حبيب لقلبي ما أقام حبيب

علقت به والعاشقون ضروب

My beloved is dear to my heart for as long as he abides.

I became attached to him, and lovers are of many kinds.

إلى الجانب الغربي من نحو أرضه

تهبُّ بأشواقي صباً وجنوب

Toward the western side, from the direction of his land,

An east wind and a south wind blow, bearing my longings.

فمن ليَ أن ألقاه والوجه ضاحك

ووجه عذولي قد زواه قطوب

Who, then, will grant me a meeting with him, with a smiling face,

While a frown has drawn my reproacher's face tight?

ولم الزمنَّ الدمع عيناً كليلة

تغالب خيل الدمع وهو غلوب

And why should I confine tears to a weary eye

That battles the cavalry of tears, though tears ever prevail?

إذا لم تكن فالعيش ليس بطيب

بلى كل شيءٍ في لقاك يطيب

If you are absent, life is not sweet;

Yes, in meeting you, all things grow sweet.

وليس غريب أن أبثك لوعة

ولكن كتمان المحب غريب

And it is not strange that I confide my burning anguish to you,

But it is strange for a lover to conceal his feelings.

وقد كان لي قلب جليد على الهوى

وصدر إذا ضاق الخناق رحيب

And once I had a heart steadfast in the face of passion,

And a spacious breast even when the noose grew tight.

فمالك يا ظبي الصريمة نافر

كأني إذا ما رمت وصلك ذيب

So why do you flee, O gazelle of the sand tract,

As though I were a wolf whenever I sought union with you?