مَتى بِالقُرْبِ يُخْبرني الرَّسُولُ

وَيَسْمَحُ بِاللّقا دَهْرٌ بَخِيلُ

When will the messenger inform me of your nearness,

And time allow us to meet, oh stingy era!

وَيَرْجِعُ فِيكَ سَتْرُ الحُبِّ جَهْراً

وَيُشفى مِنْكَ بِالوَصْلِ الغَليلُ

And the veil of love return to reveal you openly,

And meeting you cure the heartsick patient.

وِدَادٌ لاَ تُغيِّرهُ اللَّيالي

وَحُبٌّ لا يُنَهْنِههُ العَذولُ

A love that the nights do not change,

A passion that separation does not weaken.

وَعَهْدٌ كُنْتَ تَعْهَدهُ صَحيحٌ

وَقَلْبٌ كُنْتَ تَسْكُنُهُ عَليلُ

A promise you had made true,

A heart you once dwelled in, now ill.

وَمَا بَيْنَ الضُّلوعِ إِلَيْكَ شَوْقٌ

تَزولُ الرّاسِياتُ وَلا يَزُولُ

And what lies between my ribs toward you is longing

That makes the firm mountains shake, but does not fade.

أَلا يا ظاعِناً هَلْ مِنْ رُجُوعٍ

فَتَجْمَعُنَا المنازِلُ والطُّلولُ

Oh distant one! Is there any return

That would bring us together, the homes and the ruins?

فَقَدْ فَقَدَ الكرى جَفْنٌ قَريحٌ

وَقَدْ ألِفَ الضَّنَا جِسْمٌ نَحيلُ

For the dear ones have lost a weeping eye,

And a frail body has grown used to sorrow.

وصبُّكَ قَدْ قَضَى شَوْقاً وَوَجْداً

يَكونُ لِوَجْهِكَ العُمْرُ الطَّويلُ

My pouring passion for you has ended longing and ecstasy

That my lifelong love for your face remains.