قَضَتِdecreed المَنازِلُthe dwellings يَومَon the day of كاظِمَةٍKazimah
قَضَتِ المَنازِلُ يَومَ كاظِمَةٍ
أَنَّthat المَطيَّthe riding camels يَطولُgrows long مَوقِفُهاtheir halt
أَنَّ المَطيَّ يَطولُ مَوقِفُها
The dwellings decreed, on the day at Kazimah,
The stages decreed one day at Kazima
that the riding camels should linger long.
That the resting of the mounts would be prolonged
لُمَعٌglimpses مِنَof الأَطلالِthe ruins يُحزِنُناsaddens us
لُمَعٌ مِنَ الأَطلالِ يُحزِنُنا
مُحتَلُّهاtheir dwelling-place الباليworn out وَمَألَفُهاand their familiar haunt
مُحتَلُّها البالي وَمَألَفُها
Glimpses of ruins: we are saddened by
A gleam from the ruins saddens us
their worn dwelling-place and familiar haunt.
Its wanderers and its inhabitants
سَبَقَتrushed ahead مَدامِعُهاits tear ducts بِرَشَّتِهاwith its spray
سَبَقَت مَدامِعُها بِرَشَّتِها
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat يوميgives a sign مُكَفكِفُهاtheir restrainer
مِن قَبلِ أَن يومي مُكَفكِفُها
The eye's tear ducts rushed ahead with their spray,
Its tears outstripped with their flowing
before their restrainer could give a sign.
Before the day folded them
وَتَكَلَّفَتand strained مِنfrom صَوبِthe downpour of ماطِرِهاits raincloud
وَتَكَلَّفَت مِن صَوبِ ماطِرِها
فَوقَbeyond الَّذيwhat يَرجوhopes for مُكَلِّفُهاits taskmaster
فَوقَ الَّذي يَرجو مُكَلِّفُها
And it strained to give from its raincloud's downpour
And it undertook from the direction of its rain
more than its taskmaster hoped for.
Beyond what its undertaker hoped for
إِنif كُنتُI have أَنفَذتُspent الدُموعَthe tears بِهاover them
إِن كُنتُ أَنفَذتُ الدُموعَ بِها
فَالوَجدُthen grief بَعدَafter اليَومِtoday يُخلِفُهاreplenishes them
فَالوَجدُ بَعدَ اليَومِ يُخلِفُها
If I have spent my tears upon them,
If I let tears flow through it
then grief will replenish them after today.
Then after today, the passion will replace it
لاno مِنَّةٌfavor مِنّيfrom me عَلىupon طَلَلٍa ruin
لا مِنَّةٌ مِنّي عَلى طَلَلٍ
دِيَمٌsteady rains طِلاعُfilling العَينِthe eye أَذرِفُهاI shed them
دِيَمٌ طِلاعُ العَينِ أَذرِفُها
No favor do I bestow upon a ruin:
I have no favor upon a ruin
I shed steady rains that brim the eye,
Whose streaming of tears is perpetual
وَلَواعِجٌand burning pangs نَفَسيmy breath يُنَفِّسُهاrelieves them
وَلَواعِجٌ نَفَسي يُنَفِّسُها
وَبَلابِلٌand anxieties دَمعيmy tears يُخَفِّفُهاeases them
وَبَلابِلٌ دَمعي يُخَفِّفُها
and burning pangs my breath relieves,
And panting of my soul that gives it breath
and anxieties my tears ease.
And problems of my tears that alleviate it
ظَعَنواthey departed فَلِلأَحشاءِso for the vitals مُذsince ظَعَنواthey departed
ظَعَنوا فَلِلأَحشاءِ مُذ ظَعَنوا
حُرَقٌburning pains تُعَسِّفُهاtorment them وَتَعسِفُهاand ravage them
حُرَقٌ تُعَسِّفُها وَتَعسِفُها
They departed; since they left, my vitals suffer
They were arduous so burning anguish makes it transgress and transgress
burning pains that torment and ravage them.
Do not seek the house after them
لاdo not تَنشُدَنَّseek out الدارَthe dwelling بَعدَهُمُafter them
لا تَنشُدَنَّ الدارَ بَعدَهُمُ
إِنّيindeed I عَلىdespite الإِقواءِdesolation أَعرِفُهاrecognize it
إِنّي عَلى الإِقواءِ أَعرِفُها
Do not seek out the dwelling after them;
I know restraining it
I recognize it even in its desolation.
And a secret sign of passion I conceal
وَعَلامَةٌand a sign لِلشَوقِof longing أُضمِرُهُI conceal it
وَعَلامَةٌ لِلشَوقِ أُضمِرُهُ
طَرَبيmy rapture إِلىat الإيقاعِrhythm أَشرَفُهاthe noblest of them
طَرَبي إِلى الإيقاعِ أَشرَفُها
And a sign of the longing I conceal—
Is my confusion toward rhythm overtaking it
my rapture at rhythm—is the noblest of such signs.
Every day I have a loving critic
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday ليI have غَريمُa debtor of هَوىًlove
في كُلِّ يَومٍ لي غَريمُ هَوىً
يَلويdelays paying الدِيونَthe debts وَلاand does not يُسَوِّفُهاput them off with promises
يَلوي الدِيونَ وَلا يُسَوِّفُها
Every day I have a debtor in love
Who twists my debts and does not defer them
who withholds payment and gives no promise of 'later'.
Gently with my heart O Abu Hassan
رِفقاًgently بِقَلبيwith my heart ياO أَباfather of حَسَنٍHasan
رِفقاً بِقَلبي يا أَبا حَسَنٍ
العَينُthe eye مِنكَpart of you وَأَنتَand you تَطرِفُهاwound it
العَينُ مِنكَ وَأَنتَ تَطرِفُها
Be gentle with my heart, O Abu Hasan:
While you glance at the eye and divert it
the eye is part of you, yet you wound it.
I was as if with covenants of valleys and hills
فَكَأَنَّنيso as though I بِعَلائِقٍwith bonds شُعَبٍbranching
فَكَأَنَّني بِعَلائِقٍ شُعَبٍ
قَدalready زالَhas departed عَنfrom أَمَمٍeasy reach تَأَلُّفُهاtheir union
قَد زالَ عَن أَمَمٍ تَأَلُّفُها
So it is as though I were caught in branching ties
That tribes who befriended them had departed
whose union is no longer within easy reach,
And pillars of passion bent
وَمُقَوَّماتٍand straightened ones مِنfrom غُصونِboughs of هَوىًlove
وَمُقَوَّماتٍ مِن غُصونِ هَوىً
يَعوَجُّgrows crooked أَطواراًat times مُثَقِّفُهاtheir straightener
يَعوَجُّ أَطواراً مُثَقِّفُها
and in straightened shoots from love's boughs,
In ways that enrich and educate it
whose straightener sometimes grows crooked.
In the heart from you is a wound for all time
فيin القَلبِthe heart مِنكَfrom you جِراحَةٌa wound أَبداًforever
في القَلبِ مِنكَ جِراحَةٌ أَبداً
ماnot زِلتُhave I ceased أَدمُلُهاhealing it وَتَقرِفُهاand you reopen it
ما زِلتُ أَدمُلُها وَتَقرِفُها
In my heart is a wound from you forever:
I continued to bandage it while it festered
I keep healing it, and you tear it open.
How many covenants have been annulled
كَمhow many مِنof مَعاقِدَbinding pledges بِتَّyou spent the night تَفسَخُهاyou undo them
كَم مِن مَعاقِدَ بِتَّ تَفسَخُها
وَمَواعِدٍand promises بِالقُربِof nearness تُخلِفُهاyou break them
وَمَواعِدٍ بِالقُربِ تُخلِفُها
How many bonds have you spent the night undoing,
And appointments nearby you missed
and promises of nearness have you broken!
As for loyalty, you delay it
أَمّاas for الحِفاظُkeeping faith فَأَنتَthen you تَمطُلُهُdelay it
أَمّا الحِفاظُ فَأَنتَ تَمطُلُهُ
وَالمُحفِظاتُand provocations فَأَنتَthen you تُسلِفُهاoffer them in advance
وَالمُحفِظاتُ فَأَنتَ تُسلِفُها
As for keeping faith, you put it off;
While the loyal ones, you borrow from them
but provocations you offer in advance.
I will try to turn the soul from you though
سَأَرومُI shall seek عَطفَturning النَفسِthe soul عَنكَaway from you وَإِنand even if
سَأَرومُ عَطفَ النَفسِ عَنكَ وَإِن
كانَwere الغَرامُardent love إِلَيكَtoward you يَعطِفُهاturns it
كانَ الغَرامُ إِلَيكَ يَعطِفُها
I shall try to turn my soul away from you, even if
Passion toward you inclines it
passion were to turn it toward you.
Often I squandered it out of boredom
وَلَطالَماand how often اِستَصرَفتُهاI sought to turn it away مَلَلاًin weariness
وَلَطالَما اِستَصرَفتُها مَلَلاً
وَلَئِنand if صَحَوتُI sober up فَسَوفَthen shall أَصرِفُهاI turn it away
وَلَئِن صَحَوتُ فَسَوفَ أَصرِفُها
And how often, in weariness, I have sought to turn it away;
And if I wake I will divert it
and if I sober up, I shall turn it away.
And if I sought peace through it, it refused
وَإِذاand when طَلَبتُI seek بِهاfor it السَلوَّforgetfulness أَبىrefuses
وَإِذا طَلَبتُ بِها السَلوَّ أَبى
إِلّاexcept النِزاعَyearning إِلَيكَtoward you مُدنِفُهاthe one making it lovesick
إِلّا النِزاعَ إِلَيكَ مُدنِفُها
And when I seek forgetfulness for it, nothing satisfies
Except quarreling toward you mobilizing it
the one who makes it lovesick except yearning for you.
As if one who forgot it reminds it
فَكَأَنَّso as though مُنسِيَهاwhat makes it forget يُذَكِّرُهاreminds it
فَكَأَنَّ مُنسِيَها يُذَكِّرُها
أَوor ماwhat يُؤَسّيهاconsoles it يُسَوِّفُهاputs it off with promises
أَو ما يُؤَسّيها يُسَوِّفُها
So what makes it forget seems to remind it,
Or one who disappoints it defers it
or what consoles it puts it off with promises.
It proceeds while turning toward you
تَمضيit goes away وَنَحوَكُمُand toward you تَلَفُّتُهاits backward glances
تَمضي وَنَحوَكُمُ تَلَفُّتُها
وَإِلىand toward لِقائِكُمُmeeting you تَشَوُّفُهاits eager gazing
وَإِلى لِقائِكُمُ تَشَوُّفُها
It moves away, yet looks back toward you,
And longing to meet you seizes it
and gazes eagerly toward meeting you.
For your love and longing excuse it
فَهَواكُمُso love for you وَالشَوقُand longing يَعذِرُهاexcuses it
فَهَواكُمُ وَالشَوقُ يَعذِرُها
وَذَميمُand the baseness of فِعلِكُمُyour conduct يُعَنِّفُهاrebukes it
وَذَميمُ فِعلِكُمُ يُعَنِّفُها
So its love for you and longing excuse it,
And the blemish of your actions reproaches it
while your shameful conduct rebukes it.
Will your anguish soften you
هَلwhether يَعطِفَنَّكُمُwill surely soften you تَوَجُّعُهاits suffering
هَل يَعطِفَنَّكُمُ تَوَجُّعُها
أَوor يُقبِلَنَّwill surely bring forward بِكُمyou تَلَهُّفُهاits yearning
أَو يُقبِلَنَّ بِكُم تَلَهُّفُها
Will its suffering soften you,
Or will its fervor bring you closer
or will its yearning bring you near?
So take the prime of it before
فَاِستَبقِso preserve مِنهاfrom it ماwhat يُضَنُّone is loath to part بِهِwith it
فَاِستَبقِ مِنها ما يُضَنُّ بِهِ
تِلكَthat الصَبابَةُardent longing أَنتَyou تَرشُفُهاsip it
تِلكَ الصَبابَةُ أَنتَ تَرشُفُها
So preserve what is prized within it:
That youth you squander
that ardent longing—you are sipping it.
Do not feel safe with it if I mistreated it
لاdo not تَأمَنَنهاtrust it إِنif أَسَأتُI have done wrong بِهاto it
لا تَأمَنَنها إِن أَسَأتُ بِها
هِيَit ماwhat عَلِمتَyou have known وَأَنتَand you تَعرِفُهاknow it
هِيَ ما عَلِمتَ وَأَنتَ تَعرِفُها
Do not trust it if I have wronged it;
It is what you knew while you recognized it
it is what you have known, and you know it.
If being submissive tempts you
إِنif كانَshould يُطمِعُكُمtempt you تَذَلُّلُهاits submissiveness
إِن كانَ يُطمِعُكُم تَذَلُّلُها
فَلَسَوفَthen surely will يُفزِعُكُمfrighten you تَغَطرُفُهاits haughtiness
فَلَسَوفَ يُفزِعُكُم تَغَطرُفُها
If its submission tempts you,
Then being unruly will surely alarm you
then its haughtiness will surely frighten you.
And if surrendering to you ruins it
وَلَئِنand even if غَلاwent beyond bounds فيكُمfor you تَهالُكُهاits self-abandonment
وَلَئِن غَلا فيكُم تَهالُكُها
فَليَكثُرَنthen shall surely abound عَنكُمaway from you تَعَفُّفُهاits self-restraint
فَليَكثُرَن عَنكُم تَعَفُّفُها
And if its self-consuming devotion to you has exceeded bounds,
Then avoiding you will multiply its chastity
its abstinence from you shall surely be great.
I will evade the confinement of disgrace through it
سَأَروغُI shall swerve عَنfrom وِردِthe watering-place of الهَوانِhumiliation بِهِat it
سَأَروغُ عَن وِردِ الهَوانِ بِهِ
هِيَit is غَرفَةٌa scoopful لاno بُدَّescape أَغرُفُهاI scoop it up
هِيَ غَرفَةٌ لا بُدَّ أَغرُفُها
I shall turn aside from humiliation's watering-place there;
It is a room I inevitably will roof
it is a scoopful I must scoop up.
If the wounded one is served
إِنَّindeed الهَضيمَةَabasement إِنif أُقادَI am led لَهاto it
إِنَّ الهَضيمَةَ إِن أُقادَ لَها
قِدرٌa cooking pot لَعَمرُكَby your life لاnot أُؤَثِّفُهاI prop it on hearthstones
قِدرٌ لَعَمرُكَ لا أُؤَثِّفُها
Indeed, abasement, if I am led to it,
A meal, by your life, I will not taint it
is a pot, by your life, I will not prop on hearthstones.
He comes close to its softness out of generosity
يَدنوbrings near بِنَفسيmy soul لينُهاits gentleness كَرَماًout of generosity
يَدنو بِنَفسي لينُها كَرَماً
وَيَبينُand appears عِندَwhen facing الضَيمِinjustice عَجرَفُهاits rough pride
وَيَبينُ عِندَ الضَيمِ عَجرَفُها
My soul's gentleness draws it near, out of generosity,
And his coarseness shows at injustice
yet when wronged, its rough pride shows.
I swear by the Lord of swaying passions
قَسَماًan oath بِرَبِّby the Lord of الراقِصاتِthe dancing she-camels هَوىًin longing
قَسَماً بِرَبِّ الراقِصاتِ هَوىً
أَمَمَtoward البِناءِthe building العَودِthe ancient مَوجِفُهاtheir driver
أَمَمَ البِناءِ العَودِ مَوجِفُها
I swear by the Lord of the dancing she-camels, in yearning,
It inspires the builder, its waving excites him
their driver urging them toward the ancient building.
Seeking the doe of darkness when
يَطلُبنَthey seek رابِدَةَthe resting-place of الظَليمِthe male ostrich إِذاwhen
يَطلُبنَ رابِدَةَ الظَليمِ إِذا
طَرَقَarrives by night الظَلامُdarkness أُضِلَّis led astray مُسدِفُهاtheir night-driver
طَرَقَ الظَلامُ أُضِلَّ مُسدِفُها
They seek the male ostrich's resting-place when
The darkness falls, its guide goes astray
darkness falls and their night-driver is led astray.
It attained the heights of nobility and became
بَلَغَتthey arrived عَلىafter عَلَلِrepeated bouts of السُرىnight travel وَغَدَتand went at dawn
بَلَغَت عَلى عَلَلِ السُرى وَغَدَت
وَمِلاؤُهاand their mantles بِالبُدنِof flesh نَصَّفَهاit halved them
وَمِلاؤُها بِالبُدنِ نَصَّفَها
They arrived after repeated bouts of night travel and set out at dawn,
Filled through its body cleaved in two
their mantles of flesh reduced by half.
Starting the day on the carpet
يَغدوgoes at dawn عَلىat الإِرقالِa swift trot مُؤتَدِماًtaking nourishment
يَغدو عَلى الإِرقالِ مُؤتَدِماً
مِنfrom نَيَّهاits fat العاميِّyear-old نَفنَفُهاits underbelly
مِن نَيَّها العاميِّ نَفنَفُها
At dawn it travels at a swift trot, feeding,
From her naive carpet maker who shakes it
its underbelly drawing on its year-old fat.
Surviving on a preceding breath
يَنجوspeeds on عَلىwith رَمَقٍa breath of life مُقَدَّمُهاtheir foremost
يَنجو عَلى رَمَقٍ مُقَدَّمُها
وَيُقيمُand remains مَعذوراًexcused مُخَلَّفُهاtheir laggard
وَيُقيمُ مَعذوراً مُخَلَّفُها
Their foremost speeds on with barely a breath of life,
While its successor remains
while their laggard remains behind, excused.
And at dawn the Arabian burst forth
وَبِحَيثُand by where جَعجَعتِhalted العَريبُthe Arab folk ضُحىًat forenoon
وَبِحَيثُ جَعجَعتِ العَريبُ ضُحىً
مِثلَlike الحَنيِّbows بُليwas worn thin مُعَطَّفُهاtheir curved forms
مِثلَ الحَنيِّ بُلي مُعَطَّفُها
And by where the Arab folk halted at forenoon,
Like a bulky wrap rolled up
their bent forms worn thin like bows;
By the bounty its bags contained
وَبِفَضلِand by the virtue of ماwhat أَوعىcontained مُحَصَّبُهاtheir Muhassab
وَبِفَضلِ ما أَوعى مُحَصَّبُها
وَأَقَرَّand preserved مِنfrom قِدَمٍancient times مُعَرَّفُهاtheir Muʿarraf
وَأَقَرَّ مِن قِدَمٍ مُعَرَّفُها
and by the virtue of what their Muhassab has held,
And the feet that tread it recognized
and their Muʿarraf has preserved from ancient times:
I am, throughout your estrangement
إِنّيindeed I عَلىdespite طولِthe length of الصُدودِestrangement لَكُمam yours
إِنّي عَلى طولِ الصُدودِ لَكُم
كَالنَفسِlike the soul مَأمونٌnot feared تَحَيُّفُهاits encroachment
كَالنَفسِ مَأمونٌ تَحَيُّفُها
I am indeed yours, despite the long estrangement,
Like the soul, secured, though you twist it
like your own soul, whose harm you need not fear.
I accept and am angry in your love
أَرضىI am pleased وَأَغضَبُand I become angry فيin حَبابِكُمُyour midst
أَرضى وَأَغضَبُ في حَبابِكُمُ
وَرِقابُand the necks of وُدّيmy affection لاnot أُصَرِّفُهاI turn them away
وَرِقابُ وُدّي لا أُصَرِّفُها
I am pleased and angered in your midst,
And my devoted necks I do not turn from you
yet I never turn the necks of my affection away.
It came to you humbly hopeful
جاءَتكُمُthey came to you أَسَلاًas spears مُشَرَّعَةًleveled
جاءَتكُمُ أَسَلاً مُشَرَّعَةً
مُتَوَقَّعاًexpected فيكُمagainst you تَقَصُّفُهاtheir shattering
مُتَوَقَّعاً فيكُم تَقَصُّفُها
They have come to you as leveled spears,
Expecting you would drive it away
their splintering against you expected.
There remained in it a saying, a creation
قَدalready باتَhas spent the night فيهاupon them قائِلٌa poet صَنَعٌskilled
قَد باتَ فيها قائِلٌ صَنَعٌ
يَهميrains لِهاذِمَهاon their cutting edge وَيُرهِفُهاand sharpens them
يَهمي لِهاذِمَها وَيُرهِفُها
A skilled poet has spent the night working over them,
That aspires to destroy it and confuse it
raining on their cutting edge and sharpening them.
I take pride that yesterday
أَعزِزhow grievous عَلَيَّto me بِأَنthat يَكونَit should be لَكُمfor you
أَعزِز عَلَيَّ بِأَن يَكونَ لَكُم
بِالأَمسِyesterday ثَقَّفَهاstraightened them مُثَقِّفُهاtheir straightener
بِالأَمسِ ثَقَّفَها مُثَقِّفُها
How grievous to me that it should be for you
Its dresser adorned it for you
that their shaper straightened them yesterday!
And veils for shame providing
وَبَراقِعاًand as veils لِلعارِfor shame ضافِيَةًample
وَبَراقِعاً لِلعارِ ضافِيَةً
يَبقىendures عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe days مُغدِفُهاthe one lowering them
يَبقى عَلى الأَيّامِ مُغدِفُها
And as ample veils of shame,
What remains of days to come hoarding
whose draper lives on through the days.
It makes clear to your eyes its distortions
يُجلىis unveiled لِأَعيُنِكُمto your eyes مُشَوَّهُهاtheir disfigured aspect
يُجلى لِأَعيُنِكُم مُشَوَّهُها
وَلَقَدand indeed يَكونُcould be لَكُمyours مُفَوَّفُهاtheir finely patterned aspect
وَلَقَد يَكونُ لَكُم مُفَوَّفُها
Their disfigured aspect is unveiled before your eyes,
Though it may have what entices you
though their finely patterned aspect could be yours.
If you take refuge from its mediation
إِنif تَستَعيذواyou seek refuge مِنfrom تَوَسُّطِهاtheir entering the midst of
إِن تَستَعيذوا مِن تَوَسُّطِها
أَعراضَكُمyour reputations فَكَفىthen sufficient is تَطَرُّفُهاtheir touching the edges
أَعراضَكُم فَكَفى تَطَرُّفُها
If you seek shelter from their entering the heart of
Your honor is enough, be aloof
your honor, their touch on its edges is enough.
So forbid before you return
فَتَزاجَرواso warn one another مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat تَرِدواyou come to water
فَتَزاجَروا مِن قَبلِ أَن تَرِدوا
بِمَوارِدٍat watering-places مُرٍّbitter تَرَشُّفُهاsipping from them
بِمَوارِدٍ مُرٍّ تَرَشُّفُها
So warn one another before you come
To bitter places it drips
to watering-places bitter to sip from.
And take advantage of delaying its occurrence
وَتَغَنَّمواand seize the benefit of إِبطاءَthe delay of عارِضِهاtheir raincloud
وَتَغَنَّموا إِبطاءَ عارِضِها
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat يَمريهِmilks it حَرجَفُهاtheir icy gale
مِن قَبلِ أَن يَمريهِ حَرجَفُها
And profit from their raincloud's delay,
Before its awkwardness passes
before their icy gale milks it.
Return it to regret consuming it
فَلتُرجِعواso turn back آمَماًsoon تَلَوُّمَهاduring their lingering
فَلتُرجِعوا آمَماً تَلَوُّمَها
وَلتُقلِعواand desist نَدَماًin remorse تَوَقَّفَهاduring their pause
وَلتُقلِعوا نَدَماً تَوَقَّفَها
So turn back soon, while they linger,
And retreat in remorse stopping it
and desist in remorse, while they pause.
Partial English translation: 97 of 98 Arabic lines translated.