ماwhat لَكَis it to you وَالذكرياتand the memories تذعرهاyou startle them
ما لَكَ وَالذكريات تذعرها
تَثيرyou stir up مَكنونهاtheir hidden contents وَتَنشرهاand spread them abroad
تَثير مَكنونها وَتَنشرها
Why do you meddle with memories, startling them,
Why torment yourself with memories,
stirring their hidden contents and spreading them abroad?
Stirring up what's hidden, spreading it?
موءدةburied alive فيin الشُجونsorrows أَدفنهاI bury them
موءدة في الشُجون أَدفنها
وَفيand in زَواياthe corners السِنينof the years أَذخرهاI store them
وَفي زَوايا السِنين أَذخرها
I bury them alive in sorrow,
Though interred in depths of passion,
and store them in the corners of the years.
In corners of years I have stored them.
أَذهلI forget عَنهاabout them وَرُبَماand perhaps ذَهلتthey forgot
أَذهل عَنها وَرُبَما ذَهلت
عَنيabout me وَقَدyet now جئتyou have brought بيme along تَذكّرهاyou recall them
عَني وَقَد جئت بي تَذكّرها
I forget them, and perhaps they have forgotten
Oblivious I’ve become of them, though
me; yet you have brought me along, recalling them.
They’ve come to remind me of her.
ياO مسعرَkindler of النارthe fire كَيفَhow أَطفئهاcan I extinguish it
يا مسعرَ النار كَيفَ أَطفئها
سامَحَكَmay He forgive you اللَهGod حينَwhen تسعرهاyou kindle it
سامَحَكَ اللَه حينَ تسعرها
O kindler of the fire, how can I extinguish it?
How can I quench this blazing fire
May God forgive you when you set it blazing.
When you fan the flames even higher?
أَماdo you not تَرانيsee me يَديmy hand عَلىupon كَبديmy liver
أَما تَراني يَدي عَلى كَبدي
أَكادI almost مِنfrom زَفرَةa sigh أُطيِّرهاsend it flying
أَكاد مِن زَفرَة أُطيِّرها
Do you not see me, my hand upon my liver?
See me, hand on chest, gasping, wheezing,
I almost send it flying with a sigh.
Each breath threatens to blow me away.
ياah رُبّmany a نَفسsoul لِلّهto God مُسلمةsubmitted (Muslim)
يا رُبّ نَفس لِلّه مُسلمة
قامَarose نَبيّthe prophet of الهَوىlove يَنصّرهاmakes her Christian
قامَ نَبيّ الهَوى يَنصّرها
Ah, many a Muslim soul surrendered to God—
My soul's surrendered to God, yet Love’s prophet
the prophet of love arose to make her Christian.
Comes to strengthen passion’s sway.
أَعياproved too hard عَلىfor الدَهرTime غمزَassailing جانِبِهاher flank
أَعيا عَلى الدَهر غمزَ جانِبِها
ماwhat بالُis the matter with غَمزthe winking of العُيونeyes يَقهرهاoverpowers her
ما بالُ غَمز العُيون يَقهرها
Time was powerless to assail her flank;
Fate winked and jabbed at my side till
why does the wink of eyes overpower her?
Even eyes’ glances reign victorious.
كَلّفتهاI charged her with السَيرtravel وَالسرىand night journeys شَغفاًout of passion
كَلّفتها السَير وَالسرى شَغفاً
أَلَذّthe sweetest حالstate الغَرامof love أَخطرهاits most perilous
أَلَذّ حال الغَرام أَخطرها
In passion, I charged her with travel and night journeys;
Obsession sent me on nights’ dark travels,
the sweetest state of love is its most perilous.
Most exquisite in love are the dangerous.
خلّفتI left behind بَيروتBeirut منعماًat ease طَلَباًin pursuit
خلّفت بَيروت منعماً طَلَباً
للكَرمَلياتfor the Carmelites حَيثwhere عزورُهاtheir ʿAzūr
للكَرمَليات حَيث عزورُها
I left Beirut behind, at ease, in search
I left Beirut, its comforts, behind,
of the Carmelites, there at their ʿAzūr.
To climb the Carmel amidst the cedars,
بَلغتهاI reached it وَالظَلامwhile darkness مُشتملenfolding
بَلغتها وَالظَلام مُشتمل
عَلىover البَراياall creatures وَالنَومand sleep يَسكرهاintoxicates them
عَلى البَرايا وَالنَوم يَسكرها
I reached it while darkness enfolded
I came in darkness blanketing the land,
creation, and sleep intoxicated it.
And sleep drugging it with soporifics.
أَلتَمسُI seek البابَthe door لاnot أَفوزI succeed بِهِin finding it
أَلتَمسُ البابَ لا أَفوز بِهِ
أَطوفI circle بِالدارaround the house لَستI am not أُبصرهاseeing it
أَطوف بِالدار لَست أُبصرها
I sought the door but could not find it;
I looked for the door but could not find it,
I circled the house, unable to see it,
I circled the house but could not see it,
حَتّىuntil هَدانيguided me وَمِيضُthe flash of ساريةa night raincloud
حَتّى هَداني وَمِيضُ سارية
أَعقبهfollowed it قاصفa thunderclap يَفجّرهاbursts it open
أَعقبه قاصف يَفجّرها
until a night-cloud's flash guided me,
Till a lamp’s glow and lightning flash
followed by a thunderclap that burst it open.
Showed the way and burst barriers.
سَعَيتI hurried لِلبابto the door ثمّthen أَطرقهI knock at it
سَعَيت لِلباب ثمّ أَطرقه
أَقفالهits locks الصلبsolid لَوif only أَكسّرهاI could shatter them
أَقفاله الصلب لَو أَكسّرها
I hurried to the door, then knocked at it;
I hurried to the door and knocked away
its solid locks—if only I could shatter them!
At its stubborn locks, break them I would!
ماnot تَنثَنيyields نَفسُa soul طالبof a seeker وَردتthat came to water
ما تَنثَني نَفسُ طالب وَردت
ظَمأىthirsty وَمَرعىand the pasture الحِمامof death مَصدرهاits place of departure
ظَمأى وَمَرعى الحِمام مَصدرها
No seeker's soul yields when it comes to water
No lover’s soul turns away from the spring
thirsty, though death's pasture is its way out.
Where his thirst is quenched, his longing subdued.
وَانفتحand opened البابthe door عَنupon مصلّبةa woman crossing herself
وَانفتح الباب عَن مصلّبة
خيفةfor fear of شَرّan evil هُناكthere ينذرهاthreatens her
خيفة شَرّ هُناك ينذرها
The door opened on a woman crossing herself,
The door opened onto an icon-stand
fearing an evil that threatened her there.
Dimly lit, perhaps to warn of danger.
قُلتI said مَساevening الخَيرgoodness هَلis there لملتجئfor one seeking refuge
قُلت مَسا الخَير هَل لملتجئ
لديكwith you نَعمىa kindness هَيهاتimpossible يَكفرهاhe would deny it
لديك نَعمى هَيهات يَكفرها
I said, ‘Good evening. Is there, for one seeking refuge,
I said, “Good evening, might you allow
a kindness from you he would never meet with ingratitude?’
A seeking refuge – how reject a stranger?”
قالَتshe said عَلىwith الرَحبwelcome قلتI said هَلwhether نَزَلتhas come to stay
قالَت عَلى الرَحب قلت هَل نَزَلت
آنِسَةٌa young lady دارَكُمyour house تَعمّرهاfills it with life
آنِسَةٌ دارَكُم تَعمّرها
She said, ‘Welcome.’ I asked, ‘Has there come to stay
“Do you have guests?” I asked. She said, “Her brother.”
a young lady in your house, filling it with life?’
“That is me,” I said. “Please go tell her.”
قالَتshe said أَخوهاher brother فَقُلتso I said ذاكَthat أَناI
قالَت أَخوها فَقُلت ذاكَ أَنا
قالَتshe said أَنسعىshall we go لَهاto her نَخبّرهاto tell her
قالَت أَنسعى لَها نَخبّرها
She asked, ‘Her brother?’ I said, ‘That is I.’
“But sleep has taken her, tired of waiting,
She said, ‘Shall we go to her and tell her?
Shall we wake her?” I said, “Nay, let her slumber,
قَدalready أَخَذhas seized النَومsleep جفنهاher eyelid مَللاfrom weariness
قَد أَخَذ النَوم جفنها مَللا
بَعدafter اِنتَظارwaiting تَرىdo you think أَنشعرهاshall we notify her
بَعد اِنتَظار تَرى أَنشعرها
Sleep has claimed her eyelids through weariness
Vex not her sweet dreams, but at dawn I’ll surprise her.
after waiting. Do you think we should let her know?’
I’ll sleep apart not to disturb her rest,
قُلتI said دَعيهاleave her غَداًtomorrow أُفاجئهاI shall surprise her
قُلت دَعيها غَداً أُفاجئها
أَحلامَهاher dreams الغرّradiant لاnot أُنفّرهاI scare them away
أَحلامَها الغرّ لا أُنفّرها
I said, ‘Leave her; tomorrow I will surprise her.
Lest she wakes to find me there beside her.”
I will not put her radiant dreams to flight.
“But that is her bed, the light shows it best.”
أَقضيI spend رقاديmy sleep فيin غَيرother than مضجعهاher bed
أَقضي رقادي في غَير مضجعها
أَخشىI fear إِذاif اِستيقَظتshe wakes أَسهّرهاI keep her awake
أَخشى إِذا اِستيقَظت أَسهّرها
I will take my sleep somewhere other than her bed;
“You’re so good to her, and a brother’s care
I fear that if she wakes, I will keep her awake.’
Can sometimes prove a sister’s tormentor.”
قالَتshe said تَرىyou see الضوءthe light ذاكَthat مضجَعَهاher bed
قالَت تَرى الضوء ذاكَ مضجَعَها
كُنbe جارَهاher neighbor وَالصَباحَand in the morning تبدرهاreach her first
كُن جارَها وَالصَباحَ تبدرها
She said, ‘Do you see the light? That is her bed.
Deceptions of love become trusts,
Be her neighbor, and reach her first in the morning.
I love even the hearts whose love I doubt.
أَراكI see you بَرّاًdutiful بِهاto her وَربّand many a أَخٍbrother
أَراك بَرّاً بِها وَربّ أَخٍ
مغرًىincited بِأَختagainst a sister لَهُof his يُكدّرهاhe distresses her
مغرًى بِأَخت لَهُ يُكدّرها
I see you are kind to her; yet many a brother
“You fool, begone!” And she left in haste
is bent on vexing a sister of his.’
As I thanked her gently for her grace.
قَرابةkinship المَكرof deceit أَصبَحَتhad become ثقةtrust
قَرابة المَكر أَصبَحَت ثقة
أَعشقُthe most lovestruck بعضِof some القُلوبhearts امكَرُهاtheir most cunning
أَعشقُ بعضِ القُلوب امكَرُها
Kinship forged by guile had become trust;
No harsh rebukes! What soul so brash
of certain hearts, the most ardent is the most cunning.
As to chide one whose rebukes cut like a lash?
ياoh لَكyou are بَلهاءa foolish woman وَدّعتshe bade farewell وَمَضَتand left
يا لَك بَلهاء وَدّعت وَمَضَت
أَثنيI praise عَلىfor لطفهاher kindness وَأَشكرهاand thank her
أَثني عَلى لطفها وَأَشكرها
What a foolish woman! She bade farewell and left,
Patience, my soul, no impatient one can school
while I praised her kindness and thanked her.
A heart not schooled in patience by its beloved.
زَجراًrestraint! وَهَيهاتbut alas, impossible لاتَno time for مُزدجِرٍrestraint
زَجراً وَهَيهات لاتَ مُزدجِرٍ
أَيّةwhat a نَفسsoul هَوجاءheadstrong ازجرهاI rebuke her
أَيّة نَفس هَوجاء ازجرها
Restraint! But alas, this is no time for restraint.
When I slipped away seeking her, I knew not
What a headstrong soul I seek to rebuke!
Who could show me the paths that lovers once trod.
صَبرَكyour patience! ياO نَفسsoul لاتno time for مصطبرٍpatience
صَبرَك يا نَفس لات مصطبرٍ
ماas long as لَمnot تَكُنis جارَتيmy neighbor تصبّرهاhelps her endure
ما لَم تَكُن جارَتي تصبّرها
Patience, O soul! There is no room for patience,
unless my neighbor helps her endure.
A houri lies sleeping in her bed,
لَمdid not أَدرِI know حينَwhen اِنسللتI slipped away أَطلبهاto seek her
لَم أَدرِ حينَ اِنسللت أَطلبها
خطىthe steps المُحبّينof lovers مَنwho يَسيّرهاguides them
خطى المُحبّين مَن يَسيّرها
I did not know, as I slipped away to seek her,
Her limbs a painting by Raphael.
who guides the steps of lovers.
You’re the mine of her beauty, the essence
حوريةa houri فيin السَريرthe bed راقِدَةlying asleep
حورية في السَرير راقِدَة
وَدّwished رفائيلRaphael لَوif only يُصوّرهاhe could portray her
وَدّ رفائيل لَو يُصوّرها
A houri lay sleeping in the bed,
Of her love - its very own jewel.
Raphael would have wished to paint her.
When her face is not near, my watching and waiting
ياO مَعدَنsource of الحُسنbeauty أَنتyou مَعدنهاher source
يا مَعدَن الحُسن أَنت مَعدنها
ياO جَوهَرessence of الحُبّlove أَنتَyou جَوهَرَهاher essence
يا جَوهَر الحُبّ أَنتَ جَوهَرَها
O source of beauty, you are her source;
Wear away and wander confused.
O essence of love, you are her essence!
Her arms a pillow, tears flowing freely,
إِنif أَنسَI forget لاnot أَنسَI forget وَجههاher face وَبِهِand upon it
إِن أَنسَ لا أَنسَ وَجهها وَبِهِ
غبّafter اِنتَظاريwaiting for me بادٍshowing تَحيّرهاher bewilderment
غبّ اِنتَظاري بادٍ تَحيّرها
If I forget, I will not forget her face; upon it
Only her tresses cloak what they can.
her bewilderment showed after waiting for me.
I know the longing piercing her ribs
عاطِفَةًbending جيدهاher neck موسّدةusing as a pillow
عاطِفَةً جيدها موسّدة
ذِراعَهاher arm وَالدُموعand tears تَغمرهاengulf her
ذِراعَها وَالدُموع تَغمرها
Her neck bent, she made a pillow
By the sigh searing as a flame’s roar.
of her arm, while tears engulfed her.
Below is a pomegranate, flickering, fluttering,
وَالوَجهand the face وَالصَدرand the bosom بادِيانboth exposed سِوىexcept
وَالوَجه وَالصَدر بادِيان سِوى
ماwhat اِنثالَcascaded مِنfrom فرعهاher hair يَخمرهاveils her
ما اِنثالَ مِن فرعها يَخمرها
Her face and bosom were exposed, except
Fearing the earth crumbling away beneath.
for the hair that cascaded down to veil her.
“Beneath us a blaze melts and melds us,
وَالشَوقand longing بَينَbetween الضُلوعthe ribs أَعرفهI recognize it
وَالشَوق بَينَ الضُلوع أَعرفه
مِنfrom زَفرةa sigh كَالسعيرlike a blaze تَزفرهاshe breathes it out
مِن زَفرة كَالسعير تَزفرها
And I knew the longing between her ribs
Turning us into one mass burning forever.”
from a sigh she breathed out, like a blaze.
When her face is not near, my watching and waiting
يَصيبُنيstrikes me لَفحهاits scorching heat عَلىupon كبدa liver
يَصيبُني لَفحها عَلى كبد
فيin بُرَحthe agonies الشَوقof longing ذابَhas melted أَكثَرُهاmost of it
في بُرَح الشَوق ذابَ أَكثَرُها
Its scorching heat struck my liver,
Wear away and wander confused.
most of which had melted in longing's anguish.
Between her lids, a pearl I glimpse
وَثمَand there رمانةa pomegranate قَدhad اِضطَرَبَتtrembled
وَثمَ رمانة قَد اِضطَرَبَت
وَاِقتَرَبَتand drew near تربُهاits age-mate تَحذّرهاwarning it
وَاِقتَرَبَت تربُها تَحذّرها
And there a pomegranate trembled,
Now captive to slumber, prisoner.
and its companion drew near to warn it,
Her lashes shut it away, though almost
تَقولshe says اُختاهO sister! تَحتَناbeneath us لَهبa flame
تَقول اُختاه تَحتَنا لَهب
يَصهرناmelts us دائِباًunceasingly وَيَصهرهاand melts her
يَصهرنا دائِباً وَيَصهرها
saying, ‘Sister, beneath us is a flame
Scattered by inner turmoil’s tremors.
that ceaselessly melts us, and melts her.’
You’re the mine of her beauty, the essence
إِنif أنسI forget لاnot أنسI forget وَجَههاher face وَبِهِand upon it
إِن أنس لا أنس وَجَهها وَبِهِ
غبّafter اِنتَظاريwaiting for me بادٍshowing تَحيّرهاher bewilderment
غبّ اِنتَظاري بادٍ تَحيّرها
If I forget, I will not forget her face; upon it
Of her love - its very own jewel.
her bewilderment showed after waiting for me.
With her branches she binds my arms,
أَلمحI glimpse بَينbetween الجُفونthe eyelids لُؤلؤةa pearl
أَلمح بَين الجُفون لُؤلؤة
فازَwon بِهاit as a prize النَومsleep وَهُوَwhile it يَأسرهاholds her captive
فازَ بِها النَوم وَهُوَ يَأسرها
I glimpse a pearl between her eyelids,
I take refuge in her shade, cling to her presence.
which sleep had won while taking her captive.
أَطبقclosed أَهدابَهاher eyelashes فَقيَّدهاand so imprisoned it
أَطبق أَهدابَها فَقيَّدها
لَولاbut for اِضطِرابٌa trembling يَكادalmost يَنثرهاscatters it
لَولا اِضطِرابٌ يَكاد يَنثرها
It closed her lashes and so imprisoned it,
but for a trembling that almost shakes it free.
ياO مَعدَنsource of الحُسنbeauty أَنتyou مَعدنهاher source
يا مَعدَن الحُسن أَنت مَعدنها
ياO جَوهَرessence of الحُبّlove أَنتَyou جَوهَرَهاher essence
يا جَوهَر الحُبّ أَنتَ جَوهَرَها
O source of beauty, you are her source;
O essence of love, you are her essence!
قَيدin the clasp of ذِراعيmy arm غُصونthe boughs بانتهاof her bān-tree
قَيد ذِراعي غُصون بانتها
آويI take shelter إِلىto ظلّهاits shade وَأَهصرهاand bend it close
آوي إِلى ظلّها وَأَهصرها
In my arm's clasp lie the boughs of her bān-tree;
I shelter in its shade and bend it close.
Partial English translation: 76 of 84 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1