كَتَبتُ إِلى ظَلومَ فَلَم تُجِبني

وَقالَت ما لَهُ عِندي جَوابُ

I wrote to the one I love, but no reply came

She said, “I have no answer for him.”

فَلَمّا اِستَيأَسَت نَفسي أَتاني

وَقَد غَفَلَ الوشاةُ لَها كِتابُ

When my soul despaired, she sent me a letter

While the spies around me were unaware.

كِتابٌ جاءَ وَالرُقَباءُ حَولي

إِذا ما مَرَّ طَيرٌ بي اِستَرابوا

A letter came, though guards were watching me

If a bird passed, they would suspect and inquire

أَما عَلِمَت يَقيناً أَنَّ أَهلي

عَلَيَّ لَهُم عُيونٌ وَاِرتِقابُ

Don’t you know for certain that my family

Keeps eyes on me and waits for my downfall