أَرَى نَفْحَةً دَلَّتْ عَلَى كَبِدِي الْوَجْدَا

أَرَى نَفْحَةً دَلَّتْ عَلَى كَبِدِي الْوَجْدَا

فَمَنْ كَانَ بِالْمِقْيَاسِ أَقْرَبَكُمُ عَهْدَا

فَمَنْ كَانَ بِالْمِقْيَاسِ أَقْرَبَكُمُ عَهْدَا

I sense a waft that has led longing to my liver.

I see a breeze blowing, revealing my inner passion,

So who among you has most recently been at the Nilometer?

So who among you is closest in understanding my plight?

مَلاعِبُ آرامٍ وَمَجْرَى جَدَاوِلٍ

مَلاعِبُ آرامٍ وَمَجْرَى جَدَاوِلٍ

وَمُلْتَفُّ أَفْنَانٍ تَقِي الْحَرَّ وَالْبَرْدَا

وَمُلْتَفُّ أَفْنَانٍ تَقِي الْحَرَّ وَالْبَرْدَا

Haunts of gazelles, and the course of brooks,

The meadows of peace and flowing brooks,

And a tangle of branches that shields from heat and cold.

And shaded bowers that protect from heat and cold,

إِذَا انْبَعَثَتْ فِيهِ النَّسَائِمُ خِلْتَهَا

إِذَا انْبَعَثَتْ فِيهِ النَّسَائِمُ خِلْتَهَا

تُنِيرُ عَلَى مَتْنِ الْغَدِيرِ بِهِ بُرْدَا

تُنِيرُ عَلَى مَتْنِ الْغَدِيرِ بِهِ بُرْدَا

When the breezes stir there, you would think them

When the gentle winds stir through them,

Weaving a striped mantle there across the pool's surface.

Cooling the surface of the pond with a chill.

كَأَنَّ الصَّبَا تُلْقَى عَلَيْهِ إِذَا جَرَتْ

كَأَنَّ الصَّبَا تُلْقَى عَلَيْهِ إِذَا جَرَتْ

مَسَائِل فِي الأَرْقَامِ أَوْ تَلْعَبُ النَّرْدَا

مَسَائِل فِي الأَرْقَامِ أَوْ تَلْعَبُ النَّرْدَا

As though the east wind sets out upon it, whenever it blows,

As though the morning breeze tosses questions of numbers,

Puzzles in numbers, or plays at dice.

Or plays a game of chance upon it.

أَقَامَ الرَّبِيعُ الطَّلْقُ فِي حَجَراتِهَا

أَقَامَ الرَّبِيعُ الطَّلْقُ فِي حَجَراتِهَا

وَأَسْدَى لَهَا مِنْ نِعْمَةِ النِّيلِ مَا أَسْدَى

وَأَسْدَى لَهَا مِنْ نِعْمَةِ النِّيلِ مَا أَسْدَى

Genial spring dwelt within its chambers,

Spring has made its home in its chambers,

And bestowed upon it all it bestowed of the Nile's bounty.

And provided it generously with the Nile’s bounty.

فَلِلَّهِ كَمْ مِنْ صَبْوَةٍ كَانَ لِي بِهَا

فَلِلَّهِ كَمْ مِنْ صَبْوَةٍ كَانَ لِي بِهَا

رَوَاحٌ إِلَى حُسَّانَةِ الْجِيدِ أَوْ مَغْدَى

رَوَاحٌ إِلَى حُسَّانَةِ الْجِيدِ أَوْ مَغْدَى

By God, how many a passion led me there,

By God, how often I’ve had pleasant times there,

At evening or morning, to a fair-necked beauty!

Strolling to the beautiful cheek, or a tryst;

إِذِ الدَّهْرُ لَمْ يُخْفِرْ ذِمَاماً وَلَمْ يَخُنْ

إِذِ الدَّهْرُ لَمْ يُخْفِرْ ذِمَاماً وَلَمْ يَخُنْ

نِظَاماً وَلَمْ يَحْمِلْ عَلَى ذِي هَوىً حِقْدَا

نِظَاماً وَلَمْ يَحْمِلْ عَلَى ذِي هَوىً حِقْدَا

When Time broke no pledge, nor betrayed

When Fate had not yet slighted a pact, or betrayed

Harmony, nor bore a grudge against a lover.

A system, or borne hatred towards a lover.

تَدُورُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَحَاظِي شُمُوسُهُ

تَدُورُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَحَاظِي شُمُوسُهُ

وَتُمْسِي عَلَيْنَا طَيْرُ أَنْجُمِهِ سَعْدَا

وَتُمْسِي عَلَيْنَا طَيْرُ أَنْجُمِهِ سَعْدَا

Its suns circled over us with good fortune,

Its suns revolve above us auspiciously,

And at evening the birds of its stars were auspicious for us.

And its stars spend the night in happiness over us.

وَيَا رُبَّ لَيْلٍ لَفَّنَا بِرِدَائِهِ

وَيَا رُبَّ لَيْلٍ لَفَّنَا بِرِدَائِهِ

عِناقاً كَمَا لَفَّ الصَّبَا الْبَانَ وَالرَّنْدَا

عِناقاً كَمَا لَفَّ الصَّبَا الْبَانَ وَالرَّنْدَا

And oh, how many a night wrapped us in its cloak,

O Lord of a night that wraps us in its gown,

In an embrace, as the east wind wrapped the ben-tree and laurel.

Embracing, as the morning wraps mist and dew!

وَلَثْمٍ تَوَالَى إِثْرَ لَثْمٍ بِثَغْرِهَا

وَلَثْمٍ تَوَالَى إِثْرَ لَثْمٍ بِثَغْرِهَا

كَما شَافَهَ الْبازِي عَلَى ظَمَأٍ وِرْدَا

كَما شَافَهَ الْبازِي عَلَى ظَمَأٍ وِرْدَا

And kiss followed kiss upon her lips,

With kisses following kisses from her lips,

As a thirsty hawk touches drinking water with its beak.

As the thirsty drunkard savors the wine.

فَتَاةٌ كَأَنَّ اللهَ صَوَّرَ لَحْظَهَا

فَتَاةٌ كَأَنَّ اللهَ صَوَّرَ لَحْظَهَا

لِيَهْتِكَ أَسْرَارَ الْقُلُوبِ بِهِ عَمْدَا

لِيَهْتِكَ أَسْرَارَ الْقُلُوبِ بِهِ عَمْدَا

A maiden, as though God had fashioned her glance

A girl who seems as though God formed her glance

To expose the secrets of hearts with it, deliberately.

To wantonly pierce the secrets of hearts.

لَهَا عَبَثَاتٌ عِنْدَ كُلِّ تَحِيَّةٍ

لَهَا عَبَثَاتٌ عِنْدَ كُلِّ تَحِيَّةٍ

تَسُوقُ إِلَيْهَا عَنْ فَرائِسِها الأُسْدَا

تَسُوقُ إِلَيْهَا عَنْ فَرائِسِها الأُسْدَا

She has playful gestures at every greeting,

She has coquetries for every greeting,

Drawing lions to her, away from their prey.

That drive her prey wild with passion.

إِذَا انْفَتَلَتْ بِالْكَأْسِ خِلْتَ بَنَانَها

إِذَا انْفَتَلَتْ بِالْكَأْسِ خِلْتَ بَنَانَها

تُدِيرُ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ جَنَى خَدِّهَا وَرْدَا

تُدِيرُ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ جَنَى خَدِّهَا وَرْدَا

When she turns with the cup, you would think her fingertips

When she struggles playfully with the goblet, her curling tresses

Were passing us roses from the harvest of her cheek.

Scatter roses from the apple of her cheek upon us.

وَمَا أَنْسَهُ لا أَنْسَ يَوْماً تَسَابَقَتْ

وَمَا أَنْسَهُ لا أَنْسَ يَوْماً تَسَابَقَتْ

بِهِ عَبْرَتَاهَا وَالنَّوَى تَصْدَعُ الصَّلْدَا

بِهِ عَبْرَتَاهَا وَالنَّوَى تَصْدَعُ الصَّلْدَا

And whatever I forget, I shall not forget a day

How delightful the day her tears raced

When her two tears raced, while parting split solid rock.

Against her passions and the spathes burst from the branches!

فَلَمْ أَرَ لَحْظاً كَانَ أَقْتَلَ بَاكِياً

فَلَمْ أَرَ لَحْظاً كَانَ أَقْتَلَ بَاكِياً

وَأَمْضَى الظُّبَا فِي الْفَتْكِ ما سَالَ إِفْرِنْدَا

وَأَمْضَى الظُّبَا فِي الْفَتْكِ ما سَالَ إِفْرِنْدَا

For I have never seen a gaze more deadly when weeping,

I’ve seen no glance so murderously affecting

And the keenest killing blades are those whose damascened sheen flows.

And no eyelids so deadly in their blows, not even Irfanda’s.

حَرَامٌ عَلَى الْعَيْنَيْنِ إِنْ لم تَسِلْ دَمَاً

حَرَامٌ عَلَى الْعَيْنَيْنِ إِنْ لم تَسِلْ دَمَاً

عَلَى بَيْنِهَا وَالْقَلْب إِنْ لَمْ يَذُبْ وَقْدَا

عَلَى بَيْنِهَا وَالْقَلْب إِنْ لَمْ يَذُبْ وَقْدَا

Rest is forbidden to the eyes if they do not shed blood

It’s a sin if the eyes don’t shed blood

At parting from her, and to the heart if it does not melt in flame.

Over separation, and the heart, if it doesn’t melt in agony.

فَيَا قَلْبُ مَا أَشْجَى إِذَا الدَّارُ بَاعَدَتْ

فَيَا قَلْبُ مَا أَشْجَى إِذَا الدَّارُ بَاعَدَتْ

وَيَا دَمْعُ مَا أَجْرَى وَيَا بَيْنُ مَا أَرْدَى

وَيَا دَمْعُ مَا أَجْرَى وَيَا بَيْنُ مَا أَرْدَى

So, O heart, how sorrowful when her home keeps us apart!

So my heart, how bitter is the parting of home!

And O tears, how freely you flow; and O parting, how deadly!

And my tear, how copiously it flows! And my beloved, how far she is!

وَيَا صَاحِبِي الْمَذْخُورَ لِلسِّرِّإِنَّنِي

وَيَا صَاحِبِي الْمَذْخُورَ لِلسِّرِّإِنَّنِي

ضَلَلْتُ فَهَلْ مِنْ وَثْبَةٍ تُكْسِبُ الْحَمْدَا

ضَلَلْتُ فَهَلْ مِنْ وَثْبَةٍ تُكْسِبُ الْحَمْدَا

And O my friend, treasured as a confidant, indeed I

And my companion, keeper of secrets, I have strayed;

Have strayed; is there a leap that might earn praise?

Is there a leap that can earn praise?

حَلَفْتُ بِمَا اسْتَوْلَى عَلَيْهِ نِقَابُهَا

حَلَفْتُ بِمَا اسْتَوْلَى عَلَيْهِ نِقَابُهَا

وَيَا لَكَ حَلْفاًمَا أَرَقَّ وَمَا أَنْدَى

وَيَا لَكَ حَلْفاًمَا أَرَقَّ وَمَا أَنْدَى

I swore by what her veil enfolded,

I swore an oath by that which her veil concealed,

And what an oath—how tender, and how dewy!

And what an oath! How it burned and glowed!

بِأَلَّا تَفِيئَ الْعَيْنُ عَنْ سُنَّةِ الْبُكَى

بِأَلَّا تَفِيئَ الْعَيْنُ عَنْ سُنَّةِ الْبُكَى

وَأَلَّا تَرِيعَ النَّفْسُ إِنْ لَمْ تَمُتْ وَجْدَا

وَأَلَّا تَرِيعَ النَّفْسُ إِنْ لَمْ تَمُتْ وَجْدَا

That the eye would never turn from the habit of weeping,

Never to rest my eyes from the ritual of weeping,

And that the soul would not recover unless it died of longing.

Or my breath, if it cannot die of passion.

وَكَيْفَ يُفِيقُ الْقَلْبُ مِنْ سَوْرَةِ الْهَوَى

وَكَيْفَ يُفِيقُ الْقَلْبُ مِنْ سَوْرَةِ الْهَوَى

وَقَدْ مَدَّهُ سِحْرُ الْعُيُونِ بِمَا مَدَّا

وَقَدْ مَدَّهُ سِحْرُ الْعُيُونِ بِمَا مَدَّا

And how can the heart recover from love's frenzy,

How can the heart wake from its lovesick stupor

When the magic of eyes has fed it as lavishly as it has?

When the magic of eyes has extended it with all they extend?

وَمَا كُنْتُ لَوْلا الْعَذْلُ أُبْدِي خَفِيَّةً

وَمَا كُنْتُ لَوْلا الْعَذْلُ أُبْدِي خَفِيَّةً

وَلَكِنْ تَوَالِي الْقَدْحِ يَسْتَرعِفُ الزَّندَا

وَلَكِنْ تَوَالِي الْقَدْحِ يَسْتَرعِفُ الزَّندَا

And but for reproach, I would not reveal a secret,

Were it not for sobriety, I would not reveal a secret,

But repeated striking makes the fire-stick bleed.

But the flowing cups make one babble nonsense.

وَمَنْ لِي بِأَنَّ الْقَلْبَ يَكْتُمُ وَجْدَهُ

وَمَنْ لِي بِأَنَّ الْقَلْبَ يَكْتُمُ وَجْدَهُ

وَكَيْفَ تُسَامُ النَّارُ أَنْ تَكْتُمَ النَّدَّا

وَكَيْفَ تُسَامُ النَّارُ أَنْ تَكْتُمَ النَّدَّا

And who can assure me that the heart will conceal its longing?

Who can help my heart hiding its passion?

And how can fire be required to conceal incense?

How can fire conceal its heat?

فَلا وَصْلَ إِلَّا ذُكْرَةٌ تَبْعَثُ الأَسَى

فَلا وَصْلَ إِلَّا ذُكْرَةٌ تَبْعَثُ الأَسَى

عَلَى النَّفْسِ حَتَّى لا تُطِيق لَهُ رَدَّا

عَلَى النَّفْسِ حَتَّى لا تُطِيق لَهُ رَدَّا

So there is no union, save a memory that awakens sorrow

No union but a memory that awakens sorrow

Upon the soul, until it has no strength to repel it.

In the soul, until it cannot bear rejection.

أَبِيتُ قَرِيحَ الْجَفْنِ لا أَعْرِفُ الْكَرَى

أَبِيتُ قَرِيحَ الْجَفْنِ لا أَعْرِفُ الْكَرَى

طَوالَ اللَّيَالِي والْجَوانِحُ لا تَهْدَا

طَوالَ اللَّيَالِي والْجَوانِحُ لا تَهْدَا

I spend the night with wounded eyelids, knowing no sleep,

Sleepless I stay with burning eyelids, frenzied

Throughout the nights, while my ribs find no rest.

All night, while my neighbors sleep.

فَيَأَيُّهَا النُّوَّامُوالشَّوْقُ عَازِرٌ

فَيَأَيُّهَا النُّوَّامُوالشَّوْقُ عَازِرٌ

أَلا أَحَدٌ يَشْرِي بِغَفْوَتِهِ السُّهْدَا

أَلا أَحَدٌ يَشْرِي بِغَفْوَتِهِ السُّهْدَا

So, O sleepers—with longing pleading for me—

So sleepers, while longing keeps vigil,

Will no one buy sleeplessness with his slumber?

Does no one buy wakefulness with reward?

لَقَدْ ذَلَّ مَنْ يَبْغِي مِنَ النَّاسِ نَاصِراً

لَقَدْ ذَلَّ مَنْ يَبْغِي مِنَ النَّاسِ نَاصِراً

وَقَد خَابَ مَنْ يَجْنِي مِنَ الأَرْقَمِ الشَّهْدَا

وَقَد خَابَ مَنْ يَجْنِي مِنَ الأَرْقَمِ الشَّهْدَا

Truly, whoever seeks a helper among people is humbled,

He who seeks a human guardian is humiliated,

And whoever gathers honey from the speckled serpent is disappointed.

And he who expects gain from fate is denied.

فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُخْدَعْ بِشِيمَةِ صَاحِبٍ

فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُخْدَعْ بِشِيمَةِ صَاحِبٍ

فَمَنْ ظَنَّ خَيْرَاً بِالزَمَانِ فَقَدْ أَكْدَى

فَمَنْ ظَنَّ خَيْرَاً بِالزَمَانِ فَقَدْ أَكْدَى

So beware of being deceived by a companion's character,

Beware being fooled by a friend’s nature,

For whoever expects good of Time comes away empty-handed.

For he who thinks well of fate, has erred.

فَقَدْ طَالَمَا جَرَّبْتُ خِلاً فَمَا رَعَى

فَقَدْ طَالَمَا جَرَّبْتُ خِلاً فَمَا رَعَى

وَحِلْفاً فَمَا أَوْفَى وَعَوْنَاً فَمَا أَجْدَى

وَحِلْفاً فَمَا أَوْفَى وَعَوْنَاً فَمَا أَجْدَى

For often I have tested a friend, but he showed no care,

For long I tested a confidante, but he did not shelter me,

And an ally, but he kept no faith, and a helper, but he gave no aid.

And oaths, but they were not kept, and help, but it was of no use.

وَمَا النَّاسُ إِلَّا طَالِبٌ غَيْرُ وَاجِدٍ

وَمَا النَّاسُ إِلَّا طَالِبٌ غَيْرُ وَاجِدٍ

لِمَا يَبْتَغِي أَوْ وَاجِدٌ أَخْطَأَ الْقَصْدَا

لِمَا يَبْتَغِي أَوْ وَاجِدٌ أَخْطَأَ الْقَصْدَا

And people are only seekers who do not find

People are but seekers, never finders,

What they seek, or finders who have missed the mark.

Of what they desire, or finders, misguided from their goal.

فَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ النَّاسَ أَبْنَاءَ شِيمَةٍ

فَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ النَّاسَ أَبْنَاءَ شِيمَةٍ

فَمَا كُلُّ مَمْدُودِ الْخُطَا بَطَلاً جَعْدَا

فَمَا كُلُّ مَمْدُودِ الْخُطَا بَطَلاً جَعْدَا

So do not suppose people are sons of noble character,

Do not suppose people to be of a virtuous nature,

For not every long-striding man is a sturdy hero.

For not every long-necked one is a heroic camel stallion.