لا أَشتَكي هَوايَ إِلَّا

لا أَشتَكي هَوايَ إِلَّا

إِلَيكَ لَو يَنفَعُ التَّشَكّي

إِلَيكَ لَو يَنفَعُ التَّشَكّي

I complain of my love only

I complain of my passion to none but you;

to you—if complaining could help.

Would that complaining might bring me relief!

آلَيتُ جَهدَ اليَمينِ أَن لا

آلَيتُ جَهدَ اليَمينِ أَن لا

أَزولَ إِلَّا إِلَيكِ عَنكِ

أَزولَ إِلَّا إِلَيكِ عَنكِ

I swore the most solemn oath that I would not

I have sworn an oath and bind myself

depart from you except toward you.

That I will never turn from you or cease loving you.

كَلَّفتِني الشِّعرَ في طَريق

كَلَّفتِني الشِّعرَ في طَريق

وَعرٍ قَليلِ الأَنيسِ ضَنكِ

وَعرٍ قَليلِ الأَنيسِ ضَنكِ

You tasked me with poetry on a path

You have burdened me with poetry, on a difficult road

rugged, with little companionship, and narrow.

With few friends, and much distress.

فَرَغتِ لي في إِسارِ قَلبي

فَرَغتِ لي في إِسارِ قَلبي

ثُمَّ تَشاغَلتِ عِندَ فَكّي

ثُمَّ تَشاغَلتِ عِندَ فَكّي

You made time to take my heart captive,

You have left me with an imprisoned heart,

then feigned preoccupation when it came to freeing me.

Then turned from me even as I ponder how to win you.