بُكاءٌ وَكَأسٌ كَيفَ يَتَّفِقانِ

بُكاءٌ وَكَأسٌ كَيفَ يَتَّفِقانِ

سَبيلُهُما في القَلبِ مُختَلِفانِ

سَبيلُهُما في القَلبِ مُختَلِفانِ

Weeping and a cup—how can the two agree?

Tears and wine cup, how can they agree?

Their paths within the heart are different.

Their paths in the heart are so different.

دَعاني وَإِفراطَ البُكاءِ فَإِنَّني

دَعاني وَإِفراطَ البُكاءِ فَإِنَّني

أَرى اليَومَ فيهِ غَيرَ ما تَرَيانِ

أَرى اليَومَ فيهِ غَيرَ ما تَرَيانِ

Leave me to excessive weeping, for I

It called me, this excess of tears, but I

see in it today something other than what you two see.

See today in it other than you two see.

غَدَت وَالثَرى أَولى بِها مِن وَلِيِّها

غَدَت وَالثَرى أَولى بِها مِن وَلِيِّها

إِلى مَنزِلٍ ناءٍ لِعَينِكِ دانِ

إِلى مَنزِلٍ ناءٍ لِعَينِكِ دانِ

She departed—the earth has more claim to her than her guardian—

They became, and dust is worthier of them than their guardian,

to a dwelling far away, yet near to your eye.

To an abode sloping to your eye obedient.

فَلا وَجدَ حَتّى تَنزُفَ العَينُ ماءَها

فَلا وَجدَ حَتّى تَنزُفَ العَينُ ماءَها

وَتَعتَرِفَ الأَحشاءُ بِالخَفَقانِ

وَتَعتَرِفَ الأَحشاءُ بِالخَفَقانِ

So there is no grief until the eye has drained its tears

So no ecstasy until the eye sheds its water,

and the inward parts confess their throbbing.

And the guts confess the fluttering.

وَكَيفَ بِدَفعِ اليَأسِ وَالوَجدِ بَعدَها

وَكَيفَ بِدَفعِ اليَأسِ وَالوَجدِ بَعدَها

وَسَهماهُما في القَلبِ يَعتَلِجانِ

وَسَهماهُما في القَلبِ يَعتَلِجانِ

And how can despair and grief be warded off after she is gone,

And how to ward off despair and ecstasy after them

while their two arrows struggle within the heart?

While their two arrows in the heart twist and turn?