أَمِنكِ أُمِيمُ الدّارُ غَيَّرَها البِلى
وَهَيفٌ بِجَولاَنِ التُّرَابِ لَعُوبُ
The house where you dwelled has been ruined by time
And the traces of dust from your departure still remain
بَسَابِسُ لَم يُصبِح وَلَم يُمسِ ثاوِياً
بِها بَعدَ جِدِّ البَينِ مِنكِ عَرِيبُ
Desolate and uninhabited, never visited at dawn or dusk
Except by wailing winds echoing through its empty halls
سِوَى عَازفاتٍ يَنتَحِبنَ معَ الصَّدَى
كَما رَجَّعَت جُوفٌ لهُنَّ ثُقُوبُ
Crying out their laments to the hollow ruins
I shed my tears for the dear one departed
ظَلِلتُ بها أُذرِى الدُّمُوعَ كَما صَرَى
بِغَر بَينِ مِن خَرزِ العَراقِ شَعِيبُ
Like necklaces of pearls from Iraq scattered apart
The land you left and wandered from, so long ago
دِيارُ الّتى هاجَرتُ عَصراً ولِلهَوَى
بلُبِّى إِلَيها قائدٌ ومُهِيبُ
Yet still my heart is guided back there by love
I banish any thought of affection growing cold
أَذُودُ ارتداعُ الوُدِّ لا خَشيةَ الرّدَى
صَدَى هامَتِى عَمّا إِلَيهِ تَلُوبُ
Or turning away from memories my spirit still craves
So that my love for you will overcome my sorrows
لِيَغلِبَ حُبِّها عَزائى وَإِنَّنِي
لِصَبرِى إِذا غالَبتُهُ لَغَلُوبُ
Though I struggle to restrain it, I am still enthralled
Spare me the accusations of gossiping detractors
وَتَسلَمَ مِن قَولِ الوُشاةِ وإِنَّنِى
لَهُم حِينَ يَغتَابُونَها لَذَبُوبُ
For I am but a hapless victim of your sweet love
O Umayma, you have distracted me and revealed to me
أُمَيمَ لِقَلبِي مِن هَوَاكِ ضَمانَةٌ
وَأَنتِ لَها لَو تَعلَمِينَ طَبيبُ
Such delightful qualities of character before unknown
At times I find peace and solace, at others it seems
أُمَيمَ لَقَد عَنَّيتِنى وَأَرَيتِنِى
بَدَائعَ أَخلاَقٍ لهُنَّ ضُرُوبُ
The troubles of my youth are weighing down upon me
I say it's just a dream of my Umayma that stirs me
فَارتَاحُ أَحياناً وَحِيناً كأَنَّمَا
عَلَى كَبِدِى ماضِى الشَّباةِ ذَرِيبُ
For one who yearns is thrilled by the slightest phantom
They tell me to be strong, for this is but madness
فَقُلتُ خَيَالٌ مِن أُمَيمَةَ هَاجَنى
وَذُو الشَّوقِ للطَّيفِ المُلِمِّ طَرُوبُ
Yet for the lovesick tears are their only consolation
The cool waters of Muzain are naught without you here
فَقالُوا تَجَلَّد إِنَّ ذَاكَ عَرَامَةٌ
وَمَا فِى البُكا لِلوَاجِدينَ نَصِيبُ
Only the hillsides remain, and the beasts roam unfettered
Untamed gazelles rest in the shade, then venture out
وَمَا مَاءُ مُزنٍ فى حُجَيلاَءَ دُونَها
مَنَاكِبُ مِن ثُمِّ الذُّرَا وَلُهُوبُ
Led in their freedom by the gentle southern winds
A tribe on the move, their tents dotting the horizon
صَفَا فِى ظِلاَلٍ بَارِد وَتَطَلَّعَت
بِهِ فُرُطٌ يَقتَادُهُنَّ جَنُوبُ
Struck at dawn, then quickly dismantled as the winds shift
With the sweetest taste of all that they contain
مُعَسكَرُ دَلاّحٍ مَرَت وَدَقَاتِهِ
صَباً بَعدَ مَا هَبَّت لَهُنَّ جَنُوبُ
My nature is such that when I see them, I am tempted
Happy the camel returning to the campsite
بِأَطيبَ مِن فِيها مَذَاقاً وإِنَّى
بِشَيمِى إذا أَبصَرتُهُ لَطَبِيبُ
To sip the nectar from lips like sweetest wine
Her seat adorned with trinkets, a camel-litter bedecked
هَنِيئاً لِعُودِ الضَّروِ شَهدٌ يَنالُهُ
عَلَى خَصِراتٍ رِيقُهنَّ عَذُوبُ
With butterflies, partridges, and every ornament
Gorged on pure rainwater collected in her hump
وَمَنصِبُها حَمشٌ أَحَمُّ يَزِينُهُ
عَوارضُ فِيها شُنبَةٌ وغُرُوبُ
Brown feathers like the wings of a sandgrouse in flight
I love the descent into both valleys, though truly
بما قَد تَسَقَّى مِن سُلافٍ وَضَمَّهُ
بَنانٌ كَهُدّابِ الدِّقسِ خَضِيبُ
My heart is a stranger to the slopes of Dun and Thabir
And where are the Arak trees, the lotus fruit and blooms?
أُحِبُّ هُبوطَ الوادِيَينِ وإِنَّنى
لَمُستَهتَرٌ بِالوادِيَينِ غَرِيبُ
Who will inform me if my beloved is near?
The soft breezes wafting from her land arrive to me
وقالت أما واللهِ لَولاَ اشتِهارُكُم
وَجَنيِ عليكَ الذَّنبَ حِينَ تَغِيبُ
Weakened, yet still carry her sweet scent as they pass
My eyes scan the night sky and each star above
لَمَا شَمِلَ الأَحشاءُ مِنكَ عَلاقَةً
ولا زُرتَنا إِلاّ وأَنتَ تَطِيبُ
As if I were the watchful guardian over them all
And I long for the Yemeni lightning in the darkness
أَحقّاً عِبادَ اللهِ أَن لَستُ صادِراً
وَلا وارداً إِلاَّ عَلَىَّ رَقِيبُ
As passion rises in me when southern winds blow
In the farmland of Sanaa I saw but a mirage
ولا ناظراً إِلاّ وَطَرفِىَ دُونَهُ
بَعيدُ المَراقِى فِى السَّماءِ مَهِيبُ
A dream's deceptions, though they seemed real at the time
My hands grasped at the stars but found only the empty sky
وَلاَ مَاشِياً وَحدِى وَلاَ فِى جَمَاعةٍ
مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلاّ قِيلَ أنتَ مُرِيبُ
As their radiance faded and their lights were extinguished
The girl Riyadah came to me stealthily in the night
وهَل رِيبةٌ فِى أَن تَحِنَّ نَجِيبةٌ
إِلَى إِلفِهَا أَو أَن يَحِنَّ نَجِيبُ
Crossing the field between us to reach her lover
I awoke the sleeping pair, both crying out
لَكِ اللهُ إِنّى وَاصِلٌ ما وَصَلتِنِى
وَمُثنٍ بمَا أَولَيتنِى وَمثِيبُ
Responding together when alarmed and terrified
The froths of waves subsided after some time
وآخُذُ ما اَعطَيتِ عَفواً وَإِنَّنِى
لأَزوَرُ عَمَا تَكرَهِينَ هَيُوبُ
And the sun revealed their true colors and characters
The constant grasp of swords has marked my shoulders
فَلاَ تَترُكِي نَفسِي شَعَاعاً فإِنَّها
مِنَ الوَجدِ قَد كادَت عَلَيكِ تَذُوبُ
With scars and wounds from long campaigns of battle
Routing army upon army, a constant blur
أُحِبُّكِ أَطرَافَ النَّهَارِ بَشَاشَةً
وَفِى اللَّيلِ يَدعُونِى الهَوَى فَأجِيبُ
Of dawn and dusk amidst the gardens of death
The spies have made it their mission to find out
وَلَمَّا رأَيتُ الهَجرَ أَبقَى مَوَدَّةً
وَطَارَت لأَضغَانٍ عَلَىَّ قُلُوبُ
Umayma, if I have a place within your heart
Stranger am I, called here by yearning, led by desire
هَجَرتُ اجِتنَاباً غَيرَ بِغضِ وَلاَقِلىً
اُمَيمَةُ مَهجُورٌ إِليَّ حَبِيبُ
Like a tame camel pulled along by its bridle
You made me familiar to the people, you drew me near
وَنُبِّئتُهَا قَالَت وَبَينِي وَبَينَهَا
مَهَامِهُ غُبرٌ ما بِهِنَّ غَرِيبُ
Though once I was but a stranger from afar
If I heard you call I would answer immediately
عَذرتُكَ مِن هَذَا الَّذِى مَرّ لَم يَعُج
عَلَينا فَيجزِينَا وَنَحنُ قَرِيبُ
Calling your name before all others who respond
Beware the fickleness and estrangement born of malice
فَقُلتُ لهُ لاَ تَألُ هَلاَّ عَذَرتَنِى
إِلَيهَا فَقَد حَلَّت عَلَىَّ ذُنُوبُ
For the bond between us still holds true
They say no stranger can stay among our lands
أُمَيمُ أَهُونٌ بى عَلَيكِ وَقَد بَدَا
بِجِسمىَ مَمَّا تَزدَرينَ شُحُوبُ
Yet I come to you open-handed with gifts
Those who pursue forbidden passions are rewarded
فَقالَ لَهَا يَا أَملَحَ النّاسِ رَاكِبٌ
بِهِ شَعَثٌ بَادٍ بِهِ وَشُحُوبُ
While I receive no comfort or solace from you
They advise me to abandon my desire for you
صُدُوداً وإعرَاضاً كأنّىً مُذنِبٌ
وَمَا كانَ لِي إِلاّ هَوَاكِ ذُنُوبُ
Since the malice of youth has turned against me
I despair at the loss of affection once held so dear
لَعَمرِى لَئِن أَولَيتِنى مِنكِ جَفوَةً
وَشَبَّ هَوَى قَلبِى إِلَيكِ شَبُوبُ
As my heart will find no peace without you
A healer may mend a heart shattered by intense devotion
وَطَاوَعتِ بى قوماً عِدَىً أن تَظاهَرُوا
عَلَىَّ بقَولِ السُّوءِ حِينَ أَغِيبُ
Yet one drowned in love can never be restored to health
I saw a fire blazing, with naught but distance between us
لَبِئسَ إِذَن عَونُ الخَلِيلِ أَعَنتِني
عَلَى نَائِبَاتِ الدَّهرِ حِينَ تَنُوبُ
Like a barren valley or expanse of water dividing us
When I come to you exhausted in the deep of night
فإِن لَم تَرَى مِنّى عَليكِ فَتَحمَدِى
وَفِى اللهِ قَاضٍ بَينَنَا وَحَسِيبُ
You mistake me for a vagabond wanderer in the darkness
Empty promises you made and oaths you gave
ذِمَاماً إِذا طَاوعتِ بى قَولَ كاشِحٍ
مِنَ الغَيظِ يَفرِى كِذبَهُ وَيَعِيبُ
Yet for one who hoped, your love was but a mirage
I feigned coldness, not out of hate or bitterness
وإِنّى لأَستَحِييكِ حَتّى كأَنَّمَا
عَلَىَّ بِظَهرِ الغَيبِ مِنكِ رَقِيبُ
But Umayma, my darling, I am still your captive
When told, she said: Between us lies a great distance
حِذَارَ القِلَى وَالصَّرمِ مِنكِ فَإنَّنى
عَلَى العَهدِ مَادَاومَتِنى لَصَلِيبُ
An impassable gulf no caravan could traverse
I made excuses for you, since what happened was trivial
فَيَا حَسَرَاتِ النَّفسِ مِن غُربَةِ الهَوَى
إِذَا اقتَسَمَتنَا نِيّةٌ وَشَعُوبُ
And caused no breach that could not soon be repaired
I told her: do not bother to make excuses for me
وَمِن خَطَرَاتٍ تَعتَرِينِى وَزَفرَةٍ
لَها بَينَ لَحمِى وَالعِظَامِ دَبِيبُ
The sins I have committed cannot be atoned or forgiven
Umayma, have I become contemptible in your eyes?
أَصُدُّ وَبِى مِثلُ الجُنُونِ مِنَ الهَوَى
وَأَهجُرُ لَيلَى العَصرَ ثُمَّ أُنِيبُ
Look at my body wasted by your bitter estrangement
My vigor is drained, no vitality remains
إِذا أَكثَرَ الكُرهَ المُحَبُّ وَلَم يَكُن
لَهُ عِلَلٌ كادَ المُحَبُّ يَريبُ
As you deny all warmth and affection towards me
The isolated peak stands apart on the hillside
وَقَد جَعَلَت رَيّا الجَنُوبِ إِذَا جَرَت
عَلَى طِيبِهَا تَندَى لَنَا وَتَطِيبُ
Yet I will go to it, even if spurned, for it is beloved
In spite of my enemies, I find solace in its shade
جَنُوبٌ بِرَيّا مِن أُمَيمَةَ تَغتَدِى
حِجَازِيَّةً عُلوِيَّةً وَتَؤُوبُ
A healing balm for the wounded heart's afflictions
It shelters me, though they deride and reject me
تَهِيجُ عَلَىَّ الشَوقَ بَعدَ اندِمالِهِ
يَمَانِيَةٌ عُلوِيَّةٌ وَجَنُوبُ
For I care nothing for those who would prohibit me
I will answer when my Umayma calls
أَحِنُّ إِلَى الرَّملِ اليَمانِى صَبَابَةً
وَهَذَا لَعَمرِى لَو رَضِيتُ كَثِيبُ
No other voice stirs me to respond except for hers
Delay no longer, before this separation consumes all love
فأَينَ الأَرَاكُ الدَّوحُ وَالسِّدرُ وَالغَضَى
ومُستَخبَرٌ مِمَّن تُحِبُّ قَرِيبُ
And my soul can find no comfort or peace in you
By day I love your cheerful manner, by night I am summoned
وإِنَّ النَّسِيمَ العَذبَ مِن نَحوِ أَرضِهَا
يَجِىءُ مَرِيضاً صَوبُهُ فَيَطِيبُ
By passion, calling me to you, and I oblige
When I saw your resentment growing, though our love
وإِنّى لأَرعَى النَّجمَ حَتّى كأَنَّنِى
عَلَى كُلِّ نَجمٍ فِى السَّماءِ رَقِيبُ
Still thrived, and hearts turned against me in their envy
I withdrew, not out of hate or bitterness towards you
وأشتَاقُ لِلبَرقِ اليَمانِى إِذَا غَدَا
وَأَزدَادُ شَوقاً أَن تَهُبَّ جَنُوبُ
But Umayma, my love, you are still my heart's delight
Reconcile before the bond between us becomes severed
وَبالحَقلِ مِن صَنعَاءَ كانَ مَطافُهَأ
كَذُوباً وَأَهوَالُ المَنَامِ كَذُوبُ
And no portion of your affection remains for me
They say to beware a stranger in our lands, yet I
أَلَمَّت وَايدِى النَّجمِ خُوصٌ عَلَى الشَّفَا
وَقَد كانَ مِن سُلاّفِهنَّ غُرُوبُ
Am but a stranger led to you by fate's design
Those who follow wayward passions are rewarded
وَرَيدَةُ ذَاتِ الحَقلِ بَينِى وَبَينَهَأ
سَرَى لَيلةً سَارٍ إِلىَّ حَبِيبُ
While I see no comfort from you for all I've endured
They say: "Desist from your passion which has bred
فَنَبَّهتُ مِطوَىَّ اللَّذينِ كِلاهُما
يُلَبِّينِ عِندَ المُفظِعاتِ مُجِيبُ
Only malice and spite from the youths against you"
I despair at losing the affection once held so dear
جَفَتهُ الفَوَالِى بَعدَ حِينٍ وَلاَحَهُ
شُموسٌ لأَلوَانِ الرِّجَالِ صَهُوبُ
And that my heart cannot be consoled or placated
A healer may mend a heart shattered by love
وَطُولُ احتِضانِ السَّيفِ حَتَّى بِمَنكِبى
أَخادِيدُ مِن آثَارِهِ وَنُدُوبُ
Once afflicted with such intense and pure devotion
I have endured the bitterest poisons and still feel no hatred
وإرجَافُ جَمعٍ بَعدَ جَمع وَغَابَةٍ
صَبَاحَ مَسَاءَ لِلجَنَانِ رَعُوب
Nor harbor resentment when hurt and oppressed
They have wronged my beloved, though she is innocent
وَقَد جَعَلَ الوَاشُونَ عَمداً لَيَعلَمُوا
أَلِي مِنكِ أَم لاَ ياأُمَيمَ نَصِيبُ
And I had no part in causing her such injustice
They say: "No stranger can stay in our land overnight"
أُمَيمَ انصِبى عَينَيكِ نَحوِى تَبَيَّنِى
بِجِسمِىَ مِمَّا تَفعَلِينَ شُحُوبُ
Yet it is I who comes to you with gifts outstretched
If they hold bitterness against me, I only feel tenderness
أَذَاهِبةٌ نَبلِى شَعاعاً وَلَم يَكن
لَها مِن ظِباءِ الوَادِيَينِ نَصِيبُ
For I am sweeter than pure waters towards you
Let me restore the campsite of Hiss ibn Zayd
فإِنَّ الكثِيبَ الفَردَ مِن جَانِبِ الحِمَى
إِلىَّ وَإِن لَم آتِهِ لَحَبِيبُ
For its purity and sweetness is pleasing to me
Beware of sundering the bond between us, for I
وَإِنّى عَلَى رَغمِ العُدَاةِ بِأَنقُعٍ
شِفَاءً لِحَومَاتِ الصَّدَى لَشَرُوبُ
Will always have a claim to meet you there
Regard the slanderers as a plague and pestilence
عَلُولٌ بها مِنهَا نَهُولٌ وَإنَّنِى
بِنَفسِىَ عَن مَطرُوقِهَا لَرغُوبُ
For I am more unrelenting towards them than lions
While you remain prosperous, I shall be your sentinel
مَجِيبٌ لِدَاعٍ مِن أُمَيمَةَ إِن دَعَا
سِوَاهَا بِقَولِ السَّائِلينَ ذَهُوبُ
Ever watchful, though none can perceive me
Tell me, do you think of me sometimes? For thoughts of you
تَلِجّينَ حَتّى يُزرِىَ الهَجرُ بالهَوَى
وحَتّى تَكادَ النَّفسُ عَنكِ تَطِيبُ
Are my constant comfort and companion in this life
And is there a place for me within your heart?
يَحُمنَ حِيامَ الهِيمِ لَم تَلقَ شَافِياً
أََثَابَ النُّفُوسَ الحائماتِ مُثِيبُ
For your image dwells eternally inside my heart
I am not forgotten, then served a bitter draft
وَلَو أَنَّ ما بى بالحَصَى قَلِقَ الحَصَى
وَبالرّيحِ لم يُسمَع لَهُنَّ هُبُوبُ
For the soul finds no solace in what it cannot obtain
I saw souls imprisoned though they had no crime
وَلَو أَنّنِى أَستَغفِرُ اللهَ كُلَّمَا
ذَكَرتُكِ لَم تُكتَب عَلَىَّ ذُنُوبُ
With no misdeeds to deserve such punishment
Without you there is no joy in this world
أَمُستَكبَرٌ مَمشَاىَ إِن جِئتُ زَائراً
إِلَيكُم وَمَعقُودٌ عَلَىَّ ذُنوبُ
If one cannot visit a beloved or be visited by a lover
I have drunk lethal venoms without perishing
دَعُونِى أَرِد حِسىَ ابنِ زَيدٍ فإِنَّهُ
هُوَ العَذبُ يَحلَو لِى لَنَا وَيَطِيبُ
And shown only devotion, never fury, when hurt
My companions sleep while passions disrobe me
أُمَيمَ احذَرِى نَقضَ القُوَى لاَ يَزَل لَنَا
عَلى النَّاىِ والهِجرَانِ مِنكِ نَصِيبُ
Exposing secrets once hidden so discreetly within
If you fear you cannot contain our love, then return
وَكُونِى عَلَى الوَاشِينَ لَدّاءَ شَغبةً
كما أَنَا لِلوَاشِى أَلَدُّ شَغُوبُ
My heart, for the dwelling place is not far removed
Should I abandon you out of pride or misguidance
أَلاَ يا أُمِيمَ القَلبِ دَامَ لَكِ الغِنَى
فَما ساعَةٌ إِلاّ عَلَىَّ رقِيبُ
Only to regret it later and beg your forgiveness?
I followed you for a year, then two years more
أَسِيرٌ صَغِيرٌ أَو كَبِيرٌ مُجَرِّبٌ
اَم آخَر يَرمِى بالظَّنُونِ مُرِيبُ
As the feeble and frail will trail behind the mighty
You then donned the garb of one inferior and base
فَلاَ تَمنَحِينى البُخلِ مِنكِ وتَعجَلِى
عَلَىَّ بِأمرٍ لَم يَكُن بِذُنُوبِ
No longer worthy of the affections you once elicited
Seeking favor from Umayma is fruitless
أَمَا والّذِى يَبلُو السَّرَائرَ كُلَّهَا
فَيَعلَم ما يَبدُو لَه وَيَغِيبُ
For when she promises, her words are but lies
One day I said to the son of Amr, as our fates diverged -
لَقَد كُنتِ مِمَّن تَصطَفِى النَّفسُ خُلَّةً
لَهَا دُونَ خُلاّتِ الصَّفاءِ نَصِيبُ
Some souls rising higher, others plunged into despair:
The hands of enemies are outstretched against us
وَلَكن تَجَنَّيتِ الذُّنُوبَ وَمَن يُرِد
يَجُذُّ القُوَى تُقدَر عَلَيهِ ذُنُوبُ
So we must aim true with our spears and strike them
I enjoyed but a brief glimpse of the encampment
بِنَفسِى وَأَهلِى مَن إِذا عَرَضُوا لَهُ
بِبَعضِ الاََذَى لَم يَدرِ كَيفَ يُجِيبُ
For nothing surpasses that view of the hillside
Oh, would that I knew! Do you still remember me?
ولم يَعتَذِر عُذرَ البَرىءِ وَلَم يَزَل
بِهِ صَعقَةٌ حتّى يُقالَ مُريبُ
For remembering you in this life is my only solace
And is there a place that is mine within your heart?
لَقَد ظَلَمُوا ذاتَ الوِشاحِ وَلَم يَكُن
لَنا فى هَوَى ذاتِ الوِشاحِ نَصِيبُ
Just as you dwell eternally within my heart
I am not discarded, forced to drink bitterness
يَقُولون لا يُمسى الغَرِيبُ بأَرضِنا
وَأيدِى الهَدَايا إِنَّنِى لَغَرِيبُ
For the soul finds no joy in what it cannot obtain
I saw souls tried and imprisoned for so long
غَرِيبٌ دَعَاهُ الشَّوقُ فاقتَادَهُ الهَوَى
كَما قِيدَ عَودٌ بِالزِّمامِ أَدِيبُ
Though they had committed no sins or misdeeds
There is no good in this world if one cannot visit
فأَنتِ التى ذَلَّلتِ لِلنَّاسِ صَعبَتِى
وقَرَّبتِ لِى ما لَم يَكُن بِقَرِيبِ
A beloved, or be visited by a sweetheart
I was served the blood of snakes yet did not perish
وإن أَسمَعَتنِى دَعوَةً لأَجبُتها
أُلبِّى سُلَيمَى قَبلَ كُلِّ مُجِيبِ
Nor react with fury when hurt and oppressed
While my companions sleep, passions disrobe me
أَلاَ لا أُبالِى ما أجَنَّت صُدُورُهُم
إِذا نَصَحت مِمَّن أَوَدُّ جُيُوبُ
And expose the secrets once hidden discreetly within
If you fear you cannot restrain our love, then return
فإن تَحمِلوا حِقدا عَلَىَّ فإِنَّنِى
لَعَذبِ المِياهِ نَحوَكُم لَشَرُوبُ
My heart, for it is not far and the dwelling place is near
Could it be pride that makes me abandon you?
يُثَابُ ذَوو الأَهواءِ غَيرِى وَلاَ أَرَى
اُمَيمَةٌ مِمَّا قَد لَقِيتُ تُثيِبُ
Only to later regret it and beg your forgiveness?
For a year I followed you, then two years more
يَقُولونَ أَقصِر عَن هَوَاها فَقَد وَعَت
ضَغائنَ شُبّانٌ عَلَيكَ وَشِيبُ
As the weak and frail will trail behind the mighty
You then donned the garb of one inferior and base
أَلَهفِى لِما ضَيَّعتُ وُدِّى وَما هَفا
فُؤادِى لِمَن لَم يَدرِ كَيفَ يُثِيبُ
No longer worthy of the affections you once elicited
Seeking favors from Umayma is fruitless
وإِنَّ طَبِيباً يَشعَبُ القَلبَ بَعدَما
تَصَدَّعَ مِن وَجدٍ بِهَا لَكَذوبُ
For when she promises, her words are but lies
I said to the son of Amr one day, as our fates diverged:
رَأيتُ لها ناراً وَبَينِى وَبَينَها
مِنَ العِرضِ أَو وادِى المِياهِ سُهُوبُ
Some souls rising higher, while others plunged into despair
The hands of enemies are outstretched against us
إِذا جِئتُهَا وَهناً مِنَ اللَّيلِ شَبَّهَا
مِنَ المَندَلِىِّ المُستَجَادِ ثَقُوبُ
So we must strike true with our spears against them
I enjoyed but a glimpse of the hillside encampment
وَقَد وَعَدَت لَيلَى وَمَنّت وَلَم يَكُن
لِرَاجِى المُنَى مِن وُدِّهِنَّ نَصِيبُ
For nothing can surpass that view of the dunes
Oh, would that I knew! Do you still remember me?
مُحِبًّا أَكَنَّ الوَجدَ حَتّى كأَنَّهُ
مِنَ الأَهلِ وَالمَالِ التِّلاَدِ تَطِيبُ
For in this life, thoughts of you are my only solace
And is there a place that is mine within your heart?
أَلاَ لاَ أَرَى وَادِى المِياهِ يُثِيبُ
وَلاَ النَّفسُ عَمَّا لاَ تَنَالُ تَطِيبُ
Just as you eternally dwell inside my heart
I am not discarded, forced to drink what is bitter
يَقَرُّ بِعَينِى أَن أَرَى ضَوءَ مُزنَةٍ
يَمانِيةٍ أَو أَن تَهُبَّ جَنُوبُ
For the soul finds no joy in what cannot be obtained
I saw souls imprisoned for so long though innocent
فإِن خِفتِ أَلاّ تُحكِمِى مِرَّةَ الهَوَى
فَرُدِّى فُؤَادِى وَالمَزَارُ قَرِيبُ
With no sins or misdeeds to deserve such punishment
There is no good in this world if one cannot visit
أَكُن أَحوَذِىَّ الصَّرمِ إِمّا لِخُلَّةٍ
سِوَاكِ وَإِمّا أَرعَوِى فَأتُوبُ
A beloved, or be visited by a sweetheart
I have endured the bitterest poisons yet feel no hatred
تَبِعتُكِ عَاماً ثُمَّ عَامَينِ بَعدَهُ
كما تَبِعَ المُستَضعَفِينَ جَنِيبُ
Nor fury when hurt, but show only compassion
While my companions sleep, passions disrobe me
فَأبلَستِ إِبلاَسَ الدَّنىءِ وَمَا عَدَت
لكِ النَّفسُ حاجاتٍ وَهُنَّ قَرِيبُ
And expose secrets once hidden discreetly within
If you fear our love cannot be contained, return
رَجاةَ نَوالٍ مِن أُمَيمَةَ إِنَّها
إذا وَعَدَتنا نائلاً لَكَذُوبُ
My heart, for the dwelling place is not far removed
Does pride make me abandon you, only to later
وَقَد قُلتُ يَوماً لاِبنِ عَمروٍ وَقَد عَلَت
فُوَيقَ التَّراقِى أَنفُسٌ وقُلُوبُ
Regret it and beg your forgiveness?
For a year I followed you, then two years more
وَأَيدِ الأَعادِى مُشرَعاتٌ فَطَرفُنا
إِلَى طَرفِهِم نَرمِى بِهِ فَنُصِيبُ
As the feeble and frail trail behind the mighty
You donned the garb of one inferior and base
تَمَتَّعتُ مِن أَهلِ الكثِيبِ بنَظَرَةٍ
وقَد قِيلَ ما بَعدض الكثِيبِ كَثِيبُ
No longer worthy of the affections you once elicited
Seeking favor from Umayma is fruitless
أَلاَ لَيتَ شِعرِى عَنكِ هَل تَذكُرِينَنِى
فذِكرُكِ فى الدُّنيا إِلىَّ
For when she promises, her words are but lies
وَهَل لِي نَصِيبٌ فى فُؤادِكِ ثابتٌ
كَمالكِ عِندِى فى الفُؤادِ نَصِيبُ
فَلَستُ بِمَتروكٍ فَأَشرَبَ شَربَةٌ
ولا النَّفسُ عَمَّا لا تَنالُ تَطِيبُ
رَأيتُ نُفُوساً تُبتَلَى طالَ حَبسُهَا
عَلَى غَيرِ جُرمٍ ما لَهُنَّ ذُنُوبُ
فلا خَيرَ فِى الدُّنيا إِذا أَنتَ لم تَزُر
حَبِيباً وَلَم يَطرَب إِلَيك حَبيبُ
سُقِيتُ دَمَ الحَيّاتِ إِن لُمتُ بَعدَها
مُحِبّاً ولا عَنَّفتُ حِينَ يَحُوبُ
وَإِنَّى لَتَعرُونِى وَقَد نَامَ صُحبَتِى
رَوَائعُ حتَّى لِلفُؤادِ وَجِيبُ
