كَتَبَت عَلى فَصٍّ لِخاتَمِها

مَن مَلَّ مَحبوباً فَلا رَقَدا

She wrote on her ring's bezel:

She wrote upon the bezel of her ring:

He who loves and then sleeps, may he never rest

"Whoever tires of a love shall find no rest."

فَكَتَبتُ في فَصٍّ لِيَبلُغَها

مَن نامَ لَم يَعقِل كَمَن سَهِدا

So I wrote on mine to reach her:

So on a stone I wrote to answer her:

He who sleeps lacks the sense of one awake

"The sleeper knows not what the wakeful feel."

فَمَحَتهُ وَاِكتَتَبَت لِيَبلُغَني

لا نامَ مَن يَهوى وَلا هَجَدا

She erased it and wrote to reach me:

She wiped it out, and wrote to send me word:

He who loves does not sleep or lie down

"May he who loves find neither sleep nor peace."

فَمَحَيتُهُ ثُمَّ اِكتَتَبتُ أَنا

وَاللَهِ أَوَّلُ مَيِّتٍ كَمَدا

I erased mine, then wrote myself:

I wiped it out, and then inscribed my vow:

By God, the first dead was inert

"By God, I am the first to die of grief."

فَمَحَتهُ وَاِكتَتَبَت تُعارِضُني

وَاللَهِ لا كَلَّمتُهُ أَبَدا

So she erased and wrote to counter me:

She wiped it out, and wrote rebuking me:

By God, I shall never speak to him again

"By God, I'll never speak to him again."