وَزائِرٍ رَاعَ وَجْهَ البَيْنِ مَنْظَرُهُ

وَزائِرٍ رَاعَ وَجْهَ البَيْنِ مَنْظَرُهُ

أَحْلَى مِنَ الأَمْنِ عِنْدَ الخَائِفِ الوَجِلِ

أَحْلَى مِنَ الأَمْنِ عِنْدَ الخَائِفِ الوَجِلِ

And a visitor whose appearance terrified the face of parting—

The visitor's face brought the desolation landscape to life,

Sweeter than safety to the fearful, trembling one.

Sweeter than safety to the anxious and fearful.

أَلْقَى عَلَى اللَّيْلِ لَيْلاً مِنْ ذَوَائِبِهِ

أَلْقَى عَلَى اللَّيْلِ لَيْلاً مِنْ ذَوَائِبِهِ

فَهَابَهُ الصُّبْحُ أَنْ يَبْدُو مِنَ الخَجَلِ

فَهَابَهُ الصُّبْحُ أَنْ يَبْدُو مِنَ الخَجَلِ

He cast upon the night a night from his tresses,

He cast a night of grief over the night,

So dawn feared to appear before him, out of shame.

So dawn was too shy to emerge from its bashfulness.

أَرادَ بِالهَجْرِ قَتْلي فَاسْتَجَرْتُ بِهِ

أَرادَ بِالهَجْرِ قَتْلي فَاسْتَجَرْتُ بِهِ

فَاسْتَلَّ بِالوَصْلِ رُوحي مِنْ يَدَيْ أَجَلِي

فَاسْتَلَّ بِالوَصْلِ رُوحي مِنْ يَدَيْ أَجَلِي

He intended to kill me through estrangement, so I sought refuge with him;

He intended to kill me with separation, so I took refuge in him,

So through reunion he drew my soul from the hands of my appointed death.

And through reunion he wrested my soul from the hands of my fate.