ما كُنتُ أَوَّلَ مَن أَحَبَّ وَماتَ في

وَجدٍ مُنيتُ بِهِ عَلَيهِ وَما يَفي

I was not the first to love and die of love's torment

Nor the last as I pined for him, my love unsatisfied

يا يوسُفَ الحُسنِ الَّذي أَنا مُذ شَكا

في سِجنِ يوسُفَ مِن أَسىً وَتَأَسُّفِ

O Joseph of beauty, since I've longed for you

I've been locked in sorrow's prison, full of grief

يا سُقمَهُ رِفقاً بِمُدنَفِ جَفنِهِ

وَتَرَفُّقاً أَيضاً بِقَلبِ المُدنَفِ

O gentle one, have mercy on my downcast eyes

And pity too this lovesick, broken heart of mine

لَو كانَ مِن رَسمِ القُلوبِ تَصَرُّفٌ

أَخفَيتُ مِن جِسمي لَكَ القَلبَ الحَفي

If only hearts could choose to whom they are inclined

For you I'd hide mine within so you could not decline

أو كانَتِ الحُمَّى تُقَيَّدُ نارُها

بِالماءِ كانَت مِن دُموعِيَ تَنطَفي

If only fever's fire could be extinguished

By water, mine would be quenched by my tears' tide