تَمَنّاهُ طَيفي في الكَرى فَتَعَتَّبا

تَمَنّاهُ طَيفي في الكَرى فَتَعَتَّبا

وَقَبَّلتُ يَوماً ظِلَّهُ فَتَغَيَّبا

وَقَبَّلتُ يَوماً ظِلَّهُ فَتَغَيَّبا

My phantom longed for him in sleep, so he took offense.

My phantom I wished in the lands, so it blamed

My phantom sought him in deep slumber, yet he turned away in reproach,

And one day I kissed his shadow, so he vanished.

And I kissed its shade one day, so it vanished

And one day I kissed his shadow, whereupon he vanished from sight,

وَقالوا لَهُ إِنّي مَرَرتُ بِبابِهِ

وَقالوا لَهُ إِنّي مَرَرتُ بِبابِهِ

لِأَسرِقَ مِنهُ نَظرَةً فَتَحَجَّبا

لِأَسرِقَ مِنهُ نَظرَةً فَتَحَجَّبا

And they told him that I had passed by his door

And they said to it, "I passed by its door

They told him that I had passed by his door,

to steal a glance at him, so he veiled himself.

To steal a glance from it, so it veiled

To steal a single glance, so he veiled himself away,

وَلَو مَرَّ نَفحُ الريحِ مِن خَلفِ أُذنِهِ

وَلَو مَرَّ نَفحُ الريحِ مِن خَلفِ أُذنِهِ

بِذِكرى لِسَبِّ الريحَ ثُمَّ تَغَضَّبا

بِذِكرى لِسَبِّ الريحَ ثُمَّ تَغَضَّبا

And even if a breath of wind passed behind his ear

If the breeze's waft passed behind its ear

And were a breath of wind to drift behind his ear,

with mention of me, he would surely curse the wind, then grow angry.

With a memory, I'd curse the breeze, so it'd rage

Bearing my memory, he would curse the breeze and swell with rage,

وَما زادَهُ عِندي قَبيحُ فِعالِهِ

وَما زادَهُ عِندي قَبيحُ فِعالِهِ

وَلا السَبُّ وَالإِعراضُ إِلّا تَحَبُّبا

وَلا السَبُّ وَالإِعراضُ إِلّا تَحَبُّبا

And his ugly deeds have made him, in my eyes—

Nor did its ugly acts increase it to me

Yet the ugliness of his deeds did not alter his place in my heart,

as have his insults and turning away—only dearer.

No cursing nor disdain, but more love

Nor did his insults and avoidance increase aught but my love.