ما رأَتْنِي عيناكَ يومَ الفراقِ

ما رأَتْنِي عيناكَ يومَ الفراقِ

أخدع القلبَ باِدّكار التّلاقي

أخدع القلبَ باِدّكار التّلاقي

Your eyes did not see me on the day of parting,

Your eyes did not see me on the day of parting

beguiling my heart with memories of meeting again,

I deceive my heart with memories of meeting

وأُطفّي بالدّمعِ نارَ غرامٍ

وأُطفّي بالدّمعِ نارَ غرامٍ

كان عوناً لها على الإحراقِ

كان عوناً لها على الإحراقِ

and quenching with tears a fire of passion—

And I extinguish with tears the fire of passion

tears that helped that fire burn.

That helped set it ablaze

مائلاً بين نهضةٍ ومَقامٍ

مائلاً بين نهضةٍ ومَقامٍ

حاكماً بين سلوةٍ واِشتياقِ

حاكماً بين سلوةٍ واِشتياقِ

Wavering between rising and remaining,

Swaying between rising and standing still

judging between consolation and longing.

Ruling between comfort and yearning

أُذكِرُ الشّوقَ بالصُّدود ليخفى

أُذكِرُ الشّوقَ بالصُّدود ليخفى

وأُداري اللّحاظَ بالإطراقِ

وأُداري اللّحاظَ بالإطراقِ

I remind my longing of rejection, so it may hide,

I remember longing through sending messages to conceal it

and conceal my glances by lowering my eyes.

And I glance sideways with downcast eyes

كلّ شيءٍ أدنى إليَّ منَ الصّب

كلّ شيءٍ أدنى إليَّ منَ الصّب

رِ وصبرُ المشوق عينُ النّفاقِ

رِ وصبرُ المشوق عينُ النّفاقِ

Everything is nearer to me than patience;

Everything is easier for me than patience

a yearning lover's patience is hypocrisy itself.

And the patience of the longing lover is hypocrisy

يا خليليَّ من ذؤابةِ قَيْسٍ

يا خليليَّ من ذؤابةِ قَيْسٍ

في التّصابي رياضةُ الأخلاقِ

في التّصابي رياضةُ الأخلاقِ

O my two friends, from the elite of Qays,

Oh my friend from the tribe of Qais

in youthful dalliance lies the training of character.

In affection lies the refinement of morals

غَنّيانِي بِذِكرِهم تُطْرِباني

غَنّيانِي بِذِكرِهم تُطْرِباني

واِسقياني دَمعي بكأسٍ دِهاقِ

واِسقياني دَمعي بكأسٍ دِهاقِ

Sing to me of them, and you will delight me;

Sing to me of them to delight me

give me my tears to drink from a brimming cup.

And give me my tears to drink from a worn-out cup

وخُذا النّومَ من جفوني فإنّي

وخُذا النّومَ من جفوني فإنّي

قد خلعتُ الكرى على العُشّاقِ

قد خلعتُ الكرى على العُشّاقِ

And take sleep from my eyelids, for I

And take sleep away from my eyelids for I

have bestowed slumber upon the lovers.

Have cast off well-being for the sake of lovers

واِسأَلا لِي الشّمالَ عن نَشْرِ أَرضٍ

واِسأَلا لِي الشّمالَ عن نَشْرِ أَرضٍ

كنتُ أَحْيي بطيبه أرماقي

كنتُ أَحْيي بطيبه أرماقي

And ask the north wind for me about the scent of a land

And ask the north wind about the spread of a land

with whose fragrance I once revived my last breaths.

I used to revive with its fragrance my eyelids

إنّها إنْ مشتْ بوادي الخُزامى

إنّها إنْ مشتْ بوادي الخُزامى

صَنعتْ فيه صنعةَ السُّرّاقِ

صَنعتْ فيه صنعةَ السُّرّاقِ

For if it passes through the valley of lavender,

If she walked in the valley of Khuzam

it practices the craft of thieves there.

She did there the work of the perfumer

لِي زمانٌ ظامٍ إِلى ماءِ وجهي

لِي زمانٌ ظامٍ إِلى ماءِ وجهي

يَمْتَرِيهِ بكلِّ ما إملاقِ

يَمْتَرِيهِ بكلِّ ما إملاقِ

My age thirsts for the water of my face,

I have a gloomy time ahead to the water of her face

milking it through every form of destitution.

That I cross with all I can muster

يتمنّى بَسْطِي يميني لِيَسْتَمْ

يتمنّى بَسْطِي يميني لِيَسْتَمْ

طر فيها عَزالِيَ الأرزاقِ

طر فيها عَزالِيَ الأرزاقِ

It wishes me to stretch out my right hand, to draw down

It wishes for the extension of my hand so it can

into it the rain-spouts of sustenance.

Wipe in it my scarce livelihood

دون ما رامه جِماحُ أبِيٍّ

دون ما رامه جِماحُ أبِيٍّ

شمّرِيِّ الجنانِ مُرِّ المَذاقِ

شمّرِيِّ الجنانِ مُرِّ المَذاقِ

Barring what it seeks is a proud man's defiance,

Without what the wings of my father aspired to

resolute of heart, bitter to the taste.

A distinguished, quick-witted man of bitter taste

تَتناهى عنه الخطوبُ إذا ما

تَتناهى عنه الخطوبُ إذا ما

عانَقتْ كفّه نحورَ العِتاقِ

عانَقتْ كفّه نحورَ العِتاقِ

Calamities retreat from him whenever

Hardships avoid him when

his palm clasps the necks of noble blades.

His palm embraces the necks of the obedient

قد تمرّستُ باللّيالي فحسبي

قد تمرّستُ باللّيالي فحسبي

ما أرى لِي في ودّها من خَلاقِ

ما أرى لِي في ودّها من خَلاقِ

I have grappled with the nights; I have had my fill:

I have become experienced with nights, so my consolation is

I see no share for myself in their affection.

What I see of her affection for me

لغناها أقوى ذَريعةِ عُسْرٍ

لغناها أقوى ذَريعةِ عُسْرٍ

وبلوغُ المُرادِ بالإخفاقِ

وبلوغُ المُرادِ بالإخفاقِ

Their riches are the surest road to hardship,

Her singing is the strongest means in adversity

and desire is attained through failure.

And achieving the goal through failure

كَم مقامٍ مَلأتُ فيه فمَ الصُّبْ

كَم مقامٍ مَلأتُ فيه فمَ الصُّبْ

حِ بجيشٍ عَرَمْرَمٍ غَيْداقِ

حِ بجيشٍ عَرَمْرَمٍ غَيْداقِ

How many a stand where I filled the mouth of dawn

How many places have I filled my mouth in

with a mighty, teeming army!

With an army, noisy and clamorous

سَتَرَ الجوَّ بالعَجاج فعينُ الش

سَتَرَ الجوَّ بالعَجاج فعينُ الش

شَمسِ مَطْرُوفةٌ عن الإشراقِ

شَمسِ مَطْرُوفةٌ عن الإشراقِ

It veiled the sky in dust, leaving the eye of the

The atmosphere has covered itself with clouds so the eye of

sun blinded, unable to shine.

The sun is veiled from shining

في رجالٍ يسابقون ظُباهمْ

في رجالٍ يسابقون ظُباهمْ

عند وَثباتها إلى الأعناقِ

عند وَثباتها إلى الأعناقِ

Among men who race their sword-edges

With men racing their young camels

as those edges leap toward necks.

When they leap up to the necks

كلُّ غَضٍّ يرى المنايا حياةً

كلُّ غَضٍّ يرى المنايا حياةً

والعوالِي إلى المعالِي مَراقِ

والعوالِي إلى المعالِي مَراقِ

Every tender youth sees death as life,

Every young man sees death as life

and spears as ladders to high honor.

And lofty goals as the means to ascend

أنتَضِيهِمْ على صُروفِ ليالي

أنتَضِيهِمْ على صُروفِ ليالي

يَ فأُغنى عن المواضي الرِّقاقِ

يَ فأُغنى عن المواضي الرِّقاقِ

I unsheathe them against the reversals of my nights,

Inspire them on the nights’ changing courses

and so need no sharp, slender blades.

And make me needless of soft beds

قد سحبتُ القنا بكلّ طريقٍ

قد سحبتُ القنا بكلّ طريقٍ

سَئِم السَّيْرَ فيه صبرُ النّياقِ

سَئِم السَّيْرَ فيه صبرُ النّياقِ

I have trailed spears down every road

I have pulled the reins in every way

where even the patience of she-camels wearied of travel.

The patience of ostriches grew weary of traversing it

أنا تِرْبُ الظَّبا رفيقُ العَوالِي

أنا تِرْبُ الظَّبا رفيقُ العَوالِي

حربُ هذي الطُّلى عدوُّ التَّراقي

حربُ هذي الطُّلى عدوُّ التَّراقي

I am the sword-edges' peer, the spears' companion,

I am the dust of gazelles, friend of the heights

the foe of these throats, the enemy of collarbones.

War on the smooth neck, enemy of harmony

فاِلقياني الرّدى فإنّي رَداهُ

فاِلقياني الرّدى فإنّي رَداهُ

واِزجُرا بِي النُّجومَ في الآفاقِ

واِزجُرا بِي النُّجومَ في الآفاقِ

So bring me face to face with death, for I am its death,

So leave me to ruin for I am its rejection

and with me drive the stars across the horizons.

And drive away the stars in the horizons with me

وَإلى أحمدَ الّذي ظلّ عودُ ال

وَإلى أحمدَ الّذي ظلّ عودُ ال

مَجدِ لمّا اِستهلَّ في إيراقِ

مَجدِ لمّا اِستهلَّ في إيراقِ

And to Ahmad, whose bough of

And to Ahmed who remained a pillar of glory

glory has remained in leaf since his first cry,

When its rising began in irrigation

جذبتنِي وسائلٌ للعُلا في

جذبتنِي وسائلٌ للعُلا في

هِ غَرامي لأَسرها في وَثاقِ

هِ غَرامي لأَسرها في وَثاقِ

ties to lofty honor within him have drawn me—

I have been attracted by means to the heights through

my passion to hold that honor captive in bonds.

My passion to harness them in a bond

لَبِستْ منه حَلْيَها فاِستَهامتْ

لَبِستْ منه حَلْيَها فاِستَهامتْ

بِالتَحَلِّي بهِ عن الأحداقِ

بِالتَحَلِّي بهِ عن الأحداقِ

Honor donned its jewels from him, and wandered

She wore her adornment so became occupied

beyond the reach of eyes, adorned with him.

With beautifying herself beyond eyes

ذاك مُوهِي عِقْدِ الخطابِ إذا ما اِعْ

ذاك مُوهِي عِقْدِ الخطابِ إذا ما اِعْ

تَلَجَ القولُ في لَها المِسْلاقِ

تَلَجَ القولُ في لَها المِسْلاقِ

He undoes the knot of debate whenever

That is the dissimulator of the engagement pact if

speech wrestles in the eloquent speaker's throat.

The words intimated to her the proposal

رابطُ الجَأشِ في جليلِ الرّزايا

رابطُ الجَأشِ في جليلِ الرّزايا

شاردُ الفِكْرِ في المعاني الدِّقاقِ

شاردُ الفِكْرِ في المعاني الدِّقاقِ

Steady-hearted amid great calamities,

The band of resolution in the heavy afflictions

his thought ranges freely through subtle meanings.

The mind wandering in precise meanings

لَستُ أَرضى بِأَنْ أَقول هو البّدْ

لَستُ أَرضى بِأَنْ أَقول هو البّدْ

رُ ومُذْ تَمّ لم تُصَبْ بمحاقِ

رُ ومُذْ تَمّ لم تُصَبْ بمحاقِ

I am not content to say he is the full moon;

I am not content to say he is the full moon and since

and since attaining fullness, you have never waned.

It was completed, no defects touched it

فُتّ بالبِرّ بالمعالي بَنيها

فُتّ بالبِرّ بالمعالي بَنيها

فاِنظرنْ هل ترى لهمْ من لِحاقِ

فاِنظرنْ هل ترى لهمْ من لِحاقِ

In kindness and high honors, you outstripped their sons;

Excel in righteousness, high ambitions with her children

so look: do you see them catching up?

And see if you find any catching up to them

كنتُ أقضي على الورى بخلاف ال

كنتُ أقضي على الورى بخلاف ال

مجدِ حتّى قيّدتَ مِن إطلاقي

مجدِ حتّى قيّدتَ مِن إطلاقي

I used to judge all mankind opposed to

I used to judge the world against the glory

glory, until you qualified my sweeping verdict.

Until you restricted my freedom

كيف لا أجتنِي له ثَمَر المَد

كيف لا أجتنِي له ثَمَر المَد

حِ وتلك الأعراقُ مِن أعراقي

حِ وتلك الأعراقُ مِن أعراقي

How could I not gather for him the fruit of

How can I not pick for it the fruit of praise

praise, when those roots are among my own?

While those palms are from my palms

واقفٌ عنده جوادُ سباقي

واقفٌ عنده جوادُ سباقي

وإلى هذه المعالي سِباقي

وإلى هذه المعالي سِباقي

My racing steed halts at his side,

My thoroughbred steed stops at it

and toward these heights of honor I race.

And to these heights lies my race

لستُ أسخو لكلّ شخصٍ بلحظي

لستُ أسخو لكلّ شخصٍ بلحظي

ولو اِنّ القَتادَ في آماقي

ولو اِنّ القَتادَ في آماقي

I do not lavish my gaze upon everyone,

I am not generous to every person with my gaze

even were thornbushes in the corners of my eyes.

Even if the archer is in my pupil

ولَباعي غالٍ على كلّ جِيدٍ

ولَباعي غالٍ على كلّ جِيدٍ

لَيس إلّا لقدر رمحي عِناقي

لَيس إلّا لقدر رمحي عِناقي

My arm's reach is too precious for every neck;

My camel for sale is expensive for every good soul

my embrace is only for a stature matching my spear.

Except for the worth of my spear's embrace

جاءَك العيدُ ضامناً رِيَّ آما

جاءَك العيدُ ضامناً رِيَّ آما

لك من مَنْهَلٍ له رَقْراقِ

لك من مَنْهَلٍ له رَقْراقِ

The festival has come to you, promising to quench your

The holiday came to you securing the quenching

hopes from its shimmering watering-place.

Of a spring for you with murmuring

فاِلقَه بالمُنى وناشده شعري

فاِلقَه بالمُنى وناشده شعري

تَجدَنه إِليه بالأشواقِ

تَجدَنه إِليه بالأشواقِ

So welcome it with wishes, and recite my verse to it;

Meet it with wishes and recite to it my poetry

you will find my verse full of longing for it.

You will find it inclined to it with passion

وَاِشفِقَنْ عَن ضميره تُلْفِ حبّي

وَاِشفِقَنْ عَن ضميره تُلْفِ حبّي

رافلاً بين خِلْبِهِ والصِّفاقِ

رافلاً بين خِلْبِهِ والصِّفاقِ

And be tender toward its inner heart: you will find my love

And be gentle with its conscience, wearing my love

strutting between its liver-membrane and peritoneum.

Meandering between its bosom and purity

لا اِطمأنَّ الرّدى إِليك ولا زِلْ

لا اِطمأنَّ الرّدى إِليك ولا زِلْ

ت تَلَقَّى جماعةً بفراقِ

ت تَلَقَّى جماعةً بفراقِ

May death never settle upon you, and may you always

Ruin is not reassured by you, nor have

find reunion in exchange for separation.

You ceased encountering a group with separation

وأطاع الزّمان فيك المعالي

وأطاع الزّمان فيك المعالي

فاللّيالي معروفةٌ بالشّقاقِ

فاللّيالي معروفةٌ بالشّقاقِ

And may time obey high honors in your regard,

And time obeyed the heights in you

for the nights are known for discord.

So the nights are known for their discord