كِدتُ يَومَ الرَحيلِ أَقضي حَياتي

لَيتَني مِتُّ قَبلَ يَومَ الرَحيلِ

I almost lost my life the day we parted

I wish I had died before the day we parted

لا أُطيقُ الكَلامَ مِن شِدَّةِ الوَج

دِ وَدَمعي يَسيلُ كُلَّ مَسيلِ

I cannot speak, such is my grief

My tears flow like streams

ذَرَفَت عَينُها فَفاضَت دُموعي

وَكِلانا يَلقَي بِلُبٍّ أَصيلِ

Her eyes shed tears, and so did mine

Both of us have sincere hearts

لَو خَلَت خُلَّتي أَصَبتُ نَوالاً

أَو حَديثاً يَشفى مَعَ التَنويلِ

Had my friends gathered, I'd have found solace

Or a conversation to comfort my woes

وَلَقَد قالَتِ الحَبيبَةُ لَولا

كَثرَةُ الناسِ جُدتُ بِالتَقبيلِ

My beloved said, if not for the crowds

I would have greeted you with a kiss

لَيسَ طَعمُ الكافورِ وَالمِسكِ شيباً

ثُمَّ عُلّا بِالراحِ وَالزَنجَبيلِ

Camphor and musk are not only for elders

Add some basil and ginger too

حينَ تَنتابُها بِأَطيَبِ مِن في

ها طُروقاً إِن شِئتَ أَو بِالمَقيلِ

When she is in a good mood

Serve her pancakes or grilled meat

ذاكَ ظَنّي وَلَم أَذُق طَعمَ فيها

لا وَما في الكِتابِ مِن تَنزيلِ

That's what I think, though I haven't tasted her

Not even in holy scripts is this revealed

وَبِفَرعٍ حُدِّثتُهُ كَالمَثاني

عُلَّ بِالمِسكِ فَهوَ مِثلَ السَديلِ

I told a branch, rub musk on yourself

You'll be like a gently flowing brook

رَبعَةٌ أَو فُوَيقَ ذاكَ قَليلاً

وَنَؤُومُ الضُحى وَحَقُّ كَسولِ

Stay a while, even if it's just a quarter

We'll sleep till late morning, as laziness permits

لا يَزالُ الخَلخالُ فَوقَ الحَشايا

مِثلَ أَثناءِ حَيَّةٍ مَقتولِ

Her anklet remains above her slipper

Like a slaughtered snake in its coils

زانَ ما تَحتَ كَعبِها قَدَماها

حينَ تَمشي وَالكَعبُ غَيرُ نَبيلِ

Under her anklet, her feet

Move as she walks with grace