يا ليلةَ الوصلِ بَلْ يا ليلَةَ الْعُمُر

يا ليلةَ الوصلِ بَلْ يا ليلَةَ الْعُمُر

أَحْسنتِ إِلاَّ إِلى المشتاق في القِصَرِ

أَحْسنتِ إِلاَّ إِلى المشتاق في القِصَرِ

O night of union—no, O night of a lifetime!

O night of union, nay O night of life

You were kind, except to the yearning lover in your brevity.

You were kind to none save the yearning one in the palace

يا ليتَ زَيد بحكم الوصلِ فيكِ له

يا ليتَ زَيد بحكم الوصلِ فيكِ له

ما أَطولَ الهجْرَ من أَيَّامِه الأُخَرِ

ما أَطولَ الهجْرَ من أَيَّامِه الأُخَرِ

If only, by union's decree, you had been lengthened for him

Would that Zayd, by the decree of union with you, had for himself

with those other days of his that estrangement made so long.

How long is separation with its other days

أَو ليتَ نَجْمكِ لم تقفل ركائبهُ

أَو ليتَ نَجْمكِ لم تقفل ركائبهُ

أَو ليتَ صُبحكِ لم يَقدُم من السَّفَرِ

أَو ليتَ صُبحكِ لم يَقدُم من السَّفَرِ

Or if only the mounts of your star had not returned,

Would that your star had not shut its litters

or if only your dawn had not arrived from its journey.

Or would that your dawn had not come from the journey

أَو ليتَ لم يَصْفُ فيك الشَّرْقُ من غَبشٍ

أَو ليتَ لم يَصْفُ فيك الشَّرْقُ من غَبشٍ

فذلك الصَّفْوُ عندي غَايَةُ الكَدَرِ

فذلك الصَّفْوُ عندي غَايَةُ الكَدَرِ

Or if only the east had not cleared of dusk within you,

Or would that the east had not described in you an ugly brownness

for that clarity is, to me, the utmost gloom.

For that description with me is the utmost of gloom

أَو ليتَ كلاًّ من الشَّرقين ما ابْتَسما

أَو ليتَ كلاًّ من الشَّرقين ما ابْتَسما

أَو ليتَ كُلاًّ من النَّسرَين لم يَطِر

أَو ليتَ كُلاًّ من النَّسرَين لم يَطِر

Or if only neither of the two easts had smiled,

Or would that neither of the two easts had smiled

or if only neither of the two Eagles had flown.

Or would that neither of the two eagles had flown

أَو ليتَ أَنْتَ كما قد قال بعضُهمُ

أَو ليتَ أَنْتَ كما قد قال بعضُهمُ

ليلُ الضريرِ فَصُبحي غيرُ مُنْتَظَر

ليلُ الضريرِ فَصُبحي غيرُ مُنْتَظَر

Or if only you were, as someone once said,

Or would that you were as some said

a blind man's night, with no dawn for me to await.

The night of the blind, so my morning was not expected

أَو ليتَ حطَّ عَلى الأَفلاكِ قاطبةً

أَو ليتَ حطَّ عَلى الأَفلاكِ قاطبةً

همِّي عليكَ فلم تَنْهَض ولم تَسِر

همِّي عليكَ فلم تَنْهَض ولم تَسِر

Or if only upon all the celestial spheres had fallen

Or would that all my worries had descended upon the orbits

my anguish over you, so they neither rose nor moved.

So you did not get up or travel

أَو ليتَ فجركَ لم ينفِر به رَشئي

أَو ليتَ فجركَ لم ينفِر به رَشئي

أَو ليتَ شمسكَ ما غَارت على قَمرِي

أَو ليتَ شمسكَ ما غَارت على قَمرِي

Or if only my fawn had not fled at your dawn,

Or would that your dawn had not startled my slumber

or if only your sun had not grown jealous of my moon.

Or would that your sun had not set on my moon

أَو ليتَ قَلْبي وطَرْفي تَحتَ مُلكِ يدي

أَو ليتَ قَلْبي وطَرْفي تَحتَ مُلكِ يدي

فَزِدْت فيك سوادَ القلبِ والْبَصَرِ

فَزِدْت فيك سوادَ القلبِ والْبَصَرِ

Or if only my heart and eyes were under my hand's command,

Or would that my heart and my glance were under my hands’ control

so I could add to you the blackness of my heart and eyes.

So I increased in you the darkness of heart and sight

أَو ليتَ أَلْقى حبيبي سِحرَ مُقلتِه

أَو ليتَ أَلْقى حبيبي سِحرَ مُقلتِه

على العِشاءِ فأَبْقَاها بِلاَ سَحَر

على العِشاءِ فأَبْقَاها بِلاَ سَحَر

Or if only my beloved had cast his eye's enchantment

Or would that I met my beloved at the charm of eve

upon the evening, keeping it without a dawn.

And kept it without charm

أَو ليتَ لو كان يُفْدى مَنْ كَلِفْتُ به

أَو ليتَ لو كان يُفْدى مَنْ كَلِفْتُ به

درُّ النجومِ بِما في العِقْدِ من دُرَر

درُّ النجومِ بِما في العِقْدِ من دُرَر

Or if only, were the one I adore redeemable,

Or would that he for whom I yearned could be ransomed

the stars' pearls could be ransomed with the pearls in the necklace.

By the stars' pearls and what the necklaces contain of jewels

أَو ليتَ كنتِ سأَلْتِيه مساعدةً

أَو ليتَ كنتِ سأَلْتِيه مساعدةً

فكان يَحْبوكِ بالتَّكحِيل والشعَرِ

فكان يَحْبوكِ بالتَّكحِيل والشعَرِ

Or if only you had asked him for assistance,

Or would that you had asked him for help

and he had endowed you with kohl and hair.

And he hurried to you with kohl and poetry

أَو ليتَ جُملةَ عُمرِي لو غَدا ثَمَناً

أَو ليتَ جُملةَ عُمرِي لو غَدا ثَمَناً

في البَعْضِ منكِ ومَنْ لِلْعُمِي بالْعَوَرِ

في البَعْضِ منكِ ومَنْ لِلْعُمِي بالْعَوَرِ

Or if only my whole lifetime had become a price

Or would that my whole life tomorrow became a price

for some part of you—who could give the blind one-eyed sight?

For some of you and some of the blind with defect

كَأَنَّها حين ولَّتْ قمتُ أَجذِبُها

كَأَنَّها حين ولَّتْ قمتُ أَجذِبُها

فانقدَّ في الشَّرقِ عَنْها الجيبُ من دُبُرِ

فانقدَّ في الشَّرقِ عَنْها الجيبُ من دُبُرِ

It was as though, as she departed, I rose to pull her back,

It was as though when it turned away I pulled it

so in the east her neckline split open from behind.

And the pleat in the east came loose at the back

لا مَرْحباً بصباحٍ جاءَني لَدَلاً

لا مَرْحباً بصباحٍ جاءَني لَدَلاً

من غُرَّة النَّجمِ أَو مِنْ طَلْعَة الْقَمَر

من غُرَّة النَّجمِ أَو مِنْ طَلْعَة الْقَمَر

No welcome to a morning that came to me as a substitute

No welcome to a morning that came to me spiritless

for the star's bright brow or the moon's rising face.

From the beginning of a star or the rising of a moon

زار الحبيبُ وقَدْ قالت له خُدعِي

زار الحبيبُ وقَدْ قالت له خُدعِي

زرْه وقال له الْواشُون لا تَزُرِ

زرْه وقال له الْواشُون لا تَزُرِ

The beloved visited, after my stratagems had told him,

The beloved visited when my ruses said to him

'Visit him,' while the informers told him, 'Do not visit.'

"Visit him," and the slanderers said, "Do not visit"

فجاءَ والخَطوُ في ريث وفي عَجل

فجاءَ والخَطوُ في ريث وفي عَجل

كقلبِه حَارَ في أَمنٍ وفي حَذرِ

كقلبِه حَارَ في أَمنٍ وفي حَذرِ

He came with steps both slow and hurried,

So he came while his steps were slow or hurried

like his heart, wavering between safety and caution.

Like his confused heart, in safety or in caution

كأَنَّه كانَ من تَخْفيفِ خُطْوَتِه

كأَنَّه كانَ من تَخْفيفِ خُطْوَتِه

يَمْشِي على الْجَمْرِ أَوْ يَسْعى عَلى الإِبَرِ

يَمْشِي على الْجَمْرِ أَوْ يَسْعى عَلى الإِبَرِ

His tread was so light, it was as though he

It was as though from lightening his steps

walked on embers or hurried over needles.

He walked on embers or hurried on needles

وقال إِذ قلتُ ما أَحْلَى تَحَفُّرَه

وقال إِذ قلتُ ما أَحْلَى تَحَفُّرَه

تبرَّجَ الحُسْن في خدَّيه مِنْ خَفَرِ

تبرَّجَ الحُسْن في خدَّيه مِنْ خَفَرِ

And he said, when I said, 'How sweet his bashfulness!'—

And he said, when I spoke, "How sweet is your coquetry

beauty revealing itself in his cheeks through modesty—

Beauty blossomed on his cheeks from its veil"

يا أَخضرَ الَّلون طابَت منكَ رائحةٌ

يا أَخضرَ الَّلون طابَت منكَ رائحةٌ

وغبتَ عنَّا فما أَبقيتَ للخضرِ

وغبتَ عنَّا فما أَبقيتَ للخضرِ

'O green-hued one, sweet is the fragrance from you;

O green of color, from you came a good smell

you vanished from us—what have you left for al-Khidr?'

And you were absent from us, so left no green

وقام يَكْسِرُ أَجفاناً مَلاحتُها

وقام يَكْسِرُ أَجفاناً مَلاحتُها

تُعزَى إِلى الحُورِ أَو تُعزَى إِلى الحَورِ

تُعزَى إِلى الحُورِ أَو تُعزَى إِلى الحَورِ

He began lowering eyelids whose loveliness

And he stood to languidly break his eyelids

is traced to houris, or to the contrast of black and white in eyes.

That are attributed to the houri or attributed to the lovely doe

وقمتُ أَسأَلُ قلبي عن مَسرَّتِه

وقمتُ أَسأَلُ قلبي عن مَسرَّتِه

بما حواهُ وعندي أَكثرُ الخَبرِ

بما حواهُ وعندي أَكثرُ الخَبرِ

I rose to ask my heart about its delight

And I stood to ask my heart about its joy

in what it held, though I knew most of the story.

With what it contained, and with me was more knowledge

وبتُّ أَحْسِب أَنَّ الطَّيفَ ضَاجَعني

وبتُّ أَحْسِب أَنَّ الطَّيفَ ضَاجَعني

حتَّى رجَعْت أُسيءُ الظَّنَّ في السَّهر

حتَّى رجَعْت أُسيءُ الظَّنَّ في السَّهر

I spent the night thinking a phantom lay with me,

And I spent the night thinking the specter lay with me

until I began to mistrust my wakefulness.

Until I returned, badly thinking in my vigil

أوردتُ صدري وِرْداً من مُعانقةٍ

أوردتُ صدري وِرْداً من مُعانقةٍ

وحينَ أَوردتُ لم أَعْزِم عَلَى الصَّدَرِ

وحينَ أَوردتُ لم أَعْزِم عَلَى الصَّدَرِ

I brought my breast to drink a draught of embracing,

I brought my breast a lesson from an embrace

and, having brought it to water, I had no resolve to return.

And when I brought it I did not intend for the breast

وكاد يَمْنَعني ضمّاً ورشفَ لَمىً

وكاد يَمْنَعني ضمّاً ورشفَ لَمىً

ضعفٌ من الخَصْرِ أَو فَرْطٌ من الخَصرِ

ضعفٌ من الخَصْرِ أَو فَرْطٌ من الخَصرِ

I was almost kept from embracing him and sipping his dark lips

He almost prevented me, drawing near and touching with his mouth

by the frailty of his waist, or excessive chill.

From weakness of waist or excess from the waist

ورحتُ أَغْنَى بذاك الرِّق مِن فَمِه

ورحتُ أَغْنَى بذاك الرِّق مِن فَمِه

ومنطقٍ منه عَنْ كَأْسٍ وعن وَتَرِ

ومنطقٍ منه عَنْ كَأْسٍ وعن وَتَرِ

I found that saliva from his mouth enough for me,

And I went on singing that song from his mouth

and his speech, in place of a wine-cup and a lute-string.

And a speaking from him instead of a cup or a lute

وبتُّ أَسرقُ من أَنْفاسِه حَذِراً

وبتُّ أَسرقُ من أَنْفاسِه حَذِراً

من أَنْ يعودَ عِشاءُ الَّليلِ كَالسَّحَر

من أَنْ يعودَ عِشاءُ الَّليلِ كَالسَّحَر

I spent the night stealing some of his breath, afraid

And I spent the night stealthily stealing breaths from him

that the night's evening might become like dawn.

Lest the night’s supper return like magic

ومرَّ يسبقُ دَمْعِي وهْوَ يَلْحَقُه

ومرَّ يسبقُ دَمْعِي وهْوَ يَلْحَقُه

كالسَّيل شُيِّع في مَسراهُ بالْمَطَرِ

كالسَّيل شُيِّع في مَسراهُ بالْمَطَرِ

He passed ahead of my tears, which caught up with him,

And he passed, my tear preceding him and it following him

like a torrent escorted on its course by rain.

Like the torrent escorted in its course by rain

سحبتُ ذيلَ دُموعِي إِثْره وغَدا

سحبتُ ذيلَ دُموعِي إِثْره وغَدا

سوايَ يَسحبُ أَذْيالاً على الأَثَر

سوايَ يَسحبُ أَذْيالاً على الأَثَر

I dragged my tears' train behind him; then

I dragged the train of my tears after him, and it became

another dragged his trailing robes along the tracks.

My equal, dragging trains after traces

عيشٌ تَذكَّرْتُه ثم امتدحْتُ عُلا

عيشٌ تَذكَّرْتُه ثم امتدحْتُ عُلا

عبد الرحيمِ فأَغناني عَن الذكر

عبد الرحيمِ فأَغناني عَن الذكر

A life I recalled; then I praised the eminence

A life I remembered, then I praised its loftiness

of Abd al-Rahim, who made such remembering needless.

Abdul Rahim made me forget mentioning it

شُكْري لنُعماه شُكرُ الأَرضِ للمطر

شُكْري لنُعماه شُكرُ الأَرضِ للمطر

أَولاً فشُكرُ العين للنَّظَر

أَولاً فشُكرُ العين للنَّظَر

My gratitude for his bounty is the earth's gratitude for rain

My thanks to him like the earth’s thanks for rain

first, and then the eye's gratitude for sight.

Or the eye’s thanks for sight

دخلتُ جنَّةَ عَدْنٍ في الحياةِ بهِ

دخلتُ جنَّةَ عَدْنٍ في الحياةِ بهِ

فلست أَقرأُ إِلا آخِرَ الزُّمر

فلست أَقرأُ إِلا آخِرَ الزُّمر

Through him I entered the garden of Eden while alive,

I entered the Paradise of Eden in life through him

so I recite only the close of al-Zumar.

So I do not recite but the last of "The Confederates"

وقُلتُ قولوا لأَيَّامٍ مغَيّرةٍ

وقُلتُ قولوا لأَيَّامٍ مغَيّرةٍ

غُرِّي المهدِّدَ يا أَيَّامُ بالغِيرِ

غُرِّي المهدِّدَ يا أَيَّامُ بالغِيرِ

And I said, 'Tell the days that bring change:

And I said, say to days that change,

Beguile the threatener, O days, with your reversals.'

"Change, O days, my threatened state"

وصِرتُ أَلْهو وليلُ الأَمنِ يَشْملني

وصِرتُ أَلْهو وليلُ الأَمنِ يَشْملني

طوراً مع السُّمْرِ أَو طوراً معَ السَّمر

طوراً مع السُّمْرِ أَو طوراً معَ السَّمر

I began taking pleasure, enfolded by the night of security,

And I became distracted, and the safe night covers me

now with dusky companions, now with evening conversation.

At times with naps, at times with night-talk

قبّلتُ ثغرَ الأَماني إِذْ ظَفِرت به

قبّلتُ ثغرَ الأَماني إِذْ ظَفِرت به

والثَّغْر يحسنُ بعد الْفَتْحِ والظَّفرِ

والثَّغْر يحسنُ بعد الْفَتْحِ والظَّفرِ

I kissed the mouth of my wishes when I attained it;

I kissed the lip of hopes when I attained it

and a mouth is fairer after opening and victory.

And the lip is beautiful after opening and victory

تشيَّع الخلقُ مثلي في مَحبَّتهِ

تشيَّع الخلقُ مثلي في مَحبَّتهِ

إِذ كانَ قائمَ جُودٍ غير منتظر

إِذ كانَ قائمَ جُودٍ غير منتظر

People became his partisans in love, as I did,

People like me throng in love of him

for he was an upholder of generosity, not an awaited one.

When he stands conferring kindness without being asked

ومدَّ سوراً عليهم من عنايتهِ

ومدَّ سوراً عليهم من عنايتهِ

فكم تلَوْا لمديحٍ فيه من سُوِر

فكم تلَوْا لمديحٍ فيه من سُوِر

He extended around them a wall of his care;

And he extended over them ramparts of his care

how many suras they recited in his praise!

So how many surahs of praise in him they recited

إِنْ أَمْتَدِحْه فمدحٌ غيرُ مختلق

إِنْ أَمْتَدِحْه فمدحٌ غيرُ مختلق

يجزى عليه ببرٍّ غيرِ مختَصَرِ

يجزى عليه ببرٍّ غيرِ مختَصَرِ

If I praise him, it is praise not fabricated,

If I praise him, then praise not fabricated

rewarded with kindness that is not curtailed.

Rewarding goodness not summarized

أَو طالَ قدراً فلا قَدَرٌ لمقتدرٍ

أَو طالَ قدراً فلا قَدَرٌ لمقتدرٍ

أَو قال فخراً فلا فخرٌ لمفتخرِ

أَو قال فخراً فلا فخرٌ لمفتخرِ

Or if he excels in rank, no powerful man has rank;

Or his worth became long, so no worth for the Omnipotent

or if he speaks of glory, no boaster has glory.

Or he said pride, so no pride for the proud

علا على الخلقِ قدْراً وارتفاعَ سناً

علا على الخلقِ قدْراً وارتفاعَ سناً

حتَّى لقد قيلَ مَا هذا من البشرِ

حتَّى لقد قيلَ مَا هذا من البشرِ

He rose above mankind in rank and soaring radiance,

He became lofty over people in worth and high in years

until indeed it was said, 'This is no human being.'

Until it was said, "This one is not of humans"

في الناس جُودٌ ولكن جُودُ راحتِه

في الناس جُودٌ ولكن جُودُ راحتِه

أَرْبَى عليهم وليس البَحْرُ كالنَّهَرِ

أَرْبَى عليهم وليس البَحْرُ كالنَّهَرِ

There is generosity among people, but the bounty of his palm

Among the people are generous, but his stream of generosity

surpasses theirs: the sea is not like the river.

More profitable for them, and the sea is not like the stream

تلَقى جسوماً عظاماً غير مثمرةٍ

تلَقى جسوماً عظاماً غير مثمرةٍ

والغصنُ أَحسنُ ما تلقاه بالثَّمَرِ

والغصنُ أَحسنُ ما تلقاه بالثَّمَرِ

You encounter huge bodies that bear no fruit,

It faced dried-up bodies, fruitless

and a branch is loveliest when you find it laden with fruit.

While the branch is best when it faces fruit

تَصَنَّعُوا وأَتَتْ طبعاً مواهبُه

تَصَنَّعُوا وأَتَتْ طبعاً مواهبُه

تعطُّل البدوِ أَحْلَى من حُلَى الحَضَر

تعطُّل البدوِ أَحْلَى من حُلَى الحَضَر

They put on a show, while his gifts came naturally;

They pretended while his talents came naturally

the Bedouins' lack of adornment is lovelier than townspeople's jewels.

Bedouin plainness is sweeter than the refined's sweets

نامُوا وقامَ فَخارُ الفخر دونَهُم

نامُوا وقامَ فَخارُ الفخر دونَهُم

والَّلثْمُ في الثَّغْرِ غيرُ الطَّعنِ في الثُّغَرِ

والَّلثْمُ في الثَّغْرِ غيرُ الطَّعنِ في الثُّغَرِ

They slept, while glory's pride rose beyond them;

They slept while the pride of pride is beneath them

a kiss on the mouth is not a spear-thrust at the frontiers.

And a hint in the mouth, not a stab in gaps

والدَّهْرُ مدَّ إِليه كَفَّ مُعْتَذِرٍ

والدَّهْرُ مدَّ إِليه كَفَّ مُعْتَذِرٍ

فمدَّ للدَّهرِ مِنْه لَحْظ مُحتقِر

فمدَّ للدَّهرِ مِنْه لَحْظ مُحتقِر

Time extended to him an apologizer's hand,

And time extended to him the palm of one excusing

and he offered Time a contemptuous glance.

So he extended to time a glance of one scorning

ما اغْتَرَّ قطٌّ بِدُنياه لِفِطْنَتِه

ما اغْتَرَّ قطٌّ بِدُنياه لِفِطْنَتِه

وغَيرُه اغترَّ بالدُّنيا مِن الْغُررِ

وغَيرُه اغترَّ بالدُّنيا مِن الْغُررِ

He was never deceived by his worldly life, thanks to his discernment,

He never fooled himself with his worldly life, for his insight

while others were deceived by the world's illusions.

While others fool themselves with the deceptive world

لله دَوْحةُ عزٍّ أَنبتَتْ غُصُناً

لله دَوْحةُ عزٍّ أَنبتَتْ غُصُناً

ما زالَ يُثمِر للعافين بالْبِدَرِ

ما زالَ يُثمِر للعافين بالْبِدَرِ

How splendid, by God, the tree of honor that grew a branch

For God is an oasis of might which grew a branch

that never ceases to bear purses of coins for petitioners.

That still produces fruits for the prosperous at full moons

أَكْرمْ به غُصُناً أَضْحَت مَواعِدُه

أَكْرمْ به غُصُناً أَضْحَت مَواعِدُه

ونُجحُها لِثمارِ البِرِّ كالزَّهَرِ

ونُجحُها لِثمارِ البِرِّ كالزَّهَرِ

How noble a branch! Its promises became—

Honor through it a branch that has become the place of

with their fulfillment—blossoms for the fruits of kindness.

Its success for acts of righteousness like flowers

ذاك الأَجَلُّ وإِنْ يحكي الورى شَبَهاً

ذاك الأَجَلُّ وإِنْ يحكي الورى شَبَهاً

فالمِسكُ كالطِّينِ في الأَلوانِ والصُّورِ

فالمِسكُ كالطِّينِ في الأَلوانِ والصُّورِ

That is the most exalted one, though he resembles mankind in appearance;

That glorious one, though the people relate a likeness

musk, too, resembles clay in color and form.

Musk is like clay in colors and forms

إِذا رَأَى قدرَ الأَيَّامِ يَخدُمُه

إِذا رَأَى قدرَ الأَيَّامِ يَخدُمُه

فالشكْرُ لِلَّه جارَى خِدْمَةَ الْقَدَرِ

فالشكْرُ لِلَّه جارَى خِدْمَةَ الْقَدَرِ

When he sees the decree of days serving him,

When he sees the course of days serving him

his gratitude to God keeps pace with fate's service.

Thankfulness to God flowed service of Fate

شَهْمُ الخواطِر في الأَخطارِ يَحْمِلُها

شَهْمُ الخواطِر في الأَخطارِ يَحْمِلُها

وفي الخطيرِ يهونُ الحَمْلُ للخَطَر

وفي الخطيرِ يهونُ الحَمْلُ للخَطَر

Valiant of mind, he carries his thoughts through dangers,

The leap of thoughts into dangers carries them

and in weighty affairs, danger is easy to bear.

And in danger, the burden for the dangerous is lightened

وفاتِك الرَّأْي لا تُدهى عَزائِمُه

وفاتِك الرَّأْي لا تُدهى عَزائِمُه

من الْوُثُوبِ ولا تُؤُتَى من الْخَوَرِ

من الْوُثُوبِ ولا تُؤُتَى من الْخَوَرِ

Bold in judgment, his resolves are not outwitted

Your outstanding opinion, its resolves are not misguided

by sudden assaults, nor undermined by weakness.

By frustration, or brought by decline

في كفِّه قَلَمٌ إِنْ شئتَ أَو قَدرٌ

في كفِّه قَلَمٌ إِنْ شئتَ أَو قَدرٌ

يُصَرِّفُ الخلقَ بين النَّفْعِ والضَّرَرِ

يُصَرِّفُ الخلقَ بين النَّفْعِ والضَّرَرِ

In his palm is a pen, if you wish—or fate,

In his hand is a pen, if you wish, or a destiny

directing people between benefit and harm.

That moves people between benefit and harm

منه الطُّروسُ خدودٌ والسطُورُ بها

منه الطُّروسُ خدودٌ والسطُورُ بها

مثلُ السَّوالِف والطَّرَّاتُ كالطُّرَرِ

مثلُ السَّوالِف والطَّرَّاتُ كالطُّرَرِ

Through him, the pages are cheeks, and the lines upon them

From it written lines, and the pages through it

like side-locks, the margins like forelocks.

Are like bracelets and little crowns like tiny moons

هذي المكارمُ لا قعبانُ من لبنٍ

هذي المكارمُ لا قعبانُ من لبنٍ

فَقَعْ لجنبكَ يا شَانِيه أَوْ فَطِرِ

فَقَعْ لجنبكَ يا شَانِيه أَوْ فَطِرِ

These are noble deeds, not two bowls of milk;

These generosities are no clotting from milk

so fall onto your side, you who hate him—or fly!

That clots on your side, O cup or bowl

يا فاضلَ البَشرِ يا قادِرَ القَدَرِ

يا فاضلَ البَشرِ يا قادِرَ القَدَرِ

يا مبعداً حَذَرِي يا مُدنياً وَطَرِي

يا مبعداً حَذَرِي يا مُدنياً وَطَرِي

O best of mankind, O master of fate,

O excellent of mankind, O Able over fate

O you who drive away my fear and bring my desire near!

O you who remove my cautiousness and bring me near

أَكْفُفْ أَيَاديك عنِّي إِنَّني رجلٌ

أَكْفُفْ أَيَاديك عنِّي إِنَّني رجلٌ

أَخافُ منها على نَفْسي من البَطَرِ

أَخافُ منها على نَفْسي من البَطَرِ

Withhold your favors from me: I am a man

Restrain your hands from me, I am a man

who fears they may bring him to arrogant excess.

Who fears for myself from them, from cutting off

ولْيَهْنِكِ العامُ عامٌ كلُّه جَذَلٌ

ولْيَهْنِكِ العامُ عامٌ كلُّه جَذَلٌ

أَتى إِليك بعيشٍ كلِّه نَضرِ

أَتى إِليك بعيشٍ كلِّه نَضرِ

May the year gladden you—a year entirely of joy,

Let this year pass, a year all barren

bringing you a life entirely fresh.

That brought you a life all verdant

وعشتَ أَلفاً وإِنِّي أَيُّ معتذرٍ

وعشتَ أَلفاً وإِنِّي أَيُّ معتذرٍ

عما ذكرتُ لأَنِّي أَيُّ مُخْتَصِرِ

عما ذكرتُ لأَنِّي أَيُّ مُخْتَصِرِ

May you live a thousand years! How apologetic I am

And you lived a thousand, and I, what excuse do I have

for what I have said, since I have been so brief.

For what I mentioned, for I am the summarizer

أَنت الحبيبُ إِلى قلبي وواحدُه

أَنت الحبيبُ إِلى قلبي وواحدُه

إِنِّي رأَيتكَ من دونِ الوَرى وَزَري

إِنِّي رأَيتكَ من دونِ الوَرى وَزَري

You are my heart's beloved and its only one;

You are the beloved to my heart and its only one

I found in you, and no other person, my refuge.

I saw you among people as my intimate friend

حبّي صحيحٌ وغيري حبُّه كذبٌ

حبّي صحيحٌ وغيري حبُّه كذبٌ

إِنِّي جهينةُ فاسئلني عن الخبر

إِنِّي جهينةُ فاسئلني عن الخبر

My love is true, while another's love is false;

My love is true, and others' love is lies

I am Juhaynah: ask me for the news.

I am lovesick, so ask me for the news

وخاطري إِن يوفَّق معْ بلادتِه

وخاطري إِن يوفَّق معْ بلادتِه

فالماءُ ينبعُ أَحْيَاناً من الحَجَرِ

فالماءُ ينبعُ أَحْيَاناً من الحَجَرِ

And if my mind is granted success despite its dullness,

And my idea, if aligned with its foolishness

water sometimes springs even from stone.

Then water springs sometimes from stone