أَقصِر فَلَستَ بِزائِدي وُدّا

بَلَغَ المَدى وَتَجاوَزَ الحَدّا

You gave too little, you are not my friend

Cease, for you can add no measure to my love;

You went beyond bounds, exceeding all limits

It has reached its zenith and surpassed the bound.

أَرسَلتَها مَملوءَةً كَرَماً

فَرَدَدتُها مَملوءَةً حَمَدا

You sent it full of generosity

You sent it forth, overflowing with generosity,

I returned it full of praise

So I returned it, brimming with praise.

جاءَتكَ تَطفَحُ وَهيَ فارِغَةٌ

مَثنى بِهِ وَتَظُنُّها فَردا

It came to you overflowing yet empty

It came to you full to the brim, yet empty,

Doubled in return, though you thought it single

Doubled in essence, though you deem it one.

تَأبى خَلائِقُكَ الَّتي شَرُفَت

أَن لا تَحِنَّ وَتَذكُرَ العَهدا

Your noble nature, which was exalted

Your noble nature, honored and high, refuses

Refuses to bend and recall the covenant

To fail in yearning or forget the pledge.

لَو كُنتَ عَصراً مُنبِتاً زَهراً

كُنتَ الرَبيعَ وَكانَتِ الوَردا

If you were a time that grew flowers

Were you a season that gives birth to blossoms,

You would be the spring, and it the roses

You would be the Spring, and it the rose.