أَتَيتُ دَمَنهوراً أَروحُ بِالصَفا

فُؤاداً دَعاهُ لِلرِفاقِ حَنينِ

I came to Damanhur to soothe my soul

A heart that yearned for friends of old

فَساقَ لِيَ المَقدورُ ظَبياً مُهَفهَفاً

يَتيهُ بِفَرقٍ لَجَبينِ يَزينِ

Fate brought me a gazelle, shy and fair

Lost, with a brow that beauty wears

حَواجِبُهُ تَحكي قَسِيّاً وَتَحتَها

عُيونٌ عَنِ السِحرِ المُبينِ تَبينِ

Her eyebrows told of one harsh and cold

Eyes that saw through tricks so bold

وَقالَ سَأَكفيكَ العَنا بِنُعاسِها

وَأُقسِمُ بِالعَينَينِ وَهوَ يَمينِ

"My sleep shall soothe you" she swore

By her eyes, a false oath she swore

فَسَلَّمتُهُ قَلبي أَمانَةَ مُسلِمٍ

وَمالي لا أَخشاهُ وَهوَ أَمينِ

I gave her my heart, trusting her vow

My wealth too, though no fear had I now

فَسالِمني وُدّاً وَلَكِن لَحظَةً

عَلى رُغمِ ذاكَ السِلمِ صارَ يَخونِ

She bid me farewell with friendship and love

Yet in that moment betrayed me, that dove

وَما كانَ مِنهُ الظُلمُ حاشا كَمالُهُ

وَما الظُلمُ إِلّا في الجُفونِ كَمينِ

No injustice in her perfection could live

Only my eyes had injustice to give

وَلَو أَنَّهُ دَوايَ جِراحي بِوَصلِهِ

لَراحَ عَناءً في الهَوى وَأَنينِ

If by her union she healed my pain

No more love's agony would remain