باب الساعات

يا خيل يا تل يا ظلمةO horses, O hill, O darkness!

آه يا حسينO Hussain!

يا اللي سهمك بقلبي انرمىO you whose arrow struck directly in my heart!

آه يا حسينO Hussain!

يا عبرة أمي فاطمةO tear of my mother Fatimah!

بعيني وأنا بالأجلBefore my eyes as death draws near,

طيفك ابتدىyour vision begins to appear.

ذكرياتي ما طفتMy memories were never extinguished;

ناري واقدةmy fire remains burning.

بقلبي عاشر ولكIn my heart is the Tenth of Muharram, and for you

دمعي موعدهmy tears keep their appointed rendezvous.

حسين آه يا خوياHussain, oh my brother!

حسين حسين آه يا خوياHussain, Hussain, oh my brother!

يا قطرة ماي من النهرO drop of water from the river,

حد النحرspilled right by the severed throat!

هاي أنا من عفت الخيمHere I am, ever since I left the tents,

خلي هواي وتعثرتabandoned to the wind, stumbling,

وشيل من شد الجدمdragging my veil with burdened steps.

بين الخيلAmidst the horses,

كنت أنا وأنت بنينوىyou and I were there in Nineveh.

بين الخيلAmidst the horses,

قلبين بس ضيعنا سوىtwo hearts, yet lost together.

بين الخيلAmidst the horses,

وظهري يذبح بالضوىand my back breaks beneath the daylight.

بين الخيلAmidst the horses,

كنت أنا وأنت بنينوىyou and I were there in Nineveh.

بين الخيلAmidst the horses,

قلبين بس ضيعنا الهوىTwo hearts, yet the cruel wind has parted us,

بين الخيل وظهري يذبح بالضوىAmidst the galloping horses, my back is broken in the scorching glare.

ذكرياتي بالركض وصورة الخيمMy memories are filled with running and the sight of burning tents,

بيها أثر طيحتي عاين للقدمLook at my feet, bearing the marks of how I fell.

مثلك انقاد يا اخوي فرقتك عدمBound like you, my brother; your separation is absolute void.

حسين آه يا اخويHussein, oh my brother!

حسين آه يا خوياHussein, oh my dear brother!

وين نلقاك اليوم وأمسWhere can we find you, today and yesterday?

وانت حتى الشمس زادت سمارك ع التربWhile the blazing sun darkened your blessed face upon the dust!

يا فرقاO painful parting!

تل وعطش حد النعشA hill, scorching thirst, all the way to the bier...

موتني شوقي بنصMy longing has shattered me in two;

روح بروحSoul entwined with soul,

عايشتك وعايش ليI lived for you, and you lived for me;

روحي بروحSoul entwined with soul,

من فاطمة الخوة وعليOur bond of brotherhood is born of Fatimah and Ali;

روحي بروحSoul entwined with soul,

شو ظل عندي يا آخر وليWhat is left for me now, O my last protector?

روحي بروحSoul entwined with soul,

عايشتك وعايش ليI lived for you, and you lived for me;

روحي بروحSoul entwined with soul,

من فاطمة الخوة وعليOur bond of brotherhood is born of Fatimah and Ali;

روحي بروحSoul entwined with soul,

شو ظل عندي يا آخر وليWhat is left for me now, O my last protector?

صورة تجرح القلوبA sight that tears hearts to pieces:

قدمت مهره رده مني للحربI brought forth his steed, sending him away from me into battle;

وقلبي دق جمرAnd my heart beat like burning coals,

أمنياتي تنمحيAs my hopes turned to dust;

خلصت صبرMy patience was completely consumed.

حسين آه يا اخوي (4x)Hussein, oh my brother!

حسين آه يا بو...Hussein, oh father of...

يا موتي هناO death, take me here!

شام أجنبي اسم السبيهIn an alien Levant, branded as a captive,

طفت خيم راح انطفىThe tents were burnt to ashes, and I too am extinguishing;

وآخر آه من خيمتك لخوتكAnd a final sigh from your tent for your brotherhood,

حسرة لفرقتك انكفيA sorrow for your departure that leaves me shattered.

جاني الموت وانا اشهق حروفك شهقDeath has come to me while I gasp each letter of your name in tears,

جاني الموت راح اطفي من بعد الحرقDeath has come to me; at last I shall be extinguished after being consumed by fire,

جاني الموت موت الله ما متك شهقDeath has come to me—yet by God, I did not simply die, I gasped my life away for you.

جاني الموت وانا اشهق حروفك شهقDeath has come to me while I gasp each letter of your name in tears,

جاني الموت راح اطفي من بعد الحرقDeath has come to me; at last I shall be extinguished after being consumed by fire,

جاني الموت وموت الله ما ميتهDeath has come to me, yet I have not died an ordinary death.

صح بغربة واطبق الجفنIt is true, in exile I close my eyes,

وما شفت اخوAnd I saw no brother by my side.

ودعوني بالنعش وينظر العدوThey carried my coffin away while the enemy watched,

يا نيموتتي سبي بغيبة الكفوO, even my death was a captive's grief in the absence of my guardian!

حسين آه يا اخوياHussain, oh my brother!

حسين واخويا حسين حسينHussain, and my brother Hussain, Hussain!