بين همس الشفاه والأحداق

والليالي تفيض بالعشاق

Between the whispers of lips and eyes,

and nights overflowing with lovers,

والكئوس النشوانة الراح تندى

بدم القلب والشباب المراق

the cups, drunk with wine, are bedewed

with the spilled blood of the heart and youth.

والضحايا لهم مع الدهر حرب

وخطاهم ماصورت لسباق

And the victims are at war with time,

and their steps were not fashioned for a race.

يستضيئون في الظلام بجمر

سرمدي الدخان والاحتراق

They light their way in darkness with embers

whose smoke and burning are everlasting,

شب في أكبد محاها على الأي

ام دمع كالهاتن الغيداق

that flared in hearts which, over the days,

tears like a copious downpour have erased.

بين ركب المنون عشت وما زل

ت ترينَ السموم كالترياق

Amid death’s caravan you have lived, and still

you regard poisons as an antidote.

أي واد ترجين لو عشت فيه

غير واديك يا بنة الأسواق

What valley would you hope for, were you to dwell there,

other than your own valley, O daughter of the markets?

في طوايا النسيان والعم والذل

وبين الحديث والإطراق

In the folds of oblivion, [sorrow?], and humiliation,

and between conversation and downcast silence,

كل هذي الدنى أمامك قبر

سوف يطويك رغم طول الفراق

all these worlds before you are a grave

that will enfold you, however long the separation.

لا تلومي القضاء فهو كعيني

ك إذا ما تراشقا خفاق

Do not blame fate, for—like your two eyes

when they dart glances at each other—it flutters.

فدعى الماضيا لمغيب في الده

ر وطيرى حلما على الآفاق

So leave the past, hidden away in time,

and fly, a dream, over the horizons.

ربما شمت لمحة من صفاء

هو في الدهر كالسنا البراق

Perhaps you will catch a glimpse of serenity,

which, amid time, is like a dazzling radiance.