أَبُدورُare these full moons تمٍّat the full كالبدورِlike the full moons طوالعُrising
أَبُدورُ تمٍّ كالبدورِ طوالعُ
يَبدوappears لَناto us منهنَّfrom them نورٌa light ساطعُradiant
يَبدو لَنا منهنَّ نورٌ ساطعُ
Are these full moons, rising like the moons,
Stars appear like full moons their lights emerging
from whom a brilliant light shines upon us?
We see a radiant glow constantly emerging
أَبصرتهنَّI saw them فخلتُso I thought أَقماراًmoons بَدَتhad appeared
أَبصرتهنَّ فخلتُ أَقماراً بَدَت
مِنfrom حيثُwhere شفّتgrew transparent بِالوجوهِover the faces براقعُface-veils
مِن حيثُ شفّت بِالوجوهِ براقعُ
I saw them and thought that moons had appeared
I saw them and found them to be like bright moons
where sheer veils let their faces show through.
Behind their veils their brilliant faces surfacing
ياah حبّهنّhow dear they are وحبّذاand how lovely لَكَfor you موقفاًa stopping place
يا حبّهنّ وحبّذا لَكَ موقفاً
ظلناwe remained نشيّعهمseeing them off بهِat it ونوادعُand bidding farewell
ظلنا نشيّعهم بهِ ونوادعُ
Ah, how dear they are! What a lovely stopping place for you,
Oh how I love them! And how apt the position was
where we lingered, seeing them off and bidding farewell.
When we bid farewell, not ceasing to see them off
إِذwhen نحنُwe فيin التوديعِthe farewell لَمdid not يرقأcease flowing لناfor us
إِذ نحنُ في التوديعِ لَم يرقأ لنا
أَبداًever منَof الدمعِtears الهتونِcopiously flowing مدامعُtearful eyes
أَبداً منَ الدمعِ الهتونِ مدامعُ
As we were saying farewell, never did
As we bid adieu, no tears fell from our eyes
our eyes stop shedding copious, streaming tears.
Grief stricken, from this pain my tears not welling
نَشكوwe lament جَوىthe burning ache الفُرقاof separation ودودand the worm لحاظناof our glances
نَشكو جَوى الفُرقا ودود لحاظنا
منهنَّamong them فيin روضِthe garden المحاسنof beauties راتعُgrazing
منهنَّ في روضِ المحاسن راتعُ
We lament separation's burning ache, while the worm of our gaze
We complain of the agony of parting, and the affection
grazes among them in the garden of beauty.
Of their glance in the garden of beauty flourishing
وَعُيونناand our eyes منّاof ours لهنّat them نواظرٌgazing
وَعُيوننا منّا لهنّ نواظرٌ
وَقُلوبُناand our hearts منّاof ours لهنّtoward them نوازعُyearning
وَقُلوبُنا منّا لهنّ نوازعُ
Our own eyes keep gazing at them,
Our eyes gaze longingly upon them
and our own hearts keep yearning toward them.
Our hearts incline fondly towards them
وَتَرىand you see اِختِلاساتِstolen moments الوداعِof farewell مغانماًspoils
وَتَرى اِختِلاساتِ الوداعِ مغانماً
يومَon the day الوداعِof farewell لناfor us وهوthough it is مصارعُplaces of death
يومَ الوداعِ لنا وهو مصارعُ
And you deem farewell's stolen moments spoils,
And you’d see the sorrows of departure as spoils
on our day of parting, though it is a field of death.
The day we bid adieu and they were perishing
ياO أيُّهاyou السِربُthe herd الّذيwhich آرامهُits gazelles
يا أيُّها السِربُ الّذي آرامهُ
أَبداًalways نُواصلُwe maintain bonds فيin الهوىlove ونقاطعُand we sever bonds
أَبداً نُواصلُ في الهوى ونقاطعُ
O herd, whose gazelles
O flock whose affection will never wane
we forever join and forsake in love!
In passion we shall always meet and departure
مَنwho يَشتريwill buy روحيmy soul بقبلةِfor a kiss مبسمٍof a smiling mouth
مَن يَشتري روحي بقبلةِ مبسمٍ
منهاof hers فإنّيfor indeed I أَشتريI buy وأُبايعُand I strike a bargain
منها فإنّي أَشتري وأُبايعُ
Who will buy my soul for a kiss from a smiling mouth
Who will buy my soul for a kiss from those smiles?
of hers? For I will buy and strike the bargain.
For I will buy and trade
زارَتshe visited أميمUmaym بعدَafter طولthe long duration فراقِهاof her absence
زارَت أميم بعدَ طول فراقِها
وَالركبُwhile the caravan منfrom بينِamong الرواحلِthe riding-camels هاجعُsleeping
وَالركبُ من بينِ الرواحلِ هاجعُ
Umaym visited after her long absence,
My beloved visited after long separation
while the caravan slept amid the riding-camels.
The caravan had settled, resting
جاءَتcame إِليَّto me بِوَصلهاbringing union with her أحلامهاdreams of her
جاءَت إِليَّ بِوَصلها أحلامها
سحراًbefore dawn وَلَمand did not يشفَعintercede إِليناwith us شافعُan intercessor
سحراً وَلَم يشفَع إِلينا شافعُ
Dreams of her brought me union with her,
She came to me in a dream with her affection
before dawn, though no intercessor had pleaded with us.
Like a spell, no intercessor intervening
تَفترُّshe smiles عنrevealing درٍّpearls يقبّلkisses سمطهits strand
تَفترُّ عن درٍّ يقبّل سمطه
عودُa twig البشامةِof balsam فهوand it is أبيضwhite ناصعُpure
عودُ البشامةِ فهو أبيض ناصعُ
She smiles to reveal pearls whose strand is kissed
Revealing a pearl that kisses her cheek
by a balsam twig; it is dazzling white.
The purity of her complexion flourishing
وَتَرىand you see العتابَreproach يحيلُchanges حمرةَthe redness خدّهاof her cheek
وَتَرى العتابَ يحيلُ حمرةَ خدّها
وقتَat the time التخجّلِof embarrassment فهوَso it is أصفرyellow فاقعُvivid
وقتَ التخجّلِ فهوَ أصفر فاقعُ
And you see reproach change the redness of her cheek
You’d see the redness of her cheek from shyness
when she feels shame: it turns a vivid yellow.
Transform during her embarrassment paling
أَقوَتbecame deserted مَرابِعُهاher spring quarters فَماso not ضحتbecame (uncertain form) الحشاthe heart
أَقوَت مَرابِعُها فَما ضحت الحشا
منّيwithin me لَهاfor her بعدafter الربوعthe dwellings مرابعُspring quarters
منّي لَها بعد الربوع مرابعُ
Her spring quarters lie deserted, so my heart has not become
I strengthened her shelters, not clearing the courtyard
her spring quarters within me, after those dwellings.
For her after the seasons flourishing
وَلَقدand indeed وَقفتُI stood بدارِهاat her dwelling منfrom بعدafter ماthat
وَلَقد وَقفتُ بدارِها من بعد ما
خفَّdeparted الأحبّةthe loved ones والرسومand the traces بلاقعُbarren wastes
خفَّ الأحبّة والرسوم بلاقعُ
And indeed I stood at her dwelling, after
And I stood at her house after
the loved ones had departed, its traces barren wastes.
Friends and traditions started fading
كَيفَhow العَزاءُconsolation وكيفَand how سلوانيmy forgetting وقدwhile already
كَيفَ العَزاءُ وكيفَ سلواني وقد
صدعَhas split الفؤادَthe heart منfrom الكآبةsorrow صادعُa cleaving force
صدعَ الفؤادَ من الكآبة صادعُ
How can I find solace, how can I forget, when
What solace when my heart is shattered
grief's rending force has split my heart?
From melancholy and grief splitting
لاdo not تنتثقtrust (uncertain form) بِمواهبِin the gifts الدنياof the world وقدand perhaps
لا تنتثق بِمواهبِ الدنيا وقد
تَقنُطyou despair إِذاwhen عرضتbefall إليكupon you فجايعُcalamities
تَقنُط إِذا عرضت إليك فجايعُ
Do not trust the world's gifts, for you may
Don’t be misled by worldly gifts when
despair when disasters befall you.
Misfortunes can make you lose hope
هنَّthey اللياليthe nights مُعطياتgivers للفتىto a young man
هنَّ الليالي مُعطيات للفتى
مِنfrom حَيثwhere لاnot يرجوhe expects وهنَّand they موانعُwithholders
مِن حَيث لا يرجو وهنَّ موانعُ
Such are the nights: they give to a young man
Those nights give to the youth from where
from where he expects nothing, and they withhold.
He doesn’t hope, either helping or preventing
وَالمرءُand a man يحذرُis wary مِنof حَوادثهاtheir calamities وماyet not
وَالمرءُ يحذرُ مِن حَوادثها وما
حذرُthe caution اِمرئٍof a man ممّاagainst what يُحاذرhe fears نافعُavailing
حذرُ اِمرئٍ ممّا يُحاذر نافعُ
A man guards against their calamities, yet
One fears its calamities, but no precaution
no man's caution avails against what he fears.
Of a person can prevent what is destined
وَاِعلمand know بأنّthat الدهرَTime للإنسانِto a person لوeven if
وَاِعلم بأنّ الدهرَ للإنسانِ لو
طالَتlast long لَهُfor him مددperiods السلامةof safety خادعُa deceiver
طالَت لَهُ مدد السلامة خادعُ
And know that Time deceives a man, even if
Know that if one lives long in this life
his periods of safety last long.
It is a deceitful thing, tricks playing
فيin كلِّevery مرصادٍambush تروعterrify المرءa man منfrom
في كلِّ مرصادٍ تروع المرء من
ريبthe reversals الزمانِof Time زواجرٌwarnings وروادعُand deterrents
ريب الزمانِ زواجرٌ وروادعُ
At every ambush, a man is struck with fear
I tested fate and deliberated its matters
by warnings and deterrents from Time's reversals.
I reluctantly accepted what it cooks up
جرّبُتI tested دَهريmy time واِعتبرتُand reflected on أُمورهُits affairs
جرّبُت دَهري واِعتبرتُ أُمورهُ
فَرضيتُso I acquiesced قَسراًunder compulsion بالّذيwith what هوit صانعُis doing
فَرضيتُ قَسراً بالّذي هو صانعُ
I have tested my time and reflected on its affairs;
My trials showed me that whenever
so, compelled, I accepted what it does.
It fears the decree, it doesn’t lag or delay
وَأَرتنيand showed me منهof it التجاربexperiences كلّماall that
وَأَرتني منه التجارب كلّما
هوit فيin القَضاdestiny خافhidden وماand what هوit شائعُmanifest
هو في القَضا خاف وما هو شائعُ
And its trials have shown me all that
I heard such scolding and warnings from fate
is hidden in destiny, and all that is manifest.
That no ear has heard before, unprecedented
وَسَمعتand I heard منfrom زجرِthe rebukes الزمانِof Time ونهيهand its prohibitions
وَسَمعت من زجرِ الزمانِ ونهيه
ماwhat كانَhad لَمnot يسمعهُheard it قبليbefore me سامعُany listener
ما كانَ لَم يسمعهُ قبلي سامعُ
And I have heard in Time's rebukes and prohibitions
Until I almost know what has been ordained
what no listener before me ever heard.
Before truth surfaces and takes effect
حتّىuntil أكادُI almost لِماowing to what قَضىit decreed أدريknow بماof what
حتّى أكادُ لِما قَضى أدري بما
هوَit قبلbefore أَنthat يبدوappears الحقيقةin truth واقعُoccurring
هوَ قبل أَن يبدو الحقيقة واقعُ
Until, from what it decreed, I almost know what
While people feel assured by what
will truly happen, before it comes to light.
Brings them joy, and what makes them worried
وَالناسُand people ذلكَthat one مطمئنٌّcontent بالّذيwith what
وَالناسُ ذلكَ مطمئنٌّ بالّذي
يحصيhe counts بهin it فرحٌrejoicing وذلكwhile that one جازعُdistraught
يحصي به فرحٌ وذلك جازعُ
As for people, one is content with what
In this world, good things have consequences
he counts, rejoicing in it, while another is distraught.
Just like bad things have consequences for the stricken
لِلخيرِfor good فيin الدنياthe world توابعُconsequences مثلlike ماwhat
لِلخيرِ في الدنيا توابعُ مثل ما
للشرِّfor evil فيهاin it للمُصابِfor the afflicted توابعُconsequences
للشرِّ فيها للمُصابِ توابعُ
Good in this world has consequences, just as
Why would I keep praising the angels
evil in it has consequences for the afflicted.
When my praises don’t make them continue correspondence
ماwhat ليfor me وَللأملاكِand with kings ليسis not بواصلٍone who joins
ما لي وَللأملاكِ ليس بواصلٍ
بِمدائِحيthrough my praises منone who المواصلties قاطعُsevers
بِمدائِحي من المواصل قاطعُ
What have I to do with kings? No bond is forged
Many have asked for my poems’ daughters’ hands
by my praises with one who severs ties.
Constantly asking for them and reading
كَمhow many خاطبa suitor لبناتِfor the daughters فِكريof my thought لمnot يزلceases
كَم خاطب لبناتِ فِكري لم يزل
أَبداًforever يُطالِبُنيpresses me بهاfor them ويطالعُand comes to inquire
أَبداً يُطالِبُني بها ويطالعُ
How many a suitor for the daughters of my thought keeps
And I see that my poems praising them
forever demanding them of me and coming to inquire!
Have not been adequate compensation for their high status
وَأَرىand I see الصنائعَfine works مِنof مَديحيmy praise لمnot يكنhave been
وَأَرى الصنائعَ مِن مَديحي لم يكن
عوضاًa recompense لهنّfor them منَfrom النوالbounty صنائعُfavors
عوضاً لهنّ منَ النوال صنائعُ
And I see the fine works of my praise have never found
While years make some poetry obsolete
their recompense in the favors of bounty.
Catastrophes have not impacted these, preserving
هاذيكَthose تُبليهاwear them away الدهورُthe ages وهذهbut these
هاذيكَ تُبليها الدهورُ وهذه
لَمhave not تُبلهاworn them away للحادثاتof calamities قوارعُbattering blows
لَم تُبلها للحادثات قوارعُ
Those are worn away by ages, but these
And if artistic expression becomes obsolete in the world
no battering blows of calamity have worn away.
My praise for the generous will never lose value
وَإِذاand if الصنائعfine works فيamong الورىmankind كَسدتgo unsold فلمthen never
وَإِذا الصنائع في الورى كَسدت فلم
يَكسُدgo unsold لِمَدحيof my praise فيamong الكرامِthe noble بضائعُwares
يَكسُد لِمَدحي في الكرامِ بضائعُ
And if fine works find no market among men, never
Can the composition of a pretentious person
do my praise's wares go unsold among the noble.
Compare with one naturally gifted and roaming?
هَلcan يَستويbe equal نَظمthe verse اِمرئٍof a man متكلِّفٍstraining
هَل يَستوي نَظم اِمرئٍ متكلِّفٍ
وَقريضُand the poetry مَنof one who هوhe فيin البديهةspontaneous inspiration كارعُdrinks deeply
وَقريضُ مَن هو في البديهة كارعُ
Can the verse of a man who strains at it compare
For some stars shine, some disappear
with the poetry of one who drinks deep of spontaneous inspiration?
And some poetry is polished, some rough
فَمِنfor among النجومِthe stars زواهرٌbright ones وغوامضٌand dim ones
فَمِن النجومِ زواهرٌ وغوامضٌ
وَمِنَand in القريضِpoetry جواهرٌjewels وترايعُand lesser pieces (uncertain)
وَمِنَ القريضِ جواهرٌ وترايعُ
For among the stars are bright ones and dim ones,
I bowed down on my face to the King, to the Most High
and in poetry are jewels and lesser pieces.
Prostrating myself in the deserts surrendering
وَإِلىand toward المليكِthe sovereign إِلىtoward المعاليhigh glories أرقلتsped
وَإِلى المليكِ إِلى المعالي أرقلت
بيbearing me فيthrough القفارِthe deserts سواجدٌprostrating ورواكعُand bowing
بي في القفارِ سواجدٌ ورواكعُ
And to the sovereign, to the heights of glory, sped
A King whose dignity cannot be tarnished
mounts bearing me through deserts, prostrating and bowing.
By greed which defiles even Kings when desiring
ملكٌa king يجلّis too exalted بأنfor it to يدنَّسbe sullied عرضهُhis honor
ملكٌ يجلّ بأن يدنَّس عرضهُ
طمعٌgreed إِذاwhen دنسsully الملوكkings مطامعُcovetous desires
طمعٌ إِذا دنس الملوك مطامعُ
A king too exalted for his honor to be stained
He seeks surplus wealth and strives
by greed, when covetous desires stain kings.
To attain it speedily endeavouring
يَسعىhe strives إِلىtoward كسبِacquiring الفضولِexcellences وإنّهand indeed he
يَسعى إِلى كسبِ الفضولِ وإنّه
ليحثّsurely presses on فيin إِدراكهاattaining them ويسارعُand hastens
ليحثّ في إِدراكها ويسارعُ
He strives to acquire excellences, and indeed
He takes down the champions of fate defiantly
he presses on to attain them and makes haste.
As if he himself is the contender
يَكفيis a match for صناديدَthe champions الوقائعِof battles حاسراًbare of armor
يَكفي صناديدَ الوقائعِ حاسراً
مِنof درعهِhis coat of mail وكأنّماand as though هوhe دارعُarmored
مِن درعهِ وكأنّما هو دارعُ
He is a match for battle's champions, stripped
He is the hopes and ambitions, just as
of his coat of mail, as though he wore armor.
In ancestry there lies an antidote and lethal poison
فهوَfor he is الأمانيhopes وَالمَناياand deaths مِثلَماjust as
فهوَ الأماني وَالمَنايا مِثلَما
فيin الصلِّthe viper ترياقٌan antidote وسمٌّand venom ناقعُdeadly
في الصلِّ ترياقٌ وسمٌّ ناقعُ
He is hope and doom, just as
He and his brothers have brought glory to praise
the viper holds an antidote and deadly venom.
For the generous are deserving of praise
أَضحىhas become وإِخوتهand his brothers مجداًa glory للثناfor praise
أَضحى وإِخوته مجداً للثنا
إنّindeed الأكارمَthe noble للثناءfor praise مواضعُfitting places
إنّ الأكارمَ للثناء مواضعُ
He and his brothers now lend glory to praise;
The six of them, plus the seventh being security
the noble are indeed the proper homes of praise.
The eighth being glory, the ninth splendours
هُمthey ستّةٌsix لهمfor them السلامةwell-being سابعٌa seventh
هُم ستّةٌ لهم السلامة سابعٌ
وَالمجدُand glory ثامنan eighth والمفاخرand proud achievements تاسعُa ninth
وَالمجدُ ثامن والمفاخر تاسعُ
They are six, and well-being is their seventh;
They are like stars amidst the banquets
glory is eighth, and proud achievements ninth.
The brilliance of majesty radiating from them
وَكأنّهمand as though they وسطَamid الدسوتِthe seats of state كواكبٌstars
وَكأنّهم وسطَ الدسوتِ كواكبٌ
زهرٌbright تلألئهits glittering الجلالmajesty لوامعُresplendent
زهرٌ تلألئه الجلال لوامعُ
They are like stars amid the seats of state,
O flower of days and King for whom
bright, glittering with majesty, resplendent.
The paths of generous deeds have been paved
ياO زهرةَflower الأيّامof the days والملكand the king الّذيwho
يا زهرةَ الأيّام والملك الّذي
شَرَعتhave opened لهُfor him فيin المكرُماتnoble deeds سرائعُpaths (uncertain reading)
شَرَعت لهُ في المكرُمات سرائعُ
O flower of the days, and king for whom
Through you, God established kingdoms
paths have opened amid noble deeds!
Just as the fingers are affixed to the palms
بكَthrough you ثبّتmade firm اللّهGod الممالكَthe kingdoms مثلماjust as
بكَ ثبّت اللّه الممالكَ مثلما
قَدindeed ثبّتتhave been fixed فيin الراحتينthe two palms الأصابعُthe fingers
قَد ثبّتت في الراحتين الأصابعُ
Through you God has made the kingdoms firm, just as
the fingers are firmly fixed in the two palms.
Partial English translation: 86 of 88 Arabic lines translated.