يامُنيَةَ النَفسِ حَسبِيَ مِن تَشَكّيكِ

يامُنيَةَ النَفسِ حَسبِيَ مِن تَشَكّيكِ

أَنّي أُصابُ وَكَفُّ الدَهرِ تَرميكِ

أَنّي أُصابُ وَكَفُّ الدَهرِ تَرميكِ

O my soul’s desire, enough for me in your lamenting

O desire of my soul, I've had enough of your doubts

is that I am stricken as the hand of Time assails you.

Though misfortune strikes me, I still strive for you

وَلَو تَسامَحَ خَطبٌ في فِدائِكِ بي

وَلَو تَسامَحَ خَطبٌ في فِدائِكِ بي

لَكُنتُ مَهما عَرا خَطبٌ أُفَدّيكِ

لَكُنتُ مَهما عَرا خَطبٌ أُفَدّيكِ

And were calamity to relent and take me as your ransom,

And if hardship befell me to buy your love

I would ransom you, whatever calamity befell.

I would readily brave it to gain you

وَكَيفَ أُغفي بِلَيلٍ تَسهَرينَ بِهِ

وَكَيفَ أُغفي بِلَيلٍ تَسهَرينَ بِهِ

أَو أَستَسيغُ شَراباً لَيسَ يُرويكِ

أَو أَستَسيغُ شَراباً لَيسَ يُرويكِ

And how can I doze on a night when you lie awake,

How can I sleep at night when you stay awake?

or relish a drink that does not quench your thirst?

Or enjoy a drink that won't quench your thirst?

هُنَيدَ أَوجَعتِ قَلباً قَد أَقَمتِ بِهِ

هُنَيدَ أَوجَعتِ قَلباً قَد أَقَمتِ بِهِ

مابالُ طَرفي وَما يُدريكِ يَبكيكِ

مابالُ طَرفي وَما يُدريكِ يَبكيكِ

Hunayd, you have pained a heart in which you have made your home.

Oh Hunaida, you've pained a heart that you reside in

What ails my eye—how could you know?—that it weeps for you?

Why do my eyes weep without your knowing?

فَرُبَّ لُؤلُؤِ دَمعٍ كُنتُ أَذخَرُهُ

فَرُبَّ لُؤلُؤِ دَمعٍ كُنتُ أَذخَرُهُ

عِلقاً أُغالي بِهِ أَرخَصتُهُ فيكِ

عِلقاً أُغالي بِهِ أَرخَصتُهُ فيكِ

For many a pearl of tears that I used to hoard

Many a teardrop I hoarded as pearls

as a treasure I valued highly, I have spent freely for your sake.

To hold as precious until spent on you

وَإِن نَأى بِكِ رَبعٌ غَيرُ مُقتَرِبٍ

وَإِن نَأى بِكِ رَبعٌ غَيرُ مُقتَرِبٍ

أَوِ اِحتَواكِ حِجابٌ فيهِ يُقصيكِ

أَوِ اِحتَواكِ حِجابٌ فيهِ يُقصيكِ

And even if a distant dwelling keeps you far away,

If a land beyond reach keeps us apart

or a veil encloses you, keeping you apart within it,

Or a veil hides you from me utterly

فَإِنَّ كُلَّ نَسيمٍ خاضَهُ أَرَجٌ

فَإِنَّ كُلَّ نَسيمٍ خاضَهُ أَرَجٌ

رَسولُ شَوقٍ أَتى عَنّي يُحَيّيكِ

رَسولُ شَوقٍ أَتى عَنّي يُحَيّيكِ

then every breeze suffused with fragrance

Any breeze that stirs the boughs

is a messenger of longing, come on my behalf to greet you.

Bears a longing message I send to greet you

وَرُبَّما شَفَعَت لي غَفوَةٌ نَسَخَت

وَرُبَّما شَفَعَت لي غَفوَةٌ نَسَخَت

أُخرى الظَلامِ فَباتَ الطَيفُ يُدنيكِ

أُخرى الظَلامِ فَباتَ الطَيفُ يُدنيكِ

And sometimes a doze interceded for me, erasing

And sometimes a slumber intercedes

the last of the darkness, so the dream-vision brought you near through the night.

Replacing the darkness, so my dream draws near you