أليلاىَO my Layla ماnot أبقَىhas left الهوىlove فيَّin me منany رُشدِgood sense
أليلاىَ ما أبقَى الهوى فيَّ من رُشدِ
فردِّيso restore علىto المشتاقِthe yearning lover مهجتَهhis soul ردِّيrestore
فردِّي على المشتاقِ مهجتَه ردِّي
O my Layla, love has left me no good sense.
Oh nights, how long has passion persisted in me, robbing me of reason!
So give the yearning lover back his soul—give it back.
Give the longing one his passion back, give it back!
أيُنسَىcan it be forgotten? تلاقيناour meeting وأنتِand you حزينةٌsorrowful
أيُنسَى تلاقينا وأنتِ حزينةٌ
ورأسُكand your head كابٍbowed منfrom عياءٍweariness ومنand from سهدِsleeplessness
ورأسُك كابٍ من عياءٍ ومن سهدِ
Can our meeting be forgotten, when you were sorrowful,
Can our meeting be forgotten while you are sad,
your head bowed with weariness and sleeplessness?
Your head bent under the burden of distress and wear?
أقولI say وقدand already وسدتُهI pillowed it راحتيmy palm كماjust as
أقول وقد وسدتُه راحتي كما
تَوسَّدَlay pillowed طفلٌa child متعبٌweary راحةَcomfort المهدِthe cradle
تَوسَّدَ طفلٌ متعبٌ راحةَ المهدِ
I say, having pillowed it upon my palm, just as
I say, though my comfort has been denied like
a weary child lies pillowed in the cradle's comfort:
A tired babe who takes the cradle as his pillow,
تعاليcome إلىto صدرٍa breast رحيبٍspacious وساعدٍand an arm
تعالي إلى صدرٍ رحيبٍ وساعدٍ
حبيبٍbeloved وركنٍand a refuge فيin الهوىlove غيرnot منهَدّcollapsed
حبيبٍ وركنٍ في الهوى غير منهَدّ
Come to a spacious breast and an arm
Come to an open bosom and helpful arms,
beloved, and a refuge in love that stands unshaken.
The beloved’s refuge where passion knows no bounds.
بنفسيَwith my life هذاthis الشّعرُthe hair والخُصَلُand the tresses التيwhich
بنفسيَ هذا الشّعرُ والخُصَلُ التي
تهاوتtumbled علىonto نحرa throat منfrom العاجivory منقدِّhewn
تهاوت على نحر من العاج منقدِّ
My life for this hair, and for these tresses
With my soul I swear, and by these tresses
that tumbled onto a throat hewn from ivory!
That tumble over ivory skin so fair,
ترامتfell freely كماas شاءتthey wished وشاءَand wished لهاfor them الهوىlove
ترامت كما شاءت وشاءَ لها الهوى
تميلleans علىupon خدٍّa cheek وتصدفُand turns away عنfrom خدِّa cheek
تميل على خدٍّ وتصدفُ عن خدِّ
They fell freely as they wished, and as love wished for them,
That stray as passion wills, passion decrees,
leaning upon one cheek and turning from another.
That lean upon one cheek or hide another.
وتلكand those الكرومُthe grapevines الدانياتُwithin reach لقاطفٍfor a gatherer
وتلك الكرومُ الدانياتُ لقاطفٍ
بياضُwhiteness الأمانيof hopes منfrom عناقيدِهَاtheir clusters الربدِdusky
بياضُ الأماني من عناقيدِهَا الربدِ
And those vines bending close to one who gathers
And by those creeping vines, those clusters white
the whiteness of hopes from their dusky clusters!
As virgin fancies, gracing viney boughs.
فياso O لكَfor you عنديto me منof ظلامٍdarkness محبَّبbeloved
فيا لكَ عندي من ظلامٍ محبَّب
تَألَّقَshone فيهwithin it الفرقthe hair-parting كالزمنِlike the time الرغدِprosperous
تَألَّقَ فيه الفرق كالزمنِ الرغدِ
Oh, what a beloved darkness you are to me,
Oh, what cherished darkness you have brought me,
within which the parting shone like a time of plenty!
Where absence gleams like fortunes golden tide!
ألاindeed كلُّall حسنٍbeauty فيin البريةِcreation خادمٌa servant
ألا كلُّ حسنٍ في البريةِ خادمٌ
لسلطانَةِto the queen العينينِof the two eyes والجيدِand the neck والقدِّand the figure
لسلطانَةِ العينينِ والجيدِ والقدِّ
Indeed, all beauty in creation is a servant
Behold, all beauty in the wild but serves
to the queen of eyes, neck, and figure.
The eyes that slay, the forehead and the stride
وكلُّand all جمالٍbeauty فيin الوجودِexistence حيالَهbefore it
وكلُّ جمالٍ في الوجودِ حيالَه
بهin it ذلةُabasement الشاكيof the supplicant ومرحمةُand a plea for mercy العبدِof the slave
به ذلةُ الشاكي ومرحمةُ العبدِ
And all beauty in existence, before it,
And all the grace that life can bear but wakes
bears the supplicant's abasement and the slave's plea for mercy.
The wretched lover’s plaint, the servant’s plea.
وماand nothing راعَstartled قلبيmy heart منكin you إلاexcept فراشةٌa butterfly
وما راعَ قلبي منك إلا فراشةٌ
منof الدمعِtears حامتhovered فوقabove عرشٍa throne منof الوردِroses
من الدمعِ حامت فوق عرشٍ من الوردِ
And nothing in you startled my heart but a butterfly
Naught rouses my heart for you but butterflies
of tears that hovered above a throne of roses,
That dance above a bank of roses red,
مجنحةwinged صيغتwas fashioned منfrom النورِlight والندَىand dew
مجنحة صيغت من النورِ والندَى
ترفflutters علىover روضٍa garden وتغفوand dozes إلىbeside وردِroses
ترف على روضٍ وتغفو إلى وردِ
winged, fashioned of light and dew,
Formed of sheer light and dew, that skim
fluttering over a garden and dozing beside roses.
The garden bowers and on rose beds sleep.
بهاwithin it مثلthe same as ماwhat بيin me ياO حبيبيmy beloved وسيّدِيand my master
بها مثل ما بي يا حبيبي وسيّدِي
منof الشجنِsorrow القتَّالِdeadly والظمأand thirst المردِيruinous
من الشجنِ القتَّالِ والظمأ المردِي
It shares what is in me, O my beloved and my master,
You know my pain, my master, and my lord,
of murderous sorrow and a thirst that destroys.
This killing longing and this thirst that kills!
لقدindeed أقفرَbecame deserted المحرابُthe prayer niche منof صلواتهits prayers
لقد أقفرَ المحرابُ من صلواته
فليسَso there is not بهin it منany شاعرٍpoet ساهرٍwakeful بعديafter me
فليسَ به من شاعرٍ ساهرٍ بعدي
The prayer niche has indeed been emptied of its prayers;
The shrine is empty now of prayers;
no wakeful poet remains there after me.
No worshipper keeps vigil after me.
وقفناwe stood وقدand already حانَhad arrived النوىseparation أيَّwhat a موقفٍmoment
وقفنا وقد حانَ النوى أيَّ موقفٍ
نحاولُwe try فيهin it الصبرَpatience والصبرُand patience لاnot يُجديavails
نحاولُ فيه الصبرَ والصبرُ لا يُجدي
We stood, as separation's hour arrived—what a moment!
We stop, the parting moment nears; what stance
We tried there to be patient, but patience was no use.
Can brave the parting now? Endurance fails!
كأنَّas though طيوفَphantoms الرعبِof terror والبينand parting موشكٌimminent
كأنَّ طيوفَ الرعبِ والبين موشكٌ
ومزدحمand the thronging الآلامِof pains والوجدِand longing فيin حَشدِa crowd
ومزدحم الآلامِ والوجدِ في حَشدِ
As though the phantoms of terror, with parting imminent,
Horror and severance mass their fearful ranks
the thronging of pain and longing in a crowd,
Sorrows and passions in a weltering crowd
ومضطرمand the blaze الأنفاسِof breaths والضيقand anguish جاثمٌcrouching
ومضطرم الأنفاسِ والضيق جاثمٌ
ومشتبكand the intertwining النجوىof whispers ومعتنقand the clasping الأيديof hands
ومشتبك النجوى ومعتنق الأيدي
the blaze of breaths, with anguish crouching down,
Hot, panting breaths, slow strangling misery,
the intertwining whispers and the clasping hands,
Embracing arms and murmurs closely pressed,
مواكبprocessions خرسmute فيin جحيمٍa hell مؤبدٍeverlasting
مواكب خرس في جحيمٍ مؤبدٍ
بغيرwithout رجاءٍhope فيof سلامٍpeace ولاnor بَردِcoolness
بغير رجاءٍ في سلامٍ ولا بَردِ
were mute processions in an everlasting hell,
A speechless throng doomed to eternal hell
with no hope of peace or coolness.
With not a hope of peace or cool reprieve.
فياso O أيكةًthicket مدَّspread الهوىlove منfrom ظلالهاits shades
فيا أيكةً مدَّ الهوى من ظلالها
ربيعاًa spring علىupon قلبيmy heart وروضاًand a garden منof السعدhappiness
ربيعاً على قلبي وروضاً من السعد
O thicket, from whose shades love spread
Oh Aika, passion’s shade has clothed my heart
a spring upon my heart and a garden of happiness,
In a verdant robe of spring, a place of joy.
تقلصتِyou shrank إلاexcept طيفَa phantom حبٍّof love محيَّرٍbewildered
تقلصتِ إلا طيفَ حبٍّ محيَّرٍ
علىon دَرَجٍsteps خابيdim الجوانبِat the sides مُسوَدِّblackened
على دَرَجٍ خابي الجوانبِ مُسوَدِّ
you shrank to nothing but a phantom of bewildered love
But only the ghost of a puzzling love remains
on steps with dim and blackened sides.
On steps obscured, in corners wrapped in black,
تَردَّدَhesitated واستأنىand waited لوعدٍfor a promise وموثقٍand a pledge
تَردَّدَ واستأنى لوعدٍ وموثقٍ
وأدبرَand turned away مخنوقاًstrangled وقدand already غُصَّchoked بالوعدِon the promise
وأدبرَ مخنوقاً وقد غُصَّ بالوعدِ
It hesitated and waited for a promise and a pledge,
Lingering, hesitating, true to its word,
and turned away strangled, choking on the promise,
Then turning crushed beneath the promise sworn,
وأسلمنيand surrendered me لليلِto the night كالقبرِlike a grave بارداًcold
وأسلمني لليلِ كالقبرِ بارداً
يهبُّblows علىupon وجهيmy face بهin it نَفَسُbreath اللحدِof the tomb
يهبُّ على وجهي به نَفَسُ اللحدِ
and surrendered me to a night as cold as a grave,
Consigning me to darkness and the grave,
where the breath of the tomb blows upon my face.
Where the death rattle stirs my pallid face,
وأسلمنيand surrendered me للكونِto the universe كالوحشِlike a beast راقداًslumbering
وأسلمني للكونِ كالوحشِ راقداً
تمزقنيtears me apart أنيابُهits fangs فيin الدجىthe darkness وحديby myself
تمزقني أنيابُه في الدجى وحدي
And surrendered me to a universe slumbering like a beast,
Abandoning me to the universe, a beast
its fangs tearing me apart, alone in the dark.
Whose fangs mangle me in the lonely night.
كأنَّas though علىover مصرَEgypt ظلامينِtwo darknesses أَعكَرٌmurkier
كأنَّ على مصرَ ظلامينِ أَعكَرٌ
بآخرَby another منfrom خابيthe dimness of المقاديرِdestinies مربَدِّdusky
بآخرَ من خابي المقاديرِ مربَدِّ
As though over Egypt lay two darknesses, one made murkier
As if above my Egypt, shadows thicken
by the other, dim and dusky with fate.
In the gloom of misfortunes bleak eclipse,
ركودٌstagnation وإبهامٌand obscurity وصمتٌand silence ووحشةٌand desolation
ركودٌ وإبهامٌ وصمتٌ ووحشةٌ
وقدand already ضمهاenfolded her الغيبُthe unseen المحجَّبُveiled فيin بُردِa cloak
وقد ضمها الغيبُ المحجَّبُ في بُردِ
Stagnation, obscurity, silence, and desolation,
Stagnant, obscure, hushed, forlorn,
and the veiled unseen has enfolded her in a cloak.
Enwrapped by the hidden folds of space.
كأنas though سماءَthe sky النيلِof the Nile لمnot تَلقَhad encountered حادثاًa calamity
كأن سماءَ النيلِ لم تَلقَ حادثاً
ولاnor قصفتcrashed فيهاwithin it القواصفُthe tempests بالرعدِwith thunder
ولا قصفت فيها القواصفُ بالرعدِ
As though the Nile's sky had never known a calamity,
As if the Nile’s own heavens have known
nor had tempests crashed there with thunder.
No upheaval, no warning crash of storms.
أحقاًis it truly? تولَّىpassed away ذلكthat الهولُterror وامَّحَتand were erased
أحقاً تولَّى ذلك الهولُ وامَّحَت
خواطرُthoughts ذاكَof that الويلwoe والرعبand terror والحقدِand hatred
خواطرُ ذاكَ الويل والرعب والحقدِ
Has that terror truly passed, and have they faded—
Can terror truly reign while consciences sleep
the thoughts of that woe, that terror, that hatred?
Safe in faith’s refuge, giving thanks, and praise,
فياso O للقلوبِfor the hearts الصابراتِpatient وقدand already غفتfell asleep
فيا للقلوبِ الصابراتِ وقد غفت
علىupon نعمةِthe blessing الإِيمانِof faith والشكرِand gratitude والحمدِand praise
على نعمةِ الإِيمانِ والشكرِ والحمدِ
O those patient hearts, that have fallen asleep
And faithful hearts rest reassured
upon the blessing of faith, gratitude, and praise!
In the compassion of the One, the Last?
وياand O للقلوبِfor the hearts المؤمناتِbelieving وأمنهاand their safety
ويا للقلوبِ المؤمناتِ وأمنها
وضجعتهاand their repose فيin رحمةِthe mercy الصَّمَدِof the Eternal Refuge الفردِthe One
وضجعتها في رحمةِ الصَّمَدِ الفردِ
And O those faithful hearts, their peace,
Can this resplendent Eden that I know
and their repose in the mercy of the Eternal Refuge, the One!
Be the eternal life I breathe and taste,
أهذاis this? الربيعُthe spring الفخمُsplendid والجنةُand the paradise التيwhich
أهذا الربيعُ الفخمُ والجنةُ التي
أكادI almost بهاin it أستافُI scent رائحةَthe fragrance الخلدِof eternity
أكاد بها أستافُ رائحةَ الخلدِ
Does this splendid spring, this paradise
Turn—when darkness falls enclosing it—
where I almost scent the fragrance of eternity,
To a vaporous dream of silence and decay,
تصيرُbecomes إذاwhen جُنَّdescended الظلامُdarkness ولفّهاand enfolded it
تصيرُ إذا جُنَّ الظلامُ ولفّها
بجنحٍwith a wing منof الأحلامِdreams والصمتِand silence ممتَدِّoutspread
بجنحٍ من الأحلامِ والصمتِ ممتَدِّ
become, when darkness falls and wraps it
A whore’s thin dress, a peddler’s booth
in an outspread wing of dreams and silence,
Where the wretched soul barters his bread for hay,
مباءةَa haunt خمارٍof a wine seller وحانوتَand a shop بائعٍof a merchant
مباءةَ خمارٍ وحانوتَ بائعٍ
شقيّwretched الأمانيin hopes يشتريbuys الرزقlivelihood بالسهدِwith sleeplessness
شقيّ الأماني يشتري الرزق بالسهدِ
a wine seller's haunt and the shop of a merchant
While the lamp stands like a guardian there
wretched in his hopes, buying his livelihood with sleeplessness?
Watching over secrets, wakeful, dignified,
وقدand already وَقَفَstood المصباحُthe lamp وقفةَthe stance حارسٍof a guard
وقد وَقَفَ المصباحُ وقفةَ حارسٍ
رقيبٍwatchful علىover الأسرارthe secrets داعٍcalling إلىto الجِدِّearnestness
رقيبٍ على الأسرار داعٍ إلى الجِدِّ
And the lamp has taken the stance of a guard,
As if it were Takiyya rapt devout
watchful over secrets, calling for earnestness,
In nightly prayers or fasting for the faith?
كأنَّas though تقيّاa devout man غارقاًimmersed فيin عبادةٍworship
كأنَّ تقيّا غارقاً في عبادةٍ
يصومُfasts through الدجىthe darkness أوor يقطعُspends الليلَthe night فيin الزهدِascetic devotion
يصومُ الدجى أو يقطعُ الليلَ في الزهدِ
as though a devout man immersed in worship
Oh you, watcher over manners in this life,
fasted through darkness or spent the night in ascetic devotion.
Your day was spent seeking life’s bare needs;
فياso O حارسَguardian الأخلاقِof morals فيin الحيِّthe neighborhood نائمa sleeper
فيا حارسَ الأخلاقِ في الحيِّ نائم
قضىspent يومَهhis day فيin حومةِthe midst البؤسِof misery يستجديbegging
قضى يومَه في حومةِ البؤسِ يستجدي
O guardian of morals, in the neighborhood a man sleeps,
Rocks were your pillow, earth your bed,
who spent his day in the midst of misery, begging;
And for cover you had but a threadbare gown;
وسادَتُهhis pillow الأحجارُthe stones والمضجعُand the bed الثرىthe dust
وسادَتُه الأحجارُ والمضجعُ الثرى
ويفترشُand beds down on الإِفريزَthe pavement فيin الحرِّthe heat والبردِand cold
ويفترشُ الإِفريزَ في الحرِّ والبردِ
the stones are his pillow, the dust his bed,
A carriage passes on some hidden errand,
and he beds down on the pavement, in heat and cold.
Its curtains hiding its secrets from the world,
وسيارةand a car تمضيspeeds لأمرٍfor an affair محجَّبٍhidden
وسيارة تمضي لأمرٍ محجَّبٍ
محجبةَveiled الأستارِwith curtains خافيةَconcealed القصدِin purpose
محجبةَ الأستارِ خافيةَ القصدِ
And a car speeds toward a hidden affair,
Bound for unknown lands, tearing the night,
veiled by curtains, its purpose concealed,
Its lightning flashing distant as a spark.
إلىtoward الهدفِthe goal المجهولِunknown تنتهبُplunders الدجىthe darkness
إلى الهدفِ المجهولِ تنتهبُ الدجى
وتومضand flashes وَمضَthe flash البرقِof lightning يلمعgleaming عنfrom بعدِa distance
وتومض وَمضَ البرقِ يلمع عن بعدِ
toward the unknown goal, plundering the darkness,
When will this misery lift from the alleys
flashing like lightning that gleams from afar.
Filled with hunger, patience, sweat and grief?
متىwhen ينجليlifts هذاthis الضنَىweariness عنfrom مسالكٍpaths
متى ينجلي هذا الضنَى عن مسالكٍ
مرنقةٍclouded بالجوعby hunger والصبرِand patience والكَّدِand toil
مرنقةٍ بالجوع والصبرِ والكَّدِ
When will this weariness lift from paths
A dog paws through rubble; a wild cat wakes,
clouded by hunger, patience, and toil?
The guard sleeps, and the soldier wanders dreaming.
ينقِّبrummages كلبٌa dog فيin الحطامِthe debris وربماand perhaps
ينقِّب كلبٌ في الحطامِ وربما
رَعَىwatched over الليلَthe night هِرٌّa cat ساهرٌwakeful وغفاand dozed الجنديthe soldier
رَعَى الليلَ هِرٌّ ساهرٌ وغفا الجندي
A dog rummages through the debris, and perhaps
Oh Egypt, your nights have no bard to sing them,
a wakeful cat watched over the night while the soldier dozed.
No one to hear your lonely poet’s songs.
أياO مصرُEgypt ماnot فيكِin you العشيةَthis evening سامرُan evening companion
أيا مصرُ ما فيكِ العشيةَ سامرُ
ولاnor فيكِin you منany مصغlistener لشاعرِكto your poet الفردِsolitary
ولا فيكِ من مصغ لشاعرِك الفردِ
O Egypt, no one sits talking within you this evening,
I left you, time wore away our dream;
nor is there anyone to listen to your solitary poet.
Pity one whose necklace is pulled apart!
أهاجرتيO you who forsake me طالَhas lasted long النوىseparation فارحميso have mercy on الذيthe one whom
أهاجرتي طالَ النوى فارحمي الذي
تركتِyou left بديدَscattered الشملِin togetherness منتثرstrewn العقدِthe necklace
تركتِ بديدَ الشملِ منتثر العقدِ
O you who forsake me, separation has lasted long; have mercy on the one
Losing you was like losing the spring
you left torn apart, his necklace scattered.
And all its bounty; I go back to pain and care.
فقدتُكِI lost you فقدانَas the loss of الربيعِspring وطيبهand its fragrance
فقدتُكِ فقدانَ الربيعِ وطيبه
وعدتُand I returned إلىto الإِعياءweariness والسقمِand sickness والوجدِand longing
وعدتُ إلى الإِعياء والسقمِ والوجدِ
I lost you as one loses spring and its fragrance,
It was no paltry thing I lost in you;
and returned to weariness, sickness, and longing.
You are no slight loss borne easily.
وليسَand is not الذيwhat ضيَّعتُI lost فيكِin you بهيِّنat all slight
وليسَ الذي ضيَّعتُ فيكِ بهيِّن
ولاand not أنتِyou فيamong الغُيَّابthe absent هينةُeasy الفقدِto lose
ولا أنتِ في الغُيَّاب هينةُ الفقدِ
And what I lost in you was no small thing,
I took my guidance from your eyes:
nor, among the absent, are you a loss lightly borne.
How can you leave me to this blinding night?
بعينكِby your eye أستهديI seek guidance فكيفَso how تركتنِيyou left me
بعينكِ أستهدي فكيفَ تركتنِي
بهذاin this الظلامِdarkness المطبقall-enveloping الجهمِgrim أستهديI seek guidance
بهذا الظلامِ المطبق الجهمِ أستهدي
I seek guidance by your eye—how could you leave me
I came to you for rain: How can you leave me
seeking guidance in this grim, all-enveloping darkness?
In this harsh desert of dry peaks and stones?
أتيتُكِI came to you أستسقيI seek water فكيفso how تركتِنيyou left me
أتيتُكِ أستسقي فكيف تركتِني
لهذيto these الفيافيdeserts الصمِّdeaf والكثبand the dunes الجردِbare
لهذي الفيافي الصمِّ والكثب الجردِ
I came to you for water—how could you leave me
I came for help: How can you abandon me
to these deaf deserts and barren dunes?
To this world and all that time will bring?
أتيتُكِI came to you أستعديI seek redress فكيفso how تركتِنيyou left me
أتيتُكِ أستعدي فكيف تركتِني
إِلىto هذهthis الدنياworld وأحداثِهاand its events اللدِّimplacably hostile
إِلى هذه الدنيا وأحداثِها اللدِّ
I came to you for redress—how could you leave me
I came to you for healing: How forsake me
to this world and its implacably hostile events?
When only bone and soul and flesh stay sound?
بحبِّكِthrough your love أَستشفيI seek healing فكيفَso how تركتِنيyou left me
بحبِّكِ أَستشفي فكيفَ تركتِني
ولمand not يبقَremained غيرُanything but العظمِbone والروحِand the soul والجِلدِand the skin
ولم يبقَ غيرُ العظمِ والروحِ والجِلدِ
I seek healing in your love—how could you leave me
This red death dancing in my blood, that white death Glorying in my skin–and you could ease my load!
with nothing remaining but bone, soul, and skin?
When buildings fall, you bolted them together;
وهَذيand these المناياdeaths الحمرred ترقصُdance فيin دميmy blood
وهَذي المنايا الحمر ترقصُ في دمي
وهذيand these المناياdeaths البيضwhite تختالُswagger فيat فَودِيmy temple
وهذي المنايا البيض تختالُ في فَودِي
And these red deaths dance in my blood,
Time had no power to batter me down.
and these white deaths swagger at my temples.
I cried for help and you answered my cry,
وكنتِand you used to إذاwhen شاكيتُI complained خففتِyou lightened محمليmy burden
وكنتِ إذا شاكيتُ خففتِ محملي
فهانso grew lighter الذيwhat ألقاهI face it فيin العيشِlife منof جهدhardship
فهان الذي ألقاه في العيشِ من جهد
And whenever I complained, you would lighten my burden,
Though battlefields stretch between us today.
so the hardship I faced in life grew light.
I had a way into your heart and love’s home;
وكنتِand you used to إذاwhen انهارَcollapsed البناءُthe structure رفعتِهِyou raised it
وكنتِ إذا انهارَ البناءُ رفعتِهِ
فلمso not تكنِwere الأيامُthe days تقوىَhave strength علىto هَدِّيbreak me
فلم تكنِ الأيامُ تقوىَ على هَدِّي
And whenever the structure collapsed, you would raise it,
You closed it off: I stand exiled, denied.
so the days could not tear me down.
Greetings to you, whose eyes have harvested
وكنتِand you used to إذاwhen ناديتُI called لَبَّيتِyou answered صرختيmy cry
وكنتِ إذا ناديتُ لَبَّيتِ صرختي
فواحَرَباًso alas! كَمhow many بينَناbetween us اليومَtoday منof سدِّa barrier
فواحَرَباً كَم بينَنا اليومَ من سدِّ
And whenever I called, you would answer my cry;
Such tenderness and grace for me to reap
alas, how many barriers stand between us today!
If glance of yours means sword and death for me
وقدand indeed كانَthere was ليfor me للعطفِto tenderness والحبِّand love مسلكٌa path
وقد كانَ لي للعطفِ والحبِّ مسلكٌ
فأغلَقتِهso you closed it دونيagainst me فبتُّso I spent the night بلاwithout ردِّreply
فأغلَقتِه دوني فبتُّ بلا ردِّ
I once had a path to tenderness and love,
Still you both kill and you revive the slain
but you shut it against me, and I spent the night without reply.
Once drawn they show no mercy in their aim
سلامٌpeace علىupon عينيكِyour two eyes ماذاwhat أجنَّتاthey both sheltered
سلامٌ على عينيكِ ماذا أجنَّتا
منof اللطفِgentleness والتحنانand tenderness والعطفِand compassion والودِّand love
من اللطفِ والتحنان والعطفِ والودِّ
Peace upon your eyes—how much they have sheltered
Sheathed, they kill more sweetly and in secret
of gentleness, tenderness, compassion, and love!
Greetings to my heart that knows your will; if this Slaughter’s your intent, it welcomes its fate!
إذاif كانَthere was فيin لحظيكِyour two glances سيفٌa sword ومصرعٌand death
إذا كانَ في لحظيكِ سيفٌ ومصرعٌ
فمنكِso from you الذيwhat يُحييgives life ومنكand from you الذيwhat يُرديkills
فمنكِ الذي يُحيي ومنك الذي يُردي
If in your glances lie a sword and death,
Cloaked in night when passion calls me back,
from you comes what gives life, and from you what kills.
I show a side of me you’ve never seen
إِذاwhen جُرِّدَاboth were unsheathed لمnot يفتكاboth slay عَنwith تعمدٍdeliberate intent
إِذا جُرِّدَا لم يفتكا عَن تعمدٍ
وإنand if أُغمدَاboth were sheathed فالفَتكُthen the killing أروعmore dreadful فيin الغمدِthe sheath
وإن أُغمدَا فالفَتكُ أروع في الغمدِ
When they are unsheathed, they do not slay deliberately,
Head bowed or cradled in my arms, the longing
and when sheathed, the killing is more dreadful in the sheath.
And desire I own surpass all bounds.
هنيئاًmay it bring joy لقلبيto my heart ماwhat صنعتِyou have done ومرحباًand welcome
هنيئاً لقلبي ما صنعتِ ومرحباً
وأهلاًand welcome بهto it إِنif كانَwas فتكُكِyour killing عنwith عَمدِdeliberate intent
وأهلاً به إِن كانَ فتكُكِ عن عَمدِ
May my heart rejoice in what you have done; welcome,
I kiss within my heart that space you filled,
and a glad welcome to it, if your killing was deliberate!
The wound I speak to, close or far away.
فإِنيfor I إذاwhen جُنَّdescended الظلامُdarkness وعادنيand visited me
فإِني إذا جُنَّ الظلامُ وعادني
هواكِyour love فأبديتُso I revealed الذيwhat لمnot أكنI was أبديrevealing
هواكِ فأبديتُ الذي لم أكن أبدي
For when darkness falls and I am visited
O house where one lived whom I adored! A greeting
by your love, and I reveal what I had not revealed,
On this noblest place of noblest days,
وملتُand I bent برأسيwith my head كابياًdowncast أوor مواسياًconsoling
وملتُ برأسي كابياً أو مواسياً
وعنديand I have منof الأشجانِsorrows والشوقِand longing ماwhat عنديI have
وعندي من الأشجانِ والشوقِ ما عندي
and bend my head, downcast or offering solace,
Those sweet past evenings, that hallowed company
and bear what I bear of sorrows and longing,
Round love’s hearth where hearts poured freely forth,
أقَبِّلُI kiss فيin قلبيmy heart مكاناًa place حللتِهِyou inhabited it
أقَبِّلُ في قلبي مكاناً حللتِهِ
وجرحاًand a wound أناجيهI commune with it علىin القربnearness والبعدِand distance
وجرحاً أناجيه على القرب والبعدِ
I kiss within my heart a place you once inhabited,
Where poets bared their souls in verse that cut
and a wound I commune with, both near and far.
Through flesh and bone to earn immortal life.
وياand O دارَhouse منof the one whom أهوىَI love عليكِupon you تحيةٌa greeting
ويا دارَ من أهوىَ عليكِ تحيةٌ
علىfor أكرمِthe noblest الذكرىmemory علىfor أشرفِthe most honorable العهدِpledge
على أكرمِ الذكرى على أشرفِ العهدِ
And O house of the one I love, greetings to you,
There Baudelaire knew sadness, Verlaine grief,
for the noblest memory, for the most honorable pledge,
Messaih heartbreak, tribulation, woe;
علىfor الأمسياتِthe evenings الساحراتِenchanting ومجلسٍand a gathering
على الأمسياتِ الساحراتِ ومجلسٍ
كريمnoble الهوىin love عفِّchaste المآربِin aims والقصدِand intent
كريم الهوى عفِّ المآربِ والقصدِ
for the enchanting evenings and a gathering
Al-Mutanabbi’s raging hurt and cries
noble in love, chaste in its aims and intent;
Of the oppressed, the stolen thing’s lament!
تنادِمُنَاkeep us company فيهin it تباريحُthe torments شاعرٍof a poet
تنادِمُنَا فيه تباريحُ شاعرٍ
علىupon الدمِblood والأشواكِand thorns يمشيwalks إلىtoward الخلدِimmortality
على الدمِ والأشواكِ يمشي إلى الخلدِ
where a poet's torments keep us company,
Tears so scalding they melt solid rock: if they die
as he walks upon blood and thorns toward immortality.
They carve their names in implacable stone.
فبودليرُfor Baudelaire محزونٌsorrowful وفرلينand Verlaine بائسٌwretched
فبودليرُ محزونٌ وفرلين بائسٌ
وميسيهand Musset مجروحُwounded الهوىin love عاثرُunlucky الجَدِّin fortune
وميسيه مجروحُ الهوى عاثرُ الجَدِّ
For Baudelaire is sorrowful, and Verlaine wretched,
Why should they care if they weep or suffer,
and Musset is wounded in love, ill-starred.
When the tears of misery purchase glory?
وللمتنبيand for al-Mutanabbi غضبةٌa fury مُضَرِيَّةٌMudari
وللمتنبي غضبةٌ مُضَرِيَّةٌ
وثورةُand a revolt مظلومٍof a wronged man وصيحةُand a cry مستعديof one seeking redress
وثورةُ مظلومٍ وصيحةُ مستعدي
And al-Mutanabbi has a Mudari fury,
a wronged man's revolt, and the cry of one seeking redress.
دموعٌtears يذوبُmelts الصخرُrock منهاfrom them فإِنso if مضواthey have passed on
دموعٌ يذوبُ الصخرُ منها فإِن مضوا
فقدthen indeed نقشواthey engraved الأسماءَthe names فيin الحَجَرstone الصلدِhard
فقد نقشوا الأسماءَ في الحَجَر الصلدِ
Tears that melt rock; and if they have passed on,
they have engraved their names in hard stone.
وماذاand what عليهمagainst them إِنif بكواthey wept أوor تعذبواthey suffered
وماذا عليهم إِن بكوا أو تعذبوا
فإنَّfor indeed دموعَtears البؤسِof misery منpart of ثَمَنِthe price المجدِof glory
فإنَّ دموعَ البؤسِ من ثَمَنِ المجدِ
And what does it matter to them if they wept or suffered?
For tears of misery are part of the price of glory.
Partial English translation: 128 of 134 Arabic lines translated.