وقَالُوا اصْطَبِرْ فَالصَّبْرُ شَيْءٌ عَدِمْتُهُ

لِفَقْدِي صَفْوَ الْعَيْشِ مِنْ مُنْيَةِ النَّفْسِ

They said: "Be patient", but patience is something I lack

For the loss of the essence of life from the death of the soul

عَدِمْتُ الكَرَى لَمَّا عَدِمْتُ بَدائِعاً

جَعَلْنَ قِرَى نَفْسِي بِحَلْقِكِ وَالْجَسِّ

I lost all purpose when I lost your wonders

That made my soul dwell in your throat and body

أَرَقُّ مِنَ الشَّكْوَى وَأَحْلَى مِنَ المُنَى

وَأَرْوَحُ مِنْ أَمْن وَأَلْطَفُ مِنْ حِسِّ

I'm more wakeful than complaint and sweeter than death

And lighter than safety and gentler than feeling

لَعَمْرِي لَئِنْ أَصْبَحْتِ سَعْدِي وَفِيكِ لِي

رَجاءٌ لَقَدْ أَمْسَيْت بِاليَأْسِ لِي نَحْسِي

By my life! If you were my happiness in the morning and hope was in you for me

By nightfall I'm in utter despair and misfortune

فَلَوْ كَانَ يَفْدِي الْمَيْتَ حَيٌّ فَدَيْتُهَا

بِنَفْسِي وَفَاءً غَيْرَ نَقْصٍ وَلاَ بَخْسٍ

If a living being could ransom the dead I would ransom you

With my soul in full, no less and no stinginess