أباO father of الشعرِpoetry قُلْsay ماwhat يُعجبdelights الابنَthe son والأباand the father
أبا الشعرِ قُلْ ما يُعجب الابنَ والأبا
وهلand is there لكfor you إلاanything but أنto تقولyou speak فتُعجِباand thus delight ؟
وهل لك إلا أن تقول فتُعجِبا ؟
O father of poetry, say what delights both son and father.
O father of poetry, say what delights the son and father,
And what choice have you but to speak and delight?
And what else can you say to please them both?
وهلand is there لكfor you والدنياwhile the world تُغنّيsings بمولدٍat a birth
وهل لك والدنيا تُغنّي بمولدٍ
لof " تموزTammuz " إلاanything but أنto تُغنيyou sing فتُطرباand thus enchant ؟
ل " تموز " إلا أن تُغني فتُطربا ؟
And can you, while the world sings at the birth
And as this world sings a melody for July's birth,
Of Tammuz, do anything but sing and enchant?
What else can you sing to make them joyful?
وهلand is there لكfor you عُذرٌan excuse والقوافيwhile the rhymes تُحيلُهاyou transform them
وهل لك عُذرٌ والقوافي تُحيلُها
متىwhenever شئتَyou wish " قيثاراًinto a lyre " وand " ناياًa flute " مُشبِّباserenading ؟
متى شئتَ " قيثاراً " و " ناياً " مُشبِّبا ؟
And have you any excuse, when you transform the rhymes,
And if rhymes allow you, whenever you wish, to make
Whenever you wish, into a lyre and a serenading flute?
A “guitar” and “flute” weep, what excuse do you have?
أباO father of الشعرpoetry ياO منyou who عانقَembraced الأرضthe earth زهرةًas a blossom
أبا الشعر يا من عانقَ الأرض زهرةً
وشوكاًand thorns فردّتهso it made him أديماًa hide مُخضَّباdyed red
وشوكاً فردّته أديماً مُخضَّبا
O father of poetry, you who embraced the earth as blossom
O father of poetry, you who embraced the earth like a flower,
And thorn, and it left him a hide stained red;
And it pricked you with thorns, leaving you blood-stained.
وياand O منyou whom تَبَنّاهadopted him " التمرُّدُrebellion " يافعاًas a youth
ويا من تَبَنّاه " التمرُّدُ " يافعاً
وكهلاًand in middle age، ومنand you who ناغىcooed to التمردrebellion أشيباgray-haired
وكهلاً، ومن ناغى التمرد أشيبا
And you whom rebellion adopted as a youth
And you, whom “rebellion” adopted in your youth,
And in middle age, who cooed to rebellion when gray-haired:
And in your old age, though you lamented rebellion.
تَغَنَّsing بof " تموزٍTammuz " فتَموّزfor Tammuz ماردٌa giant
تَغَنَّ ب " تموزٍ " فتَموّز ماردٌ
تخطّىoutstripped عقيماتِthe barren ones of العصورthe ages وأتعباand wearied
تخطّى عقيماتِ العصور وأتعبا
Sing of Tammuz, for Tammuz is a giant
Sing of “July” so a defiant July arises,
Who outstripped the barren ages and wore them out.
Surpassing the barrenness of ages, exhausting them.
تمادَىdragged on بهwith him جَدْبُthe barrenness of اللياليthe nights ليُخصِباso he might grow fruitful
تمادَى به جَدْبُ الليالي ليُخصِبا
وطالand lasted long بهwith him عُسرُthe hardship of المخاضِlabor ليُنجِباso he might bring forth
وطال به عُسرُ المخاضِ ليُنجِبا
The barrenness of nights dragged on with him, that he might grow fruitful,
Prolonging with it the drought of nights to fertilize them,
And the hardship of labor lasted long, that he might bring forth.
And with it the hardship of labor to give birth.
وجاءَتْand came بهwith him منfrom مشرقthe east of الأرضthe earth غمرةٌan overwhelming surge
وجاءَتْ به من مشرق الأرض غمرةٌ
عصوفٌtempestuous لتستذريso it might seek shelter بهin him الشمسُthe sun مَغرِباin the west
عصوفٌ لتستذري به الشمسُ مَغرِبا
And an overwhelming surge brought him from the earth's east,
And with it came from the east a flood,
Tempestuous, so the sun might shelter behind him in the west,
Clouds to borrow the setting sun's light.
تُنصِّبُraises up " عملاقاًa giant " عليهupon him مَخايلٌsigns
تُنصِّبُ " عملاقاً " عليه مَخايلٌ
تُزكِّيهvouch for him فيat " العشرينtwenty " شيخاًan elder مُجرِّباseasoned
تُزكِّيه في " العشرين " شيخاً مُجرِّبا
Raising up a giant bearing signs
Erecting with it towering ideals upon it,
That vouch for him, at twenty, as a seasoned elder.
Purifying it in “the twenties” as an experienced elder.
ومدَّand stretched ذراعيهhis two arms ليَحضُنَto embrace أُمَّةًa nation
ومدَّ ذراعيه ليَحضُنَ أُمَّةً
تَرَعرَعَgrew up فيin الأحلامthe dreams منهاfrom it تَحسُّباin anticipation
تَرَعرَعَ في الأحلام منها تَحسُّبا
And he stretched his arms to embrace a nation;
And he stretched out his arms to embrace a nation
He had grown in its dreams, in anticipation.
That grew up in dreams counting itself on him.
وصاعَدَand raised منof أطماحِهhis ambitions فتصاغَرَتso they dwindled
وصاعَدَ من أطماحِه فتصاغَرَت
لعينَيهِbefore his two eyes أُمّاتُthe greatest of المطاليبthe demands مطلباas a goal
لعينَيهِ أُمّاتُ المطاليب مطلبا
And he raised his ambitions ever higher, until there dwindled
And from his ambitions arose, so the nations of ambitions
Before his eyes even the greatest of goals.
Seemed small in his eyes, every request humbled.
نَعِمتُمْmay you fare well صَباحاًin the morning قادةَO leaders of "البعثِthe Baath" أصيَداًproud
نَعِمتُمْ صَباحاً قادةَ "البعثِ" أصيَداً
يُسدِّدُguides خَطْوَthe steps of الصِيدِthe proud chiefs منكمamong you وأغلَباand mighty
يُسدِّدُ خَطْوَ الصِيدِ منكم وأغلَبا
May your morning be blessed, Baath leaders—a proud one,
You were blessed, oh leaders of “the Ba’ath”, with prey
Guiding your proud chiefs' steps, and mighty.
That straightens the pace of the hunt, and overcomes.
وذَوبٌand a distillation منof "الحرفthe word" المُضيءluminous يَصوبُكمrains upon you
وذَوبٌ من "الحرف" المُضيء يَصوبُكم
بأعبقَwith greater fragrance منthan صَوْبِthe rainfall of الغمامِthe clouds وأطيَباand sweeter
بأعبقَ من صَوْبِ الغمامِ وأطيَبا
And a distillation of luminous words rains upon you,
And a gleam from the shining “letter” directs you
More fragrant and sweeter than the rainfall of clouds.
With a more fragrant direction than the clouds, and sweeter.
وأنداءُand dewdrops of " ريحانٍbasil " تَضوَّعspread fragrantly رَوحُهits breath
وأنداءُ " ريحانٍ " تَضوَّع رَوحُه
وطابand grew sweet بهthrough it روضُthe garden of " القصيدِpoetry " فأعشَباand thus grew green
وطاب به روضُ " القصيدِ " فأعشَبا
And dewdrops of basil whose breath spread fragrantly,
And the echoes of “basil” whose soul exuded its fragrance,
Sweetening poetry's garden and making it green:
And with it the garden of “the poem” flourished and grew green.
تحيَّةَa greeting منone who أوصَىenjoined بخيرٍgoodness upon ضميرَهhis conscience
تحيَّةَ من أوصَى بخيرٍ ضميرَه
وألزمهand bound it to صِدقَthe truthfulness of الوفاءِloyalty وأوجباand made obligatory
وألزمه صِدقَ الوفاءِ وأوجبا
A greeting from one who enjoined goodness on his conscience,
Greetings from one who entrusted his conscience with goodness,
And bound it to true loyalty, making it a duty.
And charged it with the honesty of loyalty and devotion.
تمرَّستُمُyou were seasoned بالحكمin ruling لمnot تترُكواyou left بهin it
تمرَّستُمُ بالحكم لم تترُكوا به
شباthe edge of مِضرَبٍa striking blade إلاّexcept that تثلَّمbecame blunted مِضرَباin striking
شبا مِضرَبٍ إلاّ تثلَّم مِضرَبا
You were seasoned in ruling, leaving within it
You were seasoned with wisdom, leaving no
No striking blade's edge unblunted by the blows.
Young arena except that you made it an arena.
وقارعتُمand you contended with الجُلَّىcalamity، وقُورعتُمُand you were assailed بهاby it
وقارعتُم الجُلَّى، وقُورعتُمُ بها
ولمand not تسألواyou asked منwho ذاthat one يكونُwould be المُغلَّباthe victor
ولم تسألوا من ذا يكونُ المُغلَّبا
You contended with calamity, and were assailed by it,
You confronted the prominent, and were confronted by them,
Never asking who would emerge the victor.
And did not ask who would be the defeated.
ووُرِّثْتُمُand you were bequeathed "سبعاًseven وخمسينand fifty" لمnot تُلِحit revealed
ووُرِّثْتُمُ "سبعاً وخمسين" لم تُلِح
بغيرwith other than دمthe blood of الفادينthe self-sacrificing للركبto the caravan كوكباa star
بغير دم الفادين للركب كوكبا
And you inherited fifty-seven years that revealed
And you inherited “fifty-seven” and did not smear
No star to the caravan but the blood of those who gave their lives.
With anything but the blood of martyrs a guiding star.
وحُمِّلتُمُand you were burdened with ثِقلينِtwo burdens قََسطاًa just one وجائراًand an unjust one
وحُمِّلتُمُ ثِقلينِ قََسطاً وجائراً
ولمand not يُدْرَwas known أيٌّwhich منهماof the two كانwas أصعباharder
ولم يُدْرَ أيٌّ منهما كان أصعبا
And you were laden with two burdens, one just and one unjust,
And you were burdened with two loads, justice and injustice,
And none knew which of the two was harder.
And neither knew which was more difficult.
وسايرتُمand you accompanied "تَمّوزTammuz" دَرباًalong a path تعثَّرَتstumbled
وسايرتُم "تَمّوز" دَرباً تعثَّرَت
بهon it ذكرياتٌmemories ماhow أمرَّbitter وأعذباand sweet
به ذكرياتٌ ما أمرَّ وأعذبا
You accompanied Tammuz along a path upon which stumbled
And you walked with “July” on a path that tripped up
Memories—how bitter and how sweet!
Memories ― how bitter and how sweet!
وعانيتُمand you endured "خمساًfive years" عُجابٌastonishing شُجونُهاtheir sorrows
وعانيتُم "خمساً" عُجابٌ شُجونُها
وand "خمساًfive years" بماfor what حُمِّلْتَهyou were made to bear of it كُنَّthey were أعجباmore astonishing
و "خمساً" بما حُمِّلْتَه كُنَّ أعجبا
You endured five years whose sorrows were astonishing,
And you endured “five” whose sorrows,
And five more, still stranger for what you were made to bear.
And “five” with what you carried ― how wondrous!
تَعاصَتdefied علىagainst التاريخhistory حتىuntil تَحيَّرَتْbecame bewildered
تَعاصَت على التاريخ حتى تَحيَّرَتْ
بهin it صفحاتٌpages كيفhow يُملَىit is dictated ليُكتَباto be written
به صفحاتٌ كيف يُملَى ليُكتَبا
They defied history until bewilderment overtook
They clashed with history until pages were confused
Its pages: how was it to be dictated and written?
Over how to be dictated and written.
وحارand were bewildered الرُواةُthe narrators المخلصونَsincere فلمso not يكنit was
وحار الرُواةُ المخلصونَ فلم يكن
ليصدُقَto speak truth فيهabout it المرءُa person إلاexcept ليكذِباto speak falsehood
ليصدُقَ فيه المرءُ إلا ليكذِبا
And sincere narrators were perplexed, for a person could not
And the sincere narrators were perplexed and there was
Speak truth about it without also speaking falsehood.
No way for a person to believe except by lying.
أُطيحَwere toppled بهاduring them هامُthe heads of الطُغاةِthe tyrants فكُوِّرَتْthen were heaped
أُطيحَ بها هامُ الطُغاةِ فكُوِّرَتْ
علىupon هامthe heads of منthose who هزَّshook الطغاةَthe tyrants وأرعَباand terrified
على هام من هزَّ الطغاةَ وأرعَبا
In those years the tyrants' heads were toppled, then heaped
The tyrants were overthrown, and were rolled up
Upon the heads of those who had shaken and terrified the tyrants.
Upon the necks of those who shook and terrified the tyrants.
ودَقَّتand rang بأجراسwith bells of الخلاصdeliverance فأطبقَتْthen closed in
ودَقَّت بأجراس الخلاص فأطبقَتْ
علىupon منthose who دعاcalled for يومَthe day of الخلاصِdeliverance وقرَّباand brought near
على من دعا يومَ الخلاصِ وقرَّبا
They rang the bells of deliverance, then closed in
And it tolled the bells of salvation, so it blocked
On those who had called for deliverance's day and brought it near.
Those who called for the day of salvation and brought it closer.
وأُبدِلَand was exchanged منfrom عهدٍan era رثيثٍthreadbare بآخَرٍfor another
وأُبدِلَ من عهدٍ رثيثٍ بآخَرٍ
جديدٍnew ولكنbut أشوهَuglier of الوجهِface أحدباhunchbacked
جديدٍ ولكن أشوهَ الوجهِ أحدبا
A threadbare era was exchanged for another,
And it changed an inferior epoch for a new one,
New, but uglier of face and hunchbacked.
Though the new one distorted the face and made it hunchbacked.
وجاشتand seethed بهwithin it الأضغانgrudges جُبناًas cowardice، وغَدرةًand treachery
وجاشت به الأضغان جُبناً، وغَدرةً
ولؤماًand baseness، وإسفافاًand degradation، وعِرقاًand race ومذهباand creed
ولؤماً، وإسفافاً، وعِرقاً ومذهبا
Within it grudges seethed as cowardice and treachery,
And with it grudges boiled, in cowardice, betrayal,
Baseness, degradation, race and creed.
Vileness, recklessness, and heated partisanship.
وأبدَتand revealed جُلودٌskins ناعماتٌsoft صميمَهاtheir core
وأبدَت جُلودٌ ناعماتٌ صميمَها
فكنَّand so they were " ضِباعاًhyenas " جائعاتٍhungry، وand " أذؤباwolves "
فكنَّ " ضِباعاً " جائعاتٍ، و " أذؤبا "
And soft skins revealed their very core,
And soft skins showed their cores, so they were
And proved to be hungry hyenas and wolves.
“Hyenas”, hungry “wolves”.
وضجّتand clamored " سجونٌprisons " منfrom خليطٍa mixture مُنافرٍdiscordant
وضجّت " سجونٌ " من خليطٍ مُنافرٍ
كماjust as ضمّgathered " نُزلٌa lodging " مُوحِشٌdesolate منthose who تغرَّباlived far from home
كما ضمّ " نُزلٌ " مُوحِشٌ من تغرَّبا
Prisons clamored with a discordant mixture,
And “prisons” clamored with a mishmash of dissidents
As a desolate lodging gathers those far from home.
As a “hostel” crowds with estranged lodgers.
تلاقتconverged علىupon بُهْمٍobscure people وبَرٍّand the righteous وفاجرٍand the wicked
تلاقت على بُهْمٍ وبَرٍّ وفاجرٍ
كماjust as خبطتgroped blindly عشواءُone blinded by ليلٍnight لتحطِباto gather firewood
كما خبطت عشواءُ ليلٍ لتحطِبا
They converged upon the obscure, the righteous and the wicked,
They met in confusion and immorality,
As one blinded by night gropes to gather firewood.
As the darkness of night gropes about destroying.
ولاحتand appeared لto " تَموّزTammuz " رُؤىvisions of أمِّthe mother of واحِدٍan only son
ولاحت ل " تَموّز " رُؤى أمِّ واحِدٍ
وقدwhile already أسلَمَتْهsurrendered him القابلاتُthe midwives ليُصلَباto be crucified
وقد أسلَمَتْه القابلاتُ ليُصلَبا
And visions of an only son's mother appeared to Tammuz,
And there appeared to “July” visions of a single mother
While the midwives had surrendered him to be crucified.
Who had surrendered him to the midwives to be crucified.
وأغفَىand dozed عمٍa blind man للطائشاتto reckless impulses تقودُهthey lead him
وأغفَى عمٍ للطائشات تقودُه
وجانبَand shunned واعٍa clear-sighted man قسطَهhis share فتَهرَّباthen slipped away
وجانبَ واعٍ قسطَه فتَهرَّبا
A blind man dozed, with reckless impulses leading him;
And an uncle was heedless of the wanton ones leading him,
A clear-sighted man shunned his share and slipped away.
While an aware one avoided his share, so he escaped.
وand " صوَّفturned Sufi " منone who لمnot يعرفknew " الديرَthe monastery " عُمرَهthroughout his life
و " صوَّف " من لم يعرف " الديرَ " عُمرَه
وقدand already خذلتهhad failed him نُهزةٌan opportunity فترهّباso he became a monk
وقد خذلته نُهزةٌ فترهّبا
One who had never known a monastery in his life turned Sufi,
And one who never knew “the monastery” his whole life
And, when an opportunity failed him, became a monk.
“Sufi-fied”, when abandonment made him a monk.
وقارعand grappled with كأسthe cup of الموتdeath بالصبرwith patience صامِدٌa steadfast man
وقارع كأس الموت بالصبر صامِدٌ
وأفرغَand emptied منfrom أسآرهاits dregs ماwhat ترسَّباhad settled
وأفرغَ من أسآرها ما ترسَّبا
A steadfast man grappled patiently with death's cup,
And a steadfast one drank the cup of death with patience,
And emptied from its dregs whatever had settled.
Emptying from its veins whatever settled.
ونِمتُمْand you slept علىupon جَمرthe embers of الغَضَاthe ghada tree تَحضُنونَهyou embrace it
ونِمتُمْ على جَمر الغَضَا تَحضُنونَه
بat " ساعةِthe hour of صِفرٍzero " خوفَfor fear أنthat تتسرَّباit might leak out
ب " ساعةِ صِفرٍ " خوفَ أن تتسرَّبا
You slept on embers of ghada-wood, embracing them,
And you slept on the embers of rage, cradling them
At zero hour, afraid that it might leak out.
In “zero hour”, fearing they would slip away.
وخاطَرْتُمُand you took risks: إنَّindeed المنيّةَdeath كالمُنىlike hopes
وخاطَرْتُمُ: إنَّ المنيّةَ كالمُنى
كفاءٌworthy بسُوحِin the arenas of المجدglory أنto تُتَطلباbe sought
كفاءٌ بسُوحِ المجد أن تُتَطلبا
You took the risk: death, like hopes,
And you ventured: death is like an aim ―
Is worthy of being sought in the arenas of glory.
The plains of glory are fit to be sought out.
ودوَّتand it thundered فلاso no واللهby God مارنَّnever rang مثلُهاits like
ودوَّت فلا والله مارنَّ مثلُها
علىto سامعٍa listener ممنamong those who حَباcrawled أوor تنصَّباstood upright
على سامعٍ ممن حَبا أو تنصَّبا
And it thundered—by God, nothing like it had ever rung
Never did the like of it flutter upon a hearing
In the ear of anyone who crawled or stood upright.
Of whoever loved or assumed authority.
تلاقىgathered عليهاaround it الخَلقُthe people لمnot يُبقِleft مِطرفاًa cloak
تلاقى عليها الخَلقُ لم يُبقِ مِطرفاً
منfrom البيتِthe house لمnot يَسحبْhe drew along ولمand not يُبقhe left مَسحباa trailing hem
من البيتِ لم يَسحبْ ولم يُبق مَسحبا
The people rallied to it, leaving no cloak
All people came together over it, leaving no
In a house undrawn, nor any trailing hem untouched.
Home whose ropes were not pulled and ropes pulled.
وشعّتand shone وقدthough already عَيَّhad faltered اللسانُthe tongue، ضمائرٌconsciences
وشعّت وقد عَيَّ اللسانُ، ضمائرٌ
ترِفُّfluttering علىupon سُمْرbrown الوجوهfaces لتُعرِباto express themselves
ترِفُّ على سُمْر الوجوه لتُعرِبا
And consciences shone, though the tongue had faltered,
And it rang out, though the tongues were tired, consciences
Fluttering upon brown faces to express themselves.
That overflow upon the cheeks of faces to Arabize them.
عَطَفْتُمyou turned بهwith it منfrom بعدafter ماthat كادَalmost نَقمةٌresentment
عَطَفْتُم به من بعد ما كادَ نَقمةٌ
علىover خُدَعthe deceptions of الأحلامdreams أنto يتَنكَّباturn aside
على خُدَع الأحلام أن يتَنكَّبا
You turned its course after resentment had all but
You turned after a curse had almost
Made it turn aside over dreams' deceptions.
Veered away from the deceits of dreams.
وفَجَّرْتُمand you made gush منهfrom it الينابيعَthe springs ثرَّةًabundant
وفَجَّرْتُم منه الينابيعَ ثرَّةً
منof البذلgenerosity لمnot يتركْleft لهاfor them أمسِyesterday مَسرَباan outlet
من البذل لم يتركْ لها أمسِ مَسرَبا
And from it you made abundant springs gush forth
And you unleashed from it abundant springs
Of generosity, for which yesterday had left no outlet.
Of generosity, leaving no past spring for it.
وأنعشتُمُand you revived فيهاwithin them رُؤىvisions of " الغدِtomorrow " بعدَماafter
وأنعشتُمُ فيها رُؤى " الغدِ " بعدَما
أطارتsent flying بماwith what مَنَّتْهthey promised him " عنقاءَthe phoenix مُغرِباwondrous "
أطارت بما مَنَّتْه " عنقاءَ مُغرِبا "
And in them you revived visions of tomorrow, after
And you revived in it the visions of “tomorrow” after
They had sent the wondrous phoenix flying with what they promised him.
“A setting vulture” had carried away what it granted.
وجئتُمand you came بwith " تمّوزٍTammuz " جديدٍnew مُسعِّرٍkindling flames
وجئتُم ب " تمّوزٍ " جديدٍ مُسعِّرٍ
يلوبُcircles restlessly علىover ماwhat فاتhad passed أسيانَsorrowful مُغَضباangered
يلوبُ على ما فات أسيانَ مُغَضبا
You brought a new Tammuz, kindling flames,
And you brought a fiery, defiant “July”
Circling restlessly over what had passed, sorrowful and enraged.
That regrets what is past, angry at what was lost.
فأسفرthen shone forth عنrevealing " عَشْرٍten years " وِضاءٍradiant كماjust as انجلىbroke clear
فأسفر عن " عَشْرٍ " وِضاءٍ كما انجلى
سناthe radiance of الفجرِdawn عنfrom ليلٍa night تطاولgrew long غيهباpitch-black
سنا الفجرِ عن ليلٍ تطاول غيهبا
It unveiled ten radiant years, just as
So it unveiled “ten” whose glow was like the dawn
Dawn's radiance broke free of a night prolonged in pitch-blackness.
Breaking the night that had prolonged its darkness.
سناthe radiance of الفجرِdawn إلاexcept for غيمةٌa cloud ثمthen تنجليclears
سنا الفجرِ إلا غيمةٌ ثم تنجلي
وإلاand except for رمادٌashes ثمthen يُذرىare scattered بهthrough it هَباas dust
وإلا رمادٌ ثم يُذرى به هَبا
Dawn's radiance, save for a cloud that then clears,
The dawn except a cloud, then scattering,
And save for ash, then scattered in it as dust.
And ashes, then scattered by the winds.
كشفتُمyou cleared بهاthrough them منfrom وَجههits face ماwhat تقطَّباhad furrowed
كشفتُم بها من وَجهه ما تقطَّبا
وقوَّمتُمُand you straightened منof جِذعهits trunk ماwhat تخشَّباhad become rigid
وقوَّمتُمُ من جِذعه ما تخشَّبا
Through those years you cleared the furrows from its face,
You uncovered with it what gloom had covered of its face,
And straightened what had grown rigid in its trunk.
And straightened what rigidity had hardened of its trunk.
وأبدَلْتُمُand you changed تِلكthose المغارِمَburdens مَغنماًinto a gain
وأبدَلْتُمُ تِلك المغارِمَ مَغنماً
وصيّرتمُand you turned تلكthose المخَاسِرَlosses مَكسَباinto profit
وصيّرتمُ تلك المخَاسِرَ مَكسَبا
You replaced those burdens with gain,
And you replaced those losses with gain,
And turned those losses into profit.
And those failures with profit.
وأُفرغْتُمُand you poured out قلباًa heart بقلبٍinto a heart فأخصَباso it grew fruitful
وأُفرغْتُمُ قلباً بقلبٍ فأخصَبا
وطوَّعتُمُand you tamed شكساًan obstinate one وإلباًand a hostile band فأصحباso they became tractable
وطوَّعتُمُ شكساً وإلباً فأصحبا
You poured heart into heart, and it grew fruitful,
And you poured heart into heart, so it flourished,
And tamed the obstinate and the hostile, until they yielded.
And bent the stubborn and forced the unwilling, so they companied.
وقُلتُمand you said: عِماmay you both fare خيراًwell لto " زابٍthe Zab " وand " دجلةٍthe Tigris "
وقُلتُم: عِما خيراً ل " زابٍ " و " دجلةٍ "
وللنخلِand to the date palms والزيتونand the olives: أهلاًwelcome ومرحباand a warm welcome
وللنخلِ والزيتون: أهلاً ومرحبا
You said to the Zab and the Tigris: 'May you both fare well,'
And you said: Good tidings to “Zab” and “Tigris”,
And to the palms and olives: 'Welcome, and a warm welcome!'
And to the palm tree and olive tree: Greetings and welcome!
وسرَّحتمُand you released الآلاَفthe thousands صعَّدَrose high فوقهاover them
وسرَّحتمُ الآلاَف صعَّدَ فوقها
بلاءُthe torment of السجونِthe prisons المُطبقاتِsealed وصوَّباand poured down
بلاءُ السجونِ المُطبقاتِ وصوَّبا
You released the thousands over whom
And you freed thousands, so that the affliction
The torment of sealed prisons had risen and poured down.
Of oppressive prisons rose above them and was rectified.
وأشركْتُمand you gave a share فيin حُكمthe rule of " حِزبٍa party " محبَّبٍbeloved
وأشركْتُم في حُكم " حِزبٍ " محبَّبٍ
أخيpossessed of ثقةٍtrust " حِزباًa party " وثيقاsteadfast مُحبَّباbeloved
أخي ثقةٍ " حِزباً " وثيقا مُحبَّبا
You gave a share in the rule of a beloved party—
And you involved in the rule of a beloved “party”
One worthy of trust—to a steadfast, beloved party.
A trusted brother “party”, intimate and beloved.
أباO father of "هَيثمٍHaytham" ياO مُوسعَone extending to الناسِthe people حلمَهhis forbearance
أبا "هَيثمٍ" يا مُوسعَ الناسِ حلمَه
أفاءَspread عليهمover them ظلَّهhis shade وتَحدَّباand cared tenderly
أفاءَ عليهم ظلَّه وتَحدَّبا
O Abu Haytham, who extends his forbearance to the people,
Oh father of “Haytham”, who expanded people's dreams
Spreading his shade over them and caring tenderly;
So its shade covered them and they huddled.
وياand O ابنson of "الحسينal-Husayn" الفذِّthe peerless شهماًgallant سَمَيْدَعاًnoble
ويا ابن "الحسين" الفذِّ شهماً سَمَيْدَعاً
مَهيباًawe-inspiring، وَثُوباًready to spring قبلَbefore أنthat يتوثَّباhe springs
مَهيباً، وَثُوباً قبلَ أن يتوثَّبا
And O peerless son of al-Husayn, gallant and noble,
And oh son of the magnificent “Hussein”, bold and lion-like,
Awe-inspiring, ready to spring before he springs;
Awe-inspiring, a mountain before he could be moved.
وياand O ذادةَdefenders of " الصفَّينthe two ranks " قُطراًa country، وأُمةًand a nation
ويا ذادةَ " الصفَّين " قُطراً، وأُمةً
يَربُّونَnurturing منof مجديهماtheir two glories ماwhat تأشَّباhas grown intertwined
يَربُّونَ من مجديهما ما تأشَّبا
And O defenders of the two ranks, country and nation,
And oh match of “the two armies”, a drop, and a nation
Nurturing what has grown intertwined in their twin glories:
Who grew from their glory what branched out.
نداءُthe call of صَريحٍa frank man جَنَّبَkept away العُجْبَconceit from نفسَهhimself
نداءُ صَريحٍ جَنَّبَ العُجْبَ نفسَه
وإنand though راحhe became صَبّاًpassionately in love بالرجولاتwith valor مُعجباadmiring
وإن راح صَبّاً بالرجولات مُعجبا
This is the call of a frank man who kept conceit from himself,
A candid call that avoided arrogance in itself
Though he grew enamored of valor, full of admiration.
Though it poured with glories, admiring.
تخيَّرَchose حُبَّlove of الناسthe people والخيرِand goodness مذهباًas a creed
تخيَّرَ حُبَّ الناس والخيرِ مذهباً
وفرَّقَand distributed فيهمamong them روحَهُhis soul فتَشَعَّباso it branched out
وفرَّقَ فيهم روحَهُ فتَشَعَّبا
He chose love of people and goodness as his creed,
It chose the love of people and goodness as a creed,
And distributed his soul among them, branching out.
And distributed its spirit among them, so it branched out.
وساقاكمُand shared drink with you حلوَthe sweetness of البيانِeloquence قصائداًin poems
وساقاكمُ حلوَ البيانِ قصائداً
منfrom اللُطفِdelicacy كادتthey almost أنto تسيلflow فتَشرباso you may drink
من اللُطفِ كادت أن تسيل فتَشربا
He shared with you sweet eloquence in poems,
The sweetness of your rhetoric led odes
So delicate they almost flowed, for you to drink.
Of such charm, they almost flowed to be drunk.
لَممتُمْyou gathered علىamid شَعْثٍdisarray كماjust as انصَبَّpoured down سحرةًat dawn
لَممتُمْ على شَعْثٍ كما انصَبَّ سحرةً
نسيمٌa breeze علىover قَطْرthe droplets of النّدىdew فتذوّباthen dissolved
نسيمٌ على قَطْر النّدى فتذوّبا
You gathered the scattered, as there poured at dawn
You licked away filth as a morning breeze licked
A breeze over drops of dew, then dissolved.
The drops of dew, so they melted away.
سَراياcompanies of صُفوفٍranks خيِّراتٍvirtuous تألبتْrallied together
سَرايا صُفوفٍ خيِّراتٍ تألبتْ
وأنتُمand you علىagainst " مُستعمِرٍa colonizer " ، وتألّباand he rallied
وأنتُم على " مُستعمِرٍ " ، وتألّبا
Companies of virtuous ranks rallied
Armies of chosen rows that came together
With you against a colonizer, who rallied too.
While you were upon a “colonizer”, and came together.
وظلّتْand remained وإياكمtogether with you ثلاثينَthirty حِجّةًyears
وظلّتْ وإياكم ثلاثينَ حِجّةً
تشُدُّcharging علىat اليافوخthe crown of the head منهof him لتضرِباto strike
تشُدُّ على اليافوخ منه لتضرِبا
And for thirty years they stood beside you,
And they and you remained for thirty argumentations
Charging at the crown of his head to strike.
Raiding the enemy, striking him.
وآليتُماand you both swore أنْthat لاnot تُبقِّيwould spare يداكماyour two hands
وآليتُما أنْ لا تُبقِّي يداكما
علىupon ذَنَبٍa tail حتىuntil تقُصَّyou cut down المُذنَّبَاthe tail-bearer
على ذَنَبٍ حتى تقُصَّ المُذنَّبَا
You both swore that your hands would spare
And you both refused to leave a tail for your hands
No tail until you cut down its bearer.
Until you cut off the tail of the one with a tail.
أحاقَengulfed بهمupon them بَغْيُthe oppression of الطُغاةِthe tyrants، وعُذّبُواand they were tortured
أحاقَ بهم بَغْيُ الطُغاةِ، وعُذّبُوا
بأسياطwith the whips of " جَلاّدَa tormentor " بكمthrough you قدalready تعذّباhad suffered
بأسياط " جَلاّدَ " بكم قد تعذّبا
The tyrants' oppression engulfed them, and they were tortured
Their tyranny overtook them, and they were tortured
With whips of a tormentor already tormented by you.
With the whips of “torturers” tortured by you.
ومسَّهمُand touched them الضُرُّsuffering الذيwhich نالtook its toll منكُمُon you
ومسَّهمُ الضُرُّ الذي نال منكُمُ
وطالواand rose tall كماjust as طُلتمyou rose tall علىabove الضُرِّsuffering مَنكِباwith their shoulders
وطالوا كما طُلتم على الضُرِّ مَنكِبا
The suffering that had struck you touched them too,
And the harm that afflicted you afflicted them,
And, like you, their shoulders towered above suffering.
And they endured as you endured the harm head on.
وطُوردَand were pursued فيacross عُرضthe breadth of البلادthe country وطُولهاand its length
وطُوردَ في عُرض البلاد وطُولها
ذووهمtheir kin، وجابُواand roamed الأرضthe earth شرقاًeastward ومَغرِباand westward
ذووهم، وجابُوا الأرض شرقاً ومَغرِبا
Across the country's breadth and length were pursued
And their loved ones roamed the length and breadth of the countries,
Their kin, who roamed the earth east and west.
Traveling east and west.
سواعدُكمyour arms يومَon the day of الكفاحstruggle وبُوعكمand your reach
سواعدُكم يومَ الكفاح وبُوعكم
إذاwhen ماever تأتَّىcame forward ساعدٌan arm، وتهيَّباand grew fearful
إذا ما تأتَّى ساعدٌ، وتهيَّبا
Your arms on the day of struggle, and your reach,
Your arms on the day of struggle and your heroism
When an arm came forward, then shrank in fear.
When an arm tried and became courageous.
وبينَكُماand between you two كالأمسِas yesterday للمُلتَقَىfor a meeting غدٌa tomorrow
وبينَكُما كالأمسِ للمُلتَقَى غدٌ
ويبقىand remains " غدٌtomorrow " أدنىnearer لساعٍto one who strives وأقرباand closer
ويبقى " غدٌ " أدنى لساعٍ وأقربا
Between you both, as yesterday, tomorrow offers a meeting,
And between you two, as yesterday for the meeting place, tomorrow remains
And tomorrow remains nearer and closer to one who strives.
Nearer to an hour and closer.
ويفتقدُand checks for الغَمْرُthe venturesome man الشُّجاعُbrave دُروعهhis armor
ويفتقدُ الغَمْرُ الشُّجاعُ دُروعه
وإنand even if لمnot يحاربْhe fights خوفَfor fear أنthat يُتحرَّياhe may be sought out
وإن لم يحاربْ خوفَ أن يُتحرَّيا
The daring, courageous man checks for his armor,
And the brave miss their armor
Even when he does not fight, for fear of being sought out.
Even if they do not fight, fearing to be stripped.
فلاso do not تأخذوهُمْhold them to account فيfor هَناةٍa small fault وأُختِهاand its sister
فلا تأخذوهُمْ في هَناةٍ وأُختِها
فمنfor who ذاis there الذيwho لمnot يعترفacknowledged فيهwithin himself مَثلَباa flaw
فمن ذا الذي لم يعترف فيه مَثلَبا
So do not take them to task for one small fault and another;
So do not take them in languor and her sister,
For who has not acknowledged a flaw within himself?
For who has not recognized a flaw in it?
ومنand who ذاis there الذيwho جَبَّcut away الخطاياsins تَنَزُّهاًin purity
ومن ذا الذي جَبَّ الخطايا تَنَزُّهاً
وعافand spurned الورىhumankind فيin " طينهمtheir clay " وتربّباand assumed lordship
وعاف الورى في " طينهم " وتربّبا
And who has cut away all sins in spotless purity,
And who is it that repelled sins, aloof,
Spurned mortals in their clay, and assumed lordship?
And overcame humanity in “their clay” and its wetness?
وحسبُand enough for الفتىa man أنthat تستبدَّtake charge هَناتُهhis faults
وحسبُ الفتى أن تستبدَّ هَناتُه
بتهذيبهof refining him، حتىuntil يعودَhe becomes المُهذّباrefined
بتهذيبه، حتى يعودَ المُهذّبا
It suffices a man that his failings take charge
It is enough for the youth that his languor
Of refining him, until he becomes refined.
Overcomes his discipline, until he returns disciplined.
ونِعْمَand excellent is صديقُthe friend of القَومthe people مَنone who إنْif تقطَّعَتwere severed
ونِعْمَ صديقُ القَوم مَن إنْ تقطَّعَت
بهمwith them وَبهand with him الأسبابُthe ties يَوماًone day تَسبّباfound a means
بهم وَبه الأسبابُ يَوماً تَسبّبا
A fine friend to a people is he who, should ties be broken
And a people's good friend is one who, if
Between them and him one day, finds a means to restore them.
Reasons between them and him were severed one day,
وأحسنُand the best of منthose whom عاتبتَyou reproached، أولمتَor you blamed، صاحبٌa companion
وأحسنُ من عاتبتَ، أولمتَ، صاحبٌ
ألامَincurred blame علىout of مَحضpure الوِدادِaffection، وأعتَباand made amends
ألامَ على مَحض الوِدادِ، وأعتَبا
The best companion you reproach or blame is one
Caused them pain for the sake of devotion alone,
Who incurred blame through pure affection, then made amends.
Not blaming, or finding fault, but gently scolding.
فلاso do not تخذِلواabandon منهمamong them "حليفاًan ally" مُقرّباclose
فلا تخذِلوا منهم "حليفاً" مُقرّبا
ولاand do not تُشمِتواlet gloat فيهمover them وفيكمand over you مُجنَّباan outsider
ولا تُشمِتوا فيهم وفيكم مُجنَّبا
So do not abandon a close ally among them,
So do not abandon a “close ally” among them,
Nor let an outsider gloat over them and you.
Nor gloat over them and yourselves, kept safe.
أهيبواcall بupon " تَمّوزٍTammuz " ليُضفىso he may spread قُلوعهhis sails
أهيبوا ب " تَمّوزٍ " ليُضفى قُلوعه
علىover الحُبِّlove " طاووساًas a peacock " مُدِلاّstrutting proudly ويسحباand trail
على الحُبِّ " طاووساً " مُدِلاّ ويسحبا
Urge Tammuz to spread his sails
Bring “July” to cast its hearts
Over love, a proud peacock, and trail them.
Upon love, a “peacock” beautifully spreading its tail.
وزيدواand add علىto ماwhat لوَّنَتْcolored منof جمالهhis beauty
وزيدوا على ما لوَّنَتْ من جماله
مَساعيكُمُyour endeavors لوناًa hue منof الحُسنِbeauty مُشرَباimbued
مَساعيكُمُ لوناً من الحُسنِ مُشرَبا
And add to the beauty with which he has been colored
And add to what your efforts have colored of its beauty
By your endeavors a hue steeped in loveliness.
A color from goodness, saturated.
وياand O "عيدَfeast of تَمّوزٍTammuz" لكyours is المجدُglory خالداًeverlasting
ويا "عيدَ تَمّوزٍ" لك المجدُ خالداً
ولاand may you never زلتcease to be سؤلاًa desire للجموعof the multitudes، ومَأرَباand a goal
ولا زلت سؤلاً للجموع، ومَأرَبا
O feast of Tammuz, glory is yours forever,
Oh “July holiday”, eternal glory to you,
And may you remain the multitudes' desire and aim.
You remain a question for the masses, and a sanctuary.
فلاso may not زَحَمتْكcrowd you الطارئاتُsudden troubles بِثقلهاwith their weight
فلا زَحَمتْك الطارئاتُ بِثقلها
ولاand may not زَعزَعَتْshake منكof you الكيانَthe being المُطَنَّباfirmly tethered
ولا زَعزَعَتْ منك الكيانَ المُطَنَّبا
May unforeseen troubles never crowd you with their weight,
Neither have incidentals weighed you down with their burden,
Nor shake your firmly tethered being.
Nor have they shaken your solid pillar.
ولاand may not خَبَطَتchurn صَفْواًclear water أكُفٌّhands لئيمةٌvile
ولا خَبَطَت صَفْواً أكُفٌّ لئيمةٌ
ولاand may not رنَّقتْmuddy للكوثرof Kawthar العَذْبsweet مَشْرَباa drinking-place
ولا رنَّقتْ للكوثر العَذْب مَشْرَبا
Nor may vile hands churn your clear waters,
Nor have unworthy palms disturbed the sweet spring,
Nor cloud the drinking-place of sweet Kawthar.
Nor muddled its clear drinking place.
وعُوذتِand may you be safeguarded سُوحَO plains of " الرافدينthe Two Rivers " ولاand may not غَدَتbecome
وعُوذتِ سُوحَ " الرافدين " ولا غَدَت
ضفافُكyour banks بعدafter اليومtoday للمَوتfor death مَلعباa playground
ضفافُك بعد اليوم للمَوت مَلعبا
And be protected, plains of the Two Rivers; never may
The plains of the “two rivers” have taken refuge in you, and never
Your banks, from this day, become a playground for death.
After this day have your banks become death's playground.
ولاand may not عُدتِyou become again مَرماةًa target يُزاحِمُjostles موكبٌa procession
ولا عُدتِ مَرماةً يُزاحِمُ موكبٌ
رَمْلكyour sand الموّارِsurging بالدمwith blood مَوكباanother procession
رَمْلك الموّارِ بالدم مَوكبا
Nor may you again be a target, where one procession
Nor have you become a rubbish heap, a procession
Jostles another upon your sand roiling with blood.
Colliding with its rubbish, corpses with corpses.
ولاand may not أظلَمَتْdarken منكof yours البيوتُthe houses ولاand may not ذَكاblaze
ولا أظلَمَتْ منك البيوتُ ولا ذَكا
بهاwithin them خِنجرٌa dagger " ضَوَّىgleamed " وطَلْقٌand a gunshot تلهّباflared
بها خِنجرٌ " ضَوَّى " وطَلْقٌ تلهّبا
May your houses never darken, nor may there blaze
Nor from you have the houses darkened, nor has
Within them a gleaming dagger or a flaming gunshot.
A “bent” dagger ignited there, or divorces blazed.
أباO father of الشعرpoetry قلْsay ماwhat يُعجبُdelights الابنَthe son والأباand the father
أبا الشعر قلْ ما يُعجبُ الابنَ والأبا
وهلand is there لكَfor you إلاّanything but أنto تقولyou speak فتُعجِباand thus delight ؟
وهل لكَ إلاّ أن تقول فتُعجِبا ؟
O father of poetry, say what delights both son and father.
O father of poetry, say what delights the son and father,
And what choice have you but to speak and delight?
And what else can you say to please them both?
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.