هَمَّwas poised فَجْرُthe dawn of الحَيَاةِlife بِالإِدْبَارِto depart
هَمَّ فَجْرُ الحَيَاةِ بِالإِدْبَارِ
فَإِذَاthen when مَرَّit passes فهْيَthen it is فِيin الآثَارِthe traces
فَإِذَا مَرَّ فهْيَ فِي الآثَارِ
The dawn of life is poised to depart;
The morning of life declines into the past,
Once it passes, life remains in its traces.
And once it has gone, trace of it will not last.
وَالصَّباand youth كَالكرَىlike sleep نَعِيمٌbliss وَلَكِنْand yet
وَالصَّبا كَالكرَى نَعِيمٌ وَلَكِنْ
يَنْقَضِيit passes وَالفَتَىwhile the young man غَيْرُnot دَارِيaware
يَنْقَضِي وَالفَتَى غَيْرُ دَارِي
Youth, like sleep, is bliss, yet
Youth is bliss but fleeting, never staying,
It passes while the young man is unaware.
The lad remains while homelands are decaying.
يغْنَمُenjoys المَرْءُa person عَيْشَهُhis life فِيin صِبَاهُhis youth
يغْنَمُ المَرْءُ عَيْشَهُ فِي صِبَاهُ
فَإِذَاthen when بَانَit departs عَاشَhe lives بِالتِّذْكَارِby remembrance
فَإِذَا بَانَ عَاشَ بِالتِّذْكَارِ
A man enjoys his life in his youth;
In youth man stores all that he'll later dwell on,
Once youth departs, he lives by memory.
When it has gone he'll live on memories alone.
إِيهِspeak on! آثَارَruins of بَعْلَبَكَّBaalbek سَلاَمٌpeace
إِيهِ آثَارَ بَعْلَبَكَّ سَلاَمٌ
بَعْدَafter طولِlength of النَّوَىseparation وَبُعْدِand remoteness of المَزَارِthe place visited
بَعْدَ طولِ النَّوَى وَبُعْدِ المَزَارِ
Speak on, ruins of Baalbek—peace be upon you,
Ruins of Baalbek, hail! Though far and razed,
After long separation and distance from your site.
Still glorious are the works your hands have raised.
وَوُقِيتِand may you be spared العَفَاءَobliteration مِنْas عَرَصَاتٍcourtyards
وَوُقِيتِ العَفَاءَ مِنْ عَرَصَاتٍ
مُقْوِيَاتٍdeserted أَوَاهِلٍpopulated بِالفَخَارِwith glory
مُقْوِيَاتٍ أَوَاهِلٍ بِالفَخَارِ
And may you be spared obliteration, you courtyards
And you aqueducts, though wrecked remain sublime,
Deserted, yet peopled with glory.
Triumphs of skill whose makers mocked old Time!
ذَكَرِينيremind me طُفُولَتِيof my childhood وَأَعِيدِيand restore
ذَكَرِيني طُفُولَتِي وَأَعِيدِي
رَسْمَthe image of عَهْدٍa time عَنْfrom أَعْيُنِيmy eyes مُتَوَارِيhidden
رَسْمَ عَهْدٍ عَنْ أَعْيُنِي مُتَوَارِي
Remind me of my childhood and restore
Recall my childhood, bring back to me
The image of an age concealed from my eyes,
Days vanished, sank in life's obscurity!
مُسْتَطَابِdelightful in الحَالَيْنِboth states صَفْواًserenity وَشَجْواًand sorrow
مُسْتَطَابِ الحَالَيْنِ صَفْواً وَشَجْواً
مُسْتَحَبٍbeloved فِيin النَّفعِbenefit وَالإِضْرَارِand harm
مُسْتَحَبٍ فِي النَّفعِ وَالإِضْرَارِ
Sweet in both its states, serenity and sorrow,
Those days were sweet and passionate by turn
Beloved in its benefit and its harm.
Mingled profit and delight, loss and concern.
يَومَwhen أَمْشِيI walk عَلَىover الطُّلُولِthe ruins السْوَاجِيthe silent ones
يَومَ أَمْشِي عَلَى الطُّلُولِ السْوَاجِي
لاno افْتِرَارٌsmiling فِيهِنَّamong them إِلاَّexcept افْتِرَارِيmy smile
لا افْتِرَارٌ فِيهِنَّ إِلاَّ افْتِرَارِي
When I walked across the silent ruins,
I walked on hills, no track to guide or bind,
With no smile among them but my own,
I roamed rejoicing, reason left behind,
نَزِقاًimpetuous بَيْنَهُنَّamong them غِرّاًinnocent لَعُوباًplayful
نَزِقاً بَيْنَهُنَّ غِرّاً لَعُوباً
لاَهِياًheedless عَنْof تَبَصُّرٍinsight واعْتِبَارِand reflection
لاَهِياً عَنْ تَبَصُّرٍ واعْتِبَارِ
Impetuous among them, innocent and playful,
Free, proud, those crags and steeps treading at will,
Heedless of insight and reflection,
With wild birds winging past me down the hill.
مُسْتَقِلاًّbelittling عَظِيمَهَاtheir grandeur مُسْتَخِفّاًmaking light of
مُسْتَقِلاًّ عَظِيمَهَا مُسْتَخِفّاً
مَاwhat بِهَاis in them مِنْof مَهَابَةٍawe وَوَقارِand dignity
مَا بِهَا مِنْ مَهَابَةٍ وَوَقارِ
Belittling their grandeur, making light
Alone with Hind, we'd wander through the night,
Of their awe and dignity.
Love and Desire our fellowship and light,
يَوْمَwhen أَخْلوI am alone بِهِنْدَwith Hind تَلْهُوshe plays وَنَزْهُوand we exult
يَوْمَ أَخْلو بِهِنْدَ تَلْهُو وَنَزْهُو
وَالهَوَىand love بَيْنَنَاbetween us أَلِيفٌa familiar companion مُجَارِيkeeping pace
وَالهَوَى بَيْنَنَا أَلِيفٌ مُجَارِي
When I was alone with Hind, she played and we reveled,
Like butterflies that flit from bloom to bloom,
And love between us was a familiar companion keeping pace,
That roam unfixèd, every flower their home.
كَفَرَاشِlike butterflies of الرَّيَاضِthe gardens إِذْwhen يَتَبَارَىthey race one another
كَفَرَاشِ الرَّيَاضِ إِذْ يَتَبَارَى
مَرَحاًin merriment مَاnot لَهُfor it مِنِany اسْتِقْرَارِrest
مَرَحاً مَا لَهُ مِنِ اسْتِقْرَارِ
Like the butterflies of gardens, racing
We'd meet, then part, then reunite once more,
In glee, never at rest.
Each speck of dust forever on the soar.
نَلْتَقِيwe meet تَارَةًat times وَنَشْرُدُand we dart away أُخْرَىat others
نَلْتَقِي تَارَةً وَنَشْرُدُ أُخْرَى
كُلُّeach تِرْبٍplaymate فِيin مَخْبَإٍa hiding place مُتَدَارِيconcealing himself
كُلُّ تِرْبٍ فِي مَخْبَإٍ مُتَدَارِي
We met at times and darted apart at others,
And when too long we were kept apart,
Each playmate concealed in a hiding place.
Such fire would kindle in my hungry heart!
فإِذاthen if البُعْدُseparation طالَlasts طَرْفةَthe blink of عَيْنٍan eye
فإِذا البُعْدُ طالَ طَرْفةَ عَيْنٍ
حَثَّناurged us الشَّوْقlonging مُؤْذِناًsignaling بِالبِدَارِfor haste
حَثَّنا الشَّوْق مُؤْذِناً بِالبِدَارِ
If our separation lasted the blink of an eye,
Brief meetings, sudden partings, such our way -
Longing urged us on, bidding us hasten.
Together, then divided, night and day.
وَعِدَادَand as often as اللِّحَاظِglances نَصْفُوwe find serenity وَنشْقىand we suffer
وَعِدَادَ اللِّحَاظِ نَصْفُو وَنشْقى
بِجِوارٍin nearness فَفُرْقةٍthen separation فَجِوَارِthen nearness
بِجِوارٍ فَفُرْقةٍ فَجِوَارِ
With each glance, we found joy and sorrow,
No life untouched by sorrow. Joy is made
In nearness, then parting, then nearness again.
From troubles past, and peace comes after shade.
لَيْسَthere is not فِيin الدَّهْرِtime مَحْضُunmixed سَعْدٍhappiness وَلَكِنْand yet
لَيْسَ فِي الدَّهْرِ مَحْضُ سَعْدٍ وَلَكِنْ
تَلِدُgives birth to السَّعدَhappiness مِحْنَةُthe ordeal of الأَكْدَارِsorrows
تَلِدُ السَّعدَ مِحْنَةُ الأَكْدَارِ
There is no unmixed joy in time, yet
Each meeting was a feast. We would embrace
The ordeal of sorrows gives birth to happiness.
As loved ones do returning from th' far place,-
كُلَّمَاwhenever نَلْتَقِيwe meet اعْتَنَقْنَاwe embrace كَأَنَّاas though we were
كُلَّمَا نَلْتَقِي اعْتَنَقْنَا كَأَنَّا
جِدُّveritable سَفْرٍtravelers عَادُواthey returned مِنَfrom الأسْفَارِjourneys
جِدُّ سَفْرٍ عَادُوا مِنَ الأسْفَارِ
Whenever we met, we embraced as though we were
Pure kisses, virtuous as the children's kiss,
Veritable travelers returned from their journeys.
Or kiss of friend when night's first breezes kiss,
قُبُلاَتٌkisses عَلَىin عَفَافٍchastity تُحَاكِيresembling
قُبُلاَتٌ عَلَى عَفَافٍ تُحَاكِي
قُبُلاَتِthe kisses of الأَنْدَاءِdews وَالأَسْحَارِand predawn hours
قُبُلاَتِ الأَنْدَاءِ وَالأَسْحَارِ
Chaste kisses resembling
That love was cool as waters from a spring
The kisses of dew and predawn hours;
Till manhood made its hidden fires take wing.
وَاشْتِبَاكٌand an entwining كَضَمِّlike the embrace of غُصْنٍa branch أَخَاهُits brother
وَاشْتِبَاكٌ كَضَمِّ غُصْنٍ أَخَاهُ
وَكَلَثْمِand like the kissing of النُّوَّارِblossoms لِلنُّوَّارِupon blossoms
وَكَلَثْمِ النُّوَّارِ لِلنُّوَّارِ
And entwining like one branch embracing its brother,
Dear Hind! How she loved that time, but still
Like blossoms kissing blossoms.
All things must fail; naught stands Time's eroding will.
قَلْبُنَاour heart طَاهِرٌpure وَلَيْسَand is not خَليِّاًfree of love
قَلْبُنَا طَاهِرٌ وَلَيْسَ خَليِّاً
أَطْهَرُthe purest الحُبِّlove فِيin قُلوبِthe hearts of الصِّغارِchildren
أَطْهَرُ الحُبِّ فِي قُلوبِ الصِّغارِ
Our heart was pure, yet not free of love:
My heart has weakened and my body failed
The purest love is in the hearts of children.
Ruin knocks now where mirth so late prevailed.
كَانwas ذَاكَthat الهَوَىlove سَلاَماًpeace وَبَرْداًand coolness
كَان ذَاكَ الهَوَى سَلاَماً وَبَرْداً
فَاغْتدَىthen it became حِينَwhen شبَّit matured جَذْوَةَan ember of نَارِfire
فَاغْتدَى حِينَ شبَّ جَذْوَةَ نَارِ
That love was peace and coolness,
Desolate lie the gardens where of old
Then, as it grew, became an ember of fire.
Were wonders that amazed both young and old.
حَبَّذَاhow lovely هِنْدُHind ذِلكَthat العَهْدُtime لَكِنْbut
حَبَّذَا هِنْدُ ذِلكَ العَهْدُ لَكِنْ
كُلُّevery شَيءٍthing إِلَىtoward الرَّدَىdeath وَالبَوَارِand ruin
كُلُّ شَيءٍ إِلَى الرَّدَى وَالبَوَارِ
How sweet, Hind, was that time! But
Miracles of art and giant works were there,
Everything tends toward death and ruin.
The makers we revere beyond compare.
هَدَّshattered عَزْمِيmy resolve النَّوَىseparation وَقَوَّضَand demolished جِسْمِيmy body
هَدَّ عَزْمِي النَّوَى وَقَوَّضَ جِسْمِي
فَدَمَارٌso a ruin يَمْشِيwalks بِدَارِin a dwelling of دَمَارِruin
فَدَمَارٌ يَمْشِي بِدَارِ دَمَارِ
Separation broke my resolve and shattered my body,
Clothed by the sun in gorgeous robes they stood,
So ruin walks within a house of ruin.
Turquoise and ruby gems in gold ensconced.
خِرَبٌruins حَارَتِwas bewildered الْبَرِيَّةhumankind فِيهَاby them
خِرَبٌ حَارَتِ الْبَرِيَّة فِيهَا
فتْنةthe enchantment of السَّامِعِينَlisteners وَالنُّظارِand beholders
فتْنة السَّامِعِينَ وَالنُّظارِ
Ruins that have bewildered humankind,
Moistened at night by honey-scented showers,
The enchantment of listeners and beholders.
Lustrous in daylight's most lustrous hours.
مُعْجِزَاتٌmarvels مِنَof البِنَاءِarchitecture كِبَارٌmighty
مُعْجِزَاتٌ مِنَ البِنَاءِ كِبَارٌ
لأُنَاسٍby people مِلْءَfilling الزَّمَانِtime كِبَارِgreat
لأُنَاسٍ مِلْءَ الزَّمَانِ كِبَارِ
Mighty miracles of architecture,
Old age but added awfulness and weight,
By people great throughout the sweep of time.
On all Time's gales have poured their flakes of state.
أَلْبَسَتْهَاclothed them الشُّموسُthe suns تَفْوِيفَstriped adornment of دُرٍpearls
أَلْبَسَتْهَا الشُّموسُ تَفْوِيفَ دُرٍ
وَعَقِيقٍand agate عَلَىupon رِدَاءِa robe of نُضَارِgold
وَعَقِيقٍ عَلَى رِدَاءِ نُضَارِ
The suns clothed them in stripes of pearl
Ofttimes white hairs are beauty's perfect crown
And agate upon a robe of gold.
When the Lord's might has hammered talent down.
وَتَحَلَّتْand they adorned themselves مِنَfrom اللَّيالِيthe nights بِشَامَاwith beauty spots (continued)
وَتَحَلَّتْ مِنَ اللَّيالِي بِشَامَا
تٍcompletion of 'beauty spots' كَتَنْقِيطِlike the dotting of عَنْبَرٍambergris فِيamid بَهَارِyellow blossoms
تٍ كَتَنْقِيطِ عَنْبَرٍ فِي بَهَارِ
And from the nights they adorned themselves with beauty
A temple of mysteries that structure raised
spots, like dots of ambergris amid yellow blooms.
But its conception was the greatest maze.
وَسَقاهَاand watered them النَّدَىthe dew رَشَاشَa spray of دُمُوعٍtears
وَسَقاهَا النَّدَى رَشَاشَ دُمُوعٍ
شَرِبَتْهَاdrank them ظَوَامِيءَthirsty الأَنْوَارِblossoms
شَرِبَتْهَا ظَوَامِيءَ الأَنْوَارِ
And dew watered them with a spray of tears,
Copied in each part the skills of every race
Which thirsty blossoms drank.
Images of wisdom, power and grace.
زَادَهَاincreased their الشَّيبُgray hair حُرْمَةًreverence وَجَلاَلاًand grandeur
زَادَهَا الشَّيبُ حُرْمَةً وَجَلاَلاً
تَوَّجَتْهَاcrowned them بِهِwith it يَدُthe hand of الأَعْصَارِthe ages
تَوَّجَتْهَا بِهِ يَدُ الأَعْصَارِ
Gray hair lent them reverence and grandeur,
Out of dead stone they made fruits grow up high
With which the hand of ages crowned them.
By human genius that could scale the sky,
رُبَّmany a شَيْبٍgray hair أَتَمَّperfected حُسْناًbeauty وَأَوْلَىand granted
رُبَّ شَيْبٍ أَتَمَّ حُسْناً وَأَوْلَى
وَاهِنَthe weak in العَزْمِresolve صَوْلَةَthe force of الْجَبَّارِthe mighty one
وَاهِنَ العَزْمِ صَوْلَةَ الْجَبَّارِ
Many a gray hair has perfected beauty and granted
Flowers and stars so bright, birds winging by,
The faint of will a giant's force.
Though only carved, they cheat both heart and eye.
مَعْبَدٌa temple لِلأَسْرَارِfor mysteries قَامَarose وَلَكِنْand yet
مَعْبَدٌ لِلأَسْرَارِ قَامَ وَلَكِنْ
صُنْعُهُits making كَانَwas أَعْظَمَthe greatest of الأَسْرَارِmysteries
صُنْعُهُ كَانَ أَعْظَمَ الأَسْرَارِ
A temple arose for mysteries, yet
Set in bright gardens where sweet waters run
Its making was the greatest mystery.
As brilliant as the moon, as hot as sun,
مِثَّلdepicted القَوْمُthe people كُلَّevery شَيءٍthing عَجِيبٍwondrous
مِثَّل القَوْمُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ عَجِيبٍ
فِيهِin it تَمْثِيلَa depiction of حِكْمَةٍwisdom وَاقْتِدَارِand mastery
فِيهِ تَمْثِيلَ حِكْمَةٍ وَاقْتِدَارِ
The people depicted every wondrous thing
With lions dreadful when they roar and stir
Within it, with wisdom and mastery.
And show their teeth without a fight to spur.
صَنَعُواthey fashioned مِنْfrom جَمَادِهِits lifeless matter ثَمَراًfruit يُجْنَىto be gathered
صَنَعُوا مِنْ جَمَادِهِ ثَمَراً يُجْنَى
وَلَكِنْand yet بِالعَقْلِwith the mind وَالأَبْصَارِand the eyes
وَلَكِنْ بِالعَقْلِ وَالأَبْصَارِ
From its lifeless matter they fashioned fruit to be gathered,
From their grim jaws smoke coils, from eyeballs pour
But only with the mind and eyes;
Red flames, their very silence seems to roar.
وَضُرُوباًand varieties مِنْof كُلِّevery زَهْرٍflower أَنِيقٍelegant
وَضُرُوباً مِنْ كُلِّ زَهْرٍ أَنِيقٍ
لَمْdid not تَفُتْهَاelude them نَضَارَةُthe freshness of الأَزْهَارِflowers
لَمْ تَفُتْهَا نَضَارَةُ الأَزْهَارِ
And varieties of every graceful flower,
These were their works; till the last days of earth
Lacking none of the freshness of flowers;
Men will flock there to wonder and admire.
وَشُمُوساًand suns مُضِيئَةًradiant وَشِعَاعاًand rays
وَشُمُوساً مُضِيئَةً وَشِعَاعاً
بَاهِرَاتٍdazzling لَكِنَّهاbut they مِنْof حِجَارِstone
بَاهِرَاتٍ لَكِنَّها مِنْ حِجَارِ
And radiant suns and beams,
One mind it was that bound all into one
Dazzling, though they were made of stone;
So closely were those scattered glories spun
وَطُيُوراًand birds ذَوَاهِباًdeparting آيِبَاتٍreturning
وَطُيُوراً ذَوَاهِباً آيِبَاتٍ
خَالِدَاتِeverlasting in الغَدُوِّmorning departure وَالإِبْكَارِand early rising
خَالِدَاتِ الغَدُوِّ وَالإِبْكَارِ
And birds departing and returning,
Into a place where minds as well as eyes
Forever in their dawn and early-morning journeys,
After the Lord, are led to idolize
فِيin جِنَانٍgardens مُعَلَّقَاتٍhanging زَوَاهٍresplendent
فِي جِنَانٍ مُعَلَّقَاتٍ زَوَاهٍ
بِصُنُوفِwith varieties of النُّجومِstars وَالأَنْوَارِand blossoms
بِصُنُوفِ النُّجومِ وَالأَنْوَارِ
In hanging gardens resplendent
Supreme in rendering beauty, loveliness,
With varied stars and blossoms;
Where hearts are shaken, ravished witnesses.
وَأُسُوداًand lions يُخْشَىis feared التَّحفزُthe springing مِنْهَاfrom them
وَأُسُوداً يُخْشَى التَّحفزُ مِنْهَا
وَيَرُوعُand terrifies السَّكوتُthe silence كَالتَّزْآرِlike roaring
وَيَرُوعُ السَّكوتُ كَالتَّزْآرِ
And lions whose spring one fears,
Hail, men of Phoenicia! When this earth is dead
Whose silence terrifies like roaring;
Still your high feats across the sea are spread.
عَابِسَاتِfrowning in الوُجُوهِface غَيْرَnot غِضَابٍangry
عَابِسَاتِ الوُجُوهِ غَيْرَ غِضَابٍ
بَادِيَاتِbaring الأَنْيَابِthe fangs غَيْرَnot ضَوَارِيpredatory
بَادِيَاتِ الأَنْيَابِ غَيْرَ ضَوَارِي
Frowning of face, yet not angry,
Yours is earth's tenure, yours her crown through all
Baring their fangs, yet not predatory.
For daring works and wonders ne'er to pall.
فِيin عَرَانِينِهَاtheir snouts دُخَانٌsmoke مُثَارٌstirred up
فِي عَرَانِينِهَا دُخَانٌ مُثَارٌ
وَبِأَلْحَاظِهَاand in their glances سُيُولُtorrents of شَرَارِsparks
وَبِأَلْحَاظِهَا سُيُولُ شَرَارِ
In their snouts, smoke rises,
The untamed ocean manned your ships alone
And in their glances, torrents of sparks.
When steam's force harnessed not one wave its own.
تِلْكَthose آيَاتُهُمْtheir marvels وَمَاand not بَرِحَتْhave ceased فِيat
تِلْكَ آيَاتُهُمْ وَمَا بَرِحَتْ فِي
كُلِّevery آنٍmoment رَوَائِعَmarvels to الزُّوَّارِvisitors
كُلِّ آنٍ رَوَائِعَ الزُّوَّارِ
Such are their marvels; they have never ceased, at
Its rage and shrugging strength could not disheart
Any moment, to astonish visitors.
Your disappearance or dismay depart.
ضَمَّهاgathered them كُلَّهَاall of them بَدِيعُa wondrous نِظَامٍorder
ضَمَّها كُلَّهَا بَدِيعُ نِظَامٍ
دَقَّwas subtle حَتَّىso that كَأَنَّهاas though they were فِيin انْتِثَارِdisarray
دَقَّ حَتَّى كَأَنَّها فِي انْتِثَارِ
A wondrous order gathered them all,
Had it attacked, you knew the way to curb
So subtle they seemed scattered at random,
And bring it into order from disturbance.
فِيin مَقَامٍa sanctuary لِلحُسْنِfor beauty يُعْبَدُis worshipped بَعْدَafter
فِي مَقَامٍ لِلحُسْنِ يُعْبَدُ بَعْدَ
العَقْلِreason فِيهِin it وَالعَقْلُand reason بَعْدَafter الْبَارِيthe Creator
العَقْلِ فِيهِ وَالعَقْلُ بَعْدَ الْبَارِي
In a shrine where beauty is worshipped after
Almost you rode its very waves in sport
Reason, and reason after the Creator.
As though you'd seize the stars for steering port.
مُنْتَهَىthe utmost of مَاwhat يُجَادُis perfected رَسْماًin design وَأَبْهَىand the fairest of
مُنْتَهَى مَا يُجَادُ رَسْماً وَأَبْهَى
مَاwhat تَحُجُّmake pilgrimage to الْقُلُوبُhearts فِيamong الأَنْظَارِsights
مَا تَحُجُّ الْقُلُوبُ فِي الأَنْظَارِ
The height of excellence in design, and the fairest
Easy to serve one whom the seas accept
Of sights toward which hearts make pilgrimage.
Whose name through cities of the waves has crept!
أَهْلَO people of فِينيقِياPhoenicia سَلاَمٌpeace عَلَيْكُمْupon you
أَهْلَ فِينيقِيا سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ
يَوْمَon the day تَفْنَىperishes بَقِيَّةthe remainder of الأَدْهَارِthe ages
يَوْمَ تَفْنَى بَقِيَّة الأَدْهَارِ
People of Phoenicia, peace be upon you,
Raised to the sun a rich and dazzling hall
On the day the last remaining ages perish.
Till Romans capped the structure, finished all,
لَكُمُyours is الأَرْضُthe earth خَالِدِينَimmortal عَلَيْهَاupon it
لَكُمُ الأَرْضُ خَالِدِينَ عَلَيْهَا
بِعَظِيمِthrough mighty الأَعْمَالِdeeds وَالآثَارِand monuments
بِعَظِيمِ الأَعْمَالِ وَالآثَارِ
The earth is yours; you are immortal upon it
Heralded farmers for the growing earth
Through mighty deeds and monuments.
Spreaders of shelter, succour, light and worth.
خُضْتُمُyou ventured into البَحْرَthe sea يَوْمَwhen كَانَit was عَصِيّاًunruly
خُضْتُمُ البَحْرَ يَوْمَ كَانَ عَصِيّاً
لَمْnot يُسَخَّرْbe subdued لِقُوَّةٍto a power مِنْof بُخَارِsteam
لَمْ يُسَخَّرْ لِقُوَّةٍ مِنْ بُخَارِ
You ventured into the sea when it was unruly,
Carved out secure and lasting monuments
Not yet subdued by the power of steam;
From thinking subtle, skillful and condense.
وَرَكِبْتُمْand you rode مِنْهُof it جَوَاداًa steed حَرُوناًstubborn
وَرَكِبْتُمْ مِنْهُ جَوَاداً حَرُوناً
قَلِقاًrestive بِالمُمَرَّسِwith the seasoned rider المِغْوَارِthe dauntless one
قَلِقاً بِالمُمَرَّسِ المِغْوَارِ
And rode it as a stubborn steed,
Tamed bronze till it appeared through their hard toil
Restive beneath the seasoned, dauntless rider.
Arbiter itself of every chance and foil.
إِنْif تَمَادَىit persisted عَدْواًin galloping بِهِمْwith them كَبَحُوهُthey reined it in
إِنْ تَمَادَى عَدْواً بِهِمْ كَبَحُوهُ
وَأَقَالُوهُand they raised it إِنْif كَبَاit stumbled مِنْfrom عِثَارِa fall
وَأَقَالُوهُ إِنْ كَبَا مِنْ عِثَارِ
If it galloped on too far with them, they reined it in,
Bowed down before their works, their gods confessed!
And raised it if it fell from a stumble.
Adoring worship from their wondrous best.
وَإِذَاand when مَاever طَغَىit surged بِهِمْwith them أَوْشَكُواthey almost أَنْto
وَإِذَا مَا طَغَى بِهِمْ أَوْشَكُوا أَنْ
يَأْخُذُواtake لاَعبِينَplayfully بِالأَقْمَارِhold of the moons
يَأْخُذُوا لاَعبِينَ بِالأَقْمَارِ
And when it surged with them, they all but
Is any further marvel thought to await
Reached out playfully to seize the moons.
Or but the wish from excellence to prate?
غَيْرُnot صَعْبٍdifficult تَخْلِيدُimmortalizing ذِكْرٍa name عَلَىupon الأَرْthe earth (continued)
غَيْرُ صَعْبٍ تَخْلِيدُ ذِكْرٍ عَلَى الأَرْ
ضِcompletion of 'earth' لِمَنْfor those who خَلَّدُوهُimmortalized it فَوْقَupon البِحَارِthe seas
ضِ لِمَنْ خَلَّدُوهُ فَوْقَ البِحَارِ
It is no hard thing to immortalize a name upon the
Seeing such beauty made Hind envious, still
earth, for those who immortalized it upon the seas.
My Hind no need of envy's droops to feel!
شَيَّدُوهَاthey built it لِلشَّمسِfor the sun دَارَa house of صَلاَةٍprayer
شَيَّدُوهَا لِلشَّمسِ دَارَ صَلاَةٍ
وَأَتَمِّand completed الرُّومَانُthe Romans حَلْيَthe adornment of الدَّارِthe house
وَأَتَمِّ الرُّومَانُ حَلْيَ الدَّارِ
They built it for the sun as a house of prayer,
All lovely idols those dreamers raised up
And the Romans completed the house's adornment.
Are humble bondmaids to your beauty's cup!
هُمْthey دُعَاةُheralds of الفَلاَحِprosperity فِيin ذلِكَthat
هُمْ دُعَاةُ الفَلاَحِ فِي ذلِكَ
العَصْرِage وَأَهْلُand masters of العُمْرَانِcivilization فِيin الأَمْصَارِthe cities
العَصْرِ وَأَهْلُ العُمْرَانِ فِي الأَمْصَارِ
They were the heralds of prosperity in that
Age, and masters of civilization in the cities.
نَحَتُواthey carved الرَّاسِيَاتِthe firmly rooted mountains تَحْتَbeneath صُخُورٍrocks
نَحَتُوا الرَّاسِيَاتِ تَحْتَ صُخُورٍ
وَأَبَانُواand revealed دَقَائِقَthe subtleties of الأَفْكَارِthoughts
وَأَبَانُوا دَقَائِقَ الأَفْكَارِ
They carved the firm-rooted mountains beneath rocks,
And revealed the subtleties of thought.
وَأَجَادُواand they perfected الدمَىthe statues فَجَازَso it passed as true عَلَيْهِمْwith them
وَأَجَادُوا الدمَى فَجَازَ عَلَيْهِمْ
أَنَّهاthat they الآمِرَاتُthe rulers فِيover الأَقْدَارِdestinies
أَنَّها الآمِرَاتُ فِي الأَقْدَارِ
They fashioned statues so well that they believed
These were the rulers of destiny.
سَجَدُواthey prostrated لِلَّذِيbefore what هُمُthey themselves صَنَعُوهُthey made it
سَجَدُوا لِلَّذِي هُمُ صَنَعُوهُ
سَجَدَاتِprostrations of الإِجْلاَلِreverence وَالإِكْبَارِand exaltation
سَجَدَاتِ الإِجْلاَلِ وَالإِكْبَارِ
They bowed before what they themselves had made,
With prostrations of reverence and exaltation.
بَعْدَafter هَذَاthis أَغَايَةٌis there a goal فَتُرَجَّىthen to be hoped for
بَعْدَ هَذَا أَغَايَةٌ فَتُرَجَّى
لِتَمَامٍtoward perfection أَمْor مَطْمَعٌan aspiration فِيin افْتِخارِpride
لِتَمَامٍ أَمْ مَطْمَعٌ فِي افْتِخارِ
Beyond this, is there a goal still to be hoped for
Toward perfection, or some further pride to covet?
نَظَرَتْbeheld هِنْدُHind حُسْنَهُنَّtheir beauty فَغَارَتْso she grew jealous
نَظَرَتْ هِنْدُ حُسْنَهُنَّ فَغَارَتْ
أَنْتِyou أَبْهَىmore radiant يَاO هِنْدُHind مِنْthan أَنْto تَغَارِيyou feel jealous
أَنْتِ أَبْهَى يَا هِنْدُ مِنْ أَنْ تَغَارِي
Hind beheld their beauty and grew jealous.
You are too radiant, Hind, to feel jealous.
كُلُّall هَذِيthese الدُّمَىstatues الَّتِيwhich عَبَدُوهَاthey worshipped them
كُلُّ هَذِي الدُّمَى الَّتِي عَبَدُوهَا
لَكِare yours يَاO رَبَّةgoddess of الجَمَالِbeauty جَوَارِيhandmaidens
لَكِ يَا رَبَّة الجَمَالِ جَوَارِي
All these statues which they worshipped
Are your handmaidens, O goddess of beauty.
Partial English translation: 104 of 118 Arabic lines translated.