هب النسيم على الرياض وقد سبا

والشمس من وعد الغروب بما وبا

The breeze blew over the gardens, casting its spell.

And the sun, from sunset’s promise, with what [unclear word].

فالطير تشدو في الغصون وتطربا

ومهفهف لعبت به أيدي الصبا

So the birds sing among the boughs and give delight.

And a slender youth, played upon by the hands of the east wind,

كالغصن هزته نسيمات الصبا

قل للسحاب اسحب ذيولك من جرح

Like a branch stirred by the east wind’s gentle breezes.

Tell the clouds: draw your trailing hems away from a wound.

سحرا بأطيب من شدا أو من فرح

إن جن ليل من فرط الحرج

At dawn, with the sweetest of those who sang or rejoiced.

If night falls from an excess of anguish,

سدل النقاب وزار وهو يقول أح

ذر أن يرى وجهي فجئت منقبا

He lowered the veil and visited, saying, “Ah!”

Leave aside the sight of my face: I came veiled.

لم يبل قلبي قبل رائع شبح

والآن غمى فوقه حتى مدح

My heart had never before been tried by an awe-inspiring apparition.

And now a covering lies over it, until praise [syntax unclear].

مثبتا كلت حتى صبح

فسألت كيف البدر يحجب قال أح

Held fast, I wearied until dawn.

So I asked, “How is the full moon veiled?” He said, “Ah!”

مائدا لك بعد أن تتحجبا

فعجبت من حسن النطاق وما شرح

Swaying for you, after you veil yourself.

So I marveled at the girdle’s beauty and what he explained.

فكأنه بدر سما من جص مارح

مولى مكارمه إذا ما قد صبح

So he was like a playful full moon rising from plaster.

Master of his own noble qualities, when he had come at dawn.

ناديته يا بدر ما اسمك قال أح

بدر الثنى يحكي بلفتته الظبا

I called to him, “O full moon, what is your name?” He said, “Ah!”

A full moon of the bend, recalling gazelles with his turning glance.

ذهب الذي كانت سما فيه خز

وحشا تخرج من جدى أو من فرح

Gone is the one in whom silk had risen [syntax unclear].

As a wild creature, you emerge from bounty or from joy.

فمهرته أوس ذاك

وسألت ماصفة الغزال فقال أح

So I gave him a dowry—Aws, that one [syntax unclear].

And I asked, “What is the gazelle’s description?” He said, “Ah!”

ومن قد حوى حسنا وكم عقلا سبا

يا ليت بدر الأفق لو كان ما قدح

And one who possesses beauty—how many minds he has captivated!

Oh, if only the horizon’s full moon had not struck a spark!

وكذا الغزالة ليتها لم تلتمح

فهناك نوديت القاموس وما صلح

And the sun as well—if only it had never been glimpsed!

So there I was called “the ocean,” though it did not fit.

فأجبت صف ورد الخدود فقال أح

زهى في الوجنتين واعجبا

So I answered, “Describe the roses of the cheeks.” He said, “Ah!”

It flourished upon both cheeks—oh, what a wonder!

فنطيب في تلك الشموس وقد سفح

عن مقلتي حجبا وذا بدل فتح

So we delight amid those suns, while he has shed

Veils from my eyes; and this is in place of an opening.

فهناك ناديت الأحبة ذا في سعة سوح

وسألت كيف الدين قال تراه أح

So there I called to the beloved ones—this, in spacious courtyards [syntax unclear].

And I asked, “How is religion?” He said, “You see it—ah!”

مر ما يكون لدى المذاق وأعذبا

لهفي عليه من الزمان وقد جرح

Bitter as can be to the taste—and sweeter still.

My anguish for him because of time, now that he has been wounded!

فوق الماجر مطلقا هذا ترح

فتصدعت وتكسرت بين الطوح

Above the [unclear word], unrestrained—this is sorrow.

So I split apart and shattered amid the tossing.

فدنوت أستدعي الوصال فقال أح

سب طبع طي يهوى الملاح مهذبا

So I drew near, seeking union; he said, “Ah!”

Cursing, nature, folding—he loves the beautiful, refined [syntax unclear].

خطب لقد صدع الجفا منه وصح

وتقى بطول وكذا كدح

A calamity: estrangement from him has indeed caused a rift, and proved real.

And piety, at length, and toil as well.

واليت حبي قد غلا جفني كسح

فأبان عن سيف اللحاظ وقال أح

I kept faith with my love; my eyelid has boiled, been swept away [syntax unclear].

Then he revealed the sword of glances and said, “Ah!”

مي الحي ممن جاء يطلب مأربا

فتمتعت وتشوقت جندي طلح

Mayy of the tribe is among those who came seeking a goal.

So I enjoyed myself and yearned; my army grew weary.

شقائق وشداه عرف نوح

فكأنه في روضة هو مفتح

Anemones; and he sang it—the fragrance of lamentation [syntax unclear].

So he seemed to be blossoming in a garden.

فأجبت ماذا الحال قال أح

إلى الهوى تبدي العجيب الأعجبا

So I replied, “What is the state of things?” He said, “Ah!”

To love you reveal the wondrous—the most wondrous.

قسما بمن يشفي العليل من القدح

وقضى علي بلذعة طور مرح

I swear by the one who brings the sick healing from the cup.

And decreed a sting upon me in a spell of mirth.

إن النوى قد أنهك الجسم الطرح

فسألت هل بالوصل تسمع قال أح

Indeed, separation has exhausted the cast-off body.

So I asked, “Do you hear of union?” He said, “Ah!”

لام تسر فؤاد صب قد صبا

فعلمت أن البدر أرخى ذيول صبح

The letter lām gladdens the heart of a lover already enamored.

So I knew the full moon had lowered dawn’s trailing hems.

لتشتيت شمل لم يكد فيه ضرح

فعفا واصلح خاطرا منه فتح

To scatter a gathering in which casting away had scarcely occurred [syntax unclear].

Then he pardoned and mended a heart; an opening came from him.

ودعا بكاسات الرحيق وقال أح

كم في النديم بما يكون استوجبا

And he called for cups of nectar and said, “Ah!”

How much there is in the boon companion, for what he may have deserved [syntax unclear].

السماحة عن أو هم فلح

نظروا بعين ترحم في ذا القمح

Generosity, from ... or they prospered [syntax unclear].

They looked with a pitying eye upon this wheat.

فهديت للرصد الكبير الممتدح

وسألت هل شيء فقال أح

So I was guided to the great, much-praised lookout.

And I asked, “Is there anything?” He said, “Ah!”

بالدراهم إذ تحل لها الجبا

عجبا لعزو بعد بين ما نفح

With dirhams, when the revenues become lawful for her.

How strange, after separation, to attribute what wafted forth!

تبا لكم تبا لكم ياذا الوقح

وإذا دجا صبح النهار فتحت صاح

Damn you all, damn you all, you impudent one!

And when the dawn of day grew dark, I opened it, friend.

فأجبت خذ ما تشاء فقال أح

سنت الجواب وقد تغنى مطربا

So I replied, “Take whatever you wish.” He said, “Ah!”

She laid down the answer, while he sang delightfully.

يرجى عنان جواده في ذا النطح

كيما يحل بمحوه طرق لقح

His steed’s rein is hoped for in this head-on clash.

So that, by effacing it, he may open fertile paths.

فأبان عن ستر الخدور المنجح

وأزل مسدول النقاب وقال أح

Then he revealed the success-bringing veil of the inner chambers.

And remove the hanging veil; and he said, “Ah!”

كي حيث أشرق وجهي كوكبا

So that, where my face shone as a star...