أَخرِقُ الدُفَّ لَو رَأَيتُ شَكيبا

وَأَفُضُّ الأَذكارَ حَتّى يَغيبا

I would beat the drums if I saw Shakib

And utter prayers until he is gone

هُوَ ذِكري وَقِبلَتي وَإِمامي

وَطَبيبي إِذا دَعَوتُ الطَبيبا

He is my remembrance, my qibla, my imam

And my doctor when I call upon a doctor

لَو تَراني وَقَد تَعَمَّدتَ قَتلي

بِالتَنائي رَأَيتَ شَيخاً حَريبا

If you could see me, I who yearned to kill myself

Out of separation, you would see a fierce old man

كانَ لا يَنحَني لِغَيرِكَ إِجلا

لاً وَلا يَشتَهي سِواكَ حَبيبا

Who would not bow to any but you out of reverence

Nor desire anyone but you, O beloved

لا تَعيبَنَّ يا شَكيبُ دَبيبي

إِنَّما الشَيخُ مَن يَدِبُّ دَبيبا

Do not blame, O Shakib, my infatuation

For it is the old man who is infatuated

كَم شَرِبتَ المُدامَ في حَضرَةِ الشَي

خِ جِهاراً وَكَم سُقيتَ الحَليبا

How much wine have you drunk in the Shaykh's presence

And how much milk were you given to drink

فَسَلوا سُبحَتي فَهَل كانَ تَسبي

حِيَ فيها إِلّا شَكيباً شَكيبا

Ask my prayer beads - did I glorify

Anyone in them but Shakib, Shakib?

وَإِذا أَدنَفَ الشُيوخَ غَرامٌ

كُنتُ في حَلبَةِ الشُيوخِ نَقيبا

And when love overwhelms the Shaykhs

I was the chief of the circle of Shaykhs

عُد إِلَينا فَقَد أَطَلتَ التَجافي

وَاِركَبِ البَرقَ إِن أَطَقتَ الرُكوبا

Return to us, for you have been away too long

Ride the lightning if you can mount it

وَإِذا خِفتَ ما يُخافُ مِنَ اليَم

مِ فَرَشنا لِأَخمَصَيكَ القُلوبا

And if you fear what is feared from the sea

Our hearts will be carpets for your feet

وَدَعَونا بِساطَ صاحِبِ بِلقي

سَ فَلَبّى دُعاءَنا مُستَجيبا

And we called upon the rug of Bilqis's companion

And he responded to our call favorably

وَأَمَرنا الرِياحَ تَجري بِأَمرٍ

مِنكَ حَتّى نَراكَ مِنّا قَريبا

And we ordered the winds to blow by your command

Until we see you near, O beloved