ليسَthere is no علىupon الصبِّthe lovesick lover المغنّىsung of جناحْblame
ليسَ على الصبِّ المغنّى جناحْ
إنif باحhe voiced الشكوىcomplaint فمنthen from ضيمَoppression باحْhe spoke out
إن باح الشكوى فمن ضيمَ باحْ
No blame falls upon the lover sung of.
No blame lies on the lover who complains of passion;
If he voices complaint, it is oppression that makes him speak.
If he makes known his ardour, who suffers torment complains.
أصبحتُI have become مشدوهاًbewildered بخاليby one free of الخشىfear
أصبحتُ مشدوهاً بخالي الخشى
أحورdark-eyed مجرىthe channel of الدمعtears طاميswelling full الوشاحْthe sash
أحور مجرى الدمع طامي الوشاحْ
I have become bewildered by one free of fear,
Bewildered I became through fear of my belovèd;
Dark-eyed where tears flow, his sash swelling full.
I made my tears to flow in the bed of my streaming robe.
يلوحhe appears كالبدرlike the full moon ويختالand sways proudly كالغصنlike a branch
يلوح كالبدر ويختال كالغصن
وإنand if وافىhe comes فكالمسكthen like musk فاحْhe gives fragrance
وإن وافى فكالمسك فاحْ
He appears like the full moon and sways proudly like a branch;
She appears like the full moon and sways like a branchlet;
And when he comes, he gives fragrance like musk.
Yet, if she favours, ‘tis like musk exhaling perfume.
غداhe became by morning بخيلاًmiserly بوصاليwith union with me وإنْalthough
غدا بخيلاً بوصالي وإنْ
أمسىhe became by evening بأشجانيwith my sorrows خدينthe intimate of السَّماحْgenerosity
أمسى بأشجاني خدين السَّماحْ
By morning he withholds union with me, though
Today she is niggardly of my union, though erewhile
By evening he is generosity's intimate in giving me sorrows.
She spent the night awake to the tale of my yearning.
أسكرنيintoxicated me الحبُّthe beloved بأجفانهwith his eyelids
أسكرني الحبُّ بأجفانه
وأنتand you ياO صاحِfriend منfrom الحبِّlove صاحْsober
وأنت يا صاحِ من الحبِّ صاحْ
The beloved intoxicated me with his eyelids,
Love made me drunk with her eyelids’ sorcery,
While you, my friend, are sober of love.
While you, my censurer, are vexed with love’s ardour.
أيسرُthe least ماwhat فيin حبّهloving him إنهاthat they are
أيسرُ ما في حبّه إنها
جوارحٌpredators فيin كلevery قلبheart جراحْwounds
جوارحٌ في كل قلب جراحْ
The least of loving him is that they are
The easiest thing in loving her is that she
Predators, leaving wounds in every heart.
Has tender limbs that harbour wounds in every heart.
يقتلهاhe kills them آمنةًunsuspecting ياoh لهاfor it; what a marvel
يقتلها آمنةً يا لها
منof قاتلa killer ليسthere is no عليهupon him جناحْblame
من قاتل ليس عليه جناحْ
He kills them unsuspecting—oh, what
She kills them unsuspecting—far from her
A killer, yet no blame falls on him!
To kill one undeserving of such wrong!
سكرىdrunken فماso not تعرفthey know صحواًsobriety ولاnor
سكرى فما تعرف صحواً ولا
خمراًwine مراضٌailing وهيyet they are فيناamong us صحاحْsound
خمراً مراضٌ وهي فينا صحاحْ
Drunken, they know neither sobriety nor
My drunkenness knows not sobriety or wine;
Wine; ailing, yet sound among us.
In us it is diseased, in her but mirth and jest.
يطيبُis sweet فيin الحبِّlove افتضاحيmy disgrace بهbecause of him
يطيبُ في الحبِّ افتضاحي به
ياoh حبّذاhow welcome فيin حبّهloving him الافتضاحْdisgrace
يا حبّذا في حبّه الافتضاحْ
In love, my disgrace for his sake is sweet;
My shamefacedness delights in union with her;
How welcome disgrace is in loving him!
Well done my shamefacedness in loving her!
أشكوI complain إلىto الليلthe night سهاديof my sleeplessness وقدalthough
أشكو إلى الليل سهادي وقد
نامit slept عنheedless of الشكوىthe complaint وعنand heedless of لحىthe reproach of لاحْa reproacher
نام عن الشكوى وعن لحى لاحْ
I complain to the night of my sleeplessness, though
I complain to the night of my bed, but it
It slept, heedless of complaint and a reproacher's censure.
Has slept from listening to me and dawn gleams.
ياO قلبُheart أينwhere is الصبرُpatience عنaway from حسنهhis beauty
يا قلبُ أين الصبرُ عن حسنه
وأنتَand you ياO جفنيَmy eyelid أينwhere is الصباحْthe morning
وأنتَ يا جفنيَ أين الصباحْ
My heart, where is the patience to forgo his beauty?
O my heart, where is your patience with her beauty?
And you, my eyelid, where is the morning?
And you, my eyelid, where is the dawn?
أيهsing on حمامَdove of الأيكِthe thicket أنتَyou الذيthe one who
أيه حمامَ الأيكِ أنتَ الذي
أحزنهُgrieved him وجديmy passion فغنَّىso he sang وناحْand lamented
أحزنهُ وجدي فغنَّى وناحْ
Sing on, dove of the thicket; you are the one
Ah, turtle-dove of the sandhill, you are she
Whom my passion grieved, who then sang and lamented.
Whose love makes me sad; then you sang and plained.
أغرَّكَdid it deceive you? الدمعtears وقدalthough شفَّنيwasted me
أغرَّكَ الدمع وقد شفَّني
الشوقُlonging إليهfor him فأعرنيso lend me الجناحْthe wing
الشوقُ إليه فأعرني الجناحْ
Did my tears deceive you? I have been wasted
The tears have emboldened you, and longing for her
By longing for him—so lend me your wing.
Has wasted me, so grant me your wing’s protection!
وجدكyour longing بالأغصانfor the boughs وجديmy longing بهاfor them
وجدك بالأغصان وجدي بها
أقسمتI swore ماnot الممنوعthe forbidden مثلlike المباحْthe permitted
أقسمت ما الممنوع مثل المباحْ
Your longing is for boughs; mine is for them.
Your love for the branches and mine for her amount to this:
I swore: the forbidden is not like the permitted.
I swore the forbidden is like the permissible.
يشوقنيmakes me yearn واديthe valley of الحمىal-Hima, the protected pasture واللوىand al-Liwa, the winding sands
يشوقني وادي الحمى واللوى
أيwhat a مراحpasture قدindeed حمتهُguarded it الرّماحْthe spears
أي مراح قد حمتهُ الرّماحْ
I yearn for the valley of al-Hima and for al-Liwa—
The valley of ardour and love-desire attracts me;
What a pasture the spears have guarded!
What encampments has it harboured, pierced with spears!
وغادةand a tender maiden هجريforsaking me لهاfor her عادةٌa habit
وغادة هجري لها عادةٌ
تلكthose are سجاياthe traits of كلevery رودٍsupple maiden رداحْfull-hipped
تلك سجايا كل رودٍ رداحْ
And a tender maiden whose habit is to forsake me—
Her estrangement has a wonted practice,
Such are the ways of every supple, full-hipped maiden.
Such are the traits of every gently nurtured gazelle.
كمhow many حازcontained ذلكthat الشعبُmountain cleft منof طفلةٍa tender maiden
كم حاز ذلك الشعبُ من طفلةٍ
غيداءgracefully swaying حلوٌsweet جدُّهاher seriousness والمزاحْand jest
غيداء حلوٌ جدُّها والمزاحْ
How many tender maidens that mountain cleft contains,
How excellent is the black-eyed gazelle possessed by that tribe,
Gracefully swaying, sweet in earnest and in jest!
Sweet her throat, jesting and graceful her gait!
لحنَthey appeared عشاءat dusk باسماتٍsmiling فشمْso behold
لحنَ عشاء باسماتٍ فشمْ
غصونَboughs of بانٍban trees مثمراتٍbearing أقاحْdaisies
غصونَ بانٍ مثمراتٍ أقاحْ
They appeared at dusk, smiling—so behold
She sang a Lahn of swooning and I inhaled
Boughs of ban trees bearing daisies.
The fragrance of the budding branches of the ban.
فيon كلevery يومٍday عاشقٌa lover يستبيtakes captive
في كل يومٍ عاشقٌ يستبي
بعدafter امتناعresistance أوor حمىa sanctuary يستباحْis breached
بعد امتناع أو حمى يستباحْ
Each day, a lover takes a captive,
Each day a lover is slain after refusal
After resistance, or a sanctuary is breached.
Or fever, then gains his desire and takes it by force.
قلsay للتيto her who تسألُasks أهلthe people of الحمىthe sanctuary
قل للتي تسألُ أهل الحمى
عنّيabout me عجباًin wonder لاnot سؤالa question of ارتياحْaffectionate concern
عنّي عجباً لا سؤال ارتياحْ
Tell her who asks the people of the sanctuary
Say to her who asks the people of passion about me
About me in wonder, not from affectionate concern:
In wonderment: “Do not ask, seeking to please!”
تعجباًin astonishment أنthat عشتُI lived منfrom بعدهمafter them
تعجباً أن عشتُ من بعدهم
لوif ماتhe had died منof حبّكمlove for you all لاستراحْhe would have rested
لو مات من حبّكم لاستراحْ
In astonishment that I lived on after them—
Wonderful that I have lived after them!
Had he died of loving you, he would have found rest.
Had one like you died of love, he would have found rest.
وإنماand only أحيتهkept him alive نعمىthe bounty of يدthe hand of الفاضلِal-Fadil
وإنما أحيته نعمى يد الفاضلِ
خدنthe intimate of الجودِmunificence تربِthe peer of السَّماحْgenerosity
خدن الجودِ تربِ السَّماحْ
And only the bounty of al-Fadil's hand kept him alive,
But I was kept alive by the favour of the noble one
The intimate of munificence, generosity's peer;
Of gentle birth, well-bred, endowed with clemency.
ربّlord of المرادthe grazing ground الخصبِfertile المجتلىfair to behold
ربّ المراد الخصبِ المجتلى
والموردِand the watering place العذبsweet الفراتfresh القراحْpure
والموردِ العذب الفرات القراحْ
Lord of the lush grazing ground, fair to behold,
Lord of wishes, fertile, beautiful,
And the sweet, fresh, pure watering place.
And of the sweet, pure Euphrates, brigand of souls.
لوif لمnot يردhad come to بحرthe sea of نداهُhis bounty الورىhumankind
لو لم يرد بحر نداهُ الورى
لسارwould have journeyed يبغيهمseeking them نداهhis bounty وساحْand roamed
لسار يبغيهم نداه وساحْ
Had humankind not come to the sea of his bounty,
Had the sea of his munificence not flowed to mankind,
His bounty would have journeyed in search of them and roamed.
It would have journeyed to seek them, wandering about.
ياO ابنson of أجلِّthe noblest of الناسpeople بيتاًin house and lineage
يا ابن أجلِّ الناس بيتاً
علىabove النجمthe star وأزكاهمand the purest of them جميعاًall مزاحْin jest
على النجم وأزكاهم جميعاً مزاحْ
O son of the noblest of men, whose house rises
O best of men in dwelling, and most chaste in character,
Above the star, and the purest of them all in jest!
Pleasantest in jest of all the deadly serious!
لأثبتُtruly more steadfast منthan رضوىRadwa جناناًin heart إذاwhen
لأثبتُ من رضوى جناناً إذا
رضوىRadwa دحتهُthrust it aside ريحُa wind of خوفٍfear فطاحْso it fell
رضوى دحتهُ ريحُ خوفٍ فطاحْ
Truly firmer in heart than Radwa, even when
I would establish, if you were pleased, gardens of contentment
A wind of fear thrust Radwa aside and it fell.
Which, if the wind of fear blew on, would be laid waste.
مغتبقٌdrinking at evening بالحمدwith praise نشوانُintoxicated منby
مغتبقٌ بالحمد نشوانُ من
قهوتهِits wine صبٌّenamored إلىof الاصطباحْthe morning draught
قهوتهِ صبٌّ إلى الاصطباحْ
Drinking praise at evening, intoxicated by
Exultant in praise of the giver of his morning draught,
Its wine, enamored of the morning draught.
Which takes from his love what the dawn takes from joy.
يأخذهُseizes him منfrom وجدهhis passion بالعلىfor the heights
يأخذهُ من وجده بالعلى
ماwhat يأخذseizes الصبَّthe lovesick lover منfrom الابتياحْravishment
ما يأخذ الصبَّ من الابتياحْ
His yearning for the heights grips him
He seizes thereby from the Exalted
As ravishment grips the lovesick lover.
What the dawn takes from delight and pleasance.
وكلand every غيرانَman jealous of honor أغارraided القرىhospitality
وكل غيرانَ أغار القرى
فيin دورهhis houses فاغتالso he slew حمرthe red اللقاحْmilch camels
في دوره فاغتال حمر اللقاحْ
And every man jealous of honor, whom hospitality raided
And every jealous one in his abode
In his homes, so he slew the red milch camels.
Exulted in him, then assaulted the red camels.
قدindeed عوّدتْhas made habitual راحتهhis palm راحةthe ease of العافيthe petitioner
قد عوّدتْ راحته راحة العافي
وفيand in الحربwar صفاحthe clash of الصفاحْsword blades
وفي الحرب صفاح الصفاحْ
His palm has made the petitioner's ease a custom,
His rest has accustomed restfulness to dwell with well-being,
And, in war, the clash of sword blades.
And in war, the clashing of arms with arms.
إنْif لفحتscorched حربwar بأبياتهمat their households
إنْ لفحت حرب بأبياتهم
قالواthey said لأطرافto the points of القناthe spears لاno براحْretreat
قالوا لأطراف القنا لا براحْ
If war scorched their households,
If war’s lightning flashed around their abodes,
They told the spearpoints: no retreat!
They said to the lance-bearers: “Do not go away!”
قدindeed بدلواthey turned أموالthe wealth of أعدائهمtheir enemies
قد بدلوا أموال أعدائهم
بحيثso that أمَّاeither قدحa drinking bowl أوor قداحْgaming arrows
بحيث أمَّا قدح أو قداحْ
They have turned their enemies' wealth
They exchanged the wealth of their enemies
Into either a drinking bowl or gaming arrows.
For that they should have either a wine-flask or cups.
ماwhatever شئتyou wish منof ظبيa gazelle of حمىa sanctuary موردreddened
ما شئت من ظبي حمى مورد
الحياءmodesty منfrom خدّيهhis two cheeks ليثٌa lion وقاحْdauntless
الحياء من خدّيه ليثٌ وقاحْ
A gazelle of the preserve to your heart's desire, blushing with
You may take at will from the gazelles that pasture
Modesty in his cheeks, yet a dauntless lion!
At the spring of modesty, lion and insolent.
أوليpossessors of الوجوهfaces والأنوفand noses الشمّlofty
أولي الوجوه والأنوف الشمّ
والأنفسِand souls الزُّهرradiant منfrom الارتياحْgenerous joy
والأنفسِ الزُّهر من الارتياحْ
Men of lofty faces and proud noses,
Choice in countenance and nose,
And souls radiant with generous joy.
In soul flowers of joy and comfort.
كمhow many أمَّهُsought him منof مقعدٍone crippled by حظهُhis fortune
كم أمَّهُ من مقعدٍ حظهُ
وراشand feathered بالجودwith generosity جناحthe wing of النجاحْsuccess
وراش بالجود جناح النجاحْ
How many a man crippled by his fortune has sought him!
How often he brought bliss to an assembly whose portion
And he feathered the wing of success with generosity.
Was misery, and sprinkled with bounty the wing of success!
ومستغيثand one seeking help منagainst زمانٍan age حوىobtained
ومستغيث من زمانٍ حوى
عدلاًjustice صريحاًclear بعدafter ظللمinjustice صراحْblatant
عدلاً صريحاً بعد ظللم صراحْ
And many a man seeking aid against his times obtained
And saved many a man of the age from the
Clear justice after blatant wrong.
Injustice, after grievous wrong, with patent equity.
يجودhe gives lavishly كالغيثlike rain علىupon الحزنthe rugged uplands
يجود كالغيث على الحزن
منof أحوالناour circumstances منهfrom him كحظّlike the share of البطاحْthe plains
من أحوالنا منه كحظّ البطاحْ
He gives like rain upon the rugged uplands
He bestows generously, like rain, upon grief
Of our fortunes; their share of him is like the plains' share.
From our woes—such as is the portion of outcasts.
ياO آمناًone safe from جرحthe wound of اختلاليmy privation بنعماهُthrough his bounty
يا آمناً جرح اختلالي بنعماهُ
وقدalthough أثخنhas grievously inflicted فيَّupon me الجراحْwounds
وقد أثخن فيَّ الجراحْ
O you, safe from the wound of my want through his bounty—
O you whose favour has healed my sickness of estrangement
Though it has inflicted grievous wounds on me.
And it had multiplied wounds within me!
عاندنيopposed me دهريmy age ومنand who ذاis that one الذيwho
عاندني دهري ومن ذا الذي
أنزلهُlodged him الدهرُtime علىaccording to الاقتراحْone's wishes
أنزلهُ الدهرُ على الاقتراحْ
My age opposed me; and who is there
My fortune opposed me—and who is it
Whom time has lodged according to his wishes?
That fate casts down despite his will?
عبيدكَyour servants الأيامُthe days قدindeed حاربتْhave fought
عبيدكَ الأيامُ قد حاربتْ
صبريmy patience وقدand already ألقىlaid down إليهاto them السلاحْweapons
صبري وقد ألقى إليها السلاحْ
The days, your servants, have waged war upon
The days, your servants, have warred
My patience, which has surrendered its weapons to them.
Against my endurance, and I have cast away my arms.
حمتthey forbade عليَّto me الشعرpoetry مذsince أعوزbecame scarce
حمت عليَّ الشعر مذ أعوز
الأجيادُnecks حاشاكexcept you وعزَّand became rare الملاحْthe beauties
الأجيادُ حاشاك وعزَّ الملاحْ
They barred poetry to me ever since there grew scarce
Poetry protected me when the noble steeds
Fair necks—excepting you—and beauties became rare.
Failed me—God forbid the boats should fail!
لولاكwere it not for you لمnot أنسبI compose love verse ولمand not أعرفI recognize
لولاك لم أنسب ولم أعرف
الدهرan age علىabove دهرanother age ولاnor الامتداحْpanegyric
الدهر على دهر ولا الامتداحْ
Without you I would compose no love verse, nor distinguish
Had it not been for you, I would not have attributed
One age above another, nor know praise poetry.
Lineage to past time or praise to the present.
ماwhatever شئتَyou wish عاقبنيpunish me بهwith it عامداًdeliberately
ما شئتَ عاقبني به عامداً
سوىexcept بعاديmy distance عنكfrom you والانتزاحْand removal afar
سوى بعادي عنك والانتزاحْ
Punish me deliberately with whatever you please,
Whatever you have decided to afflict me with,
Except distance from you and removal afar.
Apart from separation from you and avoidance.
لاdo not تطرحنيcast me aside إنَّindeed ليI have منطقاًspeech
لا تطرحني إنَّ لي منطقاً
ماضيkeen الشَّباcutting edge يأبىwill not permit ليfor me الافتضاحdisgrace
ماضي الشَّبا يأبى لي الافتضاح
Do not cast me aside; I possess speech
Do not cast me off, I have a reason
Keen of edge, which refuses to let me be disgraced.
For which my past flow of youth refuses disgrace.
فجنحfor the wing of آماليmy hopes كوجهlike the face of الضُّحىmorning
فجنح آمالي كوجه الضُّحى
مذsince لاحshone فيin ناديكyour assembly أمَّsought الفلاحْsuccess
مذ لاح في ناديك أمَّ الفلاحْ
For my hopes' wing is like the face of morning,
So may the wings of my hopes, like the face of dawn,
Since it shone in your assembly, seeking success.
Gleam, since the mother of well-being shone in your circle!
تضيقgrow narrow أبوابكyour doors عنيagainst me وقدalthough
تضيق أبوابك عني وقد
أضحتْhave become علىfor العالمِthe world جمعاًentirely فساحْspacious
أضحتْ على العالمِ جمعاً فساحْ
Are your doors too narrow for me, although
Your doors are closed to me, yet to
They have become spacious for the whole world?
The world they have opened wide.
كمhow much لكyou have فيamong العافينَpetitioners والوفدand delegations منْof
كم لك في العافينَ والوفد منْ
عرضٍhonor مصونٍprotected ونوالٍand bounty مباحْfreely offered
عرضٍ مصونٍ ونوالٍ مباحْ
How much you have, among petitioners and delegations, of
How many noble and how many suppliant
Protected honor and freely offered bounty!
For inviolable honour and lawful portion!
حسَّنتَyou beautified بالفضلthrough bounty وجوهَthe faces of العلىgreatness
حسَّنتَ بالفضل وجوهَ العلى
وقبلand before تحسينكyour beautifying كانتthey were قباحْugly
وقبل تحسينك كانت قباحْ
Through bounty you beautified the faces of greatness;
You have beautified by your goodness the faces
Before your beautifying, they were ugly.
Of the noble, and before your beautifying they were ugly.
فياso, O بنيsons of الآمالhope إنيindeed I أمروءٌa man
فيا بني الآمال إني أمروءٌ
كففتُI ceased عنfrom شيمwatching expectantly الأكفّthe palms الشحاحْmiserly
كففتُ عن شيم الأكفّ الشحاحْ
So, sons of hope, I am a man—
So, O son of hopes, I am a man
I have ceased eyeing miserly palms.
Who has curbed the greed of close-fisted hands.
كافحتُI battled بالقنعwith contentment ليليَّmy nights (uncertain form) وللقنعُand as for contentment
كافحتُ بالقنع ليليَّ وللقنعُ
وإنand although جلَّis great ضعيفُweak in الطفاحْoverflowing
وإن جلَّ ضعيفُ الطفاحْ
I battled my nights with contentment; as for contentment,
I have struggled with contentment by night, and contentment,
However great, it is scant in its overflow.
Though the going is hard, spurns being carried.
فقدتنيso you led me قودَas one leads ذليلa humbled man وقدalthough كنتُI had been
فقدتني قودَ ذليل وقد كنتُ
عليهنَّagainst them شديدَfierce in الجماحْunruliness
عليهنَّ شديدَ الجماحْ
So you led me like a humbled man, though I had been
Loss of me made an abject man mighty,
Fiercely unbridled against them.
When I had been harsh and ungentle toward them.
كمhow many منof نبيهٍan eminent man قدindeed عفاfaded ذكرهُhis memory
كم من نبيهٍ قد عفا ذكرهُ
كأنماas though عاجلهُovertook him swiftly محوthe erasure of ماحْan eraser
كأنما عاجلهُ محو ماحْ
How many an eminent man has had his memory fade,
How many a wise man has time blotted out,
As though an eraser's erasure swiftly overtook him!
As though dispatching him with erasure!
تحدَّثتspoke عنهُof him اللياليthe nights ألاtake heed
تحدَّثت عنهُ الليالي ألا
إنَّindeed أحاديثthe accounts of اللياليthe nights صحاحْare true
إنَّ أحاديث الليالي صحاحْ
The nights have spoken of him—take heed:
The nights have spoken of him—but
Indeed, the stories of the nights are true.
The nights’ discourses are veridical.
عجماءَspeechless ألاَّexcept أنَّthat أفعالهاtheir deeds
عجماءَ ألاَّ أنَّ أفعالها
فيin كونهاtheir occurrence تعربُspeak عنهاon their behalf فصاحْeloquent
في كونها تعربُ عنها فصاحْ
Speechless, except that their deeds,
Dumb, but verily their deeds
In their occurrence, speak eloquently on their behalf.
In respect of them are eloquent.
فليتَwould that منwhoever ليستthere is no لهُfor him نعمةٌa blessing
فليتَ من ليست لهُ نعمةٌ
قابلهاrepaid it بالشكرwith gratitude لاnot الاجتراحْwrongdoing
قابلها بالشكر لا الاجتراحْ
Would that whoever has no blessing
Would that he who has no favour
Repaid it with thanks, not wrongdoing.
Should reciprocate, not complain!
فكنْso be there لقلبٍfor a heart قلبٍwavering صبرهُits patience
فكنْ لقلبٍ قلبٍ صبرهُ
غداcame at dawn عليهupon it كلُّevery همٍsorrow رواحْreturning at evening
غدا عليه كلُّ همٍ رواحْ
So be there for a heart whose patience wavers:
So be as a heart to a heart whose patience
Every sorrow visits it at dawn and at dusk.
Was lost when every sorrow came to it by turns.
واسمعْand hear قريضاًverse هامbecame infatuated وجداًin passion بهِwith it
واسمعْ قريضاً هام وجداً بهِ
بيضُthe fair women of المقاصيرsecluded chambers وبيضُand the white eggs of الأداحْostrich nests
بيضُ المقاصير وبيضُ الأداحْ
And hear verse adored with passion by
And listen to aperc ̧u of a love-sick, heart-stricken one,
The fair women of secluded chambers and the white eggs of ostrich nests.
Purer than the full moons, or than white tumblers!
يثملُintoxicates منwhoever يثملُgrows drunk فيin سمعهِhis hearing
يثملُ من يثملُ في سمعهِ
كأنماas though سقيتهُyou had given him to drink كأسa cup of راحْwine
كأنما سقيتهُ كأس راحْ
It intoxicates whoever grows drunk at hearing it,
Let him be choked who is choked
As though you had given him a cup of wine.
By listening, as though you made him drink lees.
وقلْand say لمنto whoever حاولattempted نظميmy verse أتَّئدtake your time
وقلْ لمن حاول نظمي أتَّئد
ليسis not زئيرُthe roar of الأسدِthe lion مثلَlike النباحْbarking
ليس زئيرُ الأسدِ مثلَ النباحْ
And tell whoever attempts my verse: take your time—
And say to him who has tried to censure me: “Does the
The lion's roar is not like barking.
Roaring of lions resemble the barking of curs?”
Sol 6.1