أَإِن حَنَّ مُشتاقٌ فَفاضَت دُموعُهُ

غَدَت عُذَّلٌ شَتّى حَوالَيهِ تَعكُفُ

Is he longing, his tears overflowing?

He became humbled, his surroundings humbly attending.

وَما زالَ في الناسِ المَوَدَّةُ وَالوَفا

فَما لي عَلى حِفظِ العُهودِ أُعَنَّفُ

Affection and loyalty still exist among people,

So why am I blamed for keeping pacts?

نَعَم إِنَّني صَبٌّ مَتى لاحَ بارِقٌ

مِنَ الغَربِ لا تَنفَكُّ عَينيَ تَذرِفُ

Yes, I melt whenever a glimmer

Flashes from the west—my eyes pour.

وَما قيلَ قَد وافى مِنَ الشامِ مُخبِرٌ

عَنِ القَومِ إِلّا أَقبَلَ القَلبُ يَرجفُ

And it's said no informer came from Damascus

Except my heart began to shake.

وَأُعرِضُ عَن تَسآلِهِ عَنكَ خيفَةً

إِذا خَفَّ كُلٌّ نَحوَهُ يَتَعَرَّفُ

I shy from asking him about you,

Fearing all would recognize our connection.

فَكَيفَ اِحتِيالي بِاللَيالي وَصَرفُها

بِضِدِّ مُرادي دائِماً يَتَصَرَّفُ

So how can I strategize with the nights and steer them

Contrary to my desire? They always wander.

أُحاوِلُ أَن أَمشي إِلى الغَربِ راجِلاً

وَأَحداثُها بي في فَمِ الشَرقِ تَقذِفُ

I try walking west on foot

Yet events toss me back into the east’s mouth.