Poems
- اجمل أنثىAre your eyes’ tears streaming, or are they still—
- إرث والديShe said, “What a fine father you are among people, my father!
- أسيرة الشكShe stood before me with a lion's stance,
- أضغاث حلمRenew each morning
- آكلة الأكبادO nation, devourer of livers in ravenous passion,
- البسمات الصفرShe said: I saw you seeking alms from the hand of sloth,
- التحديShe saw me quickening my pace in longing,
- الترابShe said, "Why does your heart yearn for the earth,
- الحديث عن الوطرShe said, 'Your promises are like clouds without rain,
- الحفي بمن أعاديShe said, “Your brother! Your brother!” I said to her, “My brother—
- الحمقاءThe house of joys, O my sweet basil, has burned down.
- الخاسرونThe corrupt band lost the wager.
- الدرة النادرةWhy, my sweet, have you gone so far in opposing me?
- الدمعة المشتعلةShe said, “I see a tear in your eye that has caught fire.”
- الرمق الأخيرSay what you wish, for your fate is unknown.
- السلم في عرفهمShe said: Yesterday I saw someone sneaking around our fields.
- الصمت أبلغShe said: I see you have deprived me of the highest badge of honor—
- الصياد الخائبFrom where shall I pluck my letters,
- الطريق إلى مهجتيMy heart has barred the path to itself.
- الطينI marveled at clay invading the realm of clouds,
- العام الجديدThe year arrived, carrying in his hands
- العام الجديدShe said, “Smile! The new year has arrived,
- العام الجديد 2Do you offer congratulations on the birth of the new year
- العقوقShe said, “In my old age, do you deny my tender care
- العيدEid has arrived, and from its retinue
- العيد 2What shall I offer on your day, O Eid,
- العيد 3O Eid, O anthem of hearts,
- العيد 4O Eid, since you came, there has been neither clear sky nor rain.
- ألف سؤالSo I answered the woman with the necklace and anklet:
- الفجر خصيميWe suckled undiluted love, and our souls grew glad.
- الفرارWhy did you give free rein to darkness
- الكعبةWhispering and clamor gladden her breast
- اللسان المترجمIs it a dawn that gleamed, sweet in radiance,
- اللصوصThey withheld the lights from us out of envy,
- الليل داجMy brother, your steps have strayed, nor were they guarded
- المنجمShe said tomorrow life will clear up and don
- الناصحةShe said, “You have taken birds and Safar as ill omens.
- الوشاةThe slanderers cast the disease of hatred upon my evening outings.
- إلى صاحب الفضلO you who seek, through the wealth you spend,
- انتظارShe said, "When will the days proclaim our joy,
- أنثى سجينة القلقThe grackle cried out, “O people run
- إنجازات تربيتيMy girl, in whom I had placed my trust, said:
- أين يكمن دائي؟She said, “Will you break the promise you made my father,
- بداية الهوىWhere does the tale of love begin—
- بلاديO you for whom the waves of love sing in rapture,
- بيت ومصراعShe said: I have learned that love is a wilderness prowled by beasts;
- بيضي واصفريO female hyena in our civilized age
- بين اللذائذAt every bend, motherhood dies,
- بين عامينShe said, “The year has indeed gone, yet still linger
- تغليف الجراحI'm amazed at you when my attempts go astray
- تلد الأرض العجائبWhen resolve rusts, there fades
- جار لا خير فيهAnd a neighbor who violated the neighborhood's rights
- جُدةBlessings and blessings upon a wedding whose star you are.
- جدةO paradise, gliding gracefully, all enchantment and youth!
- جددي الأمسShe wondered, unaware that my father
- حطام السنينAnd she said, “You have carried the wreckage of the years,
- حطب الحربWreak havoc as you please—no, you will not attain your aim.
- حطم سيوفكDo you dream of arriving, though you have not
- حمالة الحطبO you who bring literature a basket of slander,
- حنت حناياهHe grew weary of dreams, lies and hypocrisy
- حوار 2O my heart's desire, you made me forget humankind's injustice.
- خائنة اللياليWhy do you pour your insolence into my ear
- خطواتنا المنهوكةWhy do you ask, when you [know the answer best]?
- داء لا مناص منهShe said, “Awake, you who are bewitched by kisses!
- دعاءI yearn for Your spacious courts, O my God,
- دعاءO Lord, if darkness falls, pouncing,
- ذكرى بدرRamadan, bring Badr back to us, surging with radiance.
- روض الأمنياتO soul, the garden of aspirations smiled;
- زخارف القولO my brother, nobility of character has vanished from among us;
- زيف المنىIt was said: love has become, in people's reckoning,
- زيف ومينAnd she said, "You returned with Hunayn's two slippers,
- سحر البيانThe heart chose you from among the beauties,
- سراييفو 2What ails the boats? Their oars have betrayed them,
- سؤال؟A question between my throat and my chest
- سورة الحقدO master of the messengers, my dreams keep me awake;
- سيماء الحضارةDo not ask me, coming and going,
- شرف الحبDo not say, 'He was unfaithful'; no, no, I was not unfaithful—do not mock.
- شقيق روحيDo you hope that wars will tear me apart,
- شلال نورDid not the garden pour out its dreams
- شيطان عاطفةO Mother, my fortitude has melted on sorrow’s embers.
- شيطانة وشيطانWhen you came, you awakened sorrows in my innermost depths.
- صوني عفافكO longing of a lifetime, keep far from the path of passion.
- ضمائر تُشترىThe excuses of those who came before me are false;
- عبد الملايينShe said: I see you beguiling me with the melody of speech
- عقدA necklace shone upon the breast of time.
- عين الحمىThose steeped in evil built a lair.
- غربة الموتىDo not reproach me, for my resources have failed me.
- في العشر الأواخرRamadan, do not depart, for the soul is thirsty,
- في جوفه نارA spiteful man disturbs the serenity of my dreams.
- قاطرة من ورقO ships the waves have toyed with,
- قصة الحبWhere do I begin the story of the love that
- قوة المسلمDo not fear, my girl
- لا تسأليWreak havoc as you please; grieve for no one.
- لا رأس لا ذنباShe said: I see you absent-minded and troubled.
- لست سمساراًO dawn of my days and enchantment of my nights,
- لم أعرضت عنك؟She turned away from you when you came striving.
- مأوى البجعMy eye buried alive the remnants of my tears.
- متى تموت الحياة؟She said: “I have returned to you, shedding my tears
- مسكن اليائسينThey shut the door and said, "Perhaps we
- معايير النساءShe said, "I see you satirizing me, though I have done no wrong,
- معنى الحبLove, in the language of the young, is ears of grain,
- من أجل عينيكDo not go too far in reproaching me; I am human.
- من أنا؟Do not ask me who I am
- مهجة مضطهدةO you whom I love, my reed pen's stream has run dry.
- مهد سكينتيShe said, “Do you mock me and kill my joy,
- موسم البشرىO Lord, this is the season of glad tidings; through it
- موطنيYou, my homeland, have my allegiance
- ميراث السلامO Eid, what ails the people, that from their garments
- واستنوق الجملIllusions and ailments roamed your courtyard,
- وجه الأرضThe great philosophers wondered:
- وجه جارتناOur neighbor unveiled her face,
- يا أرض تيهيO mother—[unclear fragment]—a nation has fallen before you,
- يا وطنيPeople envy the lofty station;
- يد أبيكHome is the sailor, home from the sea,
- يد الحلالEnglish translation available
- يوم الفداءShe said: I see the sea of rancor foaming,
No poems found.