يا خَلِيلَيَّ تَيَّمَتْني وَحيدُ

يا خَلِيلَيَّ تَيَّمَتْني وَحيدُ

فَفُؤادي بها مُعَنَّىً عَمِيدُ

فَفُؤادي بها مُعَنَّىً عَمِيدُ

O my two friends, Wahid has enthralled me,

O my two friends, Wahid has enslaved me with love;

and my heart, because of her, is tormented and stricken.

so my heart is tormented by her, love-stricken.

غادةٌ زانها من الغُصْن قَدٌّ

غادةٌ زانها من الغُصْن قَدٌّ

ومن الظَّبي مُقلتان وجِيدُ

ومن الظَّبي مُقلتان وجِيدُ

A maiden whose figure the branch adorned,

A graceful girl, adorned with a branch's stature,

and the gazelle lent her a neck and eyes;

and a gazelle's eyes and neck.

وزهاها من فَرْعِها ومن الخد

وزهاها من فَرْعِها ومن الخد

ديْنِ ذاك السَّوادُ والتَّوْريدُ

ديْنِ ذاك السَّوادُ والتَّوْريدُ

her tresses and cheeks clothed her

And she is adorned, from her tresses and her two cheeks,

in that darkness and rosy bloom.

with that blackness and rosy bloom.

أوقد الحسْنُ نارَه من وحيدٍ

أوقد الحسْنُ نارَه من وحيدٍ

فوق خدٍّ ما شَانَهُ تخْدِيدُ

فوق خدٍّ ما شَانَهُ تخْدِيدُ

Beauty kindled its fire from Wahid

Beauty kindled its fire in Wahid

upon a cheek no scoring ever marred.

upon a cheek unmarred by furrows.

فَهْيَ برْدٌ بخدِّها وسلامٌ

فَهْيَ برْدٌ بخدِّها وسلامٌ

وهي للعاشقين جُهْدٌ جهيدُ

وهي للعاشقين جُهْدٌ جهيدُ

She is coolness and peace upon her cheek,

It is coolness and peace upon her cheek,

yet for lovers she is bitter torment.

but for lovers it is arduous torment.

لم تَضِرْ قَطُّ وجهها وهْو ماءٌ

لم تَضِرْ قَطُّ وجهها وهْو ماءٌ

وتُذيبُ القلوبَ وهْيَ حديدُ

وتُذيبُ القلوبَ وهْيَ حديدُ

Her face, though water, has never harmed,

It has never harmed her face, though it is water,

yet it melts hearts even when they are iron.

yet it melts hearts, though they are iron.

ما لما تصطليه من وجنتَيْها

ما لما تصطليه من وجنتَيْها

غير تَرْشافِ رِيقِها تَبْريدُ

غير تَرْشافِ رِيقِها تَبْريدُ

Nothing cools the fire one takes from her cheeks

For the heat you suffer from her cheeks,

save sipping the nectar of her mouth.

there is no cooling but sipping her saliva.

مثْلُ ذاك الرضابِ أطفأ ذاك ال

مثْلُ ذاك الرضابِ أطفأ ذاك ال

وَجد لَوْلا الإباءُ والتَّصرِيدُ

وَجد لَوْلا الإباءُ والتَّصرِيدُ

Nectar like that would quench this

Such sweet saliva would have quenched that

passion, were it not for refusal and withholding.

passion, but for refusal and grudging portions.

وغَريرٍ بحسنها قال صِفْها

وغَريرٍ بحسنها قال صِفْها

قلت أمْران هَيِّنٌ وشديدُ

قلت أمْران هَيِّنٌ وشديدُ

A guileless youth, beguiled by her beauty, said: Describe her.

And one unacquainted with her beauty said, “Describe her.”

I said: Two things—one easy, one hard.

I said, “Two tasks: one easy, one hard.

يسهل القول إنها أحسن الأشْ

يسهل القول إنها أحسن الأشْ

ياءِ طُرّاً ويعْسرُ التحديدُ

ياءِ طُرّاً ويعْسرُ التحديدُ

It is easy to say she is the loveliest

It is easy to say she is the loveliest of

of all things; precise description is hard.

all things; precise description is hard.”

شمسُ دَجْنٍ كِلا المنيرَيْن من شم

شمسُ دَجْنٍ كِلا المنيرَيْن من شم

سٍ وبدْرٍ من نُورها يستفيدُ

سٍ وبدْرٍ من نُورها يستفيدُ

A sun amid cloud: both luminaries—the sun

A sun in clouded skies; both luminaries—the sun

and full moon—borrow their light from her.

and the full moon—draw upon her light.

تتجلَّى للناظرين إليها

تتجلَّى للناظرين إليها

فَشَقيٌّ بحسنها وسعيدُ

فَشَقيٌّ بحسنها وسعيدُ

She unveils herself to those who gaze upon her,

She reveals herself to those who look upon her:

making one wretched through her beauty, another blessed.

one is made wretched by her beauty, another happy.

ظبيةٌ تسكن القلوب وترعا

ظبيةٌ تسكن القلوب وترعا

ها وُقمْرِيَّةٌ لها تغريدُ

ها وُقمْرِيَّةٌ لها تغريدُ

A gazelle dwelling in hearts and grazing them,

A gazelle who dwells in hearts and grazes

and a ringdove with a song all her own.

upon them, and a turtledove with a song.

تتغنَّى كأنها لا تُغَنِّي

تتغنَّى كأنها لا تُغَنِّي

من سكونِ الأوصالِ وهي تُجيدِ

من سكونِ الأوصالِ وهي تُجيدِ

She sings as though she were not singing,

She sings as though she were not singing,

so still are her limbs, though she performs masterfully.

so still are her limbs, though she excels.

لا تَراها هناك تَجْحَظُ عينٌ

لا تَراها هناك تَجْحَظُ عينٌ

لك منها ولا يَدِرُّ وريدُ

لك منها ولا يَدِرُّ وريدُ

You never see an eye bulge there

You never see an eye of hers bulge there

on her account, nor a vein throb:

before you, nor a vein swell.

من هُدُوٍّ وليس فيه انْقِطاعٌ

من هُدُوٍّ وليس فيه انْقِطاعٌ

وشُجُوٍّ وما به تبليدُ

وشُجُوٍّ وما به تبليدُ

such is her composure, without any break,

A calmness with no interruption,

and such her pathos, without dullness.

and plaintiveness with no dullness.

مَدَّ في شأو صوتها نَفَسٌ كا

مَدَّ في شأو صوتها نَفَسٌ كا

فٍ كأنفاس عاشقيها مَديدُ

فٍ كأنفاس عاشقيها مَديدُ

A breath has lengthened the reach of her voice—

A breath extends the reach of her voice,

ample, prolonged like her lovers’ sighs.

ample, long as the breaths of her lovers.

وأرقَّ الدلالُ والغُنْجُ منه

وأرقَّ الدلالُ والغُنْجُ منه

وبَراهُ الشَّجا فكاد يبيدُ

وبَراهُ الشَّجا فكاد يبيدُ

Coquetry and coyness have made it tender,

Coquetry and coy charm make it finer,

and sorrow has worn it thin, almost to extinction.

and yearning wears it down until it almost dies.

فتراه يموت طَوْراً ويحيا

فتراه يموت طَوْراً ويحيا

مُسْتَلَذّاً بَسِيطُهُ والنَّشِيدُ

مُسْتَلَذّاً بَسِيطُهُ والنَّشِيدُ

You see it die of ardor, then live again,

You see it die at times and come alive,

its plain air and its chant both savored.

its extended melody and its chant alike delightful.

فيه وَشْيٌ وفيه حَلْيٌ من النَّغْ

فيه وَشْيٌ وفيه حَلْيٌ من النَّغْ

مِ مَصوغٌ يختال فيه القصيدُ

مِ مَصوغٌ يختال فيه القصيدُ

It holds embroidery, and jewels of melody,

In it is brocade, and in it jewelry of

fashioned so the poem struts within them.

notes, finely wrought, in which the verse struts proudly.

طاب فُوها وما تُرَجِّعُ فيه

طاب فُوها وما تُرَجِّعُ فيه

كلُّ شَيْءٍ لها بذاك شهيدُ

كلُّ شَيْءٍ لها بذاك شهيدُ

Sweet is her mouth, and what she repeats in it;

Sweet is her mouth, and what she trills within it;

everything bears witness for her to that.

everything of hers bears witness to that.

ثَغَبٌ يَنْقَعُ الصَّدَى وغِناءٌ

ثَغَبٌ يَنْقَعُ الصَّدَى وغِناءٌ

عنده يوجد السرورُ الفقيدُ

عنده يوجد السرورُ الفقيدُ

A spring that quenches thirst, and song

A pool that slakes thirst, and singing

beside which lost joy is found.

in which lost joy is found.

فلها الدَّهْرَ لاثِمٌ مُسْتَزيدٌ

فلها الدَّهْرَ لاثِمٌ مُسْتَزيدٌ

ولها الدهر سامع مُسْتَعيدُ

ولها الدهر سامع مُسْتَعيدُ

The age itself kisses her, craving still more,

Forever she has a kisser asking for more,

and the age listens to her, asking a reprise.

and forever a listener asking to hear again.

في هوى مثْلِها يَخفُّ حَليمٌ

في هوى مثْلِها يَخفُّ حَليمٌ

راجح حلْمُهُ ويَغْوى رشيدُ

راجح حلْمُهُ ويَغْوى رشيدُ

In love of one like her, the forbearing man grows light,

In love for one like her, a sober man grows flighty,

though his judgment is weighty, and the rightly guided strays.

though his judgment is weighty, and a prudent man strays.

ما تُعاطِي القلوبَ إلا أصابتْ

ما تُعاطِي القلوبَ إلا أصابتْ

بهواها منهُنَّ حيْثُ تُرِيدُ

بهواها منهُنَّ حيْثُ تُرِيدُ

She never takes aim at hearts without striking

She never engages hearts without striking

with her love exactly where she wills.

wherever she wishes in them with love for her.

وَتَرُ العَزْفِ في يَدَيْها مُضَاهٍ

وَتَرُ العَزْفِ في يَدَيْها مُضَاهٍ

وَتَرَ الزَّحْف فِيهِ سهمٌ شَديدُ

وَتَرَ الزَّحْف فِيهِ سهمٌ شَديدُ

The lute-string in her hands resembles

Her instrument's string in her hands resembles

a bowstring bearing a sharp arrow.

a war-bow's string bearing a mighty arrow.

وإذا أنْبَضَتْهُ للشَّرْبِ يوماً

وإذا أنْبَضَتْهُ للشَّرْبِ يوماً

أيقنَ القومُ أنها ستَصيدُ

أيقنَ القومُ أنها ستَصيدُ

When one day she plucks it for the drinkers,

And whenever she twangs it for the drinkers one day,

the company knows she will hunt them down.

the company knows for certain she will take her prey.

مَعْبَدٌ في الغناء وابن سُرَيْج

مَعْبَدٌ في الغناء وابن سُرَيْج

وَهْيَ في الضَّرْبِ زَلْزَلٌ وعَقيدُ

وَهْيَ في الضَّرْبِ زَلْزَلٌ وعَقيدُ

In song she is Ma‘bad and Ibn Surayj;

In singing she is Ma'bad and Ibn Surayj,

in percussion she is Zalzal and ‘Aqil.

and in playing she is Zalzal and Aqid.

عَيْبُها أنَّها إذا غَنَّتِ الأحْ

عَيْبُها أنَّها إذا غَنَّتِ الأحْ

رَار ظلُّوا وهُمْ لديها عَبيدُ

رَار ظلُّوا وهُمْ لديها عَبيدُ

Her only fault is that, whenever she sang, free

Her fault is that whenever she sings, the freeborn

men remained before her as slaves.

remain at her side as slaves.

واستزادتْ قلوبَهم من هواها

واستزادتْ قلوبَهم من هواها

بِرُقاها وما لَدَيْهِمْ مَزيدُ

بِرُقاها وما لَدَيْهِمْ مَزيدُ

She made their hearts ask more of her love

She asks their hearts for still more love for her

through her spells, when they had no room for more.

with her spells, though they have no more to give.

وحسانٍ عَرَضْنَ لي قلتُ مهلاً

وحسانٍ عَرَضْنَ لي قلتُ مهلاً

عن وحيدٍ فحقُّها التَّوْحِيدُ

عن وحيدٍ فحقُّها التَّوْحِيدُ

Beauties appeared before me; I said, Gently—

And beauties presented themselves to me; I said, “Hold back

not in Wahid’s stead: hers is the right to be the one.

from Wahid: her due is undivided devotion.”

حُسْنُها في العيون حسْنٌ وحيدٌ

حُسْنُها في العيون حسْنٌ وحيدٌ

فلها في القلوب حبٌّ وحيدُ

فلها في القلوب حبٌّ وحيدُ

Her beauty in the eyes is a beauty unique;

Her beauty in all eyes is a beauty without peer;

hers in the hearts is a love unique.

so hers in all hearts is a love for her alone.

ونَصيحٍ يلومُني في هواها

ونَصيحٍ يلومُني في هواها

ضَلَّ عنه التوفيقُ والتسديدُ

ضَلَّ عنه التوفيقُ والتسديدُ

To an adviser who blames me for loving her—

And a well-wisher blames me for loving her;

right guidance and sound judgment have strayed from him.

right guidance and sound judgment have deserted him.

لو رأى من يلُوم فيه لأضحى

لو رأى من يلُوم فيه لأضحى

وهو المسْتَريثُ والمسْتَزيدُ

وهو المسْتَريثُ والمسْتَزيدُ

If he saw the one for whom he blames me, he would become,

If he saw the one for whom he blames me, he would become

though slow to linger, one who begs for more.

the one begging to linger and asking for more.

ضلَّةً للفُؤاد يَحْنُو عليها

ضلَّةً للفُؤاد يَحْنُو عليها

وهي تَزْهُو حَياتَه وتَكيدُ

وهي تَزْهُو حَياتَه وتَكيدُ

A beguiling error the heart inclines toward;

What folly for the heart, tender toward her,

she makes his life exult even as she plots against it.

while she scorns its life and schemes against it!

سَحرَتْهُ بمقْلتيْها فأضحتْ

سَحرَتْهُ بمقْلتيْها فأضحتْ

عنده والذميمُ منها حميدُ

عنده والذميمُ منها حميدُ

She bewitched him with her two eyes, until

She bewitched it with her eyes, until

even what is blameworthy in her became praiseworthy to him.

even her faults became virtues in its eyes.

خُلِقَتْ فِتْنةً غِناءً وحُسْناً

خُلِقَتْ فِتْنةً غِناءً وحُسْناً

ما لها فيهما جميعاً نَدِيدُ

ما لها فيهما جميعاً نَدِيدُ

She was created a temptation in song and beauty;

She was created a temptation, in singing and beauty;

in both together she has no peer.

in both together she has no equal.

فَهْيَ نُعْمَى يميدُ منها كَبيرٌ

فَهْيَ نُعْمَى يميدُ منها كَبيرٌ

وهْيَ بلْوى يشيب منها وليدُ

وهْيَ بلْوى يشيب منها وليدُ

She is a blessing that makes an elder sway,

She is a blessing that makes a grown man reel,

and an affliction that turns an infant gray.

and an ordeal that turns a newborn gray.

لِيَ حيْث انصرَفتُ عنها رفيقٌ

لِيَ حيْث انصرَفتُ عنها رفيقٌ

من هواها وحيث حَلَّتْ قَعِيدُ

من هواها وحيث حَلَّتْ قَعِيدُ

Wherever I turn away from her, I have a companion

Wherever I turn away from her, I have a companion

of her love; wherever she alights, it sits beside me:

of love for her, and wherever she settles, a companion at my side.

عن يميني وعن شمالي وقُدّا

عن يميني وعن شمالي وقُدّا

مي وخلفي فأين عنه أحيدُ

مي وخلفي فأين عنه أحيدُ

on my right and left, before

On my right, on my left, and before

and behind me—where can I turn away from it?

me and behind me: where can I turn away from it?

سدَّ شيطانُ حُبِّها كلَّ فَجٍّ

سدَّ شيطانُ حُبِّها كلَّ فَجٍّ

إنَّ شيطان حبِّها لَمَرِيدُ

إنَّ شيطان حبِّها لَمَرِيدُ

The demon of her love has blocked every mountain pass;

The demon of love for her has blocked every path;

truly, the demon of her love is rebellious.

truly the demon of love for her is rebellious.

ليت شعري إذا أدام إليها

ليت شعري إذا أدام إليها

كَرَّةَ الطَّرْف مُبدىءٌ ومعيدُ

كَرَّةَ الطَّرْف مُبدىءٌ ومعيدُ

Would that I knew: when one keeps turning toward her

Would that I knew, when they keep turning toward her

a gaze begun and begun anew,

their gaze—first-time lookers and returning ones—

أهْيَ شيء لا تسأم العين منه

أهْيَ شيء لا تسأم العين منه

أم لها كلَّ ساعة تجْديدُ

أم لها كلَّ ساعة تجْديدُ

is she something the eye can never weary of,

is she something of which the eye never tires,

or is she renewed at every hour?

or is she renewed with every hour?

بل هي العيش لا يزال متى استُعْ

بل هي العيش لا يزال متى استُعْ

رض يملي غرائباً ويُفِيدُ

رض يملي غرائباً ويُفِيدُ

Rather, she is life itself: whenever dis-

Rather, she is life itself; whenever it is

played, she unfolds wonders and bestows delight.

surveyed, it keeps offering marvels and enriching us.

مَنْظَرٌ مَسْمَعٌ مَعانٌ من اللَّهْ

مَنْظَرٌ مَسْمَعٌ مَعانٌ من اللَّهْ

وِ عَتادٌ لما نُحبُّ عَتيدُ

وِ عَتادٌ لما نُحبُّ عَتيدُ

A sight, a sound, meanings of pleasure—

A sight, a sound, many forms of diversion,

ready provision for all that we love.

a store for what we love, ready to hand.

لا يَدبُّ الملالُ فيها ولا يَنْ

لا يَدبُّ الملالُ فيها ولا يَنْ

قُص من عَقْد سحْرِها تَوْكيدُ

قُص من عَقْد سحْرِها تَوْكيدُ

Boredom never creeps into her, nor does it

Weariness never creeps into her, nor does

loosen the firm knot of her enchantment.

the knot of her enchantment lose its tightness.

حُسْنها في العيون حُسْنٌ جديدٌ

حُسْنها في العيون حُسْنٌ جديدٌ

فلها في القلوب حُبٌّ جديدُ

فلها في القلوب حُبٌّ جديدُ

Her beauty in the eyes is beauty ever new,

Her beauty in our eyes is ever new;

so love for her in hearts is ever new.

so love for her in our hearts is ever new.

أخذ اللّه يا وحيدُ لقلبي

أخذ اللّه يا وحيدُ لقلبي

منك ما يأخذ المُدِيلُ المُقِيدُ

منك ما يأخذ المُدِيلُ المُقِيدُ

May God exact for my heart from you, O Wahid,

May God, O Wahid, exact for my heart

what the empowered victor exacts from a shackled captive.

from you what the reverser of fortunes, the avenger, exacts.

حَظُّ غيري من وصلكُمْ قُرَّةُ العيْ

حَظُّ غيري من وصلكُمْ قُرَّةُ العيْ

ن وحظيِّ البكاءُ والتَّسْهيدُ

ن وحظيِّ البكاءُ والتَّسْهيدُ

Another’s share of union with you is delight to the eye;

Others' share of union with you is joy to the eyes,

my share is weeping and sleeplessness.

while my share is weeping and sleeplessness.

غير أني مُعَلِّلٌ منك نفسي

غير أني مُعَلِّلٌ منك نفسي

بِعِداتٍ خلالَهُنَّ وَعيدُ

بِعِداتٍ خلالَهُنَّ وَعيدُ

Yet I console my soul with promises from you

Yet I keep consoling myself about you

whose folds conceal a threat.

with promises threaded through with threats.

ما تزالينَ نظرةٌ منك مَوْتٌ

ما تزالينَ نظرةٌ منك مَوْتٌ

لي مُمِيتٌ ونظرةٌ تخليدُ

لي مُمِيتٌ ونظرةٌ تخليدُ

You never cease: one glance from you is death

You are ever thus: one glance from you is death

that kills me, and another glance is immortality.

that kills me, while another grants undying life.

نتلاقى فلحْظَةٌ منك وعْدٌ

نتلاقى فلحْظَةٌ منك وعْدٌ

بوصال ولحظةٌ تهديدُ

بوصال ولحظةٌ تهديدُ

When we meet, one look from you promises

We meet: one glance from you is a promise

union, and another look threatens.

of union, and another glance a threat.

قد تركْتِ الصِّحاح مرْضى يميدُو

قد تركْتِ الصِّحاح مرْضى يميدُو

ن نُحولاً وأنت خُوطٌ يميدُ

ن نُحولاً وأنت خُوطٌ يميدُ

You have left the healthy sick and swaying,

You have left the healthy sick, swaying

gaunt, while you sway like a tender bough.

with emaciation, while you are a swaying bough.

والهوى لا يزال فيه ضعيفٌ

والهوى لا يزال فيه ضعيفٌ

بين ألحاظِهِ صريعٌ جليدُ

بين ألحاظِهِ صريعٌ جليدُ

Love remains weak there,

In love there is always a weakling—

struck down between your glances though once hardy.

a stout-hearted man struck down amid its glances.

ضافَنِي حُبُّك الغريبُ فألوى

ضافَنِي حُبُّك الغريبُ فألوى

بالرُّقادِ النَّسيبِ فهو طريدُ

بالرُّقادِ النَّسيبِ فهو طريدُ

Your strange, foreign love lodged with me and drove away

Your love, a stranger, came as my guest and drove out

the familiar, kindred love, now an exile.

sleep, my kinsman, now an outcast.

عجباً لي أنَّ الغريب مُقيم

عجباً لي أنَّ الغريب مُقيم

بيْن جَنْبَيَّ والنسيبُ شريدُ

بيْن جَنْبَيَّ والنسيبُ شريدُ

Strange that the foreign one resides

How strange to me that the stranger dwells

between my ribs, while the kinsman wanders homeless.

between my sides, while the kinsman wanders homeless!

قَد مَلَلْنا من ستر شيءٍ مليح

قَد مَلَلْنا من ستر شيءٍ مليح

نشتهيه فهلْ له تجريدُ

نشتهيه فهلْ له تجريدُ

We have tired of veiling something beautiful

We have tired of the veiling of a lovely thing;

that we desire—will it not be unveiled?

we crave it: can it be laid bare?

هو في القلب وهو أبعد من نج

هو في القلب وهو أبعد من نج

م الثريّا فهو القريب البعيدُ

م الثريّا فهو القريب البعيدُ

It is in the heart, yet farther away than

It is in the heart, yet farther away than the star

the Pleiades: the near one, the distant one.

of the Pleiades: it is the near and the far.