لَهاshe has خَفَرٌmodesty يَومَon the day of اللِقاءِthe meeting خَفيرُهاher guardian
لَها خَفَرٌ يَومَ اللِقاءِ خَفيرُها
فَماso what بالُهاails her ضَنَّتshe withheld بِماwith what لاnot يَضيرُهاharms her
فَما بالُها ضَنَّت بِما لا يَضيرُها
Her modesty is her guardian on the day of meeting.
She has a guard on the day of meeting, her guard
Why, then, does she withhold what would not harm her?
Why then is she stingy with what does not harm her
أَعادَتُهاis it her custom أَنthat لاnot يُعادَbe visited مَريضُهاher sick one
أَعادَتُها أَن لا يُعادَ مَريضُها
وَسيرَتُهاand her way أَنthat لايُفَكَّnot be freed أَسيرُهاher captive
وَسيرَتُها أَن لايُفَكَّ أَسيرُها
Is it her custom that her sick lover should not be visited?
She made it so her patient would not be cured
And her way that her captive should not be freed?
And her way is that her prisoner not be freed
رَعَيتُI watched نُجومَthe stars of اللَيلِthe night مِنfor أَجلِthe sake of أَنَّهاthat she
رَعَيتُ نُجومَ اللَيلِ مِن أَجلِ أَنَّها
عَلىon جيدِهاher neck مِنهاfrom them عُقودٌnecklaces تُديرُهاshe winds them around
عَلى جيدِها مِنها عُقودٌ تُديرُها
I watched the stars of night because
I tended the stars of night for her sake
She winds necklaces made from them about her neck.
For on her neck are strings of them that she strings
وَقَدand indeed قيلَit was said إِنَّthat الطَيفَthe phantom فيin النَومِsleep زائِرٌa visitor
وَقَد قيلَ إِنَّ الطَيفَ في النَومِ زائِرٌ
فَأَينَso where لَطَرفيfor my eye نَومَةٌa slumber يَستَعيرُهاit borrows it
فَأَينَ لَطَرفي نَومَةٌ يَستَعيرُها
It is said that the phantom visits in sleep;
And it was said that an apparition in sleep is a visitor
Where can my eye find a slumber to borrow?
Where then can my eyes borrow some sleep from
وَهاand here أَناI ذاthis one كَالطَيفِlike a phantom فيهاfor her صَبابَةًin passionate longing
وَها أَنا ذا كَالطَيفِ فيها صَبابَةً
لَعَلّيperhaps I إِذاwhen نامَتshe sleeps بِلَيلٍat night أَزورُهاI visit her
لَعَلّي إِذا نامَت بِلَيلٍ أَزورُها
Here I am, phantom-like through longing for her;
And here I am like an apparition intoxicated in her
Perhaps, when she sleeps at night, I may visit her.
Perhaps if she sleeps at night I will visit her
أَغارُI am jealous عَلىover الغُصنِthe bough الرَطيبِthe supple مِنَof الصَباthe east wind
أَغارُ عَلى الغُصنِ الرَطيبِ مِنَ الصَبا
وَذاكَand that لِأَنَّbecause الغُصنَthe bough قيلَwas said to be نَظيرُهاher likeness
وَذاكَ لِأَنَّ الغُصنَ قيلَ نَظيرُها
I am jealous of the east wind over the supple bough,
I resent the moist branch for her sake
Because the bough is said to be her likeness.
For the branch was said to be her peer
وَمِنand on دونِهاthis side of her أَنthat لاnot تُلِمَّshe visits بِخاطِرٍin a thought
وَمِن دونِها أَن لا تُلِمَّ بِخاطِرٍ
قُصورُthe inability of الوَرىmortals عَنto وَصلِهاunion with her وَقُصورُهاand her palaces
قُصورُ الوَرى عَن وَصلِها وَقُصورُها
Barring her from even visiting a thought
Without blaming her, the palaces of the land fell short
Are mortals' failure to attain her, and her palaces.
Of reaching her and fell short of her
مِنَamong الغيدِthe graceful women لَمdid not توقِدshe kindle مَعَwith اللَيلِthe night نارَهاher fire
مِنَ الغيدِ لَم توقِد مَعَ اللَيلِ نارَها
وَلَكِنَّهاbut she بَينَbetween الضُلوعِthe ribs تُثيرُهاkindles it
وَلَكِنَّها بَينَ الضُلوعِ تُثيرُها
Among graceful women, she has not kindled her fire at night,
She kindled no fire with wood by night
But she kindles it between the ribs.
Rather she stirs it between ribs
وَلَمand did not تَحكِshe imitate مِنfrom أَهلِthe people of الفَلاةِthe wilderness شَمائِلاًtraits
وَلَم تَحكِ مِن أَهلِ الفَلاةِ شَمائِلاً
سِوىexcept أَنَّهاthat she يَحكيresembles الغَزالَthe gazelle نُفورُهاher shying away
سِوى أَنَّها يَحكي الغَزالَ نُفورُها
She has copied none of the desert people's ways,
Nor did she relate from people of wilderness attributes
Except that her shying away resembles the gazelle's.
Other than that she resembles the recoiling of a gazelle
أَروحُI come at evening فَلاand not يَعويhowl عَلَيَّat me كِلابُهاher dogs
أَروحُ فَلا يَعوي عَلَيَّ كِلابُها
وَأَغدوand I come at dawn فَلاand not يَرغوbellows هُناكَthere بَعيرُهاher camel
وَأَغدو فَلا يَرغو هُناكَ بَعيرُها
I come at evening, but her dogs do not howl at me;
I go so her dogs do not howl at me
I come at dawn, but no camel of hers bellows there.
And I come early so her camel there does not bray
وَلَوand if ظَفِرَتobtained لَيلىLayla بِتُربِwith the soil of دِيارِهاher dwellings
وَلَو ظَفِرَت لَيلى بِتُربِ دِيارِها
لَأَصبَحَit would become مِنهاfrom it دُرُّهاher pearls وَعَبيرُهاand her perfume
لَأَصبَحَ مِنها دُرُّها وَعَبيرُها
If Layla could obtain the soil of her dwellings,
If Layla got the soil of her ruins
Her pearls and perfume would be made from it.
Her pearls and fragrance would emerge from it
تَقاضىdemanded payment غَريمُthe creditor of الشَوقِlonging مِنّيfrom me حُشاشَةًa remnant of life
تَقاضى غَريمُ الشَوقِ مِنّي حُشاشَةً
مُرَوَّعَةًterrified لَمdid not يَبقَremain إِلّاexcept يَسيرُهاa little of it
مُرَوَّعَةً لَم يَبقَ إِلّا يَسيرُها
Longing's creditor demanded from me a remnant of life,
The creditor of longing took from me forcefully
Terror-stricken, with only a little of it remaining.
Frightened, with only a little left
وَإِنَّand indeed الَّذيwhat أَبقَتهُleft it behind مِنّيof me يَدُthe hand of النَوىseparation
وَإِنَّ الَّذي أَبقَتهُ مِنّي يَدُ النَوى
فِداءُa ransom for بَشيرٍa herald يَومَon the day وافىarrived نَصيرُهاher champion
فِداءُ بَشيرٍ يَومَ وافى نَصيرُها
Whatever the hand of separation has left of me
And that which the hand of blaming left in me
Is a ransom for a herald on the day her champion arrived.
Is ransom for the helper the day he came victorious
أَميرٌa prince إِذاwhen أَبصَرتَyou see إِشراقَthe radiance of وَجهِهِhis face
أَميرٌ إِذا أَبصَرتَ إِشراقَ وَجهِهِ
فَقُلthen tell لِلَياليto the nights تَستَسِرُّgo into hiding بُدورُهاtheir full moons
فَقُل لِلَيالي تَستَسِرُّ بُدورُها
A prince: when you see the radiance of his face,
A prince - when you see the shine of his face
Tell the nights to let their full moons hide.
Tell the nights to hide their full moons
وَإِنand if فُزتَyou win بِالتَقبيلِwith kissing يَوماًone day لِكَفِّهِof his palm
وَإِن فُزتَ بِالتَقبيلِ يَوماً لِكَفِّهِ
رَأَيتُI saw بِحارَthe seas of الجودِbounty يَجريflows نَميرُهاtheir sweet water
رَأَيتُ بِحارَ الجودِ يَجري نَميرُها
And if one day you win a kiss upon his palm,
And if you obtain kissing his palm one day
I saw the seas of bounty, their sweet waters flowing.
You see the sea of generosity flowing copiously
وَكَمand how many يَدَّعيclaim العَلياءَeminence قَومٌpeople وَإِنَّهُand indeed he
وَكَم يَدَّعي العَلياءَ قَومٌ وَإِنَّهُ
لَهُhis is سِرُّهاits secret مِنfrom دونِهِمapart from them وَسَريرُهاand its throne
لَهُ سِرُّها مِن دونِهِم وَسَريرُها
How many people claim eminence, while he
And how many people claim nobleness
Alone possesses its secret and its throne.
While its secret is hers without them and her couch
قَدِمتَyou arrived وَوافَتكَand met you البِلادُthe land كَأَنَّماas though
قَدِمتَ وَوافَتكَ البِلادُ كَأَنَّما
يُناجيكَwhispers to you مِنهاfrom it بِالسُرورِwith joy ضَميرُهاits inner heart
يُناجيكَ مِنها بِالسُرورِ ضَميرُها
You came, and the land met you, as though
You came and the countries were as though
Its heart were whispering its joy to you.
Their conscience whispered to you in delight
تَلَقَّتكَit welcomed you لَمّاwhen جِئتَyou came يَسحَبُtrails رَوضُهاits meadow
تَلَقَّتكَ لَمّا جِئتَ يَسحَبُ رَوضُها
مَطارِفَهُits bordered robes وَاِفتَرَّand smiled مِنهاwithin it غَديرُهاits pool
مَطارِفَهُ وَاِفتَرَّ مِنها غَديرُها
It welcomed you as you came, its meadow trailing
When you came, its meadow pulled its skirt
Its bordered robes, and its pool breaking into a smile.
And its stream gushed from it
تَبَسَّمَsmiled مِنهاwithin it حينَwhen أَقبَلتَyou approached نَورُهاits blossoms
تَبَسَّمَ مِنها حينَ أَقبَلتَ نَورُها
وَأَشرَقَand shone مِنهاwithin it يَومَon the day وافَيتَyou arrived نورُهاits light
وَأَشرَقَ مِنها يَومَ وافَيتَ نورُها
Its blossoms smiled when you approached,
When you came, its light smiled from it
And its light shone on the day you arrived.
And its light beamed from it the day you arrived
وَحَتّىand even مَواليكَyour retainers السَحائِبُthe clouds أَقبَلَتcame forth
وَحَتّى مَواليكَ السَحائِبُ أَقبَلَت
فَوافاكَso met you مِنهاfrom them بِالهَناءِwith congratulations مَطيرُهاtheir rain-bearer
فَوافاكَ مِنها بِالهَناءِ مَطيرُها
Even the clouds, your retainers, came forth,
Even your rain clouds came
And their rain-bearer met you with congratulations.
Bringing you from it blessings and its rain
وَرُبَّand many a دُعاءٍprayer باتَspent the night يَطويcrossing لَكَfor you الفَلاthe deserts
وَرُبَّ دُعاءٍ باتَ يَطوي لَكَ الفَلا
إِذاwhen خالَطَmingled with الظَلماءَthe darkness يَوماًat some time مُنيرُهاits shining light
إِذا خالَطَ الظَلماءَ يَوماً مُنيرُها
Many a prayer spent the night crossing the deserts for you,
And by the Supreme, many a prayer folds up the horizons for you
When at some hour its light mingled with the darkness.
When its darkness mixes with some of its light
وَطِئتَyou trod بِلاداًlands لَمdid not يَطَأهاtread them بِحافِرٍwith a hoof
وَطِئتَ بِلاداً لَم يَطَأها بِحافِرٍ
سِواكَanyone but you وَلَمand not تُسلَكwere traversed بِخَيلٍby horses وُعورُهاtheir rugged places
سِواكَ وَلَم تُسلَك بِخَيلٍ وُعورُها
You trod lands no one had trodden with a hoof
You treaded countries no horse hoof treaded
Except you; their rough places had not been traversed by horses.
Except you, and no frightened horse treaded its perils
يُكِلُّwearies عُقابَthe eagle of الجَوِّthe sky مِنهاamong them عُقابُهاtheir mountain passes
يُكِلُّ عُقابَ الجَوِّ مِنها عُقابُها
وَلاand not يَهتَديfinds its way فيهاthere القَطاthe sandgrouse لَوif يَسيرُهاit traverses them
وَلا يَهتَدي فيها القَطا لَو يَسيرُها
Their mountain passes weary the eagle of the sky,
Its eagles fold the wings of the air therein
And sandgrouse would lose their way if they traversed them.
And even if its wild cats strayed they would not find their way
وَرَدتَyou entered بِلادَthe lands of الأَعجَمينَthe non-Arabs بِضُمَّرٍwith lean steeds
وَرَدتَ بِلادَ الأَعجَمينَ بِضُمَّرٍ
عِرابٍpurebred Arab عَلىabove العِقبانِthe eagles مِنهاamong them صُقورُهاtheir falcons
عِرابٍ عَلى العِقبانِ مِنها صُقورُها
You entered the lands of the non-Arabs with lean steeds,
You returned the lands of non-Arabs with brave Arab tribes
Of pure Arab stock, their falcons above the eagles.
Whose eagles therein are hawks above vultures
فَصَبَّحتَso you attacked at dawn فيهاthere سودَهاits black inhabitants بِأُسودِهاwith their lions
فَصَبَّحتَ فيها سودَها بِأُسودِها
يُبيدُannihilates العِدىthe foes قَبلَbefore النِفارِflight زَئيرُهاtheir roaring
يُبيدُ العِدى قَبلَ النِفارِ زَئيرُها
At dawn you assailed its black inhabitants with those lions,
So you finished its blackness with its lions
Whose roaring destroys the foes before they flee.
That annihilate the enemies before the escape, with their roar
لَئِنindeed if ماتَdied فيهاthere مِنfrom سَطاكَyour onslaught أَنيسُهاits human inhabitants
لَئِن ماتَ فيها مِن سَطاكَ أَنيسُها
لَقَدindeed عاشَlived فيهاthere وَحشُهاits wild beasts وَنُسورُهاand its vultures
لَقَد عاشَ فيها وَحشُها وَنُسورُها
If its human inhabitants died there from your onslaught,
If a beloved one dies in it from your horses
Its wild beasts and vultures certainly thrived there.
Its beasts and eagles therein lived
غَدَتit became وَقعَةٌa battle قَدalready سارَspread فيamong الناسِthe people ذِكرُهاits fame
غَدَت وَقعَةٌ قَد سارَ في الناسِ ذِكرُها
بِماbecause of what فَعَلَتهُthey did it بِالعَدُوِّto the enemy ذُكورُهاits men
بِما فَعَلَتهُ بِالعَدُوِّ ذُكورُها
It became a battle whose fame spread among the people,
An event occurred, its tale circulated among people
Through what its men did to the enemy.
Of what its stallions did to the enemy
فَأَضحىso became بِهاbecause of it مَنwhoever خالَفَopposed الدينَthe faith خائِفاًafraid
فَأَضحى بِها مَن خالَفَ الدينَ خائِفاً
وَضاقَand grew narrow عَلىfor الكُفّارِthe unbelievers مِنهاwithin it كُفورُهاits villages
وَضاقَ عَلى الكُفّارِ مِنها كُفورُها
Thus those who opposed the faith became afraid,
So through it one who differs in religion becomes afraid
And its villages grew narrow for the unbelievers.
And its disbelief tightened around the disbelievers
وَأَعطىand showed قَفاهُhis back الحَدرَبِيُّal-Hadrabi مُوَلِّياًin retreat
وَأَعطى قَفاهُ الحَدرَبِيُّ مُوَلِّياً
بِنَفسٍwith a soul لِماfor what تَخشاهُit fears it مِنكَfrom you مَصيرُهاits destination
بِنَفسٍ لِما تَخشاهُ مِنكَ مَصيرُها
Al-Hadrabi turned his back and fled,
And the Hadhrami gave it his back fleeing
With a soul destined for what it fears from you.
With a soul fearing what its consequence with you would be
مَضىhe went on قاطِعاًcrossing عَرضَthe breadth of الفَلاthe deserts مُتَلَفِّتاًlooking back
مَضى قاطِعاً عَرضَ الفَلا مُتَلَفِّتاً
تُرَوِّعُهُterrify him أَعلامُهاtheir landmarks وَطُيورُهاand their birds
تُرَوِّعُهُ أَعلامُها وَطُيورُها
He crossed the breadth of the deserts, looking back,
He went cutting across the horizon looking
Their landmarks and birds terrifying him.
Terrified by its flags and birds
وَأُبتَand you returned بِماwith what تَهواهُyou desire it حَتّىeven حَريمُهُhis harem
وَأُبتَ بِما تَهواهُ حَتّى حَريمُهُ
وَتِلكَand that الَّتيwhich لاnot يَرتَضيهاaccepts it غَيورُهاits jealous protector
وَتِلكَ الَّتي لا يَرتَضيها غَيورُها
You returned with what you desired, even his harem,
And he refused what he fancied until his harem
A fate their jealous protector would not accept.
That a jealous one would not accept
فَإِنso if راحَhe departed مِنهاfrom it ناجِياًescaping بِحُشاشَةٍwith a remnant of life
فَإِن راحَ مِنها ناجِياً بِحُشاشَةٍ
سَتَلقاهُit will meet him أُخرىanother تَحتَويهِengulfs him سَعيرُهاits blaze
سَتَلقاهُ أُخرى تَحتَويهِ سَعيرُها
If he escaped it with a last remnant of life,
So if he went saving himself with some force
Another will meet him, its blaze engulfing him.
Another hell will contain him and its flame
وَلَيسَand it was not عَدُوّاًan enemy كُنتَyou were تَسعىstriving لِأَجلِهِfor his sake
وَلَيسَ عَدُوّاً كُنتَ تَسعى لِأَجلِهِ
وَلَكِنَّهاbut they are سُبلُthe roads of الحَجيجِthe pilgrims تُجيرُهاyou protect them
وَلَكِنَّها سُبلُ الحَجيجِ تُجيرُها
It was not for an enemy's sake that you strove,
And it was no enemy you sought to fight
But to protect the pilgrims' roads.
But the roads of pilgrims you protected
وَمَنand the one who خَلفَهُbehind him ماضيresolute in العَزائِمِdetermination ماجِدٌnoble
وَمَن خَلفَهُ ماضي العَزائِمِ ماجِدٌ
يُبيدُannihilates العِدىthe foes مِنwith سَطوَةٍan onslaught وَيُبيرُهاand destroys them
يُبيدُ العِدى مِن سَطوَةٍ وَيُبيرُها
The man behind him is a noble lord of resolute purpose,
And one whom the resolute deceased followed - prevailing
Who annihilates the foes with his onslaught and destroys them.
Annihilating the enemies with might and ruining them
إِذاwhen رامَseeks مَجدُMajd الدينِal-Din حالاًa state فَإِنَّماthen indeed
إِذا رامَ مَجدُ الدينِ حالاً فَإِنَّما
عَسيرُthe hardest part of الَّذيwhat يَرجوهُhe hopes for it مِنهاof it يَسيرُهاits easiest part
عَسيرُ الَّذي يَرجوهُ مِنها يَسيرُها
When Majd al-Din seeks to attain a state,
When the glory of religion desires something
The hardest of what he hopes for in it is the easiest.
That which is hardest for it to attain becomes easy
أَخوa man of يَقَظاتٍwakefulness لايُلِمُّdoes not visit بِطَرفِهِhis eye
أَخو يَقَظاتٍ لايُلِمُّ بِطَرفِهِ
غِرارٌa snatch of sleep وَلاnor يوهيweakens قِواهُhis powers غَريرُهاits guileless beauty
غِرارٌ وَلا يوهي قِواهُ غَريرُها
A man of vigilance, whose eye is never visited by
A brother of unwavering strength that does not blink
A snatch of sleep; nor does its guileless beauty sap his strength.
Deceiving nor made weak by its babble
لَقَدindeed أَمِنَتbecame safe بِالرُعبِthrough terror مِنهُof him بِلادُهُhis lands
لَقَد أَمِنَت بِالرُعبِ مِنهُ بِلادُهُ
فَصُدَّتso were repelled أَعاديهاtheir enemies وَسُدَّتand were closed ثُغورُهاtheir frontier gaps
فَصُدَّت أَعاديها وَسُدَّت ثُغورُها
His lands became safe through the terror he inspires,
Through dread of him, his country became safe
Their foes repelled and their frontier gaps closed.
Its enemies barred and its breaches closed
وَأَضحىand by day لَهُto him يوليoffers الثَناءَpraise غَنِيُّهاtheir rich
وَأَضحى لَهُ يولي الثَناءَ غَنِيُّها
وَأَمسىand by evening لَهُfor him يُهديoffers الدُعاءَprayers فَقيرُهاtheir poor
وَأَمسى لَهُ يُهدي الدُعاءَ فَقيرُها
By day their rich bestow praise upon him,
And its wealthy came to praise him
By evening their poor offer prayers for him.
And its poor came in the evening to pray for him
بِكَthrough you اهتَزَّswayed ليfor me غُصنُthe branch of الأَمانِيِّwishes مُثمِراًbearing fruit
بِكَ اهتَزَّ لي غُصنُ الأَمانِيِّ مُثمِراً
وَرَقَّتand grew gentle لِيَto me الدُنياthe world وَراقَand grew delightful سُرورُهاits joy
وَرَقَّت لِيَ الدُنيا وَراقَ سُرورُها
Through you the branch of my hopes swayed, bearing fruit,
Through you, the branch of my hopes fruitfully wavered
The world grew gentle to me, and its joy became delightful.
And the world smiled at me and its joy pleased me
وَماand not نالَنيreached me مِنfrom أَنعُمِthe favors of اللَهِGod نِعمَةٌa blessing
وَما نالَني مِن أَنعُمِ اللَهِ نِعمَةٌ
وَإِنeven if عَظُمَتit was great إِلّاexcept وَأَنتَand you are سَفيرُهاits envoy
وَإِن عَظُمَت إِلّا وَأَنتَ سَفيرُها
No blessing from God's bounties has reached me,
And of God’s blessings no grace came to me
However great, without you as its envoy.
Even multiplied except through you its ambassador
وَمَنand whoever بَدَأَbegan النَعماbounty وَجادَand gave generously تَكَرُّماًout of generosity
وَمَن بَدَأَ النَعما وَجادَ تَكَرُّماً
بِأَوَّلِهاwith its first gift يُرجىis hoped for لَدَيهِfrom him أَخيرُهاits last
بِأَوَّلِها يُرجى لَدَيهِ أَخيرُها
Whoever began the bounty and generously bestowed
And he who began grace and was generous
Its first gift is looked to for its last as well.
Hopefully through its first his last is better
وَإِنّيand I وَإِنalthough كانَتwere أَياديكَyour favors جَمَّةًnumerous
وَإِنّي وَإِن كانَت أَياديكَ جَمَّةً
عَلَيَّupon me فَإِنّيyet I عَبدُهاtheir servant وَشَكورُهاand grateful for them
عَلَيَّ فَإِنّي عَبدُها وَشَكورُها
And I, though your favors have been many
And even if your hands were plenty
Upon me, am their servant and grateful for them.
Upon me, I am still their servant and thankful
أَمَولايَO my lord وافَتكَhave come to you القَوافيthe rhymes بَواسِماًsmiling
أَمَولايَ وافَتكَ القَوافي بَواسِماً
وَقَدand indeed طالَlasted long مِنهاon her حينَwhen غِبتَyou were absent بُسورُهاher frowning
وَقَد طالَ مِنها حينَ غِبتَ بُسورُها
O my lord, the rhymed verse has come to you smiling,
My patron - rhymes met me like gifts
After her long frowning while you were away.
Prolonged from it was your absence and its return difficult
وَكانَتand she had لِنَأيٍbecause of distance عَنكَfrom you مِنّيon my part تَبَرقَعَتveiled herself
وَكانَت لِنَأيٍ عَنكَ مِنّي تَبَرقَعَت
وَقَدand indeed رابَنيunsettled me مِنهاfrom her الغَداةَthis morning سُفورُهاher unveiling
وَقَد رابَني مِنها الغَداةَ سُفورُها
She had veiled herself because of my distance from you,
Being away from you made them fall apart and scatter
And her unveiling this morning made me uneasy.
And the morning found me separating from its pieces
إِلىuntil اليَومِtoday لَمdid not تَكشِفshe reveal لِغَيرِكَto anyone but you صَفحَةًa cheek
إِلى اليَومِ لَم تَكشِف لِغَيرِكَ صَفحَةً
فَهاand behold هِيَshe مَسدولٌlowered عَلَيهاover her سُتورُهاher curtains
فَها هِيَ مَسدولٌ عَلَيها سُتورُها
Until today she has bared no cheek to anyone but you;
To this day it uncovered no page to another
Here she is, her curtains drawn over her.
There it is, rolled up, its veils upon it
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتshe is mentioned فيamong الحَيِّthe tribe أَصبَحَbecomes آيِساًdespairing
إِذا ذُكِرَت في الحَيِّ أَصبَحَ آيِساً
فَرَزدَقُهاher Farazdaq مِنof وَصلِهاunion with her وَجَريرُهاand her Jarir
فَرَزدَقُها مِن وَصلِها وَجَريرُها
When she is mentioned among the tribe, despair overtakes
If mentioned among the living, it loses hope
Her Farazdaq and her Jarir, who cannot win her.
So May its intimate and Jarir despair of its union
فَخُذهاso take her كَماas تَهوىyou love المَعاليlofty deeds خَريدَةًa secluded maiden
فَخُذها كَما تَهوى المَعالي خَريدَةً
يُزَفُّare borne in bridal procession عَلَيهاupon her دُرُّهاher pearls وَحَريرُهاand her silk
يُزَفُّ عَلَيها دُرُّها وَحَريرُها
Take her, as you love lofty deeds, a secluded maiden,
Then take it however you wish the sublime to buy
Her pearls and silk borne upon her in bridal procession.
Its pearls and silk presented to you
تَكادُshe almost إِذاwhen حَبَّرتُI embellish مِنهاof her صَحيفَةًa page
تَكادُ إِذا حَبَّرتُ مِنها صَحيفَةً
لِذِكراكَin remembrance of you أَنto تَبيَضَّturn white مِنهاof her سُطورُهاher lines
لِذِكراكَ أَن تَبيَضَّ مِنها سُطورُها
When I embellish one of her pages, it almost seems
When I dotted a page for your memory
That, in remembrance of you, her lines turn white.
Its lines nearly become white from it
وَلِلناسِand people have أَشعارٌpoems تُقالُrecited كَثيرَةٌmany
وَلِلناسِ أَشعارٌ تُقالُ كَثيرَةٌ
وَلَكِنَّbut شِعريmy verse فيon الأَميرِthe prince أَميرُهاtheir prince
وَلَكِنَّ شِعري في الأَميرِ أَميرُها
People have many poems that are recited,
And people have many poems said
But my poem on the prince is their prince.
But my poetry - in the prince is its prince