وألوى سبى جفني مغير جفونهِ

وألوى سبى جفني مغير جفونهِ

ألم ترَ تسهيدي ومقلته وسنى

ألم ترَ تسهيدي ومقلته وسنى

And a haughty one—his eyelids’ raider has taken my eyelid captive.

He twists his eyelid in sleep, though awake are his eyes,

Have you not seen my sleeplessness, while his eye is drowsy?

Have you not seen my submission, my longing, my yearning?

أيكسر جفناً لحظهُ وهو صارمٌ

أيكسر جفناً لحظهُ وهو صارمٌ

ويعطي أماناً أم يسوّ فنا أمنا

ويعطي أماناً أم يسوّ فنا أمنا

Does his glance, itself a keen sword, break a scabbard

Does he break a lid with his piercing glance,

And grant safe conduct—or put us off with promises of safety?

Or give safety, or render our days insecure?

فرم نجوةً وانبذ إليه ذمامهُ

فرم نجوةً وانبذ إليه ذمامهُ

فلولا ابتغاء الحربِ ما كسرَ الجفنا

فلولا ابتغاء الحربِ ما كسرَ الجفنا

So seek refuge, and cast his pledge of protection back to him;

He casts a tender look, sending his greetings,

For without the desire for war, he would not have broken the scabbard.

If he sought not war, he'd not rend the eyelid.