حَبيبَتي منذُ كان الحبُّ في سَحَرٍ

حَبيبَتي منذُ كان الحبُّ في سَحَرٍ

حُلوَ النسائمِ حتى عَقَّهُ الشَّفقُ

حُلوَ النسائمِ حتى عَقَّهُ الشَّفقُ

My beloved, ever since love dwelt in a predawn hour,

My beloved, since love was in enchantment

Sweet with breezes, until twilight betrayed it;

Sweet breezes, until the twilight stung it

ومذ تلاقى جَناحانا على فَنَنٍ

ومذ تلاقى جَناحانا على فَنَنٍ

منه إلى العالَم المسحورِ ننطلقُ

منه إلى العالَم المسحورِ ننطلقُ

And since our two wings met upon a bough,

And since our two wings met over arts

From which we fly into the enchanted world,

From it to the enchanted world we take off

نَصونُ عهدَ ضميرَيْنا وبينهما

نَصونُ عهدَ ضميرَيْنا وبينهما

نجوى بها همساتُ الروح تُستَرَق

نجوى بها همساتُ الروح تُستَرَق

We safeguard the covenant of our two consciences, between which

We safeguard the covenant of our two consciences between them

Runs a secret converse where the spirit's whispers are overheard.

The whispers of the soul steal its murmurs

يا حلوةَ المُجْتَلَى والنفسُ غائمةٌ

يا حلوةَ المُجْتَلَى والنفسُ غائمةٌ

والأمرُ متخلِطٌ، والجوُّ مختنق

والأمرُ متخلِطٌ، والجوُّ مختنق

O you, sweet to behold when the soul is clouded,

O sweet gathering and the soul is gloomy

Affairs confused, and the air stifling;

And the matter is confused, and the air is suffocated

ويا ضحوكةَ ثغرٍ والدُّنَى عَبَسٌ

ويا ضحوكةَ ثغرٍ والدُّنَى عَبَسٌ

ويا صفيّة طبعٍ والمُنى رَنَق

ويا صفيّة طبعٍ والمُنى رَنَق

O smiling mouth when the worlds are frowning;

And O smiling of a lip, and the world frowning

O pure disposition when hopes are muddied;

And O pure natured, and wishes are frustrated

ويا صبوراً على البلوى تلطِّفُها

ويا صبوراً على البلوى تلطِّفُها

حتى تعودَ كبنتِ الْحانِ تُصْطَفَق

حتى تعودَ كبنتِ الْحانِ تُصْطَفَق

O steadfast one in affliction, softening it

And O patient with afflictions, soothing them

Until it becomes like tavern-born wine, swirling.

Until they return like the daughter of the compassionate crying

مني إليك سلامٌ لا يقومُ له

مني إليك سلامٌ لا يقومُ له

سِنُّ اليراعِ، ولا يَقوى به الورق

سِنُّ اليراعِ، ولا يَقوى به الورق

From me to you, a greeting that cannot be sustained

From me to you is a greeting that does not stand

By the reed pen's tip, nor borne by paper.

The age of the meadow, nor is it strengthened by the paper

كأن نفسيَ إذ تغشَيْنَ وَحْدَتها

كأن نفسيَ إذ تغشَيْنَ وَحْدَتها

إنسانُ عينٍ بمرأى أختِها غَرِق

إنسانُ عينٍ بمرأى أختِها غَرِق

My soul, when you enter its solitude, seems

It is as if my soul when its loneliness overwhelms it

An eye's pupil, drowned in the sight of its sister.

A person with insight sees his sister drowning

حبيبتي لم تخالِفْ بيننا غِيَرٌ

حبيبتي لم تخالِفْ بيننا غِيَرٌ

إلا وعُدْنا لماضينا فنتَّفقُ

إلا وعُدْنا لماضينا فنتَّفقُ

My beloved, no vicissitudes ever set us at odds

My beloved, no one has disagreed between us

Without our returning to our past and finding accord.

Except our appointment to our past, we agree

ولا اشتكى جانبٌ فَرْطَ الجفافِ بهِ

ولا اشتكى جانبٌ فَرْطَ الجفافِ بهِ

إلا ارتمى جانبٌ مخضوضرٌ أنِق

إلا ارتمى جانبٌ مخضوضرٌ أنِق

No side complained of excessive dryness

No side complained of the drought upon it

Without a lush, lovely side flinging itself toward it.

Except a green side, delicate, complained

نَهَشُّ لُطْفاً بلُقياهُمْ كما انتفضتْ

نَهَشُّ لُطْفاً بلُقياهُمْ كما انتفضتْ

غُنُّ الرياض سَقاها الرائحُ الغَدِق

غُنُّ الرياض سَقاها الرائحُ الغَدِق

We brighten tenderly at meeting them, as there quiver

We softly bite their gentleness as the gardens awoke

Dense-leaved gardens watered by the rain-laden evening cloud.

When the heavy rain saturated it

حبيبتي والهوى، كالناسِ، خِلْقتُهُ

حبيبتي والهوى، كالناسِ، خِلْقتُهُ

تُمَلُّ ما لم تغايَرْ عنده الخِلَق

تُمَلُّ ما لم تغايَرْ عنده الخِلَق

My beloved, love, like people—its form

My beloved, and love, like people, was created

Grows wearisome unless its features change.

Bored unless morals change with it

ما لذة الوصل لم يلوِ الصُّدودُ بهِ

ما لذة الوصل لم يلوِ الصُّدودُ بهِ

والحبِّ لم يختلِسْ من أمنه الفَرَق

والحبِّ لم يختلِسْ من أمنه الفَرَق

What pleasure is union unless estrangement twists it,

The pleasure of connection if the estrangement was not flavored with it

Or love, unless dread steals from its security?

And love was not stolen from its safety by separation

بئستْ رتابةُ لحنٍ عودُه وتَرٌ

بئستْ رتابةُ لحنٍ عودُه وتَرٌ

وبئسَ طعمُ حياة لونُها نَسَقُ

وبئسَ طعمُ حياة لونُها نَسَقُ

Wretched is the monotony of a tune whose lute has one string,

Miserable is the suspicion of a lute whose strings and body

And wretched the savor of a life whose hue is uniform.

And miserable is the taste of a life whose color is pale

تلك الثلاثون والتسعُ التي دَلَفتْ

تلك الثلاثون والتسعُ التي دَلَفتْ

تستاقنا عَنَتا طوراً وترتَفِق

تستاقنا عَنَتا طوراً وترتَفِق

Those thirty years and nine that have crept by

Those thirty nine that sneaked in

Drive us harshly at times, and at others gently.

Squeeze us for a while, then become gentle

للآن نَعْجَبُ من ألواحِ سيرتِها

للآن نَعْجَبُ من ألواحِ سيرتِها

مما تشابك فيها الحِلْمُ والخرَق

مما تشابك فيها الحِلْمُ والخرَق

We still marvel at the tablets of their story,

Until now we are amazed at the panels of its march

At the interweaving there of forbearance and rashness.

From what wisdom and tearing intertwined in it

جُعنا بها وشبِعنا، لا الغنى بَطَرٌ

جُعنا بها وشبِعنا، لا الغنى بَطَرٌ

ولا الطَّوى بَرَمٌ يجتَرّهُ الأرق

ولا الطَّوى بَرَمٌ يجتَرّهُ الأرق

We hungered and ate our fill through them: wealth brought no arrogance,

We both enjoyed it and we were full, not rich with satiation

Nor hunger a discontent for sleeplessness to chew over.

Nor tired with saturation that insomnia drags

تَزيدُنا ثقةً بالنفس ضائقةٌ

تَزيدُنا ثقةً بالنفس ضائقةٌ

كما يزيد جمالَ الضحوةِ الغَسَق

كما يزيد جمالَ الضحوةِ الغَسَق

Hardship increases our confidence in ourselves,

It increases our self-confidence when distress

As dusk increases the beauty of the morning.

As the darkness increases the beauty of twilight

معاُ نُعاطِي بأنفاسٍ مُصعَّدةٍ

معاُ نُعاطِي بأنفاسٍ مُصعَّدةٍ

معذَّبِينَ تعاطَوا كأسَنا وسُقُوا

معذَّبِينَ تعاطَوا كأسَنا وسُقُوا

Together, with rising sighs, we exchange draughts

Together we rise with ascending souls

With tormented souls who drank our cup and were given drink.

Those who suffered, drank our cup and were quenched

كم ساء قوماً غُنُوا عِزّا فما سكتوا

كم ساء قوماً غُنُوا عِزّا فما سكتوا

مصابُ قومٍ غُنُوا ذُلاّ فما نَطَقوا

مصابُ قومٍ غُنُوا ذُلاّ فما نَطَقوا

How often were those who lived in honor, and would not be silent, grieved

How bad are people who sang pride, and did not stop

By the plight of those who lived abased, and spoke no word.

The affliction of people who sang humiliation, and did not speak

نُصلَى بنارَينِ يُصلَى الخَلْقُ حرَّهما

نُصلَى بنارَينِ يُصلَى الخَلْقُ حرَّهما

سِيّانِ من حُرِموا منهم ومن رُزِقوا

سِيّانِ من حُرِموا منهم ومن رُزِقوا

We burn in two fires whose heat scorches mankind,

We pray with two fires that people pray for their heat

Alike those deprived among them and those provided for.

Both those deprived of them and those granted them

في اليُسْرِ نارٌ لمعسورين أجّجها

في اليُسْرِ نارٌ لمعسورين أجّجها

نُبْلٌ وفي العسرِ نارٌ شبَّها الحنَق

نُبْلٌ وفي العسرِ نارٌ شبَّها الحنَق

In ease, a fire for the needy is kindled

In luxury a fire for the distressed it ignited

By nobility; in hardship, a fire is lit by anger.

Nobleness, and in hardship a fire, hatred ignited it

ما إن نُحسّ بها حتى تُصَيِّرَها

ما إن نُحسّ بها حتى تُصَيِّرَها

بَرْداً مصايرُ قومٍ قبلنا احترقوا

بَرْداً مصايرُ قومٍ قبلنا احترقوا

No sooner do we feel it than it is made

We do not sense it until it makes

Cool by the fates of people who burned before us.

Cold the fates of people before us who burned

ماذا تظنينَ هل كانت لنا خِيَرٌ

ماذا تظنينَ هل كانت لنا خِيَرٌ

فيما عداها ؟ وهل كانت لنا طُرُق

فيما عداها ؟ وهل كانت لنا طُرُق

What do you think? Did we have choices

What do you think, did we have goodness

Beyond it? And were there paths for us?

In anything other than it? And did we have ways?

وشِركَةٌ ومآسيها لها ثقةٌ

وشِركَةٌ ومآسيها لها ثقةٌ

بنا ونحنُ بعُقْبَى أمرِها نثِق

بنا ونحنُ بعُقْبَى أمرِها نثِق

A partnership, with its tragedies, has faith

And partnership, and its tragedies have confidence

In us, while we trust in the outcome of its course.

In us, and we trust the outcome of its matter

حبيبتي لم تُصَرِّفْ زحفَنا " صدَفٌ "

حبيبتي لم تُصَرِّفْ زحفَنا " صدَفٌ "

كما يُصرِّف زحفَ الركب مُفتَرَق

كما يُصرِّف زحفَ الركب مُفتَرَق

My beloved, coincidences did not steer our advance

My beloved, no swerving has diverted our crawl, seashells

As a crossroads steers a caravan's advance.

As the crawling of caravans diverts the separated

ولا اصطفى القَدَرُ المظنونُ رحلتَنا

ولا اصطفى القَدَرُ المظنونُ رحلتَنا

كنّا لها قَدَراً يَمضي ويَستبق

كنّا لها قَدَراً يَمضي ويَستبق

Nor did supposed destiny choose our journey:

Nor did fate choose our imagined trip

We were its destiny, moving onward and racing ahead.

We were fate that passes and outstrips

سِرْنا على الشوكِ يُدمينا ونألَفُهُ

سِرْنا على الشوكِ يُدمينا ونألَفُهُ

وفي مفاوزَ ترمينا ونلتصق

وفي مفاوزَ ترمينا ونلتصق

We walked upon thorns that bloodied us, and grew used to them;

We walked on thorns, wounding us, and we befriend it

Through wastelands that cast us apart, while we clung together.

And in desolate places it throws us, and we stick together

كنا نرى الجمرَ مشبوبا ونحترق

كنا نرى الجمرَ مشبوبا ونحترق

ومغرِسَ الرِّجْلِ ملغوماً ونَخْتَرِق

ومغرِسَ الرِّجْلِ ملغوماً ونَخْتَرِق

We saw the embers kindled, and burned;

We saw the embers subdued and we burn

The place to plant our feet was mined, and we broke through.

And the planted foot is mined, and we penetrate

مُجانفينَ دُروبا ذلَّ سالكُها

مُجانفينَ دُروبا ذلَّ سالكُها

من فرط ما عبّدوا منها وما طَرَقوا

من فرط ما عبّدوا منها وما طَرَقوا

Avoiding paths whose traveler was abased

Facing paths that humiliated its travelers

By how excessively they had paved and trodden them,

Because they paved so much of it and did not tread

كأنّ ما استمرأوا منْ رَعيِها حَسَكٌ

كأنّ ما استمرأوا منْ رَعيِها حَسَكٌ

فظٌ، وما استعذبوا من وِرْدها طرقُ

فظٌ، وما استعذبوا من وِرْدها طرقُ

As though the pasture they found wholesome were thistles,

It is as if what they approved of its pasture was

Harsh, and the water they found sweet were fouled.

Harsh, and what they found sweet of its nectar, paved ways

حبيبتي مَسَّنا ضُرٌّ بمجتمع

حبيبتي مَسَّنا ضُرٌّ بمجتمع

كلُّ الذي فوقَهُ في ضدّه شَرِقُ

كلُّ الذي فوقَهُ في ضدّه شَرِقُ

My beloved, harm touched us in a society

My beloved, harm touched us in a society

Where everything upon it chokes on its opposite.

All that above it, in its opposite, shone

تَسُدُّ فيه فراغَ الرّوح وحشَتُها

تَسُدُّ فيه فراغَ الرّوح وحشَتُها

كما يُشوِّهُ فَتْقَ الرِّيْطةِ الرّتَق

كما يُشوِّهُ فَتْقَ الرِّيْطةِ الرّتَق

The spirit's loneliness fills its emptiness there,

It closes the vacuum of the soul and its loneliness

As mending disfigures a tear in delicate cloth.

As deformity closes the slit of ripped

كأنّ ما يُتَخطّى منْ حواجزِهِ

كأنّ ما يُتَخطّى منْ حواجزِهِ

حواجزُ الموتِ تخطوها فتَنْصعِق

حواجزُ الموتِ تخطوها فتَنْصعِق

As though those barriers of its that are crossed

It is as if what is crossed of its barriers

Were barriers of death: you step across them and are thunderstruck.

Are barriers of death, crossed, so it cracks

نُشْوَى بأحكامِهِ يوماً ونَرفُضُها

نُشْوَى بأحكامِهِ يوماً ونَرفُضُها

ونستَرقُّ له يوماً وننعتِق

ونستَرقُّ له يوماً وننعتِق

One day we are scorched by its rulings and reject them;

We are heated by its rulings one day, and reject them

One day we become its slaves, and then break free.

And one day we long for it, and we are freed

نسوم أنفُسَنا خسفاً يُجنِّبها

نسوم أنفُسَنا خسفاً يُجنِّبها

خَسْفا ويسخَرُ منّا الناهزُ اللّبِق

خَسْفا ويسخَرُ منّا الناهزُ اللّبِق

We impose upon ourselves an abasement that spares us

We make ourselves like a pit that saves it

Abasement, while the glib opportunist mocks us.

A pit, and the mocker ridicules us, sly

ويحسَبُ العيشَ ما يُغنى الكفافُ به

ويحسَبُ العيشَ ما يُغنى الكفافُ به

إذِ الكفافُ لدى مَنْ حولَنا حُمُق

إذِ الكفافُ لدى مَنْ حولَنا حُمُق

He reckons a living what bare sufficiency provides,

And considers life what livelihood is sufficient for it

Though sufficiency is foolishness to those around us.

Since for those around us livelihood is foolishness

ونُكْرِمُ الحرفَ أن يُودِي الهوانُ به

ونُكْرِمُ الحرفَ أن يُودِي الهوانُ به

ويستبيحَ حِماهُ الواغل المذق

ويستبيحَ حِماهُ الواغل المذق

We honor the written word, lest humiliation destroy it

And we honor the craft if indignity carries it

And the insincere intruder violate its sanctuary.

And the transgressor plunders its sanctuary

وما سَلِمْنا منَ العَدْوى تلاحقنا

وما سَلِمْنا منَ العَدْوى تلاحقنا

فعندنا من ثيابٍ نُفِّضَتْ شِقق

فعندنا من ثيابٍ نُفِّضَتْ شِقق

Yet we have not escaped the contagion pursuing us:

And we were not safe from the contagion chasing us

We too possess strips of garments shaken out.

For with us are clothes that slits were opened in them

وقد أفاض علينا من جرائرِهِ

وقد أفاض علينا من جرائرِهِ

ما ساورت مسحَهُ الآهاتُ والحُرَق

ما ساورت مسحَهُ الآهاتُ والحُرَق

And it has poured upon us, from its wrongdoings,

And it has poured upon us from its monstrosities

What sighs and burning grief have striven to wipe away.

What sighs caressed its touch, and burning

وبئسَ ذاك عزاءً، غير أنّ يداً

وبئسَ ذاك عزاءً، غير أنّ يداً

تكافحُ الموجَ قد يُوقَى بها الغَرَق

تكافحُ الموجَ قد يُوقَى بها الغَرَق

Wretched consolation, that; yet a hand

And miserable is that consolation, but a hand

Struggling against the waves may avert drowning.

That struggles with the wave may be saved from drowning

حبيبتي سيقُصُّ الدهرُ قِصّتنا

حبيبتي سيقُصُّ الدهرُ قِصّتنا

حتى لَيُكْذَبُ أقوامٌ وإن صدقوا

حتى لَيُكْذَبُ أقوامٌ وإن صدقوا

My beloved, time will recount our story

My beloved, time will recount our story

Until people are disbelieved even when they speak truth.

Until some people believe it, even if they were truthful

وكيف لا وخفايا أمرِها عجَبٌ

وكيف لا وخفايا أمرِها عجَبٌ

به علينا ضحايا سرِّهِ غَلَق

به علينا ضحايا سرِّهِ غَلَق

How could it not, when its hidden workings are a wonder,

And how not, and the secrets of its matter are wondrous

Locked against us, the victims of its mystery?

With it, victims of its mystery were locked

ماذا لقينا ؟ أنُبدي مِسْخَ خِلقته

ماذا لقينا ؟ أنُبدي مِسْخَ خِلقته

أم سوف يُلْعَنُ فيه الخَلْقُ والخُلُق ؟

أم سوف يُلْعَنُ فيه الخَلْقُ والخُلُق ؟

What have we endured? Shall we reveal its deformed shape,

What did we face? Do I reveal the distortion of its creation?

Or will both human form and character be cursed in it

Or will people and morals be cursed in it?

من شامتينَ تبنَّوا خِزْيَ مُخْتَلِق

من شامتينَ تبنَّوا خِزْيَ مُخْتَلِق

وغاضبينَ، وحيّاً ظلّ مُخْتَلِق

وغاضبينَ، وحيّاً ظلّ مُخْتَلِق

By gloaters who embraced a fabricator's disgrace,

From gloaters who adopted the shame of the innovator

And men angered by an inspiration that remained inventive?

And angry, alive the innovator's shadow

أم سوف يندى من التاريخ زَوَّرَهُ

أم سوف يندى من التاريخ زَوَّرَهُ

ما شاء وغدٌ جبينٌ بَلَّهُ العرَق

ما شاء وغدٌ جبينٌ بَلَّهُ العرَق

Or will history, falsified

Or will it be erased from history, he who falsified it

As a scoundrel pleased, wet a brow with sweat?

What he wanted, and tomorrow a forehead he sweated on

لم يبقَ في الغاب من ذئبٍ به كَلَبٌ

لم يبقَ في الغاب من ذئبٍ به كَلَبٌ

إلا ومن دَمِنا في نابه لُعَق

إلا ومن دَمِنا في نابه لُعَق

No rabid wolf remained in the forest

No wolf remains in the forest that a dog remains in its fangs

Without licks of our blood upon its fang.

Except from our blood is on its teeth, gluttonous

تشجّعي كم أدالَ الحقُّ من سَفَلٍ

تشجّعي كم أدالَ الحقُّ من سَفَلٍ

داسوا عليه وكم دِيسوا وكم سُحِقوا

داسوا عليه وكم دِيسوا وكم سُحِقوا

Take heart: how often has truth overthrown base men

Take courage, how much truth from lowness

Who trampled it; how often were they trampled and crushed!

They walked on and how many were trampled and crushed

لسنا بأولِ مخضوبٍ دماً هَدَراً

لسنا بأولِ مخضوبٍ دماً هَدَراً

ولا بآخِرِ من يقفو ويلتحق

ولا بآخِرِ من يقفو ويلتحق

We are not the first stained with blood shed in vain,

We are not the first to be stained with blood wasted

Nor the last of those who follow and join.

Nor the last to follow and join

إن السهام التي ما راشها صَيَدٌ

إن السهام التي ما راشها صَيَدٌ

ولا تَكافَى بها مَرْمَىً ومُرْتَشَق

ولا تَكافَى بها مَرْمَىً ومُرْتَشَق

Those arrows that haughtiness had not feathered,

Indeed, arrows that no game dodged

And whose aim and target were not matched—

And no target or shooter was equaled with it

كِبْراً صَمَدنا لها فَاسّاقطتْ كِسَراً

كِبْراً صَمَدنا لها فَاسّاقطتْ كِسَراً

كما تساقطَ حول الأيكةِ الوَرَق

كما تساقطَ حول الأيكةِ الوَرَق

Proudly we stood against them, and they fell in fragments,

Out of arrogance we withstood them, so they made us lose face

As leaves fell around the grove.

As the leaves fall around the lonely palm tree

لا نكذبُ الفخرَ، في أعماقنا عُقَدٌ

لا نكذبُ الفخرَ، في أعماقنا عُقَدٌ

ممّا يَمُجّ وفي أطباعنا عُلَق

ممّا يَمُجّ وفي أطباعنا عُلَق

We make no false boasts: deep within us lie knots

We do not lie about pride, in our depths are knots

Of what pride spits out, and in our natures things that cling.

From what boils, and in our nature ropes cling

حبيبتي والخطايا في الورى نِسَبٌ

حبيبتي والخطايا في الورى نِسَبٌ

وللخُطاة، على ما أضمروا، فِرَقُ

وللخُطاة، على ما أضمروا، فِرَقُ

My beloved, sins among mankind are matters of degree,

My beloved, and sins in existence are ancestry

And sinners fall into groups according to what they harbor.

And for sinners, for what they harbored, separations

تبقى الجريمةُ يشتطُّ العقابُ بها

تبقى الجريمةُ يشتطُّ العقابُ بها

حتى يمصَّ دماءَ المجرمِ العَلَق

حتى يمصَّ دماءَ المجرمِ العَلَق

The crime remains, punishment going to excess for it,

The crime remains, punishment intensifies upon it

Until leeches suck the criminal's blood.

Until it sucks the dripping blood of the criminal

وللضمائر آفاقٌ مُجاوِبَةٌ

وللضمائر آفاقٌ مُجاوِبَةٌ

إذا دجا أُفُقٌ جلّى له أفق

إذا دجا أُفُقٌ جلّى له أفق

Consciences have horizons that answer one another:

And for consciences there are horizons that reciprocate

When one horizon darkens, another brightens it.

If one horizon darkens, it brightens a horizon for it

وقد يثوبُ ضميرٌ خاب آمِلُهُ

وقد يثوبُ ضميرٌ خاب آمِلُهُ

والنبعُ حتى من الجُلْمود ينبثق

والنبعُ حتى من الجُلْمود ينبثق

A conscience may return, disappointing its despairing watcher no longer;

And a conscience that failed its hopes may return

Even from solid rock a spring bursts forth.

And the spring even from petrification gushes

ما نبّ شرٌّ فإنّ الخير يَقْحَمُهُ

ما نبّ شرٌّ فإنّ الخير يَقْحَمُهُ

وما استقام الدّجى فالنجْمُ يأتلق

وما استقام الدّجى فالنجْمُ يأتلق

Whenever evil rises, good charges against it;

No good announces it, for good invades it

Whenever darkness endures, the star shines out.

And no darkness straightens unless the star shines

حبيبتي إنما أغرَى اللئامَ بنا

حبيبتي إنما أغرَى اللئامَ بنا

أنّا جُبِلنا بطينٍ غيرِ ما خُلقوا

أنّا جُبِلنا بطينٍ غيرِ ما خُلقوا

My beloved, what emboldened the base against us

My beloved, what really tempted the wicked about us

Was that we were molded from clay unlike theirs.

Is that we were created of clay other than what they were created from

خِيطَتء عليهِمْ جُلودٌ عندنا قَرَفٌ

خِيطَتء عليهِمْ جُلودٌ عندنا قَرَفٌ

من ريحها، وعليهم نثرُها عبِق

من ريحها، وعليهم نثرُها عبِق

Skins were stitched upon them that disgust us

Over them are skins, with us diseased

With their odor, though their scent upon them is perfume.

From its stench, and its shedding is aromatic on them

كم سرَّنا عُسْرُنا مستعلياً بدلاً

كم سرَّنا عُسْرُنا مستعلياً بدلاً

عن يُسرِهم يمتطيهِ الذُّلُّ والملَق

عن يُسرِهم يمتطيهِ الذُّلُّ والملَق

How our hardship pleased us, proudly borne, in place

How much our hardship pleased us, lofty instead

Of their ease, ridden by abasement and flattery!

Of their luxury, ridden by humiliation and submission

نفوسُنا كثيابٍ فوقَهم جُدُدٌ

نفوسُنا كثيابٍ فوقَهم جُدُدٌ

وثوبُنا كنُفوسٍ عندهمْ خَلَق

وثوبُنا كنُفوسٍ عندهمْ خَلَق

Our souls are like the new garments they wear;

Our souls are like clothes, over them new

Our garment, like their souls, is threadbare.

And our clothes like their souls, with them worn out

حبيبتي وسيبقى منكِ مُصْطَبَحٌ

حبيبتي وسيبقى منكِ مُصْطَبَحٌ

تندَى عليَّ حواشيه ومُغتَبَق

تندَى عليَّ حواشيه ومُغتَبَق

My beloved, there will remain from you a morning draught,

My beloved, and something illuminated will remain from you

Its edges moist upon me, and an evening draught.

Its margins obscure to me, and clasped

وسوف تُستلُّ من رَيْعان نَشوته

وسوف تُستلُّ من رَيْعان نَشوته

مرارة بشَغاف القلب تعتلق

مرارة بشَغاف القلب تعتلق

And from the prime of its intoxication will be drawn

And it will be picked from the buddings of its bliss

A bitterness clinging to the heart's innermost lining.

Bitterness clinging to the fold of the heart

مرّغْتُ زَهْرَكِ في شوكي أجرّره

مرّغْتُ زَهْرَكِ في شوكي أجرّره

فكلُّ أوراقِهِ منزوعةٌ، مِزَق

فكلُّ أوراقِهِ منزوعةٌ، مِزَق

I dragged your blossom, rolling it in my thorns;

I rubbed your flower in my thorns, dragging it

Now all its petals are torn away, in shreds.

So all its petals are stripped, torn

وقد تحمّلتِ عنّي وِزرَ محتَرِبٍ

وقد تحمّلتِ عنّي وِزرَ محتَرِبٍ

فجٍّ بعاتقهِ من حَملِهِ رهَقُ

فجٍّ بعاتقهِ من حَملِهِ رهَقُ

You have borne for me the burden of a warrior,

And you have endured for me the burden of a warrior

Rough, whose shoulder is wearied by his load;

Rough shouldered, from its carrying fatigued

محلَّماً فوقَ ما ترضى الحُلُومُ به

محلَّماً فوقَ ما ترضى الحُلُومُ به

ومُستَخَفّاً بما لا يَطمعُ النّزِق

ومُستَخَفّاً بما لا يَطمعُ النّزِق

Forced to forbear beyond what sober minds accept,

Ulcered over what serenity accepts

And driven to rashness beyond what the reckless covet;

And careless with what the greedy do not hope for

وحابسٍ رأيَهُ والنفسُ نازعةٌ

وحابسٍ رأيَهُ والنفسُ نازعةٌ

وحابسٍ نَزْعَها والرأيُ منطلق

وحابسٍ نَزْعَها والرأيُ منطلق

Restraining his judgment while his soul strains forward,

And holding his opinion while the soul disputes

And restraining its impulse while his judgment ranges free.

And holding its dispute while the opinion sets forth

يغشَى المكارِهَ لم يفحَصْ مضاربَه

يغشَى المكارِهَ لم يفحَصْ مضاربَه

والسّيفُ يُفُحَصُ حدّاه ويُمْتَشَق

والسّيفُ يُفُحَصُ حدّاه ويُمْتَشَق

He enters dangers without testing his striking edges,

It overwhelms difficulties without discerning its lands

Though a sword's two edges are tested before it is drawn.

And the sword is examined for its sharpness and unsheathed

إن الجبينَ الذي ضوَّى جوانبَهُ

إن الجبينَ الذي ضوَّى جوانبَهُ

من جَعْدِ شَعرِكِ ما قد زرّد الحَلَق

من جَعْدِ شَعرِكِ ما قد زرّد الحَلَق

The brow whose sides were lit

Indeed the forehead whose sides its braiding of your hair straightened

By curls of your hair linked into rings

Creases marched over it

مشتْ عليه تجاعيد يُضارِبُها

مشتْ عليه تجاعيد يُضارِبُها

عَبْرَ الغيوم صباحٌ مُشْرِقٌ ألِق

عَبْرَ الغيوم صباحٌ مُشْرِقٌ ألِق

Has wrinkles walking over it, battled

At dawn shining through the clouds, scattered

Through the clouds by a radiant, gleaming morning.

How many hands of yours in which you protected a foot for me

كم من يدٍ لكِ فيها صُنْتِ لي قَدَماً

كم من يدٍ لكِ فيها صُنْتِ لي قَدَماً

كادت على النُّمرقِ المفروشِ تَنْزَلِق

كادت على النُّمرقِ المفروشِ تَنْزَلِق

How many kindnesses of yours have safeguarded my foot,

Nearly slipped on the paved floor

Almost slipping upon the laid-out cushion—

On those who fascinate the infatuated, grieving them

على التي تسحَرُ " الغاوين " تَفْجَعُهُمْ

على التي تسحَرُ " الغاوين " تَفْجَعُهُمْ

بالعبقريات تُرْقيها فتنمحق

بالعبقريات تُرْقيها فتنمحق

Upon what bewitches the errant, bereaving them

With genius, elevating it, so it crumbles

Of genius, raising it until it is effaced.

They tore through storms flapping sails

شقّوا الأعاصيرَ خفّاقين أشرعةً

شقّوا الأعاصيرَ خفّاقين أشرعةً

واستروحوا النَّسَمَ الغافي فما خَفَقوا

واستروحوا النَّسَمَ الغافي فما خَفَقوا

They cut through hurricanes, their sails fluttering,

And took rest in the sleeping breeze, but did not flutter

But sought relief in drowsy breezes, and fluttered no more.

My eye and yours, I do not wish for a lamp

إنّى وعينيكِ لا أُمْنَى بداجيةٍ

إنّى وعينيكِ لا أُمْنَى بداجيةٍ

إلا وأنتِ ليَ الإصباحُ والفلق

إلا وأنتِ ليَ الإصباحُ والفلق

By your eyes, no darkness befalls me

Except you are for me the dawn and the cleft

But you are my daybreak and dawn.

Yesterday you asked me in a private whisper that shakes

سألتِني أمسِ في نجوَى يَهُزُّ بها

سألتِني أمسِ في نجوَى يَهُزُّ بها

خوفَ النهاياتِ مَنْ هاموا، ومن عَشِقوا

خوفَ النهاياتِ مَنْ هاموا، ومن عَشِقوا

Yesterday you asked me in a whispered confidence that stirs

The fear of endings, those who raved, and those who loved

The fear of endings in the infatuated and the loving:

Why in its time of neglect

علامَ يُجمعُ في إبّانِ غَفْلتِهِ

علامَ يُجمعُ في إبّانِ غَفْلتِهِ

شَمْلٌ وإذ يزدهيهِ الوعيُ يفترق

شَمْلٌ وإذ يزدهيهِ الوعيُ يفترق

Why is a union gathered at the height of its unawareness,

A group, and when awareness intensifies, disperses?

Yet scattered when awareness exalts it?

My beloved, the secret still remains in blindness

حبيبتي ما يزالُ السرُّ في عَمَهٍ

حبيبتي ما يزالُ السرُّ في عَمَهٍ

على أسارَى بأنيابِ الرّدَى عَلِقوا

على أسارَى بأنيابِ الرّدَى عَلِقوا

My beloved, the mystery remains obscure

On prisoners with the fangs of doom, stuck

To captives caught in death's fangs.

They ventured into a world whose destinies gloomed

تقحّموا عالَماً غُمّتْ مصايرُهُ

تقحّموا عالَماً غُمّتْ مصايرُهُ

كأنّهم من مَصيرٍ غيرِه سُرِقوا

كأنّهم من مَصيرٍ غيرِه سُرِقوا

They plunged into a world whose fates were veiled,

As if they were stolen from a destiny other than it

As though stolen from another fate.

They cannot unlock from its orbit

لا يستطيعون فكّا منْ محاورِهِ

لا يستطيعون فكّا منْ محاورِهِ

إلا إذا اسطاعَ فكَّ المَحْجِر الحَدَق

إلا إذا اسطاعَ فكَّ المَحْجِر الحَدَق

They cannot break free of its axes

Unless the petrification of the frozen unlocks

Unless pupils could break free of their sockets.

Every oblivious person, his intention was outlined for him

من كلِّ مستَغْفَلٍ خُطَّتْ منيّتُهُ

من كلِّ مستَغْفَلٍ خُطَّتْ منيّتُهُ

عليه ليلةَ وافى أمَّهُ الطَّلَق

عليه ليلةَ وافى أمَّهُ الطَّلَق

Each unsuspecting soul whose death was written

On it the night his mother's period came

Against him the night labor came upon his mother.

And if you wonder, so from "scrap" it climbed

وإن عجبتِ فمن " معلوفةٍ " درجَتْ

وإن عجبتِ فمن " معلوفةٍ " درجَتْ

ترعى " الهشيم " ويُستَبْقَى لها رَمَق

ترعى " الهشيم " ويُستَبْقَى لها رَمَق

Should you marvel, marvel at a stall-fed beast that lived on,

Shepherding "chaff", and a respite is left for it

Grazing on dry stubble, kept barely alive,

Two generations in the butcher's fist, not trusting

جيلين في قبضة الجزّارِ لا أمِنَتْ

جيلين في قبضة الجزّارِ لا أمِنَتْ

على الحياةِ، ولم تُضْرَبْ لها عُنُق

على الحياةِ، ولم تُضْرَبْ لها عُنُق

For two generations in the butcher's grasp, neither secure

On life, and their necks were not struck

In its life, nor having had its neck struck.

Contradictions the liberated mind carouses with

نقائضٌ يرسُفُ العقلُ الطليقُ بها

نقائضٌ يرسُفُ العقلُ الطليقُ بها

وإن تفلسف أقوامٌ، وإن حَذَقوا

وإن تفلسف أقوامٌ، وإن حَذَقوا

Contradictions in which the free mind shuffles shackled,

Even if people philosophize, even if they are shrewd

Though people philosophize, though they become adept.

So why are spirits assigned to death howling at us

أَوْلاَن ففيمَ عفاريتٌ موكّلة

أَوْلاَن ففيمَ عفاريتٌ موكّلة

بالموتِ ما رَعَدوا فينا وما بَرَقوا

بالموتِ ما رَعَدوا فينا وما بَرَقوا

Or not? Then why are demons appointed

And neither thundering nor lightning against us?

To death, with all their thunder and lightning among us?

And why the youth's pride and tenderness, crushing it

وفيمَ زهوُ الصِّبا واللطفُ يسحقه

وفيمَ زهوُ الصِّبا واللطفُ يسحقه

والحبّ، والخيرُ عاتٍ سادرٌ نَزِق

والحبّ، والخيرُ عاتٍ سادرٌ نَزِق

And what use are youth's splendor and gentleness, crushed,

And love, and good is languishing, dripping

With love and goodness, by a heedless, reckless tyrant?

Ignorance diminished until its examination knocked

تقلَّص الجهلُ حتى دقَّ مَفْحَصُه

تقلَّص الجهلُ حتى دقَّ مَفْحَصُه

وسُمِّنَ العلمُ حتى كاد ينفلق

وسُمِّنَ العلمُ حتى كاد ينفلق

Ignorance has shrunk until its nesting place is tiny;

And knowledge was poisoned until it almost ruptured

Knowledge has been fattened until it almost splits apart.

And thought ascended until the universe was stunned

واصّاعد الفِكرُ حتى الكونُ في رَهَجٍ

واصّاعد الفِكرُ حتى الكونُ في رَهَجٍ

به، وحتى نسيجُ الكونِ منخرقُ

به، وحتى نسيجُ الكونِ منخرقُ

Thought has ascended until the cosmos is in dust

By it, and the fabric of the universe torn

Because of it, and even the cosmos's fabric is rent.

And harm still persists, and misery is mortgaged

وما يزالُ الأذى، والبؤسُ مرتهنا

وما يزالُ الأذى، والبؤسُ مرتهنا

والحقدُ والخبثُ والإدقاعُ والقلقُ

والحقدُ والخبثُ والإدقاعُ والقلقُ

Yet harm and misery remain held captive,

And hatred, and cunning, and deceit, and anxiety

And hatred, malice, destitution, and anxiety.

And civilizations still glare

وما تزال حضاراتٌ مشعشِعَةٌ

وما تزال حضاراتٌ مشعشِعَةٌ

في قبضة الذرّ وحشاً يوم ينطلقُ

في قبضة الذرّ وحشاً يوم ينطلقُ

And radiant civilizations remain

In the grasp of the nucleus, a beast when it breaks free

In the atom's grip—a beast the day it is unleashed.