1. When my eyes reached their loved ones
I saw the turning away of a loved one's eyes
١. لَمَّا انْتَهَتْ عَيْني إِلىَ أَحْبَابِهَا
شَاهَدْتُ صِرْفَ الرَّاحِ عَيْنَ حَبَابِهَا
2. Shall I see other than Layla when estrangement rules me
With her distance and veil between us
٢. أَأَرَى سِوَى لَيْلَى إِذَا حَكَمَ الجَفَا
مِنْهَا عَلَيَّ بِبُعْدِهَا وَحِجَابِهَا
3. While the universe of her lovers tempts me
With a grace that love sees as her graces
٣. والَكَوْنُ مِنْ عُشَّاقِهَا وَيَفُوتُنُي
أَدَبٌ يَرَاهُ الحُبِّ مِنْ آدَابِهَا
4. No, by Him who made sadness and longing
My garb through her, and beauty my garb
٤. لاَ وَالَّذي جَعَل الضَّنَا وَالحُزْنَ
جِلْبَابِي بِهَا وَالحُسْنَ مِنْ جِلْبَابِهَا
5. I enjoyed her charms while others saw
So their hearts were seared for her
٥. وَنَعِمْتُ مِنْ أَكْوَانِهَا وَرَأَى السِّوى
غَيْريِ فَأَصْبَحَ قَلْبُهُ يُكْوَى بِهَا
6. I walked the abode amidst its tents
As if sickness itself were its drapes for me
٦. وَلَقَدْ طَرَقْتُ الحَيَّ بَيْنَ خِيَامِهِ
فَكَأَنَّنِي لِلسُّقْمِ مِنْ أَطْنَابِهَا
7. I read these verses closely
As if I were asked to parse their grammar
٧. وَقَرأْت هَاتِيكَ البِيُوتَ تَصَفُّحاً
فَكَأَنَّنِي المَسْئُولُ عَنْ إِعْرَابِهَا
8. Until dawn drew its veil
And the beautiful sun cast off her veil
٨. حَتَّى إِذَا جَذَبَ الصَّبَاحُ لِثَامَهُ
وَرَمَتْ مَلِيَحةُ شَمْسِهِ بَنَقِابِهَا
9. The gloom saw I was one of it
So I left with the rays at its leaving
٩. رَأَتْ الدُّجَيْنَةُ أَنَّني مِنْ بَعْضِهَا
فَذَهَبْتُ بِالأَنْوَارِ عِنْدَ ذِهَابِهَا
10. I witnessed Layla, seen by no other
Her beauty had shed its veil
١٠. وَشَهِدْتُ لَيْلَى لاَ يَرَاهَا غَيْرُهَا
وَجَمَالُهَا قَدْ شَفَّ مِنْ جِلْبَابِهَا
11. I sought her but found only the means of death
Linked by despair to its causes
١١. وَطَلَبْتُهَا فَوَجَدْتُ أَسْبَابَ المُنَى
مَوْصُولَةً بالْيَأْسِ مَنْ أَسْبَابِهَا
12. Except for those who gave youth its due
And approached the abode through its doors
١٢. إلاَّ لِمَنْ أَعْطَى الصَّبَابَةَ حَقَّهَا
وَأَتَى بيوُتَ الحَيِّ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا
13. And kept faith with the pact of its messenger
In the matter, standing in the door in place
١٣. وَوَفَى بِعَهْدِ رَسُولِهَا في أَمْرِهِ
عَنْهَا فَقَامَ مَقَامَهُ في بَابِهَا