سَقَتgave to drink الغَريبthe stranger حَمائمdoves الفَجرdawn
سَقَت الغَريب حَمائم الفَجر
كَأسthe cup الحَمامof death بِراحةin the palm of الذكرremembrance
كَأس الحَمام بِراحة الذكر
The doves of dawn gave the stranger to drink
The stranger watered the doves of dawn
the cup of death, from remembrance's palm.
With a cup of doves in the calm of memory
لَمdid not أَدرِI know ماwhat قالتthey said لِعجمتهاbecause of their strange speech
لَم أَدرِ ما قالت لِعجمتها
وَقَضَيتُand I died مِنfrom وَجديmy longing وَلَمand did not تَدرِthey know
وَقَضَيتُ مِن وَجدي وَلَم تَدرِ
I did not know what they said in their strange tongue,
I did not know what she said in her babbling
and I died of my longing, while they did not know.
And I was tormented, though she was unaware
غَنَتthey sang فَفاضَتso overflowed مُقلَتايَmy two eyes وَلَمand did not
غَنَت فَفاضَت مُقلَتايَ وَلَم
تَطفquench المَدامعthe tears غلةthe burning thirst الصَدرthe breast
تَطف المَدامع غلة الصَدر
They sang, and my eyes overflowed; yet
She sang, so my eyelids overflowed, but
the tears did not quench the burning thirst in my breast.
No tears wet my aching chest
كَمhow often أَشرَبI drink الدَمعthe tears الهَمولstreaming إِذاwhen
كَم أَشرَب الدَمع الهَمول إِذا
غَنىsings الحَمامthe doves وَقَهقَهand laughs aloud القَمريthe turtledove
غَنى الحَمام وَقَهقَه القَمري
How often I drink streaming tears when
How much bitter tears I've drunk when
the doves sing and the turtledove laughs aloud!
The doves cooed and the moon chuckled
ياO مَنyou whom أَلفتI grew accustomed to الضَرsuffering بَعدَهُمafter them
يا مَن أَلفت الضَر بَعدَهُم
وَآيستand I despaired مِنof بَرئيmy recovery وَمِنand of صَبريmy patience
وَآيست مِن بَرئي وَمِن صَبري
O you after whom I grew accustomed to suffering,
O you who grew accustomed to harm after them
and despaired of my recovery and my patience!
And despaired of my innocence and my patience
حَتّىeven لَوif أَنَّthat الضَرsuffering فارَقنيleft me
حَتّى لَو أَنَّ الضَر فارَقني
لَبَكيتI would surely weep مِنfrom جَزعيmy anguish عَلىover الضَرّsuffering
لَبَكيت مِن جَزعي عَلى الضَرّ
Even if suffering were to leave me,
Until if harm left me
I would weep in my anguish for suffering itself.
I would cry in anguish for the harm
سَقياًa blessing of rain لِأَيامfor days مَضينَthat passed لَناfor us
سَقياً لِأَيام مَضينَ لَنا
فيin غَفلَةthe heedlessness of الأَحداثmisfortunes وَالدَهرand Time
في غَفلَة الأَحداث وَالدَهر
May rain bless the days that passed for us,
Quenching days gone by for us
while misfortunes and Time were heedless,
In the heedlessness of events and fate
أَشبهنَthey resembled مِنin طيبsweetness وَمِنand in قَصرbrevity
أَشبهنَ مِن طيب وَمِن قَصر
تَهويمةَa brief doze الساريthe night traveler مَعat الفَجرdawn
تَهويمةَ الساري مَع الفَجر
which, in sweetness and in brevity, resembled
Resembling goodness and palace
a night traveler's brief doze at dawn.
The roaming of the morning breeze at dawn
وَلجلقand for Jilliq الفَيحاءِthe spacious مِنwhat a بَلَدٍcity
وَلجلق الفَيحاءِ مِن بَلَدٍ
مَسكيةmusky الأَرواحthe breezes وَالنَشرand fragrance
مَسكية الأَرواح وَالنَشر
And spacious Jilliq—what a city,
And the open plains of a land
with musky breezes and fragrance!
Musky of souls and scattering
هِيَshe وَجنةthe cheek of الدُنياthe world وَرَونَقَهاand its splendor
هِيَ وَجنة الدُنيا وَرَونَقَها
وَجَبينُهاand its brow الزاهيradiant بِلاwithout نَكرdenial
وَجَبينُها الزاهي بِلا نَكر
She is the world's cheek and its splendor,
It is the garden of the world and its grace
and its radiant brow, beyond denial.
And its radiant forehead without blemish
هِيَshe جَنةa paradise فيon الأَرضthe earth واحِدَةunique
هِيَ جَنة في الأَرض واحِدَة
أَنهارُهاher rivers مِنfrom تَحتِهاbeneath her تَجريflow
أَنهارُها مِن تَحتِها تَجري
She is a paradise, unique upon the earth,
It is a singular garden on earth
her rivers flowing beneath her.
With rivers flowing beneath it
قَدindeed صَحَّgrew well مُعتَلّthe ailing النَسيمbreeze بِهاin her
قَد صَحَّ مُعتَلّ النَسيم بِها
فاعلَّso fell ill ناشقهُone who inhales it مِنfrom السُكرintoxication
فاعلَّ ناشقهُ مِن السُكر
The ailing breeze has regained health within her,
The enraptured breeze stirred in it
so whoever inhales it falls ill with intoxication.
Making its languid one drunk from the nectar
وَصفتand grew clear ضَمائرthe inner depths مائِهاof her water فَبَداso appeared
وَصفت ضَمائر مائِها فَبَدا
ماwhat قَدhad طَواهُit concealed it وَنمَّand divulged بالسرّthe secret
ما قَد طَواهُ وَنمَّ بالسرّ
Her water's hidden depths grew clear, and there appeared
And the qualities of its water appeared
what it had concealed; it divulged the secret.
What it had concealed and slept in secret
يَنسابُit flows فيthrough أَرضa land قَدalready اِفتَرَشَتwas carpeted
يَنسابُ في أَرض قَد اِفتَرَشَت
بِالزَعفَرانwith saffron وَعَنبَرand ambergris of الشحرal-Shihr
بِالزَعفَران وَعَنبَر الشحر
It flows through a land that has been carpeted
Flowing in a land spread
with saffron and the ambergris of al-Shihr.
With saffron and the perfume of brushwood
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though ذابَmelted اللجينsilver بِهاin her
فَكَأَنَّما ذابَ اللجين بِها
فَجَرىthen flowed عَلىover أَرضa ground مِنof التبرunminted gold
فَجَرى عَلى أَرض مِن التبر
So it seemed that silver had melted there,
As if the mud melted in it
then flowed across a ground of unminted gold.
And flowed over a land of gold dust
لاmay not زالَcease خفاقthe fluttering النَسيمbreeze بِهاin her
لا زالَ خفاق النَسيم بِها
يُحييrevives مواتthe lifeless الهمgrief إِذas يَسريit wafts
يُحيي موات الهم إِذ يَسري
May the fluttering breeze there never cease
The fluttering of the breeze still stirs in it
reviving what grief has deadened as it wafts.
Bringing dead passions to life as it goes
وَمُهفهفand a slender beloved فَتَكَتslew لَواحِظُهُhis glances
وَمُهفهف فَتَكَت لَواحِظُهُ
عَفchaste الضَمائرthe inward thoughts طاهرpure الأَزرthe waistcloths
عَف الضَمائر طاهر الأَزر
And a slender beloved whose glances slew,
And its fluttering wings have unveiled
chaste in his thoughts, pure in his garments.
The veils of pure souls
يَقضيhe slays عَليَّme بِسحرwith the magic of مُقلَتِهِhis eye
يَقضي عَليَّ بِسحر مُقلَتِهِ
أَبَداًalways وَيَحيينيand revives me وَلاand do not أَدريI know
أَبَداً وَيَحييني وَلا أَدري
He slays me with the magic of his eye,
It kills me forever with the magic of its eyelashes
unceasingly, and revives me, though I do not know.
And gives me life without me knowing
كَمhow often زارَنيhe visited me جَنحthe depths of الدُجىnight's darkness وَجَلاafraid
كَم زارَني جَنح الدُجى وَجَلا
تَهفوflutter جَوانِحُهُhis ribs مِنfrom الذُعرterror
تَهفو جَوانِحُهُ مِن الذُعر
How often he visited me in night's darkness, afraid,
How often the wings of night have visited me
his ribs fluttering with terror,
Fluttering in fright
وَالنجمand the star يَجنَحinclines لِلغُروبtoward setting وَقدand already
وَالنجم يَجنَح لِلغُروب وَقد
قَصَّclipped الصَباحdawn قَوادمthe foremost wing-feathers النسرthe Eagle
قَصَّ الصَباح قَوادم النسر
while the star inclined toward setting, and
As the star wings its way to sunset
dawn had clipped the Eagle's foremost wing-feathers.
Having told of the eagle's oncoming
وَبَداand appeared الهِلالthe crescent لَيلةone night بَقِيَتremained
وَبَدا الهِلال لَيلة بَقِيَت
مِنof عُمرِهِits life فيat آخرthe end of الشَهرthe month
مِن عُمرِهِ في آخر الشَهر
And the crescent appeared, with one night left
The crescent appeared on a night
of its life at the month's end.
With but a few days left in the month
فَكَأَنَّهُso it was like خلخالُan anklet غانيةa beautiful woman
فَكَأَنَّهُ خلخالُ غانية
قَدalready غاصَsank مِنهُof it النُصفhalf فيin نَهرa river
قَد غاصَ مِنهُ النُصف في نَهر
So it seemed a beautiful woman's anklet,
Like the bangle of a singing girl
half of it submerged in a river.
With half of it immersed in a river
وَكَأَنَّماand as though المَريخMars حينَwhen بَداit appeared
وَكَأَنَّما المَريخ حينَ بَدا
نارa fire تَشبblazes لِأَعيُنfor the eyes of السَفَرtravelers
نار تَشب لِأَعيُن السَفَر
And Mars, when it appeared, seemed
As if Mars when it appeared
a fire blazing for travelers' eyes.
Was a fire lit for the eyes of travelers
وَكَأَنَّماand as though الجَوزاءُal-Jawza راقِصَةa dancing girl
وَكَأَنَّما الجَوزاءُ راقِصَة
لِوشاحِهاfor her sash قَلقrestlessness عَلىupon الخَصرthe waist
لِوشاحِها قَلق عَلى الخَصر
And al-Jawza seemed a dancing girl,
As if Virgo were a dancer
her sash restless upon her waist.
With the sash moving on her waist
مُتَنَكِراًdisguised خَوفfor fear of الوُشاةthe tale-bearers وَماand no
مُتَنَكِراً خَوف الوُشاة وَما
واشيهِhis betrayer غَيرother than النَشرthe fragrance وَالثَغرand the mouth
واشيهِ غَير النَشر وَالثَغر
Disguised for fear of tale-bearers, with no
Disguised, fearing the spies and talebearers
betrayer but his fragrance and his smile.
Other than scattering and cleavage
لَيسَis not السَوادthe blackness لِيَستسرّfor him to hide وَهَلand can
لَيسَ السَواد لِيَستسرّ وَهَل
تَخفيconceal الدُجنةthe gloom طَلعَةَthe face of البَدرthe full moon
تَخفي الدُجنة طَلعَةَ البَدر
Blackness could not keep him hidden; and could
Darkness cannot conceal
the gloom conceal the full moon's face?
The rising of the full moon
يَذريhe scatters عَلىupon خَديهِhis cheeks عبرتَهُhis tears
يَذري عَلى خَديهِ عبرتَهُ
فَيرصعso studs الياقوتrubies بِالدُرّwith pearls
فَيرصع الياقوت بِالدُرّ
He scatters his tears over his cheeks,
It sheds its tears on its cheeks
studding rubies with pearls.
Adorning the rubies with pearls
وَيَقولand he says ياO وَيلwoe to الرَقيبthe watcher أَماdoes not?
وَيَقول يا وَيل الرَقيب أَما
يَخشىfear الأَثيمthe sinner مَواقفthe stations of الحَشرthe Resurrection gathering
يَخشى الأَثيم مَواقف الحَشر
And he says, 'Woe to the watcher! Does
And says, "Woe to the watcher! Does not
the sinner not fear the stations of the Gathering?
The sinner fear the Day of Reckoning?"
ماذاwhat يَرىdoes he see فيناin us وَقَدand indeed كرمتgrew noble
ماذا يَرى فينا وَقَد كرمت
مناfrom us مَضاجِعُناour beds عَنabove الوَزرsin
منا مَضاجِعُنا عَن الوَزر
What does he see in us, when we have kept
What does he see in us, when our beds
our beds unsullied by sin?'
Have spared us from sin,
وَتَضىand removed (unclear spelling) بِراحَتِهِwith his palm الرِداءthe cloak كَماjust as
وَتَضى بِراحَتِهِ الرِداء كَما
شَقَsplit open الصَباحdawn كَمائِمthe bud-sheaths of الزَهرflowers
شَقَ الصَباح كَمائِم الزَهر
And he drew off the cloak with his palm, just as
And it passes its hand over the cloak, as
dawn split the sheaths of blossoms.
The dawn splits the buds of flowers,
فَلثَمَتso I kissed راحَتُهُhis palm وَلَمand did not أَرنيI deem myself
فَلثَمَت راحَتُهُ وَلَم أَرني
أَهلاًworthy للثمto kiss الخَدthe cheek وَالنَحرand the throat
أَهلاً للثم الخَد وَالنَحر
So I kissed his palm, not deeming myself
And its hand touches and kisses, but I do not
worthy to kiss his cheek and throat.
Find myself worthy of kissing the cheek and neck,
لَولاwere it not for العَفافchastity وَإِنَّهُand indeed it is خَلقيmy nature
لَولا العَفاف وَإِنَّهُ خَلقي
طَبعاًby nature أَدينI adhere بِهِto it مَدىthroughout عُمريmy life
طَبعاً أَدين بِهِ مَدى عُمري
Were it not for chastity—and it is my character,
Were it not for chastity, which is my nature,
which I naturally uphold throughout my life—
I adhere to all my life,
لَكَرعتI would have drunk deeply مِنof عَذبthe sweetness of مجاجَتِهِhis saliva
لَكَرعت مِن عَذب مجاجَتِهِ
خصرcool المَراشفthe lips عاطرfragrant الخَمرthe wine
خصر المَراشف عاطر الخَمر
I would have drunk deeply of his sweet saliva,
I would sip from the sweet water of its vine,
his lips cool, his wine fragrant.
The scented wine of the pillow,
قَدindeed جَدَّlabored earnestly فيat تَفريقِناseparating us زَمَنٌTime
قَد جَدَّ في تَفريقِنا زَمَنٌ
أَبَداًalways يُدينit adheres بخلةto the habit of الغَدرtreachery
أَبَداً يُدين بخلة الغَدر
Time has labored to part us,
Time has been harsh in separating us,
forever devoted to the habit of treachery.
Blamed forever for treacherous betrayal,
وَبَقيتand I remained كَالمَأسورlike a captive فيin يَدِهِits hand
وَبَقيت كَالمَأسور في يَدِهِ
ياO رَبLord فَأَطلقنيso release me مِنfrom الأَسرcaptivity
يا رَب فَأَطلقني مِن الأَسر
And I remained like a captive in its hand;
And I remain captive in its hand,
O Lord, release me from captivity!
Oh Lord, release me from bondage
Sol 6.1