يا ليتَ عيني تَحمَّلت ألمكَ

يا ليتَ عيني تَحمَّلت ألمكَ

بل ليتَ نَفسي تَقسَّمت سَقمَك

بل ليتَ نَفسي تَقسَّمت سَقمَك

Oh, would that my eye had borne your pain!

Oh, if only my eyes could bear your pain

Rather, would that my soul had shared your sickness!

If only my soul could share your illness

وليت كفَّ الطبيب إذ فَصَدَت

وليت كفَّ الطبيب إذ فَصَدَت

عرقَكَ أَجرَت مِن ناظِرَيَّ دَمَك

عرقَكَ أَجرَت مِن ناظِرَيَّ دَمَك

And would that the physician’s hand, when it lanced

And if the doctor's hand, when he bled you

Your vein, had made your blood flow from my eyes!

Made your blood flow from my eyes instead

أَعَرتهَ صبغَ وَجنَتَيك كما

أَعَرتهَ صبغَ وَجنَتَيك كما

تُعيرُه إن لثمتَ مَن لَثَمَك

تُعيرُه إن لثمتَ مَن لَثَمَك

You lent it the hue of your cheeks, just as

I'd lend him the red dye of your cheeks

You lend it if you kiss one who has kissed you.

As you'd lend him, if he kissed your lips

طَرفُك أمضَى من حَدٍّ مبِضَعه

طَرفُك أمضَى من حَدٍّ مبِضَعه

فالَحظ به العِرقَ وارتجز ألمك

فالَحظ به العِرقَ وارتجز ألمك

Your glance is sharper than the edge of his lancet;

Your eyes are sharper than a polished blade

So look at the vein with it, and chant your pain in verse.

So spare them the tears, be strong, don't ache