دَعَوْتُكَI called you أَسْتَشْفِيI seek healing إِلَيْكَto you فَوَافنِيso come to me
دَعَوْتُكَ أَسْتَشْفِي إِلَيْكَ فَوَافنِي
عَلَىwith غَيْرِno عِلْمٍknowledge مِنْكَon your part أَنَّكَthat you لِيfor me آسِيa healer
عَلَى غَيْرِ عِلْمٍ مِنْكَ أَنَّكَ لِي آسِي
I called you, seeking healing from you; so come to me,
I called on you to find healing in you, and you came to me
Without your knowing that you are my healer.
Without my knowing that you are a consoler to me
فَإِنْso if تَرَنِيyou see me وَالحُزْنُand sorrow مِلْءُthe fullness of جَوانِحِيmy breast
فَإِنْ تَرَنِي وَالحُزْنُ مِلْءُ جَوانِحِي
أُدَارِيهِI conceal it فَلْيَغْرُرْكso let it beguile you بِشْرِىmy cheerfulness وَإِينَاسِيand my friendliness
أُدَارِيهِ فَلْيَغْرُرْك بِشْرِى وَإِينَاسِي
For if you see me, with sorrow filling my breast,
So if you see me while sorrow fills my being
Concealing it, let my cheer and warmth beguile you.
I pretend it away, do not be fooled by my cheer and consolation
وَكَمْand how many فِيin فُؤَادِيmy heart مِنْof جِراحٍwounds ثَخِينَةٍdeep
وَكَمْ فِي فُؤَادِي مِنْ جِراحٍ ثَخِينَةٍ
يُحَجِّبُهَاconceals them بُرْدَايَmy two cloaks عَنْfrom أَعْيُنِthe eyes of النَّاسِpeople
يُحَجِّبُهَا بُرْدَايَ عَنْ أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ
And how many deep wounds there are within my heart,
And how many deep wounds in my heart
Hidden by my two cloaks from people's eyes.
My robe hides from people's eyes
إِلىto عَيْنِAyn (eye) شَمْسٍShams (sun) قدْalready لَجَأْتُI sought refuge وَحَاجَتِيand my need
إِلى عَيْنِ شَمْسٍ قدْ لَجَأْتُ وَحَاجَتِي
طَلاَقَةُopenness جَوٍّair لَمْnot يُدَنَّسْwas defiled بِأَرْجَاسِwith impurities
طَلاَقَةُ جَوٍّ لَمْ يُدَنَّسْ بِأَرْجَاسِ
I have sought refuge in Ayn Shams, and what I need is
To a shining sun I have fled, and my need
Open air, undefiled by filth.
Is the openness of an unpolluted atmosphere
أُسَرِّيI ease هُمُومِيmy cares بِانْفِرَادِيthrough my solitude آمِناًsafe
أُسَرِّي هُمُومِي بِانْفِرَادِي آمِناً
مَكَايِدَschemes وَاشٍa talebearer أَوْor نمَائِمَslanders دَسَّاسِan intriguer
مَكَايِدَ وَاشٍ أَوْ نمَائِمَ دَسَّاسِ
I ease my cares in solitude, safe from
I confide my worries in my solitude, secure
A talebearer's schemes or an intriguer's slanders.
From the traps of a slanderer or the dozings of a spy
يَخَالُونَthey imagine أَنِّيthat I فِيin مَتاعٍenjoyment حِيَالَهَاbefore it
يَخَالُونَ أَنِّي فِي مَتاعٍ حِيَالَهَا
وَأَيُّand what مَتَاعٍenjoyment فِيin جِوَارٍproximity لِدِيمَاسِto a dungeon
وَأَيُّ مَتَاعٍ فِي جِوَارٍ لِدِيمَاسِ
They imagine I find enjoyment in its presence,
They think I am distracted by trinkets
And what enjoyment can there be beside a dungeon?
Yet what trinket can there be in the company of eternity?
أَرَىI see رَوْضَةًa garden لكِنْهَاbut it is رَوْضَةُthe garden of الرَّدَىdeath
أَرَى رَوْضَةً لكِنْهَا رَوْضَةُ الرَّدَى
وَأُصْغِيand I listen وَمَاand nothing فِيin مَسْمَعِيmy hearing غيْرُexcept وَسْوَاسِwhispering
وَأُصْغِي وَمَا فِي مَسْمَعِي غيْرُ وَسْوَاسِ
I see a garden, but it is the garden of death;
I see a garden but it is the garden of ruin
And I listen, hearing nothing but whispers.
And I listen, but there is nothing in my hearing save whispers
وَأَنْظُرُand I look at مَنْthose حَوْلِيaround me مُشَاةًwalkers وَرُكَّباًand riders
وَأَنْظُرُ مَنْ حَوْلِي مُشَاةً وَرُكَّباً
عَلَىon مُزْجَيَاتٍdriven conveyances مِنْof دُخَانٍsmoke وَأَفْرَاسِand horses
عَلَى مُزْجَيَاتٍ مِنْ دُخَانٍ وَأَفْرَاسِ
And I look at those around me, walkers and riders,
And I look around me at riders and walkers
On smoke-driven conveyances and on horses.
On their hybrids of smoke and steeds
كَأَنِّيَas though I فِيin رُؤيْاa vision يَزُفُّescorts الأَسَىsorrow بِهَاin it
كَأَنِّيَ فِي رُؤيْا يَزُفُّ الأَسَى بِهَا
طَوَائِفَbands جِنّjinn فِيin مَوَاكِبِprocessions أَعْرَاسِweddings
طَوَائِفَ جِنّ فِي مَوَاكِبِ أَعْرَاسِ
As though I were in a vision where sorrow escorts
As if I am in a dream where sorrow is paraded
Bands of jinn in wedding processions.
By troops of jinn in wedding processions
وَمَاand not عَيْنُAyn (eye) شَمْسٍShams (sun) غَيْرُother than مَاwhat ارْتَجَلَimprovised النُّهَىintellect
وَمَا عَيْنُ شَمْسٍ غَيْرُ مَا ارْتَجَلَ النُّهَى
بِقَفْرِin a wilderness جَدِيبٍbarren مِنْof مَبَانٍbuildings وَأَغْرَاسِand planted trees
بِقَفْرِ جَدِيبٍ مِنْ مَبَانٍ وَأَغْرَاسِ
And Ayn Shams is only what intellect improvised
And the sun's eye is none but what the prohibition
In a barren waste: buildings and planted trees.
Has improvised in the emptiness of a barren waste and trees
بَنَوْهَاthey built it فَأَعْلوْهَاso they raised it high وَمَاand not هُوَit غَيْرَother than أَنْthat
بَنَوْهَا فَأَعْلوْهَا وَمَا هُوَ غَيْرَ أَنْ
جَرَتْran أَحْرُفٌletters مَرْسُومةٌdrawn فَوْقَover قِرْطاسِa sheet of paper
جَرَتْ أَحْرُفٌ مَرْسُومةٌ فَوْقَ قِرْطاسِ
They built it and raised it high, yet it was nothing but
They ascribed it rising and setting, yet it is but
Drawn letters running across a sheet of paper.
Letters drawn on parchment
بَدَتْappeared إِرَمْIram ذَاتُpossessing الْعِمَادِthe pillars كأَنَّهَاas though it
بَدَتْ إِرَمْ ذَاتُ الْعِمَادِ كأَنَّهَا
مِنَfrom الْقاعِthe ground شَدَّتْهَاpulled it up النُّجُومُthe stars بِأَمْرَاسِwith ropes
مِنَ الْقاعِ شَدَّتْهَا النُّجُومُ بِأَمْرَاسِ
Iram of the pillars appeared, as though
The pillar constellation manifested as if
The stars had hoisted it from the ground with ropes.
The stars had erected it from the depth by ropes
كَفَتْهَاsufficed for it لَيَالٍnights نزْرَةٌfew فَتَجَدَّدَتْso it was renewed
كَفَتْهَا لَيَالٍ نزْرَةٌ فَتَجَدَّدَتْ
ثوَابِتَfirm أَرْكَانٍpillars رَوَاسِخَdeeply rooted آسَاسِfoundations
ثوَابِتَ أَرْكَانٍ رَوَاسِخَ آسَاسِ
A few nights sufficed for it, and it was renewed,
Nights few in number repaired it, so it renewed
With steadfast pillars and deeply rooted foundations.
Its fixed pillars and firm foundations
وَغَالَطَand confounded فِيهَاin it الْبَعثُresurrection مَاwhat خَالطmingled with الْحِلَىthe adornments
وَغَالَطَ فِيهَا الْبَعثُ مَا خَالط الْحِلَى
بِهَاin it مِنْof ضرُوبٍstyles مُحْدَثَاتٍnewly fashioned وَأَجْنَاسِand kinds
بِهَا مِنْ ضرُوبٍ مُحْدَثَاتٍ وَأَجْنَاسِ
And there, resurrection confounded what mingled with its adornments:
And in it life confused what fineries have blended
Newly fashioned styles and kinds within it.
With its essence of novelties and diverse breeds
هُنَاكَthere أُبِيحُI grant الشَّجْوَsorrow نَفْساًa soul مَنِيعَةًunassailable
هُنَاكَ أُبِيحُ الشَّجْوَ نَفْساً مَنِيعَةً
عَلَىagainst الضَّيْمِinjustice مَهْمَاhowever much يَفْلُلِblunts الضَّيْمُinjustice مِنْof بَاسيmy strength
عَلَى الضَّيْمِ مَهْمَا يَفْلُلِ الضَّيْمُ مِنْ بَاسي
There I yield to sorrow a soul impervious
There my lamentation of an unassailable soul
To injustice, however much injustice blunts my strength.
Is permitted no matter how potent adversity's might
يَمُرُّpass بِيَby me الإخْوَانُthe friends فِيin خَطَرَاتِهِمْtheir outings
يَمُرُّ بِيَ الإخْوَانُ فِي خَطَرَاتِهِمْ
أُولَئِكَthose عُوَّادِيmy sickbed visitors وَلَيْسُواand they are not بِجُلاَّسِيmy sitting companions
أُولَئِكَ عُوَّادِي وَلَيْسُوا بِجُلاَّسِي
My friends pass by me on their outings;
My comrades pass by in their risks
They are my sickbed visitors, not companions who sit with me.
They are my visitors but not my intimates
أَهَشُّI welcome warmly إِلَيْهِمْtoward them مَاas أَهَشُّI welcome warmly تَلَطُّفاًout of kindness
أَهَشُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مَا أَهَشُّ تَلَطُّفاً
إِذَاwhen لَمْnot أُطِقْI can endure صَبْراًpatiently فَأَطْلَقْتُso I released أَنْفَاسِيmy sighs
إِذَا لَمْ أُطِقْ صَبْراً فَأَطْلَقْتُ أَنْفَاسِي
I greet them as warmly as I do, out of kindness,
I clamor to them in clamoring
When I can no longer endure patiently and let my sighs loose.
When I cannot bear patience and loose my breath
ذَرُونِيَleave me وَانْجُواand escape مِنْfrom شَظايَاsplinters تُصِيبُكُمْstrike you
ذَرُونِيَ وَانْجُوا مِنْ شَظايَا تُصِيبُكُمْ
إِذَاwhen لَمْnot أُطِقْI can endure صَبْراًpatiently فَأَطْلَقْتُso I released أَنْفَاسِيmy sighs
إِذَا لَمْ أُطِقْ صَبْراً فَأَطْلَقْتُ أَنْفَاسِي
Leave me, and escape the splinters that may strike you
Leave me and escape the shards that strike you
When I can no longer endure patiently and let my sighs loose.
When I cannot bear patience and loose my breath
فَإِنِّيfor indeed I عَلَىdespite مَاwhat نَالَنِيbefell me مِنْof مَسَاءَةٍharm
فَإِنِّي عَلَى مَا نَالَنِي مِنْ مَسَاءَةٍ
لأَرْحَمُI surely pity صَحْبِيmy companions أَنْlest يُلِمَّbefall بِهِمْupon them بَاسِيmy suffering
لأَرْحَمُ صَحْبِي أَنْ يُلِمَّ بِهِمْ بَاسِي
For I, despite the harm that has befallen me,
For in spite of the harm that has come to me
Surely pity my companions, lest my suffering befall them.
I would spare my companions being battered by my affliction
ذَرُونِيَleave me لاَlet not يَمْلِكْseize وَجِيفِيmy heart's pounding قُلُوبَكُمْyour hearts
ذَرُونِيَ لاَ يَمْلِكْ وَجِيفِي قُلُوبَكُمْ
إِذَاwhen مَرَّpassed ذَاكَthat الطَّيْفُphantom وَادَّكَرَand remembered النَّاسِيthe forgetful one
إِذَا مَرَّ ذَاكَ الطَّيْفُ وَادَّكَرَ النَّاسِي
Leave me; let my heart's pounding not seize your hearts
Leave me, my carcass does not possess your hearts
When that phantom passes and the forgetful one remembers.
When that phantom passes and reminds people of the forgetful one
فَتَاللهِso by God لَوْلاَwere it not for ذَلِكَthat الطَّيِفُphantom وَالهَوَىand love
فَتَاللهِ لَوْلاَ ذَلِكَ الطَّيِفُ وَالهَوَى
لَهُfor it مُسْعِدٌa helper لَمْnot يَمْلِكِhave power over الدَّهْرُtime إِتْعَاسِيmaking me wretched
لَهُ مُسْعِدٌ لَمْ يَمْلِكِ الدَّهْرُ إِتْعَاسِي
For, by God, were it not for that phantom and love
By Allah, were it not for that phantom and passion
Aiding it, time could not have made me wretched.
He would have been happy, time would not have ruined him
ذَرُونِيleave me أُحْسُI sip الخَمْرَthe wine غَيْرَnot مُنَفَّرٍfrightened away
ذَرُونِي أُحْسُ الخَمْرَ غَيْرَ مُنَفَّرٍ
عَنِfrom الْوِرْدِthe watering place مِنْهَاfrom it نِفْرَةَthe startled flight of الطَّائِرِthe bird الحَاسِيthat sips
عَنِ الْوِرْدِ مِنْهَا نِفْرَةَ الطَّائِرِ الحَاسِي
Leave me to sip wine, without being frightened away
Leave me be, I do not abhor wine
From its watering place, like a bird startled while drinking.
Like a wary bird abhors the roses therein
فرُبَّتَfor many a كَاسٍcup عَنْfrom شِفَاهِيmy lips رَدَدتُهَاI drew it back
فرُبَّتَ كَاسٍ عَنْ شِفَاهِي رَدَدتُهَا
وَقَدْand already قَتلَkilled الدَّمْعُthe tears السَّلاَفَةَthe choicest wine فِيin الْكاسِthe cup
وَقَدْ قَتلَ الدَّمْعُ السَّلاَفَةَ فِي الْكاسِ
For many a cup have I drawn back from my lips,
Many a cup have I pushed away from my lips
When tears had already killed the choicest wine in the cup.
As tears had ruined its drinkability
ذَرُونِيleave me أُنكَّسْI bow هَامَتِيmy head غَيْرَnot مُتَّقٍfearing
ذَرُونِي أُنكَّسْ هَامَتِي غَيْرَ مُتَّقٍ
مَلاَمَةreproach رُوَّادٍvisitors وَشُبْهَةَand suspicion جُوَّاسِspies
مَلاَمَة رُوَّادٍ وَشُبْهَةَ جُوَّاسِ
Leave me to bow my head, without fearing
Leave me to hang my head without caution
Visitors' reproach and spies' suspicion.
Fearing the blame of visitors or the doubt of spies
فبِيfor within me حُرَّةٌa freeborn woman بِكْرٌa virgin ضُلُوعِيmy ribs سِيَاجُهَاher enclosure
فبِي حُرَّةٌ بِكْرٌ ضُلُوعِي سِيَاجُهَا
أَرَاشَfletched عَلَيْهَاagainst her سَهْمَهُhis arrow مُعْتَدٍan aggressor قَاسِcruel
أَرَاشَ عَلَيْهَا سَهْمَهُ مُعْتَدٍ قَاسِ
For within me is a freeborn virgin; my ribs are her fence,
For in me is a breachable sanctuary, its ribs fenced
Against her a cruel aggressor has fletched his arrow.
By arrows from the bow of a transgressor who shot
أُعِيدُI turn back إِلَيْهاto her كُلَّevery حِينٍmoment نَوَاظِرِيmy eyes
أُعِيدُ إِلَيْها كُلَّ حِينٍ نَوَاظِرِي
وَأُخْفِضُand I lower مِنْout of عَطْفٍcompassion عَلَىfor جُرْحِهَاher wound رَاسِيmy head
وَأُخْفِضُ مِنْ عَطْفٍ عَلَى جُرْحِهَا رَاسِي
I turn my eyes back to her at every moment,
I return my sight to it every moment
And lower my head in compassion for her wound.
And lower from affection my head to its wound
يَكَادُnearly يَبُثdivulges المَجْدُglory مَاwhat لاَnot أَبُثهُI divulge it
يَكَادُ يَبُث المَجْدُ مَا لاَ أَبُثهُ
مِنَof السَّقْمِsickness العَوَّادِrecurring وَالسَّأَمِand weariness الرَّاسِيdeep-rooted
مِنَ السَّقْمِ العَوَّادِ وَالسَّأَمِ الرَّاسِي
Glory nearly divulges what I do not divulge
Glory almost publicizes what I do not spread
Of recurring sickness and deep-rooted weariness.
Of chronic illness and lasting fatigue
أَنَاI am الأَلَمْpain السَّاجِيstill لِبُعْدِfor the depth of مَزافِرِيmy sighs' sources
أَنَا الأَلَمْ السَّاجِي لِبُعْدِ مَزافِرِي
أَناI am الأَمَلُhope الدَّاجِيَdarkened وَلَمْand not يَخْبُgone out نِبْرَاسِيmy lamp
أَنا الأَمَلُ الدَّاجِيَ وَلَمْ يَخْبُ نِبْرَاسِي
I am the still pain, so deep are the sources of my sighs;
I am the persistent pain of distant processions
I am darkened hope, yet my lamp has not gone out.
I am the lingering hope though my torch has not gone out
أَنَاI am الأَسَدُthe lion الْبَاكِيweeping أَنَاI am جَبَلُthe mountain of الأَسَىsorrow
أَنَا الأَسَدُ الْبَاكِي أَنَا جَبَلُ الأَسَى
أَناI am الرَّمْسُthe grave يَمْشِيwalks دَامِياًbleeding فَوْقَover أَرْمَاسِgraves
أَنا الرَّمْسُ يَمْشِي دَامِياً فَوْقَ أَرْمَاسِ
I am the weeping lion; I am the mountain of sorrow.
I am the roaring lion, I am the mountain of sorrow
I am the grave, walking bloodied over graves.
I am the firm pillar walking steadily above its bases
فَيَاso O مُنْتَهَىthe utmost reach of حُبِّيmy love إِلىto مُنْتَهَىthe utmost reach of المُنَىwishes
فَيَا مُنْتَهَى حُبِّي إِلى مُنْتَهَى المُنَى
وَنعْمَةَand bliss of فِكْرِيmy thought فَوْقَabove شِقْوَةِthe misery of إِحْسَاسِيmy feeling
وَنعْمَةَ فِكْرِي فَوْقَ شِقْوَةِ إِحْسَاسِي
O utmost reach of my love, to the utmost reach of longing,
So my love's apogee and the bounty of my thought
And bliss of my thought above the misery of my feeling,
Above the wretchedness of my feelings
دَعَوْتُكI called you أَسْتَشْفِيI seek healing إِلَيْكَto you فَوَافِنِيso come to me
دَعَوْتُك أَسْتَشْفِي إِلَيْكَ فَوَافِنِي
عَلَىwith غَيْرِno عِلْمٍknowledge مِنْكَon your part أَنَّكَthat you لِيfor me آسِيa healer
عَلَى غَيْرِ عِلْمٍ مِنْكَ أَنَّكَ لِي آسِي
I called you, seeking healing from you; so come to me,
I called on you to find healing in you, and you came to me
Without your knowing that you are my healer.
Without my knowing that you are a consoler to me