ألا هل لي بلقياه يدانِ

ألا هل لي بلقياه يدانِ

حبيب شأنه عجب وشأني

حبيب شأنه عجب وشأني

Ah, have I the strength to meet him?

Shall I meet him whom I desire? though that, alas! seems vain.

A beloved—his state is strange, and so is mine.

For though fate drives me wildly, love leads on a gentler rein.

إذا دنت الديار به فناء

إذا دنت الديار به فناء

وإن نأت الديار به فداني

وإن نأت الديار به فداني

If the dwellings bring him near, he is distant;

When he draws near his dwelling sorrow and joy entrance my heart,

And if the dwellings take him far away, he is near.

And when we're parted, though it seems but for a little while,

يودّ الليل لو ندنو كلانا

يودّ الليل لو ندنو كلانا

ويدخر النهار لنا التهاني

ويدخر النهار لنا التهاني

The night wishes that we would both draw close,

Both day and night are long to me; night longer than the day,

And the day stores up congratulations for us.

And gladness now is turned to gloom since he has gone away.

وتأتي شقوتي بالذنب عندي

وتأتي شقوتي بالذنب عندي

لها لا للزمان ولا المكان

لها لا للزمان ولا المكان

And my misery, in my judgment, brings blame

My sins, not time nor place, have wrought this cruelty in fate;

Upon itself, not upon time or place.

My sins, not time nor place, so bring me disappointment's weight.