Sol 6.1

  1. حُجِبْتَ فَلا وَاللَه ماذاكَ عَن أَمري

    فاِصغ فَدَتكَ النَفسُ سمعا إِلى

    You were denied entry—no, by God, that was not at my command.

    So give ear—may my soul ransom you—to...

  2. فَما صارَ إِخلال

    وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمّا أَحالَت مَحاسِني

    For no neglect occurred.

    But it was when my charms were altered by

  3. يَدُ الدَهرِ شُلَّت عنكَ دأباً يدُ الدَهرِ

    عُدمتُ مِنَ الخُدّامِ كُلّ مُهَذّبٍ

    the hand of time—may time’s hand forever be powerless against you—

    that I lost every well-bred servant

  4. أَشيرُ إِلَيهِ بِالخَفيِّ مِن الأَمرِ

    وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا كُلُّ أَدكَنَ أَلكَنٍ

    to whom I could hint at a matter’s subtleties.

    And none remained but dark-complexioned, inarticulate men.

  5. فَلا آذِنٌ في

    حِمارٌ إِذا يَمشي وَنَسرٌ مُحَلِّقٌ

    So there is no usher in...

    An ass when he walks, and a soaring vulture

  6. إِذا طارَ بُعداً لِلحَميرِ وَلِلنِسرِ

    وَلَيسَ بِمُحتاجٍ أَتاناً حِمارُهُم

    when he flies—away with the asses and the vulture!

    And their ass has no need of a she-ass,

  7. وَلا نسرُهُم مِمّا يَحِنُّ إِلى وَكرِ

    وَهَل كُنتُ إِلّا البارِدَ العَذبَ إِنَّما

    nor is their vulture one that longs for a nest.

    And was I anything but cool, sweet water? Only

  8. بِهِ يَشتَفي الضَمآنُ مِن غُلَةِ الصَدرِ

    وَلَو كُنتُ مِمَّن يَشربِ الخَمر كُنتَها

    through it does the thirsty find relief from the burning in his breast.

    And were I among those who drink wine, you would be that wine

  9. إِذا نَزَعَت نَفسي إِلى لَذَّةِ الخَمرِ

    وَأَنتَ ابنُ حمديس الَّذي كُنتَ مُهديا

    when my soul yearned for the pleasure of wine.

    And you are Ibn Hamdis, who used to bestow

  10. لَنا السحرُ إِن لَم نأتِ في زَمَنِ السحرِ

    magic upon us, even if we did not live in the age of magic.