بأيِّwith what نعيٍّdeath-tidings صَبَّحَتْناgreeted us at dawn الركائبthe riding camels
بأيِّ نعيٍّ صَبَّحَتْنا الركائب
وفيand over أيِّwhat عِلْقٍprecious treasure حاربتناwaged war on us النَّوائبُcalamities
وفي أيِّ عِلْقٍ حاربتنا النَّوائبُ
With what death-tidings have the riding camels greeted us at dawn?
With what tears did we greet the riders at dawn,
And over what precious treasure have calamities waged war on us?
And with what worries did misfortunes fight us?
أَحقّاًis it true? فتىthe youth of الفتيانِyouths سُلِّمَwas surrendered للردىto death
أَحقّاً فتى الفتيانِ سُلِّمَ للردى
وأَسْلَمَهُand gave him up جيرانُهhis neighbors والأقاربُand kinsmen
وأَسْلَمَهُ جيرانُه والأقاربُ
Is it true that the noblest of youths was surrendered to death,
Was the best of the youth indeed surrendered to loss
and his neighbors and kinsmen gave him up?
And abandoned by his neighbors and kin?
بكتْهwept for him سيوفthe swords of ُ الهندِIndia ملءَto the brim of جفونهاtheir sheaths
بكتْه سيوف ُ الهندِ ملءَ جفونها
وسُمْرُand dusky العواليtall spears والعِتاقُand thoroughbred steeds الشَّوازبlean
وسُمْرُ العوالي والعِتاقُ الشَّوازب
The swords of India wept for him, their sheaths brimming with tears,
The swords of India wept copiously for him,
and the dusky tall spears and lean thoroughbred steeds.
As did the hilts of swords and scabbards.
وأصبحتand became العلياءُlofty glory غُفْلاًunmarked كأنَّهاas though it were
وأصبحت العلياءُ غُفْلاً كأنَّها
رُسومٌdwelling traces محَتْهُنَّerased them الصَّباthe east wind والجنائبand south winds
رُسومٌ محَتْهُنَّ الصَّبا والجنائب
And lofty glory became featureless, as though it were
The heights became heedless as if
traces of dwellings erased by the east wind and south winds.
The zephyr and tribulations had erased their traces.
وماand nothing راعناstartled us إلاexcept الوفودُthe delegations وقدand already جَلَتْlaid bare
وما راعنا إلا الوفودُ وقد جَلَتْ
ضمائرَهُمْtheir inmost thoughts تلكَthose الدموعُtears السَّواكبstreaming
ضمائرَهُمْ تلكَ الدموعُ السَّواكب
Nothing startled us but the delegations: already laid bare were
We did not notice except the delegations which arrived
their inmost thoughts by those streaming tears.
With hearts melted by those pouring tears.
إذاwhen سئلواthey were asked عنabout آلِthe house of داودَDawud أعْوَلواthey wailed
إذا سئلوا عن آلِ داودَ أعْوَلوا
كماas أعْوَلَتْwailed وُرْقُgray الحمامِdoves النوادبlamenting
كما أعْوَلَتْ وُرْقُ الحمامِ النوادب
When asked about the house of Dawud, they wailed,
When asked about the family of David, they wailed
as the gray, lamenting doves wailed,
As the doves wail over their nestlings.
فمِنso, from نبأٍtidings تسودُّturn black منهfrom it قلوبناour hearts
فمِن نبأٍ تسودُّ منه قلوبنا
ومِنْand from حَدَثٍa calamity تبيضُّturn white منهfrom it الذوائبforelocks
ومِنْ حَدَثٍ تبيضُّ منه الذوائب
for tidings that turn our hearts black,
So what news makes our hearts blackened
and for a calamity that turns forelocks white.
And what events make our sorrows turn white?
أغارتraided علىagainst الشُمِّthe proud المغاويرِthe intrepid warriors منهمُamong them
أغارت على الشُمِّ المغاويرِ منهمُ
رعالُvanguards جيوشٍof armies للردىof death ومَقانبand cavalry squadrons
رعالُ جيوشٍ للردى ومَقانب
The proud, intrepid warriors among them were assailed
The raiders swooped down on Shum from among them,
by vanguards of death's armies and cavalry squadrons.
Destructive armies for loss with sharp blades.
فلمso not يُغْنِavail جُردٌsleek steeds فيin الأعنَّةِthe reins شُهِّرَتwere displayed
فلم يُغْنِ جُردٌ في الأعنَّةِ شُهِّرَت
ولمand not تُجْدِavail بيضٌbright swords فيin الأكفِّthe hands قواضبkeen-cutting
ولم تُجْدِ بيضٌ في الأكفِّ قواضب
So no sleek steeds displayed in their reins availed,
No coat of mail in the litters was of use,
nor did bright, keen-cutting swords in the hands avail.
Nor were there any white swords among the grips.
وياand oh لَمَضاءِfor the keenness of المشرفيةِthe Mashrafi swords دونهمْin their defense
ويا لَمَضاءِ المشرفيةِ دونهمْ
لوif انَّthat المناياdeath's visitations إذwhen سَرَيْنَthey moved by night كتائبbattalions
لو انَّ المنايا إذ سَرَيْنَ كتائب
And oh, the keenness of the Mashrafi swords in their defense—
Oh, for the shining status of the honored ones among them
if death's visitations, when they moved by night, had been battalions!
If death had come in waves of battalions!
لئنif indeed كانwas يُذْرَىbeing shed الدمعُtears حزناًin sorrow ولوعةًand anguish
لئن كان يُذْرَى الدمعُ حزناً ولوعةً
لقدindeed آنthe time has come أنto تُذْرىbe shed الدموعthe tears السّواربstreaming
لقد آن أن تُذْرى الدموع السّوارب
If ever tears were shed for sorrow and anguish,
If tears are shed in grief and agony,
surely the time has come to shed streaming tears
Then it is time for tears like drenching rain!
لمُسْفِرِfor a radiant صُبْحٍdawn دونَهُbefore it الموتُdeath سافرٌunveiled
لمُسْفِرِ صُبْحٍ دونَهُ الموتُ سافرٌ
وحاجبِand the first rim of شمسٍa sun دونهاbefore it الثكلُbereavement حاجبa veil
وحاجبِ شمسٍ دونها الثكلُ حاجب
for a radiant dawn, before which death stands unveiled,
For the morn of a journey whose traveler is death
and a sun's first rim, before which bereavement stands as a veil;
And the eyebrow of a sun whose bereaver is grief.
وهَضبةِand a hill of حلمٍforbearance منْamong شمارخهاits lofty peaks النُّهىreason
وهَضبةِ حلمٍ منْ شمارخها النُّهى
وزهرةِand a flower of مجدٍglory منamong رُباهاits uplands المناقبnoble virtues
وزهرةِ مجدٍ من رُباها المناقب
and a hill of forbearance, among whose peaks is reason,
For the plateau of forbearance, from whose pinnacles propriety looked on,
and a flower of glory, with noble virtues among its uplands.
And the blossom of glory, raised by glorious deeds.
تضمَّنenclosed منهin him القبرُthe grave حَلْيَthe jewel of شبيبةٍyouth
تضمَّن منه القبرُ حَلْيَ شبيبةٍ
يُخَيِّلُmakes seem ليto me أنَّthat الترابَthe dust ترائبbreastbones
يُخَيِّلُ لي أنَّ الترابَ ترائب
In him the grave has enclosed the jewel of youth;
The grave took from him the adornment of his youth,
it makes me fancy that the dust is a bosom.
Making me imagine the soil is woven of affliction.
فواحزناso, oh sorrow ألاthat not أُشاهدَI see مجلساًa gathering
فواحزنا ألا أُشاهدَ مجلساً
تُشاهِدُهُattend it أَخلاقُهُhis character والضَّرائبand innate qualities
تُشاهِدُهُ أَخلاقُهُ والضَّرائب
Oh, my sorrow, that I cannot see a gathering
Alas! I cannot behold a gathering
attended by his character and innate virtues.
Witnessed by its manners and ants.
وand ياoh أسفاanguish ألاّthat not أُطيقَI can manage ابتسامةًa smile
و يا أسفا ألاّ أُطيقَ ابتسامةً
إذاwhen خَطَبَتْpreached للهمِّon sorrow's behalf حوليaround me غَياهبdepths of darkness
إذا خَطَبَتْ للهمِّ حولي غَياهب
And oh, my anguish, that I cannot manage a smile
And oh, how I cannot bear a smile
when depths of darkness around me preach for sorrow.
When sorrows preach their sermons around me!
لئنif indeed أمستِbecame الولدانُthe children شِيباًgray-haired لموتِهِat his death
لئن أمستِ الولدانُ شِيباً لموتِهِ
فكمyet how many شَبَّgrew young فيin أَحْوَىthe dark-green part of حماهُhis sanctuary الأشايبthe gray-haired
فكم شَبَّ في أَحْوَى حماهُ الأشايب
If children have grown gray at his death,
If the lads have turned gray because of his death,
yet how many gray-haired men grew young in his verdant sanctuary!
Then how much have those who shared his love turned white!
وإنand though صَفِرَتْbecame empty منهof him يدُthe hand of المجدِglory والعلاand eminence
وإن صَفِرَتْ منه يدُ المجدِ والعلا
فكمyet how many مُلِئَتْwere filled منfrom راحتيهِhis two palms الحقائبthe saddlebags
فكم مُلِئَتْ من راحتيهِ الحقائب
And though the hand of glory and eminence is empty of him,
And if the hand of glory and elevation has withered through him,
how many saddlebags were filled from his palms!
Then how much have my palms been filled with sorrows!
يقولُsay أُناسٌsome people لوif only تعَزَّيْتَyou took comfort بعدهafter him
يقولُ أُناسٌ لو تعَزَّيْتَ بعده
فكلُّyet every عزاءٍconsolation فيfor مصابكthe loss of you عازِبُfar away
فكلُّ عزاءٍ في مصابك عازِبُ
Some people say, 'If only you would find solace after him!'
Some people say: If you seek solace after him,
Yet all consolation for losing you is far away.
Then every consolation in your tragedy is a confidant.
وواللهand by God ماnot طرفيmy eye عليكَfor you بجامدٍdry
ووالله ما طرفي عليكَ بجامدٍ
وهلand can تجمدstay dry العينانِthe two eyes والقلبُwhile the heart ذائبmelting
وهل تجمد العينانِ والقلبُ ذائب
And by God, my eye is not dry for you—
By God, my eyes are not dry for you,
can the eyes stay dry while the heart melts?
Can eyes and heart turn solid when melting?
ولاand none لغليلِfor the burning thirst of البرْحِanguish بعدكَafter you ناضحٌa quencher
ولا لغليلِ البرْحِ بعدكَ ناضحٌ
ولوeven if نشأَتْarose بينbetween الضلوعِthe ribs سحائبclouds
ولو نشأَتْ بين الضلوعِ سحائب
Nor, after you, is there a quencher for anguish's burning thirst,
Nor for the anguish after you is there copious discharge,
even if clouds were to rise between my ribs.
Even if clouds rise up between the ribs.
رُوَيْدَgently اللياليthe nights كمhow often تَهُمُّintend بضيمناto wrong us
رُوَيْدَ الليالي كم تَهُمُّ بضيمنا
وتطرُقُناand visit us by night منهاfrom them همومٌcares نواصِبexhausting
وتطرُقُنا منها همومٌ نواصِب
Let the nights relent: how often they mean to wrong us,
How the nights plot to oppress us!
and wearying cares from them visit us by night.
And worries besiege us with determination.
نُسالمُwe make peace with هذاthis الدهرَage وهوwhile it محاربٌwages war
نُسالمُ هذا الدهرَ وهو محاربٌ
ونطمعُand we hope فيfor إعتابِهits making amends وهوwhile it عاتبreproachful
ونطمعُ في إعتابِه وهو عاتب
We make peace with this age, though it wages war,
We make peace with this life though it fights us
and hope it will make amends, though it reproaches us.
And hope for its rebuke though it rebukes.
تُساقُare driven أَبيّاتُproud النفوسsouls ذليلةhumbled
تُساقُ أَبيّاتُ النفوس ذليلة
إليهto it وتنقادُand submit القُرومُthe chieftains المَصاعبُthe untamable
إليه وتنقادُ القُرومُ المَصاعبُ
Proud souls are driven, humbled,
The souls walk humiliated toward it
to it, and untamable chieftains submit.
And hardened affairs submit to it.
لئنif indeed غُلِبَwas overcome الليثُthe lion الهصورُferocious وشِبْلُهُand his cub
لئن غُلِبَ الليثُ الهصورُ وشِبْلُهُ
فماthen no لهماover them both يوماًever سوىother than اللهِGod غالبconqueror
فما لهما يوماً سوى اللهِ غالب
If the ferocious lion and his cub were overcome,
If the sturdy lion is defeated, and its cub,
no one but God ever overcame them.
Then never do they have except God as victor.
هوit is القدرُdestiny المحتومُinevitable إنif جاءَit comes مُقدِماًadvancing
هو القدرُ المحتومُ إن جاءَ مُقدِماً
فلاthen neither الغابُthe thicket محروسٌguarded ولاnor الليثthe lion واثبspringing
فلا الغابُ محروسٌ ولا الليث واثب
It is inevitable destiny: when it advances,
It is fate decreed, if it comes forward,
neither is the thicket guarded nor does the lion spring.
Then neither the absent are protected, nor the lion attacks.
وكائنْand how often طَلَبْناwe sought العيشَlife صفواًclear جِمامُهُits brimming waters
وكائنْ طَلَبْنا العيشَ صفواً جِمامُهُ
فلمْyet not تخلُwere free منْof رَنْقِthe murk of الخطوبِcalamities المشاربthe drinking places
فلمْ تخلُ منْ رَنْقِ الخطوبِ المشارب
How often we sought life with its brimming waters clear,
And however much we sought unsullied living,
yet its drinking places were never free of calamities' murk.
Its bitterness was not without troubles.
ومَنْand whoever يَبْلُexamines أَنْفاسَthe breaths of الورىhumankind ونفوسَهُمْand their souls
ومَنْ يَبْلُ أَنْفاسَ الورى ونفوسَهُمْ
يَجِدْهاfinds them ديوناًdebts تَقْتَضيهاcollect them النوائبcalamities
يَجِدْها ديوناً تَقْتَضيها النوائب
Whoever examines humankind's breaths and souls
Whoever examines the souls of people
finds them debts that calamities collect.
Will find them debts necessitated by adversities.
وماand not تفتُرُslacken الأيامُthe days تطلبُناpursue us بهاfor them
وما تفتُرُ الأيامُ تطلبُنا بها
فيُدْرَكُso is caught مطلوبٌone pursued ويَظْفَرُand triumphs طالبa pursuer
فيُدْرَكُ مطلوبٌ ويَظْفَرُ طالب
The days never slacken, pursuing us for those debts,
The days do not cease to seek us with them,
so the pursued is caught, and the pursuer triumphs.
So that some desired things are attained, and seekers prevail.
وماand not الناسُpeople إلاexcept خائضوwaders in غمرةِthe depths of الردىdeath
وما الناسُ إلا خائضو غمرةِ الردى
فطافٍso one afloat علىon ظهرِthe surface of التُرابِthe earth وراسبand one sunk
فطافٍ على ظهرِ التُرابِ وراسب
People are only waders in death's deep flood:
People are but waders in the water of loss,
some afloat on the earth's surface, and others sunk.
A drifter atop soil, and one who sinks down.
أباO father of حسَنٍHasan طالhas lasted long الحجابُthe veil ولمand not يكنْwas
أبا حسَنٍ طال الحجابُ ولم يكنْ
يعوقُhinder رجائيmy hope عنfrom لقائكَmeeting you حاجبa doorkeeper
يعوقُ رجائي عن لقائكَ حاجب
Abu Hasan, the veil has lasted long; never did
Abu Hassan! The veil was long, though it did not
a doorkeeper hinder my hope of meeting you.
Impede my hope of meeting you.
أباO father of حسَنٍHasan قدalready آبَreturned كلُّevery مودِّعٍone who bade farewell
أبا حسَنٍ قد آبَ كلُّ مودِّعٍ
فمَنso who ضامنٌa guarantor للمجدto glory أَنكthat you آيبwill return
فمَن ضامنٌ للمجد أَنك آيب
Abu Hasan, all who bade farewell have returned;
Abu Hassan! Every one who bid farewell has gone.
who will assure glory that you will return?
So who will guarantee the glory that you will return?
أنبكيكَshall we weep for you? أمor نبكيwe weep for أباكyour father لغارةٍat a raid
أنبكيكَ أم نبكي أباك لغارةٍ
تُشَنُّis unleashed لقدindeed ضاقتhave narrowed عليناfor us المذاهبthe paths
تُشَنُّ لقد ضاقت علينا المذاهب
Shall we weep for you, or weep for your father, at a raid
Shall I bewail you, or your father, because of the raid
unleashed? Our paths have indeed grown narrow.
That was carried out? Difficult indeed are the doctrines!
تَزَلْزَلَtrembled منof طَوْدِthe mountain of الكهولةِmature manhood باذخٌa lofty peak
تَزَلْزَلَ من طَوْدِ الكهولةِ باذخٌ
وأُخمدَand was quenched منof نورِthe light of الشبيبةِyouth ثاقِبُa piercing beam
وأُخمدَ من نورِ الشبيبةِ ثاقِبُ
A lofty peak of mature manhood's mountain has trembled,
One formidable on the mountain of maturity fell,
and a piercing beam of youth's light has been quenched.
And one shining in the light of youth was extinguished.
وصوَّحand withered أصلُthe root of المَعْلُواتِlofty honors وفَرْعُهاand their branch
وصوَّح أصلُ المَعْلُواتِ وفَرْعُها
وقدand indeed may يتبعُfollow الأصلَthe root الفروعُthe branches الأطايبthe finest
وقد يتبعُ الأصلَ الفروعُ الأطايب
The root and branch of lofty honors have withered,
The roots of glorious deeds shook, and their branches too,
and the finest branches may indeed follow the root.
For the branches may follow the roots in flourishing.
بأيِّin what اتِّفاقٍaccord والحياةُwhile life بمائهاwith its water
بأيِّ اتِّفاقٍ والحياةُ بمائها
وأيّand what اتفاقٍaccord بعدُafterward والعيشُwhile life ناضبdry
وأيّ اتفاقٍ بعدُ والعيشُ ناضب
What accord, while life still held its waters,
With what coincidence, while life is with its water,
and what accord afterward, when life had run dry!
And what coincidence later, while living runs dry?
نوائبُcalamities لمnot يَقْنَعْنَwere content منكمْamong you بواحدٍwith one
نوائبُ لم يَقْنَعْنَ منكمْ بواحدٍ
وواحدُكُمْthough one of you عنfor مَشْهَدthe presence of الكلِّall نائبa representative
وواحدُكُمْ عن مَشْهَد الكلِّ نائب
Calamities were not content with one of you,
Misfortunes were not content with just one of you,
though one of you could stand in for the presence of all.
Yet one of you was absent from the scene of all.
فليتَso, if only العلاlofty honors إذwhen جفْdried up منهنَّof them جانبٌa side
فليتَ العلا إذ جفْ منهنَّ جانبٌ
تَبَقَّىhad remained علىin عَهْدِthe former state of الغَضارَةِluxuriance جانبa side
تَبَقَّى على عَهْدِ الغَضارَةِ جانب
If only, when one side of lofty honors dried up,
Were they true to a promise from death,
another side had remained in its former luxuriance.
Which betrayed them, and a promise of life that lied?
وليتَand would that بحارَthe seas of الجوادِthe generous man إذwhen غاضَreceded ماؤُهاtheir water
وليتَ بحارَ الجوادِ إذ غاضَ ماؤُها
تدومُwould endure لناfor us تلكَthose العِهادrecurrent rains الصَّوائبpouring
تدومُ لنا تلكَ العِهاد الصَّوائب
And would that, when the waters of the generous man's seas ebbed,
Take solace, O family of David! Your hearts
those recurrent, pouring rains had endured for us.
Are swords that drive sorrow away with their blades.
فياso, oh عجباًwhat a wonder للسّيدينat the two lords طوتهُماfolded them both away
فيا عجباً للسّيدين طوتهُما
معاًtogether حادثاتٌcalamities كلُّهُنَّall of them عجائبwonders
معاً حادثاتٌ كلُّهُنَّ عجائب
Oh, the wonder of the two lords, folded away
Who can combine in himself the collected qualities—
together by calamities, every one a wonder!
Your famous resolve is a path for that combination.
أكاناwere they both? علىbound by وعدٍa promise منfrom الموتِdeath صادقٍtruthful
أكانا على وعدٍ من الموتِ صادقٍ
فخانهماso betrayed them both وعدٌa promise منfrom العيشlife كاذبfalse
فخانهما وعدٌ من العيش كاذب
Did they have a truthful promise from death,
How can this death be, when your patience is
only to be betrayed by a false promise from life?
In which there are clear benefits and goals?
عزاءًtake comfort بنيsons of داودَDawud إنَّindeed قلوبكمyour hearts
عزاءً بني داودَ إنَّ قلوبكم
صوارمُsharp swords تفريcut apart الحزنَsorrow منهاof them مَضاربcutting edges
صوارمُ تفري الحزنَ منها مَضارب
Take comfort, sons of Dawud, for your hearts
And how many prospects have your souls harbored
are sharp swords whose edges cut sorrow apart.
With no water except the fine, pouring clouds?
فمَنso whoever يصدَعِsplits الخطبُthe calamity الملمُّbefalling صفاتَهُhis rock
فمَن يصدَعِ الخطبُ الملمُّ صفاتَهُ
فعزمكُمُthen your resolve المشهورُrenowned للصَّدْعِfor the fracture شاعبa mender
فعزمكُمُ المشهورُ للصَّدْعِ شاعب
If a befalling calamity splits someone's rock,
You remain closely embracing steadfastness
your renowned resolve mends the fracture.
As the loved ones embraced on the day of farewell.
وكيفand how بهذاwith this الموتِdeath إنْif كانَis صَبْرُكُمْyour patience
وكيف بهذا الموتِ إنْ كانَ صَبْرُكُمْ
وفيهand in it لباناتٌwishes لكمfor you ومآربand aims
وفيه لباناتٌ لكم ومآرب
And what of this death, if you are steadfast,
You stayed, while the threat of loss clung on,
and in it lie wishes and aims of yours?
With excuses for what it brought and repentant.
وكمand how many a مَشْرَعٍwatering place حامتْhovered عليهover it نفوسُكُمْyour souls
وكم مَشْرَعٍ حامتْ عليه نفوسُكُمْ
ولاand no ماءَwater إلاّexcept المُرْهَفاتُkeen-edged swords القواضبcutting
ولا ماءَ إلاّ المُرْهَفاتُ القواضب
How many a watering place your souls have hovered over,
The spirit of God continued to bestow the greatest
with no water but keen-edged, cutting swords!
Abundance, watered by the clouds.
وماand not زلتمُyou ceased فيin الرَّوْعِterror معتنقيembracing القَناthe spears
وما زلتمُ في الرَّوْعِ معتنقي القَنا
كماas اعتنقتْembraced يومَon the day of الوداعfarewell الحبائبbeloved women
كما اعتنقتْ يومَ الوداع الحبائب
You have always embraced spears amid battle's terror,
as beloved women embraced on the day of farewell.
بقيتمْmay you live on ومحذورُand dreaded الرَّدىdeath متنصِّلٌdisavowing blame
بقيتمْ ومحذورُ الرَّدى متنصِّلٌ
ومعتذرٌand apologizing مماfor what جَنَاهُit wrought وتائبand repenting
ومعتذرٌ مما جَنَاهُ وتائب
May you live on, with dreaded death seeking absolution,
apologizing for what it has wrought, and repenting.
ولاand may not زالَcease رَوْحُthe mercy of اللهGod يَسْريflow لأعْظُمٍto bones
ولا زالَ رَوْحُ الله يَسْري لأعْظُمٍ
تَغَايَرُvie with one another فيin سَقْيِwatering ثراهُhis grave-soil السحائبthe clouds
تَغَايَرُ في سَقْيِ ثراهُ السحائب
And may God's mercy ever flow to bones
whose grave-soil the clouds vie to water.
Partial English translation: 90 of 96 Arabic lines translated.