تأوب عيني طيف ألم

لظالمة طرقت في الظلم

A passing phantom revisited my eyes by night,

of a cruel woman who came in the darkness.

تخيل منها خيال سرى

فيسلب حلمي بذاك الحلم

A vision of her took shape, traveling by night,

and so steals my reason with that dream.

فما أنس لا أنس إقبالها

تميسن بغصن سقته الديم

So whatever I forget, I never forget her approach,

swaying with a bough watered by gentle, steady rains.

وقد بدرت مثل بدر الدجى

سما في السماء علوا وتم

And she appeared like the full moon of night,

which rose high in the sky and grew full.

على رأسها معجر أزرق

وفي جيدها سبحة من برم

On her head was a blue veil,

and around her neck, a string of acacia fruits.

ولم ترتقب لطلوع الرقيب

ولم تحتشم لطلوع الحشم

She did not keep watch for the watcher's appearance,

nor feel abashed at the attendants' appearance.

لقد سؤتني يا نظام السرور

وأسقمتني يا شفاء السقم

You have indeed saddened me, O thread of joy,

and made me ill, O cure for sickness.

أهذا المزار أم الإزورار

والمامكم ألم أم لم

Is this a visit, or a turning away?

And your visit—is it pain, or is it not?

ويوم كمثل رداء العرو

س حسنا وطيبا إذا ما يشم

And a day like a bride's robe,

in beauty and fragrance whenever it is smelled—

خلعت عذاري ولم اعتذر

ولم أحتشم فيه من يحتشم

I cast off my bridle and offered no apology,

nor showed deference that day to those held in awe.

وقابلت فيه صفاء الشمال

بصفو الشمول وشجو النغم

And that day I matched the north wind's freshness

with clear wine and plaintive melodies.

فداؤك نفسي هذا الشتاء

علينا بسلطانه قد هجم

May my life be your ransom! This winter

has assailed us with its might.

ولم يبق من نشبي درهم

ولا من ثيابي إلا رمم

And not a dirham remains of my wealth,

nor anything of my clothes but tatters.

يؤثر فيها نسيم الهواء

وتخرفها خافيات الوهم

A breath of air leaves its mark on them,

and fancy's hidden stirrings pluck them away.

وأنت العماد ونحن العفاة

وأنت الرئيس ونحن الخدم

And you are the pillar of support, and we the seekers of bounty;

and you are the chief, and we the servants.