باتت تنوح وبت اسمعها

باتت تنوح وبت اسمعها

في روضة منظومة السلك

في روضة منظومة السلك

She spent the night lamenting, and I spent it listening to her,

She began to wail and I heard her

In a garden arrayed like beads on a thread.

In a meadow made of wire mesh

فعجبت منها وهي جالسة

فعجبت منها وهي جالسة

مع الفها ووقعت في الشك

مع الفها ووقعت في الشك

So I marveled at her as she sat

I was astonished at her sitting

With her mate, and I fell into doubt.

With the doves while falling into doubt

تبكي هديلا وهي لم تره

تبكي هديلا وهي لم تره

فبكاؤها ضرب من الضحك

فبكاؤها ضرب من الضحك

She weeps for Hadil, though she has never seen him;

She cries ceaselessly though she hasn't seen him

So her weeping is a kind of laughter.

So her crying is a kind of laughter

تبكي ولا تدري لشقوتها

تبكي ولا تدري لشقوتها

وانا الذي ادري ولا ابكي

وانا الذي ادري ولا ابكي

She weeps and, in her wretchedness, does not know,

She cries though she doesn't know her misery

While I am the one who knows, yet does not weep.

While I, who know, do not cry