ذَكَرتُ زَمانَ الوَصلِ فيها فَلَيسَ لي

ذَكَرتُ زَمانَ الوَصلِ فيها فَلَيسَ لي

عَزاءٌ وَلا صَبرٌ وَلا مُتَلَذَّذُ

عَزاءٌ وَلا صَبرٌ وَلا مُتَلَذَّذُ

I recalled the time of union there, and so I have no

I recalled the days of union with her, in which I have

I recalled the time of our union, and I have neither solace, nor patience, nor joy remaining.

solace, no patience, and no delight.

No solace, nor patience, nor delight

I departed though separation blocked my paths, while my heart is dragged forcibly toward the beloved.

ذَهَبتُ وَقَد سَدَّ الفُراقُ مَذاهِبي

ذَهَبتُ وَقَد سَدَّ الفُراقُ مَذاهِبي

وَقَلبي إِلى نَحوِ الأَحِبَّةِ يُجبَذُ

وَقَلبي إِلى نَحوِ الأَحِبَّةِ يُجبَذُ

I departed, though separation had barred my paths,

I left, though parting has sealed my paths

I wandered in a daze, knowing not where I was led by a fate that flows over man and must be fulfilled.

and my heart is drawn toward the loved ones.

While my heart is pulled towards the beloved

I condemned my life—how could I praise it when I have abandoned the very pleasures I once embraced?

ذهلتُ فَما أَدري إِلى أَينَ قادَني

ذهلتُ فَما أَدري إِلى أَينَ قادَني

قَضاءٌ عَلى الإِنسانِ يَجري فَيَنفذُ

قَضاءٌ عَلى الإِنسانِ يَجري فَيَنفذُ

I was bewildered; I do not know where I was led

Bewildered am I, not knowing where destiny

I was humbled by weaning after the glory I had suckled, and I drowned myself where there is no savior.

by a decree that runs its course upon humankind and takes effect.

Has led me, a decree on man flowing, fulfilled

By my life, my sins have drowned and ruined me; otherwise, I am steadfast of heart and discerning.

ذَمَمتُ حَياتي كَيفَ أَحمدُها وَقَد

ذَمَمتُ حَياتي كَيفَ أَحمدُها وَقَد

تَرَكتُ مِنَ اللذّاتِ ما كُنتُ آخذُ

تَرَكتُ مِنَ اللذّاتِ ما كُنتُ آخذُ

I condemned my life—how can I praise it, when

I despaired my life, how can I praise it when

The covenant of passion should be honored—so why did you not honor it, when I sought refuge in the nearness of one who intended to part?

I have left behind the pleasures I used to enjoy?

I left pleasures I once seized

I have withered, though the nectar of your lips revitalizes my branch; I have rusted, though my heart is honed by sharp blades.

ذَلَلتُ فطاماً بَعدَ عزٍّ رَضعتُهُ

ذَلَلتُ فطاماً بَعدَ عزٍّ رَضعتُهُ

وَأَغرَقتُ نَفسي حَيثُ ما لي مُنقِذُ

وَأَغرَقتُ نَفسي حَيثُ ما لي مُنقِذُ

I was brought low by weaning, after nursing on glory,

I weaned myself after suckling glory

The sun and the full moon veil themselves before the beauties of one for whom my heart is torn to shreds.

and I drowned myself where I have no rescuer.

And drowned myself where I have no savior

His tresses are musk, his teeth are pearls; his cheeks are pure gold, and the soft down upon them is emerald.

ذُنوبي لَعَمري غَرَّقتني فَأَوبَقت

ذُنوبي لَعَمري غَرَّقتني فَأَوبَقت

وَإِلّا فَإِنّي ثابِتُ القَلبِ جَهبَذُ

وَإِلّا فَإِنّي ثابِتُ القَلبِ جَهبَذُ

My sins, by my life, drowned me and brought me to ruin;

By my life, my sins have drowned me and destroyed me

otherwise, I am steadfast of heart and keen of judgment.

Else, I stand firm, stout-hearted and unyielding

ذِمامُ الهَوى يُرعى فَهَلّا رَعيتهُ

ذِمامُ الهَوى يُرعى فَهَلّا رَعيتهُ

وَكُنت بِقُربى مَن نَوى أَتَعَوَّذُ

وَكُنت بِقُربى مَن نَوى أَتَعَوَّذُ

Love's covenant is to be honored; why did you not honor it?

The reins of love, why did I not pasture them

And I used to seek refuge in nearness to one who departed.

And stay close to she who I seek refuge with

ذَوَيتُ وَعودي بِالرضابِ اِخضِرارُهُ

ذَوَيتُ وَعودي بِالرضابِ اِخضِرارُهُ

صِدئتُ وَقَلبي بِالنَواصِلُ يُشحَذُ

صِدئتُ وَقَلبي بِالنَواصِلُ يُشحَذُ

I withered, though my stem's greenness comes from saliva;

My promises have withered, once verdant

I rusted, though my heart is honed by blades.

I rusted while my heart for the beloved sharpens

ذُكاءٌ وَبَدرُ التمِّ يَحتَجِبانِ مِن

ذُكاءٌ وَبَدرُ التمِّ يَحتَجِبانِ مِن

مَحاسِن من قَلبي عَلَيهِ مُجَذَّذُ

مَحاسِن من قَلبي عَلَيهِ مُجَذَّذُ

Dhukāʾ (the sun) and the full moon veil themselves before

Wit and full moon of perfection veil themselves

the charms of him for whom my heart is torn to shreds.

From the beauty that has captured my heart

ذَوائِبُهُ مِسكٌ ثَناياهُ لُؤلُؤٌ

ذَوائِبُهُ مِسكٌ ثَناياهُ لُؤلُؤٌ

وَخَدّاهُ تِبرٌ وَالعِذارُ زُمُرُّدُ

وَخَدّاهُ تِبرٌ وَالعِذارُ زُمُرُّدُ

His locks are musk; his front teeth are pearls,

His curling tresses are musk, his cheeks pearls

and his cheeks are raw gold, and his cheek-down emerald.

His cheeks myrrh, his moles ruby