أَتَطمَعُ يا عَبّاسُ في غَيرِ مَطمَعِ

أَتَطمَعُ يا عَبّاسُ في غَيرِ مَطمَعِ

بَعُدتَ دَعِ التَطلابَ مِن كَثَبٍ دَعِ

بَعُدتَ دَعِ التَطلابَ مِن كَثَبٍ دَعِ

Do you hope, O Abbas, for what is beyond hope?

Do you aspire, O Abbas, to the unattainable?

You are far away; give up the quest for nearness—give it up.

You have wandered far, leave this fruitless longing!

أَلَم تَرَ داوُدَ النَبِيَّ هَوَت بِهِ

أَلَم تَرَ داوُدَ النَبِيَّ هَوَت بِهِ

حِبالُ الهَوى فيما سَمِعتَ أَو اِسمَعِ

حِبالُ الهَوى فيما سَمِعتَ أَو اِسمَعِ

Have you not seen how David the prophet was brought down

Have you not seen how the ropes of passion

by love's cords, as you have heard—or listen!

Ensnared David the prophet, whether you have heard or not?

وَمازالَ لِلناسِ الهَوى ذا عَداوَةٍ

وَمازالَ لِلناسِ الهَوى ذا عَداوَةٍ

مُضِرّاً بِهِم مُذ عَهدِ عادٍ وَتُبَّعِ

مُضِرّاً بِهِم مُذ عَهدِ عادٍ وَتُبَّعِ

And love has always been an enemy to humankind,

And passion has always been hostile to people

harming them since the days of ʿĀd and Tubbaʿ.

Harming them since the time of Ad and Tubba'.

كَأَنَّ هُمومَ الجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ أُسكِنَت

كَأَنَّ هُمومَ الجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ أُسكِنَت

فُؤادي فَما تَعدو فُؤادي وَأَضلُعي

فُؤادي فَما تَعدو فُؤادي وَأَضلُعي

As though the sorrows of jinn and humankind were lodged

It seems the sorrows of jinn and mankind

in my heart, never passing beyond my heart and ribs.

Have lodged in my heart, they exceed it and my ribs.

أُنيخَت رِكابُ اللَيلِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

أُنيخَت رِكابُ اللَيلِ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

وَحادَت نُجومُ اللَيلِ عَن كُلِّ مَوقِعِ

وَحادَت نُجومُ اللَيلِ عَن كُلِّ مَوقِعِ

The riding camels of night have been made to kneel on every side,

The mounts of night have knelt down on all sides,

and night's stars have turned aside from every station.

And the stars of night have retreated from their positions.

وَلَو أَنَّ خَلقَ اللَهُ حَلَّت صُدورَهم

وَلَو أَنَّ خَلقَ اللَهُ حَلَّت صُدورَهم

تَباريحُ ما بي سُيِّبَت كُلُّ مُرضِعِ

تَباريحُ ما بي سُيِّبَت كُلُّ مُرضِعِ

And if the breasts of God's creatures were beset

If the minds of people were revealed, every suckling babe

by the agonies I bear, every nursing mother would be left untended.

Would be weaned from its wet nurse.

شَكَت ما بِها نَفسي مِنَ الشَوقِ وَالهَوى

شَكَت ما بِها نَفسي مِنَ الشَوقِ وَالهَوى

فَقُلتُ لَقَد طالَبتِ وِدَّ مُمَنَّعِ

فَقُلتُ لَقَد طالَبتِ وِدَّ مُمَنَّعِ

My soul complained of the longing and love she bore;

My soul complained to me of longing and love,

so I said: You have indeed sought the affection of one beyond reach.

So I said, “You have sought the affection of one who refuses!”

وَما كانَ مِنكِ العِشقُ إِلّا لَجَاجَةً

وَما كانَ مِنكِ العِشقُ إِلّا لَجَاجَةً

وَلَو شِئتِ لَم تَهوي وَلَم تَتَطَلَّعي

وَلَو شِئتِ لَم تَهوي وَلَم تَتَطَلَّعي

Your passion was nothing but obstinacy;

This love of yours was but stubbornness,

had you wished, you would neither have loved nor yearned.

Had you wished otherwise, you would not have desired or aspired.

وَما هُوَ إِلّا ما تَرَينَ وَذو الهَوى

وَما هُوَ إِلّا ما تَرَينَ وَذو الهَوى

يُعالِجُ ثِقلاً فَاِصبِري أَو تَقَطَّعي

يُعالِجُ ثِقلاً فَاِصبِري أَو تَقَطَّعي

It is no more than what you see; the lover

It is but what you see, and the passionate lover

struggles with a burden, so be patient—or be torn apart.

Struggles with a burden, so be patient or split apart!

عَسى اللَهُ أَن يَرتاحَ يَوماً بِرَحمَةٍ

عَسى اللَهُ أَن يَرتاحَ يَوماً بِرَحمَةٍ

فيُنصِفَني مِن فاضِحي وَمُرَوِّعي

فيُنصِفَني مِن فاضِحي وَمُرَوِّعي

May God one day be moved to mercy

May God one day grant respite with mercy,

and grant me justice against the one who shames and terrifies me.

And vindicate me from my disgracer and terrifier.

لَعَمري لَشَتّى بَينَ حَرّانَ هائِمٍ

لَعَمري لَشَتّى بَينَ حَرّانَ هائِمٍ

وَبَينَ رَخِيٍّ بالُهُ مُتَوَدِّعِ

وَبَينَ رَخِيٍّ بالُهُ مُتَوَدِّعِ

By my life, how far apart are a parched, bewildered lover

By my life! It varies between one madly wandering

and one whose mind is at ease, resting in comfort!

And one relaxed while his mind is bidding farewell.

كَتَمتُ اِسمَها كِتمانَ مَن صانَ عِرضَهُ

كَتَمتُ اِسمَها كِتمانَ مَن صانَ عِرضَهُ

وَحاذَرَ أَن يَفشو قَبيحُ التَسَمُّعِ

وَحاذَرَ أَن يَفشو قَبيحُ التَسَمُّعِ

I concealed her name as one who guards his honor

I concealed her name with the concealment of one who protects his honor

and fears that ugly hearsay might spread.

And is wary of vile eavesdropping.

فَسَمّيتُها فَوزاً وَلَو بُحتُ بِاِسمِها

فَسَمّيتُها فَوزاً وَلَو بُحتُ بِاِسمِها

لَسُمّيتُ بِاِسمٍ هائِلِ الذِكرِ أَشنَعِ

لَسُمّيتُ بِاِسمٍ هائِلِ الذِكرِ أَشنَعِ

So I called her Fawz; had I divulged her name,

So I called her Fawz, though had I declared her name

I would have been called a most shameful name, dreadful to mention.

I would have named her with a tremendous, horrendous name!

فَوا حَسرَتي إِن نُحتُ لَم تُقضَ نَهمَتي

فَوا حَسرَتي إِن نُحتُ لَم تُقضَ نَهمَتي

وَلَم يُغنِ عَنّي طولُ هذا التَضَرُّعِ

وَلَم يُغنِ عَنّي طولُ هذا التَضَرُّعِ

Alas for my sorrow! If I wail, my yearning is not satisfied,

Oh my regret that carving has not fulfilled my appetite,

nor does this prolonged supplication avail me.

Nor has the length of this pleading helped me.

وَهَبتُ لَها نَفسي فَضَنَّت بِوَصلِها

وَهَبتُ لَها نَفسي فَضَنَّت بِوَصلِها

فَيا لَكَ مِن مُعطٍ وَمِن مُتَمَنِّعِ

فَيا لَكَ مِن مُعطٍ وَمِن مُتَمَنِّعِ

I gave her my soul, yet she begrudged me union with her;

I gifted her my soul, but she was miserly in uniting with me,

ah, what a giver, and what a withholder!

What a giver you are, and what a withholder!

إِلَيكِ بِنَفسي أَنتِ أَشكو بَلِيَّتي

إِلَيكِ بِنَفسي أَنتِ أَشكو بَلِيَّتي

وَقَد ذُقتُ طَعمَ المَوتِ لَولا تَشَجُّعي

وَقَد ذُقتُ طَعمَ المَوتِ لَولا تَشَجُّعي

To you—may my soul ransom you—I complain of my affliction;

To you I complain of my affliction,

and, but for my courage, I would have tasted death.

And I have tasted the flavor of death, had it not been for your encouragement.

هَبي لي دَمي لا تَقتُليني بِلا دَمٍ

هَبي لي دَمي لا تَقتُليني بِلا دَمٍ

فَما يَستَحِلُّ القَتلَ أَهلُ التَوَرُّعِ

فَما يَستَحِلُّ القَتلَ أَهلُ التَوَرُّعِ

Spare my blood; do not kill me without bloodguilt,

Grant me my blood, do not kill me without blood,

for those with scruples do not deem killing lawful.

For the chaste do not deserve murder.

إِذا ذَكَرَتكِ العَينُ يَوماً تَبادَرَت

إِذا ذَكَرَتكِ العَينُ يَوماً تَبادَرَت

دُموعي عَلى الخَدَّينِ تَجري بِأَربَعِ

دُموعي عَلى الخَدَّينِ تَجري بِأَربَعِ

If the eye remembers you one day, then rush forth

Whenever the eye remembers you one day,

my tears, flowing fourfold down both cheeks.

My tears flow down my cheeks in fours.

فيا كُلَّ هَمّي أَقطِعيني قَطيعَةً

فيا كُلَّ هَمّي أَقطِعيني قَطيعَةً

مِنَ الوَصلِ تَبقى لي وَلَو قَدرَ إِصبَعِ

مِنَ الوَصلِ تَبقى لي وَلَو قَدرَ إِصبَعِ

O you, my whole concern, grant me an allotment

So end all my worries with a separation

of union to remain mine, if only a finger's breadth.

From union, leaving for me even a finger's worth.

أَنا لَكِ مَملوكٌ فَإِن شِئتِ عَذِّبي

أَنا لَكِ مَملوكٌ فَإِن شِئتِ عَذِّبي

وَإِن شِئتِ مُنّي أَيَّ ذا شِئتِ فَاِصنَعي

وَإِن شِئتِ مُنّي أَيَّ ذا شِئتِ فَاِصنَعي

I am your slave; if you wish, torment me,

I am your slave, so if you wish, torment me,

and if you wish, be gracious—do whichever you choose.

And if you wish, favor me however you want and do as you please.

تُريدينَ إِلّا مُشفِقاً ذا نَصيحَةٍ

تُريدينَ إِلّا مُشفِقاً ذا نَصيحَةٍ

فَدونَكِ حَبلَ الطائِعِ المُتَطَوِّعِ

فَدونَكِ حَبلَ الطائِعِ المُتَطَوِّعِ

You desire only someone compassionate, with sincere goodwill;

You want none but a caring advisor,

so take the tether of one obedient and willing.

So I am the obedient one, voluntarily submitting.

عَلامَةُ ما بَيني وَبَينَكِ أَن تَرَي

عَلامَةُ ما بَيني وَبَينَكِ أَن تَرَي

كِتاباً عَلَيهِ فَصُّ خَتمٍ مُرَبَّعِ

كِتاباً عَلَيهِ فَصُّ خَتمٍ مُرَبَّعِ

The token of what lies between you and me is that you should see

The sign between me and you is that you see

a letter bearing the impression of a square seal,

A sealed letter, the seal a square.

مُسَلسَلَةً حافاتُهُ في لَطافَةٍ

مُسَلسَلَةً حافاتُهُ في لَطافَةٍ

وَفي نَقشِهِ يا أُذنَ فَوزٍ تَسَمَّعي

وَفي نَقشِهِ يا أُذنَ فَوزٍ تَسَمَّعي

its borders delicately patterned like a chain;

A bracelet whose edges are soft,

and listen to its inscription, O ear of Fawz.

And in its engraving, “O ear of Fawz, listen!”

تَمَنَّيتُ أَن تُسقَي مِنَ الحُبِّ شَربَتي

تَمَنَّيتُ أَن تُسقَي مِنَ الحُبِّ شَربَتي

وَأَن تَرتَعي مِن لَوعَةِ الحُبِّ مَرتَعي

وَأَن تَرتَعي مِن لَوعَةِ الحُبِّ مَرتَعي

I wished that you might be given my draught of love,

I wished you would quench my thirst for love,

and graze where I graze on love's burning anguish,

And graze in the meadows of love’s agony.

وَأَن تُصبِحي صُبحي وَأَن تَتَضَجَّعي

وَأَن تُصبِحي صُبحي وَأَن تَتَضَجَّعي

إِذا اللَيلُ أَلقى سِترَهُ كَتَضَجُّعي

إِذا اللَيلُ أَلقى سِترَهُ كَتَضَجُّعي

and greet the morning as I do, and lie down,

That you would be my morning and retire

when night casts its veil, as I lie down.

When the night casts its veil like your retiring.

بِحَسبِ الهَوى أَن قَد بُليتُ وَأَنَّني

بِحَسبِ الهَوى أَن قَد بُليتُ وَأَنَّني

مَتى ما أَقُل قَد غاضَ دَمعِيَ يَهمَعِ

مَتى ما أَقُل قَد غاضَ دَمعِيَ يَهمَعِ

It is enough for love that I have been afflicted, and that

It is enough that I have been tested by love, and that

whenever I say, 'My tears have ebbed,' they pour forth.

Whenever I say I have wept, my tears flow.

وَرَدتُ وَبَعضُ الوِردِ فيهِ مَرارَةٌ

وَرَدتُ وَبَعضُ الوِردِ فيهِ مَرارَةٌ

حِياضَ الهَوى مِن كُلِّ أَفيَحَ مُترَعِ

حِياضَ الهَوى مِن كُلِّ أَفيَحَ مُترَعِ

I came to drink—and some draughts hold bitterness—

I returned, and some of the return was bitter,

at love's pools, each spacious and full to the brim.

The meadows of passion from every slope are a pasture.

فَما زِلتُ أَحسوها بِكَأَسَينِ كُلَّما

فَما زِلتُ أَحسوها بِكَأَسَينِ كُلَّما

شَرِبتُ بِكَأسٍ لَم تَزَل أُختُها مَعي

شَرِبتُ بِكَأسٍ لَم تَزَل أُختُها مَعي

So I kept sipping from them with two cups; whenever

So I continued to toast her with two cups, whenever

I drank from one cup, its sister remained with me.

I drank from one cup, its sister remained with me.

أُديرُهُما مِن كُلِّ حَوضٍ إِلى فَمي

أُديرُهُما مِن كُلِّ حَوضٍ إِلى فَمي

فَطَوراً لِإِدلاءٍ وَطَوراً لِمَجرَعِ

فَطَوراً لِإِدلاءٍ وَطَوراً لِمَجرَعِ

I pass them both from every pool to my mouth,

I passed them from every basin to my mouth,

now for dipping, and now for a draught,

At times to provoke, at others to a drinking place.

عَلى عَطَشٍ حَتّى بَدَت وَهيَ مَشرَعٌ

عَلى عَطَشٍ حَتّى بَدَت وَهيَ مَشرَعٌ

حَياضُ الهَوى مِن بَعدِ إيرادِ مَشرَعي

حَياضُ الهَوى مِن بَعدِ إيرادِ مَشرَعي

still thirsty, until they appeared as a watering place—

With thirst, until the meadows of passion appeared

the pools of love—after I brought my own drinking-place to them.

Spread out after my pasture was spread.

وَوَلَّيتُ قَد زَلَّت لِسُكري مَفاصِلي

وَوَلَّيتُ قَد زَلَّت لِسُكري مَفاصِلي

أَميلُ كَجِذعِ النَخلَةِ المُتَزَعزِعِ

أَميلُ كَجِذعِ النَخلَةِ المُتَزَعزِعِ

And I turned away, my joints giving way from my drunkenness,

I wavered, my joints loosened from intoxication,

swaying like the trembling trunk of a palm.

I sway like the trunk of a shaking palm tree.