وَإِنّي لَمَطِوِيُّ الضُلوعِ عَلى جَوىً

وَإِنّي لَمَطِوِيُّ الضُلوعِ عَلى جَوىً

بِأَيسَرَ مِنهُ يُنشَرُ الوابِلُ السَجمُ

بِأَيسَرَ مِنهُ يُنشَرُ الوابِلُ السَجمُ

My ribs are indeed folded around burning heartache,

I am one whose ribs are folded around passion

A lesser grief than this would unleash a streaming downpour.

Easier than it the heavy rain is unleashed

وأَمَّلتُ نَفعَ الكَتمِ فيهِ مُغالِطاً

وأَمَّلتُ نَفعَ الكَتمِ فيهِ مُغالِطاً

غَليلي وَلَكِن قَلَّما نَفَعَ الكَتمُ

غَليلي وَلَكِن قَلَّما نَفَعَ الكَتمُ

And I hoped concealment would help with it, trying to deceive

I hoped in vain that reticence would benefit me

My burning anguish; but concealment seldom helped.

Deceiving my torment, but reticence seldom helps

وَقَد كانَ لي عَزمٌ عَلى الصَبرِ صابِراً

وَقَد كانَ لي عَزمٌ عَلى الصَبرِ صابِراً

فَقَد خانَهُ بَعدَ النَوى ما نَوى العَزمُ

فَقَد خانَهُ بَعدَ النَوى ما نَوى العَزمُ

I once had a steadfast resolve to endure,

I had resolved with fortitude to show patience

Yet after separation, what resolve intended betrayed it.

But after intention, resolve betrays intent

وَأَسعَفَها بِاللُؤلُؤِ النَثرِ جَفنُهُ

وَأَسعَفَها بِاللُؤلُؤِ النَثرِ جَفنُهُ

وَيُسعِفُها مِن بَعدِهِ اللُؤلُؤُ النَظمُ

وَيُسعِفُها مِن بَعدِهِ اللُؤلُؤُ النَظمُ

And his eyelid aided her with scattered pearls,

Its lids graced it with prose like scattered pearls

And after it, strung pearls come to her aid.

And after it, verse will grace it like strung pearls

لِنَفسي أُريدُ الوَصلَ لا بَعدَ مَوتِها

لِنَفسي أُريدُ الوَصلَ لا بَعدَ مَوتِها

فَلا خُبرَ لي بَعدَ المَماتِ وَلا عِلمُ

فَلا خُبرَ لي بَعدَ المَماتِ وَلا عِلمُ

For my soul I desire union—not after its death.

For my soul I wish union, not loss after its death

For after death I have neither awareness nor knowledge.

So I'll have no news or knowledge after demise

إِذا ظَمِئَت يَوماً فَلا نَزَلَ الحَيا

إِذا ظَمِئَت يَوماً فَلا نَزَلَ الحَيا

وَإِن خَبَطَت يَوماً فَلا طَلَعَ النَجمُ

وَإِن خَبَطَت يَوماً فَلا طَلَعَ النَجمُ

If it ever thirsts, may rain never fall!

If ever thirsty someday, the rain won't come

And if it ever gropes blindly, may no star rise!

If ever lost someday, no star will rise

لَحى اللَهُ هَذا العَيشَ إِن كانَ ما أَرى

لَحى اللَهُ هَذا العَيشَ إِن كانَ ما أَرى

فَآنِفُهُ ظَنٌّ وَسالِفُهُ حُلمُ

فَآنِفُهُ ظَنٌّ وَسالِفُهُ حُلمُ

May God curse this life, if it is what I see:

May God erase this life if what I see is true

Its future is conjecture, and its past a dream.

Its past fanciful, its future a dream

وَيَزعُمُ صَبري أَنَّهُ لي عُدَّةٌ

وَيَزعُمُ صَبري أَنَّهُ لي عُدَّةٌ

وَأَصدَقُ ظَنّي أَن سَيَكذِبُني الزَعمُ

وَأَصدَقُ ظَنّي أَن سَيَكذِبُني الزَعمُ

And my patience claims it is my safeguard,

My patience claims to be my strength

Yet my truest surmise is that this claim will deceive me.

My truest thought is it will prove itself a lie

فَلا يَعدُ أَطلالَ الحِمى القَطرُ وَحدَهُ

فَلا يَعدُ أَطلالَ الحِمى القَطرُ وَحدَهُ

وَلا دارَها دَمعي وَلا غُلَّتي الظَلمُ

وَلا دارَها دَمعي وَلا غُلَّتي الظَلمُ

Let rain alone not pass the sanctuary's ruins by,

Not only the rain counts the ruins of encampments

Nor my tears her dwelling, nor the moisture of her teeth my burning thirst.

Not only my tears and darkness recount its house

وَجِئنا عَلى رَغمِ اللَيالي مَنازِلاً

وَجِئنا عَلى رَغمِ اللَيالي مَنازِلاً

مَنازِلَ كَم أَوفى بِها بَدرُها التَمُّ

مَنازِلَ كَم أَوفى بِها بَدرُها التَمُّ

And in defiance of the nights, we came to dwellings—

And we came despite the nights to settlements

Dwellings where their perfect full moon so often rose.

Settlements, though at their full moon betrayal lurks

وَكانَت لِأَقمارِ المَحاسِنِ مَطلَعاً

وَكانَت لِأَقمارِ المَحاسِنِ مَطلَعاً

فَها هِيَ في طُرقِ الصَبابَةِ لي نَجمُ

فَها هِيَ في طُرقِ الصَبابَةِ لي نَجمُ

And they were a rising-place for beauty's moons;

They were a rising for moons of beauty

Now here they are, my star along the paths of longing.

But now on the paths of youth are to me stars sunken

وَإِنّي لَمُشتاقٌ إِلى جُملَةِ البَكا

وَإِنّي لَمُشتاقٌ إِلى جُملَةِ البَكا

عَلَيها وَلَكِن عِندَ مَن يودَعُ الحِلمُ

عَلَيها وَلَكِن عِندَ مَن يودَعُ الحِلمُ

And I truly long to weep my fill

And I yearn for the sum of weeping over them

Over them—but with whom can composure be entrusted?

But before whom does composure spill away?

أَآثارَ تَقبيلي يَخافُ ثُبوتَها

أَآثارَ تَقبيلي يَخافُ ثُبوتَها

فَدَيتُكَ فَوقَ الماءِ لا يَثبُتُ الرَقمُ

فَدَيتُكَ فَوقَ الماءِ لا يَثبُتُ الرَقمُ

Does he fear that the traces of my kisses will remain?

The traces of my kiss, it fears their permanence

May I be your ransom—no writing lasts upon water.

My dear, above the water, marks do not endure

مُشَعشَعُ إِفرِندِ البَشاشَةِ يَتَّقي

مُشَعشَعُ إِفرِندِ البَشاشَةِ يَتَّقي

مِنَ اللَثمِ ثلماً حينَ يُغمِدُهُ اللَثمُ

مِنَ اللَثمِ ثلماً حينَ يُغمِدُهُ اللَثمُ

Radiant with the damask sheen of cheerfulness, he guards against

Dazzling with the radiance of gentle mirth

A nick from kissing, when kissing sheathes him.

It avoids with its veil a blemish when veiled

فَغُرَّتُهُ صُبحٌ وَطُرَّتُهُ دُجىً

فَغُرَّتُهُ صُبحٌ وَطُرَّتُهُ دُجىً

وَأَلحاظُهُ حَربٌ وَأَلفاظُهُ سَلمُ

وَأَلحاظُهُ حَربٌ وَأَلفاظُهُ سَلمُ

His brow is dawn, and his forelock darkness,

Its frown is dawn, its elation nightfall

And his glances are war, and his words peace.

Its glances war, its words are peace

تَحَرَّجَ مِن رَدِّ الجَوابِ لِإِثمِهِ

تَحَرَّجَ مِن رَدِّ الجَوابِ لِإِثمِهِ

فَلا تَعدَمَنكَ النَفسُ ما قَتلُها إِثمُ

فَلا تَعدَمَنكَ النَفسُ ما قَتلُها إِثمُ

He scrupled to answer because of its sinfulness;

It recoils from answering, for the sin of it

So may my soul never lose you—killing it is no sin.

So do not neglect, my soul, what sin has killed

وَلَيسَ لَها إِلّا القُلوبَ عَوائِدٌ

وَلَيسَ لَها إِلّا القُلوبَ عَوائِدٌ

جُفونٌ بِها لا بَل بِعائِدِها السُقمُ

جُفونٌ بِها لا بَل بِعائِدِها السُقمُ

And they have no visitors but hearts—

For it hearts alone are wont to return

Eyelids where sickness lies—no, rather in their visitor.

Eyelids by which no, their returning sickness returns

أَطَعتُ الرِضا في أَمرِها وَلَها الرِضا

أَطَعتُ الرِضا في أَمرِها وَلَها الرِضا

وَأَرغَمتُ فيها عاذِلي وَلَهُ الرَغمُ

وَأَرغَمتُ فيها عاذِلي وَلَهُ الرَغمُ

I obeyed contentment in her affair, and hers is contentment;

I obeyed in its command, and it consented

And for her I humbled my reproacher; his is humiliation.

I opposed those who blamed, and they were opposed

أَعائِدَةً روحي وَتُمرِضُ جِسمَهُ

أَعائِدَةً روحي وَتُمرِضُ جِسمَهُ

إِذا تَلِفَت روحي فَلا سَلِمَ الجِسمُ

إِذا تَلِفَت روحي فَلا سَلِمَ الجِسمُ

O visitor to my soul, yet you make its body ill!

It captivates my soul and sickens my body

If my soul perishes, may the body never survive!

When my soul is captivated, the body knows no peace

وَمودِعَةٍ لِلسَمعِ دُرَّ حَديثِها

وَمودِعَةٍ لِلسَمعِ دُرَّ حَديثِها

وَلَمّا بَكَت عَيني وَهَى ذَلِكَ النَظمُ

وَلَمّا بَكَت عَيني وَهَى ذَلِكَ النَظمُ

And a woman entrusting the ear with the pearls of her speech—

It deposits in hearing the pearls of its speech

And when my eye wept, that string came undone.

And when my eyes wept at that, the composition ceased

يَلَذُّ لَها هَمّي فَهَمِّيَ فَقدُهُ

يَلَذُّ لَها هَمّي فَهَمِّيَ فَقدُهُ

وَيُعجِبُها سُقمي فَلا بَرِحَ السُقمُ

وَيُعجِبُها سُقمي فَلا بَرِحَ السُقمُ

My sorrow delights her, so losing it is my sorrow;

My love pleased it, so my love remains

And my sickness pleases her; may sickness never depart.

My sickness delights it, so the sickness persists

سَلي النَجمَ عَن عَيني فَحَسبُكِ شاهِداً

سَلي النَجمَ عَن عَيني فَحَسبُكِ شاهِداً

وَعِندَكِ يا عَينَيهِ عَن عَينِيَ العِلمُ

وَعِندَكِ يا عَينَيهِ عَن عَينِيَ العِلمُ

Ask the star about my eye—it is witness enough for you;

Ask the planets about my eye, for your sight suffices as witness

And with you, O his two eyes, lies knowledge of my eye.

And in your eyes, my dear, lies knowledge of mine

يَتيمٌ إِذا ما ماتَ عَنهُ حَبيبُهُ

يَتيمٌ إِذا ما ماتَ عَنهُ حَبيبُهُ

وَما كُلُّ فَقدِ الوالِدَينِ هُوَ اليُتمُ

وَما كُلُّ فَقدِ الوالِدَينِ هُوَ اليُتمُ

He is an orphan when his beloved dies, leaving him;

An orphan when his beloved dies

And not every loss of one's parents is orphanhood.

Not all loss of parents is orphanhood

لَعَمري لَقَد بَصَّرتَ لَو نَفَعَ الهُدى

لَعَمري لَقَد بَصَّرتَ لَو نَفَعَ الهُدى

وَحَقّاً لَقَد أَسمَعتَ إِن سَمِعَ الصُمُّ

وَحَقّاً لَقَد أَسمَعتَ إِن سَمِعَ الصُمُّ

By my life, you have indeed enlightened me—if guidance could help;

By my life! You have seen clearly, if insight avails

And truly, you have made your words heard—if the deaf could hear.

And truly you have heard, if the deaf can hear

أَعاذِلَهُ ما الحَزمُ إِلّا اِتِّباعُهُ

أَعاذِلَهُ ما الحَزمُ إِلّا اِتِّباعُهُ

طَريقَكَ لَكِن رُبَّما غُلِبَ الحَزمُ

طَريقَكَ لَكِن رُبَّما غُلِبَ الحَزمُ

O his reproacher, prudence is nothing but his following

Who blames it, reason is but to follow it

Your path—but prudence is sometimes overcome.

Your path, but sometimes reason is overcome

تَحَرَّجُ عَن وَصلي مَخافَةَ إثمِها

تَحَرَّجُ عَن وَصلي مَخافَةَ إثمِها

فلا تَحرَجي إنَّ الصدودَ هو الإثمُ

فلا تَحرَجي إنَّ الصدودَ هو الإثمُ

She scruples at union with me, fearing her sin;

It recoils from my union, fearing the sin

So do not scruple: turning away is the sin.

So do not recoil, for refusal itself is the sin

وجيرَتُنا نُعمانُ فالعيشُ ناعِمٌ

وجيرَتُنا نُعمانُ فالعيشُ ناعِمٌ

وَأَطوارُهُ نُعمى وَخَلَّتُنا نُعمُ

وَأَطوارُهُ نُعمى وَخَلَّتُنا نُعمُ

Our neighborhood is Nuʿmān, so life is pleasant;

And our neighbor Nu'man, so living is blissful

And its phases are bliss, and our beloved is Nuʿm.

Its seasons bliss, and our isolation bliss

وَأَكثَرُ أَيّامي تَعقَّبَها الأَسى

وَأَكثَرُ أَيّامي تَعقَّبَها الأَسى

عَلَيها وَلَكِن قَد تَقَبَّلَها الذَمُّ

عَلَيها وَلَكِن قَد تَقَبَّلَها الذَمُّ

And most of my days were followed by sorrow

Though most of my days were followed by sorrow

Over them; yet blame has accepted them.

Over them, yet they were accepted by blame

رَضيتُ بِما يَقضي عَلى قِسطِ جَورِهِ

رَضيتُ بِما يَقضي عَلى قِسطِ جَورِهِ

فَلَم يَغضَبُ القاضي وَقَد رَضِيَ الخَصمُ

فَلَم يَغضَبُ القاضي وَقَد رَضِيَ الخَصمُ

I accept what he decrees, for all the justice of his tyranny;

I accept the unjust judgment against me

So why does the judge grow angry, when the litigant is content?

So the judge is not angry, and the adversary satisfied

يَقولونَ لِم لا تَلبَسُ الصَبرَ جُنَّةً

يَقولونَ لِم لا تَلبَسُ الصَبرَ جُنَّةً

وَما نَفعُها مِن بَعدِ ما مَرَقَ السَهمُ

وَما نَفعُها مِن بَعدِ ما مَرَقَ السَهمُ

They say: Why do you not wear patience as armor?

They say why do you not wear patience as a shield

And what use is it after the arrow has pierced through?

Of what use after the arrow has sped?

إِذا اِستَرَقَت سَمعاً مُنايَ بِذِكرِهِ

إِذا اِستَرَقَت سَمعاً مُنايَ بِذِكرِهِ

فَفي إِثرِها مِن شُهبِ أَدمعِها رَجمُ

فَفي إِثرِها مِن شُهبِ أَدمعِها رَجمُ

When my hopes steal a hearing of his mention,

If she steals a hearing that makes me pine

Then in their wake comes a pelting from the meteors of their tears.

Then in its wake, a shower of tears like shooting stars

وَلي مُقلَةٌ مِن ذُخرِ دَمعي مُقِلَّةٌ

وَلي مُقلَةٌ مِن ذُخرِ دَمعي مُقِلَّةٌ

وَكانَ لَها لَولا النَوى حاصِلٌ جَمُّ

وَكانَ لَها لَولا النَوى حاصِلٌ جَمُّ

And my eye has scant reserves of tears,

I have from my tears' hoard a ladle full

And, but for separation, its stores would have been abundant.

And were it not for resolve, it would have held abundance