باللهِby God ياO قامَةَstature of القَضِيبِthe slender branch
باللهِ يا قامَةَ القَضِيبِ
ومُخْجلَand one who shames الشَمْسِthe sun والقَمَرْand the moon
ومُخْجلَ الشَمْسِ والقَمَرْ
By God, O you with a branch's slender stature,
By God, O pillar of glory,
and you who put the sun and moon to shame,
Embarrasser of sun and moon,
مَنْwho مَلَكَcommanded الحُسْنَbeauty فيin القلوبِthe hearts
مَنْ مَلَكَ الحُسْنَ في القلوبِ
وأَيَّدَand strengthened اللَّحْظَthe glance بالحَوَرْwith the eyes' dark-and-white contrast
وأَيَّدَ اللَّحْظَ بالحَوَرْ
you who command beauty within hearts,
He who possessed beauty in hearts,
and strengthened your glance with dark-eyed grace.
And supported the glance with maidens.
مَنْwhoever لَمْnot يَكُنْwas طَبْعُهُhis nature رقيقَاgentle
مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ طَبْعُهُ رقيقَا
لمdid not يَدْرِknow ماwhat لَذَّةُthe pleasure of الصِّباyouth
لم يَدْرِ ما لَذَّةُ الصِّبا
Whoever is not gentle by nature
He whose nature was not delicate,
does not know the pleasure of youth.
Knew not the pleasure of youth.
فربfor many a حُرٍّfree man غداbecame رقياa slave
فرب حُرٍّ غدا رقيا
تملكُهُpossesses him نفحَةُa breath of الصَّباthe east wind
تملكُهُ نفحَةُ الصَّبا
For many a free man has become a slave,
So the free became enslaved,
possessed by a breath of the east wind,
Taken by the breeze of youth.
نَشْوانَintoxicated لمdid not يشربِdrink الرحيقَاthe pure wine
نَشْوانَ لم يشربِ الرحيقَا
لكنْbut إِلَىtoward الحُسْنِbeauty قدhas صَبَاyearned
لكنْ إِلَى الحُسْنِ قد صَبَا
intoxicated, though he has drunk no wine,
An oblivious drunk knew no nectar,
but has yearned for beauty.
But he inclined towards beauty.
فَعَذَّبَso he tormented القَلْبَthe heart بالوَجيبِwith pounding
فَعَذَّبَ القَلْبَ بالوَجيبِ
وَنَعَّمَand delighted العَيْنَthe eye بالنَظَرْwith gazing
وَنَعَّمَ العَيْنَ بالنَظَرْ
Thus he tormented his heart with pounding,
So he tortured the heart with love,
and delighted his eye with gazing,
And delighted the eye with looking.
وَبَاتَand spent the night والدمعُand the tears فيin صَبيبِa downpour
وَبَاتَ والدمعُ في صَبيبِ
يقدحُstrikes منfrom قَلْبِهhis heart الشَرَرْsparks
يقدحُ من قَلْبِه الشَرَرْ
and spent the night with tears pouring down,
And spent the night with tears flowing,
striking sparks from his heart.
Sparking from his flaming heart.
عجبْتُI marveled منat قلْبيَmy heart المُعَنَّىtormented
عجبْتُ من قلْبيَ المُعَنَّى
يَهْفُوّflutters إِذَاwhen هَبَّتِblew الرِّيَاحْthe winds
يَهْفُوّ إِذَا هَبَّتِ الرِّيَاحْ
I marveled at my tormented heart:
I wonder at my loving heart,
it flutters whenever the winds blow.
Panting when the winds blow.
لَوْif كَانَthere were لِلصَّبِّfor the lovelorn one ماwhat تَمَنّىhe wished for
لَوْ كَانَ لِلصَّبِّ ما تَمَنّى
لَطَارَhe would fly شَوْقاًin longing إِلَىto البِطاحْthe valley plains
لَطَارَ شَوْقاً إِلَى البِطاحْ
If the lovelorn one had what he wished for,
If youth got what it wished,
he would fly in longing to the valley plains.
It would fly in passion to the sands.
وبُلْبُلُand the nightingale of الدَّوْحِthe grove إِنْif تَغَنَّىsings
وبُلْبُلُ الدَّوْحِ إِنْ تَغَنَّى
أَسْهَرَkept awake ليليmy night إِلىuntil الصّبَاحْdawn
أَسْهَرَ ليلي إِلى الصّبَاحْ
And if the grove's nightingale sings,
And the warbler, if it sang,
it keeps me awake all night until dawn.
Would keep me awake till dawn.
عَسَاكَmay you إِنْif زُرْتَyou visit ياO طَبيبيmy healer
عَسَاكَ إِنْ زُرْتَ يا طَبيبي
بالطَّيْفِas a dream-vision فيin رقْدةِa slumber السَّحَرْthe pre-dawn hour
بالطَّيْفِ في رقْدةِ السَّحَرْ
May you, if you visit, O my healer,
Perhaps if you visited me, O healer,
as a dream-vision in a slumber before dawn,
In specter at the dawn’s slumber,
أَنْthat تَجْعَلَyou make النَّومَsleep منof نَصيبيmy portion
أَنْ تَجْعَلَ النَّومَ من نَصيبي
والعَيْنَand the eye تحميyou protect منfrom السَّهَرْsleeplessness
والعَيْنَ تحمي من السَّهَرْ
make sleep my portion,
You would make sleep my share,
and shield my eye from sleeplessness.
And protect my eye from wakefulness.
كَمْhow many a شادنٍyoung gazelle قَادَbrought ليto me الحُتُوفَاdeaths
كَمْ شادنٍ قَادَ لي الحُتُوفَا
بمربعِin the spring pasture of القَلْبِthe heart قَدْhas سَكَنْsettled
بمربعِ القَلْبِ قَدْ سَكَنْ
How many a young gazelle that brought me doom
How many warriors have settled,
has settled in the heart's spring pasture!
In the courtyard of my heart.
يَسُلُّdraws منfrom لَحْظِهِits glance سُيُوفَاswords
يَسُلُّ من لَحْظِهِ سُيُوفَا
فالقَلْبُso the heart بالروعِin terror ماnot سَكَنْrested
فالقَلْبُ بالروعِ ما سَكَنْ
It draws swords from its glance,
Whose glances unleash swords,
so the heart, in terror, has found no rest.
So the heart in fright settles not.
خُلِقْتُI was created منby عادتيmy nature أَلُوفَاaffectionate
خُلِقْتُ من عادتي أَلُوفَا
أَحِنُّI yearn للأِلْفِfor the companion والسَّكَنْand the home
أَحِنُّ للأِلْفِ والسَّكَنْ
I was made affectionate by nature;
I was created accustomed,
I yearn for my companion and my home.
To love and settle.
غَرنَاطَةٌGranada مَنْزلُthe dwelling of الحبيبِthe beloved
غَرنَاطَةٌ مَنْزلُ الحبيبِ
وقُربُهاand nearness to her السُؤُلُthe wish والوَطَرْand the desire
وقُربُها السُؤُلُ والوَطَرْ
Granada is the dwelling of the beloved,
Granada, abode of the beloved,
and nearness to her is my wish and desire.
And its proximity, question and answer.
تبهُرُdazzles بالمنّظرِwith the sight العَجيبِwondrous
تبهُرُ بالمنّظرِ العَجيبِ
فلاso may ... not عَدَاpass by رَبْعَهاher dwelling المَطَرْthe rain
فلا عَدَا رَبْعَها المَطَرْ
She dazzles with her wondrous appearance;
Dazzled by the amazing scene,
so may rain never pass her dwelling by.
With none like its rain quarter.
عَرَوسةٌa bride تاجُهاher crown السَّبِيكهْal-Sabika (the gold ingot)
عَرَوسةٌ تاجُها السَّبِيكهْ
وزهرهاand her flowers الحَلْيَthe jewelry والحللْand the robes
وزهرها الحَلْيَ والحللْ
A bride whose crown is al-Sabika,
A bride whose crown is of pure gold,
and whose flowers are her jewelry and robes.
Its flowers, trinkets and robes.
لمdid not تَرْضَaccept منout of عزهاher glory شريكَهْa rival
لم تَرْضَ من عزها شريكَهْ
بحُسْنِهاfor her beauty يُضرَبُis cited المَثَلْthe proverb
بحُسْنِها يُضرَبُ المَثَلْ
She has accepted no rival in her glory;
She was not pleased to share her glory,
her beauty is proverbial.
An example is made of her beauty.
أَيَّدَهاmay He strengthen her اللهُGod منas a مليكهْqueen
أَيَّدَها اللهُ من مليكهْ
تملُكُهاrules her أَشرَفُthe noblest of الدُّوَلْthe dynasties
تملُكُها أَشرَفُ الدُّوَلْ
May God uphold her, queen that she is,
God supported her kingdom,
the noblest of dynasties rules her,
She's ruled by the noblest states.
بدولةِunder the reign of المرتَجىthe one looked to with hope المهيبِthe awe-inspiring
بدولةِ المرتَجى المهيبِ
الْملِكِthe king الطاهرِthe pure الأَغَرْthe radiant
الْملِكِ الطاهرِ الأَغَرْ
under the reign of the awe-inspiring one in whom hopes rest,
In the state of the desired formidable,
the pure and radiant king.
The pure King full of prestige.
تختالُstruts proudly منbecause of بُردهاher mantle القشيبِthe splendid
تختالُ من بُردها القشيبِ
فيin حُلَّةِa robe of النَّوْرِblossoms والزَّهَرْand flowers
في حُلَّةِ النَّوْرِ والزَّهَرْ
She struts proudly in her splendid mantle,
She prides in her cool weather,
in a robe of blossoms and flowers.
In the dress of light and flowers.
كُرْسيُّهاher throne جَنَّةُthe garden of العَريفِal-Arif (Generalife)
كُرْسيُّها جَنَّةُ العَريفِ
مرآتُهاher mirror صفحةُthe surface of الغديرْthe pool
مرآتُها صفحةُ الغديرْ
Her throne is the Generalife garden;
Its throne a garden of meadows,
her mirror is the surface of the pool;
Its mirror a surface of water.
وجوهرand jewels of الطلِّthe dew عنin place of شُنوفِearrings
وجوهر الطلِّ عن شُنوفِ
تحكُمُهاgoverns her صنعةُthe craftsmanship of القديرْthe Almighty
تحكُمُها صنعةُ القديرْ
and dewdrop jewels serve as earrings,
And the essence of affection from branches,
the Almighty's handiwork governs her.
Is ruled by the making of the Capable.
والأُنسُand delight فيهاwithin her علىin صنوفِkinds
والأُنسُ فيها على صنوفِ
فمنso, from هديلٍcooing ومنand from هديرْroaring
فمن هديلٍ ومن هديرْ
And delight within her has many forms:
And the company in it of kinds,
from cooing and from roaring.
Some murmur and some purl.
كَمْhow many خَرَّقَtore open الزَّهْرُthe flowers منof جيوبِcollars
كَمْ خَرَّقَ الزَّهْرُ من جيوبِ
وكَلَّلَand crowned القُضْبَthe branches بالدُّرَرْwith pearls
وكَلَّلَ القُضْبَ بالدُّرَرْ
How many collars the flowers have torn open!
How the flowers tore from pockets,
And they have crowned the branches with pearls.
And crowned the stalks with pearls.
فَالغُصْنُso the branch كالكاعبِlike a budding maiden اللَّعُوبِplayful
فَالغُصْنُ كالكاعبِ اللَّعُوبِ
والطيرُand the birds تَشْدُوsing بلاwithout وَتَرْa string
والطيرُ تَشْدُو بلا وَتَرْ
So the branch is like a playful, budding maiden,
So the branch becomes a playful flirt,
and the birds sing without a string.
And birds sing without string.
وَلائِمُbanquets of النَّصْرvictory فيin احتفالِcelebration
وَلائِمُ النَّصْر في احتفالِ
وفَرْحُand the joy of دينِthe faith of الهدىguidance جَديدْnew
وفَرْحُ دينِ الهدى جَديدْ
Victory's feasts are held in celebration,
The ornaments of victory in celebration,
and the joy of the faith of guidance is renewed.
And joy of the religion of guidance renewed.
سلطانهاher sultan مُعمِلُwielder of العواليthe lofty lances
سلطانها مُعمِلُ العوالي
مُحَمَّدُMuhammad الظافرُthe victorious السعيدْthe fortunate
مُحَمَّدُ الظافرُ السعيدْ
Her sultan wields the lofty lances:
Its sultan the builder of great deeds,
Muhammad, the victorious, the fortunate;
Mohammed the victorious, the fortunate.
ومُخْجِلُand one who shames البدرthe full moon فيin الكمالِperfection
ومُخْجِلُ البدر في الكمالِ
سلطانهاher sultan المجتبىthe chosen الفريدْthe peerless
سلطانها المجتبى الفريدْ
and he puts the full moon to shame in perfection,
The one who embarrasses the full moon in perfection,
her sultan, the chosen, the peerless.
Its sultan the chosen, the unique.
أَصْفَحُmost forgiving مَوْلّىa lord عنof الذنوبِsins
أَصْفَحُ مَوْلّى عن الذنوبِ
أكرمُmost generous عافٍa pardoner إذاwhen قَدرْhe has power
أكرمُ عافٍ إذا قَدرْ
The lord most forgiving of sins,
Turn away, my Master, from sins,
the most generous pardoner when he has power,
Most generous when able.
وشمسُand a sun of هَدْيٍguidance بلاwithout مغيبِsetting
وشمسُ هَدْيٍ بلا مغيبِ
وبحرand a sea of جودٍgenerosity بلاwithout حَسَرْebb
وبحر جودٍ بلا حَسَرْ
and a sun of guidance that never sets,
A sun of guidance without setting,
and a sea of bounty that never ebbs.
An ocean of kindness without ebb.
مَوْلاَيmy lord ياO عاقِدَbinder of البُنُودِthe banners
مَوْلاَي يا عاقِدَ البُنُودِ
تُظَلَّلُare shaded الأَوْجُهَthe faces الصِّبَاحْthe radiant
تُظَلَّلُ الأَوْجُهَ الصِّبَاحْ
My lord, O you who fasten the banners,
My Master, O binder of promises
beneath which the radiant faces are shaded,
You shaded Granada, harbor of lenience.
أَوْحَشْتَyou left desolate ياO نُخبَةَthe choicest of الوجودِexistence
أَوْحَشْتَ يا نُخبَةَ الوجودِ
غرناطةًGranada هالةَthe halo of السَّمَاحْgenerosity
غرناطةً هالةَ السَّمَاحْ
you left desolate, O choicest of creation,
You went with prosperity and fortune,
Granada, the halo of generosity.
And returned with conquest and success.
سافرتَyou traveled باليُمْنِwith good fortune والسُّعُودِand happy auspices
سافرتَ باليُمْنِ والسُّعُودِ
وَعُدْتَand you returned بالفتحِwith conquest والنجاحْand success
وَعُدْتَ بالفتحِ والنجاحْ
You set out with good fortune and happy auspices,
O inspirer of hearts to secrets,
and returned with conquest and success.
And grantor of triumph and victory.
ياO مُلْهَمَone inspired القَلْبِin heart للغيوبِconcerning the unseen
يا مُلْهَمَ القَلْبِ للغيوبِ
ومُطْعَمَand fed on النَّصْرِvictory والظَّفَرْand triumph
ومُطْعَمَ النَّصْرِ والظَّفَرْ
O you whose heart is inspired to know the unseen,
May God soon let me hear you
and who are nourished on victory and triumph,
In safety from travel.
أسمعكmay He let you hear اللهGod عنin قريبِa short while
أسمعك الله عن قريبِ
عَلَىin السَّلامَهْsafety مَعَwith السَّفَرْtravel
عَلَى السَّلامَهْ مَعَ السَّفَرْ
may God soon let you hear:
"May safety attend your journey!"
Partial English translation: 72 of 74 Arabic lines translated.