وَلقد رجوتُ وصالكمْ فكأنَّني

وَلقد رجوتُ وصالكمْ فكأنَّني

حاولتُ شَحْطاً لا يُرامُ سحيقا

حاولتُ شَحْطاً لا يُرامُ سحيقا

And indeed, I hoped for union with you, as though I

I hoped for your connection, as if

were seeking a far-off distance beyond reach.

I attempted the impossible, futilely.

وعطفتُكم أُدنِي إليَّ وِصالَكم

وعطفتُكم أُدنِي إليَّ وِصالَكم

فكأنّني أُدني به العَيُّوقا

فكأنّني أُدني به العَيُّوقا

And I turned you toward me, drawing union with you close,

I drew you near, to connect with you,

so it was as though I were drawing Capella near through it.

As if drawing near something unreachable.

ومن البليّةِ أنْ يؤمّلَ طافحٌ

ومن البليّةِ أنْ يؤمّلَ طافحٌ

سكرانُ من خمر الغرامِ مُفيقا

سكرانُ من خمر الغرامِ مُفيقا

And it is a calamity that one brimming over should hope,

It is disastrous when an overflowing one

drunk on the wine of passion, for someone sober.

Hopeful - drunk with love's wine - awakens.

وَلو اِستطعتُ طرحتُ ثِقْلَ غرامكمْ

وَلو اِستطعتُ طرحتُ ثِقْلَ غرامكمْ

فلطالما عاد الأسيرُ طليقا

فلطالما عاد الأسيرُ طليقا

And if I could, I would cast off the burden of my passion for you;

If I could, I'd cast off the burden of loving you

for many a time has the captive become free again.

For the prisoner often returns free.