هَجَرَتْنَا وَهَجَرْنَا زَيْنَبَا

وَصَحَا الْقَلْبُ الَّذِي كَانَ صَبَا

We parted, and parted from Zainab

And the heart that was youthful grew up

طَالَمَا سُقْتُ فُؤَادِي نَحْوَهَا

فَنَبَتْ عَنْهُ مِطَالًا، وَنَبَا

Long have I watered my heart towards her

So it yielded from it growths, and blossomed

وَدَعَوْتُ الْوَجْدَ لِلَّهْوِ بِهَا

فَأَبَتْ دَلًّا عَلَيْهِ، وَأَبَى

And I called passion for the amusement with her

But my heart declined a guide to it, and refused

نَعَبَ الْبَيْنُ بِنَا، سُقْيًا لَهُ!

فَاسْتَعَدْتُ الْبَيْنَ لَمَّا نَعَبَا

Separation afflicted us, watering it!

So I endured separation when it afflicted

وَمَضَى الشَّوْقُ فَمَا جَادَتْ لَهُ

مُقْلَتِي بِالدَّمْعِ لَمَّا ذَهَبَا

And longing passed but

My eyelids did not weep when it went

عَلِقَتْ غَيْرِي وَتَرْجُو صِلَتِي؟

عَجَبًا مِمَّا تُرَجِّي عَجَبَا!

Another is attached to you and hopes for my connection?

Strange is what you hope for, strange!

هَلْ يَحُلُّ الْغِمْدَ سَيْفَانِ مَعًا؟

أَوْ يَضُمُّ الْغِيلُ إِلَّا أَغْلَبَا؟

Can two swords sheathe one scabbard?

Or does the robe wrap any but the victor?

إِنَّ هَذَا الْحُسْنَ كَالْمَاءِ، إِذَا

كَثُرَ النَّاهِلُ مِنْهُ نَضَبَا

This beauty is like water, if

Many draw from it, it is depleted

وَهْوَ مِثْلُ الزَّهْرِ، إِنْ أَكْثَرْتِ مِنْ

شَمِّهِ يَا زَيْنُ، أَمْسَى حَطَبَا

And it is like a flower, if you over

Smell it, O Zainab, it becomes firewood

وَهْوَ مِثْلُ الْمَالِ، إِنْ أَسْرَفْتِ فِي

بَذْلِهِ لِلسَّائِلِيهِ، سُلِبَا

And it is like wealth, if you are extravagant

In spending it on beggars, it is stolen

قَدُّكِ الْمَائِسُ قَدْ بَغَّضَ لِي

كُلَّ غُصْنٍ بَيْنَ أَنْفَاسِ الصَّبَا

Your excellence the wine has made me hate

Every branch between the breaths of the zephyr

وَجَنَى خَدَّيْكِ قَدْ زَهَّدَنِي

فِي حَدِيثِ الْوَرْدِ يُزْهَى فِي الرُّبَا

And your cheek’s harvest has made me abstain

From talk of roses flourishing in the meadow

أَبْصَرُوا الْبَدْرَ فَقَالُوا: وَجْهُهَا!

فَتَغَشَّيْتُ بِثَوْبِي هَرَبَا

They saw the full moon and said: her face!

So I was veiled in my garment in escape

فَاحْتَجِبْ يَا بَدْرُ عَنْ أَعْيُنِنَا

وَعَزِيزٌ عِنْدَنَا أَنْ تُحْجَبَا!

So veil yourself, O moon, from our eyes

And it is hard for us if you are veiled!

أَنَا يَا زَيْنَبُ مَاءٌ، فَإِذَا

هِجْتِنِي صِرْتُ لَظًى مُلْتَهِبَا

I, O Zainab, am water, so if

You stir me, I become turbid and kindled

أَرْكَبُ الْمَرْكَبَ صَعْبًا خَشِنًا

إِنْ دَعَتْنِي هِمَّتِي أَنْ أرْكَبَا

I mount the ship difficult, rough

If my resolve calls me to mount

ضَارِبًا فِي سُبُلِ الْمَجْدِ وَلَوْ

رَصَفُوهَا بِالْعَوَالِي وَالظُّبَا

Sailing the paths of glory even if

They paved it with highs and lowness