صَبراً عَلى هَجرِها إِن كانَ يُرضيها

صَبراً عَلى هَجرِها إِن كانَ يُرضيها

غَيرُ المَليحَةِ مَملولٌ تَجَنّيها

غَيرُ المَليحَةِ مَملولٌ تَجَنّيها

Patience with her desertion, if it pleases her.

Patience with her abandonment, if it brings her pleasure,

The unjust reproaches of any but a beauty are wearisome.

For cruelty from any but the beautiful is merely tedious.

فَالوَصلُ أَجمَلُهُ ما كانَ بَعدَ نَوىً

فَالوَصلُ أَجمَلُهُ ما كانَ بَعدَ نَوىً

وَالشَمسُ بَعدَ الدُجى أَشهى لِرائيها

وَالشَمسُ بَعدَ الدُجى أَشهى لِرائيها

For reunion is loveliest when it follows separation,

The loveliest reunion is that which follows separation,

and the sun after darkness is sweeter to its beholder.

Just as the sun, after darkness, is sweeter to the beholder.

أَسلَمتُ لِلسُهدِ طَرفي وَالضَنى بَدَني

أَسلَمتُ لِلسُهدِ طَرفي وَالضَنى بَدَني

إِنَّ الصَبابَةَ لا يُرجى تَلافيها

إِنَّ الصَبابَةَ لا يُرجى تَلافيها

I surrendered my eyes to sleeplessness and my body to wasting illness.

I have surrendered my eyes to sleeplessness and my body to wasting away;

Indeed, no cure can be hoped for ardent longing.

For the ailment of ardent love allows no hope of remedy.

إِنَّ النِساءَ إِذا أَمرَضنَ نَفسَ فَتىً

إِنَّ النِساءَ إِذا أَمرَضنَ نَفسَ فَتىً

فَلَيسَ غَيرُ تَدانيهِنَّ يَشفَيها

فَلَيسَ غَيرُ تَدانيهِنَّ يَشفَيها

When women sicken a young man's soul,

Truly, when women afflict a young man's soul with sickness,

nothing but their nearness can heal it.

Nothing but their drawing near can heal it.

فَاِحذَر مِنَ الحُبِّ إِنَّ الريحَ ما خَفِيَت

فَاِحذَر مِنَ الحُبِّ إِنَّ الريحَ ما خَفِيَت

لَولا غَرامٌ عَظيمٌ مُختَفٍ فيها

لَولا غَرامٌ عَظيمٌ مُختَفٍ فيها

So beware of love: the wind would not be hidden

So beware of love, for the wind would remain unseen,

but for a great passion hidden within it.

Were it not for a mighty passion hidden within it.

يَمضي الصَفاءُ وَيَبقى بَعدَهُ أَثَرٌ

يَمضي الصَفاءُ وَيَبقى بَعدَهُ أَثَرٌ

في النَفسِ يُؤلِمُها طَوراً وَيُشجيها

في النَفسِ يُؤلِمُها طَوراً وَيُشجيها

Serenity passes, and a trace remains after it

The time of purity passes, leaving behind a trace

within the soul, at times hurting it and grieving it.

That lingers in the soul, by turns wounding and saddening it.

مَرَّت لَيالٍ بِنا ما كانَ أَجمَلُها

مَرَّت لَيالٍ بِنا ما كانَ أَجمَلُها

تَمَّت فَما شانَها إِلّا تَلاشيها

تَمَّت فَما شانَها إِلّا تَلاشيها

Nights passed over us—how beautiful they were!

Nights passed us by—how beautiful they were!

They were perfect; nothing marred them but their vanishing.

They were perfect; nothing marred them but their fleeting end.

تِلكَ اللَيالي لا أَرجو تَذَكُّرُها

تِلكَ اللَيالي لا أَرجو تَذَكُّرُها

خَوفَ العَناءِ وَلا أَخشى تَناسيها

خَوفَ العَناءِ وَلا أَخشى تَناسيها

Those nights—I do not wish to recall them,

Those nights—I do not wish to recall them,

for fear of anguish, nor do I fear putting them out of mind.

For fear of the pain, though I do not fear forgetting them.

أَصبو إِلَيها كُلَّما ذُكِرَت

أَصبو إِلَيها كُلَّما ذُكِرَت

عِندي اِشتِياقاً إِلى مِصرَ وَأَهليها

عِندي اِشتِياقاً إِلى مِصرَ وَأَهليها

I yearn for them whenever they are mentioned

I yearn for it whenever mention is made,

in my presence, longing for Egypt and her people.

Stirring within me a longing for Egypt and her people.

أَرضُن سَماءٌ سِواها دونَها شَرَفاً

أَرضُن سَماءٌ سِواها دونَها شَرَفاً

فَلا سَماءٌ وَلا أَرضٌ تُحاكيها

فَلا سَماءٌ وَلا أَرضٌ تُحاكيها

A land—any heaven besides her is beneath her in glory;

A land whose honor rises above any other sky;

neither heaven nor earth can rival her.

Neither heaven nor earth can compare to her.

رَقَّت حَواشيها وَاِخضَرَّ جانِبُها

رَقَّت حَواشيها وَاِخضَرَّ جانِبُها

وَأَجمَلُ الأَرضِ ما رَقَّت حَواشيها

وَأَجمَلُ الأَرضِ ما رَقَّت حَواشيها

Her fringes have softened, her flank has grown green,

Her borders are gentle, her banks are verdant,

and the loveliest land is that whose fringes are soft.

And the loveliest lands are those with gentle borders.

كَأَنّ أَهرامُها الأَطوادُ باذِخَةً

كَأَنّ أَهرامُها الأَطوادُ باذِخَةً

هَذي إِلى جَنبِها الأُخرى تُساميها

هَذي إِلى جَنبِها الأُخرى تُساميها

Her pyramids seem like towering mountains,

As though her pyramids were towering mountains,

this one with another beside it, vying with it in height.

Standing side by side, vying for glory.

وَنَيلَها العَذبُ ما أَحلى مَناظِرَهُ

وَنَيلَها العَذبُ ما أَحلى مَناظِرَهُ

وَالشَمسُ تَكسوهُ تِبراً في تَواريها

وَالشَمسُ تَكسوهُ تِبراً في تَواريها

And her sweet Nile—how lovely its vistas,

And her sweet Nile—how beautiful are its vistas,

as the sun clothes it in gold while setting.

When the setting sun clothes it in molten gold.

كَأَنَّها كَعبَةٌ حَجَّ الأَنامُ لَها

كَأَنَّها كَعبَةٌ حَجَّ الأَنامُ لَها

لَولا اِلتَقى قُلتُ فيها جُلَّ بانيها

لَولا اِلتَقى قُلتُ فيها جُلَّ بانيها

She seems a Kaaba to which humankind has made pilgrimage;

It is as if she were a Kaaba to which all mankind makes pilgrimage;

but for piety, I would say of her: 'Exalted be her builder!'

Were it not for piety, I would say: Exalted is her Creator within her.

وَما أُحَيلى الجَواري الماخِراتِ بِهِ

وَما أُحَيلى الجَواري الماخِراتِ بِهِ

تَقُلُّ مِن أَرضِهِ أَحلى جَوارِبُها

تَقُلُّ مِن أَرضِهِ أَحلى جَوارِبُها

And how charming the ships that cleave its waters,

And how delightful are the ships that cleave its waters,

carrying from its land her loveliest maidens [text: 'her stockings'],

Carrying from its land the sweetest of its maidens.

مِن كُلِّ رَعبوبَةٍ عَبلِ رَوادِفُها

مِن كُلِّ رَعبوبَةٍ عَبلِ رَوادِفُها

تَأبى القُعودَ فَتَأبى أَن تُجاريها

تَأبى القُعودَ فَتَأبى أَن تُجاريها

each a tender maiden with ample hips,

Each a tender beauty with curvaceous form,

who refuses to sit, so you refuse to keep pace with her.

Who refuses to sit still, yet refuses to let you catch her.

ضَحوكَةِ الوَجهِ يُغرينا تَبَسُّمُها

ضَحوكَةِ الوَجهِ يُغرينا تَبَسُّمُها

إِن نَجتَديها وَيَثنينا تَثَنّيها

إِن نَجتَديها وَيَثنينا تَثَنّيها

Ever-smiling of face, her smile entices us

With a laughing face whose smile seduces us

when we seek her favors, while her swaying checks us.

When we seek her favor, while her swaying gait enthralls us.

وَناهِدٍ حَجَبَت عَن كُلِّ ذي بَصَرٍ

وَناهِدٍ حَجَبَت عَن كُلِّ ذي بَصَرٍ

حَشاشَتي خِدرُها وَالقَلبُ ناديها

حَشاشَتي خِدرُها وَالقَلبُ ناديها

And a full-breasted maiden, concealed from every seeing eye:

And a buxom maiden who has veiled herself from every eye;

my life's essence is her secluded chamber, my heart her gathering place.

My very soul is her chamber, and my heart her gathering place.

في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ مِنّي لَها أَثَرٌ

في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ مِنّي لَها أَثَرٌ

وَالدارُ صاحِبُها أَدرى بِما فيها

وَالدارُ صاحِبُها أَدرى بِما فيها

In every limb of mine she has left a trace,

Upon every part of me she has left a mark;

and a house's owner knows best what lies within it.

And the master of the house knows best what lies within.

وَفي الكَواكِبِ جُزءٌ مِن مَحاسِنِها

وَفي الكَواكِبِ جُزءٌ مِن مَحاسِنِها

وَفي الجَآذِرِ جُزءٌ مِن مَعانيها

وَفي الجَآذِرِ جُزءٌ مِن مَعانيها

In the stars there is a portion of her beauty,

In the stars there is a portion of her beauty,

and in the oryx calves, a portion of her charms.

And in the wild gazelles, a share of her grace.

إِن عَنَّفوني فَإِنّي لا أُعَنِّفُها

إِن عَنَّفوني فَإِنّي لا أُعَنِّفُها

وَإِن أُسَمِّ فَإِنّي لا أُسَمّيها

وَإِن أُسَمِّ فَإِنّي لا أُسَمّيها

If they rebuke me, I do not rebuke her;

If they rebuke me, I shall not rebuke her;

and if I name names, I do not name her.

And if I name others, I shall not name her.

يَمَّمتُها وَنُجومُ الأُفقِ تَلحَظُني

يَمَّمتُها وَنُجومُ الأُفقِ تَلحَظُني

في السَيرِ شَذَراً كَأَنّي مِن أَعاديها

في السَيرِ شَذَراً كَأَنّي مِن أَعاديها

I made for her, while the stars of the horizon eyed me

I set out toward her while the stars of the horizon watched me,

askance on my journey, as though I were one of their foes.

Glaring askance as I walked, as if I were their enemy.

كادَت تَسّاقَطُ غَيظاً عِندَما عَلِمَت

كادَت تَسّاقَطُ غَيظاً عِندَما عَلِمَت

أَنّي أَأُمُّ الَّتي بِالنَفسِ أَفديها

أَنّي أَأُمُّ الَّتي بِالنَفسِ أَفديها

They nearly fell in anger when they learned

They nearly fell from the sky in rage when they learned

that I was seeking her whom I would ransom with my life.

That I was seeking the one for whom I would ransom my soul.

أَسري إِلَيها وَجُنحُ اللَيلِ مُضطَرِبٌ

أَسري إِلَيها وَجُنحُ اللَيلِ مُضطَرِبٌ

كَأَنَّهُ مُشفِقٌ أَن لا أُلاقيها

كَأَنَّهُ مُشفِقٌ أَن لا أُلاقيها

I travel to her by night, while the wing of night quivers,

I journeyed to her while the wing of night trembled,

as though anxious that I might not meet her.

As if it feared, out of pity, that I might not reach her.

وَالشَوقُ يَدفَعُني وَالخَوفُ يَدفَعُني

وَالشَوقُ يَدفَعُني وَالخَوفُ يَدفَعُني

هَذا إِلَيها وَهَذا عَن مَغانيها

هَذا إِلَيها وَهَذا عَن مَغانيها

Longing urges me, and fear urges me:

Longing drives me forward, while fear pushes me back;

one toward her, the other away from her dwellings.

One toward her, the other away from her dwelling.

أَطوي الدياجي وَتَطويني عَلى جَزَعٍ

أَطوي الدياجي وَتَطويني عَلى جَزَعٍ

تَخشى اِفتِضاحي وَأَخشى الصُبحَ يَطويها

تَخشى اِفتِضاحي وَأَخشى الصُبحَ يَطويها

I fold up the dark nights, and they enfold me in alarm;

I traverse the darkness, and it enfolds me in anxiety,

they fear my exposure, and I fear dawn will fold them away.

It fears my exposure, while I fear the morning will end it.

فَما بَلَغتُ مَغاني مَن شُغِفتُ بِها

فَما بَلَغتُ مَغاني مَن شُغِفتُ بِها

إِلّا وَقَد بَلَغَت نَفسي تَراقيها

إِلّا وَقَد بَلَغَت نَفسي تَراقيها

I did not reach the haunts of the one I adored

I did not reach the dwelling of the one I adore

until my soul had already reached my collarbones.

Until my soul had nearly departed my body.

هُناكَ أَلقَيتُ رَحلي وَاِنتَحَيتُ إِلى

هُناكَ أَلقَيتُ رَحلي وَاِنتَحَيتُ إِلى

خودٍ يَرى الدُميَةَ الحَسناءَ رائيها

خودٍ يَرى الدُميَةَ الحَسناءَ رائيها

There I set down my saddle and turned toward

There I cast down my saddle and turned towards

a tender maiden, a beautiful figurine to whoever sees her.

A maiden who appears to the beholder like a beautiful statue.

بيضٌ تَرائِبُها سودٌ ذَوائِبُها

بيضٌ تَرائِبُها سودٌ ذَوائِبُها

زُجٌّ حَواجِبُها كُحلٌ مَآقيها

زُجٌّ حَواجِبُها كُحلٌ مَآقيها

Her upper chest is white, her tresses black;

Her bosom is white, her flowing locks are black;

her brows finely arched, her eye-corners kohl-dark.

Her eyebrows are arched, her eyes naturally rimmed with kohl.

نُهودُها مِن ثَنايا الثَوبِ بارِزَةٌ

نُهودُها مِن ثَنايا الثَوبِ بارِزَةٌ

كَأَنَّها تَشتَكي مِمّا يُواريها

كَأَنَّها تَشتَكي مِمّا يُواريها

Her breasts stand out through the folds of her garment,

Her bosom rises prominently from the folds of her dress,

as though complaining of what conceals them.

As if complaining of the fabric that conceals it.

وَالثَوبُ قَد ضاقَ عَن إِخفائِها فَنَبا

وَالثَوبُ قَد ضاقَ عَن إِخفائِها فَنَبا

عَنها فَيا لَيتَني بُردٌ لِأَحميها

عَنها فَيا لَيتَني بُردٌ لِأَحميها

The garment has grown too tight to hide them, and draws away

The garment, too tight to hide her charms, pulled away;

from them—oh, would that I were a mantle to protect her!

Oh, would that I were a cloak to embrace her!

وَتَحتَ ذَلِكَ خَصرٌ يَستَقِلُّ بِهِ

وَتَحتَ ذَلِكَ خَصرٌ يَستَقِلُّ بِهِ

دَعصٌ تُرَجرِجُ حَتّى كادَ يُلقيها

دَعصٌ تُرَجرِجُ حَتّى كادَ يُلقيها

Below that is a waist, borne aloft by

And beneath that is a waist, burdened by

a quivering dune that almost throws her down.

Hips like a sand dune, trembling until they nearly bring her down.

قامَت تُصافِحُني وَالرِدفُ يَمنَعُها

قامَت تُصافِحُني وَالرِدفُ يَمنَعُها

وَالوَجدُ يَدفَعُها وَالقَدُّ يَثنيها

وَالوَجدُ يَدفَعُها وَالقَدُّ يَثنيها

She rose to clasp my hand, while her hips held her back;

She rose to shake my hand, but her heaviness held her back;

passion urged her forward, and her figure restrained her.

Passion urged her forward, while her slender waist made her sway.

دُهِشتُ حَتّى كَأَنّي لَم أَرَها

دُهِشتُ حَتّى كَأَنّي لَم أَرَها

وَكِدتُ وَاللَهِ أَنسى أَن أُحَيِّها

وَكِدتُ وَاللَهِ أَنسى أَن أُحَيِّها

I was astonished, as though I had never seen her,

I was so stunned, it was as if I could not see her,

and, by God, I almost forgot to greet her.

And by God, I nearly forgot to offer my greeting.

باتَت تُكَلِّمُني مِنها لَواحِظُها

باتَت تُكَلِّمُني مِنها لَواحِظُها

بِما تُكِنُّ وَأَجفاني تُناجيها

بِما تُكِنُّ وَأَجفاني تُناجيها

Her glances spent the night speaking to me

Her glances spent the night speaking to me

of what she concealed, while my eyelids whispered to her.

Of hidden things, and my eyes whispered back.

حَتّى بَدا الفَجرُ وَاِعتَلَّت نَسائِمُهُ

حَتّى بَدا الفَجرُ وَاِعتَلَّت نَسائِمُهُ

وَكادَ يَنشُرُ أَسراري وَيُفشيها

وَكادَ يَنشُرُ أَسراري وَيُفشيها

Until dawn appeared and its breezes grew languid,

Until dawn appeared and its breezes grew faint,

and it almost spread my secrets and exposed them.

Threatening to scatter and reveal my secrets.

بَكَت دُموعاً وَأَبكَتني لدُموعُ دَماً

بَكَت دُموعاً وَأَبكَتني لدُموعُ دَماً

وَرُحتُ أَكتُمُ أَشياءً وَتُبديها

وَرُحتُ أَكتُمُ أَشياءً وَتُبديها

She wept tears, and those tears made me weep blood,

She wept tears, and made me weep tears of blood;

while I went on concealing things that she revealed.

I tried to conceal my pain, while she revealed hers.

كَأَنَّها شَعَرَت في بُعدِنا أَبَداً

كَأَنَّها شَعَرَت في بُعدِنا أَبَداً

فَأَكثَرَت مِن وَداعِيَ عِندَ واديها

فَأَكثَرَت مِن وَداعِيَ عِندَ واديها

As though she sensed an eternity in our separation,

As if she sensed our separation would be forever,

she bade me farewell again and again beside her valley.

So she prolonged my farewell beside her valley.

فَما تَعَزَّت بِأَنَّ الدَهرَ يَجمَعُنا

فَما تَعَزَّت بِأَنَّ الدَهرَ يَجمَعُنا

يَوماً وَلا فَرِحَت أَنّي أُمَنّيها

يَوماً وَلا فَرِحَت أَنّي أُمَنّيها

She found no solace in the thought that time would reunite us

She found no comfort in the hope that time might reunite us,

one day, nor joy in the hopes I offered her.

Nor did she rejoice when I tried to give her hope.

تَقولُ وَالدَمعُ مِثلُ الطَلِّ مُنتَثِرٌ

تَقولُ وَالدَمعُ مِثلُ الطَلِّ مُنتَثِرٌ

عَلى خُدودٍ خَشيتُ الدَمعَ يُدميها

عَلى خُدودٍ خَشيتُ الدَمعَ يُدميها

She says, with tears scattered like dew

She spoke, while tears scattered like dew

over cheeks I feared the tears would make bleed:

Upon cheeks I feared the tears might wound.

وَأَلهَفَ نَفسي عَلى أُنسٍ بِلا كَدَرٍ

وَأَلهَفَ نَفسي عَلى أُنسٍ بِلا كَدَرٍ

تُرى تَنالُ مِنَ الدُنيا أَمانيها

تُرى تَنالُ مِنَ الدُنيا أَمانيها

'Alas, my soul longs for companionship without sorrow!

"Oh, how my soul yearns for a joy untroubled!

Will it, I wonder, attain its wishes in this world?'

Do you think one ever attains their heart's desire in this world?"

فَقُلتُ صَبراً عَلى كَيدِ الزَمانِ لَنا

فَقُلتُ صَبراً عَلى كَيدِ الزَمانِ لَنا

فَكُلُّ حافِرِ بِئرٍ واقِعٌ فيها

فَكُلُّ حافِرِ بِئرٍ واقِعٌ فيها

I said: 'Patience with time's plotting against us—

I replied: "Have patience against Fate's schemes for us;

every digger of a well will fall into it.'

For he who digs a pit shall surely fall into it."