يدُ الغرام عَلت يوم الوداعِ يدي

فسرتُ في أسرِ جيش الشوقِ والكمَدِ

The hand of passion rose on the day of farewell over my hand

So I marched as a captive of the army of longing and determination

ولم أزل واثقاً بالصبر يُنجدُني

أو التجلُّدِ حتى خانَني جَلَدي

And I remained confident that patience would help me

Or composure, until my own composure betrayed me

وما تبيَّنت بيناً على ديارِهُم

حتى تبيَّنتُ بين الرُّوح عن جَسَدي

And I did not become clear-sighted about their homes

Until I became clear-sighted about the spirit's separation from my body

وهم وإن بَعُدوا عني فإنَّهم

مني لأقربُ ما كانوا على البعُدِ

And though they are far from me, yet they

Are closer than they were at the distance

ومَسلكٍ أبَت الريحُ السلوكَ به

خوفاً ولو قطعَته الريحُ لم تعُدِ

And a path the wind refused to blow along

Fearfully, and if the wind had crossed it, it would not have returned

قطعتُه وأسود الوحشِ لائذةٌ

بجانبي إذ رأت قصدي إلى أسَدِ

I crossed it while the beasts of the wilderness took refuge

Beside me when they saw my intent for the lion