1. My friend, has the night grown long, or have
Its stars been tied down, or has tomorrow
١. خَلِيلَيَّ هَلْ طَالَ الدُّجَى أَمْ تَقَيَّدَتْ
كَوَاكِبُهُ أَمْ ضَلَّ عَنْ نَهْجِهِ الْغَدُ
2. Strayed from its course?
I spend the night sorrowful in my closet, sleepless
٢. أَبِيتُ حَزِيناً فِي سَرَنْدِيبَ سَاهِراً
طِوَالَ اللَّيَالِي وَالْخَلِيُّونَ هُجَّدُ
3. As the nights drag on and the Pleiades set.
I seek what I cannot attain
٣. أُحَاوِلُ مَا لا أَسْتَطِيعُ طِلابَهُ
كَذَا النَّفْسُ تَهْوَى غَيْرَ مَا تَمْلِكُ الْيَدُ
4. Just as the soul craves what the hand does not possess.
When a breeze blows from the abode of Sweetness
٤. إِذَا خَطَرَتْ مِنْ نَحْوِ حُلْوَانَ نَسْمَةٌ
نَزَتْ بَيْنَ قَلْبِي شُعْلَةٌ تَتَوَقَّدُ
5. A flame alights in my heart and kindles.
Alas! After youth there comes no springtime
٥. وَهَيْهَاتَ مَا بَعْدَ الشَّبِيبَةِ مَوْسِمٌ
يَطِيبُ وَلا بَعْدَ الْجَزِيرَةِ مَعْهَدُ
6. That smells sweet, nor after the isle, a meadow.
Youth and friends I was fated to love
٦. شَبَابٌ وَإِخْوَانٌ رُزِئْتُ وِدَادهُمْ
وَكُلُّ امْرِئٍ فِي الدَّهْرِ يَشْقَى وَيَسْعَدُ
7. And each soul in this world suffers or prospers.
I never feared that I would live in a strange land
٧. وَمَا كُنْتُ أَخْشَى أَنْ أَعِيشَ بِغُرْبَةٍ
يُعَلِّلُنِي فِيهَا خُوَيْدِمُ أَسْوَدُ