هلhas أقالَpardoned الحِمامُdeath عَثرَةَthe stumble of حَيٍّa living person
هل أقالَ الحِمامُ عَثرَةَ حَيٍّ
أمor عداmissed سهمُهُits arrow فؤادَthe heart of رَميِّa target
أم عدا سهمُهُ فؤادَ رَميِّ
Has death ever pardoned the stumble of one alive,
Has the fate lightened the fall of a living one
or has its arrow missed the heart of its target?
Or has its arrow missed the heart of an archer
هلْhas أدامَsustained الزّمانُtime وَصْلَthe bond with خليلٍa friend
هلْ أدامَ الزّمانُ وَصْلَ خليلٍ
فَوَفَىand so kept faith والزّمانُand time غيرُnot وفيِّfaithful
فَوَفَى والزّمانُ غيرُ وفيِّ
Has time ever sustained the bond with a friend
Did time continue the bond of a friend
and kept faith, though time is faithless?
And was time faithful, while it is unfaithful
وهوand it is كالفكرlike thought بينbetween غشّthe deceit of عَدُوٍّan enemy
وهو كالفكر بين غشّ عَدُوٍّ
لبنيهtoward its sons وبينand between نُصْحِthe sincere counsel of وليِّa friend
لبنيه وبين نُصْحِ وليِّ
It is like thought, between an enemy's deceit
It is like thoughts amidst the deceit of an enemy
toward its sons and a friend's sincere counsel.
Between its children and the advice of an ally
قدindeed رأيناwe have seen حالاًa state نؤولُwe shall return إليهاto it
قد رأينا حالاً نؤولُ إليها
ووعظناand we were admonished بحالناby our condition الأوليِّoriginal
ووعظنا بحالنا الأوليِّ
We have seen the state to which we shall return,
We have seen a state we will eventually come to
and have been admonished by our original condition.
And our former state admonished us
غيرexcept أنّاthat we نرْنوgaze بأعينِwith eyes of رشدٍreason
غير أنّا نرْنو بأعينِ رشدٍ
كُحِلتْwere kohled منfrom هوىthe passions of النفوسthe souls بغيِّwith error
كُحِلتْ من هوى النفوس بغيِّ
Yet we gaze with eyes of reason,
Except we aspire with eyes of guidance
darkened with error by the passions of our souls.
Whose desires have been lined with love
أينwhere ماthe one whose كانwas خَلقهhis creation منfrom ترابٍdust
أين ما كان خَلقه من ترابٍ
لمnot يكنْwas بدءُthe beginning of خلقهhis creation منfrom منيِّsemen
لم يكنْ بدءُ خلقه من منيِّ
Where is he who was fashioned from dust,
Where was he created from dust
whose creation did not begin with semen,
His creation did not begin from semen
واغتذىand was nourished عندat مولدthe birth of الروحthe spirit فيهwithin him
واغتذى عند مولد الروح فيه
منfrom ثُديّthe breasts of الحياةِlife أوّلَfirst شيِّthing
من ثُديّ الحياةِ أوّلَ شيِّ
and who, when the spirit was born within him, was nourished
And he was nourished at the birth of spirit in him
first of all at the breasts of life?
From the breast of life the first thing
قدindeed دُفِعْناwe were thrust إلىinto حياةٍlife وموْتٍand death
قد دُفِعْنا إلى حياةٍ وموْتٍ
ونشورٍand resurrection إلىbefore الإلهِGod العَليِّMost High
ونشورٍ إلى الإلهِ العَليِّ
We have been thrust into life and death,
We have been pushed to a life and death
and resurrection before God Most High,
And resurrection to God the Sublime
ودوامُand permanence of البقاءِexistence فيin دارِan abode أخرىanother
ودوامُ البقاءِ في دارِ أخرى
ومجازاةُand recompense for فاجرٍa wicked person وَتَقِيِّand a devout person
ومجازاةُ فاجرٍ وَتَقِيِّ
and abiding forever in another abode,
And permanence of remaining in another house
and recompense for the wicked and the devout.
And the requital of a debauched and devout
كمhow many مليكٍa king وسوقةٍand common folk وشُجاعٍand a brave man
كم مليكٍ وسوقةٍ وشُجاعٍ
وجبانٍand a coward وطائعٍand an obedient man وَعَصِيِّand a rebel
وجبانٍ وطائعٍ وَعَصِيِّ
How many a king and commoner and brave man,
How many kings, leaders, brave ones
and coward, obedient man and rebel,
And cowards, obedient and disobedient
نَشَرَتْهُمْunfolded them حياتُهُمْtheir lives أيّwhat an نَشْرٍunfolding
نَشَرَتْهُمْ حياتُهُمْ أيّ نَشْرٍ
وطواهُمْand folded them away حِمامُهُمْtheir deaths أيّwhat a طيِّfolding
وطواهُمْ حِمامُهُمْ أيّ طيِّ
their lives unfolded—what an unfolding!—
Their lives have scattered them, however scattered
and their deaths folded away—what a folding!
And their destiny has covered them, however covered
فهمُso they فيin حشاthe interior of الضريحthe grave سواءٌequal
فهمُ في حشا الضريح سواءٌ
ولقدand indeed كانwas ذاthis one لذاto that one غَيْرَnot سِيِّan equal
ولقد كان ذا لذا غَيْرَ سِيِّ
Now they are equal within the grave,
So they are equal in the burial place
though once this man was not that one's equal.
And the latter was surely different from the former
لكyou have ياO مَنone who يموتُdies شخصٌa body وفَيْءٌand a shadow
لك يا مَن يموتُ شخصٌ وفَيْءٌ
ثمّthen شخصٌa body فيin القبرthe grave منwith غيرno فَيِّshadow
ثمّ شخصٌ في القبر من غير فَيِّ
You who must die have a body and a shadow;
You, for whom one person dies and becomes a corpse
then a body in the grave, without a shadow.
Then, another person in the grave without becoming a corpse
أيُّwhat فَيءٍshadow لمنfor one who يصيرُbecomes تراباًdust
أيُّ فَيءٍ لمن يصيرُ تراباً
مُحِيَتْwas effaced مِنهُfrom him صورَةُthe form of البَشَريِّa human being
مُحِيَتْ مِنهُ صورَةُ البَشَريِّ
What shadow has one who becomes dust,
Which corpse is for one who becomes dust
from whom the human form has been effaced?
From whom the form of a human has been erased
كيفَhow تنجوcan you escape علىupon مَطِيّةِthe mount of دُنْيَاthe world
كيفَ تنجو على مَطِيّةِ دُنْيَا
وهيwhile it تَشْحوgapes بالجانبِtoward the flank الوحشيِّouter
وهي تَشْحو بالجانبِ الوحشيِّ
How can you escape upon the mount of this world,
How can you survive the ride of worldly life
while it gapes toward its outer flank?
And it travels with an uncivilized side
تطرحُthrows off الراكبَthe rider الشديدَstrong شموساًbeing unruly
تطرحُ الراكبَ الشديدَ شموساً
وركوبُand riding الشموسan unruly mount فعلthe deed of غبيِّa fool
وركوبُ الشموس فعل غبيِّ
Unruly, it throws off even the strongest rider,
It drops the firm rider frequently
and riding an unruly mount is a fool's deed.
And riding frequently is a foolish act
غُرّis deluded مَنone who ظَنّthinks أنthat يصافيَhe can befriend دهراًtime
غُرّ مَن ظَنّ أن يصافيَ دهراً
وهوwhile it للأصفياءto its true friends غيرُnot صفيِّa true friend
وهو للأصفياء غيرُ صفيِّ
He is deluded who thinks he can befriend time,
Deceived is one who thought to be loyal to fate
for time is no true friend to its friends.
While it is not loyal to the loyal ones
كلّevery لاهٍheedless person عمّاof what يطيلprolongs شجاهُhis sorrow
كلّ لاهٍ عمّا يطيل شجاهُ
يملأfills العينَthe eye منwith رقادِthe sleep of خليِّone free of cares
يملأ العينَ من رقادِ خليِّ
Everyone heedless of what will prolong his grief
How many glances has an eager one distracted
fills his eyes with the sleep of the untroubled.
Who fills the eyes with the slumber of a friend
والرّدىand death يشملُencompasses الأنامَmankind ومنهand of it
والرّدى يشملُ الأنامَ ومنه
عرضيّaccidental يجيءُarises منfrom جَوْهريِّwhat is substantial
عرضيّ يجيءُ من جَوْهريِّ
Death embraces all mankind; some of it
And ordainment includes people, and from it
is accidental, arising from the substantial.
A sudden one comes from intrinsic
ومميتُand the killer of الحراكِmovement منهwithin it سكونٌstillness
ومميتُ الحراكِ منه سكونٌ
مظهرٌrevealing فعلَهُits action بسرٍّthrough a secret خفيِّhidden
مظهرٌ فعلَهُ بسرٍّ خفيِّ
The stillness within it kills movement,
And the mortal silence from it is movement
revealing its action through a hidden secret.
Its action is done secretly by mystery
وهوand it يرميstrikes قوائمَthe legs of الأعصمthe white-footed ibex الضَّرlean (first part)
وهو يرمي قوائمَ الأعصم الضَّر
بcompletes 'lean' وَيَلْويand twists قَوادمَthe primary feathers of المَضْرحيِّthe mighty eagle
ب وَيَلْوي قَوادمَ المَضْرحيِّ
It strikes the legs of the lean, white-footed ibex
And it targets the legs of the unshakable firm
and twists the primary feathers of the mighty eagle.
And bends the steps of the buried one
لاnot يهابُfears الحِمامُdeath مَلْكاًa king عظيماًmighty
لا يهابُ الحِمامُ مَلْكاً عظيماً
يحتبيsits with knees bound يَومon the day of جودهhis bounty بالحبِيِّwith gifts
يحتبي يَوم جوده بالحبِيِّ
Death does not fear a mighty king,
Destiny does not fear a great king
who sits, on his day of bounty, wrapped in gifts.
Who takes refuge in affection during his generosity
ينطقُspeaks الموتُdeath منfrom ظباهhis sword-edges فَيَمْضيand so takes effect
ينطقُ الموتُ من ظباه فَيَمْضي
حُكمُهُits decree فيamong الوَرَىhumankind بأمْرٍat a command وَحيِّswift
حُكمُهُ في الوَرَى بأمْرٍ وَحيِّ
Death speaks from his sword-edges, and its decree
Death speaks from its horrors, so it proceeds
takes effect among mortals at a swift command.
Its rule in the land with a revealed order
لاno ولاnor مُرْهَفَone with sharpened المُدَىblades بينbetween فَكّيْthe two jaws of
لا ولا مُرْهَفَ المُدَى بين فَكّيْ
باطشِfierce in wielding البرثنَينِboth claws وَرْدٍtawny جَريِّbold
باطشِ البرثنَينِ وَرْدٍ جَريِّ
No, nor one with keen blades between its jaws—
Neither the far-sighted nor the eloquent between the two jaws
a tawny, bold lion, fierce with both claws.
Has power against the might of fate and its will
ومتىand when هابَhas it feared موقداًone kindling نارَthe fire of حَرْبٍwar
ومتى هابَ موقداً نارَ حَرْبٍ
فارساًa horseman فيin المُضَاعَفِdouble-woven armor الفارسيِّPersian
فارساً في المُضَاعَفِ الفارسيِّ
And when has it feared a kindler of war's fire,
And when has a knight feared the fire of war
a horseman in double-woven Persian mail?
A horseman in knightly courage and youthful determination
للرّدينيِّfor the Rudayni spear منهfrom him ريٌّa drink مُعَادٌrepeated
للرّدينيِّ منه ريٌّ مُعَادٌ
منof نجيعthe blood of العداthe foes كحرفlike a lean she-camel of الدّويِّthe desert
من نجيع العدا كحرف الدّويِّ
From him, the Rudayni spear drinks again and again
The horseman of water and land and the young pure man
the blood of foes, like a lean desert she-camel.
And protector of Ara'er's manhood
أيّwhat a رزءٍcalamity جاءتْcame بهwith it الرّيحُthe wind فيupon الماwater (first part)
أيّ رزءٍ جاءتْ به الرّيحُ في الما
ءِcompletes 'water' وأفشَتْهُand proclaimed it منthrough لسانِthe tongue of النّعِيِّthe death-announcer
ءِ وأفشَتْهُ من لسانِ النّعِيِّ
What a calamity the wind brought upon the water,
He inherited honor from his father like a lion cub
and proclaimed through the tongue of the death-announcer!
Who took violence from his high father
ومصابٍand an affliction أصابَstruck كلّevery فؤادٍheart
ومصابٍ أصابَ كلّ فؤادٍ
فيover ابنِthe son of عبدAbd العزيزal-Aziz عبدِAbd الغنيal-Ghani
في ابنِ عبد العزيز عبدِ الغني
And what an affliction struck every heart
The embers of might were extinguished from fuel
over Abd al-Ghani, son of Abd al-Aziz!
In the souls of enemies from every living one
قائدٌa commander قادَهُled him إلىto الموْتِdeath عِزٌّhonor
قائدٌ قادَهُ إلى الموْتِ عِزٌّ
باقتحامٍwith daring كهلٍseasoned وعزْمٍand resolve فتيِّyouthful
باقتحامٍ كهلٍ وعزْمٍ فتيِّ
A commander whom honor led to death,
And the sword of butchering was blunted
with seasoned daring and youthful resolve.
From the skulls of the brave from summit of boldness
فارسُknight of الماءِwater والثرىand earth والفتىand the youth المحpure (first part)
فارسُ الماءِ والثرى والفتى المح
ضُcompletes 'pure' وصنوُand the twin of المروءةchivalry الأريحيِّgenerous-hearted
ضُ وصنوُ المروءة الأريحيِّ
Knight of water and earth, the youth of pure mettle,
A horseman whose armor a burning heart fears
and chivalry's generous-hearted twin.
Fluttering in the burial place of a resolved young man
ورثَinherited العزّglory منfrom أبيهhis father كشبلٍlike a lion cub
ورثَ العزّ من أبيه كشبلٍ
أخذَtook الفتكَferocity عنfrom أبيهhis father الأبيِّunbowed
أخذَ الفتكَ عن أبيه الأبيِّ
He inherited glory from his father, like a lion cub
His sword’s edge is feared like gifts presented
that took its ferocity from its unbowed father.
To every maiden brought to him as a gift
جمرةُthe ember of البأسvalor أخمدتwas quenched عنaway from وقودfueling
جمرةُ البأس أخمدت عن وقود
بنفوسwith the souls of العداةthe enemies منfrom كلّevery حيِّtribe
بنفوس العداة من كلّ حيِّ
Valor's ember was quenched, barred from feeding
Advancing not retreating with wishes
on the souls of foes from every tribe.
Against struggling with enemies and charging
وحسامُand the sword of الجِلادcombat فُلّwas blunted شباهُits edge
وحسامُ الجِلاد فُلّ شباهُ
بشباby the edge of الموتdeath عنaway from قراعclashing with الكميِّthe armored warrior
بشبا الموت عن قراع الكميِّ
The sword of combat had its edge blunted
As if attack had inclined toward him
by death's edge, barred from striking armored warriors.
The day they extended toward him the well-knotted spears
حاسرٌunarmored درعهhis armor تَضَرُّمَthe blazing of قلبٍa heart
حاسرٌ درعه تَضَرُّمَ قلبٍ
خافقٍbeating فيwithin حشاthe breast of فتىًa youth شَمّريِّresolute
خافقٍ في حشا فتىً شَمّريِّ
Unarmored, his armor was a heart aflame,
They took away his sword in which was a groan
beating in the breast of a resolute young man.
From them like the longing on the spine
يتّقيguards against حدّthe edge of سيفهhis sword كلّevery علجforeign warrior
يتّقي حدّ سيفه كلّ علج
بحبيكِwith the close weave of الماذيّgleaming mail فيin الآذيِّthe waves
بحبيكِ الماذيّ في الآذيِّ
Every foreign warrior guards against his sword's edge
And they saw every attack from them
with closely woven, gleaming mail amid the waves.
Had slipped upon the blade of his slim spear
مقبلاًadvancing لاnot مولياًturning away بالأمانيwith hopes
مقبلاً لا مولياً بالأماني
عنfrom كفاحِconfronting العِداthe foes وبالسمهريِّand with a Samhari spear
عن كفاحِ العِدا وبالسمهريِّ
He advanced with hopes, never turning away
They supplied every blow from him like snakes
from confronting foes, and carrying a Samhari spear.
That prey, and stabs like piercing ones
وكأنّand as though الإتاءَthe torrent مالbore down عَلَيهupon him
وكأنّ الإتاءَ مال عَلَيه
يومon the day مَدّواthey leveled إليهat him سُمرَthe brown shafts of القنيِّthe spears
يوم مَدّوا إليه سُمرَ القنيِّ
It was as though a torrent bore down upon him
Every fire that was kindled from the invasion
on the day they leveled their brown spears at him.
Was extinguished in his honorable sword
سلبُواthey took سَيْفَهُhis sword وفيهand on it نجيعٌblood
سلبُوا سَيْفَهُ وفيه نجيعٌ
منهمُfrom them كالشقيقlike red anemones فوقupon الأتيِّthe floodwater
منهمُ كالشقيق فوق الأتيِّ
They stripped him of his sword, which bore blood
He greeted death while helmets were wrathful
of theirs, like red anemones upon floodwater.
And it found pleasure in his bloodshed
ورأوْاand they saw كلّevery مُهْجَةٍheart's blood منهمُof theirs ساflowed (first part)
ورأوْا كلّ مُهْجَةٍ منهمُ سا
لتْcompletes 'flowed' علىover صَدرthe forepart of رُمْحِهhis spear الزاعبيِّZa'ibi
لتْ على صَدر رُمْحِه الزاعبيِّ
And they saw every heart's blood among them flowing
Feeling with swords like gifts presented
along the forepart of his Za'ibi spear.
To every maiden brought to him as a gift
زُوّدواthey were provisioned with كلevery ضربةٍblow منهfrom him كالأخدوlike a trench (first part)
زُوّدوا كل ضربةٍ منه كالأخدو
دِcompletes 'trench' تُرْديdealing death وطعنةٍand a thrust كالطويِّlike a lined well
دِ تُرْدي وطعنةٍ كالطويِّ
They were furnished with each trench-like blow of his,
So he is best groom whose clothes
dealing death, and each thrust like a stone-lined well.
Are fighters from every honored vein
كلّevery نارٍfire كانتْwas منby الغزوwarfare تذكىkindled
كلّ نارٍ كانتْ من الغزو تذكى
خمِدتْwas extinguished فيin حسامهِhis sword المَشْرَفيِّMashrafi
خمِدتْ في حسامهِ المَشْرَفيِّ
Every fire that warfare had kindled
His scent from his groan and he is musk
was quenched in his Mashrafi sword.
In the perfumes of an elegant smooth one
صافحَshook hands with الموتَdeath والصفائحُwhile the blades غَضْبَىwere enraged
صافحَ الموتَ والصفائحُ غَضْبَى
وَلَغَتْlapped منهfrom him فيat دماءِthe blood of رَضيِّa worthy man
وَلَغَتْ منه في دماءِ رَضيِّ
He clasped death's hand while the blades raged,
O you who died in battlefield and are happy
lapping from him the blood of a worthy man.
With every courageous wretched one
مُشْعَراًblood-marked بالسيوفِby swords كالهْديِlike a sacrificial animal تُهْدىis led as a gift
مُشْعَراً بالسيوفِ كالهْديِ تُهْدى
كلّevery حوريّةٍhouri إليهto him هَدِيِّas a bride
كلّ حوريّةٍ إليه هَدِيِّ
Blood-marked by swords like a sacrificial beast, he is given
And generous with himself for the supreme
every houri, led to him as a bride.
In God's satisfaction the deed of the generous one
فهوso he نعمhow excellent العَرُوسُa bridegroom حَشْوَinside ثيابٍgarments
فهو نعم العَرُوسُ حَشْوَ ثيابٍ
قانئاتٍdeep crimson منfrom كلّevery عِرْقٍvein ضَرِيِّflowing freely
قانئاتٍ من كلّ عِرْقٍ ضَرِيِّ
What an excellent bridegroom he is, inside garments
How many you have struck beats and frozen
deep crimson from every streaming vein.
And stabbed the close and distant one
طيبُهُhis perfume منfrom نجيعهhis blood وهوand it مسكٌis musk
طيبُهُ من نجيعه وهو مسكٌ
فيon عِذارَيْthe two cheek-lines of مُهَذَّبٍa refined man لَوْذَعِيِّkeen-witted
في عِذارَيْ مُهَذَّبٍ لَوْذَعِيِّ
His perfume comes from his blood, and it is musk
My brother and excellent mother like a affectionate mother
on the cheeks of a refined, keen-witted man.
None of the daughters of fate have touched you
ياO شهيداًmartyr فيon مشهدthe field of الحربِwar مُلقىcast down
يا شهيداً في مشهد الحربِ مُلقى
وسعيداًand blessed بكلّthrough every علجٍforeign warrior شقيِّwretched
وسعيداً بكلّ علجٍ شقيِّ
O martyr, cast down on the field of war,
How many friends like me who cry for you with willing
and blessed through every wretched foreign warrior,
Obedient tears from his tasks not disobeyed
وَسخيّاًand generous بنَفسِهِwith his life للعواليto the lofty spearheads
وَسخيّاً بنَفسِهِ للعوالي
فيin pursuit of رِضىthe pleasure of اللّهِGod فعلُthe deed of ذاكَthat السخيِّgenerous man
في رِضى اللّهِ فعلُ ذاكَ السخيِّ
and generous with his life to the lofty spearheads—
The eye sheds from it a stream of water
that generous man's deed sought God's pleasure.
That wets the cheek and it is burning branding
كَمْhow many ضَرُوبٍa hard hitter ضارَبْتَهyou traded blows with him وَجَليدٍand a stalwart fighter
كَمْ ضَرُوبٍ ضارَبْتَه وَجَليدٍ
وَقريبٍand a nearby foe طاعَنْتَهُyou traded thrusts with him وَقَصيِّand a distant one
وَقريبٍ طاعَنْتَهُ وَقَصيِّ
How many a hard hitter you fought, and a stalwart warrior,
My two laments elegizing you in sadness
and a nearby foe you traded thrusts with, and a distant one!
The best refined elegy, shining
وأخيand a bearer of وَفْضَةٍa quiver كأمٍّlike a mother ولودٍprolific
وأخي وَفْضَةٍ كأمٍّ ولودٍ
ماnot أصابتكَstruck you منany of بناتthe daughters of القسيِّthe bows
ما أصابتكَ من بنات القسيِّ
And a man with a quiver like a mother of many offspring—
Grieving ones whose dawn in every morning
not one of the daughters of the bows struck you.
Drenches their tears and every night
كَمْhow many صَديقٍa friend بكاكَwept for you مثليlike me بدَمعٍwith tears
كَمْ صَديقٍ بكاكَ مثلي بدَمعٍ
طائعٍflowing obediently منfrom شؤونهhis tear ducts لاnot عصيِّresistant
طائعٍ من شؤونه لا عصيِّ
How many a friend wept for you, as I do, with tears
A man does not know more devastating misfortunes
flowing obediently from his tear ducts, not resisting.
That have touched them or fruits of purpose
تذرفsheds العينُthe eye منهof it جريةَa stream of ماءٍwater
تذرف العينُ منه جريةَ ماءٍ
تطأُtreads الخدّthe cheek وهيwhile it جمرةُan ember of كيِّcauterization
تطأُ الخدّ وهي جمرةُ كيِّ
The eye sheds from them a stream of water
Their white faces have been darkened with ink
that treads the cheek—a cauterizing ember.
So they are in every Coptic face-veil
وثكالىand bereaved women يَنْدُبْنَlament منكin you بحزْنٍwith sorrow
وثكالى يَنْدُبْنَ منك بحزْنٍ
خَيْرَthe best نَدْبٍgallant man مُهَذَّبٍrefined ألمَعِيِّdiscerning
خَيْرَ نَدْبٍ مُهَذَّبٍ ألمَعِيِّ
And bereaved women mourn you in sorrow,
And they wore mourning clothes after silk
the finest gallant man, refined and discerning.
The evil of an apparel after the best apparel
حاسراتٍbareheaded يَنُحْنَthey wail فيin كلّevery صُبْحٍmorning
حاسراتٍ يَنُحْنَ في كلّ صُبْحٍ
بلّهdrenched it دمعهاher tears وكلّand every عشيِّevening
بلّه دمعها وكلّ عشيِّ
Bareheaded, they wail each morning,
Every female mourner on you, her burial place
drenched in their tears, and every evening.
Contains from you every chronic illness
ليسdoes not يدريknow امرؤanyone أجَزّwas it shearing نواصٍforelocks
ليس يدري امرؤ أجَزّ نواصٍ
كانَwas منهنّby them أمor حَصَادُa harvest of نَصِيِّfeathergrass
كانَ منهنّ أم حَصَادُ نَصِيِّ
No one can tell: was it the shearing of forelocks
The violet of bruises receives from it
they performed, or the harvesting of feathergrass?
The roses have withered above picked roses
سُوّدَتْwere blackened بالمدادِwith ink بيضُwhite وجوهfaces
سُوّدَتْ بالمدادِ بيضُ وجوه
فهيso they فيin كلّevery برقعٍveil حبَشيِّAbyssinian
فهي في كلّ برقعٍ حبَشيِّ
White faces have been blackened with ink,
O friend whom time has disappointed in loyalty
so each wears an Abyssinian veil.
Of the free that is not loyal
ولبسنَand they donned المسوحَhaircloth بعدafter حريرٍsilk
ولبسنَ المسوحَ بعد حريرٍ
شرّthe worst زيٍّattire أرتكَshe showed you منinstead of خيرِthe best زِيِّattire
شرّ زيٍّ أرتكَ من خيرِ زِيِّ
They have put on haircloth after silk,
You have died yet remain exemplary
showing you the worst attire in place of the best.
In the conscience of my heart, remembered
كلّevery نوّاحةٍwailing woman عليكَfor you حشاهاher breast
كلّ نوّاحةٍ عليكَ حشاها
حَشْوُهُits filling منكbecause of you كلّevery داءٍillness دَويِّgrievous
حَشْوُهُ منك كلّ داءٍ دَويِّ
Every woman who wails for you has her breast
Indeed the land in which you are buried
filled, because of you, with every grievous illness.
Its wind from you is the fragrance of scented musk
يتلقّىmeets بنفسجُthe violets of اللطمِslapping منهاfrom her
يتلقّى بنفسجُ اللطمِ منها
ذابلَfaded الوَردroses فوْقabove وردٍroses جنيِّfreshly picked
ذابلَ الوَرد فوْق وردٍ جنيِّ
The violets of her slaps meet
So your crucified one in it has watered
faded roses upon freshly gathered roses.
The best purposeful mercy and ally
ياO خليلاًfriend أخلّfailed بيme فيهthrough him دهرٌtime
يا خليلاً أخلّ بي فيه دهرٌ
لوفاءِto the fidelity of الأحرارnoble men غيرnot وفيِّfaithful
لوفاءِ الأحرار غير وفيِّ
O friend, through whom time has failed me,
I have not when arranging your elegy
faithless to the loyalty of noble men!
Chosen it over praising a living one
أنْتَyou بالموْتthrough death غائبٌabsent ومثالٌand an image
أنْتَ بالموْت غائبٌ ومثالٌ
فيin ضميرthe depths of الفُؤادِthe heart منكof you نجيِّa confidant
في ضمير الفُؤادِ منك نجيِّ
You are absent through death, but an image
I cry for you as long as I live
of you is my confidant in the heart's depths.
My eye flowing with filial tears
إنّindeed أرضاًthe earth غودرتَyou were left فيهاin it لتهديsurely offers
إنّ أرضاً غودرتَ فيها لتهدي
ريحُهاits breeze منكfrom you عَرْفَthe fragrance of مسكٍmusk ذكيِّstrong-scented
ريحُها منك عَرْفَ مسكٍ ذكيِّ
Surely the earth in which you were left offers
And after my death, rhymes will cry for you
on its breeze, from you, the scent of fragrant musk.
In a wailing, its words spiritual
فَسَقَىso may water شلوَكyour remains الممزَّقtorn apart فيهاthere
فَسَقَى شلوَك الممزَّق فيها
خيرُthe best وسميّfirst autumn rain رحمةٍof mercy وَوَليِّand following rain
خيرُ وسميّ رحمةٍ وَوَليِّ
May your torn remains there be watered
by mercy's finest autumn rain and its following showers.
لمdid not أكنْI was إذwhen نَظَمْتُI composed تأبينَan elegy for مَيْتٍa dead man
لم أكنْ إذ نَظَمْتُ تأبينَ مَيْتٍ
لكfor you أختارُهُchoose it علىover مَدْحِpraise of حَيِّa living man
لك أختارُهُ على مَدْحِ حَيِّ
When I composed an elegy for the dead, I did not
choose it for you over the praise of one alive.
أناI أبكيweep عليكَfor you ماas long as طالlasts عمريmy life
أنا أبكي عليكَ ما طال عمري
شَرِقَchoking العينin the eyes منwith دموعthe tears of بِرِيِّmy devotion
شَرِقَ العين من دموع بِرِيِّ
I shall weep for you as long as my life lasts,
my eyes choked with tears of my devotion.
وستبكيكَand will weep for you بعدafter موتيmy death القوافيthe rhymes
وستبكيكَ بعد موتي القوافي
فيin نياحlamentation منfrom لفظهاtheir wording معنويِّconveyed in meaning
في نياح من لفظها معنويِّ
And after my death the rhymes will weep for you,
with a lament implicit in their words.
Partial English translation: 122 of 130 Arabic lines translated.