مَاwhat لِقَلْبِيwith my heart مِنْfrom لَوعَةٍburning anguish لَيْسَdoes not يَهْدَاgrow calm
مَا لِقَلْبِي مِنْ لَوعَةٍ لَيْسَ يَهْدَا
أَوَand...? لَمْdid not يَكْفِsuffice أَنَّهُthat it ذَابَmelted وَجْدَاwith longing
أَوَ لَمْ يَكْفِ أَنَّهُ ذَابَ وَجْدَا
What ails my heart, that in anguish it finds no rest?
Was it not enough that it melted with longing?
وَسَمَتْنِيbranded me بِنَارِهَاwith their fire الْغِيدُthe graceful beauties حَتَّىuntil
وَسَمَتْنِي بِنَارِهَا الْغِيدُ حَتَّى
تَرَكَتْنِيthey left me فِيin عَالَمِthe realm الْحُبِّof love فَرْدَاalone
تَرَكَتْنِي فِي عَالَمِ الْحُبِّ فَرْدَا
The graceful beauties branded me with their fire, until
they left me alone in the realm of love.
فَضُلُوعِيso my ribs مِنْthan قَدْحَةِa spark struck الزَّنْدِfrom a fire-stick أَوْرَىmore ablaze
فَضُلُوعِي مِنْ قَدْحَةِ الزَّنْدِ أَوْرَى
وَدُمُوعِيand my tears مِنْthan صَفْحَةِthe face الْغَيْمِof the clouds أَنْدَىwetter
وَدُمُوعِي مِنْ صَفْحَةِ الْغَيْمِ أَنْدَى
So my ribs burn fiercer than a fire-stick's spark,
and my tears are wetter than the face of the clouds.
مَاwhat عَلَىupon الْبَرْقِthe lightning لَوْif تَحَمَّلَcarried عَنِّيon my behalf
مَا عَلَى الْبَرْقِ لَوْ تَحَمَّلَ عَنِّي
بَعْضَsome مَاof what خَفَّwas light مِنْof سَلامٍa greeting فَأَدَّىthen delivered
بَعْضَ مَا خَفَّ مِنْ سَلامٍ فَأَدَّى
What would it cost the lightning to carry for me
a little greeting, light to bear, and deliver it?
أَيُّهَاO you السَّاهِرُونَthose keeping vigil حَوْلَaround وِسَادِيmy pillow
أَيُّهَا السَّاهِرُونَ حَوْلَ وِسَادِي
لَسْتُI am not مِنْكُمْone of you أَوْunless تَذْكُرُواyou mention لِيَto me نَجْدَاNajd
لَسْتُ مِنْكُمْ أَوْ تَذْكُرُوا لِيَ نَجْدَا
O you who keep vigil around my pillow,
I am not one of you unless you speak to me of Najd,
وَعُهُودَاًand pledges لَمْhas not يَتْرُكِleft الدَّهْرُtime مِنْهَاof them
وَعُهُودَاً لَمْ يَتْرُكِ الدَّهْرُ مِنْهَا
لأَخِيfor one possessed of صَبْوَةٍlonging ذِماماًa binding obligation وَعَهْدَاand a pledge
لأَخِي صَبْوَةٍ ذِماماً وَعَهْدَا
and pledges, of which time has left
no bond or promise for one possessed by longing;
وَنَسِيمَاًand a breeze إِذَاwhen سَرَىmoves by night ضَوَّعَscents الآthe horizons (beginning)
وَنَسِيمَاً إِذَا سَرَى ضَوَّعَ الآ
فَاقَhorizons (completion) مِسْكَاًwith musk وَعَطَّرَand perfumes الْجَوَّthe air نَدَّاwith incense
فَاقَ مِسْكَاً وَعَطَّرَ الْجَوَّ نَدَّا
and a breeze that, when it wafts by night, scents the
horizons with musk and perfumes the air with incense.
لاdo not تَخُوضُواventure فِيinto غَيْرِهِanything else مِنْof حَدِيثٍtalk
لا تَخُوضُوا فِي غَيْرِهِ مِنْ حَدِيثٍ
فَهْوَfor it حَسْبِيsuffices me وَأَيُّand what مَاءٍwater كَصَدَّاlike Sadda
فَهْوَ حَسْبِي وَأَيُّ مَاءٍ كَصَدَّا
Do not venture into any other talk,
for it suffices me—and what water is like Sadda?
هِيَit أُحْدُوثَةٌa story تُسَاقُis recounted وَلَكِنْbut
هِيَ أُحْدُوثَةٌ تُسَاقُ وَلَكِنْ
رُبَّمَاperhaps اسْتَوْجَبَتْdeserved ثَنَاءًacclaim وَحَمْدَاand praise
رُبَّمَا اسْتَوْجَبَتْ ثَنَاءً وَحَمْدَا
It is a story told, yet
it may deserve acclaim and praise.
آهِah! مِنْfrom لَوْعَةٍburning anguish أَطَارَتْsent flying بِقَلْبِيthrough my heart
آهِ مِنْ لَوْعَةٍ أَطَارَتْ بِقَلْبِي
شُعْلَةًa flame شَفَّتِwasted الْجَوانِحَthe ribs وَقْدَاwith burning
شُعْلَةً شَفَّتِ الْجَوانِحَ وَقْدَا
Ah, the anguish that sent flying through my heart
a flame that wasted my ribs with its burning!
كُلَّمَاwhenever قُلْتُI said قَدْalready تَنَاهَىreached its limit غَرَامِيmy passion
كُلَّمَا قُلْتُ قَدْ تَنَاهَى غَرَامِي
عَادَreturned مِنْهُfrom it مَاwhat كَانَwas أَصْمَىdeadliest وَأَرْدَىand most ruinous
عَادَ مِنْهُ مَا كَانَ أَصْمَى وَأَرْدَى
Whenever I say my passion has run its course,
its deadliest and most ruinous part returns.
يَاO رَفِيقِيmy companion إِذَاwhen عَرَانِيَbefalls me خَطْبٌan affliction
يَا رَفِيقِي إِذَا عَرَانِيَ خَطْبٌ
وَنَصِيرِيand my champion إِذَاwhen خَصِيمٌan adversary تَصَدَّىconfronts
وَنَصِيرِي إِذَا خَصِيمٌ تَصَدَّى
O my companion when affliction befalls me,
and my champion when an adversary confronts me,
أَصْبَحَتْhas now become حَاجَتِيmy need إِلَيْكَfor you فَخُذْso obtain لِيfor me
أَصْبَحَتْ حَاجَتِي إِلَيْكَ فَخُذْ لِي
بِحُقُوقِيmy rightful dues مِنْfrom ظَالِمٍan oppressor قَدْalready تَعَدَّىtransgressed
بِحُقُوقِي مِنْ ظَالِمٍ قَدْ تَعَدَّى
now I need you, so recover for me
my rights from an oppressor who has transgressed.
وَجَدَfound الْقَلبَthe heart خَالِياًempty فَاحْتَوَاهُso he possessed it
وَجَدَ الْقَلبَ خَالِياً فَاحْتَوَاهُ
وَرَأَىand saw النَّفْسَthe soul طَوْعَهُobedient to him فَاسْتَبَدَّاso he ruled despotically
وَرَأَى النَّفْسَ طَوْعَهُ فَاسْتَبَدَّا
He found my heart empty and took possession of it,
and saw my soul obedient to him, so ruled despotically.
وَكَذاكَand likewise السُّلْطَانُthe ruler إِنْif ظَنَّsuspects بِالأُمْin the nation (beginning)
وَكَذاكَ السُّلْطَانُ إِنْ ظَنَّ بِالأُمْ
مَةِnation (completion) عَجْزَاًweakness سَطَاlashes out عَلَيْهَاat it وَشَدَّاand bears down hard
مَةِ عَجْزَاً سَطَا عَلَيْهَا وَشَدَّا
And so a ruler, if he suspects the
nation of weakness, assails it and bears down hard.
فَأَقِلْنِيso lift me up مِنْfrom عَثْرَةِthe stumble الحُبِّof love إِنْif أُوyou were given (beginning)
فَأَقِلْنِي مِنْ عَثْرَةِ الحُبِّ إِنْ أُو
تِيتَyou were given (completion) حُكْمَاًauthority أَوْor قُلْsay لِقَلْبِيَto my heart يَهْدَاbe still
تِيتَ حُكْمَاً أَوْ قُلْ لِقَلْبِيَ يَهْدَا
So lift me from love's stumble, if you have been
given authority—or bid my heart be still.
فَمِنَfor it is part of الْعَارِshame غَضُّaverting طَرْفِكَyour gaze عَنَّيfrom me
فَمِنَ الْعَارِ غَضُّ طَرْفِكَ عَنَّي
إِنَّindeed خَيْرَthe best الصِّحَابِof companions أَنْفَعُmost helpful وُدَّاin affection
إِنَّ خَيْرَ الصِّحَابِ أَنْفَعُ وُدَّا
For it is shameful to turn your gaze from me;
indeed, the best friend is he whose affection helps most.
وَبِنَفْسِيand with my life حُلْوُsweet الشَمائِلِin character مُرُّbitter الْthe
وَبِنَفْسِي حُلْوُ الشَمائِلِ مُرُّ الْ
هَجْرِestrangement يُحْيِيgives life وَصْلاًthrough union وَيَقْتُلُand kills صَدَّاthrough rejection
هَجْرِ يُحْيِي وَصْلاً وَيَقْتُلُ صَدَّا
And I would give my life for him, sweet in character, bitter in
estrangement: he gives life by union and kills by rejection.
ذُوpossessed of قَوَامٍa form أَعْدَىmore deadly مِنَthan الرُّمْحِa spear لِيناًin suppleness
ذُو قَوَامٍ أَعْدَى مِنَ الرُّمْحِ لِيناً
وَلِحَاظٍand glances أَمْضَىkeener مِنَthan السَّيْفِa sword حَدَّاin sharpness
وَلِحَاظٍ أَمْضَى مِنَ السَّيْفِ حَدَّا
He has a supple form more deadly than a spear,
and glances sharper-edged than a sword.
كَانَwas قَلْبِيmy heart وَدِيعَةًa trust عِنْدَin the keeping of عَيْنَيْtwo eyes
كَانَ قَلْبِي وَدِيعَةً عِنْدَ عَيْنَيْ
هِhis فَآلَىso he swore بِالسِّحْرِby magic أَلَّاthat not يُرَدَّاbe returned
هِ فَآلَى بِالسِّحْرِ أَلَّا يُرَدَّا
My heart was entrusted to his eyes,
so he swore by magic that it would not be returned.
مَاwhat عَلَىupon قَوْمِهِhis people وَإِنْand even though كُنْتُI was حُرَّاًfree
مَا عَلَى قَوْمِهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتُ حُرَّاً
أَنْthat دَعَتْنِيcalled me لَهُto him الْمَحَبَّةُlove عَبْدَاa slave
أَنْ دَعَتْنِي لَهُ الْمَحَبَّةُ عَبْدَا
What blame falls on his people, though I was free,
if love has called me his slave?
غُصْنُa branch بَانٍof a ban tree قَدْalready أَطْلَعَbrought forth الْحُسْنُbeauty فِيهِupon it
غُصْنُ بَانٍ قَدْ أَطْلَعَ الْحُسْنُ فِيهِ
بِيَدِwith the hand of السِّحْرِmagic جُلَّنَاراًpomegranate blossoms وَوَرْدَاand roses
بِيَدِ السِّحْرِ جُلَّنَاراً وَوَرْدَا
A ban-tree branch, upon which beauty has brought forth
with magic's hand, pomegranate blossoms and roses.
مَاwhat is هِلالُthe crescent السَّماءِof the sky مَاwhat is الظَّبْيُمَاthe gazelle; what is الْوَرْthe rose (beginning)
مَا هِلالُ السَّماءِ مَا الظَّبْيُمَا الْوَرْ
دُrose (completion) جَنِيَّاًfreshly plucked ماwhat is الْغُصْنُthe branch إِذْas يَتَهَدَّىsways gracefully
دُ جَنِيَّاً ما الْغُصْنُ إِذْ يَتَهَدَّى
What is the sky's crescent, what the gazelle, what the rose
freshly plucked, what the branch as it sways?
هُوَhe أَبْهَىfairer وَجْهاًin face وَأَقْتَلُand deadlier أَلْحَاglances (beginning)
هُوَ أَبْهَى وَجْهاً وَأَقْتَلُ أَلْحَا
ظَاًglances (completion) وَأَنْدَىand dewier خَدَّاًin cheek وَأَلْيَنُand more supple قَدَّاin form
ظَاً وَأَنْدَى خَدَّاً وَأَلْيَنُ قَدَّا
He is fairer of face and deadlier in his
glances, dewier of cheek, and more supple of form.
فَدَعِso leave off اللَّوْمَblame يَاO عَذُولُreproacher فَإِنِّيfor I
فَدَعِ اللَّوْمَ يَا عَذُولُ فَإِنِّي
لَسْتُI am not أَبْغِيseeking مِنَfrom الْعَواذِلِthe reproaching women رُشْدَاguidance
لَسْتُ أَبْغِي مِنَ الْعَواذِلِ رُشْدَا
So leave off blame, O reproacher, for I
seek no guidance from reproachful women.
لاdo not تَخَلْنِيthink me عَلَىfor غَرَاتِكَyour wiles سَهْلاًeasy prey
لا تَخَلْنِي عَلَى غَرَاتِكَ سَهْلاً
أَنَاI أَدْرَىknow better بِلَوْعَتِيof my anguish مِنْكَthan you جِدَّاby far
أَنَا أَدْرَى بِلَوْعَتِي مِنْكَ جِدَّا
Do not think me easy prey for your wiles;
I know my anguish far better than you.
لَسْتُI am not أَقْوَىable عَلَىto withstand الصُّدُودِrejection وَإِنْand even though كُنْwas (verb stem)
لَسْتُ أَقْوَى عَلَى الصُّدُودِ وَإِنْ كُنْ
تُI (verb ending) عَلَىagainst سَوْرَةِthe fury الْحَوَادِثِof calamities جَلْدَاsteadfast
تُ عَلَى سَوْرَةِ الْحَوَادِثِ جَلْدَا
I cannot withstand rejection, though I
am steadfast against the fury of calamities.
إِنْif تَكُنْthere is رَحْمَةٌmercy فَنَفْسِيَthen my soul أَوْلَىmore deserving
إِنْ تَكُنْ رَحْمَةٌ فَنَفْسِيَ أَوْلَى
أَوْor تَكُنْthere is ضَلَّةٌerror فَرَبِّيَthen my Lord أَهْدَىthe best guide
أَوْ تَكُنْ ضَلَّةٌ فَرَبِّيَ أَهْدَى
If there is mercy, my soul is most deserving;
or if there is error, my Lord is the best guide.
Translation model: Sol 6.1