1. عادت كعود المدمن

    ينوي السلو ولا يني

    She returned like an addict's return,

    who intends to forget, yet never relents.

  2. تحنو على فهزني

    لعناقها الشوق العريق

    She bends tenderly over me; I am stirred

    by deep-rooted longing to embrace her.

  3. ذكرى كذكر المؤمن

    يحلو له في الموهن

    A memory like a believer's remembrance,

    sweet to him in the dead of night,

  4. إما يلازمه فني

    أخذا بمأخذه الرفيق

    if my art keeps it company,

    following its gentle course.

  5. فالسحر تنفثه المقل

    والوجد يعبث بالأجل

    For the eyes breathe forth magic,

    and passion toys with life's allotted span,

  6. والقلب نومه الخبل

    نوم الوسيط فلا يفيق

    and delirium has lulled the heart to sleep—

    a medium's sleep, from which it does not wake.

  7. أنكرت في معالمي

    وسبحت سبحة حالم

    I found my familiar landmarks strange,

    and swam as a dreamer swims,

  8. من عالمي لعوالم

    فيها لكل منى طريق

    from my world to other worlds,

    where every wish has a path.

  9. وكأن جسمي ذرة

    في الريح أو هو نفثة

    And my body seemed a mote

    in the wind, or a puff of breath,

  10. وتسلمتها نسمةٌ

    تلج الأثير إلى الرفيق

    and a breeze took it up,

    entering the ether toward the companion.

  11. فرأيت شوقي شاديا

    والروح صفا مصغيا

    Then I saw Shawqi singing,

    and the spirit grew clear, listening,

  12. ومضى سناه حياليا

    فصعقت من قدس البريق

    and his radiance passed before me;

    so I was thunderstruck by the gleam's sanctity.

  13. ورأيت أن أتقدما

    فرهبته فتلثما

    And I thought to step forward;

    I feared him, so he veiled his face.

  14. وملكت جأشي بعدما

    صوحت كالغصن الوريق

    And I regained my composure after

    I had withered like a leafy bough.

  15. حييته فتبسما

    وسعى إلى فسلما

    I greeted him, and he smiled,

    and came toward me with a greeting.

  16. وطلبت أن يتكلما

    ويعيد لي نظم العقيق

    And I asked that he speak

    and repeat for me the agate-strung verse.

  17. قال انقضت لغة الدنى

    فالحسن والحسنى هنا

    He said: “The language of earthly worlds has ended;

    for beauty and goodness here

  18. غير الذي في كوننا

    كنا نصور يا صديق

    are unlike what, in our universe,

    we used to picture, O friend.

  19. خمر هنا ولها دبيب

    خمر بلا دن تطيب

    Wine is here, with its gentle coursing,

    wine delicious without a wine-jar.

  20. فالروح عن جسمي غريب

    من كل جارحة طليق

    For the spirit is estranged from my body,

    free of every bodily organ.

  21. يسقى وليس له قدح

    ويحس مثلك بالفرح

    It is given drink, though it has no cup,

    and feels joy, just as you do.

  22. فإذا التمست له الشبح

    لا غير شفاف رقيق

    Then if you seek its visible form,

    nothing but a transparent, delicate shape:

  23. سر يشع له سناء

    فاذا قبضت فكالهواء

    a mystery whose splendor shines;

    and if you grasp it, it is like air—

  24. لا شيء لكن في بقاء

    يخفى على الحي الغريق

    nothing, yet enduring,

    hidden from the drowning mortal.

  25. در هنا لا دركم

    والشعر ليس كشعركم

    Pearls are here, but not your pearls,

    and poetry is not like your poetry,

  26. والخلق غير خلاقكم

    وشرابنا ذاك الرحيق

    and character differs from your character,

    and our drink is that pure wine.

  27. الحور والولدان في

    مشتاي أوفى المصيف

    Houris and youths, in

    my winter quarters or in the summer retreat,

  28. حولي وعذب القرقف

    ينسى من الدنيا الحريق

    are around me; and sweet wine

    makes one forget the world's blaze.

  29. وقف الحطيئة خادمي

    والبحتري ملازمي

    Al-Hutay'a stood as my servant,

    and al-Buhturi is my constant companion,

  30. وأبو نواس منادمي

    نتذاكر العهد العريق

    and Abu Nuwas my drinking companion;

    we recall the ancient days together.

  31. ولقد أقيم ببرزخي

    مع حافظ خير الأخ

    And indeed I dwell in my intermediate realm,

    with Hafiz, the best brother;

  32. ناسي على الشرق الرخى

    ما زال في رق وضيق

    we grieve for the languid East,

    still in bondage and distress.

  33. ودعاءُ قومي حفني

    فظفرت بالنزل الهني

    And my people's prayers encompassed me,

    so I won a blissful lodging

  34. ورضى من اللَه الغني

    هذا هو الفوز الحقيق

    and approval from God, the Self-Sufficient.

    This is the true triumph.

  35. فالشرق شرق سيد

    وبمصر شعبٌ أيد

    For the East is a master's East,

    and in Egypt is a mighty people,

  36. والحر تأسره اليد

    فأنا لهم ميتاً رفيق

    yet the free man is held captive by the hand;

    so, dead, I am their companion.

  37. ارجع لقومك حيهم

    عني وناد بحيهم

    Return to your people; greet them

    for me, and call out in their quarter:

  38. إني التمست لحيهم

    إن مات منزلة تليق

    I have sought for the living among them

    a fitting station, should they die.”

  39. وإذا بشخص يجتلى

    قومي بهذا المحفل

    And suddenly a figure beholds

    my people at this gathering,

  40. جزعن للمرتحل

    جزع الصديق بكا الصديق

    grieving for the departed,

    with a friend's anguish, a friend's weeping.