يا ليالي السفحِ من عهدِ الصِبا

يا ليالي السفحِ من عهدِ الصِبا

يا سقى مغناكَ صَوبُ الدِّيَمِ

يا سقى مغناكَ صَوبُ الدِّيَمِ

O nights of the foothill, from the days of youth!

O nights of the valley's slopes, from the days of my youth,

Oh, may the downpour of steady rains water your abode!

O you who quenched the thirst of your singer towards the refuge,

كم تسرقت بها بين الرُبى

كم تسرقت بها بين الرُبى

خُلَساً مرّتْ كطيفِ الحُلمِ

خُلَساً مرّتْ كطيفِ الحُلمِ

How often I stole away there among the hills,

How many times I stole away during you, between the groves,

in stolen moments that passed like a dream's apparition,

Secretly, passing like a dream’s phantom,

في زمانِ لذَّ عيشاً وصَفا

في زمانِ لذَّ عيشاً وصَفا

نَعِمَتْ آصالُه والبُكَرُ

نَعِمَتْ آصالُه والبُكَرُ

in a time when life was sweet and untroubled,

In days of pleasurable living and clarity,

its late afternoons and mornings blissful.

Whose mornings and evenings were blissful.

قد حللنا فيه روضاً أنُفا

قد حللنا فيه روضاً أنُفا

يستبينا طيرُه المستحِرُ

يستبينا طيرُه المستحِرُ

We settled there in an untouched garden,

We wandered in it through a meadow, cool,

its dawn-awake birds captivating us

Where its birds and their warbling could be seen.

بأهازيجَ من اللحنِ هفا

بأهازيجَ من اللحنِ هفا

عندها النايُ وزاغَ الوَترُ

عندها النايُ وزاغَ الوَترُ

with lilting melodies before which there faltered

With melodies in a gentle tune,

the flute, while the string strayed out of tune.

The flute and strings vibrated in it.

يرقصُ الغصنُ ويصغي طرَباً

يرقصُ الغصنُ ويصغي طرَباً

نحوها بالجيدِ كالمفتهمِ

نحوها بالجيدِ كالمفتهمِ

The bough dances and listens in delight,

The branch dances and listens enchanted,

turning its neck toward them like one who understands.

Towards it, bowing its neck, utterly enthralled,

وإِذا ما هينمت ريح الصَبا

وإِذا ما هينمت ريح الصَبا

صفّقَ النهر لذاك النغمِ

صفّقَ النهر لذاك النغمِ

And whenever the east breeze whispered,

And when the breeze of the morning blows,

the river clapped to that melody.

The river applauds that melody.

لست أنساه مناخاً ضمّنا

لست أنساه مناخاً ضمّنا

وارفَ الظلِّ بَرود المنتدى

وارفَ الظلِّ بَرود المنتدى

I do not forget it, a resting place that embraced us,

I cannot forget a climate that embraced us,

ample in shade, cool for gatherings,

While the shade stretched with the council’s coolness,

حيث وجه الدهر طلق والمنى

حيث وجه الدهر طلق والمنى

أمَمٌ نسلكُ منها جَدَدَا

أمَمٌ نسلكُ منها جَدَدَا

where time wears a smiling face, and wishes

Where the days faced us openly and wishes

are within reach, with clear paths for us to tread.

Were paths we tread anew,

كم جعلنا اللهو فيها ديدناً

كم جعلنا اللهو فيها ديدناً

وهصرنا منه غصناً أملدا

وهصرنا منه غصناً أملدا

How often we made revelry there our habit,

How much we made amusement in it our habit,

and bent from it a tender bough.

And we plucked from it a branch evergreen!

قادنا الشوقُ إِليها وصبَا

قادنا الشوقُ إِليها وصبَا

نحوها قلبُ الشجيِّ المغرَمِ

نحوها قلبُ الشجيِّ المغرَمِ

Longing led us there, and yearned

Yearning led us to it, and the morning breeze

toward it the sorrowing lover's heart.

To it, the heart of the passionate lover,

فحللنا نحوهَا منّا الحُبى

فحللنا نحوهَا منّا الحُبى

وحمدنا طيبَ ذاك المغنمِ

وحمدنا طيبَ ذاك المغنمِ

So we loosened our knee-binding wraps to go there,

So we unlocked towards it the fetters of love,

and praised the sweetness of that gain.

And we praised the goodness of that gain.

يا سقى الوسميُّ مرجاً بَرَدتْ

يا سقى الوسميُّ مرجاً بَرَدتْ

فيه من حرِّ الهمومِ المهجُ

فيه من حرِّ الهمومِ المهجُ

Oh, may autumn rain water a meadow that cooled

O you who quenched the valley’s pasture that cooled,

the hearts within it from the heat of cares.

In it the heat of worries departed,

أحدق الروضُ به واطردتْ

أحدق الروضُ به واطردتْ

حوله الغدرُ وفاحَ الأرَجُ

حوله الغدرُ وفاحَ الأرَجُ

The garden encircled it, and brooks flowed

The meadow stared at it, and around it

around it, while fragrance spread.

Betrayal ceased, and purple scents wafted,

وقيانُ الطير لما اغتردت

وقيانُ الطير لما اغتردت

فيه ناغاها ذنابٌ هَزِجُ

فيه ناغاها ذنابٌ هَزِجُ

And when the bird-songstresses warbled

And the warbling of birds, when they sang

there, a tuneful dhanāb answered them.

Within it, their melodies were joyous,

وانثنى العود به مصطخباً

وانثنى العود به مصطخباً

بالغريضات بضربٍ محكم

بالغريضات بضربٍ محكم

And the lute resounded there,

And the lute bent over it, disturbed,

with fresh melodies, played with masterful strokes.

With bleating, in rhythmic, solid beats,

وشدا النايُ له فاصطحبا

وشدا النايُ له فاصطحبا

بغناء فائق منسجمِ

بغناء فائق منسجمِ

And the flute sang to it, and the two joined

While the flute accompanied it, and together

in superb, harmonious song.

They sang, in harmony and tune sublime.

والأزاهيرُ لدينا نسقتْ

والأزاهيرُ لدينا نسقتْ

فوق ظهران وروق بهجِ

فوق ظهران وروق بهجِ

And flowers were arrayed before us

The flowers, for us, wove

upon the surfaces of lovely foliage.

Over meadows and slopes delightfully,

والنعامى بشذاها خفقت

والنعامى بشذاها خفقت

وانجلت من وشيها في زبرج

وانجلت من وشيها في زبرج

And the south wind fluttered with their fragrance,

And the ostriches waved their plumes,

and they emerged from their embroidery in splendor.

Beaming from their temples in their braids,

والنواوير بمسك فتقتْ

والنواوير بمسك فتقتْ

بين خلجانِ وظلِّ سجسجِ

بين خلجانِ وظلِّ سجسجِ

And the blossoms opened with musk

The wild cows opened with musk,

between waterways and temperate shade.

Amidst thickets and shade of flower stalks,

وغدا ذيلُ الصبا منسحبا

وغدا ذيلُ الصبا منسحبا

فوقَ هاتيك الحلى والأنجمِ

فوقَ هاتيك الحلى والأنجمِ

And the east wind's train went trailing

And the morning breeze’s train flowed,

over those ornaments and stars,

Over those trinkets and stars,

وانثنى ينشرُ منها عذبا

وانثنى ينشرُ منها عذبا

ويضم الغصن كالملتزمِ

ويضم الغصن كالملتزمِ

and turned back, spreading their sweetness,

And it bent, scattering from it gently,

and clasped the bough like one holding it close.

And clasped the branch, as if bound,

كم جرَتْ خيلُ التصابي مرحاً

كم جرَتْ خيلُ التصابي مرحاً

بنفوسٍ خيمت حيثُ النعيمْ

بنفوسٍ خيمت حيثُ النعيمْ

How often the steeds of youthful play ran merrily

How the steeds of youth bolted playfully,

in souls encamped wherever bliss lay,

With souls that camped where bliss resided!

لبواكير من العيشِ نَحا

لبواكير من العيشِ نَحا

نحوها القلبُ لدى أنسٍ مقيمْ

نحوها القلبُ لدى أنسٍ مقيمْ

toward life's first delights, toward which turned

For the first fruits of life we aspired,

the heart, amid lasting companionship.

Our hearts, near intimacy, dwelt,

قد حبانا الدهرُ منها مِنَحا

قد حبانا الدهرُ منها مِنَحا

وتلقّتنا بها خودُ النسيمْ

وتلقّتنا بها خودُ النسيمْ

Time bestowed upon us gifts from those delights,

Time granted us from it gifts,

and the maiden breeze greeted us there.

And the breeze met us with its affection,

نفحتنا لشذاها جوبا

نفحتنا لشذاها جوبا

وارتشفناها بقلبٍ وفمِ

وارتشفناها بقلبٍ وفمِ

She wafted swathes of her fragrance upon us,

It blew us its fragrances sweetly,

and we sipped her with heart and mouth.

And we sipped it with heart and mouth,

وجرتْ فينا الأماني خَبَبا

وجرتْ فينا الأماني خَبَبا

لمناخٍ للهَنا مغتنَمِ

لمناخٍ للهَنا مغتنَمِ

And wishes trotted within us

Wishes coursed through us, confused,

toward a haven of joy, a prize to seize.

For a climate where we gained delight,

في حواكير من السفح لنا

في حواكير من السفح لنا

جانب الدير بها مستشرفُ

جانب الدير بها مستشرفُ

In garden plots upon the foothill, we had

On the hill’s ridges we had

a lookout there beside the monastery.

Near the monastery, with its open view,

ولحنّان النواعير غنا

ولحنّان النواعير غنا

عاشق في الأذن منه شَنَفُ

عاشق في الأذن منه شَنَفُ

And the waterwheels' crooning was the song

The nightingales' song sang

of a lover, adorning the ear like an earring.

Enchanting the ear that turned towards it,

وبها من ياسمين يجتنى

وبها من ياسمين يجتنى

من عروشٍ دانيات غُرَفُ

من عروشٍ دانيات غُرَفُ

There, jasmine could be gathered

In it were violets gathered

in handfuls from low-hanging trellises.

From arching branches, plucked,

وسرت أنفاس هاتيك الربى

وسرت أنفاس هاتيك الربى

بشذا حواذانها والحزمِ

بشذا حواذانها والحزمِ

And the breaths of those hills drifted

The breaths of those groves blew

with the scent of their buttercups and flower-bunches.

With the fragrance of its bushes and bundles,

وبدا الورد مليكاً مغضباً

وبدا الورد مليكاً مغضباً

ضُرِّجَتْ وجناتُه بالعَنْدَمِ

ضُرِّجَتْ وجناتُه بالعَنْدَمِ

And the rose appeared as an angry king,

The roses appeared angry kings,

his cheeks stained with red dye.

Their cheeks flushed with red dye.

لستُ أنسى عيشنا المقتبلا

لستُ أنسى عيشنا المقتبلا

في ذراها بين تلك الغُدُرِ

في ذراها بين تلك الغُدُرِ

I do not forget our life in its first bloom

I cannot forget our life ahead

upon its heights, among those pools.

In its homes, amidst those valleys,

وسقى الربوة كم يوم خلا

وسقى الربوة كم يوم خلا

في مَغانيها بشط النَهَرِ

في مَغانيها بشط النَهَرِ

And may the hill be watered! How many a day passed

And the watering of the hills, how many a day went by

in its haunts beside the riverbank,

In its songs, on the bank of the stream,

حين أضحى الغصنُ فيها ثَمِلا

حين أضحى الغصنُ فيها ثَمِلا

يتهادى في حبيرِ الزَهَرِ

يتهادى في حبيرِ الزَهَرِ

when the bough there grew drunk,

When the branch in it became fruitful,

swaying gracefully in the brocade of flowers,

Swaying in the sea of flowers,

وغدا النوّار موشيّ القبا

وغدا النوّار موشيّ القبا

سافراً عن ثغره المبتسمِ

سافراً عن ثغره المبتسمِ

and the blossom wore an embroidered robe,

And the breeze turned perfumer of robe,

unveiling its smiling mouth.

Baring its smiling mouth,

كم قضينا في ذراها أرَبَا

كم قضينا في ذراها أرَبَا

وحمدنا فيه نقل القَدَمِ

وحمدنا فيه نقل القَدَمِ

How often we fulfilled a desire upon its heights,

How many mornings we spent in its homes,

and were thankful there for the steps we had taken.

And praised in it the changing of steps!

كيف لا أذكر تلك الخُلَسا

كيف لا أذكر تلك الخُلَسا

من رغيد العيش وهي العُمُرُ

من رغيد العيش وهي العُمُرُ

How could I not remember those stolen moments

How can I not recall those gentle moments,

of easeful life? They are life itself.

Of blissful living - and it is life!

لست أقتاد سواها أنسا

لست أقتاد سواها أنسا

يا سقاها عارضٌ منهمِرُ

يا سقاها عارضٌ منهمِرُ

I draw on nothing else for solace.

I cannot lead another memory,

Oh, may a pouring raincloud water them!

O its watering! A downhill rain!

كم أقام اللهو فيها عُرُسَا

كم أقام اللهو فيها عُرُسَا

وتجلّى في رباها قَمَرُ

وتجلّى في رباها قَمَرُ

How often revelry held weddings there,

How amusement established in it a wedding,

and a moon appeared upon its hills.

And the moon appeared in its pasture!

راح منا بالهوى مقتربا

راح منا بالهوى مقتربا

ليّنِ العطف رخيم الكَلِمِ

ليّنِ العطف رخيم الكَلِمِ

He came close to us through love,

Passion went from us approaching,

supple of side, sweet of speech,

To gentle affection, soft in speech,

حيث أضحى بالسّنا منتقبا

حيث أضحى بالسّنا منتقبا

مخطف الكشح نقي المبسَمِ

مخطف الكشح نقي المبسَمِ

where he was veiled in radiance,

Where it appeared with splendor adorned,

slender-waisted, pure of smile.

Snatching glances, pure of smile,

وسعى من طرفهِ لما انتشى

وسعى من طرفهِ لما انتشى

بمحيّا لحظهِ المختلسِ

بمحيّا لحظهِ المختلسِ

And, when tipsy, he approached through his gaze,

And it raced when it was lively

with the countenance of his furtive glance.

With a wink of its mischievous eye,

يتلع الجيد كما يعطو الرشا

يتلع الجيد كما يعطو الرشا

ويداني الخطو وسْطَ المجلسِ

ويداني الخطو وسْطَ المجلسِ

He stretches his neck as a fawn reaches up,

Plucking the neck as the gazelle plucks fodder,

and takes small steps amid the gathering.

And approaching on foot amidst the gathering,

يا له من أهيفٍ طاوي الحشا

يا له من أهيفٍ طاوي الحشا

عَندميّ الخدّ حلوِ اللَعَسِ

عَندميّ الخدّ حلوِ اللَعَسِ

Oh, what a slender-waisted one, lean of belly,

O what an enchanting, slender-waisted one,

scarlet-cheeked, with sweet, dusky lips!

Rosy cheeked, sweet lipped!

كم رعينا منه ثغراً أشنبا

كم رعينا منه ثغراً أشنبا

ورعى منا حقوقَ الذِّمَمِ

ورعى منا حقوقَ الذِّمَمِ

How often we grazed upon his cool, sweet mouth,

How many times we shepherded from it a mouth, carmine,

and he honored the claims of our pledged bonds.

And it shepherded our pact sincerely!

وقطعنا فيه عيشاً أطيبا

وقطعنا فيه عيشاً أطيبا

للصبى لكنه لم يَدُم

للصبى لكنه لم يَدُم

And with him we spent a sweeter life

We spent in it the sweetest life,

of youth—but it did not last.

But for the youth - it did not last!