Poems
- أحبابنا لو لقيتم في إقامتكمOur beloved ones, had you felt during your stay
- أعدمتني بالجوى يا فاتر المقلYou have undone me with love's anguish, O languid-eyed one.
- ألا يا حمامات بمنعرج اللوىLo, O doves at the bend of the winding sands,
- ألا يا سائرا في عقد عمرAh, O traveler through a decade of life,
- ألحاظك والجفون أصل الفتنYour glances and eyelids are the source of temptation.
- الصب بكم قد فنيت أدمعهThe one lovesick for you—his tears have run dry,
- الصب بينكم كثير العبراتThe lovesick lover among you sheds abundant tears.
- أهوى رشأ مهفهف القد رشيقI love a graceful gazelle fawn, slender of form.
- أي ليل علىالمحب أطالهWhat a night was drawn out for the lover
- أيا غادرا خانت مواثيق عهدهO betrayer who broke his covenants
- أيا معرضا عني بغير جنايهO you who turn away from me though I have done no wrong,
- بالصحبة يا صاح اذا جزت بحيBy our friendship, O friend, when you pass through a quarter,
- تمثلتم لي والديار بعيدةYou took shape before me, though the dwellings were far away.
- روحي بك يا معذبي قد شقيتMy soul has suffered because of you, O my tormentor.
- في هامش خدك البديع القانيIn the margin of your wondrous crimson cheek
- في هامش خدك البديع القاني تصحيحIn the margin of your wondrous crimson cheek
- قاسوك ببدر التم قوم ظلمواThose who compared you to the full moon did you wrong.
- قاسوك بغصن البان لما وصفواThey compared you to a branch of the bān tree when they described you.
- قد قال لي الخيال إذ وافانيThe phantom said to me when it came to me:
- قوم لهم علي فرض وحقوقPeople to whom I owe a duty and who have rights over me.
- كأنني يوم بان الحي عن إضمOn the day the clan departed from Iḍam, I was like—
- كم قلت لما اطلعت وجناتهHow often I said, when his cheeks brought forth
- لا تعتقدوا رحلت عنكم مللاDo not think I left you out of weariness;
- لاحت سحرا لزائر الخيف بروقLightning flashed before dawn for the visitor to al-Khayf.
- لله ليال سلفت بالعلمHow wondrous the nights gone by at al-ʿAlam,
- لما رأيت ديار وجهك أوحشتWhen I saw the abode of your face desolated
- لما نظرت الى ارجاء وجنتهWhen I looked upon the reaches of his cheek,
- ما أطيب ليلة مضت بالسفحHow sweet was the night that passed at the hill's foot!
- ما أومض بارق ولا هب نسيمNo lightning flashes, nor does a breeze blow,
- ما شمت على الخيف بروقا لمعتI never beheld lightning flashing over al-Khayf
- ما لي أرب سواك مالي أربI have no desire but you—no other desire.
- مذ أعرض عني جيرتي وانتزحواSince my neighbors turned away from me and moved far away,
- ملاك بلدتنا بالحسن أربعةFour are the masters of our town through beauty.
- من أين لأجفانك هذا الكحلWhence this kohl upon your eyelids?
- من بغزال كلما قلت خطرWho can help me with a gazelle? Whenever I say, “He strutted,”
- هذا الصلف الزائر في معناهThis arrogant visitor, as to his meaning,
- هوى بين أحناء الضلوع مخامرA passion dwells among the curves of the ribs,
- هوى من نظام الملك واسطة العقدThe central jewel has fallen from the necklace of kingship,
- ولما أن تفرقناAnd when we parted,
- وما سر قلبي منذ شطت بك النوىAnd since separation carried you far away, my heart has not been gladdened
- وهواك يا سلمى وحرمة ما جرىBy my love for you, O Salma, and by the sanctity of what passed
- يا رب إن العبد يخفي عيبهO Lord, indeed the servant hides his fault.
- يا سادتي إني قنعت وحقكمO my masters, I am content, by your honor,
- يا سعد عساك تطرق الحي عساكO Saʿd, may you visit the encampment by night—may you—
- يا شمس ضحى جبينه وضاحO midmorning sun, whose brow is radiant,
- يا غصن نقا قوامه ميادO branch upon a sand dune, whose form sways,
- يا مرتحلا يطوي متون الفلواتO traveler crossing the expanses of the deserts,
- يا من بفراقهم ظنوني خابتO you who tormented me by your parting—to nothing has come
- يا من بمغيبه نأى الصبر وغابO you in whose absence patience has grown distant and vanished.
- يا من كلفت به فعذب مهجتيO you whom I adore, who have tormented my soul,
- يا من لهم الجميل والأنعامO you to whom kindness and generosity belong,
- يا من لي من جميلهم عاداتO you whose kindness I have grown accustomed to,
No poems found.