خَليلَيَّ ما لِلحُبِّ يَزدادُ جِدَّةً

عَلى الدَهرِ وَالأَيّامُ يَبلى جَديدُها

My beloved, why does love grow stronger

As time passes, while its days fade away?

وَما لِعُهودِ الغانِياتِ ذَميمَةً

وَلَيلى حَرامٌ أَن تُذَمَّ عُهودُها

Why should the covenants of lovers be blamed

When it is forbidden for Layla's vows to decay?

أَلَمَّت وَجُنحُ اللَيلِ مُرخٍ سُدولَهُ

وَلِلسِجنِ أَحراسٌ قَليلٌ هُجودُها

The wings of night have folded and gone to rest,

With few guards left wakeful on their watch today.

فَقُلتُ لَها أَنّي تَجَشَّمتِ خُطَّةً

يُحَرِّجُ أَنفاسَ الرِياحِ وُرودُها

So I said to her, "I have dared to attempt a scheme,

That makes the winds hold back their gentle sway."

فَقالَت أَطَعنا الشَوقَ بَعدَ تَجَلُّدٍ

وَشَرُّ قُلوبِ العاشِقينَ جَليدُها

She said, "We obeyed longing after fortitude,

Yet the worst in lovers' hearts is their cold display."

وَأَعلَنتِ الشَكوى وَجالَت دُموعُها

عَلى الخَدِّ لَمّا اِلتَفَّ بِالجيدِ جيدُها

She complained aloud and her tears flowed

Over her cheeks when she turned her face away.

فَقُلتُ لَها وَالدَمعُ شَتّى طَريقُهُ

وَنارُ الهَوى بِالشَوقِ يُذكى وُقودُها

I said to her, as tears marked their crooked course,

"The fires of love with yearning fuel their own display."

إِذا سَلِمَت نَفسُ الحَبيبِ تَشابَهِت

صُروفُ اللَيالي سَهلُها وَشَديدُها

If the soul of the beloved stays safe and sound,

The turns of time, easy and hard, fade away.

فَلا تَجزَعي إِمّا رَأَيتِ قُيودَهُ

فَإِنَّ خَلاخيلَ الرِجالِ قُيودُها

So do not grieve if you see my chains,

For men's shackles are but adornment on display.

وَلا تُنكِري حالَ الرَخاءِ وَفَوتَهُ

فَإِنَّ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ يُعيدُها

Nor deny times of ease and their loss,

For the Commander of the Faithful grants their sway.