مَرْآك النَّضيرْ عَلا وجَلّا
حُسْناً عَنْ نَظيرْ في الدُّنْيا
Your radiant face has risen, resplendent,
Surpassing in beauty all others in the world.
ما أنْتَ في المِلاحِ إِلّا زَيْنْ
يا دائمَ الجِماحِ كم ذا البَيْن
You are nothing but charm amongst men -
O ever dovelike one, such absence is far too long!
هَل آفةُ السَّماحِ إِلّا المَينْ
أضْحَيْتَ كالصَّباحِ
Is not generosity’s bane but pain?
You have become like the dawn -
تَفْضَحُ البُدورْ مَهْما أهلّا
وَجْهُكَ المُنيرْ أو حيَّا
Exposing all homes, however much adorned,
Your shining face gives life when it appears.
مَنْ ناصِرُ الكَئيبْ مِنْ أجْفانِ
غُزَيِّلٍ رَبِيبْ ذي سُلطانِ
Who will help the sorrowful one with eyelids
Of a delicate, young beloved of power?
سَطا عَلى القُلوبْ بالهِجْرانِ
يَدْعُو بلا مُجيب
He has dominion over hearts through estrangement,
Calling without an answerer,
مالَهُ نَصيرْ ولا تَسَلَّى
مَنْ رأى فُتورْ عَيْنَيَّا
With no helper or comforter,
When the languor of my eyes is seen.
قَدْ جَلَّ مَنْ بَراهُ بِلا نِدّ
كالظَّبْيِ في حُلاهُ وفي الصَّدِّ
He who beholds him is exalted without rival,
Like a gazelle in its meadows, seeking shade,
والبَدْرُ في سَناهُ وفي البُعْدِ
مُعَطَّرٌ شَذاهُ
The full moon in its glory, from afar -
His fragrance diffusing,
مِنْ صِرْفِ الخُمورْ تَخال عُلّا
ثَغْرُهُ العَطِيرْ الرَّيَّا
Intoxicated by wine’s turning.
His sweet mouth smiles.
هَل للرِّضا سبيلْ أو للصَّبرِ
قَدْ شَفَّني الغَليلْ مِنَ الهَجْرِ
Is there a way to acceptance or patience,
When anguish from separation has healed me?
ها عَبْرَتي تَسيلْ عَلى نَحْرِي
كَمْ ذا النَّوى الطويلْ
Oh, my tears flow down my throat!
How long will this intention last?
لَيْتَهُ يَزُورْ عَسَى وعَلّا
هَيَّا يا بَشيرْ بي هَيّا
If only he would visit - perhaps, hopefully -
Come now, o bringer of good news - come!
يا قَلْبِيَ المُعَنَّى مِنَ الصَّدِّ
أعِدْ عَليَّ مَعْنى هذا الودِّ
Oh my burdened heart - recall for me
The meaning of this affection
بِمَنْ غَدَوْتُ مُضْنَى رَهْنَ الوَجْدِ
فقالَ لي وغَنَّى
For whom I have become distressed, caught in passion.
He said to me, and sang -
بي بَدْرٌ إذا تَجَلَّى
فالمَوْتُ المُبِيرْ ما أهْيا
The full moon, when it appears.
So early death - what an awakening!
