إيهِ يا فتنة الوجود سلامٌ

من مشوقٍ متيم القلب عاني

Ah, O enchantment of existence—greetings

from a yearning lover, heart-besotted and suffering.

لو يشاء الهوى حوتك ضلوعٌ

حائماتٌ على صباك حواني

If passion willed it, my ribs would enfold you,

hovering over your youth, tenderly bending close.

فارحمي فانياً من الوجد يشقى

بغرام مؤجّجٍ غير فان

Then pity one wasting away, tormented by longing,

with a blazing love that never fades.

رنّقت ورده الليالي فأمسى

يرقب الصفو من خلال الأماني

The nights have muddied his watering place, and now

he watches through his hopes for the water to clear.

آه لو يسمح الزمان ونلقى

من طوى قربهم عناد الزمان

Ah, if Time would permit, and we could meet

those whose nearness stubborn Time has folded away,

وترى سنتريس والدهر غافٍ

ما قضينا من الليالي الحسان

and Sentrīs might be seen while Time is heedless—

what lovely nights we spent!

حين كنا من السرور نشاوى

في نجاةٍ من النوى وأمان

When joy had made us drunk,

safe and secure from separation,

نتساقى الحديث عذباً شهيّا

وقطفوُ المنى رطابٌ دواني

we passed around conversation, sweet and delectable,

while the fruits of wishes hung fresh and near.

يا خليليّ والرفيقُ معينٌ

أسعفاني ببعض ما تملكان

O my two friends—a companion is a source of help—

come to my aid with a little of what you both possess.

أبتغى آسياً فقد عيل صبري

من توالى الوجيب والخفقان

I seek a healer, for my endurance is spent

under the ceaseless succession of pounding and throbbing.

أبتغى صاحباً تولّه قبلى

وشجاه من الجوى ما شجاني

I seek someone who became love-mad before I did,

whom longing’s anguish grieved just as it grieved me.

فلقد يسعف الجريح أخاهُ

ويواسي الضريب في الأحزان

For surely the wounded man comes to his brother’s aid

and consoles his fellow in sorrow.