سقى عهد ليلى مدمعٌ وسحائب

سقى عهد ليلى مدمعٌ وسحائب

تجرُّ صباً من خلفها وجنائب

تجرُّ صباً من خلفها وجنائب

May a tearful eye and clouds water the days of Layla,

The covenant with Laila watered a weeping one, and clouds

Trailing the east wind and south winds behind them.

That drag youth behind them and sides.

وحيّ زمان الوصل إذ أوجه الدمى

وحيّ زمان الوصل إذ أوجه الدمى

قناديل حسنٍ والشعور محارب

قناديل حسنٍ والشعور محارب

And hail the time of union, when the doll-like beauties' faces

And the inspiration of the time of union when I direct the tearful one

Were lamps of beauty, and their tresses prayer niches.

Lamps of beauty, and the hair is an opponent.

ليالي وفا ليلى صديقٌ ملازم

ليالي وفا ليلى صديقٌ ملازم

كما للتقى والبر في الشام صاحب

كما للتقى والبر في الشام صاحب

Nights when Layla's faithfulness was a constant friend,

Nights loyal to Laila, a friend sticking around

Just as piety and benevolence have a companion in al-Sham.

As virtuousness has a companion in Damascus.

مرجيَة أقواله وفعاله

مرجيَة أقواله وفعاله

ولا غرو أن ترجى لديه الرغائب

ولا غرو أن ترجى لديه الرغائب

His words and deeds inspire hope,

Hopeful for his words and deeds

And no wonder he is looked to for coveted favors.

No wonder hopes in him are sought.

تنبه في الأمر المهمّ يراعه

تنبه في الأمر المهمّ يراعه

فأغنى ونامت في الجفون القواضب

فأغنى ونامت في الجفون القواضب

His reed pen awoke to the weighty matter;

He wakes for the important matter, watches over it

So it sufficed, and keen-edged swords slept in their sheaths.

So he sang, and sleep fell on the eyelids.

وقال الورى من ذا الذي أنت مادح

وقال الورى من ذا الذي أنت مادح

براعته حيث التقى والمواهب

براعته حيث التقى والمواهب

And the people said, “Who is this you praise

And creation said, who is this you are praising

For his excellence, where piety and gifts meet?”

For his skill, where virtues and talents meet?

فقلت لهم موسى الزمان وهذه

فقلت لهم موسى الزمان وهذه

عصاه التي للملك فيها مآرب

عصاه التي للملك فيها مآرب

So I told them, “The Moses of the age—and this

I said to them, Moses of the time, and this

Is his staff, which the king has many uses for.”

Is his staff in which the king has intentions.