هل في المنازلِ بعدَ القومِ آثارُ

هل في المنازلِ بعدَ القومِ آثارُ

نعمْ معالمُ لا تُغني وأحجارُ

نعمْ معالمُ لا تُغني وأحجارُ

Are there traces in the dwellings after their people?

Are there still traces of people in the abodes after they left?

Yes: landmarks that avail nothing, and stones.

Yes, there are landmarks that are of no use, and ruins

اِذا وقفتَ بها بكّاكَ ما حلُها

اِذا وقفتَ بها بكّاكَ ما حلُها

وآيةُ الشوقِ أن تبكي لكَ الدارُ

وآيةُ الشوقِ أن تبكي لكَ الدارُ

When you stand there, what has befallen them makes you weep,

If you stand among them, what befell them makes you cry

and longing's sign is that the dwelling weeps for you.

And the sign of longing is that the house cries for you

منازلٌ لم تزلْ مأوًى لغانيةٍ

منازلٌ لم تزلْ مأوًى لغانيةٍ

دمعي عليها واِنْ لم يُجْدِ مِدْرارُ

دمعي عليها واِنْ لم يُجْدِ مِدْرارُ

Dwellings long a refuge for a lovely woman—

Abodes that were once a refuge for a singing girl

my tears for them pour down, though they do no good.

My tears are upon them, even if copious flowing is not found

نأت فلم يبق مذ زمت ركائبها

نأت فلم يبق مذ زمت ركائبها

للبين إلا أحاديث وأخبار

للبين إلا أحاديث وأخبار

She went far away; nothing remains since her mounts were haltered

I came upon them when their caravan had departed

for departure, except tales and tidings.

Nothing remains of the Separation except tales and news

مِن بعدِ ما كانتِ الأيامُ تُتْحِفُني

مِن بعدِ ما كانتِ الأيامُ تُتْحِفُني

بقربِها زمناً والوصلُ أطوارُ

بقربِها زمناً والوصلُ أطوارُ

After the days had once favored me

After the days used to bestow upon me in their nearness

with her nearness for a time—union has its phases.

For a period of time, and union has its phases

أبكي وقد باعدَتْها عن مرابِعها

أبكي وقد باعدَتْها عن مرابِعها

نوًى لعوبٌ بها والدهرُ غدّارُ

نوًى لعوبٌ بها والدهرُ غدّارُ

I weep, for she has been driven far from her spring abodes

I cry as remoteness has distanced them from their encampments

by separation that toys with her; and time is treacherous.

A home to playfulness while fate is treacherous

وفي الدموعِ اِذا ما الصبرُ أعوزَني

وفي الدموعِ اِذا ما الصبرُ أعوزَني

على الصبابةِ أعوانٌ وأنصارُ

على الصبابةِ أعوانٌ وأنصارُ

And in tears, whenever patience fails me,

And when patience fails me, there are in tears

are helpers and allies against ardent longing.

Helpers and supporters to youth

أين الأحبَّةُ كانوا في الديارِ لَهاً

أين الأحبَّةُ كانوا في الديارِ لَهاً

وهمْ شُمُوسٌ منيراتٌ وأقمارُ

وهمْ شُمُوسٌ منيراتٌ وأقمارُ

Where are the loved ones, once a delight in these abodes,

Where are the loved ones who once frolicked in these abodes

those shining suns and moons?

Suns and moons emitting light?

بانوا فلي مِن دموعي بعدَ بينهمُ

بانوا فلي مِن دموعي بعدَ بينهمُ

وفي ازديادِ الهوى العذريَّ أعذارُ

وفي ازديادِ الهوى العذريَّ أعذارُ

They departed; I have, in my tears since their parting,

They were hidden from me by my tears after their separation

and in the growth of chaste love, excuses.

And in the increase of platonic love there are excuses

يا حارِ عنديَ سِرٌّ لا أبوحُ بهِ

يا حارِ عنديَ سِرٌّ لا أبوحُ بهِ

اِلاّ إليكَ وللعُشّاقِ أسرارُ

اِلاّ إليكَ وللعُشّاقِ أسرارُ

O Ḥār, I have a secret I do not disclose

O companion in my longing! I have a secret I confide

except to you; lovers have secrets.

None but you, for lovers have their mysteries

شوقٌ تضاعفَ حتى ليس لي قِبَلٌ

شوقٌ تضاعفَ حتى ليس لي قِبَلٌ

به ونارُ غرامٍ دونَها النارُ

به ونارُ غرامٍ دونَها النارُ

A longing doubled till I have no strength

A longing that has intensified, to the point I have no patience

to withstand it, and a fire of passion fiercer than fire itself.

And a fire of passion, next to which fire is mere sparks

ومقلةٌ لم تذقْ بعدَ النوى وَسَناً

ومقلةٌ لم تذقْ بعدَ النوى وَسَناً

أنَّي ومِن دونِهمْ بيدٌ وأخطارُ

أنَّي ومِن دونِهمْ بيدٌ وأخطارُ

And an eye that, since separation, has tasted no slumber—

And eyes that have not tasted sleep or rest since they left

how could it, with deserts and dangers between me and them?

Woe to me! Without them, I have perils and tribulations

قد ملَّ تَسهادَها إلا ظلامُ بعدهمُ

قد ملَّ تَسهادَها إلا ظلامُ بعدهمُ

وملَّني فيه حدّاثٌ وسمّارُ

وملَّني فيه حدّاثٌ وسمّارُ

Only the darkness since they left has not tired of its sleeplessness;

I am tired of its darkness after they left

and in it, storytellers and night companions have tired of me.

And the gossip of intruders tires me out in it

تنامُ عينُ الخليَّ القلبِ مِن شَجَنٍ

تنامُ عينُ الخليَّ القلبِ مِن شَجَنٍ

ولي على السَّهَرِ المقليَّ اِصرارُ

ولي على السَّهَرِ المقليَّ اِصرارُ

The eye of one whose heart is free of grief sleeps,

The heart’s eyes sleep from the sadness

while I persist in hated wakefulness.

While my wakeful eyes persist on vigil

اِيهٍ حديثَكَ عن نَعمانَ أين مضى

اِيهٍ حديثَكَ عن نَعمانَ أين مضى

سكانُه فحديثُ الوجدِ أسمارُ

سكانُه فحديثُ الوجدِ أسمارُ

Go on with your tale of Naʿmān: where have gone

Alas! Tell me about Nu'man, where did its inhabitants go?

its dwellers? Talk of longing is evening entertainment.

Talk of passion revives memories aflame

حَدَّثتَني ما أجدَّ الذكرَ أيسرُه

حَدَّثتَني ما أجدَّ الذكرَ أيسرُه

أعِدُْهُ أن الهوى والشوقَ تَذكارُ

أعِدُْهُ أن الهوى والشوقَ تَذكارُ

You told me what, in its slightest part, renewed remembrance;

You told me what mentioning them rekindled

repeat it, for love and longing are remembrance.

I repeat it though yearning and longing breed recollection

فكم أثارتْ لنا ذكراهمُ حُرَقاً

فكم أثارتْ لنا ذكراهمُ حُرَقاً

كأنَّ ذكراهمُ في الربعِ آثارُ

كأنَّ ذكراهمُ في الربعِ آثارُ

How often their memory has kindled burning griefs in us,

How much, when we remember them, their memory burns!

as though their memory were traces in the encampment.

As if, in the ruins, their memory left impressions

وكم وقفتُ به مِنْ وقفةٍ صدعتْ

وكم وقفتُ به مِنْ وقفةٍ صدعتْ

قلبي وقد أزمعَ الحبابُ أو ساروا

قلبي وقد أزمعَ الحبابُ أو ساروا

How many a halt I made there that shattered

How often did I pause in desolation that split

my heart, when the loved ones resolved to leave or had gone,

My heart as the loved ones strode away or migrated

مخاطباً لعراصٍ كم زهتْ بهمُ

مخاطباً لعراصٍ كم زهتْ بهمُ

وهكذا الدهرُ اِقبالٌ واِدبارُ

وهكذا الدهرُ اِقبالٌ واِدبارُ

addressing open grounds that so often flourished with them.

Addressing 'Aras, how often it echoed with them and so

Such is time: coming and going.

Fate oscillates between ascendance and decline

مَلُّوا الثواءَ بها فاستبدلوا بدلاً

مَلُّوا الثواءَ بها فاستبدلوا بدلاً

عنها وبانوا فهم في القلبِ حُضّارُ

عنها وبانوا فهم في القلبِ حُضّارُ

They tired of dwelling there and took a substitute

They deserted the place, so they substituted it

for it, and departed; yet in my heart they are present.

And left, yet in my heart they have special prestige

فهل عليَّ إذا بكَّيتُ دراسَها

فهل عليَّ إذا بكَّيتُ دراسَها

بعدَ الخليطِ الذى ودَّعتُه عارُ

بعدَ الخليطِ الذى ودَّعتُه عارُ

So, if I mourn its faded traces, is there upon me,

Is it then a wonder if I weep over their dwellings

after the company I bade farewell, any shame?

After those I bade farewell occupy this place no more?

ومهمهٍ قذفتْ بي في مجاهلهِ

ومهمهٍ قذفتْ بي في مجاهلهِ

الى الأحبَّةِ أحلاسٌ وأكوارُ

الى الأحبَّةِ أحلاسٌ وأكوارُ

And many a wilderness, into whose unknown depths I was hurled

And an ordeal that tossed me into terrifying wastelands

toward the loved ones by saddlecloths and camel saddles.

To those I treasure, their keen loss pierces my soul

يختبُّ في هبواتِ المُورِ مُنْصَلتاً

يختبُّ في هبواتِ المُورِ مُنْصَلتاً

بي بازلٌ قلِقُ الأنساعِ مَوّارُ

بي بازلٌ قلِقُ الأنساعِ مَوّارُ

Through clouds of whirling dust he trots, rushing onward,

Pondering in the gloom of desolate hills, wandering

bearing me: a mature camel, his girths shifting, his gait swaying.

Distracted, restless, driven to and fro

أحثُّهُ والهوى مِن فوقِ غاربهِ

أحثُّهُ والهوى مِن فوقِ غاربهِ

يَحثُّني فهو في الحالينِ صبّارُ

يَحثُّني فهو في الحالينِ صبّارُ

I urge him on, while love, from above his withers,

I urge my camel on though longing above its ridge

urges me; in both states he is patient.

Urges me - in both cases it shows great patience

وما المدامةُ كالابريزِ صافيةً

وما المدامةُ كالابريزِ صافيةً

قد شَقَّ عنها ثيابَ القارِ خمّارُ

قد شَقَّ عنها ثيابَ القارِ خمّارُ

Nor is wine, clear as refined gold,

Not like pure wine whose jars

from which a vintner has torn the garments of pitch,

The tavern keeper has decanted from the cask

تضوعُ طيباً وقد دارتْ زجاجتُها

تضوعُ طيباً وقد دارتْ زجاجتُها

كأنَّما عَلَّها بالملكِ عطّارُ

كأنَّما عَلَّها بالملكِ عطّارُ

exhaling fragrance as its flask goes round,

Diffusing fragrance, its bottle gyrating

as though a perfumer had steeped it in musk [uncertain reading],

As if anointed by the royal perfumer's art

يسعى بها رشأٌ في الشَّربِ تحسبُه

يسعى بها رشأٌ في الشَّربِ تحسبُه

كالبدرِ قد بتَّ منه الخصرَ زُنّارُ

كالبدرِ قد بتَّ منه الخصرَ زُنّارُ

borne swiftly among the drinkers by a young gazelle you would think

It is passed around by a pleasant and cheerful drinker you’d think

like the full moon, his waist cleft by a girdle,

Was the full moon, with hips girdled and bells ornamented

أمالَهُ في خفاراتِ الصَّبا مرحٌ

أمالَهُ في خفاراتِ الصَّبا مرحٌ

بينَ النَّدامى فغارَ البانُ والغارُ

بينَ النَّدامى فغارَ البانُ والغارُ

whom merriment sways in the east wind's keeping

One day entrancing minds, while he charmed

among the drinking companions, making bān and laurel jealous,

The watcher's eye captivated by his magic

يوماً بألعبَ منه بالعقولِ وقد

يوماً بألعبَ منه بالعقولِ وقد

سَجا له ناظرٌ لِلُّبَّ سحّارُ

سَجا له ناظرٌ لِلُّبَّ سحّارُ

ever more beguiling to minds than he, while

Nor like musical female companions, now adorned

his gaze grows still, bewitching the mind.

Who from their company make rivers and flowers pour for you

ولا الخمائلُ قد أضحتْ موشَّعَةً

ولا الخمائلُ قد أضحتْ موشَّعَةً

تُصْبِيكَ منهنَّ أنهارٌ وأزهارُ

تُصْبِيكَ منهنَّ أنهارٌ وأزهارُ

Nor are the groves, now richly interwoven,

Branches waving in them from the orchards they own

their rivers and flowers captivating you,

While birds warble for you in their open spaces

تَرِفٌ فيها غصونٌ مِن حدائقها

تَرِفٌ فيها غصونٌ مِن حدائقها

وتستبيكَ على الباناتِ أطيارُ

وتستبيكَ على الباناتِ أطيارُ

branches from their gardens quivering within them,

One day excelling in well-ordered verse inspired

and birds upon the bān trees taking you captive,

Leaving people after him beholden in poetry

يوماً بأحسنَ مِن نظمٍ أوشَّعُهُ

يوماً بأحسنَ مِن نظمٍ أوشَّعُهُ

والناسُ مِن بعدِه في الشَّعرِ أنظارُ

والناسُ مِن بعدِه في الشَّعرِ أنظارُ

ever fairer than the verse I weave,

Soothing your hearing with a refined, well-chosen, eloquent phrase

all others ranking alike beneath it in poetry.

Carefully selected while the prime and outstanding shines

يروقُ سمعَكَ منها شُرَّدٌ عُرُبٌ

يروقُ سمعَكَ منها شُرَّدٌ عُرُبٌ

مختارٌة والنُّضارُ الطلقُ مُخْتارُ

مختارٌة والنُّضارُ الطلقُ مُخْتارُ

Its far-ranging verses in pure Arabic delight your ear,

choice ones—and pure, unalloyed gold is choice.