عَلى بابك السامي تعوّقتُ مدّةً

عَلى بابك السامي تعوّقتُ مدّةً

وَما نلتُ لَما أَن دخلت مَرامي

وَما نلتُ لَما أَن دخلت مَرامي

At your lofty door I lingered for a while,

For a time I lingered at your lofty gate,

And when I entered, I did not attain my desire.

Yet gained no purpose when admitted in.

وَقالوا فلان قَد أَتى الدارَ زائِراً

وَقالوا فلان قَد أَتى الدارَ زائِراً

فَبادر وَقابله بحسن سَلام

فَبادر وَقابله بحسن سَلام

And they said, 'So-and-so has come to the house as a visitor;

They said: "Such-an-one has come to see thee as a guest;

So hasten and receive him with a gracious greeting.'

Haste to meet him with kindly greeting."

فَقُلتَ لَهُم كفوا فَلَستُ بِراحم

فَقُلتَ لَهُم كفوا فَلَستُ بِراحم

وَلا تَسألوني عَنهُ فَهوَ غلامي

وَلا تَسألوني عَنهُ فَهوَ غلامي

Then you told them, 'Desist, for I am not merciful;

But thou said'st unto them: "Let him begone!

And do not ask me about him, for he is my servant.'

I am not one to show compassion."

وَقابلتَ أَشواقي إِلَيك بجفوةٍ

وَقابلتَ أَشواقي إِلَيك بجفوةٍ

وَجُرتَ وَلم تسمح ببعض كَلام

وَجُرتَ وَلم تسمح ببعض كَلام

And you met my longings for you with coldness,

And thou didst meet my warm desire for thee with cold disdain,

And you wronged me, not granting even a few words.

And rudely turned away, nor would'st permit the least converse.

وَإِني إِذا قاطَعتَني أَو وصلتني

وَإِني إِذا قاطَعتَني أَو وصلتني

لراضٍ بِما تقضي فَأَنت إمامي

لراضٍ بِما تقضي فَأَنت إمامي

And I, whether you sever ties with me or maintain them,

Yet, whether thou forbid or suffer me to visit thee,

am indeed content with what you decree, for you are my leader.

I am content with that which thou decreest; for thou art my guide.