يَهونُ عَلَيها أَن أَبيتَ مُتَيَّماً

يَهونُ عَلَيها أَن أَبيتَ مُتَيَّماً

أُعالِجُ وَجداً في الضَميرِ مُكَتَّما

أُعالِجُ وَجداً في الضَميرِ مُكَتَّما

She thinks nothing of my spending the night enslaved by love,

It was easy for her that you spent the night sleepless,

wrestling with longing kept hidden in my heart.

I suffer anguish in my conscience concealed,

وَقَد جاوَرَت أَرضَ الأَعادي وَأَصبَحَت

وَقَد جاوَرَت أَرضَ الأَعادي وَأَصبَحَت

حِماً وَصلُها مُذ جاوَرَت أَبرَقَ الحِمى

حِماً وَصلُها مُذ جاوَرَت أَبرَقَ الحِمى

She has settled beside the land of enemies, and now

And she has dwelt in the land of enemies and become

union with her is forbidden ground, since she settled at Abraq al-Hima.

A protector whose ties have been connected since she dwelt,

بَكَت حَرقَةً عِندَ الوَداعِ وَأَردَفَت

بَكَت حَرقَةً عِندَ الوَداعِ وَأَردَفَت

سُلوّاً نَهى الأَحشاءَ أَن تَتَضَرَّما

سُلوّاً نَهى الأَحشاءَ أَن تَتَضَرَّما

She wept in anguish at farewell, then followed it with

She wept bitterly at the farewell and followed it

forgetfulness that forbade her inward parts to burn.

With a farewell that forbade my heart to show distress,

فَلَم يَبقَ مِن مَعروفِها غَيرُ طائِفٍ

فَلَم يَبقَ مِن مَعروفِها غَيرُ طائِفٍ

مُلِمٍّ بِنا وَهناً إِذا الرَكبُ هَوَّما

مُلِمٍّ بِنا وَهناً إِذا الرَكبُ هَوَّما

Nothing of her kindness remains but a visiting phantom,

So nothing remained of her kindness except a group

coming to us at night, when the caravan dozes.

That visited us and became weak when the caravan trembled,

يَكادُ وَميضُ البَرقِ عِندَ اِعتِراضِهِ

يَكادُ وَميضُ البَرقِ عِندَ اِعتِراضِهِ

يَضيءُ خَيالاً جاءَمِنها مُسَلِّما

يَضيءُ خَيالاً جاءَمِنها مُسَلِّما

The lightning's flash, as it streaks across, almost

The flashing of lightning when it crosses

lights a phantom come from her to offer greetings.

Almost illuminates an apparition that came from her in submission,

وَلَم أَنسَها عِندَ الوَداعِ وَنَثرُها

وَلَم أَنسَها عِندَ الوَداعِ وَنَثرُها

سَوابِقَ دَمعٍ أَعجَلَت أَن تَنَظَّما

سَوابِقَ دَمعٍ أَعجَلَت أَن تَنَظَّما

Nor have I forgotten her at farewell, and her scattering of

And I did not forget her at the farewell and her

racing tears, too swift to be strung together.

Racing teardrops that hastened to be organized,

وَقالَت هَلِ الفَتحُ بنُ خاقانَ مُعقِبٌ

وَقالَت هَلِ الفَتحُ بنُ خاقانَ مُعقِبٌ

رِضاً فَيَعودَ الشَملُ مِنّا مُلاءَما

رِضاً فَيَعودَ الشَملُ مِنّا مُلاءَما

She said, 'Will al-Fath ibn Khaqan restore

And she said: “Will al-Fatḥ ibn Khāqān give us

goodwill, so that our union may be mended?'

Contentment so the relationship between us becomes compatible?”

خَليلَيَّ كُفّا اللَومَ في فَيضِ عَبرَةٍ

خَليلَيَّ كُفّا اللَومَ في فَيضِ عَبرَةٍ

أَبى الوَجدُ إِلّا أَن تَفيضَ وَتَسجُما

أَبى الوَجدُ إِلّا أَن تَفيضَ وَتَسجُما

My two friends, cease reproaching these overflowing tears;

My friend, stop blaming at the outpouring of tears

longing insists that they overflow and stream.

That grief refused except to overflow and accumulate,

وَلا تَعجَبا مِن فَجعَةِ البَينِ إِنَّني

وَلا تَعجَبا مِن فَجعَةِ البَينِ إِنَّني

رَأَيتُ الهَوى طَعمينِ شُهداً وَعَلقَما

رَأَيتُ الهَوى طَعمينِ شُهداً وَعَلقَما

Do not marvel at the anguish of parting: I

So do not be surprised at the agony of separation, I

have found love to have two tastes—honey and colocynth.

Saw passion as deadly poison and hot embers,

عَذيري مِنَ الأَيّامِ رَنَّقنَ مَشرَبي

عَذيري مِنَ الأَيّامِ رَنَّقنَ مَشرَبي

وَلَقَّينَني نَحساً مِنَ الطَيرِ أَشأَما

وَلَقَّينَني نَحساً مِنَ الطَيرِ أَشأَما

Who will defend me against the days that muddied my drink

My excuse from the days has made my watering place muddy

and made me meet a baleful bird, most ill-omened of all?

And they have met me with ill omens from the birds I perceived,

وَأَكسَبَني سُخطَ اِمرِئٍ بِتُّ مَوهِناً

وَأَكسَبَني سُخطَ اِمرِئٍ بِتُّ مَوهِناً

أَرى سُخطَهُ لَيلاً مَعَ اللَيلِ مُظلِما

أَرى سُخطَهُ لَيلاً مَعَ اللَيلِ مُظلِما

And it brought me a man's wrath; late at night I lay

And they have brought me the anger of a noble man who became submissive

seeing his wrath as another dark night beside the night.

I see his anger in the night with the night gloomy,

تَبَلَّجَ عَن بَعضِ الرِضا وَاِنطَوى عَلى

تَبَلَّجَ عَن بَعضِ الرِضا وَاِنطَوى عَلى

بَقِيَّةِ عَتبٍ شارَفَت أَن تَصَرَّما

بَقِيَّةِ عَتبٍ شارَفَت أَن تَصَرَّما

He brightened with a measure of goodwill, yet harbored

He relaxed from some consent and wrapped himself

a remnant of reproach that was almost at an end.

In the rest of the reproach that almost crumbled,

إِذا قُلتُ يَوماً قَد تَجاوَزَ حَدَّها

إِذا قُلتُ يَوماً قَد تَجاوَزَ حَدَّها

تَلَبَّثَ في أَعقابِها وَتَلَوَّما

تَلَبَّثَ في أَعقابِها وَتَلَوَّما

Whenever I said one day, 'He has passed beyond its bounds,'

If I say one day it has exceeded its limit

he lingered in its wake and tarried.

It lingers in its consequences and twists,

وَأَصيَدَ إِن نازَعتُهُ اللَحظَ رَدَّهُ

وَأَصيَدَ إِن نازَعتُهُ اللَحظَ رَدَّهُ

كَليلاً وَإِن راجَعتُهُ القَولَ جَمجَما

كَليلاً وَإِن راجَعتُهُ القَولَ جَمجَما

And haughty: if I sought his gaze, he sent mine back

And if I disputed with it for a moment he refuted it

blunted; if I exchanged words with him, he spoke evasively.

Viciously, and if I came back to him with words he was stubborn,

ثَناهُ العِدى عَنّي فَأَصبَحَ مُعرِضاً

ثَناهُ العِدى عَنّي فَأَصبَحَ مُعرِضاً

وَأَوهَمَهُ الواشونَ حَتّى تَوَهَّما

وَأَوهَمَهُ الواشونَ حَتّى تَوَهَّما

Enemies turned him away from me, and he grew aloof;

Prejudice has turned him away from me so he became averse

and slanderers misled him until he harbored suspicions.

And the slanderers deluded him until he imagined,

وَقَد كانَ سَهلاً واضِحاً فَتَوَعَّرَت

وَقَد كانَ سَهلاً واضِحاً فَتَوَعَّرَت

رُباهُ وَطَلقاً ضاحِكاً فَتَجَهَّما

رُباهُ وَطَلقاً ضاحِكاً فَتَجَهَّما

He had been smooth and open, but rugged grew

And he was easy and clear so his calmness became rough

his hills; once cheerful and smiling, he scowled.

And free and laughing so he frowned,

أَمُتَّخِذٌ عِندي الإِساءَةَ مُحسِنٌ

أَمُتَّخِذٌ عِندي الإِساءَةَ مُحسِنٌ

وَمُنتَقِمٌ مِنّي اِمرُؤٌ كانَ مُنعِما

وَمُنتَقِمٌ مِنّي اِمرُؤٌ كانَ مُنعِما

Does one who did me good now choose to wrong me?

Taking offense with me while being good to me

Does a man who once bestowed favors take vengeance on me?

And avenging himself upon me, a man who was gracious,

وَمُكتَسِبٌ فِيَّ المَلامَةَ ماجِدٌ

وَمُكتَسِبٌ فِيَّ المَلامَةَ ماجِدٌ

يَرى الحَمدَ غُنماً وَالمَلامَةَ مَغرَم

يَرى الحَمدَ غُنماً وَالمَلامَةَ مَغرَم

Does a noble man earn blame through his treatment of me,

And attributing blame to me while being glorious

when he sees praise as profit and blame as loss?

He sees praise as profit and blame as loss,

يُخَوِّفُني مِن سوءِ رَأيِكَ مَعشَرٌ

يُخَوِّفُني مِن سوءِ رَأيِكَ مَعشَرٌ

وَلا خَوفَ إِلّا أَن تَجورَ وَتَظلِما

وَلا خَوفَ إِلّا أَن تَجورَ وَتَظلِما

A band of men frightens me with your ill opinion,

A group frightens me about your bad opinion

yet I fear only that you may act unjustly and oppress.

And there is no fear except that you would wrong and oppress,

أَعيذُكَ أَن أَخشاكَ مِن غَيرِ حادِثٍ

أَعيذُكَ أَن أَخشاكَ مِن غَيرِ حادِثٍ

تَبَيَّنَ أَو جُرمٍ إِلَيكَ تَقَدَّما

تَبَيَّنَ أَو جُرمٍ إِلَيكَ تَقَدَّما

I would shield you from my fearing you without an incident

I seek refuge for you that I fear you without

made clear, or a prior offense against you.

An evident incident or a crime that preceded you,

أَلَستُ المُوالي فيكَ نَظمَ قَصائِدٍ

أَلَستُ المُوالي فيكَ نَظمَ قَصائِدٍ

هِيَ الأَنجُمُ اِقتادَت مَعَ اللَيلِ أَنجُما

هِيَ الأَنجُمُ اِقتادَت مَعَ اللَيلِ أَنجُما

Am I not the one who keeps composing poems in your praise—

Am I not the one loyal to you, composing poems

the very stars, leading other stars through the night?

That are the stars that guided the dark night’s stars,

ثَناءٌ كَأَنَّ الرَوضَ مِنهُ مُنَوِّراً

ثَناءٌ كَأَنَّ الرَوضَ مِنهُ مُنَوِّراً

ضُحاً وَكَأَنَّ الوَشيَ فيهِ مُسَهَّما

ضُحاً وَكَأَنَّ الوَشيَ فيهِ مُسَهَّما

Praise, as though from it a meadow flowered

Praise as if the meadow from it is illuminated

at midmorning, and as though it held arrow-patterned brocade.

Radiantly and as if the fresh herbage in it is marked,

فَلَو أَنَّني وَقَّرتُ شِعري وَقارَهُ

فَلَو أَنَّني وَقَّرتُ شِعري وَقارَهُ

وَأَجلَلتُ مَدحي فيكَ أَن يُتَهَضَّما

وَأَجلَلتُ مَدحي فيكَ أَن يُتَهَضَّما

Had I accorded my poetry its due dignity,

So if I honored my poetry and its honor

and held my praise of you too high to be belittled,

And glorified my praise of you lest it be slighted,

لَأَكبَرتُ أَن أومِئَ إِلَيكَ بِإِصبَعٍ

لَأَكبَرتُ أَن أومِئَ إِلَيكَ بِإِصبَعٍ

تَضَرَّعُ أَو أُدني لِمَعذِرَةٍ فَما

تَضَرَّعُ أَو أُدني لِمَعذِرَةٍ فَما

I would have thought it beneath me to gesture to you with a finger

I would think it too much to gesture to you with a finger

in supplication, or bring my mouth near to voice an apology.

Pleading or approach with an excuse, so do not

وَكانَ الَّذي يَأتي بِهِ الدَهرُ هَيِناً

وَكانَ الَّذي يَأتي بِهِ الدَهرُ هَيِناً

عَلَيَّ وَلَو كانَ الحِمامُ المُقَدَّما

عَلَيَّ وَلَو كانَ الحِمامُ المُقَدَّما

And whatever time brought would have been easy

And that which time would bring would be easy

for me, even if death were what it brought forward.

For me even if it were deadly poison presented,

وَلَكِنَّني أُعلي مَحَلَّكَ أَن أَرى

وَلَكِنَّني أُعلي مَحَلَّكَ أَن أَرى

مُدِلّاً وَأَستَحييكَ أَن أَتَعَظَّما

مُدِلّاً وَأَستَحييكَ أَن أَتَعَظَّما

But I esteem your station too highly to appear

But I exalt your position that I see

presumptuous, and am too abashed before you to exalt myself.

Humbled and I am shy before you to be pretentious,

أَعِد نَظَراً فيما تَسَخَّطتَ هَل تَرى

أَعِد نَظَراً فيما تَسَخَّطتَ هَل تَرى

مَقالاً دَنِيّاً أَو فَعالاً مُذَمَّما

مَقالاً دَنِيّاً أَو فَعالاً مُذَمَّما

Look again at what displeased you: do you see

Reconsider what you were angry about - do you see

a base utterance or a deed deserving blame?

Any mean word or despised deed,

رَأَيتُ العِراقَ أَنكَرَتني وَأَقسَمَت

رَأَيتُ العِراقَ أَنكَرَتني وَأَقسَمَت

عَلَيَّ صُروفُ الدَهرِ أَن أَتَشَأَّما

عَلَيَّ صُروفُ الدَهرِ أَن أَتَشَأَّما

I saw Iraq disown me, and was solemnly enjoined

I saw Iraq deny me and the turns of fate swore to me

by the turns of time to set out for al-Sham.

That I would be inauspicious,

وَكانَ رَجائي أَن أَؤوبَ مُمَلَّكاً

وَكانَ رَجائي أَن أَؤوبَ مُمَلَّكاً

فَصارَ رَجائي أَن أَأوبَ مُسَلَّما

فَصارَ رَجائي أَن أَأوبَ مُسَلَّما

My hope had been to return made a king;

And my hope was that I would return empowered

now my hope is to return unharmed.

So my hope became that I would return surrendered,

وَلا مانِعٌ مِمّا تَوَهَّمتُ غَيرَ أَن

وَلا مانِعٌ مِمّا تَوَهَّمتُ غَيرَ أَن

تَذَكَّرَ بَعضَ الأُنسِ أَو تَتَذَمَّما

تَذَكَّرَ بَعضَ الأُنسِ أَو تَتَذَمَّما

Nothing can avert what I fear except that

And there is nothing preventing what I imagined except

you recall some of our friendship or feel bound by honor.

That you remember some intimacy or are troubled,

وَأَكبَرُ ظَنّي أَنَّكَ المَرءُ لَم تَكُن

وَأَكبَرُ ظَنّي أَنَّكَ المَرءُ لَم تَكُن

تُحَلِّلُ بِالظَنِّ الذِمامَ المُحَرَّما

تُحَلِّلُ بِالظَنِّ الذِمامَ المُحَرَّما

My strongest belief is that you are a man who would not

And my greatest assumption is that you are the man who

on suspicion profane the inviolable bond of protection,

Would not judge the forbidden blames with assumption out of modesty,

حَياءً فَلَم يَذهَب بِيَ الغِيُّ مَذهَباً

حَياءً فَلَم يَذهَب بِيَ الغِيُّ مَذهَباً

بَعيداً وَلَم أَركَب مِنَ الأَمرِ مُعظَما

بَعيداً وَلَم أَركَب مِنَ الأَمرِ مُعظَما

out of modesty; error has not carried me along a path

So madness did not take me away on a

far afield, nor have I undertaken anything grave.

Distant course, nor did I embark on a momentous matter,

وَلَم أَعرِفِ الذَنبَ الَّذي سُؤتَني لَهُ

وَلَم أَعرِفِ الذَنبَ الَّذي سُؤتَني لَهُ

فَأَقتُلَ نَفسي حَسرَةً وَتَنَدُّما

فَأَقتُلَ نَفسي حَسرَةً وَتَنَدُّما

I do not know the sin for which you have mistreated me,

And I do not know the sin I was blamed for

that I might kill myself with grief and remorse.

That I would kill myself in regret and remorse,

وَلَو كانَ ما خُبِّرتُهُ أَو ظَنَنتُهُ

وَلَو كانَ ما خُبِّرتُهُ أَو ظَنَنتُهُ

لَما كانَ غَرواً أَن أَلومَ وَتَكرُما

لَما كانَ غَرواً أَن أَلومَ وَتَكرُما

Had what I was told, or what I suspected, been true,

And if what I was told or suspected were true

it would be no wonder for me to incur blame and you to show nobility.

It would not be surprising that I blame and you are generous,

أُذَكِّرُكَ العَهدَ الَّذي لَيسَ سُؤدُداً

أُذَكِّرُكَ العَهدَ الَّذي لَيسَ سُؤدُداً

تَناسيهِ وَالوُدُّ الصَحيحَ المُسَلَّما

تَناسيهِ وَالوُدُّ الصَحيحَ المُسَلَّما

I remind you of the pledge—it is no nobility

I remind you of the pact that does not fade from memory

to forget it—and of true, unquestioned affection;

When you forget and the sincere affection conceded,

وَما حَمَلَ الرُكبانُ شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً

وَما حَمَلَ الرُكبانُ شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً

وَأَنجَدَ في أَعلى البِلادِ وَأَتهَما

وَأَنجَدَ في أَعلى البِلادِ وَأَتهَما

and of what riders carried eastward and westward,

And what the two travelers East and West conveyed

what went to Najd, in the heights of the land, and to Tihama.

And what was best in the highest places and most concealed,

أُقِرُّ بِما لَم أَجنِهِ مُتَنَصِّلاً

أُقِرُّ بِما لَم أَجنِهِ مُتَنَصِّلاً

إِلَيكَ عَلى أَنّي أَخالُكَ أَلوَما

إِلَيكَ عَلى أَنّي أَخالُكَ أَلوَما

I confess to what I have not committed, making my excuses

I confess to what I have not earned, humbly yielding

to you, although I think you more blameworthy.

To you provided that I think you blame,

لِيَ الذَنبُ مَعروفاً وَإِن كُنتُ جاهِلاً

لِيَ الذَنبُ مَعروفاً وَإِن كُنتُ جاهِلاً

بِهِ وَلَكَ العُتبى عَلَيَّ وَأَنعَما

بِهِ وَلَكَ العُتبى عَلَيَّ وَأَنعَما

The guilt is mine, acknowledged, though I am ignorant

The sin is known to me even if I am ignorant

of it; you shall have satisfaction from me, and more.

Of it, and yours is the reproach upon me and bounty,

وَمِثلُكَ إِن أَبدى الفَعالُ أَعادَهُ

وَمِثلُكَ إِن أَبدى الفَعالُ أَعادَهُ

وَإِن صَنَعَ المَعروفُ زادَ وَتَمَّما

وَإِن صَنَعَ المَعروفُ زادَ وَتَمَّما

And one like you, if he performs a noble deed, repeats it;

And one like you if the doer manifests will repeat it

and if he grants a kindness, he adds to it and completes it.

And if benevolence is done will increase and perfect it,

وَما الناسُ إِلّا عُصبَتانِ فَهَذِهِ

وَما الناسُ إِلّا عُصبَتانِ فَهَذِهِ

قَرَنتَ بِها بُؤسي وَهاتيكَ أَنعُما

قَرَنتَ بِها بُؤسي وَهاتيكَ أَنعُما

People are only two bands: with this one

And people are only two groups so this one

you linked my misery, and with that one, blessings.

You have paired my misery with, and those you have blessed me with,

وَحِلَّةِ أَعداءٍ رَميتَ بِعَزمَةٍ

وَحِلَّةِ أَعداءٍ رَميتَ بِعَزمَةٍ

فَأَضرَمتَها ناراً وَأَجرَيتَها دَما

فَأَضرَمتَها ناراً وَأَجرَيتَها دَما

And many an enemy encampment you struck with resolve,

And a group of enemies you have resolutely

setting it ablaze with fire and making it flow with blood.

Set on fire and made their blood flow,