تقول وقد سقطت على حماها

تقول وقد سقطت على حماها

سقوطاً زادني شرفاً وجاها

سقوطاً زادني شرفاً وجاها

She says, after I have alighted within her sanctuary,

You say, as you fall upon her cheek

an alighting that added to my honor and standing:

A fall that brings me more honor and esteem

أضيفٌ قلتُ ضيفٌ مستهامٌ

أضيفٌ قلتُ ضيفٌ مستهامٌ

يريد العامرية لا سواها

يريد العامرية لا سواها

'A guest?' I said, 'A love-stricken guest

I said, a guest, enthralled

who desires al-ʿĀmiriyyah, and her alone.'

Seeking only Al-Aamiriyya and none other

فأسفر وجهها بعد انقباضٍ

فأسفر وجهها بعد انقباضٍ

وقالت وهي تبسم في خباها

وقالت وهي تبسم في خباها

Then her face brightened after its reserve,

So her face brightened after frown

and she said, smiling within her tent:

And she said, smiling in her coyness

بكاس الراح تقنع قلت حاشا

بكاس الراح تقنع قلت حاشا

أريد الكاس فارغةً حشاها

أريد الكاس فارغةً حشاها

'Will a cup of wine content you?' I said, 'By no means!

With a cup of comfort, you're satisfied, never!

I want the cup with its belly empty.'

I want an empty cup to fill it up

فكاد يصدها عني اقتراحي

فكاد يصدها عني اقتراحي

ويحرمني الورودَ على لماها

ويحرمني الورودَ على لماها

My proposal almost turned her away from me

So my request nearly turned her from me

and deprived me of coming to drink at her dusky lips.

And deprived me of the roses in her reach

ولكن قابلت جهلي بحلمٍ

ولكن قابلت جهلي بحلمٍ

ينوِّل كل جارحةٍ مناها

ينوِّل كل جارحةٍ مناها

But she met my rashness with forbearance

But I met my ignorance with patience

that grants every limb its wish.

That soothes each hurting limb

ورقَّ حديثنا ودنوت منها

ورقَّ حديثنا ودنوت منها

وقد مدت لتدفئتي كساها

وقد مدت لتدفئتي كساها

Our talk grew tender, and I drew close to her,

Our talk grew tender, and I drew near her

while she spread her cloak to warm me.

Extending her garment to warm me

فبت معانقاً منها غزالاً

فبت معانقاً منها غزالاً

يبرِّد باللمى مُهَجاً كواها

يبرِّد باللمى مُهَجاً كواها

So I spent the night embracing her, a gazelle

I remained embracing a gazelle in her

that cools with dusky lips the hearts it scorched.

That cools with touch an inflamed love

أشاهد من محاسنها رياضاً

أشاهد من محاسنها رياضاً

تفرِّح كل محزونٍ رآها

تفرِّح كل محزونٍ رآها

In her beauties I behold gardens

I behold in her charms, gardens

that gladden every sorrowful person who sees them,

That delight every melancholy soul

كأن عبيرها أنفاس شكري

كأن عبيرها أنفاس شكري

له ولكل جائزةٍ حباها

له ولكل جائزةٍ حباها

as though their fragrance were the breath of my gratitude

As if her fragrance were Shukri's breaths

to him, and for every reward he bestowed:

Thanking her and each gift she's endowed

فتى لسماحه نفسٌ نفيسٌ

فتى لسماحه نفسٌ نفيسٌ

ينفس عن حشى العاني عناها

ينفس عن حشى العاني عناها

a youth whose generosity has a precious breath

A generous soul, so fine and noble

that relieves the captive's heart of its anguish.

That relieves the grieving their laments

وآراءٍ حسانٍ لو جلاها

وآراءٍ حسانٍ لو جلاها

على البيضاء ما حسدت سواها

على البيضاء ما حسدت سواها

And fine counsels—were he to set them forth

And beautiful visions - if revealed

upon the white page, it would envy no other.

None would envy them but her, I avow

بثانية المراتب حلَّ لكن

بثانية المراتب حلَّ لكن

يد الأولى له ألقت بُرَاها

يد الأولى له ألقت بُرَاها

He holds the second rank, yet

With second place, she's content, though

the hand of the first has cast its bracelets to him.

The first's hand did cast away her veil

ولو تعطى على قدر المزايا ال

ولو تعطى على قدر المزايا ال

مراتبُ صار للظرفاء شاها

مراتبُ صار للظرفاء شاها

And if, according to merit, one bestowed the

And if given her due merits, no station

ranks, he would become shah of the men of wit.

Would be left for others, she'd be queen

تهنَّ ابنَ الكرام بعيد فطر

تهنَّ ابنَ الكرام بعيد فطر

بنورك لا بفطرته تباهى

بنورك لا بفطرته تباهى

Rejoice, son of the noble, in Eid al-Fitr;

Rejoice my lady, not for Eid's dawn

it glories in your light, not in its own nature.

But for your light that makes this day shine

يود هلاله لو صار سيفاً

يود هلاله لو صار سيفاً

تشق لك الشآم به الشياها

تشق لك الشآم به الشياها

Its crescent wishes it could become a sword

The crescent wishes it were a sword

with which al-Shām would cleave the sheep for you.

To cleave through Damascus for your delight

فقد باهت بك الأعيادَ نفسٌ

فقد باهت بك الأعيادَ نفسٌ

نَهاها عن سوى التقوى نُهاها

نَهاها عن سوى التقوى نُهاها

For a soul has vied with the festivals in boasting of you,

For through you, souls care not for Eid

its reason keeping it from all but piety.

Forbidden from all but piety's way

بقيت لنا وللأعياد عيداً

بقيت لنا وللأعياد عيداً

يبلِّغ كلَّ نفسٍ مشتهاها

يبلِّغ كلَّ نفسٍ مشتهاها

May you remain a festival for us and for the festivals,

You remain our Eid, and the feast's

bringing every soul to what it desires.

Taking each soul to what it desires