جِسمِيَ لا جِسمُكَ النَحيلُ

وَيا عَليلاً أَنا العَليلُ

My body, not your slender body,

And I, not you, am the ailing one.

حُمّاكَ حُمّايَ غَيرَ شَكٍّ

فَلَيتَني دونَكَ البَديلُ

Our yearning is the same, undoubtedly,

Would that I could take your place!

حَمَيتُ نَفسي لَذيذَ عَيشٍ

إِذِ احتَمى ذَلِكَ الخَليلُ

I reveled in the sweetness of life

When that beloved sought shelter in me.

وَحالَ مِن دونِهِ حِجابٌ

فَعادَني لَيلِيَ الطَويلُ

A barrier has come between us,

And so my long night has returned.

إِنّي لَأَرضى بِخَطِّ سَطرٍ

أَو أَن يَجيني لَهُ رَسولُ

I would be content with a line,

Or even a messenger from him.