مستهامٌ ضاق مذهبهُ

مستهامٌ ضاق مذهبهُ

في هوى من عز مطلبه

في هوى من عز مطلبه

A love-stricken man, his path grown narrow,

A thirsty man whose creed is narrow

In love with one so hard to win.

In love for one whose quest is hard

كل أمري في الهوى عجبُ

كل أمري في الهوى عجبُ

وخلاصي منه أعجبهُ

وخلاصي منه أعجبهُ

All my affairs in love are wondrous,

All my love is wondrous

And my escape from it is the greatest wonder.

And my salvation from it more wondrous

لي حبيبٌ كله حسنٌ

لي حبيبٌ كله حسنٌ

فعيون الناس تنهبه

فعيون الناس تنهبه

I have a beloved who is all beauty,

I have a lover completely beautiful

So people's eyes plunder him.

So people's eyes plunder him

صيغ من ماءٍ ولي نظرٌ

صيغ من ماءٍ ولي نظرٌ

ليس يروي حين يشربه

ليس يروي حين يشربه

He was fashioned from water, yet my gaze

Molded from water, and I have a look

Is not quenched when it drinks him.

Not sated when I drink him

ضاع من عيني فمقلتها

ضاع من عيني فمقلتها

في بحار الدمع تطلبه

في بحار الدمع تطلبه

He vanished from my eye, so its orb

Lost from my eyes so I complained to them

Searches for him in seas of tears.

In seas of tears they seek him

منعتني من مقبلهِ

منعتني من مقبلهِ

حين أدنو منه عقربه

حين أدنو منه عقربه

I was barred from his lips,

His scorpion stung me

When I drew near him, by his scorpion.

When I approached him

واستدارت فهي تحرسه

واستدارت فهي تحرسه

من فمي بخلاً وترقبه

من فمي بخلاً وترقبه

And it has curled around and guards him

And it guards him

From my mouth, out of stinginess, and keeps watch over him.

From my mouth, stingily and watchfully