خليليَّ هل تُقضى لُبانةُ هائمِ

أم الوجد والتبريحُ ضربةُ لازم

My beloved, will my torment caused by passionate love be relieved?

Oh my two friends, is the wish of a wanderer ever granted, or are passion and torment a mandatory decree?

Or is anguish and the agony of separation destined to persist?

For I am enamored with the passion I face, like one consoled, though my heart reveals as it conceals.

فأنّي بما ألقى من الوجد مغرمٌ

كَسالٍ وقلبي بائحٌ مثل كاتمِ

For I am infatuated with the anguish I suffer,

And I have tears whose clouds pour forth upon my cheek, whenever the lightning of smiles flashes.

Like one who is thirsty, while my heart wails like one who suppresses pain.

It suffices for sorrow that I melt with ardent love, and complain of what I suffer to one without mercy.

ولي عَبَراتٌ يستهل غمامها

بخدّي إذا لاحت بروقُ المباسم

And I have tears whose clouds begin

I graze upon his cheeks in the garden of desires, while my heart burns from his love in a blazing fire.

To pour down my cheek when smiles appear.

Youth and amusement have passed, save for a spark that renews for me the ancient covenant of youth.

كفى حزناً أنّي أذوبَ صبابةً

وأشكو الذي ألقى إلى غير راحم

It is enough of sorrow that I melt away in my youth

As if I never spent my time with morning draughts, nor enjoyed the company of a tender, dark-eyed one,

And complain of her to whom I was passionately devoted but who had no mercy.

Nor passed the night of seduction kissing him, beneath the veils of darkness while he kissed me.

وارتع من خديه في جنة المنى

ويَصلى فؤادي من هواهُ بجاحم

She enjoyed the kisses from his cheek in the garden of wishes

When he passed the cup at midnight, I deemed him passing a crescent moon rising amidst the clouds.

While my heart was burning with passionate love for him.

O Abu Hasan, I hold fast to your affection, so will you one day save me from your estrangement?

تقضّى الصِبا واللهوُ إلا حشاشةً

تَجدَّدُ لي عهد الصِبا المتقادم

My youth and carelessness have passed away except for traces

I made you the arbiter of my soul and heart to please you, yet you have become the most unjust of judges.

That renew for me times gone by.

Do you wrong me in friendship while there remains among you a noble chief, hoped for to redress grievances?

كأنِّيَ لم أقطع بصُبحٍ وقهوةِ

زماني ولم أنعم بأحور ناعم

It is as if I never divided my time between morning coffee and evening wine

Your father was the gemstone of pride on the finger of glory, and the central jewel upon the neck of noble deeds.

And never enjoyed the soft caresses of maidens.

How many of you has the earth's back and belly embraced, full moons of the dark, every bold and resolute one.

ولا بتُّ في ليلٍ الغَواية لاثما

له تحت أستار الدجى وهو لاثمي

I never stayed up late at night engaged in flirtation

And noble chieftains in ample robes, tall in stature, bearing swords with sharp resolve.

With a charmer whose mouth was sealed to mine beneath the veil of darkness.

Absence has not distracted me from your love, though through it you ignited the fire of sorrow in my chest.

إذا ما أدار الكأسَ وهناً حسبته

يدير هلالاُ طالعاً في غمائم

When he passes around the goblet, I imagine

How many greetings I send towards you therein, carried by the gentle, languid breezes.

He is passing around a crescent moon rising in the clouds.

If a mention of you passes my lips one day, I imagine it as musk flowing through my senses.

أبا حسن أنّي بودِّك مُعصِمٌ

فهل أنت يوماً من جفائك عاصمي

Abu Hassan, I hold fast to loving you,

Longing called me to you, and my spirit took flight in the morn, on wings of passion, both hidden and plain.

So will you one day shield me from your disfavor?

Even if I were in my grave and you called me, my crumbling bones would answer you from beneath the dust.

جعلتك في نفسي وقلبي محكَّماً

لترضى فقد أصبحت أجور حاكم

I have made you the arbiter in my soul and heart

I shall offer you pure love as long as the East Wind blows, and the doves coo within the thicket.

Hoping you will be satisfied, for you have now become the supreme judge.

أتظلِمني ودّ وما زال فيكم

قريعُ عَليَّ يُرجى لردِّ المظالمِ

Do you wrong me when I love you and does no one still remain among you

Who can be hoped to redress injustice?

وقد كان فَصَّ الفخر في خِنصَر العلا

أبوك ووسطى فوق جيد المكارم

The brows of your father were the seat of glory

And the best qualities adorned his noble forehead.

وكم ضمَّ ظهرُ الأرض منكم وبطنها

بدور دجى من كل أشوسٍ حازم

How much the surface and belly of the earth have borne

Of dark chambers from every firm and resolute man!

وأباج فضفاض القميص حُلاحِلٍ

طويل نجاد السيف ماضي العزائمِ

Lords wearing tattered shirts of fine fabric,

With trailing garments and determined hearts drew their sharp swords.

وما أذهلتني عن ودادك غيبةٌ

قدحتَ بها نار الأسى في حيازمي

No long absence on your part has distracted me

From loving you or kindled the fire of sorrow in my vitals.

وكم ليَ فيها نحوكم من تحيةٍ

أحملها مرضى الرياح النواسم

I have for you many a greeting

That I carry though the winds move sluggishly.

إذا مرَّ ذكرٌ منك يوماً على فمي

توهَّمتهُ مسكاً سرى في خياشمي

Whenever your name passes my lips,

I imagine it to be musk that has permeated my whiskers.

دعاني إليك الشوقُ فاهتاج طائري

ضحى بخواف للهوى وقوادم

Yearning for you stirred my steed into excitement

And it sacrificed its cheeks out of love and ran swiftly.

ولو أنني في ملحدي ودعوتني

للبتك من تحت الصعيد رمائمي

Even if I were in my grave and you called me,

My bones would tremble beneath the ground.

سأصفيك محض الود ما هبتِ الصَبا

وما سجعت في الأيك ورق الحمائم

I will show you sincere affection so long as the morning breeze blows

And so long as doves moan on the boughs of trees.