إِن لا تَزوري فَإِنَّ الطَيفَ قَد زارا

وَقَد قَضَيتُ لُباناتٍ وَأَوطارا

If you do not visit, the specter did visit,

If you visit not, know that your phantom has arrived, / And I have satisfied my cravings and desires.

And I have spent nights and days.

She said, 'The night journey was long,' but I replied, / 'He who wrestles with longing finds no dwelling too remote.'

قالَت لَقَد بَعُدَ المَسرى فَقُلتُ لَها

مَن عالَجَ الشَوقَ لا يَستَبعِدُ الدارا

She said the journey was long, I said to her,

She said, 'You have lied about my phantom.' I told her, / 'If so, O hidden jewel, may I become the vintner's foe,'

He who suffers from longing does not consider the house far.

'May I never again step foot toward his tavern, / Nor toss him coins for him to choose the vintage,'

قالَت كَذَبتَ عَلى طَيفي فَقُلتُ لَها

إِذَن فَعادَيتُ يا مَكنونُ خَمّارا

She said you lied to my specter, I said to her

'Nor feel the vessel's lip pressed close against my own, / Like the closing of your eyes, lash meeting lash.'

So I made an enemy of you, O veiled wine-seller.

She said, 'You have sworn an oath beyond atonement; / Do you not fear God's threat and the Fire?'

وَلا نَقَلتُ إِلى حانوتِهِ قَدَماً

وَلا نَبَذتُ إِلَيهِ النَقدَ فَاِختارا

I neither carried my feet to his shop,

Nor threw coins at him to choose.

وَلا رَأى شَفَةً مِنهُ عَلى شَفَتي

إِطباقَ عَينَيكِ بِالأَشفارِ أَشفارا

Nor did any lip of his see contact

With your eyelashes’ shuttering lashes.

قالَت حَلَفتَ يَميناً لا كَفاءَ لَها

أَما تَخافُ وَعيدَ اللَهِ وَالنارا

She swore an oath beyond all cost:

“Do you not fear God’s threat and hellfire?”