رَمَتْ بِخُيُوطِ النُّورِ كَهْرَبَةُ الْفَجْرِ

ونَمَّتْ بِأَسْرَارِ النَّدَى شَفَةُ الزَّهْرِ

She darted with threads of light like the radiance of dawn,

And blossomed with the secrets of dew like the lip of a flower,

وَسَارَتْ بِأَنْفَاسِ الخَمَائِلِ نَسْمَةٌ

بَلِيْلَةُ مَهْوَى الذَّيْلِ عَاطِرَةُ النَّشْرِ

And strode with the breaths of gazelles a breeze

scented with the trailing hem of night.

فَقُمْ نَغْتَنِمْ صَفْوَ الْبُكُورِ فَإِنَّهَا

غَدَاةُ رَبِيعٍ زَهْرُهَا بَاسِمُ الثَّغْرِ

So arise, let us seize the choice hours of morn,

For it is a morrow of spring whose flower is smiling with lips.

تَرَى بَيْنَ سَطْحِ الأَرْضِ وَالْجَوِّ نِسْبَةً

تُشَاكِلُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّحَائِبِ وَالْغُدْرِ

You see between the earth's plain and the sky a relation

resembling what is between clouds and rain.

فَفِي الْجَوِّ هَتَّانٌ يَسِيلُ وَفِي الثَّرَى

سُيُولٌ تَرَامَى بَيْنَ أَوْدِيَةٍ غُزْرِ

So in the sky are two rains flowing

and in the earth floods racing between valleys.

غَمَامَانِ فَيَّاضَانِ هَذَا بِأُفْقِهِ

يَسيرُ وَهَذا فِي طِبَاقِ الثَّرَى يَسْري

Two white clouds this travels on its horizon,

and this one travels in the sky's meadow.

وَقَدْ مَاجَتِ الأَغْصَانُ بَيْنَ يَدِ الصَّبا

كَمَا رَفْرَفَتْ طَيْرٌ بِأَجْنِحَةٍ خُضْرِ

And the branches wavered between the hand of the morning breeze

As a bird fluttered with green wings.

كَأَنَّ النَّدَى فَوْقَ الشَّقيقِ مَدَامِعٌ

تَجُولُ بِخَدٍّ أَوْ جُمَانٌ عَلَى تِبْرِ

As if the dew above the anemone were tears

roaming on a cheek or campion above ashes.

إِذَا غَازَلَتْهَا لَمْعَةٌ ذَهَبِيَّةٌ

مِنَ الشَّمْسِ رَفَّتْ كالشَّرَارِ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ

When a golden glint from the sun flirts with it,

it rises like sparks on embers.

فَفِي كُلِّ مَرْعَى لَحْظَةٍ وَشْيُ دِيمَةٍ

وَفِي كُلِّ مَرْمَى خَطْوَةٍ أَجْرَعٌ مُثْرِي

So in every pasture there is an instant of bedazzlement,

and on every course a step of increasing fortune.

مُرُوجٌ جَلاهَا الزَّهْرُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّها

سَمَاءٌ تَرُوقُ الْعَيْنَ بِالأَنْجُمِ الزُّهْرِ

Meadows which the flower has made overflowing until they appear

like a sky dotting the eye with floral stars.

كَأَنَّ صِحَافَ النُّورِ والطَّلُّ جَامِدٌ

مَبَاسِمُ أَصْدَافٍ تَبَسَّمْنَ عَنْ دُرِّ

As if the cups of light and dawdling were frozen smiles

of shells smiling with pearls.

وَقَدْ شَاقَنِي وَالصُّبْحُ فِي خِدْرِ أُمِّهِ

حَنِينُ حَمَامَاتٍ تَجَاوَبْنَ فِي وَكْرِ

While the dawn in its mother's caress calls out to me

with the cooing of doves mating in the nest.

هَتَفْنَ فَأَطْرَبْنَ القُلُوبَ كَأَنَّمَا

تَعَلَّمْنَ أَلْحَانَ الصَّبَابَةِ مِنْ شِعْرِي

They passionately responded and made hearts joyous

as though they learnt the songs of maidens from my poetry.

وَقَامَ عَلَى الْجُدْرَانِ أَعْرَفُ لَمْ يَزَلْ

يُبَدِّدُ أَحْلامَ النِّيَامِ وَلا يَدْرِي

And the loveliest that did not know

continues to dispel the dreams of slumber without knowing.

تَخَايَلَ فِي مَوْشِيَّةٍ عَبْقَرِيَّةٍ

مُهَدَّلَةِ الأَرْدَانِ سَابِغَةِ الأَزْرِ

It imagined in a shrewd promenade from which hung lanterns,

abundant with curtains.

لَهُ كِبْرَةٌ تَبْدُو عَلَيْهِ كَأَنَّهُ

مَلِيكٌ عَلَيْهِ التَّاجُ يَنْظُرُ عَنْ شَزْرِ

It has a bump which appears on it as though it were

a crowned sovereign watching with disdain.

فَسَارِعْ إِلى دَاعِي الصَّبُوحِ مَعَ النَّدَى

لِتَجْنِي بِأَيْدِي اللَّهْوِ بَاكُورَةَ الْعُمْرِ

So hurry to answer the call of the morning with the dew

to pluck with the hands of playfulness the first fruits of life.

فَقَدْ نَسَمَتْ رِيحُ الشَّمالِ فَنَبَّهَتْ

عُيُونَ الْقَمَارِي وَهْيَ فِي سِنَةِ الْفَجْرِ

For the north wind has blown and awakened

the eyes of narcissi while still at the hour of dawn.

وَنَادَى الْمُنَادِي لِلصَّلاةِ بِسُحْرَةٍ

فَأحْيَا الْوَرَى مِنْ بَعْدِ طَيٍّ إِلَى نَشْرِ

And the caller called to prayer with charm

reviving the land after prostration to standing.

فَبَادِرْ لِمِيقَاتِ الصَّلاةِ وَمِلْ بِنَا

إِلى الْقَصْفِ مَا بَيْنَ الْجَزِيرَةِ والنَّهْرِ

So take the initiative to the tryst of prayers and come with me

to Al-Qasr between the island and the Nile.

إِذَا مَا قَضَيْنَا وَاجِبَ الدِّينِ حَقَّهُ

فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا فِي الْخَلاعَةِ مِنْ وِزْرِ

When we fulfil the obligation of religion in full,

no blame shall remain for frolic.

أَلا رُبَّ يَوْمٍ كَانَ تَارِيخَ صَبْوَةٍ

مَضَى غَيْرَ إِثْرٍ فِي الْمَخِيلَةِ أَوْ ذِكْرِ

Lo many days were the date of youthfulness

which passed without a vestige in thoughts or memories.

عَصَيْتُ بِهِ سُلْطَانَ حِلْمِي وَقَادَني

إِلى اللَّهْوِ شَيْطَانُ الْخَلاعَةِ وَالسُّكْرِ

In which I disobeyed the rule of my forbearance,

leading me to frivolity, the devil of rakishness and drunkenness,

لَدَى رَوْضَةٍ رَيَّا الْغُصُونِ تَرَنَّحَتْ

مَعَاطِفُهَا رَقْصاً عَلَى نَغْمَةِ الْقُمْرِي

Next to a garden the branches of which list to the rhythm

of the singing, shrugging their mantles in dance.

تَدُورُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْمُدَامَةِ بَيْنَها

تَمَاثِيلُ إِلَّا أَنَّها بَيْنَنَا تَجْرِي

Statues revolve around us with goblets between them;

only they pour between us.

تَرَى كُلَّ مَيْلاءِ الْخِمَارِ مِنَ الصِّبَا

هَضِيمَةِ مَجْرَى الْبَنْدِ نَاهِدَةِ الصَّدْرِ

You can see each beauty swaying from drunkenness and youth,

slender, erect breasted.

إِذَا انْفَتَلَتْ فِي حَاجَةٍ خِلْتَ جُؤْذُرَاً

أَحَسَّ بِصَيَّادٍ فَأَتْلَعَ مِنْ ذُعْرِ

If she goes out to relieve herself you remain confounded

feeling like a hunter startled from panic.

لَوَى قَدَّهَا سُكْرُ الْخَلاعَةِ وَالصِّبَا

فَمَالَتْ بِشَطْرٍ واسْتَقَامَتْ عَلَى شَطْرِ

The drunkenness of rakishness and youth has twisted her posture

so she leans to one side and stands firm on the other.

وَعَلَّمَهَا وَحْيُ الدَّلالِ كَهَانَةً

فَإِنْ نَطَقَتْ جَاءَتْ بِشَيءٍ مِنَ السِّحْرِ

And the whispers of her charms have taught her divination so,

if she speaks, she says something of magic.

أَحَسَّتْ بِمَا فِي نَفْسِهَا مِنْ مَلاحَةٍ

فَتَاهَتْ عَلَيْنَا وَالْمَلاحَةُ قَدْ تُغْرِي

She felt the saltiness that was in herself

so she flirted with us while her saltiness fires one to sin.

وَأَعْجَبَهَا وَجْدِي بِهَا فَتَكَبَّرَتْ

عَلَيَّ دَلالاً وَهْيَ تَصْدُرُ عَنْ أَمْرِي

She was struck by my passion for her so grew arrogant toward me

coquettishly while dismissing commands from me.

فَتَاةٌ يَجُولُ السِّحْرُ فِي لَحَظَاتِهَا

مَجَالَ الْمَنَايَا فِي الْمُهَنَّدَةِ الْبُتْرِ

A girl in whose glances roams magic, walks the realm of perdition

in her disheveled and torn gown.

إِذَا نَظَرَتْ أَوْ أَقْبَلَتْ أَوْ تَهَلَّلَتْ

فَوَيْلُ مَهَاةِ الرَّمْلِ والْغُصْنِ وَالْبَدْرِ

When she looks or turns to or sways her tresses,

woe to the infatuation of the sand, branch and moon.

فَمَا زِلْنَ يُغْرِينَ الطلا بِعُقُولِنَا

إِلَى أَنْ سَقَطْنَا لِلْيَدَيْنِ ولِلنَّحْرِ

They continued to tempt our minds until we fell

helpless into their hands and bosoms.

فَمِنْ وَاقِعٍ يَهْذِي وَآخَرَ ذاهِلٍ

لَهُ جَسَدٌ مَا فِيهِ رُوحٌ سِوَى الْخَمْرِ

So from one disoriented with wine and another mindless one

whose body holds no soul other than drink,

صَرِيعٌ يَظُنُّ الشُّهْبَ مِنْهُ قَرِيبَةً

فَيَسْدُو بِكَفَّيهِ إِلَى مَطْلَعِ النَّسْرِ

to one laid unconscious who thinks stars down upon him

and cups his palms to the rising of Venus.

إِذَا مَا دَعَوْتَ الْمَرءَ دَارَ بِلَحْظِهِ

إِلَيْكَ وَغَشَّاهُ الذُّهُولُ عَنِ الْجَهْرِ

When you call upon a man, with your glance turn him

to you while confusion overwhelms him from making noise.

بَعِيدٌ عَنِ الدَّاعِي وَإِنْ كَانَ حَاضِرَاً

كَأَنَّ بِهِ بَعْضَ الْهَنَاتِ مِنَ الْوَقْرِ

Distant from the caller though present

as if some reverence in him makes him dignified.

تَحَكَّمَتِ الصَّهْبَاءُ فيهِمْ فَغَيَّرَتْ

شَمَائِلَ مَا يَأْتِي بِهِ الْجِدُّ بِالْهَذْرِ

The grey hair took control of them and altered

the features of what the adamant brings with frivolity.

فَيَا سَامَحَ اللهُ الشَّبَابَ وَإِنْ جَنَى

عَلَيَّ وَحَيَّا عَهْدَهُ سَبَلُ الْقَطْرِ

So forgiveness and blessings of God be upon the wine-bred youth!

And may the paths of rain renew its time.

مَلَكْتُ بِهِ أَمْرِي وَجَارَيْتُ صَبْوَتِي

وَأَصْبَحْتُ مَرْهُوبَ الْحَمِيَّةِ وَالْكِبْرِ

I had my will and came of age

so now I am dreaded for my zeal and pride.

إِذَا أَبْصَرُونِي فِي النَّدِيِّ تَحَاجَزُوا

عَنِ الْقَوْلِ وَاسْتَغْنَوا عَنِ الْعُرْفِ بِالنُّكْرِ

When they see me in the valley they shrink away

from talking and do not acknowledge me.

وَقَالُوا فَتَىً مَالَتْ بِهِ نَشْوَةُ الصِّبَا

وَلَيْسَ عَلَى الْفِتْيَانِ في اللَّهْوِ مِنْ حَجْرِ

And say a lad corrupted by the intoxication of youth,

and no blame lies on boys for fun.

يَخَافُونَ مِنِّي أَنْ تَثُورَ حَمِيَّتِي

فَيَبْغُونَ عَطْفِي بِالْخَدِيعَةِ والْمَكْرِ

They fear that my zeal may flare up

so want to flatter me with deception and fraud.

أَلا لَيْتَ هَاتِيكَ اللَّيَالِي وَقَدْ مَضَتْ

تَعُودُ وَذَاكَ الْعَيْشُ يَأْتِي عَلَى قَدْرِ

Would that those nights have passed

and would return and that life would come back to what it was.

مَواسِمُ لَذَّاتٍ تَقَضَّتْ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ

لَهَا أَثَرٌ يَطْوي الْفُؤَادَ عَلَى أُثْرِ

Seasons of joy already finished while still

its vestiges stir the heart in remembrance.

إِذَا اعْتَوَرَتْهَا ذُكْرَةُ النَّفْسِ أَبْصَرَتْ

لَهَا صُورَةٌ تَخْتَالُ فِي صَفْحَةِ الْفِكْرِ

If her memory of the soul strikes her

she envisions for it a figure strutting in the plaza of thought.

فَذَلِكَ عَصْرٌ قَدْ مَضَى لِسَبِيلِهِ

وَخَلَّفَني أَرْعَى الْكَواكِبَ في عَصْرِ

For that was an age which has passed on its course

leaving me shepherding the stars in bereavement.

لَعَمْرُكَ مَا في الدَّهْرِ أَطْيَبُ لَذَّةً

مِنَ اللَّهْوِ فِي ظِلِّ الشِّبِيبَةِ والْيُسْرِ

By your life no joy in time tastes sweeter

than frolicking in the shadow of youth and affluence.