وناعورة ناشدتها عن حنينها

حنينَ الحوار والدموعُ تسيلُ

The fountain which I asked about her yearning

I implored a waterwheel about its yearning groan,

The yearning for conversation, and tears flowing

A yearning like a weaned camel calf, while tears flow down.

فقالت وأبدت عذرها بمقالها

وللصدق آيات عليه دليل

She replied, making excuses in her words

She answered, revealing her excuse in her reply,

And for honesty there are signs as evidence

For truth possesses signs that serve as proof:

ألست تراني ألقم الثدي لحظة

وأدفع عنه والبلاء طويل

Do you not see me, nursing for a moment

"Do you not see me taking the breast into my mouth for a moment,

And warding off from it though the affliction is long

Only to be thrust away from it, while the tribulation is long?

وحالي كحال العشق بات محالفاً

يدور بدار الحب وهو ذليل

And my state is like the state of love that has become amenable

My state is like the lover's state, sworn to constancy,

Circling in the abode of love while it is disgraced

Turning within the abode of love, utterly humbled;

يطاطيء حزناً رأسه بتذلّل

ويرفع أخرى والعويل عويل

Bowing its head in sorrow with humiliation

He lowers his head in sorrowful submission,

And raising it another time with loud wailing

And raises it again, while the wailing endlessly wails."