هَلare? أَنتَyou لصبّfor a love-stricken man القلبِthe heart معمودِsorely afflicted
هَل أَنتَ لصبّ القلبِ معمودِ
دَوِيailing الفؤادِthe heart بغيرnot through الخُرّدِshy maidens الخُودِtender beauties
دَوِي الفؤادِ بغير الخُرّدِ الخُودِ
Are you there for a love-stricken man, sore at heart,
Are you the baptizer of the heart's passion,
ailing in spirit, but not through shy, tender maidens?
The resounder of the innermost being without trinkets or beauty?
ماnot شفّهwore him away هجرُthe desertion of أحبابٍloved ones وَإِنْand even if هَجَرواthey deserted
ما شفّه هجرُ أحبابٍ وَإِنْ هَجَروا
منfor غيرno جُرمٍoffense ولاnor خُلفِbreach of المواعيدِpromises
من غير جُرمٍ ولا خُلفِ المواعيدِ
No abandonment by loved ones has worn him away, though they deserted him
Separation from loved ones did not affect me
for no offense and no breach of promises.
Even if they departed without fault or breaking promises,
وفيand in الجفونthe eyelids قذاةٌa mote غيرُnot زائلةٍdeparting
وفي الجفون قذاةٌ غيرُ زائلةٍ
وفيand within الضّلوعthe ribs غرامٌconsuming passion غيرُnot مفقودِlost
وفي الضّلوع غرامٌ غيرُ مفقودِ
And in the eyelids is a mote that will not leave,
With specks that do not disappear in my eyelids
and within the ribs a passion never lost.
And an undiminished passion in my ribs,
ياO عاذلِيmy reproacher ليسis not وجدٌgrief بتُّI spent the night أكتُمهI conceal it
يا عاذلِي ليس وجدٌ بتُّ أكتُمه
بينwithin الحَشىthe breast وَجدَa grief تعنيفٍrebuke وتفنيدِand censure
بين الحَشى وَجدَ تعنيفٍ وتفنيدِ
O my reproacher, the grief I have spent the night concealing
O my reproacher! There is no concealment of the passion I harbor
within my breast is no cause for rebuke and censure.
Between the breastbone - reproach and censure.
شِربِيmy drink دموعِيmy tears علىover الخدّينboth cheeks سائلةًflowing
شِربِي دموعِي على الخدّين سائلةً
إِنif كانَis شربكyour drink مِنfrom ماءjuice العناقيدِgrape clusters
إِن كانَ شربك مِن ماء العناقيدِ
My drink is my tears, flowing down both cheeks,
Imbibe my tears on my cheeks flowing
if your drink is the juice of grape clusters.
If your drinking is from the water of grapes,
ونمْand sleep! فإنّfor indeed جفوناًeyelids لِيof mine مُسهّدةٌkept sleepless
ونمْ فإنّ جفوناً لِي مُسهّدةٌ
عُمْرthroughout the span of اللّيالِيthe nights ولكنْbut أيُّwhat تسهيدِsleeplessness
عُمْر اللّيالِي ولكنْ أيُّ تسهيدِ
Sleep, then, for my eyelids remain sleepless
Sleep, for I have eyelids as pillows
through the whole span of nights—but what sleeplessness!
For the length of nights, but what rest!
وقدand indeed قضيتُI would have fulfilled بذاكthrough that العذلreproach مَأْرَبَةًa purpose
وقد قضيتُ بذاك العذل مَأْرَبَةً
لوif كانwere سمعِيَmy hearing عنهto it غيرَnot مسدودِclosed
لو كان سمعِيَ عنه غيرَ مسدودِ
And I would have fulfilled a purpose through that reproach,
I have suffered such reproach as if
had my hearing not been closed to it.
My hearing of it was not blocked.
تلومنِيyou blame me لمdid not تُصبْكstrike you اليومَtoday قاذفتِيmy affliction
تلومنِي لم تُصبْك اليومَ قاذفتِي
ولمand did not يعدْكrevisit you كماas يعتادنِيit visits me عيديmy recurring grief
ولم يعدْك كما يعتادنِي عيدي
You blame me, though my affliction has not struck you today,
You blame me for not casting at you today
nor has my recurring grief revisited you as it visits me.
Or entertaining you as my Eid [feast day] used to do.
فالظّلمُso injustice عَذْلُthe reproach of خليِّone carefree القلبِat heart ذاone bearing شَجَنٍsorrow
فالظّلمُ عَذْلُ خليِّ القلبِ ذا شَجَنٍ
وهُجنَةٌand a disgrace لومُthe blame of موفورٍone unscathed لمجهودِagainst one exhausted
وهُجنَةٌ لومُ موفورٍ لمجهودِ
It is injustice for the carefree of heart to reproach one sorrowing,
But the reproach of the intimate friend in passion
and disgraceful for the unscathed to blame one exhausted.
Is the blame of the oft-forgiven for the effort made.
كمhow many ليلةٍa night بتُّI spent the night فيهاin it غيرَnot مرتفقat ease
كم ليلةٍ بتُّ فيها غيرَ مرتفق
والهمُّand sorrow ماlinking particle بينbetween محلولٍloosened ومعقودِand knotted
والهمُّ ما بين محلولٍ ومعقودِ
How many a night I have spent without repose,
How many nights have I spent sleepless
with sorrow now loosened, now bound.
With worries whether loosened or tied,
ماnot إنindeed أحِنُّI yearn إليهاfor it وهْيَwhile it ماضيةٌpasses
ما إن أحِنُّ إليها وهْيَ ماضيةٌ
ولاnor أقولI say لهاto it مستدعياًcalling it back عودِيreturn!
ولا أقول لها مستدعياً عودِي
I do not long for it as it passes,
I do not incline toward her though she is departing
nor say to it, calling it back, “Return!”
Nor do I bid her, “Return!”
جاءتْit came فكانتand was كعُوّارٍlike an eye-blight علىupon بصرٍeyesight
جاءتْ فكانت كعُوّارٍ على بصرٍ
وزايلتْand departed كزيالlike the departure of المائدthe staggering one المودِيthe dying one
وزايلتْ كزيال المائد المودِي
It came like a blight upon the eye,
She came like a mere vision to the sight
and departed like the passing of one reeling and dying.
And left like the remnants of a farewell feast.
فإنْso if يودّlove أناسٌsome people صبحَthe dawn of ليلهمُtheir night
فإنْ يودّ أناسٌ صبحَ ليلهمُ
فإنّthen indeed صبحِيَmy dawn صبحٌa dawn غيرُnot مودودِloved
فإنّ صبحِيَ صبحٌ غيرُ مودودِ
If some people love the dawn of their night,
If some people want the morning for their night
my dawn is a dawn unloved.
Then my morning is an unending morning.
عشيَّةٌan evening هجمتْburst forth منهاfrom it مصائبُهاits calamities
عشيَّةٌ هجمتْ منها مصائبُها
علىupon قلوبٍhearts عنaway from البَلوىaffliction محاييدِkeeping clear
على قلوبٍ عن البَلوى محاييدِ
An evening from which its calamities burst forth
An evening that unleashed its afflictions
upon hearts that had kept clear of affliction.
Upon hearts unprepared for tribulation.
ياO يومday of عاشورَAshura كمhow many طأْطأْتَyou lowered منof بصرٍa gaze
يا يوم عاشورَ كم طأْطأْتَ من بصرٍ
بعدafter السموّloftiness وكمand how many أذللتَyou humbled منof جِيدِa neck
بعد السموّ وكم أذللتَ من جِيدِ
O day of Ashura, how many a gaze you lowered
O day of Ashura, how you lowered many sights
after its lofty rise, and how many a neck you humbled!
After pride and how you humiliated many necks.
ياO يومَday of عاشورَAshura كمhow many أطردتَyou banished ليfor me أملاًa hope
يا يومَ عاشورَ كم أطردتَ لي أملاً
قدindeed كانwas قبلكbefore you عنديwith me غيرَnot مطرودِbanished
قد كان قبلك عندي غيرَ مطرودِ
O day of Ashura, how many a hope of mine you banished,
O day of Ashura, how you repelled from me hopes
which before you had not been driven from me.
That had dwelt in me, never to be repelled before.
أنتَyou المُرنِّقُthe one clouding عيشيmy life بعدafter صفوتِهِits clarity
أنتَ المُرنِّقُ عيشي بعد صفوتِهِ
ومولجُand the one ushering in البيضِwhite hairs منof شيبيmy graying hair علىamong السُّودِthe black hairs
ومولجُ البيضِ من شيبي على السُّودِ
You cloud my life after its clarity,
You made my life murky after its purity
and usher my white hairs in among the black.
And precipitated white in my hair over black.
جُزْpass! بالطّفوفِthrough the Tufuf فكمfor how many فيهنّin them منof جبلٍa mountain
جُزْ بالطّفوفِ فكم فيهنّ من جبلٍ
خرّfelled القضاءُfate بهhim بينamong الجلاميدِthe boulders
خرّ القضاءُ به بين الجلاميدِ
Pass through the Tufuf: how many a mountain there
Judge by the infants - how many mountains
fate felled among the boulders!
Fate prostrated there between the corpses.
وكمand how many جريحٍa wounded man بلاwithout آسٍa healer تمزّقُهُtear him apart
وكم جريحٍ بلا آسٍ تمزّقُهُ
إمّاeither النُّسُورُthe vultures وإمَّاor أضبُعُthe hyenas of البيدِthe deserts
إمّا النُّسُورُ وإمَّا أضبُعُ البيدِ
How many a wounded man, with no healer, is torn apart
And how many wounded, unattended, torn apart
by vultures or the desert's hyenas!
By either vultures or beasts of prey.
وكمand how many سليبِone despoiled by رماحٍspears غيرnot مستترٍcovered
وكم سليبِ رماحٍ غير مستترٍ
وكمand how many صريعِone struck down by حمامٍdeath غيرِnot ملحودِburied
وكم صريعِ حمامٍ غيرِ ملحودِ
How many a man despoiled by spears lies uncovered,
And how many stripped spears, unconcealed
how many a man struck down by death lies unburied!
And doves, slain, ungathered.
كأنَّas though أَوجههمtheir faces بيضاًwhite ملألئةًgleaming
كأنَّ أَوجههم بيضاً ملألئةً
كواكبٌstars فيin عِراصِthe expanses of القفرةِthe wilderness السُّودِdark
كواكبٌ في عِراصِ القفرةِ السُّودِ
Their faces, white and gleaming, seem
As if their faces were silver coins
like stars in the dark expanses of the wilderness.
Like stars in the black firmament of the desert.
لمdid not يطعمواtaste الموتَdeath إلّاexcept بَعدafter أنْthat حطمواthey shattered
لم يطعموا الموتَ إلّا بَعد أنْ حطموا
بالضّربِwith blows والطعنِand thrusts أعناقَthe necks of الصَّناديدِthe mighty warriors
بالضّربِ والطعنِ أعناقَ الصَّناديدِ
They tasted death only after they had shattered,
They did not taste death until they smashed
with blows and thrusts, the necks of mighty warriors.
With blows and stabs the vertebrae of giants.
ولمand did not يدعْleave فيهمُin them خوفُfear of الجزاءِthe reckoning غداًtomorrow
ولم يدعْ فيهمُ خوفُ الجزاءِ غداً
دماًblood لتُربٍfor dust ولاnor لحماًflesh إلىfor سِيدِa wolf
دماً لتُربٍ ولا لحماً إلى سِيدِ
Nor did fear of tomorrow's reckoning leave in them
Fear of punishment tomorrow did not leave
any blood for the dust or any flesh for a wolf.
In them blood for soil or flesh for worms.
منof كلِّevery أبلجَbright-faced man كالدِّينارlike a dinar تشهدهyou behold him
من كلِّ أبلجَ كالدِّينار تشهده
وسْطَamid النَدِيّthe assembly بفضلٍwith excellence غيرِnot مجحودِdenied
وسْطَ النَدِيّ بفضلٍ غيرِ مجحودِ
Each was bright-faced as a dinar; you would behold him
Each like pure gold you witness
amid the assembly with excellence none denied,
In the midst of the riverbed, of unmatched merit.
يغشىenters الهياجَthe battle بكفٍّwith a hand غيرِnot منقبضِwithdrawn
يغشى الهياجَ بكفٍّ غيرِ منقبضِ
عنfrom الضّرابِstriking وقلبٍand a heart غيرnot مَزؤُودِafraid
عن الضّرابِ وقلبٍ غير مَزؤُودِ
entering battle with a hand that never drew back
Assailing the frenzied with unclenched fists
from striking, and a heart never afraid.
And hearts undeterred.
لمdid not يعرفواknow غيرَother than بثِّspreading العُرْفِkindness بينهمُamong them
لم يعرفوا غيرَ بثِّ العُرْفِ بينهمُ
عفواًfreely ولاnor طُبعواwere they fashioned إِلّاexcept علىfor الجودِgenerosity
عفواً ولا طُبعوا إِلّا على الجودِ
They knew only the spreading of kindness among them,
They knew no ethic but noble deed among them
freely, and were fashioned only for generosity.
Forgiving, molded only for generosity.
ياO آلَhouse of أحمدَAhmad كمhow often تُلوىare turned aside حقوقُكمُyour rights
يا آلَ أحمدَ كم تُلوى حقوقُكمُ
لَيَّas the turning away of الغرائبِstrange camels عنfrom نبتthe herbage of القراديدِstony heights
لَيَّ الغرائبِ عن نبت القراديدِ
O house of Ahmad, how often your rights are turned aside,
They came to you, oaths given,
as strange camels are turned from the herbage of stony heights!
In troops, spread like the night is outstretched.
وكمand how often أراكمْI see you بأجوازin the middles of الفلاthe wilderness جُزُراًslaughtered beasts
وكم أراكمْ بأجواز الفلا جُزُراً
مبدّدينscattered ولكنْbut أيَّwhat تبديدٍa scattering
مبدّدين ولكنْ أيَّ تبديدٍ
How often I see you as slaughtered beasts in the heart of the wilderness,
Frolicking with their hands and feet
scattered—but what a scattering!
However they wished, like leaping goats.
لَوif كانَhad يُنصفكمtreated you justly مَنthose who ليسَdo not ينصفكمْtreat you justly
لَو كانَ يُنصفكم مَن ليسَ ينصفكمْ
ألقىwould have handed over إِليكمْto you مطيعاًobediently بالمقاليدِwith the keys
ألقى إِليكمْ مطيعاً بالمقاليدِ
Had those who deny you justice dealt justly with you,
Every bare hill trails them
they would have handed you the keys in obedience.
Like an unfurled scroll of rogues.
حُسدتمُyou were envied for الفضلَexcellence لمdid not يُحرزهattain it غيركُمُothers than you
حُسدتمُ الفضلَ لم يُحرزه غيركُمُ
والناسand people ماlinking particle بينbetween محرومٍone deprived ومحسودِand one envied
والناس ما بين محرومٍ ومحسودِ
You were envied for excellence none but you attained;
Feeling the tips of spears and
people are either deprived or envied.
Coats of mail, like David’s weaving.
جاؤواthey came إليكمْto you وقدhaving already أعطواthey gave عهودهمُtheir pledges
جاؤوا إليكمْ وقد أعطوا عهودهمُ
فيin فيلقٍan army كَزُهاءِlike the mass of الليلِnight ممدودِspread out
في فيلقٍ كَزُهاءِ الليلِ ممدودِ
They came to you, having already given their pledges,
As if the sounds of hooves striking among them
in an army spread out like the mass of night,
Were sounds of pounding by hands of the wind.
مُستَمرِحينَcavorting بِأيديهمْwith their hands وَأَرجلهمْand their feet
مُستَمرِحينَ بِأيديهمْ وَأَرجلهمْ
كَماas يَشاؤونَthey wished رَكضَdriving at a run الضُّمَّرِthe lean steeds القودِthe long-necked ones
كَما يَشاؤونَ رَكضَ الضُّمَّرِ القودِ
cavorting with their hands and feet,
The doves of the valley weep for them
driving the lean, long-necked steeds as they pleased.
On branches, sighing with the breeze of solace.
تَهوِيplunges بهمْwith them كلُّevery جرداءٍsleek mare مُطهّمةٍwell-built
تَهوِي بهمْ كلُّ جرداءٍ مُطهّمةٍ
هوِيَّthe plunging fall of سَجْلٍa full bucket منfrom الأوذامِthe straps مجدودِcut free
هوِيَّ سَجْلٍ من الأوذامِ مجدودِ
Every sleek, well-built mare bore them plunging onward,
I moan, for that is an acceptable roar from you
like a full bucket cut loose from its straps.
For Hussein - so keep enumerating like chirping.
مُستشعرينwearing next to the skin لأطرافِagainst the points of الرّماحthe spears ومِنْand against
مُستشعرين لأطرافِ الرّماح ومِنْ
حدِّthe edge of الظّباthe blades أدْرُعاًcoats of mail منof نسجِthe weaving of داودِDavid
حدِّ الظّبا أدْرُعاً من نسجِ داودِ
They wore next to their skin, against spearpoints and
I love you by Him whom the pilgrims circumambulate
the blades' edges, coats of mail of David's weaving.
At the House, facing the Throne, sought.
كأنَّas though أَصواتَthe sounds of ضربِstriking الهامِheads بينهمُamong them
كأنَّ أَصواتَ ضربِ الهامِ بينهمُ
أصواتthe sounds of دوحٍgreat trees بأيديby the hands of الرّيحthe wind مبرودِrasped
أصوات دوحٍ بأيدي الرّيح مبرودِ
The sounds of blows upon heads among them seemed
By Zamzam - whenever we frequented its waters
like sounds of great trees rasped by the wind's hands.
It was most fulfilling of all springs.
حَمائمُdoves الأيكِof the thicket تَبكيهمْweep for them علىupon فَنَنٍa bough
حَمائمُ الأيكِ تَبكيهمْ على فَنَنٍ
مُرنّحٍswaying بنسيمin the breeze of الرّيحthe wind أُملودِsupple
مُرنّحٍ بنسيم الرّيح أُملودِ
The doves of the thicket weep for them upon a bough,
By the two sites of standing [Arafat and Muzdalifa]
swaying and supple in the wind's gentle breath.
And what they poured over the hurried
نوحِيlament! فذاكfor that هديرٌcooing منكfrom you مُحتَسَبٌreckoned as merit
نوحِي فذاك هديرٌ منك مُحتَسَبٌ
علىover حسينٍHusayn فتعديدٌso lamentation كتغريدِlike birdsong
على حسينٍ فتعديدٌ كتغريدِ
Lament: that cooing of yours earns its reward
At the pebbles, of established ritual -
over Husayn; lamentation is like birdsong.
No act of worship welcomed but enhanced.
أُحبّكمI love you والّذيby that which طافcircled الحجيجُthe pilgrims بهaround it
أُحبّكم والّذي طاف الحجيجُ به
بمُبْتَنىًat an edifice بإزاءِopposite العرشthe Throne مقصودِsought out
بمُبْتَنىً بإزاءِ العرش مقصودِ
I love you, by that which the pilgrims circle,
I am pleased to have died before you
a sought-out edifice opposite the Throne;
At a station witnessed by the rejecters.
وزمزمٍand by Zamzam كلّماwhenever قسناwe measured مواردَهاits watering places
وزمزمٍ كلّما قسنا مواردَها
أوفىfuller وأربىand more abundant علىthan كلِّall المواريدِwatering places
أوفى وأربى على كلِّ المواريدِ
and by Zamzam—whenever we measure its watering places,
The slain - the courage of men is stilled by him
it proves fuller and greater than all other watering places;
In the low ground, between abandoned and reaped.
والموقِفَيْنِand by the two stations وماand what ضحَّوْاthey sacrificed علىin عجلٍhaste
والموقِفَيْنِ وما ضحَّوْا على عجلٍ
عندat الجِمارthe Jamarat منof الكومِhigh-humped camels المقاحيدِfat ones
عند الجِمار من الكومِ المقاحيدِ
and by the two stations, and what they hastily sacrificed
Say to the clan of Ziyad, what predicament
at the Jamarat, of high-humped, fat camels;
Have you constructed with scheming and cunning?
وكلّand by every نُسكٍrite تلقّاهreceived it القبولُacceptance فماso not
وكلّ نُسكٍ تلقّاه القبولُ فما
أَمسىpassed the evening وأَصبحَand reached morning إلّاexcept غيرَnot مردودِrejected
أَمسى وأَصبحَ إلّا غيرَ مردودِ
and by every rite met with acceptance, which
How did you wrest the command from the brave
is never rejected at evening or at dawn.
While the war still boiled with countless rogues?
وأرتضِيand I would be content أنّنِيthat I قدْindeed متُّI had died قبلكُمُbefore you
وأرتضِي أنّنِي قدْ متُّ قبلكُمُ
فيin موقفٍa battle بالرُّدينيّاتِby Rudayni spears مشهودِwitnessed
في موقفٍ بالرُّدينيّاتِ مشهودِ
And I would be content to have died before you
You split the group of those whose group embraced you
in a battle witnessed by Rudayni spears,
While you were between expulsion and exile.
جمِّabundant in القتيلthe slain فهاماتُso the heads of الرّجالِthe men بهthere
جمِّ القتيل فهاماتُ الرّجالِ به
فيon القاعthe plain ماlinking particle بينbetween متروكٍleft untouched ومحصودِand reaped
في القاع ما بين متروكٍ ومحصودِ
with many slain, where the heads of men
Who honored you after disgrace and who
upon the plain were either spared or reaped.
Brought you near to safety after estrangement?
فقلْthen say! لآلِto the house of زيادٍZiyad أيُّwhat معضلةٍa grievous deed
فقلْ لآلِ زيادٍ أيُّ معضلةٍ
رَكبتموهاyou embarked on it بِتخبيبٍby trotting وَتخويدِand swift striding
رَكبتموها بِتخبيبٍ وَتخويدِ
Then say to the house of Ziyad: what a grievous deed
Were it not for them you would be meat for a cur
you rode into, trotting and hastening!
Or stealthily taken by one of short arm, impotent.
كَيفَhow اِستَلَبتمdid you wrest away منَfrom الشّجعانthe brave أمرَهُمُtheir authority
كَيفَ اِستَلَبتم منَ الشّجعان أمرَهُمُ
والحربُwhile war تغلِيseethes بأوغادٍwith base men عراديدِcowards
والحربُ تغلِي بأوغادٍ عراديدِ
How did you wrest their authority from the brave,
Or like the water skin, dry, lacking wetness
while war seethed with base cowards?
Or the tent, fallen, lacking erection.
فرّقتُمyou scattered الشّملَthe unity ممّنof those who لَفّgathered شَملَكُمُyour unity
فرّقتُم الشّملَ ممّن لَفّ شَملَكُمُ
وأنتمُwhile you بينbetween تطريدٍbeing driven out وتشريدِand being dispersed
وأنتمُ بين تطريدٍ وتشريدِ
You sundered the unity of those who united you,
Time has given you what will not be raised later
while you were being driven out and dispersed;
So one who strips timber therein flakes timber.
وَمَنْand those who أعزَّكمُmade you mighty بعدafter الخمولِobscurity ومَنْand those who
وَمَنْ أعزَّكمُ بعد الخمولِ ومَنْ
أدناكُمُbrought you near مِنto أمانٍsafety بعدafter تبعيدِbanishment
أدناكُمُ مِن أمانٍ بعد تبعيدِ
and those who made you mighty after obscurity, and those
You have not drunk pure or been attached
who drew you close to safety after banishment.
To delight in times of ease.
لولاهُمُwere it not for them كنتمُyou would have been لحماًmeat لمُزدَرِدٍfor a devourer
لولاهُمُ كنتمُ لحماً لمُزدَرِدٍ
أوor خُلسةًsnatched prey لقصيرfor one short of الباعreach مَعْضُودِwith an arm cut off
أو خُلسةً لقصير الباع مَعْضُودِ
Were it not for them, you would have been meat for a devourer,
You have not gained victory when disasters curled around you
or snatched prey for one short of reach, his arm cut off;
Agitating with enabling and confirmation.
أوor كالسّقاءِlike a waterskin يبيساًdried up غيرَnot ذيpossessing بللٍmoisture
أو كالسّقاءِ يبيساً غيرَ ذي بللٍ
أوor كالخباءِlike a tent سقيطاًfallen غيرَnot معمودِsupported by poles
أو كالخباءِ سقيطاً غيرَ معمودِ
or like a waterskin, dried up and holding no moisture;
Time changed verdant springs for you into thirst
or like a tent, fallen and without supporting poles.
And substituted limited with preordained.
أعطاكمُmay give you الدّهرُtime ماwhat لاnot بعدafterward يرفعهwill lift it
أعطاكمُ الدّهرُ ما لا بعد يرفعه
فسالبُfor the stripper of العودِthe bough فيهاtherein مورِقُthe one making leafy العودِthe bough
فسالبُ العودِ فيها مورِقُ العودِ
May time give you what it will never afterward lift;
I said to the people, “Lower your turbans
for there, he who strips the bough is he who makes the bough leafy.
In verification of the perishing of the masters.”
وَلاand may not شَرِبتمْyou drink بِصفوٍa clear draught لاno ولاnor عَلِقَتْcling
وَلا شَرِبتمْ بِصفوٍ لا ولا عَلِقَتْ
لكمْfor you بنانٌfingers بأزمانٍto times of أراغيدِease
لكمْ بنانٌ بأزمانٍ أراغيدِ
May you never drink a clear draught—no!—nor may
Mourn over him - this is the day of his death
your fingers take hold of times of ease.
And enumerate the days - they are for counting.
وَلاnor may ظفِرتمْyou attain وقدwhile already جُنّتْraged madly بكمagainst you نُوَبٌcalamities
وَلا ظفِرتمْ وقد جُنّتْ بكم نُوَبٌ
مقلقلاتٌunsettling بتمهيدٍwith settled ease وتوطيدِand firm stability
مقلقلاتٌ بتمهيدٍ وتوطيدِ
Nor may you attain, as calamities rage madly against you,
I have tears to match the rain and ample
shaking you, any settled ease or firm stability.
Generosity though I did not say, “My tears, be generous!”
وحوّلand may turn الدّهرtime ريّاناًa well-watered one إلىto ظَمَأٍthirst
وحوّل الدّهر ريّاناً إلى ظَمَأٍ
منكمْamong you وبدّلand substitute محدوداًan ill-fated one بمجدودِfor a fortunate one
منكمْ وبدّل محدوداً بمجدودِ
And may time turn a well-watered one to thirst
among you, and put the ill-fated in the fortunate one's place.
قدindeed قلتُI said للقومِto the people حطّواlower! منfrom عمائمهمْtheir turbans
قد قلتُ للقومِ حطّوا من عمائمهمْ
تَحقّقاًin acknowledgment بمصابِof the calamity of السّادةِthe masters الصّيدِthe proud nobles
تَحقّقاً بمصابِ السّادةِ الصّيدِ
I have told the people to lower their turbans,
in acknowledgment of the calamity of the noble, proud masters.
نوحواlament! عَليهِover him فَهذاfor this يومُthe day of مصرعهِhis slaying
نوحوا عَليهِ فَهذا يومُ مصرعهِ
وعدّدواand recount the merits! إنّهاindeed these أيّامُare days of تعديدِlamentation
وعدّدوا إنّها أيّامُ تعديدِ
Lament him, for this is the day of his slaying;
recount his merits: these are days for lamentation.
فلِيfor I have دموعٌtears تُبارِيrival القَطرthe rain واكِفةٌpouring down
فلِي دموعٌ تُبارِي القَطر واكِفةٌ
جادتْthey poured forth وإنeven though لمdid not أقلْI say ياO أَدمعِيmy tears جودِيpour forth!
جادتْ وإن لم أقلْ يا أَدمعِي جودِي
For I have streaming tears that rival the rain;
they poured forth, though I never said, “O my tears, pour forth!”
Partial English translation: 104 of 112 Arabic lines translated.