ما لِقَلبِيَ يَلُجُّ مِنَ الخَفَقانِ

ما لِقَلبِيَ يَلُجُّ مِنَ الخَفَقانِ

لا أَنا عاشِقٌ وَلا أَنا جانِ

لا أَنا عاشِقٌ وَلا أَنا جانِ

What ails my heart, so persistent in its pounding?

What ails my heart that it persists in this wild beating?

I am neither a lover nor a wrongdoer.

For I am neither struck by love, nor have I committed a crime.

أَبتَغي أَن أَقوَلَ شَيئاً فَيَعصا

أَبتَغي أَن أَقوَلَ شَيئاً فَيَعصا

ني لِسانِيَ وَالسِحرُ تَحتَ لِساني

ني لِسانِيَ وَالسِحرُ تَحتَ لِساني

I try to say something, but am defied

I seek to speak, but my tongue rebels against

By my tongue, though enchantment lies beneath it.

Me, though magic lies hidden beneath it.

أَنا كَالطائِرِ الَّذي اِندَفَقَ السِح

أَنا كَالطائِرِ الَّذي اِندَفَقَ السِح

رُ عَلَيهِ فَغَصَّ بِالأَلحانِ

رُ عَلَيهِ فَغَصَّ بِالأَلحانِ

I am like the bird upon which enchantment

I am like a bird upon whom enchantment poured

Poured, so it choked on melodies.

Down, until he choked on his own melodies.

أَو كَفُلكٍ في البَحرِ أَوفى عَلَيها

أَو كَفُلكٍ في البَحرِ أَوفى عَلَيها

عارِضٌ بَعدَ عارِضٍ هَتّانِ

عارِضٌ بَعدَ عارِضٍ هَتّانِ

Or like a ship at sea, over which loomed

Or like a vessel at sea, overtaken by storm clouds,

One cloud after another, pouring rain.

One after another, pouring down rain.

غَلَبَتني عَواطِفُ الصَحبِ حَتّى

غَلَبَتني عَواطِفُ الصَحبِ حَتّى

صُرتُ في حاجَةٍ إِلى تُرجُمانِ

صُرتُ في حاجَةٍ إِلى تُرجُمانِ

My friends' affections overwhelmed me, until

The affection of my companions has overwhelmed me,

I came to need an interpreter.

Until I find myself in need of an interpreter.

أَينَ في مَوكِبِ القَريضِ لِوائي

أَينَ في مَوكِبِ القَريضِ لِوائي

قَد طَواهُ بَيانُهُم وَطَواني

قَد طَواهُ بَيانُهُم وَطَواني

Where is my banner in poetry's procession?

Where is my banner in this grand procession of poetry?

Their eloquence has folded it away, and me as well.

Their eloquence has eclipsed it, and eclipsed me as well.

أَيُّها المادِحونَ خَمري رُوَيداً

أَيُّها المادِحونَ خَمري رُوَيداً

مِنكُمُ الخَمرَةُ الَّتي في دِناني

مِنكُمُ الخَمرَةُ الَّتي في دِناني

O you who praise my wine, not so fast:

O you who praise my vintage, hold your horses gently,

The wine in my jars comes from you.

For the wine within my jars flows originally from you.

مَن أَنا ما صَنَعتُ كَي تَعصُبوا بِالتا

مَن أَنا ما صَنَعتُ كَي تَعصُبوا بِالتا

جِ رَأسي وَأَيُّ شَأنٍ شاني

جِ رَأسي وَأَيُّ شَأنٍ شاني

Who am I? What have I done, that you should crown

Who am I, and what have I wrought, that you should bind the crown

My head? What distinction is mine?

Upon my head? What rank do I truly hold?

لا اِفتِخارٌ لِنَحلَةٍ وَجَدَت حَق

لا اِفتِخارٌ لِنَحلَةٍ وَجَدَت حَق

لاً فَعادَت مِن زَهرِهِ بِالمَجاني

لاً فَعادَت مِن زَهرِهِ بِالمَجاني

No bee deserves pride for finding a field

No glory belongs to the bee that found a blooming field,

And returning with the harvest from its flowers.

And returned from its blossoms laden with free nectar.

أَنا مِن رَوضِكُم قَطَفتُ أَزاهي

أَنا مِن رَوضِكُم قَطَفتُ أَزاهي

ري وَمِن بَحرِكُم غَرَفتُ جُماني

ري وَمِن بَحرِكُم غَرَفتُ جُماني

From your garden I have picked my blossoms,

It is from your gardens that I plucked my blossoms,

And from your sea I have drawn my pearls.

And from your seas that I scooped up my pearls.

إِن أَكُن فِرقَداً فَأَنتُم سَمائيو

إِن أَكُن فِرقَداً فَأَنتُم سَمائيو

أَو هَزاراً فَأَنتُمُ بُستاني

أَو هَزاراً فَأَنتُمُ بُستاني

If I am a star, then you are my sky;

If I am a guiding star, then you are my sky, and

Or a nightingale, then you are my garden.

If I am a nightingale, then you are my orchard.

أَيُّ بِدَعٍ إِن أَخرَجَ الحَقلُ لِلنا

أَيُّ بِدَعٍ إِن أَخرَجَ الحَقلُ لِلنا

سِ صُنوفَ النَباتِ في نَيسانِ

سِ صُنوفَ النَباتِ في نَيسانِ

What wonder is it if the field brings forth for people

What wonder is it if the field brings forth for the people

Varieties of plants in April?

All manner of flora in the month of April?

لَيسَ لي مِن قَصائِدي غَيرَ أَو

لَيسَ لي مِن قَصائِدي غَيرَ أَو

زانٍ وَلَيسَت أَصيلَةً أَوزاني

زانٍ وَلَيسَت أَصيلَةً أَوزاني

Of my poems, nothing is mine but the meters,

I own nothing of my poems but their rhythms,

And my meters are not original.

And even those rhythms are not of my own making.

أُصَدِّقُ الشِعرَ في الحَياةِ وَفيكُم

أُصَدِّقُ الشِعرَ في الحَياةِ وَفيكُم

لَيسَ غَيرَ الأَظلالِ في ديواني

لَيسَ غَيرَ الأَظلالِ في ديواني

I believe in poetry—in life and in you;

I believe that true poetry lies in life and in you;

My poetry collection holds nothing but shadows.

There are but shadows within the pages of my book.

ما هُوَ الشِعرُ إِنَّني ما رَأَي

ما هُوَ الشِعرُ إِنَّني ما رَأَي

تُ اِثنَينِ إِلّا وَفيهِ يَختَصِمانِ

تُ اِثنَينِ إِلّا وَفيهِ يَختَصِمانِ

What is poetry? I have never seen

What is poetry? I have never witnessed

Two people who did not argue over it.

Two people who did not quarrel over its definition.

قالَ قَومٌ وَحيٌ يُنَزِّلُهُ اللَ

قالَ قَومٌ وَحيٌ يُنَزِّلُهُ اللَ

هُ وَقَومٌ نَفَثٌ مِنَ الشَيطانِ

هُ وَقَومٌ نَفَثٌ مِنَ الشَيطانِ

Some said, 'A revelation that God sends down';

Some claim it is a revelation sent down by God,

And others, 'A breath from Satan.'

While others say it is but a whisper from the Devil.

ضَلَّ هَذا وَذا فَما حَفَزَ الإِن

ضَلَّ هَذا وَذا فَما حَفَزَ الإِن

سانَ شَيءٌ لِلشِعرِ كَالإِنسانِ

سانَ شَيءٌ لِلشِعرِ كَالإِنسانِ

This one and that have gone astray: nothing has spurred humanity

Both are mistaken; for nothing has stirred man

To poetry as humanity itself has.

To poetry as much as humanity itself.

يَعشَقُ المَرءُ ذاتَهُ في سِواهُ

يَعشَقُ المَرءُ ذاتَهُ في سِواهُ

وَيُحِبُّ الإِنسانُ في الأَكوانِ

وَيُحِبُّ الإِنسانُ في الأَكوانِ

A person loves his own self in others,

One loves his own essence reflected in others,

And loves humanity throughout creation.

And loves the humanity found within the universe.

أَنا مِن أَجلِهِ بَنَيتُ قُصوري

أَنا مِن أَجلِهِ بَنَيتُ قُصوري

وَفَرَشتُ الدُروبَ بِالرَيحانِ

وَفَرَشتُ الدُروبَ بِالرَيحانِ

For his sake I built my palaces,

It is for this sake that I built my palaces,

And carpeted the paths with basil.

And paved the pathways with aromatic basil.

أَنا مِن أَجلِهِ سَكَبتُ خُموري

أَنا مِن أَجلِهِ سَكَبتُ خُموري

وَشَدَدتُ الأَوتارَ في عيداني

وَشَدَدتُ الأَوتارَ في عيداني

For his sake I poured my wines,

It is for this sake that I poured out my wines,

And tightened the strings of my lutes.

And tightened the strings upon my lutes.

أَنا مِن أَجلِهِ رَجِعتُ مِنَ ال

أَنا مِن أَجلِهِ رَجِعتُ مِنَ ال

رَوضَةِ في راحَتَيَّ بِالأَلوانِ

رَوضَةِ في راحَتَيَّ بِالأَلوانِ

For his sake I returned from the

It is for this sake that I returned from the

Garden, with colors in both my palms.

Garden, my palms stained with vibrant colors.

وَاِستَعَرتُ التَهليلَ مِن جَدوَلِ الوا

وَاِستَعَرتُ التَهليلَ مِن جَدوَلِ الوا

دي وَضَحِكَ الرُضى مِنَ الغُدرانِ

دي وَضَحِكَ الرُضى مِنَ الغُدرانِ

And borrowed jubilation from the valley's stream,

I borrowed the chanting from the stream of the

And the laughter of contentment from the pools;

Valley, and the laughter of contentment from the pools.

وَمِنَ الشَمسِ في الأَصائِلِ وَالإِص

وَمِنَ الشَمسِ في الأَصائِلِ وَالإِص

باحِ ذَوبَ اللُجَينِ وَالعِقيانِ

باحِ ذَوبَ اللُجَينِ وَالعِقيانِ

And from the sun in the late afternoons and at dawn,

And from the sun, at twilight and at the break of

Molten silver and pure gold.

Dawn, the molten essence of silver and gold.

وَحَمَلتُ الجَلالَ مِن أَرضِ سورِي

وَحَمَلتُ الجَلالَ مِن أَرضِ سورِي

يا إِلَيهِ وَالسِحرَ في لُبنانِ

يا إِلَيهِ وَالسِحرَ في لُبنانِ

And carried majesty from the land of Syria

I carried majesty from the land of Syria to him,

To him, and the enchantment of Lebanon.

And the enchantment found in Lebanon.

نَحنُ أَهلُ الخَيالِ أَسعَدَ خَلقِ اللَ

نَحنُ أَهلُ الخَيالِ أَسعَدَ خَلقِ اللَ

هِ حَتّى في حالَةِ الحِرمانِ

هِ حَتّى في حالَةِ الحِرمانِ

We, the people of imagination, are God's happiest creatures,

We, the folk of imagination, are the happiest of God's creation,

Even in a state of deprivation.

Even when existing in a state of deprivation.

كَم زَهِدنا بِثَروَةٍ مِن نُضارٍ

كَم زَهِدنا بِثَروَةٍ مِن نُضارٍ

وَقَنِعنا بِثَروَةٍ مِن أَماني

وَقَنِعنا بِثَروَةٍ مِن أَماني

How often we have disdained a fortune of gold,

How often have we renounced a wealth of gold,

And been content with a fortune of wishes.

And contented ourselves with a wealth of dreams.

وَاِنطَوَينا في مَوكِبٍ مِن ضِياءٍ

وَاِنطَوَينا في مَوكِبٍ مِن ضِياءٍ

وَسَطَعنا في غَمرَةٍ مِن دُخانِ

وَسَطَعنا في غَمرَةٍ مِن دُخانِ

And wrapped ourselves in a procession of light,

We wrapped ourselves in a procession of light,

And shone amid a cloud of smoke.

And shone brightly amidst a deluge of smoke.

نَتَراءى عَلى الصَعيدِ صَعاليكَ

نَتَراءى عَلى الصَعيدِ صَعاليكَ

وَلَكِن أَرواحُنا في العَنانِ

وَلَكِن أَرواحُنا في العَنانِ

Upon the earth we appear as paupers,

Upon the earth we may appear as vagabonds,

But our souls are in the heavens.

Yet our souls reside in the highest clouds.

إِن ظَمِئنا وَعَزَّ أَن نَرِدَ الما

إِن ظَمِئنا وَعَزَّ أَن نَرِدَ الما

ءَ رَوانا تُصَوِّرُ الغُدرانِ

ءَ رَوانا تُصَوِّرُ الغُدرانِ

If we thirst and cannot easily reach the water,

If we thirst and water is denied to us,

Imagining the pools quenches our thirst.

The mere vision of pools slakes our thirst.

وَإِذا غابَتِ النُجومُ اِهتَدَينا

وَإِذا غابَتِ النُجومُ اِهتَدَينا

بِالرُأى بِالرَجاءِ بِالإيمانِ

بِالرُأى بِالرَجاءِ بِالإيمانِ

And if the stars disappear, we find our way

And if the stars vanish, we find our way

By visions, by hope, by faith.

Through visions, through hope, and through faith.

لا يُعَدُّ الوَرى عَلَينا اللَيالي

لا يُعَدُّ الوَرى عَلَينا اللَيالي

نَحنُ قَومٌ نَعيشُ في الأَزمانِ

نَحنُ قَومٌ نَعيشُ في الأَزمانِ

Let humankind not count our nights against us;

Let not the world count the passing nights against us;

We are a people who live through the ages.

We are a people who live across the ages.

رُدَّ عَنّي الكُؤوسَ يا أَيُّها ال

رُدَّ عَنّي الكُؤوسَ يا أَيُّها ال

ساقي فَروحِيَ نَشوى بِخَمرِ المَعاني

ساقي فَروحِيَ نَشوى بِخَمرِ المَعاني

Keep the cups away from me, O

Turn your cups away from me, O cup-

Cupbearer, for my soul is drunk on the wine of meanings,

Bearer, for my soul is drunk on the wine of meaning.

بِالقَوافي جَداوِلاً مِن وَفاءِ

بِالقَوافي جَداوِلاً مِن وَفاءِ

وَالأَغاني خَمائِلاً مِن حَنانِ

وَالأَغاني خَمائِلاً مِن حَنانِ

On rhymes that are streams of loyalty,

With rhymes flowing like streams of loyalty,

And songs that are groves of tenderness.

And songs blooming like groves of tenderness.

زَهَدَ الناسُ حينَ دارَت عَلَيهِم

زَهَدَ الناسُ حينَ دارَت عَلَيهِم

بِالَّتي في كُؤوسِهِم وَالقَنانِ

بِالَّتي في كُؤوسِهِم وَالقَنانِ

People lost their taste, when these went round among them,

The people abstained when you circulated among them

For what was in their cups and bottles.

With the liquid contained in their cups and flasks.

أَيُّها اللَيلُ أَنتَ أَبهى مِنَ ال

أَيُّها اللَيلُ أَنتَ أَبهى مِنَ ال

فَجرِ وَإِن كُنتَ أَسوَدَ الطَيلَسانِ

فَجرِ وَإِن كُنتَ أَسوَدَ الطَيلَسانِ

O night, you are more splendid than the

O Night, you are more splendid than the

Dawn, though your mantle is black,

Dawn, even if your robe is of the darkest black.

بِالوُجوهِ الزَهراءِ بِالأَنفُ

بِالوُجوهِ الزَهراءِ بِالأَنفُ

سِ السَمحاءِ مِن يَعرُبٍ وَمِن غَسّانِ

سِ السَمحاءِ مِن يَعرُبٍ وَمِن غَسّانِ

With radiant faces, with

Splendid with these radiant faces, with these souls

Generous souls from Ya'rub and from Ghassan,

So generous, the kin of Ya'rub and Ghassan.

بِمُلوكِ البَيانِ بِالأَدَبِ ال

بِمُلوكِ البَيانِ بِالأَدَبِ ال

رائِعِ بِالمُنشِدينَ بِالأَلحانِ

رائِعِ بِالمُنشِدينَ بِالأَلحانِ

With kings of eloquence, with literature

With the kings of eloquence, with literature

Magnificent—with singers, with melodies,

So magnificent, with reciters and their melodies.

بِالغَواني فَدَيتَهُنَّ فَأَسمى ال

بِالغَواني فَدَيتَهُنَّ فَأَسمى ال

شِعرِ وَالفَنِّ في الحَياةِ الغَواني

شِعرِ وَالفَنِّ في الحَياةِ الغَواني

With beautiful women—may I be their ransom—for the loftiest

With the beauties—I would give my life for them—for the highest

Poetry and art in life are beautiful women.

Poetry and art in life are found in the fair ones.

هَذِهِ الشَمسُ هَل رَأى الناسُ وَج

هَذِهِ الشَمسُ هَل رَأى الناسُ وَج

هاً مِثلَها في البَهاءِ وَاللَمَعانِ

هاً مِثلَها في البَهاءِ وَاللَمَعانِ

This sun—have people ever seen a face

This sun—have the people ever beheld a face

Like it in splendor and brilliance?

To match hers in splendor and in brilliance?

تَتَجَلّى لَنا عَلى اليُسرِ وَالعُس

تَتَجَلّى لَنا عَلى اليُسرِ وَالعُس

رِ وَنَمشي في نورِها الفَتّانِ

رِ وَنَمشي في نورِها الفَتّانِ

It reveals itself to us in ease and hardship,

She reveals herself to us in ease and in hard-

And we walk in its enchanting light.

Ship, and we walk within her captivating light.

قَد نَسَينا شُعاعَها وَسَناها

قَد نَسَينا شُعاعَها وَسَناها

عِندَما أَشرَقَت وُجوهُ الحِسانِ

عِندَما أَشرَقَت وُجوهُ الحِسانِ

We forgot its rays and its radiance

Yet we forgot her rays and her brilliance

When the faces of the beauties shone.

When the faces of the beauties shone forth.

قُسِّمَ الدَهرُ أَنتَ يا لَيلُ شَطرٌ

قُسِّمَ الدَهرُ أَنتَ يا لَيلُ شَطرٌ

مِن حَياتي وَالعُسرُ شَطرٌ ثانِ

مِن حَياتي وَالعُسرُ شَطرٌ ثانِ

Time is divided: you, O night, are one half

Time has been divided: you, O Night, are one half

Of my life, and hardship is the second half.

Of my life, and hardship is the other half.

أَنتَ عَصرٌ مُستَجمِعٌ في سُوَيعا

أَنتَ عَصرٌ مُستَجمِعٌ في سُوَيعا

تٍ وَدُنيا رَحيبَةٌ في مَكانِ

تٍ وَدُنيا رَحيبَةٌ في مَكانِ

You are an age gathered into a few brief hours,

You are an entire era condensed into a few small

And a vast world within one place.

Hours, and a vast world contained within a single place.

قَد تَلاقَت فيكَ القُلوبُ عَل الحُب

قَد تَلاقَت فيكَ القُلوبُ عَل الحُب

بِ تَلاقِيَ الأَجفانِ بِالأَجفانِ

بِ تَلاقِيَ الأَجفانِ بِالأَجفانِ

In you, hearts have met in love,

Within you, hearts have convened upon love,

As eyelids meet eyelids.

As intimately as the meeting of eyelids in sleep.

لا تَقولوا دَقائِقٌ وَثَوانٍ

لا تَقولوا دَقائِقٌ وَثَوانٍ

ذاهِباتٌ فَالعُمرُ هَذي الثَواني

ذاهِباتٌ فَالعُمرُ هَذي الثَواني

Do not say, 'Minutes and seconds

Do not speak of fleeting minutes and seconds

Passing away'—these seconds are life itself.

Passing by; for life consists of these very seconds.

أَنا ما عُشتُ أَذكُرُ بِالشُك

أَنا ما عُشتُ أَذكُرُ بِالشُك

رِ جَميلَ الرِفاقِ وَالأُخوانِ

رِ جَميلَ الرِفاقِ وَالأُخوانِ

As long as I live, I shall remember with gratitude

As long as I live, I shall recall with thanks

The kindness of companions and brothers.

The kindness of my companions and brothers.

وَإِذا مُتُّ في غَدٍ فَسَيَأتي

وَإِذا مُتُّ في غَدٍ فَسَيَأتي

كُم ثَنائِيَ مِن ظُلمَةِ الأَكفانِ

كُم ثَنائِيَ مِن ظُلمَةِ الأَكفانِ

And if I die tomorrow, there will come

And if I die tomorrow, then my praise will come to you,

To you my praise from the darkness of the shrouds.

Rising from the darkness of my shroud.