ياO رُبَّmany a جاريةship فيin البحرthe sea كالعلمlike a mountain
يا رُبَّ جارية في البحر كالعلم
تراقصتdanced فوقabove موجwaves منهof it ملتطمcrashing
تراقصت فوق موج منه ملتطم
Many a vessel upon the sea, like a banner,
Oh, how many a ship upon the sea, like a mountain,
has danced above its crashing waves;
has danced above its crashing waves!
وسابحينَand swimmers علىon شطآنهits shores بَرمواgrew weary
وسابحينَ على شطآنه بَرموا
بالصيفof summer؛ فانغمسواso they plunged فيinto مائهits water الشبمcold
بالصيف؛ فانغمسوا في مائه الشبم
and swimmers on its shores grew weary
And swimmers along its shores grew weary
in summer, then plunged into its cool water.
of summer, so they plunged into its cold water.
والبحرand the sea لاnot ضائقtroubled، أوor شاعرٌaware بهماof them both
والبحر لا ضائق، أو شاعرٌ بهما
لكنهbut it ناظرٌlooks on فيwith ثغرa mouth مبتسمsmiling
لكنه ناظرٌ في ثغر مبتسم
The sea was neither troubled by nor aware of either group,
And the sea is neither troubled nor aware of either,
but gazed through a smiling mouth,
but looks on with smiling lips.
يقولit says فيin عجبwonder: كمhow many قارةٍa continent ركبتhas ridden
يقول في عجب: كم قارةٍ ركبت
ظهريmy back، وكمand how many نملةٍan ant دبَّتْcrept علىupon قدميmy foot
ظهري، وكم نملةٍ دبَّتْ على قدمي
saying in wonder: “How many boats have ridden
It says in wonder: “How many a continent has ridden
my back, and how many ants have crawled over my feet!”
my back, and how many an ant has crept upon my foot!”
ياO بحرsea، قدhas سِئمَتْgrown weary of نفسيmy soul الحياةَlife علىat
يا بحر، قد سِئمَتْ نفسي الحياةَ على
وتيرةa single pace، فأرحْso soothe نفسيmy soul فيin السأمweariness
وتيرة، فأرحْ نفسي في السأم
O sea, my soul has wearied of life lived
O sea, my soul has tired of living at
at one unvarying pace; give my weary soul rest.
a single pace; soothe my soul in its weariness.
إنيindeed I أتيتُكَhave come to you مصطافًاas a summer visitor، وملتَمسًاand seeking
إني أتيتُكَ مصطافًا، وملتَمسًا
منfrom مائكyour water المعدنيِّmineral البرءَrecovery منfrom سقميmy illness
من مائك المعدنيِّ البرءَ من سقمي
I have come to you as a summer visitor, seeking
I have come to you as a summer visitor, seeking
in your mineral water a cure for my illness.
from your mineral water a cure for my illness.
أماas for الحِسَانthe beauties علىon الشاطئthe shore؛ فقدthen indeed لمحتnoticed
أما الحِسَان على الشاطئ؛ فقد لمحت
شيْبيmy gray hair، فَهِمْتُso I became enamored بهاof them وحديalone، ولمand did not تَهِمbecome enamored
شيْبي، فَهِمْتُ بها وحدي، ولم تَهِم
As for the beauties on the shore, they glimpsed
As for the beauties on the shore, they have noticed
my gray hair; I alone fell for them, but they did not fall for me.
my gray hair; I alone was smitten with them, and they were not.
إذاwhen نَظرتُI look إلىat حسناءَa beautiful woman سابحةswimming
إذا نَظرتُ إلى حسناءَ سابحة
ناديتI called to عَهدthe days of شبابيmy youth، وهْوَand it is فيin صممdeafness
ناديت عَهد شبابي، وهْوَ في صمم
Whenever I beheld a beauty swimming,
When I gaze upon a beautiful woman swimming,
I called to the days of my youth—but they were deaf.
I call to the days of my youth, but they are deaf.
حسبيenough for me نسيمُthe breeze of الصباthe east wind، فاملأَso fill بِهwith it رئتيmy lungs
حسبي نسيمُ الصبا، فاملأَ بِه رئتي
ولاand do not تحرِّكْstir بأيامwith the days of الصِّبَاyouth ألميmy pain
ولا تحرِّكْ بأيام الصِّبَا ألمي
The breeze of youth is enough for me; let me fill my lungs with it,
The east wind's breeze is enough for me; fill my lungs with it,
and do not stir my pain with memories of youth’s days.
and do not stir my pain with the days of youth.
أغرقتُI drowned فيكَin you هموميmy cares. ليتهاif only they وقعتhad fallen
أغرقتُ فيكَ همومي. ليتها وقعت
فيinto بطنthe belly of حوتٍa whale منamong الحيتانthe whales ملتقمِdevouring!
في بطن حوتٍ من الحيتان ملتقمِ!
I drowned my cares in you—if only they had fallen
I drowned my cares in you; would that they had fallen
into the belly of some ravenous whale!
into the belly of some devouring whale!
إنif كانis شطُّكyour shore بالجنسَيْنwith both sexes مختلطاmixed
إن كان شطُّك بالجنسَيْن مختلطا
فربماfor sometimes اختلطmingled الجنسانboth sexes فيin الحرمthe Sacred Precinct
فربما اختلط الجنسان في الحرم
If your shore is thronged with both sexes,
If both sexes mingle on your shore,
perhaps the sexes have mingled even within the sanctuary.
they sometimes mingle in the Sacred Precinct as well.
استغفرI ask forgiveness of اللهGod! زِيُّthe dress of البيتthe Sacred House محتشِمٌmodest
استغفر الله! زِيُّ البيت محتشِمٌ
لكنَّbut زيَّكyour dress زيٌّa dress غيرُnot محتشمmodest
لكنَّ زيَّك زيٌّ غيرُ محتشم
God forgive me! At home, attire is modest,
God forgive me! Attire at the House is modest,
but your attire is the attire of the immodestly clad.
but your dress is not modest.
للهto God, in admiration منظرُكyour scene الساجيtranquil إذاwhen بسَطَتextended
لله منظرُك الساجي إذا بسَطَت
لكto you الرياحthe winds أصيلاًat dusk راحةthe palm of السلمَpeace!
لك الرياح أصيلاً راحة السلمَ!
How lovely your tranquil aspect when the winds
How wondrous your tranquil scene, when
spread for you at evening the palm of peace!
the winds extend to you, at dusk, the palm of peace!
ورُحْنَand set about ينقشنengraving فيon الأمواجthe waves منof صورٍimages
ورُحْنَ ينقشن في الأمواج من صورٍ
ماwhat ليسdoes not ينقشهdraw it الرسَّامُthe painter بالقلمwith a pen!
ما ليس ينقشه الرسَّامُ بالقلم!
They began inscribing upon the waves images
And set about engraving on the waves such pictures
that no painter could render with a pen.
as no painter can draw with a pen!
حبابُthe bubbles of مائكyour water، أَمor كأَسٌa cup لهاit has زبدٌfoam؟
حبابُ مائك، أَم كأَسٌ لها زبدٌ؟
وهمسُand the whisper of موجكyour waves، أمor شاجa plaintive strain منof النغمmelody؟
وهمسُ موجك، أم شاج من النغم؟
Is that the froth of your waters, or a cup crowned with foam?
Are these bubbles on your water, or a cup topped with foam?
Is that the murmur of your waves, or a plaintive strain of melody?
And the whisper of your waves, or a plaintive strain of music?
وفوقand upon رملكyour sand أمشيI walk، أمor علىon بُسُطcarpets
وفوق رملك أمشي، أم على بُسُط
صفراءَyellow منقوشةٍpatterned منof صَنعةthe workmanship of العجمthe Persians؟
صفراءَ منقوشةٍ من صَنعة العجم؟
Do I walk upon your sand, or upon carpets
Am I walking upon your sand, or on carpets
yellow and embroidered by Persian craftsmanship?
yellow and patterned, of Persian workmanship?
قالواthey said عليكof you: أُجاجbitterly salty الماءthe water، قلتI said لهمto them
قالوا عليك: أُجاج الماء، قلت لهم
بلrather ماؤُكyour water العَذْبfresh سيالٌflowing بكلin every فمmouth
بل ماؤُك العَذْب سيالٌ بكل فم
They said of you, “Its water is bitter brine.” I told them:
They called your water bitterly salty; I told them,
“No—your fresh water flows through every mouth.”
“Rather, your fresh water flows in every mouth.”
ألمhas ... not? يحوِّلْturned شعاعُthe ray of الشمسthe sun ماءَكyour water منfrom
ألم يحوِّلْ شعاعُ الشمس ماءَك من
ملْحsalt أجاجbitter إلىinto عذبfresh water منfrom الدِّيمgentle steady rains؟
ملْح أجاج إلى عذب من الدِّيم؟
Has the sunbeam not transformed your water from
Has not the sun's ray turned your water from
bitter salt into the fresh water of rain clouds?
bitter brine into the fresh water of gentle rains?
لولاكwithout you ماnot هَطَلتpoured rain وطفاءa heavy cloud، أوor هَدلتcooed
لولاك ما هَطَلت وطفاء، أو هَدلت
ورقاءُa gray dove، أوor قبَّلتْkissed كأسٌa cup شفاهَthe lips of ظميa thirsty person
ورقاءُ، أو قبَّلتْ كأسٌ شفاهَ ظمي
Were it not for you, no rain-laden cloud would pour, nor would
Without you, no rain from a heavy cloud, no cooing
a gray dove coo, nor a cup kiss thirsty lips.
from a gray dove, no cup kissing a thirsty person's lips.
لمnot ينتسبtraced its ancestry شجرٌa tree إلاexcept إليكto you أبًاas a father
لم ينتسب شجرٌ إلا إليك أبًا
ولاnor انتمىtraced its origin زهَرa flower إلاexcept إليكto you نُمىin growth
ولا انتمى زهَر إلا إليك نُمى
No tree traces its lineage except to you as father,
No tree has traced its ancestry to any father but you,
nor does any flower claim descent or grow except through you.
nor has a flower traced its growth to anyone but you.
سربْتَyou seeped فيthrough طبقاتthe layers of الأرضthe earth مُنْسَرِبًاseeping through
سربْتَ في طبقات الأرض مُنْسَرِبًا
فكيفso how أصبحتَhave you become تيجانًاcrowns علىupon القممthe peaks؟
فكيف أصبحتَ تيجانًا على القمم؟
You coursed through the layers of the earth, seeping;
You seeped through the layers of the earth,
how, then, did you become crowns upon the peaks?
so how have you become crowns upon the peaks?
وكيفand how طِرْتَdid you fly بلاwithout ريشfeathers وأجنحةand wings
وكيف طِرْتَ بلا ريش وأجنحة
فيin حالقthe heights of الجوِّthe sky كالعِقْبانlike eagles والرخمand vultures؟
في حالق الجوِّ كالعِقْبان والرخم؟
And how did you fly without feathers or wings,
And how did you fly without feathers or wings
high through the sky like eagles and vultures?
in the lofty sky, like eagles and vultures?
النيلthe Nile يعرفُknows والدَّانُوبُand the Danube أنهماthat they both
النيل يعرفُ والدَّانُوبُ أنهما
منfrom فيضُthe outpouring of سحبكَyour clouds، أوor منfrom سَيْلِكyour flood العَرِمraging
من فيضُ سحبكَ، أو من سَيْلِك العَرِم
The Nile knows, and the Danube, that both arise
The Nile and the Danube know that they
from the bounty of your clouds, or from the Flood of Arim.
spring from your clouds' outpouring, or from your raging flood.
ماnot سحَّpoured down فوقكupon you غيثٌrain، أوor جرىflowed نهَرٌa river
ما سحَّ فوقك غيثٌ، أو جرى نهَرٌ
إليكَto you إلاexcept اعترافاin acknowledgment منهfrom it بالنِّعمof the blessings
إليكَ إلا اعترافا منه بالنِّعم
No rain pours into you, nor does any river flow
No rain has poured upon you, nor any river flowed
toward you, save in acknowledgment of your blessings.
to you, save as its acknowledgment of your blessings.
كمhow many مِنَّةa favor لكof yours فيupon الأعناقthe necks تبذلهاyou bestow it
كم مِنَّة لك في الأعناق تبذلها
ولاand do not تمنُّreproach with your favors بهاwith them، ياO حاتمَHatim of الكرمgenerosity!
ولا تمنُّ بها، يا حاتمَ الكرم!
How many favors you bestow, binding necks in debt,
How many favors you bestow, borne as debts upon our necks,
yet never vaunting them—O Hatim of generosity!
yet never hold them over us, O Hatim of generosity!
سرُّthe secret of الحياةlife لِعَمريby my life أنتَyou are مذsince نشأتit arose
سرُّ الحياة لِعَمري أنتَ مذ نشأت
حولaround الضفافthe shores، تعالىexalted is بارئُthe Creator of النسَمَliving beings!
حول الضفاف، تعالى بارئُ النسَمَ!
By my life, you have been the secret of life since life arose
You are, by my life, the secret of life, since it arose
around the shores—exalted is the Creator of living souls!
around the shores; exalted be the Creator of living beings!
متىwhen ابتدأتَdid you begin علىupon الغْبراءِthe dusty earth وابتدأتand did it begin؟
متى ابتدأتَ على الغْبراءِ وابتدأت؟
هلdid ...? أوغَلَتْit reach far مِثْلَمَاjust as أوغَلْتَyou reached far فيinto القدمantiquity؟
هل أوغَلَتْ مِثْلَمَا أوغَلْتَ في القدم؟
When did you begin upon the dusty earth—and when did it begin?
When did you begin upon the dusty earth, and when did it begin?
Have you reached as far into antiquity as you have into the depths?
Did it reach as far into antiquity as you did?
مرَّتpassed عليكover you قرونٌcenturies ليسcannot يحصُرُهاencompass them
مرَّت عليك قرونٌ ليس يحصُرُها
عدٌّcounting، ولمand have not تَشْكُyou complained منof شَيبْgray hair ولاnor هرمold age
عدٌّ، ولم تَشْكُ من شَيبْ ولا هرم
Centuries have passed over you, too many
Centuries have passed over you that cannot be encompassed
for any count to encompass, yet you complain of neither grayness nor decrepitude.
by counting, yet you have complained of neither gray hair nor old age.
قلtell ليme بربِّكby your Lord: كهلmiddle-aged أنتyou are، أمor هرمdecrepit
قل لي بربِّك: كهل أنت، أم هرم
أمor لاnot تزالcease to be غلامًاa youth بالغَhaving reached الحلُمpuberty؟
أم لا تزال غلامًا بالغَ الحلُم؟
Tell me, by your Lord: are you middle-aged or ancient,
Tell me, by your Lord: are you middle-aged, or decrepit,
or are you still a youth newly come of age?
or still a youth who has reached puberty?
يكادُalmost سائِلكُyour liquid الرقراقُshimmering يخدعناdeceives us
يكادُ سائِلكُ الرقراقُ يخدعنا
عمَّاabout what حوَىit contains منof وُحوشbeasts لَسْنَthat are not فيin أجمthickets
عمَّا حوَى من وُحوش لَسْنَ في أجم
Your limpid, rippling water nearly deceives us
Your shimmering liquid almost deceives us
about the beasts it holds—beasts that dwell in no thickets.
about the beasts it holds, which live in no thickets.
أشِرعَةَis it the law of الغابِthe jungle تقضيyou judge by بينamong أهْلِكَyour inhabitants، أمor
أشِرعَةَ الغابِ تقضي بين أهْلِكَ، أم
حقُّthe right of الضعيفthe weak لديهمamong them غيرُnot مُهْتَضَمinfringed؟
حقُّ الضعيف لديهم غيرُ مُهْتَضَم؟
Does the law of the jungle rule among your denizens, or
Do you judge by the law of the jungle among your folk, or
is the right of the weak among them left unviolated?
is the weak one's right among them not infringed?
هوِّنْtake it easy عليكon yourself؛ فكمfor how many فيon البرِّdry land منof سمكfish
هوِّنْ عليك؛ فكم في البرِّ من سمك
يلوحappear فيin صورةِthe guise of الدُولاتstates والأُممand nations!
يلوح في صورةِ الدُولات والأُمم!
Console yourself: how many fish there are upon the land,
Take it easy; how many fish there are on dry land,
appearing in the guise of states and nations!
appearing in the guise of states and nations!
قالواthey said: السلامُpeace، ولمyet did not تعرفrecognize شرائعُهمtheir laws
قالوا: السلامُ، ولم تعرف شرائعُهم
غيرَanything but المخالبclaws والأنيابand fangs منof حكمrule!
غيرَ المخالب والأنياب من حكم!
They proclaim peace, though their laws have known
They said, “Peace,” yet their laws recognized
no rule whatsoever but claws and fangs.
no rule but claws and fangs!
ياoh طالماhow often كنتَyou were ميدانًاa battlefield لغاشِمِهمfor their tyrant
يا طالما كنتَ ميدانًا لغاشِمِهم
فَشَابso he mingled ماءَكyour water منbecause of أطماعهhis greed بدمwith blood
فَشَاب ماءَك من أطماعه بدم
O how long you have been an arena for their tyrants,
Oh, how often you were a battlefield for their tyrant,
until their greed stained your water with blood!
so, in his greed, he mingled your water with blood,
وشادَand he built جِسْرًاa bridge علىacross الأمواجthe waves منof جُثثcorpses
وشادَ جِسْرًا على الأمواج من جُثث
فلمso did not تعُدْcontinue to تشتكيcomplain الحيتانُthe whales منof قَرمَcraving for flesh
فلم تعُدْ تشتكي الحيتانُ من قَرمَ
They built a bridge across the waves from corpses,
and built across the waves a bridge of corpses,
so the whales ceased complaining of hunger.
so the whales no longer complained of a craving for flesh.
قدonce كنتَyou were، ياO بحرُsea، قبلbefore اليومtoday تقهرُناoverpowering us
قد كنتَ، يا بحرُ، قبل اليوم تقهرُنا
وكنتَand you were فوقbeyond حدودthe bounds of الظنِّconjecture والوهَمand imagination
وكنتَ فوق حدود الظنِّ والوهَم
Indeed, O sea, before today you used to overpower us,
Before today, O sea, you used to overpower us,
and lay beyond the bounds of conjecture and imagination,
and lay beyond the bounds of conjecture and imagination,
حتىuntil كشفناكَwe revealed you بالعلمthrough science الحديثmodern؛ فماso not
حتى كشفناكَ بالعلم الحديث؛ فما
عادَتْcontinued to تحوطكsurround you أسْدَافٌveils منof الظلمdarkness
عادَتْ تحوطك أسْدَافٌ من الظلم
until modern science unveiled you; then no longer
until we revealed you through modern science; no longer
did dark veils of knowledge continue to surround you.
did veils of darkness surround you.
القومthe people رادُوكexplored you، بلindeed سادوكmastered you منfor زَمنٍsome time
القوم رادُوك، بل سادوك من زَمنٍ
حتىuntil غدَوْتَyou became لهمfor them منamong أطْوَعthe most obedient الخدمservants
حتى غدَوْتَ لهم من أطْوَع الخدم
People explored you—indeed, mastered you—long ago,
People explored you—indeed, mastered you—long ago,
until you became one of their most obedient servants.
until you became one of their most obedient servants.
وماand not اكتفواwere they content بارتيادwith exploring البحرthe sea، بلrather سَبَحُواthey swam
وما اكتفوا بارتياد البحر، بل سَبَحُوا
كالجنِّlike jinn فيin عالمthe realm of الأفلاكcelestial spheres والسُّدُمand nebulae
كالجنِّ في عالم الأفلاك والسُّدُم
They were not content with exploring the sea, but sailed
They were not content to explore the sea, but swam
like jinn through the realm of celestial spheres and nebulae.
like jinn in the realm of celestial spheres and nebulae.
إنif كنتَyou are ياO بحرُsea عملاقًاa giant، فأنتَthen you وماand what
إن كنتَ يا بحرُ عملاقًا، فأنتَ وما
تحويهyou contain it فيin ملكوتthe dominion of اللهGod كالقَزَمlike a dwarf
تحويه في ملكوت الله كالقَزَم
If you are a giant, O sea, then you and all
If you are a giant, O sea, then you and all that
you contain are like a dwarf within God’s dominion.
you contain are like a dwarf within God's dominion.
وماand not أنالُكI subject you فيin شعريmy poetry بِمَنْقَصَةto disparagement
وما أنالُك في شعري بِمَنْقَصَة
يكفيكَit suffices you أنthat خَصَّكَHe singled you out الرحمنُthe Merciful بالقسمto swear by
يكفيكَ أن خَصَّكَ الرحمنُ بالقسم
Whatever I say of you in my verse does not diminish you;
Nor do I bring you any dishonor in my verse;
it is enough that the Merciful singled you out for an oath.
it is enough that the Merciful singled you out to swear by.
إذاwhen تَسمعْتُI listen closely خلتُI fancy الموجَthe waves فيكwithin you شدَاsang
إذا تَسمعْتُ خلتُ الموجَ فيك شدَا
بذكرِin remembrance of مَنْthe One who كوَّنَcreated الأكوانَthe worlds منfrom عدمnothingness!
بذكرِ مَنْ كوَّنَ الأكوانَ من عدم!
When I listened closely, I imagined the waves within you singing
When I listen closely, I fancy your waves are singing
in praise of Him who brought all creation forth from nothing.
in remembrance of Him who created the worlds from nothing!
