لمdid not تكنbe هذهthis الحياةlife سوىother than حرwar (opening fragment)
لم تكن هذه الحياة سوى حر
بwar (closing fragment) عوانrenewed, recurrent تخوضهاwage it الأفواجthe throngs
ب عوان تخوضها الأفواج
This life was nothing but a war—
This life was but a raging war
Renewed, waged by the throngs.
That legions traverse ruthlessly
انindeed شرthe worst الحروبwars فيin كلevery عصرage
ان شر الحروب في كل عصر
هوit مالاthat which does not يثورrises فيهin it العجاجthe dust clouds
هو مالا يثور فيه العجاج
Indeed, the worst of wars in every age
For war's evils in every age
Is one in which no dust rises.
Spring from complacent docility
ليسdoes not يجديbenefit الأرضthe earth التيwhich لمdid not يصلreach
ليس يجدي الأرض التي لم يصل
هاit (the earth) النورthe light تواjust now علىagainst السماءthe sky احتجاجa protest
ها النور توا على السماء احتجاج
It does not help the earth, which has not been reached
In vain the land denied the light
By light just yet, to protest against the sky.
Protests against the heavens' tyranny
انماonly بينbetween الشعبthe people والعلمand science والشand poetry (opening fragment)
انما بين الشعب والعلم والش
شِعرpoetry اذاwhen صحتis sound نهضةan awakening اوشاجbonds
شِعر اذا صحت نهضة اوشاج
There are bonds between the people, science, and
Only through people, knowledge, and art
Poetry only when an awakening is sound.
Can renaissance burst forth bounteously
ماnot عجيجthe clamor القريضverse انif ضيمis wronged بدعa novelty
ما عجيج القريض ان ضيم بدع
أيwhat بحرsea ماnot انindeed (reinforcing negation) لهit has امواجwaves
أي بحر ما ان له امواج
The clamor of verse, if wronged, is nothing new;
No raven's cawing if mistreated
What sea has no waves?
Nor sea but has its billows tumultuously