بنيّ لئن دعاك الشوق يوما

بنيّ لئن دعاك الشوق يوما

وحنت للّقا منا القلوب

وحنت للّقا منا القلوب

My son, if longing should call you one day,

My friend, if longing called you one day

My son, should longing summon you one day,

and our hearts yearn to meet,

And our hearts yearned to meet,

And our hearts yearn for reunion,

ورمت بأن تنال منىً ووصلاً

ورمت بأن تنال منىً ووصلاً

يصحّ بعيدَه القلب الكئيب

يصحّ بعيدَه القلب الكئيب

and you seek to attain your wishes and a reunion

And you wished to gain union and connection with me,

And you sought to attain desire and union,

after which the sorrowful heart soon heals,

While my sad heart burns with its ardour from afar,

Through which the melancholic heart is healed;

فإني منك أولى باشتياقٍ

فإني منك أولى باشتياقٍ

وناري في الفؤاد لها لهيبُ

وناري في الفؤاد لها لهيبُ

then I have more cause for longing than you,

Then I have more right than you to that yearning,

Then know that I am worthier of yearning than you,

and my fire blazes within my heart.

And my heart's fire has raging flames,

And the fire within my heart bears a blazing flame;

وإن أخفي اشتياقي في فؤادي

وإن أخفي اشتياقي في فؤادي

فإنّ الشوق يكتمه الأريب

فإنّ الشوق يكتمه الأريب

And if I conceal my longing in my heart,

And if I hide my longing in my heart,

And if I conceal my longing within my heart,

it is because the discerning man keeps longing hidden.

Still, longing conceals it, the wary one.

It is because passion is kept hidden by the wise.