صَرَمَت جَديدَ حِبالِها أَسماءُ

صَرَمَت جَديدَ حِبالِها أَسماءُ

وَلَقَد يَكونُ تَواصُلٌ وَإِخاءُ

وَلَقَد يَكونُ تَواصُلٌ وَإِخاءُ

Asmāʾ has severed her fresh cords;

Asma has cast anew the ropes of her tent

though there had indeed been closeness and friendship.

And there may yet be communion and brotherhood

فَتَبَدَّلَت مِن بَعدِنا أَو بُدِّلَت

فَتَبَدَّلَت مِن بَعدِنا أَو بُدِّلَت

وَوَشى وُشاةٌ بَينَنا أَعداءُ

وَوَشى وُشاةٌ بَينَنا أَعداءُ

So she changed after our parting—or was changed—

She changed after we left, or was changed

and enemy tale-bearers spread slander between us.

And mischief-makers set enmity between us

فَصَحَوتُ عَنها بَعدَ حُبٍّ داخِلٍ

فَصَحَوتُ عَنها بَعدَ حُبٍّ داخِلٍ

وَالحُبُّ تُشرِبُهُ فُؤادَكَ داءُ

وَالحُبُّ تُشرِبُهُ فُؤادَكَ داءُ

So I came to my senses about her, after a deep-seated love;

So I broke with her after intimate love

and love you make your heart drink is a disease.

And love which soaks your heart is sickness

وَلِكُلِّ عَهدٍ مُخلَفٍ وَأَمانَةٍ

وَلِكُلِّ عَهدٍ مُخلَفٍ وَأَمانَةٍ

في الناسِ مِن قِبَلِ الإِلَهِ رِعاءُ

في الناسِ مِن قِبَلِ الإِلَهِ رِعاءُ

And for every broken pledge and every trust

And for every bygone epoch and trust

among people, there are guardians from God.

Among the people there are keepers from God

خَودٌ مُنَعَّمَةٌ أَنيقٌ عَيشُها

خَودٌ مُنَعَّمَةٌ أَنيقٌ عَيشُها

فيها لِعَينِكَ مَكلَأٌ وَبَهاءُ

فيها لِعَينِكَ مَكلَأٌ وَبَهاءُ

A young beauty, pampered, her life delightful;

A soft, pampered cheek whose life

in her is a haven for your eye, and splendor.

Gives joy to your eye and radiance

وَكَأَنَّها يَومَ الرَحيلِ وَقَد بَدا

وَكَأَنَّها يَومَ الرَحيلِ وَقَد بَدا

مِنها البَنانُ يَزينُهُ الحِنّاءُ

مِنها البَنانُ يَزينُهُ الحِنّاءُ

And on the day of departure she seemed—when there appeared

As though on the day of departure, now

her fingertips, adorned with henna—

Her fingers showed hennaed by the dye

بَردِيَّةٌ في الغيلِ يَغذو أَصلَها

بَردِيَّةٌ في الغيلِ يَغذو أَصلَها

ظِلٌّ إِذا تَلعَ النَهارُ وَماءُ

ظِلٌّ إِذا تَلعَ النَهارُ وَماءُ

like a papyrus stalk in the thicket, its root nourished

A cool robe in the night, its roots

by shade when the day rises high, and by water;

Fed by shade when the day departs and water

أَو بَيضَةُ الأُدحِيِّ باتَ شِعارَها

أَو بَيضَةُ الأُدحِيِّ باتَ شِعارَها

كَنَفا النَعامَةِ جُؤجُؤٌ وَعِفاءُ

كَنَفا النَعامَةِ جُؤجُؤٌ وَعِفاءُ

or an egg in the nesting hollow, whose close covering through the night was

Or the egg of the sandgrouse whose insignia

the ostrich’s two sides—its breast and thick plumage.

Are the ostrich plumes, all fluff and feathers