ما لمحبوبي نسيني

ساجي الطرف المكحل

My beloved has forgotten me,

The one with kohl-lined eyes.

ان تغيب عن عيوني

انه في القلب قد حل

If he is absent from my sight,

He has settled in my heart.

طال من بعده حنيني

والحشا فيه نار تشعل

My yearning for him from afar persists,

And its fire rages within.

والكرا هاجر جفوني

طول ليلى أمسى تململ

Sleep has deserted my eyelids

Throughout the long, restless night.

لو ترفق بي ظنيني

كان باللقيا تجمل

If he would show me some mercy,

Beauty would adorn our meeting.

الهوى قد صار ديني

كيف عن حبه تحول

Love has become my religion—

How could I turn away from it?

ان نسى أو ما نسيني

انني به ما تبدل

Whether he forgot or remembers me,

I have not changed toward him.

ستّ قلبي ارحميني

ان فيك عقلي قد اختل

O my heart, have mercy on me!

For in you, my mind is disturbed.

تحسبي نومي هنيني

ان نومي قد ترحل

You think my sighs mean slumber,

But my sleep has departed.

يا معيني يا معيني

ارحم القلب المبهلل

O my solace, O my solace,

Have mercy on my confused heart!

من بعادك يا غبوني

منك لكن كيف شاتعمل

Without you, O my absent one,

What can possibly be done?

عذلي فيه اتركوني

انني لا أسمع ولا أقبل

Reproach me, leave me be—

I cannot hear or accept.

يا صاحبي ساعدوني

ليس خالي مثل مشغل

O my friend, come to my aid!

I have no distraction like my work.

والنبي برّت يميني

ما كمحبوبي الأوّل

By the Prophet, I swear

None compares to my first love.