أَلا بِأَبي مَن قَد بَرى الجِسمَ حُبُّهُ

وَمِن هُوَ مَوموقٌ إِلَيَّ حَبيبُ

By the one whose body love has made lean

And whose longing for me does not cease

وَمَن هُوَ لا يَزدادُ إِلّا تَشَوُّقاً

وَلَيسَ يَرى إِلّا عَلَيهِ رَقيبُ

And who sees none watching him but his own self-reproaching soul

Though they speak ill of me in her presence

وَإِنّي وَإِن أَحمَوا عَلَيَّ كَلامَها

وَحالَت أَعادٍ دونَها وَحُروبُ

And war and strife stand between us

Yet will I speak her praise, praising Layla with words

لَمُثنٍ عَلى لَيلى ثَناءً بَريدُهُ

قَوافٍ بِأَفواهِ الرِجالِ تَطيبُ

That leave sweet tastes in the mouths of men

Beware, Layla, lest strength and patience fail me

أَلَيلى اِحذَري نَقضَ القِوى لا يَزَل

عَلى النَأيِ وَالهِجرانِ مِنكِ نَصيبُ

And separation and avoidance of you remain my fate

And be to those who slander a piercing blade

وَكوني عَلى الواشينَ لَدّاءَ شَغبَةً

كَما أَنا لِلواشي أَلَدُّ شَغوبُ

As I am to the slanderer a relentless foe

Yet if you fear you'll not rule love one day

فَإِن خِفتِ أَلّا تَحكُمي مِرَّةَ الهَوى

فَرُدّي فُؤادي وَالمَزارُ قَريبُ

Then return my heart while the tomb is near

By my life, by my people with whom, if harmed

بِنَفسي وَأَهلي مَن إِذا عَرَضوا لَهُ

بِبَعضِ الأَذى لَم يَدرِ كَيفَ يُجيبُ

They know not how to respond

Who have no innocent man's excuse, but are still

وَلَم يَعتَذِر عُذرَ البَريءِ وَلَم يَزَل

بِهِ رَعدَةٌ حَتّى يُقالَ مُريبُ

Thunderstruck until called blameworthy