إلى الله أشكو طول شوقي وحيرتي
ووجدي بما طالت علي مطالبه
To God I lament my long yearning and bewilderment,
I complain to God of the length of my longing and confusion
and my ardor for one whose demands upon me have lingered long—
And my affliction with His endless demands
ومن قد برى جسمي وكدر عيشتي
ويمنعني الماء الذي أنا شاربه
for one who has worn my body away and clouded my life,
He who has wearied my body and disturbed my life
and denies me the very water that I drink.
And denies me the water I drink
إذا سمت نفسي سلوة عنه ردني
إليه شهود ليس تفنى عجائبه
Whenever my soul aspires to find solace apart from him, I am drawn back
When my soul rises a moment free of Him, He returns me
to him by a witnessing whose wonders never end.
To Him, witnessing wonders that never end
فيا ليت شعري ما الذي فيه راحتي
وما آخر الأمر الذي أنا طالبه
If only I knew what in him would bring me rest,
Oh, I wonder, where is my comfort?
and what will come of the affair I pursue.
And what is the end of this that I seek?
Sol 5.6