1. عصيت مولاك يا سعيد

    ما هكذا يفعل العبيد

    You disobeyed your lord, O Saʿīd;

    this is not how servants behave.

  2. عبَيدَ سوء عصيتَ جهلا

    لم ينهك الوعد والوعيد

    Wicked little servant, you disobeyed in ignorance;

    neither promise nor threat restrained you.

  3. مضت لياليك في التصابى

    وأنت عن رشدها بعيد

    Your nights passed in youthful dalliance,

    and you are far from their right guidance.

  4. واها على العمر قد تقضى

    ولم أنل منه ما أريد

    Alas for a lifetime already spent,

    and I have not gained from it what I desire.

  5. فدمع عيني له انهمالٌ

    ونار حزني له وقود

    So the tears of my eye pour freely,

    and the fire of my grief has fuel.

  6. يا حسرة في الحشى استكنّت

    ضرامها ما له خمود

    O regret that has lodged within my breast—

    its blaze never dies down.

  7. تبلى الليالي وحزن قلبي

    على الذي فاتني جديد

    The nights wear away, yet my heart's grief

    over what has passed me by is still fresh.

  8. يا سادتي والنوى أليمٌ

    والشوق مستحكم شديد

    O my masters, separation is painful,

    and longing is deep-rooted and fierce.

  9. هل لي إلى وصلكم سبيلٌ

    فقد برى جسمى الصدود

    Is there a way for me to union with you?

    For rejection has wasted my body.

  10. ما زال يهفو وإن تناءى

    بذكرك العميد

    He still yearns, though far away—

    at the thought of you, the love-stricken one.

  11. وكيف ينسى أو كيف يسلو

    من قد تقضت له عهود

    And how can he forget, or how can he find solace—

    one whose former days have passed away?

  12. رقوا لمغرى أضحى كئيباً

    له بأبوابكم قعود

    Pity one enthralled by love, now sorrowful,

    who remains seated at your doors.

  13. إن لم تجودوا بجبر كسرى

    فمن ترى غيركم يجود

    If you do not generously mend my brokenness,

    then who besides you, do you think, will be generous?

  14. منّوا على المدنف المعنّى

    عودوا عليلَ البعاد عودوا

    Show favor to the gravely ill, tormented one;

    visit the one sick with separation—visit him!

  15. رحماكم في حليف حزن

    على الضنا والأسى جليدُ

    Have mercy on sorrow's companion,

    steadfast amid wasting sickness and grief.

  16. قد خدّدت مذ هجرتموه

    بدمعه فيكم الخدود

    Since you forsook him, furrows have been carved

    by his tears for you upon his cheeks.

  17. إن لم تلافَوا سقام نفسى

    فبالنوى مهجتي تبيد

    If you do not remedy my soul's sickness,

    then my lifeblood will perish from separation.

  18. بنظرة منك يا مُنائي

    تسعد آمالي السعود

    With a glance from you, O my heart's desire,

    good fortune gladdens my hopes.

  19. وبالرضا إن منحتموه

    يعذب للوارد الورود

    And with your approval, if you grant it,

    reaching the water grows sweet for the one who comes.

  20. طوبى لمن نال منك أمناً

    فبات يغبطه الوجود

    Blessed is whoever gains safety from you,

    so he spends the night envied by all existence.