تَرىDo you think عِندَكُمyou have فيin الحُبlove بَعضsome الَّذيof what عِنديI have
تَرى عِندَكُم في الحُب بَعض الَّذي عِندي
سَأَشكوI shall complain لَكُمto you ماwhat بيis in me وَإِنeven if لَمnot يَكُنit is يُجديof use
سَأَشكو لَكُم ما بي وَإِن لَم يَكُن يُجدي
Do you have in love any part of what I have?
I will tell you of my suffering, though it may do no good.
لَقَدIndeed جَلَّexceeded ماwhat لاقيتI suffered عَنbeyond وَصفdescribing كَنهِهِits essence
لَقَد جَلَّ ما لاقيت عَن وَصف كَنهِهِ
وَقَدand indeed زادَexceeded ماwhat عِنديI have عَلىbeyond العَدcounting وَالحَدand bounds
وَقَد زادَ ما عِندي عَلى العَد وَالحَد
What I have endured is too great to describe in its essence.
What I bear exceeds all counting and all bounds.
تَعطفwould move to pity شَكوايَmy complaint العِداthe enemies لَوif أَبُثَهاI voiced it
تَعطف شَكوايَ العِدا لَو أَبُثَها
وَتَبعثand would draw ليfor me دَمعاًtears مِنfrom الحَجرstone الصَلدsolid
وَتَبعث لي دَمعاً مِن الحَجر الصَلد
My complaint would move even enemies to pity if I voiced it.
It would draw tears for me from solid stone.
وَساجِعَةand a singing bird تُبديreveals الشِكايةcomplaint جُهدَهاwith all her effort
وَساجِعَة تُبدي الشِكاية جُهدَها
وَاكتمهاand I conceal it جُهديwith all my effort وَماand not وَجدَهاher anguish وَجديmy anguish
وَاكتمها جُهدي وَما وَجدَها وَجدي
A singing bird pours out its complaint with all its strength.
I conceal mine with all my strength; its anguish is not mine.
أَقولI say لَهاto her وَاللَيلُwhile the night قَدhas جَرَّdrawn ذَيلَهُits hem
أَقول لَها وَاللَيلُ قَد جَرَّ ذَيلَهُ
وَبَرقand lightning الدُجىof darkness كَالسَيفlike a sword جُرِدَdrawn مِنfrom غمدa sheath
وَبَرق الدُجى كَالسَيف جُرِدَ مِن غمد
I say to her, as night has drawn out its trailing hem
and lightning in the darkness flashes like a sword drawn from its sheath:
تَعاليcome نَبُثlet us disclose الوَجدlonging إِنَّكَyou are محرمa confidant
تَعالي نَبُث الوَجد إِنَّكَ محرم
تَعاليcome أُقاسِمُكِlet me share with you الغَرامpassion الَّذيwhich عِنديI have
تَعالي أُقاسِمُكِ الغَرام الَّذي عِندي
Come, let us speak of longing; you are one I can confide in.
Come, let me share with you the passion I bear.
وَياand oh لَيتَif only ماwhat عِنديI have يقسمcould divide بَعضَهُsome of it
وَيا لَيتَ ما عِندي يقسم بَعضَهُ
وَياand oh لَيتَif only شَكواناour complaint تُريحwould relieve مِنof الجُهدweariness
وَيا لَيتَ شَكوانا تُريح مِن الجُهد
If only some of what I bear could be divided between us.
If only our complaints could ease our weariness.
وَريحand a breeze سَرَتtraveled مِنfrom جَلَقJalaq جادَهاblessed it الحَياrain
وَريح سَرَت مِن جَلَق جادَها الحَيا
وَقَدand indeed حَمَلضتcarried نَشرthe scent الرَياحينof fragrant herbs وَالوَردand roses
وَقَد حَمَلضت نَشر الرَياحين وَالوَرد
A breeze traveled from Jalaq, blessed by rain,
carrying the scent of fragrant herbs and roses.
فَكَلمتand it spoke to القَلبthe heart العَليلailing بمرّهاas it passed
فَكَلمت القَلب العَليل بمرّها
فَأَبدىand revealed لِسانthe tongue الدَمعof tears ماwhat لَمnot أَكنI had been أَبديrevealing
فَأَبدى لِسان الدَمع ما لَم أَكن أَبدي
As it passed, it spoke to my ailing heart,
and the tongue of tears revealed what I had not revealed.
أَلاoh فَاِحمِليso carry ياO ريحbreeze منيfrom me تَحيةa greeting
أَلا فَاِحمِلي يا ريح مني تَحية
إِلىto حَضرةthe presence الأَحبابof the beloved ones أَذكىmore fragrant مِنthan الندincense
إِلى حَضرة الأَحباب أَذكى مِن الند
Oh, breeze, carry a greeting from me
to the beloved ones, more fragrant than incense.
لَهاit has رِقةthe delicacy الجسمof a body الَّذيwhich شَفهُwasted it الضَناsuffering
لَها رِقة الجسم الَّذي شَفهُ الضَنا
مِنfrom الشَوقlonging وَالتِذكارand remembrance وَالبُعدand distance وَالصَدand rejection
مِن الشَوق وَالتِذكار وَالبُعد وَالصَد
It has the delicacy of a body wasted by suffering
from longing, remembrance, distance, and rejection.
وَإِنand if سَأَلَask الخِلانthe companions عَنيabout me فَإِنَّنيthen indeed I
وَإِن سَأَلَ الخِلان عَني فَإِنَّني
مُقيمremain عَلىtrue to عَهديmy pledge وَإِنeven if نَقضواthey broke عَهديmy pledge
مُقيم عَلى عَهدي وَإِن نَقضوا عَهدي
If my companions ask about me, then I
remain true to my pledge, though they have broken theirs.
وَإِنيand indeed I عَلىdespite ماwhat بيis in me لَأَرعىsurely cherish وِدادَهُمtheir affection
وَإِني عَلى ما بي لَأَرعى وِدادَهُم
وَإِنeven if أَلفواthey grew used to فَقديmy absence وَإِنand even if ضَيعواthey neglected وَديmy love
وَإِن أَلفوا فَقدي وَإِن ضَيعوا وَدي
Despite my suffering, I still cherish their affection,
though they have grown used to my absence and neglected my love.
وَإِنيand indeed I لكالظمآنam like the thirsty one يَمنَعُهُwhom they prevent العِداthe enemies
وَإِني لكالظمآن يَمنَعُهُ العِدا
تَمنيhoping for وُرودreaching الماءِwater وَعكa fever مِنfrom الوَردthirst
تَمني وُرود الماءِ وَعك مِن الوَرد
I am like a thirsty man whom enemies prevent
from even hoping to reach water, feverish with thirst.
وَليand I have عِندَهُمwith them قَلبa heart يُعذبtormented بِالجَفاby coldness
وَلي عِندَهُم قَلب يُعذب بِالجَفا
وَفيand within أَضلُعيmy ribs قَلبٌa heart يَذوبmelting مِنfrom distance البُعدِline_31
وَفي أَضلُعي قَلبٌ يَذوب مِن البُعدِ
With them is a heart of mine tormented by coldness,
and within my ribs is a heart melting from distance.
فَلوso if أَحتَسيI drink كَأسthe cup الحمامof death مَدعدِعاًtrembling
فَلو أَحتَسي كَأس الحمام مَدعدِعاً
لَماit would not مَرَّtaste bitter عِنديto me المَوتdeath مِنthan سَكرةthe stupor الفَقدِof loss
لَما مَرَّ عِندي المَوت مِن سَكرة الفَقدِ
If I were to drink the cup of death trembling,
death would not taste as bitter to me as the stupor of loss.
أَلفتI grew used to البُكاweeping وَالسُهدand sleeplessness وَالسقمand illness
أَلفت البُكا وَالسُهد وَالسقم
وَصاحبتand I accompanied أَحزانيmy sorrows فَمِنso from الوَفاloyalty بَعديafter me
وَصاحبت أَحزاني فَمِن الوَفا بَعدي
I have grown used to weeping, sleeplessness, and illness.
I have kept company with my sorrows; what remains for me after loyalty?
وَلَستُand I am not بِسالٍforgetful of مِنone who forgot me نَسيَنيamong them aloud مِنهُمُline_36
وَلَستُ بِسالٍ مِن نَسيَني مِنهُمُ
وَلَوeven if بِتُI spend the night فيin رَمسيmy grave غَريباًa stranger وَفيand in لَحديmy tomb
وَلَو بِتُ في رَمسي غَريباً وَفي لَحدي
I cannot forget those among them who have forgotten me,
even if I lie a stranger in my grave.
أَبيتI spend the night عَليلاًill لاnot أَرىI see ليَfor me عائِداًa visitor
أَبيت عَليلاً لا أَرى ليَ عائِداً
وَإِنand if جاشَsurges جَيشthe army الهَمof sorrow لاقيتُهُI face it وَحديalone
وَإِن جاشَ جَيش الهَم لاقيتُهُ وَحدي
I spend the night ill, with no visitor to see me.
When the army of sorrow surges, I face it alone.
أُعللI soothe قَلبيmy heart بِالأَمانيّwith hopes باطِلاًvainly
أُعلل قَلبي بِالأَمانيّ باطِلاً
وَحتّامand how long الهيهِshall I distract it بِوَعدwith a promise بِلاwithout نَقدِfulfillment
وَحتّام الهيهِ بِوَعد بِلا نَقدِ
I vainly soothe my heart with hopes.
How long shall I distract it with a promise that brings nothing?
فَلاso neither أَناI مَرجوٌّhopeful لِبَرءof recovery وَلاnor رَدىdeath
فَلا أَنا مَرجوٌّ لِبَرء وَلا رَدى
وَلاnor كَيديmy burning anguish الحَرّاfervent تَعللis soothed بِالوَعدِby a promise
وَلا كَيدي الحَرّا تَعلل بِالوَعدِ
Neither recovery nor death seems in store for me,
and no promise can comfort my burning anguish.
وَإِنيand indeed I عَلىover فَقدthe loss النَعيمof comfort لَصابِرٌam surely patient
وَإِني عَلى فَقد النَعيم لَصابِرٌ
وَلَستُand I am not عَلىover فَقدthe loss الأَخِلاءِof dear friends بِالجلدpatient
وَلَستُ عَلى فَقد الأَخِلاءِ بِالجلد
I can bear the loss of comfort,
but I cannot bear the loss of dear friends.
وَلَيسَand not يَطيبُis sweet العَيشُlife ليto me مَعwith غَيرَهُمothers than them
وَلَيسَ يَطيبُ العَيشُ لي مَع غَيرَهُم
وَلَوeven if كُنتُI were فيin الفَردوسParadise أَوor جَنةَthe garden الخُلدِof eternity
وَلَو كُنتُ في الفَردوس أَو جَنةَ الخُلدِ
Life is not sweet to me with anyone else,
even if I were in Paradise or the everlasting garden.
وَماand not حَدَثَhappened عَنfrom سُبُلِthe paths الوَفاof loyalty حَسبaccording to طاقَتيmy ability
وَما حَدَثَ عَن سُبُلِ الوَفا حَسب طاقَتي
وَلَكنماbut rather الأَيامthe days جارَتstrayed عَنfrom القَصدِthe just course
وَلَكنما الأَيام جارَت عَن القَصدِ
I have not strayed from the paths of loyalty, as far as I am able,
but the days have strayed from the just course.
وَماand not رَأَيتI saw الأَحرارfreeborn men منيlike me سَجيةin disposition
وَما رَأَيت الأَحرار مني سَجية
وَماand I have زلتُremained مُنقاداًobedient مَعthrough الودaffection كَالعَبدِlike a servant
وَما زلتُ مُنقاداً مَع الود كَالعَبدِ
I have seen no freeborn men of my own disposition,
and through affection I have remained as obedient as a servant.
وَماand not شِيمَتيmy nature إِلّاexcept المَحبةlove وَالوَفاand loyalty
وَما شِيمَتي إِلّا المَحبة وَالوَفا
وَيَعلمand knows رَبيmy Lord ماwhat أُسِرّI conceal وَماand what أُبديI reveal
وَيَعلم رَبي ما أُسِرّ وَما أُبدي
My nature is nothing but love and loyalty,
and my Lord knows what I hide and what I reveal.
وَلاand no عارانdisgrace أَمسىhas become الزَمانtime يُضيعنيneglecting me
وَلا عاران أَمسى الزَمان يُضيعني
وَأَخَرَنيand it delayed me عَنfrom مَطلَبيmy aim وَخَباand died out زِنديmy spark
وَأَخَرَني عَن مَطلَبي وَخَبا زِندي
It is no disgrace to me that time has left me neglected,
delayed me from my aim, and let my spark die.
فَقَدfor indeed يُصبحmay become الحُرthe free man الكَريمnoble مضيعاًneglected
فَقَد يُصبح الحُر الكَريم مضيعاً
وَقَدand indeed تَلعبtoy with الأَيامthe days بِالأسدa lion الوَردtawny
وَقَد تَلعب الأَيام بِالأسد الوَرد
A noble free man may find himself cast aside,
and the days may toy with a tawny lion.
سُمومpoisons اللَياليof nights كامنhidden فيin نَسيمهاtheir breeze
سُموم اللَيالي كامن في نَسيمها
إِذاwhen شُوهِدَتthey are viewed بِالفكرwith thought كَالسُمّlike poison فيin الشهدhoney
إِذا شُوهِدَت بِالفكر كَالسُمّ في الشهد
The poison of nights lies hidden in their gentle breeze
when examined with thought, like poison in honey.
يَنالُattains العُلاhigh rank فيهاin them اللَئيمthe base man بِلُؤمِهِthrough his baseness
يَنالُ العُلا فيها اللَئيم بِلُؤمِهِ
وَلَمand not تُعطِthey grant حَرّاًa free man ماwhat يُحاولhe seeks بِالجَدwith earnest effort
وَلَم تُعطِ حَرّاً ما يُحاول بِالجَد
In such times, a base man attains high rank through his baseness,
while they deny a free man what he strives for in earnest.
فَلاso let not يَغتررbe deceived مَنone whom سالَمتهُthey spared بِسلمهاby their peace
فَلا يَغترر مَن سالَمتهُ بِسلمها
وَلاand let none rely بَركننupon them فيهاon إِلىvisitors الوَفدand support وَالرَفدline_63
وَلا بَركنن فيها إِلى الوَفد وَالرَفد
Let no one whom the days have spared be deceived by their peace,
or rely on them for visitors and support.
فَكَمfor how many قَدindeed أَهانَتhave humbled مِنan honored one عَزيزtheir hardships خُطوبِهاline_64
فَكَم قَد أَهانَت مِن عَزيز خُطوبِها
وَقَدthough كانَhe was بَدرthe full moon التَمcomplete فيin أُفقthe sky المَجدof glory
وَقَد كانَ بَدر التَم في أُفق المَجد
How many honored people have their hardships humbled
though they were once a full moon in the sky of glory!
وَكَمand how many أَفرَدَleft alone الإِخوانbrothers خلّاًa friend لِعدمهِfor his poverty
وَكَم أَفرَدَ الإِخوان خلّاً لِعدمهِ
وَقَدthough كانَhe was فيin الإِثراءِwealth واسطةthe centerpiece العقدof the necklace
وَقَد كانَ في الإِثراءِ واسطة العقد
How many friends have brothers left alone because they lacked means,
though in wealth they were once the necklace’s central jewel!
طَلبتI sought مِنfrom الأَيامthe days حرّاًa noble man مُهَذباًcultivated
طَلبت مِن الأَيام حرّاً مُهَذباً
أَكونthat I might be لَهُto him رقّاa servant فَماbut they did not جدنَgrant بِالقَصدِmy aim
أَكون لَهُ رقّا فَما جدنَ بِالقَصدِ
I sought from the days a noble, cultivated man
to whom I could devote myself, but they did not grant my wish.
وَمَنand whoever يَطلُبseeks الإِحسانkindness مِنfrom غَيرsomeone other than مُحسنa kind person
وَمَن يَطلُب الإِحسان مِن غَير مُحسن
يُقابلis met بِماwith what لاnot يَستَحقhe deserves مِنof الرَدrejection
يُقابل بِما لا يَستَحق مِن الرَد
Whoever seeks kindness from one who is not kind
meets a rejection he does not deserve.
سَأَفنيI shall spend اللَياليthe nights بِإِتِكاليrelying عَلىupon الَّذيthe One who
سَأَفني اللَيالي بِإِتِكالي عَلى الَّذي
تَنَزهَis exalted فيin أَحكامِهِHis judgments الواحدthe One الفَردthe Unique
تَنَزهَ في أَحكامِهِ الواحد الفَرد
I shall spend my nights relying on the One
who is exalted in His judgments, the One and Only.
فَمَهماso however much يَحطlowers الحَظfortune قَدرthe standing عَميدَكُمof your devoted one
فَمَهما يَحط الحَظ قَدر عَميدَكُم
فَلاdo not تَقطَعواstop عَنهُfrom him الرَسائلthe letters عَنdeliberately عَمدline_75
فَلا تَقطَعوا عَنهُ الرَسائل عَن عَمد
However much fortune lowers the standing of your devoted one,
do not deliberately stop sending him letters.
سَلامpeace عَليupon مشنthose لَمnot أَطقI could عِندَat ذِكرِهمmentioning them
سَلام عَلي مشن لَم أَطق عِندَ ذِكرِهم
قَراراًrest وَلَمnor أَملُكcould I control فُؤاديmy heart وَلاnor رُشديmy judgment
قَراراً وَلَم أَملُك فُؤادي وَلا رُشدي
Peace to those at whose mention I cannot
remain still or command my heart or judgment.
Sol 6