لِجُنُونِto the madness of الهَوىlove وَهَبْتُI gave جَنَانيmy heart
لِجُنُونِ الهَوى وَهَبْتُ جَنَاني
فَدَعَانِيso leave me, you two ياO عَاذِلَيَّmy two reprovers دَعَانِيleave me, you two
فَدَعَانِي يا عَاذِلَيَّ دَعَانِي
To the madness of love I gave my heart.
For love's madness I gave up my gardens,
So leave me, my two reprovers—leave me.
So he called me, "My blamer, he called me,
اِسْقِيَانِيgive me drink, you two ذَبِيحَةthe slaughtered victim of الماءِwater فيin الكأْthe cup (continued)
اِسْقِيَانِي ذَبِيحَة الماءِ في الكأْ
سِcompletion of 'cup' وَكُفَّاand refrain, you two عَنْfrom شُرْبِdrinking مَاwhat تَسْقِيَانِyou two pour
سِ وَكُفَّا عَنْ شُرْبِ مَا تَسْقِيَانِ
You two, give me water-slain wine in the cup,
Give me to drink the water sacrifice in the glass,
and refrain from drinking what you pour.
And stop drinking what you two give."
إِنَّنِيindeed I قَدْalready أَمِنْتُbecame safe بِالأَمْسِyesterday إِذْwhen مُتdied (continued)
إِنَّنِي قَدْ أَمِنْتُ بِالأَمْسِ إِذْ مُت
تُI (verb ending) بِهاthrough it أَنْthat أَموتَI die مَوْتاًa death ثَانِيsecond
تُ بِها أَنْ أَموتَ مَوْتاً ثَانِي
Indeed, yesterday I became safe—when I died
Surely yesterday I trusted, when I died with it,
through it—from dying a second death.
That I would die a second death.
قَهْوَةٌwine تَطْرُدُdrives away الهُمُومَcares إِذاwhen مَاemphasis
قَهْوَةٌ تَطْرُدُ الهُمُومَ إِذا مَا
مُكِّنَتْis given power مِنْover مَواطِنِdwelling places of الأَحْزَانِsorrows
مُكِّنَتْ مِنْ مَواطِنِ الأَحْزَانِ
A wine that drives away cares whenever
Coffee that dispels worries when
it is given power over sorrow's dwelling places.
It takes hold of the places of sorrows,
نَثَرَتْscattered رَاحَةُthe palm of المِزَاجِmixing with water عَلَيْهاover it
نَثَرَتْ رَاحَةُ المِزَاجِ عَلَيْها
حَدَقاًeyes مَاnot تَدُورُturn فيwithin أَجْفانِeyelids
حَدَقاً مَا تَدُورُ في أَجْفانِ
The palm of mixing scattered over it
It scattered the comfort of temperament upon it
eyes that turn within no eyelids.
While it does not revolve in the eyelids.
فَهْيَso it تَجْرِيcourses مِنَbecause of اللطافَةِsubtlety فيthrough الأَرْsouls (continued)
فَهْيَ تَجْرِي مِنَ اللطافَةِ في الأَرْ
وَاحِcompletion of 'souls' مَجْرىlike the flow of الأَرْوَاحِspirits فيthrough الأَبْدَانِbodies
وَاحِ مَجْرى الأَرْوَاحِ في الأَبْدَانِ
So, in its subtlety, it courses through souls
So it flows from gentleness in the souls
as spirits course through bodies.
The way spirits flow in bodies.
وَرَخِيمِand one gentle in الدَّلالِcoquetry قَدْindeed تَاهَgrew proud فيin الحُسْbeauty (continued)
وَرَخِيمِ الدَّلالِ قَدْ تَاهَ في الحُسْ
نِcompletion of 'beauty' بَدِيعٍa marvel تَضِلُّgo astray فِيهِin him المَعَانيmeanings
نِ بَدِيعٍ تَضِلُّ فِيهِ المَعَاني
And one of gentle coquetry, proud in beauty,
And its languid coquetry wandered in beauty
a marvel in whom meanings lose their way.
In which meanings are lost.
تَتَهادىglide gracefully بِكأْسِهِwith his cup مِنْamong هَدَاياgifts
تَتَهادى بِكأْسِهِ مِنْ هَدَايا
هُhis إِلَيْناtoward us طَرائِفُrare treasures of الأَشْجانِsorrow
هُ إِلَيْنا طَرائِفُ الأَشْجانِ
With his cup, among his gifts, there glide
It comes with its cup of his gifts
toward us rare treasures of sorrow.
To us the subtleties of passions.
مَاnot رَأَيْناwe have seen وَرْداًa rose كَوَرْدٍlike a rose بِخَدَّيْon both cheeks
مَا رَأَيْنا وَرْداً كَوَرْدٍ بِخَدَّيْ
هِhis بَدَاappeared طَالِعاًrising علَىupon غُصْنِa branch of بانِa bān tree
هِ بَدَا طَالِعاً علَى غُصْنِ بانِ
We have seen no rose like the rose upon his cheeks,
We have not seen a rose like the rose in his cheeks
that appeared, rising on a bān-tree branch.
Rising on the branch of the myrtle.
زَارَنيhe visited me وَالهِلالُand the crescent فِيon ساعِدِthe forearm of الأُفْthe horizon (continued)
زَارَني وَالهِلالُ فِي ساعِدِ الأُفْ
قِcompletion of 'horizon' كَبَحْرٍlike a sea فيin نِصُفِهِits midst نِصْفُhalf a جَانِserpent
قِ كَبَحْرٍ في نِصُفِهِ نِصْفُ جَانِ
He visited me, the crescent on the horizon's forearm,
The crescent visited me while the dusk
like a sea with half a serpent in its midst.
Was in the arm of the horizon like a sea with half a moon.
وَغَداand he departed at dawn وَالهِلالُand the crescent فيin شَرَكِthe snare of الفَجْdawn (continued)
وَغَدا وَالهِلالُ في شَرَكِ الفَجْ
رِcompletion of 'dawn' شَرِيكيmy companion فيin قَبْضَةِthe grip of الإِرْتِهانِcaptivity
رِ شَرِيكي في قَبْضَةِ الإِرْتِهانِ
And he left at dawn, the crescent in dawn's snare,
And it left while the crescent was in the company of the sky
my companion in captivity's grip.
My partner in the fist of pledging.
وَيَمِينُand the right hand of الجَوْزَاءِOrion تَبْسُطُstretches باعاًan armspan
وَيَمِينُ الجَوْزَاءِ تَبْسُطُ باعاً
لِعِناقِto embrace الدُّجىthe darkness بِغَيْرِwithout بَنانِfingertips
لِعِناقِ الدُّجى بِغَيْرِ بَنانِ
And Orion's right hand stretches an armspan
And the hand of Virgo stretches out to embrace
to embrace the darkness without fingertips.
The darkness without fingers.
وَكأَنَّand as though الإِكْلِيلَthe Crown (asterism) فيwithin كِلَّةِthe canopy of الليْnight (continued)
وَكأَنَّ الإِكْلِيلَ في كِلَّةِ الليْ
لِcompletion of 'night' ثَلاثٌthree مِنْfrom فَوْقِabove عِقْدِa necklace of ثَمانِeight
لِ ثَلاثٌ مِنْ فَوْقِ عِقْدِ ثَمانِ
And the Crown, within night's canopy, seems
As if the necklace in the night’s darkness
three stars above a necklace of eight.
Was three above a choker’s knot.
وَكأَنَّand as though الذِّرَاعَthe Arm (asterism) تَحْتَbeneath الثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiades
وَكأَنَّ الذِّرَاعَ تَحْتَ الثُّرَيَّا
رَايَةٌa banner رُكِّبَتْwas mounted بِغَيْرِwithout سِنانِa spearhead
رَايَةٌ رُكِّبَتْ بِغَيْرِ سِنانِ
And the Arm beneath the Pleiades seems
And as if the arm beneath the Pleiades
a banner mounted without a spearhead.
Was a flag hoisted without a pole.
وَكأَنَّand as though المِرِّيخَMars إِذْwhen رُمِيَwas pelted الغَرْthe west (continued)
وَكأَنَّ المِرِّيخَ إِذْ رُمِيَ الغَرْ
بُcompletion of 'west' بِهِwith it شُعْلَةٌa flame مِنَfrom النِّيرانِthe fires
بُ بِهِ شُعْلَةٌ مِنَ النِّيرانِ
And Mars, when hurled into the west, seems
And as if Mars when the west
a flame from the fires.
Was cast at it was a flame of fire.
وَكأَنَّand as though النُّجُومَthe stars أَحْداقُthe eyes of رُومٍRomans
وَكأَنَّ النُّجُومَ أَحْداقُ رُومٍ
رُكِّبَتْwere set فِيin مَحَاجِرِthe eye sockets of السُّودانِBlack people
رُكِّبَتْ فِي مَحَاجِرِ السُّودانِ
And the stars seem the eyes of Romans,
And as if the stars were the eyes of warriors
set in the eye sockets of Black people.
Installed in the brows of the black men.
رَشَأٌa fawn تَشْرَهُcrave greedily النُّفُوسُsouls إِلىfor مَاwhat
رَشَأٌ تَشْرَهُ النُّفُوسُ إِلى مَا
فيbetween ثَناياهُhis front teeth مِنْof رَحِيقِthe nectar of اللِّسانِthe tongue
في ثَناياهُ مِنْ رَحِيقِ اللِّسانِ
A fawn—souls crave what
A drink that souls crave for what is in its folds
lies between his front teeth: his tongue's nectar.
Of the nectar of the tongue.
عِفْتُهُI shunned him مَعْdespite تَشَوُّقٍlonging بيin me إِلَيْهِfor him
عِفْتُهُ مَعْ تَشَوُّقٍ بي إِلَيْهِ
فَوِصالِيso my union لَهُwith him عَلىupon هِجْرَانِestrangement
فَوِصالِي لَهُ عَلى هِجْرَانِ
I shunned him, despite the longing in me for him;
I was chaste while yearning for it,
so my union with him rests on estrangement.
So my union with it is better than my estrangement.
لاNo وَمَاby what احْمَرَّturned red مِنْfrom تَوَرُّدِthe rosy bloom of خَدَّيْboth cheeks
لا وَمَا احْمَرَّ مِنْ تَوَرُّدِ خَدَّيْ
هِhis وَمَاand by what اصْفَرَّturned yellow مِنْof شُمُوسِthe suns of الدِّنانِthe wine jars
هِ وَمَا اصْفَرَّ مِنْ شُمُوسِ الدِّنانِ
No—by the red rose-bloom of his cheeks,
No, his cheeks have not reddened from blushing,
and by the yellow suns of the wine jars,
Nor have the suns of his teeth yellowed.
لاnot أَطَعتُI obeyed العَذُولَthe reprover فيconcerning لَذَّةِthe delight of الكأْthe cup (continued)
لا أَطَعتُ العَذُولَ في لَذَّةِ الكأْ
سِcompletion of 'cup' وَلاand never لُمْتُI blamed عَاشِقاًa lover فيin الزَّمانِtime
سِ وَلا لُمْتُ عَاشِقاً في الزَّمانِ
may I never obey the reprover concerning the cup's delight,
No, I did not obey the blamer in the pleasure of the glass,
nor ever blame a lover through all time.
Nor have I become a lover in time.
سَأُطِيلُI shall prolong السُّجُودَprostration فيtoward قِبْلَةِthe prayer-direction of الكأْthe cup (continued)
سَأُطِيلُ السُّجُودَ في قِبْلَةِ الكأْ
سِcompletion of 'cup' بِتَسْبِيحِwith the praise of أَلْسُنِthe tongues of العِيدانِthe lutes
سِ بِتَسْبِيحِ أَلْسُنِ العِيدانِ
I shall prolong my prostration toward the cup's qibla,
I will prolong prostration in the direction of the glass
with the praise chanted by the tongues of lutes.
With the praises of the tongues of the arms.
كَمْhow many صَلاةٍa prayer عَلَىover فَتىًa young man ماتَdied سُكْراًdrunk
كَمْ صَلاةٍ عَلَى فَتىً ماتَ سُكْراً
قَدْindeed أُقِيمَتْhas been offered فِيناamong us بِغَيْرِwithout أَذَانِa call to prayer
قَدْ أُقِيمَتْ فِينا بِغَيْرِ أَذَانِ
How many a prayer over a youth who died drunk
How many prayers have been held for a youth who died drunk
has been offered among us without a call to prayer!
Among us without a call to prayer.
أَيُّهاO الرَّائِحُthe departing one الَّذيwho رَاحَتَاهُhis two palms
أَيُّها الرَّائِحُ الَّذي رَاحَتَاهُ
بِخِضَابِwith the dye of الكُؤُوسِthe cups مَخْضُوبَتانِare both dyed
بِخِضَابِ الكُؤُوسِ مَخْضُوبَتانِ
O departing one, whose two palms
O passerby whose cheeks
are dyed with the dye of cups,
Are dyed with the staining of cups,
عُجْturn aside بِضِحْكِto the laughter of الأَقْداحِthe goblets فيamid رَهَجِthe tumult of القَصْrevelry (continued)
عُجْ بِضِحْكِ الأَقْداحِ في رَهَجِ القَصْ
فِcompletion of 'revelry' إِذاwhen مَاemphasis بَكَتْwept عَلَيْهِover it القَنَانيthe bottles
فِ إِذا مَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِ القَنَاني
turn to the laughter of goblets amid the tumult of revelry,
Hurry with the laughter of the cups in the dusk of the garden,
whenever the bottles weep over it.
When the jugs cry over it.
وَاسْقِنِيand give me drink القَهْوَةَwine الَّتيthat تُنْبِتُmakes grow الوَرْroses (continued)
وَاسْقِنِي القَهْوَةَ الَّتي تُنْبِتُ الوَرْ
دَcompletion of 'roses' إِذاif شِئْتَyou wish فيin خُدُودِthe cheeks of الغَوانيbeautiful women
دَ إِذا شِئْتَ في خُدُودِ الغَواني
And give me the wine that makes roses sprout,
And give me the coffee that grows the rose
if you wish, in the cheeks of beauties.
If you wish in the cheeks of the beauties.
لاnot تُدَغْدِغْtickle صَدْرَthe breast of المُدامِwine بِأَيْدِيwith the hands of الْthe (article)
لا تُدَغْدِغْ صَدْرَ المُدامِ بِأَيْدِي الْ
مَزْجِmixing with water مَاso long as دُغْدِغَتْare tickled صُدُورُthe breasts of المَثَانيthe paired lute strings
مَزْجِ مَا دُغْدِغَتْ صُدُورُ المَثَاني
Do not tickle wine's breast with the hands of
Do not tickle the breast of the tavern girl with the hands of fun
mixing, so long as the breasts of lute strings are tickled,
Like the breasts of the protected ones were tickled.
فيin رِياضٍgardens تُرِيكَshow you فيat اللَّيْلِnight مِنْهاfrom them
في رِياضٍ تُرِيكَ في اللَّيْلِ مِنْها
سُرُجاًlamps مِنْof شَقَائِقِanemones النُّعْمانِal-Nuʿmān (flower-name element)
سُرُجاً مِنْ شَقَائِقِ النُّعْمانِ
in gardens that show you by night, from their midst,
In gardens that show you lights in the night
lamps of anemones.
Of anemones.
كَتَبَتْهاinscribed them أَيْدِيthe hands of السَّحابِclouds بِأَقْلاwith pens (continued)
كَتَبَتْها أَيْدِي السَّحابِ بِأَقْلا
مِcompletion of 'pens' دُمُوعٍtears عَلَىupon طُرُوسِthe parchments of المَغانيthe dwelling places
مِ دُمُوعٍ عَلَى طُرُوسِ المَغاني
The hands of clouds inscribed them with pens
Written by the hands of the clouds with pens
of tears upon the parchments of the dwelling places:
Of tears upon the crests of melodies.
أَلِفاتٍalif letters مُؤَلَّفاتٍarranged together وَلامَاand lām letters (continued)
أَلِفاتٍ مُؤَلَّفاتٍ وَلامَا
تٍcompletion of 'lām letters' تَكَوَّنَّtook shape مِنْfrom ضَمِيرِthe inward essence of المَعَانيmeanings
تٍ تَكَوَّنَّ مِنْ ضَمِيرِ المَعَاني
alifs arranged together, and lams
Intimacies intimate and touches
formed from the inward essence of meanings.
Formed from the conscience of meanings.
Sol 6.1