رَدَّت عَلَيَّ هَدِيَّةً لَو أَنَّها
بَعَثَت إِلَيَّ بِمِثلِها لَم أَردُدِ
She returned a gift I had sent her; if only
She had sent me the like, I'd not have sent it back.
وَتَقولُ إِنّي قَد تَرَكتُ غَوايَتي
فَاِذهَب لِشَأنِكَ راشِداً لَم تُطرَدِ
She says, "I've given up my wanton ways -
So go your own good path, don't be misled."
قَد كُنتُ أَلقى مِن أَخي وَعُمومَتي
فيكِ الأَذى بِشَتيمَةٍ وَتَهَدُّدِ
Harsh words and threats against you I have heard
Uttered by brother and cousin of mine.
فَاليَومَ أَقصَرَ باطِلي وَتَراجَعَت
نَفسي لِّحُسنِ تَصَبُّري وَتَجَلُّدي
But this day my falseness is proved short,
My soul mastered by your grace and patience.
نَبَذَت مُكاتَبَتي وَرَجعَ رِسالَتي
وَتَنَوَّرَت مِصباحَها في المَسجِدِ
She cast my letters out, sent mine back,
And turned her lamp to the mosque for light.
فَكَأَنَّما شُقَّ الفُؤادُ بِمِديَةٍ
قِسمَينٍ مِنهُ لِغائِرٍ وَلِمُنجَدِ
So my heart's cloven, as if by a spear,
In twain - one to hell, one heaven bent.
إِن كانَ سَفكُ دَمي بِغَيرِ جِنايةٍ
يا فَوزُ مِنكِ عِبادَةً فَتَعَبّدي
If my blood's shed, and I've done no wrong,
Then thrive, serving God - be devout.
فَلَأَنتِ أَفتَنُ لِلقُلوبِ مِنَ الَّتي
عَرَضَت لِداوُدَ النَبِيِّ المُهتَدِ
For you try hearts more than she who tempted
David the prophet in days gone by.
فَإِذا هَبَطتِ إِلى بِلادٍ لَم تَزَل
تَجري كَواكَبُ أَهلِها بِالأَسعُدِ
When you live where planets auspicious
Have ruled the folk since time's dawn began,
وَلَقَد كَتَبتُ مَعَ الرَسولِ وَإِنَّني
لَأَراهُ أَنجَحَ مِن كِتابِ الهُدهُدِ
With the messenger I sent a letter;
I know it sounder than Hudhud's script.
ذَهَبَ الكِتابُ وَكانَ في عُنوانِهِ
هَذا مِن اِبنِ الأَحنَفِ بنِ الأَسوَدِ
The letter went, and upon it stood:
"From Mutammim, son of Nu'man's son."
بَخِلَت بِإِرسالِ السَلامِ وَطِبُّها
لَو سَلَّمَت بِيَمينِها لَم تَجمُدِ
She was grudging of even a greeting;
Her right hand would have withered, greeting me!
أَيّامَ تَقتُلُ شَوقَها بِزِيارَتي
كَالماءِ يَقتُلُ بَردَهُ عَطَشَ الصَدي
Days that would kill her, not seeing me,
Like cool water slaying hot thirst.
وَلَطالَما مَزَجَت بِريقي رِيقَها
كَالماءِ صُفِّقَ بِالسُلافِ المُزبَدِ
How often she mixed her spittle with mine,
Like turbid water stirred into clearness!
فَيكونُ مَورِدَها مَواردُ رِيقَتي
وَيَكونُ حَوضُ ثَنِيَّتَيها مَورِدي
Her lips' flood would be my lips' flood,
The basin of her mouth mine to fill.
إِنّي لَأَجحَدُ حُبَّكُم وَأُسِرُّهُ
وَالدَمعُ مُعتَرِفٌ بِه لَم يَجحَدِ
I disown my love for you, yet my tears
Betray it, though I never confessed.
الدَمعُ يَشهَدُ أنّني لَكِ عاشِقٌ
وَالناسُ قَد عَلِموا وَإِن لَم يَشهدِ
My tears admit I'm your lover, though
None knows, however loud my words.
فَلَئِن رَدَدتِ رِسالَتي وَشَتَمتِني
فَلَطالَما نادَيتِني يا سَيِّدي
If you spurned my messages and cursed me,
Still you were calling me "master dear"!
أَيّامَ يَرصُدُني أَخوكِ بِسَيفِهِ
وَالسَيفُ يَمنَعُني وَتَمنعُهُ يَدي
Days when your brother would waylay me, sword drawn,
His sword held me back, my hand held back his.
فَسَلي فُؤادَكِ كَيفَ عاصَى بَعدَ ما
قَد كانَ يَتبَعُني ذَليلَ المِقوَدِ
So ask your heart - how could it turn away
After following me, trained to my rein?
قَد شِبتُ مِن كَمَدٍ عَلَيكِ وَإِنَّني
لمُوَرِّقٌ غُصني حَديثٌ مَولِدي
Grey hairs I've gained, so long craving you;
I'm a fresh branch, sprouting late in life.
وَكَأَنَّ قَلبي مِن حَرارَةِ ما بِهِ
أَمسى يُقَلَّبُ فَوقَ صَخرَةِ مَوقِدِ
My heart is tossed above the burning coal;
So hot it's flipped upon the kindling pile.
وَأَرى الكَواعِبَ يَغتَنِمنَ وَسائِلي
لَولاكِ كانَ لِبَعضِهِنَّ تَوَدُّدي
The girls are eager to take my hand;
Without you, some might have won me over.
وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ حُلوُ الشَمائِلِ هِمَّتي
في قَطفِ رُمّانِ الثُدِيِّ النُهَّدِ
I'm a man of gentle temper, my spirit
Set on plucking the virgin's soft breast.
في الناسِ مِثلُكِ لو أَرَدتُ وَجَدتُهُ
لَو يُبتَغى مِثلي لَكُم لَم يُوجَدِ
The like of you is found if sought; but mine,
If you sought the like, would not be found.
إِنّي لَأُصبِحُ في جِهادٍ مِنكُمُ
كَمُوَحِّدٍ يُؤذيهِ دينُ المُلحِدِ
Each dawn I'm torn by love for you,
Like a monotheist hurt by atheists' hands.
فَلَئِن هَلَكتُ لَتُصبِحِنَّ أَثِيمَةً
وَلَأُرزَقَنَّ شَهادَةَ المُتَشَهِّدِ
If I die, you'll wake to find yourself
A sinner - while I gain a martyr's place!
