أَرسَلَت في طي النَسيم رِسالَة

أَرسَلَت في طي النَسيم رِسالَة

فَعَسى تَزورُ دِيارَهُم وَترود

فَعَسى تَزورُ دِيارَهُم وَترود

I sent a message in the folds of the breeze,

I sent a message on the folds of the breeze,

So perhaps it will visit their dwellings and roam there.

Perhaps it may visit their dwellings and return.

عَطَرت أَرجاءَ النَسيمِ كَأَنَّما

عَطَرت أَرجاءَ النَسيمِ كَأَنَّما

نَشَرت عَلَيهِ مِنَ الرِياضِ ورود

نَشَرت عَلَيهِ مِنَ الرِياضِ ورود

It perfumed the reaches of the breeze, as though

It scented the surroundings of the breeze, as though

It had scattered roses from the gardens upon it.

It had scattered roses of gardens over it.

وَلَبِثتُ أَنتَظِر الجَوابَ فَما أَتى

وَلَبِثتُ أَنتَظِر الجَوابَ فَما أَتى

وَلَك لكتبى في الدِيارِ وَرود

وَلَك لكتبى في الدِيارِ وَرود

And I kept waiting for the reply, but it did not come.

I waited for an answer but none came,

And my letters find their way to you in those dwellings.

Yet my letters in the dwellings have roses.

اِنى لاِحسدها عَلى نَيلِ المُنى

اِنى لاِحسدها عَلى نَيلِ المُنى

فَانا لكتبى ما حييت حَسود

فَانا لكتبى ما حييت حَسود

Indeed, I envy them for attaining the heart’s desire;

I envy them the attainment of wishes,

So I shall remain envious of my letters as long as I live.

For while I live, my letters are envious.

فَرَسائِلي البَيضاءَ تَحظى بِاللُقا

فَرَسائِلي البَيضاءَ تَحظى بِاللُقا

يا لَيت سودى بِاللِقاء تَسود

يا لَيت سودى بِاللِقاء تَسود

For my white letters are granted a meeting;

My fair missives are met with welcome,

Oh, if only my dark eyes could gain distinction through meeting!

Would that my dark ones were met so!