طَرِبْتُI was enraptured وَعَادَتْنِيand returned to me الْمَخِيلَةُpride وَالسُّكْرُand intoxication
طَرِبْتُ وَعَادَتْنِي الْمَخِيلَةُ وَالسُّكْرُ
وَأَصْبَحْتُand I became لاnot يُلْوِيbends بِشِيمَتِيmy character الزَّجْرُrebuke
وَأَصْبَحْتُ لا يُلْوِي بِشِيمَتِي الزَّجْرُ
I was enraptured, and pride and intoxication returned to me.
I was disturbed and imagination and intoxication returned to me,
And now rebuke cannot bend my character.
And I became unable to restrain myself with reproach.
كَأَنِّيَas though I were مَخْمُورٌdrunk سَرَتْflowed بِلِسَانِهِacross his tongue
كَأَنِّيَ مَخْمُورٌ سَرَتْ بِلِسَانِهِ
مُعَتَّقَةٌaged wine مِمَّاof the kind that يَضِنُّare loath to part بِهَاwith it التَّجْرُmerchants
مُعَتَّقَةٌ مِمَّا يَضِنُّ بِهَا التَّجْرُ
As though I were a drunken man across whose tongue there flowed
As if I was drunk, flowing on my tongue,
An aged wine of the kind merchants are loath to part with.
Is an untamed love that stinginess resents.
صَرِيعُstricken هَوىًlove يُلْويtwists بِيَme الشَّوْقُlonging كُلَّمَاwhenever
صَرِيعُ هَوىً يُلْوي بِيَ الشَّوْقُ كُلَّمَا
تَلأْلأَflashed بَرْقٌlightning أَوْor سَرَتْswept by دِيَمٌsteady rains غُزْرُabundant
تَلأْلأَ بَرْقٌ أَوْ سَرَتْ دِيَمٌ غُزْرُ
Stricken by love, I am wrung by longing whenever
Languishing in passion that twists me whenever
Lightning flashes or abundant, steady rains sweep by.
Lightning flashes or a pouring rain flows.
إِذَاwhen مَالtilts ميزَانُthe balance النَّهارِthe day رَأَيْتنِيyou see me
إِذَا مَال ميزَانُ النَّهارِ رَأَيْتنِي
عَلَىin حَسَراتٍsorrows لاnot يُقَاوِمُهاwithstands them صَبْرُpatience
عَلَى حَسَراتٍ لا يُقَاوِمُها صَبْرُ
When the balance of day tilts, you see me
When the balance of day tilts I see myself
In sorrows no patience can withstand.
Succumbing to regrets that patience cannot withstand.
يَقُولُsay أُنَاسٌsome people إِنَّهُindeed it is السِّحرُsorcery ضَلَّةًmistakenly
يَقُولُ أُنَاسٌ إِنَّهُ السِّحرُ ضَلَّةً
وَمَاand not هِيَit إِلَّاexcept نَظْرَةٌa glance دُونَهَاbeneath it السِّحْرُsorcery
وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا نَظْرَةٌ دُونَهَا السِّحْرُ
Some people mistakenly say that it is sorcery,
Some people say it is magic that misleads me,
Yet it is only a glance beside which sorcery falls short.
Yet it is nothing but a gaze beyond which is magic.
فَكَيْفَhow then يَعِيبُfault النَّاسُpeople أَمْرِيmy plight وَلَيْسَand there is no لِيfor me
فَكَيْفَ يَعِيبُ النَّاسُ أَمْرِي وَلَيْسَ لِي
وَلاnor لاِمْرِئٍfor anyone فِيin الْحُبِّlove نَهْيٌprohibition وَلاnor أَمْرُcommand
وَلا لاِمْرِئٍ فِي الْحُبِّ نَهْيٌ وَلا أَمْرُ
How then can people fault my plight, when neither I
So how can people blame me when neither I
Nor anyone else has power in love to forbid or command?
Nor anyone in love has prohibition or command?
وَلَوْand if كَانَwere مِمَّاof what يُسْتطَاعُis possible دِفَاعُهُrepelling it
وَلَوْ كَانَ مِمَّا يُسْتطَاعُ دِفَاعُهُ
لأَلْوَتْwould have swept away بِهِit الْبِيضُwhite swords الْمَباتِيرُkeen-cutting والسُّمْرُand brown spears
لأَلْوَتْ بِهِ الْبِيضُ الْمَباتِيرُ والسُّمْرُ
And were it something that could be repelled,
If it could be deflected white doves and nightingales would have done so,
Keen-cutting white swords and brown spears would have swept it away.
But it is love which if its sparks clung to embers, embers would ignite.
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it is الْحُبُّlove الَّذِيwhich لَوْif تَعَلَّقَتْcaught hold
وَلَكِنَّهُ الْحُبُّ الَّذِي لَوْ تَعَلَّقَتْ
شَرَارَتُهُits spark بِالْجَمْرِon the embers لاحْتَرَقَwould burn الْجَمْرُthe embers
شَرَارَتُهُ بِالْجَمْرِ لاحْتَرَقَ الْجَمْرُ
But it is love such that, if
Though I concealed in my chest a burning
Its spark touched the embers, the embers themselves would burn.
Of ecstasy that no chest can bear to carry.
عَلَىdespite أَنَّنِيthat I كَاتَمْتُI kept secret from صَدْرِيَmy breast حُرْقَةًa burning pain
عَلَى أَنَّنِي كَاتَمْتُ صَدْرِيَ حُرْقَةً
مِنَof الْوَجْدِpassion لاnot يَقْوَىhas strength عَلَىfor حَمْلِهَاbearing it صَدْرُa breast
مِنَ الْوَجْدِ لا يَقْوَى عَلَى حَمْلِهَا صَدْرُ
Yet I have hidden from my breast a burning pain
And I held back tears which if I let flow
Of passion that no breast has strength to bear.
None would doubt they were the sea spilling on earth.
وَكَفْكَفْتُand I held back دَمْعَاًtears لَوْif أَسَلْتُI made flow شُؤُونَهُits tear channels
وَكَفْكَفْتُ دَمْعَاً لَوْ أَسَلْتُ شُؤُونَهُ
عَلَىupon الأَرْضِthe earth مَاnot شَكَّdoubted امْرُؤٌanyone أَنَّهُthat it was الْبَحْرُthe sea
عَلَى الأَرْضِ مَا شَكَّ امْرُؤٌ أَنَّهُ الْبَحْرُ
And I held back tears; had I let their streams flow
Out of shyness and pride that it be said
Upon the earth, no one would have doubted they were the sea.
Clouds drizzled from its setting or rain poured.
حَيَاءًfrom modesty وَكِبْراًand pride أَنْthat يُقَالَit be said تَرَجَّحَتْswayed
حَيَاءً وَكِبْراً أَنْ يُقَالَ تَرَجَّحَتْ
بِهِhim صَبْوَةٌa youthful passion أَوْor فَلَّblunted مِنْof غَرْبِهِhis edge الْهَجْرُestrangement
بِهِ صَبْوَةٌ أَوْ فَلَّ مِنْ غَرْبِهِ الْهَجْرُ
From modesty and pride, lest it be said, ‘He was swayed
Yet I am a man whom if not for obstacles
By youthful passion, or estrangement blunted his edge.’
Nomads and settled folk alike would have yielded to his rule.
وَإِنِّيand indeed I am امْرُؤٌa man لَوْلاbut for الْعَوائِقُthe obstacles أَذْعَنَتْwould submit
وَإِنِّي امْرُؤٌ لَوْلا الْعَوائِقُ أَذْعَنَتْ
لِسُلْطَانِهِto his authority الْبَدْوُthe nomads الْمُغِيرَةُraiding والْحَضْرُand townsfolk
لِسُلْطَانِهِ الْبَدْوُ الْمُغِيرَةُ والْحَضْرُ
And I am a man; but for obstacles, they would submit
Among the valiant whose swords
To his authority—the raiding nomads and the townsfolk.
Have in the margins of every dark night, dawnings.
مِنَof النَّفَرِthe band الْغُرِّillustrious الَّذِينَwho سُيُوفُهُمْtheir swords
مِنَ النَّفَرِ الْغُرِّ الَّذِينَ سُيُوفُهُمْ
لَهَاfor them فِيin حَوَاشِيthe fringes كُلِّevery دَاجِيَةٍdark night فَجْرُa dawn
لَهَا فِي حَوَاشِي كُلِّ دَاجِيَةٍ فَجْرُ
Of the illustrious band whose swords
When one of their masters draws his sword,
Bring dawn to the fringes of every dark night.
The celestial spheres tremble and time turns.
إِذَاwhen اسْتَلَّdraws مِنْهُمْamong them سَيِّدٌa lord غَرْبَthe edge سَيْفِهِhis sword
إِذَا اسْتَلَّ مِنْهُمْ سَيِّدٌ غَرْبَ سَيْفِهِ
تَفَزَّعَتِtake fright الأَفْلاكُthe celestial spheres وَالْتَفَتَand turns to look الدَّهْرُTime
تَفَزَّعَتِ الأَفْلاكُ وَالْتَفَتَ الدَّهْرُ
When a lord among them draws his sword’s edge,
For them erected columns and fortified citadels,
The celestial spheres take fright, and Time turns to look.
Crimson towers and green courts.
لَهُمْthey have عُمُدٌpillars مَرْفُوعَةٌraised وَمَعَاقِلٌand strongholds
لَهُمْ عُمُدٌ مَرْفُوعَةٌ وَمَعَاقِلٌ
وَأَلْوِيَةٌand banners حُمْرٌred وَأَفْنِيَةٌخُضْرُand green courtyards
وَأَلْوِيَةٌ حُمْرٌ وَأَفْنِيَةٌخُضْرُ
They have raised pillars and strongholds,
And fire that has in every east and west,
And red banners and green courtyards.
For the armed darkness, crimson tongues.
وَنَارٌand a fire لَهَاit has فِيin كُلِّevery شَرْقٍeast وَمَغْرِبٍand west
وَنَارٌ لَهَا فِي كُلِّ شَرْقٍ وَمَغْرِبٍ
لِمُدَّرِعِfor one armored in الظَّلْمَاءِdarkness أَلْسِنَةٌtongues حُمْرُred
لِمُدَّرِعِ الظَّلْمَاءِ أَلْسِنَةٌ حُمْرُ
And a fire that, in every east and west,
Extending hands skyward bloodied,
Has red tongues for one armored in darkness.
Clasped by comets and caressed by forgiveness.
تَمُدُّstretches يَداًa hand نَحْوَtoward السَّمَاءِthe sky خَضِيبَةًdyed
تَمُدُّ يَداً نَحْوَ السَّمَاءِ خَضِيبَةً
تُصَافِحُهَاclasps it in greeting الشِّعْرَىSirius وَيَلْثِمُهَاand kisses it الْغَفْرُal-Ghafr
تُصَافِحُهَا الشِّعْرَى وَيَلْثِمُهَا الْغَفْرُ
It stretches a dyed hand toward the sky,
And steeds whose neighing fills both horizons,
Sirius clasps it, and al-Ghafr kisses it.
On their manes victory knots are tied.
وَخَيْلٌand horses يَعُمّfills الْخَافِقَيْنِeast and west صَهِيلُهَاtheir neighing
وَخَيْلٌ يَعُمّ الْخَافِقَيْنِ صَهِيلُهَا
نَزَائِعُsteeds brought from afar مَعْقُودٌbound بِأَعْرَافِهاto their manes النَّصْرُvictory
نَزَائِعُ مَعْقُودٌ بِأَعْرَافِها النَّصْرُ
And horses whose neighing fills east and west,
Accustomed to traversing wildernesses as if they are
Steeds brought from afar, with victory bound to their manes,
Khadriyya horses fearless with no lair.
مُعَوَّدَةٌaccustomed قَطْعَcrossing الْفَيَافِيthe desert wastes كَأَنَّهَاas though they were
مُعَوَّدَةٌ قَطْعَ الْفَيَافِي كَأَنَّهَا
خُدَارِيَّةٌa black eagle فَتْخَاءُbroad-winged لَيْسَthere is not لَهَاfor it وَكْرُa nest
خُدَارِيَّةٌ فَتْخَاءُ لَيْسَ لَهَا وَكْرُ
Accustomed to crossing desert wastes, as though they were
They lasted awhile then disunity scattered them,
A black eagle, broad-winged, with no nest.
Rancor in its nature whose trait is betrayal.
أَقَامُواthey dwelt زَمَاناًfor a time ثُمَّthen بَدَّدَscattered شَمْلَهُمْtheir company
أَقَامُوا زَمَاناً ثُمَّ بَدَّدَ شَمْلَهُمْ
مَلُولٌa fickle one مِنَamong الأَيَّامِthe days شِيمَتُهُits nature الْغَدْرُtreachery
مَلُولٌ مِنَ الأَيَّامِ شِيمَتُهُ الْغَدْرُ
They dwelt a while; then their company was scattered
So nothing remains of them but traces of blessing
By a fickle day whose nature is treachery.
Which stories and remembrance propagate.
فَلَمْso did not يَبْقَremain مِنْهُمْof them غَيْرُexcept آثارِtraces نِعْمَةٍbounty
فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ غَيْرُ آثارِ نِعْمَةٍ
تَضُوعُare fragrant بِرَيَّاهَاwith its fragrance الأَحَادِيثُtales وَالذِّكْرُand remembrance
تَضُوعُ بِرَيَّاهَا الأَحَادِيثُ وَالذِّكْرُ
So nothing remained of them but traces of bounty,
Traces speak though silent,
Tales and remembrance breathe its fragrance.
And flowers eulogize its ruins.
وَقَدْand may تَنْطِقُspeak الآثَارُtraces وَهْيَwhile they are صَوَامِتٌsilent
وَقَدْ تَنْطِقُ الآثَارُ وَهْيَ صَوَامِتٌ
وَيُثْنِيand praise بِرَيَّاهُwith its fragrance عَلَىon الْوابِلِthe downpour الزَّهْرُthe blossoms
وَيُثْنِي بِرَيَّاهُ عَلَى الْوابِلِ الزَّهْرُ
And traces may speak, though they are silent,
By your life however long one’s journey extends,
And blossoms praise the downpour with their fragrance.
The living is not immortal, only the departed held captive.
لَعَمْرُكَby your life مَاno حَيٌّliving person وَإِنْand even if طَالَlasts long سَيْرُهُhis journey
لَعَمْرُكَ مَا حَيٌّ وَإِنْ طَالَ سَيْرُهُ
يُعَدُّis reckoned طَلِيقَاًfree وَالْمَنُونُand death لَهُfor him أَسْرُcaptivity
يُعَدُّ طَلِيقَاً وَالْمَنُونُ لَهُ أَسْرُ
By your life, no living man, however long his journey,
These days are but stages,
Can be reckoned free, while death holds him captive.
Wherein travels stay and travels depart.
وَمَاand not هَذِهِthese الأَيَّامُdays إِلَّاexcept مَنَازِلٌstopping places
وَمَا هَذِهِ الأَيَّامُ إِلَّا مَنَازِلٌ
يَحُلُّlodges بِهَاin them سَفْرٌtravelers وَيَتْرُكُهاand leaves them سَفْرُtravelers
يَحُلُّ بِهَا سَفْرٌ وَيَتْرُكُها سَفْرُ
And these days are nothing but stopping places,
So do not consider anyone in them lasting,
Where one band of travelers lodges and another leaves.
But he strives and his goal is life’s end.
فَلاso do not تَحْسَبَنَّever think الْمَرْءَa man فِيهاin them بِخَالِدٍimmortal
فَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْمَرْءَ فِيها بِخَالِدٍ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut he يَسْعَىstrives وَغَايَتُهُand his limit الْعُمْرُlifespan
وَلَكِنَّهُ يَسْعَى وَغَايَتُهُ الْعُمْرُ
So never think a man immortal in them;
But he strives, and his lifespan is his limit.
Partial English translation: 48 of 50 Arabic lines translated.