تَكادُ بِلادُ اللَهَ يا أُمَّ مَعمَرِ

بِما رَحُبَت يَوماً عَلَيَّ تَضيقُ

The lands of my beloved seem to narrow, O mother of Ma'mar,

With what they once generously broadened for me.

تُكَذِّبُني بِالوِدِّ لُبنى وَلَيتَها

تُكَلَّفُ مِنّي مِثلَهُ فَتَذوقُ

They belie me in affection for Lubna - if only

They would take the trouble from me, and experience it!

وَلَو تَعلَمينَ الغَيبَ أَيقَنتِ أَنَّني

لَكُم وَالهَدايا المُشعَراتِ صَديقُ

If you knew the unseen, you would be certain that I

Am a true friend to you and your perfumed gifts.

تَتوقُ إِلَيكِ النَفسُ ثُمَّ أَرُدُّها

حَياءً وَمِثلي بِالحَياءِ حَقيقُ

My soul yearns for you, then I restrain it

Out of shyness - and one like me is truly shy.

أَذودُ سَوامَ النَفسِ عَنكِ وَمالَهُ

عَلى أَحَدٍ إِلّا عَلَيكِ طَريقُ

I fend off the evils of the soul from you, and nothing

Has access to you except through me.

فَإِنّي وَإِن حاوَلتِ صَرمي وَهِجرَتي

عَلَيكِ مِنَ اِحداثِ الرَدى لَشَفيقُ

So even if you try to sever ties with me and shun me,

I remain compassionate despite the vicissitudes of fate.

وَلَم أَرَ أَيّاماً كَأَيّامِنا الَّتي

مَرَرنَ عَلَينا وَالزَمانُ أَنيقُ

I have not seen days like ours, which

Passed upon us while time was elegant.

وَوَعدُكِ إِيّانا وَلَو قُلتِ عاجِلٌ

بَعيدٌ كَما قَد تَعلَمينَ سَحيقُ

Your promise to us, even if you said "soon"

Is far off, as you know well enough.

وَحَدَّثتَني يا قَلبُ أَنَّكَ صابِرٌ

عَلى البَينِ مِن لُبنى فَسَوفَ تَذوقُ

You told me, O heart, that you are patient

With separation from Lubna - so you will experience it!

فَمُت كَمَداً أَو عِش سَقيماً فَإِنَّما

تُكَلِّفُني مالا أَراكَ تُطيقُ

Die parched or live sickly, for you only

Impose on me what I see you cannot endure.

أَطَعتَ وُشاةً لَم يَكُن لَكَ فيهِمُ

خَليلٌ وَلا جارٌ عَلَيكَ شَفيقُ

You obeyed slanderers who were not

Loyal friends or neighbors compassionate to you.

فَإِن تَكُ لَمّا تَسلُ عَنها فَإِنَّني

بِها مُغرَمٌ صَبُّ الفُؤادِ مَشوقُ

If you are not distracted from thoughts of her, then I

Am enamored, with a pouring heart, ardent.

يَهيجُ بِلُبنى الداءُ مِني وَلَم تَزَل

حُشاشَةَ نَفسي لِلخُروجِ تَتوقُ

The sickness stirs in me because of Lubna, and my

Soul continues to yearn to break free.

بِلُبنى أُنادى عِندَ أَوَّلِ غَشيَةٍ

وَلَو كُنتِ بَينَ العائِداتِ أُفيقُ

I call upon Lubna at the first unconsciousness,

Even if I wake up among those returning.