ذَلِكَthat الرُّزْءُbereavement فِيin the loss of الصَّدِيقِthe friend الْكَرِيمِnoble
ذَلِكَ الرُّزْءُ فِي الصَّدِيقِ الْكَرِيمِ
كَانَwas سَهْماًan arrow أَصَابَنِيstruck me فِيin الصَّمِيمِthe innermost core
كَانَ سَهْماً أَصَابَنِي فِي الصَّمِيمِ
That bereavement of the noble friend
That misfortune in the noble friend
was an arrow that struck me to the core.
Was an arrow that struck me in the core
كُلَّمَاwhenever جَدَّwas renewed ذِكْرُهُhis memory بِيَwithin me جَدَّتْwas renewed
كُلَّمَا جَدَّ ذِكْرُهُ بِيَ جَدَّتْ
يَقْظَةٌan awakening فِيin الجِرَاحِthe wounds مِنْfrom تَهْوِيمِdrowsing
يَقْظَةٌ فِي الجِرَاحِ مِنْ تَهْوِيمِ
Whenever his memory returned to me, there returned
Whenever his mention revived in me
a waking in my wounds from their slumber.
There awoke in my wounds an acute wakefulness
كَانَwas يَوْمَthe day انْتَوَيْتُI intended فِيin مِصْرَEgypt وَالشَّاand Syria (beginning)
كَانَ يَوْمَ انْتَوَيْتُ فِي مِصْرَ وَالشَّا
مِcompletion of 'Syria' لُبْنَانَLebanon يَوْمَa day حُزْنٍof grief عَمِيمِall-embracing
مِ لُبْنَانَ يَوْمَ حُزْنٍ عَمِيمِ
The day I set my sights, in Egypt and Syria,
It was the day I turned away in Egypt while shame
on Lebanon was a day of all-embracing grief.
Engulfed Lebanon, a day of deep sorrow
مَاwhat دَهَىbefell الضَّادَthe tongue of ḍād فِيin أَبَرِّthe most devoted of بَنِيهَاher sons
مَا دَهَى الضَّادَ فِي أَبَرِّ بَنِيهَا
مَاwhat دَهَىbefell الشَّرْقَthe East فِيin فَتَاهُits young man الْعَظِيمِgreat
مَا دَهَى الشَّرْقَ فِي فَتَاهُ الْعَظِيمِ
What befell the tongue of ḍād in her most devoted son!
The land where culture thrived did not grieve more
What befell the East in its great young man!
Nor did the East for its magnificent youth
فِيin الأَدِيبِthe writer الأَدِيبِcultivated وَالشَّاعِرُand the poet الشَّاperceptive (beginning)
فِي الأَدِيبِ الأَدِيبِ وَالشَّاعِرُ الشَّا
عِرِcompletion of 'perceptive' وَالمِدْرَهِand the eloquent advocate الأَرِيبِdiscerning الْحَكِيمِwise
عِرِ وَالمِدْرَهِ الأَرِيبِ الْحَكِيمِ
In the cultivated writer, the feeling poet,
For the literary man of letters, the poet, the crafty, wise one
and the eloquent, discerning, wise advocate.
For the journalist who was no impostor
فِيin الصِّحَافِيِّthe journalist لَمْnot يَكُنْwas بِدَعِيٍّat all a pretender
فِي الصِّحَافِيِّ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِدَعِيٍّ
وَالرِّوَائِيِّand the novelist لَمْnot يَكُنْwas بِزَنِيمِat all an interloper
وَالرِّوَائِيِّ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِزَنِيمِ
In the journalist who was no pretender,
And the novelist who was no debauchee
and the novelist who was no interloper.
A flag whose multiplicity did not mar
عَلَمٌa luminary لَمْdid not يَضِرْimpair تَعَدُّدُهُhis multiplicity فِيin
عَلَمٌ لَمْ يَضِرْ تَعَدُّدُهُ فِي
كُلِّevery وَصْفٍquality بِوَحْدَةِthe unity of الأُقْنُومِthe essence
كُلِّ وَصْفٍ بِوَحْدَةِ الأُقْنُومِ
A luminary whose multiplicity in
The oneness of his nature in any description or fair hue
every quality never impaired the unity of his essence.
O star of beauty in the sacred art’s sanctum
يَاO نَجِيَّintimate of الْجَمَالِbeauty فِيin مَقْدِسِthe sanctuary of الْفَart (beginning)
يَا نَجِيَّ الْجَمَالِ فِي مَقْدِسِ الْفَ
نِّcompletion of 'art' وَمِحْرَابِهِand its prayer-niche كَنَجْوَىlike the communion of الْكَلِيمِMoses, the one spoken to
نِّ وَمِحْرَابِهِ كَنَجْوَى الْكَلِيمِ
O intimate of beauty in art's sanctuary
Like the whispers of the Almighty
and its prayer-niche, communing like Moses!
Where is the weaver of rhetoric in every
أَيْنَwhere كَاسِيthe one clothing الْبَيَانِeloquence مِنْin كُلِّevery ثَوْبٍrobe
أَيْنَ كَاسِي الْبَيَانِ مِنْ كُلِّ ثَوْبٍ
عَبْقَرِيٍّof genius وَكُلِّand every لَوْنٍhue وَسِيمِhandsome
عَبْقَرِيٍّ وَكُلِّ لَوْنٍ وَسِيمِ
Where is he who clothed eloquence in every robe
Ingenious garb, in every fine color?
of genius, and every handsome hue?
Who can emulate that outpouring torrent in its splendor and beauty?
مَنْwho لِذَاكَfor that النَّثِيرِprose فِيin وَشْيِهِits brocade الرَّاwondrous (beginning)
مَنْ لِذَاكَ النَّثِيرِ فِي وَشْيِهِ الرَّا
ئِعِcompletion of 'wondrous' حُسْناًin beauty وَمَنْand who لِذَاكَfor that النَّظِيمِverse
ئِعِ حُسْناً وَمَنْ لِذَاكَ النَّظِيمِ
Who is there for that prose, with its wondrous brocade
Who can emulate that systematic composition?
of beauty, and who for that verse?
Who can emulate the ingenious rhetorical construction
مَنْwho لِصَوْغِfor fashioning المَبْنَىthe form الْبَدِيعِexquisite وَإِخْرَاand bringing forth (beginning)
مَنْ لِصَوْغِ المَبْنَى الْبَدِيعِ وَإِخْرَا
جِcompletion of 'bringing forth' المَعَانِيthe meanings فِيin ذَلِكَthat التَّقْوِيمِordered shaping
جِ المَعَانِي فِي ذَلِكَ التَّقْوِيمِ
Who can fashion the exquisite form and bring forth
And the emergence of meanings in that framework?
the meanings in that ordered shape?
Verily, that talent holds a magic
إِنَّindeed مِنْin ذَلِكَthat الْقَرِيضِpoetry لَسِحْراًsurely magic
إِنَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْقَرِيضِ لَسِحْراً
لَيْسَis not بِالمُفْتَرِيat all deceptive وَلاnor المَوْهُومِimagined
لَيْسَ بِالمُفْتَرِي وَلا المَوْهُومِ
There is indeed magic in that poetry,
That is no pretense or delusion
neither deceptive nor imagined.
It is in every Arab territory
هُوit فِيin كُلِّevery مَوْطِنٍhomeland عَرَبِيٍّArab
هُو فِي كُلِّ مَوْطِنٍ عَرَبِيٍّ
طَوْقُthe collar of وَرْقَائِهِits gray dove وَقَيْدُand the tether of الرِّيمِthe gazelle
طَوْقُ وَرْقَائِهِ وَقَيْدُ الرِّيمِ
It is, in every Arab homeland,
The guarantee of its protection and deterrence of transgressors
the collar of its gray dove and the gazelle's tether.
It tamed its devil so it did not pelt people with evil
رِيضَwas tamed شَيْطَانِهِhis demon فَلَمْso did not يَرْجُمِpelt النَّاpeople (beginning)
رِيضَ شَيْطَانِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجُمِ النَّا
سَcompletion of 'people' بِسُوءٍwith evil وَلَمْand not يَكُنْwas بِرَجِيمِat all accursed
سَ بِسُوءٍ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بِرَجِيمِ
His demon was tamed; it never pelted people
Nor was it banished or made an outcast
with evil, nor was it accursed.
Seldom amongst those we knew
قَلَّwere few شَرْوَاكَyour equals فِيamong الَّذِينَthose whom عَرَفْنَاwe knew
قَلَّ شَرْوَاكَ فِي الَّذِينَ عَرَفْنَا
مِنْamong رَفِيقٍthose gentle بِالنَّاسِtoward people أَوْor مِنْamong رَحِيمِthe compassionate
مِنْ رَفِيقٍ بِالنَّاسِ أَوْ مِنْ رَحِيمِ
Few were your equals among those we knew,
As congenial or compassionate
among the gentle toward people or the compassionate.
His share of the joy of those he brought joy to
حَظُّهُhis share مِنْin سُرُورِthe joy of مَنْwhoever سُرَّrejoiced فِيهِمْamong them
حَظُّهُ مِنْ سُرُورِ مَنْ سُرَّ فِيهِمْ
حَظُّهُhis share مِنْin سَقَامِthe illness of كُلِّevery سَقِيمِailing person
حَظُّهُ مِنْ سَقَامِ كُلِّ سَقِيمِ
His share in the joy of whoever rejoiced among them
Was his share of the pain of every sufferer
was his share in the illness of every sufferer.
إِنْif أَجَفَّتْdried up مِدَادَهُhis ink حُرْقَةٌanguish فِيin النَّفْthe soul (beginning)
إِنْ أَجَفَّتْ مِدَادَهُ حُرْقَةٌ فِي النَّفْ
سِcompletion of 'soul' أَجْرَتْهُmade it flow دَمْعَةٌa tear مِنْfrom يَتِيمِan orphan
سِ أَجْرَتْهُ دَمْعَةٌ مِنْ يَتِيمِ
If anguish in his soul dried up his ink,
If dryness stanched his ink
a tear from an orphan made it flow.
His tears would flow from a pitiable orphan
خلقٌcharacter نَفْحُهُits fragrance كَمَاjust as نَفَحَgave off fragrance الرَّوْthe garden (beginning)
خلقٌ نَفْحُهُ كَمَا نَفَحَ الرَّوْ
ضُcompletion of 'garden' وَلُطْفٌand gentleness مُرُورُهُits passing كَالنَّسِيمِlike the breeze
ضُ وَلُطْفٌ مُرُورُهُ كَالنَّسِيمِ
A character breathing fragrance like a garden,
A being whose breath is like the blowing of the winds
and gentleness passing like the breeze.
And whose gentle passage is like a breeze
إِنَّindeed خَطْباًa calamity أَدْمَىmade bleed أَخَاكَyour brother لَخَطْبٌsurely a calamity
إِنَّ خَطْباً أَدْمَى أَخَاكَ لَخَطْبٌ
بِتَجَنِّيهِthrough its injustice فَوْقَbeyond حِلْمِthe forbearance of الْحَلِيمِthe forbearing one
بِتَجَنِّيهِ فَوْقَ حِلْمِ الْحَلِيمِ
Indeed, a calamity that made your brother bleed is a calamity
If a grave issue aggrieved you, friend
whose injustice exceeds the patience of the patient.
It aggrieved beyond the patience of the patient
فَلْيَقُلْthen let him say أَبْلَغَthe most eloquent المَقَالَةِutterance فِيabout الدَّهْtime (beginning)
فَلْيَقُلْ أَبْلَغَ المَقَالَةِ فِي الدَّهْ
رِcompletion of 'time' وَفِيand about صَرْفِهِits vicissitudes الأَلِيمِpainful الأَلِيمِthe afflicted one
رِ وَفِي صَرْفِهِ الأَلِيمِ الأَلِيمِ
Then let the most eloquent words be spoken about time
Let the most eloquent tongue declare
and its painful turns, by the grief-stricken.
In his most painful, most painful adversity
قَامَhas been established عُذْرُthe justification of المَوْتُورِthe bereaved فَانْهَضْso rise خَطِيبَorator of الشَّرْthe East (beginning)
قَامَ عُذْرُ المَوْتُورِ فَانْهَضْ خَطِيبَ الشَّرْ
قِcompletion of 'East' وَازْأَرْand roar زَأْرَthe roar of الْهَصُورِthe crushing lion الشَّتِيمِgrim-faced
قِ وَازْأَرْ زَأْرَ الْهَصُورِ الشَّتِيمِ
The bereaved man's justification stands; rise, orator of the East,
The excuse of the aggrieved is established, rise, o pulpit orator of the East
and roar like the grim-faced, crushing lion!
And roar with the roar of a furious chider
وَأَثِرْand stir up غَيْهَبَthe darkness of المِدَادِink وَأَرْسِلْand send forth
وَأَثِرْ غَيْهَبَ المِدَادِ وَأَرْسِلْ
صَعَقَاتٍthunderbolts لَهَاthey have انْقِضَاضُthe plunging of الرجُومِhurled stones or meteors
صَعَقَاتٍ لَهَا انْقِضَاضُ الرجُومِ
Stir the darkness of ink, and send forth
Expend the surplus of your ink, unleash
thunderbolts with the downward rush of meteors.
Bolts that shatter with the force of bombardment
هَاتِbring آيَاتِكَyour verses الْكِبَارِmighty وَفِيهَاand in them
هَاتِ آيَاتِكَ الْكِبَارِ وَفِيهَا
لِلنُّهَىfor the intellects كُلُّeverything مُقْعِدٍarresting وَمُقِيمِand rousing
لِلنُّهَى كُلُّ مُقْعِدٍ وَمُقِيمِ
Bring your mighty verses, and in them
Present your major signs, wherein
all that arrests and rouses the mind.
Is guidance to desist for every dweller and resident
غَيْرَyet أَنِّيthat I أَرَاكَsee you تَأْبَىrefuse عَلَىdespite الشِّدَّhardship (beginning)
غَيْرَ أَنِّي أَرَاكَ تَأْبَى عَلَى الشِّدَّ
ةِcompletion of 'hardship' بَثّاًa voicing لِحُزْنِكَof your sorrow المَكْتُومِconcealed
ةِ بَثّاً لِحُزْنِكَ المَكْتُومِ
Yet I see you refuse, despite the hardship,
Except I see you refuse violence in diffusing
to give voice to your concealed sorrow.
Your concealed sorrow
لاnot لِعِيٍّfrom inarticulacy وَإِنَّمَاbut rather الْقَوْلُspeech فِيin رُزْa bereavement (beginning)
لا لِعِيٍّ وَإِنَّمَا الْقَوْلُ فِي رُزْ
ءٍcompletion of 'bereavement' كَهَذَاlike this لِصَاِمتاتِbelongs to the silent الْكثلُومِthe wounds (apparent typo)
ءٍ كَهَذَا لِصَاِمتاتِ الْكثلُومِ
Not from inarticulacy; rather, speech in a bereavement
No weakness, but silence for those
like this belongs to the silent wounds.
Who suppress agony suits grave matters
نُوَبُcalamities of الدَّهْرِtime لاnot تُرَفَّهُare eased بِالبَby lament (beginning)
نُوَبُ الدَّهْرِ لا تُرَفَّهُ بِالبَ
ثِّcompletion of 'lament' تَبَارِيحُهَاtheir agonies وَلاnor بِالْوُجُومِby brooding silence
ثِّ تَبَارِيحُهَا وَلا بِالْوُجُومِ
Time's calamities—neither lament
The sins of time are not slighted by futile wailing
nor brooding silence eases their agonies.
Nor by sullenness
وَسَوَاءٌand equal فِيin الْعَجْزِhelplessness لَوْلاwere it not for المُدَاجَاdissimulation (beginning)
وَسَوَاءٌ فِي الْعَجْزِ لَوْلا المُدَاجَا
ةُcompletion of 'dissimulation' شَكَاةُthe complaint of الشَّاكِيthe complainer وَكَظْمُand the restraint of الْكَظِيمِthe one suppressing grief
ةُ شَكَاةُ الشَّاكِي وَكَظْمُ الْكَظِيمِ
Equal in helplessness, were it not for pretense,
Incapacity is the same, save for
are the complainer's complaint and the silent one's restraint.
The complainant's continued pain and the suppressor’s endurance
لَهْفَthe grief of نَفْسِيmy soul عَلَىfor الشِّهَابِthe meteor الَّذِيthat غُيِّwas hidden (beginning)
لَهْفَ نَفْسِي عَلَى الشِّهَابِ الَّذِي غُيِّ
بَcompletion of 'was hidden' فِيin الرَّمْسِthe grave وَالصَّدِيقِand the friend الْحَمِيمِintimate
بَ فِي الرَّمْسِ وَالصَّدِيقِ الْحَمِيمِ
How my soul mourns the meteor hidden
My soul yearns for the comet disappeared in the horizon
in the grave, and the intimate friend!
And the dear, intimate friend
يَاO جَلِيسِيmy companion وَكُنْتَand you were أَيَّwhat a جَلِيسٍcompanion
يَا جَلِيسِي وَكُنْتَ أَيَّ جَلِيسٍ
يَاO نَدِيمِيmy drinking companion وَكُنْتَand you were أَيَّwhat a نَدِيمِdrinking companion
يَا نَدِيمِي وَكُنْتَ أَيَّ نَدِيمِ
O my companion, and what a companion you were!
O my companion, and what a companion you were
O my drinking companion, and what a drinking companion you were!
O my boon companion, and what a boon companion
مَنْwho يُعَاطِيshares cups with السُّمَّارِthe night-time companions بَعْدَكَafter you مَاwhat كُنْyou used to (beginning)
مَنْ يُعَاطِي السُّمَّارِ بَعْدَكَ مَا كُنْ
تَcompletion of 'you used to' تُعَاطِيshare cups مِنْof سِرِّthe secret of بِنْتِthe daughter of الْكُرُومِthe vines
تَ تُعَاطِي مِنْ سِرِّ بِنْتِ الْكُرُومِ
Who, after you, will give the night-time companions what you used
After you, who will I share the night with
to give of the secret of the daughter of the vines?
As I shared the secrets of the daughter of the grapevines?
حَرَّكَstirred الشَّجْوُgrief فِيin فُؤَادِيmy heart شَجْواًa sorrow
حَرَّكَ الشَّجْوُ فِي فُؤَادِي شَجْواً
لِلأَحِبَّاءِfor loved ones فِيin الزَّمَانِthe time الْقَدِيمِof old
لِلأَحِبَّاءِ فِي الزَّمَانِ الْقَدِيمِ
Grief stirred in my heart another grief
Sorrow stirred in my heart a longing
for loved ones from the days of old.
For loved ones gone in days of old
كَيْفَhow كُنَّاwe were وَنَحْنُwhile we فِيin رَيِّقِthe first freshness of الْعُمْlife (beginning)
كَيْفَ كُنَّا وَنَحْنُ فِي رَيِّقِ الْعُمْ
رِcompletion of 'life' شِدادَstrong ضِآلَslight الْجُسُومِin body
رِ شِدادَ ضِآلَ الْجُسُومِ
How we were, in the first freshness of life,
How we were in the prime of life
strong, though slight of frame!
Forceful, robust youths in their prime
عَصْبَةًa band مِنْof خَلاصَةِthe choicest of النَّشْءِyouth لَمْnever تَفْopen (beginning)
عَصْبَةً مِنْ خَلاصَةِ النَّشْءِ لَمْ تَفْ
تَحْcompletion of 'open' مَكَاناًa place لِغَادِرٍfor a traitor أَوْor لَئِيمِa base person
تَحْ مَكَاناً لِغَادِرٍ أَوْ لَئِيمِ
A band of the choicest youth, never opening
A band of elite youth that left no room
a place to a traitor or a base man.
For the dishonest or the villainous
جَعَلَتْit made فِيin الْيَسِيرِthe little مِنَof رِزْقِهَاits livelihood حَقّa due (beginning)
جَعَلَتْ فِي الْيَسِيرِ مِنَ رِزْقِهَا حَقّ
اًcompletion of 'a due' عَلَيْهَاbinding on it لِلسَّائِلِfor the petitioner المَحْرُومِdeprived
اً عَلَيْهَا لِلسَّائِلِ المَحْرُومِ
It made of its scant livelihood a due,
It took the provision of ease upon itself
binding on itself, for the deprived petitioner.
As a right the destitute petitioner has over it
وَبَلَتْand it experienced جَوْرَthe injustice of دَهْرِهَاits age فَرَأَتْهُso it saw it
وَبَلَتْ جَوْرَ دَهْرِهَا فَرَأَتْهُ
سَبَباًa reason فِيfor انْتِصَافِهَاits obtaining justice لِلهَضِيمِfor the oppressed
سَبَباً فِي انْتِصَافِهَا لِلهَضِيمِ
And it experienced the injustice of its age and saw it
And it shouldered the injustice of its time
as a reason to win redress for the oppressed.
Seeing it as cause for its vindication of the wronged
جَمَعْتَنَاyou gathered us فِيin خِدْمَةِthe service of الْحَقِّtruth مَاas far as اسْتَطَعْwe could (beginning)
جَمَعْتَنَا فِي خِدْمَةِ الْحَقِّ مَا اسْتَطَعْ
نَاcompletion of 'we could' وَأَجْلِلْand how august بِالْحَقِّis truth مِنْas a مَخْدُومِone served
نَا وَأَجْلِلْ بِالْحَقِّ مِنْ مَخْدُومِ
You gathered us in truth's service, as far as we could,
You united us in the service of truth as best we could
and how august is truth as the one we serve!
And grace the people of truth from the oppressed
نَمْلأُwe fill الصُّحُفَthe papers بِالثِّمَارِwith fruits الدَّوَانِيhanging near
نَمْلأُ الصُّحُفَ بِالثِّمَارِ الدَّوَانِي
مِنْfrom مَجَانِيthe harvests of قَرَائِحٍcreative minds وَعُلُومِand learning
مِنْ مَجَانِي قَرَائِحٍ وَعُلُومِ
We would fill the papers with low-hanging fruits
We fill the pages with mature, ripe fruits
from the harvests of creative minds and learning.
Of talents and knowledge
وَتُسِيلُand flow الأَنْهَارُthe rivers فِيهَاthrough them بِعَذْبٍwith sweet water
وَتُسِيلُ الأَنْهَارُ فِيهَا بِعَذْبٍ
مِنْof لِطَافِdelicate النِّطَافِdrops of water أَوْor بِحَمِيمِwith scalding water
مِنْ لِطَافِ النِّطَافِ أَوْ بِحَمِيمِ
And rivers flowed through them with sweet water,
And rivers of sweet clear water flow in them
from delicate drops, or with scalding water.
Of gentle syrup or hot springs
بَيْنَbetween جِدٍّearnestness وَبَيْنَand between هَزْلٍjest وَفِيand in الْحَالَيْboth states (beginning)
بَيْنَ جِدٍّ وَبَيْنَ هَزْلٍ وَفِي الْحَالَيْ
نِcompletion of 'both states' قَصْدُthe aim of التَّسْدِيدِsetting right وَالتَّقْوِيمِand rectifying
نِ قَصْدُ التَّسْدِيدِ وَالتَّقْوِيمِ
Between earnestness and jest, and in both states,
Between earnestness and jest, and in both
the aim was to set things right and straighten them.
Moderation and framework
فِيin سَبِيلِthe cause of البِلادِthe country نَنْصُرُwe support مَنْwhoever نَاsupported (beginning)
فِي سَبِيلِ البِلادِ نَنْصُرُ مَنْ نَا
صَرَهَاcompletion of 'supported it' أَوْor نَرُدُّwe repel كَيْدَthe schemes of الْخُصُومِthe adversaries
صَرَهَا أَوْ نَرُدُّ كَيْدَ الْخُصُومِ
In the country's cause we supported whoever
In defense of the nation we support
supported it, or we repelled the adversaries' plots.
Those who supported it or foil the schemes of opponents
شَدَّfiercely مَاhow سَامَنَاtasked us الْهَوَىpassion كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday
شَدَّ مَا سَامَنَا الْهَوَى كُلَّ يَوْمٍ
مِنْwith دِفَاعٍdefense وَسَامَنَاand tasked us مِنْwith هُجُومِattack
مِنْ دِفَاعٍ وَسَامَنَا مِنْ هُجُومِ
How fiercely passion tasked us each day
We suffered the most from zealotry every day
with defense, and tasked us with attack!
Battling advocates and battling aggressors
نَتَفَانَىwe spend ourselves wholly وَمَاand not بِنَاof concern to us مَاwhat نُعَانِيwe endure
نَتَفَانَى وَمَا بِنَا مَا نُعَانِي
مِنْof شَقَاءٍhardship دُونَbefore النَّجَاحِsuccess المَرُومِsought
مِنْ شَقَاءٍ دُونَ النَّجَاحِ المَرُومِ
We spent ourselves utterly, untroubled by what we endured
We sacrificed without suffering what we suffered
of hardship before the success we sought.
Of woe, without gain we yearned for
وَنَرَىand we see فِيin الشَّبَابِyouth فَضْلاًa privilege بِهِby it نَمْwe mix (beginning)
وَنَرَى فِي الشَّبَابِ فَضْلاً بِهِ نَمْ
زُجُcompletion of 'we mix' بيْنَbetween التَّحْلِيلِpermitting وَالتَّحْرِيمِand forbidding
زُجُ بيْنَ التَّحْلِيلِ وَالتَّحْرِيمِ
We saw in youth a privilege by which we mingled
And we saw in youth a merit with which we melded
the permitted and the forbidden.
Analysis and law
بَارَكَmay bless اللهُGod فِيin الشَّبَابِyouth وَمَاand what فِيin
بَارَكَ اللهُ فِي الشَّبَابِ وَمَا فِي
ذَخْرِهِits reserve مِنْof صَلابَةٍtoughness وَعَزِيمِand resolve
ذَخْرِهِ مِنْ صَلابَةٍ وَعَزِيمِ
God bless youth, and all that lies
Blessings be upon youth and what potential
in its reserves of toughness and resolve.
Of resilience and resolve it holds
إِنْif وَرَدْنَاwe entered الحَوْمَاتِthe frays تَشْتَعِلُignite الأَفْthoughts (beginning)
إِنْ وَرَدْنَا الحَوْمَاتِ تَشْتَعِلُ الأَفْ
كَارِcompletion of 'thoughts' فِيin نَارِهَاtheir fire اشْتِعَالَthe burning of الْهَشِيمِdry brushwood
كَارِ فِي نَارِهَا اشْتِعَالَ الْهَشِيمِ
If we entered the frays, thoughts blazed
When we encountered disputes blazing
in their fire like dry brushwood.
With ideas, we resolved to rise above the fray
وَقَرَرْنَاand we rested مِنَfrom اشتِجَارِthe clashing of يَرَاعَاpens (beginning)
وَقَرَرْنَا مِنَ اشتِجَارِ يَرَاعَا
تٍcompletion of 'pens' تَعَالَىrose صَرِيرُهَاtheir scratching كَالْهَزِيمِlike thunder
تٍ تَعَالَى صَرِيرُهَا كَالْهَزِيمِ
And we took respite from the clashing of pens,
Dens of frivolity recognized us
whose scratching rose like thunder.
From theirwanton mockers given to sin
عَرَفَتْنَاknew us مَعَاهِدُthe haunts of اللَّهْوِpleasure مِنْamong رُوَّاfrequenters (beginning)
عَرَفَتْنَا مَعَاهِدُ اللَّهْوِ مِنْ رُوَّا
دِهَاcompletion of 'their frequenters' الهَازِئِينَthose scoffing بِالتَّأْثِيمِat accusations of sin
دِهَا الهَازِئِينَ بِالتَّأْثِيمِ
The haunts of pleasure knew us among their frequenters,
And today our voice meets its echo from yesterday
who scoffed at accusations of sin.
Between goodbye and peace
وَالْتَقَىand met الْيَوْمَtoday صَوْتُنَاour voice بِصَدَاهُwith its echo
وَالْتَقَى الْيَوْمَ صَوْتُنَا بِصَدَاهُ
أَمْسِyesterday بَيْنَbetween التَّوْدِيعِfarewell والتَّسْلِيمِand greeting
أَمْسِ بَيْنَ التَّوْدِيعِ والتَّسْلِيمِ
And today our voice met its echo
Excuse the zealous youth if they stray
of yesterday, between farewell and greeting.
Off the straight path
إِعْذِرُواforgive فِتْيَةَthe young men of الحِمَىthe homeland إِنْif يَحِيدُواthey turn aside
إِعْذِرُوا فِتْيَةَ الحِمَى إِنْ يَحِيدُوا
حَيْدَةًa deviation عَنْfrom صِرَاطِهِits path المُسْتَقِيمِstraight
حَيْدَةً عَنْ صِرَاطِهِ المُسْتَقِيمِ
Forgive the homeland's young men if they turn
For those who wish to hasten their perfection
aside from its straight path.
An aberrance before the time of maturity
ضِلَّةًmisguidance لِلَّذِينَfor those who يَبْغُونَseek مِنْهُمْfrom them
ضِلَّةً لِلَّذِينَ يَبْغُونَ مِنْهُمْ
قَبْلَbefore مِيعَادِهِits appointed time كَمَالَthe perfection of الحُلُومِjudgment
قَبْلَ مِيعَادِهِ كَمَالَ الحُلُومِ
Misguided are those who demand from them,
Chances of life are prey for soldiers
before its appointed time, the perfection of judgment.
Before an appointed, inevitable day
فُرَصُopportunities of الْعَيْشِlife لِلْجُنُودِfor soldiers نِهَابٌplunder
فُرَصُ الْعَيْشِ لِلْجُنُودِ نِهَابٌ
قَبْلَbefore يَوْمٍa day مُعَجَّلٍhastened مَحْتُومِinevitable
قَبْلَ يَوْمٍ مُعَجَّلٍ مَحْتُومِ
Life's opportunities are plunder for soldiers,
An era carried us into an era the obverse
before a hastened, inevitable day.
Of memories, most woeful traces
عُصُرٌan age سَاقَنَاled us إِلَىto عُصُرٍan age خَلَّleft (beginning)
عُصُرٌ سَاقَنَا إِلَى عُصُرٍ خَلَّ
فَcompletion of 'left' لِلذِّكْرَيَاتِfor memories أَشْجَىthe most sorrow-stirring الرُّسُومِtraces
فَ لِلذِّكْرَيَاتِ أَشْجَى الرُّسُومِ
One age led us into another age that left
Thus we moved between two times like a caravan
for memories the most sorrow-stirring traces.
Between one region and another
فَانْتَقَلْنَاso we passed بَيْنَbetween الزَّمَانَيْنِthe two eras كَالنُّقْlike a move (beginning)
فَانْتَقَلْنَا بَيْنَ الزَّمَانَيْنِ كَالنُّقْ
لَةِcompletion of 'move' بَيْنَbetween الإِقْلِيمِthe region وَالإِقْلِيمِand the region
لَةِ بَيْنَ الإِقْلِيمِ وَالإِقْلِيمِ
So we passed between the two eras like a move
After proximity, again the border between them widened
from one region to another.
And the distance between the borderlands lengthened
عَادَbecame قُرْبُthe nearness of التُّخُومِthe borders بَيْنَهُمَاbetween them both بُعْdistance (beginning)
عَادَ قُرْبُ التُّخُومِ بَيْنَهُمَا بُعْ
داًcompletion of 'distance' وشَطَّand grew remote المَزَارَthe place of visitation بَيْنَbetween التُّخُومِthe borders
داً وشَطَّ المَزَارَ بَيْنَ التُّخُومِ
The nearness of the borders between them became distance,
We shed for the abyss of abyss from its cover
and the place of visitation grew remote between the borders.
To restraint
وَنَزَعْنَاand we withdrew عَنِfrom الْغَوَايَةِwaywardness فِيat الْغَاthe height (beginning)
وَنَزَعْنَا عَنِ الْغَوَايَةِ فِي الْغَا
يَةِcompletion of 'height' مِنْof ظَرْفِهَاits charm إِلَىtoward التَّحْلِيمِmature judgment
يَةِ مِنْ ظَرْفِهَا إِلَى التَّحْلِيمِ
And we withdrew from waywardness, at the height
And with maturity, we attained a rank
of its charm, toward sober judgment.
That was neither sensed nor predicted
فَبَلَغْنَاso we attained مَعَwith الْكُهُولَةِmiddle age شَأْناًa standing
فَبَلَغْنَا مَعَ الْكُهُولَةِ شَأْناً
لَمْnot يَكُنْwas فِيin حَدْسٍconjecture وَلاnor تَنْجِيمِastrological divination
لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي حَدْسٍ وَلا تَنْجِيمِ
So, with middle age, we attained a standing
Elias became a judge whom the nation
beyond conjecture or divination by the stars.
Petitioned for ruling and arbitration
صَارَbecame إِلْيَاسُElias قَاضِياًa judge يَرْجِعُturn الْقَوْthe people (beginning)
صَارَ إِلْيَاسُ قَاضِياً يَرْجِعُ الْقَوْ
مُcompletion of 'people' إِلَيْهِto him فِيfor الحُكْمِjudgment وَالتَّحْكِيمِand arbitration
مُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الحُكْمِ وَالتَّحْكِيمِ
Elias became a judge to whom the people turned
Ministers by whom ministry is adorned
for judgment and arbitration;
Custodian of knowledge and education
فَوَازِيراًthen a minister بِهِin him الْوِزَارَةِthe ministry تُزْهَىtakes pride
فَوَازِيراً بِهِ الْوِزَارَةِ تُزْهَى
فَوَلِيّاًthen a guardian لِلعِلْمِof learning وَالتَّعْلِيمِand education
فَوَلِيّاً لِلعِلْمِ وَالتَّعْلِيمِ
then a minister in whom the ministry took pride,
A tongue by which the dew of pulpits flows
then a guardian of learning and education;
Wrathful before each impudent aggressor
فَلِساناًthen a tongue تَنْضُوunsheathes بِهِwith it نَدْوَةُthe assembly of النُّوَّاdeputies (beginning)
فَلِساناً تَنْضُو بِهِ نَدْوَةُ النُّوَّا
بِcompletion of 'deputies' عَضْباًa sharp sword فِيin وَجْهِthe face of كُلِّevery غَشُومِoppressor
بِ عَضْباً فِي وَجْهِ كُلِّ غَشُومِ
then a tongue with which the deputies' assembly unsheathed
Post to post he won by the grace of his livelihood
a sharp sword in the face of every oppressor.
A full, bountiful share
مَنْصِبٌan office بَعْدَafter مَنْصِبٍan office فَازَhe gained مِنْfrom طَيِّwholesome (beginning)
مَنْصِبٌ بَعْدَ مَنْصِبٍ فَازَ مِنْ طَيِّ
بِcompletion of 'wholesome' أَرْزَاقِهِhis livelihoods بِدَرٍّwith a flow of bounty جَمِيمِabundant
بِ أَرْزَاقِهِ بِدَرٍّ جَمِيمِ
Office after office, he gained from his wholesome
Yet the days remained a war against him
earnings an abundant flow of bounty.
And every generous soul faced war
غَيْرَyet أَنَّthat الأَيَّامَthe days ظَلَّتْremained لَهُfor him حَرْwar (beginning)
غَيْرَ أَنَّ الأَيَّامَ ظَلَّتْ لَهُ حَرْ
باًcompletion of 'war' وَكَانَتْand were حَرْباًat war لِكُلِّagainst every كَرِيمِnoble person
باً وَكَانَتْ حَرْباً لِكُلِّ كَرِيمِ
Yet the days remained at war with him,
How can a natural disposition of munificence and charity
as they were at war with every noble soul.
Be for one whose conscience is upright?
كَيْفَhow قَصْدُfrugality الْجَوَادِthe generous one وَالْجُودُand generosity طَبْعٌinnate nature
كَيْفَ قَصْدُ الْجَوَادِ وَالْجُودُ طَبْعٌ
كَيْفَhow إِثْرَاءُbecoming rich ذِيone possessed of الضَّمِيرِconscience الْقَوِيمِupright
كَيْفَ إِثْرَاءُ ذِي الضَّمِيرِ الْقَوِيمِ
How can the generous be frugal, when giving is his nature?
In my view, no state wearier or heavier
How can a man of upright conscience grow rich?
Than a wealthy man made destitute
لَيْسَthere is not أَنْكَىmore grievously afflicted حَالاًin condition وَأَتْعَبَand more troubled بَالاًin mind
لَيْسَ أَنْكَى حَالاً وَأَتْعَبَ بَالاً
فِيin اعْتِقَادِيmy belief مِنَthan الْغَنِيِّthe rich الْعَدِيمِdestitute
فِي اعْتِقَادِي مِنَ الْغَنِيِّ الْعَدِيمِ
None is more sorely afflicted or more troubled in mind,
Penury exhausted his mind and stripped him
to my thinking, than the wealthy pauper.
Of vestiges of barrenness though he was not barren
أَنْضَبَdepleted الْبُؤْسِmisery ذِهْنَهُhis mind فَعَرَاهُso there befell him
أَنْضَبَ الْبُؤْسِ ذِهْنَهُ فَعَرَاهُ
شِبْهُa semblance of عُقْمٍbarrenness وَلَمْand not يَكُنْhe was بِعَقِيمِat all barren
شِبْهُ عُقْمٍ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بِعَقِيمِ
Misery drained his mind, and there befell him
O you who blame him, longing for his leadership
a seeming barrenness, though he was not barren.
One other than forbearing may be blamed
أَيُّهَاO you الْعَاذِلُوهُwho reproach him شَوْقاًout of longing إِلَىfor إِنْrecitation (beginning)
أَيُّهَا الْعَاذِلُوهُ شَوْقاً إِلَى إِنْ
شَادِهِcompletion of 'his recitation' قَدْindeed يُلامُis blamed غَيْرُone not مُلِيمِblameworthy
شَادِهِ قَدْ يُلامُ غَيْرُ مُلِيمِ
O you who reproach him, yearning for his recitation,
In the souls of the virtuous, great woes
one who is blameless may indeed be blamed.
Kill minor woes
لِصِغَارِbecause of petty الْهُمُومِcares تُقْتَلُare killed فِيwithin أَنْsouls (beginning)
لِصِغَارِ الْهُمُومِ تُقْتَلُ فِي أَنْ
فُسِcompletion of 'souls' أَهْلِpeople of النُّهَىintellect كِبَارُthe great الْهُمُومِconcerns
فُسِ أَهْلِ النُّهَى كِبَارُ الْهُمُومِ
Petty cares kill, within the souls
And if what you seek eludes you in life
of the wise, their greater concerns.
Then what of what lies beyond the stars?
وَإِذَاand if عَزَّwas hard to attain مَاwhat ابْتَغَيْتَyou sought عَلَىon الأَرْthe earth (beginning)
وَإِذَا عَزَّ مَا ابْتَغَيْتَ عَلَى الأَرْ
ضِcompletion of 'earth' فَكَيْفَthen how ابْتِغَاءُseeking مَاwhat فِيin النُّجُومِthe stars
ضِ فَكَيْفَ ابْتِغَاءُ مَا فِي النُّجُومِ
And if what you seek on earth is hard to attain,
Alas Elias part of your affair was confounding
how then can you seek what lies among the stars?
Even to the knowledge of the All-Knowing
إِيِهِspeak on إِلْيَاسُElias بَعْضُsome of شَأْنِكَyour ways مِمَّاamong that which
إِيِهِ إِلْيَاسُ بَعْضُ شَأْنِكَ مِمَّا
ضَلَّlost فِيهِin it السَّبِيلِthe way عِلْمُthe knowledge of العَلِيمِthe knowledgeable one
ضَلَّ فِيهِ السَّبِيلِ عِلْمُ العَلِيمِ
Speak on, Elias: some of your ways are among things
You bear the injustice though you do not doubt
in which the learned one's knowledge loses its way.
Even if anguish fills your viscera
تَحْمِلُyou bear الضَّيْمَoppression غَيْرَwithout شَاكٍcomplaining وَإِنْeven though كَاwas (beginning)
تَحْمِلُ الضَّيْمَ غَيْرَ شَاكٍ وَإِنْ كَا
نَcompletion of 'was' الأَسَىsorrow مِنْكَwithin you مَالِيءَfilling الْحَيْزُومِthe breast
نَ الأَسَى مِنْكَ مَالِيءَ الْحَيْزُومِ
You bore oppression without complaint, though
Calm and peaceful as if the grave issue when you meet it
sorrow filled your breast.
Is not grave
هَادِئاًcalm وَادِعاًtranquil كَأَنَّas though جَسِيمَthe gravity of الْthe
هَادِئاً وَادِعاً كَأَنَّ جَسِيمَ الْ
أَمْرِmatter إِذْwhen تَلْتَقِيهِyou meet it غَيْرُnot جَسِيمِgrave
أَمْرِ إِذْ تَلْتَقِيهِ غَيْرُ جَسِيمِ
Calm and tranquil, as though a grave matter,
You are not seen armed for battle
when you met it, were not grave.
Save in defense of the wronged
لاnot تُرَىyou are seen فِيin مُلِمَّةٍa crisis بَادِيexposing المَقْthe vulnerable spot (beginning)
لا تُرَى فِي مُلِمَّةٍ بَادِي المَقْ
تَلِcompletion of 'vulnerable spot' إِلاَّexcept فِيin نُصْرَةِthe defense of المَظْلُومِthe oppressed
تَلِ إِلاَّ فِي نُصْرَةِ المَظْلُومِ
You never showed your vulnerable spot in a crisis,
And you refused to submit or let the curtain fall
except in defense of the oppressed.
For in this lies your submission
وَأَبَيْتَand you refused التَّسْلِيمِsurrender أَوْuntil يَقَعَbefalls الْحَتْdeath (beginning)
وَأَبَيْتَ التَّسْلِيمِ أَوْ يَقَعَ الْحَتْ
فُcompletion of 'death' فَذَاso that مِنْكَfor you مَوْقِعُthe point of التَّسْلِيمِsurrender
فُ فَذَا مِنْكَ مَوْقِعُ التَّسْلِيمِ
And you refused to yield until death befell;
O loyal kinsman who tended the reins of his loved ones
that, for you, was the point of surrender.
His legacy was no blemish
يَاO صَفِيّاًcherished friend رَعَىkept ذِمَامَthe covenant of مُحِبِّيِthose who love
يَا صَفِيّاً رَعَى ذِمَامَ مُحِبِّيِ
هِhim وَمَاand not كَانَwas عَهْدُهُhis pledge بِذَمِيمِat all blameworthy
هِ وَمَا كَانَ عَهْدُهُ بِذَمِيمِ
O cherished friend who kept faith with those who loved him,
If you depart what hoard remains for a people
and whose pledge was never blameworthy!
Who after life are but remnants?
إِنْif تُفَارِقْyou depart فَأَيُّthen what a ذَخْرٍtreasure لِقَوْمٍfor a people
إِنْ تُفَارِقْ فَأَيُّ ذَخْرٍ لِقَوْمٍ
صَارَhas become بَعْدَafter الْحَيَاةِlife بَعْضَsome of الرَّمِيمِthe crumbling remains
صَارَ بَعْدَ الْحَيَاةِ بَعْضَ الرَّمِيمِ
If you depart, what a treasure for a people
Your impending departure did not leave gladness
has become, after life, mere crumbling remains!
In the survival of any shining resident
لَمْnot يَدَعْleft نَأَيُكَyour departure الْوَشِيكُswift سُرُوراًjoy
لَمْ يَدَعْ نَأَيُكَ الْوَشِيكُ سُرُوراً
بِبَقَاءٍin remaining alive لأَلْمَعِيٍّfor a brilliant mind مُقِيمِremaining
بِبَقَاءٍ لأَلْمَعِيٍّ مُقِيمِ
Your swift departure left no joy
The world presented you though in other than this feat
in survival for any brilliant mind still here.
You were deserving of presentation
قَدَّمَتْكَsent you ahead الدُّنْيَاthe world وَفِيand in غَيْرِother than هَذَاthis الشَّrace (beginning)
قَدَّمَتْكَ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي غَيْرِ هَذَا الشَّ
وْطِcompletion of 'race' كُنْتَyou were الْجَدِيرَthe one deserving بِالتَّقْدِيمِof being put first
وْطِ كُنْتَ الْجَدِيرَ بِالتَّقْدِيمِ
The world sent you ahead; in any race but this
So turn from a misery that has reaped
you were the one worthy of being put first.
What joy and bliss remain
فَتَبدُّلْso exchange مِنْin place of شِقْوَةٍmisery قَدْalready تَقَضَّتْhas passed
فَتَبدُّلْ مِنْ شِقْوَةٍ قَدْ تَقَضَّتْ
مَاwhat سَيَبْقَىwill endure مِنْof نَضْرَةٍfreshness وَنَعِيمِand bliss
مَا سَيَبْقَى مِنْ نَضْرَةٍ وَنَعِيمِ
So exchange the misery that has ended
for the freshness and bliss that will remain.
Partial English translation: 151 of 154 Arabic lines translated.