أَرِقتُ لشوقٍ أَضمرَتْهُ الأَضالعُ

أَرِقتُ لشوقٍ أَضمرَتْهُ الأَضالعُ

بِلَيلٍ يداني الخَطْوَ والنَّجمُ ظالِعُ

بِلَيلٍ يداني الخَطْوَ والنَّجمُ ظالِعُ

I lay sleepless from a longing my ribs concealed,

I was kept awake all night, yearning for her,

through a night that shortens its stride, while the star limps.

My ribs concealing the flames burning within.

وَلو نِمْتُ زارَتني الَّتي ما ذكرْتُها

وَلو نِمْتُ زارَتني الَّتي ما ذكرْتُها

فَتَشرَقَ إِلّا بالنَجيعِ المدامِعُ

فَتَشرَقَ إِلّا بالنَجيعِ المدامِعُ

And if I slept, she would visit me—she whom I never recall

Had I fallen asleep, she I dare not mention

without my tear ducts choking on blood.

Would visit me, till tears flowed again.

يقرُّ بعيني أَن أَرى أُمَّ سالِمٍ

يقرُّ بعيني أَن أَرى أُمَّ سالِمٍ

إِذا ما اطمأَنَّتْ بالجنوبِ المضاجعُ

إِذا ما اطمأَنَّتْ بالجنوبِ المضاجعُ

It delights my eye to see Umm Salim,

I find comfort envisioning Umm Salim

when the beds lie still beneath resting flanks.

At rest, her cheek upon her pillow.

وَأَرضى بطَيفٍ وهيَ تأبى طروقَهُ

وَأَرضى بطَيفٍ وهيَ تأبى طروقَهُ

أُغازِلُهُ والعاذلاتُ هواجِعُ

أُغازِلُهُ والعاذلاتُ هواجِعُ

And I am content with a phantom, though she refuses its coming by night;

And though she refuses to lift her veil for me,

I woo it while the reproaching women sleep.

I whisper endearments while she pretends not to hear.

أَنافِعَةٌ لي زورةٌ مِن خيالِها

أَنافِعَةٌ لي زورةٌ مِن خيالِها

أَجَلْ كُلُّ شيءٍ من أُمَيمَةَ نافِعُ

أَجَلْ كُلُّ شيءٍ من أُمَيمَةَ نافِعُ

Is a visit from her phantom of any use to me?

I gain solace from her phantom image

Yes—everything from Umaymah does me good.

Indeed, everything about Ummayma delights me.

وإِنّي بما قَرّتْ بِهِ العَينُ مَرَّةً

وإِنّي بما قَرّتْ بِهِ العَينُ مَرَّةً

وإنْ لم يَكُن يُجدي عليَّ لَقانعُ

وإنْ لم يَكُن يُجدي عليَّ لَقانعُ

And I, with what once brought delight to the eye,

And though seeing her just once left me obsessed,

even if it does me no good, am surely content.

I must be satisfied with that momentary glimpse.