قَدرٌfate ساقَهُled him فَآواهُand sheltered him رَوضاًin a garden
قَدرٌ ساقَهُ فَآواهُ رَوضاً
لَمnot يَكُنhad طارَflown فيهِin it قَبلاًbefore وَغَنّىand sung
لَم يَكُن طارَ فيهِ قَبلاً وَغَنّى
Fate led him and sheltered him in a garden
Destiny led him, so he took shelter in a meadow
Where he had never flown or sung before.
Where no bird had sung before, and he sang
فَاِستَوىthen settled فَوقَatop ايكةٍa leafy tree وَرَمىand cast عَيeyes (word begins)
فَاِستَوى فَوقَ ايكةٍ وَرَمى عَي
نيهِhis eyes (word completes) فيماover what هُناكthere يُسرىto the left وَيُمنىand to the right
نيهِ فيما هُناك يُسرى وَيُمنى
He settled atop a leafy tree and cast his gaze
He perched atop a branch and glanced around
Over what lay there, to left and right.
At what was to the left and right
وَإِذاand behold الرَوضُthe garden بِهجةُdelight الروحof the spirit طيباًin fragrance
وَإِذا الرَوضُ بِهجةُ الروح طيباً
وَظَلالاًand shade وَفتنةُand enchantment العَينof the eye حُسناin beauty
وَظَلالاً وَفتنةُ العَين حُسنا
And behold, the garden delighted the spirit with fragrance
And behold, the meadow a delight to the soul, fragrant
And shade, and enchanted the eye with beauty.
With shade and allure to the eye, beauty
وَكَأنَّand as though الغَديرَthe brook بَينَbetween ضلالٍerror
وَكَأنَّ الغَديرَ بَينَ ضلالٍ
وَهُدىًand guidance كُلَماwhenever اِستَوىran straight أَوor تَثَنّىcurved
وَهُدىً كُلَما اِستَوى أَو تَثَنّى
And the brook seemed caught between error
As though the pond amidst some trees
And guidance, whenever it ran straight or curved.
And guidance, each time it leveled out or meandered
تَنحَنيbend فَوقهُabove it كرائِمُnoble boughs ذاكَthat الدthe great trees (word begins)
تَنحَني فَوقهُ كرائِمُ ذاكَ الد
دوحgreat trees (word completes) مِنهاfrom them الجَنيthe fruit وَكَمand how much يَتَجَنّىacts capriciously
دوح مِنها الجَني وَكَم يَتَجَنّى
Above it bend the noble boughs of those
Above it fruitful date palms sway
Great trees; from them comes fruit, yet how capricious it is!
With hanging fruits and bending sprigs
مُطمئنٌّuntroubled يَسيرflows along تيهاًproudly فَإِنbut if راseeks (word begins)
مُطمئنٌّ يَسير تيهاً فَإِن را
مseeks (word completes) عِناقَan embrace الصُخورِof the rocks صَدَّتthey rebuffed فَجُنّاthen it went mad
م عِناقَ الصُخورِ صَدَّت فَجُنّا
Untroubled, it flows proudly on; but if it seeks
Content, he strolls lost in thought, but if
To embrace the rocks, they rebuff it, and it goes mad.
The crag's embrace blocked his way, he'd avoid it
هَكَذاthus يُصبحbecomes الحَبيبُthe beloved المَعنّيthe cherished one
هَكَذا يُصبح الحَبيبُ المَعنّي
بَعدَafter حينٍa while وَهُوَand he is المُحبthe lover المَعنّىthe tormented one
بَعدَ حينٍ وَهُوَ المُحب المَعنّى
Thus the cherished beloved becomes,
Thus does the absent-minded lover become
After a while, the tormented lover himself.
After a time, he who was absent-minded
وَمَضىand went on البُلبلُthe nightingale الغَريبُthe stranger يَطوفroaming الرthe garden (word begins)
وَمَضى البُلبلُ الغَريبُ يَطوف الر
روضَgarden (word completes) حَتّىuntil إِنزَوىwithdrew مَحيّاthe face النَهارِof day
روضَ حَتّى إِنزَوى مَحيّا النَهارِ
The stranger nightingale went roaming through
The strange nightingale went circling the meadow
The garden, until the face of day withdrew.
Until the sun settled, bidding day farewell
راحَhe went يَأويto take shelter إِلىto الغُصونthe branches وَلَكنbut
راحَ يَأوي إِلى الغُصون وَلَكن
كَيفَhow يَغفوcan he doze مشرَّدscattered الأَفكارِthe thoughts
كَيفَ يَغفو مشرَّد الأَفكارِ
He sought shelter in the branches, but
He went to roost on the branches, but
How could one with scattered thoughts fall asleep?
How can one lost in thought sleep?
كانَthere was فيin الرَوضthe garden فَوقَbeyond ماwhat يَتَمَنىhe wished for
كانَ في الرَوض فَوقَ ما يَتَمَنى
مِنof فُنونvarieties الأَثمارof fruits وَالأَزهارِand flowers
مِن فُنون الأَثمار وَالأَزهارِ
The garden held more than he could wish for
The meadow had, beyond what he wished for
Of every kind of fruit and flower.
Of fruits and flowers aplenty
غَيرexcept أَنthat لَيسَthere was not فيهِin it طَيرa bird يَغنّيsinging
غَير أَن لَيسَ فيهِ طَير يَغنّي
أَيّwhat رَوضgarden يَحلوis delightful بِلاwithout أَطيارِbirds
أَيّ رَوض يَحلو بِلا أَطيارِ
Except that no bird sang within it.
But no bird sings there
What garden is delightful without birds?
What good is a meadow without birds?
وَسرتand spread فيهِthrough him رَعدةa shudder حينwhen لَمnot يَلfind (word begins)
وَسرت فيهِ رَعدة حين لَم يَل
قfind (word completes) سِوىanything but دارِسٍruined traces مِنof الأَوكارthe nests
ق سِوى دارِسٍ مِن الأَوكار
A shudder ran through him when he found
And unease crept in, since he found
Nothing but the ruined traces of nests,
Only a reptile in its lair
وَبَقاياand remnants نَواقفٍbroken eggshells (uncertain reading) رخمthe vulture المَوof death (word begins)
وَبَقايا نَواقفٍ رخم المَو
تdeath (word completes) عَلَيهاabove them مخضَّبstained الأَظفارِthe claws
ت عَلَيها مخضَّب الأَظفارِ
And remnants of broken eggshells, with death's vulture
And traces of a predator, its claws
Above them, its claws stained with blood.
Bloodstained.
أَيّwhat خَطبٍcalamity أَصابَكُمbefell you معشرَO company of الطَيthe birds (word begins)
أَيّ خَطبٍ أَصابَكُم معشرَ الطَي
رbirds (word completes) وَماذاand what فيin الرَوضthe garden مِنof أَسرارِsecrets
ر وَماذا في الرَوض مِن أَسرارِ
What calamity befell you, company of
What misfortune befell you, flock of birds?
Birds, and what secrets lie within the garden?
What secrets lie in this meadow?
طَلَعَrose الفَجرthe dawn باسِماًsmiling إِثرَafter لَيلٍa night
طَلَعَ الفَجر باسِماً إِثرَ لَيلٍ
دونَهُless than it وَحشةًin desolation كهوفthe caverns الَمنيَّهof death
دونَهُ وَحشةً كهوف الَمنيَّه
Dawn rose smiling after a night
Dawn rose, following a night
More desolate than the caverns of death.
Whose darkness resembled the womb, pregnant
تَتَنزّىleap about أَشباحهits specters صاخِباتٍclamoring
تَتَنزّى أَشباحه صاخِباتٍ
عارياتnaked أَكُفُّهاtheir hands دَمَويَّهbloody
عاريات أَكُفُّها دَمَويَّه
Its specters leapt about, clamoring,
With roaring ghosts, naked,
Naked, their hands bloody.
Bloody hands, pelting
وَرُجومٌand missiles تَفريrend الغُيومthe clouds وَتَهويand plunge
وَرُجومٌ تَفري الغُيوم وَتَهوي
كُلَeach رَجمٍmissile مِنfrom الجَحيمhell شَظيَّهa splinter
كُلَ رَجمٍ مِن الجَحيم شَظيَّه
And missiles rent the clouds and plunged,
Stones from hell, all sharp shards,
Each missile a splinter out of hell.
And an eclipse where the moon
وَخُسوفand an eclipse تَحدَّثspoke البَدرthe full moon فيهِwithin it
وَخُسوف تَحدَّث البَدر فيهِ
بِفَمfrom the mouth of الحوتthe whale منذراًwarning برزيَّهof calamity
بِفَم الحوت منذراً برزيَّه
And an eclipse, in which the full moon spoke
Spoke with the maw of the whale, portending doom
From the whale's mouth, warning of calamity.
That was the night which did away with the trapped nightingale
ذاكَthat لَيلa night قَضىput an end عَلىto البُلبلthe nightingale المَنill-fated (word begins)
ذاكَ لَيل قَضى عَلى البُلبل المَن
كودill-fated (word completes) لَولاbut for يَدٌa hand تَصَدَّتintervened عَلَيَّهexalted
كود لَولا يَدٌ تَصَدَّت عَلَيَّه
That night would have destroyed the ill-fated nightingale,
Had a hand not reached out for him
But for an exalted hand that intervened.
The queen whose throne is the horizons, and whose
مَلكةa queen عرشهاher throne المشارقthe eastern horizons وَالتاand the crown (word begins)
مَلكة عرشها المشارق وَالتا
جcrown (word completes) سَناهاher radiance أَعظِمhow magnificent بِهاshe is شَرقيَّهeastern
ج سَناها أَعظِم بِها شَرقيَّه
A queen whose throne is the eastern horizons, whose crown
Crown is her greatest beauty in the east
Is her radiance—how magnificent an eastern queen!
She saved him, so he rose singing gratefully
أَنقذتهshe saved him فَهبَّso he sprang up يَشدوsinging شَكوراًgratefully
أَنقذته فَهبَّ يَشدو شَكوراً
مَرِحاًjoyfully هاتفاًcalling out لَهاto her بِالتَحيَّهwith a greeting
مَرِحاً هاتفاً لَها بِالتَحيَّه
She saved him, and he sprang up singing gratefully,
Circling playfully, greeting her respectfully
Joyful, calling out his greeting to her:
Queen of rivers
مليكةqueen النيّراتof the heavenly lights
مليكة النيّرات
إلهةgoddess المشرقَينof the two easts
إلهة المشرقَين
Queen of the heavenly lights,
Goddess of the Two Horizons
Goddess of the two easts,
The ancients reached out
الناسthe people فيin الغابراتages past
الناس في الغابرات
إِلَيكtoward you مدّواstretched out اليدينboth hands
إِلَيك مدّوا اليدين
People in ages past
To you, hands extended
Stretched both hands toward you,
And burned in prayer
وَأَحرَقواand burned فيin الصَلاةprayer
وَأَحرَقوا في الصَلاة
نَضارهمtheir gold وَاللُجَينand silver
نَضارهم وَاللُجَين
And burned in prayer
Their vigor and minds
Their gold and silver,
And craned their necks
وَقَرَبواand offered الأَعناقthe necks
وَقَرَبوا الأَعناق
زُلفىto draw near تراقto be shed
زُلفى تراق
And offered up their necks
Draw near, come closer
To draw near, their blood to be shed.
O night, dawn is
ياO لَيلnight إِنindeed الصَباحthe morning
يا لَيل إِن الصَباح
رَمزa symbol حَياةof life الوَرىfor all creation
رَمز حَياة الوَرى
O night, the morning
The symbol of life on earth
Is the emblem of life for all creation.
Its breaths in the dunes
أَنفاسُهُits breaths فيin البطاحthe open plains
أَنفاسُهُ في البطاح
وَروحهand its spirit فيon الذرىthe heights
وَروحه في الذرى
Its breaths are in the open plains,
Its soul in the seeds
Its spirit on the heights.
Have you not seen the locust
أَماhave you not رَأَيتseen الأَقاحthe daisies
أَما رَأَيت الأَقاح
أَفاقawoke بَعدafter الكَرىsleep
أَفاق بَعد الكَرى
Have you not seen the daisies
Awaken after slumber?
Awake after their sleep,
And clothe the horizons
وَضوَّعand perfumed الآفاقthe horizons
وَضوَّع الآفاق
لَماwhen أَفاقit awoke
لَما أَفاق
And perfume the horizons
When it awoke?
Upon awakening?
There, the shepherd of sheep
هُناكَthere راعيthe shepherd of الغَنمsheep
هُناكَ راعي الغَنم
جَذلانjoyful حَيُّalive الفُؤادat heart
جَذلان حَيُّ الفُؤاد
There is the shepherd,
With a fiery heart
Joyful, his heart alive,
Grazes among the thickets
يَرتعroams freely بَينَamong الأَكمthe hillocks
يَرتع بَينَ الأَكم
يَهيمwanders فيin كُلevery وادvalley
يَهيم في كُل واد
Roaming freely among the hillocks,
Roams every valley
Wandering through every valley.
His flute pours music
وَالنايُand the reed flute صبَّpoured out النغمmelody
وَالنايُ صبَّ النغم
وَبَثّهand spread it فيthrough الوهادthe hollows
وَبَثّه في الوهاد
And the reed flute poured out melody
And scatters it in the meadows
And spread it through the hollows,
Like sighs of longing
كَزَفرةlike a sigh الأَشواقof longing
كَزَفرة الأَشواق
غِبَّafter الفِراقparting
غِبَّ الفِراق
Like a sigh of longing
When parting comes
After parting.
The bird forgot its worries when it sang
نسيforgot الطَيرthe bird هَمَّهُhis sorrow حينَwhen غَنّىhe sang
نسي الطَير هَمَّهُ حينَ غَنّى
قلماseldom يَستقرّlingers همُّthe sorrow الطروبِof one enraptured by song
قلما يَستقرّ همُّ الطروبِ
The bird forgot his sorrow as he sang;
The care of contentment rarely settles
Sorrow seldom stays with one enraptured by song.
It grew used to the meadow, alone, and turned
أَلِفgrew familiar with الرَوضthe garden مفرداًalone وَتَوَلّىand departed
أَلِف الرَوض مفرداً وَتَوَلّى
عَنهُfrom him فيamong دَوحهits great trees شعورُthe feeling الغَريبِof a stranger
عَنهُ في دَوحه شعورُ الغَريبِ
Alone, he grew at home in the garden, and shed
From it to its branch, feeling like a stranger
Among its great trees his feeling of estrangement.
Independent in its kingdom, no partner
مُستَقلٌّindependent فيin الملكthe dominion لاnot مِنany شَريكٍpartner
مُستَقلٌّ في الملك لا مِن شَريكٍ
طامِعٍcovetous يُتَقىto be feared وَلاnor مِنany رَقيبِwatcher
طامِعٍ يُتَقى وَلا مِن رَقيبِ
Sole ruler in his kingdom, with no
Coveting, no watcher to beware of
Covetous partner to fear, nor watcher.
Unbound, it would perch by a sapling
مطلقٌfree يَستَقرُّrests عِندَbeside نَميرsweet, clear water
مطلقٌ يَستَقرُّ عِندَ نَمير
تارةat times أَوor يَقبلcomes فَوقَonto رَطيبِfresh greenery
تارة أَو يَقبل فَوقَ رَطيبِ
Free, he rests beside sweet, clear water
At times, or come down near a stream
At times, or comes to perch on fresh greenery.
And behold, a rose overflowing with beauty
وَإِذاand behold وَردةa rose تَفيضُoverflows جَمالاًwith beauty
وَإِذا وَردة تَفيضُ جَمالاً
تَتَهادىsways gracefully مَعَwith النَسيمthe breeze اللعوبِplayful
تَتَهادى مَعَ النَسيم اللعوبِ
And there—a rose overflowing with beauty,
Swaying with the playful breeze
Swaying gracefully with the playful breeze.
Its thorns protect it, fanned out
قَدindeed حَمَتهاprotected her أَشواكُهاher thorns مَشرعاتٍraised and ready
قَد حَمَتها أَشواكُها مَشرعاتٍ
حَولَهاaround her دونَagainst عابثa meddler أَوor غَصوبِa despoiler
حَولَها دونَ عابث أَو غَصوبِ
Her thorns guarded her, raised and ready
Around it, guarding against any insolent or rude hand
Around her against a meddler or despoiler.
Granting the eye, whenever it appears then hides
تَمنَحoffers العينthe eye حينwhen تَبدوshe appears وَتخفيand hides
تَمنَح العين حين تَبدو وَتخفي
مِنof ضروبforms الإغراءof enticement كُلevery عَجيبِmarvel
مِن ضروب الإغراء كُل عَجيبِ
As she appears and hides, she offers the eye
Every wondrous kind of allure
Every wondrous form of enticement.
Every heart has its passion but
كُلُّevery قَلبٍheart لَهُhas هَواهits passion ولَكنbut
كُلُّ قَلبٍ لَهُ هَواه ولَكن
لَيسَdoes not يَدريknow مَتىwhen يَجيءwill come زَمانُهits time
لَيسَ يَدري مَتى يَجيء زَمانُه
Every heart has its passion, but
It knows not when its time will come
Does not know when its time will come.
In the shadow of a lustrous eyelid
وَهُوَand it is إِمّاeither فيin ظلِّthe shade of جفنan eyelid كَحيلkohl-darkened
وَهُوَ إِمّا في ظلِّ جفن كَحيل
كامنhidden السحرthe magic راقدasleep أَفعوانُهits serpent
كامن السحر راقد أَفعوانُه
It may lurk beneath a kohl-dark eyelid,
Its sorcery lies dormant, coiled snakes
Its magic hidden, its serpent asleep;
Or behind a sweet dimpled smile
أَوor وَراءbehind اِبتِسامَةٍa smile حُلوةِsweet الثَغthe mouth (word begins)
أَو وَراء اِبتِسامَةٍ حُلوةِ الثَغ
رmouth (word completes) نَقيّpure مفلّجٍdelicately spaced أَقحوانُهits daisy
ر نَقيّ مفلّجٍ أَقحوانُه
Or behind a smile on a sweet mouth,
A cloying trap, its jaws agape
Its daisy-like teeth pure and delicately spaced;
Or on the chest, spread out over
أَوor عَلىupon الصَدرthe breast يَستويsits enthroned فَوقَupon عَرtwo thrones (word begins)
أَو عَلى الصَدر يَستوي فَوقَ عَر
شينtwo thrones (word completes) مَكيناًfirmly established مُؤيداًupheld سُلطانُهُits sovereignty
شين مَكيناً مُؤيداً سُلطانُهُ
Or upon the breast it takes its seat on two
Two cushions, strong, its rule imposed
Thrones, its sovereignty firm and upheld.
So if an impious gust from hell's fire
فَإِذاthen if كانَit is لَفحةًa scorching gust مِنfrom جَحيمthe hell of الرdefilement (word begins)
فَإِذا كانَ لَفحةً مِن جَحيم الر
رجسdefilement (word completes) أَملىdictated أَحكامَهits laws شَيطانُهits devil
رجس أَملى أَحكامَه شَيطانُه
If it is a scorching gust from the hell of
Dictates, its devil decrees
Defilement, its devil dictates its laws;
But if a fragrant breeze from the abode of purity blows
وَإِذاand if هَبَّit blows نَفحَةًa breath مِنfrom نَعيمthe bliss of الطpurity (word begins)
وَإِذا هَبَّ نَفحَةً مِن نَعيم الط
طهرpurity (word completes) قامَتstand رَكينةsteadfast أَركانُهits foundations
طهر قامَت رَكينة أَركانُه
But if it blows as a breath from the bliss of
Its pillars stand firm, composed
Purity, its foundations stand firm.
Behold, let love, when it comes
هوذاhere is الحُبlove فَليَكُنso let it be حينَwhen يَأتيcomes
هوذا الحُب فَليَكُن حينَ يَأتي
كto you (suffix) بَريئاًfree مِنfrom كُلevery عَيبflaw مَكانُهits dwelling
ك بَريئاً مِن كُل عَيب مَكانُه
Such is love; when it comes
Be free of any blemish in its place
To you, let its dwelling be free of every flaw.
The gaudy rose became an obsession for the nightingale,
صارَتbecame الوَردةthe rose الخليعةwanton للبلfor the nightingale (word begins)
صارَت الوَردة الخليعة للبل
بلnightingale (word completes) همّاًa sorrow وَمَأرباًand a desire يُشقيهِthat torments him
بل همّاً وَمَأرباً يُشقيهِ
The wanton rose became for the nightingale
A source of sorrow, its passion a torment
A sorrow and a desire that tormented him.
Woe to the warbler! Sorrow has become
حَسرتاalas للغريرfor the guileless one أَصبحbecame كرباًanguish
حَسرتا للغرير أَصبح كرباً
ماwhat يُلاقيهhe encounters مِنof دَلالٍcoyness وَتيهِand haughtiness
ما يُلاقيه مِن دَلالٍ وَتيهِ
Alas for the guileless one! A torment now was
What it suffers from the rose's coquetry
All he met of coyness and haughtiness.
Lovesickness wasted it away and it is racked
شَفَّهwasted him السُهدُsleeplessness وَاِعتَراهُand afflicted him مِنfrom الحُبlove (word continues)
شَفَّه السُهدُ وَاِعتَراهُ مِن الحُب
بlove (word completes) سقامٌan illness مبرّحٌagonizing يُضنيهِwearing him down
ب سقامٌ مبرّحٌ يُضنيهِ
Sleeplessness wasted him, and love brought upon him
By the love with an ailment that pains it
An agonizing sickness that wore him down.
Who saw it compelled, swooping
مَنwho رَآهاsaw her وَقَدwhile already تحاملhe struggled يَهفوfluttering
مَن رَآها وَقَد تحامل يَهفو
نَحوَهاtoward her كَيفَhow أَعرضتshe turned away تَغريهِenticing him
نَحوَها كَيفَ أَعرضت تَغريهِ
Who has seen how, as he strained to flutter
Toward it, how she snubbed its wooing!
Toward her, she turned away to entice him?
Who saw its soul pour out a burning
مَنwho رَأىsaw رَوحهhis soul تَسيلflowing نَشيداًas song
مَن رَأى رَوحه تَسيل نَشيداً
لاهِباًblazing لَوعةُthe anguish الأَسىof sorrow تُذكيهِkindles it
لاهِباً لَوعةُ الأَسى تُذكيهِ
Who has seen his soul flow forth in song,
Song, the agony of sorrow stoking it
Blazing, kindled by the anguish of sorrow?
She is Eve, beware that garden
هِيَshe حَوّاءEve ذَلِكَthat الخُلدparadise فاِحذرso beware
هِيَ حَوّاء ذَلِكَ الخُلد فاِحذر
لاdo not تَكونَنَّever be أَنتَyou آدمAdam فيهِin it
لا تَكونَنَّ أَنتَ آدم فيهِ
She is the Eve of that paradise; beware:
Lest you become Adam in it
Do not be its Adam.
Give not your noble heart to one so vile
لاdo not تَهبgive قَلبكyour heart الكَريمَnoble لَئيماًto a base person
لا تَهب قَلبك الكَريمَ لَئيماً
تَحتَbeneath رجليهِhis feet عابثاًfrivolously يَلقيهِhe casts it
تَحتَ رجليهِ عابثاً يَلقيهِ
Do not give your noble heart to a base soul
To trample under her feet, discarding it
Who tosses it idly beneath his feet.
Does he see in the shade of her crimson rose
هَلىdoes يَرىhe see فيin ظلالthe shade of وَردتهhis rose
هَلى يَرى في ظلال وَردته
الحَمراءred سرّاًa secret بَداrevealed وَكانَand was خَفيّاhidden
الحَمراء سرّاً بَدا وَكانَ خَفيّا
Does he see in the shade of his rose—
A secret which appeared though it was hidden?
The red one—a secret now revealed, once hidden?
Does he see the birds have hearts in it
هَلdoes يَرىhe see للطيورof the birds فيهاwithin it قُلوباًhearts
هَل يَرى للطيور فيها قُلوباً
نبذتهنَّshe discarded them يابِساًdried وَجنيّاand freshly plucked
نبذتهنَّ يابِساً وَجنيّا
Does he see within it the hearts of birds,
Which spurned them, shriveled and withered?
Which she cast aside, dried and freshly plucked?
Does he see today what it was that left
هَلdoes يَرىhe see اليَومtoday ماwhat الَّذيthat which جَعلmade
هَل يَرى اليَوم ما الَّذي جَعل
الرَوضthe garden كَئيباًmournful مِنof الطُيورbirds خَليّاempty
الرَوض كَئيباً مِن الطُيور خَليّا
Does he see today what made
The meadow bleak, empty of birds?
The garden mournful and empty of birds?
How many omens appeared to his eyes until
كَمhow many نَذيرٍa warning بَداappeared لِعَينيهِbefore his eyes حَتّىuntil
كَم نَذيرٍ بَدا لِعَينيهِ حَتّى
قامَstood شَخصthe figure الرَدىof death هُناكَthere سَويّاfully formed
قامَ شَخص الرَدى هُناكَ سَويّا
How many a warning appeared before his eyes, until
The specter of ecstasy rose up before him?
Death's very form stood there, fully embodied!
His love made him wretched but
سامَهُinflicted on him حُبُّهُhis love شَقاءmisery وَلَكنbut
سامَهُ حُبُّهُ شَقاء وَلَكن
نعمةthe blessing الحبof love أَنis to يَكونbe شَقيّاmiserable
نعمة الحب أَن يَكون شَقيّا
His love inflicted misery on him, yet
The blessing of love is to be wretched
Love's blessing is to be miserable.
Passion blinds the eyes and casts
وَالهَوىand passion يَطمسblinds العُيونthe eyes وَيُلقيand casts
وَالهَوى يَطمس العُيون وَيُلقي
فيinto قَرارthe depths الأَسماعof the ears مِنهُfrom it دَويّاa roar
في قَرار الأَسماع مِنهُ دَويّا
Passion blinds the eyes and sends
In the mind's recess a ringing din
Its roar deep into the ears.
Thus the lover takes the path of fear as safety
هَكَذاthus يَسلكtreads المحبthe lover طَريقthe path of الthe (word continues)
هَكَذا يَسلك المحب طَريق ال
خوفfear (word completes) أَمناًfeeling safe وَيحسبand considers الرشدright guidance غَيّاerror
خوف أَمناً وَيحسب الرشد غَيّا
Thus the lover treads the path of
And sees misguidance as guidance
Fear, feeling safe, and takes right guidance for error.
Who do you think taught the coy one until
مَنwho تَرىdo you think علَّمtaught البخيلةthe miserly one حَتّىso that
مَن تَرى علَّم البخيلة حَتّى
سَمحتshe allowed أَنto يَقبِّلkiss الطيرthe bird فاهاher mouth
سَمحت أَن يَقبِّل الطير فاها
Who, do you think, taught the miserly one, so that
She allowed the bird to kiss her mouth?
She let the bird kiss her mouth?
He could not believe his eyes until she drew near
لَمnot يَصدِّقhe believed عَينيهhis eyes حَتّىuntil أَطَلَّتshe appeared
لَم يَصدِّق عَينيه حَتّى أَطَلَّت
وَأَطالَتand prolonged فيin ختلهdeceiving him نَجواهاher intimate whispers
وَأَطالَت في ختله نَجواها
He could not believe his eyes until she appeared
And prolonged her whispering in his ear
And prolonged her whispers to deceive him.
The meadow shook then with melodies so listen
زلزلhe shook الرَوضthe garden عندat ذَلِكَthat بِالأَلwith melodies (word begins)
زلزل الرَوض عند ذَلِكَ بِالأَل
حانmelodies (word completes) فاِسمَعso hear رِوايَتيmy account عَنof صداهاtheir echo
حان فاِسمَع رِوايَتي عَن صداها
He shook the garden then with
To my story of the echo of her voice
Songs—so hear my account of their echo.
Partial English translation: 127 of 128 Arabic lines translated.