أَلا حَيِّيا لَيلى أَجَدَّ رَحيلي

أَلا حَيِّيا لَيلى أَجَدَّ رَحيلي

وَآذَنَ أَصحابي غَداً بِقُفولِ

وَآذَنَ أَصحابي غَداً بِقُفولِ

Ah, greet Layla, you two; my departure is pressing.

Alas, goodbye to Layla's home as I depart,

My companions have announced their return tomorrow.

And my friends bid me return on the morrow.

تَبَدَّت لَهُ لَيلى لِتَغلِبَ صَبرَهُ

تَبَدَّت لَهُ لَيلى لِتَغلِبَ صَبرَهُ

وَهاجَتكَ أُمُّ الصَلتِ بَعدَ ذُهولِ

وَهاجَتكَ أُمُّ الصَلتِ بَعدَ ذُهولِ

Layla appeared before him to overcome his patience,

Layla appeared to test his patience,

and Umm al-Salt stirred you after forgetfulness.

And to stir up his longing after the visit.

أُريدُ لَأَنسى ذِكرَها فَكَأَنَّما

أُريدُ لَأَنسى ذِكرَها فَكَأَنَّما

تَمَثَّلُ لي لَيلى بِكُلِّ سَبيلِ

تَمَثَّلُ لي لَيلى بِكُلِّ سَبيلِ

I wish to forget the thought of her, yet it is as though

I wanted to forget the memory of her, but

Layla appears before me on every path.

Layla appears to me at every turn.

إِذا ذُكِرَت لَيلى تَغَشَّتكَ عَبرَةٌ

إِذا ذُكِرَت لَيلى تَغَشَّتكَ عَبرَةٌ

تُعَلُّ بِها العَينانِ بَعدَ نُهولِ

تُعَلُّ بِها العَينانِ بَعدَ نُهولِ

Whenever Layla is mentioned, a burst of tears overtakes you,

When Layla is mentioned, tears cloud your eyes,

with which both eyes are watered again after their first draught.

Flooding them after the visit.

وَكَم مِن خَليلٍ قالَ لي لوسَأَلتَها

وَكَم مِن خَليلٍ قالَ لي لوسَأَلتَها

فَقُلتُ نَعَم لَيلى أَضَنُّ خَليلِ

فَقُلتُ نَعَم لَيلى أَضَنُّ خَليلِ

How many a friend has told me, “If only you asked her!”

How many friends asked, "Why not ask for her hand?"

I said, “Yes; Layla is the most grudging friend,

I said "Yes, Layla's love cuts deep in my heart."

وَأَبعَدُهُ نيلاً وَأَوشَكُهُ قِلىً

وَأَبعَدُهُ نيلاً وَأَوشَكُهُ قِلىً

وَإِن سُئِلَت عُرفاً فَشَرُّ مَسولِ

وَإِن سُئِلَت عُرفاً فَشَرُّ مَسولِ

the hardest to win favors from, the quickest to turn away;

I put him off, though he was close to attaining her,

and, if asked a kindness, the worst one to ask.”

And if asked properly, the worst petitioner.

حَلَفتُ بِرَبِّ الراقِصاتِ إِلى مُنىً

حَلَفتُ بِرَبِّ الراقِصاتِ إِلى مُنىً

خِلالَ المَلا يَمدُدنَ كُلَّ جَديلِ

خِلالَ المَلا يَمدُدنَ كُلَّ جَديلِ

I swore by the Lord of the she-camels dancing toward Mina,

I swore by the Lord of the dancers heading to Mina,

through the open desert, drawing every braided rein taut.

Swaying their braids during the sacred months.

تَراها وِفاقا بَينَهُنَّ تَفاوُتٌ

تَراها وِفاقا بَينَهُنَّ تَفاوُتٌ

وَيَمدُدنَ بِالإِهلالِ كُلَّ أَصيلِ

وَيَمدُدنَ بِالإِهلالِ كُلَّ أَصيلِ

You see them in accord, though differences lie among them,

You see them vie in their finery

and they press onward with the pilgrimage chant each evening.

Swaying proudly, each a noble lady.

تَواهَقنَ بِالحُجّاجِ مَن بَطنِ نَخلَةٍ

تَواهَقنَ بِالحُجّاجِ مَن بَطنِ نَخلَةٍ

وَمِن عَزوَرٍ وَالخَبتِ خَبتِ طَفيلِ

وَمِن عَزوَرٍ وَالخَبتِ خَبتِ طَفيلِ

They raced one another, bearing pilgrims from the valley of Nakhlah,

Clambering from the valley's palm groves,

and from Azwar and al-Khabt, the lowland of Tufayl,

From al-‘Uzur and al-Khabt, homes of Tatfil.

بِكُلِّ حَرامٍ خاشِعٍ مُتَوَجِّهٍ

بِكُلِّ حَرامٍ خاشِعٍ مُتَوَجِّهٍ

إِلى اللَهِ يَدعوهُ بِكُلِّ نَقيلِ

إِلى اللَهِ يَدعوهُ بِكُلِّ نَقيلِ

bearing each consecrated pilgrim, humble, turning

Crying out God's name in their sanctity,

to God, calling upon Him at every stride,

Humbly beseeching God in each refrain.

عَلى كُلِّ مِذعانِ الرَواحِ مُعيدَةٍ

عَلى كُلِّ مِذعانِ الرَواحِ مُعيدَةٍ

وَمَخشِيَّةٍ أَلّا تُعيد هَزيلِ

وَمَخشِيَّةٍ أَلّا تُعيد هَزيلِ

upon each mount, willing for the evening march, used to returning,

Urging on the camel litters around them,

and lean ones feared never to make the journey again,

Fearing that the simple camel drivers would stray.

شَوامِذَ قَد أَرتَجنَ دون أَجِنَّةٍ

شَوامِذَ قَد أَرتَجنَ دون أَجِنَّةٍ

وَهوجٍ تَبارى في الأَزِمَّةِ حولِ

وَهوجٍ تَبارى في الأَزِمَّةِ حولِ

their tails raised, their wombs closed around unborn young,

Litters flanked by wild camels without harnesses,

and fiery camels, not with calf, vying against their reins—

Milling in chaos at al-Azma plain.

يَمينَ اِمرِئٍ مُستَغلِظٍ بِأَلِيَّةٍ

يَمينَ اِمرِئٍ مُستَغلِظٍ بِأَلِيَّةٍ

لِيُكذِبَ قيلاً قَد أَلَحَّ بِقيلِ

لِيُكذِبَ قيلاً قَد أَلَحَّ بِقيلِ

the oath of a man making his sworn pledge solemn,

The oath of a lord made invincible by his clan,

to refute a claim insistently pressed with more talk.

Though his oath was baseless as all could tell.

لَقَد كَذِبَ الواشونَ ما بُحتُ عِندَهُم

لَقَد كَذِبَ الواشونَ ما بُحتُ عِندَهُم

بِلَيلى وَلا أَرسَلتُهُم بِرَسيلِ

بِلَيلى وَلا أَرسَلتُهُم بِرَسيلِ

The slanderers have lied; I never spoke openly before them

Those spies have lied—I have not revealed

of Layla, nor sent them with a message.

A word about Layla, nor sent them a message.

فَإِن جاءَكِ الواشونَ عَنّي بِكِذبَةٍ

فَإِن جاءَكِ الواشونَ عَنّي بِكِذبَةٍ

فَرَوها وَلَم يَأتوا لَها بِحَويلِ

فَرَوها وَلَم يَأتوا لَها بِحَويلِ

If the slanderers bring you a lie about me,

So if spies come to you, Layla, with a lie,

they have fabricated it, bringing no witness to support it.

Consider it false, for they invent their tales.

فَلا تَعجَلي يا لَيلَ أَن تَتَفَهَّمي

فَلا تَعجَلي يا لَيلَ أَن تَتَفَهَّمي

بِنُصحِ أَتى الواشونَ أَم بِحُبولِ

بِنُصحِ أَتى الواشونَ أَم بِحُبولِ

So do not rush, Layla, before discerning

Do not hastily assume, dear Layla,

whether the slanderers came with honest counsel or with snares.

That their advice came from goodwill or malice.

فَإِن طِبتِ نَفساً بَالعَطاءِ فَأَجزِلي

فَإِن طِبتِ نَفساً بَالعَطاءِ فَأَجزِلي

وَخَيرُ العَطايا لَيلَ كُلَّ جَزيلِ

وَخَيرُ العَطايا لَيلَ كُلَّ جَزيلِ

If your heart is willing to give, then give generously;

If you wish to give, then be generous,

the best gifts, Layla, are the ample ones.

For the best gift, O Layla, is one that abounds.

وَإِلّا فَإِجمالٌ إِلَيَّ فَإِنَّني

وَإِلّا فَإِجمالٌ إِلَيَّ فَإِنَّني

أُحِبُّ مِنَ الأَخلاقِ كُلَّ جَميلِ

أُحِبُّ مِنَ الأَخلاقِ كُلَّ جَميلِ

Otherwise, treat me graciously, for I

If not, then be gracefully sparing with me,

love all that is beautiful in character.

For I love all traits of grace and beauty.

فَإِن تَبذُلي لِيَ مِنكِ يَوماً مَوَدَّةً

فَإِن تَبذُلي لِيَ مِنكِ يَوماً مَوَدَّةً

فَقِدماً صَنَعتِ القَرضَ عِندَ بَذولِ

فَقِدماً صَنَعتِ القَرضَ عِندَ بَذولِ

If one day you offer me affection from yourself,

If you would grant me a day's affection,

then, as of old, you have lent a kindness to a generous giver.

You would have settled the debt between us.

وَإِن تَبخَلي يا ليلَ عَنّي فَإِنَّني

وَإِن تَبخَلي يا ليلَ عَنّي فَإِنَّني

تُوَكَّلُني نَفسي بِكُلِّ بَخيلِ

تُوَكَّلُني نَفسي بِكُلِّ بَخيلِ

And if you withhold from me, Layla, then indeed

But if you withhold yourself from me, Layla,

my soul binds me to every grudging giver.

I will endure it with all patience.

وَلَستُ بِراضٍ مِن خَليلي بِنائِلٍ

وَلَستُ بِراضٍ مِن خَليلي بِنائِلٍ

قَليلٍ وَلا راضٍ لَهُ بِقَليلِ

قَليلٍ وَلا راضٍ لَهُ بِقَليلِ

I am not content to receive from my friend a favor

I cannot be satisfied with a miserly friend,

small in measure, nor am I content with little for him.

Or content if he is sparing and slight.

وَلَيسَ خَليلي بِالمَلولِ وَلا الَّذي

وَلَيسَ خَليلي بِالمَلولِ وَلا الَّذي

إِذا غبتُ عَنهُ باعَني بِخَليلِ

إِذا غبتُ عَنهُ باعَني بِخَليلِ

My friend is neither quick to tire nor one

My friend is no fickle man, nor one

who, when I am absent, sells me for another friend.

Who would sell me out should I absent myself.

وَلَكِن خَليلي مَن يَدومُ وِصالُهُ

وَلَكِن خَليلي مَن يَدومُ وِصالُهُ

وَيَحفَظُ سِرّي عِندَ كُلِّ دَخيلِ

وَيَحفَظُ سِرّي عِندَ كُلِّ دَخيلِ

Rather, my friend is one whose affection endures

Rather my friend is he whose love endures

and who guards my secret in every outsider’s presence.

And keeps my secrets from every intruder.

وَلَم أَرَ مِن لَيلى نَوالاً أَعُدُّهُ

وَلَم أَرَ مِن لَيلى نَوالاً أَعُدُّهُ

أَلا رُبَّما طالَبتُ غَيرَ مُنيلِ

أَلا رُبَّما طالَبتُ غَيرَ مُنيلِ

I have seen no favor from Layla that I could count;

I have never attained anything I hoped for from Layla—

ah, often I have petitioned one who gives nothing.

So I often seek what I cannot attain.

يَلومُكَ في لَيلى وَعَقلُكَ عِندَها

يَلومُكَ في لَيلى وَعَقلُكَ عِندَها

رِجالٌ وَلَم تَذهَب لَهُم بِعُقولِ

رِجالٌ وَلَم تَذهَب لَهُم بِعُقولِ

You are blamed over Layla, while your mind is with her,

You blame me, yet your reason knows

by men whose minds she has not carried away.

I have acted as a man with Layla.

يَقولونَ وَدِّع عَنك لَيلى وَلا تَهم

يَقولونَ وَدِّع عَنك لَيلى وَلا تَهم

بِقاطِعَةِ الأَقرانِ ذاتِ حَليلِ

بِقاطِعَةِ الأَقرانِ ذاتِ حَليلِ

They say, “Leave Layla behind, and do not pine

They say "Forget Layla! Do not fret

for a breaker of bonds, a woman with a husband.”

For one who cuts suitors off without cause."

فَما نَقَعَت نَفسي بِما أَمَروا بِهِ

فَما نَقَعَت نَفسي بِما أَمَروا بِهِ

وَلا عِجتُ مِن أَقوالِهِم بِفَتيلِ

وَلا عِجتُ مِن أَقوالِهِم بِفَتيلِ

The counsel they gave brought my soul no relief,

But I pay their advice no heed,

nor did I heed their words a thread’s worth.

Nor provoke me to fury with their words.

تَذَكَّرتُ أَتراباً لِعَزَّةَ كَالمَها

تَذَكَّرتُ أَتراباً لِعَزَّةَ كَالمَها

حُبينَ بِليطٍ ناعِمٍ وَقَبولُ

حُبينَ بِليطٍ ناعِمٍ وَقَبولُ

I remembered Azza’s peers, like oryx,

I remembered ladies whose prideful words

endowed with soft skin and charm.

Were loving and gentle and sweetly received,

وَكُنتُ إِذا لاقَيتُهُنَّ كَأَنَّني

وَكُنتُ إِذا لاقَيتُهُنَّ كَأَنَّني

مُخالِطَةٌ عَقلي سُلافُ شَمولِ

مُخالِطَةٌ عَقلي سُلافُ شَمولِ

Whenever I met them, it was as though

And when I met them I felt my reason

the purest first-drawn wine were mingling with my mind.

Was a captive, intoxicated and engulfed.

تَأَطَّرنَ حَتّى قُلتُ لَسنَ بَوارِحاً

تَأَطَّرنَ حَتّى قُلتُ لَسنَ بَوارِحاً

رَجاءَ الأَماني أَن يَقِلنَ مَقيلي

رَجاءَ الأَماني أَن يَقِلنَ مَقيلي

They swayed till I said they would not depart,

They enchanted me until I said

in wishful hope that they would share my noonday resting-place.

"They cannot decline to answer my hopes."

فَأَبدَينَ لي مِن بَينِهِنَّ تَجَهُّماً

فَأَبدَينَ لي مِن بَينِهِنَّ تَجَهُّماً

وَأَخلَفنَ ظَنّي إِذ ظَنَنتُ وَقيلي

وَأَخلَفنَ ظَنّي إِذ ظَنَنتُ وَقيلي

But from among them they showed me scowls,

But they frowned at me disapprovingly from among them

and belied the hopes I had formed and the words I had spoken.

And disappointed my hopes though I expected acceptance.

فَلَأياً بِلَأيٍ ما قَضَينَ لُبانَة

فَلَأياً بِلَأيٍ ما قَضَينَ لُبانَة

مَنَ الدارِ وَاِستَقلَلنَ بَعدَ طَويلِ

مَنَ الدارِ وَاِستَقلَلنَ بَعدَ طَويلِ

Only after long delay did they finish their business

Alas! Alas for what Lubbana's

at the dwelling, and set off after a long stay.

Have vacated of homes after so long!

فَلَمّا رَأى وَاِستَيقَنَ البَينَ صاحِبي

فَلَمّا رَأى وَاِستَيقَنَ البَينَ صاحِبي

دَعا دَعوَةً يا حَبتَرَ بنَ سَلولِ

دَعا دَعوَةً يا حَبتَرَ بنَ سَلولِ

When my companion saw, and knew for certain, the parting,

When my companion saw our separation was certain

he called out, “O Habtar son of Salul!”

He called out: "O Habtar son of Saloul!"

فَقُلتُ وَأَسرَرتُ النَدامَةَ لَيتَني

فَقُلتُ وَأَسرَرتُ النَدامَةَ لَيتَني

وَكُنتُ اِمرِءاً أَغتَشُّ كُلَّ عَذولِ

وَكُنتُ اِمرِءاً أَغتَشُّ كُلَّ عَذولِ

I said, concealing my regret, “If only I—

And I whispered my regret: "Would that

and I was a man who mistrusted every reprover—

I were a shameless man swallowing every insult!"

سَلَكتُ سَبيلَ الرَئِحاتِ عَشِيَّةً

سَلَكتُ سَبيلَ الرَئِحاتِ عَشِيَّةً

مَخارِمَ نِصعٍ أَو سَلَكنَ سَبيلي

مَخارِمَ نِصعٍ أَو سَلَكنَ سَبيلي

had taken the departing women’s path one evening,

On an evening I walked the path

through the passes of Nisʿ—or they had taken my path—

Of a fleeing beast or a path walked by none.

فَأَسعَدتُ نَفساً بِالهَوى قَبلَ أَن أَرى

فَأَسعَدتُ نَفساً بِالهَوى قَبلَ أَن أَرى

عَوادي نَأيٍ بَينَنا وَشُغولِ

عَوادي نَأيٍ بَينَنا وَشُغولِ

and gladdened my soul with love before seeing

And so I indulged the love before witnessing

the assaults of distance and distractions between us.”

Any estrangement that later came between us.

نَدِمتُ عَلى ما فاتَني يَومَ بنتُمُ

نَدِمتُ عَلى ما فاتَني يَومَ بنتُمُ

فَيا حَسرَتا أَلّا يَرَينَ عَويلي

فَيا حَسرَتا أَلّا يَرَينَ عَويلي

I regretted what I had missed the day you all departed;

I regret what has slipped away—would that

alas, that they do not see my wailing!

They could look upon my anguished cries!

كَأَنَّ دُموعَ العَينِ واهِيَةُ الكُلى

كَأَنَّ دُموعَ العَينِ واهِيَةُ الكُلى

وَعَت ماءَ غَربٍ يَومَ ذاكَ سَجيلِ

وَعَت ماءَ غَربٍ يَومَ ذاكَ سَجيلِ

The eye’s tears are like a waterskin with failing seams,

As if the tears of my eyes and the dissolving of my kidneys

which held that day the water of a brimming well-bucket.

Were a West Sahara downpour on a gloomy day,

تَكَنَّفَها خُرقٌ تَواكَلنَ خَرزَها

تَكَنَّفَها خُرقٌ تَواكَلنَ خَرزَها

فَأَرخَينَهُ وَالسَيرُ غَيرُ بَجيلِ

فَأَرخَينَهُ وَالسَيرُ غَيرُ بَجيلِ

Clumsy women had gathered around it, each leaving its stitching to the others,

Pelted by ragged clouds unthreading their pearls

and left it loose, the leather thong too thin.

Letting them scatter with no attempt to gather.

أَقيمي فَإِنَّ الغَورَ يا عَزَّ بَعدَكُم

أَقيمي فَإِنَّ الغَورَ يا عَزَّ بَعدَكُم

إِلَيَّ إِذا ما بِنتِ غَيرُ جَميلِ

إِلَيَّ إِذا ما بِنتِ غَيرُ جَميلِ

Stay, Azza, for al-Ghawr, after you all leave,

Stay! For the homes are desolate without you

is no longer lovely to me when you are gone.

Even when others move in lacking in grace.

كَفى حَزناً لِلعَينِ أَن راءَ طَرفُها

كَفى حَزناً لِلعَينِ أَن راءَ طَرفُها

لِعَزَّةَ عَيراً آذَنَت بِرَحيلِ

لِعَزَّةَ عَيراً آذَنَت بِرَحيلِ

It is grief enough for the eye that its gaze has seen

Sorrow enough for the eye that its glance saw

Azza’s caravan give notice of departure.

The place of pride display departure's likeness.

وَقالوا نَأَت فَاِختَر مِنَ الصَبرِ وَالبُكا

وَقالوا نَأَت فَاِختَر مِنَ الصَبرِ وَالبُكا

فَقُلتُ البُكا أَشفى إِذاً لِغَليلي

فَقُلتُ البُكا أَشفى إِذاً لِغَليلي

They said, “She is far away; choose between patience and weeping.”

And they said "Choose between patience and weeping!"

I said, “Then weeping better soothes my burning thirst.”

And I said "Weeping relieves when one is distraught."

فَوَلَّيتُ مَخزوناً وَقُلتُ لِصاحِبي

فَوَلَّيتُ مَخزوناً وَقُلتُ لِصاحِبي

أَقاتِلَتي لَيلى بِغَيرِ قَتيلِ

أَقاتِلَتي لَيلى بِغَيرِ قَتيلِ

I turned away in sorrow and said to my companion,

So I departed in withdrawal and said to my friend

“Will Layla kill me, with no slain victim to avenge?”

"Would that bloodshed rather than words had slain Layla for me!"

لِعَزَّةَ إِذ يَحتَلُّ بِالخَيفِ أَهلُها

لِعَزَّةَ إِذ يَحتَلُّ بِالخَيفِ أَهلُها

فَأَوحَشَ مِنها الخَيفُ بَعدَ حُلولِ

فَأَوحَشَ مِنها الخَيفُ بَعدَ حُلولِ

For Azza, when her people camped at al-Khayf—

Since the place was desolated of inhabitants

al-Khayf grew desolate without her after their stay.

And after their long stay

وَبَدَّلَ مِنها بَعدَ طولِ إِقامَةٍ

وَبَدَّلَ مِنها بَعدَ طولِ إِقامَةٍ

تَبَعُّثُ نَكباءِ العَشِيِّ جَفولِ

تَبَعُّثُ نَكباءِ العَشِيِّ جَفولِ

And in her place, after her long sojourn, came

It changed: the wavering specters of nightfall

the gusting of a swift, veering evening wind.

Taking the place of Layla's vanishing form.

لَقَد أَكثَرَ الواشونَ فينا وَفيكُمُ

لَقَد أَكثَرَ الواشونَ فينا وَفيكُمُ

وَمالَ بِنا الواشونَ كُلَّ مَميلِ

وَمالَ بِنا الواشونَ كُلَّ مَميلِ

The slanderers have spoken much about us and you,

Indeed those spies have multiplied against us and you,

and the slanderers have driven us every way.

Swaying our people completely to their side.

وَما زِلتُ مِن لَيلى لَدُن طَرَّ شارِبي

وَما زِلتُ مِن لَيلى لَدُن طَرَّ شارِبي

إِلى اليَومِ كَالمُقصى بِكُلِّ سَبيلِ

إِلى اليَومِ كَالمُقصى بِكُلِّ سَبيلِ

Ever since my moustache first sprouted, I have been kept from Layla,

Yet never since the day I drank from Layla's cup

to this day, like one driven off on every path.

Have I been barred from her side each road I take.