The disciple of Ibn ‘Arabi, ‘Afīf al-din Tilimsānī (d. 1291), and his son (known as al-Shab al-Ẓarīf, “The Elegant Youth” ) are known and loved for their poetry, some of which is still sung today.  Here I present one poem from the father, and a more famous poem by the son with special thanks to K.M. for help with the translations.

‘Afīf al-Dīn al-Tilimsānī

Translation:

Don’t be fooled by the fineness of her cheek

For the sword slays by the fineness of its blade

Leave the eyelids, for their drowsiness has become

a point in the straightened spear of her stature

My sleep, like a gazelle, is constantly fleeing from me

For he unites his opposite with his exile

Frailty flowed into my body from her coldness

And I loved it because it is from her

The enviers were amazed, having seen my drunkenness without limit

while my heart endured the punishment of her limits*

Be easy, for doesn’t the flapping of her sash

resemble my heart or the flame of her cheek?

This is a connection, that were my heart to attain it, ablaze

I would forgive her in its burning

My thanks to my patience with her, for when she betrayed me

I saw betrayal as faithfulness to her promise

My weeping from distance and being crushed

Is a pearl in my hands, not in her necklace

Who can be fair to me in nearness?

for my near one has spurned me, so who then can rescue me from her distance?

O ban tree of the valley, and O its leaves, weep for your branch

since I weep for her loss

you are sad and sad am I—both of us

Today, one who has been pardoned laments his love

My state is like yours, and the neighbor, with his hand on the water

knows its heat from its cold.

Original:

لاَ تُخْدَعَنَّ بِرِقَّةٍ فِي خَدِّهِ                 فَالسَّيْفُ قَتَّالٌ بِرِقْةِ حَدِّهِ
وَدَعِ الجُفُونَ فَإِنَّمَا وَسْنَانُهَا             أَضْحَى سِنَاناً فِي مُثَقَّفِ قَدِّهِ
ظَبْيٌّ حَكَى نَوْمِي دَوَامُ نَفَارِهِ            عَنِّى فَواصَلَ ضِدَّهُ مَعَ صَدِّهِ
وَسَرَى إِلى جِسْمِي الضَّنَا مِن خَصرِهِ               فَهَوِيتُ ذَاكَ لإِنَّهُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ
عَجِبَ الحَسُودُ وَقَدْ رَأَى سُكْرِي بِلاَ                حَدٍّ وقَلْبِي فِي عُقُوبَةِ حَدِّهِ
خَفِّضْ عَلَيْكَ أَلَيْسَ خَفْقُ وِشَاحِهِ              يَحْكِي فُؤَادِي أَوْ تَلَهُّبُ خَدِّهِ
هِيَ نِسْبَةٌ لَوْ أَنَّ قَلْبِيَ نَالَهَا                   مُتَوَقِّداً لَعَذَرْتُهُ فِي وَقْدِهِ
شُكْرِي لِصَبْرِي عَنْهُ إِذْ هُوَ خَانَنِي             وَرَأَى الخِيَانَةَ كَالْوَفَاءِ بِعَهْدِهِ
ولَمْدَمَعِي بُعْداً وَسَحْقاً إِنَّهُ                دُرٌّ لَدَيَّ ولَمْ يَكُنْ فِي عِقْدِهِ
مَنْ مُنْصِفِي مِنْ قُرْبِهِ فَلَقَدْ أَبَى            قُرْبِي وَمَنْ ذَا مُنْقِذِي مِنْ بُعْدِهِ
يا بَانَةَ الوَادِي وَيَا وَرْقَاءَهُ              نُوحِي لِغُصنِكِ إِذْ أَنُوحُ لِفَقْدِهِ
أَنْتِ الحَزِينَةُ والحَزِينُ أَنَا كِلاَنَا                  اليَوْمَ مَعْذُورٌ يَنُوحُ بِوَجْدِهِ
حَالِي كَحَالِكِ وَالمُجَاوِرُ كَفُّهُ               لِلمَاءِ يَعْرِفُ حَرَّهُ مِنْ بَرْدِهِ

al-Shāb al-Ẓarīf (the son)

Translation:

Don’t hide what love does to you

Express your love—for we are all lovers

[Your] love would have stayed hidden if not for your tears

streaming and your heart pounding

Perhaps he to whom you complain of love will help you

in bearing it, for lovers are kind companions

Don’t fret, for you are not the first to fall in love

[many] cheeks and pupils have bravely faced [the tears]

So be patient in separation from the beloved for perhaps

union will return, and love has its ways

How many nights my pupils spent awake in search of union

while my thoughts crowded around me

O Lord, those whom I love are far from me

and separation has become intimate with these dear friends

My fortune with them blackened when

the burning from the fire of love began

The Arabs, I saw that the surest promise with them

is that no promise with them is ever sure

On their she-camels and in their troops is a display

in which there is constant fleeing and hypocrisy

Whenever he remains aloof, those riding behind him attack

his waist with eyes like belts

The eyes gaze at him as he lowers his in silence

for if he looks back, then they all drop, blinking in shame.

Original:

لا تُخْفِ ما صَنَعَتْ بِكَ الأَشْواقُ
وَاشْرَحْ هَواكَ فَكُلُّنَا عُشَّاقُ
قَدْ كَانَ يُخْفي الحُبَّ لَوْلَا دَمْعُكَ ال
جَارِي وَلَوْلا قَلْبُكَ الخَفَّاقُ
فَعَسى يُعينُكَ مَنْ شَكَوْتَ لَهُ الهَوى
في حَمْلِهِ فالعَاشِقُون رِفَاقُ
لا تَجْزَعَنَّ فَلَسْتَ أَوّلَ مُغْرَمٍ
فَتَكَتْ بِهِ الوَجْنَاتُ وَالأَحْدَاقُ
وَاصْبِرْ عَلى هَجْرِ الحَبِيبِ فَرُبَّما
عَادَ الوِصَالُ ولِلْهَوى أَخْلاقُ
كَمْ لَيْلَةٍ أَسْهَرْتُ أَحْداقي بِهَا
مُلْقىً ولِلأَفْكَارِ بِي إِحْدَاقُ
يا رَبِّ قَدْ بَعُدَ الَّذين أُحِبُّهُمْ
عَنِّي وَقَدْ أَلِفَ الرّفاقَ فِراقُ
وَاِسْوَدَّ حَظِّي عِنْدَهُم لَمَّا سَرى
فيهِ بِنَارِ صَبابتِي إِحْرَاقُ
عُرْبٌ رَأَيْتُ أَصَحَّ ميثاقٍ لَهُمْ
أَنْ لا يَصِحَّ لَدَيْهِمُ مِيثَاقُ
وَعَلى النّياقِ وفي الأَكلَّةِ مَعْرِضٌ
فِيهِ نِفارٌ دائمٌ وَنِفاقُ
مَا نَاءَ إِلّا حَارَبَتْ أَرْدافُهُ
خَصْراً عَليهِ مِنَ العُيونِ نِطَاقُ
تَرْنُو العُيونُ إِليه في إطْراقِهِ
فَإِذَا رَنَا فَلِكُلِّها إِطْرَاقُ