أوقات وصلكم عيد وأفراح

يا من هم الروح لي والروح والراح

The times of union with you are a festival and rejoicing.

O you who are my soul, my solace, and my wine,

يا من إذا اكتحلت عيني بطلعتهم

وحقّقت في محيا الحسن ترتاح

O you—when my eye is adorned with the kohl of your countenance,

and gazes intently on beauty's face, it finds repose.

دبّت حميّاهم في كل جوهرةٍ

عقل ونفس وأعضاء وأرواح

Their intoxicating ardor has coursed through every essence—

mind, soul, limbs, and spirits.

فما نظرت إلى شيء بدا أبداً

إلا وأحباب قلبي دونه لا حوا

So I have never looked at anything that appeared

without my heart's beloveds appearing before it.

نظرت حسن الذي لا شيء يشبهه

فما يروقُ لقلبي بعد ملاح

I beheld the beauty of the one whom nothing resembles,

so no beautiful ones delight my heart thereafter.

وليس في طاقتي الرؤيا لغيرهم

ولو قلتني الورى في ذاك أو شاحوا

It is not within my power to behold anyone but them,

even if humankind hated me for that or turned away.

غرقت في حبّهم دهرا ألم ترني

في بحرهم سفن حقا وملاح

I have drowned in their love for an age—have you not seen me

in their sea—truly, both ships and a sailor?

ماذا على من رأى يوما جمالهم

أن ليس تبدو له شمس وإصباح

What harm is there for one who once saw their beauty

if neither sun nor daybreak appears to him?

جبال مكة لو شامت محاسنهم

حنّوا ومن شوقهم ناحوا وقد صاحوا

If the mountains of Mecca beheld their charms,

they would yearn, wail from longing, and cry aloud.

شهب الدراري مدى الأيام سابحة

لو أبصرتهم لما جاءوا ولا راحوا

The blazing lights of the brilliant stars, swimming through the days—

had they seen them, they would neither come nor go.

لو كنت أعجب من شيء لأعجبني

صبر المحبين ما ناحوا ولا باحوا

If anything could amaze me, I would be amazed by

the lovers' patience—they neither lament nor reveal their love.

أريد كتم الهوى حينا فيمنعني

تهتّكي كيف لا والحبّ فضّاح

At times I want to conceal my passion, but I am prevented by

my abandon—how could it not, when love lays secrets bare?

لا شيء يثني عناني عن محبّتهم

ولا الصوارم في صدري وأرماح

Nothing turns my reins away from loving them,

not even keen swords and spears in my breast.

قال العواذل فيك السحر قلت لهم

نعم ولي صحة فيه وإصلاح

The reproachers said, “You are bewitched.” I said to them,

“Yes; in it I find health and restoration.”

لا زال يربو مع الآنات بي أبدا

فلي به بين أهل الحبّ أمداح

May it never cease to grow within me, moment by moment,

for through it I win praise among the people of love.

يا عاذلي كن عذيري في محبّتهم

فإن قلبي بما يهواه مشحاح

O my reproacher, excuse me for loving them,

for my heart is fiercely possessive of what it loves.

إن الملام لأغراء وتقويةٌ

ملا فإنك مكثار وملحاح

Reproach is surely incitement and reinforcement;

keep reproaching me, for you are verbose and insistent.

إني لأهجر خلا لا يحدثني

عنهم وتحرم في التوراة ألواح

Indeed, I forsake a friend who does not speak to me

about them; and tablets in the Torah are forbidden.

شرع المحبة قاض في حكومته

بصرم خل من الأشجان يرتاح

The law of love decrees, in its judgment,

that one sever a friend who finds relief from sorrow.

مسكين ما ذاق طعم العشق منذ بدا

ولا استفزّته من لقمان أرواح

Wretched is he who has never tasted passionate love since he came into being,

nor been stirred by breezes from Luqman.

فما نديمي بحان الأنس غير فتىً

له لأخبارهم نشر وإيضاح

So my drinking companion in the tavern of intimacy is none but a youth

who spreads their tidings and makes them clear.

لا كسب لي بل ولا شغلٌ ولا عملٌ

ففي حديثهم تجر وأرباح

I have no earnings—indeed, no occupation and no work,

for in speaking of them are trade and profits.

ما جنّة الخلد إلا في مجالسهم

فيها ثمارٌ وأطيارٌ وأرواح

The garden of eternity is nowhere but in their gatherings;

within it are fruits, birds, and breezes.

هوى المحب لدى المحبوب حيث ثوى

وكيفما راح هبّت منه أرواح

The lover's passion is with the beloved, wherever he dwells,

and whichever way he goes, breezes waft from him.

أودّ طول الليالي أن خلوت بهم

وقد أديرت أباريقٌ وأقداح

I wish for long nights when I am alone with them,

while pitchers and cups are passed around.

يروعني الصبحُ إن لاحت طلائعهُ

يا ليته لم يكن ضوء وإصباح

Dawn frightens me when its first signs appear;

oh, would that there were no light or daybreak!

ليلي بدا مشرقا من حسن طلعتهم

وكل ذا الدهر أنوارٌ وأفراح

My night shines bright from the beauty of their countenance,

and all this time is light and joy.

اسكن فؤادي وطب نفسا وقرّ لقد

بلغت ما رمت قرّ الناس أو ساحوا

Be still, my heart; be at ease and rest, for indeed

you have attained what you sought, whether people stay or roam.

واطلب إلهك ما ترجو فإنّ له

خزائناً ما لها قفل ومفتاح

And ask your God for what you hope for, for His are

treasuries with neither lock nor key.