كَمhow much فَاضَpoured forth فِيin أَثَرِthe wake of الهِلالِthe crescent العَاثِرِstumbling
كَم فَاضَ فِي أَثَرِ الهِلالِ العَاثِرِ
مِنْfrom مَدْمَعٍa tearful eye بِاللُّؤلٌؤِwith pearls المُتَنَاثِرِscattered
مِنْ مَدْمَعٍ بِاللُّؤلٌؤِ المُتَنَاثِرِ
How much poured forth in the wake of the fallen crescent,
How much tears did flow in the wake of the crescent moon,
From tearful eyes, in scattered pearls!
Scattered pearls shining bright.
وَاهْتَزَّand trembled ضَوءٌa light فِيamong الدَّرارِيthe brilliant stars خِلْتُهُI thought it
وَاهْتَزَّ ضَوءٌ فِي الدَّرارِي خِلْتُهُ
مَاءًwater تَرَقْرَقَshimmered مِنْfrom أُلُوفِthousands of مَحَاجِرِeye sockets
مَاءً تَرَقْرَقَ مِنْ أُلُوفِ مَحَاجِرِ
And a light trembled among the brilliant stars; I thought it
A light flickered in the valleys of his dimples,
Water shimmering from thousands of eye sockets.
Water trickling from thousands of springs.
خَطْبٌa calamity بِجَانِبِهِat its side يَشِعُّshines وَإِنْand even if جَرَىflowed
خَطْبٌ بِجَانِبِهِ يَشِعُّ وَإِنْ جَرَى
مُتَدَارِكاًin succession سَحُّthe downpour of الرَّبَابِthe clouds الهَامِرِpouring
مُتَدَارِكاً سَحُّ الرَّبَابِ الهَامِرِ
A calamity beside which that light shines, even though
There was a speech beside him radiating light, even as it flowed
The downpour of streaming clouds flows on, unceasing,
Rushing to quiet the murmur of the bustling lute.
تَرَكَleft الدُّجَىthe darkness وبِكُلِand in every نَجْمٍstar ثَابِتٍfixed
تَرَكَ الدُّجَى وبِكُلِ نَجْمٍ ثَابِتٍ
مِنْfrom رَوْعِهِits terror نظَراتُthe glances of طَرْفٍan eye حَائِرِbewildered
مِنْ رَوْعِهِ نظَراتُ طَرْفٍ حَائِرِ
Left the darkness with every fixed star bearing
He left the darkness and gazed at every fixed star
The gaze of a bewildered eye, struck by its terror.
With the wandering glances of a perplexed eye.
وَلِكُلّand for every سَيَّارٍwandering star شُعَاعa ray سَابِرٌprobing
وَلِكُلّ سَيَّارٍ شُعَاع سَابِرٌ
فِيinto الغَوْرِthe depths مَهْوَىthe place of falling for كُلِّevery جَدٍّfortune غَائِرِsinking
فِي الغَوْرِ مَهْوَى كُلِّ جَدٍّ غَائِرِ
And every wandering star has a ray that probes
Each planet had a beam traversing the abyss
The depths, where every sinking fortune falls.
Into the depths where every ancestor lies.
إِنْif تَجْزَعِare distraught الزُّهْرُthe bright stars الطَّويلُlong بَقَاؤُهَاtheir lifespan
إِنْ تَجْزَعِ الزُّهْرُ الطَّويلُ بَقَاؤُهَا
مَاwhat عُذْرُthe excuse of أَصْحابِthose with المَدَىa span المُتقَاصِرِdiminishing
مَا عُذْرُ أَصْحابِ المَدَى المُتقَاصِرِ
If the bright stars, whose lives are long, are distraught,
Do not fret if flowers wilt for their brief lifespan,
What excuse have those whose span keeps dwindling?
What excuse do mortals have whose lives are even shorter?
وَعَلامَand why خَوفُfear of المَوتِdeath يَسْطُوassails آخِذاًseizing
وَعَلامَ خَوفُ المَوتِ يَسْطُو آخِذاً
بِنُفُوسِنَاof our souls أَخْذَthe grasp of العَزِيزِthe mighty القَادِرِthe powerful
بِنُفُوسِنَا أَخْذَ العَزِيزِ القَادِرِ
And why does fear of death assail us, gripping
Why does the fear of death stealthily seize
Our souls with the grasp of the mighty and powerful?
Our souls with the grip of the Almighty Able?
وَالمَوْتُand death لَيْسَis not سِوَىother than التَّحوُّلُtransformation فِيin بُنىًstructures
وَالمَوْتُ لَيْسَ سِوَى التَّحوُّلُ فِي بُنىً
وَالفَصْلِand separation بَعدَafter الوَصْلِunion بَيْنَbetween عنَاصِرِelements
وَالفَصْلِ بَعدَ الوَصْلِ بَيْنَ عنَاصِرِ
And death is only the transformation of forms,
Death is but a transformation into other forms
And the parting of elements after their joining.
And separation after union of elements.
لوْif يَعْقِلُused reason الإِنْسَانُhumankind لمwould not يَأْبَهْpay heed لِمَاto what
لوْ يَعْقِلُ الإِنْسَانُ لم يَأْبَهْ لِمَا
تَجْرِيoperate بِهِthrough it سُنَنُthe laws of النِّظامِthe order القاهِرِoverpowering
تَجْرِي بِهِ سُنَنُ النِّظامِ القاهِرِ
If humankind used reason, it would not heed what
If man would understand he would not care
The laws of the overpowering order bring about.
For the laws of the compelling system.
مَاnot الجِسْمُthe body إِلاَّbut حَالةٌa state وَتَصِيرُand it changes مِنfrom
مَا الجِسْمُ إِلاَّ حَالةٌ وَتَصِيرُ مِن
صِفَةٍa quality إِلىto أُخرىanother بِحُكْمِunder a law قاسِرِcompelling
صِفَةٍ إِلى أُخرى بِحُكْمِ قاسِرِ
The body is only a state, and it changes from
The body is but a state, transforming
One quality to another under a compelling law.
From one quality to another by decree of fate.
وهَلِand is الحَيَاةُlife سوىother than اتصَالٍconnection دائِبٍceaseless
وهَلِ الحَيَاةُ سوى اتصَالٍ دائِبٍ
فِيin الكَوْنِthe universe بَينَbetween مبَادِئٍbeginnings وَمَصَايِرِand destinies
فِي الكَوْنِ بَينَ مبَادِئٍ وَمَصَايِرِ
And is life anything but a ceaseless connection
Is not life but a continual connection
In the universe, between beginnings and destinies?
In the universe between principles and fates?
لَكِنَّناbut we نُطْنَاwe bound قُوَانَاour powers كُلَّهَاall of them
لَكِنَّنا نُطْنَا قُوَانَا كُلَّهَا
دُونَapart from النهَىreason بِنَوَازِعٍto impulses وَأَواصِرِand attachments
دُونَ النهَى بِنَوَازِعٍ وَأَواصِرِ
But we have bound all our powers,
Yet we compose all our songs
Apart from reason, to impulses and attachments.
Without heeding either check or bond.
طَلَبُthe desire for البَقَاءِsurvival وَحُبَّناand our love of لَذَّاتِهِits pleasures
طَلَبُ البَقَاءِ وَحُبَّنا لَذَّاتِهِ
سَبَبُthe cause of التنكُّرِrejection لِلقَضاءِof fate الدَّائِرِever-turning
سَبَبُ التنكُّرِ لِلقَضاءِ الدَّائِرِ
The desire to endure, and our love of its pleasures,
Seeking survival and loving existence
Are the cause of our rejection of ever-turning fate.
Is why we deny the circling decree.
يَاO ابْنَson of العَزِيزِal-Aziz وَأَنْتَand you ثُنيانٌa successor زَكَاflourished
يَا ابْنَ العَزِيزِ وَأَنْتَ ثُنيانٌ زَكَا
مَاas much as شَاءَhe wished فِيin فَينَانِthe luxuriant tree of نَسْلٍa lineage طَاهِرِpure
مَا شَاءَ فِي فَينَانِ نَسْلٍ طَاهِرِ
O son of al-Aziz, you were a successor who flourished
O noble child, you were pure virtue,
To the fullest, in the luxuriant tree of a pure lineage.
Whatever was ordained in an immaculate ancestry.
أَسَفاًalas عَلىfor ذاكَthat الجمَالِbeauty المُزدَهِيresplendent
أَسَفاً عَلى ذاكَ الجمَالِ المُزدَهِي
أَسفاًalas عَلىfor ذَاكَthat الشَّبابِyouth النَّاضِرِfresh
أَسفاً عَلى ذَاكَ الشَّبابِ النَّاضِرِ
Alas for that resplendent beauty!
Alas for that blossoming beauty,
Alas for that fresh youth!
Alas for that shining youth.
أَسَفاًalas عَلىfor تِلكَthat الرَّجَاحَةِsound judgment فِيin الحِجَىintellect
أَسَفاً عَلى تِلكَ الرَّجَاحَةِ فِي الحِجَى
أَسَفاًalas عَلىfor ذَاكَthat الذَّكَاءِintelligence النَّادِرِrare
أَسَفاً عَلى ذَاكَ الذَّكَاءِ النَّادِرِ
Alas for that soundness of mind!
Alas for that intelligence so rarely found,
Alas for that rare intelligence!
Alas for that nimble wisdom.
بَدَتِappeared النَّجابَةُdistinction فِيكَin you قَبلَbefore أَوَانِهَاits time
بَدَتِ النَّجابَةُ فِيكَ قَبلَ أَوَانِهَا
فَأَتَتْso it came بِآيَاتٍwith wonders كَسِحْرِlike the magic of السَّاحِرِthe magician
فَأَتَتْ بِآيَاتٍ كَسِحْرِ السَّاحِرِ
Distinction appeared in you before its time,
Nobility appeared in you before its time
And brought wonders like a magician's magic.
Bringing signs like a sorcerer's magic;
حَتَّىuntil تَوَسَّمdiscerned فِيكَin you أَكْبَرَthe greatest شِيمَةٍaptitude
حَتَّى تَوَسَّم فِيكَ أَكْبَرَ شِيمَةٍ
لِلأَمْرِfor leadership كُلُّevery مُخَالِطٍassociate وَمُجَاورِand neighbor
لِلأَمْرِ كُلُّ مُخَالِطٍ وَمُجَاورِ
Until the greatest aptitude was discerned in you
So that every associate and neighbor saw in you
For leadership, by every associate and neighbor.
The greatest qualities for leadership.
لَكِنْbut دَهَاكَstruck you البَيْنُseparation فِيin شَرْخِthe prime of الصِّباyouth
لَكِنْ دَهَاكَ البَيْنُ فِي شَرْخِ الصِّبا
وَقَضَىand put an end عَلىto الأَمَلِhope السَّنيِّradiant السَّافِرِunveiled
وَقَضَى عَلى الأَمَلِ السَّنيِّ السَّافِرِ
But parting struck you in the bloom of youth,
But fate severed you in the bloom of youth,
And extinguished that radiant, unveiled hope.
And dashed the hopes of an aspiring age.
فَإِذَاso behold بَوَادِرُthe early signs of مَاwhat رُزِقْتَyou were granted مِنَof النُّهىreason
فَإِذَا بَوَادِرُ مَا رُزِقْتَ مِنَ النُّهى
كَانَتْwere لِهَذَاfor this الرُّزْءِcalamity شَرَّthe worst بَوَادِرِportents
كَانَتْ لِهَذَا الرُّزْءِ شَرَّ بَوَادِرِ
Then, behold: the first signs of the intellect granted you
So the first fruits of the talents you were given
Were the direst portents of this calamity.
Were the worst omens for this tragedy.
وَإِذَاand behold الشَّمائِلُthe traits كَالأَزَاهِرِlike flowers رِقَّةًin tenderness
وَإِذَا الشَّمائِلُ كَالأَزَاهِرِ رِقَّةً
عُمِّرْنَthey were given lifespans وَاحَرَبَاهُalas عُمْرَthe lifespan of أَزَاهِرِflowers
عُمِّرْنَ وَاحَرَبَاهُ عُمْرَ أَزَاهِرِ
And behold, your traits, tender as flowers,
Your fine traits, delicate as flowers,
Were given—alas!—the lifespan of flowers.
Lasted only the lifespan of blossoms.
وَإِذَاand behold مَوَاعِيدُthe promises of الزَّمَانِtime كَعَهْدِهَاas is their wont
وَإِذَا مَوَاعِيدُ الزَّمَانِ كَعَهْدِهَا
ذِمَمٌpledges وُكِلْنَthey were entrusted إِلىto رِعَايَةthe keeping of خَافِرِan oath-breaker
ذِمَمٌ وُكِلْنَ إِلى رِعَايَة خَافِرِ
And behold, time's promises, as ever,
And time’s promises lasted as long
Are pledges entrusted to the keeping of an oath-breaker.
As their charges, left to a keeper’s care.
أَثْكَلْتَyou bereaved مِصرَEgypt وَمَاand not أُبَالِغُI exaggerate إِنَّنيindeed I
أَثْكَلْتَ مِصرَ وَمَا أُبَالِغُ إِنَّني
لَمdid not أُبدِI reveal إِلاَّexcept بَعضَsome of مَاwhat فِيin الخَاطِرِthe mind
لَم أُبدِ إِلاَّ بَعضَ مَا فِي الخَاطِرِ
You have bereaved Egypt, and I do not exaggerate; indeed,
You have saddened Egypt, and I speak no hyperbole,
I have revealed only some of what is in my mind.
I have expressed but little of what is in my thoughts.
رَوِيَتْdrank her fill بِأَدمُعِهَاwith her tears وَلَمْand not يَكُwas تُرْبُهَاher soil
رَوِيَتْ بِأَدمُعِهَا وَلَمْ يَكُ تُرْبُهَا
مِنfrom قَبلُbefore يُسْقَىbe watered بِالسَّحابِby the clouds المَاطِرِrain-bearing
مِن قَبلُ يُسْقَى بِالسَّحابِ المَاطِرِ
She drank her fill of her tears, though her soil had not
It was watered with her tears, and its soil before
Before been watered by rain-bearing clouds.
Was never irrigated by a raining cloud.
يَاO وَيْحَهَاalas for her لَمَّاwhen أَدَالَexchanged البَيْنseparation مِنْfrom
يَا وَيْحَهَا لَمَّا أَدَالَ البَيْن مِنْ
طِيبِthe sweetness of اللِّقَاءِmeeting شَجَىthe sorrow of الوَدَاعِfarewell الآخِرِthe last
طِيبِ اللِّقَاءِ شَجَى الوَدَاعِ الآخِرِ
Alas for her, when parting turned
Alas, when separation removed from her
The sweetness of meeting into the sorrow of the final farewell!
The sweetness of meeting, the pain of final farewell!
وَمَشَتْand she walked تُشَيِّعescorting to burial قِطْعَةًa piece مِنْof قَلْبِهَاher heart
وَمَشَتْ تُشَيِّع قِطْعَةً مِنْ قَلْبِهَا
فِيin النَّعشِthe bier إِذْas تَمْشِيshe walks بِعَبْدwith Abd القَادِرِal-Qadir
فِي النَّعشِ إِذْ تَمْشِي بِعَبْد القَادِرِ
And she walked, escorting a piece of her heart
She walked in your funeral, accompanying a piece
In the bier, as she walked with Abd al-Qadir.
Of her heart in the coffin of Abdel Qader.
فيِin مَشْهَدٍa scene مَاnot قِيلَwas said فِيin تَنْظِيرِهmatching it
فيِ مَشْهَدٍ مَا قِيلَ فِي تَنْظِيرِه
وَصْفٌa description وَلَمْand did not تَشْهَدْهُwitness it مُقْلَةُthe eye of نَاظِرِan onlooker
وَصْفٌ وَلَمْ تَشْهَدْهُ مُقْلَةُ نَاظِرِ
In a scene whose like had never found
It was a scene that has not been equaled in description,
Description, nor been witnessed by an onlooker's eye.
Nor witnessed by any beholder's eye.
شَمِلَتْencompassed بِهthrough it الأَحْزَانُsorrows شَعباًa people حَاشِداًthronging
شَمِلَتْ بِه الأَحْزَانُ شَعباً حَاشِداً
لاno فَرْقَdistinction بينَbetween أَكَابِرٍthe great وَأَصَاغِرِand the small
لا فَرْقَ بينَ أَكَابِرٍ وَأَصَاغِرِ
There, sorrows encompassed a thronging people,
Sorrows enveloped a assembled multitude,
With no distinction between great and small.
No difference between great and small.
مَاdid not شَقَّtear جَيْباًa neckline لِلفَجِيعَةِfor the calamity مِنout of تُقىًpiety
مَا شَقَّ جَيْباً لِلفَجِيعَةِ مِن تُقىً
لَكِنْbut تَحَمَّلهَاbore it بِشقِّwith the tearing of مَرَائِرِheartstrings
لَكِنْ تَحَمَّلهَا بِشقِّ مَرَائِرِ
Out of piety, they tore no collars for the calamity,
No loyal bosom was torn by the tragedy,
But bore it with their heartstrings torn.
But bore it by rending its depths.
قاصِيdistant in المَبَاءَةِabode وَالقَرِيبُand the nearby تَوَافَدَاthey both flocked
قاصِي المَبَاءَةِ وَالقَرِيبُ تَوَافَدَا
لِحَفَاوَةٍto pay respects فِيهَاin it بِأَكْرَمِto the noblest زَائِرِvisitor
لِحَفَاوَةٍ فِيهَا بِأَكْرَمِ زَائِرِ
Those dwelling far away and those nearby came in crowds,
Both far and near came to pay their last respects,
To honor there the noblest visitor.
With the most honorable condolences.
لِحَفَاوَةٍto pay respects بِمُجَشَّمto one compelled to endure عَنْaway from قَوْمهِhis people
لِحَفَاوَةٍ بِمُجَشَّم عَنْ قَوْمهِ
هَجْراًseparation وَلَمْand not يَكُwas روحُهُhis spirit بِالهَجِرِone who forsakes
هَجْراً وَلَمْ يَكُ روحُهُ بِالهَجِرِ
To honor one compelled, away from his people,
Condolences to one estranged from his people,
To separation, though his spirit never forsook them.
Though his spirit was never estranged.
ماdid not قَرَّrest مِنfrom شَوقٍlonging إِلَيهِمْfor them قَلْبُهُhis heart
ما قَرَّ مِن شَوقٍ إِلَيهِمْ قَلْبُهُ
وَعَنِand away from الكِنَانَةal-Kinana لَمnot يَكُنْwas بِالصَّابِرِpatient
وَعَنِ الكِنَانَة لَم يَكُنْ بِالصَّابِرِ
His heart knew no rest from longing for them,
His heart ached with longing for them
And he could not bear being away from al-Kinana.
And he was never impatient or ungracious.
وَاسْتَرْعَتِand drew the attention of الدُّنْيَاthe world لِجَانِبِto the side of قَبْرِهhis grave
وَاسْتَرْعَتِ الدُّنْيَا لِجَانِبِ قَبْرِه
أَنَّاتُthe groans of مُلتاعِone anguished in الجَوَانِحِthe breast زَافِرِsighing
أَنَّاتُ مُلتاعِ الجَوَانِحِ زَافِرِ
And the world's attention was drawn to the side of his grave
The world has lost one of its most delightful pleasures
By the groans of one sighing, his breast anguished.
With a grieving soul and lamenting conscience.
فَلَئِنْso if وَفَىhe was faithful ذَاكَthat الوَفَاءَfidelity لشَأْنُهُindeed his character
فَلَئِنْ وَفَى ذَاكَ الوَفَاءَ لشَأْنُهُ
شَأْنُthe character of الأَعِزَّةthe noble كَابِرٍa great forebear عَنْfrom كَابِرِa great forebear
شَأْنُ الأَعِزَّة كَابِرٍ عَنْ كَابِرِ
So if he showed such fidelity, his character is indeed
You have attained bliss and left behind
That of the noble, handed down from forebear to forebear.
Sorrow to fill hearts and souls.
وَلَئِنْand if أَجَلَّتْdeemed great مِصْرُEgypt فِيهin him خَطْبَهَاher calamity
وَلَئِنْ أَجَلَّتْ مِصْرُ فِيه خَطْبَهَا
فَهْوَthen he is الجَديرُworthy بِحُبِّهاof her love المُتَوافِرِabundant
فَهْوَ الجَديرُ بِحُبِّها المُتَوافِرِ
And if Egypt regarded his loss as a great calamity,
Have mercy on your mourning family, and how much
He is worthy of her abundant love.
Remembrance stirs the emotions of those who remember!
أَمُقدَّمَO leader of الفِتيَانِthe young men فيin طَلَبِpursuit of العُلىglory
أَمُقدَّمَ الفِتيَانِ في طَلَبِ العُلى
سَاءَgrieved العُلىglory إِنْif كُنْتَyou were أَوَّلَthe first عَاثِرِone who stumbles
سَاءَ العُلى إِنْ كُنْتَ أَوَّلَ عَاثِرِ
O foremost of youths in the pursuit of glory,
The honest city shared in their grief
Glory is grieved if you are the first to stumble.
More than what was apparent.
جُزْتَyou passed beyond الحَقِيقَةَreality فِيin السَّنَاءِglory وَفِيand in السَّنَىradiance
جُزْتَ الحَقِيقَةَ فِي السَّنَاءِ وَفِي السَّنَى
تَنْأَىyou recede لَطِيفاًethereal كَالخَيَالِlike a phantom العَابِرِpassing
تَنْأَى لَطِيفاً كَالخَيَالِ العَابِرِ
You passed beyond reality, in glory and radiance,
Nothing is more graceful than courtesy
Receding, ethereal as a passing phantom.
When it is genuine and from a grateful loyal soul.
تَجِدُyou find المَحَاشِرَthe gatherings للسُّرورِfor joy بِهَاin them الأَسَىsorrow
تَجِدُ المَحَاشِرَ للسُّرورِ بِهَا الأَسَى
وَتَرَىand you see عظَائِمِهُنَّtheir great matters جِدَّtruly صَغَائِرِtrifles
وَتَرَى عظَائِمِهُنَّ جِدَّ صَغَائِرِ
You find sorrow in gatherings meant for joy,
I mourn you, my boy, with the feeling
And see their grand concerns as truly trifling.
That is Egypt’s feeling and every poet’s heart.
تَعْدُوyou pass beyond البهَارِجَthe false glitter كُلُّevery زُورٍfalsehood تَحْتَهَاbeneath it
تَعْدُو البهَارِجَ كُلُّ زُورٍ تَحْتَهَا
وَتَمَّرُّand you pass بِالزِّينَاتِby the adornments مَرَّthe passing of السَّاخِرِa scoffer
وَتَمَّرُّ بِالزِّينَاتِ مَرَّ السَّاخِرِ
You pass beyond the glitter, with every falsehood beneath it,
You would see a face of apology for those first stunned,
And pass by adornments like a scoffer.
They held back tears, and you are too noble to blame.
فَلَعَلَّso perhaps خيراًbetter مِنْthan مُقَامٍa stay طِيَّةٌa departure
فَلَعَلَّ خيراً مِنْ مُقَامٍ طِيَّةٌ
تُنْجِيsaves مِنَfrom الدَّهرِtime الخَئُونِtreacherous الجَائِرِunjust
تُنْجِي مِنَ الدَّهرِ الخَئُونِ الجَائِرِ
So perhaps a departure is better than a stay,
Those left behind are too far away
One that saves you from treacherous, unjust time.
For you to see across the space between chests and hearts.
مَنْwhoever يَشْتَرِيbuys الدُّنْيَاthe world وَلوand even if بِأَحَبِّwith the dearest of مَاwhat
مَنْ يَشْتَرِي الدُّنْيَا وَلو بِأَحَبِّ مَا
فِيهَاin it أَبَاءَتْهُit sent him back بِصَفْقَةِwith the bargain of خَاسِرِa loser
فِيهَا أَبَاءَتْهُ بِصَفْقَةِ خَاسِرِ
Whoever buys the world, even with the dearest thing
If you had died in an earlier time you would have known
Within it, it sends him back with a loser's bargain.
How many composers and how many poets there were.
أَمسَيتَyou have come to be فِيin عَدْنٍEden وَخَلَّفْتَand you left behind الأَسَىsorrow
أَمسَيتَ فِي عَدْنٍ وَخَلَّفْتَ الأَسَى
فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth مِلْءَfilling جَوانِحٍbreasts وَضَمَائِرِand inmost hearts
فِي الأَرْضِ مِلْءَ جَوانِحٍ وَضَمَائِرِ
You are now in Eden, and have left sorrow
The successor is too far away from what you saw
On earth, filling breasts and inmost hearts.
Of proximity between secrets and bosoms.
وَارَحْمَتَاah, pity لِلثَّاكِلِيكَfor those bereaved of you وَكمْand how many لهُمْthey have
وَارَحْمَتَا لِلثَّاكِلِيكَ وَكمْ لهُمْ
ذِكْرَىa memory تُحَرِّكُstirs مِنْsome of شُجُونِthe sorrows of الذَّاكِرِthe one remembering
ذِكْرَى تُحَرِّكُ مِنْ شُجُونِ الذَّاكِرِ
Ah, pity for those bereaved of you, with their many
Memories that stir the sorrows of those who remember!
وَاسَاهُمُconsoled them البَلَدُthe land الأَمِينُfaithful وحُزْنُهُand its sorrow
وَاسَاهُمُ البَلَدُ الأَمِينُ وحُزْنُهُ
بيْنَwithin الطَّوَاياthe inner folds فوقَabove مَاwhat فِيin الظَّاهِرِthe outward appearance
بيْنَ الطَّوَايا فوقَ مَا فِي الظَّاهِرِ
The faithful land consoled them, and its sorrow
In its hidden depths exceeds what appears outwardly.
لاno شَيءَthing أَجْملُmore beautiful مِنthan مُجَامَلَةٍcourtesy إِذَاwhen
لا شَيءَ أَجْملُ مِن مُجَامَلَةٍ إِذَا
صَدَقَتْwas sincere وَجَاءَتْand came مِنfrom وَفِيٍّone loyal شَاكِرِgrateful
صَدَقَتْ وَجَاءَتْ مِن وَفِيٍّ شَاكِرِ
Nothing is more beautiful than a kind gesture, when
It is sincere and comes from one loyal and grateful.
أُرْثِيكَI elegize you يَاO وَلَدَاهُmy son بِالحِسِّwith the feeling الَّذيwhich
أُرْثِيكَ يَا وَلَدَاهُ بِالحِسِّ الَّذي
هُوَit حِسُّthe feeling of مِصرَEgypt وَكُلِّand every قلْبٍheart شاعِرِsensitive
هُوَ حِسُّ مِصرَ وَكُلِّ قلْبٍ شاعِرِ
I elegize you, O my son, with the feeling
That is Egypt's, and every sensitive heart's.
وَلَقَدand surely تَرَىyou see وَجْهَgrounds for اعْتِذَارٍan excuse لِلأُولىfor those
وَلَقَد تَرَى وَجْهَ اعْتِذَارٍ لِلأُولى
حَبَسُواthey held back الدُّمُوعَthe tears فَأَنْتَfor you are أَكرَمُthe most gracious عَاذِرِone who excuses
حَبَسُوا الدُّمُوعَ فَأَنْتَ أَكرَمُ عَاذِرِ
And surely you can find an excuse for those
Who held back their tears, for you are the most gracious to forgive.
الخُلْفُthe discrepancy أَبعَدُthe farthest مَاwhat نظرْتَyou have seen مَسَافَةin distance
الخُلْفُ أَبعَدُ مَا نظرْتَ مَسَافَة
فِيin الشَّرْقِthe East بَينَbetween أَسِرَّةٍfaces وَسَرَائِرِand inner thoughts
فِي الشَّرْقِ بَينَ أَسِرَّةٍ وَسَرَائِرِ
The divide is the widest distance you have ever seen
In the East, between outward faces and inmost thoughts.
لَوif مِتَّyou had died فِيin زَمنٍa time مَضَىgone by لَعَلِمْتَyou would have known كَمْhow many
لَو مِتَّ فِي زَمنٍ مَضَى لَعَلِمْتَ كَمْ
مِنْof نَاظِمٍa poet فِيهin it وَكَمْand how many مِنْof نَاثِرِa prose writer
مِنْ نَاظِمٍ فِيه وَكَمْ مِنْ نَاثِرِ
If you had died in a bygone age, you would have known how many
Poets it held, and how many prose writers.
Partial English translation: 84 of 98 Arabic lines translated.