زارتْshe visited ونجْمُwhile the star الدُجَىof darkness يشْكوcomplains منَof الأرَقِsleeplessness
زارتْ ونجْمُ الدُجَى يشْكو منَ الأرَقِ
والزّهْرُand the bright stars سابِحَةٌfloating فيin لُجّةِthe depths of الأفُقِthe horizon
والزّهْرُ سابِحَةٌ في لُجّةِ الأفُقِ
She visited while the star of darkness complained of sleeplessness,
The star of dusk complained of insomnia,
And the bright stars floated in the depths of the horizon.
And the flowers were swimming in the abyss of the horizon.
واللّيلُand the night منْfrom روْعةِthe terror of الإصْباحِdaybreak فيin دهَشٍbewilderment
واللّيلُ منْ روْعةِ الإصْباحِ في دهَشٍ
قدْalready شابَturned white مفرِقُهُits parted hair منْfrom شِدّةِthe intensity of الفَرَقِfear
قدْ شابَ مفرِقُهُ منْ شِدّةِ الفَرَقِ
Night stood bewildered by the terror of daybreak;
The night was amazed at the horror of dawn,
Its parted hair had turned white from sheer fright.
Its parting had turned white from intense separation.
وأوْشَكَتْand nearly أنْto تضِلَّmiss القَصْدَthe goal زائِرَةٌa female visitor
وأوْشَكَتْ أنْ تضِلَّ القَصْدَ زائِرَةٌ
لوْلاif not أتَتْنيshe came to me فيwith باقٍa remnant منَof الرّمَقِlife
لوْلا أتَتْني في باقٍ منَ الرّمَقِ
The visitor would almost have missed her goal,
A visitor almost lost her way,
Had she not reached me while a last spark of life remained.
Had she not come to me with some vigour left.
قالتْshe said تَناسَيْتَyou chose to forget عهْدَthe covenant of الحُبِّlove قُلْتُI said لَهاto her
قالتْ تَناسَيْتَ عهْدَ الحُبِّ قُلْتُ لَها
لاno والذيby Him who خلَقَcreated الإنسانَhumankind منْfrom علَقِclots of blood
لا والذي خلَقَ الإنسانَ منْ علَقِ
She said, “You chose to forget love's covenant.” I told her,
She said, “You forgot the pact of love.” I said, “No, by Him
“No, by Him who created humankind from clots of blood!
Who created man from a clot.”
ماnot كانwas قطُّever تَناسِيdeliberate forgetting العهْدِof the pledge منamong شِيَميmy traits
ما كان قطُّ تَناسِي العهْدِ من شِيَمي
ولاnor السُّلُوُّforgetting عنِabout الأحْبابِbeloved ones منْof خُلُقيmy nature
ولا السُّلُوُّ عنِ الأحْبابِ منْ خُلُقي
Deliberately forgetting a pledge has never been among my traits,
Forgetting the pact was never my trait,
Nor is forgetting beloved ones part of my nature.
Nor was ignoring loved ones my habit.
ولاnor ترحّلْتُdid I depart عنْfrom مَغْناكِyour dwelling منْout of ملَلٍweariness
ولا ترحّلْتُ عنْ مَغْناكِ منْ ملَلٍ
قدmay يُتْرَكُbe left الماءُwater يوْماًone day خِيفَةَfor fear of الشّرقِchoking
قد يُتْرَكُ الماءُ يوْماً خِيفَةَ الشّرقِ
Nor did I leave your dwelling out of weariness:
I did not turn away from your song out of boredom,
Water may sometimes be left for fear of choking.
Water may be left one day fearing urine.
كمْhow many ليلةٍa night بتُّهاI spent it والطّيْفُwhile the phantom يشهدُbears witness ليfor me
كمْ ليلةٍ بتُّها والطّيْفُ يشهدُ لي
لمْdid not تطْعَمِsavor النّوْمَsleep أجْفانيmy eyelids ولمْnor did تذُقِtaste
لمْ تطْعَمِ النّوْمَ أجْفاني ولمْ تذُقِ
How many a night I spent—the phantom bears me witness—
How many nights I spent awake and my specter bears witness,
When my eyelids neither savored sleep nor tasted it.
My eyelids did not taste sleep and did not rest.
أشكوI complain الىto النّجْمِthe star وهْناًlate at night ماof what أُكابِدُهُI endure
أشكو الى النّجْمِ وهْناً ما أُكابِدُهُ
حتّىuntil شَكاcomplained النّجْمُthe star منْof وجْديmy yearning ومِنْand of قَلَقيmy unrest
حتّى شَكا النّجْمُ منْ وجْدي ومِنْ قَلَقي
Late at night I tell the star what I endure,
I complain to the stars of the affliction I endure,
Until the star complains of my yearning and unrest.
Until even the stars complained of my passion and insomnia.
ياO لائِميَّmy two reproachers أفِيقاboth come to your senses منْfrom ملامِكُماyour joint reproach
يا لائِميَّ أفِيقا منْ ملامِكُما
فإنّنيfor I مذْsince سُقِيتُwas given to drink الحُبَّlove لمْhave not أفِقِsobered
فإنّني مذْ سُقِيتُ الحُبَّ لمْ أفِقِ
O my two reproachers, come to your senses and cease your blame!
O you who blame me, wake up from your blame,
For since I was given love to drink, I have not sobered.
Since I was given love, I did not wake.
هلْdo تذْكُرانِyou two remember لَيالِيناour nights وقدwhen already نفَحَتْbreathed
هلْ تذْكُرانِ لَيالِينا وقد نفَحَتْ
ريحُthe wind الصَّباthe easterly breeze فيthrough رِياضِgardens للصَّباof youth عَبِقِfragrant
ريحُ الصَّبا في رِياضِ للصَّبا عَبِقِ
Do you two remember our nights, when there breathed
Do you remember our nights when the Zephyr blew
The east wind through gardens fragrant with youth?
Its fragrant breeze in the gardens of youth?
وإذْand when نَعِمْناwe took pleasure برَغْمِdespite الدّهْرِFate فيهِtherein وقدْwhile already
وإذْ نَعِمْنا برَغْمِ الدّهْرِ فيهِ وقدْ
عضّbit الأنامِلَthe fingertips منْfrom غيْظٍanger ومِنْand from حنَقِrage
عضّ الأنامِلَ منْ غيْظٍ ومِنْ حنَقِ
And when we took our pleasure there despite Fate, while it
When we enjoyed despite fate’s displeasure,
Bit its fingertips in anger and rage,
Biting our fingers from anger and fury?
بكُلِّwith every ساحِرَةِenchantress of الألْبابِminds آيَتُهاher miracle
بكُلِّ ساحِرَةِ الألْبابِ آيَتُها
أنْto تُطْلِعَbring forth الشّمْسَthe sun فيin جُنْحٍa wing منَof الغسَقِdarkness
أنْ تُطْلِعَ الشّمْسَ في جُنْحٍ منَ الغسَقِ
With every enchantress of minds, whose miracle was
With every enchantress, her sign
To bring forth the sun within a wing of darkness?
Is to bring out the sun from a side of darkness.
تُنازِعُshe rivals الغُصْنَthe bough لدْناًsupple فيin تأوّدِهِits swaying
تُنازِعُ الغُصْنَ لدْناً في تأوّدِهِ
وتخْصِمُand defeats الرّيمَthe gazelle فيin الألحاظِglances والعُنُقِand the neck
وتخْصِمُ الرّيمَ في الألحاظِ والعُنُقِ
She rivals the supple bough in its swaying,
She competes with the branch in tenderness,
And defeats the gazelle in glances and in neck.
And contends with looks and the neck in allurement.
والرّوضُand the garden يجْلوunveils عِذارِيَهْits maidens وقدْwhile already لبِسَتْhad donned
والرّوضُ يجْلو عِذارِيَهْ وقدْ لبِسَتْ
عَقائِلُthe noble ladies of الوُرْقِthe gray doves دِيباجاًbrocade منَof الوَرَقِleaves
عَقائِلُ الوُرْقِ دِيباجاً منَ الوَرَقِ
The garden unveils its maidens, while there stand robed
The meadow revealed its virgins, and the leaves wore
The noble gray doves in a brocade of leaves.
Green brocade garments.
كأنّماas though الغُصْنُthe bough فيهwithin it شارِبٌa drinker ثمِلٌdrunk
كأنّما الغُصْنُ فيه شارِبٌ ثمِلٌ
بكأسِwith a cup مُصْطَبِحٍa morning drinker فيin الأُنْسِgood cheer مغْتَبِقِan evening drinker
بكأسِ مُصْطَبِحٍ في الأُنْسِ مغْتَبِقِ
As though each bough within it were a drunken reveler,
As if the branch was an intoxicated reveler
Drinking from a cup at dawn and at dusk amid good cheer.
Drinking from a cup in the cheer of the morning gathering.
فكلّماso whenever ارْتاحَit rejoiced هزّshook العِطْفَthe side منْfrom طرَبٍdelight
فكلّما ارْتاحَ هزّ العِطْفَ منْ طرَبٍ
وزادَand increased زَهْواًin splendor بمَنْثورٍwith scattered منَof الوَرَقِleaves
وزادَ زَهْواً بمَنْثورٍ منَ الوَرَقِ
Whenever it rejoices, it shakes its side in delight,
Whenever it rested, it shook its tenderness from ecstasy,
And grows more splendid with its scattered leaves.
And increased in beauty with its falling leaves.
كأنّماas though الدّوْحُthe great trees والأغصانُwhile the branches جائِلَةٌswaying
كأنّما الدّوْحُ والأغصانُ جائِلَةٌ
قدhad جادَهاwatered them lavishly كلُّevery جهْمِdark and looming الغيْثِraincloud مُندَفِقِpouring forth
قد جادَها كلُّ جهْمِ الغيْثِ مُندَفِقِ
As though the great trees, their branches swaying,
As if the creepers and branches bowed down,
Had been drenched by every dark, outpouring raincloud.
Flowing with the generosity of the rain.
كأنّماas though الطّلُّthe dew إذwhen طُلَّwas bedewed الشّقيقُthe anemone بهwith it
كأنّما الطّلُّ إذ طُلَّ الشّقيقُ به
خدٌّa cheek بصَفْحَتِهِon its surface رشْحٌbeads منَof العَرَقِsweat
خدٌّ بصَفْحَتِهِ رشْحٌ منَ العَرَقِ
When dew bedews the anemone, it is as though
As if the stripes, when the anemones bloomed,
A cheek had beads of sweat upon its surface.
Were cheeks on which pearls of sweat flowed.
همّتْwere about ثُغورُthe mouths of الأقاحيthe daisies أنْto تُقَبّلهُkiss it
همّتْ ثُغورُ الأقاحي أنْ تُقَبّلهُ
فلِلْبَنفْسَجِso the violet has وجْهُthe face of الواجِمِone silent with distress الحَنِقِangry
فلِلْبَنفْسَجِ وجْهُ الواجِمِ الحَنِقِ
The daisies' mouths were about to kiss it,
The mouths of buds intended to kiss it,
So the violet wears the face of one silent with rage.
So the violet showed the anger of the sullen.
كأنّas though أوْراقَهُits leaves والرّيحُwhile the wind تعطِفُهاbends them
كأنّ أوْراقَهُ والرّيحُ تعطِفُها
سَواعِدٌforearms رفَعَتْraised خُضراًgreen ones منَof الورَقِleaves
سَواعِدٌ رفَعَتْ خُضراً منَ الورَقِ
As though its leaves, bent by the wind,
As if its leaves and the blowing wind
Were forearms lifting green leaves.
Were arms raised in green sleeves.
كأنّماas though الآسُthe myrtle آذانُthe ears of الجِيادِthe steeds وقدْwhen already
كأنّما الآسُ آذانُ الجِيادِ وقدْ
شعَرْنَthey sensed بالرّوْعِalarm فيin قَفْرٍa desolate stretch منَof الطُرُقِroads
شعَرْنَ بالرّوْعِ في قَفْرٍ منَ الطُرُقِ
As though the myrtle were the ears of steeds that
As if the stallions were ears that sensed
Had sensed alarm on a desolate stretch of road.
Fear in an empty desert road.
كأنّماas though النّهْرُthe river فيin أثْنائِهِits midst أفُقٌa horizon
كأنّما النّهْرُ في أثْنائِهِ أفُقٌ
والوَرْدُand the roses فيon الشّطِّthe bank منْهُof it حُمرةُthe crimson of الشّفَقِtwilight
والوَرْدُ في الشّطِّ منْهُ حُمرةُ الشّفَقِ
As though the river amid it were a horizon,
As if the river in its midst was a horizon,
And the roses upon its bank the crimson of twilight;
And the flowers in the bank were the redness of sunset.
أوor سيْفُthe sword of يوسُفَYusuf يوْمthe day of الرّوْعterror سالَflowed بهِalong it
أو سيْفُ يوسُفَ يوْم الرّوْع سالَ بهِ
نَجيعُthe fresh blood of أعْدائهِhis enemies المحمرُّcrimson فيupon الزُّرَقِthe blue steel
نَجيعُ أعْدائهِ المحمرُّ في الزُّرَقِ
Or Yusuf's sword on the day of terror, down which flowed
Or Joseph’s sword on the day of battle which poured on his enemies,
His enemies' fresh blood, red upon the blue steel.
Turning red in blue sheaths.
إمامُan imam of عدْلٍjustice يُحبُّloves اللهُGod سيرَتَهُhis conduct
إمامُ عدْلٍ يُحبُّ اللهُ سيرَتَهُ
عفُّchaste العُيونِof eyes كريمُnoble الخَلْقِin form والخُلُقِand character
عفُّ العُيونِ كريمُ الخَلْقِ والخُلُقِ
An imam of justice, whose conduct God loves,
A leader of justice whom God loves his conduct,
Chaste of gaze, noble in form and character.
Gentle of eye, noble of manners and character.
أقامَhe established للدّينِfor the faith قِسْطاساًa balance of justice فأمّنَهُand secured it
أقامَ للدّينِ قِسْطاساً فأمّنَهُ
ماwhat سامَهُinflicted upon it الجَوْرُinjustice منْof بخْسٍdeprivation ومنْand of رهَقِoppression
ما سامَهُ الجَوْرُ منْ بخْسٍ ومنْ رهَقِ
He set up a balance of justice for the faith, securing it
He instituted scales of justice and secured them
Against the deprivation and oppression that injustice imposed.
From the tyranny of embezzlement and exploitation.
وعمّand encompassed بالرِّفْقِwith gentleness هذاthis القُطْرَland فابْتَدَرَتْso hastened forth
وعمّ بالرِّفْقِ هذا القُطْرَ فابْتَدَرَتْ
تنْميspreading مآثِرَهُhis glorious deeds جوّابَةthe rovers of الأفُقِthe horizon
تنْمي مآثِرَهُ جوّابَة الأفُقِ
His gentleness embraced this land, and forth rushed
He spread kindness in this country so its glories
The horizon-roamers, spreading his glorious deeds.
Started to grow, awaking the horizon.
أقولُI say للرّاكبِto the rider المُزْجيdriving مطِيّتَهُhis mount
أقولُ للرّاكبِ المُزْجي مطِيّتَهُ
يحُثّهاurging her السّيْرَonward بيْنَbetween النّصِfull speed والعنَقِand an easy trot
يحُثّها السّيْرَ بيْنَ النّصِ والعنَقِ
I say to the rider driving his mount,
I say to the rider spurring his mare between briskness and emaciation,
Urging her onward between full speed and an easy trot:
As if she was hidden arrows darting from above,
ياO زاجرَdriver of العيسِthe pale camels أنْضاءًexhausted beasts مُضَمّرَةًlean
يا زاجرَ العيسِ أنْضاءً مُضَمّرَةً
كأنّهاas though they were أسْهمٌarrows يمرُقْنَdarting عنْfrom فوَقِnocks
كأنّها أسْهمٌ يمرُقْنَ عنْ فوَقِ
O driver of pale camels, worn and lean,
A stalwart with no history of settling,
Like arrows darting from their nocks,
Of a body diminished and worn out.
أهِلّةٌcrescents ماno لَهاfor them عهْدٌacquaintance بمنزِلَةٍwith a resting station
أهِلّةٌ ما لَها عهْدٌ بمنزِلَةٍ
منْof كلِّeach منْخَسِفِsunken الجثْمانِin body منْمَحِقِwasted away
منْ كلِّ منْخَسِفِ الجثْمانِ منْمَحِقِ
Crescents that have never known a resting station,
Give your riders rest, you have arrived at meadows,
Each one sunken in body, wasting away:
And attained the rope of God so cling to it.
أرِحْrest رِكابَكyour mounts قدindeed أوْرَدْتَyou brought to water فيat نهَلٍa thirst-quenching draught
أرِحْ رِكابَك قد أوْرَدْتَ في نهَلٍ
وقدْand indeed ظفِرْتَyou have secured بحبْلِthe rope of اللهِGod فاعْتلِقِso hold fast
وقدْ ظفِرْتَ بحبْلِ اللهِ فاعْتلِقِ
Rest your mounts: you have led them to a thirst-quenching draught,
You have reached the beloved abode whose attainer
And grasped the rope of God—so hold fast!
Arrives at the gate of a kingdom racing to the gate of righteousness.
حلَلْتَyou alighted بالمنزِلِat the dwelling المَحْبُوِّfreely bestowed نائِلُهُits bounty
حلَلْتَ بالمنزِلِ المَحْبُوِّ نائِلُهُ
ببابِat the gate of ملْكٍa king لبابِto the gate of البِرِّgoodness مُسْتَبِقِforemost
ببابِ ملْكٍ لبابِ البِرِّ مُسْتَبِقِ
You have reached the dwelling whose gifts are freely given,
It was built by truthful possessions, nay angels,
At the gate of a king foremost at the gate of goodness.
Each prudent in wisdom and articulate.
نمَتْهُbegot him أمْلاكَkings صِدْقٍtrue بلْrather ملائِكَةًangels
نمَتْهُ أمْلاكَ صِدْقٍ بلْ ملائِكَةً
منْof كلِّeach مُحْتَزِمٍgirded بالحَزْمِwith resolve منْتَطِقِbelted
منْ كلِّ مُحْتَزِمٍ بالحَزْمِ منْتَطِقِ
True kings begot him—rather, angels—
Their traces in the sky of the kingdom are apparent,
Each one girded and belted with resolve.
Guiding, and their mention is fragrant musk for the scent seeker.
آثارُهُمْtheir traces فيin سَماءِthe firmament of المُلْكِkingship لائِحَةًshining
آثارُهُمْ في سَماءِ المُلْكِ لائِحَةً
تَهْديguiding وذِكْرُهُمُand their remembrance مسْكٌmusk لمُنْتَشِقِto one who inhales it
تَهْدي وذِكْرُهُمُ مسْكٌ لمُنْتَشِقِ
Their traces shine in the firmament of kingship,
You have joined the rank of the elite supporters,
Guiding; their remembrance is musk to those who breathe it.
Among a group of patience and honesty in tribulations.
وحلّand he took his place منْfrom محتِدِthe stock of الأنصارِthe Ansar منْتَسِباًby descent
وحلّ منْ محتِدِ الأنصارِ منْتَسِباً
فيamong معْشَرِa people صُبرٍsteadfast عنْدَin الوَغىbattle صُدُقِtrue
في معْشَرِ صُبرٍ عنْدَ الوَغى صُدُقِ
And by descent he belongs to the stock of the Ansar,
The party of the noble Prophet, if terror befalls them,
Among a people steadfast and true in battle:
Will never weaken or constrict the space.
حِزْبُthe party of النّبيّthe Prophet الأُلَىthose who إنْif روْعةٌterror دهَمَتْswept down
حِزْبُ النّبيّ الأُلَى إنْ روْعةٌ دهَمَتْ
مِلْءَfilling الفَضاall space لمْdid not تهِنْfalter ذَرْعاًin strength ولمnor تضِقِfeel straitened
مِلْءَ الفَضا لمْ تهِنْ ذَرْعاً ولم تضِقِ
The Prophet's party, who, when terror swept upon them,
O leader of steeds charging with them
Filling all space, neither faltered nor lost heart.
The slight frames of the maidens, ululations and hand clapping.
ياO قائِدَleader of الخيْلِthe steeds ترْدِيgalloping فيin أعنّتِهاtheir reins
يا قائِدَ الخيْلِ ترْدِي في أعنّتِها
هَزْلَىlean الأباطِنin the bellies والأنْساءِand the haunches والصُّفُقِand the flanks
هَزْلَى الأباطِن والأنْساءِ والصُّفُقِ
O leader of steeds galloping in their reins,
Each red rose you compete against
Lean of belly, haunch and flank,
Gazelles and ostriches in colors and nature.
منْof كلِّevery أحْمَرَchestnut steed ورْديٍّrose-colored تُنازِعُهُrivaling it
منْ كلِّ أحْمَرَ ورْديٍّ تُنازِعُهُ
ظِباءُthe gazelles of وجْرَةَWajra فيin الألْوانِcoloring والخِلَقِand form
ظِباءُ وجْرَةَ في الألْوانِ والخِلَقِ
Of every rose-red chestnut, rivaled
Each gray charger piercing the sky of plains
By the gazelles of Wajra in coloring and form;
As if a projectile hurtling to the thief.
وأشْهَبٍand a gray steed فيthrough سَماءِthe sky of النّقْعِdust مخْتَرِقٍpiercing
وأشْهَبٍ في سَماءِ النّقْعِ مخْتَرِقٍ
كأنّهas though it were قاذِفٌa shooting star يهْويplunging لمُسْتَرِقِtoward an eavesdropper
كأنّه قاذِفٌ يهْوي لمُسْتَرِقِ
And a gray steed piercing the sky of dust,
Each dusky horse, if you rouse him,
Like a shooting star plunging at an eavesdropper;
You would think a blackamoor exposing her legs.
وأدْهَمِand a jet-black steed اللوْنِin color إنْif أبْداكَit shows you غُرّتَهُits forehead-blaze
وأدْهَمِ اللوْنِ إنْ أبْداكَ غُرّتَهُ
تخالُyou fancy زِنْجيّةًa Zanj woman تفترُّsmiling عنto reveal يَقَقِdazzling whiteness
تخالُ زِنْجيّةً تفترُّ عن يَقَقِ
And a black-coated steed that, if it shows you its blaze,
As if wading through a river of darkness
Makes you fancy a Zanj woman smiling, revealing dazzling whiteness.
When shrouded by the darkness.
كأنّهas though it وهْوَwhile it is بالظَّلْماءِin darkness مُشْتَمِلٌwrapped
كأنّه وهْوَ بالظَّلْماءِ مُشْتَمِلٌ
خاضَتْwaded قَوائِمُهُits legs نهْراًa river منَof الفَلَقِdaybreak
خاضَتْ قَوائِمُهُ نهْراً منَ الفَلَقِ
As though, while wrapped in darkness,
The eyes of maidens fell in love with the piebald,
Its legs had waded through a river of daybreak;
As if related to him through the pupil of the eye.
وأبْلَقand a piebald steed شُغِفَتْwere captivated حُورُdark-eyed beauties العُيونِthe eyes بهِby it
وأبْلَق شُغِفَتْ حُورُ العُيونِ بهِ
كأنّماas though عطَفَتْهاdrew them نسبَةُthe kinship of الحدَقِthe pupils
كأنّما عطَفَتْها نسبَةُ الحدَقِ
And a piebald adored by dark-eyed beauties,
It shares with the night the perfection of its making,
As though a kinship of eyes had drawn them to it.
As both agreed upon the separation.
تُشارِكُjoined together اللّيْلَnight فيin إحْكامِperfecting صنْعَتِهits making
تُشارِكُ اللّيْلَ في إحْكامِ صنْعَتِه
واليوْمَand day واتّفَقاand both agreed فيهِon it علَىupon البَلَقِpiebald coloring
واليوْمَ واتّفَقا فيهِ علَى البَلَقِ
Night joined in perfecting its making,
You are the one around whom swords quarrelled
And day joined too; they agreed upon its piebald coloring.
Until truth ransomed the rule from stagnation.
أنتَyou الذيthe one خاصَمَتْcontended فيكover you السّيوفُthe swords الىuntil
أنتَ الذي خاصَمَتْ فيك السّيوفُ الى
أنْthat خلّصَredeemed الحقُّright رهْنَthe pledge of المُلْكِkingship منْfrom غلَقِforfeiture
أنْ خلّصَ الحقُّ رهْنَ المُلْكِ منْ غلَقِ
You are the one over whom the swords contended, until
You have indeed protected the breach of Andalusia,
Right redeemed the pledge of kingship from forfeiture.
And its heart quivered from pounding.
وأنتَand you أمّنْتَsecured حقاًtruly ثغْرَthe frontier of أنْدَلُسٍal-Andalus
وأنتَ أمّنْتَ حقاً ثغْرَ أنْدَلُسٍ
وقلْبُwhile the heart of ساكِنِهاits inhabitant يرتجُّtrembles منْfrom خفَقِpalpitation
وقلْبُ ساكِنِها يرتجُّ منْ خفَقِ
And you truly secured the frontier of al-Andalus,
The state of Islam has regained its ancestry,
While its people's hearts quivered with alarm.
While disbelief wears the flimsy garment.
قدindeed عاوَدَتْregained دولَةُthe realm of الإسلامِIslam جِدّتَهاits freshness
قد عاوَدَتْ دولَةُ الإسلامِ جِدّتَها
والكُفْرُwhile unbelief مُشتَمِلٌis wrapped بالواهِنِin frail الخَلِقِthreadbare cloth
والكُفْرُ مُشتَمِلٌ بالواهِنِ الخَلِقِ
The realm of Islam has regained its freshness,
So break the eggs and shake every conqueror,
While unbelief is wrapped in frail, threadbare cloth.
Religion is flourishing and disbelief withering.
فأفْلِقِso cleave البيضَthe helmets واهْزُزْand brandish كلَّevery غالِبَةٍconquering blade
فأفْلِقِ البيضَ واهْزُزْ كلَّ غالِبَةٍ
فالدّينُfor the faith فيin مَرَحٍexultation والكُفْرُand unbelief فيin وهَقِa noose
فالدّينُ في مَرَحٍ والكُفْرُ في وهَقِ
So cleave the helmets and brandish every conquering blade;
When Rome coveted an opportunity and crawled
For faith is exultant, and unbelief is in a noose.
One day, spinelessly from its burrow.
حتىuntil إذاwhen الرّومُthe Romans رامَتْseek فُرصَةًan opening ونَزاand leaps
حتى إذا الرّومُ رامَتْ فُرصَةً ونَزا
يوماًone day مُنافِقُهاtheir hypocrite الأشْقَىmost wretched عنِout of النّفَقِthe tunnel
يوماً مُنافِقُها الأشْقَى عنِ النّفَقِ
Then, when the Romans seek an opening, and out leaps
So awe with your terror their amassed armies,
One day their most wretched hypocrite from his tunnel,
And strike with your happiness before the clashing swords.
فاهْزُزthen shake برُعْبِكَwith dread of you قبلَbefore الجيْشِthe army ماwhat جمَعواthey have mustered
فاهْزُز برُعْبِكَ قبلَ الجيْشِ ما جمَعوا
واضْرِبْand strike بسَعْدِكَwith your good fortune قبلbefore الصّارمِthe cutting sword الذَّلِقِkeen-edged
واضْرِبْ بسَعْدِكَ قبل الصّارمِ الذَّلِقِ
Shake what they have mustered with your terror before your army,
And anticipate victory and triumph whose traces
And strike with your good fortune before your keen-edged sword.
Spoke truly without pretense.
واسْتقْبلِand welcome الفتْحَconquest والنّصْرَand victory الذيwhose نطَقَتْhave spoken
واسْتقْبلِ الفتْحَ والنّصْرَ الذي نطَقَتْ
آثارُهits signs بصَحيحٍwith truth غيرِnot مُخْتَلَقِfabricated
آثارُه بصَحيحٍ غيرِ مُخْتَلَقِ
And welcome conquest and the victory proclaimed
If the whites of swords thirst from yearning,
By its signs, in truth and without invention.
Quench them directly with clots of blood.
وإنْand if شكَتْcomplain مرْهَفاتُthe keen blades of البيضِthe white swords منْof ظمَأٍthirst
وإنْ شكَتْ مرْهَفاتُ البيضِ منْ ظمَأٍ
فسقِّهاthen give them drink عَلَلاًin repeated draughts صِرْفاًpure منَof العَلَقِblood
فسقِّها عَلَلاً صِرْفاً منَ العَلَقِ
And if the keen white swords complain of thirst,
If they incline towards peace and cling to
Give them draught after draught of pure blood.
Its firm causes and relations,
وإنْand if هُمُthey جنَحواincline للسِّلْمِtoward peace واعْتَلَقواand hold fast
وإنْ هُمُ جنَحوا للسِّلْمِ واعْتَلَقوا
منْهاof it بمُسْتَحْكَمِto the firmest الأسْبابِbonds والعُلَقِand ties
منْها بمُسْتَحْكَمِ الأسْبابِ والعُلَقِ
And if they incline to peace and cling
Incline to it with God’s Scripture as your guide,
To its strongest bonds and ties,
And take the lead when your chargers still have vigour.
اجْنَحْincline لهاto it بكتابِby the Book of اللهِGod مُقْتدياًtaking as your guide
اجْنَحْ لها بكتابِ اللهِ مُقْتدياً
إذat ذاكَthat time واسْتَبْقِand spare فلاًّa routed remnant منْfrom ظُباكَyour sword-edges بَقيthat survives
إذ ذاكَ واسْتَبْقِ فلاًّ منْ ظُباكَ بَقي
Incline to it, following the Book of God,
Enjoy welcoming recurring seasons whose times
And then spare the routed remnant surviving your blades.
Are structured like the heels of spears in order.
واهْنأand rejoice بقابِلِin coming أعْيادٍfestivals مَواسِمُهاwhose seasons
واهْنأ بقابِلِ أعْيادٍ مَواسِمُها
منْظومةًstrung together ككُعوبِlike the joints of الرُّمْحِthe spear فيin نسَقِorder
منْظومةً ككُعوبِ الرُّمْحِ في نسَقِ
And rejoice in coming festivals, their seasons
In the shade of a kingdom whose outskirts
Strung in order like the joints of a spear,
Have a mantle from God protecting and preserving it.
فيin ظلِّthe shade of ممْلَكةa kingdom منْfrom دونِbefore ساحَتِهاits court
في ظلِّ ممْلَكة منْ دونِ ساحَتِها
رِدْءٌa protecting force منَfrom اللهِGod يحْميguards حَوْزَهاits domain ويَقيand shields it
رِدْءٌ منَ اللهِ يحْمي حَوْزَها ويَقي
In the shade of a kingdom before whose court
My Master made you leader, its necklaces
Stands help from God, guarding its domain and shielding it.
Adorned with consistent creativity and connection.
موْلايَmy lord دونَكَهاtake it عِقْداًas a necklace فرائِدُهُits peerless gems
موْلايَ دونَكَها عِقْداً فرائِدُهُ
تُزْهىglory بمنتَظِمِin a well-strung sequence of الإبْداعِinspired artistry متّسقِharmonious
تُزْهى بمنتَظِمِ الإبْداعِ متّسقِ
My lord, take this necklace, whose peerless gems
The creepers love it, making its branches blossom
Glory in a harmonious string of inspired artistry.
Green, and the two abodes envy its fragrance.
يوَدُّهاwould wish it الدوْحُthe great trees فيon أغْصانِهِtheir boughs زهَراًas blossoms
يوَدُّها الدوْحُ في أغْصانِهِ زهَراً
غضّاًfresh and tender وتحْسِدُهاand envies it دارينُDarin فيfor العبَقِfragrance
غضّاً وتحْسِدُها دارينُ في العبَقِ
The great trees wish it were blossoms on their boughs,
The best of its eras smell as good as its latter days,
Fresh and tender; Darin envies it its fragrance.
Such are the ways of excellence, appearing last.
تُزْريput to shame بطيبِthe sweetness of أواليهاits openings أواخرُهاits endings
تُزْري بطيبِ أواليها أواخرُها
كذلِكَso السّبْقُvictory يبْدوappears آخِرَat the end of الطّلقِthe race
كذلِكَ السّبْقُ يبْدو آخِرَ الطّلقِ
Its endings put the sweetness of its openings to shame;
Had I come to the arena of the Arabs who preceded me,
So victory becomes clear at the race's end.
I would not have been among the people except as the foremost.
لوhad جِئْتُI entered فيinto حلْبَةِthe racecourse of العُرْبِthe Arabs التيwho سبقَتْcame before
لو جِئْتُ في حلْبَةِ العُرْبِ التي سبقَتْ
ماnot كُنْتُwould I have been فيamong القوْمِthe company إلاexcept حائِزَwinning السّبَقِthe prize
ما كُنْتُ في القوْمِ إلا حائِزَ السّبَقِ
Had I entered the racecourse of the Arabs of old,
If my time lagged behind their generation,
I would have been none other than the prizewinner among them.
Perhaps the meaning of dawn comes in the latecomers.
وإنْand though تأخّرَdelayed بيme عنْbeyond جيلِهمْtheir generation زمَنيmy age
وإنْ تأخّرَ بي عنْ جيلِهمْ زمَني
فربّماyet sometimes جاءَcomes معْنىthe meaning of الصّبْحِdawn فيin اللّحَقِlater additions
فربّما جاءَ معْنى الصّبْحِ في اللّحَقِ
Though my age has placed me later than their generation,
Reason is like the sea, if its grandeur makes you anxious,
Dawn's meaning may still come in a later addition.
Then poetry fathoms its depths.
والعقْلُand the intellect كالبَحْرِlike the sea إنif هالَتْكَawes you هيبتُهُits majesty
والعقْلُ كالبَحْرِ إن هالَتْكَ هيبتُهُ
فالشّعْرُthen poetry يسْبُرُplumbs منْهُof it مُنْتَهىthe utmost limit of العُمُقِdepth
فالشّعْرُ يسْبُرُ منْهُ مُنْتَهى العُمُقِ
The intellect is like the sea: if its majesty awes you,
If I fulfilled the meaning of praise, it is the produce
Then poetry plumbs its utmost depth.
Of a garden whose clouds poured with your care.
فإنْand if وفّيْتُI have done justice بمعنىto the substance of المدْحِpraise فهْوَthen it is جَنىthe fruit of
فإنْ وفّيْتُ بمعنى المدْحِ فهْوَ جَنى
روْضٍa garden بإنعامِكَby your bounty السّحَّpouring abundantly الغَمامُthe clouds سُقيwas watered
روْضٍ بإنعامِكَ السّحَّ الغَمامُ سُقي
If I have done justice to the substance of praise, it is the fruit
If I fell short, I relied on an excuse
Of a garden watered by the pouring clouds of your bounty.
That whoever wanted to count pebbles and drops could not manage.
وإنْand if عجَزْتُI fall short فعَنْthen because of عُذْرٍan excuse وثقتُI trust بهِin it
وإنْ عجَزْتُ فعَنْ عُذْرٍ وثقتُ بهِ
مَنْwhoever رامَtries عدَّto count الحَصىthe pebbles والقَطْرَand raindrops لمdoes not يُطِقِhave the ability
مَنْ رامَ عدَّ الحَصى والقَطْرَ لم يُطِقِ
And if I fall short, it is with an excuse I trust:
If I fulfilled some words, perhaps
Whoever tries to count pebbles and raindrops cannot do it.
What sufficed of the necklace adorned the neck.
وإنْand if وفَيْتُI have fulfilled ببَعْضِwith some of القوْلِthe praise رُبَّتَماperhaps
وإنْ وفَيْتُ ببَعْضِ القوْلِ رُبَّتَما
يكْفيsuffices منَof العِقْدِthe necklace ماwhat قدْhas حفَّencircled بالعُنُقِthe neck
يكْفي منَ العِقْدِ ما قدْ حفَّ بالعُنُقِ
And if I have fulfilled only part of what should be said, perhaps
Enough of a necklace is what encircles the neck.
Partial English translation: 124 of 126 Arabic lines translated.