إيهِ يا فتنة الوجود سلامٌ

إيهِ يا فتنة الوجود سلامٌ

من مشوقٍ متيم القلب عاني

من مشوقٍ متيم القلب عاني

Ah, O enchantment of existence—greetings

Ah, O enchantment of existence—greetings

from a yearning lover, heart-besotted and suffering.

From a yearning captive, his heart enslaved by love.

لو يشاء الهوى حوتك ضلوعٌ

لو يشاء الهوى حوتك ضلوعٌ

حائماتٌ على صباك حواني

حائماتٌ على صباك حواني

If passion willed it, my ribs would enfold you,

If love so willed, ribs would enfold you—

hovering over your youth, tenderly bending close.

Hovering over your youth, tender with affection.

فارحمي فانياً من الوجد يشقى

فارحمي فانياً من الوجد يشقى

بغرام مؤجّجٍ غير فان

بغرام مؤجّجٍ غير فان

Then pity one wasting away, tormented by longing,

So pity one dying of longing, who suffers

with a blazing love that never fades.

From a blazing passion that never dies.

رنّقت ورده الليالي فأمسى

رنّقت ورده الليالي فأمسى

يرقب الصفو من خلال الأماني

يرقب الصفو من خلال الأماني

The nights have muddied his watering place, and now

The nights have muddied his waters; now he

he watches through his hopes for the water to clear.

Watches for clarity through his hopes.

آه لو يسمح الزمان ونلقى

آه لو يسمح الزمان ونلقى

من طوى قربهم عناد الزمان

من طوى قربهم عناد الزمان

Ah, if Time would permit, and we could meet

Ah, if only time would permit, and we could meet

those whose nearness stubborn Time has folded away,

Those whose nearness time's obstinacy has folded away.

وترى سنتريس والدهر غافٍ

وترى سنتريس والدهر غافٍ

ما قضينا من الليالي الحسان

ما قضينا من الليالي الحسان

and Sentrīs might be seen while Time is heedless—

And Santaris might see, with time unheeding,

what lovely nights we spent!

The lovely nights we spent,

حين كنا من السرور نشاوى

حين كنا من السرور نشاوى

في نجاةٍ من النوى وأمان

في نجاةٍ من النوى وأمان

When joy had made us drunk,

When we were drunk with joy,

safe and secure from separation,

Spared from separation, and secure.

نتساقى الحديث عذباً شهيّا

نتساقى الحديث عذباً شهيّا

وقطفوُ المنى رطابٌ دواني

وقطفوُ المنى رطابٌ دواني

we passed around conversation, sweet and delectable,

We offered one another talk to drink, sweet and delicious,

while the fruits of wishes hung fresh and near.

And the fruits of hope were succulent and within reach.

يا خليليّ والرفيقُ معينٌ

يا خليليّ والرفيقُ معينٌ

أسعفاني ببعض ما تملكان

أسعفاني ببعض ما تملكان

O my two friends—a companion is a source of help—

O my two friends—a companion is a helper—

come to my aid with a little of what you both possess.

Aid me with some of what you both possess.

أبتغى آسياً فقد عيل صبري

أبتغى آسياً فقد عيل صبري

من توالى الوجيب والخفقان

من توالى الوجيب والخفقان

I seek a healer, for my endurance is spent

I seek a healer, for my patience is exhausted

under the ceaseless succession of pounding and throbbing.

By recurring throbbing and palpitations.

أبتغى صاحباً تولّه قبلى

أبتغى صاحباً تولّه قبلى

وشجاه من الجوى ما شجاني

وشجاه من الجوى ما شجاني

I seek someone who became love-mad before I did,

I seek a companion who was love-crazed before me,

whom longing’s anguish grieved just as it grieved me.

And whom love's anguish grieved as it grieved me.

فلقد يسعف الجريح أخاهُ

فلقد يسعف الجريح أخاهُ

ويواسي الضريب في الأحزان

ويواسي الضريب في الأحزان

For surely the wounded man comes to his brother’s aid

For a wounded man may well aid his brother,

and consoles his fellow in sorrow.

And console a fellow sufferer in sorrow.