خَلَوْتُ بمن أهواه بعد تَفَرُّقٍ

خَلَوْتُ بمن أهواه بعد تَفَرُّقٍ

بأرضٍ إلى صَوْبِ النَّدَى أن يصوبها

بأرضٍ إلى صَوْبِ النَّدَى أن يصوبها

I was alone with the one I love after separation,

I met with the one I love after our separation

In a land, toward the fall of dew upon it [Arabic syntax unclear].

In a land I hoped its soft breezes would bring us together

فكان عَويلي رَعْدُهَا وابْتسامُهُ

فكان عَويلي رَعْدُهَا وابْتسامُهُ

وَمِيضاً وأهواء القُلُوبِ جنُوبها

وَمِيضاً وأهواء القُلُوبِ جنُوبها

So my wailing was its thunder, and his smile

So my crying was like its thunder and his smile its lightning

A flash of lightning, and the hearts’ passions its south wind.

Flashes of passion stirred feelings long asleep

وجادَ غمامٌ من دموعي لِرَوْضِهَا

وجادَ غمامٌ من دموعي لِرَوْضِهَا

فَضَوَّعَ أنفاسَ الخُزَامَى وطيبَها

فَضَوَّعَ أنفاسَ الخُزَامَى وطيبَها

And a cloud of my tears rained upon its meadow,

Clouds of my tears watered its meadows

So it spread the lavender’s breaths and fragrance.

Scenting the air with the sweetness of flowers

وقرَّب مِنّي الدَّهْرُ حُبّاً رَجَوْتُهُ

وقرَّب مِنّي الدَّهْرُ حُبّاً رَجَوْتُهُ

وأَبْعَدَتِ الأيّامُ عَنّي رَقيبَها

وأَبْعَدَتِ الأيّامُ عَنّي رَقيبَها

And time brought close to me a love I had hoped for,

Time brought near the love for which I had hoped

And the days drove its watcher far from me.

But kept far from me the watchfulness that would hinder it