محبّ براه الشوق بالمغرب الأقصى

محبّ براه الشوق بالمغرب الأقصى

يناديكم ريشوا جناحي فقد قصا

يناديكم ريشوا جناحي فقد قصا

A lover, worn away by longing in the farthest Maghrib,

A lover whose passion the distance did feed

calls to you: 'Feather my wing, for it has been clipped.'

Calling you - if only my wings could take heed

سقَته الليالي كأس ذلّ ومهنَة

سقَته الليالي كأس ذلّ ومهنَة

فأصبح لا قبض لديه ولا قبصا

فأصبح لا قبض لديه ولا قبصا

The nights made him drink a cup of humiliation and abasement,

The nights did make him drink the cup of disgrace

so he came to possess neither a handful nor a pinch.

Leaving him with no power or vigor to plead

يزيد بنقص العمر ضعفاً وشيبةً

يزيد بنقص العمر ضعفاً وشيبةً

وتلك زيادات تكسبهُ نقصا

وتلك زيادات تكسبهُ نقصا

As his life dwindles, he gains weakness and gray hair,

As time passes on, his weakness grows steadily

and those increases bring him loss.

Advancing his age and his head turning white

جليد على حكم الملمات صابرٌ

جليد على حكم الملمات صابرٌ

له أنة ترقى ولست ترى شخصا

له أنة ترقى ولست ترى شخصا

He is steadfast, patient under calamities' decree;

Submitting with patience to destiny's decree

his groan rises, yet you see no figure.

Though it rises, no end to this plight is in sight

وقد قص بلواه وأهملَ دمعهُ

وقد قص بلواه وأهملَ دمعهُ

فهل عطفة منكم فيقبل ما قصا

فهل عطفة منكم فيقبل ما قصا

And he has recounted his affliction and let his tears flow;

He has told of his woes, though his tears go unseen

will you show compassion, so that his account may be accepted?

Might you show him some mercy for what he has plead?

وكم لوحَت بالوجد فيك رموزه

وكم لوحَت بالوجد فيك رموزه

فلما تناهى الشوق بينت النصا

فلما تناهى الشوق بينت النصا

And how often his symbols have hinted at his longing for you;

Your affections made signs which he thought to glean

then, when longing reached its height, they made the declaration plain.

But longing revealed that it was just a false lead

وقد لاذ بالباب افتقاراً وذلةً

وقد لاذ بالباب افتقاراً وذلةً

فكيف له في شرعة الحب أن يقصى

فكيف له في شرعة الحب أن يقصى

And he has sought refuge at the door in need and humility;

At your door he still waits, broken and humbled

how, then, under love's law, can he be turned away?

Though in love's bounds, how can he be reimbled?

إذا هبّ من روض الرضا عرف نفحةٍ

إذا هبّ من روض الرضا عرف نفحةٍ

تمايل فاهتزت معاطفهُ رقصا

تمايل فاهتزت معاطفهُ رقصا

When a fragrant waft blows from the garden of favor,

When the meadow's contentment sends fragrance so fine

he sways, and his sides quiver in dance.

That it shakes all his garments in rhythmic design

ستقطع بيد الحب أينقُ وجده

ستقطع بيد الحب أينقُ وجده

ويعمل في مرضاتك الوخد والنصا

ويعمل في مرضاتك الوخد والنصا

The she-camels of his longing will cross love's deserts,

The hand of true love will cut short his lament

and he will employ a brisk stride and a racing pace to please you.

Bringing calm to his heart and his thoughts to refine

فبى من غرامي فيك وجد مبرحٌ

فبى من غرامي فيك وجد مبرحٌ

وأشواق قلبي لا تعَدّ ولا تحصى

وأشواق قلبي لا تعَدّ ولا تحصى

For my passion for you brings me agonizing longing,

My passion for you is a joyful song singing

and my heart's longings can neither be numbered nor counted.

With longings that cannot be numbered or named

لعلّك تحيى دراسات رسوم من

لعلّك تحيى دراسات رسوم من

بريقه هجران الأحبّة قد غصّا

بريقه هجران الأحبّة قد غصّا

Perhaps you will revive the faded traces of one

Perhaps you might look on these symbols I'm bringing

whom estrangement from loved ones has left choking on his own saliva,

Of lovers forsaken, their bright spirits chained

فيمنَحُ بالتقريب أنساً ورفعةً

فيمنَحُ بالتقريب أنساً ورفعةً

ويصبحُ من بعد التباعد مختصا

ويصبحُ من بعد التباعد مختصا

so that, drawn near, he may be granted intimacy and high standing,

And allow me to draw near in warmth and honor

and after estrangement may become specially favored.

No longer cast out or at distance contained