ضَرَبَit struck الأَرْضَthe earth فَانْتَهَبْand plundered
ضَرَبَ الأَرْضَ فَانْتَهَبْ
وَكَإِيَماضَةٍand like a flash ذَهَبْit went
وَكَإِيَماضَةٍ ذَهَبْ
It struck the earth and plundered it,
He struck the land and plundered it,
and like a flash it was gone.
And like a flash he was gone.
آيَةُthe marvel الْعَصْرِof the age جَائبٌa traverser
آيَةُ الْعَصْرِ جَائبٌ
بَيْنَمَاwhile لاَحَit appeared إِذْsuddenly عَزَبْit vanished
بَيْنَمَا لاَحَ إِذْ عَزَبْ
The marvel of the age, a traverser,
A sign of the times, fate turns,
no sooner appeared than vanished.
As he appeared then withdrew.
ضَاقَgrew narrow بِالسُّرْعَةِwith speed الْفَضَاspace (start)
ضَاقَ بِالسُّرْعَةِ الْفَضَا
ءُspace (completion) وَلَمْand not يَبْقَremained مُغْتَرِبْone far from home
ءُ وَلَمْ يَبْقَ مُغْتَرِبْ
Space grew narrow before its speed,
Space narrowed in haste,
and none remained far from home.
And no exile remained.
يُدْرِكُit reaches الشَّأوَthe goal أَوْor يَكَاalmost does (start)
يُدْرِكُ الشَّأوَ أَوْ يَكَا
دُalmost does (completion) مَتَىwhenever أَزْمَعَit resolved الطَّلبْthe pursuit
دُ مَتَى أَزْمَعَ الطَّلبْ
It reaches the goal, or nearly does,
He seizes opportunity or almost,
whenever it resolves to seek it.
Whenever he sought gain.
أَرْزُthe cedar لُبْنَانَof Lebanon هَاكَهُbehold it
أَرْزُ لُبْنَانَ هَاكَهُ
حَلَبٌAleppo هَذِهِthis is حَلَبْAleppo
حَلَبٌ هَذِهِ حَلَبْ
The cedar of Lebanon—behold it!
The cedars of Lebanon, how majestic!
Aleppo—this is Aleppo!
This is Aleppo, this Aleppo.
أَيُّهاO you الْجَائِزُthe traverser المَجَاthe wilderness (start)
أَيُّها الْجَائِزُ المَجَا
هِلُthe wilderness (completion) لاَnot يَعْرِفُknows النَّصبْweariness
هِلُ لاَ يَعْرِفُ النَّصبْ
O traverser of the wilderness,
O passersby who know not fatigue,
who knows no weariness,
It links cities and villages
يَصِلُit connects المُدْنَthe cities وَالْقُرَىand the villages
يَصِلُ المُدْنَ وَالْقُرَى
بَمَتِينٍwith a sturdy one مِنَof السَّببْthe cord
بَمَتِينٍ مِنَ السَّببْ
it connects the cities and villages
With two firm ropes.
with a sturdy cord.
Serpents, whether coiled
أُفْعُوَانٌa great serpent إِذَاwhen الْتَوَىit coils
أُفْعُوَانٌ إِذَا الْتَوَى
فيin صُعُودٍan ascent أَوْor فيin صَبَبْa descent
في صُعُودٍ أَوْ في صَبَبْ
A great serpent when it coils,
Or crawling over peaks and dales.
uphill or down a slope;
If it meanders between meadows,
إِنْif تَرَامَىit races onward بَيْنَamong الرُّبَىthe hills
إِنْ تَرَامَى بَيْنَ الرُّبَى
خِلْتَyou would think فُلْكاًa ship بَيْنَamid الْحَبَبْthe ripples
خِلْتَ فُلْكاً بَيْنَ الْحَبَبْ
if it races among the hills,
You’d think it a ship on the seas.
you would think it a ship amid ripples.
And when trailing smoke,
وَإذَاand when شِيمَit is seen مُوقَداًablaze
وَإذَا شِيمَ مُوقَداً
فَهْوَthen it is كَالنَّجمِlike the star ذِيwith الذَّنَبْthe tail
فَهْوَ كَالنَّجمِ ذِي الذَّنَبْ
And when seen ablaze,
It’s like a shooting star.
it is like a star with a tail.
In this wispy veil
إِنَّindeed فيwithin هَذِهِthese الضُّلوthe ribs (start)
إِنَّ في هَذِهِ الضُّلو
عِthe ribs (completion) لَكَاindeed like (fragment) لَمَارِجِthe smokeless flame (fragment) التَهَبْblazed
عِ لَكَا لَمَارِجِ التَهَبْ
Within these ribs there is indeed
Are hints of steam that rose and blew away.
something like a smokeless flame ablaze.
It is a longing for refuge
ذَاكَthat حِسٌّa feeling مِنَfrom الْكُمُوdormancy (start)
ذَاكَ حِسٌّ مِنَ الْكُمُو
نِdormancy (completion) وَرَىsparked زَنْدُهُits firestick فَهَبّْand it awoke
نِ وَرَى زَنْدُهُ فَهَبّْ
That is a feeling: out of dormancy
Where all is desirable.
its firestick sparked, and it awoke.
The leaning of its trees is grace,
هُوَit شَوْقٌlonging إلىfor حِمىًa sheltered homeland
هُوَ شَوْقٌ إلى حِمىً
كُلُّall مَاthat which فِيِهِis within it مُسْتَحَبّْbeloved
كُلُّ مَا فِيِهِ مُسْتَحَبّْ
It is longing for a sheltered homeland
And in its trunks, humps.
where everything is beloved.
O starry one,
مَيْلُthe leaning شَجْرَائِهِof its trees حَنَاtenderness (start)
مَيْلُ شَجْرَائِهِ حَنَا
نٌtenderness (completion) وَفِيand in طَوْدِهِits mountain حَدَبْcompassion
نٌ وَفِي طَوْدِهِ حَدَبْ
Its trees' leaning is tenderness,
Beauty lies in those stars.
and its mountain holds compassion.
Excellent is your share of the hoary,
أَيُّهذِيO you الشَّهبَاءُal-Shahba, the gray city
أَيُّهذِي الشَّهبَاءُ
وَالْحُسْنُand beauty فيis in ذَلِكَthat الشَّهبْgray hue
وَالْحُسْنُ في ذَلِكَ الشَّهبْ
O you, al-Shahba,
Element of stars.
with beauty in that gray hue!
That unsullied element
حَبَّذَاhow lovely فيin ثَرَاكِyour soil مَاwhat فِيـin (start)
حَبَّذَا في ثَرَاكِ مَا فِيـ
ـهِit (suffix) مِنْof عُنْصُرِthe substance الشُّهبْof shooting stars
ـهِ مِنْ عُنْصُرِ الشُّهبْ
How lovely is what your soil holds
That remained free and uncorrupted.
of the substance of shooting stars!
The element that brought Ibn Hamdan
ذَلِكَthat العُنصُرُessence الَّذِيwhich
ذَلِكَ العُنصُرُ الَّذِي
ظَلَّremained حُرّاًوَلَمْpure and was not يُشَبْadulterated
ظَلَّ حُرّاًوَلَمْ يُشَبْ
That essence which
All that he loved.
remained pure and unalloyed;
And with it Ahmad climbed
عُنْصُرٌan essence قَدْindeed أَصَابَobtained مِنْـfrom (start)
عُنْصُرٌ قَدْ أَصَابَ مِنْـ
ـهُit (suffix) ابْنُIbn حَمْدانَHamdan مَاwhat أَحَبْhe desired
ـهُ ابْنُ حَمْدانَ مَا أَحَبْ
an essence from which was gained,
To the pinnacle of poetry in the Arabs.
by Ibn Hamdan, what he desired;
Excellent is your new share
وَبِهِand through it أَحْمَدُAhmad ارْتَقَىascended
وَبِهِ أَحْمَدُ ارْتَقَى
ذُرْوَةَthe summit الشِّعرِof poetry فيamong الْعَرَبْthe Arabs
ذُرْوَةَ الشِّعرِ في الْعَرَبْ
and through it Ahmad ascended
And the expanse it contains.
the summit of poetry among the Arabs.
Excellent is the ancient section
حَبَّذَاhow lovely قِسْمُكَyour district الْجَدِيـthe new (start)
حَبَّذَا قِسْمُكَ الْجَدِيـ
ـدُthe new (completion) وَمَاand what فِيهِis in it مِنْof رَحَبْspaciousness
ـدُ وَمَا فِيهِ مِنْ رَحَبْ
How lovely is your new district,
Where ages nested below it.
and all the spaciousness within it!
The platforms with their jewels
حَبَّذَاhow lovely الْجَانِبُthe quarter الْقَدِيـthe old (start)
حَبَّذَا الْجَانِبُ الْقَدِيـ
ـمُthe old (completion) نَبَتْrecoiled دُونَهُbefore it الْحِقَبْthe ages
ـمُ نَبَتْ دُونَهُ الْحِقَبْ
How lovely the old quarter,
Of stone or else wood.
before which the ages recoiled!
The gardens where from the bowers
أَلسُّوَيْقَاتُthe little markets عَقْدُهَاtheir vaulting
أَلسُّوَيْقَاتُ عَقْدُهَا
مِنْof حِجَارٍstone أَوْor مِنْof خَشَبْwood
مِنْ حِجَارٍ أَوْ مِنْ خَشَبْ
The little markets, their vaulting
Fountains play.
of stone or of wood;
The buildings with their fine domes
وَالْبَسَاتِينُand the orchards مِنْfrom جَنَاfruit (start)
وَالْبَسَاتِينُ مِنْ جَنَا
هَاtheir (suffix) الأَفَانِينُthe boughs تُهْتَدَبْare plucked
هَا الأَفَانِينُ تُهْتَدَبْ
and the orchards, whose fruit
And remarkable cupolas.
is gathered from the boughs;
What a visit it was!
وَالمَبَانِيand the buildings بِهَاin them الحُلِيُّthe ornaments الـthe (article)
وَالمَبَانِي بِهَا الحُلِيُّ الـ
ـبَدِيعَاتُexquisite وَالْقُبَبْand the domes
ـبَدِيعَاتُ وَالْقُبَبْ
and the buildings, bearing adornments
And I was filled with longing.
of exquisite beauty, and domes.
My joy is now complete, having seen
يَاoh لَهَاfor it (exclamation) مِنْof زِيَارَةٍa visit
يَا لَهَا مِنْ زِيَارَةٍ
قُضِيَتْwas fulfilled وَهْيَand it لِيfor me أَرَبْa desire
قُضِيَتْ وَهْيَ لِي أَرَبْ
Oh, what a visit,
Them closely today.
fulfilled—a wish of mine!
And for having fulfilled
تَمَّbecame complete سَعْدِيmy happiness بِمَنْthrough those whom رَأَيْـsaw (start)
تَمَّ سَعْدِي بِمَنْ رَأَيْـ
ـتُI (suffix) بِهَاin it الْيَوْمَtoday عَنْat كَثَبْclose quarters
ـتُ بِهَا الْيَوْمَ عَنْ كَثَبْ
My happiness was complete through those I saw
Some of what was due to them.
there today, at close quarters,
Whoever says the sweetest praise of them
وَبِأَنِّيand through my having قَضَيْتُfulfilled مِنْof
وَبِأَنِّي قَضَيْتُ مِنْ
حَقِّهمْtheir due بَعْضَsome of مَاwhat وَجَبْwas owed
حَقِّهمْ بَعْضَ مَا وَجَبْ
and through my having fulfilled
Does not lie.
some of the duty I owed them.
I came to them, my heart
إِنَّindeed مَنْwhoever قَالَuttered فِيهِمُabout them
إِنَّ مَنْ قَالَ فِيهِمُ
أَعْذَبَthe sweetest المَدْحِpraise مَاdid not كَذَبْlie
أَعْذَبَ المَدْحِ مَا كَذَبْ
Indeed, whoever spoke of them
Pounding harder as I drew near.
in the sweetest praise did not lie.
“Be gentle with me,” it said,
جِئْتُهُمْI came to them وَالْفُؤَادُand the heart بِيwithin me
جِئْتُهُمْ وَالْفُؤَادُ بِي
خَافِقٌbeating كُلَّمَاwhenever اقْتَرَبْit drew near
خَافِقٌ كُلَّمَا اقْتَرَبْ
I came to them, my heart within me
“Like one returning to his tribe after long absence.”
beating whenever it drew near.
By God, that hour
قَالْتَقَوْنِيthen they met me كَعَائِدٍlike one returning
قَالْتَقَوْنِي كَعَائِدٍ
لِلْحِمَىto the homeland بَعْدَafter مَاhaving اغْتَرَبْlived abroad
لِلْحِمَى بَعْدَ مَا اغْتَرَبْ
Then they met me like one returning
Eased the strain on the weary.
to his homeland after living abroad.
It is no wonder! For they are
تَلْكَthat وَاللهِby God سَاعَةٌan hour
تَلْكَ وَاللهِ سَاعَةٌ
أَنْسَتِmade forget المُتْعَبَthe weary one التَّعبْweariness
أَنْسَتِ المُتْعَبَ التَّعبْ
That, by God, was an hour
The elite of East and West.
that made the weary forget their weariness.
Of women, luminaries
لَيْسَit is not بِدْعاًa novelty وَإِنَّهمْand indeed they
لَيْسَ بِدْعاً وَإِنَّهمْ
صَفْوَةُthe choicest الشَّرْقِof the East وَالنُّخبْand the elite
صَفْوَةُ الشَّرْقِ وَالنُّخبْ
It was no wonder, for they are
Adorned with beauty and grace.
the flower of the East, its chosen elite:
Chaste ladies nurturing
مِنْamong نِسَاءٍwomen زَوَاهِرٍradiant
مِنْ نِسَاءٍ زَوَاهِرٍ
بِحِلَىwith the ornaments الْحُسْنِof beauty وَالأَدَبْand refinement
بِحِلَى الْحُسْنِ وَالأَدَبْ
women radiant
The highborn and elect.
with the ornaments of beauty and refinement,
And men, who when
مُحْصَنَاتٍchaste women مُرَبِّياrearers (start)
مُحْصَنَاتٍ مُرَبِّيا
تِrearers (completion) النَّجيبَاتِthe noble daughters وَالنُّجبْand the noble sons
تِ النَّجيبَاتِ وَالنُّجبْ
chaste women, rearers
They compete, win the prize.
of noble daughters and sons;
They ennobled knowledge as much as they could,
وَرِجَالٍand men إِذَاwhenever هُمُthey
وَرِجَالٍ إِذَا هُمُ
سَابَقُواthey raced َأحْرَزُواthey won الْقَصَبْthe victor's prize
سَابَقُوا َأحْرَزُوا الْقَصَبْ
and men who, whenever they
And did not scorn the basic.
race, win the prize.
The most skilled of students
شَرَّفُواthey honored الْعِلمْlearning مَاas much as اسْتَطَاwere able (start)
شَرَّفُوا الْعِلمْ مَا اسْتَطَا
عُواthey were able (completion) وَلَمْand did not يَحْقِرُواdisdain النَّشَبْwealth
عُوا وَلَمْ يَحْقِرُوا النَّشَبْ
They honored learning as best they could,
Of the honorable way of life.
and did not disdain wealth.
The most forbearing when faced
أَمْهَرُthe most skillful الطَّالِبِينَof the seekers لِلْسْكَfor gain (apparent transposition; start)
أَمْهَرُ الطَّالِبِينَ لِلْسْكَ
بِgain (completion) مِنْfrom خَيْرِthe best مُكْتَسَبْmeans of earning
بِ مِنْ خَيْرِ مُكْتَسَبْ
The most skillful seekers of gain,
With that which allays wrath.
from the best means of earning;
The steadiest if excess
أحْلَمُthe most forbearing النَّاسِof people عَنْthrough هُدىًright guidance
أحْلَمُ النَّاسِ عَنْ هُدىً
مَاwhat الَّذِيis it that يُصْلِحُsets right الْغَضَبْanger
مَا الَّذِي يُصْلِحُ الْغَضَبْ
the most forbearing of people, through right guidance—
Should bring harm.
what can anger put right?
Whoever saw them in position
أَحْزَمُthe most prudent الْخَلْقِof all people إِنْif يَكُنْthere is
أَحْزَمُ الْخَلْقِ إِنْ يَكُنْ
سَرَفٌextravagance جَالِبُa bringer الْعَطَبْof ruin
سَرَفٌ جَالِبُ الْعَطَبْ
The most prudent of all, if
To win, would leap.
extravagance is a bringer of ruin.
Attaining the utmost
مَنْwhoever رَأَىsaw مِنْهُمُamong them المَكَاthe opening (start)
مَنْ رَأَى مِنْهُمُ المَكَا
نَthe opening (completion) لِفَوْزٍfor success بِهِat it وَثَبْleapt
نَ لِفَوْزٍ بِهِ وَثَبْ
Whoever among them saw an opening
Of all he sought.
for success leapt at it,
Among them is the accountant
مُحْرِزَاًattaining غَايَةَthe utmost الَّذِيof what
مُحْرِزَاً غَايَةَ الَّذِي
رَامَhe sought فيin كُلِّevery مُطَّلبْpursuit
رَامَ في كُلِّ مُطَّلبْ
attaining the utmost of what
None can compete with in reckoning.
he sought in every pursuit.
Among them is the scribe
فِيهِمُamong them الْحَاسِبُthe reckoner الَّذِيwho
فِيهِمُ الْحَاسِبُ الَّذِي
لاَnot يُجَارَىis equaled إِذَاwhen حَسَبْhe calculates
لاَ يُجَارَى إِذَا حَسَبْ
Among them is the reckoner who
None can match in writing.
has no equal when he calculates;
Among them is the sage
فِيهِمْamong them الْكَاتِبُthe writer الَّذِيwho
فِيهِمْ الْكَاتِبُ الَّذِي
لاَnot يُبَارَىis rivaled إِذَاwhen كَتَبْhe writes
لاَ يُبَارَى إِذَا كَتَبْ
among them is the writer who
Whose intellect pierces like a star.
has no rival when he writes;
Among them is the poet
فِيهِمْamong them الْعَالِمُthe scholar الَّذِيwho
فِيهِمْ الْعَالِمُ الَّذِي
عَقْلُهُhis mind كَوكَبٌa star ثَقَبْshone brightly
عَقْلُهُ كَوكَبٌ ثَقَبْ
among them is the scholar whose
Whose verse enthralls souls.
mind is a brightly shining star;
Among them is the eloquent orator
فِيهِمْamong them الشَّاعِرُthe poet الَّذِيwho
فِيهِمْ الشَّاعِرُ الَّذِي
شَعْرُهُhis verse لِلنُّهىto the intellects خَلَبْwas enchanting
شَعْرُهُ لِلنُّهى خَلَبْ
among them is the poet whose
When addressing the crowd.
verse enchants the intellect;
Among them is the artisan
فِيهِمْamong them الْقَائِلُthe speaker الصَّؤُوthe commanding (start)
فِيهِمْ الْقَائِلُ الصَّؤُو
لَthe commanding (completion) عَلَىover الْجَمْعِthe assembly إِنْwhen خَطَبْhe delivers an address
لَ عَلَى الْجَمْعِ إِنْ خَطَبْ
among them is the speaker, commanding
Whose craft is a wonder.
the assembly whenever he addresses it;
Among them is the charming composer
فِيهِمْamong them الصَّانِعُthe craftsman الَّذِيwho
فِيهِمْ الصَّانِعُ الَّذِي
صُنْعُهُhis work آيَةُa marvel الْعَجَبْof wonder
صُنْعُهُ آيَةُ الْعَجَبْ
among them is the craftsman whose
Of musical modes.
work is a wondrous marvel;
O noble ones who have granted me
فِيهِمْamong them المُطْرِبُthe musician المُجـthe innovator (start)
فِيهِمْ المُطْرِبُ المُجـ
ـدُّthe innovator (completion) فُنُوناًforms مِنَof الطَّرَبْmusical rapture
ـدُّ فُنُوناً مِنَ الطَّرَبْ
among them is the musician, renewing
The highest stations!
forms of musical rapture.
You have given me a pride
يَاO كِرَاماًnoble ones أَحَلَّنِيplaced me
يَا كِرَاماً أَحَلَّنِي
فَضْلُهُمْtheir generosity أَرْفَعَthe highest الرُّتَبْranks
فَضْلُهُمْ أَرْفَعَ الرُّتَبْ
O noble ones, I was raised
More precious than lineage.
by their generosity to the highest ranks!
Who am I, and what am I
إِنَّindeed فَخْراًan honor نَحَلْتُمُوyou bestowed (start)
إِنَّ فَخْراً نَحَلْتُمُو
نِيon me (suffix) لأَغْلَىis indeed the most precious فِيin الْحَسَبْnoble standing
نِي لأَغْلَى فِي الْحَسَبْ
Indeed, the honor you have bestowed
To poetry and literature?
on me is the most precious mark of esteem.
لَمْnot يَكُنْwas لِيfor me وَمَنْand who أَنَاam I
لَمْ يَكُنْ لِي وَمَنْ أَنَا
هُوَit لِلشِّعرِis for poetry وَالأَدَبْand literature
هُوَ لِلشِّعرِ وَالأَدَبْ
It was not for me—and who am I?
It belongs to poetry and literature.
Partial English translation: 99 of 102 Arabic lines translated.