مَاnot لِلْهَوىfor love إلاexcept الرُّصافَةَal-Rusafa مأرَبُan aim
مَا لِلْهَوى إلا الرُّصافَةَ مأرَبُ
بَعدَafter الغَديرal-Ghadir فكيفَso how يصْفوruns clear مشرَبُa drinking-place
بَعدَ الغَدير فكيفَ يصْفو مشرَبُ
Love has no aim but al-Rusafa,
The passion yields nothing but purity, my beloved
After al-Ghadir—so how can a drinking-place run clear?
After ecstasy, how can the drink be clear?
كاناthey both were مراداًa destination للنّعيمfor pleasure وَمَوْرِداًand a watering-place
كانا مراداً للنّعيم وَمَوْرِداً
إذْwhen كُنْتI was بَيْنَهُماbetween them أجيءُcoming وأذهَبُand going
إذْ كُنْت بَيْنَهُما أجيءُ وأذهَبُ
The two were a destination for pleasure and a watering-place,
They were the object of my delight and the place
When I came and went between them.
Where I would go to and fro between them
والإلْفand the beloved لِلْميعادِfor the tryst بيfor me مُتَرَقّبٌwaiting
والإلْف لِلْميعادِ بي مُتَرَقّبٌ
والدّهرand time بالإسْعادِby bringing happiness ليto me مُتَقَرِّبُdrawing near
والدّهر بالإسْعادِ لي مُتَقَرِّبُ
The beloved awaited me for the tryst,
And longing for the tryst was ever awaiting me
And time courted me by bringing happiness.
While time through blessings drew nearer to me
وَتلاعَبتand toyed أيديthe hands of النوىseparation بِهماwith them both وَبيand with me
وَتلاعَبت أيدي النوى بِهما وَبي
حتىuntil انقضىended لَعِبٌplay وأقْفَرand became deserted مَلْعبُa playground
حتى انقضى لَعِبٌ وأقْفَر مَلْعبُ
The hands of separation toyed with them and me,
And the hands of purpose toyed with them and me
Until the play ended and the playground lay deserted.
Until a game ended and the playground lay empty
وللّهِand, how wondrous أسْحَارٌpredawns بهاthere وأصائلٌand late afternoons
وللّهِ أسْحَارٌ بها وأصائلٌ
كانتْwere تُفَضّضُsilvered صبْغَةًin hue وَتُذَهّبُand gilded
كانتْ تُفَضّضُ صبْغَةً وَتُذَهّبُ
God, what predawns and late afternoons it had,
By Allah, it had dawns by which and nights
Silvered and gilded in hue!
That would peel color and rub it away
وكأنّand as though كافوراًcamphor ومِسكاًand musk لَيْلُهاits night
وكأنّ كافوراً ومِسكاً لَيْلُها
ونهارُهاand its day ممّاamong what يَروقpleases وَيُعْجِبُand delights
ونهارُها ممّا يَروق وَيُعْجِبُ
As though camphor and musk were its night
As if its night were camphor and musk
And its day—so pleasing and wondrous.
And its day was pleasing and delightful
يزدادgrows حُسْناًin beauty صبحُهاits morning بِرُوائِهاwith its splendor
يزداد حُسْناً صبحُها بِرُوائِها
ويكادُand almost يُشْرقُshines منfrom سناهاits radiance الغَيْهَبُdeep darkness
ويكادُ يُشْرقُ من سناها الغَيْهَبُ
Its morning grows more beautiful with its splendor,
Its morning grows more beautiful in its meadows
And deepest darkness almost shines from its radiance.
And almost shines from the brilliance of its sun
تلكَthose المَغانيhaunts لاmay not حُجِبنَthey be veiled كأهلِهاlike their people
تلكَ المَغاني لا حُجِبنَ كأهلِها
عَنيfrom me فَوَجْديfor my yearning سافِرٌunveiled لاnot يُحجَّبُis concealed
عَني فَوَجْدي سافِرٌ لا يُحجَّبُ
Those haunts—may they not be veiled, like their people,
Those songs never hid from me so I found
From me: my yearning is unveiled and cannot be hidden.
My passion unrestrained and unhindered
وَلعَمْرُand by the life of ماwhat أنْفَقْتI spent مِنof عُمريmy life بِهاthere
وَلعَمْرُ ما أنْفَقْت مِن عُمري بِها
وجَنيْتand I gathered مِنfrom ثَمَراتِthe fruits of عَيشa life يَعْذُبُis sweet
وجَنيْت مِن ثَمَراتِ عَيش يَعْذُبُ
By the life I spent there,
By my life, I gained from the sweet fruits
And the fruits I gathered from a life so sweet,
Of the life I spent with them and harvested
وَلأَغلِبَنّand I shall surely be overcome عَلىover السلوّconsolation صَبابتيmy longing
وَلأَغلِبَنّ عَلى السلوّ صَبابتي
والشّوْقُand longing فيin كُلevery المواطنplace أغْلبُmore powerful
والشّوْقُ في كُل المواطن أغْلبُ
My longing will surely deny me solace,
I will overcome inclination with my youthfulness
And longing prevails in every place.
And longing dominates all places for me
ولأندُبَنand I shall surely lament بهاthere الشّبابyouth وشَرْخَهand its prime
ولأندُبَن بها الشّباب وشَرْخَه
إنّindeed الشبابyouth أحَقُّmost deserving فَانٍa passing thing يُنْدَبُto be lamented
إنّ الشباب أحَقُّ فَانٍ يُنْدَبُ
There I shall surely lament youth and its prime;
I will lament with it the bloom of youth and its vigor
Youth is the passing thing most worthy of lament.
For youth is the most deserving transient to mourn
ساحاتُcourts of حُسْنٍbeauty طَرّزَتْembroidered أوقَاتَهاtheir moments
ساحاتُ حُسْنٍ طَرّزَتْ أوقَاتَها
ساعاتُhours of أنسٍcompanionship رَدُّهاrestoring them مُسْتَصْعَبُvery difficult
ساعاتُ أنسٍ رَدُّها مُسْتَصْعَبُ
Courts of beauty, whose moments were embroidered
The fields of beauty embroidered its moments
By hours of companionship too hard to restore.
Hours of intimacy, to regain them is formidable
وأجرُّand I trail أذْيالthe skirts of الهَوَادَةease والهوىand love
وأجرُّ أذْيال الهَوَادَة والهوى
يَقْتَادُنيleads me دَلُّthe coquetry of الحِسَانthe beauties فَأُصْحبُso I yield
يَقْتَادُني دَلُّ الحِسَان فَأُصْحبُ
I would trail the skirts of ease and love;
I trail the skirts of intimacy and passion
The beauties' coquetry would lead me, and I yielded.
Guided by the one I love so I accompany
كمhow often جِئْتُI came بينَamong خَمائلٍleafy groves وجَداولand streams
كم جِئْتُ بينَ خَمائلٍ وجَداول
مِنهاfrom them أصعّدI ascend فيin المُنىhopes وأصوِّبُand I descend
مِنها أصعّد في المُنى وأصوِّبُ
How often I came among leafy groves and streams,
How often I came between flirtations and streams
From them, ascending and descending amid my hopes,
And ascended in wishes and took aim
ومُغازلاًand wooing فَتَيَاتهاits maidens فيamong فِتْيةyoung men
ومُغازلاً فَتَيَاتها في فِتْية
ماnot one منهمُof them إلاexcept أغَرُّbright-faced مُهَذّبُrefined
ما منهمُ إلا أغَرُّ مُهَذّبُ
And courting its maidens among young men,
And courted its maidens with its youths
Every one bright-faced and refined.
Who were all gentle and refined
بينَamong الأباطحِvalley flats والرُّبىand hills مُتَصَرّفٌroaming
بينَ الأباطحِ والرُّبى مُتَصَرّفٌ
ومَعand with الصّبابةyearning والصّبَاand the east wind مُتَقَلّبُswaying
ومَع الصّبابة والصّبَا مُتَقَلّبُ
Roaming among valley flats and hills,
Moving between the sand dunes and grasslands
And swaying with yearning and the east wind.
And fluctuating with the youth and the morning draughts
خَلَعواthey bestowed علىupon زَهْرِthe flowers of الرّياضِthe gardens حُلاهُمtheir adornments
خَلَعوا على زَهْرِ الرّياضِ حُلاهُم
فَغداso it became بهمthrough them خَيْريُّهاits gillyflower يتأدَّبُlearning refinement
فَغدا بهم خَيْريُّها يتأدَّبُ
They bestowed their adornments on the gardens' flowers,
They took off their garments upon the garden’s blossoms
So its gillyflower learned refinement from them.
And so it became well-mannered with them
نَسَبَتْهtraced its lineage للكرمto nobility الصريحpure شَمائِلٌtraits
نَسَبَتْه للكرم الصريح شَمائِلٌ
أدَبيّةٌcultivated عنهاof them يَنِمُّit gives evidence وَيُنْسَبُand is ascribed
أدَبيّةٌ عنها يَنِمُّ وَيُنْسَبُ
Traits traced its lineage to pure nobility—
Attributes ascribed it to sincere generosity
Cultivated traits, revealed by it and marking its descent.
Civilized qualities from which it grows and is attributed
فَمَعَso with الصّباحmorning تبتُّلٌascetic withdrawal وتَقَلّصٌand shrinking back
فَمَعَ الصّباح تبتُّلٌ وتَقَلّصٌ
ومعand with الظلامdarkness تبذُّلٌabandon وتَسحّبُand swaggering
ومع الظلام تبذُّلٌ وتَسحّبُ
With morning come ascetic reserve and shrinking back;
With the morning coyness and withdrawal
And with darkness, abandon and swagger.
And with the night openness and pull
كانتْthey were مآنسَplaces of fellowship بلrather نفائسَtreasures أصبحْتthey have become
كانتْ مآنسَ بل نفائسَ أصبحْت
مَسْلوبَةًplundered وكذاand thus النّفَائسُtreasures تُسلبُare plundered
مَسْلوبَةً وكذا النّفَائسُ تُسلبُ
They were places of fellowship—rather, treasures that became
They were intimacies, nay treasures, but became
Plundered: thus are treasures plundered.
Plundered, and thus treasures are seized
أينwhere are المذانِبَthe rivulets لاnot تزالceases تأسُّفاin sorrow
أين المذانِبَ لا تزال تأسُّفا
تَجريflows عليهاover them منfrom دُموعيَmy tears مذنبُa rivulet
تَجري عليها من دُموعيَ مذنبُ
Where are the rivulets? In ceaseless sorrow,
Where are the resting places that still sorrow
A rivulet of my tears flows over them.
My tears run down them, blamed
منof كُلّevery بسّامsmiling الحَبابِwith bubbles كأنّهas though it
من كُلّ بسّام الحَبابِ كأنّه
ثغرُthe mouth الحَبيبِof the beloved وريقهُand his saliva المُسْتَعذَبُsweet-tasting
ثغرُ الحَبيبِ وريقهُ المُسْتَعذَبُ
Each smiling with bubbles, as though it were
From every smiling lip as if it were
The beloved's mouth and sweet-tasting saliva.
The mouth of the beloved and his sweet sip
كالنّصلِlike a blade إلاexcept أنّهthat it لاnot يُتَّقىis guarded against
كالنّصلِ إلا أنّه لا يُتَّقى
كالصّلِّlike a viper إلاexcept أنّهthat it لاnot يُرْهَبُis feared
كالصّلِّ إلا أنّه لا يُرْهَبُ
Like a blade, except that it need not be guarded against;
Like a blade but it cannot be feared
Like a viper, except that it need not be feared.
Like an arrow but it cannot be warded
تَقتادُناlead us أقْدامُناour feet وجِيادناand our steeds
تَقتادُنا أقْدامُنا وجِيادنا
لجنابهِto its bank وهوَand it is النّضيرُlush المُعشِبُgrassy
لجنابهِ وهوَ النّضيرُ المُعشِبُ
Our feet and our steeds lead us
Our feet and steeds lead us
To its bank, lush and grassy.
To its side, it is the lush pasture
لَهَجاًcaptivated بِدُولابby a waterwheel تَرَقّىascended نهرهits river
لَهَجاً بِدُولاب تَرَقّى نهره
فَلَكاto a celestial sphere ولكنْbut مَاnot ارْتَقاهُascended it كَوْكَبُa star
فَلَكا ولكنْ مَا ارْتَقاهُ كَوْكَبُ
Captivated by a waterwheel whose river rose
Burbling in its wheel though it ascended
To a celestial sphere, though no star ascended it.
As a planet but did not rise as a star
نَصَبَتْهُerected it فَوْقَabove النّهْرthe river أيْدٍhands قَدّرتenvisaged
نَصَبَتْهُ فَوْقَ النّهْر أيْدٍ قَدّرت
ترويحَهits refreshing الأرْواحof souls سَاعَةَat the moment يُنْصَبُit is erected
ترويحَه الأرْواح سَاعَةَ يُنْصَبُ
Hands erected it above the river, envisaging
Erected over the river by hands that destined
Its refreshing of souls the moment it was raised.
To refresh spirits when erected
فَكَأنّهso as though it وهوand it is الطّليقُfree مقيّدfettered
فَكَأنّه وهو الطّليقُ مقيّد
وكأنهand as though it وهوَand it is الحبيسُimprisoned مُسيَّبُreleased
وكأنه وهوَ الحبيسُ مُسيَّبُ
It seems, though free, to be fettered,
As if it were free yet constrained
And, though imprisoned, to be released.
And as if imprisoned yet released
للماءِfor the water فيهِin it تصعُّدٌascent وتحَدُّرٌand descent
للماءِ فيهِ تصعُّدٌ وتحَدُّرٌ
كالمُزنِlike rainclouds يَسْتَسْقيdraws water from البحارthe seas ويسكُبُand pours
كالمُزنِ يَسْتَسْقي البحار ويسكُبُ
Water in it ascends and descends;
The water in it rises and descends
Like rainclouds, it draws water from the seas and pours it out.
Like scales weighing the seas and pouring
يُعْليraises ويُخْفِضُand lowers رنَّتَيْهِits two notes كَماas شداsang
يُعْلي ويُخْفِضُ رنَّتَيْهِ كَما شدا
غَرِدٌa songbird وتابعَand followed فيin زئيرٍa roar أغْلَبُa thick-necked lion
غَرِدٌ وتابعَ في زئيرٍ أغْلَبُ
It raises and lowers its two notes, as though there sang
It rises and lowers its ringing
A songbird, followed by a thick-necked lion's roar.
As the singing bird and succeeding conqueror
شَاقَتْهُstirred its longing ألحانُmelodies القِيانof singing girls وشاقهاand it stirred their longing
شَاقَتْهُ ألحانُ القِيان وشاقها
فيبوحُso it cries out منfrom كَلَفٍinfatuation بهِنّwith them ويطْربُand sings joyfully
فيبوحُ من كَلَفٍ بهِنّ ويطْربُ
The singing girls' melodies stirred its longing, and it stirred theirs;
The melodies of the lutes clashed with it and it clashed with them
It cries out from infatuation with them and sings with delight.
So it expresses from restraint, bent and elated
أبَداًalways علىat وِردthe watering ولَيْسَand is not بقانِعٍcontent
أبَداً على وِرد ولَيْسَ بقانِعٍ
منbecause of غُلّةburning thirst فيin صدرِهِits breast تَتَلّهبُblazes
من غُلّة في صدرِهِ تَتَلّهبُ
Forever at the water, yet never content,
Always on a flower but not content
Because of a thirst that blazes in its breast.
With a flame in its chest flaming
كالعاشِقِlike a lover الحَرّانparched يرتَشفُsips اللّمىdark lips
كالعاشِقِ الحَرّان يرتَشفُ اللّمى
خَمراas wine ولاand not يرويهquenches him ريقٌsaliva أشْنَبُcool and sweet
خَمرا ولا يرويه ريقٌ أشْنَبُ
Like a parched lover sipping dark lips
Like a passionate lover sipping the wine
As wine, with no cool, sweet saliva to quench him.
But no sip quenches his parched lips
هَامَتْfell in love بهِwith it الأحْداقeyes لمّاwhen نادَمتcaroused with
هَامَتْ بهِ الأحْداق لمّا نادَمت
منهُfrom it الحَدائقُthe gardens ساقِياa cupbearer لاnot يشربُdrinks
منهُ الحَدائقُ ساقِيا لا يشربُ
Eyes fell in love with it when
The gazes craved it when the gardens
The gardens caroused with it—a cupbearer who never drinks.
Called it a water-bearer who does not drink
هَلْwill تُرْجعُrestore الأيّامُthe days عَصْرَan age of شييبةyouth
هَلْ تُرْجعُ الأيّامُ عَصْرَ شييبة
مازلتُI never ceased فيهاduring it بالحسانِof the beauties أشَبّبُsinging love-poems
مازلتُ فيها بالحسانِ أشَبّبُ
Will the days restore an age of youth,
Will the days restore the age of my oldness
When I kept singing love-poems about the beauties?
When I was youthful in charm?
حيثُwhere النسيمthe breeze بماthrough what يَمُرّit passes عليهِover it منfrom
حيثُ النسيم بما يَمُرّ عليهِ من
حقّthe perfume casket الرّياضِof the gardens مُضمّخٌsteeped in scent وَمُطَيّبُand perfumed
حقّ الرّياضِ مُضمّخٌ وَمُطَيّبُ
Where the breeze, through all it brushes in
Where the breeze, saturated with
The gardens' perfume casket, is steeped in scent and perfumed.
The gardens' right, comes scented and perfumed
أيّامin the days when يُرْسَلis unleashed منfrom شبابيَmy youth أدْهَمٌa black steed
أيّام يُرْسَل من شبابيَ أدْهَمٌ
أرنٌfrisky ويُشكِلُand is fettered منfrom مَشيبيَmy graying hair أشهَبُa gray steed
أرنٌ ويُشكِلُ من مَشيبيَ أشهَبُ
Days when a black steed of my youth was unleashed,
Days when my youthfulness sends out the dark one
Frisky, while the gray steed of my graying hair was fettered.
And he forms from my grey hairs the blond
أمّاas for الرُّصافةal-Rusafa فهيَso it is سَمْتيmy destination لاnot الحِمىal-Hima
أمّا الرُّصافة فهيَ سَمْتي لا الحِمى
ولِوىand Liwa الصريمُal-Sarim ولاnor العُذَيبُal-Udhayb وغُرّبُand Ghurrab
ولِوى الصريمُ ولا العُذَيبُ وغُرّبُ
As for al-Rusafa, it is my destination, not al-Hima,
As for purity, it is my way, not zealotry
Nor Liwa al-Sarim, nor al-Udhayb or Ghurrab.
Nor the barren valley, nor torture, rebellion
ربَّىnurtured الهوىlove منهاthere مكانٌa place طيّبlovely
ربَّى الهوى منها مكانٌ طيّب
وَلَدgave birth to السُّرورjoy بهthere زَمانٌa time مُنْجِبُfruitful
وَلَد السُّرور به زَمانٌ مُنْجِبُ
A lovely place there nurtured love;
Love nurtured from it a good place
A fruitful age there gave birth to joy.
And joy gave birth at it to a fruitful time
تاللّهِby God ماnot أنْصَفْتُI treated fairly أهْلَthe people of مَوَدّتيmy affection
تاللّهِ ما أنْصَفْتُ أهْلَ مَوَدّتي
شرّقتI went east أشرَقI choke بِالبِعادon separation وغرّبواand they went west
شرّقت أشرَق بِالبِعاد وغرّبوا
By God, I have not been fair to those I love:
By Allah I was not fair to the people of my affection
I went east, choking on separation, and they went west.
They shone radiantly while distance made me gloomy
وأعيذُهُمand I seek protection for them إذْsince لَمْnot يُلقِناhas brought us together جَانِبٌa place
وأعيذُهُم إذْ لَمْ يُلقِنا جَانِبٌ
مِنْfrom أنthat تَطولَlasts long قَطيعَةٌestrangement وتجنُّبُand avoidance
مِنْ أن تَطولَ قَطيعَةٌ وتجنُّبُ
I seek protection for them, since no place has united us,
And I protect them when no company
From lasting estrangement and avoidance.
Reminds us lest estrangement and avoidance grow
فعلامwhy then ضَنُّواdid they begrudge بالتّحيّةgreetings رغبَةturning away
فعلام ضَنُّوا بالتّحيّة رغبَة
عنّيfrom me كأنّيas though I عَنfrom هواهُمُlove for them أرغَبُturn away
عنّي كأنّي عَن هواهُمُ أرغَبُ
Why, then, did they withhold greetings, turning
Why were they stingy with greetings, desiring
Away from me, as though I turned away from loving them?
To turn away from me as if I spurned their love?
هَذاthis فُؤاديmy heart قَدhas indeed تَصَدّعshattered بعدهُمsince they left
هَذا فُؤادي قَد تَصَدّع بعدهُم
منwho يَرْأبُmends القَلبَthe heart الصديعbroken ويشعبُand repairs its cracks
من يَرْأبُ القَلبَ الصديع ويشعبُ
This heart of mine has shattered since they left;
Who can mend the heart when riven and cleft?
Who will mend the broken heart and heal its cracks?
And disappointment tempts me so I obey it
ولَقدand indeed تَغُرُّنيَbeguile me المُنىhopes فأطِيعُهاso I obey them
ولَقد تَغُرُّنيَ المُنى فأطِيعُها
سَفَهاًfoolishly وبَارقَةُand the lightning-flash الأمانيof wishes خُلّبُrainless and deceptive
سَفَهاً وبَارقَةُ الأماني خُلّبُ
Hopes indeed beguile me, and I obey them
Foolishly while the hopes of safety are torn
Foolishly; the lightning of wishes brings no rain.
I conceal the lighter burden of passion
وأخفُّand the lightest ماwhat حُمّلتُI was made to bear منof عِبْءِthe burden of الهوىlove
وأخفُّ ما حُمّلتُ من عِبْءِ الهوى
أنْto أسْتريحَI find repose إلىin مَطامعhopes تُتْعبُcause weariness
أنْ أسْتريحَ إلى مَطامع تُتْعبُ
The lightest burden of love I have been made to bear
To rest through hopes that wear me out
Is to find repose in hopes that weary me.
O dwelling, protectiveness had revered it
ياO منْزلاًdwelling كانَwas الحِفاظُloyalty يُجِلُّهُreveres it
يا منْزلاً كانَ الحِفاظُ يُجِلُّهُ
والجودُand generosity بالضِّيفَانِto the guests فيهِin it يُرَحّبُbids welcome
والجودُ بالضِّيفَانِ فيهِ يُرَحّبُ
O dwelling once revered by loyalty,
And hospitality in it welcomed guests
Where generosity welcomed guests,
I desire your arrival but passion then deprives me
أَهوىI long for حلولَكdwelling in you ثُمthen يسلبُنيrobs me of الهوىlonging
أَهوى حلولَك ثُم يسلبُني الهوى
أنّthat العَدُوّthe enemy بِجانبَيْكon both your sides مطنِّبُencamped
أنّ العَدُوّ بِجانبَيْك مطنِّبُ
I long to dwell in you, yet that longing is stolen from me,
That the foe is at your side, harboring enmity
For the enemy is encamped on both your sides.
I became tormented and tortured in you
أصْبَحْتُI have become فيكbecause of you مُعَذَّلاًreproached ومُعذَّباand tormented
أصْبَحْتُ فيك مُعَذَّلاً ومُعذَّبا
وكذاand so المُحِبُّthe lover مُعَذَّلٌreproached ومعذَّبُand tormented
وكذا المُحِبُّ مُعَذَّلٌ ومعذَّبُ
Because of you I have become reproached and tormented;
And thus the lover is tormented and tortured
And so the lover is reproached and tormented.
Partial English translation: 93 of 94 Arabic lines translated.