أَشاقَكَ الطَيفُ أَلَمَّ طارِقُه

أَشاقَكَ الطَيفُ أَلَمَّ طارِقُه

آخِرَ لَيلٍ لَم يَنَمهُ عاشِقُه

آخِرَ لَيلٍ لَم يَنَمهُ عاشِقُه

Did the dream-vision stir your longing, its night visitor alighting

Your phantom pained me, its visitor at night’s end,

at the end of a night its lover had spent sleepless,

Kept awake till dawn by yearning for you.

وَالصُبحُ في أَعقابِهِ يُساوِقُه

وَالصُبحُ في أَعقابِهِ يُساوِقُه

طالِبُ ثَأرٍ مِن ظَلامٍ لاحِقُه

طالِبُ ثَأرٍ مِن ظَلامٍ لاحِقُه

with dawn at its heels, keeping pace with it,

And morning pursuing night hot on its heels

seeking vengeance on darkness, pursuing it?

Seeking revenge on darkness that ensued.

مُزِّقَ عَن ضَبابِهِ سُرادِقُه

مُزِّقَ عَن ضَبابِهِ سُرادِقُه

وَاِنجابَ عَن ثَوبِ الظَلامِ غاسِقُه

وَاِنجابَ عَن ثَوبِ الظَلامِ غاسِقُه

Its canopy was torn away from its mist,

The canopy of mist torn from around it,

and its gloom lifted from darkness's robe,

And gloom uncovered from its cloak of dark.

مِن بَعدِ ما سَرَّ مَشوقاً شائِقُه

مِن بَعدِ ما سَرَّ مَشوقاً شائِقُه

وَنَعَقَت بِبَينِهِ نَواعِقُه

وَنَعَقَت بِبَينِهِ نَواعِقُه

after the beloved had delighted the yearning lover,

After you left, driving me mad with desire,

and its croaking birds had cried out its departure.

With parting, the she-camels bellowed.

أَبقى عَلَيهِ مِن جَوىً مُفارِقُه

أَبقى عَلَيهِ مِن جَوىً مُفارِقُه

رَسيسَ حُبٍّ عَلِقَت عَلائِقُه

رَسيسَ حُبٍّ عَلِقَت عَلائِقُه

His departing beloved left him, of burning sorrow,

Parting left in me a burning brand,

a lingering trace of love whose bonds still clung,

The ropes of love still knotted fast.

وَفَيضَ دَمعٍ شَرِقَت مَدافِقُه

وَفَيضَ دَمعٍ شَرِقَت مَدافِقُه

مِزاجُهُ مِن أَجَإٍ مُشارِقُه

مِزاجُهُ مِن أَجَإٍ مُشارِقُه

and a flood of tears whose channels choked.

And downpour of tears constantly flowing,

Its mingled water comes from Aja's eastern slopes;

Its substance tempered with painful separation.

قَد ضَمِنَت خِذرافَهُ أَبارِقُه

قَد ضَمِنَت خِذرافَهُ أَبارِقُه

رَعَت بَقايا حَمضِهِ أَيانِقُه

رَعَت بَقايا حَمضِهِ أَيانِقُه

its rocky hills had sheltered its khidhraf plants;

You could see lightning contained in its clouds,

its she-camels grazed what remained of its saltbush,

And remnants of its acid nourished its meadows.

حَتّى تَقَصّى عاذِلٌ فَتايِقُه

حَتّى تَقَصّى عاذِلٌ فَتايِقُه

وافَقَ مِن مِلحانِ ما يُوافِقُه

وافَقَ مِن مِلحانِ ما يُوافِقُه

until it had explored all Adhil's open tracts.

Until a reproacher, seeking justice, overtook it,

At Milhan it found what suited it;

Matching in saltiness that which suited it,

ثُمَّ اِطَّباهُ ضارِجٌ فَبارِقُه

ثُمَّ اِطَّباهُ ضارِجٌ فَبارِقُه

إِلى مُلَثٍّ لَم يَكُس يُفارِقُه

إِلى مُلَثٍّ لَم يَكُس يُفارِقُه

then Darij, followed by Bariq, drew it onward

Then a torrential rain poured on it heavily,

toward a lingering rain-cloud that scarcely left it (reading uncertain),

To a saturated meadow that would not diminish,

مِن أَنَفِ الوَسمِيِّ نَوءُ صادِقُه

مِن أَنَفِ الوَسمِيِّ نَوءُ صادِقُه

مُنبَجِسٌ مُرتَجِسٌ صَواعِقُه

مُنبَجِسٌ مُرتَجِسٌ صَواعِقُه

an unfailing shower from the onset of autumn rain,

From the snorting of a sinewy stallion, its truth evident,

gushing forth, its thunderbolts crashing,

Crashing and thunderous, lightning striking,

إِذا اِدلَهَمَّ أَو أَضاءَ بارِقُه

إِذا اِدلَهَمَّ أَو أَضاءَ بارِقُه

وَهَدَرَت عَلى الثَرى شَقاشِقُه

وَهَدَرَت عَلى الثَرى شَقاشِقُه

when it grew black or its lightning flashed,

When it charged or its lightning flashed,

and its throat-pouches roared over the earth.

And its heavy rains poured on the ground,

وَالوَحشُ في أَرجائِهِ تُسابِقُه

وَالوَحشُ في أَرجائِهِ تُسابِقُه

كَأَنَّها مُجفَلَةٌ وَسائِقُه

كَأَنَّها مُجفَلَةٌ وَسائِقُه

Wild creatures in its reaches raced against it,

And the wildlife competing in its environs

as though they were its startled, driven herds.

As if driven on by a driver.

أَهدَت إِلى أَربُعِهِ وَدائِقُه

أَهدَت إِلى أَربُعِهِ وَدائِقُه

قَشيبَ رَوضٍ دُبِّجَت نَمارِقُه

قَشيبَ رَوضٍ دُبِّجَت نَمارِقُه

Its raindrops brought to its dwelling-sites

It yielded its banks to the four directions,

a fresh meadow whose cushions were embroidered.

Flooding a meadow embroidered with flowers.

وَهَبَّ وَسنانُ النَباتِ لاحِقُه

وَهَبَّ وَسنانُ النَباتِ لاحِقُه

إِذا بَكاهُ ضَحِكَت بَوارِقُه

إِذا بَكاهُ ضَحِكَت بَوارِقُه

Its late-growing, drowsy vegetation awoke;

The buds of plants flourishing in succession,

whenever rain wept over it, its gleams laughed.

Where its rain makes them laugh when it weeps.

يَفوحُ كَالمِسكِ اِنتَشاهُ ناشِقُه

يَفوحُ كَالمِسكِ اِنتَشاهُ ناشِقُه

كَأَنَّما قَد ضُمِّنَت مَهارِقُه

كَأَنَّما قَد ضُمِّنَت مَهارِقُه

It wafts like musk; whoever inhales it drinks in its scent,

Its aroma diffuses like musk when inhaled,

as though its parchment leaves had been infused with musk.

As if its meadows were blended within.

وَلَبِسَت مِن زَهرِهِ حَدائِقُه

وَلَبِسَت مِن زَهرِهِ حَدائِقُه

سَموطَ حَليٍ فُصِّلَت عَقائِقُه

سَموطَ حَليٍ فُصِّلَت عَقائِقُه

Its gardens put on, from its blossoms,

Clothed by its flowers' splendor the gardens,

strands of jewels with their agates carefully set,

Adorned with polished pearls made into necklaces.

وَعُنِيَت بِنَظمِهِ عَواتِقُه

وَعُنِيَت بِنَظمِهِ عَواتِقُه

تَأوي إِلى غُدرانِهِ شَوائِقُه

تَأوي إِلى غُدرانِهِ شَوائِقُه

and its young maidens attended to their stringing.

And it was concerned with arranging its meter,

Its yearning creatures seek shelter at its pools;

While passions flocked to its depths.

تَكثُرُ في بُطنانِهِ عَقاعِقُه

تَكثُرُ في بُطنانِهِ عَقاعِقُه

تَنشَقُّ عَن صُدورِها غَلافِقُه

تَنشَقُّ عَن صُدورِها غَلافِقُه

its magpies abound in its hollows.

Turtle-doves multiplied in its bosom,

Its waterweeds part before their breasts,

Their wrappings parted from their breasts.

كَأَنَّما وَراءَها طَرائِقُه

كَأَنَّما وَراءَها طَرائِقُه

فَرعُ لِواءٍ لِلرِياحِ خافِقُه

فَرعُ لِواءٍ لِلرِياحِ خافِقُه

as though its trails behind them

As if behind them were their ways of escape,

were a banner's tip fluttering in the winds.

A banner fluttering for the winds that blow,

وَجُرشَعٍ عالي التَليلِ آفِقُه

وَجُرشَعٍ عالي التَليلِ آفِقُه

خاظي مَجالِ الدَفَّتَينِ ناهِقُه

خاظي مَجالِ الدَفَّتَينِ ناهِقُه

And a massive, high-necked steed, excellent in its kind,

And a lofty, sublime ridged dune,

full-fleshed across the flanks and along its nasal ridge,

Running between the two valley’s bounds,

عَبلِ الشَوى تَقارَبَت مَرافِقُه

عَبلِ الشَوى تَقارَبَت مَرافِقُه

أَنجَبَهُ وَجيهُهُ وَلاحِقُه

أَنجَبَهُ وَجيهُهُ وَلاحِقُه

stout-limbed, its elbows set close together:

Near the banks, where its waters converge,

Wajih and Lahiq gave it its noble breeding.

Pure and sincere, sound and explicit.

ضافي القَرا عَناقَهُ عَنائِقُه

ضافي القَرا عَناقَهُ عَنائِقُه

تَحسَبُهُ إِذا عَلاكَ فائِقُه

تَحسَبُهُ إِذا عَلاكَ فائِقُه

Ample-backed, with a long neck (the remaining phrase is uncertain),

Bristling if you defy it, imposing,

you would think it, when its poll towers above you,

Walking with pride and prominent virtue.

يَمشي بِجَزعٍ مُشرِفٍ غَرانِقُه

يَمشي بِجَزعٍ مُشرِفٍ غَرانِقُه

نِعمَ الفَتى يَومَ الوَغى مُرافِقُه

نِعمَ الفَتى يَومَ الوَغى مُرافِقُه

was walking in a valley whose cranes stand tall.

Excellent in the fray the day battle summoned him,

A fine young warrior on battle day is its companion,

When night grew dark and daybreak vanished,

إِذا دَجا اللَيلُ وَغابَ شارِقُه

إِذا دَجا اللَيلُ وَغابَ شارِقُه

وَضاقَ عَن عَينِ الصَوابِ مُرافِقُه

وَضاقَ عَن عَينِ الصَوابِ مُرافِقُه

when night grows black and its shining light disappears,

And the guide of right went astray from its companion,

and its companion cannot reach the heart of sound judgment:

A night of battle, its stars colliding,

لَيلُ وَغىً نُجومُهُ يَلامِقُه

لَيلُ وَغىً نُجومُهُ يَلامِقُه

وَأَبيَضٍ كَالصُبحِ لاحَ فاتِقُه

وَأَبيَضٍ كَالصُبحِ لاحَ فاتِقُه

a night of battle whose stars are its coats of mail.

And brilliant white like the dawn flashed its blade,

And a white blade, dawn-like, its cleaving edge flashing,

Flowing down the two surfaces of its page,

رَيّانِ مَتنِ الصَفحَتَينِ رائِقُه

رَيّانِ مَتنِ الصَفحَتَينِ رائِقُه

يَكادُ يَجري مِن قَراهُ دافِقُه

يَكادُ يَجري مِن قَراهُ دافِقُه

its clear sheen brimming across the surfaces of both faces,

Almost bursting forth from its verses’ seams,

its liquid luster almost flowing from its back.

Accompanied on the lengthy journey by its clouds’ tumult,

يَصحَبُ مِن طولِ السُرى شَقاشِقُه

يَصحَبُ مِن طولِ السُرى شَقاشِقُه

مُعَوَّدٌ حَملَ الدِياتِ عاتِقُه

مُعَوَّدٌ حَملَ الدِياتِ عاتِقُه

It accompanies a camel whose throat-pouches bellow from long night travel,

Used to carrying blood-money on its shoulders,

its shoulder accustomed to carrying blood-money,

Answering when a desolate land called for aid,

جَوّابُ مَرتٍ مُقفِرٍ سَمالِقُه

جَوّابُ مَرتٍ مُقفِرٍ سَمالِقُه

خَرقٌ لِهَزِّ اليَعمَلاتِ خارِقُه

خَرقٌ لِهَزِّ اليَعمَلاتِ خارِقُه

a traverser of barren wastes whose open plains are deserted:

Ripping apart the knitted strands of calamities,

a vast wilderness whose crosser jolts the sturdy she-camels.

A tearful, wounded petitioner knocking,

بَكِيُّ أَمواهِ الرَكِيُّ طارِقُه

بَكِيُّ أَمواهِ الرَكِيُّ طارِقُه

كَأَنَّما تَحمِلُهُ نَقانِقُه

كَأَنَّما تَحمِلُهُ نَقانِقُه

Its night traveler weeps for the waters of the wells,

As if borne by its sighing,

as though its ostriches were carrying it.

I do not fear nor keep company with death,

لا أَصحَبُ الخَوفَ وَلا أُرافِقُه

لا أَصحَبُ الخَوفَ وَلا أُرافِقُه

وَالمَوتُ حَتمٌ كُلُّ حَيٍّ ذائِقُه

وَالمَوتُ حَتمٌ كُلُّ حَيٍّ ذائِقُه

I do not keep fear's company, nor accompany it;

Though death is certain, and all must taste it,

death is inevitable: every living being tastes it.

If I am not its fastest fugitive,

ما أَنا إِن رُمتُ النَجاءَ سابِقُه

ما أَنا إِن رُمتُ النَجاءَ سابِقُه

في كُلِّ يَومٍ صاحِبٌ أُفارِقُه

في كُلِّ يَومٍ صاحِبٌ أُفارِقُه

Even if I seek escape, I cannot outrun it.

Each day a companion I bid farewell,

Each day there is a companion I part from,

And companions I do not know I make friends with,

وَصاحِبٍ لَم أَبلُهُ أُصادِقُه

وَصاحِبٍ لَم أَبلُهُ أُصادِقُه

هَذا زَمانٌ شَرُسَت خَلائِقُه

هَذا زَمانٌ شَرُسَت خَلائِقُه

and I befriend a companion I have not tested.

These are evil times, evil their nature,

This is an age whose dispositions have grown harsh,

And their ways wicked for the youth,

وَخَبُثَت عَلى الفَتى طَرائِقُه

وَخَبُثَت عَلى الفَتى طَرائِقُه

أَعدى أَعاديهِ بِهِ يُصادِقُه

أَعدى أَعاديهِ بِهِ يُصادِقُه

and whose dealings with a young man have turned foul.

Its worst enemies he deems his true friends,

In it, his bitterest enemy befriends him;

While he is sincere to those who despise him,

أَخلَصُ مَن يَوَدُّهُ يُنافِقُه

أَخلَصُ مَن يَوَدُّهُ يُنافِقُه

في كُلِّ ما يَسُرُّهُ يُوافِقُه

في كُلِّ ما يَسُرُّهُ يُوافِقُه

the sincerest of those who love him treats him hypocritically,

Suiting their every pleasure, complying with them,

agreeing with him in everything that pleases him,

Yet all that displeases them, he shuns.

وَكُلُّ ما يَسوءُهُ يُفارِقُه

وَكُلُّ ما يَسوءُهُ يُفارِقُه

إِن طَرَقَت مِن زَمَنٍ طَوارِقُه

إِن طَرَقَت مِن زَمَنٍ طَوارِقُه

and deserting him in everything that pains him.

If events should come to pass, or something

If time's calamities come knocking,

Hindered him from some matters,

أَو عاقَ عَن بَعضِ الأُمورِ عائِقُه

أَو عاقَ عَن بَعضِ الأُمورِ عائِقُه

أَنبَأَني بِغِلِّهِ حَمالِقُه

أَنبَأَني بِغِلِّهِ حَمالِقُه

or an obstacle holds him back from some affairs,

His burden carriers informed me of his worries -

the whites of his eyes tell me of his rancor.

I keep his company through his afflictions,

إِنّي عَلى عِلّاتِهِ أُرافِقُه

إِنّي عَلى عِلّاتِهِ أُرافِقُه

أُصفي لَهُ الوِدَّ وَلا أُماذِقُه

أُصفي لَهُ الوِدَّ وَلا أُماذِقُه

Yet despite his faults, I keep his company;

I am true in my love for him, and do not blame him.

I offer him pure affection and do not feign it toward him.

My doom, though its gates are open,

يا مُنيَتي وَإِن بَدَت بَوائِقُه

يا مُنيَتي وَإِن بَدَت بَوائِقُه

إِن أَضمَرَ السوءَ فَحَسبِيَ خالِقُه

إِن أَضمَرَ السوءَ فَحَسبِيَ خالِقُه

O my heart's desire, even if his treacheries appear,

If its Creator decreed harm, He is my sufficiency.

if he conceals ill will, his Creator suffices me.