أَلا يا صَبا نَجدٍ لَقَد هِجتُ مِن نَجدِ

أَلا يا صَبا نَجدٍ لَقَد هِجتُ مِن نَجدِ

فَهَيَّجَ لي مَسراكَ وَجداً عَلى وَجدِ

فَهَيَّجَ لي مَسراكَ وَجداً عَلى وَجدِ

Ah, east wind of Najd, I have indeed been stirred by Najd.

Alas, O gentle breeze of Najd, I am inflamed with love from Najd,

So your passage by night stirred longing upon longing in me.

So you have stirred in me an anguished love-longing.

أَإِن هَتَفَت وَرقاءُ في رَونَقِ الضُحى

أَإِن هَتَفَت وَرقاءُ في رَونَقِ الضُحى

عَلى فَنَنٍ غَضِّ النَباتِ مِنَ الرَندِ

عَلى فَنَنٍ غَضِّ النَباتِ مِنَ الرَندِ

Is it because a gray dove called in the radiance of midmorning,

Will the delicate leaves in the freshness of morning

upon a fresh-growing branch of laurel,

Sigh over tender shoots in the dewy glade?

بَكَيتُ كَما يَبكي الحَزينُ صَبابَةً

بَكَيتُ كَما يَبكي الحَزينُ صَبابَةً

وَذُبتُ مِنَ الحُزنِ المُبَرِّحِ وَالجَهدِ

وَذُبتُ مِنَ الحُزنِ المُبَرِّحِ وَالجَهدِ

that I wept as the sorrowful weep in yearning,

I wept as the lovelorn weep in their solitude,

and melted away from tormenting grief and distress?

Wasting away in distracting grief and toil.

أَلا هَل مِنَ البَينِ المُفَرِّقِ مِن بُدٍّ

أَلا هَل مِنَ البَينِ المُفَرِّقِ مِن بُدٍّ

وَهَل لِلَيالٍ قَد تَسَلَّفنَ مِن رَدِّ

وَهَل لِلَيالٍ قَد تَسَلَّفنَ مِن رَدِّ

Ah, is there any escape from parting that tears us apart?

Alas, is there any remedy for the severing absence,

And can nights already gone ever be brought back?

Or any requital for nights that have slipped away?

وَهَل مِثلُ أَيّامي بِنَعفِ سُوَيقَةٍ

وَهَل مِثلُ أَيّامي بِنَعفِ سُوَيقَةٍ

رَواجِعُ أَيّامٍ كَما كُنَّ بِالسَعدِ

رَواجِعُ أَيّامٍ كَما كُنَّ بِالسَعدِ

And will days like mine on the slope of Suwayqah

Are my days like the frail stem of lote-tree,

return—days as they were at al-Saʿd?

Fleeting days, though once full of joy?

وَهَل أَخَوايَ اليَومَ إِن قُلتَ عَرِّجا

وَهَل أَخَوايَ اليَومَ إِن قُلتَ عَرِّجا

عَلى الأَثلِ مِن وِدّانَ وَالمَشرَبِ البَردِ

عَلى الأَثلِ مِن وِدّانَ وَالمَشرَبِ البَردِ

And will my two brothers today, if you say, 'Turn aside

If I say today, "Stop by the encampment and the cool drink,"

to Widdan's tamarisks and the cool watering place,'

Will my brothers stay there to fulfill my wish,

مُقيمانِ حَتّى يَقضِيا لي لُبانَةً

مُقيمانِ حَتّى يَقضِيا لي لُبانَةً

فَيَستَوجِبا أَجري وَيَستَكمِلا حَمدي

فَيَستَوجِبا أَجري وَيَستَكمِلا حَمدي

stay until they fulfill a need for me,

And thus earn my reward and complete my praise?

and so earn my reward and win my fullest praise?

If not, then go in peace. You are not my guides.

وَإِلّا فَروحا وَالسَلامُ عَلَيكُما

وَإِلّا فَروحا وَالسَلامُ عَلَيكُما

فَما لَكُما غِيِّي وَما لَكُما رُشدي

فَما لَكُما غِيِّي وَما لَكُما رُشدي

Otherwise, go, and peace be upon you both:

I have no rope today that I can tug

my folly is not yours, nor is my right judgment yours.

To loosen it or pull it taut.

وَما بِيَدي اليَومَ حَبلي الَّذي

وَما بِيَدي اليَومَ حَبلي الَّذي

أُنازِعُ مِن إِرخائِهِ لا وَلا شَدِّ

أُنازِعُ مِن إِرخائِهِ لا وَلا شَدِّ

Nor is my cord today in my own hand,

Rather, I have only the hand of Umm 'Amr. Would that

for me to tug at, slacken—no—or tighten;

When she takes a pledge, she repays it with good faith!

وَلَكِن بِكَفّي أُمَّ عَمروٍ فَلَيتَها

وَلَكِن بِكَفّي أُمَّ عَمروٍ فَلَيتَها

إِذا وَلِيَت رَهناً تِلي الرَهنَ بِالقَصدِ

إِذا وَلِيَت رَهناً تِلي الرَهنَ بِالقَصدِ

but in Umm ʿAmr's two hands; would that she,

Would that I knew what fate of long exile

when entrusted with a pledge, would tend it with moderation.

Brings me distress after hardship and distance -

وَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما الَّذي تَحدِثنَ لي

وَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما الَّذي تَحدِثنَ لي

نَوى غُربَةٍ بَعدَ المَشَقَّةِ وَالبُعدِ

نَوى غُربَةٍ بَعدَ المَشَقَّةِ وَالبُعدِ

And would that I knew what they will bring me—

The fate that approaches Umm 'Amr, while afterwards

the partings of exile, after hardship and distance,

My censurers enjoy her company when I am gone.

نَوى أُمِّ عَمروٍ حَيثُ تَقتَرِبُ النَوى

نَوى أُمِّ عَمروٍ حَيثُ تَقتَرِبُ النَوى

بِها ثُمَّ يَخلو الكاشِحونَ بِها بَعدي

بِها ثُمَّ يَخلو الكاشِحونَ بِها بَعدي

parting from Umm ʿAmr, wherever separation brings her near,

Will you make me suffer at the hands of the foe

and then the spiteful are alone with her after I am gone.

To spite me, or will you keep our love alive?

أَتَصرُمُني عِندَ الَّذينَ هُمُ العِدا

أَتَصرُمُني عِندَ الَّذينَ هُمُ العِدا

لِتُشمِتَهُم بي أَم تَدومُ عَلى الوِدِ

لِتُشمِتَهُم بي أَم تَدومُ عَلى الوِدِ

Will she cut me off among those who are my enemies,

I swear by God, she will never harm me;

to let them gloat over me, or remain constant in affection?

The shy maid fears none in my presence.

وَظَنّي بِها وَاللَهِ أَن لَن يَضيرَني

وَظَنّي بِها وَاللَهِ أَن لَن يَضيرَني

وُشاةٌ لَدَيها لا يَضيرونَها عِندي

وُشاةٌ لَدَيها لا يَضيرونَها عِندي

And, by God, my belief in her is that I shall not be harmed

They claimed that a lover, when near his beloved,

by slanderers in her eyes, as they do not harm her in mine.

Becomes weary, and distance cures longing.

وَقَد زَعَموا أَنَّ المُحِبَّ إِذا دَنا

وَقَد زَعَموا أَنَّ المُحِبَّ إِذا دَنا

يُمِلُّ وَأَنَّ النَأيَ يُشفي مِنَ الوَجدِ

يُمِلُّ وَأَنَّ النَأيَ يُشفي مِنَ الوَجدِ

They have claimed that a lover, when he draws near,

With all cures we tried, they did not heal our state,

grows tiresome, and that distance cures longing.

For nearness of the abode is better than distance.

بِكُلٍّ تَداوَينا فَلَم يُشفَ ما بِنا

بِكُلٍّ تَداوَينا فَلَم يُشفَ ما بِنا

عَلى أَنَّ قُربَ الدارِ خَيرٌ مِنَ البُعدِ

عَلى أَنَّ قُربَ الدارِ خَيرٌ مِنَ البُعدِ

We tried each as a cure, but what ails us was not healed,

My passion in this valley, the valley of Tihāmah,

though a dwelling close by is better than distance.

Is not the same as when we dwelled on the plateau of Najd.

هَوايَ بِهَذا الغَورِ غَورِ تَهامَةٍ

هَوايَ بِهَذا الغَورِ غَورِ تَهامَةٍ

وَلَيسَ بِهَذا الجَلسِ مِن مُستَوى نَجدِ

وَلَيسَ بِهَذا الجَلسِ مِن مُستَوى نَجدِ

My love is in this lowland, the lowland of Tihamah,

By God, Lord of the House, you will never find me

not in this upland of Najd's level expanse.

Intending to cut your bond deliberately.

فَوَاللَهِ رَبِّ البَيتِ لا تَجِدِينَني

فَوَاللَهِ رَبِّ البَيتِ لا تَجِدِينَني

تَطَلَّبتُ قَطعَ الحَبلِ مِنكِ عَلى عَمدِ

تَطَلَّبتُ قَطعَ الحَبلِ مِنكِ عَلى عَمدِ

By God, Lord of the House, you will not find me

Nor will I seek anything that would break

having deliberately sought to sever the cord binding me to you.

What lies between us until I am laid in my grave.

وَلا أَشتَري أَمراً يَكونُ قَطيعَةٌ

وَلا أَشتَري أَمراً يَكونُ قَطيعَةٌ

لِما بَينَنا حَتّى أُغَيَّبَ في لَحدي

لِما بَينَنا حَتّى أُغَيَّبَ في لَحدي

Nor will I choose a course that would be a breach

For love of her I have loved those who cannot

of what lies between us, until I am hidden in my grave.

Match her hand with hand or match her gift to me.

فَمِن حُبِّها أَحبَبتُ مَن لَيسَ عِندَهُ

فَمِن حُبِّها أَحبَبتُ مَن لَيسَ عِندَهُ

يَدٌ بِيَدٍ تُجزي وَلا مِنَّةٌ عِندي

يَدٌ بِيَدٍ تُجزي وَلا مِنَّةٌ عِندي

Out of love for her, I loved one who had

Oh, but sometimes longing and ardour grant me

no favor to repay in kind, nor any claim upon my gratitude.

A memento of her in absence I seldom find.

أَلا رُبَّما أَهدى لِيَ الشَوقَ وَالجَوى

أَلا رُبَّما أَهدى لِيَ الشَوقَ وَالجَوى

عَلى النَأيِ مِنها ذِكرَةٌ قَلَّما تُجدي

عَلى النَأيِ مِنها ذِكرَةٌ قَلَّما تُجدي

Ah, often longing and heartache have been bestowed on me,

I recall her beauty spot out of excessive love,

far from her, by a remembrance that seldom brings relief.

At dawn and when the Pleiades set to direct us.

تَذَكَّرتُ ذاتَ الخالِ مِن فَرطِ حُبِّها

تَذَكَّرتُ ذاتَ الخالِ مِن فَرطِ حُبِّها

ضُحى وَالقِلاصِ اليَعمُلاتِ بِنا تَخدي

ضُحى وَالقِلاصِ اليَعمُلاتِ بِنا تَخدي

I remembered the woman with the mole, out of my great love for her,

When I recalled her, my eyes did not control

at midmorning, while the hardy young she-camels trotted with us.

Their tears until they flowed down my cheek.

فَما مَلَكَت عَينايَ حينَ ذَكَرتُها

فَما مَلَكَت عَينايَ حينَ ذَكَرتُها

دُموعَهُما حَتّى اِنحَدَرنَ عَلى خَدّي

دُموعَهُما حَتّى اِنحَدَرنَ عَلى خَدّي

When I recalled her, my eyes could not restrain

My friends blamed me, saying: "Do you cry from passion?

their tears, so they streamed down my cheek.

If only they felt your pangs!"

فَأَنَّبَني صَحبي وَقالوا أَمِن هَوى

فَأَنَّبَني صَحبي وَقالوا أَمِن هَوى

بَكَيتَ وَلَو كانوا هُمُ وَجَدوا وَجدي

بَكَيتَ وَلَو كانوا هُمُ وَجَدوا وَجدي

My companions rebuked me and said, 'Was it for love

And they said: "We used to consider you once

that you wept?' Yet if they themselves had felt my longing...

A stoic! This is not the act of a resolute man!"

وَقالوا لَقَد كُنّا نَعُدُّكَ مَرَّةً

وَقالوا لَقَد كُنّا نَعُدُّكَ مَرَّةً

جَليداً وَما هَذا بِفِعلِ فَتىً جَلدِ

جَليداً وَما هَذا بِفِعلِ فَتىً جَلدِ

They said, 'We once used to count you

Do not blame me, for even if I have recoiled

steadfast; this is no deed of a steadfast young man.'

From her love, she does not cease to be my love and friend.

أَلا لا تَلوماني فَلَستُ وَإِن نَأتِ

أَلا لا تَلوماني فَلَستُ وَإِن نَأتِ

بِمُنصَرِمٍ عَنها هَوايَ وَلا وُدّي

بِمُنصَرِمٍ عَنها هَوايَ وَلا وُدّي

Ah, do not blame me, you two, for even if she is far away,

Did you not know the young men have never ceased

neither my love nor my affection is cut off from her.

To be tempted by elders and weaklings?

أَلَم تَعلَما أَنَّ الرَعابيبَ لَم تَزَل

أَلَم تَعلَما أَنَّ الرَعابيبَ لَم تَزَل

مَفاتينَ قَبلي لِلكُهولِ وَلِلمُردِ

مَفاتينَ قَبلي لِلكُهولِ وَلِلمُردِ

Do you two not know that fair, tender beauties have always been

If I err, do not record my missteps against you.

temptresses, before me, for mature men and beardless youths?

Indeed, if I act rightly, you have no claim to my rectitude.

فَإِن أَغوَ لا تَكتُب عَلَيكُم غِوايَتي

فَإِن أَغوَ لا تَكتُب عَلَيكُم غِوايَتي

أَجَل لا وَإِن أَرشُد فَلَيسَ لَكُم رُشدي

أَجَل لا وَإِن أَرشُد فَلَيسَ لَكُم رُشدي

If I stray, do not record my straying against yourselves;

Indeed, my friend, she of the beauty mark has a charm

indeed not; and if I act rightly, my right judgment is not yours.

And status none have gained in my eyes.

وَإِنَّ لِذاتِ الخالِ يا صاحِ زَلفَةً

وَإِنَّ لِذاتِ الخالِ يا صاحِ زَلفَةً

وَمَنزِلَةٌ ما نالَها أَحَدٌ عِندي

وَمَنزِلَةٌ ما نالَها أَحَدٌ عِندي

And the woman with the mole, O friend, has a special closeness

Ask the revelers when they say to me,

and a place with me that no one else has attained.

"Drink, brother of the cup, and give drink to the noble!"

سَلي عَنِيَ النُدمانَ حينَ يَقولُ لي

سَلي عَنِيَ النُدمانَ حينَ يَقولُ لي

أَخو الكَأسِ مانِ القَومِ في الخَيرِ أَورِدِ

أَخو الكَأسِ مانِ القَومِ في الخَيرِ أَورِدِ

Ask the drinking companions about me, when I am told

Veils of the tent parted for us, revealing her,

by a brother of the cup, 'Vie with the company in generosity; bring them to drink!'

While inattentiveness overtook the watcher.

تَراءَت وَأَستارٌ مِنَ البَيتِ دونَها

تَراءَت وَأَستارٌ مِنَ البَيتِ دونَها

إِلَينا وَحانَت غَفلَةُ المُتَفَقِّدِ

إِلَينا وَحانَت غَفلَةُ المُتَفَقِّدِ

She appeared, though curtains of the house screened her,

In my eyes a glance pouring tears from them

to us, when the watcher's attention lapsed,

Indifferent streams of tears and swelling.

بِعَينَي مَهاةٌ تَحدُرُ الدَمعَ مِنهُما

بِعَينَي مَهاةٌ تَحدُرُ الدَمعَ مِنهُما

بِريمَينِ شَتّى مِن دُموعٍ وَإِثمِدِ

بِريمَينِ شَتّى مِن دُموعٍ وَإِثمِدِ

with an oryx's eyes, letting tears run from them

in two separate braids of tears and antimony kohl.