لَعَلَّperhaps رَسُولَthe messenger of البَرقِlightning يَغتَنِمُseizes الأَجرَاthe reward
لَعَلَّ رَسُولَ البَرقِ يَغتَنِمُ الأَجرَا
فَيَنثُرُand scatters عَنِّيon my behalf مَاءَthe water of عَبرَتِهِhis tear نَثراin a scattering
فَيَنثُرُ عَنِّي مَاءَ عَبرَتِهِ نَثرا
Perhaps lightning's messenger will win the reward,
May the messenger of lightning seize the reward,
and scatter the water of his tears on my behalf.
And scatter for me the water of his tears scattered.
مُعَامَلةٌa transaction أَربَىhe gains interest بِهَاthrough it غَيرَwithout being مُذنِبٍsinful
مُعَامَلةٌ أَربَى بِهَا غَيرَ مُذنِبٍ
فَأَقضِيهِso I repay him دَمعَthe tears of العَينِthe eye عَنin return for نُقطَةٍa drop بَحرَاa sea
فَأَقضِيهِ دَمعَ العَينِ عَن نُقطَةٍ بَحرَا
A bargain through which he gains interest without sin:
A treatment that nourishes the innocent,
I repay him with my eye's tears, a sea for a drop,
So I pay it with a tear of the eye for a drop of the sea.
لِيَسقِيَthat he may water مِنof تُدمِيرَTudmir قُطراًa region مُحَبَّباًbeloved
لِيَسقِيَ مِن تُدمِيرَ قُطراً مُحَبَّباً
يَقِرُّbrings delight بِعَينِto the eye of القُطرِthe region أَنthat تَشرَبَit should drink القَطرَاthe rain
يَقِرُّ بِعَينِ القُطرِ أَن تَشرَبَ القَطرَا
that he may water a beloved region of Tudmir,
To water a beloved shred with destruction,
whose eye is gladdened to drink the rain,
It pleases the eye of the drop to drink the drop.
وَيُقرِضُهُand he lends it ذَوبَmolten اللُجينِsilver وَإِنَّمَاand only
وَيُقرِضُهُ ذَوبَ اللُجينِ وَإِنَّمَا
تُوَفِّيهِrepays him عَينِيmy eye مِنfrom مَدَامِعِهاits tears تِبرَاraw gold
تُوَفِّيهِ عَينِي مِن مَدَامِعِها تِبرَا
and lend it molten silver, whereas
And lends it the melted alloy, and only
my eye repays him in raw gold from its tears.
My eye fulfills it from its tears generously.
وَمَاand not ذَاكَthat تَقصِيراًa failing بِهَاin it غَيرَexcept أنَّهُthat it is
وَمَا ذَاكَ تَقصِيراً بِهَا غَيرَ أنَّهُ
سَجِيَّةُthe nature of مَاءwater البَحرِthe sea أَنto يُذوِيَmake wither الزَّهرَاthe flowers
سَجِيَّةُ مَاء البَحرِ أَن يُذوِيَ الزَّهرَا
That is no failing on its part; it is only that
And this is no shortcoming in it other than that
seawater's nature is to wither flowers.
It is the temperament of sea water to melt the flowers.
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends قُومَاboth rise فَاحبِسَاthen both block طُرُقَthe paths of الصَّبَاthe east wind
خَلِيلَيَّ قُومَا فَاحبِسَا طُرُقَ الصَّبَا
مَخَافَةَfor fear أنthat يَحمَىgrow hotter بِزَفرَتِيَwith my sigh الحَرَّاthe heat
مَخَافَةَ أن يَحمَى بِزَفرَتِيَ الحَرَّا
My two friends, rise and block the east wind's paths,
My two friends, arise and hold back the paths of the breeze,
for fear the heat might grow fiercer with my sigh.
Fearing that my sigh may kindle the heat.
فإِنَّfor indeed الصَّبَاthe east wind رِيحٌa wind عَليَّtoward me كَرِيمَةٌgenerous
فإِنَّ الصَّبَا رِيحٌ عَليَّ كَرِيمَةٌ
بآيَةِas proof مَاthat تَسرِيit travels by night مِنَfrom الجَنَّةِthe paradise الصُّغرَىthe lesser
بآيَةِ مَا تَسرِي مِنَ الجَنَّةِ الصُّغرَى
For the east wind is a wind generous to me,
For the breeze is a wind generous to me
as proven by its nightly passage from the lesser paradise.
With the sign of what flows from the Lesser Heaven.
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends أعنِيI mean أَرضَthe land of مرسِيَةَMurcia المُنىwishes
خَلِيلَيَّ أعنِي أَرضَ مرسِيَةَ المُنى
وَلَولاand were it not for تَوَخِّيstriving for الصِّدقtruth سَمَّيتُهاI would call it الكُبرَىthe greater
وَلَولا تَوَخِّي الصِّدق سَمَّيتُها الكُبرَى
My two friends, I mean Murcia, the land of wishes;
My friend, I mean the land where wishes alight,
but for my pursuit of truth, I would call it the greater.
And were it not for my adherence to truth, I would name it the Greatest.
مَحَلِّيmy dwelling بَلrather جَوِّيmy air الَّذِيwhich عَبقَتbecame fragrant بِهِin it
مَحَلِّي بَل جَوِّي الَّذِي عَبقَت بِهِ
نَوَاسِمُthe breezes of آدَابِيmy literary works مُعَطَّرَةًperfumed نَشرَاin fragrance
نَوَاسِمُ آدَابِي مُعَطَّرَةً نَشرَا
My dwelling—rather, my air, made fragrant
My abode, nay my atmosphere, which exudes
by the breezes of my writings, wafting perfume.
The manners of my refinement, perfumed and scattered.
وَوَكرِيand my nest الَّذِيwhich مِنهُfrom it دَرَجتُI fledged فَلَيتَنِيso if only I
وَوَكرِي الَّذِي مِنهُ دَرَجتُ فَلَيتَنِي
فُجِعتُI was bereft بِرِيشِof the feathers of العَزمِresolve كَيso that أَلزَمَI might remain in الوَكرَاthe nest
فُجِعتُ بِرِيشِ العَزمِ كَي أَلزَمَ الوَكرَا
And my nest, from which I fledged—if only I
And my den from which I graduated,
had been bereft of resolve's feathers, to remain in the nest!
If only I had been equipped with the feathers of determination to adhere to the den.
وَمَاand not رَوضَةُthe garden of الخَضرَاءِthe green heavens قَدindeed مُثِّلَتwas figured بِهَاin it
وَمَا رَوضَةُ الخَضرَاءِ قَد مُثِّلَت بِهَا
مَجَرَّتُهَاits Milky Way نَهراًas a river وَأَنجُمُهَاand its stars زهرَاas flowers
مَجَرَّتُهَا نَهراً وَأَنجُمُهَا زهرَا
Nor is the garden of the green heavens—where
The green garden was not represented by it
its Milky Way is figured as a river, its stars as flowers—
With its stream as a river and its stars as flowers.
بِأبهَجَany more delightful مِنهَاthan her وَالخَلِيجُand the canal مَجَرَّةٌa Milky Way
بِأبهَجَ مِنهَا وَالخَلِيجُ مَجَرَّةٌ
وَقَدand indeed فَضَحَتput to shame أَزهَارُthe blossoms of سَاحَتِهَاher grounds الزُّهرَاthe radiant stars
وَقَد فَضَحَت أَزهَارُ سَاحَتِهَا الزُّهرَا
more delightful than she, whose canal is a Milky Way,
More radiant than it, and the bay is a stream,
and whose grounds' blossoms have shamed the radiant stars.
And its courtyard’s flowers have gleamed radiantly.
وَقَدand indeed أَسكَرَتintoxicated أَعطَافَthe curves of أَغصَانِهَاher boughs الصَّبَاthe east wind
وَقَد أَسكَرَت أَعطَافَ أَغصَانِهَا الصَّبَا
وَمَاand not كُنتُI had أَعدَدتُّreckoned الصَّبَاthe east wind قَبلَهَاbefore her خَمرَاwine
وَمَا كُنتُ أَعدَدتُّ الصَّبَا قَبلَهَا خَمرَا
The east wind has intoxicated the curves of her boughs,
The breeze has intoxicated the branches of its boughs,
though before her I had never reckoned the east wind as wine.
And I did not count the breeze as wine before it.
هُنَالِكَthere بَينَamong الغُصنِthe bough وَالقَطرِand the rain وَالصَّبَاand the east wind
هُنَالِكَ بَينَ الغُصنِ وَالقَطرِ وَالصَّبَا
وَزَهرِand the flowers of الرُّبَىthe hills وَلَّدتُI brought forth آدَابِيَmy literary works الغَرَّاradiant
وَزَهرِ الرُّبَى وَلَّدتُ آدَابِيَ الغَرَّا
There, among the bough, the rain, and the east wind,
Therein between the branch, the drop, and the breeze
and the hills' flowers, I brought forth my radiant writings.
And the flower of the meadow, I conceived my sublime manners.
إِذاwhen نَظَمَstrung الغُصنَthe bough الحَيَاthe rain قَالَsaid خَاطِرِيmy imagination
إِذا نَظَمَ الغُصنَ الحَيَا قَالَ خَاطِرِي
تَعَلَّمlearn نِظَامَthe arranging of النَّثرِprose مِنfrom هَهُنَاhere شِعرَاas verse
تَعَلَّم نِظَامَ النَّثرِ مِن هَهُنَا شِعرَا
When rain strung the bough, my imagination said:
When the living branch composes rhyme, my mind says:
'Learn here to arrange prose into verse.'
Learn the system of prose from over here, poetry.
وَإِنand if نَثَرَتscattered رِيحُthe wind الصَّبَاthe east wind زَهَرَthe flowers of الرُّبَىthe hills
وَإِن نَثَرَت رِيحُ الصَّبَا زَهَرَ الرُّبَى
تَعَلَّمتُI learned حَلَّunstringing الشِّعرِverse أَسبِكُهُI cast it نَثرَاas prose
تَعَلَّمتُ حَلَّ الشِّعرِ أَسبِكُهُ نَثرَا
And when the east wind scattered the flowers of the hills,
And if the wind of the breeze scatters the flower of the meadow,
I learned to unstring verse and cast it as prose.
I learned how to solve poetry, knitting it into prose.
فَوَائِدُlessons أَسحَارٍpredawn hours هُنَاكَthere اقتَبَستُهاI gleaned them
فَوَائِدُ أَسحَارٍ هُنَاكَ اقتَبَستُها
وَلَمand never أَرI saw رَوضاًa garden غَيرَهُother than it يُقرئُteaches السِّحرَاmagic
وَلَم أَر رَوضاً غَيرَهُ يُقرئُ السِّحرَا
Lessons of the predawn hours I gleaned there,
Benefits of secrets there I gleaned,
and I have seen no other garden that teaches magic.
And I did not see a garden other than it that recites magic.
كَأنَّas though هزِيزَthe rustling of الرِّيحِthe wind يَمدَحُpraises رَوضَهاher garden
كَأنَّ هزِيزَ الرِّيحِ يَمدَحُ رَوضَها
فَتَملأُso she fills فَاهَاits mouth مِنfrom أَزَاهِرِهِits blossoms دُرَّاpearls
فَتَملأُ فَاهَا مِن أَزَاهِرِهِ دُرَّا
As though the wind's rustling were praising her garden,
As if the murmur of the wind praises its garden,
so she fills its mouth with pearls from the garden's blossoms.
So it fills its mouth with its flowers, pearls.
أَيَاO زَنَقَاتِlanes of الحُسنِbeauty هَلis there فِيكِwithin you نَظرةٌa glimpse
أَيَا زَنَقَاتِ الحُسنِ هَل فِيكِ نَظرةٌ
مِنَfrom الجُرُفِthe bank الأَعلَىthe upper إِلىto السِّكَّةِthe lane الغَرَّاthe radiant
مِنَ الجُرُفِ الأَعلَى إِلى السِّكَّةِ الغَرَّا
O lanes of beauty, may I cast a glance within you,
O lanes of beauty, is there a look
from al-Jurf al-A‘la to al-Sikka al-Gharra?
From the highest banks to the dusty lane?
فَأنظُرso I look مِنfrom هَذِيthis one لِتِلكَtoward that one كَأَنَّمَاas though
فَأنظُر مِن هَذِي لِتِلكَ كَأَنَّمَا
أُغَيِّرُI make jealous إِذwhen غَازَلتُهاI courted her أُختَهَاher sister الأُخرَىthe other
أُغَيِّرُ إِذ غَازَلتُها أُختَهَا الأُخرَى
So I look from this one toward that one, as though
So I look from this to that as if
in courting her I were making her other sister jealous.
I am flirting when I courted her sister.
هِيَshe الكَاعِبُthe budding maiden الحَسنَاءُthe beautiful تُمِّمَwas perfected حُسنهَاher beauty
هِيَ الكَاعِبُ الحَسنَاءُ تُمِّمَ حُسنهَا
وَقَدَّتand cut لَهَاfor her أَورَاقُهاher leaves حُلَلاًrobes خُضرَاgreen
وَقَدَّت لَهَا أَورَاقُها حُلَلاً خُضرَا
She is the fair, budding maiden, her beauty perfected,
She is the flirtatious beauty who completes her beauty,
and her leaves have cut robes of green for her.
And her leaves have clothed her with green robes.
إذاwhen خُطِبَتher hand was sought أَعطَتshe gave دَرَاهِمَdirhams زَهرِهَاher blossoms
إذا خُطِبَت أَعطَت دَرَاهِمَ زَهرِهَا
وَمَاand not عَادَةُthe custom of الحَسناءِa beauty أَنto تَنقُدَpay in cash المَهرَاthe bridal dower
وَمَا عَادَةُ الحَسناءِ أَن تَنقُدَ المَهرَا
When her hand is sought, she offers her blossoms' dirhams,
If she is proposed to, she gives the coins of her flowers,
though a beauty does not customarily pay the bridal dower.
It is not the habit of a beauty to pay a dowry.
وَقَامَتand performed بِعُرسِat the wedding of الأُنسِdelight قَينَةُthe songstress of أَيكِهَاher grove
وَقَامَت بِعُرسِ الأُنسِ قَينَةُ أَيكِهَا
أَغَارِيدُهَاher songs تَستَرقِصُmake dance الغُصُنَthe bough النَضرَاfresh green
أَغَارِيدُهَا تَستَرقِصُ الغُصُنَ النَضرَا
And her grove's songstress performs at the wedding of delight;
The songbird of intimacy stood for her wedding,
her songs make the fresh green bough dance.
Its trills carefully provoke the tender branch.
فَقُلthen speak فِيof خَلِيجٍa canal يُلبِسُclothes الحُوتَthe fish دِرعَهُits armor
فَقُل فِي خَلِيجٍ يُلبِسُ الحُوتَ دِرعَهُ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it لاnot يَستَطِيعُcan achieve بِهَاwith it نَصرَاvictory
وَلَكِنَّهُ لا يَستَطِيعُ بِهَا نَصرَا
Then speak of a canal that clothes the fish in its armor,
Say in a gulf that dresses the whale in armor,
though the fish can win no victory with it.
But he cannot achieve victory with it.
إِذاwhen مَاever بَدَاappeared فِيهَاin it الهِلالُthe crescent moon رَأيتَهُyou saw it
إِذا مَا بَدَا فِيهَا الهِلالُ رَأيتَهُ
كَصَفحَةِlike the flat of سَيفٍa sword رَسمُهاits outline قُبعَةٌa pommel صَفرَاyellow
كَصَفحَةِ سَيفٍ رَسمُها قُبعَةٌ صَفرَا
When the crescent appears in it, you see it
When the crescent appears in it you see it
like the flat of a sword, its outline a yellow pommel.
Like the page of a sword, its pommel designed yellow.
وَإِنand if لاحَgleamed فِيهَاin it البَدرُthe full moon شَبَّهتَyou likened مَتنَهُits surface
وَإِن لاحَ فِيهَا البَدرُ شَبَّهتَ مَتنَهُ
بِشَطِّto a shore of لُجَينٍsilver ضَمَّenclosed مِنof ذَهَبٍgold عَشرَاten
بِشَطِّ لُجَينٍ ضَمَّ مِن ذَهَبٍ عَشرَا
And if the full moon gleams in it, you liken its surface
And when the full moon shines in it, you compare its surface
to a silver shore embracing ten pieces of gold.
To a panel of alloy inlaid with ten pieces of gold.
وَفِيand in جُرُفَيthe two banks of رَوضٍa garden هُنَاكَthere تَجَافَيَاstood apart
وَفِي جُرُفَي رَوضٍ هُنَاكَ تَجَافَيَا
بِنَهرٍwith a river يَوَدُّlongs الأُفقُthe horizon لَوif only زَارَهُit visited it فَجراat dawn
بِنَهرٍ يَوَدُّ الأُفقُ لَو زَارَهُ فَجرا
And there, two banks of a garden stand apart,
And on the banks of a garden there, adjacent
with a river the horizon longs to visit at dawn,
To a river the horizon wishes the dawn would visit.
كأَنَّهُمَاas though they were خِلَّاtwo friends of صَفَاءٍsincere affection تَعَاتَبَاreproached each other
كأَنَّهُمَا خِلَّا صَفَاءٍ تَعَاتَبَا
وَقَدand indeed بَكيَاthey both wept مِنfrom رِقَّةٍtenderness ذَلِكَthat النَّهرَاriver
وَقَد بَكيَا مِن رِقَّةٍ ذَلِكَ النَّهرَا
as though they were two faithful friends who had reproached each other
As if they are two sincere friends reproaching
and out of tenderness had wept that river.
And they cried from tenderness, that river.
وَكَمand how many لِيI had بِأَبياتِat the houses of الحَدِيدِal-Hadid عَشِيَّةًan evening
وَكَم لِي بِأَبياتِ الحَدِيدِ عَشِيَّةً
مِنَof الأُنسِdelight مَاnothing فِيهِin it سِوَىexcept أَنَّهُthat it مَرَّاpassed
مِنَ الأُنسِ مَا فِيهِ سِوَى أَنَّهُ مَرَّا
How many an evening I had at Abyat al-Hadid,
And how many evenings I have at the verses of iron
of delight with no flaw save that it passed!
Of intimacy in it except that it is bitter.
عَشِيَّاتُevenings كَانَwas الدَّهرُTime غَضّاfresh بِحُسنِهَاwith their beauty
عَشِيَّاتُ كَانَ الدَّهرُ غَضّا بِحُسنِهَا
فَأَجلَتthen drove off سِيَاطُthe whips of البَرقlightning أفرَاسَهَاtheir steeds شقرَاchestnut
فَأَجلَت سِيَاطُ البَرق أفرَاسَهَا شقرَا
Evenings whose beauty kept Time fresh and tender,
Evenings in which time was shy with their beauty
then lightning's whips drove off their chestnut steeds.
So the whips of lightning spurred their blond steeds.
عَلَيهِنَّfor them أُجرِيI set running خَيلَthe horses of دَمعِيmy tears بِوَجنَتِيover my cheek
عَلَيهِنَّ أُجرِي خَيلَ دَمعِي بِوَجنَتِي
إِذاwhen رَكِبَتthey rode حُمراًred مَيَادِينَهاtheir racecourses الصَّفرَاthe yellow
إِذا رَكِبَت حُمراً مَيَادِينَها الصَّفرَا
For them I set the horses of my tears running over my cheek,
Over them I raced the horses of my tears with my eyelids
when they ride, red, over their yellow racecourses.
When they rode reddish brown racetracks.
أَعَهدِيO my remembered days بالغَرسِat al-Ghars المُنَعَّمmade luxuriant دَوحُهُits great trees
أَعَهدِي بالغَرسِ المُنَعَّم دَوحُهُ
سَقَتكَmay water you دُمُوعِيmy tears إِنَّهَاfor they are مُزنَةٌa raincloud شَكرَاin gratitude
سَقَتكَ دُمُوعِي إِنَّهَا مُزنَةٌ شَكرَا
O my days at al-Ghars, whose great trees were luxuriant,
I entrust you with the well-favored plant, its basin
may my tears water you: they are a raincloud of gratitude.
My tears have watered you, they are grateful clouds.
فَكَمfor how many فِيكَin you مِنof يَومٍa day أَغَرَّwhite-blazed مُحَجَّلٍwhite-stockinged
فَكَم فِيكَ مِن يَومٍ أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلٍ
تَقَضَّتpassed away أَمانِيهِits hopes فَخَلَّدتُهاso I immortalized them ذِكرَاin remembrance
تَقَضَّت أَمانِيهِ فَخَلَّدتُها ذِكرَا
How many a white-blazed, white-stockinged day you held,
So in you are many a day that tempted me veiled,
whose hopes passed, though I immortalized them in remembrance,
Fulfilling its wishes so I immortalized it in mention.
عَلَىbeside مُذنِبٍa watercourse كَالبَحرِlike the sea مِنfrom فَرطِthe abundance of حُسنِهِits beauty
عَلَى مُذنِبٍ كَالبَحرِ مِن فَرطِ حُسنِهِ
تَوَدُّlongs الثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiades أَنthat يَكُونَit be لَهَاfor them نَحرَاa neck
تَوَدُّ الثُّرَيَّا أَن يَكُونَ لَهَا نَحرَا
beside a sea-like watercourse so surpassingly beautiful
For a sinner like the sea in its exceeding beauty
that the Pleiades long for it to be their neck.
The Pleiades wish it could be their breast.
سَقَتmay water أَدمُعِيmy tears والقَطرُand the rain أَيُّهُمَاwhichever of them انبَرَىcomes forth
سَقَت أَدمُعِي والقَطرُ أَيُّهُمَا انبَرَى
نَقَاthe dune of الرَّملَةِthe sand البَيضَاءِthe white فَالنَّهرَthen the river فَالجسرَاthen the bridge
نَقَا الرَّملَةِ البَيضَاءِ فَالنَّهرَ فَالجسرَا
May my tears and the rain—whichever comes forth—water
My tears and the drops, which of them took precedence
the dune of white sand, then the river, then the bridge.
Cleansing the white sands, then the river, then the bridge.
وَإِخوَانِand brothers of صِدقٍsincerity لَوhad قَضَيتُI fulfilled حُقُوقَهُمtheir rights
وَإِخوَانِ صِدقٍ لَو قَضَيتُ حُقُوقَهُم
لَمَاwould not فَارَقَتhave left عَينِيmy eye وُجُوهَهُمtheir faces الزُّهرَاthe radiant
لَمَا فَارَقَت عَينِي وُجُوهَهُم الزُّهرَا
And faithful friends—had I given them their due,
And brothers of sincerity, if I fulfilled their rights
my eye would never have left their radiant faces.
Their radiant faces would not part from my eye.
وَلَوand had كُنتُI been أقضِيgiving حَقَّthe due of نَفسِيmyself وَلَمand not أَكُنI was
وَلَو كُنتُ أقضِي حَقَّ نَفسِي وَلَم أَكُن
لَمَاwould not بِتُّI have spent the night أَستَحلِيfinding sweet فِرَاقَهُمُtheir separation المُرَّاthe bitter
لَمَا بِتُّ أَستَحلِي فِرَاقَهُمُ المُرَّا
And had I given myself my due—which I did not—
And had I not fulfilled the right of myself, I would not
I would not have spent my nights finding their bitter parting sweet.
Spend the night allowing their separation, bitter.
وَمَاand not اختَرتُI chose هَذَاthis البُعدَdistance إِلاexcept ضَرُورَةًout of necessity
وَمَا اختَرتُ هَذَا البُعدَ إِلا ضَرُورَةً
وَهَلand would تَستَجِيزُdeem permissible العَينُthe eye أَنto تَفقِدَlose الشَّفرَاthe eyelid
وَهَل تَستَجِيزُ العَينُ أَن تَفقِدَ الشَّفرَا
I chose this distance only out of necessity,
I did not choose this distance except out of necessity,
and would an eye consent to lose its eyelid?
Does the eye permit that it lose sight?
قَضَىdecreed اللَّهُGod أنthat تَنأىgrow distant بِيَwith me الدَّارُthe dwelling عَنهُمُfrom them
قَضَى اللَّهُ أن تَنأى بِيَ الدَّارُ عَنهُمُ
أَرَادَintended بِذَاكَby that اللَّهُGod أَنthat أَعتبَI reproach الدَّهرَاTime
أَرَادَ بِذَاكَ اللَّهُ أَن أَعتبَ الدَّهرَا
God decreed that my dwelling should carry me far from them;
God decreed that the house distance me from them,
by this God intended me to reproach Time.
God intended by that for me to blame fate.
وَوَاللَّهِand by God لَوif نِلتُI attained المُنَىwishes مَاnot حَمِدتُّهَاI would praise them
وَوَاللَّهِ لَو نِلتُ المُنَى مَا حَمِدتُّهَا
وَمَاand not عَادَةُthe custom of المَشغُوفِone consumed by love أَنto يَحمَدَpraise الهَجرَاestrangement
وَمَا عَادَةُ المَشغُوفِ أَن يَحمَدَ الهَجرَا
By God, even if I gained my wishes, I would not praise them,
By God, if I attained wishes I would not praise them,
for one consumed by love does not customarily praise estrangement.
It is not the habit of the passionate to praise estrangement.
أَيَأنَسُcan delight بِاللذاتِin pleasures قَلبيmy heart وَدُونَهُمwhile between me and them
أَيَأنَسُ بِاللذاتِ قَلبي وَدُونَهُم
مَرَامٍdistances يُجِدُّstrives الرَّكبُthe caravan فِيin طَيِّهَاtraversing them شَهرَاfor a month
مَرَامٍ يُجِدُّ الرَّكبُ فِي طَيِّهَا شَهرَا
Can my heart delight in pleasures, when between me and them
Does my heart enjoy pleasures without them,
lie distances the caravan labors a month to cross,
An abode in which the traveling party finds in its folds months?
وَيَصحَبُand accompanies هَادِيthe guide of اللَّيلِthe night رَاءًa rāʾ وَحَرفَهُand its edge
وَيَصحَبُ هَادِي اللَّيلِ رَاءً وَحَرفَهُ
وَصاداًand a ṣād وَنُوناًand a nūn قَدindeed تَقَوَّسَcurved وَاصفَرَّاand turned yellow
وَصاداً وَنُوناً قَد تَقَوَّسَ وَاصفَرَّا
accompanying night's guide—a rāʾ and its edge,
And accompany the guide of night drowsing and his letter
a ṣād, and a nūn grown curved and yellow?
A “Raa”, a “Saad”, a “Noon” that curved and yellowed.
فَدَيتُهُمُI would ransom them بَانواthey departed وَضَنّواand were sparing بِكَتبِهِمwith their letters
فَدَيتُهُمُ بَانوا وَضَنّوا بِكَتبِهِم
فَلاso no خَبَراًnews مِنهُمُfrom them لَقِيتُI encountered وَلاnor خُبرَاfirsthand knowledge
فَلا خَبَراً مِنهُمُ لَقِيتُ وَلا خُبرَا
May I be their ransom! They departed and withheld their letters,
I ransom them, they hid away with their books,
so I have found neither news of them nor firsthand knowledge.
So I met no news from them nor tidings.
وَلَولاand were it not عَلَىfor هِمَّاتِهِمtheir high spirits لَعَتَبتُهُمI would reproach them
وَلَولا عَلَى هِمَّاتِهِم لَعَتَبتُهُم
وَلَكِنbut عِرَابُpurebred Arabian الخَيلِhorses لاnot تَحمِلُbear الزَّجرَاrebuke
وَلَكِن عِرَابُ الخَيلِ لا تَحمِلُ الزَّجرَا
Were it not for their lofty spirits, I would reproach them,
And were it not for their endeavors I would have reproached them,
but purebred Arabian horses cannot bear rebuke.
But the mares of glory do not carry rebuke.
ضَرَبتُI multiplied غُبَارَthe dust of البِيدِthe deserts فِيon مُهرَقِthe parchment of السُّرَىnight travel
ضَرَبتُ غُبَارَ البِيدِ فِي مُهرَقِ السُّرَى
بِحَيثُwhere جَعَلتُI made اللَّيلَthe night فِيin ضَربِهِits multiplication حِبرَاink
بِحَيثُ جَعَلتُ اللَّيلَ فِي ضَربِهِ حِبرَا
I multiplied the desert dust upon the parchment of night travel,
I struck the dust of ruin in the racing field
making night the ink for that calculation.
Where I made the night, in its stroke, ink.
وَحَقَّقتُand I verified ذَاكَthat الضَّربَmultiplication جَمعاًby addition وَعِدَّةًand counting
وَحَقَّقتُ ذَاكَ الضَّربَ جَمعاً وَعِدَّةً
وَطرحاًand subtraction وَتَجمِيلاًand totaling فَأَخرَجَso it yielded لِيfor me صِفرَاzero
وَطرحاً وَتَجمِيلاً فَأَخرَجَ لِي صِفرَا
I verified that multiplication by addition and counting,
And I actualized that stroke completely in number and amount,
by subtraction and totaling, and it yielded me zero.
In multiplication and embellishment, so it produced for me yellowness.
كأَنَّas though زَمَانِيmy time حَاسِبٌan accountant مُتَعَسِّفٌunjust
كأَنَّ زَمَانِي حَاسِبٌ مُتَعَسِّفٌ
يُطَارِحُنِيexchanges with me كَسراًa fraction وَمَاand not يُحسِنُis skilled in الجَبرَاalgebra
يُطَارِحُنِي كَسراً وَمَا يُحسِنُ الجَبرَا
It is as though my time were an unjust accountant,
As if my time is an unjust accountant
who deals me fractions but has no skill in algebra.
Who subtracts me in problems and does not master remedying.
فَكَمfor how many عَارِفٍone who knows بِيme وَهوَwhile he يَحسُدُenvies رُتبتِيmy rank
فَكَم عَارِفٍ بِي وَهوَ يَحسُدُ رُتبتِي
فَيَمدَحُنِيthen praises me سِرّاًin secret وَيَشتمُنِيand insults me جَهرَاopenly
فَيَمدَحُنِي سِرّاً وَيَشتمُنِي جَهرَا
How many a man who knows me, yet envies my rank,
So how many who know me envy my position
praises me in secret and insults me openly.
And praise me secretly and insult me openly.
لِذَلِكَfor that reason مَاnot أَعطَيتُI gave نَفسِيَmyself حَقَّهَاits due
لِذَلِكَ مَا أَعطَيتُ نَفسِيَ حَقَّهَا
وَقُلتُand I said لِسِربِto the flock of الشِّعرِpoetry لاdo not تَرُمseek الذِّكرَاrenown
وَقُلتُ لِسِربِ الشِّعرِ لا تَرُم الذِّكرَا
For this reason I have not given myself my due,
For that I did not give myself its due
and told the flock of poetry: 'Do not seek renown.'
And I said to the flock of poetry, do not scatter mention.
فَمَاso not بَرِحَتleft فِكرِيmy mind عَذَارَىthe virgins of قَصَائِدِىmy odes
فَمَا بَرِحَت فِكرِي عَذَارَى قَصَائِدِى
وَمِنand among خُلُقِthe traits of العَذرَاءِthe virgin أَنto تَألَفَbe fond of الخِدرَاthe secluded chamber
وَمِن خُلُقِ العَذرَاءِ أَن تَألَفَ الخِدرَا
So the virgins of my odes have never left my mind,
So my thoughts did not cease being the virgins of my poems,
and it is a virgin's nature to cherish her secluded chamber.
It is the nature of a virgin to befriend the womb.
وَلَستُand I am not وَإِنand even if طَاشَتmissed their mark سِهَامِيmy arrows بِآيسٍdespairing
وَلَستُ وَإِن طَاشَت سِهَامِي بِآيسٍ
فَإِنَّfor indeed مَعَwith العُسرِhardship الَّذِيwhich يُتَّقَىis feared يُسرَاease
فَإِنَّ مَعَ العُسرِ الَّذِي يُتَّقَى يُسرَا
I am not despairing, even if my arrows have missed,
And I am not, even if my arrows stray, in despair,
for with the hardship that is feared comes ease.
For with feared hardship comes ease.
Sol 6.1