أَمُقامُis this a place of وَصلٍunion أَمor مَقامُa place of فِراقِparting
أَمُقامُ وَصلٍ أَم مَقامُ فِراقِ
فَالقُضبُfor the boughs بَينَbetween تَصافُحٍhandclasp وَعِناقِand embrace
فَالقُضبُ بَينَ تَصافُحٍ وَعِناقِ
Is this a place of union, or a place of parting?
Is this a tryst or parting?
For the boughs are between handclasp and embrace,
The spear lies between embraces and farewells,
خَفّاقَةٌfluttering ماwhat lies بَينَbetween نَوحِthe lament of حَمامَةٍa dove
خَفّاقَةٌ ما بَينَ نَوحِ حَمامَةٍ
هَتَفَتcried out وَدَمعِand the tears of غَمامَةٍa cloud مُهراقِpoured out
هَتَفَت وَدَمعِ غَمامَةٍ مُهراقِ
Fluttering between the lament of a dove
Fluttering between the wailing of a dove
That cried out, and the poured-out tears of a cloud.
And the tears of a weeping cloud.
عَبِثَتtoyed بِهِنَّwith them يَدُthe hand of النُعامىthe south wind سَحرَةًbefore dawn
عَبِثَت بِهِنَّ يَدُ النُعامى سَحرَةً
فَوَضَعنَso they laid أَعناقاًnecks عَلىupon أَعناقِnecks
فَوَضَعنَ أَعناقاً عَلى أَعناقِ
The south wind's hand toyed with them before dawn,
The hands of time played at dawn
So they laid neck upon neck.
Placing neck upon neck.
أَكسَبنَنيthey endowed me with خُلقَthe virtue of الوَفاءِfidelity وَرُبَّماand sometimes
أَكسَبنَني خُلقَ الوَفاءِ وَرُبَّما
أَذكَرنَنيthey reminded me بِمَواقِفِof the encounters of العُشّاقِlovers
أَذكَرنَني بِمَواقِفِ العُشّاقِ
They instilled in me the virtue of fidelity, and sometimes
They taught me the nature of loyalty, and would
Reminded me of the encounters of lovers:
Remind me of the stance of lovers.
ضَمّاًembracing وَلَثماًand kissing وَاِستِطابَةَand savoring نَفحَةٍa fragrant breath
ضَمّاً وَلَثماً وَاِستِطابَةَ نَفحَةٍ
وَخُفوقَand the throbbing of أَحشاءٍinward parts وَفَيضَand the overflowing of مَآقِeye-corners
وَخُفوقَ أَحشاءٍ وَفَيضَ مَآقِ
Embracing, kissing, and savoring a fragrant breath,
An embrace, a kiss, the sweetness of a breath,
And hearts aflutter, and overflowing tear-ducts.
The throbbing of hearts and the flow of saliva.
فَلَوَso if اِنَّthat سَرحَةَa spreading tree بَطنِthe bottom of وادٍa valley بِاللِوىat al-Liwa
فَلَوَ اِنَّ سَرحَةَ بَطنِ وادٍ بِاللِوى
حَيَّيتُهاI greeted it تُصغيwould listen إِلىto مُشتاقيmy longing
حَيَّيتُها تُصغي إِلى مُشتاقي
If only a spreading tree in a valley bottom at al-Liwa,
If only the expanse of the valley’s belly responded
When I greeted it, would listen to my longing,
I would greet it listening to my yearning.
لَنَثَرتُI would scatter بِالجَرعاءِat al-Jar'a عِقدَthe necklace of مَدامِعيmy tears
لَنَثَرتُ بِالجَرعاءِ عِقدَ مَدامِعي
فَفَضَضتُand would break خَتمَthe seal of الصَبرِpatience عَنfrom أَغلاقيmy locks
فَفَضَضتُ خَتمَ الصَبرِ عَن أَغلاقي
I would scatter at al-Jar'a the necklace of my tears,
I would scatter my collected tears like pearls
And break patience's seal from my locks,
And break the seal of patience from my bonds.
وَأَرَقتُand would pour out فَضلَthe remainder of صُبابَةٍthe last drops لِصَبابَةٍfor ardent longing
وَأَرَقتُ فَضلَ صُبابَةٍ لِصَبابَةٍ
فَرَقَعتُand would mend ماwhat أَخلَقتُI wore out مِنof أَخلاقيmy character
فَرَقَعتُ ما أَخلَقتُ مِن أَخلاقي
And pour out the last lingering drops for love,
I would share the prime of my youth with the prime of youth
And mend what I have worn threadbare in my character.
And patch what traits I had made.
فَإِلَيكِso to you ياO نَفسَbreath of الصَباthe east wind فَلَطالَماfor how often
فَإِلَيكِ يا نَفسَ الصَبا فَلَطالَما
أَذكىkindled نَداكَyour dew حَرارَةَthe heat of الأَشواقِlongings
أَذكى نَداكَ حَرارَةَ الأَشواقِ
To you, O breath of the east wind! How often
So to you, soul of my youth, for long
Your dew has kindled the heat of longing.
Has your voice kindled the heat of passions within me.
هاbehold إِنَّindeed بيwithin me لَمَماًa touch of madness يُؤَرِّقُkeeps sleepless ناظِريmy eye
ها إِنَّ بي لَمَماً يُؤَرِّقُ ناظِري
أَلَماًin pain فَهَلso is there مِنany نافِثٍa charm-blower أَوor راقِan incantation healer
أَلَماً فَهَل مِن نافِثٍ أَو راقِ
Behold, a touch of madness within me keeps my eye sleepless
In me is a pain that troubles my gaze -
In pain—is there a charm-blower or an incantation healer?
Is there anyone to soothe or heal?
سِرgo وادِعاًgently لاdo not تَستَطِرsend flying قَلباًa heart هَفاfluttered
سِر وادِعاً لا تَستَطِر قَلباً هَفا
بِجَناحِon a wing of شَوقٍlonging رِشتَهُyou feathered it خَفّاقِbeating
بِجَناحِ شَوقٍ رِشتَهُ خَفّاقِ
Go gently; do not send soaring a heart that has fluttered
Travel quietly, do not rouse a heart inclined
On a beating wing of longing that you feathered.
To the wing of passion that fans it.
وَإِذاand when طَرَقتَyou arrive at جَنابَthe precincts of قُرطُبَةٍCordoba فَقِفthen stop
وَإِذا طَرَقتَ جَنابَ قُرطُبَةٍ فَقِف
فَكَفاكَfor it suffices you مِنin the way of ناسٍpeople وَمِنand in the way of آفاقِhorizons
فَكَفاكَ مِن ناسٍ وَمِن آفاقِ
And when you reach the precincts of Cordoba, stop:
And if you pass by Cordoba then stop -
Its people and horizons are enough for you.
You’ve had your fill of people and horizons.
وَاِلثُمand kiss يَدَthe hand of اِبنِIbn (son of) أَبيAbi (father of) الخِصالِal-Khisal (the virtues) عَنِon behalf of العُلىglory
وَاِلثُم يَدَ اِبنِ أَبي الخِصالِ عَنِ العُلى
مُتَشَكِّراًgiving thanks وَاِضمُمهُand embrace him ضَمَّthe clasp of عِناقِan embrace
مُتَشَكِّراً وَاِضمُمهُ ضَمَّ عِناقِ
And kiss Ibn Abi al-Khisal's hand on behalf of glory,
And kiss the hand of the son of virtues supreme
Giving thanks, and enfold him in a close embrace.
With gratitude, drawing him into a tight embrace.
وَاِفتُقand unfold بِناديهِin his gathering التَحِيَّةَthe greeting زَهرَةًas a flower
وَاِفتُق بِناديهِ التَحِيَّةَ زَهرَةً
نَفّاحَةًwafting fragrance تُغنيsuffices عَنِwithout اِستِنشاقِsniffing
نَفّاحَةً تُغني عَنِ اِستِنشاقِ
And unfold your greeting in his gathering as a flower,
Greet him with an open blossom of a call
Wafting fragrance enough to spare the need to sniff.
That makes pure inhaling unnecessary.
كَالشَمسِlike the sun يَومَon a day of الدَجنِovercast skies تَندىis dewy مُجتَنىa harvest
كَالشَمسِ يَومَ الدَجنِ تَندى مُجتَنى
ظِلٍّshade وَتَحسُنُand is beautiful مُجتَلىa vision of إِشراقِradiance
ظِلٍّ وَتَحسُنُ مُجتَلى إِشراقِ
Like the sun on a cloudy day, dewy in its yield
Like the sun on a dewy morn, graced by shade
Of shade, and fair in its display of radiance.
And beautifully radiant in its rising.
وَاِهزُزand stir بِهاwith it مِنof مِعطَفَيهِhis two shoulders فَإِنَّماfor only
وَاِهزُز بِها مِن مِعطَفَيهِ فَإِنَّما
شَعشَعتَهاyou diluted it كَأساًas a wine-cup بِيُمنىin the right hand of ساقِa cupbearer
شَعشَعتَها كَأساً بِيُمنى ساقِ
And set his shoulders swaying with it; you have only
Shake from his cloak, for it has only
Mingled it like wine in a cupbearer's right hand,
Sparkled like a cup in the right hand of a drinker.
وَالنورُand the blossoms يَرقُمُembroider مِنpart of بِساطِthe carpet of بَسيطَةٍthe earth
وَالنورُ يَرقُمُ مِن بِساطِ بَسيطَةٍ
وَالغَيمُand the clouds يَنشُرُunfurl مِنpart of جَناحِthe wing of رِواقِa canopy
وَالغَيمُ يَنشُرُ مِن جَناحِ رِواقِ
While blossoms embroider the carpet of the earth,
Light sketches from the plain carpet’s expanse
And clouds unfurl a canopy's wing.
And the clouds unfold from the wing of the porch.
وَسِمِand bid الحَمامَةِthe dove أَنto تُجيبَanswer تَغَنِّياًin song
وَسِمِ الحَمامَةِ أَن تُجيبَ تَغَنِّياً
عَنin reply to مَنطِقٍan utterance ماضٍpassing يُلَبّيanswers باقِan enduring one
عَن مَنطِقٍ ماضٍ يُلَبّي باقِ
And bid the dove reply in song
Command the dove to reply with her singing
To a passing utterance, answered by one that endures,
Beyond the faded words that echo.
مُتَرَكِّبٍcomposed عَنof نَفحَةٍa fragrant breath فيwithin لَفحَةٍa scorching gust
مُتَرَكِّبٍ عَن نَفحَةٍ في لَفحَةٍ
وَكَفاكَand it suffices you مِنas كاسٍa cup هُناكَthere دِهاقِbrimming
وَكَفاكَ مِن كاسٍ هُناكَ دِهاقِ
Compounded of a fragrant breath within a scorching gust;
Riding on a whiff within a breeze -
And there a brimming cup is enough for you,
And you’ve had your fill of a cup there, overflowing.
وَخِطابِand a message of بِرٍّkindness نابَserved as deputy عَنهُfor him سِفارَةًas an embassy
وَخِطابِ بِرٍّ نابَ عَنهُ سِفارَةً
إِنَindeed الخِطابَspeech عَلىacross البُعادِdistance تَلاقِa meeting
إِنَ الخِطابَ عَلى البُعادِ تَلاقِ
And kindly speech that acted as his emissary:
Eloquence flowed from it, making diplomacy redundant,
For speech across distance is a meeting.
For discourse over distances is reunion.
تَندىis dewy عَلىupon كَبِديmy liver لَدونَةُthe softness of مَنطِقٍspeech
تَندى عَلى كَبِدي لَدونَةُ مَنطِقٍ
فَتَفيand so suffices بِحُرِّagainst the heat of تَرائِبٍbreastbones وَتَراقِand collarbones
فَتَفي بِحُرِّ تَرائِبٍ وَتَراقِ
The softness of speech bedews my liver,
Dew forms on my liver from the smoothness of his words
And so assuages the heat of breastbone and collarbones.
Dispersing in a sea of doubt and harmony.
فَهُناكَfor there أَروَعُa splendid man مِلءُfilling رَوعِthe heart of المُجتَليthe beholder
فَهُناكَ أَروَعُ مِلءُ رَوعِ المُجتَلي
يَقظانُvigilant موثَقُfirmly secured عِقدَةِthe knot of الميثاقِthe covenant
يَقظانُ موثَقُ عِقدَةِ الميثاقِ
There is a splendid man, filling the beholder's heart,
For there lies the most wondrous fullness of radiance
Vigilant, with the knot of his covenant securely tied.
Awake, bound by the pact of covenant.
هَزَجَتsang بِهِof him هَزجَthe cooing of الحَمامِdoves مَحامِدٌpraises
هَزَجَت بِهِ هَزجَ الحَمامِ مَحامِدٌ
حَمَلَتthey bore حُلاهُhis adornments مَحمَلَas the wearing of الأَطواقِnecklaces
حَمَلَت حُلاهُ مَحمَلَ الأَطواقِ
Praises sang of him with the cooing of doves,
It sways with the swaying of the neck of a dove,
Bearing his adornments as necklaces are worn.
Bearing his adornment like necklaces do.
لَدنُsoft الحَواشيat the edges لَوif أَطَلَّhe appeared غَمامَةًas a cloud
لَدنُ الحَواشي لَو أَطَلَّ غَمامَةً
لَخَلاhe would be free مِنَof الإِرعادِthundering وَالإِبراقِand flashing lightning
لَخَلا مِنَ الإِرعادِ وَالإِبراقِ
Soft of aspect—were he to appear as a cloud,
If his marginalia were to extend a cloud
He would be free of thunder and lightning.
It would be devoid of thunder and lightning.
شَرُفَتwere ennobled بِهِby him فُقَرُthe passages of الثَناءِpraise وَرُبَّماand sometimes
شَرُفَت بِهِ فُقَرُ الثَناءِ وَرُبَّما
تَتَشَرَّفُgain honor الأَطواقُnecklaces بِالأَعناقِthrough the necks
تَتَشَرَّفُ الأَطواقُ بِالأَعناقِ
The phrases of praise gained honor through him; sometimes
Through it the merit of praise is ennobled, and perhaps
Necklaces gain their honor from the necks.
The most noble necks are honored by it.
جُمَّabundant in العُلىglory مَسَحَتwiped بِهِthrough him كَفُّthe hand of العُلىglory
جُمَّ العُلى مَسَحَت بِهِ كَفُّ العُلى
عَنfrom حُرِّthe noble part of وَجهِthe face of مُطَهَّمٍa fine-formed steed سَبّاقِa front-runner
عَن حُرِّ وَجهِ مُطَهَّمٍ سَبّاقِ
Rich in glory, through him glory's hand has wiped clean
The utmost apex - its palm has wiped
The noble face of a fine-formed, front-running steed.
The heated face of an ardent frontrunner.
يُزهىhe takes pride بِأَعلاقِin the treasures of المَعاليexcellence حِليَةًas adornment
يُزهى بِأَعلاقِ المَعالي حِليَةً
إِنَّindeed المَعاليexalted qualities أَنفُسَthe most precious الأَعلاقِtreasures
إِنَّ المَعالي أَنفُسَ الأَعلاقِ
He glories in excellence's treasures as his adornment;
Adorned with the necklaces of the highest virtues,
For exalted qualities are the most precious treasures.
For the highest virtues are themselves necklaces.
طالَتovertopped بِهِthrough him رُمحَthe spear of السِماكِal-Simak يَراعَةٌa reed pen
طالَت بِهِ رُمحَ السِماكِ يَراعَةٌ
تَستَضعِفُdeems weak الجَوزاءَOrion شَدَّthe tightening of نِطاقِa belt
تَستَضعِفُ الجَوزاءَ شَدَّ نِطاقِ
Through him a reed pen overtopped al-Simak's spear,
With it the spear of fame has lengthened
Deeming Orion weak in the tightening of its belt.
Belittling the tight belt of the waist.
ماخَطَّhe never penned مِنany of غُرَرِthe choicest of الحِسانِbeauties وَضاءَةًin radiance
ماخَطَّ مِن غُرَرِ الحِسانِ وَضاءَةً
حَتّىuntil اِستَمَدَّhe drew ink لَهاfor them مِنَfrom الأَحداقِthe pupils
حَتّى اِستَمَدَّ لَها مِنَ الأَحداقِ
He penned no radiant gems of beauty
It has not traced from the subtlety of beauty and splendor
Until he drew ink for them from pupils.
Until drawing for it from the eyes’ dark pupils,
مُغرىًintent بِأَغراضٍon themes تَهولُthat astound بَراعَةًin artistry
مُغرىً بِأَغراضٍ تَهولُ بَراعَةً
وَرَفيفِand the flutter of أَلفاظٍwords تَشوقُthat stir longing رِقاقِdelicate
وَرَفيفِ أَلفاظٍ تَشوقُ رِقاقِ
Intent on themes astounding in their artistry,
Tempting with purposes that awe with acumen,
And the flutter of delicate words that stir longing,
And the gentle rustling of words that captivate souls.
تَهفوwaft بِهِwith him طَوراًat times قُدامىthe foremost feathers of بارِقٍlightning
تَهفو بِهِ طَوراً قُدامى بارِقٍ
فيهاwithin them وَآوِنَةًand at other times جَناحُthe wing of بُراقِBuraq
فيها وَآوِنَةً جَناحُ بُراقِ
At times lightning's pinions bear him
Through it erstwhile peaks once gilded
Through them; at other times, the wing of Buraq.
Where for a time the wing of Buraq fluttered.
أَقسَمتُI swore لَوif أَخَذَtook الهِلالُthe crescent كَمالَهُits perfection
أَقسَمتُ لَو أَخَذَ الهِلالُ كَمالَهُ
عَنهُfrom him لَتَمَّit would become full تَمامَa fullness غَيرِwithout مَحاقِwaning to darkness
عَنهُ لَتَمَّ تَمامَ غَيرِ مَحاقِ
I swear: if the crescent took its perfection
I swear if the crescent took its perfection from it
From him, it would reach fullness without waning.
It would be complete without defect.
وَكَفاكَand it suffices you مِنas غُصنٍa branch لِسَطرِfor a line of بَلاغَةٍeloquence
وَكَفاكَ مِن غُصنٍ لِسَطرِ بَلاغَةٍ
مُتَناسِقِharmoniously arranged الأَثمارِin fruits وَالأَوراقِand leaves
مُتَناسِقِ الأَثمارِ وَالأَوراقِ
And a line of eloquence is branch enough for you,
And enough of a branch for the line of eloquence
With its fruits and leaves arranged in harmony.
With harmonious fruits and leaves.
مُستَبدِعٌcreating new wonders حُسناًin beauty فَمِنso from مَعنىًa meaning لَهُof his
مُستَبدِعٌ حُسناً فَمِن مَعنىً لَهُ
حُرٍّnoble وَمِنand from لَفظٍwording رَقيقِdelicate of رَواقِdrapery
حُرٍّ وَمِن لَفظٍ رَقيقِ رَواقِ
Creating wondrous beauty, from a meaning of his
Innovating beauty so from one meaning
That is noble, and from wording with a delicate veil,
Refined, and from a tender spoken word.
مُتَوَلِّدٌborn عَنfrom خاطِرٍa mind مُتَوَقِّدٌablaze
مُتَوَلِّدٌ عَن خاطِرٍ مُتَوَقِّدٌ
لَهَباًwith flame وَطَبعٍand a nature سَلسَلٍsmooth دَفّاقِabundantly flowing
لَهَباً وَطَبعٍ سَلسَلٍ دَفّاقِ
Born from a mind ablaze
Created from an impassioned mind, kindling
With flame, and a nature smooth and overflowing.
Flame, and a nature smoothly flowing.
لَوif كانَit were يُرهَفُhoned صارِماًas a keen sword لَهَزَزتُهُI would brandish it
لَو كانَ يُرهَفُ صارِماً لَهَزَزتُهُ
فيin ماءِthe sheen of إِفرِندٍa watered-steel pattern لَهُbelonging to it رَقراقِrippling
في ماءِ إِفرِندٍ لَهُ رَقراقِ
Were it honed into a keen sword, I would brandish it
If it were to be strictly refined, I would shake it
Amid the rippling sheen of its watered steel.
In the Frigid Water whose bubbles sound.
Sol 6.1