حديث الصِبا حُلْوٌ فخذلي من الصِّبا

وعن زينب حدّث رعى الله زينبَا

The talk of youth is sweet, so grant me some youthful talk,

And speak to me of Zainab - may God tend Zainab!

وإياك تلحاني على ساكِني الغَضَا

فقد سكنوا مني الفؤادَ المعذبا

But do not press me about those who dwell in my heart,

For they have settled in my tormented soul.

وكيفَ سُلوِى عنْ أناس أحُبِهُم

وما حُبّك الانسان إلاَّ تّحَبَّبَا

How can I be diverted from people I love?

One only loves his fellow man when there is affection.

نَعَمْ هُمْ مُنَى نَفْسي وغايةُ مطلبي

فما تبتغي نَفْسي سوى القومِ مَطْلَبَا

Yes, they are the desire of my soul and the goal of my quest;

My soul seeks nothing but to be with them.

ولي فيهم من لو أعرّض باسمِه

قطَرْنَ دماً زُرْق الأسنة والظُبَا

Among them I have one, were I to hint at his name,

My tongue would bleed and the wild beasts weep.

غزالاً ترى منه أسيلاً موَرّداً

وأسْحَمَ غربيباً وأبيضَ أشيبا

A gazelle you see, pouring forth tears,

Ash-colored, a lost fawn, white with age,

تقسَّم اثلاثا قضيباً مهفهفاً

ورِدْفاً زرودياً وصُدْغا مُعقربا

Split hoofed, his legs speckled,

With a fattened rump and a striped withers.

فنْ لاحَ قلتُ البدرَ أظهره الدجى

وإن فاح قلت المسك هبت به الصبا

When his face shines out I say the moon has risen in darkness,

And when he displays himself I say musk is blown by the breeze.

إذا رمتَ يوماً لثمَ وَجنتِه سخا

وإن رمت يوماً نقض تكتِيهِ أبى

If one day you throw a kiss and he lowers his cheek,

And one day you throw a veil and he refuses to raise it,

فمن يرني حال الحسينِ بكربلٍ

يَرى الماء لكن لا يُمْكِّنَ مَشرْبا

Who sees al-Husayn’s state at Karbala’

Sees water but cannot reach drink,

بُليْتُ بجافي القلب لا يعرف الهوى

ولا يكتفي عن مذهب الهجر مذهبَا

I am troubled by a heart that knows not passion

And is not content to pursue the ways of estrangement.

فيا صِاحبي نجواي طال تربّصي

على الضيم موتوِرَ الفؤادِ مُذَبَذْبا

My companion, my wish has long awaited fulfilment,

My heart throbbing with enduring injustice.

فشدّا بناتٍ للجديل وقرِّبَا

مِن العيسِ ادناها من النجمِ مَرْكبا

So journey with maidens bound for Judayl, and draw near,

From the Goat, their towers, to the Star, their ship.

كم تَعِتبونَ على قتيلِ هواكم

والذّنْبُ منك والجفاء جفَاكم

How you blame the slain victim of your passion,

When the sin is yours, and the coldness your coldness!