بشار بن برد طال ليْلِي مِنْ حُبِّ Bashar ibn Burd, The night lingers for love of one who

طال ليْلِي مِنْ حُبِّ مَنْ لا أَرَاهُ مُقَارِبِي
أبداً ما بدا لعيـنكَ ضوءُ الكواكبِ
أو تغنَّت قصيدة ً قَيْنَة ٌ عِنْدَ شَارِبِ
فتعزَّيتُ عن عبيـدة والحبُّ غالبي
تِلْكَ لوْ بِيعَ حُبُّهَا ابْـتَعْتُهُ بِالْحَرَائبِ
وَلَو اسْطَعْتُ طائعاً فِي الأُمورِ النَّوَائب
لفَدَاهَا مِنَ الرَّدَى هاربي بعد قاربي
عتبت خلَّتي وذو الحــحُبِّ جَمُّ الْمَعَاتِبِ
من حديثٍ نمى إليـها بهِ قولُ كاذب
فتقلَّبتُ ساهراً  مقشعرَّ الذًّوائبِ
عجباً من صدودها وَالْهَوَى ذُو عَجَائبِ
ولقد قلتُ والدُّمـعُ لباسُ التَّرائبِ
لو بدا اليأسُ من عبيـدة َ قد قامَ نادبي
عَبْدَ باللَّه أطْلِقِي من عذابٍ مواصبِ
رَجُلاً كانَ قَبْلكُمْ رَاهِباً أوْ كرَاهِبِ
يَسْهَرُ اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ نظراً في العواقبِ
فثناهُ عنِ العبــادَة ِ وَجْدٌ بِكاعِبِ
شغلتهُ بحبِّها عن حسابِ المحاسبِ
عَاشِقٌ لَيْسَ قَلْبُهُ مِنْ هَوَاهَا بِتَائبِ
يشتكي من فؤادهِ مِثْل لسْع الْعَقَاربِ
وكذاك الْمُحِبُّ يَلْقَى قى بذكرِ الحبائبِ
ولقد خفتُ أن يروحَ بنعشي أقاربي
عَاجِلاً قَبْل أنْ أرَى فِيكمُ لينَ جَانِبِ
فإذا ما سمعتِ باكِيَة ً مِنْ قَرَائِبِي
ندبت في المسلِّباتِ قَتِيل الْكوَاعِبِ
فاعلمي أنّ حبَّكم قادني للمعاطبِ

The night lingers for the love of one I know will not approach me.

Never, so long as the stars appear to your eyes,

or a stripper dances to a song for a drunken patron,

will I find consolation on account of Abbey. Her love so overpowers me,

were it for sale I would willingly give everything I have to purchase it,

were I capable in matters of fate and fortune

to rescue her from ruin, and not worthless.

My mistress accused me, and the lover stands fully accused,

because of a tale told to her by a liar.

So I tossed and turned restless, my hair cold with sweat,

wondering at her rejection, and desire is full of wonders,

And I said, with tears covering my chest,

"If I despair on account of Abbey, I am good as dead."

Oh Abbey, for god´s sake set me free from this unending torment.

A man who, before you came on the scene was a monk or like a monk,

distracted the entire night, considering the consequences.

Then desire for a buxom breasted beauty distracted him from divine service,

she diverted him with her love from the reckoning of the Reckoner.

A lover, whose heart will never repent of desire for her,

suffering in his heart as if bitten by scorpions.

So the lover keeps from mentioning the flirtations

for fear that my own people should immediately carry out my killing,
before I see your tender side.

So when you hear a wailing cry from one of my female relatives, 

among the black robed women over one killed by buxom breasted beauties,

know that your love drove me to destruction.

translated into English by Mark Westergreen

بشار بن برد: قَدْ لاَمنِي فِي خَلِيلَتِي عُمَرُ Bashar ibn Burd, I was rebuked

قَدْ لاَمنِي فِي خَلِيلَتِي عُمَرُ                 وَاللَّوْمُ فِي غَيْرِ كُنْهِهِ قَدَرُ
قال أفق قلتُ لا فقال بلى             قد شاع في الناس عنكم الخبر
فَقلْتُ إِنْ شَاعَ مَا اعْتِذَارِيَ مِـ          ـمَّا لَيْسَ لِي فِيهِ عِنْدَهُمْ عُذُرُ
لا أكتم الناس حب قاتلتي               لاَ لاَ وَلاَ أكْرَهُ الَّذِي ذَكَرُوا
لُومَا فَلاَ لَوْمَ بَعْدَهَا أبَداً                  صاحبكم والجليل محتضرُ
قم قم إليهم فقل لهم قد أبى               وقال لا لا أفيقُ فانتحروا
مَاذَا عَسَى أنْ يَقُولَ قَائِلُهُم              وذا هوى ً ساق حينهُ القدرُ
يا قَوْمِ مَا لِي وَمَا لَهُم أبَداً              يَنْظُرُ في عَيْبِ غَيْرِه الْبَطِرُ
يَا عَجَباً لِلْخِلاَفِ يَا عَجَباً           بفي الذي لام في الهوى الحجر
ما لام في ذي مودة ٍ أحدٌ                  يُؤْمِنُ باللّهِ قمْ فَقَدْ كَفَرُوا
حسبي وحسبُ التي كلفت بها          مني ومنها الحديث والنظرُ
أوْ قُبْلَة ٌ فِي خِلاَلِ ذَاكَ وَلاَ                 بَأسَ إِذَا لَمْ تُحللِ الأُزُرُ
أوْ لَمْسُ ما تَحْتَ مرْطِهَا بِيَدِي          والباب قد حال دونه الستر
والساق براقة ٌ خلاخلها              والصوت عالٍ فقد علا البهر
واسترخت الكف للغزال           وقالـت اله عني والدمع منحدرُ
اذْهَبْ فَمَا أنْتَ كالَّذِي ذَكرُوا               أنْتَ وَرَبِّي مُعَارِكٌ أشِرُ
وغابت اليوم عنك حاضنتي            فاللَّهُ لِي الْيَوْمَ مِنْكَ مُنْتَصِرُ
يا رب خذ لي فقد ترى ضعفي        من فاسق الكف ما له شكر
أهوى إلى معضدي فرضضهُ             ذو قوة ٍ ما يطاق مقتدر
يلصقُ بي لحنة ً له خشنت                  ذَاتَ سوَادٍ كَأنَّهَا الإِبَرُ
حَتَّى اقْتَهَرْنِي وَإِخْوَتِي غَيَبٌ         وَيْلِي عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ أنَّهُمْ حَضَرُوا
أقسمُ بالله ما نجوت بها                 إذهب فأنت المسور الظفرُ
كيف بأمي إذا رأت شفتي            وكيف إن شاع منك ذا الخبرُ
أم كيف لا كيف لي بحاضنتي           يا حِبُّ لَوْ كَانَ ينْفَعُ الْحَذَرُ
قلتُ لها عند ذاك يا سكني                لا بأس إني مجربٌ حذرُ
قولي لهم بقة ٌ لها ظفرُ                 إن كان في البق ما له ظفرُ

Omar rebuked me for my girl friend and the rebuke was decided upon with others of his ilk.

He said, "Get up!", I said, "No.", then he said, "Yes, but of course, the report about you is already popularized among the people."

So I said, "If it´s popularized, why should I apologize? I had nothing to do with it. They have  

an - no alibi.

I don´t hide from the people a love for my executioner. No, no, I don´t hate the one they mention.

Never rebuking her, while your buddy and Beauty are dying!

Get up, turn on them, and tell them ´desist already´!" But he said, "No, if I don´t come too, then they have already hanged themselves!"

"What should their advocate claim? Predestination urged on the passion!

Oh people, what is wrong with us, the discontented always finding fault in the other?

How strange? On the contrary, how odd? In the mouth of this one censure for forbidden pleasure.

No one believing in God rebukes this friendship, rise up, but already they disbelieve!

My esteem and the extent to which I fell in love with her, is a private matter, the conversation and the contemplation,

or a kiss during which, but never mind if you will not absolve the weakness*,

or petting what´s under her dress with my palm, the guard at his post,

the thigh intentionally flashed, her ankle bracelets and voice elevated, the belabored breathing.

I relaxed the hand for the spinner, and she said, "make passionate love to me" tears flowing down.

"Get out of here, for you are not as they say, you, by god, are an arrogant prick!"

"She was absent from you the entire day, bitch! Because God was victorious over you on that day on my behalf.

Oh lord, lead me, for you know my weakness. What thanks is there for a fornicating fingerer?

I grab my backer so he´s gratified. Such potency, he´s not able to bear up under this talented power.

On account of it a pun has stuck to me "Roughy", such a defamation as if I were the Bed of Nails.

Even if I subdue myself and fraternize secretly undercover, it would overpower them, if they were present.

I swear by God she didn´t even attempt to save herself!" "Get out of here, for you the fingernail is clipped!**

How will it be for my mother when sees my lip? And how will it be if this news about you is popularized?

Or how, no, how for me? Come, into my arms, oh love, if it is to be, caution needs to be exercised."

I said to her at that moment, "Honey, it´s alright, I´m experienced, and cautious.

Tell them, it´s from a bedbug, but the Bedbug no longer has a nail."

___________________________________________________________________

translated into English with comments by Mark Frederick Westergreen

Background Information: A long fingernail was a sign of a powerful and successful man. To have someone else clip your nail was to be put in your proper place and humiliated by one of a higher rank (v. Lane)

* the term is also its own antonym, and means "strength"
** could also be rendered as: "the victor is vanquished, or hedge in"

References: Line 10 of this poem references the Qur’an 63.3, from the Sura "the Hypocrites".

I have to plug both ArabicAlmanac & Adab

بشار بن برد يا صاح قم Bashar ibn Burd, Comrade, get up

يا صاح قمْ فاسقني بالكأس إعرابا ولا تُطعْ عاقباً فينا وعقَّابا
إنّ الهوى حسنٌ حتَّى تدنِّسهُ فاطْلُبْ هَوَاكَ سَتيراً وارْعَ أحْبابا
واحفظ لسانك في الواشين إنَّ لهمْ عيْناً ترُودُ وتنْفيراً وإِلْهابا
لا تغش سرَّ فتاة ٍ كُنْتَ تألفُها إنَّ الكريم لها راعٍ وإن تابا
واسعدْ بما قال في الحلم ابنُ "ذي يزنٍ" يلهو الكرامُ ولا ينسون أحسابا
جَدُّ امْرىء ٍ جَارَهُ من كلِّ فاضحة ٍ فانهض بجدٍّ تنلْ جاهاً وإكسابا
قدْ شفَّني حزنٌ ضاق الفواد ُبه وسرَّني زائرٌ في النَّوم منتابا
باتت عروساً وبتنا معرسينَ بها حتَّى رأينا بياضَ الصُّبح منجابا
وقائلٍ :نامَ عنْ "أسماءَ" شاكية ً لا نَوَّمتْ عيْنه إِنْ كان كذَّابَا
ما زلْتُ في الْغَمِّ من وِرْدٍ يُقلِّبُها كأنَّني فيه لا ألقى له بابَا
بلْ كيْف أُسقى علَى الرَّيْحان مُتَّكئاً وقدْ تعلَّقتُ من "أسماءَ" أسبابا
عاد الهوى بلقاء الغرِّ منْ "جشمٍ" يمشين تحت الغمام الغرِّ أترابا
علِّقتُ منهنَّ شمسَ الدَّجن أو قمراً غدا لنا لابساً درعاً وجلبابا
لا أشْتهي بهواهُ جِنَّة ً أُنُفاً ولوْ تَدَلَّتْ لنا تِيناً وأعْنَابَا
للَّه دَرُّ فتاة ٍ منْ بني «جُشم» ما أحْسنَ الْعيْنَ والْخدَّيْن والنَّابَا
تريكَ في القول جشَّاباً وإنْ ضحكتْ أرتك من ثغرها المثلوج جشّابا
بدا لنا منظرٌ منها اعتبرتُ به وشاهدُ المسك يلقى الأنف ما غابا
قدْ زُيِّنتْ بالْمُحيَّا صُورة ً عجباً وزانها كفلٌ رابٍ وما عابا
إذا رآها نساءُ الحيِّ قلن لها: سُبْحان منْ صاغها! يُغْرقْن إِطْنابا
كأنَّما خُلقتْ منْ جِلْد لُؤْلُوة ٍ نفساً من العطرِ إنْ حرَّكتها ثابا
يطيبُ مسوكها منْ طيب ريقتها وإنْ ألمَّ بجلدٍ جلدها طابا
تلْك التي أرْجَلَتْني بالْهوى سنة ً وكُنْتُ للْمُهْرة الْحسْناء رَكَّابا
لم أنسها طالعتْ منْ تحت كلَّتها فأعْلقتْ عامرِيًّا بعْد ما شَابَا
يا «أسْم» جُودي بِمْعرُوفٍ نعِيشُ بِهِ ولا تكُونِي لنا حرْباً وأوْصابا
واللهِ أنْساكِ يا «أسْماءُ» ما طَرفَتْ عيني وما قرقرَ القمريُّ إطرابا

Friend, get up and give me a drink in a glass like a real Arab, not keeping tabs amongst us and punishing.
The pleasure is fine until you debase it, demanding your secret desire and scarring loved ones.
Keep your tongue from scorning what they hold dear, seducing, estranging, and setting ablaze.
Don´t kiss and tell if you are intimate with her, (let it be) honorable, admirable and imploring.
Be happy with that crazy comment of “Yazan´s” son, The noble ones love to have fun but do not forget about their reputations.
Always bringing up the complaints of his kinsmen on account of every dishonor, in order to raise anew that you bestow respect and presents.
Certainly my lips are grieved and my heart saddened, my secret visitor in sleep exposed.
She was the bride and we were the grooms for her, until we saw the light of dawn penetrating.
Someone said, "forget, what´s his name,  the accused,  his can´t be lulled to sleep" - that´d be perjury.
I´m still upset from his arrival with roses, she fell head over heels for him, it caused me to not greet him at the door.
Nay how could I drink at his departure, being burned, yet being devoted to what´s his name, and for self-purposes. 
The pleasure returned in the risky rendezvous with Fatty, walking under perilous clouds, paramours.
I keep some of them tied up and waiting - domesticated suns or moons, we have tomorrow to wear armor and a pinafore.
Don´t be seduced by his pleasure garden - refuse, but figs and dates if it is us you want to pamper.
How excellent a girl of the Gush family, what´s better her eyes, cheeks or pearly whites?
She describes you in biting terms, ridiculing you in laughter with her ice cold lips -bitterly.
To us she certainly made a scene, I learned a lesson from him, witnessing the groveling conclusion and surrendering of pride - what a finale!
She dolled herself up into a striking image, compared to that her ass is used and only worthy of abuse.
When the women of the tribe on seeing her say „her shape is sublime“ they are engaging in exaggeration.
As if she were a string of pearls, or a drug that excited them and set them erotically dancing.
The musk of her sweet sweat is pleasing, yet it pains me to whip her hide for the pleasure.
This is the year in which I became a man acquainted in the ways of pleasure, and for that filly I was the best rider.
I will not forget her climbing up from down under and pouring herself out, her breasts suspended, after that I was a man.
May the reputation of my generosity be famous as long as we live, so don´t be enraged at us or pained.
and may God cause you, whatever your name is, not to forget, for one moment, the pleasure.

translated into English by Mark F Westergreen