كأني لم آنس بألفاظك التي

كأني لم آنس بألفاظك التي

على عقد الألباب هن نوافت

على عقد الألباب هن نوافت

As though I had never found comfort in your words, which

As if I never became familiar with your words, which

As though I had never found solace in your words, which

Breathe spells upon the knots of minds,

Adorn the pearls of minds,

cast their enchanting spells, blowing upon the knots of minds,

ولم أتحكم في الأماني كأنني

ولم أتحكم في الأماني كأنني

لإفراط ما حكمت فيهن عابث

لإفراط ما حكمت فيهن عابث

Nor held sway over wishes—as though I

And I did not master my hopes, as if

Nor had I held full sway over my desires, as if,

Were a trifler for ruling them to excess.

I was foolish in my excessive judgments about them,

from the boundless reign I had over them, I were merely dallying,

ويبدين أعراضاً وهن أوالف

ويبدين أعراضاً وهن أوالف

ويقسمن في هجري وهن حوانث

ويقسمن في هجري وهن حوانث

And they display aversion, though they are affectionate,

They show aversion though they are intimate friends,

While they feign estrangement though deeply attached,

And swear to forsake me, though they break their oaths.

And they swear to abandon me though they are effeminate.

And swear to forsake me, only to break their vows.