1. إيه يا فتنة الوجود سلامٌ

    من مشوق متيم القلب عان

    Ah, O enchantment of existence, greetings

    from one who yearns, enthralled at heart, a captive.

  2. لو يشاء الهوى حوتك ضلوع

    حائماتٌ على صباك حواني

    If love so willed, ribs would enfold you,

    hovering tenderly over your youth.

  3. فارحمي فانياً من الوجد يشقى

    بغرام مؤجج غير فان

    So pity one perishing with longing, who suffers

    from a love set ablaze that never perishes.

  4. رنقت ورده الليالي فأمسى

    يرقب الصفو من خلال الأماني

    The nights have muddied his water, so now he

    awaits clarity through his hopes.

  5. آه لو يسمح الزمان ونلقى

    من طوى قربهم عناد الزمان

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

    those whose nearness time's obstinacy has folded away,

  6. وترى سنتريس والدهر غافٍ

    ما قضينا من الليالي الحسان

    and Santaris might see, while time slumbers,

    the lovely nights we spent,

  7. حين كنا من السرور نشاوى

    في نجاة من النوى وأمان

    when we were drunk with joy,

    safe from separation and secure.

  8. نتساقى الحديث عذبا شهيّا

    وقطوف المنى رطاب دواني

    We shared draughts of talk, sweet and delicious,

    and the fruits of our hopes were succulent and within reach.

  9. يا خليلي والرفيق معين

    أسعفاني ببعض ما تملكانِ

    O my two friends—a companion is a helper—

    help me with some of what you both possess.

  10. أبتغي آسيا فقد عيل صبري

    من توالى الوجيب والخفقان

    I seek a comforter, for my patience is exhausted

    by ceaseless throbbing and palpitations.

  11. أبغى صاحبا تولّه قبلى

    وشجاه من الجوى ما شجاني

    I seek a companion who grew love-distraught before me,

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

  12. فلقد يسعف الجريح أخاه

    ويواسى الضريب في الأحزان

    For the wounded may well aid his brother

    and comfort his fellow in sorrow.