ياO دارَdwelling of زَينَبَZaynab بِالعَقيقِat al-Aqiq تَبَسَّميsmile
يا دارَ زَينَبَ بِالعَقيقِ تَبَسَّمي
مِنْfrom فِيthe mouth of السّرورِjoy وَبالعذيبِand at al-Udhayb تكلَّميspeak
مِنْ فِي السّرورِ وَبالعذيبِ تكلَّمي
O dwelling of Zaynab at al-Aqiq, smile,
O home of Zainab with red carnelians, smile
From joy's mouth, and speak at al-Udhayb.
With joy and with a sweet voice, speak
دَارٌa dwelling لِغانِيةٍfor a beautiful woman كَشمسٍlike a sun وَجهُهاher face
دَارٌ لِغانِيةٍ كَشمسٍ وَجهُها
وَالبرقُand lightning يَلمَعُflashes مِنfrom خِلالِamid المبسمِthe smiling mouth
وَالبرقُ يَلمَعُ مِن خِلالِ المبسمِ
A dwelling for a beauty whose face is like the sun,
A home for a singing bird, her face like the sun
While lightning flashes through her smile.
And lightning flashes through her eyelids when she blinks
غَيداءَa graceful, slender woman بِنتُdaughter of الأُسدِthe lions تَرتَعُroams freely فيin الفَلاthe wilderness
غَيداءَ بِنتُ الأُسدِ تَرتَعُ في الفَلا
وَهيَand she الغَزالَةُthe gazelle فيin الكناسِthe covert المُحتميsheltered
وَهيَ الغَزالَةُ في الكناسِ المُحتمي
A graceful daughter of lions, roaming freely in the wilderness,
Ghayda, daughter of the lion, grazes in the meadow
She is the gazelle in its sheltered covert.
She is the gazelle hiding in the thicket
قَدindeed أُولِعَتhas become enamored بِالصّيدof hunting غيرَnot مَصيدَةٍcaught
قَد أُولِعَت بِالصّيد غيرَ مَصيدَةٍ
وَمَصيدُهاand her quarry لبُّthe heart of الهِزَبرِthe mighty lion الضّيغَمِthe fierce lion
وَمَصيدُها لبُّ الهِزَبرِ الضّيغَمِ
She is enamored of hunting, herself uncaught,
She loves hunting but is not hunted
And her quarry is the heart of the mighty, fierce lion.
And her prey is the old foolish hyena
مِنof كلِّevery صمصامٍresolute warrior تَقلَّدhas donned صارِماًa keen sword
مِن كلِّ صمصامٍ تَقلَّد صارِماً
مِنof كلّevery مُعتقِلone cradling بِأَسمرَa dusky spear لَهذَمِkeen-tipped
مِن كلّ مُعتقِل بِأَسمرَ لَهذَمِ
Of every resolute warrior who has donned a keen sword,
With every sword she arms herself
Of every wielder of a dusky, keen-tipped spear,
With every prisoner she takes the dark skinned one as booty
مِنof كلِّevery لَيثٍlion فيin الكَريهَةِbattle صائلٍcharging
مِن كلِّ لَيثٍ في الكَريهَةِ صائلٍ
يَهوىyearns for المنيّةَdeath لَيسَdoes not مِنهاfrom it يَحتَميseek shelter
يَهوى المنيّةَ لَيسَ مِنها يَحتَمي
Of every lion charging into battle's horror,
With every fierce lion in battle
Who yearns for death and seeks no shelter from it.
Who desires death since he cannot protect himself
يُعطيhe gives وَيَأخُذُand takes فيin الكَريهَةِbattle ثابتاًsteadfast
يُعطي وَيَأخُذُ في الكَريهَةِ ثابتاً
وَيَعودُand returns لَيسَnot بِمُعدَمٍdestroyed بلbut rather معدمِa destroyer
وَيَعودُ لَيسَ بِمُعدَمٍ بل معدمِ
He gives and takes blows in battle, standing firm,
She gives and takes in battle unyielding
And returns not destroyed, but a destroyer.
And returns not vanished but making others vanish
يَعدوhe gallops عَلىon طِرْفٍa steed أَصيلٍpurebred فارِهٍsplendid
يَعدو عَلى طِرْفٍ أَصيلٍ فارِهٍ
مثلِlike النّسيمِthe breeze وَإِنّهاthough it لَمhas not تلجَمِbeen bridled
مثلِ النّسيمِ وَإِنّها لَم تلجَمِ
He gallops on a purebred, splendid steed,
She runs on an authentic noble steed
Like the breeze, though it has not been bridled.
Like a breeze yet she is not held back
يَسطوhe charges عَلَيهِupon it غَضَنفَراًas a lion بِزَئيرِهِwith his roar
يَسطو عَلَيهِ غَضَنفَراً بِزَئيرِهِ
لَكِنّهُbut he لَوif خَرّswoops مِثلَlike الهَيثَمِa young eagle
لَكِنّهُ لَو خَرّ مِثلَ الهَيثَمِ
On it he charges, roaring like a lion,
The snarling leopard attacks her
Yet if he swoops, he is like a young eagle.
But if it falls it is like scattered pearls
لَوif خاضَhe plunged فيinto صفّthe ranks of العِداةِthe enemies رَأَيتَهُyou would see him
لَو خاضَ في صفّ العِداةِ رَأَيتَهُ
بِجَوادِهِon his charger قَدalready داسَhas trampled فَوقَover الديسَمِthe bear cub
بِجَوادِهِ قَد داسَ فَوقَ الديسَمِ
If he plunged into the enemy ranks, you would see him
If she enters the ranks of the enemies you would see her
On his charger, having trampled over a bear cub.
With her steed she trampled over them
عَلَّقتهاI fell in love with her حَوراءَwith striking black-and-white eyes خوطَةa slender bough of بانَةٍa ban tree
عَلَّقتها حَوراءَ خوطَة بانَةٍ
شَمساًa sun تَلوحshining forth فلَيلُهاso her night لمhas not يُظلمِdarkened
شَمساً تَلوح فلَيلُها لم يُظلمِ
I loved her—bright-eyed, a slender bough of the ban tree,
Hawraa suspended it with a clear line
A sun shining forth, so her night has not darkened.
A sun shining though its night was not darkened
كَحلاءَkohl-eyed تَبدوappears شامَةٌa mole فيon خَدِّهاher cheek
كَحلاءَ تَبدو شامَةٌ في خَدِّها
زادَتهُit added to it حُسناًbeauty كَالسّوارlike a bracelet لِمَعصَمِto a wrist
زادَتهُ حُسناً كَالسّوار لِمَعصَمِ
Kohl-eyed, a mole appears upon her cheek,
Like a beauty mark appearing on her cheek
Adding beauty to it, as a bracelet does to a wrist.
Increasing her beauty like a bracelet on a wrist
هاتيكَthat one مِنfrom دَمِهاher blood اِستَحالَتturned into عَنبَراًambergris
هاتيكَ مِن دَمِها اِستَحالَت عَنبَراً
فَاِسْودَّso it blackened بعدُafterward وَكانَand it had been مِثلَlike العَندَمِcrimson dye
فَاِسْودَّ بعدُ وَكانَ مِثلَ العَندَمِ
That mole turned from her blood into ambergris,
That blood of hers was transformed into ambergris
Then blackened, having been like crimson dye.
Then it blackened and became like antimony
وَالمِسكُand musk بَعضُpart of دَمِthe blood of الغَزالِthe gazelle وَإِنّماbut only
وَالمِسكُ بَعضُ دَمِ الغَزالِ وَإِنّما
فيin المِسكِmusk مَعنىًa quality لَيسَis not يوجَدُfound فيin الدمِblood
في المِسكِ مَعنىً لَيسَ يوجَدُ في الدمِ
And musk is part of the gazelle's blood; but only
And musk is some gazelle blood, but really
In musk is a quality not found in blood.
In musk there is meaning not found in blood
ياO زينَZayn إِنّيindeed I فيin هَواكِlove for you مُتيّمٌenthralled
يا زينَ إِنّي في هَواكِ مُتيّمٌ
أَصبَحتI have become فيهِthrough it بِذيone possessed of الغَرامِpassion الأَهيمِlove-bewildered
أَصبَحت فيهِ بِذي الغَرامِ الأَهيمِ
O Zayn, I am enthralled by love for you;
O Zain, I am infatuated with your love
Through it I have become a lover crazed with passion.
I have become in it bewildered, crazed with passion
جُبتُI crossed الفَيافيthe desert wastes لَستُI do not أَدريknow مَقصداًa destination
جُبتُ الفَيافي لَستُ أَدري مَقصداً
تيهاًwandering bewildered وَذاand this حالُthe state of المحبِّthe lover المُغرَمِpassion-stricken
تيهاً وَذا حالُ المحبِّ المُغرَمِ
I crossed the desert wastes, knowing no destination,
I roamed the deserts not knowing where I was headed
Wandering lost: such is the state of the passion-stricken lover.
Lost and crazed is the state of the enamored lover
أَحرَقتِyou burned قَلبيmy heart بِالنّوىwith separation ياO جَنَّتيmy paradise
أَحرَقتِ قَلبي بِالنّوى يا جَنَّتي
وَحَللتِand you settled فيهِwithin it وَإِنّهthough it is كَجَهنَّمِlike Hell
وَحَللتِ فيهِ وَإِنّه كَجَهنَّمِ
You burned my heart with separation, O my paradise,
You burned my heart with purpose O my paradise
And settled within it, though it is like Hell.
And you took residence in it though it is like hell
أَفَلاhave you not then حَسستِfelt بِنارِهِits fire وَلَهيبِهِand its blaze
أَفَلا حَسستِ بِنارِهِ وَلَهيبِهِ
فَحبَوتِهِand so you favored it بِتَرَأُّفٍwith tenderness وترحُّمُand compassion
فَحبَوتِهِ بِتَرَأُّفٍ وترحُّمُ
Have you not felt its fire and blaze,
Why didn’t you feel its fire and flames?
And then favored it with tenderness and compassion?
So you would have treated it with mercy and compassion
قالَتshe said بَلىyes اِستَحلَيتI found sweet مُرَّthe bitterness of عذابهِits torment
قالَت بَلى اِستَحلَيت مُرَّ عذابهِ
كَالظّبيِlike a gazelle يَستَحليfinds sweet مَذاقَthe taste of العلقمِcolocynth
كَالظّبيِ يَستَحلي مَذاقَ العلقمِ
She said, "Yes; I found its bitter torment sweet,
She said: “Yes, I made the bitterness of his torment lawful
As the gazelle finds the taste of colocynth sweet."
Like the gazelle finds the taste of unripe fruit lawful”
ياO زينZayn هَلis there للصبِّfor the love-stricken قُربٌnearness واِلْتِقاand a meeting
يا زين هَل للصبِّ قُربٌ واِلْتِقا
فبُعادُهfor his separation عينُthe very essence of العَذابِtorment المُؤلمِpainful
فبُعادُه عينُ العَذابِ المُؤلمِ
O Zayn, is there nearness and a meeting for the love-stricken?
O Zain, is there nearness and meeting for the lover
For his separation is the very essence of painful torment.
For distance from you is the essence of painful torment?
لَيسَis not البعادseparation عليكupon you حَتماًan obligation لازِماًbinding
لَيسَ البعاد عليك حَتماً لازِماً
وعليكِand for you وَصْليunion with me لمnot يكنbe بمحرّمِforbidden
وعليكِ وَصْلي لم يكن بمحرّمِ
Separation is not a binding obligation upon you,
Distance from you is not necessarily binding
Nor has union with me been forbidden to you.
And our union was not forbidden
أَسمَعتِhave you heard قَولَthe words of اللائِمينَthe reproachers وَعِذلِهمand their rebukes
أَسمَعتِ قَولَ اللائِمينَ وَعِذلِهم
ياO زينَZayn بئسَwretched is القولُthe speech قولُthe speech of اللُّوَّمِthe reproachers
يا زينَ بئسَ القولُ قولُ اللُّوَّمِ
Have you heard the reproachers' words and their rebukes?
Did you hear the words and censure of the blamers
O Zayn, wretched words are the words of those who blame!
What a terrible saying, the words of the criticizers!
ياO لَهفَanguish of قَلبيmy heart وَالغَرامُand passion أَذابَهُhas melted it
يا لَهفَ قَلبي وَالغَرامُ أَذابَهُ
فَبَكيتهso I wept for it دَمعاًtears جَرىflowed كَالعَندَمِlike crimson dye
فَبَكيته دَمعاً جَرى كَالعَندَمِ
Alas for my heart—passion has melted it!
O burning of my heart, passion melted it
So I wept for it, tears flowing like crimson dye.
So I wept it with tears flowing like antimony
كَيفَhow الخَلاصُescape مِنَfrom الهَوىlove ماwhat حيلَتيmy recourse
كَيفَ الخَلاصُ مِنَ الهَوى ما حيلَتي
وَمَذاقُهُand its taste حُلوٌsweet لَذيذُdelicious المَطعَمِin flavor
وَمَذاقُهُ حُلوٌ لَذيذُ المَطعَمِ
How can I escape love? What recourse have I,
How can I be free from love? What is my stratagem
When its taste is sweet, delicious to savor?
When its taste is sweet, delicious to the palate?
وَلَقَدand indeed طُبِعتُI was fashioned عَلىfor الهَوىlove وَاِعتَدتُهُand grew accustomed to it
وَلَقَد طُبِعتُ عَلى الهَوى وَاِعتَدتُهُ
وَتغيُّرُand changing العاداتhabits غيرُnot مسلَّمِto be taken for granted
وَتغيُّرُ العادات غيرُ مسلَّمِ
And indeed, I was fashioned for love and grew accustomed to it,
I was inherently disposed to love and accustomed to it
And changing habits is not to be taken for granted.
And changing ingrained habits is not easily done
وَاِعتَدتand I grew accustomed طَبعاًby nature مَدحَto praising أَكرمِthe most generous ماجدٍnobleman
وَاِعتَدت طَبعاً مَدحَ أَكرمِ ماجدٍ
وأجلِّand the most exalted شهمٍnoble-spirited man فيamong الأكارِمِthe noble أفخمِthe grandest
وأجلِّ شهمٍ في الأكارِمِ أفخمِ
And by nature I am accustomed to praising the most generous nobleman,
And I was naturally accustomed to praising the most generous
And the most exalted gallant, grandest among the noble.
And greatest hero among the most honorable of the noble
لَيثlion of العَرينِthe den وَشِبلand cub of قَسورَةthe mighty lion of الوغَىbattle
لَيث العَرينِ وَشِبل قَسورَة الوغَى
مُرديfeller of الأسودَthe lions وذاكَand that شَأنُthe way of الضّيغَمِthe fierce lion
مُردي الأسودَ وذاكَ شَأنُ الضّيغَمِ
Lion of the den, and cub of the mighty lion of battle,
Lion of the lair and cub of the ferocious battle
Feller of lions—and such is the fierce lion's way.
Who tosses aside the lions and that is the wont of the warrior
شاكيfully equipped with السّلاحarms مُقذّفٌpowerfully built مُتقدّمٌadvancing
شاكي السّلاح مُقذّفٌ مُتقدّمٌ
أَظفارُهُhis claws حينَat the time of الوَغىbattle لَمhave not تقلَّمِbeen trimmed
أَظفارُهُ حينَ الوَغى لَم تقلَّمِ
Fully armed, powerfully built, pressing forward,
Brandishing his sword, advancing
His claws in battle remain untrimmed.
His claws in battle are not blunted
بَطلٍa hero إِذاwhen رَكِبَhe mounts الجَوادthe charger رأيتَهُyou see him
بَطلٍ إِذا رَكِبَ الجَواد رأيتَهُ
أَسَداًas a lion علىupon طَوْدٍa mountain رَفيعٍlofty شَيظَمِtowering
أَسَداً على طَوْدٍ رَفيعٍ شَيظَمِ
A hero whom, when he mounts his charger, you see
When the hero rides his steed you see him
As a lion upon a lofty, towering mountain.
A lion on a tall, lofty camel
فَسلاحُهُso his weapons وَصهيلand the neighing of طِرفٍa steed تَحتَهُbeneath him
فَسلاحُهُ وَصهيل طِرفٍ تَحتَهُ
بَرقٌlightning وَرعدٌand thunder فيin العَجاجِthe swirling dust الأقتَمِdark
بَرقٌ وَرعدٌ في العَجاجِ الأقتَمِ
Thus his weapons and the neighing of the steed beneath him
His weapons and the neighing of his swift steed beneath him
Are lightning and thunder in the dark, swirling dust.
Are lightning and thunder in the darkest clouds
ذيpossessor of الجاهِprestige بَلrather هوَhe is جاهُهُits prestige وَقوامُهُand its mainstay
ذي الجاهِ بَل هوَ جاهُهُ وَقوامُهُ
لَولاهُwere it not for him كانَwould be الجاهُprestige غيرnot مقوَّمِsupported
لَولاهُ كانَ الجاهُ غير مقوَّمِ
Endowed with prestige—rather, he is its very prestige and mainstay;
The one with glory, rather he is his glory and his pillar
Without him, prestige would have no support.
Without him glory would not be straight
ذيpossessor of المَجدِglory وَالعَلياءِand eminence مَنwho قَدhas indeed فاقَsurpassed فيin
ذي المَجدِ وَالعَلياءِ مَن قَد فاقَ في
حُسنِexcellence of الوَفاfaithfulness وَالعزّand might مِثلthe likes of محلَّمِMuhallam
حُسنِ الوَفا وَالعزّ مِثل محلَّمِ
Lord of glory and eminence, who has excelled in
The one with glory and nobility, who has surpassed in
Noble faithfulness and might beyond the likes of Muhallam.
Good faithfulness and honor the likes of Mihyar
بَحرُan ocean of المَكارِمِnoble virtues وَالنّدىand bounty لاnot حاتمٌHatim
بَحرُ المَكارِمِ وَالنّدى لا حاتمٌ
يَحكيهِmatches him فيin جودٍgenerosity ولاnor بِتَكرُّمِin munificence
يَحكيهِ في جودٍ ولا بِتَكرُّمِ
An ocean of noble virtues and bounty; not even Hatim
Ocean of nobility and dew, no seal
Can match him in generosity or munificence.
Describes his generosity or nobility
طَلقِcheerful of المُحيّاcountenance فيin لِثامِa veil of بَشاشَةٍcheerfulness
طَلقِ المُحيّا في لِثامِ بَشاشَةٍ
وَوَسامَةٍand handsomeness تَزهوshining ضحوكِever-smiling of المَبسمِmouth
وَوَسامَةٍ تَزهو ضحوكِ المَبسمِ
Bright-faced, veiled in cheerfulness
Free spirited with a smile in his veil
And shining handsomeness, his mouth ever smiling.
And grace that glows with his bright grin
فَردٍpeerless نَبيهٍperceptive فاضِلٍvirtuous متأدّبٍcultivated
فَردٍ نَبيهٍ فاضِلٍ متأدّبٍ
فَخمٍmagnificent وَجيهٍdistinguished كامِلٍperfect ومكرَّمِand honored
فَخمٍ وَجيهٍ كامِلٍ ومكرَّمِ
Peerless, perceptive, virtuous, cultivated,
A cultured, virtuous, refined gentleman
Magnificent, distinguished, perfect, and honored.
Noble, distinguished, perfect and honored
قِسُّQuss البلاغَةِeloquence كَمhow often أَرىI see سَحبانهاits Sahban
قِسُّ البلاغَةِ كَم أَرى سَحبانها
يَبدوappears لَدَيهِbeside him بالأرتِّas a stammerer الأبكَمِmute
يَبدو لَدَيهِ بالأرتِّ الأبكَمِ
The Quss of eloquence—how often I see its Sahban
Master of rhetoric, how often I see its clouds
Appear beside him a stammerer, mute.
Manifest through him in clear eloquent speech
ياO ذاpossessor of المَعاليhigh honors وَالمَكارِمِand noble virtues وَالتّقىand piety
يا ذا المَعالي وَالمَكارِمِ وَالتّقى
وَأَخاand brother of المَفاخِرِglories وَالجَنابِand presence الأَكرَمِthe noblest
وَأَخا المَفاخِرِ وَالجَنابِ الأَكرَمِ
O possessor of high honors, noble virtues, and piety,
O you of nobility, magnanimity, piety
And brother of glories, of the noblest presence,
And brother of pride and the most honorable nobility
إِنّيindeed I اِمرُؤٌa man مُهدٍoffering إِلَيكَto you خَريدَةًa bashful maiden
إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ مُهدٍ إِلَيكَ خَريدَةً
بِكراًa virgin مُهفهَفةًslender-waisted وَباسمةَand smiling of الفمِmouth
بِكراً مُهفهَفةً وَباسمةَ الفمِ
Indeed, I am a man offering you a bashful maiden,
I am a man leading to you a thoroughbred
A virgin, slender-waisted, with a smiling mouth,
Colt fluttering its eyelids with smiling lips
خوداًa lovely young maiden تَقَرطقُadorns with earrings بِالجَواهِرwith jewels أُذنَهاher ear
خوداً تَقَرطقُ بِالجَواهِر أُذنَها
ومِثالُهand its like لنظيرهاfor her equal لمhas not يُنظَمِbeen strung
ومِثالُه لنظيرها لم يُنظَمِ
A lovely maiden, adorning her ear with jewels,
A lively spirited one whose ear rings
And its like has not been strung for her equal.
With jewels and its likes were never fashioned
وَتَقلّدَتand she has donned أَحلىthe loveliest العقودnecklaces بِنَحرِهاat her throat
وَتَقلّدَت أَحلى العقود بِنَحرِها
مِنof كلّevery دُرٍّpearl كَالجُمانِlike pearl beads منظَّمِstrung in order
مِن كلّ دُرٍّ كَالجُمانِ منظَّمِ
And she has donned the loveliest necklaces at her throat,
And it wore the most beautiful necklaces around its neck
Of pearls, each strung in order like pearly beads.
Made of every pearl like strung pearls