دنوتُ وقد أَبْدَى الكَرى منه مَا أَبْدى

دنوتُ وقد أَبْدَى الكَرى منه مَا أَبْدى

فقبَّلْتُه في الخَدِّ تسعين أَوْ إِحْدَى

فقبَّلْتُه في الخَدِّ تسعين أَوْ إِحْدَى

I drew near while slumber had revealed in him all it revealed,

I drew near, while slumber had revealed of him what it revealed.

and kissed him on the cheek ninety times—or one more.

Then I kissed him on the cheek ninety times—or once.

وأَبصرْتُ في خّدَّيهِ ماءً وخُضْرَةً

وأَبصرْتُ في خّدَّيهِ ماءً وخُضْرَةً

فما أَمْلَحَ المَرْعَى ومَا أَعْذَبَ الوِرْدَا

فما أَمْلَحَ المَرْعَى ومَا أَعْذَبَ الوِرْدَا

In his two cheeks I beheld water and greenery:

And on his cheeks I saw water and green growth:

how lovely the pasture, how sweet the watering place!

How lovely the pasture, and how sweet the watering place!

تلَّهب مَاءُ الخدِّ أَو سَالَ جَمْرَةً

تلَّهب مَاءُ الخدِّ أَو سَالَ جَمْرَةً

فيا ماءُ ما أَذْكَى ويَا جَمْرُ مَا أَنْدَى

فيا ماءُ ما أَذْكَى ويَا جَمْرُ مَا أَنْدَى

The cheek’s water blazed—or else an ember flowed;

His cheek's water blazed—or flowed as a glowing ember.

O water, how fiercely you burn! O ember, how dewy you are!

O water, how fiercely ablaze! O embers, how dewy!

يلُوم عَلَيْه مَنْ يَهيم بِدُونه

يلُوم عَلَيْه مَنْ يَهيم بِدُونه

ومَنْ كان يَهْوى الصَّابَ لَمْ يَعرف الشَّهْدَا

ومَنْ كان يَهْوى الصَّابَ لَمْ يَعرف الشَّهْدَا

One who raves for less than he reproaches me for loving him;

One besotted with someone beneath him blames me for loving him;

whoever loves bitter aloe has never known honey.

And whoever loves bitter sap has never known honey.

وما كُلُّ معسول اللِّمى يَجْلِبُ الهَوى

وما كُلُّ معسول اللِّمى يَجْلِبُ الهَوى

ولا كُلُّ مصقولِ الطِّلاَ يَسلبُ الرُّشْدا

ولا كُلُّ مصقولِ الطِّلاَ يَسلبُ الرُّشْدا

Not every honeyed, dark-lipped mouth summons love,

Not every honey-sweet, dark-lipped one awakens love,

nor does every polished neck steal reason away.

Nor does every polished neck steal one's reason.

وقد يَنْقلون اسْمَ المليحِ لِضِدِّه

وقد يَنْقلون اسْمَ المليحِ لِضِدِّه

ومِنْ ذاكَ قَالُوا الوَرْدَ والأَسدُ الوَرْدَا

ومِنْ ذاكَ قَالُوا الوَرْدَ والأَسدُ الوَرْدَا

They sometimes transfer the fair one’s name to its opposite:

Sometimes they give a lovely thing's name to its opposite;

thus they call both the rose and the tawny lion ward.

Thus they call the rose ward, and the tawny lion ward.

أَقولُ لناهٍ قد أَشارَ بتركِه

أَقولُ لناهٍ قد أَشارَ بتركِه

لقد زِدْتَني فيما أَشرتَ به زُهْدا

لقد زِدْتَني فيما أَشرتَ به زُهْدا

I say to a censor who counseled me to forsake him:

I tell an admonisher who urged me to leave him:

Your counsel has only made me more averse to abstinence.

You have made me still more averse to what you advised.

فلِمْ لا نهيتَ الثَّغْر أَن يَعْذُبَ اللَّمى

فلِمْ لا نهيتَ الثَّغْر أَن يَعْذُبَ اللَّمى

ولِمْ لا أَمَرْتَ الصَّدرَ أَنْ يَكْتُمَ النَّهْدا

ولِمْ لا أَمَرْتَ الصَّدرَ أَنْ يَكْتُمَ النَّهْدا

Why did you not forbid the mouth its sweet, dark lips?

Why did you not forbid his mouth to have sweet dark lips,

Why did you not command the breast to conceal its sigh?

And why did you not command his chest to conceal its swelling breast?

بِنَفْسيَ مَنْ إِنْ جَادَ لِي بِوصَالِه

بِنَفْسيَ مَنْ إِنْ جَادَ لِي بِوصَالِه

فلا أَنْعَمَت نُعمٌ ولا أَسْعَدتْ سُعْدَى

فلا أَنْعَمَت نُعمٌ ولا أَسْعَدتْ سُعْدَى

My life for one who, if he grants me union,

My soul be his ransom! If he grants me union,

makes every blessing worthless and every good fortune joyless beside it.

Nuʿm has bestowed no bliss, nor Suʿda brought me happiness.

أَعادَ وأَبْدى هَجْرَه وصُدودَه

أَعادَ وأَبْدى هَجْرَه وصُدودَه

وأَعْيا الوَرى أَمْرُ المَعادِ أَو الْمبَدَا

وأَعْيا الوَرى أَمْرُ المَعادِ أَو الْمبَدَا

Again and anew he displayed his desertion and disdain,

He renewed and revealed his estrangement and aversion;

and all creation was baffled by this question of return and beginning.

And the question of return or origin has baffled mankind.

وأُقسِم ما عِندي إِليه صَبَابَةٌ

وأُقسِم ما عِندي إِليه صَبَابَةٌ

وكَيْف وجَوْرُ الشَّوقِ لَمْ يُبق لِي عِنْدا

وكَيْف وجَوْرُ الشَّوقِ لَمْ يُبق لِي عِنْدا

I swear I harbor no longing for him—

I swear I have no longing for him within me;

how could I, when passion’s tyranny has left me nothing of myself?

How could I, when longing's tyranny has left me no 'within'?

شُغِلت بثغرٍ بل بتوأَمِ جَوْهرٍ

شُغِلت بثغرٍ بل بتوأَمِ جَوْهرٍ

عَن الْمُدَّعِي في علمِه الجوهرَ الفَرْدَا

عَن الْمُدَّعِي في علمِه الجوهرَ الفَرْدَا

A mouth—indeed, twin rows of pearls—distracted me

A mouth—or rather twin jewels—has distracted me

from the tear, though in its own realm it is the peerless jewel.

From one who, in his learning, asserts the indivisible atom.

وفي القلبِ نارٌ للخليلِ تَوَقَّدَتْ

وفي القلبِ نارٌ للخليلِ تَوَقَّدَتْ

وما ذُقْتُ منها لاَ سَلاماً ولا بَرْداً

وما ذُقْتُ منها لاَ سَلاماً ولا بَرْداً

Within my heart a fire was kindled for the beloved,

And in my heart a fire has blazed for the beloved friend;

yet from it I tasted neither Abraham’s safety nor coolness.

Yet I have tasted neither peace nor coolness from it.

ومِنْ نارِ قَلْبي بانَ فَضْلُ تَغزُّلي

ومِنْ نارِ قَلْبي بانَ فَضْلُ تَغزُّلي

وإِن شِئتَ مِثْلي فانْظر النَّارَ والنَّدَّا

وإِن شِئتَ مِثْلي فانْظر النَّارَ والنَّدَّا

The fire within my heart revealed the excellence of my love-song;

My heart's fire revealed the excellence of my love verse;

if you seek my likeness, behold fire joined with dew.

If you wish to see my likeness, behold fire and incense.

أَيا واحداً أَنْدى مِن الْخَلْقِ كلِّهم

أَيا واحداً أَنْدى مِن الْخَلْقِ كلِّهم

ليْهنِك أَنِّي لم أَجِدْ منكَ لي بُدّاً

ليْهنِك أَنِّي لم أَجِدْ منكَ لي بُدّاً

O you, more generous than every other creature,

O peerless one, more generous than all creation,

rejoice that I have found no escape from you.

May you rejoice that I have found no escape from you.

وإِن غبتَ كان البدرُ مِنكَ خَليفَةً

وإِن غبتَ كان البدرُ مِنكَ خَليفَةً

وإِن قُلْتَ لي أَنْشَأْتُ عَنْكَ لَه الْعَهْدَا

وإِن قُلْتَ لي أَنْشَأْتُ عَنْكَ لَه الْعَهْدَا

When you are absent, the full moon serves as your deputy;

If you are absent, the full moon becomes your deputy;

and when you speak to me, I renew my covenant with it in your name.

And if you tell me, I shall draw up its commission on your behalf.

ولو لَمْ أَخَفْ أَن تُزلقَ الرجلَ أَدْمُعِي

ولو لَمْ أَخَفْ أَن تُزلقَ الرجلَ أَدْمُعِي

إِذا زُرْتَني أَوطأْتُ أَخْمصك الخَدَّا

إِذا زُرْتَني أَوطأْتُ أَخْمصك الخَدَّا

Had I not feared my tears would make your foot slip,

Had I not feared my tears would make your foot slip,

whenever you visited, I would spread my cheek beneath your sole.

When you visited me, I would place my cheek beneath your foot's arch.

نسيتُ سِوى ربْع الحبيبِ فَإِنَّني

نسيتُ سِوى ربْع الحبيبِ فَإِنَّني

يَطير فُؤادِي حين أَذْكُرُه وَجْدَا

يَطير فُؤادِي حين أَذْكُرُه وَجْدَا

I have forgotten everything but the beloved’s dwelling, for

I have forgotten everything but the beloved's dwelling, for

my heart takes wing with yearning whenever I remember it.

My heart takes flight in rapture whenever I remember it.

وذلك ربَعٌ تُنبِتُ الحسنَ أَرضُه

وذلك ربَعٌ تُنبِتُ الحسنَ أَرضُه

ترى الوردَ فيه الخدَّ والغصنَ القدَّا

ترى الوردَ فيه الخدَّ والغصنَ القدَّا

It is a dwelling whose earth brings beauty forth:

That is a dwelling whose soil brings forth beauty;

there the rose is a cheek, and the branch a graceful form.

There, the rose you see is a cheek, and the bough a slender figure.

ورَبْعُ الَّذِي أَهواه يروي سَرابُه ال

ورَبْعُ الَّذِي أَهواه يروي سَرابُه ال

عِطاش ويَشْفِي تُربُه الأَعينَ الرُّمْدا

عِطاش ويَشْفِي تُربُه الأَعينَ الرُّمْدا

The dwelling of the one I love—its mirage gives drink to the

And at the dwelling of the one I love, its mirage quenches the

thirsty, while eyes heal its dust of every inflamed soreness.

Thirsty, and its dust heals inflamed eyes.

ثَوتْ في مَغانيه السُّعودُ كأَنَّما

ثَوتْ في مَغانيه السُّعودُ كأَنَّما

مَغانِيه تَستَهْدي مِن الأَسْعَد السَّعدا

مَغانِيه تَستَهْدي مِن الأَسْعَد السَّعدا

Good fortunes thronged its habitations, as though

Good fortunes have dwelt in its haunts, as though

those habitations sought happiness from al-Asʿad, the Most Fortunate.

Its haunts sought the gift of good fortune from al-Asʿad.

هُو الأَسْعَدُ القَاضي الأَميرُ أَما ترى

هُو الأَسْعَدُ القَاضي الأَميرُ أَما ترى

جنودَ الْمعَالِي كيفَ صِرنَ له جُنْدا

جنودَ الْمعَالِي كيفَ صِرنَ له جُنْدا

He is al-Asʿad, the judge, the emir—do you not see

He is al-Asʿad, the judge, the emir—do you not see

how the armies of high achievement have become his soldiers?

How the armies of noble qualities have become his troops?

فتىً لم يزل يستعبد الحمدَ جودَه

فتىً لم يزل يستعبد الحمدَ جودَه

ولا سِّدٌ إِلاَّ مَن اسْتعبد الحَمْدا

ولا سِّدٌ إِلاَّ مَن اسْتعبد الحَمْدا

A young man whose generosity has never ceased enslaving praise;

A youth whose generosity has never ceased to enslave praise;

the days are not rightly guided by one who fails to make praise his servant.

And none is a lord but he who has enslaved praise.

تفَنَّن في إِعطائه لعُفَاتِه

تفَنَّن في إِعطائه لعُفَاتِه

فلو سأَلُوه المجدَ أَعْطاهُم المَجْدَا

فلو سأَلُوه المجدَ أَعْطاهُم المَجْدَا

He displays endless invention in giving to those who seek his bounty;

He displays many arts in giving to his petitioners;

were they to ask him for glory itself, he would give them glory.

Were they to ask him for glory, he would give them glory.

فهمْ وسْط جَنَّاتِ النعيمِ بِجُوده

فهمْ وسْط جَنَّاتِ النعيمِ بِجُوده

وقد طَمِعُوا أَنْ يربَحوا عنده الخُلدا

وقد طَمِعُوا أَنْ يربَحوا عنده الخُلدا

Through his generosity they dwell amid gardens of delight,

Through his generosity they dwell amid gardens of bliss;

and hope that with him they may even gain eternity.

And they hope to gain eternity in his presence.

ولا عَيبَ فِيه غيرَ أَنَّ عَلاءَه

ولا عَيبَ فِيه غيرَ أَنَّ عَلاءَه

إِذا حدَّدُوه كانَ قَدْ جَاوَزَ الحدَّا

إِذا حدَّدُوه كانَ قَدْ جَاوَزَ الحدَّا

He has no fault except that his eminence,

There is no fault in him, except that his eminence,

whenever they renew its praise, has already passed every limit.

Whenever they set its limit, has already exceeded that limit.

ولا عيبَ أَيْضاً في مَآثِر بَيْتِه

ولا عيبَ أَيْضاً في مَآثِر بَيْتِه

سِوى أَنَّها تُروَى بأَلْسِنَةِ الأَعْدا

سِوى أَنَّها تُروَى بأَلْسِنَةِ الأَعْدا

Nor is there any fault in his house’s illustrious deeds

Nor is there any fault in the glorious deeds of his house,

except that even the tongues of enemies recount them.

Except that they are recounted by enemies' tongues.

مناقبُ سارَتْ عنه وانْتَسَبَتْ له

مناقبُ سارَتْ عنه وانْتَسَبَتْ له

فسرَّت وَلِيّاً فيه أَو كَتَبَتْ ضِدّاً

فسرَّت وَلِيّاً فيه أَو كَتَبَتْ ضِدّاً

Virtues have traveled abroad from him and claimed descent from him,

Merits spread abroad from him and traced their ancestry to him,

whether borne by a loyal friend or written down by a foe.

Then gladdened a friend through him, or recorded an adversary.

من النَّفرِ البيضِ الَّذين إِذَا بَدَوْا

من النَّفرِ البيضِ الَّذين إِذَا بَدَوْا

ترى اللَّيْلَ مُبيَضّاً أو الفجر مسودا

ترى اللَّيْلَ مُبيَضّاً أو الفجر مسودا

He comes from those radiant men who, when they appear,

He is of those radiant men who, when they appear,

make night turn white—or dawn turn black by contrast.

Make you see the night turn white, or the dawn turn black.

تراهم لدى الغمشاء خرساً عن الخنا

تراهم لدى الغمشاء خرساً عن الخنا

وتلقى لهم في الفخر أَلْسِنَةً لُذّاً

وتلقى لهم في الفخر أَلْسِنَةً لُذّاً

In murky times you find them mute before obscenity,

Amid dark turmoil you see them mute to foul speech,

but in glory you find them gifted with keen tongues.

Yet in boasting you find them eloquent of tongue.

فَلاَ تعجب الحسَّادُ من سَعْد جَدِّهم

فَلاَ تعجب الحسَّادُ من سَعْد جَدِّهم

أَليس قدِيماً كَانَ جَدُّهم سَعْدا

أَليس قدِيماً كَانَ جَدُّهم سَعْدا

Let the envious not marvel at the good fortune of their ancestry:

Let the envious not marvel at their happy fortune:

was not their forefather long ago named Saʿd—Good Fortune?

Was not their grandfather long ago Saʿd?

فليتَ أَباكَ الْيَومَ عَادَ يَرى ابْنَه

فليتَ أَباكَ الْيَومَ عَادَ يَرى ابْنَه

ومِدْحَته تَسْرِي ونِعْمَتَه تُسدَى

ومِدْحَته تَسْرِي ونِعْمَتَه تُسدَى

If only your father might return today and behold his son,

If only your father returned today to see his son,

his praise traveling abroad and his favors continually bestowed;

His praise traveling abroad and his bounty bestowed,

ويبصرُ جَدّاً يَحْسُدُ الإِبنُ جَدَّه

ويبصرُ جَدّاً يَحْسُدُ الإِبنُ جَدَّه

عَليه فأَعْلَى رَبه ذلك الجَدَّا

عَليه فأَعْلَى رَبه ذلك الجَدَّا

and see a glory for which the son’s own forefather envies him—

And behold a fortune that makes the son envy his grandfather

a glory God has raised: exalted is his fortune and rank.

For it—may his Lord exalt that fortune!

أَقولُ لِهَذا الدَّهْر تِهْ واسْتَطِلْ بِه

أَقولُ لِهَذا الدَّهْر تِهْ واسْتَطِلْ بِه

فحسبُكَ فَخْراً أَنْ تكون له عَبْداً

فحسبُكَ فَخْراً أَنْ تكون له عَبْداً

I say to this age: exult and vaunt yourself through him;

I tell this age: swagger and hold your head high through him;

it is pride enough for you to be his servant.

For it is glory enough for you to be his slave.

له خَاطِرٌ يبدي الجواهرَ بَحرُه

له خَاطِرٌ يبدي الجواهرَ بَحرُه

وإِنْ كَان بحراً ما خَبَتْ نارُه وَقْدَا

وإِنْ كَان بحراً ما خَبَتْ نارُه وَقْدَا

His mind is a sea that brings its jewels to light,

He has a mind whose ocean brings forth jewels;

and though a sea, it hides no fire or kindling within its depths.

And though it is an ocean, its fire has never waned in its burning.

ولم يَدْرِ إِنْ أَجْرى اليراعَ بطرسه

ولم يَدْرِ إِنْ أَجْرى اليراعَ بطرسه

أَيَكْتُب فيه السَّطْرَ أَوْ يَنْظِم العِقْدَا

أَيَكْتُب فيه السَّطْرَ أَوْ يَنْظِم العِقْدَا

When his reed-pen runs across the page, one cannot tell

And when he runs the reed pen over his sheet, he cannot tell

whether it writes a line or strings a necklace.

Whether he writes a line upon it or strings a necklace.

عيونُ مَعانيه صِحَاحٌ كأَنَّها

عيونُ مَعانيه صِحَاحٌ كأَنَّها

عُيونٌ مِراضٌ أَصْبحت تَشْتَكي السُّهدا

عُيونٌ مِراضٌ أَصْبحت تَشْتَكي السُّهدا

The wellsprings of his meanings are sound, though they resemble

His choicest meanings are sound, as though they were

the eyes of the lovesick, grown ill from complaining of sleeplessness.

Ailing eyes that have begun to complain of sleeplessness.

ألا قُلْ لصَرفِ الدَّهرِ قد عَلِقَتْ يَدِي

ألا قُلْ لصَرفِ الدَّهرِ قد عَلِقَتْ يَدِي

بِحبْلٍ مَتينٍ منه فلْيَبْلغ الحَدَّا

بِحبْلٍ مَتينٍ منه فلْيَبْلغ الحَدَّا

Tell the assaults of Time: I have fastened my hand

Now tell time's adversity: my hand has clung

to his unbreakable rope—let Time now test its edge.

To a stout rope from him; let it reach its utmost limit.

ولَو عَرْبَدتْ يَوْماً علَّي صُروفُه

ولَو عَرْبَدتْ يَوْماً علَّي صُروفُه

وجئتُ له أَشْكُوه أَوْرَده الحَدَّا

وجئتُ له أَشْكُوه أَوْرَده الحَدَّا

Were Time’s vicissitudes ever to carouse riotously against me,

And if its vicissitudes should one day brawl drunkenly against me,

I would bring my complaint to him and make Time taste the blade.

And I came to him complaining of it, he would make it face the legal penalty.

وقد كنتُ أَشكو مِنْ وِصَال خُطُوبِه

وقد كنتُ أَشكو مِنْ وِصَال خُطُوبِه

فصدَّ إِلي أَنْ خِلْتُني أَشْتَكِي الصَّدَّا

فصدَّ إِلي أَنْ خِلْتُني أَشْتَكِي الصَّدَّا

I had long complained to him of Time and the tightening of its calamities;

I used to complain of union with its calamities;

he bent toward me until I thought my complaint had merely been thirst.

Then it turned away until I fancied I was complaining of its estrangement.

أَمَوْلاَي إِنِّي أَجْتديك مَودَّةً

أَمَوْلاَي إِنِّي أَجْتديك مَودَّةً

ومِثْليَ يَسْتَجْدِي ومِثْلُك يُسْتَجْدى

ومِثْليَ يَسْتَجْدِي ومِثْلُك يُسْتَجْدى

By God, I seek from you only affection,

O my lord, I beg your affection;

while praise itself seeks your bounty—and one like you is rightly sought.

One like me asks for gifts, and one like you is asked for them.

ومَنْ كَان يَبْغِي مِنْ يَديْك مَثُوبَةً

ومَنْ كَان يَبْغِي مِنْ يَديْك مَثُوبَةً

فَما أَبْتَغِي إِلاَّ المَحَبَّةَ والوُدَّا

فَما أَبْتَغِي إِلاَّ المَحَبَّةَ والوُدَّا

Whoever desires a reward from your hands may do so;

While others seek a reward from your hands,

I desire nothing but love and loyal regard.

I seek nothing but love and affection.

ولي حَاجَةٌ قَدْ كَادَ يَحضُر وَقْتُها

ولي حَاجَةٌ قَدْ كَادَ يَحضُر وَقْتُها

وأَسْأَلُ في إِنجازِها مِنْك لي وَعْدا

وأَسْأَلُ في إِنجازِها مِنْك لي وَعْدا

I have a need whose appointed time has nearly closed around it,

And I have a need whose time has almost come;

and I ask you to promise me that you will bring it to completion.

I ask you to promise me its fulfillment.

وإِنَّك إِنْ أَسْلَفْتَني مِنْكَ مَوْعِداً

وإِنَّك إِنْ أَسْلَفْتَني مِنْكَ مَوْعِداً

تَيقَّنْتُ أَنَّ النُّجْحَ قَدْ صَارَ لِي نَقْدا

تَيقَّنْتُ أَنَّ النُّجْحَ قَدْ صَارَ لِي نَقْدا

If you advance me a promise from yourself,

And if you advance me a promise from yourself,

I shall know that success has already become ready coin in my hand.

I shall know for certain that success has become ready cash for me.

وعِنديَ شُكْرٌ يُفْعِم الأَرضَ نشْره

وعِنديَ شُكْرٌ يُفْعِم الأَرضَ نشْره

كندِّيِّ أَنْفَاسِ الرِّياض من الأَنْدا

كندِّيِّ أَنْفَاسِ الرِّياض من الأَنْدا

I possess a gratitude whose fragrance will fill the earth,

And I have gratitude whose fragrance fills the earth,

like your generous rain—the garden’s breath, heavy with dew.

Like the dewy breaths of gardens, born of dew.

نظمتُ مَديحي كَالْفَريدِ ِلأَنَّنِي

نظمتُ مَديحي كَالْفَريدِ ِلأَنَّنِي

خصَصَتُ به مِنْ ظَلَّ في مَدْحِه فَرْدا

خصَصَتُ به مِنْ ظَلَّ في مَدْحِه فَرْدا

I have strung my praise like a necklace of precious pearls,

I have strung my praise like precious pearls, because I

dedicating it to the one who, supreme in praise, stands peerless.

Have reserved it for one who remains peerless in praise.