لَم أَنسَ قَولة هاتف

لَم أَنسَ قَولة هاتف

مِن نحوِ رامة بي وَخيف

مِن نحوِ رامة بي وَخيف

I have not forgotten the words of one who called

I did not forget the call of a phone

to me from the direction of Rāmah and Khayf:

From near Rama, frightening me

أَما أَنا فَمُتَيم

أَما أَنا فَمُتَيم

قَلق الفُؤاد فَأَنتَ كَيف

قَلق الفُؤاد فَأَنتَ كَيف

“As for me, I am love-stricken,

While I am infatuated

restless at heart—and how are you?”

My heart is restless, and you, how are you?

فَأَجَبتَهُ وَالعيس تَنتَظر ال

فَأَجَبتَهُ وَالعيس تَنتَظر ال

سَرى وَالوَصل ضَيف

سَرى وَالوَصل ضَيف

So I answered him, while the pale camels awaited the

You answered him while the night awaits

night journey, and union was a guest:

An evening visitor or a connection

حالي كَحالك في الهَوى

حالي كَحالك في الهَوى

وَأَنا القَتيل بَغَير سَيف

وَأَنا القَتيل بَغَير سَيف

“My state is like yours in love,

My state is like your state in love

and I am slain without a sword.

And I am the slain without a sword

مَن لَم تُساعدهُ الحُظو

مَن لَم تُساعدهُ الحُظو

ظ فَكُلُ ما يُبديهِ زيف

ظ فَكُلُ ما يُبديهِ زيف

Whoever is not favored by fortune—

He who luck does not assist

everything he displays is counterfeit.

All that he expresses is false

لَم تَجد أه بَعدَ ما

لَم تَجد أه بَعدَ ما

رَحَل الخَليط وَقَول حيف

رَحَل الخَليط وَقَول حيف

Sighs of ‘Ah!’ did not avail after

You did not find after the intimate

the companions departed, nor did cries of ‘Injustice!’

And the words were gone, any comfort

أَمسيت طَيفاً بِالنَحو

أَمسيت طَيفاً بِالنَحو

ل فَجد عَلى طَيف بِطَيف

ل فَجد عَلى طَيف بِطَيف

I have become a phantom through emaciation—

I became a specter wandering

so favor a phantom with a phantom.”

So sympathize with a specter with a specter