هَيَّجَ أَحزاني وَرَوعاتي

هَيَّجَ أَحزاني وَرَوعاتي

مَن كانَ يَسعى بِرِسالاتي

مَن كانَ يَسعى بِرِسالاتي

He stirred up my sorrows and my terrors—

He stirred my sorrows and my terrors—

the one who used to carry my messages.

He who used to carry my messages.

أَبصَرتُهُ يَوماً فَساءَلتُهُ

أَبصَرتُهُ يَوماً فَساءَلتُهُ

عَنها وَكانَت تِلكَ عاداتي

عَنها وَكانَت تِلكَ عاداتي

One day I saw him and questioned him

I saw him one day and asked him

about her, as was my wont.

About her—as was my custom.

فَجاءَ مِنهُ مَنظَرٌ هاجَ لي

فَجاءَ مِنهُ مَنظَرٌ هاجَ لي

بَلِيَّةً فَوقَ البَلِيّاتِ

بَلِيَّةً فَوقَ البَلِيّاتِ

Then from him came a look that roused in me

Then came a look from him, bringing me

an affliction surpassing all afflictions.

A calamity on top of calamities.

إِنّي وَإِن أَظهَرتُ هِجرانَها

إِنّي وَإِن أَظهَرتُ هِجرانَها

وَطالَ شَوقي وَصَباباتي

وَطالَ شَوقي وَصَباباتي

Indeed, though I openly show that I shun her,

I, though I have outwardly shunned her,

while my longing and lovesick yearnings have lingered on,

And my longing and love's pangs have lasted long,

وَأَصبَحَت في المِصرِ لي جارَةً

وَأَصبَحَت في المِصرِ لي جارَةً

خَزراءَ لا تُؤتى وَلا تَأتي

خَزراءَ لا تُؤتى وَلا تَأتي

and she has become my neighbor within the inviolable precinct,

And she has become my neighbor in the city,

sidelong-eyed, unapproachable and never herself approaching—

With a hostile sidelong gaze, neither visited nor visiting—

لَحافِظٌ ما كانَ مِن عَهدِها

لَحافِظٌ ما كانَ مِن عَهدِها

أَصدُقُها في كُلِّ حالاتي

أَصدُقُها في كُلِّ حالاتي

I surely preserve whatever bond there was with her,

Surely keep the bond I once had with her;

and am true to her in every condition of mine.

I am true to her in every circumstance.