أَهاجَكَ رَبعٌ بِالمُحيطِ مُحيلُ

أَهاجَكَ رَبعٌ بِالمُحيطِ مُحيلُ

عَفَتهُ دَروجٌ بِالتُّرابِ حَفولُ

عَفَتهُ دَروجٌ بِالتُّرابِ حَفولُ

Has a weathered campsite at al-Muhit stirred you?

A wilderness where the rains made pools is agitated by the wind,

A sweeping wind, laden with dust, has effaced it.

Its sand dunes covered with rolling pebbles.

فَمُنتَصِبٌ مِنهُ يَثورُ عَجاجُهُ

فَمُنتَصِبٌ مِنهُ يَثورُ عَجاجُهُ

وَآخَرُ دانٍ لِلبِلادِ سَحيلُ

وَآخَرُ دانٍ لِلبِلادِ سَحيلُ

So one part stands upright, its dust billowing,

Some tents are pitched on its heights in an uprising,

And another lies close to the earth, worn smooth.

Others humbly subside for homesteads and sheepfolds.

وَمَنزِلَةٌ أُخرى تَقادَمَ عَهدُها

وَمَنزِلَةٌ أُخرى تَقادَمَ عَهدُها

بِذي العُشِّ تَعفوها صَباً وَشَمولُ

بِذي العُشِّ تَعفوها صَباً وَشَمولُ

And another dwelling, whose days are long past,

Another place, worn out, remains from ancient days,

At Dhu al-ʿUshsh, the east and north winds efface it.

Youthful and rainy seasons have wasted it away.

تُراوِحُها الأَرواحُ وَالقَطرُ وَالبَلا

تُراوِحُها الأَرواحُ وَالقَطرُ وَالبَلا

يُلاقينَ ما لَم يَلقَ قَطُّ طُلولُ

يُلاقينَ ما لَم يَلقَ قَطُّ طُلولُ

Winds, rain, and decay visit it in turn;

It is swept by winds, showers and running waters,

They endure what no ruins have ever endured.

Meeting what no long necks had met before.

دِيارُ الَّتي يَقصيها يُقصِ وِدَّهُ

دِيارُ الَّتي يَقصيها يُقصِ وِدَّهُ

وَمَن يُدنِها تُعرِض فَكَيفَ تُنيلُ

وَمَن يُدنِها تُعرِض فَكَيفَ تُنيلُ

The dwellings of her—whoever shuns her banishes his love;

The abodes which distance off the visitor

And whoever draws her near, she turns away—how then can she bestow favors?

And scorn the comer near, how can they be attained?

خَليلَيَّ سَيراً وَإِذكُرا اللَهَ تَرشُدا

خَليلَيَّ سَيراً وَإِذكُرا اللَهَ تَرشُدا

وَسيلا بِبَطنِ النِّسعِ حَيثُ يَسيلُ

وَسيلا بِبَطنِ النِّسعِ حَيثُ يَسيلُ

My two friends, journey on, and remember God: you will be guided aright.

O friend, travel by night and remember God will guide you,

And flow along the bed of al-Nisʿ, where it flows.

And choose the route across the rugged valley.

فَإِن أَنتُما كَلَّمتُماها سَقَتكُما

فَإِن أَنتُما كَلَّمتُماها سَقَتكُما

يَمانيَةٌ رَيا الغَمامِ هَطولُ

يَمانيَةٌ رَيا الغَمامِ هَطولُ

Then, if you two speak to her, may you be watered

If you speak to them, maidens will give you to drink

By a Yemeni rainstorm, its clouds laden, pouring down.

Yemeni wine fresh from the clouds pouring.

وَقولا لَها ما تَأمُرينَ بِوامِقٍ

وَقولا لَها ما تَأمُرينَ بِوامِقٍ

لَهُ بَعدَ نَوماتِ العُيونِ أَليلُ

لَهُ بَعدَ نَوماتِ العُيونِ أَليلُ

And say to her, 'What do you decree for a devoted lover

Say to them, "Do you order any lion machines

Who moans after all eyes have fallen asleep?'

That can storm the stony height after the eyes have slept?"

تَبَدَّلتِ وَالأَبدالُ وافٍ وَناقِصٌ

تَبَدَّلتِ وَالأَبدالُ وافٍ وَناقِصٌ

وَمالِكِ عِندي قَد عَلِمتِ بَديلُ

وَمالِكِ عِندي قَد عَلِمتِ بَديلُ

You have taken another; replacements may be worthy or wanting,

You have changed while the alternatives still abound,

Yet, as you know, for me you have no replacement.

But you know that for me your love is irreplaceable.

يُذكِّرُنيها إِن تَغَنَّت حَمائِمٌ

يُذكِّرُنيها إِن تَغَنَّت حَمائِمٌ

لَهُنَّ عَلى غُصنِ العَضاهِ عَويلُ

لَهُنَّ عَلى غُصنِ العَضاهِ عَويلُ

Doves remind me of her when they sing,

When doves are singing, the place reminds me

With their wailing upon a thorn-tree bough.

Of their plaintive cooing from the withered branch.

تَجاوَبنَ في حَدِّ النَهارِ بِعَولَةٍ

تَجاوَبنَ في حَدِّ النَهارِ بِعَولَةٍ

وَأُخرى تُوافي الشَمسَ كُلَّ أَصيلِ

وَأُخرى تُوافي الشَمسَ كُلَّ أَصيلِ

They answered one another at the height of day with a wail,

Calling together at noon with a wailing voice,

And another greets the sun each late afternoon.

Another answers the sun every early dawn.

تَلومُكَ فيها بَعدَ ما إِستَحكَمَ الهَوى

تَلومُكَ فيها بَعدَ ما إِستَحكَمَ الهَوى

نِساءٌ سِفاهاً ما لَهُنَّ عُقولُ

نِساءٌ سِفاهاً ما لَهُنَّ عُقولُ

They blame you for her, after passion has taken firm hold:

They blame you when passion has gained control,

Women, in their foolishness, who have no sense.

Foolish women who have no understanding.

وَسَهمٍ إِذا ما خالَطَ القَلبَ لَم يَكُن

وَسَهمٍ إِذا ما خالَطَ القَلبَ لَم يَكُن

لَهُ مِن سَواقي الأَبهَرَينِ نُصولُ

لَهُ مِن سَواقي الأَبهَرَينِ نُصولُ

And many an arrow, once it mingles with the heart, has

When an arrow has pierced the heart, he has no power

No escape from the channels of the two great arteries.

To obtain a cure from the waters of Euphrates.

وَكَم مِن خَليلٍ قالَ لي لَو سَأَلتَها

وَكَم مِن خَليلٍ قالَ لي لَو سَأَلتَها

فَقُلتُ لَهُ إِنّي إِذاً لَسَؤولُ

فَقُلتُ لَهُ إِنّي إِذاً لَسَؤولُ

And many a friend has said to me, 'If only you asked her!'

How many a friend said, "Ask for her hand,

So I told him, 'Then I should indeed be asking too much.'

I said,ʺThen I would be the questioner.ʺ

أُسائِلُها ما لا يَحِلُّ وَلَم يَكُن

أُسائِلُها ما لا يَحِلُّ وَلَم يَكُن

لِيَسأَلَ شَيئاً لا يَحِلُّ خَليلُ

لِيَسأَلَ شَيئاً لا يَحِلُّ خَليلُ

I would ask her for what is forbidden; never would

Shall I ask what is unlawful? My friend would not

A friend ask for anything forbidden.

Ask for what unlawful, being so true and fine.

فَيا لَيتَ حَظّي مِن نَوالِكِ أَنَّهُ

فَيا لَيتَ حَظّي مِن نَوالِكِ أَنَّهُ

يُبَلِّغُ حاجاتي إِلَيكِ رَسولُ

يُبَلِّغُ حاجاتي إِلَيكِ رَسولُ

Oh, if only my share of your favor were this:

Would my lot had a messenger to carry to you

A messenger to carry my needs to you,

My needs, that you might know my words are true.

لِكَي تَعلَمي أَنَّ الَّذي قُلتُ صادِقاً

لِكَي تَعلَمي أَنَّ الَّذي قُلتُ صادِقاً

وَأَنَّكِ مِخلافُ العِداتِ مَطولُ

وَأَنَّكِ مِخلافُ العِداتِ مَطولُ

So you may know that what I said was true,

At first you yielded a little then hastened to favor,

And that you break promises and delay fulfilling them.

But your favor is grudging - ever so little.

أَنَلتِ قَليلاً ثُمَّ أَسرَعتِ مِنَّةً

أَنَلتِ قَليلاً ثُمَّ أَسرَعتِ مِنَّةً

وَنَيلُكِ مَمنونٌ كَذاكَ قَليلُ

وَنَيلُكِ مَمنونٌ كَذاكَ قَليلُ

You gave a little, then quickly reminded me of the favor;

I fear I shall meet, when passion is gone,

And your gift carries reproaches, and is likewise small.

The same fate as ʿUrwa met in days bygone,

وَإِنّي لَأَخشى أَن أُلاقي مِنَ الهَوى

وَإِنّي لَأَخشى أَن أُلاقي مِنَ الهَوى

وَمِن زَفَراتِ الحُبِ حينَ تَزولُ

وَمِن زَفَراتِ الحُبِ حينَ تَزولُ

And I truly fear that I shall suffer from passion,

When he suffered the pangs of blighted love

And from love's deep sighs, when you depart,

From Jamila's disdain after union so sweet.

كَما كانَ لاقى في العُصورِ الَّتي مَضَت

كَما كانَ لاقى في العُصورِ الَّتي مَضَت

عُرَيَّةٌ مِن شَحطِ النَوى وَجَميلُ

عُرَيَّةٌ مِن شَحطِ النَوى وَجَميلُ

What was suffered in ages long gone

Though life is pleasant, yet I pine with love,

By ʿUrayya and Jamil, from separation's remoteness.

My companion, they say, will soon bid farewell.

وَإِنّي لَأَهوى وَالحَياةُ شَهِيَّةٌ

وَإِنّي لَأَهوى وَالحَياةُ شَهِيَّةٌ

وَفائِيَ إِذ قيلَ الحَبيبُ يَزولُ

وَفائِيَ إِذ قيلَ الحَبيبُ يَزولُ

And I truly cherish—though life is sweet—

When he goes, sadness of parting will haunt me,

My fidelity, when it is said, 'The beloved is leaving.'

And his journey's secret will rankle within.

وَتَختَصُّ مِن دوني بِهِ غُربَةُ النَوى

وَتَختَصُّ مِن دوني بِهِ غُربَةُ النَوى

وَيُضمِرُهُ بَعدَ الدُنُوِّ رَحيلُ

وَيُضمِرُهُ بَعدَ الدُنُوِّ رَحيلُ

And separation's exile claims him for itself, apart from me,

If death takes me before we part,

And departure hides him after closeness.

I shall die as noble lovers have died before.

فَإِن سَبَقَت قَبلَ البِعادِ مَنِيَّتي

فَإِن سَبَقَت قَبلَ البِعادِ مَنِيَّتي

فَإِنّي وَأَربابِ الغَرامِ نَبيلُ

فَإِنّي وَأَربابِ الغَرامِ نَبيلُ

Then if my death comes first, before separation,

In a desolate land dreaded and abandoned,

Then, by the masters of passion, I am noble.

Even beasts scarce visit to drink.

وَداوِيَّةٍ قَفرٍ يَكادُ يَهابُها

وَداوِيَّةٍ قَفرٍ يَكادُ يَهابُها

مِنَ القَومِ مِصلاتُ الرَحيلِ دَليلُ

مِنَ القَومِ مِصلاتُ الرَحيلِ دَليلُ

And many a barren wilderness that almost daunts

The gazelle is restored by its water,

A bold traveler among the men, a guide,

Though the den's lodger is emaciated.

يُعافُ بِها المَعبوطُ مِن بَعدِ مائِها

يُعافُ بِها المَعبوطُ مِن بَعدِ مائِها

وَإِن جاعَ مِقرامُ السِباعِ نَسولُ

وَإِن جاعَ مِقرامُ السِباعِ نَسولُ

Fresh-slaughtered meat is shunned there, for its water is far off,

I crossed it traveling with a mirthful group,

Even if a meat-craving, swift-roaming beast of prey is hungry.

Some riding does, others lively, robust camels,

قَطَعتُ بِمِصلالِ الخِشاشِ يَرُدُّها

قَطَعتُ بِمِصلالِ الخِشاشِ يَرُدُّها

عَلى الكُرهِ مِنها ضانَةٌ وَجَديلُ

عَلى الكُرهِ مِنها ضانَةٌ وَجَديلُ

I crossed it on a she-camel whose nose-peg rattled, restrained

With slender legs, smooth cheeks and haughty walk,

Against her will by a nose-ring and a braided rein;

Like the gait of Waleed's sword when drawn from its sheath.

وَرَأسٌ شَديدُ الأَخدَعَينِ وَمَخرَمٌ

وَرَأسٌ شَديدُ الأَخدَعَينِ وَمَخرَمٌ

وَرِجلٌ كَمِخراقِ الوَليدِ رَحولُ

وَرِجلٌ كَمِخراقِ الوَليدِ رَحولُ

And a head with sturdy neck-veins, and a pierced muzzle,

Leila's estrangement was due neither to preoccupation

And a leg like a boy's rag-whip, tireless in travel.

Nor cares of life that left you no leisure,

وَما هَجرُ لَيلى أَن تَكونَ تَباعَدَت

وَما هَجرُ لَيلى أَن تَكونَ تَباعَدَت

عَلَيكَ وَلا أَن أَحصَرَتكَ شُغولُ

عَلَيكَ وَلا أَن أَحصَرَتكَ شُغولُ

Forsaking Layla is not a matter of her having moved far

Nor to aversion conceived against you,

From you, nor of preoccupations having hemmed you in,

Nor preference for any other.

وَلا أَن تَكونَ النَفسُ عَنها نَجيحَة

وَلا أَن تَكونَ النَفسُ عَنها نَجيحَة

بِشَيءٍ وَلا أَن تَرتَضي بِبَديلِ

بِشَيءٍ وَلا أَن تَرتَضي بِبَديلِ

Nor of the soul finding fulfillment away from her

In anything, nor of your settling for a substitute.