تَمَنّاهُ طَيفي في الكَرى فَتَعَتَّبا

وَقَبَّلتُ يَوماً ظِلَّهُ فَتَغَيَّبا

My phantom I wished in the lands, so it blamed

My phantom sought him in deep slumber, yet he turned away in reproach,

And I kissed its shade one day, so it vanished

And one day I kissed his shadow, whereupon he vanished from sight,

وَقالوا لَهُ إِنّي مَرَرتُ بِبابِهِ

لِأَسرِقَ مِنهُ نَظرَةً فَتَحَجَّبا

And they said to it, "I passed by its door

They told him that I had passed by his door,

To steal a glance from it, so it veiled

To steal a single glance, so he veiled himself away,

وَلَو مَرَّ نَفحُ الريحِ مِن خَلفِ أُذنِهِ

بِذِكرى لِسَبِّ الريحَ ثُمَّ تَغَضَّبا

If the breeze's waft passed behind its ear

And were a breath of wind to drift behind his ear,

With a memory, I'd curse the breeze, so it'd rage

Bearing my memory, he would curse the breeze and swell with rage,

وَما زادَهُ عِندي قَبيحُ فِعالِهِ

وَلا السَبُّ وَالإِعراضُ إِلّا تَحَبُّبا

Nor did its ugly acts increase it to me

Yet the ugliness of his deeds did not alter his place in my heart,

No cursing nor disdain, but more love

Nor did his insults and avoidance increase aught but my love.