طافَ مِن سَلمى خَيالٌ

طافَ مِن سَلمى خَيالٌ

بَعدَما نِمتُ فَهاجا

بَعدَما نِمتُ فَهاجا

A vision of Salma came wandering,

A phantom from Salma passed by

after I fell asleep, and roused me.

After I had fallen asleep restless

قُلتُ عُج نَحوي أُسائِل

قُلتُ عُج نَحوي أُسائِل

كَ عِنِ الحُبِّ فَعاجا

كَ عِنِ الحُبِّ فَعاجا

I said, “Turn toward me, that I may question

I said "Come closer, let me ask

you about love”; and it turned.

About love - have you knowledge?"

يا خَليلي يا نَديمي

يا خَليلي يا نَديمي

قُم فَأَنفُث لي سِراجا

قُم فَأَنفُث لي سِراجا

O my friend, O my drinking companion,

O my friend, O my companion

rise, then blow upon a lamp for me,

Rise and light for me a lamp

بِفَلاةٍ لَيسَ تُرعى

بِفَلاةٍ لَيسَ تُرعى

أَنبَتَت شيحاً وَحاجا

أَنبَتَت شيحاً وَحاجا

in a wilderness that is not grazed,

In a wilderness where none can graze

that brought forth wormwood and camel-thorn.

Thorn bushes and panic grass grow