أراقك حسن غيبه لك تأريق

وتبريد وصل سره فيك تحريق

His beauty's absence keeps you sleepless through the night

Are you charmed by a beauty whose unseen depth brings you sleeplessness,

While nearness to him burns longing in your soul

And the soothing coolness of union whose secret burns within you,

وقرب مزار يقتضي لك فرقة

وشيكا ولولا القرب لم يك تفريق

And though his grave is close, still you must stay apart

And a nearness of visitation that portends an imminent

If not for closeness, separation would not hold

Parting—for were it not for closeness, there would be no separation,

ولذة طعم معقب لك علقماً

وصابا وفسح في تضاعيفه ضيق

The sweetest taste will leave a bitter aftertaste

And a sweet taste that leaves behind only bitter colocynth

And joy gives way to confines that restrict and choke

And aloes, and an expanse within whose folds lies suffocating constriction?