وَقَفت لَها كيما تمرُّ لعلني

وَقَفت لَها كيما تمرُّ لعلني

أخالِسها التَسليم إن لَم تُسَلِّم

أخالِسها التَسليم إن لَم تُسَلِّم

I stood waiting for her to pass, hoping I

I stood before her that she might pass; perchance

might steal a greeting with her, if she did not greet me.

I might make her a Moslem if she did not speak.

وَلما رَأَتني وَالوُشاة تحدرت

وَلما رَأَتني وَالوُشاة تحدرت

مَدامِعَها خوفاً وَلم تَتَكَلَّم

مَدامِعَها خوفاً وَلم تَتَكَلَّم

And when she saw me and the talebearers, down streamed

When she saw me with the escort drawing near,

her tears in fear, and she did not speak.

Her tears flowed for fear, but no word did she utter.

مَساكين أهل العِشق ما كُنت أشتَري

مَساكين أهل العِشق ما كُنت أشتَري

جَميع حَياة العاشِقينَ بِدرهم

جَميع حَياة العاشِقينَ بِدرهم

Poor souls, those in love! I would not buy

Wretched the victims of love! I would not buy

all the lovers’ lives for a dirham.

The lives of all lovers for a single drachm.