إِنّindeed الأُلىthose whom جمعتْهُمْhas gathered them والنَّوىand separation دارُa dwelling
إِنّ الأُلى جمعتْهُمْ والنَّوى دارُ
جارُواthey acted unjustly فهلso, will ...? أَنتyou ليfor me منagainst ظلمهمtheir injustice جارُa protector
جارُوا فهل أَنت لي من ظلمهم جارُ
Surely those whom one dwelling gathered—though now sundered—
Indeed, those whom one dwelling has gathered together with separation
have wronged me. Will you be my protector against their wrong?
Have wronged me—will you be my protector against their injustice?
سارواthey departed علىdespite أَنهمthe fact that they قرباًin nearness كبعدهمlike their distance
ساروا على أَنهم قرباً كبعدهم
فماso ... not أُباليI care أَقامwhether ... stayed الحيُّthe tribe أَمor سارُواthey departed
فما أُبالي أَقام الحيُّ أَم سارُوا
They departed, though when near they were no different than when far;
They departed, though their nearness was like their distance;
so I care not whether the tribe stays or departs.
So I care not whether the tribe stayed or departed.
عنديwith me علىfor الوجدpassionate longing فيهمfor them كلُّevery لائمةٍreproach
عندي على الوجد فيهم كلُّ لائمةٍ
وعندهمand with them للهوىfor love العُذرِيِّchaste (ʿUdhri) أَعذارُexcuses
وعندهم للهوى العُذرِيِّ أَعذارُ
Against me, for my passion for them, stands every censor;
I bear every reproach for longing for them,
while they have excuses enough for ʿUdhrī love.
While they have excuses for chaste ʿUdhri love.
ففيfor in الصُّدورthe breasts صَباباتٌardent yearnings وَمَوْجِدَةٌand resentment
ففي الصُّدور صَباباتٌ وَمَوْجِدَةٌ
وفيand in الخُدورthe secluded chambers لُباناتٌdesires وأَوطارand wishes
وفي الخُدور لُباناتٌ وأَوطار
Within the breasts are ardent yearnings and heartaches,
For in breasts are yearnings and resentment,
and behind the curtains, cherished wishes and desires.
And in secluded chambers are desires and wishes.
قدindeed أَنكرfound strange الناسpeople منin دمعيmy tears ومنand in حُرَقيmy burning anguish
قد أَنكر الناس من دمعي ومن حُرَقي
هوىًa love تهادَنmade a truce فيهwithin it الماءُwater والنارand fire
هوىً تهادَن فيه الماءُ والنار
People find strange, in my tears and in my burning,
People have found strange, in my tears and burning anguish,
a love in which water and fire have made a truce.
A love in which water and fire have made a truce.
إِلامَuntil when? اُعلنI reveal أَسراريmy secrets وأَكتمُهاand conceal them
إِلامَ اُعلن أَسراري وأَكتمُها
وآيةُand the sign الشوقof longing إِعلانdisclosure وإِسرارand concealment
وآيةُ الشوق إِعلان وإِسرار
How long shall I reveal my secrets and conceal them,
How long shall I reveal my secrets and conceal them,
when love’s sign is both disclosure and secrecy?
When longing's sign is disclosure and concealment?
دَيْنٌa debt علىowed by عبراتيmy tears أَنْto تُقِرَّconfess بهto it
دَيْنٌ على عبراتي أَنْ تُقِرَّ به
وإِنماand ... only غايةُthe ultimate end الإنكارof denial إِقرارconfession
وإِنما غايةُ الإنكار إِقرار
My glances owe a debt: they must confess it,
Confessing it is a debt my tears owe;
for denial’s furthest end is confession.
And denial's end is nothing but confession.
