وَلَيلى ما كَفاها الهَجرُ حَتّى

وَلَيلى ما كَفاها الهَجرُ حَتّى

أَرَتني جُرحَ قَلبي بِالعُيونِ

أَرَتني جُرحَ قَلبي بِالعُيونِ

And for Layla, separation was not enough, until

Laila was not satisfied with my estrangement until

she showed me the wound in my heart with her eyes.

She saw with her eyes the wound in my heart

وَما قَنَعتَ بِسَفكِ دِمى وَلكِن

وَما قَنَعتَ بِسَفكِ دِمى وَلكِن

أَباحَت في الهَوى عَرضي وَديق

أَباحَت في الهَوى عَرضي وَديق

And you were not content with shedding my blood, but

And you were not content with shedding my blood but

she made my honor fair game in love [final word unclear].

In passion made public my honor and faith

فَقُلتُ لَها اِرحَمي الاِمى قالَت

فَقُلتُ لَها اِرحَمي الاِمى قالَت

بامى قَد بَليت فَمن مُعيني

بامى قَد بَليت فَمن مُعيني

So I said to her, 'Have mercy on my pains'; she said,

So I said to her, "Have mercy on one in pain," and she said,

I have indeed been afflicted by my mother [reading uncertain]—so who will help me?

"My mother, I am afflicted so who will help me?"

أَتَرحَمُ في الغَرام وَأَنت صب

أَتَرحَمُ في الغَرام وَأَنت صب

وَهل في الحُب يا أُمّي اِرحَميني

وَهل في الحُب يا أُمّي اِرحَميني

Do you show mercy in passion, while you are lovesick?

"Can you have mercy in passion when you are aflame?

And is there, in love, 'O my mother, have mercy on me'?

Is there in love, my mother, any pity for me?"