هَلُمُّوا فعِندي للمَحَبَّةِ والهَوى

سَقَامُ غَرامٍ لَستُ أُحسِنُ طِبَّهُ

Come, for with me is love and passion’s cure,

A sickness of love I know not how to treat.

هَبُوا لِيَ جَفنا يَملكُ العقلُ دَمعهُ

وإلاَّ فقَلبٌ يَحكُمُ الصَّبرُ لُبَّهُ

Grant me an eye that reason can control its tears,

Else a heart that patience can restrain its transport.

هَوَت الشَّهدُ مَمزُوجاًُ بِسُمٍِّ وعَلقَمٍ

أؤمِّلُ عُتبَاهُ وأحذَرُ عَتبَهُ

The honey was mixed with poison and bitter aloes.

I hope for his reproach and fear his blame.

هَوِيت حَبِيباَ لَستُ أَهلاً لِحُبِّهِ

وأنَّى لِمثلِي أَن يَكُونَ مُحِبَّهُ

I loved one unworthy of his love,

How could one such as I be his beloved?

هِلاُ فُؤادِي كُلَّما ذُقتُ غَفوَةً

وصُبحُ عِياني كُلَّما أتَنَبَّهُ

Awaken, my heart, whenever I rest awhile,

And revive my sight whenever I nod off.

هَمَتُ بإدرَاكٍ فقَصَّرتُ هَيبةً

وَعَجزي عَن الإدراكِ أولى وأشبَهُ

I aspired to reach him but fell short in awe,

And my inability to reach was more fitting.

هَفا بكَ قَلبٌ أنتَ أوريتَ زِندَهُ

ونالَك طَرفٌ أنتَ أهمَلتَ سُحبَهُ

Alas for you, a heart that showed its flame

And was struck by a glance that neglected its ardour.

هَنيئاً لهذي النَّفسِ أن كُنتَ حَسبَها

وَطُوبى لهذا الرُّوحِ أن كُنتَ حُبَّهُ

Congratulations to this soul if you were its comfort,

And blessings to this spirit if you were its love.

هَلِ العَيشُ إلاّ الموتُ فيكَ وقولُهُم

مُحِبٌّ قَضَى في طاعَةِ الحِبِّ نَحبَهُ

Is life ought but death in you and their words,

A lover fulfilled in obeying the love he owed?