بِكُلِّ طَريقٍ لي مِن الحُبِّ راصِدٌ

بِكُلِّ طَريقٍ لي مِن الحُبِّ راصِدٌ

بِكَفَّيهِ سَيفٌ لِلهَوى وَسِنانُ

بِكَفَّيهِ سَيفٌ لِلهَوى وَسِنانُ

On every road, a sentry of love lies in wait for me;

With every path, a watcher lies in wait for me,

In his two hands are passion's sword and spearhead.

His hands holding a sword for passion and a spear for desire;

وَمَا لي عَنهُ مِن مَفَرٍّ وَإِنَّني

وَمَا لي عَنهُ مِن مَفَرٍّ وَإِنَّني

لَأَجبُنُ عَنهُ وَالمُحِبُّ جَبانُ

لَأَجبُنُ عَنهُ وَالمُحِبُّ جَبانُ

And I have no escape from him; indeed, I

I have no escape from it, though indeed

Shrink from him in fear, and a lover is a coward.

I would shy from it - for lovers are weak;

فَقَد صِرتُ بَينَ البابِ وَالدارِ لَيسَ لي

فَقَد صِرتُ بَينَ البابِ وَالدارِ لَيسَ لي

مَقامٌ وَلا لي إِن خَرَجتُ أَمانُ

مَقامٌ وَلا لي إِن خَرَجتُ أَمانُ

So I am now between the door and the house; I have no

So I stand now between the door and the house, with

Place to stay, nor safety if I go out.

No rest, and no safety if I venture out;

وَما سُمتُ نَفسي الصَبرَ عَمَّن أُحِبُّهُ

وَما سُمتُ نَفسي الصَبرَ عَمَّن أُحِبُّهُ

وَلا خُنتُهُ فيمَن أَراه يُخانُ

وَلا خُنتُهُ فيمَن أَراه يُخانُ

And I have not forced myself to endure separation from the one I love,

I never intended to show patience for one I love,

Nor have I betrayed him as I see others betrayed.

Nor betray in any I see as traitorous.