تَنَبَّهْawaken فَدَاعِيfor the caller of الطَيْرِthe birds فيin أيْكِهِits thicket يَشْدُوsings
تَنَبَّهْ فَدَاعِي الطَيْرِ في أيْكِهِ يَشْدُو
وَدُهْمُand the black steeds of الدُّجَىthe darkness تَكْبُوstumble وَشُهْبُand the gray steeds of الضِيَاthe light تَعْدُوrace
وَدُهْمُ الدُّجَى تَكْبُو وَشُهْبُ الضِيَا تَعْدُو
The caller of the birds awoke, warbling in his grove,
Awaken, for the birds' caller sings in its thicket.
while night’s black steeds stumbled and daylight’s pale steeds raced onward.
And the black steeds of darkness stumble, while the gray steeds of light race.
وَهَبَّand blew نَسِيمٌa breeze بَارِدٌcold أضْرَمَkindled الحَشَاthe breast
وَهَبَّ نَسِيمٌ بَارِدٌ أضْرَمَ الحَشَا
فَبَاطِنُهُso its inside حَرٌّheat وَظَاهِرُهُand its outside بَرْدُcold
فَبَاطِنُهُ حَرٌّ وَظَاهِرُهُ بَرْدُ
A cool breeze blew and kindled the innermost heart—
And a cold breeze arose, setting the breast aflame,
inwardly fire, outwardly cold.
so its inward part is heat, its outward part cold.
وَأوْمَضَand flashed بَرْقٌlightning فَوْقَabove أكْتَافِthe shoulders of مُزْنَةٍa rain cloud
وَأوْمَضَ بَرْقٌ فَوْقَ أكْتَافِ مُزْنَةٍ
فَخِلْتُso I imagined وَلِيداًa newborn قَدْalready تَكَنَّفَهُenfolded him مَهْدa cradle
فَخِلْتُ وَلِيداً قَدْ تَكَنَّفَهُ مَهْد
Lightning flashed above the shoulders of a rain cloud,
And lightning flashed above the shoulders of a rain cloud,
and I imagined an infant enfolded by a cradle.
so I thought it a newborn enfolded in a cradle.
وَحَجَّبَand veiled وَجْهَthe face of الشَّمْسِthe sun سَيْرُthe passage of غَمَامَةٍa cloud
وَحَجَّبَ وَجْهَ الشَّمْسِ سَيْرُ غَمَامَةٍ
كَمَاas حَجَّبَveiled النَّارَthe fire المُؤَجَّجَةَblazing النَّدُّincense
كَمَا حَجَّبَ النَّارَ المُؤَجَّجَةَ النَّدُّ
A passing cloud veiled the sun’s face,
And the passage of a cloud veiled the sun's face,
as aloe wood conceals a fiercely blazing fire.
as incense veils the blazing fire.
فَشَمِّرْso roll up لِنَيْلِto attain الوَصْلِunion أكْمَامَthe sleeves of جَاهِدٍa striver
فَشَمِّرْ لِنَيْلِ الوَصْلِ أكْمَامَ جَاهِدٍ
وَأطْوِand fold up بِأيْدِيwith the forelegs of الْعِيسِthe pale camels مَاwhat نَشَرَspread out البُعْدُdistance
وَأطْوِ بِأيْدِي الْعِيسِ مَا نَشَرَ البُعْدُ
So I rolled up the sleeves of one striving to attain union,
So roll up a striver's sleeves to attain union,
and with the camels’ forelegs I fold the distance separation has spread.
and fold up with the pale camels' forelegs what distance has spread out.
وَخُضْand wade through أبْحُرَthe seas of البَيْداَthe desert بِبِيضِon white رَكَائِبٍriding camels
وَخُضْ أبْحُرَ البَيْداَ بِبِيضِ رَكَائِبٍ
تَمُرُّthey pass فَلاَso do not تَبْدُوappear لِطَرْفِكَto your eye إذْas تَعْدُوthey race
تَمُرُّ فَلاَ تَبْدُو لِطَرْفِكَ إذْ تَعْدُو
Plunge through the desert’s seas upon pale mounts
And wade the desert's seas on white riding camels,
that pass so swiftly they scarcely appear to your eye as they run.
which pass unseen by your eye as they race.
وَخُطَّand inscribe بِأقْلاَمِwith the pens of السُّرَىnight travel صَفْحَةَthe page of الثَّرَىthe earth
وَخُطَّ بِأقْلاَمِ السُّرَى صَفْحَةَ الثَّرَى
لِتَشْهَدَso you may behold حَرْفًاa letter شَأنُهُits nature اللِّينُsoftness وَالْمَدُّand lengthening
لِتَشْهَدَ حَرْفًا شَأنُهُ اللِّينُ وَالْمَدُّ
With the pens of night travel, inscribe the page of earth,
And inscribe the earth's page with the pens of night travel,
that you may behold a script distinguished by suppleness and reach.
to behold a letter whose nature is softness and lengthening.
لَهَاfor them مِنْfrom سُرَاهَاtheir night travel فِيin الفَيَافِيthe wastes طَوَائِرٌbirds
لَهَا مِنْ سُرَاهَا فِي الفَيَافِي طَوَائِرٌ
تَرُوحُthey come at dusk عَلَيْنَاto us بِالْغَرَامِwith passion كَمَاas تَغْدُوthey come at dawn
تَرُوحُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْغَرَامِ كَمَا تَغْدُو
Their night journey through the wastes brings them great boons:
From their night journeys through the wastes come birds,
they return to us at evening bearing passion, just as at dawn they set forth.
bringing us passion at dusk as they do at dawn.
فَبِاللَّهِso, by God يَاO حَادِيcamel-driver ألِنْbe gentle فِيwith زِمَامِهَاtheir reins
فَبِاللَّهِ يَا حَادِي ألِنْ فِي زِمَامِهَا
فَقَدْfor indeed سَاقَهَاdrove them شَوْقٌlonging بِأكْبَادِهَاwithin their livers يَحْدُوsings to urge onward
فَقَدْ سَاقَهَا شَوْقٌ بِأكْبَادِهَا يَحْدُو
By God, camel driver, be gentle with their reins,
So, for God's sake, camel-driver, be gentle with their reins,
for longing has driven them, chanting within their hearts.
for longing has driven them, chanting within their livers.
وَدَعْهَاand let them تَجِدُّpress on with السَّيْرَthe journey أنَّىwherever تَوَجَّهَتْthey turn
وَدَعْهَا تَجِدُّ السَّيْرَ أنَّى تَوَجَّهَتْ
فَمِنْfor among دَأبِهَاtheir habits الإرْقَالُswift trotting وَالنَّضُّand rushing والوَخْدُand brisk striding
فَمِنْ دَأبِهَا الإرْقَالُ وَالنَّضُّ والوَخْدُ
Let them press earnestly onward wherever the road turns,
And let them press on with their journey, wherever they turn,
for their accustomed paces are the swift trot, the vigorous run, and the rapid amble.
for swift trotting, rushing, and brisk striding are their habit.
وَإنْand if جِنْتَyou reach سَلْعًاSalʿ قِفْstop وَسَلْand ask عَنْabout أُهَيْلِهِits dear folk
وَإنْ جِنْتَ سَلْعًا قِفْ وَسَلْ عَنْ أُهَيْلِهِ
أبِالْغَوْرِis it in al-Ghawr? حَلُّواthey settled أمْor مَحَلُّهُمُtheir abode نَجْدُNajd
أبِالْغَوْرِ حَلُّوا أمْ مَحَلُّهُمُ نَجْدُ
And if night overtakes them at Mount Salʿ, halt and ask its dear folk:
And if you reach Salʿ, stop and ask about its dear folk:
Have they encamped in the Ghawr lowland, or is their dwelling in Najd?
Have they settled in al-Ghawr, or is Najd their abode?
وَفِيand in أيّwhich حَيٍّencampment قَدْalready أقَامُواthey settled فَإنَّنِيfor indeed I
وَفِي أيّ حَيٍّ قَدْ أقَامُوا فَإنَّنِي
أرَاهُمْI see them بِقَلْبِيin my heart سَاكِنِينَdwelling وَإنْeven if صَدُّواthey turn away
أرَاهُمْ بِقَلْبِي سَاكِنِينَ وَإنْ صَدُّوا
In which tribal quarter have they settled? For I
And in which encampment have they settled? For I
see them dwelling within my heart, even when they turn away.
see them dwelling in my heart, even if they turn away.
فَإنْso if شَهِدتْbehold عَيْنَاكَyour two eyes فيin الرَّوْضِthe garden مُدْهِشاًa wondrous one
فَإنْ شَهِدتْ عَيْنَاكَ في الرَّوْضِ مُدْهِشاً
فَذَاكَthen that هُوَhe المَحْبُوبthe beloved والجوْهرُand the jewel الفَرْدُpeerless
فَذَاكَ هُوَ المَحْبُوب والجوْهرُ الفَرْدُ
If your eyes behold something wondrous in the garden,
So if your eyes behold a wondrous one in the garden,
that is the Beloved, the unique and indivisible Essence.
that is the beloved, the peerless jewel.
وَإنْand if سَمِعَتْhear أذْنَاكَyour two ears فيin الرَّوْضِthe garden مُنْشِداًa singer
وَإنْ سَمِعَتْ أذْنَاكَ في الرَّوْضِ مُنْشِداً
فَذَلِكَthen that قُمْرِيٌّa turtledove بِأوْصَافِهِof his qualities يَشْدُوsings
فَذَلِكَ قُمْرِيٌّ بِأوْصَافِهِ يَشْدُو
And if your ears hear a singer in the garden,
And if your ears hear a singer in the garden,
that is my turtledove, singing of His attributes.
that is a turtledove singing of his qualities.
وَإنْand if قَالَhe says مَنْwho فيin الحَيّthe encampment قُلْsay مَيْتُكَyour dead one الذِيwho
وَإنْ قَالَ مَنْ في الحَيّ قُلْ مَيْتُكَ الذِي
بَرَاهwasted him away الجَوَىheartache وَالسُّقْمُand sickness وَالشَّوْقُand longing وَالْوَجْدُand passion
بَرَاه الجَوَى وَالسُّقْمُ وَالشَّوْقُ وَالْوَجْدُ
And if someone in the quarter asks, “Tell me: who is your dying man, whom
And if he asks, "Who is in the camp?" say, "Your dead one, whom
consuming passion, sickness, longing, and ecstasy have worn away?”
heartache, sickness, longing, and passion have wasted away,
وَحاوَلَand he tried يَرْنُوto gaze كَيْso that يَرِقَّhe might soften لِعَبْدِهِtoward his slave
وَحاوَلَ يَرْنُو كَيْ يَرِقَّ لِعَبْدِهِ
فَقَدْfor perhaps يُنْعِمُbestows favor المَوْلَىthe master إذَاwhen سَألَasks العَبْدُthe slave
فَقَدْ يُنْعِمُ المَوْلَى إذَا سَألَ العَبْدُ
then try to catch His gaze, that He may show tenderness to His servant—
and who sought to gaze, that his master might pity his slave;
for the Master may indeed bestow grace when the servant asks.
for a master may grant favor when the slave asks."
وَسَلْهand ask him عَنِabout العَهْدِthe covenant الذِيthat كَانَwas بَيْنَنَاbetween us
وَسَلْه عَنِ العَهْدِ الذِي كَانَ بَيْنَنَا
أبَاقٍdoes it remain? عَلَىas مَاwhat كَانَit was أمْor نُقِضwas broken العَهْدُthe covenant
أبَاقٍ عَلَى مَا كَانَ أمْ نُقِض العَهْدُ
Ask Him about the covenant that stood between us:
And ask him about the covenant that was between us:
does it remain as it was, or has He broken the covenant?
does it remain as it was, or has the covenant been broken?
وَعَرِّفْهُand tell him أنِّيthat I لَمْhave not أحُلْturned aside عَنْfrom وِدَادِهِlove for him
وَعَرِّفْهُ أنِّي لَمْ أحُلْ عَنْ وِدَادِهِ
وَلَوْeven if ضَمَّenfolded جِسْمِيmy body فِيin غَيَاهِبِهِits dark depths اللَّحْدُthe grave
وَلَوْ ضَمَّ جِسْمِي فِي غَيَاهِبِهِ اللَّحْدُ
Tell Him that I have never turned away from loving Him,
And tell him I have not turned from loving him,
even though the grave should enfold my body in its depths;
even were the grave to enfold my body in its dark depths;
وَأنَّand that لَهِيبَthe flame of الشَّوْقِlonging فِيin مَكْمَنِthe hidden recess of الحَشَاthe breast
وَأنَّ لَهِيبَ الشَّوْقِ فِي مَكْمَنِ الحَشَا
وَأنَّand that سَحَابَthe cloud of الدَّمْعِtears مَوْقِعُهُits place of falling الخَدُّthe cheek
وَأنَّ سَحَابَ الدَّمْعِ مَوْقِعُهُ الخَدُّ
that I am the flame of longing in the heart’s hidden chamber,
and that longing's flame lies in the breast's hidden recess,
and a cloud of tears whose place of falling is the cheek;
and that the cloud of tears falls upon the cheek;
وَأنِّيand that I إذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle اللَّيْلُthe night أرْخَىlet down سُدولَهُits curtains
وَأنِّي إذَا مَا اللَّيْلُ أرْخَى سُدولَهُ
أذُودُI drive away الكَرَىsleep عَنْfrom مَوْرِدٍa watering place حَلَّهُsettled in it السُّهْدُsleeplessness
أذُودُ الكَرَى عَنْ مَوْرِدٍ حَلَّهُ السُّهْدُ
and that whenever night lets down its curtains,
and that, when night lets down its curtains,
I drive sleep from a watering place where sleeplessness has settled.
I drive sleep from a watering place where sleeplessness has settled,
وَأذْكُرَand I recall ذَيَّاكَthat الزَّمَانَtime الذِيwhich مَضَىpassed
وَأذْكُرَ ذَيَّاكَ الزَّمَانَ الذِي مَضَى
وَنَحْنُwhile we مِنَof الأشْوَاقِlongings قَدْalready ضَمَّنَاenfolded us بُرْدُa mantle
وَنَحْنُ مِنَ الأشْوَاقِ قَدْ ضَمَّنَا بُرْدُ
I remember that bygone time
and recall that time which has passed,
when a cloak woven of longings had wrapped us round—
when a mantle of longing enfolded us,
ضَجِيعَيْنِtwo bedfellows لَمْdid not نَبْرَحْwe cease to be لِفَرْطِbecause of the intensity of اتِّحَادِنَاour union
ضَجِيعَيْنِ لَمْ نَبْرَحْ لِفَرْطِ اتِّحَادِنَا
كَحَرْفَيْنِlike two letters لِلإدْغَامِfor assimilation ضَمَّهُمَاjoined them both الشَّدُّdoubling
كَحَرْفَيْنِ لِلإدْغَامِ ضَمَّهُمَا الشَّدُّ
two bedfellows who never parted, so complete was our union,
two bedfellows, so complete our oneness that we remained
like two letters joined in assimilation and fused by the shadda.
like two letters joined in assimilation by doubling.
فَيَالَيْتso, oh, if only شِعّرِيmy knowledge هَلْis there? إلَىto الوَصْلِunion عَوْدَةٌa return
فَيَالَيْت شِعّرِي هَلْ إلَى الوَصْلِ عَوْدَةٌ
وَهَيْهَاتَbut far beyond reach! مَاwhat قَدْalready فَاتَhas passed لَيْسَthere is not لَهfor it رَدُّa return
وَهَيْهَاتَ مَا قَدْ فَاتَ لَيْسَ لَه رَدُّ
Ah, would that I knew: can union ever return?
Oh, would that I knew: is there a return to union?
But alas—what has passed can never be brought back.
But far beyond reach! What has passed has no return.
وَمَنْand who لِيfor me بِأوْقَاتٍwith times تَقَضَّتْpassed away خَوَالِيًاbygone
وَمَنْ لِي بِأوْقَاتٍ تَقَضَّتْ خَوَالِيًا
بِدُرّwith pearls of اتِّصَالٍunion مِثْلَمَاjust as نُظِمَwas strung العِقْدُthe necklace
بِدُرّ اتِّصَالٍ مِثْلَمَا نُظِمَ العِقْدُ
Who can restore to me those vanished times,
And who can restore to me those hours now long past,
with pearls of union strung as a necklace is strung—
with pearls of union, strung like a necklace?
لَيَالِيَnights جَرَّtrailed الأنْسُintimacy فِيهَاin them رِدَاءَهُits robe
لَيَالِيَ جَرَّ الأنْسُ فِيهَا رِدَاءَهُ
وَأطْلَعَand raised بَدْرَthe full moon التَّمّfullness فِيin أفْقِهِits horizon السَّعْدُgood fortune
وَأطْلَعَ بَدْرَ التَّمّ فِي أفْقِهِ السَّعْدُ
nights when intimacy trailed its robe,
Nights in which intimacy trailed its robe,
and felicity raised perfection’s full moon upon its horizon,
and good fortune raised the full moon upon its horizon;
عَلَىat حِينِa time when وَقْدُthe fire of الحُبّlove حَلَّdwelt بِمُهْجَتِيin my heart
عَلَى حِينِ وَقْدُ الحُبّ حَلَّ بِمُهْجَتِي
وَقَدْand already رَقَّsoftened لِلأشْوَاقِto longings فِيwithin طَيِّهَاits folds بَرْدُcoldness
وَقَدْ رَقَّ لِلأشْوَاقِ فِي طَيِّهَا بَرْدُ
at a time when love had settled in my soul,
at a time when love's fire took up dwelling in my heart,
and the cold within its folds had softened toward longing;
and the chill in its folds had softened before longing;
وَحَيْثُand where الحِمَىthe protected precinct رَوْضٌa garden وَسْكَّانُهُand its dwellers ظِبًاgazelles
وَحَيْثُ الحِمَى رَوْضٌ وَسْكَّانُهُ ظِبًا
وَحَصْبَاؤُهُand its pebbles دُرٌّpearls وَبَهْمَاؤُهُand its trackless waste وَرْدُroses
وَحَصْبَاؤُهُ دُرٌّ وَبَهْمَاؤُهُ وَرْدُ
where the protected haunt was a meadow and its dwellers gazelles,
and where the precinct was a garden, its dwellers gazelles,
its pebbles pearls and its barren waste roses;
and its pebbles pearls, its trackless waste roses;
وَحَيْثُand where تَعَاطَيْنَاwe exchanged حَدِيثًاconversation كَأنَّهُas though it were
وَحَيْثُ تَعَاطَيْنَا حَدِيثًا كَأنَّهُ
شَرَابٌa draught وَسَلْسَالٌand limpid water يَشُوبُهُمَاmingles with them both شَهْدٌhoney
شَرَابٌ وَسَلْسَالٌ يَشُوبُهُمَا شَهْدٌ
where we exchanged speech as though it were
and where we exchanged conversation, as though it were
wine and a limpid stream, both mingled with honey;
a draught and limpid water, both mingled with honey;
وَحَيْثُand where قَوَامُthe upright form of الآسِthe myrtle حَدَّدَsharpened أذْنَهُits ear
وَحَيْثُ قَوَامُ الآسِ حَدَّدَ أذْنَهُ
كَمَاas صَدَحَتْsang out وُرْقٌgray doves لَهَاthey have ألْسُنٌtongues لُدُّcontentious
كَمَا صَدَحَتْ وُرْقٌ لَهَا ألْسُنٌ لُدُّ
where the myrtle’s upright form sharpened the ear,
and where the myrtle's upright form pricked up its ear,
as gray doves sang with eloquent tongues;
as gray doves sang with contentious tongues;
وَحَيْثُand where الصَّبَاthe east wind رَقَّتْsoftened حَوَاشِيهِits fringes إذْas غَدَاit came forth
وَحَيْثُ الصَّبَا رَقَّتْ حَوَاشِيهِ إذْ غَدَا
يُرَاوِحُهُfans it in turn الرَّيْحَانُbasil وَالبَانُand moringa وَالرَّنْدُand laurel
يُرَاوِحُهُ الرَّيْحَانُ وَالبَانُ وَالرَّنْدُ
where the zephyr’s skirts grew delicate as it passed,
and where the east wind's fringes softened as it came forth,
while basil, ben-tree, and laurel took turns fanning it—
basil, moringa, and laurel fanning it in turn,
إلَىuntil أنْthat دَعَاcalled بِالْبَيْنِfor parting دَاعِيthe caller of رِكَابِهِhis caravan
إلَى أنْ دَعَا بِالْبَيْنِ دَاعِي رِكَابِهِ
وَتَبًّاand ruin! لِدَاعِيto the caller of البَيْنِparting أيْنَwhere غَداَhe went يَحْدُوsings to urge onward
وَتَبًّا لِدَاعِي البَيْنِ أيْنَ غَداَ يَحْدُو
until the caller of his caravan proclaimed departure,
until his caravan's caller called for parting.
and weariness appeared upon separation’s caller as he went chanting.
And ruin to the caller of parting—where has he gone, singing them on?
وَقَامَتْand arose قِيَامَاتُdoomsday tumults الحَمَائِمِthe doves إذْwhen رَأتْthey saw
وَقَامَتْ قِيَامَاتُ الحَمَائِمِ إذْ رَأتْ
لَوَاعِجَنَاour burning pangs تَخْفَىlie hidden وَأشْوَاقَنَاand our longings تَبْدُوappear
لَوَاعِجَنَا تَخْفَى وَأشْوَاقَنَا تَبْدُو
The doves raised doomsday uproars when they saw
And the doves raised doomsday tumults when they saw
our burning pangs concealed and our longings laid bare.
our burning pangs concealed, our longings showing.
هُنَالِكَthere أظْهَرْتُI revealed الشُّجُونَsorrows وَلَمْand not أكُنْI was
هُنَالِكَ أظْهَرْتُ الشُّجُونَ وَلَمْ أكُنْ
لأجْحَدَto deny إذْsince لاَnot يَنْفَعُbenefits العَاشِقَthe lover الجَحْدُdenial
لأجْحَدَ إذْ لاَ يَنْفَعُ العَاشِقَ الجَحْدُ
There I disclosed my sorrows; I was not one
There I revealed my sorrows, and I would not
to deny them, for denial does not profit the lover.
deny them, for denial avails the lover nothing.
وَمَزَّقْتُand I tore أحْشَائِيmy entrails وَأجْرَيْتُand I let flow أدْمُعِيmy tears
وَمَزَّقْتُ أحْشَائِي وَأجْرَيْتُ أدْمُعِي
وَصِرْتُand I came لِحَدٍّto a limit لاَnot يُجَاوِزُهُsurpasses it حَدُّa limit
وَصِرْتُ لِحَدٍّ لاَ يُجَاوِزُهُ حَدُّ
I tore open my innards and set my tears flowing,
And I tore my entrails and let my tears flow,
and became bewildered beyond every conceivable bound.
and reached a limit that no limit can surpass.
