أطلت زمان البعد حتى إذا انقضى

زمان النوى بالقرب عدت إلى البعد

Long has the time of distance been, until when

You prolonged the time of separation, until, when it expired—

The time of intimacy passed, I returned to distance.

The era of estrangement ended by nearness—you returned to distance.

فلم يك إلا كرة الطرف قربكم

وعاودكم بعدي وعاودني وجدي

So there was nothing but a glance that brought you near,

Your nearness lasted no longer than the blink of an eye,

While my longing returned to you and yours to me.

Then my absence returned to you, and my sorrowful longing returned to me.

كذا حائرٌ في الليل ضاقت وجوهه

رأى البرق في داج من الليل معود

Thus one lost in the night, whose aspects narrowed,

Like one bewildered in the night whose paths have closed before him,

Saw lightning flash in the darkness of the night.

Who glimpsed recurring lightning in the pitch-black darkness,

فأخلفه منه رجاء دوامه

وبعض الأراضي لا تفيد ولا تجدي

But it left behind no hope of lasting,

Only for his hope in its lasting light to fail him,

Just as some lands yield nothing, nor avail.

For some lands yield no benefit and bring no avail.