لَنا مِنكُمُ وَعدٌ فَهَلّا وَفَيتُمُ

لَنا مِنكُمُ وَعدٌ فَهَلّا وَفَيتُمُ

وَقُلتُم لَنا قَولاً فَهَلّا فَعَلتُمُ

وَقُلتُم لَنا قَولاً فَهَلّا فَعَلتُمُ

We have a promise from you—why have you not fulfilled it?

You made us a promise, so why did you not fulfill it?

You gave us your word—why have you not acted on it?

You told us a word, so why did you not act upon it?

حَفِظنا لَكُم وُدّاً أَضَعتُم عُهودَهُ

حَفِظنا لَكُم وُدّاً أَضَعتُم عُهودَهُ

فَشَتّانَ في الحالَينِ نَحنُ وَأَنتُمُ

فَشَتّانَ في الحالَينِ نَحنُ وَأَنتُمُ

We preserved our affection for you; you squandered its pledges.

We kept affection for you though you wasted its ties,

How far apart we and you are in these two conditions!

So different we are, both now and before.

سَهِرنا عَلى حِفظِ الغَرامِ وَنِمتُمُ

سَهِرنا عَلى حِفظِ الغَرامِ وَنِمتُمُ

وَلَيسَ سَواءً ساهِرونَ وَنُوَّمُ

وَلَيسَ سَواءً ساهِرونَ وَنُوَّمُ

We stayed awake to guard our love, while you slept.

We stayed up preserving love while you slept,

The wakeful and the sleepers are not alike.

And wakeful and sleeping are not the same.

وَكُنّا عَقَدنا أَنَّنا نَكتُمُ الهَوى

وَكُنّا عَقَدنا أَنَّنا نَكتُمُ الهَوى

فَأَغراكُمُ الواشي وَقالَ وَقُلتُمُ

فَأَغراكُمُ الواشي وَقالَ وَقُلتُمُ

We had agreed that we would conceal our love,

We had agreed to hide our passion

But the slanderer incited you: he spoke, and you spoke.

Yet the slanderer tempted you, and you spoke and told.

ظَلَلتُم وَقُلتُم أَنتَ في الحُبِّ ظالِمٌ

ظَلَلتُم وَقُلتُم أَنتَ في الحُبِّ ظالِمٌ

صَدَقتُم كَذا كانَ الحَديثُ صَدَقتُمُ

صَدَقتُم كَذا كانَ الحَديثُ صَدَقتُمُ

You persisted, saying, 'You are unjust in love.'

You blamed and said I oppressed love,

You spoke truly—so the tale went—you spoke truly.

You spoke true - such was the talk, you spoke true.

فَيا أَيُّها الأَحبابُ في السُخطِ وَالرِضا

فَيا أَيُّها الأَحبابُ في السُخطِ وَالرِضا

عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ أَنتُمُ لا عَدِمتُمُ

عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ أَنتُمُ لا عَدِمتُمُ

O beloved ones, in anger and in contentment,

So, O loved ones, in anger or pleasure,

You are beloved in every state—may you never suffer loss.

In any case, you are never absent.

وَرُبَّ لَيالٍ في هَواكُم قَطَعتُها

وَرُبَّ لَيالٍ في هَواكُم قَطَعتُها

وَبِتُّ كَما قَد قيلَ أَبني وَأَهدِمُ

وَبِتُّ كَما قَد قيلَ أَبني وَأَهدِمُ

Many nights have I passed in love for you,

And many a night in your love I spent sleepless

And spent the night, as has been said, building and demolishing.

Tossing and turning, as they say, building and destroying.

وَلي عِندَ بَعضِ الناسِ قَلبٌ مُعَذَّبٌ

وَلي عِندَ بَعضِ الناسِ قَلبٌ مُعَذَّبٌ

فَيا لَيتَهُ يَرثي لِذاكَ وَيَرحَمُ

فَيا لَيتَهُ يَرثي لِذاكَ وَيَرحَمُ

I have a tormented heart in someone's keeping;

With some people I have a tormented heart -

Would that he pitied it and showed mercy.

Would that it might weep for that one and have mercy!

وَما كُلُّ عَينٍ مِثلَ عَيني قَريحَةٌ

وَما كُلُّ عَينٍ مِثلَ عَيني قَريحَةٌ

وَلاكُلُّ قَلبٍ مِثلَ قَلبي مُتَيَّمُ

وَلاكُلُّ قَلبٍ مِثلَ قَلبي مُتَيَّمُ

Not every eye is wounded like my eye,

Not every eye is like my eye, inspired,

Nor every heart enslaved by love like my heart.

Nor every heart like my heart, suffering.

سِوايَ مُحِبٌّ يَنقُضُ الدَهرُ عَهدَهُ

سِوايَ مُحِبٌّ يَنقُضُ الدَهرُ عَهدَهُ

يَغيبُ فَيَسلو أَو يُقيمُ فَيَسأَمُ

يَغيبُ فَيَسلو أَو يُقيمُ فَيَسأَمُ

A lover other than me has his pledge undone by time:

Except for a lover whose pact time destroys -

He goes away and forgets, or stays and grows weary.

He is absent, so I forget, or present, so I weary.

وَيا صاحِبي لَولا حِفاظٌ يَصُدُّني

وَيا صاحِبي لَولا حِفاظٌ يَصُدُّني

لَصَرَّحتُ بِالشَكوى وَلا أَتَكَتَّمُ

لَصَرَّحتُ بِالشَكوى وَلا أَتَكَتَّمُ

My friend, were loyalty not holding me back,

O my friend, were it not for barriers holding me back

I would voice my complaint, not conceal it.

I would complain openly and not conceal.

سَأَعتُبُ بَعضَ الناسِ إِن كانَ سامِعاً

سَأَعتُبُ بَعضَ الناسِ إِن كانَ سامِعاً

وَأَنتَ الَّذي أَعني وَما مِنكَ مَكتَمُ

وَأَنتَ الَّذي أَعني وَما مِنكَ مَكتَمُ

I shall reproach someone, if he is listening;

I will chide some people if listening they be,

You are the one I mean, and nothing is hidden from you.

Yet you are the one I mean, from you nothing hidden.

إِذا كانَ خَصمي في الصَبابَةِ حاكِمي

إِذا كانَ خَصمي في الصَبابَةِ حاكِمي

لِمَن أَشتَكيهِ أَو لِمَن أَتَظَلَّمُ

لِمَن أَشتَكيهِ أَو لِمَن أَتَظَلَّمُ

If my adversary in passionate love is my judge,

If my opponent in youth is also my judge,

To whom shall I complain of him, or seek redress?

To whom shall I complain or protest?

وَلَولا اِحتِقاري في الهَوى لِعَواذِلي

وَلَولا اِحتِقاري في الهَوى لِعَواذِلي

صَرَفتُ لَهُم بالي وَمِنّي وَمِنهُمُ

صَرَفتُ لَهُم بالي وَمِنّي وَمِنهُمُ

Were it not for my contempt for those who blame my love,

Were it not for my disdain for reproachers,

I would give them my attention, exchanging words with them.

I would turn my afflictions from them and me.

فَياعاذِلي ما أَكبَرَ البُعدَ بَينَنا

فَياعاذِلي ما أَكبَرَ البُعدَ بَينَنا

حَديثُ غَرامي فَوقَ ما يَتَوَهَّمُ

حَديثُ غَرامي فَوقَ ما يَتَوَهَّمُ

O my reproacher, how great the distance between us!

So, O reproacher, how great the distance between us!

The tale of my passion surpasses what one imagines.

My talk of passion is beyond what you can conceive.

لَقَد كُنتُ أَبكي لِلحَبيبِ إِذا جَفا

لَقَد كُنتُ أَبكي لِلحَبيبِ إِذا جَفا

وَلا سِيَّما وَهوَ الأَمينُ المُكَرَّمُ

وَلا سِيَّما وَهوَ الأَمينُ المُكَرَّمُ

I used to weep for my beloved when he turned away,

I used to weep if the beloved was harsh,

Especially since he is the trusted, honored one.

Especially since he is the trusted, honored one.

أَميري الَّذي قَد كُنتُ أَسطو بِقِربِهِ

أَميري الَّذي قَد كُنتُ أَسطو بِقِربِهِ

وَكُنتُ عَلى الدُنيا بِهِ أَتَحَكَّمُ

وَكُنتُ عَلى الدُنيا بِهِ أَتَحَكَّمُ

My emir, through whose nearness I once wielded power,

My prince, whom I used to draw near and by his nearness

And through whom I held sway over the world.

Rule the world - by him I was empowered.

سَأَصبِرُ لا أَنّي عَلى ذاكَ قادِرٌ

سَأَصبِرُ لا أَنّي عَلى ذاكَ قادِرٌ

لَعَلَّ لَيالي هَجرِهِ تَتَصَرَّمُ

لَعَلَّ لَيالي هَجرِهِ تَتَصَرَّمُ

I shall endure—not because I am capable of it;

I will be patient, not that I can bear his estrangement,

Perhaps the nights of his estrangement will pass.

Perhaps the nights of his desertion will crumble away.

وَقالَ العِدى إِنَّ المُكَرَّمَ واجِدٌ

وَقالَ العِدى إِنَّ المُكَرَّمَ واجِدٌ

فَقُلتُ لَهُم إِنَّ المُكَرَّمَ أَكرَمُ

فَقُلتُ لَهُم إِنَّ المُكَرَّمَ أَكرَمُ

The enemies said, 'The honored one is angry.'

The enemies said, "The honored one is fond,"

I told them, 'The honored one is nobler than that.'

So I said to them, "The honored one is most noble."

وَإِنَّ أَميري إِن نَأَيتُ لِمُحسِنٍ

وَإِنَّ أَميري إِن نَأَيتُ لِمُحسِنٍ

وَإِنَّ أَميري إِن قَرُبتُ لَمُنعِمُ

وَإِنَّ أَميري إِن قَرُبتُ لَمُنعِمُ

My emir is surely beneficent if I am far away,

My prince, if I approach a benefactor,

And my emir surely bestows favors if I am near.

And my prince, if I draw near, is a bestower.

وَعَهدي بِهِ رَحبُ الحَظيرَةِ مُجمِلٌ

وَعَهدي بِهِ رَحبُ الحَظيرَةِ مُجمِلٌ

يَغُضُّ وَيَعفو عَن كَثيرٍ وَيَحلُمُ

يَغُضُّ وَيَعفو عَن كَثيرٍ وَيَحلُمُ

As I have known him, he is wide of enclosure and gracious,

My pact with him is of ample goodness,

He overlooks much, forgives, and bears with patience.

Overlooking much, pardoning, and forbearing.

مِنَ النَفَرِ الغُرِّ الَّذينَ حُلومُهُم

مِنَ النَفَرِ الغُرِّ الَّذينَ حُلومُهُم

يَخِفُّ لَدَيها يَذبُلٌ وَيُلَملَمُ

يَخِفُّ لَدَيها يَذبُلٌ وَيُلَملَمُ

Of the illustrious company whose forbearance

Of the elite whose spirits humble

Makes Yadhbul and Yulamlam weigh little beside it.

The audacious, causing them to wither and waver.

هُمُ القَومُ كُلُّ القَومِ في الدينِ وَالتُقى

هُمُ القَومُ كُلُّ القَومِ في الدينِ وَالتُقى

وَناهيكَ بِالقَومِ الَّذينَ هُمُ هُمُ

وَناهيكَ بِالقَومِ الَّذينَ هُمُ هُمُ

They are the people, the very people, of faith and piety;

They are the people, all the people of faith and piety,

And enough said of that people: they are who they are.

And needless to say, those people are they.

إِذا حَدَّثوا عَن فَضلِ موسى وَأَحمَدٍ

إِذا حَدَّثوا عَن فَضلِ موسى وَأَحمَدٍ

فَلِلَّهِ ميراثٌ هُناكَ يُقَسَّمُ

فَلِلَّهِ ميراثٌ هُناكَ يُقَسَّمُ

When they speak of the excellence of Musa and Ahmad,

When they speak of Moses and Ahmed's excellence,

God's is the inheritance apportioned there!

To God belongs an inheritance there apportioned.

أَمَولايَ إِنّي عائِذٌ بِكَ لائِذٌ

أَمَولايَ إِنّي عائِذٌ بِكَ لائِذٌ

أُجِلُّكَ أَن أَشكو إِلَيكَ وَأُعظِمُ

أُجِلُّكَ أَن أَشكو إِلَيكَ وَأُعظِمُ

O my lord, I seek refuge and shelter in you;

My lord, I seek refuge in you, sheltered,

I revere and honor you too much to complain to you.

Exalting you, complaining to you, revering you.

أَأَنكِرُ ما أَولَيتَني مِن مَواهِبٍ

أَأَنكِرُ ما أَولَيتَني مِن مَواهِبٍ

يُقِرُّ بِها مِن جِسمِيَ اللَحمُ وَالدَمُ

يُقِرُّ بِها مِن جِسمِيَ اللَحمُ وَالدَمُ

Can I deny the gifts you have bestowed on me,

Shall I deny the gifts you have granted me,

Which the flesh and blood of my body acknowledge?

That my flesh and blood thereby acknowledge?

وَوَاللَهِ ما قَصَّرتُ في شُكرِ نِعمَةٍ

وَوَاللَهِ ما قَصَّرتُ في شُكرِ نِعمَةٍ

وَيَكفيكَ أَنَّ اللَهَ أَعلى وَأَعلَمُ

وَيَكفيكَ أَنَّ اللَهَ أَعلى وَأَعلَمُ

By God, I have not failed to give thanks for a favor;

By God, I have never failed to thank for a blessing,

And it suffices you that God is Most High and knows best.

And suffice it that God is Highest, All-Knowing.

فَيا تارِكي أَنوي البَعيدَ مِنَ النَوى

فَيا تارِكي أَنوي البَعيدَ مِنَ النَوى

إِلى أَيِّ قَومٍ بَعدَكُم أَتَيَمَّمُ

إِلى أَيِّ قَومٍ بَعدَكُم أَتَيَمَّمُ

O you who leave me planning a far-distant parting,

So, O you who have abandoned me, intending abandonment,

To which people after you shall I turn?

To which people, after you, shall I incline?

أَلا إِنَّ إِقليماً نَبَت بي دِيارُهُ

أَلا إِنَّ إِقليماً نَبَت بي دِيارُهُ

وَإِن كَثُرَ الإِثراءُ فيهِ لَمُعدَمُ

وَإِن كَثُرَ الإِثراءُ فيهِ لَمُعدَمُ

Know that a province whose dwellings have rejected me,

Know that a land where I resided has withered,

Even if wealth abounds in it, is truly destitute.

Though abundant in riches, it is deprived.

وَإِنَّ زَماناً أَلجَأَتني صُروفُهُ

وَإِنَّ زَماناً أَلجَأَتني صُروفُهُ

فَحاوَلتُ بُعدي عَنكُمُ لَمُذَمَّمُ

فَحاوَلتُ بُعدي عَنكُمُ لَمُذَمَّمُ

And an age whose vicissitudes forced me

And a time whose turns have driven me away,

To try to distance myself from you is surely blameworthy.

I have tried to distance myself from you, unwilling.

وَلي في بِلادِ اللَهِ مَسرىً وَمَسرَحٌ

وَلي في بِلادِ اللَهِ مَسرىً وَمَسرَحٌ

وَلي مِن عَطاءِ اللَهِ مَغنىً وَمَغنَمُ

وَلي مِن عَطاءِ اللَهِ مَغنىً وَمَغنَمُ

In God's lands I have a path by night and room to roam,

In God's lands I have a place to roam and settle,

And from God's bounty I have sufficiency and gain.

And from God's bounty, fulfillment and gain.

وَأَعلَمُ أَنّي غالِطٌ في فِراقِكُم

وَأَعلَمُ أَنّي غالِطٌ في فِراقِكُم

وَأَنَّكُمُ في ذاكَ مِثلِيَ أَعظَمُ

وَأَنَّكُمُ في ذاكَ مِثلِيَ أَعظَمُ

I know that I am mistaken in parting from you,

And I know I was wrong to part from you,

And that you share my error in this, but more gravely.

And you in that matter are greater than I.

وَمَن ذا الَّذي أَعتاضُ مِنكُم لِفاقَتي

وَمَن ذا الَّذي أَعتاضُ مِنكُم لِفاقَتي

مِنَ الناسِ طُرّاً ساءَ ما أَتَوَهَّمُ

مِنَ الناسِ طُرّاً ساءَ ما أَتَوَهَّمُ

Whom could I take in your place to meet my need,

Who amongst you has reproached me for my poverty?

Among all mankind? How poor a thought I entertain!

The people's conjecture is miserable, how I imagine it!

فَلا طابَ لي عَنكُم مَقامٌ وَمَوطِنٌ

فَلا طابَ لي عَنكُم مَقامٌ وَمَوطِنٌ

وَلَو ضَمَّني فيهِ المَقامُ وَزَمزَمُ

وَلَو ضَمَّني فيهِ المَقامُ وَزَمزَمُ

So may no dwelling or homeland away from you be pleasant to me,

No home or abode was sweet away from you,

Even were the Maqam and Zamzam to embrace me there.

Even if residence and Zamzam contained me therein.

وَمِثلُكَ لا يَأسى عَلى فَقدِ كاتِبٍ

وَمِثلُكَ لا يَأسى عَلى فَقدِ كاتِبٍ

وَلَكِنَّهُ يَأسى عَلَيكَ وَيَندَمُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ يَأسى عَلَيكَ وَيَندَمُ

One like you does not grieve at losing a secretary,

And the like of you does not grieve over a secretary,

But he grieves for you and feels regret.

Rather, he grieves over you and regrets.

فَمَن ذا الَّذي تُدنيهِ مِنكَ وَتَصطَفي

فَمَن ذا الَّذي تُدنيهِ مِنكَ وَتَصطَفي

فَيَكتُبُ ما يوحى إِلَيكَ وَيَكتُمُ

فَيَكتُبُ ما يوحى إِلَيكَ وَيَكتُمُ

Who, then, is the one you draw close to you and choose,

So who can be brought near you and chosen,

Who writes what is imparted to you and keeps it secret?

To write what is divinely inspired and conceal it?

وَمَن ذا الَّذي يُرضيكَ مِنهُ فَطانَةٌ

وَمَن ذا الَّذي يُرضيكَ مِنهُ فَطانَةٌ

تَقولُ فَيَدري أَو تُشيرُ فَيَفهَمُ

تَقولُ فَيَدري أَو تُشيرُ فَيَفهَمُ

And who is there whose discernment pleases you:

And who satisfies you with insight,

You speak and he knows, or gesture and he understands?

To speak and discern, or gesture and understand?

وَما كُلُّ أَزهارِ الرِياضِ أَريجَةٌ

وَما كُلُّ أَزهارِ الرِياضِ أَريجَةٌ

وَما كُلُّ أَطيارِ الفَلا تَتَرَنَّمُ

وَما كُلُّ أَطيارِ الفَلا تَتَرَنَّمُ

Not every flower in the gardens is fragrant,

Not all garden blossoms are fragrant,

Nor does every bird of the wilderness sing.

Nor all melodious birds melodic.

فَيالَيتَ ذا العامَ الَّذي جاءَ مُقبِلاً

فَيالَيتَ ذا العامَ الَّذي جاءَ مُقبِلاً

يَفيضُ لَنا فيهِ رِضاكَ وَيُقسَمُ

يَفيضُ لَنا فيهِ رِضاكَ وَيُقسَمُ

Oh, may this year that has come advancing

Would that this year that came inclining

Be one in which your favor overflows for us and is shared out.

May pour upon us your pleasure and be apportioned!

وَلا زالَتِ الأَعوامُ تَأتي وَتَنقَضي

وَلا زالَتِ الأَعوامُ تَأتي وَتَنقَضي

فَتَبدَؤُها بِالصالِحاتِ وَتَختِمُ

فَتَبدَؤُها بِالصالِحاتِ وَتَختِمُ

And may the years keep coming and passing,

And may the years continue to come and go

With you beginning and ending them with good deeds.

Commencing them with righteous acts and concluding them.

تُضيءُ لَيالي الدَهرِ مِنكَ مُنيرَةً

تُضيءُ لَيالي الدَهرِ مِنكَ مُنيرَةً

وَأَيّامُهُ مِن فَرحَةٍ تَتَبَسَّمُ

وَأَيّامُهُ مِن فَرحَةٍ تَتَبَسَّمُ

The nights of time shine, illumined by you,

Lighting the nights of time with your radiance

And its days smile with joy.

And its days with joy smiling.

وَيا لَيتَ شِعري إِن قَضى اللَهُ بِالنَوى

وَيا لَيتَ شِعري إِن قَضى اللَهُ بِالنَوى

لِمَن أَبتَغي هَذا الكَلامَ وَأَنظِمُ

لِمَن أَبتَغي هَذا الكَلامَ وَأَنظِمُ

And would that I knew, if God decrees separation,

Would that I knew, if fulfilling this wish is decreed,

For whom shall I seek these words and weave them into verse?

For whom I compose these words and versify them -

نَسيبٌ كَما يَهوى العَفافُ مُنَزَّهٌ

نَسيبٌ كَما يَهوى العَفافُ مُنَزَّهٌ

وَمَدحٌ كَما تَهوى المَعالي مُعَظَّمُ

وَمَدحٌ كَما تَهوى المَعالي مُعَظَّمُ

Love verse, unblemished as chastity desires,

A kinsman, as chastity desires, pure,

And praise, exalted as nobility desires;

Praise, as high ideals desire, revered,

وَشَكوى كَما رَقَّ النَسيمُ مِنَ الصَبا

وَشَكوى كَما رَقَّ النَسيمُ مِنَ الصَبا

وَعَتبٌ كَما اِنحَلَّ الجُمانُ المُنَظَّمُ

وَعَتبٌ كَما اِنحَلَّ الجُمانُ المُنَظَّمُ

And plaint as gentle as the breeze of the east wind,

Complaint, as the breeze gently blows,

And reproach like strung pearls coming loose.

Reproach, as threaded pearls are stringed symmetrically.

تَأَخَّرَ عَن وَقتِ الهَناءِ لِأَنَّهُ

تَأَخَّرَ عَن وَقتِ الهَناءِ لِأَنَّهُ

لَهُ كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن جَنابِكَ مَوسِمُ

لَهُ كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن جَنابِكَ مَوسِمُ

It was delayed beyond the time of congratulation, because

It came late for the time of delight because

Every day at your court is a festive occasion for it.

Every day from you has a season.

وَتَعلَمُ أَنّي في زَمانِيَ واحِدٌ

وَتَعلَمُ أَنّي في زَمانِيَ واحِدٌ

وَأَنَّ كَلامي آخِرٌ مُتَقَدِّمُ

وَأَنَّ كَلامي آخِرٌ مُتَقَدِّمُ

And you know that in my age I am unique,

And you know, in my time I stand alone,

And that my verse comes last, yet stands foremost.

My words the last though presented first.