يُغالِبُني فَرط الغَرامِ عَلى الصَبرِ

يُغالِبُني فَرط الغَرامِ عَلى الصَبرِ

وَلا صَبرَ لي عَن صورَةِ الشَمسِ وَالبَدرِ

وَلا صَبرَ لي عَن صورَةِ الشَمسِ وَالبَدرِ

Overwhelming passion wrestles with me over patience,

The excess of passion prevails over my patience

And I cannot bear separation from that image of sun and full moon.

And I have no patience for the image of the sun and the full moon

وَيَعذُلني في الحُبِّ خِلوٌ وَلَو دَرى

وَيَعذُلني في الحُبِّ خِلوٌ وَلَو دَرى

بِهِ كَفَّ عَن عَذلي وَقَصَّر عَن زَجري

بِهِ كَفَّ عَن عَذلي وَقَصَّر عَن زَجري

And one untouched by love reproaches me for loving; were he to know

And he blames me in love for being alone, if only he knew

Of it, he would cease reproaching me and hold back from rebuking me.

It would stop his blaming and shorten his rebuke

تَحَيَّرتُ في أَمري وَإِنّي لَعارِفٌ

تَحَيَّرتُ في أَمري وَإِنّي لَعارِفٌ

بِأَمريَ لَكِنّي غُلِبتُ عَلى أَمري

بِأَمريَ لَكِنّي غُلِبتُ عَلى أَمري

I am bewildered in my affairs, though I well understand

I was confused in my matter though I know

My affairs; yet I have lost control of my affairs.

My matter, but I was overcome by my matter

وَصارَ عَليَّ القَلب وَالطَرفُ في الهَوى

وَصارَ عَليَّ القَلب وَالطَرفُ في الهَوى

نصيرين لِلظَّبيِ الَّذي لَجَّ في الهَجرِ

نصيرين لِلظَّبيِ الَّذي لَجَّ في الهَجرِ

And in love my heart and eye have turned against me,

And my heart and gaze became in love

As two allies of the gazelle who persists in estrangement.

Allies of the gazelle that hid in estrangement

أَلا أَيُّها الظَمآنَ ها ماء مُقلَتي

أَلا أَيُّها الظَمآنَ ها ماء مُقلَتي

وَيا قابِس النِيرانِ ها النار في صَدري

وَيا قابِس النِيرانِ ها النار في صَدري

O thirsty one, here is the water of my eye,

O you who thirst, here is the water of my skin bag

And O seeker of fire, here is the fire in my breast.

And kindler of fires, here is the fire in my chest

أَبى لِجُفوني فيك أَن تَطعم الكَرى

أَبى لِجُفوني فيك أَن تَطعم الكَرى

وَلِلقَلبِ أَن يَخلو مِنَ الهَمِّ وَالفِكرِ

وَلِلقَلبِ أَن يَخلو مِنَ الهَمِّ وَالفِكرِ

It denies my eyelids, because of you, a taste of sleep,

My eyelids refused to be satiated by seeing you

And my heart any release from worry and thought.

And for the heart to be devoid of anxiety and thought

وَذُبتُ فَلَو أَلقَيتَ في كأسِ خمرةٍ

وَذُبتُ فَلَو أَلقَيتَ في كأسِ خمرةٍ

لما اغتصَّ بي في كأسِها شارِب الخَمرِ

لما اغتصَّ بي في كأسِها شارِب الخَمرِ

And I have melted away; were you to cast me into a cup of wine,

And I wasted away so if you were poured in a cup of wine

No wine-drinker would choke on me in its cup.

The wine drinker would not have seized me in his cup

وَكَم لَذَّةٍ لي قَد نعمت بِطيبِها

وَكَم لَذَّةٍ لي قَد نعمت بِطيبِها

وَلَم تَكُ فيما بَينَنا ريبة تَجري

وَلَم تَكُ فيما بَينَنا ريبة تَجري

And how many a pleasure I have enjoyed in its sweetness,

And how much pleasure I enjoyed with its fragrance

With no suspicion passing between us.

And there was no doubt between us

تَطوفُ عَلَينا بِالمُدامِ سَبيَّةً

تَطوفُ عَلَينا بِالمُدامِ سَبيَّةً

لَها جفن عَين قَد تَكَحَّل بِالسَحرِ

لَها جفن عَين قَد تَكَحَّل بِالسَحرِ

A captive maiden makes her rounds among us with aged wine,

She came to us with drinks, captured

Her eye's lid kohled with enchantment.

With an eyelid lined with magic

بدت تحت أَرواقِ الظَلامِ كَأَنَّما

بدت تحت أَرواقِ الظَلامِ كَأَنَّما

يُواجِهُني مِن وَجهِها لَيلَةُ القَدرِ

يُواجِهُني مِن وَجهِها لَيلَةُ القَدرِ

She appeared beneath the canopies of darkness, as though

She appeared under the arches of darkness as if

The Night of Decree looked back at me from her face.

The night of decree encountered me from her face

وَلَيلٍ جثمنا تَحتَهُ فَتَطايَرَت

وَلَيلٍ جثمنا تَحتَهُ فَتَطايَرَت

لوقَعَ المَطايا جاثِمات القطا الكُدري

لوقَعَ المَطايا جاثِمات القطا الكُدري

And many a night we crouched beneath, when there flew up

And a night we crouched under it and blankets

At the tread of our mounts, the roosting dusky sandgrouse.

Flew if the spotted camels lay down

تَسيرُ بِنا حَتّى إِذا عَزَّ جانِبٌ

تَسيرُ بِنا حَتّى إِذا عَزَّ جانِبٌ

مِنَ السَهلِ أَدَنتَنا إِلى جانِب الوَعرِ

مِنَ السَهلِ أَدَنتَنا إِلى جانِب الوَعرِ

They carry us onward until, when a stretch grows scarce

It takes us until when the side

Of level ground, they draw us toward a stretch of rugged terrain.

Of the plain brought us close to the rugged side

كَواكِبُ رَكبٍ في كَواكِبِ ظُلمَةٍ

كَواكِبُ رَكبٍ في كَواكِبِ ظُلمَةٍ

تَسيرُ كَما تَسري وَتَجري كَما تَجري

تَسيرُ كَما تَسري وَتَجري كَما تَجري

Stars of a caravan amid the stars of darkness,

Stars of a group among the stars of darkness

They travel as those travel by night, and run as those run,

Go just as they go and run just as they run

إِلى سَيدٍ أَوفَت فأوفاني المُنى

إِلى سَيدٍ أَوفَت فأوفاني المُنى

إِلى عِزَّةٍ أَوفَت عَلى غُرَّة البَدرِ

إِلى عِزَّةٍ أَوفَت عَلى غُرَّة البَدرِ

To a lord they came, and he granted me my wishes in full;

To a master who fulfilled and fulfilled me wishes

To a majesty that rose above the bright face of the full moon.

To glory that fulfilled at the prime of the full moon

إِلى السَيِّدِ المِفضالِ وَالماجِدِ الَّذي

إِلى السَيِّدِ المِفضالِ وَالماجِدِ الَّذي

حَوى المَجدَ قدماً بِالمَفاخِرِ وَالقَدرِ

حَوى المَجدَ قدماً بِالمَفاخِرِ وَالقَدرِ

To the generous lord, the illustrious man who

To the esteemed and glorious master who

Long ago gained glory through noble deeds and high standing.

Contained glory walking with pride and esteem

وَلَمّا ونت بُزل المَطايا حَثَثتُها

وَلَمّا ونت بُزل المَطايا حَثَثتُها

بِقَولي لَها سيري إِلى مَعدَنِ الفَخرِ

بِقَولي لَها سيري إِلى مَعدَنِ الفَخرِ

And when the mature riding camels flagged, I urged them on

And when the camels' saddles creaked, I spurred them

By telling them, 'Travel to the source of honor.'

With my words, "Go to the essence of pride."

فَلَمّا أَحَست أَنَّكَ القَصدُ أَسرعت

فَلَمّا أَحَست أَنَّكَ القَصدُ أَسرعت

رواحاً وأغنتني عن السَوطِ والزَجرِ

رواحاً وأغنتني عن السَوطِ والزَجرِ

When they sensed that you were the goal, they hastened

So when she felt that you were the aim, she hastened

On their evening journey, sparing me the whip and driving cries.

Running and spared me the whip and scolding

فَكانَ بِسَعدٍ لا بِنَجسٍ مَناخُها

فَكانَ بِسَعدٍ لا بِنَجسٍ مَناخُها

عَلى بابِ مَن أَغنَت يَداهُ عَن القَطرِ

عَلى بابِ مَن أَغنَت يَداهُ عَن القَطرِ

So their kneeling-place was fortunate, not defiled,

So with good fortune, not ill-omen was her stopping

At the door of one whose hands render rain needless.

At the door of one whose hands were spared from rain

كَريم لَه من أَظلم الناس شاعِرٌ

كَريم لَه من أَظلم الناس شاعِرٌ

يُشبِّههُ بِالغَيثِ وَالقَطرِ وَالبَحرِ

يُشبِّههُ بِالغَيثِ وَالقَطرِ وَالبَحرِ

A generous man: among those most unjust to him is a poet

A generous man whom the most unjust of people compare

Who likens him to rain, showers, and the sea.

To rain, dripping and sea

وَما زالَ ذا ذهب صَحيحٍ وَخاطِرٍ

وَما زالَ ذا ذهب صَحيحٍ وَخاطِرٍ

وَذِكرٍ وَفِكرٍ لا يُقاسُ إِلى فِكرِ

وَذِكرٍ وَفِكرٍ لا يُقاسُ إِلى فِكرِ

And he has always possessed pure gold and a mind,

And he still has flawless gold and thoughts

And renown, and thought that no other thought can match.

And mention and ideas that cannot be compared to any thought

وَإِن نابَ خَطبٌ لَم يَكُن دَفعُهُ سِوى

وَإِن نابَ خَطبٌ لَم يَكُن دَفعُهُ سِوى

صدور العَوالي وَالمُهَنَّدَةِ البَترِ

صدور العَوالي وَالمُهَنَّدَةِ البَترِ

And if calamity strikes, nothing can repel it but

And if adversity befell, repelling it would only be

The points of tall spears and keen swords of Indian steel.

With the determination of the lofty and sharp mountains

رمت صفحة الأَعراب كَفُّ سَحابه

رمت صفحة الأَعراب كَفُّ سَحابه

بِسَهمِ النَدى فاهتَزَّ في صَفَحةِ الدَهرِ

بِسَهمِ النَدى فاهتَزَّ في صَفَحةِ الدَهرِ

His cloud's palm shot at the Bedouins' face

The page of nomads was struck by the arrow of its clouds' palm

With the arrow of bounty, and it quivered on the page of time.

In the page of time, so it shuddered

أَديبٌ لَبيبٌ ماجِدٌ متكِرِّمٌ

أَديبٌ لَبيبٌ ماجِدٌ متكِرِّمٌ

كَريمٌ المحيّا طَيِّبُ الأصلِ وَالذِكرِ

كَريمٌ المحيّا طَيِّبُ الأصلِ وَالذِكرِ

Cultured, discerning, illustrious, magnanimous,

A literary, rational, glorious and generous man

Noble of countenance, good in lineage and repute.

Generous, good-natured, of fine origin and mention

أَلا أَيُّها القيلُ الكَريمُ ومن سَما

أَلا أَيُّها القيلُ الكَريمُ ومن سَما

بِمَجدٍ وَإِحسانٍ عَلى قِمَّةِ النَسرِ

بِمَجدٍ وَإِحسانٍ عَلى قِمَّةِ النَسرِ

O noble prince, you who have risen

O you noble, generous, who reached with glory

Through glory and beneficence above the eagle's crest,

And benevolence the peak of the eagle

تَقيكَ الرَدى نَفسٌ عَلى كَريمة

تَقيكَ الرَدى نَفسٌ عَلى كَريمة

تُحبُّكَ حُبَّ الأمن في زمن الذُعرِ

تُحبُّكَ حُبَّ الأمن في زمن الذُعرِ

May a soul precious to me shield you from death,

A soul that fears vileness protects you

That loves you as safety is loved in a time of terror.

And loves you with the love of safety in the time of horror

لَقَد رفع الرَحمَنُ قَدرُكَ في الوَرى

لَقَد رفع الرَحمَنُ قَدرُكَ في الوَرى

كَما في اللَيالي شُرِّفت ليلة القَدرِ

كَما في اللَيالي شُرِّفت ليلة القَدرِ

The All-Merciful has indeed raised your rank among mankind,

God has indeed raised your value in the world

Just as the Night of Decree was honored among nights.

As the night of decree was ennobled among the nights

فَإِن كنت في جنس البَرايا وفقتهم

فَإِن كنت في جنس البَرايا وفقتهم

فَلِلمِسكِ نَشرٌ لَيسَ يوجد في العِطرِ

فَلِلمِسكِ نَشرٌ لَيسَ يوجد في العِطرِ

For if you belong to the race of mortals yet surpass them,

So if you attained the prime of probity

Then musk, too, has a fragrance found in no other perfume.

Musk has a scattering not found in perfume

إِلَيكَ عَروساً في قَريضٍ زَفَفتُها

إِلَيكَ عَروساً في قَريضٍ زَفَفتُها

إِلَيكَ فَخُذ يا أَبرَعَ الناسِ بِالشُكرِ

إِلَيكَ فَخُذ يا أَبرَعَ الناسِ بِالشُكرِ

To you I have escorted a bride in verse,

As a bride in verses I presented her to you

To you—so accept her with gratitude, O most gifted of men.

To you, so receive, O most eloquent in gratitude

فَما عَزَّة الإِنسان إِلّا حَديثِهِ

فَما عَزَّة الإِنسان إِلّا حَديثِهِ

فَعِش أَنتَ في خَيرِ الحَديثِ الَّذي يَجري

فَعِش أَنتَ في خَيرِ الحَديثِ الَّذي يَجري

For a person's glory is only the tale told of him;

For man's glory is nothing but his speech

So may you live on in the finest tales that circulate.

So you live in the best ongoing speech

وَعِش أَبَداً ما لاح في الجَوِّ طائِرٌ

وَعِش أَبَداً ما لاح في الجَوِّ طائِرٌ

وَما هتفت وَرقاء في غُصُنِ نَضرِ

وَما هتفت وَرقاء في غُصُنِ نَضرِ

And live forever, as long as a bird appears in the sky,

And live forever for as long as a bird

And as long as a gray dove calls on a verdant branch.

Flies in the air and leaves rustle on a fresh branch