خليلٌ أظلُّ إذا زارَني

خليلٌ أظلُّ إذا زارَني

كأني أُنشيه خَلقاً جديدا

كأني أُنشيه خَلقاً جديدا

A beloved—whenever he visits me, I remain

A friend whose visit delights me,

as though I were creating him anew.

As if he were just born anew.

إذا ما تقضَّت به لَيلَةٌ

إذا ما تقضَّت به لَيلَةٌ

ودِدتُ على إثرها أن يَعودا

ودِدتُ على إثرها أن يَعودا

Whenever a night with him has passed,

When a night with him has ended,

I wish, immediately afterward, that he would return.

I long for his return anew.

وجُدتُ بنَفسي على حُبِّه

وجُدتُ بنَفسي على حُبِّه

لعلِّي أعلِّمه أن يَجودا

لعلِّي أعلِّمه أن يَجودا

And I gave myself freely for love of him,

I exert myself for his love,

hoping I might teach him to be generous.

That he may learn to give freely.