عَلامَ وَالقَدُّ مِنكَ عادِل

عَلامَ وَالقَدُّ مِنكَ عادِل

قَتَلتِ بِالهَجرِ غَيرَ قاتِل

قَتَلتِ بِالهَجرِ غَيرَ قاتِل

Why, though your figure is upright,

Why does rightfulness flee from you?

have you killed through estrangement one who is no killer?

You killed without being a killer,

وَكَيفَ أَعرَضتِ عَن وِصالي

وَكَيفَ أَعرَضتِ عَن وِصالي

وَصِدقَ وُدّي إِلَيكَ واصِل

وَصِدقَ وُدّي إِلَيكَ واصِل

And how have you turned away from union with me,

How could you turn away from my affection?

while my sincere love reaches you?

While my love for you was ever loyal.

يا رَبَّةَ الحُسنِ وَالمَعاني

يا رَبَّةَ الحُسنِ وَالمَعاني

وَزينَةَ الدُرِّ وَالخُلاخِل

وَزينَةَ الدُرِّ وَالخُلاخِل

O mistress of beauty and meaning,

O you, epitome of beauty and meaning,

and adornment of pearls and anklets,

Adorned with pearls and anklets' tinkle.

جودي عَلى فاقَتي بِوَصلٍ

جودي عَلى فاقَتي بِوَصلٍ

يَقطَعُ ما بَينَنا الرَسائِل

يَقطَعُ ما بَينَنا الرَسائِل

In my need, grant me union

Favor me in my poverty with a visit,

that ends the letters between us.

To break the messages that between us dwindle.

وَراقِبي اللَهَ في ضَعيفٍ

وَراقِبي اللَهَ في ضَعيفٍ

أَمسى لِثَقيلِ الغَرامِ حامِل

أَمسى لِثَقيلِ الغَرامِ حامِل

And be mindful of God in your treatment of a frail man,

And be mindful of God regarding one made frail,

who has come to bear love's heavy burden.

Who bears the burden of passions grown cumbersome.

بِهِ غَليلٌ لَدَيكَ يُشفى

بِهِ غَليلٌ لَدَيكَ يُشفى

بِضَمِّ ما ضَمَّتِ الغَلائِل

بِضَمِّ ما ضَمَّتِ الغَلائِل

He has a burning thirst that can be healed in your presence,

In you lies the cure for his discontent,

by embracing what the thin robes enfold.

With an embrace to match what sorrows crumple.

وَعاوِدي وَصلَهُ وَعودي

وَعاوِدي وَصلَهُ وَعودي

جِسماً بَراهُ السَقامُ ناحِل

جِسماً بَراهُ السَقامُ ناحِل

And renew your union with him, and visit

Renew your bond to him, your wont renew,

a gaunt body that sickness has wasted.

To a body sickness has left shrunken and feeble.

وَلا يُرَوّي سِواكِ صَبّاً

وَلا يُرَوّي سِواكِ صَبّاً

مَدمَعُهُ في هَواكِ سائِل

مَدمَعُهُ في هَواكِ سائِل

And none but you can quench a lovesick man's thirst,

None but you can sate the pouring of his tears,

whose tears stream for love of you.

Spilling for love of you, imploring and restless.