أَكُرُّ إِلى لَيلى وَأَحسِبُ أَنَّني

كَريمٌ عَلى لَيلى وَغَيري كَريمُها

I yearn for Layla though I reckon

That I'm generously treated by Layla, and so are others.

فَأَصبَحتُ قَد أَجمَعتُ هَجراً لِبَيتِها

وَفي العَينِ مِن لَيلى قَذىً ما يَريمُها

So I've decided to completely shun her house

With some sadness for Layla that grieves me.

لَئن آثَرَت بِالوُدِّ أَهلَ بِلادِها

عَلى نازِحٍ مِن أَرضِها لا نَلومُها

If she prefers those of her town

Over an emigrant from her land, we do not blame her.

وَما يَستَوي مَن لا يُرى غَيرَ لِمَّةٍ

وَمَن هو ثاوٍ عِندَها لا يَريمُها

For it's not equal, one who's absent save for a moment

And one staying with her, not denied by her.