Poems
- إذا البرق من تلقاء كاظمة عناWhen lightning appears from the direction of Kazimah,
- أرحها فقد مل الظلام سراهاGive them rest: darkness itself has wearied of their night journey.
- أسروا إلى ليلى سراهم فما انجلىThey confided their night journey to Layla, yet the darkness did not lift.
- اشرفت في السواد ذات الثورShe of the bull appeared in black [epithet unclear];
- أعلي في حب الديار ملامAm I to blame for loving the abodes?
- اعمل حساب النفس عن هفواتهاCall the soul to account for its lapses,
- أفدي الذي بالأمس ودعنيI would ransom the one who bade me farewell yesterday;
- الذرك الشيب فهلا أرعويتThat old age, if only I had guarded against it
- العيد عيد مهنأ بقبولهThe feast is the feast of one congratulated on his acceptance;
- ألف الصبوة واستحلى الغرماHe tasted the vigor of youth and relished passion,
- الله أكبر أي برق لاحاصلىGod is greatest! What lightning flashed
- ألم يأن أن أترك اللهو جانباHas the time not come for me to set amusement aside,
- ألم يكفني شوق إليه وأدمعWere longing for him and tears not enough for me—
- الهي بحق النبي الكريمMy God, for the sake of the noble Prophet,
- آن التأهب للرحيلThe time has come to prepare for departure.
- إن من تهواه قد ظعناIndeed, the one you love has departed.
- أيا رشأ بت من حبهO young gazelle, for love of whom I spent the night
- أيها السائل الذي رزق التوفيقO petitioner whom divine favor has blessed,
- أيها المنزل الذي كان فيهO dwelling in which there was
- بلغت مرادي ونلت المنيI have achieved my aim and attained my wishes.
- بمدح الرسول أرفع قدريBy praising the Messenger, I raise my standing,
- تبدت وقد مدت عليها ستورهاShe appeared, though her veils had been drawn over her.
- تثنى وأغصان الأراك نواضرHe swayed while the arak branches were fresh and green.
- تذكر بالحمي عهدا برامهHe recalled, in the protected lands, a bygone time at Ramah,
- تقدم قبل الركب دمعي ليبقاMy tears went ahead of the caravan, to remain
- تقضي زماني في انتظار وصالهMy time has passed in waiting for union with him.
- حادي الركب لا تحث المطياO driver of the caravan, do not urge the mounts on.
- حتام أبطائي بيوم متابيHow long will I delay the day of my repentance?
- خل دمعي فقد اصاب مسيلاLet my tears flow; they have found a course,
- خليلي هذا البرق أسيافه تنضيMy two friends, the swords of this lightning are unsheathed.
- دع الصب يدمع منه المآقياLet the lovesick lover weep from the corners of his eyes.
- ذاك الفراق وان أصم مسامعيThat parting, though it deafened my ears,
- رأتني وقد نال مني النحولShe saw me when wasting had taken its toll on me,
- رأى الركائب تحدى فإنني كلفاHe saw the riding camels urged onward—for I am love-stricken,
- رأيت في بستان خل لناI saw in a garden we have
- رق العذول لما ألقى بكم ورثيThe reproacher softened at what I suffer because of you, and pitied me,
- سرى والدحى شوق إليه وتذكارBy night, while darkness was longing for him and remembrance, there came
- سل الركب هل مروا بجرعاء مالكAsk the caravan whether they passed through Jar‘a’ Malik,
- سيدي قربك عنديMy lord, your nearness is, to me,
- طاب المسير لنا فسيرواThe journey has become pleasant for us, so travel onward.
- عز قرب الدار إلا في الكراNearness to the abode is elusive, save in sleep.
- عسى وقفة بالركب يا حادي الركبWould that the caravan might halt, O caravan-driver,
- عشقت حراثا مليحا غداI fell for a handsome plowman setting out at dawn,
- غدرتم ولولا الغدر ما كان لي عذرYou betrayed me; but for betrayal, I would have had no excuse.
- غنى بذكر الحمى فارتاح كل شجىHe sang of the sanctuary, and every grieving heart found solace;
- فوض أمورك من بين الأنام إلىEntrust your affairs, rather than to mortals, to
- قبلت رجل حبيبيI kissed my beloved’s foot.
- قد براها جذب البرى والأزمةThe tug of nose-rings and reins has worn her down,
- قل لي عن الحمام كيف دخلتهاTell me about the bathhouse—how you entered it—
- كتم اسم من همت غراما بهConcealing the name of the one you are madly in love with
- كل يوم تنوي الرحيل مراراEvery day you intend to depart, time and again.
- كم إلى كم يجر ذيل المعاصيHow long does he drag the tail of disobedience,
- لا تسأمي يا ناق طول السريDo not weary, O she-camel, of the long night journey.
- لعل حداة العيش أن يترفقواPerhaps life's drovers will show gentleness
- ليس بعد السبعين إلا الرحيلAfter seventy, nothing remains but departure.
- ما احتيالي ولست أعلم ماليWhat recourse have I, not knowing my fate
- ما آذنته بينها أسماءAsmāʾ did not announce her departure to him,
- ما ضر من شفع الصدود ببعدهWhat harm would befall him who coupled rejection with his absence,
- مادون رامة من معرسThere is no resting place short of Rāmah.
- مضى شهر الصيام فليت شعريThe month of fasting has passed; if only I knew
- نسم آن أن تسري الرفاق إلى الحمىBreeze, it is time for the companions to journey by night to the sanctuary.
- نم بأسرار الحمى نسيمهThe sanctuary's breeze disclosed its secrets;
- نمت ولم يجف كراك الجفونYou slept, and your slumber never forsook your eyelids;
- نوى ولو أن الفعل وافق ما نوىHe resolved—and had his deed matched what he intended,
- هذا اللقاء وما شفيت غليلاEnglish translation unavailable
- هل البدر إلا ما حواه لثامهاIs the full moon anything but what her veil enfolds?
- هل عند من عندهم برئي وأسقاميDo those who hold my healing and my ailments have
- هل لميت أبلاه طول البعادIs there, for a dead man worn away by long separation,
- هل نازح الدار بعد البين مقتربWill one far from home draw near after separation?
- والطل في أعين النوار تحسبهAnd the dew in the blossoms' eyes you take for
- والله لقد ضاقت بحالي الحيلBy God, the ways out of my plight have indeed narrowed.
- وبمهجتي من سل صارم لحظهAnd with my life's blood I would ransom him who unsheathed the keen sword of his glance,
- ورأيته في الماء يسبح مرةAnd I once saw him swimming in the water,
- يا حياتي من حياتي بعدماO my life, who is my life now that
- يا راكب الناقة الوجناء مشتملاO rider of the stout-cheeked she-camel, wrapped
- يا رب ذا البيت قد وافيت ساحتهO Lord of this House, I have reached its courtyard,
- يا رسول الإله ضاق بأمريO Messenger of God, my plight has exhausted
- يا سراجا لما سمت باسمه الشمسO Siraj, when the sun rose high bearing your name,
- يا سيد الثقلين دعوة من أتىO master of the two abodes, a call from one who came
- يا ليلة بات ثغر الكأس معتنقيO night, the cup's mouth embraced me all night
- يا مظهر حب الرسول وجهلهO you who profess love for the Messenger, while your ignorance
- يا من أضاف إلى الجمال جميلاO you who have added kindness to beauty,
- يامن إليه بعزه اتشفعO You to whom, through His might, I appeal for intercession,
- يامن وقفت بباب مسجده وقدO you at whose mosque door I have stood, now that
No poems found.