مَن حاكمٌ بَيني وَبينَ عَذولي

مَن حاكمٌ بَيني وَبينَ عَذولي

الشَّجوُ شَجوي وَالعَويلُ عَويلي

الشَّجوُ شَجوي وَالعَويلُ عَويلي

Who will judge between me and my reproacher?

Who will judge between me and my blamer

The grief is mine, and the wailing is mine.

My passion is my passion, my anguish my anguish

أَقصِر فَما دينُ الهَوى كُفرٌ وَلا

أَقصِر فَما دينُ الهَوى كُفرٌ وَلا

أَعتَدُّ لَومَك لي مِن التَّنزيلِ

أَعتَدُّ لَومَك لي مِن التَّنزيلِ

Desist: love's religion is no unbelief, nor

Be brief, for passion’s faith is not blasphemy

do I count your censure of me as divine revelation.

Nor do I heed your blame more than revelation

عَجباً لِقَومٍ لَم تَكُن أَذهانهم

عَجباً لِقَومٍ لَم تَكُن أَذهانهم

لِهَوىً وَلا أَجسادهم لِنحولِ

لِهَوىً وَلا أَجسادهم لِنحولِ

How strange are people whose minds were not made

Strange are the people whose minds

for love, nor their bodies for wasting away.

Were neither for passion nor bodies for emaciation

دَقَّت مَعاني الحُبِّ عَن أَفهامِهم

دَقَّت مَعاني الحُبِّ عَن أَفهامِهم

فَتأولُوهُ أَقبَح التَأويلِ

فَتأولُوهُ أَقبَح التَأويلِ

Love's meanings were too subtle for their understanding,

The subtleties of love eluded their minds

so they gave it the ugliest interpretation.

So they interpreted it in the ugliest way

فَي أَيِّ جارِحَةٍ أَصُونُ مُعذبي

فَي أَيِّ جارِحَةٍ أَصُونُ مُعذبي

سَلِمَت مِن التَّعذيبِ وَالتَّنكيلِ

سَلِمَت مِن التَّعذيبِ وَالتَّنكيلِ

In which part of my body can I shelter my tormentor,

In which limb can I protect my tormentor

one spared torment and punishment?

That was spared torment and oppression?

إِن قُلتُ في عَيني فَثَمَّ مَدامِعي

إِن قُلتُ في عَيني فَثَمَّ مَدامِعي

أَو قُلتُ في قَلبي فَثَمَّ غَليلي

أَو قُلتُ في قَلبي فَثَمَّ غَليلي

If I say, 'In my eye,' there are my tears;

If I say “in my eyes”, then there are my tears

or say, 'In my heart,' there is my burning thirst.

If I say “in my heart”, then there is my agony

لَكن جَعلت لَهُ المَسامِعَ مَسكناً

لَكن جَعلت لَهُ المَسامِعَ مَسكناً

وَحَجَبتُهُ عَن عَذلِ كُلِّ عَذولِ

وَحَجَبتُهُ عَن عَذلِ كُلِّ عَذولِ

Instead, I made my ears a dwelling for him

Rather, I made my ears his dwelling

and screened him from every reproacher's blame.

And shielded him from the blame of every blamer

وَثَلاثِ شَيباتٍ نَزَلن بِمَفرقي

وَثَلاثِ شَيباتٍ نَزَلن بِمَفرقي

فَعَلِمتُ أَنَّ نَزولهن رَحيلي

فَعَلِمتُ أَنَّ نَزولهن رَحيلي

And three gray hairs settled at my parting,

And three gray hairs descended on my forehead

and I knew their arrival meant my departure.

So I knew their descent meant my departure

طلعت ثَلاثاً في نزولِ ثَلاثةٍ

طلعت ثَلاثاً في نزولِ ثَلاثةٍ

واشٍ وَوَجهِ مراقبٍ وَثقيلِ

واشٍ وَوَجهِ مراقبٍ وَثقيلِ

They appeared as three, with the arrival of three:

They appeared three with the descent of three

an informer, a watcher's face, and a bore.

Difficulties, an observer’s face, and burdens

فَعَزَلنني عَن صَبوَتي فَلَئِن ذلل

فَعَزَلنني عَن صَبوَتي فَلَئِن ذلل

تُ فَقَد سَمعتُ بذلة المَعذولِ

تُ فَقَد سَمعتُ بذلة المَعذولِ

They barred me from youthful passion; if I have been humbled,

So they sequestered me from my youth, and if

then I have heard of the humiliation of one reproached.

I am humbled, I have heard the humiliation of the blamed

إِن كُنتُ وَدَّعتُ التَّصابي عن قلىً

إِن كُنتُ وَدَّعتُ التَّصابي عن قلىً

وَبَدَت بِرَأسي حجة لعذولِ

وَبَدَت بِرَأسي حجة لعذولِ

If I have bid youthful folly farewell out of loathing,

If I have bid farewell to pleasures

and an argument for a reproacher has appeared upon my head,

And signs of blame appeared on my head

قَد أغتَدي وَالصُّبحُ في تَوريسه

قَد أغتَدي وَالصُّبحُ في تَوريسه

تَقضي العُيونُ لَهُ بِوَجهِ عَليلِ

تَقضي العُيونُ لَهُ بِوَجهِ عَليلِ

I may set out at dawn, while morning in its yellowing

I have been satiated, and the dawn in its saddlebags

is judged by the eyes to have a sickly face,

Brings eyes that see it with a sickly face

بِأَقبَّ لَونِ الآبنوس مفضضٍ

بِأَقبَّ لَونِ الآبنوس مفضضٍ

في غُرَّةٍ مِنهُ وَفي تَحجيلِ

في غُرَّةٍ مِنهُ وَفي تَحجيلِ

on a lean-flanked horse, ebony-colored, silvered

Of the darkest Hyacinth, sprouting

with a blaze on his forehead and white stockings,

In its prime and in its withering

مُستَغرق لصفاتِ زَيدِ الخَيل وال

مُستَغرق لصفاتِ زَيدِ الخَيل وال

غَنَويِّ وَالمُزنِيِّ وَالضليلِ

غَنَويِّ وَالمُزنِيِّ وَالضليلِ

embodying the descriptions of Zayd al-Khayl and

Immersed in the qualities of the excellent Zaid

al-Ghanawi, al-Muzani, and the Errant One.

And singer and miserable one

يُزهى بِتحليةِ اللِّجامِ كما زَها

يُزهى بِتحليةِ اللِّجامِ كما زَها

مَلِكٌ مُحَلَّى الرَّأسِ بِالأكيلِ

مَلِكٌ مُحَلَّى الرَّأسِ بِالأكيلِ

He takes pride in his bridle's adornment, as did

Adorned by the bejeweling of the bridle as a

a king whose head was adorned with a crown.

King adorned with crown and turban

مُتَقَلِّبٌ مرحُ القَضيبِ اللدنِ قَد

مُتَقَلِّبٌ مرحُ القَضيبِ اللدنِ قَد

مالَت بِهِ الأَرواحُ كُلَّ مميلِ

مالَت بِهِ الأَرواحُ كُلَّ مميلِ

He sways with a supple branch's playfulness, one

Turning the smooth rod which souls

the winds have bent in every direction.

Incline to him, every leaning one

يَعلو وَيخفضُ في الصَّهيل كَأَنَّما

يَعلو وَيخفضُ في الصَّهيل كَأَنَّما

هُوَ مُفرِدٌ لَحناً لِكُلِّ صَهيلِ

هُوَ مُفرِدٌ لَحناً لِكُلِّ صَهيلِ

He raises and lowers his neighing, as though

He rises and descends in neighing as if

he gives each neigh a melody of its own.

He is soloing a melody for every neigh

فَكَأَنَّ في فيه المَلاهي حُرِّكَت

فَكَأَنَّ في فيه المَلاهي حُرِّكَت

لَكَ في خَفيفٍ تارَةً وَثَقيلِ

لَكَ في خَفيفٍ تارَةً وَثَقيلِ

It is as though musical instruments were set moving in his mouth

So it is as if the entertainments in his mouth

for you, now in a light rhythm, now in a heavy one.

Were mobilized for you in light and heavy rhythms

قيدت لَنا بيضٌ بَعُدنَ فَلم تُنَل

قيدت لَنا بيضٌ بَعُدنَ فَلم تُنَل

إِلا بِعَينِ الوَهمِ وَالتَّخييلِ

إِلا بِعَينِ الوَهمِ وَالتَّخييلِ

White gazelles were tethered for us, once far away and unattainable

Eggs were tied for us, then they were only attained

except to the eye of fancy and imagination.

By the eye of the imagination and picturing

ريحٌ وَلَكن ما تُغِبُّ بإِثرها

ريحٌ وَلَكن ما تُغِبُّ بإِثرها

بَرقاً فلم تَمطُلهُ بِالتَّطويلِ

بَرقاً فلم تَمطُلهُ بِالتَّطويلِ

A wind, yet in its wake it never withholds

A wind but no lightning flashes in its trail

lightning, nor puts it off with long delay.

Nor does it prolong it with extension

فَلَهُ الملاحظُ مِن حَبيبٍ هاجرٍ

فَلَهُ الملاحظُ مِن حَبيبٍ هاجرٍ

للصبِّ أَو مُتَكبرٍ لِذَليلِ

للصبِّ أَو مُتَكبرٍ لِذَليلِ

He has the glances of a lover forsaking

So the observer has from an absent lover

the lovesick, or of the haughty toward the abased.

Or arrogant to the submissive one

وَكَأَنَّما فلَّ الخطوبَ لِحازمٍ

وَكَأَنَّما فلَّ الخطوبَ لِحازمٍ

قَبل الجِياد بِجدّه المَغلولِ

قَبل الجِياد بِجدّه المَغلولِ

It is as though he routed adversity for a resolute man,

As if the calamities were unleashed to a resolute one

ahead of the steeds, with his fettered fortune.

Before the stallions with his bound forehead

حَتّى إِذا صِدنا الوُحوشَ فَلم نَدَع

حَتّى إِذا صِدنا الوُحوشَ فَلم نَدَع

مِنهُنَّ غَيرَ مَعالمٍ وَطُلولِ

مِنهُنَّ غَيرَ مَعالمٍ وَطُلولِ

Until, when we had hunted the wild beasts, we left

Until we hunted the beasts and did not leave

nothing of them but traces and ruins.

Anything but traces and hills

قامَت قَوائِمُهُ لَنا بِطعامنا

قامَت قَوائِمُهُ لَنا بِطعامنا

غَضّاً وَقامَ العُرفُ بِالمنديلِ

غَضّاً وَقامَ العُرفُ بِالمنديلِ

His legs provided us with our food,

It stood its legs for us with our food

fresh, and his mane served as our napkin.

New, and proper conduct with handkerchief

وَمُكَبَّلٍ لَم يَجترم جُرماً وَلا

وَمُكَبَّلٍ لَم يَجترم جُرماً وَلا

دانَت سَحائِبُهُ بِغَير كبول

دانَت سَحائِبُهُ بِغَير كبول

And a fettered creature, guilty of no crime, nor

And shackled, it had not committed a crime

did his clouds submit without fetters.

Nor did its clouds confess without concentration

مُتدرعٌ بِالوشي إِلا أَن مِد

مُتدرعٌ بِالوشي إِلا أَن مِد

رَعَهُ يحاكُ عَلَيهِ غَيرَ طَويلِ

رَعَهُ يحاكُ عَلَيهِ غَيرَ طَويلِ

Clad in brocade armor, except that his tunic

Clad in armor except its breastplate

is woven upon him short, not long.

Its range stitches upon it other than long

فَكَأنَّ بَلقيساً عَلَيهِ إِذ دَنَت

فَكَأنَّ بَلقيساً عَلَيهِ إِذ دَنَت

في الصَّرحِ رافعةً لِفَضلِ ذُيولِ

في الصَّرحِ رافعةً لِفَضلِ ذُيولِ

It is as though Bilqis were upon him when she approached

So it is as if Bilquis approached it when

within the palace, lifting the extra length of her hems.

She entered the pavilion raising the train of her gown

مُتلفتٌ كَتلفّتِ المرتاعِ يَق

مُتلفتٌ كَتلفّتِ المرتاعِ يَق

سِمُ لَحظه في الجُولِ بَعدَ الجُولِ

سِمُ لَحظه في الجُولِ بَعدَ الجُولِ

He turns about like a frightened creature, distributing

Glancing as the frightened one glances

his gaze from side to side.

Dividing its gaze in rounds after rounds

حَتَّى إِذا ما السّربُ عَنَّ للحظه

حَتَّى إِذا ما السّربُ عَنَّ للحظه

أَومى بِقادمتيه خلِّ سَبيلي

أَومى بِقادمتيه خلِّ سَبيلي

Until, when the herd appeared before his gaze,

Until when the flock turned away for a glance

he signaled with his forelegs, 'Let me go!'

He gestured with his forelegs: let me go

وَنَهَت مُحافظة اللِّسان فَلم تَصل

وَنَهَت مُحافظة اللِّسان فَلم تَصل

كَفِّي إِلى ظَبي أَغنَّ كحيلِ

كَفِّي إِلى ظَبي أَغنَّ كحيلِ

And keeping faith with one's word forbade it, leaving

And the safeguarding of the tongue ended, but my palm

my hand unable to reach a soft-voiced, kohl-eyed gazelle.

Did not reach the gazelle with kohl-lined eyes

أَرسلته في إِثرِهنَّ كَأَنَّهن

أَرسلته في إِثرِهنَّ كَأَنَّهن

نَ عَصين لي أَمراً وَكانَ رَسولي

نَ عَصين لي أَمراً وَكانَ رَسولي

I sent him after them, as though they

I unleashed it after them as if they

had disobeyed my command, and he was my messenger.

Had disobeyed me and it was my messenger

وَلَّت جَماعتُها فَشدَّ وَراءَها

وَلَّت جَماعتُها فَشدَّ وَراءَها

وَكَأَنَّهُ بطلٌ وَراءَ رَعيلِ

وَكَأَنَّهُ بطلٌ وَراءَ رَعيلِ

The herd fled, and he charged behind it,

Its group fled so it pursued behind it

like a hero pursuing a troop.

As if it were a hero behind the caravan

عَجِلَت وَأَدرَكها ردىً في إِثرها

عَجِلَت وَأَدرَكها ردىً في إِثرها

إِنَّ الرَّدى قَيدٌ لِكلِّ عجولِ

إِنَّ الرَّدى قَيدٌ لِكلِّ عجولِ

It hurried, and death overtook it in its wake;

It hurried and overtook it, connected in its trail

death is a fetter for every hasty creature.

Surely connection is a binding for every hurrier

فَقَضى عَلى سَبعين ضارٍ خَطمُهُ

فَقَضى عَلى سَبعين ضارٍ خَطمُهُ

هو عُقدةُ التَّعبير في التَّمثيلِ

هو عُقدةُ التَّعبير في التَّمثيلِ

So a predator brought down seventy; his muzzle

So its snout finished off seventy vicious ones

is the crux of interpretation in figurative depiction.

It is the crux of expression in the example

حَتَّى إِذا حمل السّحابَ بِجيدِهِ

حَتَّى إِذا حمل السّحابَ بِجيدِهِ

لَم تَحتَملهُ فَرائصُ المَحمولِ

لَم تَحتَملهُ فَرائصُ المَحمولِ

Until, when he bore the clouds upon his neck,

Until when it carried the clouds with its neck

the flanks of what he carried could not bear him.

The saddled could not carry it

وَلَقَد غَدَوتُ بِأَهرتٍ مُتضائلٍ

وَلَقَد غَدَوتُ بِأَهرتٍ مُتضائلٍ

سرُّ النُّفوسِ إِلَيهِ غَير ضَئيلِ

سرُّ النُّفوسِ إِلَيهِ غَير ضَئيلِ

I have indeed gone out at dawn with a wide-mouthed, slight creature;

And I went out early with a short spear

the souls' secret feeling toward him is no slight thing.

Souls inclining to it not insignificant

وَلربَّما اشتمَّ الصّعيدَ بِأَنفِهِ

وَلربَّما اشتمَّ الصّعيدَ بِأَنفِهِ

حيناً فَقامَ لَهُ مَقام دَليلِ

حيناً فَقامَ لَهُ مَقام دَليلِ

Often he sniffed the earth with his nose

And sometimes it smelled the ground with its nose

for a while, and it served him as a guide.

At times, so it took the position of a guide for me

مُتَتَبِّعٌ لِطلابه فَكَأنهُ

مُتَتَبِّعٌ لِطلابه فَكَأنهُ

في القيظ يَطلبُ ظلَّهُ لمقيلِ

في القيظ يَطلبُ ظلَّهُ لمقيلِ

Tracking his quarry, he seemed

Seeking its requests, so it is as if

in the summer heat to seek his shadow for a midday rest.

In the noon heat seeking its shade for a nap

في إِثرها وَقعت مَلاحم تَجتَلي

في إِثرها وَقعت مَلاحم تَجتَلي

التاريخ بَينَ سَحائب وَمحولِ

التاريخ بَينَ سَحائب وَمحولِ

In their wake, battles occurred, revealing

Behind them, epic battles occurred that

history between rainclouds and droughts.

History relates between clouds and carried things

فَكأنَّها جَيشٌ بدهم خيول

فَكأنَّها جَيشٌ بدهم خيول

غاز إِلى جَيش بِشُهبِ خيولِ

غاز إِلى جَيش بِشُهبِ خيولِ

They seemed an army mounted on black horses,

As if they are a sudden attack of horses

raiding an army mounted on gray horses.

Warring to horses with the flames of horses

قامَت رَواعدها لَهُ بطبول

قامَت رَواعدها لَهُ بطبول

في حَربِها وَبروقها بنصولِ

في حَربِها وَبروقها بنصولِ

Their thunderclaps served it as drums

Their poles stood for it with drums

in its war, and their lightning as spearheads.

In their war and lightning in onslaughts

وَلَّت جُنودُ المحلِ ثم تَحصنت

وَلَّت جُنودُ المحلِ ثم تَحصنت

في قَلبِ كُلِّ متيمٍ مَعذولِ

في قَلبِ كُلِّ متيمٍ مَعذولِ

The troops of drought retreated, then entrenched themselves

The soldiers of the locality retreated then took refuge

in the heart of every love-enslaved, reproached soul.

In the heart of every blameworthy coward

بَكَتِ السّحابُ عَلى الرِّياض فَحسنت

بَكَتِ السّحابُ عَلى الرِّياض فَحسنت

مِنها غُروساً مِن دُموع ثكولِ

مِنها غُروساً مِن دُموع ثكولِ

The clouds wept over the meadows, making them fair

The clouds cried over the meadows, so it adorned

with plantings from them, from a bereaved mother's tears.

It with sprouts from the tears of concentrated ones

فَكأنَّها وَالطلُّ يُشرِقُ فَوقَها

فَكأنَّها وَالطلُّ يُشرِقُ فَوقَها

وَشيٌ يحاك بلؤلؤ مَفصولِ

وَشيٌ يحاك بلؤلؤ مَفصولِ

With dew shining above them, they seemed

So it is as if it and the rising dawn above it

brocade woven with separate pearls.

Are a cloak woven with detached pearls

غَلَبَت عَلى شَمس النَّهار فَأَلبَسَت

غَلَبَت عَلى شَمس النَّهار فَأَلبَسَت

مِنها ظَهيرتها ثيابَ أَصِيلِ

مِنها ظَهيرتها ثيابَ أَصِيلِ

They overcame the daylight sun and clothed

It overcame the sun of day, so it clothed

their noontide, with its light, in robes of late afternoon.

Its brilliance in clothes of mottled cloth

فَنَزَلتُ في فرش الرِّياض وَلَم يَكُن

فَنَزَلتُ في فرش الرِّياض وَلَم يَكُن

ليَحوزها مثلي بِغَيرِ نزولِ

ليَحوزها مثلي بِغَيرِ نزولِ

I alighted upon the carpets of the meadows; there was no way

So I alighted in the meadows’ furnishings, and none

for one like me to claim them without alighting.

Like me deserved it without alighting

سَلب العمامةَ بَيننا مُتَعَمِّمٌ

سَلب العمامةَ بَيننا مُتَعَمِّمٌ

لَطَمَت سَوالفَه يَدا مَغلولِ

لَطَمَت سَوالفَه يَدا مَغلولِ

A turbaned one among us shed his turban;

One wearing a turban stole between us

the two hands of a fettered one struck the sides of his neck.

Its conversations silenced a shackled hand

فَوضعتُ في فَمه فمي فعل الَّذي

فَوضعتُ في فَمه فمي فعل الَّذي

يَهوى بريق حَبيبه المَعسولِ

يَهوى بريق حَبيبه المَعسولِ

I placed my mouth upon his mouth, as one does

So I placed my mouth in its mouth, what a lover

who longs for his beloved's honeyed saliva.

Enchanted by the glimmer of his sweet one does

غنيَّ الطُّراةُ مِن الذباب لَنا بِها

غنيَّ الطُّراةُ مِن الذباب لَنا بِها

طرباً فَهجنَ شَمائِلاً بِشمولِ

طرباً فَهجنَ شَمائِلاً بِشمولِ

The newcomers among the flies sang for us there

The doves sang for us with it

in rapture, stirring dispositions with wine.

A melody, so it mingled features with integration

رَوضٌ تعاهده السّحابُ كَأَنَّه

رَوضٌ تعاهده السّحابُ كَأَنَّه

مُتعاهدٌ مِن عَهدِ إِسماعيلِ

مُتعاهدٌ مِن عَهدِ إِسماعيلِ

A garden tended by the clouds, as though

A garden tended by the clouds as if

it had been tended since the time of Isma'il.

It had a covenant from the era of Ishmael

قِسهُ إِلى الأَعرابِ تعلم أَنَّهُ

قِسهُ إِلى الأَعرابِ تعلم أَنَّهُ

أَولى مِن الأَعرابِ بِالتَّفضيلِ

أَولى مِن الأَعرابِ بِالتَّفضيلِ

Compare him with the Bedouins: you will know that he

Compare it to the bedouins, you will know

is worthier of preference than the Bedouins.

It is worthier than the bedouins in preferability

حازَت قَبائلهم لغاتٍ جمعت

حازَت قَبائلهم لغاتٍ جمعت

فيهم وَحازَ لغاتِ كُلِّ قَبيلِ

فيهم وَحازَ لغاتِ كُلِّ قَبيلِ

Their tribes possessed languages gathered

Their tribes possessed languages collected

among them; he possessed the languages of every tribe.

Among them, and it possessed the languages of every tribe

فَالشَّرقُ خالٍ بَعده فَكأَنَّما

فَالشَّرقُ خالٍ بَعده فَكأَنَّما

نَزل الخَرابُ بربعه المَأهولِ

نَزل الخَرابُ بربعه المَأهولِ

The East is desolate after him, as though

So the East is empty after it, as if

ruin had descended upon its inhabited quarter.

Destruction had descended upon its inhabited region

جَمَعوا بغيبته وَمَوتِ شُيوخه

جَمَعوا بغيبته وَمَوتِ شُيوخه

عَنهُم وَلما يَظفروا بِبَديلِ

عَنهُم وَلما يَظفروا بِبَديلِ

They combined his absence with the deaths of his elders

With its absence and the death of its elders

from their midst, and have yet to find a substitute.

From them, and they did not attain a substitute

مُذ جاءَهُم وَهُمُ بِلَيلِ هُمومِهم

مُذ جاءَهُم وَهُمُ بِلَيلِ هُمومِهم

مِنهُ فَصاروا في دُجى مَوصولِ

مِنهُ فَصاروا في دُجى مَوصولِ

Since he came to them, they have been in the night of their grief

Since it came to them while they were

because of him, and so entered unbroken darkness.

In the night of their worries from it, so they became connected in darkness

فَكَأنَّهُ شَمسٌ بَدَت في غَربنا

فَكَأنَّهُ شَمسٌ بَدَت في غَربنا

وَتَغرَّبَت في شَرقِهم بأفولِ

وَتَغرَّبَت في شَرقِهم بأفولِ

He is like a sun that appeared in our west

It is as if it were a sun that rose in our west

and went into exile in their east as it set.

And was estranged in their east by disappearance

يا سَيدي هَذا ثنائي لَم أَقُل

يا سَيدي هَذا ثنائي لَم أَقُل

زوراً وَلا عَرَّضتُ بِالتَّنويلِ

زوراً وَلا عَرَّضتُ بِالتَّنويلِ

My lord, this is my praise: I have spoken no

My master, this is my praise, I have not

falsehood, nor hinted at gifts.

Said falsely nor presented with prolongation

مَن كانَ يَأملُ نائِلاً فَأَنا اِمرؤٌ

مَن كانَ يَأملُ نائِلاً فَأَنا اِمرؤٌ

لَم أَرجُ غَيرَ القُربِ في تَأميلي

لَم أَرجُ غَيرَ القُربِ في تَأميلي

Whoever may hope for a gift, I am a man:

Whoever hopes to attain, I am a man

in all my hopes, I have sought only closeness.

Who did not expect other than nearness in my hoping