لَو كانَ لي غَيرُ قَلبي عِندَ مَرآكِ

لَو كانَ لي غَيرُ قَلبي عِندَ مَرآكِ

لَما أَضافَ إِلى بَلواهُ بَلواكِ

لَما أَضافَ إِلى بَلواهُ بَلواكِ

If, at the sight of you, I had something other than my heart,

If I had a heart besides the one burning for your sight,

If I possessed anything other than my heart when beholding you,

It would not have added your affliction to its own.

It would not have added your torment to its agony.

It would not have added your sorrow to its own.

فيمَ اِرتِجاجُكِ هَل في الجَوِّ زَلزَلَةٌ

فيمَ اِرتِجاجُكِ هَل في الجَوِّ زَلزَلَةٌ

أَم أَنتِ هارِبَةٌ مِن وَجهِ فَتّاكِ

أَم أَنتِ هارِبَةٌ مِن وَجهِ فَتّاكِ

Why do you tremble? Is there an earthquake in the air,

Does the trembling in you portend an earthquake in the air?

Why do you quiver so? Is there a quake within the air?

Or are you fleeing the face of a killer?

Or are you a fugitive from the face of a killer?

Or are you fleeing before the face of a destroyer?

وَكَم تَدورينَ حَولَ البَيتِ حائِرَةً

وَكَم تَدورينَ حَولَ البَيتِ حائِرَةً

بِنتَ الرُبى لَيسَ مَأوى الناسِ مَأواكِ

بِنتَ الرُبى لَيسَ مَأوى الناسِ مَأواكِ

And how often you circle the house, bewildered!

And how often you circle around the house, lost,

How often you circle the house in bewilderment,

Daughter of the hills, people's shelter is not yours.

O daughter of the open country, the dwellings of people are not your abode.

O daughter of the hills; the shelter of men is no home for you.

قالوا فَراشَةُ حَقلٍ لا غَناءَ بِها

قالوا فَراشَةُ حَقلٍ لا غَناءَ بِها

ما أَفقَرَ الناسَ في عَيني وَأَغناكِ

ما أَفقَرَ الناسَ في عَيني وَأَغناكِ

They said, “A field butterfly, of no use.”

They said a butterfly of the field has no value,

They said: "A field butterfly—of no use or worth,"

How poor people are in my eyes, and how rich you are!

How impoverished are people in my eyes, and how rich you are!

Yet how poor are the people in my eyes, and how rich are you!

سَيماءُ غاوِيَةٍ أَطوارُ شاعِرَةٍ

سَيماءُ غاوِيَةٍ أَطوارُ شاعِرَةٍ

عَلى زَهادَةِ عُبّادٍ وَنُسّاكِ

عَلى زَهادَةِ عُبّادٍ وَنُسّاكِ

A seductress's mien, a poetess's ways,

The brand of a passionate, the gestures of a poetess

The bearing of a temptress, the temperament of a poet,

With the austerity of worshippers and ascetics.

Upon the asceticism of devout worshipers and hermits.

Combined with the asceticism of worshippers and hermits.

طُغَراءُ مَملَكَةٍ وَشّى حَواشيها

طُغَراءُ مَملَكَةٍ وَشّى حَواشيها

مَن ذَوَّبَ الشَمسَ أَلواناً وَوَشّاكِ

مَن ذَوَّبَ الشَمسَ أَلواناً وَوَشّاكِ

A kingdom's royal monogram, its borders embroidered

The arrogance of a queen, and she adorned her train

The royal seal of a kingdom whose borders were embroidered

By the one who melted the sun into colors and embroidered you.

With one who melted the sun into colors and scarves.

By the One who melted the sun into colors to adorn you.

رَأَيتُ أَحلامَ أَهلِ الحُبِّ كُلِّهِمِ

رَأَيتُ أَحلامَ أَهلِ الحُبِّ كُلِّهِمِ

لَمّا مَثَلتِ أَمامني عِندَ شُبّاكي

لَمّا مَثَلتِ أَمامني عِندَ شُبّاكي

I saw the dreams of all the people of love

I saw the dreams of all the lovers

I beheld the dreams of all lovers combined,

When you appeared before me at my window,

When you stood before me at my window,

When you appeared before me at my window.

مِن نائِمينَ عَلى ذُلٍّ وَمَترَبَةٍ

مِن نائِمينَ عَلى ذُلٍّ وَمَترَبَةٍ

وَمِن تِجارٍ وَأَشرافٍ وَأَملاكِ

وَمِن تِجارٍ وَأَشرافٍ وَأَملاكِ

From those sleeping amid abasement and dust,

Those sleeping in humiliation and ruin,

From those who sleep in humiliation and dust,

And from merchants, nobles, and kings.

And the merchants, nobles and kings.

To merchants, nobles, and kings.

وَقَصَّ شَكواكَ قَلبي قِصَّةً عَجَباً

وَقَصَّ شَكواكَ قَلبي قِصَّةً عَجَباً

مِن قَبلُ أَن سَمِعَت أُذنايَ شَكواكِ

مِن قَبلُ أَن سَمِعَت أُذنايَ شَكواكِ

And my heart recounted your complaint as a wondrous tale

And my heart told your complaint as a wondrous tale

My heart recounted your complaint as a wondrous tale,

Before my two ears heard your complaint.

Even before my ears heard your complaint.

Even before my ears had heard your plea.

أَلَيسَ فيكِ مِنَ العُشّاقِ حيرَتُهُم

أَلَيسَ فيكِ مِنَ العُشّاقِ حيرَتُهُم

فَكَيفَ لا يَفهَمُ العُشّاقُ نَجواكِ

فَكَيفَ لا يَفهَمُ العُشّاقُ نَجواكِ

Is not the lovers' bewilderment in you?

Is there not in you the confusion of the lovers?

Do you not hold the bewilderment of all lovers?

Then how can lovers fail to understand your whispered confidences?

How then do not the lovers understand your whispers?

How then could lovers fail to understand your secret whispers?

حَلِمتُ أَنَّ زَمانَ الصَيفِ مُنصَرِمٌ

حَلِمتُ أَنَّ زَمانَ الصَيفِ مُنصَرِمٌ

وَيلاهُ حَقَّقَتِ الأَيّامُ رُؤياكِ

وَيلاهُ حَقَّقَتِ الأَيّامُ رُؤياكِ

I dreamed that the summer season was over.

I dreamed that the summer days were over

I dreamed that the summer season was ending—

Alas! The days have fulfilled your dream.

And alas the days made your dream come true.

Alas, the days have made your vision come true.

فَقَد نَعاهُ إِلَيكِ الفَجرُ مُرتَعِشاً

فَقَد نَعاهُ إِلَيكِ الفَجرُ مُرتَعِشاً

وَلَيسَ مَنعاهُ إِلّا بَعضَ مَنعاكِ

وَلَيسَ مَنعاهُ إِلّا بَعضَ مَنعاكِ

For dawn, trembling, announced its death to you,

So dawn bid it farewell, shivering

The dawn, trembling, has announced its death to you,

And its death announcement is only part of yours.

And nothing prevented its passing but some of your refusal.

And its eulogy is nothing but a part of your own.

فَالزَهرُ في الحَقلِ أَشلاءٌ مُبَعثَرَةٌ

فَالزَهرُ في الحَقلِ أَشلاءٌ مُبَعثَرَةٌ

وَالطَيرُ لا طائِرٌ إِلّا جَناحاكِ

وَالطَيرُ لا طائِرٌ إِلّا جَناحاكِ

For the flowers in the field are scattered limbs,

The flowers in the field lie scattered

The flowers in the field are scattered remains,

And among the birds, none flies but your two wings.

And no bird flies except your wings.

And of birds, none fly now but your wings.

مَدَّ النَهارُ إِلَيهِ كَفَّ مُختَلِسٍ

مَدَّ النَهارُ إِلَيهِ كَفَّ مُختَلِسٍ

وَفَتَّحَ اللَيلُ فيهِ عَينَ سَفّاكِ

وَفَتَّحَ اللَيلُ فيهِ عَينَ سَفّاكِ

Day stretched toward it a pilferer's hand,

The day reached out to it with a thief's concealing palm

The day reached out to it with a thief's hand,

And night opened in it a slaughterer's eye.

And the night opened in it the eye of a killer;

And the night opened upon it the eye of a killer.

شاءَ القَضاءُ بِأَن يَشقى فَجَرَّدَهُ

شاءَ القَضاءُ بِأَن يَشقى فَجَرَّدَهُ

مِنَ الحَلِيِّ وَأَن تَشقي فَأَبقاكِ

مِنَ الحَلِيِّ وَأَن تَشقي فَأَبقاكِ

Fate willed that it should suffer, so stripped it

Fate willed it to suffer, so stripped it

Fate decreed it should suffer, stripping it bare

Of jewels, and that you should suffer, so kept you alive.

Of jewels, and willed you suffer, yet left you.

Of its ornaments; and that you should suffer, so it let you remain.

لَم يَبقَ غَيرُكِ شَيءٌ مِن مَحاسِبِهِ

لَم يَبقَ غَيرُكِ شَيءٌ مِن مَحاسِبِهِ

وَلا مِنَ العابِدينَ الحُسنَ إِلّاكِ

وَلا مِنَ العابِدينَ الحُسنَ إِلّاكِ

Nothing of its merits remains but you,

None of those to be judged remained but you

Nothing of its beauties remains but you,

Nor, of those who worship beauty, anyone but you.

Nor of the good worshipers except you.

Nor any worshipper of beauty, save you.

تَزَوَّدَ الناسُ مِنهُ الأُنسَ وَاِنصَرَفوا

تَزَوَّدَ الناسُ مِنهُ الأُنسَ وَاِنصَرَفوا

وَما تَزَوَّدَ اليَأسُ جَفناكِ

وَما تَزَوَّدَ اليَأسُ جَفناكِ

People took their provision of solace from it and left,

People gained from it intimacy, then left

People gathered their joy from it and departed,

And your eyelids did not take despair as provisions.

While despair did not gain but your eyelids.

While your eyelids have gathered nothing but despair.

يا رَوضَةً في سَماءِ الرَوضِ طائِرَةً

يا رَوضَةً في سَماءِ الرَوضِ طائِرَةً

وَطائِراً كَالأَقاحي ذا شَذى ذاكِ

وَطائِراً كَالأَقاحي ذا شَذى ذاكِ

O garden flying in the garden's sky,

O meadow flying in the sky of meadows

O flying garden in the sky of gardens,

And bird like daisies, bearing an intense fragrance!

And bird, like the thyme, with that fragrance of yours!

O bird like the chamomile, possessed of such fragrance!

مَضى مَعَ الصَيفِ عَهدٌ كُنتُ لاهِيَةً

مَضى مَعَ الصَيفِ عَهدٌ كُنتُ لاهِيَةً

عَلى بِساطٍ مِنَ الأَحلامِ

عَلى بِساطٍ مِنَ الأَحلامِ

With summer passed a time when I was carefree,

An era has passed in which I was playing,

An era has passed with the summer when you were carefree,

Upon a carpet of dreams.

Dreaming on a carpet of dreams,

Upon a carpet woven of dreams.

تُمسينَ عِندَ مَجاري الماءِ نائِمَةً

تُمسينَ عِندَ مَجاري الماءِ نائِمَةً

وَلِلأَزاهِرِ وَالأَعشابِ مَغداكِ

وَلِلأَزاهِرِ وَالأَعشابِ مَغداكِ

You spent evenings asleep beside the watercourses,

Sleeping at night by the water channels

Resting at evening by the flowing streams,

And the flowers and grasses were your morning destination.

With the flowers and plants as your bedding.

With your mornings given to the flowers and the grass.

فَكُلَّما سَمِعَت أُذناكِ ساقِيَةً

فَكُلَّما سَمِعَت أُذناكِ ساقِيَةً

حَثَثتِ لِلسَفحِ مِن شَوقٍ مَطاياكِ

حَثَثتِ لِلسَفحِ مِن شَوقٍ مَطاياكِ

So whenever your ears heard an irrigation stream,

So whenever your ears heard a water-drawer,

Whenever your ears caught the sound of a brook,

You urged your mounts toward the slope out of longing.

You spurred the slope, craving, your steeds.

You urged your mounts toward the valley in longing.

وَكُلَّما نَوَّرَت في السَفحِ زَنبَقَةٌ

وَكُلَّما نَوَّرَت في السَفحِ زَنبَقَةٌ

صَفَّقتِ مِن طَرَبٍ وَاِهتَزَّ عَطفاكِ

صَفَّقتِ مِن طَرَبٍ وَاِهتَزَّ عَطفاكِ

And whenever a lily bloomed on the slope,

And whenever a buttercup shone on the slope,

And whenever a lily bloomed on the slope,

You clapped with delight, and both your sides quivered.

You clapped in rapture and your sleeve fluttered.

You clapped in delight, your whole form trembling with joy.

فَما رَشَفتِ سِوى عِطرٍ وَلا اِنفَتَحَت

فَما رَشَفتِ سِوى عِطرٍ وَلا اِنفَتَحَت

إِلّا عَلى الحَسنِ المَحبوبِ عَيناكِ

إِلّا عَلى الحَسنِ المَحبوبِ عَيناكِ

You sipped nothing but fragrance, and never opened

Yet you sipped nothing but scent, nor opened

You sipped nothing but nectar's perfume, nor did open

Your eyes except upon beloved beauty.

Except to the beautiful beloved, your eyes.

Your eyes upon anything but the beloved beauty.

وَكَم لَثَمتِ شِفاهَ الوَردِ هائِمَةً

وَكَم لَثَمتِ شِفاهَ الوَردِ هائِمَةً

وَكَم مَسَحتِ دُموعَ النَرجِسِ الباكي

وَكَم مَسَحتِ دُموعَ النَرجِسِ الباكي

And how often you kissed the roses' lips in rapture!

And how often you kissed the lips of roses lingeringly

How often you kissed the lips of roses, lost in love,

And how often you wiped the weeping narcissus's tears!

And wiped the tears of the crying narcissi,

And wiped away the tears of the weeping narcissus.

وَكَم تَرَجَّحتِ في مَهدِ الضِياءِ عَلى

وَكَم تَرَجَّحتِ في مَهدِ الضِياءِ عَلى

تَوقيعِ لَحنِ الصِبا أَو رَجعِهِ الحاكي

تَوقيعِ لَحنِ الصِبا أَو رَجعِهِ الحاكي

And how often you rocked in the cradle of light to

And how you swayed in the cradle of light to

How often you swayed in the cradle of light,

The rhythm of youth's melody, or its imitating echo!

The rhythm of the blowing wind or its echoing tune,

To the rhythm of the breeze's song or its echoing tale.

وَكَم رَكَضتِ فَأَغرَيتِ الصِغارَ ضُحىً

وَكَم رَكَضتِ فَأَغرَيتِ الصِغارَ ضُحىً

بِالرَكضِ في الحَقلِ مَلهاهُم وَمَلهاكِ

بِالرَكضِ في الحَقلِ مَلهاهُم وَمَلهاكِ

And how often you ran, enticing children in the forenoon

And how you ran, enticing the children at dawn

How often you darted in the forenoon, tempting the children

To run in the field, their playground and yours!

To run with you in the field, amusing them and yourself.

To chase through the field—their game and yours.

مَنّوا بِأَسرِهِمِ إِيّاكِ أَنفُسَهُم

مَنّوا بِأَسرِهِمِ إِيّاكِ أَنفُسَهُم

فَأَصبَحوا بِتَمَنّيهِم أَساراكِ

فَأَصبَحوا بِتَمَنّيهِم أَساراكِ

They fed themselves hopes of capturing you,

They wished with all their souls to possess you

They deluded themselves with hopes of capturing you,

So through their wishing they became your captives.

So they became, with their wish, your prisoners.

Only to become prisoners of their own desire for you.

جَروا قُصاراهُم حَتّى إِذا تَعِبوا

جَروا قُصاراهُم حَتّى إِذا تَعِبوا

وَقَفتِ ساخِرَةً مِنهُم قُصاراكِ

وَقَفتِ ساخِرَةً مِنهُم قُصاراكِ

They ran to their utmost until, when they tired,

They dragged their feet until, tired,

They ran their hardest, until, overcome with fatigue,

You stopped at your own limit, mocking them.

You stood mocking them, with feet just as short.

You paused to mock them, just out of reach.

لَولا جَناحاكِ لَم تَسلَم طَريدَتُهُم

لَولا جَناحاكِ لَم تَسلَم طَريدَتُهُم

قَد نَجَيّاكِ وَلَكِن أَينَ مَنجاكِ

قَد نَجَيّاكِ وَلَكِن أَينَ مَنجاكِ

But for your wings, their quarry would not have escaped safely.

Without your wings, their prey would not be safe -

Were it not for your wings, their quarry would not have survived;

They both saved you, but where is your refuge?

They were saved by you, but where is your salvation?

They saved you then, but where is your sanctuary now?

ها أَنتِ كَالحَقلِ في نَزعٍ وَحَشرَجَةٍ

ها أَنتِ كَالحَقلِ في نَزعٍ وَحَشرَجَةٍ

وَهَت قُواكِ كَما اِستَرخى جَناحاكِ

وَهَت قُواكِ كَما اِستَرخى جَناحاكِ

Here you are, like the field, in death throes and a death rattle;

Your strength bewildered, as your wings dropped.

Here you are, like the field, in the throes of death,

Your strength has waned as your two wings have slackened.

You have become, in your sanctuary, wandering in misery

Your strength failing as your wings droop down.

أَصبَحتِ لِلبُؤسِ في مَغناكِ تائِهَةً

أَصبَحتِ لِلبُؤسِ في مَغناكِ تائِهَةً

كَأَنَّهُ لَم يَكُن بِالأَمسِ مَغناكِ

كَأَنَّهُ لَم يَكُن بِالأَمسِ مَغناكِ

Through misery you have become a wanderer in your own dwelling,

As if yesterday was not your sanctuary.

You have become a wanderer in your own home, lost to misery,

As though it had not been your dwelling yesterday.

The butterfly of the field, in my soul, is its gloom

As if it were not your dwelling just yesterday.

فَراشَةَ الحَقلِ في روحي كَآبَتُهُ

فَراشَةَ الحَقلِ في روحي كَآبَتُهُ

مِمّا عَراهُ وَمِمّا قَد تَوَلّاكِ

مِمّا عَراهُ وَمِمّا قَد تَوَلّاكِ

O butterfly of the field, its sadness is in my soul,

From what laid it bare and from losing you.

O field butterfly, the field's gloom lies heavy on my soul,

From what befell it and from what has overtaken you.

I loved it as a house you play in

For what has befallen it, and what has overcome you.

أَحبَبتُهُ وَهوَ دارٌ تَلعَبينَ بِها

أَحبَبتُهُ وَهوَ دارٌ تَلعَبينَ بِها

وَسَوفَ تَهواهُ نَفسي وَهوَ مَثواكِ

وَسَوفَ تَهواهُ نَفسي وَهوَ مَثواكِ

I loved it as a home where you played,

And my soul will yearn for it as your grave.

I loved it when it was a playground for your games,

And my soul will love it as your resting place.

My heart has spent the night in a chaotic world

And my soul shall love it as your final resting place.

قَد باتَ قَلبِيَ في دُنيا مُشَوَّشَةٍ

قَد باتَ قَلبِيَ في دُنيا مُشَوَّشَةٍ

مُنذُ اِلتَفَتُّ إِلى آثارِ دُنياكِ

مُنذُ اِلتَفَتُّ إِلى آثارِ دُنياكِ

My heart has come to dwell in a troubled world

Since I noticed the relics of your world.

My heart now dwells in a chaotic world,

Since I turned toward the remnants of your world.

It settles only in anxiety,

Since I turned to gaze upon the ruins of your world.

لا يَستَقِرُّ بِها إِلّا عَلى وَجَلٍ

لا يَستَقِرُّ بِها إِلّا عَلى وَجَلٍ

كَالطَيرِ بَينَ أَحابيلٍ وَأَشراكِ

كَالطَيرِ بَينَ أَحابيلٍ وَأَشراكِ

It finds no rest there except in dread,

Like a bird among nets and sticks.

It finds no rest there, only apprehension,

Like birds amid snares and traps.

Your terraces, yesterday thriving, are vacant,

Like a bird caught between snares and traps.

خَلَت أَرائِكُ كانَت أَمسِ آهِلَةً

خَلَت أَرائِكُ كانَت أَمسِ آهِلَةً

غَنّاءَ فَاليَومُ لا شادٍ وَلا شادِ

غَنّاءَ فَاليَومُ لا شادٍ وَلا شادِ

Couches that yesterday were occupied lie empty,

Today no revelry, no flutes, no singing.

The thrones are empty that yesterday were filled,

Lush with greenery; today no singer, no singer.

A barren land, a lusterless sky,

Once lush with song, but today there is no singer.

أَرضٌ خَلاءٌ وَجَوٌّ غَيرُ ذي أَلَقٍ

أَرضٌ خَلاءٌ وَجَوٌّ غَيرُ ذي أَلَقٍ

بَلى هُناكَ ضَبابٌ فَوقَ أَشواكِ

بَلى هُناكَ ضَبابٌ فَوقَ أَشواكِ

An empty land, and a sky without radiance;

Unless it is mist above your thorns.

A barren land, a sky bereft of luster,

Yes, there is fog above thorns.

So enough, tumultuous winds of autumn,

Nothing remains but mist hovering over thorns.

فَيا رِياحَ الخَريفِ العاتِياتِ كَفى

فَيا رِياحَ الخَريفِ العاتِياتِ كَفى

عَصفاً فَقَد كَثُرَت في الأَرضِ قَتلاكِ

عَصفاً فَقَد كَثُرَت في الأَرضِ قَتلاكِ

So, O fierce winds of autumn, enough

Of raging, much killing has increased in the land.

O raging winds of autumn, enough!

Raging! Your slain upon the earth have grown so many.

What will your excuse be if tomorrow God says:

Cease your storming, for your victims on earth are many.

كَيفَ اِعتِذارُكِ إِن قالَ الإِلَهُ غَداً

كَيفَ اِعتِذارُكِ إِن قالَ الإِلَهُ غَداً

هَلِ الفَراشَةُ كانَت مِن ضَحاياكِ

هَلِ الفَراشَةُ كانَت مِن ضَحاياكِ

What will your excuse be if God says tomorrow,

"Was the butterfly one of your victims?"

How will you apologize if God asks tomorrow:

“Was the butterfly among your victims?”

O melody fading whenever you depart,

"Was this butterfly also among your victims?"

يا نَغمَةً تَتَلاشى كُلَّما بَعُدَت

يا نَغمَةً تَتَلاشى كُلَّما بَعُدَت

إِن غِبتِ عَن مَسمَعي ما غابَ مَعناكِ

إِن غِبتِ عَن مَسمَعي ما غابَ مَعناكِ

O note that fades whenever it grows distant,

If you are absent from my hearing, your meaning does not depart.

O melody that fades as it drifts away,

If you vanish from my hearing, your meaning does not vanish.

How little I expect that God will revive you again

Though you are gone from my hearing, your meaning remains.

ما أَقدَرَ اللَهَ أَن يُحَيِّكِ ثانِيَةً

ما أَقدَرَ اللَهَ أَن يُحَيِّكِ ثانِيَةً

مَعَ الرَبيعِ كَما مِن قَبلُ سِوّاكِ

مَعَ الرَبيعِ كَما مِن قَبلُ سِوّاكِ

How great is God's power to bring you to life again,

With the spring as before except for you.

How able is God to bring you back to life,

With spring, just as he fashioned you before!

Then the field will return, blooming in its anklets,

With the spring, just as He fashioned you before.

فَيَرجِعُ الحَقلُ يَزهو في غَلائِلِهِ

فَيَرجِعُ الحَقلُ يَزهو في غَلائِلِهِ

وَتَرجِعينَ وَأَغشاهُ فَأَلقاكِ

وَتَرجِعينَ وَأَغشاهُ فَأَلقاكِ

Then the field will return, resplendent in its delicate robes,

And you will return, overshadowing it, and cast your wraps on it.

Then the field shall return, boasting in its fine robes,

And you will return; I will visit it and meet you.

And you shall return; and I will visit it, and find you there.