صَرَمَت حَبلَكَ البَغومُ وَصَدَّت

صَرَمَت حَبلَكَ البَغومُ وَصَدَّت

عَنكَ في غَيرِ ريبَةٍ أَسماءُ

عَنكَ في غَيرِ ريبَةٍ أَسماءُ

Al-Baghum severed your bond; and the one who turned away

The storm has severed your rope and the rain

from you, without cause for suspicion, was Asma.

Has turned away from you names beyond doubt.

وَالغَواني إِذا رَأَينَكَ كَهلاً

وَالغَواني إِذا رَأَينَكَ كَهلاً

كانَ فيهِنَّ عَن هَواكَ اِلتِواءُ

كانَ فيهِنَّ عَن هَواكَ اِلتِواءُ

And when the lovely women see you middle-aged,

And when maidens see you aged,

they turn away from loving you.

In them is a turning away from your love.

حَبَّذا أَنتِ يا بَغومُ وَأَسما

حَبَّذا أَنتِ يا بَغومُ وَأَسما

ءُ وَعَيصٌ يَكُنُّنا وَخَلاءُ

ءُ وَعَيصٌ يَكُنُّنا وَخَلاءُ

How delightful you are, O Baghum—and Asma,

Excellent are you, O storm and rain,

and a thicket sheltering us, and solitude!

And a lover who brings us together and privacy.

وَلَقَد قُلتُ لَيلَةَ الجَزلِ لَمّا

وَلَقَد قُلتُ لَيلَةَ الجَزلِ لَمّا

أَخضَلَت رَيطَتي عَلَيَّ السَماءُ

أَخضَلَت رَيطَتي عَلَيَّ السَماءُ

And indeed I said, on the night of al-Jazl, when

And indeed I said on the night of downpour

the sky drenched the wrap I wore:

When my tether darkened over me from the sky:

لَيتَ شِعري وَهَل يَرُدَّنَّ لَيتٌ

لَيتَ شِعري وَهَل يَرُدَّنَّ لَيتٌ

هَل لِهَذا عِندَ الرَبابِ جَزاءُ

هَل لِهَذا عِندَ الرَبابِ جَزاءُ

If only I knew—and can an “if only” bring anything back?—

Would that I knew, would a wish return?

is there any recompense for this from al-Rabab?

Is there any reward for this with the maidens?

كُلُّ وَصلٍ أَمسى لَدَيَّ لِأُنثى

كُلُّ وَصلٍ أَمسى لَدَيَّ لِأُنثى

غَيرَها وَصلُها إِلَيها أَداءُ

غَيرَها وَصلُها إِلَيها أَداءُ

Every bond I have formed with a woman

Every union I had turned to another woman,

other than her—union with that woman is tribute paid to her.

Its connection to her, not to the one sought.

كُلُّ أُنثى وَإِن دَنَت لِوِصالٍ

كُلُّ أُنثى وَإِن دَنَت لِوِصالٍ

أَو نَأَت فَهيَ لِلرَبابِ فِداءُ

أَو نَأَت فَهيَ لِلرَبابِ فِداءُ

Every woman, even if she draws near for union,

Every woman, though she comes close to a union

or remains distant, is a ransom for al-Rabab.

Or attains it, is ransom for the maidens.

فَعِدي نائِلاً وَإِن لَم تُنيلي

فَعِدي نائِلاً وَإِن لَم تُنيلي

إِنَّهُ يَنفَعُ المُحِبَّ الرَجاءُ

إِنَّهُ يَنفَعُ المُحِبَّ الرَجاءُ

So promise me a favor, even if you do not grant it;

So return a winner even if you don't attain,

indeed, hope benefits the lover.

For hope benefits the lover.