ما زارَ إِلا مثلَ زَوْره طيفه

عجلاً يخافُ مُحبَّهُ مِنْ خوْفِهِ

His apparition came not but like his illusion,

A restless phantom fearing its lover's delusion,

رَخُصَتْ لعلَّ وسوف منه وإِنما

رَخُصَ الأسى بلعلِّه وبِسَوْفِه

"Perhaps" and "if only" grew easy, for my misery

Grew easy with "perhaps" and "maybe,"

حَرَمُ الجمالِ بوجهه الحَرَم الذي

يسري الحجيجُ إلى مِناهُ وخَيْفِه

The shrine of beauty with his face made it sacred,

To which the pilgrims pace, seeking its grade,

مُتَقلِّدٌ سَيْفاً متى عايَنْتَهُ

فجفونُ عَيْنَيْهِ حمائلُ سيفِه

Girded with a sword, when you see him,

His eyelids sheathe his sword,

يا ذا الذي أضحى فؤادي ضَيْفَهُ

ما عُذْرُ من لم يرْعَ حُرْمَة ضيْفِه

O you whom my heart hosts,

No excuse for one who disrespects his host,

هل حظُّ خدِّك من ربيعِ زمانِنا

إِلا كَحظِّ قلوبنا من صيفه

What share of our springtime did your cheek obtain?

Only what our hearts gained of its warmth,

كم قائلٍ ودمي يُدافُ بأدمعي

لمَّا رأى وَلَعَ الجفونِ بدَوْفِه

How many cry, and my blood flows with my tears

When they saw my eyes' passion set ablaze,

أَبَكى على عَدْلِ الحبيب إذا انقضى

أسفاً عليه أمْ بكى مِنْ حَيْفِه

I cry for the justice of the beloved when it passes,

Is it grief for it, or tears for the injustice?