سرى والدحى شوق إليه وتذكار

سرى والدحى شوق إليه وتذكار

خيال أضاءت من ضلوعي له نار

خيال أضاءت من ضلوعي له نار

By night, while darkness was longing for him and remembrance, there came

The morning star and the twilight of dusk evoke longing for him and remembrance,

a vision, for which a fire shone from within my ribs.

An apparition lit a fire in my ribs for him,

أتى ساعياً لا أصغر الله سعيه

أتى ساعياً لا أصغر الله سعيه

ومن دونه يبدو نزوع وأخطار

ومن دونه يبدو نزوع وأخطار

He came hastening—may God not belittle his effort—

He came seeking - may God not diminish his quest -

with yearning and dangers appearing before him.

While without him tendencies and perils appear.

سرى من أعالي أرض طيبة طارقا

سرى من أعالي أرض طيبة طارقا

ألي وصحبي بالابيرق خطار

ألي وصحبي بالابيرق خطار

He traveled by night from the uplands of Taybah, a nocturnal visitor

He strode from the heights of blessed Taif knocking

to me, while my companions at al-Ubayriq were passing travelers.

At my door and my companions' with tapping,

فأيقظني من دون صحبي ولم انم

فأيقظني من دون صحبي ولم انم

ولكنني أطرقت والكرب سمار

ولكنني أطرقت والكرب سمار

He awakened me apart from my companions, though I had not slept;

So he woke me, without waking my companions, and I had not slept,

rather, I had bowed my head, with sorrows as my night companions.

But I bowed my head and sorrow took hold.

اموه بالتهويم سر قدومه

اموه بالتهويم سر قدومه

إذا ما استزارته شجون وافكار

إذا ما استزارته شجون وافكار

I conceal the secret of his coming with drowsiness

I obscured from him the secret of his coming

whenever sorrows and thoughts summon him to visit.

When regrets and thoughts asked about him,

ولا عار في اني اموه بالكرى

ولا عار في اني اموه بالكرى

عليه ولكن الكرى دونه عار

عليه ولكن الكرى دونه عار

There is no shame in my using slumber as a disguise

And it is no shame that I obscured with lies

for him; but slumber without him is a disgrace.

About him - but lies about him are shameful.

فافرشته خدي وطاء على الثرى

فافرشته خدي وطاء على الثرى

لتضحي به منه رسوم وآثار

لتضحي به منه رسوم وآثار

So I spread my cheek as bedding for him upon the earth,

So I laid him down on my cheek, a bier on the soil,

that traces and imprints of him might remain upon it.

To sacrifice him, so customs and traces would show.

وأسكنته خوف العيون نواظرى

وأسكنته خوف العيون نواظرى

لترخثي عليه من جفوني استار

لترخثي عليه من جفوني استار

Fearing watchful eyes, I lodged him in my own eyes,

And I settled him into the fear of my watching eyes

so curtains from my eyelids might be drawn over him.

So curtains of my eyelids would fold over him.

جاى وجهه ليلي وجلي حديثه

جاى وجهه ليلي وجلي حديثه

همومي فقل بدر حات منه اسمار

همومي فقل بدر حات منه اسمار

His face dispelled my night, and his speech dispelled

The face of his night came to me, and the talk of his day

my cares: call him a full moon whose evening tales were sweet.

Lightened my worries - so speak - have the lines of darkness cleared?

وأشرق ما حولي وطاب أريجه

وأشرق ما حولي وطاب أريجه

وما ثم الاضيف طيف وإخبار

وما ثم الاضيف طيف وإخبار

Everything around me shone, and his fragrance grew sweet,

And what was around me shone, and his scent was fragrant,

though nothing was there but a phantom guest and tidings.

And nothing remained but the guest's phantom and news.

فقلت الاحت طلعت الشمس ام بدا

فقلت الاحت طلعت الشمس ام بدا

لي البر ام للصبح قد حان إسفار

لي البر ام للصبح قد حان إسفار

So I said: has the sun's face shone, or has there appeared

So I said "Has the sun risen or has righteousness appeared to me,

to me the full moon—or has the time come for dawn to brighten?

Or is it dawn time for the morning to depart?

ام الحجرة الغراء مدت سنورها

ام الحجرة الغراء مدت سنورها

عليها لاحت بين ذلك أنوار

عليها لاحت بين ذلك أنوار

Or has the radiant Chamber drawn its curtains

Or has the pearl-white chamber extended its lanterns,

over itself, with lights gleaming amid them?

Upon which lights appeared amidst that?"

أم الروضة الفيحاء هب نسيمها

أم الروضة الفيحاء هب نسيمها

والافما في ساحة البيد عطار

والافما في ساحة البيد عطار

Or has the fragrant Rawdah's breeze begun to blow?

"Or has the breeze of the fragrant garden blown,

Otherwise, there is no perfumer in the desert's expanse.

And those aromas in the open plain of the land?"

وقلت بروحي أنت ياخير طارق

وقلت بروحي أنت ياخير طارق

نأت بي برغمي عن زيارته الدار

نأت بي برغمي عن زيارته الدار

And I said: I would ransom you with my soul, O best of night visitors;

And I said to myself "You, best of visitors,

my dwelling has kept me, against my will, far from visiting him.

Come to me against my will to visit the house."

بعدت ولم يبعد محب فؤاده

بعدت ولم يبعد محب فؤاده

لا حبابه من بعد فرقهم جار

لا حبابه من بعد فرقهم جار

I am far away, but no lover is distant whose heart

"You were far away, but your loving heart was not far

is his beloveds' neighbor after parting from them.

From its loved ones - no separation makes it remote."

بعيشك قل لي كيف سلع وحاجر

بعيشك قل لي كيف سلع وحاجر

وكيف عهود لي هناك واسرار

وكيف عهود لي هناك واسرار

By your life, tell me: how fare Salʿ and Hajir,

"Tell me of your living - how are prior homes and dwellings

and how fare the pledges and secrets I have there?

And covenants I have there, and secrets?"

مواطن عز تنبت العز تربتها

مواطن عز تنبت العز تربتها

وترفع فيها للمحبين اقدار

وترفع فيها للمحبين اقدار

Places of honor whose soil makes honor grow,

"Cities of glory where glory grows from its soil

where lovers' ranks are raised.

And raises the distinction of lovers there,"

تضيء لساريها مواطن ركبها

تضيء لساريها مواطن ركبها

فتر شدهم منها شموس واقمار

فتر شدهم منها شموس واقمار

Its caravan's stopping places shine for its night traveler,

"Which illuminate landing places for its seekers,

and suns and moons from them guide the travelers.

So suns and moons tie them to it."

تخيرها دارا بأمر الإله

تخيرها دارا بأمر الإله

رسول على كل الخلائق مختار

رسول على كل الخلائق مختار

He chose it as a home by God's command—

"God chose it as a house by divine order -

a Messenger chosen above all creatures.

A messenger selected over all creation."

تحط بها أو زار من جاء قاصدا

تحط بها أو زار من جاء قاصدا

إليها سواء جاروا الحي ام زاروا

إليها سواء جاروا الحي ام زاروا

There the burdens are laid down of whoever comes intent

"Alight at it, or visit it seeking,

on reaching it, whether they dwell beside its people or visit.

Equally whether you live next to it or visit it."

ولولا شذاها ما اهتدي الركب نحوها

ولولا شذاها ما اهتدي الركب نحوها

ولولا سنا من حل في أرضها حاروا

ولولا سنا من حل في أرضها حاروا

But for its fragrance, the caravan would not have found its way toward it;

"Without its allure none would be guided to it,

but for the radiance of him who dwells in its land, they would have lost their way.

Without its loftiness those who stayed in its land would stray."

ديار بها يحمي النزيل وكيف لا

ديار بها يحمي النزيل وكيف لا

وفيها لمن فيها توسد أنصار

وفيها لمن فيها توسد أنصار

Abodes where the guest is protected—and how could he not be,

"Lands where the guest is protected - how not! -

when there are helpers there for the one who rests within them?

And in it supporters cushion those within it."

نعمت بها تلك الليالي التي مضت

نعمت بها تلك الليالي التي مضت

وآناؤها من رقة الوصل اسحار

وآناؤها من رقة الوصل اسحار

I lived happily there through those nights now past,

"Blessed by it were those nights now gone,

whose hours, through union's tenderness, were all pre-dawns.

Whose times of gentle bonding were daybreaks."

أشاهد إني شئت تربة أحمد

أشاهد إني شئت تربة أحمد

كما تشتهي آمال لفي وتختار

كما تشتهي آمال لفي وتختار

I would behold Ahmad's grave whenever I wished,

"I behold, if I wish, the soil of Ahmed,

as my heart's hopes desired and chose.

However hopes roam and choose."

عسى نهلة أخرى بأكناف طيبة

عسى نهلة أخرى بأكناف طيبة

على ظمأ تطفي بها هذه النار

على ظمأ تطفي بها هذه النار

May there be another draught in Taybah's environs,

"Maybe another drink at the edge of blessed Taif

through which, in my thirst, this fire may be quenched.

Will quench this fire's thirst."

ومن عجب أن النوى عن قصورها

ومن عجب أن النوى عن قصورها

يطول وما للشوق عنهن إقضار

يطول وما للشوق عنهن إقضار

It is strange that separation from its palaces

"And how strange that resolve moves away from its palaces,

lasts so long, while longing for them never ceases.

Yet longing for them has no waning."

رعى الله أيام المصلى وجاده

رعى الله أيام المصلى وجاده

من المزن محلول الشآبيب مدرار

من المزن محلول الشآبيب مدرار

May God preserve the days at al-Musalla, and may it be watered

"May God protect the days of the Masjid and grace it

by rainclouds' unbound, abundant showers.

With continuousdownpour of youths, streaming."

وحيا الحيا ما بين سلع إلى قبا

وحيا الحيا ما بين سلع إلى قبا

حدائق اللاحداق فيهن أوطار

حدائق اللاحداق فيهن أوطار

May rain greet the stretch from Salʿ to Quba—

"And give life to the living, between Sule and Quba,

gardens where the eyes find their delights.

Gardens with no limits, having game to hunt."

منازل كانت للنبي منازها

منازل كانت للنبي منازها

وللوحي فيها والملائك تكرار

وللوحي فيها والملائك تكرار

Dwellings that were pleasant retreats for the Prophet,

"Dwellings that were resorts for the Prophet,

where revelation and angels came again and again.

And places of revelation, where angels frequented."

معاهد فيها للرسول وصحبه

معاهد فيها للرسول وصحبه

بقية آثار تروق وإيثار

بقية آثار تروق وإيثار

Places where, of the Messenger and his companions,

"Sanctuaries where the Messenger and his companions covenanted,

there remain delightful traces and selfless generosity.

Remnants that please and prefer."

كأني أرى فيها الرسول وحوله

كأني أرى فيها الرسول وحوله

بأرجائها تلك الصحابة حضار

بأرجائها تلك الصحابة حضار

It is as though I see the Messenger there, and around him,

"As if I see therein the Messenger, and around him

throughout its precincts, those Companions assembled.

Those companions, attending."

حنيني إليها قربة وتولهي

حنيني إليها قربة وتولهي

حضور وتذكاري المعالم إذكار

حضور وتذكاري المعالم إذكار

My yearning for them is devotion, and my rapture

"My yearning for it is a duty, and devotion to it

is presence; my remembrance of their landmarks is a reminder.

Is presence and my memories of its features are remembrances."

أجيره ذاك الحي لا تنكر والهوى

أجيره ذاك الحي لا تنكر والهوى

علينا فما فيه على الصب إنكار

علينا فما فيه على الصب إنكار

O neighbors of that quarter, do not reproach love

"I apologize for the resolve away from your plains,

in us, for the lovesick cannot be censured for it.

And what lover parted from love has excuses?"

هواكم به تهدي بشائر رشدها

هواكم به تهدي بشائر رشدها

كما يهتدي بالشمس والبدر أبصار

كما يهتدي بالشمس والبدر أبصار

Through love for you, glad tidings impart their guidance,

"I claim to be faithful, and that whenever

as eyes find their way by the sun and full moon.

I fail to return to you one day, I am betraying."

فلا تنكروا سبق الدموع لبينكم

فلا تنكروا سبق الدموع لبينكم

فكل مدي للدمع بالبعد مضمار

فكل مدي للدمع بالبعد مضمار

Do not reproach the tears that race forth at parting from you,

"Upon you is God's peace, while the morning breeze blows

for every stretch of separation is a racecourse for tears.

And sways aromatic branches of ban trees."

ومن عجب أن أشتكي البعد عنكم و

ومن عجب أن أشتكي البعد عنكم و

أسى ولمغنا كم بقلبي أسرار

أسى ولمغنا كم بقلبي أسرار

It is strange that I complain of distance from you and

"And how strange that I complain of distance from you,

grieve, while your dwelling holds secrets within my heart.

Of sadness - while with me in my heart are secrets."

فأثناه قلبي حرة ومدامعي

فأثناه قلبي حرة ومدامعي

عقيق فإني بعد ذا شطت الدار

عقيق فإني بعد ذا شطت الدار

So my heart's folds are a Harrah, and my tears

"So my heart has excused it as confused, and my tears

an Aqiq—how, after this, can home be distant?

As carnelian - for after this I have crossed lands,"

ألفق عذرا للنوى عن ربوعكم

ألفق عذرا للنوى عن ربوعكم

وما لمحب فارق الحب أعذار

وما لمحب فارق الحب أعذار

I contrive an excuse for separation from your abodes,

"I look for pardon for resolve away from your plains,

yet a lover who has left the beloved has no excuses.

And what lover parted from love has excuses?"

وأزعم أني ذو وفاء وأنني

وأزعم أني ذو وفاء وأنني

متى لم أعد يوماً إليكم لغدار

متى لم أعد يوماً إليكم لغدار

I claim that I am faithful, and that I

"I claim that I am faithful, and that if

am surely a traitor if I fail to return to you one day.

One day I do not return to you, I am betraying,"

عليكم سلام الله ماهبت الصبا

عليكم سلام الله ماهبت الصبا

وهزت فروع البان نكباء معطار

وهزت فروع البان نكباء معطار

God's peace be upon you as long as the east wind blows,

"To you - God's peace, while the morning blows

and a fragrant crosswind stirs the branches of the ban trees.

And sways aromatic branches of ban trees."

ولا كان هذا العهد آخر عهدكم

ولا كان هذا العهد آخر عهدكم

وأن حال أخطار هناك وخطار

وأن حال أخطار هناك وخطار

May this meeting not be my last with you,

"As if this were the last covenant with you,

even if dangers and hazards intervene there.

And that peril and dangers are there."

وإني وأن أبطأت عنكم وصدني

وإني وأن أبطأت عنكم وصدني

الأساود عنكم والأسود لصبار

الأساود عنكم والأسود لصبار

And though I have been slow to reach you, and have been barred

"And that even if I am late to you, and lions

from you by black serpents and lions, I am truly steadfast.

Prevent me from you - yet lions are patient."

فلا فوز إلا في المفاوز نحوكم

فلا فوز إلا في المفاوز نحوكم

ولا شوق إلا والردى دونكم جار

ولا شوق إلا والردى دونكم جار

So there is no triumph except in the deserts leading toward you,

"So there is no success but in plunging toward you,

and no longing unless death is a neighbor on the way to you.

And no longing except and perdition lies beyond you."