أرى أطلالهم فيضيق صدرى

أرى أطلالهم فيضيق صدرى

وما نظري لأفق بعد بدر

وما نظري لأفق بعد بدر

I see the traces of their dwellings, and my breast constricts;

I see their ruins, and my chest grows tight.

after a full moon, my gaze seeks no horizon.

And what use is my gazing at a horizon after a full moon?

بكيت مودعا وبكى حبيبي

بكيت مودعا وبكى حبيبي

على كلب اليه ولست أدري

على كلب اليه ولست أدري

I wept as I bade farewell, and my beloved wept

I wept while bidding farewell, and my beloved wept

over a dog that made its way to him—though I do not know why.

Over a dog [dear] to him—and I do not know why.

فليت المسخ يوجد في زماني

فليت المسخ يوجد في زماني

ليبلغ قصده واليه عذري

ليبلغ قصده واليه عذري

If only metamorphosis existed in my time,

If only metamorphosis existed in my time,

so he might attain his aim; to him I offer my excuse.

So that he might attain his aim—and to him goes my excuse.

حسدت الكلب فيه وليس بدعا

حسدت الكلب فيه وليس بدعا

فما حسدي له إلا لأمر

فما حسدي له إلا لأمر

I envied the dog where he was concerned—nothing strange in that;

I envied the dog because of him, and that is nothing strange;

for my envy of it was for one thing alone:

For my envy of it is not without reason.

وأحرمني الوداع ولست أنسى

وأحرمني الوداع ولست أنسى

جفونا اسرت لبي بسحر

جفونا اسرت لبي بسحر

He denied me a farewell, yet I shall not forget

And he denied me farewell, yet I do not forget

eyelids that held my heart captive with enchantment.

Eyelids that captured my mind with a spell.

ولا أنسى السباحة منه حتى

ولا أنسى السباحة منه حتى

أحاكم في القضية كل بحر

أحاكم في القضية كل بحر

Nor shall I forget that swimming of his, until

Nor will I forget his swimming until

I bring every sea to judgment in the case.

I put every sea on trial in this case.