إِنْ تَبدُّوا أَوْ تَثنُّوا

فَبُدورٌ في غُصُونِ

Whether you show affection or turn away

Like the blooms on branches sway

أو رَنوْا ظَبْيَ كِناسٍ

أو سَطوْا لَيْثَ عَرينِ

Or coo like a ringdove in its nest

Or roar like a lion from its den

مَزجُوا الوَصْلَ بِهَجْرٍ

لِمَنايا وَمَنُونِ

They mix union with estrangement

For passions and sorrows of men

وَلَكَمْ بِالهَجْرِ أَجْرَوْا

لِعُيونٍ مِنْ عُيوني

And how much with estrangement they've pained me

With their eyes that pierce again and again

حُبُّهم رُوحي وَراحي

وهُوَ دُنْيايَ وَدِيني

Their love is my soul and reprieve

My life and my faith they weave

أَنَا لا أَسْمَعُ عَذْلاً

فِيهمُ إنْ عَذلُوني

No blame do I hear

If they find fault in me

الأَماني خَبَّرتني

بِرِضاهُمْ عَنْ يَقينِ

My hopes have told me clear

They're pleased, I know certainly

إِنَّهُمْ عَرَبٌ كِرامٌ

فِي هَواهُمْ يُنْصِفُوني

They're noble Arabs in their love

To me they're always fair

كَمْ أَضلُّوني بِشَعْرٍ

وَهَدُوني بِجَبينِ

How their verse leads me astray

Yet their brows guide me with care