ألَّفَ بين الفؤاد والكمدِ

ألَّفَ بين الفؤاد والكمدِ

وحال دون العناء والجلَدِ

وحال دون العناء والجلَدِ

He joined the heart to sorrow,

He brought joy to my heart and spirit

And stood in the way of suffering and endurance—

And relieved my troubles and sorrows

ظبيٌ غريرٌ كأنَّ ريقَتَهُ

ظبيٌ غريرٌ كأنَّ ريقَتَهُ

نكْهَةُ خمْر نُزِّلَ في بَرَد

نكْهَةُ خمْر نُزِّلَ في بَرَد

A guileless gazelle, whose saliva is like

A gazelle, so delicate, whose saliva

The aroma of wine set amid hailstones.

Was like the taste of wine poured into ice

يا منيَةَ النفسِ لو أبوح بها

يا منيَةَ النفسِ لو أبوح بها

ويا شفاءَ السقَّام والكمدِ

ويا شفاءَ السقَّام والكمدِ

O my soul’s desire—if only I could speak of it—

Oh you who bring joy to my soul, if I profess my love

And O cure for sickness and sorrow!

You are the cure for the ill and distressed

أصبرُ حتى أموت فيك ولا

أصبرُ حتى أموت فيك ولا

أشكو الذي شفَّني إلى أحدِ

أشكو الذي شفَّني إلى أحدِ

I endure until I die for love of you, and do not

I am patient until I die for you and do not

Complain to anyone of what has wasted me away.

Complain to anyone who has healed me

خشيتُ أنِّي ومن كَلفْتُ به

خشيتُ أنِّي ومن كَلفْتُ به

لا نتلاقى ونحن في بلدِ

لا نتلاقى ونحن في بلدِ

I feared that I and the one I fell in love with

I feared that I and the one I burdened

Would not meet, though we are in the same town.

Would not meet while we are in this land

لعل دهراً فُجعت فيه بكم

لعل دهراً فُجعت فيه بكم

يُعقبُ حتى أراك طوع يدي

يُعقبُ حتى أراك طوع يدي

Perhaps the time in which I was bereft of you

Perhaps one day I missed you

Will make amends, until I see you at my hand’s command.

Followed by the day I see you by my side