على البانِ قمريَّةٌ تسجعُ

على البانِ قمريَّةٌ تسجعُ

وثوبُ الدجى مُسْبَلٌ أَسْفَعُ

وثوبُ الدجى مُسْبَلٌ أَسْفَعُ

On the ban tree a turtledove coos,

On the sand dunes there is a moonlit she-camel complaining,

while night's dark robe hangs down.

And the robe of darkness is trailing loose and long.

تغنَّتْ فسحَّتْ وقد جدَّدَتْ

تغنَّتْ فسحَّتْ وقد جدَّدَتْ

غرامي على الطللِ الأدمُعُ

غرامي على الطللِ الأدمُعُ

She sang, and tears streamed down, for she had rekindled

She sang and then set out renewed in her passion,

my passion upon the ruined dwelling.

My tears flowed on the ruins plentiful and strong.

ذكرتُ به جيرةً قوَّضوا

ذكرتُ به جيرةً قوَّضوا

عنِ الخَيْفِ ليلاً وما وَدَّعوا

عنِ الخَيْفِ ليلاً وما وَدَّعوا

There I recalled neighbors who struck camp

I remembered some neighbors who demolished

from al-Khayf by night, without saying farewell.

Their abode at night without even a farewell.

فأمطرتُ مربَعهمْ أدمعي

فأمطرتُ مربَعهمْ أدمعي

فكادَ يَرِقُّ ليَ المربَعُ

فكادَ يَرِقُّ ليَ المربَعُ

So I showered their spring encampment with my tears,

So I rained my tears on their square lodging,

until the encampment almost felt pity for me.

Till my copious showers made the foundations swell.

وعينٌ تفارقُ أحبابَها

وعينٌ تفارقُ أحبابَها

وأُلاّفَها فكيف لا تَدمَعُ

وأُلاّفَها فكيف لا تَدمَعُ

And an eye that parts from its loved ones

When an eye parts from friends it is intimate with,

and its intimates—how could it not weep?

Companions it knows well, how can it not cry?

شكوتُ إلى الدارِ مِن بعدِهمْ

شكوتُ إلى الدارِ مِن بعدِهمْ

أذى البينِ ن لو انّها تَسمَعُ

أذى البينِ ن لو انّها تَسمَعُ

After their departure I complained to the dwelling

To the camp I complained of those who severed us,

of separation's pain—if only it could hear.

If only these silent walls could reply!

فلم تُغنِ شكوى إلى دمنةٍ

فلم تُغنِ شكوى إلى دمنةٍ

يُهيَّجُني رسمُها البلقعُ

يُهيَّجُني رسمُها البلقعُ

But a complaint to a ruined campsite availed nothing;

Yet my plaints to the abandoned camp were no use,

its desolate traces stir my grief.

Its sketch and traces just made my grief rise.

وكيف أُرى جَذِلاً بعدَما

وكيف أُرى جَذِلاً بعدَما

خَلَتْ مِن جآذرِها الأربُعُ

خَلَتْ مِن جآذرِها الأربُعُ

How could I seem joyful, after

How can I bear seeing it empty and derelict,

the camps were emptied of their wild-cow calves?

When its ardent inhabitants are no more nigh?

لقد عَفَتِ الريحُ آثارَها

لقد عَفَتِ الريحُ آثارَها

فريحُ غرامي بها زَعْزَعُ

فريحُ غرامي بها زَعْزَعُ

The wind has indeed effaced their traces;

The winds have erased all remnants and tracks,

yet the wind of my passion for them is a gale.

While passion's winds shake my frame and sigh.

وما الوجدُ إلا حشاً خافقٌ

وما الوجدُ إلا حشاً خافقٌ

وقلبٌ لفرقتِهمْ مُوْجَعُ

وقلبٌ لفرقتِهمْ مُوْجَعُ

What is longing but a fluttering breast

All I have is a throbbing heart aching with parting,

and a heart aching at their separation,

And burning thirst doubling internal cries.

ونارُ فراقٍ على حرَّها

ونارُ فراقٍ على حرَّها

لبينهمُ تنطوي الأضلُعُ

لبينهمُ تنطوي الأضلُعُ

and a fire of parting, over whose heat

My eyelid refuses to close when lightning flashes,

the ribs fold inward because they are gone,

Startled alert, sleep won't come however I try.

وطرفٌ إذا ما رأى بارِقاً

وطرفٌ إذا ما رأى بارِقاً

فليس يَغيضُ ولا يَهْجَعُ

فليس يَغيضُ ولا يَهْجَعُ

and an eye that, whenever it sees a lightning flash,

The lightning reminded me of my love's smile,

never dries and never sleeps?

As it pierced through the gloam dazzling my eyes.

لقد شاقَني البرقُ لمّا بدا

لقد شاقَني البرقُ لمّا بدا

خِلالَ الدجى ومضُهُ يلمعُ

خِلالَ الدجى ومضُهُ يلمعُ

The lightning stirred my longing when it appeared,

It made me drink the cup of my streaming tears,

its flash gleaming through the darkness.

Though drinkers sought to divert as it passed by.

فأذْكَرَني ثغرَ سُعدى وقد

فأذْكَرَني ثغرَ سُعدى وقد

تزحزح عن برقه البرقع

تزحزح عن برقه البرقع

It recalled to me Su'da's mouth, when

How many nights I have wept since they went away,

the veil had slipped away from its gleam.

My sobbing and wailing know no bounds or ties!

وجرعني كأس دمعي وقد

وجرعني كأس دمعي وقد

تعرَّضَ مِن دونها الأجرَعُ

تعرَّضَ مِن دونها الأجرَعُ

And it made me drink the cup of my tears, while

Were it not for my love of them, never would

a barren sandy ridge stood between me and her.

The ostriches have shunned pillow and tent to fly.

فكم ليلةٍ بتُّ لمّا نأتْ

فكم ليلةٍ بتُّ لمّا نأتْ

عن الجِزعِ مِن بينِها أجزَعُ

عن الجِزعِ مِن بينِها أجزَعُ

How many a night I spent, when she had gone far

Probing the gaps with their feathers a-bristle,

from the valley bend, anguished at her departure!

They charge through the breaks with might and size.

ولولا هواها لما أرقلتْ

ولولا هواها لما أرقلتْ

اليها بيَ الينُقُ الضُّلَّعُ

اليها بيَ الينُقُ الضُّلَّعُ

But for love of her, they would not have sped

Yearning for their old home, they swoop down in haste,

toward her with me—the limping she-camels,

Though grazing and lush meadows here tranquilize.

تَدافعُ في الخَرْقِ مزمومةً

تَدافعُ في الخَرْقِ مزمومةً

فتذرَعُ شقَّتَه الأذرُعُ

فتذرَعُ شقَّتَه الأذرُعُ

pushing onward through the wasteland, reined,

My passion still draws those wild birds to me,

their forelegs measuring out its expanse,

Whenever I call them or show myself plain.

لواغبَ تهوي إلى حيّها

لواغبَ تهوي إلى حيّها

وقد فاتَها الرَّعْيُ والمَكْرَعُ

وقد فاتَها الرَّعْيُ والمَكْرَعُ

weary, hastening toward her tribe,

Without my love they'd have left in disgust,

having missed grazing and the watering place,

Shunning my presence, avoiding all pain.

جوانحَ نشأى القَطا كلَّما

جوانحَ نشأى القَطا كلَّما

تقاضيتُها أو بدا لَعْلَعُ

تقاضيتُها أو بدا لَعْلَعُ

leaning forward like young sandgrouse, whenever

Among them no gentle companion complains,

I urged them on, or La'la' came into sight.

Hankering for me, frustrated and shy.

ولولا هوايَ لقد عاقَها

ولولا هوايَ لقد عاقَها

وجاها عن الوخدِ واليَرْمَعُ

وجاها عن الوخدِ واليَرْمَعُ

But for my love, they would have been held back

No gleam in the grass tempts them to linger,

from swift stepping by their sore feet and the pebbles.

No opening in the shelter draws them nigh.

ولا كانَ فيها نجيبٌ يَخُبُّ

ولا كانَ فيها نجيبٌ يَخُبُّ

برحلي كَلالاً ولا يوُضِعُ

برحلي كَلالاً ولا يوُضِعُ

Nor would a choice mount among them have trotted

Such ardent longing seizes me for that sanctuary,

with my saddle, from exhaustion, or galloped.

And yet when I rouse them they only defy!

ولا العشبُ يُطمِعُها نّوْرُهُ

ولا العشبُ يُطمِعُها نّوْرُهُ

فتخدي اليه ولا المشرعُ

فتخدي اليه ولا المشرعُ

Nor would the grass's blossoms have tempted them

If travelers mention the abode of my love,

to stride toward it, nor would the watering place.

They hush up at once and internalize.

ينازِعُني الشوقُ نحوَ الحِمى

ينازِعُني الشوقُ نحوَ الحِمى

وأحفِزُها ن فهي بي تَنْزِعُ

وأحفِزُها ن فهي بي تَنْزِعُ

Longing draws me toward the protected pasture;

So the shy creatures return to some rocky nook,

I urge them on, and they strain forward with me.

Timid of men, alert and wary of eye.

واِن ردَّدَ الركبُ ذكرَ الهوى

واِن ردَّدَ الركبُ ذكرَ الهوى

سَرَتْ والطريقُ بها مَهْيَعُ

سَرَتْ والطريقُ بها مَهْيَعُ

And if the riders repeat the mention of love,

I roam the dark nights and challenge their horrors,

they travel by night, the road broad and open before them.

My purpose unyielding, my will made of iron.

فتأتي طِلاحاً رُبى حاجرٍ

فتأتي طِلاحاً رُبى حاجرٍ

وهنَّ بنا لُغَّبٌ خُضَّعُ

وهنَّ بنا لُغَّبٌ خُضَّعُ

They reach, worn out, the hills of Hajir,

My heart still aspires to Saada's abode,

bearing us, weary and bowed down.

Be it far or near or untimely to try!

أجوبُ الظلامَ وأهوالَه

أجوبُ الظلامَ وأهوالَه

وعزمي إذا جبتُهُ الأدرَعُ

وعزمي إذا جبتُهُ الأدرَعُ

I traverse the darkness and its terrors,

She betrayed me, yet I was always true,

my resolve my armor as I cross it.

What misery and anguish her guile made me cry!

أرومُ سعادَ وقلبي بها

أرومُ سعادَ وقلبي بها

واِنْ قَرُبَتْ أو نأتْ مولَعُ

واِنْ قَرُبَتْ أو نأتْ مولَعُ

I seek Su'ad, and my heart, for her,

Betrayal comes naturally to the traitor,

whether she is near or far, is consumed with love.

True friends when preserved will certainly fly.

لقد غدرتْ بي وما خُنْتُها

لقد غدرتْ بي وما خُنْتُها

فيا بئسَ ما أصبحتْ تصنعُ

فيا بئسَ ما أصبحتْ تصنعُ

She has indeed betrayed me, though I never betrayed her.

Is there any who'd intercede for me now,

How wretched is what she has come to do!

Any hope of reunion however remote?

ولم يبرحِ الغدرُ للغادر

ولم يبرحِ الغدرُ للغادر

ينَ دأباً إذا حُفِظوا ضَيَّعوا

ينَ دأباً إذا حُفِظوا ضَيَّعوا

Treachery has never ceased, for the treacherous,

In my maturity, I seek mediation in vain,

to be a habit: when faith is kept with them, they break it.

Such pleas for mercy she certainly will not note!

فهل لي شفيعٌ إلى قُربها

فهل لي شفيعٌ إلى قُربها

وهل لوصالٍ مضى مَرْجِعُ

وهل لوصالٍ مضى مَرْجِعُ

Have I an intercessor to bring me near her?

Only white hairs remain to mar lover's eyes,

Can a union now past ever return?

Of no benefit now, they just terrify!

أبعدَ المشيبِ أرومُ الشفيع

أبعدَ المشيبِ أرومُ الشفيع

وهيهاتَ بانَ الذي يَشْفَعُ

وهيهاتَ بانَ الذي يَشْفَعُ

After gray hair, do I seek an intercessor?

When the bloom of youth is cursed by rejection,

Far from it! The one who could intercede has gone.

It withers up quickly despite the heart's cry.

ولم يبقَ إلا بياضٌ يسوءُ

ولم يبقَ إلا بياضٌ يسوءُ

عيونَ الغواني ولا ينفعُ

عيونَ الغواني ولا ينفعُ

Nothing remains but a whiteness that displeases

O God, bring our dear ones close again!

the eyes of lovely women and does no good.

Though they shun me now, I know not why.

شبابُ الفتى دونَ هجرانِه

شبابُ الفتى دونَ هجرانِه

اِذا رُمْنَ هجرانَه يَمنعُ

اِذا رُمْنَ هجرانَه يَمنعُ

A young man's youth bars his being forsaken;

In their company is bliss, even if

if they seek to forsake him, it holds them back.

No hope or expectation of union thereby.

ألا قرَّبَ اللهُ احبابنَا

ألا قرَّبَ اللهُ احبابنَا

واِن هجروني واِن أزْمَعوا

واِن هجروني واِن أزْمَعوا

Ah, may God bring our loved ones near,

With willing heart, their nearness I seek,

though they forsake me, though they resolve to leave.

Their abode is haven however they vie.

ففي قُربِ حبَّهمُ راحةٌ

ففي قُربِ حبَّهمُ راحةٌ

واِنْ لم يكنْ فيهمُ مطمَعُ

واِنْ لم يكنْ فيهمُ مطمَعُ

For nearness to their love brings comfort,

Life without their homes has no meaning,

even if there is no hope to be had from them.

When our clan gathers, wounds purify.

قَنَعْتُ بقربِهمُ طائعاً

قَنَعْتُ بقربِهمُ طائعاً

وفي قُربِ دارهمُ مَقْنَعُ

وفي قُربِ دارهمُ مَقْنَعُ

I willingly contented myself with their nearness;

Far from prying eyes, when a greeting

nearness to their dwelling is enough.

Flickers swiftly like stars in the sky.

فما العيشُ إلا دنوُّ الدَّيارِ

فما العيشُ إلا دنوُّ الدَّيارِ

اِذا كانَ شملي بهمْ يُجْمَعُ

اِذا كانَ شملي بهمْ يُجْمَعُ

Life is nothing but the closeness of dwellings,

We lament our passion in private,

when I am brought together again with them.

Our tears flow abundantly thereby.

ولا سيَّما أن تناءَى الرقيبُ

ولا سيَّما أن تناءَى الرقيبُ

وأدَّتْ تحيتيَ الاِصْبَعُ

وأدَّتْ تحيتيَ الاِصْبَعُ

Especially if the watcher stayed far away,

I share tales of times when we were together,

and a finger conveyed my greeting,

That enchant the heart and mesmerize.

وأومتْ سريعاً كما أومضَتْ

وأومتْ سريعاً كما أومضَتْ

يوارقُ في دِمةٍ لُمَّعُ

يوارقُ في دِمةٍ لُمَّعُ

and signaled swiftly, like the flashes

Thus longing for that era grows,

of gleaming lightning amid steady rain.

Until sleep embraces me with its lullaby.

اِذا ما خَلَونا شكونا الهوى

اِذا ما خَلَونا شكونا الهوى

وفاضَتْ مدامِعُنا الهُمَّعُ

وفاضَتْ مدامِعُنا الهُمَّعُ

When we were alone, we lamented our love,

and our streaming tears overflowed.

وحَدَّثتُهمْ عن زمانِ الوصالِ

وحَدَّثتُهمْ عن زمانِ الوصالِ

حديثاً يَلَذُّ بهِ المَسْمَعُ

حديثاً يَلَذُّ بهِ المَسْمَعُ

I told them of the time of union,

a tale in which the ear found delight.

وزادَ الحنينُ إلى عصرهِ

وزادَ الحنينُ إلى عصرهِ

الى أن أقضَّ بيَ المضجَعُ

الى أن أقضَّ بيَ المضجَعُ

And longing for its days grew,

until my bed would give me no rest.