لا تَشك لَيلكَ لا تَراهُ طَويلا

لا تَشك لَيلكَ لا تَراهُ طَويلا

حانَ الصَباحُ فَخُذ إِلَيهِ سَبيلا

حانَ الصَباحُ فَخُذ إِلَيهِ سَبيلا

Do not complain of your night; do not deem it long.

Do not complain of your night; you will not find it long.

Morning has come—take a road toward it.

Morning has come; take a path toward it.

تَشكو الفُراقَ لِمَن شَكَوت مَذاقَهُ

تَشكو الفُراقَ لِمَن شَكَوت مَذاقَهُ

يا ذا الجَريح لَقَد دَعَوتَ قَتيلا

يا ذا الجَريح لَقَد دَعَوتَ قَتيلا

You complain of separation to one to whom you complained of its taste;

You lament separation—to whom have you complained of its taste?

O wounded man, you have called upon one already slain.

O wounded one, you have indeed called upon a slain man.

وَفَدت رَبيبتكَ الَّتي سَيرتها

وَفَدت رَبيبتكَ الَّتي سَيرتها

تُبدي إِليَّ صَبابَةً وَغَليلا

تُبدي إِليَّ صَبابَةً وَغَليلا

Your protégée, whom you sent forth, has arrived,

Your foster-daughter, whom you sent forth, has arrived,

revealing to me lovesick yearning and burning thirst.

revealing to me longing and burning thirst.

قَد خِلتَها خَجلت فَقُمتُ مُلاطفاً

قَد خِلتَها خَجلت فَقُمتُ مُلاطفاً

حَتّى أَزلتُ حِجابِها المَسدولا

حَتّى أَزلتُ حِجابِها المَسدولا

I thought her shy, so I rose and gently coaxed her,

You had thought her shy, so I rose to coax her,

until I lifted her hanging veil.

until I removed her hanging veil.

فَوَجَدتَها غَراءَ تَفتكُ بِالدُجى

فَوَجَدتَها غَراءَ تَفتكُ بِالدُجى

تَجلّى فَتنتَثِرُ النُجوم أَفولا

تَجلّى فَتنتَثِرُ النُجوم أَفولا

I found her radiant, ravaging the darkness;

And you found her radiant, slaying the darkness;

she shone forth, and the stars scattered toward their setting.

she shines forth, and the stars scatter, fading away.

وَهَمَمتُ أَرفَع عَن مَحيّاها الحَيا

وَهَمَمتُ أَرفَع عَن مَحيّاها الحَيا

وَإِذا بِها سَكرى تَجُرُّ ذُيولا

وَإِذا بِها سَكرى تَجُرُّ ذُيولا

I meant to lift modesty from her countenance,

And I was about to lift the shyness from her face,

when suddenly she was drunk, trailing her skirts.

when, behold, she was drunk, trailing her skirts.

ضَمنتَها مِن راحِ حُبِكَ نَشَأةً

ضَمنتَها مِن راحِ حُبِكَ نَشَأةً

فَاتَت مرنحةً تَميل مَميلا

فَاتَت مرنحةً تَميل مَميلا

You infused her with spirit from the wine of your love,

You filled her with intoxication from the wine of your love,

so she came swaying, inclining and making others incline.

so she came reeling, swaying from side to side.

انهلتها مِن ماءِ لُطفِكَ فَاهِتَدت

انهلتها مِن ماءِ لُطفِكَ فَاهِتَدت

مِن مصر زائِرَةً لِتَهدي النيلا

مِن مصر زائِرَةً لِتَهدي النيلا

You gave her freely of the water of your kindness, and she found her way—

You gave her drink from the water of your kindness, and she found her way

from Egypt, a visitor bringing the Nile as her gift.

from Egypt as a visitor, to offer the Nile.

فَكَأَنَّها طَرحت نَدى أَنفاسِها

فَكَأَنَّها طَرحت نَدى أَنفاسِها

أَو طارَحَت سَيل الدُموع عَليلا

أَو طارَحَت سَيل الدُموع عَليلا

It was as though she scattered the dew of her breath,

So it was as though she shed the dew of her breaths,

or exchanged a torrent of tears with an ailing man.

or shared a torrent of tears with an ailing man.

فَرويت لَكن ما رويتُ تَحرقاً

فَرويت لَكن ما رويتُ تَحرقاً

هَل مِن زُلالٍ يُنعِشُ المَقتولا

هَل مِن زُلالٍ يُنعِشُ المَقتولا

Thus I was refreshed, yet my burning thirst was not quenched.

So I drank my fill, yet my burning longing was not quenched.

Is there any pure water that can revive the slain?

Is there pure water that can revive the slain?

نَشَرَت عَليَّ بِنَشرِها نَشر الشَذا

نَشَرَت عَليَّ بِنَشرِها نَشر الشَذا

ما العَطر عِندَ مجرَّحٍ مَقبولا

ما العَطر عِندَ مجرَّحٍ مَقبولا

She spread over me, with her fragrance, the fragrant breath of the east wind—

With her scent, she spread a waft of fragrance over me;

yet perfume is not welcome to a wounded man.

perfume is not welcome to a wounded man.

مالي وَلِلأَثر المَزيد تحرُّقي

مالي وَلِلأَثر المَزيد تحرُّقي

العَين قَصدي لا أُريد بَديلا

العَين قَصدي لا أُريد بَديلا

What use have I for a mere trace that increases my burning?

What have I to do with a trace that heightens my burning longing?

The person herself is my aim; I want no substitute.

Your very self is my aim; I want no substitute.

نحلت شِكايتها كُلطفكَ رقَّةً

نحلت شِكايتها كُلطفكَ رقَّةً

إِذ قُمتت تَبعَث لِلنَحيل نَحيلا

إِذ قُمتت تَبعَث لِلنَحيل نَحيلا

She endowed her complaint with tenderness as delicate as your grace

Her lament grew thin, delicate as your gentleness,

when you set about sending a slender messenger to one grown wan.

when you rose to send a frail one to a frail one.

لَو لَم يَرقّصها هيامكَ لَاِختَفَت

لَو لَم يَرقّصها هيامكَ لَاِختَفَت

عَني وَهَل يَجد الضَليل ضَليلا

عَني وَهَل يَجد الضَليل ضَليلا

Had your passion not made her dance, she would have vanished

Had your passion not set her dancing, she would have vanished

from me—but can one lost soul ever find another?

from me—and can one lost wanderer find another?

مَصريَةٌ قَبلت أَزهرها وَما

مَصريَةٌ قَبلت أَزهرها وَما

قبلتهُ حَتّى لَمَحتُ ذُبولا

قبلتهُ حَتّى لَمَحتُ ذُبولا

An Egyptian maiden: I received her at her brightest bloom, but did not

An Egyptian maiden—I kissed her bloom; and no sooner

kiss her until I glimpsed her wilting.

had I kissed it than I noticed withering.

فَكَأنَّ حَر الوَجد لاعب زَهرَها

فَكَأنَّ حَر الوَجد لاعب زَهرَها

عِندَ الصَبوح فَهبَّ فيهِ مَحيلا

عِندَ الصَبوح فَهبَّ فيهِ مَحيلا

It was as though the heat of longing had toyed with her blossoms

So it was as though the heat of longing had toyed with her bloom

at the morning draught; rise, then, and devise a remedy for it.

at the morning draught, then blew through it, withering it.

اَتَظُنُني مِمَن يَحول عَن الوَفا

اَتَظُنُني مِمَن يَحول عَن الوَفا

أَتَظُن في غَير الخَليل خَليلا

أَتَظُن في غَير الخَليل خَليلا

Do you think me one of those who turn away from fidelity?

Do you think me one who turns away from fidelity?

Do you suppose I could take any friend but Khalil?

Do you think anyone but Khalil a true friend?

طَبع العِباد عَلى الفَساد عَلى الأَذى

طَبع العِباد عَلى الفَساد عَلى الأَذى

فَاِترُك إِن أَسطَعتَ العَزيز ذَليلا

فَاِترُك إِن أَسطَعتَ العَزيز ذَليلا

Humankind was fashioned for corruption and for harm;

Human nature inclines toward corruption, toward harm;

so, if you can, leave even the mighty humbled.

so leave the mighty humbled, if you can.

جَبَلوا عَلى التَمليق فَاِحذَر غَيَهُم

جَبَلوا عَلى التَمليق فَاِحذَر غَيَهُم

لا سِيما إِن أَكثَروا التَبجيلا

لا سِيما إِن أَكثَروا التَبجيلا

They were fashioned for flattery, so beware their waywardness,

They are fashioned for flattery; beware their wickedness,

especially when they lavish glorification.

especially if they lavish reverence.

إِن كُنت قَد تَجد الصحاب كَثيرَةً

إِن كُنت قَد تَجد الصحاب كَثيرَةً

فَاَنظُر تَرى أَهل الوَفاء قَليلا

فَاَنظُر تَرى أَهل الوَفاء قَليلا

Though you may indeed find companions in abundance,

If you should find companions numerous,

look, and you will see that people of fidelity are few.

then look: you will see that the faithful are few.

أَنا لَستُ أَفرق بَينَ حُبٍ أَو قَلىً

أَنا لَستُ أَفرق بَينَ حُبٍ أَو قَلىً

وَأَرى بِكُلٍ باطِلاً وَالإِكليلا

وَأَرى بِكُلٍ باطِلاً وَالإِكليلا

I make no distinction between love and hatred,

I draw no distinction between love and hatred,

and in each I see falsehood and a garland.

and in each I see falsehood and a crown.

فَكَما أَنام عَلى جَناح نعامَةٍ

فَكَما أَنام عَلى جَناح نعامَةٍ

في مَنزل الأَفعى أَبيتُ نَزيلا

في مَنزل الأَفعى أَبيتُ نَزيلا

Just as I can sleep upon an ostrich’s wing,

For, just as I sleep upon an ostrich's wing,

I can spend the night as a guest in the viper’s dwelling.

in the viper's dwelling I spend the night as a guest.

مالي سِواكَ وَلا سِوايَ تَرى بِهِ

مالي سِواكَ وَلا سِوايَ تَرى بِهِ

خِلاً صَدوقاً بِالوَفا مَجبولا

خِلاً صَدوقاً بِالوَفا مَجبولا

I have none but you, and you see none but me, in this regard, as

I have none but you, nor will you find in anyone but me

a faithful friend, innately fashioned for fidelity.

a truthful friend, molded of loyalty.

عَظمت محبتنا فَكانَت لامةً

عَظمت محبتنا فَكانَت لامةً

تَرَكَت بِسَيف العاذِلين فَلولا

تَرَكَت بِسَيف العاذِلين فَلولا

Our love grew mighty and became a coat of mail

Our love grew mighty, becoming armor

that left notches in the reproachers’ sword.

that left notches in the reproachers' sword.

حالَ التَفَرُق بِينا فاذابَنا

حالَ التَفَرُق بِينا فاذابَنا

لَو لَم نَأمل قَربنا المسئولا

لَو لَم نَأمل قَربنا المسئولا

Separation intervened between us and melted us away,

Parting came between us and would have melted us away,

had we not hoped for our longed-for reunion.

had we not hoped for the reunion we sought.

ما العاصِفات العارِضات عَلى الصَفا

ما العاصِفات العارِضات عَلى الصَفا

إِلّا لِترجعهُ إِلَيكَ صَقيلا

إِلّا لِترجعهُ إِلَيكَ صَقيلا

What are the passing tempests upon smooth stone

The storms that strike the rock have no purpose

but storms that return it to you polished?

but to return it to you polished.

إِن جار جَيش البين في أَحكامِهِ

إِن جار جَيش البين في أَحكامِهِ

رفع اللِقاء حُسامُهُ المَسلولا

رفع اللِقاء حُسامُهُ المَسلولا

If the army of separation acts unjustly in its judgments,

If the army of separation is unjust in its judgments,

reunion will raise its drawn sword.

reunion will raise its unsheathed sword.

وَعَلى العِباد العيد عادَ فَلأم يَعد

وَعَلى العِباد العيد عادَ فَلأم يَعد

فكراً بِعَودة غَيرِهِ مَشغولا

فكراً بِعَودة غَيرِهِ مَشغولا

The feast returned to all mankind, yet never was

And the festival has returned to humankind, but has not visited

my thought of you distracted by the return of another.

a mind preoccupied with another's return.

عيدي بِرُؤياكَ البَهجة أَنَّها

عيدي بِرُؤياكَ البَهجة أَنَّها

أَملي وَلَيسَ سواءَها المَأمولا

أَملي وَلَيسَ سواءَها المَأمولا

My feast is the joy of seeing you; indeed, it is

My festival is the joyous sight of you, for that is

my hope, and nothing else is hoped for.

my hope; nothing else is what I hope for.

فَاسأل فُؤادكَ عَن اليفك طالَما

فَاسأل فُؤادكَ عَن اليفك طالَما

كانَ الفُؤاد عَلى الفُؤاد دَليلا

كانَ الفُؤاد عَلى الفُؤاد دَليلا

Ask your heart about its devoted companion, for often

So ask your heart about your companion; often

one heart has been the guide to another.

one heart has been a guide to another.

أَصبو إِلَيكَ عَلى السُرور عَلى الأَسى

أَصبو إِلَيكَ عَلى السُرور عَلى الأَسى

أَشدو بِذكركَ بُكرَةً وَأَصيلا

أَشدو بِذكركَ بُكرَةً وَأَصيلا

I yearn for you in joy and in sorrow;

I yearn for you in joy and in sorrow;

I sing of you morning and evening.

I sing of you morning and evening.

سَلبت مَعانيك الرَقيقة مُهجَتي

سَلبت مَعانيك الرَقيقة مُهجَتي

فكَأنَّها سِرُّ الغَرام نحولا

فكَأنَّها سِرُّ الغَرام نحولا

Your delicate meanings have stolen my soul,

Your tender meanings have stolen my lifeblood,

as though they were love’s secret, slender and wasted.

as though they were the secret of love's wasting.

بَهرت صفاتك بِالأَشعة ناظِري

بَهرت صفاتك بِالأَشعة ناظِري

فَغَضَضتُ طَرفاً عَن سَناكَ كَليلا

فَغَضَضتُ طَرفاً عَن سَناكَ كَليلا

Your qualities dazzled my gaze with their rays,

Your qualities dazzled my gaze with their rays,

so I lowered a weary gaze before your radiance.

so I lowered my weary gaze away from your radiance.

إِسكَندَرٌ أَحيي خَليلكَ بِاللُقا

إِسكَندَرٌ أَحيي خَليلكَ بِاللُقا

وَإِذا ظَنَنتَ فَلا تَكون خَليلا

وَإِذا ظَنَنتَ فَلا تَكون خَليلا

Alexander, revive your Khalil through reunion;

Iskandar, revive your friend Khalil with a meeting;

and if you merely suppose yourself one, then do not be a friend.

and if you doubt, you will be no friend.

عُد لِلحِما فَلَقد دَعاكَ هزارهُ

عُد لِلحِما فَلَقد دَعاكَ هزارهُ

شَوقاً يسعّرُ في القُلوبِ غَليلا

شَوقاً يسعّرُ في القُلوبِ غَليلا

Return to the protected homeland: its nightingale has called you,

Return to the haven: its nightingale has called you

out of a longing that kindles burning thirst in hearts.

in longing, kindling a burning thirst in hearts.

وَاِترُك رُبوعَ النيلِ مُنتَزِحاً فَما

وَاِترُك رُبوعَ النيلِ مُنتَزِحاً فَما

سَكَبَت عَلَيكَ العَسجَد المَحلولا

سَكَبَت عَلَيكَ العَسجَد المَحلولا

Leave the dwellings of the Nile and journey far away, for they have not

And leave the Nile's dwellings, journeying away, for they have not

poured molten gold upon you.

poured molten gold upon you.