1. My friend, why the hesitation
About my heart's aspirations
١. صَاحِ مَاذَا التَّوَانِي
عَنْ مُرَادِ الأَمَانِي
2. In an elegant, saffron-colored cloak
The evenings are theaters of longing
٢. فِي أَصِيلٍ مُعَصْفَرِ الأَرْدَانِ
فَالْعَشَايَا مَسَارِحُ الأَشْوَاقِ
3. And their trysts, places for eyes to meet
So many battles of lovers there
٣. وَحُلاَهَا مَطَارِحُ الأَحْدَاقِ
كَمْ بِهَا مِنْ مَصَارِعِ الْعُشَّاقِ
4. It made every weak soul yearn
For songs of tenderness
٤. شَوَّقَتْ كُلَّ عَانِ
لِمَغَانِي التَّهَانِي
5. And a beloved transcending all faults
No metaphor can match his state
٥. وَحَبِيبٍ قَدْ جَلَّ عَنْ نُقْصَانِ
لَيْسَ يَنْبِي عَنْ حَالِهِ تَشْبِيهُ
6. Only exaltation befits him
His attributes conceal his nature
٦. إنَّمَا يَرْتَقِي لَهُ التَّنْزِيهُ
عَنْ سِمَاتٍ مِنْ شَأْنِهِ التَّمْوِيهُ
7. From afar and from near
With the beauty of days
٧. مِنْ بَعِيدٍ وَدَانِ
مِنْ حِسَانِ الزَّمَانِ
8. And days gone by
To him belongs the beauty of forms
٨. وَحِسَانٍ فِي غَابِرِ الأَزْمَانِ
فَإِلَيْهِ انْتَهَى جَمَالُ الصُّورَهْ
9. And flowers of adornment reserved for him
Secrets of his essence locked away
٩. وَعَلَيْهِ زَهْرُ الْحُلَى مَقْصُورَهْ
وَبِأَسْرَارِ ذَاتِهِ مَحْصُورَهْ
10. Beyond what troubles us
Of wonderful meanings
١٠. جَلَّ عَنْ مَا نُعَانِي
مِنْ بَدِيعِ الْمَعَانِي
11. And strange words and rhythms
١١. بِغَرِيبِ الأَلْفَاظِ وَالأَوْزَانِ