أرى الشعر إلا فيك تزهو سطوره

أرى الشعر إلا فيك تزهو سطوره

وينساب من فرط السرور نميره

وينساب من فرط السرور نميره

I see poetry’s lines flourish only in you,

Poetry flourishes only through you, its lines glow

And its sweet water flows from sheer joy.

Flowing from excessive joy is its soft murmur

فأنت له يا قرة العين واحة

فأنت له يا قرة العين واحة

يحف بها روض تهادى غديره

يحف بها روض تهادى غديره

For you are its oasis, O delight of the eye,

You are its oasis, delight of the eye

Encircled by a garden whose brook glides gently.

Surrounded by a garden where a stream gurgles gently

فإن حلقت ألفاظه وتألقت

فإن حلقت ألفاظه وتألقت

معانيه فالحب الجميل أميره

معانيه فالحب الجميل أميره

For if its words soar and radiance fills

When its words rise up and its meanings shine

Its meanings, then beautiful love is its prince.

Love the radiant leads it to clear proofs

يوجهه للبيّنات فيرتوي

يوجهه للبيّنات فيرتوي

من المنهل العذب المصفى شعوره

من المنهل العذب المصفى شعوره

It guides it toward clear proofs, bringing refreshment

To be quenched from the pure, filtered spring

From the sweet, purified spring to its feeling.

Satisfying the feelings flowing from its conscience

فأنت له يا نفحة العمر ظله

فأنت له يا نفحة العمر ظله

ومغناه في دنيا الهوى وزهوره

ومغناه في دنيا الهوى وزهوره

For you are its shade, O breath of life,

You are its shade, essence of life

And its home in the world of love, and its blossoms.

And its song in the world of love and flowers

وأنفاسه من طيب رياك تنتشي

وأنفاسه من طيب رياك تنتشي

ولولاك ما طابت ونثت عطوره

ولولاك ما طابت ونثت عطوره

And its breaths grow intoxicated with your sweet fragrance;

Its breath is freshened by your sweet scent

And without you, its perfumes would neither be sweet nor spread.

Without you, its fragrances wouldn't be sweet or plentiful

ولولاك ما غنى على البان ساجع

ولولاك ما غنى على البان ساجع

ولا رفرفت في الخافقين طيوره

ولا رفرفت في الخافقين طيوره

And without you, no songbird would sing on the moringa tree,

Without you, no lover would've sung to the white moon

Nor would its birds flutter across the east and west.

Nor would birds flap their wings through the horizons

ولولاك ما حلو الزمان ومره

ولولاك ما حلو الزمان ومره

بمجد ولا برد الفضا وهجيره

بمجد ولا برد الفضا وهجيره

And without you, neither time’s sweetness nor its bitterness

Without you, time wouldn't be sweet or bitter

Would avail, nor the open air’s chill or its noonday heat.

With glory, nor would space cool and murmur

فحبك إكسير الحياة وروحه

فحبك إكسير الحياة وروحه

ومأوى فؤاد لم يجد من يجيره

ومأوى فؤاد لم يجد من يجيره

For your love is the elixir of life and its spirit,

Your love is the elixir of life and its soul

And the refuge of a heart that found none to shelter it

A haven for a heart that finds no shelter

سواك وأما في سواك فليس لي

سواك وأما في سواك فليس لي

مراد وقلبي ما سواك يثيره

مراد وقلبي ما سواك يثيره

But you; as for anyone else, I have no

Except you - and none but you - I have

Desire, and none but you stirs my heart.

No wishes, my heart stirs for none but you

وما قلت من شعر ففيك نظيمه

وما قلت من شعر ففيك نظيمه

وما قلت من نثر ففيك نثيره

وما قلت من نثر ففيك نثيره

And whatever poetry I have spoken, its woven verse is of you;

Whatever poetry I recited, you inspired its rhythm

And whatever prose I have spoken, its scattered words are of you.

Whatever prose I uttered, you are its prose

أبى الشعر إلا فيك يا غاية المنى

أبى الشعر إلا فيك يا غاية المنى

تضيء بنور الرائعات سطوره

تضيء بنور الرائعات سطوره

Poetry insists that only in you, O goal of all wishes,

Poetry flourishes only through you, ultimate wish

Its lines shine with the light of marvels.

Your light illuminates the lines' glow