مَتَىwhen يَشْتَفِيfinds healing هَذَاthis الْفُؤَادُthe heart الْمُفَجَّعُgrief-stricken
مَتَى يَشْتَفِي هَذَا الْفُؤَادُ الْمُفَجَّعُ
وَفِيand on كُلِّevery يَوْمٍday رَاحِلٌone departing لَيْسَdoes not يَرْجعُreturn
وَفِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ رَاحِلٌ لَيْسَ يَرْجعُ
When will this grief-stricken heart find healing,
While every day someone departs, never to return?
نَمِيلُwe turn مِنَfrom الدُّنْيَاthe world إِلَىtoward ظِلِّthe shade of مُزْنَةٍa raincloud
نَمِيلُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى ظِلِّ مُزْنَةٍ
لَهَاit has بَارِقٌa lightning-flash فِيهِin it الْمَنِيَّةُdeath تَلْمَعُgleams
لَهَا بَارِقٌ فِيهِ الْمَنِيَّةُ تَلْمَعُ
We turn from the world toward a raincloud's shade,
Yet death gleams in the lightning it bears.
وَكَيْفَand how يَطِيبُis sweet الْعَيْشُlife وَالْمَرْءُwhile a person قَائِمٌstands
وَكَيْفَ يَطِيبُ الْعَيْشُ وَالْمَرْءُ قَائِمٌ
عَلَىin حَذَرٍwariness مِنْof هَوْلِthe terror of مَاwhat يَتَوَقَّعُhe anticipates
عَلَى حَذَرٍ مِنْ هَوْلِ مَا يَتَوَقَّعُ
And how can life be sweet while a man stands
On guard against the terror of what he expects?
بِنَاupon us كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday لِلْحَوَادِثِcalamities have وَقْعَةٌa blow
بِنَا كُلَّ يَوْمٍ لِلْحَوَادِثِ وَقْعَةٌ
تَسِيلُflow لَهَاbecause of it مِنَّاfrom us نُفُوسٌsouls وَأَدْمُعُand tears
تَسِيلُ لَهَا مِنَّا نُفُوسٌ وَأَدْمُعُ
Each day calamities strike us a blow
At which our souls and tears pour forth.
فَأَجْسَادُنَاso our bodies فِيin مَطْرَحِthe resting-place of الأَرْضِthe earth هُمَّدٌlie lifeless
فَأَجْسَادُنَا فِي مَطْرَحِ الأَرْضِ هُمَّدٌ
وَأَرْوَاحُنَاand our souls فِيin مَسْرَحِthe pasture of الْجَوِّthe air رُتَّعُgrazing freely
وَأَرْوَاحُنَا فِي مَسْرَحِ الْجَوِّ رُتَّعُ
So our bodies lie lifeless, cast upon the earth,
And our souls graze freely in the pasture of the air.
وَمِنْand among عَجَبٍstrange things أَنَّاthat we نُسَاءُare mistreated وَنَرْتَضِيand we consent
وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ أَنَّا نُسَاءُ وَنَرْتَضِي
وَنُدْرِكُand we perceive أَسْبَابَthe causes of الْفَنَاءِextinction وَنَطْمَعُand we covet
وَنُدْرِكُ أَسْبَابَ الْفَنَاءِ وَنَطْمَعُ
And strange it is that we are wronged, yet acquiesce,
And know the causes of our extinction, yet still covet.
وَلَوْand if عَلِمَknew الإِنْسَانُa person عُقْبَانَthe final outcome of أَمْرِهِhis course
وَلَوْ عَلِمَ الإِنْسَانُ عُقْبَانَ أَمْرِهِ
لَهَانَwould seem slight عَلَيْهِto him مَاwhat يَسُرُّdelights وَيَفْجَعُand bereaves
لَهَانَ عَلَيْهِ مَا يَسُرُّ وَيَفْجَعُ
If a man knew the outcome of his course,
What delights and what bereaves would seem slight to him.
تَسِيرُjourney بِنَاwith us الأَيَّامُthe days وَالْمَوْتُand death مَوْعِدٌan appointed meeting
تَسِيرُ بِنَا الأَيَّامُ وَالْمَوْتُ مَوْعِدٌ
وَتَدْفَعُنَاand thrust us forth الأَرْحَامُwombs وَالأَرْضُand the earth تَبْلَعُswallows
وَتَدْفَعُنَا الأَرْحَامُ وَالأَرْضُ تَبْلَعُ
The days carry us onward, and death is the rendezvous;
Wombs thrust us forth, and the earth swallows us.
عَفَاءٌruin عَلَىupon الدُّنْيَاthe world فَمَاfor there is no لِعِدَاتِهَاfor its promises
عَفَاءٌ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا فَمَا لِعِدَاتِهَا
وَفَاءٌfulfillment وَلاnor فِيin عَيْشِهَاits life مُتَمَتَّعُenjoyment
وَفَاءٌ وَلا فِي عَيْشِهَا مُتَمَتَّعُ
Ruin upon the world! Its promises have no
Fulfillment, nor its life any enjoyment.
أَبَعْدَis it after سَمِيرِthe night-companion of الْفَضْلِvirtue أَحْمَدَAhmad فَارِسٍFaris
أَبَعْدَ سَمِيرِ الْفَضْلِ أَحْمَدَ فَارِسٍ
تَقِرُّrest جُنُوبٌsides أَوْor يُلائِمُoffers comfort مَضْجَعُa bed
تَقِرُّ جُنُوبٌ أَوْ يُلائِمُ مَضْجَعُ
After Ahmad Faris, virtue's companion by night,
Can sides lie at rest, or a bed offer comfort?
كَفَىit is enough حَزناًas grief أَنَّthat النَّوَىseparation صَدَعَتْhas cleft بِهِthrough him
كَفَى حَزناً أَنَّ النَّوَى صَدَعَتْ بِهِ
فُؤَاداًa heart مِنَby الْحِدْثَانِtime's calamities لاnot يَتَصَدَّعُis split
فُؤَاداً مِنَ الْحِدْثَانِ لا يَتَصَدَّعُ
It is grief enough that parting from him has cleft
A heart unbroken by the calamities of time.
وَمَاand not كُنْتُI was مِجْزَاعاًprone to anguish وَلَكِنَّand yet ذَاone bearing الأَسَىsorrow
وَمَا كُنْتُ مِجْزَاعاً وَلَكِنَّ ذَا الأَسَى
إِذَاwhen لَمْdoes not يُسَاعِدْهُhelp him التَّصَبُّرُpatient endurance يَجْزَعُgives way to anguish
إِذَا لَمْ يُسَاعِدْهُ التَّصَبُّرُ يَجْزَعُ
I was not prone to anguish; but a sorrowing man,
When patient endurance fails him, gives way to anguish.
فَقَدْنَاهُwe lost him فِقْدَانَas the loss of الشَّرَابِdrink عَلَىamid الظَمَاthirst
فَقَدْنَاهُ فِقْدَانَ الشَّرَابِ عَلَى الظَمَا
فَفِيso in كُلِّevery قَلْبٍheart غُلَّةٌa burning thirst لَيْسَis not تُنْقَعُquenched
فَفِي كُلِّ قَلْبٍ غُلَّةٌ لَيْسَ تُنْقَعُ
We miss him as drink is missed in thirst,
So in every heart is a thirst that cannot be quenched.
وَأَيُّand what فُؤَادٍheart لَمْhas not يَبِتْspent the night لِمُصَابِهِat his loss
وَأَيُّ فُؤَادٍ لَمْ يَبِتْ لِمُصَابِهِ
عَلَىin لَوْعَةٍburning grief أَوْor مُقْلَةٍan eye لَيْسَdoes not تَدْمَعُshed tears
عَلَى لَوْعَةٍ أَوْ مُقْلَةٍ لَيْسَ تَدْمَعُ
And what heart has not spent the night, at his loss,
In burning grief, or what eye does not shed tears?
إِذَاif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is لِلدَّمْعِfor tears فِيon الْخَدِّthe cheek مَسْرَبٌa channel
إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلدَّمْعِ فِي الْخَدِّ مَسْرَبٌ
رَوِيٌّbrimming فَمَاthen there is no لِلْحُزْنِfor sorrow فِيin الْقَلْبِthe heart مَوْضِعُplace
رَوِيٌّ فَمَا لِلْحُزْنِ فِي الْقَلْبِ مَوْضِعُ
If tears have no channel down the cheek
That flows full, then sorrow has no place within the heart.
مَضَىhe departed وَوَرِثْنَاهُand we inherited from him عُلُوماًlearning غَزِيرَةًabundant
مَضَى وَوَرِثْنَاهُ عُلُوماً غَزِيرَةً
تَظَلُّcontinue بِهَاat it هِيمُthe thirsty ones of الْخَوَاطِرِthoughts تَشْرَعُcome to drink
تَظَلُّ بِهَا هِيمُ الْخَوَاطِرِ تَشْرَعُ
He has gone, and we have inherited from him abundant learning,
At which parched thoughts keep coming down to drink.
إِذَاwhen تُلِيَتْare recited آيَاتُهَاits passages فِيin مَقَامَةٍan assembly
إِذَا تُلِيَتْ آيَاتُهَا فِي مَقَامَةٍ
تَنَافَسَvie قَلْبٌa heart فِيin هَوَاهَاlove for it وَمسْمَعُand an ear
تَنَافَسَ قَلْبٌ فِي هَوَاهَا وَمسْمَعُ
When its passages are recited in an assembly,
Heart and ear compete in their love for it.
سَقَىmay it water جَدثاًa grave فِيin أَرْضِthe land of لُبْنَانَLebanon عَارِضٌa cloud on the horizon
سَقَى جَدثاً فِي أَرْضِ لُبْنَانَ عَارِضٌ
مِنَof الْمُزْنِrainclouds فَيَّاضُoverflowing with الْجَدَاوِلِstreams مُتْرَعُbrimming full
مِنَ الْمُزْنِ فَيَّاضُ الْجَدَاوِلِ مُتْرَعُ
May a cloud on the horizon water a grave in Lebanon's land,
A raincloud brimming full, overflowing in streams.
فَإِنَّfor indeed بِهِwithin it لِلْمَكْرُمَاتِof noble deeds حُشَاشَةًa last remnant of life
فَإِنَّ بِهِ لِلْمَكْرُمَاتِ حُشَاشَةً
طَوَاهَاfolded it away الرَّدَىdeath فَالْقَلْبُso the heart حَرَّانُburning مُوجَعُaching
طَوَاهَا الرَّدَى فَالْقَلْبُ حَرَّانُ مُوجَعُ
For within it lies the last living remnant of noble deeds,
Which death has folded away; so the heart burns, aching.
فَإِنْso if يَكُنِshould have الشِّدْيَاقُal-Shidyaq خَلَّىvacated مَكَانَهُhis place
فَإِنْ يَكُنِ الشِّدْيَاقُ خَلَّى مَكَانَهُ
فَإِنَّthen indeed ابْنَهُhis son عَنْin defense of حَوْزَةِthe domain of الْمَجْدِglory يَدْفَعُdefends
فَإِنَّ ابْنَهُ عَنْ حَوْزَةِ الْمَجْدِ يَدْفَعُ
So if al-Shidyaq has left his place vacant,
Then his son indeed defends the domain of glory.
وَمَاand not مَاتَhas died مَنْone who أَبْقَىleft behind عَلَىthroughout الدَّهْرِtime فَاضِلاًa virtuous man
وَمَا مَاتَ مَنْ أَبْقَى عَلَى الدَّهْرِ فَاضِلاً
يُؤَلِّفُunites أَشْتَاتَthe scattered parts of الْمَعَالِيexcellences وَيَجْمَعُand gathers
يُؤَلِّفُ أَشْتَاتَ الْمَعَالِي وَيَجْمَعُ
Nor is he dead who leaves behind for all time a worthy man,
Who unites scattered excellences and gathers them together.
رَزِينُsteady حَصَاةِdiscernment of الْحِلْمِforbearance لاnot يَسْتَخِفُّهُcarries him away
رَزِينُ حَصَاةِ الْحِلْمِ لا يَسْتَخِفُّهُ
إِلَىtoward اللَّهْوِamusement طَبْعٌa temperament فَهْوَfor he بِالْجِدِّto earnestness مُولَعُis devoted
إِلَى اللَّهْوِ طَبْعٌ فَهْوَ بِالْجِدِّ مُولَعُ
Firm in deliberate judgment, he is not carried away
By any bent toward amusement, for he is devoted to earnestness.
تَلُوحُshine forth عَلَيهِupon him مِنْfrom أَبِيهِhis father شَمَائِلٌtraits
تَلُوحُ عَلَيهِ مِنْ أَبِيهِ شَمَائِلٌ
تَدُلُّpoint عَلَىto طِيبِthe goodness of الْخِلالِcharacter traits وَتَنْزِعُand resemble him
تَدُلُّ عَلَى طِيبِ الْخِلالِ وَتَنْزِعُ
His father's traits shine forth in him,
Attesting to noble character and recalling his father.
فَصَبْرَاًso show patience جَمِيلاًgracious يَاO سَلِيمُSalim فَإِنَّمَاfor only
فَصَبْرَاً جَمِيلاً يَا سَلِيمُ فَإِنَّمَا
يُسِيغُswallows with ease الْفَتَىa man بِالصَّبْرِthrough patience مَاwhat يَتَجَرَّعُhe drinks in bitter gulps
يُسِيغُ الْفَتَى بِالصَّبْرِ مَا يَتَجَرَّعُ
So show gracious patience, Salim; for only
Through patience can a man swallow his bitter draught.
إِذَاif الْمَرْءُa man لَمْdoes not يَصْبِرْbear patiently عَلَىunder مَاwhat أَصَابَهُhas befallen him
إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَهُ
فَمَاذَاthen what تُراهُdo you think he فِيabout الْمُقَدَّرِwhat is decreed يَصْنَعُcan do
فَمَاذَا تُراهُ فِي الْمُقَدَّرِ يَصْنَعُ
If a man does not endure what has befallen him,
Then what, do you think, can he do about what is decreed?
وَمِثْلُكَand one like you مَنْone who رَازَhas weighed الأُمُورَaffairs بِعَقْلِهِwith his reason
وَمِثْلُكَ مَنْ رَازَ الأُمُورَ بِعَقْلِهِ
وَأَدْرَكَand discerned مِنْهَاfrom them مَاwhat يَضُرُّharms وَيَنْفَعُand benefits
وَأَدْرَكَ مِنْهَا مَا يَضُرُّ وَيَنْفَعُ
And one like you has weighed affairs with his reason,
And discerned in them what harms and what benefits.
فَلاso do not تُعْطِيَنَّever give الحُزْنَsorrow قَلْبَكَyour heart وَاسْتَعِنْand seek help
فَلا تُعْطِيَنَّ الحُزْنَ قَلْبَكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ
عَلَيْهِagainst it بِصَبْرٍthrough patience فَهْوَfor it فِيin الْحُزْنِgrief أَنْجَعُis most effective
عَلَيْهِ بِصَبْرٍ فَهْوَ فِي الْحُزْنِ أَنْجَعُ
So never surrender your heart to sorrow, and seek help
Against it through patience, for that is most effective in grief.
وَهَاكَand take this عَلَىdespite بُعْدِthe remoteness of الْمَزَارِthe place of meeting قَرِيبَةًclose
وَهَاكَ عَلَى بُعْدِ الْمَزَارِ قَرِيبَةً
إِلَىto النَّفْسِthe soul يَدْعُوهَاcalls it الْوَفَاءُloyalty فَتَتْبَعُand so it follows
إِلَى النَّفْسِ يَدْعُوهَا الْوَفَاءُ فَتَتْبَعُ
And take, though far the place of meeting, a poem close
To the soul; loyalty calls it, and it follows.
رَعَيْتُI honored بِهَاwith it حَقَّthe claim of الْوِدَادِfriendship عَلَىdespite النَّوَىseparation
رَعَيْتُ بِهَا حَقَّ الْوِدَادِ عَلَى النَّوَى
وَلِلْحَقِّand right has فِيin حُكْمِthe judgment of الْبَصِيرَةِinsight مَقْطَعُthe final word
وَلِلْحَقِّ فِي حُكْمِ الْبَصِيرَةِ مَقْطَعُ
With it I have honored friendship's claim despite separation,
And right has the final word in the judgment of insight.