لمnot يَخُنْfailed فيin الحبِّlove تَأويلِيmy interpretation
لم يَخُنْ في الحبِّ تَأويلِي
هذِهِthis الحَسناءُfair one تَأْوِيtakes pity لِيon me
هذِهِ الحَسناءُ تَأْوِي لِي
My interpretation in love has not failed me;
My interpretation of love was not betrayed
This fair one takes pity on me.
By this beauty who interprets to me
أبْصَرَتْshe saw صَبْريmy patience علَىin enduring كلَفيmy passion
أبْصَرَتْ صَبْري علَى كلَفي
بَيْنَbetween تَنْكِيبٍrejection وَتَنْكيلِand torment
بَيْنَ تَنْكِيبٍ وَتَنْكيلِ
She saw my patience in my passion,
She saw my patience with my ordeal
Amid rejection and torment.
Between oppression and tyranny
وَدَرَتْand she knew أنْthat لَيْسَnot يَدْرَأُdrives away بِيme
وَدَرَتْ أنْ لَيْسَ يَدْرَأُ بِي
طُولُprolongation تَعْذيبٍtorment وَتَعْذيلِand reproach
طُولُ تَعْذيبٍ وَتَعْذيلِ
And knew that I could not be driven away
And she realized I cannot be warded off
By prolonged torment and reproach.
By prolonged torment and anguish
فَكَفَتْso she stopped وَكفَthe dripping الجُفونof the eyelids دَماًblood
فَكَفَتْ وَكفَ الجُفون دَماً
حالَduring تَسْبيحٍprayer وَتَسْبيلِand shedding tears
حالَ تَسْبيحٍ وَتَسْبيلِ
So she stopped the eyelids dripping blood,
So she stopped and the eyelids stopped blood
While I prayed and let tears flow.
When glorifying and imploring
وَشَفَتْand she healed مَاwhat شَفَّنيwasted me فَإذَاso behold
وَشَفَتْ مَا شَفَّني فَإذَا
صَعْبُthe hardship of تَسْهِيديmy sleeplessness لِتَسْهِيلِيfor easing me
صَعْبُ تَسْهِيدي لِتَسْهِيلِي
And healed what had wasted me; behold,
And she healed what healed me, and behold
The hardship of my sleeplessness brought me ease.
My bedding is difficult for my comfort
مِقَةٌlove جادَتْgave generously بِرِقّتِهاwith its tenderness
مِقَةٌ جادَتْ بِرِقّتِها
بَعْدَafter تَخْييبdisappointment وَتَخْييلِand illusion
بَعْدَ تَخْييب وَتَخْييلِ
Love lavished its tenderness,
A spark shone with its subtlety
After disappointment and illusion.
After disappointment and imagining
لاno مُبَالاةٌconcern بِعاذِلَةfor a reproving woman
لا مُبَالاةٌ بِعاذِلَة
حينَwhen تُفْضِيshe confides لِيto me بِتَفْضيلِيof favoring me
حينَ تُفْضِي لِي بِتَفْضيلِي
I care nothing for a reproving woman,
No care for the blamer
When she confides her preference for me.
When she gives me preference over others
لَمnot يَرُعْنِيstartled me غَيْرُexcept مَطْلَعِهاher appearance
لَم يَرُعْنِي غَيْرُ مَطْلَعِها
دونَwithout تَسْويفٍdelay وتَسْويلِand beguilement
دونَ تَسْويفٍ وتَسْويلِ
Nothing startled me but her appearance,
Nothing distracted me but her rising
Without delay or beguilement.
Without procrastination and trickery
فيamong لِداتٍfemale peers يَنْتَمِينَtrace their descent عَلىwith
في لِداتٍ يَنْتَمِينَ عَلى
عِفّةchastity فيin الدّينfaith للدِّيلِto al-Dil
عِفّة في الدّين للدِّيلِ
Among her peers, who trace their descent,
In gentle ones belonging to me
Chaste in faith, to al-Dil.
Of chaste faith for the evidence
كَجَوارِيlike the gazelles الرَّمْلِof the sands جَارِيَةa maiden
كَجَوارِي الرَّمْلِ جَارِيَة
كُلُّall تَعطيرfragrance بِتَعْطيلِwith no adornment
كُلُّ تَعطير بِتَعْطيلِ
A maiden like the gazelles of the sands,
Like the sands' maidens walking
All fragrance, yet unadorned.
Every scent with adornment
هُنَّthey فيin شَكوَىlamenting الغَرَامِpassion لِمَاbecause of what
هُنَّ في شَكوَى الغَرَامِ لِمَا
بيis in me خَلاexcept خِيمthe disposition الخَلاخِيلِof the anklets
بي خَلا خِيم الخَلاخِيلِ
They lament love on account of what
They in complaining of passion why
Afflicts me—save for the anklets’ disposition.
With me other than the traces of encampments
أوْجَبَتshe made obligatory رَعْيَtending الهَوَىlove فَقَفَتْthen she followed
أوْجَبَت رَعْيَ الهَوَى فَقَفَتْ
رَأيَthe plan of تَخويفيfrightening me بِتَخْويلِيwith favoring me
رَأيَ تَخويفي بِتَخْويلِي
She made tending love a duty, then followed
She necessitated following desire, so she stopped
Her plan to frighten me—with favors bestowed on me.
My opinion with intimidation
وَقَضَتْand she fulfilled مِنْthrough وَصْلِهاunion with her عِدَتيmy promised due
وَقَضَتْ مِنْ وَصْلِها عِدَتي
بَيْنَbetween تَمهيدٍpreparation وَتَسْهيلِand facilitation
بَيْنَ تَمهيدٍ وَتَسْهيلِ
And fulfilled what I was promised through union with her,
And fulfilled my waiting period with her union
With preparation and ease.
Between preparing and facilitating
تِلوَafter مَاwhen أنْشَأتُI began أَنْشِدُهَاI seek her
تِلوَ مَا أنْشَأتُ أَنْشِدُهَا
مَنwho بِهَاwith her لِيfor me مِنْamong بَهاليلِnoble men
مَن بِهَا لِي مِنْ بَهاليلِ
After I began to seek her:
Reciting what I composed, I recite it to her
'Who among noble men can give her to me?'
With her I have no rivals
أيُّwhat آيٍsigns لِلْجَمَالِof beauty غَدَتْshe became
أيُّ آيٍ لِلْجَمَالِ غَدَتْ
جُلَّthe chief part of تَرتيبِيmy arrangements وتَرحيلِيand my packing for travel
جُلَّ تَرتيبِي وتَرحيلِي
What a marvel of beauty she became,
What sign of beauty has she become
The chief concern of my preparations and departures!
The sum of my arrangement and travel
ماnot الهَوىlove فَاحْذَرْso beware إغارَتهits raiding
ما الهَوى فَاحْذَرْ إغارَته
غَيْرُanything but تَرْحيبٍwelcoming وَتَرْحيلِand dismissal
غَيْرُ تَرْحيبٍ وَتَرْحيلِ
Love—beware its raids—is nothing
What is passion so beware its aggression
But welcome and dismissal.
Other than welcoming and farewell
أَهْلُهُits lovers لِلبَيْنِthrough separation يُتْلِفُهُمْit destroys them
أَهْلُهُ لِلبَيْنِ يُتْلِفُهُمْ
بَيْنَbetween تَأْهيبٍpreparation وتأهيلِand welcoming
بَيْنَ تَأْهيبٍ وتأهيلِ
It destroys its lovers through separation,
Its family for separation it brings together
Between preparation and welcoming.
Between notification and qualification
دَعْleave أَساليبَthe modes النَّسيبِof love poetry وَخُذْand embark
دَعْ أَساليبَ النَّسيبِ وَخُذْ
فيon أَساطيرِthe tales الأَساطِيلِof fleets
في أَساطيرِ الأَساطِيلِ
Leave the modes of love poetry and embark
Leave the methods of lineage and take
On the tales of fleets.
In the legends of legends
أخَواتُsisters of الخَيْلِhorses سَابِحَةًswimming
أخَواتُ الخَيْلِ سَابِحَةً
ذَاتُpossessing تَزْيينadornment وَتَزْييلِand separation
ذَاتُ تَزْيين وَتَزْييلِ
Sisters of horses, swimming,
Sisters of horses swimming
Adorned and set apart;
Of adornment and ornament
وَبَنَاتُand daughters of الماءِthe water صَائِلَةًcharging
وَبَنَاتُ الماءِ صَائِلَةً
كالأفَاعِيِّlike serpents الأَفاعيلِdeeds
كالأفَاعِيِّ الأَفاعيلِ
And daughters of the water, charging,
And daughters of water hunting
Like serpents in their deeds.
Like crawling snakes
علتِthey mounted المِلْحَthe salt water الأُجاجَthe bitter فَماand whatever
علتِ المِلْحَ الأُجاجَ فَما
شِئْتَyou wished مِنْof تَشْميرvigorous exertion وَتَشْمِيلِand northward sailing
شِئْتَ مِنْ تَشْمير وَتَشْمِيلِ
They mounted the bitter brine, with whatever
She raised the salty bitter so what
Exertion and northward sailing you could wish.
You want of resolve and determination
لاnot تَزَالُcease العُجْمُthe foreigners تَعْجُمُهاtest them
لا تَزَالُ العُجْمُ تَعْجُمُها
طَيَّwithin تَعْجيزٍthwarting وَتَعْجيلِand hastening
طَيَّ تَعْجيزٍ وَتَعْجيلِ
The foreigners keep testing their mettle,
The non-Arabs still render it obscure
Amid thwarting and haste.
The fold of inability and haste
وَتُلاقِيand they encounter مِنْfrom بَوارِحِهاtheir fierce winds
وَتُلاقِي مِنْ بَوارِحِها
بَرْحَthe torment of تَطْويحٍtossing about وتَطْويلِand prolongation
بَرْحَ تَطْويحٍ وتَطْويلِ
And encounter, from their fierce winds,
And you find from her limbs
The torment of tossing and protracted delay.
Freedom of leaping and lengthening
حَلَّقَتْthey circled aloft مُحْتَلَّةًdescending to settle بِهِمُupon them
حَلَّقَتْ مُحْتَلَّةً بِهِمُ
شَرَّthe worst تَحليقٍcircling aloft وتَحْليلِand descent
شَرَّ تَحليقٍ وتَحْليلِ
They wheeled aloft, descending upon them,
She circled exalted with them
With the direst circling and descent.
The evil of rising and analysis
وَسَلتْand swept clean بَحْرَthe sea المَجازِof al-Majaz بِماas
وَسَلتْ بَحْرَ المَجازِ بِما
طَرِبَتْthey rejoiced كالنِّيبlike old she-camels للسيلِat the torrent
طَرِبَتْ كالنِّيب للسيلِ
They swept the Sea of al-Majaz, as
The rise of the ferocity of war made them vile
They rejoiced like old she-camels at a torrent.
Every concealment and enablement
عَزمُهاtheir resolve والرّومand the Romans بالعُدْوَىfar away
عَزمُها والرّوم بالعُدْوَى
بَيْنَbetween تَجديدٍrenewal وتَجديلِand felling
بَيْنَ تَجديدٍ وتَجديلِ
Their resolve, and the Romans at a distance—
What they imagined failed so they did not stop
The one renewed, the others laid low.
People of disappointment and imagining
هامَهُمtheir heads أبْقَتْthey left وَحَدَّهُمُand their might
هامَهُم أبْقَتْ وَحَدَّهُمُ
رَهْنَhostage to تَفْليقٍcleaving وتَضْليلِand confounding
رَهْنَ تَفْليقٍ وتَضْليلِ
They left their heads and their might
If they were given the Quran, they would not
Hostage to cleaving and confusion.
Resolve from the nation of the Gospel
لَمnot تَدَعْthey leave يَوْماًa day أعادِيَهاtheir enemies
لَم تَدَعْ يَوْماً أعادِيَها
دونَwithout تَعْقِيرٍhamstringing وَتَعقيلِand fettering
دونَ تَعْقِيرٍ وَتَعقيلِ
Not a day did they leave their enemies
For the created maidens for them
Without hamstringing and fettering.
Flow of choosing and testing
مُذْsince رَمَتْهُمthey shot at them قَدْindeed رَمَتْthey hurled بِهِمُthem
مُذْ رَمَتْهُم قَدْ رَمَتْ بِهِمُ
وَسْطَinto the midst of سجِّينٍSijjin بِسِجِيلِwith baked-clay stones
وَسْطَ سجِّينٍ بِسِجِيلِ
Since they shot at them, they have hurled them
She originated from a victorious group
Into the midst of Sijjin with baked-clay stones.
After decrease and killing
سَاوَرَتْهُمthey assailed them فَاغْتَدَوْاso they became مَثَلاًa byword
سَاوَرَتْهُم فَاغْتَدَوْا مَثَلاً
سُؤْرَleftovers تَنْفِيرٍrouting وَتَنْفيلِand awarding spoils
سُؤْرَ تَنْفِيرٍ وَتَنْفيلِ
They assailed them, and they became a byword,
So they are from glory and guidance
Leftovers from routing and the sharing of spoils.
Absence of humiliation and confusion
نَهْضُthe surge of عَضِّthe bite of البَأْسbattle بَزَّهُمُstripped them
نَهْضُ عَضِّ البَأْس بَزَّهُمُ
كُلَّall تَمْوِيهdisguise وَتَمويلِand enrichment
كُلَّ تَمْوِيه وَتَمويلِ
The surge of battle’s bite stripped them
The extension of the shade of security increased them
Of all disguise and wealth.
After decrease and scarcity
خَابَfailed ماwhat خَالُواthey imagined فَلاso may they not بَرِحواcease
خَابَ ما خَالُوا فَلا بَرِحوا
أَهْلpeople of تَخْييبٍdisappointment وتَخْييلِand delusion
أَهْل تَخْييبٍ وتَخْييلِ
What they imagined failed; may they never cease
In the cause of God her swimming
To be people of disappointment and delusion.
Under emphasis and entrusting
ماnot أُولُواthe people of القُرْآنthe Quran إنْif صَدَقُواthey are true to
ما أُولُوا القُرْآن إنْ صَدَقُوا
عَزْمَهُمtheir resolve مِنof جِيلِthe people of إنْجِيلِthe Gospel
عَزْمَهُم مِن جِيلِ إنْجِيلِ
The people of the Quran, if true to
She created John, his creation
Their resolve, are not of the Gospel’s people.
Beauty of influence and interpretation
بِالجَوارِيwith the sailing ships المُنْشَآتِraised aloft لَهُمْtheirs is
بِالجَوارِي المُنْشَآتِ لَهُمْ
جَرْيُa course of تَبْتِيرٍcutting short وَتَبْتيلِand severing
جَرْيُ تَبْتِيرٍ وَتَبْتيلِ
With the ships whose sails are raised, theirs is
And on his management she depended
A course of cutting short and severing.
In the futilities of allegations
صَدَرَتْthey sailed forth عَنْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people نُصِرَتْthey were granted victory
صَدَرَتْ عَنْ مَعْشَرٍ نُصِرَتْ
إثْرَafter تَقْتيرٍprivation وتَقتيلِand slaughter
إثْرَ تَقْتيرٍ وتَقتيلِ
They sailed forth from a people, granted victory
She deferred what she provoked for them
After privation and slaughter.
Any provocation and delay
فَهُمُso they مِنْin عِزَّةٍmight وهُدىًand guidance
فَهُمُ مِنْ عِزَّةٍ وهُدىً
غِبّafter تَذْلِيلٍsubjugation وتَضْلِيلِand misguidance
غِبّ تَذْلِيلٍ وتَضْلِيلِ
So theirs are might and guidance,
And she folded, folding with what she did
After subjugation and misguidance.
Truth of habit and reliance
مَدُّthe spreading of ظِلِّthe shade of الأَمْنِsecurity كَثَّرَهُمْincreased their numbers
مَدُّ ظِلِّ الأَمْنِ كَثَّرَهُمْ
بَعْدَafter تَقْليصٍcontraction وتَقليلِand reduction
بَعْدَ تَقْليصٍ وتَقليلِ
The spreading shade of security increased their numbers,
A king surpassing kings extensively
After contraction and reduction.
Towards praise and undertaking
فِيin سَبيلِthe path of اللَّهِGod مَسْبَحُهاtheir swimming course
فِي سَبيلِ اللَّهِ مَسْبَحُها
تَحْتَunder تَوْكِيدٍassurance وتَوْكيلِand entrustment
تَحْتَ تَوْكِيدٍ وتَوْكيلِ
In God’s path is their swimming course,
So they fell behind and he excelled over them
Under firm assurance and entrustment.
Excess of endearment and achievement
خَالَقَتdealt graciously with يَحْيىYahya خَليقَتُهُhis nature
خَالَقَت يَحْيى خَليقَتُهُ
حُسْنَfine تَأثِيرinfluence وَتأثِيلِand firm establishment
حُسْنَ تَأثِير وَتأثِيلِ
His nature dealt graciously with Yahya,
His supreme hand and hearing
With fine influence and firm foundations.
Harmony of reconciling and explaining
وَعَلىand on تَدْبيرِهhis direction اعْتَمَدَتْthey relied
وَعَلى تَدْبيرِه اعْتَمَدَتْ
فيamid أبابيلِflocks الأباطيلِof falsehoods
في أبابيلِ الأباطيلِ
And on his direction they relied
It dispelled astrology, he was fortunate
Amid flocks of falsehoods.
Matter of enumeration and adjustment
أَجَّلَتthey deferred ماwhat أجّجَتthey kindled لَهُمُfor them
أَجَّلَت ما أجّجَت لَهُمُ
أَيَّwhat تَأْجِيجٍkindling وَتَأْجِيلِand deferral
أَيَّ تَأْجِيجٍ وَتَأْجِيلِ
They deferred what they had kindled for them—
Or how is the world by his empire
What kindling and deferral!
Full of assurance and expectation
وانْثَنَتْand they turned back تَثْنِيpraising بِمَاthrough what صَنَعَتْthey did
وانْثَنَتْ تَثْنِي بِمَا صَنَعَتْ
صِدْقَthe soundness of تَعْويدٍaccustoming وَتَعْويلِand reliance
صِدْقَ تَعْويدٍ وَتَعْويلِ
And they turned back, extolling through their deeds
It was perfected when it was perfected in generosity
The soundness of accustomed practice and reliance.
Much of hiding for perfection
مَلِكٌa king فاتَoutstripped المُلوكَthe kings مَدىًin reach
مَلِكٌ فاتَ المُلوكَ مَدىً
نَحْوَtoward تَحْميدٍpraise وَتَحْميلِand entrusting burdens
نَحْوَ تَحْميدٍ وَتَحْميلِ
A king who outstripped kings in reach,
From an enemy in its rolling
Toward praise and the entrusting of burdens.
Enough elevation and sublimation
فَرَّطُواthey fell short وَامْتَازَand he stood apart دُونَهُمُapart from them
فَرَّطُوا وَامْتَازَ دُونَهُمُ
فَرْطَa surpassing degree of تَحْسينٍrefinement وَتَحْصِيلِand achievement
فَرْطَ تَحْسينٍ وَتَحْصِيلِ
They fell short; he stood apart from them
He charged the Most High and crowned it
In surpassing refinement and achievement.
Best of imposition and crowning
يَدُهُhis hand الطّولَىthe far-reaching وَمَسْمَعُهُand his hearing
يَدُهُ الطّولَى وَمَسْمَعُهُ
إلْفُaccustomed to تَأليفٍconciliation وَتَألِيلِand spear-sharpening
إلْفُ تَأليفٍ وَتَألِيلِ
His far-reaching hand and his ear
So he is of nobility and knowledge
Are at home with concord and spear-sharpening.
Lord of education and reasoning
كَفَتِspared التَّنْجِيمَastrology أسْعُدُهُhis lucky stars
كَفَتِ التَّنْجِيمَ أسْعُدُهُ
أمْرَthe task of تَعْديدٍcounting وَتَعْديلِand adjustment
أمْرَ تَعْديدٍ وَتَعْديلِ
His lucky stars spared astrology
He has refrained from praise that glorifies him
The task of counting and adjustment.
Reciting downgrade and dishonor
أَوor مَاis not الدّنْيَاthe world بدَوْلَتِهِunder his rule
أَو مَا الدّنْيَا بدَوْلَتِهِ
مِلْءُfilled with تَأمِينٍsecuring وَتَأمِيلِand inspiring hope
مِلْءُ تَأمِينٍ وَتَأمِيلِ
Or is not the world, under his rule,
Where is the eulogy to describe him
Filled with security and hope?
Description of reverence and revelation
كُمِّنَتْit was concealed إِذْwhen كُمِّلَتْit was perfected كَرَماًin nobility
كُمِّنَتْ إِذْ كُمِّلَتْ كَرَماً
رُبَّmany a تَكْمِينٍconcealment لِتَكْميلِfor perfection
رُبَّ تَكْمِينٍ لِتَكْميلِ
It was concealed when it was perfected in nobility—
He remains a full moon and sea of bounty
Many a concealment serves perfection—
Between enlightenment and bestowal
مِنْfrom عَدِيٍّAdi فيat ذُؤَابَتِهَاits crest
مِنْ عَدِيٍّ في ذُؤَابَتِهَا
حَسْبَas befits تَرْفيعٍexaltation وَتَرْفيلِand investiture
حَسْبَ تَرْفيعٍ وَتَرْفيلِ
From Adi, at its very crest,
As befits exaltation and robes of honor.
كَلَّفَhe tasked العَلْيَاhigh glory وَكَلَّلَهَاand crowned it
كَلَّفَ العَلْيَا وَكَلَّلَهَا
خَيْرَthe finest تَكْلِيفٍtasking وَتَكْلِيلِand crowning
خَيْرَ تَكْلِيفٍ وَتَكْلِيلِ
He tasked high glory and crowned it,
With the finest tasking and crowning.
فَهْوَso he is مِنْthrough عُرْفٍbenevolence وَمَعْرِفَةٍand knowledge
فَهْوَ مِنْ عُرْفٍ وَمَعْرِفَةٍ
رَبُّa master of تَعْليمٍinstruction وَتَعْلِيلِand explanation
رَبُّ تَعْليمٍ وَتَعْلِيلِ
So, through benevolence and knowledge, he is
A master of instruction and explanation.
جَلَّhe is exalted عَنْbeyond مَدْحٍpraise يُجَلِّلُهrobes him
جَلَّ عَنْ مَدْحٍ يُجَلِّلُه
تِلْوَafter تَنْخيبٍselection وَتَنْخِيلِand sifting
تِلْوَ تَنْخيبٍ وَتَنْخِيلِ
He is too exalted for praise to robe him,
Even after selection and sifting.
أيْنَhow far مِنْfrom وَصْفِthe description القَريضِin verse لَهُof him
أيْنَ مِنْ وَصْفِ القَريضِ لَهُ
وَصْفُa description تَنْزِيهٍof transcendence وَتَنْزِيلِand revelation
وَصْفُ تَنْزِيهٍ وَتَنْزِيلِ
How can verse’s description of him compare
With a description of transcendence and revelation?
لاmay not يَزَلْhe cease بَدْراًa full moon وَبَحْرَand a sea of نَدىًbounty
لا يَزَلْ بَدْراً وَبَحْرَ نَدىً
بَيْنَbetween تَنْوِيرٍillumination وَتَنْوِيلِand bestowal
بَيْنَ تَنْوِيرٍ وَتَنْوِيلِ
May he remain a full moon and a sea of bounty,
Between illumination and bestowal.
Partial English translation: 96 of 108 Arabic lines translated.