أَأَسمَعُdo I hear? ماwhat قالَsaid الحَمامُthe doves السَواجِعُthe cooing ones
أَأَسمَعُ ما قالَ الحَمامُ السَواجِعُ
وَصايَحَand cried out بَينٌparting فيin ذُرىthe heights of الأَيكِthe grove واقِعُperched
وَصايَحَ بَينٌ في ذُرى الأَيكِ واقِعُ
Do I hear what the cooing doves have said?
Do I hear what the doves, the lovers, cooed?
And parting cried out, perched in the grove's treetops.
And the cries of a separated lover fallen in the thicket?
مَنَعناdenied us سَلامَgreeting القَولِspeech وَهوَand it is مُحَلَّلٌlawful
مَنَعنا سَلامَ القَولِ وَهوَ مُحَلَّلٌ
سِوىexcept لَمَحاتٍglances أَوor تُشيرُsignal الأَصابِعُthe fingers
سِوى لَمَحاتٍ أَو تُشيرُ الأَصابِعُ
It denied us spoken greetings, though they are lawful,
We forbade the greeting of words, though it was permitted,
save for glances or the signaling of fingers.
Other than hints or fingers signaling.
تَأبىrefuse العُيونُthe eyes البُخلَmiserliness إِلّاexcept نَميمَةًtelling secrets
تَأبى العُيونُ البُخلَ إِلّا نَميمَةً
بِماabout what كَتَبَتwrote مِنof خَدِّهِنَّtheir cheeks البَراقِعُthe face veils
بِما كَتَبَت مِن خَدِّهِنَّ البَراقِعُ
The eyes refuse miserliness, save for telling secrets
The eyes refuse to be miserly except with gossip
about what the face veils have written of their cheeks.
Of what their veils have written on their cheeks.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَمَغلوبٌsurely overcome عَلىin الصَبرِpatience إِنَّهُindeed it is
وَإِنّي لَمَغلوبٌ عَلى الصَبرِ إِنَّهُ
كَذَلِكَthus جَهلُignorance المَرءِa man's لِلحُبِّof love صارِعُan overthrower
كَذَلِكَ جَهلُ المَرءِ لِلحُبِّ صارِعُ
And I am overcome, powerless to be patient; indeed,
And I am overcome with impatience, for indeed,
so a man's ignorance of love lays him low.
Such is a man’s ignorance in confronting love.
كَأَنَّas though الصَباthe east wind هَبَّتblew بِأَنفاسِwith the breaths of رَوضَةٍa meadow
كَأَنَّ الصَبا هَبَّت بِأَنفاسِ رَوضَةٍ
لَهاit has كَوكَبٌa star فيat ذَروَةِthe summit of الشَمسِthe sun لامِعُshining
لَها كَوكَبٌ في ذَروَةِ الشَمسِ لامِعُ
As though the east wind blew with a meadow's breath,
As if the morning breeze blew into a garden,
whose star shines at the sun's zenith.
In whose summit shines an unfailing star.
تَوَقَّدَblazed فيهاin it النورُthe blossoms مِنfrom كُلِّevery جانِبٍside
تَوَقَّدَ فيها النورُ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ
وَبَلَّلَهاand moistened it طَلٌّdew مَعَwith اللَيلِthe night دامِعُweeping
وَبَلَّلَها طَلٌّ مَعَ اللَيلِ دامِعُ
Blossoms blazed within it on every side,
Light kindles in it from every side,
and dew, weeping with the night, moistened it.
And the predawn moisture makes it weep.
وَشَقَّand split open ثَراهاits soil عَنto reveal أَقاحٍdaisies كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَشَقَّ ثَراها عَن أَقاحٍ كَأَنَّها
تَهادَتexchanged gifts بِمِسكٍwith musk نَفحُهاtheir fragrance وَالأَجارِعُand the sandy flats
تَهادَت بِمِسكٍ نَفحُها وَالأَجارِعُ
And its soil split open to reveal daisies, as though
And it burst its carpets with fragrant meadowsweet as if
their fragrance and the sandy flats exchanged gifts of musk.
It heaved with musk whose scent the trees diffuse.
أَلاAh أَيُهاO القَلبُheart الَّذيthat هامَwas infatuated هَيمَةًan infatuation
أَلا أَيُها القَلبُ الَّذي هامَ هَيمَةً
بِشُرَّةَwith Shurra حَتّىuntil الآنَnow هَلare? أَنتَyou راجِعُreturning
بِشُرَّةَ حَتّى الآنَ هَل أَنتَ راجِعُ
Ah, heart that has been madly infatuated
O heart that passionately loved to distraction!
with Shurra until now—will you turn back?
To this day, will you return?
إِذِwhen الناسُthe people عَنof أَخبارِناnews of us تَحتَunder غَفلَةٍheedlessness
إِذِ الناسُ عَن أَخبارِنا تَحتَ غَفلَةٍ
وَفيand in الحُبِّlove إِسعافٌfulfillment وَلِلشَملِand for reunion جامِعُa uniter
وَفي الحُبِّ إِسعافٌ وَلِلشَملِ جامِعُ
When people were oblivious to news of us,
When people are heedless of our news
and love brought fulfillment, and a bond kept us together;
And for love there is succor, and for union, a uniter.
وَإِذand when هِيَshe مِثلُlike البَدرِthe full moon يَفضَحُlays bare لَيلَهُits night
وَإِذ هِيَ مِثلُ البَدرِ يَفضَحُ لَيلَهُ
وَإِذand when أَناI مُسوَدُّblackened المَفارِقِthe hair partings يافِعُyouthful
وَإِذ أَنا مُسوَدُّ المَفارِقِ يافِعُ
and when she was like the full moon that lays its night bare,
When she is like the full moon revealing its night,
and when I was youthful, black-haired at the partings.
While I am blackened by separation, O burnished one!
وَغاصَتand plunged بِأَعناقِwith the necks of المَطِيِّthe riding camels كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَغاصَت بِأَعناقِ المَطِيِّ كَأَنَّها
هَياكُلُtemples of رُهبانٍmonks عَلَيهاupon them الصَوامِعُthe hermitage towers
هَياكُلُ رُهبانٍ عَلَيها الصَوامِعُ
And the riding camels' necks plunged, as though they were
Into the necks of mounts she plunged as if
monks' temples with hermitage towers upon them.
They were monks’ cells with their domes.
وَراحَتand set out مِنَfrom الدَيرَينِal-Dayrayn (the two monasteries) تَستَعجِلُhastening الخُطىthe steps
وَراحَت مِنَ الدَيرَينِ تَستَعجِلُ الخُطى
كَأَنَّas though ذُفاراهاtheir sweat-spots behind the ears جِفارٌwells نَوابِعُgushing
كَأَنَّ ذُفاراها جِفارٌ نَوابِعُ
And they set out from al-Dayrayn, hastening their steps,
And she rode out from the two abbeys quickening her pace
as though the sweat-spots behind their ears were gushing wells.
As if their pack saddles were platforms.
إِذاwhenever لَيلَةٌa night ظَلَّتremained عَلَيهِover him مَطِرَةًrainy
إِذا لَيلَةٌ ظَلَّت عَلَيهِ مَطِرَةً
تَجافَتgave no ease بِهِto him حَتّىuntil الصَباحِmorning المَضاجِعُthe sleeping places
تَجافَت بِهِ حَتّى الصَباحِ المَضاجِعُ
Whenever a night kept raining upon him,
When a rainy night hangs over it
the sleeping places gave him no rest until morning.
Drying those it touches to the dawn.
غَداwent at dawn يَلمَحُglanced at الأُفقَthe horizon المُريبَthe ominous بِطَرفِهِwith his eye
غَدا يَلمَحُ الأُفقَ المُريبَ بِطَرفِهِ
وَفيand in قَلبِهِhis heart مِنfrom خَيفَةِfear of الإِنسِhumankind رائِعُterror
وَفي قَلبِهِ مِن خَيفَةِ الإِنسِ رائِعُ
At dawn he scanned the ominous horizon with his eye,
At daybreak he glimpses the gloomy horizon with his eye,
and in his heart was terror from fear of humankind.
While in his heart there stirs dread of mankind.
لَعَمريby my life لَئِنif indeed أَمسىspent the evening الإِمامُthe Imam بِبَلدَةٍin a town
لَعَمري لَئِن أَمسى الإِمامُ بِبَلدَةٍ
وَأَنتَand you بِأُخرىin another شائِقُlonging القَلبِthe heart نازِعُyearning
وَأَنتَ بِأُخرى شائِقُ القَلبِ نازِعُ
By my life, if the Imam spends the evening in one town
By my life! If the imam is in one town
and you in another, your heart longing and yearning,
While you are in another, your heart longing, drawn asunder!
لَقَدindeed رُمتَyou sought ماwhat يُدنيكَbrings you near مِنهُto him وَإِنَّماand it was only
لَقَد رُمتَ ما يُدنيكَ مِنهُ وَإِنَّما
أَتىcame قَدَرٌfate وَاللَهُand God مُعطٍa giver وَمانِعُand a withholder
أَتى قَدَرٌ وَاللَهُ مُعطٍ وَمانِعُ
you have indeed sought what would bring you near him; it was only
You aspired to what would bring you near to him though
fate that intervened; God bestows and withholds.
Fate came, and God gives and denies.
وَإِنِّيَand indeed I كَالعَطشانِlike a thirsty man طالَgrew long بِهِfor him الصَدىthirst
وَإِنِّيَ كَالعَطشانِ طالَ بِهِ الصَدى
إِلَيكَfor you وَلَكِنand yet ماwhat الَّذيthat which أَناI صانِعُdoing
إِلَيكَ وَلَكِن ما الَّذي أَنا صانِعُ
And I am like a thirsty man whose thirst has lasted long
I am like the thirsty one, whose echo to you grew long,
for you—but what am I to do?
But what am I to do?
أَيَذهَبُwill it pass away? عُمريmy life وَالعَوائِقُand the obstacles دونَهُblocking access to him
أَيَذهَبُ عُمري وَالعَوائِقُ دونَهُ
عَلىaccording to ماwhat أَرىI see إِنّيindeed I إِلىto اللَهِGod راجِعُreturning
عَلى ما أَرى إِنّي إِلى اللَهِ راجِعُ
Will my life pass away, with obstacles barring access to him?
Will my life expire though obstacles block it?
From what I see, I am indeed returning to God.
As I see, I will return to God.
وَماand not أَناI فيin الدُنياthis world بِشَيءٍwith anything أَنالُهُI obtain it
وَما أَنا في الدُنيا بِشَيءٍ أَنالُهُ
سِوىexcept أَنthat أَرىI see وَجهَthe face of الخَليفَةِthe Caliph قانِعُcontent
سِوى أَن أَرى وَجهَ الخَليفَةِ قانِعُ
And nothing I obtain in this world satisfies me
I have nothing to gain in this world
except seeing the Caliph's face.
Save that I see the face of the Caliph, content.
وَهَبنيand suppose that I أَرَيتُI showed الحاسِدينَthe envious تَجَلُّداًfortitude
وَهَبني أَرَيتُ الحاسِدينَ تَجَلُّداً
فَكَيفَthen how بِحُبٍّwith a love ضُمِّنَتهُwere made to contain it الأَضالِعُthe ribs
فَكَيفَ بِحُبٍّ ضُمِّنَتهُ الأَضالِعُ
And suppose I have shown the envious fortitude—
And He granted me - Have you seen the envious pretend patience? -
then what of a love the ribs were made to contain?
How is that with a love which ribs harbor!
وَإِنّيand indeed I لِنُعماهُfor his bounty القَديمَةِlong-standing شاكِرٌgrateful
وَإِنّي لِنُعماهُ القَديمَةِ شاكِرٌ
وَراءٍand seeing بِعَينِwith an eye of النُصحِsincere loyalty فيهِtoward him وَسامِعُand listening
وَراءٍ بِعَينِ النُصحِ فيهِ وَسامِعُ
And I am grateful for his long-standing bounty,
I am thankful for past bounties, hearing
and look on him with a loyal eye, and listen.
With the eye of honesty regarding him.
وَماand not أَناI مِنof ذُكرِremembrance الخَليفَةِthe Caliph آيِسٌdespairing
وَما أَنا مِن ذُكرِ الخَليفَةِ آيِسٌ
وَماand as long as دامَhe remains حَيّاًalive عَلَّلَتهُsustained him المَطامِعُhopes of gain
وَما دامَ حَيّاً عَلَّلَتهُ المَطامِعُ
Nor do I despair of being remembered by the Caliph;
I do not despair of mentioning the Caliph;
and as long as he lives, hopes sustain him.
As long as he lives, hopes tie me fast.
وَأَقعَدَنيand kept me back عَنهُfrom him اِنتِظارٌwaiting لِإِذنِهِfor his permission
وَأَقعَدَني عَنهُ اِنتِظارٌ لِإِذنِهِ
وَماand whatever قالَhe says مِنof شَيءٍanything فَإِنِّيَthen indeed I طائِعُobedient
وَما قالَ مِن شَيءٍ فَإِنِّيَ طائِعُ
And waiting for his permission has kept me away from him,
Expectation that he will permit me has kept me
and whatever he says, I obey.
From him, and whatever he says, I obey.
صُراطُa path of هُدىًguidance يَقضيputs an end عَلىto الجورِoppression عَدلُهُhis justice
صُراطُ هُدىً يَقضي عَلى الجورِ عَدلُهُ
وَنورٌand a light عَلىupon الدُنياthe world مِنَfrom الحَقِّtruth ساطِعُshining
وَنورٌ عَلى الدُنيا مِنَ الحَقِّ ساطِعُ
He is a path of guidance; his justice ends oppression,
The path of guidance which justice rules
and a light of truth shining upon the world;
And light upon the world from truth emanating.
وَسَيفُand a sword of اِنتِقامٍvengeance لاnot يَخافُfears ضَريبَةًa target for the sword
وَسَيفُ اِنتِقامٍ لا يَخافُ ضَريبَةً
وَماand whatever شاءَhe wills مِنamong ذيa bearer of إِحنَةٍrancor فَهوَthen it is قاطِعُcutting down
وَما شاءَ مِن ذي إِحنَةٍ فَهوَ قاطِعُ
and a sword of vengeance that fears no target,
And sword of vengeance fearing no blow,
and it cuts down any bearer of rancor he chooses.
Doing what it desires to the curved of stature.
وَإِنand if يَعفُhe pardons لاnot يَندَمhe regrets وَإِنand if يَسطُhe strikes يَنتَقِمhe takes revenge
وَإِن يَعفُ لا يَندَم وَإِن يَسطُ يَنتَقِم
فَهَلis there then? عادِلٌan equal فيهاin it بِماin what أَنتَyou واقِعُundertaking
فَهَل عادِلٌ فيها بِما أَنتَ واقِعُ
And if he pardons, he has no regret; if he strikes, he exacts revenge.
If he pardons, he regrets not, and if he is harsh, he takes revenge.
Is there, then, anyone in the world to match you in what you do?
So is there one more just that you have met?
Sol 6.1