1. أرسلت ما أرسلت من أدمعي

    تذكرة مني له إنْ يعي

    I sent what I sent of my tears,

    a reminder from me to him, if he would heed.

  2. فلم يعرِّجْ والتوى هاربا

    وقال لا تسأل فهذا معي

    But he did not pause, and turned aside, fleeing,

    and said: Do not ask, for this is with me.

  3. وإنما أطلب لي معرضا

    قد اختفى عني في المخدع

    I seek only, for myself, one who turns away,

    who has hidden from me in the inner chamber.

  4. إنا دعوناهم عسى يرجعوا

    والخائبُ المحروم لم يسمع

    Indeed, we called them, hoping they would return,

    but the disappointed, deprived one did not hear.

  5. وما به من طرشِ حاكم

    لكنه استحيى فلم يرجع

    And no deafness holds sway over him;

    but he felt ashamed, so he did not return.

  6. أتبعه أذكرُه نعمتي

    وما برحتُ اليومَ من موضعي

    I follow him, reminding him of my favor,

    though today I have not left my place.

  7. فقال لي تهزأ بي سيدي

    وأنتَ تدري أنني مدَّعي

    So he said to me: You mock me, my lord,

    and you know that I claim,

  8. بالحالِ لا بالقول في حبكم

    لأنني أخشى إذا ادَّعي

    through my state, not through speech, to love you,

    for I fear that, if I make a claim,

  9. يقول لي قل ما الدليل على

    صحةِ ما أنت به تدعي

    he will say to me: Tell me, what is the evidence for

    the truth of what you claim?

  10. لا تطلبِ البرهان من ناطق

    إلا إذا سمعته يدَّعي

    Do not seek proof from one who speaks,

    unless you hear him make a claim,

  11. وكان من كان وأنت الذي

    تفهم قولي فيه لا تجزع

    whoever he may be; and you are the one

    who understands my words about him—do not be distressed.