كتبت إليكم اشتكي حرقة الهوى

كتبت إليكم اشتكي حرقة الهوى

بخط ضعيفٍ والخطوط فنون

بخط ضعيفٍ والخطوط فنون

I wrote to you, lamenting love’s burning anguish,

I wrote to you, complaining of love’s burning pain,

in a faint hand—for handwriting takes many forms.

in a faint hand—and handwriting takes many forms.

فقال خليلي ما لخطِّك هكذا

فقال خليلي ما لخطِّك هكذا

دقيقاً ضيئلاً ما يكاد يبين

دقيقاً ضيئلاً ما يكاد يبين

My friend said, “Why is your handwriting thus—

Then my friend said, “Why is your handwriting like this—

so fine and slight that it can scarcely be seen?”

so fine, so faint that it scarcely shows?”

فقلت حكاني في نحولٍ ودقةٍ

فقلت حكاني في نحولٍ ودقةٍ

كذاك خطوط العاشقين تكون

كذاك خطوط العاشقين تكون

I said, “It mimics me in gauntness and fineness;

I said, “It has mirrored me in thinness and fineness;

such is the handwriting of those in love.”

such is the handwriting of lovers.”