تَغَنَّى عَلى النّاي الرّخيمِ مُهَفهف

تَغَنَّى عَلى النّاي الرّخيمِ مُهَفهف

رَشيقٌ عَليه الحسنُ لا شَكّ مَقصورُ

رَشيقٌ عَليه الحسنُ لا شَكّ مَقصورُ

A slender youth sang to the mellow flute,

The soft breath blew on the flute, fluttering,

graceful, with beauty surely confined to him.

Beauty undoubtedly confined within it.

وَروحي وَروحُ النّايِ لا شكَّ واحدٌ

وَروحي وَروحُ النّايِ لا شكَّ واحدٌ

وَما الفَرقُ قَد يَخفى وذا الأمرُ مَشهورُ

وَما الفَرقُ قَد يَخفى وذا الأمرُ مَشهورُ

And my spirit and the flute’s spirit are surely one;

My soul and the flute's soul are undoubtedly one,

the difference is not hidden, and this matter is well known.

Though the difference be obscure, this matter's well known.

وَإِن كانَ روحانا أَيا نايِهِ هوىً

وَإِن كانَ روحانا أَيا نايِهِ هوىً

فَروحُكُ مَمدودٌ وَروحي مَقصورُ

فَروحُكُ مَمدودٌ وَروحي مَقصورُ

And though our two spirits, O his flute, are hawā (love),

And if our two souls, O flute, in passion flew,

yours is extended—hawāʾ (air)—and mine shortened—hawā (love).

Yours is outspread, and mine, confined, forlorn.