بات موعودي ارتيابا

إذْ رجـائي فيك خابـا

What was promised to me has turned into doubt,

Since my hope in you has been disappointed.

كم حـديثٍ ثم وعْـدٍ

ظلَّ كذباً بل سحابـا

How many words spoken, followed by a promise,

Remained but lies, or rather, passing clouds.

لمتُ نفسي حيث امست

نقمـة والقلب ذابـا

I blamed myself, for my state has become

A curse, and my heart has melted away.

لاتذرني في انتظـار

قاتـل، ابعـث جـوابـا

Do not leave me in a waiting

That is deadly; send a reply

فيه ما يُشفي سـقامي

مـهجتي سهمٌ أصابـا

In which lies the cure for my sickness,

For an arrow has struck my very soul.

قد كـفاني منك بَيْنٌ

كـان همـّاً بل عذابـا

Enough for me is the separation from you,

Which was a sorrow, or rather, a torment.

أين ودّي، أين عـطفي

كل شيء عنك غابـا!

Where is my affection, where is my tenderness?

Everything has faded from your mind!

دَعْ مَلا مي، لُمْ غرامي

جُدْ بوصلٍ منك طابـا

Cease blaming me, blame my passion instead,

And grant me a sweet reunion with you.

عَلَّ أيامـي نحـوسٌ

أين سـعدي أين غابـا؟

Perhaps my days are merely ill-fated;

Where is my joy, where has it disappeared?

نالنـي مانِـلْتُ غمّـاً

ثم سُـهْداً بل عـتابا

What I attained afflicted me with sorrow,

Then with sleeplessness, or rather, reproach.

قد سقاني من هـواني

صِرْتُ في حبـي عُجابا

I was made to drink of my own humiliation,

And I have become a marvel in my love.

هِمتُ شوقاً، ذبتُ عشقاً

غير أن الظن خـابا

I wandered in longing, I melted in passion,

Yet my expectations were utterly dashed.

لا تقل صـبراً حبيبي

منيتي أضحت سرابـا

Do not say, 'Have patience,' my beloved,

For my greatest wish has become a mirage.

إنْ عقدتُ العزم يوماً

لن أرى يأسي صوابـا

If I were to make a firm resolve one day,

I would never see my despair as the right path.

عِمْ صباحاً ياغـزالي

تُهْتَ، هل تنوي إيـابا؟

A fair morning to you, my gazelle,

You have strayed; do you intend to return?

هل إلى المسعى سبيلٌ

حيثُ أستجدي ثوابا؟!

Is there any path left toward this pursuit,

Wherein I might plead for a reward?!