وَفي المُصعِدينَ الآنَ مِن حيِّ مالِكٍ

ثَوى شَوقُهُ أَم في الخَليطِ المُصَوِّبِ

In the two elevators now from Malik's neighborhood

Does his longing dwell or in the crowded confusion?

يَظَلُّ عَلَيها إِن نأَت وَكأَنَّهُ

صَدٍ حائِمٌ قَد ذيدَ عَن كُلِّ مَشرَبٍ

He lingers over her if we come as though

An obstinate barrier has warded off all approaches

فَأَنَّى لَهُ سَلمى إِذا حَلَّ وانتَوى

بِحلوانَ واحتَلَّت بِمُزجٍ وَجُبجُبِ

So how can he reach my abode when he comes and turns

Toward Helwan while it is filled with crowds and hubbub

وَلَولا الَّذي بَيني وَبَينَك لَم تَجُب

مَسافَةَ ما بَينَ البوَيبِ وَيَثرِبِ

And were it not for what lies between me and you, you would not answer

The distance between Buwaib and Yathrib