لا لَيتَ رَيعانَ الشَبابِ جَديدُ by Jamil Buthayna — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

لا لَيتَ رَيعانَ الشَبابِ جَديدُ وَدَهراً تَوَلّى يا بُثَينَ يَعودُ فَنَبقى كَما كُنّا نَكونُ وَأَنتُمُ قَريبٌ وَإِذ ما تَبذُلينَ زَهيدُ وَما أَنسَ مِنَ الأَشياءِ لا أَنسَ قَولَها وَقَد قُرِّبَت نَضوي أَمِصرَ تُريدُ وَلا قَولَها لَولا العُيونُ الَّتي تَرى لَزُرتُكَ فَاِعذُرني فَدَتكَ جُدودُ

Translation (English)

If only the prime of youth were new again And the time that has passed, O Buthayna, would come back So we could stay as we were, and you Would be near, and what you give would be small And I do not forget the things, I do not forget her words When my journey was near to Egypt, she wanted Nor her words, if not for the eyes that see I would have visited you, so forgive me, may your ancestors protect you

About the Poet

Jamil Buthayna (Umayyad era)

Jamil Buthayna was a renowned Arab poet of the Umayyad period, known for his romantic poetry dedicated to his beloved Buthayna. His works are characterized by their passionate expression and exploration of love and longing.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Classical Arabic poetry
When Written: Umayyad period (661–750 CE)
Background: The poem reflects the poet's longing for the return of youthful days and the presence of his beloved Buthayna. It is a romantic expression of nostalgia and unfulfilled desires.

Sources: https://www.aldiwan.net/poem79432.html, https://www.tumblr.com/aldiwannet/657995715982802944/ألا-ليت-ريعان-الشباب-جديد-جميل-بثينة-الديوان, https://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/ألا_ليت_ريعان_الشباب_جديد, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry

Detailed Explanation

This poem by Jamil Buthayna expresses a deep yearning for the return of youthful days and the presence of his beloved, Buthayna. The poet nostalgically wishes that the prime of youth could be renewed and that past times could return, allowing him to be close to Buthayna once more. The poem captures the essence of longing and unfulfilled desires, as the poet reminisces about the past and the words of his beloved. He expresses regret for not being able to visit her, attributing it to the watchful eyes of others, and asks for understanding. The poem is rich in emotion and reflects the timeless theme of love and nostalgia.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
لا	ليس	not	laa
لَيتَ	أتمنى	I wish	layta
ريعانَ	زهو	prime	ray'aan
الشَبابِ	الفتوة	youth	ash-shabaab
جَديدُ	حديث	new	jadeed
وَدَهراً	وزماناً	and time	wa-dahran
تَوَلّى	مضى	has passed	tawalla
يا	أداة نداء	O	yaa
بُثَينَ	اسم علم	Buthayna	Buthayna
يَعودُ	يرجع	would return	ya'ood
فَنَبقى	فنظل	so we remain	fa-nabqaa
كَما	مثلما	as	kamaa
كُنّا	كنا	we were	kunnaa
نَكونُ	نظل	we become	nakoona
وَأَنتُمُ	وأنتم	and you	wa-antumu
قَريبٌ	مجاور	near	qareeb
وَإِذ	وحين	and when	wa-idh
ما	الذي	what	maa
تَبذُلينَ	تعطين	you offer	tabzuleena
زَهيدُ	قليل	little	zaheed
وَما	ولا	and not	wa-maa
أَنسَ	أنسى	forget	ansa
مِنَ	من	of	mina
الأَشياءِ	الأمور	things	al-ashyaa
قَولَها	كلامها	her words	qawlaha
وَقَد	وحين	and when	wa-qad
قُرِّبَت	اقتربت	was close	qurribat
نَضوي	سفري	my journey	nadawi
أَمِصرَ	إلى مصر	to Egypt	amisra
تُريدُ	تريد	wants	tureed
وَلا	ولا	nor	wala
لَولا	إلا	if not	lawla
العُيونُ	الأبصار	the eyes	al-uyoon
الَّتي	التي	that	allatee
تَرى	تشاهد	see	tara
لَزُرتُكَ	لذهبت إليك	I would have visited you	lazurtuka
فَاِعذُرني	سامحني	excuse me	fa-idhrni
فَدَتكَ	حفظتك	may your ancestors protect you	fadatka
جُدودُ	أجداد	ancestors	judood