لَقَد أَطْلَقَتْ كَفّاً وَقَد خَضَّبَت كَفّا

لَقَد أَطْلَقَتْ كَفّاً وَقَد خَضَّبَت كَفّا

وَرامَت بِهَجرِ الصّبِّ عَن وَصْلِها كَفّا

وَرامَت بِهَجرِ الصّبِّ عَن وَصْلِها كَفّا

She has indeed let loose a hand, and dyed a hand.

She freed a hand though it was stained with henna

And by forsaking the lovesick lover, she sought to make him forgo union with her.

And wished to part from her lover in youthful separation

يَتيمَةُ حُسنٍ وَهيَ بالِغةٌ بهِ

يَتيمَةُ حُسنٍ وَهيَ بالِغةٌ بهِ

إِلى الغايَةِ القُصوى منَ الأَكمَلِ الأصفى

إِلى الغايَةِ القُصوى منَ الأَكمَلِ الأصفى

Peerless in beauty, she has reached through it

An orphan of beauty, yet full-grown in it

the utmost limit of perfection and purity.

To the utmost extent of the most perfect and purest maturity

فَمَن شامَ مِنها أَيَّ عُضوٍ بِطَرفِهِ

فَمَن شامَ مِنها أَيَّ عُضوٍ بِطَرفِهِ

فَما هوَ عَمّا قَد رَأى ينقلُ الطّرفا

فَما هوَ عَمّا قَد رَأى ينقلُ الطّرفا

Whoever beholds any part of her with his eye

Whoever's eye alights on any part of her

never turns his gaze away from what he has seen.

Will speak of naught else that he has seen after averting his gaze

وَلَمياءُ أَحلى الخمرِ كانَ رضابُها

وَلَمياءُ أَحلى الخمرِ كانَ رضابُها

وَماء حَياةِ النّفسِ لَو ذاقَتِ الحتفا

وَماء حَياةِ النّفسِ لَو ذاقَتِ الحتفا

And dark-lipped—her saliva was the sweetest wine,

And the soft radiance of the loveliest wine was her complexion

and water of life for the soul, should it taste death.

And the water of life itself, were it tasted, would perish

إِذا اِبتَسَمَت فَالبرقُ يَبدو وَلَيتَها

إِذا اِبتَسَمَت فَالبرقُ يَبدو وَلَيتَها

غَدَت مِن خِلالِ البرقِ تَمنَحُني رَشفا

غَدَت مِن خِلالِ البرقِ تَمنَحُني رَشفا

When she smiles, lightning flashes; would that she

When she smiles, lightning seems to flash

would grant me sips from amid the lightning.

And I wish she would grant me a draught from amidst the lightning

تَميسُ بِقدٍّ خلتُهُ خيزرانةً

تَميسُ بِقدٍّ خلتُهُ خيزرانةً

وَكَم أَخجَلَ الأَغصانَ مِن هَزِّهِ عِطفا

وَكَم أَخجَلَ الأَغصانَ مِن هَزِّهِ عِطفا

She sways with a figure I took for a bamboo stem;

She sways with a slender shape, bare of adornment

how often its swaying flank has put the branches to shame.

How many branches has it shamed with its bending

غَزالَةُ سِربٍ لا تُضاهى بِحُسنِها

غَزالَةُ سِربٍ لا تُضاهى بِحُسنِها

وَذاكَ مُحالٌ أَن يُحاطَ بِهِ وَصفا

وَذاكَ مُحالٌ أَن يُحاطَ بِهِ وَصفا

A gazelle among her herd, unmatched in beauty,

A gazelle of the herd, unmatched in beauty

and no description can encompass that beauty.

And it is impossible to encompass that in description

فَلَو كَشَفَت لِلنّاسِ عَن كُنهِ حسنِها

فَلَو كَشَفَت لِلنّاسِ عَن كُنهِ حسنِها

أَشاروا إِلَيها أَنْ دَعي الكشفا

أَشاروا إِلَيها أَنْ دَعي الكشفا

Were she to reveal her beauty's very essence to people,

If she revealed to people the essence of her beauty

they would gesture to her: "Leave off unveiling!"

They would point to her and say, "Forbear from revealing!"

أَلَستِ تَرينَ النّاسَ جُنّوا بِدونِهِ

أَلَستِ تَرينَ النّاسَ جُنّوا بِدونِهِ

وَقَد خطفَت مِنهُم عُقولُهُم خَطفا

وَقَد خطفَت مِنهُم عُقولُهُم خَطفا

"Do you not see that people have gone mad without it,

Do you not see the people are distraught without her?

and their minds have already been snatched away from them?"

She has snatched away their minds with sudden plunder

وَإِنّي وَذاكَ الحسنِ فيهِم أَشَدُّهم

وَإِنّي وَذاكَ الحسنِ فيهِم أَشَدُّهم

جُنوناً بِذاكَ الحُسنِ أَكثَرُهُم سُخفا

جُنوناً بِذاكَ الحُسنِ أَكثَرُهُم سُخفا

And I, by that beauty, am the most extreme among them

And I, for that beauty among them, am the most crazed

in madness for that beauty, the most foolish of all.

For that beauty, the most foolish among them

وَلا بِدعَ أَنّ الشّمسَ تَبدو مِثالَها

وَلا بِدعَ أَنّ الشّمسَ تَبدو مِثالَها

فَإِنّهُما أُختان وَالفرقُ لا يَخفى

فَإِنّهُما أُختان وَالفرقُ لا يَخفى

It is no wonder that the sun appears her likeness,

It is no wonder that she appears like the sun

for the two are sisters, though their difference is plain.

For they are two sisters, and the difference cannot be hidden

تَمَلّكَتا بَدرَ السّماءِ مَعَ السّما

تَمَلّكَتا بَدرَ السّماءِ مَعَ السّما

وَأَنجمَها وَالأرضَ كِلتاهُما نِصفا

وَأَنجمَها وَالأرضَ كِلتاهُما نِصفا

They took possession of the sky's full moon, along with the sky,

They have seized the full moon of the sky along with the sky

and its stars and the earth, each of the two taking half.

And its stars, each owning half

تَقاسَمتا ما قَد تَقَدَّم ذِكرُهُ

تَقاسَمتا ما قَد تَقَدَّم ذِكرُهُ

فَصاحَبَتا عَدْلاً وَجانَبَتا الجُنفا

فَصاحَبَتا عَدْلاً وَجانَبَتا الجُنفا

They divided between them what was mentioned above,

They divided all that I have mentioned before

thus keeping company with justice and shunning bias.

Dealing justly, shunning injustice

وَصَيَّرتا كلّاً مِنَ الأَرضِ وَالسّما

وَصَيَّرتا كلّاً مِنَ الأَرضِ وَالسّما

نَصيباً أَرى التّعديلَ في مِثلِهِ يُلفى

نَصيباً أَرى التّعديلَ في مِثلِهِ يُلفى

And they made each of the earth and the sky

Making each of the earth and sky

a share; in such a division, I see an equitable balance.

A share that I think cannot be matched in equivalence

وَقَد ضَمّتا لِلأّرضِ أَنّ مريدَها

وَقَد ضَمّتا لِلأّرضِ أَنّ مريدَها

يبينُ نَهاراً ثمَّ لَيلاً بِلا إِخفا

يبينُ نَهاراً ثمَّ لَيلاً بِلا إِخفا

And to the earth they attached the condition that whoever desired it

And they stipulated for the earth that her lover

would appear by day and then by night, without concealment.

Should appear by day, then by night without concealment

وَقَد ضَمّتا بَدرَ السّماءِ إِلى السّما

وَقَد ضَمّتا بَدرَ السّماءِ إِلى السّما

وَأَنجمَها اللّاتي لَقَد حَسُنَت رَصفا

وَأَنجمَها اللّاتي لَقَد حَسُنَت رَصفا

And to the sky they added the sky's full moon

And they allotted to the full moon of the sky and the stars

and its stars, so beautifully arrayed,

That were beautifully arranged in order

عَلى شَرطِ أَن يَخفى بِليلٍ مُريدُها

عَلى شَرطِ أَن يَخفى بِليلٍ مُريدُها

وَيَبدو نَهاراً يَستَحِقُّ بِهِ الكشفا

وَيَبدو نَهاراً يَستَحِقُّ بِهِ الكشفا

on condition that whoever desired it be hidden at night,

On condition that her lover be veiled by night

and appear by day, entitled then to be revealed,

And appear by day deserving full revelation

وَيُدرِكُهُ كَسفٌ يعيبُ جَمالَه

وَيُدرِكُهُ كَسفٌ يعيبُ جَمالَه

وَأَن يَكتَسي لِلنّقصِ بَدرَ السّما خَسفا

وَأَن يَكتَسي لِلنّقصِ بَدرَ السّما خَسفا

and be overtaken by a solar eclipse that mars its beauty,

While overtaking him is an eclipse that mars his beauty

and that the sky's full moon be diminished by a lunar eclipse.

And the full moon of the sky is clothed in darkness

وَقَد أَخَذَت تِلكَ الغَزالة وَاِرتَضت

وَقَد أَخَذَت تِلكَ الغَزالة وَاِرتَضت

بِالأَرضِ اِختِياراً أَن تَبينَ وَلا تَخفى

بِالأَرضِ اِختِياراً أَن تَبينَ وَلا تَخفى

And that gazelle took her share and was content

And that gazelle agreed and chose

with the earth, choosing to appear and not be hidden.

The earth, preferring to appear and not be hidden

فَتاةٌ رَداحٌ غادَةٌ خُوطُ بانةٍ

فَتاةٌ رَداحٌ غادَةٌ خُوطُ بانةٍ

قَدِ اِمتَلأت لُطفاً كَما اِمتَلأت ظُرفا

قَدِ اِمتَلأت لُطفاً كَما اِمتَلأت ظُرفا

A full-hipped, graceful maiden, a shoot of the bān tree,

A slender, languid, gentle-paced gazelle

brimming with grace as she brims with charm.

Filled with charm as she is filled with grace

أَهيمُ بِها وَجْداً وَأَصبو بِها جَوى

أَهيمُ بِها وَجْداً وَأَصبو بِها جَوى

وَأَسهرُ كلَّ اللّيلِ لا أَعرِفُ الإِغفا

وَأَسهرُ كلَّ اللّيلِ لا أَعرِفُ الإِغفا

I wander in longing for her, and pine for her in anguish,

I pine for her with passion and long for her in ardour

and stay awake all night, knowing no sleep.

I stay awake all night, knowing no sleep

تُضيءُ ظَلامَ اللّيلِ نارٌ بِمُهجَتي

تُضيءُ ظَلامَ اللّيلِ نارٌ بِمُهجَتي

بِها أَستَضيءُ اللّيلَ تَذكو وَلا تَطفا

بِها أَستَضيءُ اللّيلَ تَذكو وَلا تَطفا

A fire within my heart lights up the dark of night;

A fire in my entrails lights up the night’s darkness

by it I light my night; it blazes and never goes out.

By it I illuminate the night, kindled, not quenched

فَلا لُبَّ لي ناهٍ وَلا عَقلَ عاقِل

فَلا لُبَّ لي ناهٍ وَلا عَقلَ عاقِل

وَلا خِلّ نصّاح يَقول أَلا كُفّا

وَلا خِلّ نصّاح يَقول أَلا كُفّا

So I have no mind to forbid me, nor reason to restrain me,

I have no sane mind, no mind that reasons

nor a sincere, advising friend to say, "Come now, desist!"

No sound adviser to say, "Enough!"

وَلَستُ بِنَهيِ اللبِّ كُنتُ بِمُنتَهٍ

وَلَستُ بِنَهيِ اللبِّ كُنتُ بِمُنتَهٍ

وَلَم أَكُ مَنصوحاً بِذا النُّصحِ مُنكفّا

وَلَم أَكُ مَنصوحاً بِذا النُّصحِ مُنكفّا

Nor would I have desisted at my reason's prohibition,

Nor was I, through the sanity of reason, deterred

nor, though given such counsel, would I have drawn back.

Nor was I, by such advice, made to refrain

وَكَيفَ وَوَجدي صارَ جُزءاً مِنَ الحَشا

وَكَيفَ وَوَجدي صارَ جُزءاً مِنَ الحَشا

وَإِنْ زالَ ذاكَ الجزءُ متُّ وَلَم أُشفَ

وَإِنْ زالَ ذاكَ الجزءُ متُّ وَلَم أُشفَ

How could I, when my longing has become part of my breast,

How could I be, when my passion became a part of my innards?

and if that part were gone, I would die, not be healed?

And if that part were erased, I would perish

وَلَكِن أُريدُ النُّصحَ حتَّى يَهيجني

وَلَكِن أُريدُ النُّصحَ حتَّى يَهيجني

لِأَزدادَ مِن وَجدي عَلى صَبوتي أَلفا

لِأَزدادَ مِن وَجدي عَلى صَبوتي أَلفا

But I desire advice so that it will inflame me,

But still I want advice, so that it may rouse me

to increase my longing a thousandfold beyond my infatuation.

To increase, in my passion, my fervent love

وَمَدحُ عَلِيِّ القدرِ وَالاِسمِ مَذهَبي

وَمَدحُ عَلِيِّ القدرِ وَالاِسمِ مَذهَبي

عَلَيهِ عَكَفتُ القلبَ في حُبِّهِ عَكفا

عَلَيهِ عَكَفتُ القلبَ في حُبِّهِ عَكفا

And praising ʿAlī, exalted in rank and name, is my way;

And praising the Most High, of Mighty Name, is my way

on him I have fixed my heart, wholly devoted to his love.

To Him I devoted my heart, lovingly inclined

أَخو المَجدِ وَالعَلياءِ شِبلُ أَكارمٍ

أَخو المَجدِ وَالعَلياءِ شِبلُ أَكارمٍ

ومَنْ قَد تَبَنَّى الجودَ وَالبذلَ وَالعَرفا

ومَنْ قَد تَبَنَّى الجودَ وَالبذلَ وَالعَرفا

Brother to glory and high honor, a cub of noble men,

The brother of glory and nobility, the lion cub of the generous

and one who has embraced generosity, giving, and kindness.

He who has adopted munificence, generosity, and graciousness

هُوَ الأَسدُ الرّئبالُ وَالضّيغَمُ الّذي

هُوَ الأَسدُ الرّئبالُ وَالضّيغَمُ الّذي

لَقَد أَلبَسَ الآسادَ في حَربِهِ الرَّجفا

لَقَد أَلبَسَ الآسادَ في حَربِهِ الرَّجفا

He is the lion, the mighty lion, the fierce lion who

He is the fierce, terrible lion, the warrior

has indeed clothed the lions in trembling in war with him.

Who has clad warriors in his awe-inspiring battles

يُكافِئُ كُلَّ الأسدِ لو صَفَّ وَحدَهُ

يُكافِئُ كُلَّ الأسدِ لو صَفَّ وَحدَهُ

إِذا قامَتِ الآسادُ في حَربِهِ صَفّا

إِذا قامَتِ الآسادُ في حَربِهِ صَفّا

He matches all the lions, even if he stands alone,

He could overcome each lion, if it faced him alone

when the lions array themselves in battle against him.

When the warriors rise up in battle array before him

فَكَم فارِسٍ يَعدو عَلى ظَهرِ مُلجَمٍ

فَكَم فارِسٍ يَعدو عَلى ظَهرِ مُلجَمٍ

لَقَد خَرَّ مِن خَوفٍ فَلَم يَستَطِع زَحفا

لَقَد خَرَّ مِن خَوفٍ فَلَم يَستَطِع زَحفا

How many a horseman galloping on the back of a bridled steed

How many horsemen charge on the back of a led steed

has fallen in fear, unable even to crawl!

Then fall from fear, unable to advance

وَكَم قَطَّ مِن لَيثٍ بِأَبيَضَ قاضِبٍ

وَكَم قَطَّ مِن لَيثٍ بِأَبيَضَ قاضِبٍ

أَطارَ لَهُ نِصفاً وَأَبقى لَهُ نِصفا

أَطارَ لَهُ نِصفاً وَأَبقى لَهُ نِصفا

And how many a lion has he cleft with a white, keen blade,

How many fierce lions with bared fangs

sending half of him flying and leaving him half.

He has cloven in half, leaving each half

فَيُمناهُ لا شُلَّت ولَا كَلَّ زندُه

فَيُمناهُ لا شُلَّت ولَا كَلَّ زندُه

وَلا شنّجَ الرّحمَنُ يَوماً لهُ كفّا

وَلا شنّجَ الرّحمَنُ يَوماً لهُ كفّا

May his right hand never be paralyzed, nor his forearm weary,

Yet his right hand does not fail, his might does not decline

and may the All-Merciful never cramp his hand.

Nor has the Compassionate ever frowned at him

أَميرٌ وَجيهٌ كامِلٌ ذو وَسامةٍ

أَميرٌ وَجيهٌ كامِلٌ ذو وَسامةٍ

جَميلٌ سَليمُ الطّبعِ رَقَّ وَقد شفّا

جَميلٌ سَليمُ الطّبعِ رَقَّ وَقد شفّا

An eminent prince, accomplished, possessed of good looks,

A distinguished, eminent, perfect amir of prestige

handsome, sound of nature, grown tender and refined.

Handsome, sound in nature, steadfast, already healed

يَسيلُ بِهِ ماءُ اللّطافَةِ كَيِّساً

يَسيلُ بِهِ ماءُ اللّطافَةِ كَيِّساً

وَأَجْلِلْ بِهِ في جَمعِهِ الكيس وَاللّطفا

وَأَجْلِلْ بِهِ في جَمعِهِ الكيس وَاللّطفا

The water of gentleness flows through him, discerning as he is;

The water of gentleness flows copiously through him

how majestic he is, uniting discernment with gentleness!

And gather in his company the wise and gentle

حَليمٌ جَليلٌ ذو وَقارٍ وهَيبةٍ

حَليمٌ جَليلٌ ذو وَقارٍ وهَيبةٍ

حَكيمٌ يَسوسُ الأمرَ لا يَصحَبُ العُنفا

حَكيمٌ يَسوسُ الأمرَ لا يَصحَبُ العُنفا

Forbearing and illustrious, endowed with dignity and awe-inspiring presence,

Forbearing, venerable, dignified and revered

wise, he governs affairs without resorting to harshness.

Wise, governing affairs, not resorting to violence

فَأَكرِمْ بِهِ ذاتاً وَنَفساً كَريمةً

فَأَكرِمْ بِهِ ذاتاً وَنَفساً كَريمةً

وَأَحمِدْ بِهِ صيتاً وَأَحسِنْ بِهِ وَصفا

وَأَحمِدْ بِهِ صيتاً وَأَحسِنْ بِهِ وَصفا

How noble he is in person, and how generous in soul!

So honour through him a noble spirit

How praiseworthy his renown, how fine his description!

And praise through him repute and extol him in verse

فَيا أَيّها الشّهمُ الّذي عَزَّ مِثلُه

فَيا أَيّها الشّهمُ الّذي عَزَّ مِثلُه

إِلَيكَ مِنَ الأَبكارِ غانيةً وَطفَى

إِلَيكَ مِنَ الأَبكارِ غانيةً وَطفَى

So, O noble-hearted man, whose equal is rare,

O valiant one, peerless in might!

for you, from among virgins, a beauty with long, thick lashes.

To you the virgins sing amorously and languish

عَروساً إِلَيك الفكر حَيثُ تَوشّحَت

عَروساً إِلَيك الفكر حَيثُ تَوشّحَت

بَديعَ قَوافي النَّظم قَد زَفَّها زَفّا

بَديعَ قَوافي النَّظم قَد زَفَّها زَفّا

As a bride to you, thought—once she had draped herself

As a bride she came to you, her thoughts adorned

in wondrous poetic rhymes—has led her in bridal procession.

With the beautiful rhymes of verse, led to you in procession

فَماسَت وَقَد حَلَّت بِمَدحِكَ جيدَها

فَماسَت وَقَد حَلَّت بِمَدحِكَ جيدَها

فَتاهَت بِهِ فَخراً وَمالَت بِهِ عِطفا

فَتاهَت بِهِ فَخراً وَمالَت بِهِ عِطفا

Then she swayed, having adorned her neck with your praise,

She tilted her neck, praising you,

and strutted proudly in it, inclining her flank with it.

And leaned toward you, coquettishly inclined

وَما اِستَكمَلَت في الفِكرِ مدّةَ حَملِها

وَما اِستَكمَلَت في الفِكرِ مدّةَ حَملِها

فَلا بِدْعَ أَنّ النّقصَ فيها لَقَد يلفى

فَلا بِدْعَ أَنّ النّقصَ فيها لَقَد يلفى

She did not complete her full term of gestation in thought,

She did not perfect during her term the full period of her pregnancy

so it is no wonder that imperfection is indeed found in her.

So inevitably the deficiency in her must be overlooked

فَأَقْبِلْ عَلَيها مُحسِناً بِقَبولِها

فَأَقْبِلْ عَلَيها مُحسِناً بِقَبولِها

وَأَسبِل عَلى عَيبٍ تُعابُ بِهِ سُجفا

وَأَسبِل عَلى عَيبٍ تُعابُ بِهِ سُجفا

So turn toward her graciously, by accepting her,

Look on her with favour, accepting her

and draw curtains over any fault for which she is blamed.

And overlook any faults for which she might be blamed

وَدُم في ضَمانِ اللَّهِ مَرعِيَّ حِفظِهِ

وَدُم في ضَمانِ اللَّهِ مَرعِيَّ حِفظِهِ

وَشادَ عَلَيكَ اللَّه مِن حِفظِهِ كَهفا

وَشادَ عَلَيكَ اللَّه مِن حِفظِهِ كَهفا

And remain under God's guarantee, guarded by His protection;

Live in God's protection, guarded by His care

and may God build over you a cave of His protection,

And may God fortify you with His shelter

مَدى الدّهرِ ما هَبَّت نَسيمٌ مِنَ الصَّبا

مَدى الدّهرِ ما هَبَّت نَسيمٌ مِنَ الصَّبا

فَمَيّلتِ الأَغصان تَعطِفُها عَطفا

فَمَيّلتِ الأَغصان تَعطِفُها عَطفا

for all time, so long as a breeze from the east wind blows,

For as long as the zephyrs blow from the morning breeze

and sways the branches, bending them,

And sway the branches, bending them flexibly

وَما هامَ ذو وَجْدٍ وَأَقسَمَ قائِلاً

وَما هامَ ذو وَجْدٍ وَأَقسَمَ قائِلاً

لَقَد أَطلَقَت كفّاً وَقَد خَضّبَت كفّا

لَقَد أَطلَقَت كفّاً وَقَد خَضّبَت كفّا

and so long as a yearning lover wanders love-crazed and swears, saying:

For as long as the lovesick roam, swearing,

She has indeed let loose a hand, and dyed a hand.

"She freed a hand though it was stained with henna"