Poems
- أأن قال لي صحبي تسل بغيرهاJust because my companions said to me, “Seek solace with another,”
- أثم وشمس الحسن حلت قناعهاDo you then—while the sun of beauty has unfastened her veil
- اشرب غبوقا فالغرب قد نورDrink an evening draught, for the west has lit up,
- أعذر لفظ المحب بالعذرThe lover's speech has offered its excuse,
- أفادني ودك بعد كدYour affection was granted to me after toil
- ألذ وأشفى لنا من طربSweeter and more healing to us than rapture,
- العيش راح يعاطيها براحتهLife is wine he offers with his palm—
- أمغنية مع الظلم الخطوبCan calamities avail amid injustice,
- أيا من خان مخبرهO you whose inner nature has proved faithless,
- أيطلب كيدي من يهون كيادهDoes he who finds my schemes easy seek to kindle
- بادر بلهوك ليلة بدريةHasten to your revelry on a full-moon night,
- تأوبني طارق الهم نصباGrief's night visitor returned to me with weariness,
- جدد البين كروباParting has renewed sorrows,
- حبيب ليس ينصفنيA beloved who does not treat me fairly,
- داو الخمار بخمرهCure the hangover with its wine,
- سقاني صفوا من سلاف كريقهHe gave me a pure draught of choice wine, like his saliva,
- سقى الله أطلالا رعيت بها الصباMay God water the ruins where I nurtured my youth,
- سقيا للذات وطيبMay rain bless pleasures and delight,
- سيدي أنت ومن لمYou are my master, and one who
- ضحك الزمان إلي عن إعتابTime smiled upon me, making amends,
- طاب عيشي برغم أنف العذولMy life grew sweet, to spite the censor;
- طربت إلى عمي وعاودني ذكريI was stirred with longing for my uncle, and my memories returned to me;
- طلعت شمس عقارThe sun of wine has risen,
- فديتك ما أظهرMay I be your ransom—what I reveal
- فقدت الهوى وعدمت الودوداI have lost love and been bereft of the loving friend.
- قد ضاع فيك صبريIndeed, my patience is lost over you,
- قض بالخمرة الوطرSatisfy your desire with wine,
- كري الملام فباغي اللوم مخصومBlame me, for I am to blame for distress,
- كل داع سواي غير مجابEvery supplicant but me goes unanswered.
- لحاظه تطمع في نيلهHis glances inspire hope of winning him,
- لو أن ذا حسب نال السماء بهIf one of noble lineage could reach the sky through it,
- ما بال إحساني أصحبتهWhy does my kindness, which I took along
- من ذا يقيم دعائم الإسلامWho is it that upholds the pillars of Islam
- منحتك الود منيI have given you my love;
- نيران هجري ليس تخمدThe fires of my estrangement do not die out.
- هلا رددت على العدو الكاشحWhy did you not answer back to the spiteful foe,
- وابأبي من لست أنساهAh, may my father be ransom for the one I never forget,
- وزق صريع قطيع اليدينAnd a wineskin, felled, with both its hands cut off—
- وقالوا اصطبر فالصبر شيء عدمتهAnd they said, “Be patient”; yet patience is something I have lost,
- وقهوة يترامىAnd a wine that sends forth
- ولعت ببيضاء شابت أسود الشعرI became enamored of a fair one who turned the black of my hair gray.
- ولما رأيت الدهر يخطب خطبةAnd when I saw Time delivering a sermon,
- وليل كأن الدجن يجري ببدرهAnd a night when darkness seemed to drift with its full moon,
- ومحجب نبهتهAnd I awakened a veiled one,
- ومما شجاني أنه حين جاءنيAnd among the things that saddened me was that, when he came to me,
- ومن مليح الذنوب إن ذكرتAnd among the delightful sins, if they are mentioned,
- وناظر عن دعجAnd a gazer with deep-black eyes,
- يا ترب ضمنك الممات مسوداO dust, death has placed a lord within you.
- يا رب زور منعم مزارهAh, many a visitor whose visit brings delight,
- يا ملزمي بالذنب ما لم أفعلO you who charge me with a sin I did not commit,
- يا من أريح من الفراقO one who was relieved of parting,
- يلومني في لحاظ الطرف غيركمSomeone other than you reproaches me for the eye's sidelong glances.
- يوم أتى بديمة هطالةA day came with steady, abundant rain,
No poems found.