ألا رب يوم – امرؤ القيس

Poem Translation:

Ah! Many a night in secret joy I spent,
When fate was kind, and fortune gave consent.
Her father absent, or in slumber deep,
Love’s fleeting whispers I was free to keep.

To friends she laughed: “His heart is mine to claim!
But what if love should end his life in flame?
How shall he bear the chains that passion weaves,
Or free himself when love so tightly cleaves?”

Poem Explanation:

This excerpt from Imru’ al-Qais’s poetry reflects both his adventurous love life and the playful nature of romance in pre-Islamic Arabia. The first verse establishes the poet’s delight in moments of stolen passion, highlighting his daring nature. The second verse introduces the girl’s perspective, showing her confidence in her power over the poet’s heart. Her rhetorical questions, whether genuine or teasing, suggest both amusement and an awareness of the poet’s deep infatuation. The theme of love as a hunt or a game of capture is prominent, reinforcing the poetic imagery of passion as an inescapable snare.