كَيْفَhow قُوِّضْتَwere you brought down يَاO عَلَمْtowering landmark
كَيْفَ قُوِّضْتَ يَا عَلَمْ
وَانْطَوَىand was furled ذَلِكَthat العَلَمْthe banner
وَانْطَوَى ذَلِكَ العَلَمْ
How were you brought down, O towering landmark,
How are you broken, O flag,
and that banner folded away?
As that flag folds,
ثَكِلَwas bereaved of الطَّوْدُthe mountain لَيْثَهُits lion
ثَكِلَ الطَّوْدُ لَيْثَهُ
فَهْوَso it is فِيin مَأْتَمٍa mourning gathering عَمَمْall-encompassing
فَهْوَ فِي مَأْتَمٍ عَمَمْ
The mountain was bereaved of its lion,
The towering mountain laments its lion,
so it lies in all-encompassing mourning.
So it is in deep mourning.
لَهْفَanguish of نَفْسِيmy soul عَلَىover الفَقِيthe departed (first part)
لَهْفَ نَفْسِي عَلَى الفَقِي
دِdeparted (completion) فَتَىyoung man of الْبَأْسِvalor وَالْكَرَمْand generosity
دِ فَتَى الْبَأْسِ وَالْكَرَمْ
My soul aches for the departed,
My soul yearns for the virtuous youth,
that young man of valor and generosity.
The brave and noble man.
أَرْوَعٌa gallant man وَجْهُهُhis face أَغَرُّradiant
أَرْوَعٌ وَجْهُهُ أَغَرُّ
وَعِرْنِينُهُand his nose أَشَمْproudly aquiline
وَعِرْنِينُهُ أَشَمْ
A gallant man, his face radiant,
His face is most beautiful,
and his nose proudly aquiline.
His speech most fragrant.
لَوْif تَجَلَّىappeared إِبَاءُproud defiance of لُبْنَLebanon (first part)
لَوْ تَجَلَّى إِبَاءُ لُبْنَ
انَLebanon (completion) فِيin شَخْصِهِhis person ارْتَسَمْtook shape
انَ فِي شَخْصِهِ ارْتَسَمْ
Were Lebanon's proud defiance to appear,
If the glory of Lebanon was personified in him,
it would take shape in his person.
It would have been embodied.
أَنْصَبَتْpoured forth دَمْعَهَاtheir tears العُيُوthe eyes (first part)
أَنْصَبَتْ دَمْعَهَا العُيُو
نُeyes (completion) وَلانَتْand grew soft صَفَاhard rocks of الأَكَمْthe hills
نُ وَلانَتْ صَفَا الأَكَمْ
The eyes poured out their tears,
Eyes rain their tears
and the hills' hard rocks grew soft.
And the firm mountains soften.
وَدَجَاand grew dark فِيin القُلُوبِthe hearts صُبْحُdawn of الْthe
وَدَجَا فِي القُلُوبِ صُبْحُ الْ
أَمَانِيhopes وَادْلَهَمّْand grew pitch-black
أَمَانِي وَادْلَهَمّْ
Within hearts the dawn grew dark—
And the dawn of hopes shines
the dawn of hopes—and turned pitch-black.
In hearts and thoughts.
مَنْwho تُرَىdo you suppose بَعْدَafter خَطْبِهِhis calamity
مَنْ تُرَى بَعْدَ خَطْبِهِ
حَامِلاًbearing ذَلِكَthat الْقَلَمْthe pen
حَامِلاً ذَلِكَ الْقَلَمْ
Who, I wonder, after his loss,
Who after him
will bear that pen—
Will wield that pen,
قَلَمَpen of النَّاصِحِthe counselor الْجَرْيthe bold one (first part)
قَلَمَ النَّاصِحِ الْجَرْي
ءِbold (completion) الَّذِيwho يُوقِظُawakens الْهِمَمْresolve
ءِ الَّذِي يُوقِظُ الْهِمَمْ
the pen of the fearless counselor,
The pen of the candid adviser
who awakens resolve;
That awakens determination,
أَلصَّريحِthe forthright one الَّذِيwho إِذَاwhen
أَلصَّريحِ الَّذِي إِذَا
نَاصَرَchampioned الْحَقَّthe truth مَاnot احْتَشَمْheld back
نَاصَرَ الْحَقَّ مَا احْتَشَمْ
the forthright man who, when
The pen of the outspoken
he championed truth, never held back?
That reveals injustice when supporting truth.
كَانَwas فِيin المَعْرِضِthe arena السِّرَاthe lamp (first part)
كَانَ فِي المَعْرِضِ السِّرَا
جَlamp (completion) الَّذِيthat يَكْشِفُdispels الظُّلَمْthe darkness
جَ الَّذِي يَكْشِفُ الظُّلَمْ
In the arena, he was the lamp
Pure in opinion, never
that dispels the darkness;
Placing himself in suspicion's position.
طَاهِرَpure of الرَّأْيِjudgment لَمْdid not يَضَعْplace
طَاهِرَ الرَّأْيِ لَمْ يَضَعْ
نَفْسَهُhimself مَوْضِعَa position of التُّهَمْaccusations
نَفْسَهُ مَوْضِعَ التُّهَمْ
pure in judgment, he never placed
Balanced in action, his values
himself in a position open to accusation;
Weighed when values are weighed.
رَاجِحَweighty in الفِعْلِdeeds قِيمَةًworth
رَاجِحَ الفِعْلِ قِيمَةً
عِنْدَat the time مَاwhen تُوزَنُare weighed الْقِيَمْthe values
عِنْدَ مَا تُوزَنُ الْقِيَمْ
his deeds were weighty in worth
He taught the people how
when values are weighed.
Pacts are honored and commitments kept.
عَلَّمَtaught الشَّعْبَthe people كَيْفَhow تُرْare honored (first part)
عَلَّمَ الشَّعْبَ كَيْفَ تُرْ
عَىare honored (completion) عُهُودٌpledges وَتُلْتَزَمْand are upheld
عَى عُهُودٌ وَتُلْتَزَمْ
He taught the people how
He taught the people that whoever
pledges are honored and upheld.
Dislikes tyranny does not oppress.
عَلَّمَtaught الشَّعْبَthe people أَنَّthat مَنْwhoever
عَلَّمَ الشَّعْبَ أَنَّ مَنْ
كَرِهَabhorred الضَّيْمَoppression لَمْdid not يَضُمْoppress
كَرِهَ الضَّيْمَ لَمْ يَضُمْ
He taught the people that whoever
He taught the people how
abhors oppression does not oppress.
Ideals are attained and summits stormed.
عَلَّمَtaught الشَّعْبَthe people كَيْفَhow تُرْare scaled (first part)
عَلَّمَ الشَّعْبَ كَيْفَ تُرْ
قَىare scaled (completion) المَعَالِيlofty heights وَتُقْتَحَمْand are stormed
قَى المَعَالِي وَتُقْتَحَمْ
He taught the people how
He taught the people that
lofty heights are scaled and stormed.
Cowardice's miserable end is regret.
عَلَّمَtaught الشَّعْبَthe people أَنَّthat لِلْfor the
عَلَّمَ الشَّعْبَ أَنَّ لِلْ
جُبْنِcowardice غِبّاًan aftermath هُوَit is النَّدَمْremorse
جُبْنِ غِبّاً هُوَ النَّدَمْ
He taught the people that
He taught the people that a free man
cowardice's aftermath is remorse.
Is worth a thousand slaves.
عَلَّمَtaught الشَّعْبَthe people أَنَّthat حُرّاًa free man
عَلَّمَ الشَّعْبَ أَنَّ حُرّاً
بِأَلْفٍworth a thousand مِنَof الْخَدَمْservants
بِأَلْفٍ مِنَ الْخَدَمْ
He taught the people that one free man
He taught the people that with determination
is worth a thousand servants.
What fate dictates can be matched.
عَلَّمَtaught الشَّعْبَthe people أَنَّthat بِالسَّthrough striving (first part)
عَلَّمَ الشَّعْبَ أَنَّ بِالسَّ
عْيِstriving (completion) مَاthat which يَعْدِلُequals القِسَمْfate's allotments
عْيِ مَا يَعْدِلُ القِسَمْ
He taught the people that through striving
A guardian like him, if
one can equal what fate allots.
The nation bows, it will rise.
صُحُفِيٌّa journalist بِمِثْلِهِthrough one like him
صُحُفِيٌّ بِمِثْلِهِ
إِنْif كَبَتْthey stumble تَنْهَضُrise الأُمَمْthe nations
إِنْ كَبَتْ تَنْهَضُ الأُمَمْ
A journalist: through one like him,
A deputy who awakened fervor
nations rise again if they stumble.
And from truth did not sleep.
نَائِبٌa deputy أَيْقَظَawakened الْحِمَىthe homeland
نَائِبٌ أَيْقَظَ الْحِمَى
وَعَنِand concerning الْحَقِّthe truth لَمْdid not يَنَمْsleep
وَعَنِ الْحَقِّ لَمْ يَنَمْ
A deputy who awakened the homeland
Firm in peril, ascendant
and never slept in guarding truth.
At the highest of peaks.
رَابِطُsteady of الْجَأْشِheart ثَابِتٌsteadfast
رَابِطُ الْجَأْشِ ثَابِتٌ
وَهْوَwhile he فِيin أَرْفَعِthe loftiest of الْقِمَمْthe peaks
وَهْوَ فِي أَرْفَعِ الْقِمَمْ
Steady of heart, unwavering,
He was not the cunning
while on the loftiest peaks.
Minister who rouses resentment.
لَمْdid not يَكُنْbe ذَلِكَthat الْوَزِيthe minister (first part)
لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ الْوَزِي
رِminister (completion) الَّذِيwho يَحْفِزُgoads الذِّمَمْconsciences
رِ الَّذِي يَحْفِزُ الذِّمَمْ
He was not that sort of minister
Deceiving the people with pretense
who goads consciences,
And what is underneath the surface.
يَخْدَعُdeceives النَّاسَthe people بِالْبُروwith lightning (first part)
يَخْدَعُ النَّاسَ بِالْبُرو
قِlightning (completion) وَمَاand no تَحْتَهَاbeneath it دِيَمْsteady rains
قِ وَمَا تَحْتَهَا دِيَمْ
deceiving people with lightning
But when the Most High's decree descends
beneath which no steady rain falls;
And He does not toss,
فَإِذَاthen when أَدْرَكَattained المَرَاthe goal (first part)
فَإِذَا أَدْرَكَ المَرَا
مَgoal (completion) تَعَالَىgrew haughty وَلَمْand did not يَرِمْmove
مَ تَعَالَى وَلَمْ يَرِمْ
then, once he reaches his goal,
After Zakkour who can
grows haughty and will not move.
Match the lion's leap into the fray,
بَعْدَafter زَكُّورَZakkour مَنْwho لَهُhas
بَعْدَ زَكُّورَ مَنْ لَهُ
وَثْبَةُleap of اللَّيْثِthe lion فِيinto الْقُحَمْperils
وَثْبَةُ اللَّيْثِ فِي الْقُحَمْ
After Zakkour, who has
And who has the insight of the wise
the lion's leap into peril,
When making the choice.
وَلَهُand he has صَوْلَةُmight of المُطَاone obeyed (first part)
وَلَهُ صَوْلَةُ المُطَا
عِone obeyed (completion) اخْتِيَاراًwillingly إِذَاwhen حَكَمْhe rules
عِ اخْتِيَاراً إِذَا حَكَمْ
and the might of one obeyed
A breeze humbling the winds,
willingly when he rules?
For the resolute and firm.
لأُولِيfor those possessing العَزْمِresolve وَالنُّهَىand reason
لأُولِي العَزْمِ وَالنُّهَى
نَسَمٌsouls تُخْضِعُmake submit النَّسَمْthe souls
نَسَمٌ تُخْضِعُ النَّسَمْ
Those of resolve and reason have
The people have no leader
souls that make other souls bow.
Guiding with truth, though some pretend.
لَيْسَis not لِلشَّعْبِfor the people قَائِداًa leader
لَيْسَ لِلشَّعْبِ قَائِداً
بِالهُدَىwith guidance كُلُّevery مَنْone who زَعَمْclaimed
بِالهُدَى كُلُّ مَنْ زَعَمْ
Not every self-proclaimed leader
And most beloved are those who shepherd
guides the people aright.
Nations, after shepherding sacred bounds.
وَأَحَبُّand the dearest of الأُولَىthose who رَعَوْاshepherded
وَأَحَبُّ الأُولَى رَعَوْا
أُمَماًnations مَنْthe one who رَعَىguarded الحُرَمْsacred rights
أُمَماً مَنْ رَعَى الحُرَمْ
And dearest among those who shepherded
I lament a family
nations is he who guarded sacred rights.
Whose firm pillar collapsed.
أَنَاI أَرْثِيgrieve لأُسْرَةٍfor a family
أَنَا أَرْثِي لأُسْرَةٍ
رُكْنُهَاits pillar الرَّاسِخُfirmly rooted انْهَدَمْhas collapsed
رُكْنُهَا الرَّاسِخُ انْهَدَمْ
I grieve for a family
A loyal wife
whose steadfast pillar has fallen;
Whose rope of hope snapped.
وَلِزَوْجٍand for a wife وَفِيَّةٍfaithful
وَلِزَوْجٍ وَفِيَّةٍ
حَبْلُcord of آمَالِهَاher hopes انْفَصَمْsnapped
حَبْلُ آمَالِهَا انْفَصَمْ
and for a faithful wife,
And little children
the cord of whose hopes has snapped;
Stung by the pain of orphanhood.
وَصِغَارٍand little ones يُحَنَّكُوhave their palates rubbed (first part)
وَصِغَارٍ يُحَنَّكُو
نَpalates rubbed (completion) بِصَابٍwith bitter sap مِنَof اليَتَمْorphanhood
نَ بِصَابٍ مِنَ اليَتَمْ
and little ones whose palates are rubbed
Then I complain, anguished,
with the bitter sap of orphanhood.
Of the pain I suffer.
ثُمَّthen أَشْكُوI lament مُفَجَّعاًgrief-stricken
ثُمَّ أَشْكُو مُفَجَّعاً
مَاwhat أُعَانِيI endure مِنَof الأَلَمْpain
مَا أُعَانِي مِنَ الأَلَمْ
Then, grief-stricken, I lament
He was a bosom friend I lost,
the pain I endure.
So I lost boundless bounty.
هُوَhe is خِدْنٌa close companion فَقَدْتُهُI lost him
هُوَ خِدْنٌ فَقَدْتُهُ
فَقَدْloss of مَأْثُورَةِthe cherished one among النِّعَمْblessings
فَقَدْ مَأْثُورَةِ النِّعَمْ
He is a close friend whom I have lost,
My solace when distant,
as one loses a treasured blessing.
My joy when nearby.
كَانَwas شَجْوِيmy sorrow إِذَاwhen نَأَىhe went far away
كَانَ شَجْوِي إِذَا نَأَى
وَسُرُورِيand my joy إِذَاwhen أَلَمْhe came to visit
وَسُرُورِي إِذَا أَلَمْ
He was my sorrow when far away,
O you who deny the moon
and my joy when he came to visit.
Can be diminished, beware!
أَيُّهَاO you المُنْكِرُونَwho deny أَنْthat
أَيُّهَا المُنْكِرُونَ أَنْ
يَنْقُصَwane الْبَدْرُthe full moon تَمّْhas reached fullness
يَنْقُصَ الْبَدْرُ تَمّْ
O you who deny that
No blame, as this
the full moon can wane after reaching fullness:
Is the way of fate since ancient times.
لاno عِتَابٌreproach وَهَذِهِand this
لا عِتَابٌ وَهَذِهِ
سُنَّةُlaw of الدَّهْرِtime مِنْsince قِدَمْancient times
سُنَّةُ الدَّهْرِ مِنْ قِدَمْ
No reproach—this
Michel aimed for a goal
has been time's law since ancient days.
That whoever contended, collided.
رامَsought مِيشَالُMichel غَايَةًa goal
رامَ مِيشَالُ غَايَةً
مَنْwhoever تَصَدَّىtook on لَهَاit ارْتَطَمْwas dashed against
مَنْ تَصَدَّى لَهَا ارْتَطَمْ
Michel sought a goal
Liberating a homeland is not
against which all who faced it were dashed.
Easy for whoever pretends.
لَيْسَis not تَحْرِيرُliberation of مَوْطِنٍa homeland
لَيْسَ تَحْرِيرُ مَوْطِنٍ
بِيَسِيرٍeasy لِمَنْfor whoever زَعَمْclaimed
بِيَسِيرٍ لِمَنْ زَعَمْ
Liberating a homeland is not
Except by both parties spending wealth
easy, whatever anyone may claim.
And shedding blood,
دُونَهُbefore it الْحَازِبَانِthe two grave trials مِنْof
دُونَهُ الْحَازِبَانِ مِنْ
بَذْلِspending of مَالٍwealth وَسَفْكِand shedding of دَمْblood
بَذْلِ مَالٍ وَسَفْكِ دَمْ
Before it lie two grave trials:
Or a sudden onslaught
the spending of wealth and the shedding of blood;
With no warning or illness.
أَوْor حِمَامٌdeath مُفَاجِيءٌsudden
أَوْ حِمَامٌ مُفَاجِيءٌ
لاno نَذِيرٌwarning وَلاand no سَقَمْillness
لا نَذِيرٌ وَلا سَقَمْ
or death that comes suddenly,
The departed persevered stubbornly
with no warning and no illness.
Without wearying.
شَدَّhow intense مَاwhat كَابَدَendured الْفَقِيthe departed (first part)
شَدَّ مَا كَابَدَ الْفَقِي
دُdeparted (completion) دَؤُوباًever persevering بِلاwithout سَأَمْweariness
دُ دَؤُوباً بِلا سَأَمْ
How much the departed endured,
Certain that the life of ignominy
ever persevering, without weariness,
Is not better than oblivion.
مُوقِناًcertain أَنَّthat عِيشَةَa life of الذَّhumiliation (first part)
مُوقِناً أَنَّ عِيشَةَ الذَّ
لِّhumiliation (completion) لاdoes not تَفْضُلُsurpass الْعَدَمْnonexistence
لِّ لا تَفْضُلُ الْعَدَمْ
certain that a life of humiliation
So he passed while exerting himself
is no better than nonexistence.
And what he sought were nations.
فَقَضَىso he died وَهْوَwhile he فِيin الْجِهَاthe struggle (first part)
فَقَضَى وَهْوَ فِي الْجِهَا
دِstruggle (completion) وَمَطْلُوبُهُand his goal أَمَمْclose at hand
دِ وَمَطْلُوبُهُ أَمَمْ
So he died while still in the struggle,
With his soul, then with his soul
with his goal close at hand.
He began life and ended it.
بِالْفِدَىwith self-sacrifice ثُمَّthen بِالفِدَىwith self-sacrifice
بِالْفِدَى ثُمَّ بِالفِدَى
بَدَأَbegan الْعُمْرَlife واخْتَتَمْand concluded
بَدَأَ الْعُمْرَ واخْتَتَمْ
With self-sacrifice, and again self-sacrifice,
So his share today
he began his life and ended it.
Is of eternity and glory.
فَلَهُso he has الْيَوْمَtoday قِسْطُهُhis share
فَلَهُ الْيَوْمَ قِسْطُهُ
مِنْof خُلودٍimmortality وَمِنْand of عِظَمْgreatness
مِنْ خُلودٍ وَمِنْ عِظَمْ
So today he has his share
of immortality and greatness.
Partial English translation: 92 of 94 Arabic lines translated.