صَبَوْتُ إِلَى المُدَامَةِ وَالْغَوَانِي

صَبَوْتُ إِلَى المُدَامَةِ وَالْغَوَانِي

وَحَكَّمْتُ الْغَوَايَةَ فِي عِنَانِي

وَحَكَّمْتُ الْغَوَايَةَ فِي عِنَانِي

I have yearned for wine and beautiful women,

I inclined towards wine and songstresses,

and given waywardness command of my reins.

And I let wantonness hold my reins.

وَقُلْتُ لِعِفَّتِي بَعْدَ امْتِنَاعٍ

وَقُلْتُ لِعِفَّتِي بَعْدَ امْتِنَاعٍ

إِلَيْكِ فَقَدْ عَنَانِي مَا عَنَانِي

إِلَيْكِ فَقَدْ عَنَانِي مَا عَنَانِي

And after resisting, I said to my chastity,

And I said to my chastity after refusing:

Away with you: what has beset me has beset me.

"To you! For passion has slipped my reins."

فَمَا لِي عَنْ هَوَى الْحَسْنَاءِ صَبْرٌ

فَمَا لِي عَنْ هَوَى الْحَسْنَاءِ صَبْرٌ

يُوقّرُ عِنْدَ سَوْرَتِهِ جَنَانِي

يُوقّرُ عِنْدَ سَوْرَتِهِ جَنَانِي

For I have no patience against love of the fair one

So I have no patience against the passion of a beauteous one,

to steady my heart when its passion surges.

Who esteems my love poems at her courtyards.

وَكَيْفَ يَضِيقُ مَنْ دَارَتْ عَلَيْهِ

وَكَيْفَ يَضِيقُ مَنْ دَارَتْ عَلَيْهِ

كُؤُوسُ هَوَىً مِن الْحَدْقِ الْحِسَانِ

كُؤُوسُ هَوَىً مِن الْحَدْقِ الْحِسَانِ

And how could one be distressed when around him pass

And how can one whose cups of passion

cups of love from beautiful eyes?

Revolved around the gazelles of her eyes be straitened?

أَعَاذِلُ خَلَّنِي وَشُؤُونَ قَلْبِي

أَعَاذِلُ خَلَّنِي وَشُؤُونَ قَلْبِي

وَخُذْ مَا شِئْتَهُ فِي أَيِّ شَانِ

وَخُذْ مَا شِئْتَهُ فِي أَيِّ شَانِ

O reproacher, leave me to the affairs of my heart,

The censor blames me and the concerns of my heart,

and take whatever you wish in any matter.

So take what you wish however you want.

فَقَدْ شَبَّ الْهَوَى مَنْ رَامَ نُصْحِي

فَقَدْ شَبَّ الْهَوَى مَنْ رَامَ نُصْحِي

وَأَغْرَى فِي الْمَحَبَّةِ مَنْ نَهَانِي

وَأَغْرَى فِي الْمَحَبَّةِ مَنْ نَهَانِي

For whoever sought to counsel me has kindled my passion,

For passion has grown on the one who wanted my advice,

and whoever forbade me has spurred me further into love.

And tempted in love the one who prohibited me.

رَضِيتُ مِنَ الْهَوَى بِنُحُولِ جِسْمِي

رَضِيتُ مِنَ الْهَوَى بِنُحُولِ جِسْمِي

وَمِنْ صِلَةِ الْبَخِيلَةِ بِالأَمَانِي

وَمِنْ صِلَةِ الْبَخِيلَةِ بِالأَمَانِي

I have accepted from love the wasting of my body,

I was content with the leanness of my body

and mere hopes in place of the withholding woman's favors.

And the association of the miserly one with my wishes.

وَلَسْتُ بِطَالِبٍ فِي النَّاسِ خِلّاً

وَلَسْتُ بِطَالِبٍ فِي النَّاسِ خِلّاً

يُنَاصِحُنِي فَعَقْلِي قَدْ كَفَانِي

يُنَاصِحُنِي فَعَقْلِي قَدْ كَفَانِي

And I do not seek among people a close friend

And I am no seeker among people for a wise confidante

to counsel me sincerely; my reason has sufficed me.

For my mind has already sufficed me.

بَلَوْتُ النَّاسَ وَاسْتَخْبَرْتُ عَنْهُمْ

بَلَوْتُ النَّاسَ وَاسْتَخْبَرْتُ عَنْهُمْ

صُرُوفَ الدَّهْرِ آناً بَعْدَ آنِ

صُرُوفَ الدَّهْرِ آناً بَعْدَ آنِ

I have tested people and questioned about them

I have tested people and asked about them -

the vicissitudes of time, time after time.

The turns of fate time after time.

فَمَا أَبْصَرْتُ غَيْرَ أَخِي كِذَابٍ

فَمَا أَبْصَرْتُ غَيْرَ أَخِي كِذَابٍ

خَلُوبِ الْوُدِّ مَصنُوعِ الْحَنانِ

خَلُوبِ الْوُدِّ مَصنُوعِ الْحَنانِ

So I have seen only a man given to lies,

So I did not see anyone except a lying brother

whose affection deceives and whose tenderness is feigned.

With feigned affection and contrived intimacy.

يُصَرِّحُ بِالْعَدَاوَةِ وَهْوَ نَاءٍ

يُصَرِّحُ بِالْعَدَاوَةِ وَهْوَ نَاءٍ

وَيَمْذُقُ فِي الْمَحَبَّةِ وَهْوَ دَانِي

وَيَمْذُقُ فِي الْمَحَبَّةِ وَهْوَ دَانِي

He declares his enmity when far away,

He declares enmity while cooing,

and mingles deceit with affection when near.

And tastes bitterness in love while being close.

لَهُ فِي كُلِّ جَارِحَةٍ لِسَانٌ

لَهُ فِي كُلِّ جَارِحَةٍ لِسَانٌ

يَدُورُ بِهِ عَلَى حُكْمِ الزَّمَانِ

يَدُورُ بِهِ عَلَى حُكْمِ الزَّمَانِ

He has a tongue in every limb,

In every limb he has a tongue

which he turns according to the dictates of the times.

That turns according to the ruling of time.

فَلا تَأْمَنْ عَلَى نَجْوَاكَ صَدْرَاً

فَلا تَأْمَنْ عَلَى نَجْوَاكَ صَدْرَاً

فَرُبَّ خَدِيعَةٍ تَحْتَ الأَمَانِ

فَرُبَّ خَدِيعَةٍ تَحْتَ الأَمَانِ

So trust no breast with your confidences,

So do not feel safe confessing your secret to a breast,

for many a deception lurks beneath trust.

For many a deceit lies under confidence.

وَلا يَغْرُرْكَ قَوْلٌ دُونَ فِعْلٍ

وَلا يَغْرُرْكَ قَوْلٌ دُونَ فِعْلٍ

فَإِنَّ الْحُسْنَ قبْحٌ فِي الْجَبَانِ

فَإِنَّ الْحُسْنَ قبْحٌ فِي الْجَبَانِ

And let no words without deeds deceive you,

And do not be fooled by words without action,

for beauty in a coward is ugliness.

For beauty is ugliness in the cowardly.

وَمَا أَنَا وَالطِّبَاعُ لَهَا انْخِدَاعٌ

وَمَا أَنَا وَالطِّبَاعُ لَهَا انْخِدَاعٌ

بِذِي تَرَفٍ يُرَوَّعُ بِالشِّنَانِ

بِذِي تَرَفٍ يُرَوَّعُ بِالشِّنَانِ

And I—though human nature can be deceived—am not

And I and my nature are not susceptible to being deceived

a pampered man who quails before hatred.

By one of luxury who is startled by censure.

رَغِبْتُ بِشِيمَتِي وَعَرَفْتُ نَفْسِي

رَغِبْتُ بِشِيمَتِي وَعَرَفْتُ نَفْسِي

وَلَمْ أَدْخُلْ لَعَمْرُكَ فِي قِرَانِ

وَلَمْ أَدْخُلْ لَعَمْرُكَ فِي قِرَانِ

I prized my character and knew myself,

I was content with my temperament and knew myself,

and, by your life, have never put myself in a yoke.

And I did not, by your life, enter into any contracts.

وَمَا شُرْبِي الْمُدَامَ هَوىً وَلَكِنْ

وَمَا شُرْبِي الْمُدَامَ هَوىً وَلَكِنْ

عَقَدْتُ بِحَدِّ سَوْرَتِهَا لِسَانِي

عَقَدْتُ بِحَدِّ سَوْرَتِهَا لِسَانِي

My drinking of wine is not from desire; rather,

And it is not passion for wine that loosens my tongue,

I have bound my tongue with its sharp, surging force,

But I held it back out of fear it would unleash my chest,

مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تَهِيجَ بَنَاتِ صَدْرِي

مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تَهِيجَ بَنَاتِ صَدْرِي

فَيَظْهَرَ بَعْضُ سِرِّي لِلْعيانِ

فَيَظْهَرَ بَعْضُ سِرِّي لِلْعيانِ

for fear that the daughters of my breast might stir

And some of my secret would appear to the eyes.

and some of my secret come to light.

And why would I desire in this world a friend

وَفِيمَ وَقَدْ بَلَوْتُ الدَّهْرَ أَبْغِي

وَفِيمَ وَقَدْ بَلَوْتُ الدَّهْرَ أَبْغِي

صَدِيقاً أَوْ أَحِنُّ إِلَى مَكَانِ

صَدِيقاً أَوْ أَحِنُّ إِلَى مَكَانِ

And why, having tested time, should I seek

Or incline towards a place, when I have tasted time?

a friend, or yearn for any place?

And I see nothing but morn and eve

وَلَسْتُ أَرَى سِوَى صُبْحٍ وَجُنْحٍ

وَلَسْتُ أَرَى سِوَى صُبْحٍ وَجُنْحٍ

إِلَيْنَا بِالرَّدَى يَتَسَابَقَانِ

إِلَيْنَا بِالرَّدَى يَتَسَابَقَانِ

And I see nothing but dawn and nightfall,

Racing towards us with harm.

racing one another toward us with death.

So, O you who thinks good of the days,

فَيَا مَنْ ظَنَّ بِالأَيَّامِ خَيْرَاً

فَيَا مَنْ ظَنَّ بِالأَيَّامِ خَيْرَاً

رُوَيْدَكَ فَهْيَ أَقْرَبُ لِلْحِرَانِ

رُوَيْدَكَ فَهْيَ أَقْرَبُ لِلْحِرَانِ

O you who expect good from the days,

Restrain yourself, for they are closer to confusion.

take your time: they are more inclined to balk.

Do you desire safety when it is a disease,

أَتَرْغَبُ فِي السَّلامَةِ وَهْيَ دَاءٌ

أَتَرْغَبُ فِي السَّلامَةِ وَهْيَ دَاءٌ

وَتَجْمَعُ لِلْبَقَاءِ وَأَنْتَ فَانِي

وَتَجْمَعُ لِلْبَقَاءِ وَأَنْتَ فَانِي

Do you crave safety, though it is a sickness,

And gather for eternity when you are bound to perish?

and hoard for permanence, though you are mortal?

Leave this world, and set aside worries about it,

دَعِ الدُّنْيَا وَسَلِّ الْهَمَّ عَنْهَا

دَعِ الدُّنْيَا وَسَلِّ الْهَمَّ عَنْهَا

إِذَا اعْتَكَرَتْ بِصَافِيَةِ الدِّنَانِ

إِذَا اعْتَكَرَتْ بِصَافِيَةِ الدِّنَانِ

Leave the world, and dispel your worries over it,

When its clarity is muddled by worldly life.

when it grows turbid, with the clear wine of the jars.

For comfort is the comfort of every soul,

فَإِنَّ الرَّاحَ رَاحَةُ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ

فَإِنَّ الرَّاحَ رَاحَةُ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ

إِذَا دَارَتْ عَلَى نَغَمِ الْقِيَانِ

إِذَا دَارَتْ عَلَى نَغَمِ الْقِيَانِ

For wine is the comfort of every soul,

When it turns to the melody of the lutes.

when it goes round to the singing women's melodies.

From wine which sunsets and passing time

مِنَ الْخَمْرِ الَّتِي دَرَجَتْ عَلَيْهَا

مِنَ الْخَمْرِ الَّتِي دَرَجَتْ عَلَيْهَا

أَفَانِينٌ مِنَ الْعُصُرِ الْفَوَانِي

أَفَانِينٌ مِنَ الْعُصُرِ الْفَوَانِي

Wine over which have passed

Have trodden - intoxications of the departed ages which you see flashing in the cup like fire,

diverse stretches of bygone ages.

So touch them with your fingers.

تَخَالُ وَمِيضَهَا فِي الْكَأْسِ نَارَاً

تَخَالُ وَمِيضَهَا فِي الْكَأْسِ نَارَاً

فَتَلْمِسُهَا بِأَطْرَافِ الْبَنَانِ

فَتَلْمِسُهَا بِأَطْرَافِ الْبَنَانِ

You take its gleam in the cup for fire,

Do not hoard them greedily, for life does not come with warranties.

so you touch it with the tips of your fingers.

And leave people alone, for there is no one among them

فَخُذْهَا غَيْرَ مُدَّخِرٍ نَفِيساً

فَخُذْهَا غَيْرَ مُدَّخِرٍ نَفِيساً

فَلَيْسَ الْعُمْرُ يَدْخُلُ فِي ضَمَانِ

فَلَيْسَ الْعُمْرُ يَدْخُلُ فِي ضَمَانِ

So take it, hoarding nothing precious,

With a sound heart during trials.

for life comes with no guarantee.

Statues spinning without minds,

وَخَلِّ النَّاسَ عَنْكَ فَلَيْسَ فِيهِمْ

وَخَلِّ النَّاسَ عَنْكَ فَلَيْسَ فِيهِمْ

سَلِيمُ الْقَلْبِ عِنْدَ الاِمْتِحَانِ

سَلِيمُ الْقَلْبِ عِنْدَ الاِمْتِحَانِ

And leave people alone; there is none among them

And words passing without meanings.

sound of heart when put to the test.

The lower and higher types have become confused,

تَمَاثِيلٌ تَدُورُ بِلا عُقُولٍ

تَمَاثِيلٌ تَدُورُ بِلا عُقُولٍ

وَأَلْفَاظٌ تَمُرُّ بِلا مَعَانِي

وَأَلْفَاظٌ تَمُرُّ بِلا مَعَانِي

Statues moving about without minds,

So the legitimate and the illegitimate are not known from one another.

and words passing without meanings.

You see every son of a female caring for nothing

تَشَابَهَتِ الأَسَافِلُ بِالأَعَالِي

تَشَابَهَتِ الأَسَافِلُ بِالأَعَالِي

فَمَا يُدْرَى الْهَجِينُ مِنَ الْهِجَانِ

فَمَا يُدْرَى الْهَجِينُ مِنَ الْهِجَانِ

The lowly have come to resemble the lofty,

That was exposed of his disgrace.

so the baseborn cannot be told from the wellborn.

He shows you his soul if I am absent from him,

تَرَى كُلَّ ابْنِ أُنْثَى لا يُبَالِي

تَرَى كُلَّ ابْنِ أُنْثَى لا يُبَالِي

بِمَا جَرَّتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْهَوَانِ

بِمَا جَرَّتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْهَوَانِ

You see every son of woman caring nothing

And rises at dawn if he sees me.

for the humiliation the world has brought upon him.

So who do I have when wishes are liars

يُدلُّ بِنَفْسِهِ إِنْ غِبْتُ عَنْهُ

يُدلُّ بِنَفْسِهِ إِنْ غِبْتُ عَنْهُ

وَيشْرقُ بِالزُّلالِ إِذَا رَآنِي

وَيشْرقُ بِالزُّلالِ إِذَا رَآنِي

He boasts of himself when I am absent from him,

On a day of hate when they show me love,

and chokes on clear water when he sees me.

When I play with the heights

فَمَنْ لِي وَالأَمَانِي كَاذِبَاتٌ

فَمَنْ لِي وَالأَمَانِي كَاذِبَاتٌ

بِيَوْمٍ فِي الْكَرِيهَةِ أَرْوَنَانِ

بِيَوْمٍ فِي الْكَرِيهَةِ أَرْوَنَانِ

Who will grant me—though wishes are liars—

And unleash my steed in its expanse?

a tumultuous day amid battle,

You see me on it the first of every caller

أُلاعِبُ فِيهِ أَطْرَافَ الْعَوَالِي

أُلاعِبُ فِيهِ أَطْرَافَ الْعَوَالِي

وَأُطْلِقُ بَيْنَ هَبْوَتِهِ حِصَانِي

وَأُطْلِقُ بَيْنَ هَبْوَتِهِ حِصَانِي

when I play with the points of long spears

And dust rises so you cannot see me,

and loose my stallion amid its dust?

Until the clouds clear from it

تَرَانِي فِيهِ أَوَّلَ كُلِّ دَاعٍ

تَرَانِي فِيهِ أَوَّلَ كُلِّ دَاعٍ

وَيَرْتَفِعُ الْغُبَارُ فَلا تَرَانِي

وَيَرْتَفِعُ الْغُبَارُ فَلا تَرَانِي

You see me there, first of all who call to battle,

And the one I meet knows me by my deadly strike.

and the dust rises, so you see me no more,

I am the son of night and steeds,

إِلَى أَنْ تَنْجَلِي الْغَمَرَاتُ عَنْهُ

إِلَى أَنْ تَنْجَلِي الْغَمَرَاتُ عَنْهُ

وَيَعْرِفَنِي بِفَتْكِي مَنْ بَلانِي

وَيَعْرِفَنِي بِفَتْكِي مَنْ بَلانِي

until its turmoil clears away,

And the white Hindi swords and supple spears.

and whoever has tested me knows me by my deadly assault.

If an eye competes with it with sharp ambition,

أَنَا ابْنُ اللَّيْلِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمَذَاكِي

أَنَا ابْنُ اللَّيْلِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمَذَاكِي

وَبِيضِ الْهِنْدِ وَالسُّمْرِ اللِّدَانِ

وَبِيضِ الْهِنْدِ وَالسُّمْرِ اللِّدَانِ

I am a son of night and full-grown steeds,

I make the place of its pupil my teeth.

and of India's white swords and supple brown spears.

إِذَا عَيْنٌ أَجَدَّ بِهَا طِمَاحٌ

إِذَا عَيْنٌ أَجَدَّ بِهَا طِمَاحٌ

جَعَلْتُ مَكَانَ حَبَّتِهَا سِنَانِي

جَعَلْتُ مَكَانَ حَبَّتِهَا سِنَانِي

If defiance grows fierce within an eye,

I set my spearhead in place of its pupil.