Poem: Do You Think Our Meeting Will Be Fortunate?
By Al-Mu’tamid Ibn Abbad:
Do you think the meeting we desire will come about,
We will wake filled with joy and drink to our hearts’ content.
How long will the nights delay me, close to one
My heart longs for, eager and yearning?
A king, a radiant figure, whom I fear you may share
With anyone else, since my glances are impoverished.
I would sacrifice for the successful commander, for indeed,
He is destined for honor and grace.
Time seems to boast of him as if he were
An adornment upon the face of time, a great beauty.
A ruler whose kind praises linger in our lips,
Our words remain in constant adoration of him.
Is it not enough that leadership has become adorned
By his light, for he is the crown and she the focal point?
Poem: On the Day of Meeting, She Has a Protector
By Baha’ al-Din Zuhair:
She has a protector on the day of our meeting,
Why then does she withhold what does not harm her?
I kept her promise, that the ill would not come back,
And her journey promised that the captive would not be freed.
I watched the stars at night for her sake,
Because around her neck are beads strung from them.
It has been said that the apparition visits in sleep,
But where is the vision that my weary eyes could borrow?
And here I am, like a specter in my amorousness,
Hoping that when she falls asleep, I may visit her.
I envy the fragrant branch swayed by the breezes,
For it is said that the branch has kinship to her.
And I fear that if she does not harbor thoughts of me,
The palaces of men may fall short in reaching her.
From the maidens, she has not ignited the fire of night,
But indeed, it burns within my heart.
And she has not told the dwellers of the desert her qualities,
Except that her coyness resembles that of a gazelle.
I walk, and no dogs howl at me,
And I tread lightly, no camels groan in that place.
Had Layla found herself amid her homeland’s soil,
Her wealth and fragrance would have blossomed.
The creditor of longing has demanded from me a grave debt,
One so profound that nothing else remains for her.
And indeed, what has remained of my essence was snatched by distance,
A ransom for my messenger on the day he met his protector.
A ruler, when you behold his radiant face,
Tell the nights: their moons now reside in the light of dawn.
If you should ever find the chance for a kiss from his hand,
You will witness oceans of generosity flowing from him.
How many claim nobility, and yet,
The secret of it lies far beyond their reach.
You came, and the cities greeted you as if they were
Whispering joy to you from within.
They welcomed you as you arrived like a fragrant breeze,
All the while, a shimmering brook flowed from within.
It smiled when you arrived, the light illuminating from her,
And its shine radiated the day you came back.
Even your companions, the clouds, welcomed you,
With joy from her, the impending delight.
And a prayer that dwelt in the night, where it might weave,
If ever it mingled with darkness, a glowing light would guide.
You treaded upon lands where no hoof ever made prints,
Except yours, guided by none but you alone.
It directs the hawk of the sky, for it knows her gazes,
And even the birds, if they ventured, would not find their course.
You arrived in a land inhabited by the strange, yet resilient,
It would be filled with its leopards and tigers.
And by this, you overshadowed its darks with your lions,
Preying on the enemies before the twilight raged.
If in it, a friend perished by your protective shield,
He would still have lived among its wilderness and eagles.
This legacy shall echo far and wide among the people,
Through tales of valor that became their pride.
Consequently, he who defies faith stands in fear,
And the disbelievers shrink back from her wrath.
And the Hadrabi ran away, confronted with his fate,
Fearful for what he anticipates will be his end.
He wasted no time in severing the bounds of the desert, constantly glancing,
As if the banners of fear and birds of prey were alarming him.
Then, I returned with my heart’s desire, until it could not be hidden,
For it is the one that does not elude the jealous hearts.
And if ever you evade it, it will end up finding you once again.
But among them are the paths that call to pilgrims’ safe refuge,
And those who follow strong aspirations bring about the enemies’ demise.
Should the dignity of faith ring true, it does not change merely,
But be warned: the path to receive it may be difficult.
He is a companion of insights, who upon a keen glance,
No fear will diminish his steadfast resolve.
Your land has felt secure from the fright of its challengers,
Its depths sealed tight against its enemies.
By dawn, noble praises were sung by her wealthy class,
And now it fills the air, presented by those who seek peace.
For in my lands, the branches of fond hopes began to blossom,
And the world seemed vibrant when the joy reached me.
And nothing has blessed me but the blessings of God,
Though they are great, you are their ambassador.
Whoever begins with kindness and generously gives,
Hope for him lies within the remnants of his act.
And I, though your hands be overflowing with good works,
Am but an ember, a faithful servant to your splendid deeds.
O my lord, you did enroll the cadences of poetry, adorned with smiles,
While the time away from you enchanted me with its veil.
She was adorned by the distance from you,
And this morning, her countenance was veiled in warmth.
To this day, she has not revealed her secrets to anyone but you,
As she looks at the world, eyes sparkling in liquid delight.
When she is spoken of in the neighborhood, it leaves one despairing,
For the word of her beauty has traveled through the nights.
Understand this: take her as you desire, an exquisite piece,
Gifted to her, for she is adorned with pearls and finest silks.
It appears that whenever I inscribe from her, lines become bright,
To mention your name alone, my pen brightens up the pages.
And among people, myriad poems are spoken,
But in the essence of poets, in the heart, truly, she is the sovereign.
Poem: A Meeting and Farewell
By Elia Abu Madi:
Patience with our separation if it brings her peace,
For there is nothing tedious without beauty.
Reunion is sweetest when it follows parting,
And the sun after twilight is the most delightful sight.
I have surrendered to sleeplessness, my eyes struggling,
For desire cannot hope for its fulfillment.
When women are the cause of a youth’s illness,
Only a close proximity can provide relief.
Be wary of love for hidden winds could arise,
The burden of a great passion concealed within.
Purity fades, leaving a mark,
That haunts the soul; at times, it aches and breaks.
Days passed by, some of which were the best,
Now faded, what remains—only a memory of them.
Those nights, I hope to remember,
Fearing exhaustion, but not fearing loss.
I long for her and every memory awakens,
My heart aches fondly for Egypt and its kin.
A land whose skies and earth possess grandeur,
None beneath the heavens could rival it.
Her gentle edges lush, her sides verdant,
And the most beautiful land is that with lush embrace.
The pyramids stand high, proud to its companions,
Compared against one another to achieve greatness.
The sweet Nile flows, enchanting in its sights,
Under sunlight, turning to gold in its retreat.
It’s like a sacred house for all of humanity,
Less sin if honor were involved in building.
And how delightful are the charming maidens here,
Shedding from its land, the gentlest maidens.
With every pure figure, they refuse to remain stationary,
So they elude those desiring their company.
Their smiling faces beckon and tempt us,
Should they find us, we would praise their allurement.
And a beautiful one is veiled from every gaze,
Enveloping me and inviting my heart.
In every particle of mine is a trace of her,
For ‘the home’s owner understands its secrets’ is true.
In the stars, a fraction of her charms reside,
And in the compass, a part of her narrative stays.
I turned towards her as the stars of the horizon noticed me,
Like a dream on the way that is fleeting ahead.
She is soon to succumb to rage when she learned,
That I am devoted to her, holding a heart of love.
I glided toward her as night’s wing quivered,
Seeming concerned that I might not meet her.
Longing propels me, while sorrow restrains me,
This way urges me, and that leads me further away.
Through darkness, I forge on, draped in apprehension,
As she fears I shall reveal all to the dawn.
Every time I reach her haunts,
I find my spirit riffling against her barriers.
There, I whitewashed my encampment and turned toward,
A beautiful lady, her charm radiating.
Her collarbone fair and her hair framing,
His eyebrow elegantly arched, the kohl in her sight.
She spoke softly to me through her eyes,
Conveying messages only I could feel.
As dawn broke, its breezes stirred emotions,
Almost unveiling the secrets of my heart.
Her tears fell like gentle drops while I wept blood,
And so I concealed my thoughts, yet she revealed them.
As if she realized our distance was eternal,
She lamented upon my farewell at her site.
She found no solace in the prospect of life intertwining,
Nor did she rejoice at the thought of knowing me.
She said as her tears fell like dew,
Sorrow flooded her cheeks, worried about the damages she’d see.
Alas, I mourn my loss in a blissful embrace of life,
Could she not achieve her earthly wishes?
Poem: A Moment of Meeting and Parting
By Hamad bin Khalifa:
In the street of heroes, we unexpectedly met,
Without prior arrangement or decree.
This meeting was fresh, unforeseen,
For in her presence, I found my solace and desire.
A virgin in her prime, abundantly lovely,
Her eyes captivated my heart with their curls.
She greeted me with a goodly salutation, and I answered,
“Welcome! O daughter of my land!”
She recognized me, recalled my name,
I said, “Yes, by the oath I take!”
O my sweetness! I live for your love, and for ages
My devotion should not strike you as strange.
She said, “I want you to record some of the verses
That you select for me from your poetic repertoire.”
I replied, “My poetry is for you, and whatever I possess,
Belongs to you; I am more than ready!”
I sought her consent humbly to recite,
Words that convey the feelings of a heart torn apart.
She asked, “Do you really need my permission? Indeed,”
“For all my verses belong to literate lips.”