[When you were around]

translated from the Arabic by Abdullah al-Udhari 

When you were around I used to wander about with you as my wings and shield. 

But now I bow even to the meek and palm back those who wrong me. 

The dove that recalls its loss on a branch at night triggers my daily grief.


قد كنتََ ذا تََ حميّّةٍٍ ما عتَشَ لي     أمشي البََراحََ وأنتََ كنتََ جََنا حي
فاليومََ أخ عُضُ لل ضّّعي ف وأتّّقي            منه وأدفعُُ ظالمي بالرّّا ح
وإذا دعََتْْ قُُمريّّة شجناًً لها                  ليلاًً على فََننٍٍ بََكيْْتُُ صََبا حي

Credit

“[When you were around]” by Fatimah bint Muhammad is published in Classical Poems by Arab Women: A Bilingual Anthology by Abdullah al-Udhari (Saqi Books, 1991). Used with the permission of Saqi Books.