Poem Inscribed in the Hall of the Two Sisters |
The Arabic text below is copied from the walls of the Hall of the Two Sisters
in the Alhambra. It is thought to have been written by Ibn Zamrak (1333-
1393), poet and minister to the Caliph in Grenada during the time the
Alhambra was built. The translation from Arabic into English is my own.
Poem Inscribed in the Hall of the Two Sisters
تبيت له خمس الثريّا معيذةً
The five Pleiades spend the night in this place of rest
و يصبح معتلُّ النواسم راقيا
& in the morning, rise wind-borne
به القَبّة الغراء قلّ نظيرها
in the enchanted dome that makes all we see in it seem small.
تَرى الحسن فيها مستكنّا و بديا
See the beauty that yearns to be here, tangible & near:
تَمدّ لها الجوزاءُ كفّ مصافح
Orion reaches his wide, forgiving hand toward it;
و يدنوا لها بدرُ السماء مناجيا
the full moon of heaven draws near in secret conversation;
و تهوي النجوم الزهر لو ثبتَتْ بها
& the bright stars descend, wanting to be steadfast among its flowers—
و لم تك فى أفق السماء جواريا
to no longer circle the distant lands of the sky,
ولو مثلتْ فى ساحتيها و سابقَت
but be like those in its courtyards who came before them,
الى خدمةً تَرضيه منها الجواريا
to the service that wishes to please him with their presence.
و لا ءجبُ أن فاتَت الشهب فى العلى
Nor is it any wonder the stars scatter from the heavens
و أن جاوزت فيها المدى المتناهيا
to become twin in the reach of this farthest destination,
فبين يدىْ مولاىَ قَامت الخدمة
ascending before the king in service:
و مَن خدم الأعلى اُستفَاد المعاليا
for whoever serves God seeks to redeem the broken fragments of heaven.
بها البْهوقَد حاز البهاء و قد غدا
By this, the halls have attained their brilliance & nurtured
بِه القصرُ آفاق السماء مباهيا
in the castle, a place more beautiful than the farthest horizon of the sky.
و كم حلَّة جلّلتَه بحُلِيّها
& How many way stations, majestic with jewels,
من الوشى تُنسى السابرىّ اليمانيا
with ornaments of so many colors the stars forget their oath to wander the
heavens.
و كم من قسىّ فى ذراء ترفّعتْ
& How many arches, exalted from the smallest of particles
على عُمُد بِالنور باتت حواليا
over the columns made complete with haloed light,
فتحسبها الأفلاك دارتْ قسيُّها
so that you might suppose the celestial spheres flowed in its vault,
تظِل عمودَ الصبح إذ لاح باديا
casting the pillars of morning in shadow when they drew close to render
their service.
سواريَ قَد جاءت بِكلّ غريبة
Traveling by night, you arrived with all the other exiles
فطارت بها الأمثال تجرى سواريا
changed to the likeness of those who pass within these walls,
به المرمر المجلو فلد شفّ نُورُه
with the shining marble shimmering light
فيجلوا من الظلما ما كان داجياً
burnished by the darkness that can no longer be overshadowed
إدا ما أضاءت بالشعاع تخالها
as sunlight pierces it—
على عِظَم الأجرام منها لآليا
bringing to even the greatest injustice, light—
فلم تر قصراً منه أعلى مظاهراً
So do not see a castle for I surpass all that can be seen—
و أوضح آفاقاً وأفسح ناديا
I make distant lands appear & extend my hand, beckoning—
و لم تر روضاً منه أنعم نضرةً
& do not see a garden for I am blessed with stars,
و أعطر أرجاءً و أحلى مجانيا
& scattering scents that return once more & set the exiles free.
| Download the PDF of the Poem inscribed in the Hall of the Two Sisters in Arabic with facing English translation |
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