مِن سِحرِ طَرفِكِ مِن مُجيري

مِن سِحرِ طَرفِكِ مِن مُجيري

يا ضَرَّةَ الرَشَءِ الغَريرِ

يا ضَرَّةَ الرَشَءِ الغَريرِ

From the magic of your gaze, who will shield me?

From the magic of your glance, who will save me?

O rival of the guileless fawn!

O rival of the innocent fawn,

جِسمٌ كَخَصرِكِ في النُحو

جِسمٌ كَخَصرِكِ في النُحو

ل وَمِثلُ جَفنِكِ في الفُتورِ

ل وَمِثلُ جَفنِكِ في الفُتورِ

A body as slender as your waist,

A body like your waist in its emaciation,

and as languid as your eyelid.

And like your eyelid in its languid weakness.

أَصبَحتُ أَضأَلَ مِن هِلا

أَصبَحتُ أَضأَلَ مِن هِلا

لِ الشَكِّ في عَينِ البَصيرِ

لِ الشَكِّ في عَينِ البَصيرِ

I have grown slighter than the crescent

I have become thinner than the crescent moon,

of doubt in the keen-sighted eye.

The one of doubt, requiring a keen eye to see.

مَحَقَ الضَنى جَسَدي فَبِتـ

مَحَقَ الضَنى جَسَدي فَبِتـ

ـتُ مِنَ الهَلاكِ عَلى شَفيرِ

ـتُ مِنَ الهَلاكِ عَلى شَفيرِ

Wasting illness consumed my body, so I spent the night

Illness has erased my body, so I have become

upon the brink of death.

Upon the very brink of destruction.

وَمَشى الرَدى في مُهجَتي

وَمَشى الرَدى في مُهجَتي

اللَهَ مِن جَهلِ الخَبيرِ

اللَهَ مِن جَهلِ الخَبيرِ

And death crept through my lifeblood.

Death has walked within my soul,

God save me from the expert's ignorance!

God save me from the ignorance of the expert.

جَهِلَ النَطاسِيُّ عِلَّتي

جَهِلَ النَطاسِيُّ عِلَّتي

لِلَّهِ مِن جَهلِ الخَبيرِ

لِلَّهِ مِن جَهلِ الخَبيرِ

The skilled physician did not know my ailment.

The skilled doctor was ignorant of my ailment;

God, what ignorance in the expert!

To God I complain of the expert's ignorance.

كَم سامَني جَرعَ الدَوا

كَم سامَني جَرعَ الدَوا

وَكَم جَرَعتُ مِنَ المَريرِ

وَكَم جَرَعتُ مِنَ المَريرِ

How often he made me swallow medicine,

How often he burdened me with swallowing medicine,

and how often I swallowed bitter draughts!

And how much bitterness I have swallowed.

دَع أَيُّها الآسي يَدي

دَع أَيُّها الآسي يَدي

الحُبُّ يُدرَكُ بِالشُعورِ

الحُبُّ يُدرَكُ بِالشُعورِ

Leave my hand, O physician:

Let go of my hand, O healer,

love is understood through feeling.

For love is perceived only by feeling.

يَدري الصَبابَة وَالهَوى

يَدري الصَبابَة وَالهَوى

مَن كانَ في البَلوى نَظيري

مَن كانَ في البَلوى نَظيري

Longing and passion are known

Passion and love are known only

to one whose affliction resembles mine.

By he who is my equal in affliction.

لَو تَنظُرينَ إِلَيَّ كَالمَي

لَو تَنظُرينَ إِلَيَّ كَالمَي

تِ المُسَجّى في سَريري

تِ المُسَجّى في سَريري

If only you could see me, like a dead man

If you were to look at me, like a dead man

laid out in my bed,

Shrouded upon my bed,

يَتَهامَسُ العُوّادُ حَو

يَتَهامَسُ العُوّادُ حَو

لي كُلَّما سَمِعوا زَفيري

لي كُلَّما سَمِعوا زَفيري

the visitors whisper around

The visitors whisper around me

me whenever they hear my sighing.

Whenever they hear my heavy sigh.

وَأَظُنُّهُمُ قَد أَدرَكوا

وَأَظُنُّهُمُ قَد أَدرَكوا

لا أَدرَكوا ما في ضَميري

لا أَدرَكوا ما في ضَميري

And I think they have understood—

And I think they have realized—

may they not understand what lies within me!

No, they have not realized what is in my secret heart.

فَأَبَيتُ مِن قَلَقي عَلَي

فَأَبَيتُ مِن قَلَقي عَلَي

كِ كَأَنَّني فَوقَ السَعيرِ

كِ كَأَنَّني فَوقَ السَعيرِ

So I spend the night anxious for you,

So I refused, out of my anxiety for you,

as though I were above a blazing fire.

To speak, as though I were upon a blazing fire.

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي في الحُضو

وَأَدَرتُ طَرفي في الحُضو

رِ لَعَلَّ شَخصَكِ في الحُضورِ

رِ لَعَلَّ شَخصَكِ في الحُضورِ

I turned my gaze among those present,

And I turned my gaze among those present,

hoping your form was among them.

Hoping your figure was among the crowd.

فَاِرتَدَّ يَعثُرُ بِالدُمو

فَاِرتَدَّ يَعثُرُ بِالدُمو

عِ تَعَثُّرَ الشَيخِ الضريرِ

عِ تَعَثُّرَ الشَيخِ الضريرِ

But it returned, stumbling through tears,

But it returned stumbling in tears,

as a blind old man stumbles.

Like the stumbling of a blind old man.

قَد زارَني مَن لا أُحِبُّ

قَد زارَني مَن لا أُحِبُّ

وَأَنتِ أَولى مَن تَزوري

وَأَنتِ أَولى مَن تَزوري

Those I do not love have visited me,

Those whom I do not love have visited me,

yet you, above all, ought to visit.

While you are the one most worthy to visit.

صَدَّقتِ ما قالَ الحَوا

صَدَّقتِ ما قالَ الحَوا

سِدُ فِيَّ مِن هُجر وَزورِ

سِدُ فِيَّ مِن هُجر وَزورِ

You believed what the envious said

You believed what the enviers said,

about me: vile talk and falsehood.

Regarding me, of abandonment and falsehoods.

وَأَطَعتِ بي حَتّى العِدى

وَأَطَعتِ بي حَتّى العِدى

وَضَنِنتِ حَتّى بِاليَسيرِ

وَضَنِنتِ حَتّى بِاليَسيرِ

You heeded even my enemies against me,

And you obeyed even the enemies regarding me,

and begrudged me even the slightest thing.

And were stingy even with the slightest thing.

أَمّا خَيالُكِ يا بَخيلَـ

أَمّا خَيالُكِ يا بَخيلَـ

ـةُ فَهوَ مِثلُكِ في النُفورِ

ـةُ فَهوَ مِثلُكِ في النُفورِ

As for your phantom, O miser,

As for your phantom, O stingy one,

it shuns me just as you do.

It is just like you in its aversion.

روحي فِداأُك وَهيَ لَو

روحي فِداأُك وَهيَ لَو

تَدرينَ تُفدى بِالكَثيرِ

تَدرينَ تُفدى بِالكَثيرِ

My soul is your ransom, and, if

My soul is your ransom, and if—

you knew, it could be ransomed for much.

Had you known—it is ransomed by much.

تيهي عَلى العاني كَما

تيهي عَلى العاني كَما

تاهَ الغَنِيُّ عَلى الفَقيرِ

تاهَ الغَنِيُّ عَلى الفَقيرِ

Be haughty toward your captive, as

Be haughty over the captive sufferer, just as

the rich are haughty toward the poor.

The rich man is haughty over the poor.

أَنا لا أُبالي بِالمَصي

أَنا لا أُبالي بِالمَصي

ر وَأَنتِ ئدرى بَِلمَصيرِ

ر وَأَنتِ ئدرى بَِلمَصيرِ

I care nothing for my fate,

I do not care about the destiny,

and you know that fate best.

And you are more aware of the destiny.

أَهواكِ رَغمَ مُعَنِّفي

أَهواكِ رَغمَ مُعَنِّفي

وَيَلَذُّ نَفسي أَن تَجوري

وَيَلَذُّ نَفسي أَن تَجوري

I love you despite my reprover,

I love you despite my scolder,

and your injustice delights my soul.

And my soul delights that you are unjust.

لَيسَ المُحِبُّ بِصادِقٍ

لَيسَ المُحِبُّ بِصادِقٍ

حَتّى يَكونَ بِلا عَذيرِ

حَتّى يَكونَ بِلا عَذيرِ

The lover is not sincere

The lover is not truthful

until he has none to excuse him.

Until he accepts no excuse.

كَم لَيلَةٍ ساهَرَتُ في

كَم لَيلَةٍ ساهَرَتُ في

ها النَجَمَ أَحسَبُهُ سَميري

ها النَجَمَ أَحسَبُهُ سَميري

How many a night I kept vigil,

How many nights have I stayed up within them,

with the star I deemed my nightly companion.

Watching the star, thinking it my companion.

وَالشُهبُ أَقعَدَها الوَنى

وَالشُهبُ أَقعَدَها الوَنى

وَاللَيلُ يَمشي كَالأَسيرِ

وَاللَيلُ يَمشي كَالأَسيرِ

Weariness held the bright stars still,

While the meteors were seated by exhaustion,

and night walked like a captive.

And the night walked like a prisoner.

أَرعى البُدور وَلَيسَ لي

أَرعى البُدور وَلَيسَ لي

مِن حاجَةٍ عِندَ البُدورِ

مِن حاجَةٍ عِندَ البُدورِ

I watch the full moons, though I have

I tend to the full moons, yet I have

no need of the full moons,

No need with the full moons.

مُتَذَكِّراً زَمَن الصِبى

مُتَذَكِّراً زَمَن الصِبى

زَمَن الغِوايَة وَالغُرورِ

زَمَن الغِوايَة وَالغُرورِ

remembering the time of youth,

Remembering the time of youth,

the time of temptation and delusion.

The time of temptation and vanity.

أَيّامَ أَخطُرُ في المَجا

أَيّامَ أَخطُرُ في المَجا

مِع وَالمَعاهِدِ كَالأَميرِ

مِع وَالمَعاهِدِ كَالأَميرِ

The days I strode through gatherings

Days I would strut in the gatherings

and meeting places like a prince;

And the institutes like a prince.

أَيّامَ أَمري في يَدي

أَيّامَ أَمري في يَدي

أَيّامَ نَجمي في ظُهورِ

أَيّامَ نَجمي في ظُهورِ

the days when my affairs were in my hands,

Days when my command was in my hand,

the days when my star was in ascendance.

Days when my star was rising.

لَمَعَ القَتيرُ بِلِمَّتي

لَمَعَ القَتيرُ بِلِمَّتي

وَيلُ الشَبابِ مِنَ القَتيرِ

وَيلُ الشَبابِ مِنَ القَتيرِ

Gray hairs have gleamed amid my locks:

Gray hair gleamed in my sidelocks;

woe to youth from gray hairs!

Woe to youth from the gray hair.

لا بِالغَوير وَلا النَقا

لا بِالغَوير وَلا النَقا

كَلَفي وَلا أَهلِ الغَويرِ

كَلَفي وَلا أَهلِ الغَويرِ

Not for al-Ghuwayr, nor al-Naqa,

Not at Al-Ghuwayr nor Al-Naqa

nor al-Ghuwayr's people is my longing.

Is my infatuation, nor with the people of Al-Ghuwayr.

أَرضَ الجَزيرَةِ كَيفَ حا

أَرضَ الجَزيرَةِ كَيفَ حا

لُكِ بَعدَ وَقعِ الزَمهَريرِ

لُكِ بَعدَ وَقعِ الزَمهَريرِ

O island land, how

O land of Al-Jazirah, how is

do you fare after bitter cold's onset?

Your state after the fall of the bitter cold?

نَزَلَ الشِتاءُ فَأَنتِ مَلعَ

نَزَلَ الشِتاءُ فَأَنتِ مَلعَ

بُ كُلِّ ساقِيَةٍ دَبورِ

بُ كُلِّ ساقِيَةٍ دَبورِ

Winter has descended: you are the playground

Winter has descended, so you are the playground

of every rain-bearing west wind.

Of every driving west wind.

وَتَبَدَّلَت تِلكَ العَرا

وَتَبَدَّلَت تِلكَ العَرا

صُ مِنَ النَضارَةِ بِالدُثورِ

صُ مِنَ النَضارَةِ بِالدُثورِ

And those grounds have changed

And those courtyards have changed

from freshness to desolation.

From freshness to obliteration.

أَمسَيتِ كَالطَلَلِ المَحي

أَمسَيتِ كَالطَلَلِ المَحي

ل وَكُنتِ كَالرَوضِ النَضيرِ

ل وَكُنتِ كَالرَوضِ النَضيرِ

You have become like a barren ruin,

You have become like a barren ruin,

though you were like a flourishing garden.

While you used to be like a blooming garden.

آهاً عَلَيك وَآهِ كَيـ

آهاً عَلَيك وَآهِ كَيـ

ـفَ نَأَتكِ رَبّاتُ الخُدورِ

ـفَ نَأَتكِ رَبّاتُ الخُدورِ

Alas for you, and alas—how

Ah for you, and ah, how

the ladies of secluded chambers have left you!

The mistresses of the boudoirs have distanced themselves from you.

المائِساتُ عَنِ الغُصو

المائِساتُ عَنِ الغُصو

نِ السافِراتُ عَنِ البُدورِ

نِ السافِراتُ عَنِ البُدورِ

Those swaying with boughlike forms,

Those swaying like branches,

those unveiling moonlike faces;

Unveiling faces like full moons.

الذاهِباتُ مَعَ النُهو

الذاهِباتُ مَعَ النُهو

دِ الذاهِباتُ مَعَ الصُدورِ

دِ الذاهِباتُ مَعَ الصُدورِ

moving with their breasts,

Those walking with rising breasts,

moving with their bosoms;

Those walking with hearts held high.

الحاسِراتُ عَنِ السَوا

الحاسِراتُ عَنِ السَوا

عِد وَالتَرائِب وَالنبُحورِ

عِد وَالتَرائِب وَالنبُحورِ

baring their forearms,

Revealing their forearms,

and upper chests and throats;

And chests and throats.

القاسِياتُ عَلى القُلو

القاسِياتُ عَلى القُلو

بِ الجانِياتُ عَلى الخُصورِ

بِ الجانِياتُ عَلى الخُصورِ

cruel to hearts,

Cruel to the hearts,

tormenting waists;

Criminals against their own waists.

المالِكاتُ عَلى اللَآ

المالِكاتُ عَلى اللَآ

لِءِ في القَلائِد وَالثُغورِ

لِءِ في القَلائِد وَالثُغورِ

ruling over pearls

Possessors of pearls

in necklaces and mouths;

In their necklaces and their smiles.

الضاحِكاتُ مِنَ الدَلا

الضاحِكاتُ مِنَ الدَلا

لِ اللاعِباتُ مِنَ الحُبورِ

لِ اللاعِباتُ مِنَ الحُبورِ

laughing from coquetry,

Laughing out of coquetry,

playing from joy;

Playing out of joy.

الآخِذاتُ قُلوبَنا

الآخِذاتُ قُلوبَنا

في زَيَّ طاقاتِ الزُهورِ

في زَيَّ طاقاتِ الزُهورِ

capturing our hearts

Taking our hearts,

in the guise of bouquets of flowers.

Dressed in the fashion of bouquets of flowers.

بيضُ نَواعِمُ كَالدُمى

بيضُ نَواعِمُ كَالدُمى

يَرفُلنَ في حُلَلِ الحَريرِ

يَرفُلنَ في حُلَلِ الحَريرِ

Fair, tender beauties, like dolls,

White, soft ones like dolls,

they sweep along in silken robes.

Trailing in robes of silk.

مِثلُ الحَمائِمِ في الوَدا

مِثلُ الحَمائِمِ في الوَدا

عَة وَالكَواكِبِ في السُفورِ

عَة وَالكَواكِبِ في السُفورِ

Like doves in gentleness,

Like doves in gentleness,

and stars in their unveiled radiance.

And stars in brilliance.

مِن كُلِّ ضاحِكَةٍ

مِن كُلِّ ضاحِكَةٍ

كَأَنَّ بِوَجهِها وَجهَ البَشيرِ

كَأَنَّ بِوَجهِها وَجهَ البَشيرِ

Every smiling woman among them

From every laughing woman,

seems to bear a glad herald's face.

As if her face holds the face of a herald of good news.

أَنّى أَدَرتُ الطَرفَ في

أَنّى أَدَرتُ الطَرفَ في

ها جالَ في قَمَرٍ مُنيرِ

ها جالَ في قَمَرٍ مُنيرِ

Wherever I turned my gaze within it,

Wherever I turned my gaze within,

it roamed over a radiant moon.

It roamed over a shining moon.

يا مَسرَحَ العُشّاقِ كَم

يا مَسرَحَ العُشّاقِ كَم

لي فيكَ مِن يَومٍ مَطيرِ

لي فيكَ مِن يَومٍ مَطيرِ

O playground of lovers, how many

O theater of lovers, how many

a rainy day I have had in you!

Bountiful days I had in you.

تَنسى البَرِيَّةُ عِندَهُ

تَنسى البَرِيَّةُ عِندَهُ

يَومَ الخَوَرنَق وَالسَديرِ

يَومَ الخَوَرنَق وَالسَديرِ

By comparison, mankind forgets

Mankind forgets, in its presence,

the day of al-Khawarnaq and al-Sadir.

The days of the palaces of Khawarnaq and Sadir.

وَلَكَم هَبَطتُك وَالحَبي

وَلَكَم هَبَطتُك وَالحَبي

بَةَ فازِعينَ مِنَ الهَجيرِ

بَةَ فازِعينَ مِنَ الهَجيرِ

How often I came down to you with my beloved,

And how often I descended into you with the beloved,

fleeing the scorching midday heat,

Fleeing from the midday heat.

في زَورَقٍ بَينَ الزَوا

في زَورَقٍ بَينَ الزَوا

رِقِ كَالحَمامَةِ في الطُيورِ

رِقِ كَالحَمامَةِ في الطُيورِ

in a boat among boats,

In a boat among the boats,

like a dove among birds,

Like a dove among birds.

مُتَمَهِّلٌ في سَيرِهِ

مُتَمَهِّلٌ في سَيرِهِ

وَالماءُ يُسرِعُ في المَسيرِ

وَالماءُ يُسرِعُ في المَسيرِ

moving slowly on its course,

Taking its time in its course,

while the water hurried on its way.

While the water hastens in its flow.

وَالشَمسُ إِبّانَ الضُحى

وَالشَمسُ إِبّانَ الضُحى

وَالجَوُّ صافٍ كَالغَديرِ

وَالجَوُّ صافٍ كَالغَديرِ

And the sun was at forenoon,

The sun in the mid-morning,

and the air was clear as a pool.

And the air is clear like a brook.

وَلَكَم وَثَبنا وَفي التِلا

وَلَكَم وَثَبنا وَفي التِلا

ل وَكَم رَكَضنا في الوُعورِ

ل وَكَم رَكَضنا في الوُعورِ

How often we leapt upon the hills,

And how often we leaped on the hills,

and how often we ran across rough ground!

And how often we ran in the rugged places.

وَلَكَم أَصَحنا لِلحَفي

وَلَكَم أَصَحنا لِلحَفي

ف وَكَم شَجَينا بِالخَريرِ

ف وَكَم شَجَينا بِالخَريرِ

How often we listened to rustling,

And how often we listened to the rustling,

and how often murmuring water moved us!

And how often we were moved by the murmuring water.

وَلَكَم جَلَسنا في الرِياضِ

وَلَكَم جَلَسنا في الرِياضِ

وَكَم نَشَقنا مِن عَبيرِ

وَكَم نَشَقنا مِن عَبيرِ

How often we sat in gardens,

And how often we sat in the meadows,

and how often we breathed in fragrance!

And how often we inhaled fragrance.

وَلَكَم تَبَرَّدنا بِما

وَلَكَم تَبَرَّدنا بِما

نُهَيرِكِ الصافي النَميرِ

نُهَيرِكِ الصافي النَميرِ

How often we cooled ourselves in the water

And how often we cooled ourselves with the water

of your clear, sweet little river!

Of your clear, wholesome little river.

طَوراً نَنامُ عَلى النَبا

طَوراً نَنامُ عَلى النَبا

ت وَتارَةً فَوقَ الحَصيرِ

ت وَتارَةً فَوقَ الحَصيرِ

Sometimes we slept upon the grass,

At times we sleep on the plants,

and sometimes upon a mat.

And at times upon the mat.

لا نَتَّقي عَينَ الرَقيـ

لا نَتَّقي عَينَ الرَقيـ

ـب وَلا نُبالي بِالغَيورِ

ـب وَلا نُبالي بِالغَيورِ

We did not shun the watcher's eye,

We do not fear the eye of the spy,

nor care about the jealous.

Nor do we care about the jealous one.

فَكَأَنَّها وَكَأَنَّني الأَ

فَكَأَنَّها وَكَأَنَّني الأَ

بَوانِ في ماضي العُصورِ

بَوانِ في ماضي العُصورِ

As though she and I were the first parents

As if she and I were the First Parents

in ages long past.

In the eras of the distant past.

حُسِدَت عَلَيَّ مِنَ الإِنا

حُسِدَت عَلَيَّ مِنَ الإِنا

ثِ كَما حُسِدتُ مِنَ الذُكورِ

ثِ كَما حُسِدتُ مِنَ الذُكورِ

Women envied her for having me,

She was envied for having me by the females,

as men envied me.

Just as I was envied by the males.

ظَنَّ الأَنامُ بِنا الظُنو

ظَنَّ الأَنامُ بِنا الظُنو

ن وَما اِجتَرَحنا من نَكيرِ

ن وَما اِجتَرَحنا من نَكيرِ

People harbored suspicions of us,

People thought suspicious thoughts about us,

though we committed no wrongdoing.

Yet we committed no objectionable act.

قَد صانَ بُردَتَها الحَيا

قَد صانَ بُردَتَها الحَيا

ء وَصانَني شَرَفي وَخيري

ء وَصانَني شَرَفي وَخيري

Modesty guarded her cloak,

Modesty protected her robe,

and my honor and goodness guarded me.

And my honor and virtue protected me.

وَمَطِيَّةٍ رَجراجَةٍ

وَمَطِيَّةٍ رَجراجَةٍ

لا كَالمَطِيَّة وَالبَعيرِ

لا كَالمَطِيَّة وَالبَعيرِ

And a swaying mount,

And how often we rode a shaking mount,

unlike a riding beast or camel,

Not like a riding beast or a camel.

ما تَأتَلي في سَيرَها

ما تَأتَلي في سَيرَها

صَخّابَةً لا مِن ثُبورِ

صَخّابَةً لا مِن ثُبورِ

sparing no effort in its course,

It does not slacken in its course,

clamorous, though not from grief,

Noisy, but not from destruction.

تَجري عَلى أَسلاكِها

تَجري عَلى أَسلاكِها

جَريَ الأَراقِمِ في الحُدورِ

جَريَ الأَراقِمِ في الحُدورِ

racing along its wires

It runs upon its wires,

as speckled serpents race downhill.

Like the running of speckled snakes down a slope.

طَوراً تُرى فَوقَ الجُسو

طَوراً تُرى فَوقَ الجُسو

ر وَتارَةً تَحتَ الجُسورِ

ر وَتارَةً تَحتَ الجُسورِ

Sometimes it is seen above the bridges,

Sometimes it is seen above the bridges,

and sometimes beneath the bridges;

And sometimes beneath the bridges.

أَناً عَلى قِمَم وَآ

أَناً عَلى قِمَم وَآ

ناً في كُهوفٍ كَالقُبورِ

ناً في كُهوفٍ كَالقُبورِ

at times on summits, and at times

At times on peaks and

in caves like tombs.

At times in caves like graves.

تَرقى كَما تَرقى المَصا

تَرقى كَما تَرقى المَصا

عِدُ ثُمَّ تَهبِطُ كَالصُخورِ

عِدُ ثُمَّ تَهبِطُ كَالصُخورِ

It climbs as lifts ascend,

It ascends as elevators ascend,

then drops like rocks.

Then it drops like rocks.

فَإِذا عَلَت حَسِبَ الوَرى

فَإِذا عَلَت حَسِبَ الوَرى

أَنّا نُصَعِّدُ في الأَثيرِ

أَنّا نُصَعِّدُ في الأَثيرِ

And when it rises, people think

And when it rises, people think

we are ascending into the ether;

That we are ascending into the ether.

وَإِذا هَوَت مِن حالِقٍ

وَإِذا هَوَت مِن حالِقٍ

هَوَتِ القُلوبُ مِنَ الصُدورِ

هَوَتِ القُلوبُ مِنَ الصُدورِ

and when it plunges from a height,

And when it plunges from a high place,

hearts tumble out of breasts.

Hearts plunge from the chests.

وَالرَكبُ بَينَ مُصَفِّقٍ

وَالرَكبُ بَينَ مُصَفِّقٍ

وَمُهَلِّلٍ جَذلِ قَريرِ

وَمُهَلِّلٍ جَذلِ قَريرِ

Among its riders, some clap,

The riders are between clapping

and some cheer, joyful and content;

And cheering, joyful and settled.

أَو خائِفٍ مُتَطَيِّرٍ

أَو خائِفٍ مُتَطَيِّرٍ

أَو صارِخٍ أَو مُستَجيرِ

أَو صارِخٍ أَو مُستَجيرِ

others are frightened, dreading ill omens,

Or fearful and superstitious,

or screaming, or crying for help.

Or screaming or seeking refuge.

هِيَ في التَقَلُّبِ كَالزَما

هِيَ في التَقَلُّبِ كَالزَما

ن وَإِنَّما هِيَ لِلسُرورِ

ن وَإِنَّما هِيَ لِلسُرورِ

It changes like time itself,

It is like Time in its fluctuations,

yet it is only for pleasure.

Except that it is for pleasure.

وَمُدارَةٍ في الجَوِّ

وَمُدارَةٍ في الجَوِّ

يَحسَبُها الجَهولُ بِلا مُديرِ

يَحسَبُها الجَهولُ بِلا مُديرِ

And a ride whirled in the air,

And a machine spun in the air,

which the ignorant think has no operator:

The ignorant one thinks it has no operator.

لَو شِئتَ نَيلَ النَجمِ مِن

لَو شِئتَ نَيلَ النَجمِ مِن

ها ما صَبَوتَ إِلى عَسيرِ

ها ما صَبَوتَ إِلى عَسيرِ

if you wished to reach a star from

If you wished to reach the star from it,

it, you would be seeking no difficult feat.

You would not have aspired to something difficult.

مَشدودَةٍ لَكِنَّها

مَشدودَةٍ لَكِنَّها

أَجرى مِنَ الفَرَسِ المُغيرِ

أَجرى مِنَ الفَرَسِ المُغيرِ

Tethered, yet

It is tethered, yet

swifter than a charging horse,

Faster than a charging horse.

زَفّافَةٍ زَفَّ الرِنا

زَفّافَةٍ زَفَّ الرِنا

لِ تَسفُ إِسفافَ النُسورِ

لِ تَسفُ إِسفافَ النُسورِ

darting with the gait of ostrich chicks,

Gliding like ostriches glide,

skimming low as vultures skim;

Hovering low like vultures.

وَلَها حَفيفٌ كَالرِيا

وَلَها حَفيفٌ كَالرِيا

ح وَهَدرَةٌ لا كَالهَديرِ

ح وَهَدرَةٌ لا كَالهَديرِ

it has a rustling like winds,

It has a rustle like the winds,

and a rumble unlike any other;

And a roar not like any ordinary roar.

كَالأَرضِ في دَوَرانِها

كَالأَرضِ في دَوَرانِها

وَلَكَالمِظَلَّةِ في النُشورِ

وَلَكَالمِظَلَّةِ في النُشورِ

like the earth in its rotation,

Like the earth in its rotation,

and truly like an umbrella spread open.

And like a parasol in spreading out.

القَومُ فيها جالِسونَ

القَومُ فيها جالِسونَ

نَ عَلى مَقاعِدَ مِن وَثيرِ

نَ عَلى مَقاعِدَ مِن وَثيرِ

The people sit within it,

The people sit within it

on softly cushioned seats;

Upon seats of soft plush.

وَالريحُ تَخفُقُ حَولَهُم

وَالريحُ تَخفُقُ حَولَهُم

وَكَأَنَّما هُم في قُصورِ

وَكَأَنَّما هُم في قُصورِ

the wind flutters around them,

The wind flutters around them,

yet they seem to be in palaces.

As if they were in palaces.

وَالجَمعُ يَهتُفُ كُلَّما

وَالجَمعُ يَهتُفُ كُلَّما

مَرَّت عَلى الحَشدِ الغَفيرِ

مَرَّت عَلى الحَشدِ الغَفيرِ

The crowd cheers whenever

The crowd shouts whenever

it passes over the vast throng.

It passes over the vast throng.

وَلَكَم تَأَمَّلنا الجُمو

وَلَكَم تَأَمَّلنا الجُمو

عَ تَموجُ كَالبَحرِ الزَخورِ

عَ تَموجُ كَالبَحرِ الزَخورِ

How often we watched the crowds

And how often we contemplated the crowds

surging like the swelling sea!

Rippling like a swelling sea.

يَمشي الخَطيرُ مَعَ الحَقيـ

يَمشي الخَطيرُ مَعَ الحَقيـ

ـرِ كَأَنَّما هُوَ مَع خَطيرِ

ـرِ كَأَنَّما هُوَ مَع خَطيرِ

The eminent walk with the lowly,

The noble walks with the lowly,

as though accompanying the eminent.

As if he were with a noble.

وَتَرى المَهاةَ كَأَنَّها

وَتَرى المَهاةَ كَأَنَّها

لَيثٌ مَعَ اللَيثُ الهَصورِ

لَيثٌ مَعَ اللَيثُ الهَصورِ

And you see the oryx as though she were

And you see the beauty as if she is

a lion beside the mighty lion.

A lion alongside a crushing lion.

مُتَوافِقونَ عَلى التَبا

مُتَوافِقونَ عَلى التَبا

يُنِ كَالقَبيلِ أَوِ العَشيرِ

يُنِ كَالقَبيلِ أَوِ العَشيرِ

They are in accord despite their differences,

Agreeing upon their difference,

like a clan or a family;

Like a tribe or a clan.

لا يَرهَبونَ يَدَ الخُطو

لا يَرهَبونَ يَدَ الخُطو

بِ كَأَنَّما هُم خَلفَ سورِ

بِ كَأَنَّما هُم خَلفَ سورِ

they do not fear misfortune's hand,

They do not fear the hand of misfortune,

as though sheltered behind a wall.

As if they are behind a wall.

يَمضي النَهار وَنَحنُ نَحـ

يَمضي النَهار وَنَحنُ نَحـ

ـسَبُ ما بَرِحنا في البُكورِ

ـسَبُ ما بَرِحنا في البُكورِ

Day passes, while we think

The day passes and we think

we are still in early morning.

That we are still in the early morning.

أَبقَيتَ يا زَمَن الحَرو

أَبقَيتَ يا زَمَن الحَرو

رِ بِمُهجَتي مِثلَ الحَرورِ

رِ بِمُهجَتي مِثلَ الحَرورِ

You have left, O season of scorching heat,

You have left, O season of heat,

a like scorching heat within my heart.

Within my soul something like burning heat.

وَلَّت شُهورٌ كُنتُ أَر

وَلَّت شُهورٌ كُنتُ أَر

جو أَن تُخَلَّدَ الدُهورِ

جو أَن تُخَلَّدَ الدُهورِ

Months passed that I had hoped

Months have turned away that I hoped

would endure through all the ages;

Would be eternal for ages.

وَأَتَت شُهورٌ بَعدَها

وَأَتَت شُهورٌ بَعدَها

ساعاتُها مِثلُ الشُهورِ

ساعاتُها مِثلُ الشُهورِ

and months came after them,

And months came after them

their hours as long as months.

Whose hours are like months.

لَيسَت حَياةُ المَرءِ في الدُن

لَيسَت حَياةُ المَرءِ في الدُن

يا سِوى حُلمٍ قَصيرِ

يا سِوى حُلمٍ قَصيرِ

A person's life in this world

Man's life in this world is not

is nothing but a brief dream.

Anything but a short dream.

وَأَرى الشَبابَ مِنَ الحَيا

وَأَرى الشَبابَ مِنَ الحَيا

ةِ لَكَاللُبابِ مِنَ القُشورِ

ةِ لَكَاللُبابِ مِنَ القُشورِ

And I see youth, within life,

And I see youth within life

as the kernel among the husks.

Like the core within the shell.

ذَهَبَ الرَبيعُ ذَهابَهُ

ذَهَبَ الرَبيعُ ذَهابَهُ

وَأَتى الشِتاءُ بِلا نَذيرِ

وَأَتى الشِتاءُ بِلا نَذيرِ

Spring has gone its way,

Spring has gone its way,

and winter came without a herald.

And winter has come without warning.

وَتَبَدَّدَ العُشّاقُ مِثلَ

وَتَبَدَّدَ العُشّاقُ مِثلَ

تَبَدُّدِ الوَرَقِ النَثيرِ

تَبَدُّدِ الوَرَقِ النَثيرِ

And the lovers scattered like

And the lovers have scattered like

the scattering of strewn leaves.

The scattering of fallen leaves.

رَضِيَ المُهَيمِنُ عَنهُمُ

رَضِيَ المُهَيمِنُ عَنهُمُ

وَاللَهُ يَعفو عَن كَثيرِ

وَاللَهُ يَعفو عَن كَثيرِ

May the Guardian be pleased with them,

May the Guardian be pleased with them,

and God forgives much.

And God forgives much.