لَمّا دَنا البَينُ بَينُ الحَيِّ وَاِقتَسَموا

حَبلَ النَوى فَهوَ في أَيديهِمُ قِطَعُ

When parting drew near between the beloved and I, they shared

The rope of love between them into pieces torn,

جادَت بِأَدمُعِها لَيلى وَأَعجَلَني

وَشكُ الفِراقِ فَما أُبقي وَما أَدَعُ

Layla wept copious tears that hastened our parting

While the pain of separation remains and does not depart

يا قَلبُ وَيحَكَ ما عَيشي بِذي سَلَمٍ

وَلا الزَمانُ الَّذي قَد مَرَّ مُرتَجَعُ

Oh my heart, woe to you, neither in well-being do I live

Nor in days gone by, returning back no more

أَكُلَّما بانَ حَيٌّ لا تُلائِمَهُم

وَلا يُبالونَ أَن يَشتاقَ مَن فَجَعوا

Whenever a loved one appears with whom I’m incompatible

And who care not that their absence makes me sore

عَلَّقتِني بِهَوىً مُردٍ فَقَد جَعَلَت

مِنَ الفِراقِ حَصاةَ القَلبِ تَنصَدِعُ

You’ve attached me to defiant passion so my heart

Is shattered by separation into fragments strewn