قالوا أتى العيد ماذا أنت لابِسُه

قالوا أتى العيد ماذا أنت لابِسُه

فقلت خلعةَ ساقٍ حُبَّه جَرَعا

فقلت خلعةَ ساقٍ حُبَّه جَرَعا

They said, “Eid has come—what will you wear?”

They said, “Eid has come; what will you wear?”

I said, “A cupbearer’s robe—his love I drank in draughts.”

So I said, “A robe of honor from a cupbearer who pours his love in draughts.”

فَقرٌ وصَبرٌ هما ثوباي تحتَهُما

فَقرٌ وصَبرٌ هما ثوباي تحتَهُما

قلبٌ يرى إِلفَهُ الأعيادَ والجُمَعا

قلبٌ يرى إِلفَهُ الأعيادَ والجُمَعا

Poverty and patience—these are my two garments; beneath them

Poverty and patience are my two garments; beneath them

A heart that sees its beloved as Eids and Friday gatherings.

Is a heart that sees in its beloved all feasts and Fridays.

الدهرَ لي مأتمٌ إن غِبتَ يا أملي

الدهرَ لي مأتمٌ إن غِبتَ يا أملي

والعيدُ ما كنت لي مرأى ومستَمعا

والعيدُ ما كنت لي مرأى ومستَمعا

All time is mourning for me if you are absent, O my hope;

All time is mourning for me if you are absent, O my hope.

And Eid is whenever you are there for me to see and hear.

And it is Eid as long as you are there for me to see and hear.

أحرى الملابسِ ما تَلقَى الحبيبَ به

أحرى الملابسِ ما تَلقَى الحبيبَ به

يوم التزاورِ في الثوب الذي خَلَعا

يوم التزاورِ في الثوب الذي خَلَعا

The worthiest attire is that in which you meet the beloved

The most fitting garment is what you meet the beloved in,

On the day of mutual visiting, in the robe that he cast off.

On the day of exchanging visits, in the robe he bestowed.