مَن لِلمُحب المُستَهام

بِمُهفهف لَدن القَوام

Who is there for the impassioned lover

Softly moaning beside the slim-waisted fair ones?

بَل مَن لِمُغتَرب يَنو

ح بِشَجوِهِ نوح الحَمام

Rather, who is there for the estranged one yearning

With his lament, the lament of a dove?

ناءٍ تساقيهِ يَد ال

أَشواق كاسات الحَمام

Cups of passion handed to him

By the hand of longing with her sighs.

إِني لِمُشتاق إِلى

جَنات عَدن بِالتئام

Indeed I long for the Gardens of Eden

In reunion.

أَي وَالَّذي قَد أَنشَأ القَلب

المُعَذَب مِن ضَرام

Yes, by Him who created the tormented heart

From grief and sorrow,

في جَلق الفَيحاءِ لي

بَدر يَفوق عَلى التَمام

In the radiant moon is a full moon

Surpassing completion,

في خَدِهِ ماء النَعيم

وَثَغرِهِ حُب الغَمام

In his cheek the water of bliss

And his mouth the love of the clouds,

يَبدو اللَهيب بِخَدِهِ

عِندَ التَبَسُم وَالكَلام

The flare shows on his cheek

When smiling and speaking,

وَيَزيد فيهِ كَما يَزيد

بِجِسميَ المضنى مَقامي

And it increases in him so,

As the abode increases my weary body.

يا لَيتَني أَلقاهُ قَبل

المَوت طَيفاً في المَنام

Would that before death, I meet him

A specter in sleep!

سَقَت العهاد وَأَدمُعي

عَهد التَلاقي بِاِنسِجام

Estrangement made our pact drink

The era of reunion to the dregs.

كَم زورة لي وَاعتِنا

ق تَحتَ أَستار الظَلام

How many secret rendezvous I have

Beneath the veils of darkness!

أَذلا وَصال سِوى حَد

يث وَالتِزام وَالتِثام

What humiliation except the talk

Of covenants, bonds and kisses!

وَعَفافُنا بِالطَبع لا

عَن خَوف واشٍ أَو مُلام

And our chastity is natural, not

From fear of blamer or critic.

حَتّى إِذا ما اللَيل آ

ذن بِاِنقِضاءٍ وَاِنصِرام

Until when the night gave notice

Of departure and end,

قُمنا كِراماً مِن مَضا

جع أُنسِنا عِند القِيام

We arose with dignity from the place

Of our companionship upon standing.

يا صاحِبي بِاللَهِ أَغن

أَخاكَ مِن غَير اِحتِشام

My friend, by God, enrich

Your brother without pretentiousness,

فَلَعَلَني أَرتاح مِن

أَلَم البَلابل وَالغَرام

Perhaps I may find relief

From the pain of nightingales and passion.

ما عولِجَ الهَمّ الدَخيل

بِمثل شَدو أَو مُدام

Nothing treats imported cares

Like a song or wine,

لَم أَحس كاسَك يا حَيا

ة النَفس مِن خَوف الأَثام

I did not feel your cup, O life

Of the soul, out of fear of sins.

لَو ذُقت طَعمك أَنجمت

عَني الهُموم بِفَرد جام

If I tasted your flavor, worries

Would cease from me with one drink.

ما أَنعَت الحر الكَريم

الطَبع مِن دُون الأَنام

The noble does not forbid oneself

Among people.

يا طالِباً صَفو الزَما

ن طَلَبت بَرأ مَن حسام

Seeker of the cream of times

You sought wellness from swords!

فَتَسَل عَن إِحسان دَهر

لا يَميل إِلى الكِرام

So ask about the benevolence of fate

That does not incline towards generosity,

وَاِرفَع بَعَز النَفس هَمك

مِن دَنيّ أَو همام

And raise your aspiration from the lowly

Or insignificant.

وَكُل الأُمور إِلى ال

هك فارج الكَرب العِظام

And refer all matters to your God,

Reliever of great distresses.