زمانُ وِصالِه هَلّا يَعودُ

وكيفَ وطَيْفُهُ ما إنْ يَعودُ

When will the time of his union return,

And how, when his phantom does not come back?

هو الظّبيُ الذي أمْسَتْ جُفوني

تُسَهِّدُها لواحظُهُ الرّقودُ

He is the gazelle whose eyelids yesterday

Evening lulled to sleep.

ألا بأبي عُهودٌ قد تقضّتْ

فهلْ دهْرٌ بعَوْدَتِها يَجودُ

Alas, covenants that have expired!

So does time generously renew them?

سَقى عهدَ الأحبّةِ عهدُ دمْعٍ

إذا ما الغيثُ أخْلَفَهُ يَجودُ

The covenant of lovers was watered with tears.

If rain fails, can tears flow?

ففي تلْكَ المعاهِدِ سانِحاتٌ

ظِباءٌ تُرْهِبُ الآسادَ غيدُ

In those covenants wereDoes scowling,

Frightening the lions in their lairs.

ومن تلكَ البُدورِ بها وُجوهٌ

ومن تلكَ الغُصونِ بها قُدودُ

In those tents were faces,

In those branches, singing birds.

ورُبّ عقيلةٍ ملَكَتْ فؤادي

لها في حُسْنِها شأوٌ بَعيدُ

Many a beautiful woman has captivated my heart;

In her beauty she is matchless.

لقدْ عذُبَتْ مواردُها وساغَتْ

فأضحَى للظِّماءِ بها وُرودُ

Her pastures were lush; her water was sweet,

Quenching the thirsty throngs.

لقد نَقعَتْ غَليلَ الشّوقِ لمّا

غَدا بينَ الضّلوعِ لهُ وقودُ

When love’s fire burned within my ribs,

Her beauty was the fuel that fed the flames.

على حُكْمِ الوِدادِ بها حَباني

صديقٌ في فضائِلهِ وَحيدُ

By the law of love she showed me favor,

My faithful friend, unique in virtue.

أقرَّ لهُ العِدى بالفضْلِ طُرّاً

وهلْ للشّمْسِ إن لاحَتْ جُحودُ

I conceded her superiority graciously,

Does the sun hide when it rises?

لقدْ زانَ النّظامَ ولم يزِنْهُ

وربَّتَما يزينُ السّلْكَ جيدُ

She adorned regulartiy but was not constrained by it,

Just as fine manners may enhance proper conduct.

فدامَ مَدى اللّيالي في سُعودٍ

على رغمِ الحواسِدِ لا تَبيدُ

As long as the nights continue in joy,

Despite the jealous, she will not fade.