ونبئتُ ذاك الوجهَ غَيّرَهُ البِلى

ونبئتُ ذاك الوجهَ غَيّرَهُ البِلى

على قُرْبِ عَهْدٍ بالطّلاقة والبِشْرِ

على قُرْبِ عَهْدٍ بالطّلاقة والبِشْرِ

And I was told that decay had changed that face,

I told that face which time had changed,

though so recently it was radiant and cheerful.

Though recently it was radiant and bright,

بكيتُ عليه بالدُّموعِ ولو أبَتْ

بكيتُ عليه بالدُّموعِ ولو أبَتْ

بكيتُ عليه بالتجلُّدِ والصبر

بكيتُ عليه بالتجلُّدِ والصبر

I wept over it with tears; and had they refused,

"I wept for you with tears though it refused,

I would have wept over it with fortitude and patience.

I wept for you with patience and composure.

فليتهم واروا ذكاء مكانه

فليتهم واروا ذكاء مكانه

ولو عرفت في أوجه الأنجم الزهر

ولو عرفت في أوجه الأنجم الزهر

If only they had buried Dhuka, the sun, in its place,

If only they buried your wit in its place,

even if it were recognized in the faces of the shining stars.

Even if I recognized the flowers among the stars.

وليتهمُ وارَوْهُ بين جَوَانحي

وليتهمُ وارَوْهُ بين جَوَانحي

على فَيْضِ دَمْعي واحْتدامِ لظى صدري

على فَيْضِ دَمْعي واحْتدامِ لظى صدري

And if only they had buried it between my ribs,

If only they buried you in my embrace

despite my overflowing tears and the raging blaze in my breast.

With the outpouring of my tears and the raging fire in my chest.

أمُخْبِرَتي كيفَ استقرّتْ بكِ النّوَى

أمُخْبِرَتي كيفَ استقرّتْ بكِ النّوَى

على أنّ عندي ما يزيدُ على الخبر

على أنّ عندي ما يزيدُ على الخبر

Will you tell me how separation settled upon you,

My confidant, how did sorrow settle in you

though I possess more than any report could tell?

When I have more than just news?

وما فعلتْ تلك المحاسنُ في الشّرى

وما فعلتْ تلك المحاسنُ في الشّرى

فقد ساءَ ظنّي بينَ أدري ولا أدري

فقد ساءَ ظنّي بينَ أدري ولا أدري

And what became of those beauties in the thicket?

What did those beauties do in buying,

My thoughts have grown grim between knowing and not knowing.

My doubts about you sway between knowing and not knowing.

يهوِّنُ وَجْدِي أن وَجْهَكِ زَهْرةٌ

يهوِّنُ وَجْدِي أن وَجْهَكِ زَهْرةٌ

وأن ثَرَاها من دموعي على ذِكْرِ

وأن ثَرَاها من دموعي على ذِكْرِ

It eases my grief that your face is a flower,

It consoles my pain that your face is a flower,

and that its soil is mindful of my tears.

And that its thorns are from my tears in remembering.

وَيَحْزُنني أني شُغِلْتُ ولم أكنْ

وَيَحْزُنني أني شُغِلْتُ ولم أكنْ

أسائلُ عمّا يفعلُ الدمعُ بالزّهر

أسائلُ عمّا يفعلُ الدمعُ بالزّهر

Yet it saddens me that I was distracted, and did not

It saddens me that I was busy and did not

ask what tears do to flowers.

Ask what tears do to a flower.

دَعينيْ أعلّللْ فيكِ نفسيَ بالمنى

دَعينيْ أعلّللْ فيكِ نفسيَ بالمنى

فقد خفتُ ألا نلتقي آخرَ الدهر

فقد خفتُ ألا نلتقي آخرَ الدهر

Let me console my soul about you with wishes,

Let me console myself in you with wishes

for I fear we may not meet even at time's end.

For I fear we may not meet again till the end of time.

وإن تسْتَطيبي فابْدَئيني بزورةٍ

وإن تسْتَطيبي فابْدَئيني بزورةٍ

فإنك أولى بالزيارةِ والبر

فإنك أولى بالزيارةِ والبر

If it pleases you, be the first to visit me,

If you allow, then initiate a visit,

for you have the greater claim to visits and kindness.

For you are more deserving of visits and righteousness.

مُنىً أتمناها ولا يدَ لي بها

مُنىً أتمناها ولا يدَ لي بها

سوى خطراتٍ لا تريش ولا تبري

سوى خطراتٍ لا تريش ولا تبري

Wishes I cherish, yet have no power to attain,

I wish for wishes that are not in my hands,

save passing thoughts that neither fletch nor shape an arrow.

Except for delusions that neither feather nor fly.

وأحلامُ مذعورِ الكرى كلما اجْتلى

وأحلامُ مذعورِ الكرى كلما اجْتلى

سُروراً رآهُ وهو في صورةِ الذُّعْر

سُروراً رآهُ وهو في صورةِ الذُّعْر

And dreams of one whose sleep is terror-stricken: whenever he beholds

And the dreams of the stricken, whenever

a joy, he sees it wearing the form of terror.

He saw happiness, it was in the form of fright.

أآمِنَ أن أجزعْ عليك فإنني

أآمِنَ أن أجزعْ عليك فإنني

رُزِئتُكَ أحْلى مِنْ شبابي ومن وفْري

رُزِئتُكَ أحْلى مِنْ شبابي ومن وفْري

O Amina, if I grieve for you, it is because I

Trust that I will lament you, for I

have lost you, sweeter than my youth and my wealth.

Have scorned you, sweeter than my youth or abundance.

أآمِنَ لا والله ما زلتُ موقناً

أآمِنَ لا والله ما زلتُ موقناً

ببينك لو أني أخذتُ له حِذْري

ببينك لو أني أخذتُ له حِذْري

O Amina—no, by God! I was always certain

Trust no, by God, I remain certain

we would part—if only I had guarded against it.

Of your separation, even if I was cautious.

خُذِي حدِّثيني هل أطقتِ على النّوى

خُذِي حدِّثيني هل أطقتِ على النّوى

أُحَدِّثْكِ أني قد ضَعُفْتُ عن الصبر

أُحَدِّثْكِ أني قد ضَعُفْتُ عن الصبر

Come, tell me: have you borne the separation?

Take me, talk to me, have you endured the separation?

I shall tell you that I have grown too weak for patience.

Let me tell you I have weakened beyond patience.

مغالطةً لولا الأسى ما حملتُها

مغالطةً لولا الأسى ما حملتُها

على مركبٍ مما وصفت به وعر

على مركبٍ مما وصفت به وعر

A self-deception: but for sorrow, I would not have borne it

A deception, if not for the sorrow I would not have carried,

upon the rugged mount of what I have described.

On a ship I described as rough.

ونيتهم قد أجْمعُوا عنكِ سَلْوةً

ونيتهم قد أجْمعُوا عنكِ سَلْوةً

لعشرينَ مَرّتْ من فراقك أو عشر

لعشرينَ مَرّتْ من فراقك أو عشر

And their intent [unclear wording]: they have resolved to forget you,

While they have unanimously shunned you,

after twenty have passed since your departure, or ten.

Twenty times or more since we parted.

وأذهلهمْ حبُّ التُراثِ فكفكفوا

وأذهلهمْ حبُّ التُراثِ فكفكفوا

به زفرةً تعتادُ أو عَبْرةً تجري

به زفرةً تعتادُ أو عَبْرةً تجري

And love of the inheritance distracted them, and they checked

And the love of inheritance has distracted them,

with it a recurring sigh or a flowing tear.

Silencing a sigh or shedding a tear.

ولم يبقَ إلا ذكرةٌ ربما امترتْ

ولم يبقَ إلا ذكرةٌ ربما امترتْ

بقية دمعِ الشوقِ في أكؤوس الخَتْر

بقية دمعِ الشوقِ في أكؤوس الخَتْر

And nothing remained but a remembrance that might draw out

Nothing remains except a memory, which may have passed

the last tears of longing into cups of deceit.

As remnants of tearful longing in the wine cups.

وأمّا أنا فالتَعْتُ واللهِ لوعةً

وأمّا أنا فالتَعْتُ واللهِ لوعةً

هي الخمرُ لو سامحتِ في لَذَةِ السكر

هي الخمرُ لو سامحتِ في لَذَةِ السكر

But I, by God, burned with an anguish

As for me, by God, I have found a torment,

that is wine, if you would grant the pleasure of drunkenness.

Which is wine, if you would forgive the pleasure of intoxication.

أهزُّ لها عطفيّ منْ غيرِ نشوةٍ

أهزُّ لها عطفيّ منْ غيرِ نشوةٍ

على ما بجسمي من كلال ومن فَتْر

على ما بجسمي من كلال ومن فَتْر

I sway from side to side for it, without intoxication,

I shake my eyelash without delight,

despite the exhaustion and languor in my body.

At the fatigue and languor in my body.

وأودِعُها عينيّ لا لِصَبَابةٍ

وأودِعُها عينيّ لا لِصَبَابةٍ

ولكن لِتَمْرِي دَمْعَ عيني كما تمري

ولكن لِتَمْرِي دَمْعَ عيني كما تمري

I lodge it in my eyes, not out of yearning,

And I deposit it in my eye, not for youthfulness,

but to draw tears from my eye, as wine does.

But for my tear to flow as it flows.

فلا تبعدي إن الصبابة خطه

فلا تبعدي إن الصبابة خطه

لشخصك في قلبي وإن كان في القلب

لشخصك في قلبي وإن كان في القلب

So do not go far: longing is an allotted place

So do not distance yourself, for the line of your likeness

for your form in my heart, even if it is in the heart.

Is etched in my heart, even if it is in the heart.

ولا تَبْعَدي إني عليكِ لواجدٌ

ولا تَبْعَدي إني عليكِ لواجدٌ

ولكنْ على قدرِ الهَوَى لا على قدري

ولكنْ على قدرِ الهَوَى لا على قدري

And do not go far: I am grieving for you,

And do not distance yourself, for I miss you

but by love's measure, not my own.

But to the extent of passion, not to my limit.

ذكرتُكِ ذكرَ المرءِ حاجةَ نفسهِ

ذكرتُكِ ذكرَ المرءِ حاجةَ نفسهِ

وقد قيل إن الميتَ مُنْقَطِعُ الذكر

وقد قيل إن الميتَ مُنْقَطِعُ الذكر

I remembered you as a man remembers his own soul's need,

I remembered you like one remembering his soul's need,

though it is said the dead cease to be remembered.

And it is said the dead are devoid of remembrance.

ووالله ما وَفّيْتُ رُزْءَكِ حَقّهُ

ووالله ما وَفّيْتُ رُزْءَكِ حَقّهُ

ولكنه شيء أقمتُ به عذري

ولكنه شيء أقمتُ به عذري

By God, I have not given your loss its due,

By God, I have not fulfilled your worthiness,

but this is something by which I offer my excuse.

But it is something by which I defended myself.

أصيخي إلى الدّاعي فليس بنازحٍ

أصيخي إلى الدّاعي فليس بنازحٍ

وما بكِ عنه من وقارٍ ولا وَقْرِ

وما بكِ عنه من وقارٍ ولا وَقْرِ

Listen to the caller: he is not far away,

Scream to the caller, for he will not leave,

and neither solemn reserve nor deafness keeps you from him.

And you have nothing of dignity or composure with him.

ولا تبعثي طيفَ الخيالِ فإنه

ولا تبعثي طيفَ الخيالِ فإنه

سميرُ همومٍ لا يُضيفُ ولا يَقْري

سميرُ همومٍ لا يُضيفُ ولا يَقْري

Do not send the phantom of your image, for it

And do not send the phantom of imagination, for it

is a night-companion to worries, offering neither lodging nor food.

Is the gossip of worries that neither hosts nor settles.

متى يَسْرِ نحوي يلقَ دوني كتائباً

متى يَسْرِ نحوي يلقَ دوني كتائباً

من السُّهْدِ آلتْ لا تسيرُ ولا تَسْري

من السُّهْدِ آلتْ لا تسيرُ ولا تَسْري

Whenever it journeys toward me by night, it finds before me armies

When will it march towards me, finding legions

of sleeplessness, sworn never to move by day or by night.

Of easy talk that neither walks nor strides?

وعهدي به إنْ لم تُحِلْهُ يدُ البِلى

وعهدي به إنْ لم تُحِلْهُ يدُ البِلى

جديراً بأن يَشْكو الوَنَى وهي في الخِدْرِ

جديراً بأن يَشْكو الوَنَى وهي في الخِدْرِ

As I remember it, unless the hand of decay has changed it,

And my covenant with it, if the hands of time do not dissolve it,

it was apt to complain of weariness while she was in her chamber.

Is worthy of complaining of estrangement while it is sheathed.

إذا أجْرَسَ الحليُ استُطيرَ وقلّما

إذا أجْرَسَ الحليُ استُطيرَ وقلّما

مشى فيه إلا ريث يختال للزهر

مشى فيه إلا ريث يختال للزهر

When the jewelry jingled, it was startled; and seldom

When the ornate walk with pride, the meek are timid,

did it walk there, save long enough to strut before the flowers.

And rarely walk in it except calmly showing off.

فإن يأبَ إلا برّه فابعثي به

فإن يأبَ إلا برّه فابعثي به

على رقْبَةٍ مما هناك وفي سشتْر

على رقْبَةٍ مما هناك وفي سشتْر

But if it insists on showing its kindness, then send it

If it insists on its righteousness, then send it

watchful of what is there, and under cover [uncertain reading].

On a neck of what is beyond and in the veil.

وكان الأسى نذراً عليكِ نَذَرْتُهُ

وكان الأسى نذراً عليكِ نَذَرْتُهُ

ولكن أراد الشوقُ أكبرَ مِنْ نذري

ولكن أراد الشوقُ أكبرَ مِنْ نذري

Grief was a vow I had vowed for you,

Sorrow was a vow I made to you, but

but longing demanded more than my vow.

Desire wanted greater than my vow.

ومن لي بعينٍ تحملُ الدمعَ كلّهُ

ومن لي بعينٍ تحملُ الدمعَ كلّهُ

فأبكيكِ وحدي لا اقَرُّ ولا أدري

فأبكيكِ وحدي لا اقَرُّ ولا أدري

Who can give me an eye that bears all the tears,

Who can I find with an eye that carries all the tears

so I may weep for you alone, restless and unknowing?

So I can cry for you alone, neither resting nor knowing?

ولي مقلةٌ أفضتْ بها لحظاتها

ولي مقلةٌ أفضتْ بها لحظاتها

إلى عَبَرَاتٍ جَمّةٍ وكرىً نَزْر

إلى عَبَرَاتٍ جَمّةٍ وكرىً نَزْر

I have an eye whose glances have led it

And I have an eyelid that has spilled its moments

to abundant tears and scant sleep.

Into copious flowing tears and scarce sorrow.

وكان حراماً أن تجودَ بدمعةٍ

وكان حراماً أن تجودَ بدمعةٍ

وقد تركتْها الحادثاتُ بلا شَفر

وقد تركتْها الحادثاتُ بلا شَفر

It had been forbidden to bestow a single tear,

And it would be forbidden for it to be generous with a teardrop

when calamities had left it without an eyelash.

When events have left it without a blade.

ولكنْ حداها الحُزْنُ فاستوسقتْ به

ولكنْ حداها الحُزْنُ فاستوسقتْ به

وأكبرُ ما يُعِطي البخيلُ على قسر

وأكبرُ ما يُعِطي البخيلُ على قسر

But sorrow drove it, and it filled with sorrow;

But grief drove it, so it sought drink through it,

and a miser gives most under compulsion.

The most a miser gives under compulsion.

فإنْ أنا لم استسقها لك نجدتي

فإنْ أنا لم استسقها لك نجدتي

فلا عرك الورَّاد من سَبَل القطر

فلا عرك الورَّاد من سَبَل القطر

If I do not, with my courage, beg its rain for you,

If I have not begged it for you, you would have found me

then may the water-seekers not be brushed by the falling rain [unclear wording].

Without shame, like the one who prevents the rain from falling.

أنمضِي الليالي لا أراكِ وربّما

أنمضِي الليالي لا أراكِ وربّما

عَدَتْنِي العَوَادي عنْ طِلابِكِ في الحَشْر

عَدَتْنِي العَوَادي عنْ طِلابِكِ في الحَشْر

Shall we spend the nights without my seeing you? And perhaps

The nights pass and I do not see you, and maybe

misfortunes may keep me from seeking you at the resurrection.

The returning ones have distracted me from seeking you at the resurrection.

في عَزْمَةٌ لو خِفْتُها لَسَبَقْتُها

في عَزْمَةٌ لو خِفْتُها لَسَبَقْتُها

إليكِ ولو بين السماكينِ والنسر

إليكِ ولو بين السماكينِ والنسر

There is resolve within me: if I feared them, I would outrun them

With determination, if I feared it, I would have preceded it

to reach you, even between the two Simaks and the Eagle.

To you, even between the predators and eagles.

ألا ليتَ شِعْري هل سمعتِ تأوهي

ألا ليتَ شِعْري هل سمعتِ تأوهي

فقد رعْتُ لو أسْمعتُ قاسيةَ الصخر

فقد رعْتُ لو أسْمعتُ قاسيةَ الصخر

Ah, if only I knew: have you heard my groaning?

Oh, I wish I knew! Did you hear my groan?

For I would have frightened hard rock, had I made it hear.

For I have shouted, if only I heard the hardness of stone.

وهل لعبتْ تلك المعاطفُ بالنُّهى

وهل لعبتْ تلك المعاطفُ بالنُّهى

كسالفِ عهدي في مجاسِدِها الحمرِ

كسالفِ عهدي في مجاسِدِها الحمرِ

And did those curves play havoc with reason,

And did those robes play with prohibition

as I once knew them to do in their red-dyed garments?

Like the old ones in their beds of red?

ونبئتُ ذاك الجيدَ أصبحَ عاطلاً

ونبئتُ ذاك الجيدَ أصبحَ عاطلاً

خذي أدمعي إن كنتِ غضبي على الدر

خذي أدمعي إن كنتِ غضبي على الدر

And I was told that neck is now unadorned.

And I told that braid, it has become idle,

Take my tears, if you are angry with pearls.

Take my tears if you were angry at the pearls.

خُذي فانظميها فهيَ كالدرِّ إنني

خُذي فانظميها فهيَ كالدرِّ إنني

أرى علتي أوْرى بها وهي كالجمر

أرى علتي أوْرى بها وهي كالجمر

Take them and string them: they are like pearls; indeed I

Take them and string them as they are like pearls,

see my illness more fiercely kindled by them, while they are like embers.

For I see my ailment more deserving of them as they are like embers.

خذي اللؤلؤَ الرطب الذي لَهِجوا به

خذي اللؤلؤَ الرطب الذي لَهِجوا به

مَحارَتُهُ عيني ولُجّتُه صَدْري

مَحارَتُهُ عيني ولُجّتُه صَدْري

Take the moist pearl of which they have spoken so eagerly:

Take the moist pearls they babbled about,

its oyster-shell is my eye, and its deep sea my breast.

My eyes' oysters pained by them and my chest embedded by them.

لعلكِ يَوْماً أن تَرَيْهِ فتذكري

لعلكِ يَوْماً أن تَرَيْهِ فتذكري

وسائلَ لم تَعْلَقْ بلومٍ ولا عُذْر

وسائلَ لم تَعْلَقْ بلومٍ ولا عُذْر

Perhaps one day you will see it and remember

Maybe one day you will see them and remember

ties bound to neither blame nor excuse.

The causes that were not blamed or excused.

خُذِي فانظميه أو كليني لِنَظْمِهِ

خُذِي فانظميه أو كليني لِنَظْمِهِ

حليّاً على تلكَ الترائبِ والنحر

حليّاً على تلكَ الترائبِ والنحر

Take it and string it, or entrust me with stringing it,

Take them and string them for me or teach me to string them

as jewelry upon that upper breast and throat.

As jewelry on that chest and neck.

ولا تخبري حُوْرَ الجنانِ فربما

ولا تخبري حُوْرَ الجنانِ فربما

غَصَبْنَكِهِ بين الخديعةِ والمكر

غَصَبْنَكِهِ بين الخديعةِ والمكر

Do not tell the houris of Paradise, for they might

And do not tell the houris of Heaven, for they may

snatch it from you through deception and guile.

Take them from you through deceit and scheme.

أيا قُرّةَ العينِ اعتباراً وَحَسْرَةً

أيا قُرّةَ العينِ اعتباراً وَحَسْرَةً

أَجِدَّكِ قد أصبحتِ قاصمةَ الظهر

أَجِدَّكِ قد أصبحتِ قاصمةَ الظهر

O delight of my eyes—what a lesson, what sorrow!

Oh comfort of the eye, I have found you to be

Have you truly become the breaker of my back?

Back-breaking out of my spite.

برغميَ خُلّي بين جِسْمِكِ والثَّرى

برغميَ خُلّي بين جِسْمِكِ والثَّرى

وإن كنتُ لا أخْشى الترابَ على التبر

وإن كنتُ لا أخْشى الترابَ على التبر

Against my will, your body was given over to the earth,

Against my will, distance between your body and the ground

though I do not fear dust upon unworked gold.

Even if I do not fear dirt on the coffin.

هنيئاً لقبرٍ ضمّ جسمَكَ إنه

هنيئاً لقبرٍ ضمّ جسمَكَ إنه

مَقَرُّ الحيا أو هالةُ القمر البدر

مَقَرُّ الحيا أو هالةُ القمر البدر

Happy the grave that embraced your body: it is

Congratulations to a grave that contained your body,

the abode of life-giving rain, or the halo of the full moon.

For it is the home of the living or the moon's halo.

وإنك فيه كلما عَبَثَ البلى

وإنك فيه كلما عَبَثَ البلى

بأرجائهِ كالغُصْن في الورق النضر

بأرجائهِ كالغُصْن في الورق النضر

And you within it, whenever decay plays havoc

For in it, whenever time disrupts

with its reaches, are like a branch amid fresh leaves.

Its corners, you are like a branch in tender foliage.

إذا جئتِ عدناً فاطلبينا فقلَّما

إذا جئتِ عدناً فاطلبينا فقلَّما

تقدمتنِي إلا مشيتُ على الأثر

تقدمتنِي إلا مشيتُ على الأثر

When you reach Eden, seek us out; for seldom

If you come to Eden, then look for me, for rarely

have you gone ahead of me without my following in your footsteps.

Have you preceded me except I walked in your footsteps.

ولا تَعْذُليني إن أَقمتُ فربَّما

ولا تَعْذُليني إن أَقمتُ فربَّما

تأخَّر بي سعيي وأَثْقَلني وِزْري

تأخَّر بي سعيي وأَثْقَلني وِزْري

Do not reproach me if I remain behind, for perhaps

And do not blame me if my endeavor is delayed

my striving has held me back, and my sin has weighed me down.

And my burden made me late and heavy.