أَشَمس بَهاءٍ بِالهِلالِ تَنَقَّبُ

أَشَمس بَهاءٍ بِالهِلالِ تَنَقَّبُ

أَمِ البَدرُ في لَألائِهِ لَيسَ يُحجَبُ

أَمِ البَدرُ في لَألائِهِ لَيسَ يُحجَبُ

Is it a sun of splendor, veiled by a crescent,

Is it a sun of splendor, veiling itself with the crescent,

or the full moon, whose radiance cannot be concealed?

Or the full moon, unobscured in its radiance?

أَمِ الأَنجُمُ الزُهرِ المُنيرَةُ بِالدُجى

أَمِ الأَنجُمُ الزُهرِ المُنيرَةُ بِالدُجى

جَلاها بِكُرسِيِّ المَجَرَّة غَيهَبُ

جَلاها بِكُرسِيِّ المَجَرَّة غَيهَبُ

Or the bright stars shining in the darkness,

Or the bright stars, shining in the darkness,

revealed by black night upon the Milky Way’s throne?

Revealed by deep darkness on the Milky Way's throne?

أَعَرفٌ ذَكِيٌّ مِن عَرارٍ وَفى بِهِ

أَعَرفٌ ذَكِيٌّ مِن عَرارٍ وَفى بِهِ

نَسيمُ الصَبا أَم مِسكُ دارينَ يَخبُبُ

نَسيمُ الصَبا أَم مِسكُ دارينَ يَخبُبُ

Is it a keen fragrance from arar blossoms, borne

Is it a heady scent of yellow daisies, faithfully borne

by the east wind—or musk from Darin hastening near?

By the east wind's breeze, or Darin's musk hurrying by?

أَسلسالُ راحٍ أَم سَلاسِلُ عَسجَدٍ

أَسلسالُ راحٍ أَم سَلاسِلُ عَسجَدٍ

أَسِمطُ لآلٍ أَم جُمانٌ يُثَقَّبُ

أَسِمطُ لآلٍ أَم جُمانٌ يُثَقَّبُ

Is it a flowing stream of wine, or chains of gold,

Is it smooth-flowing wine, or chains of gold?

or strings of pearls, or beads being pierced?

Is it a strand of pearls, or silver pearl-beads being pierced?

أَروضٌ أَريضٌ بِالأَقاحي مُنوَّرٌ

أَروضٌ أَريضٌ بِالأَقاحي مُنوَّرٌ

بِهِ المُزنُ تَهمِي وَالغَمائِمُ تُسكَبُ

بِهِ المُزنُ تَهمِي وَالغَمائِمُ تُسكَبُ

Is it a spacious garden lit with chamomile,

Is it a luxuriant garden, blooming with daisies,

where rainclouds pour and masses of cloud spill down?

Where rain clouds pour and cloud banks spill their rain?

أَمِ الزَهر يَبدُو مِن خِلالِ خَمائِلٍ

أَمِ الزَهر يَبدُو مِن خِلالِ خَمائِلٍ

بِها السُحب أَذيال المَطارِفِ تُسحَبُ

بِها السُحب أَذيال المَطارِفِ تُسحَبُ

Or blossoms appearing through luxuriant bowers,

Or blossoms appearing through thickets,

where clouds trail the hems of striped robes?

Where clouds are drawn along like the trailing hems of striped cloaks?

أَمِ الطَيفُ مِن أَسماء وَهوَ مُحَبَّبٌ

أَمِ الطَيفُ مِن أَسماء وَهوَ مُحَبَّبٌ

سَرى مَوهِناً وَالدارُ تَنأى وَتَقرُبُ

سَرى مَوهِناً وَالدارُ تَنأى وَتَقرُبُ

Or is it the beloved phantom of Asma,

Or a dream-vision of Asma, so beloved,

journeying at midnight, while her abode grows distant and near?

Passing late at night, while the dwelling recedes and draws near?

ذَكَرتُ بِهِ شَرخَ التَصابي وَجيرَةً

ذَكَرتُ بِهِ شَرخَ التَصابي وَجيرَةً

نَأَوا وَالحَشا مِن بَينِهِم يَتَلَهَّبُ

نَأَوا وَالحَشا مِن بَينِهِم يَتَلَهَّبُ

Through it I recalled the prime of youthful passion and neighbors

Through it I recalled the prime of youthful dalliance, and neighbors

who departed, while my heart blazed at their separation.

Who went far away, while my heart blazes at their parting.

أَقولُ وَقَد عاينتُ شَيباً بِمِفرَقي

أَقولُ وَقَد عاينتُ شَيباً بِمِفرَقي

غَداةَ اِفتَرَقنا وَالمَدامِعُ تُسكَبُ

غَداةَ اِفتَرَقنا وَالمَدامِعُ تُسكَبُ

I say, having seen gray upon my temples

I say, having seen gray hairs at the parting of my hair,

since the morning we parted and tears poured down:

On the morning we parted, while tears were shed:

سَقى اللَهُ رَيعانَ الشَبيبَةِ وَالهَوى

سَقى اللَهُ رَيعانَ الشَبيبَةِ وَالهَوى

وَجادَ الصَبا هامٌ مِن المُزنِ صَيّبُ

وَجادَ الصَبا هامٌ مِن المُزنِ صَيّبُ

May God water the fresh bloom of youth and love,

May God water the bloom of youth and love,

and may a streaming cloudburst rain generously upon that springtime.

And may a streaming downpour from rain clouds drench youth.

فَكَم غادَةٍ لي فيهِ نازَعتُها ضُحىً

فَكَم غادَةٍ لي فيهِ نازَعتُها ضُحىً

حَديثَ الهَوى كَالراحِ بَل هُوَ أَعذَبُ

حَديثَ الهَوى كَالراحِ بَل هُوَ أَعذَبُ

How many a graceful maiden there, at morning, did I engage

How many a graceful maiden was mine then, with whom I exchanged at forenoon

in talk of love, like wine—no, sweeter still:

Talk of love, like wine—no, it is sweeter.

رَداحٍ تَهادى مِن شَبابٍ وَنِعمَةٍ

رَداحٍ تَهادى مِن شَبابٍ وَنِعمَةٍ

كَما يَتَهادى الرَوض وَالرَوض مُعشَبُ

كَما يَتَهادى الرَوض وَالرَوض مُعشَبُ

a full-figured beauty, swaying with youth and ease

Full-hipped, she swayed in youth and luxury,

as a meadow sways when lush with grass;

As the garden sways when the garden is lush with grass.

بِرهرهةٍ تَرنو بِطَرفٍ كَما رَنا

بِرهرهةٍ تَرنو بِطَرفٍ كَما رَنا

إِلى سِربِهِ وَسَط الخَميلَةِ رَبرَبُ

إِلى سِربِهِ وَسَط الخَميلَةِ رَبرَبُ

a tender, delicate girl gazing with eyes like those

A tender young beauty, gazing with a glance like that cast

of a young wild cow looking toward its herd amid the thicket;

Toward its herd by a herd of antelope amid the thicket.

مِنَ الرُودِ أَمّا الخَصرُ مِنها فَمُجدِبٌ

مِنَ الرُودِ أَمّا الخَصرُ مِنها فَمُجدِبٌ

نَحيلٌ وَأَمّا الرِدف مِنها فَمُخصِبُ

نَحيلٌ وَأَمّا الرِدف مِنها فَمُخصِبُ

one of the supple maidens—her waist was barren,

One of the supple beauties: her waist is barren,

slender, while her haunches were richly abundant.

Slender; her hips, by contrast, are fertile.

فَلَم أَنسَ إِذ جاءَت تَهُزُّ مَعاطِفاً

فَلَم أَنسَ إِذ جاءَت تَهُزُّ مَعاطِفاً

عَلَيها مِنَ الدِيباجِ وَشيَ مُذَهَّبُ

عَلَيها مِنَ الدِيباجِ وَشيَ مُذَهَّبُ

I have not forgotten when she came, making sway the folds

So I have not forgotten when she came, swaying her curves,

of brocade upon her, embroidered in gold.

Draped in brocade with gilded embroidery.

تُسائِلُ عَن مَعنىً خَفِيٍّ إِذا بَدا

تُسائِلُ عَن مَعنىً خَفِيٍّ إِذا بَدا

أَراني زَفراتِ الحِسانِ تُرَحِّبُ

أَراني زَفراتِ الحِسانِ تُرَحِّبُ

She asks about a hidden meaning which, once revealed,

She asked about a hidden meaning which, when it appeared,

shows me the beauties’ sighs bidding welcome.

Made me see beautiful women's sighs offering welcome.

هُوَ اسمٌ رُباعِيٌّ إِذا رُمتَ عَكسَهُ

هُوَ اسمٌ رُباعِيٌّ إِذا رُمتَ عَكسَهُ

وَسَهَّلتَ مِنهُ هَمزَةً حينَ تَقلِبُ

وَسَهَّلتَ مِنهُ هَمزَةً حينَ تَقلِبُ

It is a four-letter name: if you seek to reverse it

It is a four-letter name; if you seek to reverse it,

and soften a hamza in it when transposing,

And soften a hamza in it as you reverse it,

بَدا اسمٌ لِرَوضٍ بِالشآمِ كَجَنَّةٍ

بَدا اسمٌ لِرَوضٍ بِالشآمِ كَجَنَّةٍ

إِلى مِثلِهِ يَصبو الفُؤاد وَيَرغَبُ

إِلى مِثلِهِ يَصبو الفُؤاد وَيَرغَبُ

there appears the name of a garden in Syria, like Paradise,

The name of a garden in Syria appears, like a paradise,

toward whose like the heart yearns and longs.

For whose like the heart yearns and longs.

فَأَوَّلُ حَرفٍ مِنهُ مَع آخرٍ يُرى

فَأَوَّلُ حَرفٍ مِنهُ مَع آخرٍ يُرى

أَداةً لِتَعريف بها النُطقُ يَعذُبُ

أَداةً لِتَعريف بها النُطقُ يَعذُبُ

Its first letter together with its last is seen

Its first letter, together with its last, is seen

as the definite article, whose sound is sweet.

As an article of definiteness through which speech grows sweet.

وَأَوَّلُ حَرفٍ مِنهُ إِن صارَ ثانياً

وَأَوَّلُ حَرفٍ مِنهُ إِن صارَ ثانياً

فَذاكَ اِسمُ طَيرٍ بِالرياضِ يُشبِّبُ

فَذاكَ اِسمُ طَيرٍ بِالرياضِ يُشبِّبُ

And if its first letter becomes the second,

And if its first letter becomes the second,

that is the name of a bird that sings of love in gardens.

Then it is the name of a bird singing love songs in gardens.

وَإِن أَنتَ لَم تَعكسه يَوماً فَإِنَّهُ

وَإِن أَنتَ لَم تَعكسه يَوماً فَإِنَّهُ

يَلوح لَدى الأَفهام طَوراً وَيَعزُبُ

يَلوح لَدى الأَفهام طَوراً وَيَعزُبُ

Yet if someday you do not reverse it, then it

And if you never reverse it, it

now dawns upon the mind and now slips away.

Appears to the understanding at times, then slips away.

فَثَانيه مَعَ تاليهِ ما دامَ صَبّكم

فَثَانيه مَعَ تاليهِ ما دامَ صَبّكم

عَليهِ مَدى الأَيّام يَلهو وَيَلعَبُ

عَليهِ مَدى الأَيّام يَلهو وَيَلعَبُ

Its second letter with the one following it—so long as your lover

Its second letter, with the next, is what your lovesick one has always

passes all his days amusing himself with it—

Toyed and played with throughout the days.

وَثالِثُهُ مع رابِعٍ إِذا ما قَرنتَهُ

وَثالِثُهُ مع رابِعٍ إِذا ما قَرنتَهُ

بِثانيهِ يَبدو وَجه حُبّي المُحَجَّبُ

بِثانيهِ يَبدو وَجه حُبّي المُحَجَّبُ

and its third with its fourth, when you join it

And if you join its third letter with its fourth

to its second, reveal the veiled face of my beloved.

To its second, the face of my veiled love appears.

فَما بَعدَهُ مَرأى يَروقُ لِناظِرٍ

فَما بَعدَهُ مَرأى يَروقُ لِناظِرٍ

أَبَعدَ سُلَيمى في الصَبابةِ مَطلَبُ

أَبَعدَ سُلَيمى في الصَبابةِ مَطلَبُ

No sight beyond it can delight a beholder;

There is no sight beyond it to delight a beholder;

after Sulayma, can love have any other quest?

Is there any goal in love beyond Sulayma?

تَراني وَقَد أَبصَرتُهُ مُتَهَلّلاً

تَراني وَقَد أَبصَرتُهُ مُتَهَلّلاً

أُغالِبُ فيهِ الشَوقَ وَالشَوقُ أَغلَبُ

أُغالِبُ فيهِ الشَوقَ وَالشَوقُ أَغلَبُ

You see me, once I glimpse it beaming,

You see me beaming, having beheld it,

struggling against longing, though longing is stronger.

Struggling against longing for it—but longing is stronger.

فَيا فاضِلاً شادَ القَريضَ بِفِكرِهِ

فَيا فاضِلاً شادَ القَريضَ بِفِكرِهِ

لَهُ في مَجالِ البَحثِ رَأيٌ مُصَوَّبُ

لَهُ في مَجالِ البَحثِ رَأيٌ مُصَوَّبُ

O accomplished man whose thought has raised up poetry,

So, O learned man, who built poetry with his thought,

whose judgment in the field of inquiry is sound;

Whose judgment in the field of inquiry is sound,

وَمَن فاقَ أَبناءَ الزَمانِ وَمَن غَدا

وَمَن فاقَ أَبناءَ الزَمانِ وَمَن غَدا

لَهُ هِمَّةٌ هامَ السِمَاكَينِ تصحَبُ

لَهُ هِمَّةٌ هامَ السِمَاكَينِ تصحَبُ

you who surpass the sons of your age, and who has attained

Who surpassed the sons of the age, and who came to possess

an ambition accompanied by the two lofty Simaks,

An ambition that keeps company with the crowns of the two Simak stars,

تَأَمّل جَواباً قَد جَلا غَيهَب الدُجى

تَأَمّل جَواباً قَد جَلا غَيهَب الدُجى

يُخَبِّر عَن مَعنى حَبابٍ وَيُعرِبُ

يُخَبِّر عَن مَعنى حَبابٍ وَيُعرِبُ

ponder an answer that has dispelled the blackness of night,

Consider an answer that has dispelled the gloom of night,

declaring and clearly expressing the meaning of Habab.

Telling and making plain the meaning of bubbles.

وَخُذها كَرَوضٍ جادَهُ سَبِل الحَيا

وَخُذها كَرَوضٍ جادَهُ سَبِل الحَيا

وَأَضحَت أَغصانها الوُرق تَخطُبُ

وَأَضحَت أَغصانها الوُرق تَخطُبُ

Take it as a garden drenched by the streaming rain of life,

And accept it like a garden lavishly watered by falling rain,

whose leafy boughs have begun to speak eloquently.

And now, on its branches, gray doves declaim.

فَلا زِلتَ في أَمنٍ وَعِزٍّ وَرِفعَةٍ

فَلا زِلتَ في أَمنٍ وَعِزٍّ وَرِفعَةٍ

تَجيدُ قَوافي الشِعرَ وَالضِد تُعطِبُ

تَجيدُ قَوافي الشِعرَ وَالضِد تُعطِبُ

May you remain in safety, might, and exalted rank,

May you ever remain in safety, honor, and eminence,

perfecting the rhymes of poetry and destroying its opposite,

Perfecting poetry's rhymes and destroying your foe,

مَدى الدَهر ما غَنَّت بِأَيكٍ حَمامَةٌ

مَدى الدَهر ما غَنَّت بِأَيكٍ حَمامَةٌ

وَدار عَلى أَعلى المَجَرَّةِ كَوكَبُ

وَدار عَلى أَعلى المَجَرَّةِ كَوكَبُ

for all time, while a dove sings in a grove

For all time, as long as a dove sings in a grove

and a star wheels above the summit of the Milky Way.

And a star circles above the Milky Way's summit.