ما كان عندي والرِّكابُ مُناخةٌ

ما كان عندي والرِّكابُ مُناخةٌ

قبلَ التّفرّقِ أنّني أُستاقُ

قبلَ التّفرّقِ أنّني أُستاقُ

It had never occurred to me, while the mounts knelt waiting,

I had not thought, while the riding camels knelt,

before we parted, that I would yearn.

before parting, that I would be driven away.

إن كان يومُ البينِ شتّت شملَنا

إن كان يومُ البينِ شتّت شملَنا

فخلالَه قُبَلٌ لنا وعناقُ

فخلالَه قُبَلٌ لنا وعناقُ

Though the day of parting scattered our union,

If the day of parting scattered our company,

within it we had kisses and embraces.

yet in its midst we had kisses and embraces.

لا تطمعوا في الصَّبر منّى بعدكمْ

لا تطمعوا في الصَّبر منّى بعدكمْ

فلَقَلّما تتصبَّر العشّاقُ

فلَقَلّما تتصبَّر العشّاقُ

Do not expect patience from me once you are gone—

Do not expect patience from me after you are gone,

for lovers have seldom borne up patiently.

for lovers rarely muster patience.