أنَوماً وَقَد بَانَ الخَليطُ تَذُوقُ

أنَوماً وَقَد بَانَ الخَليطُ تَذُوقُ

ودار كزعم العادلات مذيق

ودار كزعم العادلات مذيق

Do you taste sleep when the companions have departed?

I sleep while the mixture has cleared, its taste lingers,

And affection, as the reproaching women claim, is insincere [reading uncertain].

And the house seems, as fair ladies claim it to be, sweet,

وَهَبكَ التَمَست الطَّيفَ مِن السُّها

وَهَبكَ التَمَست الطَّيفَ مِن السُّها

أرَدّاهُ غَيمٌ أم جلاهُ شُروقُ

أرَدّاهُ غَيمٌ أم جلاهُ شُروقُ

And suppose you sought the apparition from Suha:

Your phantom was gifted to me by longing,

Did a cloud bring it down, or did sunrise reveal it?

Did a cloud conceal it or did the dawn reveal it?

وَمَن ذَا يُجَارِي الشُّهبَ فِي حَلَبَاتِهَا

وَمَن ذَا يُجَارِي الشُّهبَ فِي حَلَبَاتِهَا

إذا حَثّها نَحوَ المَغِيبِ خَفوقُ

إذا حَثّها نَحوَ المَغِيبِ خَفوقُ

And who can race the bright stars on their racecourses,

And who can compete with shooting stars in their orbits,

When a flutter urges them toward their setting?

When desire propels them toward the setting place?

لَقَد سَاقَ نَحوِي كُلّ سُهدٍ وَلَوعَةٍ

لَقَد سَاقَ نَحوِي كُلّ سُهدٍ وَلَوعَةٍ

بُرَيقٌ إلَى ثَغرِ الحَبِيبِ يَشوقُ

بُرَيقٌ إلَى ثَغرِ الحَبِيبِ يَشوقُ

Every vigil and burning pang was indeed driven toward me

Every ardent longing and fervent yearning,

By a little flash that stirs longing for the beloved's lips.

Leads a gaze to the lips of the beloved and makes it yearn,

سرَى بَعد وخطِ الشَّيبِ في لِمّةِ الدُّجَى

سرَى بَعد وخطِ الشَّيبِ في لِمّةِ الدُّجَى

يُخَضّبُ فَودَ اللَّيلِ مِنهُ خَلُوقًُ

يُخَضّبُ فَودَ اللَّيلِ مِنهُ خَلُوقًُ

It traveled by night, after gray streaked the tresses of darkness,

It flowed after the streaks of gray in the darkness of nightfall,

Its saffron perfume dyeing the temple-lock of night.

Dyeing the cheek of the night with its dripping,

جَفَا وَصَفا فَاعتَزّ واكتنّ لَاعِباً

جَفَا وَصَفا فَاعتَزّ واكتنّ لَاعِباً

كَمَا نَبَضَت تَحتَ البَنانِ عُرُوقُ

كَمَا نَبَضَت تَحتَ البَنانِ عُرُوقُ

It withdrew and shone clear, stood aloof and hid in play,

It abandoned me and turned away, hiding and playing hard to get,

Like veins throbbing beneath the fingertips.

As pulses beat under the breasts,

وَجَالَ عَلَى مِسكِ الظّلامِ عَبِيرُهُ

وَجَالَ عَلَى مِسكِ الظّلامِ عَبِيرُهُ

كَمَا ذَابَ فَوقَ الآبنوسِ عقيقُ

كَمَا ذَابَ فَوقَ الآبنوسِ عقيقُ

Its fragrance drifted over the musk of darkness,

Its fragrance roamed the musk of darkness,

As carnelian melted over ebony.

As ruby melted above ambergris,

أَامرِي بِهِ طَرفِي مَحَلٌ مَدامِعِي

أَامرِي بِهِ طَرفِي مَحَلٌ مَدامِعِي

وَلا غَروَ أَن تَمرِي الغَمَامَ بُرُوقُ

وَلا غَروَ أَن تَمرِي الغَمَامَ بُرُوقُ

Shall I draw tears from my eye with it, though my tear ducts are dry?

My eyes are where it is, my tears its place,

And no wonder that lightning milks the clouds.

It's no wonder that clouds pass by its lightning,

وََإنِّي بِشَيمِ البَرقِ مِن جَانِبِ الحِمَى

وََإنِّي بِشَيمِ البَرقِ مِن جَانِبِ الحِمَى

وشمّ الصّبا مِن حَرِّه لَخَلِيقُ

وشمّ الصّبا مِن حَرِّه لَخَلِيقُ

I am surely fit to watch lightning from the sanctuary's side,

I'm fitting for lightning from the side of passion,

And to scent the east wind because of its heat.

And the searing heat of the north wind suits me,

ذَكَرتُ بِهِ الأحبًابًَ إذ أنَا يَافِعٌ

ذَكَرتُ بِهِ الأحبًابًَ إذ أنَا يَافِعٌ

وإذ غُصُنِي لَدنُ الفُرُوعِ وَرِيقُ

وإذ غُصُنِي لَدنُ الفُرُوعِ وَرِيقُ

Through it I recalled my loved ones, when I was young,

I remembered it when I was a youth,

And when my branch was supple in its boughs and leafy;

And when my branch was supple among the boughs,

وَإِذا أنًا مَغرورٌ عَلَى الجَهلِ فِي الهَوَى

وَإِذا أنًا مَغرورٌ عَلَى الجَهلِ فِي الهَوَى

وَشَأوُ ارتِكَاضِي في النََّشَاطِ عَمِيقُ

وَشَأوُ ارتِكَاضِي في النََّشَاطِ عَمِيقُ

And when, in ignorance, I was beguiled in love,

And when I was deluded by ignorance in love,

And the reach of my spirited galloping was far;

And my vitality in liveliness was profound,

وَإِذ هِمَّتِي تُثنَى إلى غَيرِ هَمِّها

وَإِذ هِمَّتِي تُثنَى إلى غَيرِ هَمِّها

وَلا أنا مأخُوذٌ عَلَيَّ طَرِيقُ

وَلا أنا مأخُوذٌ عَلَيَّ طَرِيقُ

When my resolve was turned toward concerns other than its own,

And when my resolve turned to other than its resolve,

And no road was barred to me;

And I was not seized upon my path,

ولا شَيءَ إلا مَا أُرِيدُ وَأشتَهِي

ولا شَيءَ إلا مَا أُرِيدُ وَأشتَهِي

ولا عَائِقٌ مِن دُونِ ذَاكَ يَعُوقُ

ولا عَائِقٌ مِن دُونِ ذَاكَ يَعُوقُ

And nothing existed but what I wished and desired,

And nothing but what I want and desire,

And no obstacle stood before it to hinder me.

And no barrier to that obstructed me,

فَجُوزيَ خَيراً من زمَانٍ مَضَى بِهِ

فَجُوزيَ خَيراً من زمَانٍ مَضَى بِهِ

أخٌ لِوِصَالِ الغَانِيَاتِ شَقِيقُ

أخٌ لِوِصَالِ الغَانِيَاتِ شَقِيقُ

May that time be well rewarded, through which passed

So be kind from a past time that's gone, for it

A true brother to union with beautiful women.

Was a brother to joining the beautiful ladies,

فَإن أنَأ لَم أُتبِعهُ لَهفاً وَعَبرَةً

فَإن أنَأ لَم أُتبِعهُ لَهفاً وَعَبرَةً

فَمَأ تِلك إلا جَفوَةٌ وَعُقُوقُ

فَمَأ تِلك إلا جَفوَةٌ وَعُقُوقُ

For if I do not follow it with regret and tears,

For if I don't pursue it ardently and woefully,

That is nothing but coldness and disloyalty.

Isn't that nothing but coldness and undutifulness?

وَإِني لِمَاءِ اللّهوِ والزَّهوِ وَالصِّبَا

وَإِني لِمَاءِ اللّهوِ والزَّهوِ وَالصِّبَا

وَمَاءِ شُؤُونِي بَعدَه لَمُرِيقُ

وَمَاءِ شُؤُونِي بَعدَه لَمُرِيقُ

Indeed, I pour away the water of pleasure, pride, and youth,

I'm suited for the waters of play and vanity and youth,

And, after it, the water of my tear ducts.

And the waters of my affairs after it are bitter,

فَوجدِي بِهِ كاسمِي عَلِيٌّ زَفِيرُه

فَوجدِي بِهِ كاسمِي عَلِيٌّ زَفِيرُه

وَجَدِّيَ مِن نَعتِ الفُؤَادِ حَرِيقُ

وَجَدِّيَ مِن نَعتِ الفُؤَادِ حَرِيقُ

My longing for it has a sigh as high—Ali—as my name;

So find its exhalation like my name Ali, ardent,

And my grandfather's name, Hariq—'burning'—describes my heart.

And find the description of my heart to be burning,

وَأحسَنُ مِن ذِكرَى شَبَاب طَوَيتُهُ

وَأحسَنُ مِن ذِكرَى شَبَاب طَوَيتُهُ

ثَناءٌ بآفاقِ البلادِ طَلِيقُ

ثَناءٌ بآفاقِ البلادِ طَلِيقُ

Better than remembering a youth I have folded away

And better than the memory of a youth I've folded up,

Is praise set free through the horizons of the lands.

Is praise spreading through the horizons,

تَخُبّ بِهِ تَحتَ الرُّوَأةِ نََائِبٌ

تَخُبّ بِهِ تَحتَ الرُّوَأةِ نََائِبٌ

عَلِيهنَّ من دُر الكلام وُسُوق

عَلِيهنَّ من دُر الكلام وُسُوق

Riding camels trot with it beneath the reciters [reading uncertain],

With it, a reproacher wallows beneath the canopy,

Upon them are loads of pearls of speech.

Selling to them pearls of speech and necklaces,

تَسيرُ بِهِ شَرقاً وَغَربا فَدَأبُهَا

تَسيرُ بِهِ شَرقاً وَغَربا فَدَأبُهَا

رَحيلٌ وَنَصٌّ دَائِم وَخَِفيقُ

رَحيلٌ وَنَصٌّ دَائِم وَخَِفيقُ

They carry it east and west; their habit is

Traveling with it east and west, for its habit,

Journeying, constant haste, and throbbing.

Is constant departure, text, and undertaking,

أحَيّي بهِ مِن وَجهِ يوسُفَ قِبلَةً

أحَيّي بهِ مِن وَجهِ يوسُفَ قِبلَةً

أحنُّ إلَى استِقبالِها وَأتوقُ

أحنُّ إلَى استِقبالِها وَأتوقُ

With it I salute, in Yusuf's face, a direction of prayer

I greet with it from Yusuf's face a kiss,

That I yearn and long to face.

I yearn for receiving it and desire it,

يُصلِّي إلَى مِحرَابِهَا الأمَلُ الَّذِي

يُصلِّي إلَى مِحرَابِهَا الأمَلُ الَّذِي

بِهِ ألمٌ من غَيرِها فيُفِيقُ

بِهِ ألمٌ من غَيرِها فيُفِيقُ

Hope prays toward its prayer-niche—hope that

With it, the hope that prays toward its prayer niche,

Aches at any other, then revives.

For with it, pain from other than it wakes me,

مَحيّاًَ يُعِيدُ اللَّيلَ أبيَضَ ناصِحاًَ

مَحيّاًَ يُعِيدُ اللَّيلَ أبيَضَ ناصِحاًَ

وَتَبدُو لَهُ شَمسُ الضُّحَى فَيَفُوقُ

وَتَبدُو لَهُ شَمسُ الضُّحَى فَيَفُوقُ

A countenance that turns night pure white,

It keeps the night shining white, advising,

Before which the morning sun appears, and it outshines her.

And the sun of morning for it appears and surpasses,

مَطِلٌّ عَلَى نيقِ العلا لم يًَزل لَهُ

مَطِلٌّ عَلَى نيقِ العلا لم يًَزل لَهُ

بِكُلِّ فِجاجٍِ المعلًُواتِ طَرِيقُ

بِكُلِّ فِجاجٍِ المعلًُواتِ طَرِيقُ

Towering over glory's summit, he has always had

Gazing upon the saddlebags of loftiness, it has never ceased to have,

A path through every pass of exalted heights.

For all dangerous roads, the routes,

إِذَا صالَ أو سارَ انتِقاماً وَعَزمَةً

إِذَا صالَ أو سارَ انتِقاماً وَعَزمَةً

تَجَرّدَ صَمصامٌ وَصالَ فَنيقُ

تَجَرّدَ صَمصامٌ وَصالَ فَنيقُ

When he charges or marches in vengeance and resolve,

When it walked or traveled with purpose and resolve,

A keen sword is bared, and a proud camel-bull charges.

A sharp sword was unsheathed and an elegant sword was drawn,

يُسدِّدُ مِن آرائهِ سَهمَ فِطنَةٍ

يُسدِّدُ مِن آرائهِ سَهمَ فِطنَةٍ

لَهُ من رَمَايا المُشكلاتِ مُرُوقُ

لَهُ من رَمَايا المُشكلاتِ مُرُوقُ

From his judgments he aims an arrow of discernment,

It aims from its opinions an arrow of wit,

Which pierces through the targets of difficult problems.

For it, the shots of dilemmas are feathered,

تَطيرُ بِهِ حِين البهديهَةِ قُذّةٌ

تَطيرُ بِهِ حِين البهديهَةِ قُذّةٌ

وَيَحفِزه بَعدَ الرَّوِيَّةِ فُوقُ

وَيَحفِزه بَعدَ الرَّوِيَّةِ فُوقُ

A feather makes it fly in a flash of intuition,

With it, during slow times, an arrow flies,

And a nock propels it after deliberation.

And after composure, it spurs wakefulness,

وَمهمَا يَغص معنًى دقيقٌ يحيلُه

وَمهمَا يَغص معنًى دقيقٌ يحيلُه

عَلَيه افتِكَارٌ فِي الغُيُومِ دَقيقُ

عَلَيه افتِكَارٌ فِي الغُيُومِ دَقيقُ

Whenever a subtle meaning dives deep, it is brought

And however much a subtle meaning seems obscured,

To him by thought subtle amid the clouds.

Reflection in the clouds makes it clear to it,

وَوَكّلَ بالأيام من فَضلِ سَيبِهِ

وَوَكّلَ بالأيام من فَضلِ سَيبِهِ

نَدىً لِفُتوقِ النّائباتِ رَتُوقُ

نَدىً لِفُتوقِ النّائباتِ رَتُوقُ

From his abundant bounty he entrusted to the days

And it tasked the days with generosity of swordplay,

A generosity that mends calamities' rents.

A call to the chiefs of troubles to be satisfied,

ظَنَنّا بِهِ من كَثرة البذلِ أنّنا

ظَنَنّا بِهِ من كَثرة البذلِ أنّنا

لَنا إرثُ مالٍ عِندًَهُ وحُقوقُ

لَنا إرثُ مالٍ عِندًَهُ وحُقوقُ

His lavish giving made us think that

We thought from its excessive generosity that we,

We had an inheritance of wealth in his keeping, and rights.

For it, have wealth inheritance and rights,

عَمِيدٌ عَمِيدٌ بالمَحامِدِ والعُلَى

عَمِيدٌ عَمِيدٌ بالمَحامِدِ والعُلَى

وَمُغرىً ببنتِ المَكرُمَات مَشُوقُ

وَمُغرىً ببنتِ المَكرُمَات مَشُوقُ

A chief, love-stricken by praiseworthy deeds and eminence,

A pillar, a pillar in praises and loftiness,

Enthralled by the daughter of noble deeds, full of longing.

And a temptation with the daughter of honorable deeds, alluring,

مَنَزِلُهُ وَقفٌ عَلَى الزَّدِ والقِرى

مَنَزِلُهُ وَقفٌ عَلَى الزَّدِ والقِرى

يَحُلُّ فَرِيقٌ إِذ يَسِيرُ فِريقُ

يَحُلُّ فَرِيقٌ إِذ يَسِيرُ فِريقُ

His dwelling is devoted to provisions and hospitality;

Its dwelling an endowment for aid and villages,

One company lodges as another departs.

One caravan departs as another caravan travels,

فدونَكَها بِكراً مُوَفّىً صَدَاقُهَا

فدونَكَها بِكراً مُوَفّىً صَدَاقُهَا

بِعُذرَتِها دونَ الأنامِ حَقِيقُ

بِعُذرَتِها دونَ الأنامِ حَقِيقُ

Take her, then, a virgin whose dowry is fully paid;

So its dowry for you is an unsullied virgin,

You alone, among mankind, are worthy of her maidenhood.

For its chastity, beyond people, genuine,

لَهَا إمرَة عندَ الكلامِ مُطاعَةٌ

لَهَا إمرَة عندَ الكلامِ مُطاعَةٌ

وَمُنتَسَبٌ يَومَ القَرِيضِ عَرِيقُ

وَمُنتَسَبٌ يَومَ القَرِيضِ عَرِيقُ

Hers is an authority obeyed among words,

For it, authority over speech, obedience,

And an ancient lineage on the day of verse.

And on the day of ode, a pedigreed lineage,

فَهَنَّأكَ الأَعياد مَن زادَ حُسنَها

فَهَنَّأكَ الأَعياد مَن زادَ حُسنَها

بِوَجهِك مَا وَالَى الظَّلامَ شُرُوقُ

بِوَجهِك مَا وَالَى الظَّلامَ شُرُوقُ

So may the one who enhanced the festivals' beauty

So it made holidays happy, the one who increased their beauty,

With your face wish you their joy, as long as sunrise follows darkness.

With your face, for as long as darkness turned away from the rising sun,

فَما أَخفَقَت لِلسَّفرِ نَحوَكَ رِحلَةٌ

فَما أَخفَقَت لِلسَّفرِ نَحوَكَ رِحلَةٌ

وَلا كَسَدَت لِلحَمدِ عِندَك سوقُ

وَلا كَسَدَت لِلحَمدِ عِندَك سوقُ

So no journey toward you has ever disappointed travelers,

No journey to you failed to travel,

Nor has the market for praise ever stagnated with you.

Nor any market for praise in your presence ever closed,