ما لي أرى حبل المواصلة انفصم

ما لي أرى حبل المواصلة انفصم

بعد الفراق وصار أشبه بالعدم

بعد الفراق وصار أشبه بالعدم

Why do I see the cord of contact snapped,

Why do I see the cord of communication has snapped

After parting, and grown almost nonexistent?

After separation, it has become akin to non-existence

ما بالكم اخواننا ما بالكم

ما بالكم اخواننا ما بالكم

أنسيتم عهدا تقدم وانصرم

أنسيتم عهدا تقدم وانصرم

What is the matter with you, our brothers—what is the matter with you?

What is the matter with you, my brothers, what is the matter

Have you forgotten a pledge from days gone by?

Have you forgotten the covenant that came and went

فاستيقظوا وتنبهوا بل عجلوا

فاستيقظوا وتنبهوا بل عجلوا

بجوابكم واشفوا الفواد من السقم

بجوابكم واشفوا الفواد من السقم

So wake up and take heed—rather, make haste

So awake, become conscious, nay make haste

With your reply, and heal the heart of sickness.

With your answer, and heal the hearts from sickness

قد طالما سوفت نفسي بالمنى

قد طالما سوفت نفسي بالمنى

كيما أرى منكم جوابا قد قدم

كيما أرى منكم جوابا قد قدم

Long have I kept my soul waiting with hopes,

For long my soul appeased itself with yearning

So I might see that a reply from you had arrived.

So I may see a response from you brought forward

ثم انقضى زمن التسوف وانطوى

ثم انقضى زمن التسوف وانطوى

وأتى زمان بالتشوق منتظم

وأتى زمان بالتشوق منتظم

Then the time of delay ended and was folded away,

Then the time of indulgence passed and folded

And there came a time interwoven with longing.

And a time of longing systematically came

ووساوس الافكار أبدت قوة

ووساوس الافكار أبدت قوة

تسطو بها وتقدما مني انظم

تسطو بها وتقدما مني انظم

And the whisperings of thought revealed a power

And the delusions of thoughts showed strength

With which they assail me; and I compose verse as an overture of my own.

With which they advance and systematically come to me

يحيى وأحمد لا تراخي بعد ذا

يحيى وأحمد لا تراخي بعد ذا

ولدي الوصول فبادرا والقول تم

ولدي الوصول فبادرا والقول تم

Yahya and Ahmad, no delay after this;

Yahya and Ahmad, do not be lenient after this

And upon receipt, both hasten—and my words are done.

For me is arrival, so initiate and the word is complete