اِنif سالَflowed مِنfrom غَربthe corners of العُيونِthe eyes بُحورseas
اِن سالَ مِن غَرب العُيونِ بُحور
فَالدَهرُfor fate باغis unjust وَالزَمانand time غَدورis treacherous
فَالدَهرُ باغ وَالزَمان غَدور
If seas flow from the corners of the eyes,
If the tears of longing eyes were oceans wide
For fate is unjust, and time treacherous.
Then time would be a garden, and life a bride
فَلِكُلِّso for every عَينeye حَقa right مدرارpouring profusely الدِماblood
فَلِكُلِّ عَين حَق مدرار الدِما
وَلكلand for every قَلبheart لَوعَةanguish وَثُبورand ruin
وَلكل قَلب لَوعَة وَثُبور
Every eye has the right to pour forth blood,
Each eye deserves bloody tears to pour
And every heart has anguish and ruin.
Each heart profound sorrows and wounds untold
سَترالسناthe radiance was veiled وَتحجبتand was veiled شَمسُthe sun of الضُحىforenoon
سَترالسنا وَتحجبت شَمسُ الضُحى
وَتَغيبتand vanished بَعدafter الشُروقsunrise بدورfull moons
وَتَغيبت بَعد الشُروق بدور
The radiance was veiled, and the forenoon sun hid herself.
The radiant morn is veiled, the sun concealed
And full moons vanished after sunrise.
The dawn now sets, its promise unrevealed
وَمَضىand passed away الَّذيthe one whom أَهوىI love وَجرعنيand made me drink الاِساsorrow
وَمَضى الَّذي أَهوى وَجرعني الاِسا
وَغَدَتand there arose بِقَلبيin my heart جذوةan ember وَسَعيرand a blaze
وَغَدَت بِقَلبي جذوة وَسَعير
The one I love passed away and made me drink sorrow.
My beloved left, and made my drink despair
And in my heart arose an ember and a raging fire.
In my heart a raging fire, its fuel my care
ياO لَيتَهُif only he لِماwhen نَوىintended عهدthe pact of النَوىseparation
يا لَيتَهُ لِما نَوى عهد النَوى
وافىcame to العُيونthe eyes مِنَfrom الظَلامdarkness نَذيرa warner
وافى العُيون مِنَ الظَلام نَذير
If only, when he resolved upon the pact of separation,
If only he’d fulfilled the promise of our love
A warner had come to the eyes out of darkness.
My eyes would see a sign, a message from above
ناهيكَenough for you ماwhat فَعَلتdid بِماءto the sap of حَشاشَتيmy life
ناهيكَ ما فَعَلت بِماء حَشاشَتي
نارa fire لهاit has بَينَbetween الضُلوعِthe ribs زَفيرa roaring breath
نار لها بَينَ الضُلوعِ زَفير
Consider what was done to the sap of my life
Need I speak of the fire in my breast?
By a fire with a roaring breath between my ribs.
Its burning consumes me, allows no rest
لَوبثif spread حزنيmy sorrow فيamong الوَرىmankind لَمwould not يَلتَفِتheed
لَوبث حزني في الوَرى لَم يَلتَفِت
لِمُصابto the affliction of قيسQays وَالمُصابand affliction كَثيرis great
لِمُصاب قيس وَالمُصاب كَثير
Had my sorrow spread through mankind, no one would heed
If my grief filled the world, still none would care
Qays's affliction, though affliction is great.
About my sorrow, though sorrow everywhere
طافَتpassed round بِشَهرin the month of الصَومِfasting كاساتِcups of الرَدىdeath
طافَت بِشَهر الصَومِ كاساتِ الرَدى
سِحراat dawn وَأَكوابُand cups of الدُموعِtears تَدورrevolve
سِحرا وَأَكوابُ الدُموعِ تَدور
The cups of death passed round in the month of fasting,
Cups of tears passed round in the holy fast
At dawn, while cups of tears revolved.
My daughter sipped, her beauty did not last
فَتَناوَلَتso she drank مِنهاfrom them اِبنَتيmy daughter فَتَغَيَّرَتso changed
فَتَناوَلَت مِنها اِبنَتي فَتَغَيَّرَت
وَجناتُcheekbones خدa cheek شانِهاmarred them التَغييرthe change
وَجناتُ خد شانِها التَغيير
Then my daughter drank from them, and changed were
The blooms faded in her garden bower
Her cheeks, disfigured by that change.
Wilted and died no longer in flower
فَذَوَتso withered أَزاهيرُthe flowers of الحَياةِlife بِرَوضِهاin her garden
فَذَوَت أَزاهيرُ الحَياةِ بِرَوضِها
وَاِنقَدَّand was torn away مِنهاfrom her مائِسthe graceful وَنَضيرand the fresh
وَاِنقَدَّ مِنها مائِس وَنَضير
The flowers of life withered in her garden,
In childhood she wore garments of disease
And all that was graceful and fresh in her was torn away.
Drank the bitter draught of death with unease
لَبِسَتshe wore ثِيابَthe garments of السَقمِsickness فيin صغرyouth وَقَدand already
لَبِسَت ثِيابَ السَقمِ في صغر وَقَد
ذاقَتshe tasted شَرابَthe drink of المَوتِdeath وَهُوَwhile it was مَريرbitter
ذاقَت شَرابَ المَوتِ وَهُوَ مَرير
She wore the garments of sickness while still young, and already
At dawn the doctor came, claimed she’d be well
Tasted the drink of death, bitter as it was.
Yet doctors and their cures under false spell
جاءَcame الطَبيبُthe physician ضَحىat midmorning وَبشرand gave good news بِالشَفاof healing
جاءَ الطَبيبُ ضَحى وَبشر بِالشَفا
اِنَّindeed الطَبيبَthe physician بِطِبِّهِby his medicine مَغرورis deluded
اِنَّ الطَبيبَ بِطِبِّهِ مَغرور
The physician came at midmorning and announced healing.
He prescribed his treatments, said she would thrive
The physician is deluded by his own medicine.
Free of all illness, fully alive
وَصفhe prescribed التَجرعdrinking a draught وَهُوَwhile he يَزعُمclaims إِنَّهُthat he
وَصف التَجرع وَهُوَ يَزعُم إِنَّهُ
بِالبِرءof recovery مِنfrom كُلevery السِقامِsickness بَشيرa bearer of good news
بِالبِرء مِن كُل السِقامِ بَشير
He prescribed a draught, claiming that he
To grief I said “Grant my recovery, make haste
Brought good news of recovery from every sickness.
You claim to be skilled, so cure my bitter taste”
فَتَنَفَسَّتُso I sighed لِلحُزنِfrom sorrow قائِلَةsaying لَهُto him
فَتَنَفَسَّتُ لِلحُزنِ قائِلَة لَهُ
عَجِّلhasten بِبِرئيwith my recovery حَيثُsince أَنتَyou خَبيرare skilled
عَجِّل بِبِرئي حَيثُ أَنتَ خَبير
Then I sighed in sorrow, saying to him:
And “Spare my youth, my mother now distraught
Hasten my recovery, since you are skilled.
The world torments her, stirs her anxious thought”
وَاِحمِand safeguard شَبابيmy youth اِنindeed والِدَتيmy mother غَدَتhas become
وَاِحمِ شَبابي اِن والِدَتي غَدَت
ثَكلىbereaved يَثيرstirs لَهاfor her الجَوىheartache وَتَشيرand she gestures
ثَكلى يَثير لَها الجَوى وَتَشير
And preserve my youth, for my mother has become
“Take pity on my eyes, their comfort gone
Bereaved; anguish is stirred in her, and she gestures.
In their still pools only sadness has shone”
وَاِرأَفand have pity بِعَينon an eye حَرمتdeprived of طيبthe sweetness of الكَرىsleep
وَاِرأَف بِعَين حَرمت طيب الكَرى
تَشكوcomplains of السُهادsleeplessness وَفيand in الجُفونِthe eyelids فُتورlanguor
تَشكو السُهاد وَفي الجُفونِ فُتور
And have pity on an eye denied the sweetness of sleep,
Seeing the doctor’s despair and his defeat
Lamenting sleeplessness, with languor in its lids.
She said, as tears flooded, an endless stream:
لِماwhen رَأَتshe saw يَأسَthe despair of الطَبيبthe physician وَعَجزِهِand his helplessness
لِما رَأَت يَأسَ الطَبيب وَعَجزِهِ
قالَتshe said وَدَمعwhile the tears of المُقلَتَينboth eyes غَزيرare copious
قالَت وَدَمع المُقلَتَين غَزير
When she saw the physician's despair and helplessness,
“Mother, the doctor’s efforts are all in vain
She said, tears pouring from both her eyes:
Of hoped-for life I find no sign remain”
أَماهO mother قَدalready كلhas grown weary الطَبيبthe physician وَفاتَنيand eluded me
أَماه قَد كل الطَبيب وَفاتَني
مِمّاof what أؤملI hope for فيin الحَياةِlife نَصيرa helper
مِمّا أؤمل في الحَياةِ نَصير
Mother, the physician has grown weary, and I have lost
“If only the famed healer of Yamamah came here
An ally in what I hope for in life.
My eyes and spirit to mend, dispel my fear”
لَوif جاءَcame عرافthe diviner of اليَمامَةِal-Yamama يَبتَغيseeking
لَو جاءَ عراف اليَمامَةِ يَبتَغي
برئىmy cure لِردhe would turn back الطَرفhis gaze وَهُوَwhile he was حَسيرweary
برئى لِرد الطَرف وَهُوَ حَسير
If the diviner of al-Yamama came seeking
“Oh comfort my soul! Let it slip its tether
My cure, he would turn his gaze away in weariness.
Soon, so soon, it will take to wings and feather”
ياO رَوعَthe terror of روحيmy soul حلهاhas seized it نَزعthe death-throes of الضَناwasting sickness
يا رَوعَ روحي حلها نَزع الضَنا
عَمّاin قَليلa little while وَرقهاits doves سَتَطيرwill fly
عَمّا قَليل وَرقها سَتَطير
Oh, my soul's terror! The death-throes of wasting sickness have seized it;
“Mother, no meeting remains, tomorrow’s light
Soon its doves will fly away.
Will reveal my funeral, a simple sight”
أَماهO mother قَدindeed عَزhas become difficult اللُقاmeeting وَفيand on غَدthe morrow
أَماه قَد عَز اللُقا وَفي غَد
سَتَرينَyou will see نَعشىmy bier كَالعَروسِlike a bride يَسيرbeing borne along
سَتَرينَ نَعشى كَالعَروسِ يَسير
Mother, reunion is beyond reach; and tomorrow
“This toil will end in the grave, the place
You will see my bier borne along like a bride.
Where crowds will gather when I’m laid to rest”
وَسَيَنتَهيand will end المَسعىthe journey اِلىat اللَحدِthe grave الَّذيwhich
وَسَيَنتَهي المَسعى اِلى اللَحدِ الَّذي
هُوَis مَنزِليmy dwelling وَلَهُand to it الجُموعُthe multitudes تَصيرgo
هُوَ مَنزِلي وَلَهُ الجُموعُ تَصير
And the journey will end at the grave which
“Tell the Grave to treat gently your daughter
Is my dwelling, and to which the multitudes go.
Who comes to him a bride sent by fate’s order”
قولىsay لِربto the Lord of اللَحدthe grave رفقاgently بِاِبنَتيwith my daughter
قولى لِرب اللَحد رفقا بِاِبنَتي
جاءَتshe has come عَروساas a bride ساقَهاled her التَقديرdestiny
جاءَت عَروسا ساقَها التَقدير
Tell the Lord of the grave: 'Be gentle with my daughter;
“And when shut in that narrow bed beside me
She has come as a bride, led by destiny.'
Know that the spirit you knew is confined with me”
وَتجلديand be steadfast بِاِزاءbeside لَحدىmy grave بُرهةa while
وَتجلدي بِاِزاء لَحدى بُرهة
فَتَراكَfor it sees you روحa soul راعِهاterrified it المَقدورwhat was decreed
فَتَراكَ روح راعِها المَقدور
And be steadfast beside my grave for a while,
“Mother, you wished for us such different fates
For a soul terrified by fate will see you.
Now sorrow divides us, our lot is weights”
أَماهO mother قَدalready سَلَفتwas once لَناfor us أُمنِيَةa wish
أَماه قَد سَلَفت لَنا أُمنِيَة
ياO حُسنِهاits beauty لَوif only ساقَهاbrought it التَيسيرease
يا حُسنِها لَو ساقَها التَيسير
Mother, we once had a wish;
“Return to the barren sands, the windswept plain
How lovely, had it been brought to fulfillment with ease!
Where only memory of me will remain”
كانَتit was كَأَحلامٌlike dreams مَضَتpassed away وَتَخلفتand went unfulfilled
كانَت كَأَحلامٌ مَضَت وَتَخلفت
مُذsince بانَappeared يَومُthe day of البينِseparation وَهوand it was عَسيرhard
مُذ بانَ يَومُ البينِ وَهو عَسير
It was like dreams that passed away and went unfulfilled,
“Keep my bridal dress, recall happier hours
When the day of separation appeared, bitter as it was.
When it shone with the promise of coming bowers”
عودىreturn اِلىto رُبعِa dwelling خَلاemptied وَمَآثِرand relics
عودى اِلى رُبعِ خَلا وَمَآثِر
قَدalready خَلَفَتwere left behind عَنّيby me لَهاthey have تَأثيرan effect
قَد خَلَفَت عَنّي لَها تَأثير
Return to an empty dwelling and to the relics
“After this, dress in black, let the writ be done”
Left behind by me, with their lingering influence.
“The grave is now your daughter’s garden bower
صونىpreserve جِهازَthe trousseau of العُرسِthe wedding تِذكاراas a keepsake قَلىestrangement
صونى جِهازَ العُرسِ تِذكارا قَلى
قَدindeed كانَthere was مِنهُfrom it اِلىtoward الزَفافِthe wedding سُرورjoy
قَد كانَ مِنهُ اِلى الزَفافِ سُرور
Preserve the bridal trousseau as a remembrance of estrangement;
Where flowers will bloom when you stand and glower”
It once brought joy in anticipation of the wedding.
“Do not forget me, by right of your care
جَرَتbefell مَصائِبُthe calamities of فَرَّقَتىmy separation لَكَfor you بعدذاafter this
جَرَت مَصائِبُ فَرَّقَتى لَكَ بعدذا
لَبسwearing السَوادblack وَنفذand was fulfilled المَسطورthe written decree
لَبس السَواد وَنفذ المَسطور
The calamities of my parting befell you; after this comes
Visit my grave, so the buried know you were there”
The wearing of black, and the written decree is fulfilled.
I comforted her though grief sealed my tongue
وَالقَبرُand the grave صارَbecame لِغُصنfor the branch of قَدىmy stature رَوضَةa garden
وَالقَبرُ صارَ لِغُصن قَدى رَوضَة
ريحانُهاits sweet basil عِندat المزارthe place of visitation زُهورflowers
ريحانُها عِند المزار زُهور
And the grave became a garden for the branch of my stature;
“He is merciful, your Lord, and most forgiving”
At the place of visitation, flowers are its sweet basil.
“My daughter, agony of my soul
أَماهُO mother لاdo not تَنسىforget بِحقby the right of بنوتىmy daughterhood
أَماهُ لا تَنسى بِحق بنوتى
قَبريmy grave لَئِلّاlest يَحزنgrieve المَقبورthe buried one
قَبري لَئِلّا يَحزن المَقبور
Mother, do not forget, by the claim of my daughterhood,
The sweetness of your life is fled, your brightness dulled”
My grave, lest the one buried there grieve.
“I won’t tell your mother, whom you consumed with pain
فَأَحيَيتُهاso I revived her وَالدَمعُwhile tears يَحبِسُrestrain مَنطقىmy speech
فَأَحيَيتُها وَالدَمعُ يَحبِسُ مَنطقى
هُوhe راحمis merciful بربِّناby our Lord وَغَفورand forgiving
هُو راحم بربِّنا وَغَفور
So I revived her, while tears choked my speech:
With grief and endless sighing, your loss her bane”
He is compassionate—by our Lord—and forgiving.
I swear by the hateful eyes, my burning desire
بِنتاهO my daughter ياO كَبديmy liver وَلَوعَةand the anguish of مُهجَتيmy soul
بِنتاه يا كَبدي وَلَوعَة مُهجَتي
قَدalready زالَvanished صَفوserenity شانِهmarred it التَكديرdistress
قَد زالَ صَفو شانِه التَكدير
My daughter, my liver, the anguish of my soul,
Since I lost your light, no smile, only fire
Gone is the serenity that distress had marred.
And by my kisses that drew the blood from your lip
لاnot نوصىwe counsel ثَكلىa bereaved mother قَدalready أَذابَmelted وَتينُهاher heart's artery
لا نوصى ثَكلى قَد أَذابَ وَتينُها
حُزنgrief عَلَيكَfor you وَحَسرَةand sorrow وَزَفيرand sighing
حُزن عَلَيكَ وَحَسرَة وَزَفير
We do not counsel a bereaved mother whose heart's artery has been melted
That exuded such sweetness, anointed my sip
By grief for you, sorrow, and sighing.
By God! I find no joy in reciting Quran
قَسماI swear بِغضby the lowering of نَواظِرeyes وَتَلهفىand my anguish
قَسما بِغض نَواظِر وَتَلهفى
مُذsince غابَvanished نسانa pupil (uncertain reading) وَفارِقand departed نورa light
مُذ غابَ نسان وَفارِق نور
I swear by lowered eyes and my anguish,
Or birds singing where once we heard their voice, pleasant
Since a pupil vanished and a light departed,
No, I'll never forget the sigh of my pain
وَبِقُبلَتيand by my kiss upon ثَغراa mouth تَقضىcompleted نَحبهits life's term
وَبِقُبلَتي ثَغرا تَقضى نَحبه
فَحَرَمتso I was deprived of طيبthe sweetness of شَذاهُits scent وَهُوَthough it was عَطيرfragrant
فَحَرَمت طيب شَذاهُ وَهُوَ عَطير
And by my kiss upon a mouth that had met its end,
Though you are lost to the earth and lie buried, unclaimed
So I was deprived of its sweet scent, though it was fragrant.
I'm used to such sorrow that if it fled from me
وَاللَهُby God لاnot أَسلوwill I forsake التِلاوَةِrecitation وَالدَعاand supplication
وَاللَهُ لا أَسلو التِلاوَةِ وَالدَعا
ماas long as غَرَّدَتsing فَوقَabove الغُصونُthe branches طُيورbirds
ما غَرَّدَت فَوقَ الغُصونُ طُيور
By God, I will not forsake recitation and supplication
I would grieve the loss of my mournful guarantee
As long as birds sing above the branches.
Once I'd not bear even a moment apart
كَلاno indeed وَلاand not أَنسىwill I forget زَفيرthe sighs of توجعيmy pain
كَلا وَلا أَنسى زَفير توجعي
وَالقَدwhile the form مِنكَof you لَدىin الثَرىthe soil مَدثورlies buried
وَالقَد مِنكَ لَدى الثَرى مَدثور
No indeed; nor shall I forget the sighs of my pain,
But now endless separation - how to mend my heart?
While your form lies buried in the earth.
I'll weep for you until in Heaven we meet
اِنىindeed I أَلفتhave grown accustomed to الحُزنَsorrow حَتّىuntil إِنَّنيindeed I
اِنى أَلفت الحُزنَ حَتّى إِنَّني
لَوif غابَdeparted عَنّيfrom me ساءَنيwould distress me التَأخيرthe delay
لَو غابَ عَنّي ساءَني التَأخير
I have grown so accustomed to sorrow that
In eternal gardens of beauty replete
If it left me, its lingering absence would distress me.
If asked, “Who is Aisha?” I’ll say this alone:
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to لاnot أَرضىaccept التَباعُدseparation بُرهَةfor a moment
قَد كُنتُ لا أَرضى التَباعُد بُرهَة
كَيفَhow التَصَبُّرpatient endurance وَالبِعادُwhile separation دُهورlasts ages
كَيفَ التَصَبُّر وَالبِعادُ دُهور
I once would not accept separation even for a moment;
My life and patience are nothing, my love overthrown
How can I endure patiently, when separation lasts for ages?
Lost is the beauty concealed by the veil
أَبكيكَI weep for you حَتّىuntil نَلتَقيwe meet فيin جنةParadise
أَبكيكَ حَتّى نَلتَقي في جنة
بِرِياضin gardens of خُلدeternity زينَتُهاwhose adornment is الحورthe houris
بِرِياض خُلد زينَتُها الحور
I weep for you until we meet in Paradise,
Though her face was perfection, luminescent and pale
Amid everlasting gardens adorned with houris.
My heart, my eyes, my tongue, my Lord and Creator
اِنif قيلَis said عائِشَةAisha أَقولُI say لَقَدindeed فَنىhas perished
اِن قيلَ عائِشَة أَقولُ لَقَد فَنى
عيشىmy life وَصَبريand my patience وَالاِلهand God خَبيرknows
عيشى وَصَبري وَالاِله خَبير
If 'Aisha' is said, I say: 'Truly perished are
Are pleased and weep in thanks, seeing His favour
My life and my patience; God knows.'
In the gardens of gladness with those satisfied
وَلَهىmy anguished yearning عَلىfor تَوحيدِهِTawhida الحُسنِbeauty الَّتيwhose
وَلَهى عَلى تَوحيدِهِ الحُسنِ الَّتي
قَدalready غابَvanished بَدرthe full moon of جَمالِهاher beauty المَستورthe veiled
قَد غابَ بَدر جَمالِها المَستور
My anguish is for Tawhida, the beauty whose
Not grand halls and castles are my joy and pride
Veiled full moon of loveliness has disappeared.
I heard the truth spoken: “My servants, come nigh
قَلبيmy heart وَجِفنيand my eyelid وَاللِسانُand the tongue وَخالِقيand my Creator
قَلبي وَجِفني وَاللِسانُ وَخالِقي
راضcontent وَباكَand weeping شاكِرthankful وَغَفورand forgiving
راض وَباكَ شاكِر وَغَفور
My heart, my eyelid, my tongue, and my Creator—
To the home of peace, your striving is recognized"
Content, weeping, thankful, and forgiving.
To the life of the blessed, no worldly snares
مَتعتmay you enjoy بِالرِضوانwith divine favor فيin خُلدthe eternity of الرِضاcontentment
مَتعت بِالرِضوان في خُلد الرِضا
ماas long as اِزينتis adorned لَكَfor you غُرفَةa chamber وَقُصورand palaces
ما اِزينت لَكَ غُرفَة وَقُصور
May you enjoy divine favor in the eternity of contentment,
You have delight, so may my headstone proclaim
As long as a chamber and palaces stand adorned for you.
Your oneness, my wedding, maids of heaven my acclaim
وَسَمِعتُand I heard قَولَthe words of الحَقِّthe True One لِلقَومِto the people اِدخُلواenter
وَسَمِعتُ قَولَ الحَقِّ لِلقَومِ اِدخُلوا
دارَthe abode of السَلامِpeace فَسَعيُكُمfor your striving مَشكورis appreciated
دارَ السَلامِ فَسَعيُكُم مَشكور
And I heard the True One's words to the people: 'Enter
The abode of peace, for your striving is appreciated.'
هذاthis النَعيمُbliss بِهِin it الاِحبَّةloved ones تَلتَقيmeet
هذا النَعيمُ بِهِ الاِحبَّة تَلتَقي
لاno عَيشَlife اِلّاexcept عيشهits life المَبرورblessed
لا عَيشَ اِلّا عيشه المَبرور
This is bliss in which loved ones meet;
There is no life except its blessed life.
وَلَكَand yours is الهَناءُjoy فَصدقso the truth of تاريخيmy chronogram بَداappeared
وَلَكَ الهَناءُ فَصدق تاريخي بَدا
تَوحيدُهُTawhida زَفتwas led as a bride وَمَعَهاand with her الحورthe houris
تَوحيدُهُ زَفت وَمَعَها الحور
And joy is yours; the truth of my chronogram appears:
Tawhida was led forth as a bride, with the houris beside her.
Partial English translation: 90 of 96 Arabic lines translated.