جئت أصلّي فلم أصلّي

جئت أصلّي فلم أصلّي

شاهد بعضي وغاب كلي

شاهد بعضي وغاب كلي

I came to pray, but did not pray.

I came to pray, but did not pray

Part of me was present, and all of me was absent.

Part of me was present, all of me astray

رأيت بدرا على قضيب

رأيت بدرا على قضيب

في حسن زيّ وحسن دل

في حسن زيّ وحسن دل

I saw a full moon atop a slender branch,

I saw the full moon on a rod

In fine attire, with graceful coquetry.

In beauty of raiment and beauty of body

فتاه فهمي وضلّ حلمي

فتاه فهمي وضلّ حلمي

وسال دمعي وزال عقلي

وسال دمعي وزال عقلي

Then my understanding wandered, and my composure went astray.

My sense took flight, my reason went wrong

And my tears flowed, and my reason vanished.

My tears flowed down, my mind was gone

فقلت صلني فقال يرجو

فقلت صلني فقال يرجو

مثلك ايضا وصال مثلي

مثلك ايضا وصال مثلي

So I said, “Be with me.” He said, “Does one hope—

I said "Join me in prayer", he said "I hope

one like you, too—for union with one like me?”

For union with the likes of you and I to cope"