إلامhow long فؤاديmy heart بالحبيبwith the beloved هتورbesotted
إلام فؤادي بالحبيب هتور
ونارand the fire الجوىof longing بينbetween الضلوعthe ribs تثورrages
ونار الجوى بين الضلوع تثور
How long will my heart be besotted with the beloved,
How long shall my heart be ravaged by the beloved,
and the fire of longing rage between my ribs,
While the fire of passion rages between the ribs?
وحزنيand my sorrow معwith الساعاتthe hours يربوgrows مجدّداanew
وحزني مع الساعات يربو مجدّدا
وليليand my night طويلlong والمنامand sleep نفورelusive
وليلي طويل والمنام نفور
and my sorrow grow anew with the passing hours,
My sorrow swells anew with the passing hours,
and my night be long, while sleep remains elusive?
And my night is long, while sleep remains estranged.
وحتىand until متىwhen أرعىI watch النجومthe stars مسامراًkeeping company at night
وحتى متى أرعى النجوم مسامراً
لهاwith them ودموعand tears العينof the eye ثمّthen تفورoverflow
لها ودموع العين ثمّ تفور
And how long shall I watch the stars, passing the night
Until when must I tend the stars, keeping company
in their company, while tears from my eye then overflow?
With them, as tears from my eyes surge forth?
أبيتI spend the night كأنيas though I بالسماكwith al-Simāk موكلٌcharged with watching
أبيت كأني بالسماك موكلٌ
وعينيand my eye حيثwherever الجديal-Jady دارturns تدورturns
وعيني حيث الجدي دار تدور
I spend the night as though charged with watching al-Simāk,
I pass the night as if entrusted to guard Arcturus,
and wherever al-Jady turns, my eye turns too.
My eye turning wherever the Pole Star turns.