O Black-Eyed One
- Excerpts from the poem “O Black-Eyed One” by Elias Abu Madi:
Would that the creator of the black eyes
Also fashioned hearts that are steadfast as steel.
If it weren’t for their enchanting glances,
No heart would desire to be prey to their allure.
Shield your heart from the arrows of their looks,
Or perish willingly, a victim of love’s fate.
If you gaze upon beauty without yearning,
You would be but a rough and dull-hearted man.
And if you seek ecstasy amidst your passion,
You would find it, lost but right at hand.
Pity my heart, for it resides at my side,
And I fear it is far from the place it longs for.
I See You Resistant to Tears
- Excerpts from the poem “I See You Resistant to Tears” by Abu Firas al-Hamdani:
I see you steadfast against tears; your trait is patience.
Is there no prohibition or command for love upon you?
Indeed, I am longing, and my heart is aflame,
But a heart like mine keeps its secrets untold.
When the night envelops me, I stretch out my hand for love,
And I humbly surrender these tears that pride has birthed.
Almost igniting a fire within my chest,
When desire and thought stir it into flame.
My solace lies in longing, yet death stands in the way;
If I die thirsting, let the rain never fall.
We are people who do not accept mediocrity;
Our hearts are set above all others or find us buried.
We devalue our souls in pursuit of lofty aspirations,
For those who seek beauty will find no high price to pay.
For Everything That Completes, There Is a Decline
- Excerpts from the poem “For Everything That Completes, There Is a Decline” by Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi:
For everything, once completed, must decline,
So let no one be deceived by the sweetness of life.
The days are as the states you observe;
What brought joy in one era can bring sorrow in another.
This dwelling does not leave anyone behind,
Nor does it remain consistent in any circumstance.
Time inevitably tears apart everything that is meant to endure,
If the superior rises, concealed amongst the wounded.
O you who are heedless, learn from the lessons of time;
If you tend to be in slumber, time remains ever vigilant.
Souls’ Yearnings Are Hidden Secrets
- Excerpts from the poem “Souls’ Yearnings Are Hidden Secrets” by Al-Mutanabbi:
And grief consumes the stout of heart, rendering them frail,
While he grows gray from sorrow, aging far too young.
The wise suffer amid blessings through their reason,
While the ignorant revel in comfort amidst their sorrow.
Time’s Hardships Have Overwhelmed Me
- Excerpts from the poem “Time’s Hardships Have Overwhelmed Me” by Antarah ibn Shaddad:
My people will remember me when steeds approach,
Missing the moon on those dark nights.
They criticize my color in ignorance,
Yet without the night’s blackness, dawn would never rise.
And if my hue is dark, my attributes are pure,
White as the rain that falls from my hands.
I have etched my name in the memories of the world,
And now no Zayd nor Amr can be spoken of again.
My Heart Is a Stranger In My Chest
- Excerpts from the poem “My Heart Is a Stranger In My Chest” by Qays ibn al-Mulawwah:
My heart is a stranger within my chest,
Calling out to its beloved, yet none responds.
It is surrounded by distress, day after day,
Fighting against longing and lamentation.
Misfortune has beset my heart with burdens,
For since I discovered its afflictions, it has known no peace.
If hearts are akin to my heart,
Then let them not be, for they would be better off without such trials.
Innocence Sees Only Good
- Excerpts from the poem “Innocence Sees Only Good” by Imam Al-Shafi’i:
Innocence only perceives the good in all flaws,
Yet the eye of discontent reveals only faults.
I do not fear those who do not fear me,
And I do not perceive in others what they do not see in me.
If you draw near, you draw closer to my affection,
But if you drift away, I find myself distant from you.
We are both self-sufficient; each can thrive without the other,
And when we pass on, we will only remember fondly.
When One Does Not Cherish You, Let Them Be
- Excerpts from the poem “When One Does Not Cherish You, Let Them Be” by Imam Al-Shafi’i:
If a person only cares for you with pretense,
Then let them go; do not grieve over their indifference.
Amongst people, there are substitutes, and in letting go brings ease,
For the heart bears patience for a beloved, even when distant.
Not everyone you love has a heart that beats for you,
Nor is every friend truly faithful to you.
If the essence of loyalty is not natural,
There is no worth in a relationship born out of pretense.
Nor is there value in a friend that betrays his companion,
Only to meet him later with coldness.
And disposes of the life that once was sacred;
And reveales secrets that were previously concealed.
Peace be upon the world, if in it,
There exists no honest friend, true to their words and fair.