هَذي بَرَزتِ لَنا فَهُجتِ رَسيسا

هَذي بَرَزتِ لَنا فَهُجتِ رَسيسا

ثُمَّ اِنثَنَيتِ وَما شَفَيتِ نَسيسا

ثُمَّ اِنثَنَيتِ وَما شَفَيتِ نَسيسا

You there, you appeared to us and stirred a dormant love.

You appeared before us and stirred a lingering passion,

Then you turned away without healing a dying soul.

Then turned away, leaving a dying breath unhealed.

وَجَعَلتِ حَظّي مِنكِ حَظّي في الكَرى

وَجَعَلتِ حَظّي مِنكِ حَظّي في الكَرى

وَتَرَكتِني لِلفَرقَدَينِ جَليسا

وَتَرَكتِني لِلفَرقَدَينِ جَليسا

You made my share of you the same as my share of sleep,

You made my portion of you as fleeting as my slumber,

and left me companion to the two Farqad stars.

And left me a sleepless companion to the polar stars.

قَطَّعتِ ذَيّاكِ الخُمارَ بِسَكرَةٍ

قَطَّعتِ ذَيّاكِ الخُمارَ بِسَكرَةٍ

وَأَدَرتِ مِن خَمرِ الفِراقِ كُؤوسا

وَأَدَرتِ مِن خَمرِ الفِراقِ كُؤوسا

You dispelled that hangover with drunkenness,

You severed that old stupor with a fresh intoxication,

and passed around cups of the wine of parting.

And circulated bitter cups from the wine of separation.

إِن كُنتِ ظاعِنَةً فَإِنَّ مَدامِعي

إِن كُنتِ ظاعِنَةً فَإِنَّ مَدامِعي

تَكفي مَزادَكُمُ وَتُروي العيسا

تَكفي مَزادَكُمُ وَتُروي العيسا

If you are departing, then surely my tears

If you are set on departing, know that my flowing tears

will fill your waterskins and quench the pale camels' thirst.

Will fill your waterskins and quench your white camels.

حاشى لِمِثلِكِ أَن تَكونَ بَخيلَةً

حاشى لِمِثلِكِ أَن تَكونَ بَخيلَةً

وَلِمِثلِ وَجهِكِ أَن يَكونَ عَبوسا

وَلِمِثلِ وَجهِكِ أَن يَكونَ عَبوسا

Far be it from one like you to be miserly,

Far be it for one like you to ever be miserly,

or a face like yours to be sullen,

Or for a face of such beauty to wear a frown.

وَلِمِثلِ وَصلِكِ أَن يَكونَ مُمَنَّعاً

وَلِمِثلِ وَصلِكِ أَن يَكونَ مُمَنَّعاً

وَلِمِثلِ نَيلِكِ أَن يَكونَ خَسيسا

وَلِمِثلِ نَيلِكِ أَن يَكونَ خَسيسا

or union such as yours to be withheld,

Far be it that your union should be forbidden,

or a gift such as yours to be paltry.

Or that your bestowal should be paltry and mean.

خَودٌ جَنَت بَيني وَبَينَ عَواذِلي

خَودٌ جَنَت بَيني وَبَينَ عَواذِلي

حَرباً وَغادَرَتِ الفُؤادَ وَطيسا

حَرباً وَغادَرَتِ الفُؤادَ وَطيسا

A tender maiden who kindled between me and my reproachers

A maiden who ignited a war between me and my censors,

a war, and left my heart a furnace.

And left my heart burning like a furnace within.

بَيضاءُ يَمنَعُها تَكَلَّمَ دَلُّها

بَيضاءُ يَمنَعُها تَكَلَّمَ دَلُّها

تيهاً وَيَمنَعُها الحَياءُ تَميسا

تيهاً وَيَمنَعُها الحَياءُ تَميسا

Fair-skinned, her coquetry keeps her from speaking—

A fair beauty, whose pride forbids her to speak,

out of pride—while modesty keeps her from a swaying walk.

And whose shyness restrains her swerving gait.

لَمّا وَجَدتُ دَواءَ دائي عِندَها

لَمّا وَجَدتُ دَواءَ دائي عِندَها

هانَت عَلَيَّ صِفاتُ جالينوسا

هانَت عَلَيَّ صِفاتُ جالينوسا

When I found the cure for my sickness with her,

Since I found the cure for my ailment lies with her,

Galen's prescriptions became of little worth to me.

The prescriptions of Galen have become worthless to me.

أَبقى زُرَيقٌ لِلثُغورِ مُحَمَّداً

أَبقى زُرَيقٌ لِلثُغورِ مُحَمَّداً

أَبقى نَفيسٌ لِلنَفيسِ نَفيساً

أَبقى نَفيسٌ لِلنَفيسِ نَفيساً

Zurayq left Muhammad for the frontier towns:

Zurayq has preserved Muhammad to guard the frontiers;

a precious man left a precious man for a precious charge.

A noble father leaving a noble son for a noble cause.

إِن حَلَّ فارَقَتِ الخَزائِنُ مالَهُ

إِن حَلَّ فارَقَتِ الخَزائِنُ مالَهُ

أَو سارَ فارَقَتِ الجُسومُ الروسا

أَو سارَ فارَقَتِ الجُسومُ الروسا

If he stays, the treasuries part with his wealth;

When he settles, his wealth departs from his treasuries;

or if he marches, bodies part with their heads.

When he marches, heads are severed from their bodies.

مَلِكٌ إِذا عادَيتَ نَفسَكَ عادِهِ

مَلِكٌ إِذا عادَيتَ نَفسَكَ عادِهِ

وَرَضيتَ أَو حَشَ ما كَرِهتَ أَنيسا

وَرَضيتَ أَو حَشَ ما كَرِهتَ أَنيسا

A king: oppose him if you are your own enemy

He is a king—if you hate your own life, then oppose him,

and are content with the most desolate thing you dread as companion.

And embrace the desolation of the grave as your companion.

الخائِضَ الغَمَراتِ غَيرَ مُدافِعٍ

الخائِضَ الغَمَراتِ غَيرَ مُدافِعٍ

وَالشَمَّرِيَّ المِطعَنَ الدِعّيسا

وَالشَمَّرِيَّ المِطعَنَ الدِعّيسا

The man who plunges into deadly perils, never holding back,

He plunges into the floods of war, unrepelled,

and the resolute warrior, relentless and fierce with the spear.

The swift aggressor, the piercer, the crusher of foes.

كَشَّفتُ جَمهَرَةَ العِبادِ فَلَم أَجِد

كَشَّفتُ جَمهَرَةَ العِبادِ فَلَم أَجِد

إِلّا مَسوداً جَنبَهُ مَرؤوسا

إِلّا مَسوداً جَنبَهُ مَرؤوسا

I examined the multitude of mankind, and found

I examined the multitudes of men, yet found no one

only subjects beside him, mere subordinates.

But subjects beside him, while he alone is the chief.

بَشَرٌ تَصَوَّرَ غايَةً في آيَةٍ

بَشَرٌ تَصَوَّرَ غايَةً في آيَةٍ

تَنفي الظُنونَ وَتُفسِدُ التَقِيّسا

تَنفي الظُنونَ وَتُفسِدُ التَقِيّسا

A mortal who took form as perfection in a marvel

A man formed as the ultimate limit within a miracle,

that banishes conjecture and defeats comparison.

Defying all conjecture, rendering analogies void.

وَبِهِ يُضَنُّ عَلى البَرِيَّةِ لا بِها

وَبِهِ يُضَنُّ عَلى البَرِيَّةِ لا بِها

وَعَلَيهِ مِنها لا عَلَيها يوسى

وَعَلَيهِ مِنها لا عَلَيها يوسى

He is held too precious for mankind, not mankind for him;

The world is envied for having him, not he for the world;

and he, not they, is mourned by mankind.

We grieve for his sake over the world, not for the world itself.

لَو كانَ ذو القَرنَينِ أَعمَلَ رَأيَهُ

لَو كانَ ذو القَرنَينِ أَعمَلَ رَأيَهُ

لَمّا أَتى الظُلُماتِ صِرنَ شُموسا

لَمّا أَتى الظُلُماتِ صِرنَ شُموسا

Had Dhul-Qarnayn put this man's counsel to use,

Had Dhu al-Qarnayn employed his wisdom like him,

the darkness, when he reached it, would have turned to suns.

The darkness he entered would have blazed like suns.

أَو كانَ صادَفَ رَأسَ عازَرَ سَيفُهُ

أَو كانَ صادَفَ رَأسَ عازَرَ سَيفُهُ

في يَومِ مَعرَكَةٍ لَأَعيا عيسى

في يَومِ مَعرَكَةٍ لَأَعيا عيسى

Or had his sword met Lazarus's head

Had his sword struck the head of Lazarus

on a day of battle, it would have baffled Jesus.

On the day of battle, Jesus would have failed to raise him.

أَو كانَ لُجُّ البَحرِ مِثلَ يَمينِهِ

أَو كانَ لُجُّ البَحرِ مِثلَ يَمينِهِ

ما اِنشَقَّ حَتّى جازَ فيهِ موسى

ما اِنشَقَّ حَتّى جازَ فيهِ موسى

Or had the sea's depths been like his right hand,

Had the depths of the sea been as generous as his right hand,

it would not have parted for Moses to cross through it.

It would never have parted for Moses to pass through.

أَو كانَ لِلنيرانِ ضَوءُ جَبينِهِ

أَو كانَ لِلنيرانِ ضَوءُ جَبينِهِ

عُبِدَت فَصارَ العالَمونَ مَجوسا

عُبِدَت فَصارَ العالَمونَ مَجوسا

Or had the fires possessed the radiance of his brow,

And had the sacred fires possessed the light of his brow,

they would have been worshipped, and all mankind become Magians.

They would be worshipped, and all men would turn Magian.

لَمّا سَمِعتُ بِهِ سَمِعتُ بِواحِدٍ

لَمّا سَمِعتُ بِهِ سَمِعتُ بِواحِدٍ

وَرَأَيتُهُ فَرَأَيتُ مِنهُ خَميسا

وَرَأَيتُهُ فَرَأَيتُ مِنهُ خَميسا

When I heard of him, I heard of one man;

When I heard of him, I heard of a single man,

and when I saw him, I saw in him an army.

But when I saw him, I beheld a mighty army.

وَلَحَظتُ أُنمُلَهُ فَسِلنَ مَواهِباً

وَلَحَظتُ أُنمُلَهُ فَسِلنَ مَواهِباً

وَلَمَستُ مُنصُلَهُ فَسالَ نُفوسا

وَلَمَستُ مُنصُلَهُ فَسالَ نُفوسا

And I glanced at his fingertips, and they flowed with gifts;

I glanced at his fingers, and they flowed with gifts;

and I touched his blade, and it flowed with souls.

I touched his blade, and it flowed with souls.

يا مَن نَلوذُ مِنَ الزَمانِ بِظِلِّهِ

يا مَن نَلوذُ مِنَ الزَمانِ بِظِلِّهِ

أَبَداً وَنَطرُدُ بِاِسمِهِ إِبليسا

أَبَداً وَنَطرُدُ بِاِسمِهِ إِبليسا

O you in whose shade we seek refuge from Time,

O you in whose shadow we seek refuge from Time,

forever, and with whose name we drive Iblis away.

Forever, and by whose name we banish the Devil.

صَدَقَ المُخَبِّرُ عَنكَ دونَكَ وَصفُهُ

صَدَقَ المُخَبِّرُ عَنكَ دونَكَ وَصفُهُ

مَن بِالعِراقِ يَراكَ في طَرَسوسا

مَن بِالعِراقِ يَراكَ في طَرَسوسا

He who told of you spoke truth; his description falls short of you.

The messenger spoke truth, yet his description fell short;

Whoever is in Iraq sees you in Tarsus.

One in Iraq can see your glory in Tarsus.

بَلَدٌ أَقَمتَ بِهِ وَذِكرُكَ سائِرٌ

بَلَدٌ أَقَمتَ بِهِ وَذِكرُكَ سائِرٌ

يَشنا المَقيلَ وَيَكرَهُ التَعريسا

يَشنا المَقيلَ وَيَكرَهُ التَعريسا

A town where you dwell, while your renown journeys on,

A land where you dwell, though your fame travels far,

abhorring the noonday rest and detesting the night's halt.

Your renown shuns rest and disdains to halt.

فَإِذا طَلَبتَ فَريسَةً فارَقتَهُ

فَإِذا طَلَبتَ فَريسَةً فارَقتَهُ

وَإِذا خَدَرتَ تَخِذتَهُ عِرّيسا

وَإِذا خَدَرتَ تَخِذتَهُ عِرّيسا

So when you seek prey, you leave it;

When you hunt for prey, you leave that land behind,

and when you rest, you make it a lion's lair.

But when you rest, you make it your lion's den.

إِنّي نَثَرتُ عَلَيكَ دُرّاً فَاِنتَقِد

إِنّي نَثَرتُ عَلَيكَ دُرّاً فَاِنتَقِد

كَثُرَ المُدَلِّسُ فَاِحذَرِ التَدليسا

كَثُرَ المُدَلِّسُ فَاِحذَرِ التَدليسا

I have scattered pearls upon you; test their worth.

I have scattered pearls of verse upon you, so judge them—

Deceivers abound, so beware of deception.

For deceivers abound, so beware of counterfeits.

حَجَّبتُها عَن أَهلِ إِنطاكِيَّةٍ

حَجَّبتُها عَن أَهلِ إِنطاكِيَّةٍ

وَجَلَوتُها لَكَ فَاِجتَلَيتَ عَروسا

وَجَلَوتُها لَكَ فَاِجتَلَيتَ عَروسا

I kept her veiled from the people of Antioch,

I veiled these verses from the people of Antioch,

and unveiled her for you, so you beheld a bride.

But unveiled them for you, revealing a radiant bride.

خَيرُ الطُيورِ عَلى القُصورِ وَشَرُّها

خَيرُ الطُيورِ عَلى القُصورِ وَشَرُّها

يَأوي الخَرابَ وَيَسكُنُ الناوّسا

يَأوي الخَرابَ وَيَسكُنُ الناوّسا

The best birds perch on palaces, while the worst

The noblest birds alight upon the high palaces,

shelter in ruins and dwell in tombs.

While the base ones seek out ruins and tombs.

لَو جادَتِ الدُنيا فَدَتكَ بِأَهلِها

لَو جادَتِ الدُنيا فَدَتكَ بِأَهلِها

أَو جاهَدَت كُتِبَت عَلَيكَ حَبيسا

أَو جاهَدَت كُتِبَت عَلَيكَ حَبيسا

Were the world generous, it would ransom you with its people;

If the world were generous, it would ransom you with its people,

or, were it to strive its utmost, it would be deeded to you as an endowment.

Or if it strove for piety, it would dedicate itself to you.