أحباب قلبي كم بيني وبينكم

من أبحر وصفها قد دقّ عن حدّ

My beloved friends, how much distance lies between us

Beloveds of my heart, how vast the distance between us—seas whose description defies all bounds,

Of seas, whose limits confound ships astray

In which the sandgrouse are bewildered and falter, and directions therein are hidden from the traveler's intent.

تحار فيها القطا والعي يدركها

حتى الجهات بها تخفى عن القصد

Where gazelles wander confused, and eyes cannot descry

I never knew that Fate would cast you far from me, and leave me, in your absence, all alone.

Even the horizons disappear from intents' display

Patience has betrayed me, bringing no avail, while a flood of tears has streamed upon my cheek.

ما كنت أدري بأن الدهر يبعدكم

عني ويتركني من بعدكم وحدي

I did not know that fate would part you from me

Your phantom image appeared like good tidings, but since I woke, I possess nothing but grief.

Leaving me lonely when you've gone away

Will the gazelle I adore ever grant me relief with a reunion one day, as it was in times past?

قد خانني الصبر ما أجدى بمنفعة

سيل المدامع قد سالت على خدّي

Patience has failed me, weeping is of no use

Will the elusive one I love ever gladden me with nearness, after the rejection he has shown?

Tears flow freely down my cheeks each day

O elusive one whose pasture lies within my heart, graze there freely, fear not, though this lover is cast afar.

والطيف مثل لي أوصافكم فبدا

بشرى ومذقمت غير الحزن ما عندي

Your phantom appears describing your traits

For even if you turn from me in aversion, I am content with a phantom of you, though it avails me naught.

Glimpsing your image, only sorrow stays

هل الغزال الذي أهواه يسعفني

بالوصل يوما كما قد كان في العهد

Can the shy gazelle I adore bring us together?

United like we were in days of old?

هل النفور الذي أهواه يسعدني

بالقرب من بعد ما أبدى من الصد

Can the one I love who's grown cold draw near

After having distanced himself, retreated, turned cold?

يا ذا النفور الذي في القلب مرتعه

ارتع به لا ترع فالصب في بعد

O you whose heart has wandered far from me

Go on, graze there, do not return I've been told

إني وإن كنت مني نافرا فلقد

أرضي بطيف خيال منك لا يجدي

Though you shun me, I will accept with pleasure

The mere phantom of you - it's all I hold