أَلاAh! مَنwho لِمَطروبِfor one distraught الفُؤادِof heart عَميدِlove-stricken
أَلا مَن لِمَطروبِ الفُؤادِ عَميدِ
وَمَنand who لِسَقيمٍfor a sick man باتَspent the night غَيرَnot مَعودِvisited
وَمَن لِسَقيمٍ باتَ غَيرَ مَعودِ
Ah, who will help one distraught of heart, love-stricken,
Alas, who will aid the troubled heart?
and who will help a sick man who spends the night unvisited?
Who will help the sick who cannot find rest?
بِأُمِّin Umm سَعيدٍSa'id جَفوَةٌcoldness عَنtoward لِقائِهِmeeting him
بِأُمِّ سَعيدٍ جَفوَةٌ عَن لِقائِهِ
وَإِنand though كانَتِwas البَلوىthe affliction بِأُمِّthrough Umm سَعيدِSa'id
وَإِن كانَتِ البَلوى بِأُمِّ سَعيدِ
Umm Sa'id coldly shuns meeting him,
Umm Sa'eed is aloof, though meeting her would mend me,
though Umm Sa'id is the cause of his affliction.
For my adversity lies with Umm Sa'eed.
إِذاwhen قُلتُI said داويheal مَنthe one whom أَصِبتِyou afflicted فُؤادَهُhis heart
إِذا قُلتُ داوي مَن أَصِبتِ فُؤادَهُ
بِسُقمِكِwith your sickness داوَتهُshe healed him بِطولِwith prolonged صُدودِrejection
بِسُقمِكِ داوَتهُ بِطولِ صُدودِ
When I say, “Heal the man whose heart you afflicted
When I say, "Cure the one whose heart your sickness pierced,"
with your sickness,” she heals him with prolonged rejection.
Her long estrangement is my only medicine.
وَإِنand if جيدَhe was rained upon مَنَّتهُpromised him المُنىthe hopes بِلِقائِهِof his meeting
وَإِن جيدَ مَنَّتهُ المُنى بِلِقائِهِ
خَلاياunburdened وَلاand not يَلقاهُhe encounters it غَيرَnot مَجودِrain-drenched
خَلايا وَلا يَلقاهُ غَيرَ مَجودِ
And if rain falls on him, hopes promise him a meeting,
Though her beauty brings me blessing when we meet,
unburdened; yet he never reaches it undrenched.
I find no joy except in her.
كَأَنَّas though عَلَيهاupon her أَلوَةًan oath لاnot تَسُرُّهُshe gladdens him
كَأَنَّ عَلَيها أَلوَةً لا تَسُرُّهُ
بِجائِزَةٍwith a passing shower مِنهاfrom her وَلاnor بِشَديدِwith a heavy shower
بِجائِزَةٍ مِنها وَلا بِشَديدِ
As though she were bound by an oath not to gladden him
She seems to disdain any gift or harsh word from me,
with a passing shower from her, nor a heavy one.
As if mischievous jinn in my heart provoke me to forget
وَجَلَّدَنيand urged me to be steadfast عَنهاwithout her البَريءُthe one untouched مِنَby الهَوىlove
وَجَلَّدَني عَنها البَريءُ مِنَ الهَوى
وَلَستُand I am not عَلىin facing هِجرانِهاseparation from her بِجَليدِsteadfast
وَلَستُ عَلى هِجرانِها بِجَليدِ
One untouched by love urged me to be steadfast without her,
All prayers but a few since she occupies my thoughts,
but I lack the strength to endure separation from her.
Leaving no time for friend or stranger.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him بَعضَless of المَلامَةِthe reproach إِنَّنيindeed I
فَقُلتُ لَهُ بَعضَ المَلامَةِ إِنَّني
عَلىdespite اللَومِthe reproach مِنهاfrom her ضامِنٌpledged لِمَزيدِto more
عَلى اللَومِ مِنها ضامِنٌ لِمَزيدِ
So I said to him: Less reproach! Indeed, I,
I spurn Sa'da's affection however brightly it shines,
despite her reproaches, am pledged to still more.
Even when she intends intimacy for us.
أَعُدُّI count سُجوديmy prostrations بِالحَصىwith pebbles وَتَلومُنيand you reproach me
أَعُدُّ سُجودي بِالحَصى وَتَلومُني
وَلَولاand were it not for الهَوىlove أَوهَمتُI would have omitted بَعضَsome of سُجوديmy prostrations
وَلَولا الهَوى أَوهَمتُ بَعضَ سُجودي
I count my prostrations with pebbles, yet you reproach me;
For I seek only the virtuous habits of Sa'eed's family,
were it not for love, I would have missed some of my prostrations.
Having desired no others before.
كَأَنَّas though بِقَلبيin my heart جِنَّةًmadness تَستَفِزُّهُunsettles it
كَأَنَّ بِقَلبي جِنَّةً تَستَفِزُّهُ
بِنِسيانِby forgetting ماwhat صَلَّيتُI prayed غَيرَnot عَديدِcounted
بِنِسيانِ ما صَلَّيتُ غَيرَ عَديدِ
It is as though madness in my heart unsettles it,
Every person has a goal; the soul has its limits.
making me forget the prayers I have offered, with no count kept.
No illness but illness will find good will.
شَغَلتُI occupied بِهاwith her نَفسيmy soul فَلَستُso I am not بِفارِغٍfree
شَغَلتُ بِها نَفسي فَلَستُ بِفارِغٍ
لِدانٍfor someone near يُرَجّينيwho gives me hope وَلاnor لِبَعيدِfor someone distant
لِدانٍ يُرَجّيني وَلا لِبَعيدِ
I have occupied my soul with her, and have no leisure
When her eyes flash, their scent travels far,
for one nearby who offers me hope, nor for one far away.
Lightning that never strikes arid ground.
أَدُرُّI make flow لِسُعدىfor Su'da عَنfrom لِبانِthe breast of مَوَدَّتيmy affection
أَدُرُّ لِسُعدى عَن لِبانِ مَوَدَّتي
صَفاءًsincerity وَإِنand even if هَمَّتshe intended لَناtoward us بِجُمودِwith coldness
صَفاءً وَإِن هَمَّت لَنا بِجُمودِ
I pour forth for Su'da, from the breast of my affection,
Of calamities that befall the youth, her glances are the least—
pure love, even if she intends coldness toward us.
Lightning softer than young hyacinths and pearls.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَوَصّالٌsurely a constant joiner لِأَخلاقِto the frayed parts of حَبلِهاher cord
وَإِنّي لَوَصّالٌ لِأَخلاقِ حَبلِها
وَماand not كُنتُI used to be وَصّالاًa constant joiner لِغَيرِof anything other than جَديدِnew
وَما كُنتُ وَصّالاً لِغَيرِ جَديدِ
And I keep splicing the frayed strands of her cord,
I envy everything that touches her though I am not,
though I never used to splice anything but new cord.
Without loving her, an envious man.
وَكُلُّand every اِمرِىءٍman ساعٍstriving وَلِلنَفسِand for the soul غايَةٌa goal
وَكُلُّ اِمرِىءٍ ساعٍ وَلِلنَفسِ غايَةٌ
وَماand not الداءُthe illness إِلّاexcept الداءُthe illness غَيرُnot وَدودِloving
وَما الداءُ إِلّا الداءُ غَيرُ وَدودِ
Every man strives, and the soul has a goal;
So if you blame me for singing slave-girls, say to him:
and no illness is illness save the kind without love.
"Live a single day when I am not alone!"
وَرائِحَةٍand an evening visitor لِلعَينِto the eye مِنهاfrom her مَخيلَةٌa promise of rain
وَرائِحَةٍ لِلعَينِ مِنها مَخيلَةٌ
إِذاwhen بَرَقَتshe flashed لَمnot تَسقِshe waters بَطنَa hollow of صَعيدِbare earth
إِذا بَرَقَت لَم تَسقِ بَطنَ صَعيدِ
And many an evening visitor offers the eye a promise of rain:
I drank it till it yellowed like saffron
when she flashes, she waters no hollow of bare earth.
At the sound the singer's yellow wraps make as they drag.
مِنَamong المُستَهِلّاتِthose pouring down الهُمومَsorrows عَلىupon الفَتىthe young man
مِنَ المُستَهِلّاتِ الهُمومَ عَلى الفَتى
خَفاflickered بَرقُهاher lightning مِنfrom عُصفُرٍsafflower dye وَعُقودِand necklaces
خَفا بَرقُها مِن عُصفُرٍ وَعُقودِ
One of those who pour down sorrows upon a young man,
A lovely woman the death of warriors cannot breach—
her lightning flickers from safflower dye and necklaces.
The roar of lions following lions.
حَسَدتُI envied عَلَيهاon her account كُلَّevery شَيءٍthing يَمَسُّهاthat touches her
حَسَدتُ عَلَيها كُلَّ شَيءٍ يَمَسُّها
وَماand not كُنتُI was لَولاbut for حُبُّهاlove of her بِحَسودِenvious
وَما كُنتُ لَولا حُبُّها بِحَسودِ
I envied everything that touched her,
As though a prince sat veiled while eyes
and, but for love of her, I would not have been envious.
Awaiting his view flock to him.
فَمَنso whoever لامَنيblamed me فيconcerning الغانِياتِbeautiful women فَقُلthen say لَهُto him
فَمَن لامَني في الغانِياتِ فَقُل لَهُ
تَعِشmay you live واحِداًalone لاnot زُلتُmay I cease being غَيرَother than وَحيدِalone
تَعِش واحِداً لا زُلتُ غَيرَ وَحيدِ
So whoever blames me for beautiful women, tell him:
I roused the doves of her breast when they rested
“May you live alone; may I always be anything but alone.”
And they came having spent the night wakeful.
وَأَصفَرَand a yellow wine مِثلِlike الزَعفَرانِsaffron شَرِبتُهُI drank it
وَأَصفَرَ مِثلِ الزَعفَرانِ شَرِبتُهُ
عَلىto صَوتِthe voice of صَفراءِgolden-hued التَرائِبِthe upper chest رودِsupple
عَلى صَوتِ صَفراءِ التَرائِبِ رودِ
And I drank a yellow wine, like saffron,
Heavy of body and fair of face unique among mortals,
to the voice of a delicate woman with a golden-hued breast,
The eyes of an addict, the color of none but her.
رَبيبَةِone reared in سِترٍseclusion يَعرِضُinterposes itself المَوتُdeath دونَهاbefore her
رَبيبَةِ سِترٍ يَعرِضُ المَوتُ دونَها
زَئيرُthe roaring of أُسودٍlions تابِعاتِfollowing أُسودِlions
زَئيرُ أُسودٍ تابِعاتِ أُسودِ
one reared behind a veil, with death blocking the way to her—
She passes by gently, her collar lifted high.
the roaring of lions following lions.
What a face she has there, so beautiful!
كَأَنَّas though أَميراًa prince جالِساًsitting فيwithin حِجابِهاher screen
كَأَنَّ أَميراً جالِساً في حِجابِها
تُؤَمِّلُhope for رُؤياهُseeing him عُيونُthe eyes of وُفودِdelegations
تُؤَمِّلُ رُؤياهُ عُيونُ وُفودِ
As though a prince were seated behind her screen,
She is not lavish toward commoners with plaster and tar,
whom the eyes of delegations hoped to see.
Nor raises the veil of the lowly.
أَهَبتُI roused بَناتِthe daughters of الصَدرِthe breast بَعدَafter رُقادِهاtheir slumber
أَهَبتُ بَناتِ الصَدرِ بَعدَ رُقادِها
فَأَصبَحنَso they became قَدalready وافَينَhad arrived غَيرَnot رُقودِsleeping
فَأَصبَحنَ قَد وافَينَ غَيرَ رُقودِ
I roused the daughters of the breast after their slumber,
As though a sorcerer's tongue speaks with her tongue,
and now they had arrived, no longer sleeping.
Bewitching eyes with a voice like steel.
ثَقيلَةُfull-fleshed ماwhat lies بَينَbetween البُرينَthe anklets إِلىup to الحَشاthe waist
ثَقيلَةُ ما بَينَ البُرينَ إِلى الحَشا
لَهاshe has عَينُthe eye of أَدمانٍtawny gazelles وَلَونُand the hue of فَريدِa rare pearl
لَها عَينُ أَدمانٍ وَلَونُ فَريدِ
Full-fleshed from her anklets up to her waist,
As though gardens were scattered in her speech
she has a tawny gazelle's eye and a rare pearl's hue.
Though some of the nomads are uncouth.
تَروحُshe goes about بِمِثلِwith the likeness of الأَيمِa serpent فَوقَabove نِطاقِهاher girdle
تَروحُ بِمِثلِ الأَيمِ فَوقَ نِطاقِها
وَياand oh لَكَfor you مِنwhat a وَجهٍface هُناكَthere وَجيدِand neck
وَيا لَكَ مِن وَجهٍ هُناكَ وَجيدِ
She goes about with a serpent's likeness above her girdle—
She repeatedly kills and revives our minds and hearts
oh, what a face and neck are there!
After they despair.
مِنَamong البيضِthe fair-skinned women لَمnot تَسرَحshe pastured عَلىamong أهلthe people of غُنَّةٍGhunna
مِنَ البيضِ لَم تَسرَح عَلى أهل غُنَّةٍ
وَقيراًa flock وَلَمand not تَرفَعshe lifted حِداجَthe saddle-gear of قَعودِa young camel
وَقيراً وَلَم تَرفَع حِداجَ قَعودِ
One of the fair women, who never pastured among Ghunna's folk
When she speaks our swords ring out, and for us the echo
a flock, nor lifted a young camel's saddle-gear.
Shouts like armies attacking armies.
كَأَنَّas though لِساناًa tongue ساحِراًspellbinding فيwithin لِسانِهاher tongue
كَأَنَّ لِساناً ساحِراً في لِسانِها
أُعينَwas aided بِصَوتٍby a voice كَالفِرَندِlike watered steel حَديدِsharp
أُعينَ بِصَوتٍ كَالفِرَندِ حَديدِ
As though a spellbinding tongue within her tongue
We spent that whole day in her shade, as though
were aided by a voice keen as watered steel.
We dwelled in paradise, everlasting.
كَأَنَّas though رِياضاًgardens فُرِّقَتwere scattered فيin حَديثِهاher speech
كَأَنَّ رِياضاً فُرِّقَت في حَديثِها
عَلىdespite أَنَّthe fact that بَدواًa beginning بَعضُهُsome of it كَبُرودِlike striped cloaks
عَلى أَنَّ بَدواً بَعضُهُ كَبُرودِ
As though gardens were scattered through her speech,
No harm done, though we were exposed among her family,
though part of its opening is like striped cloaks.
For our minds were not composed.
تُميتُshe slays بِهاwith them أَلبابَناour minds وَقُلوبَناand our hearts
تُميتُ بِها أَلبابَنا وَقُلوبَنا
مِراراًrepeatedly وَتُحييهِنَّand revives them بَعدَafter هُمودِstillness
مِراراً وَتُحييهِنَّ بَعدَ هُمودِ
With them she slays our minds and hearts,
When the night grew dark we returned cheered
time and again, and revives them after they fall still.
By living with them in friendship.
إِذاwhen نَطَقَتshe spoke صِحناwe cried out وَصاحَand cried out لَناback to us الصَدىthe echo
إِذا نَطَقَت صِحنا وَصاحَ لَنا الصَدى
صِياحَthe cries of جُنودٍarmies وُجِّهَتsent لِجُنودِagainst armies
صِياحَ جُنودٍ وُجِّهَت لِجُنودِ
Whenever she spoke, we cried out, and the echo cried back to us,
Though the enemy unsettle our abode
with the cries of armies sent against armies.
We are no less playful than the youth at rest.
ظَلِلناwe remained بِذاكَat that الدَيدَنِhabitual practice اليَومَthe day كُلَّهُall of it
ظَلِلنا بِذاكَ الدَيدَنِ اليَومَ كُلَّهُ
كَأَنّاas though we مِنَof الفِردَوسِParadise تَحتَbeneath خُلودِeternity
كَأَنّا مِنَ الفِردَوسِ تَحتَ خُلودِ
We kept up that practice the whole day,
as though we were in Paradise, beneath eternity.
وَلاand no بَأسَharm إِلّاexcept أَنَّناthat we عِندَamong أَهلِهاher people
وَلا بَأسَ إِلّا أَنَّنا عِندَ أَهلِها
شُهودٌpresent وَماand not أَلبابُناour minds بِشُهودِpresent
شُهودٌ وَما أَلبابُنا بِشُهودِ
There was no harm, except that among her people
we were present, but our minds were not.
فَلَمّاso when رَأَيناwe saw اللَيلَthe night شَبَّflared up ظَلامُهُits darkness
فَلَمّا رَأَينا اللَيلَ شَبَّ ظَلامُهُ
وَشُبَّand was kindled بِمِصباحٍwith a lamp لِغَيرِfor no سُعودِgood fortune
وَشُبَّ بِمِصباحٍ لِغَيرِ سُعودِ
So when we saw the night, its darkness flaring up,
and it was lit by a lamp, with no good fortune,
رَجَعناwe returned وَفيناand within us شيمَةٌa disposition أَريَحِيَّةٌjoyfully generous
رَجَعنا وَفينا شيمَةٌ أَريَحِيَّةٌ
مِنَfrom العَيشِlife فيin وُدٍّaffection لَهُنَّfor them وُجودِand generosity
مِنَ العَيشِ في وُدٍّ لَهُنَّ وُجودِ
we returned with a joyous, generous disposition,
born of a life of affection for them and openhandedness.
فَلَسناso we are not وَإِنand even if هَزَّshook العَدُوُّthe enemy سَوادَناour ranks
فَلَسنا وَإِن هَزَّ العَدُوُّ سَوادَنا
عَنِfrom اللَهوِpleasure ماas long as عَنَّarises الصِباyouth بِقُعودِones who sit back
عَنِ اللَهوِ ما عَنَّ الصِبا بِقُعودِ
So, even if the enemy shakes our ranks, we will not
sit back from pleasure while youth beckons.
Partial English translation: 56 of 66 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1