سارٍa night traveler .. يُفَتِّشُsearches بعْضُهُpart of him عنfor كُلِّهِhis whole
سارٍ .. يُفَتِّشُ بعْضُهُ عن كُلِّهِ
وand يلُمُّgathers ماwhat تُوحيreveals نبوءةُthe prophecy لَيْلِهِof his night
و يلُمُّ ما تُوحي نبوءةُ لَيْلِهِ
A night traveler: part of him searches for his whole,
Roaming... Searching for his all with some of him
and gathers what his night's prophecy reveals.
And gathering what his night’s prophecy foretells
مُتَبَتِّلاًdevoted للنفْسِto the self منطلقاًsetting forth بهِاwith it
مُتَبَتِّلاً للنفْسِ منطلقاً بهِا
يجلوreveals صبابةَlonging عاشقٍa lover مُتَأَلِّهِgod-seeking
يجلو صبابةَ عاشقٍ مُتَأَلِّهِ
Devoted to the self, setting forth with it,
With a devoted soul unleashed, clearing the passion of a lovesick one
he reveals the longing of a god-seeking lover.
A fire sparked for him so he said to himself
لاحَتْappeared لهُto him نارٌa fire فقالso he said لنفسِهِto himself
لاحَتْ لهُ نارٌ فقال لنفسِهِ
ماwhat قالَهُhe said it (موسىMoses الكليمُthe one who spoke with God )لأَهْلِهِto his family
ما قالَهُ (موسى الكليمُ )لأَهْلِهِ
A fire appeared to him, and he said to himself
What Moses the Interlocutor said to his family
what Moses, who spoke with God, said to his family.
And walked barefoot to the fire/prophecy
ومشىَand he walked إلىtoward النارthe fire/النبوءةِthe prophecy حافياbarefoot
ومشىَ إلى النار/النبوءةِ حافيا
لتَشُبَّso it might blaze نارُthe fire الانتظارِof waiting بنَعْلِهِin his sandal
لتَشُبَّ نارُ الانتظارِ بنَعْلِهِ
And he walked barefoot toward the fire—the prophecy—
So that the fire of waiting would be kindled by his shoes
so the fire of waiting might blaze in his sandal.
And he saw the beauty, God's poem
ورأىand he saw الجمالَbeauty قصيدةَa poem اللهGod التيwhich
ورأى الجمالَ قصيدةَ الله التي
منfor أَجْلِهاَits sake بَدَأَتْbegan متاهةُthe labyrinth رُسْلِهِof His messengers
من أَجْلِهاَ بَدَأَتْ متاهةُ رُسْلِهِ
He saw beauty as God's poem, for which
For which His messengers'erring had begun
the labyrinth of His messengers began.
So he walked the paths of erring...seeing
فمضَىso he went on علىon طُرُقِthe paths المتاهةِof the labyrinth.. لاnot تَرَىyou see
فمضَى على طُرُقِ المتاهةِ.. لا تَرَى
غيرَexcept القوافيthe rhymes يضطربنَthey stir برَحْلِهِin his saddle
غيرَ القوافي يضطربنَ برَحْلِهِ
He went on along the labyrinth's paths; you see
Nothing but the rhymes troubled by his mount
nothing but rhymes stirring in his saddle.
Roaming like the friend when the dawn of recollection shone
ساهٍdistracted كماas يسهوis distracted الخليلُal-Khalil, the intimate friend إذاwhen صَحَتْawoke
ساهٍ كما يسهو الخليلُ إذا صَحَتْ
إشراقةُthe radiance الذكرَىof memory فحَنَّso he yearned لخِلِّهِfor his friend
إشراقةُ الذكرَى فحَنَّ لخِلِّهِ
Distracted, as al-Khalil is distracted when
And he yearned for his friend
memory's radiance wakes, and he yearns for his friend.
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From the heart of the palm grove his eyes blazed:
منfrom قلبِthe heart محفظةِthe pouch النخيلِof the palms تَوَهَّجَتْglowed
من قلبِ محفظةِ النخيلِ تَوَهَّجَتْ
عيناهُhis two eyes : عنوانُthe emblem (العراقِof Iraq) ونَخْلِهِand its palms
عيناهُ : عنوانُ (العراقِ) ونَخْلِهِ
From the heart of the palms' pouch there glowed
The title “Iraq” and its palms
his eyes: the emblem of Iraq and its palms.
And fate clad him in black as if
وكساَand cloaked مصائرَهُhis destinies السَّوادُblackness كأنَّماas though
وكساَ مصائرَهُ السَّوادُ كأنَّما
تلكthose المصائرُdestinies حفنةٌa handful منof كُحْلِهِhis kohl
تلك المصائرُ حفنةٌ من كُحْلِهِ
Blackness cloaked his destinies, as though
That fate was a handful of his kohl
those destinies were a handful of his kohl.
He carded the departure and dressed the innocence of steps
غَزَلَhe spun الرحيلَdeparture وأَلْبَسَand clothed البَرَّthe land الخُطَىfootsteps
غَزَلَ الرحيلَ وأَلْبَسَ البَرَّ الخُطَى
فسَرَتْso traveled خُطاَهُhis footsteps وماand not غَدَرْنَwere treacherous بِغَزْلِهِto his spun thread
فسَرَتْ خُطاَهُ وما غَدَرْنَ بِغَزْلِهِ
He spun departure and clothed the land in footsteps;
So his steps flowed and did not betray his carding
his footsteps traveled on, never betraying his spun thread.
In a strangerhood, he and the horse..for so long
فيin غربةٍexile هُوَhe والحصانُand the horse.. فطالماfor often
في غربةٍ هُوَ والحصانُ.. فطالما
شَعَرَfelt الحصانُthe horse بغربةٍa sense of estrangement فيon تَلِّهِits hill
شَعَرَ الحصانُ بغربةٍ في تَلِّهِ
In exile, he and the horse—for often
The horse felt a strangerhood in its foal
the horse had felt estranged upon its hill.
The sands clamored upon a swarthy overturning
صَحَتِawoke الرِّمالُthe sands علىto انقلابٍa revolution أسمرٍbrown-skinned
صَحَتِ الرِّمالُ على انقلابٍ أسمرٍ
تَتَحَدَّثُspeak الفصحَىClassical Arabic حماحمُthe neighs خَيْلِهِof his horses
تَتَحَدَّثُ الفصحَى حماحمُ خَيْلِهِ
The sands awoke to a brown-skinned revolution;
Speaking eloquent the snorts of his horses
his horses' neighs speak Classical Arabic.
The desert glimpsed him in the form of a knight
لَمَحَتْglimpsed بهِin him الصحراءُthe desert هيأةَthe form فارسٍof a knight
لَمَحَتْ بهِ الصحراءُ هيأةَ فارسٍ
عَبَرَcrossed الجحيمَhell وجاءَهاand came to her منfrom هَوْلِهِits horror
عَبَرَ الجحيمَ وجاءَها من هَوْلِهِ
The desert glimpsed in him the form of a knight
Who crossed hell and came from its horror
who crossed hell and came to her from its horror.
Marching in the shadow of kings..and when
ينقادُsubmits فيin ظِلِّthe shadow الملوكِof kings.. وحينماand when
ينقادُ في ظِلِّ الملوكِ.. وحينما
دَنَتِdrew near الحقيقةُtruth قادَهُمْhe led them فيin ظِلِّهِhis shadow
دَنَتِ الحقيقةُ قادَهُمْ في ظِلِّهِ
He submits in the shadow of kings; and when
The truth approached, they marched in his shadow
truth drew near, he led them in his shadow.
His poems blazed..and each poem
جمَحَتْran wild قصائدُهُhis poems .. وكلُّand every قصيدةٍpoem
جمَحَتْ قصائدُهُ .. وكلُّ قصيدةٍ
تستنفرُsummons التاريخَhistory منfrom إِسْطَبْلِهِits stable
تستنفرُ التاريخَ من إِسْطَبْلِهِ
His poems ran wild, and every poem
Musters history from its stable
summons history from its stable.
With the awe of the storm..he brandished
فيin هيبةِthe majesty الإعصارِof the hurricane .. سَلَّhe drew علىacross المدَىthe expanse
في هيبةِ الإعصارِ .. سَلَّ على المدَى
سيفَthe sword الهبوبِof the blowing wind وشَقَّand split مِعْدَةَthe belly رَمْلِهِof its sand
سيفَ الهبوبِ وشَقَّ مِعْدَةَ رَمْلِهِ
With a hurricane's majesty, he drew across the expanse
The sword of gusts and split the belly of sand
the sword of the wind and split the belly of its sand.
Never ceasing to raid time and whenever
ماnot انفكَّceased يقتحمُstorms الزمانَtime وكلَّماand whenever
ما انفكَّ يقتحمُ الزمانَ وكلَّما
مَدَّextended الخُطَىthe strides رَكَلَhe kicked السنينَthe years بِرِجْلِهِwith his foot
مَدَّ الخُطَى رَكَلَ السنينَ بِرِجْلِهِ
He never ceased storming time, and whenever
He extended his steps, he kicked the years with his foot
he lengthened his stride, he kicked the years with his foot.
A specter in the artery of eternity traveling
شبحٌa specter بشريانِin the artery الخلودِof immortality مسافرٌtraveling
شبحٌ بشريانِ الخلودِ مسافرٌ
أبداًforever يُقصِّرُshortens منfrom مسافةِthe distance جَهْلِهِof his ignorance
أبداً يُقصِّرُ من مسافةِ جَهْلِهِ
A specter, traveling through immortality's artery,
Ever shortening from the distance of ignorance
forever shortening the distance of his ignorance.
He is like the orbit a never-ending tale
هُوَhe كالمدارِlike an orbit حكايةٌa tale لاnot تنتهيends
هُوَ كالمدارِ حكايةٌ لا تنتهي
والفصلُand the chapter فيهاin it لاnot يعودُreturns لأَصْلِهِto its origin
والفصلُ فيها لا يعودُ لأَصْلِهِ
Like an orbit, he is a tale without end,
Whose chapter does not return to its origin
whose chapter never returns to its origin.
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How the archers lurked behind their arrows
كَمَنَlay in wait الرُّماَةُthe archers لهُfor him وراءَbehind نبالهِمْtheir arrows
كَمَنَ الرُّماَةُ لهُ وراءَ نبالهِمْ
كلٌّeach يُعَلِّقُhangs تُهْمَتَيْنِtwo accusations بِنَبْلِهِon his arrows
كلٌّ يُعَلِّقُ تُهْمَتَيْنِ بِنَبْلِهِ
The archers lay in wait for him behind their arrows,
Each hanging two accusations on his arrow
each hanging two accusations on his arrows.
They lurked for him in the bow..the bow of their darkness..
كَمَنواthey lay in wait لهُfor him فيin القوسِthe bow.. قوسِthe bow ظلامِهِمof their darkness..
كَمَنوا لهُ في القوسِ.. قوسِ ظلامِهِم..
فافترَّthen he smiled عنto reveal سهمٍan arrow يضيءُshining بنَصْلِهِwith its point
فافترَّ عن سهمٍ يضيءُ بنَصْلِهِ
They lay in wait for him within the bow—the bow of their darkness—
So he loosened an illuminating arrow from its notch
then he smiled, revealing an arrow aglow at its point.
Whenever he extended the rope of his vision in the horizon of visions
ماnot مَدَّstretched حبلَthe cord رُؤاَهُof his visions فيin أُفُقِthe horizon الرُّؤَىof visions
ما مَدَّ حبلَ رُؤاَهُ في أُفُقِ الرُّؤَى
إلاexcept وأَلْفُand a thousand طريدةٍquarry فيin حَبْلِهِhis snare
إلا وأَلْفُ طريدةٍ في حَبْلِهِ
He never stretched his visions' cord along the horizon of visions
A thousand prey were on his rope
without a thousand quarry caught in his snare.
His sieve filtered the letters leaving
غربالُهُhis sieve نَخَلَsifted الحروفَthe letters فلمso did not يَدَعْleave
غربالُهُ نَخَلَ الحروفَ فلم يَدَعْ
حرفاًa letter يُكَلِّفُهُburdens him النَّشازُdiscord بِحَمْلِهِwith bearing it
حرفاً يُكَلِّفُهُ النَّشازُ بِحَمْلِهِ
His sieve sifted the letters and left
No letter that ornamentation burdens with its load
no letter whose discord would burden him with bearing it.
The splendor of what his hands shook with a feather
نشوانُenraptured ماnot ارْتجفَتْtrembled يداهُhis two hands برِيشَةٍwith a quill
نشوانُ ما ارْتجفَتْ يداهُ برِيشَةٍ
إلاexcept كماas ارتجفَtrembled الصباحُmorning بِطَلِّهِwith its dew
إلا كما ارتجفَ الصباحُ بِطَلِّهِ
Enraptured, his hands never trembled with a quill
Like the dawn shook with its first light
except as morning trembles with its dew.
He takes the vision in the midst of sorrow
يَتَأَبَّطُcarries under his arm الرُّؤياَthe vision بمنتصفat the midpoint الأسَىof sorrow
يَتَأَبَّطُ الرُّؤياَ بمنتصف الأسَى
بينbetween اعتزالِthe withdrawal الفيلسوفِof the philosopher وعَزْلِهِand his banishment
بين اعتزالِ الفيلسوفِ وعَزْلِهِ
He carries the vision under his arm at sorrow's midpoint,
Between the recluse of the philosopher and his isolation
between the philosopher's withdrawal and his banishment.
Whenever he delved into the unknown realm only to return
ماnot غاصَplunged فيinto الملكوتِthe heavenly realm إلاexcept عائداًreturning
ما غاصَ في الملكوتِ إلا عائداً
للذَّاتِto the self ينقشُengraves شكلَهاits shape فيwithin شَكْلِهِhis shape
للذَّاتِ ينقشُ شكلَها في شَكْلِهِ
He never plunged into the heavenly realm except to return
To the self to carve its image into his own
to the self, engraving its shape within his own.
He struck the soil with the palm of the language that
ضَرَبَstruck الترابَthe dust براحةِwith the palm اللغةِof language التيwhich
ضَرَبَ الترابَ براحةِ اللغةِ التي
كَشَفَتْrevealed علىupon الرُّؤْياَthe vision ملامحَthe features فَأْلِهِof his omen
كَشَفَتْ على الرُّؤْياَ ملامحَ فَأْلِهِ
He struck the dust with the palm of the language that
Revealed the vision’s features with its divination
unveiled upon the vision the features of his omen.
So he saw all kinds of fates
فرَأَىso he saw منof الأقدارِthe fates كلَّevery صنوفِهاkind of them
فرَأَى من الأقدارِ كلَّ صنوفِها
وأشاحَand turned away عنfrom قَدَرٍa fate ينمُّhinting بقَتْلِهِat his killing
وأشاحَ عن قَدَرٍ ينمُّ بقَتْلِهِ
He saw every kind of fate,
And turned away from a fate that grows by his murder
and turned away from a fate that hinted at his killing.
Will poetry his beloved betray him..and who saw
أَيَخُونُهُwould it betray him? الشِّعرُpoetry الحبيبُbeloved.. ومَنْand who رَأَىhas seen
أَيَخُونُهُ الشِّعرُ الحبيبُ.. ومَنْ رَأَى
عَسَلاًhoney تَوَرَّطَbecame entangled فيin خيانةِthe betrayal نَحْلِهِof its bees ؟!
عَسَلاً تَوَرَّطَ في خيانةِ نَحْلِهِ ؟!
Would beloved poetry betray him—and who has seen
Honey embroiled in the betrayal of its bees?!
honey entangled in betraying its bees?!
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The world whispered to him in a lover's voice:
همَسَتْwhispered لهُto him الدنياthe world بصوتِin the voice حبيبةٍof a beloved woman :
همَسَتْ لهُ الدنيا بصوتِ حبيبةٍ :
كُتِبَwas prescribed الهوَىlove فَرْضاًas a duty عليكَupon you فَصَلِّهِso pray it
كُتِبَ الهوَى فَرْضاً عليكَ فَصَلِّهِ
The world whispered to him in a beloved woman's voice:
Loving is ordained upon you so perform its rite
Love was ordained a duty upon you: perform its prayer.
So he chose the water for his ablution from a stream
فاختارَso he chose ماءَthe water وضوئِهِof his ablution منfrom جدولٍa stream
فاختارَ ماءَ وضوئِهِ من جدولٍ
تَقِفُstands الحياةُlife علىon شواطئِthe shores غُسْلِهِof his ritual bath
تَقِفُ الحياةُ على شواطئِ غُسْلِهِ
So he chose his ablution water from a stream;
Where life stands on the banks of its washing
life stands on the shores of his bathing.
And there a bride trailing her gown
فإذاand behold عروسٌa bride ذَيَّلَتْtrimmed فستانَهاher gown
فإذا عروسٌ ذَيَّلَتْ فستانَها
بالمغرياتِwith temptations وغازَلَتْهُand wooed him بذَيْلِهِwith its train
بالمغرياتِ وغازَلَتْهُ بذَيْلِهِ
And behold, a bride had trimmed her gown
With temptations and flirting with its train
with temptations, and wooed him with its train.
So he approached and leaned upon the bride with desire
فدَناَso he drew near ومالand leaned علىtoward العروسِthe bride برغبةٍwith desire
فدَناَ ومال على العروسِ برغبةٍ
لمdid not تَرْضَbe content منfrom ذاكthat الرداءِrobe بفَضْلِهِwith its remnants
لم تَرْضَ من ذاك الرداءِ بفَضْلِهِ
He drew close and leaned toward the bride with a desire
That gown did not please with its excess
not content with the remnants of that robe.
He seized life with all its adornments that
خَطَفَseized الحياةَlife بكلِّwith all زينتِهاits adornment التيwhich
خَطَفَ الحياةَ بكلِّ زينتِها التي
تزهوshines، وأكملَهاand perfected it بزينةِwith the adornment قَوْلِهِof his words
تزهو، وأكملَها بزينةِ قَوْلِهِ
He seized life with all its adornment, which
Glows, and perfected it with the adornment of his words
shines, and perfected it with the adornment of his words.
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A guest upon an era dyed with decay
ضيفٌa guest علىupon العصرthe age المُخَضَّبِstained بالرَّدَىwith death
ضيفٌ على العصر المُخَضَّبِ بالرَّدَى
منذsince الحروبthe wars تناسَلَتْmultiplied فيin نَسْلِهِits offspring
منذ الحروب تناسَلَتْ في نَسْلِهِ
A guest in an age stained with death,
Since wars bred in its lineage
since wars multiplied within its offspring.
His cloak weighed upon him as if
ثَقُلَتْgrew heavy عباءتُهُhis cloak عليهِupon him كأنَّهاas though it
ثَقُلَتْ عباءتُهُ عليهِ كأنَّها
حمَلَتْbore منof التاريخhistory كاملَthe whole ثِقْلِهِof its weight
حمَلَتْ من التاريخ كاملَ ثِقْلِهِ
His cloak weighed heavily on him, as though
It carried the whole weight of history
it bore the whole weight of history.
The stranger leaned on his staff so
مالleaned الغريبُthe stranger علىupon عصاهُhis staff فأَوْرَقَتْand put forth leaves
مال الغريبُ على عصاهُ فأَوْرَقَتْ
فيهاwithin it الصبابةُlonging لاحتضانةِto embrace مَيْلِهِhis leaning
فيها الصبابةُ لاحتضانةِ مَيْلِهِ
The stranger leaned upon his staff, and there leafed out
Vitality hugged his inclination
within it the longing to embrace his leaning.
And he went fortifying his era with traits
ومضَىand went on يُحَصِّنُfortifies عصرَهُhis age بشمائلٍwith virtues
ومضَى يُحَصِّنُ عصرَهُ بشمائلٍ
أضفَىbestowed عليهاupon them الشِّعرُpoetry شيمةَthe trait نُبْلِهِof his nobility
أضفَى عليها الشِّعرُ شيمةَ نُبْلِهِ
He went on fortifying his age with virtues
Poetry endowed with the valor of nobility
to which poetry imparted the trait of his nobility.
In the soil of words he deepened his tillage
فيin تربةِthe soil الكلماتِof words عَمَّقَdeepened حَرْثَهُhis plowing
في تربةِ الكلماتِ عَمَّقَ حَرْثَهُ
فتَنَزَّهَتْso strolled كلُّall العصورِthe ages بِحَقْلِهِthrough his field
فتَنَزَّهَتْ كلُّ العصورِ بِحَقْلِهِ
In the soil of words he deepened his plowing,
So all eras flourished through his field
and all the ages strolled through his field.
There he dwells amidst flowers never
هوhe ذاكthat one يسكنُdwells فيamong الزُّهورِthe flowers فلمso did not يزلْcease
هو ذاك يسكنُ في الزُّهورِ فلم يزلْ
ماadverbial particle بينbetween زنبقِهِhis lilies يتيهُwanders، وفُلِّهِand his Arabian jasmine
ما بين زنبقِهِ يتيهُ، وفُلِّهِ
There he is, dwelling among flowers; he still
Ceasing to wander between his lily and his rose
wanders, lost, between his lilies and his Arabian jasmine.
A universe gleamed in the features of a being
كونٌa universe تَأَلَّقَshone فيin ملامحِthe features كائنٍof a being
كونٌ تَأَلَّقَ في ملامحِ كائنٍ
وتَهَتَّكَتْand were torn apart فيهِwithin him عناصرُthe elements وَحْلِهِof his mud
وتَهَتَّكَتْ فيهِ عناصرُ وَحْلِهِ
A universe shone in a being's features,
And its elements melted into his solution
and within him the elements of his mud were torn apart.
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Oh you who burns words into a talisman
ياO حارقَburner الكلماتِof words فيin تعويذةٍan incantation
يا حارقَ الكلماتِ في تعويذةٍ
نَشَرَتْspread بَخُورَthe incense حروفِهاof its letters مِنْfrom حَوْلِهِaround him
نَشَرَتْ بَخُورَ حروفِها مِنْ حَوْلِهِ
O burner of words in an incantation
Whose letter's incense spread around it
that spread the incense of its letters around him,
In poetry existence celebrates the tale of the -
فيin الشِّعرِpoetry يحتفلُcelebrates الوجودُexistence بقِصَّةِwith the story الthe−
في الشِّعرِ يحتفلُ الوجودُ بقِصَّةِ ال−
تكوينِcreation.. فادخلْso enter بيwith me مجَرَّةَthe galaxy حَفْلِهِof its celebration
تكوينِ.. فادخلْ بي مجَرَّةَ حَفْلِهِ
in poetry, existence celebrates the story of the
Genesis..so enter into the galaxy of its feast
creation; take me into the galaxy of its celebration.
For (I) is like (You)..I grew tired of my futility
فfor (أناI) كَlike(أنتَyou).. تعبتُI have wearied منof عَبَثِيَّتيmy absurdity
ف (أنا) كَ(أنتَ).. تعبتُ من عَبَثِيَّتي
فيin فَهْمِunderstanding مفتاحthe key الوجودِof existence وقُفْلِهِand its lock
في فَهْمِ مفتاح الوجودِ وقُفْلِهِ
For I, like you, have wearied of my absurdity
In understanding the key to existence and its lock
in grasping existence's key and lock.
And I returned to reap the grass of your disappointment that
ورجعتُand I returned أحصدُI reap عُشْبَthe grass خيبتِكَof your disappointment الذيwhich
ورجعتُ أحصدُ عُشْبَ خيبتِكَ الذي
ماnot انفكَّceased يُغريtempts المبدعينcreators بأَكْلِهِto eat it
ما انفكَّ يُغري المبدعين بأَكْلِهِ
And I returned to reap the grass of your disappointment, which
Never ceased to tempt creators to eat it
never ceases tempting creators to eat it.
Indeed madness, when it saw you as its father
إنَّindeed الجنونَmadness وقدand already رآكَhas seen you أَباًa father لهُto it
إنَّ الجنونَ وقد رآكَ أَباً لهُ
ماnot زالceased يمنحُنيgrants me هُوِيَّةَthe identity نَجْلِهِof its son
ما زال يمنحُني هُوِيَّةَ نَجْلِهِ
Madness, having seen you as its father,
Still grants me the identity of its son
still grants me the identity of its son.
Misery to manhood if it compromises its conscience
بئسَwretched is الرجولةُmanhood إِذْwhen تهادنُmakes peace with وَعْيَهاits consciousness
بئسَ الرجولةُ إِذْ تهادنُ وَعْيَها
وتضيقُand chafes بالنَّزَقِat rashness الشَّقِيِّmischievous وطِفْلِهِand its child !!
وتضيقُ بالنَّزَقِ الشَّقِيِّ وطِفْلِهِ !!
Wretched is manhood when it makes peace with its consciousness
And is troubled by the wretched and his child!!
and chafes at mischievous rashness and its child!
So I am the wanderer in the abyss’ erring
فأناfor I المشرَّدُthe outcast فيin متاهةِthe labyrinth فجوةٍof a gap
فأنا المشرَّدُ في متاهةِ فجوةٍ
بينbetween انفعالِthe agitation دميof my blood وقِلَّةِand the paucity فِعْلِهِof its action
بين انفعالِ دمي وقِلَّةِ فِعْلِهِ
For I am the outcast in the labyrinth of a gap
Between the passion of my blood and the lack of its action
between my blood's agitation and its paucity of action.
Perplexed, pricked by suspicion whenever
حيرانbewildered يلدغُنيstings me التَّوَجُّسُapprehension كلَّماwhenever
حيران يلدغُني التَّوَجُّسُ كلَّما
فيin خاطريmy mind دَبَّتْcrept قوافلُthe caravans نَمْلِهِof its ants
في خاطري دَبَّتْ قوافلُ نَمْلِهِ
Bewildered, apprehension stings me whenever
Caravans of its ants crept into my mind
caravans of its ants creep through my thoughts.
My tune an echo's extension of a fallen fetus
نغميmy melody امتدادُthe prolongation صدَىof an echo جنينٍof a fetus ساقطٍfallen
نغمي امتدادُ صدَى جنينٍ ساقطٍ
عنfrom عرشِهِits throne السِّريِّsecret ساعةَat the hour فَصْلِهِof its separation
عن عرشِهِ السِّريِّ ساعةَ فَصْلِهِ
My melody prolongs the echo of a fetus fallen
From its secret throne when it was severed
from its secret throne at the hour of its separation.
Never ceasing to fascinate me is the question so it led me
ماnot انفكَّceased يفتنُنيenchants me السؤالُthe question فقادَنيso it led me
ما انفكَّ يفتنُني السؤالُ فقادَني
كlike(السَّامريِّal-Samiri) إلىto عبادةِthe worship (عِجْلِهِof his calf)ِ :
ك(السَّامريِّ) إلى عبادةِ (عِجْلِهِ)ِ :
The question never ceased enchanting me, and led me,
Like (the Samaritan) to worship his (calf)
like al-Samiri, to worship his calf:
Which of the obsessions in the unknown did you appoint
أيُّwhich الهواجسِobsessions فيin الغيوبِthe unseen نَصَبْتَهُyou set it up
أيُّ الهواجسِ في الغيوبِ نَصَبْتَهُ
فظَفِرْتَso you captured منfrom جَبَلِthe mountain الغيوبِof the unseen بwith(وَعْلِهِits ibex)؟!
فظَفِرْتَ من جَبَلِ الغيوبِ ب(وَعْلِهِ)؟!
Which obsession did you set up in the unseen,
And grasp from the mountain of the unknown its (deity)?!
and so capture the ibex from the mountain of the unseen?!
Which of the obsessions in rhetoric did you inseminate
أيُّwhich الهواجسِobsessions فيinto البيانِeloquence حَقَنْتَهُyou injected it
أيُّ الهواجسِ في البيانِ حَقَنْتَهُ
فوَقاَكَso it shielded you منfrom جَرَبِthe scabies الزمانِof time وسُلِّهِand its consumption ؟!
فوَقاَكَ من جَرَبِ الزمانِ وسُلِّهِ ؟!
Which obsession did you inject into eloquence,
And escape the grasp of time and its smoothness?!
so it shielded you from time's scabies and consumption?!
Which of the obsessions - since a thousand griefs -
أيُّwhich الهواجسِobsessions − منذُsince ألفِa thousand فجيعةٍa calamity −
أيُّ الهواجسِ − منذُ ألفِ فجيعةٍ −
ماnot زالceased باسمِكَin your name ممعناًpersisting فيin شُغْلِهِits work ؟!
ما زال باسمِكَ ممعناً في شُغْلِهِ ؟!
Which obsession—since a thousand calamities—
Remained dedicated in your name to its occupation?!
still persists in its work in your name?!
Heading to the utmost beauty and the horizon−
ماضٍpressing on إلىtoward أقصَىthe farthest الجَماَلِbeauty ومنتهَىand the utmost reach−
ماضٍ إلى أقصَى الجَماَلِ ومنتهَى−
لُغَةٍa language يغازلهُاwoos it الجمالُbeauty بوَصْلِهِwith its embrace
لُغَةٍ يغازلهُا الجمالُ بوَصْلِهِ
Pressing toward beauty's farthest bounds and the utmost reach
Of a language courted by beauty through its connection
of a language that beauty woos with its embrace.
The question leaps at your call whenever
يَثِبُleaps السؤالُthe question علىat ندائِكَyour call كلَّماwhenever
يَثِبُ السؤالُ على ندائِكَ كلَّما
بَرَكَknelt السؤالُthe question علىat مرابضِthe resting places حَلِّهِof its solution
بَرَكَ السؤالُ على مرابضِ حَلِّهِ
The question leaps at your call whenever
The question mounted the saddle of its solution
the question kneels at the resting places of its solution.
And meaning experiences you the fertility of a season
ويَعِيشُكَand experiences you المعنَىmeaning خصوبةَthe fertility موسمٍof a season
ويَعِيشُكَ المعنَى خصوبةَ موسمٍ
ماadverbial particle بينbetween تَرْحاَلِthe roaming الخيالِof imagination وحِلِّهِand its settling
ما بين تَرْحاَلِ الخيالِ وحِلِّهِ
And meaning experiences you as a season's fertility,
Between the wandering of imagination and its conception
between imagination's roaming and its settling.
And the sand seeks its identity that
والرملُand the sand يبحثُsearches عنfor هُوِيَّتِهِits identity التيwhose
والرملُ يبحثُ عن هُوِيَّتِهِ التي
قَضَمَتْgnawed ملامحَهاits features براثنُthe claws مَحْلِهِof its drought
قَضَمَتْ ملامحَها براثنُ مَحْلِهِ
The sand searches for its identity, whose
Was gnawed by the fangs of its haven
features were gnawed away by the claws of its drought.
So you gathered around you a nation of letters
فجَمَعْتَso you gathered حَوْلَكَaround you أُمَّةًa nation منof أَحْرُفٍletters
فجَمَعْتَ حَوْلَكَ أُمَّةً من أَحْرُفٍ
أَرْكَبْتَهاَyou mounted them فيin الحِبْرِthe ink صهوةَthe back سَيْلِهِof its torrent
أَرْكَبْتَهاَ في الحِبْرِ صهوةَ سَيْلِهِ
So you gathered around you a nation of letters
You rode in ink the bravery of its flood
and, in the ink, mounted them on the back of its torrent.
And you went invading the map dreaming
ومضيتَand you went on تجتاحُsweeping across الخريطةَthe map حالماًdreaming
ومضيتَ تجتاحُ الخريطةَ حالماً
أنْthat يستعيدَregain الرملُthe sand لَمَّةَthe gathering شَمْلِهِof its scattered parts
أنْ يستعيدَ الرملُ لَمَّةَ شَمْلِهِ
And you went on sweeping across the map, dreaming
That the sand reclaims the touch of its embrace
that the sand might regain its gathered unity.
But the desert was harsh to you with its embers
فإذاand whenever الفلاةُthe wilderness قَسَتْwas harsh عليكَto you بِجَمْرِهاwith its embers
فإذا الفلاةُ قَسَتْ عليكَ بِجَمْرِها
آوَيْتَyou took refuge للمعنَىin meaning تُنِيخُyou encamp بِظِلِّهِin its shade !
آوَيْتَ للمعنَى تُنِيخُ بِظِلِّهِ !
And whenever the wilderness was harsh to you with its embers,
So for meaning you provided shade with your shadow!
you took refuge in meaning, encamping in its shade!
Lighten upon yourself the dream’s weight of a poem..
خَفِّفْlighten عليكَupon yourself الحُلْمَthe dream ثِقْلَthe weight قصيدةٍof a poem ..
خَفِّفْ عليكَ الحُلْمَ ثِقْلَ قصيدةٍ ..
كمhow كانwas حُلْمُكَyour dream مُفْرِطاًexcessive فيin ثِقْلِهِits weight !
كم كان حُلْمُكَ مُفْرِطاً في ثِقْلِهِ !
Lighten your dream to the weight of a poem;
How excessive your dream was in its weight!
how excessive your dream was in its weight!
The horses of Rome failed you so they did not tread
عَجِزَتْwere powerless خيولُthe horses (الرُّومِof the Byzantines) عنكagainst you فلمso did not تَطَأْtread
عَجِزَتْ خيولُ (الرُّومِ) عنك فلم تَطَأْ
مأواكَyour refuge فيin جَبَلِthe mountain البيانِof eloquence وسَهْلِهِand its plain
مأواكَ في جَبَلِ البيانِ وسَهْلِهِ
The horses of the Byzantines were powerless against you; they never trod
Your haven in the mountain of rhetoric and its plain
your refuge in eloquence's mountain and its plain.
And a dagger attacked you from your cousin’s fist
وغَزاَكَand assailed you منfrom كفِّthe palm (ابنِthe son عَمِّكَof your paternal uncle) خنجرٌa dagger
وغَزاَكَ من كفِّ (ابنِ عَمِّكَ) خنجرٌ
سكرانُdrunken ماnot طُعِنَwas stabbed الوفاءُloyalty بمِثْلِهِwith its like
سكرانُ ما طُعِنَ الوفاءُ بمِثْلِهِ
And a dagger from your cousin's palm assailed you,
Drunk when loyalty was never stabbed with its like
drunken—never was loyalty stabbed with its like.
It is another riddah whose mirage arose
هِيَit (رِدَّةٌan apostasy)أخرَىanother أفاقَawoke سرابُهاits mirage
هِيَ (رِدَّةٌ)أخرَى أفاقَ سرابُها
فإذاand behold (مُسَيْلِمَةٌMusaylima) يَهِمُّis about to بِنهْلِهِdrink from it
فإذا (مُسَيْلِمَةٌ) يَهِمُّ بِنهْلِهِ
It is another apostasy; its mirage has awoken,
And there a Musaylimah eager with his sword
and behold, Musaylima is about to drink from it.
And the fraud pounding the hearing of space
وإذاand behold الدَّوِيُّthe din يصكُّstrikes أسماعَthe ears المدَىof the expanse
وإذا الدَّوِيُّ يصكُّ أسماعَ المدَى
منfrom كلِّevery (مُرْتَدٍّapostate) يَدُقُّbeats بطَبْلِهِon his drum
من كلِّ (مُرْتَدٍّ) يَدُقُّ بطَبْلِهِ
And behold, the din strikes the ears of the expanse,
From every apostate beating his drum
from every apostate beating his drum.
They killed you so the story gives birth to itself
قَتَلُوكَthey killed you كيso that تَلِدَgive birth الحكايةُthe tale نَفْسَهاto itself
قَتَلُوكَ كي تَلِدَ الحكايةُ نَفْسَها
وصدَىand the echo الهديرِof the roar يعيدُretells قِصَّةَthe story فَحْلِهِof its stallion !
وصدَى الهديرِ يعيدُ قِصَّةَ فَحْلِهِ !
They killed you so the tale would give birth to itself,
And the echo of the hubbub repeats the tale of its stallion!
and the echo of the roar retells the story of its stallion!
Partial English translation: 143 of 144 Arabic lines translated.