أملّت ضجيج الحياة ففرّت

أملّت ضجيج الحياة ففرّت

تريد الحياة بظلّ السكون

تريد الحياة بظلّ السكون

Has she wearied of life's clamor and fled,

The clamor of life wearied her, so she fled

She grew weary of life's noise, so she fled,

seeking life in the shade of stillness?

Wanting life in the shade of tranquility

Seeking life in the shadow of silence,

تغاف القصور و جنّاتها

تغاف القصور و جنّاتها

و تأوي إلى دوحة الزيزفون

و تأوي إلى دوحة الزيزفون

She shuns the palaces and their gardens,

Leaving behind the palaces and their gardens

Shunning the palaces and their gardens,

and takes refuge beneath a spreading linden tree.

She took refuge in the palm grove of Ziziphons

To seek refuge in the linden tree's grove.

فتشرب ماء الغدير نقيّا

فتشرب ماء الغدير نقيّا

و تسكر من أرج الياسمين

و تسكر من أرج الياسمين

So she drinks the pool's water, pure,

Drinking the pure water of the pond

Drinking the brook's water, pure and clear,

and grows drunk on jasmine's fragrance.

Getting drunk on the fragrance of jasmine

And growing drunk on the jasmine's fragrance,

و تسمع لحن الطيور شجيّا

و تسمع لحن الطيور شجيّا

رقيقا على مائسات الغصون

رقيقا على مائسات الغصون

And she hears the birds' plaintive melody,

Listening to the sad song of the birds

Listening to the birds' melancholic melody,

gentle upon the swaying boughs.

Softly on the branches of the trees

Tenderly played upon the swaying branches.

فتذكر عالم قدس نمت

فتذكر عالم قدس نمت

به حرّة بين حور و عين

به حرّة بين حور و عين

So she recalls a holy realm where she grew,

She remembered a sacred world where she slept

Then she remembers a holy world where she grew,

free among houris and wide-eyed maidens:

Free, between houri and spring

Free among the houris with beautiful eyes;

هيولي تفيض ضياء مبينا

هيولي تفيض ضياء مبينا

طليقا تراه جميع العيون

طليقا تراه جميع العيون

a formless essence pouring forth clear radiance,

Filled with the bright overflowing light

A primordial spirit overflowing with radiant light,

unbounded, visible to all eyes.

Which all eyes see unveiled

Free and visible to all eyes.

و تذكره عالما طاهرا

و تذكره عالما طاهرا

قضت في رباه ألوف السنين

قضت في رباه ألوف السنين

And she remembers it as a pure world,

She remembered it as a pure world

She remembers it as a pure world,

in whose hills she spent thousands of years.

Where she spent thousands of years

In whose hills she spent thousands of years.

تحنّ إليه و ماذا يفيد

تحنّ إليه و ماذا يفيد

بعيد الأحبّة طول الحنين

بعيد الأحبّة طول الحنين

She yearns for it—but what use is

Yearning for it-but what use is yearning

She yearns for it, yet what good is

long yearning to one far from loved ones?

When loved ones are far, however long

Endless yearning when loved ones are far away?

لقد ذكرته فما كفكفت

لقد ذكرته فما كفكفت

بيمنى يديها عقود الشؤون

بيمنى يديها عقود الشؤون

Indeed she recalled it, and did not wipe away

She had remembered it but did not restrain

She remembered it, and did not hold back

with her right hand the necklaces of tears.

The tears that misfortune drew

With her right hand the necklaces of tears.

بكت و هي في سجنها حرّة

بكت و هي في سجنها حرّة

و لا عجب من بكاء السجين

و لا عجب من بكاء السجين

She wept, free though she was within her prison,

Weeping though free in her prison

She wept, though free within her prison,

and no wonder that a prisoner weeps.

No wonder at a captive's tears

And it is no wonder that a prisoner weeps.

حنوت عليها و قد بكّرت

حنوت عليها و قد بكّرت

لتتلو كتاب الحياة القديم

لتتلو كتاب الحياة القديم

I felt tenderness toward her as she rose early

I consoled her, though she rose early

I leaned over her as she rose early

to read the ancient book of life.

To recite the ancient book of life

To recite the ancient book of life,

فقلت لها : مزّقيه كتابا

فقلت لها : مزّقيه كتابا

يثير الشجون و يذكي الهموم

يثير الشجون و يذكي الهموم

So I told her: tear it up—a book

And said: Tear up that book

So I said to her: "Tear it up, a book

that stirs sorrows and kindles cares.

Which stirs regrets and kindles sorrows

That stirs up sorrows and kindles griefs;

فإنّ الشقيّ يزيد شقاء

فإنّ الشقيّ يزيد شقاء

إذا راح يذكر عهد النّعيم

إذا راح يذكر عهد النّعيم

For the wretched grow more wretched

For the wretched, their wretchedness grows

For the wretched one only grows more wretched

when they begin recalling an age of bliss.

When remembering days of bliss

When he begins to recall the era of bliss.

مقيّدة أنت صاغ القيود

مقيّدة أنت صاغ القيود

ليمناك كفّ القضاء الأثيم

ليمناك كفّ القضاء الأثيم

You are shackled; the shackles were forged

You are bound by chains fate forged

You are chained; the fetters were forged

for your right hand by the hand of sinful fate.

To debar you, by evil decree

For your right hand by the hand of wicked fate.

تريدين منّي نسيم عليلا

تريدين منّي نسيم عليلا

و هيهات عزّ علينا النسيم

و هيهات عزّ علينا النسيم

You ask of me a gentle breeze,

You ask me for a gentle breeze

You seek from me a gentle breeze,

and alas, the breeze is hard for us to find.

Alas bringing breezes is hard for me!

But alas, the breeze is kept from us.

تريدين منّي نسيم الجنان

تريدين منّي نسيم الجنان

نقيّا .. و هذا نسيم الجحيم

نقيّا .. و هذا نسيم الجحيم

You ask of me the breeze of paradise,

You ask me for the zephyr of gardens

You seek from me the breeze of paradise,

pure—and this is the breeze of hell.

Pure...but this is the wind of hell

Pure... but this is the breeze of hell.

فلا تنشقيه ففيه سموم الهجير

فلا تنشقيه ففيه سموم الهجير

و من ذا يطيق السموم

و من ذا يطيق السموم

So do not breathe it in: it holds the scorching winds of noon,

So do not inhale it, for within is the poison of exile

Do not breathe it in, for it holds the poison of the midday heat,

and who can endure those scorching winds?

And who can bear poison?

And who can bear such poisons?

عذرتك فرّي من الأرض و ابغي

عذرتك فرّي من الأرض و ابغي

هناك المقام الرفيع الكريم

هناك المقام الرفيع الكريم

I excuse you: flee the earth and seek

I pardoned you, so flee the land, and seek

I excuse you; flee from the earth and seek

there a lofty, noble dwelling,

The sublime and generous abode near the stars

That lofty, noble dwelling up there,

بقرب النجوم فإنّ الحياة

بقرب النجوم فإنّ الحياة

معطّرة الدنّ بين النجوم

معطّرة الدنّ بين النجوم

near the stars, for life

For life there is fragrant as this vile world

Near the stars, for life

has a perfumed wine-jar among the stars.

Among the stars

Possesses a fragrant wine-cask among the stars.

و لا ترحمي الجسم فهو تراب

و لا ترحمي الجسم فهو تراب

يعود لمعدنه بعد حين

يعود لمعدنه بعد حين

And do not pity the body, for it is dust,

Do not grieve for the body, mere dust

And do not pity the body, for it is dust,

returning to its source after a while.

Returning to its source in time

Returning to its source after a time.

غدا هو بين الربى زهرة

غدا هو بين الربى زهرة

كستها الطبيعة لون الشروق

كستها الطبيعة لون الشروق

It will become a flower among the hills,

Tomorrow it becomes among the wild thyme

Tomorrow it shall be a flower among the hills,

clothed by nature in the color of sunrise.

A flower nature clothed in dawn’s hue

Clad by nature in the hues of sunrise.

يقبّلها الصبح في ثغرها

يقبّلها الصبح في ثغرها

و يلثم في شفتيها العقيق

و يلثم في شفتيها العقيق

Dawn kisses it upon its mouth,

Kissed in its mouth by morning

The morning will kiss her on the mouth,

and kisses the carnelian in its lips.

Ruby lip-print on its cheek

And touch the carnelian upon her lips.

و تسري الصّبا من بعيد إليها

و تسري الصّبا من بعيد إليها

و قد هوّن الحبّ حزن الطريق

و قد هوّن الحبّ حزن الطريق

And the east wind wafts toward it from afar,

The breeze blows gently to it from afar

The east wind will travel to her from afar,

and love has eased the road's roughness,

Love easing the road’s sorrow

With love easing the sorrows of the path,

إلى أن تمرّ عليها فتاة

إلى أن تمرّ عليها فتاة

فتنزعها نزع برّ رفيق

فتنزعها نزع برّ رفيق

until a girl passes by it

Until there passes by a girl

Until a young girl passes by her,

and plucks it kindly and gently.

Who plucks it with a gesture kind

And plucks her with the gentle pull of a righteous one,

و تنزلها منزلا هانئا

و تنزلها منزلا هانئا

على النّور لا يشتكى فيه ضيق

على النّور لا يشتكى فيه ضيق

And she settles it in a blissful dwelling,

Places it in a happy spot

And places her in a blissful abode,

upon the light, where no confinement is lamented.

Where no confinement breeds despair

Upon the radiance, where no confinement is lamented,

فحينا تقبّل نهدا و حينا

فحينا تقبّل نهدا و حينا

تقبّل خدّا يلون الشقيق

تقبّل خدّا يلون الشقيق

So at times it kisses a breast, and at times

Now kissing one breast, now

So at times she kisses a breast, and at times

it kisses a cheek that colors the anemone.

Kissing a cheek pink as the anemone

She kisses a cheek the color of an anemone,

و تبعثها بعد ذاك رسولا

و تبعثها بعد ذاك رسولا

يؤدّي رسالة صبّ مشوق

يؤدّي رسالة صبّ مشوق

And afterward she sends it as a messenger,

Later sending it as messenger

And sends her after that as a messenger,

delivering the message of a yearning lover.

To carry a stirring letter of desire

To deliver the message of a passionate lover;

فنعم الرسالة بين العشيقة

فنعم الرسالة بين العشيقة

ذات الدلال و بيت العشيق

ذات الدلال و بيت العشيق

What a splendid message between the beloved,

Good messenger between lover

What a wonderful message between the beloved girl,

with her coy charm, and her lover's house!

Of languor and lover's dwelling

Full of coquetry, and the lover's home.

فيا روح من بين تلك النجوم

فيا روح من بين تلك النجوم

أطلي عليها و لا تنكريني

أطلي عليها و لا تنكريني

So, O soul, from among those stars,

O soul, among those stars

O soul, from among those stars,

look down upon it, and do not fail to recognize me.

Look upon it, do not deny me

Look down upon her and do not fail to recognize me.

أطلّي عليها و قد أشرقت

أطلّي عليها و قد أشرقت

على صدر خود عروس و ساما

على صدر خود عروس و ساما

Look down upon it, shining now

Look upon it, radiant

Look down upon her as she shines

upon a lovely young bride's breast as a badge.

On the breast of a bride in her litter

As an adornment upon the breast of a fair maiden bride,

أطلّي عليها و قد ألقيت

أطلّي عليها و قد ألقيت

بقايا شذا ثمّ عادت رغاما

بقايا شذا ثمّ عادت رغاما

Look down upon it, now cast away,

Look upon it, scattering

Look down upon her when she has cast off

as remnants of fragrance, then turned to dust again.

The remnants of perfume, then balm

The remains of her fragrance, then returned to dust.

أطلّي عليها رفيقا قديما

أطلّي عليها رفيقا قديما

و قولي سلاما تردّ السلاما

و قولي سلاما تردّ السلاما

Look down upon it—an old companion—

Look upon it, old companion

Look down upon her as an old companion,

and say, 'Peace'; it will return your greeting.

Say peace, and peace will respond

And say 'peace', that she may return the greeting.

ألا و اذكري عهدنا و اذكري

ألا و اذكري عهدنا و اذكري

زمانك في الأرض عاما فعاما

زمانك في الأرض عاما فعاما

Ah, remember our days together, and remember

Remember our days, remember

Oh, remember our covenant, and remember

your time on earth, year by year.

Your time on earth, year upon year

Your time on earth, year after year.

أأنكرت شكلا جديدا لجسم

أأنكرت شكلا جديدا لجسم

غدا لك قيل الفناء مقاما

غدا لك قيل الفناء مقاما

Have you failed to recognize a new form of a body

Will you reject the body's new form

Have you failed to recognize a new form for a body

that became your dwelling before annihilation?

Though it was your abode before decay?

That became your dwelling before passing away?

و أنكرت ألوانها جمّة

و أنكرت ألوانها جمّة

و عطرا نديّا كعطر لخزامى

و عطرا نديّا كعطر لخزامى

And have you failed to recognize its many colors,

Reject its brilliant hues

And did you fail to recognize its abundant colors,

and a dewy fragrance like lavender's scent?

Its scent as sweet as lavender?

And a dewy fragrance like the scent of lavender?

فلا تعجبي إنّ هذا الذبول

فلا تعجبي إنّ هذا الذبول

بأوراقها كان فيّ سقاما

بأوراقها كان فيّ سقاما

So do not wonder: this wilting

Do not wonder-this withering

Do not wonder, for this wilting

in its leaves was sickness within me,

In its leaves was also my disease

In its leaves was an illness within me,

و ذا الاحمرار دموعي

و ذا الاحمرار دموعي

و هذا الشذا كان فيّ غراما

و هذا الشذا كان فيّ غراما

and this redness is my tears,

This redness-my tears

And this redness is my tears,

and this fragrance was passion within me.

This perfume-my passion

And this fragrance was passion within me;

و أفناني الدهر إلا شقاء

و أفناني الدهر إلا شقاء

تأبى عليه و إلاّ هياما

تأبى عليه و إلاّ هياما

And time has annihilated me, save for a misery

Fate destroyed me but for the wretchedness

Time has consumed me, leaving naught but a misery

that defied it, and save for love's frenzy.

That rejects it, and but for raving love

That stubbornly resists, and an endless love.

تلاشيت في هذه الكائنات

تلاشيت في هذه الكائنات

و لم يتلاش إليك حنيني

و لم يتلاش إليك حنيني

I have dissolved into these beings,

I have vanished into these creatures

I have faded away into these beings,

but my longing for you has not dissolved.

Yet longing for you has not faded within me

Yet my yearning for you has never faded.