The Eyes of the Maidens Behind the Veils
- The famed poet Antara Ibn Shaddad praised his beloved Abla, stating:
The eyes of the maidens peek through the veils,
So sharper than the fragile, cutting whites.
When revealed, even the brave warrior falters,
As his eyes weep from the flood of tears.
May God grant my uncle a cup of mercy,
As his hands became paralyzed after severing fingers.
Just as one like me is led into traps of despair,
With hopes dangling by the tail of desires.
Indeed, Abla bade me farewell on that day,
A farewell with certainty that I would not return.
And she lamented, saying, “How will you fare after us,
When you are lost in the vast wilderness?”
By your truth, I cannot seek solace in this life,
Nor have my longings diverted me from your love.
So be assured of my sincere affection,
And live blissfully without despairing.
I replied, “O Abla, I am but a traveler,
Even if obstacles rise against me.”
We were created for this love long before time,
So no argument shall penetrate my hearing.
O symbol of happiness, am I returning?
As I look upon your region that promises joy.
My eyes behold the verdant hills and valleys,
And the inhabitants amidst those grazing pastures.
We shall thrive on the land of the drinkers and the valleys,
And we will graze in the embrace of those pastures.
O breezes of the incense tree, for God’s sake, inform,
Abla of my departure from which places.
And O storm, convey to her in the morning my greetings,
And relay my homage to my abode and dreams.
O songbirds, if I should die, then wail for me,
On my grave among the birds in flight.
And lament for one who died unjustly without gaining,
Anything but grief from his loved ones and tragedies.
And O horses, weep for the knight who would confront,
The fatal outcomes hidden in the dust of struggles.
For he has become distant in love and humility,
Chained by the heavy shackles of loyalties.
Though I shall not weep if my fate arrives,
Yet I yearn, causing my tears to flow.
This is not pride; it reflects my despair and suffering,
For my name has spread across every gathering.
By love’s right, do not blame me, and rather cease,
For blame bears no usefulness.
How can I endure patience for one I love,
When the fire of passion has ignited within me?
If Only the Blossoms of Youth Could Return
- And Jamal expressed his feelings for his beloved Buthayna:
If only the blossoms of youth could be renewed,
And the bygone ages could return, O Buthina.
So that we remain as we were, close and connected,
And you would not express a meager refusal.
And I do not forget those things; I cannot forget her words,
Though I am in the depths of longing for Egypt.
And had it not been for the eyes that bear witness,
I would have visited you; forgive me, for you are my ransom.
O my companion, what I feel within is profound,
And my tears, concealed, are a witness by dawn.
Indeed, I can see that feelings are indeed potent,
If distance stretches between us.
When I say, “What afflicts me, O Buthayna, could kill me,”
She asserts, “Love is steady and enduring.”
And when I say, “Retract some of my sanity to live with it,”
She leaves, saying, “That is far from you.”
I am neither turned back nor am I a beggar,
For her love does not perish, it endures.
May the maidens of your household, O Buthinah, know peace,
As long as a beloved companion departs, he gets praised.
And I told her, “Know that between you and me,
There is a divine covenant and agreements.”
And your love has been recent yet cherished,
For love is both fleeting and enduring.
And if the promise of our joining lingers between us,
Even if desires ease it with sweet cups.
I have wasted my life waiting for your promise,
And time has passed since I awaited it anew.
Oh that the tranquility of people’s whims lay between me and her,
To carry to them the jealousy of bitter conversations.
And may they, in every morning and evening,
Experience delayed hardships and shackles.
And it is presumed that ladies, from ignorance, think me,
To desire them when I approach.
I swear my gaze is split among them; I seek equilibrium,
And in my heart, there is an incongruity far apart.
Oh, I wish I could spend a night in the wilderness of Qura,
For then I would be at peace.
Could I descend to a land shielded by gentle breezes,
Where it cradles the blossoms of blooming flowers?
Would I encounter Sa’da amidst the ages once more,
And would I reminisce over the ties of genuine affection?
For scattered connections may unite again after distancing,
And needs may be fulfilled even from afar.
Will I invoke lines that elevate measurefully,
With shrouds that outshine others?
On the back of a steed that seems to rise,
When circumstances ease the treacherous paths.
She captivated me with her eyes, amidst a whirlwind,
And a chest as captivating as silver vapor.
She sashayed like a domesticated deer moving to its goals,
When I would visit her after years gone by.
She unveiled a warmth that led me to a connected heart’s delight,
Yet now she remains bashfully distant.
And yet no lying recommend she approaches uninvited,
To express the embrace of her cherished heart.
For she possesses a resolute quality, alluringly painted,
With an intricate design that envelops the spirit.
And at my behest, the night carries a grandeur unseen,
Ensconced within the folds of woven fabric adorned.
The Mu’allaqat of Imru’ al-Qais
- Among the poems of Imru’ al-Qais about love:
Stop and let us weep over the memory of a beloved and a dwelling,
By the drop-off of Luwah, between Dakhul and Hawmal.
Yet when the greenness prevails, its traces haven’t faded,
Though the tapestry of its beauty remains in mind.
You see the droppings of the camels in its courtyards,
And the land is plentiful as if adorned with pepper grains.
It seems that on the day of departure,
Near the summits of the tribe, the thorns of bitter herbs.
My companions halt beside me, mounting their steeds,
They say, “Do not perish amidst this grief.”
And indeed, my remedy is a flood of tears,
Is there a path marked in sorrow to find solace?
Like your mother of Huwairith before her,
And her neighbor, Umm al-Rabab, who lived there.
When both rise, a breeze of musk comes from them,
As if the morning breeze brought with it the incense of cloves.
At times, tears flow from my eyes abundantly,
Upon my neck until my tears wet my clothes.
Ohh that I could experience just one day,
Whether at the dwelling of Juljul.
And on the day I offered my steed to the maidens,
There remains wonder in its endurance.
Such beauty, they say, is worth all of this.
And on the day I entered the chamber of ‘Unaizah,
She exclaimed, “O afflicted one, you are defiling my heart.”
She spoke even as the mast twisted as we embraced,
“You have sacrificed my camel, O Imru’ al-Qais!”
I replied, “Ease your reins and let them loosen,”
“Do not distance me from your garden of pleasures.”
For a maiden like you turned to me, whether pregnant or nursing,
And I steered her far from the charms of sorcery.
When she was weeping, she separated her path accordingly,
With grace, not shifting from its origin.
And one day, on the peak of the hill, she pondered,
But swore that she will not dissolve the bond.
O Fatima! Be gentle in this tender approach,
And if you’ve indeed resolved to break my heart, be gracious.
Have you beguiled me to such a sweet death?
For whatever it is that you command, my heart will comply.
And if my behavior has displeased you,
Then leave me as I am; I have no alternative.
And your tearful eyes were meant to pierce me,
With your arrows within the depths of a slaughtered heart.
And a bride concealed, never was exposed,
For I found joy in our playful exchanges without haste.
I transcended all guards to approach her,
Marking those who bore me to my fate.
If the Pleiades above the heavens arise,
They will be nudged amidst splendid veils.
And I arrived after she donned her garments,
Draped with elegance, up to the lofty embrace.
She said, “I swear by God, you have no option,”
And there are no signs of your romantic mystique emerging.
I left with her as she pulled along,
Trailing the edges of her graceful cloak.
When we crossed through the village and reached that vale,
Within the depth of the realm of interspace.
I felt her bosom sway freely,
Its grace wrapped in veils, oppressed.
With the purest beauty, slender, unharmed,
Her form resembles a companion of the twining palm.
With cascading hair ascending to the peaks,
That sways in tandem with an exquisite current.
And a grace, as captivating as a sundry flicker,
That passes unfurling amongst the tendrils of time.
This radiant vision, beautiful yet potent,
Turns away the night in shimmering shadows.
I have long awaited your embrace with wholesome joy,
And my spirit remains enchanted by your presence.
For I am consumed by your breath, precious enchanting,
And I am hopeful that in your dreams, we unite.