Poems
- أتهدي بالزهور لطيب عرفDo you offer flowers for their sweet scent,
- أتى لبابك هذا النصر مذ خفقتThis victory came to your gate when there fluttered
- أتيت لبابك العالي بذليI have come to Your lofty door in my abasement.
- احفظ لسانك من دم الانام ودعGuard my tongue from the blood of humankind, and leave
- أحياكم الله هذا محفل ملئتMay God grant you life! This is a gathering with brimming
- أرسلت في طي النسيم رسالةI sent a message in the folds of the breeze,
- أرنا زمان الانس يا وجه الحبيبShow us the time of intimacy, O face of the beloved.
- أرى صدر الرسالة عين برI see the letter’s opening as kindness itself,
- أسال مسلسل السحب العواليHas the unbroken stream of lofty clouds poured down,
- أسياف جفنك في الفؤاد حدادThe swords of your eyelid are sharp within the heart.
- اعلل نفسي والاماني كثيرةI console myself, and hopes are many.
- أعن وميض سرى في حندس الظلمWas it from a flash that passed by night through the deep gloom of darkness,
- أفديك يا غصن النقاI would ransom you, O bough of the sand dune,
- أفق البلاغة عمه بسنائهHe suffused the horizon of eloquence with his radiance—
- آل الغرور لقد ساقوا نجائبهمThe people of conceit have indeed driven their noble camels
- ألا بالله متعبىAh, by God, you who weary me
- ألا بالله متعنىOh, by God, delight me—
- البشر أجرى بنبها أنهر العسلJoy set rivers of honey flowing in Banha,
- الدهر أبدل راحتي بعناءTime has replaced my comfort with toil,
- الله أكبر دعاني الحب للتعذيبGod is greatest! Love has called me to torment.
- الناس أسرى الجمال وأنا أسير ظرفكPeople are captives of beauty, and I am captive to your charm.
- الناس شتى في الصفات فلا تكنPeople differ in their qualities, so do not be
- الهى سيدي أنت الجليلMy God, my Master, You are the Majestic.
- أليس مضمر أشواقي بمنكتمIs not the secret of my longings concealed?
- أما السلو فيستحيل عن الهوىAs for forgetting love, that is impossible.
- أملى بحق الحب ما أملى كذاHe dictated, by love's right, what he dictated, thus:
- ان الدهاة وان أبدوا بشاشتهمIndeed, the cunning, even if they show their cheerfulness—
- ان بان خبني بلقياكم فلى زمنIf my contraction shows when I meet you, I have endured an age
- ان جزت بالركب يا حادي المطايا عودIf you pass with the caravan, O driver of the mounts, return
- ان سال من غرب العيون بحورIf seas flow from the corners of the eyes,
- ان فزت بالقرب أقصتني حواجبهIf I win nearness, his brows drive me away.
- ان كان موتك من قسى حواجبIf your death came from the bows of eyebrows,
- انت عليك لدى اللقاء خصالYou have certain traits at the meeting,
- أنصار عيونك علينا رافعة الاعلامThe allies of your eyes raise their banners against us.
- اني نصحتك بالامان محبةIndeed, I counseled you to seek safety, out of love.
- أهيل الحي هل لاحت بدورO dear folk of the quarter, have full moons appeared?
- أين الطريق لأبواب الفتوحاتWhere is the road to the gates of spiritual openings?
- بالجفن سقم وبالاهداب ايماءSickness lies in the eyelid, and gestures in the lashes;
- بالخديوي القطر أضحى مشرقاThrough the Khedive, the land has become radiant.
- بألفي مرحبا حيا لسانيWith two thousand welcomes my tongue greeted you,
- بحسن طلعتك الدنيا تهنيهاWith your fair countenance, you gladden the world,
- بحمد الله أقبلت التهانيWith praise and thanks to God, the congratulations have come;
- برضابه ماء الحياةIn his saliva is the water of life.
- بشراك يا مصر عم الفيض فابتهجيGlad tidings to you, Egypt! Bounty has spread, so rejoice.
- بشراك يا مصر فالاقبال قد منحاGlad tidings to you, O Egypt, for good fortune has been granted.
- بمن الله قد وافى الحبورBy God's grace, joy has indeed arrived.
- بيد العفاف أَصون عز حجابيWith chastity's hand I guard the honor of my veil,
- تجلى النور في أفق المعاليLight shone forth on the horizon of high honors,
- تركت الحب لاعن عجز طولI gave up love, not for lack of means,
- تروم حبة قلب وهي لؤلؤةYou seek a heart’s core, and it is a pearl.
- تهادينا الزهور فعطرتناWe exchanged flowers as gifts, and they perfumed us;
- جاء البشير ونور الصبح قد لمحاThe bearer of glad tidings came, and dawn's light gleamed;
- جاء العزيز بشيرا قبل مقدمهاAl-Aziz came bearing glad tidings before her arrival—
- جد يا صبا لحليف الوجد والسقمBe generous, O east wind, to the companion of longing and sickness,
- جل الذى زان الجباه بطرةExalted is He who adorned foreheads with a forelock;
- حاش الرقاد عن عيوني من لها انسانHe who is the pupil of my eyes has driven sleep from them.
- حز يا نسيم على بان النقا وسلPass, O breeze, by the bān trees of the dunes, and ask
- حسن الوفاء وصدق الود قد صرعاThe beauty of fidelity and the sincerity of affection have been laid low.
- حل الخديوي الى السعود مبتهجاThe Khedive came rejoicing into felicity,
- حل الرحاب نزيل ساقه شغفA guest alighted in the spacious courts, driven by passionate longing,
- حل السعود بمصرنا وازينتGood fortune has alighted in our Egypt, and she is adorned;
- حلو التمايل ممنوع من القبلSweet in his swaying, yet withheld from kisses.
- حى الرفاق وصف للحي أشواقيGreet the companions, and describe my longings to the clan.
- دقت له العلياء دف سرورهEminence beat for him the tambourine of his joy,
- رب الدراهم أحصاها وعددهاThe master of the dirhams tallied them and counted them one by one,
- رماني بسهم فما أنصفاHe shot me with an arrow and showed no fairness—
- روحي بقربك قد نالت من الاربMy soul, through nearness to you, has attained its desire.
- زارني أحبا فادىMy heart’s dearest came to visit me—
- سارت محافل حياتي يا أهيل الحيThe gatherings of my life have departed, O dear folk of the quarter.
- سطرت الدهم بِالشهبI penned black upon white,
- سطرت الدهم بالشهبI inscribed the darkness with shooting stars.
- سفينة العين قد فازت من الغرقThe ship of the eye has escaped drowning,
- سلام الله ما طلعت بدورMay God's peace, as long as full moons rise,
- سلام قد حوى منظوم درA greeting that holds strung pearls;
- سيف جفنيك دائما مسلولThe sword of your eyelids is always unsheathed.
- شرفوا النادي وحيواGrace the gathering, and offer greetings
- شقيقة الروح يا قلبي لقد شفيتMy soul’s sister, O my heart, has indeed recovered,
- شهد الشفاه حلا بطيب شفاءThe honey of the lips is sweet with wholesome healing;
- صب لقربك بالحياة يجودHe pours his life for your nearness generously
- صبح المباسم بدا من تحت ليل الخالThe bright dawn emerged from beneath the dark night
- طابت نفوس أولى النهى برحيقThe souls of those endowed with reason were gladdened by nectar.
- طرس المحبة بالجوى مختومThe vessel of love is sealed with embers,
- طروس حررت فوراPages were penned at once,
- عز العزاء على بني الغبراءConsolation is hard for the children of the dusty earth,
- عقدت عزمي وهم حلوا عزائمهمI bound my resolve, while they loosened theirs;
- علام الدر يا غواص غاليWhy are pearls so costly, O diver?
- علام تصدني وأراك دوماWhy do you turn me away, when I always see you
- علامة البلغاء هل من نظرةO master of the eloquent, is there a glance
- على صحب أجن بهمFor companions I am mad about,
- عين المنى قرت بك الاعيانO eye of hope, all eyes have found joy in you,
- غضضت نواظري عن غصن قدI lowered my eyes from one whose figure was a supple bough;
- غنى فؤاد الام أهلا بالذيThe mother's heart sang a welcome to the one
- فأشار لي ذاك الرشا متبسماThen that gazelle fawn gestured to me, smiling:
- فدا للعين مني كل عينFor my eye, let every treasure I own be a ransom,
- فوحقه مالي سواه تخيلBy his truth, I picture none but him;
- في معهد الراح وجدتو يرتشف راحاتIn wine’s abode, I found him sipping draughts of wine.
- قاطعتموني سادتي ما بالكمYou have cut me off, my lords—what ails you?
- قالت وقد واصلت ان كنت تألفنيShe said, having joined me, “If you are fond of me,
- قامت بعذلي لدى المحبوب أقوامPeople rose to reproach me in my beloved's presence.
- قد بان منقوط الخدودHe has indeed appeared, his cheeks dotted
- قد صدني ودواعي الحب شاغلتيHe has spurned me, while love's promptings preoccupy me.
- قد ضاع عمري في تشمت عذليIndeed, my life has been wasted amid my reproachers’ gloating.
- قد مال كالغصن في روض الصبا الساقيThe cupbearer swayed like a bough in the garden of youth,
- قد من فضلا بالصفا الفتاحThe Opener has indeed graciously bestowed serenity.
- قرت عيون السعادة بالصفاThe eyes of happiness were gladdened by serenity,
- قسما بانصار العيونI swear by the champions of the eyes,
- قسما بلحظك والخدودI swear by your glance and the cheeks,
- قفا بفياف سار فيها فريقهStop, you two, in the wastes through which his company passed—
- قلب يفرط الشوق منفطر أليمA heart whose longing knows no bounds, broken and aching,
- قلبي لبعدك لم يحمد مجاورتيMy heart, because of your absence, did not value my company,
- قم بالسناء فان الله عافاكOffer praise, for God has restored you to health,
- كانت عناصر جسمي لا يقاربهاOnce, the elements of my body were untouched by
- كبد أطال بناره ايقادهA liver whose burning he prolonged with his fire;
- كحل بعينيك أم صبغ من الرحمنKohl in your eyes, or a tint from the All-Merciful?
- كللت تاج البدر قربا بالشرفYou crowned the full moon's diadem with honor through your nearness,
- كم جاد لي سحرا بطيب مزارهHow generous was his magic with the fragrance of his tomb
- كم ذا نهنىء بالآمال أنفسناHow often we cheer ourselves with hopes,
- كم قلت يا حلو الخضابHow often you have said, O sweetly dyed one:
- كيف الخلاص وذى اللحاظ تصولHow can I escape while these glances attack,
- كيف القرار لمهجتى وعيونهHow can my heart find rest, when his eyes
- لا تفرحن بدنيا أقبلت وصفتNever rejoice in worldly life that has come your way and grown serene
- لاح السعود وأسفر التفويقGood fortune shone, and excellence dawned.
- لاح الصبوح وبهجة الاوقاتThe morning draught and the delight of the hours shine forth.
- لاح بآفاق السعود بروقLightning flashed along the horizons of good fortune,
- لاحت بمصر مشارق الانوارThe dawning lights have shone forth in Egypt,
- لاحت سنايا الاحبة في هلول الصبحThe beloveds’ front teeth gleamed at the break of dawn.
- لاحت شموس السعد بالاقطارThe suns of good fortune shone across the lands.
- لحظ على الفتك بيني دائما أبداA glance built upon slaughter, always and forever [uncertain reading].
- لعب الهوى بفؤاد صب نائىPassion toyed with a far-off lover's heart,
- لقد من الاله لنا بسعدIndeed, God has favored us with good fortune.
- لم يدر معنى الحب الا من غداNone knows the meaning of love except one who goes about
- لما رأيت الظلم من ذاك الملكWhen I saw the injustice of that rule,
- لما قدمت رحاب من رقى ملكWhen I entered the precincts of one who rose to kingship,
- لما نأى عني وبان صدودهWhen he went far from me and his aversion became clear,
- لمستشار الغرام قدمت اعراضيI presented my complaints to the counselor of love,
- ما بال هذا الدهر غير عهدكمWhat is with this Fortune, that it has changed your pledge?
- ما حيلتي الا مسامرة الدجىWhat recourse have I but to keep company with the darkness of night?
- ما زلت أهتف بالجوى لما خطرI kept crying out in love’s anguish when he passed by,
- ما كنت أدري ما الغرام وما بهI knew not what love was, nor what it held,
- ما كنت أعهد ما بالعبد من أسفI had never known the grief within the servant,
- ما لي بلوعة ذا الغزال أهيمWhy do I wander lovesick, burning with longing for this gazelle?
- ما لي لما صدنيWhat ails me? Because he shunned me,
- ماذا تقول اذا اجتمعنا في غدWhat will you say when we meet tomorrow
- مال الفؤاد لغصن باللمى ثملThe heart leaned toward a bough, drunk on dusky lips.
- مالي بِعادل قوامك تايِه الافكارWhat ails me, lost in thought over your well-proportioned figure?
- مجاب قد دعا والانس عيدMujab has called, and fellowship is a festival;
- مذ قال حاجبه الي تعاليSince his eyebrow said to me, “Come,”
- مذ لاح مشرقا بعد البعادSince he appeared radiant after separation,
- مرارة الصبر خصت بالحلاواتThe bitterness of patience was graced with sweetness.
- ملك الفؤاد وقد هجرHe conquered my heart, though he has forsaken me—
- ملك الفؤاد وقد وشىHe conquered the heart and told tales—
- من كوكب الاقبال لاح سعودFrom the star of prosperity, good fortune shone forth,
- موصول لطفك لا أفيك بشكرهYour kindness is unceasing; I cannot thank you enough for it.
- مولاي كم حمل النسيم سلاميMy lord, how often the breeze has carried my greetings!
- هنى لنازل يا صبا بحضورهمCongratulate a guest, O east breeze, on their presence.
- والله ما همت حظا باسم داعيةBy God, never have I yearned for fortune in the name of a cause,
- وله بقلبك والدموع سواكبLove's anguish fills your heart, and tears stream down.
- ولى عين لها مزنAnd I have an eye with rain clouds,
- وليلى ما كفاها الهجر حتىAnd Layla was not content with estrangement, but went so far as to
- وليلى ما كفاها الهجر حتى أرتنيAnd for Layla, separation was not enough, until
- وليلى ما كفاها الهجر حتى أطلتAnd Layla was not content with separation until
- ومتصف بالنحو أعرب حسنهAnd one versed in grammar—his beauty spoke eloquently,
- ومتصف بالنحو أعرب حسنه فأوردAnd one versed in grammar, whose beauty spoke eloquently,
- يا ألف أهلا مليك الحسن أهو قابلOh, a thousand welcomes! Here comes the sovereign of beauty.
- يا بدر رفقا بالفؤاد فانهO full moon, be gentle with the heart, for it
- يا بدر قد صدقت آمالي التيO full moon, my hopes have indeed proved true—
- يا بغية الصب رفقا بالفؤاد فقدO longing of youth, be gentle with my heart
- يا قبر فاهنأ بالتي أحرزتهاO grave, rejoice in her whom you have taken into your keeping.
- يا ليل انك في الفعال منافقO night, you are indeed a hypocrite in your deeds.
- يا ليل ها أنا فيك ساه ساهرO night, here I am within you, distracted and wakeful,
- يا من أتى للجسم يبرىء سقمهO you who came to the body to cure its illness,
- يا من اذا ذكر اسمه أشتاقهO you for whom I yearn whenever your name is mentioned,
- يا من أضاع رسالة أهديتهاO you who lost a letter I had given,
- يا من أفاخر في محبته ومنO one whom I am proud to love, and for whom
- يا من تنزه عن شبه يماثلهO you who is exalted above any peer or likeness
- يا من قال الورى لما غدتO you of whom all people said, as
- يامن أتى للقبر يقرأ طرسهO you who come to the grave to read its page,
- يكفي صدودك يا غزالEnough of your turning away, O gazelle!
No poems found.