مَنْwho عَذِيِرِيone who excuses me وَالدَّمْعُand the tears جَارٍflowing سَخِينُhot
مَنْ عَذِيِرِي وَالدَّمْعُ جَارٍ سَخِينُ
إِنَّindeed جُرْحَthe wound of النَّوَىseparation لَجُرْحٌindeed a wound ثَخِينُdeep
إِنَّ جُرْحَ النَّوَى لَجُرْحٌ ثَخِينُ
Who will excuse me, as hot tears flow?
Who can excuse me while tears flow hot,
Indeed, the wound of separation is a deep wound.
The wound of parting is indeed profound.
فَقَدْthe loss of خَيْرِthe best of الصِّحَابِcompanions أَوْدَىmade an end بِصَبْرِيof my patience
فَقَدْ خَيْرِ الصِّحَابِ أَوْدَى بِصَبْرِي
وَأَرَانِيand showed me التَّبْرِيحَagony كيْفَhow يَكُونُit is
وَأَرَانِي التَّبْرِيحَ كيْفَ يَكُونُ
The loss of the best of companions made an end of my patience,
The best of friends passed away with my patience,
and showed me what agony is.
And farewell seems permanent to me.
يَاO حَبِيباًa beloved عَلَيْهِupon him فُؤَادِيmy heart
يَا حَبِيباً عَلَيْهِ فُؤَادِي
وَفُؤَادِيand my heart بِمَنْof those whom يُحِبُّit loves ضَنِينُjealously protective
وَفُؤَادِي بِمَنْ يُحِبُّ ضَنِينُ
O beloved, on whom my heart is set,
O beloved, to whom my heart belongs,
and my heart jealously guards those it loves.
While my heart loves, it's full of grief.
كيْفَhow فَارَقْتَهُyou left it وَلَمْand did not يَتَفَطَّرْshatter
كيْفَ فَارَقْتَهُ وَلَمْ يَتَفَطَّرْ
جَزَعاًin anguish ذَلِكَthat المُصَابُstricken one الحَزِينُsorrowful
جَزَعاً ذَلِكَ المُصَابُ الحَزِينُ
How did you leave it without its shattering
How could you leave without it shattering,
in anguish, that stricken, sorrowful heart?
In sorrow over such sad misfortune?
لاno وَحَقِّand by the right of الَّذِيthe One who أَمَاتَكَcaused your death تَحْيَاyou live
لا وَحَقِّ الَّذِي أَمَاتَكَ تَحْيَا
وَلَكَand for you الحُبُّlove فِيهِin it وَالتَّمْكِينُand a secure place
وَلَكَ الحُبُّ فِيهِ وَالتَّمْكِينُ
No—by Him who caused your death, you live,
No - by Him who took your life you shall live,
and within it, love and a secure place are yours.
And for you is love in it and stability.
وَيَرَىand behold صَحْبُكَyour companions الأُولَىthose whom بِنْتَyou departed عَنْهُمْfrom them
وَيَرَى صَحْبُكَ الأُولَى بِنْتَ عَنْهُمْ
رُوحَكَyour spirit الحَيَّliving فِيin حِلىًadornments لاnot تَبينُpass away
رُوحَكَ الحَيَّ فِي حِلىً لا تَبينُ
And your companions, those from whom you departed, behold
Your early companions see your living soul
your living spirit in adornments that never fade.
In ornaments where nothing is clear.
إِنَّindeed بِالشَّرْقِin the East بَعْدَafter سَرْكِيسَSarkis شَجْواًsorrow
إِنَّ بِالشَّرْقِ بَعْدَ سَرْكِيسَ شَجْواً
شَرقَتْchoked بِالدِّمَاءِwith blood مِنْهُfrom it الجُفُونُthe eyelids
شَرقَتْ بِالدِّمَاءِ مِنْهُ الجُفُونُ
Indeed, in the East after Sarkis there is sorrow
In the East after your absence is weeping,
that has choked the eyelids with blood.
Eyes there reddened with blood at dawn.
فَلَّblunted مِنْsome of غَرْبِthe edge of مِصْرَEgypt أَنْthat يَتَوَلَّىhe should depart
فَلَّ مِنْ غَرْبِ مِصْرَ أَنْ يَتَوَلَّى
خِلُّهَاher friend البَرُّdevoted وَالوَلِيُّand the guardian الأَمِينُfaithful
خِلُّهَا البَرُّ وَالوَلِيُّ الأَمِينُ
Egypt's edge was blunted by the departure
Let the guardian of Egypt in the West
of her devoted friend and faithful guardian.
Be righteous and the trusted guardian.
دَمِيَتْbled مُهْجَةُthe heart of الشَّآمِal-Sham وَسَالَتْand flowed
دَمِيَتْ مُهْجَةُ الشَّآمِ وَسَالَتْ
بِالصَّفَاamong the rocks فِيin لُبْنَانَLebanon مِنْهُfrom it العُيُونُthe springs
بِالصَّفَا فِي لُبْنَانَ مِنْهُ العُيُونُ
The heart of al-Sham bled, and springs flowed
The passions of Syria are tearful, and tears
from that grief among the rocks in Lebanon.
Flow freely in Lebanon because of you.
لِمُرِيدِيfor the followers of سَرْكِيسَSarkis فِيin آخِرَthe farthest end of المَعْthe inhabited world (start)
لِمُرِيدِي سَرْكِيسَ فِي آخِرَ المَعْ
مُورِinhabited world (end) نَوْحٌlamentation مُرَدَّدُrepeated وَأَنِينُand moaning
مُورِ نَوْحٌ مُرَدَّدُ وَأَنِينُ
For Sarkis's followers at the farthest edge of the inhabited
For your devotees at the end of affairs
world, there is repeated lamentation and moaning.
Is repeated wailing and moaning.
كُلُّevery قُطْرٍland لِلْعُرْبِfor the Arabs فِيهِin it مَقَامٌa place
كُلُّ قُطْرٍ لِلْعُرْبِ فِيهِ مَقَامٌ
أَوْor مَقَالٌa voice لَهُfor him بِهِin it تَأْبِينُa eulogy
أَوْ مَقَالٌ لَهُ بِهِ تَأْبِينُ
Every land where Arabs have a place
Every tribe of Arabs has through you
or a voice has a eulogy for him.
A residence or elegy of bereavement.
وَبِأَغْلَىand with the most precious of فَريدِهِits pearls وَحِلاهُand its adornments
وَبِأَغْلَى فَريدِهِ وَحِلاهُ
جَادَwas lavish فِيin مَدْحِهِhis praise اللِّسَانُthe tongue المُبِينُeloquent
جَادَ فِي مَدْحِهِ اللِّسَانُ المُبِينُ
And with its costliest pearls and adornments,
With its most valuable jewel and adornment
the eloquent tongue was lavish in his praise.
The clear tongue lavishes praise.
ذَاكَthat حَقٌّa right لَهُfor him عَلَىupon نَاطِقِيspeakers of الضَّاthe letter ḍād (start)
ذَاكَ حَقٌّ لَهُ عَلَى نَاطِقِي الضَّا
دِḍād (end) وَمَنْand those who بِالوَفَاءِin fidelity مِنْهُمْamong them يَدِينُbelieve
دِ وَمَنْ بِالوَفَاءِ مِنْهُمْ يَدِينُ
That is his due from speakers of the tongue of
This right upon eulogists of virtue
ḍād, and those among them who profess fidelity.
And those in loyalty to you indebted.
عَجَبٌa wonder أَنْthat خَبَاwent out الشِّهَابُthe meteor وَأَنْand that أَعْfollowed (start)
عَجَبٌ أَنْ خَبَا الشِّهَابُ وَأَنْ أَعْ
قَبَfollowed (end) ذَاكَthat الحَرَاكِactivity هَذَاthis السُّكُونُstillness
قَبَ ذَاكَ الحَرَاكِ هَذَا السُّكُونُ
It is strange that the meteor went out, and that
A wonder that the bright star darkened,
this stillness followed that activity.
And after such liveliness is this stillness.
كَانَhe was مِلْءَthe fullness of الحَيَاةِlife فَهْيَso it is وَقَدْand already وَلَّdeparted (start)
كَانَ مِلْءَ الحَيَاةِ فَهْيَ وَقَدْ وَلَّ
ىdeparted (end) فَرَاغٌa void تُحَسُّis felt فِيهِin it المَنُونُdeath
ى فَرَاغٌ تُحَسُّ فِيهِ المَنُونُ
He filled life; now, with him gone,
You were the fullness of life, but now
it is a void in which death is felt.
Emptiness remains, sensed by the afflicted.
أَوْقَعَcaused الذُّعْرَterror حَيْنُهُhis death فِيin نُفُوسٍsouls
أَوْقَعَ الذُّعْرَ حَيْنُهُ فِي نُفُوسٍ
خِلْنَthey thought مَنْone whose ذَاكَthat عَزْمُهُhis resolve لاnot يَحِينُdies
خِلْنَ مَنْ ذَاكَ عَزْمُهُ لا يَحِينُ
His death struck terror into souls
Your loss cast terror into undaunted souls,
that thought a man of such resolve could never die.
If only that resolve of yours had remained.
يَاO فَخَارَpride of البَيَانِeloquence مَاذَاwhat دَهَاهُbefell it
يَا فَخَارَ البَيَانِ مَاذَا دَهَاهُ
فَهُوَfor it is اليَوْمَtoday خَاشِعٌhumbled مُسْتَكِينُsubdued
فَهُوَ اليَوْمَ خَاشِعٌ مُسْتَكِينُ
O pride of eloquence, what has befallen it?
You were protected by holding firm
For today it is humbled and subdued.
To an opinion you'd sacrifice for, and firmness protects.
يَتَلَقَّىfaces الخُطُوبَcalamities غَيْرَnot أَبِيٍّdefiant
يَتَلَقَّى الخُطُوبَ غَيْرَ أَبِيٍّ
وَعَلَىand to نَفْسِهِitself يَكَادُalmost يَهُونُis of little worth
وَعَلَى نَفْسِهِ يَكَادُ يَهُونُ
It faces calamities without defiance,
Sound faith, even if fire of torture,
and almost feels itself of little worth.
Would not shake such conviction.
كيْفَhow يَنْسَىforgets سِنِينَyears أَعْزَزْتَyou exalted فِيهَاin them
كيْفَ يَنْسَى سِنِينَ أَعْزَزْتَ فِيهَا
شَأْنَهُits standing فَوْقَabove مَاwhat تُعِزُّbring honor الشُّؤونُaffairs
شَأْنَهُ فَوْقَ مَا تُعِزُّ الشُّؤونُ
How can it forget the years in which you raised
That's a lesson you learned, remaining
its stature beyond the honor that other pursuits confer,
An admonition to people as eras pass.
إِذْwhen أَثَرْتَyou stirred الحَرْبَwar العَوَانَrenewed عَلَىagainst البَغْoppression (start)
إِذْ أَثَرْتَ الحَرْبَ العَوَانَ عَلَى البَغْ
يِoppression (end) وَكُلُّand everyone لَهُfor it عَلَيْكَagainst you مُعِينُa helper
يِ وَكُلُّ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ مُعِينُ
when you stirred renewed war against
How many a gallant man you were, of noble traits -
oppression, while everyone aided it against you?
Courage, brilliance and faith lost.
فَتَرَامَىso ranged far بَحْراًby sea وَبَرّاًand by land بِكَwith you النَّفْexile (start)
فَتَرَامَى بَحْراً وَبَرّاً بِكَ النَّفْ
يُexile (end) وَورَاتْكَand concealed you بِالحِجَابِbehind the veil السُّجُونُprisons
يُ وَورَاتْكَ بِالحِجَابِ السُّجُونُ
So exile cast you far over sea and land,
You were an embodiment of every virtue,
and prisons hid you behind their veil.
Then those traits parted from our eyes.
وَبَلَوْتَand you experienced الشَّقَاءَmisery مِنْof كُلِّevery لَوْنٍkind
وَبَلَوْتَ الشَّقَاءَ مِنْ كُلِّ لَوْنٍ
مَاno بِهِin it رَحْمَةٌmercy وَمَاand no بِكَin you لِينُyielding
مَا بِهِ رَحْمَةٌ وَمَا بِكَ لِينُ
And you experienced misery of every kind,
The bereft have lost an honest, candid man
with no mercy in it, and no yielding in you.
Whose nature knows no dissembling.
شَدَّstrengthened فِيin السِّيرَةِthe course الَّتِيwhich سِرْتَyou followed مَاwhat عَاendured (start)
شَدَّ فِي السِّيرَةِ الَّتِي سِرْتَ مَا عَا
نَيْتَyou endured (end) مِمَّاof what تَرْتَاعُrecoil in fear مِنْهُfrom it الظُّنُونُthoughts
نَيْتَ مِمَّا تَرْتَاعُ مِنْهُ الظُّنُونُ
In the course you followed, you were strengthened by what you
And a loyal friend in affection, none to rival
endured—things from which the imagination recoils.
His fidelity, and true to every oath.
مِحَنٌtrials تَنْسِفُblast away العَزَائِمَresolves فِيin الأبْthe heroes (start)
مِحَنٌ تَنْسِفُ العَزَائِمَ فِي الأبْ
طَالِheroes (end) نَسْفاًutterly لَوْif أَنَّهُنَّthey were حُصُونُfortresses
طَالِ نَسْفاً لَوْ أَنَّهُنَّ حُصُونُ
Trials that blast away the resolves of
A companion whose talk delights, with subtleties
heroes utterly—even were those resolves fortresses.
Unending, and tales to enchant.
إِنَّمَاonly صَانَكَpreserved you الثَّبَاتُsteadfastness عَلَىin رَأْa conviction (start)
إِنَّمَا صَانَكَ الثَّبَاتُ عَلَى رَأْ
يٍconviction (end) تُفَدِّيهِyou sacrifice yourself for it وَالثَّبَاتُand steadfastness يَصُونُprotects
يٍ تُفَدِّيهِ وَالثَّبَاتُ يَصُونُ
Only steadfastness preserved you in a
He presents the rarest anecdotes with liveliest wit,
conviction you would sacrifice yourself for; steadfastness protects.
And races ahead with the lightest of them.
وَصَحِيحُand one sound in اليَقِينِcertainty لَوْeven if صَلَىburned in النَّاthe fire (start)
وَصَحِيحُ اليَقِينِ لَوْ صَلَى النَّا
رfire (end) عَذَاباًin torment مَاnot اعْتَلَّbecame impaired مِنْهُin him اليَقِينُcertainty
ر عَذَاباً مَا اعْتَلَّ مِنْهُ اليَقِينُ
And one of sound certainty, even if he burned in
His words' exterior one may see as bland, but the
fire's torment, would not have his certainty weakened.
Profound view reveals wisdom remote.
ذَاكَthat دَرْسٌa lesson أَلْفَيْتَهُyou found it وَسيَبْقَىand it will remain
ذَاكَ دَرْسٌ أَلْفَيْتَهُ وَسيَبْقَى
عِظَةَan admonition to النَّاسِpeople مَاas long as تَمُرُّpass القُرُونُthe centuries
عِظَةَ النَّاسِ مَا تَمُرُّ القُرُونُ
That is a lesson you found, and it will remain
To onlookers he's a beacon,
an admonition to humankind as long as the centuries pass.
And for those who seek, he's a spring.
كَمْhow many فَتىًa gallant man فِيكَin you يَاO حَمِيدَpraiseworthy in السَّجَايَاcharacter
كَمْ فَتىً فِيكَ يَا حَمِيدَ السَّجَايَا
فَقَدْlost البَأْسُvalor وَالنَّدَىand generosity وَالدِّينُand faith
فَقَدْ البَأْسُ وَالنَّدَى وَالدِّينُ
How many gallant men, in you, O noble of character,
You see me not enumerating qualities
have valor, generosity, and faith lost!
Each of which honors and refines the gentleman.
كُنْتَyou were شَمْلاًa gathering مِنَof الصِّفَاتِqualities جَمِيعاًall together
كُنْتَ شَمْلاً مِنَ الصِّفَاتِ جَمِيعاً
فَتَوَلَّتْso departed تِلْكَthose الصَّفَاتُqualities العُيُونُchoicest
فَتَوَلَّتْ تِلْكَ الصَّفَاتُ العُيُونُ
You gathered every virtue into one,
In journalism, if obstacles arose,
so those choicest virtues passed away.
He'd tame them, making the rugged smooth.
فَقَدْlost الفَاقِدُونَthe bereaved حُرّاًa free man صَرِيحاًforthright
فَقَدْ الفَاقِدُونَ حُرّاً صَرِيحاً
مَاnot لَهُhe has فِيin طِبَاعِهِhis nature تَلْوِينُchanging colors
مَا لَهُ فِي طِبَاعِهِ تَلْوِينُ
The bereaved lost a free, forthright man,
Daily he'd weave lawful magic
with no shifting colors in his character;
Wherein minds are entranced.
وَخَدِيناًand a companion عَلَىthrough اخْتِلافِthe changing of اللَّيَالِيnights
وَخَدِيناً عَلَى اخْتِلافِ اللَّيَالِي
لاnot يُجَارِيهِmatches him فِيin الوَلاءِloyalty خَدِينُa companion
لا يُجَارِيهِ فِي الوَلاءِ خَدِينُ
and a companion through the changing nights,
When it fell, a shining star,
whom no companion could match in loyalty;
A firm pillar collapsed.
وَصَدِيقاًand a friend فِيin وُدِّهِhis affection لاnot يُدَاجِيdissembles
وَصَدِيقاً فِي وُدِّهِ لا يُدَاجِي
وَصَدُوقاًand a truthful man بِعَهْدِهِto his pledge لاnot يَمِينُlies
وَصَدُوقاً بِعَهْدِهِ لا يَمِينُ
and a friend who never dissembled in his affection,
It drew together their unity; unto wisdom
and a man true to his pledge, who never lied;
The downcast shall return.
وَنَدِيماًand a boon companion حَدِيثُهُhis talk طُرَفٌdelightful anecdotes لاnot
وَنَدِيماً حَدِيثُهُ طُرَفٌ لا
تَتَنَاهَىend أَلْطَافُهَاtheir charms وَشُجُونُand branching themes
تَتَنَاهَى أَلْطَافُهَا وَشُجُونُ
and a boon companion whose talk was anecdotes of
Today let us maintain the press;
unending charm, and richly branching tales;
By his grave its being is defined.
يُورِدُpresents النَّادِرَاتِrare anecdotes أَظْرَفَmost charming إِيtelling (start)
يُورِدُ النَّادِرَاتِ أَظْرَفَ إِي
رَادٍtelling (end) وَيَعْدُوand passes by أَخَفَهُنَّthe lightest of them المُجُونُindecency
رَادٍ وَيَعْدُو أَخَفَهُنَّ المُجُونُ
he offered rare anecdotes with the most charming
Sarkis was lofty, not complaining, but complaining
delivery; indecency passed even the lightest of them by.
As much as he was able to gain support.
وَأَدِيباًand a man of letters إذَاwhen تَقَضَّتْcame to an end فُنُونٌarts
وَأَدِيباً إذَا تَقَضَّتْ فُنُونٌ
مِنْfrom إِجَادَاتِهِhis masterful works تَلْتَهَاfollowed them فُنُونُarts
مِنْ إِجَادَاتِهِ تَلْتَهَا فُنُونُ
And a man of letters: when certain arts ended,
Sarkis would grant excuse, unless
among his fine achievements, other arts followed.
One came insolently committing what debases.
يُؤْثِرُprefers السَّهْلَsimplicity فِيin الكَلامِspeech وَلِلْand for the
يُؤْثِرُ السَّهْلَ فِي الكَلامِ وَلِلْ
جَزْلِlofty diction مَتَىwhen تَدْعُهُcalls for it البَلاغَةُeloquence حِينُa time
جَزْلِ مَتَى تَدْعُهُ البَلاغَةُ حِينُ
He preferred plain speech; and for
If manliness called him, he'd answer,
lofty diction there was a time whenever eloquence called for it.
And the desire for success was his ally.
تَطْفِرُleap forth البَادِرَاتُspontaneous sallies مِنْfrom نَبْعِهِhis spring العَذْsweet (start)
تَطْفِرُ البَادِرَاتُ مِنْ نَبْعِهِ العَذْ
بِsweet (end) وَفِيand in المُسْتَقَرِّthe depths فِكْرٌthought رَصِينُsolid
بِ وَفِي المُسْتَقَرِّ فِكْرٌ رَصِينُ
Spontaneous sallies leapt from his sweet
He was generous, though gaining little, but
spring, while at its depths lay solid thought.
In it was grace the poor could obtain.
ظَاهِرُthe surface of القَوْلِspeech قَدْmay يُرَىbe seen نَزِقاًimpulsive وَالرَّand the judgment (start)
ظَاهِرُ القَوْلِ قَدْ يُرَى نَزِقاً وَالرَّ
أْيُjudgment (end) فِيin غَوْرِهِits depth البَعِيدِfar رَزِينُsober
أْيُ فِي غَوْرِهِ البَعِيدِ رَزِينُ
The surface of his speech might seem impulsive, while
He cared not for clouds' stinginess toward him,
the judgment in its farthest depths was sober.
While toward others clouds would be generous.
هُوَhe لِلنَّاظِرِينَfor those looking نُورٌa light مُبِينٌclear
هُوَ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ نُورٌ مُبِينٌ
وَهُوَand he لِلوَارِدِينَfor those coming to drink مَاءٌwater مَعِينُflowing
وَهُوَ لِلوَارِدِينَ مَاءٌ مَعِينُ
To those who look, he is a clear light,
He was, for his family - the best family -
and to those who come to drink, he is flowing water.
Good Lord of the protected sanctuary.
مَاwhat تَرَانِيyou see me مُعِدِّداًenumerating مِنْof صِفَاتٍqualities
مَا تَرَانِي مُعِدِّداً مِنْ صِفَاتٍ
كُلُّهَاall of them يُكْرِمُhonor الفَتَىthe man وَيَزِينُand adorn
كُلُّهَا يُكْرِمُ الفَتَى وَيَزِينُ
The qualities you see me recounting
From his guidance they have a shining star,
all honor a man and adorn him.
And from his help a precious treasure.
كَانَwas سَركِيسُSarkis فِيin الصَّحَافَةِjournalism إِنْif قَاarose (start)
كَانَ سَركِيسُ فِي الصَّحَافَةِ إِنْ قَا
مَتْarose (end) صِعَابٌdifficulties يَرُوضُهَاhe tames them فَتَهُونُand so they become easy
مَتْ صِعَابٌ يَرُوضُهَا فَتَهُونُ
Sarkis, in journalism, whenever
A father's love returned in that guide
difficulties arose, tamed them until they grew easy.
To all - though to some it seems madness.
كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday يَأْتِيhe brings بِسِحْرٍwith magic حَلالٍlawful
كُلَّ يَوْمٍ يَأْتِي بِسِحْرٍ حَلالٍ
قَدْindeed حَلاwas sweet فِيهِin it لِلْعُقُولِto minds الفُتُونُenchantment
قَدْ حَلا فِيهِ لِلْعُقُولِ الفُتُونُ
Every day he brought lawful magic,
If they withdrew into the house's corners,
whose enchantment was sweet to minds.
Longing for him intensified, and pining.
فَهَوَىso fell إِذْwhen هَوَىhe fell شِهَابٌa meteor مُنِيرٌshining
فَهَوَى إِذْ هَوَى شِهَابٌ مُنِيرٌ
مِنْfrom بَنِيهَاher sons وَانْهَدَّand collapsed رُكْنٌa pillar رَكِينُfirm
مِنْ بَنِيهَا وَانْهَدَّ رُكْنٌ رَكِينُ
So when he fell, a shining meteor fell
What gentle discourse, sweet meanings,
from among her sons, and a firm pillar collapsed.
Charmed their hearing and their eyes!
ضَمَّdrew together مِنْsome of شَمْلِهِمْtheir ranks أَسَاهُمْtheir grief عَلَيْهِfor him
ضَمَّ مِنْ شَمْلِهِمْ أَسَاهُمْ عَلَيْهِ
وَإِلَىand to الرُّشْدِsound judgment يَرْجِعُreturns المَحْزُونُthe sorrowful one
وَإِلَى الرُّشْدِ يَرْجِعُ المَحْزُونُ
Their grief for him drew their ranks together,
How can they console themselves, when in each horizon
and the sorrowful return to sound judgment.
Is an echo and murmur of him?
فَلْنحَيِّso let us salute النِّقَابَةَthe union اليَوْمَtoday قَامَتْarose
فَلْنحَيِّ النِّقَابَةَ اليَوْمَ قَامَتْ
وَلَهَاand it has عِنْدَbeside قَبْرِهِhis grave تَكْوِينُformation
وَلَهَا عِنْدَ قَبْرِهِ تَكْوِينُ
So let us salute the union that arose today,
Oh, Sarkis - though we weep, the remaining
and was formed beside his grave.
Sorrow and fleeting joy are feeble.
كَانَwas سَركِيسُSarkis عَالِيَlofty of النَّفْسِsoul لاnot يَشْcomplains (start)
كَانَ سَركِيسُ عَالِيَ النَّفْسِ لا يَشْ
كُوcomplains (end) وَيُشْكِيand relieves distress مَاas much as اسْطَاعَhe could مَنْwhoever يَسْتَعِينُseeks help
كُو وَيُشْكِي مَا اسْطَاعَ مَنْ يَسْتَعِينُ
Sarkis was lofty of soul; he did not
Not for those who depart, but for us
complain, and relieved those seeking help as far as he could.
When they go affairs are thrown into chaos.
كَانَwas سَركِيسُSarkis يَمْنَحُgrants العُذْرَan excuse إِلاَّexcept
كَانَ سَركِيسُ يَمْنَحُ العُذْرَ إِلاَّ
مَنْwhoever أَتَىcommitted بَاغِياًwrongfully أُمُوراًdeeds تَشِينُdisgrace
مَنْ أَتَى بَاغِياً أُمُوراً تَشِينُ
Sarkis made allowances for all except
Egypt stood - with your soul you'd redeem her - but who
those who committed wrongful, disgraceful deeds.
Would redeem her with his soul, save the deluded?
كَانَwas إِنْif تَدْعُهُcalls him المُرُوءةُchivalry لَبَّanswered (start)
كَانَ إِنْ تَدْعُهُ المُرُوءةُ لَبَّ
اهَاanswered it (end) وَمَسْعَاهُand his effort بِالنَّجَاحِof success ضَمِينُa guarantor
اهَا وَمَسْعَاهُ بِالنَّجَاحِ ضَمِينُ
Whenever chivalry called him, he
No foot lingered, yet in the soul of each
answered it, and his effort guaranteed success.
Of her sons for you is enduring dwelling.
كَانَwas سَمْحاًgenerous يَجْنِيearns القَلِيلَlittle وَلَكِنْbut
كَانَ سَمْحاً يَجْنِي القَلِيلَ وَلَكِنْ
فِيهِin it فَضْلٌa surplus يُصِيبُهُreceives it المِسْكِينُthe poor person
فِيهِ فَضْلٌ يُصِيبُهُ المِسْكِينُ
He was generous, earning little, yet
You were the spirit that would free her, what
in it lay a surplus that the poor received.
Free spirit but yours would that fortified city doom?
لاnot يُبَالِيcares about شُحَّthe stinginess of السَّحَابِthe clouds عَلَيْهِtoward him
لا يُبَالِي شُحَّ السَّحَابِ عَلَيْهِ
وَعَلَىand upon غَيرِهِthose other than him السَّحَابُthe clouds هَتُونُpouring
وَعَلَى غَيرِهِ السَّحَابُ هَتُونُ
He cared not that the clouds were stingy toward him,
while upon others the clouds poured.
كَانَwas فِيamong أَهْلِهِhis family وَهُمْand they خَيْرُthe best of أَهْلٍfamilies
كَانَ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَهُمْ خَيْرُ أَهْلٍ
نِعْمَexcellent is رَبُّthe master of الحِمَىthe protected home القَرِينُthe spouse
نِعْمَ رَبُّ الحِمَى القَرِينُ
Among his family—and they were the best of families—he was
a fine master of the home, a fine spouse.
لَهُمُfor them مِنْfrom هُدَاهُhis guidance نَجْمٌa star مُضِيءٌshining
لَهُمُ مِنْ هُدَاهُ نَجْمٌ مُضِيءٌ
وَلَهُمْand for them مِنْfrom نَدَاهُhis generosity كَنْزُa treasure ثَمِينُprecious
وَلَهُمْ مِنْ نَدَاهُ كَنْزُ ثَمِينُ
They had, in his guidance, a shining star,
and in his generosity, a precious treasure.
عَادَbecame حُبُّlove of البَنِينَthe sons فِيin ذَلِكَthat المُرْthe guide (start)
عَادَ حُبُّ البَنِينَ فِي ذَلِكَ المُرْ
شِدِguide (end) لِلْعَالَمِينَto humankind وَهْوَand it is جُنُونُmadness
شِدِ لِلْعَالَمِينَ وَهْوَ جُنُونُ
Love for his sons became, in that guide
to all humankind, a madness.
إِنْif تَوَارَوْاthey disappeared فِيin دَارِةِthe courtyard of الدَّارِthe house عَنْهُfrom him
إِنْ تَوَارَوْا فِي دَارِةِ الدَّارِ عَنْهُ
جَدَّgrew anew شَوْقٌlonging بِهِin him وَلَجَّand persisted حَنِينُyearning
جَدَّ شَوْقٌ بِهِ وَلَجَّ حَنِينُ
If they disappeared from his sight within the house's courtyard,
longing renewed itself in him, and yearning would not relent.
أَيُّwhat عَذْبِsweet of الخِطَابِspeech حُلْوِsweet of المَعَانِيmeanings
أَيُّ عَذْبِ الخِطَابِ حُلْوِ المَعَانِي
رُزْئَتْهُwere bereaved of him أَسْمَاعُهُمْtheir ears وَالعُيُونُand eyes
رُزْئَتْهُ أَسْمَاعُهُمْ وَالعُيُونُ
What a man of sweet speech and lovely meanings
their ears and eyes have lost!
كيْفَhow يَسْلُونَهُthey forget him وَفِيand in كُلِّevery أُفْقٍhorizon
كيْفَ يَسْلُونَهُ وَفِي كُلِّ أُفْقٍ
لِحَدِيثٍfor talk عَنْهُabout him صَدىan echo وَرَنِينُand a ringing
لِحَدِيثٍ عَنْهُ صَدى وَرَنِينُ
How can they forget him, when on every horizon
talk of him has an echo and a ringing sound?
إِيهِah سَرْكِيسُSarkis إِنْif بَكَيْنَاwe wept فَإِنْthen indeed البَwhat remains (start)
إِيهِ سَرْكِيسُ إِنْ بَكَيْنَا فَإِنْ البَ
اقِيَremaining (end) الحُزْنُgrief وَالسُّرُورُand joy الظَّعِينُdeparting
اقِيَ الحُزْنُ وَالسُّرُورُ الظَّعِينُ
Ah, Sarkis, if we weep, it is because
grief remains, and joy has journeyed away.
لاnot عَلَىfor الذَّاهِبِينَthe departed لَكِنْbut عَلَيْنَاfor us
لا عَلَى الذَّاهِبِينَ لَكِنْ عَلَيْنَا
حِينَwhen يَمْضُونَthey go تَسْتَدِرُّpour forth الشُّؤُونُthe tear ducts
حِينَ يَمْضُونَ تَسْتَدِرُّ الشُّؤُونُ
Not for the departed, but for ourselves,
when they go, the tear ducts pour.
مِصْرُEgypt قَامَتْhas risen كُنْتَyou used to بِالرُّوحِwith the soul تَفْتَدِيهَاyou ransom her وَمَاand not
مِصْرُ قَامَتْ كُنْتَ بِالرُّوحِ تَفْتَدِيهَا وَمَا
مَنْone who يَفْتَدِيهَاransoms her بِرُوحِهِwith his soul مَغْبُونُcheated
مَنْ يَفْتَدِيهَا بِرُوحِهِ مَغْبُونُ
Egypt has risen; you would ransom her with your soul, and no
one who ransoms her with his soul is cheated.
لَمْnot يَضِعْis lost رَاحِلٌa departed one وَفِيand in نَفْسِthe soul of كُلٍّeach
لَمْ يَضِعْ رَاحِلٌ وَفِي نَفْسِ كُلٍّ
مِنْof بَنِيهَاher sons لَهُfor him قَرَارٌan abode مَكِينُsecure
مِنْ بَنِيهَا لَهُ قَرَارٌ مَكِينُ
No departed man is lost, while in the soul of each
of her sons he has a secure abode.
Partial English translation: 98 of 120 Arabic lines translated.