مِن رُسومٍ بالِياتٍ وَدِمَن

عادَ لي هَمّي وَعاوَدتُ دَدَن

From the ruins of past glories and abodes

My worries have returned and persistently gnaw at me

يا أَبا الحارِثِ قَلبي هائِمٌ

فَأتَمِر أَمرَ رَشيدٍ مُؤتَمَن

Oh Abu Al-Harith my heart wanders aimlessly

So take the advice of a trusted, wise counsel

نَظَرَت عَيني إِلَيها نَظرَةً

تَرَكَت قَلبي لَدَيها مُرتَهَن

My eyes glanced at her with a look

That left my heart with her as a hostage

عُلِّقَ القَلبُ غَزالاً شادِناً

يا لَقَومي مِن غَزالٍ قَد شَدَن

My heart was hung like a graceful gazelle

Oh my people, from a gazelle that has been ensnared

حَسَنَ الوَجهِ نَقِيّاً لَونُهُ

طَيِّبِ النَشرِ لَذيذِ المُحتَضَن

Of beautiful face, pure complexion

Sweet scent, soft to embrace

أُطلُبَن لي صاحِ وَصلاً عِندَهُ

إِنَّ خَيرَ الوَصلِ ما لَيسَ يُمَن

Seek for me to meet and be united with her

For the best union is that without prevention

إِنَّ حُبّي آلَ لَيلى قاتِلي

ظَهَرَ الحُبُّ بِجِسمي وَبَطَن

Indeed my love for Layla will be the death of me

Love has appeared in my body and gut

لَيسَ حُبٌّ فَوقَ ما أَحبَبتُهُ

غَيرَ أَن أَقتُلَ نَفسي أَو أُجَنّ

There is no love greater than my love for her

Unless I kill myself or go insane

جَعَلَت لِلقَلبِ مِنّي حُبَّها

شَجَناً زافَ عَلى كُلِّ شَجَن

Her love for me has caused my heart

A passion that flows over all other passions

فَإِذا ما شَحَطَت هامَ بِها

وَإِذا راعَت إِلى الدارِ سَكَن

So when she wanders lost in thought of me

And when she returns to settle in her abode