ما السِّجنُ يومَ حلَلتَه سِجنُ

ما السِّجنُ يومَ حلَلتَه سِجنُ

بل رَوضَةٌ يَعتادُها المُزنُ

بل رَوضَةٌ يَعتادُها المُزنُ

The prison was no prison the day you entered it,

What is prison on the day you are released from it, prison?

but a garden that the rain clouds frequent.

Rather it is a garden one becomes accustomed to,

وكأنَّك الوِلدانُ طُفتَ به

وكأنَّك الوِلدانُ طُفتَ به

وكأنَّه بكَ جَنَّةٌ عَدنُ

وكأنَّه بكَ جَنَّةٌ عَدنُ

And as you walked about it, you seemed the youthful attendants,

And it is as if you are the child circling it,

and with you it seemed a Garden of Eden.

And it is as if it is for you a paradise of Eden with you.

ولئِن أبَا الفَتح ارتُهِنتَ بهِ

ولئِن أبَا الفَتح ارتُهِنتَ بهِ

فَقُلوبُنا بكَ في الهَوى رَهنُ

فَقُلوبُنا بكَ في الهَوى رَهنُ

And though, Abu al-Fath, you are held there in pledge,

And if victory refused, you were hostage to it,

yet our hearts are pledged to you in love.

Then our hearts are to you in love a hostage.