جُيوشُ الهوى والحُزْنِ تَقتادُ أَدْمُعي

جُيوشُ الهوى والحُزْنِ تَقتادُ أَدْمُعي

وشَوقي وتَذْكاري وآيات مَرْبَعي

وشَوقي وتَذْكاري وآيات مَرْبَعي

The armies of passion and sorrow lead my tears captive,

The armies of passion and sorrow lead my tears,

And my longing, my remembrance, and the traces of my dwelling.

And my longing, memories, and odes.

وما لِي وما لِلبَانِ، قد بانَ عَهْدُهُ

وما لِي وما لِلبَانِ، قد بانَ عَهْدُهُ

ووَلَّى هَوى الغِزْلانِ مِن بين أَضْلُعِي

ووَلَّى هَوى الغِزْلانِ مِن بين أَضْلُعِي

And what have I to do with the bān tree? Its time has passed,

What is left for me and for separation, its era has ended,

And love for the gazelles has fled from between my ribs.

And the love of the gazelles has turned from my ribs.

إلى (قاعةِ الزَّهراءِ) لَبَّيْتُ مُحْرِمًا

إلى (قاعةِ الزَّهراءِ) لَبَّيْتُ مُحْرِمًا

ووَلّادَتي بَيْتُ القَصيدِ المُرَّصَعِ

ووَلّادَتي بَيْتُ القَصيدِ المُرَّصَعِ

To the Hall of al-Zahra I answered the call as a consecrated pilgrim,

To the Hall of Al-Zahra’ I vowed as a pilgrim,

And my Wallada is the jewel-studded line of poetry.

And my ode is the ornamented house of poetry.

وقُرْطُبَةُ بَيتُ ابنِ زَيدونَ وِجْهَتي

وقُرْطُبَةُ بَيتُ ابنِ زَيدونَ وِجْهَتي

وبُستانُها والدَّهْرُ ما بينَ أَذْرُعي

وبُستانُها والدَّهْرُ ما بينَ أَذْرُعي

And Cordoba, Ibn Zaydun's home, is my destination,

And Cordoba is the house of Ibn Zaydun - my destination,

And her garden and time lie between my arms.

And its garden - while life lies between my arms.

كساها وحَيَّاها الحَيا مِن ثِيابِهِ

كساها وحَيَّاها الحَيا مِن ثِيابِهِ

وأَغْدَقَها بِالرِّيِّ مِنْ كُلِّ مَشْرَعِ

وأَغْدَقَها بِالرِّيِّ مِنْ كُلِّ مَشْرَعِ

The rain clothed her and greeted her with its garments,

It clothed it and gave it life with its clothes,

And lavished water on her from every watering place.

And poured over it abundant water from every outlet.

إليْها، ولي فيها مَعانٍ عَشِقْتُها

إليْها، ولي فيها مَعانٍ عَشِقْتُها

كعِشْقِي لِمَنْ كانتْ عُيوني ومَسْمَعي

كعِشْقِي لِمَنْ كانتْ عُيوني ومَسْمَعي

To her—for in her I have meanings I have loved,

To it, though I have passionate meanings I loved,

Like my love for the one who was my eyes and my hearing,

Like my love for her who was my eyes and hearing.

لِتِلكَ الَّتي تَسبي الفُؤادَ بِطَرْفِها

لِتِلكَ الَّتي تَسبي الفُؤادَ بِطَرْفِها

وفي وَجْنَتَيْها مُهْجَةُ القَلبِ تَرْتَعي

وفي وَجْنَتَيْها مُهْجَةُ القَلبِ تَرْتَعي

For her who takes the heart captive with her glance,

For she who captures hearts with a glance,

And in her cheeks the heart's lifeblood grazes.

And in her cheeks my heart’s love grazes.

أُواري وأُخْفِي اِسْمَها عندَ ذِكْرِها

أُواري وأُخْفِي اِسْمَها عندَ ذِكْرِها

كما تَخْتَفي أشواقُها خَلْفَ أَدْمُعي

كما تَخْتَفي أشواقُها خَلْفَ أَدْمُعي

I veil and conceal her name whenever I mention her,

I hide and conceal her name when she is mentioned,

As longing for her hides behind my tears.

Just as her passions hide behind my tears.

ولِلصَّبْرِ أَثوابٌ تَشِفُّ إذا بكى

ولِلصَّبْرِ أَثوابٌ تَشِفُّ إذا بكى

مُحِبٌّ، وحاشا صادقُ الحُبِّ يَدَّعِي

مُحِبٌّ، وحاشا صادقُ الحُبِّ يَدَّعِي

And patience has robes that turn sheer at the weeping

Patience has rewards that comfort when a lover cries,

Of a lover; far be it from one true in love to pretend.

And far from the truth is he who claims to love sincerely!

وكلٌّ له (ولَّادةٌ) غيرَ أنّني

وكلٌّ له (ولَّادةٌ) غيرَ أنّني

أُداري الهَوى الغَلّابَ جَهْلًا ولا أَعِي

أُداري الهَوى الغَلّابَ جَهْلًا ولا أَعِي

And everyone has a Wallada, except that I

Though each has an obsession, I fight

Conceal overpowering passion, ignorant and unaware.

Passionate love ignorantly, not knowing.

سَلامٌ على حُبٍّ تَقَضَّى وما انْقَضَتْ

سَلامٌ على حُبٍّ تَقَضَّى وما انْقَضَتْ

عذاباتُه كأسًا مِنَ الجَمرِ مُتْرَعِ

عذاباتُه كأسًا مِنَ الجَمرِ مُتْرَعِ

Peace upon a love that has ended, though still unended are

Peace upon love that is fulfilled, though its

Its torments—a cup brimming with embers.

Torments as a cup of embers have not ended.

تَجَرَّعْتُ مِن غَدْرِ الحَبيبِ وظُلْمِهِ

تَجَرَّعْتُ مِن غَدْرِ الحَبيبِ وظُلْمِهِ

مآسي الهوى يا بِئْسَهُ مِن تَجَرُّعِ

مآسي الهوى يا بِئْسَهُ مِن تَجَرُّعِ

From my beloved's betrayal and injustice I drank down

I have tasted the betrayal and injustice of the loved one,

The tragedies of passion—oh, what a wretched draught!

The tragedies of passion - how bitter is its taste!

ورَوَّعَني حتّى فَنيتُ مرارةً

ورَوَّعَني حتّى فَنيتُ مرارةً

ولِلحبِّ أحكامُ الزَّمانِ المُرَوِّعِ

ولِلحبِّ أحكامُ الزَّمانِ المُرَوِّعِ

And it terrified me until I perished in bitterness;

It frightened me until I withered, bitterness,

And love has the decrees of terrifying time.

And for love the judgments of frightening time.

تقولُ: وقد مالَتْ عَلَيَّ تَدَلُّلًا

تقولُ: وقد مالَتْ عَلَيَّ تَدَلُّلًا

أما زِلْتَ مَفْتونًا بِعِطْري ومِخْدَعِي

أما زِلْتَ مَفْتونًا بِعِطْري ومِخْدَعِي

She says, leaning toward me coquettishly:

You say, leaning towards me flirtatiously -

Are you still bewitched by my perfume and my bedchamber?

Are you still infatuated by my scent and charm?

ولانَتْ وقدْ أَرْخَتْ دُموعَ نَدامَةٍ

ولانَتْ وقدْ أَرْخَتْ دُموعَ نَدامَةٍ

وفي خَدِّها بَعضُ اصفرارِ التَّفَزُّعِ

وفي خَدِّها بَعضُ اصفرارِ التَّفَزُّعِ

And she softened, letting fall tears of remorse,

You softened and shed tears of regret,

And on her cheek a hint of the yellow pallor of fright.

With some paleness of fear on your cheek.

وفي وَجْنَتَيْها مِن دُموعٍ كَذُوبةٍ

وفي وَجْنَتَيْها مِن دُموعٍ كَذُوبةٍ

عَلاماتُ كُحْلٍ للبراءةِ تَدَّعي

عَلاماتُ كُحْلٍ للبراءةِ تَدَّعي

And on her cheeks, from deceitful tears,

In her cheeks, from fake tears,

Traces of kohl with which she claimed innocence.

Are kohl marks pretending innocence.

أَتَحْلِفُ بِاللهِ الّذي أنتَ عَبْدُهُ

أَتَحْلِفُ بِاللهِ الّذي أنتَ عَبْدُهُ

بأنَّكَ لم تَغْدِرْ، ولم تَتَمَتَّعِ؟!

بأنَّكَ لم تَغْدِرْ، ولم تَتَمَتَّعِ؟!

Do you swear by God, whose servant you are,

Do you swear by God whom you worship

That you have not betrayed, nor taken your pleasure?

That you have not betrayed, nor taken pleasure?!

وأنتَ سَليلُ المَجْدِ مِن آلِ (حِمْيَرٍ)

وأنتَ سَليلُ المَجْدِ مِن آلِ (حِمْيَرٍ)

(وذي يَزنٍ) والقَيلِ (سيفٍ) (وتُبَّعِ)

(وذي يَزنٍ) والقَيلِ (سيفٍ) (وتُبَّعِ)

And you are a scion of glory, from the house of Himyar,

You are a descendant of glory from the family of Himyar,

And Dhu Yazan, the prince Sayf, and Tubba'.

Yazan, Sayf, and Tubba'.

فقلتُ لها لا أكذبُ اللهَ إنّني

فقلتُ لها لا أكذبُ اللهَ إنّني

فَطَمْتُ فُؤادي عَنْ هَوَى كُلِّ مُوجِعِ

فَطَمْتُ فُؤادي عَنْ هَوَى كُلِّ مُوجِعِ

So I told her: I do not lie to God; indeed, I

So I said to her: I do not lie to God - I

Have weaned my heart from love for anyone who causes pain.

Have weaned my heart from the love of anything hurting.

وهذا ابنُ زيدون المُعَنَّى يقولُ لِي

وهذا ابنُ زيدون المُعَنَّى يقولُ لِي

فوَلّادَةٌ تَهْوَى حَياةَ التَّسَكُّعِ

فوَلّادَةٌ تَهْوَى حَياةَ التَّسَكُّعِ

And here is the tormented Ibn Zaydun saying to me:

And this Ibn Zaydun says to me:

For Wallada loves a life of aimless roaming.

An obsession that loves the life of wandering.

تُبادلُ أَلْفًا بِالغرامِ وبالهوى

تُبادلُ أَلْفًا بِالغرامِ وبالهوى

ولِلْبَغْيِ أَلْفا عاشِقٍ عِنْد مَضْجَعِي؟

ولِلْبَغْيِ أَلْفا عاشِقٍ عِنْد مَضْجَعِي؟

She exchanges love and passion with a thousand,

You exchange a thousand for passion and love,

And for fornication, two thousand lovers at my bed?

While for separation, a thousand lovers lie in my bed?!

لقد كَنْتُ جَوَّابَ الزَّمانِ، وها أنا

لقد كَنْتُ جَوَّابَ الزَّمانِ، وها أنا

أرى الدَّهْرَ أمسى قَدْرَ مِتْرٍ مُرَبَّعِ

أرى الدَّهْرَ أمسى قَدْرَ مِتْرٍ مُرَبَّعِ

Indeed, I was a wanderer through time, and here I am,

I was fate’s responder, but now I see

I see that time has become the size of a square meter.

Fate has become an inanimate, square pot.

متى نلتقي بعد الفراقِ؟ تَساءَلَتْ

متى نلتقي بعد الفراقِ؟ تَساءَلَتْ

ومَنْ ذا يُعِيدُ الحُبَّ مِن بَعْدِ ما نُعِي؟

ومَنْ ذا يُعِيدُ الحُبَّ مِن بَعْدِ ما نُعِي؟

When will we meet after parting? she asked.

When will we meet after the separation? she asked.

And who can restore love after its death has been announced?

And who will restore love after it is mourned?

أُقَلِّبُ أَحشاءَ الهواجِسِ عَلَّني

أُقَلِّبُ أَحشاءَ الهواجِسِ عَلَّني

أراها بَرَاءً في ثيابِ التَّضَرُّعِ

أراها بَرَاءً في ثيابِ التَّضَرُّعِ

I turn over the entrails of misgivings, hoping I might

I churn the innards of anxieties, hoping

See her innocent in the garments of supplication.

To see her innocent in clothes of pleading.

ولكنّها يا وَيْحَ قَلْبٍ أَحَبَّها

ولكنّها يا وَيْحَ قَلْبٍ أَحَبَّها

يَطِيبُ لها قَهري، وحُزني، ومَصْرَعي

يَطِيبُ لها قَهري، وحُزني، ومَصْرَعي

But she—alas for a heart that loved her—

But oh the heart that loved her!

Delights in my torment, my sorrow, and my death.

My defeat, grief and death please her.

تُريدينَ أن أَصْفُو لِحُبِّكُ مُخْلِصًا

تُريدينَ أن أَصْفُو لِحُبِّكُ مُخْلِصًا

وعن حُبِّ غَيري أنتِ لم تَتَوَرَّعِي

وعن حُبِّ غَيري أنتِ لم تَتَوَرَّعِي

You want me to be pure and faithful in loving you,

You want me to describe my love for you sincerely,

Yet you have not refrained from loving someone other than me.

While you did not refrain from loving another!

كِلانا يَرى ثَوبَ الوِصالِ مُمَزَّقًا

كِلانا يَرى ثَوبَ الوِصالِ مُمَزَّقًا

بِكَفِّكِ خَرْقًا واسعًا لم يُرَقَّعِ

بِكَفِّكِ خَرْقًا واسعًا لم يُرَقَّعِ

We both see the robe of union torn,

We both see the garment of union torn

By your hand, with a wide rent left unpatched.

With your hand - a wide, unstitched tear.

أُوَدِّعُ ما اسْتَبْقَيْتُ ما عاد شاغِلي

أُوَدِّعُ ما اسْتَبْقَيْتُ ما عاد شاغِلي

غَرامُكِ، وَلَّى مِن خيالي فوَدِّعي

غَرامُكِ، وَلَّى مِن خيالي فوَدِّعي

I bid farewell to what I kept; no longer am I absorbed in

I bid farewell to the obsession I maintained - my only

Love for you—it has fled my imagination, so bid farewell.

Concern now over, so farewell my imagination!

أُكابِدُ أَسرارَ اللَّظَى في جَوانحي

أُكابِدُ أَسرارَ اللَّظَى في جَوانحي

فليتكِ يومًا لا عَلَيَّ ولا معي

فليتكِ يومًا لا عَلَيَّ ولا معي

I wrestle with the secrets of the blaze within my ribs,

I endure the heat of the flames in my thoughts

So, if only one day you were neither against me nor with me.

If only one day you were neither against me nor with me!

فَطَلَّقْتُ غَدْرَ الحُبِّ والعَهْدُ باطلٌ

فَطَلَّقْتُ غَدْرَ الحُبِّ والعَهْدُ باطلٌ

قُبورُ ضَحايا الحُبِّ في كلِّ مَوْضِعِ

قُبورُ ضَحايا الحُبِّ في كلِّ مَوْضِعِ

So I divorced love's treachery; the covenant is void.

So I divorced the treachery of love, and the covenant is void -

The graves of love's victims lie everywhere.

The graves of love's victims are in every place.