جفاني من أم البنين خيالُ

فقلبي جريح والدموع سجالُ

The image of the mother of sons has abandoned me,

The phantom of Umm al-Banin has shunned me,

So my heart is wounded and tears flow abundantly.

So my heart is wounded, and tears flow in torrents.

ولو قلت دمعي قد ملكت فكاذبٌ

بدعواي بل ذا غرّةٌ وضلال

If I say my tears have taken control, I would be lying -

And were I to claim I have mastered my tears, I would be a liar

Rather this is a young woman's fancy and misguidance.

In such a plea; rather, that is sheer delusion and error.

وبي ما يزيل العقل عن مستقره

فلا تعجبوا إن قيل فيه خبال

There is that in me which distracts the mind from its place,

Within me is a passion that tears reason from its seat,

So do not be surprised if madness is spoken of it.

So do not marvel if it is said that madness possesses him.

وما هي إلا الروح بل إن فقدتها

فإن بقائي دونها لمحال

It is nothing but the soul - rather, if I lost it,

She is nothing but the soul itself; indeed, if I were to lose her,

Then my continuing to live without it would be impossible.

My continued existence without her would be impossible.

أحبّ الليالي كي أفوز بطيفها

وأرجو المنى بل قد أقول أنال

I love the nights so that I may attain her image,

I love the nights that I might win a visitation of her phantom,

And I hope for intimacy - rather, I might even say I attain it.

And I hope for the desire—nay, I might say I attain it.

أكلّف جفني النوم عليّ أن أرى

مثالاً لها يسري وليس مثال

I task my eyelids with sleep so that I may see

I burden my eyelids with sleep, perchance I might see

An image of her passing gently, not just an image.

An image of her drifting near—though truly she has no equal.

فقولوا لها إن كنت ترضين عيشتي

فجودي بطيفٍ إن يعزّ وصال

So say to her, if you are pleased with my life,

So say to her: "If you are pleased that I should live,

Favor me with an image, even if intimacy is difficult.

Then generously grant a vision, if real union proves too dear.

فينعم قلبي والجوارح كلها

وإلا فعيشي محنةٌ ووبال

Then my heart and all my limbs will delight,

That my heart and all my senses may find bliss,

Otherwise my life is anguish and affliction.

For otherwise, my life is but an ordeal and a ruin."