بِأَيِّwith which غَزَالٍa gazelle فِيin الْخُدُورِthe secluded chambers تَهِيمُyou are enamored
بِأَيِّ غَزَالٍ فِي الْخُدُورِ تَهِيمُ
وَغِزْلانُand the gazelles نَجْدٍof Najd مَاnot لَهُنَّthey have حَمِيمُa close companion
وَغِزْلانُ نَجْدٍ مَا لَهُنَّ حَمِيمُ
With which gazelle in secluded chambers are you enamored?
With what gazelle in the foliage are you infatuated,
Yet the gazelles of Najd have no close companion.
While the does of Najd have no warmth?
يَقُدْنَthey lead زِمَامَthe reins النَّفْسِof the soul وَهْيَthough it is أَبِيَّةٌunyielding
يَقُدْنَ زِمَامَ النَّفْسِ وَهْيَ أَبِيَّةٌ
وَيَخْدَعْنَand they beguile لُبَّthe intellect الْمَرْءِof a man وَهْوَthough he is حَكِيمُwise
وَيَخْدَعْنَ لُبَّ الْمَرْءِ وَهْوَ حَكِيمُ
They lead the soul by its reins, though it is unyielding,
They control the reins of the soul when it is rebellious,
and beguile a man's mind, though he is wise.
And beguile the mind of man though he is wise.
فَإِيَّاكَso beware أَنْto تَغْشَىenter الدِّيَارَthe dwellings مُخَاطِرَاًrisking danger
فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَغْشَى الدِّيَارَ مُخَاطِرَاً
فَدُونَfor before حِمَاهَاits sanctuary لِلأُسُودِfor the lions نَئِيمُgrowling
فَدُونَ حِمَاهَا لِلأُسُودِ نَئِيمُ
So beware of approaching their dwellings at your peril,
So beware lest you secretly visit their abodes,
for lions growl before their sanctuary.
For near their quarters lurk ferocious lions.
فَوَارِسُhorsemen لاnot يَعْصُونَthey disobey أَمْرَthe command of حَمِيَّةٍprotective pride
فَوَارِسُ لا يَعْصُونَ أَمْرَ حَمِيَّةٍ
وَلاand not يَرْهَبُونَthey fear الْخَطْبَcalamity وَهْوَthough it is عَظِيمُgreat
وَلا يَرْهَبُونَ الْخَطْبَ وَهْوَ عَظِيمُ
Horsemen who never disobey the call of honor,
The horsemen do not defy the command of their protector,
and never fear calamity, however great.
Nor do they fear calamity however great.
يَصُونُونَthey guard فِيwithin حُجْبِthe veils الأَكِلَّةِof the canopies ظَبْيَةًa gazelle
يَصُونُونَ فِي حُجْبِ الأَكِلَّةِ ظَبْيَةً
لَهَاshe has نَسَبٌlineage بَيْنَamong الْحِسَانِbeautiful women صَمِيمُpure
لَهَا نَسَبٌ بَيْنَ الْحِسَانِ صَمِيمُ
They guard a gazelle behind the veils of canopies,
They guard a doe behind thick veils,
whose lineage among the fair is pure.
Her lineage—among the virtues—is pure.
مِنَamong الْهِيفِslender-waisted women أَمَّاas for نَعْتُdescription مَاwhat فِيin إِزَارِهَاher waist-wrap
مِنَ الْهِيفِ أَمَّا نَعْتُ مَا فِي إِزَارِهَا
فَرَابٍthen full وَأَمَّاand as for خَصْرُهَاher waist فَهَضِيمُthen slender
فَرَابٍ وَأَمَّا خَصْرُهَا فَهَضِيمُ
One of the slender-waisted; as for the form beneath her waist-wrap,
As for describing what’s beneath her robes,
it is full, while her waist is slender.
Some is slender, some full and plump.
أَنَاةٌa stately woman بَرَاهَاfashioned her اللَّهُGod فِيin الْحُسْنِbeauty آيَةًa marvel
أَنَاةٌ بَرَاهَا اللَّهُ فِي الْحُسْنِ آيَةً
يَدِينُsubmits إِلَيْهَاto her جَاهِلٌa foolish man وَحَلِيمُand a wise man
يَدِينُ إِلَيْهَا جَاهِلٌ وَحَلِيمُ
A stately woman, whom God fashioned as a marvel of beauty,
She has, by God’s making, a sign of beauty—
to whom the foolish and the wise submit.
To it bows ignoramus and sage.
يَمِيلُsways بِهَاwith her سُكْرُthe intoxication الشَّبَابِof youth إِذَاwhen مَشَتْshe walks
يَمِيلُ بِهَا سُكْرُ الشَّبَابِ إِذَا مَشَتْ
كَمَاjust as مَالَswayed بِالْغُصْنِwith the bough الرَّوِيِّwell-watered نَسِيمُa breeze
كَمَا مَالَ بِالْغُصْنِ الرَّوِيِّ نَسِيمُ
The intoxication of youth sways her when she walks,
When she walks the intoxication of youth inclines,
as a breeze sways a well-watered bough.
As the gentle breeze leans towards a swaying branch.
لَعَمْرُكَby your life مَاnot أَدْرِيI know أَدُمْيَةُis she a statue? بِيعَةٍa church
لَعَمْرُكَ مَا أَدْرِي أَدُمْيَةُ بِيعَةٍ
تَرَدَّدَreturned again and again فِيهَاwithin it الْحُسْنُbeauty أَمْor هِيَshe رِيمُa white gazelle
تَرَدَّدَ فِيهَا الْحُسْنُ أَمْ هِيَ رِيمُ
By your life, I do not know: is she a statue in a church,
By your life! I know not if the one circulated in Bay’ah
where beauty has returned again and again—or is she a white gazelle?
Is a beautiful idol or an unmarried girl.
يَلُومُونَنِيthey blame me أَنْfor هِمْتُI became enamored وَجْداًin longing بِحُسْنِهَاby her beauty
يَلُومُونَنِي أَنْ هِمْتُ وَجْداً بِحُسْنِهَا
وَأَيُّand what امْرِئٍman بِالْحُسْنِof beauty لَيْسَis not يَهِيمُenamored
وَأَيُّ امْرِئٍ بِالْحُسْنِ لَيْسَ يَهِيمُ
They blame me for losing myself in longing for her beauty,
They blame me for being infatuated with her beauty,
yet what man is not enamored of beauty?
Yet which man does not become infatuated with beauty?
وَهَلْand can يَغْلِبُovercome الْمَرْءُa person الْهَوَىlove وَهْوَwhile it is غَالِبٌprevailing
وَهَلْ يَغْلِبُ الْمَرْءُ الْهَوَى وَهْوَ غَالِبٌ
وَيُخْفِيand conceal شَكَاةَthe complaint الْقَلْبِof the heart وَهْوَwhile it is كَلِيمُwounded
وَيُخْفِي شَكَاةَ الْقَلْبِ وَهْوَ كَلِيمُ
Can a man overcome love when it holds sway,
Can a man defeat passion when it is victorious,
and hide the heart's complaint when it is wounded?
Or hide the agony of his heart though he is determined?
فَإِنْso if أَكُI am مَحْسُورَاًexhausted بِهَاby her فَلَرُبَّمَاthen indeed often
فَإِنْ أَكُ مَحْسُورَاً بِهَا فَلَرُبَّمَا
مَلَكْتُI mastered عِنَانَthe reins الْقَلْبِof the heart وَهْوَwhile it is كَظِيمُstifling grief
مَلَكْتُ عِنَانَ الْقَلْبِ وَهْوَ كَظِيمُ
Even if I am worn out by her, many a time
If I am bewitched by her, there may come a day
I have held my heart's reins while it suppressed its grief.
When I restrain my heart though now it is obstinate.
وَكَابَدْتُand I endured فِيهَاfor her sake مَاwhat لَوِif انْقَضَّcrashed down بَعْضُهُpart of it
وَكَابَدْتُ فِيهَا مَا لَوِ انْقَضَّ بَعْضُهُ
عَلَىupon جَبَلٍa mountain لانْهَالَwould surely crumble مِنْهُof it قَوِيمُwhat stands firm
عَلَى جَبَلٍ لانْهَالَ مِنْهُ قَوِيمُ
And for her I endured what, if even part of it fell
I have endured for her what, were part of it
upon a mountain, its firm bulk would crumble.
To beset a mountain, would make sturdy rocks tumble.
فَيَاso O رَبَّةَmistress of الْبَيْتِthe house الْمَنِيعِimpregnable جِوَارُهُits precincts
فَيَا رَبَّةَ الْبَيْتِ الْمَنِيعِ جِوَارُهُ
أَمَاis there not مِنْany مُسَامٍa grazing ground عِنْدَكُمْwith you فَأُسِيمُso I may graze
أَمَا مِنْ مُسَامٍ عِنْدَكُمْ فَأُسِيمُ
So, O mistress of the house whose precincts are impregnable,
O lady of the impregnable, well-guarded house,
is there no pasture with you where I might graze?
Is there no chink through which I can slip?
بَخِلْتِyou were stingy عَلَيْنَاtoward us بِالسَّلامِwith the greeting ضَنَانَةًout of miserliness
بَخِلْتِ عَلَيْنَا بِالسَّلامِ ضَنَانَةً
وَجَدُّكِyet your grandfather مَطْرُوقُfrequented الْفِنَاءِthe courtyard كَرِيمُgenerous
وَجَدُّكِ مَطْرُوقُ الْفِنَاءِ كَرِيمُ
You withheld your greeting from us out of stinginess,
You denied us your greetings out of miserliness,
yet your grandfather is generous, his courtyard much frequented.
While your neighbour's courtyard is open and generous.
فَكَيْفَso how تَلُومِينِيyou blame me عَلَىfor مَاwhat أَصَابَنِيbefell me
فَكَيْفَ تَلُومِينِي عَلَى مَا أَصَابَنِي
مِنَfrom الْحُبِّlove يَاO لَيْلَىLayla وَأَنْتِwhile you are غَرِيمُan adversary
مِنَ الْحُبِّ يَا لَيْلَى وَأَنْتِ غَرِيمُ
How, then, can you blame me for what has befallen me
How could you blame me for what has befallen me,
through love, O Layla, when you are my adversary?
Of love, O Layla, when you are the cause?
وَقَدْand indeed عِشْتُI lived دَهْرَاًfor an age لاnot أَدِينُI submit لِظَالِمٍto an oppressor
وَقَدْ عِشْتُ دَهْرَاً لا أَدِينُ لِظَالِمٍ
وَلَمْand did not يَحْتَكِمْrule يَوْماًever عَلَيَّover me زَعِيمُa chief
وَلَمْ يَحْتَكِمْ يَوْماً عَلَيَّ زَعِيمُ
And I have lived long, never submitting to an oppressor,
I have lived an age enslaved by no tyrant,
and no chief has ever ruled over me.
No chieftain has ever summoned me before him.
فَأَنْتِso you are الَّتِيthe one who مَرَّهْتِmade sore عَيْنِيَmy eye بِالْبُكَاwith weeping
فَأَنْتِ الَّتِي مَرَّهْتِ عَيْنِيَ بِالْبُكَا
وَأَسْقَمْتِand you sickened هَذَاthis الْقَلْبَheart وَهْوَthough it was سَلِيمُsound
وَأَسْقَمْتِ هَذَا الْقَلْبَ وَهْوَ سَلِيمُ
So you are the one who made my eye sore with weeping,
You are the one whose eyes aroused my tears
and sickened this heart that once was sound.
And made this heart—while it was healthy—sick.
تَنَامِينَyou sleep عَنْheedless of لَيْلِيmy night وَعَيْنِيwhile my eye قَرِيحَةٌsore
تَنَامِينَ عَنْ لَيْلِي وَعَيْنِي قَرِيحَةٌ
وَتُشْجِينَand you grieve قَلْبِيmy heart وَهْوَwhile it is فِيكِover you مُلِيمُdeserving blame
وَتُشْجِينَ قَلْبِي وَهْوَ فِيكِ مُلِيمُ
You sleep, heedless of my night, while my eye is sore,
You sleep heedless of my night though my eyes ache,
and grieve my heart, blameworthy in its love for you.
And kindle my heart though it is resigned to you.
مَنَحْتُكِI gave you نَفْسِيmy soul وَهْيَand it is نَفْسٌa soul عَزِيزَةٌprecious
مَنَحْتُكِ نَفْسِي وَهْيَ نَفْسٌ عَزِيزَةٌ
عَلَيَّto me وَمَاand not لِيI have مِنْin هَوَاكِlove for you قَسِيمُa sharer
عَلَيَّ وَمَا لِي مِنْ هَوَاكِ قَسِيمُ
I gave you my soul, a soul that is precious
I gave you my soul though it is dear to me
to me, and no one shares my love for you.
While I have no share in your love.
فَإِنْso if يَكُis جِسْمِيmy body عَنْfrom فِنَائِكِyour courtyard رَاحِلٌdeparting
فَإِنْ يَكُ جِسْمِي عَنْ فِنَائِكِ رَاحِلٌ
فَإِنَّthen indeed هَوَىthe love قَلْبِيof my heart عَلَيْكِwith you مُقِيمُabiding
فَإِنَّ هَوَى قَلْبِي عَلَيْكِ مُقِيمُ
So if my body departs from your courtyard,
So if my body departs from your abode
still my heart's love abides with you.
The passion of my heart will remain with you.
شَكَوْتُI complained إِلَىto مَنْone who لَيْسَdoes not يَرْحَمُpity بَاكِياًa weeper
شَكَوْتُ إِلَى مَنْ لَيْسَ يَرْحَمُ بَاكِياً
وَمَاand not كُلُّevery مَنْone who يُشْكَىcomplaints are made إِلَيْهِto him رَحِيمُmerciful
وَمَا كُلُّ مَنْ يُشْكَى إِلَيْهِ رَحِيمُ
I complained to one who has no mercy on a weeper,
I complained to one who does not pity the weeping,
and not everyone to whom one complains is merciful.
Not every one complained to is compassionate.
فَحَتَّامَso until when أَلْقَىI encounter فِيin الْهَوَىlove مَاwhat يَسُوؤُنِيdistresses me
فَحَتَّامَ أَلْقَى فِي الْهَوَى مَا يَسُوؤُنِي
وَأَحْمِلand I bear عِبْءَthe burden الصَّبْرِof patience وَهْوَwhile it is عَظِيمُgreat
وَأَحْمِل عِبْءَ الصَّبْرِ وَهْوَ عَظِيمُ
How long, then, must I suffer in love what grieves me,
So, of necessity, I endure the bitterness of passion
and bear the burden of patience, heavy as it is?
And carry the heavy burden of patience.
وَإِنِّيand indeed I لَحُرٌّam truly free بَيْنَamong قَوْمِيmy people وَإِنَّمَاand only
وَإِنِّي لَحُرٌّ بَيْنَ قَوْمِي وَإِنَّمَا
تَعَبَّدَنِيenslaved me حُلْوُsweet in الدَّلالِcoquetry رَخِيمُsoft-voiced
تَعَبَّدَنِي حُلْوُ الدَّلالِ رَخِيمُ
And I am indeed free among my people; only
I am free among my people, though
one sweetly coy and soft-voiced has enslaved me.
The sweetness of intimacy has enslaved me.
وَإِنِّيand indeed I وَإِنْand even if كُنْتُI am الْمُسَالِمَthe peaceable one فِيin الْهَوَىlove
وَإِنِّي وَإِنْ كُنْتُ الْمُسَالِمَ فِي الْهَوَى
لَذُوtruly possessing تُدْرَإresistance فِيin النَّائِبَاتِadversities خَصِيمُa fierce opponent
لَذُو تُدْرَإ فِي النَّائِبَاتِ خَصِيمُ
And though I am peaceable in love,
Though I submit to love I can fight adversity,
I am truly one who fights back in adversity, a fierce opponent.
Repel the blows of fate and subdue them.
أَفُلُّI blunt شَبَاةَthe edge الْخَصْمِof the adversary وَهْوَwhile he is مُنَازِلٌengaging in combat
أَفُلُّ شَبَاةَ الْخَصْمِ وَهْوَ مُنَازِلٌ
وَأَرْهَبُand I fear كَرَّthe charge الطَّرْفِof the gaze وَهْوَthough it is سَقِيمُlanguid
وَأَرْهَبُ كَرَّ الطَّرْفِ وَهْوَ سَقِيمُ
I blunt my adversary's edge when he enters combat,
I make the blades of adversity recoil though attacking,
yet I dread the charge of a gaze, though it is languid.
And terrify the glance of the ailing eye.
أَلاah! قَاتَلَmay curse اللَّهُGod الْهَوَىlove مَاhow أَلَذَّهُdelicious it is
أَلا قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ الْهَوَى مَا أَلَذَّهُ
عَلَىdespite أَنَّهُits being مُرُّbitter الْمَذَاقِin taste أَلِيمُpainful
عَلَى أَنَّهُ مُرُّ الْمَذَاقِ أَلِيمُ
Ah, may God curse love—how delicious it is,
Curse this passion—how delicious is its taste!
though bitter to taste and painful!
Though bitter it is to the mouth and painful to swallow.
طَوَيْتُI folded لَهُfor its sake نَفْسِيmy soul عَلَىaround مَاwhat يَسُوؤُهَاgrieves it
طَوَيْتُ لَهُ نَفْسِي عَلَى مَا يَسُوؤُهَا
وَأَصْبَحْتُand I became لاnot يَلْوِيturns عَلَيَّtoward me حَمِيمُa close friend
وَأَصْبَحْتُ لا يَلْوِي عَلَيَّ حَمِيمُ
For its sake, I folded my soul around what grieves it,
I made my soul used to it though it pains her,
and now no dear friend turns to me.
And I became friendless, none empathizing with me.
فَمَنْso who لِيfor me بِقَلْبٍwith a heart غَيْرِother than هَذَاthis فَإِنَّنِيfor indeed I
فَمَنْ لِي بِقَلْبٍ غَيْرِ هَذَا فَإِنَّنِي
بِهِof it عِنْدَamid رَوْعَاتِterrors الْفِرَاقِof parting عَلِيمُwell aware
بِهِ عِنْدَ رَوْعَاتِ الْفِرَاقِ عَلِيمُ
Who, then, can give me a heart other than this? For I
I have tasted of it two flavors: one is sweet,
know it well amid the terrors of parting.
The other—when parted—is gloomy and foul.
كَأَنِّيas though I أُدَارِيI try to soothe مِنْهُfrom it بَيْنَbetween جَوَانِحِيmy ribs
كَأَنِّي أُدَارِي مِنْهُ بَيْنَ جَوَانِحِي
لَظَىًa blaze حَرُّهَاits heat يَكْوِيsears الْحَشَاthe innards وَيَضِيمُand torments
لَظَىً حَرُّهَا يَكْوِي الْحَشَا وَيَضِيمُ
As though between my ribs I were trying to soothe its
I tried true friends but did not find
blaze, whose heat sears my innards and torments me.
One who shared its blessings and was an equal partner.
بَلَوْتُI tasted لَهُin it طَعْمَيْنِtwo flavors أَمَّاas for مَذَاقُهُits taste
بَلَوْتُ لَهُ طَعْمَيْنِ أَمَّا مَذَاقُهُ
فَعَذْبٌthen sweet وَأَمَّاand as for سُؤْرُهُits dregs فَوَخِيمُthen unwholesome
فَعَذْبٌ وَأَمَّا سُؤْرُهُ فَوَخِيمُ
I have tried its two flavors: as for its taste,
They have whims, which vary greatly.
it is sweet, but its dregs are unwholesome.
Caprice, throughout their friendship, is contemptible.
وَجَرَّبْتُand I tested إِخْوَانَbrothers الصَّفَاءِof sincere friendship فَلَمْbut did not أَجِدْI find
وَجَرَّبْتُ إِخْوَانَ الصَّفَاءِ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ
صَدِيقاًa friend لَهُhe has فِيin الطَّيِّبَاتِgood things قَسِيمُa sharer
صَدِيقاً لَهُ فِي الطَّيِّبَاتِ قَسِيمُ
And I tested brothers in sincere friendship, but found no
Whom can man trust when betrayal is an attribute
friend who shared his good things with another.
Of every son of womankind, and loyalty fruitless?
لَهُمْthey have نَزَوَاتٌwhims بَيْنَهُنَّbetween them تَفَاوُتٌdifferences
لَهُمْ نَزَوَاتٌ بَيْنَهُنَّ تَفَاوُتٌ
وَعَنٌّand obstinacy عَلَىdespite طُولِlength اللِّقَاءِof acquaintance ذَمِيمُblameworthy
وَعَنٌّ عَلَى طُولِ اللِّقَاءِ ذَمِيمُ
They have whims that differ from one another,
So depend on God alone for what you desire,
and blameworthy obstinacy, despite long acquaintance.
For He is compassionate.
بِمَنْin whom يَثِقُtrusts الإِنْسَانُa person وَالْغَدْرُwhile treachery شِيمَةٌa trait
بِمَنْ يَثِقُ الإِنْسَانُ وَالْغَدْرُ شِيمَةٌ
لِكُلِّof every ابْنِson أُنْثَىwoman وَالْوَفَاءُand loyalty عَقِيمُbarren
لِكُلِّ ابْنِ أُنْثَى وَالْوَفَاءُ عَقِيمُ
Whom can a person trust, when treachery is a trait
Do not grieve at an affliction brought you by fate,
of every son of woman, and loyalty is barren?
For after misery comes bliss.
فَلاso do not تَعْتَمِدْrely إِلَّاexcept عَلَىon اللَّهِGod فِيfor الَّذِيwhat
فَلا تَعْتَمِدْ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِي
تَوَدُّyou desire مِنَamong الْحَاجَاتِneeds فَهْوَfor He is رَحِيمُmerciful
تَوَدُّ مِنَ الْحَاجَاتِ فَهْوَ رَحِيمُ
So rely on none but God for what
Trees become verdant after losing their leaves,
you desire among your needs, for He is merciful.
And the stem of plants turns green though withered.
وَلاand do not تَبْتَئِسْgrieve مِنْat مِحْنَةٍa trial سَاقَهَاdrove it الْقَضَاfate
وَلا تَبْتَئِسْ مِنْ مِحْنَةٍ سَاقَهَا الْقَضَا
إِلَيْكَto you فَكَمْfor many a بُؤْسٍmisery تَلاهُfollowed it نَعِيمُbliss
إِلَيْكَ فَكَمْ بُؤْسٍ تَلاهُ نَعِيمُ
And do not grieve at a trial that fate has brought
When God wills to answer a need,
to you—for how often misery has been followed by bliss!
It comes to you in no time though you are staying put.
فَقَدْfor sometimes تُورِقُput forth leaves الأَشْجَارُthe trees بَعْدَafter ذُبُولِهَاtheir withering
فَقَدْ تُورِقُ الأَشْجَارُ بَعْدَ ذُبُولِهَا
وَيَخْضَرُّand turns green سَاقُthe stalk النَّبْتِof the plant وَهْوَthough it is هَشِيمُdry, crumbled vegetation
وَيَخْضَرُّ سَاقُ النَّبْتِ وَهْوَ هَشِيمُ
For trees may put forth leaves after withering,
and a plant's stalk turns green though it is dry and crumbled.
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle أَرَادَwills اللَّهُGod إِتْمَامَfulfillment حَاجَةٍa need
إِذَا مَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ إِتْمَامَ حَاجَةٍ
أَتَتْكَit comes to you عَلَىwith وَشْكٍspeed وَأَنْتَwhile you are مُقِيمُremaining in place
أَتَتْكَ عَلَى وَشْكٍ وَأَنْتَ مُقِيمُ
When God wills the fulfillment of a need,
it comes to you swiftly while you remain in place.
Partial English translation: 72 of 76 Arabic lines translated.