هَويِتُهاI loved her والفِراقُand separation يَهواهاloves her
هَويِتُها والفِراقُ يَهواها
فحالَso it intervened بينيbetween me وبينَand between لُقيَاهاmeeting her
فحالَ بيني وبينَ لُقيَاها
I loved her, and separation loves her.
Her beauty and our separation burn me,
So it stood between me and meeting her.
So it came between me and meeting her.
ولَمand not يكُنwas للحِمامِfor death بيagainst me قَبَلٌpower
ولَم يكُن للحِمامِ بي قَبَلٌ
لوif لمnot تُعِنْهُhelp it عليَّagainst me عَينَاهاher two eyes
لو لم تُعِنْهُ عليَّ عَينَاها
Death would have had no power over me,
The dove would not have wept for me before
Had her eyes not helped it against me.
If her eyes had not helped against me.
مقسومةٌallotted للَّنَوىto separation مَحاسنُهاher beauties
مقسومةٌ للَّنَوى مَحاسنُها
وللفُؤادِand to the heart المَشوقِlonging ذِكرَاهاher memory
وللفُؤادِ المَشوقِ ذِكرَاها
Her beauties are allotted to separation,
Her beauties are destined for those who desire her,
And her memory to the longing heart.
And for the longing heart is the memory of her.
حيَّيتُهاI greeted her والجَنوبُand the south wind رافعةٌlifting
حيَّيتُها والجَنوبُ رافعةٌ
جَوانِبَthe sides of السَّجفِthe curtain عنfrom مُحيَّاهاher face
جَوانِبَ السَّجفِ عن مُحيَّاها
I greeted her as the south wind lifted
I greeted her while the breeze was lifting
The edges of the curtain from her face.
The fringes of her veil from her radiant cheek.
فشِمتُso I glimpsed مِنfrom ثَغرِهاher mouth علىin a state of ظَمَإthirst
فشِمتُ مِن ثَغرِها على ظَمَإ
بارقةًa lightning flash لاnot أَنالُI attain سُقياهاits rain
بارقةً لا أَنالُ سُقياها
Thirsting, I glimpsed from her mouth
I smelled moisture on her lips amid thirst
A lightning flash whose rain I cannot obtain.
A lightning that I cannot quench with her drink.
لوif أفرَطَتْgrew excessive بالعقيقِat al-‘Aqiq خَجْلَتَهاher blush
لو أفرَطَتْ بالعقيقِ خَجْلَتَها
أسلمَwould yield ماءَthe luster of العَقيقِcarnelian خَدَّاهاher two cheeks
أسلمَ ماءَ العَقيقِ خَدَّاها
If her blush grew excessive at al-‘Aqiq,
Had she been excessive with kohl, her shyness
Her cheeks would yield the luster of carnelian.
Would have surrendered the kohl water to her cheeks.
وكيفَand how تَغنَىyou become enriched بوَصلِthrough union with غانيةٍa beautiful woman
وكيفَ تَغنَى بوَصلِ غانيةٍ
مَراحُهاher evening journey للنَّوىtoward separation ومَغداهاand her morning journey
مَراحُها للنَّوى ومَغداها
How can union with a beauty enrich you,
How can one who hums of union be happy
When her evening and morning paths lead to parting?
While her resting place is the desire, and her pillow?
رقيبُهاher watchman فيin الظلامِthe darkness مِبسمُهاher smile
رقيبُها في الظلامِ مِبسمُها
وفيand in سَناthe radiance of الصُّبحِmorning طِيبُthe sweetness of ريَّاهاher fragrance
وفي سَنا الصُّبحِ طِيبُ ريَّاها
Her watchman in the darkness is her smile,
Her smile in darkness is her chaperone
And in the morning’s glow, her sweet fragrance.
And the fragrance of her breath is the dawn’s splendor.
لعلَّperhaps أيامَناour days التيthat سَلَفتhave passed
لعلَّ أيامَنا التي سَلَفت
تعودُreturn بيضاًwhite كماas عَهِدنَاهاwe knew them
تعودُ بيضاً كما عَهِدنَاها
Perhaps our days that have passed
Perhaps our days that have passed
Will return white, as we knew them.
Will return white as we knew them.
أيامَdays when لاnot أستميحُI seek favors from غانيةًa beautiful woman
أيامَ لا أستميحُ غانيةً
إلاّexcept شَرَتshe sold دينَهاher faith بِدُنياهاfor her worldly pleasures
إلاّ شَرَت دينَها بِدُنياها
Days when I never sought a beauty’s favors
Days when I do not ask a singing girl for favor
Without her selling her faith for her worldly pleasures.
Except she buys her religion with her world.
تَرتعُshe revels حولَaround الظِّباءthe gazelles آنسةًat ease
تَرتعُ حولَ الظِّباء آنسةً
نظائراًequals فيin الجمالِbeauty أَشباهاlikenesses
نظائراً في الجمالِ أَشباها
She revels among the gazelles, at ease,
She grazes around gazelles gracefully
Her equals in beauty, her likenesses.
The like of her in beauty and her ilk.
رَقَّتshe was delicate عنbeyond الوَشْيِbrocade نَعمةًin softness فإذاand when
رَقَّت عن الوَشْيِ نَعمةً فإذا
صَافحَit brushed منهاof them الجُسومَthe bodies وشَّاهاit patterned them
صَافحَ منها الجُسومَ وشَّاها
Too delicate for brocade in softness; when
She softened away from flirtation, so when
It brushes their bodies, it leaves its pattern on them.
A brave one from her people shook her hand.
أسلَفَنيadvanced me الدهرُtime عندَهنَّwith them يداًa favor
أسلَفَني الدهرُ عندَهنَّ يداً
حتَّىuntil إذاwhen استُحْسِنَتit was admired تَقضَّاهاit reclaimed it
حتَّى إذا استُحْسِنَت تَقضَّاها
Time advanced me a favor with them,
Time loaned me a hand with them
Until, once it was prized, time called it in.
Until when it was made beautiful, it took it away.
فاليومَso today لاnot أحسَبُI count الوِصالَunion غِنىًwealth
فاليومَ لا أحسَبُ الوِصالَ غِنىً
ولاand not إخالُI consider الشبابَyouth ليfor me جَاهاstanding
ولا إخالُ الشبابَ لي جَاها
Today I do not count union as wealth,
So today I do not account union as richness,
Nor consider youth a source of standing for me.
Nor the youth’s departure a position for me.
قدindeed خُلِقَتwas fashioned راحةُthe palm of الأميرthe prince حَيَاًrain
قد خُلِقَت راحةُ الأمير حَيَاً
تَغِلبُit surpasses صَوبَthe downpour of الحياrain بجَدواهاwith its bounty
تَغِلبُ صَوبَ الحيا بجَدواها
The prince’s palm was fashioned as rain,
The leisure of the Prince was naturally created
Outdoing rain’s downpour with its bounty.
To defeat the sword’s edge with its sharpness.
سائلask بهabout him وائلاًWa’il فقدfor indeed مَلَكَتit has attained
سائل به وائلاً فقد مَلَكَت
أُولىthe first of المعاليlofty honors بهthrough him وأُخراهاand the last of them
أُولى المعالي به وأُخراها
Ask Wa’il about him, for it has attained
Asking him for help even when in hardship, he possessed
The first and last of lofty honors through him.
The first and last of glories.
كانَتwere رياحُthe winds of السَّماحِgenerosity راكدةًstill
كانَت رياحُ السَّماحِ راكدةً
حتَّىuntil جرَىhe ran سابقاًahead فأجرَاهاand set them moving
حتَّى جرَى سابقاً فأجرَاها
The winds of generosity were still
The winds of generosity were still
Until he raced ahead and set them blowing.
Until its precursor flowed and made them flow.
أغرُّillustrious طَلْقُfree with اليَدَينِboth hands لوif طُلِبَتwere requested
أغرُّ طَلْقُ اليَدَينِ لو طُلِبَت
منهfrom him لياليthe nights of الشَّبابِyouth أعطَاهاhe would give them
منه ليالي الشَّبابِ أعطَاها
Illustrious and open-handed: if asked
My hands are most generous if asked
For the nights of youth, he would give them.
To grant it the nights of youth, they would give them.
إذاwhen القَوافيthe verses بذِكرِهwith mention of him اشتملَتclothe themselves
إذا القَوافي بذِكرِه اشتملَت
عطَّرَهاperfumes them ذِكرُهmention of him وحَلاهاand adorns them
عطَّرَها ذِكرُه وحَلاها
When verses clothe themselves in his name,
When rhymes mention him they scent
His name perfumes and adorns them.
His mention perfumes and sweetens them.
إنْif لَحَظَhe glances at المُشكِلاتِdifficulties أوضحَهاhe clarifies them
إنْ لَحَظَ المُشكِلاتِ أوضحَها
وإنْand if سقَىhe waters المُرهَفاتِsharpened swords أروَاهاhe slakes their thirst
وإنْ سقَى المُرهَفاتِ أروَاها
If he glances at difficulties, he makes them clear;
If he looks at problems he clarifies them,
And if he waters sharpened swords, he slakes their thirst.
And if he quenches the thirsty he satisfies them.
كمhow many نِعمةٍa blessing للرَّبيعof spring جادَhe was generous بهاwith it
كم نِعمةٍ للرَّبيع جادَ بها
ونَقمةٍand a scourge كالحريقِlike fire أطفَاهاhe extinguished it
ونَقمةٍ كالحريقِ أطفَاها
How many a blessing of spring he has lavished,
How many blessings the spring brought forth from him
And a scourge like fire he has extinguished!
And disasters like fire he extinguished.
تَنالُreaches أقصَىthe farthest of البلادِthe lands لحظَتُهhis glance
تَنالُ أقصَى البلادِ لحظَتُه
كأنَّas though أقصَىthe farthest of البلادِthe lands أدنَاهاthe nearest of them
كأنَّ أقصَى البلادِ أدنَاها
His glance reaches the farthest lands,
His glance reaches the furthest parts of the land
As though the farthest lands were the nearest.
As if bringing closer the furthest parts.
لاnot تَعجَبواyou marvel منat عُلُوِّthe loftiness of هِمَّتِهhis ambition
لا تَعجَبوا من عُلُوِّ هِمَّتِه
وسِنُّهand his age فيin أوانِthe time of مَنشاهاits beginning
وسِنُّه في أوانِ مَنشاها
Do not marvel at his lofty ambition,
Do not wonder at his ambition being high
Though his years are still at their beginning.
While his age is in its building stage.
إنَّindeed النُّجومَthe stars التيthat تُضئُshine لناfor us
إنَّ النُّجومَ التي تُضئُ لنا
أصغرُهاthe smallest of them فيin العُيونِthe eyes أَعلاهاthe highest of them
أصغرُها في العُيونِ أَعلاها
The stars that shine for us—
The stars that give us light
Those smallest to our eyes are the highest.
The smallest among them are the highest.
مُسَدَّدٌguided aright تاهتِgrew proud الإمارةُthe emirate مُذsince
مُسَدَّدٌ تاهتِ الإمارةُ مُذ
نِيطَwas attached بهto him عِبئُهاits burden ومَاand not تَاهاhe grew proud
نِيطَ به عِبئُها ومَا تَاها
He is guided aright; the emirate grew proud when
He is guided, the rule was confused since
Its burden was laid on him, yet he never grew proud.
Its burden and what confused it was placed on him.
جَاءَتهit came to him قبلَbefore الفِطامِweaning سافِرةًunveiled
جَاءَته قبلَ الفِطامِ سافِرةً
يَهتَزُّsway شَوقاًwith longing إليهtoward him عِطفَاهاits two flanks
يَهتَزُّ شَوقاً إليه عِطفَاها
It came to him unveiled before he was weaned,
It came to him before weaning
Its flanks swaying with longing for him.
Yearning for him while his affection trembled.
آمنَhe made safe فيin ظِلِّهhis shade رَعيَّتَهhis subjects
آمنَ في ظِلِّه رَعيَّتَه
خَوفَfrom fear of أعاديهhis enemies حينَwhen عادَاهاhe opposed them
خَوفَ أعاديه حينَ عادَاها
He made his subjects safe beneath his shade
His subjects felt safe in his shade
From fear of his enemies when he opposed them.
Fearing his enemies when they were hostile to him.
أهمَلهاhe let them roam freely فيin نَوالِهhis bounty وغَداand went forth
أهمَلها في نَوالِه وغَدا
مُشتَمِلاًgirt بالحُسامِwith the sword يَرعاهاhe watches over them
مُشتَمِلاً بالحُسامِ يَرعاها
He let them roam free amid his bounty, and went forth
He neglected it with his accord and went
Girt with his sword, watching over them.
Bearing the swords, herding them.
إذاwhen غداcomes المُستميحُthe petitioner أعدَمَهاthe poorest of them
إذا غدا المُستميحُ أعدَمَها
أَعادَهhe sends him back بالنَّوالِwith gifts أثْراهاthe richest of them
أَعادَه بالنَّوالِ أثْراها
When a petitioner comes, the poorest among them,
When the asking one became forbidden, he returned it
He sends him back, with gifts, the richest among them.
With accord enriching it.
منfrom دَوحةٍa great tree طالَgrew tall فَرعُهاits branch ورسَتand stood firm
من دَوحةٍ طالَ فَرعُها ورسَت
أصولُهاits roots واسُتِلذَّand was found sweet مَجنَاهاits fruit
أصولُها واسُتِلذَّ مَجنَاها
From a great tree whose branch grew tall, and firmly stood
From a tree whose branches grew long and its
Its roots, while its fruit was sweet to taste.
Roots anchored and its fruits were delicious.
سُرْجٌlamps أضاءَتshone علىupon الزمانِtime فماand not
سُرْجٌ أضاءَت على الزمانِ فما
أخمدَهاextinguished them الدهرُtime مُنذsince أذكَاهاit kindled them
أخمدَها الدهرُ مُنذ أذكَاها
Lamps that shone across time; never
A lamp that illuminated the times, so
Has time quenched them since it kindled them.
It did not extinguish since it was lit.
يَنسِبُهاrelates it للعُيونِto eyes رَونَقُهاits luster
يَنسِبُها للعُيونِ رَونَقُها
تَخلُبُenchants بالحُسنِwith beauty منwhoever تَردَّاهاwears it
تَخلُبُ بالحُسنِ من تَردَّاها
Its luster gives it kinship with eyes;
Its charm is attributed to it by its eyes
Its beauty enchants whoever wears it.
Bewitching in beauty whoever covets it.
تردَّهاwear it حُلَّةًa robe مفوَّفَةًstriped
تردَّها حُلَّةً مفوَّفَةً
تخلُبُenchants بالحُسنِwith beauty منwhoever تَردّاهاwears it
تخلُبُ بالحُسنِ من تَردّاها
Wear it as a finely striped robe:
Coveting it clad in a garment
Its beauty enchants whoever wears it.
Bewitching in beauty whoever covets it.
كأنَّas though سِحرَthe magic of العُيونِeyes سَاعدَهاaided it
كأنَّ سِحرَ العُيونِ سَاعدَها
فدَبَّso it crept فيinto لَفظِهاits wording ومَعناهاand its meaning
فدَبَّ في لَفظِها ومَعناها
As though the magic of eyes had aided it,
As if the magic of eyes helped it
And so crept into its wording and meaning.
So it crept into its expression and meaning.
عَذراءُa maiden جَلَّتwas exalted عنabove الخُدورِcurtained chambers فقَدso already
عَذراءُ جَلَّت عن الخُدورِ فقَد
أصبحَhas become رُكنُthe recess of الصُّدورِhearts مَأواهاher abode
أصبحَ رُكنُ الصُّدورِ مَأواها
A maiden too exalted for curtained chambers: now
A maiden who distanced herself from tent doors,
The recess of hearts has become her home.
So the shelter of breasts became her abode.
Sol 6.1