خِفْتُ الرَّقِيبَ فَجَلَّلَتْني شَعْرَها

خِفْتُ الرَّقِيبَ فَجَلَّلَتْني شَعْرَها

وَتَجَلَّلَتْ مِنْ خَوْفِ واشٍ يَرْمُقُ

وَتَجَلَّلَتْ مِنْ خَوْفِ واشٍ يَرْمُقُ

I feared the watcher, so she veiled me in her hair;

I feared the watcher, so she cloaked me in her hair,

and cloaked herself in me, fearing a spy who watched.

And cloaked herself for fear of a watching tale-bearer.

فَكأنَّنا صُبْحانِ في لَيْلٍ حَوى

فَكأنَّنا صُبْحانِ في لَيْلٍ حَوى

فَجْرَيْنِ بَيْنَهُما ظَلامٌ مُطْبِقُ

فَجْرَيْنِ بَيْنَهُما ظَلامٌ مُطْبِقُ

We seemed two mornings in a night that held

So we were like two mornings in a night that held

two dawns, with all-enfolding darkness between them.

Two dawns, with enveloping darkness between them.

نَخفى إِذا خِفْنا وَنَبْدُو تارَةً

نَخفى إِذا خِفْنا وَنَبْدُو تارَةً

فيهِ وَأَحْياناً يَغِيبُ ويُشْرِقُ

فيهِ وَأَحْياناً يَغِيبُ ويُشْرِقُ

We hide when we are afraid, and at times appear

We hide when afraid, and sometimes appear

within it; sometimes it sets, and sometimes rises bright.

Within it; and at times it vanishes and shines.

وَعُيُونُنا قَدْ خَالَفَتْ رُقَباءَنا

وَعُيُونُنا قَدْ خَالَفَتْ رُقَباءَنا

وَقُلوبُنا لِلبَينِ مِنْهُمْ تَخفُقُ

وَقُلوبُنا لِلبَينِ مِنْهُمْ تَخفُقُ

Our eyes have defied our watchmen,

And our eyes have defied our watchers,

while our hearts beat fast at the parting they impose.

And our hearts tremble for fear of parting because of them.