[When you were around]
translated from the Arabic by Abdullah al-Udhari
1
When you were around I used to wander about with you as my wings and shield.
2
But now I bow even to the meek and palm back those who wrong me.
3
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.
Date Published
01/01/1991