دامَ في الحب ذُلُّهُ وانكسَارُهُ

دامَ في الحب ذُلُّهُ وانكسَارُهُ

حين غَدَت من دمعه أنصارُه

حين غَدَت من دمعه أنصارُه

His abasement and brokenness in love endured,

His humiliation and brokenness in love remained,

when his tears became his allies.

When his supporters became his tears.

بات يَرعى كواكب الليل شوقاً

بات يَرعى كواكب الليل شوقاً

منذ غابت عن عينيهِ أقمارُه

منذ غابت عن عينيهِ أقمارُه

He spent the night watching the stars in longing,

He began herding the stars of night in yearning,

since his moons vanished from his sight.

Since his moons disappeared from his eyes.

لا وقد سبا الغصونَ تَثنيهِ

لا وقد سبا الغصونَ تَثنيهِ

وخَدٍ زَهَا به جُلَّنارُهُ

وخَدٍ زَهَا به جُلَّنارُهُ

No—by a figure whose swaying captivated the boughs,

No, and the branches accused him of bending them,

and by a cheek where its pomegranate blossom glowed,

And a cheek whose radiance dazzled him.

وعذارٍ ما زال يُخلعُ في الحُ

وعذارٍ ما زال يُخلعُ في الحُ

بِّ عليه من كل صَبٍ عِذَارُه

بِّ عليه من كل صَبٍ عِذَارُه

and by cheek-down, for which in love there is ever cast off

And a reproach that continues to cast in love

the bridle of every lovesick lover—

Upon him from each young reproacher its reproach.

لا شكوتُ الحبيبَ يوماً وإن را

لا شكوتُ الحبيبَ يوماً وإن را

مَ سُلُوّاً إِذ شَطَّ عنِّي مَزَارُه

مَ سُلُوّاً إِذ شَطَّ عنِّي مَزَارُه

I shall never once complain of the beloved, even if he seeks

I never complained of the beloved, though he shot

to forget, now that his dwelling has grown far from me.

At me arrows when he turned away from my shrine.

لا تَلُمني إذا سطوتُ عليهِ

لا تَلُمني إذا سطوتُ عليهِ

فَهو تَيسٌ بُهينُهُ جَزَّارُه

فَهو تَيسٌ بُهينُهُ جَزَّارُه

Do not blame me if I assail him:

Do not blame me if I assault him,

for he is a he-goat whom his butcher humiliates.

For he is a despicable butcher, his slaughtering knife.

غير خافٍ عليك قدري وإن شِئ

غير خافٍ عليك قدري وإن شِئ

تَ اختبرني حسَبُ البليغِ اختياره

تَ اختبرني حسَبُ البليغِ اختياره

My worth is no secret to you; and if you wish,

Not fearing for you my ability, though you wish

test me: an eloquent man’s merit lies in his choice.

To test me, at the eloquent one's choice.

فلساني كالسيف سِلماً وحربا

فلساني كالسيف سِلماً وحربا

يُرتَجَى ويُخشَى غِرَارُه

يُرتَجَى ويُخشَى غِرَارُه

For my tongue is like a sword, in peace and war:

My tongue is like a sword, in peace and war,

its edge is both hoped for and feared.

Longed for and feared is its slashing.