خَيالٌa phantom مِنَfrom النائيthe far-off one الهَوىlove المُتَبَعِّدِkeeping far away
خَيالٌ مِنَ النائي الهَوى المُتَبَعِّدِ
سَرىtraveled by night فَسَرىso slipped away عَنهُfrom him عَزيمُfirm resolve التَجَلُّدِsteadfast endurance
سَرى فَسَرى عَنهُ عَزيمُ التَجَلُّدِ
A phantom from the far-off, ever-distant beloved
A phantom from the distant beloved, the obsessed love
stole through the night, and his firm resolve to endure stole away.
It walked away, and determination to endure walked away from it
دَعاsummoned وَطَراًa longing حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle أَجابَهُanswered it
دَعا وَطَراً حَتّى إِذا ما أَجابَهُ
أَطافَhovered around بِمَطروفِaround one with stricken eyes الجُفونِeyelids مُسَهَّدِkept sleepless
أَطافَ بِمَطروفِ الجُفونِ مُسَهَّدِ
It summoned a longing, until, when that longing answered it,
It called the rain until when it responded
it hovered about a sleepless man with stricken eyelids.
It circled the eyelids made sleepy
فَباتَso he spent the night يُناجيconfiding in النَجمَthe star حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
فَباتَ يُناجي النَجمَ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
يُخالِسُsteals stealthily from عَينَيهِhis two eyes الكَرىsleep لَيلُthe night of أَرمَدِone with inflamed eyes
يُخالِسُ عَينَيهِ الكَرى لَيلُ أَرمَدِ
So he spent the night confiding in the star, until it was as though
So it stayed conversing with the star until it was as if
a sore-eyed man's night were stealing sleep from his eyes.
It confided to its eyes the totality of the night of blindness
إِذاwhenever أَمكَنَgains access to السُلوانُconsoling forgetfulness حَبَّةَthe core قَلبِهِof his heart
إِذا أَمكَنَ السُلوانُ حَبَّةَ قَلبِهِ
ثَنىturned back شَوقَهُhis longing سَهمانِtwo arrows ريشاboth feathered بِإِثمِدِwith antimony kohl
ثَنى شَوقَهُ سَهمانِ ريشا بِإِثمِدِ
Whenever solace reaches the core of his heart,
When infatuation took hold of the core of its heart
two arrows feathered with antimony kohl turn his longing back.
It bent its longing like two feathered arrows straightened
يُطالِعُهُappears before him وَجهُthe face العَزاءِof consolation وَتَرتَميand hurls
يُطالِعُهُ وَجهُ العَزاءِ وَتَرتَمي
بِهِwith him صَبوَةٌa passion فيalong شَأوِa course غَيرِnot مُسَدَّدِrightly directed
بِهِ صَبوَةٌ في شَأوِ غَيرِ مُسَدَّدِ
The face of consolation appears to him, yet he is hurled
The face of misery appears to it and a downpour descends upon it
by passion along a course not rightly guided.
With no specific aim in increasing remoteness
إِذاwhenever أَلِفَbefriends النَومُsleep الجُفونَthe eyelids تَقَسَّمَتparcel out
إِذا أَلِفَ النَومُ الجُفونَ تَقَسَّمَت
كَراهُhis slumber تَباريحُthe agonies الهَوىof love المُتَجَدِّدِever-renewed
كَراهُ تَباريحُ الهَوى المُتَجَدِّدِ
Whenever sleep befriends his eyelids, they parcel out
When sleep meets the eyelids they are divided
his slumber—the agonies of ever-renewed love.
The hatreds of renewed, recurring love
مَلامَكِyour reproach إِنّيindeed I لَمdid not أُعَنِّفrebuke harshly مَلامَةًa rebuke
مَلامَكِ إِنّي لَم أُعَنِّف مَلامَةً
تَراءَتappeared بِنُصحٍwith sincere counsel مِنfrom ضَميرِكِyour inner self فَاقصِديso be moderate
تَراءَت بِنُصحٍ مِن ضَميرِكِ فَاقصِدي
As for your reproach, I have not harshly rejected a rebuke
My blamer, I have not been harsh in blame
that appeared as counsel from your heart; so be moderate.
That appeared with advice from your conscience, so head towards me
أَتىcame دونَin the way of عَزمِthe resolve المَرءِof the man هَمٌّa sorrow مُبَرِّحٌagonizing
أَتى دونَ عَزمِ المَرءِ هَمٌّ مُبَرِّحٌ
وَقَلبٌand a heart لَهُbelonging to him إِنif يَعرِضَarises الشَوقُlonging يَكمَدِpines with grief
وَقَلبٌ لَهُ إِن يَعرِضَ الشَوقُ يَكمَدِ
A racking sorrow has stood in the way of the man's resolve,
Without the determination of a person, a happy anxiety came
and his heart, which pines whenever longing rises,
And a heart, if longing turns away from it, it shrivels
وَسِربٌand a flock مِنَof الأَشجانِsorrows يُطوىis folded لَهُfor it الحَشىthe breast
وَسِربٌ مِنَ الأَشجانِ يُطوى لَهُ الحَشى
عَلىaround شَرقٍchoking anguish مَنwhoever يَلقَهُmeets it يَتَبَلَّدِbecomes bewildered
عَلى شَرقٍ مَن يَلقَهُ يَتَبَلَّدِ
and a flock of sorrows, for which his breast is clenched
And a flock of sorrows that fold the breast
around a choking anguish; whoever meets it is bewildered.
To a sunrise, whoever faces it recoils
بَعَثنَthey sent إِلىto خُلّانِهِنَّtheir lovers تَحِيَّةًa greeting
بَعَثنَ إِلى خُلّانِهِنَّ تَحِيَّةً
بِأَلحاظِwith glances أَبصارٍof eyes شَواهِدَbearing witness جُحَّدِdenying
بِأَلحاظِ أَبصارٍ شَواهِدَ جُحَّدِ
They sent a greeting to their lovers
It sent to its female companions a greeting
with glances from eyes that bore witness yet denied.
With glances, testimonies of denial witnessed
فَلَمّاand when اِشرَأَبَّتreared its head صَبوَةٌpassion وَمَشىand moved الهَوىlove
فَلَمّا اِشرَأَبَّت صَبوَةٌ وَمَشى الهَوى
بِهِنَّthrough them وَخَيَّفَتand frightened بَوحَةُthe confession المُتَجَلِّدِof the steadfast one
بِهِنَّ وَخَيَّفَت بَوحَةُ المُتَجَلِّدِ
And when passion reared its head and love moved
So when a downpour came down and love walked
through them, and the steadfast one's confession alarmed them,
With them, and the whisper of the patient lessened
صَفَحنَthey turned aside قِياماًstanding فَاِستَقَلَّتthen rose high نُحورُهاtheir throats
صَفَحنَ قِياماً فَاِستَقَلَّت نُحورُها
بِمُنقَدَّةٍwith garments split open عَنهاaway from them الجَلابيبُthe outer wraps نُهَّدِswelling breasts
بِمُنقَدَّةٍ عَنها الجَلابيبُ نُهَّدِ
they turned aside, standing, and their throats rose high
They forgave it quickly, so their necks rose
above swelling breasts, their outer wraps split open around them.
With a carpet slipped from them, the robes cast down
عَشِيَّةَon the evening وَلَّتpassed away رَوعَةُthe fright الشَوقِof longing وَاِنطَوىand folded away
عَشِيَّةَ وَلَّت رَوعَةُ الشَوقِ وَاِنطَوى
بِشاهِدِهِbefore its witness باقيthe remainder of اِعتِزاميmy resolve وَمَفنَديand my reprover
بِشاهِدِهِ باقي اِعتِزامي وَمَفنَدي
That evening longing's fright passed, and there collapsed
One evening, the fervor of longing departed and withdrawal remained
before its witness my remaining resolve and my reprover.
In its witness, the rest of my resolve and my banner
أَفاءَتrestored لَهُto him الأَرصادُthe watchers حِلماًcomposure فَرَدَّهُso it returned him
أَفاءَت لَهُ الأَرصادُ حِلماً فَرَدَّهُ
إِلىto عَزمَةٍa resolve مِنfrom واجِدٍa lovesick man مُتَلَدِّدِdistracted
إِلى عَزمَةٍ مِن واجِدٍ مُتَلَدِّدِ
The watchers restored composure to him, and it brought him back
The fates brought it wisdom, so it returned
to the resolve of a lovesick, distracted man.
To a purpose, from one affliction to one wavering
يَكيدُconspires against بِهِin him كِتمانَthe concealment صادِقَةِsincere الهَوىlove
يَكيدُ بِهِ كِتمانَ صادِقَةِ الهَوى
غُروبٌoutpourings بِأَسرابٍin flocks مِنَof الدَمعِtears حُشَّدِthronging
غُروبٌ بِأَسرابٍ مِنَ الدَمعِ حُشَّدِ
In him, against the concealment of sincere love conspire
It schemes through it to conceal the sincerity of love
outpourings in thronging flocks of tears.
A setting with flocks of tears gathered
إِلَيكَtoward you أَمينَO trusted one اللَهِof God ثارَتrose in flight بِناat our approach القَطاthe sandgrouse
إِلَيكَ أَمينَ اللَهِ ثارَت بِنا القَطا
بَناتُdaughters الفَلاof the wastelands فيin كُلِّevery ميثٍsoft ground مُسَرَّدِstretching continuously
بَناتُ الفَلا في كُلِّ ميثٍ مُسَرَّدِ
Toward you, O God's trusted one, the sandgrouse rose at our approach,
To you, trusted by God, the sands have turned against us
daughters of the wastes, in every continuous stretch of soft ground.
The girls of separation, in every path straightforward
أَناخَتmade kneel بِكَbefore you الأَسفارُthe journeys وَالبيدُand the deserts أَينُقاًshe-camels
أَناخَت بِكَ الأَسفارُ وَالبيدُ أَينُقاً
رَمَتكَcast toward you بِهاwith them آمالُthe hopes غافينَof drowsing men وُفَّدِvisitors
رَمَتكَ بِها آمالُ غافينَ وُفَّدِ
Journeys and deserts brought she-camels to kneel before you,
The journeys anchored in you and the deserts blameless
sent toward you by the hopes of drowsing visitors.
Hopes of the heedless have tossed you among them
أَخَذنَthey undertook السُرىnight-travel أَخذَthe grip العَنيفِof the fierce one وَأَسرَعَتand hastened
أَخَذنَ السُرى أَخذَ العَنيفِ وَأَسرَعَت
خُطاهاtheir strides بِهاwith them وَالنَجُمand the star حَيرانُbewildered مُهتَدِguided
خُطاها بِها وَالنَجُم حَيرانُ مُهتَدِ
They seized upon night-travel with fierce force, and swift became
The journeys have taken it like the violent taking
their strides beneath them, while the star was bewildered yet guided.
Their steps quickened by them, while the star wanders guided
فَلَمّاand when اِنتَضىunsheathed اللَيلُnight الصَباحَmorning وَصَلنَهُthey reached it
فَلَمّا اِنتَضى اللَيلُ الصَباحَ وَصَلنَهُ
بِحاشِيَةٍat the fringe مِنof فَجرِهِits dawn المُتَوَرِّدِrose-flushed
بِحاشِيَةٍ مِن فَجرِهِ المُتَوَرِّدِ
And when night unsheathed the morning, they reached it
So when the night cleared away for the morning, and it met it
at the fringe of its rose-flushed dawn.
With a border from its scattered dawn
لَبِسنَthey wore الدُجىthe darkness حَتّىuntil نَضَتthey shed it وَتَصَوَّبَتand sank down
لَبِسنَ الدُجى حَتّى نَضَت وَتَصَوَّبَت
هَواديthe leading ones نُجومُthe stars اللَيلِof night كَالدَحوِas if rolled بِاليَدِby hand
هَوادي نُجومُ اللَيلِ كَالدَحوِ بِاليَدِ
They wore the darkness until they shed it, and downward sank
They wore the darkness until the stars of night poured out
the leading stars of night, as though rolled by a hand.
Like scattered ashes poured by the hand
يَكونُis مَقيلُthe midday rest الرَكبِof the riders فَوقَabove رِحالِهاtheir saddles
يَكونُ مَقيلُ الرَكبِ فَوقَ رِحالِها
إِذاwhen مَنَعَتforbids لَمسَtouching الحَصىthe pebbles كُلُّevery صَيخَدِscorching blaze
إِذا مَنَعَت لَمسَ الحَصى كُلُّ صَيخَدِ
The riders take their midday rest atop their saddles
Its resting place is atop its saddlebags
when each blaze of heat forbids touching the pebbles.
When the touch of pebbles prevents every arid waterbag
وَقاطِعَةٍand a waste cutting off رِجلَthe foot السَبيلِof the road مَخوَفَةٍfearsome
وَقاطِعَةٍ رِجلَ السَبيلِ مَخوَفَةٍ
كَأَنَّas though عَلىupon أَرجائِهاits reaches حَدَّthe edge مِبرَدِof a file
كَأَنَّ عَلى أَرجائِها حَدَّ مِبرَدِ
And a fearsome waste that cuts the wayfarer's feet,
And a road blocker, frightening
as though a file's sharp edge lay along its reaches,
As if upon its sides a sharp sword
عَزوفٌmoaning بِأَنفاسِwith the breaths الرِياحِof the winds أَبِيَّةٍdefiant
عَزوفٌ بِأَنفاسِ الرِياحِ أَبِيَّةٍ
عَلىtoward الرَكبِthe riders تَستَعصيis unyielding عَلىto كُلِّevery جَلعَدِsturdy camel
عَلى الرَكبِ تَستَعصي عَلى كُلِّ جَلعَدِ
moaning with the breaths of winds, defiant
Rebellious winds upon the traveling party, defying every patched waterskin
toward the riders, resisting every sturdy camel—
Shortening the sight along its expanses
يُقَصِّرُshortens قابَthe range العَينِof the eye فيin فَلواتِهاits empty expanses
يُقَصِّرُ قابَ العَينِ في فَلواتِها
نَواشِزُoutcrops صَفوانٍof smooth stone عَلَيهاupon it وَجَلمَدِand massive rock
نَواشِزُ صَفوانٍ عَلَيها وَجَلمَدِ
in its empty expanses the eye's range is shortened
The squinting of Sufyan upon them and frost
by outcrops of smooth stone upon it, and massive boulders,
Girded with instruments, it is as if they are
مُؤَزَّرَةٍgirdled بِالآلِwith mirage فيهاwithin it كَأَنَّهاas though they
مُؤَزَّرَةٍ بِالآلِ فيها كَأَنَّها
رِجالٌmen قُعودٌseated فيin مَلاءٍmantles مُعَضَّدِpatterned
رِجالٌ قُعودٌ في مَلاءٍ مُعَضَّدِ
girdled there in mirage, as though they were
Men sitting in an effaced refuge
men seated in patterned mantles.
When it moves them, and the echo stands
إِذاwhen الحَرَكاتُmovements هِجنَهاstir it وَقفَcomes to rest الصَدىthe echo
إِذا الحَرَكاتُ هِجنَها وَقفَ الصَدى
عَلىupon نَبَزاتٍtaunting notes مِنfrom أَهازيجِthe chants هُدهُدِof a hoopoe
عَلى نَبَزاتٍ مِن أَهازيجِ هُدهُدِ
When movements rouse it, the echo comes to rest
Upon the melodies of singing partridge
on taunting notes from a hoopoe's chants.
I reached its furthest part to you, and beyond it
تَناوَلتُI reached أَقصاهاits farthest part إِلَيكَtoward you وَدونَهُthough before it
تَناوَلتُ أَقصاها إِلَيكَ وَدونَهُ
مَقَصٌّa shearing-ground لِأَعناقِfor the necks النِجاءِof swift camels العَمَرَّدِtowering
مَقَصٌّ لِأَعناقِ النِجاءِ العَمَرَّدِ
I reached its farthest end toward you, though before it lay
A reaper of the necks of the long-necked ostriches
a shearing-ground for the necks of swift, towering camels,
With the dialect of a letter that renews its meadows
بِوَجناءَon a broad-cheeked she-camel حَرفٍlean يَستَجِدُّrenews مِراحَهاher vigor
بِوَجناءَ حَرفٍ يَستَجِدُّ مِراحَها
مِراحُthe vigor السُرىof night-travel وَالكَوكَبِand of the star المُتَوَقِّدِblazing
مِراحُ السُرى وَالكَوكَبِ المُتَوَقِّدِ
on a broad-cheeked, lean she-camel whose vigor is renewed
The meadows of journeying and the blazing planet
by the vigor of night-travel and the blazing star.
When one pebble strikes, it hurls it
إِذاwhen قَدَحَتshe strikes sparks from إِحدىone of الحَصاthe pebbles قَذَفَتshe hurls بِهاit away
إِذا قَدَحَت إِحدى الحَصا قَذَفَت بِها
فَتَقذِفُso it flies فيinto أُخرىanother وَإِنeven if لَمnot تَعَمَّدِshe intends to
فَتَقذِفُ في أُخرى وَإِن لَم تَعَمَّدِ
Whenever she strikes sparks from one pebble, she hurls it away,
So it hurls into another, even if not intended
so it flies into another, even without her intending it.
The she-camels knelt down to you, married
أَقَلَّتbore إِلَيكَto you الناجِداتُthe hardy she-camels مُعَرِّساًa traveler taking night-rest
أَقَلَّت إِلَيكَ الناجِداتُ مُعَرِّساً
عَلىupon أَمَلٍa hope جَوّابَa rover across بَيداءَdesert قَردَدِrugged heights
عَلى أَمَلٍ جَوّابَ بَيداءَ قَردَدِ
The hardy she-camels bore to you a traveler stopping for night-rest,
Upon a hope for white-robed answers to call back
sustained by hope, a rover of high, rugged desert.
The events appeared to it until when it attained
تَراءَتappeared لَهُbefore him الأَحداثُmisfortunes حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِقتَنىhe acquired
تَراءَت لَهُ الأَحداثُ حَتّى إِذا اِقتَنى
رَجاءَكَhope in you صَدَّتturned away عَنهُfrom him عَنafter قُربِa brief span مَعهَدِof acquaintance
رَجاءَكَ صَدَّت عَنهُ عَن قُربِ مَعهَدِ
Misfortunes appeared before him until, once he gained
Your hope, they turned away from it from a near place
hope in you, they turned from him after only a brief acquaintance.
You stood upon the path of conjectures, so they were honest
وَقَفتَyou set عَلىupon النَهجِthe clear path الظُنونَconjectures فَصَرَّحَتso they became plain
وَقَفتَ عَلى النَهجِ الظُنونَ فَصَرَّحَت
وَأَدّىand yielded إِلَيكَto you الحُكمَjudgment كُلُّevery مُشَرَّدِfugitive
وَأَدّى إِلَيكَ الحُكمَ كُلُّ مُشَرَّدِ
You set conjectures on the clear path, and they became plain,
And every wandering outcast brought the judgment to you
and every fugitive submitted to your judgment.
When the passions of a people differ, you unite them
إِذاwhen اِختَلَفَتdiffered أَهواءُthe desires قَومٍof a people جَمَعتَهُمyou united them
إِذا اِختَلَفَت أَهواءُ قَومٍ جَمَعتَهُم
عَلىthrough العَفوِpardon أَوor حَدِّthe edge الحُسامِof the sharp sword المُهَنَّدِIndian-forged
عَلى العَفوِ أَو حَدِّ الحُسامِ المُهَنَّدِ
When a people's desires differ, you bring them together
Upon pardon or the edge of the sharpened sword
through pardon or the edge of the Indian-forged sword.
When they crawl, concern for them becomes evident
إِذاif اِنجَحَرواthey hid in burrows جَلّىdrives them out بِخَوفٍwith terror عَلَيهِمُupon them
إِذا اِنجَحَروا جَلّى بِخَوفٍ عَلَيهِمُ
وَإِنand if أَصحَرواthey went into the open كانواthey became فَريسَةَthe prey مُرصِدِof an ambusher
وَإِن أَصحَروا كانوا فَريسَةَ مُرصِدِ
If they hide in burrows, it drives them out with terror;
And if they rebel, they become prey of an onlooker
and if they venture into the open, they are an ambusher's prey,
With every swimmer in the deep water, it is as if
بِكُلِّon every سَبوحٍswimming-gaited steed فيin العَجاجِswirling dust كَأَنَّماas though
بِكُلِّ سَبوحٍ في العَجاجِ كَأَنَّما
تَكَنَّفَenfolded عِطفَيهاits two flanks جَناحاthe two wings خَفَيدَدِof a swift ostrich
تَكَنَّفَ عِطفَيها جَناحا خَفَيدَدِ
on every swimming-gaited steed amid dust, as though
Its wings enveloped them like a hidden feather
the wings of a swift ostrich enfolded its two flanks.
When they bent to the darkness with spoils
إِذاwhen هُنَّthey غامَسنَplunged into الدُجىdarkness بِغَنيمَةٍwith plunder
إِذا هُنَّ غامَسنَ الدُجى بِغَنيمَةٍ
قَسَمنَthey divided up السُرىnight-travel فيacross كُلِّevery سَهلٍlevel ground وَأَجلَدِand hard ground
قَسَمنَ السُرى في كُلِّ سَهلٍ وَأَجلَدِ
When they plunge into darkness bearing plunder,
The journeys divided in every plain and hill
they divide the night-march across every plain and hard tract.
It is as if the palms of the people were bent and straight
كَأَنَّas though أَكُفَّthe palms القَومِof the men مَثنىin pairs وَمَوحَداand singly
كَأَنَّ أَكُفَّ القَومِ مَثنى وَمَوحَدا
تَعاطَينَwere passing among themselves جادِيّاًsaffron عَلىon ظَهرِthe surface قَرمَدِof plasterwork
تَعاطَينَ جادِيّاً عَلى ظَهرِ قَرمَدِ
As though the men's hands, in pairs and singly,
Were exchanging presents upon the back of a turtle
were passing saffron over a plastered surface.
They greeted with the edges of the spear and embraced
تَحَيَّواthey greeted one another بِأَطرافِwith the tips القَنىof spears وَتَعانَقواand embraced one another
تَحَيَّوا بِأَطرافِ القَنى وَتَعانَقوا
مُعانَقَةَthe embrace البَغضاءِof hatred غَيرَnot التَوَدُّدِaffection
مُعانَقَةَ البَغضاءِ غَيرَ التَوَدُّدِ
They greeted one another with spearpoints, and embraced
The embrace of hatred, not affection
with the embrace of hatred, not of affection.
And you surprised it before the threat with its death
وَفاجَأتَهُand you surprised him قَبلَbefore الوَعيدِthe threat بِحَتفِهِwith his death
وَفاجَأتَهُ قَبلَ الوَعيدِ بِحَتفِهِ
وَقَدand already عَجَزَتhad proved powerless عَنهُagainst him عَسىperhaps وَكَأَنand as though قَدِalready
وَقَد عَجَزَت عَنهُ عَسى وَكَأَن قَدِ
And you surprised him with his death before threatening him,
While the sword and spear failed against it
when 'perhaps' and 'as though already' had proved powerless against him.
And it feared you until it came to suspect wishes
وَخافَكَand he feared you حَتّىuntil صارَhe became يَرتابُsuspicious بِالمُنىof hopes
وَخافَكَ حَتّى صارَ يَرتابُ بِالمُنى
وَيُتهِمُand distrusts نَجوىthe secret whispers النَفسِof the soul عِندَin التَوَحُّدِsolitude
وَيُتهِمُ نَجوى النَفسِ عِندَ التَوَحُّدِ
And he feared you until he grew suspicious of his hopes
And blame the whispers of the soul in solitude
and distrusted his soul's secret whispers when alone.
Partial English translation: 79 of 80 Arabic lines translated.