كأَنَّما النَّومُ حينَ يَطْرُقُني

كأَنَّما النَّومُ حينَ يَطْرُقُني

يُريدُ وَصْلي والعَيْنُ تَهْجُرُهُ

يُريدُ وَصْلي والعَيْنُ تَهْجُرُهُ

It is as though sleep, when it visits me,

When sleep comes over me

Desiring union with me while my eye forsakes him,

It yearns for our reunion though my eyes reject it

صَديقُ صِدْقٍ أَطالَ غُرْبَتَهُ

صَديقُ صِدْقٍ أَطالَ غُرْبَتَهُ

أَعْرِفُهُ تارةً وأُنْكِرُهُ

أَعْرِفُهُ تارةً وأُنْكِرُهُ

Were a true friend who has prolonged his absence:

A friend of utmost loyalty so long in absence

At times I recognize him, and at times I do not.

At times I recognize him, at others deny him