إن كان وصلك ليس فيه مطمع

والترب ممنوع فبدني واكذب

If your attachment holds no promise,

If in union with you there is no hope to be held,

And affection is forbidden, then deceive my body.

and even the dust is forbidden, then promise me falsely and lie,

فعسى التملل بالنتقائك ممسك

لحياة قلب بالصدود معذب

May boredom with your aloofness restrain you,

for perhaps clinging to the hope of meeting you may sustain

And torment a heart's life with rejection.

the life of a heart tormented by cruel estrangement;

فقد يسلى المجديين إذا رأوا

في الأفق يلمع ضوء برقٍ خلب

For those in anguish may find solace,

just as the drought-stricken may take solace when they see

If on the horizon gleams a flash of light.

the flash of deceptive, rainless lightning gleam upon the horizon.