يقضي المحب وليس يقضي حاجة

في نفسه كالنفس في جثمانها

The lover remains awake though he has no desire;

Like the soul to the body that houses it.

عزت على علم الوشاة فأصبحت

لا يملك الواشي أبي عنانها

My love defied the knowledge of slanderers, so it became

Impossible for the slanderer to rein it in.

ضاقت على صدري ولو يمنى بها

صدر لزمان لضاق عن كتمانها

It constricted my chest, and if it took pity on me

The chest of an era would constrict to conceal it.

نفد التجلد والنوى في بدئها

وصبابة المشتاق في إبائها

Patience and resolve were depleted from the start,

As was the passion of the enamored youth to resist it.

نشرت يد الأشواق طي دموعه

وطوت حشاشته على أشجانها

The hand of yearning spread open his tears,

And his eyelids folded over their sorrows.