ولمّا زارني سَحَراً حبيبٌ

ولمّا زارني سَحَراً حبيبٌ

بلطْفِ الخطو قد أخفىْ بحاله

بلطْفِ الخطو قد أخفىْ بحاله

And when a beloved visited me before dawn,

When my beloved visited me at dawn

With gentle footsteps, he had kept his presence hidden;

With gentle steps, concealing his state

رعىْ الرقباءُ في مسراه وهناً

رعىْ الرقباءُ في مسراه وهناً

إِلى أن خِلتُ من أهوى خياله

إِلى أن خِلتُ من أهوى خياله

The watchers kept watch during his late-night passage,

The sleepless ones on their beds spied

Until I thought the one I love was his phantom.

Until alone was I, devoid of his fancied image