هَل الحُبُّ إِلّا أَن وَقَفتُ بِدارِ

وَرَدتُ إِلَيها فَاِستُخِفَّ وَقاري

Is love naught but my standing at the abode,

And my returning, deeming my dignity lowered?

وَلَيسَ لِذِكرِ جَرَّ دَمعاً جِنايَةٌ

وَهَل غَيرُ ماءٍ كَفَّ جُرأَةَ نارِ

Recalling with tears is no crime,

What else but water could quell the fire's boldness?

غُصونُ النَقا أَنكَرتُها وَعَرَفتُها

بِقَلبِ مُقِرٍّ أَو بِعَينِ مُمارِ

The branches of Nâqâ I knew yet denied,

With acquiescent heart or roving eye.

إِذا هِيَ هَمَّت بِاِعتِناقي رَدَدتُها

وَقُلتُ لَها ما جِئتِني بِثِمارِ

When they moved to embrace me I rebuffed them,

Saying you've not brought me ripe fruits.

وَأَنتُم زَماني ما عَرَفتُ سِواكُمُ

رِضاكُم وَسُخطٌ لَيلتي وَنَهاري

You are my time, none but you I have known,

Your pleasure and displeasure alternate my night and day,

وَأَنفاسُكُم لَيلُ الوِصالِ وَصَدُّكُم

لَهُ أَثَرٌ ما سَرَّكُم بِعِذاري

Your breaths are the night of union, your aloofness

Leaves in me traces, though you delighted me with excuses.

فَإِن عاقَبوني في الهَوى بِذُنوبِهِم

فَمِنهُم إِلَيهِم أَن فَرَرتُ فِراري

If they punish me for their sins in love,

Then for them to them I fled in my flight.

مَنابِرَ لِلإِسلامَ قامَت سُيوفُكُم

يَقومُ لَها في الدَهرِ أَيُّ مَنارِ

Pulpits for Islam your swords have erected,

For it in time which minaret vies?

تَمُرُّ بِها أَسماءُ قَومٍ عَوارِياً

وَأَسماؤُكُم يَخلُدنَ غَيرَ عَوارِ

By them pass the names of a transient folk,

While yours endure, never to pass away.

فَلا بَرِحَت سُحبُ المَنابِرِ مِنكُمُ

مُرَصَّعَةً مِن آلِكُم بِدَراري

The clouds of pulpits ne’er ceased from you,

Adorned with the flashing of your meteors.