أراشَ نبال مُقلته فَأَصمى

أراشَ نبال مُقلته فَأَصمى

غزالٌ فاترُ اللَحظات ألمى

غزالٌ فاترُ اللَحظات ألمى

He feathered the arrows of his eye and struck me dead—

He aimed his arrows and struck me deaf

A gazelle with languid glances and dark lips.

A weakened gazelle, pained by his glances

يُعلِّلني بِسَوف وَهل وَحتّى

يُعلِّلني بِسَوف وَهل وَحتّى

وقد وَعسى ولَيت ولم ولا ولَمّا

وقد وَعسى ولَيت ولم ولا ولَمّا

He keeps me hoping with 'will,' 'whether,' and 'until,'

He makes excuses with “soon” and “perhaps” and “until”

And 'may,' 'perhaps,' 'if only,' 'did not,' 'not,' and 'not yet.'

And “maybe” and “if only” and “not” and “no” and “if”

فأوسعه على التَفسيح حمداً

فأوسعه على التَفسيح حمداً

وَيوسعني على الإِحسان ذمّا

وَيوسعني على الإِحسان ذمّا

So I lavish praise on him for prolonging the wait,

So I thank him abundantly for explaining

And he lavishes blame on me for my kindness.

And he criticizes me extensively for kindness