أَلا هَل إِلى الزُهرِ الحِسانِ سَبيلُ

أَلا هَل إِلى الزُهرِ الحِسانِ سَبيلُ

وَهَل لي عَلى آثارِهِنَّ دَليلُ

وَهَل لي عَلى آثارِهِنَّ دَليلُ

Ah, is there a way to the radiant beauties?

Is there a way to the beautiful flowers?

And is there a guide for me along their tracks?

Is there someone to guide me to their trail?

وَهَل لي بِخَيماتِ اللِوى مِن مَعَرَّسٍ

وَهَل لي بِخَيماتِ اللِوى مِن مَعَرَّسٍ

وَهَل لِيَ في ظِلِّ الأَراكِ مَقيلُ

وَهَل لِيَ في ظِلِّ الأَراكِ مَقيلُ

And is there a place for me to rest at night by the tents of al-Liwa?

Is there a tent for me among the encampments of bliss?

And is there a noonday resting place for me in the shade of the arak trees?

Is there a place for me in the shade of the groves?

فَقالَ لِسانُ الحالِ يُخبِرُ أَنَّها

فَقالَ لِسانُ الحالِ يُخبِرُ أَنَّها

تَقولُ تَمَنَّ ما إِلَيهِ سَبيلُ

تَقولُ تَمَنَّ ما إِلَيهِ سَبيلُ

Then the tongue of circumstance spoke, reporting that she

The tongue of my state says it yearns

says, “Wish on—there is no way to it.”

For that to which there is no way.

وَدادي صَحيحٌ فيكِ يا غايَةَ المُنى

وَدادي صَحيحٌ فيكِ يا غايَةَ المُنى

وَقَلبِيَ مِن ذاكَ الوَدادِ عَليلُ

وَقَلبِيَ مِن ذاكَ الوَدادِ عَليلُ

My love for you is sound, O ultimate object of desire,

My love for you is true, O ultimate wish,

And my heart is sick from that love.

And for that love my heart is sick.

تَعالَيتَ مِن بَدرٍ عَلى القُطبِ طالِعٍ

تَعالَيتَ مِن بَدرٍ عَلى القُطبِ طالِعٍ

وَلَيسَ لَهُ بَعدَ الطُلوعِ أُفولُ

وَلَيسَ لَهُ بَعدَ الطُلوعِ أُفولُ

How exalted you are—a full moon rising above the pole,

You rose like the full moon over the celestial pole

And it has no setting after its rising.

With no setting after your rising.

فَديتُكَ يا مَن عَزَّ حُسناً وَنَخوَةً

فَديتُكَ يا مَن عَزَّ حُسناً وَنَخوَةً

فَلَيسَ لَهُ بَينَ الحِسانِ عَديلُ

فَلَيسَ لَهُ بَينَ الحِسانِ عَديلُ

May I be your ransom, O you peerless in beauty and pride,

I ransom you, O peerless in beauty and grace,

For he has no equal among the beauties.

None can equal you among the beautiful.

فَرَوضُكَ مَطلولٌ وَوَردُكَ يانِعٌ

فَرَوضُكَ مَطلولٌ وَوَردُكَ يانِعٌ

وَحُسنُكَ مَعشوقٌ عَلَيهِ قُبولُ

وَحُسنُكَ مَعشوقٌ عَلَيهِ قُبولُ

For your garden is dew-covered, and your roses are in bloom,

Your meadow is verdant, your roses in bloom,

And your beauty is adored and graced with charm.

Your beauty desired, to it hearts incline.

وَزَهرُكَ بَسّامٌ وَغُصنُكَ ناعِمٌ

وَزَهرُكَ بَسّامٌ وَغُصنُكَ ناعِمٌ

تَميلُ لَهُ الأَرواحُ حَيثُ يَميلُ

تَميلُ لَهُ الأَرواحُ حَيثُ يَميلُ

And your blossoms smile, and your branch is supple;

Your blossoms are smiling, your branches supple,

Souls incline toward it wherever it sways.

Souls sway toward them whichever way they lean.

وَظَرفُكَ فَتّانٌ وَطَرفُكَ صارِمٌ

وَظَرفُكَ فَتّانٌ وَطَرفُكَ صارِمٌ

بِهِ فارِسُ البَلوى عَلَيَّ يَصولُ

بِهِ فارِسُ البَلوى عَلَيَّ يَصولُ

And your grace is bewitching, and your glance a sharp sword;

Your figure is charming, your glance is piercing,

With it the horseman of affliction charges against me.

With it the knight of afflictions against me charges.