غَيَّبَdisappeared جيرانُهُhis neighbors بِذيat Dhu حَمَدِHamad
غَيَّبَ جيرانُهُ بِذي حَمَدِ
عَنfrom لَيلِthe night of مَنone who لَمdid not يَنَمsleep وَلَمand did not يَكَدِcome close
عَن لَيلِ مَن لَم يَنَم وَلَم يَكَدِ
His neighbors disappeared at Dhu Hamad,
from the night of one who neither slept nor nearly did.
خَلّواthey left عَلَيَّupon me الهُيامَlove-madness إِذwhen رَكِبواthey mounted
خَلّوا عَلَيَّ الهُيامَ إِذ رَكِبوا
أَكبِرhow great! بِماwhat أَفرَدواthey allotted لِمُنفَرِدِfor one alone
أَكبِر بِما أَفرَدوا لِمُنفَرِدِ
They left love-madness upon me when they mounted.
How great what they left to one alone!
يَبكيhe weeps عَلىover وَسنَةٍa slumber تَزَوَّدَهاtook it as provision
يَبكي عَلى وَسنَةٍ تَزَوَّدَها
جيرانُهُhis neighbors بَلrather بَكىhe wept مِنَfrom السَهَدِsleeplessness
جيرانُهُ بَل بَكى مِنَ السَهَدِ
He weeps for a slumber taken as provision
by his neighbors—rather, he wept from sleeplessness.
كوناbe, you two كَمَنlike one who قالَsaid لاnot نُعاتِبُهُwe reproach him
كونا كَمَن قالَ لا نُعاتِبُهُ
كُلُّevery اِمرِئٍperson مُنتَهٍcoming to an end إِلىat أَمَدِan appointed term
كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ مُنتَهٍ إِلى أَمَدِ
Be, you two, like him who said: we do not reproach him;
everyone comes to an appointed end.
خَليفَةُdeputy الحُزنِof sorrow فيamid مَدامِعِهِhis tears
خَليفَةُ الحُزنِ في مَدامِعِهِ
يُمسيhe spends the evening بِهاwith them نائِياًfar away عَنِfrom الوُسُدِpillows
يُمسي بِها نائِياً عَنِ الوُسُدِ
Sorrow's deputy, amid his tears,
he passes the evening with them, far from pillows.
ياO لَيتَif only شِعريmy knowing وَالقَصدُand moderation مِنamong خُلُقيmy traits
يا لَيتَ شِعري وَالقَصدُ مِن خُلُقي
وَالناسُand people مِنinclude جائِرٍone who is unjust وَمُقتَصِدِand one who is moderate
وَالناسُ مِن جائِرٍ وَمُقتَصِدِ
If only I knew! Moderation is my nature,
and people are either unjust or moderate.
ماnot زادَنيincreased me ذاthis الجَوىheartache بِذِكرِهِمُthrough remembering them
ما زادَني ذا الجَوى بِذِكرِهِمُ
إِلّاexcept هُجوعاًslumber وَالهَمُّwhile care كَالوَتِدِlike a stake
إِلّا هُجوعاً وَالهَمُّ كَالوَتِدِ
This heartache, at their memory, brought me nothing
but slumber, while care was like a stake.
ماnot زالَceased ضَيفاًa guest لَهُwith him يُواكِلُهُeats with him
ما زالَ ضَيفاً لَهُ يُواكِلُهُ
يَمُدُّprolongs غَمّاًgrief بِرَعيَةِwith the flock of الأَسَدِthe lion
يَمُدُّ غَمّاً بِرَعيَةِ الأَسَدِ
It remained his guest, sharing his food,
prolonging grief with the lion's flock.
إِنَّindeed الَّذيthe one whom غادَرَتleft behind حُمولُهُمُtheir laden camels
إِنَّ الَّذي غادَرَت حُمولُهُمُ
صَبٌّlove-stricken وَإِنeven though كانَhe was مُظهِرَshowing الجَلَدِfortitude
صَبٌّ وَإِن كانَ مُظهِرَ الجَلَدِ
The man their laden camels left behind
is love-stricken, though he displays fortitude.
لاnot يَشتَهيhe desires اللَيلَthe night مِنbecause of تَقَلُّبِهِhis tossing
لا يَشتَهي اللَيلَ مِن تَقَلُّبِهِ
ظَهراًback لِبَطنٍto belly تَقَلُّبَthe turning of الصُرَدِa shrike
ظَهراً لِبَطنٍ تَقَلُّبَ الصُرَدِ
He has no wish for night, so much he tosses
from back to belly, turning like a shrike.
كَأَنَّماas though يَتَّقيhe guards against بِلَيلَتِهِthrough his night
كَأَنَّما يَتَّقي بِلَيلَتِهِ
جَهمَgrim المُحَيّاof face يَبيتُhe spends the night بِالرَصَدِin ambush
جَهمَ المُحَيّا يَبيتُ بِالرَصَدِ
As though throughout his night he guarded against
a grim-faced man who lies in wait all night.
لَمnot يَدرِhe knew حَتّىuntil رَمَواthey sent onward مَطِيَّهُمُtheir mounts
لَم يَدرِ حَتّى رَمَوا مَطِيَّهُمُ
ثُمَّthen اِستَمَرّواthey went on بِجَنَّةِwith the Garden of الخُلُدِeternity
ثُمَّ اِستَمَرّوا بِجَنَّةِ الخُلُدِ
He knew nothing until they sent their mounts onward,
then went on with the Garden of Eternity.
يَقولُsays ليto me صاحِبيmy companion وَقَدwhile already بَقِيَتremained
يَقولُ لي صاحِبي وَقَد بَقِيَت
نَفسيmy soul عَلىin سَغبَةٍمِنَhunger for العُقَدِbonds
نَفسي عَلى سَغبَةٍمِنَ العُقَدِ
My companion says to me, while
my soul still hungers for bonds:
ياO أَيُّهاyou المُكتَويthe one burning عَلىover ظُعُنٍdeparting caravans
يا أَيُّها المُكتَوي عَلى ظُعُنٍ
باتواthey spent the night وَماand did not سَلَّمواoffer greetings عَلىto أَحَدِanyone
باتوا وَما سَلَّموا عَلى أَحَدِ
O you burning for the departing caravans,
they spent the night without greeting anyone.
هاتيكَthat yonder دارُthe dwelling of الَّتيher whom تَهِمُّyou yearn بِهاfor her
هاتيكَ دارُ الَّتي تَهِمُّ بِها
كَالبُردِlike a striped cloak بَينَbetween الكَثيبِthe sand dune فَالسَنَدِand the slope
كَالبُردِ بَينَ الكَثيبِ فَالسَنَدِ
Yonder is the dwelling of her you long for,
like a striped cloak between the dune and the slope.
كانَتit was مَحَلَّthe encampment of الخَليطِthe companion band فَاِنقَلَبَتthen it became
كانَت مَحَلَّ الخَليطِ فَاِنقَلَبَت
وَحشاًdesolate مِنَempty of المُنشِدينَpoetry reciters وَالخُرُدِand shy maidens
وَحشاً مِنَ المُنشِدينَ وَالخُرُدِ
It was the companion band's encampment, but became
desolate, empty of singers and shy maidens.
فَاِنظُرso look إِذاwhen اِشتَقتَyou long فيinto مَنازِلِهاher dwellings
فَاِنظُر إِذا اِشتَقتَ في مَنازِلِها
أَوor زُرvisit حَبيباًa beloved دَعاكَwho called you مِنfrom بُعُدِafar
أَو زُر حَبيباً دَعاكَ مِن بُعُدِ
So, when you long for her, look into her dwellings,
or visit a beloved who called you from afar.
وَاللَهُby God يَلقىone meets كَمَنthe like of one whom كَلِفتُI became infatuated بِهِwith him
وَاللَهُ يَلقى كَمَن كَلِفتُ بِهِ
مِنfrom آلِthe clan of بَكرٍBakr أَظَنَّI think بِالنَكَدِwith hardship
مِن آلِ بَكرٍ أَظَنَّ بِالنَكَدِ
By God, one meets the like of the one I loved
from Bakr's clan, I think, through hardship.
أَبقىhe left لَكَfor you البَينَseparation فيin مَلاعِبِهِhis haunts
أَبقى لَكَ البَينَ في مَلاعِبِهِ
فَاِنصاعَthen he yielded لِلبَينِto separation آخِرَthe end of الأَبَدِeternity
فَاِنصاعَ لِلبَينِ آخِرَ الأَبَدِ
He left separation for you in his haunts,
then yielded to parting till eternity's farthest end.
يَعتادُrepeatedly visits عَينَيكَyour eyes مِنfrom تَذَكُّرِهاremembering her
يَعتادُ عَينَيكَ مِن تَذَكُّرِها
رِمصانُrheumy discharge مِثلُlike العَوائِدِfemale visitors الخُرُدِshy maidens
رِمصانُ مِثلُ العَوائِدِ الخُرُدِ
At the memory of her, your eyes are visited
by rheum, like shy maidens paying calls.
ماذاwhy بِإِرسالِهاby sending her تُعاتِبُنيyou reproach me
ماذا بِإِرسالِها تُعاتِبُني
فيabout زائِرٍa visitor زارَنيwho visited me وَلَمand did not يَعُدِreturn
في زائِرٍ زارَني وَلَم يَعُدِ
Why, by sending her, do you reproach me
over a visitor who visited me and never returned?
قالَتshe said لِحَوراءَto a dark-eyed girl مِنamong مَناصِفِهاher handmaids
قالَت لِحَوراءَ مِن مَناصِفِها
كَالريمِlike a white gazelle لَمnot تَكتَحِلshe applied kohl مِنَfor الرَمَدِsore eyes
كَالريمِ لَم تَكتَحِل مِنَ الرَمَدِ
She said to a dark-eyed girl among her handmaids,
gazelle-like, who had not used kohl for sore eyes:
روحيgo إِلىto مُشرِكٍone who joins بِخُلَّتِناto our love
روحي إِلى مُشرِكٍ بِخُلَّتِنا
خُلَّةَa love أُخرىanother وَقَدalthough يَرىhe sees كَمَديmy grief
خُلَّةَ أُخرى وَقَد يَرى كَمَدي
Go to the man who joins to our love
another love, though he sees my grief.
قوليsay تَقولُsays الَّتيthe woman whom أَسَأَتyou did wrong لَهاto her
قولي تَقولُ الَّتي أَسَأَت لَها
إِنif لَمnot أَنَلهُI win him ماnot شيمَتيmy nature بِرَدِbase at all
إِن لَم أَنَلهُ ما شيمَتي بِرَدِ
Say: the woman you wronged declares—
If I cannot win him, my nature is not base.
قَصَرتُI confined طَرفيmy gaze إِلَيكَto you قانِعَةًcontent
قَصَرتُ طَرفي إِلَيكَ قانِعَةً
وَأَنتَwhile you ذوpossessing طُرَّتَينِtwo sides فيat وَرَدِa watering-place
وَأَنتَ ذو طُرَّتَينِ في وَرَدِ
I confined my gaze to you, content,
while you have two sides at the watering-place.
فَاِذهَبso go سَيَكفيكَwill suffice you ماwhat بَرِمتَyou grew weary بِهِof it
فَاِذهَب سَيَكفيكَ ما بَرِمتَ بِهِ
مِنّاof us وَتُخلىand will be freed حِباكَyour bonds لِلوُرُدِfor those coming to water
مِنّا وَتُخلى حِباكَ لِلوُرُدِ
So go: you shall have enough of what wearied you
in us; your bonds shall be freed for those coming to water.
فَقُلتُso I said لاdo not تُسرِعيhasten بِمَعتَبَةٍto reproach
فَقُلتُ لا تُسرِعي بِمَعتَبَةٍ
فيover غَيرِno ذَنبٍoffense جَنَيتُهُI committed it بِيَديwith my own hand
في غَيرِ ذَنبٍ جَنَيتُهُ بِيَدي
I said: do not hasten to reproach me
for an offense I never committed with my own hand.
لاmay not كُنتُI exist إِنif لَمnot أَكُنI am أُحِبُّكُمُI love you all
لا كُنتُ إِن لَم أَكُن أُحِبُّكُمُ
جُهديto my utmost فَماand what بَعدَbeyond حُبِّthe love of مُجتَهِدِone striving his utmost
جُهدي فَما بَعدَ حُبِّ مُجتَهِدِ
May I cease to be if I do not love you
with all my strength—what lies beyond a lover's utmost effort?
أَيُّwhat حَديثٍtale دَبَّcrept الوُشاةُthe slanderers بِهِwith it
أَيُّ حَديثٍ دَبَّ الوُشاةُ بِهِ
أَبصَرتِyou saw غَيّيmy error فَأَبصِريso see رَشَديmy right conduct
أَبصَرتِ غَيّي فَأَبصِري رَشَدي
What tale have the slanderers stealthily spread?
You saw my error; now see my right conduct.
ماnot كانَit was إِلّاexcept حَديثَthe story of جارِيَةٍa girl
ما كانَ إِلّا حَديثَ جارِيَةٍ
لَمnot تَلقَshe met روحيmy soul وَوافَقَتand encountered جَسَديmy body
لَم تَلقَ روحي وَوافَقَت جَسَدي
It was only the story of a girl
who never met my soul, but encountered my body.
ياah وَيحَهاalas for her طِفلَةًa young girl خَلَوتُI was alone بِهاwith her
يا وَيحَها طِفلَةً خَلَوتُ بِها
لَيسَis not دُنُوّيmy nearness فيهاto her مِنَamong العُدَدِthings counted
لَيسَ دُنُوّي فيها مِنَ العُدَدِ
Ah, poor young girl, with whom I was alone!
My closeness to her does not count.
فَأَعهِديناso keep faith with us مِنَagainst الظُنونِsuspicions عَلىfounded on
فَأَعهِدينا مِنَ الظُنونِ عَلى
تَبليغِthe report of واشٍa slanderer وَقَولِand the word of ذيone possessed of حَسَدِenvy
تَبليغِ واشٍ وَقَولِ ذي حَسَدِ
So keep faith with us against suspicions founded on
a slanderer's report and an envious man's words.
قَدindeed تُبتُI have repented مِمّاof what كَرِهتُI loathed فَاِحتَسِبيso seek reward
قَد تُبتُ مِمّا كَرِهتُ فَاِحتَسِبي
غُفرانَfor forgiving ماwhat قَدalready جَنَيتُI have committed مُعتَمَديmy mainstay
غُفرانَ ما قَد جَنَيتُ مُعتَمَدي
I have repented of what I loathed; seek reward
in forgiving what I have done, my mainstay.
كانَتshe was عَلىdespite ذاكَthat مِنwithin مَوَدَّتِناour affection
كانَت عَلى ذاكَ مِن مَوَدَّتِنا
إِذwhen نَحنُwe مِنamong غائِبٍone absent وَمُصطَرِدِand one in flight
إِذ نَحنُ مِن غائِبٍ وَمُصطَرِدِ
For all that, she still had our affection,
while we were either absent or in flight.
نَطويwe folded away لِذاكَfor that الزَمانِtime نَصرِفُهُwe spent it
نَطوي لِذاكَ الزَمانِ نَصرِفُهُ
طيباًpleasantly وَنَشفيand we quenched بِهِwith it صَدىthe thirst of الكَمَدِgrief
طيباً وَنَشفي بِهِ صَدى الكَمَدِ
We folded that time away, spending it
pleasantly, quenching with it the thirst of grief,
حَتّىuntil اِنطَوىwas folded away العَيشُlife عَنfrom مَريرَتِهِits twisted cord
حَتّى اِنطَوى العَيشُ عَن مَريرَتِهِ
فيat صَوتِthe voice of جارٍa neighbor حَداurged onward by song بِناus غَرِدِtuneful
في صَوتِ جارٍ حَدا بِنا غَرِدِ
until life's twisted cord was folded away
at the voice of a tuneful neighbor who sang us onward.
فَاِعذُرso pardon مُحِبّاًa lover بِفَقدِfor losing جيرَتِهِhis neighbors
فَاِعذُر مُحِبّاً بِفَقدِ جيرَتِهِ
مَتىwhenever يَبِنdeparts مَنthe one whom هَويتُI loved يَفتَقِدِhe feels the loss
مَتى يَبِن مَن هَويتُ يَفتَقِدِ
So pardon a lover for the loss of his neighbors:
when the one I love departs, the lover feels the loss.
Sol 6.1