منَعَتنيdenied me جُفونُهhis eyelids
منَعَتني جُفونُه
حظَّshare عَينيmy eye منof الكَرىslumber
حظَّ عَيني من الكَرى
His eyelids have denied me
Her eyelids denied
My eye’s share of slumber.
My eyes the pleasure of seeing her.
فلئِنfor even if بتُّI spent the night قاطِناًstaying put
فلئِن بتُّ قاطِناً
فَفؤاديyet my heart علىon السُّرىnight travel
فَفؤادي على السُّرى
For even if I spend the night staying put,
Though my body may rest,
Yet my heart is on a night journey.
My heart continues its secret journey.
هَبsuppose غَراميmy passion يغيبُis hidden عنfrom
هَب غَرامي يغيبُ عن
كَyou فَدمعيthen my tears إذاwhen جَرىflow
كَ فَدمعي إذا جَرى
Suppose my passion is hidden from
Let my passion disappear as does
You—then what of my tears when they flow?
My flowing tear.
ودليلٌand proof عَلىof الذيwhat
ودليلٌ عَلى الذي
لاnot تراهُyou see it الذيwhat تَرىyou see
لا تراهُ الذي تَرى
And proof of what
Yet my tear is proof
You do not see is what you see.
Of that which you cannot see.