فَنيتُ هَوىً إِلّا حُشاشَة مُهجَتي

فَنيتُ هَوىً إِلّا حُشاشَة مُهجَتي

أَجولُ بِها في مَربَعٍ وَمَصيفِ

أَجولُ بِها في مَربَعٍ وَمَصيفِ

Love has consumed me, save for the last spark of my soul;

I have wasted away with love, save the last remnant of my soul;

I have lost all passion but for the sadness of my broken heart,

I have perished from love, save for the last remnant of my soul,

with it I roam through spring encampment and summer dwelling.

With it I wander through spring and summer dwelling places.

With which I wander aimlessly in field and orchard.

With which I roam through spring encampments and summer grounds.

فَريدٌ مِنَ الأَحبابِ أَبكي طُلولهم

فَريدٌ مِنَ الأَحبابِ أَبكي طُلولهم

وَأكثرُ فيها لَو شُفيتُ وُقوفي

وَأكثرُ فيها لَو شُفيتُ وُقوفي

Alone, bereft of the beloved, I weep over their deserted traces,

Alone, away from my loved ones, I weep over their ruined dwellings,

Far from friends, I weep for their long absence,

Solitary, bereft of loved ones, I weep over their ruins,

and would linger longer among them, if my lingering could heal me.

And prolong my stay there—if only I could be healed.

And linger though my vigils offer no relief.

And I prolong my standing there, wishing only to be healed.

فَوا أَسَفا ما لِلمَغاني كَأَنَّها

فَوا أَسَفا ما لِلمَغاني كَأَنَّها

سُطورٌ مَحاها الدَهرُ غَيرُ حروفِ

سُطورٌ مَحاها الدَهرُ غَيرُ حروفِ

Ah, what sorrow! What has befallen those dwellings? They seem

Alas! What ails the dwellings? They seem like

Alas, my songs are like lines time's hand erased,

Alas for sorrow! What ails the dwellings? It is as if they are...

like lines erased by Time, bereft of letters.

Lines that time has erased, save a few letters.

Leaving no trace of letters for these empty pages.

Lines of text that time has erased, save for faint letters.

فَقَدتُ شُموساً كُنتُ أَجلو بِها الدُجى

فَقَدتُ شُموساً كُنتُ أَجلو بِها الدُجى

إِلى أَن أَصابَتها النَوى بِكُسوفِ

إِلى أَن أَصابَتها النَوى بِكُسوفِ

I have lost suns by which I once dispelled the darkness,

I have lost suns with which I used to dispel the darkness,

Suns I adored, dispersing the gloom with their light,

I have lost suns with which I used to dispel the darkness,

until separation overtook them with an eclipse.

Until separation struck them with eclipse.

Have set, eclipsed by the fates, in endless night.

Until the distance of separation struck them with an eclipse.

فِراقٌ نَعِمنا بِالتَواصُل قَبلَهُ

فِراقٌ نَعِمنا بِالتَواصُل قَبلَهُ

وَلكِنَّها الأَيّامُ ذاتُ صُروفِ

وَلكِنَّها الأَيّامُ ذاتُ صُروفِ

A parting—before it, we delighted in communion;

A parting, before which we delighted in being together;

Parting was ours, though together we were so blessed.

A separation—before which we flourished in union,

but such are the days, ever full of turns.

But such are the days, with their turns of fortune.

But time, always changing, allows no lasting rest.

But such is the nature of days, possessed of shifting fortunes.

فتنتُ بِمَهضومِ الحَشا ناعِم الصَبا

فتنتُ بِمَهضومِ الحَشا ناعِم الصَبا

لَهُ لَحظ سحّارٍ وَمَشي نَزيفِ

لَهُ لَحظ سحّارٍ وَمَشي نَزيفِ

I was captivated by one slender-waisted, tender in youth,

I was bewitched by one slender-waisted and tender in youth,

I loved a fawn whose face was beauty's morning,

I was captivated by one slender of waist, tender in youth,

with a sorcerer's glance and the gait of one faint from bleeding.

Who has a sorcerer's glance and a drunkard's gait.

With a spellbinding glance and gait so lightly gliding.

Who has a bewitching glance and a gait of graceful sway.

فُتورٌ بِعَينَيهِ عَلَيَّ أَعانَهُ

فُتورٌ بِعَينَيهِ عَلَيَّ أَعانَهُ

فَيا مَن رَأى مُستَنصراً بِضَعيفِ

فَيا مَن رَأى مُستَنصراً بِضَعيفِ

The languor in his eyes helped him against me—

The languor in his eyes aided him against me;

Indifference in his eyes helped him betray me,

The languor in his eyes lent him aid against me;

who has ever seen one seeking aid from the weak?

Oh, who has ever seen someone seek aid from the weak?

When I sought aid from one so frail and pliant.

Oh, who has ever seen a victor triumph through weakness?

فِداءٌ لَهُ نَفسي عَلى السخطِ وَالرِضا

فِداءٌ لَهُ نَفسي عَلى السخطِ وَالرِضا

وَطوبى لِنَفسي إِن بُليتُ وَعوفي

وَطوبى لِنَفسي إِن بُليتُ وَعوفي

My soul is his ransom, whether he is displeased or pleased;

My soul is his ransom, in anger and contentment;

I offer my soul to him in anger or acceptance.

My soul is a ransom for him in his displeasure and his acceptance,

and blessed is my soul if I suffer while he is spared.

And blessed is my soul if I am afflicted while he is spared.

Blest am I if I'm tried and meet with patience.

And blessed is my soul, whether I am afflicted or restored.

فُرات الحِمى من لي بِتَبريدِكَ الحَشا

فُرات الحِمى من لي بِتَبريدِكَ الحَشا

وَدونَكَ سورٌ مِن قَنا وَسُيوفِ

وَدونَكَ سورٌ مِن قَنا وَسُيوفِ

O sweet water of the sanctuary, who will grant that you cool my burning heart,

O sweet water of the sanctuary, who will let you cool my heart,

Euphrates! With your cool waters bring me comfort.

O sweet water of the sanctuary, who will help me cool my burning heart with you,

when before you stands a wall of spears and swords?

While a wall of lances and swords blocks the way to you?

Without you are spears of cane and naked blades.

When before you stands a wall of spears and swords?

فُؤاد الصَدى حَرّان حَتّى تَبُلَّهُ

فُؤاد الصَدى حَرّان حَتّى تَبُلَّهُ

بِوَصلِكَ وَالغيران غَير رَؤوفِ

بِوَصلِكَ وَالغيران غَير رَؤوفِ

My thirsting heart is parched until you moisten it

The thirsty one's heart burns until you moisten it

My heart is afire with yearning until you soothe it.

The heart of the thirsty one burns until you quench it

with union with you—but the jealous rival is merciless.

Through union with you—yet the jealous one has no pity.

Have mercy! Do not abandon the brokenhearted!

With your union, while the jealous guardian is without mercy.