1. A letter came to me from my beloved friend
Full of beauty and charm on every letter

2. I was delighted when I recognized it
As fragrant as roses, it brings joy

3. How wonderful is that scent, and how wonderful
The breeze that brought it swiftly to me

4. To God I complain of what I suffered from my passion
And the burning agony that nearly made my soul perish

5. I remained while my loved ones sailed away
To places not of my desire, and I was left fragmented

6. Since they left I have been a friend of loneliness
When the time of farewell came, I nearly drowned in tears

7. In my imprisoned heart I harbor this passion
And from my fettered eyes my tears flow

8. Gloomy, thin, passionate, longing
A stranger, sick, lost, yearning

9. I have no patience to await the reward
Nor solace to reconcile me to fate

10. My time cannot be trusted to reunite us
Can a pact ever be struck with fate?

11. I yearn to meet them desperately
When my guiding star appears and stirs

12. And when the sun's light glows I imagine
It brings me their greetings and speaks

13. For in it I see signs of their beauty
And in every beauty, memories of those my heart loves

14. I entertain a heart roaming with wishes
No faith remains in it for hopes

15. It flies with longing to be with them though I
Am fettered by passion, a prisoner of love

16. And it flutters at the mention of their names
I imagine my resting place trembling for them

17. I shed tears that once flowed in their presence
Now how can that be when the door is shut?

18. When will God gather the lovers one day
And tear down the veil of separation after union?

19. One who is far, may find in that distance
What cannot be hoped for in the nearness of loved ones

20. For God has mysteries beyond explaining
And time has changes that alternate beauty and grace