ما للظِباء غَداةَ سائفة النَّقَا

ما للظِباء غَداةَ سائفة النَّقَا

حَمَّلْنَنَا في الحُبِّ غيرَ مُطَاقِ

حَمَّلْنَنَا في الحُبِّ غيرَ مُطَاقِ

What ailed the gazelles, that morning at the dune's edge,

What fault lies with the gazelles at dawn, when the slender one roams,

That they burdened us in love beyond endurance?

That they have burdened us in love beyond all bounds?

سنحتْ فأوثقتِ القلوبَ عيونُها

سنحتْ فأوثقتِ القلوبَ عيونُها

إن العيونَ حبائِلُ العُشَّاقِ

إن العيونَ حبائِلُ العُشَّاقِ

They came into view, and their eyes bound hearts fast;

Their eyes have tempted and ensnared hearts,

Indeed, eyes are the snares of lovers.

For eyes are the cords that bind lovers.

وبعثنَ في قلبِ الخَلِيِّ من الهَوى

وبعثنَ في قلبِ الخَلِيِّ من الهَوى

حُرَقَ الغَرامِ ولوعةَ الأشواقِ

حُرَقَ الغَرامِ ولوعةَ الأشواقِ

And in the heart of one free from love they stirred

They have aroused in this wasted heart a burning passion and yearning's torment.

The burning pains of passion and the anguish of longing.

They have prepared my heart for love though it was once secured from captivity.

وأعدنَ في رقِّ الهوى قلبي الذي

وأعدنَ في رقِّ الهوى قلبي الذي

قد كان مُنَّ عليه بالإِعتاقِ

قد كان مُنَّ عليه بالإِعتاقِ

And into love's bondage they returned my heart, which

I suffer a relapse of my chronic malady,

Had already been granted freedom.

And sink into despair though I hoped to be rid of it.

نكسٌ من الداءِ القديمِ أجَدَّ بِي

نكسٌ من الداءِ القديمِ أجَدَّ بِي

يأساً وكنتُ طمِعتُ في الإفراقِ

يأساً وكنتُ طمِعتُ في الإفراقِ

A relapse of the old sickness renewed in me

Whence can I seek deliverance after the doctor has despaired, saying "Is there no remedy?"

Despair, though I had hoped for recovery.

How can I feel at ease with friends when mine eyes have seen from them scant sympathy?

من أين أطمعُ في السلامة بعدَ ما

من أين أطمعُ في السلامة بعدَ ما

أيسَ الطبيبُ وقال هل من راقي

أيسَ الطبيبُ وقال هل من راقي

How can I hope for health, now that

I did not reckon my lot with them would be loathing of the bored and tricking of the feigned.

The physician has despaired and said, 'Is there anyone to chant a healing charm?'

I drowned yet my wish remained unfulfilled,

أم كيف آنسُ بالصِحَاب وقد رأتْ

أم كيف آنسُ بالصِحَاب وقد رأتْ

عينايَ منهم قلَّةَ الإشفَاقِ

عينايَ منهم قلَّةَ الإشفَاقِ

Or how can I take comfort in companions, having seen

And I was left deprived - deprivation leads to drowning.

With my own eyes how little compassion they show?

I competed with them in drinking the cup of love till they came to in haste while my intoxication remained.

ما كنت أحسَبُ أن حظِّيَ منهمُ

ما كنت أحسَبُ أن حظِّيَ منهمُ

ضجرُ الملولِ وخُدعةُ المُذَّاقِ

ضجرُ الملولِ وخُدعةُ المُذَّاقِ

I never thought my share from them would be

They said while my head still throbbed with exhilaration,

The impatience of the fickle and the deceit of the false-hearted.

"What has reduced you to this?" I replied, "Injustice from the cupbearer."

أغرقت في نزعي فأخفقَ مطلبي

أغرقت في نزعي فأخفقَ مطلبي

وحُرِمتُ والحِرمانُ في الإغراقِ

وحُرِمتُ والحِرمانُ في الإغراقِ

I drew my bow too far, and my aim failed;

And I was denied—for denial lies in excess.

إنَّ الأُلى نازعتُهمْ كأسَ الهوى

إنَّ الأُلى نازعتُهمْ كأسَ الهوى

فصحَوا على عَجَلٍ وسُكريَ باقي

فصحَوا على عَجَلٍ وسُكريَ باقي

Indeed, those with whom I shared the cup of love

Sobered in haste, while my drunkenness remains.

قالوا وفي رأسي بقيّةُ نَشْوَةٍ

قالوا وفي رأسي بقيّةُ نَشْوَةٍ

ماذا دهاك فقلت جورُ الساقي

ماذا دهاك فقلت جورُ الساقي

They said, while a trace of intoxication lingered in my head,

'What has befallen you?' I replied, 'The cupbearer's injustice.'