1. يا ليت شعري هل يُرى

    من بعد فرْقتنا اجتماع

    Oh, would that I knew: shall we see

    a reunion after our parting?

  2. وهل التدانيُ جابر

    منى فؤاداً ذا انصداع

    And will closeness mend

    a heart of mine, rent apart?

  3. وهل العهود تعود في

    تلك المغاني والرِّباع

    And will the old pledges return in

    those dwellings and abodes?

  4. وهل السَّناء يلوح لي

    منه سناه والشُّعاع

    And will splendor gleam for me—

    its radiance and rays shining from it?

  5. وهل السؤال بقولتي

    هل فيه للنفس انتفاع

    And this question in my words—

    is there any benefit in it for the soul?

  6. إني سألتك ذاهلاً

    والفكرُ في كفِّ الضياعْ

    Indeed, I asked you in a daze,

    with thought in the grip of loss.

  7. لم يدرِ ما كتبت ير

    أعته مشوقا ذو ارتياع

    He knew not what his reed pen wrote—

    filled with longing, a man beset by alarm.

  8. ذكر الوداع فراعَه

    ما كانَ في يوم الوداع

    He remembered farewell, and was alarmed

    by what had happened on the day of farewell.

  9. وتقطَّعَت أسبابه

    فله لدى القول انقطاع

    And his ties were severed,

    so he falters when he speaks.

  10. فأسمحْ له متفضلاً

    واسمعْ فما ضر استماع

    So indulge him, graciously,

    and listen, for listening does no harm.

  11. فسماعكمْ أخباره

    فيه على الحال اطلاعْ

    For your hearing his news

    offers insight into his condition.

  12. وله بذلك راحه

    ما ساغ تسريبُ الرقاع

    And in this he finds relief,

    so long as notes may be sent.