تَعَمَّدتُ قَتلي في الهَوى وَتَعَمَّدا

تَعَمَّدتُ قَتلي في الهَوى وَتَعَمَّدا

فَما أَثِمَت عَيني وَلا لَحظُهُ اِعتَدى

فَما أَثِمَت عَيني وَلا لَحظُهُ اِعتَدى

I deliberately sought my death in love, and he intended it too.

I deliberately killed myself with passion and intentionally,

So neither did my eye sin, nor did his glance transgress.

Yet my eyes committed no sin, nor did their glance transgress.

كِلانا لَهُ عُذرٌ فَعُذري شَبيبَتي

كِلانا لَهُ عُذرٌ فَعُذري شَبيبَتي

وَعُذرُكَ أَنّي هِجتُ سَيفاً مُجَرَّدا

وَعُذرُكَ أَنّي هِجتُ سَيفاً مُجَرَّدا

Each of us has an excuse: mine is my youth,

We both have excuses - mine is my youthfulness,

And yours is that I provoked an unsheathed sword.

And yours is that I brandished a naked sword.

هَوينا فَما هُنّا كَما هانَ غَيرُنا

هَوينا فَما هُنّا كَما هانَ غَيرُنا

وَلَكِنَّنا زِدنا مَعَ الحُبِّ سُؤدُدا

وَلَكِنَّنا زِدنا مَعَ الحُبِّ سُؤدُدا

We loved, but were not abased as others were;

We loved, and did not waver as others did,

Rather, with love, we grew in nobility.

Rather, we increased in ardour and fidelity.

وَما حَكَمَت أَشواقُنا في نُفوسِنا

وَما حَكَمَت أَشواقُنا في نُفوسِنا

بِأَيسَرَ مِن حُكمِ السَماحَةِ وَالنَدى

بِأَيسَرَ مِن حُكمِ السَماحَةِ وَالنَدى

Our longings did not govern our souls

Our yearnings did not judge in our souls

With a gentler rule than that of magnanimity and bounty.

Any easier than the rulings of magnanimity and tenderness.

نُفوسٌ لَها بَينَ الجُنوبِ مَنازِلٌ

نُفوسٌ لَها بَينَ الجُنوبِ مَنازِلٌ

بَناها التُقى وَاِختارَها الحُبُّ مَعبَدا

بَناها التُقى وَاِختارَها الحُبُّ مَعبَدا

Souls with dwellings between our flanks,

Souls that dwell between the sides

Built by piety and chosen by love as a shrine.

That piety built and love chose as a sanctuary.

وَفَتّانَةٍ أَوحى إِلى القَلبِ لَحظُها

وَفَتّانَةٍ أَوحى إِلى القَلبِ لَحظُها

فَراحَ عَلى الإيمانِ بِالوَحيِ وَاِغتَدى

فَراحَ عَلى الإيمانِ بِالوَحيِ وَاِغتَدى

And an enchantress whose glance brought revelation to the heart:

And a temptress whose glance inspired the heart -

It passed evening and morning believing in that revelation.

So it set upon faith with revelation and transgression.

تَيَمَّمتُها وَاللَيلُ في غَيرِ زَيِّهِ

تَيَمَّمتُها وَاللَيلُ في غَيرِ زَيِّهِ

وَحاسِدُها في الأُفقِ يُغري بِيَ العِدا

وَحاسِدُها في الأُفقِ يُغري بِيَ العِدا

I headed toward her while night wore an unaccustomed garb,

I caught a glimpse of her while the night was unveiled

And her envier on the horizon incited my foes against me.

And her envier in the horizon enticed me to enmity.

سَرَيتُ وَلَم أَحذَر وَكانوا بِمَرصَدٍ

سَرَيتُ وَلَم أَحذَر وَكانوا بِمَرصَدٍ

وَهَل حَذِرَت قَبلي الكَواكِبُ رُصَّدا

وَهَل حَذِرَت قَبلي الكَواكِبُ رُصَّدا

I journeyed by night without caution, while they lay in ambush;

I walked openly, not taking heed, though they lay in ambush.

Have the stars before me ever feared watchers?

Did the stars ever take precautions before being observed?

فَلَمّا رَأَوني أَبصَروا المَوتَ مُقبِلاً

فَلَمّا رَأَوني أَبصَروا المَوتَ مُقبِلاً

وَما أَبصَروا إِلّا قَضاءً تَجَسَّدا

وَما أَبصَروا إِلّا قَضاءً تَجَسَّدا

When they saw me, they saw death approaching;

When they saw me, they saw death approaching,

They saw nothing but fate embodied.

And they saw nothing but embodied destiny.

فَقالَ كَبيرُ القَومِ قَد ساءَ فَألُنا

فَقالَ كَبيرُ القَومِ قَد ساءَ فَألُنا

فَإِنّا نَرى حَتفاً بِحَتفٍ تَقَلَّدا

فَإِنّا نَرى حَتفاً بِحَتفٍ تَقَلَّدا

Their chief said, 'Our omen has turned ill:

The elder of the group said times have gone bad, so let's be gentle,

For we see death girded with death.

For we see a skull wearing another skull as a necklace.

فَلَيسَ لَنا إِلّا اِتِّقاءُ سَبيلِهِ

فَلَيسَ لَنا إِلّا اِتِّقاءُ سَبيلِهِ

وَإِلّا أَعَلَّ السَيفَ مِنّا وَأَورَدا

وَإِلّا أَعَلَّ السَيفَ مِنّا وَأَورَدا

We have no choice but to avoid his path,

We have no choice but to avoid his path,

Or he will give his sword drink after drink of us.'

Lest he raise his sword against us and shed blood.

فَغَطّوا جَميعاً في المَنامِ لِيَصرِفوا

فَغَطّوا جَميعاً في المَنامِ لِيَصرِفوا

شَبا صارِمي عَنهُم وَقَد كانَ مُغمَدا

شَبا صارِمي عَنهُم وَقَد كانَ مُغمَدا

So they all snored in sleep to turn away

So they all pretended to sleep in order to divert

My keen blade's edge from them, though it was sheathed.

My sharp youth away from them, though it was sheathed.

وَخُضتُ بِأَحشاءِ الجَميعِ كَأَنَّهُم

وَخُضتُ بِأَحشاءِ الجَميعِ كَأَنَّهُم

نِيامٌ سَقاهُم فاجِئُ الرُعبِ مُرقِدا

نِيامٌ سَقاهُم فاجِئُ الرُعبِ مُرقِدا

I waded through the very midst of them all, as though they were

And I waded through the guts of them all as if they were

Sleepers given a sleeping draught by terror's sudden onset.

Sleepers whom sudden terror had laid down to rest.

وَرُحتُ إِلى حَيثُ المُنى تَبعَثُ المُنى

وَرُحتُ إِلى حَيثُ المُنى تَبعَثُ المُنى

وَحَيثُ حَدا بي مِن هَوى النَفسِ ما حَدا

وَحَيثُ حَدا بي مِن هَوى النَفسِ ما حَدا

I went where wishes awaken wishes,

And I went to where death awakens death

And where my soul's desire urged me as it did,

And where the passion of my soul drove me to the utmost.

وَحَيثُ فَتاةُ الخِدرِ تَرقُبُ زَورَتي

وَحَيثُ فَتاةُ الخِدرِ تَرقُبُ زَورَتي

وَتَسأَلُ عَنّي كُلَّ طَيرٍ تَغَرَّدا

وَتَسأَلُ عَنّي كُلَّ طَيرٍ تَغَرَّدا

And where the maiden in her secluded chamber awaited my visit,

And where the lass of the cheeks keeps watch for my visit

And asked every singing bird about me.

And asks after me every bird that chirps melodiously,

وَتَرجو رَجاءَ اللِصِّ لَو أَسبَلَ الدُجى

وَتَرجو رَجاءَ اللِصِّ لَو أَسبَلَ الدُجى

عَلى البَدرِ سِتراً حالِكَ اللَونِ أَسوَدا

عَلى البَدرِ سِتراً حالِكَ اللَونِ أَسوَدا

She hoped, as a thief hopes, that darkness might let fall

And hopes, with the hope of a thief, that gloom

Over the full moon a veil of deepest black;

Would cast upon the moon a pitch-black covering veil,

وَلَو أَنَّهُم قَدّوا غَدائِرَ فَرعِها

وَلَو أَنَّهُم قَدّوا غَدائِرَ فَرعِها

فَحاكوا لَهُ مِنها نِقاباً إِذا بَدا

فَحاكوا لَهُ مِنها نِقاباً إِذا بَدا

And that they might cut off the tresses of her hair,

And that they would pluck the branches of its crescent,

And weave from them a veil for it whenever it appeared.

And from them weave for it a veil, whenever it appeared.

فَلَمّا رَأَتني مُشرِقَ الوَجهِ مُقبِلاً

فَلَمّا رَأَتني مُشرِقَ الوَجهِ مُقبِلاً

وَلَم تَثنِني عَن مَوعِدي خَشيَةُ الرَدى

وَلَم تَثنِني عَن مَوعِدي خَشيَةُ الرَدى

When she saw me approaching, my face aglow,

So when she saw me with a radiant face drawing near,

And fear of death had not turned me from my tryst,

And no fear of harm could deter me from my tryst,

تَنادَت وَقَد أَعجَبتُها كَيفَ فُتَّهُم

تَنادَت وَقَد أَعجَبتُها كَيفَ فُتَّهُم

وَلَم تَتَّخِذ إِلّا الطَريقَ المُعَبَّدا

وَلَم تَتَّخِذ إِلّا الطَريقَ المُعَبَّدا

She cried out, impressed by me: 'How did you elude them,

She called out, amazed at how I had eluded them,

When you took only the well-trodden road?'

Not having taken any route but the obvious one.

فَقُلتُ سَلي أَحشاءَهُم كَيفَ رُوِّعَت

فَقُلتُ سَلي أَحشاءَهُم كَيفَ رُوِّعَت

وَأَسيافَهُم هَل صافَحَت مِنهُم يَدا

وَأَسيافَهُم هَل صافَحَت مِنهُم يَدا

I said, 'Ask their innards how they were struck with fear,

I said, “Ask their guts how they quivered,

And their swords whether they clasped any hand of theirs.'

And their swords - did any hands among them clash?”

فَقالَت أَخافُ القَومَ وَالحِقدُ قَد بَرى

فَقالَت أَخافُ القَومَ وَالحِقدُ قَد بَرى

صُدورُهُمُ أَن يَبلُغوا مِنكَ مَقصِدا

صُدورُهُمُ أَن يَبلُغوا مِنكَ مَقصِدا

She said, 'I fear that these men—hatred has gnawed

She said, “I fear for you, their spite has surely

Their breasts—may gain their ends against you.

Filled their chests that they will attain their aim against you.”

فَلا تَتَّخِذ عِندَ الرَواحِ طَريقَهُم

فَلا تَتَّخِذ عِندَ الرَواحِ طَريقَهُم

فَقَد يُقنَصُ البازي وَإِن كانَ أَصيَدا

فَقَد يُقنَصُ البازي وَإِن كانَ أَصيَدا

So do not take their road when you depart;

“Do not take their road by the pasture,

For even the hawk may be caught, though it is a skilled hunter.'

For the hunter may be ambushed, even if his prey is in sight.”

فَقُلتُ دَعي ما تَحذَرينَ فَإِنَّني

فَقُلتُ دَعي ما تَحذَرينَ فَإِنَّني

أُصاحِبُ قَلباً بَينَ جَنبَيَّ أَيِّدا

أُصاحِبُ قَلباً بَينَ جَنبَيَّ أَيِّدا

I said, 'Leave aside what you fear, for I

I said, “Leave what you fear, for I

Keep company with a mighty heart between my sides.'

Have a heart between my ribs that assists me.”

فَمالَت لِتُغريني وَمالَأَها الهَوى

فَمالَت لِتُغريني وَمالَأَها الهَوى

فَحَدَّثتُ نَفسي وَالضَميرُ تَرَدَّدا

فَحَدَّثتُ نَفسي وَالضَميرُ تَرَدَّدا

She leaned toward me to tempt me, and love abetted her;

She inclined towards me to seduce me, and passion inclined her;

I spoke to myself, while my conscience wavered.

I talked to myself while my conscience wavered,

أَهُمُّ كَما هَمَّت فَأَذكُرُ أَنَّني

أَهُمُّ كَما هَمَّت فَأَذكُرُ أَنَّني

فَتاكَ فَيَدعوني هُداكَ إِلى الهُدى

فَتاكَ فَيَدعوني هُداكَ إِلى الهُدى

I feel the urge she felt, then remember that I

“Shall I heed her as she intends, and recall that I am

Am your young follower; your guidance calls me to the right path.

Her killer, so her guidance calls me to guidance?”

كَذَلِكَ لَم أَذكُركَ وَالخَطبُ يَلتَقي

كَذَلِكَ لَم أَذكُركَ وَالخَطبُ يَلتَقي

بِهِ الخَطبُ إِلّا كانَ ذِكرُكَ مُسعِدا

بِهِ الخَطبُ إِلّا كانَ ذِكرُكَ مُسعِدا

Thus I never recalled you, when calamity met

Thus I did not recall you as fortunes collide,

Calamity, without your remembrance coming to my aid.

Except that remembering you was auspicious.

أَميرَ القَوافي إِن لي مُستَهامَةً

أَميرَ القَوافي إِن لي مُستَهامَةً

بِمَدحٍ وَمَن لي فيكَ أَن أَبلُغَ المَدى

بِمَدحٍ وَمَن لي فيكَ أَن أَبلُغَ المَدى

Prince of Rhymes, I have a soul enamored

Prince of rhyme, I have a persistence

Of praise; but who can help me reach the utmost in praising you?

In praise, and who do I have in you to reach the furthest extent?

أَعِرني لِمَدحيكَ اليَراعَ الَّذي بِهِ

أَعِرني لِمَدحيكَ اليَراعَ الَّذي بِهِ

تَخُطُّ وَأَقرِضني القَريضَ المُسَدَّدا

تَخُطُّ وَأَقرِضني القَريضَ المُسَدَّدا

Lend me, to praise you, the reed pen with which

Lend me the mount for my praise of you, upon which

You write, and lend me your well-aimed verse.

You ride, and lend me the matching verse, precise.

وَمُر كُلَّ مَعنىً فارِسِيٍّ بِطاعَتي

وَمُر كُلَّ مَعنىً فارِسِيٍّ بِطاعَتي

وَكُلَّ نُفورٍ مِنهُ أَن يَتَوَدَّدا

وَكُلَّ نُفورٍ مِنهُ أَن يَتَوَدَّدا

And command every Persian meaning to obey me,

And command each eloquent meaning to obey me,

And every elusive one among them to become friendly.

And all its recalcitrance to seek affection from me.

وَهَبنِيَ مِن أَنوارِ عِلمِكَ لَمعَةً

وَهَبنِيَ مِن أَنوارِ عِلمِكَ لَمعَةً

عَلى ضَوئِها أَسري وَأَقفو مَنِ اِهتَدى

عَلى ضَوئِها أَسري وَأَقفو مَنِ اِهتَدى

Grant me a gleam from the lights of your knowledge,

And grant me from the lights of your knowledge a gleam

By whose light I may journey by night and follow those rightly guided,

By whose brightness I may travel and follow whomsoever is guided,

وَأَربو عَلى ذاكَ الفَخورِ بِقَولِهِ

وَأَربو عَلى ذاكَ الفَخورِ بِقَولِهِ

إِذا قُلتُ شِعراً أَصبَحَ الدَهرُ مُنشِدا

إِذا قُلتُ شِعراً أَصبَحَ الدَهرُ مُنشِدا

And surpass that boaster who declared:

And surpass that arrogant one in his saying

'When I utter verse, Time becomes its reciter.'

That whenever I speak a poem, time itself recites it.

سَلَبتَ بِحارَ الأَرضِ دُرَّ كُنوزِها

سَلَبتَ بِحارَ الأَرضِ دُرَّ كُنوزِها

فَأَمسَت بِحارُ الشِعرِ لِلدُرِّ مَورِدا

فَأَمسَت بِحارُ الشِعرِ لِلدُرِّ مَورِدا

You stripped the seas of earth of their treasures' pearls,

You have plundered the seas of the earth of the pearls of their treasures,

So the seas of poetry became a source of pearls.

So the seas of poetry have become arepository for pearls.

وَصَيَّرتَ مَنثورَ الكَواكِبَ في الدُجى

وَصَيَّرتَ مَنثورَ الكَواكِبَ في الدُجى

نَظيماً بِأَسلاكِ المَعاني مُنَضَّدا

نَظيماً بِأَسلاكِ المَعاني مُنَضَّدا

And made the stars scattered in the darkness

And you have made the prose of the stars in the night sky

A necklace, arrayed on the threads of meanings.

Into harmonious verse with the threads of meanings interlaced.

وَجِئتَ بِأَبياتٍ مِنَ الشِعرِ فُصِّلَت

وَجِئتَ بِأَبياتٍ مِنَ الشِعرِ فُصِّلَت

إِذا ما تَلَوها أُلقِيَ الناسُ سُجَّدا

إِذا ما تَلَوها أُلقِيَ الناسُ سُجَّدا

And you brought lines of poetry so finely set forth

And you have brought verses of poetry that when recited

That when they recited them, the people were cast down prostrate.

Make people bow down in prostration.

إِذا ذَكَروا مِنهُ النَسيبَ رَأَيتَنا

إِذا ذَكَروا مِنهُ النَسيبَ رَأَيتَنا

وَداعي الهَوى مِنّا أَقامَ وَأَقعَدا

وَداعي الهَوى مِنّا أَقامَ وَأَقعَدا

When they mentioned its love poetry, you would see us,

When they mention the easy style from it we find ourselves

With love's herald among us making us rise and sit down.

Like lovers halting or rising.

وَإِن ذَكَروا مِنهُ الحَماسَ حَسِبتَنا

وَإِن ذَكَروا مِنهُ الحَماسَ حَسِبتَنا

نَرى الصارِمَ المَخضوبَ خَدّاً مُوَرَّدا

نَرى الصارِمَ المَخضوبَ خَدّاً مُوَرَّدا

And if they mentioned its martial verse, you would think we

And if they mention from it excitement we fancy ourselves

Saw the blood-dyed blade as a rose-red cheek.

Seeing the bloodied, unsheathed sword - a reddened cheek.

وَلَو أَنَّني نافَرتُ دَهري وَأَهلَهُ

وَلَو أَنَّني نافَرتُ دَهري وَأَهلَهُ

بِفَخرِكَ ما أَبقَيتُ في الناسِ سَيِّدا

بِفَخرِكَ ما أَبقَيتُ في الناسِ سَيِّدا

And had I vied in glory with my age and its people,

And if I defied my time and its people

With your glory as my boast, I would have left no lord among men.

With pride in you, I would leave no one eminent among men.