Sol 6.1

  1. طالَ لَيلي وَتَعَنّاني الطَرَب

    وَاِعتَراني طولُ هَمٍّ وَنَصَب

    My night grew long, and yearning tormented me;

    and prolonged worry and weariness overtook me.

  2. أَرسَلَت أَسماءُ في مَعتَبَةٍ

    عَتَبَتها وَهيَ أَهوى مَن عَتَب

    Asma sent word in reproach,

    her rebuke—she, the dearest of those who chide.

  3. فَأَجابَت رِقبَتي فَاِبتَسَمَت

    عَن شَنيبِ اللَونِ صافٍ كَالثَغَب

    She answered my watchful waiting, then smiled,

    revealing cool, white teeth, clear as a rock pool.

  4. أَن أَتى مِنها رَسولٌ مَوهِناً

    وَجَدَ الحَيَّ نِياماً فَاِنقَلَب

    For a messenger from her had come late at night;

    he found the camp asleep and turned back.

  5. ضَرَبَ البابَ فَلَم يَشعُر بِهِ

    أَحَدٌ يَفتَحُ عَنهُ إِذ ضَرَب

    He knocked at the door, but went unnoticed

    by anyone who might open it for him when he knocked.

  6. فَأَتاها بِحَديثٍ غاظَها

    شَبَّهَ القَولَ عَلَيها وَكَذَب

    So he brought her a tale that angered her;

    he distorted his account for her and lied.

  7. قالَ أَيقاظٌ وَلَكِن حاجَةٌ

    عَرَضَت تُكتَمُ عَنّا فَاِحتَجَب

    He said, 'They were awake, but some business

    had arisen, concealed from us, so he shut himself away.

  8. وَلَعَمداً رَدَّني فَاِجتَهَدَت

    بِيَمينٍ حَلفَةً عِندَ الغَضَب

    And he turned me away deliberately!' Then she swore vehemently,

    a solemn oath in the heat of anger:

  9. أُشهِدُ الرَحمَنَ لا يَجمَعُنا

    سَقفُ بَيتٍ رَجَباً حَتّى رَجَب

    'I call the All-Merciful to witness: we shall not share

    a house's roof, from Rajab to Rajab.'

  10. قُلتُ حِلّاً فَاِقبَلي مَعذِرَتي

    ما كَذا يَجزي مُحِبٌّ مَن أَحَب

    I said, 'Relent, and accept my excuse;

    this is not how a lover repays the one they love.

  11. إِنَّ كَفّي لَكِ رَهنٌ بِالرِضا

    فَاِقبَلي يا هِندُ قالَت قَد وَجَب

    Indeed, my hand is your pledge of goodwill;

    so accept, Hind.' She said, 'It is now binding.'

  12. وَأَتَتها طَبَّةٌ مُحتالَةٌ

    تَمزُجُ الجِدَّ مِراراً بِاللَعِب

    And a shrewd, resourceful woman came to her,

    repeatedly mixing earnestness with play,

  13. تَرفَعُ الصَوتَ إِذا لانَت لَها

    وَتُراخي عِندَ سَوراتِ الغَضَب

    raising her voice whenever she softened toward her,

    and easing off when anger surged.

  14. وَهيَ إِذ ذاكَ عَلَيها مِئزَرٌ

    وَلَها بَيتُ جَوارٌ مِن لُعَب

    At that time she wore a waist-wrapper,

    and she had a household of girl-dolls.

  15. لَم تَزَل تَصرِفُها عَن رَأيِها

    وَتَأَتّاها بِرِفقٍ وَأَدَب

    She kept turning her from her resolve,

    and coaxing her with gentleness and courtesy.