أَبَى الشَّوْقُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَحِنَّ ضَمِيرُ

أَبَى الشَّوْقُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَحِنَّ ضَمِيرُ

وَكُلُّ مَشُوقٍ بِالْحَنِينِ جَدِيرُ

وَكُلُّ مَشُوقٍ بِالْحَنِينِ جَدِيرُ

Longing insists that the inner heart must yearn;

Longing insisted my heart grow tender,

and everyone who longs has cause to pine.

And all who yearn are deserving and tender.

وَهَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ الْمَرءُ كِتْمَانَ لَوْعَةٍ

وَهَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ الْمَرءُ كِتْمَانَ لَوْعَةٍ

يَنِمُّ عَلَيْهَا مَدْمَعٌ وَزَفِيرُ

يَنِمُّ عَلَيْهَا مَدْمَعٌ وَزَفِيرُ

And can a person conceal a burning anguish

Can a man conceal the pain of anguish

that a tearful eye and a sigh betray?

As tears flow and sighs surrender?

خَضَعْتُ لأَحْكَامِ الْهَوَى وَلَطَالَمَا

خَضَعْتُ لأَحْكَامِ الْهَوَى وَلَطَالَمَا

أَبَيْتُ فَلَمْ يَحْكُمْ عَلَيَّ أَمِيرُ

أَبَيْتُ فَلَمْ يَحْكُمْ عَلَيَّ أَمِيرُ

I submitted to love's decrees, though so often

I bowed to passions’ rule, though oft I rebelled,

I refused submission, and no prince ruled over me.

No ruler could make me surrender.

أَفُلُّ شَبَاةَ اللَّيْثِ وَهْوَ مُنَاجِزٌ

أَفُلُّ شَبَاةَ اللَّيْثِ وَهْوَ مُنَاجِزٌ

وَأَرْهَبُ لَحْظَ الرِّئْمِ وَهْوَ غَريرُ

وَأَرْهَبُ لَحْظَ الرِّئْمِ وَهْوَ غَريرُ

I blunt the lion's edge when it gives battle,

I bare the fangs of a lion in defiance,

yet fear the white gazelle's glance, though it is guileless.

My glance makes the dastard surrender.

وَيَجْزَعُ قَلْبِي لِلصُّدودِ وَإِنَّنِي

وَيَجْزَعُ قَلْبِي لِلصُّدودِ وَإِنَّنِي

لَدَى الْبَأْسِ إِنْ طَاشَ الْكَمِيُّ صَبُورُ

لَدَى الْبَأْسِ إِنْ طَاشَ الْكَمِيُّ صَبُورُ

My heart is distressed by rejection, though I

My heart quakes at rebuff, yet in ordeal,

stand firm in battle when the armored warrior falters.

If swords clash, I stand calm and tender.

وَمَا كُلُّ مَنْ خَافَ الْعُيُونَ يَرَاعَةٌ

وَمَا كُلُّ مَنْ خَافَ الْعُيُونَ يَرَاعَةٌ

وَلا كُلُّ مَنْ خَاضَ الْحُتُوفَ جَسُورُ

وَلا كُلُّ مَنْ خَاضَ الْحُتُوفَ جَسُورُ

Not everyone who fears eyes is a weakling,

Not all who dread eyes are faint at heart,

nor is everyone who plunges into death's perils brave.

Nor are all who brave perils tender.

وَلَكِنْ لأَحْكَامِ الْهَوَى جَبَرِيَّةٌ

وَلَكِنْ لأَحْكَامِ الْهَوَى جَبَرِيَّةٌ

تَبُوخُ لَهَا الأَنْفَاسُ وَهْيَ تَفُورُ

تَبُوخُ لَهَا الأَنْفَاسُ وَهْيَ تَفُورُ

But love's decrees have an irresistible force,

Passion holds sway by immutable decree,

before which breaths subside even as they seethe.

Breaths chafe and rage as fires tender.

وَإِنِّي عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ سَرَفِ الْهَوَى

وَإِنِّي عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ سَرَفِ الْهَوَى

لَذُو تُدْرَأ في النَّائِباتِ مُغِيرُ

لَذُو تُدْرَأ في النَّائِباتِ مُغِيرُ

Yet I, for all the excesses of love,

For my wanton passions I make amends

am indeed strong in resistance, charging amid adversity.

In adversity’s throes without surrender.

يُرَافِقُنِي عِنْدَ الْخُطُوبِ إِذَا عَرَتْ

يُرَافِقُنِي عِنْدَ الْخُطُوبِ إِذَا عَرَتْ

جَوَادٌ وَسَيفٌ صَارمٌ وَجَفِيرُ

جَوَادٌ وَسَيفٌ صَارمٌ وَجَفِيرُ

When calamities descend, I am accompanied by

When troubles arise, my steed and drawn sword,

a noble steed, a keen sword, and a quiver.

My howdah and roar defend and tender.

وَيَصْحَبُنِي يَوْمَ الْخَلاعَةِ وَالصِّبَا

وَيَصْحَبُنِي يَوْمَ الْخَلاعَةِ وَالصِّبَا

نَدِيمٌ وَكَأْسٌ رَيَّةٌ وَمُدِيرُ

نَدِيمٌ وَكَأْسٌ رَيَّةٌ وَمُدِيرُ

And on days of revelry and youthful passion, I am joined by

In sport with comrades, a boon friend,

a drinking companion, a thirst-quenching cup, and a cupbearer.

A morning cup makes cares slender.

فَطَوْرَاً لِفُرْسَانِ الصَّبَاحِ مُطَارِدٌ

فَطَوْرَاً لِفُرْسَانِ الصَّبَاحِ مُطَارِدٌ

وَطَوْرَاً لإِخْوَانِ الصَّفَاءِ سَمِيرُ

وَطَوْرَاً لإِخْوَانِ الصَّفَاءِ سَمِيرُ

So at times I contend with the horsemen of dawn,

At dawn I course with the horsemen,

and at times keep nighttime company with brothers of amity.

At dusk a convivial companion tender,

وَيَا رُبَّ حَيٍّ قَدْ صَبَحْتُ بِغَارَةٍ

وَيَا رُبَّ حَيٍّ قَدْ صَبَحْتُ بِغَارَةٍ

تَكَادُ لَهَا شُمُّ الْجِبَالِ تَمُورُ

تَكَادُ لَهَا شُمُّ الْجِبَالِ تَمُورُ

Oh, many a tribe have I attacked at dawn with a raid

O Lord of one whose raids

that almost makes the lofty mountains reel!

Make mountains totter and boulders tender,

وَلَيْلٍ جَمَعْتُ اللَّهْوَ فِيهِ بِغادَةٍ

وَلَيْلٍ جَمَعْتُ اللَّهْوَ فِيهِ بِغادَةٍ

لَهَا نَظْرَةٌ تُسْدِي الْهَوَى وَتُنِيرُ

لَهَا نَظْرَةٌ تُسْدِي الْهَوَى وَتُنِيرُ

And many a night I gathered pleasure with a graceful woman

And a night whose revels brought a beauty

whose glance bestows love and shines.

With glances to enflame love’s tender,

عَقَلْنَا بِهِ مَا نَدَّ مِنْ كُلِّ صَبْوَةٍ

عَقَلْنَا بِهِ مَا نَدَّ مِنْ كُلِّ صَبْوَةٍ

وَطِرْنَا مَعَ اللَّذَّاتِ حَيْثُ تَطِيرُ

وَطِرْنَا مَعَ اللَّذَّاتِ حَيْثُ تَطِيرُ

In it we tethered all the stray impulses of desire,

With whom we made the most of youth’s least drop,

and flew with pleasures wherever they flew.

And where pleasures fly we tender.

وَقُلْنَا لِسَاقِينَا أُدِرْهَا فَإِنَّمَا

وَقُلْنَا لِسَاقِينَا أُدِرْهَا فَإِنَّمَا

بَقَاءُ الْفَتَى بَعْدَ الشَّبابِ يَسِيرُ

بَقَاءُ الْفَتَى بَعْدَ الشَّبابِ يَسِيرُ

And we told our cupbearer, "Pass it around, for indeed

We told the cupbearer: Keep it turning!

a young man's remaining life after youth is brief."

For after youth, life is but slender.

فَطَافَ بِهَا شَمْسِيَّةً ذَهَبِيَّةً

فَطَافَ بِهَا شَمْسِيَّةً ذَهَبِيَّةً

لَهَا عِنْدَ أَلْبَابِ الرِّجَالِ ثُؤُورُ

لَهَا عِنْدَ أَلْبَابِ الرِّجَالِ ثُؤُورُ

So he passed it around, sunlike and golden,

She circled, golden chalice sun-like,

with scores to settle against the minds of men.

Deep-draughted for the wise and tender.

إِذَا مَا شَرِبْنَاهَا أَقَمْنَا مَكَانَنَا

إِذَا مَا شَرِبْنَاهَا أَقَمْنَا مَكَانَنَا

وَظَلَّتْ بِنَا الأَرْضُ الْفَضَاءُ تَدُورُ

وَظَلَّتْ بِنَا الأَرْضُ الْفَضَاءُ تَدُورُ

Whenever we drank it, we stayed in our place,

When we drank it, though the earth spun under us,

while the open earth kept spinning around us.

We kept our seats not condescending to surrender.

إِلَى أَنْ أَمَاطَ اللَّيْلُ ثِنْيَ لِثَامِهِ

إِلَى أَنْ أَمَاطَ اللَّيْلُ ثِنْيَ لِثَامِهِ

وَكَادَتْ أَسَارِيرُ الصَّبَاحِ تُنِيرُ

وَكَادَتْ أَسَارِيرُ الصَّبَاحِ تُنِيرُ

Until night drew aside a fold of its veil,

Till night lifted its veil’s hem,

and dawn's features were about to shine.

And dawn’s couriers hinted light tender,

وَنَبَّهَنَا وَقْعُ النَّدَى فِي خَمِيلَةٍ

وَنَبَّهَنَا وَقْعُ النَّدَى فِي خَمِيلَةٍ

لَهَا مِنْ نُجُومِ الأُقْحُوانِ ثُغُورُ

لَهَا مِنْ نُجُومِ الأُقْحُوانِ ثُغُورُ

The patter of dew awakened us in a leafy grove

Dewdrops pattering woke us in a howdah

with chrysanthemum stars for mouths.

Studded with stars, a heavenly wonder,

تَنَاغَتْ بِهَا الأَطْيَارُ حِينَ بَدَا لَهَا

تَنَاغَتْ بِهَا الأَطْيَارُ حِينَ بَدَا لَهَا

مِنَ الْفَجْرِ خَيْطٌ كَالْحُسَامِ طَرِيرُ

مِنَ الْفَجْرِ خَيْطٌ كَالْحُسَامِ طَرِيرُ

There the birds sang to one another when there appeared to them

At which the birds chirped when the dawn

a thread of dawn, keen as a sword.

Showed a thread like a keen blade slender.

فَهُنَّ إِلَى ضَوْءِ الصَّبَاحِ نَوَاظِرٌ

فَهُنَّ إِلَى ضَوْءِ الصَّبَاحِ نَوَاظِرٌ

وَعَنْ سُدْفَةِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُجَنَّحِ زُورُ

وَعَنْ سُدْفَةِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُجَنَّحِ زُورُ

They gazed toward the light of morning

Their eyes were fixed on the morning’s glow,

and turned away from the gloom of winged night.

Having slipped night’s feathered cover tender,

خَوَارِجُ مِنْ أَيْكٍ دَوَاخِلُ غَيْرِهِ

خَوَارِجُ مِنْ أَيْكٍ دَوَاخِلُ غَيْرِهِ

زَهَاهُنَّ ظِلٌّ سَابِغٌ وَغَدِيرُ

زَهَاهُنَّ ظِلٌّ سَابِغٌ وَغَدِيرُ

Emerging from one thicket, entering another,

Fluttering out from one nest, fluttering into another,

delighted by ample shade and a pool.

Draped in heavy shade and water tender,

تَوَسَّدُ هَامَاتٌ لَهُنَّ وَسَائِدَاً

تَوَسَّدُ هَامَاتٌ لَهُنَّ وَسَائِدَاً

مِنَ الرِّيشِ فِيهِ طائِلٌ وَشَكِيرُ

مِنَ الرِّيشِ فِيهِ طائِلٌ وَشَكِيرُ

Their heads rested upon pillows

Pillowed on plumage, pennoned with feathers

of feathers, some long and some newly grown.

Fringed but lacking tethers or surrender,

كَأَنَّ عَلَى أَعْطَافِهَا مِنْ حَبِيكِها

كَأَنَّ عَلَى أَعْطَافِهَا مِنْ حَبِيكِها

تَمَائِمَ لَمْ تُعْقَدْ لَهُنَّ سُيُورُ

تَمَائِمَ لَمْ تُعْقَدْ لَهُنَّ سُيُورُ

As though upon their flanks, in their woven plumage,

When sunlight smiles on them, their wings

were amulets with no straps tied for them.

Gleam like damask and silk so tender,

إِذَا ضَاحَكَتْهَا الشَّمْسُ رَفَّتْ كَأَنَّما

إِذَا ضَاحَكَتْهَا الشَّمْسُ رَفَّتْ كَأَنَّما

عَلَى صَفْحَتَيْهَا سُنْدُسٌ وَحَرِيرُ

عَلَى صَفْحَتَيْهَا سُنْدُسٌ وَحَرِيرُ

When the sun smiled upon them, they fluttered, as though

When I saw night retire and the vanguard

fine brocade and silk covered their two sides.

Of the cavalry of dawn advance and splinter,

فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَ وَلَّى وَأَقْبَلَتْ

فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَ وَلَّى وَأَقْبَلَتْ

طَلائِعُ مِنْ خَيْلِ الصَّبَاحِ تُغِيرُ

طَلائِعُ مِنْ خَيْلِ الصَّبَاحِ تُغِيرُ

Then, when I saw night retreat and saw advancing

I slipped away veiled, wandering fecklessly -

the vanguards of dawn's cavalry, charging,

Only the feckless wander free of surrender,

ذَهَبْتُ أَجُرُّ الذَّيْلَ تِيهاً وإِنَّمَا

ذَهَبْتُ أَجُرُّ الذَّيْلَ تِيهاً وإِنَّمَا

يَتِيهُ الْفَتَى إِنْ عَفَّ وَهْوَ قَدِيرُ

يَتِيهُ الْفَتَى إِنْ عَفَّ وَهْوَ قَدِيرُ

I went away trailing my hem in pride; and only

My nature scorns the world, my resolve

a man who is chaste while able has cause to boast.

Scorns the lion’s craggy trials tender,

وَلِي شِيمَةٌ تَأْبَى الدَّنَايَا وَعَزْمَةٌ

وَلِي شِيمَةٌ تَأْبَى الدَّنَايَا وَعَزْمَةٌ

تَفُلُّ شَباةَ الْخَطْبِ وَهْوَ عَسِيرُ

تَفُلُّ شَباةَ الْخَطْبِ وَهْوَ عَسِيرُ

I have a character that spurns base deeds, and a resolve

My will unbroken from worthy deeds refrains

that blunts calamity's edge, however grievous it is.

Only when the matter is finished and tender,

مُعَوَّدَةٌ أَلَّا تَكُفَّ عِنَانَهَا

مُعَوَّدَةٌ أَلَّا تَكُفَّ عِنَانَهَا

عَنِ الْجِدِّ إِلَّا أَنْ تَتِمَّ أُمُورُ

عَنِ الْجِدِّ إِلَّا أَنْ تَتِمَّ أُمُورُ

Accustomed not to draw back its reins

From beyond the veil, my will has ears that hear

from earnest striving until affairs are complete.

And eyes that see what no seeing can render,

لَهَا مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْغَيْبِ أُذْنٌ سَمِيعَةٌ

لَهَا مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْغَيْبِ أُذْنٌ سَمِيعَةٌ

وَعَيْنٌ تَرَى ما لا يَرَاهُ بَصِيرُ

وَعَيْنٌ تَرَى ما لا يَرَاهُ بَصِيرُ

It has an ear that hears beyond the unseen,

I am a man of stubborn disposition,

and an eye that sees what no keen-sighted person sees.

My spirit dares heights none dare tender.

وإِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَعْبُ الشَّكِيمَةِ بَالِغٌ

وإِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَعْبُ الشَّكِيمَةِ بَالِغٌ

بِنَفْسِيَ شَأْواً لَيْسَ فِيهِ نَكِيرُ

بِنَفْسِيَ شَأْواً لَيْسَ فِيهِ نَكِيرُ

I am a man hard to bridle, attaining

I kept the faith the great expected of me,

by my own effort a height that none can deny.

Mine is fidelity none can tender.

وَفَيْتُ بِمَا ظَن الْكِرَامُ فِرَاسَةً

وَفَيْتُ بِمَا ظَن الْكِرَامُ فِرَاسَةً

بِأَمْرِي وَمِثْلِي بِالْوَفَاءِ جَدِيرُ

بِأَمْرِي وَمِثْلِي بِالْوَفَاءِ جَدِيرُ

I fulfilled what the noble intuitively surmised

I turn not from what brings honor,

about me; one like me is worthy of fidelity.

Nor quail when events Pretender.

فَمَا أَنَا عَمَّا يُكْسِبُ الْعِزَّ نَاكِبٌ

فَمَا أَنَا عَمَّا يُكْسِبُ الْعِزَّ نَاكِبٌ

وَلا عِنْدَ وَقْعِ الْمُحْفِظَاتِ حَسِيرُ

وَلا عِنْدَ وَقْعِ الْمُحْفِظَاتِ حَسِيرُ

I do not turn aside from what earns honor,

My speech holds the reins, wisdom

nor am I spent when provocations strike.

A star, bright, beaming splendor.

إِذَا صُلْتُ كَفَّ الدَّهْرُ مِنْ غُلَوائِهِ

إِذَا صُلْتُ كَفَّ الدَّهْرُ مِنْ غُلَوائِهِ

وَإِنْ قُلْتُ غَصَّتْ بِالْقُلُوبِ صُدُورُ

وَإِنْ قُلْتُ غَصَّتْ بِالْقُلُوبِ صُدُورُ

When I charge, Time checks its excesses;

Had I been in ages past, Jarwal and Jareer

and when I speak, breasts choke upon their hearts.

Would pale beside me in eloquence tender.

مَلَكْتُ مَقَالِيدَ الْكَلامِ وَحِكْمَةً

مَلَكْتُ مَقَالِيدَ الْكَلامِ وَحِكْمَةً

لَهَا كَوْكَبٌ فَخْمُ الضِّيَاءِ مُنِيرُ

لَهَا كَوْكَبٌ فَخْمُ الضِّيَاءِ مُنِيرُ

I have mastered the keys of speech, and a wisdom

Had I met the Nuwasiy poets none would say,

whose star shines with magnificent radiance.

“Our neighbor's daughter you would not surrender.”

فَلَوْ كُنْتُ في عَصْرِ الْكَلامِ الَّذِي انْقَضَى

فَلَوْ كُنْتُ في عَصْرِ الْكَلامِ الَّذِي انْقَضَى

لَبَاءَ بِفَضْلِي جَرْوَلٌ وَجَرِيرُ

لَبَاءَ بِفَضْلِي جَرْوَلٌ وَجَرِيرُ

Had I lived in the bygone age of eloquence,

I lost nothing being born after them,

Jarwal and Jarir would have acknowledged my excellence.

My excellence the worlds engender.

وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَدْرَكْتُ النُّواسِيَّ لَمْ يَقُلْ

وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَدْرَكْتُ النُّواسِيَّ لَمْ يَقُلْ

أَجَارَةَ بَيْتَيْنَا أَبُوكِ غَيُورُ

أَجَارَةَ بَيْتَيْنَا أَبُوكِ غَيُورُ

Had I encountered al-Nuwasi, he would not have said,

Sometimes the first falls behind in the race,

"O neighbor of our two houses, your father is jealous."

And the steed that lags proves swifter and tender.

وَمَا ضَرَّنِي أَنِّي تَأَخَّرْتُ عَنْهُمُ

وَمَا ضَرَّنِي أَنِّي تَأَخَّرْتُ عَنْهُمُ

وَفَضْلِيَ بَيْنَ الْعَالَمِينَ شَهِيرُ

وَفَضْلِيَ بَيْنَ الْعَالَمِينَ شَهِيرُ

It has not harmed me that I came later than they,

When I speak, the days’ injustice is undone,

while my excellence is renowned among all people.

Hearts swell till they can scarce surrender.

فَيَا رُبَّمَا أَخْلَى مِنَ السَّبْقِ أَوَّلٌ

فَيَا رُبَّمَا أَخْلَى مِنَ السَّبْقِ أَوَّلٌ

وَبَزَّ الْجِيَادَ السَّابِقَاتِ أَخِيرُ

وَبَزَّ الْجِيَادَ السَّابِقَاتِ أَخِيرُ

For how often an early starter comes away without victory,

I hold the keys to speech, wisdom

while a latecomer outstrips the steeds that led!

A star of brilliant splendor.