1. جعلتم للفؤاد شغلا

    وأنتم مهجتي وأغلى

    You have kept the heart occupied,

    and you are my very soul, and dearer still.

  2. أحللتم في سواد عيني

    تالله نوّرتم المحلا

    You have settled in my eye's dark pupil;

    by God, you have lit up the dwelling.

  3. يا مالكين الفؤاد رفقا

    يا مالكين العنان مهلا

    O masters of the heart, be gentle;

    O holders of the reins, go slowly.

  4. رضيتُ إلا الصدود منكم

    فحمِّلوني في الحب إلا

    I accept everything from you but rejection;

    so lay upon me a covenant in love.

  5. انا الذي ذقت في هواكم

    ماذاق قيس من حب ليلى

    I am he who, in love for you, has tasted

    what Qays tasted from his love for Layla.

  6. ازيدكم ما استطعت حبا

    ما زادني العاذلون عذلا

    I increase my love for you as much as I can,

    as the reproachers increase their blame of me.

  7. يا اكحل العين اى ذنب

    صير حظي لديك كحلا

    O you of kohl-dark eyes, what sin

    has made my lot with you black as kohl?

  8. يا لين الأذن هل الانوا

    وشاية في الهوى ونقلا

    O pliant of ear, have they softened

    slander and tale-bearing in love?

  9. يا نافر العِطف لا لداع

    من ذا أراك النِفار سهلا

    O you who turn your shoulder away without cause,

    who made turning away seem easy to you?

  10. صبك ما يستفيق عشقا

    وأنت ما تستفيق دلا

    Your lover never sobers from passion,

    and you never sober from coquetry.

  11. هلا حكيت الغصون لينا

    كما حكتك الغصون شكلا

    Why not imitate the boughs in suppleness,

    as the boughs have imitated you in form?

  12. جعلت في راحتيك وحى

    وذاك شئ في الحب قلا

    I placed [my soul?] in your two palms,

    and that is a small thing in love.

  13. وتبتغون السلو منى

    يا مالك الروح كيف تُسلى

    Yet you want me to forget;

    O master of the soul, how can you be forgotten?

  14. تماد في الهجر أو تمهل

    لعل بعد الصدود وصلا

    Persist in estrangement, or take your time;

    perhaps, after rejection, there will be union.

  15. تكاد بشرى رضاك عندى

    تعدل بشرى القدوم فعلا

    To me, the glad news of your favor almost

    equals, in truth, the glad news of your arrival.