1. I remember the era of passion
And the days of union in ardour
١. وَتَذَكَّرت عَهدَ الهَوى
وَزَمان وَصل في الحِمى
2. But when she saw
My fervour and love had grown
٢. لَكنَّها لَمّا رَأَت
شَغفي وَوَجدي قَد نَما
3. She hinted to me
"I fear blame"
٣. أَومَت إِليّ مشيرةً
إِنّي أَخاف اللوَّما
4. So when night spreads
Its curtains and covers all
٤. فَإِذا الدُجا اِنسَدَلَت سَتا
ئِرُهُ وَجَنَّ وَأَظلَما
5. Seize the chance
For a fruitful union
٥. بادر إِلى نَيل المُنى
وَصلاً حَلا لَكَ مَغنَما
6. Until when the guard sleeps
And my rival slumbers in ignorance
٦. حَتّى إِذا غَفل الرَقي
ب وَبات ضدّي في عَمى
7. She visits me, she who was the most vivacious of the living, a soaring bird
She approaches as love toyed with our minds and took control
٧. زارَت وَقَد كانَت وشا
ة الحَيّ طُرّاً نُوّما
8. I drew her close until when
Our lips met in a smile
٨. وَدَنَت وَقَد لَعب الهَوى
بِعُقولنا وَتَحَكَّما
9. I encircled her waist as she
Had clasped my wrist
٩. فَضَمَمتها حَتّى إِذا
ما أَلثمتنيَ مبسما
10. Swaying, of gentle nature
A branch of the tamarisk bending
١٠. طَوّقتها زندي كَما
قَد منطقتني مِعصَما
11. Not a branch, nor a gazelle at pasture
Nor the full moon on the horizon
١١. هَيفاء مِن أَعطافِها
غُصن الأَراك تَعلَّما
12. When she moaned, and the bright star
Pelted its arrows
١٢. ما الغُصن ما ريم الفَلا
ما البَدر في أُفق السَما
13. Harut fell for heavenly beauty
And surrendered to destiny
١٣. لَمّا رنت وَالمُقلة الن
نجلاء تَرشق أَسهما
14. When he heard the story of passion
From the torment of those days
١٤. هاروت آمن بِالعُيو
نِ وَلِلحَواجب أَسلَما
15. My tears narrated the tale of bliss
About the water of the sky
١٥. لَمّا رَوى خَبرَ العَقي
ق عذيب ذيّاك اللمى
16. Oh friend, if time was kind to you
And blessed you with her
١٦. دَمعي أَتى بِرواية الن
نعمان عَن ماءِ السَما
17. Cast off your excuses and seize
The opportunities of intimacy and gain
١٧. يا صاح إِن سَمح الزَما
ن بِها عَلَيك وَأَنعما
18. And if the memory of a friend calls on you
To reminisce and yearn
١٨. فَاِخلَع عِذارك وَاِبتَدر
فرص الخَلاعة وَاِغنَما
19. Recite the praise of Ahmed
And seek his protection, intent upon him
١٩. وَإِذا دَعاك إِلى الثَنا
ذكر الصَديق وَهيَّما
20. Extol his virtues gently
King of hearts, and covet
٢٠. فَاِنشُر مَدائح أَحمَد
وَاِقصد حِماه ميمّما
21. When he ascended to the highest rank
He took righteousness as his ladder
٢١. شَهم بِلُطف خِصاله
ملك القُلوب وَتيّما
22. So I examined his opinions
With the stars of knowledge as guides
٢٢. لَمّا اِرتَقى رتب العُلى
تَخذ المَكارم سُلّما
23. In prose, his fortune is abundant
Wisdom he elucidated and perfected
٢٣. فَاِستطلعت أراؤُهُ
بسما المَعارف أَنجُما
24. And by his ascendance he made subsistence flow
As if it would speak
٢٤. بِالخطّ وافرُ حَظّه
حكماً أَبانَ فَأَحكَما
25. He disliked inequality
So turn away from it
٢٥. وَبطرسهِ أَجرى اليَرا
ع فَكاد أَن يَتَكَلَّما
26. And if his era is delayed
He preceded the generous
٢٦. بكر الزَمان وَإِنَّما
كَره السِوى فاِستَعقما
27. And by the evident praise, from which
My tongue translated
٢٧. فَلَئن تَأَخّر عَصره
فَعَلى الكِرام تَقَدّما
28. My fortunes were happy to belong
To the praise of the best association
٢٨. وَبِباهر الحَمد الَّذي
عَنهُ لِساني تَرجَما
29. The star of his fortune continues
To shine over the moon in the sky
٢٩. سَعدت حُظوظي فَاِنتَمى
مَدحي لِأَحسَن مُنتمى
30. Neither the fragrance of beautiful love
Nor the breeze of intimacy has breathed
٣٠. لا زالَ كَوكَب سَعده
يَزهو عَلى قَمَر السَما
31. Nor the joking of love for the charming one
Who captures hearts and sings to them
٣١. ما فاحَ عرف شَذا الهَنا
وَنَسيم أنسي نَسَّما
٣٢. أَو ما هزار هَوى المَها
برُبى القُلوب تَرنَّما