أَضحى التَنائي بَديلاً مِن تَدانينا

أَضحى التَنائي بَديلاً مِن تَدانينا

وَنابَ عَن طيبِ لُقيانا تَجافينا

وَنابَ عَن طيبِ لُقيانا تَجافينا

Separation has become a substitute for our closeness,

Our closeness is now replaced with distance,

And estrangement has replaced the sweetness of our meeting.

And our affection with estrangement.

أَلّا وَقَد حانَ صُبحُ البَينِ صَبَّحَنا

أَلّا وَقَد حانَ صُبحُ البَينِ صَبَّحَنا

حَينٌ فَقامَ بِنا لِلحَينِ ناعينا

حَينٌ فَقامَ بِنا لِلحَينِ ناعينا

Lo, when the dawn of parting came, we were greeted by

Alas! The dawn of separation has risen upon us,

Doom; our death-herald rose among us to proclaim doom.

When the moment took away our companion.

مَن مُبلِغُ المُلبِسينا بِاِنتِزاحِهِمُ

مَن مُبلِغُ المُلبِسينا بِاِنتِزاحِهِمُ

حُزناً مَعَ الدَهرِ لا يَبلى وَيُبلينا

حُزناً مَعَ الدَهرِ لا يَبلى وَيُبلينا

Who will inform those who, by departing, have clothed us

Who will inform those who have departed

In grief that never wears out with time, but wears us away,

Of the endless sorrow they have left behind?

أَنَّ الزَمانَ الَّذي مازالَ يُضحِكُنا

أَنَّ الزَمانَ الَّذي مازالَ يُضحِكُنا

أُنساً بِقُربِهِمُ قَد عادَ يُبكينا

أُنساً بِقُربِهِمُ قَد عادَ يُبكينا

That time, which never ceased to make us laugh

The days that once brought us joy in their company

In joy at their nearness, has turned to make us weep?

Now make us weep in their absence.

غيظَ العِدا مِن تَساقينا الهَوى فَدَعَوا

غيظَ العِدا مِن تَساقينا الهَوى فَدَعَوا

بِأَن نَغَصَّ فَقالَ الدَهرُ آمينا

بِأَن نَغَصَّ فَقالَ الدَهرُ آمينا

Our sharing draughts of love enraged our foes, so they prayed

Enemies rejoiced at our love and called

That we should choke; Time answered, “Amen.”

For our happiness to end - and fate agreed.

فَاِنحَلَّ ما كانَ مَعقوداً بِأَنفُسِنا

فَاِنحَلَّ ما كانَ مَعقوداً بِأَنفُسِنا

وَاِنبَتَّ ما كانَ مَوصولاً بِأَيدينا

وَاِنبَتَّ ما كانَ مَوصولاً بِأَيدينا

So what was knotted in our souls came undone,

What we had tied firmly came undone,

And what was joined by our hands was severed.

And what we held joined came apart.

وَقَد نَكونُ وَما يُخشى تَفَرُّقُنا

وَقَد نَكونُ وَما يُخشى تَفَرُّقُنا

فَاليَومَ نَحنُ وَما يُرجى تَلاقينا

فَاليَومَ نَحنُ وَما يُرجى تَلاقينا

Once we were together, with no fear of separation;

We may still be together, but separation looms ahead,

Today we remain, with no hope of reunion.

Today we are united, but reunion seems unlikely.

يا لَيتَ شِعري وَلَم نُعتِب أَعادِيَكُم

يا لَيتَ شِعري وَلَم نُعتِب أَعادِيَكُم

هَل نالَ حَظّاً مِنَ العُتبى أَعادينا

هَل نالَ حَظّاً مِنَ العُتبى أَعادينا

Would that I knew—we never appeased your enemies—

If only I knew - though you've caused no offense -

Whether our enemies have gained a share of appeasement.

Whether our enemies have gained what they sought!

لَم نَعتَقِد بَعدَكُم إِلّا الوَفاءَ لَكُم

لَم نَعتَقِد بَعدَكُم إِلّا الوَفاءَ لَكُم

رَأياً وَلَم نَتَقَلَّد غَيرَهُ دينا

رَأياً وَلَم نَتَقَلَّد غَيرَهُ دينا

After you, we held no belief but fidelity to you

After you left, we adhered to none but you,

As our conviction, and embraced no other as our faith.

Neither in creed nor allegiance.

ما حَقَّنا أَن تُقِرّوا عَينَ ذي حَسَدٍ

ما حَقَّنا أَن تُقِرّوا عَينَ ذي حَسَدٍ

بِنا وَلا أَن تَسُرّوا كاشِحاً فينا

بِنا وَلا أَن تَسُرّوا كاشِحاً فينا

It is not our due that you should gladden an envier’s eye

It was not right that we please envious eyes,

At our expense, or delight someone hostile to us.

Or make those who resented us glad for our loss.

كُنّا نَرى اليَأسَ تُسلينا عَوارِضُهُ

كُنّا نَرى اليَأسَ تُسلينا عَوارِضُهُ

وَقَد يَئِسنا فَما لِليَأسِ يُغرينا

وَقَد يَئِسنا فَما لِليَأسِ يُغرينا

We thought despair’s visitations would console us;

In hardships, despair would console us,

Now we have despaired—why does despair spur us on?

But now in despair, we find no consolation.

بِنتُم وَبِنّا فَما اِبتَلَّت جَوانِحُنا

بِنتُم وَبِنّا فَما اِبتَلَّت جَوانِحُنا

شَوقاً إِلَيكُم وَلا جَفَّت مَآقينا

شَوقاً إِلَيكُم وَلا جَفَّت مَآقينا

You parted, and we parted; our breasts have not grown moist

We were brought up together, not once

Because of longing for you, nor have our tear-ducts dried.

Did our hearts cease longing or tears run dry,

نَكادُ حينَ تُناجيكُم ضَمائِرُنا

نَكادُ حينَ تُناجيكُم ضَمائِرُنا

يَقضي عَلَينا الأَسى لَولا تَأَسّينا

يَقضي عَلَينا الأَسى لَولا تَأَسّينا

When our inmost thoughts whisper to you, we are almost

When alone, our souls whisper of you,

Slain by grief, but for our finding consolation.

Grief would consume us, if not for our endurance.

حالَت لِفَقدِكُمُ أَيّامُنا فَغَدَت

حالَت لِفَقدِكُمُ أَيّامُنا فَغَدَت

سوداً وَكانَت بِكُم بيضاً لَيالينا

سوداً وَكانَت بِكُم بيضاً لَيالينا

Our days changed with your loss, becoming

Without you, our days turned black,

Black, while with you our nights had been white.

Though with you, our nights glowed white.

إِذ جانِبُ العَيشِ طَلقٌ مِن تَأَلُّفِنا

إِذ جانِبُ العَيشِ طَلقٌ مِن تَأَلُّفِنا

وَمَربَعُ اللَهوِ صافٍ مِن تَصافينا

وَمَربَعُ اللَهوِ صافٍ مِن تَصافينا

When the face of life was bright through our intimacy,

With your loss, life lost its sweetness,

And pleasure’s meadow clear through our mutual goodwill;

And the hours their delight.

وَإِذ هَصَرنا فُنونَ الوَصلِ دانِيَةً

وَإِذ هَصَرنا فُنونَ الوَصلِ دانِيَةً

قِطافُها فَجَنَينا مِنهُ ما شينا

قِطافُها فَجَنَينا مِنهُ ما شينا

And when we bent down union’s branches, close at hand

We once culled the fruits of companionship,

Their fruits; then we gathered from it whatever we wished.

Plucking generously those we desired.

لِيُسقَ عَهدُكُمُ عَهدُ السُرورِ فَما

لِيُسقَ عَهدُكُمُ عَهدُ السُرورِ فَما

كُنتُم لِأَرواحِنا إِلّا رَياحينا

كُنتُم لِأَرواحِنا إِلّا رَياحينا

May your time—the time of joy—be watered; for never

May your days be like the reign of joy,

Were you to our souls anything but fragrant blossoms.

For you were the breeze that gave life.

لا تَحسَبوا نَأيَكُم عَنّا يُغَيِّرُنا

لا تَحسَبوا نَأيَكُم عَنّا يُغَيِّرُنا

أَن طالَما غَيَّرَ النَأيُ المُحِبّينا

أَن طالَما غَيَّرَ النَأيُ المُحِبّينا

Do not think your distance from us will change us,

Do not think the distance has changed us;

Just because distance has so often changed lovers.

Time has not swayed the hearts of lovers.

وَاللَهِ ما طَلَبَت أَهواؤُنا بَدَلاً

وَاللَهِ ما طَلَبَت أَهواؤُنا بَدَلاً

مِنكُم وَلا اِنصَرَفَت عَنكُم أَمانينا

مِنكُم وَلا اِنصَرَفَت عَنكُم أَمانينا

By God, our affections have sought no substitute

By God, we have not replaced you,

For you, nor have our hopes turned away from you.

Or turned our hopes to another.

يا سارِيَ البَرقِ غادِ القَصرَ وَاِسقِ بِهِ

يا سارِيَ البَرقِ غادِ القَصرَ وَاِسقِ بِهِ

مَن كانَ صِرفَ الهَوى وَالوُدُّ يَسقينا

مَن كانَ صِرفَ الهَوى وَالوُدُّ يَسقينا

O night-roaming lightning, visit the palace at dawn and water there

Messenger of lightning, go to the palace and take

The one who used to give us pure love and affection to drink.

Our greetings to the one whose love nourished us.

وَاِسأَل هُنالِكَ هَل عَنّى تَذَكُّرُنا

وَاِسأَل هُنالِكَ هَل عَنّى تَذَكُّرُنا

إِلفاً تَذَكُّرُهُ أَمسى يُعَنّينا

إِلفاً تَذَكُّرُهُ أَمسى يُعَنّينا

And ask there whether remembering us has tormented

Ask if he remembers us from time to time,

A beloved whose remembrance now torments us.

For the memory gives life to our longing.

وَيا نَسيمَ الصَبا بَلِّغ تَحِيَّتَنا

وَيا نَسيمَ الصَبا بَلِّغ تَحِيَّتَنا

مَن لَو عَلى البُعدِ حَيّا كانَ يُحَيّينا

مَن لَو عَلى البُعدِ حَيّا كانَ يُحَيّينا

And O breeze of the east wind, convey our greeting

O breeze of youth, convey our greetings

To one whose greeting, even from afar, would revive us.

To one whose greeting, even from afar, gave us life.

فَهَل أَرى الدَهرَ يَقضينا مُساعَفَةً

فَهَل أَرى الدَهرَ يَقضينا مُساعَفَةً

مِنهُ وَإِن لَم يَكُن غِبّاً تَقاضينا

مِنهُ وَإِن لَم يَكُن غِبّاً تَقاضينا

Shall I see Time grant us a favor

Will days double our sorrows,

From itself, though our petitions have been unceasing?

Or treat us with justice long owed?

رَبيبُ مُلكٍ كَأَنَّ اللَهَ أَنشَأَهُ

رَبيبُ مُلكٍ كَأَنَّ اللَهَ أَنشَأَهُ

مِسكاً وَقَدَّرَ إِنشاءَ الوَرى طينا

مِسكاً وَقَدَّرَ إِنشاءَ الوَرى طينا

A royal fosterling, as though God had created him

A prince, as though formed by God from musk

Of musk, while ordaining that humankind be made of clay;

And the clay of men with perfect composition.

أَو صاغَهُ وَرِقاً مَحضاً وَتَوَّجَهُ

أَو صاغَهُ وَرِقاً مَحضاً وَتَوَّجَهُ

مِن ناصِعِ التِبرِ إِبداعاً وَتَحسينا

مِن ناصِعِ التِبرِ إِبداعاً وَتَحسينا

Or fashioned him of pure silver and crowned him

Or wrought into pure gold and adorned

With gleaming gold, in artistry and embellishment.

With brilliant gems in flawless creation.

إِذا تَأَوَّدَ آدَتهُ رَفاهِيَةً

إِذا تَأَوَّدَ آدَتهُ رَفاهِيَةً

تومُ العُقودِ وَأَدمَتهُ البُرى لينا

تومُ العُقودِ وَأَدمَتهُ البُرى لينا

When he sways, such is his delicacy that he is weighed down

When he smiled, his gentle charm

By silver necklace-beads, and anklets make his tender flesh bleed.

Tamed the stars and made all hearts pliant.

كانَت لَهُ الشَمسُ ظِئراً في أَكِلَّتِه

كانَت لَهُ الشَمسُ ظِئراً في أَكِلَّتِه

بَل ما تَجَلّى لَها إِلّا أَحايينا

بَل ما تَجَلّى لَها إِلّا أَحايينا

The sun was his wet nurse within his bed-curtains;

To him, the radiant sun was a twin,

Rather, he revealed himself to her only now and then.

Or rather, next to him, it paled.

كَأَنَّما أُثبِتَت في صَحنِ وَجنَتِهِ

كَأَنَّما أُثبِتَت في صَحنِ وَجنَتِهِ

زُهرُ الكَواكِبِ تَعويذاً وَتَزيينا

زُهرُ الكَواكِبِ تَعويذاً وَتَزيينا

As though upon the broad expanse of his cheek were set

As though its flowers were fixed in his garden

The bright stars, as talismans and adornment.

Like stars in the heavens, for protection.

ما ضَرَّ أَن لَم نَكُن أَكفاءَهُ شَرَفاً

ما ضَرَّ أَن لَم نَكُن أَكفاءَهُ شَرَفاً

وَفي المَوَدَّةِ كافٍ مِن تَكافينا

وَفي المَوَدَّةِ كافٍ مِن تَكافينا

It mattered not that we were not his equals in noble rank;

We were not equals in nobility,

Our equality in affection was enough.

But in love we were perfectly matched.

يا رَوضَةً طالَما أَجنَت لَواحِظَنا

يا رَوضَةً طالَما أَجنَت لَواحِظَنا

وَرداً جَلاهُ الصِبا غَضّاً وَنَسرينا

وَرداً جَلاهُ الصِبا غَضّاً وَنَسرينا

O garden that so often let our glances harvest

O meadow where we so often delighted,

Roses youth unveiled in freshness, and wild roses;

With roses by the breeze made fresh.

وَيا حَياةً تَمَلَّينا بِزَهرَتِها

وَيا حَياةً تَمَلَّينا بِزَهرَتِها

مُنىً ضُروباً وَلَذّاتٍ أَفانينا

مُنىً ضُروباً وَلَذّاتٍ أَفانينا

And O life through whose bloom we savored

O life whose fruits we enjoyed,

Wishes of many kinds and pleasures in varied forms;

Tasting sweetness and fleeting joys.

وَيا نَعيماً خَطَرنا مِن غَضارَتِهِ

وَيا نَعيماً خَطَرنا مِن غَضارَتِهِ

في وَشيِ نُعمى سَحَبنا ذَيلَهُ حينا

في وَشيِ نُعمى سَحَبنا ذَيلَهُ حينا

And O bliss, through whose luxuriance we strutted

O bliss we chased heedlessly,

In the brocade of blessing, whose train we trailed for a time.

Dragging its train in careless revelry.

لَسنا نُسَمّيكِ إِجلالاً وَتَكرِمَةً

لَسنا نُسَمّيكِ إِجلالاً وَتَكرِمَةً

وَقَدرُكِ المُعتَلي عَن ذاكَ يُغنينا

وَقَدرُكِ المُعتَلي عَن ذاكَ يُغنينا

We do not name you, out of reverence and honor;

Not to honor or revere you -

Your exalted rank spares us the need for that.

Your sublime worth needs no praise.

إِذا اِنفَرَدتِ وَما شورِكتِ في صِفَةٍ

إِذا اِنفَرَدتِ وَما شورِكتِ في صِفَةٍ

فَحَسبُنا الوَصفُ إيضاحاًّ وَتَبيينا

فَحَسبُنا الوَصفُ إيضاحاًّ وَتَبيينا

Since you stand alone, with none sharing your qualities,

When peerless, mere words to describe you

Description alone suffices us to make you plainly known.

Suffice not, but show and clarify.

يا جَنَّةَ الخُلدِ أُبدِلنا بِسِدرَتِها

يا جَنَّةَ الخُلدِ أُبدِلنا بِسِدرَتِها

وَالكَوثَرِ العَذبِ زَقّوماً وَغِسلينا

وَالكَوثَرِ العَذبِ زَقّوماً وَغِسلينا

O garden of eternity, we were given, for its lote-tree

O eternal Paradise! In your place

And sweet Kawthar, zaqqum and foul pus.

We were given Hellfire's Zaqqum and pus.

كَأَنَّنا لَم نَبِت وَالوَصلُ ثالِثُنا

كَأَنَّنا لَم نَبِت وَالوَصلُ ثالِثُنا

وَالسَعدُ قَد غَضَّ مِن أَجفانِ واشينا

وَالسَعدُ قَد غَضَّ مِن أَجفانِ واشينا

As though we had never spent a night with union as our third companion,

As if, while together, we did not live,

While good fortune had lowered our tale-bearer’s eyelids.

And fortune's eye was shut to our being.

إِن كانَ قَد عَزَّ في الدُنيا اللِقاءُ بِكُم

إِن كانَ قَد عَزَّ في الدُنيا اللِقاءُ بِكُم

في مَوقِفِ الحَشرِ نَلقاكُم وَتَلقونا

في مَوقِفِ الحَشرِ نَلقاكُم وَتَلقونا

If meeting you in this world has become hard to attain,

If reunion in life is beyond reach,

At the gathering of resurrection, we shall meet you, and you us.

We will meet in the Gathering and be reunited.

سِرّانِ في خاطِرِ الظَلماءِ يَكتُمُنا

سِرّانِ في خاطِرِ الظَلماءِ يَكتُمُنا

حَتّى يَكادَ لِسانُ الصُبحِ يُفشينا

حَتّى يَكادَ لِسانُ الصُبحِ يُفشينا

We are two secrets in darkness’s mind, which conceals us,

Two secrets hidden in the dark of night,

Until dawn’s tongue nearly divulges us.

Nearly exposed ere dawn breaks its seal.

لا غَروَ في أَن ذَكَرنا الحُزنَ حينَ نَهَت

لا غَروَ في أَن ذَكَرنا الحُزنَ حينَ نَهَت

عَنهُ النُهى وَتَرَكنا الصَبرَ ناسينا

عَنهُ النُهى وَتَرَكنا الصَبرَ ناسينا

No wonder we remembered sorrow, when it was forbidden

No wonder we complain though patience was prescribed,

By reason, and left patience behind, forgetful.

Reading sorrow then forsaking composure.

إِنّا قَرَأنا الأَسى يَومَ النَوى سُوَراً

إِنّا قَرَأنا الأَسى يَومَ النَوى سُوَراً

مَكتوبَةً وَأَخَذنا الصَبرَ تَلقينا

مَكتوبَةً وَأَخَذنا الصَبرَ تَلقينا

Indeed, we read sorrow, on separation’s day, as chapters

But we did not replace your love, even when

Written down, and learned patience by oral prompting.

Its draughts seemed sweet but left bitter thirst.

أَمّا هَواكِ فَلَم نَعدِل بِمَنهَلِهِ

أَمّا هَواكِ فَلَم نَعدِل بِمَنهَلِهِ

شُرَباً وَإِن كانَ يُروينا فَيُظمينا

شُرَباً وَإِن كانَ يُروينا فَيُظمينا

As for your love, we have never exchanged its spring

We turned from no horizon where you shone,

For other draughts, though it quenches us, then makes us thirst.

Abandoning its beauty, or shunning its brilliance.

لَم نَجفُ أُفقَ جَمالٍ أَنتِ كَوكَبُهُ

لَم نَجفُ أُفقَ جَمالٍ أَنتِ كَوكَبُهُ

سالينَ عَنهُ وَلَم نَهجُرهُ قالينا

سالينَ عَنهُ وَلَم نَهجُرهُ قالينا

We did not shun the horizon of beauty of which you are the star,

Not by choice did we avoid it,

Forgetful of it, nor did we abandon it in hatred.

But returned against our will.

وَلا اِختِياراً تَجَنَّبناهُ عَن كَثَبٍ

وَلا اِختِياراً تَجَنَّبناهُ عَن كَثَبٍ

لَكِن عَدَتنا عَلى كُرهٍ عَوادينا

لَكِن عَدَتنا عَلى كُرهٍ عَوادينا

Nor did we choose to avoid it, though it was close at hand;

We grieve for you when you are recalled,

Rather, our misfortunes kept us away against our will.

Joy floods us, songs carry our laments.

نَأسى عَلَيكِ إِذا حُثَّت مُشَعشَعَةً

نَأسى عَلَيكِ إِذا حُثَّت مُشَعشَعَةً

فينا الشَمولُ وَغَنّانا مُغَنّينا

فينا الشَمولُ وَغَنّانا مُغَنّينا

We grieve for you when, mingled with water, it is briskly passed—

No wine-filled cups or melodies entertain,

The wine among us—and our singer sings to us.

With cheer or joyful tunes.

لا أَكؤُسُ الراحِ تُبدي مِن شَمائِلِنا

لا أَكؤُسُ الراحِ تُبدي مِن شَمائِلِنا

سِيَما اِرتِياحٍ وَلا الأَوتارُ تُلهينا

سِيَما اِرتِياحٍ وَلا الأَوتارُ تُلهينا

Neither winecups show in our demeanor

We will keep our vow, for as long as we have strength,

A sign of joy, nor do the strings distract us.

To be just is to be free.

دومي عَلى العَهدِ ما دُمنا مُحافِظَةً

دومي عَلى العَهدِ ما دُمنا مُحافِظَةً

فَالحُرُّ مَن دانَ إِنصافاً كَما دينا

فَالحُرُّ مَن دانَ إِنصافاً كَما دينا

Keep the pledge faithfully, as long as we live;

We gained no new friend to confine us,

For the noble one repays justly, as we have repaid.

Or lover to turn us away.

فَما اِستَعَضنا خَليلاً مِنكِ يَحبِسُنا

فَما اِستَعَضنا خَليلاً مِنكِ يَحبِسُنا

وَلا اِستَفَدنا حَبيباً عَنكِ يَثنينا

وَلا اِستَفَدنا حَبيباً عَنكِ يَثنينا

We have taken no friend in your stead to hold us back,

The full moon rising into our night sky

Nor gained a beloved to turn us away from you.

Could not, but for you, shine its light upon us.

وَلَو صَبا نَحوَنا مِن عُلوِ مَطلَعِهِ

وَلَو صَبا نَحوَنا مِن عُلوِ مَطلَعِهِ

بَدرُ الدُجى لَم يَكُن حاشاكِ يُصبينا

بَدرُ الدُجى لَم يَكُن حاشاكِ يُصبينا

Even if, from its lofty rising-place, there inclined toward us

I weep in loyalty, though you bestow no gift,

The full moon of night, it could not—with reverence to you—captivate us.

Apparitions and memories suffice.

أَبكي وَفاءً وَإِن لَم تَبذُلي صِلَةً

أَبكي وَفاءً وَإِن لَم تَبذُلي صِلَةً

فَالطَيّفُ يُقنِعُنا وَالذِكرُ يَكفينا

فَالطَيّفُ يُقنِعُنا وَالذِكرُ يَكفينا

I weep in loyalty, even if you grant no reunion;

In your reply is reward, if your fair hands

For a dream-vision satisfies us, and remembrance suffices us.

Continue to tend us with care.

وَفي الجَوابِ مَتاعٌ إِن شَفَعتِ بِهِ

وَفي الجَوابِ مَتاعٌ إِن شَفَعتِ بِهِ

بيضَ الأَيادي الَّتي ما زِلتِ تولينا

بيضَ الأَيادي الَّتي ما زِلتِ تولينا

And a reply brings delight, if with it you supplement

Upon you from us is God's peace, lasting

The white hands of kindness you have always extended to us.

As long as the freshness of youth remains tied to you.

عَلَيكِ مِنّا سَلامُ اللَهِ ما بَقِيَت

عَلَيكِ مِنّا سَلامُ اللَهِ ما بَقِيَت

صَبابَةٌ بِكِ نُخفيها فَتَخفينا

صَبابَةٌ بِكِ نُخفيها فَتَخفينا

May God’s peace be upon you from us, as long as there remains

A longing for you that we conceal, and that conceals us.