لا عذبن العين غير مفكر

ابدا بها لو مس باصرها العمى

I shall surely torment the eye, without a thought

for it, ever—even if blindness touches its sight.

واحثها تبكي الطلول مخاطرا

فيها بكت بالدمع او فاضت دما

And urge it to weep over the ruins, taking a risk

with it, whether it sheds tears or pours forth blood.

ولأهجرن من الرقاد لذيذه

اذ راح اصناف العواذل نوما

And I shall surely forsake the sweetness of sleep

when the various reprovers have gone to sleep.

فاقيم حربا بين عيني والكرى

حتى يعود على الجفون محرما

So I shall wage war between my eye and slumber,

until it becomes forbidden to the eyelids.

هي اوقعتني في حبائل فتنة

منها عليّ غدا الضياء مطلسما

It cast me into the snares of enchantment;

because of it, light became an enigma to me.

قادت فؤادي للعناء بنظرة

لو لم تكن نظرت لكنت مسلما

It led my heart to suffering with a glance;

had it not looked, I would have been unharmed.

سفكت دمي فلأسفكن دموعها

ليرى بها روض الطلول منمنما

It shed my blood, so I shall surely shed its tears,

so the garden of the ruins may be seen embroidered with them.

فأنا الذي حنقا اكرر ظلمها

وهي التي بدأت فكانت اظلما

So I am the one who, in anger, repeatedly wrongs it,

but it was the one that began, and so was more unjust.