دِcompletion of 'glory' إِذاwhen غَطَّsnored فيin الفِراشِthe bed اللَئيمُthe base man
دِ إِذا غَطَّ في الفِراشِ اللَئيمُ
I am the one you know: I stay awake for glory
Like the whirling dust-laden wind.
when the base man snores in bed.
O cousins! How long? What you seek
وَمَليٌّand capable بِصَمتِهِof its silence الحِلمِforbearance إِنif طاflew (word begins)
وَمَليٌّ بِصَمتِهِ الحِلمِ إِن طا
رَتcompletion of 'flew' سَريعاًswiftly مِثلَlike الفِراشِmoths الحُلومُwits
رَت سَريعاً مِثلَ الفِراشِ الحُلومُ
And forbearance can keep its silence, should
Cannot continue. If kings feed you,
wits fly swiftly like moths.
You remain unweaned like babies gorged
ياO بَنيsons of عَمِّناour uncle إِلىuntil كَمhow long وَحَتّىand until
يا بَني عَمِّنا إِلى كَم وَحَتّى
لَيسَis not ماwhat تَطلُبونَهُyou seek it يَستَقيمُcomes right
لَيسَ ما تَطلُبونَهُ يَستَقيمُ
O sons of our uncle, how long—and until when?
On milk, never satisfied.
What you seek cannot come to pass.
Is Abu Talib like the Excellent Guide?
أَبَداًforever فارِغينَempty-handed إِنif تُطعَمواyou are fed المُلkingship (word begins)
أَبَداً فارِغينَ إِن تُطعَموا المُل
كَcompletion of 'kingship' كَماjust as ذيدَعَنwas driven away from رَضاعٍsuckling فَطيمُa weaned child
كَ كَما ذيدَعَن رَضاعٍ فَطيمُ
Forever empty-handed, if you would be fed kingship,
Don't you know better than this?
like a weaned child driven away from suckling.
Ask Malik and Rida where each resides!
أَأَبَوis Abu طالِبٍTalib كَمِثلِlike أَبيAbu الفَضal-Fadl (name begins)
أَأَبَو طالِبٍ كَمِثلِ أَبي الفَض
لِcompletion of 'al-Fadl' أَماis there not? مِنكُمُamong you بِهَذاabout this عَليمُone who knows
لِ أَما مِنكُمُ بِهَذا عَليمُ
Is Abu Talib like Abu al-Fadl?
How far apart their stations!
Is there no one among you who knows this?
And Ali - like his pure sons, no doubt,
سائِلواask مالِكاًMalik وَرُضوانَand Ridwan عَنabout ذاthis
سائِلوا مالِكاً وَرُضوانَ عَن ذا
أَينَwhere هَذاthis one وَأَينَand where هَذاthis one مُقيمُdwells
أَينَ هَذا وَأَينَ هَذا مُقيمُ
Ask Malik and Ridwan about this:
We owe him much, this claim is just.
where does this one dwell, and where the other?
Leave kingship to us, we have the right,
وَعَليٌّand Ali فَكَاِبنِهِso, like his son غَيرَwithout شَكٍّdoubt
وَعَليٌّ فَكَاِبنِهِ غَيرَ شَكٍّ
واجِبٌbinding حَقُّهُhis right عَلَيناupon us عَظيمُgreat
واجِبٌ حَقُّهُ عَلَينا عَظيمُ
And Ali, like his son, without doubt—
As arbiters have affirmed.
his right over us is binding and great.
Beware the valley's deadly watering hole,
فَدَعواso leave المُلكَkingship نَحنُwe بِالمُلكِto kingship أَولىmore entitled
فَدَعوا المُلكَ نَحنُ بِالمُلكِ أَولى
قَدalready أَقَرَّتconceded لَناto us بِذاكَconcerning that الخُصومُthe adversaries
قَد أَقَرَّت لَنا بِذاكَ الخُصومُ
So leave kingship alone; we are more entitled to it.
Where long crouched a crafty roaring beast,
Our adversaries have already conceded this to us.
A lion, tearing apart any herd
وَاِحذَرواand beware ماءَthe water of غابَةٍa thicket لَمnot يَزَلceased طاbird (word begins)
وَاِحذَروا ماءَ غابَةٍ لَم يَزَل طا
إِرُcompletion of 'bird' حِرصٍgreed عَلَيهِover it مِنكُمfrom among you يَحومُcircles
إِرُ حِرصٍ عَلَيهِ مِنكُم يَحومُ
And beware a thicket's water, over which a bird
That comes, sparing none.
of greed from among you has never ceased to circle.
I would grieve to see the earth stained
إِنَّindeed فيهاin it أُسداًlions ضَراغِمَmighty lions أَشباcubs (word begins)
إِنَّ فيها أُسداً ضَراغِمَ أَشبا
لَcompletion of 'cubs' رَعيلٍa troop لَمnot يَنجُescape مِنهاfrom them كَليمُa wounded one
لَ رَعيلٍ لَم يَنجُ مِنها كَليمُ
Indeed, within it are lions, mighty lions, cubs
With your blood - you are dear to me.
of a troop; no wounded one has escaped them.
But as you know, your claim over us
وَعَزيزٌand grievous عَلَيَّto me أَنthat يَصبَغَstain الأَرthe earth (word begins)
وَعَزيزٌ عَلَيَّ أَن يَصبَغَ الأَر
ضَcompletion of 'earth' دَمٌblood مِنَّكُمfrom you عَلَيَّto me كَريمُprecious
ضَ دَمٌ مِنَّكُم عَلَيَّ كَريمُ
And it would grieve me for the earth to be stained
Cannot prevail or be justified.
by blood from you, precious to me.
If only you would desist! Else the stars
غَيرَbut أَنّاthat we مَنthose whom قَدalready عَلِمتُمyou have known وَلاand not يَصbe fit (word begins)
غَيرَ أَنّا مَن قَد عَلِمتُم وَلا يَص
لُحُcompletion of 'be fit' مِنfrom زَعمِكُمyour claim عَلَيناover us زَعيمُa leader
لُحُ مِن زَعمِكُم عَلَينا زَعيمُ
But we are those you know, and no leader
Themselves will tumble down from the sky!
you claim is fit to rule over us.
لَوif تَهَيّاwere possible هَذاthis وَلاand not يَتَهَيّاis possible
لَو تَهَيّا هَذا وَلا يَتَهَيّا
لَتَهاوَتwould surely tumble مِنَfrom السَماءِthe sky النُجومُthe stars
لَتَهاوَت مِنَ السَماءِ النُجومُ
If this could come about—and it cannot—
the stars would tumble from the sky.
Partial English translation: 61 of 64 Arabic lines translated.