أَصبا الأَصيل تَحمِلي

مِني رِسالة مدنف

My noble messenger, carry for me

A message of passion

وَخُذي مِن الشَرف المُني

ف إِلى الجَناب الأَشرَف

And take from me utmost honor

To the most honorable beloved

وَتَشَبثي عَني بِأَذ

يال الغَزال الأَهيف

And complain to him bitterly

Of the torment of an enamored gazelle

وَأَستَأنِفي لَثم التُرا

ب لَدَيهِ لا تَستَنكِفي

And resume kissing his lips

Do not hesitate before him

وَصَفى لَهُ بَعض الَّذي

لاقَيتُهُ وَتَلَطُفي

And describe to him some of what

I have suffered and be gentle

وَتَفرَّسي في وَجهِهِ

يَبدو الضَمير وَتَعرفي

And examine his face

Where the conscience appears and you will know

فَالوَجه وَالعَينان عُن

وان الضَمير المُختَفي

For the face and eyes are the signs

Of the hidden conscience

وَالماء لا يَخفي القَذا

عَن ناظر المُستَشرِف

And water does not conceal pebbles

From the eyes of the observer

أَفَكَيفَ يَخفى الغُش في

وَجه المَليح الأَلطَف

So how can deceit be hidden in the face

Of the most beautiful and gentle one?

فَإِذا رَأَيتِ بِهِ الرَضى

قُولي وَلا تَتَوقَفي

So when you see him satisfied

Speak and do not hesitate

هَلا رَتيت لِمُدنَفٍ

بادي الشَجون معنف

Won't you show pity to one suffering from passion,

Whose sorrows are exposed?

يَعقوب حُزن لَم يَجد

صَبراً لَهُ عَن يُوسف

Jacob's sorrow found no patience in him

For Joseph

فعل الغَرام بِلُبِهِ

فعل المُدام القرقف

The agony of love did to his heart

What fermented wine does

يَمضي عَلَيهِ اللَيل بَي

ن تَوجُع وَتَلهف

The night passes over him

Between pain and sighing

قَلب يَمور وَمُقلة

أَجفانِها لَم تَطرف

A heart in turmoil and eyelids

That did not blink

كَلفتهُ صَبراً وَمَن

يَشتاق غَير مُكلف

I pretended patience but how can one

Yearn without being compelled?

مَولايَ أَو بَقَت المُتي

م بِالصُدود المُتلف

My master, or the loving one remains

With the unresponsive beloved

يا وَيحَهُ إِذ أَنتَ لَم

تَرحَم وَلَم تَتَعَطف

Oh woe to him, since you did not show

Mercy or gentleness

وَمَن الَّذي يَرعى الوَفا

ء لِعاشق أَن لَم تَف

And who upholds faithfulness

To a lover if you did not?

إِن أَمسَت الغَبَرات خَي

فة كاشح لَم تَزرف

If the tears were pleasant like rain

I would not have held back

فَلشدَّ ما زرفت بِغَي

ر تَوقف وَتَكلف

I have cried without pause or pretense

The plotting of the rival troubles me, be wary and afraid

قَد طالَ مِن كَيد الرَقي

ب توجسي وَتَخَوفي

For I will drown with my tears every harsh and turbulent one

Love has become cruel and time unfaithful

فَلَأَغرَقَنَّ بِفَيض دَم

عي كُلَّ واش مُرجف

And I have found no sympathizer

So I complain of my darkness

وَجَفا الهَوى وَبَغى الزَمان

ن وَلَم أَجِد مِن مُسعِف

To the court of a just arbitrator

فَلأَشكُوَنَ ظَلامَتي

لِجَناب عَدل مُنصف