كيف قلتُمْ ما عندَ عينيْه ثارُ

كيف قلتُمْ ما عندَ عينيْه ثارُ

وبخدَّيْه من دمي آثارُ

وبخدَّيْه من دمي آثارُ

How could you say his eyes owe no blood-debt,

How could you say my eyes have no tears

when his cheeks bear traces of my blood?

When my cheeks bear traces of my blood

لو شهدتم إِعْراضَه وخُضوعي

لو شهدتم إِعْراضَه وخُضوعي

لم يكنْ في قضيّتي إِنكار

لم يكنْ في قضيّتي إِنكار

Had you witnessed his turning away and my submission,

Had you witnessed his indifference and my submission

there would be no denying my case.

My case would not have been denied

يا لَقومي وكيف تُنْكر قتلي

يا لَقومي وكيف تُنْكر قتلي

لَحَظاتٌ جُحودُها إِقرار

لَحَظاتٌ جُحودُها إِقرار

Help, my people! How can my slaying be denied

Oh my people, how could you deny my murder

by glances whose denial is an admission?

When his rejection lasted but moments of admission

إِن تطلّبتُمُ من الطرْف

إِن تطلّبتُمُ من الطرْف

والوجْنة عُذري ففيهما أَعذار

والوجْنة عُذري ففيهما أَعذار

If you seek from the eye

If you asked my eyes and cheeks for an excuse

and cheek my excuse, in both lie excuses.

In them you’d find ample justification

أضو سأَلتُمْ أَيُّ البديعيْن أَذْكى

أضو سأَلتُمْ أَيُّ البديعيْن أَذْكى

جُلَّ ناري فذلك الجُلَّنار

جُلَّ ناري فذلك الجُلَّنار

[Unclear opening] You asked which of the two beauties kindled

If you asked who was wittier of the eloquent

the greater part of my fire: it was the pomegranate blossom.

My burning embers would name that kindler

ما أَراني ليلي بغير نهارٍ

ما أَراني ليلي بغير نهارٍ

غيرُ ليلٍ يلوح فيه نهارُ

غيرُ ليلٍ يلوح فيه نهارُ

My night, without daylight, has shown me

I see my nights with Laila as naught but days

only a night in which daylight gleams.

My nights without her, nights minus all light

زاد إِراقُ وجهه بين صُدغيْه

زاد إِراقُ وجهه بين صُدغيْه

وفي الليل تُشْرق الأَقمار

وفي الليل تُشْرق الأَقمار

His face's [radiance?] increased between his temples,

The flow between his cheeks augments

and moons shine in the night.

And in the dark, the moons shine bright

لا تسلْني عن الهوى فهو في

لا تسلْني عن الهوى فهو في

الأَجفان ماءٌ وفي الجوانح نار

الأَجفان ماءٌ وفي الجوانح نار

Do not ask me about love, for it is in

Ask me not about passion, for in my lids it’s water

the eyelids, water; and within the ribs, fire.

And in my soul, it’s inner fire alight

ويظنّ العذولُ أَنّ مشيبي

ويظنّ العذولُ أَنّ مشيبي

ضاحكٌ عنه لِمَّةٌ وعِذار

ضاحكٌ عنه لِمَّةٌ وعِذار

And the reproacher thinks my graying

The chaste think my temples turned gray

is what my locks and sideburns smile to reveal.

Laughing off any taunt or humiliation

لم أَشِب غير أَنّ نار فؤادي

لم أَشِب غير أَنّ نار فؤادي

أُلهبت فاعتلى الدُّخان شرارُ

أُلهبت فاعتلى الدُّخان شرارُ

I have not gone gray; it is only that my heart's fire

I haven't grown old, just the fire in my heart

was kindled, and sparks rose above the smoke.

Made the sparks from smoke rise high