ظبيٌ كأنَّ بِخَصْرِهِ

ظبيٌ كأنَّ بِخَصْرِهِ

من رقّة ظمأ وجوعا

من رقّة ظمأ وجوعا

A gazelle—as though within his waist,

A gazelle — as though about his waist there clung,

A gazelle whose waist seems to hold,

so slender, dwelt thirst and hunger.

out of sheer slenderness, a thirst and a hunger;

in its slenderness, thirst and hunger.

إني علقت لشقوتي

إني علقت لشقوتي

ياقوم ممنوعاً منيعا

ياقوم ممنوعاً منيعا

I have fallen in love—to my misfortune—

I am caught in love — to my own undoing —

I have fallen in love, to my misfortune,

O people!—with one forbidden and unattainable.

O my people, by one forbidden, beyond all reach.

O my people, with one forbidden and beyond reach.