نَعواthey announced the death of إلىto الشِعرِpoetry حُراًa free man كانwas يرعاهُtending it
نَعوا إلى الشِعرِ حُراً كان يرعاهُ
ومَنْand one whose يَشُقُّweighs heavily علىupon الأحرارِthe free مَنعاهُnews of his death
ومَنْ يَشُقُّ على الأحرارِ مَنعاهُ
They announced to poetry the death of a free man who had tended it,
They lamented the loss of poetry made free
and one whose death-news weighs heavily on the free.
By one who nurtured it so tenderly
أخنىlaid waste الزَّمانُtime علىupon نادٍa gathering-place " زهاflourished " زَمناًfor a time
أخنى الزَّمانُ على نادٍ " زها " زَمناً
بحافِظٍwith Hafiz واكتسىand clothed itself بالحُزنِin sorrow مغناهits abode
بحافِظٍ واكتسى بالحُزنِ مغناه
Time ravaged a gathering-place that flourished for a time
Time grieved the passing of an age called “Zahaa”
with Hafiz, and its abode clothed itself in sorrow.
That was adorned with “Hafez” and cloaked in melancholy
واستُدْرجَand was drawn away الكوكَبُthe star الوضاءُradiant عنfrom أُفُقٍa horizon
واستُدْرجَ الكوكَبُ الوضاءُ عن أُفُقٍ
عاليlofty in السَّناradiance يُحْسِرُwearies الأبصارَthe eyes مَرقاهits ascent
عالي السَّنا يُحْسِرُ الأبصارَ مَرقاه
And the radiant star was drawn away from a horizon
The shining star declined beyond the height
of lofty radiance, whose ascent wearies the eyes.
Of lofty glory, dazzling sights as it sank low
أعْززْhow grievous بأنَّاthat we افتقَدناهُlost him فأعوزناand so we lack
أعْززْ بأنَّا افتقَدناهُ فأعوزنا
وجهٌa face طليقٌcheerful وطَبعٌand a nature خفَّwas light مجراهits flow
وجهٌ طليقٌ وطَبعٌ خفَّ مجراه
How grievous that we lost him, and now lack
Take solace that we miss him, feel deprived
a cheerful face and a nature that flowed so lightly.
Of an easy grace and nature gently flowing
وأنَّand that ذاكَthat man الخفيفَlight الروحِof spirit يُوحشُهmakes him desolate
وأنَّ ذاكَ الخفيفَ الروحِ يُوحشُه
بيتٌa house ثقيلٌburdensome علىupon الأحياءِthe living مَثواهhis resting-place
بيتٌ ثقيلٌ على الأحياءِ مَثواه
And that this light-hearted man is made desolate by
That his light spirit’s saddened in a home
a house, his resting-place, that weighs upon the living.
Too somber for the living, his last station
ضيفٌa guest علىamong رِمَمٍdecayed remains شتَّىdiverse طبائعُهاtheir natures
ضيفٌ على رِمَمٍ شتَّى طبائعُها
ماnot كانَhad يجمعُهاunited them حالٌany circumstance وإياهand him
ما كانَ يجمعُها حالٌ وإياه
A guest among decayed remains, diverse in their natures,
A guest among reconstructed parts, diverse
whom no circumstance had ever united with him.
United only formerly by his situation
أنَّthat الذيthe one whose هزَّstirred كلَّall الناسpeople مَحضَرُهُhis presence
أنَّ الذي هزَّ كلَّ الناس مَحضَرُهُ
لمnot يبقَremained فيamong الناسpeople منهof him غيرُexcept ذكراهhis memory
لم يبقَ في الناس منه غيرُ ذكراه
That he whose presence stirred everyone
That he who filled all gatherings with life
has nothing remaining among people but his memory.
Remains among the people only as memories biding
نأتgrew distant رعايَتُناour care عنهfrom him وفارقَناand he left us
نأت رعايَتُنا عنه وفارقَنا
فِراقَthe departure of مُحتَشمٍa modest man فلْيَرْعَهُso may He watch over him اللهGod
فِراقَ مُحتَشمٍ فلْيَرْعَهُ الله
Our care grew distant from him, and he left us
Our care has lapsed, and we have parted
with a modest man's departure; may God watch over him.
With seemly farewells; may God now care for him
حوىenfolded التُرابُthe dust لِساناًa tongue كُلُّهُall of it مُلَحٌwitticisms
حوى التُرابُ لِساناً كُلُّهُ مُلَحٌ
ماnot كلُّevery مُحتَرِفٍpractitioner للشِّرِof poetry (likely intended) يُعطاهis granted it
ما كلُّ مُحتَرِفٍ للشِّرِ يُعطاه
The dust enfolded a tongue that was all wit,
The earth enfolds a tongue of purest salt
not granted to every practitioner of poetry.
Not every seasoned critic it endows
للأريحيَّةِin generous-heartedness مَنْشاهُits origin ومَصْدرُهُand its source
للأريحيَّةِ مَنْشاهُ ومَصْدرُهُ
وللشَّجاوةِand for sorrow والإيناسِand solace حَدّاهits two edges
وللشَّجاوةِ والإيناسِ حَدّاه
In generous-heartedness lay its origin and source,
A homeland for gentility, source of
and sorrow and solace were its two edges.
Refinement and tenderness, knowing when to chide
جمُّabundant in البَدائهِspontaneous utterances سََهْلeasy القولِin speech ريِّضُهpliant in it
جمُّ البَدائهِ سََهْل القولِ ريِّضُه
وطالماand often أعوزَeluded المِنطيقَthe eloquent speaker إبداهits expression
وطالما أعوزَ المِنطيقَ إبداه
Rich in spontaneous wit, easy in speech, pliant in it,
His easy speech pleased the simple, and often
though its expression often eluded the eloquent.
Perplexed the articulate, their skills to hide
جَلاpolished القِراعُstrife الشباthe edges منهُof it ولطفَّهُand refined it
جَلا القِراعُ الشبا منهُ ولطفَّهُ
طولُthe length of التَّجارِبِexperience فيin الدُّنياthe world ونقَّاهand purified it
طولُ التَّجارِبِ في الدُّنيا ونقَّاه
Strife polished its edges, and it was refined
Time’s long trials have thinned and refined his vines
by long experience in the world, which purified it.
Purifying the dross, leaving pure gold inside
تخيَّرhe selected الكَلِمَwords العاليlofty فَسلَّطهُand set it to rule
تخيَّر الكَلِمَ العالي فَسلَّطهُ
علىover القوافيthe rhymes فحَّلاهاand adorned them وحلاّهand adorned it
على القوافي فحَّلاها وحلاّه
He chose lofty words and set them to rule
He picked his lofty words with utmost care
over the rhymes, adorning both word and rhyme.
Subduing rhymes, adorning them like a bride
ومَدَّهاand supplied them ببنَتِwith the daughter of الفِكرِthought مُرسَلةًsent forth freely
ومَدَّها ببنَتِ الفِكرِ مُرسَلةً
تَرَسُّلَthe easy flow of السَّيلِthe torrent أدناهُits nearest part كأقصاهlike its farthest part
تَرَسُّلَ السَّيلِ أدناهُ كأقصاه
And he supplied them with thought's daughter, flowing freely,
Extending them with imagination’s daughters
with a torrent's easy flow, its nearest reaches like its farthest.
Cascade from peaks to depths, far and wide
منfrom كلِّevery مَعنىًmeaning لطيفٍsubtle زادincreased رونَقَهُits luster
من كلِّ مَعنىً لطيفٍ زاد رونَقَهُ
إبداعُthe artistry of " حافِظَHafiz " فيهِin it فهوand so it is تيَّاهproud
إبداعُ " حافِظَ " فيهِ فهو تيَّاه
From every subtle meaning whose luster was heightened
Whatever subtle meaning he improved
by Hafiz's artistry in it, and so it struts with pride.
Was made sublime by “Hafez’s” artful touch, his pride
فلوso if يُطيقcould manage القريضُverse النُطقَspeech قابلةُwould greet him (likely intended)
فلو يُطيق القريضُ النُطقَ قابلةُ
بالشكرِwith thanks عنfor حُسنthe goodness of ماwhat أسدىhe bestowed فأطراهand praise him
بالشكرِ عن حُسن ما أسدى فأطراه
If verse could speak, it would greet him
If only rhymes could speak their gratitude
with thanks for the good he bestowed, and praise him.
For the beauty he bestowed, preserving it inside
عرائسٌbrides منamong بناتthe daughters of الفكرthought حاملةٌbearing
عرائسٌ من بنات الفكر حاملةٌ
مِنfrom حافظٍHafiz أثَراًa trace حُلواًsweet كسِيماهlike his countenance
مِن حافظٍ أثَراً حُلواً كسِيماه
Brides among the daughters of thought, bearing
Maidens of thought bear the lasting essence
a sweet imprint of Hafiz, like his countenance.
Of “Hafez,” a sweet vestige, his imprint applied
وماand not الشُعورُfeeling خيالُthe fancy of المرءِa person يَنْظِمهُhe puts it into verse
وما الشُعورُ خيالُ المرءِ يَنْظِمهُ
لكنَّهُbut it is قِطِعِاتٌfragments مِنof سجاياهhis character traits
لكنَّهُ قِطِعِاتٌ مِن سجاياه
And feeling is not a man's fancy that he sets in verse,
Imagination cannot create one’s feelings
but fragments of his character.
But pieces of his being, remnants scattered wide
أخوa brother of الحماسِfervor رقيقاًtender فيin مقاطعهِhis passages
أخو الحماسِ رقيقاً في مقاطعهِ
تكادُalmost تُلْمسُare touched نِيرانٌfires وأمواهand waters
تكادُ تُلْمسُ نِيرانٌ وأمواه
A brother to fervor, tender in his passages,
Brother of ardor, gentle in each verse
where fires and waters can almost be touched.
One feels the warmth, glimpses dark waves beside
وذوand a possessor of القوافيrhymes لِطافاًdelicate فيin تَسَلسُلهاtheir succession
وذو القوافي لِطافاً في تَسَلسُلها
ماnot شانَهاmarred them عنَتٌstrain يوماًever وإكراهand compulsion
ما شانَها عنَتٌ يوماً وإكراه
And a master of rhymes, delicate in their succession,
Master of rhymes, smooth flow in arrangement
never marred by strain or compulsion.
Never forced or difficult, but dignified
وابنُand a son of السِنينَthe years نَقيَّاتٍpure صحائفُهاtheir pages
وابنُ السِنينَ نَقيَّاتٍ صحائفُها
أُُولاهhis first فائضةٌoverflowing حُسناًwith beauty وأُخراهand his last
أُُولاه فائضةٌ حُسناً وأُخراه
And a son of years whose pages are pure,
Son of many pure years, pages open
his first and last overflowing with beauty.
Generous beauty from first to last reside
فانْso if يكُنْit should be خُضِدتhas been broken بالموتِby death شوكتُهُhis thorn
فانْ يكُنْ خُضِدت بالموتِ شوكتُهُ
أوor نالَaffected وقعُthe blow of البِلىdecay منهُhim فعرّاهand stripped him bare
أو نالَ وقعُ البِلى منهُ فعرّاه
If his thorn has been broken by death,
If death diminished his power and ravaged his frame
or decay's blow has reached him and stripped him bare,
His rhymes comfort throughout the days and nights
فماand not تزالُcease مَدىthroughout الأيامِthe days تُؤنسُناcomfort us
فما تزالُ مَدى الأيامِ تُؤنسُنا
نظائرٌcounterparts مِنfrom قوافيهِhis rhymes وأشباهand likenesses
نظائرٌ مِن قوافيهِ وأشباه
still, throughout the days, we shall be comforted
Were we enchanted by some magic in his verse?
by counterparts and likenesses among his rhymes.
Do our souls cherish each line, tenderly collide?
شِعرٌpoetry تُحِسُّyou feel كأنَّas though النفسَthe soul تَعشَقُهُloves it
شِعرٌ تُحِسُّ كأنَّ النفسَ تَعشَقُهُ
أوor أنَّهاthat it اجتُذِبَتْwas drawn بالسِحرby magic جرّاهbecause of it
أو أنَّها اجتُذِبَتْ بالسِحر جرّاه
Poetry—you feel as though the soul is in love with it,
His positions were soldiers in formation
or has been drawn by magic because of it.
Cloaked in wisdom, none before him so supplied
زانَتْadorned مواقِفَهُhis stances جُنديَّةٌsoldierliness كُسيَتwas clothed
زانَتْ مواقِفَهُ جُنديَّةٌ كُسيَت
منwith الرزانهِdignity ماwhat لمْnot تُكْسbe clothed لولاهbut for him
من الرزانهِ ما لمْ تُكْس لولاه
His stances were graced by soldierliness, clothed
He walked Egypt unfaltering, shot his arrow
in a dignity it would not have worn but for him.
Conquering with skill, each cast arrow true to its guide
مشىhe walked بمصرَin Egypt فلمand did not يَعثُرstumble بهاin it ورمىand aimed at
مشى بمصرَ فلم يَعثُر بها ورمى
مُحتلَّthe occupier of مِصرَEgypt فلمand did not يُخطِئْهُmiss him مَرماهhis aim
مُحتلَّ مِصرَ فلم يُخطِئْهُ مَرماه
He walked in Egypt without stumbling there, and aimed
The rhymes flowed from a heart filled to overflowing
at Egypt's occupier, and his aim did not miss him.
With profound thought both in form and meaning allied
رِيعَwas stricken القريضُverse بفذٍّover a peerless man كانَwould يملؤهُfill it
رِيعَ القريضُ بفذٍّ كانَ يملؤهُ
مِنwith الجميلينِthe two beauties مَبناهُits form ومَعناهand its meaning
مِن الجميلينِ مَبناهُ ومَعناه
Verse was stricken by the loss of a peerless man who filled it
Giving due respect, noting what ears wish to hear
with two beauties: its form and its meaning.
Needs dictate detail, but essence he provides
يُعطيhe gives لكلِّto every مَقامٍoccasion حقَّهُits due ويَرىand recognizes
يُعطي لكلِّ مَقامٍ حقَّهُ ويَرى
حقّاًa right لسامعهِfor his listener لابُدَّnecessarily يَرعاهhe honors it
حقّاً لسامعهِ لابُدَّ يَرعاه
He gives each occasion its due, and recognizes
Bringing unseen, speaking the unspoken
a listener's right that he must honor.
Or voicing what all knew inside
قدmay يُوسِعُexpand الأمرَthe matter تفصيلاًin detail يُحتَّمُهrequires it
قد يُوسِعُ الأمرَ تفصيلاً يُحتَّمُه
حالٌa circumstance وقدand may يَكتفيbe content عنهُinstead of it بفَحواهwith its gist
حالٌ وقد يَكتفي عنهُ بفَحواه
He may expand a matter in detail, as required
His speech poured forth like gold filigree
by circumstance, or be content instead with its gist.
Comforting verse wherever it spread its lines
وقدand may يجيئُcome بماwith what لمnot يَجْرِoccur فيin خَلَدٍa mind
وقد يجيئُ بما لم يَجْرِ في خَلَدٍ
وقدand may يقولُsay الذيthat which لمnot تهوَyou desired إلاّهexcept it
وقد يقولُ الذي لم تهوَ إلاّه
And he may bring what never crossed a mind,
Today my aching heart spills with sorrow at his loss
or say what you desired and nothing else.
Consoled only by rhymes of his, tears collide
فمٌa mouth منof الذهبgold الابريزِpure مَنطِقُهُits speech
فمٌ من الذهب الابريزِ مَنطِقُهُ
جاءتْcame تُعزّيto console بهfor his loss الأشعارَthe poems أفواهmouths
جاءتْ تُعزّي به الأشعارَ أفواه
A mouth whose speech was pure gold—
In grief, my chest constricts at his absence
mouths have come to console the poems for his loss.
From life and all that filled it, nothing can subside
اليومَtoday يبكيهِmourns him داميbleeding القلبِat heart طارَحَهُhe exchanged verse with him
اليومَ يبكيهِ دامي القلبِ طارَحَهُ
بِدامياتِwith the bleeding قوافيهِrhymes of his verse فواساهand so comforted him
بِدامياتِ قوافيهِ فواساه
Today a bleeding-hearted man mourns him, one he had addressed
Enough for time and people, diminishing
with his bleeding rhymes, and thereby comforted.
That “Hafez’s” verse still flows in poetry’s tides
وضيِّقُand one constricted الصدرِin the breast بالأيامby the days غالطَهُhe beguiled him
وضيِّقُ الصدرِ بالأيام غالطَهُ
عنِaway from الحياةِlife وماand what فيهاis in it فعزّاهand consoled him
عنِ الحياةِ وما فيها فعزّاه
And one whose breast the days constricted, whom he beguiled
What care for time and souls who briefly shone
away from life and all within it, and so consoled.
Did his comfort not dwell in verses abide?
حَسْبُenough for الزمانِtime وحِسبُand enough for الناسِpeople مَنقصةًas a reproach
حَسْبُ الزمانِ وحِسبُ الناسِ مَنقصةً
أنthat طالَgrew prolonged منfrom حافظٍHafiz فيin الشِعرpoetry شكْواهhis lament
أن طالَ من حافظٍ في الشِعر شكْواه
It is reproach enough to time and mankind
To die, seek not that world you left before
that Hafiz's lament in poetry lasted so long.
One of countless victims, casualties scattered wide
ماwhat للزمانِfor time ونفسٍand a soul ريعَwas startled طائُرهاits bird
ما للزمانِ ونفسٍ ريعَ طائُرها
ألمْdid ... not? تكنْbe فيin غِنىًsufficiency عنهاwithout it رزاياهits calamities
ألمْ تكنْ في غِنىً عنها رزاياه
What has time against a soul whose bird was startled?
Son of contentment, though fate may test
Could its calamities not have done without that soul?
And time enchant with free abandon, the ride
ضَحيَّةَO victim of الموتِdeath هلdo تهوىyou desire مَعاودَةًa return
ضَحيَّةَ الموتِ هل تهوى مَعاودَةً
لِعالمٍto a world كنتَyou were قَبلاًbefore مِنamong ضَحاياهits victims
لِعالمٍ كنتَ قَبلاً مِن ضَحاياه
O victim of death, do you long to return
You bore life's sorrows and troubles, disdaining
to a world whose victim you had been before?
Afflictions that test the wise, their spirit collide
ياO ابنَson of الكِنانهِal-Kinanah والأيامُand the days جائزةٌpassing
يا ابنَ الكِنانهِ والأيامُ جائزةٌ
والدهرُand time مُغْرَمةٌenamored بالحُرِّof the free man بَلواهits affliction
والدهرُ مُغْرَمةٌ بالحُرِّ بَلواه
O son of al-Kinanah, while the days pass on,
Tokens of your enduring spirit revealed
and time's affliction is enamored of the free,
A life of refusal, joys and sorrows collide
لُقِّيتَyou were made to face مِنof نَكَدِthe misery of الدُّنياthe world ومحنتهاand its trials
لُقِّيتَ مِن نَكَدِ الدُّنيا ومحنتها
ماwhat كنتَyou would have been لولاbut for إباءٌproud defiance فيكَwithin you تُكفاهspared it
ما كنتَ لولا إباءٌ فيكَ تُكفاه
Of the world's misery and trials, you were made to face
Through rhymes we learned of one with hardened will
what you would have been spared, but for the proud defiance within you.
Time's wheel could not sway him, whatever betide
ماwhat لذَّةُthe pleasure of العيشِliving جَهلُignorance of العَيشِlife مَبدؤهُits beginning
ما لذَّةُ العيشِ جَهلُ العَيشِ مَبدؤهُ
والهمُّand worry واسِطهُits middle ، والموتُand death عُقباهits end
والهمُّ واسِطهُ ، والموتُ عُقباه
What pleasure is there in life? Ignorance of life is its beginning,
He waged with life, learned its essence within
worry its middle, and death its end.
No secrets withheld from his gaze, though they hide
ياO ابنَson of الكِنانهِal-Kinanah ماذاwhat أنتَyou مُشتَمِلٌenfolding
يا ابنَ الكِنانهِ ماذا أنتَ مُشتَمِلٌ
عليهaround it ممَّاof what سَطاassailed مَوتٌdeath فغَطَّاهand covered it
عليه ممَّا سَطا مَوتٌ فغَطَّاه
O son of al-Kinanah, what do you enfold
Of struggles honor demands though the soul denies
of all that death assailed and covered over?
Of positions that grieve the heart, its flood inside
سِتّونِsixty عاماًyears أرتْكَshowed you الناسَpeople كُنهَهَمُtheir true nature
سِتّونِ عاماً أرتْكَ الناسَ كُنهَهَمُ
والدهرَand time جوهرَهُits essence والعُمْرَand life مَغزاهits meaning
والدهرَ جوهرَهُ والعُمْرَ مَغزاه
Sixty years showed you people in their true nature,
Of sorrows that test the soul's load to its depths
time in its essence, and life in its meaning.
Stirring vengeance though the pain has subside
وبَصَّرتكَand made you see بأطباعdispositions يَضيقُis constricted بهاby them
وبَصَّرتكَ بأطباع يَضيقُ بها
صدرُthe breast of الحليمthe forbearing man وتأباهand reject them مَزاياهhis virtues
صدرُ الحليم وتأباه مَزاياه
And revealed to you dispositions that constrict
We've lost the sight that pierces veils of time
the forbearing man's breast and are rejected by his virtues.
Or the hour yearned for though desires divide
بَداappeared علىin نَفثَاتٍbreathings منكَfrom you خالدةٍimmortal
بَدا على نَفثَاتٍ منكَ خالدةٍ
عيشُthe life of الأباةthe unbowed ونُعماهُand its bliss وغُمَّاهand its anguish
عيشُ الأباة ونُعماهُ وغُمَّاه
In immortal breaths from you was revealed
His mouth spilled of fate and refuse its sway
the life of the unbowed, its bliss and its anguish.
Yielding not though it passed as the rising tide
وخَبَّرتناand told us القوافيthe rhymes عنof أخيa man of جَلَدٍendurance
وخَبَّرتنا القوافي عن أخي جَلَدٍ
صُلبِfirm الإرادةِin will يُعْييwearies الدهرَtime مأتاهreaching him
صُلبِ الإرادةِ يُعْيي الدهرَ مأتاه
And the rhymes told us of a man of endurance,
When life's toil persists, who craves death release?
firm of will, wearisome for time to reach.
A respite desired when burden and spirit collide
خاضَplunged into الزمانَtime وأبلاهُand tested it مُمارسةًthrough experience
خاضَ الزمانَ وأبلاهُ مُمارسةً
لمnot يَخْفَwas hidden عنهfrom him خبيٌّa secret مِنof ثناياهits folds
لم يَخْفَ عنه خبيٌّ مِن ثناياه
He plunged into time and tested it through experience;
I had loved these verses foretelling his death:
no secret within its folds was hidden from him.
"I bid farewell as tears pour from my eyes inside
وعَنْand of مصارَعةِwrestling with الدُّنياthe world علىfor نَشَبٍwealth
وعَنْ مصارَعةِ الدُّنيا على نَشَبٍ
الحَالُcircumstance تُوجبهُdemands it والنفسُand the soul تأباهrefuses it
الحَالُ تُوجبهُ والنفسُ تأباه
And of wrestling with the world for wealth
My soul churns, my heart pierced as he departs"
that circumstance demands and the soul refuses;
وعنand of مواقفَsituations تُدميmakes bleed القلبَthe heart غُصَّتُهاtheir choking grief
وعن مواقفَ تُدمي القلبَ غُصَّتُها
لاneither المالُwealth يَدفعُwards off ذِكراهاtheir memory ولاnor الجاهrank
لا المالُ يَدفعُ ذِكراها ولا الجاه
and of moments whose choking grief makes the heart bleed,
whose memory neither wealth nor rank can ward off;
وعنand of أذاياinjuries يّهدُّcrushes النفسَthe soul مَحمِلُهاtheir burden
وعن أذايا يّهدُّ النفسَ مَحمِلُها
ويَستثَيرُكand provokes you جانيهاtheir perpetrator ومَرآهand the sight of him
ويَستثَيرُك جانيها ومَرآه
and of injuries whose burden crushes the soul,
whose perpetrator and the sight of him provoke you.
إنَّاindeed we فَقدناهُlost him فقْدَas the loss of العيَنِthe eye مُقلتهاits eyeball
إنَّا فَقدناهُ فقْدَ العيَنِ مُقلتها
أوor فقْدَas the loss of ساعٍone hastening إلىto الهيجاءِbattle يُمناهhis right hand
أو فقْدَ ساعٍ إلى الهيجاءِ يُمناه
We lost him as an eye loses its eyeball,
or one hastening to battle loses his right hand.
ماnot انفَكَّceased ذِكرُmention of الرَّدىdeath يجريflows علىupon فمهhis mouth
ما انفَكَّ ذِكرُ الرَّدى يجري على فمه
وماand how أمرَّbitter الرَّدىdeath ، بلrather ماhow أُحيلاهsweet it is
وما أمرَّ الرَّدى ، بل ما أُحيلاه
The mention of death never ceased to pass his lips;
and how bitter death is—no, how sweet!
ومَنْand whoever تُبَرِّحْtorment تَكاليفُthe burdens of الحياةِlife بهhim
ومَنْ تُبَرِّحْ تَكاليفُ الحياةِ به
ويَلْمِسُand feels الرَّوْحَrelief فيin مَوتٍdeath تمنَّاهlongs for it
ويَلْمِسُ الرَّوْحَ في مَوتٍ تمنَّاه
And whoever is tormented by life's burdens
and feels relief in death will long for it.
إنّيindeed I تعشَّقتُfell in love with مِنfrom قَبلِbefore المُصابِthe calamity بهof losing him
إنّي تعشَّقتُ مِن قَبلِ المُصابِ به
بيتاًa verse لهof his جاءcame قبلَbefore الموتِdeath يَنعاهannouncing his death:
بيتاً له جاء قبلَ الموتِ يَنعاه:
I had fallen in love, before the calamity of losing him,
with a verse of his that announced his passing before death came:
ودَّعتُهُI bade him farewell ودُموعُand the tears of العينِthe eye فائضةٌoverflowing
ودَّعتُهُ ودُموعُ العينِ فائضةٌ
والنَّفسُّand the soul جياشةٌsurging والقَلبand the heart أواهsighing
والنَّفسُّ جياشةٌ والقَلب أواه
“I bade him farewell, tears overflowing from my eyes,
my soul surging, my heart sighing.”
Partial English translation: 91 of 106 Arabic lines translated.