أَجارَتَناO our neighbor ماno بِالهَوانِin humiliation خَفاءُconcealment
أَجارَتَنا ما بِالهَوانِ خَفاءُ
وَلاand no دونَbefore شَخصيmy person يَومَthe day رُحتُI departed عَطاءُa gift
وَلا دونَ شَخصي يَومَ رُحتُ عَطاءُ
O our neighbor, humiliation cannot be concealed.
Neither shame nor fear could prevent our support,
Nor was there a gift before me the day I departed.
Nor when I left did you reward my gifts.
أَحِنُّI groan لِماat what أَلقىI endure وَإِنand if جِئتُI come زائِراًas a visitor
أَحِنُّ لِما أَلقى وَإِن جِئتُ زائِراً
دُفِعتُI was turned away كَأَنّيas though I وَالعَدُوَّand the enemy سَواءُalike
دُفِعتُ كَأَنّي وَالعَدُوَّ سَواءُ
I groan at what I endure; and if I come visiting,
Though fond, when I visit I'm treated as a foe-
I am turned away, as though I and the enemy were alike.
Alike we are to friends and those we don't know.
وَمَنَّيتِناand you promised us جوداًgenerosity وَفيكِand in you تَثاقُلٌreluctance
وَمَنَّيتِنا جوداً وَفيكِ تَثاقُلٌ
وَشَتّانَand how far apart أَهلُthe people of الجودِgenerosity وَالبُخَلاءُand the misers
وَشَتّانَ أَهلُ الجودِ وَالبُخَلاءُ
You promised us generosity, yet you held back;
We wished you kindness but you remained aloof;
and far apart are the generous and the miserly.
Far different are the generous and the uncouth.
عَلىon وَجهِthe face of مَعروفِthe kindness of الكَريمِthe generous man بَشاشَةٌa smile
عَلى وَجهِ مَعروفِ الكَريمِ بَشاشَةٌ
وَلَيسَand there is no لِمَعروفِfor the kindness of البَخيلِthe miser بَهاءُsplendor
وَلَيسَ لِمَعروفِ البَخيلِ بَهاءُ
On the face of a generous man's kindness is a smile,
The noble man has cheer to match each kindness done,
but a miser's kindness has no splendor.
While generous deeds the miser shuns, each one.
كَأَنَّas though الَذيwhat يَأتيكَcomes to you مِنfrom راحَتَيهِماtheir two palms
كَأَنَّ الَذي يَأتيكَ مِن راحَتَيهِما
عَروسٌa bride عَلَيهاupon her الدُرُّpearls وَالنُفَساءُand the woman in childbed
عَروسٌ عَلَيها الدُرُّ وَالنُفَساءُ
What comes to you from their two palms is like
As if she who comes to you had donned fine gowns
a pearl-adorned bride, and a woman in childbed.
With jewels and silk of many shades and tones.
وَقَدand indeed لُمتُI reproached نَفسيmyself فيover الرَبابِal-Rabab فَسامَحَتso it relented
وَقَد لُمتُ نَفسي في الرَبابِ فَسامَحَت
مَراراًmany times وَلَكِنand yet فيin الفُؤادِthe heart عِصاءُdefiance
مَراراً وَلَكِن في الفُؤادِ عِصاءُ
I have reproached myself over al-Rabab, and it relented
My soul oft chided me, but my heart was deaf
many times; yet in the heart is defiance.
And still desired what brought but hurt and grief.
تَحَمَّلَdeparted واليthe guardian of أُمِّUmm (mother of) بَكرٍBakr مِنَfrom اللِوىal-Liwa
تَحَمَّلَ والي أُمِّ بَكرٍ مِنَ اللِوى
وَفارَقَand departed مَنthe one whom تَهوىyou love وَبُتَّand was cut off رَجاءُhope
وَفارَقَ مَن تَهوى وَبُتَّ رَجاءُ
The guardian of Umm Bakr departed from al-Liwa,
The Wali of Umm Bakr bore the pain of love
and the one you love departed; hope was cut off.
Though the beloved left and hopes proved false enough.
فَأَصبَحتَso you became مَخلوعاًcast off وَأَصبَحَand he or it became
فَأَصبَحتَ مَخلوعاً وَأَصبَحَ
بِأَيديin the hands of الأَعاديthe enemies وَالبَلاءُand affliction بَلاءُaffliction
بِأَيدي الأَعادي وَالبَلاءُ بَلاءُ
So you became cast off, and ... came to be
So you were abandoned and your foes now hold
in enemies' hands—and affliction is affliction.
What you had guarded- ah, how fate is bold!
خَفيتُI was unseen لِعَينٍto an eye مِنof ضَنينَةَDanina ساعَفَتshowed favor
خَفيتُ لِعَينٍ مِن ضَنينَةَ ساعَفَت
وَماand no كانَthere was مِنّيfrom me لِلحَبيبِto the beloved خَفاءُconcealment
وَما كانَ مِنّي لِلحَبيبِ خَفاءُ
I was unseen by an eye of Danina's that had shown favor,
I hid from prying eyes, though hiding her I never could.
yet I had concealed nothing from the beloved.
When last I saw her, she wore a gown and cloak of wood.
وَآخِرُand the last عَهدٍencounter ليfor me بِهاwith her يَومَthe day أَقبَلَتshe came
وَآخِرُ عَهدٍ لي بِها يَومَ أَقبَلَت
تَهادىwalking with a sway عَلَيهاon her قَرقَرٌa sleeveless tunic وَرِداءُand a mantle
تَهادى عَلَيها قَرقَرٌ وَرِداءُ
My last encounter with her was the day she came,
At dusk she stood displaying herself to the lookers,
swaying gently, wearing a sleeveless tunic and a mantle.
Maidens around her, less fair than this hooker.
عَشِيَّةَthat evening قامَتshe stood بِالوَصيدِat the doorway تَعَرُّضاًto display herself
عَشِيَّةَ قامَت بِالوَصيدِ تَعَرُّضاً
وَقامَand stood نِساءٌwomen دونَهاin front of her وَإِماءُand slave girls
وَقامَ نِساءٌ دونَها وَإِماءُ
That evening she stood at the doorway, displaying herself,
Her glances like water let flow o'er hearts
while women and slave girls stood before her.
Capturing them like prey caught in fishing nets.
مِنَamong البيضِthe fair-skinned women مِعلاقُa hook for القُلوبِhearts كَأَنَّماas though
مِنَ البيضِ مِعلاقُ القُلوبِ كَأَنَّما
جَرىflowed بِالرُقىthrough incantations فيin عَينِهاher eye لَكَfor you ماءُwater
جَرى بِالرُقى في عَينِها لَكَ ماءُ
One of the fair-skinned women, a hook for hearts, as though
When she traveled, joy filled the air about her face
water flowed for you in her eye through incantations.
And the narrowest alley seemed a vast open space.
إِذاwhen سَفَرَتshe unveiled طابَbecame sweet النَعيمُbliss بِوَجهِهاthrough her face
إِذا سَفَرَت طابَ النَعيمُ بِوَجهِها
وَشُبِّهَand it seemed ليto me أَنَّthat المَضيقَthe narrow place فَضاءُopen space
وَشُبِّهَ لي أَنَّ المَضيقَ فَضاءُ
When she unveils, her face makes bliss sweeter,
Sick with love between ribs, she's cure and bane -
and it seems to me that narrow confines are open space.
I said to my doting heart: she has no cure for your pain!
مَريضَةُsick ماwhat بَينَbetween الجَوانِحَthe ribs بِالصِباwith youthful passion
مَريضَةُ ما بَينَ الجَوانِحَ بِالصِبا
وَفيهاand in her دَواءٌa cure لِلقُلوبِfor hearts وَداءُand a disease
وَفيها دَواءٌ لِلقُلوبِ وَداءُ
Sick with youthful passion in what lies beneath her ribs,
She scorns gentle hearts though herself quite wild,
and in her are a cure for hearts and a disease.
Mixing with the vile and those by vice beguiled.
فَقُلتُso I said لِقَلبٍto a heart جاثِمٍlodged فيin ضَميرِهِits depths
فَقُلتُ لِقَلبٍ جاثِمٍ في ضَميرِهِ
وَدائِعُdeposits of حُبٍّlove ماno لَهُنَّfor them دَواءُcure
وَدائِعُ حُبٍّ ما لَهُنَّ دَواءُ
So I said to a heart in whose depths lie
Let passion die, as if it had never been,
love's deposits, for which there is no cure:
For our love left no trace or roots within.
تَعَزَّseek consolation عَنِaway from الحَوراءِthe dark-eyed beauty إِنَّindeed عِداتِهاher promises
تَعَزَّ عَنِ الحَوراءِ إِنَّ عِداتِها
وَقَدand already نَزَلَتshe has settled بِالزابِيَينِat al-Zabiyayn لِفاءُpaltry
وَقَد نَزَلَت بِالزابِيَينِ لِفاءُ
Seek solace away from the dark-eyed beauty; her promises,
How can you miss that distant Umm Bakr?
now that she has settled at al-Zabiyayn, are paltry.
You used to shun her when houses watched you from afar!
يَموتُdies الهَوىpassion حَتّىuntil كَأَنas though لَمnot يَكُنthere was هَوىًpassion
يَموتُ الهَوى حَتّى كَأَن لَم يَكُن هَوىً
وَلَيسَand there is no لِماfor what اِستَبقَيتُI have preserved مِنكof you بَقاءُpermanence
وَلَيسَ لِما اِستَبقَيتُ مِنك بَقاءُ
Passion dies until it is as though no passion ever was,
Shadin refused at Zabiyan a meeting for us two,
and what I have preserved of you will not endure.
And the lover's greatest need is the beloved's view.
وَكَيفَand how تُرَجّيyou hope for أُمَّUmm (mother of) بَكرٍBakr بَعيدَةًfar away
وَكَيفَ تُرَجّي أُمَّ بَكرٍ بَعيدَةً
وَقَدand already كُنتَyou were تُجفىbeing shunned وَالبُيوتُand the houses رِئاءُwithin sight of one another
وَقَد كُنتَ تُجفى وَالبُيوتُ رِئاءُ
How can you hope for Umm Bakr when she is far away,
So I resigned myself to lovesickness and despair,
when you were shunned even with the houses within sight of one another?
For without my gifts, her love was but empty air.
أَبىrefused شادِنٌa young gazelle بِالزابِيَينِat al-Zabiyayn لِقاءَناto meet us
أَبى شادِنٌ بِالزابِيَينِ لِقاءَنا
وَأَكثَرُand most of حاجاتِthe needs of المُحِبِّthe lover لِقاءُmeeting
وَأَكثَرُ حاجاتِ المُحِبِّ لِقاءُ
A young gazelle at al-Zabiyayn refused to meet us,
Oh my heart, burning with the wounds of ardent care!
and meeting is most of what a lover needs.
For your afflictions, no remedy anywhere.
فَأَصبَحتُso I became أَرضىI am content أَنto أُعَلَّلَbe soothed بِالمُنىwith hopes
فَأَصبَحتُ أَرضى أَن أُعَلَّلَ بِالمُنى
وَماand not كانَthere was ليfor me لَولاwere it not for النَوالُthe gift حَزاءُsatisfaction
وَما كانَ لي لَولا النَوالُ حَزاءُ
So I came to accept being soothed with hopes,
Free of frivolity and youthful urges stayed I,
though without a gift I once found no satisfaction.
For lovers' worries allow no time to go awry.
فَياso, O كَبِداًa liver فيهاin it مِنَfrom الشَوقِlonging قَرحَةٌa sore
فَيا كَبِداً فيها مِنَ الشَوقِ قَرحَةٌ
وَلَيسَand there is no لَهاfor it مِمّاfrom what تُحِبُّit loves شِفاءُhealing
وَلَيسَ لَها مِمّا تُحِبُّ شِفاءُ
Ah, a liver with a sore of longing within it,
You wished to meet the singer - desires bring sorrow!
and no healing for it from what it loves.
What the youth covets often breeds grief on the morrow.
خَلاhas departed هَمُّthe care of مَنone who لاnot يَتبَعُpursues اللَهوَamusement وَالصِباand youthful passion
خَلا هَمُّ مَن لا يَتبَعُ اللَهوَ وَالصِبا
وَماand no لِهُمومِfor the cares of العاشِقينَlovers خَلاءُrespite
وَما لِهُمومِ العاشِقينَ خَلاءُ
Care leaves one who pursues neither amusement nor youthful passion,
By her father's life, she never gave what we did earn!
but lovers' cares know no respite.
Loyalty and faithfulness from her we did not learn.
تَمَنَّيتَyou wished أَنto تَلقىmeet الرَبابَal-Rabab وَرُبَّماand sometimes
تَمَنَّيتَ أَن تَلقى الرَبابَ وَرُبَّما
تَمَنّىwished الفَتىthe young man أَمراًfor something وَفيهِand in it شَقاءُmisery
تَمَنّى الفَتى أَمراً وَفيهِ شَقاءُ
You wished to meet al-Rabab, yet sometimes
The best of friends is he whose company delights,
a young man wishes for something in which lies misery.
Where music rises when reserve takes flight.
لَعَمرُby the life of أَبيهاher father ماnot جَزَتناshe rewarded us بِنائِلٍwith a gift
لَعَمرُ أَبيها ما جَزَتنا بِنائِلٍ
وَماand no كانَthere was مِنهاfrom her بِالوَفاءِin keeping faith وَفاءُfaithfulness
وَما كانَ مِنها بِالوَفاءِ وَفاءُ
By her father's life, she rewarded us with no gift,
Yet closeness is for those who truly care,
nor did she show faithfulness in keeping faith.
Not vile pretenders feigning love while hearts forswear.
وَخَيرُand the better of خَليلَيكَyour two friends الَذيthe one who فيin لِقائِهِmeeting him
وَخَيرُ خَليلَيكَ الَذي في لِقائِهِ
رَواحٌcomfort وَفيهِand in him حينَwhen شَطَّhe went far away غَناءُhelp
رَواحٌ وَفيهِ حينَ شَطَّ غَناءُ
The better of your two friends is he whose meeting brings
No good in fake affection or friendship's hollow guise -
comfort, and who is helpful even when far away.
Sincerity and genuineness real friendship comprise.
وَماand no القُربُcloseness إلاexcept لِلمُقَرِّبِfor one who brings near نَفسَهُhimself
وَما القُربُ إلا لِلمُقَرِّبِ نَفسَهُ
وَلَوand even if وَلَدَتهُgave birth to him جُرهُمٌJurhum وَصَلاءُand Sala'
وَلَو وَلَدَتهُ جُرهُمٌ وَصَلاءُ
None is close but the one who brings himself close,
My companions I'll reproach but then forgive,
even if Jurhum and Sala' gave him birth.
Weak flesh and pride compel each one to live.
وَلاand no خَيرَgood فيin وُدِّthe affection of اِمرِىءٍa man مُتَصَنِّعٍpretending
وَلا خَيرَ في وُدِّ اِمرِىءٍ مُتَصَنِّعٍ
بِماto what لَيسَis not فيهِin him وَالوِدادُand affection صَفاءُpurity
بِما لَيسَ فيهِ وَالوِدادُ صَفاءُ
There is no good in the affection of a man who pretends
Why should I not pardon, though they give me pain?
to qualities he lacks; affection is purity.
My own hands cause hurt for which my soul bears stain.
سَأُعتِبُI shall appease خُلّانيmy friends وَأَعذِرُand excuse صاحِبيmy companion
سَأُعتِبُ خُلّاني وَأَعذِرُ صاحِبي
بِماfor what غَلَبَتهُoverpowered him النَفسُthe self وَالغُلَواءُand headstrong passion
بِما غَلَبَتهُ النَفسُ وَالغُلَواءُ
I shall appease my friends and excuse my companion
Youth's reproaches are a daily tragedy;
when his self and headstrong passion have overpowered him.
To curb women's caprice takes great ability.
وَماand what لِيَis with me لاnot أَعفوI forgive وَإِنand even if كانَhe had ساءَنيhurt me
وَما لِيَ لا أَعفو وَإِن كانَ ساءَني
وَنَفسيand my soul بِماby what تَجنيcommit يَدايَmy two hands تُساءُis hurt
وَنَفسي بِما تَجني يَدايَ تُساءُ
Why should I not forgive, even if he has hurt me,
I have patience for parting but cannot bear
when my own soul is hurt by what my hands commit?
A gathering where derision and deceit appear.
عِتابُreproaching الفَتىthe young man فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday بَلِيَّةٌan affliction
عِتابُ الفَتى في كُلِّ يَومٍ بَلِيَّةٌ
وَتَقويمُand correcting أَضغانِthe grudges of النِساءِwomen عَناءُtoil
وَتَقويمُ أَضغانِ النِساءِ عَناءُ
Reproaching a man every day is an affliction,
With forbearance I keep affection safe in sight
and correcting women's grudges is weary work.
For him who's sick at heart I know the cure is light.
صَبَرتُI endured عَلىin the face of الجُلّىthe greatest calamity وَلَستُand I am not بِصابِرٍone who endures
صَبَرتُ عَلى الجُلّى وَلَستُ بِصابِرٍ
عَلىat مَجلِسٍa gathering فيهِin which عَلَيَّagainst me زِراءُcontempt
عَلى مَجلِسٍ فيهِ عَلَيَّ زِراءُ
I have endured the gravest calamity, but I will not endure
At Mahayil I silenced critics with my words -
a gathering in which I am treated with contempt.
Beyond eloquence, futile debate still girds.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لِأَستَبقيsurely preserve بِحِلميthrough my forbearance مَوَدَّتيmy affection
وَإِنّي لِأَستَبقي بِحِلمي مَوَدَّتي
وَعِنديand with me لِذيfor one with الداءِthe sickness المُلِحِّpersistent دَواءُa cure
وَعِندي لِذي الداءِ المُلِحِّ دَواءُ
I indeed preserve my affection through my forbearance,
Tall Alyaa of Rabi'a's clan knew I can be
yet I have a cure for one with a persistent sickness.
A relentless warrior when swords clash angrily.
قَطَعتُI ended مِراءَthe dispute of القَومِthe people يَومَon the day of مَهايلٍMahayil
قَطَعتُ مِراءَ القَومِ يَومَ مَهايلٍ
بِقَوليwith my words وَماand no بَعدَafter البَيانِclarity مِراءُdispute
بِقَولي وَما بَعدَ البَيانِ مِراءُ
I ended the people's dispute on the day of Mahayil
Son of Nihaya I left, though long he prattled on,
with my words; after clarity there is no dispute.
Silent as the bare earth when all life is gone.
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَتhas learned عَلياthe noblest of رَبيعَةَRabi'a أَنَّنيthat I
وَقَد عَلِمَت عَليا رَبيعَةَ أَنَّني
إِذاwhen السَيفُthe sword أَكدىfails كانَthere was فِيَّin me مَضاءُsharpness
إِذا السَيفُ أَكدى كانَ فِيَّ مَضاءُ
The nobility of Rabi'a has learned that I,
None avenged like me, or answered pride with hate -
when the sword fails, still possess a cutting edge.
In my eyes the arrogant could only anger create.
تَرَكتُI left اِبنَIbn (son of) نِهياNihya بَعدَafter طولِthe length of هَديرِهِhis roaring
تَرَكتُ اِبنَ نِهيا بَعدَ طولِ هَديرِهِ
مُصيخاًlistening intently كَأَنَّas though الأَرضَthe earth مِنهُof him خَلاءُempty
مُصيخاً كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ مِنهُ خَلاءُ
I left Ibn Nihya, after his long roaring,
Verses slip from my tongue like snakes' fangs dripping death -
listening intently, as though the earth were empty of him.
The lines' measure become a final fatal breath.
وَماand not راحَwent at evening مِثليone like me فيin العِقابِpunishment وَلاnor غَداwent at morning
وَما راحَ مِثلي في العِقابِ وَلا غَدا
لِمُستَكبِرٍagainst an arrogant man فيin ناظِريهِhis two eyes عَداءُhostility
لِمُستَكبِرٍ في ناظِريهِ عَداءُ
None like me has gone forth, evening or morning, to punish
an arrogant man with hostility in his eyes.
تَزِلُّslip القَوافيthe rhymes عَنfrom لِسانيmy tongue كَأَنَّهاas though they
تَزِلُّ القَوافي عَن لِساني كَأَنَّها
حُماتُvenoms of الأَفاعيvipers ريقُهُنَّtheir spittle قَضاءُdoom
حُماتُ الأَفاعي ريقُهُنَّ قَضاءُ
The rhymes slip from my tongue as though they were
vipers' venom; their spittle is doom.
Partial English translation: 70 of 74 Arabic lines translated.