كَفى حَزَناً أَلّا أَرى وَجهَ حيلَةٍ

كَفى حَزَناً أَلّا أَرى وَجهَ حيلَةٍ

أَزورُ بِها الأَحبابُ في حَكَمانِ

أَزورُ بِها الأَحبابُ في حَكَمانِ

It is sorrow enough that I see no means

Enough of sorrow, I see no trick

It is sorrow enough that I can find no way to visit the loved ones in Hakaman,

by which to visit my loved ones in Hakaman.

To visit friends in their abode,

I swear, were it not that the mob might reach Jinan with what I desire not for Jinan,

وَأُقسِمُ لَولا أَن تَنالَ مَعاشِرٌ

وَأُقسِمُ لَولا أَن تَنالَ مَعاشِرٌ

جِنانَ بِما لا أَشتَهي لِجِنانِ

جِنانَ بِما لا أَشتَهي لِجِنانِ

And I swear: were it not that some people might assail

And I swear, if not for some who’d gain

I would have dwelt beside her, clinging close, but what I dread—may you be ransomed—held me back.

Jinan with what I would not wish for Jinan,

Paradise through what I don’t desire,

Oh, the sorrow! A grief that leads to ruin, until I become a legend upon every tongue.

لَأَصبَحتُ مِنها دانِيَ الدارِ لاصِقاً

لَأَصبَحتُ مِنها دانِيَ الدارِ لاصِقاً

وَلَكِنَّ ما أَخشى فُديتَ عَداني

وَلَكِنَّ ما أَخشى فُديتَ عَداني

I would have lived close to her, my home adjoining hers;

I’d be by morning glued to their house,

I see the days of our union have expired, and time has signaled amongst you my farewell.

but what I fear—may you be ransomed—has kept me away.

But what I fear, my ransom is paid.

فَواحَزَنا حُزناً يُؤَدّي إِلى الرَدى

فَواحَزَنا حُزناً يُؤَدّي إِلى الرَدى

فَأُصبِحَ مَأثوراً بِكُلِّ لِسانِ

فَأُصبِحَ مَأثوراً بِكُلِّ لِسانِ

So, alas for my sorrow—a sorrow that leads to death,

So grieve a grief leading to ruin,

and so I become the talk of every tongue.

Talked of by every tongue.

أَراني انقَضَت أَيّامُ وَصلِيَ مِنكُمُ

أَراني انقَضَت أَيّامُ وَصلِيَ مِنكُمُ

وَآذَنَ فيكُم بِالوَداعِ زَماني

وَآذَنَ فيكُم بِالوَداعِ زَماني

I see that my days of union with you have ended,

I see my days of union with you end,

and my time has announced farewell to you.

And my time bids farewell.