Poetry Analysis

Back to poet Translate into other languages

لا لَيتَ رَيعانَ الشَبابِ جَديدُ

Original Poetry

Translation

لا لَيتَ رَيعانَ الشَبابِ جَديدُ

If only the prime of youth were new again

وَدَهراً تَوَلّى يا بُثَينَ يَعودُ

And the time that has passed, O Buthayna, would come back

فَنَبقى كَما كُنّا نَكونُ وَأَنتُمُ

So we could stay as we were, and you

قَريبٌ وَإِذ ما تَبذُلينَ زَهيدُ

Would be near, and what you give would be small

وَما أَنسَ مِنَ الأَشياءِ لا أَنسَ قَولَها

And I do not forget the things, I do not forget her words

وَقَد قُرِّبَت نَضوي أَمِصرَ تُريدُ

When my journey was near to Egypt, she wanted

وَلا قَولَها لَولا العُيونُ الَّتي تَرى

Nor her words, if not for the eyes that see

لَزُرتُكَ فَاِعذُرني فَدَتكَ جُدودُ

I would have visited you, so forgive me, may your ancestors protect you

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.

Word Dictionary39

Word	In Arabic	In English	Pron.
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

Poet & Context

PoetJamil Buthayna

EraUmayyad 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.

View on Wikipedia

WhenUmayyad period (661–750 CE)

WhyThe 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.

FormClassical Arabic poetry

Themes & More

Themes

NostalgiaLoveLongingRegret

Literary devices

Metaphor: The bloom of youth as a symbol for the prime of life.Imagery: Vivid descriptions of youth and longing.Personification: Time and eyes are given human-like qualities.Repetition: The use of 'لا أَنسَ' to emphasize the inability to forget.