يا دارُ مَن قَتَلَ الهَوى بَعدي

يا دارُ مَن قَتَلَ الهَوى بَعدي

وَجَدوا وَلامِثلَ الَّذي عِندي

وَجَدوا وَلامِثلَ الَّذي عِندي

O dwelling of those whom love slew after me,

O abode of one who after me has killed passion,

they felt longing, but nothing like what I bear.

They have found none like the passion that was mine,

لا تَعجَبي يا دارُ أَنَّهُمُ

لا تَعجَبي يا دارُ أَنَّهُمُ

أَبدوا وَمَن يَكُ واجِداً يُبدي

أَبدوا وَمَن يَكُ واجِداً يُبدي

Do not marvel, O dwelling, that they

Marvel not, O abode, that they

revealed it: whoever feels longing reveals it.

Have recited poems, and he who finds will recite,

رَبعٌ قَريبُ العَهدِ أَحسَبُهُ

رَبعٌ قَريبُ العَهدِ أَحسَبُهُ

بِالظاعِنينَ وَقَد مَضى عَهدي

بِالظاعِنينَ وَقَد مَضى عَهدي

A campsite, lately acquainted, I think,

A youth nigh upon his time, methinks,

with the departed, though my own time is past.

Of wantons, though my time is past,

لَو حَرَّكَت ذاكَ الرَمادَ يَدٌ

لَو حَرَّكَت ذاكَ الرَمادَ يَدٌ

لَرَأَت بَقايا الجَمرِ وَالوَقدِ

لَرَأَت بَقايا الجَمرِ وَالوَقدِ

If a hand stirred that ash,

Had one but stirred the ashes with his hand,

it would see remnants of embers and flame.

He'd see the remnants glowing embers yet.

إِنّي لَيُعجِبُني حِماكَ إِذا

إِنّي لَيُعجِبُني حِماكَ إِذا

نَشَرَ النَسيمُ ذَوائِبَ الرَندِ

نَشَرَ النَسيمُ ذَوائِبَ الرَندِ

Your sanctuary truly delights me when

Truly, thy wall, when the breeze spreads

the breeze unfurls the laurels' tresses.

The ringlets of the myrtle branch, delights me,

وَالماءُ تَصقُلُهُ الرِياحُ كَما

وَالماءُ تَصقُلُهُ الرِياحُ كَما

أَبدى العِيابُ مُضاعَفَ السَردِ

أَبدى العِيابُ مُضاعَفَ السَردِ

And the winds polish the water, as

And water polishes it, as the winds reveal

garment bags reveal double-linked mail.

The doubled intertwining branches of the lote-tree.

حَيّا مَريضَ ثَراكَ غادِيَةٌ

حَيّا مَريضَ ثَراكَ غادِيَةٌ

تُعطيهِ ريحَ العَنبَرِ الوَردِ

تُعطيهِ ريحَ العَنبَرِ الوَردِ

May a morning raincloud revive your ailing soil,

A lovely damsel in thy shade draws nigh

giving it the scent of rose-hued ambergris;

To give the myrtle's spicy fragrance to the sick man,

أَو ذاتُ نَهدٍ بَينَ سارِيَةٍ

أَو ذاتُ نَهدٍ بَينَ سارِيَةٍ

تَتَلَوَّيانِ تَلَوِّيَ القِدِّ

تَتَلَوَّيانِ تَلَوِّيَ القِدِّ

or a swelling-breasted cloud amid a night-wandering one,

Or a slim-waisted figure sways between the trailing skirts

the two twisting as a leather thong twists.

That twist and twine like candle-wicks.

يَتَشَقَّقُ البَرقُ اللَموعُ بِها

يَتَشَقَّقُ البَرقُ اللَموعُ بِها

وَتَروعُهُ بِتَهَزُّمِ الرَعدِ

وَتَروعُهُ بِتَهَزُّمِ الرَعدِ

Flashing lightning splits through it,

Lightning flashes, gleaming through her,

and the cloud startles it with thunder's crashing.

And thunder startles at the sound of her anklets' bells.

لي مُقلَةٌ ما تَستَفيقُ جَوىً

لي مُقلَةٌ ما تَستَفيقُ جَوىً

تَدمى وَيَقرَعُ ماؤُها خَدّي

تَدمى وَيَقرَعُ ماؤُها خَدّي

I have an eye that never recovers from love's anguish;

I have a gesturing glance that will not waken ardour,

it bleeds, and its tears strike my cheek.

That sheds tears copiously and beats against my cheek,

وَالعيسُ ما وَجَدَت تَحِنُّ وَلا

وَالعيسُ ما وَجَدَت تَحِنُّ وَلا

تُخفي وَأَكتُمُ دائِماً وَجدي

تُخفي وَأَكتُمُ دائِماً وَجدي

And the pale camels moan whenever they yearn, and do not

And tender looks that find no warmth, nor yet

hide it, while I always conceal my longing.

Conceal or hide my constant passion.

وَمَلامُ أَيّامٍ وَلَيسَ لَها

وَمَلامُ أَيّامٍ وَلَيسَ لَها

عَطفٌ وَبَعضُ اللَومِ لا يُجدي

عَطفٌ وَبَعضُ اللَومِ لا يُجدي

And I reproach the days, though they have no

Blame visits me from days that know no pity,

compassion; and some reproach does no good.

Though some blame profits not.

لاخَيرَ في دُنيا نَوائِبُها

لاخَيرَ في دُنيا نَوائِبُها

تَدري وَداءُ مَنونِها يُعدي

تَدري وَداءُ مَنونِها يُعدي

There is no good in a world whose calamities

In a world whose blows strike constantly

ensnare, and the sickness of its death is contagious.

One knows, and its declining is infectious.

لا تَحسَبَنَّ الرِزقَ مُطَّرَحاً

لا تَحسَبَنَّ الرِزقَ مُطَّرَحاً

فَالرِزقُ بَينَ مَواضِعِ الأُسدِ

فَالرِزقُ بَينَ مَواضِعِ الأُسدِ

Do not think sustenance lies scattered for the taking;

Think not sustenance is out of reach;

for sustenance lies among the lions' haunts.

Sustenance is between the lion's paws.

وَلَرُبَّ مَصحوبٍ غَرِضتُ بِهِ

وَلَرُبَّ مَصحوبٍ غَرِضتُ بِهِ

غَرَضَ الخَوامِسِ مِن قَذى الوِردِ

غَرَضَ الخَوامِسِ مِن قَذى الوِردِ

And many a companion has disgusted me,

And many a dear companion have I ventured on

as camels watered every fifth day loathe debris in their water.

Whose whim was as the gnat's towards a rose.

دانى يَدي فَنَفَضتُها حَذَراً

دانى يَدي فَنَفَضتُها حَذَراً

مِن أَن يُدَنِّسَ هَزلُهُ جِدّي

مِن أَن يُدَنِّسَ هَزلُهُ جِدّي

He drew near my hand; I shook it off, fearing

I offered up my hand, then snatched it back,

that his frivolity would sully my seriousness.

Lest his frivolity should stain my earnestness.

وَمُبَخَّلٍ إِن جادَ بَعدَ مَدىً

وَمُبَخَّلٍ إِن جادَ بَعدَ مَدىً

فَالماءُ يَطلُعُ مِن صَفاً صَلدِ

فَالماءُ يَطلُعُ مِن صَفاً صَلدِ

And one called miserly—if he gives after long delay,

And one who, having not responded for a time,

then even water springs from hard, smooth rock.

At last accedes, is like the water rising out of solid ice.

كَيفَ السَبيلُ إِلى بُلَهنِيَةٍ

كَيفَ السَبيلُ إِلى بُلَهنِيَةٍ

في ذا الزَمانِ وَعَيشَةٍ رَغدِ

في ذا الزَمانِ وَعَيشَةٍ رَغدِ

What way is there to carefree ease

What road leads to contentment nowadays

in this age, and to a life of plenty?

In such an age, with life so soft and pleasant?

في كُلِّ لَيلٍ لي وَقودُ مُنىً

في كُلِّ لَيلٍ لي وَقودُ مُنىً

وَمَطامِعٌ وَسَّدتُها عَضدي

وَمَطامِعٌ وَسَّدتُها عَضدي

Each night I have wishes for fuel,

Each night I have a wish and expectations

and ambitions I have pillowed on my arm.

I have blocked up with my own strength.

وَالمَرءُ ما أَرضى أَمانَيهُ

وَالمَرءُ ما أَرضى أَمانَيهُ

يَنقادُ مِن لَعِبٍ إِلى جِدِّ

يَنقادُ مِن لَعِبٍ إِلى جِدِّ

And a man, so long as he indulges his wishes,

A man attains not his desires, but is led

is led from play to earnest endeavor.

From trifling to earnest business.

وَجهي مَجالٌ لِلطَعانِ فَما

وَجهي مَجالٌ لِلطَعانِ فَما

خَوفي لِقاءَ الحَرِّ وَالبَردِ

خَوفي لِقاءَ الحَرِّ وَالبَردِ

My face is a field for spear-thrusts—what, then,

My face is a wide field for censure, yet have I no fear

have I to fear in facing heat and cold?

Of facing heat and cold.

فَلَأَشرَبَنَّ مَناقِباً بِدَمي

فَلَأَشرَبَنَّ مَناقِباً بِدَمي

وَلَأَنقُبَنَّ عَلى العُلى جُهدي

وَلَأَنقُبَنَّ عَلى العُلى جُهدي

So I shall surely drink in honors with my blood,

With my blood I will drink to the glory

and I shall surely press on toward the heights with all my might.

And strive after the highest with all my power.

وَلَأُرحِلَنَّ العيسَ مَرحَلَةً

وَلَأُرحِلَنَّ العيسَ مَرحَلَةً

عَوجاءَ بَينَ القورِ وَالوَهدِ

عَوجاءَ بَينَ القورِ وَالوَهدِ

And I shall surely drive the pale camels on a journey

I will roam with my love in crooked paths

winding among the hills and hollows.

Between the rugged heights and valleys.

عَلّي أُلاقي مَن أُسَرُّ بِهِ

عَلّي أُلاقي مَن أُسَرُّ بِهِ

وَيُفَلُّ عِندَ لِقائِهِ كَدّي

وَيُفَلُّ عِندَ لِقائِهِ كَدّي

Perhaps I shall meet one who brings me joy,

Grant me to meet the one whose love delights me,

and in meeting him my toil is blunted,

At whose greeting my sorrows disappear!

وَأَتوبُ مِن ذَمِّ الزَمانِ إِذا

وَأَتوبُ مِن ذَمِّ الزَمانِ إِذا

عَلِقَت يَدايَ يَدي أَبي سَعدي

عَلِقَت يَدايَ يَدي أَبي سَعدي

and repent of reviling time, when

And I will recant the blame of Time, if

my hands clasp the hands of Abu Saʿdī.

My hands can clasp the hands of my father Saʿdī.

خُلّي وَإِن بَعُدَ الزَمانُ بِهِ

خُلّي وَإِن بَعُدَ الزَمانُ بِهِ

يَوماً وَما طَلَني بِهِ وَعدي

يَوماً وَما طَلَني بِهِ وَعدي

My dear friend, though time may carry him far

O my friend, though the days have been long absent him,

one day; the promise I have of him has not kept me waiting.

No day of mine fulfilled my promise to him.

وَمُطالِعي في الأُنسِ إِن لُوِيَت

وَمُطالِعي في الأُنسِ إِن لُوِيَت

عَنّي الرِقابُ وَلَجَّ في صَدّي

عَنّي الرِقابُ وَلَجَّ في صَدّي

And he who seeks me out in friendship, if necks are turned

My eyes sought him out, for yearning toward him,

away from me and others persist in rebuffing me.

If their gaze turned from him, pierced my breast.

لا تَحسَبوا ذا البُعدَ غَيَّرَني

لا تَحسَبوا ذا البُعدَ غَيَّرَني

فَالبُعدُ غَيرُ مُغَيِّرٍ وِدّي

فَالبُعدُ غَيرُ مُغَيِّرٍ وِدّي

Do not think this distance has changed me;

Think not this absence changed me;

for distance does not alter my affection.

Absence changes not a loving friend's affection.

وَإِذا الفَتى حَسُنَت رِعايَتُهُ

وَإِذا الفَتى حَسُنَت رِعايَتُهُ

في القُربِ ضاعَفَها عَلى البُعدِ

في القُربِ ضاعَفَها عَلى البُعدِ

And when a man's care proves good

When a man has shown regard in presence,

when near, he doubles it when far away.

He redoubles it over absence and distance.

لَو تَسأَلونَ دَمي سَمَحتُ بِهِ

لَو تَسأَلونَ دَمي سَمَحتُ بِهِ

مِن غَيرِ مَعصِيَةٍ وَلا رَدِّ

مِن غَيرِ مَعصِيَةٍ وَلا رَدِّ

If you asked for my blood, I would give it freely,

Were you to ask my blood, freely I would grant it,

without disobedience or refusal.

Without disobedience or refusal.

أَو كانَ جِلدٌ يُستَعارُ إِذاً

أَو كانَ جِلدٌ يُستَعارُ إِذاً

يَومَ الطِعانِ لِعِرتُكُم جِلدي

يَومَ الطِعانِ لِعِرتُكُم جِلدي

Or if skin could be borrowed, then

Or had I skin to lend, when tongues wagged Death

on the day of spear-thrusts I would lend you my skin.

Would clothe your nakedness with my skin.

أَو أَنَّ خُطواً يُستَرابُ بِهِ

أَو أَنَّ خُطواً يُستَرابُ بِهِ

مِنكُم سَحَبتُ وَراءَكُم بُردي

مِنكُم سَحَبتُ وَراءَكُم بُردي

Or if a step should arouse suspicion—

Or were steps traced, I'd follow in your footsteps

one of yours—I would drag my cloak behind you.

Dragging my skirt behind you.

كانَت غَيابَةَ حادِثٍ فَجَلا

كانَت غَيابَةَ حادِثٍ فَجَلا

دَيجورَها قَمَرٌ مِنَ السَعدِ

دَيجورَها قَمَرٌ مِنَ السَعدِ

It was a misfortune's dark abyss; then was dispelled

An accident of absence shone like the full moon,

its pitch-blackness by a moon of good fortune.

Its trouble dispelled by a fortunate star,

وَنَهَصتُ مِنها غَيرَ مُكتَرِثٍ

وَنَهَصتُ مِنها غَيرَ مُكتَرِثٍ

مِثلَ الحُسامِ نَزا مِنَ الغِمدِ

مِثلَ الحُسامِ نَزا مِنَ الغِمدِ

And I rose from it, unconcerned,

And I sprang from it heedless,

like a keen sword that sprang from its sheath.

Like a sword from the scabbard.

اللَهُ جارَكَ ما رَمَتكَ نَوىً

اللَهُ جارَكَ ما رَمَتكَ نَوىً

تُذري الرَكائِبَ أَو قَطا الجُردِ

تُذري الرَكائِبَ أَو قَطا الجُردِ

May God be your protector whenever separation strikes you,

God guard you! No purpose has overthrown you

scattering riding camels or the backs of sleek steeds.

That would cast down riders or piercing arrows.

وَأَنا الَّذي إِن تَدجُ نائِبَةٌ

وَأَنا الَّذي إِن تَدجُ نائِبَةٌ

يُصبِح أَمامَكَ مُوَرِياً زَندي

يُصبِح أَمامَكَ مُوَرِياً زَندي

And I am the one who, if calamity grows dark,

I am he, if fate grows dark, who will

will have my firestick striking sparks before you.

Show my face before you at dawn.