كَم قَتيلٍ كَما قُتِلتُ شَهيدِ

كَم قَتيلٍ كَما قُتِلتُ شَهيدِ

بِبَياضِ الطُلى وَوَردِ الخُدودِ

بِبَياضِ الطُلى وَوَردِ الخُدودِ

How many a martyr, slain as I was,

How many a victim, slain as I was slain, died a martyr,

by the whiteness of necks and the roses of cheeks,

To the white of elegance necks and the rose of blushing cheeks,

وَعُيونِ المَها وَلا كَعُيونٍ

وَعُيونِ المَها وَلا كَعُيونٍ

فَتَكَت بِالمُتَيَّمِ المَعمودِ

فَتَكَت بِالمُتَيَّمِ المَعمودِ

and by oryx eyes—but none like the eyes

And the eyes of wild oryx—yet no eyes could ever be,

that slew the love-enslaved, love-stricken man!

Like those that ravaged this enslaved and love-struck heart.

دَرَّ دَرُّ الصِبا أَأَيّامَ تَجريـ

دَرَّ دَرُّ الصِبا أَأَيّامَ تَجريـ

ـرِ ذُيولي بِدارِ أَثلَةَ عودي

ـرِ ذُيولي بِدارِ أَثلَةَ عودي

Blessed be youth! O days of trailing

May the milk of youth flow bountiful; O days when I would trail,

my hems in Athlah's abode, return!

My silken robes at Athlah’s abode—return to me!

عَمرَكَ اللَهُ هَل رَأَيتَ بُدوراً

عَمرَكَ اللَهُ هَل رَأَيتَ بُدوراً

طَلَعَت في بَراقِعٍ وَعُقودِ

طَلَعَت في بَراقِعٍ وَعُقودِ

By God, have you seen full moons

By God’s life! Have you ever seen full moons that rise,

rising in face-veils and necklaces?

Adorned in face-veils and stringed necklaces of gold?

رامِياتٍ بِأَسهُمٍ ريشُها الهُد

رامِياتٍ بِأَسهُمٍ ريشُها الهُد

بُ تَشُقُّ القُلوبُ قَبلَ الجُلودِ

بُ تَشُقُّ القُلوبُ قَبلَ الجُلودِ

Shooting arrows whose fletching is eyelashes,

Archers launching arrows fletched with long, dark lashes,

piercing hearts before skin.

That cleave through beating hearts before they pierce the skin.

يَتَرَشَّفنَ مِن فَمي رَشَفاتٍ

يَتَرَشَّفنَ مِن فَمي رَشَفاتٍ

هُنَّ فيهِ أَحلى مِنَ التَوحيدِ

هُنَّ فيهِ أَحلى مِنَ التَوحيدِ

They sip draughts from my mouth,

From my mouth they sip and savour draughts of love,

sweeter there than professing God's oneness.

Sweeter to the taste than the Holy Unity of God.

كُلُّ خَمصانَةٍ أَرَقُّ مِنَ الخَمـ

كُلُّ خَمصانَةٍ أَرَقُّ مِنَ الخَمـ

ـرِ بِقَلبٍ أَقسى مِنَ الجَلمودِ

ـرِ بِقَلبٍ أَقسى مِنَ الجَلمودِ

Each slender-waisted woman is more delicate than wine,

Each slender-waisted maid, more delicate than wine,

with a heart harder than a boulder,

Yet harboring a heart more obdurate than stone.

ذاتِ فَرعٍ كَأَنَّما ضُرِبَ العَنـ

ذاتِ فَرعٍ كَأَنَّما ضُرِبَ العَنـ

ـبَرُ فيهِ بِماءِ وَردٍ وَعودِ

ـبَرُ فيهِ بِماءِ وَردٍ وَعودِ

with tresses, as though ambergris had been blended

Possessor of tresses wherein it seems ambergris was mixed,

in them with rosewater and aloeswood:

Blended deep with rose-water and the scent of oud.

حالِكٍ كَالغُدافِ جَثلٍ دَجوجِيـ

حالِكٍ كَالغُدافِ جَثلٍ دَجوجِيـ

ـيٍ أَثيثٍ جَعدٍ بِلا تَجعيدِ

ـيٍ أَثيثٍ جَعدٍ بِلا تَجعيدِ

black as a raven, thick and dark as night,

Pitch-black as the raven, thick and dark as night,

luxuriant, curly without artificial curling.

Lush and naturally coiled, needing no artifice to curl.

تَحمِلُ المِسكَ عَن غَدائِرِها الريـ

تَحمِلُ المِسكَ عَن غَدائِرِها الريـ

ـحُ وَتَفتَرُّ عَن شَنيبٍ بَرودِ

ـحُ وَتَفتَرُّ عَن شَنيبٍ بَرودِ

The wind carries musk from her tresses,

The breeze bears the scent of musk from her loose locks,

and she smiles, revealing lustrous, cool teeth.

And she smiles to reveal teeth cool and lustrous white.

جَمَعَت بَينَ جِسمِ أَحمَدَ وَالسُقـ

جَمَعَت بَينَ جِسمِ أَحمَدَ وَالسُقـ

ـمِ وَبَينَ الجُفونِ وَالتَسهيدِ

ـمِ وَبَينَ الجُفونِ وَالتَسهيدِ

She paired Ahmad's body with sickness,

She has united the body of Ahmad with wasting sickness,

and his eyelids with sleeplessness.

And joined his heavy eyelids with endless sleeplessness.

هَذِهِ مُهجَتي لَدَيكِ لِحيني

هَذِهِ مُهجَتي لَدَيكِ لِحيني

فَاِنقُصي مِن عَذابِها أَو فَزيدي

فَاِنقُصي مِن عَذابِها أَو فَزيدي

This is my soul, in your keeping, for my doom;

Here is my very soul, held in your hands for my demise;

so lessen its torment—or increase it.

So lessen its torment, or increase it as you please.

أَهلُ ما بي مِنَ الضَنى بَطَلٌ صيـ

أَهلُ ما بي مِنَ الضَنى بَطَلٌ صيـ

ـدَ بِتَصفيفِ طُرَّةٍ وَبِجيدِ

ـدَ بِتَصفيفِ طُرَّةٍ وَبِجيدِ

Worthy of the wasting illness I bear is a hero

The cause of my infirmity is a hero captured,

snared by a combed forelock and a neck.

Snared by a styled forelock and an elegant neck.

كُلُّ شَيءٍ مِنَ الدِماءِ حَرامٌ

كُلُّ شَيءٍ مِنَ الدِماءِ حَرامٌ

شُربُهُ ما خَلا دَمَ العُنقودِ

شُربُهُ ما خَلا دَمَ العُنقودِ

Every kind of blood is forbidden

Every draught of blood is forbidden to consume,

to drink, except the blood of the grape cluster.

Save for the blood bleeding from the clusters of the vine.

فَاِسقِنيها فِدىً لِعَينَيكِ نَفسي

فَاِسقِنيها فِدىً لِعَينَيكِ نَفسي

مِن غَزالٍ وَطارِفي وَتَليدي

مِن غَزالٍ وَطارِفي وَتَليدي

So give it to me to drink—my soul be ransom for your eyes,

So pour me a cup—may my soul be ransom for your eyes—

O gazelle, and my wealth, newly acquired and inherited.

From the hand of a gazelle, my ransom of all wealth new and old.

شَيبُ رَأسي وَذِلَّتي وَنُحولي

شَيبُ رَأسي وَذِلَّتي وَنُحولي

وَدُموعي عَلى هَواكَ شُهودي

وَدُموعي عَلى هَواكَ شُهودي

The gray of my head, my abasement, my wasting,

The graying of my head, my frailty, and my humiliation,

and my tears are my witnesses to my love for you.

And my flowing tears stand as witnesses to my love for you.

أَيَّ يَومٍ سَرَرتَني بِوِصالٍ

أَيَّ يَومٍ سَرَرتَني بِوِصالٍ

لَم تَرُعني ثَلاثَةً بِصُدودِ

لَم تَرُعني ثَلاثَةً بِصُدودِ

On what day did you gladden me with union

What day did you ever gladden me with union,

without frightening me for three days with rejection?

Without frightening me away for three with your rejection?

ما مُقامي بِأَرضِ نَخلَةَ إِلّا

ما مُقامي بِأَرضِ نَخلَةَ إِلّا

كَمُقامِ المَسيحِ بَينَ اليَهودِ

كَمُقامِ المَسيحِ بَينَ اليَهودِ

My stay in the land of Nakhlah is only

My sojourn in the land of Nakhlah is nothing less

like the Messiah's stay among the Jews.

Than the sojourn of the Messiah among the Jews.

مَفرَشي صَهوَةُ الحِصانِ وَلَكِن

مَفرَشي صَهوَةُ الحِصانِ وَلَكِن

نَ قَميصي مَسرودَةٌ مِن حَديدِ

نَ قَميصي مَسرودَةٌ مِن حَديدِ

My bed is the horse's back, but

My bed is the saddle upon a stallion’s back,

my shirt is interlinked mail of iron.

And my shirt is a tunic woven of chain-mail iron.

لَأمَةٌ فاضَةٌ أَضاةٌ دِلاصٌ

لَأمَةٌ فاضَةٌ أَضاةٌ دِلاصٌ

أَحكَمَت نَسجَها يَدا داوُّدِ

أَحكَمَت نَسجَها يَدا داوُّدِ

Ample armor, like a pool, smooth and gleaming,

A coat of mail, ample, gleaming, and smooth,

its weave perfected by David's two hands.

Whose weaving was mastered by the hands of David.

أَينَ فَضلي إِذا قَنِعتُ مِنَ الدَهـ

أَينَ فَضلي إِذا قَنِعتُ مِنَ الدَهـ

ـرِ بِعَيشٍ مُعَجَّلِ التَنكيدِ

ـرِ بِعَيشٍ مُعَجَّلِ التَنكيدِ

Where is my distinction if I accept from time

Where lies my merit if I am content with Fate,

a life so quickly embittered?

To live a life where misery is hastened and assured?

ضاقَ صَدري وَطالَ في طَلَبِ الرِز

ضاقَ صَدري وَطالَ في طَلَبِ الرِز

قِ قِيامي وَقَلَّ عَنهُ قُعودي

قِ قِيامي وَقَلَّ عَنهُ قُعودي

My breast is constricted; long, in seeking livelihood,

My chest is constricted; long have I stood seeking provision,

has been my striving, and scant my rest from it.

And rare has been my rest or sitting from the quest.

أَبَداً أَقطَعُ البِلادَ وَنَجمي

أَبَداً أَقطَعُ البِلادَ وَنَجمي

في نُحوسٍ وَهِمَّتي في سُعودِ

في نُحوسٍ وَهِمَّتي في سُعودِ

Forever I cross the lands, while my star

Forever I traverse the lands, while my star

is in ill fortune, and my ambition in good fortune.

Is in misalignment, though my ambition soars in fortune.

وَلَعَلّي مُؤَمِّلٌ بَعضَ ما أَب

وَلَعَلّي مُؤَمِّلٌ بَعضَ ما أَب

لُغُ بِاللُطفِ مِن عَزيزٍ حَميدِ

لُغُ بِاللُطفِ مِن عَزيزٍ حَميدِ

And perhaps I hope for only part of what I will attain

Perhaps I hope to reach, through grace, a part

through gracious favor from one mighty and praiseworthy.

Of what I seek from the Mighty, the Praised One.

لِسَرِيٍّ لِباسُهُ خَشِنُ القُط

لِسَرِيٍّ لِباسُهُ خَشِنُ القُط

نِ وَمَروِيُّ مَروَ لِبسُ القُرودِ

نِ وَمَروِيُّ مَروَ لِبسُ القُرودِ

A nobleman's clothing is coarse cotton,

For I see the noble wearing but coarse cotton,

while cloth woven in Marw is the clothing of monkeys.

While the fine silks of Marw are the raiment of apes.

عِش عَزيزاً أَو مُت وَأَنتَ كَريمٌ

عِش عَزيزاً أَو مُت وَأَنتَ كَريمٌ

بَينَ طَعنِ القَنا وَخَفقِ البُنودِ

بَينَ طَعنِ القَنا وَخَفقِ البُنودِ

Live honored, or die noble,

Live in honor, or die with your dignity intact,

amid spear-thrusts and the fluttering of banners.

Amidst the thrust of spears and the fluttering of banners.

فَرُؤوسُ الرِماحِ أَذهَبُ لِلغَيـ

فَرُؤوسُ الرِماحِ أَذهَبُ لِلغَيـ

ـظِ وَأَشفى لِغِلِّ صَدرِ الحَقودِ

ـظِ وَأَشفى لِغِلِّ صَدرِ الحَقودِ

For spearheads better drive away rage,

For the spear-points are the surest cure for rage,

and better heal the rancor in a spiteful man's breast.

And the best remedy for the rancor in a vengeful chest.

لا كَما قَد حَيّتَ غَيرَ حَميدٍ

لا كَما قَد حَيّتَ غَيرَ حَميدٍ

وَإِذا مُتَّ مُتَّ غَيرَ فَقيدِ

وَإِذا مُتَّ مُتَّ غَيرَ فَقيدِ

Do not live as you have lived, unpraised,

Not as you have lived, unpraised and undistinguished,

nor die, when you die, unmourned.

And if you die, you die unwept and unmissed.

فَاِطلُبِ العِزَّ في لَظى وَذَرِ الذُلـ

فَاِطلُبِ العِزَّ في لَظى وَذَرِ الذُلـ

ـلَ وَلَو كانَ في جِنانِ الخُلودِ

ـلَ وَلَو كانَ في جِنانِ الخُلودِ

So seek honor in blazing fire, and abandon humiliation,

Seek glory even in the flames of Hell, and shun disgrace,

even if it lies in the gardens of eternity.

Even if it were found in the Gardens of Eternity.

يُقتَلُ العاجِزُ الجَبانُ وَقَد يَعـ

يُقتَلُ العاجِزُ الجَبانُ وَقَد يَعـ

ـجِزُ عَن قَطعِ بُخنُقِ المَولودِ

ـجِزُ عَن قَطعِ بُخنُقِ المَولودِ

The helpless coward is killed, though he may be unable

The helpless coward is slain, though he lacks the strength

to cut a newborn's bonnet.

To sever even the cord of a newborn babe.

وَيُوَقّى الفَتى المِخَشُّ وَقَد خَو

وَيُوَقّى الفَتى المِخَشُّ وَقَد خَو

وَضَ في ماءِ لَبَّةِ الصِنديدِ

وَضَ في ماءِ لَبَّةِ الصِنديدِ

And the fearless youth is kept safe, though he has waded

Yet the bold warrior is spared, though he has plunged,

in the blood-waters of a champion's upper breast.

Deep into the blood-tide of the chieftain’s throat.

لا بِقَومي شَرُفتُ بَل شَرُفوا بي

لا بِقَومي شَرُفتُ بَل شَرُفوا بي

وَبِنَفسي فَخَرتُ لا بِجُدودي

وَبِنَفسي فَخَرتُ لا بِجُدودي

Not through my people did I gain honor; rather, they gained honor through me,

I gained no honor from my lineage; rather, they gained honor through me,

and I took pride in myself, not in my forefathers.

And in myself I glory, not in my ancestry.

وَبِهِم فَخرُ كُلِّ مَن نَطَقَ الضا

وَبِهِم فَخرُ كُلِّ مَن نَطَقَ الضا

دَ وَعَوذُ الجاني وَعَوثُ الطَريدِ

دَ وَعَوذُ الجاني وَعَوثُ الطَريدِ

And in them is the pride of all who pronounce ḍād,

Through them is the pride of all who speak the Arabic tongue,

the offender's refuge and the fugitive's aid.

The refuge of the sinner and the succor of the outcast.

إِن أَكُن مُعجَباً فَعُجبُ عَجيبٍ

إِن أَكُن مُعجَباً فَعُجبُ عَجيبٍ

لَم يَجِد فَوقَ نَفسِهِ مِن مَزيدِ

لَم يَجِد فَوقَ نَفسِهِ مِن مَزيدِ

If I admire myself, it is the pride of a marvel

If I seem proud, it is the pride of a phenomenon

who has found nothing greater than himself.

Who finds nothing above himself to which he might ascend.

أَنا تِربُ النَدى وَرَبُّ القَوافي

أَنا تِربُ النَدى وَرَبُّ القَوافي

وَسِمامُ العِدا وَغَيظُ الحَسودِ

وَسِمامُ العِدا وَغَيظُ الحَسودِ

I am generosity's peer and the lord of rhymes,

I am the companion of Generosity and the Master of Rhyme,

and poison to foes, and the rage of the envious.

The poison to my enemies, and the despair of the envious.

أَنا في أُمَّةٍ تَدارَكَها اللَـ

أَنا في أُمَّةٍ تَدارَكَها اللَـ

ـهُ غَريبٌ كَصالِحٍ في ثَمودِ

ـهُ غَريبٌ كَصالِحٍ في ثَمودِ

I am among a people—may God come to their aid—

I dwell among a nation—may God amend their state—

a stranger, like Salih among Thamud.

A stranger, like the prophet Salih among the tribe of Thamud.