أحباب قلبي كم بيني وبينكم

أحباب قلبي كم بيني وبينكم

من أبحر وصفها قد دقّ عن حدّ

من أبحر وصفها قد دقّ عن حدّ

Beloved ones of my heart, how many lie between me and you—

My beloved friends, how much distance lies between us

Beloveds of my heart, how vast the distance between us—seas whose description defies all bounds,

Seas whose description eludes all definition.

Of seas, whose limits confound ships astray

In which the sandgrouse are bewildered and falter, and directions therein are hidden from the traveler's intent.

تحار فيها القطا والعي يدركها

تحار فيها القطا والعي يدركها

حتى الجهات بها تخفى عن القصد

حتى الجهات بها تخفى عن القصد

In them, the sandgrouse lose their way, and weariness overtakes them.

Where gazelles wander confused, and eyes cannot descry

I never knew that Fate would cast you far from me, and leave me, in your absence, all alone.

Even the directions there elude anyone seeking a course.

Even the horizons disappear from intents' display

Patience has betrayed me, bringing no avail, while a flood of tears has streamed upon my cheek.

ما كنت أدري بأن الدهر يبعدكم

ما كنت أدري بأن الدهر يبعدكم

عني ويتركني من بعدكم وحدي

عني ويتركني من بعدكم وحدي

I did not know that time would take you far away

I did not know that fate would part you from me

Your phantom image appeared like good tidings, but since I woke, I possess nothing but grief.

From me, and leave me alone after you were gone.

Leaving me lonely when you've gone away

Will the gazelle I adore ever grant me relief with a reunion one day, as it was in times past?

قد خانني الصبر ما أجدى بمنفعة

قد خانني الصبر ما أجدى بمنفعة

سيل المدامع قد سالت على خدّي

سيل المدامع قد سالت على خدّي

Patience has betrayed me; no benefit has come

Patience has failed me, weeping is of no use

Will the elusive one I love ever gladden me with nearness, after the rejection he has shown?

From the torrent of tears that streamed down my cheek.

Tears flow freely down my cheeks each day

O elusive one whose pasture lies within my heart, graze there freely, fear not, though this lover is cast afar.

والطيف مثل لي أوصافكم فبدا

والطيف مثل لي أوصافكم فبدا

بشرى ومذقمت غير الحزن ما عندي

بشرى ومذقمت غير الحزن ما عندي

And the dream-vision portrayed your features to me, appearing

Your phantom appears describing your traits

For even if you turn from me in aversion, I am content with a phantom of you, though it avails me naught.

As glad tidings; but when I rose, I had nothing but sorrow.

Glimpsing your image, only sorrow stays

هل الغزال الذي أهواه يسعفني

هل الغزال الذي أهواه يسعفني

بالوصل يوما كما قد كان في العهد

بالوصل يوما كما قد كان في العهد

Will the gazelle I love favor me

Can the shy gazelle I adore bring us together?

With union one day, as it once did in days gone by?

United like we were in days of old?

هل النفور الذي أهواه يسعدني

هل النفور الذي أهواه يسعدني

بالقرب من بعد ما أبدى من الصد

بالقرب من بعد ما أبدى من الصد

Will the skittish one I love bring me joy

Can the one I love who's grown cold draw near

With closeness, after the rejection he has shown?

After having distanced himself, retreated, turned cold?

يا ذا النفور الذي في القلب مرتعه

يا ذا النفور الذي في القلب مرتعه

ارتع به لا ترع فالصب في بعد

ارتع به لا ترع فالصب في بعد

O skittish one, whose pasture lies within the heart,

O you whose heart has wandered far from me

Graze there; do not fear, for the lovesick one is far away.

Go on, graze there, do not return I've been told

إني وإن كنت مني نافرا فلقد

إني وإن كنت مني نافرا فلقد

أرضي بطيف خيال منك لا يجدي

أرضي بطيف خيال منك لا يجدي

As for me, though you flee from me, I am indeed

Though you shun me, I will accept with pleasure

Content with a phantom vision of you that avails nothing.

The mere phantom of you - it's all I hold