فَغَرَopened wide اليمُّthe sea فاهits mouth للرُّكبانِfor the passengers
فَغَرَ اليمُّ فاه للرُّكبانِ
وطغىand surged الماءُthe water، واختفىand disappeared الشاطئانboth shores
وطغى الماءُ، واختفى الشاطئان
The sea opened its mouth for the passengers;
The river opened its mouth wide for the travelers
the water surged, and both shores disappeared.
And the water rose high, the shores disappeared
وبداand appeared الموتُdeath سافرًاunveiled كالحَgrim الوجـthe face (first part)
وبدا الموتُ سافرًا كالحَ الوجـ
ـهِ(completes 'face')، ولمand did not تُجدِprove useful حيلةُresourcefulness of الرُّبانthe captain
ـهِ، ولم تُجدِ حيلةُ الرُّبان
And death appeared unveiled, grim of
And death appeared sailing like the smoothness of a cheek, and the captain found no solution
face; the captain's resourcefulness was of no avail.
The ship collapsed under mountains
وتهاوىand sank السفينُthe vessels تحتَbeneath جبالٍmountains
وتهاوى السفينُ تحتَ جبالٍ
شاهقاتtowering الذُّراthe summits غِلاظِmassive الرِّعَانthe mountain spurs
شاهقات الذُّرا غِلاظِ الرِّعَان
And the vessels sank beneath mountains
With thick ropes of enormous waves
with towering summits and massive spurs.
Mountains over the ship - water harder than granite
الجبالُthe mountains التيthat علىabove الفُلكthe vessels ماءٌwater
الجبالُ التي على الفُلك ماءٌ
ربَّmany a ماءwater أقسىharder منthan الصَّفوانsmooth rock
ربَّ ماء أقسى من الصَّفوان
The mountains above the vessels were water;
Oil that melts intestines, and water
how often water is harder than smooth rock!
That quenches even the unthirsty
رُبَّmany an زيتٍoil يفريtears through البُطونbellies، وماءٍand water
رُبَّ زيتٍ يفري البُطون، وماءٍ
عبَّgulped منهfrom it مَنone who ليسis not بالظمآنthirsty
عبَّ منه مَن ليس بالظمآن
How often oil tears through bellies, and water
Death entered, stealing steps like a thief
is gulped by one who is not thirsty!
Between the dancing of corpses and the playing of lute
دَخَلَentered الموتُdeath، يسرقُsteals الخطوَthe steps، لصًّاlike a thief
دَخَلَ الموتُ، يسرقُ الخطوَ، لصًّا
بينamid رقصdancing of الدُّمىthe dolls، وعزفِand playing of الكَمانthe violin
بين رقص الدُّمى، وعزفِ الكَمان
Death entered, tiptoeing like a thief,
It asked the travelers: How did their songs
amid dancing dolls and the strains of the violin.
Turn into moans that pound the ears of time?
سائلask الرَّكبَthe passengers: كيفhow صارتbecame أغانيـsongs (continued)
سائل الرَّكبَ: كيف صارت أغانيـ
ـهِtheir (possessive suffix) أنينًاmoaning يصُكُّbatters سمعhearing of الزمانtime؟
ـهِ أنينًا يصُكُّ سمع الزمان؟
Ask the passengers: how did their songs
And their melodies into the gurgling
turn to moans that batter the hearing of time?
Of the throats of women and children?
واستحالتْand turned into ألحانهُtheir melodies حشرجاتِdeath rattles
واستحالتْ ألحانهُ حشرجاتِ
منfrom حلوقthroats of النساءthe women والولدانand the children؟
من حلوق النساء والولدان؟
And their melodies turn into death rattles
My soul yearns for an innocent child
from the throats of women and children?
Oblivious to the striking of events
لهْفَalas نفسيmy soul علىfor صبيa boy غريرٍinnocent
لهْفَ نفسي على صبي غريرٍ
غافلٍunaware عنof طوارقsudden visitations of الحِدثانmisfortune
غافلٍ عن طوارق الحِدثان
How my soul grieves for an innocent boy,
Who died in his mother's lap! Oh mother
unaware of the sudden blows of fate!
Who met her death at the moment of her son's death!
ماتhe died فيin حِضنthe embrace of أمَّهhis mother! ياO لأمٍfor a mother
مات في حِضن أمَّه! يا لأمٍ
أدركتهاovertook her فيin لحظةan instant موتتانtwo deaths!
أدركتها في لحظة موتتان!
He died in his mother's arms! Alas for a mother
My soul yearns for a young man who the wave
whom two deaths overtook in a single instant!
Betrayed though he struggled with his arms!
لهفalas نفسيmy soul علىfor فتًىa young man أطبقَclosed over الموthe wave (first part)
لهف نفسي على فتًى أطبقَ المو
جُ(completes 'wave') عليهover him فخانهthen betrayed him الساعدانhis two forearms!
جُ عليه فخانه الساعدان!
How my soul grieves for a youth whom the
And a maiden wed too early to the Nile
wave engulfed, and whose arms failed him!
Her wedding passed without celebration!
وفتاةٍand a maiden زفتwas led as a bride إلىto النيلthe Nile بكرًاa virgin
وفتاةٍ زفت إلى النيل بكرًا
ومضىand passed عرسُهاher wedding بلاwithout مهرجانfestivities!
ومضى عرسُها بلا مهرجان!
And for a maiden led to the Nile as a virgin bride,
Many attained a new life
whose wedding passed without festivities!
Only to have it ended by sorrows!
ربَّmany a ناجsurvivor أصابَgained عمرًاa life جديدًاnew
ربَّ ناج أصابَ عمرًا جديدًا
فقضاهُso he spent it فريسةَa prey to الأحزانsorrows!
فقضاهُ فريسةَ الأحزان!
Many a survivor gained a new lease of life,
The screams of the drowning, their echoes pound his ears
only to spend it a prey to sorrow!
Everywhere, without cease
صرخاتُscreams of الغرقىthe drowned يصُكُّbatters صداهاtheir echo
صرخاتُ الغرقى يصُكُّ صداها
أُذنيهhis two ears صكًّاwith pounding blows بكلِّin every مكانplace
أُذنيه صكًّا بكلِّ مكان
The screams of the drowned—their echoes batter
Oh Nile, how many generations have you sustained
his ears with pounding blows everywhere.
And given life to mortal bodies
أيُّهاO النيلُNile، كمhow much عمرتyou made flourish يبابًاwasteland
أيُّها النيلُ، كم عمرت يبابًا
وبعثتَand you breathed الحياةlife فيinto الأبدانbodies
وبعثتَ الحياة في الأبدان
O Nile, how much wasteland you have made flourish,
Why then did you bring miserable death
and breathed life into bodies!
And spread destruction amongst the people?
فعلامwhy then استحلتَyou turned into موتًاdeath زُؤامًاsudden and dreadful
فعلام استحلتَ موتًا زُؤامًا
وأشعتَand you spread الخرابruin فيthrough العمرانinhabited settlements؟
وأشعتَ الخراب في العمران؟
Why, then, have you turned into sudden, dreadful death,
Do you contain grape cider, O Nile,
and spread ruin through inhabited settlements?
Or the venom of snakes and cobras?
أعصيرَis it the juice of الكرومgrapevines ياO نيلُNile تحويyou contain
أعصيرَ الكروم يا نيلُ تحوي
أمor لعابsaliva of الحياتِthe snakes والأُفعوانand the great serpent؟
أم لعاب الحياتِ والأُفعوان؟
Do you hold the juice of vines, O Nile,
You took from us, O Nile, what neither
or the saliva of snakes and the great serpent?
Lionesses nor wolves could take
نلتَyou took ماwhat لمdid not تنلهُtake it ياO نيلُNile مناfrom us
نلتَ ما لم تنلهُ يا نيلُ منا
ضارباتattacking ones among الأُسودthe lions والذُّؤبانand the wolves
ضاربات الأُسود والذُّؤبان
You have taken from us, O Nile, what was never taken by
I wonder, did you disdain to give too much grace?
the attacking lions and wolves.
The generous are not grudging
ليتَif only شعريI knew أبتَّhave you begun تستكثرُmake much of المنَّـthe favor (first part)
ليتَ شعري أبتَّ تستكثرُ المنَّـ
ـة(completes 'favor')؟ ليسis not الكريمُthe generous person بالمنَّانone who flaunts favors
ـة؟ ليس الكريمُ بالمنَّان
I wonder: have you begun to make much of your
Or did you remember what you once had
bounty? The generous do not flaunt their favors.
With the beautiful singing maidens of the past?
أمor تُراكperhaps you ادَكَرتَremembered مالكwhat you have منof ماa past (first part)
أم تُراك ادَكَرتَ مالك من ما
ضٍ(completes 'past') قديمٍancient معwith الغوانيthe fair maidens الحِسَانthe beautiful ones؟
ضٍ قديمٍ مع الغواني الحِسَان؟
Or have you perhaps recalled your
You used to take one child each year
ancient past with the fair, beautiful maidens?
Why did you take a whole village in moments?
كنتَyou used to تغتالُslay treacherously جؤذُرًاan oryx calf كلَّevery عامٍyear
كنتَ تغتالُ جؤذُرًا كلَّ عامٍ
فلمthen why اغتلتَdid you slay ربربًاa herd of oryx فيin ثوانseconds؟
فلم اغتلتَ ربربًا في ثوان؟
You used to slay an oryx calf each year;
Describe to us the war: how its havoc spun
then why did you slay a whole herd in seconds?
Between the army of children and the flood?
صفdescribe لناfor us الحربthe battle: كيفhow دارتrevolved رحاهاits millstone
صف لنا الحرب: كيف دارت رحاها
بينbetween جيشarmy of الأطفالthe children والطُّوفانand the flood؟
بين جيش الأطفال والطُّوفان؟
Describe the battle for us: how its millstone turned
How a child struggled against death
between the army of children and the flood.
With hands stained crimson by henna?
كيفhow كانتwere تغالبُstruggling against الموتَdeath غيدٌgraceful maidens
كيف كانت تغالبُ الموتَ غيدٌ
بأكفٍwith hands مخضَّباتdyed البَنَانthe fingertips؟
بأكفٍ مخضَّبات البَنَان؟
How did graceful maidens struggle against death
On many an arm you carved scars that no
with hands whose fingertips were dyed?
Two hands could erase
ربَّmany a عبلِstout الذراعِthe arm أنحتbore down عليهupon him
ربَّ عبلِ الذراعِ أنحت عليه
لُجَجٌdeep waters ماnot لهhe had يهنَّagainst them (reading uncertain) يدانtwo hands (strength)
لُجَجٌ ما له يهنَّ يدان
Many a stout-armed man was assailed by
Tell the people, O Nile, of the human urge
deep waters against which he had no strength.
To cling to life
حدِّثtell الناسthe people أيهاO النيلNile منabout فطـinnate nature (first part)
حدِّث الناس أيها النيل من فطـ
ـرةِ(completes 'innate nature') حبِّlove of البقاءsurvival فيin الإنسانhumankind
ـرةِ حبِّ البقاء في الإنسان
Tell the people, O Nile, of the innate
Describe to us: how does water extinguish the light of the eye
love of survival in humankind.
After the glimmer and glow?
صفdescribe لناfor us: كيفhow يخطفئextinguishes (apparent misspelling) الماءthe water نورَlight of الْthe
صف لنا: كيف يخطفئ الماء نورَ الْ
عَينeye بعدَafter البريقbrightness واللمعانand gleam؟
عَين بعدَ البريق واللمعان؟
Describe for us how water extinguishes the light of the
How was the pain of death more bitter
eye after its brightness and gleam.
Than a sharp sword or piercing fang?
كيفhow كانwas الآذيُّthe surge فيin القتلkilling أمضىkeener
كيف كان الآذيُّ في القتل أمضى
منthan شباblade edges of صارمa keen sword، وحدِّand the point of سنانa spearhead؟
من شبا صارم، وحدِّ سنان؟
How was the surge more deadly
Describe to us: how you squeezed out their final breaths
than the edge of a keen sword and the tip of a spear?
And sealed their lips shut?
صفdescribe لناfor us: كيفhow صعّدتrose upward آخرthe last الأنفاthe breaths (first part)
صف لنا: كيف صعّدت آخر الأنفا
سِ(completes 'breaths') فيهwithin it، وزمَّتand were clenched الشَّفتانthe two lips؟
سِ فيه، وزمَّت الشَّفتان؟
Describe for us how the last breaths rose
Oh enemy of fires, when you rose in rage
within it, and the two lips were clenched.
How did you become a torch of flames?
ياO عدوَenemy of النيرانfires إِنwhen هيthey شبَّتblazed
يا عدوَ النيران إِن هي شبَّت
كيفhow أصبحتyou became مشعلkindler of النيرانfires؟
كيف أصبحت مشعل النيران؟
O enemy of fires whenever they blaze,
How many hearts did you leave burning
how have you become the kindler of fires?
In hell, you who are the spring of heavens?
كمhow many فؤادٍa heart تركتهُyou left it يتلَظَّىburning fiercely
كم فؤادٍ تركتهُ يتلَظَّى
فيin جحيمٍan inferno، وأنتَwhile you are نبعُwellspring of الجنانgardens؟
في جحيمٍ، وأنتَ نبعُ الجنان؟
How many hearts have you left burning
The people came to relax awhile
in an inferno, though you are the wellspring of gardens?
And relax they did, but for all time
ذهبwent القومthe people يستجمُّونto rest حينًاawhile
ذهب القوم يستجمُّون حينًا
فاستجَمُّواso they rested لكنbut مدىthroughout الأزمانall time
فاستجَمُّوا لكن مدى الأزمان
The people went to rest awhile,
They planned a trip; and it was from this
and rested—but for all time.
World to the distant other world
أزمعواthey resolved on رحلةًa journey؛ فكانتand it was منfrom الدنthe world (first part)
أزمعوا رحلةً؛ فكانت من الدن
يا(completes 'world') إلىto العالمthe world البعيدdistant الثانيthe second
يا إلى العالم البعيد الثاني
They resolved on a journey; it proved to lead from this
They did not know, as they adorned themselves,
world to the distant other world.
That they dressed themselves in shrouds
ماdid not درواthey know إِذas تأنقواthey dressed elegantly فيin كساهمtheir clothing
ما دروا إِذ تأنقوا في كساهم
أَنهمthat they يكتسونwere clothing themselves بالأكفانin shrouds
أَنهم يكتسون بالأكفان
They did not know, as they dressed in finery,
Death took what the wave adorned itself with, and what it
that they were clothing themselves in shrouds.
Dyed in colors
كانwas للموتfor death ماwhat تحلتadorned themselves بهwith it الغيـthe graceful maidens (first part)
كان للموت ما تحلت به الغيـ
ـدُ(completes 'graceful maidens')، وماand what خضَّبتهthey dyed it بالألوانwith colors
ـدُ، وما خضَّبته بالألوان
For death was all the finery worn by the
It was as if the water flowed beautifully
graceful maidens, and all they had dyed with colors.
Yellow, from the hair of maidens
لكأنيindeed, as though I بالماءwith the water سالflowed نُضارًاas pure gold
لكأني بالماء سال نُضارًا
أصفرَyellow اللونِin color منfrom شعورhair of الغوانيthe fair maidens
أصفرَ اللونِ من شعور الغواني
I seem to see the water flowing as pure gold,
And it was as if the water flowed over the drowned
yellow in hue from the fair maidens' hair.
As tears from the eyes of mourners
وكأنيand as though I بالماءِwith the water سالflowed علىover الغرthe drowned (first part)
وكأني بالماءِ سال على الغر
قى(completes 'drowned') دموعًاas tears منfrom أعينeyes of الخزَّانthe guardians
قى دموعًا من أعين الخزَّان
And I seem to see the water flowing over the
Oh Lord, I do not question fate; though doubt
drowned as tears from the eyes of the guardians.
Creeps in, I find solace in faith
ربُLord لاdo not أظلمُjudge unjustly المقاديرَthe decrees of fate؛ إنِّيindeed I
ربُ لا أظلمُ المقاديرَ؛ إنِّي
إنif بداappears الشَّكُّdoubt، لذتُI sought refuge بالإيمانِin faith
إن بدا الشَّكُّ، لذتُ بالإيمانِ
Lord, I do not judge fate unjustly; I
If it is said: the elders sinned, so what
take refuge in faith whenever doubt appears.
Wrong did a suckling babe commit?
إنif نقلwe say: أذنبsinned الكبارُthe adults فماذاthen what
إن نقل: أذنب الكبارُ فماذا
قدhas جناهcommitted it طفلٌa child رضيعُsuckling لبانbreast milk؟
قد جناه طفلٌ رضيعُ لبان؟
If we say, 'The adults sinned,' then what
Thoughts that each time I dwell on
wrong has a milk-suckling infant done?
Leave my mind scattered and distraught
عبرٌlessons كلماwhenever تأملتI pondered فيهاon them
عبرٌ كلما تأملت فيها
عُدتُI returned منهاfrom them مُشَتَّتَscattered الوجدانthe inner feelings
عُدتُ منها مُشَتَّتَ الوجدان
Lessons: whenever I ponder them,
Oh you who fled the toil of earth, rest in the Garden of Bliss
I return from them with my heart in turmoil.
Surely in Al-Kawthar is safety for those who found no safety in the Nile
أيُّهاO الهاربونthose fleeing منfrom تعبِweariness of الأرthe earth (first part)
أيُّها الهاربون من تعبِ الأر
ضِ(completes 'earth')، استريحواrest بجنَّةin the garden of الرَّضوانdivine favor
ضِ، استريحوا بجنَّة الرَّضوان
O you who fled the weariness of
You martyrs of peace, and oh Lord
earth, rest in the garden of divine favor.
A martyr is one who dies in the cause!
إنَّindeed فيin الكوثرal-Kawthar الأمانَsafety لمنfor whoever عزَّwas hard to attain
إنَّ في الكوثر الأمانَ لمن عزَّ
عليهfor him فيin النيلthe Nile شَطُّshore of الأمانsafety
عليه في النيل شَطُّ الأمان
Indeed, in al-Kawthar there is safety for whoever found
the Nile's shore of safety beyond reach.
شُهداءِmartyrs of السَّلامِpeace أنتمyou are، وياand O ربَّmany a
شُهداءِ السَّلامِ أنتم، ويا ربَّ
شهيدٍmartyr مَنone who ماتdied فيon الميدانthe battlefield!
شهيدٍ مَن مات في الميدان!
You are martyrs of peace—and many
a martyr is one who died on the battlefield!
Partial English translation: 80 of 84 Arabic lines translated.