سَكنrested الحسامُthe sword إلىinto القرابِthe scabbard
سَكن الحسامُ إلى القرابِ
وأقيمand was established معتركُarena of combat السِّبابinvective
وأقيم معتركُ السِّباب
The sword rested in its scabbard,
The swords were sheathed and the debate of insults ceased,
and an arena of invective was established.
The eagles left their places for the humming of flies’ wings.
تركleft النُسورُthe eagles مكانهمtheir place
ترك النُسورُ مكانهم
لطنينto the buzzing أجنحةwings الذبابُthe flies
لطنين أجنحة الذبابُ
The eagles left their place
The arena was left for every faint voice with no claws or fangs,
to the buzzing of flies' wings.
Ostriches in the caves, and in altercation the lion absent.
وخلاand lay open المجالُthe field لكلto every صوَّassailant (first part)
وخلا المجالُ لكل صوَّ
الassailant (completion) بلاwithout ظفرclaw ونابand fang
ال بلا ظفر وناب
And the field lay open to every assailant
They pelt each other with all kinds of slander like poisoned spears,
without claw or fang.
The nation fragmented, and the pages stripped of their covers.
قوميmy people نِعَامٌostriches فيin الحروwars (first part)
قومي نِعَامٌ في الحرو
بwars (completion)، وفيand in التنابزmutual name-calling أسْدlions غابforest
ب، وفي التنابز أسْد غاب
My people are ostriches in war,
And the people lament, saying: “This struggle is at my expense!”
and in name-calling, lions of the forest.
Accusations poured like rain pouring from clouds,
يتراشقونَthey pelt one another بكلwith every مُنْshameful slur (first part)
يتراشقونَ بكل مُنْ
دِيةshameful slur (completion) كمسمومlike poisoned الحرابspears
دِية كمسموم الحراب
They pelt one another with every shameful slur,
Their smell not like flowers or musk perfume.
like poisoned spears.
If cast among the righteous, it would taint the purity of the devout.
الشملُunity محلولُunfastened العرَاthe bonds
الشملُ محلولُ العرَا
والصُّحْفُand the newspapers حاسرةcasting off النقابthe veil
والصُّحْفُ حاسرة النقاب
The bonds of unity are undone,
Today Egypt looks upon its leaders with doubtful eyes,
and the newspapers have cast off the veil.
The innocent are blamed and others cursed a thousandfold.
والشعبand the people يندُبُlament قائلاًsaying:
والشعب يندُبُ قائلاً:
هذاthis النضالُstruggle علىat حسابيmy expense!!
هذا النضالُ على حسابي!!
And the people lament, saying:
If they lie in the accusations, their disgrace is that of liars,
“This struggle is at my expense!”
Or if true, what a terrible affliction that would be!
تهمٌaccusations تُصَبّare poured out، كأنهاas though they were
تهمٌ تُصَبّ، كأنها
غيثٌrain تدفَّقpoured forth منfrom سحابclouds
غيثٌ تدفَّق من سحاب
Accusations pour out, as though they were
They hushed the talk, as if you were not in a land with a door,
rain cascading from clouds.
And your talk followed by pure youth modest of gaze.
ليستare not روائحهاtheir odors كريحlike the fragrance
ليست روائحها كريح
الزهرflowers أوor ريحscent الملابsaffron perfume
الزهر أو ريح الملاب
Their odors are not like the fragrance
The war of lies and obscenity, its answer comes hard to the weary,
of flowers or the scent of saffron perfume.
The great revolution whose path we paved with the blood of youth,
لسوunclear; likely 'if' أُلقيتْwere cast وَسَطamid العُباthe surging sea (first part)
لسو أُلقيتْ وَسَط العُبا
بsurging sea (completion)، لعكرتwould surely muddy صفْوclarity العبابthe surging sea
ب، لعكرت صفْو العباب
If cast into the surging
What has befallen it, turned into feasts of food and drink?
sea, they would muddy its clear waters.
It has become theaters of ostentation and a market of profit,
اليومtoday تنظرlooks upon مصرُEgypt قاleaders (first part)
اليوم تنظر مصرُ قا
دتَهاher leaders (completion) بمقلةwith an eye الارتيابmistrust
دتَها بمقلة الارتياب
Today Egypt looks upon
No lesson taken from ruling; how the sneeze is buried in dust!
her leaders with an eye of mistrust.
When the scent of power is smelled, all salivate,
عِيبَwas maligned المبرأthe blameless one منهموamong them
عِيبَ المبرأ منهمو
ورَمىand hurled سواهsomeone other than him بألفwith a thousand عابfault; reproach
ورَمى سواه بألف عاب
The blameless one among them is maligned,
Two parties: one eyeing the other, poised to pounce.
and flings a thousand reproaches at another.
They said: “It's what the people want,” I said: “The people wronged!”
إنif يكذبواthey lie فيin الاتهاthe accusation (first part)
إن يكذبوا في الاتها
مaccusation (completion)، فحسبهمthen enough for them عارُthe shame الكِذابlying
م، فحسبهم عارُ الكِذاب
If they lie in their accusations,
And the glimmer of the constitution revealed the mirage of the illusion,
the shame of lying is enough for them;
Pacts were broken, so what pact was not a coup?
أوor يصدقواthey tell the truth فيهin it فياthen O
أو يصدقوا فيه فيا
للهto God (appeal) منfor هَوْلdreadfulness المصابthe calamity!
لله من هَوْل المصاب!
or if they tell the truth in them—O
Where is he who assumed command and did not weaken or cower?
God, how dreadful the calamity!
We have made rule a reward and punishment,
غَضُّواrestrain الحديثyour speech، فلستموfor you are not
غَضُّوا الحديث، فلستمو
ياO قومُpeople فيin أرضٍa land ببَابuninhabited
يا قومُ في أرضٍ ببَاب
Temper your speech, for you are not,
I see a blind fanatic partisanship, lost of reason,
O people, in a deserted land.
Hurling accusations at kin, dividing companions.
وحديثكُمand your words يتلوهreads them نَشءٌa young generation
وحديثكُم يتلوه نَشءٌ
طاهرٌpure غضُّtender الإِهابthe skin
طاهرٌ غضُّ الإِهاب
And your words are read by a young generation,
It gave the country two cups: one of poison, one to sip.
pure and tender of skin.
A partisanship built on whims, fleeting and drifting,
حربُwar الخَناobscenity والفُحْشand foul speech فاknight (first part)
حربُ الخَنا والفُحْش فا
رسُهاits knight (completion) العييُّthe inarticulate one عنincapable of الجوابreply
رسُها العييُّ عن الجواب
The war of obscenity and foul speech—
Its men confused between rejection and affiliation.
its knight is the man incapable of reply.
Among its principles what changes like clothes.
الثورةُthe revolution الكبرىthe great التيwhich
الثورةُ الكبرى التي
جدناwe gave generously لهاto it بدمwith the blood الشبابof youth
جدنا لها بدم الشباب
The great revolution to which
Too long has their silence lasted, and the rock nods to speak.
we gave so freely the blood of youth—
Can it be said: the zealous heroes put demands aside?
ماwhat بالهاails it انقلبتturned into مواtables (first part)
ما بالها انقلبت موا
ئدَtables (completion) للطعامfor food والشرابand drink؟
ئدَ للطعام والشراب؟
what ails it, that it has turned into
And their resolve birthed only a tale of melting salt?
tables for food and drink?
That they folded the reins of command upon the book?
أمستbecame مسارحstages للظهوfor self-display (first part)
أمست مسارح للظهو
رself-display (completion)، وأصبحتْand became سوقَa marketplace اكْتسابgain
ر، وأصبحتْ سوقَ اكْتساب
It has become stages for self-display,
The East races to its destiny, while the Nile valley slumbers.
and a marketplace for gain.
Where is he who sought refuge and believed the students?
لاmay not درflow درُّbounty الحكمof power؛ كمhow many
لا در درُّ الحكم؛ كم
دسthrust المعاطسnoses فيinto الترابthe dust
دس المعاطس في التراب
May power yield no blessing! How many
Vanished are the demands for rights during prolonged absence,
noses has it thrust into the dust!
At the time of deciding fate, and freeing of necks,
الكلُّeveryone حينwhen يَشمُّsmells رِيـscent (first part)
الكلُّ حين يَشمُّ رِيـ
ـحَscent (completion) الحكمof power سيسالُwill flow اللعَابsaliva
ـحَ الحكم سيسالُ اللعَاب
Everyone, when they catch the scent
O Farouk, pride of youth, and cub of angry lions,
of power, will begin to drool.
No matter how scattered the peoples, you unite the branches,
حزبانtwo parties: ذاكthat one علىupon أراcouches (first part)
حزبان: ذاك على أرا
ئكهits couches (completion)، وذلكand that one فيin ارتقابexpectant waiting
ئكه، وذلك في ارتقاب
Two parties: one upon its
You are the hope in distress, the refuge in tribulations,
couches, and the other waiting expectantly.
Steer the ship wisely, for it tosses in upheaval,
قالواthey said: أرادwanted الشعبُthe people، قلـsaid (first part)
قالوا: أراد الشعبُ، قلـ
ـتُI said (completion): الشعبُthe people مظلومwronged الجنابin their person
ـتُ: الشعبُ مظلوم الجناب
They said, “The people wished it.” I
The wind blows tumultuously and the waves rise like domes,
said, “The people themselves are wronged.”
For the shepherds parted and the flock fears the wolves!
وقدand indeed تكشفproved to be بارقlightning-flash الthe
وقد تكشف بارق ال
دُّستورconstitution عنas ومْضِshimmer السّرابthe mirage
دُّستور عن ومْضِ السّراب
And the lightning-flash of the
constitution proved to be a mirage's shimmer.
خلتpassed العهودُthe eras، فأيُّthen which عهera (first part)
خلت العهودُ، فأيُّ عه
دera (completion) لمnot يكنwas عهدan era انقلابof upheaval؟
د لم يكن عهد انقلاب؟
The eras have passed; which
era was not an era of upheaval?
أينwhere الذيthe one who ولىَtook charge of الأموaffairs (first part)
أين الذي ولىَ الأمو
رَaffairs (completion)، فلمand did not ينكلْpersecute أوor يحابshow favoritism؟
رَ، فلم ينكلْ أو يحاب؟
Where is the one who took charge of affairs
without persecuting or showing favoritism?
إناindeed we جعلناwe made الحكمpower عنemblem (first part)
إنا جعلنا الحكم عن
وانemblem (completion) المثوبةreward والعقابand punishment
وان المثوبة والعقاب
We have made power the emblem
of reward and punishment.
إنيindeed I أرىsee حزبَّيةًpartisanship
إني أرى حزبَّيةً
هوجاءَwild طائشةstraying from الصوابِsound judgment
هوجاءَ طائشة الصوابِ
I see partisanship,
wild and astray from sound judgment.
رَمَتit hurled الأقاربkinsmen بِالشتاinto dispersion (first part)
رَمَت الأقارب بِالشتا
تdispersion (completion)، وفرَّقتand separated بينbetween الصحابfriends
ت، وفرَّقت بين الصحاب
It flung kinsmen into
dispersion, and divided friends.
سَقَتgave to drink البلادthe land بكفهاwith its hand
سَقَت البلاد بكفها
كأسينtwo cups: منof سمpoison، وصابand bitter sap
كأسين: من سم، وصاب
With its own hand it made the land drink
two cups: poison and bitter sap.
حزبيَّةpartisanship قامتwas founded علىupon
حزبيَّة قامت على
أُسa foundation منof الشهَّوَاتdesires نابunsound; repellent
أُس من الشهَّوَات ناب
Partisanship founded upon
an unsound base of desires.
حارتit was bewildered وحارand were bewildered رجالهاits men
حارت وحار رجالها
بينbetween المروقdefection والانتسابand affiliation
بين المروق والانتساب
It is bewildered, and so are its men,
between defection and affiliation.
ومنand among المبادئprinciples ماthose that يبدَّare changed (first part)
ومن المبادئ ما يبدَّ
لُare changed (completion) مثلَlike تبديلchanging الثيابclothes
لُ مثلَ تبديل الثياب
And some principles are
changed as clothes are changed.
القومthe people طالgrew long سكوتهُمtheir silence
القوم طال سكوتهُم
والصخرُand the rocks يومئُgesture بالخطابwith speech
والصخرُ يومئُ بالخطاب
The people's silence has grown long,
while the rocks themselves gesture as if to speak.
أيقالcan it be said?: أبطالُheroes الحمىof the homeland
أيقال: أبطالُ الحمى
وضعواthey placed المطالبthe demands فيin العيابbags؟
وضعوا المطالب في العياب؟
Can it be said that the homeland's heroes
have stowed their demands in bags?
وتمخضتْand brought forth عزَماتهُمْtheir resolves
وتمخضتْ عزَماتهُمْ
عنyielding قصةthe tale الملحof salt المذابdissolved؟
عن قصة الملح المذاب؟
And have their resolves brought forth
the tale of dissolved salt?
وطوتand folded away مقاليدُkeys of control الأموaffairs (first part)
وطوت مقاليدُ الأمو
رِaffairs (completion) حماسَهمtheir zeal علىupon الكتابthe written page؟
رِ حماسَهم على الكتاب؟
And have the keys of power folded
their zeal away upon the written page?
الشرقُthe East يركضُraces نحوtoward غاgoal (first part)
الشرقُ يركضُ نحو غا
يتهits goal (completion)، وواديand the valley النيلof the Nile كابstumbling
يته، ووادي النيل كاب
The East races toward
its goal, while the Nile Valley stumbles.
أينwhere الذيthe one who طلبَsought الجلاwithdrawal (first part)
أين الذي طلبَ الجلا
ءwithdrawal (completion) وراحand went on يصدُقُacting earnestly فيin الطلابthe pursuit؟
ء وراح يصدُقُ في الطلاب؟
Where is the one who sought withdrawal
and pursued the demand in earnest?
غابَvanished المطالبthe claimant بالحقوfor rights (first part)
غابَ المطالب بالحقو
قrights (completion)، ولجَّand persisted stubbornly فيin طولthe length الغيابof absence
ق، ولجَّ في طول الغياب
The claimant of rights has vanished,
and stubbornly prolongs his absence,
فيat وقتthe time تقريرof determining المصيـdestiny (first part)
في وقت تقرير المصيـ
ـرِdestiny (completion)، وَوَقِتand the time تحريرof freeing الرقابnecks
ـرِ، وَوَقِت تحرير الرقاب
at the time of determining destiny
and the time of freeing necks.
فاروقُFarouk، ياO زينَadornment الشباof youth (first part)
فاروقُ، يا زينَ الشبا
بyouth (completion)، وشبلand cub آسادof lions غضابwrathful
ب، وشبل آساد غضاب
Farouk, O adornment of youth,
and cub of wrathful lions,
مهماhowever much تفرقتdiverged الشِّعاthe mountain paths (first part)
مهما تفرقت الشِّعا
بُmountain paths (completion)، فأنتyet you are مُجْتَمَعُthe meeting place الشعابof the mountain paths
بُ، فأنت مُجْتَمَعُ الشعاب
however the mountain paths diverge,
you are the meeting place of the paths.
أنتyou المؤمَّلthe one hoped for فيin الخطوcalamities (first part)
أنت المؤمَّل في الخطو
بcalamities (completion)، المرتَجَىthe one looked to عندamid الصعابhardships
ب، المرتَجَى عند الصعاب
You are the hope in calamities,
the one looked to amid hardships.
أدركrescue بحكمتكwith your wisdom السفيـthe ship (first part)
أدرك بحكمتك السفيـ
ـنةَship (completion)؛ فالسفينةُfor the ship فيis in اضطرابturmoil
ـنةَ؛ فالسفينةُ في اضطراب
With your wisdom, rescue the
ship, for the ship is in turmoil.
الريحthe wind تجريblows زعزعًاin violent gusts
الريح تجري زعزعًا
والموجand the waves يعلوrise كالقبابlike domes
والموج يعلو كالقباب
The wind blows in violent gusts,
and the waves rise like domes.
إنif الرعاةthe shepherds تفرقواscatter
إن الرعاة تفرقوا
ويحalas for القطيعthe flock منbecause of الذئابthe wolves!
ويح القطيع من الذئاب!
If the shepherds scatter,
alas for the flock, at the mercy of wolves!
Partial English translation: 48 of 96 Arabic lines translated.