1. When her letter reaches me in her own hand,
I seclude myself in my abode wherever I am on earth.
١. إِذا جاءَني مِنها الكِتابُ بِعَينِهِ
خَلَوتُ بِبَيتي حَيثُ كُنتُ مِنَ الأَرضِ
2. I weep for myself out of mercy from her aloofness,
And my being weeps from separation, part over part.
٢. فَأَبكي لِنَفسي رَحمَةً مِن جَفائِها
وَيَبكي مِنَ الهِجرانِ بَعضي عَلى بَعضي
3. Indeed, I love her whether doing wrong or right,
And I submit myself to her in what she decrees.
٣. وَإِنّي لَأَهواها مُسيئاً وَمُحسِناً
وَأَقضي عَلى نَفسي لَها بِالَّذي تَقضي
4. So for how long will the spirit of acceptance evade me?
And for how long will your days of displeasure not pass?
٤. فَحَتّى مَتى رَوحُ الرِضا لا يَنالُني
وَحَتّى مَتى أَيّامُ سَخطِكِ لا تَمضي