أرحها فقد ضاقت بها سعةُ المدى

وأيهاً فمن أصواتها نغمُ الحدا

Let it rest, for the spaciousness of the horizon has become too constricted for it,

And woe! For from its voices comes the melody of mourning.

وهاتيك أعلام الحمى فابكِ ساعةً

لعلَّ دموعَ العين ناقعةٌ صدى

And here are the banners of fever, so weep for an hour,

Perhaps the tears of the eyes will find an echo.

وقفتُ بها أبغي هدوًّا فقدتهُ

فلم ألقَ إلاَّلوعةً وتلدُّدا

I stood by it, seeking tranquility, but lost it,

So I found nothing but anguish and tossing about.

سوافرُ يخجلنَ البدورَ ملاحةً

موائس يفضحنَ الغصونَ تأوُّدا

Camels with proud steps that shame the full moons in their loftiness,

Litters that embarrass the branches in their swaying.

يشطُّ بهم بأسي وتدنيهم المنى

فللهِ ما أدنى المزار وأبعدا

My might and their drawing near startles me,

By Allah! How near is the sanctuary and how far away!

ثكلتُ الهوى لولاه لم أبعِ النهى

بجهلٍ ولا اخترت الضلال على الهدى

I have lost my love for passion, were it not for it I would not

Have sold my creed through ignorance, nor chosen misguidance over guidance.

ولا كنتُ أهوى القدَّ لدناً مهفهفاً

ولا الظبي مصقولَ الترائب أغيدا

Nor would I be passionately inclined to a delicate, bending branch,

Or a wild doe with polished sides and neck.

ولا يتَّمتني غادةٌ نغماتها

تنسّيك ألحان الغريض ومعبدا

Nor would a singing gazelle enchant me with her melodies

That make you forget the songs of the sandgrouse and oryx.

يخاف فؤادي لحظها في جفونه

كذا السيف مسلولا يخاف ومغمدا

My heart fears her glance falling upon it,

As an unsheathed sword fears and when sheathed.

بها كحلٌ يغنى به عن شبيهه

فلم ترَ إلاَّ صبغة الليل إثمدا

With her is a kohl that makes all others redundant,

For you will not see any but the blackness of night brought to perfection.

لي اللَّه من وجه الغزالةِ في الضحى

أضاءَ ومن قدّ القضيب تأوَّدا

By Allah! The radiance of the gazelle’s face in the morning,

And the bending of the bow when drawn.

ومن جمرةٍ يزداد بالنار بردها

وجمرٍ بماء الوجنتين توقَّدا

And the live coal that increases its coolness through the fire,

And the embers that blaze with the water of eternal life.

ولو كنتُ غير الحب أشكو أو النوى

دعوتُ له الملك العزيزَ المؤيَّدا

And if I were to complain of anything other than love or passion,

I would call upon the Almighty, All-Powerful Helper.