1. قَد كُنتُ أَرجو وَصلَكُم

    فَظَلَلتُ مُنقَطِعَ الرَجاءِ

    I once hoped for union with you,

    but I was left bereft of hope.

  2. أَنتِ الَّتي وَكَّلتِ عَي

    نِيَ بالسُهادِ وَبِالبُكاءِ

    You are the one who charged my eye

    with sleeplessness and with weeping.

  3. إِنَّ الهَوى لَو كانَ يَن

    فُذُ فيهِ حُكمي أَو قَضائِي

    Indeed, if love were subject

    to my ruling or my judgment,

  4. لَطَلَبتُهُ وَجَمَعتُهُ

    مِن كُلِّ أَرضٍ أَو سَماءِ

    I would seek it out and gather it

    from every earth or heaven,

  5. فَقَسَمتُهُ بَيني وَبَي

    نَ حَبيبِ نَفسي بِالسَواءِ

    then divide it between myself

    and my soul's beloved, equally,

  6. فَنَعيشَ ما عِشنا عَلى

    مَحضِ المَوَدَةِ وَالصَفاءِ

    so that, throughout our lives, we might live in

    pure affection and sincerity,

  7. حَتّى إِذا مُتنا جَمي

    عاً وَالأُمورُ إِلى فَناءِ

    until, when we had died together—

    and all things come to an end—

  8. ماتَ الهَوى مِن بَعدِنا

    أَو عاشَ في أَهلِ الوَفاءِ

    love would die after us,

    or live on among the faithful.