يا صاحبي قفا نستخبر الطللا

Poem Translation:

O friends, let us halt and question the ruins here,
Of those who dwelled but yesterday, their trace clear.
The place replied, when I stood in yearning plea,
“Their caravan set off, departing hastily.”
And fate deceived you, ‘til at dawn’s first light,
You saw their camels rushing out of sight.
We came to greet them, but parting’s cries prevailed,
And roots of distance deep within them hailed.
A fleeting vision passed, fate’s will to bear,
For destiny can never swift death’s snare.
With raven locks, cascading down his back,
Dark, curling tresses, rich with beauty’s track.
And eyes like doe, with lashes long and wide,
Dark pupils glistening, slender waist implied.
A graceful figure, fresh as early spring,
Like daisy blooms that gentle waters bring.
As if a chilled breeze from a distant snow,
Had touched a dark and fragrant amber glow.
With musk and honeyed wine from Sham combined,
Its breath could cure the ailing heart and mind.
One day she spoke, her head to her friend turned low,
“What do you bid me, for my heart’s struck woe?”
“Is there a sister here to share my grief,
To whom I might reveal my pain, find relief?”
A chaste friend answered, wise in word and deed,
In speech discreet, her counsel to impede:
“Guard your modesty with grace and honor true,
You’re not the first of women to love pursue.
Show not your love till I his heart survey,
And if I live, your will I shall repay.”
She turned away and told her friend aside,
“To God, chastise him for what he tried to hide.”
Converse with him, the tales you heard relay,
And hear his words, but do not fall to fray.
Until he sees the rumors spread in vain,
Are lies that others’ tongues have sought to gain.
And let him know in jest, but guard his pride,
For anger’s sting may cast him far aside.
By God, I knew him well, and in his way,
He shuns reproach though faultless he may stray.
If ever slander touched him where he lay,
Its source would leave with sorrow, not with sway.
So hear me now, you’ve spoken well, my friend,
For those of wisdom know where jest may end.
She sought excuses, coy and full of grace,
For she, it seems, will never lack a case.
For hearts are named for how they twist and turn,
And minds for how their lessons we must learn.
As for the tale she spoke, it came to me,
But in its telling, I was not deceived.
I never bent to her behind my veil,
Nor heeded slander’s whispered, toxic tale.
Indeed, I turned him back with firm disdain,
Though he had sought to win my heart in vain.

Poem Explanation:

The poem explores themes of separation, love, and slander. The poet begins by asking his companions to stop and investigate the ruins of a place where their loved ones once resided. They discover that the beloved ones have departed suddenly, leaving the poet filled with sorrow. He reflects on the deceptive nature of hope, which kept him from realizing that his companions were preparing to leave.

As the poem unfolds, the speaker describes the beauty of the beloved in vivid detail, comparing features to nature’s finest aspects, such as raven-black hair and doe-like eyes. The poet then shifts to recounting a conversation between two women—one lamenting her unrequited love, and the other offering cautious advice to guard her emotions.

The poem ends with reflections on slander and the way words can twist perceptions, urging caution in reacting to such rumors. Ultimately, the poem highlights the emotional struggle of dealing with unspoken love, the fear of judgment, and the heart’s constant shifting between love and restraint.