يُطردُ العشبُ والزّرعُ والشّجرُ

يُطردُ العشبُ والزّرعُ والشّجرُ

من أراضيهِ كيْ يسكنَ الحَجَرُ

من أراضيهِ كيْ يسكنَ الحَجَرُ

Grass, crops, and trees are driven out

The grass and crops and trees

from their lands, so that stone may dwell.

Are expelled from their lands so the rocks may dwell

والهَوا الطلقُ والشّمسُ والقمرُ

والهَوا الطلقُ والشّمسُ والقمرُ

فالسّماءُ يُصادرُها الغبَرُ

فالسّماءُ يُصادرُها الغبَرُ

And the open air, the sun, and the moon—

And the open sky, the sun and moon

for dust confiscates the sky.

Thus the heavens are confiscated by dust

والحِجارُ تأبّىْ علىْ الماءِ وال

والحِجارُ تأبّىْ علىْ الماءِ وال

ذرُّ ليسَ يُفرقُهُ مَطرُ

ذرُّ ليسَ يُفرقُهُ مَطرُ

And the stones refuse to yield to water, and the

And the rocks refuse the water and growth

dust is not scattered by rain.

The settled dust is indisturbed by rain

والزّهورُ لِكيْلا ترَى دمعَ أمْ

والزّهورُ لِكيْلا ترَى دمعَ أمْ

ماتِها وهي تُجتزُّ تنْتحِرُ

ماتِها وهي تُجتزُّ تنْتحِرُ

And the flowers, lest they see their mothers' tears,

And the flowers, so their mother's tears are unseen

take their own lives as they are shorn.

As they are picked, commit suicide

والفراشُ يخلِّي أماكنَهُ

والفراشُ يخلِّي أماكنَهُ

 لذُبابٍ يساكنُهُ القذَرُ

لذُبابٍ يساكنُهُ القذَرُ

And the butterflies vacate their places

And the mattress vacates its place

for flies that share their dwelling with filth.

For insects made home by filth

والعِشا يلْقمُ العصرَ والظّهرُ من

والعِشا يلْقمُ العصرَ والظّهرُ من

قبلــــــــــهِ قــــد تلقَّمـــــَـهُ السّحرُ

قبلــــــــــهِ قــــد تلقَّمـــــَـهُ السّحرُ

And nightfall swallows the afternoon; noon, before

And the nest takes lunch and dinner

it, has already been swallowed by the pre-dawn hour.

After the dawn has already taken them

والجبالُ تساقطُ هاماتُها

والجبالُ تساقطُ هاماتُها

منْ شرايينِها الدّمُ مُنفجِرُ

منْ شرايينِها الدّمُ مُنفجِرُ

And the mountains' heads come tumbling down;

And the mountains, their pinnacles fall

blood gushes from their arteries.

From their veins, blood spurting forth

وقفتْ جُثثًا دونما أرؤسٍ

وقفتْ جُثثًا دونما أرؤسٍ

 فوقَ أكْتافِها عُمِّرتْ بُؤَرُ

فوقَ أكْتافِها عُمِّرتْ بُؤَرُ

They stood as corpses without heads;

They stand as corpses without heads

outposts were built upon their shoulders.

Upon their shoulders, homes were built

والعَماماتُ بينَ السّما والسّما

والعَماماتُ بينَ السّما والسّما

كِبرياءٌ علىْ الموتِ مقتدرُ

كِبرياءٌ علىْ الموتِ مقتدرُ

And the turbans, between sky and sky,

And the turbans between heaven and heaven

are pride with power over death.

Are pride over death they rule

يَستدِلُّ بهِ حينَ عودتهِم

يَستدِلُّ بهِ حينَ عودتهِم

الدُّعاةُ لذا فهْيَ تنتظرُ

الدُّعاةُ لذا فهْيَ تنتظرُ

Upon their return, it guides

As evidence for their return

the callers; so they wait.

The preachers await them thus

يستظلُّ بها الشّاهدانِ علىْ

يستظلُّ بها الشّاهدانِ علىْ

الظّلمِ والجُرمِ: السّمعُ والبَصرُ

الظّلمِ والجُرمِ: السّمعُ والبَصرُ

In their shade shelter the two witnesses to

They shade the witnesses of

injustice and crime: hearing and sight.

Injustice and sin: hearing and sight

فتقصُّ على المَسْمعِ الأذْنُ وال

فتقصُّ على المَسْمعِ الأذْنُ وال

عينُ تحكِيْ لهَا العينُ والصّورُ

عينُ تحكِيْ لهَا العينُ والصّورُ

Then the ear recounts to hearing, and the

Thus the ear tells the hearing

eye—the eye and images tell it their tale.

And the eye narrates to it and the visions

وابتهالاتُها والصلاةُ إلىْ

وابتهالاتُها والصلاةُ إلىْ

أنْ يُطيّرَ منهُم لها خبرُ

أنْ يُطيّرَ منهُم لها خبرُ

And their supplications and prayers continue until

And their prayers and supplications to

word is sent flying from the callers to them,

One who will deliver news of them

مثلَ صَيْحةِ حقٍّ بهِ بَعثُها

مثلَ صَيْحةِ حقٍّ بهِ بَعثُها

بينما يهلكُ المُنْظرُ البطِرُ

بينما يهلكُ المُنْظرُ البطِرُ

like a cry of truth that brings their resurrection,

Like the scream of truth that sent it

while the insolent one granted respite perishes.

While the scene perishes in waste

وإذا لمْ تُصلِّ الجبالُ فمنْ؟

وإذا لمْ تُصلِّ الجبالُ فمنْ؟

 ودُعا منْ سيسْتمِعُ القدَرُ

ودُعا منْ سيسْتمِعُ القدَرُ

And if the mountains do not pray, then who will?

And if the mountains do not pray, then who?

And whose prayer will fate heed?

And who will destiny listen to?

والنُّجومُ الّتيْ اعتادَ أشرافُها

والنُّجومُ الّتيْ اعتادَ أشرافُها

أنْ يمُرُّوا بها وهْيَ تنْحَدِرُ

أنْ يمُرُّوا بها وهْيَ تنْحَدِرُ

And the stars that their nobles were accustomed

And the stars which their nobility

to pass by as the stars descended—

Used to pass under as they descended

منْ لأوجاعِها بالدَّوا والدُّعا

منْ لأوجاعِها بالدَّوا والدُّعا

حينَ يبلغُ مبلغَهُ السَّفرُ؟

حينَ يبلغُ مبلغَهُ السَّفرُ؟

who will tend their pains with medicine and prayer

For their pains, who has the medicine and prayer

when the journey reaches its limit?

When their journey has reached its end?

من سيُشعلُها بالأراجيزِ حت

من سيُشعلُها بالأراجيزِ حت

تى تُلالي ويُستَمْلحُ السهرُ؟

تى تُلالي ويُستَمْلحُ السهرُ؟

Who will kindle them with rajaz chants until

Who will light them with poems until

they sparkle and the night vigil grows sweet?

The night is sweetened and the vigil enjoyed?

والأراجيزُ إنْ لمْ تقُلْها الجِبا

والأراجيزُ إنْ لمْ تقُلْها الجِبا

لُ فمنْ؟ ولِمنْ يطربُ القَمرُ؟

لُ فمنْ؟ ولِمنْ يطربُ القَمرُ؟

And if the mountains do not recite the rajaz chants,

And if the mountains do not say the poems, who then?

then who will? And for whom will the moon rejoice?

And for whom will the moon be elated?

وهدَايا الجُدُودِ لهَا من سلا

وهدَايا الجُدُودِ لهَا من سلا

سلَ يُطرِقُ مِنْ حُسنِها النّظرُ

سلَ يُطرِقُ مِنْ حُسنِها النّظرُ

And the forefathers' gifts to them—chains

And the gifts of ancestors, who in the lineage

whose beauty makes the gaze bow—

Will admire their beauty in preservation?

بُعثِرَتْ حالُها حالُ واهبِها

بُعثِرَتْ حالُها حالُ واهبِها

في المتاحفِ يُلفىْ لهَا أثرُ

في المتاحفِ يُلفىْ لهَا أثرُ

have been scattered; their fate is their giver's fate.

Their condition is like their granter’s condition

A trace of them is found in museums.

In museums, their traces are sought

وبُطولاتُ جدِّيْ معَ الأُسْدِ وال

وبُطولاتُ جدِّيْ معَ الأُسْدِ وال

غولِ تُحْكىْ وأبطالُها الخزَرُ

غولِ تُحْكىْ وأبطالُها الخزَرُ

And my grandfather's exploits with lions and the

And the heroics of my grandfather with the lions and ogres

ghoul are recounted, and their heroes are the Khazars.

Are told while their heroes are poppies

والأكُفُّ الّتي لمْ يجُعْ فوقَها

والأكُفُّ الّتي لمْ يجُعْ فوقَها

 ابنُ السّبيلِ أو اللّاهفُ الوَجِرُ

ابنُ السّبيلِ أو اللّاهفُ الوَجِرُ

And the palms upon which none went hungry—

And the palms which no son of the path

the wayfarer, or the distressed and fearful,

Or starving pauper placed above

أو جناحانِ أوْ حافرٌ أو نُيو

أو جناحانِ أوْ حافرٌ أو نُيو

بٌ تقيها العرائنُ والوُجُرُ

بٌ تقيها العرائنُ والوُجُرُ

or two wings, or a hoof, or fangs

No wing or hoof or fang protects

sheltered by dens and lairs—

Their markets were set ablaze so the veins are cut

لهِبتْ سُوقُها فالشرايينُ مقْ

لهِبتْ سُوقُها فالشرايينُ مقْ

 طوعةٌ والقُنِيْ لاثَها البَقرُ

طوعةٌ والقُنِيْ لاثَها البَقرُ

their trunks have burned; so the arteries are cut

And the almond, fig and olive oil are gone

off, and cattle have fouled the channels.

What remains is sent to us, boulders

فانتفىْ اللوزُ والتّينُ والزّيتُ منْ

فانتفىْ اللوزُ والتّينُ والزّيتُ منْ

 ها ويُرسَلُ مِنها لنا جَزرُ

ها ويُرسَلُ مِنها لنا جَزرُ

So almonds, figs, and oil have vanished from

And the smiles of flowers over betrayal

them, and carrots are sent from them to us.

Were lost in the humming whose origin is resurrection

وابتسامُ الزّهورِ علىْ الغُدُرِ

وابتسامُ الزّهورِ علىْ الغُدُرِ

ضاعَ في دنْدنٍ أصلُهُ الحَشرُ

ضاعَ في دنْدنٍ أصلُهُ الحَشرُ

And the flowers' smile upon the pools

And the sands which the mountain rescued

was lost in deadwood born of vermin.

Betrayed just as their inhabitants did

والرّمالُ الّتي غاثَها الجبلُ

والرّمالُ الّتي غاثَها الجبلُ

كفرَتْ مثلما أهلُها كفَروا

كفرَتْ مثلما أهلُها كفَروا

And the sands that the mountain succored

And whoever denies God or His blessings

have turned faithless, as their people have.

No sane person sought refuge in Him

والّذي يجْحدُ اللهَ أو فضله

والّذي يجْحدُ اللهَ أو فضله

ما اسْتجارَ بهِ عاقلٌ بَشرُ

ما اسْتجارَ بهِ عاقلٌ بَشرُ

And whoever denies God or His bounty—

And the two big ones around it are one

no sane human has sought refuge with him.

The sin of its sons is that they crossed over

والكبيرانِ من حولِها واحدٌ

والكبيرانِ من حولِها واحدٌ

ذنبُ أبنائِهِ أنّهُم عبَروا

ذنبُ أبنائِهِ أنّهُم عبَروا

And of the two great ones around them, one—

And the northerner, his sons did not die

his sons' crime is that they crossed over.

Their blood blazing with fire is his sin

والشّماليُّ ما ماتَ أبناؤُهُ

والشّماليُّ ما ماتَ أبناؤُهُ

ذنبهُ النّارُ في الدّمِ تسْتعِرُ

ذنبهُ النّارُ في الدّمِ تسْتعِرُ

And the northern one—his sons have not died;

And the little ones were busy in its homeland

his crime: fire rages in the blood.

With her from whom they lost when she flowed

والصِّغارُ بمَوطِنِها شُغلوا

والصِّغارُ بمَوطِنِها شُغلوا

بالّتيْ يومَ أنْ أُجرِيتْ خسِروا

بالّتيْ يومَ أنْ أُجرِيتْ خسِروا

And the little ones in their homeland were preoccupied

If only their hearing heard the gurgling

with that which they lost the day it was held.

Of its lofty peaks as it perished

ليتَ أسْماعَهم سمِعتْ حَشْرَجا

ليتَ أسْماعَهم سمِعتْ حَشْرَجا

تِ شوامِخِها وهْيَ تحتضِرُ

تِ شوامِخِها وهْيَ تحتضِرُ

If only their ears had heard the death-rattles

Or would they erase their shame

of their towering heights as they lay dying.

Or are they too disgraced to fold?

أوَكانوا سيمْحونَ عارَهمُ

أوَكانوا سيمْحونَ عارَهمُ

أمْ بهِمْ ذلّةٌ ليسَ تنحسِرُ

أمْ بهِمْ ذلّةٌ ليسَ تنحسِرُ

And would they have erased their shame,

None survived of the ancestors except

or is theirs a humiliation that never recedes?

The soft, easy or those who owned a palace

ما نجَا من جُدودِ الجدودِ سِوى

ما نجَا من جُدودِ الجدودِ سِوى

الليِّنِ السّهلِ أو مَنْ بهِ قِصَرُ

الليِّنِ السّهلِ أو مَنْ بهِ قِصَرُ

Of the forefathers' forefathers, none survived but

To be shredded by the eager as spoils

the soft and yielding, or those of short stature,

Violated as if they were leopards

كيْ يمزّقَهُ الزّنُما إربًا

كيْ يمزّقَهُ الزّنُما إربًا

تُستباحُ علىْ أنّها نِمَرُ

تُستباحُ علىْ أنّها نِمَرُ

so that the baseborn may tear it into pieces,

The early ones left and Uthman only stayed

ravaged as though they were leopards.

Except the tales and biographies

رحلَ الأوّلانِ وعثمانُ ما

رحلَ الأوّلانِ وعثمانُ ما

ظلَّ إلّا الأحاديثُ والسِّيَرُ

ظلَّ إلّا الأحاديثُ والسِّيَرُ

The first two departed, and Uthman; nothing

And Banu Hashim in their absence

remained but tales and life stories.

And Umayyah's journey was prolonged

وبنو هاشمٍ في غِيابِهمُ

وبنو هاشمٍ في غِيابِهمُ

وأميّةُ طالَ بهِ السّفَرُ

وأميّةُ طالَ بهِ السّفَرُ

And Banu Hashim, in their absence,

Until they return, it has none

and Umayya—his journey has grown long.

But a Lord with hearing and sight

وإلىْ أنْ يعُودوا فليسَ لها

وإلىْ أنْ يعُودوا فليسَ لها

غيرُ ربٍّ لهُ السّمعُ والبَصرُ

غيرُ ربٍّ لهُ السّمعُ والبَصرُ

And until they return, they have no one

And peace be upon the best of people, and the martyrs

but a Lord to whom belong hearing and sight.

And those after them who persevered

والصّلاةُ على سيِّدِ الخلْقِ والشْ

والصّلاةُ على سيِّدِ الخلْقِ والشْ

شُهداءَ ومنْ بعدهِمْ صبَروا

شُهداءَ ومنْ بعدهِمْ صبَروا

And blessings upon the master of creation, and the

martyrs, and those who endured patiently after them.