أزكىpurest سلامgreeting دونbelow طيبsweetness أريجهits fragrance
أزكى سلام دون طيب أريجه
أرجfragrance النسيمof the breeze سرىwafted منfrom الزوراءal-Zawrāʾ
أرج النسيم سرى من الزوراء
The purest greeting, whose sweet fragrance surpasses
The most fragrant greeting without its pleasant aroma,
the scent of the breeze wafting from al-Zawrāʾ.
The breeze blew from Al-Zawra.
يحكيresembles برقتهin its gentleness النسيمthe breeze إذاwhen سرىit wafts
يحكي برقته النسيم إذا سرى
سحراًbefore dawn فأحيىso revived ميتthe dead الأحياءamong the living
سحراً فأحيى ميت الأحياء
In its gentleness it resembles the breeze when it wafts
It tells with its gentleness when it blows,
before dawn, reviving the dead among the living.
A magic that brings the dead to life.
يهديis offered إلىto أعلاloftiest جنابnoble presence روضهhis garden
يهدي إلى أعلا جناب روضه
ليfor me مرتعa pasture وظلالهand its shadows أفيائيmy shades
لي مرتع وظلاله أفيائي
It is offered to the loftiest presence, whose garden
It leads to the highest glory of a garden,
is my pasture, and its shadows my sheltering shade.
I have a pasture and its shade are my friends.
وذارهand his abode (probable reading) ملتجأa refuge ومنهلand the wellspring جودهof his bounty
وذاره ملتجأ ومنهل جوده
ورديmy draught الرويthirst-quenching وفيand in ثراهhis soil ثوائيmy resting place
وردي الروي وفي ثراه ثوائي
And his abode is a refuge, and the wellspring of his bounty
Its homes are my refuge and the place of its generosity,
is my thirst-quenching draught; in his soil is my resting place.
My meadow and on its turf are my companions.
وفناءهand his courtyard الحصنthe fortress المنيعimpregnable وركنهand his pillar
وفناءه الحصن المنيع وركنه
ليfor me جنةًa shield وعلىand upon صفاهhis smooth rock صفائيmy serenity
لي جنةً وعلى صفاه صفائي
And his courtyard is the impregnable fortress, and his pillar
Its courtyard is an impregnable fortress and its pillar,
my shield; upon his smooth rock rests my serenity.
Is a paradise for me, and in its purity is my purity.
أعنيI mean جنابthe noble presence منhim whose الفؤادthe heart لنأيهbecause of his remoteness
أعني جناب من الفؤاد لنأيه
لمnot يلفhas been found غيرother than منعمa benefactor لشقائيto my misery
لم يلف غير منعم لشقائي
I mean the noble presence of him whose absence has left my heart
I mean the side of one whose heart is far from him,
doing nothing but nurturing my misery.
None has wrapped except the gracious one to my misery.
منhe whose عبقperfumed الأقطارthe lands نشرthe fragrance جميلهof his kindness
من عبق الأقطار نشر جميله
فالجوso the air منهfrom it مغبرdust-laden الأرجاءin its reaches
فالجو منه مغبر الأرجاء
He whose kindness has perfumed the lands,
From the aroma of the regions its beauty has spread,
so the air is dust-laden with it on every side.
So the atmosphere because of it is dusty horizons.
مولايmy lord محمودMaḥmūd الذيwhose ذكرthe mention اسمهof his name
مولاي محمود الذي ذكر اسمه
دأبيmy habitual practice وصارفand turning aside أزمةthe reins الأواءof hardship
دأبي وصارف أزمة الأواء
My lord Maḥmūd, the mention of whose name
My Master Mahmoud whose name was mentioned,
is my constant practice and turns aside the reins of hardship.
My purpose and changer of the seasons of time.
بلrather ذكرهremembrance of him ورديmy litany نهاريmy daytime كلهall of it
بل ذكره وردي نهاري كله
وتهجديand my night vigil فيin الليلةthe night الليلاءpitch-dark
وتهجدي في الليلة الليلاء
Rather, remembrance of him is my litany all day long,
Rather, his mention and my stream by day,
and my vigil through the pitch-dark night.
And my vigil at night in the black dark night.
هوhe نصبbefore عينيmy eyes حيثwherever كانhe is وإنand even if نأىhe is distant
هو نصب عيني حيث كان وإن نأى
عنيfrom me وسخطيand my displeasure فيin الهوىlove ورضائيand my contentment
عني وسخطي في الهوى ورضائي
He is before my eyes wherever he may be, even if far
He is the goal of my eye wherever he was even if he avoided,
from me; in love he is my displeasure and my contentment.
Me and my anger in passion and my pleasure.
ياO حاديdriver of الأضعانthe traveling litters عدturn away عنfrom اللوىal-Liwā
يا حادي الأضعان عد عن اللوى
فالرقمتينthen al-Raqmatayn فلعلعthen Laʿlaʿ نشطاءvigorous
فالرقمتين فلعلع نشطاء
O driver of the traveling litters, turn away from al-Liwā,
O guide of the impoverished, turn away from passion,
then al-Raqmatayn and Laʿlaʿ, briskly;
For the two numerals are active youths.
فاثيلthen Uthayl سلعSalʿ بالإبيرقat al-Ubayriq فالشويthen al-Shuway-
فاثيل سلع بالإبيرق فالشوي
كة-ka (completing al-Shuwayka) فالثنيةthen the mountain pass منamong شعابthe ravines of كداءKadāʾ
كة فالثنية من شعاب كداء
then Uthayl of Salʿ at al-Ubayriq, then al-Shuway-
So stay at the Sulaib from Al-Aybaq and roast,
ka, then the pass among the ravines of Kadāʾ.
The sheep and the goat from the cliffs of Al-Kada.
واعدلand turn بقصدكwith your course للغريtoward al-Gharī ميمماًheading toward it
واعدل بقصدك للغري ميمماً
متيامناًbearing right عنaway from قاعةthe plain of الوعساءal-Waʿsāʾ
متيامناً عن قاعة الوعساء
And turn your course toward al-Gharī, making for it,
And go straight with your purpose to Al-Gharay intending,
bearing right away from the plain of al-Waʿsāʾ.
Auspiciously away from the barren wasteland.
وأنخand make kneel بحيهمat their quarter المطيthe riding camels وحيهمand greet them
وأنخ بحيهم المطي وحيهم
عنon behalf of مغرمa lovesick man دنفٍailing كئيبsorrowful لواءafflicted (uncertain reading)
عن مغرم دنفٍ كئيب لواء
And make the riding camels kneel at their quarter, and greet them
And rein their most noble warhorse and their warhorse,
on behalf of a lovesick man, ailing, sorrowful, and afflicted.
Away from a lovesick, sad hearted knight.
صبa passionate lover متىwhenever ذكرىremembrance of الغريal-Gharī لهto him علتrise
صب متى ذكرى الغري له علت
زفراتهhis sighs بتنفسwith breathing الصعداءdeep sighs
زفراته بتنفس الصعداء
A lover: whenever al-Gharī is recalled to him, up rise
Whenever the memory of the impoverished weakens him,
his sighs in deep-drawn breaths.
His sighs with the panting breath of As-Saa’da.
ومتىand whenever تذكرhe recalls ساكنيهits inhabitants تدفقتpour forth
ومتى تذكر ساكنيه تدفقت
عبراتهhis tears ممزجةmingled بدماءwith blood
عبراته ممزجة بدماء
And whenever he recalls its inhabitants, there pour forth
And when he remembers its inhabitants his tears flowed,
his tears, mingled with blood.
Mixed with blood.
ياO قاصداًone seeking جرعاءthe sandy expanse of ذياكthat الحمىsanctuary
يا قاصداً جرعاء ذياك الحمى
عجturn aside بالحمىto the sanctuary إنif جزتyou pass بالجرعاءthrough the sandy ground
عج بالحمى إن جزت بالجرعاء
O you seeking the sandy expanse of that sanctuary,
O you who visit Al-Jar’a the feverish,
turn aside to the sanctuary if you pass through its sandy ground.
Hasten with the fever if you pass by Al-Jar’a.
فاذكرthen mention لهمto them شوقيmy longing وإنand that لذلكtoward that
فاذكر لهم شوقي وإن لذلك
الحيquarter المنيعimpregnable تلفتيmy turning glances وعنائيand my anguish
الحي المنيع تلفتي وعنائي
Then tell them of my longing, and that toward that
So mention to them my passion and if that,
impregnable quarter go my yearning glances and my anguish.
Impenetrable tribe has my frequent turning to and fro.
واشرحand explain لهمto them حاليmy state فإنيfor I بعدهمin their absence
واشرح لهم حالي فإني بعدهم
قدindeed جدhas intensified بيin me وجديmy longing وطالand has lengthened عنائيmy suffering
قد جد بي وجدي وطال عنائي
And describe my state to them, for in their absence
And explain to them my condition, for after them,
my longing has gripped me fiercely, and my suffering grown long.
My affliction and my affliction has prolonged my suffering.
ولقدand indeed أقولI say للائميto my reproacher فيconcerning حبهمlove for them
ولقد أقول للائمي في حبهم
خفضease up عليكon yourself وخلنيand leave me وبلائيand my affliction
خفض عليك وخلني وبلائي
And I do indeed say to him who reproaches me for loving them:
And I say to those who blame me for loving them,
Ease up, and leave me to my affliction.
“Spare me and leave me be and my affliction.”
وأدرand pass around سلافthe pure wine of حديثهمtalk of them لاnot ذكرthe mention of منthose who
وأدر سلاف حديثهم لا ذكر من
حلsettled الأباطحal-Abāṭiḥ إنif رعيتyou honor إخائيmy friendship
حل الأباطح إن رعيت إخائي
And pass around the pure wine of talk of them, not the mention of those
And turn away the saliva of their talk no mention of,
who settled in al-Abāṭiḥ, if you honor my friendship.
Those who settled in the lowlands if you wish my brotherhood.
ياO طيبsweetness أيامof days خلتthat passed معهمwith them وقدwhile indeed
يا طيب أيام خلت معهم وقد
سامرتهمI conversed with them by night بمجامعin the meeting places of الأهواءdesires
سامرتهم بمجامع الأهواء
How sweet the days that passed with them, when
O good days that have passed with them and I,
I shared their night-talk in the meeting places of desire.
Socialized with them in assemblies of passions.
إذwhen طافcircled بيaround me ندماءdrinking companions خمرةٍof wine إنهاindeed it
إذ طاف بي ندماء خمرةٍ إنها
وسرتand coursed حمياthe warmth البرءof healing فيin أحشائيmy innermost parts
وسرت حميا البرء في أحشائي
when wine-companions circled round me—indeed, it...
When cups of wine circled around me, they are,
and the warmth of healing coursed through my innermost being.
And they excited the shyness in my intestines.
أيامdays طابwas pleasant ليto me المقامthe stay ولذand was delightful ليto me
أيام طاب لي المقام ولذ لي
طيبthe sweetness المكانof the place بغفلةin the oblivion الإغفاءof slumber
طيب المكان بغفلة الإغفاء
Days when my stay was sweet to me, and I savored
Days when dwelling was good for me and the place was sweet for me,
the sweetness of the place in the oblivion of slumber.
With the ignorance of slumber.
ياO هلwill تعودreturn لناto us فأحضىso I may attain بالمنىfulfilled wishes
يا هل تعود لنا فأحضى بالمنى
جذلاًjoyful وأرقدand I sleep فيin ذيولthe trailing skirts لجائيof my refuge
جذلاً وأرقد في ذيول لجائي
O, will they return to us, so I may attain my wishes,
O are they to return to us, so I obtain the purpose,
joyful, and sleep in the trailing skirts of my refuge,
Stingily and I sleep in its slopes my refuge.
وأطوفand I circumambulate معكتفاًin devotional retreat (probable reading) بكعبةaround the Kaaba قدسهمof their holiness
وأطوف معكتفاً بكعبة قدسهم
عندupon استلامsaluting الركنthe Corner بالإيماءwith a gesture
عند استلام الركن بالإيماء
and circle, in devotional retreat, the Kaaba of their holiness,
And I roam satisfied with the Kaaba of their sanctity,
saluting the Corner with a gesture?
When receiving the corner with gestures.
ومتىand when يبشرنيgladdens me الزمانtime بقربهمwith nearness to them
ومتى يبشرني الزمان بقربهم
يوماًfor one day واسمحand I give freely بعدهafter it ببقائيof my remaining life
يوماً واسمح بعده ببقائي
And when will time gladden me with nearness to them
And when will time bring me their nearness,
for one day? I would freely surrender my remaining life afterward.
One day and then allow my remaining after it?
أمor كيفhow أعدوهمcould I forsake them وأنىand how ليfor me بهمto reach them
أم كيف أعدوهم وأنى لي بهم
وهمwhile they ملاذيare my refuge أنif عدتassail أعدائيmy enemies
وهم ملاذي أن عدت أعدائي
Or how could I forsake them, and how can I reach them,
Or how can I return to them when I have no way to them,
when they are my refuge if my enemies assail me?
When they are my asylum if my enemies return to me?
أمor كيفhow لاnot يقضيdie جوىًof burning grief منone whose عمرهlifetime
أم كيف لا يقضي جوىً من عمره
يومانtwo days يومa day قلاof rejection ويومٌand a day تناءof separation
يومان يوم قلا ويومٌ تناء
Or how can one not die of anguish, when one's life is but
Or how does he not spend a passion from his life,
two days: a day of rejection and a day of separation?
Two days: a day brief and a day long?
ياO سادةmasters قطعتwere severed بقطعهمthrough their parting عرىthe loops
يا سادة قطعت بقطعهم عرى
حبلof the cord المنىof hopes وانحلand came undone عقدthe knot رجائيof my expectation
حبل المنى وانحل عقد رجائي
O masters, whose parting has severed the loops
O masters you have cut with their separation the ties,
of hope's cord and undone the knot of my expectation.
Of my hopes and the knots of my hopes unraveled.
إنif تسألواyou ask عنabout حالthe state دمعيof my tears بعدكمin your absence
إن تسألوا عن حال دمعي بعدكم
فمدامعيthen my tears تربيexceed علىbeyond الأنوارthe lights (also: blossoms)
فمدامعي تربي على الأنوار
If you ask about the state of my tears in your absence,
If you ask about the state of my tear after them,
then my tears surpass the lights.
Then my tears grow on the lights.
لاdo not تحسبواsuppose فيكمfor you هوايmy love تكلفاaffectation
لا تحسبوا فيكم هواي تكلفا
قسماًI swear لقدindeed كلفتare enamored بكمof you أحشائيmy innermost parts
قسماً لقد كلفت بكم أحشائي
Do not think my love for you is feigned;
Do not reckon in you my love an imposed,
I swear, my very vitals are enamored of you.
Oath for I have burdened my insides with you.
أيضلcould stray قلبيmy heart عنfrom رشادthe right guidance ودادكمof love for you
أيضل قلبي عن رشاد ودادكم
وهواكمand love for you دينيmy faith وعقدand the bond ولائيof my allegiance
وهواكم ديني وعقد ولائي
Could my heart stray from the right path of loving you,
Does my heart stray from the guidance of your love,
when love for you is my faith and the bond of my allegiance?
When your passion is my religion and my covenant of loyalty?
أودىhas destroyed بمهجتيmy lifeblood التنائيseparation فاسمحواso generously grant
أودى بمهجتي التنائي فاسمحوا
منكمfrom you أهيلdear people مودتيof my affection بلقاءa meeting
منكم أهيل مودتي بلقاء
Separation has destroyed my lifeblood; generously grant
Or does my infatuation that separates me excuse me,
a meeting with you, dear people of my affection.
From you I hope for my love in a meeting.
حياكمmay He bless you الرحمنthe All-Merciful ماas long as سمحfalls freely الحياthe rain
حياكم الرحمن ما سمح الحيا
وسقىand waters الوليthe following rain مواطنthe abodes الآلاءof blessings
وسقى الولي مواطن الآلاء
May the All-Merciful bless you as long as rain falls freely,
May the Merciful give you life as long as life,
and later rain waters the abodes of blessings.
Allowed and the Guardian watered the places of favors.
وعلىand upon أودائيmy dear friends سلاميmy greeting كلماwhenever
وعلى أودائي سلامي كلما
أرجfragrance النسيمof the breeze سرىwafts منfrom الزوراءal-Zawrāʾ
أرج النسيم سرى من الزوراء
And upon my dear friends be my greeting whenever
And upon my organs is my greeting whenever,
the scent of the breeze wafts from al-Zawrāʾ.
The breeze blew from Al-Zawra.