غلبَ العزاءُ فبحتُ بالكتمانِ

غلبَ العزاءُ فبحتُ بالكتمانِ

عجزاً عن الزَّفراتِ والأحزانِ

عجزاً عن الزَّفراتِ والأحزانِ

My fortitude was overcome, and concealment itself made me divulge—

My fortitude was overcome, and I revealed what I had concealed,

unable to withstand the sighs and sorrows.

Powerless against sighs and sorrows.

أسرَرتُ حتَّى ضاقَ ذَرعي بالهَوى

أسرَرتُ حتَّى ضاقَ ذَرعي بالهَوى

وبَكيتُ حتَّى كلَّتِ العينانِ

وبَكيتُ حتَّى كلَّتِ العينانِ

I kept it secret until love became more than I could bear,

I kept it secret until I could bear love no longer,

and wept until both my eyes grew weary.

And I wept until both my eyes grew weary.

واستَنطقَ السقمُ الطَّويلُ جَوارِحي

واستَنطقَ السقمُ الطَّويلُ جَوارِحي

فَتكلَّمَت وَشكَت بغيرِ لسانِ

فَتكلَّمَت وَشكَت بغيرِ لسانِ

Lingering illness compelled my limbs to speak;

And prolonged sickness made my limbs speak;

they spoke and made complaint without a tongue.

So they spoke and complained without a tongue.

وَلطالما كَتمت عليَّ فَصرَّحت

وَلطالما كَتمت عليَّ فَصرَّحت

بِسَرائرٍ من دَمعِها الإعلانِ

بِسَرائرٍ من دَمعِها الإعلانِ

Long had they kept silence for me; then they spoke plainly

And long had they kept my secret, but then they spoke openly

of my inmost secrets through their tears’ avowal.

Of secrets through their revealing tears.