أَمِن آلِ نُعمٍ أَنتَ غادٍ فَمُبكِرُ

أَمِن آلِ نُعمٍ أَنتَ غادٍ فَمُبكِرُ

غَداةَ غَدٍ أَم رائِحٌ فَمُهَجِّرُ

غَداةَ غَدٍ أَم رائِحٌ فَمُهَجِّرُ

Are you leaving Nu'm's people, setting out early

From the people of ease are you departing so early

tomorrow morning, or departing later, leaving at noon?

Tomorrow morning or a traveler so you hasten

لِحاجَةِ نَفسٍ لَم تَقُل في جَوابِها

لِحاجَةِ نَفسٍ لَم تَقُل في جَوابِها

فَتُبلِغَ عُذراً وَالمَقالَةُ تُعذِرُ

فَتُبلِغَ عُذراً وَالمَقالَةُ تُعذِرُ

For a desire within you, to which you have not replied

For a soul's need, its answer you didn't state

so as to offer an excuse—for words can excuse.

So you'd make an excuse and the talk excuses

تَهيمُ إِلى نُعمٍ فَلا الشَملُ جامِعٌ

تَهيمُ إِلى نُعمٍ فَلا الشَملُ جامِعٌ

وَلا الحَبلُ مَوصولٌ وَلا القَلبُ مُقصِرُ

وَلا الحَبلُ مَوصولٌ وَلا القَلبُ مُقصِرُ

You wander in longing toward Nu'm, yet no reunion gathers you;

You rave for ease; neither has union gathered

no bond is joined, nor does your heart desist.

Nor is the rope connected, nor the heart neglectful

وَلا قُربُ نُعمٍ إِن دَنَت لكَ نافِعٌ

وَلا قُربُ نُعمٍ إِن دَنَت لكَ نافِعٌ

وَلا نَأيُها يُسلي وَلا أَنتَ تَصبِرُ

وَلا نَأيُها يُسلي وَلا أَنتَ تَصبِرُ

Nu'm's nearness, if she draws close, does not benefit you;

Neither is being near ease useful if it draws close to you

her distance does not console you, nor can you endure.

Nor does its remoteness console you or are you patient

وَأُخرى أَتَت مِن دونِ نُعمٍ وَمِثلُها

وَأُخرى أَتَت مِن دونِ نُعمٍ وَمِثلُها

نَهى ذا النُهى لَو تَرعَوي أَو تُفَكِّرُ

نَهى ذا النُهى لَو تَرعَوي أَو تُفَكِّرُ

Another obstacle has arisen between you and Nu'm; its like

And another came without ease and the like of it

would restrain a man of reason, if you would desist or reflect.

The prohibition if you heed or think

إِذا زُرتُ نُعماً لَم يَزَل ذو قَرابَةٍ

إِذا زُرتُ نُعماً لَم يَزَل ذو قَرابَةٍ

لَها كُلَّما لاقَيتُها يَتَنَمَّرُ

لَها كُلَّما لاقَيتُها يَتَنَمَّرُ

Whenever I visit Nu'm, a kinsman

When I visit ease he's not ceased to be a relative

of hers grows fierce whenever I meet her.

Whenever I meet him, he scowls

عَزيزٌ عَلَيهِ أَن أُلِمَّ بِبَيتِها

عَزيزٌ عَلَيهِ أَن أُلِمَّ بِبَيتِها

يُسِرُّ لِيَ الشَحناءَ وَالبُغضُ مُظهَرُ

يُسِرُّ لِيَ الشَحناءَ وَالبُغضُ مُظهَرُ

It grievously troubles him that I should visit her house;

Dear to him that I reside at her abode

he conceals his rancor toward me, yet his hatred is displayed.

He makes hostility pleasant to me and hatred prominent

أَلِكني إِلَيها بِالسَلامِ فَإِنَّهُ

أَلِكني إِلَيها بِالسَلامِ فَإِنَّهُ

يُشَهَّرُ إِلمامي بِها وَيُنَكَّرُ

يُشَهَّرُ إِلمامي بِها وَيُنَكَّرُ

Carry my greeting to her, for

Mention me to her in greeting, though he

my visits to her are made notorious and condemned.

Announces my frequency with her and denies

بِآيَةِ ما قالَت غَداةَ لَقيتُها

بِآيَةِ ما قالَت غَداةَ لَقيتُها

بِمَدفَعِ أَكنانٍ أَهَذا المُشَهَّرُ

بِمَدفَعِ أَكنانٍ أَهَذا المُشَهَّرُ

As witness, what she said the morning I met her

By the sign of what she said the morning I met her

at the outlet of Aknan: 'Is this the notorious one?

At the cusp of furrows, "Is this the frequenter?"

قِفي فَاِنظُري أَسماءُ هَل تَعرِفينَهُ

قِفي فَاِنظُري أَسماءُ هَل تَعرِفينَهُ

أَهَذا المُغيريُّ الَّذي كانَ يُذكَرُ

أَهَذا المُغيريُّ الَّذي كانَ يُذكَرُ

Stop and look, Asma': do you recognize him?

"Stand and look, Asma. Do you recognize him?

Is this al-Mughiri, the one people used to speak of?

Is this the Mughayri whom we mentioned?"

أَهَذا الَّذي أَطرَيتِ نَعتاً فَلَم أَكُن

أَهَذا الَّذي أَطرَيتِ نَعتاً فَلَم أَكُن

وَعَيشِكِ أَنساهُ إِلى يَومِ أُقبَرُ

وَعَيشِكِ أَنساهُ إِلى يَومِ أُقبَرُ

Is this the one you described so lavishly? I could never,

"Is this he whom you described and I was not

by your life, forget him until the day I am buried.'

By your life, I forgot him until I'm buried."

فَقالَت نَعَم لا شَكَّ غَيَّرَ لَونَهُ

فَقالَت نَعَم لا شَكَّ غَيَّرَ لَونَهُ

سُرى اللَيلِ يُحيِي نَصَّهُ وَالتَهَجُّرُ

سُرى اللَيلِ يُحيِي نَصَّهُ وَالتَهَجُّرُ

She said, 'Yes, no doubt. His complexion has been changed by

She said "Yes, no doubt. Travel has changed his color.

night travel at sustained full speed, and travel in the midday heat.

The nights' wakefulness rejuvenated his vigor and estrangement."

لَئِن كانَ إِيّاهُ لَقَد حالَ بَعدَنا

لَئِن كانَ إِيّاهُ لَقَد حالَ بَعدَنا

عَنِ العَهدِ وَالإِنسانُ قَد يَتَغَيَّرُ

عَنِ العَهدِ وَالإِنسانُ قَد يَتَغَيَّرُ

If it is indeed he, he has changed since we parted,

"If it's him, after us it's changed him

from his former state—and a person may indeed change.'

From the pact, and man can change."

رَأَت رَجُلاً أَمّا إِذا الشَمسُ عارَضَت

رَأَت رَجُلاً أَمّا إِذا الشَمسُ عارَضَت

فَيَضحى وَأَمّا بِالعَشيِّ فَيَخصَرُ

فَيَضحى وَأَمّا بِالعَشيِّ فَيَخصَرُ

She saw a man who, when the sun appeared before him,

She saw a man, but when the sun rises on him

was exposed to its heat, and in the evening grew cold;

He's radiant. And at night he's slender.

أَخا سَفَرٍ جَوّابَ أَرضٍ تَقاذَفَت

أَخا سَفَرٍ جَوّابَ أَرضٍ تَقاذَفَت

بِهِ فَلَواتٌ فَهوَ أَشعَثُ أَغبَرُ

بِهِ فَلَواتٌ فَهوَ أَشعَثُ أَغبَرُ

a brother to travel, a rover of lands, whom

The brother of travel, answering the land which tossed him,

deserts had tossed about—unkempt and dust-covered.

So exiles, he's disheveled, dusty.

قَليلاً عَلى ظَهرِ المَطِيَّةِ ظِلُّهُ

قَليلاً عَلى ظَهرِ المَطِيَّةِ ظِلُّهُ

سِوى ما نَفى عَنهُ الرِداءُ المُحَبَّرُ

سِوى ما نَفى عَنهُ الرِداءُ المُحَبَّرُ

He had little shade upon his riding camel's back,

Little, by his riding beast, is his shadow

save the protection his patterned mantle gave.

Except what his reddened cloak denied from him.

وَأَعجَبَها مِن عَيشِها ظِلُّ غُرفَةٍ

وَأَعجَبَها مِن عَيشِها ظِلُّ غُرفَةٍ

وَرَيّانُ مُلتَفُّ الحَدائِقِ أَخضَرُ

وَرَيّانُ مُلتَفُّ الحَدائِقِ أَخضَرُ

What she liked in her life was the shade of an upper room,

And I was astonished by her life, the shadow of a room

and lush green gardens, densely intertwined,

And sprouting greenery, winding gardens, green.

وَوالٍ كَفاها كُلَّ شَيءٍ يَهُمُّها

وَوالٍ كَفاها كُلَّ شَيءٍ يَهُمُّها

فَلَيسَت لِشَيءٍ آخِرَ اللَيلِ تَسهَرُ

فَلَيسَت لِشَيءٍ آخِرَ اللَيلِ تَسهَرُ

and a guardian who spared her every care,

And a satisfying guardian who spared her everything she cared for

so no concern kept her awake at night's end.

So for nothing else would she stay up nights.

وَلَيلَةَ ذي دَورانَ جَشَّمتِني السُرى

وَلَيلَةَ ذي دَورانَ جَشَّمتِني السُرى

وَقَد يَجشَمُ الهَولَ المُحِبُّ المُغَرِّرُ

وَقَد يَجشَمُ الهَولَ المُحِبُّ المُغَرِّرُ

On the night at Dhu Dawran, you made me endure night travel;

And the night of cycles, fright gripped me.

a lover who risks himself may indeed brave terror.

Fright can grip a lover, a deceiver.

فَبِتُّ رَقيباً لِلرِفاقِ عَلى شَفا

فَبِتُّ رَقيباً لِلرِفاقِ عَلى شَفا

أُحاذِرُ مِنهُم مَن يَطوفُ وَأَنظُرُ

أُحاذِرُ مِنهُم مَن يَطوفُ وَأَنظُرُ

I spent the night watching the companions from a brink,

So I stayed up watching over the comrades nearby

fearing anyone among them who might walk about, and looking

I'm wary of them, of whoever goes around, I watch

إِلَيهِم مَتى يَستَمكِنُ النَومُ مِنهُمُ

إِلَيهِم مَتى يَستَمكِنُ النَومُ مِنهُمُ

وَلى مَجلِسٌ لَولا اللُبانَةُ أَوعَرُ

وَلى مَجلِسٌ لَولا اللُبانَةُ أَوعَرُ

toward them to see when sleep would master them.

When sleep takes hold of them and the sitting disperses

My perch would have been forbidding, but for my longing.

Were it not for dim light, it would be impassable.

وَباتَت قَلوصي بِالعَراءِ وَرَحلُها

وَباتَت قَلوصي بِالعَراءِ وَرَحلُها

لِطارِقِ لَيلٍ أَو لِمَن جاءَ مُعوِرُ

لِطارِقِ لَيلٍ أَو لِمَن جاءَ مُعوِرُ

My young she-camel spent the night in the open, her saddle

And my belonings stayed in the wilderness while its luggage

exposed to any night visitor or passerby.

For a night visitor or whoever came, lost.

وَبِتُّ أُناجي النَفسَ أَينَ خِباؤُها

وَبِتُّ أُناجي النَفسَ أَينَ خِباؤُها

وَكَيفَ لِما آتي مِنَ الأَمرِ مَصدَرُ

وَكَيفَ لِما آتي مِنَ الأَمرِ مَصدَرُ

I spent the night asking myself in secret, 'Where is her tent?

And I stayed addressing my soul "Where does it hide

And what way out is there from the deed I am attempting?'

And how can I acquire it from the matter?"

فَدَلَّ عَلَيها القَلبُ رَيّا عَرَفتُها

فَدَلَّ عَلَيها القَلبُ رَيّا عَرَفتُها

لَها وَهَوى النَفسِ الَّذي كادَ يَظهَرُ

لَها وَهَوى النَفسِ الَّذي كادَ يَظهَرُ

My heart led me to her by a fragrance I recognized

So my heart guided me. I knew it.

as hers, and by my soul's passion, which nearly showed itself.

It and the soul's passion which almost appeared.

فَلَمّا فَقَدتُ الصَوتَ مِنهُم وَأُطفِئَت

فَلَمّا فَقَدتُ الصَوتَ مِنهُم وَأُطفِئَت

مَصابيحُ شُبَّت في العِشاءِ وَأَنوُرُ

مَصابيحُ شُبَّت في العِشاءِ وَأَنوُرُ

When I could no longer hear their voices, and there were put out

So when I lost their voices and their lamps

the lamps lit at dusk, and the fires,

Were extinguished, lit for dinner and bright.

وَغابَ قُمَيرٌ كُنتُ أَرجو غُيوبَهُ

وَغابَ قُمَيرٌ كُنتُ أَرجو غُيوبَهُ

وَرَوَّحَ رُعيانُ وَنَوَّمَ سُمَّرُ

وَرَوَّحَ رُعيانُ وَنَوَّمَ سُمَّرُ

and the little moon set, whose setting I had hoped for,

And the Pleiades I hoped for their disappearance vanished

and the herdsmen returned at evening, and the night-talkers fell asleep,

And the shepherd slept and the conversationalist.

وَخُفِّضَ عَنّي النَومُ أَقبَلتُ مِشيَةَ ال

وَخُفِّضَ عَنّي النَومُ أَقبَلتُ مِشيَةَ ال

حُبابِ وَرُكني خَشيَةَ الحَيِّ أَزوَرُ

حُبابِ وَرُكني خَشيَةَ الحَيِّ أَزوَرُ

and sleep was kept from me, I approached with the gait of the

And sleep lowered from me. I went confidently

snake, my body bent aside in fear of the camp.

In the beloved's walk while my focus is fear of the living, I visit.

فَحَيَّيتُ إِذ فاجَأتُها فَتَوَلَّهَت

فَحَيَّيتُ إِذ فاجَأتُها فَتَوَلَّهَت

وَكادَت بِمَخفوضِ التَحِيَّةِ تَجهَرُ

وَكادَت بِمَخفوضِ التَحِيَّةِ تَجهَرُ

I greeted her when I suddenly appeared; she grew distraught,

So when I surprised her, she turned away

and almost voiced her hushed greeting aloud.

And almost with lowered greeting she raised her voice.

وَقالَت وَعَضَّت بِالبَنانِ فَضَحتَني

وَقالَت وَعَضَّت بِالبَنانِ فَضَحتَني

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مَيسورُ أَمرِكَ أَعسَرُ

وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مَيسورُ أَمرِكَ أَعسَرُ

She said, biting her fingertips, 'You have disgraced me!

And she said, biting her lip, embarrassing me,

You are a man whose easiest business is difficult!

"And you are a man of ease. Is your matter difficult?"

أَرَيتَكَ إِذ هُنّا عَلَيكَ أَلَم تَخَف

أَرَيتَكَ إِذ هُنّا عَلَيكَ أَلَم تَخَف

وُقيتَ وَحَولي مِن عَدُوِّكَ حُضَّرُ

وُقيتَ وَحَولي مِن عَدُوِّكَ حُضَّرُ

Tell me: though we meant so little to you, did you not fear—

"Did you think when you're here it pained you?

may you be protected!—with your enemies gathered around me?

You feared and around me are your enemies present?"

فَوَ اللَهِ ما أَدري أَتَعجيلُ حاجَةٍ

فَوَ اللَهِ ما أَدري أَتَعجيلُ حاجَةٍ

سَرَت بِكَ أَم قَد نامَ مَن كُنتَ تَحذَرُ

سَرَت بِكَ أَم قَد نامَ مَن كُنتَ تَحذَرُ

By God, I do not know: did an urgent desire

"By God, I don't know! Do you hasten a need

carry you through the night, or have those you feared fallen asleep?'

That drove you? Or did who you feared sleep?"

فَقُلتُ لَها بَل قادَني الشَوقُ وَالهَوى

فَقُلتُ لَها بَل قادَني الشَوقُ وَالهَوى

إِلَيكِ وَما عَينٌ مِنَ الناسِ تَنظُرُ

إِلَيكِ وَما عَينٌ مِنَ الناسِ تَنظُرُ

I told her, 'Rather, longing and love led me

I said to her "Rather, passion and love

to you, and no human eye is watching.'

Drove me to you and no eye of people looks."

فَقالَت وَقَد لانَت وَأَفرَخَ رَوعُها

فَقالَت وَقَد لانَت وَأَفرَخَ رَوعُها

كَلاكَ بِحِفظٍ رَبُّكَ المُتَكَبِّرُ

كَلاكَ بِحِفظٍ رَبُّكَ المُتَكَبِّرُ

Then she said, softened now and with her fear dispelled,

She said, and her fright subsided and her alarm calmed

'May your Lord, the Supremely Great, guard you with His protection!

"Not so! May your Lord, the Great, protect you!"

فَأَنتَ أَبا الخَطّابِ غَيرُ مُدافَعٍ

فَأَنتَ أَبا الخَطّابِ غَيرُ مُدافَعٍ

عَلَيَّ أَميرٌ ما مَكُثتُ مُؤَمَّرُ

عَلَيَّ أَميرٌ ما مَكُثتُ مُؤَمَّرُ

You, Abu al-Khattab, without dispute,

"You are Abu Bakr, not defending me.

are ruler over me, invested with command as long as I remain.'

The commander, I did not stay plotting."

فَبِتُّ قَريرَ العَينِ أُعطيتُ حاجَتي

فَبِتُّ قَريرَ العَينِ أُعطيتُ حاجَتي

أُقَبِّلُ فاها في الخَلاءِ فَأُكثِرُ

أُقَبِّلُ فاها في الخَلاءِ فَأُكثِرُ

I spent the night contented, my desire granted,

So I stayed, sated, given my need.

kissing her mouth in seclusion, again and again.

I kiss her mouth privately so I repeat.

فَيا لَكَ مِن لَيلٍ تَقاصَرَ طولُهُ

فَيا لَكَ مِن لَيلٍ تَقاصَرَ طولُهُ

وَما كانَ لَيلى قَبلَ ذَلِكَ يَقصُرُ

وَما كانَ لَيلى قَبلَ ذَلِكَ يَقصُرُ

Oh, what a night, its length grown short!

Oh, what a night whose length was short

Never before had my night seemed short.

And Layla's night before that did not shorten.

وَيا لَكَ مِن مَلهىً هُناكَ وَمَجلِس

وَيا لَكَ مِن مَلهىً هُناكَ وَمَجلِس

لَنا لَم يُكَدِّرهُ عَلَينا مُكَدِّرُ

لَنا لَم يُكَدِّرهُ عَلَينا مُكَدِّرُ

Oh, what a place of delight there was, and what a meeting-place

Oh, what an amusement there while our sitting

for us, which no one disturbed or spoiled!

No spoiler troubled us.

يَمُجُّ ذَكِيَّ المِسكِ مِنها مُفَلَّجٌ

يَمُجُّ ذَكِيَّ المِسكِ مِنها مُفَلَّجٌ

رَقيقُ الحَواشي ذو غُروبٍ مُؤَشَّرُ

رَقيقُ الحَواشي ذو غُروبٍ مُؤَشَّرُ

Her mouth with spaced teeth breathed out pungent musk,

Musk diffuses from her, pierced,

delicate-lipped, with sharp, finely notched teeth.

Of delicate edges, setting suns adorned.

تَراهُ إِذا تَفتَرُّ عَنهُ كَأَنَّهُ

تَراهُ إِذا تَفتَرُّ عَنهُ كَأَنَّهُ

حَصى بَرَدٍ أَو أُقحُوانٌ مُنَوِّرُ

حَصى بَرَدٍ أَو أُقحُوانٌ مُنَوِّرُ

When her smile reveals it, you see it as though it were

You'd see it when it parts from her as if it's

hailstones or daisies in bloom.

Pebbles of hail or glowing pearls.

وَتَرنو بِعَينَيها إِلَيَّ كَما رَنا

وَتَرنو بِعَينَيها إِلَيَّ كَما رَنا

إِلى رَبرَبٍ وَسطَ الخَميلَةِ جُؤذَرُ

إِلى رَبرَبٍ وَسطَ الخَميلَةِ جُؤذَرُ

She gazes at me with both her eyes, as gazes

And she glanced at me as the white-eye gazelle glanced

a wild-cow calf toward a herd amid the thicket.

At an ostrich amidst the sand-ridge.

فَلَمّا تَقَضّى اللَيلُ إِلّا أَقَلَّهُ

فَلَمّا تَقَضّى اللَيلُ إِلّا أَقَلَّهُ

وَكادَت تَوالي نَجمِهِ تَتَغَوَّرُ

وَكادَت تَوالي نَجمِهِ تَتَغَوَّرُ

When all but the smallest part of the night had passed,

So when the night finished except its end

and the last of its stars were nearly setting,

And its stars nearly disappeared

أَشارَت بِأَنَّ الحَيَّ قَد حانَ مِنهُمُ

أَشارَت بِأَنَّ الحَيَّ قَد حانَ مِنهُمُ

هُبوبٌ وَلَكِن مَوعِدٌ مِنكَ عَزوَرُ

هُبوبٌ وَلَكِن مَوعِدٌ مِنكَ عَزوَرُ

she signaled that the people of the camp were due for

She gestured the living's disturbance neared them

awakening: 'But our rendezvous is at 'Azwar.'

A gale, but promise me you'll visit.

فَما راعَني إِلّا مُنادٍ تَرَحَّلوا

فَما راعَني إِلّا مُنادٍ تَرَحَّلوا

وَقَد لاحَ مَعروفٌ مِنَ الصُبحِ أَشقَرُ

وَقَد لاحَ مَعروفٌ مِنَ الصُبحِ أَشقَرُ

Nothing startled me but a caller shouting, 'Set out!'

So I didn't heed except a caller "They traveled!"

A clear, reddish-gold gleam of dawn had already appeared.

And daybreak whitened from the dawn.

فَلَمّا رَأَت مَن قَد تَنَبَّهَ مِنهُمُ

فَلَمّا رَأَت مَن قَد تَنَبَّهَ مِنهُمُ

وَأَيقاظَهُم قالَت أَشِر كَيفَ تَأمُرُ

وَأَيقاظَهُم قالَت أَشِر كَيفَ تَأمُرُ

When she saw those among them who had stirred,

So when she saw who woke of them

and those already awake, she said, 'Advise me: what do you command?'

And roused them, she said "Order! What do you command?"

فَقُلتُ أُباديهِم فَإِمّا أَفوتُهُم

فَقُلتُ أُباديهِم فَإِمّا أَفوتُهُم

وَإِمّا يَنالُ السَيفُ ثَأراً فَيَثأَرُ

وَإِمّا يَنالُ السَيفُ ثَأراً فَيَثأَرُ

I said, 'I will face them openly: either I escape them,

I said "I'll destroy them. Either I miss them

or the sword exacts vengeance and avenges me.'

Or the sword takes revenge so it avenges."

فَقالَت أَتَحقيقاً لِما قالَ كاشِحٌ

فَقالَت أَتَحقيقاً لِما قالَ كاشِحٌ

عَلَينا وَتَصديقاً لِما كانَ يُؤثَرُ

عَلَينا وَتَصديقاً لِما كانَ يُؤثَرُ

She said, 'Would you confirm what a spiteful enemy has said

She said "Truly, confirming what the slanderer said of us

against us, and prove true the tales that were passed around?

And verifying what was rumored?"

فَإِن كانَ ما لا بُدَّ مِنهُ فَغَيرُهُ

فَإِن كانَ ما لا بُدَّ مِنهُ فَغَيرُهُ

مِنَ الأَمرِ أَدنى لِلخَفاءِ وَأَستَرُ

مِنَ الأَمرِ أَدنى لِلخَفاءِ وَأَستَرُ

If what must happen cannot be avoided, another course

"If it's inevitable, then another

of action is more secret and better concealed.

Way is more hidden and veiled."

أَقُصُّ عَلى أُختَيَّ بِدءَ حَديثِنا

أَقُصُّ عَلى أُختَيَّ بِدءَ حَديثِنا

وَما لِيَ مِن أَن تَعلَما مُتَأَخَّرُ

وَما لِيَ مِن أَن تَعلَما مُتَأَخَّرُ

I will tell my two sisters how our story began;

"I'll tell my sister the beginning of our talk

I cannot delay letting them know.

And it's not for me they know, late."

لَعَلَّهُما أَن تَطلُبا لَكَ مَخرَجاً

لَعَلَّهُما أَن تَطلُبا لَكَ مَخرَجاً

وَأَن تَرحُبا صَدراً بِما كُنتُ أَحصُرُ

وَأَن تَرحُبا صَدراً بِما كُنتُ أَحصُرُ

Perhaps the two of them will find you a way out,

"Maybe they'll find an exit for you

and face with open hearts what has made me feel trapped.'

And welcome openly what I was concealing."

فَقامَت كَئيباً لَيسَ في وَجهِها دَمٌ

فَقامَت كَئيباً لَيسَ في وَجهِها دَمٌ

مِنَ الحُزنِ تُذري عَبرَةً تَتَحَدَّرُ

مِنَ الحُزنِ تُذري عَبرَةً تَتَحَدَّرُ

She rose sorrowful, her face drained of blood,

So she stood sadly, no blood in her face

shedding from grief a tear that rolled down.

From grief, shedding copious tears.

فَقامَت إِلَيها حُرَّتانِ عَلَيهِما

فَقامَت إِلَيها حُرَّتانِ عَلَيهِما

كِساءانِ مِن خَزٍّ دِمَقسٌ وَأَخضَرُ

كِساءانِ مِن خَزٍّ دِمَقسٌ وَأَخضَرُ

Two freeborn women rose and came to her, wearing

So two servant girls stood, wearing

two cloaks of silk-and-wool, one white and one green.

Green brocade, Damascene, and green.

فَقالَت لِأُختَيها أَعينا عَلى فَتىً

فَقالَت لِأُختَيها أَعينا عَلى فَتىً

أَتى زائِراً وَالأَمرُ لِلأَمرِ يُقدَرُ

أَتى زائِراً وَالأَمرُ لِلأَمرِ يُقدَرُ

She told her two sisters, 'Help a young man

And she told her sister "Help a lad

who came to visit; a plan is devised to suit the circumstance.'

Who came visiting, and the matter is up to the commander."

فَأَقبَلَتا فَاِرتاعَتا ثُمَّ قالَتا

فَأَقبَلَتا فَاِرتاعَتا ثُمَّ قالَتا

أَقِلّي عَلَيكِ اللَومَ فَالخَطبُ أَيسَرُ

أَقِلّي عَلَيكِ اللَومَ فَالخَطبُ أَيسَرُ

They approached, took fright, then said,

So they came, startled, then said

'Lessen your self-reproach; the matter is easier.'

"Lessen blame on you, the matter is easier."

فَقالَت لَها الصُغرى سَأُعطيهِ مِطرَفي

فَقالَت لَها الصُغرى سَأُعطيهِ مِطرَفي

وَدَرعي وَهَذا البُردُ إِن كانَ يَحذَرِ

وَدَرعي وَهَذا البُردُ إِن كانَ يَحذَرِ

The younger said to her, 'I will give him my bordered cloak,

The younger said "I'll give him my veil

my shift, and this striped mantle, if he is afraid.

And my coat of mail and this fur coat, if he fears."

يَقومُ فَيَمشي بَينَنا مُتَنَكِّراً

يَقومُ فَيَمشي بَينَنا مُتَنَكِّراً

فَلا سِرُّنا يَفشو وَلا هُوَ يَظهَرُ

فَلا سِرُّنا يَفشو وَلا هُوَ يَظهَرُ

He can rise and walk between us in disguise,

"He'll stand and walk between us in disguise

so our secret will not spread, nor will he be exposed.'

So our secret won't spread and he won't appear."

فَكانَ مِجَنّي دونَ مَن كُنتُ أَتَّقي

فَكانَ مِجَنّي دونَ مَن كُنتُ أَتَّقي

ثَلاثُ شُخوصٍ كاعِبانِ وَمُعصِرُ

ثَلاثُ شُخوصٍ كاعِبانِ وَمُعصِرُ

Thus my shield against those I feared was

So my protection from those I feared

three figures: two round-breasted maidens and one nearing maturity.

Were three figures: twisting, pressing, squeezing.

فَلَمّا أَجَزنا ساحَةَ الحَيِّ قُلنَ لي

فَلَمّا أَجَزنا ساحَةَ الحَيِّ قُلنَ لي

أَلَم تَتَّقِ الأَعداءَ وَاللَيلُ مُقمِرُ

أَلَم تَتَّقِ الأَعداءَ وَاللَيلُ مُقمِرُ

When we crossed the camp's open ground, they said to me,

So when we crossed the quarter, they told me

'Did you not fear your enemies, when the night was moonlit?'

"Do you not fear enemies while the night is bright?"

وَقُلنَ أَهَذا دَأبُكَ الدَهرَ سادِراً

وَقُلنَ أَهَذا دَأبُكَ الدَهرَ سادِراً

أَما تَستَحي أَو تَرعَوي أَو تُفَكِّرُ

أَما تَستَحي أَو تَرعَوي أَو تُفَكِّرُ

They said, 'Is this your lifelong habit, wandering heedlessly?

And they said "Is this your way, roaming nights,

Have you no shame? Will you not desist or think?

Do you not feel shame, reconsider or reflect?"

إِذا جِئتِ فَاِمنَح طَرفَ عَينَيكَ غَيرَنا

إِذا جِئتِ فَاِمنَح طَرفَ عَينَيكَ غَيرَنا

لِكَي يَحسِبوا أَنَّ الهَوى حَيثُ تَنظُرُ

لِكَي يَحسِبوا أَنَّ الهَوى حَيثُ تَنظُرُ

When you come, turn your gaze toward someone other than us,

"When you come, divert your eye from us

so they think your love lies where you look.'

So they think passion is where you look."

فَآخِرُ عَهدٍ لي بِها حينَ أَعرَضَت

فَآخِرُ عَهدٍ لي بِها حينَ أَعرَضَت

وَلاحَ لَها خَدُّ نَقِيٌّ وَمَحجَرُ

وَلاحَ لَها خَدُّ نَقِيٌّ وَمَحجَرُ

My last sight of her was when she turned aside,

So the last time with her was when she turned away

and her unblemished cheek and the hollow of her eye appeared.

And her cheek appeared, pure and reddened.

سِوى أَنَّني قَد قُلتُ يا نُعمُ قَولَةً

سِوى أَنَّني قَد قُلتُ يا نُعمُ قَولَةً

لَها وَالعِتاقُ الأَرحَبيّاتُ تُزجَرُ

لَها وَالعِتاقُ الأَرحَبيّاتُ تُزجَرُ

Except that I had spoken a word to her: 'O Nu'm,'

Except that I said "O Ease!" addressing her

while the noble Arhabi camels were being driven on:

While the slave-girls scold and deter.

هَنيئاً لِأَهلِ العامِرِيَّةِ نَشرُها ال

هَنيئاً لِأَهلِ العامِرِيَّةِ نَشرُها ال

لَذيذُ وَرَيّاها الَّذي أَتَذَكَّرُ

لَذيذُ وَرَيّاها الَّذي أَتَذَكَّرُ

'Blessed be al-'Amiriyya's family in her fragrance,

Happy are the people of Al-Amariyya, its place

so sweet, and in that scent of hers which I remember!'

Is delightful and the meadow I remember.

وَقُمتُ إِلى عَنسٍ تَخَوَّنَ نَيَّها

وَقُمتُ إِلى عَنسٍ تَخَوَّنَ نَيَّها

سُرى اللَيلِ حَتّى لَحمُها مُتَحَسِّرُ

سُرى اللَيلِ حَتّى لَحمُها مُتَحَسِّرُ

I went to a sturdy she-camel whose fat had been eroded by

And I stood to a she-camel who betrayed her intent

night travel, until her flesh was wasted,

The nights' wakefulness until her flesh peeled.

وَحَبسي عَلى الحاجاتِ حَتّى كَأَنَّها

وَحَبسي عَلى الحاجاتِ حَتّى كَأَنَّها

بَقِيَّةُ لَوحٍ أَو شِجارٌ مُؤَسَّرُ

بَقِيَّةُ لَوحٍ أَو شِجارٌ مُؤَسَّرُ

and by my holding her back for my needs, until she seemed

And my denial of wants until they were

a remnant of a plank, or a lashed litter-frame.

Like a plank's remainder or trimmed trees.

وَماءٍ بِمَوماءٍ قَليلٍ أَنيسُهُ

وَماءٍ بِمَوماءٍ قَليلٍ أَنيسُهُ

بَسابِسَ لَم يَحدُث بِهِ الصَيفَ مَحضَرُ

بَسابِسَ لَم يَحدُث بِهِ الصَيفَ مَحضَرُ

And a waterhole in a wilderness, scarcely frequented,

And from water at Ma'ma, little comforting it

amid empty plains, with no summer encampment established there,

Tadpoles never renewed it in summer.

بِهِ مُبتَنىً لِلعَنكَبوتِ كَأَنَّهُ

بِهِ مُبتَنىً لِلعَنكَبوتِ كَأَنَّهُ

عَلى طَرَفِ الأَرجاءِ خامٌ مُنَشَّرُ

عَلى طَرَفِ الأَرجاءِ خامٌ مُنَشَّرُ

held a spider's dwelling, which seemed

In it an abode for spiders as if it's

like unbleached cloth spread over the edges.

On the water-pit's edge, feeble, deployed.

وَرِدتُ وَما أَدري أَما بَعدَ مَورِدي

وَرِدتُ وَما أَدري أَما بَعدَ مَورِدي

مِنَ اللَيلِ أَم ما قَد مَضى مِنهُ أَكثَرُ

مِنَ اللَيلِ أَم ما قَد مَضى مِنهُ أَكثَرُ

I came to drink, not knowing whether what remained afterward

So I rode while clueless, after my return

of the night, or what had passed, was greater.

From the night, was it most of it passed or more?

فَقُمتُ إِلى مِغلاةِ أَرضٍ كَأَنَّها

فَقُمتُ إِلى مِغلاةِ أَرضٍ كَأَنَّها

إِذا اِلتَفَتَت مَجنونَةٌ حينَ تَنظُرُ

إِذا اِلتَفَتَت مَجنونَةٌ حينَ تَنظُرُ

Then I went to the land-devouring she-camel, as though she were,

I stood to the bending of land as if it's

when she turned to look, a maddened creature.

A madwoman when she looks.

تُنازِعُني حِرصاً عَلى الماءِ رَأسَها

تُنازِعُني حِرصاً عَلى الماءِ رَأسَها

وَمِن دونِ ما تَهوى قَليبٌ مُعَوَّرُ

وَمِن دونِ ما تَهوى قَليبٌ مُعَوَّرُ

In her eagerness for water, she wrestled her head from me,

She competes with me for water. Her head

while an unsafe well lay between her and what she craved.

And without what she desires, her heart twisted.

مُحاوِلَةً لِلماءِ لَولا زِمامُها

مُحاوِلَةً لِلماءِ لَولا زِمامُها

وَجَذبي لَها كادَت مِراراً تَكَسَّرُ

وَجَذبي لَها كادَت مِراراً تَكَسَّرُ

She strained toward the water; without her halter

Trying for the water, if not for her bridle

and my pulling her back, she would often have broken her bones.

And my pulling her, she almost broke.

فَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الضَرَّ مِنها وَأَنَّني

فَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الضَرَّ مِنها وَأَنَّني

بِبَلدَةِ أَرضٍ لَيسَ فيها مُعَصَّرُ

بِبَلدَةِ أَرضٍ لَيسَ فيها مُعَصَّرُ

When I saw the trouble with her, and that I was

So when I saw the harm in her and that

in a tract of land with no refuge,

I'm in a land with no presser in it,

قَصَرتُ لَها مِن جانِبِ الحَوضِ مُنشَأً

قَصَرتُ لَها مِن جانِبِ الحَوضِ مُنشَأً

جَديداً كَقابِ الشِبرِ أَو هُوَ أَصغَرُ

جَديداً كَقابِ الشِبرِ أَو هُوَ أَصغَرُ

I bounded off for her, at the trough's side, a basin,

I shortened for her from the basin's side a

newly made, a handspan across, or even smaller.

New canal like the span or less.

إِذا شَرَعَت فيهِ فَلَيسَ لِمُلتَقى

إِذا شَرَعَت فيهِ فَلَيسَ لِمُلتَقى

مَشافِرِها مِنهُ قِدى الكَفِّ مُسأَرُ

مَشافِرِها مِنهُ قِدى الكَفِّ مُسأَرُ

When she put her muzzle in it, there was not, at

When she wades in it, the extent of

the meeting of her lips, even a palm's breadth left over.

Her hooves' meeting has no concealed cubit.

وَلا دَلوَ إِلّا القَعبُ كانَ رِشاءَهُ

وَلا دَلوَ إِلّا القَعبُ كانَ رِشاءَهُ

إِلى الماءِ نِسعٌ وَالأَديمُ المُضَفَّرُ

إِلى الماءِ نِسعٌ وَالأَديمُ المُضَفَّرُ

There was no bucket, only the wooden bowl, whose rope

And no bucket except the waterskin whose

down to the water was a girth-strap and braided leather.

Drawing to the water is ample and the leather bag adorned.

فَسافَت وَما عافَت وَما رَدَّ شُربَها

فَسافَت وَما عافَت وَما رَدَّ شُربَها

عَنِ الرَيِّ مَطروقٌ مِنَ الماءِ أَكدَرُ

عَنِ الرَيِّ مَطروقٌ مِنَ الماءِ أَكدَرُ

She sniffed it and did not refuse; her drinking was not checked

So she traveled while she did not quench and her drinking

short of satiety by the beast-fouled, murky water.

Did not prevent her from the irrigation - troubled from the water, turbid.