قُل للمُغَيَّرِ لَونهُ

قُل للمُغَيَّرِ لَونهُ

حتَّى كأنَّ بِه سَقامي

حتَّى كأنَّ بِه سَقامي

Say to him whose color has changed,

Tell him whose color has changed,

until it seems he suffers my sickness:

so much that he seems to bear my illness:

ما بينَ جُودِكَ بالوصا

ما بينَ جُودِكَ بالوصا

لِ وبَينَ بُخلِكَ بالسَّلامِ

لِ وبَينَ بُخلِكَ بالسَّلامِ

Between your generosity in granting union

Between your generosity with union

and your stinginess even with a greeting,

and your stinginess with a greeting

إلا قَليلٌ قلَّ فيه

إلا قَليلٌ قلَّ فيه

عَزاءُ صَبٍّ مُستَهامِ

عَزاءُ صَبٍّ مُستَهامِ

there is but a little space, wherein scant

lies but a little span, in which has dwindled

is the solace of a love-struck, impassioned lover.

the solace of a lover distraught with love.