طَرس المَحَبَّةِ بَالجَوى مَختوم

وَسُطورِها لِلعالَمين عُلوم

The vessel of love is sealed with embers,

Its lines contain insights for all people.

فَلِكُل حَرف في الضَمير صَحائِف

طَبعت لَها فَوق القُلوب رُسوم

For every letter in the heart are pages

With symbols impressed above hearts as seals.

كَم يَشتَكي القِرطاس لَوعَة لامِس

لكن سر المُشتَكي مَكتوم

How paper complains of a burning ache!

Yet the secret of the complainer is hidden.

اِن قيل لا كِتمان لِلشّاكي فَقُل

مِتن الصَبابَة شَرحُهُ مَعلوم

If asked “No secrecy for the complainer,” say:

“The text of passion, its meaning is known.”

وَالصب بَينَ تَجلد وَتهتك

فَالدَمعُ يَظهَر وَالفُؤاد كَتوم

As patience and abandon clash,

Tears appear though feelings lie hidden.

يا عاذِلا لاولى الضَنا كُن عاذَرا

فَصَبا المَحَبَّة لِلكَئيب سموم

O you who blame the love-distracted one, excuse him!

For love’s arrow toward the sad heart is poison.

قُل ما تَشا فَالحُب سُلطان لَهُ

مِمّا يولى عادِل وَظَلوم

Say whatever you wish - for love is a sultan

To whom both the just and the unjust submit.

اِن طالَ لَومك لَم يَزِد عَن لَوعَة

جِسم الشَجي بحرها مَحموم

If your blame grows long, it will not surpass the agony

Of one whose body is fevered by its waves.