جَلَتْshe emerged عَنْfrom حِجابَيْthe two veils of خَجلةٍbashfulness وتَنقُّبِand face-veiling
جَلَتْ عَنْ حِجابَيْ خَجلةٍ وتَنقُّبِ
كماas لاحَshone forth بَدْرٌa full moon عنfrom behind سَحابٍclouds وغَيْهبِand darkness
كما لاحَ بَدْرٌ عن سَحابٍ وغَيْهبِ
She emerged from the twin veils of bashfulness and veiling,
She unveiled from behind her veil of shyness
as a full moon shines forth from clouds and darkness.
Like the full moon emerging from clouds and disappearance
فتاةٌa maiden غَداbegan دَهريmy fate يُماطِلُنيkeeps putting me off بِهاover her
فتاةٌ غَدا دَهري يُماطِلُني بِها
فأُعْتِبُهُso I reproach it حتَّىuntil انْثَنىit relented للتَّعَتُّبِto reproach
فأُعْتِبُهُ حتَّى انْثَنى للتَّعَتُّبِ
A maiden whom my fate kept withholding from me;
A girl who preoccupied me for a period of my life
I reproached it until it relented to my reproach.
So I reproached time until I bent to beg
مَهدْتُI prepared لهاfor her منfrom فَضْلِthe abundance of وُدِّيَmy love جانِباًa place
مَهدْتُ لها من فَضْلِ وُدِّيَ جانِباً
إلىuntil أنْthat دَنَتْshe drew near مِنْfrom بَعْدafter طُولlengthy تَجَنُّبِavoidance
إلى أنْ دَنَتْ مِنْ بَعْد طُول تَجَنُّبِ
I made her a place from the abundance of my love,
I prepared for her from the goodness of my love a place
until she drew near after long avoidance.
Until she came near after a long avoidance
نَضَتْshe removed عنfrom مُحَيَّاthe face of الصُّبحdawn سِجْفَthe curtain of غَمامَةٍa cloud
نَضَتْ عن مُحَيَّا الصُّبح سِجْفَ غَمامَةٍ
ولاحَتand she appeared بمرأىًas a sight فيin المَلاحَةِbeauty مُغْرِبِastonishing
ولاحَت بمرأىً في المَلاحَةِ مُغْرِبِ
She drew a cloud's curtain from the face of dawn,
The brightness of morning unveiled from the cheek of gloom a cloud
and appeared, a sight of astonishing beauty.
And appeared clearly in view at sunset
فصدَّتso she turned away لِحاظيmy glances عنfrom سَناهاher radiance مَهابةًawe
فصدَّت لِحاظي عن سَناها مَهابةً
بهاthrough it حَجْبُهاher concealment عَنِّيfrom me إذاwhen لمnot تَحجَّبِshe veils herself
بها حَجْبُها عَنِّي إذا لم تَحجَّبِ
She turned my gaze from her radiance by inspiring awe;
So she blocked my sight from her radiance in awe
that awe veils her from me even when she wears no veil.
Her veil prevents me from seeing her if she doesn't veil
أتتْshe came تتَهادىswaying gracefully بَيْنَamong أتْرابِهاher peers صِباًin youth
أتتْ تتَهادى بَيْنَ أتْرابِها صِباً
فقُلso say ظَبيةٌa gazelle قَدْindeed أقبلَتْshe approached وسْطَamid رَبْرَبِa herd of gazelles
فقُل ظَبيةٌ قَدْ أقبلَتْ وسْطَ رَبْرَبِ
She came, youthful, swaying gracefully among her peers;
She came swaying between her peers in youth
say: a gazelle has approached amid a herd.
So say a gazelle who arrived amidst the wilderness
مَهاةٌa white oryx جَرَىflowed ماءُthe water of الحياةِlife بِثَغرِهاat her mouth
مَهاةٌ جَرَى ماءُ الحياةِ بِثَغرِها
رُضاباًas sweet saliva أعاذَتْهُshielded it المَنونُDeath بِعَقْرَبِwith a scorpion
رُضاباً أعاذَتْهُ المَنونُ بِعَقْرَبِ
A white oryx: the water of life flowed at her lips,
A doe whose water of life flows from her lips
as sweet saliva, which Death guarded with a scorpion.
Quenching it from death with the tip of her mouth
خَصِيبةُfertile طَيِّthe folds of الأزْرِthe waist-wraps جَدْبٌbarren وِشاحُهاher sash
خَصِيبةُ طَيِّ الأزْرِ جَدْبٌ وِشاحُها
فرِدْفٌso, a rump لِبَغذاذٍfor Baghdad وعِطفٌand a waist لِيَثْربِfor Yathrib
فرِدْفٌ لِبَغذاذٍ وعِطفٌ لِيَثْربِ
Fertile in her waist-wraps' folds, barren at her sash;
Khasibah, the excellent and her covering barren land
thus her hips are Baghdad's, her waist Yathrib's.
An accessory to Bughdad and a wrapping for Yathrib
تَزُرُّshe buttons علىover البَدْرِthe full moon المُنيرِradiant جُيوبَهاher neck openings
تَزُرُّ على البَدْرِ المُنيرِ جُيوبَها
فلاso no حُسْنَbeauty إلّاexcept ضمنَwithin ذاكَthat المُنَقَّبِveiled one
فلا حُسْنَ إلّا ضمنَ ذاكَ المُنَقَّبِ
She buttons her collars over the radiant full moon;
She covers over the bright full moon her pockets
there is no beauty save within that veiled one.
So no beauty except within that which is veiled
مُنَعَّمَةُdelicate الأطرافِof limb تَعبثُshe toys بالنُّهىwith reason
مُنَعَّمَةُ الأطرافِ تَعبثُ بالنُّهى
كماjust as عَبثتْplayed havoc أيامُthe days of هَجريmy estrangement بمأْرَبِيwith my desire
كما عَبثتْ أيامُ هَجري بمأْرَبِي
Delicate of limb, she plays havoc with reason,
Of beautiful limbs she plays with prohibition
as the days of my estrangement played havoc with my desire.
As did the days of my estrangement at Ma'rib
إذاwhen ماindeed اعْتَزتshe takes pride فيin الحُسنِbeauty بانَbecame evident اعتزازُهاher pride
إذا ما اعْتَزت في الحُسنِ بانَ اعتزازُها
بِشَمْسِin the sun of الضحىforenoon أُمٍّas mother وبَدْرِand the full moon of الدُّجىdarkness أبِas father
بِشَمْسِ الضحى أُمٍّ وبَدْرِ الدُّجى أبِ
When she boasts of beauty, her proud lineage is clear:
If she competes in beauty, her pride is
the forenoon sun for mother, the full moon of darkness for father.
In the sun of morning a mother and in the full moon of night a father
مِنَone of الواضِحاتِthe radiant beauties الغُرِّthe brilliant ones لوif أنَّهاthat she سَرَتْtraveled by night
مِنَ الواضِحاتِ الغُرِّ لو أنَّها سَرَتْ
بأكْمَهَby one born blind لَيْلاًat night مازَهاhe recognized her عَنْdespite تَنَقُّبِveiling
بأكْمَهَ لَيْلاً مازَها عَنْ تَنَقُّبِ
One of the bright, radiant beauties—were she to pass
From the lucid beauties, if she walked
a man born blind at night, he would recognize her despite her veil.
At night in a veil, none would discern her veil
فَماfor not الشَّمسُthe sun قدindeed لاحَتْhas appeared ضُحىًat forenoon وسْطَamid مَشرقٍan eastern sky
فَما الشَّمسُ قد لاحَتْ ضُحىً وسْطَ مَشرقٍ
بأملحَany lovelier منهاthan her قدْindeed تَجلَّتْshe unveiled herself بِمغْرِبِin the west
بأملحَ منها قدْ تَجلَّتْ بِمغْرِبِ
Nor is the sun, shining at forenoon in the east,
For the sun has not risen at dawn in an eastern horizon
lovelier than she, unveiled in the west.
More beautifully than her unveiled at sunset
جُويريةٌa little maiden تَجريshe flows دَماًas blood فيthrough مَفاصِليmy joints
جُويريةٌ تَجري دَماً في مَفاصِلي
فقدfor indeed ذَهَبَتْshe has carried بيme فيin الهَوىlove كُلَّevery مَذْهَبِpath
فقد ذَهَبَتْ بي في الهَوى كُلَّ مَذْهَبِ
A little maiden, flowing as blood through my joints;
She flows blood in my joints
she has carried me down every path of love.
So she has taken me in love through every course
تُريكَshe shows you انْعِطافَthe bending of القُضْبِbranches والطَيرُwhile the birds ساجعٌare singing
تُريكَ انْعِطافَ القُضْبِ والطَيرُ ساجعٌ
إذاwhen ماانْثَنَتْindeed she sways رَقْصاًin dance بصَوْتٍto a sound مُطَرِّبِenchanting
إذا ماانْثَنَتْ رَقْصاً بصَوْتٍ مُطَرِّبِ
She shows you the bending of branches while birds sing,
You see the bend of her slender frame and the bird turns back
when she sways in dance to an enchanting sound.
When she sways dancing with a melodious voice
أياO جَنَّةًparadise مِنfrom رِيقهاher saliva كوْثرٌKawthar لَهاof her own
أيا جَنَّةً مِن رِيقها كوْثرٌ لَها
تُرىI wonder مَشْرقيmy east فيin الحُبِّlove مِنْكto you مُقَرّبيwhat brings me near
تُرى مَشْرقي في الحُبِّ مِنْك مُقَرّبي
O paradise, whose saliva is her own Kawthar,
O paradise of her saliva a spring for her
will my east in love, I wonder, bring me nearer to you?
You see my east in love through you brought near
نَهضْتُI undertook بفَرضِthe duty of الحبِّlove أبغيseeking تَنعُّماًbliss
نَهضْتُ بفَرضِ الحبِّ أبغي تَنعُّماً
لَديكِwith you فَمَنْfor whoever نَعَّمْتِهِyou granted him bliss لمnot يُعَذَّبِis tormented
لَديكِ فَمَنْ نَعَّمْتِهِ لم يُعَذَّبِ
I undertook the duty of love, seeking bliss
I stood for the duty of love seeking bliss
with you; whoever you grant bliss is not tormented.
With you, so whoever you bless is not tormented
ثِقيtrust بوِداديin my affection حالَيِin both states of السُّخطِdispleasure والرِّضىand contentment
ثِقي بوِدادي حالَيِ السُّخطِ والرِّضى
فَليسfor there is no لِقَلْبيfor my heart فيin الهوىlove منْany تَقَلُّبِwavering
فَليس لِقَلْبي في الهوى منْ تَقَلُّبِ
Trust my love in both displeasure and contentment;
Trust my passion in my discontent and acceptance
for my heart never wavers in love.
For my heart in love has no fickleness
أأجنحُwould I incline منfrom بَعْدِafter الهُدىguidance لِضَلالةٍtoward error
أأجنحُ من بَعْدِ الهُدى لِضَلالةٍ
وأطلبand seek بعدَafter الحقِّthe truth أكْذبَthe falsest مَطْلَبِaim
وأطلب بعدَ الحقِّ أكْذبَ مَطْلَبِ
Would I turn to error after guidance,
Shall I turn after guidance to misguidance
and after truth seek the falsest aim?
And seek after truth the most false quest?
وَهَبْتُI gave دَميmy blood عنout of طِيْبِthe gladness of نَفسِيَmy soul للهوىto love
وَهَبْتُ دَمي عن طِيْبِ نَفسِيَ للهوى
وأهْدَيْتُand I offered أجريmy reward للبَنانِto the fingertips المُخضَّبِhenna-dyed
وأهْدَيْتُ أجري للبَنانِ المُخضَّبِ
I gave my blood to love of my own free will,
I gave my blood willingly for love
and offered my reward to the henna-dyed fingertips.
And gifted my reward to the one whose palms are stained
ذُنوبُthe sins of العُيونِthe eyes النُّجلwide مَغْفورةٌforgiven لهاto them
ذُنوبُ العُيونِ النُّجل مَغْفورةٌ لها
فماfor no الذَّنْبُguilt إِلّاexcept للفُؤادِfor the heart المَعذَّبِtormented
فما الذَّنْبُ إِلّا للفُؤادِ المَعذَّبِ
The sins of wide eyes are forgiven them;
The sins of the beautiful eyes are forgiven them
guilt belongs only to the tormented heart.
For no sin except for the tormented heart
أياO رَحْمَةًmercy إِلّاexcept لِمَشْغوفِto one consumed by حُبِّهاlove for her
أيا رَحْمَةً إِلّا لِمَشْغوفِ حُبِّها
حَنانَيْكshow your mercy فيon صَبٍّa lovesick man أُهَيلa humble little fellow مغرّبِfar from home
حَنانَيْك في صَبٍّ أُهَيل مغرّبِ
O mercy, save to one consumed by love for her,
O mercy but for the passionate lover
take pity on a lovesick man, a humble fellow far from home:
Your tenderness at nightfall to the west I pray
صَدوقٌtruthful كأفَّاكٍlike an inveterate liar وفيٌّfaithful كناكِثٍlike an oath-breaker
صَدوقٌ كأفَّاكٍ وفيٌّ كناكِثٍ
كَتْومٌdiscreet كَبوَّاحٍlike one who divulges secrets بَرِيءٌinnocent كَمُذْنِبِlike a sinner
كَتْومٌ كَبوَّاحٍ بَرِيءٌ كَمُذْنِبِ
truthful, yet like a liar; faithful, yet like an oath-breaker;
Trustworthy as Affak, faithful as Nakith
discreet, yet like a revealer of secrets; innocent, yet like a sinner.
Silent as Katoum, innocent as the sinner
هَبينيgrant me ولَوْeven if only إغفاءةًa brief doze منof كرىًsleep عَسىperhaps
هَبيني ولَوْ إغفاءةً من كرىً عَسى
أرَىI may see طَيْفَكِyour phantom السَّاريtraveling by night فَذلِكَfor that مُحْسِبيis enough for me
أرَى طَيْفَكِ السَّاري فَذلِكَ مُحْسِبي
Grant me even a brief moment of sleep, that perhaps
Grant me even a brief glimpse that I might see
I may see your night-roaming phantom; that would suffice me.
Your phantom image for that would suffice me
خُذيtake بِيَديby my hand تُنجيyou will save غَريقاًa drowning man منfrom الرَّدىdeath
خُذي بِيَدي تُنجي غَريقاً من الرَّدى
ولاand do not تَكِلِينيleave me للرَّجاءِto hope المُخَيَّبِfrustrated
ولا تَكِلِيني للرَّجاءِ المُخَيَّبِ
Take my hand: you will save a drowning man from death,
Take me by the hand to save a drowning man from evil
and do not leave me to frustrated hope.
And do not abandon me to failed hopes
Sol 6.1