رَضيع الضِيَا لِلْبَيْنِ قَدْ طَرَّ شَارِبُهْ

رَضيع الضِيَا لِلْبَيْنِ قَدْ طَرَّ شَارِبُهْ

وَكَهْل الدُّجَى مُذْ شَبَّ شابَتْ ذَوَائبُهْ

وَكَهْل الدُّجَى مُذْ شَبَّ شابَتْ ذَوَائبُهْ

The nursling of radiance has sprouted his mustache for parting;

The infant of light has grown accustomed to separation

And the mature man of darkness—since he grew up, his locks have turned gray.

While the old man of night has grayed since his youth departed

وَمَا اللَّيْل إلاَّ الدَّهْر أعْيَتْ صروفُه

وَمَا اللَّيْل إلاَّ الدَّهْر أعْيَتْ صروفُه

وَمَا هُوَ إلاَّ صَرْفُه وَعَجَائِبُهْ

وَمَا هُوَ إلاَّ صَرْفُه وَعَجَائِبُهْ

Night is nothing but Time, whose vicissitudes have exhausted me;

And the night is but time itself made weary by its vicissitudes

And it is nothing but its reversal and its wonders.

It is but its usurpation and wonders

لَهُ الوَيْلُ مِنْ لَيْلٍ تَطَاوَلَ إذْ غَدَا

لَهُ الوَيْلُ مِنْ لَيْلٍ تَطَاوَلَ إذْ غَدَا

يُجَاذِبُنِي ذِكْرَ الهَوَى وَأجَاذِبُهْ

يُجَاذِبُنِي ذِكْرَ الهَوَى وَأجَاذِبُهْ

Woe to it, a night that lengthened when it began

Woe to the night from a night whose length makes morn break

To wrestle with me over the remembrance of love, while I wrestled with it.

Where the memory of passion disputes me and I dispute it

طَلَبْتُ بِهِ وَصلاً تَقَادَمَ عَهْدُه

طَلَبْتُ بِهِ وَصلاً تَقَادَمَ عَهْدُه

وَمَا كُلُّ مَطْلُوبٍ يُنَوَّلُ طَالِبُهْ

وَمَا كُلُّ مَطْلُوبٍ يُنَوَّلُ طَالِبُهْ

In it I sought a union whose time was long past;

I sought through it a union whose era had expired

And not everything sought is granted to its seeker.

But not every sought thing is granted its seeker

عَلَى حِينِ أحَيْاَ مَيِّتُ النَّوْمِ نَاظِرِي

عَلَى حِينِ أحَيْاَ مَيِّتُ النَّوْمِ نَاظِرِي

لِزَوْرَةِ طَيْفٍ أشْبَهَ الصدقَ كَاذِبُهْ

لِزَوْرَةِ طَيْفٍ أشْبَهَ الصدقَ كَاذِبُهْ

When the deadness of sleep brought my eye to life

When the dead of sleep revived my watchful eyes

For the visit of a phantom whose falsehood resembled truth.

For a phantom that resembled truth in its deception

وَمَا زَالَ رَبْعُ الصْبرِ زُوراً وَإنَّمَا

وَمَا زَالَ رَبْعُ الصْبرِ زُوراً وَإنَّمَا

لِيَمْرَعَ مَرْعَاهُ وَتَصْفُو مَشَارِبُهْ

لِيَمْرَعَ مَرْعَاهُ وَتَصْفُو مَشَارِبُهْ

And the abode of patience remains a sham; this is only

Patience remains falsely quartered, merely there

So that its pasture may grow lush and its watering places become clear.

To graze its pasture and clear its drinking places

وَبِي مُحْسِنٌ قَدْ سَاءَ صَدّاً وَرُبَّمَا

وَبِي مُحْسِنٌ قَدْ سَاءَ صَدّاً وَرُبَّمَا

بَدَا الصُّدُ مِنْ أمْرٍ تَسُرُّ عَوَاقِبُهْ

بَدَا الصُّدُ مِنْ أمْرٍ تَسُرُّ عَوَاقِبُهْ

And one kind to me has done ill by shunning me; and sometimes

And I have a benefactor who has badly checked me, though

Rebuff arises from a matter whose consequences bring joy.

Good may come from a check at the start of matters

فَلاَ وَصْلَ إلاَّ أنْ يَلُمَّ خَيَالُهُ

فَلاَ وَصْلَ إلاَّ أنْ يَلُمَّ خَيَالُهُ

وَلاَ هْجَرَ إلا أنْ تُزُمَّ رَكَائِبُهْ

وَلاَ هْجَرَ إلا أنْ تُزُمَّ رَكَائِبُهْ

So there is no union unless his phantom visits,

So no union unless its specter brings me near

And no estrangement unless his riding camels are bridled.

No separation unless its miles keep me apart

وَلِي كَبِدٌ حَرَّاءُ فِي أبْحُرِ الجوَى

وَلِي كَبِدٌ حَرَّاءُ فِي أبْحُرِ الجوَى

تَسِيرُ بِهَا سُفْنُ الهَوَى وَمَرَاكِبُهْ

تَسِيرُ بِهَا سُفْنُ الهَوَى وَمَرَاكِبُهْ

And I have a burning liver in the seas of love's anguish,

And I have a burning liver amid the seas of ardour

Which the ships of love and its vessels carry along.

Whereupon sail the ships of love and its vessels

فَهَلْ سَاحِلٌ بِالقُرْبِ يَلْجَأ عِنْدَهْ

فَهَلْ سَاحِلٌ بِالقُرْبِ يَلْجَأ عِنْدَهْ

غَرِيقُ دُجًى لَمْ تَبْدُ فِيهِ كَوَاكِبُهْ

غَرِيقُ دُجًى لَمْ تَبْدُ فِيهِ كَوَاكِبُهْ

Is there, then, a shore nearby where refuge may be sought

Is there then a shore nearby where may land

By one drowning in darkness whose stars have not appeared?

The drowner in a night whose stars do not guide?

أيَا صَاحِبَيْ نَجْوَايَ هَلاَّ تَرَفُّقًا

أيَا صَاحِبَيْ نَجْوَايَ هَلاَّ تَرَفُّقًا

فَقَدْ يَجْلُبُ الشَّيْءَ البَعِيدَ جَوَالِبُهْ

فَقَدْ يَجْلُبُ الشَّيْءَ البَعِيدَ جَوَالِبُهْ

O my two confidants, will you not show gentleness?

O my two friends - would you kindly show moderation

For even a distant thing may be brought by what draws it.

For the distant thing may be brought near by its searchers

خُذَا الحذرَ مِنْ أعْطَافِهِ وَجُفُونِهِ

خُذَا الحذرَ مِنْ أعْطَافِهِ وَجُفُونِهِ

فَمَا هِيَ إلا سُمْرُهُ وَقَوَاضِبُهْ

فَمَا هِيَ إلا سُمْرُهُ وَقَوَاضِبُهْ

Beware, you two, of his flanks and his eyelids,

Beware of his coquetry and his eyelids

For they are only his brown lances and his cutting swords.

For they are but his make-believe and his callousness

وَإيَّاكُمَا القَوْسَ المُرَاشَ سِهَامُهَا

وَإيَّاكُمَا القَوْسَ المُرَاشَ سِهَامُهَا

ألَمْ تَرْمِكُمْ ألْحَاظُهُ وحَوَاجِبُهْ

ألَمْ تَرْمِكُمْ ألْحَاظُهُ وحَوَاجِبُهْ

And beware, you two, of the bow whose arrows are feathered:

And beware the tautened bow whose arrows

Have his glances and eyebrows not shot at you?

Have you not seen its glances and eyebrows strike you?

وَمَاذَا عَلَى مَنْ صَارَ خَالاً بِخَدّهِ

وَمَاذَا عَلَى مَنْ صَارَ خَالاً بِخَدّهِ

أغَارَ أبُوهُ أوْ أغِيظَتْ أقَارِبُهْ

أغَارَ أبُوهُ أوْ أغِيظَتْ أقَارِبُهْ

And what harm is there for one who became a mole on his cheek,

What is upon one with a beauty-spot on his cheek

Whether his father grew jealous or his kin were angered?

If his father was jealous or his kin were upset?

لَهُ عَارِضٌ في الخَدّ قَدْ زَانَ شكله

لَهُ عَارِضٌ في الخَدّ قَدْ زَانَ شكله

كَمَا زَانَ خط اللام في الطرس كاتبُهْ

كَمَا زَانَ خط اللام في الطرس كاتبُهْ

He has a sideburn on his cheek that has adorned his appearance,

On his cheek is a mole that has graced his form

As its scribe adorned the stroke of lam upon the page.

As the line of the lam graced the hand of its writer

بَكَيْتُ وَقَدْ قَدَّ الحَشَا وَهْوَ ضَاحِكٌ

بَكَيْتُ وَقَدْ قَدَّ الحَشَا وَهْوَ ضَاحِكٌ

وَهَلْ يَسْتَوِي مَسْلُوبُ قَلْبٍ وَسَالِبُهْ

وَهَلْ يَسْتَوِي مَسْلُوبُ قَلْبٍ وَسَالِبُهْ

I wept as he rent my inward parts, while he laughed;

I cried while he laughed loudly - can despoiler and despoiled be alike?

And can one robbed of a heart be equal to its robber?

From burning in the chest has sparked its flame

فَمِنْ لوعةٍ فِي الصَّدْرِ شَبَّ ضِرَامُهَا

فَمِنْ لوعةٍ فِي الصَّدْرِ شَبَّ ضِرَامُهَا

ومن مَدْمَعٍ يَرْفَضُّ في الخَدّ سَاكِبُهْ

ومن مَدْمَعٍ يَرْفَضُّ في الخَدّ سَاكِبُهْ

For it was from anguish in the breast, whose blaze had flared,

And from a tear pouring down the cheek its pourer

And from a tear-duct whose stream spills over the cheek.

My bosom friend, why, when my wings were plundered

خَلِيليَّ مَا لِي يَوْمَ نَهْبِ جَوَانِحِي

خَلِيليَّ مَا لِي يَوْمَ نَهْبِ جَوَانِحِي

أخَيَّبُ مِنْ مَالِي وَيَغْنَمُ نَاهِبُهْ

أخَيَّبُ مِنْ مَالِي وَيَغْنَمُ نَاهِبُهْ

My two friends, why, on the day my ribs are plundered,

Did I lose my money and its pillager gain?

Am I deprived of my wealth, while its plunderer gains?

For we are no full moons that whenever I glance

وَمَا لِسَنَا بَدْرِ الدُّجُنَّةِ كُلَّمَا

وَمَا لِسَنَا بَدْرِ الدُّجُنَّةِ كُلَّمَا

أجَلْتُ لحَاظِي فِيهِ جَالَتْ غَيَاهِبُهْ

أجَلْتُ لحَاظِي فِيهِ جَالَتْ غَيَاهِبُهْ

And what ails the radiance of the full moon in the gloom, that whenever

Bewilderments roam in it and its mysteries

I turn my glances upon it, its dark depths roam?

When will the chaste lad not yearn, having set out

وَمَا لِلْفَتَى العُذْرِيّ أنْشَدَ إذْ غَدَا

وَمَا لِلْفَتَى العُذْرِيّ أنْشَدَ إذْ غَدَا

مَشَارِقُه مَجْهُولَةٌ وَمَغَارِبُهْ

مَشَارِقُه مَجْهُولَةٌ وَمَغَارِبُهْ

And what of the 'Udhri youth, who recited when

With his dawning place unknown and his setting place obscured?

His places of rising and setting became unknown:

Give rest to a lad straitened in his love's horizons

أرِيحُوا فَتًى في الحبّ ضَاقَت مَذاهِبُهْ

أرِيحُوا فَتًى في الحبّ ضَاقَت مَذاهِبُهْ

وَلَمْ يلقَ صَبّاً فِي الغَرَامِ يُجَاوِبُهْ

وَلَمْ يلقَ صَبّاً فِي الغَرَامِ يُجَاوِبُهْ

Give relief to a youth whose paths in love have narrowed,

Who found no passions in love to console him

And who has found no lovesick lover in passion to answer him.

Whether he draws near he is spurned, and if he keeps away, who?

مَتَى مَا دَنَا يُجْفَى وَإن يُجْتَنَبْ دَنَا

مَتَى مَا دَنَا يُجْفَى وَإن يُجْتَنَبْ دَنَا

فَأَيٌّ يُدَانِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُجَانِبُهْ

فَأَيٌّ يُدَانِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُجَانِبُهْ

Whenever he draws near, he is rebuffed; if he is avoided, he draws near.

And who retreats from him and who draws near?

So which draws near him, and which keeps apart from him?

However much union calls him, separation opposes him

وَمَهْمَا دَعَاهُ الوصلُ عَارَضَهُ الجَفَا

وَمَهْمَا دَعَاهُ الوصلُ عَارَضَهُ الجَفَا

فَأَيٌّ يُحَابِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُشَاغِبُهْ

فَأَيٌّ يُحَابِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُشَاغِبُهْ

And whenever union calls him, estrangement opposes him;

So who supports him and who contends with him?

So which favors him, and which harasses him?

And however much health relieves him, pain returns to him

وَمَهْمَا شَفَاهُ السقمُ أوْدَى بِهِ الشِّفَا

وَمَهْمَا شَفَاهُ السقمُ أوْدَى بِهِ الشِّفَا

فَأَيٌّ يُعَانِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُعَاطِبُهْ

فَأَيٌّ يُعَانِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُعَاطِبُهْ

And whenever sickness heals him, healing destroys him;

So who comforts him and who reproaches him?

So which tends him, and which brings him to ruin?

And however much despair prohibits him, grief drives him

وَمَهْمَا نَهَاهُ اليَأسُ اقْتَادَهُ الأسَى

وَمَهْمَا نَهَاهُ اليَأسُ اقْتَادَهُ الأسَى

فَأَيٌّ يُوَالِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُحَارِبُهْ

فَأَيٌّ يُوَالِيهِ وَأَيٌّ يُحَارِبُهْ

And whenever despair holds him back, sorrow leads him on;

So who sides with him and who wars against him?

So which befriends him, and which wages war on him?

For the flags of his regiment of composure have been routed

وَقَدْ هُزِمَتْ رَايَاتُ جيشِ اصْطِبَارِهِ

وَقَدْ هُزِمَتْ رَايَاتُ جيشِ اصْطِبَارِهِ

عَلَى حِينِ جَيْشُ الوجدِ جَالَتْ كَتَائِبُهْ

عَلَى حِينِ جَيْشُ الوجدِ جَالَتْ كَتَائِبُهْ

And the banners of his army of endurance have been defeated,

While the troops of ardour have unfurled their banners

While the battalions of yearning's army ranged about.

And he wakes to find no easy union

وَأصْبَحَ لاَ طِيبُ الوِصَالِ مُيَسَّرٌ

وَأصْبَحَ لاَ طِيبُ الوِصَالِ مُيَسَّرٌ

لَدَيْهِ وَلاَ دَارُ الحَبِيبِ تُقَارِبُهْ

لَدَيْهِ وَلاَ دَارُ الحَبِيبِ تُقَارِبُهْ

And now the sweetness of union is not attainable

Or dwelling of the beloved that brings him near

For him, nor does his beloved's dwelling draw near him.

For one whose patience is little, no life gratifies

فَلاَ عِيشة تُرْضَى لِمَنْ قَلَّ صَبْرُهُ

فَلاَ عِيشة تُرْضَى لِمَنْ قَلَّ صَبْرُهُ

وَلاَ صبر إلا أن تَطِيبَ مَكَاسِبُهْ

وَلاَ صبر إلا أن تَطِيبَ مَكَاسِبُهْ

So there is no pleasing life for one whose patience is scant,

Just as no patience, unless its gains are wholesome

And no patience unless its gains are sweet.

For not every eye delights in beauty

فَمَا كُلُّ عَيْنٍ بِالجَمَالِ قَرِيرَةٌ

فَمَا كُلُّ عَيْنٍ بِالجَمَالِ قَرِيرَةٌ

وَلاَ كُلُّ سمعٍ قَدْ نَجَاهُ مُجَاوِبُهْ

وَلاَ كُلُّ سمعٍ قَدْ نَجَاهُ مُجَاوِبُهْ

For not every eye is gladdened by beauty,

Nor every ear kept safe by its answerer

Nor has every ear received a whisper from its respondent.

Not everyone who rode had his steeds returned

وَلاَ كُلُّ مَنْ قَدْ سَارَ رُدَّتْ جِيَادُهُ

وَلاَ كُلُّ مَنْ قَدْ سَارَ رُدَّتْ جِيَادُهُ

وَلاَ كُلُّ مَنْ وَافَى انيخت ركَائِبُهْ

وَلاَ كُلُّ مَنْ وَافَى انيخت ركَائِبُهْ

Nor has everyone who set out had his steeds brought back,

Nor everyone who came had his vessels anchored

Nor has everyone who arrived had his riding camels made to kneel.

One claims longing who is not longing

فَقَدْ يَدَّعِي الاشَواقَ مَنْ لَيْسَ شَائِقاً

فَقَدْ يَدَّعِي الاشَواقَ مَنْ لَيْسَ شَائِقاً

كَمَا يَرْقُبُ الجوزَاءَ مَنْ لاَ تُرَاقِبُهْ

كَمَا يَرْقُبُ الجوزَاءَ مَنْ لاَ تُرَاقِبُهْ

For one who feels no longing may claim to yearn,

As one observes the deserted encampment who does not watch over it

Just as one watches al-Jawza while it does not watch him.

So the English translation preserves the meaning and poetic essence of the original Arabic poem.