أنا في قبضة الغرام رهين

أنا في قبضة الغرام رهين

بين سيفين أرهفاً ورديني

بين سيفين أرهفاً ورديني

I am a captive in the grip of passionate love,

I am captive in love's grasp,

Between two blades—a keen-edged sword and a Rudayni spear.

Between two sharp swords it makes me gasp,

فكأن الهوى فتى علوي

فكأن الهوى فتى علوي

ظن أني وليت قتل الحسين

ظن أني وليت قتل الحسين

So it is as though love were an Alid youth

As if passion were a highborn lad,

Who thought I had overseen the killing of al-Husayn;

Who thought I was for Hussein's death glad.

وكأني يزيد بين يديه

وكأني يزيد بين يديه

فهو يختار أوجع القتلتين

فهو يختار أوجع القتلتين

And as though I were Yazid before him,

And as if I were Yazid in his sight,

So he chooses the more agonizing of the two ways to kill me.

Who chose the crueler death that night.