يواعدُني بالوَصْلِ منهُ ويُخْلِفُ

يواعدُني بالوَصْلِ منهُ ويُخْلِفُ

ويُقْسِمُ بالله العظيم ويَحْلِفُ

ويُقْسِمُ بالله العظيم ويَحْلِفُ

He promises me union with him and breaks his promise.

He promises me a union, yet breaks his word

And he swears by Almighty God and takes an oath.

Swearing solemnly, voiced oaths gone unheard

وقال ولم يفعلْ ورُمْتُ ولم أنَلْ

وقال ولم يفعلْ ورُمْتُ ولم أنَلْ

وما زِلتُ أبغي وصلَة ويسوِّف

وما زِلتُ أبغي وصلَة ويسوِّف

And he spoke but did not act; I sought but did not attain.

He said he would come, but did not, so I yearned in vain

And I keep seeking union, while he puts it off.

Still hoping he’d visit, endlessly deferred

وما ضَرَّة لو كانَ أنْجَزَ وَعْدَه

وما ضَرَّة لو كانَ أنْجَزَ وَعْدَه

وكنتُ به لو زارني أتشَرّف

وكنتُ به لو زارني أتشَرّف

And what harm would there have been, had he fulfilled his promise?

No shame if he’d kept his promise, blessed our meeting

And had he visited me, I would have been honored by him.

I’d welcome him gladly, feelings preferred

وبات برغم العاذلين منادمي

وبات برغم العاذلين منادمي

وثالثنا كأسُ من الراح قرقف

وثالثنا كأسُ من الراح قرقف

And he spent the night as my drinking companion, despite the reproachers.

Despite those who’d forbid us, we talked through the night

And our third companion was a cup of potent wine.

The third with us a cup of wine proffered

وقد دارت الأقداح بيني وبينه

وقد دارت الأقداح بيني وبينه

وشمل الهوى ما بيننا يتألَّف

وشمل الهوى ما بيننا يتألَّف

And the goblets went round between me and him.

Goblets passed between us, affinity found

And the bonds of love drew together between us.

Passion encompassed us, feelings conferred

من الغيد فتّاك بلحظٍ وقامةٍ

من الغيد فتّاك بلحظٍ وقامةٍ

وما شِيَم إلاَّ مرهف ومثقَّف

وما شِيَم إلاَّ مرهف ومثقَّف

One of the lissome beauties, deadly in glance and stature.

A slender frame, yet glances that slay and bewitch

And nothing was beheld but a keen blade and a straightened spear.

No airs but perceptive, cultured, conferred

تَلاعبُ أنفاسُ النسيم بقدِّه

تَلاعبُ أنفاسُ النسيم بقدِّه

على أنَّه منها أرق وألطف

على أنَّه منها أرق وألطف

The breaths of the breeze play with his slender form.

The breeze toyed with his hair, gentler than it wafted

Though he is softer and more delicate than they.

His gaze turned to me, then shied as tears blurred

وتعرَّض لي بالحتف من نَظَراته

وتعرَّض لي بالحتف من نَظَراته

وأعْرَضَ عنِّي والمدامع تذرف

وأعْرَضَ عنِّي والمدامع تذرف

And he waylaid me with death from his glances.

I described my deep sorrow since we've been parted

And he turned away from me as tears streamed.

A hope beyond words is what I've inferred

وصفتُ له بعض الَّذي بي من الأسى

وصفتُ له بعض الَّذي بي من الأسى

وعندي من الرجاء ما ليس يوصف

وعندي من الرجاء ما ليس يوصف

And I described to him some of the sorrow within me.

They blame me, insist I'm obsessed with his love

And I have hope beyond description.

Where is justice, O people, have you not heard?

أُلامُ ويلحوني اللحاة بحبّه

أُلامُ ويلحوني اللحاة بحبّه

أما فيكم يا أيها النَّاس منصف

أما فيكم يا أيها النَّاس منصف

I am blamed, and the reproachers rebuke me for loving him.

I'll endure his disdain with resignation

Is there not one fair-minded person among you, O people?

And shoulder the burden of love undeterred

وإنِّي على هذا التجنّي لصابر

وإنِّي على هذا التجنّي لصابر

وأحملُ عِبءَ الوجد لا أتكلَّف

وأحملُ عِبءَ الوجد لا أتكلَّف

And I am indeed patient under this unjust treatment.

I accept your displeasure, your favor the same

And I bear the burden of yearning without forcing myself.

Among people, be one whom goodwill has spurred

وأرضى بما تَرْضَوْنَ بالسخط والرضا

وأرضى بما تَرْضَوْنَ بالسخط والرضا

وآلف بين النَّاس من راح يألف

وآلف بين النَّاس من راح يألف

And I am content with what pleases you, in displeasure and contentment.

My love is decried, yet how can I control

And among people I befriend whoever turns to friendship.

However it wants me, by passion I'm stirred

وإنِّي لمعروفُ عن اللوم في الهوى

وإنِّي لمعروفُ عن اللوم في الهوى

وكيفَ يشاء الحبُّ بي يتصرف

وكيفَ يشاء الحبُّ بي يتصرف

And in love I am indeed known to be beyond reproach.

So I yield and go on, complaints are but vain

And love deals with me however it wishes.

Among people seek those whose hearts are unblurred