لَم أشكُ صَدَّا وَلَم أذعَر بِهُجرَان

لَم أشكُ صَدَّا وَلَم أذعَر بِهُجرَان

وَلاَ شَعُرتُ مَدَى دَهري بِسُلوَانِ

وَلاَ شَعُرتُ مَدَى دَهري بِسُلوَانِ

I have not complained of rejection, nor been alarmed by abandonment,

I did not doubt his friendship, nor was I alarmed by his estrangement,

I never complained of rejection, nor was I panicked by abandonment,

Nor have I known solace throughout my life.

Nor did I feel the length of my life with Sulwan.

Nor did I feel, throughout my lifetime, any solace or consolation.

أسمَاءُ لَم أدر مَعنَاهَا وَلا خَطَرَت

أسمَاءُ لَم أدر مَعنَاهَا وَلا خَطَرَت

يَوماً عَلَيَّ وَلاَ جَالَت بِمَيدانِي

يَوماً عَلَيَّ وَلاَ جَالَت بِمَيدانِي

Names whose meanings I never knew, and which never came

I did not know the meaning of the name Asma,

Names whose meanings I never knew, nor did they ever cross

To me on any day, nor ranged across my field.

It never occurred to me, nor did it cross my mind.

My mind for a day, nor did they ever roam in my realm.

لَكِنَّمَا دَائِيَ الأدوَى الذي غَضبَت

لَكِنَّمَا دَائِيَ الأدوَى الذي غَضبَت

عَلَىَّ أروَاحُهُ قِدماً فَأعيَانِي

عَلَىَّ أروَاحُهُ قِدماً فَأعيَانِي

But my most grievous affliction, whose spirits grew angry

Rather my chronic disease, which made

Yet my most incurable malady is one whose winds blew angrily

With me long ago and exhausted me,

Its spirits angry with me from early on and weakened my body,

Against me long ago, exhausting and wearing me down:

تَفَرَّقَ لَم تَزَل تَسري طَوَارقُهُ

تَفَرَّقَ لَم تَزَل تَسري طَوَارقُهُ

إلَيَّ بِجَامِع أحبَابِي وَخِلاَّنِي

إلَيَّ بِجَامِع أحبَابِي وَخِلاَّنِي

Is separation: its night-visitors have never ceased to travel

Spread continuously, its relapses still reach me

A parting of ways whose nocturnal sorrows never cease drifting

To me, encompassing all my loved ones and close friends.

In the gathering of my loved ones, leaving me alone.

Toward me, assailing the company of my loved ones and friends.

كَأنَّمَا البَينُ بِي يَأتَمُّ حَيثُ رَأى

كَأنَّمَا البَينُ بِي يَأتَمُّ حَيثُ رَأى

لِي مَذهَباً فَهوَ يَبلُونِي وَيَغشَانِي

لِي مَذهَباً فَهوَ يَبلُونِي وَيَغشَانِي

As though separation takes its lead from me: wherever it sees

It was as if separation intentionally sought me out

It is as if Separation seeks me out, following wherever it sees

A path for me, it tests me and overtakes me.

Wherever it saw I had gone, to try me and make me lonely.

A path I take, testing me and constantly engulfing me.

قَد كُنتُ أحسِبُ عِندَيَ النَّوَى جَلِداً

قَد كُنتُ أحسِبُ عِندَيَ النَّوَى جَلِداً

إذَا عَنَى فِي بَوَادي شَجوهَا العَانِي

إذَا عَنَى فِي بَوَادي شَجوهَا العَانِي

I once thought I had fortitude against separation,

I used to think I had firm endurance

I used to consider myself enduring in the face of distance,

When the sufferer was afflicted amid the first signs of its grief.

When traversing the valleys of its painful complaints.

When the suffering captive groans in the desolate plains of sorrow;

فَقَابَلَتنِي بِألوَانٍ غَدَوتُ بِهَا

فَقَابَلَتنِي بِألوَانٍ غَدَوتُ بِهَا

مُقَابَلاً مِن صَبَابَاتِي بِألوَانِ

مُقَابَلاً مِن صَبَابَاتِي بِألوَانِ

Then it confronted me with varied hues, which left me

But it met me with flavors that I tasted,

Yet it confronted me with manifold agonies, leaving me

Confronted with varied hues of my ardent longings.

Matching, from my early manhood, its own flavors.

Confronted in return by diverse varieties of burning passion.

بِالله أنسَى أخاً لِي قَد لَهِجتُ بِه

بِالله أنسَى أخاً لِي قَد لَهِجتُ بِه

نَفسِي تُحَدّثُنِي أن لَيسَ يَنسَانِي

نَفسِي تُحَدّثُنِي أن لَيسَ يَنسَانِي

By God, can I forget a brother to whom I am so devoted?

By God! Can one forget a brother whose friendship

By God, how could I forget a brother of mine whom I continually praise,

My soul tells me that he does not forget me.

My soul assures me will not forget me?

While my soul assures me that he will never forget me?

فَإن يَكُن فِيه ظَنِّي صَادقاً فَلَقَد

فَإن يَكُن فِيه ظَنِّي صَادقاً فَلَقَد

عَهِدتُّ ظَنِّي قَديماً غَيرَ خَوَّانِ

عَهِدتُّ ظَنِّي قَديماً غَيرَ خَوَّانِ

If my belief about him is true, then indeed

If my suspicion of him is true, then indeed

And if my good faith in him proves true, then indeed

I have long known my judgment not to betray me.

I have long known my suspicion does not betray.

I have long known my intuition never to be treacherous.

هَذَا عَلَى قِسمَة الأيَّام لَيسَ عَلَى

هَذَا عَلَى قِسمَة الأيَّام لَيسَ عَلَى

أنِّي أخَافُ عَلَيه طَبعَ نِسيَانِ

أنِّي أخَافُ عَلَيه طَبعَ نِسيَانِ

This concerns the allotment of days, not

This is the fate of days, it is not because

This is merely according to the allotted division of days, not

Any fear that forgetfulness is in his nature.

I fear the nature of forgetfulness in him.

That I fear forgetfulness could ever be his nature.

قَد كُنتُ ألقَى زَمَانِي مِنهُ مُدَرّعاً

قَد كُنتُ ألقَى زَمَانِي مِنهُ مُدَرّعاً

عَلَى تَغَوُّل أيَّامِي وَأزمَانِي

عَلَى تَغَوُّل أيَّامِي وَأزمَانِي

I used to face my time, armored through him,

I used to face my time shielded against

Through him, I used to face my fate clad in armor,

Against the ravening of my days and times—

The inconstancy of my days and years,

Against the treacherous assaults of my days and times—

درعاً يَقُولُ الرَّدَى مِن أجلِهَا حَذَراً

درعاً يَقُولُ الرَّدَى مِن أجلِهَا حَذَراً

ما شأنُكَ اليَومَ يا هَذَا وَمَا شَانِي

ما شأنُكَ اليَومَ يا هَذَا وَمَا شَانِي

Armor that made death say warily:

A shield that misfortune would say warily

An armor against which Death itself would say in dread:

"What is your business today, you there, and what is mine?"

“What is your business today, O you, and what is my business?”

'What concern have I with you today, and what concern have you with me?'

فَالآنَ أظلَمَت الدُّنيَا لِغَيبَتِه

فَالآنَ أظلَمَت الدُّنيَا لِغَيبَتِه

فَأللَّيلُ عِندي وَغَيرُ اللَّيل سِيَانِ

فَأللَّيلُ عِندي وَغَيرُ اللَّيل سِيَانِ

But now the world has darkened in his absence,

Now the world has darkened with his absence

Yet now, the world has grown dark in his absence,

So night and all that is not night are alike to me.

So night to me is the same as other than night.

So that night and day have become all the same to me.

وَحُقَّ لِي ذَاكَ إذ فِي كُلّ شَارقَةٍ

وَحُقَّ لِي ذَاكَ إذ فِي كُلّ شَارقَةٍ

كَانَت تَلُوحُ لِعَينِي مِنهُ شَمسَانِ

كَانَت تَلُوحُ لِعَينِي مِنهُ شَمسَانِ

And rightly so, for at every sunrise

And that is my right, for in every sunrise

And rightly so, for with every bright sunrise,

Two suns of his would shine before my eye.

Two suns would shine before my eyes because of him.

Two suns would shine from him before my eyes.

فَالآنَ أعدَمَنِي أضوَاهُمَا قَدَرٌ

فَالآنَ أعدَمَنِي أضوَاهُمَا قَدَرٌ

تَجرِي بِأحكَامِهِ فِينَا الجَدِيدَانِ

تَجرِي بِأحكَامِهِ فِينَا الجَدِيدَانِ

But now fate has deprived me of the brighter of the two;

But now fate which runs its new courses among us

Now, a decree of fate has stripped me of both their lights,

By its decrees, night and day run their course among us.

Has deprived me of both their lights.

Carried out upon us by the passing of night and day.

لَكِنَّني قَائِلٌ قَولاً يُحَقِّقُهُ

لَكِنَّني قَائِلٌ قَولاً يُحَقِّقُهُ

كُلُّ البَرِيَّةِ عَن نُورٍ وَبُرهَانِ

كُلُّ البَرِيَّةِ عَن نُورٍ وَبُرهَانِ

Yet I utter a saying whose truth is confirmed

Yet I say words that all creation

Yet I utter a truth affirmed and verified

By all creation, through light and proof.

Will acknowledge for their light and proof:

By all creation through clear light and proof:

عَجِبتُ مِنِّي إذَا أشكُو تَوَحُّشَهُ

عَجِبتُ مِنِّي إذَا أشكُو تَوَحُّشَهُ

وَأَسفَحَ الدَّمعُ سَحَّا غَيرَ ضِنَانِ

وَأَسفَحَ الدَّمعُ سَحَّا غَيرَ ضِنَانِ

I marvel at myself when I complain of his remoteness

I wonder at myself complaining of his aloofness

I marvel at myself when I lament feeling lonely without him,

And pour out tears in torrents, without stint,

As tears freely pour forth with no restraint,

And let my tears pour forth profusely without restraint,

وَوَجَهُهُ نُصبَ عَينِي مَا يُفَارِقُنِي

وَوَجَهُهُ نُصبَ عَينِي مَا يُفَارِقُنِي

وَطَيفُهُ مُؤنِسِي فِي نِصفِهِ الثَّانِي

وَطَيفُهُ مُؤنِسِي فِي نِصفِهِ الثَّانِي

While his face is before my eye and never leaves me,

While his face is ever before my eyes, never leaving me,

While his face remains set before my eyes, never leaving me,

And his phantom keeps me company in its second half.

And his phantom is my companion in the other half.

And his spectral apparition comforts me through the dead of night.

وَمُهجَتِي عِندَهُ وَالقَلبُ مَسكَنُهُ

وَمُهجَتِي عِندَهُ وَالقَلبُ مَسكَنُهُ

هَذَا وَجَدّكَ عَينُ الحَاضِر الدَّانِي

هَذَا وَجَدّكَ عَينُ الحَاضِر الدَّانِي

And my life's blood is with him, and my heart is his dwelling:

My mind is with him and my heart is his dwelling—

My soul is with him, and my heart is his dwelling place—

This, by your fortune, is the very presence close at hand.

This is how the aware present beholds you!

This, by your fortune, is the very essence of presence and nearness!

وَشَخصُهُ مَاثِلٌ فِي نَاظِرِي أبَداً

وَشَخصُهُ مَاثِلٌ فِي نَاظِرِي أبَداً

وَفِي ضَمِيرِي إذَا مَا نِمنَ أجفَانِي

وَفِي ضَمِيرِي إذَا مَا نِمنَ أجفَانِي

And his form is always present in my sight,

And his person is visibly before my gaze forever,

His figure stands ever-present before my sight,

And in my inward thoughts whenever my eyelids sleep.

And in my conscience when sleep closes my eyelids.

And alive in my innermost conscience whenever my eyelids sleep.

أدعُوهُ دَعوَةَ مُرتَاحٍ لِرُؤيَتِهِ

أدعُوهُ دَعوَةَ مُرتَاحٍ لِرُؤيَتِهِ

حَسبَ ارتِيَاحِي لَهُ إذ كَانَ يَلقَانِي

حَسبَ ارتِيَاحِي لَهُ إذ كَانَ يَلقَانِي

I call to him with the call of one delighted to see him,

I call him longingly as one content with seeing him,

I call to him with the longing of one delighted to see him,

Just as I rejoiced in him when he used to meet me.

My contentment in him suffices me, as he would meet me.

Equal to the deep joy I felt whenever he used to meet me.

يَا عُذرَ دَهرِيَ مِن مَاضِي إسَاءَتِهِ

يَا عُذرَ دَهرِيَ مِن مَاضِي إسَاءَتِهِ

وَمِن تَسَاوِي وَلِيِّي فِيهِ وَالشَّانِي

وَمِن تَسَاوِي وَلِيِّي فِيهِ وَالشَّانِي

O you, my excuse for time's past mistreatment,

O my excuse for the wrongs of fate in the past!

O he is Time's excuse for all its past misdeeds,

And for my friend and my hater being equal within it:

Both it and my loyal friend wronged me equally.

And for the equal stance of my friend and my foe therein.

كِلاَهُمَا حَاسِدٌ لِي مِن أخُوَّتِهِ

كِلاَهُمَا حَاسِدٌ لِي مِن أخُوَّتِهِ

عَلَى غَلاَ الدَّهرِ مَوصُولاً بِرُضوَانِ

عَلَى غَلاَ الدَّهرِ مَوصُولاً بِرُضوَانِ

Both envy me for his brotherhood,

Each envied me in his love

Both of them envy me for possessing his brotherhood,

Despite time's raging heat, joined in goodwill.

For fate’s injustice, inseparably linked with God’s satisfaction.

A treasure most precious through the ages, bound with pure goodwill.

قَد كَانَ مِنكَ فُؤَادِي حَاسِداً بَصَرِي

قَد كَانَ مِنكَ فُؤَادِي حَاسِداً بَصَرِي

وَالآنَ يَحسُدُ فِيكَ القَلبَ عَينَانِ

وَالآنَ يَحسُدُ فِيكَ القَلبَ عَينَانِ

Once my heart envied my sight because of you,

My heart used to envy you, and now

Because of you, my heart once envied my eyes,

But now my two eyes envy my heart because of you.

Two eyes envy the heart within you.

And now, my two eyes envy my heart over you.

حَتَّى لَقَد صَارَ دَهرِي فِيكَ يَحسُدُنِي

حَتَّى لَقَد صَارَ دَهرِي فِيكَ يَحسُدُنِي

فَبَانَ عَنِّيَ مَغلُوباً وَأنآنِيِ

فَبَانَ عَنِّيَ مَغلُوباً وَأنآنِيِ

So much so that my time has come to envy me for you,

To the extent that fate became envious of me in you

Until Time itself began to envy me for having you,

So it withdrew from me, defeated, and drove me far away.

And appeared defeated, moaning over me.

So it parted us, defeated in jealousy, and caused me deep sorrow.

عَذِرتُ فِيكَ لَعَمرِي كُلَّ ذِي حَسَدٍ

عَذِرتُ فِيكَ لَعَمرِي كُلَّ ذِي حَسَدٍ

مَن لَيسَ يُحسَدُ فِي دُنيَا سُلَيمانِ

مَن لَيسَ يُحسَدُ فِي دُنيَا سُلَيمانِ

By my life, I excuse everyone who envies me for you:

I have excused in you, by my life, everyone possessed by envy

By my life, I have excused every envious soul regarding you;

Who is not envied in Sulayman's world?

Who in the world is not envied like Solomon?

For who would not be envied in the kingdom of Solomon?

وَحُقَّ لي عُذرُهُم إذ صِرتُ أعرِفُ مِق

وَحُقَّ لي عُذرُهُم إذ صِرتُ أعرِفُ مِق

دَارَ الذِي مِنكَ كَانَ اللهُ أولاَنِي

دَارَ الذِي مِنكَ كَانَ اللهُ أولاَنِي

And rightly do I excuse them, now that I know the mea-

And I do have the right to excuse them, for I have come to know

And right was I to excuse them, once I recognized the true measure

sure of what God bestowed on me through you.

The abode of Him who enriched me with you from the first.

Of that great grace which God bestowed upon me through you.

لَقَد حَبَانِيَ حَظَّا مِن إخَائِكَ لاَ

لَقَد حَبَانِيَ حَظَّا مِن إخَائِكَ لاَ

يُجزَى بِسِترٍ وَلاَ يُلقَى بِكُفرَانِ

يُجزَى بِسِترٍ وَلاَ يُلقَى بِكُفرَانِ

He has indeed granted me a share of your brotherhood that is not

Indeed, your companionship has granted me a share

He granted me a share of your brotherhood that cannot

Repaid with concealment, nor met with ingratitude.

That cannot be requited with veiling it or meeting it with ingratitude.

Be repaid by concealment, nor met with ingratitude.

لَو كانت الأرضُ لِي حاشَاهُ مَا غَنِيَت

لَو كانت الأرضُ لِي حاشَاهُ مَا غَنِيَت

رُوحِي وَإنِّي بِهِ عَن غَيرِهِ غانِي

رُوحِي وَإنِّي بِهِ عَن غَيرِهِ غانِي

Were the earth mine without him, it would not satisfy

If the earth belonged to me—God forbid—it would not enrich

Were the entire earth mine without him, my soul

My soul; yet with him I have no need of anyone else.

My soul, for through you from all else I am rich.

Would never be enriched, for in him I am rich above all else.

شَخصٌ نَفِيسٌ خَطِيرٌ لَو بَدَلتُ بِهِ

شَخصٌ نَفِيسٌ خَطِيرٌ لَو بَدَلتُ بِهِ

نَفسِي أخَذتُ الذِي يَبقَى علَى الفَانِي

نَفسِي أخَذتُ الذِي يَبقَى علَى الفَانِي

A precious, eminent person: if I exchanged for him

A noble, precious, dangerous person—if I could ransom

A soul so precious and exalted that if I traded my own life for him,

My soul, I would take what endures over what perishes.

Myself with him, I would take what remains over the transient.

I would have chosen that which endures over that which perishes.

ذَاكَ الذِي لَستُ أدرِي مَا أقَابِلُهُ

ذَاكَ الذِي لَستُ أدرِي مَا أقَابِلُهُ

بِهِ مِنَ الشَكّ فِي سِرّي وَإعلاَنِي

بِهِ مِنَ الشَكّ فِي سِرّي وَإعلاَنِي

That is the one I do not know what to repay him

That one whom I do not know how to requite

Such is he whom I know not how adequately to repay

With, in my doubt, in secret and in public.

With what I hold secret and what is open of me.

With gratitude, whether in my secret thoughts or in the open.

وَاسلَم وَدُم لِيَ فِي عِزّ وَفِي دَعَةٍ

وَاسلَم وَدُم لِيَ فِي عِزّ وَفِي دَعَةٍ

مَالاَحَ فِي اللُّجَّةِ الخَضرَاءِ نَجمَانِ

مَالاَحَ فِي اللُّجَّةِ الخَضرَاءِ نَجمَانِ

And stay safe, and remain mine in honor and ease,

In prosperity and in hardship, he submitted his soul to me.

May you remain safe and endure for me in honor and tranquility,

As long as two stars shine in the green depths.

Two bright stars in the verdant darkness.

As long as two stars shine upon the emerald deep.