جَدَثٌa grave بمدرجةin the path of الرياحthe winds مُعفّرُdust-covered
جَدَثٌ بمدرجة الرياح مُعفّرُ
البُومُthe owl ضَيفُa guest of تُرابِهits dust والقُبَّرُand the lark
البُومُ ضَيفُ تُرابِه والقُبَّرُ
A grave, dust-covered, in the path of the winds.
A demolished temple in which wisdom lines
The owl is a guest upon its soil, and so is the lark.
Were inscribed, now covered by years
ذَاوِيfaded الرُّسومِthe traces مِنَfrom الْبلىdecay فكأنَّهُso as though it were
ذَاوِي الرُّسومِ مِنَ الْبلى فكأنَّهُ
أَثُرُa trace النّمالthe ants مشتْwalked عليهover it الأعْصُرُthe ages
أَثُرُ النّمال مشتْ عليه الأعْصُرُ
Its traces faded by decay, it is as though
Or a drawing in an abandoned tavern
an ants' trail over which the ages have walked.
Where cups lie scattered about
أوor خطّa line رملٍsand أنشأتهُcreated it بنانةٌa fingertip
أو خطّ رملٍ أنشأتهُ بنانةٌ
لسطيحfor Satih منfrom ماضيthe past of الدّهورthe ages مُسَطّرُinscribed
لسطيح من ماضي الدّهور مُسَطّرُ
Or a line in sand created by a fingertip,
The wind blew over it, revealing faded lines
for Satih, inscribed from ages long past.
As if they were the traces of an ant trail
أوor حكمةٌa maxim مرقومةٌinscribed فيin معبدٍa temple
أو حكمةٌ مرقومةٌ في معبدٍ
مُتهدّمcrumbling شابتْgrew gray عليهupon it الأسطرُthe lines
مُتهدّم شابتْ عليه الأسطرُ
Or a maxim inscribed in a temple,
Or lines of sand made by a finger
crumbling, its lines grown gray with age.
On an ancient slab of stone
أوor نقشةُan inscription فيin حانةٍa tavern مَهجورةٍabandoned
أو نقشةُ في حانةٍ مَهجورةٍ
ألجامُthe goblet صُفّاحٌshards بهاin it مُتبعثرُscattered
ألجامُ صُفّاحٌ بها مُتبعثرُ
Or an inscription in an abandoned tavern,
The tomb is weathered and eroded
the goblet lying there, scattered in shards.
Its guest is the dust of the earth
عبرتْpassed عليهover it الريحُthe wind كاسفةَgloomy الخُطاthe steps
عبرتْ عليه الريحُ كاسفةَ الخُطا
موهونةًenfeebled فوقover الثرىthe dust تتعثّرُstumbling
موهونةً فوق الثرى تتعثّرُ
The wind passed over it with gloomy steps,
At night the darkness falls pondering
enfeebled, stumbling upon the dust.
Like a black man lost in the ether
والليلُand the night أطرقَbowed its head واجماًsorrowful فكأنّهُso as though it were الزّنجيُّthe Black man
والليلُ أطرقَ واجماً فكأنّهُ الزّنجيُّ
فيin حلكِthe darkness of الأثيرthe ether يُفكّرُponders
في حلكِ الأثير يُفكّرُ
And night bowed its head, sorrowful, as though a Black man
The stars flutter mercifully
were pondering in the darkness of the ether.
Like an eye peering from behind the veils
والنجمُand the star يخفقُflutters رحمةًwith mercy فتخالهُso you imagine it
والنجمُ يخفقُ رحمةً فتخالهُ
عيناًan eye منfrom الغيبthe unseen المسَتّرِveiled تنظرُwatches
عيناً من الغيب المسَتّرِ تنظرُ
And the star flutters with mercy, so you imagine it
When the Nile flowed by it cried out
an eye watching from the veiled unseen.
Its waves swollen with affliction, almost roaring
والنيلand the Nile حينwhen جرىflowed بجانبهِbeside it سرتْspread
والنيل حين جرى بجانبهِ سرتْ
فيthrough موجهِits waves البلوىaffliction وكادَand nearly يزمجرُroared
في موجهِ البلوى وكادَ يزمجرُ
And when the Nile flowed beside it, affliction spread
Genius wailed in shock and grief
through its waves, and it nearly roared.
Bereft, it wept and lamented over it
والعبقريّةُand Genius أعولتْwailed مشدوهةًbewildered
والعبقريّةُ أعولتْ مشدوهةً
ثكلىbereaved تَفجّعُlaments صوبَهُtoward him وتحسّرُand grieves
ثكلى تَفجّعُ صوبَهُ وتحسّرُ
And Genius wailed, bewildered,
Saying, I saw it shunned by the zealous
bereaved, lamenting toward him and grieving.
Its grave a desolate, dusty pit
قالتْshe said وقدand already شهدتهsaw him منبوذcast out الحمىthe sanctuary
قالتْ وقد شهدته منبوذ الحمى
وحفيرُهand his burial pit فيin البيدِthe wastelands أشأمُill-omened أغبرُdusty
وحفيرُه في البيدِ أشأمُ أغبرُ
She spoke, having seen him cast out from shelter,
The winds bound its limbs with reeds
his burial pit ill-omened and dusty in the waste,
Plaiting them on either side
والسافياتُand the dust-bearing winds شددنَstretched منfrom أوصالهhis limbs
والسافياتُ شددنَ من أوصاله
قصباreeds تزفُّrustle بجانبيهby his two sides فيضفرُso are braided
قصبا تزفُّ بجانبيه فيضفرُ
while the dust-bearing winds strung from his limbs
From its shrouds they made a crown
reeds that rustle by his sides and are braided,
Which the breeze tapped and plucked at
ونشرنand they spread منfrom أكفانهhis shrouds رغمdespite البلىdecay
ونشرن من أكفانه رغم البلى
طاراًa tambourine عليهِupon it يدُthe hand of النسيمthe breeze تُنقّرُtaps
طاراً عليهِ يدُ النسيم تُنقّرُ
and spread from his shrouds, despite decay,
While eternal misery leaned down
a tambourine on which the breeze's hand taps,
Lording in the sanctuary of loss
وهزجنand they sang والبؤسand misery المخلّدeverlasting مائلٌlooming
وهزجن والبؤس المخلّد مائلٌ
كالأمسas yesterday فيin حرمthe sanctuary of الردىdeath يتبخترُstruts
كالأمس في حرم الردى يتبخترُ
and sang, while everlasting misery loomed,
They held a drunken feast over its dust
as yesterday, strutting in death's sanctuary,
Where jinn of the wasteland danced and drank
وأقمنand they held عرسًاa wedding ماجsurged فوقover ترابهِhis dust
وأقمن عرسًا ماج فوق ترابهِ
يلهوmakes merry بهin it جنُّthe jinn of الفلاةthe wilderness ويسمرُand converses by night
يلهو به جنُّ الفلاة ويسمرُ
and held a wedding that surged over his dust,
O grave, beneath these tablets lies a poet
where the wilderness jinn make merry and converse by night:
Whose misfortune gushed forth through history
ياO قبرُgrave ليfor me تحتbeneath الصفائحthe slabs شاعرٌa poet
يا قبرُ لي تحت الصفائح شاعرٌ
تاريخهhis history منfrom نحسهِhis ill fortune متفجّرُwelling up
تاريخه من نحسهِ متفجّرُ
O grave, beneath the slabs lies a poet of mine,
He passed through life but no ear listened
whose history wells up from his ill fortune.
To his melody, no eye looked upon him
عبرpassed through الحياةlife فماyet no صغتlistened لنشيدهِto his song
عبر الحياة فما صغت لنشيدهِ
أُذُنٌan ear ولاnor واستْهconsoled him عينٌan eye تبصرُseeing
أُذُنٌ ولا واستْه عينٌ تبصرُ
He passed through life, but his song found
His melodies were but laments
no listening ear, no seeing eye to console him.
Echoed by one perplexed in the night
فكأنماso as though ألحانهُhis melodies تأويهةٌa sigh
فكأنما ألحانهُ تأويهةٌ
فيin الليلthe night ردّدهاrepeated it شجٍa mourner متحيّرُbewildered
في الليل ردّدها شجٍ متحيّرُ
It was as though his melodies were a sigh
Or a stifled teardrop paused
that a bewildered mourner repeated in the night,
On the brink of an eyelid, unable to fall
أوor دمعةٌa tear محنوقةchoked وقفتstopped علىupon
أو دمعةٌ محنوقة وقفت على
شطthe shore of الجفونthe eyelids سجينةًimprisoned لاnot تعبرُcrossing
شط الجفون سجينةً لا تعبرُ
or a strangled tear that stopped upon
Or an imprisoned prayer in a burning breast
the shore of the eyelids, imprisoned, unable to cross,
Whose fervor was obscured in the gloom
أوor دعوةٌa supplication محبوسةٌimprisoned فيin مهجةٍa heart
أو دعوةٌ محبوسةٌ في مهجةٍ
جلّىrevealed هُداهاits guidance فيin الدُّجىthe darkness مستغفرُone seeking forgiveness
جلّى هُداها في الدُّجى مستغفرُ
or a supplication imprisoned in a heart,
Or a whisper lost in the forest
whose guidance a seeker of forgiveness revealed in the darkness,
Snuffed out by the desolate darkness
أوor همسةٌa whisper فيin الغابthe wood تائهةُwandering الصدىthe echo
أو همسةٌ في الغاب تائهةُ الصدى
أبلىwore away نُفاثتهاits faint breath الظلامُthe darkness المصحرُdesolate
أبلى نُفاثتها الظلامُ المصحرُ
or a whisper in the wood, its echo lost,
A world of oblivion was his cradle
whose faint breath the desolate darkness wore away.
In it his forsaken grave was dug
دنياa world منof النسيانoblivion أُلْقِيَwas cast مهدُهhis cradle
دنيا من النسيان أُلْقِيَ مهدُه
فيهاinto it وسوّيَand was leveled لحدُهُhis grave المتهجّرُforsaken
فيها وسوّيَ لحدُهُ المتهجّرُ
A world of oblivion—his cradle was cast
His inheritance after death is a fool
into it, and his forsaken grave was leveled there.
Who rants madly from the pulpit
ونصيبهُand his share بعدَafter الفناءِdeath مصفّقٌan applauder
ونصيبهُ بعدَ الفناءِ مصفّقٌ
يهذيbabbles لراثٍfor an elegist فيon المنابرِthe pulpits يَهترُprattles
يهذي لراثٍ في المنابرِ يَهترُ
And his share after death is an applauder
And singers chant meaningless verse
babbling for an elegist who prattles from the pulpits,
O grave, spare us such offspring of genius
ومهلّلونَand men cheering لشاعرٍfor a poet مُترنّمٍchanting
ومهلّلونَ لشاعرٍ مُترنّمٍ
يلغوspeaks idly بأسجاعwith rhymed phrases of البيانeloquence ويهذِرُand babbles
يلغو بأسجاع البيان ويهذِرُ
and men cheering a chanting poet
Quiver in fright, and prostrate yourself!
who speaks idly in eloquent rhymes and babbles.
Begone, and chant toward it in exaltation
ياO قبرُgrave هدّdemolish بِناكَyour structure عنaway from جنباتهِhis sides
يا قبرُ هدّ بِناكَ عن جنباتهِ
مَنْwho قالsaid نسلُthe offspring of العبقريةgenius يقبرُis buried
مَنْ قال نسلُ العبقرية يقبرُ
O grave, tear down your walls around him!
Do not despair, here lies immortality
Who said the offspring of Genius could be buried?
Its secret safe from all minds and thoughts
فاthen هتزّit shook مُرتاعًاterrified وغمغمand murmured جاثياًkneeling
فا هتزّ مُرتاعًا وغمغم جاثياً
ومضىand proceeded يهلّلُproclaiming God's oneness نحوهاtoward her ويكبّرُand proclaiming God's greatness
ومضى يهلّلُ نحوها ويكبّرُ
Then it shook in terror and murmured, kneeling,
Do not think that domes of marble
and moved toward her, proclaiming God's oneness and greatness:
With cypress and verdant branches
لاdo not تجزعيgrieve فهُناfor here الخلودُimmortality وسرّهُand its secret
لا تجزعي فهُنا الخلودُ وسرّهُ
خافٍhidden علىfrom كلّall العقولminds مستّرُconcealed
خافٍ على كلّ العقول مستّرُ
Do not grieve: here is immortality, and its secret
Are nobler than a forgotten pit
is hidden from every mind, concealed.
That hides a genius in its depths
لاdo not تحسبيsuppose قببthe domes of الرخامmarble أظلّهاshaded them
لا تحسبي قبب الرخام أظلّها
بالسّروwith cypress ريّانُlush الفروعthe branches منضّرُverdant
بالسّرو ريّانُ الفروع منضّرُ
Do not think the marble domes, shaded
Time passes, bones crumble to dust
by cypress with lush and verdant branches,
Yet glory shines from the soil
نفضتshook out بساحتهاin their courtyard العطارُthe perfumers جيوبُهاtheir pouches
نفضت بساحتها العطارُ جيوبُها
فالمسكُso musk يسطعwafts تحتهاbeneath them والعنبرُand ambergris
فالمسكُ يسطع تحتها والعنبرُ
where perfumers have shaken out their pouches,
This is your child, forgotten monument
so musk and ambergris waft beneath them,
For whom the ages trembled in the pulse
وأحالهاand transformed them فنُّthe art of المصوّرthe artist آيةًinto a marvel
وأحالها فنُّ المصوّر آيةً
سرتِcoursed الحياةُlife بهاthrough them فكادتso they nearly تطفرُleaped
سرتِ الحياةُ بها فكادت تطفرُ
and the artist's skill has made them a marvel,
In the festival of the immortal
with life coursing through them until they nearly leap,
His words are scented breaths on eternity's lip
ومضتand passed بهاthrough them التيجانُthe crowns تلمعgleaming فيin الدّجىthe darkness
ومضت بها التيجانُ تلمع في الدّجى
كسرىKhosrow نزيلُa dweller in رحابهاtheir courts أوor قيصرُCaesar
كسرى نزيلُ رحابها أو قيصرُ
and crowns passing through them, gleaming in the dark—
The pyramids gathered in his memory
Khosrow a dweller in their courts, or Caesar—
Had time not eroded them, all souls would gather to him
أزكىpurer ثرًىin soil منthan حُفرةٍa pit مطموسةٍobliterated
أزكى ثرًى من حُفرةٍ مطموسةٍ
دفنتyou buried بهاin it ميْتاًa dead man لديهاbeside it عبقرُAbqar
دفنت بها ميْتاً لديها عبقرُ
have purer soil than an obliterated pit
In every shrine and minaret they built
where you buried a dead man, with Abqar beside it.
His melody is chanted and repeated
تذرىis scattered ويذرىand is scattered العظمbone فيin هبواتهاits dust-gusts
تذرى ويذرى العظم في هبواتها
والخلدand immortality منfrom ذرّfine particles of الترابdust منوّرُshining
والخلد من ذرّ التراب منوّرُ
It is scattered, and bone is scattered in its dust-gusts,
A poetry that melts chains if recited
while immortality shines from fine particles of dust.
In their shade, from its fervor they melt
هذاthis ربيبكِyour fosterling أعظمٌbones منسيّةٌforgotten
هذا ربيبكِ أعظمٌ منسيّةٌ
رجفتtrembled لهاfor them فيin الخافقينeast and west الأدهرُthe ages
رجفت لها في الخافقين الأدهرُ
This fosterling of yours is forgotten bones
He shook the South with fiery revolt
for which the ages trembled between east and west.
Boiling the silence of the ode, igniting it
فيin مهرجانthe festival of الخالدينthe immortals حديثهhis story
في مهرجان الخالدين حديثه
نغمٌa melody علىupon شفةِthe lip of الخلودimmortality معطّرُfragrant
نغمٌ على شفةِ الخلود معطّرُ
At the festival of the immortals, his story
The tyrants dreaded it, it marches on
is a fragrant melody upon immortality's lips.
Like death, unhalting and undelayed
حشدتamassed لهfor him الأهرامthe pyramids ذكراًremembrance لوif عداassailed
حشدت له الأهرام ذكراً لو عدا
فيهاwithin them البِلىdecay لصباwould have yearned إليهِfor him المحشرُthe resurrected throng
فيها البِلى لصبا إليهِ المحشرُ
The pyramids amassed remembrance for him; were decay to assail
Who dares to resent its echo in envy?
them, the resurrected throng would yearn for him.
For it drips with the blood of martyrs
فيin كلّevery محرابٍsanctuary بهاwithin them وبنيّةٍand structure
في كلّ محرابٍ بها وبنيّةٍ
شادٍa singer يرتّلchants لحنهhis melody ويكرّرُand repeats
شادٍ يرتّل لحنه ويكرّرُ
In every sanctuary and structure within them,
At Dunashwai it has an eternal echo
a singer chants his melody and repeats it.
That shakes time with its fervent throbbing
شعرٌpoetry إذاwhen ماever القيدthe shackle صلّclanged حديدهits iron
شعرٌ إذا ما القيد صلّ حديده
فيin ظلّهاtheir shade يُضرىis fanned لظاهُits blaze فيصهرُso melts
في ظلّها يُضرى لظاهُ فيصهرُ
Poetry that, whenever a shackle's iron clanks
The gallows bowed down in dread of its scream
in their shade, has its blaze fanned until it melts the iron.
The tyrant startled by its shuddering
هزّshook الجنوبthe south بثورةٍwith a revolution صخابةٍclamorous
هزّ الجنوب بثورةٍ صخابةٍ
يغليboils بهاin it صمتthe silence of القصيدpoetry ويسعرُand blazes
يغلي بها صمت القصيد ويسعرُ
It shook the south with a clamorous revolution,
If it could speak it would cry out
in which poetry's silence boils and blazes.
"A plot against Egypt, perfidy beyond forgiveness!"
تسريspreads فيرهبهاso they dread it الطغاةthe tyrants فتبريthen cuts down
تسري فيرهبها الطغاة فتبري
كالموتlike death لاdoes not تبطيslow ولاnor تتأخرُdelay
كالموت لا تبطي ولا تتأخرُ
It spreads; tyrants dread it, and it cuts them down,
Though their might is arrogant and haughty
like death, neither slowing nor delaying.
God and the dear nation are greater
منwho راحwent on ينكرُdenying حاسدًاenviously أصداءهاits echoes
من راح ينكرُ حاسدًا أصداءها
هذاthis دمُthe blood of الشهداءthe martyrs منهاfrom it يقطرُdrips
هذا دمُ الشهداء منها يقطرُ
Who would jealously deny its echoes?
Awaken, Nile lover, dawn is confused
Here is the martyrs' blood, dripping from it.
The shores empty, the waves silent
فيin دنشوايَDenshawai لهاfor it رنينٌa peal خالدٌundying
في دنشوايَ لها رنينٌ خالدٌ
زعجَshook الزمانُtime دويّهُits thunder المتسعّرُblazing
زعجَ الزمانُ دويّهُ المتسعّرُ
In Denshawai it has an undying peal,
Yearning, the dew unquenched in its thirst
whose blazing thunder shook time.
Longing, the waves unstirred in their depths
سجدتbowed لصرختهbefore his cry المشانقthe gallows رهبةًin dread
سجدت لصرخته المشانق رهبةً
وارتاعَand was terrified منby خفقانهاtheir trembling المتجبّرُthe tyrant
وارتاعَ من خفقانها المتجبّرُ
The gallows bowed before his cry in dread,
Seeking the one whose songs were its praise
and the tyrant was terrified by their trembling.
Who cried at dusk, roaring with ecstasy
وأناملُand the fingers of الجلادthe executioner ودّتwished رحمةًout of mercy
وأناملُ الجلاد ودّت رحمةً
لوif only كلّevery أنملةٍfinger عليهاupon it خنجرُa dagger
لو كلّ أنملةٍ عليها خنجرُ
And the executioner's fingers wished, in mercy,
Where is the dew, the torrent of song
that every finger, bearing a dagger,
Whose tune, pure of sin, brings rapture?
ترتدّrecoils فيinto عنقthe neck of الذيthe one who يهويstrikes downward بهاwith it
ترتدّ في عنق الذي يهوي بها
قدراas destiny يذودُdefends عنon behalf of البريءِthe innocent ويثأرُand takes revenge
قدرا يذودُ عن البريءِ ويثأرُ
might recoil into the neck of the man who brings it down,
Where are the birds at dawn, enchanted
as destiny defending the innocent and exacting vengeance.
By song, given voice by spring's bloom?
تخذواthey made الحمامَpigeons إلىto الحمامِdeath وسيلةًa means
تخذوا الحمامَ إلى الحمامِ وسيلةً
شنعاءَhideous واهتاجواand raged هناكthere وزمجرواand roared
شنعاءَ واهتاجوا هناك وزمجروا
They made pigeons a means to death,
From a poet who stole the dawn and broadcast it
a hideous means, and there they raged and roared.
A melody that trills through the countryside
نصبواerected مشانقهمtheir gallows لناfor us فكأنّناso as though we were
نصبوا مشانقهم لنا فكأنّنا
قطعانُflocks of شاءٍsheep فيin المجازرthe slaughterhouses تُنحرُslaughtered
قطعانُ شاءٍ في المجازر تُنحرُ
They set up their gallows for us, as though we were
He plucked no strings nor played a flute
flocks of sheep slaughtered in abattoirs.
The banks were as a flowered lute in his hands
ولوand if انّهاthey نطقتspoke لصاحتthey would have cried فيamong الورىmankind
ولو انّها نطقت لصاحت في الورى
كيدٌa plot لمصرagainst Egypt وحويةٌand a sin (unclear form) لاnot تغفرُforgiven
كيدٌ لمصر وحويةٌ لا تغفرُ
Had they spoken, they would have cried among mankind:
He had a passion for Egypt and a tremor in his heart
A plot against Egypt, and an unforgivable sin!
His love carved channels through it like a torrent
إنif كانwas بطشهمtheir violence تكبّرarrogance عاتياًruthless
إن كان بطشهم تكبّر عاتياً
فاللهthen God والوطنand the homeland المفدىcherished أكبرُgreater
فالله والوطن المفدى أكبرُ
If their violence swelled with ruthless arrogance,
And an ardor that made the Orient another heart
then God and the cherished homeland are greater.
Beating in his breast, sensitive to wounds
قمْrise عاشقَlover of النيلِthe Nile استفقْawake فصباحهُfor its morning
قمْ عاشقَ النيلِ استفقْ فصباحهُ
حيرانُbewildered فيalong الشّطينِthe two banks أغينُclouded أصفرُyellow
حيرانُ في الشّطينِ أغينُ أصفرُ
Rise, lover of the Nile; awake! Its morning
Ask Hoda Shaarawi how his verses shook her
is bewildered along both banks, clouded and yellow,
Casting off her veil in excitement
صديانُparched ماnot نقعquenched الندىthe dew لغليلهِfor its burning thirst
صديانُ ما نقع الندى لغليلهِ
شوقاًwith longing ولاnor روّاهُgave it drink موجٌa wave يزخرُsurging
شوقاً ولا روّاهُ موجٌ يزخرُ
parched: no dew has quenched its burning thirst
March on with torch lit, and if opposed
of longing, nor has a surging wave refreshed it.
Bandage the wounds of your opponent and heal
لهفانُyearning ينتظرawaits الذيthe one who غنىsang لهfor it
لهفانُ ينتظر الذي غنى له
ويصيحand cries out فيin نورthe light of الخميلthe thicket ويزأرُand roars
ويصيح في نور الخميل ويزأرُ
Yearning, it awaits the one who sang for it,
Listen to the hymn of the cedars in Lebanon
crying in the thicket's light and roaring:
A gentle song to enrapture and render unconscious
أينَwhere الندىthe dew والسلسلand the limpid water المسكوبpoured منfrom
أينَ الندى والسلسل المسكوب من
نغمٌa melody صداُan echo بلاwithout آثامٍsins يُسكرُintoxicates
نغمٌ صداُ بلا آثامٍ يُسكرُ
Where are the dew and the limpid water poured from
The dancing maids with flying hair
a melody whose echo intoxicates without sin?
Swaying with the return of melody, perfumed
أينwhere البلابلthe bulbuls فيin الضحىthe morning light مسحورةًenchanted
أين البلابل في الضحى مسحورةً
بالشدوby song أنطقهاgave them voice الربيعspring المزهرُblossoming
بالشدو أنطقها الربيع المزهرُ
Where are the bulbuls, enchanted in the morning light
Shading by the island’s shadows, his tunes
by song, given voice by the blossoming spring
Strummed the pines and left them as rubble
منfrom شاعرٍa poet نهبplundered الضحىthe morning light وأذاعهُand spread it
من شاعرٍ نهب الضحى وأذاعهُ
لحناًas a melody يغردُwarbles فيin الربىthe hills ويصَفّرُand whistles
لحناً يغردُ في الربى ويصَفّرُ
of a poet who plundered the morning light and spread it
His voice traveled to the new world
as a melody warbling and whistling through the hills?
Bringing rapture to the diaspora there
ماdid not شدّstretch أوتارًاstrings لهfor himself أوor أرغناًan organ
ما شدّ أوتارًا له أو أرغناً
بلrather كانwere شطّيmy two banks فيin يديهhis two hands المزهرُthe lute
بل كان شطّي في يديه المزهرُ
He stretched no strings for himself, nor played an organ;
And the exile among them nearly wept
rather, my two banks were the lute in his hands.
Remembering the beloved homeland
ولهٌinfatuation بمصرwith Egypt وهزةٌand a tremor فيin قلبهِhis heart
ولهٌ بمصر وهزةٌ في قلبهِ
بغرامهاwith love for her كاللجّlike the deep sea راحتbegan تهدرُto roar
بغرامها كاللجّ راحت تهدرُ
Infatuation with Egypt, and a tremor in his heart
Ask about him on the Day of the Imam
for love of her, roaring like the deep sea;
Clarity streaming from its pages
وهوًىand love أحالtransformed الشرقthe East قلباًinto a heart ثانياًsecond
وهوًى أحال الشرق قلباً ثانياً
فيin صدرهِhis breast بِأسَىat the sorrow of النوازلcalamities يشعرُfeels
في صدرهِ بِأسَى النوازل يشعرُ
and a love that made the East a second heart
It raced to the holy tomb, its heart
within his breast, feeling the sorrow of calamities.
Gushing with grief like the rocky fountains
سلْask غادةthe maiden of اليابانJapan كيفَhow أهاجهاstirred her
سلْ غادة اليابان كيفَ أهاجها
فيin الروعterror عنaway from ضافيflowing الثيابthe garments تُشمّرُrolls up
في الروع عن ضافي الثياب تُشمّرُ
Ask Japan's maiden how he stirred her
Yesterday he taught it patience in sorrow
in danger, to tuck up her flowing robes,
Now calamities pour down, how can it endure?
تمضيadvances بمشتعلِwith a blazing السّنانspearpoint فإنand if قساwas cruel
تمضي بمشتعلِ السّنان فإن قسا
تأسوtends جراحاتthe wounds of السنانthe spearpoint وتجبرُand binds
تأسو جراحات السنان وتجبرُ
to advance with a blazing spearpoint; and if it struck cruelly,
It cried: O awakener of Islam, arise!
to tend the spearpoint's wounds and bind them.
Without you the East staggers crippled
واسمعand hear نشيدthe song of الأرزthe cedar فيin لبنانِهِits Lebanon
واسمع نشيد الأرز في لبنانِهِ
بردىBarada يكادnearly بسحرهِunder its spell يتخدّرُswoons
بردى يكاد بسحرهِ يتخدّرُ
And hear the cedar's song in its Lebanon;
Its minarets nearly toppled over
Barada almost swoons beneath its spell.
Its call to prayer wailing, its pulpits crumbling
والحورand the poplar منتفضtossing الغدائرthe tresses راقصٌdancing
والحور منتفض الغدائر راقصٌ
نشوانُintoxicated منby رجعthe refrain of الغِناءsinging مُطيّرُborne aloft
نشوانُ من رجع الغِناء مُطيّرُ
And the poplar, tossing its tresses, dances,
O flash of perfection that shone forth
drunk on the song's refrain, borne aloft.
A stream cascading from the holy bier
شادٍa singer بأظلالِin the shades of الجزيرةِthe island ساجلتْmatched
شادٍ بأظلالِ الجزيرةِ ساجلتْ
ألحانَهُhis melodies تحتbeneath الصنوبرthe pines دمّرُDummar
ألحانَهُ تحت الصنوبر دمّرُ
A singer beneath the island's shade—
It surged in the strings of his poetry
Dummar answered his melodies beneath the pines.
Humbly concealing the blaze, veiling it
أسرىtraveled by night إلىto الدنياthe world الجديدةnew صوتُهُhis voice
أسرى إلى الدنيا الجديدة صوتُهُ
فاهتزّso trembled منwith طربٍdelight لديهاthere المهجرُthe diaspora
فاهتزّ من طربٍ لديها المهجرُ
His voice traveled by night to the New World,
The awe of glory makes it tremble and shy
and the diaspora there trembled with delight.
To bare the breath of passion, smothering it
واسَىconsoled النزيلthe newcomer بهاthere فكادso nearly غريبهاits exile
واسَى النزيل بها فكاد غريبها
يعييهِoverwhelms him للوطنof the homeland الحبيبbeloved تذكّرُremembrance
يعييهِ للوطن الحبيب تذكّرُ
It comforted the newcomer there, and the exile was nearly
The first flame in a darkened valley
overwhelmed by remembrance of the beloved homeland.
Its halo lit by his smallest glow
سلask عنهabout him فيon يومthe day of الإمامthe Imam خريدةًa fair maiden
سل عنه في يوم الإمام خريدةً
وضحُthe radiance of الهدىguidance منfrom صفحتيهاher two cheeks مُسفرُshining
وضحُ الهدى من صفحتيها مُسفرُ
Ask about him, on the Imam's day, a fair maiden,
A heart suckled by the Nile's dew
from whose two cheeks the radiance of guidance shines.
In the cradle, its cavern sanctified and pure
فزعتrushed إلىto القبرthe grave الطهورpure وقلبهاand her heart
فزعت إلى القبر الطهور وقلبها
جزعاًin anguish عليهfor him منfrom المحاجرِthe eye sockets يقطرُdrips
جزعاً عليه من المحاجرِ يقطرُ
She rushed to the pure grave, her heart
When he sings for Egypt you'd think it was the morning breeze
dripping from her eye sockets in anguish for him.
Dancing over the meadows at dawn
بالأمسِyesterday علّمهاtaught her التصبّرَpatience فيin الأسىsorrow
بالأمسِ علّمها التصبّرَ في الأسى
وطحتand toppled بهاher البلوىaffliction فكيفso how تصبّرُcan she endure
وطحت بها البلوى فكيف تصبّرُ
Yesterday he taught her patience in sorrow,
And when he rages for her you'd imagine her meadows
but affliction hurled her down—how can she endure?
Churning with tumult, the still pools stirred
هتفتcried بهto him ياO موقظawakener of الإسلامIslam قُمْrise
هتفت به يا موقظ الإسلام قُمْ
فالشرقfor the East بعدكafter you واهنٌweak متعثّرُstumbling
فالشرق بعدك واهنٌ متعثّرُ
She cried to him: O awakener of Islam, rise!
Madly in love with homelands, beneath his tongue
For the East after you is weak and stumbling.
A spring gushing forth, in his soul, gardens
كادتnearly مآذنهُits minarets تميدsway قبابهاtheir domes
كادت مآذنهُ تميد قبابها
وأَذانُهاand their call to prayer يَرثيlaments ويهويand falls المنبرُthe pulpit
وأَذانُها يَرثي ويهوي المنبرُ
The domes of its minarets nearly sway,
In Egypt madness is the greatest wisdom
their call to prayer laments, and the pulpit falls.
Inspired by the law of loyalty, commanding it
ياO ومضةًa flash منfrom كاملٍKamil قدindeed أشرقتْshone
يا ومضةً من كاملٍ قد أشرقتْ
فيضاًan outpouring مِنَfrom النعشthe bier الطهورpure يُحدّرُstreams down
فيضاً مِنَ النعش الطهور يُحدّرُ
O flash from Kamil, that has shone
Arise, O reproacher of nations, calling out
as an outpouring streaming from the pure bier,
If their gardens have turned to stone
هاجتflared علىupon أوتارthe strings of شاعرهhis poet لظًىa flame
هاجت على أوتار شاعره لظًى
متخشّعاًreverently bowed يخفيhides اللهيبthe blaze ويسترُand conceals
متخشّعاً يخفي اللهيب ويسترُ
it flared as fire upon his poet's strings,
Poetry, if your people forget you in ingratitude
as he bowed in reverence, hiding and concealing the flame.
The Nile on the Day of Pride will remember
تذكوblazes فيرهبهاso fears it الجلالmajesty فتستحيso grows shy
تذكو فيرهبها الجلال فتستحي
فتدسّso conceals أنفاسthe breaths of الضرامthe blaze وتضمرُand dwindles
فتدسّ أنفاس الضرام وتضمرُ
It blazes; majesty dreads it, and it grows shy,
You brought joy to the grieving exiles
hiding the blaze's breaths and dwindling.
With your sudden music, heralding hope
الشعلةthe flame الأولىfirst بوادٍin a valley مظلمٍdark
الشعلة الأولى بوادٍ مظلمٍ
هالاتهاits halos منfrom أصغريهِhis heart and tongue تنوّرُshine
هالاتها من أصغريهِ تنوّرُ
The first flame in a dark valley,
They despair, while the wounds of time lie buried
its halos shine from his heart and tongue.
Like secrets in a heart that won't reveal
قلبٌa heart كأنّas though النيلthe Nile أرضعهُsuckled it الندىdew
قلبٌ كأنّ النيل أرضعهُ الندى
فيin المهدthe cradle قدسيُّsacred الشغافthe heart's core مطهّرُpurified
في المهد قدسيُّ الشغاف مطهّرُ
A heart, as though the Nile had suckled it with dew
You revived their pain yet I never saw you happy
in the cradle, sacred and purified to its core.
But ingratitude is expected of offspring...
فإذاand when يجنّgoes mad لمصرfor Egypt تحسبهyou think it الصباthe east wind
فإذا يجنّ لمصر تحسبه الصبا
فيat فجرهاher dawn فوقabove الخمائلthe thickets تخطرُglides
في فجرها فوق الخمائل تخطرُ
When it goes mad with love for Egypt, you think it the east wind
gliding over her thickets at dawn;
وإذاand when يثورrises in fury لهاfor her تخالُyou imagine مروجهاher meadows
وإذا يثور لها تخالُ مروجها
غيلاًa thicket يهيجrages علىupon ثراهits soil القسورُthe lion
غيلاً يهيج على ثراه القسورُ
and when it rises in fury for her, you imagine her meadows
a thicket where a lion rages upon the soil.
مجنونmad بالأوطانfor homelands تحتbeneath لسانهِhis tongue
مجنون بالأوطان تحت لسانهِ
وجنانهِand his heart نبعٌa spring لهاfor them متفجّرُgushing
وجنانهِ نبعٌ لها متفجّرُ
Mad for homelands; beneath his tongue
and within his heart a spring gushes for them.
إنindeed الجنونmadness بمصرfor Egypt أروعُthe most wondrous حكمةٍwisdom
إن الجنون بمصر أروعُ حكمةٍ
يوحىis inspired بهاwith it شرعthe law of الوفاءfidelity ويأمرُand commands
يوحى بها شرع الوفاء ويأمرُ
Indeed, madness for Egypt is the most wondrous wisdom,
inspired and commanded by the law of fidelity.
قمrise عاتبreproach الأوطانthe homelands حافظُHafiz هاتفاًcalling out
قم عاتب الأوطان حافظُ هاتفاً
بهواهwith his love إنindeed جنانهاtheir hearts متحجّرُhardened
بهواه إن جنانها متحجّرُ
Rise, Hafiz, reproach the homelands, crying
out your love; their hearts have turned to stone.
شعرٌpoetry إذاif ينساهُforgets it شعبُكَyour people جاحداًungratefully
شعرٌ إذا ينساهُ شعبُكَ جاحداً
فالنيلthen the Nile فيon يومthe day of الفخارglory سيذكرُwill remember
فالنيل في يوم الفخار سيذكرُ
Poetry that, if your people ungratefully forget it,
the Nile will remember on the day of glory.
خبلَmaddened الحزانىthe mourners حينwhen رنّrang out لبُؤسهمfor their misery
خبلَ الحزانى حين رنّ لبُؤسهم
غرباءَstrangers بالعَوْدِof the return المفاجيءsudden بشّرواwere given glad tidings
غرباءَ بالعَوْدِ المفاجيء بشّروا
It maddened the mourners when it rang out for their misery,
strangers given glad tidings of a sudden return.
يأسوheals وأجراحُand the wounds of الزمانtime دفينةٌburied
يأسو وأجراحُ الزمان دفينةٌ
كسرائرٍlike secrets فيin قلبهhis heart لاnot تنشرُrevealed
كسرائرٍ في قلبه لا تنشرُ
It heals, while time's wounds lie buried,
like secrets in his heart, never revealed.
أذكىkindled أسايَmy sorrow ولمand did not أرsee الشاديthe singer بهof it
أذكى أسايَ ولم أر الشادي به
لكنّهُyet it is نسبُthe kinship of الجحودingratitude مؤصّرُclosely bound
لكنّهُ نسبُ الجحود مؤصّرُ
It kindled my sorrow, though I never saw its singer,
yet the kinship of ingratitude binds us closely.
Partial English translation: 150 of 168 Arabic lines translated.