ليتهم إذ ملكوني أسجحوا

ليتهم إذ ملكوني أسجحوا

ليتهم إذ ما عفوا أن يصفحوا

ليتهم إذ ما عفوا أن يصفحوا

If only, when they possessed me, they had shown gentleness.

Would that when they possessed me, they had shown benevolence,

If only, since they did not pardon, they would show forbearance.

And would that when they spared me, they had granted forgiveness.

رحلوا العيس ولم أشعر بهم

رحلوا العيس ولم أشعر بهم

ليت شعري أيّ واد صبّحوا

ليت شعري أيّ واد صبّحوا

They saddled the pale camels, and I did not notice them.

They saddled the white camels for departure, and I perceived it not,

Would that I knew which valley they reached at dawn.

If only I knew in which valley they greeted the morning.

أخذوا قلبي وماذا ضرهم

أخذوا قلبي وماذا ضرهم

أن يكونوا بجميعي جنحوا

أن يكونوا بجميعي جنحوا

They took my heart; what harm would it have done them

They took my heart, and what harm would it have caused them

To have carried all of me away?

Had they taken the whole of me along with it?

أيّ عيشٍ يهنا لي من بعدهم

أيّ عيشٍ يهنا لي من بعدهم

طار قلبي وعظامي ملّحوا

طار قلبي وعظامي ملّحوا

What life could be sweet to me after they are gone?

What life could be sweet to me now that they are gone?

My heart flew away, and they salted my bones.

My heart has flown away, and my bones have withered.

ويح أهل العشق هذا حظهم

ويح أهل العشق هذا حظهم

هلكي مهما كتموا أو صرّحوا

هلكي مهما كتموا أو صرّحوا

Alas for the people of passionate love—this is their lot:

Woe unto the people of passion, for this is their lot;

Doomed, whether they conceal their love or declare it.

Doom is theirs, whether they conceal their love or declare it.