سَمح الدَهرُ بِالحَبيبِ الودودِ

سَمح الدَهرُ بِالحَبيبِ الودودِ

فَحَظينا مِنهُ بِأُنسٍ جَديدِ

فَحَظينا مِنهُ بِأُنسٍ جَديدِ

Time favored us with the loving beloved,

Time allowed a friendly beloved

so we enjoyed fresh companionship with him.

We were blessed with new companionship

جَمَعتنا لُيَيلَةٌ هِيَ عِندي

جَمَعتنا لُيَيلَةٌ هِيَ عِندي

لَيلَةٌ أَشرَقَت بِبَدرِ السُعودِ

لَيلَةٌ أَشرَقَت بِبَدرِ السُعودِ

A little night brought us together; to me it was

A night brought us together, which to me

a night aglow with the full moon of good fortune.

Was a night illuminated by the full moon's glory

أُوقدَ الشَمعُ وَالمَصابيحُ فيها

أُوقدَ الشَمعُ وَالمَصابيحُ فيها

وَتبدّى نورُ المحيا السَعيدِ

وَتبدّى نورُ المحيا السَعيدِ

The candles and lamps were lit that night,

Candles were lit, lamps ignited in it

and the radiance of the happy countenance appeared.

The light of smile's beauty appeared

وَبَدا الفَرقُ بَينَ نارٍ وَنورٍ

وَبَدا الفَرقُ بَينَ نارٍ وَنورٍ

واضحاً لائِحاً لعقلٍ سَديدِ

واضحاً لائِحاً لعقلٍ سَديدِ

And the difference between fire and light became

The difference between fire and light became

clear and evident to a sound mind.

Clear and evident to a wise mind

تِلكَ نارٌ مآلها لانطفاءٍ

تِلكَ نارٌ مآلها لانطفاءٍ

وَحَبيبي أَنوارُهُ في مَزيدِ

وَحَبيبي أَنوارُهُ في مَزيدِ

That is fire, destined to die out,

That fire ends in extinction

while my beloved's lights keep increasing.

While my beloved's light forever grows

حالَ بَيني وَبَينَهُ اِثنان ظُلماً

حالَ بَيني وَبَينَهُ اِثنان ظُلماً

فَقَنِعنا بِرُؤيةٍ مِن بَعيدِ

فَقَنِعنا بِرُؤيةٍ مِن بَعيدِ

Two unjustly stood between me and him,

Two unjust ones came between me and him

so we settled for seeing each other from afar.

We had to make do with seeing from afar

أعمِلُ الفِكرَ في اِقترابٍ كَأَني

أعمِلُ الفِكرَ في اِقترابٍ كَأَني

بَرهَمِيٌّ مجرّبٌ في الهنودِ

بَرهَمِيٌّ مجرّبٌ في الهنودِ

I set my mind to drawing near, as though I were

I pondered how to get closer, as if

an experienced Brahmin among the Indians.

An experienced alchemist in India

فَإِذا الحاجِزانِ راحا وصرنا

فَإِذا الحاجِزانِ راحا وصرنا

مِن قَريب في أُنسِ وَصلٍ مَديدِ

مِن قَريب في أُنسِ وَصلٍ مَديدِ

Then, behold, the two barriers departed, and we were

When the two obstacles left and we

close together, in the joy of a lasting union.

Became intimate again in lasting union

أشهدُ الأنسَ مِن غَزالٍ رَبيبٍ

أشهدُ الأنسَ مِن غَزالٍ رَبيبٍ

وَأَرى المَوت في مَحاجرِ سودِ

وَأَرى المَوت في مَحاجرِ سودِ

I behold delight in a tenderly reared gazelle,

I witness the intimacy of a gentle gazelle

and see death in black eye sockets.

And see death in the frowns of the gloomy

أَلحظُ البدرَ وَهوَ نُصبُ عِياني

أَلحظُ البدرَ وَهوَ نُصبُ عِياني

وَأُناجيهِ آمِنا مِن صدودِ

وَأُناجيهِ آمِنا مِن صدودِ

I gaze at the full moon, there before my eyes,

I observe the full moon facing me

and whisper to him, safe from rejection.

And speak to it secure from rejection

فَإِذا الدُرُّ ما تَساقَط لَفظاً

فَإِذا الدُرُّ ما تَساقَط لَفظاً

لَو تجسَّدنَ كُنَّ عِقدَ الجيدِ

لَو تجسَّدنَ كُنَّ عِقدَ الجيدِ

And behold, the words that tumble forth are pearls;

Words then fell from the pearl

if embodied, they would be a necklace around the neck.

That if embodied would be necklaces

وَإِذا السحرُ كامِناً في عُيونٍ

وَإِذا السحرُ كامِناً في عُيونٍ

كَم مُعنّى بِها قَتيلٍ شَهيدِ

كَم مُعنّى بِها قَتيلٍ شَهيدِ

And behold, magic lies hidden in eyes—

And magic lay in eyes that have slain

how many a soul, tormented by them, lies slain, a martyr!

Many meanings and left them martyred