أَيُطمِعُني مِنَّهُ الهوَى بوصالِهِ

وَصَيدُ نجومِ الأُفقِ دونَ خيالِهِ

Does he allow me to hope for his affection?

Yet he is like a mirage beyond reach.

بَعيدَ دُنُويِّ من مكانِ حُجولِهِ

وتلكَ العوالي السُّمرُ حولَ حِجالِهِ

Far, so very far from where I abide,

While those heights are desolate around his valley.

كشمسِ الضُّحى في بُعدِها وشُعاعِها

وبدرِ الدُّجى في حسنهِ وجمالِهِ

Like the midday sun in its distance and rays,

Like the nightly moon in its beauty and splendor.

له مبسمٌ ما زادَ قلبي صبابةً

وحرَّ جَوىً إلاَّ بَبردِ زُلالِهِ

His smile has never increased my joy;

Nor has the heat of passion cooled but by his shade.

يُسائِلني عن طَيفهِ مُتبالِهاً

ومَن لي بذاكَ بالسَّائلِ الُمتبادلِهِ

He questions me about his vanishing image,

But who can respond on my behalf to his inquiry?

إذا قالَ بالإعجابِ كيفَ تركتَه

يقولُ له أنتَ العَليمُ بحالِهِ

If he says in wonder, “How could you leave him?”

Tell him, “You know best his condition.”

وما ضرَّه لو أنَّه بجميلهِ

يُضيفُ إلى مُستَغرَبٍ مِن جمالِهِ

It would not harm him if his beauty

Were to attract more admiration from strangers.

سُهادي وإن أفَنى فِداءُ رُقادِه

وذُلّي وإن أضنى فِداءُ دَلالِهِ

My pillow, though worn from dreaming of his rest;

My humility, though humbled for his arrogance.