أَما والّذي قد قدّرَ البعدَ بيننا

وَأَطمَعني في القربِ وهو بعيدُ

By Him who ordained the distance between us,

and made me hope for nearness, though it is remote;

وَنعّمَ بِالتأميلِ فيكُم حُشاشتي

وعذّبني بِالشوقِ وهو شديدُ

who gladdened my innermost being with hopes of you,

and tormented me with longing, so fierce;

وَصيّرني مَهما أشُمُّ نَسيمكم

أَشحّ بِأنفاسي فَلست أجودُ

who made me, whenever I catch the scent of your breeze,

hoard my breaths and refuse to give them freely.

وَأَحسَبها حرّاءَ حتّى إِذا عَلَت

أَشدُّ بِقلبي راحَتي وأميدُ

I think them burning hot; then, when they rise,

I grip my palm with my hand and reel.

لَقَد ذابَ قَلبي في اِشتياقي إِليكمُ

وَجادَت بهِ عينٌ عليَّ جمودُ

Indeed, my heart has melted in my longing for you,

and an eye, though dry toward me, has poured it forth.

وَما ذابَ حتّى لانَ بِالبينِ حدّهُ

على أنّهُ في النائباتِ جليد

It did not melt until separation softened its edge,

though amid calamities it remains steadfast.