أطلِprolong الوقوفَthe standing علىat رسومِthe traces الدارِof the dwelling
أطلِ الوقوفَ على رسومِ الدارِ
واسقِand water الربوعَthe dwelling-sites بدمعكَwith your tears المدرارِcopiously flowing
واسقِ الربوعَ بدمعكَ المدرارِ
Prolong your standing at the traces of the dwelling,
Stand awhile by the ruins of the abode,
and water the dwelling-sites with your copious tears.
And let your copious tears flow.
هيit معهدُthe haunt of البثَّconfidences الشهيَّdelightful ومألفُand the familiar abode of
هي معهدُ البثَّ الشهيَّ ومألفُ
العيشِlife الرخيَّeasy ومُنتدىand the gathering place of السُّمارِnighttime companions
العيشِ الرخيَّ ومُنتدى السُّمارِ
It is the haunt of sweet confidences, and the abode
It was the place of joyous gatherings,
of easy living and the meeting place of nighttime companions,
Of a happy life, and of nightly revels.
وكِناسُand the covert of كلَّevery غزالةٍgazelle فتّانَةٍenchanting
وكِناسُ كلَّ غزالةٍ فتّانَةٍ
ترنوshe gazes إليكَat you بناظرٍwith an eye بتّارِsword-sharp
ترنو إليكَ بناظرٍ بتّارِ
and the covert of every enchanting gazelle
It was the tryst of every enchanting gazelle,
gazing at you with a sword-sharp eye.
Who cast longing glances with languid eyes.
دارُthe home of الربابِal-Rabab سقىmay water معاهدَthe haunts of أُنسِهاits intimacy
دارُ الربابِ سقى معاهدَ أُنسِها
دانيlow-hanging الربابِwhite clouds بدمعِwith the tears of كلَّevery قِطارِdownpour
داني الربابِ بدمعِ كلَّ قِطارِ
The home of al-Rabab—may its haunts of intimacy be watered
The house of mirth quenched the thirst of its revelry
by low-hanging white clouds, with the tears of every downpour.
With the tears of every downpour.
فيهاin it صحبتُI kept company with الغانياتِthe fair women وحبذاand how lovely
فيها صحبتُ الغانياتِ وحبذا
الأوطانُthe homelands اِذwhen يُسعِفنَthey oblige بالأوطارِwith desired favors
الأوطانُ اِذ يُسعِفنَ بالأوطارِ
There I kept company with fair women; how lovely
There I had the company of singing girls—how good
are homelands when they fulfill desires!
Were the homelands when aided by settlements.
وبهاand in it عرفتُI knew هوىthe love of الأحبَّةِthe dear ones برهَةًfor a time
وبها عرفتُ هوى الأحبَّةِ برهَةً
والعاذلونَand the reproachers علىin الهوىlove أنصاريmy allies
والعاذلونَ على الهوى أنصاري
And there, for a time, I knew love for my dear ones,
There for a while I knew the love of loved ones
while those who reproached me were my allies in love,
And those who blamed me for love were my supporters.
أيامَin the days when لمdid not أجنحْI incline إلىtoward خُدَعِthe deceptions of المُنىwishes
أيامَ لم أجنحْ إلى خُدَعِ المُنى
فأبيتُand so I spend the night أحلَمُI dream بالخيالِof the apparition الساريnight-roaming
فأبيتُ أحلَمُ بالخيالِ الساري
in days when I did not yield to hopes' deceptions,
Days when I did not incline toward the tricks of fate,
so as to spend the night dreaming of the night-roaming apparition.
So I continued dreaming of the passing idea.
واليومَand today بعدَafter البينِparting صارَhas become موكّلاًentrusted
واليومَ بعدَ البينِ صارَ موكّلاً
طرفيmy gaze برعيwith watching كواكبٍstars ودراريand radiant stars
طرفي برعي كواكبٍ ودراري
And today, after parting, the task is entrusted
And today after separation he was entrusted
to my eyes: keeping watch over stars and radiant orbs.
To watch over me, over stars and meadows.
بانواthey departed فكمand how many مِنْof مقلةٍan eye بكَّتهمُwept for them
بانوا فكم مِنْ مقلةٍ بكَّتهمُ
بمدامعٍwith tears بعدَafter الخليطِthe companions غِزارِcopious
بمدامعٍ بعدَ الخليطِ غِزارِ
They departed; how many an eye wept for them
They left, and how many a brimming eyelid wept for them
with copious tears after the companions were gone.
With copious tears after the farewell!
ولكمand how often أطلتُI prolonged عنِabout الذينthose who ترحَّلواdeparted
ولكم أطلتُ عنِ الذين ترحَّلوا
لماwhen وقفتُI stood بربعِهاat her dwelling استخباريmy inquiries
لما وقفتُ بربعِها استخباري
And how often, concerning those who departed, I prolonged
And how long I have been absent from those who traveled on
my inquiries when I stood at her dwelling.
When I paused by its ruins to ask about them!
أبكيI weep وقدwhile indeed عزَّis hard to obtain الجوابُthe answer وماand what الذيis it that
أبكي وقد عزَّ الجوابُ وما الذي
يُجديavails سؤالُquestioning منازلٍdwellings وديارِand homes
يُجدي سؤالُ منازلٍ وديارِ
I weep, while an answer is hard to obtain; what
I weep, though the answer is difficult, and of what use
good does questioning dwellings and homes do?
Is it to ask about dwellings and homelands?
وكفىand it suffices المحبَّthe lover بأنْthat يروحَhe goes at evening ويَغتديand goes at morning
وكفى المحبَّ بأنْ يروحَ ويَغتدي
مِنfrom بعدِafter نأيهمُtheir remoteness علىover الآثارِthe traces
مِن بعدِ نأيهمُ على الآثارِ
And it is enough for the lover to go at evening and dawn,
It suffices the lover to solace himself and console
after their departure, to the traces they left.
Himself with their traces after their remoteness.
ياO ريمَgazelle of رامةَRama كمhow often مَنَعْتَyou withheld علىin النوىseparation
يا ريمَ رامةَ كم مَنَعْتَ على النوى
عنّيfrom me ممرَّthe passage of خيالكَyour phantom الزّوارِthe frequent visitor
عنّي ممرَّ خيالكَ الزّوارِ
O gazelle of Rama, how often, in separation, you withheld
O fringe of the valley, O bleating antelope
from me the passage of your oft-visiting phantom.
Seeking his aid from the rocks!
وجنىand inflicted harm الفراقُparting عليَّon me حتىuntil اِنّنيindeed I
وجنى الفراقُ عليَّ حتى اِنّني
قدindeed صرتُI have become أقنعُcontent myself منكَfrom you بالأخبارِwith news
قد صرتُ أقنعُ منكَ بالأخبارِ
And parting has done me such harm that I
Where are the tents leaning tipsily in the wine
have come to be content with news of you.
Of dawn, swaying with the tips of slim spears?
ورضيتُand I accepted بعدَafter القربِcloseness ليto me ببعادكwith your remoteness
ورضيتُ بعدَ القربِ لي ببعادك
المضنيexhausting وبعدَand after الوصلِunion بالأعذارِwith excuses
المضني وبعدَ الوصلِ بالأعذارِ
And after your nearness to me, I accepted your distance,
My pledge by your tattoos is to visit them—
exhausting as it is, and after union, excuses.
Whether pleasing or displeasing in my poems.
ماnot كانَwas عنديin my mind أنthat أيامَthe days of الهوىlove
ما كانَ عندي أن أيامَ الهوى
تُنسىis forgotten لذاذتُهاtheir sweetness علىthrough الأعصارِthe ages
تُنسى لذاذتُها على الأعصارِ
It never occurred to me that the days of love
The enchantresses of the eyelid who never ceased
could have their sweetness forgotten through the ages.
To captivate hearts with their sorcerous glance!
واِذاand when الحمامةُthe dove فيin الأراكةِthe arak tree غرَّدتْsang
واِذا الحمامةُ في الأراكةِ غرَّدتْ
فرحاًjoyfully بلمعِat the gleam of تبلُّجِthe brightening of الأسحارِthe predawn hours
فرحاً بلمعِ تبلُّجِ الأسحارِ
And when the dove sings in the arak tree,
But where are the cups of the battlefields that made me
rejoicing in the gleam as the predawn hours brighten,
Reel drunkenly without causing me a headache?
فالشوقُthen longing بينَbetween أضالِعيmy ribs متوقِّدٌablaze
فالشوقُ بينَ أضالِعي متوقِّدٌ
يرميstrikes حشايَmy innermost heart مِنَfrom الجوىlove's anguish بأوارِwith searing heat
يرمي حشايَ مِنَ الجوى بأوارِ
then longing blazes between my ribs,
They left, and anxiety destroyed them until
striking my heart with the searing heat of love's anguish.
Naught remained but specters in the sand dunes.
وبواعثُand the stirrings of الوجدِpassion القديمِold تحثُّنيurge me
وبواعثُ الوجدِ القديمِ تحثُّني
أنْto أبلُغَattain الأهواءَthe desires بالأخطارِthrough dangers
أنْ أبلُغَ الأهواءَ بالأخطارِ
And the stirrings of old passion urge me
I kept company with them, seeking to reproach—
to attain my desires by braving dangers.
How many a brimming eyelid of ours flowed
ومهوِّمينَand men drowsing مِنَfrom الوجيفِthe swift pace كأنِّماas though
ومهوِّمينَ مِنَ الوجيفِ كأنِّما
عاطيتَهمْyou handed them فيamong الشَّربِthe drinking companions كأسَa cup of عُقارِwine
عاطيتَهمْ في الشَّربِ كأسَ عُقارِ
And men drowsing from the swift pace, as though
With the tears it shed for the slanderers! And thus
you had handed them a cup of wine among drinking companions—
The course of tears flows more with recollection.
أفناهمُwasted them عنتُthe hardship of الذميلِthe trot فلمand so did not يدعْleave
أفناهمُ عنتُ الذميلِ فلم يدعْ
منهمof them سوىexcept الأشباحِshadowy forms فيin الأكوارِthe camel-saddles
منهم سوى الأشباحِ في الأكوارِ
the strain of the trot wasted them, leaving
O white flash of lightning, O bleating antelope
nothing of them but shadowy forms in the camel-saddles.
Seeking his aid from stones!
صاحبتُهمْI accompanied them أبغيseeking الُعذَيبَal-ʿUdhayb فكمand how many لناfor us
صاحبتُهمْ أبغي الُعذَيبَ فكم لنا
مِنof مدمعٍa tear فوقatop النجائبِthe fine-bred camels جاريflowing
مِن مدمعٍ فوق النجائبِ جاري
I accompanied them, seeking al-ʿUdhayb; how many
Where are the tents, their tips made to sway drunkenly
tears of ours flowed atop the fine-bred camels!
By the intoxication of the youthful morning breeze?
أجراهset it flowing ذكرُremembrance of الظاعنينَthose who departed وهكذاand thus
أجراه ذكرُ الظاعنينَ وهكذا
رسمُthe accustomed course of الدموعِtears يزيدُincreases بالتَّذكارِwith remembrance
رسمُ الدموعِ يزيدُ بالتَّذكارِ
Remembrance of those who departed set it flowing; thus
My pact with you, by your tattoo, is to visit them
the accustomed flow of tears grows with remembrance.
Whether pleasing or displeasing in my poems
ياO أبرقَAbraq (stony ground) الواديof the valley وياand O ويعَwoe (unclear spelling) امرىءٍa man
يا أبرقَ الوادي ويا ويعَ امرىءٍ
يرجوhopes for معونتَهُaid for him مِنَfrom الأحجارِstones
يرجو معونتَهُ مِنَ الأحجارِ
O Abraq of the valley! And alas for a man
And the sorceresses of the eyelid who never ceased
who hopes that stones will come to his aid.
To captivate hearts with their sorcerous glance!
أينwhere البدورُthe full moons يُميلُهاsways them سكرُثintoxication (unclear spelling) الصِّباof youth
أين البدورُ يُميلُها سكرُث الصِّبا
مرحاًin merriment فتهزاًand so they mock (apparent reading) بالقناat the spears الخطّارِswaying
مرحاً فتهزاً بالقنا الخطّارِ
Where are the full moons, swayed by youth's intoxication,
But where are the battlefield's goblets that made me reel
in merriment, so that they mock the swaying spears?
Drunkenly without causing me a headache?
عهديmy recollection بهاof them فيon جلهتيكَyour two banks أُزيرُهاI present to them
عهدي بها في جلهتيكَ أُزيرُها
ماwhatever لاقَwas fitting أوor ماwhatever راقَwas pleasing منof أشعاريmy poems
ما لاقَ أو ما راقَ من أشعاري
I remember them on your two banks, presenting them
They left, and before their leaving life flowed
with whatever of my poems was fitting or pleasing.
With their nearness in the spirit of sacrifice.
وسواحرُand the enchantresses of المقلِthe eyes اللواتيwho لمdid not تَزَلْcease
وسواحرُ المقلِ اللواتي لم تَزَلْ
تُصميstrike dead القلوبَhearts بلحظِهاwith their gaze السحّارِbewitching
تُصمي القلوبَ بلحظِها السحّارِ
And those with spellbinding eyes, who never ceased
When they rebelled I concealed their secrets,
to strike hearts dead with their bewitching gaze?
Though in separation secrets spread far and wide.
بلrather أينwhere كاساتُthe cups of الثغورِlips تُمِيلُنيmake me sway
بل أين كاساتُ الثغورِ تُمِيلُني
سُكْراًin drunkenness ولمand did not تُعْقِبهُfollow it ليfor me بخُمارِwith a hangover
سُكْراً ولم تُعْقِبهُ لي بخُمارِ
Rather, where are the cups of lips that made me sway
After them pacts were kept, and this is a trait
with drunkenness, yet left me with no hangover?
That sets free men apart.
رحلواthey departed وكانَand was العيشُlife قبلَbefore رحيلهمtheir departure
رحلوا وكانَ العيشُ قبلَ رحيلهم
يجريflowed بقربهمُin their nearness علىaccording to الاِيثارِpreference
يجري بقربهمُ على الاِيثارِ
They departed; before their departure, life
flowed in their nearness just as one would wish.
وكتمتُand I kept silent لماwhen ثوَّرواthey stirred up أسرارَهمْtheir secrets
وكتمتُ لما ثوَّروا أسرارَهمْ
والبينُand parting فيهin it يُذاعُdisclosure is made بالأسرارِof secrets
والبينُ فيه يُذاعُ بالأسرارِ
And I kept silent when they brought their secrets to light,
though at parting secrets are divulged.
وحَفِظتْand she kept بعدَهمُafter them العهودَthe pledges وهذهand these
وحَفِظتْ بعدَهمُ العهودَ وهذه
شِيَمٌtraits يُدَلُّindication is given بهاby them علىof الأحرارِthe noble
شِيَمٌ يُدَلُّ بها على الأحرارِ
And she kept the pledges after they were gone; these
are traits by which the noble are known.
Partial English translation: 56 of 62 Arabic lines translated.