وظبيand a gazelle قلّdwindled نوميmy sleep فيin هواهُlove for him
وظبي قلّ نومي في هواهُ
كمhow often قدindeed طالgrew long فيهbecause of him قصيرُshort ليليmy night
كم قد طال فيه قصيرُ ليلي
And a gazelle—for love of him, my sleep has dwindled.
My gazelle deprived me of sleep with her love
How often my short night has grown long because of him!
How long my short night has been prolonged because of her
وماand not أناI نلتُI attained منهُfrom him الوصلunion يوماever
وما أنا نلتُ منهُ الوصل يوما
وكيفand how منfrom المحالthe impossible يكونُcan be نيليmy attainment
وكيف من المحال يكونُ نيلي
And I have never once attained union with him.
And I have never attained union with her for a single day
And how could I attain the impossible?
And how can the unattainable be my attainment
يرىhe sees لمدامعيfor my tears منfrom فوقabove خدّيmy cheek
يرى لمدامعي من فوق خدّي
تسيرُflow كأنّهنّas though they were جيادُfine steeds خيليmy horses
تسيرُ كأنّهنّ جيادُ خيلي
He sees my tears upon my cheek,
She sees my tears flowing down my cheeks
Coursing as though they were my fine steeds.
As if they were the horses of my cavalry
فقلso tell لفتىto a youth يُحاولُseeks منهfrom him وصلاunion
فقل لفتى يُحاولُ منه وصلا
أتطمعُdo you hope فيfor البلوغreaching الىto سُهيلSuhayl (Canopus)
أتطمعُ في البلوغ الى سُهيل
So tell a youth who seeks union with him:
So say to the youth who attempts to unite with her
Do you hope to reach Suhayl?
Do you aspire to reach the unreachable star Suhayl
Sol 6.1