أتُراها يومَ صدَّت أن أراها

أتُراها يومَ صدَّت أن أراها

علمتْ أنِّيَ من قَتْلَى هواها

علمتْ أنِّيَ من قَتْلَى هواها

Did she, I wonder, when she refused to let me see her,

Did she know, the day she turned away, that she was slaying me,

know that I was among those slain by love of her?

Or did she aim her glances blindly, unable to discern her hits from misses?

أم رمتْ جاهلةً ألحاظُها

أم رمتْ جاهلةً ألحاظُها

لم تميِّز عَمدَها لي من خَطَاها

لم تميِّز عَمدَها لي من خَطَاها

Or did her glances shoot unwittingly,

No! He who sent her as a temptation knows how she troubles devotion,

not distinguishing their deliberate aim at me from their error?

Yet I who rushed upon destruction was sure that she who smote would heal.

لا ومن أرسلها مفتنةً

لا ومن أرسلها مفتنةً

تحرِجُ النُّسكَ بجَمْع وقَضاها

تحرِجُ النُّسكَ بجَمْع وقَضاها

No! By Him who sent her forth as a temptress,

She loomed between the saintly spot and Miná, like a grazing gazelle,

putting devotion to the test at Jam‘, and fashioned her,

So God requite her for her deadly blow in His inviolate precincts.

ما رَمى نفسِيَ إلا واثقٌ

ما رَمى نفسِيَ إلا واثقٌ

أنه يقضِي عليها مَن رماها

أنه يقضِي عليها مَن رماها

none struck my soul unless assured

He said she tempted me, and I entreated her with a draught to cool my raging thirst.

that its assailant would make an end of it.

Call her not wine-bearer, for He who declared wine unlawful declared her mouth unlawful too.

سنحتْ بين المصلَّى ومِنىً

سنحتْ بين المصلَّى ومِنىً

مَسنَح الظبيةِ تستقري طَلاها

مَسنَح الظبيةِ تستقري طَلاها

She appeared between the prayer-ground and Mina,

She was endowed with every beauty she desired, so that every eye that saw her lusted after her.

as a doe appears, searching for her fawn.

Chaste of mien she is, ere naming her father in proclamation of her pedigree, guarded by modesty.

فجزاها اللهُ مِن فتكتها

فجزاها اللهُ مِن فتكتها

في حريم الله سوءاً ما جزاها

في حريم الله سوءاً ما جزاها

May God repay her for her deadly assault

Had she lacked protectors among her tribe and been abandoned to the winds by noble kin,

within God's sanctuary—ill indeed may He repay her!

The sun, rising, had hailed her as sister, and the boughs, waving, greeted her as brother.

قال واشيها وقد راودْتُها

قال واشيها وقد راودْتُها

رشفةً تبرُدُ قلبي من لمَاها

رشفةً تبرُدُ قلبي من لمَاها

Her tale-bearer said, when I had coaxed her

Among her equals and her nation's throng she saw around her, thick as the wild cows and mountain stags, handsome suitors sufficing her,

for a sip from her dusky lips to cool my heart:

Though the brambles and sands of Dahna veil her, and cloud and shower hover over her,

لا تَسُمْها فمَها إن الذي

لا تَسُمْها فمَها إن الذي

حرَّم الخمرةَ قد حرَّم فاها

حرَّم الخمرةَ قد حرَّم فاها

Do not ask her for her mouth, for He who

And were the stars to rest awhile with her, not collectively could they attain to a tenth of her loveliness.

forbade wine has forbidden her mouth.

Ah, the misery of what she has enchanted me withal, of ardour and passion and amorous delight!

أعطِيتْ من كلّ حُسنِ ما اشتهتْ

أعطِيتْ من كلّ حُسنِ ما اشتهتْ

فرآها كلُّ طرفٍ فاشتهاها

فرآها كلُّ طرفٍ فاشتهاها

She was granted whatever she desired of every beauty;

I complain of separation, while my heart bears the scar of my long lament.

every eye saw her and desired her.

An absent beloved bars sleep from my eyes, turning me over at night and rousing me from slumber at dawn,

وحماها خَفَرٌ في وجهها

وحماها خَفَرٌ في وجهها

ووقارٌ قبلَ أن تُسمِي أباها

ووقارٌ قبلَ أن تُسمِي أباها

Modesty in her face protected her,

While night after night steals from me, concealment from every confidant who might heal my sickness.

and dignity, before she even named her father.

My tears flow still at noon, despite my people's censure, and the fires continue to blaze while all around sleep.

لو خَلتْ من أُسرةٍ في قومها

لو خَلتْ من أُسرةٍ في قومها

ونفاها حسبٌ زاكٍ نماها

ونفاها حسبٌ زاكٍ نماها

Even were she bereft of a family among her people,

When the sand hills burn with unslaked thirst and men crowd round the water-seller,

and the pure lineage that raised her disowned her,

I rise to help them, dazed with the heat, and they flock about me with hands like wine-skins.

غدت الشمسُ إذا ما أسفرتْ

غدت الشمسُ إذا ما أسفرتْ

أختَها والغصْنُ إن ماست أخاها

أختَها والغصْنُ إن ماست أخاها

the sun, whenever she unveiled, would become

God preserve their palms from clay, so gentle the day they modelled them!

her sister, and the bough, when she swayed, her brother.

Decreeing men's fate, and their own hearts' decreeing their hands' tenderness and sympathy.

ورأتْ في العين من أشباهِها

ورأتْ في العين من أشباهِها

من قبيلٍ وعديدٍ ما كفاها

من قبيلٍ وعديدٍ ما كفاها

Among wide-eyed gazelles she would find her likenesses,

As the just prince has none but the ways of good and none knows good but he,

a clan and a multitude sufficient for her.

Seeking lofty goals unflaggingly, mounting the ladder of virtues step by step,

كيف والدَّهناء غابٌ دونَها

كيف والدَّهناء غابٌ دونَها

وظبا سعدٍ أسودٌ وقنَاها

وظبا سعدٍ أسودٌ وقنَاها

How could that be, when al-Dahna is a forest barring access to her,

Granting free rein to the noble soul, though glory commands it or restrains it, submitting if it yields or disobeying if it resists,

and Sa‘d's blades are lions, and so are its lances?

Hovering as a fledgling borne on ambition's wing to soar to the zenith,

ولوَ اَن النجمَ يرتاحُ لها

ولوَ اَن النجمَ يرتاحُ لها

لحظةً في غير جَمع ما اجتلاها

لحظةً في غير جَمع ما اجتلاها

And even if a star felt longing for her,

Thwarted by no obstacle, bounding always to advance, traverse endless wastes,

for a moment outside Jam‘, it could not behold her.

He bore the burden of grief from his people and they could not ease his load,

آهِ مما أسأرتْ في كبدي

آهِ مما أسأرتْ في كبدي

مِن جوًى تلك الليالي البيضُ آها

مِن جوًى تلك الليالي البيضُ آها

Ah, for what was left within my liver

So that if he errs or they, he prays forgiveness for their fault with what his hands have fostered.

of burning anguish by those bright nights—ah!

We shall see them, after you are gone, paralysed and tottering, with the nomad asking the herdsman for news of them.

أشتكى البينَ وفي صدري نُدوبٌ

أشتكى البينَ وفي صدري نُدوبٌ

من زماني دامياتٌ ما اشتكاها

من زماني دامياتٌ ما اشتكاها

I lament separation, while my breast bears scars

Perhaps Heaven will stir them with ruth for their plight, and sorrow at what has worn them threadbare,

from my times, bleeding, that I have not lamented.

Teaching them that he who brought them low and cut their mooring ropes was the man assailing their honour.

ويُنِدُّ النومَ عن عيني حبيبٌ

ويُنِدُّ النومَ عن عيني حبيبٌ

هاجرٌ يرحَلُ عنّي بكراها

هاجرٌ يرحَلُ عنّي بكراها

A beloved drives sleep away from my eye,

O you whose charge it is to convey what is hidden, announcing what a mission has never demanded before,

forsaking me, departing with its slumber.

Say, when were you granted the favour of seeing a beloved cohort whose sight delights these eyes?

والليالي خالساتٌ من لحاظي

والليالي خالساتٌ من لحاظي

كلَّ مولى قربُه يجلو قذاها

كلَّ مولى قربُه يجلو قذاها

The nights steal away from my sight

My brotherly namesake, how often is an eye painted with collyrium when you are its gleaming lamp!

every patron whose nearness clears its grit:

How my grudging heart envies the patience expending itself on its own grudgingness!

دِيَمِي في المحْلِ تسرِي وحُماتي

دِيَمِي في المحْلِ تسرِي وحُماتي

يومَ أسدُ الغاب مبذولٌ حِماها

يومَ أسدُ الغاب مبذولٌ حِماها

my gentle rains flowing by night in drought, and my protectors

I used to complain of love's torment, but joy was near at hand, while now the camp lies far away.

when the forest lions' preserves lie open to all;

Just when I began to unfold the scroll of happiness, it closed again, hiding what follows.

والمقارِي والمصابيحُ إذا

والمقارِي والمصابيحُ إذا

دجت الليلةُ أو جَنَّت ضِياها

دجت الليلةُ أو جَنَّت ضِياها

my hospitable hosts and my lamps, when

A gift came from you, and I rejoiced, for it bore your nobility's stamp, unreckoned, like rain on thirsty soil,

night grows dark or conceals its light.

Seeking me without announcement, with no intimation to alert me or focus my hopes;

وإذا الرملُ غدا معتصرا

وإذا الرملُ غدا معتصرا

ظمأً واصطفن الناسُ المياها

ظمأً واصطفن الناسُ المياها

And when the sand becomes wrung dry

Base thoughts have never made you spurn legitimate gain you could take in a year of want.

with thirst, and people ration the waters,

It is noblesse oblige if you appropriate what you want when you find a chance for profit.

قمتُ أدعوهم جُدوبا وضلالا

قمتُ أدعوهم جُدوبا وضلالا

فَيُلَبُّوني أكفّاً وجِباها

فَيُلَبُّوني أكفّاً وجِباها

I stand and call upon them amid drought and bewilderment,

Another I had offered earlier, investing it with wealth and rank beforehand,

and they answer me with palms and brows.

So I thank you - how eloquently the spokesman said, ‘When a man speaks, it is his mouth that speaks his thought!’

كلّ كفّ قد براها الله من

كلّ كفّ قد براها الله من

طينةٍ ليّنةٍ يومَ براها

طينةٍ ليّنةٍ يومَ براها

Each hand God fashioned from

With marvels to make the familiar seem strange, and the mighty to gentle in devotion:

soft clay on the day He created it.

Tamed for me, obedient now to my command, though erstwhile stubborn to all who controlled them.

حكمُها يقضِي على الناس ولكن

حكمُها يقضِي على الناس ولكن

جودُها يقضي عليها ونداها

جودُها يقضي عليها ونداها

Its judgment rules over people, but

By my soft sorcery I have bound their ears, deaf to all but me, slaves among those who relay my speech.

its generosity and bounty rule over it.

Old in years or tarnished, still the flower of beauty as in their days of virginity,

كزعيم الدين لم تعرِفْ سواه

كزعيم الدين لم تعرِفْ سواه

سبُلُ الخير ولم يعرف سواها

سبُلُ الخير ولم يعرف سواها

Like the champion of the faith, whom alone

For you are all of their beauty that rejoices or delights, useless to others were it theirs to enjoy.

the paths of goodness know; he knows only them.

Adding blessings to your days of celebration that they were not hosts entertaining you as strangers to their land,

طلبَ الغايةَ حتى ما يراها

طلبَ الغايةَ حتى ما يراها

للعلا سالكةً إلا رَقاها

للعلا سالكةً إلا رَقاها

He pursued the utmost goal; whenever he saw it

The New Year brought from them gifts needing naught beside, and the messenger I sent with my book, had fulfilment been possible, would have been its recitation.

leading to eminence, he rose to it.

وأباحَ المجدَ نفساً حرّةً

وأباحَ المجدَ نفساً حرّةً

أمر المجدُ عليها ونهاها

أمر المجدُ عليها ونهاها

He placed a free soul at glory's disposal;

glory commanded it and issued its prohibitions.

فإذا غالت به طاوعها

فإذا غالت به طاوعها

وإذا مالت إلى الخفض عَصاها

وإذا مالت إلى الخفض عَصاها

When it carried him to extremes, he obeyed it;

when it inclined toward ease, he disobeyed it.

حلَّقتْ مبتدِئا همّتُه

حلَّقتْ مبتدِئا همّتُه

وانتهى المجدُ فلم يبلغ مداها

وانتهى المجدُ فلم يبلغ مداها

His ambition soared from its very outset;

glory reached its limit, but not ambition's range.

كلَّما استوقفها في موطن

كلَّما استوقفها في موطن

حابسٌ طاشت تُناصِي منتهاها

حابسٌ طاشت تُناصِي منتهاها

Whenever, in some place, it was halted by

a hindrance, it shot upward, grappling with its utmost height.

نقلَ السؤددَ عن أبائه

نقلَ السؤددَ عن أبائه

فحواها وارثا يوم حواها

فحواها وارثا يوم حواها

He took nobility from his forefathers,

possessing it as an heir on the day he gained it.

واستفادتْ نفسُه من كسبهِ

واستفادتْ نفسُه من كسبهِ

شرفا زاد عليها وعَلاها

شرفا زاد عليها وعَلاها

His soul gained through his own endeavors

honor that added to its worth and exalted it.

عوَّذتْه ناشئا أسرتُهُ

عوَّذتْه ناشئا أسرتُهُ

بالمعالي قبل ياسين وطاها

بالمعالي قبل ياسين وطاها

His family invoked protection over him as he grew,

through lofty virtues, before Ya-Sin and Ta-Ha.

فأراها الله أقصى ما تمنَّتْ

فأراها الله أقصى ما تمنَّتْ

وكفاها الخوفَ فيه ووقاها

وكفاها الخوفَ فيه ووقاها

So God showed it the utmost of its hopes,

spared it fear for him, and protected it.

فهي تدعوه اضطلاعا شيخَها

فهي تدعوه اضطلاعا شيخَها

وقضايا السنّ تدعوه فَتاها

وقضايا السنّ تدعوه فَتاها

It calls him its elder for his competence,

while the verdicts of age call him its young man.

ولِيَ الدولةَ من تدبيره

ولِيَ الدولةَ من تدبيره

مِسحَلٌ لم يألُ فتلاً في عُراها

مِسحَلٌ لم يألُ فتلاً في عُراها

Through his management, the state came under

a forceful, eloquent man, tireless in tightening its bonds.

حسمَ الأدواءَ طَبٌّ ما رأى

حسمَ الأدواءَ طَبٌّ ما رأى

جِلدةً معرورةً إلا كواها

جِلدةً معرورةً إلا كواها

A skilled healer rooted out diseases; he saw no

mangy hide without cauterizing it,

حاملاً عن قومه أعباءَها

حاملاً عن قومه أعباءَها

وهي لا تثبُتُ جنبا لقُواها

وهي لا تثبُتُ جنبا لقُواها

bearing its burdens on behalf of his people,

while its flank cannot withstand their force.

فلئن خاست به أو بهمُ

فلئن خاست به أو بهمُ

فغدا يَصْلَى بما شبَّت يداها

فغدا يَصْلَى بما شبَّت يداها

Yet if it betrayed him, or them,

and he came to burn in what its hands had kindled,

سنراها بعدكم مشلولةً

سنراها بعدكم مشلولةً

يسأل الطرّادَ عنها راعياها

يسأل الطرّادَ عنها راعياها

we shall see it, after you, driven away,

its two herdsmen asking the pursuer about it.

أو عسى تعطِفهم عاطفةٌ

أو عسى تعطِفهم عاطفةٌ

فيغارون لها مما دهاها

فيغارون لها مما دهاها

Or perhaps an impulse will turn them back,

and they will defend it against what befell it,

فيرى أن الذي أجربها

فيرى أن الذي أجربها

قطعُها أرسانَها ممّن طَلاها

قطعُها أرسانَها ممّن طَلاها

so he sees that what made it mangy

was its breaking its halters from the one who salved it.

أيها المبلغُ بالغيبِ رسولا

أيها المبلغُ بالغيبِ رسولا

لم يُجَشَّم حاجةً إلا قضاها

لم يُجَشَّم حاجةً إلا قضاها

O you who carry a message to the absent,

never charged with a need without fulfilling it,

قل متى وفِّقتَ يوما أن ترى

قل متى وفِّقتَ يوما أن ترى

عِزَّةً نخبةُ عيني أن تراها

عِزَّةً نخبةُ عيني أن تراها

say, whenever you are granted the chance one day to see

a majesty my eye most wishes to behold:

يا شقيقَ النفس كم تُكحَلُ عينٌ

يا شقيقَ النفس كم تُكحَلُ عينٌ

بالدياجي أنتَ مصباحُ دُجاها

بالدياجي أنتَ مصباحُ دُجاها

O brother of my soul, how many an eye is kohled

with dark nights—you are the lamp of their gloom!

كما يدارِي الصبَر قلبي كارها

كما يدارِي الصبَر قلبي كارها

قلّما استُمتِع بالصبر كِراها

قلّما استُمتِع بالصبر كِراها

As patience humors my unwilling heart,

how seldom is its reward enjoyed through patience!

كنت أشكو الشوقَ والمسرَى قريبٌ

كنت أشكو الشوقَ والمسرَى قريبٌ

كيف بي والدارُ قد شطَّ نواها

كيف بي والدارُ قد شطَّ نواها

I used to lament longing when the night-journey was short;

what of me now, when the dwelling has grown so distant?

كلَّما أمّلتُ يوما ينشر ال

كلَّما أمّلتُ يوما ينشر ال

عُقلةَ استوقَف يوما فطواها

عُقلةَ استوقَف يوما فطواها

Whenever I hoped a day would unwind the

fetter, it held back a day and wound it up again.

قد أتتني فتطرَّبتُ لها

قد أتتني فتطرَّبتُ لها

فعلةٌ منك قليلٌ من أتاها

فعلةٌ منك قليلٌ من أتاها

There came to me, and I rejoiced in it,

a deed of yours that few have performed.

ضاعفَ المنّة فيها أنها

ضاعفَ المنّة فيها أنها

غيرَ محسوبٍ سقى أرضي حياها

غيرَ محسوبٍ سقى أرضي حياها

Its favor was doubled by the fact that

its rain watered my land unforeseen.

طرقَت في غير ما إبَّانها

طرقَت في غير ما إبَّانها

لم تجُلْ في ظنّ نفسي ومُناها

لم تجُلْ في ظنّ نفسي ومُناها

It came by night outside its proper season,

never having crossed my thoughts or hopes.

لم تحوِّلك الملمّات على

لم تحوِّلك الملمّات على

ضغطِها من كسبِها أو مقتناها

ضغطِها من كسبِها أو مقتناها

Afflictions did not divert you, despite

their pressure, from gaining it or possessing it.

والمعالي أنك استحليتها

والمعالي أنك استحليتها

طُعْمةً في سَنةٍ مرَّ جَناها

طُعْمةً في سَنةٍ مرَّ جَناها

And nobility lies in your finding it sweet

as food in a year whose harvest was bitter.

والفتى في عُسرة أو يُسرةٍ

والفتى في عُسرة أو يُسرةٍ

مَن رأى صفقةَ ربح فشرَاها

مَن رأى صفقةَ ربح فشرَاها

A true man, in hardship or in ease,

is one who sees a profitable bargain and buys it.

ولكُمْ أخرَى تبرّعتُ بها

ولكُمْ أخرَى تبرّعتُ بها

قبلَها استثمرتُها مالاً وجاها

قبلَها استثمرتُها مالاً وجاها

And I freely offered you another,

before this one, reaping wealth and standing from it.

فعليّ الشكرُ ما قال فصيحٌ

فعليّ الشكرُ ما قال فصيحٌ

طلعَ القولُ إلى فيه ففاها

طلعَ القولُ إلى فيه ففاها

So I owe thanks as long as an eloquent man speaks,

when speech rises to his mouth and he utters it,

بغريباتٍ على أنْسٍ بها

بغريباتٍ على أنْسٍ بها

ذُلُلٍ يخضعُ في قَوْدي مَطاها

ذُلُلٍ يخضعُ في قَوْدي مَطاها

in rare verses, though I am familiar with them,

docile mounts whose backs submit to my leading.

سُخِّرتْ لي فأطاعت إمرتي

سُخِّرتْ لي فأطاعت إمرتي

بعد أن شَقّت على الناس عَصَاها

بعد أن شَقّت على الناس عَصَاها

They were subjected to me and obeyed my command,

after breaking their staff in rebellion against others.

لم يزَلْ بالصُّمِّ من حيَّاتها

لم يزَلْ بالصُّمِّ من حيَّاتها

لطفُ سحري حاويا حتى رقاها

لطفُ سحري حاويا حتى رقاها

Against the deaf among their serpents, there persisted

my subtle magic, a snake-charmer, until it charmed them.

يترك الآذانَ أسرَى حولها

يترك الآذانَ أسرَى حولها

فَمُ مَن حدَّث فيها أو رواها

فَمُ مَن حدَّث فيها أو رواها

It leaves ears captive around them—

the mouth of whoever speaks of them or recites them.

هي في تعنيسها أو شَيبْها

هي في تعنيسها أو شَيبْها

غضَّةُ الحسن كأيّامِ صِباها

غضَّةُ الحسن كأيّامِ صِباها

Though long unmarried or gray with age,

their beauty stays fresh as in their youthful days.

لك منها كلُّ ما سَرَّ وأرضَى

لك منها كلُّ ما سَرَّ وأرضَى

عاطلَ الأعراض لو كان حُلاها

عاطلَ الأعراض لو كان حُلاها

Yours is all in them that delights and would please

one bare of honors, were their jewels his.

زاد أيّام التهاني غبطةً

زاد أيّام التهاني غبطةً

أنها ما ضيَّفتكم من قِراها

أنها ما ضيَّفتكم من قِراها

The days of celebration gained in gladness

because these verses were the fare they offered you.

حمَل النيروزُ منها تُحفةً

حمَل النيروزُ منها تُحفةً

لا تبالي في الهدايا ما عداها

لا تبالي في الهدايا ما عداها

Nowruz carried from them a gift

beside which you care for no other present.

وأتى مُوصِلَها عنِّي كتابٌ

وأتى مُوصِلَها عنِّي كتابٌ

لو وَفَى شرطُ المنى كان شِفاها

لو وَفَى شرطُ المنى كان شِفاها

And a letter came to deliver it on my behalf;

had the terms of my wishes been met, it would have been by word of mouth.