عَرَفتُ بِها الأَشجانَ وَهيَ خَلِيَّةٌ

عَرَفتُ بِها الأَشجانَ وَهيَ خَلِيَّةٌ

مِنَ الحُبِّ لا وَصلٌ لَدَيها وَلا هَجرُ

مِنَ الحُبِّ لا وَصلٌ لَدَيها وَلا هَجرُ

Through her I came to know sorrows, while she is free

I knew the trees to be her neighbors, though she

Of love: with her there is neither union nor estrangement.

Is a cell of love without access or desertion.

أَراها فَأَطوي لِلنَصيحِ عَداوَةً

أَراها فَأَطوي لِلنَصيحِ عَداوَةً

وَأَحمَدُ عُقبى ما جَنى النَظَرُ الشَزرُ

وَأَحمَدُ عُقبى ما جَنى النَظَرُ الشَزرُ

I see her and harbor enmity toward the sincere adviser,

I see her so I fold away my advice

And I praise the outcome of what the sidelong glance has wrought.

And praise the fruit of stolen glances.

فَلا سِيَّما العُذّالُ فيها مَلامَهُم

فَلا سِيَّما العُذّالُ فيها مَلامَهُم

أَلَستُ إِذا لاموا أَبيتُ وَلي عِذرُ

أَلَستُ إِذا لاموا أَبيتُ وَلي عِذرُ

And especially the reprovers, with their blame concerning her.

So I have no blame for the reproachers

When they reproach me, do I not refuse—and have an excuse?

If I stay and defend when blamed.

شَكَوتُ فَقالوا ضِقتَ ذَرعاً بِحُبِّها

شَكَوتُ فَقالوا ضِقتَ ذَرعاً بِحُبِّها

مَتى تَملُكُ الشَكوى إِذا غَلَبَ الصَبرُ

مَتى تَملُكُ الشَكوى إِذا غَلَبَ الصَبرُ

I complained, and they said: You have lost patience with loving her.

I complained and they said, you've had your fill of her love

When can you voice a complaint if patience prevails?

When can complaint prevail if patience is lost?

أَلَمَّت بِنا في العائِداتِ مِن أَهلِها

أَلَمَّت بِنا في العائِداتِ مِن أَهلِها

فَأَذكَت غَليلاً ما لَدَيها بِهِ خُبرُ

فَأَذكَت غَليلاً ما لَدَيها بِهِ خُبرُ

She called on us among the visiting women of her family,

On our return from her people she reminded us

And kindled a burning thirst of which she knew nothing.

Reviving a torment whose knowledge is with her.