1. Longing belongs to lovers, and moaning,
When tears overflowed upon the cheeks.

2. Alas for the sigh that longing evokes,
And a hidden illness among the ribs.

3. How can the long-suffering be consoled? How can sorrow forget?
How can the grieved be heedless?

4. Do not blame me for being delicate; leave me be.
My heart is held hostage by delicacy.

5. My friend, do you not yearn for the meadow?
For this is the time when longing appears.

6. Do you see the mosque’s side having shone
With its backs and bellies?

7. Carnations, lilies and wallflowers,
And blossoms are being picked, and storeys.

8. In its gardens the migrate birds alighted
And its plains and depressed delighted.

9. March left nothing beneath the land’s belly
That it had concealed like December.

10. The beautiful narcissi appeared like
Eyes yearning for eyes.

11. Do you see the side of spring having shone
With clove gilliflower and common snowdrop?

12. The bulbul cried in it, the turtledove moaned,
The chaffinch sang in its air the goldfinch.

13. So its chamomile, purslane, and jasmine,
The roses in it, and the yasmens.

14. As if the Euphrates between them is an eye
Of crystal wherein ships swim.

15. Like snakes’ bellies or backs of balconies
That the bridges made smooth.

16. Never did a year like this year come,
Nor a time like this time come.

17. A land radiant with flowers, abundant rain,
And clouds heavy with burdens.

18. Waters meet each other, water from the rain,
Flowing water, and spring water.

19. How many went by morning to Deir Zakaa
With a sincere heart, and left downcast?

20. If one day you lingered by the monastery, charmed
By arts and made joyous by arts,

21. My blamer in my youth, wait a bit.
Do not blame me, for blaming is madness.

22. How many gazelles in their hands is rose,
And rose preserved in their cheeks?

23. When I glance at their cheeks, suspicions arise
And roam in my heart.

24. Happy is he whom no cheek makes happy.
Happy is the fortunate, auspicious bird.

25. A tongue like a sword, a truthful heart,
Firm resolve and sound opinion.

26. Do not cry over ruins and edifices,
Nor over an abode mightier than time.

27. Rise, and let us greet the morn, pure,
Dispelling worries and leaving no sorrow.

28. Early, a mature, clear maid
Appearing to tell us of time past.

29. A wine well-strained, yellow, effervescent,
As if you mixed it with your arm.

30. With it strides a cupbearer with mole on cheek,
Cleft in his lips, inclined to the right.

31. In his spittle is honey, with it my heart is drunk.
In his gait a leaning upon the branch.

32. As if he is a moon, no mortal his like,
In his eyes, houris longing, wounding me.

33. Glory to his Creator! Woe to his lover!
He brings to his viewer weakness from pining.

34. In a garden bloomed with plants when it thrived,
As if it were carpeted with his beauty.

35. O goodly our session, the birds make us joyous,
The lute gladdens us with a fine singer.