ماhow كانَwas يَومَthe day وَصَلتِyou joined الصَبَّthe lovesick lover أَفتاكِyouthful you were
ما كانَ يَومَ وَصَلتِ الصَبَّ أَفتاكِ
فَمَنthen who بتعذيبهِto torment him بِالصَدِّthrough rejection أَفتاكِgave you leave
فَمَن بتعذيبهِ بِالصَدِّ أَفتاكِ
How youthful you were the day you joined the lovesick lover!
The day you reached youth was no ordinary day
Who, then, gave you leave to torment him through rejection?
For he who suffers your aloofness is slain
ياO ظَبيةًgazelle ماnot رَعَتkept عَهديmy pledge وَقَدand already نَفرتtook flight
يا ظَبيةً ما رَعَت عَهدي وَقَد نَفرت
ليهنكِmay it gladden you اليَومَtoday أَنَّthat القَلبَthe heart مَرعاكِyour pasture
ليهنكِ اليَومَ أَنَّ القَلبَ مَرعاكِ
O gazelle who did not keep my pledge and has taken flight,
O gazelle who ignored my pact and grew distant
may it gladden you today that the heart is your pasture.
So enjoy this day where the heart is your pasture
نَأَيتِyou went far away داراًin dwelling وَلَمand did not أَسمَعI hear غِناكِyour singing فَبيso within me
نَأَيتِ داراً وَلَم أَسمَع غِناكِ فَبي
فيin الحالَتَينِboth states صَباباتٌardent longings بمغناكِfor your abode
في الحالَتَينِ صَباباتٌ بمغناكِ
You dwelt far away, and I did not hear your song; within me,
I came to a house but heard not your singing within
in both states, are ardent longings for your abode.
In both cases, maidens, your singing obsesses me
ماnot زلتُI ceased فيin الوَصلِunion وَالهجرانِand estrangement ذاone with شَجنٍsorrow
ما زلتُ في الوَصلِ وَالهجرانِ ذا شَجنٍ
أَرجوكِI hope for you فيin البُعدِdistance أَوor فيin القُربِnearness أَخشاكِI fear you
أَرجوكِ في البُعدِ أَو في القُربِ أَخشاكِ
I have remained sorrowful in union and estrangement;
I remain in union and separation, ever yearning
I hope for you afar, or fear you near.
I fear or hope for you whether near or far
أَخفىI conceal سِقاماًillness وَهَذاwhile this الوَجهُface مُحتَجِبٌveiled
أَخفى سِقاماً وَهَذا الوَجهُ مُحتَجِبٌ
فَالحزنُso sorrow وَالحسنُand beauty أَخفانيhid me وَأَخفاكَand hid you
فَالحزنُ وَالحسنُ أَخفاني وَأَخفاكَ
I conceal an illness, while this face is veiled;
I hide an illness, though my face conceals it
thus sorrow has hidden me, and beauty has hidden you.
Grief and beauty both hide me and you
ماnot تَذكرينyou remember نَهارَthe day الوَصلِof union مِنكِfrom you وَإِذand when
ما تَذكرين نَهارَ الوَصلِ مِنكِ وَإِذ
لثمتُI kissed خَدَّكِyour cheek ماwhichever قَدalready كانَit was أَوor فاكِyour mouth
لثمتُ خَدَّكِ ما قَد كانَ أَو فاكِ
Do you not remember the day of union with you, and when
You don’t recall the day of union when
I kissed your cheek—or your mouth, whichever it was?
I kissed your cheek, past and future
سَرَيتِyou traveled by night عَنّيaway from me وَقَلبيand my heart قَدalready أَسَرتِyou captured فَماso how
سَرَيتِ عَنّي وَقَلبي قَد أَسَرتِ فَما
أَسعاكِeagerly you strive فيin غَيظِvexing قَتلاكِthose you slew وَأَسراكِand your captives
أَسعاكِ في غَيظِ قَتلاكِ وَأَسراكِ
You traveled away from me by night, having captured my heart—how
You turned from me, capturing my heart, so what
eagerly you strive to vex those you have slain and taken captive!
Vengeance in your rage, capturing and imprisoning you
قالَتshe said قَصَدتُI sought بِتِرحاليin my departure سِواكَsomeone other than you فَماso what
قالَت قَصَدتُ بِتِرحالي سِواكَ فَما
قَصَدتَyou sought قلتُI said لَهاto her إِيّاكِyou إِيّاكِyou
قَصَدتَ قلتُ لَها إِيّاكِ إِيّاكِ
She said, "In departing, I sought someone other than you; what
She said, “In my travel I sought, but you”
did you seek?" I told her, "You! You!"
I said, “You, you alone”
كَرُمتِyou were noble أَصلاًin lineage وَماyet not واصلتِyou granted union to ذاone with شجنٍsorrow
كَرُمتِ أَصلاً وَما واصلتِ ذا شجنٍ
حاشاكِfar be it from you أَنthat تُنسَبيyou be attributed لِلبُخلِto miserliness حاشاكِfar be it from you
حاشاكِ أَن تُنسَبي لِلبُخلِ حاشاكِ
You are noble by descent, yet grant no union to a sorrowing lover;
Noble origin, though you left this longing one
far be it from you to be deemed miserly—far be it!
Never attribute stinginess, never to your name
ماwhat لِلجُفونِwith the eyelids وَللأسقامِand with the ailments تسكنهاdwell in them
ما لِلجُفونِ وَللأسقامِ تسكنها
لَعَلَّperhaps جِسميmy body بِهَذاthrough this السقمِsickness هاداكِexchanged gifts with you
لَعَلَّ جِسمي بِهَذا السقمِ هاداكِ
What is it with the eyelids and the ailments dwelling in them?
Let not my eyes or illness find peace
Perhaps my body exchanged gifts with you through this sickness.
Perhaps through this illness, my body will subdue you
أَهدىgave as a gift لَكto you السُقمsickness جِسميmy body لاِقترابِكِbecause you drew near منto
أَهدى لَك السُقم جِسمي لاِقترابِكِ من
صَحابةِthe companions اللومِof blame أَعدائيmy enemies وَأَعداكِand your enemies
صَحابةِ اللومِ أَعدائي وَأَعداكِ
My body gave you sickness because you drew near to
Illness gifted me your proximity, so foes
the companions of blame, my enemies and yours.
And enemies reproach you and me
وَعاذلايَand my two reproachers شَفاكِmay He cure you اللَهُGod منof سقمٍsickness
وَعاذلايَ شَفاكِ اللَهُ من سقمٍ
قَدalready ولَّياhave both turned away عنكِfrom you منout of جَهلٍignorance وَعافاكِand may He grant you health
قَد ولَّيا عنكِ من جَهلٍ وَعافاكِ
And my two reproachers—may God cure you of sickness—
Those blaming you, may God cure you of sickness
have turned away from you in ignorance; may He grant you health.
And turn from you ignorance and protect you
دَعيleave العِتابَreproach وَهاتيand bring كأسَthe cup فيكِof your mouth فَماso how
دَعي العِتابَ وَهاتي كأسَ فيكِ فَما
فيin ذاthis الحَديثِtalk رَعاكِmay He protect you اللَهُGod أَوهاكِfrail you are
في ذا الحَديثِ رَعاكِ اللَهُ أَوهاكِ
Leave reproach, and bring the cup of your mouth; how
Leave blame, and bring a cup, in you is
frail you are in such talk—may God protect you!
In this talk, may God shepherd or awaken you
ماhow أَعذبَsweet الراحَthe wine أَجلوهاI unveil it بفيكِwith your mouth وَماand how
ما أَعذبَ الراحَ أَجلوها بفيكِ وَما
أَحلىsweet لِقاكِmeeting you بإصباحٍat daybreak وَأَحلاكِand how sweet you are
أَحلى لِقاكِ بإصباحٍ وَأَحلاكِ
How sweet the wine I unveil with your mouth, and how
How sweet the breeze, freshened by your mouth
sweet to meet you at daybreak—and how sweet you are!
How beautiful, meeting you at dawn and at night
رحلتِyou departed عَنّيaway from me بِقَلبٍwith a heart كانَwas مَسكنكُمyour dwelling (plural)
رحلتِ عَنّي بِقَلبٍ كانَ مَسكنكُم
هَلّاwhy did you not قرنتِyou joined بِقَلبيto my heart جسميmy body الشاكيailing
هَلّا قرنتِ بِقَلبي جسمي الشاكي
You departed from me with a heart that had been your dwelling;
You left me, your heart once my home
why did you not join my ailing body to my heart?
Why not join my body, my complaining heart?
وَخانَand betrayed صَبريَmy patience مُذsince أَبصَرتُI saw ربعَكُمُyour dwelling (plural)
وَخانَ صَبريَ مُذ أَبصَرتُ ربعَكُمُ
فَماso not وَفىremained faithful ليto me إِلّاexcept طَرفيَmy eye الباكيweeping
فَما وَفى لي إِلّا طَرفيَ الباكي
And my patience betrayed me since I saw your abode;
Since I saw your abode, my patience failed me
none remained faithful to me but my weeping eye.
Save for my weeping eyes, nothing was loyal
وَبُعدُand the distance ماwhat بَينَbetween أَحشائيmy inward parts وَراحَتِهاand their repose
وَبُعدُ ما بَينَ أَحشائي وَراحَتِها
كبعدِlike the distance ماwhat بَينَbetween أَجفانيmy eyelids وَرؤياكِand a vision of you
كبعدِ ما بَينَ أَجفاني وَرؤياكِ
And the distance between my inward parts and their repose
The distance between my soul and its comfort
is like the distance between my eyelids and a vision of you.
Is the distance between my eyelids and seeing you
حَكىrecounted لَناto us البَحرُthe sea أَخباراًtales لِنائِلِهِof his bounty
حَكى لَنا البَحرُ أَخباراً لِنائِلِهِ
وَالفَضلُand the merit فيin ذاكَthat للمحكيِّbelongs to the one described لاnot الحاكيthe teller
وَالفَضلُ في ذاكَ للمحكيِّ لا الحاكي
The sea told us tales of his bounty,
The sea told us the tale of its obtainer
and the merit there belongs to the one described, not the teller.
But the narrator, not the tale, deserves praise
سطورُهُhis lines وَمعانيهِand his meanings مُنَظَّمةٌwell ordered
سطورُهُ وَمعانيهِ مُنَظَّمةٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though they دُرَرٌpearls ماwhat بَينَbetween أَسلاكِthreads
كَأَنَّها دُرَرٌ ما بَينَ أَسلاكِ
His lines and meanings are well ordered,
Its lines and meanings, so organized
as though they were pearls strung between threads.
As if pearls between threads interlaced and aligned
وَمِنكِand through you روحيmy soul تَبدّتappeared ياO بديهتَهُhis spontaneous inspiration
وَمِنكِ روحي تَبدّت يا بديهتَهُ
رويَّةًquenched بِالحميّاwith the heady wine منfrom محيّاكِyour face
رويَّةً بِالحميّا من محيّاكِ
And through you my soul appeared, O his spontaneous inspiration,
From you my soul emerged, O remarkable wit
quenched by the heady wine from your face.
Quenched by life from your wellspring of life
سَقىmay He water وَحيّاكِand greet you رَبّيmy Lord بِالحَياwith rain كرماًgenerously
سَقى وَحيّاكِ رَبّي بِالحَيا كرماً
ماhow أَوقحَshameless الحاسِدَthe envier المضنىstricken وَأَحياكِand how bashful you are
ما أَوقحَ الحاسِدَ المضنى وَأَحياكِ
May my Lord water and greet you with rain, in His bounty.
May your life nourish and greet you, honored one
How shameless the stricken envier, and how bashful you!
How vulgar the envious, mean-spirited belittling you
أَدرَكتِyou perceived ماwhat قَدalready خَفىwas hidden عَنّاfrom us وَطبتِand you grew sweet شَذاًin fragrance
أَدرَكتِ ما قَد خَفى عَنّا وَطبتِ شَذاً
لِلَّهِGod be praised ماذاhow عَلىin الحالينِboth respects أَذكاكِkeen you are
لِلَّهِ ماذا عَلى الحالينِ أَذكاكِ
You perceived what had been hidden from us, and your fragrance grew sweet;
You attained what eluded us, excelling in wisdom
God be praised—how keen you are in both respects!
By God, how did you enlighten both states?
ياO فكرتيmy thought هوَhe يُمليdictates وَصفَهُhis description فَإِذاand when
يا فكرتي هوَ يُملي وَصفَهُ فَإِذا
مَدَحتِyou praised جازيhe rewards بأَموالٍwith wealth وَأَملاكِand estates
مَدَحتِ جازي بأَموالٍ وَأَملاكِ
O my thought, he dictates his description; and when
My thoughts, he dictates your description, so if
you praise him, he rewards you with wealth and estates.
You praise, reward with wealth and property
إِنif أُوقدتis kindled فيكِwithin you نارٌa fire للذكاءfor brilliance يكنthere will be
إِن أُوقدت فيكِ نارٌ للذكاء يكن
بِمَدحِهِthrough praising him فيin جنانِthe gardens الخُلدِof eternity مأواكِyour abode
بِمَدحِهِ في جنانِ الخُلدِ مأواكِ
If a fire of brilliance is kindled within you, there will be
If a fire of brilliance is kindled in you
a home for you, through praising him, in the gardens of eternity.
Through praising him, paradise will be your abode
يرويكhe quenches you جوداًwith bounty وَتَرويand you recount أَنتِyou مدحتهhis praise
يرويك جوداً وَتَروي أَنتِ مدحته
ففضلُهُso his bounty فيin كلاboth الحالَينِstates روّاكِquenched you
ففضلُهُ في كلا الحالَينِ روّاكِ
He quenches you with bounty, while you recount his praise;
He nourishes your generosity, and you his praise
thus his bounty, in both cases, has quenched you.
So in both cases, his grace is your water-bearer
ياO مَنyou who يُشَبّهُهُlikens him بِالغَيثِto rain مِنthrough كَرَمٍgenerosity
يا مَن يُشَبّهُهُ بِالغَيثِ مِن كَرَمٍ
مَنwho ذاthis الَّذيwho شَبَّهَlikened البسّامَthe ever-smiling one بِالباكيto the weeper
مَن ذا الَّذي شَبَّهَ البسّامَ بِالباكي
O you who liken him to rain for his generosity,
O you who liken his generosity to rain
who has likened the ever-smiling one to the weeper?
Who compares the smiling one to the weeping?
Sol 6.1